Marvel Multiverse System

Until the next morning, when Hestia left, Hephaestus didn't show up to say goodbye.

Beside the small goddess, Yuri—now wielding his new weapon—wore a rare smile of satisfaction.

"The sword Hephaestus forged for me... it's truly incredible..." he murmured, examining it closely.

After packing their things, Yuri and Hestia made their way to the enormous mansion they had earned as a reward for winning the War Game.

Since Hestia had an absurd amount of clutter, she decided to rent a magic carriage to transport everything.

Excited about their new residence, Hestia swayed back and forth inside the carriage like a child, eyes gleaming. The ordinary scenery of the streets looked unusually beautiful to her that day.

Meanwhile, Yuri rested in silence, still recovering the energy spent in the battle the night before. His gaze remained fixed on the divine sword forged by Hephaestus.

In truth, he hadn't even received a detailed explanation from the forge goddess. Exhausted, Hephaestus had simply pointed to the forge—where the weapon awaited him—before falling back asleep.

The moment Yuri held that magic sword for the first time, he was stunned.

At first glance, it looked like nothing more than a bar of black iron. No inscriptions, no shine, not even a visible blade.

But the moment his hand touched the hilt, the "iron" revealed its true form.

The katana had the kind of look that would make any swordsman do a double take. Its blade was completely black, reflecting light subtly, as if it absorbed a piece of the surrounding environment. It wasn't just for show—there was a silent, imposing aura to it, the kind typical of weapons forged for seasoned hunters.

What truly set it apart was the handguard: a five-pointed silver star. Far from any traditional design, the star gave it a unique, almost symbolic presence, as if each point represented something important to its wielder. Among other swords, it would definitely stand out.

Some might say black swords are cursed or unlucky, but Yuri never cared about that. What mattered to him was how it balanced in his grip, how cleanly it cut… and of course, a cool design never hurt.

Magical light flowed along the blade like running water. At times, it looked like a crescent moon—other times, like a rainbow. Even someone without combat experience could sense the intense, killer aura radiating from the weapon.

Etched along its surface were golden patterns that resembled fireworks, as if they might suddenly leap from the blade and explode in solar flames.

When Yuri infused it with magic power and chakra, he felt the sword react. It was as if it had a life of its own. The blade absorbed the surrounding light like it was feeding off it. The sacred texts engraved into it were so intricate and powerful that even renowned gods would envy them.

Hephaestus—usually conservative with her divine engravings—had gone overboard with this one. It was blatant favoritism.

If any god truly understood what lay before them, they'd probably suspect there was something more going on between Yuri and Hephaestus…

"Heh… Soft rice is still better," Yuri muttered with a wry smile.

"What rice?" Hestia immediately turned to him, eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"It's nothing." Yuri quickly pointed ahead at the massive garden in front of the carriage.

"Look, Hestia! What do you think? From today on, this will be our new headquarters!"

The goddess's eyes widened as she saw the mansion before them.

"Uwaaah! It's… it's gorgeous!"

The three-story building was so large they had to tilt their heads to see it in full. Inside the estate, patios and hallways connected various areas, all enclosed by tall iron fences. A spacious garden with flowers and well-kept trees decorated the entrance.

"I never imagined we'd actually take over the Apollo Familia's base," Hestia said, still amazed.

As winners of the War Game, they had legally claimed the former Apollo Familia's mansion.

Yuri walked through the garden, observing their new home's facade.

"We got a pretty great deal too. All those tacky statues and portraits of Apollo were removed, and the mansion's been fully renovated. Oh—and there's a huge bath. We could test out some… new games in there."

Hestia blushed violently.

"Y-you… you pervert!" she mumbled, turning her face away as memories of the previous night's "fun" flashed in her mind.

"But… since this is our new home… I'll let it slide this time…"

"By the way…" Yuri said, as if just remembering something.

"I dismissed all of Apollo Familia's members. Except for two... the most talented ones."

Hestia immediately narrowed her gaze.

"Are they women?"

Yuri hesitated.

"…Yeah. They're both women…"

Before he could finish, Hestia lunged at him, trying to strangle him.

"You bastard! If I'd known that last night, I would've—!"

"Wait! Let me explain!" Yuri held her forehead with one hand, trying to keep her at bay.

"One of them has a rare ability: prophetic dreams! I asked her beforehand—she predicted our victory in the War Game. That's a talent too valuable to waste!"

Hestia squinted at him, still suspicious.

"Seriously?"

"How could I lie about something like that?"

Yuri sighed softly, still holding the little goddess carefully.

"The Hestia Familia can't just be the two of us forever. If I want to build something lasting... I need people with unique abilities."

Hestia took a deep breath. Still hesitant, but starting to believe.

"Tch… fine. Just this once. But I'll be keeping an eye on you!"

Peace returned, if only momentarily. Soon after, they entered the mansion and, with Yuri's presence, officially welcomed Cassandra and Daphne into the Hestia Familia.

Cassandra was the one with prophetic dreams—shy, but incredibly valuable. Daphne was her best friend—a firm, intelligent, and reliable guardian. Perfect for roles like vice-captain or strategist.

To celebrate the family's expansion, Hestia organized a special dinner—though, of course, Yuri cooked everything.

That night, the mansion's warm lights illuminated a long, beautifully set table. The Hestia Familia had grown.

And now, their true future was only just beginning.

---

(End of Chapter)

"Hmph. If you really want to be useful, then entertain me, try to throw those pathetic power stones at me. Let's see if even your insolence can amuse a king."