Chapter 357: Hestia

Hearing Aiden's "super spicy," the twin-tailed Loli Goddess beside them seemed to have been struck by lightning. She abruptly turned her head and looked Aiden up and down with a gaze as if she were looking at a monster.

"S-super spicy? That kind of thing... eating it will kill a person, right?"

Her voice was crisp, carrying a hint of a disbelieving tremor.

Hearing this, a hint of a sweatdrop couldn't help but show on Aiden's face. He shook his head and explained, "I just prefer eating spicy food. It's fine, I won't die."

Then, he turned his gaze to this tiny goddess and asked politely, "Excuse me, Goddess, but you look a bit unfamiliar. I don't think I've seen you in Orario before."

Hearing Aiden's inquiry, this Loli Goddess immediately puffed out her chest proudly and put her hands on her hips. "Hmph hmph, I am the Goddess of the Hearth, Hestia. I only recently descended to Orario. Don't let my appearance fool you; when I was in Heaven, I was very famous."

"Goddess of the Hearth? Never heard of you."

Tiona's completely unfiltered, straightforward remark was like a precise arrow, instantly shattering Hestia's newly established majesty.

Hestia's body instantly petrified, and then slowly... she sank into an Orz pose of utter defeat.

But just a few seconds later, she abruptly straightened up, forcing herself to cheer up, wearing a somewhat strained smile on her face. "It's f-fine, it's very normal for the children of the lower world to not have heard of me. After all, I'm a very low-key goddess."

She cleared her throat, trying to regain the initiative, and curiously sized up the group before her. "Speaking of which, you're all adventurers, right? Which Familia's children are you?"

"Miss Tiona, Miss Ais, and I are from the Loki Familia. Aiden, Miss Firefly, and Miss Jeanne are from the Focalors Familia." This time, it was the most steady Lefiya who stepped forward to introduce them.

However, when the name "Loki Familia" came out of Lefiya's mouth, the smile on Hestia's face stiffened instantly, and her body also showed a moment of rigidity.

But when she heard "Focalors Familia," that stiffness quickly dissipated, returning to a normal smile.

"Oh oh, so you're Focalors' children."

She deliberately ignored the Loki Familia, only enthusiastically discussing the latter. "Speaking of which, Focalors and I met a few times in Heaven. It's just that that fellow is even more of a shut-in than I am. To think she actually descended too? It seems my choice was definitely right; Heaven is getting more and more boring."

Lefiya acutely perceived Hestia's differential treatment.

However, she also understood that this was a grudge between the deities, not something a child of the lower world like her could comment on, so she didn't ask further.

Moreover, she didn't feel the slightest malice from this goddess named Hestia.

Rather, this goddess gave off a very approachable feeling, the type who could quickly mingle and become one with strangers.

"Boss, is my Jagamarukun ready?"

After chatting for a while, Hestia asked the stall owner, and the owner finally handed her a steaming portion of Jagamarukun.

This Goddess of the Hearth's attention was immediately attracted by the golden food.

She held the paper bag, taking a bite with immense satisfaction, and only then did she remember, waving her hand ambiguously at Aiden and the others. "Well then, everyone, I'll be taking my leave first. I'll catch you later!"

Saying that, she bounced away like a squirrel that had gotten a pinecone, disappearing into the crowded sea of people.

This small interlude didn't disrupt the group's plans.

They each held their own Jagamarukun. Ais tasted the sweet and soft Red Bean Cream in small bites, and Firefly imitated her, eating with a face full of happiness.

Meanwhile, Aiden consumed that "super spicy" portion that would make bystanders flinch without changing his expression.

The group just ate and strolled like this. Before they knew it, they had wandered from Northwest Main Street, which was primarily filled with snacks and weapon shops, to North Main Street, located at the northernmost end of the city.

The atmosphere here was completely different from before. The streets were wider, and the buildings on both sides appeared much more grand. This place was close to the high-end residential area where Guild staff lived. As a commercial street, it added an air of elegance amidst its prosperity. On the neat stone-paved roads, gorgeously dressed carriages passed by from time to time. Demi-humans of various skin colors and body types strode confidently through the streets, showcasing Orario's inclusivity and vitality as the center of the world.

"Ah—so refreshing. It has to be like this. Changing your mood through shopping is the absolute best."

Tiona stuffed the last bite of Jagamarukun into her mouth and stretched comfortably with a brilliant smile on her face.

"Umm... everyone, what are we going to do next?"

Lefiya took a sip of her milk tea and asked softly.

Aiden pondered for a moment. His gaze fell upon Firefly and Jeanne d'Arc, who were still wearing their everyday clothes beside him, and he smiled. "Let's go to a clothing store. I want to buy a few new clothes for Firefly and Jeanne."

"Alright, alright! Clothes shopping, I want to go too!"

Tiona immediately raised both hands in approval. She turned her head to look at Ais. "Ais is fine with that too, right?"

"Mhm."

Ais nodded gently, a hint of interest also revealing itself in her golden eyes.

"Great, then let's set off."

Like a victorious general, Tiona took Ais's hand in one and Lefiya's in the other, charging ahead at the very front.

"Let's catch up too."

Aiden smiled at Firefly and Jeanne.

"Mhm."

The two girls nodded in unison, an unconcealable trace of anticipation in their eyes.

For them, this was the first time they were shopping with Aiden specifically for themselves. Furthermore, they truly did want to buy some pretty clothes; after all, as long as one was a girl, they couldn't avoid such common desires.

Near North Main Street lay Orario's most famous clothing street.

The differences in body types and clothing preferences between various races were far greater than an outsider could imagine. Led by the petite and exquisite Prums and the short, stout Dwarves, physical differences posed the most straightforward challenge to clothing design. Moreover, the personalities and aesthetics determined by the local customs of each race made "universal" ready-to-wear clothing a mere pipe dream.

In this Labyrinth City where demi-humans of all races from all over the world gathered, minor frictions between customers and shopkeepers over clothing sizes and styles almost never ceased.

However, those who dare to find business opportunities within challenges are the true merchants.

Sharp merchants quickly discovered this blue ocean market.

They began opening specialized shops with varying styles based on the different races of the customers, rapidly accumulating trust and sales.

Soon after, a portion of commercial Familias with keen senses also made a strong entrance. Relying on their more substantial capital and more professional blacksmiths and tailors, they vastly promoted the development of Orario's apparel industry.

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