Danmachi: The Multiverse Portal

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After getting back to base and cleaning up, August dried off. He saw that Liliruca Arde was done too, but she wasn't leaving.

"Lili, aren't you going to your meeting?"

What was going on? She was the guest of honor—yet she was just sitting there.

"There's no need." Lili dismissed the idea.

Why accept an invite from someone she didn't even like? No need to deal with that headache.

"You know, Lord August, you've never actually walked around Orario with just me. It's always with Lady Hestia."

"That's not fair. You can't play favorites."

It struck her that she had never walked through the city alone with him before. Lili leaned in and smiled at August, waiting for his answer. "So how about we go out tonight? Just the two of us."

Outside, the female Xenos who were listening in all gasped at once.

"Whoa..."

They couldn't believe Lili was making a move. Asking him out while Goddess Hestia was away? That was bold—

"Well…" August noticed Hestia wasn't home today. Lili clearly knew what she was doing and picked the perfect moment. He had to respect her effort.

"Alright," he nodded.

"Yes! Let's go. Just give me a minute!" Lili cheered. Remembering the new clothes she had bought, she hurried off to put together an outfit.

"I'll wait by the door," August said before stepping outside.

The moment he did, Ray and the other female Xenos surrounded him.

"A date, huh?" Ray teased. They crowded around him like a gang of street hooligans, having apparently discovered a new hobby since moving to the surface: meddling in their hosts' love lives.

"Want to come?" August asked, glancing at the group.

"No way."

"Dates are important. Don't ruin it," Fear warned, crossing her wings.

"Exactly," Ray agreed. "Interrupting her date with the man she likes would be cruel."

They might have been monsters, but they were far from clueless. Life on the surface had given them room to think beyond survival. They could build homes, fall in love, and begin imagining futures of their own.

A few minutes later, Lili stepped out.

She wore a beautiful flowing dress, neatly fitted at the waist. The glazed-silk gown was made just for her small frame and probably came from August's world.

August was honestly surprised. The long dress made her look elegant and a little exotic, and he couldn't help but show his appreciation.

"Lord August, let's go." Lili joined him with a bright smile.

"Right." August fell into step beside her, and together they headed southwest toward the commercial district.

Ray and the other Xenos waved them off with satisfied smiles. Had it not ruined the mood, they probably would have pushed the two into each other's arms themselves.

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On the other side of the city, Hestia had finished sorting out the new headquarters. She stepped out for the evening, bringing Artemis, Hephaestus, Miach, and Takemikazuchi along to the Hostess of Fertility.

They were all close friends—hanging out over dinner was a regular occurrence.

"Mia, I'm starving!" Hestia called out the moment she slumped into a chair.

"Looks like someone's been working hard," Mia Grand said, noticing Hestia's dusty look. She knew the Hestia Familia was moving, and the Goibniu Familia had been busy with the new mansion.

"Dinner's on me tonight. Eat up."

Mia Grand waved to the kitchen to start cooking. In Orario, tavern owners always had the latest gossip. The Gods gathered around the table and watched Hestia sip her drink, looking utterly at ease in her chair.

"Looks like the new base is finally ready," Artemis said as she sat down.

"When is the official move?"

"Just about done. Everything's packed and sorted. We've got everything we need." Hestia drained her glass of juice in a few huge gulps.

She set the empty glass down, and Ryuu Lion, standing nearby, smoothly replaced it with a fresh one.

"Strange. You aren't drinking today, Hestia?" Takemikazuchi tilted his head.

If he remembered right, Hestia usually had a few drinks no matter her mood. So why was she drinking fruit juice now? Miach and Hephaestus stared at her as if she were acting totally out of character.

"I have official business tonight. I can't be drinking." Hestia waved them off.

"..." The other Gods shared puzzled looks.

Hestia have official business? What was that about?

Not long after, Loki swaggered into the tavern, her executives trailing behind her. She immediately spotted Hestia.

"What are you doing here?" Loki frowned.

"Didn't your child just get back? Shouldn't you be off flirting with him somewhere?"

Why was the Shrimp hanging out here while August was nowhere to be seen?

"Who are you calling a shrimp, you flat-chested washboard?" Hestia shot back with a cheerful grin.

Putting the jokes aside, she looked over Loki's group. Someone was missing.

"Where's your Braver?" Hestia asked, turning her head. "I'm guessing your Captain finally asked my child out."

Loki's face twitched. "You know about that?"

"Pretty much. Your Braver sent a letter to my Lili—too bad she has zero interest in showing up!" Hestia said.

"Ha."

Everyone except the ever-oblivious Tiona Hiryute caught on at once. Finn Deimne, Liliruca Arde, and August were all missing. The gossip was too tempting to ignore, and even the waitresses and cooks leaned out of the kitchen to listen.

"She didn't show up? Wait, don't tell me your little Pallum asked August out instead?" Loki's eyes widened.

Loki could tell what happened. Lili had rejected Finn for August.

"Obviously," Hestia said, spreading her hands.

The tavern filled with whispers, some excited and some surprised.

"This is huge." Demeter suddenly appeared, dragging over a chair to get in on the gossip. "The Braver actually got rejected?"

This was breaking news. Countless women in Orario dreamed of marrying Finn Deimne. Hearing that he had been flat-out ignored by a fellow Pallum was mind-blowing.

"I'm going to find the Captain." Tione Hiryute jumped up, determined to find Finn right away.

Before she could get up, Loki caught her by the arm and pulled her back into her seat, shaking her head. Running after him now would only make a scene. Besides, Finn was waiting at a secret Pallum gathering place in the southwest district, where outsiders were not welcome.

"Your child has a lot of nerve, Shrimp," Loki gritted her teeth.

"Of course she does. My Lili doesn't like your Braver. Mutual affection is what matters. Forcing two people together just breeds resentment." Hestia said matter-of-factly.

The other Gods and waitresses nodded in agreement. Hestia had a point.

"Dammit." Loki knew the logic was sound, but it still stung.

Finn was smart, strong, and of the same race. Being rejected didn't feel fair.

—•——•——•——•——•——•—

A rush of sound filled the sky as a winged figure landed softly on the street outside.

Ryuu Lion saw Fear right away. She stepped outside, waved off the surprised Adventurers, and motioned for the Harpy to come in.

"Thank you, Miss Ryuu," Fear said as she walked into the tavern.

"Oh, Fear! Is everything ready?" Hestia waved.

"Yes, Lady Hestia. Everything is arranged as requested," Fear reported. "Ray is already tracking them with the camera."

"Hehehe. Perfect."

Hestia took a small device from her pocket, set it on the table, and tapped a few buttons. A holographic screen lit up. Ray's voice came through the speakers—then a clear aerial view of August and Lili walking together appeared.

The other Gods stared at the screen, totally bewildered.

"Hestia… what exactly are you doing?" Artemis asked, suddenly catching on that her friend was a bit of a voyeur.

"I'm watching my child confess her feelings!" Hestia proclaimed with a proud grin. She turned toward the kitchen. "Hey, bring out the food! You can't watch a good romance without snacks."

The cooks in the back didn't complain. If anything, they worked even faster. They wanted to watch the show too.

"Lady Hestia, isn't this a big invasion of Mr. August's privacy?" Ryuu asked, thinking the live-streamed date was pretty questionable.

"I'm just documenting a milestone!" Hestia brushed the concern aside. "Besides, Lili literally asked me for support. I'm providing remote assistance!"

On the screen, August and Lili walked toward the river district, passing by the Ganesha Familia's compound. They didn't talk much. They just bought some street snacks and ate together in comfortable silence.

Tiona Hiryute promptly left her Familia's table and hurried over to sit beside Hestia for a better view.

"Why aren't they saying anything?" she asked. The audio feed picked up the background sound of the crowd, but the two of them stayed mostly quiet.

"You just don't get romance," Demeter chuckled, wearing the ultimate auntie smile. "She's working up her courage. Finding the right words for a confession isn't like regular talk. They're letting the tension build."

The evening had taken a far more entertaining turn than Demeter expected. Lili had left Finn Deimne waiting so she could confess her feelings to August.

"Oh, is that how it works?" Tiona blinked.

Tiona had never been in love or chased a man, so all of this was brand new to her. She looked back at her sister. Tione was still fidgeting, clearly wanting to run off and comfort Finn.

Riveria Ljos Alf caught the look and sighed. As the mother figure of the Loki Familia, she knew she had to step in.

"Tione, watch carefully and take notes," Riveria instructed. "Watch how Liliruca handles a confession."

"Eh?" Tione paused.

"If you run to the captain now, you'll just push him further away," Ais Wallenstein chimed in, deciding to help her friend out. "Riveria wants you to learn from Liliruca."

Tione finally stopped pacing. She sat back down and fixed her eyes on Hestia's holographic screen.

'Fine. Let's see how you handle this,' she thought.

Every woman in the tavern leaned in, eyes glued to the screen, ready to memorize every word of the coming confession.

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