Surprise! I've Transmigrated Again-Chapter 229 - ⤞ The Advancing Beauty Goddess

The God's Banquet.

As its name suggests, it's a banquet hosted by the Gods.

Though the name sounds grand and inspires reverence, it's merely an ordinary gathering that the Gods hold whenever boredom strikes.

Despite taking place in an elegant grand hall, it can't mask the reality — the Gods gather like common folk at a marketplace, bragging, comparing themselves, and bickering endlessly.

This has always been the way. Though they're Gods, they're just like humans in their competitive nature. If anything, their desires burn even stronger than mortals'.

This content is taken from fгeewebnovёl.com.

But at this particular banquet, something was different.

"Hey—! Freya! Shorty!"

The moment Loki spotted her arch-enemy Hestia entering the venue, she abandoned Dionysus and Demeter, rushing toward the petite Goddess.

Her cheerful expression suddenly soured.

The cause? Her arch-enemy Hestia was wearing an evening gown!

Though the gown was modest, Loki — who despised wearing women's evening wear — had specifically chosen one just to mock Hestia.

Now her plan lay in ruins. Next to Hestia's impressive figure, wouldn't she look ridiculous?!

Well, she already looked ridiculous... So what difference did it make?

Hestia, for her part, looked equally displeased at seeing Loki.

"Tch!"

"Hmph."

The rivals exchanged looks of pure disdain.

Feeling foolish about her own scheme, Loki yanked at Hestia's evening gown. "Hey, shorty, where'd you get this dress? Steal it, did you?"

Her words dripped with malice toward the curvaceous Goddess before her. Being an evil goddess herself, she showed no mercy in taunting her rival.

Freya, observing their quarrel from the side, chimed in, "That's right, Hestia, I'm curious too."

"Indeed, I never expected that Hestia — who just a month ago came crying to us about having no money, shelter, or work — would now be wearing an evening gown. One has to wonder if fortune has smiled upon you lately."

The one who interrupted was a tall woman wearing an eye patch — Hephaestus, the Goddess of Fire and Craftsmanship.

As Hestia's close friend, Hephaestus was curious how her formerly destitute divine companion could now afford such elegant attire.

The Hearth Goddess had transformed from her previous modest state, and in her evening gown, she looked absolutely radiant. Her appearance immediately drew the attention of every male God present.

Their admiring gazes made her stand taller, which only emphasized her already impressive figure.

[Mountains] Hestia VS [Flat Plains] Loki!

The two were complete opposites.

Unable to bear this "massive" blow, Loki ran away in tears of envy.

"Fortune has smiled... you could say that." Hestia flashed a victory sign and declared proudly, "I now have my own Familia!"

"Ah, you mean that human called Bell?" As her divine friend, Hephaestus knew of him wel, "That youth with white hair and red eyes?"

"No, not him."

"Eh? Not that youth?"

"Not Bell-kun — another youth who just joined my Familia!"

Hearing this, Hephaestus was visibly stunned.

Even Freya, who had been about to leave, paused to listen as Hestia boasted about her new Familia member.

"My, my, for your Familia to actually recruit someone — that's quite rare."

"What do you mean 'for my Familia'!" Hestia bristled at her friend's slight, but quickly continued proudly, "Adam is exceptional — mature, reliable, and courteous. Most importantly, given time to grow, his unmatched potential will let him stand above all of Orario!"

Let me explain again!

This banquet's very nature is for Gods to compete and show off! Given any opportunity, they'll boast endlessly.

Hestia was no different. Though when she'd previously bragged about Bell, he was too unknown, and the other Gods dismissed it as typical 'my child is the best' prattle.

"What delights me most is that he chose my Familia of his own free will!" Hestia declared, proudly drawing herself up with unmistakable satisfaction.

Hephaestus asked, "Is this child truly so remarkable?"

Her friend's manner intrigued her — it differed notably from when Hestia had introduced her first Familia member.

"Remarkable doesn't begin to describe it!" Hestia enthused, seeing her friend's interest, "When we first met, he seemed ordinary enough. I thought him simply mature, steady, and polite. But when I granted him my Falna, he, he..."

She tugged at her hair in frustration, struggling to find the right words.

"Like a jewel covered in dust — after a simple polish, it reveals its radiance, a brilliance rivaling any other."

Freya, who had been quietly observing, spoke these words, "Isn't that right, Hestia?"

"Yes, exactly! Freya puts it perfectly!" Hestia exclaimed with lingering awe, "I'm so grateful Adam chose me — I could have missed discovering this extraordinary child!"

She smiled blissfully, oblivious to the predatory intent lurking nearby.

"Yes indeed, I almost missed out too..."

"Hm? Freya, did you say something?"

"No, you must have misheard."

"Is that so?" Hestia gave her a puzzled look, then suddenly remembered her errand and turned to her divine friend, "Hephaestus, I have a favor to ask!"

"What is it? And let me be clear — if you're asking to borrow money, I won't lend you even one Valis!" Hephaestus firmly stated to the diminutive goddess, who had a history of such requests.

As for borrowing money from her, don't even think about it!

"Am I that kind of person?!" Hestia shouted indignantly, pointing at her evening gown, "I can afford this now — how could I possibly ask to borrow money from you?"

"That's true... Well then, what favor do you want? Tell me." Hephaestus added in a low voice, "Depending on what you say, I might sever all ties with you."

"Actually, I want you, Hephaestus, to personally forge two weapons for me."

"I refuse!"

The words had barely left Hestia's mouth before being flatly rejected.

"Eh—?! Why?!" She gaped at her divine friend, "Why would you refuse me?!"

"You're the one... sigh, why are you so surprised?" Hephaestus sighed, pressing her fingers to her forehead as she explained, "Hestia, you know how expensive weapons made by my Familia are, right? And you're asking me to forge them personally — I don't think you can afford such an enormous expense."

"I know." Hestia nodded, unfazed, "Of course I know that having you forge weapons requires a huge fee."

"Then...?"

"But! I have something to trade!"

"Something?" Both Goddesses asked.

Even Freya showed interest, curious what this supposedly poor goddess could offer to tempt Hephaestus.

"It's this!" Hestia produced several pieces of ore from her bodice and handed them to Hephaestus, the Smith Goddess.

"This... what is it?" Hephaestus examined them in her hand.

"It's obvious, isn't it? These are ores."

"Of course I know they're ores. I mean, where did you get them?"

"From my Familia member, from Adam!" Hestia declared proudly, chest thrust forward.

Freya spoke up, "Is that the human who joined your Familia later?"

"Huh? Did I ever say Adam was human?" Hestia looked puzzled before continuing, "But as you said, Freya — before I came here, he told me these are some of the last unique ore pieces in the world. If you don't agree, Hephaestus, I'll give you these ore pieces — that should convince you."

"Should convince me... you say." Hephaestus replied, "Aren't these just ordinary stones?"

"How could that be?! These can't be ordinary stones!" Hestia protested vehemently.

"What, are you questioning the judgment of me, the Goddess of Fire and Forge?"

"No, but... Adam would never deceive me!"

Without proper communication, it seemed the two might develop a rift.

However... something felt off.

Why? Because Freya noticed Hephaestus's right hand was tightly gripping those ore pieces, refusing to let go. Though her expression remained unchanged, that itself was quite telling.

[If they were ordinary stones, she would have discarded them already.]

"You're lying, aren't you, Hephaestus?" Freya's words startled both of them, "Those ore pieces are quite rare, aren't they?"

"...Tch, so you noticed, Freya." Hephaestus clicked her tongue softly, looking somewhat vexed.

"Eh? What do you mean?" Only Hestia hadn't caught on.

"It means that the ore pieces you brought, just as you said, are truly unique in this world... at least, I've never seen anything like them before." Growing visibly angrier, Hephaestus pinched the loli's cheeks hard and scolded her loudly, "Why would you just openly bring these out?! Do you have any idea how valuable these ore pieces are, you idiot!"

She was worried for her divine friend.

If news of these ore pieces spread, even if Hestia claimed these were the only ones, the greedy Gods wouldn't believe it. They would wonder: Was she hoarding them? Was she monopolizing them?

Greed is the most terrible desire — even Freya might start a Familia war over this. And Hestia's Familia, being the weakest in Orario, couldn't possibly face those powerful Familias.

"Ah, just as I thought..." Hestia wasn't surprised at all, as if she had known the value of these ore pieces from the start.

"'Just as you thought'... what do you mean?" Hephaestus felt she couldn't understand her divine friend anymore — they'd only been apart for a month, yet she had changed so drastically.

More importantly, Hestia dared to play coy with her! This made her even angrier, and she increased the pressure on Hestia's cheeks until the goddess begged for mercy before letting go.

Hephaestus pressed, "What's going on? Explain quickly!"

"My child, Adam is a very special person." Hestia said thoughtfully, "From when we first met, he had values different from other children. He... doesn't like owing favors to others."

"Doesn't like owing favors?"

"Yes, he's like that — it feels as though he's always engaging in fair trades." Hestia replied softly, "Earlier too, when I granted him my Falna, he insisted on having me move out of the basement of his own accord, and even prepared this evening dress for me."

"This time as well... even though it was my selfish desire to have weapons made for Bell, even though I said it had nothing to do with him, he insisted I take these ore pieces, as if repaying a favor."

"Is... that so."

"Yes! So please, Hephaestus!"

She pleaded with Hephaestus to grant her wish.

"Ahhh, what a pain." Hephaestus tugged at her hair, but after brief consideration agreed, "Fine, considering these ore pieces, I'll accept."

"Really?!"

"But! While the material cost won't be needed, my crafting fee is very expensive—be prepared for that, understood?"

"Yes, I'm ready for it!"

Afterwards, Hestia and Hephaestus discussed what kinds of weapons to forge. They didn't even notice when Freya left.

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"Doesn't like owing favors... huh?"

In the tavern's second-floor staff quarters, Syr was shaking a glass bottle.

The two V$500 coins inside made pleasant clinking sounds as they hit the glass walls. This caught Anya's interest nearby.

"It's strange-nya, why would you make boxed lunches, Syr, when even Mama Mia refused?"

"Because I can earn tips." Syr said matter-of-factly, "Look, 1,000 Valis in just two days — what generous payment!"

She shook the small glass bottle again, making the two coins clink pleasantly once more.

"But he seems really unwilling-nya." Anya stated bluntly.

"Yes... probably because my boxed lunches taste bad." Syr sighed dejectedly.

She seemed unwilling to give up this tempting extra income of V$500 per day.

"For this, I can think of a solution-nya."

"What is it?"

"Force him to buy the lunches-nya! If he won't buy them, we'll teach him a lesson, just like today-nya!" Anya proudly proclaimed these rather criminal-sounding words, "Just like I did before, dragging him into the tavern without asking and trying to sell him our most expensive set meal-nya!"

But as soon as she finished speaking, she received a light smack on the back of her head.

"Don't cause trouble for our tavern, you foolish Anya."

The one who hit her was Lunoire Faust.

Acting as mediator for the two cat-eared girls with contrasting personalities in the tavern, she always scolded them not to dig their own graves or get carried away.

Just like she was fulfilling her duty now.

"Then what should we do-nya?"

"In this situation, shouldn't Syr properly practice her cooking skills so he'll want to buy them willingly?" Lunoire finally spoke up to remind them.

Anya shouted in shock, "Nya nya nya! There's actually such a method!"

Lunoire held her forehead and sighed, "Rather, this is the normal method, isn't it?"

"Yes, just as Lunoire said, I need to practice my cooking skills properly." It seemed Syr chose to improve her cooking, and set a goal for herself, "...At least, make it edible!"

"Alright! Let's work hard starting tomorrow-nya!"

"Then starting tomorrow, Anya will be my taste tester."

"Nya nya nya nya nya—?!!!"

"It's decided."

Faced with Syr who gave her no chance to refuse, and Lunoire's sympathetic gaze, Anya instantly questioned her life choices.

Everyone in the tavern knew just how terrible Syr's cooking skills were. It wasn't just a matter of whether it was edible — it was the kind where you weren't sure if you'd survive.

But now unable to refuse, she could only passively accept the upcoming torment.

She just hoped this delicate cat-eared girl wouldn't be broken by the gentle cooking disaster.

And Syr, the tormentor, looked at the glass bottle in her hand, imagining how it would look when filled, while wearing an irresistibly enchanting smile on her face.

That was the smile of a Goddess of Beauty!

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