Raising Hel, in Danmachi.

[Common]

Yang gotta yang, thx for the update!

Click to shrink...

Yeah I wish I had more than this for today but i spent all weekend at a pokemon go fest event and didnt have time to write too much

 

[bambache]

Yang froze. "…I mean, Ruby should probably join me too, right?"


Ruby's eyes went wide, then she shook her head violently. "No! Absolutely not! I do not want tutoring!"

Click to shrink...

"Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal!"

 

[jaimyahoo]

"So she can level up, you lovable dolt!" Weiss shouted, arms crossed and voice sharp enough to echo off the stone walls.

Click to shrink...

Yup, that dolt is indeed lovable! Nice to see more of Weiss's dere side!

Btw, workaholic Taylor is workaholic Taylor

 

[Common]

Ishtar was furious.


Not the theatrical irritation she sometimes displayed in public. Not the simmering annoyance of a rival slighting her.


This was deeper.


Colder.


She had lost Haruime.


The fox girl had slipped through her grasp and into the hands of that insufferable flat-chested schemer—Loki.


Ishtar's nails dug lightly into the arm of her couch as the memory replayed in her mind.


The War Game—if it could even be called that. Captain-on-captain combat. What a miserable straw to draw.


Finn was terrifying.


She hadn't seen it coming. None of them had. What looked like a petty rivalry between familias had unfolded into something far more calculated.


An elaborate distraction.


While the city watched Loki and the Guild maneuver against the Dark Familias, the Guild—alongside several major familias—had quietly purged most of the Dark Familias operating inside Orario. Safehouses had been raided. Smuggling routes collapsed. Entire networks had simply… vanished overnight.


Power had shifted across the city like a board being reset.


And Ishtar had been forced to watch it happen.


To watch as Loki took her fox.


Her gaze hardened.


Loki had gained prestige. The Guild had gained stability. Several rival gods had gained territory and influence.


And Ishtar had lost one of her most valuable assets.


Haruime's magic alone had been worth a small army.


The courtesans lounging around the chamber shifted nervously as their goddess's anger thickened the air.


Ishtar slowly exhaled.


Fine.


If Loki wished to play games…


She could play as well.


Loki's daughter had only just arrived in Orario. Her familia would still be weak—barely established.


Easy pickings.


"Send a few girls," Ishtar said lazily, waving a hand.


Several of the prostitutes straightened immediately.


"To Hel's establishment," she continued, voice smooth and poisonous. "Cause a disturbance. Nothing overt. Just enough to make business… inconvenient."


One of the women hesitated. "Lady Ishtar… Hel's followers—"


Ishtar's eyes snapped toward her.


The woman went pale.


"They are just Level Ones," Ishtar said dismissively. "Don't worry about them."


The group of Level 1s and 2s nodded frantically, eager to show they understood.


Ishtar leaned back against the cushions, a smug smile slowly spreading across her lips.


Hel's little familia would fold under pressure soon enough.


A new shop.


Unproven adventurers.


Children playing at being a familia.


Her gaze shifted lazily across the chamber.


"Phryne," Ishtar called.


The massive toad-woman lounging nearby lifted her head with a wet chuckle, thick arms resting on her knees.


"Yes, Lady Ishtar?" Phryne croaked.


Ishtar tapped a finger lightly against the arm of her couch.


"How goes the search for my wayward sister?"


Phryne grinned, revealing rows of unpleasant teeth.


"We've got girls watching the district," she said. "But Lady Eresh is slippery, we havent had any sightings in weeks."


====

Inside, the atmosphere was calm.


Weapons lined the walls in careful rows—spears, swords, axes, and shields polished to a mirror sheen. Racks of reinforced travel clothing and light armor stood neatly arranged beside them.


Behind the counter stood Ereshkigal.


The goddess looked completely at ease, one elbow resting on the polished wood while she flipped idly through a ledger. Dark hair spilled over her shoulders as she calmly tracked inventory with the patience of someone who had managed the dead for millennia.


A bell chimed as the door opened.


Several women stepped inside.


They were beautiful—graceful, poised, and dressed like hookers.

And clearly not just adventurers.


Ereshkigal looked up slowly.


Her crimson eyes swept over them once.


Then she smiled faintly.


"Welcome."


Her voice was warm, polite… and somehow heavy.


"What can I help you with today?"


The girls froze.


One of them swallowed hard.


"…Lady Ereshkigal?"


The name slipped out before she could stop herself.


Silence fell over the shop.


The goddess behind the counter tilted her head slightly, as if considering them again.


"Oh," Ereshkigal said mildly. "You recognize me."


The women immediately bowed their heads, panic flickering across their faces, then they ran.

 

[Zetakille]

Oh dear. Ishtar's going to develop a phobia of bugs in the near future, isn't she? Her "Haruime" was in fact Lisa.

 

[Common]

The Guild rarely panicked.


Concern? Yes. Urgency? Often.


But panic meant something had gone deeply wrong in the Dungeon.


The report on the table suggested exactly that.


The elf clerk adjusted her glasses as several pages of field notes were spread across the long conference table.


"Multiple adventurer parties have reported irregular monster behavior between Floors Seven and Twelve," she said carefully.


Across from her, a senior Guild investigator frowned.


"Irregular how?"


The elf flipped to the next page.


"Ants."


Silence filled the room.


"…Ants," the investigator repeated flatly.


"Yes."


She tapped the report.


"Large colonies of predatory ants appearing on floors where they are not normally present."


Another page slid across the table.


"Numbers are also… unusual."


"How unusual?"


The elf hesitated.


"…Thousands."


The room went very still.


One of the analysts leaned forward.


"That's impossible. Dungeon spawn rates for that species are limited."


"That's what we believed," she replied.


Another report slid into view.


"And yet they are appearing on higher floors in organized swarms."


"Organized?"


"Yes."


She tapped a line in the report.


"Adventurers claim the ants retreat strategically and prioritize monsters carrying larger magic stones."


The investigator slowly leaned back.


"…They're hunting."


"Correct."


"And collecting stones?"


"Yes."


A quiet voice spoke from the end of the table.


"That is not natural."


Everyone turned.


A representative from Freya Familia stood there, marine blue eyes sharp.


"We would like access to these reports."

========

High above Orario, within the towering manor of Freya Familia, the goddess herself lounged lazily across a velvet seat.


Silver hair spilled over the armrest like moonlight.


Freya listened as the report finished.


"Irregular ant colonies appearing across multiple Dungeon floors," the adventurer said.


Van, the half-Pallum, stood calmly at the base of the steps, arms folded behind his back.


Freya hummed softly.


"Ants…"


Her beautiful eyes glowed faintly.


The world shifted for her.


Where others saw people, Freya saw souls.


Light.


Color.


Potential.


Although all of that had briefly been overshadowed the moment she spotted a very familiar soul again.


Odin.


Freya's lips curled faintly.


That lovable man was already flirting with Hestia.


It was just like him.


Some things never changed.


Freya shook her head lightly, amusement fading as she returned to the present.


Right.


Ants.


She had already noticed something strange in the city recently involving its bugs… and the trail kept circling back to that girl.


Taylor.


A full minute passed as she considered the situation.


Ants gathering magic stones.


Freya smiled faintly.


"I believe," she said slowly, "that I should speak with my granddaughter."


Van blinked.


That… was not the answer he had expected.


"Your granddaughter?" he repeated carefully.


Freya rose gracefully from her seat, silver hair cascading down her back.


"Yes."


Her eyes gleamed with quiet amusement.


"It has been some time since we last spoke."


Van lowered his head slightly, though confusion still lingered.


"Shall I prepare an escort?"


Freya chuckled softly.


"No."


Her smile widened just a little.


"I think I shall visit Hel personally."

===

Across the city, inside Hel Familia's shop…


Hel was sitting at her desk.


Crying.


Not dramatic sobbing. Not the tears of heartbreak or tragedy.


Just the quiet, exhausted tears of someone buried under a mountain of paperwork.


Forms.


Invoices.


Guild reports.


Inventory manifests.


Tax documents.


Requests for equipment permits.


Dungeon activity notices.


And—somehow—three different warnings from the guild regarding irregular ant activity, oh dear lord if they ever figured out that was Taylor, she does not want to know the amount of paperwork that would create for her.

Hel slowly lifted another sheet of parchment.


Her eye twitched.


"How," she whispered to herself, voice thin with disbelief, "did my familia generate this much paperwork in three days?"


Another page slid off the pile and fluttered to the floor.


Hel stared at it.


Then at the rest of the stack.


Then back at the fallen page.


"…I was a goddess of death," she muttered faintly.

Just outside the room Ereshkigal glanced over from behind the counter.


"You still are."


"Yes," Hel said weakly. "But managing the dead was somehow less administratively demanding than this."


Lisa sat nearby, calmly reviewing another ledger, her tail swaying lazily.


"That would be because the dead rarely file complaints."


Hel buried her face in her hands.


"Taylor has produced twelve separate Guild inquiries."


Lisa nodded.


"Yes."


"Yang broke two practice weapons."


"Yes."


"Ruby submitted a Dungeon incident report that was forty percent sound effects."


"…Yes."


Hel slowly lowered her hands, staring into the middle distance.


"Lisa, do you want to be captain instead of Ruby?" Hel asked, gesturing weakly to the stack of forms the Guild had demanded corrections on.


Lisa didn't even look up.


"Nope!" she said cheerfully, sliding another page into a neatly organized pile.


Hel blinked.


Lisa continued sorting the documents with alarming efficiency.


"I enjoy being alive," she added brightly. "Removing Ruby from captaincy would require explaining that decision to Ruby."


Hel slowly nodded.


"…Fair. Wait Ruby wouldnt hurt anyone?"


Lisa held up Ruby's Dungeon report.


Across the page were enthusiastic notes like:


"AND THEN YANG PUNCHED A KOBOLD THROUGH A WALL!!!"


Followed by:


"ANTS EVERYWHERE!!! (probably Taylor)"


And:


"CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH (monster noises)"


Lisa tapped the page.


"The Guild is requesting clarification on this section."


Hel rubbed her temples.


"…Which section?"


Lisa pointed.


Hel read the line.


"AND THEN TAYLOR DID THE BUG THING AGAIN."


Lisa's ears flicked, tail swaying lazily.


"Ya know… the Guild is probably going to figure out that the ants are Taylor."


"FUUUCCCKKK!" Hel whined, burying her face in her hands again.


"Yep," Lisa said cheerily, sliding another sheet into the needs correction pile. "Better start bracing yourself."


Hel groaned so loudly it echoed off the walls.


"…I did not sign up for this level of paperwork chaos," she muttered.


Lisa tilted her head, eyes glinting with amusement.


"Technically, you did when you adopted us."


Hel whines.


Paperwork is how we survive gods.


Ereshkigal's eyes flicked to the counter, a faint memory surfacing.

"Oh, Hel… some people who looked like they were from my sister's familia came by earlier," Ereshkigal said slowly, recalling the incident. "Only she would induct those… floozies. They left when they saw me, but it looked like they wanted to cause trouble."


Hel's head thudded lightly against the desk.


"…Of course they did…" she muttered, voice muffled against her hands.


She lifted her gaze and spoke more firmly. "Lisa, close the door to the office."


Lisa nodded, tail flicking lazily, and moved to obey.


Hel took a deep breath and looked up toward the ceiling. Then she addressed the air as if speaking to a very naughty child.


"Taylor… if you are paying attention, can you please come to my office?"

 

[bambache]

How much amusement is Loki having over their kid suffering from the antics that they signed up for?

 

[DavidMswdlvr2]

How much amusement is Loki having over their kid suffering from the antics that they signed up for?

Click to shrink...

Smugger than Tattletale at her worst.

 

[Common]

Ishtar had expected many things when she sent those weaklings to harass Hel. Finding her missing sister was not one of them.

She had been expecting her sister to be doing one of may things. Hiding, scheming, building some quiet little familia in the shadows of Orario.


What she had not expected was to discover that her sister had been living in the city the entire time.


And worse—


Living with Hel.


Ishtar sat back on her couch, fingers tapping slowly against the armrest as the information settled in her mind.


Ereshkigal.


Her sister.


Working in a shop like some common shopkeeper.


Her lips curled slightly.


Honestly.


So what if no one had ever been good enough for Ereshkigal's familia?


That wasn't Ishtar's fault.


If anything, she had been doing her sister a favor.


She had simply… made sure Ereshkigal understood that.


Made sure the foolish adventurers who tried to approach her sister knew their place.


Ishtar had only driven off the unworthy ones.


That didn't mean Ereshkigal had to disappear entirely.


The thought irritated her.


Family should not hide from family.


Ishtar stood smoothly from her couch.


"Prepare a message," she ordered.


The nearby courtesans immediately straightened.


"To Hel."


The room grew quiet.


Ishtar's smile sharpened.


"If my sister wishes to play house with that gloomy little goddess…"


Her eyes gleamed.


"Then we will settle this properly."


One of the girls hesitated. "Lady Ishtar…?"


Ishtar turned toward the balcony overlooking the Entertainment District.


"Inform Hel that Ishtar Familia formally challenges Hel Familia."


The words hung heavy in the room.


"A War Game."

=======

Meanwhile…


Inside Hel's office, the atmosphere was considerably less dramatic.


Hel sat behind her desk, buried beneath stacks of paperwork that threatened to collapse at any moment.


Lisa was still helping organize the piles with methodical calm.


Ereshkigal leaned casually against the doorframe.


And Taylor stood quietly near the wall, eyes half-focused on something far away.


"—and she just said it again," Taylor reported evenly. "A War Game."


Hel slowly lifted her head from the mountain of forms.


"…She what?"


Taylor blinked once, concentrating as thousands of tiny eyes relayed the scene from across the district.


"She stood up. Dramatic pause. Balcony speech. Very theatrical."


Lisa's tails flicked with interest.


"Sounds like Ishtar."


Taylor nodded slightly.


"She's sending the challenge through the Guild."


Hel stared at the desk.


Then at the ceiling.


Then back at Taylor.


"…Of course she is."


Ereshkigal crossed her arms, unimpressed.


"That woman has always loved her theatrics."


Taylor tilted her head slightly as the swarm continued observing.


"Oh, and she thinks we're weak."


Hel closed her eyes.


"…Naturally."


Lisa leaned forward, curious.


"How weak?"


Taylor answered immediately.


"She believes Hel Familia will collapse the moment pressure is applied."

A slow smile crept across Lisa's face.


"Oh, this is going to be fun."


Hel, meanwhile, gently lowered her head onto the desk again.


"…I just wanted to finish my paperwork, not get more of it."


She sighed into the wood for a moment before slowly pushing herself upright, crimson eyes drifting toward Taylor.


"…You are all going to crush them utterly."


Taylor blinked once.


Hel pointed at her.


"Taylor, I expect something biblical from you."


Lisa's tails perked.


Taylor tilted her head slightly.


"You are aware of what the Bible is?"


For a moment, the room went quiet.


Then Lisa slowly turned her head.


Her golden eyes locked onto Hel.


Not suspicious exactly.


But… very interested.


One of her tails stilled.


Another began swaying slowly as she studied their goddess with sudden, careful attention.


Ereshkigal, meanwhile, just looked confused.


"…What's a Bible?"


Hel froze.


Just slightly.


Which, unfortunately, was more than enough for Lisa to notice.


The fox girl leaned forward a fraction, curiosity sharpening into something much more analytical.


"Hel," Lisa said gently.


Too gently.


"This is a conversation for another time, Lisa," Hel answers


"Plagues," Hel said immediately. "Swarming horrors. The sort of thing that makes people reconsider their life choices."


Lisa snorted.


"That tracks."


Hel waved a hand dismissively before looking between the two girls.


"Actually, before that—both of you go find Weiss and have your Aura unlocked."


Taylor tilted her head slightly.


Lisa's ears twitched.


Hel continued calmly.


"She should currently be working on Dungeon crystal ammunition."


Lisa blinked.


"Crystal ammunition?"


Hel nodded.


"Yes. Ruby asked if we could shoot monsters with their own magic stones."


Taylor considered that for a moment.


"…That seems inefficient."


Hel lifted one hand and gestured vaguely at the city outside.


"Do you want guns or no?"


Taylor paused.


Lisa blinked.


Hel continued flatly.


"Because if you want proper gunpowder, we need sulfur."


She pointed out the window.


"Do you know how far away the nearest volcano is?"


Silence.


Taylor slowly turned her head toward Hel.


Lisa's tail stopped moving entirely.


Hel blinked at them.


"…What?"


Lisa leaned forward slightly, golden eyes narrowing with keen interest.


"Our goddess," she said carefully, "just referenced industrial sulfur extraction."


Ereshkigal looked between them.


"…Is that strange?"


Taylor answered immediately.


"Yes."


Lisa nodded. "Extremely."


Hel stared at them for a moment.


Then she sighed. "…I am a goddess of death."


Lisa tilted her head. "That does not explain firearms."

"Once again, a conversation for later. Probably after this war game, Taylor keep me updated, and both of you go get your aura done." Hel states

 

[Zetakille]

Oh this is going to be so fun.

 

[DavidMswdlvr2]

Bets on how many Ishtar members develop crippling fear of any sort of bug?

Bet at least 10!

 

[Autarii]

Bets on how many Ishtar members develop crippling fear of any sort of bug?

Bet at least 10!

Click to shrink...

Nah, they already were scared of bugs. Skitter is going to help show them that they just didn't know it yet.

 

[Dedicatedfool71]

You're assuming that there will be more than a few left alive

 

[Spector]

Fun story so far.
I note though that they would know what a bible is. A bible being a collection work bound together, a book as it were. Or in that particular case a portable library.
The Bible as referenced to here is an old cultural short hand reference to that specific work.

 

[Doctor]

...so for the war game...how many crimes would we be committing if we simply...gave ruby caffeine?

 

[Common]

Hel signed the last document with a slow, deliberate stroke of the pen.


The stack of finished paperwork slid to one side of the desk.


The unfinished stack remained… intimidating.


She stared at it for a long moment.


Then she very deliberately placed the pen down.


"…That is tomorrow's problem."


Outside the office, the quiet bustle of the shop continued as customers browsed weapons and clothing.


Somewhere in the city, Ishtar was almost certainly preparing to do something spectacularly stupid.


Hel could feel it the same way someone from Florida could smell rain coming long before the clouds rolled in.


Inevitable.


Approaching.


Probably loud.


Hel sighed softly and leaned back in her chair.


"I wish I could remain here to witness whatever idiotic thing Ishtar is about to do."


Her emerald silver-green eyes drifted briefly toward the door.


"And I wish I was with Taylor and Lisa," she added quietly.


The two girls had gone to find Weiss so their Auras could be unlocked—something Hel strongly suspected would produce more paperwork later.


Hel rubbed her temple.


"…But I cannot keep Hephy waiting."


With a small grunt, she stood, straightened her coat, and gathered herself.


Across the room, Ereshkigal glanced over from the doorway.


"Going out?"


"Yes."


Ereshkigal smiled faintly.


"With Hephaestus?"


Hel paused at the door.


"…Yes."


Ereshkigal's smile widened slightly.


"Have fun."


Hel stepped out into the evening streets of Orario, already lit with lanterns and alive with the sounds of the city.


=====

Deep beneath the Guild, in the silent stone chamber where few mortals were ever permitted to tread, the god Ouranos sat upon his ancient throne.


Blue witch-lamps burned steadily along the pillars.


The only sound was the quiet rustle of parchment.


Across from him stood Fels, patient as always.


Another report had just been delivered.


Fels held it out.


"A formal War Game request has been submitted to the Guild."


Ouranos accepted the parchment slowly.


His eyes skimmed the header.


Ishtar Familia

vs

Hel Familia


For several seconds, he said nothing.


Then, unexpectedly—


Ouranos chuckled.


The sound was quiet, deep, and very old.


Fels tilted their skull-masked head.


"…My lord?"


Ouranos leaned back slightly in his throne, gaze drifting somewhere far beyond the chamber walls.


"I remember our conversation."


Fels waited.


"Our first," Ouranos clarified.


"When Hel descended."


The memory returned easily.


A newly arrived goddess standing before the Guild's ancient overseer.


Calm.


Polite.


Eyes far older than the body she wore.


She had listened patiently as he explained the rules.


No divine power.


No interference with the Dungeon.


No breaking the fragile balance that allowed Orario to survive.


And Hel had nodded.


Very respectfully.


Very reasonably.


Ouranos tapped the parchment lightly.


"Hel asked many questions."


Across from him, Fels spoke quietly.


"That is not unusual."


"No," Ouranos agreed.


"But her questions were… precise."


Fels folded their hands within the sleeves of their robe.


"If anyone were to find a way to skirt the rules," they said thoughtfully, "it would be her."


Ouranos' gaze shifted slightly.


"Rumors have reached my ears."


Fels continued.


"They claim that the goddess we are discussing can call upon strength equivalent to a Level Four adventurer… without using any divine power."


Ouranos did not immediately respond. Instead, the old god leaned back slowly in his throne.


"…Yes," he murmured. "That sounds like Hel."


Fels tilted their skull slightly.


"You believe the rumors?"


Ouranos' lips curved faintly.


"I believe Hel is extremely careful with the words divine power."He tapped the parchment again. "The War Game request from Ishtar. Approve it and tell Ishatar she needs to let Hel know."


Oranos leans back and murmurs to himself "If she has truly found a method to empower herself without violating the letter of the rules…"


He chuckled quietly. "Truly Loki's daughter."


Then his gaze shifted to the other report resting beside it. The one concerning the Dungeon.

Irregular ant colonies. Thousands of monsters dying across multiple floors. Ouranos lifted the document slightly.


"We are certain it was Hel's familia causing that irregularity with the insects in the Dungeon?"


Across from him, Fels inclined their skull-masked head. "Yes."

Ouranos motioned slightly for his aide to continue.


"That one member—Taylor—appears capable of controlling all insects within an extremely large radius."


Ouranos hummed softly.


"Even within the Dungeon…"


"Yes. The Guild investigators traced the pattern of exterminated monster populations," Fels continued. "The swarms behave with coordinated intent. They gather magic stones, transport drop items, and establish temporary colonies."


Fels paused.


"…At a location where a renard retrieves them."


Ouranos nodded slightly.


"Efficient logistics."


There was a small pause.


Then the old god spoke again.


But this time, not to Fels.


"Right. Taylor…"


Fels looked up in confusion.


Ouranos leaned back slightly in his throne, completely calm.


"I know your goddess would rather avoid the paperwork," he continued conversationally, "but you will need to be registered as a tamer."


For a second, nothing happened.


Then—


Fels jumped.


Because the floor behind them began to move.


At first it looked like dust.


Then like crawling shadows.


Thousands of tiny insects spilled from cracks in the stone, from behind pillars, from unseen crevices in the ancient chamber.


They gathered together.


Swarming.


Stacking.


Layering over one another.


Until the mass of insects formed a rough humanoid shape.


Fels took an involuntary step back.


"…By the gods."


The swarm shifted slightly as it stabilized. Then Taylor's voice came from it. Flat. Calm.

"You noticed."


Ouranos chuckled softly. "It would have been disappointing if I had not."


The swarm tilted its head slightly, thousands of tiny legs shifting to hold the shape together. "You're not alarmed?"


Ouranos smiled faintly. "Nothing that I haven't seen before." He rested his chin lightly against his hand. "Kelphri was rather enthusiastic when she first descended." A quiet pause followed. "Before she was sent back to Tenkai."


The swarm nodded. It was an oddly natural gesture considering it was made of thousands of insects.


Across the chamber, Fels found the motion deeply unsettling.

His gaze moved across the insect body with careful interest.


"I do not particularly care where your goddess is acquiring children like you."


Fels glanced toward him.


Ouranos continued calmly. "But I am going to need to have a discussion with her."


The swarm went still. "Why?"


"I have no intention of breaking up your happy family but is she is dealing with higher powers I need to know that she is doing it with approval," Oranos answers

=====

Meanwhile, across the city.

The evening air was warm, lantern light glowing along the streets of Orario as adventurers and merchants filled the night markets. Music drifted from nearby taverns while the smell of roasted meat and fresh bread hung pleasantly in the air.


Hel walked beside Hephaestus through the gently lit street, the city lively around them but not overwhelming.


For the first time in days, Hel looked relaxed.


Hephaestus glanced sideways at her.


"So," she asked casually, "where are we going for dinner?"


Hel's expression remained calm.


"I made a reservation."


Hephaestus stopped walking.


"You?"


Hel continued forward as if this were completely normal.


"Yes."


Hephaestus followed, eye narrowing slightly in curiosity.


They turned the corner onto a quieter avenue, where a large building stood warmly lit against the evening.


The scent reached them first.


Slow-roasted meats.


Fresh herbs.


Rice and simmering broths rich with spice.


Hephaestus raised an eyebrow as she saw the sign above the door.


"…You're kidding."


Hel allowed herself a small, satisfied smile.


The restaurant was owned by Iwakamutsukari no Mikoto,

Getting a table here normally required weeks of advance planning.


Hephaestus looked back at Hel.

"How did you manage this?"


Hel shrugged slightly.

"I asked."


Hephaestus snorted.

"You asked."


"Yes."


"You definitely threatened someone."


Hel looked mildly offended.

"I was very polite. It's just that I am friends with Izanami, and she hooked me up."


Hephaestus blinked.

"…You know Izanami?"


Hel nodded calmly.

"Yes. She introduced me."


Hel gestured toward the kitchen.

"To Iwakamutsukari no Mikoto."


Hephaestus slowly turned her head toward the open kitchen where the famous cooking god's staff worked with practiced precision. Then she turned back.


"…You casually know the underworld goddess of an entire pantheon."


Hel tilted her head. "We share professional interests."


Hephaestus stared at her.

"…That is the most ominous way you could have phrased that."


Hel offered a faint, unapologetic smile."Hephy, I am the death goddess of a pantheon too you know."


A server approached and placed two menus on the table. Soft lantern light flickered across the polished wood as the sounds of the restaurant wrapped around them.


Hephaestus leaned back in her chair, still shaking her head slightly.

"You're ridiculous."


Hel glanced at the menu. "I am well connected."


Hephaestus chuckled. "I'm starting to see that."


A sudden breeze swept through the doorway, and a familiar, mischievous voice called out.

"Ah! The industrious smith and the gloomy goddess—what a sight!"


Hel's eyes flicked up.


Hermes sauntered into the restaurant, a grin plastered across his face.


Hephaestus groaned.

"Of course it's you."


Hermes ignored her and leaned casually against the wall, arms crossed.

"So, Hephy… Dite called you that, huh? Really rolls off the tongue, doesn't it?"


Hephaestus flushed, clearly annoyed.

"…You're impossible."


Hel raised an eyebrow.

"Dite?"


"My half-sister here is married, you know," Hermes said with a smirk. "I figured you'd know, but I just wanted to warn you since you're out on a date with her."


Hel's crimson eyes flicked between them.


"Oh, well… that is certainly interesting. So, it's safe to assume Dite is Aphrodite? Do you Greeks just not care about… familial incest?"


"That's not what this is about, you stupid brother!" Hephaestus snapped, her face flushing in embarrassment.


Hermes only leaned forward on the table, grin widening.


"Oh?" he asked lightly. "What is it about then?"


For a moment, Hephaestus didn't answer.


Then she reached up.


Slowly—


She removed her eyepatch.


The cloth slipped away.


For the first time in centuries, both of her eyes were visible.


Her face was whole. No scar, no ruined flesh, perfectly healed.


Hermes froze.


The god of messengers—normally incapable of silence—stared. "…What." He straightened slowly, disbelief washing across his face. "That's…" His eyes flicked between her face and Hel. "…That's impossible."


Hel calmly took a sip of her drink. "Not impossible."


Hermes looked at Hel. "You—" His voice dropped. "You healed her."


Hel shrugged faintly. "It was pretty easy all in all."

"No, you don't get it," Hermes said, the humor gone from his voice. "That cursed scar is the reason our mother threw Hephaestus off Olympus when she was born."


The words hung heavily in the air. "Saying she was too ugly to be a goddess."


Hel went still.


For a moment, the goddess of death simply looked at Hephaestus.


Then understanding flickered across her face.


"…Hephy," Hel said softly. "Is that why you flinched when I?"


Hephaestus didn't answer immediately.


Hel's expression softened. "I'm so sorry."


Hermes exhaled slowly, then pushed himself upright from the table. "Right," he said after a moment, rolling his shoulders slightly. "Hel… you did right by my sister."


His familiar grin returned, though it was smaller this time."So I won't tease you two too much."


Hel arched a brow.


"But," Hermes continued, pointing casually toward her, "fair warning—Ishtar is looking for you. And from what I've heard, it doesn't sound friendly."


Hel sighed faintly. "Of course she is."


Hermes then glanced at Hephaestus. "Oh, and Hephy?"


She narrowed her eyes immediately. "What."


"I will absolutely be telling Aphrodite that you got healed."


Hephaestus groaned. "Hermes—"


Too late.


The god of messengers was already walking away, waving lazily over his shoulder as he disappeared back into the lively evening streets.


"Well," Hel said after a moment. "I suppose the secret is out."


Hephaestus sighed, rubbing the bridge of her nose. "Yes… it probably is."


The red-haired goddess looked back at Hel, expression apologetic. "I'm sorry about my brother."


Hel waved a hand lightly. "Ah, think nothing of it." A faint smile crossed her lips. "I'm am Loki's daughter after all."


Hephaestus blinked, then snorted.

 

[marakag]

...so for the war game...how many crimes would we be committing if we simply...gave ruby caffeine?

Click to shrink...

Wrong RWBY cast you,re thinking about Nora at most Ruby would be a bit more excitable.

 

[Pascale]

...so for the war game...how many crimes would we be committing if we simply...gave ruby caffeine?

Click to shrink...

Wrong RWBY cast you,re thinking about Nora at most Ruby would be a bit more excitable.

Click to shrink...

Easy, tell Ruby that by losing she will never be allowd to eat cookies and strawberries anymore. That should do the trick.

 

[Zetakille]

Wrong RWBY cast you,re thinking about Nora at most Ruby would be a bit more excitable.

Click to shrink...

Tell Ruby there's a plate of chocolate chip cookies with her name on it if she wins quickly. The quicker, the larger the plate.

 

[Amdar210]

Tell Ruby there's a plate of chocolate chip cookies with her name on it if she wins quickly. The quicker, the larger the plate.

Click to shrink...

Do you want Ruby to somehow break time and cause a paradox?

Because Ruby most definitely will if you use that as a threat.

 

[Zetakille]

Do you want Ruby to somehow break time and cause a paradox?

Because Ruby most definitely will if you use that as a threat.

Click to shrink...

If Ruby breaks time and causes a paradox for a plate of cookies, then she's damn well earned that plate of cookies.