Syr giggled and took a step back. "Of course. I can wait a bit longer... and I suppose it wouldn't do to enjoy my dear hero with a borrowed form... Nor with someone else watching."
I nodded. "Right. Can't have 'Hornie' peeping on you, right?"
The moment I said that, I felt a surge of mana from the distance, along with a vague sense of flustered denial.
Probably the mysterious young woman helping Freya keep up her charade.
Someone who I still hadn't met-
Wait.
Considering everything and how intimate that connection seemed to be with Freya... and how I had even mistaken that mysterious young woman for Freya in the past...
...No, let's snap that flag right there.
Even if there was potentially another lovesick young woman, we were cutting that thread right away.
Syr noticed and then chuckled. "Don't worry, my dear hero." She sidled up to my side again and whispered, "The only one I'll share you with is Hestia. No one else... No matter how much they insist."
I resisted the urge to wipe the sweat off my brow and said, "That doesn't clear things up very much... but sure, Syr."
Tia rolled her eyes and then started getting food for herself. "Don't worry, Bell. If any other hussy tries to get a piece of you, I'm going to boot them right away." She glanced at me and then let out a fierce look, her eyes flashing red for a split second. "You're my husband. Only mine."
...Note to self. Gentle reminder that even sweet kind women can snap and go full yandere.
Let's not let that happen to Tia.
I smiled and kissed her gently. "Of course, Tia. I'll stay with you, so relax."
Tia stared at me for a long while and then nodded. "...You promised. I won't forgive you if you break that."
I chuckled and said, "I'm sure that Fina would beat me up before I did."
Syr chuckled and said, "She definitely would. Fina plays nice and cute, but she's quite vicious too, you know? She takes after you a great deal, Bell."
"Hm? What are you talking about? I'm practically a saint."
Tia snorted.
Syr rolled her eyes.
I chuckled and then started serving myself some food, grabbing a bit of pizza and some slices of roasted meat. As I did, I glanced at Hestia and said, "You know..." I looked around at the lively surroundings and said, "I've almost fulfilled my promise to you, Tia."
Tia paused in the middle of grabbing some cake and said, "Promise?"
"Mmhm." I placed the slice of cake on her plate and said, "The promise to make the Hestia Familia the biggest in Orario, remember?"
Tia blinked and looked around. Then she laughed and said, "I suppose we're getting there if we consider pure numbers. But we'll never be able to compete with the pure numbers in Fae's familia."
I paused to consider that, remembering just how many smiths there were affiliated with Hephaestus. Then I hummed and said, "True... but we're definitely up there in fighting force at least. Ryuu, Welf, and I could handle most things if we went all out. And now, Emma, Artemis, and the other girls could handle average mishaps. That's also not including our ridiculous kids."
Syr chuckled and poured herself a bit of wine. "Should I take it as you saying to not worry about my dear family hunting you down?"
"Hey now, I didn't say THAT. Still need a few more months to prep before facing off against like a dozen level fives and up."
Which reminded me that I should really get to properly exploring the dungeon and leveling up.
...Which also reminded me I should actually talk with Dungeon-chan since she seems to actually be sentient and not just randomly tossing things at me these days.
Tia huffed and said, "AND a few more months to give me a proper honeymoon, Hubbie."
I laughed and kissed her. "That too, Wifey."
Tia blushed and then melted against me, letting out a content sigh.
I quickly held up her plate and said, "Careful now. Don't go wasting the food we worked hard on, Wifey."
Tia giggled and straightened herself, holding her plate. "Man." She huffed and looked at me. "It's not fair how you have this effect on me, Bell..." She looked into my eyes with a loving gaze and said, "You just make me love you so much..."
I paused and then gave her a soft smile. "And I love you too, Tia." I kissed her cheek and said, "I chose to. Then and now."
Syr cleared her throat.
I flinched and looked towards her. "A-Ah. And you too-"
Syr laughed and said, "You don't need to reassure me, my hero." She let out a soft smile and said, "I believe you. I always will."
"...Man. I must have saved a country in my last life or something, because I've definitely lucked out having two understanding, beautiful, and unparalleled women love me so dearly."
Tia rolled her eyes.
Syr giggled.
I smiled and then said, "Come on. Let's get our food and make sure that our daughters are eating properly-"
Bella gasped and said, "Wine is so tasty!"
Fina giggled and said, "It's sweet!"
I quickly glanced over towards their voices to see Bella and Fina both chugging a bottle of wine.
Pyrrha was there too, cautiously taking a sip from a cup of wine that Fina poured her. Then she spat it out and shivered. "Ew! It's bitter! It burns too!"
"Huh?" Fina tilted her head. "What are you talking about, Pyr?"
Bella nodded, her cheeks red as she took another swig from her bottle. "Y-Yeah~ It's sweeeeeeet!"
I quickly walked over and took the bottle from Bella. "Wine isn't for kids, Bella! And Fina! Just because you're fine drinking and eating things doesn't mean others will be! Don't feed your younger sister things!"
Fina blinked and tilted her head. "Huh? But wine is just juice, isn't it?"
"It's definitely not- You know, I'll explain some other time."
Tia ran over and gasped. "Fina! No!"
Syr quickly dashed over and picked up Bella. "Bella, Sweetie! How much did you drink!?"
Bella giggled and then held out her hands. "Thiiiis much!"
I facepalmed and muttered, "Definitely getting worst father award of the year... I'll be back. I'll get Miach to see if he can get something for Bella."
Tia quickly nodded and said, "Yes! Do that! And also... Welf! Who put the wine out where the kids could reach it!?"
Welf froze. "U-Uh..."
Lili raised her hand and said, "Lili knows. Mister Welf said that we should toast to celebrate, so he pulled out some wine from the pantry and- Mmmph!"
"Lili! I told you that in confidence!"
...Well, if there was anyone doubting this was my family, there wasn't now, ahaha...
...We are never going to have a normal and peaceful day in the Hestia Familia, are we...?