The two of them moved quickly, and within ten minutes, they had returned to the inn, only to find that Focalors was not there.
Furthermore, the look the innkeeper gave Furina when they headed upstairs had changed, at least to some degree.
This reminded both of them that, during the walk back, they had caught glimpses of unusual gazes directed at them—some subtle, some blatant.
At the time, they hadn't thought much of it; after all, given their appearances, it was normal to attract attention.
But combined with the innkeeper's attitude and reaction, something felt different.
Had Focalors done something?
They exchanged a look, thinking the exact same thing.
Regardless of whether this involved Focalors, they decided the first priority was to find her. Asking around was, naturally, the most efficient way to proceed.
"You mean that goddess...?"
The innkeeper eyed Furina a couple more times before answering. "She went out once this morning, came back in the afternoon, and then headed out again a short while ago. Before she left, she told me that if you asked, I should tell you that if she isn't on North Street, don't bother looking for her—she'll return on her own later."
So, the word that Focalors is a goddess has already spread? they wondered. How did it get out? Did other gods recognize her?
If she's not on North Street, don't look for her? And she'll be back later?
Could Focalors be meeting someone? And why would she only say "North Street" without a specific location? It's not like they were planning to hold a conversation standing in the middle of the street, right?
Based on the information they had, the person Focalors was meeting was likely the very god who had recognized her and leaked her status. Was it really appropriate for two gods to be gossiping on the street?
Both Furina and Sushang felt a wave of confusion.
Still, their guess might not be right. In any case, they decided to check North Street. They hadn't seen her on their way here, and there wasn't much of the street left to cover.
After thanking the innkeeper, they returned to North Street and made their way toward the North City Gate.
Because they had been pressed for time yesterday, they hadn't really looked around, but seeing it now, they realized the street was quite lively.
Clothing shops, cafes, tea houses, flower shops, and all sorts of stalls—the entertainment and luxuries of this era could basically be found right here. The variety was such that it could truly be called a bustling thoroughfare.
They had covered about two-thirds of North Street when, nearing the final third toward the city gate, they spotted Focalors.
Even though the street was filled with adventurers and merchants dressed in ornate, high-class gear, Focalors seemed to have an innate quality that made her the center of attention, standing out from the crowd at a single glance.
Part of it was her white dress, which stood out from those around her and bore a striking resemblance to Furina's formal style. But most of it was likely her long, flowing, and brilliant white hair.
"Focalors!"
Sushang called out loudly, and together with Furina, she hurried toward her.
"Sushang, Furina." The white-haired girl standing beside a stall turned toward their voices, a hint of a smile appearing in her heterochromatic eyes.
"Are these your children!?"
Before the two could speak, a voice filled with excitement and a touch of envy sounded from behind the stall next to Focalors.
Only then did the pair turn their attention to the stall.
"Jagamarukun?" Furina looked at the sign, then at the girl standing behind the counter, who had black hair styled in twin tails.
The girl was undeniably pretty, but the slightly oversized apron she wore detracted from her charm, which made the fashion-conscious Furina feel a pang of pity.
"That's right, Hestia."
Focalors smiled at the black-haired girl and gestured toward them. "This one, who shares my appearance, is my cherished child, Furina de Fontaine. And this one beside her is a child I am quite fond of, Li Sushang."
Furina's name was not unfamiliar to Hestia. In fact, she had been one of the gods who had previously wanted to invite Furina to join her Familia.
After all, the girl looked exactly like Focalors; if she hadn't seen it with her own eyes, she would have assumed Focalors had descended to the mortal realm early.
She had been very interested in a girl who looked so much like Focalors, thinking she might be someone blessed by her. Such individuals usually possessed great potential.
However, after careful consideration, she had given up on the idea of recruiting her.
Part of the reason was that the girl was likely a candidate for a Familia that Focalors had been preparing for over a decade; it was better not to try and snatch the prize.
(T/N: Remember, Focalors has that high tier identity making card, so she probably has a made up backstory.)
Another reason was... the girl had already turned down invitations from the major Familias. Hestia, having been rejected many times herself, lacked the confidence to succeed.
The other child, however—she had never seen that style of dress before.
"Li... Su... Shang?"
Though the pronunciation was unfamiliar at first, by the second time, Hestia had gotten the hang of the unique rhythm and cadence. After all, they were gods; language was rarely a barrier.
"This is Hestia. We met once before. If you count it up, she is a senior who descended to the mortal realm about three months before I did."
Focalors introduced Hestia to Sushang and Furina.
"A senior... that sounds like a sarcastic jab when you say it now..."
As soon as Focalors spoke, the expression of Hestia—who had just been muttering the name "Li Sushang"—stiffened.
She looked at the two well-dressed, dignified arrivals, then at the elegant and graceful Focalors, and finally... at herself, wearing an apron.
Honestly, as the Goddess of the Hearth, she didn't mind working a job selling food, but... she couldn't shake the feeling that she had lost quite badly in the "Goddess" profession.
Thinking about how she had been kicked out of her Familia by Hephaestus over a decade ago, and how her dozen attempts to recruit adventurers in recent days had all ended in failure, the gray, dejected look on Hestia's face deepened.
When would she finally find an excellent child of her own?
Seeing her sink into a deep depression, it seemed she needed a moment to recover.
The three of them exchanged glances, and Focalors smiled. "Thank you for your hard work, Furina, Sushang. How was your first day of adventuring?"
--+--
T/N: If you want advance chapters, you can find it at [email protected]/AspenTL