Regarding Bell's level up, the skeptical gods largely fell into two camps.
One group believed the situation was far too abnormal, well beyond the scope of a [rare skill]. In their view, something must have gone wrong during the Guild's review process.
Hermes dismissed that idea with ease.
"The Guild's inspections are extremely strict. Reporting Lv.3 as Lv.2 might barely slip through. But inflating a level upward? I'm sure many gods here have tried that before, haven't they?"
Whether out of vanity or opportunism, a Familia member's actual strength could not be faked. Naturally, there was no such thing as a fabricated level up.
The other group of skeptics argued that Bell's accumulated [Experience] and [Excelia] were far from sufficient. They had personally watched their own Familia members advance step by step and simply could not accept such an abnormal growth rate.
On this point, Artemis stepped forward without hesitation.
"Everyone here should have seen the scene of my [Bow] aimed at the sky."
The Moon Goddess openly admitted to her grave mistake, one that had nearly plunged the Lower World into disaster.
"At that time, it was Orion—"
Realizing many gods were unfamiliar with that name, Artemis quickly corrected herself.
"Bell Cranel defeated an ancient monster that had obtained divine power and rescued me from certain death."
Before her words had even settled, a wave of uproar swept through the hall.
"An ancient monster?!"
"And it had divine power…?"
"How did he even manage that?"
"Artemis's arrows should have erased it along with her…"
"T-This is impossible…"
The gods burst into heated discussion. As beings of [Omniscience], they understood all too well how unsolvable an ancient monster empowered by divine power truly was.
Under absolute rules, it was an existence even the gods themselves could not destroy.
Let alone an adventurer blessed with Falna.
Even if all of Orario's adventurers banded together, they would still be bound by [Divine Power] and meet total annihilation.
The truth was far too bizarre. Even gods who had personally witnessed the bow formed of divine power could not help but question it in disbelief.
"Artemis, is what you're saying really true?!"
"I cannot disclose the specific details, but every word I've spoken is true. Besides Hermes and Hestia, the great god Ouranos-sama can also bear witness."
Artemis spoke with unwavering resolve.
Her beloved was still fighting in the Dungeon, and this Denatus was her battlefield.
The gods' doubts did not cease.
Some questioned whether the events were real at all.
Others condemned Artemis for allowing herself to be swallowed by a monster, accusing her of committing an unforgivable sin.
There were even gods who, after everything had been resolved, spoke recklessly. They berated the boy for not revealing the truth earlier, hurling accusations of arrogance and conceit at Bell.
Through it all, Artemis stood firmly on Bell's side, never retreating.
Hestia watched her dear friend fight for love, her heart filled with emotion.
Artemis like this… she's practically acting like Bell's Familia God…
What am I doing… you idiot…
Hestia slapped the table and abruptly stood up.
"...?!"
The sudden noise startled the gods, who all turned toward her with puzzled looks.
"Ow, ow, ow…"
Hestia shook her hand, then shouted at the top of her lungs.
"Artemis has been guarding the seal this whole time! She's nothing like you idiots who do nothing but eat and sleep!"
"..."
The gods were left completely speechless.
The Arcanum prohibition was an excuse many gods liked to use while living in the Lower World.
But Artemis had always continued to fight, saving those who suffered.
She upheld justice and guarded the seal.
No one had the right to stand above it all and accuse Artemis of her supposed failings.
"And Bell too… He saved this world, so why do you all say such hurtful things about him?!"
Hestia's voice trembled.
"When that child first came to Orario, everyone laughed at him."
"Bell worked so hard, and just because he failed once, you all started mocking him…"
"I saw it all! Again and again. Even when he came back covered in wounds, he never once complained to me…"
As Hestia recalled the past, tears welled up in her eyes.
"Bell would only smile and tell me nothing dangerous had happened."
"I'm a god who can tell when someone is lying, and yet he kept lying to me. Again and again."
"Experience, Excelia… if it's so easy, why don't you go try it yourselves?!"
"Everything Bell has, he earned step by step…"
Her voice grew more and more choked.
"Has any of you ever felt it? When you see your Familia member's Status go up—"
"You don't feel happy. You feel scared. So scared you can't even sleep."
"You know nothing…"
"You're just like me… you know nothing at all!"
Tears spilled freely, and with them came the goddess's helplessness and vulnerability.
"I'm afraid to ask about those terrifying events, because if I hear them, I know I'll end up crying right in front of him."
"Do you have any idea what it feels like? Hearing people casually talk about some terrible incident, only to realize they're talking about your own child."
"That heart-rending feeling…"
"I've felt it countless times!"
"Over and over, it feels like needles stabbing into my heart."
Hestia sobbed uncontrollably.
"Why does Bell deserve to be insulted by you?!"
"Whether it's Artemis or the other girls, do you really think their feelings just appeared out of nowhere?"
"Don't make fun of me!"
"I like Bell. I like him more than anything."
"Anyone would get jealous. Anyone would feel envy. Since you're [Omniscient] gods, at least show some restraint!"
"You're not even as good as me, a useless goddess! What right do you have to criticize Bell?!"
"You bunch of bastards who can only run your mouths!!"
"Uu… don't you dare say bad things about my Bell anymore… uuuh…"
Hestia finally vented all the pain she had kept buried inside.
Artemis gently stroked her head and pulled her into an embrace.
"Waaahhhhh…"
Hestia could no longer hold back and broke down completely, crying aloud.
Her sobs echoed through the hall of gods.
Most gods came to the Lower World merely to amuse themselves.
This kind of deep bond was precisely the [unknown] they longed for.
Faced with Hestia's outpouring, not a single god spoke in rebuttal.
What kind of resolve must a virgin goddess, branded as useless, have carried when welcoming back a Familia member covered in wounds?
It was surely an unimaginable weight of guilt and powerlessness.
Hestia had carried those feelings with her all this time.
She faced the boy with a smile, and she accepted the girls whose love for him had taken deep root.
The gods could no longer continue their doubts.
No matter what skills Bell Cranel possessed, they were Hestia's treasures alone—treasures no one else had the right to pry into.
"It seems everyone has reached a conclusion."
Freya stood up and slowly made her way toward the exit.
As she passed Hestia, Freya quietly placed a handkerchief beside her, saying nothing.
Amid Hestia's sobbing, the Denatus came to an end.
Bell Cranel officially stepped into the ranks of Lv.3.