The first half of the footage was shown publicly, while the second half was viewed only by Finn, Gareth, and Riveria.
The image froze on the moment the arrow exploded.
From the scene alone, the three of them could clearly gauge just how much destructive power that single arrow carried.
"Raul’s assessment wasn’t wrong."
Finn’s words settled it.
"The destructive force from Cassandra’s arrow is probably not much different from Riveria’s magic."
Riveria didn’t deny it.
"The pinpoint explosion caused enough damage to rival my spells. But in terms of range, it’s far more limited. And..."
Gareth picked up where she left off.
"And because the area of effect is much smaller than your magic, the arrow’s practical use is actually quite restricted. It’s only suitable for targets with limited mobility."
Riveria gave a small nod. Judging from the footage, that conclusion was clear.
Identifying that flaw wasn’t difficult—any of them could see it. But what about the one who made the weapon?
"Bell-kun must have realized the arrow’s limited practicality too. That’s probably why he wasn’t very satisfied with the result."
Finn recalled what Raul said earlier about Bell expressing disappointment in the outcome. Suddenly, it all made sense—why Bell-kun would be dissatisfied.
For most adventurers, this result would be more than acceptable. But was Bell-kun really just any ordinary adventurer?
From the moment he learned of Bell’s uniqueness, Finn had never treated him like a typical adventurer.
"Bell-kun has been working so hard... but that dedication also makes me a little worried."
As Finn spoke, he leaned back in his chair, contemplating the deeper implications behind all this.
"Hm? Are you worried that kid might end up like Ais?"
Finn was certain. Bell would not follow the same path as Ais. That confident response piqued Gareth’s curiosity.
"Oh? That kid’s approach is so similar to Ais’s, and yet you’re convinced he won’t end up like her? What makes you so sure?"
"His personality. The way he handles things. And his unwavering focus on his goal. Bell-kun’s qualities surpass even Ais’s—maybe even all of Orario’s. But what he seeks isn’t money, fame, or honor. He’s chasing something far simpler."
"And what would that be?"
Gareth hadn’t spent much time around Bell, and he wasn’t someone who dwelled on such details, so he had no idea what Bell’s real goal was.
Even Finn found it a bit unbelievable—but by analyzing Bell’s behavior, the answer became clear.
"What he wants is Goddess Hestia."
Riveria listened without the slightest hint of surprise.
On the surface, it didn’t seem like anything out of the ordinary. After a brief pause, Gareth chuckled.
"That’s not such a shocking reason."
"Is it? Then what if I told you that’s why Bell-kun wants to reach Level 10?"
This time, Gareth couldn’t laugh.
Finn gave a bitter smile as he revealed the rest.
"When I borrowed him for a mission, Bell-kun confided in me a little. He told me that to reach his goal, he must become Level 10, that he has to walk a path paved over the corpse of the Black Dragon—and that he’s doing it for a selfish reason."
"He’s fallen in love with his Familia God. And to gain a longer life, he chose this path... That’s the conclusion I came to."
Gareth was floored. He never imagined the reason that boy wanted to grow stronger was because he fell in love with his own Familia God.
He turned to Finn as if seeking confirmation.
"His reason for wanting to surpass the Black Dragon... is it really that casual?"
Finn gave a bitter smile and nodded.
"I think so too. Bell-kun’s reason for challenging the Black Dragon feels almost too simple."
"Some people seek fame, others chase fortune... but he’s like someone from another world. He fell in love with his own Familia God."
It sounded absurd, but the more Finn thought about it, the more he accepted it.
"That’s why I’ve always found him odd. With the information on Haruhime and Cassandra, Hestia Familia could’ve easily taken them in. So why did he hand them over to us?"
"Maybe because it’s easier to pick up ready-made talent than raise it yourself."
Riveria and Gareth both paused, then looked as if they understood—but that realization brought with it some mixed and subtle emotions.
Being treated like that was... complicated.
"Welcome home, Bell-kun."
It was still the same warm, enthusiastic welcome—but this time, instead of just jumping into his arms, Hestia added a "welcome home" kiss.
Bell felt a little embarrassed, but it wasn’t like he could reject it. After all, their relationship had grown closer. This was only natural, right?
"Hestia, that’s enough."
After about three minutes, Hephaestus, who could no longer bear watching, stepped in and pulled Hestia—still clinging to Bell—off and tossed her aside.
"Ah! Don’t interrupt my kissing time with Bell-kun!"
But Hephaestus ignored her complaints, turning instead to pull Bell into a gentle hug. Seeing the tired look in his eyes, her expression immediately softened.
"Welcome home, Bell."
The gentle, maternal tone in her voice eased both Bell’s body and spirit.
"I’m back, Hephaestus."
He wrapped his arms lightly around her slender waist, savoring the soothing scent and calm that came from her presence.
Since their relationship had deepened, the Hestia Familia home had become Hephaestus’s residence too. At night, she would teleport here from her own room using spatial coordinates, and she’d basically been spending every night here.
"Go take a bath first. We’ll talk about everything else once you’re in the room."
Taking her advice, Bell went to wash up, cleaning off the fatigue and sweat from the day.
When he returned, Hestia and Hephaestus were already waiting for him on the bed, both in their nightgowns, seated calmly as if expecting him.