Chapter 285: Hestia Gets One-Upped (Fan-Made – Original Chapter 285 Was Too Spicy for China and Got Banned)

(Importante Note: As you all know, this is a translation—but Chapter 285 is actually an addition to the original story. That’s because the r

(Importante Note: As you all know, this is a translation—but Chapter 285 is actually an addition to the original story. That’s because the real Chapter 285 was too spicy and ended up being banned everywhere, both on official chinese platforms and even unofficial ones. (Don’t tell me—I’m just as curious as you are, haha. But seriously, I searched every corner of the internet, and it’s just gone.)

Now, if it were just a spicy scene, there wouldn’t really be a need to create a fanmade chapter. But Chapters 284 and 286 both reference things that clearly happened in 285, and some of those events might be important for the characters’ relationships going forward. So, based on a close reading of those chapters, I worked out the most likely events and asked AI to generate a version of Chapter 285. That way, the chapter count stays consistent and the transition between chapters is less confusing.

That’s all—this won’t be a recurring thing. I’m just a translator, not the author! And if you find it cringe, no worries—just skip it and mentally insert a note like, “Something spicy happened here,” and move on with the story.)

“Sorry, Hestia. But I have to move forward.”

Hephaestus’s whisper echoed softly beneath the surface of the steaming bath.

Bell’s heart was still thudding from her confession, and now—with her fingers lightly tangled in his, their legs brushing under the water, and the warmth of her scarlet gaze fixed on him—he wasn’t sure if it was the bath or her that was making him feel light-headed.

“I never imagined... that I’d say something like that out loud,” Hephaestus murmured, leaning just a little closer, droplets trailing down the smooth line of her collarbone. “But here we are.”

Bell swallowed hard.

“I-I didn’t mean to make you feel like you had to say it—”

“I wanted to.” Her voice was gentle, but firm. “You're my lover, Bell. I'm claiming you.”

That word—lover—slammed into him like a Minotaur charge.

And just as he was trying to mentally reboot, Hephaestus leaned in with a soft smile and whispered:

“You still owe me a proper answer.”

Then she kissed him.

Not a chaste brush of lips, but something deeper, something that made Bell’s body tense in surprise—and then slowly melt as her fingers slid behind his neck, coaxing him forward.

His brain shut off completely.

By the time she broke the kiss, Bell was dazed and breathless.

“You okay?” she teased, voice husky with amusement.

“I—uh—mhm—probably—yes?” he managed, still floating in some kind of mental haze.

“You sure?” She shifted slightly in the water, straddling his lap before he could even react. “Because you’re not backing away.”

“I-I’m not! I mean—I don’t want to! I mean—uh—”

“Relax.” Her forehead pressed lightly to his. “Let me lead this time.”

And lead she did.

There was no rush—just slow, heated contact, her body pressing into his, water lapping gently around them. Her hands wandered, but never too far. Her lips brushed his neck, his collarbone. His arms instinctively wrapped around her waist, unsure of where this was going but powerless to resist.

It wasn’t full-blown intimacy—but it definitely crossed a line.

And then—

SLAM!

“BELL-KUUUUN! WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN HEREEEEEE!?”

A divine shriek exploded through the bathhouse like a thunderclap.

The door swung open with divine fury, and standing in the steam, hands on hips and eyes burning with betrayal, was none other than Hestia herself.

Bell’s soul nearly left his body.

Hephaestus, for her part, calmly turned her head toward the entrance, still comfortably perched in Bell’s lap with not a single towel in sight.

“Good timing,” she said with maddening calm. “I was just about to ask Bell-kun how many goddesses he planned to let sit on his lap.”

“Y-YOU—YOU—YOU TRAMP-SMITH!!!”

“Hmph.” Hephaestus raised her chin with pride. “If I’m a tramp, I’m a successful one.”

Bell desperately tried to escape the situation, but Hephaestus subtly kept him in place, her arm around his neck like a warning: Don’t even think about it.

“H-Hestia-sama! It’s not what it looks like!” Bell squeaked, cheeks now permanently dyed red.

“IT’S EXACTLY WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE!”

Hestia stomped toward the edge of the bath like she was ready to throw hands—or towels.

“I left for two minutes! TWO! And you’re already getting handsy with my Bell-kun!?”

“You were the one taking too long.” Hephaestus shrugged. “I figured you gave up.”

“I WAS GETTING THE GOOD SOAP!”

Bell’s mind went completely blank.

Hephaestus, as usual, looked like she was having the time of her life.

“I’ll leave some for you,” she said sweetly. “You can thank me later.”

“THAT’S IT—I’M GETTING IN!”

“Huh?”

Bell blinked.

Hephaestus raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised.

Hestia threw off her robe with a flourish. “Move over! I’m taking my rightful place next to Bell-kun before you corrupt him completely!”

“Oh? So you’re finally doing something, huh?” Hephaestus smirked.

“You made me! You forced my hand!”

“Well. About time.”

The two goddesses stared at each other over Bell’s thoroughly flustered head. Steam curled between them like tension made visible.

Bell, caught in the middle, could only sit there like a panicked rabbit.

But something about the moment—chaotic, ridiculous, heated—also made his heart feel strangely full.

And as Hestia finally slipped into the water with a splash and positioned herself firmly at his side, Hephaestus leaned back with a victorious smile.

“See?” she murmured, voice low enough only for Bell to hear. “I told you. Moving forward isn’t so bad.”

Before he could reply, she tilted her head toward Hestia.

“Don’t worry. I’ll share.”

“DON’T YOU DARE SAY THAT!”

Bell let out a strangled noise.

The steam around them rose higher.