"A dungeon is a womb that breeds monsters. That much isn't unexpected. It explains why monsters emerge from the walls. But for this 'womb' to be controlled by that Black Dragon... that is surprising."
"No wonder Orario was built atop the dungeon.
Beyond suppressing monster spawns, they likely seek to control its core after slaying the dragon.
As long as the core exists, even without the dragon, this 'playground of the gods' won't close."
"Yet the former Hera and Zeus Familias who jointly defeated the dragon were completely annihilated.
The main reason must be the dragon guarding the core.
But... there's more to it.
It's unnatural for two Level 8 and 9 Familias to be utterly erased."
Bell's instincts whispered of missing puzzle pieces.
But that information was never written, not even in the fragmented history he knew.
Reading summaries or articles didn't equate to full understanding.
Bell always maintained respect for the unknown.
He wouldn't speculate blindly, but he'd record these dungeon insights.
Gathering information was never wasteful.
Perhaps future clues could reconstruct the truth.
Seeing Bell listen intently while deep in thought, Hestia nodded approvingly.
When she noticed him resurfacing, she continued:
"Bell-kun, if you enter the dungeon, don't underestimate it. Inexplicable things happen there. Once inside, rescue is difficult... Prioritize safety."
Bell internalized her words.
As he'd said: *he wasn't reckless.*
Dying from carelessness was for fools.
Even facing stronger monsters required proper conditions and skills.
To change an era demanded solid foundations.
Without them, he couldn't defeat even the nearest enemy.
"Don't worry, Goddess. I'll be cautious. I'm a coward who fears death—I won't let the dungeon consume me easily."
But survival wasn't his sole goal.
The dungeon offered wealth and skills.
The "Type-Moon System" let him convert money into power—he wouldn't waste that.
Skills, of course, couldn't be bought with coins.
The dungeon was the best place to gain *both.*
The upper floors, with controlled danger, were ideal for rookies.
They prepared adventurers for deeper strata.
Hestia relaxed at his promise.
As long as he didn't dive recklessly, the risk decreased.
The exhaustion from cleaning soon caught up to her.
A yawn escaped her lips as her eyelids grew heavy.
Seeing her fatigue, Bell didn't prolong the conversation.
He settled on the sofa and removed his shoes.
"Goddess, we can discuss the rest tomorrow."
"Mmm... so sleepy~"
Hestia could barely keep her eyes open.
Between yawns, she watched Bell on the sofa and smiled.
"Today was a good day. Bell-kun joined my Familia... I'm no longer a lonely goddess."
Bell extinguished the nearby candle.
A wisp of white smoke rose, filling the air with wax scent.
In the dimness, they rested: her on the bed, him on the sofa.
Days of accumulated weariness quickly overcame Bell.
Over ten days of travel, constant vigilance against dangers...
That physical and mental exhaustion finally found reprieve.
Peaceful sleep was his greatest reward.
But Hestia, though drowsy, awoke shortly after.
"Bell-kun...?"
Only his steady breathing answered.
"So fast... He must be exhausted."
She didn't know what trials he'd endured to reach Orario, but that deep sleep spoke volumes.
Silently, she sat up in bed.
Her gaze lingered on Bell, bathed in moonlight from the window.
"I never imagined my first child would come like this."
It had been a chain of coincidences:
Her visiting Hephaestus to complain about rejections...
Bell arriving to request a referral...
A twist of fate she now treasured.
An emotion called *fortune* warmed her chest.
Moonlight silvered Bell's face, highlighting his pale skin and serene features.
Hestia held her breath.
"He's... beautiful."
She'd noticed before, but under lunar glow, Bell resembled a porcelain figurine.
Though tempted to touch, she restrained herself.
It was time to sleep.
"My child is precious," she thought, an unconscious smile gracing her lips.
A goddess's contentment with her firstborn.
Gradually, sleep claimed her too.
Her breathing synchronized with Bell's, and so, in that ruined shelter, the *Hestia Familia* spent their first night.
---
After more than ten days of nonstop travel, this was the first time Bell could sleep continuously without having to rise early to continue his journey.
The sky was completely clear, and the sun shone brightly on Bell's face. The orange-yellow light made his closed eyes uncomfortable, causing him to instinctively raise a hand to block it—only to find his arm trapped by something soft and warm.
His mind flooded with "?".
Forcing his eyes open against the glare, it took him a while to adjust. When his vision finally cleared, he turned to look at his arm.
"Goddess... Hestia?"
Bell stared in astonishment at Hestia, who was sleeping while clinging to his arm. His gaze involuntarily traveled over her figure. She wasn't covered by the blanket, her body instead pressed entirely against him. The soft sensation against his arm came from Hestia's indescribably generous bosom.
"They're really... huge."
Even Bell, already familiar with Hestia's physique, couldn't help mentally exclaiming. Still, he carefully extracted his arm.
It wasn't that Bell didn't want to keep enjoying the moment—in truth, he would have loved to bury himself in Hestia's lap and fully experience that softness.
But now wasn't the time.
Nor was it what he needed most right now.
Power was the fundamental requirement to fulfill his desires, and any excessive fantasies had to be grounded in strength.
That was the harsh reality.
If he wanted to win the gods' favor, he had to demonstrate *the qualities and abilities* that would make them covetous.
Otherwise, those yearnings would be nothing more than the delusions of a fool.
Bell took a deep breath and carefully rose from the sofa. However, the movement was just abrupt enough to rouse the still-drowsy Hestia.
"Bell-kun... you're up so early?"
Hestia normally wasn't an early riser, and she remained half-asleep now. Her eyes were half-lidded as if she might doze off at any second. That expression made Bell shake his head slightly.
"Goddess, I'm heading to the dungeon while it's still early."
Those words instantly wiped the sleep from Hestia's eyes. Just yesterday, she'd warned him about the dungeon's dangers—for him to go so soon after learning them felt rash.
"The dungeon already?"
"I understand your concern, but the dungeon is somewhere I must go. Besides, even if I enter, I won't go deep. I know I'm not strong enough for that yet."
Bell understood Hestia's worry, but he was aware of his limits. He was just an inexperienced rookie, inferior even to other adventurers who'd already explored the dungeon. Would he really venture into the depths unprepared?
"This time, I just want to get a feel for the dungeon. I'll only face monsters on the upper floors."
The upper floors were where novices gathered—a place for initial experience. Contrary to what many thought, the closer to the surface, the safer the dungeon was.
Even so, Hestia couldn't stop worrying.
The dungeon was unpredictable. Random incidents occurred with alarming frequency.
This was evident in how many lives it claimed daily.
But Hestia also knew Bell's drive to grow stronger wouldn't waver.
Those obsessed with power don't retreat from danger.
How had Bell reached the city, if not through that same determination?
"I can't stop Bell-kun from going to the dungeon. This is his wish, and as his goddess, I must support it."
Though anxiety flooded her, Hestia transformed it into a calm smile. She didn't want Bell to abandon his aspirations because of her fear. With that in mind, she suppressed her worries.
"Bell-kun, you've only just become an adventurer. As a novice with a freshly received Blessing, you must be extremely careful. I'll be here, waiting for your return."
Bell's mood grew complicated, but he accepted both her advice and care.
"Goddess, I have goals and dreams. My ambitions won't let me stop, no matter how hard things are now."
"Promise me you'll come back."
With that vow, Bell departed for the dungeon under Hestia's blessing: "May your martial arts flourish!"
---
The descending passage to the dungeon wasn't particularly spacious.
After learning why Orario was built, Bell understood its restrictive design prevented monsters from ascending.
In the past, before the city's construction, creatures must have constantly emerged from the abyss.
It was still early, and the entrance was nearly deserted. The surrounding streets also seemed empty—Orario wasn't safe until well into the morning, though that insecurity likely came from its own residents.
"I should record this information."
Bell had always maintained cautious respect for Orario. "You can avoid one thief for a thousand days, but not a thousand thieves in one day"—and here, thieves lacked all scruples. Caution was vital.
Adjusting his hood to hide his face, Bell carefully descended. In the future, he'd cover his head whenever he went out to minimize risks.
---
Entering the dungeon didn't awe Bell. After descending, it just seemed like a bottomless pit branching in all directions.
He retrieved the guild-provided map from *Four-Dimensional Storage.*
While deeper floors *periodically shifted layout—confusing adventurers—the first 10 levels were stable.
The map meticulously detailed these areas.
Beyond the 10th floor, only high-ranking adventurers had reliable information. The guild recommended *forming parties*, with veterans guiding newcomers.
Though well-intentioned, those veterans rarely acted altruistically.
---