With today's haul, Bell returned to the church ruins.Seeing someone waiting outside, he quickened his pace and ran over.
"Bell-kun!"
Naturally, it was Hestia—who had been worried all day.
She had been restless at home ever since Bell left for the dungeon that morning.
This was her child's first time entering the labyrinth.
Perhaps she feared something might happen to Bell.
Now that he had returned safe and sound, her worries finally subsided.
She rushed toward him in relief and, before he could react, immediately pulled him into a tight hug.
The two soft mounds pressed firmly against Bell's chest. The sensation was so distinct it could be felt even through his clothes. Even Bell, normally composed, couldn't help but freeze for a moment. It wasn't that he lacked restraint around women—but the goddess was simply too... generous.
"Mmm~ It's really you, Bell-kun. Not a ghost."
That solid contact reassured Hestia this wasn't just her imagination. She instinctively placed a hand over her chest, and the heart that had been hanging in suspense all day could finally settle.
"Lady Hestia, I told you I'd definitely come back from the dungeon. Besides, the first floor is well within my capabilities."
"Bell-kun, it's not about whether you *can* or not! Even knowing you're capable, I can't help but worry!"
Looking at Bell, Hestia felt much calmer. What mattered was that he had returned.
"Bell-kun, how was your first experience in the dungeon today?"
It was important to hear her Familia member's impressions of their first expedition.
As a goddess, she was rejected by the dungeon and could never enter, no matter how much she wished to.
Hestia also wanted to satisfy her curiosity by learning about the labyrinth through Bell's words.
"I think... the monsters in the dungeon are stronger than I imagined."
Speaking of the dungeon, the first thing that came to Bell's mind were the goblins he'd been hunting all day.
Those things were cunning—they'd gang up on him the moment they realized they couldn't win alone.
Tricks he'd used before wouldn't work a second time, as they quickly grew wary.
The first-floor goblins were faster and more agile than an average person, and their strength was nothing to scoff at. If not for their skins being vulnerable to ordinary daggers, they'd have been far tougher opponents.
And most unsettling of all—those goblins displayed a certain level of *intelligence*. Strategies that fooled them once wouldn't work again.
"...Intelligence?"
Hestia's eyes widened at that word. She couldn't believe what she was hearing—Bell was claiming the goblins showed signs of actual reasoning. She stared at him intently, seeking confirmation again and again.
"Bell-kun, are you sure it's not just your imagination?"
"Probably not. I used the same tactic in battle, but the goblins who saw it immediately countered it. That *has* to be proof of intelligence."
Bell wasn't entirely certain, but he deduced as much from their behavior. Those goblins were undoubtedly thinking. He just didn't know if that cunning was unique to combat or if all dungeon monsters possessed some degree of sapience.
Hestia fell silent after hearing this.
If what Bell said was true, then goblins had the capacity for reason.
But how was that possible? Monsters were supposed to be mindless creatures.
If monsters developed sentience, wouldn't they become indistinguishable from humans?
The very reason adventurers could slaughter monsters without remorse was precisely their lack of higher thought. They were threats to Orario's civilians. If left unchecked, innocent people would die.
But if monsters reached a level of understanding comparable to humans... then weren't adventurers just glorified murderers for killing them?
Hestia had no answer.
She didn't even dare dwell on that line of thinking.
After all, she wasn't even sure if such a scenario was possible. But... what if one day it *did* happen?
She looked straight at Bell.
"Bell-kun... what would you do if dungeon monsters gained human-like intelligence in the future?"
Bell shook his head slightly. He didn't know if that would happen, but he also didn't consider it a complicated dilemma.
"Lady Hestia, that was decided the moment I became an adventurer. If they're not my enemies, I'll ignore them. But if they stand in my way, sooner or later, I'll have to act."
It was simple.
The world Bell grew up in had long eroded his morality with phrases like "If it doesn't affect you, why help?" He'd discarded childish ideals like "helping elders cross the street" years ago.
Morality was relative, and Bell had learned to be cold long ago.
An old man collapsed on the street? What's it to me? If it doesn't concern me, why should I help?
If intelligent monsters appeared, he'd treat them as any adventurer would—if they don't attack, no problem. But if they try to harm him, he won't hold back.
"Of course, if they *help* me, then I'll return the favor—whether they stab me in the back later or not."
Bell saw Hestia's stunned expression and wondered if his answer had been too cynical. He scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"Lady Hestia... was that the wrong thing to say?"
Hestia snapped out of it and smiled in relief. "Of course not—Bell-kun is a good boy." With that thought, she relaxed. She didn't know if the dungeon hid such secrets, but one thing was clear—Bell had already made up his mind.
"There's nothing wrong with that, Bell-kun. You're a good boy, and that's the most sensible answer. Good and evil can't be forced—they're personal choices. Just do what you believe is right."
---
"Then, without further ado, Bell-kun, let's update your status."
It is also a very important part to let your god help update your status.
Updating your Familia's status can more clearly confirm the strengthening of your power.
Of course, status updates are also a necessary means to grow stronger.
The most important among them is the improvement and updating of your own level.
If an adventurer has enough excelia to level up but doesn't ask their god to help update their status, then their level will never improve.
The stats that have been pushed to their limits at the previous level can no longer be easily improved.
Therefore, status updates are necessary and extremely important for adventurers.
For example, the status updates that a god must complete often require scheduling, especially in large familias. However, the Hestia Familia has only one member—Bell—so no appointment is needed; it's exclusively for Bell's use.
Bell removed his clothes and turned his back to Hestia.
Hestia lightly pricked her finger with a needle and drew a vertical line on Bell's back with her bloodstained finger. The Familia emblem on Bell's back, belonging to the Hestia Familia, glowed brightly, as if displaying Bell's own parameters.
[Name: Bell Cranel
Level: 1
Basic Abilities:
Strength: G284
Endurance: F304
Dexterity: E421
Agility: E474
Magic: F346
Magic:
"Four-Dimensional Space":
- Storage
Skills:
"Liaris Freese":
- Rapid Growth
"Luck of the Heavens":
- [High Luck]
"Has he grown this much in just one day!?"
Even though Hestia knew Bell possessed a rare skill like "Liaris Freese," which should allow for rapid growth, improving to this extent in just one day was beyond her imagination.
It took Aiz Wallenstein over a year to reach Level 2—the fastest record in history.
That included not just accumulating high excelia but also training basic abilities.
Yet Bell achieved stats that would take others half a year—or even several—in just one day. At that moment, Hestia once again understood just how extraordinary rare "growth-type" skills truly were.
Hestia's gaze fell upon the additional skill that appeared after the status update—the one named "Luck of the Heavens," with the additional note [High Luck].
It must be known that "luck-type" skills are nearly on the same level as "growth-type" skills, also being rare among rarities.
But Bell possessed both.
Seeing this, Hestia began to doubt the gods. In all her years relying on faith, she had never heard of Orario producing such an unusual skill. If you included Bell's spatial magic, then Bell truly started with one special magic and two extraordinary skills.
"Did I save the world in a past life? Why else would Bell-kun have joined my Familia?"
Hestia even began to wonder if she had done some great deed before. Having such an exceptional member right from the start was too much. Hestia had no doubt that once Bell's skills became known, the gods would be watching closely—after all, Bell was that extraordinary.
"Still, now that things have come to this, I can't let Bell-kun be taken by other gods."
When it came to stealing Familia members, nearly every god did it, and there were far too many schemers to guard against.
But as long as Hestia ensured Bell's status remained hidden from other gods, the problem wouldn't be too severe.
Hestia had already resolved in her heart: "I must never let other gods learn of Bell's status."
After processing the status update, Hestia pressed Bell's fading glow back into the Familia emblem. Originally, she would have copied the status for Bell to see, but now, doing so might leave traces and cause trouble, so Hestia refrained. Instead, she relayed it verbally.
"Bell-kun, your status update is complete."
"Mm."
Hearing Hestia's words, Bell dressed himself again. When he turned around and didn't see the status sheet, he immediately understood why. It seemed his growth rate in a single day was too fast, and keeping records might cause problems.
Hestia steadied her emotions. Just seeing Bell's growth in one day had genuinely shocked her. She needed time to adjust—otherwise, she'd be too excited to speak properly.
"Well, Bell-kun, your progress today has far exceeded my expectations. All your stats have improved dramatically—your lowest is nearing 300, and your highest has even surpassed 400. Ordinary adventurers might not reach that even after a year or two of effort."
"If you continue progressing at this rate, you could reach Level 1's limits in less than a month. But if you want to surpass it, you'll need greater challenges—otherwise, you won't gain high excelia. There'd be no way to level up."
"Accumulating basic stats usually takes time. Only when an ability reaches at least rank D and enough high excelia is accumulated can you qualify for a level-up."
"For most adventurers, building up their original stats is what takes the longest. But for you, Bell-kun, who raised two stats above 400 in a single day, that wasn't an issue. The real challenge is obtaining high excelia."
"High excelia requires defeating monsters stronger than yourself."
"However, the upper floors don't have monsters strong enough for that, so once your stats reach a certain point, you'll need to advance to the middle floors."
"Otherwise, you won't be able to accumulate the high excelia needed to level up."
"Bell-kun, don't overthink things for now. Just focus on raising your stats to their limits first. As for challenging stronger monsters… I'll see if there's a way."
It wasn't impossible for Hestia—she just needed to ask that annoying Loki for help. With that insufferable woman, if Hestia swallowed her pride and begged, that unpleasant goddess would surely be in a good mood.
Bell noticed Hestia's hesitation and quickly guessed her plan. Considering which gods Hestia was closest to, the answer was obvious: Goddess Hestia was planning to go to Loki.