Leaving the Adventurer's Guild, night had completely fallen. The streets were lit by a warm, orange glow. Adventurers returning from the Dungeon hurried back and forth, spending the gold coins they'd earned at the cost of their lives in various taverns and restaurants.
Arthas, having not encountered a single monster, naturally had nothing.
The hawkers' calls from the street shops were completely irrelevant to him. He'd intended to improve Hestia's living conditions, but his first attempt had been a complete failure.
Were the monsters in the Dungeon really that scarce?
Like Eina, Arthas didn't believe his uneventful trip to the fifth floor was due to luck. He simply felt that there were very few monsters in the Dungeon, and the sheer number of adventurers meant that slowpokes wouldn't get any kills.
"Why do I have this strange feeling of déjà vu again…"
Muttering to himself, Arthas paused, seemingly sensing something, and slowly turned around.
"Um…"
Behind him, a human girl greeted him.
She wore a white blouse and a knee-length, light-green dress, over which she wore a slightly long half-apron.
Her slightly dull, grayish-blue hair was tied into a small bun at the nape of her neck, with a single tail hanging down—a sort of single-ponytail variation.
Her eyes, the same color as her hair, looked innocent and cute. Her fair, delicate face held a welcoming smile.
"Are you an adventurer, sir? You seem to be in a hurry. Would you like to come in and sit for a while?"
As she spoke, she gestured towards the shop behind her. Arthas then noticed the sign: "Hostess of Fertility," seemingly the name of the tavern.
"Um…"
Unsure how to respond, and feeling hungry after a day without food, he said,
"…I don't have any money."
After a moment of silence, Arthas spoke honestly. Though embarrassing, his straightforward nature didn't make him feel overly self-conscious.
"Ah, I see… Are you an adventurer on your first day?"
Arthas nodded slightly. The girl paused, seemingly thinking, then suddenly hurried away.
Before Arthas could guess her intentions, she returned shortly after, carrying a neat little basket in her slender arms. Small loaves of bread and cheese were visible inside.
"Please, accept this. I was saving it for a late-night snack, but I figured I shouldn't eat so much tonight."
The girl offered the basket with a cheerful smile. Arthas, slightly surprised, accepted it, then said seriously,
"I will repay you."
Expecting thanks, the girl was taken aback by his earnest statement.
"Repay? Why so serious?"
Amusement flickered across her face as she tilted her head cutely, genuinely considering what kind of repayment she wanted.
"Well… how about this: as repayment, the first money you earn as an adventurer, you must spend it here. No skimping on a big meal!"
She said this with a sly smile, hoping for an amused reaction from Arthas. But he remained serious, committing her request to memory, as if already planning his repayment.
"Sigh… Why are you so serious, adventurer?"
"Am… I too serious?"
Hearing her playful complaint, Arthas touched his face, pondering.
"Yes… You haven't smiled once since we started talking."
Leaning forward from the steps, she carefully studied his face.
"You seem very serious and cold, adventurer. Why's that?"
"Perhaps it's just my personality?"
Arthas awkwardly touched his nose, turning away from her scrutinizing gaze.
"But regardless, thank you for the food. I will repay you."
"Aaaaaah… Here we go again. Fine, whatever. I'll be waiting for your repayment."
She looked resigned, then chuckled, watching as Arthas left with the basket.
Remembering something, Arthas stopped, turning back to the ever-smiling girl.
"Um… may I know your name?"
"It's polite to introduce yourself first when asking for someone's name, but… fine. My name is Syr Flova."
"Mine is… Arthas. Miss Flova, I will repay you."
Having given his name, Arthas emphasized the repayment for the third time.
"Okay, okay… I know, I'll be waiting for your repayment."
Syr, exasperated but amused, waved him off and entered the tavern.
The kind girl's gift, though a small interlude, was deeply etched in Arthas's memory. While Syr treated his promise lightly, Arthas did not.
The small act of kindness, like coal in the snow, resonated with his cautious nature.
And her casualness only strengthened his resolve to repay her.
It might seem illogical, but Arthas was, to put it mildly, simple-minded.
"So, how should I repay her… Hmm, let me think… Make her a Goddess? She'd be thrilled with that, wouldn't she?"
Muttering words that would undoubtedly label him as crazy, Arthas walked through the deserted alley to the dilapidated shrine.
Unbeknownst to him, he was already home.
"I'm home, Hestia."
As Arthas opened the door to the shrine's basement, a pure white figure lunged at him.
Like a long-waiting cheetah attacking its prey, Arthas was instantly pinned beneath the figure, unable to move.
But there were no cheetahs in the house; it was only Hestia, having waited anxiously, now near collapse.
"Waaaaah!!! Why did you take so long?! Do you know how worried I was?! I finally got a Familia member! What would I do if you died?!"
"I'm truly sorry, Goddess. Unexpected events caused a significant delay."
Arthas apologized, even altering his address. Feeling the girl tremble in his arms, he understood her fear and worry.
In this state, he couldn't possibly mention his reckless trip to the fifth floor.
"Idiot, I told you your safety comes first! Making money is secondary! I was joking about you supporting me! I'm working hard too!"
"That won't do. How can I let the Goddess work for me?"
Arthas, usually cold as ice to outsiders, smiled softly, soothing Hestia like a child.
"Don't say such silly things! Aren't we family?! And don't treat me like a child!"
Unhappily batting away his hand from her head, Hestia pouted.
"Did you eat anything? You were in the Dungeon for so long, you must have defeated many monsters and earned your first money. Did you buy yourself anything nice? Don't worry about saving money; you need to maintain peak condition if you're going to be adventuring every day."
"It's fine for me; work provides plenty of fried potatoes. When you get stronger, Arthas, and earn more, treat me to a big meal!"
Looking at the girl, whose every word showed her concern, Arthas's smile softened. He held up the bento box Syr had given him, saying to Hestia,
"Of course I haven't forgotten the Goddess. Let's eat together."
"Oh, bread and cheese! Arthas, you really earned a good amount of Vals on your first adventure!"
Though simple and inexpensive, Hestia exaggerated her praise, seemingly to encourage him.
Understanding her intention, Arthas smiled, and they ate dinner in a relaxed atmosphere.
"Alright, alright, let's take off your clothes before bed."
Setting the basket aside, Arthas considered returning it to Syr tomorrow. Then Hestia, without a moment's hesitation, said this from behind him, reaching to pull off his shirt.
"As a girl, please be mindful of your words and actions."
Hearing her suggestive words, Arthas sighed, but complied, removing his shirt.
"Well… last time, I was so surprised, I didn't record your status. Since you had your first battle today, let me see if it's improved."
Hestia excitedly pressed Arthas onto the bed and straddled him.
Though Hestia said that… I didn't actually fight today.
Arthas felt helpless. He wasn't sure whether to tell Hestia about his day.
He decided against it. Telling Hestia about the fifth floor would only cause unnecessary worry.
Lying on the bed, Arthas looked up, curious. The previous time, the suddenness had prevented him from examining his Grace properly.
A mirror hung on the wall, reflecting his back. Especially noticeable were the dense black characters etched there.
Arthas didn't know when they appeared, but it seemed the God's Grace manifested in these strange characters.
He felt a strange sensation on his back—Hestia's hand gently stroking it. Again and again, she repeated the action in one spot, soothing him.
Afterward, Hestia produced a silver needle. She pricked her fingertip, letting the blood drip onto Arthas's back.
Hestia frowned in surprise.
The red droplets should have spread and absorbed into his skin.
Instead, Hestia saw a small patch of frost forming where the blood landed.
"Strange… why is this happening?"
Though unexpected, Hestia attributed this unusual occurrence to Arthas's unique nature.
"Well… my Familia member truly is different. Even the status update and engraving are unique."
Muttering, she traced the thin layer of frost with her finger. It didn't interfere as she easily imprinted Arthas's status.
When Arthas turned around, clothed, he saw Hestia holding a crystal-clear ice plate.
"Brrr… so cold… Here, this is your current status. There's not much improvement, but don't be discouraged. Getting stronger takes time."
Shivering from the cold, Hestia handed the ice plate to Arthas, reassuring him about his strength.
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