Chapter 5 - The Tyrant - Hostess of Fertility
The whole Guild was silent.
Even though there weren't many adventurers at the moment, the Guild was rarely as quiet as it was now. It was so quiet that if they dropped a needle, adventurers with superior hearing would be able to hear it when it hit the ground.
All this silence was due to the fact that all the employees and the few adventurers present at the moment were watching intently as two people stared at each other. One was a new adventurer who had just started about a week ago, the other someone who had just arrived and seemed to know the new adventurer.
Another detail was that the person who had joined the Guild was also wearing the same elegant clothes that the new adventurer had been wearing a short while ago. He was a young man of medium height with magenta hair. He also had a slim and muscular physique, his sharp eyes putting fear into some of the Guild employees who met his eyes.
Rose was probably the most curious, although Eina and Misha also showed a little curiosity. They were all curious about that man wearing the same clothes that Kiyotaka wore at the beginning, the suit was literally the same.
She observed the exchange of words between them.
"Kukuku. What, did the cat eat your tongue? Or maybe you're just surprised as hell?"
"Ryuuen..."
Apparently, they knew each other. As soon as Kiyotaka said what seemed to be his name, Ryuuen began to walk slowly until he was a few meters away from him.
"How are you, you fucking monster? Enjoying yourself? Nice ring on your finger, by the way. You sure don't waste any time, huh."
After that, silence set in again. Although Kiyotaka didn't show any kind of altered expression, Rose is confident that he looks confused as hell. He seemed to be thinking about various things, although she couldn't imagine what it was.
They clearly knew each other, he was even wearing the same clothes that Kiyotaka was wearing when she first met him and became his advisor. 'If I'm not mistaken, he said that this type of clothing wasn't unusual where he came from, as several people wore something similar.' She remembered.
If that's the case, then this man probably came from the same place as Kiyotaka.
"How..." It was the first time Rose had seen Kiyotaka look lost in any way, although his face didn't show it. "When did you arrive?" he asked.
Rose didn't fail to notice how he seemed to change the question he had originally wanted to ask.
"Not long ago. This is my third day in the city."
The man replied briefly.
"It's a bit curious. I don't suppose you've been walking around the city for the last two days."
"No. When I first arrived, I got into trouble in an alley with two idiots trying to mug me, then I met a loli who seemed to take an interest in me when I took care of those same idiots who tried to mug me."
Huh, Loli?
Misha and Eina moved a little closer to Rose.
"What's going on?" Misha whispered to Rose. "Do you know that scary man too?"
"No, I have no idea who he is," Rose replied. She was confused too.
"However, he seems to know your adventurer," Eina said.
"Indeed," Rose was intently observing their conversation.
Suspense hung in the air as Rose and the others watched the intriguing exchange of words between Kiyotaka and the mysterious man called Ryuuen. Rose's curiosity only grew with each passing moment, as did the feeling that there was something dark going on there.
"You've certainly been here longer than I have, so I wonder, how are you getting on with your manipulation games?"
"I'm not here playing games of manipulation."
Ryuuen didn't say anything, just stared at Kiyotaka with a face that seemed to say that he didn't believe in this shit. However, a short while later, Kiyotaka asked him a new question.
"How long have I been away?" Kiyotaka's question made Rose a little confused.
Why would he ask something like that?
"A little over a month."
"Well, quite a while. I've been here in the city for about a week, but it's not even two weeks since I arrived."
As the two men continued their conversation, the tension only intensified. Kiyotaka's expression remained inscrutable, but Rose could see the gears turning in his mind. The magenta-haired man, on the other hand, was still emanating a threatening aura, making everyone around him uncomfortable.
Rose couldn't stop having a thought. 'Why does it seem like there's more to this conversation than meets the eye?' It was a question that kept popping into her head. The way they spoke seemed normal, as if they were acquaintances, but she sensed that there was something more behind this 'normal' conversation.
"Kuku, I see. However, how about we leave that conversation for another time? I'm here to register as an adventurer, we can talk after I've finished registering."
Without waiting for an answer, Ryuuen walked past him, causing Kiyotaka to turn around. He watched the man walk over to the pink-haired employee, Misha Flott. When she noticed the man coming towards her, a small expression of dread took over her face, but she tried hard to remain calm and act normally, as she always does when she meets an adventurer.
"Hello, my name is Misha Flott," she introduced herself. "You mentioned that you came to register as an adventurer. Are you already part of a Familia?"
Although she seemed calm, Rose and Misha knew that she was very frightened looking at the scary man in front of her.
"Yes, you can skip these boring introductions," he said as he took his hand out of his pocket and pulled out a piece of paper.
Misha took the paper and her eyes widened when she saw what his Familia was.
"Loki Familia!?"
She shouted, causing Eina and all the other staff and adventurers to stare at the mysterious man with wide eyes. Kiyotaka and Rose were the most controlled, Rose still showed an expression of surprise, but nothing exaggerated. Kiyotaka, however, just looked at the whole scene with the same expression.
"Yes, you're doing a good job of keeping this a secret, go ahead and tell the whole town next."
His voice came out with a sarcastic tone, though he wasn't angry, just amused by the whole situation.
Misha, realizing that everyone was staring at her, quickly apologized, "I'm sorry for my slip, Mr. K-Kakeru!"
Although there were no rules about keeping someone's Familia a secret, it was still irresponsible to simply announce it in front of the whole Guild like that. 'Misha called him Kakeru, but Kiyotaka called him Ryuuen.' Rose thought. Could they be from the Far East? If she wasn't mistaken, in that place they put the surname in front of the name.
"I don't accept apologies that easily," he said with a smile, causing Misha to freak out even more.
'He's doing it on purpose. Rose realized. This man was just toying with Misha. Was he some kind of sadist?
"But I can accept the apology if you become my personal advisor."
"Eh!?"
"The loli told me that I can have an advisor to learn about the Dungeon."
Wait a minute. Is he calling the goddess Loki a loli? thought Rose with some surprise. Looking at Eina and Misha, she could guess that they were both having similar thoughts. Was this man really calling the goddess of Orario's second strongest familia a loli so casually?
"M-but, me?" Misha stammered.
She really didn't want to be this creepy man's advisor.
"Yes, you. What, you don't want to?" Ryuuen asked, looking into her eyes.
"I'd be honored to be your advisor!" Misha quickly said.
While Misha tried to adapt to the new dynamic with Ryuuen, Eina watched the situation with growing concern. She knew that Misha was acting out of fear and insecurity, so she decided to speak up.
"Mr. Adventurer," she approached them, making them both turn to her. "As employees of the Guild, it is our duty to ensure that all adventurers are welcome and receive the necessary assistance," she turned to Ryuuen with a firm gaze. "Kakeru-kun, isn't it? As a member of the Loki Familia, you will be assigned to Misha, she will be your personal advisor to guide you through the dangers of the Dungeon. However, it is important to remind you that all interactions are conducted in a respectful and professional manner."
Ryuuen still kept a smile on his face, seeming to be enjoying himself. Eina had to admit that he was quite scary, but she had dealt with similar adventurers before, so she stood her ground in front of him. After a few seconds in silence, he finally agreed.
"Understood. I'll respect the Guild's rules. At least, for now," he replied, casting a glance at Kiyotaka, only to look at Misha again. "We can discuss my learning about the Dungeon another time."
Without waiting, he started walking towards Kiyotaka, who was watching everything in silence.
He stopped in front of Kiyotaka. "So, monster. Do you know a place we could discuss?"
"Yes, follow me," he said before turning to Rose. "See you later, Rose." He said goodbye and she did the same.
Kiyotaka and Ryuuen left the Guild.
It took a few moments before the Guild was moving normally again. Some adventurers left the Guild chatting about the new adventurer from the Loki Familia. Rumors about him were sure to spread quickly.
Misha just collapsed at her table. "It's not fair!"
"Come on, Misha, he seemed to take my warning seriously, so you'll have to worry just as much, I guess..." Eina tried to cheer Misha up, but it didn't seem to work very well.
"Yes, he doesn't seem so bad, you complain too much for someone who has already advised several adventurers," Rose commented.
"Easy for you to say, you're not the one who's going to advise this scary man!" Misha said, glaring at Rose. "I demand an exchange! Give me the handsome, calm man and keep the handsome, scary tyrant for yourself!" She shouted a desperate 'proposal'.
"Yeah, that's not happening," Rose ignored Misha's protests as Eina tried to calm her down.
Rose watched the door through which Kiyotaka and Ryuuen had left. She hadn't noticed at the time, but now that they were gone, she concentrated on their dialogues and became a little curious about something.
That man, Ryuuen Kakeru...
Why did he call Kiyotaka a Monster?
I was leading Ryuuen down a busy city street as soon as we left the Adventurers' Guild. Our destination is the abandoned church where Hestia and I live. There we can talk about all the important things without worrying about anyone overhearing us.
I could see people looking at us curiously, but most of their gazes were directed at Ryuuen. Probably because of the school uniform he was wearing, just as it had been with me when I first arrived in town.
I started thinking about the "conversation" we had at the Guild.
He said it was his third day in town and that he'd had problems with two people trying to rob him. I'm going to assume that he'd somehow shown up in this alleyway in the city and met these two people soon after. They must have thought he was someone rich and, as he wasn't carrying any equipment, they assumed he wasn't an adventurer.
Therefore, they considered him an easy target. As Ryuuen said he took care of them, I doubt these people have a Falna, they're probably just common thieves. Well, although it's a city of adventurers, there are still a lot of ordinary people without the blessing of a god, so I should have expected that there would also be common thieves.
However, my mind went back a bit. The fact that Ryuuen had probably appeared in the alleyway of the city, unlike me, who had appeared in a forest in the middle of nowhere, days away from the city of Orario...
Where's the justice in that?
Why did he show up in town while I had to run for two days to get here? Although I've earned [Fairy Steps] because of this and I'm grateful, still...
Well, having those thoughts wouldn't change anything, so I put it aside. Now, there's something I'm quite curious about.
"Loki Familia, huh," I muttered loud enough for him to hear.
I was really curious as to why he had joined the Loki Familia, which is the second strongest familia in Orario, second only to the Freya Familia in first place. Apparently, Loki became interested in him after seeing him deal with the people who tried to rob him. Although I don't know where this alley is, it's still a bit curious that Loki was there.
It all seems very convenient, just as it was for me when I arrived in this world and met the Autumn Fairy Queen.
"Are you surprised?" Ryuuen answered me with a sarcastic smile as we walked. "We can talk better when we're not in a place full of people, there are a lot of things I want to ask you too. Speaking of which, where the hell are we going?"
"The place where my goddess and I live. Although it's nothing impressive, it's still warm and welcoming. She won't be there at this time, so it's perfect for our conversation."
Hestia will still be "working", after all. Come to think of it, even my goddess is at a normal job. This only makes me more curious to know what it feels like to work in an ordinary place.
For some reason, Ryuuen let out a laugh.
"I see. It's not even a month since you arrived in this world and you've already married your goddess? There was also that damned blonde you defended on the roof. You really don't waste any time."
"You're wrong. I haven't married anyone, this ring was a gift from someone outside Orario. I'll go into details as soon as we reach our destination."
He didn't stop mocking me as we walked. However, curiosity was bubbling up in my mind, and I'm sure Ryuuen was also eager to get answers.
It took about six minutes before we reached the Abandoned Church.
Ryuuen stopped and observed the outside for quite a while before making a sarcastic comment.
"Wow, what a lovely place you've chosen to live, Ayanokouji. It's certainly warm and welcoming."
"You don't have to be sarcastic, and I didn't have the privilege of choosing. Let's go in." Ignoring his comments, I opened the church door and went inside. Ryuuen followed right behind.
"By the way, which Familia are you part of?" He asked me.
"I'm in the Hestia Familia. I'm the first member."
"First member of the Familia? I can guess that wasn't a coincidence. Even here in this different world, you don't plan to attract attention, do you?"
"Indeed."
"Kukuku, you fucking monster."
Inside the church, the atmosphere was quiet and peaceful. I led Ryuuen to the church room where Hestia and I slept. There I gestured for Ryuuen to sit down on the sofa and I sat down too.
"So, let's start with the questions," I said, looking at Ryuuen. "First, what happened after I 'disappeared'?"
According to what Ryuuen said at the Guild, I was "gone" for over a month, but it's not even three weeks since I arrived in this world. Considering that I ended up in this world after reading the last words of that book I found in the library, whose last words at the end of the book were: "Myth of the Familia", not even three weeks ago, it's safe to say that time here seems to pass differently from our world, somehow.
Honestly, due to a few factors about my arrival here, I never thought that someone else from my old school would end up in this world too, least of all Ryuuen. Compared to our previous world which was quite normal, without magic or anything like what you find here, I was really curious how the hell Ryuuen ended up in this world too. However, I was also quite curious about what happened during the time I disappeared from school.
Ryuuen's expression became a little more serious when I mentioned the period when I "disappeared".
"Well, basically what you'd expect happened. The first day was quiet, as only your class was informed about your disappearance. But from the second day, your disappearance was made known to all the classes in all the years. All the teachers asked if anyone had seen you on the day of your disappearance, but no one seems to have seen you."
He explained.
Well, that was to be expected, after all, I was in my room reading the book that was responsible for putting me in this place.
"A lot of people started spreading rumors that you'd just given up or something, because it's basically impossible for someone to just disappear like that, especially at our school. "
Our school is the highest class school in Japan, created to help young people who would be the future of the country. The only reason I got into it was because we were forced to live in dormitories located on the school premises. In addition, except in special cases, such as studying abroad, students were forbidden to contact anyone outside the school. Even contact with their immediate family was forbidden without permission. Naturally, leaving the school premises without permission was also strictly forbidden.
As large as the school was, the campus also came equipped with many excellent facilities. With its own karaoke, theater, café, boutique and much more, you could easily compare this school to a small town. As a consequence, there were also thousands of cameras everywhere.
I'm sure that every camera, no matter how ridiculous, was checked in the hope of finding some clue as to where I might have gone. However, I'm sure that the last place the camera filmed me was when I entered my dormitory.
Ryuuen continued his explanation of the events that took place after my disappearance.
"As the days went by, concern and speculation about your whereabouts grew. The teachers and the school administration were in a frenzy trying to understand what had happened. The police were called, but they couldn't find any concrete clues that could explain your disappearance. The local newspapers even started covering the story, calling it 'The Mystery of the Missing Pupil'."
The picture Ryuuen was painting was of a chaotic and worrying scene, where everyone was trying to understand what had happened to me.
"Even that girl of yours came to my class. She confronted me, asking a lot of questions. It's a bit funny, because she was clearly afraid of me for what happened on the roof before you came and broke up the party."
"Karuizawa, huh."
After Ryuuen bullied Karuizawa on the roof and I showed up to save her, she had become totally dependent on me to protect her. My disappearance must have affected her more than anyone else in our class. However, I didn't expect her to confront Ryuuen about it.
She must have been pretty desperate.
I planned to help her so that she would no longer be a "parasite", by building a relationship and then ending it all. I was also going to watch my class grow and then leave them, changing classes at the end of the 2nd year. After all this, it was up to Karuizawa how she would act.
Whether she would get over everything and move on, or fall apart completely.
Well, that was the plan, but now I'm here in this world, so the whole plan is for nothing.
What happens at that school no longer concerns me or has any importance for me.
I can only pray that Karuizawa will be able to evolve and move on without my help.
"Indeed. I must say you tamed her perfectly, monster," he said with a mocking smile.
"I haven't tamed anyone. Also, please stop calling me a monster, especially in front of people."
Apparently, he started calling me a monster after witnessing what I was capable of on the school roof. The ease with which I defeated Ichizaki, Ibuki and especially Albert was very surprising, especially considering Albert's physique. What's more, after beating all three of them, I still beat him more than all of them.
However, having him call me a monster could be problematic. He called me that in front of Rose and the whole Guild.
"Right, I forget that you hate attracting attention. So there's no problem calling you a monster when we're alone, is there?"
So he's not stopping calling me that, huh? I let out a little sigh.
Well, whatever. As long as he doesn't call me that in front of people again.
"Could you continue your explanation?" I returned to the subject.
"Ah, I don't think anything major happened, apart from the fact that some students and teachers were desperate. Most of them were girls, I wonder why," he didn't even hide the sarcasm in his voice. "Actually, Shiina was also a bit sad about losing her book-reading partner."
So Hiyori was worried about me too, huh. I don't know if I'm happy that so many people are worried about going missing. Normally, I should certainly be happy, after all, they seemed to care about me.
"Ah, yes. There's something interesting," he said again, gaining my interest. "Some strange men appeared on the school grounds after a few days. They seemed to be the bodyguards of a man who seemed to be important. In fact, I couldn't help comparing him to you."
Then that man, my father, turned up at the school again. It's quite ironic, given the fact that he said visiting just once was enough. Well, the disappearance of the greatest masterpiece he created must surely have been something he never expected.
I wonder how many resources he will spend trying to find me. Unfortunately for him, I'll never be found, as I've left that world completely.
Most people would think that someone's parents should be people who care a lot about their children. Unfortunately, the world isn't that simple.
He and I are only recognized as father and son on paper.
"Is that so? Quite strange, I wonder who such a person could be."
I have no intention of giving out personal information about myself to anyone. There's no reason to do that.
I don't know what Ryuuen was thinking, but fortunately, he didn't comment on it and asked me a question.
"What about you? How did you end up here in this world?"
"My arrival here is a bit of a mystery. I was reading a book in my room that I got from the school library, and the last words of the book transported me here. I had no control over it. However, I didn't appear in this town, but in a forest in the middle of nowhere. It took me a few days to get here."
Ryuuen listened to my explanation attentively, looking puzzled.
"You said you ended up here after reading the last words of the book?" He asked me.
"Indeed. Basically, we're in the same world as the book I read. In short, it's a medieval fantasy book with romance, with some unique aspects, such as the Gods living with humans and blessing them with the Falna and the Dungeon of this city."
Well, he surely already knows about the last parts I mentioned.
"Ah, how wonderful," he commented sarcastically. "I should have expected it. Even though I've only been here for three days, this whole place screamed to be something like that. What was the name of the book?"
Although the name of the book might be considered insignificant to most people, Ryuuen is the type to go after any information that might be crucial, even if it doesn't seem so. From his words alone, I can say with confidence that his arrival here seems nothing like mine.
However, I wonder how he will react to the name...
"It's wrong to pick up girls in a Dungeon?"
"Huh?"
He looked at me confused.
"That's the title of the book."
"..."
Ryuuen remained silent for a moment, apparently stunned by the book's peculiar title. He seemed to be processing the information before finally speaking.
"That's a joke, right? The title of the book is 'It's wrong to pick up girls in a Dungeon?'"
"No, it's not a joke. That really is the title of the book."
Ryuuen's expression became even more confused, and he started to laugh.
"Are you telling me that we high school students have been transported to the same fantasy world as the book with that ridiculous title that you read?"
"Yes, exactly."
Ryuuen shook his head, still laughing.
"We've certainly got ourselves into a peculiar situation. I can't even think of the logic behind it, so I'm not going to waste time trying to look for one. Given this silly title, can I assume that we've got ourselves involved in a generic harem story?"
Ryuuen seemed to be amused by the bizarre situation we found ourselves in.
I actually thought for a moment before answering.
"...Well, I can't confirm that. The book seemed to be a sort of summary of several volumes of his light novel. The protagonist was in love with a girl from the Loki Familia, the same Familia you're in at the moment, if I'm not mistaken. A blonde with golden hair."
"Hm, that must be the woman that loli goddess kept bragging about. However, I don't know her. The main 'group' is on an expedition in the Dungeon, if I'm not mistaken."
I see, so he hasn't met the main people from his Familia yet.
"Whoever the author of this book is, the son of a bitch sure had a hard-on," Ryuuen's voice said again. "I mean, why on earth would he make Loki a woman? Although I find his taste rather strange. Instead of portraying a completely hot goddess, he made a loli who doesn't even have breasts. What a disappointment."
I wonder what he would say if he knew that Hephaestus in this world is also a goddess.
"Do you really care about that?" I couldn't help asking.
"But of course," he replied without missing a beat. "If I'm in the familia of a goddess, I'd rather look at a hot titty than a loli with no tits."
"I see."
Well, we're men, so interest in such things should be normal.
"Knowing you and your luck, your goddess must be a fucking hottie. I mean, Hestia? Is she still one of the three virgin goddesses in this world?"
"Should I remind you that I ended up in a forest in the middle of nowhere, unlike you who've already appeared inside the city?"
"And am I supposed to remind you that I turned up in some kind of alley very similar to a bloody slum with idiot bandits trying to rob me? Besides, don't change the subject. Is your goddess hot or not?"
Why on earth was he so interested in whether Hestia is hot? Knowing him, he probably just wants to make fun of me.
"I certainly wouldn't call my goddess ugly."
"Come on, can't you really put it more bluntly?"
We got off the main subject again. He's really not going to leave me alone unless I talk, is he? With a sigh, I admitted.
"Yes, my goddess is hot. Satisfied?"
Ryuuen let out a loud, triumphant laugh.
"Finally, you admitted it! Kukuku, you really did well, Ayanokouji. Further proof that you're lucky."
"I don't really consider myself very lucky," I said with a sigh.
"But back to the topic, who is the lucky protagonist of this harem story?"
He's already assuming it's a harem story...
"His name is Bell Cranel. However, I should warn you that he hasn't shown up in town yet."
"So we show up before the main story starts?"
"Precisely. But I don't think my knowledge will be of much help. Just the fact that we're both here changes everything. Besides, the protagonist was supposed to be the first member of the Hestia Familia, but that position was taken by me."
Ryuuen raised his eyebrows.
"Oh? So you took the protagonist's place? Although I haven't read the book like you, I know the rhythm at which these idiot authors write their stories. The most common thing is that they make it rain women for the protagonist, the vast majority of the time without making the slightest sense."
"I don't intend to take anyone's place. In these fantasy stories, it's very common for authors to create ridiculous threats to make the protagonist level up faster and become stronger. Do I look like the kind of person who wants to deal with something like that?"
Ryuuen didn't say anything about it, but I didn't even have to pay attention to his expression to tell him that it was ridiculous that I wanted to get involved in such a mess.
"Well, we can't rule out the reason why we were brought to this world. Don't you think it sounds like the script for those generic stories where someone from the modern world is sent to the fantasy world to deal with various problems? Like that silly thing about defeating the demon king or something. Maybe you've already become a protagonist."
He mentioned the last part with a laugh.
"I'd rather not be the protagonist of anything, really."
I was really hoping that the real protagonist would appear soon to put my mind at ease about this. From what I've read in the books, there's no mention of any kind of demon king or anything like that. There's only the One-Eyed Black Dragon that Rose mentioned from the 'Three Great Quests'. If I had to guess, he would be the final enemy in the story.
"Speaking of all that, I didn't ask you. How did you get here, Ryuuen?"
"Actually, I don't have a definitive answer as to how I got here. The last thing I remember was being at school, as usual. Then, all of a sudden, I was somewhere completely different, the same alley that the idiot thugs tried to mug me in. I don't know how or why it happened."
"So you too were brought here unannounced. That's intriguing."
He nodded in agreement.
"Indeed. Actually, I'm a little curious about something," Ryuuen paused before continuing. "Tell me, do you plan to find a way back to our world?"
As Ryuuen asked me this question, I pondered the answer. The truth was, I didn't have the slightest desire to return to our world. I was used to facing challenges and adapting to difficult situations, but this new world had an undeniable attraction for me.
In this new world, I was free, not bound by the expectations of others, not even by that man, the man who had created me to be perfect in every way, even though I considered myself far from perfect. I finally had the opportunity to forge my own path, to create my own story.
After pondering all this, I finally answered Ryuuen.
"No, Ryuuen, I have no intention of returning to our world. This place offers opportunities that our world could never provide, so I plan to take advantage of everything. And what about you? What do you intend to do?"
It wouldn't be strange if he wanted to go back to our old world. However, he would be working alone to find a way back.
Ryuuen seemed to think for a moment and then he smiled contentedly. I was a little surprised by his answer.
"Well, in that case, we're on the same wavelength, Ayanokouji. I have no desire to return to our world either. This place seems much more interesting than our world, with real challenges and the opportunity to get really strong. And when I get stronger, I'll return the beating you gave me."
He said this with confidence, as if he were issuing me a challenge.
It seemed he was still holding a grudge over what had happened on the roof.
"I can't decide anything for you, but are you really sure about this? I mean, this world, as interesting as it is, is also much more dangerous than ours."
Ryuuen looked directly into my eyes, his expression giving way to a subtle smile, revealing a trace of malice.
"Of course I'm aware of the dangers of this world, Ayanokouji. In fact, that's what makes it all the more exciting. Real challenges, genuine threats. Besides..."
He paused as he leaned back on the sofa.
"I doubt there's any aberration in the Dungeon that's more terrifying than you, you damn monster."
Ryuuen smiled teasingly as he threw that comment at me.
So basically, he's telling me that I'm scarier than the monsters in the Dungeon. He must not have seen any monsters yet, but his goddess must surely have said something about what he might encounter on the first floors of the Dungeon.
Ryuuen is someone who has never felt fear before. However, all that has changed thanks to the events that took place on the roof of the school as a result of my plan.
If Ryuuen has really decided to stay in this world and explore the Dungeon, then I have to explain a few things. I don't know if the Dungeon will do the same thing to him as it did to me, but since he's from the same world as me, it's quite likely. Because of that, he has to be prepared.
"Tell me, Ryuuen. What do you know about the Dungeon at the moment?"
"Just the basics, probably. That loli told me about the monsters on the first floors."
"In that case, I have to explain a few things to you. First of all, the Dungeon is alive."
"Huh? What do you mean the Dungeon is alive?"
From then on, I started explaining to him about some of my theories. I also told him about the Goblin that can use fire magic, a monster that shouldn't exist, which appeared in the Dungeon just after I killed 49 monsters on the first floor. I left out the use of "Fairy Steps", as well as the death of the three adventurers. It's not something he needs to know, so there's no point in telling him.
Ryuuen listened attentively to my explanation about the Dungeon being alive and the strange events that occurred after my arrival. His expression went through several changes, going from surprise to skepticism as I spoke.
"So you're telling me that this Dungeon is more than just a series of floors with normal monsters? That it can change and create monsters that shouldn't exist?"
That and the fact that there are more intelligent monsters as you go down the floors of the Dungeon.
"Exactly. However, I think this was only possible due to the fact that I'm not from this world. After all, this is the first time the Dungeon has created something like this, given the information I've gathered. I can't say for sure whether the same will happen to you, but I think it's quite likely, after all, you're not from this world either. It was just a feeling, but as soon as I entered the Dungeon, I could tell that it knew I wasn't from this place..."
The only reason I'm telling Ryuuen all this is because I feel a bit responsible. The same could happen to him. If he enters without knowing this information and the same Goblin who uses fire magic shows up, I don't know how he'll react. So it's best to inform him that the Dungeon could be much more dangerous for us than for the inhabitants of this world.
I wouldn't rule out the possibility of a different monster appearing to him either, or nothing out of the ordinary. However, it's best to be prepared for anything.
Ryuuen thought about everything I'd said before replying.
"That's really... disturbing. But it's also intriguing. I mean, the idea of a kind of living underground labyrinth that can create monsters like never before is quite fascinating. But all in all, you're saying that I have to be very careful, aren't you?"
I nodded.
"The Dungeon isn't just a playground for adventurers for both of us. That's why you need to be very prepared and careful. I strongly recommend that you learn more about the Dungeon's monsters, as well as its floors, from your Guild advisor before actually entering the Dungeon."
Although I didn't mention the fact that if the same Goblin who uses fire magic appears to Ryuuen while he's in the Dungeon with other adventurers, chaos will ensue. The information about the Dungeon creating a new type of monster will draw the attention of all the gods and adventurers.
Investigations would be carried out. In time, they could get to us, although I think that's a little unlikely. Well, it's not something I need to tell Ryuuen, as he's surely already figured it out. However, I'm completely aware of the fact that I can't hide it forever.
It looks like I'm going to have to discuss this matter with Ouranos sooner than I thought.
As I haven't been to the other floors, there's no way to be sure that the same thing will happen, with the dungeon creating different monsters because of my presence. As much as I wished otherwise, I was already prepared for the worst.
As I thought this, Ryuuen's voice spoke.
"You don't have to worry about that. I may be crazy, but I'm certainly not suicidal enough to enter a dangerous place without the proper information. That trait is left to the clichéd protagonists of these shitty stories."
As casually as he said it, he hit the nail on the head with the last part. The protagonist of this story wasn't someone who got too excited about studying the Dungeon and just wanted to go down the floors.
"However," he said again. "Even knowing a little about you, it's still surprising how quickly you seem to have adapted to this place."
I just shrugged in response.
"Adaptation is a necessary skill to survive in any environment. Besides, I wasn't planning on being idle while I was here. As I told you before, this world offers unique opportunities, and I intend to make the most of them."
"I see. You have a very pragmatic mindset."
The conversation was coming to an end. There were a few last things I wanted to know. Since Ryuuen is here, it could benefit both of us. But first.
"Ryuuen. Did you tell your goddess about you being from another world?"
"Yes. After that damned loli bragged about how strong her Familia was, I took the opportunity that presented itself to me. Of course, at that moment, I still didn't know what a familia really was. After she explained everything, she asked me questions. I lied in some of them, which she quickly realized and explained to me how you can't lie to a god."
In other words, the opportunity was too good for him to pass up. He didn't know I was in this world and thought he was here alone, so he didn't think twice about taking advantage of the path that opened up for him. The Loki Familia is Orario's 2nd most powerful familia, a perfect ladder for him to lean on and climb to become stronger.
As Ryuuen had already revealed to his goddess that he enters from another world, I may have to modify what I thought of doing a little.
"You didn't reveal it to your Goddess, did you?" Ryuuen asked me.
"No. However, it's not as if I didn't plan to tell her. I just thought I'd leave it for a later date."
Well, I'll probably have to bring that later date forward. Ryuuen's arrival here was unexpected. Thanks to that, I needed to make several changes to what I planned to do.
"Tell me, Ryuuen. Do you still have your cell phone with you?"
"Yes," he replied, taking his cell phone from his pants pocket. "However, I turned it off to avoid any battery drain. This device here is something that can be very essential in this world. Unfortunately, there's no way to recharge it."
I couldn't help but notice the malice behind his voice.
It seems he thought the same as me about the cell phone. If we had a way to charge it, this simple device could become an asset in this world, even a weapon if you like. It's too essential to let go of.
"How much is its battery?" I asked.
"When I turned it off, it was around 93%. I was lucky to have recharged it beforehand and not used it much," he put the phone away and looked at me. "And you? Do you still have your cell phone?"
I replied in the same way, showing him my phone before putting it away again.
"Yes. The battery is a little below 50%. I've been thinking about how to charge it. I have an idea, something that could benefit both of us. But before you say it, tell me, does your goddess know about your cell phone?"
He raised an eyebrow, probably curious about the reason for my question. But he was clearly interested in knowing a way to charge our cell phones.
"Yes, she's seen it before. But she doesn't know what it's for, because I've avoided mentioning anything. Now, what is it that will benefit both of us?"
Yes, that will work. The biggest problem, if he had shown Loki what the cell phone could do, would be that I would probably have to expose myself to her too soon. Since that didn't happen, I needn't have worried.
From that moment on, I went on to explain to Ryuuen what I planned to do.
He seemed to agree completely with my plan, although there were a few things he didn't accept at first.
After I'd finished discussing my plans with Ryuuen, he agreed with a few conditions, then said goodbye and left.
After Ryuuen left, I found myself thinking about the next actions to take. The little "exchange of information" with him brought up some crucial points, but I didn't think too much about it at the moment.
"Hestia's not back yet..."
She must still be at work. It was afternoon, so I must have a couple of hours before she got back. With that in mind, I left the Abandoned Church where I was staying with my goddess and started heading towards a place I'd been curious about since my first day in Orario.
As I walked through the busy streets of Orario, I noticed that the atmosphere was filled with a mixture of adventurers, merchants and normal people strolling around. It was not unlike a bustling city in the modern world, except that the architecture and way of life were noticeably more "medieval" compared to my old world.
Thanks to Shakti, who gave me a short tour of the city when I arrived here, I was aware of various sites. However, the place I was most curious about was one that was apparently famous. I'd been here a few times, but had never had the chance to go inside.
I stopped in front of the establishment with the sign that read:
Hostess of Fertility:
The place where the elf named Ryuu who appears in the book works. There's also that woman who tried to lure me to eat something here a few days ago. I was busy with the Dungeon at the time, so it wasn't possible.
But things are different now.
I saw some adventurers entering the pub.
I didn't waste much time before I decided to go in too.
As I pushed open the wooden door, I was immediately enveloped by the welcoming warmth coming from the central fireplace. The interior of the pub exuded a rustic charm, with the dark wood walls and worn floorboards giving it a cozy, traditional atmosphere.
Solid wood also made up the tables and chairs, all worn from constant use, but retaining a certain character.
Lively sounds of conversation and laughter filled the atmosphere. At the opposite end of the pub, a group of adventurers were toasting merrily, celebrating what seemed to be some recent achievement in the Dungeon.
"I've finally reached the 11th floor!"
The wooden counter, polished by frequent use, occupied a good part of the right-hand side of the pub. A series of bottles and mugs adorned the shelves behind it, indicating a considerable selection of drinks.
As I looked around, I noticed that the clientele was varied. Adventurers, merchants, locals and even a few elves, all sharing the same space in harmony. Conversations ranged from stories of the Dungeon to business negotiations, creating a lively and energetic atmosphere.
As I moved forward to find a place to sit, I was greeted by a bell above the door that tinkled softly, announcing my entrance. Brief glances were cast in my direction, but most of the customers soon returned to their business.
I was quickly noticed by a familiar gray-haired employee.
"Hey, it's you!" She quickly greeted me with a smile. "Finally got some time to come in?" She asked as she led me in.
"Yeah, I was a bit busy earlier, I only had time to come now."
I didn't know her, but she introduced herself to me as Syr Flova when she tried to drag me to this place a few days ago.
I think one of the reasons this place is apparently so popular is that all the staff are women.
Syr guided me to a table near the fireplace with a mischievous smile. Feeling at ease in the cozy atmosphere, I thanked her and sat down.
"I was beginning to think you weren't coming."
"Do you really remember someone you've only seen once?"
"Of course!" She replied enthusiastically. "There's no way I'd forget a handsome boy like you. Hey, tell me, do you remember my name? I introduced myself to you before, right?"
"Indeed. If I'm not mistaken, your name is Syr Flova, right?"
"You really did! I thought I'd made you a bit uncomfortable and made you want to get away from me quickly when I invited you, hehe."
She was certainly making a lot of conversation. Is it okay to be that relaxed in the middle of work?
"I told you I was busy because I needed to buy some clothes, right? I was also busy for a few days in the Dungeon, so I didn't have time to come."
"Oh, so you're an adventurer?"
"Yes."
"Hm, you don't look like an adventurer."
"Hm, why do you think that?"
"Well, first of all, you're not wearing any kind of armor, but rather casual clothes. Secondly, you don't behave like most adventurers who show up here and, lastly, adventurers usually come in a group, be it small or large. Of course, this last reason isn't taken into account as much, because there are also adventurers who come alone."
So she's taking the higher percentage into account, huh.
"Well, I'm a newbie who hasn't even started for a month. I don't like the armor, so I don't wear it."
"Is that really your way of thinking?" She asked. "I mean, armor is able to protect you from a blow that could be fatal, isn't it?"
"I understand the importance of protection, but I prefer to rely on my agility and skills to avoid the monsters' blows in the first place. Besides, armor can be heavy and hinder my movements. Of course, there is light armor, but it doesn't protect much anyway."
Syr tilted her head, looking at me with a mixture of curiosity and surprise. It seemed that the idea of not wearing armor was something unusual for her.
"You must be pretty confident in your abilities, then. Or maybe it's just courage... or recklessness?" She smiled, raising an eyebrow.
That really could be seen as recklessness. However, I was totally confident in my abilities. However, if there is some kind of armor with a weight similar to ordinary clothes that has a high defensive power in this world, then it is likely that I would choose to wear it.
"I prefer to call it adaptability. Everyone has their own style, right?"
I decided to respond with this.
"That's true. And you're right, working here has shown me that each person is unique. We have adventurers of all kinds passing through here."
Although I didn't mind this conversation, I really think I should ask for something. As if she knew what I was thinking, Syr leaned an elbow on the table, looking at me curiously.
"Well, now that you're here, do you have anything specific in mind? Perhaps I could suggest something from the menu, or who knows, just chat about some exciting Dungeon stories."
"A menu suggestion would be great, thank you," I replied, watching her go off to fetch the menu.
I really had no idea what they had here. However, looking at some people's tables nearby, I could smell smells familiar to me. Dishes made with eggs and meat. I must believe there are some dishes from my world in this world.
While I was waiting, I spotted the other employees at work.
I couldn't help but stare at the cat ears they both had. I've already seen a half elf, Eina Tulle and a woman of the werewolf race, Rose Fannett who is my guild advisor, so I wasn't too surprised. But it's still quite curious.
The first was a waitress with brown hair and cat-eared eyes and a tail of the same color. She looked about 150 cm (4'11") tall, or as it's called in the language of this world, about 150 celch.
The second one has green eyes and black hair with cat ears and a tail of the same color. She seemed to be about 10cm taller than the other.
There was also a human with brown eyes and medium-length brown hair. She seemed to be the largest of the three in terms of height.
However, I don't see the elf. Maybe she's helping in the kitchen?
While I was thinking, Syr returned, holding a menu with a playful expression.
"We have an elven specialty today, and I think you might like it. A dish called 'Star of the Forest'. It's light, but full of flavor."
It was the first time I'd seen a dish with that name, so I was curious.
"What is it made of? It's the first time I've heard that name."
Clearly it's a type of dish that only exists in this world.
Syr smiled, looking excited to share information about the dish.
"The 'Star of the Forest' is a very special dish with an elven influence. It's prepared with a unique blend of ingredients found deep in the forest. The base is a blend of forest mushrooms, picked in specific locations to ensure their distinct freshness and flavor."
She pointed to the menu, where an illustration showed a plate with a variety of mushrooms, each with a different shape and color.
"Each mushroom brings a unique element to the dish. The shaded mushrooms add an earthy note, while the golden ones provide a soft, slightly sweet touch. And, of course, we can't forget the dew crystals, which are collected at dawn to add a hint of freshness."
It seemed to be quite a complex dish.
"As well as mushrooms, the 'Star of the Forest' also contains rare herb shoots, which are carefully chosen to enhance the natural flavors. Some elves are known for their ability to balance ingredients to create dishes that highlight the surrounding nature."
She paused, smiling. "Oh, and I can't forget the secret ingredient: a touch of bee honey from the deep forests. It gives a slightly sweet flavor that perfectly complements the whole."
It's a very complex dish indeed.
"I can imagine the price is high, right?"
If it contains rare ingredients, it's bound to cost a lot.
"Not at all, it's very cheap. It only costs 2,000 valis," she said simply with a smile on her face.
I'm sure that's not cheap.
"How can you say that with a smile on your face?"
Besides, what's with the glitter around her?
That single plate was more expensive than the weapons and armor rented from the Adventurers' Guild. It's not like I was short of cash. Thanks to Jack Bird's Golden Egg, I had plenty of savings. However, I planned to use about 70% to restore the Abandoned Church where Hestia and I live.
"Don't say that, I'm sure that price is nothing to you, considering you walk around with a precious ring like that on your finger."
I did find it a bit strange that no one had mentioned [Fairy Steps] so far. Ever since I walked into this pub, the people in this place haven't seemed to pay much attention to it, which is really a relief. I didn't want to deal with greedy adventurers again, but I knew it was only a matter of time.
"Besides, it's like you said, there are a lot of rare ingredients in this dish, so it's not often that this dish is available. You were lucky to come on the same day that we were able to replenish these ingredients, so it's good to take advantage of it before it runs out," she added.
"From the way you spoke earlier, I can assume that elves are essential to the preparation of this dish. Does that mean there's an elf working in the kitchen?"
"Oh, you're attentive," she said. "Yes, we have an elf, although she's not a cook. Our head chef is May, Ryuu just takes care of the easy part."
Suddenly, Syr came very close to me and whispered.
"Between you and me, Ryuu isn't a good cook, the only reason she's helping out in the kitchen is because of this particular dish. Because of that, she usually only does the dishes when she's in the kitchen."
"I heard that."
"!"
Syr jumped a little when she heard the voice coming from the kitchen.
The voice belonged to an elf with sky blue eyes and green hair. She was wearing a green maid's outfit with a white frilly sash, a matching white apron and a pair of brown boots over black leggings. She looked just like the other waitresses.
"Oh, Ryuu..."
"Besides, you saying I'm not a good cook when you can't even fry an egg properly..."
Suddenly, the elf's mouth was covered by Syr's hands, which silenced her before she turned to me with a strange smile.
"She's just joking, my food is really good, you know!"
"!" Ryuu tried to speak, but couldn't.
After a short animated exchange between Syr and Ryuu, the elf approached the table with an expressionless face.
"I apologize for my behavior, I'm Ryuu Lion. Nice to meet you."
I returned the greeting.
"The pleasure is mine. I'm Kiyotaka Ayanokouji."
After that, we stared at each other for a few seconds in complete silence.
"Shhh," Syr's voice broke the short silence. "You two are very inexpressive. So your name is Kiyotaka, huh."
Although I knew her name, she still didn't know mine.
"Very well, Mr. Kiyotaka. Have you decided what you're going to order?" Ryuu's voice asked.
"I'll try the 'Star of the Forest', please."
Although it was a bit expensive for just one dish, I was very curious about the taste. It was a food I'd never eaten before, something only possible in this world, so I'd better try it. Besides, according to Syr, it's a dish that appears rarely, so I'd better enjoy it.
Ryuu nodded when she heard my request, and then she headed to the kitchen to help prepare the "Star of the Forest". As she walked away, Syr smiled at me.
"Well, now that she's busy, maybe we can have a quieter conversation."
Before Syr could sit down, the atmosphere in the pub changed abruptly when a tall woman with piercing brown eyes and long brown hair entered the room. Dressed in a colorful version of the other employees' uniforms, she radiated an authoritative presence.
"Syr Flova, you should be working, not socializing."
Mia's voice was firm, allowing no room for argument. Syr became visibly flustered and stood up quickly.
"Sorry, Mama Mia!" Syr apologized and ran off to work.
Well, apparently, this woman was the owner of this place.
"I apologize for the interruption. I'm Mia Grand, the owner of this establishment. Most people call me Mama Mia. It's a pleasure to have you here, kid."
"Well, it's my pleasure. This place is kind of nice."
"Well, I'm glad to hear it. But that's only during the morning and afternoon. At night, this place turns into a real zone because of the adventurers who have arrived from the Dungeon. Not that I mind, of course, after all, money is money. And since you ordered the most expensive dish on our menu, I believe you have a lot of money on you."
What are those strange symbols in her eyes? Besides, how does she know that I ordered the most expensive dish? Was she watching everything from the beginning?
If that's the case, I wasn't able to sense her.
"Well, anyway, if you need anything, don't hesitate to call any of our staff."
Mia gave a polite nod before leaving to supervise the rest of the pub. Syr, now focused on her tasks, gave me a quick glance before getting back to work under Mia's watchful eye.
I realized that, despite the friendly atmosphere, Mia Grand was a strict landlady, maintaining a firm leadership stance.
However, I couldn't help noticing that she seemed to be keeping an eye on me. I don't know if I'm overthinking it, but it felt a little strange.
This owner is definitely strong, and not just her. Those two waitresses with cat ears also gave me a strange feeling. Since I came to this world, I've felt that my senses have improved a lot, especially since I received my Falna from Hestia.
What's more, the name of this place is the Hostess of Fertility...
...
While I waited for my order, I continued to observe the movement around me. The pub was full of life, with adventurers sharing stories and laughter, but according to Mia, it got noisier at night.
A short while later, Ryuu returned from the kitchen, bringing with him the "Star of the Forest". The aroma emanating from the dish was tantalizing, mixing with the other delicious smells that hung in the air, increasing my anticipation even more.
"I hope you enjoy it, Mr. Kiyotaka. The 'Star of the Forest' is a unique and special dish."
The presentation of the dish was indeed magnificent. A profusion of colorful mushrooms, herb sprouts and a delicate drizzle of honey adorned the meal. The combination of colors and textures was visually captivating.
I thanked Ryuu as she placed the plate in front of me. The mushrooms, herb shoots and honey from deep forest bees formed a visually appealing combination.
Without hesitation, I immersed myself in the unique culinary experience unfolding before me. The taste was incredible, a harmonious dance of earthy, soft and sweet notes that complemented each other perfectly. It really was a unique and delicious culinary experience.
As I enjoyed the meal, I noticed that Syr occasionally cast discreet glances in my direction, even though she was busy with her responsibilities. Mia, on the other hand, maintained a vigilant posture, making sure that everyone was working.
I finished my meal, thanked Ryuu for the unique gastronomic experience and prepared to leave the pub. As I headed for the door, I was briefly stopped from leaving by Syr who suddenly appeared in front of me.
Syr smiled as he subtly blocked my passage towards the door. "Hehe, I hope you enjoyed the 'Star of the Forest'. It's not every day that we have such an interesting customer around here. You should promise to come back for more delicious dishes."
Reflecting on the incredible gastronomic experience I'd had, I just agreed.
"Of course, Syr. If the food here is as good as the 'Star of the Forest', I'll definitely come back."
As this dish was the most expensive on the menu today, I believe the others are much cheaper. I can't spend so much on one dish every day. I still don't know what ingredients and spices there are in this world, but I believe there must be some here that are the same in my world.
She seemed satisfied with the answer, but before I could go on my way, Syr tilted her head slightly, giving me a curious look.
"Can I ask you something, Kiyotaka?"
"Sure, go ahead and ask."
"Most adventurers are always looking for fame and wealth in the Dungeon. Do you also seek these same things? I mean, I guess you must have quite a bit of money by now..."
Her question took me by surprise for a moment, but I decided to answer truthfully.
"Well, I didn't really want to become an adventurer at first, but circumstances forced me to become one. I thought I'd have a 'more normal' life, so to speak, working in an ordinary place."
Syr arched her eyebrows, puzzled.
"Working in a normal place? You know, I usually have good eyes, I also have a better intuition than most people. And I can tell that you seem to be better than most of the adventurers I see around here, with the exception of the adventurers from the big Families. Aren't you happy being one of them?"
"Actually, my initial vision was more peaceful. Being an adventurer is challenging, I haven't even made it past the first floor, so I'm still a novice, but it's not exactly the lifestyle I had in mind. I always imagined myself working in a more ordinary place. However, I'm still not aware of all the differences from where I used to live to this city."
She seemed intrigued by my answer. I could have sworn I saw a little mysterious glint in her eyes too.
"...Interesting. In that case, if you had the opportunity to work in a normal place, would you take it?"
"Who knows?"
Syr's question depends on the offer. If it was something I found interesting and that offered a stable life, why not?
Her face lit up with a mischievous and mysterious smile, as if something in her words had triggered an interesting reaction.
"Who knows, huh? Hehe, that's great to hear, Kiyotaka. Who knows what fate has in store for us, right?" She winked at me in a mysterious way.
Her reaction was intriguing. It was as if Syr knew something I didn't, something beyond what words could express. Curiosity mixed with the feeling that she was connected to something bigger, something beyond what the eye could see.
She seems quite normal, although she displays the traits of a very perceptive person.
"I'm looking forward to seeing what the future holds. You're welcome anytime you want to sample more of the Hostess's of Fertility delights, or perhaps explore opportunities beyond the Dungeon's borders." She bowed slightly, maintaining her enigmatic smile.
Those last words of hers really sent a shiver down my spine.
As I left the establishment, I couldn't help but reflect on the intriguing atmosphere surrounding the pub and its staff. The sun was beginning to set as I made my way through the busy streets of Orario, thinking about the future and the possibilities that would unfold before me.
Hostess of Fertility...
Fertility is one of the things she's associated with, after all.
I was confident that this place had some influence from Freya.
"Kiyotaka-kun!"
As soon as I arrived at the Abandoned Church, Hestia greeted me with a hug.
Although she was doing this quite often, I still found it a little strange. Because of her, I ended up being hugged more times in this world than my entire life in my previous world, so it was still a bit confusing.
"Hello, Hestia."
"You know, when someone hugs you, you usually hug them back," she grumbled.
"..."
I didn't answer right away, she let go of me and ended up sighing, but then gave a little smile.
"So, how was your day, Kiyotaka-kun? Did you exchange Jack Bird's Golden Egg?"
She knew about it, after all, when I left the Dungeon, the Guild was closed as it was early morning. At first, she was very excited, because this item drop, which can only be obtained on the first floor, is worth 1,000,000 valis. As far as I know, it's the rarest item drop to date.
"Yes. It would also be nice if you signed this," I took the paper Rose had given me out of my pocket and handed it to her.
"Permission to create a personal Familia safe?" she read.
"Yes, you need the signature of the god or goddess of the Familia for that."
"Ah, I see. So that's why you didn't arrive with a bag full of valises. You left everything in the safe, right?" She quickly came to that conclusion.
"Yes. After all, 1,000,000 valises is a lot. I'd draw unnecessary attention."
She gave me a strange look. "Simply walking down the street with that ring on your finger attracts attention."
"I think most people who have seen me are used to it enough to pay so much attention to it."
Well, I think the fact that I was wearing the casual clothes of this world also helped to make people not pay so much attention to me. If I'd been wearing my school uniform from my previous world, it would have been more eye-catching.
"Hmpf," she made a sound and left, returning just two minutes later with the paper. "Here, make sure you give it to your adivisor tomorrow."
She handed me the paper and I put it in a small drawer near the sofa. There were a few pieces of furniture that were well preserved, but most were completely worn out.
"Speaking of which, how much money do you intend to use to renovate the church?" Hestia asked me curiously.
"I'm thinking of using 70%."
"In other words, 700,000 valis. Hm, do you plan to get another Golden Egg on the 1st floor?"
I also told her about my theory of the Dungeon evaluating each adventurer individually. She really thought my theory made a lot of sense, so she took it as true. The only thing I've omitted from Hestia so far is about [Fairy Steps], and about the Goblin who uses fire magic being generated because of my presence. However, although I haven't told her this detail, I think she might already suspect it.
I mean, it would be strange if she didn't, after all, the Dungeon remained the same the whole time, but suddenly a new monster was spawned just when I was there?
"Probably, but I won't prioritize that at the moment. I'm a bit curious about the next floors of the Dungeon. Besides, don't take my theory for granted, because it only happened once. It's not certain that I'm right."
"For some reason, I think that last statement of yours is totally ridiculous."
"You're thinking too much."
"Hmmm," she didn't sound convinced, however. "Well, changing the subject, did you also only stay on the first floor in the Dungeon today?"
"No. Actually, I didn't even go to the Dungeon today. I ended up meeting an acquaintance and after chatting with him for a while, I went to the Hostess of Fertility, as I was curious about the food in this place."
"Ah, Hostess of Fertility, Mia Grand's famous adventurers' pub! You went to eat there without me! How did you get there? And what did you eat? You didn't drink much, did you?"
That was a lot of questions.
"Actually, I was going to ask you to come with me, but you weren't here, so I went alone. I ate a dish called 'Star of the Forest', and no, I didn't drink."
"Star of the Forest!?" She burst into a scream. "That's a super rare dish that barely appears, and it's very expensive too. Oh, I can't believe I missed the chance to try it!"
Hestia was a poor goddess before I arrived, so I think she had always wanted to try a more expensive dish like this, but had never had the chance. But I didn't think she would explode in screams and frustration.
"You're exaggerating, Hestia. It was just a meal."
I tried to calm her down that way.
"But 'Star of the Forest' is an incredible dish! And it costs 2,000 valis! I can't believe you ate it without me. You should have waited!"
It didn't work. In that case...
"Sorry, I didn't know you were such a fan of this dish. I can take you there next time, if you like."
"Really?" Hestia's eyes sparkled with hope. "Promise?"
"I promise. Just don't try to throw a tantrum every time I end up eating something without you."
Hestia gave an adorable little pout, but then smiled. "Okay, I promise to behave. Let's go tomorrow, though."
"That early?" I questioned.
"It's a very rare dish, however, it runs out very quickly!" She explained. "Actually, I'm afraid I'll arrive tomorrow and the ingredients for the preparation will have run out..."
"Right, deal. Returning to the topic of renovating this Abandoned Church, do you know anyone who could take care of it?"
I think there must be a Familia that can take care of buildings.
And I was right.
Hestia told me about the Goibniu Familia, a blacksmith Familia led by the god Goibniu. Although the Goibniu Familia is a blacksmith Familia, they also deal with construction requests. According to Hestia, even though they're not as big as the Hephaestus Familia, their skills are roughly on the same level.
After telling me about this, Hestia suggested that I update my statuses, as it had been about a week since I had done so. She took care of the process quickly and I realized that my strength hadn't increased that much.
Before, my attributes were all 60, but now they were 65. There was only a gain of 5 points during that week. Well, I should have known better, after all, the first floor of the Dungeon presented no challenge for me. If I wanted to get strong, I'd have to go down the floors.
However, the possibility of a new type of monster appearing on the next floors just as it had on the first floor was too high to rule out. On the first floor it was the Goblin capable of using fire magic, but what about the next floors? If that really happened, what kind of different monsters would appear?
I had to be prepared and more attentive than any other adventurer.
There's also something I'm curious about my skill: PALMARIUS. However, I don't think I'll be able to confirm my theories any time soon.
I couldn't help but sigh.
There are several things to think about.
While I was thinking, Hestia spoke to me.
"Ah, Kiyotaka-kun. I forgot to mention it, but I spoke to Hephaestus," her words made me look at her. "Well, I mentioned a few things about this 'cell phone' of yours and she seemed quite interested."
"I see. Does that mean she's agreed to meet me?"
Faced with my question, Hestia nodded positively.
Well then, I was finally going to meet the goddess of the Blacksmith Familia.
"When is it?"
"If possible, she wants us to go tomorrow."
Apparently, the negotiations will take place earlier than planned.
Well, that's it. I think this was the "weakest" chapter so far, so to speak. But it was pretty important too.
In the next chapter, we'll have Ayanokouji negotiating with the goddess Hephaestus. What on earth is he planning? Send in your theories!
Let me know what you thought of this chapter, commenting on parts you found interesting, it motivates me. I'll try to release another chapter of this story before the end of the year.
Well, that's it. A slightly shorter note than I usually make.
See you in the next chapter :)