The guild's ambient noise of clinking glasses and adventurer banter faded as Hestia turned to Eina. Sunlight streamed through the stained-glass windows, casting colorful patterns across the reception area's marble floors.
"Eina, was it?" Hestia asked, her twin tails swaying as she addressed the half elf.
Eina set down her paperwork, the quill in her hand pausing mid-sentence. "Yes, Hestia-sama?"
"Do you have a private room we could use?" Hestia's fingers twirled absentmindedly around a ribbon. "For Liam's... initiation."
The receptionist's glasses glinted as understanding dawned. "Ah." She rose gracefully, her shoes whispering against the polished wood floor. "You may use the consultation room. It's currently unoccupied."
Hestia nodded and motioned for Liam to follow. The young man hesitated, his shoe scuffing against the intricate guild crest embedded in the flooring, before falling into step behind the petite goddess.
As he passed Eina, she leaned in slightly. "Take your time," she murmured, a knowing smile playing at her lips.
Liam's brow furrowed. What exactly is she implying?
------------------------------------------
The consultation room smelled of aged parchment and lemon oil, its walls lined with shelves of leather-bound guild records. A plush velvet couch dominated the center, flanked by two high-backed chairs. Hestia settled onto the couch with a contented sigh, patting the space beside her.
"Sit here, Liam-kun."
The cushions sighed as Liam lowered himself onto the couch, the fabric cool against his palms. His confusion deepened when Hestia suddenly instructed:
"Remove your clothes."
A beat of silence. Liam's eyes widened, his fingers freezing on his shirt buttons. Did I accidentally join some... unconventional Familia?
Hestia blinked, then burst into giggles. "Ah! No, no - just your shirt! I need to see your back for the blessing!"
"Oh. Right." Heat crept up Liam's neck as he peeled off his tunic, the air cool against his bare torso. His lean frame bore the subtle definition of someone accustomed to physical labor, though without the bulk of seasoned adventurers.
Hestia's eyes appraised his exposed back with professional detachment. "Good. Now lie face down."
As Liam positioned himself on the couch, the leather creaking beneath him, he felt an unexpected weight settle across his hips.
Is she... sitting on me?
He squeezed his eyes shut, mentally scrambling for distraction. Happy thoughts. Happy memories. That time with the puppy-
Damn it, not working!
The couch springs protested as Hestia shifted, pulling a needle from her hair ribbon. "This might tingle a bit," she warned, her breath warm against his shoulder blades.
Hestia pricked her fingertip with the needle, a single crimson droplet welling up. The scent of divine blood - faintly metallic yet strangely floral - filled the small room as she pressed her finger between Liam's shoulder blades.
Cold. That was his first thought as her divine essence made contact. Then, like ink spreading in water, warmth radiated outward in ripples across his skin. Hestia's finger moved with practiced precision, tracing symbols that glowed faintly blue against his flesh. The sensation was... peculiar. Not quite pain, not quite pleasure - like someone drawing on sun-warmed parchment with a feather quill.
Liam's breath hitched as the warmth intensified, his muscles tensing involuntarily. The goddess worked silently, her brows knitting together in concentration. The only sounds were the occasional creak of the couch and the soft rasp of skin against skin.
After what felt like minutes but might have been seconds, Hestia paused. Her eyes widened slightly as she surveyed the glowing script now covering Liam's back - lines of celestial text pulsing like living constellations.
"Almost done," she murmured, reaching for a sheet of specially-treated parchment. The paper whispered against his skin as she pressed it firmly across his shoulder blades. Slowly, miraculously, the glowing symbols transferred onto the page, resolving into legible text
Peeling it away, she revealed:
〈STATUS〉
LIAM - LV.1
STRENGTH: I0
ENDURANCE: I0
DEXTERITY: I0
AGILITY: I0
MAGIC: I0
〈MAGIC〉
None
〈SKILL〉
None
Hestia nodded knowingly. "Most adventurers start with blank slates like this," she explained, rotating the parchment for Liam to see. "Though occasionally..." Her fingers traced the empty skill section wistfully, "Someone gets lucky and awakens with a special ability right away."
Hestia slid off Liam's back and settled onto the couch with a satisfied sigh. Liam sat up, examining the status sheet in his hands with a furrowed brow.
?
It didn't detect my transformation ability... Interesting. His fingers tightened slightly on the parchment as he pondered the implications.
Noticing his intense expression, Hestia misinterpreted his reaction. Her chest swelled with determination as she suddenly grabbed Liam's head and pulled him into a crushing embrace.
"Don't feel down, Liam!" she declared, his face buried in her ample bosom. "You're my first Familia member! I'm sure you'll develop amazing skills in no time!" Releasing him with a pop, she flashed a bright thumbs-up.
Liam blinked, slightly dazed from both the hug and her enthusiasm. "Yes...?" he managed weakly.
Hestia nodded vigorously. "So! What's your plan now, my wonderful captain?"
"I'll register with Eina first," Liam said, straightening his shirt, "then get acquainted with the dungeon."
The goddess suddenly cupped his face in her hands, bringing her nose inches from his. "Are you absolutely certain you want to dive in so soon?" Her blue eyes burned with concern.
At Liam's firm nod, she released him and crossed her arms. "Fine! But only the first floor, understand? No reckless diving deeper!"
"Understood, Hestia-sama."
"And don't be late!" she added, rubbing her nose proudly. "We're celebrating your welcome party tonight at Hostess of Fertility - my first official Familia dinner!"
Liam gave a small smile. "I'll be there. I just want to scout the dungeon's basics first."
As he turned to leave, Hestia's voice followed him: "And Liam? Come back safely."
"I will"
Hestia cleared her throat pointedly. "Ahem. And don't forget to put your shirt back on."
Liam blinked, suddenly aware of his bare torso. "Ah—right." He quickly pulled the fabric over his head, the cool linen settling against his newly-marked back. "I'll return after scouting the dungeon, Hestia-sama."
The goddess nodded vigorously, her twin-tails bouncing. "Don't be late! And remember—"
"I know, first floor only," Liam finished with a small wave as he stepped out.
----------------------------------------
The guild hall's noise enveloped him as he approached the reception desk. Eina looked up from her paperwork, her professional smile softening when she recognized him.
"Congratulations, Liam. You're officially an adventurer now." Her pen tapped against the freshly stamped documents.
"Thanks," Liam replied, glancing at the guild seal embossed on his registration papers.
Eina adjusted her glasses, the lenses flashing as she leaned forward. "You're planning to enter the dungeon today, aren't you?"
At his nod, she continued, "As your advisor, I must insist—only the first floor for now. No descending further, understood?" Her finger jabbed the desk for emphasis.
"Hestia-sama already gave me the same warning," Liam assured her.
Eina's shoulders relaxed slightly. "Good. Just... stay safe, alright?" The unspoken worry hung between them—how many adventurers had she seen off who never returned?
"I will." Liam turned toward the exit, then paused. "See you later, Miss Eina."
"See you later, Liam," she replied, watching until the guild doors closed behind him.
---------------------------
The dungeon entrance loomed before Liam like a gaping maw, its arched stone threshold worn smooth by countless adventurers' footsteps. The air grew noticeably cooler as he approached, carrying the faint metallic tang of damp stone and something far more primal. His dull blade swayed at his hip with each step, its weight both unfamiliar and strangely comforting.
Descending the rough-hewn stairs, the world transformed around him. The drab gray of the entrance gave way to bioluminescent blue veins pulsing through the walls, casting an eerie glow across the tunnel. The stone itself seemed alive, the mineral deposits shimmering like frozen lightning strikes in the dim light.
A chorus of shouts echoed from a side passage where a rookie party battled two goblins. Liam paused, observing the creatures' warty green skin and yellowed fangs. Some things are universal, he mused, ugly little bastards no matter which world they're from—well, except maybe those weirdly handsome ones from Tensura...
Choosing a less crowded path, Liam ventured deeper until the sounds of other adventurers faded. The blue glow intensified here, the walls almost translucent in places. Running his fingers along the crystalline surface, he expected cold stone—but instead felt something leathery and warm.
Wait.
His hand froze. The "wall" blinked.
In the pulsating light, Liam realized his fingers were currently buried in the bulbous nose of a half-formed goblin still emerging from the dungeon wall. Its beady eyes crossed as it tried to focus on the offending digits.
"Fuck—!"
Liam's fist lashed out before his brain caught up. The crunch of cartilage echoed unnaturally loud as the creature's face caved inward, its body still partially fused with the stone. A wet schluck sound followed as the dungeon's regeneration magic struggled to reconcile the damage with its respawn cycle.
Nearby, another goblin popped fully formed from the wall. It took one look at its mangled comrade—now permanently embedded in the crystalline structure like some bizarre fossil—then at Liam's raised fist.
The two locked eyes in perfect understanding.
The goblin snarled at Liam, its yellowed fangs dripping with saliva as it brandished claw-like nails. The dim blue glow of the dungeon walls reflected in its beady eyes, making them shine with primal malice.
Liam slowly drew his dull blade, the metal scraping against the sheath with a whisper of finality. He tilted his head, studying the creature's grotesque features—the warty green skin, the too-wide mouth, the stench of rot clinging to it.
"You know what your fault is?" Liam asked, though he knew the creature couldn't understand.
The goblin responded with a guttural hiss, crouching low like a feral beast ready to pounce.
Liam smirked. "Yeah, neither do I. But I bet Goblin Slayer would say it's just because you're a goblin."
In one swift motion, he lunged.
His sword swung in a wide arc—not with the precision he intended, but with enough brute force to send the creature hurtling backward. Instead of a clean decapitation, the blade struck its torso with a sickening thud, launching it straight into its still-stuck companion.
The two goblins collided in a tangle of limbs, the impact vibrating through the dungeon wall. For a brief moment, they writhed, a mess of claws and snarls—until, with a muffled puff, they dissolved into swirling black smoke.
All that remained was a single, pea-sized magic stone, glinting faintly against the stone floor.
Liam crouched, picking it up between his fingers. The stone was cool to the touch, its surface rough yet humming with faint energy. He rolled it in his palm, observing the way the dungeon's eerie light refracted through its translucent surface.
So this is what adventurers fight for.
The magic stone glimmered faintly in Liam's palm, its pea-sized form pulsing with a dull blue light. Just as he moved to pocket it, his system—usually silent unless summoned—flashed a notification across his vision.
[Energy Detected]
Would you like to store this in your inventory?
[Yes] / [No]
Liam tapped Yes without hesitation. The stone vanished in a wisp of light. Curious, he pulled up his inventory, navigating to the Materials tab where the newly acquired stone now resided. A quick inspection revealed.
[Low-Quality Magic Stone]
A crystallized mana core containing trace amounts of experience.
Can be consumed for character progression.
Experience? Liam's pulse quickened. Wait... does this mean—?
He selected Use, and the interface seamlessly shifted to his character panel. To his astonishment, the EXP bar for his Frostarm Lawachurl form flickered—then inched forward by a hair's breadth.
A breathless laugh escaped him. I can level up without Mora! The realization washed over him like cool water—he wouldn't need to face those terrifying Level 90 enemies right away. No Ley Line Outcrops, no impossible battles. Just steady, incremental growth.
The EXP gain was pitiful—barely a sliver of progress—but it was something. So this is why I didn't get EXP directly from killing the goblin, he mused. The system converts their magic stones instead, like a manual EXP tome... just far less efficient.
Closing the interface, Liam nodded to himself.
A slow, predatory smile spread across Liam's face as he turned toward the dungeon's shadowy depths. The faint blue glow of the crystalline walls reflected in his eyes, giving them an almost unnatural gleam.
Time to farm.
With a sharp crack of his neck, he rolled his shoulders and set off down the winding passage. His shoes scuffed against the uneven stone floor, the sound echoing ominously in the otherwise silent tunnel. The air grew thicker here, carrying the musky scent of damp fur and something distinctly... reptilian.
Perfect.
Liam's grip tightened on his dull blade as he followed the telltale signs - scratch marks on the walls, scattered bones, the occasional wet footprint. Somewhere ahead, either goblins or kobolds were waiting.
And they had no idea what was coming for them.
(A/n: tell me your thoughts)