Clutching her uneasy thoughts, Hestia stood in the main hall of the Adventurers' Guild.
Ever since recruiting Liang Yue, she hadn't set foot here again.
She had never imagined that her return would be to report a Familia member's level up!
As adventurers who had finished their business trickled out of the guild, her anxiety rooted her to the spot. But recalling Liang Yue's casual attitude—
"There's definitely no problem!"
While she waited, Misha Flott, who had just finished helping an adventurer, spotted a familiar figure.
This goddess, who had descended to the Lower World not long ago, had left quite the impression.
Back then, Hestia had frequently come to the guild pestering staff for recruitment matters—Misha herself had handled multiple complaints. And now she had returned.
Could she be here to recruit again?
Misha approached her with a smile and asked,
"Lady Hestia, is there anything I can help you with today?"
"I'm here to report my Familia adventurer's level up."
Hestia turned her head toward the young woman and, after answering, tentatively added,
"If possible, I'd like to meet with Ouranos."
Hearing it was a level-up report, Misha's eyes flashed with disbelief. She could still vividly remember Hestia going around questioning every adventurer she could find.
Never did she expect this to be about that kind of paperwork.
Maintaining a polite smile, she said,
"I can help you with that."
"As for meeting Lord Ouranos, that's not up to me—it would at least need Royman's approval."
"Then let's just start with the registration."
Following Misha's lead into the guild's lounge area, Hestia sat before a cup of hot tea she had no intention of tasting.
The wait was excruciating.
Misha, holding a fresh adventurer registration ledger unique to the Hestia Familia, flipped it open.
The first page's table was completely empty—
But the name that met her eyes was one she knew very well: Liang Yue.
A rookie adventurer she'd seen just days ago on a date with Eina—directly responsible for Eina's postponed vacation. Misha's eyes skimmed quickly over the name.
She couldn't help but feel annoyed at the colleague who had registered him.
She kept flipping, but when she reached the later pages and still found no other names, she looked at Hestia in puzzlement.
"Um… may I confirm—are we registering a new member, or reporting a level up?"
"Because from what I see… your Familia currently only has Liang Yue, and he only registered at the guild ten days ago."
"It's Liang Yue-kun."
"…Huh?"
Misha double-checked—indeed, he had only registered ten days ago. Was Hestia joking with her?
With a faint smile, she asked,
"You mean… your current member, Liang Yue, has gone from registration to Lv.2 in just ten days?"
Realizing how that sounded, Misha quickly clarified,
"I'm not doubting you, it's just… even Miss Ais took over a year to raise her level…"
"…And you're saying he's already done it?"
"That's exactly what I'm saying," Hestia replied, still feeling it was unreal even now.
"???"
Misha suddenly grasped that a god wouldn't joke about something like this. The absurdity of it sank in, and her smile froze.
Just a few words had hit her like a thunderclap!
Lv.5 Ais Wallenstein's record had been beaten—and the time to level-up had been slashed by over thirty times. Not just in Orario—
Even worldwide, this was unheard of.
Her pen hand trembled. Liang Yue often came to the guild, always handled by her friend Eina…
Did this mean she had indirectly witnessed a miracle?
Misha didn't dare imagine what chaos would erupt in Orario if adventurers learned of this.
"So… does this mean… I've just witnessed the birth of Orario's fastest legend?"
Her voice trembled, all sense of professional composure gone.
Her excitement helped ease Hestia's nerves. To have her beloved Familia member cause a stir in Orario filled her with pride.
The fastest legend in Orario?
Hestia didn't answer, merely correcting inwardly:
It's witnessing a miracle with the potential of a hero—someone who's reached the theoretical limit of ability values!
News of Ais Wallenstein's record being shattered soon reached Guild Director Royman. Despite his flaws, he truly hoped the guild and Orario would flourish.
For a bottom-tier Familia like Hestia's to produce such a "miracle" adventurer—this had to be reported.
Royman descended into the guild's underground sanctuary.
What he brought to Ouranos was not only the good news, but also a scroll Hestia had stressed was for the god's eyes only.
Without permission, Royman wouldn't dare open it.
"Lord Ouranos, I have something to report—about an adventurer."
Seated high on the altar, Ouranos lifted his gaze without expression.
"Speak."
"The record for fastest advancement to Lv.2—previously held by Ais Wallenstein of the Loki Familia—has been broken by a member of the Hestia Familia."
"From initial registration to level up… the total time was ten days!"
Even Ouranos' aged face shifted slightly at that. Could this be the answer that little one had promised him?
It was an unexpected delight indeed.
In the guild's near-thousand-year history, no adventurer had ever achieved such a feat—not even Albert.
"Also… this is the scroll Lady Hestia asked me to deliver to you."
Royman handed it over with both hands, then stepped back to wait.
But when he saw Ouranos' normally calm gaze give way to astonishment, Royman's heart skipped a beat.
In over ten years as chief executive, this was the first time he'd seen Ouranos visibly react.
Unable to hold back, he asked cautiously,
"Lord Ouranos… is there bad news in the scroll?"
"On the contrary, it's excellent news."
Aside from the magic stat, every one of Liang Yue's abilities had reached the theoretical maximum. Such talent was unprecedented.
No adventurer could surpass it. This, then, was Liang Yue's bargaining chip in their earlier conversation?
But talent alone wasn't enough.
Ouranos' smile faded as he issued his order:
"Draft a proposal. Have the Hestia Familia prepare… for a Familia expedition."
After the downfall of the Soma Familia, Orario had entered a brief period of unrest—an equivalent price had to be paid.
And besides… he was curious.
In the high-pressure crucible of a Familia expedition—
How far could Liang Yue grow?