"Keare."
"Then I'll call you that."
Eina left the Adventurer's Guild counter and led Keare to the rest area on the side of the Guild's premises for a brief introduction.
Before they officially began talking, she also poured him a cup of hot black tea.
The girl's attitude gradually turned serious: "The Dungeon is far more dangerous than you can imagine. I hope you will take it seriously from now on."
"Of course."
Keare nodded earnestly, then added: "Only those who return alive can be considered Adventurers."
"What about those who don't return?"
Eina had never heard such a novel statement. She adjusted her sitting posture slightly, took a small sip of black tea, and her eyes showed curiosity.
"In my hometown, they are usually called the deceased."
Keare shrugged. Although Hestia had a gentle personality, it was impossible not to feel a bit constrained when communicating with her.
He couldn't lie in front of a god. What if she pressed him about his origins?
If his identity as a transmigrator were exposed, Hestia might be fine, but if other gods knew about the existence of other worlds...
He couldn't imagine how crazy these gods, who were bored to tears, would be!
"That's… quite fitting."
Eina nodded gently. Although the joke was a bit dark, it also indirectly proved that Keare was prepared for adventuring.
After a brief ice-breaking, she began her professional introduction:
The safe area of the Dungeon is called the Starting Path. Wide spiral stairs connect to the underground caves, capable of accommodating thousands of people.
Then there are floors 1-5, which constitute the upper levels, inhabited by monsters such as Goblins, Ugly Goblins, and Dungeon Lizards. The danger level is relatively low.
Upon reaching the 5th floor, one will encounter a monster called a War Shadow. This thing is a rookie killer in every sense of the word.
As one delves deeper into the Dungeon, the danger level will increase linearly.
Murder Ants, with their hard shells, will call for companions when in danger, and may even trigger a "monster stampede."
There are also monsters similar to Blue Butterflies, Purple Algae, and Imps.
Compared to the relatively brief descriptions in the original work, Eina explained things much more thoroughly, and Keare remembered them firmly.
As a new Adventurer, mastering this information was completely sufficient.
Before developing the derivative abilities of his Recovery magic, venturing deep rashly would be risking his own life.
Finally.
He looked at Eina in front of him and sincerely expressed his gratitude: "Thank you, Miss Eina."
"You're welcome."
"This is my job."
Eina smiled and waved her hand. She had a fairly good impression of Keare, who was polite in his words and actions, and occasionally had a bit of dark humor.
She kindly reminded him: "The Dungeon is truly dangerous. Please don't push yourself!"
"I'll be careful."
—
Registering his Familia and Adventurer status, and mastering information about the monsters in the upper levels of the Dungeon, today's primary goals were accomplished.
Leaving the Adventurer's Guild, the scorching sun poured onto the ground, making even the breeze carry heat waves.
Keare gazed ahead. Compared to the anime, the real world's central Adventurer City, Orario, was much more spectacular.
From now on, he would be active here!
Even after half a day of adapting, he still felt that what was happening to him was dreamlike.
"Let's go back first."
"There's no rush to explore the Dungeon for now."
Keare did not rush to Babel Tower. It would be purely suicidal to venture into the dangerous Dungeon with just the information he had.
Mastering information was the most basic step. He hadn't prepared weapons or armor, let alone combat skills...
As he followed his memory route back to the Familia's residence, Keare also familiarized himself with this unfamiliar world. The city was quite prosperous.
However, as he walked towards Babel Tower, he could visually notice that the buildings became shorter.
This was quite easy to understand.
Initially, Orario was just a town that emerged because of the Dungeon, and it only reached its current scale after long development.
He continued walking along the streets, finally returning to the abandoned church basement that served as the Familia's residence. The atmosphere was a bit desolate.
At least until their economic situation improved and they found a new Familia residence, they would have to live here.
Or was it a daily cohabitation with a beautiful loli goddess?
If there was a problem, it was whether his sudden appearance would change the original plotline. Keare was genuinely curious.
According to the original development, Hestia's first Familia member could only be Bell.
"Does this count as NTR?"
Keare sat on the patched old sofa. What he needed to consider now was how to get equipment for Dungeon exploration.
Just then, footsteps from around the stairwell attracted his attention.
He looked up and saw Hestia returning home, carrying a gray cloth bundle, her steps light, and an uncontainable pride in her eyes.
"Keare!"
"Come quickly and see how this set of equipment is!"
She placed the gray cloth bundle on the table. When it was unfolded, what came into view was a brown breastplate and a straight-handled one-handed sword.
"This set of equipment..."
Just as he was feeling sleepy, a beautiful girl delivered a pillow?
Keare's gaze quickly swept over the equipment. So, she had left the Adventurer's Guild early specifically to prepare these for him.
Hestia lifted her fair neck, like a proud white swan:
"You're going to adventure in the Dungeon, aren't you? I thought… as your goddess, I must prepare a gift for you."
"The weapon was forged by a Hephaestus Familia member, and it's very valuable!"
The facts were no different from Keare's guess.
After leaving the Adventurer's Guild, Hestia hadn't been idle.
The Familia's environment was difficult and not suitable for Keare's development. This was an objective reality, but to be hindered by difficulties and not make any effort...
In her opinion, that was a dereliction of duty as a god!
Economically strapped, couldn't she think of a way?
Then, Hestia thought of her close friend from the Celestial Realm, Hephaestus, who now ran the largest weapon shop in Orario.
Using special means, she managed to acquire this set of equipment suitable for a novice Adventurer.
She looked at the surprised young man and once again showed her attitude through her actions: "Welcome to the Hestia Familia, Keare."
"As a qualified god, I will not disappoint the expectations of my Familia members!"
Assuming one joined other Familias, equipment and wages would be standard, but this was only true for large organizations in Orario.
Keare knew how poor Hestia was.
But precisely because of this, he could feel the weight of this adventuring gift.
Throughout all of Orario, where else could one find a god like Hestia, who would even go into debt to equip her Familia members?
"Thank you, Lady Hestia."
Keare's mood was inevitably a bit strange. This scene was like an incompetent husband being supported by his wife's work.
Putting everything else aside, the soft rice from a beautiful loli was truly delicious!
"And also…"
The smile on Hestia's beautiful face did not fade. She drew out her words, building suspense, and sat on the sofa next to Keare.
The girl hummed, waiting for praise:
"I found a very strong god for you. He can teach you martial arts. Only then can I feel at ease when you go exploring the Dungeon!"