A rookie Adventurer's Status always starts at zero. Only by braving the Dungeon and tempering themselves could those numbers rise, updated at intervals by their god.
Each ability was measured in stages, ranked from I to S.
"I: 0–99, H: 100–199… A: 800–899, S: 900–999."
Once those numbers reached their limit, only by achieving great deeds—Excelia—could one break through to the next Adventurer level, turning past growth into their new foundation.
Keyaru understood these basics.
But in DanMachi's world, raw numbers alone didn't guarantee victory. Magic, Skills, and technique decided battles.
And as luck would have it—
The moment he received his Falna, he already had his own Magic.
Heal.
"Don't tell me I'm actually a prodigy?"
Looking at the parchment in Hestia's hands, Keyaru's emotions surged like a rollercoaster. He had braced himself for the worst.
In this foreign world, his Hero's Crest had vanished. He'd resigned himself to being some bottom-feeder Adventurer in Orario, telling himself even that beat being a corporate slave.
But now—he, impossibly rare—already possessed a powerful Magic at Level One.
"Possesses the ability to heal wounds, restore stamina, cure poison, dispel curses, and return the target to their original state."
It was identical to the Healer's power he knew.
Keyaru forced himself to calm down. If his memory was correct, Heal came with one devastating drawback.
When cast, all of the target's experiences were burned directly into the caster.
The agony was unbearable, beyond human endurance. Could his mind withstand it here? Did that cursed side effect still exist?
That was the only question that mattered.
If not—then his Heal far surpassed even Airmid Teasanare's Dia Fratel!
"..."
Speculation was useless. Only experiments proved truth.
Keyaru knew that. But what was he supposed to do—stab himself just to test Heal on his own wound?
There was no way.
But then his eyes fell on Hestia's slender fingers. From pricking herself with the needle during the ritual, a tiny bead of blood still lingered on her pale fingertip.
The gods sealed their power when they descended.
And in the Lower World, they could still feel hunger, pain—everything humans did.
An idea sparked in his mind.
"Lady Hestia."
"Would you... like me to heal your wound with my Magic?"
"Huh?"
"This little cut is nothing!"
She waved her hand quickly. The sting didn't bother her. She was a goddess, after all—she needed to be mature, responsible, dignified.
"I actually just... want to test my Magic."
"In that case, go ahead."
She didn't refuse again. In truth, she was just as curious. From the description alone, this Magic was among the strongest in all of Orario.
"Alright."
Keyaru's heart pounded. He forced himself to focus.
The wound was small—too small to feel pain clearly.
He would need absolute concentration to sense any side effects.
Unlike most Magic in this world, his Heal required no chant. He held Hestia's delicate hand gently in his own.
Closing his eyes, he willed the spell to life.
A soft glow enveloped her palm. The pinprick of blood closed almost instantly, vanishing without a trace.
No flood of agony, no overwhelming cascade of memories.
Just the fleeting flash of the needle prick in his mind—followed by a wave of dizziness he couldn't suppress.
"Why do I feel... a little lightheaded?"
He couldn't be certain yet whether Heal still carried its side effects. More tests would be needed.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, he tried to shake off the spinning in his head.
"Dizziness is normal," Hestia explained gently.
Her finger was flawless again, not a mark in sight. Normal healing spells could do this much too... but this—this was different.
She knew the description wouldn't lie. To return even a broken body to its "original state"?
If other Familias in Orario found out—how insane would they become trying to claim him?
"Your Magic is i0 right now," she continued. "Casting it is basically over-drawing on you. That's why your body reacts this way."
"I see..."
Keyaru had only the anime as reference. He hadn't known these finer details. But it made sense.
Still—what if?
What if his Heal consumed only his own Mind, with no further drawbacks? Could he then develop Skills branching from it—
Imitation. Looting. Corruption...
If so—
Then yes. To reforge the glory of the Healer—was that not his sworn duty?!
But first—there was a practical problem. Without combat ability, how could he raise his Excelia?
"This... might be tricky."
He kept his doubts inside. Objectively, the Loki Familia was the best possible stage for his development.
But between logic and instinct—
Keyaru chose instinct.
Who would give up living under the same roof as a cute, busty little goddess just to chase a stronger Familia?
Hestia, meanwhile, wrestled with her own feelings.
With a Magic like his, it was only a matter of time before he surpassed even Airmid, Orario's battlefield saint.
But the road to get there? With only this one boy in her newborn Familia...?
"Keyaru."
"With a Magic like this... do you regret joining my Familia?"
Her childlike face was clouded with worry, her brows furrowed in sorrow.
"As much as I hate to admit it..."
"The Familia best suited to you in Orario... is Loki's."
Keyaru lowered his head, avoiding her gaze. His eyes drifted downward—to Hestia's dainty feet.
After a moment of silence, he raised his head again, voice firm.
"I believe with you here, Lady Hestia, our Familia will become strong."
Of course it would.
The Healer wasn't just some support role. If he could develop those derivative Skills, his combat ability would undergo a qualitative leap.
The Dungeon might be tough...
But with a goddess who gave him emotional support every day, Keyaru felt any struggle would be worth it.
He reached out and took her soft hand in his. His smile was steady, serious.
"I want the Familia's future to be one we build together, Lady Hestia. No matter how many times you ask—that will always be my answer."
Straightforward words never went out of style.
Hestia's heart fluttered. He hadn't technically answered her question, but what he had said...
It was cheating, plain and simple!
"Keyaru..."
"Alright then. Our Familia's future—let's create it together!"