Evening fell over Orario as Leon made his way toward North Main.
The streets grew more crowded as workers finished their day and adventurers emerged from the Dungeon. Lamps were being lit, casting warm glows across storefronts. The smell of street food filled the air—grilled meat, fried pastries, something sweet and fragrant.
Leon navigated through the crowds with ease, his hunter's instincts keeping him aware of his surroundings. He'd spent the afternoon studying the dungeon guide, absorbing information about monsters and floors. Now his mind was clear, focused on the final Familia option.
Hestia Familia. A brand new Familia seeking its first member.
The recruitment notice had been simple, almost desperate. But there was something about it—an honesty, a directness—that appealed to him. A goddess with no Familia yet would have no established hierarchy, no internal politics, no expectations built from previous members.
A clean slate. For both of them.
Leon found the Jagamaru stand easily. It was a small food stall selling potato snacks, popular with the evening crowd. He scanned the area, looking for anyone who might be a goddess.
There.
Sitting on a bench near the stand was a young woman—or what appeared to be a young woman. She was petite, barely over five feet tall, with black hair tied in twin tails and bright blue eyes. She wore a simple white dress with a blue ribbon, and she was eating a Jagamaru with an expression of pure contentment.
But it was her presence that marked her as divine. Something subtle, hard to define. An aura that set her apart from the mortals around her, even though she seemed completely at ease among them.
Leon approached. "Excuse me. Are you Goddess Hestia?"
The young goddess looked up, surprised. A bit of potato still in her mouth. She chewed quickly and swallowed. "Yes! That's me!" Her eyes widened. "Are you here about the recruitment notice?"
"I am."
Hestia shot to her feet, eyes sparkling with excitement. "Really? You actually came? Oh, this is wonderful!" She grabbed Leon's hands, beaming up at him. "What's your name? Where are you from? Do you have experience? Wait, sit down, sit down! Let's talk!"
She practically dragged Leon to the bench, her enthusiasm infectious despite her small stature.
Leon sat. "My name is Leon Fury. I arrived in Orario two days ago. I'm from Torren Village, north of here."
"Torren Village! I've never heard of it, but that's okay!" Hestia bounced slightly in her seat. "So you want to join my Familia? That's amazing! I've been trying to find someone for weeks, but everyone keeps choosing other gods. They say I'm too new, or too small, or that I don't have any members yet so I can't offer support."
Leon could hear the frustration beneath her cheerfulness. "You haven't found anyone?"
"Not yet." Hestia's smile dimmed slightly. "Most people want to join established Familias with resources and reputation. I understand that. But I promise I'll work hard to support my Familia! I just need someone willing to give me a chance."
There was something genuine about her. No pretense, no divine arrogance. Just honest emotion and determination.
"Tell me about yourself," Leon said. "What kind of Familia do you want to build?"
Hestia's eyes lit up again. "I want a Familia built on trust and warmth! Like a real family, where everyone supports each other and cares about each other. Not just a business arrangement or a stepping stone for power." She clasped her hands together. "I know I can't offer much right now. No home except a small room in an old church. No money for equipment. No connections or influence. But I can offer dedication, support, and a goddess who'll never abandon her children."
Leon studied her carefully. In his past life, he'd met many leaders—some genuine, some false. Hestia's sincerity was unmistakable. She meant every word.
"What do you know about being a goddess to a Familia?" he asked.
"Um, well..." Hestia fidgeted slightly. "I'll be honest—I just came down from heaven recently. I've been studying how Familias work, but I've never actually managed one before. So I might make mistakes." She looked up at him earnestly. "But I'll learn! And I'll always do my best for my children!"
Her honesty was refreshing. Most gods would never admit inexperience so openly.
"May I ask you some questions?" Leon said.
"Of course! Ask anything!"
"What would you expect from your Familia members?"
"Hmm..." Hestia thought for a moment. "I'd want them to work hard and grow stronger, obviously. But more than that, I'd want them to be good people. Kind, honest, someone I'd be proud to call family." She smiled. "I don't need the strongest or most talented. I just want someone with a good heart."
"And what kind of support would you provide?"
"Everything I can!" Hestia said immediately. "I'd update their status regularly, give advice when they need it, help them find work if money's tight, and always be there when they come back from the Dungeon. I'd worry about them, celebrate their victories, and comfort them when things are hard." She paused. "Is that... enough?"
Leon was quiet for a moment. "That's more than some established Familias offer."
"Really?" Hestia looked surprised, then pleased.
"Some gods treat their Familia members like tools or investments. What you're describing sounds like an actual family."
"That's because it should be a family!" Hestia said firmly. "The word 'Familia' means family, doesn't it? So that's what it should be."
Leon found himself almost smiling. Her logic was simple, but correct. Many had forgotten that basic truth.
"What about you?" Hestia asked. "Why do you want to become an adventurer?"
"To test my limits. To see how far I can grow in a world where gods grant power."
"That's a good reason." Hestia tilted her head. "But is that all? There's nothing else you want?"
Leon considered the question. In his past life, he'd sought harmony—the perfect balance of body, mind, and spirit. He'd touched it briefly before dying. In this life, with Falna and divine blessing, perhaps he could achieve something beyond what mortality allowed.
"I want to find completion," he said finally. "To reach a state where skill, power, and understanding become one."
Hestia blinked. "That's... really deep for someone your age."
"I've thought about it a lot."
"I can tell." She smiled warmly. "You know, Leon, you're different from other people I've talked to. You're calm and serious. Like you're older than you look."
Leon said nothing, but met her gaze steadily.
Hestia studied him for a long moment, then nodded as if deciding something. "I like you. You're honest, you think carefully, and you have a goal beyond just getting stronger." She stood up from the bench. "Leon Fury, will you join my Familia? Will you let me be your goddess?"
This was the moment. The decision that would shape his path in this new life.
Leon thought about his options. Miach Familia was kind but struggling financially. Takemikazuchi Familia was honorable but had strict expectations. Both were safe choices, established paths.
Hestia Familia had nothing. No resources, no reputation, no other members. Just a earnest goddess with no experience and unlimited determination.
But that also meant freedom. No internal politics, no established hierarchy, no competing with other members for attention or resources. Just him and a goddess who genuinely wanted to build something meaningful.
In his past life, Leon had always chosen his own path. He'd trained under masters but never bound himself to a single school. He'd achieved greatness through his own effort, not by following someone else's established road.
This felt right.
Leon stood and bowed formally. "I would be honored to join your Familia, Goddess Hestia."
For a moment, Hestia just stared. Then her eyes filled with tears.
"Really? You really mean it?" Her voice trembled.
"Yes."
"You're not joking? You actually want to join?"
"I do."
Hestia burst into tears and threw her arms around Leon's waist, hugging him tightly despite their height difference. "Thank you! Thank you so much! I'm so happy!"
Several passersby looked over, curious about the crying goddess. Leon stood awkwardly, unsure how to respond to such open emotion.
After a moment, Hestia pulled back, wiping her eyes. "Sorry, sorry. I'm just so relieved. I was starting to think no one would ever join." She beamed up at him, her smile brighter than any lamp on the street. "You're my first child, Leon! I promise I'll take good care of you!"
"Thank you, Goddess Hestia."
"Just Hestia is fine when we're alone! We're family now!" She grabbed his hand. "Come on! Let me show you where we'll be living! It's not much, but it's home!"
She pulled him through the streets with surprising strength for someone so small.
---
The church was in the northern district, tucked away on a quiet street.
It was old. Very old. The stone walls were weathered, the roof showed signs of past repairs, and the wooden door creaked when Hestia pushed it open. But the structure was solid, and there was a certain peace to the place.
"Welcome to Hestia Familia's home!" Hestia announced proudly.
Inside was a single large room. A few pews remained from when it had been an active church. Dust covered most surfaces. Sunlight streamed through cracked stained-glass windows, creating patterns on the floor.
"I know it's not much," Hestia said quietly. "It's abandoned, so the owner lets me stay here for free. I've been cleaning it up slowly, but there's still a lot of work to do." She looked up at Leon hopefully. "Do you... is this okay?"
Leon looked around the space. It was old and needed work, but it had good bones. High ceilings, solid walls, plenty of space. With effort, it could be comfortable.
"It's fine," he said. "Better than I expected, actually."
"Really?" Hestia brightened immediately. "Oh good! I was worried you'd be disappointed!" She hurried toward a small door at the back. "Come see your room! Well, it's in the basement, but I cleaned it yesterday!"
She led him down a narrow staircase to a basement level. The room below was small—maybe ten by ten feet—with a bed, a small table, and a chest. A tiny window near the ceiling let in minimal light. But it was clean, and the bed looked comfortable.
"It's a bit cramped," Hestia said apologetically. "But it's private, and it stays cool in summer! And I made sure there are no leaks or drafts!"
Leon set down his pack. "It's more than adequate. Thank you, Hestia."
"You're really okay with all this?" Hestia asked. "The old church, the small room, having a goddess with no experience?"
Leon looked at her. "I didn't come to Orario for comfort or easy success. I came to grow. This is a good place to start."
Hestia's eyes got watery again. "You're such a good child. I'm so lucky."
"I think we're both lucky."
She wiped her eyes and smiled. "Okay! Let's do this properly then!" She pulled out a small knife from somewhere in her dress. "I need to give you my blessing. That means updating your status for the first time, which requires your blood. It won't hurt much, I promise!"
Leon rolled up his sleeve and extended his arm.
Hestia took his hand gently, pricked his finger with the knife, and let a single drop of blood fall onto a piece of paper covered in divine script. The blood glowed briefly, then faded.
"Now lie down on the bed, face down," she instructed. "I need to carve my blessing onto your back."
Leon complied, removing his shirt and lying flat.
Hestia climbed onto the bed beside him. "This might tingle a bit."
She placed her finger against his back, and Leon felt warmth spread across his skin. Not painful, but intense—like heat sinking deep into muscle and bone. Divine power flowing into him, changing something fundamental.
Hestia murmured in the divine language, words Leon couldn't understand but felt in his soul. The warmth intensified, then slowly faded.
"Done!" Hestia announced. "You're officially a member of Hestia Familia now!"
Leon sat up, and Hestia handed him a small mirror. He turned to look at his back.
There, between his shoulder blades, was Hestia's symbol—a simple flame, rendered in lines of faint light beneath his skin. The mark of his goddess.
"Let me check your initial status!" Hestia said excitedly. She pressed her finger against the symbol, and divine script appeared on his back, glowing softly.
Hestia gasped.
"What is it?" Leon asked.
"Your base stats... Leon, these are incredible!" She stared at the glowing text. "New adventurers usually start with all stats at zero, maybe a few points in one or two areas if they have prior training. But you..." She shook her head in amazement. "Your stats are way higher than normal for a complete beginner!"
Leon wasn't surprised. Seventeen years of training in this life, plus eighty years of knowledge from the last. His body and skills were far beyond a normal starting adventurer.
"Is that a problem?" he asked.
"No! It's amazing!" Hestia beamed. "It means you'll progress faster than normal! Oh, Leon, you're going to be incredible! I just know it!"
She wrote down his status on a piece of paper, her hand trembling slightly as she recorded what she saw:
**Leon Fury - Level 1**
**Strength: D-502**
**Endurance: D-589**
**Dexterity: C-612**
**Agility: C-603**
**Magic: I-0**
**Skills:**
**[Enlightened Spirit]**
*Bearer carries wisdom from beyond mortal existence. Mental interference resistance. Enhanced learning capability. Perceives flow of energy.*
**[Battle Clarity]**
*Combat analysis and adaptation. Reads opponent patterns and adjusts tactics accordingly. Effectiveness increases with combat experience.*
**[Unwavering Foundation]**
*Perfect control over body and mind. Nullifies status effects from fear, confusion, and mental attacks. Maintains peak performance under pressure.*
Hestia stared at the status sheet, her eyes wide. "Leon... you have three skills."
"Is that unusual?"
"Unusual?" Hestia's voice cracked slightly. "Most adventurers don't get any skills when they start! Some never get skills at all! And the ones who do usually get one, maybe two if they're exceptional!" She looked up at him with a mixture of awe and confusion. "But three skills right from the beginning? And these descriptions..."
She read them again, more carefully. "'Wisdom from beyond mortal existence'? Leon, what does that mean?"
Leon met her eyes. He couldn't lie to a goddess—it was impossible for mortals to deceive the divine. "I lived before. Another life, another world. Eighty years as a martial artist and scholar. I died and was reborn here."
Hestia's eyes widened. "You're... reincarnated?"
"Yes."
She sat back, absorbing this information. "That's... I've heard of it happening, but it's incredibly rare. The soul carrying memories across lives..." She looked at him with new understanding. "That's why you seem older than you are. That's why your skills reflect wisdom and experience instead of raw talent."
"Yes."
"And you came to Orario knowing all this? With eighty years of experience from another world?"
"The memories only fully integrated recently. Before that, they came in fragments through dreams." Leon paused. "I didn't tell the others because I wasn't sure how people would react."
Hestia was quiet for a long moment, studying him. Then she smiled warmly. "Thank you for trusting me with the truth. I know that couldn't have been easy to share." She looked back at the status sheet. "This makes these skills even more incredible. Your past life's wisdom actually manifested as Falna abilities. That's amazing."
"You're not concerned?"
"Why would I be? You chose my Familia knowing you could have impressed any god with your abilities. You were honest with me when I asked." She reached out and patted his arm. "You're my child now, Leon. Past life or not, that doesn't change. If anything, I'm even more honored that someone with your experience chose me."
Leon felt something loosen in his chest. He'd been prepared for suspicion, maybe even rejection. But Hestia's acceptance was immediate and unconditional.
"These skills are incredible. With your high base stats and these abilities, you're going to grow so fast." Her smile became brighter. "I'm so lucky to have you as my first child!"
Leon studied the numbers and skill descriptions. The skills were the fruit of his past life—eighty years of accumulated experience crystallized into divine abilities.
"Can I enter the Dungeon now?" he asked.
"Technically yes, but..." Hestia looked worried. "You should get proper equipment first. At least a good weapon and some armor. The Dungeon is dangerous, Leon. I don't want you getting hurt."
"I'll be careful. I'll start with floor one, learn the patterns, and work my way deeper slowly."
"Promise me you'll be careful."
"I promise."
Hestia nodded, still looking anxious. "Okay. Tomorrow, we'll go register you with the Guild. Then you can start diving." She smiled despite her worry. "Your first day as an adventurer!"
Leon pulled his shirt back on. "Thank you, Hestia. For accepting me."
"Thank you for choosing me," she replied softly. "You could have joined a better Familia. One with resources and support. But you chose us. That means everything."
Leon looked at the small goddess with her bright eyes and genuine smile. In his past life, he'd known many powerful people. Kings, generals, master warriors. But few of them had possessed the simple, honest kindness this deity showed.
"I made the right choice," he said.
Hestia's smile could have lit the entire church.
---
That night, Leon lay in his small basement room, staring at the ceiling.
He was officially an adventurer now. A member of Hestia Familia. Tomorrow, he would register with the Guild, and then his real journey in this world would begin.
He thought about the path ahead. The Dungeon with its endless floors and increasingly dangerous monsters. The challenge of growing stronger through divine blessing. The mystery of what his eighty years of past life experience would translate into in this world's power system.
But more than that, he thought about the small goddess upstairs, probably unable to sleep from excitement about finally having a Familia member.
In his past life, Leon had walked his path alone, reaching the peak through solitary effort. In this life, he'd found someone willing to walk beside him—not as a master or student, but as family.
Different, but not wrong.
Perhaps even better.
Leon closed his eyes and let sleep take him. Tomorrow would bring new challenges, new lessons, new growth.
The journey of Leon Fury, the first and only member of Hestia Familia, had officially begun.