Dawn had not yet broken when Leon woke.
He moved through his morning routine in the darkness—meditation, forms, washing. His body had adapted quickly to the new schedule. Hunt in the Dungeon, return before dark, rest, repeat. It was similar to his life in the village, just with different prey.
Upstairs, Hestia was still asleep. He could hear her soft breathing through the floorboards.
Leon climbed the stairs quietly and entered the kitchen area. He prepared breakfast quickly—rice porridge with vegetables, simple but filling. He left a portion covered for Hestia with a note saying he'd gone to the Guild.
Then he packed lunch. Bread, cheese, dried meat. Enough to sustain him through the day without returning to the surface.
He checked his equipment. Hunting knife, bow, quiver with arrows. The magic stones from yesterday were in his pouch, ready to exchange. Everything in order.
Leon slipped out of the church as the first light touched the eastern sky.
---
The Guild was quiet this early.
Only a few adventurers were present—the serious ones, the professionals who dove every day. Leon approached the exchange counter where a tired-looking clerk sat behind stacks of paperwork.
"Magic stones?" the clerk asked without looking up.
Leon placed his pouch on the counter. "Twelve goblin stones from floor one."
The clerk dumped them out, examined each one briefly, then made calculations on an abacus. "Twelve hundred valis."
Leon nodded. That matched what he'd expected. Goblin stones were the cheapest, barely worth anything individually. But they added up.
The clerk counted out the coins—twelve silver pieces. Leon pocketed them and turned to leave.
"Wait," the clerk said. "You're new, right?"
"Is it that obvious?"
"You're clean. No scars, decent clothes, not exhausted." The clerk gestured vaguely at the other adventurers in the hall. "Give it a month. You'll look like the rest of us."
"Probably."
The clerk grunted and went back to his paperwork.
Leon left the Guild and headed west, toward the blacksmith district.
---
The blacksmith district was loud even this early.
Forges burned hot, hammers rang against anvils, and the smell of hot metal filled the air. Dozens of shops lined the streets, each specializing in different equipment. Some sold armor, others weapons, still others handled repairs.
Leon had researched this yesterday while studying his dungeon guide. He needed a proper weapon—something reliable for close combat. His hunting knife was good for finishing blows but lacked reach. His bow was effective at range but useless in tight corridors when monsters closed distance.
He found a shop called "Iron Works"—a modest establishment with a simple sign and practical displays. No fancy decorations, just functional equipment.
Inside, a dwarf with a gray beard stood behind the counter, organizing inventory. He looked up when Leon entered.
"Morning. What do you need?"
"A sword. One-handed, balanced, nothing fancy. And a dagger for backup."
The dwarf studied Leon for a moment. "New adventurer?"
"Yes."
"Budget?"
"Twelve hundred valis."
"Not much." The dwarf scratched his beard. "But enough for basics." He moved to a rack and pulled down a simple sword. "Standard issue. One-handed, thirty inches, balanced weight. Good steel, no enchantments. Eight hundred valis."
Leon took the sword and tested its balance. The weight distribution was good, the grip comfortable, the blade straight and well-maintained. Not exceptional, but reliable.
"I'll take it."
"Dagger?" The dwarf pulled out several options. "I've got these at two hundred each."
Leon selected one with a six-inch blade and a sturdy handle. Simple, practical, good for close work.
"That's a thousand total," the dwarf said. "You've got two hundred left. I'd recommend better arrows. Your hunting arrows will break on dungeon monsters."
"What do you have?"
The dwarf showed him iron-tipped arrows, heavier and more durable than his wooden ones. "Twenty-five valis per dozen. Eight dozen for two hundred valis."
"Done."
The dwarf packaged everything efficiently. "You're smart, kid. Most newbies blow their first earnings on flashy gear that breaks after two dives. You're buying practical."
"Practical keeps you alive."
"Damn right." The dwarf handed over the items. "Good luck down there. Don't die."
"I'll try not to."
---
Babel Tower stood against the morning sky, adventurers streaming in and out.
Leon entered and descended the spiral stairs. The first floor was crowded—too many new adventurers hunting the easy goblins. He moved through quickly, taking the stairs down to floor two.
Floor two was less crowded but still busy. The corridors were similar to floor one but slightly more complex, with more branching paths. Goblins appeared here along with kobolds—the smarter, tool-using monsters.
Leon moved past them, heading deeper. He'd studied floor two yesterday. Today, he wanted to test floor three.
The stairs to floor three descended into dimmer light. The walls here had a darker blue tint, and the air felt heavier. Fewer adventurers ventured this deep alone.
Leon drew his new sword and moved forward cautiously.
---
The first monster he encountered was a War Shadow.
It appeared from a side corridor, moving fast and low. Dark, roughly humanoid, with clawed hands and glowing red eyes. The creature spotted Leon and attacked immediately.
Leon sidestepped the initial lunge, creating distance. The War Shadow recovered quickly, circling, looking for an opening. It was fast—faster than goblins, more aggressive than kobolds.
The creature lunged again. Leon didn't dodge this time. He stepped inside the attack, deflected the claws with his sword, and drove his dagger into the creature's throat.
The War Shadow dissolved into ash, leaving a magic stone.
Leon picked it up and examined it. Slightly larger than a goblin stone, with a deeper purple color. Worth more.
He continued forward, encountering more War Shadows. Each fight taught him something. They were fast but predictable. Once you learned their attack patterns, they became manageable. The key was not panicking when they rushed you.
Over the next several hours, Leon hunted methodically. He moved through corridors, cleared rooms, collected magic stones. His new sword proved reliable—better reach, better leverage, capable of cutting through monster flesh cleanly.
By midday, he'd collected twenty-three magic stones—a mix of goblins, kobolds, and War Shadows.
He found a safe alcove, ate his packed lunch, and rested. The Dungeon was tiring in ways hunting normal animals never was. The constant alertness, the confined spaces, the knowledge that monsters could spawn anywhere at any time.
But it was also exhilarating. Every fight tested his skills. Every floor revealed new challenges. This was what he'd come to Orario for—growth through challenge.
After lunch, Leon continued hunting. He pushed deeper into floor three, testing his limits, learning the terrain.
---
Evening was approaching when Leon returned to the surface.
He was tired but satisfied. His pouch was heavy with magic stones, his equipment had performed well, and he'd gained valuable experience.
At the Guild, he exchanged his stones for thirty-eight hundred valis—more than three times yesterday's earnings. Floor three monsters paid significantly better.
He bought supplies on the way home—ingredients for dinner, oil for his equipment, a small whetstone for his sword.
The church was empty when he arrived. Hestia was out somewhere.
Leon set to work in the kitchen, preparing dinner. Vegetable stew with meat, rice on the side, simple but nutritious. While it cooked, he cleaned his weapons and checked his equipment for damage.
By the time Hestia returned, dinner was ready and the table was set.
---
"I'm home!" Hestia called, closing the church door behind her. She stopped when she saw the table. "You made dinner again?"
"You weren't here to stop me."
She laughed and sat down. "You're going to spoil me, Leon."
"You're my goddess. I should take care of you."
"Most gods expect their children to serve them out of obligation. You do it because you want to." Hestia smiled warmly. "Thank you."
They ate together, Hestia chattering about her day. She'd visited various shops, talked to other deities, explored the city.
"Oh! I visited Hephaestus today!" Hestia said excitedly.
"Hephaestus?"
"The goddess of the forge! She runs the biggest smithing Familia in Orario. We're friends from heaven." Hestia beamed. "I told her I finally have a Familia member!"
Leon paused mid-bite. "What did you tell her about me?"
"Just that you're amazing! That you're my first child and you're already diving to floor three on your second day!" Hestia's eyes sparkled. "She was impressed! Though she did tease me about finally convincing someone to join."
"You're spreading word about me to other gods?"
"Is that bad?" Hestia looked worried. "I'm just so proud! I want everyone to know that Hestia Familia is real now!"
Leon considered this. Attention from other gods could be complicated. But Hestia's enthusiasm was genuine, and he couldn't fault her for being proud.
"Just don't exaggerate," he said.
"I'm not exaggerating! You ARE amazing!" She reached across the table and grabbed his hand. "You cook, you clean, you dive into the Dungeon and come back safely. And you treat me like family instead of just a source of power. That's amazing in my book."
Leon looked at his goddess—her bright eyes, her genuine smile, her complete sincerity. She really did see him as family, not just a Familia member.
"Thank you, Hestia."
"You're welcome!" She squeezed his hand, then let go and returned to eating. "Oh, by the way, you made too much food. I can't finish all this."
"I'll eat the leftovers."
"You already ate a full portion!"
"I need the calories. Dungeon diving burns a lot of energy."
Hestia shook her head, amused. "Fine. But tomorrow, let me cook breakfast. I want to do something for you too."
"Can you cook?"
"I can learn!" She said it with such determination that Leon almost smiled.
"Alright. You can cook breakfast tomorrow."
"Really?"
"Yes."
Hestia pumped her fist in victory. "I'll make you the best breakfast ever! Well, maybe not the best. But edible! Probably!"
After dinner, Hestia updated Leon's status. His stats had increased noticeably from today's deeper dives.
**Leon Fury - Level 1**
**Strength: D-524**
**Endurance: D-611**
**Dexterity: C-635**
**Agility: C-628**
**Magic: I-0**
"Look at this growth!" Hestia said excitedly. "Two days of diving and your stats jumped this much! You're going to level up so fast at this rate!"
Leon studied the numbers. The growth was significant—about twenty to thirty points across all stats. His body was adapting quickly to the Dungeon's challenges.
"How much do stats need to increase before leveling up?" he asked.
"It varies, but usually around six hundred to eight hundred in your highest stats. But that's not the only requirement—you also need to perform a significant achievement." Hestia explained. "Defeating a monster stronger than you, accomplishing something exceptional, pushing past your limits. The gods call it an 'excelia burst.'"
"I see."
"But don't rush it! Building a strong foundation at Level 1 is important. The higher your stats before leveling up, the stronger you'll be overall."
Leon nodded. That aligned with his philosophy—solid fundamentals before advancement.
They talked for a while longer, then Hestia yawned and stretched. "I should sleep. Tomorrow I'm cooking breakfast, remember?"
"I remember. Good night, Hestia."
"Good night, Leon."
---
Alone in his basement room, Leon reflected on the day.
Two days as an adventurer. He'd learned the basics of floors one through three, earned enough coin to buy proper equipment, and established a routine. The Dungeon was challenging but manageable with the right approach.
More importantly, life with Hestia was settling into a comfortable rhythm. She was enthusiastic, emotional, and inexperienced as a goddess—but genuinely kind and supportive. In his past life, he'd walked alone. In this life, he had someone waiting for him to return home.
It was different. But not bad.
Leon performed his evening meditation, cleared his mind, then lay down to sleep. Tomorrow would bring another dive, more challenges, continued growth.
The journey was just beginning, but the foundation was solid.
Somewhere above him, Hestia was probably still awake, too excited about cooking breakfast to sleep properly.
Leon closed his eyes and let that thought follow him into peaceful sleep.