After leaving the dungeon, Ying Ping returned to the Adventurers' Guild.
He pushed open the guild doors and found Eina organizing documents.
Hearing the familiar footsteps, the half-elf girl suddenly looked up, then showed a joyful expression.
"Mr. Ying Ping!"
"That's wonderful, you've returned safely!"
Eina's voice was filled with undisguised delight.
Ying Ping smiled and shook the cloth bag at his waist. "That's right, thanks to you, I even got some spoils of war."
When 22 magic stone fragments clattered onto the counter, Eina nodded involuntarily. "Quite a harvest."
She picked one up and examined it against the light, continuing, "The quality of the magic stones is very good... You didn't venture to the third or fourth floor, did you?"
"Of course, I only operated on the first floor."
Ying Ping chuckled easily. "When I encountered two goblins together, I was actually a bit nervous."
Eina showed a relieved smile. "That's a very good mindset to have."
She quickly pulled out a ledger. "According to the Guild's statistics, the survival rate for new adventurers on their first day is 63%, but only those who bring back more than 5 magic stones..."
"Uh, Miss Eina, how much money can these be exchanged for?"
Ying Ping interrupted her rambling at the right time.
"Ah, wait a moment, let me calculate."
Eina came back to her senses and began to count carefully. "For this quantity, the Guild's purchase price is 10,000 Valis. If you go to the item shop on East Street, you should be able to sell them for around 12,000..."
"Thank you, then I'll sell them to the Guild."
Ying Ping pushed the magic stones over. "Consider it a thank you for your help this morning, and a boost to your performance."
"Alright."
Eina smiled and accepted them.
She quickly completed the formalities and, as she handed a stack of coins to Ying Ping, couldn't help but remind him, "Please make sure to report back to the Guild tomorrow. I need to confirm if your condition is suitable for going to the Dungeon..."
"I understand."
Ying Ping carefully put away the money, then suddenly remembered something and asked, "By the way, is there a place nearby that sells..."
"If you want to buy a gift for Goddess Hestia..."
Eina winked slyly. "The dessert shop in Central Square just released a new chocolate. She should like it."
Ying Ping gave a thumbs-up and laughed. "As expected of a professional."
He waved and walked towards the door. "See you tomorrow, Miss Eina."
As the setting sun dyed Northwest Street golden, Ying Ping had bought the chocolate and saw the figure of the loli goddess from afar.
Hestia was wearing a cute headdress and selling fried potato balls, but she didn't seem to be in high spirits.
"Hestia, I'm back."
Ying Ping suddenly appeared in front of the stall, startling her.
"Ying Ping-kun?!"
The tongs in Hestia's hand clattered into the oil pan.
Her eyes widened, and she suddenly rushed out from behind the stall, circling Ying Ping like a parent checking on a child.
"Are you hurt? Was your magic stone stolen? Did other Familias give you trouble?"
Ying Ping pulled out a jingling money pouch and shook it in front of the goddess. "None of that. Thanks to you, my first battle was a success."
Hestia didn't even look at the money; she just gazed at Ying Ping with gentle concern and asked, "Are you really okay?"
Ying Ping continued to smile. "Of course I'm fine. I even bought you a gift. Here, take it."
Hestia was stunned.
Then, upon seeing the exquisitely packaged box of chocolates, her nose turned red, and her large blue eyes instantly welled up with tears.
She suddenly threw herself into Ying Ping's arms, her voice muffled against his chest. "You idiot, why would you suddenly give me a gift?"
"Today is my first day earning money, so of course I had to buy a gift for my adorable Goddess."
Ying Ping patted Hestia's smooth back, his voice incredibly gentle.
"Wuwuwu, Ying Ping-kun..."
Hestia was so moved she almost truly cried, saying tearfully, "Oh, right, let's go home first!"
"I want to see how much your abilities have improved!"
She clumsily packed up the stall, even tying her apron on backward.
"Slow down."
Ying Ping helped her straighten her crooked bow, and suddenly noticed—
There was flour from the fried potato balls stuck in the wisps of hair behind the loli goddess's ears.
This discovery filled him with pity, and he swore he would make sure Hestia lived a good life as soon as possible... After buying some good food, the two returned to the basement of the church ruins.
Hestia impatiently took out a silver needle, her small face flushed with excitement.
"Hurry and lie down!"
She patted the makeshift bed, her blue ribbons swaying gently with her movements. "Let me see your growth today!"
Ying Ping obediently took off his upper garment, revealing the black sacred flame emblem on his back.
As Hestia straddled Ying Ping's waist and dripped her divine blood onto his skin, she looked at the re-emerging sacred script and suddenly gasped.
"This... this is impossible..."
"Too... too exaggerated!"
"Ying Ping-kun, how did you manage to level up in one day?!"
Hestia trembled violently, barely able to hold the imprinted parchment.
When Ying Ping looked back, he saw the loli goddess's cute face filled with disbelief, her delicate pink lips slightly parted.
"Is this really that strange?"
Ying Ping asked, feigning confusion.
"Of course it's strange! It's really too strange!"
Hestia mechanically imprinted his ability values and then handed the paper to Ying Ping. "See for yourself..."
"Name": Ying Ping
"Level": LV1 → LV2
"Strength": I0
"Durability": I0
"Dexterity": I0
"Agility": I0
"Magic": I0
"Development Abilities": None
"Magic":
Skill: Shadow Step
"Wow."
Ying Ping pretended to raise an eyebrow in surprise. "I actually leveled up? It seems I'm quite talented?"
"You call that 'quite talented'?!"
Hestia suddenly pounced on him and tugged his ear, her small face flushed crimson, her voice trembling. "You actually managed to level up automatically without my help?!"
"And your status update is already your leveled-up status?!"
"Oh my goodness, this is absolutely ridiculous!"
"I've never heard of such a thing!"
"Do you know how long it took the fastest adventurer in Orario's history to level up from LV1 to LV2?!"
"A full year! That's already considered the fastest speed!"
"And you, this guy, you only went to the Dungeon once and you already leveled up yourself!"
"What in the world is going on?! Hahaha, why would something like this happen..."
Watching Hestia pull at her hair, crying and laughing, looking like she was completely doubting her 'divine life.'
Ying Ping could tell that this matter had a huge impact on her.
"Uh, Hestia, please calm down..."
Ying Ping stepped forward and gently comforted her.
Hestia suddenly lowered her voice, her blue eyes shining with unprecedented seriousness in the lamplight. "Listen carefully, Ying Ping-kun."
"This matter must be kept our biggest secret, absolutely no one can know."
Her slender fingers unconsciously tightened on Ying Ping's collar, and she said uneasily, "If other gods find out, it will be a big problem..."
"I understand."
Ying Ping gently held her trembling small hand. "Those playful gods will swarm over like sharks smelling blood."
He knelt on one knee, looking at the loli goddess at eye level. "I've said it before, no matter what happens, I will never betray you. My heart has long belonged to Hestia forever..."
Before he could finish speaking, the petite loli goddess had already crashed into his arms.
"Hestia, I love you, I love you the most."
Ying Ping took the opportunity to lift Hestia, burying his face in her embrace, and deeply inhaling the scent from her blue hair.
Hestia's cheeks were flushed crimson, but she didn't struggle, only mumbled softly, "Idiot... don't say such frivolous lines to a goddess so casually..."
"Ding! System notification: You have obtained the title 'Goddess Protector'."
"Goddess Protector: When the goddess is present, or when you fight for the goddess, all your ability values will receive a massive boost!"
"At the same time, you are immune to any negative effects such as charm, despair, brainwashing, paralysis, stun, and poison!"