"Finally…"
"We made it out of the Dungeon safely."
Ron stood once more in the central plaza. He narrowed his eyes, feeling the blinding sunlight of the late morning and the scorching warmth carried in by the breeze.
Compared to the dim cavern passages—
After maintaining an intense level of focus at all times, the moment he was able to relax, a powerful sense of exhaustion surged over him like a tide.
Looking around—
Bustling adventurers were heading toward the streets in groups.
In Orario, this was a common sight. For most members of lower-tier Familias, exploring the Dungeon was purely a means of making a living.
But for Ron—
I survived the persecution of that hellish Dungeon again!
He looked at the girl beside him.
"Go exchange the magic stones for Valis. I'll sell the dropped equipment, then we'll meet back at the communal dormitory. Want to get lunch at noon?"
"I think that works."
Even when heading into the Middle Floors to explore—
Mikoto had never felt like this before. The endless stream of monsters and the constant mental tension—when she thought back on it now, she found it strangely addictive.
It was like certain things—once experienced—left no way to return to how things were before.
That's right—
The girl gradually recalled that feeling: when she had first arrived in Orario, after training in the Dungeon and updating her ability values, the boost in strength that followed.
She was made to devote all her energy to exploring the Dungeon.
Yet this kind of repetitive, monotonous routine would inevitably bring a sense of tedium. However, with the Familia's financial difficulties, the only way to ease the situation was to keep earning money through exploration.
That was, until she teamed up with Ron.
Fighting on floors she had previously completely overlooked, and battling special monsters she had never seen before, made her feel an unprecedented sense of fulfillment.
Mikoto felt a lingering sense of satisfaction.
However, when she looked at Ron beside her, she could not help but feel a tinge of regret, because she understood that this kind of party relationship only existed when the Familias had free time.
Sunlight spilled across the girl's refined face, her smile pure.
"Let me treat you to lunch today. Consider it my thanks—without you, I definitely wouldn't be able to earn this much from normal Dungeon exploration."
"Mm…"
There was still something she did not say aloud—if Ron were a member of the Takemikazuchi Familia, perhaps they could form a party and explore together every day?
But then—
Thinking about this guy's utterly fearless fighting style, there was probably someone named Kashima who would be getting a headache!
...
Compared to Ron's exhilarating, free-flowing battles in the Dungeon, as a goddess, Hestia, who was working at the "Hephaestus Weapon Shop," did not have the same confident cheerfulness she showed in front of her Familia. Her tightly furrowed brows already said everything.
She was afraid.
A god can always sense whether a child who bears their blessing still exists. If that blessing disappears, it means the child has already died completely.
And on Ron himself—
Hestia could sense it: the brief disappearance of the blessing, followed by its restoration.
She understood.
This was the "Revival" skill Ron possessed.
It allowed revival within a short time after death. Whenever she experienced this special sensation, she knew that Ron would soon return to Orario.
But today was completely different.
"The blessing disappeared…"
"He should have used 'Revival,' but why hasn't Ron come back yet?"
Ron had not appeared.
The anxiety hanging over Hestia's heart could not be calmed, and she had no way to do anything about it. Then, when the "blessing" disappeared once again, she completely panicked.
Even though, after a short time, that layer of connection was restored again, it still could not dispel the anxiety in the girl's heart. Two deaths in quick succession within a short span meant that Ron's situation in the Dungeon was likely very bad.
"That's how things are."
"This is hard to explain to you, but—Ron has definitely encountered danger in the Dungeon. What should I do now?"
Looking toward her close friend standing in front of the desk, whose expression was equally grave, the façade of a "mature goddess" that the girl had put on vanished without a trace, because she realized that when true danger arose, there was nothing she could do.
"Which floors does he usually explore?"
Very troubling.
Yet it was also Ron's existence that gradually changed Hestia's personality. Moreover, on this child, Hephaestus had seen the existence of miracles.
Her fingers lightly tapped against the desktop.
"Go to the forging workshop and find Tsubaki—tell her it's on my authority. Have her go into the Dungeon and see if she can bring Ron back safely."
"To prevent injuries, you should also take money to the Sanatorium."
"Find Airmid and buy a dose of the 'Panacea.' If there are injuries, they can be treated promptly. Don't worry about the money—I'll deduct it from your wages."
This was already the best method she could come up with.
Hephaestus understood—bearing the "hatred of the Dungeon" would make Ron's exploration extremely difficult, but she had not expected it to reach this extent.
She believed that Tsubaki, as a Lv5 adventurer, could safely bring Ron back.
Whether Ron could hold on until support arrived, however, was an unknown!
"Alright."
"I'll go right now."
Hestia did not hesitate at all. She knew where Tsubaki's workshop was and ran toward the office door. Just as she was about to push open the wooden door—
The next moment—there he was, carrying a massive bundle, the boy's utterly familiar face.
"Lady Hestia."
Noticing the hurried expression of his own goddess, Ron stepped aside to clear the office corridor. Thinking about today's exploration gains—not only had he earned Valis, he had also gathered a sufficient amount of Soul Shards—he smiled as he shared his joy.
"Today's Dungeon haul was pretty good. And then… after joining the Familia for so long, Lady Hestia has given me so much help."
"It feels like I don't really have anything to repay you with."
"Things aren't that tight financially right now. As for dinner, how about going to the 'Hostess of Fertility' to eat? I'll treat—my treat."
"…"
But just as he finished speaking, the anxious-looking girl in front of him suddenly jumped and threw herself onto Ron. Her arms wrapped tightly around his neck, and all the tension vanished in an instant.
Replacing it—was Hestia's powerless self-blame deep within her heart.
She did not think this was Ron's fault. If her Familia were just a bit larger in scale, he would not have had to shoulder hatred and explore the Dungeon alone.
Facing the boy's gaze, Hestia shook her head with guilt.
"If we're really going to hold a celebration feast, then no matter what, I think this high goddess here has to host it!"
"And also…"
"You didn't come back by noon after this Dungeon exploration, so I thought you might have run into some trouble. But seeing you return safely puts my mind at ease."
"I've mostly gotten used to it."
"I didn't force myself to go to deeper floors either. I just thought I'd explore a bit more—there should definitely be more gains in terms of ability values."
Ron did not bring up the matter of being surrounded by the 'Goblin Knight Corps.'
His tone was relaxed, explaining things simply as usual. However, compared to exchanging the dropped equipment for Valis, what he was looking forward to more was drawing a Character Save Slot.
[Consume 10 Soul Shards to draw a random character card?]
[Obtained Character Save Slot: The Tarnished.]
"Hm?"
"Um—Lady Hestia, may I ask if you're free right now?"
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