"This set of equipment is a welcome gift from me, your goddess."
"But tonight, we'll have to figure out where to stay. Don't worry though, Xyros. I'll definitely take care of it."
A smile was always present on the girl's face.
She didn't want to burden Xyros with the current dismal state of their Familia. After all, his future Dungeon explorations were going to be challenging enough as it was.
Hestia felt she had to do something.
At the very least, she could try to provide some security for Xyros in his life outside the Dungeon.
"Thank you, Lady Hestia."
Xyros's voice was sincere as he examined the gear. A short sword well-suited for combat in the confined spaces of caverns, a chest piece that protected vital areas without being overly cumbersome, and leather bracers.
The entire set fit perfectly, offering protection while maintaining mobility.
Etched onto the surface of each piece was the emblem of the Hephaestus Familia, proof that it came from the top equipment supplier in all of Orario.
The total price was certainly not cheap.
Given Hestia's financial situation, she definitely couldn't have afforded it. Xyros didn't need to see the receipt to guess where it came from.
He didn't voice these thoughts aloud, but he made a mental note of Hephaestus's kindness.
As for the looming housing issue, Xyros wasn't too worried.
In the worst case, there was always that abandoned church on West Main Street. A cleaned-up basement… in a way, wasn't that a sort of holy land pilgrimage of its own?
"So what's next, finding a place to stay first?"
"Not yet."
"I'll take you to the Guild first to register your identity. Then we can ask the staff there about the Dungeon. Leave the housing problem to me."
The girl's tone was firm and decisive.
Though, thinking about the negative effect of the "Dungeon's Hatred," she added, "Even if you'll run into mutated monsters, it never hurts to know more."
"There's an old saying: 'Sharpening the axe doesn't delay the work of chopping wood.'"
"Compared to conquering the Dungeon, I'd much prefer to come back alive."
Considering the upcoming Dungeon difficulty, which promised to be Souls-like… Xyros felt…
…this was definitely a time for caution.
After all, let's be honest, being a Souls veteran only applied to games and knowing about sneaky traps. When it came to real, actual combat? He was a total rookie.
Even with the [Character archieve], the situation wouldn't be remotely optimistic.
As everyone knows: a Souls game protagonist, even after hours of stat allocation, getting one-shotted by a random stray dog is considered standard operating procedure in-game.
"That's a very sensible outlook."
Hestia hadn't heard it before, but she understood the meaning. Thinking about how this child of hers not only had great talent but also such a cautious temperament…
The girl couldn't help but feel that Xyros's future was limitless.
Following Hestia out of the weapons shop, Xyros was greeted by the sight of a bustling, medieval-style street lined with a dazzling array of stores.
Most of them, however, were businesses catering to adventurers.
Weapon repairs, apothecaries, a gnome's sundries shop, the Pure White Sanatorium…
Finally, at the end of the adventurer's district, Xyros looked up at the grand, awe-inspiring structure that was the Adventurer's Guild headquarters. Its framework was made of white marble pillars, adorned with elaborate carved stone bricks.
This was the place he'd be dealing with frequently as an adventurer.
With the warm assistance of a Guild staff member, they completed the Familia registration and signed Xyros up as an adventurer. The whole process went surprisingly smoothly.
Looking around the now somewhat quiet Guild hall, Hestia took advantage of the lack of people nearby and slipped the valis she'd prepared earlier into Xyros's palm.
"I'll go take care of the Familia home issue."
They couldn't actually sleep on the streets, could they?
It wasn't just about having a place to stay. Given Xyros's high-risk Dungeon explorations, as a proper goddess, she had to make an effort.
"Consulting for Dungeon intel costs money. Meet me back at the weapons shop when you're done here."
Xyros felt the weight of the coins in his hand. Even though Hestia's manner was casual, considering her tight financial situation…
He quickly realized.
This might very well be the last of Hestia's savings, and she'd handed it over to him just like that.
Watching the goddess's cheerful steps as she left, Xyros felt a complex, indescribable emotion stir within him.
"Thank you, Lady Hestia."
She stopped.
When Hestia turned around, a smile filled with gentleness graced her youthful face.
"I think, given our relationship now…"
"We don't need to say thank you."
It wasn't until her figure had disappeared into the distance that Xyros swept his gaze across the Guild hall, finally settling on the counter in the central area.
Behind it stood a girl with shoulder-length brown hair. Her graceful, lovely features were complemented by a pair of round glasses, adding a touch of elegance to her pretty face.
The long, slender elf ears marked her extraordinary heritage.
Eina Tulle.
Renowned for her serious, reliable work ethic, sweet appearance, and attractive figure, she was one of the most popular receptionists among the many staff at the Adventurer's Guild.
Since he had to consult a Guild staffer anyway, Xyros figured he might as well find the half-elf girl from the anime who had left such a deep impression in his previous life, known for being dependable.
"Let's go with you."
"…"
It wasn't yet the peak time for adventurers returning from the Dungeon, so her workload was relatively light. Noticing an adventurer approaching, the girl looked up.
Seeing Xyros's unfamiliar, pleasant face, she guessed he was a newcomer to Orario.
Eina adjusted her glasses with a finger. A naturally gentle smile graced her face.
"How may I assist you today?"
"I'd like to inquire about monster information for the upper floors, and also learn about intelligence regarding Dungeon anomalies."
Xyros stood before the counter, addressing Eina.
After receiving a god's Blessing to become an adventurer, one's physical abilities were enhanced across the board.
But this wasn't a game.
A Souls protagonist could resurrect indefinitely; his own [Rebirth] had severe limitations. If some cheap-shot monster decided to camp his revival point…
He could guess the outcome without even thinking.
Xyros believed he should gather as much information about the Dungeon as possible to avoid any nasty surprises. He added, "I'd appreciate as much detail as possible."
"That's part of my job."
However, as the girl processed the second half of his request, she clearly sensed something off. The part about Dungeon anomalies made her look up.
Her gaze at Xyros was now filled with curiosity.
Eina Tulle patiently explained, "As for your question about Dungeon anomalies, Mr. Adventurer, you really don't need to worry about that."
"The Adventurer's Guild has strict rules prohibiting deities from entering the Dungeon."
"As long as the Dungeon doesn't detect a divine presence, such situations are extremely unlikely to occur. You can proceed with your exploration activities with peace of mind."
'I can't exactly tell her I'm "hated by the Dungeon," can I?'
Xyros nodded with a smile, deciding to rephrase slightly.
"Then, if a new adventurer encounters a sudden, unexpected situation in the Dungeon, what's the proper way to handle it?"
"Oh."
"I'll include general Dungeon exploration precautions as well."
Most new adventurers were brimming with confidence in their own abilities. Someone as cautious as Xyros was a rare sight.
Not only was he asking about monster distributions, he was even considering anomalies and emergency scenarios.
The girl didn't feel impatient at all. On the contrary, she found the handsome, clear-faced Xyros rather interesting.
"My name is Eina Tulle. And yours?"
"Because, barring any issues, new adventurers are typically assigned to my care."
"You could think of me as your… guide?"