[KAEL'S pov ]
After morning exercise, I was gazing at the sky. emptying my brain relaxing my body.
When Lady Hestia's voice came from inside.
"Kael!!!, It's time for breakfast come inside"
"Coming"
I replied loudly from outside the abandoned church. While thinking about yesterday.
I began to head down the stairs.
Looking inside, a cramped room (the basement turned into a bedroom) filled with a bed, sofa and other things, yet it gives a warm and cozy vibe.
Lady Hestia was setting breakfast on the table while humming a cheerful tune.
"What are you standing there? Breakfast is going to get cold!"
"I'm coming I'm coming "
Looking at her my eyes softened. My heart felt warm like never before.
"So what's your plan for the day Kael"
She asked as we started to eat breakfast.
"Going to the first floor, I guess?"
I replied to her while munching on the Orario's national dish– fried potato of course
Which was given to Hestia by the stall owner.
"Good, don't go deeper floors for now, maybe if you can try join the rookie party from the other large Familia" she advised me with a mouth full of fried potato
I chuckle looking at her. Then proceed to reply to her.
"I will try but I don't think they're gonna accept me"
Why would someone from a large Familia accept me it's not like they don't have anewbie join them
With my mind filled with such thoughts as I finish eating breakfast.
"Then I will be heading out. Lady Hestia!"
Getting up to my feet, I began to equip my- a cheap light armour, a small pouch hanging on the belt and a battle-worn one-handed sword that had a few chips at the edges
Chu
She gave me a peck on the forehead and wished me goodbye
"Take care and don't take too long inside the dungeon."
West Main Street
After saying goodbye to Lady Hestia.
I began walking towards the Tower of Babel at the city centre– at the dungeon that lies beneath it– all main roads lead to the Tower of Babel
Morning in Orario felt different from the streets.
Walk through Western Main Street, I thought to himself.
On the previous day, I was preoccupied with my thoughts on how to join Hestia Familia and the dungeon.
Now I finally have time to look at the beauty of Orario.
I felt shock coming from a profound heritage of the entire continent gathering at one place.
There are all kinds of structures and people here, from far Eastern islands in the east of the continent to Alf forest elf–style to rakia kingdom –style in the west of the continent, to the empire in the northeast, to altena magic–style and many, many more.
City of Orario is an incredibly chaotic mix of different culture yet it doesn't give a disorderly vibe but have it's own beauties
I walked through the main avenue with my cheap sword at my side and a small pouch tied to my belt—the one holding yesterday's monster stones.
So this is what a city that lives on danger looks like.
Many stores start to open.
An elven Lady opening her flower store.
A dog–man walking with a heavy weight on his shoulders.
A human boy with the uniform of a Demeter Familia, cycling a cart filled with fruits and vegetables and delivering supplies
Passing by the hostess of fertility, waitresses inside are preparing to open the tavern.
Merchants shouted about fresh bread, potions, weapon and cheap equipment.
Boisterous adventurers in armour laughed with their comrades and headed towards the city centre– dungeon. to begin today's adventure.
Just like me.
Others walked past with blood on their boots, their bodies exhausted, and their eyes filled with fatigue.
Some came back from the Dungeon with comrades. Some walk alone.
Some didn't don't even make it to the surface.
No one stops for the dead here.
The city just keeps moving.
Old adventurers die in the dungeon every day, and new adventurers like me come to Orario every day to replace old adventurers in the dungeon explorationon
I watched a group of rookies arguing over who would take the front guard, who would take the centre, who would be vanguard and who would be at the back.
Their hands shook, their faces filled with nervousness, just like mine had yesterday.
That was me yesterday. Well, even today, it's still me.
Ahead, the massive tower rose like a spear into the sky.
The Dungeon's entrance lies just beneath it.
Even from here, I could feel it.
Not sound. Not smell but pressure coming from the depth of my soul.
As if an evil and malevolent deity were staring at me. daring me to step inside again.
Before going back in, Lady Hestia told me to sell yesterday's loot, though most of it is already lost.
So I followed the flow of people into a large stone building with the emblem of the Guild carved above its doors.
The Adventurers' Guild
Inside, it was organised chaos.
Filled with noise.
Clerks calling out names.
Adventurers lining up with sacks of monster stones.
Boards covered in quests and warnings.
This is where the city's security, economics and future planning
decides the lives of residents.
Like other adventurers– who come to convert their magic stone and monster's drops into valis, I also line up on long queue.
I stepped up to the counter when my turn came.
A brown-haired elf woman looked up at me.
Her eyes were gentle and tinted with tiredness. Her face was serious, firm, her expression stern yet her brow held a faint sense of distress and worry.
"Good morning," she said.
"New adventurer?"
I nodded.
"Yes. I joined a Familia yesterday."
Her expression softened instantly.
"Oh? Congratulations. What's your name adventurer?"
"Kael. Kael Verdan."
She smiled.
"I'm Eina Tulle. I'll be your advisor from today on."
Advisor huh.
Lady Hestia did tell me to register on the Adventurer's Guild so I can gain an advisor.
They are trained professionally by the academy district.
So long as someone listens to their advice, the chances of survival will increase massively
It's because the people like her who try to keep idiots like me alive.
I placed my pouch on the counter and opened it.
Inside were three small, dull-blue monster stones.
Yesterday there were total of 7 magic stones dropped by monsters
—A Pity most of it was lost in the last fight against three goblins.
sigh≡
"Goblin drops," I said. "From Floor 1."
Eina nodded approvingly. Her lips curl upward. Her expression relaxed
"First day and you came back with loot. That's already better than most."
She weighed them, recorded something, and slid three golden coins – a total of 150 valis – toward me.
"Here you go."
I picked them up.
This is my first money earned with my own hands.
It felt heavier than it should have.
Eina leaned forward slightly and asked me softly.
"So, Kael. Tell me honestly—how did your first day go?"
I hesitated to answer her question
Do I lie?
No. She needs the truth.
"I almost died" I replied briefly.
Her pen stopped, and she raised her head, her gaze focused on me.
"…How?"
"I was ambushed by three Goblins when returning to the surface."
Her eyes sharpened.
"That's not common, but some monsters wander closer to the surface just to ambush adventurers."
Then she looked at me more carefully and asked.
"…You're still standing. How bad were your injuries?"
I paused. Hesitate on how much to reveal.
"…Bad. But I healed faster than the others."
She didn't react dramatically to my answer.
But her eyes lingered on me.
"…You're lucky," she said.
"Very few possess such practical talent."
Luck, me?
Yeah. Let's call it that for now.
She tapped the counter, explaining sincerely, her expression serious. Her tone was tinted with a faint concern.
"Listen carefully, Kael. Don't rush to the deeper floors. Don't chase big monsters if you want to survive, don't pursue adventurers. And never assume you're safe just because you are about to leave again, as long as you are still inside the dungeon always remain cautious."
I nodded to her advice. My voice is firm as I reply to her advice.
"I will remember it."
She smiled faintly.
"Good. I'd like to see you come back again tomorrow."
So would I.
Back on the Street.
I left the Guild with lighter pockets and a heavier mind my mood was a little low.
After Lady Hestia, someone else worried about me for the first time.
One more reason to come back alive.
The city of Orario was still bustling.
People laughing. Fighting. Buying. Leaving, going about their business.
Orario doesn't stop for anyone.
So if I want to belong here… I have to keep walking forward.
I looked toward the Dungeon again.
My hands tightened around my sword.
Day two.
Let's see if I deserve to stay and remain alive.
And with that—
I turned back toward the tower and headed to the dungeon.