Having dinner with the beautiful loli made the food, which originally lacked a bit of flavor, taste even better, enhanced by Hestia's appetizing beauty.
The satisfaction of a full stomach from carbs was something fried potato balls couldn't compare to.
Keare leaned back against the soft old sofa, his gaze falling on the girl beside him, curled up like a cat, and he suddenly wanted to reach out and pat her head.
But the gap in their statuses ultimately prevented him from doing so.
"The road ahead is long and winding~"
"What does that mean?"
"To advance my relationship with Hestia-sama... that path is still very long, or it can be understood as the path to improving my strength is still very long."
Actually, just explaining the first half of the sentence would have been enough.
The girl ultimately didn't say it aloud; she could feel the heat on her cheeks, and diverting her attention was the best solution:
"Keare."
"Let me update your ability scores!"
"Okay."
— —
Keare
Lv1
Strength: F322 → 378 | Durability: G289 → 319 | Dexterity: F307 → 350 | Agility: G295 → 331 | Magic: F300 → 375
Development Abilities: None
Magic: Recovery
Skills: Imitation, Optimization, Deterioration
— —
The increase in ability scores had already slowed down, but compared to Adventurers of the same period, Keare's exceptional Adventurer talent was still evident.
A total increase of 200 ability points.
Especially his magic talent; this rate of improvement was definitely related to the environment Keare explored.
Using 'Recovery' magic so frequently, it must be that his Dungeon exploration process was definitely not as smooth as he told her.
Hestia's feelings were complicated.
But when she scanned the skills section on the parchment, before she even had time to blame herself, she was more filled with deep-seated disbelief.
— —
'Optimization'
Effect: Optimization.
Temporarily increases overall physical ability scores, enhancing combat capabilities.
'Deterioration'
Effect: Ignores resistance, damages the body.
— —
The descriptions of these two skills were very brief, but the enormous amount of information they revealed almost knocked Hestia out cold.
As is well known.
The shorter the skill description, the greater the potential for manipulation.
A buff skill that temporarily enhances ability scores, without limiting oneself or other targets, combined with the heaven-defying 'Recovery' magic.
An all-purpose support.
This was the strong thought that arose in her mind.
This was so excellent—enough to drive all Familia in Orario mad with its support potential. Optimization provides greater boosts to stronger Adventurers!
"Deterioration..."
"It should be considered a self-preservation method."
The Dungeon or Familia world's Development Abilities include various abnormal resistances, but Keare's 'Deterioration' skill could ignore these factors.
Directly interfering with the physical body!
The development of skills is related to the Adventurer's experiences. Hestia suppressed her inner excitement, trying her best to make her expression appear calm:
"Keare."
"How did you acquire these two skills?"
"The process was actually quite simple. I feel that Recovery ability is like a double-edged sword; it can directly restore an Adventurer to their original state."
"If you change your perspective slightly."
"Changing the output form of Recovery ability into a way that stimulates cell activity and temporarily increases abilities should also be feasible."
"Deterioration is the same principle."
This was a path he had explored on his own, and Keare did not hide it from Hestia.
Worried that these obscure concepts might be difficult to understand, he gave an appropriate example: "Orario's strongest magic-user, the Nine-Demon Princess Riveria."
"She can manipulate three skills into nine different forms; there's no reason I can't, right?"
"..."
The facts were indeed as Keare had guessed.
Hestia nodded, half-understanding, which meant—Keare used his own ideas to display 'Recovery' magic in more ways.
The precise example he gave.
It was actually the Vice Captain of that annoying Loki's Familia, which suddenly made her a bit unhappy.
But when she came back to her senses, she was more shocked by Keare's talent. Elves' affinity for magic is naturally much stronger than ordinary humans.
He had only been an Adventurer for a short time.
Without any guidance, Keare could achieve this level!
"Leaving aside his talent in ability score growth, is Keare also an undeniable genius in... magic and skills?"
"..."
Hestia's excitement was indescribable.
Even if it cost her all the luck of her life, she felt that meeting Keare was worth it. She handed the parchment, filled with surprises, to the young man.
Yet, she found no change in expression on his clear face.
—It was as if it were a matter of course.
"Keare, did you already know this outcome?" She actively took the brown-haired young man's hand, wanting to get a relatively accurate answer.
"That's right."
"As expected."
Keare smiled easily. Mastering the development techniques of derivative abilities and acquiring the 'Plunder' skill was absolutely an easy feat for him.
If there was anything regrettable.
It was not obtaining the 'Emerald Eye' that could see ability scores. The two abilities, when combined, could maximize the 'Plunder' skill!
"In my hometown."
"There's a saying—studying medicine won't let you explore the Dungeon; you must develop comprehensively!"
"What you said... indeed makes a lot of sense." Hestia nodded noncommittally, but she knew this was Keare's choice, forced by the Familia's conditions.
Even recruiting new Adventurers at this point might not help him.
In fact, new recruits with no Adventuring experience might even become a burden to Keare's Dungeon exploration. Since she couldn't help him.
The girl quickly understood.
She might as well give him the decision-making power; as a deity, she only needed to provide unconditional trust and support.
Hestia's smile was as sweet as a blooming Cecilia flower, her eyes containing brilliant stars: "Keare, what are your plans next?"
"Is this something I can say...?"
"Of course."
The girl's smile was certain.
Seeing this, Keare didn't hold back. He coughed softly and then asked: "Then... I hope to sleep holding Hestia-sama every night?"
"I was talking about Dungeon exploration!"
She blushed, gently pinching the young man's face with both hands, yet worried about pressing too hard.
All she could think about was such things, and he even spoke them so bluntly. Hestia, surprisingly, didn't have... any feelings of aversion.
She would definitely be embarrassed to say it.
In this situation, even if Keare hadn't said it beforehand, she wouldn't refuse!
"Oh."
"I almost blurted out other thoughts."
Keare smiled shyly, not continuing to joke around: "Next, the focus will still be on Dungeon exploration. Improving ability scores is really important."
"Using magic and skills consumes too much mental energy."
"However, exploring the Dungeon alone is a bit inefficient. I should try to find a party to join as a combat member."
He was laying the groundwork for forming a party.
And upon hearing such a steady idea, Hestia nodded in satisfaction, her heart inevitably growing curious about the 'other thoughts' Keare had just mentioned.
Never having discussed such things, her heart began to beat wildly.
The girl tentatively asked: "Keare, also, about those... 'other thoughts' you just mentioned, could you tell me what they are?"
"..."
There was no reply.
To be precise, Keare had already demonstrated with his actions; his gaze, completely undisguised, clearly fell upon the girl's fair, delicate feet.
The arch of her foot was like a perfect creation.
Her skin, as delicate as a baby's, was as translucent as white jade grapes. Such a delicacy should be held firmly in one's hands and played with!
"??"