Regarding the abnormal changes occurring in the Dungeon.
Ron and Hephaestus did not notify each other, yet they tacitly reached the same understanding and concealed the matter from Hestia. After briefly confirming safety issues, he left the weapon shop and headed straight for the Adventurers' Guild.
The reality was much the same as anticipated.
All guild staff—members including Eina—were exceptionally busy, organizing intelligence about the Dungeon's abnormality from the accounts of returning adventurers.
The Dungeon was closed for two days.
Ron did not rashly disturb Eina.
When their gazes met, he merely gave a light smile and a nod as a greeting, signaling that he was safe.
As for introducing Airmid's commission and thanking Eina for her extra care, he planned to consider inviting Eina out for a meal after the turmoil gradually subsided.
After exchanging the magic stone drops—split with Lefiya—into Valis at the counter, the overall gains somewhat exceeded his expectations.
10,870 Valis.
"Not a bad haul."
"It just feels like—every Dungeon exploration is like walking a tightrope?"
Prompted by Hephaestus's reminder, Ron suddenly realized belatedly that this damn Soul-type Dungeon seemed to be gradually getting stronger!
Elite-types, archer goblins…
Three dogs.
Then the floor boss, the Goblin Guard—was this really the limit of the first floor?
No one could give him an answer.
But Ron understood clearly—this Dungeon's waters ran deep. If he did not want to be persecuted, the only thing he could do was push himself as much as possible within limited conditions.
He could not help but click his tongue.
"At this rate of development, I don't even dare imagine what comes later. They wouldn't seriously spawn something like a Goblin Commander for me, right?"
"Being persecuted in the game is one thing—now I have to be treated the same way in reality too, is that it?"
...
He returned to the communal dormitory.
After a brief rest, when the feeling of fullness was no longer so intense, Ron felt he could not afford to sit and wait for death. He picked up his weapon and went to the courtyard to begin basic training.
The process was very dull and monotonous.
But by pushing his physical limits, he could slowly increase his ability values while strengthening the fundamentals of his swordsmanship.
During this time, members of the Takemikazuchi Familia—Kashima, Chigusa, and the others—were also carrying out their daily training. However, since their relationship was relatively unfamiliar, they did not spar with one another.
Until evening—
Sweat had soaked Ron's clothes countless times, only to be dried again under the sun's scorching heat. He had already forgotten how many times he had swung his sword.
He was relying purely on willpower to endure.
Only when, upon encountering danger, he could block by instinct without needing to think—only then could it be considered truly passing.
And what interrupted Ron's training was a beautiful girl carrying two bento boxes, returning to the communal dormitory beneath the afterglow of the setting sun, her steps noticeably light and lively.
Hestia called out to him from afar.
"Ron."
"I'm back!"
What was it like to become the god of a familia?
She found it hard to describe. It was probably like this: life suddenly became fulfilling, and she could no longer be like before, with no goals, choosing to lie flat at home every day.
Working at "Hephaestus's Weapon Shop" was quite tiring.
Yet Hestia only felt as if she had inexhaustible motivation, but all of that motivation was woven together with Ron's daily life.
When he returned safely from the Dungeon.
Working side by side to improve the familia's situation.
And also, when Ron needed her, she would, within her ability, provide help—repairing weapons, helping update ability values, and so on.
Or like today—
After finishing the Dungeon exploration, Ron did not slack off at all. He trained hard in the courtyard, waiting for her to finish being busy outside and come home to eat dinner.
"Today's Dungeon exploration was hard work—go take a shower. I'll wait for you to eat!"
"…"
The smile overflowing on the girl's youthful face was as if she refused to lose.
Always full of youthful vigor.
That smile's infectious power was strong, slowly smoothing away Ron's mental fatigue. He simply loosened up his body, and his smile relaxed. "You too, Lady Hestia."
"If it weren't for you, this familia would sooner or later fall apart!"
"What are you saying!"
"Ron, didn't we say—we were going to form a familia for a lifetime? Even if there is a god, it only counts as a familia if there is the support of the familia members."
The emotion from the boy's heart made Hestia blush a little.
She pulled Ron home, and she did not forget what she was going to do tonight: "After we finish eating, I'll come help you update your ability values."
"After these two days of Dungeon exploration, plus your high-intensity training, I think it will definitely bring about a pretty good improvement in your ability values!"
"I'm looking forward to it as well."
Ron nodded seriously.
The Soul-type Dungeon he explored, compared with what other adventurers in Orario faced, could no longer be described with something as simple as 'Hard Mode.'
It was purely treating him as if he were not even human.
As long as he survived, the improvement in ability values would absolutely not be small!
After taking a quick shower to wash away the fatigue from his body, he returned to the room once more. A lavish dinner had already been set out on the table, and the girl did not start eating first.
It was not until Ron sat down on the sofa that Hestia lightly clapped her hands and said in a cheerful tone, "Then let's eat!"
The food's taste, of course, needed no comment. And after enjoying so much of her special care, Ron did not feel it was something he should take for granted. After filling his stomach, he explained honestly, "Lady Hestia."
"These past few days I took on a commission. The income was fairly considerable, and together with what I've accumulated from the Dungeon, it's probably a bit over one million Valis."
"I want to know—right now, is there anywhere in the familia that needs my help?"
"Save it."
"We'll need money to buy weapons later. Even if we don't use it, it can serve as emergency funds." The girl decisively shook her head in refusal, preventing Ron from bringing up the topic again.
Hestia suddenly stood up from the sofa.
She picked up the items needed to update ability values and pointed eagerly at the bed. "I'll help you update your ability values!"
"Sorry to trouble you, Lady Hestia."
The topic was glossed over.
Ron did not bring it up again for the time being. He took off his shirt and lay face down on the bed, but this time Hestia did not sit at the edge of the bed to perform the updating ritual.
Feeling the weight straddling his waist, along with the softness unique to a young girl, he hurriedly turned his head and saw Hestia's fair, slender legs. Her skin was particularly smooth, lacking the frail, overly thin look from his previous life, with well-balanced proportions.
Her overall sense of beauty was not diminished by her petite figure.
Ron silently averted his gaze.
He had not yet realized that the situation was overly intimate.
The girl's youthful face was filled with concentration at this moment. She dripped divine blood onto Ron's back and skillfully carried out the ritual to update her familia member's ability values.
A gentle glow continuously emerged.
Only after the divine script was engraved onto the parchment did Hestia finally finish and clap her hands.
...
Ron
Level: Lv.1
Strength: H103 → G267
Endurance: H110 → G280
Dexterity: I86 → G259
Agility: H107 → G260
Magic: I0 → I0
...
However, when the girl picked up the parchment and carefully examined the changes in the ability values, the calm on her face was gradually overtaken by disbelief.
Hestia frowned.
"Why does it feel like… every time I update ability values, it's like cheating?"
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