Arc 1 — The Rookie's First Descent
Chapter 1: A Boy with No Place to Return To
Orario was built around the hole in the world
In a literal sense. At the centre of the city rose a massive tower, and beneath it lay an endless abyss—the Dungeon.
Monsters are born inside. adventurers descend into—some for treasure. Some for adventurers. Some for glory—Dungeon for quest
Through for someone like him. No skills. No family and zero money. It's for survival. And to obtain power to protect what he holds dear.
In front of the dungeon entrance stood a boy.
Staring at the darkness in silence.
Hardening his resolve in preparation for his first dungeon dive
His name is Kael Verdan.
Seventeen-year-old. With ash-black hair and silver eyes, and a fairly handsome appearance, hidden carefully.
To appear ordinary
A lesson learned through life.
As long as he remembers. He doesn't have parents. He doesn't remember their faces or voices.
Moving from place to place. Seeking shelter. Slums and borrowed roofs without any place to return or stay
This is it. I must become powerful; only then can I protect her. He thought
Kael tightened his grip on his cheap sword. Which was given to him by Hestia
3 days ago. Having found a home to return to. A family to belong to. Being alone for most of his life,
He knows how precious it is to someone waiting for your return.
Having seen the cold cruelty of the world, he carve power to protect the warmth of his family.
So even if he is afraid he still steps forward and enter dungeon
In this world, one didn't become strong with simple will or training
They needed a Falna— a divine blessing bestowed by a god or goddess.
It turned a mortal soul into something that grows by recording life experience and turning one's own influence on the world(legend) fuel for the growth and awakening of skills and magic
Without one dungeon didn't care about how brave or resourceful you are. Only death lay ahead for you
Having listened to the preaching of a priest—for free food— he is familiar with the mythology of the gods.
Gods who are omnipotent and omniscient in heaven become bored with their eternal life
decide to descend to the mortal world in search of something interesting while sealing all of their power to experience mortal life.
Only retaining their ability to bestow divine blessings, which can unlock the potential of mortals.
Gods established their families with mortals who receive divine blessings (Falna)
One day.
After work, hearing gossip from travelling merchants coming from Orario. Kael stopped eating his meal which he earned working part-time.
When one merchant talks about a goddess whose Familia no one wants to join. who is so poor she has to work part-time setting up a fried potato food stall. Goddess Hestia
The moment he heard that name Kael froze.
Goddess Hestia, also known as goddess Vesta, is the virgin goddess of the hearth. home and the family.
Because of this, he who longs for family often prays to her.
Hearing news of her descent to the mortal realms,
he decided to embark—with a bag containing simple clothes. Necessary survival equipment. Foods that can be stored for a long time, and a dagger hasting on his right thigh, and one hidden on his sleeves, plus all of his savings—on a journey to Orario to meet her. Hopefully to join her Familia
Anyway, he doesn't have a permanent place to stay.
Maybe if he can join her Familia he will also have a home and family?
Three days ago. Kael Verdan. Arrived at Orario
Without delay, he headed to the adventurer's guild by asking directions from guards stationed at the city entrance from Ganesha Familia
who wears matching armour and elephant masks.
From the entrance to the adventurers' guild.
He constantly stared at adventurers passing by.
(He has seen them from time to time but)
After all, he is seeing so many Elves. Dwarfs and Beastmen in the same place for the first time
After asking the guild receptionist about how to join Hestia Familia. He was given her current location
"Is this… goddess Hestia home" he mutters hesitatingly
Looking at a run-down church with broken windows and fallen walls.
Honestly, he wonders if he went to the wrong location.
No matter what she is a goddess after all
Just then. A female voice asks him from behind—
"Hello"
He turns around,
Looking at the source of the voices, and finds a girl.
She is beautiful and petite. with a youthful appearance.
She has blue eyes and black hair tied into twin-tails which reach down to her mid-thighs.
Her hair is tied with hair accessories that feature blue and white petals.
She is short in height yet her figure is so good that even a mature woman would be eclipsed
"A goddess…? g-goddess Hestia?" Kael asked.
For mortals, just by seeing one, they automatically know that one standing before them is a god;
after all,
God only seal their power. Their very existence transcends the mortal world
And this is the location of goddess Hestia given by the adventurer's guild
"I'm Hestia. For what purpose have you come to my house little one?"
Little one? His mouth twitched.
What can he say in front of the gods who live for a million years?
He who is only Seventeen-year-old is a little one
"Hello, Goddess Hestia. I'm Kael Verdan. I have come to Orario to join your Familia. Please accept me in your Familia" Kael said solemnly while bowing his head
"My Familia you say…?" Hestia was taken aback at first then slowly become exited
She has been trying to recruit Familia members on various occasions
Yet every time they show interest at the beginning only to be rejected at the end
After all.
Unlike other gods who have descended to the mortal world earlier and have built their foundation
She arrived too late and just started
Plus, her divine power is sealed and she becomes mortal for the first time. It takes some time to get used to
Gods in the mortal world (aside from their power to bestow divine blessings) only retain their eternal life and ability to be pure and spotless from dust and so on
"But don't you know I'm poor" Hestia asked while being excited yet confused
"I know "
"I don't have any members in Familia"
"I know "
"I can't even give you a future ", says Hestia in a lower voice.
After having come down from the excitement of having finally getting her first Familia
" I know " Kael replied softly
"Then. Why did you want to join my Familia? Surely there are better ones who can bring you many benefits" asks Hestia in confusion while raising her head and looking at Kael
Kael look at her gently yet firmly. With his silver eyes glowing intensely with hope.
That comes from seeing light from boundless darkness.
"Because. What I want is a family so that I don't have to feel lonely. A home to return to, so I don't have to wander around… I just want a place to belong. Thats all"
Hestia went silence
Looking at his experience filled with hope and longing
The she smile gently and beautifully and asked
"…That's enough?"
"Y-Yesss" Kael replied loudly while looking at her excitedly
"Then from henceforth, please take care of me. Kael"
Sometimes later
In the underground basement that transforms into a bedroom
Kael lay down on his stomach without his upper garments
Hestia sat on his back. Explaining to Kael about Falna. While dropping divine blood from her finger to ontos back
"The back is a convenient, visible location for the glowing Falna mark to appear, serving as a permanent reminder of the blessing and the Familia they belong to.It's a direct physical link between the adventurer and their patron God, a tangible representation of their pact"
"I s–see. I don't expect it to have so many meaning " Kael replied
While trying to bury his face on the pillow to hide the embarrassment on his face
After all. It's the first tihas been he has been so close to a girl
Not to mention. She is beautiful goddess