The Labyrinth City of Orario stood as the undisputed center of the world.
Countless fortunes, glories, and dreams lay buried within the unfathomable depths of the Dungeon.
The gods had descended from Heaven in search of excitement, sealing away the vast majority of their divine power and authority before stepping into what they called the Lower World. By granting mortals their blessing 'Falna', they formed Familias and sent their children to conquer the endless Dungeon below.
As the saying goes, it's best to lean against a sturdy tree for shade. Joining a powerful and prosperous Familia was the dream start every rookie adventurer longed for.
Adventurers fought monsters, leveled up, and exchanged magic stones and rare drops for wealth.
The gods, meanwhile, reveled in the spectacle, watching their children grow, competing with rival Familias, treating it all as the grandest game ever devised.
But there are always exceptions.
For the fifth time that day, Haimer watched a passing adventurer glance at his recruitment notice with visible disdain before quickening their pace and walking off. At last, he couldn't help but sigh.
He leaned against what he generously referred to as his temple.
In truth, it was just a modest two-story building.
Standing at the doorway, he held up a wooden sign. Written in crooked Common tongue were a few bold characters:
[Haimer Familia Recruiting Adventurers — All Genders Are Welcome, All Races Are Welcome. Room and Board Provided. A Really Wonderful Perks]
Passersby would glance at the sign, then at the shabby building behind it, and finally at Haimer himself.
Most reacted the same way: a brief stop, followed by an expression blending sympathy, suspicion, and very real doubt about the "room and board" part, before hastily walking away, as if afraid he might drag them into a contract on the spot.
Even Haimer had to admit, it wasn't a good look.
He was a transmigrator who had somehow, inexplicably, become an ancient god upon arriving in this world.
A god.
By all rights, he should have been waking from dreams laughing.
Instead, reality had slapped him across the face.
In Orario, whether a god thrived came down to two things: reputation and money.
A famous god, like the well-connected Loki or the beauty goddess Freya, didn't need to recruit. Their thresholds were trampled daily by hopeful applicants.
A wealthy god, like Hephaestus, patron of forging, could lure adventurers with top-tier equipment and generous benefits.
Haimer had neither reputation nor wealth.
Frustrated wasn't even the word.
He was beginning to understand exactly how Hestia, keeper of the eternal sacred flame, must have felt, struggling in the Lower World with no one willing to join her Familia.
…
"Haah…"
Haimer exhaled again and leaned back in his chair, letting his consciousness sink inward.
He had descended to the Lower World one month ago.
Last week, he had spent the last of his savings to carve that recruitment sign and begin the first step of his grand ambition,
Hiring people.
Reality had responded with a resounding slap.
"A homeless god…"
The title was painfully accurate.
Just then, a set of light footsteps stopped in front of him.
Haimer looked up.
An elven girl stood before his stall, curiously studying the wooden sign.
She had the signature pointed ears and refined beauty of the elven race.
Her long, pale golden hair shimmered in the sunlight, cascading smoothly over well-fitted light leather armor. The outfit accentuated her slender figure without sacrificing the practical sharpness of an adventurer.
A finely crafted short bow hung at her waist, a quiver slung across her back. Clearly an archer.
More importantly,
She looked like a newcomer.
A seasoned adventurer would never spare a roadside stall like his a second glance.
Opportunity!
Haimer immediately straightened his posture, arranging what he believed to be his most sincere and approachable smile.
"Greetings, fair lady."
"May I ask, are you newly arrived in Orario? Are you perhaps searching for a suitable Familia?"
The elf's gaze shifted from the sign to Haimer's face.
When she truly took in his appearance, a flicker of surprise crossed her emerald eyes. A faint blush tinted her cheeks, but it was quickly masked by impeccable composure.
Aside from his divine power, currently sealed and useless here, his appearance was the only asset he could truly boast.
Black hair, black eyes, features sculpted with almost divine precision, well, he was a god now, so that tracked.
Even dressed in plain linen clothing, his clean and refined bearing stood out.
In terms of looks alone, he could make ninety-nine percent of Orario's gods grind their teeth in envy.
But Orario was practical.
Admiring your face was one thing.
Entrusting their life to you was another.
"Indeed," the elf said with a graceful nod. "My name is Laila. I arrived in the city only recently."
Her gaze traveled between Haimer and the dilapidated building behind him, her expression thoughtful.
"May I ask… are you the presiding god of this Familia?"
"I am indeed."
Haimer puffed out his chest, striving to appear dependable.
"My Familia has only just been established, but its potential is limitless!"
"Join now, and you'll be a founding core member! Your future will be boundless!"
He launched into a passionate pitch, effortlessly drawing from every startup-style sales tactic he'd absorbed in his previous life.
"Just imagine, Miss Laila, when our Familia rises to become one of Orario's top powers, and you are remembered as the very first to join…"
"Your name will be engraved upon the very first page of our history!"
Laila listened quietly, never interrupting.
When he finally ran out of breath, she spoke in an even, relaxed tone, her words slicing cleanly through his mountain of glittering promises.
"Then may I ask, Lord Haimer. "
"Is your name renowned here in Orario? Or was it well known in Heaven?"
"And do you maintain close relations with any of the gods currently stationed here?"
Haimer froze.
"Ah… I keep a rather low profile. My name isn't particularly known in this world."
He answered vaguely.
After all.
Though his name wasn't as resounding here as Loki, Freya, Hera, or Zeus…
In that distant Heaven, he had certainly not been insignificant.
It was just that,
If he revealed those titles here, no one would believe him.
Fortunately, Laila did not display hostility at his answer. Her tone remained polite, her demeanor composed.
But her questions grew increasingly serious.
"Then, is this building your Familia's headquarters?"
"Do you have plans for renovation or relocation?"
"And what would be your source of funding?"
At that moment, Haimer began to sweat.
<><><><><><><><><><><>
Good Reviews/Ratings are greatly appreciated
Drop some POWERSTONES to push the story forward!