"So, you survived… and you came back."
The woman's voice was flat as she studied me with piercing golden eyes.
Behind her, a pink-haired guild employee browsed through a stack of paperwork—stealing furtive glances at us from the corner of her eyes.
"I did," I responded.
The murmurings of the numerous people littering the vast hall filled the silence between us.
Although dawn had only just broken, the guild was steadily filling up with adventurers.
"I was told you already managed to pay back your debt," she said, hesitating for a moment.
"And that you exchanged enough magic stones to still make a profit… Is that true?"
A smile played on my lips.
"It is."
"And you still want me as your advisor?" she asked.
"Yes."
She arched a brow.
"Why?"
Her arms crossed.
"It appears to me you're doing just fine by yourself."
I met her gaze with flinching back.
"I need you," I said calmly. "I'm not satisfied with my performance yesterday."
My voice lowered.
"I could've done better. Be more prepared," I continued. "And I would have been, if I had you your support—your advice."
She placed her hands on the counter and leaned forward.
"Why should I care for your satisfaction?" she asked.
"Why should I choose you? I've turned down hundreds of adventurers—most of them many times more powerful and experienced than you."
I shook my head.
"I cannot answer that question," I said.
"Wether you accept my request—or refuse—it is up to you."
My shoulders relaxed.
"I will respect your decision."
The wolf ears atop her head twitched.
Her gaze dropped—scanning me from top to bottom.
She exhaled, her eyes meeting mine again.
"Alright," she breathed. "If that's the case… then I accept."
Her spine straightened.
"My name is Rose Fannett, and from today onwards…"
A small smile tugged on her lips.
"I will be your advisor."
A high-pitched scream cut through the air.
It originated from the wooden table behind Rose.
I tilted my head, casting a glance at the pink-haired employee.
The girl was gawking at me with a beaming smile on her face—her gloved hands cupped her flushed cheeks.
"Our thorny Rose has finally been plucked!" she squealed. "Oh, this is—"
"Misha!" Rose cut in sharply, whirling toward the girl.
The smile quickly slipped from Misha's face as the older woman's attention fell on her.
She paled—then snapped her head back to the mountain of paperwork in front of her.
The heap was still just as tall as it had been when I first entered the guild building.
My advisor slowly turned back towards me.
"You did not just hear that ," she said, voice low and threatening. "Forget about it. Now!"
I bit down on my tongue, stifling a laugh.
"…Forget about what?" I asked.
The woman released a breath, averted her eyes to the side.
"…I will be back shortly," she said quietly. "Wait for me here."
She pivoted and made her way to one of the numerous shelves lining the walls on the employee's side of the guild hall.
When she passed by her unruly colleague, she slapped the girl across the back of her head—creating an audible smack that echoed through the hall.
The younger girl yelped in pain, glaring after my advisor with a pout on her lips.
Rose searched through a number of drawers and pulled out a sheet of paper.
When she strode back toward me, her expression was once again carved from ice.
She placed the paper on the counter and pushed it over to me—together with a silver pen.
"This is an Adventurer-Advisor contract," she said calmly.
"While it's the verbal agreement that really matters, this will ensure that our relationship is official—acknowledged and backed by the guild."
I picked up the pen and read through the document.
"Once I become your advisor," she continued. "Our paths will be intertwined—as will our careers."
She paused, waiting for me to meet her eyes again.
"It doesn't matter whether you die tomorrow, or if you become an adventurer on the highest level and complete the Last Quest—my name will be spoken of alongside yours for as long as people remember you."
Her expression hardened.
"I'm taking a gamble with you, Cain. My career is very important to me—so you better not even think about dying!"
I signed my own and Hestia's name in the brackets at the bottom of the document—then raised my head.
My lips curved into a smile.
"Didn't I tell you already?" I said. "I have no intention of dying anytime soon."
My voice softened.
"You will not regret this, Rose. I promise."
The woman's arms crossed over her chest as she studied me closely, her wolf tail coiling around her waist
"Just to be clear—so that there are no misunderstandings between us ," she said slowly. "I am now your advisor now, but that relationship is strictly professional."
Her eyes narrowed.
"I will not tolerate any funny business separate from what we've agreed upon here."
My brows raised as I took her in.
A small smile tugged on my lips.
"Of course," I said. "You'll see nothing of the sorts from me."
Her arms lowered to her side.
"Good," she said, nodding.
My eyes shifted to the side, attracted by the pink-haired guild employee doing her best to draw my attention.
Instead of doing her work, like she was supposed to, she was grinned at me—thumbs pointing to the ceiling.
This girl…
I suppressed a snort and turned back to Rose.
"How will this work exactly?" I asked. "There are… quiet a few things I need your advice on."
I glanced around the busy hall.
"I don't suppose the guild leaves you with much free time?"
"That will not be a problem," she answered, shaking her head. "Any time I spend advising you counts as working hours."
An amused spark ignited in her eyes.
"And if you need my aid while I'm otherwise occupied—I'm sure I'll find someone ready to cover for me."
A squawk echoed out from behind her.
Rose's gaze sharpened.
"But before we get to that…" she went on. "Show me your Falna."
I blinked.
"You mean… like right now?" I asked, tilting my head.
There were dozens of other people in the hall with us.
"I suppose things really do work differently here," I muttered. "I did have my suspicions based on the way people dress—"
"Wait!" Rose shouted. "Stop that!"
I froze, shirt halfway past my torso.
"I don't understand," I said. "Was that not what you wanted?"
She inhaled deeply—then released the breath through her nose.
"No," she said. "It wasn't. That was a test."
Her brows furrowed.
"By Ouranos… did your goddess really not teach you anything? Besides trusted guild employees and your own Familia… You don't show your Falna to anyone. Ever—and you certainly don't reveal it in public!"
I hummed, scanning the room.
While our exchange had not attracted too much attention, there were a few curious eyes directed at me.
"I see," I said.
Rose palmed her forehead.
"Just come with me," she muttered..
"The sooner we get some sense into that head of yours, the better."
——————
"That's … what?" Rose whispered.
I cast the werewolf a sidelong glance over my shoulder.
Her golden eyes were wide.
"Cain…did you lie to me?" she asked quietly.
I turned on the cushioned chair, meeting her gaze.
"Not once," I said. "Why? What's wrong?"
She studied me carefully.
"It's your stats," she said. "While only I rank, they're all above 40."
Where's she going with this?
"That's not possible after a single day in the Dungeon. It should have taken you weeks—at the very least—to reach this level," she continued.
"And those points in your magic stat…. You don't even have a spell!"
The corners of my mouth pulled upward.
The benefits of having an advisor were already showing themselves.
Hestia had been unsure of how exactly my growth compared to other adventurers.
"Can you not guess it?" I asked. "You've seen my Falna."
Her brows knitted together.
"Your skill—Morsalis," she said. "That's how."
"Yes."
"I see," Rose breathed, handing me the shirt I had placed on the table.
She took a seat on the couch opposite me and tapped her chin.
A slow smile pulled on her lips.
"So my gut feeling was right," she muttered. "You're just like her."
The smile drained from her face as her expression hardened.
"You must keep this a secret," she said sharply. "Tell no one that you possess this skill."
I tilted my head.
"Why not?"
Her shoulders dropped.
"I know you're new to Orario," she said. "But you need to understand that things work differently here. No matter what preconceptions you might have carried until now in regards to the gods and other adventurers—abandon them. If anyone who's not on your side finds out that a skill like Morsalis exists—and that you possess it—they will never leave you be."
My hands clenched.
It's happening again.
"They would try to kill me?" I asked slowly. "Just because of my skill?"
She hesitated for a moment.
"Some of them would, yes," she said. "But that's not what I was alluding to—most would simply try to recruit you... and there is only one answer they will accept."
She leaned back into her chair.
"We do our best, but the truth is—it's survival of the fittest in this city. As long as you're weaker than them, there will be little either of us can do to stop them."
A sigh escaped her as she watched my reaction.
"Don't worry about it too much," she continued. "As long as you keep a low profile and don't show off your Falna to anyone… you'll be fine."
She pursed her lips.
"Do you still not carry a weapon?"
"…I don't," I answered.
"I thought so," she said. "Stay put for a minute. I will be right back."
When she returned, she carried a sheathed dagger in her hand.
My gaze immediately locked onto the weapon as she crossed the distance between us.
"For as long as you remain a level 1, carrying a weapon with you every time you enter the Dungeon is non-negotiable," she said.
"The guild's rookie dagger might not be Hephaestus-level work… But it will suffice for now. We'll get you something better soon."
She placed the dagger on the wooden table and sat back down.
"What kind of weapon did you use before coming to Orario?" she asked.
If I had used any at all, I would have ended up here much sooner.
I cleared my throat.
"Unfortunately, I can't say I have much experience with using weaponry… of any kind."
Rose nodded.
"I figured as much," she said.
"You were entirely too comfortable going into the Dungeon while unarmed to be someone used to relying on a weapon."
I'm never unarmed.
"You're clearly a hand-to-hand combatant," she continued, leaning forward. "But, while that might have worked well for you outside of Orario—where the enemies you faced were mostly humans—Here, things are different."
Her expression darkened.
"Fighting monsters… it's an entirely different kind of battle."
Her eyes bore a hole into mine.
"The monsters you'll encounter in your career as an adventurer… they won't be like the one's on the upper floors. Their power will increase—and their weaknesses will decrease."
I nodded slowly.
"I don't doubt that," I said.
"What kind of weapon do you recommend?"
"A sword," she answered without hesitation.
"Why?"
She paused for a moment, searching for the right words.
"A sword is never the best at one single thing," she began. "A spear can pierce better. An axe can cut better. A dagger is the best for close-quarter combat," her gaze dropped to the weapon on the table. "However, swords are capable of all of them—their verstanden is unmatched." Her voice lowered. "If mastered to the highest level… they reign supreme over all other weapons."
She met my gaze again.
"If there is one weapon worth dedicating yourself to—it's the sword."
Silence settled between us as I traced the silver dagger with my eyes.
"Alright," I said, nodding. "A sword it is then."
I tilted my head.
"Where did you recommend I buy one," I asked. "And how much would it cost me?"
She hummed lightly.
"I'll accompany you to the shopping district as soon as possible—we'll make sure to find something suitable for you there." She shook her head. "And don't worry about the price. As long as it's reasonable, I will cover the balance."
A faint smile touched her lips.
"I'm your advisor now," she said softly. "As long as you honour your side of the contract, I will do my best to ensure the Dungeon will never catch you unprepared."
My eyes widened slightly as a lingering warmth spread through my chest.
I leaned forward.
"There is something else I've been meaning to ask," I said, my voice deepening. "Potions… what are they?"
Rose blinked once.
Then twice.
A deep sigh escaped her.
"I really have my work cut out for me, don't I?" she muttered.
Her eyes narrowed.
"Are you going to the Dungeon today?" she asked sharply.
"No," I replied, taken back. "I'm taking the day off."
"Very well," she said, nodding.
"From now on, you will meet me here every morning. No exceptions. If you enter the Dungeon that day—we devise a strategy together. If you're taking a break—I will teach you everything I know about the Dungeon and life as an adventurer in general."
She fixed me with a stern stare.
"Understood?" she asked.
My lips curved slightly.
"I understand," I said.
"Good. Now, potions are…"
————-
"…and then there are the elves. They're a race of people with pointy ears and an extraordinarily long lifespan compared to other mortals. They're also naturally gifted when it comes to magic, and they really don't like to leave their forests."
Hestia stiffened on my chest.
"However," she added quickly. "Don't be fooled by their appearance! They really aren't very pleasant to be around for you humans." Her voice lowered. "You're better off avoiding them whenever possible… especially the female ones."
I raised a brow.
"Why," I asked. "Are they that dangerous?"
"Elves stand amongst the most powerful of all mortal races," she said slowly. "So they could appear dangerous to regular humans—but that's not the biggest issue with them."
She hesitated.
"They're a very proud people, which makes them look down on the other races—to the point they refuse physical contact with anyone not an elves." She snorted. "Many of them even see themselves as just a step below us gods."
My brows furrowed.
That sounded familiar.
"What about those in a Familia?," I asked. "It's up to the god who joins and who doesn't. They'll be forced to interact with others eventually."
Hestia nestled her head closer against my body.
"Those who join Familias are usually the most tolerant of their kind," she said. "They wouldn't have left their forest to to come here if they weren't."
"I see." I muttered. "Thank you for answering my questions, goddess."
I glanced up at the cloudless sky.
"This world really is something else," I continued. "Completely different from my old one."
I leaned back into the grass and swept my gaze across the city park.
The sun stood high in the air.
The radiant light emitted by the star reflected in Hestia's clear blue eyes as she nibbled at the corner of a cream-filled Crêpe.
Her head drifted from where it rested on my stomach as she hummed a soft tune.
I did not recognize the melody.
"Say, how do you feel about recruiting some more members for our family?" I asked. "It will take some time until we reach that point—but I was told every Dungeon exploration-type Familia needs to expand in size eventually to compete."
Hestia stilled.
"I do like the idea of more children to bond with," she said, lowering the Crêpe from her lips. "But… I think I would prefer it if if it was just us two for a bit longer."
I raised my thumb and brushed away some of the cream lingering at the corners of her mouth.
"I agree," I said.
A smile spread across my my face as I licked my finger clean.
Her cheeks flushed.
"You know, I've been wondering," I said. "What does an immortal goddess do in her free time."
I wonder how old she is.
"What do you like to do?"
The blush faded as she tilted her head to the side, meeting my gaze.
Her breath brushed against my face.
"I like to read!" she said.
My smile brightened.
"As do I!" I said. "What do you read about?"
Hestia turned until the back of her head lay flat on my stomach again.
"Anything, really," she said slowly. "The creativity of mortal never fails to amaze me. Stories of romance. Adventure. Heroism—I love them all."
My smile faltered.
"Heroism, huh?" I whispered.
A furrow carved between my brows as I peered down at her.
"I've been meaning to ask this since yesterday…" I said. "What does it mean to be a Hero in this world?"
Hestia blinked.
"What it means to be a hero?" she repeated.
"Well…" she said, chewing on her bottom lip. "A Hero is someone who is noble. Someone who spreads hope and inspires people with their actions."
Her voice picked up.
"Whenever a monster threatens the world, Heroes put themselves between it and the innocent—even if it costs them their life."
She smiled brightly.
"That is what it means to be a hero!"
A tight knot coiled in my chest.
"I see," I muttered.
Hestia perked up, seating herself next to me.
"I also have a question for you!" she said, leaning closer. "What was it that made you want to be an adventurer? What are you're fighting for?"
I held her gaze for a moment—then shifted my eyes toward the sky.
A deep breath escaped me as I came to a decision.