Chapter 13: Why Is There Also the Will of the Overlord Here?! (Patreon)

Orario didn't have much of a nightlife to speak of, and after today's Dungeon exploration, all Rozz wanted was to get everything sorted out.

And then... Get a proper rest, and while he was at it, test whether this body's recovery speed matched what he'd guessed back in the Dungeon.

But watching the petite goddess walking ahead of him, thoughtfully taking care of everything for him—Rozz pulled the coin pouch full of valis from his pocket and held it out to her. "Lady Hestia, here's today's earnings."

"Ehh?"

Hestia reflexively took what her Familia member handed her, but the moment she heard the coins clinking inside the pouch—she turned her head, her eyes filled with nothing but confusion.

"What is this for?"

"I just felt... you've helped me a lot these past few days."

Rozz's reasoning was simple enough — as tempting as it was to live off a pretty petite goddess, he couldn't just take her generosity for granted.

Really—Even now, he still found it a little... hard to believe. Thinking about it with a modern mindset, the relationship between a god and their Familia was supposed to be mutually beneficial.

But right now he was like some mythical beast that only ate and never gave anything back, while Hestia kept pouring everything into him.

The values his schooling had drilled into him told him some things just weren't right to do. "Equipment, lodging, daily expenses... you've provided all of it."

"So..."

"I'm planning to hand over whatever I earn from future Dungeon runs to you, Lady Hestia, and have these daily expenses deducted directly from it."

"..."

Hestia looked up at the earnest expression on the boy's face; she could clearly tell this sincerity came straight from the heart.

Rozz didn't want to be a burden.

Of course she understood that feeling — but to her, it was precisely this kind of consideration that mattered more than anything else.

"Rozz..."

"Just keep this money for yourself!" Hestia's smile was especially bright. "If you really want to thank me..."

"There's one way."

"Hmm?"

"Leave the future growth of the Hestia Familia entirely up to you!"

Hestia's smile turned especially gentle as she raised an eyebrow. "Your most important task right now is to properly grow stronger."

"That's quite a heavy responsibility, you know."

"..."

"Besides, I think what an Adventurer ought to focus on is exploring properly and growing stronger — not trying to live up to... some god's expectations."

"Do your best!"

"..."

Rozz looked at the pretty petite goddess before him, knowing full well her words were purely meant to comfort him. But then he thought of the promise between them.

"The Familia's future growth... depends on me?"

Suuure, whatever...

But faced with Hestia's expectant gaze, there was no way he could bring himself to refuse. "I'll work toward that goal."

"...But from now on, if you ever need money, Lady Hestia, you have to tell me."

"Affection +3"

Looking at the notification that popped up from the "Hero Cloud-Raising Plan," Hestia felt quite pleased with herself. She picked up the bento and started walking ahead.

"Let's go!"

"Let's head home and eat first~"

—

Inside a room in the communal dormitory.

Hestia set out the takeout food she'd brought back on the table. The two of them sat facing each other, and though it was a simple dinner, it carried an indescribable warmth.

"Rozz."

Even while eating, the petite goddess didn't forget to keep an eye on her Familia member's state of mind — though her words came out a little garbled around her food.

"Is tomorrow's plan still to explore?"

"That's right."

For the foreseeable future at least, Rozz planned to spend his days in the Dungeon — the monsters he killed each day would bring in enough to cover expenses.

Most importantly—The strength he gained would be entirely his own, unlike his past life, where he'd worked himself to the bone on a brutal nine-to-nine, six-day schedule, all just to buy his boss a mansion.

He thought it over for a moment. "Exploring the Dungeon isn't actually as hard as I imagined. Maybe... that's why people become Adventurers."

"I feel like I've got endless Stamina during fights — I only start feeling tired once it's all over."

At the mention of "Stamina," Hestia blinked. She knew perfectly well — by the end of today's exploration, Rozz's Stamina had dropped all the way down to just 3.

As for the rest—a bold suspicion took shape in her mind: could this be some special change the "Hero Cloud-Raising Plan" was bringing about in Rozz...?

Simply becoming an Adventurer wouldn't make someone as unusual as Rozz.

"Um..."

Once the petite goddess finished off her dinner, she decided to change the subject. "Um... do you want to rest a little, like we did yesterday?"

"Eh?"

"We already tried it yesterday, remember?" Hestia blinked her deep blue eyes, feeling like teasing Rozz was somehow a lot of fun.

"A lap pillow!"

"Didn't you find it comfortable?"

"..."

A lap pillow from a pretty petite goddess?

Rozz remembered the softness from yesterday. He had to admit that Hestia's invitation was... genuinely hard to refuse.

"Then... if you don't mind, Lady Hestia."

...

"Stamina +15"

"Affection +2"

Looking at the notification popping up from the "Hero Cloud-Raising Plan," Rozz saw not only his Affection rise but his fatigue ease a bit as well.

Only... Hestia had a nagging feeling that the rate of Stamina recovery was slowing down. So, should she reward him some other way from now on?

"Hah..."

"This kid... he really worked hard today."

Feeling Rozz's steady breathing, the petite goddess reached out and gently stroked his cheek, tenderness nearly spilling over.

Time slipped by.

Hestia stayed in that lap-pillow position, and only once she was sure Rozz was sleeping soundly did she carefully get up.

Before leaving, she didn't forget to tuck the blanket in around him.

"Tomorrow... do your best too."

"Good night."

—

By the time Rozz's mind gradually cleared into wakefulness, Hestia was long gone from the room. He sat up and looked out the window.

The sky had just begun to lighten.

All he could say was—thanks to yesterday's intense Dungeon exploration, combined with the fact that this DanMachi world had no other nightlife to speak of, Rozz had slept unusually soundly.

"..."

Rozz stood up and stretched a little, and the fatigue from the Dungeon exploration had completely vanished. The most ridiculous part was—his muscles had been aching fiercely.

But after last night's rest, that soreness had completely disappeared!

"Don't tell me I actually have a cheat ability?"

"..."

After a quick wash-up, Rozz put on his Adventurer gear, checked his Adventurer's Shortsword and armor, and once he confirmed everything was in order, he pushed open the door.

Everything around was quiet; the other Adventurers were still asleep.

Trying not to make too much noise, he left the communal dormitory. By the time he reached Adventurer Street, the sky in the distance had just begun to turn the pale color of dawn.

If he were to describe it in the words of an idol from his past life—

"Have you ever seen Orario at 4 a.m.? Mamba out!"

"Hope I can make it to the third floor today."

Out of habit, Rozz started mapping out today's exploration plan, aiming to earn a bit more valis and ease the burden on Hestia.

But—as he walked along Adventurer Street and passed a rather secluded alley, his gaze couldn't help but catch what was happening up ahead...

"Will of the Tyrant"

Turns out this world wasn't quite as friendly as he'd imagined.

Especially—when Rozz's gaze swept past the adult Adventurers and landed on the victim cornered against the wall — someone wearing a Supporter's backpack.

The little girl's face looked somewhat familiar.

It was Lili, the little girl from yesterday who'd asked at Central Park whether he needed a Supporter and had briefly given him a rundown on the nearby floors.