Chapter 12 - Has his talent disappeared? (Patreon)

POV: Third Person

While Ais's group explored the Dungeon, a busty goddess was lying on the couch when, all of a sudden, someone stepped through the door to the room beneath an abandoned church.

The newcomer was a girl with a modest chest, crimson eyes, and long silver hair.

The moment she saw the goddess lying there, she asked, "Goddess, what are you doing?"

"Hm?" The goddess, who had been staring blankly at the ceiling, turned to look at her.

"Nothing... I'm just hungry."

Her stomach growled immediately afterward.

The silver-haired girl smiled and lifted a bag.

"I brought fried chicken and rice. Is that good enough for you?"

"What?" The goddess sprang to her feet, her eyes sparkling.

"Give it to me! Give it to me!"

She rushed over and snatched the bag from the silver-haired girl's hands.

"Calm down. The food isn't going anywhere." The girl smiled, brushing back her silver hair. "I'm going to take a shower before I eat. Leave me some chicken, okay?"

"Don't worry, Bella. I'm not that greedy!"

The goddess declared this with a piece of fried chicken already stuffed into her mouth.

Bella headed to the tiny bathroom and undressed. After washing away the dust and blood covering her body, she returned to the living room only to find the chicken box completely empty, with nothing left but a little rice.

The goddess was lying comfortably on the couch, gently rubbing her stomach.

"That was so good~ So good~"

Bella forced a bitter smile.

"What would people think if I told them that the goddess Hestia eats all the food and leaves her Familia members hungry? Do you think anyone would still want to join the Hestia Familia?"

"Urgh!"

Hestia groaned and opened her eyes.

Bella was staring directly at her.

After the two of them looked at each other for a few seconds, Hestia finally spoke.

"I'm sorry..."

"Don't worry. I already ate before coming home. It was all for you," Bella said with a smile.

Contrary to her words, however, her stomach ached with hunger.

"I already told you not to lie to me," Hestia replied, visibly bothered.

"It's fine. We'll use some of the money we've been saving and buy you something to eat. We can spare it. You need to eat!"

"Okay, but just a little. And don't worry. I'll go back into the Dungeon tomorrow and work even harder. I'll earn a lot of money."

Bella said it confidently, despite being nothing more than a Level 1 adventurer.

Seeing Bella's forced smile made Hestia's heart ache, and tears welled up in her eyes.

"Don't worry. I'm sure things will get better soon!"

Bella had been waiting for things to get better ever since she joined the Hestia Familia months ago.

But they never had.

'I wonder if I'll ever reach Level 2.'

Her growth was painfully slow, and they were constantly short on money.

On top of that, no one wanted to join the Hestia Familia to help them.

It was a miserable situation.

Sigh...

Letting out a long breath, Bella imagined a giant cake sitting in front of her.

'I really want something sweet.'

She thought as her empty stomach continued to ache.

####

Meanwhile, at the Loki Familia's manor, Loki was in her room when someone knocked on the door.

"Come in," she said.

Riveria entered.

As soon as she stepped inside, she spoke.

"They've already left. Rui went with them again."

"So he really went, huh? What's gotten into him?"

"I don't know. I haven't spoken with him yet, but Ais said he suddenly changed. He's become much more interested in the Dungeon and in fighting. He also asked Ais to teach him how to use a sword."

"That Rui asked Ais to teach him? Are you sure?"

"Yes. That's what she told me. They trained together yesterday."

"And?"

"Ais said he has some talent with the sword as well."

"What a frightening kid."

Loki smiled.

"To think that not long ago I wanted to kick him out of the Familia. It's good that he's changed."

"Even considering something like that was insane."

Riveria looked at Loki seriously.

"Rui's talent is exceptional. Regardless of how he acts, he's the fastest adventurer to ever reach Level 3."

"But he's been stuck at Level 3 for years. He got complacent."

"Well... you're right."

Riveria sighed.

"He's not an easy person to deal with."

"But now that he's changed and wants to grow stronger again, I don't have any reason to think about expelling him anymore. Keep me updated on him. I'll talk to him myself later."

"Understood."

"Oh, and tell Ais to be careful around him. He might try to take advantage of her somehow."

Loki was well aware of Rui's reputation.

After all, he belonged to her Familia.

"You know perfectly well that Ais won't be manipulated by someone like him. It's much more likely that Tiona would fall for his charms."

Riveria said it jokingly, completely unaware that Tiona and Rui were already in a romantic relationship.

"Hm..."

Loki simply hummed before falling silent.

Riveria said her goodbye and left the room.

Loki walked over to the window and looked toward the Tower.

"It's almost time to update their Falna. I wonder if Rui's status has changed this time."

She let out a quiet sigh.

"Well, if he only changed the way he acts a few days ago, there's no way his Falna has improved that much..."

A smile spread across her face.

"But I'm looking forward to seeing what the future holds."

Loki believed that if Rui truly applied himself, he could one day reach Ais's level—or perhaps even surpass her.

He had the potential to become one of Orario's strongest adventurers.

"That is... if his talent hasn't disappeared completely."

That was one of the reasons she had considered expelling him from the Familia.

She feared that all of his extraordinary talent had simply vanished.

His status had barely changed in years.

It was possible that he had truly hit a wall and could no longer grow stronger.

Something that had never happened before...

But Loki wasn't willing to dismiss the possibility.

After all, not even the gods knew everything about this world.