Chapter 420 - How strong am I? (Patreon)

Hearing Hestia’s question, I didn’t quite know what to say. If I told her I had zero experience, what would she say?

Hestia kept staring at me for a few seconds and then said, “It looks like I was right; you don’t have any experience.” After sighing, she continued, “Alright, I’ll help you with that.”

Hearing her words, I was very surprised.

Why had she changed her mind so suddenly?

“You must be wondering why I changed my mind so suddenly, right? Well, it’s because you really seem to like Luan, so...” She scratched her cheek and said, “I thought it would be wrong to stop you from getting close to him.”

“I get that, but why help me all of a sudden?”

“Don’t you want help?”

“Well, yes...”

“But honestly, the only thing I need to do is make it clear that you want to have sex with him and ask him to take you to his room. He’ll do it without a second thought; Luan is the type of guy who thinks with his dick first.”

I was shocked to hear her say that. I knew Luan was a womanizer, but I didn’t know he was that way... “You mean he’ll have sex with any woman who approaches him?” I asked Hestia.

“Hmmm...” After thinking for a moment, she replied, “Actually, I don’t think so. He only hooks up with very beautiful women like you. I don’t recall Luan ever being with a woman I’d consider... plain? Maybe Ishtar?”

After saying that, Hestia covered her mouth with her hands. She realized she’d said something she shouldn’t have.

However...

“Don’t worry, I already know about his relationship with Ishtar.”

“How did you find out?”

“I have some contacts.”

“I see.”

“But I disagree; Ishtar is a very beautiful woman. Her personality is just a bit...” I sighed. “Well, whatever.”

“Do you want me to do it now? Talk to Luan.”

“Now!?” I said loudly. “Not now! I’m not ready for something like that. I honestly think it’s better to get close to him gradually… I think you shouldn’t talk to him for the time being.”

“So you’re turning down my help…”

“I’m not turning down your help; I just asked you to wait a bit. Give me two weeks; in two weeks, I’ll make him fall in love with me and make a move on me.”

Hestia sighed and said, “Fine, fine. And your boobs—didn’t that work?” Hestia glanced at my deep cleavage.

I buttoned up my shirt and remained silent.

Hestia smiled and said, “I told you he was crazy about my boobs and that yours wouldn’t turn him on.”

'I feel like punching her.'

####

POV: Luan

As soon as I left the tower, I went straight into the dungeon. I took the “Black Dragon” sword out of my inventory, and it immediately began to speak. [What is it? Going to explore the dungeon again today? I was already starting to miss it.]

‘I just want to have a little fun. I’m a little excited, so I want to burn off some energy.’

[Because of that woman? She was clearly trying to seduce you. You should have attacked her. I’m sure she wouldn’t have rejected your advances.]

‘Well, I preferred not to do that today. I want to build a relationship with her.’

I don’t want my relationship with Hephaestus to be like my relationship with Ishtar, a sexual relationship without much “passion” involved. Ishtar loves me, but I don’t love her.

If I start getting sexually involved with Hephaestus, I’ll probably fall in love with her over time, since she is a woman more worthy than Ishtar. But I think it’s better to build a relationship before we reach that point.

[I understand… But I think you’re overthinking it. You wasted a good opportunity.]

‘I’ll be seeing her many times from now on.’

We mostly talked about my books, but I mentioned that I wanted to learn about blacksmithing. Well, Hephaestus didn’t pay much attention to that, but she’ll probably become interested in my skills as soon as I forge something in front of her.

I have a lot of knowledge stored in my mind, even where to find a large amount of ore.

So, I started running through the dungeon at full speed. First floor, second, and so on. I passed by many groups of adventurers who probably couldn’t even see me.

They probably only felt the wind I produced as I ran past them.

Before I even realized it, I had already reached Rivira.

“I think this is a new record.” I smiled as I looked at the city in the distance.

[Why are you doing this? You could simply teleport to the 45th floor and continue exploring.]

“As I said before, I just want to burn off some energy. Doing this is fun.”

[If you say so…]

The Black Dragon then fell silent and didn’t say anything else.

I didn’t stop in the city. I continued running and descended to the 19th floor. Shortly afterward, I reached the 20th.

The speed at which I descended through the floors was frighteningly fast. Probably not even Ottar or Ais’s group could do something like this. With a smile on my face, I stopped on the 30th floor.

‘A Juggernaut didn’t spawn on this floor?’ My memories are very good. This definitely happened.

The Astraea Familia…

As soon as the Astraea Familia came to mind, I remembered Ryuu Lion. I’ve already encountered her many times, but I’ve never gotten very close to her. And she doesn’t seem to have much interest in me either.

‘I should try talking to her later.’

But, of course, I won’t mention that tragic past.

With a smile on my face, I began exploring the 30th floor. Just as it was described in the novel, I encountered dinosaur-like monsters here and there, but I killed them with relative ease using the “Black Dragon.”

I didn’t even need to use any skills for that.

I wonder how strong I am at the moment.

Stronger than a Level 7 adventurer? Am I Level 8? Have I reached an immeasurable level of strength?

I’m not sure.