Chapter 4 - Complex (Patreon)

When Hestia heard Kael’s words, she was at a loss for words. She stared at him for a few seconds before speaking.

“You don’t even know what my proposal is.”

Hearing that, Kael smiled.

“You were going to ask me to join your Familia, weren’t you?” Kael said.

Hestia nodded.

“And I accept your proposal.”

“...” Hestia remained silent for a few more seconds before finally saying, “Well, I guess that settles it?”

She genuinely had no idea how to react to the situation, since she hadn’t expected it to be this easy.

Kael, who knew Hestia well, said, “Don’t worry. You can trust me. I want to join your Familia, and I won’t do anything to disappoint you.” Kael was being sincere.

He considered himself a good person. He had never done anything to disappoint anyone, although that had never brought him any benefits in life.

“You’re only making me more worried by saying things like that.”

“You know I’m not lying.” Kael smiled.

“Fine. If you really want to join my Familia, follow me. We’ll talk a little along the way. I want to know where you came from. You just arrived in Orario, didn’t you?”

Kael and Hestia continued walking slowly through Orario as they talked. Kael told Hestia everything about his village, his previous job, and how he had ended up there.

After hearing his story, Hestia asked, “Won’t that be a problem? Don’t you need to go back?”

“It’s fine. I don’t need to return.”

“Won’t they come looking for you?”

“Why would they? I’m just a laborer from the village. Nobody there really cares about me. The only people who did are dead.”

Hestia sighed and said, “I hope you’re right. We’ll reach my Familia’s home soon.”

“Am I the first member of your Familia?”

“Hm? No. There’s another member.”

Kael was quite surprised to hear that.

‘So the story has already begun. Bell is already part of the Hestia Familia.’

Actually, Kael didn’t know whether the original story would still be followed. Now that he was there, the timeline had probably changed.

Kael didn’t want to think too much about it.

It was complicated, and it would only give him a headache.

A few minutes later, they arrived at a church that looked abandoned.

‘It looks different from what I saw in the anime. It seems bigger and a little more… run-down.’

He stood frozen, staring at the structure. Hestia noticed Kael examining the church and panicked.

“Please don’t change your mind! We’re planning to move soon. We’re looking for a better place to live. This is just temporary housing. Hahaha!”

Hestia smiled bitterly, and Kael smiled back.

“It’s fine. I don’t mind. I used to live somewhere much worse than this.”

Huff~~

Hestia sighed in relief.

The two entered the church, and Kael followed Hestia toward the secret basement where they lived. Once inside, he saw a room with an old sofa, a small table, and several other worn-out pieces of furniture.

Besides that room, there was a bathroom and only one bedroom.

“This is…”

“I’m sorry if it’s a little messy.”

“Don’t worry. It’s fine. But can three people really live in such a small place?”

“Of course! We have a bedroom and the sofa. It’ll be fine.”

“I see.”

“All right. I’ve learned a lot about you while we were talking, so I think it’s time to give you my Falna. But I’ll ask you one more time: are you really sure about this?”

Kael heard her and calmly replied, “Yes, absolutely.”

Kael would have preferred to start out in the Loki Familia, a powerful Familia, but he felt that starting out in the Hestia Familia could be fun.

It was a small Familia with enormous potential because of Bell’s presence.

‘It’ll be fun to take this Familia to the top.’

Kael was treating the whole thing like a game.

Hestia smiled and said, “All right. Now, take off your shirt.”

“Huh?”

“Take off your shirt and lie down on the sofa. It’ll be easier that way.”

“Oh, right.”

Kael took off his shirt, and Hestia was quite surprised by his muscles. She was genuinely impressed.

“You said you worked lifting heavy things, right? That explains why your physique is so incredible.”

“I also work out in my spare time.” Kael smiled and lay down on the sofa.

Not long afterward, Kael officially became a member of the Hestia Familia.

He hoped he wouldn’t regret it in the future.

####

As soon as Kael received his Falna, he opened his status to see if anything had changed. And indeed, something had.

Name: Kael

Title: Teleporter

Familia: Hestia

Level: 1

Strength (STR): I 10

Endurance (END): I 10

Dexterity (DEX): I 10

Agility (AGI): I 10

Magic (MAG): I 10

Abilities: Teleportation (EX) LV1 / Swordsmanship LV1

The Hestia Familia was now displayed in his status.

‘My Falna and my status are connected, just as I predicted. I’ll progress just like an adventurer in this world.’

Kael didn’t dislike that arrangement. After all, he liked the leveling system in the world of DanMachi.

It wasn’t too complicated.

Kael smiled and said, “Now I’m finally part of a Familia.”

Hestia smiled at him and said, “I hope you give it your all, but please be very careful inside the Dungeon. It’s a dangerous place. You should ask Bella to help you with your first expedition.”

“Bella?” Kael asked, confused by the name.

“Yes, Bella, the other member of our Familia. She’s exploring the Dungeon right now. She’ll be surprised when she finds out we have a new member.”

“She?” Kael murmured.

“Hm? Is something wrong?”

“Oh, no. It’s nothing. Sorry.”

“She should be back soon. She can be a little rude sometimes, but please don’t get upset with her.”

“Don’t worry. I’m used to dealing with that kind of person.”

Kael was still in shock.

What did she mean Bell was called Bella in this world?

Had the timeline he had entered really changed that much? He certainly hadn’t expected something like this.

Kael was incredibly curious.

‘Is this version of Bell Zeus’s granddaughter?’

He smiled.

Hestia saw his smile and thought, ‘Was this really a good idea? Did I act too impulsively because I was so eager to recruit someone? But he seems like a good person…’

Hestia hoped she wouldn’t regret bringing Kael into her Familia.