7 Chapter 07 - Joining the Hestia Family!
Chapter Size: 1865 Words
Lucius POV -
Abandoned Church.
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---Information---
• Name: Lucius Drakenar
• Family/Falna: [Blocked]
• Nickname: Loser/Useless Family Member/Calabash Bum (New).
---Status---
• Strength: I60 -> 62
• Endurance: I72 -> 75
• Dexterity: I65 -> 67
• Agility: I85 ->86
• Magic: I30 -> 55
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Upon hearing Hestia's declaration, I went back to sleep. When I woke up again, the first thing I did was ignore Hestia's gaze on me for the past 10 minutes. Her eyes gleamed with greed, as if she were in front of a diamond or something. I know my worth and potential, but that look bothered me in a certain way.
Taking my eyes off this Goddess, I opened my Status screen in front of me to see how I had fared since the last update.
Going to the dungeon for the first time after acquiring my system, I noticed two extremes. While I gained 55 points in magic as the stat that evolved the most, on the other hand, in physical stats, I increased only 4 or 5 points at most. Considering that I practically only used magic, this is understandable. I realized that evolving these stats, even gaining very few points in some time, was great—a good sign that I can reach Level 2 more easily than I imagined. If I focus on my physical stats as well, I might even reach S-rank like Bell if I put in more effort than he does.
Someone gave me a nickname yesterday as [Calabash Bum (New)], someone I'd love to launch a firebolt at, since nicknames are permanent in the system.
Opening other screens, I noted the results for spending 3 hours in the dungeon.
[Mission 10,000 Firebolts: Cast 10,000 Firebolts! | {Progress 365/10,000} | {Reward: The user can Cast Spells Without Incantation.}]
[System Points: 3,245]
Not bad. If I plan to work in the dungeon for 6 hours a day, I'll have double these gains. Maybe I can stick to a 9-hour shift on the middle floors, accumulating even more points! Bell will level up in about 20 days, and I won't lag behind. I believe I can complete the Firebolt mission and get a 100,000-point spell. The healing spell seems very appealing, and I really want to get it as it seems quite useful.
I should also increase my level without drawing attention. I can still blend in when my level increases, as I've been an adventurer for 2 years and don't really need a family and falna if I choose. But in case my old God notices, he'll definitely draw attention to me.
"LUCIUS-KUN! LUCIUS-KUN!"
Even though there's a Goddess in front of me trying to get my attention and invite me to join her family at the moment, I'm focused on looking at the invisible screens. I ignore her.
However, I'm thinking about it now, considering the possible scenarios in Orario. It might be better for me to have a family backing me up, and my old God might accuse me of something if I show myself getting stronger without having a family. Whatever it is, he'll make up something when he finds out that I'm going to the dungeon when I have no registered falna or family. I don't want to draw attention to myself in that way.
Believe me, living here for two years before the Canon makes you learn that this city is darker and more perverse than shown in the anime. You discover that Gods like Hestia are rare, and most of them see you as nothing more than a pawn or a toy to pass the time in the mortal world.
Sighing, I looked at the Loli who was observing me and giving a speech that I honestly didn't listen to while I was focused on the invisible screens. She must think I'm thinking, as I kept my eyes so fixed on nothing in front of me.
"...So together, we'll create a great family, and I'll surpass that Loki idiot!! HAHAHAHAHA." She was in the middle of her speech while laughing like a maniac. But I smiled a bit at the antics of this little Goddess, and I decided to speak up for the first time.
"Do you really want me in your family?" I said without expression. Knowing her, if she really wants me to join her family, it means she trusts me with her divine senses. When she heard my sudden question, she couldn't help but shout.
"YES!" She jumped and exclaimed while Bell was cooking something for us to eat as the first meal of the day.
Looking at the excited Goddess, I thought about a few things and laid out my terms.
"So, swear that you won't reveal any information about me or ask about me, make an oath that I won't be treated as your plaything and that you'll let me decide how I'll act in the dungeon, whether alone or with Bell, of course, as long as I don't commit any crimes, and I'll help the family in any matter they need within my capabilities." I stated my terms directly.
"That..." She was surprised by my terms. Even Bell looked at me with his mouth wide open, pondering the great mystery that I am to them. But Hestia, analyzing my terms, found them quite reasonable. I seem to be somewhat special as her divine senses must be telling her right now.
"For as much as I would like you to form a fixed team with Bell-Kun, you seem like the type who prefers to be alone. But as long as you help him when needed, I can trust you. I promise to honor your terms," she finally said, but words alone aren't enough; I need concrete proof.
"These are just words, Goddess Hestia. I need a document for this, like a contract. I apologize for this, but these are my conditions," I said firmly.
"Ah!? Alright then!" So, taking a sheet that would be used in the falna from a corner of the church, she used her Arcanum on the sheet. It shone like in the anime when Bell was in danger before the Mutant Goliath invaded the eighteenth floor.
I was surprised that she had the ability to create a contract so easily.
When she finished shining, the contract was made, and she handed it to me. I quickly took the contract when it stopped glowing and began to read. Hestia is a very honest and sincere Goddess, and that was reflected in the contract where one would expect various clauses and topics. Still, the paper basically boiled down to my terms, with a drawing of Hestia's smiling face in one corner of the sheet, marking her seal.
I was again surprised at how she did this in just 1 minute, but she's a Goddess; it must be normal, even though her behavior is often so childlike.
"Before we sign this, I have some things to tell you. I was expelled from my previous family over a week ago. Do you still really want me to join your family?" I asked curiously.
"Why were you expelled?" She was shocked because to be expelled from a family, you had to do something very, very serious. Even Bell had eyes the size of two tennis balls when he heard this; he didn't know that detail, but I'm sure he thinks I'm a reasonable person.
"I've always been talented, but my growth rate was always limited until recently. My old God didn't look kindly on it, so I had my falna removed. There's a possibility that I might not grow in your family either. You should think about it before making a hasty decision," I said, looking directly into her blue eyes.
"Is that... YES, I ACCEPT!" She said determinedly, clenching her fists as if making the right decision.
"That's it??" I asked in shock at how easily she accepted.
"Because you're not lying!" She said firmly.
Gods can distinguish truth from lies. Even though I unlocked the limit of my potential yesterday, I didn't lie when I talked about the possibility of not growing even though I can still stop my level from increasing if I never go back to the dungeon, right? So, I didn't lie!
I said that to test her; I wanted to see her determination regarding me because I've met some Gods that made me rethink how everything isn't as colorful as it was shown in that anime.
"Another thing, I'm doing this as a test, but there's a possibility you may not be able to put a falna in me," I said, surprising her.
"How?? Why?" She asked.
"Because I no longer need a falna; I can evolve and level up without a God constantly updating my Status. I can do it without a God's help," I said sincerely, as I have the system, I'm not sure how it would react to Hestia's blood.
"EHHHHHH!" Bell exclaimed next to her.
"IS THAT POSSIBLE??" She screamed hysterically.
"As I said, I'm special and wanted you to create the contract for this. We'll sign it even if I can't have your falna. I represent the Hestia family even without your falna," I finally said where I wanted to go.
Bell was still shocked, but Hestia seemed to accept my words with an open mouth, just nodding.
"OK!" She said as she picked up the sheets again and signed them. I took my part and signed as well; then the sheets glowed and disappeared, and the contract was done, something not even the Gods can break.
Bell had heard all of this without any contract, but I didn't mind much. He may be naive at times, but he's still protective of his family's secrets and knows how important it is.
Now that we had our terms, I went to the couch where I lay down after removing my top. Hestia also didn't seem to want to waste time and, with a pin, pricked her finger to draw blood. I watched curiously to see what would happen next.
When I felt her blood, a notification quickly appeared in front of me.
[Falna Detected!] [Linking to Hestia...!] [ERROR! Falna is Being Forced...!] [ERROR! Falna from Goddess Hestia...] [ERROR CORRECTED... ABSORBING HESTIA'S FALNA!]
"What is this!!??" Hestia cried out behind me.
"Did you see that too?" I asked a little surprised by the messages.
"Yes, several messages, and I saw your past..." She said cautiously on the last part, and I quickly looked at her with somewhat cold eyes.
"Don't say anything about that. I don't want to hear anything about my life before Orario!" I snapped at her, something very improper to say to a Goddess, but I couldn't help it when anger took hold of me. She looked at me still cautiously.
"I didn't receive your falna directly, but I'm still connected to you in some way..." I said after a sigh, trying to change the subject.
"I noticed that too...HAHA," she said with a nervous laugh.
Bell just watched without saying much; there was a lot going on there for him to process quickly. Getting off my back, I looked at the Status screen and the one line that had changed.
• Family/Falna: [!Hestia!]
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