Hey! Up in the sky! Its a bird! No its a plane!

Keres looked at at Hephaestus with a apologetic smile. He went on to explain how he arrived at the city and the lie he told the guard captain. Throughout his whole explanation Hephaestus did not interject and just listened. "It seems I created a fake father for the masses to know about."

Hephaestus sat into a couch while sighing. "Why didn't you just say you were an orphan from the get go?"

At this moment in front of Keres two options appeared in front of Keres eyes.

Option 1: Tell Hephaestus the truth about yourself

Reward:

-x1 random skill book shall appear in your storage

*Outcome*

Unknown.

Option 2: Continue to lie

Reward:

-x1 random skill book shall appear in your storage

*Outcome*

Unknown.

After reading both Keres sighed inwardly as he noticed a timer appeared with eight seconds on the clock.

(Dam god sure is stingy. I wonder what happens if I just choose to do nothing? Store that question for later.)

"Hephaestus-senpai would you believe me if I told you I reincarnated to this world from another one and just woke up in the middle of the woods?" Keres asked his goddess with a straight look. Hearing his question Hephaestus was stunned for a few seconds. After contemplating on his words for a bit in silence. She realized she felt extremely happy that her student confided in her.

Hephaestus walked up and pulled Keres into an embrace. "So is the reason why you walk like an old man is because you were actually one before you reincarnated here?" Keres was surprised as it has been a while since he received such a warm embrace.

"Yes." Keres said as he hugged Hephaestus back. This brought a smile to her face as she hugged him a bit tighter.

"By they way no matter how old you may be your still a child compared to me. ~hehe." Hephaestus said in a teasing tone.

(If only you knew.)

"Would you like to know about the world I came from?"

"Only if you want to tell me. If not don't worry about it." Hephaestus was a bit curious but she felt that knowing such things were not necessary for her.

"It would be a funny sight to see those familias waste so much resources trying to find your father." Hephaestus said as she released Keres.

"hehe. I think so to Hephaestus-senpai." Keres said as he seperated from their embrace.

"Relax for the next few days until Tsubaki gets back."

"I actually wanted to head into the dungeon."

Seeing Hephaestus glare at him again. Keres was about to take back his words. When Hephaestus ran towards him faster than he can keep up with. Reappearing out to grab his head. To her surprise just as she was about to clasp her hands on his head. Keres ducked and strike towards her neck with his hand. Stopping his strike just before it hit.

He looked up at her and smiled. "I may be out of practice a bit but I'm not completely new to fighting." Just as he finished speaking he noticed that Hephaestus was no longer in front of him anymore as he felt his head being gripped.

"Hmph! Not bad with your current speed you should be able to keep up with the monsters in the first twelve floors. Just don't go past those and you'll be fine." Hephaestus shook her hand to the left and right. "Also as you just saw you couldn't keep up with me despite your ability to teleport. If I wanted to kill you I could've before you would be able to react."

(Interesting. It looks like that dam god screwed me over again! Why couldn't he give me the sharingan so I can keep up without training. What a drag. Though with my skills it shouldn't be long before I reach my peak again and then some. Hehehe.)

Keres took her words to his heart. "Thank you for the lesson Hephaestus-senpai." Keres bowed towards her and said his goodbyes after promising her multiple times he'll be cautious.

"Wait!" Keres heard just as he was about to leave. He turned around ready to say some more words to alleviate his goddesses worry. Instead however his face was the receiver of a backpack being thrown at him. "Make sure you fill it up with some stuff despite what you can do!" Hephaestus told him before she said good bye and saw him off

Keres went to his room to put on his black jumpsuit and don his new studded leather armor, bracers, cuisse, leg guards, shin guards, and boots. All of the pieces was made with cured black rhino leather and studded with cold steel. Its weight was a bit on the heavier side for leather armor but still lighter than metal armors. Though his previous armor was not that bad. He found out that dam god gave him cheap leather armor that would last probably no more than a month. After readying a few supplies he left the compound and headed towards the dungeon. On the way there he remembered Chloe and decided to go see how shes been doing. Making a quick turn around and a left he was on the the road the tavern was located.

Night hadn't settled in yet but the pub was still as boisterous as ever. Keres went in looking around for Chloe. Seeing that she was still serving some customers he just stood to the side waiting. While he was waiting one of the employees walked up to him with a welcoming smile. It was a young woman with light grey hair and eyes.

"Welcome to the Hostess of Fertility! My name is Syr. No need to wait just take a empty seat or table and we'll be right with you." Syr said with a light voice that was pleasant to the ears. Keres smiled back.

"Sorry i'm not here to eat actually. I was just wanted to stop by and give Chloe my thanks for helping me out a few weeks ago." Syr looked over at Chloe with a knowing look. She turned back at Keres. "No problem i'll tell her little friend is here to say ~hi."

Syr went over to Chloe who was by the kitchen window at this time. Keres saw Syr whisper into Chloe's ear making her blush. Though he wondered what Syr said to make Chloe blush he put that to the back of his mind as he saw Chloe head towards him.

Chloe wanted to chide Keres for not visiting her at all the past two weeks. But seeing his tidy appearance and new armor she couldn't help but smile. "Congratulation you got in the Hephaestus familia ~Nya."

"Thank you. Sorry about not being able to come by I was busy learning how to be a smith."

Chloes eyes sparkled when she heard this, grabbed Keres hands, and asked excitedly. "Who's teaching you? Will you make me something? Are you heading to the dungeon ~Nyaa?" The last question she said with a bit of worry.

Keres wondered if Chloe was this friendly with everyone but again put that thought to the back of his mind. "My teacher is just an old smith named Vulcan...

****

Meanwhile...

Hephaestus was reading a book when she sneezed twice and frowned. "I wonder who dares talk badly about me?"

****

... Sure no problem I'll make you something when I can anything you prefer?" He didn't mind since Chloe was partly the reason why he was a smith now. He also didn't want her to know Hephaestus was his teacher. Although he was grateful for her help he didn't trust her with information that can cause him some trouble.

Chloe ears and tail twitched as she gave a smile. "Surprise me ~Nyaa."

"No problem. And yes i'm heading into the dungeon." Keres felt his hands being squeezed as he saw Chloe look a little worried.

"Be careful ok ~Nyaa?"

Keres squeezed her hands as well. "Don't worry my teacher wouldn't let me go unless I was capable of handling myself. And besides I'll be sticking to the upper floors." Chloe was about to speak when a loud voice sounded from the bar. "Chloe back to work you got customers waiting!" The voice came from a tall older woman.

Chloe let go of Keres hands and turned her head. "Sorry boss on my way!" Looking back at Keres they both said their goodbyes. Keres left the tavern and walked towards the tower.

(Chloe looks familiar. I swear shes a reoccurring character in the manga.)