"Don't give him bad ideas," Eina sternly reprimanded Misha.
In Orario, entertainment venues like casinos weren't taboo.
The Guild even encouraged adventurers to frequent them, as they generated hefty taxes and helped vent the intense pressure of dungeon life.
Constantly facing life-or-death battles against monsters, adventurers needed outlets to prevent mental strain from sparking crime.
Gambling was a popular stress reliever, but Eina didn't want her charges, especially rookies like Roy, picking up addictive habits that could derail their futures.
"Hey!" Misha shrank back under Eina's glare, offering a sheepish laugh.
"Casinos are out," Roy said, shaking his head.
"But the arena sounds intriguing. Can you tell me more?"
Eina exhaled, relieved that Roy sidestepped the casino trap.
The arena was a better choice, offering a chance to observe veteran adventurers' techniques, valuable for a rookie. She explained the setup.
"It's like a coliseum," Roy mused after listening.
The arena's rules mirrored real-world gladiatorial contests: duels for prize money, with spectators betting on outcomes.
The gods had indeed gamified Orario, turning it into a living RPG.
Bidding Eina farewell, Roy and Hestia headed to the arena on East Street.
"I hope he doesn't get crushed," Eina sighed, watching them leave.
Most arena competitors were seasoned adventurers, far outmatching a rookie like Roy.
She suspected he planned to fight, not just bet, which could be a harsh lesson.
"Relax, Eina," Misha said casually. "A bruise or two will teach him to tread carefully in the dungeon."
"You aren't wrong," Eina admitted, glaring at Misha's bluntness.
Rookies faced the highest death rates, often lured by dungeon glory only to underestimate its perils.
A setback in the arena might boost Roy's survival odds, even marginally.
The arena, a grand, towering structure, dominated East Street.
Civilians and adventurers—humans and demihumans alike—bustled around it. Demihumans, non-human races excluding gods, included elves, dwarves , Amazons, Pallums , and beastmen.
Rarer sub-races existed but were seldom seen in Orario.
"Roy, are you sure about this?" Hestia asked, her voice laced with worry.
"We could just bet from the stands. You don't have to fight."
Hestia's concern spiked when Roy mentioned competing.
Freshly bestowed with Falna, he was barely stronger than an average human.
A loss might cost money, but an injury could haunt her forever.
"It's fine," Roy said, smiling nonchalantly.
"I trained extensively before receiving Falna. My raw strength should match senior adventurers."
"Roy, we could rent a place first," Hestia pressed, unconvinced. "There's no rush to buy a house. You should train in the dungeon."
"I can work—Hephaestus can help me find a job. We'll save together."
Orario's housing prices were astronomical, even in Daedalus Street's slums.
Hestia feared Roy's confidence was just bravado to ease her nerves.
"Hestia, I don't take risks I can't handle," Roy said, his gaze steady.
"If you want to work for fun or experience, I'm all for it. But if it's to support the Familia's finances, I won't allow it."
"That'd mean I'm failing as your member."
"Hey, why do you sound so macho?" Hestia teased, her worry melting into a delighted smile. "I just want to help."
"Call it machismo, then," Roy grinned.
Hestia wouldn't have considered working without Hephaestus's eviction threat. Her willingness now showed how much she valued Roy.
At the arena's registration desk, Roy signed up for a duel.
Watching from the sidelines couldn't compare to firsthand combat. After paying the fee, he filled out the form.
"Odds for Level 1 adventurers are this low?" Roy noted, frowning at the 1:1 payout for Level 1 matches. At that rate, he'd need countless wins to make real money.
"Odds improve for higher-level adventurers," the staff explained, glancing at Roy's form. "As an Level 1, you need three wins to qualify for those matches."
Just then, three figures entered, drawing eyes and murmurs.
"That's Nine Hell and Amazon, right?"
"Why're they here? Scouting rookies?"
"It happened before—some lucky guy got picked by Loki's crew!"
Tiona Hiryute, Riveria Ljos Alf, and their god Loki strode in.
"Loki, our base was just breached, and you're here for games?" Riveria said, scanning the crowd warily.
She disliked the bustle.
Yesterday's intruder had put the Loki Familia on edge, yet Loki, restless, dragged them to the arena as "guards."
"Don't fuss, Riveria. Finn and the others said I'm safe in Orario—gods don't need to sweat it. Plus, you two are here," Loki said, dressed flamboyantly.
Stung by her Familia's jabs about her appeal last night, she'd ditched her usual men's attire to flaunt her figure.
"I'm not just here for fun. I'm scouting fresh talent. Our Familia's strong, but we need new blood to grow."
Riveria eyed Loki skeptically. Gods always had excuses.
"Mom, we're expedition-bound soon. Relax while you can," Tiona chirped.
"Don't call me mom!" Riveria snapped, gripping her staff, tempted to bonk Loki.
"The expedition's a headache," Tiona sighed.
"Set for the day after tomorrow, but that intruder's got Finn spooked."
The Loki Familia had prepped for a deep dungeon dive, but the breach prompted Finn to delay until security was assured.
An expedition would leave their base vulnerable, a risk with an unknown intruder lurking.
"Exactly why we need recruits!" Loki said, nudging Riveria. "Get us tickets!"
Riveria trudged to the ticket counter, grumbling. Loki scanned the crowd, then froze, spotting a figure.
"Yo! Got cash to hit the arena? Didn't swipe Hephaestus's stash, did ya?" she cackled, her voice dripping with mischief.
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200 Stones = 1 chapter
400 Stones = 2 chapter