In the evening, all members of Hestia Familia gathered in the church.
"Bell-kun, I heard you took down a Silverback in front of everyone on the street today. Congratulations on your spectacular debut." Adam watched Bell, who lay face down on the bed updating his stats. "By protecting Goddess Hestia from monsters, you've proven yourself a worthy captain."
"Really...?" Bell sighed softly, his voice self-deprecating, "I was just running away — and making Lady Goddess run too. If Adam had been there, surely..."
Before he could finish, Hestia gave him a firm slap on the back, making him cry out in pain.
"Ouch! Why did you hit me, Lady Goddess!"
"What are you saying, Bell-kun! You were amazing!" Hestia gently hugged him, recalling his gallant figure fighting monsters. She urged him not to be so humble.
"Um... Lady Goddess?" Bell said shyly, still in her embrace.
"Ah, right! Let's check Bell-kun's recent stats — they haven't just improved, they've skyrocketed!" Hestia sat up and pressed the parchment against his back, engraving the values in common language.
Naturally, she kept his overpowered skill hidden.
To have stats updated twice by a goddess in one day — such favoritism was unheard of in any other familia in Orario.
Among the small number of members in Hestia Familia, Bell held a special place in Hestia's heart. No one else had their stats updated daily as he did.
"Ohhhhh!!!" Bell looked at his improved stats and shouted excitedly. Like a child seeking praise, he showed Hestia, "Look, look, Lady Goddess! My highest stat has reached E! It's E, E!!!"
"Yes, yes, I know, I know." Though she appeared dismissive, inside she was bursting with joy.
Her happiness stemmed not from any influence of that Wallenstein, but from Bell's genuine desire to protect her. She simply couldn't show it too obviously.
"Oh right, please update Adam's stats too, Lady Goddess." Bell set down the parchment, "He took me down to the 18th floor before. I think his stats should have improved even more than mine."
"You... idiot, don't tell her that!" Adam winced at the kid's innocent revelation.
Given how much Hestia cherished Bell, surely she would explode in anger at learning he'd been taken to the dangerous 18th floor?
Hestia simply said with calm, "Oh, you went down to the 18th floor while I was away? That's great!"
"What's wrong, thought I'd scold you? Well, I am a bit angry. But Adam isn't reckless — you must have had your reasons for taking Bell to the 18th floor. Besides, letting him experience the middle floors early helps him understand the Dungeon's dangers better."
As someone who knew how strong he was, Hestia wasn't too worried about their safety.
Though her Familia was weak, she still had the perspective of a Goddess. From what she knew, Level 6 Adventurers could easily reach floors 20-30 while bringing along a Low Class Adventurer — assuming they didn't encounter floor bosses.
"Well then, let me update Adam's stats too!" Hestia pulled him to lie on the bed, crouched beside him, and skillfully updated his stats.
A dazzling light appeared with a slight tremor, illuminating the entire hall brilliantly.
A moment later, darkness returned.
"Eh? Not just during Falna bestowal, even updating stats is this dramatic?!" Hestia hadn't expected this, "Next time Adam needs his stats updated, let's do it in the basement."
"Yes, as Lady Goddess says." He agreed with this decision.
It was too conspicuous — such bright light in the night would make anyone suspicious.
The Hieroglyphs appeared on his back. Hestia glanced at them, quickly converted them to common text, engraved them on parchment, and handed it to him.
Strength: I 0 → B 799
Endurance: I 0 → C 682
Dexterity: I 0 → D 588
"Hmm, not bad." Adam nodded in satisfaction.
He was quite pleased with the displayed values.
After leading Bell to the 18th floor and eliminating many monsters in town, these stats were quite good. After all, no one else had Bell's BUG skill for gaining massive stat improvements.
"Here, Bell-kun." Adam thoughtfully handed his parchment to the boy, who wanted to look but seemed hesitant to ask.
The skills were already hidden, so there was no harm in showing him. If seeing these stats could spark Bell's motivation, all the better.
Though it might also affect his confidence.
"Adam is really amazing — I've been surprised so many times I've become numb to it." Hestia praised him during this pause, then said to Bell, "Bell-kun, he was already very strong to begin with. When converting to stats, his improvements are beyond imagination — even I'm surprised by this."
"I know, Lady Goddess." Bell put down the parchment, showing no signs of dejection.
Instead, Adam could sense a vigorous, competitive spirit emanating from him. Rather than discourage him, the high stats had inspired him.
Hestia nodded in satisfaction — Bell needed no consoling in this state.
"By the way, Lady Goddess Hestia, I've had a question for a while." Adam pointed at the long object Hestia was carrying on her back, "What is that?"
"Something that obvious would be hard to ignore."
"Ahem!" Hestia was a bit embarrassed, but then put on a proud expression and declared, "Hehehe, this is a weapon I specially prepared for you!"
"Weapon...?" Adam froze for a moment, then quickly realized, asking with a trembling voice, "This, this... Could it be...?!"
Seeing the usually composed man show such an expression, Hestia's heart swelled with pride.
"That's right! Exactly what you're thinking!"
With that, she pulled out the wrapped weapon.
It was a black longsword.
The blade was identical to the Nichirin longsword in his hand, save for a mysterious shimmer on its surface that seemed to pulse like breath.
"It's just like my weapon." Bell, unaware he held a divine weapon, assumed it was an ordinary sword like his short dagger — just something Hestia had bought somewhere.
To him, it appeared to be nothing more than an exceptionally sharp blade.
This sword was crafted by a Goddess's own hands — undoubtedly a divine weapon!
Like Bell himself, this sword would grow stronger as its wielder did. But it possessed even more remarkable properties!
[Never Dulls] and [Metal Absorption]! The blade would never lose its edge or break, and it could absorb other metals to gain their properties.
Growth, Unbreakable, Absorption... This... isn't this exactly like those starter swords in cheap online games that require endless cash to power up?!
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