A week had passed since I joined the Miach Familia.
"Kai... I'm hearing a weird noise from the counter, could you check it out..."
"Yes, senior."
Naza, who had looked at me like I was someone who would just take what I could and leave on the day I first joined, must have noticed that I genuinely wanted to help Miach after seeing me work sincerely for a week without even receiving a Blessing. At some point, she started treating me as a reliable junior.
'...Is this really okay?'
And even though they had become a small Familia due to debt, since they were originally a mid-sized group, the Familia's facilities themselves were quite good.
"This is the room where you'll be living from now on."
As soon as I mentioned staying at an inn, they gave me an entire room behind the Familia home.
"Is it really okay to give this to me just like that?"
"It was originally a room used by another child, but... they transferred to another Familia, so no one's using it now. Don't worry about it."
"Ah... I see."
So, while waiting for Miach and Naza, who had gone out to buy supplies, I was baking cookies for the two of them and repairing the creaky furniture in the shop when a god with an appearance that seemed to suit the term "dignified veteran" and a woman with silver-white hair entered the shop.
"Hey Miach! Pay up!!"
"Haa..."
It seemed that god was likely Dian Cecht, the one who made Naza's prosthetic arm.
"Miach has gone out briefly to buy supplies, so if you could come back later or wait at that table over there, I would appreciate it."
When I spoke in a professional tone, Dian Cecht cleared his throat and went to sit at the table I pointed to.
"...Ahem! It looks like Miach knew I was coming and cleared out in advance."
"..."
After confirming that the two had sat down, I stopped what I was doing and started brewing tea for the guests.
"...Huh? Now that I think about it, I haven't seen your face before. What are you doing here?"
Dian Cecht, who was sitting at the table shaking his leg, stared at me intently and began questioning me.
"...I'm Kai, a new member."
"...Huh?"
"It's not my real name, it's an alias. People here have trouble pronouncing my original name."
"I see... no! You joined this failing Familia?!"
"...Dian Cecht, it's rude to speak like that."
"Ah, yeah, sorry... no!"
After that, Dian Cecht kept asking me questions, and I answered as sincerely as possible while continuing my work.
"Here's some tea and cookies I baked myself."
"Hmph! Something made in a poor shop like this could taste good...?!"
When I first saw him, I thought he was a god with a powerful aura, but after talking to him, he turned out to be a god who ruined that aura himself.
"...The aroma is nice. The cookies are just sweet enough to go well with the tea."
"Ah, thank you."
Actually, it was because I was short on funds and used only a little sugar, but there was no need to say that, so I put on a professional smile, gave a short thank you, and started fixing the creaky counter again.
"Ahem!"
"...What's the matter?"
"...My cup is empty."
"Ah, here you go."
While repairing, I repeatedly refilled the cups of Dian Cecht and Amid, who kept asking for more, until Miach and Naza returned with their hands full of supplies.
"Sorry for taking so long. They were selling the leftover ingredients at a discount."
"Kai, I smell something delicious. Did you bake cookies this time?"
To the two who greeted me with smiles, I waved lightly and pointed to the table where Dian Cecht and Amid were sitting.
"We have guests."
"...Oh no."
"Tsk..."
Upon discovering the two, Miach's smile disappeared, and Naza openly clicked her tongue, showing a cold reaction.
"Long time no see, Miach. And you too, Naza."
The silver-haired woman reacted as if she was used to their response, while Dian Cecht, on the contrary, smiled confidently, approached Miach, and held out his hand, demanding payment.
"I came for the money, Miach."
"...Isn't there still a few days left until the end of the month?"
"Is that so? I don't really know; I've been losing track of time lately."
At first, I was a bit puzzled to see Miach's smile disappear, but I immediately understood due to the clear arrogance in the other god's voice.
"Just a little... give me a little more time."
"Don't you remember last time when you postponed like that and only paid after a week had passed?"
Even I, just watching from the side, was starting to feel bad. How must Miach feel, hearing such words right in front of him?
"This time, I'll definitely pay on the promised date... just wait a little longer."
For a long while, Miach bowed his head and pleaded with Dian Cecht, and Dian Cecht, seeing Miach's humble appearance, didn't let his smile fade, clearly enjoying the sense of superiority.
"Ha! If you're going to beg that much, I'll take the money next time."
After about ten minutes, as if satisfied, Dian Cecht picked up the last cookie left on the plate and left the shop.
"...Excuse me."
Amid stared blankly at the spot where the last cookie had been for a moment, then hurriedly followed Dian Cecht with the same expressionless face she had when she first entered.
"...I showed you an unsightly sight."
After Dian Cecht left, Miach bowed his head slightly to me and began to apologize.
"Please don't apologize. You bowed your head for Naza, not for anyone else. There's no way that's unsightly."
"...I'm glad you say that."
"Even you, Miach—who is usually too kind for your own good—knows how to make such a serious face?"
"Kai... if you tease a god, you'll be punished later."
Fortunately, thanks to the joke, Miach's mood seemed to improve somewhat. . . . I quickly stepped away after handing the remaining cookies to Naza and hurried toward the room where Miach was.
"Miach."
"It's you, Kai. What brings you to the mixing room when you've shown no interest in potions?"
It seemed he was still a bit playfully upset because of my joke.
"I want to go to the Dungeon soon. I'd like you to inscribe my Blessing."
"Come to think of it, the week we agreed on has already passed."
"Yes."
"Well, a promise is a promise. I'll inscribe it for you."
I followed Miach's instructions, took off my top, and lay down with my back facing up.
"For the name, can you write Kai instead of my real name?"
"I'd be happy to."
"By the way, your real name... it's true that people here would have trouble pronouncing it."
"You say that, but your pronunciation is quite good."
And so, with the god's help, my registered name became Kai.
"No, what is this..."
A moment later, after finishing the inscription, Miach made a genuinely surprised expression and handed me the parchment with the Blessing details written on it.
[Registered Name: Kai]
Level 1
Strength: I 15
Endurance: I 12
Dexterity: I 13
Agility: I 9
Magic: I 0
Skills
[Immortal]
Upon death, revives with all accumulated fatigue and wounds regenerated.
When the body regenerates, any foreign objects in that physical space are removed regardless of material.
[Adaptability]
Targets: Abilities / Attributes / Environments
Method: The body gains immunity to damage or effects experienced.
Requirement: Adaptation begins upon taking damage from the target.
Magic < >
'So the abilities from the Administrator manifest like this?'
Miach observed me carefully as I looked at the paper.
"Even after learning that you have such skills, your expression hasn't changed."
"I already knew about my abilities."
"Hmm..."
I couldn't say I got them from the Administrator, so I began explaining while omitting that part.
"Actually, before arriving in Orario, I died once."
"...So?"
"I think it was a Kobold. It was hiding in the grass, and as soon as I noticed it, it rushed at me, biting and scratching. When my mind started filling with the thought of not wanting to die, I fought back. When I came to my senses, it was dead, and I died shortly after."
"Then it was likely blood loss or shock. Or both."
"Exactly. The pain made it hard to breathe, and I lost consciousness. Then suddenly, I woke up, and all the wounds were gone."
"...Honestly, I wish everything you just said was a lie."
"But you, as a god, know best that it's all true, right?"
"Ha... there are times when I hate this ability to discern lies."
The god looked at the paper for a long time, then placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Kai, you must never reveal these skills to others. Understood?"
"Of course. I want to avoid unnecessary attention as much as you do."
"I'm glad you understand. If rumors about these skills reached the ears of other gods..."
"Well... it would be the end of my peaceful life."
"...You say it so easily."
After that, as Miach moved to store the record, I thought of Naza sitting alone at the counter.
"But, Miach."
"What is it?"
"About my skills... should I hide them from Naza, too?"
"..."
At my question, the god paused for a moment.
"I'll explain it to her when the time comes..." he said with some difficulty.
'This... means he probably won't say anything for now.'