The next three days passed quickly for the Hestia Familia.
Every morning, Naruto and Bell dove into the Dungeon. By the end of the third day, they had already reached Floor 5. Naruto's shadow clones made farming magic stones ridiculously efficient, while Bell's speed and growing confidence complemented him perfectly.
Hestia was over the moon. For the first time, their tiny church had actual meat on the table every night and no risk of starving.
But Naruto wasn't satisfied.
"Goddess," he said one evening while eating, "we can't keep living like this forever. We need more money, and I have an idea."
Hestia tilted her head. "What idea?"
Naruto grinned wide. "Ramen shop! Or at least a ramen cart for now. In my old world, my dream was to become Hokage… but my second dream was always to open a ramen stand!"
Bell blinked. "You want to cook instead of diving?"
"Not instead. In the mornings we dive, afternoons I cook. Trust me, once people taste my ramen, they'll go crazy!"
Hestia thought about it for a second, then nodded excitedly. "If it brings in money, do it! But don't forget to keep training!"
The next morning – Central Market, near Babel Tower
With the money they earned, Naruto bought a simple wooden cart, a big pot, ingredients, and a sign that read in big colorful letters:
"Uzumaki Ramen – Dattebayo! The Best in Orario!"
He wore a white apron over his torn orange jacket and a headband. Bell helped him set up the cart near the adventurer exit of Babel.
The first customers were hesitant.
"What is this… ramen?" a dwarf adventurer asked suspiciously.
Naruto didn't answer with words. He started cooking. The smell of rich pork bone broth, fresh noodles, soft eggs, and roasted pork spread through the air like magic.
Within ten minutes, a small crowd gathered.
"Give me one!" "Me too!" "Smells incredible!"
The first adventurer who tasted it froze, then started crying.
"This… this is godly! Better than anything in Orario!"
Word spread fast. By the second hour, there was a line of twenty adventurers. Even some Guild employees came to try.
Naruto was laughing the whole time, serving bowls at lightning speed with his clones helping in the back (hidden, of course).
"Extra spicy for you, my friend! Dattebayo!"
Meanwhile – Loki Familia Home
Ais Wallenstein was training in the courtyard when Tiona Hiryute came running, waving her arms excitedly.
"Ais! Ais! You have to try this! There's a new food cart near Babel and it's AMAZING!"
Ais tilted her head, her long golden hair swaying. "Food… cart?"
"Yeah! The guy running it is a blond adventurer from Hestia Familia. People are saying he uses weird spinning magic in the Dungeon and now he's making this 'ramen' thing. Even Bete said it was good!"
Ais's golden eyes sparkled slightly. She had heard the rumors for days now — a Level 1 adventurer who creates multiple copies of himself and uses powerful spinning attacks.
She wanted to see it herself.
"…Let's go."
Back at the Ramen Cart
The line was still long when a group of Loki Familia members arrived.
Tiona jumped in front. "Four bowls please!"
Naruto looked up and grinned. "Coming right up! Amazon girls have big appetites, right?"
Tiona laughed. "You bet!"
While he was cooking, Naruto felt a strong presence. He looked up and locked eyes with a beautiful girl with long golden hair and emotionless golden eyes.
His heart skipped for a second.
'She's strong… really strong.'
Ais stared back at him. She could feel it too — an enormous amount of power hidden inside this loud blond boy.
"You…" Ais spoke softly, "Are you the one who uses spinning magic?"
Naruto handed her a bowl with a bright smile.
"Yeah, that's me. Name's Naruto Uzumaki. Try the ramen first, then we can talk about fighting if you want!"
Ais took the bowl silently. She ate slowly, elegantly… then her eyes widened a little.
"It's… good."
Tiona was already on her second bowl. "It's more than good! It's the best!"
While they were eating, a small commotion happened.
The same scarred Level 2 adventurer from a few days ago appeared with three friends. He recognized Naruto and smirked.
"Hey ramen boy. You think selling food makes you hot stuff? We still owe you for that magic stone on Floor 4."
Naruto's smile didn't fade, but his eyes turned cold.
Bell stepped forward nervously. "Naruto-san…"
Before anything escalated, Ais stood up.
She looked at the scarred man with her usual blank expression.
"Leave."
The man laughed. "Sword Princess, this isn't your business—"
Ais drew her sword Desperate halfway. The pressure in the air became suffocating.
The scarred adventurer and his friends turned pale and ran away without another word.
Ais turned back to Naruto.
"Thank you for the ramen."
Naruto laughed loudly. "Haha! You're cool! Want to spar sometime? I've been looking for strong people to train with."
Ais stared at him for a long moment, then gave the smallest nod.
"…Okay."
Tiona grinned mischievously. "Ooh~ Ais made a new friend! This is rare!"
As the Loki Familia group left, Ais glanced back one more time at Naruto.
That soul… that power… it reminded her of something.
Something from her past.
Evening – Hestia Familia Church
Hestia was counting the money with sparkling eyes.
"We made so much today! Naruto, you're a genius!"
Naruto was sitting on the roof with Bell, eating leftover ramen.
Bell smiled. "You really attracted strong people fast. Ais Wallenstein… she's Level 5, you know."
Naruto grinned. "Good. I need strong opponents. This world is fun, but I can feel my power is still sealed somehow. I need to get stronger the right way."
He looked toward Babel Tower in the distance.
"Something big is coming. I can feel it in my bones."
At the same time, in a dark and luxurious temple, a silver-haired goddess with blood-red eyes opened her eyes.
Freya smiled beautifully, licking her lips.
"That soul… that golden chaos… I want it."
Deep in the Dungeon, on the lower floors, something ancient stirred.
The arrival of the Nine-Tails Fox was slowly changing the fate of Orario.