Kitahara sat on the long table. He pulled off his shirt, revealing a lean, toned physique to the goddess waiting behind him.
Hestia rubbed her hands together, a faint, almost predatory grin stretching across her face. She reached for a needle she had kept ready and pricked her finger without hesitation. Blood welled up instantly.
She pressed the crimson drop against Kitahara's bare skin, tracing a strange, ancient character.
The room filled with a sudden, brilliant azure light. On Kitahara's back, the image of a burning torch began to manifest... the sacred symbol of the Goddess of the Hearth.
Lines of Hieroglyphs, unreadable to any mortal eye, crawled across his skin from left to right. The Falna was taking root.
"It is finished!!"
Hestia's voice cracked with excitement as she stared at the glowing pattern. "Kitahara, from today on, you are a member of the Hestia Familia. And its Captain."
"I see. Then I am in your care."
Kitahara nodded slightly, though he didn't turn around. "Could you transcribe the Falna for me? I would like to see it."
"Ah, right away!" Hestia chirped. She scrambled to grab a sheet of specially prepared paper and pressed it against his back. Her fingers traced a final, rhythmic pattern over the paper.
The parchment glowed with a soft, fading light.
She peeled it off and held it out over his shoulder. Kitahara reached out and took the paper, his eyes scanning the translated text.
[๐๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐ต๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฎ]
[๐น๐.๐ญ]
[๐ฆ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป๐ด๐๐ต: ๐๐ฌ]
[๐๐ป๐ฑ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ: ๐๐ฌ]
[๐๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐: ๐๐ฌ]
[๐๐ด๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐๐: ๐๐ฌ]
[๐ ๐ฎ๐ด๐ถ๐ฐ: ๐๐ฌ]
[๐ ๐ฎ๐ด๐ถ๐ฐ]
[ ]
[๐ฆ๐ธ๐ถ๐น๐น๐]
[ ]
It was a perfectly ordinary status. There was nothing special, no hidden potential revealed in the ink.
This was the standard starting point for any Adventurer. Only a rare few ever manifested a skill or magic during their very first ritual.
The Nine Hell of the Loki Familia, Riveria Ljos Alf, was one such legend. She had gained three spells immediately upon receiving her Falna. Since each of those spells had three tiers, she essentially started with nine.
Kitahara felt a flicker of surprise.
'I expected the Protection of the Phoenix or the Divine Protection of the War God to be caught by the Falna,' he thought. 'I figured they would show up on the sheet.'
It seemed his Divine Protection Panel existed on a much higher plane than the Falna of this world. Even the gods of Orario could not detect its presence.
"Hey, Kitahara... why did you agree to be my first member?"
Hestia sat down beside him, her eyes wide with curiosity. The initial rush of excitement had faded, leaving her with a sudden realization. He was far too capable to have been ignored by other Familias.
"I do not like being told what to do," Kitahara explained with a small smile. "I wanted a new Familia where I could have some freedom."
It wasn't a lie. He truly valued his autonomy.
'Besides, joining a large group would only split my experience,' he mused. 'I need every drop of Exilia for myself.'
A small Familia like Hestia's was perfect. He could dive into the Dungeon alone and kill as many Monsters as he pleased.
"Heh, is that so?"
Hestia beamed, her worries vanishing. "Then I suppose my luck is just incredible."
She knew the stories. Several gods had descended months before her and were still struggling to find a single follower. They were stuck working part-time jobs just to buy bread.
The competition in Orario was cutthroat.
She had only been in the Lower World for a few months, yet she already had a Captain. If that wasn't luck, what was?
Then, her smile faltered.
"I am happy about the luck, but... Kitahara, I am completely broke." She sighed, her voice tinged with shame. "I cannot even afford to buy you basic equipment. I am sorry."
"Is that all? You should not worry about that."
Kitahara shook his head gently to reassure her. "I have trained for years before coming to Orario. I have enough strength to handle the Upper Floors without heavy armor. As for a weapon, I already have one."
"I will find a way to get you a proper set," Hestia insisted. She bit her lip, her mind racing.
She refused to be a useless Patron Deity. Kitahara was her first child... she had to contribute something.
'I'll just have to go bother Hephaestus,' she thought. 'I'll beg her for a starter set and pay her back later.'
Hephaestus was always complaining about her being lazy and refusing to start a Familia. Now that she finally had one, surely her friend would lend a hand.
'Yes, that is the plan.' She nodded to herself, her confidence returning.
"Kitahara, I need to head out for a bit. Go back and pack your things, then meet me here. I will take you to the Hestia Familia's temporary base."
She spoke with newfound determination.
Temporary base. That was what she called the Abandoned Underground Church. In her mind, it was only a matter of time before they moved into a grand mansion.
"Understood," Kitahara replied.
He didn't actually have any luggage, but he needed to check out of his inn. He wasn't about to let the owner keep his deposit for nothing.
The two left the library and went their separate ways.
Kitahara reached his inn within fifteen minutes, settled his business, and began the walk back.
On the other side of the city, Hestia was sprinting toward the headquarters of the Hephaestus Familia.
Inside that very building, Hephaestus sat at her desk. She suddenly felt an itch in her nose and let out a violent sneeze.
"Why do I have such an ominous feeling..."
Hephaestus rubbed her nose, her voice dropping to a low murmur.
"I have no idea how you managed it, but since you've become an Adventurer, you'd better work hard."
She paused, her gaze locking onto his.
"After all, in Orario, strength is the only truth."
She watched Kitahara, a spark of anticipation dancing in her eyes. She had chosen this boy, and now she wanted to see exactly how far he could go.
Kitahara gave a firm nod.
"I will, Lady Hephaestus."
He left the Hephaestus Familia and stepped out into the sunlight. He didn't head straight for the Abandoned Underground Church.
Instead, he let his feet carry him through the streets of Orario.
The city was a cacophony of life. He watched the bustling crowds, the merchants, and the warriors, feeling a strange weight in his chest.
Once, he was just an ordinary person.
Now, he was an Adventurer with a system at his fingertips.
[๐ก๐ฎ๐บ๐ฒ: ๐๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐ต๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฎ]
[๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น: ๐น๐.๐ญ]
[๐ฆ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป๐ด๐๐ต: ๐ฌ]
[๐๐ป๐ฑ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ: ๐ฌ]
[๐๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐: ๐ฌ]
[๐๐ด๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐๐: ๐ฌ]
[๐ ๐ฎ๐ด๐ถ๐ฐ: ๐ฌ]
[๐ฆ๐ธ๐ถ๐น๐น: ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฃ๐ต๐ผ๐ฒ๐ป๐ถ๐ ]
He stared at the Divine Protection Panel floating in his vision. He took a long, slow breath.
The road ahead stretched into the unknown.
His journey had only just begun.