Dio looked at Demeter in silence for a moment before finally speaking.
“Goddess, you absolutely have to keep this a secret for me.”
Demeter studied him with an amused smile.
“I can do that.
But what do I get in return?”
Dio opened the backpack slung over his shoulder, took out his smartphone, and handed it to her.
He then showed Demeter how to use it.
Naturally, there was no signal or internet access in this world, but the phone contained several downloaded television series, movies, comics, and other forms of entertainment.
Dio had originally brought it along to keep himself occupied during the journey.
Now that he had no immediate use for it, offering it as a bribe seemed perfectly reasonable.
Once Demeter learned how to browse the comics and play the downloaded shows, she nodded in satisfaction.
“Very well.
Your secret is safe with me!”
She tucked the phone away before continuing, “Now then, I’ll take you to the Guild so you can register as an adventurer.
After that, you’ll be allowed to enter the Dungeon.”
Dio immediately shook his head.
“Goddess…
I’d rather not register as an adventurer, at least for now.”
“Hm?”
Demeter tilted her head, looking genuinely puzzled.
“If I don’t register, no one will even suspect that I’m an adventurer,” Dio explained.
“Nobody pays attention to an unknown nobody, right?
Couldn’t you find me some work here in the Familia instead?”
Demeter gave him a long look, and a knowing smile slowly appeared on her face.
“I know exactly what you’re thinking!
You want to use [Dreamwalker] and [Slaanesh] to raise your abilities in secret, then leave this world once your portal becomes available again.”
Cold sweat instantly covered Dio’s back.
He had never expected Demeter to see through his plan so easily.
The goddess might look warm and gentle, but she was far sharper than he had given her credit for.
Dio stood frozen as his mind raced for an excuse.
His mouth opened, but no words came out.
There was nothing he could say.
Every part of her accusation had struck the mark perfectly.
That was exactly what he had intended to do.
Registering as an adventurer meant entering the Dungeon, risking his life against monsters, and putting himself in the public eye.
If [Dreamwalker] or [Slaanesh] were exposed during a fight, his life in Orario would be over.
More accurately, he might become the laughingstock of the entire city—or worse, a prized curiosity for one of its more depraved gods.
The thought of the women from the Ishtar Familia finding out about his Skill sent a shudder down his spine.
His original plan had been wonderfully simple.
He would hide inside the Demeter Familia, work quietly behind the scenes, tend crops or flowers during the day, and use [Dreamwalker] to increase his abilities at night.
Once the Dimensional Gate finished cooling down, he would find an opportunity to leave this world.
Simple.
Safe.
Practically flawless!
Yet Demeter had destroyed the entire plan before it had even properly begun.
“What’s wrong?” Demeter crossed one leg over the other and folded her arms, watching the sweat bead on his forehead with obvious interest.
“Did I guess correctly, and now you don’t know what to say?”
Dio drew a slow breath and forced himself to calm down.
Panicking would only reveal more than he wanted her to know.
Besides, Demeter seeing through his plan did not necessarily mean she would oppose it.
He was now a member of her Familia, after all.
If one of her children became stronger, that could only benefit her.
“You really are remarkably perceptive, Goddess,” Dio said, managing an awkward smile.
“I admit that idea crossed my mind, but that isn’t the whole reason.”
“Oh?”
Demeter raised an eyebrow.
“Then tell me the rest.”
Dio paused to organize his thoughts.
“First of all, I’m not trying to be lazy or avoid responsibility.
You’ve already seen that my physical abilities are poor compared to the people of this world.
I’ve only just received a Falna, and every one of my Basic Abilities is still at I 0.
Even an ordinary citizen in Orario is probably stronger than I am.”
He gestured helplessly at himself.
“If I entered the Dungeon like this, forget fighting monsters—I’d probably get clubbed to death by a goblin before making it through the first floor.”
Demeter nodded in agreement.
He was not exaggerating.
Even people without a Falna were generally tougher than Dio had been when he arrived.
Sending a brand-new adventurer with every ability at I 0 straight into the Dungeon would be little different from sending him to his death.
“That’s why I’d prefer to work within the Familia for a while,” Dio continued.
“I can learn how this world works while slowly improving myself.”
He leaned forward slightly.
“Besides, we still don’t know exactly how [Dreamwalker] and [Slaanesh] function.
What if doing things inside a dream doesn’t increase my abilities?
What if [Dreamwalker] only lets me enter someone else’s dreams and doesn’t allow me to create my own?
I need to test the limits of both abilities before I can decide what to do next.”
“That does make sense.”
Demeter nodded thoughtfully.
“So how do you plan to test them?”
“That’s where I need your help.”
Dio took another breath.
“Goddess, could you lend me some money?”
“…”
Demeter’s expression immediately became complicated.
She looked him up and down, suspicion creeping into her eyes.
“You aren’t planning to visit the Pleasure Quarter and test [Slaanesh], are you?”
Dio nearly choked on his own saliva.
“Of course not!”
He waved both hands frantically, then straightened his posture and put on the most dignified expression he could manage.
“I may not be a saint, but I’m certainly not the sort of man who visits places like that!”
“Then what do you need the money for?”
“To buy basic necessities!”
Dio answered as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.
“I’ve only just arrived in this world.
I don’t have a single coin, and I can’t even afford a meal.
I can’t expect you to support me forever, can I?
I thought I could borrow some money, start a small business, and repay you once I’m established.”
Demeter stared at him for quite some time, apparently trying to decide how much of that explanation she believed.
At last, she sighed.
“Fine.
I’ll lend you some money, but on one condition.”
“What condition?”
Dio looked at her warily.
Demeter smiled.
“When you leave this world, you have to take me with you!”
Dio’s pupils contracted as he stared at her in stunned disbelief.