Orario didn’t offer much in the way of nightlife.
Besides, after today’s Dungeon expedition, Rhodes only wanted to finish everything he needed to do.
Then…
He could get some proper rest and test whether his body recovered as quickly as he had begun to suspect.
But as he looked at the little goddess walking ahead of him—the one who had thoughtfully taken care of everything—he reached into his pocket.
He took out his purse and held it out to her.
“Lady Hestia, this is what I earned today.”
“Hm?”
Hestia accepted it without thinking.
Then she heard the coins clinking inside.
She turned toward him, bewildered.
“What are you doing?”
“It’s just… you’ve helped me so much.”
Rhodes’s reasoning was simple.
Being spoiled by a pretty little goddess might feel wonderful, but he couldn’t treat her kindness as something he was entitled to.
Honestly…
Even now, he found it a little difficult to believe.
From a modern perspective, the relationship between a god and a follower should have been mutually beneficial.
Yet here he was, taking and taking without giving anything back, while Hestia kept providing for him.
He had been raised to know better.
There were some things he simply couldn’t allow himself to do.
“My equipment, my room, my daily expenses… you’ve paid for everything.”
“So…”
“I was thinking I could leave the money I earn in the Dungeon with you from now on.
You can take those expenses straight out of it.”
“…”
Hestia looked up at his earnest expression.
She could tell that he meant every word.
Rhodes didn’t want to become a burden.
Of course she understood that feeling.
But to her, the thought behind his offer mattered more than anything else.
“Rhodes…”
“Keep the money for yourself!”
Her smile brightened.
“But there is something you can do to thank me.”
“Hmm?”
“I’m leaving Hestia Familia’s future in your hands!”
Hestia smiled gently and raised an eyebrow.
“Your most important job right now is to get stronger.”
“That’s a pretty heavy responsibility, you know.”
“…”
“Besides, I think an adventurer should focus on exploring and improving themselves.”
“Not on trying to live up to a god’s expectations.”
“You can do it!”
“…”
Rhodes looked at the pretty little goddess before him.
He knew she was saying this to put him at ease.
But then he remembered their promise.
The Familia’s future is up to me?
Wait, seriously?
Faced with the hope in Hestia’s eyes, he couldn’t bring himself to refuse.
“But… whenever you need money, Lady Hestia, you have to tell me.”
[Affection +3]
The notification from the Hero Nurturing Project filled Hestia with delight.
Carrying their dinners, she started walking again.
“Come on!”
“Let’s go home and eat!”
Back in the dormitory room, Hestia laid out the food on the desk.
They sat facing each other.
It was a simple dinner, yet there was an indescribable warmth to it.
“Rhodes.”
Even while eating, Hestia didn’t forget to check how her follower was feeling.
Her words were just a little muffled by the food in her mouth.
“Are you planning to explore again tomorrow?”
“Yes.”
At least for the foreseeable future, Rhodes intended to spend his days in the Dungeon.
The earnings from killing monsters were enough to cover his expenses.
More importantly, the strength he gained belonged to him.
Unlike his previous life, when working from nine in the morning until nine at night, six days a week, only helped buy his boss a mansion.
He considered it for a moment.
“Exploring the Dungeon wasn’t as difficult as I expected.
Maybe that’s part of being an adventurer.”
“It feels like I have endless energy while I’m fighting.
I only get tired once I stop.”
At the mention of energy, Hestia blinked.
She knew just how far his Stamina had fallen.
By the end of today’s expedition, it had been down to three.
As for the rest…
A bold possibility occurred to her.
Could this be a special change brought about by the Hero Nurturing Project?
Simply becoming an adventurer didn’t make someone as unusual as Rhodes.
“Um…”
After finishing her meal, Hestia decided to change the subject.
“Shall we… rest for a little while, like yesterday?”
“Huh?”
“We tried it yesterday, remember?”
Hestia blinked her blue eyes.
She was beginning to find teasing Rhodes rather entertaining.
“A lap pillow!”
“Didn’t you find it comfortable?”
“…”
Resting his head in his pretty little goddess’s lap?
Remembering how comfortable it had been yesterday, Rhodes had to admit that her invitation was difficult to turn down.
“Then… thank you, Lady Hestia.”
…
[Stamina +15][Affection +2]
Hestia watched the notifications appear.
Not only had his Affection increased, but his exhaustion had eased a little, too.
Still…
It felt as though the amount of Stamina he recovered was decreasing.
Should she find other ways to reward him in the future?
“This child really worked hard today.”
Listening to Rhodes’s steady breathing, Hestia reached out and gently brushed his cheek.
Her expression overflowed with tenderness.
Time passed quietly.
She remained there with his head resting in her lap until she was certain he was sleeping soundly.
Only then did she carefully get up.
Before leaving, she made sure to tuck the blanket around him.
“Do your best tomorrow, too.”
“Good night.”
By the time Rhodes gradually woke, Hestia was long gone.
He sat up and looked out the window.
The sky was just beginning to brighten.
All he could say was that, between yesterday’s intensive expedition and the lack of anything else to keep him up at night, he had slept exceptionally well.
“…”
Rhodes stood and stretched his arms and legs.
The exhaustion from his Dungeon expedition had vanished completely.
The most astonishing part was the soreness.
His muscles had ached badly yesterday.
Yet after one night’s rest, there wasn’t a trace of it left!
“Do I actually have a cheat?”
“…”
After washing up, Rhodes put on his adventuring gear.
He checked his shortsword and armor, made sure everything was in order, then opened the door.
The building was quiet.
The other adventurers were still asleep.
Taking care not to make too much noise, he left the dormitory and stepped onto Adventurers’ Way.
A pale glow had only just begun to spread across the distant sky.
To borrow a line from an idol in his previous world—
Have you ever seen Orario at four in the morning?
Mamba out!
“Hopefully, I can make it to the third floor today.”
As usual, Rhodes began planning his expedition.
His goal was to earn more valis and lighten Hestia’s burden.
But—
As he passed a particularly secluded alley, his gaze caught something happening ahead.
The Will of Bullying.
Apparently, this world wasn’t quite as friendly as he had imagined.
Especially when he looked past the adult adventurers and saw their victim huddled in the corner.
A small girl carrying a supporter’s backpack.
She looked familiar.
It was Lili—the girl who had approached him in Central Park yesterday, offered her services, and later explained the situation on the Dungeon’s starting level.
….
I also have many more novels in my collection that you might be interested in
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….
I also have many more novels in my collection that you might be interested in I upload ten novels a day, with 3 to 4 chapters per title depending on the length.
If you’re following a particular series, please wait your turn a little If there’s a particular novel you’re enjoying on Patron, please give it a ‘like’ so I know to focus on it