“So, just now… did you forget to wash your hands after eating and use me as a napkin?”
“I would never do that!”
“…”
Looking at Rhodes’s utterly righteous expression, Lili was suspicious.
Unfortunately, she had no concrete evidence.
She could only change the subject.
Was Enwan Kovo powerful?
To Lili, he certainly was.
The differences in size and age were right there.
When he bullied her, she had no way to fight back.
And he had plenty of lackeys, too.
Rhodes, on the other hand…
She knew he had only been an adventurer for a few days.
Where had he found the courage to say something like that?
“That man…”
“He might not be particularly strong, but he has numbers on his side.
And fighting other adventurers is completely different from exploring the Dungeon.”
“So what?”
They were all Level 1.
And these people rarely even entered the Dungeon, spending their days eating, drinking, and having fun instead.
Honestly, Rhodes didn’t believe he was inferior to them.
Those so-called veterans were merely ordinary men born into an era without him.
Not that he could actually say that aloud.
He understood his current strength.
And considering that these people needed a whole group just to bully someone, a saying from his previous world seemed particularly appropriate.
“Predators walk alone.
Only sheep and cattle travel in herds.”
“?”
Hmm…
His confidence probably came from his Familia.
Lili thought back to the youthful goddess who had come to meet him yesterday evening.
She hadn’t recognized her.
But Orario was full of gods.
It was perfectly normal for there to be Familias she didn’t know.
Besides, Rhodes had obtained such excellent equipment while still a complete beginner.
Surely that meant his Familia wasn’t weak.
After a moment’s hesitation, she offered another warning.
“To be safe, I still think you should tell the senior members of your Familia.”
“I’m not saying I don’t believe in you.
But you’ve only just become an adventurer, and you don’t have much practical experience yet.”
“There really are a lot of them.”
“…”
Faced with that pointed suggestion, Rhodes looked away and repeated his answer.
“Predators walk alone.
“?”
Wait… were you saying that to reassure yourself?!
Lili was starting to suspect that Rhodes wasn’t quite as dependable as she had hoped.
For now, though, she had little choice but to go along with it.
The reason was simple.
Enwan Kovo wanted her to steal Rhodes’s weapon.
If she continued working as his supporter, it would look as though she was doing exactly what she had been told.
She could make excuses and buy as much time as possible.
“Whew…”
Lili took a deep breath, trying to settle her nerves.
She genuinely envied Rhodes’s willingness to stand up to the people threatening him.
But years of bullying had left her pessimistic.
She couldn’t help doubting that things would work out.
Looking at his profile, she found herself asking, “Um… can you win?”
“I’ll win!”
“Lately…”
“Rhodes has been working so hard.
He heads into the Dungeon before the sun is even up.
No wonder his Status improves so quickly!”
Hestia lounged lazily on her bed.
Even lying down did nothing to diminish her generous figure.
The Hero Nurturing Project.
Ever since the translucent screen appeared, she had gradually developed a habit of checking it as soon as she woke.
…
[Daily Quest — In Progress]
[Having only recently become an adventurer, Rhodes’s primary objective is to explore the Dungeon.
This quest is repeatable and has a chance to increase his potential.]
…
The quest’s progress let Hestia follow Rhodes’s movements.
Once he finished exploring, its status would change to Complete.
That was how she managed to catch him at Central Park with such perfect timing every day.
“Now that he’s started exploring, can I use the Exploration Log to find out exactly what happens to him in the Dungeon?”
Curious, Hestia opened the new feature.
Rhodes’s Exploration Log.
It worked much as she had expected.
[After a good night’s rest, Rhodes’s Stamina has fully recovered.
He is very satisfied with his current circumstances and eager to explore.]
What a good child!
In Hestia’s opinion, becoming a proper adventurer wasn’t something that happened overnight.
It required persistence.
And when it came to perseverance, Rhodes’s Stamina readings at the end of each day made the answer perfectly clear.
He genuinely wanted to repay her help through hard work.
[Before entering the Dungeon, Rhodes decides to fill his stomach with inexpensive, delicious fried potato balls.]
Excellent taste.
Even his favorite food was the same as hers.
Where else could she possibly find such a perfect follower?
“Hee-hee!”
[At the potato ball stall, Rhodes enjoys a conversation with Takemikazuchi.
Impressed by Rhodes, Takemikazuchi offers further assistance.]
[They agree that, when their schedules permit, Takemikazuchi will teach him advanced combat techniques.]
“Looks like our Rhodes gets along well with the gods!”
Takemikazuchi was her friend.
His willingness to provide Rhodes’s initial combat training had been a favor to her.
But Rhodes had earned his admiration through his own diligence and humility.
To Hestia, surely that also proved how discerning she had been when recruiting him.
She had seen his potential right away!
However—
As she continued reading, the next entries caught her completely off guard.
[Through the young supporter, Rhodes learns that he is in danger.
Other adventurers covet his expensive equipment.]
[Determined to protect the gift that embodies his goddess’s kindness, he chooses to redouble his efforts in preparation for the threat he may soon face.]
“This…”
“This isn’t right!”
Hestia bolted upright.
She stared at the translucent screen and read the entries again and again, making sure she hadn’t missed anything.
Adventurers targeting someone for bullying.
Honestly, she had never given the possibility much thought.
There were several reasons for that, not least that adventurers would never dare threaten a god.
And when she had provided Rhodes with a weapon, she had only wanted to give her child whatever support she could.
She had never imagined that the very weapon meant to help him would put him in danger.
“…”
Guilt settled over her.
Especially when she read that Rhodes was pushing himself harder because he wanted to protect her gift.
Suddenly, one thing became clear.
She had to do something to help him!
….
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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