Has the character I’m raising just reached a new milestone?
Reading the information provided by the Hero Nurturing Project, Hestia felt as though all the exhaustion from her day at work had vanished.
Every bit of effort had been worth it!
[Basic Swordsmanship: Lv.
1]
“…”
Still, as she studied Rhodes’s newly acquired skill, Hestia couldn’t shake the feeling that this wasn’t the sort of thing that would appear in his Falna.
Was the game interface simply expressing the results of his hard work as numerical data?
She couldn’t be sure.
But she knew this would help him when he began exploring the Dungeon.
Perhaps, if he kept working at it, even his Basic Swordsmanship level would increase?
“So…”
“As long as I find ways to help Rhodes complete his daily quests, he might be able to learn entirely new skills?”
Hestia was gradually beginning to understand the nature of the Hero Nurturing Project.
It reminded her of the animal-battle board games she had played in Heaven.
Provide resources.
Help the pieces grow.
Except that, instead of playing on a board, she was playing in Orario.
And in place of a game piece, she had a member of her Familia.
“So that’s how it works?”
His depleted Stamina was clearly the result of the intensive swordsmanship training he had completed today.
What truly surprised Hestia, however, was something else.
Despite being physically exhausted, his mood hadn’t suffered.
Instead, because he wanted to repay the help she had given him…
He was actually feeling better?!
The thought filled her with pride.
If she had been the only one making an effort, providing her follower with resources while he took everything for granted, she would inevitably have felt disappointed.
But…
Rhodes really was different!
A goddess offered her support, and her follower worked hard to repay that kindness.
Wasn’t that the sort of mutual devotion she had read about in illustrated storybooks?
With her heart full of happiness, Hestia gathered up the potato balls she had so carefully fried—though their appearance still left something to be desired—and promptly made her escape.
“Hee-hee!”
“Then tonight… I’ll make sure you get a proper reward!”
“Thank you, Lord Takemikazuchi.”
“It was no trouble.”
Takemikazuchi smiled gently.
Remembering how Rhodes had spent the day sweating and practicing tirelessly in the courtyard, he found it difficult not to like the boy.
At the very least, that effort showed how he felt about Hestia.
Yes…
He really was a good child.
Takemikazuchi offered one last piece of advice.
“If you feel you’ve got a handle on the basics, you can try exploring the Dungeon.”
“The uppermost floors aren’t quite as dangerous as you might imagine.”
Rhodes had no objection to the suggestion.
He had consumed so much trashy fantasy in his previous life that his default impression of goblins was that they were incredibly weak.
Of course, there were also those stories where getting dragged into a goblin cave led to a far more horrifying fate.
Still, with the martial god Takemikazuchi’s reassurance, his excitement outweighed his inevitable anxiety about the unknown.
After saying goodbye, Rhodes intended to retrace the route he remembered back to the dormitory.
But as soon as he stepped out onto the street and looked ahead, he noticed a familiar figure running toward him.
“…”
Can someone really run that fast in flip-flops?
He was genuinely curious.
Unfortunately, he had no time to ponder the question before Hestia threw herself into an enthusiastic hug, nearly knocking him off balance.
Little goddesses should not be allowed to tackle people!
Rhodes stood with his hands hovering awkwardly, caught off guard by the wholehearted welcome.
Her faint, familiar fragrance drifted past him.
“Lady Hestia…”
“Um—is this really all right?”
“What’s wrong?”
Hestia saw nothing improper about the embrace.
Because of their difference in height, she had to tilt her head back to look at him, her smile brilliantly cheerful.
Then she noticed a notification from the Hero Nurturing Project.
[Comforted by his goddess’s embrace, Rhodes feels his physical and mental exhaustion ease.]
[Stamina +20]
“…”
Hugs can restore Stamina?!
Then again, she could understand the feeling.
Her own fatigue had faded when she saw the report of Rhodes’s progress.
[Stamina: 32/100 ↑ — Exhausted]
Did that mean there were other ways she could relieve the exhaustion caused by his intensive training?
“Come on!”
“I’ll walk you back to the dormitory!”
Curious about the mysteries of the Hero Nurturing Project, Hestia wasted no time taking action.
She linked her arm through Rhodes’s.
She had always been the talkative sort.
Even though she already knew the answer, she still asked, “How was training with Takemikazuchi today?”
“Well…”
“Lord Takemikazuchi was really nice.
He was very patient about teaching me the fundamentals.”
Rhodes didn’t hide anything.
Perhaps it was the effect of his Falna.
Or perhaps this body simply hadn’t been worn down by years of wage-slave misery.
Either way, he felt remarkably energetic.
After a moment’s thought, he smiled.
But I feel like I’ll be fine tomorrow after a good night’s sleep.”
“And…”
“For some reason, I don’t feel quite so tired now that I’ve seen you, Lady Hestia.”
“Of course you don’t!”
The little goddess gave a rather smug hum.
However…
Hestia had no intention of telling him about the Hero Nurturing Project.
Even if he had misunderstood the reason, she was perfectly happy to let that misunderstanding continue!
…
Back at the dormitory, Rhodes became acutely aware of how unpleasantly his clothes clung to him.
They had been soaked with sweat and dried in the breeze over the course of the day.
He decided to wash up first.
When he returned, Hestia was sitting on the edge of the bed, her bare feet resting on the floor.
She was clearly waiting for him.
Noticing his return, she smiled warmly and beckoned.
“Come here.”
“…”
“Lie down!”
“…”
Rhodes wasn’t entirely sure what she had in mind, but he followed her instructions.
Perhaps she wanted to update his Status.
Yet just as he was about to lie down, Hestia patted her lap, making her invitation unmistakable.
“Rhodes.”
“You worked hard today!”
“…”
Resting his head in his little goddess’s lap, Rhodes looked up.
Even from an angle that would have flattered almost no one else, her face remained impossibly lovely.
When their eyes met, he turned his head and decided to change the subject.
“It wasn’t too bad… Lady Hestia, there’s something I wanted to talk to you about.”
“Hmm?”
“I’d like to explore the Dungeon tomorrow.
I should be able to earn some money that way.”
“Then you wouldn’t have to shoulder quite so much on your own.”
“?!”
….
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