The moon cast its quiet light over the empty streets of Orario. Noah leaned against a wall outside a shuttered bakery, eyes tracing the constellations above.
"Been a month," he muttered. "And I still haven't joined a Familia."
It had been thirty days since Noah woke up in this new world—a place known to locals as Orario, the city built atop the infamous Dungeon. Monsters, gods, adventurers… everything he once thought was fantasy was now his reality.
As a modern-day bartender before his mysterious transmigration, Noah never imagined his first step into another world would involve hauling crates, mixing drinks, and sleeping in a cheap attic above a tavern. But hey—at least it paid.
The world of Danmachi was dangerous, yes, but filled with opportunity. If he wanted to stop living like a half-starved stray and start thriving, he had to become an adventurer.
And to do that… he needed to join a Familia.
But that was the problem.
"Not like they're lining up for a guy with zero combat experience," he sighed, kicking a loose pebble.
He'd tried approaching a few Familia. Loki's turned him down instantly. Freya's never even gave him a look. Somas was easy to join, but the whole "sketchy cult of wine and misery" vibe wasn't doing it for him.
Which left… her.
Hestia.
The tiny, broke goddess with no followers, no home, and a legendary love for cheap booze.
But also—Noah realized—the only goddess who didn't look at him like he was worthless.
For the last few weeks, she'd been coming to the tavern every night to drink. Always alone. Always asking for him. Always laughing at his jokes and sighing a little too long when he walked away.
He knew her type: lonely but proud.
Still, something about her drew him in.
That night, as he stepped into the tavern—the "Hostess of Fertility"—a familiar voice called out from across the room.
"Finally! I thought you'd never show!"
Hestia sat at the bar, cheeks flushed, arms spread across the counter like she owned the place. Her signature blue ribbons bobbed with each excited movement.
Noah smirked. "You really can't go a night without my cocktails, can you?"
"Shut up and pour."
He slid behind the bar and got to work, flipping bottles with a flair that made half the room pause. When he set the glass in front of her, she took one sip and groaned.
"Mmmh… you really are magic."
"I do my best."
They sat in comfortable silence for a moment. Then Hestia glanced at him, suddenly serious.
"You know… I've been thinking," she said, swirling her drink. "I still don't have a Familia. No one wants to join me. But you… you're different."
Noah blinked.
"You should become my child."
He laughed. "What, like a 'hey, wanna get adopted by a goddess' type of thing?"
"I'm not joking," she said, cheeks slightly pinker now—but not from the alcohol. "You're strong. I can feel it. There's something special about you."
And then, he said the words she never expected to hear:
"Okay."
Hestia froze. "Wait… seriously?"
Noah nodded. "I've been waiting for the right Familia. And I think… I've found it."
Her eyes widened. Her mouth opened… but no sound came out. For once, the goddess of hearth and home had nothing to say.
He leaned in, teasing. "You crying?"
"Shut up," she whispered, wiping her eyes quickly. "Come with me. Now."
She led him to an old, unused basement beneath the church where she lived. It was dusty, cluttered, and barely lit—but to her, it might as well have been a palace.
"Take off your shirt," she said.
"Wow, not even dinner first?"
"JUST DO IT!"
He peeled his shirt off with a grin, laying down on the makeshift bed. She pricked her finger, let a droplet of divine blood hit his back—
And the world changed.
A soft blue light spread from his skin.
And then—
[Ding! Congratulations, host. Familia bond established. Awakening System… loading.]
[Template unlocked: Kevin Kaslana (Initial State)]
Noah's heart skipped a beat.
He had a system. He had a template.
He had… power.
As the glow faded and Hestia read his new status, her jaw slowly dropped.
"What… what is this?" she whispered. "You already have stats? And… these skills—some I can't even see!"
He grinned.
"Guess I'm just built different."