Dawn hasn't broken yet when Leon wakes.
He moves through his morning routine in the darkness—meditation, forms, washing. His body adapts quickly to the new schedule. Hunt in the Dungeon, return before dark, rest, repeat. It's similar to his life in the village, just with different prey.
Upstairs, Hestia is still asleep. He can hear her soft breathing through the floorboards.
Leon climbs the stairs quietly and enters the kitchen area. He prepares breakfast quickly—rice porridge with vegetables, simple but filling. He leaves a portion covered for Hestia with a note saying he's gone to the Guild.
Then he packs lunch. Bread, cheese, dried meat. Enough to sustain him through the day without returning to the surface.
He checks his equipment. Hunting knife, bow, quiver with arrows. The magic stones from yesterday are in his pouch, ready to exchange. Everything in order.
Leon slips out of the church as the first light touches the eastern sky.
---
The Guild is quiet this early.
Only a few adventurers are present—the serious ones, the professionals who dive every day. Leon approaches the exchange counter where a tired-looking clerk sits behind stacks of paperwork.
"Magic stones?" the clerk asks without looking up.
Leon places his pouch on the counter. "Twelve goblin stones from floor one."
The clerk dumps them out, examines each one briefly, then makes calculations on an abacus. "Twelve hundred valis."
Leon nods. That matches what he expected. Goblin stones are the cheapest, barely worth anything individually. But they add up.
The clerk counts out the coins—twelve silver pieces. Leon pockets them and turns to leave.
"Wait," the clerk says. "You're new, right?"
"Is it that obvious?"
"You're clean. No scars, decent clothes, not exhausted." The clerk gestures vaguely at the other adventurers in the hall. "Give it a month. You'll look like the rest of us."
"Probably."
The clerk grunts and goes back to his paperwork.
Leon leaves the Guild and heads west, toward the blacksmith district.
---
The blacksmith district is loud even this early.
Forges burn hot, hammers ring against anvils, and the smell of hot metal fills the air. Dozens of shops line the streets, each specializing in different equipment. Some sell armor, others weapons, still others handle repairs.
Leon researched this yesterday while studying his dungeon guide. He needs a proper weapon—something reliable for close combat. His hunting knife is good for finishing blows but lacks reach. His bow is effective at range but useless in tight corridors when monsters close distance.
He finds a shop called "Iron Works"—a modest establishment with a simple sign and practical displays. No fancy decorations, just functional equipment.
Inside, a dwarf with a gray beard stands behind the counter, organizing inventory. He looks up when Leon enters.
"Morning. What do you need?"
"A sword. One-handed, balanced, nothing fancy. And a dagger for backup."
The dwarf studies Leon for a moment. "New adventurer?"
"Yes."
"Budget?"
"Twelve hundred valis."
"Not much." The dwarf scratches his beard. "But enough for basics." He moves to a rack and pulls down a simple sword. "Standard issue. One-handed, thirty inches, balanced weight. Good steel, no enchantments. Eight hundred valis."
Leon takes the sword and tests its balance. The weight distribution is good, the grip comfortable, the blade straight and well-maintained. Not exceptional, but reliable.
"I'll take it."
"Dagger?" The dwarf pulls out several options. "I've got these at two hundred each."
Leon selects one with a six-inch blade and a sturdy handle. Simple, practical, good for close work.
"That's a thousand total," the dwarf says. "You've got two hundred left. I'd recommend better arrows. Your hunting arrows will break on dungeon monsters."
"What do you have?"
The dwarf shows him iron-tipped arrows, heavier and more durable than his wooden ones. "Twenty-five valis per dozen. Eight dozen for two hundred valis."
"Done."
The dwarf packages everything efficiently. "You're smart, kid. Most newbies blow their first earnings on flashy gear that breaks after two dives. You're buying practical."
"Practical keeps you alive."
"Damn right." The dwarf hands over the items. "Good luck down there. Don't die."
"I'll try not to."
---
Babel Tower stands against the morning sky, adventurers streaming in and out.
Leon enters and descends the spiral stairs. The first floor is crowded—too many new adventurers hunting the easy goblins. He moves through quickly, taking the stairs down to floor two.
Floor two is less crowded but still busy. The corridors are similar to floor one but slightly more complex, with more branching paths. Goblins appear here along with kobolds—the smarter, tool-using monsters.
Leon moves past them, heading deeper. He studied floor two yesterday. Today, he wants to test floor three.
The stairs to floor three descend into dimmer light. The walls here have a darker blue tint, and the air feels heavier. Fewer adventurers venture this deep alone.
Leon draws his new sword and moves forward cautiously.
---
The first monster he encounters is a War Shadow.
It appears from a side corridor, moving fast and low. Dark, roughly humanoid, with clawed hands and glowing red eyes. The creature spots Leon and attacks immediately.
Leon sidesteps the initial lunge, creating distance. The War Shadow recovers quickly, circling, looking for an opening. It's fast—faster than goblins, more aggressive than kobolds.
The creature lunges again. Leon doesn't dodge this time. He steps inside the attack, deflects the claws with his sword, and drives his dagger into the creature's throat.
The War Shadow dissolves into ash, leaving a magic stone.
Leon picks it up and examines it. Slightly larger than a goblin stone, with a deeper purple color. Worth more.
He continues forward, encountering more War Shadows. Each fight teaches him something. They're fast but predictable. Once you learn their attack patterns, they become manageable. The key is not panicking when they rush you.
Over the next several hours, Leon hunts methodically. He moves through corridors, clears rooms, collects magic stones. His new sword proves reliable—better reach, better leverage, capable of cutting through monster flesh cleanly.
By midday, he's collected twenty-three magic stones—a mix of goblins, kobolds, and War Shadows.
He finds a safe alcove, eats his packed lunch, and rests. The Dungeon is tiring in ways hunting normal animals never was. The constant alertness, the confined spaces, the knowledge that monsters can spawn anywhere at any time.
But it's also exhilarating. Every fight tests his skills. Every floor reveals new challenges. This is what he came to Orario for—growth through challenge.
After lunch, Leon continues hunting. He pushes deeper into floor three, testing his limits, learning the terrain.
---
Evening approaches when Leon returns to the surface.
He's tired but satisfied. His pouch is heavy with magic stones, his equipment performed well, and he gained valuable experience.
At the Guild, he exchanges his stones for thirty-eight hundred valis—more than three times yesterday's earnings. Floor three monsters pay significantly better.
He buys supplies on the way home—ingredients for dinner, oil for his equipment, a small whetstone for his sword.
The church is empty when he arrives. Hestia is out somewhere.
Leon sets to work in the kitchen, preparing dinner. Vegetable stew with meat, rice on the side, simple but nutritious. While it cooks, he cleans his weapons and checks his equipment for damage.
By the time Hestia returns, dinner is ready and the table is set.
---
"I'm home!" Hestia calls, closing the church door behind her. She stops when she sees the table. "You made dinner again?"
"You weren't here to stop me."
She laughs and sits down. "You're going to spoil me, Leon."
"You're my goddess. I should take care of you."
"Most gods expect their children to serve them out of obligation. You do it because you want to." Hestia smiles warmly. "Thank you."
They eat together, Hestia chattering about her day. She visited various shops, talked to other deities, explored the city.
"Oh! I visited Hephaestus today!" Hestia says excitedly.
"Hephaestus?"
"The goddess of the forge! She runs the biggest smithing Familia in Orario. We're friends from heaven." Hestia beams. "I told her I finally have a Familia member!"
Leon pauses mid-bite. "What did you tell her about me?"
"Just that you're amazing! That you're my first child and you're already diving to floor three on your second day!" Hestia's eyes sparkle. "She was impressed! Though she did tease me about finally convincing someone to join."
"You're spreading word about me to other gods?"
"Is that bad?" Hestia looks worried. "I'm just so proud! I want everyone to know that Hestia Familia is real now!"
Leon considers this. Attention from other gods could be complicated. But Hestia's enthusiasm is genuine, and he can't fault her for being proud.
"Just don't exaggerate," he says.
"I'm not exaggerating! You ARE amazing!" She reaches across the table and grabs his hand. "You cook, you clean, you dive into the Dungeon and come back safely. And you treat me like family instead of just a source of power. That's amazing in my book."
Leon looks at his goddess—her bright eyes, her genuine smile, her complete sincerity. She really does see him as family, not just a Familia member.
"Thank you, Hestia."
"You're welcome!" She squeezes his hand, then lets go and returns to eating. "Oh, by the way, you made too much food. I can't finish all this."
"I'll eat the leftovers."
"You already ate a full portion!"
"I need the calories. Dungeon diving burns a lot of energy."
Hestia shakes her head, amused. "Fine. But tomorrow, let me cook breakfast. I want to do something for you too."
"Can you cook?"
"I can learn!" She says it with such determination that Leon almost smiles.
"Alright. You can cook breakfast tomorrow."
"Really?"
"Yes."
Hestia pumps her fist in victory. "I'll make you the best breakfast ever! Well, maybe not the best. But edible! Probably!"
After dinner, Hestia updates Leon's status. His stats increased noticeably from today's deeper dives.
**Leon Fury - Level 1**
**Strength: D-524**
**Endurance: D-611**
**Dexterity: C-635**
**Agility: C-628**
**Magic: I-0**
"Look at this growth!" Hestia says excitedly. "Two days of diving and your stats jumped this much! You're going to level up so fast at this rate!"
Leon studies the numbers. The growth is significant—about twenty to thirty points across all stats. His body is adapting quickly to the Dungeon's challenges.
"How much do stats need to increase before leveling up?" he asks.
"It varies, but usually around six hundred to eight hundred in your highest stats. But that's not the only requirement—you also need to perform a significant achievement." Hestia explains. "Defeating a monster stronger than you, accomplishing something exceptional, pushing past your limits. The gods call it an 'excelia burst.'"
"I see."
"But don't rush it! Building a strong foundation at Level 1 is important. The higher your stats before leveling up, the stronger you'll be overall."
Leon nods. That aligns with his philosophy—solid fundamentals before advancement.
They talk for a while longer, then Hestia yawns and stretches. "I should sleep. Tomorrow I'm cooking breakfast, remember?"
"I remember. Good night, Hestia."
"Good night, Leon."
---
Alone in his basement room, Leon reflects on the day.
Two days as an adventurer. He learned the basics of floors one through three, earned enough coin to buy proper equipment, and established a routine. The Dungeon is challenging but manageable with the right approach.
More importantly, life with Hestia is settling into a comfortable rhythm. She's enthusiastic, emotional, and inexperienced as a goddess—but genuinely kind and supportive. In his past life, he walked alone. In this life, he has someone waiting for him to return home.
It's different. But not bad.
Leon performs his evening meditation, clears his mind, then lies down to sleep. Tomorrow will bring another dive, more challenges, continued growth.
The journey is just beginning, but the foundation is solid.
Somewhere above him, Hestia is probably still awake, too excited about cooking breakfast to sleep properly.
Leon closes his eyes and lets that thought follow him into peaceful sleep.