35. Growth

Orcbolg sat on the edge of the bed, his shirt removed as Hestia pressed her glowing hands against his back. The divine script of his Falna shimmered, shifting as she analyzed his progress.

Then—

Hestia's breath hitched.

Her eyes widened as she saw the numbers on his back.

She quickly grabbed a parchment and transcribed his current status.

Orcbolg | Level 1

Strength: I 0 → S 999

Endurance: I 0 → S 980

Dexterity: I 0 → A 811

Agility: I 0 → A 820

Magic: I 0 → B 640

"…Orcbolg," Hestia said, her voice unsteady. "Your stats… they're insane."

Orcbolg took the parchment and looked over his progress. He wasn't surprised—he could feel himself improving after each battle—but seeing the numbers confirmed just how far he had come.

Hestia swallowed hard. "This… This is enough. You've reached your limit as a Level 1. You can level up."

Orcbolg nodded. "Do it."

Hestia hesitated. "You understand what this means, right? You'll be a Level 2 adventurer. You'll get a new skill. Maybe even magic. Your growth will slow down after this."

"…I know."

She stared at him for a moment before sighing. "Alright. Just sit still."

She placed her glowing hands against his back once more, and this time, her divine power surged. The Falna reacted, shifting, evolving.

Then, the glow faded. Hestia leaned back, her body trembling slightly from the exertion. "It's done."

She grabbed another parchment and updated his new status.

Orcbolg | Level 2

Strength: I 0 → G 211

Endurance: I 0 → F 320

Dexterity: I 0 → G 255

Agility: I 0 → G 240

Magic: I 0 → F 300

New Development Ability Acquired:

Hunter: Increases stats when fighting against monsters he has fought before.

Skills:

Relentless Pursuer – Increases reaction speed and combat efficiency when pursuing an enemy or hunting monsters. The longer the hunt, the stronger the effect.

??? – (A new skill has appeared, but the details are unknown.)

Magic:

[No Named Magic] – A spell has been unlocked, but its chant and effect remain undiscovered.

Orcbolg studied the new information. A new skill. New magic. And the Hunter development ability.

Hestia fidgeted beside him. "I don't know what that second skill is… but it's there. And your magic…" She pointed at the unnamed spell. "You'll have to figure out what it does on your own."

Orcbolg clenched his fist.

Something was stirring inside him. A power he didn't fully understand yet.

He exhaled. "I'll figure it out."

Hestia smiled, though her eyes were still full of worry. "…Just promise me you won't push yourself too hard, okay?"

He didn't answer.

Guild Headquarters – Breaking News

"What?! That masked adventurer from Hestia Familia reached Level 2 in just six months?!"

A guild employee nearly dropped her stack of papers, eyes wide in shock. The entire Guild Headquarters was in an uproar.

Eina Tulle sighed as she listened to the chatter around her. "Orcbolg… He really did it."

She wasn't entirely surprised. He had always been relentless. Pushing forward without hesitation, taking on challenges most would flee from. But this… Six months. No one had ever reached Level 2 so fast—not even Ais Wallenstein, the Sword Princess.

And now, all of Orario knew his name.

Hestia Familia Home – The Church

"…So you're famous now."

Hestia grinned as she placed a steaming plate of food in front of Orcbolg, who sat at the small wooden table.

Ever since the news broke, their home had been swarmed. Adventurers wanted to challenge him. Some tried to recruit him to their Familia. Even gods had come by, curious about the man who had broken Ais Wallenstein's record.

But he ignored them all.

"Are you really just gonna sit here and eat while the whole city talks about you?" Hestia teased, watching him dig into his meal.

He simply nodded.

She huffed. "Geez, at least act a little excited! You worked so hard for this."

Orcbolg paused for a moment, then spoke.

"…My goal has changed."

Hestia blinked. "Huh?"

He set his fork down and looked at her.

"I don't want to hunt goblins anymore."

A long silence filled the room. Hestia's eyes widened slightly.

"…What?" she whispered.

"I want to be a real adventurer." His voice was calm, steady. "To seek adventure. To find joy in it."

Hestia stared at him, stunned.

Since the day she met him, he had only ever cared about one thing. Hunting goblins. That singular, unwavering purpose had defined him.

And now, he was letting it go.

"Orcbolg…" Hestia swallowed, suddenly feeling emotional. "That's… a big change."

He nodded.

She gave him a small smile. "…Do you feel lost?"

He thought about it.

For years, his life had been nothing but hunting goblins. No joy, no dreams, only the duty of extermination. But here, in Orario, things were different. He had fought beside others, not alone. He had experienced battles beyond just slaying monsters in the dark.

For the first time, he had felt something new.

"No," he answered. "I feel… free."

Hestia's heart clenched. She reached across the table, placing her small hands over his.

"…Then I'm happy for you," she said softly. "You finally found something more."

A gentle smile spread across her lips.

"Congratulations, Orcbolg. You're not just a goblin slayer anymore. You're a true adventurer."

And as Orario buzzed with excitement over his record-breaking achievement—

Orcbolg quietly took his first step into a new future.

(A/N : Still have some chapter left for the epilogue, or aftermath, or whatever, before Hiatus.)