Chapter 3: Understanding orario

The wooden carriage creaked softly as it rolled over the rocky road, swaying with each uneven patch it encountered. Reinhardt sat at the back, enjoying the gentle breeze that rustled through the trees along the path. The sky was clear, without a single cloud, promising a smooth journey ahead.

In front of him, the old man he had saved sat comfortably, occasionally stroking his white beard. Meanwhile, the young girl—who appeared to be his granddaughter—remained silent beside him, still visibly nervous every time she glanced at Reinhardt.

Finally, the old man spoke.

"You're quite the skilled fighter, young man."

Reinhardt offered a small smile. "Thank you, sir."

The old man chuckled. "You can call me Bartos. And this is my granddaughter, Lily."

The girl named Lily lowered her head slightly. "Th-Thank you again for your help..." she said softly.

Reinhardt simply nodded in response.

After a brief silence, Bartos looked at him with interest.

"So, what brings you to Orario?"

Reinhardt didn't answer immediately. After all, he couldn't just say that he came from another world and knew everything about the city from anime and manga.

"I want to become an adventurer."

Upon hearing that, Bartos raised an eyebrow. "Oh? That's a noble goal, but also a dangerous one. Do you already have a Familia?"

Reinhardt shook his head. "Not yet. This is my first time going to Orario."

Bartos nodded thoughtfully, then smiled. "In that case, I'll give you some information. I'm sure there are many things you don't know about the city."

Reinhardt listened carefully. This was a valuable opportunity.

Even though he had watched the anime, reality was different.

Bartos began his explanation. "Orario is the only city in this world with access to the Dungeon. That's why it has become a hub for adventurers and gods alike."

Reinhardt already knew this from the anime, but he focused on listening anyway.

"The Dungeon itself is a mysterious place. No one knows how it was formed, not even the gods. But one thing is certain—monsters constantly respawn inside, and the deeper you go, the stronger they become."

"Then, how do adventurers survive?" Reinhardt asked.

Bartos smiled. "That's where the role of Familias becomes important."

"In Orario, no one can fight in the Dungeon without the blessing of a god. That's why every adventurer joins a Familia."

Reinhardt nodded. "So a god grants Falna—divine blessings—to their followers, allowing them to grow stronger?"

Bartos looked surprised. "Hmm, it seems you already know a little."

Reinhardt just gave a small smile.

"Yes, Falna allows a person to develop as if they were in a game. Their status increases as they fight and defeat monsters. That way, they can level up and become stronger."

"But not all Familias focus on the Dungeon, right?" Reinhardt asked.

Bartos nodded. "Exactly! There are many Familias with different goals. Some focus on business and trade, some on crafting weapons and armor, and others handle the city's politics and administration. But the most famous ones, of course, are the Familias filled with elite adventurers who explore the Dungeon."

"What about life in the city itself?" Reinhardt asked.

Bartos let out a long sigh. "Orario is like a small world of its own. Within it, you'll find various races—humans, elves, dwarves, beastmen, and many more. Each race has its own customs, and sometimes, there's tension between them."

Reinhardt recalled how, in the anime, elves often acted arrogantly toward humans, while dwarves preferred to work as blacksmiths or warriors.

"Besides that, there are districts you need to know about," Bartos continued. "For example, the northern district is where most adventurer Familias gather. There, you'll find the headquarters of some major Familias, like Loki Familia and Freya Familia."

"And the other districts?"

"The eastern district is the main trade area, where many weapon and armor shops are located. If you need equipment, that's the place to go. Meanwhile, the western district is mostly home to common folk and merchants."

"What about the southern district?"

Bartos hesitated slightly before answering. "The southern district… is different. It's the entertainment district, filled with bars, casinos, and brothels. It's also where Ishtar Familia operates."

Reinhardt remembered that Familia from the anime—a group that controlled the entertainment business in the city but also had a dark side.

"And what about the leveling system?"

Bartos chuckled. "Ah, this part is the most interesting. Every adventurer who receives Falna has a status consisting of several main attributes—Strength, Endurance, Agility, Dexterity, and Magic. The more they fight, the higher their attribute numbers rise."

Reinhardt nodded. "But it takes more than just high numbers to level up, right?"

Bartos looked at him with admiration. "You're quite sharp. That's right, leveling up isn't just about increasing your stats. To go from Level 1 to Level 2, an adventurer must experience 'significant growth'—an extraordinary achievement that proves they have truly developed as an adventurer."

"So no matter how high someone's stats are, they can still be stuck at Level 1 if they don't experience real growth?"

"Exactly."

Reinhardt thought for a moment. So that's why so few adventurers ever reached Level 2 or beyond. It took more than just training; they had to prove themselves in real situations.

Even though Reinhardt had watched DanMachi, it had already been 15 years since he arrived in this world. It would be a lie to say he still remembered the entire storyline.

After several days of travel, an astonishing sight finally appeared in the distance.

Amidst the vast plains stood a grand city, its towering stone walls encircling it like an impenetrable fortress.

And at the heart of the city—a colossal tower stretched into the sky, like a pillar supporting the world itself.

Babel.

Reinhardt took a deep breath.

"So this is… Orario."

Bartos smiled at his expression. "Yes, young man. Welcome to the City of Adventurers."

With his heart pounding in excitement, Reinhardt gripped his spear tightly.