Chapter 5:The Goddess and Falna

Right now, my wife is pulling me. Ahem, I mean, my goddess is pulling me.

Seeing his goddess so excited, Reinhardt asked in confusion, "Goddess, is it really okay to leave your stall behind?"

"Eh?! Stall? Oh, it's fine, it's fine! I can sell my food anytime! But getting a Familia member? This is a rare chance!"

With enthusiasm, Hestia grabbed Reinhardt's hand, pulling him as they ran through the streets of Orario. The petite girl looked so full of energy, her twin ponytails bouncing with every step. Despite her small frame, her excitement felt enormous—like an endless ball of energy.

Reinhardt glanced back briefly. Hestia's small food stall remained there, completely abandoned. "But what if someone steals your goods?" he asked, perplexed.

"Who would steal my Jagamarukun?!" Hestia huffed. "Besides, I can always make more tomorrow! You're way more important than fried potatoes! Now, come on!"

Seeing her excitement, Reinhardt could only sigh and follow along. This goddess was truly something else…

They eventually arrived in Orario's western district. Compared to the grand buildings and bright lights of the city center, this place was much quieter. The cobblestone streets looked worn, the houses simpler, and some buildings appeared abandoned.

Hestia led Reinhardt to an old, unused church. Despite its age, the structure stood firm, with moss-covered stone walls and several broken windows. At its center was a large wooden door with a rusty iron handle.

"This is my home!" Hestia declared proudly, puffing out her chest—even though the place looked more like ruins than a livable home.

Reinhardt stared at the old church with a blank expression. "Seriously?"

"Hey, don't look at me like that! Sure, it's not a fancy mansion, but it's cozy enough!"

Reinhardt eyed the moss-covered walls and the ceiling that looked ready to collapse. "...If you say so."

Hestia pushed open the door and stepped inside, pulling Reinhardt along. The interior felt warmer than the outside. Though dust gathered in some corners, the place was relatively clean. Wooden pews, once used for worship, had been moved aside, leaving a spacious open area.

At the back, a small staircase led underground. Hestia pointed downward. "Come on, my bed is down there!"

Reinhardt followed her down the steps into a smaller, cozier room. It resembled a personal bedroom, with a soft mattress on the floor, a small bookshelf, and a simple wooden table. Dim candlelight flickered in the corners, casting a warm glow.

Hestia turned around, placing her hands on her hips with a confident expression. "Alright, it's time for you to get your Falna! Hurry up and take off your shirt!"

Reinhardt paused for a moment.

"...Take off my shirt?"

"Of course! I need to apply the Falna on your back!" Hestia replied as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Letting out a small sigh, Reinhardt removed his shirt and set it beside the mattress. As soon as his bare skin was revealed, Hestia froze.

Reinhardt's body was not just muscular—it was a masterpiece. Every muscle was perfectly sculpted, with not an ounce of unnecessary fat. Like a warrior forged through endless training, his physique radiated overwhelming strength.

This was the result of 15 years of relentless training in this world.

As his masters once said, his body was a humanoid war machine—born for battle.

Hestia swallowed hard.

"…Umm, isn't this a bit too intimidating and aggressive?" she muttered softly. Her cheeks turned slightly pink, but she quickly shook her head, trying to banish any strange thoughts.

Reinhardt noticed Hestia's odd expression. He didn't know what she was thinking, but one word popped into his mind as he looked at her face.

Cute.

Her pout, the slight twitch of her ears, and her flushed cheeks made her look like a sulking kitten.

Reinhardt let out a small smile.

"What?" Hestia asked, noticing his gaze.

"Nothing," Reinhardt replied casually.

Hestia narrowed her eyes in suspicion but eventually brushed it off and started preparing the Falna ritual. Sitting behind Reinhardt, her fingers moved, tracing divine symbols onto his back. The moment her divine blood touched his skin, a faint blue glow emerged.

A blessing had been granted.

The Falna began forming on Reinhardt's back. The divine energy flowing through him felt normal—at first. But as the symbols started appearing…

Hestia's eyes widened.

"…Huh?"

She blinked. Once. Twice.

She rubbed her eyes. No, she wasn't imagining things.

"This… this isn't a normal skill…"

Reinhardt glanced back. "Is something wrong?"

Hestia looked at him with an expression that was hard to describe—a mix of admiration, shock, and… a hint of excitement?

"This… is amazing!"

She quickly grabbed paper and a pen, copying down Reinhardt's status. Once she finished, she handed it to him.

[Status Panel – Reinhardt]

Name: Reinhardt Vale

Race: Human

Level: 1

Basic Abilities:

STR: I-0 | END: I-0 | DEX: I-0 | AGI: I-0 | MAG: I-0

Magic:

– (No magic yet)

Skills:

[King's Aura] → Emits an intimidating aura that unsettles enemies and grants absolute composure in all situations.

[Spear Mastery] → Exceptional talent in spear combat, capable of mastering techniques at an accelerated rate.

Hestia's eyes sparkled as she stared at Reinhardt's status, looking like she had just discovered a treasure.

Hestia: "Look at this! This is incredible, Reinhardt! I've never seen skills like this at level 1! You're truly gifted!"

She eagerly handed the status paper to Reinhardt, who took it calmly.

"Hmmm…"

He examined the paper carefully, not particularly surprised by the results. It was as he expected.

"So this is it… 'King's Aura' and 'Spear Mastery'."

He gave a small nod, showing no extreme reaction.

Hestia grinned proudly. "Hehehe! You're really something, you know? With just these two skills, you'll grow much faster than an average adventurer!"

But deep inside, Hestia felt a little guilty. She tightly gripped another piece of paper—the original status sheet, before she edited it.

On the real sheet, there was an additional skill she hadn't shown him.

[Hidden Skill: Unrestrained Desire] – Fighting is my wish. Fighting is my joy. In battles of life and death, my growth increases drastically.

Hestia bit her lip, feeling uneasy.

"I can't let him know… If he realizes he has this skill, he'll keep seeking dangerous battles. I can't let him take risks like that! If he dies… I'll never forgive myself."

Reinhardt glanced at Hestia, who had suddenly gone quiet. His brows furrowed slightly.

"Hestia-sama, is something wrong?"

Hestia snapped out of her thoughts, quickly forcing a bright smile. "W-What? Nothing at all! I'm just still amazed by your incredible status! Hehehe!"

Reinhardt observed her for a moment before shifting his gaze back to his status. For a brief second, he felt like something was off. But he didn't press further.

Hestia, eager to change the subject, spoke with excitement.

"Listen, Reinhardt! With King's Aura, you can make enemies tremble just by standing in front of them! And Spear Mastery! Wow, you'll become a spear master in no time! With just these skills, you're already on the right path to becoming a top adventurer!"

Reinhardt gave a small smile but said nothing. Deep inside, he knew something had been hidden from him. But for now, he chose to stay silent.

He looked at his excited, caring, and—beneath all her cheerfulness—slightly anxious goddess.

"I understand… I want to protect her."

Reinhardt clenched the status paper slightly, then lifted his gaze to his small goddess.

"Thank you, Hestia-sama."

Hestia blinked, slightly surprised. "Huh? For what?"

Reinhardt put away his status sheet, stretched his body a little, and smiled. "For everything."

Hestia's face turned a little red, flustered yet pleased.

"Hmph! Don't thank me just yet! You still have to work hard! If you want to succeed in Orario, you have to become the greatest adventurer ever!"

Reinhardt chuckled softly and nodded.

"Of course."

But deep in his heart, he knew—one day, he would stand at the very top.