Looking at my status plate, I couldn't help but feel satisfied.
[Ryan – Level: 54
Cultivation Rank: 95
Abilities: Luck, Blacksmithing, Mystery, Mixing, Metallurgy…]
I had picked up several abilities that would aid not only in blacksmithing but also in alchemy and artifact creation. A solid foundation for what I had planned.
The moment I mentioned these skills, the girls had rushed off to dive into the dungeon, eager to grow stronger. I had no doubt Fleur and Hermione would develop auxiliary abilities suited to their magical expertise—perhaps even the coveted Mage ability, which enhanced spellcasting.
As for the others, I expected combat-oriented skills like Swordsman, Spearman, Fist Fighter, and the like. Beyond the pursuit of power, they were simply eager to explore the dungeon and test themselves.
Well, most of them.
Lili had stayed behind, still recovering and diligently taking potions to regain her strength. As expected, Winky had zero interest in the dungeon, preferring to busy herself with household tasks.
Our daily beatings under Scathach hadn't ceased, either. If anything, she seemed to relish our suffering.
The ones who suffered the most? Apacci and Mila Rose.
Those two bickered like cats and dogs at every opportunity, which only led to Scathach making their training extra brutal.
"If you still have the energy to fight each other," she had said with a wicked smirk, "then clearly, I'm not training you hard enough."
Sure enough, they quickly learned to shut up in her presence, barely having the energy to glare at each other by the end of each session.
For today, I had planned to relax a bit—until pop!
"Master, Miss Rose is here," Winky announced, appearing beside me.
"Alright, let her in."
A minute later, Rose stepped into the room, dressed in business casual as always, though she seemed slightly puzzled as she glanced around.
"Where is everyone?"
"The dungeon," I replied simply. "So, what's up?"
"There are two goddesses at the Guild requesting to meet you," she informed me. "One of them is Hephaestus."
I raised a brow. "I don't think I've ever met Hephaestus before. Why would she be looking for me?"
Rose gave me a pointed look. "You didn't do anything to offend her, did you? Her Familia forges most of the weapons and armor in Orario. She has quite a bit of influence."
I shook my head. "Nope. Never met her."
She exhaled in relief before adding, "The other goddess is Hestia. She recently descended and is looking for members for her Familia."
Oh? Hestia?
That was interesting. A stay-at-home goddess with a kind heart, though she'd struggle early on. I didn't need a falna, but I was curious about how it might interact with me.
"Sure, I'll see what they want." I turned to Lili, who had been quietly nibbling on cookies nearby. "Lili, come on. We're heading to the Guild."
Her ears perked up immediately. "Okay!" She hopped up, hurriedly brushing off crumbs before grabbing my hand.
---
Walking into the Guild, I spotted two distinct figures waiting at one of the reception counters.
Hephaestus was striking—even with her signature eyepatch covering one eye, she had a strong yet refined presence. Dressed in her usual red-and-black attire, she exuded confidence and craftsmanship.
Beside her stood Hestia, looking much smaller in comparison, her bright blue eyes darting around nervously. The moment she spotted me, she practically lit up.
"Wow! You're really strong, aren't you?" she exclaimed, clasping her hands together. "I heard some crazy rumors about you!"
I chuckled. "Depends on what rumors you've heard."
She looked me up and down, then turned to Hephaestus. "He looks strong! And he even has a Pallum following him around like a little sister!"
Lili stiffened slightly but didn't let go of my hand.
Hephaestus crossed her arms. "Enough chatter, Hestia. We came to see if the rumors were true." She focused back on me, her lone eye scrutinizing. "You're the one who brought a household of powerful warriors into Orario overnight, aren't you?"
I met Hephaestus's gaze evenly, sensing the weight behind her words. She wasn't one for idle conversation—she was here to evaluate me. Given that my group had only entered the dungeon today, there hadn't been enough time for them to cause any real waves yet.
Apparently, Syr had accidentally let slip that I had some rather powerful family members—her revenge for a minor embarrassment she suffered at the Hostess of Fertility. I had a feeling she was enjoying the chaos this would bring.
"I suppose you could say that," I replied casually. "We came to train and explore the dungeon. Nothing more, nothing less."
Hephaestus narrowed her eye slightly, gauging my sincerity. She wasn't one to tolerate lies—gods could instinctively tell.
"You're not affiliated with any Familia, correct?"
"Correct. My people don't rely on a falna to grow stronger."
That made Hephaestus pause. It was common knowledge that adventurers needed a god's blessing to level up. For someone to claim otherwise was… unusual, if not outright impossible. Yet, she didn't call me a liar. Instead, she nodded.
"That makes things more interesting," she admitted. "A lot of people are curious about you."
I smirked. "Word travels fast in Orario, huh?"
"It does," she confirmed. "So, tell me—are you a blacksmith?"
"I am," I nodded. "Still learning, though I recently picked up the Blacksmith ability."
Hephaestus raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "You forge your own weapons?"
"Yes. And I have some you've probably never seen before, including some rare metals."
That seemed to pique her interest.
"I'd like to see," she said firmly. "If you have what you claim, we might be able to work something out."
Before I could respond, Hestia suddenly leaned forward, practically bouncing.
"Wait, wait, wait! Before we talk about that, I have an important question!"
I turned to her, amused. "And what might that be?"
"Do you have a Familia?" she asked eagerly. "Because if you don't, you should totally join mine!"
I chuckled, raising a hand to stop her enthusiastic rambling.
"Actually, I was going to ask if you wanted to join my family."
Hestia froze. "Eh?"
Hephaestus blinked in surprise.
"You want me to join your Familia?" Hestia pointed to herself.
I nodded. "You want a family, right? I already have one. But I could use a Goddess to make things official."
Hestia's eyes widened. And then—
"Yessssss!!"
She practically tackled me, latching on like an overly excited koala.
"Are you serious?!" she asked, her blue eyes shining.
I chuckled. "Yeah, I'm serious. Welcome to the family."
Hephaestus sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Hestia, you're going to suffocate him."
Hestia finally let go, beaming. "Best. Decision. EVER!"
Hephaestus shook her head but smiled slightly. "At least I know she'll be taken care of." Then she turned back to me, serious once more.
"But about our earlier discussion—if you have rare metals, I want proof. Bring me something. If it meets my standards, we'll talk business."
I met her gaze. "Tomorrow, at your workshop?"
"Tomorrow," she confirmed.
With that settled, Hestia clung to me excitedly.
"My Familia is real!"
I patted her head. "Alright, let's go make it official."
Hestia grinned. "You won't regret this, Ryan! I promise!"