Iinuma Isao.
Level 1.
Strength: I0 —> H211
Endurance: I0 —> G359
Dexterity: I0 —> H231
Agility: I0 —> H276
Magic: I0 —> H201
As usual, his magic, skill, and curse couldn't be seen; they were still like static dots on the television when there were no shows.
However, the improvement that Isao gained from two days of his venture into the dungeon was crazy!
What was this?!
Hestia was at a loss, but she knew that it should be related to his magic, skill, and curse, which couldn't be seen.
Or rather, wasn't it strange for one to have something like a curse?
Unlike a skill and a magic, the chance for one to have a curse was so rare. If it was a Gacha game, then it would be Ultra Rare or something similar.
Yet, not only was Isao a curse, but he also had skills and magic. Unfortunately, Hestia could see nothing. Frankly, she wanted to use her real ability, which she sealed to see what was hidden in his body, but she endured it, and as long as he never left her, she was fine with it.
"...if it's like this, then it won't be long before you become a Level 2..."
Hestia could tell that Isao was an exception, but then again, she didn't expect that he would be this special.
Or rather, in just two days, Isao could gain 1,278 points!
Usually, one could level up to the next level when their status reached a D-rank, but if that was the case, then Isao might not even need a week to become a Level 2!
Knowing this fact, Hestia was glad that Hephaestus wasn't around, but she also became nervous. She felt that Isao might go far away, leaving her, which made her scared.
"Hestia?"
Isao, who looked at a copy of his status, tensed when two massive softnesses pressed tightly against his bare back. While he might say that Hestia wasn't his type since he loved the mature one, Hestia's chest was clearly mature, and he couldn't deny that she was a beautiful woman.
Yes, he might become a good person, but even the deity could make a mistake; he, who was a human, what could he do?
At this moment, he realized how cunning the deity was.
Even though the mortals tried their best to become pure and good for the world, it was the god who seduced the mortals and pulled them into the deep abyss.
"...you won't leave me, right?" Hestia asked in a trembling voice.
Isao turned his head and looked at Hestia, who clung to his back tightly. "You are worried about that?"
"O-Of course!" Hestia looked up at him with reddened eyes. "I am like this after all, and you can go to a better Familia!"
Usually, one would shake their heads and be reassured that Hestia wouldn't leave her, but—
"You are right." Isao nodded. "Maybe I should change my Familia!"
"NOOOO!!!" Hestia clung directly to his head, pulling Isao's head into her white abyss.
They were soft, warm, and smelled nice, Isao thought.
"Don't leave me!"
"Then, don't doubt me." Even if his face pressed against her mature chest, Isao tried to appear solemn, but it was impossible. "I have told you so many times that I will be part of your Familia. Don't doubt my determination! I have chosen you! You are the goddess that Isao Iinuma has chosen. You should have confidence that you are better than any deity in this world!"
Frankly, as a goddess, Isao felt that Hestia was too desperate and lacked confidence.
This woman was an existence that could destroy a country or two if she wished to, yet she begged him like a licking dog.
While Isao didn't mind comforting her, if she continued to doubt him, then it was too annoying.
"Isao..."
Hestia's eyes reddened.
No, she was crying while hugging him tightly.
"I LOVE YOU! I LOVE YOU! I LOVE YOU!"
"I know. I know." Isao was helpless, patting her head softly. "You don't have to repeat that. Let's sleep. I want to wake up early tomorrow."
"How cold!" Hestia pouted, helpless by the lack of his reaction. Even though she had confessed to him... shouldn't he be happier? Still, she decided to throw this matter aside and asked, "We're going to sleep together, right?"
"Do you want me to sleep on the sofa again?"
"No, sleep on my bed with me later!"
With all of that, they lay together on the same bed.
While Isao was a good person and wouldn't do anything that would hurt a woman, Hestia wasn't a good goddess since she took advantage of her Familia's member kindness, using his chest as a pillow, moving so close that it gave him a hard time sleeping.
Instead of a goddess, Isao felt like he had gotten a clingy pet for some reason.
"It's warm..."
Still, even if Isao thought something rude, Hestia didn't care and snuggled into him.
"It's hard to sleep like this."
"Aren't you happy that you have a beautiful goddess to beg you to sleep like this?"
"Hmm... well, I am happy."
"Right?" Hestia showed a sweet smile and then said, "Don't—" She quickly stopped, took a deep breath, and said, "Let's be together from now on."
This time, the words that came out from her lips were more comfortable.
"Yeah."
Isao patted her head softly, which made her smile.
As for his status?
Well, it didn't matter since if Isao could become stronger faster, it would all be fine, right?
As for the others, they could think about that later.
Still, Hestia wondered whether they were meeting fate.
If Isao knew that, he would nod since their meeting was fate, and gravity pulled them to meet each other.
Yes, he might have been born extraordinary, but even so, he couldn't defeat gravity.
It was also because of this conversation that their relationship became closer, and Hestia also tried to cook dinner for him. Even though she was the laziest deity and spent most of her time as a shut-in or mooching her friend, she tried to cook dinner for Isao, who went home after working hard in the dungeon.
"How is it?"
"It's delicious."
Hearing those words, Hestia felt that her hard work paid off.
Still, such days continued, and Isao kept working as an adventure in discipline, going out to work at eight in the morning and then going home at five in the evening. He saved his money and only bought the necessary items for his life with Hestia. He didn't drink alcohol, and he never skipped a day.
Isao kept doing that for so many days, ignoring the invitations of many adventures who came to him, wishing to invite him to their party.
Only Eina, his advisor, couldn't stay calm any longer. "Isao-kun, are you okay?"
"Hmm? I am fine." Isao nodded, then looked at Eina with doubt. "Is there something wrong with me?"
"No, there is nothing wrong... but don't you want to do something except go to the dungeon?"
Eina had to say it was her time to see someone like Isao, who was so disciplined. Many might wish to become stronger, but was there anyone who could be like Isao, who could be so strict with himself like this?
While she was amazed by his diligence, she was also worried.
Isao looked at Eina for a while and asked, "As my advisor, what advice do you want to give me?"
It was as if Eina had waited for this moment, so she asked with a sweet smile, "Do you want to go on a date with me?" She thought that Isao would be embarrassed, shy, blushing, or even happy, but this guy only stared at her in silence.
"...." Isao.
"He-Hey, say something!" Eina felt embarrassed and complained, "This is my first time to invite a man on a date, you know...?" Her voice was murmuring, and she lost her calm, especially when she could read nothing from his expression.
Would he agree with her invitation?
Only—
"Sure."
"Eh? Really?"
Watching Eina's excitement, Isao nodded. "I have promised to treat you before, and I will do that tomorrow."
"I thought that you forgot about it," Eina tried to poke where it was hurt.
"I'll never forget." Isao shook him as if he had never forgotten about their promise.
"Really? If I don't invite you on a date, then you might have forgotten it, right?" Eina was still in doubt.
"Really. Don't doubt me."
"Well... I believe in you." Eina decided to believe in Isao.
Isao nodded, satisfied by how gullible Eina was, then said, "But I am not familiar with Orario. I have only been in the dungeon, after all, so I might not be able to give you an appropriate date."
"You don't have to worry. I will take you around tomorrow," Eina said kindly, as if a guy who wanted to show off to the girl was going to take a date.
"Thanks." Isao thanked Eina. "Then, I will see you tomorrow."
"Okay, see you in the morning, and let's meet on..."
As they made their appointment, Isao left the guild.
Watching his back, Eina, who had always been so calm, took a deep breath before she dropped to the ground and touched her reddened cheeks.
"How can I be so shameless?!"
Realizing that she had invited him on a date, Eina felt her cheeks flush red, both anticipating and nervous about their date tomorrow.
Only while Eina was happy did Hestia look at Isao, who dressed in a refreshing way, seemingly appearing like someone who relaxed. "Are you not going to the dungeon, Isao-kun?"
His usual rebel, manly fashion was nice, but this neat, bookish, and intellectual man fashion was also great~!
"No, I am going to take a break today."
"Really? Then, can we go together?" Hestia asked happily, thinking that they would go on a date, but—
"Sorry, I can't."
"Huh? Why? Do you have an appointment or something?" Hestia asked, but her heart was filled with dread, thinking of a certain possibility.
"I am going on a date," Isao said calmly. "See you later at night."
"..."
Hestia lost her voice for the first time and just fell into a daze as her eyes widened. She was rooted in her place and could only react when Isao was long gone.
"I-Isao is going to be stolen!"
Still, Isao never knew that, like every protagonist in the story today, he would encounter the problem of his peaceful life, especially when a group of people with similar uniforms stared at him from the dark.
---
The trouble is coming!
By the way, have any of you watched "Maison Ikkoku"? It seems quite interesting since it is about love between a young man and a widow, but then there are too many episodes, so I am a bit lazy to watch it.
Still, if any of you watched it, can you tell me your thoughts about it?
By the way, I want to ask.
Imagine this: you're in a hypothetical situation. You're faced with a choice between a beautiful but financially struggling woman who would rely on you for a living or a woman who may not be conventionally beautiful but is financially secure, ensuring your future. What would you do in this scenario?
If you were given those two choices, who would you choose?
Don't say both. You can't have a harem in real life.