It had been a couple of centuries since Kelios was reborn in the world of Danmachi, and honestly, life here had proven to be a significant improvement over his previous one. Back then, Kelios struggled to get by and live comfortably in a harsh economy. The only things that kept him going were his family, his friends, his desire to help others, and his love for anime and manga.
Kelios had died from overexertion while working as a firefighter, sacrificing his life to save a mother and her child. In a desperate bid to protect them, he gave them his mask and bunker gear to shield them from the flames. Carrying both of them through a small opening he created with his flathead axe had been grueling. The experience was unbearable—lugging two people while slowly roasting alive and feeling his skin char was pure agony.
Despite the pain, Kelios managed to deliver them to safety, dying on his feet as his body finally gave out. He didn't regret his choice, though he now carried a lingering fear of burning alive again. If there was one thing Kelios could say, it was that he died like Adam from Record of Ragnarok—with a smile on his face. The last thing he wanted was to leave them with more trauma than they had already endured. He did feel sorry for the family he left behind, but he knew they would understand. While in the line of duty, the lives of others were his responsibility to protect, even from the deadliest flames.
When Kelios was reborn, he was greeted by a group of surprised gods. It had been millennia since a newborn god had been birthed—especially out of nowhere. What astonished them even more was his divinity and the unique authority that seemed to define him. Craftsmanship, Nature, Loyalty, Justice, and Mentorship were the divine domains etched into his very being. These traits were engraved in his mind from the moment he awoke.
He was given the name "Kelios" by three virgin goddesses who first discovered him in the overlapping boundaries of their divine domains. Who were they? Hestia, Athena, and Artemis. The most puzzling fact about Kelios's rebirth was his slow unusual growth. Unlike other gods, he did not appear as an adult. Instead, Kelios looked like a four-year-old child.
During this period, the three goddesses decided to take him under their care, each declaring themselves as Kelios's guardians. How was this even allowed or possible? Kelios could only assume that, at the time, the gods sought some form of entertainment, as Orario had yet to be created, and the mortal world was still plagued by the three ancient monsters having escaped to the surface.
Athena took it upon herself to educate Kelios, helping him develop his authority and refine his divinity in every possible way. Meanwhile, Artemis and Hestia seemed more inclined to coddle him like their own child. Kelios didn't mind, though. He enjoyed the attention—especially being pampered with Hestia's delicious meals.
As the centuries came by and the feats of the mortals impressed the godds.The gods were ready to descend and lend their strength to battle monsters through the creation of Familia.
—-
"Kelios! We've decided to descend to the mortal world now that the city of Orario has been created. It's time for us to start our Familias. This is our farewell until you decide to descend. When you do, we'll already have residences prepared for you to create your own Familia. Ouranos has given his word, so you don't have to worry," Athena explained, her tone steady.
Beside her, Artemis stood quietly, guilt evident in her expression. She must have assumed Kelios would be upset at not being informed earlier, but it didn't bother him. The story seemed to be following the same general direction as in the anime, and the timeline appeared aligned. What he did know was that Hestia would be the last of the three to descend to the mortal realm.
"It's alright, Artemis. I've always known heaven has been getting a bit stale to live in, with all the duties imposed on us. Descending is a great way to escape them, right?" Kelios teased in a joking manner, prompting a sheepish grin from her. "Before you two descend, I have some parting gifts prepared. I've been working on these for a while, just in case. I can only sneak one for each of you before Ouranos notices."
As Kelios pondered over what he could give them, he finally decided on two magical artifacts—earrings crafted specifically for Athena and Artemis. Each earring held two effects. The first was designed to make recruiting talented and loyal adventurers easier. The second granted the wearer limited authority to use a portion of their divine powers without risking the destruction of the mortal realm. It was precisely this destructive potential that prevented the gods from simply descending to slay the last remaining one-eyed Ancient Dragon outright. Their unrestrained power could devastate the world unintentionally.
When Athena and Artemis accepted the gifts, Kelios gave them each a brief hug. By now, he had reached their height, appearing like a 14-year-old despite being over 300 years old.
"Don't worry about me and enjoy Orario, Sensei," Kelios said, looking at Athena. "I hope you can keep Artemis out of trouble. She tends to overreact, after all."
"What do you mean by that, Kelios-kun? I have never acted unjustly in my wrath!" Artemis retorted indignantly.
Kelios could only shake his head, recalling the numerous instances where she had unleashed a volley of arrows, turning her targets into porcupines. While he didn't fully remember every god's name, he did remember those who were important to him and the story.
He planned to wait until the Astrea Familia rose to prominence during the Great Feud of Familias. That would be the ideal time to meet Ryuu and work to lessen—or even prevent—the tragedy that would eventually lead to the Familia's disbandment in the dungeon. Based on his estimates, it would be at least 300 years before the Astrea Familia was established, as the goddess still resided in heaven.
"I'll remain here a while longer with Hestia to keep her company. She's bound to feel lonely since the two of you are her closest companions," Kelios added. "I also want to study under a few gods to improve my authority over craftsmanship."
Kelios could already imagine the tantrum Hestia would throw when she discovered their departure. She had always been clingy, practically glued to him, and she was likely uninformed about their decision to leave.
This period also gave Kelios the perfect opportunity to contemplate creating support trinkets to store in his custom-made inventory bag. His goal was to have his Familia immediately well-equipped when he eventually formed it. His craftsmanship focused more on tools for exploration and escape. Offensive items, on the other hand, were risky, as they held fragments of his authority over nature. Such power would cause widespread chaos, which couldn't be managed until adventurers reached Level 7 or higher.
Kelios's current ambition was to create an artifact capable of increasing the amount of Excelia and stat growth his Familia members could gain. He wasn't expecting his creations to match Bell's rapid growth, fueled by his obsession with Ais. Nor was Kelios aiming for his Familia members to max out their stats instantly—every individual had their own pace of development. But if his artifacts could give his Familia an edge over the more established Familias in Orario, it would be a welcome advantage.
He couldn't fully rely on Athena, as her role in the story wasn't entirely clear to him. However, Artemis would likely explore the outskirts of Orario with her Familia before settling down properly.