sonovelo Chapter 358: Yearning for Heroes in the Dungeon Isn't Wrong
Chapter 358: Yearning for Heroes in the Dungeon Isn't Wrong
Chapter 358: Yearning for Heroes in the Dungeon Isn't Wrong
West Street, abandoned church.
Roy, Hestia, and Bell looked at each other, their eyes meeting in a strange silence.
Finally, Roy spoke first, "Bell, this is the goddess Hestia, a very—excellent chief god. She is both wise and lovely, and wealthy and lovely. Perhaps she can become your chief god."
"hey-hey!"
Hestia, completely oblivious to what was amiss, beamed with a cute and charming smile.
Little Bell's eyes were strange. Mr. Roy's words didn't seem to be a compliment. He shook his head. The most important thing now was to join the clan.
Roy said, "Lord Hestia, this is Bell Crane, a newcomer who wants to become an adventurer and wishes to join your familia."
"Huff! Huff! Huff!"
Hestia stared intently at Bell.
Having heard that most gods are eccentric, Bell greeted them cautiously, "Greetings, Your Excellency."
A moment later, Hestia's eyes shifted from shock and blankness to excitement and fervor. "I finally have a familiar—Waaaaah, Roy, thank you!"
Hestia rushed over, her petite body almost clinging to Roy, burying her lovely face deep in Roy's arms, and bursting into tears.
Roy smirked, "You can cry, but don't wipe your tears and snot on my clothes!"
It's not that Hestia's reaction is incomprehensible. During this time, she didn't give up on recruiting followers, but without exception, she was rejected by all of them.
To date, the highest record is 59 people.
Hestia's expectations had dropped to rock bottom; she was so desperate that she begged even the owner of the potato ball stand.
He gained fame for helping Roy and his group conquer the Underworld, but it was of little use. The newcomers were very shrewd, and Hestia, with its lack of resources, could not bring them any benefit, so they naturally avoided it.
Some people were interested in becoming Hestia's family members because of her relationship with the Astrea Familia, but they became hesitant when they heard that Hestia still lived in the abandoned church.
With the wealth of the Astrea Familia, it would be easy for them to build Hestia a luxurious villa. Since they didn't, does it mean that their relationship isn't as close as one might imagine?
This is what makes many newcomers hesitate.
It's important to understand that joining a clan is no small matter. Once you choose to become a member of that clan, your life and death are almost entirely in the hands of that deity.
If that god deliberately doesn't update their ability values, their strength will be permanently stuck. Not everyone can level up on their own like Roy.
Their careers were over when they were toyed with by capricious gods or forced to accept harsh conditions, and a century passed in the blink of an eye.
An immortal god can continue to torment others, but the price they pay is vastly different.
Moreover, it is an unwritten agreement among the gods that one cannot convert to another deity within a year.
Sometimes, even when the time is up, if their own deity insists on not releasing the person, there is nothing they can do.
Newcomers must be careful to avoid being scammed.
Gods who have been in the mortal realm for thousands of years are either seeking pleasure or on their way to seeking pleasure, without any regard for the feelings or consequences of others. One example is a sage who painstakingly researched and developed the "Philosopher's Stone".
The gods are respected in the mortal realm, but their reputation is far from good; they are no different from vicious dogs on the street.
"Bell-kun, hurry, hurry, hurry!"
Fearing that Little Bell, their only son, might run away, Hestia seized him and performed a family ritual.
Little Bell lay obediently on the sofa.
Hestia pierced her index finger with a silver needle, squeezed out a drop of divine blood, and dripped it onto Little Bell's back. A circular ripple spread out, revealing distorted characters.
That was a sacred script used only by the gods. Roy, who hadn't studied it, couldn't understand it either. Among mortals, there were very few who could understand this script.
A moment later, the ceremony was completed.
Little Bell's back was completely branded with the image of the god of the hearth, along with densely packed sacred text.
"I did it! Hahaha, Bell-kun! From today onwards, you are my first Familia!" Hestia put her hands on her hips and laughed excitedly. She had finally taken the first step in establishing her Familia!
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Little Bell was equally immersed in the joy of receiving divine favor, a smile spreading across his face. He asked curiously, "My lord, what are my stats?"
"Let me see." Hestia, who was bestowing a favor upon someone for the first time, was also very curious about all the operations. Following Astraea's instructions, she picked up the cheapest piece of paper, printed it on Little Bell's back, and translated it into the Common Language.
"Hmm?!" Hestia picked up the paper and scanned it quickly, her pupils widening slightly.
"Then I'll excuse myself." Roy left voluntarily, as peeking at other people's favors was a big no-no.
Just as Roy took a step, Little Bell said earnestly, "Mr. Roy, it's alright!"
"That's right!"
Hestia agreed, if even Roy couldn't be trusted, who else in the world could be trusted?
Roy slowed his pace. Actually, he wasn't interested in the information about Little Bell's favor, which was just a full I panel. But since the other party said so, he might as well stay and take a look. What if he got something unexpected?
Name: Bell Craney Level: 1
Strength: 0 (1)
Endurance: 0 (1)
Dexterity: 0 (1)
Agility: 0 (1)
Magic Power: 0 (1)
Development Ability: No Skills:
Unsurprisingly, upon seeing the benefit information translated into a common language, the values were all zero.
Little Bell sighed, "They're all zeros."
Roy said, "When you receive a blessing, your ability is at level I, and it remains the same after you level up."
"Mmm!" Little Bell nodded.
Just then, Roy's gaze shifted downwards, noticing a small, blurry mark in the skills section. Seeing Hestia's evasive eyes and feigned composure, he seemed to understand something.
Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.
Of course, Hestia removed the skill that appeared in the blessing not because she didn't trust Roy, but because of the skill's special nature, and she couldn't let Bell see it.
"Bell, you've worked hard. Take a rest. Feel free to use anything in the room. I suddenly remembered I have something to do at my part-time job." Hestia gave Roy a look and rushed out.
"I'm going back too. See you again sometime, Bell." Roy waved and walked outside.
Little Bell, unsuspecting, followed his mother Alphia on a long journey and asked Roy to take him to the dungeon for a brief encounter with monsters. He was only twelve years old, and his physical strength and energy were far less than those of an adult. He was already exhausted, closed his eyes, and fell into a deep sleep.
Outside the abandoned church.
Hestia was completely flustered and said in a panic, "Roy, what, what should we do? That child seems to have a very powerful skill."
"Calm down!" Roy comforted him. Sure enough, after accepting the favor, Bell awakened his skill on the spot.
"Huff! Huff!"
Hestia took a deep breath, her emotions gradually calming down. As her little hand swept across the paper, the erased skill reappeared.
Roy murmured, "A hero's dream—"
Heroic Aspiration: The stronger the belief in becoming a hero, the faster one's growth rate, which in turn affects the improvement of ability values and the attainment of great achievements! (Deepening the concept of "hero" further enhances the effect).
The skill that Little Bell awakened.
Roy looked on with interest. Although he had some expectations for meeting Little Bell of Alphia, the result was still beyond his expectations. This skill was completely different from the one he longed for. Although both could affect the growth rate, the underlying logic was different.
A strong yearning for romance is the most effective way to express that feeling; the stronger the longing, the stronger the effect. Simply put, it's the desire to surpass the girl you secretly admire in terms of status, ability, and other aspects, so you can confess your feelings to her.
When all objective conditions are close to those of the girl you secretly admire, and after a successful or unsuccessful confession, the effect of your unwavering longing will gradually disappear.
And the hero's aspirations before us.
Its potential is clearly higher than "Aspiration," and it can be used for a long time until Bell becomes a hero.
It could even be described as a psychological skill; as long as the person doesn't yet consider themselves a hero and still wants to be one, the effect will continue.
It's best not to let the person know about this kind of belief-based skill, otherwise, if they deliberately try to become a "hero," it might backfire. This is why Hestia is so secretive about it.
Hestia had never heard of any child possessing a skill that could affect their growth rate—well, there really was one. This handsome young man before her not only grew rapidly himself, but he could also help others take off.
If it were anyone else, Hestia really wouldn't dare let them know that Little Bell has that kind of skill.
But if it's Roy, it doesn't matter.
Anyone might envy or even be jealous of Bell's "heroic aspirations," but Roy wouldn't, because he has already become a "legend."
"Very good. Bell will soon become a renowned high-ranking adventurer. Lady Hestia, your hard days are over."
Roy laughed.
"It's all thanks to you." Hestia beamed, otherwise she wouldn't have been able to recruit Little Bell.
"Then I'll go back."
After handing Bell over to Hestia and fulfilling Alphia's request, Roy turned and left.
"Lord Hestia, remember to lock Grace up, otherwise if Bell's clothes are damaged, Grace will be seen by others," Roy reminded her, turning around.
"Lock it up, yes, lock it up again!"
Hestia wiped away a cold sweat; she had almost forgotten about this operation. What an incompetent god! Her eyes were filled with gratitude as she looked at Roy.
Roy smiled. He remembered that Hestia in the original timeline had only recently descended to Earth and didn't know about the locking system at first. It was like letting Bell run around naked outside. After Bell finished fighting the bull, he stood there and was seen by the Loki Familia.
Fortunately, Finn, Riveria, and the others from the Loki Familia had professional ethics and did not completely tear off the torn clothes, only seeing a portion of the ability values; otherwise, "Unwavering Aspiration" might have been exposed.
"Transfer to a higher position!"
Roy used magic to teleport home instantly.
Hestia looked on with envy. When would her own family members be as capable as Astrea's children? She still had a long way to go!
Remembering Roy's reminder, Hestia returned to the church's basement and locked up Little Bell's favor.
Several hours later, little Bell woke up slowly.
"Bell, you're awake. This is your dinner. It's a bit meager, but it's my favorite food since I came down to the mortal realm." Hestia placed several potato balls in front of Bell. Of course, they were leftovers from the stall; she couldn't afford fresh ones.
But for the starving little Bell, any food would be a delicacy. However, he didn't immediately start eating. "My Lord, you eat first."
Hestia paused for a moment, then excitedly shouted, "Waaaaaah, Bell-kun, you're such a good boy! It's decided, from today onwards, your place in my heart is second only to Roy!"
But after Hestia descended to the mortal realm, she knew very few other children there. It was like that joke: I got second place in my class, but there were only two other people in the class—
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Little Bell had no idea about all these twists and turns. With reverence for the gods and the attention of the supreme deity, a joyful smile appeared on her little face.
Finally, while eating his fries, Little Bell asked the question that had been nagging at him all day, "My God, who exactly is Mr. Roy?"
Hestia: "Roy is Roy."
Seeing that the goddess didn't understand his question, Little Bell hurriedly explained, "No, which clan's adventurer is he from? His title or something."
Hestia understood now and laughed, "Roy is the leader of the Astrea Familia. What titles do those guys give him? Sprout of Justice, Light of Miracles, Madman, and so on, a lot of them."
The leader of the Astrea Familia!
Little Bell's face stiffened. He had already vaguely guessed it when he heard the name "Roy," but the moment he was confirmed, a turbulent wave of shock surged through his heart.
He is that adventurer who broke world records one after another, leveled up the fastest, and was hailed as a "miracle" by the gods!
Even in the most remote corners of the world, you can hear their names, which are renowned and widely known!
Over the past few years, he had also spent his time listening to the other party's legendary deeds. Whenever a caravan returning from Orario passed by, he would excitedly run to the village entrance to wait for them.
"OMG!"
Little Bell felt dizzy. What had he done? He'd let that legendary adventurer take him sightseeing all day!
There's nothing more to say now that things have come to this.
Little Bell could only manage a wry smile.
The two ate potato balls while chatting about the past and their ideals, without any boundaries of identity.
"Why did Bell become an adventurer?" Hestia asked curiously. This child was brought by Roy, and even if she was oblivious, she could sense that something was unusual.
After finishing his potato ball, Bell's blood-red eyes were filled with unwavering determination. "I want to be a hero!"
"hero----"
Hestia's expression shifted. She could sense Bell's strong conviction; no wonder he had awakened that skill. He was truly an extraordinary child.
"Don't worry, Bell-kun, I will do my best to help you. Although I am a poor goddess living in an abandoned church now, I will try my best." Hestia's tone was firm. Since the children of the Familia were working so hard, how could she, as a goddess, sit idly by?
"Poverty—My God, I have money." Little Bell took out the Supreme Gold Card.
"No! This is the living allowance left to you by your elders. How can I use it? I must show you the perseverance of a god!" Hestia turned her head away, not even glancing at the Supreme Gold Card.
Fortunately, Hestia hadn't been in the lower realm for long and hadn't seen the guild-made Supreme Gold Card.
If it were a god who had been in the lower realms for hundreds of years, they would recognize at a glance that it would be impossible to obtain the Supreme Gold Card without a deposit of more than one billion Fali in the guild's account.
The 41 billion Fali in this Supreme Gold Card is enough for the two of them to buy the most luxurious villa in Orario and live a life of ease for thousands of years.
If Hestia knew the enormous amount in the gold card, I wonder if she would still be so carefree.
Hestia's promise to help Bell become a hero was not just empty talk.
The next day, they went to the Court of Stars.
Hestia appeared before Roy, displaying her unwavering resolve, devoid of any divine dignity, and smoothly knelt down, her forehead pressed tightly to the ground. "Roy, I beg you, take Bell as your apprentice!"
On the other side, Little Bell, who had just arrived in Orario, excitedly ran around the streets. The dazzling array of goods was something that could hardly be seen in the rural areas of the north.
Little Bell opened her eyes wide, bewildered and curious, like a pure white rabbit tempting one to commit a crime.
Perhaps it was fate.
In a teahouse, the Goddess of Beauty came out to relax, wearing a cloak made of magical artifacts to suppress the allure she constantly exuded.
Her jewel-like eyes reflected the "rabbit" running freely among the crowd.