Chapter 1: The Man Who Fought His Way Backwards Through the Dungeon!
The beginning of the story originates from the pitch-black depths of the dungeon.
"Where... is this place?"
Emiya Shirou opened his eyes, looking around in confusion.
A pitch-dark and mysterious labyrinth, with mutated plants occasionally emitting faint glows, and within the shadows lurked unseen dungeon monsters, silently observing him from the darkness.
In such a bizarre place, fragile humans were destined to become prey—devoured alive by monsters hidden in the shadows, turned into fertilizer for the Dungeon.
Yet Emiya Shirou did not feel fear.
He felt more confused—unable to understand why he had appeared in such an unfamiliar place.
In his memory, the last thing he recalled was engaging in a final confrontation with the Ainsworth family to save his younger sister, Miyu.
In that battle, which had reached its peak intensity, he slew six opposing Heroic Spirits in one night, bringing an end to the Holy Grail War.
Then, using the Great Holy Grail's power, he transferred Miyu to another world to protect her— and encountered Ainsworth's final trump card: Angelica.
The woman named Angelica could use the card of the strongest Heroic Spirit—Gilgamesh. Once possessed, she essentially wielded all the power of Heroic Spirit Gilgamesh.
Shirou was no match for Angelica and was ultimately defeated.
But just as he was about to be captured, he clearly saw that the Great Holy Grail, which had nearly lost its glow, suddenly activated again—seemingly in response to his wish.
As the Great Holy Grail's light erupted, Shirou came to and found himself in this unfamiliar dark Dungeon place.
"Could it be... the Holy Grail fulfilled my wish?"
Shirou stared blankly at his surroundings, his heart filled with indescribable complexity.
Because he still remembered clearly the final wish he made— To obtain the power to protect his sister Miyu, to protect all the people important to him, and to overturn all tragedies.
If that wish had indeed come true, then in what form did the Grail choose to realize it?
Shirou's mind was filled with complicated thoughts. He couldn't imagine what kind of place he had been brought to.
At the same time, even as Shirou was immersed in his thoughts and confusion, the monsters deep within the labyrinth weren't going to give him any extra time.
Upon sensing that Shirou didn't seem aggressive and appeared to be a "fragile" ordinary human, the monsters decisively charged at him.
Yet Shirou's expression did not show the slightest panic.
He calmly assessed the situation, and the moment the monsters were about to rush him, he softly murmured—
"Trace On."
With a flash of light, two uniquely shaped twin blades appeared in Shirou's hands.
One black, one white- the "married" twin swords.
Shirou effortlessly swung the twin blades, blocking the monsters' assault with swift movements, and in a counter-strike, pierced through the monster attacking him.
"Although I don't know where this place is, it looks like I can still use Projection. The projection of Kanshou and Bakuya isn't affected. The mana flow is normal, no issues…"
Shirou muttered to himself, retracting the twin blades in his hands.
This was his unique skill: the magic of Projection, capable of creating replicas of original items.
However, ordinary people couldn't project to this level.
They couldn't do it so quickly, nor could they create projections almost identical to the originals.
Shirou's ability came from his own special nature—partly due to possessing the powers of a Heroic Spirit.
Of course, that topic need not be explained in detail for now.
For now, the most important thing for Emiya Shirou was to figure out where he was, and how to leave this pitch-black Dungeon and reach a place where humans lived.
After slaying the monster, Shirou initially wanted to inspect the corpse to figure out what kind of place this was.
But unexpectedly, the monster disintegrated into ash right after dying, as if it had never existed.
On the spot where the monster had perished, only a strange gray-black stone remained on the ground, emitting an eerie glow.
"This is...?"
Shirou picked up the gray-black stone and inspected it, but found nothing of value. Helpless, he discarded it and officially began his exploration of the Dungeon labyrinth.
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.
.
The Dungeon was a place full of danger.
After several days of exploration, Shirou became especially certain of this.
Everywhere he went, he encountered all kinds of unique monsters—some resembled beasts, others looked like familiars, and some were simply indescribable…
Faced with such dangers, Shirou had no choice but to seriously study each type of monster, learn their habits, and then conduct targeted hunts.
Fortunately, Shirou's combat ability far surpassed that of ordinary monsters. One-on-one, he could easily slay them.
Even when packs of beast-like monsters attacked, Shirou had nothing to fear. He would project bows and arrows, maintain distance, and pick them off one by one.
During this process, Shirou noticed that over time, his body seemed to be undergoing some form of growth.
His speed increased, his strength improved, and even some fundamental aspects of his being had subtly changed.
However, because the changes were so gradual, Shirou didn't pay too much attention to them.
There was another issue with Dungeon life: food and water.
Surprisingly, water was not a problem. Even though it was underground, he often found rivers with inexplicably clear water—so pure it seemed otherworldly.
Food was also manageable.
Thanks to Shirou's excellent cooking skills, he was able to make meals using roadside plants, keeping himself nourished and active.
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.
.
One day, as Shirou was nearing the end of his exploration in one area, he unexpectedly discovered a staircase spiraling upward.
The staircase was narrow and ancient, as if no one had ever reached it before.
Confused, Shirou stepped up the stairs, eventually arriving at a strange room.
The room was vast and completely empty.
But the moment Shirou stepped into it, a terrifying monster several dozen meters tall suddenly descended from above and attacked without warning.
Faced with such a terrifying presence, Shirou dared not be careless and fought with all his might.
Using his Projection ability and all the experience he had accumulated battling monsters, Shirou successfully slew the powerful monster.
As the boss died, a stream of strange energy flowed from its body into Shirou's.
After absorbing this energy, Shirou could clearly feel a notable enhancement in his physical attributes—his speed and strength had noticeably improved.
This was a far greater boost than anything he had gained from killing regular monsters.
'Could this be the reason the Holy Grail brought me here?'
Shirou was stunned, and continued his exploration of the Dungeon world.
He discovered that this world seemed to be structured in floors, each with distinct terrain and ruled by a unique floor boss.
As he climbed further upward, Shirou occasionally encountered "humans."
However, calling them human was a stretch—there were beast-eared and tailed people, elf-like beings from stories, and even lifeforms that looked monstrous.
Naturally, Shirou wanted to communicate with them, hoping for some interaction.
But they were extremely wary of someone like Shirou, who roamed the dungeon alone.
More often than not, battle would erupt before any conversation could even begin.
After several meaningless fights, Shirou had no choice but to abandon attempts at communication and resume his solitary dungeon conquest.
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.
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After slaying around a dozen monsters, Shirou began to notice something: the dungeon monsters were getting weaker.
With the monsters growing weaker, the gains he received from killing them also diminished.
Originally, he could feel a drastic improvement after killing a strong monster, but now, even slaying a powerful one yielded no more than the same result as killing a common monster.
From this, Shirou inferred that the dungeon had a hierarchy.
The stronger monsters were located in deeper layers, offering greater rewards when defeated. Conversely, weaker monsters were in higher, shallower levels and gave lesser rewards.
Based on this, Shirou realized that he must have been transported to the deepest part of the dungeon from the start—and his journey had been a reverse crawl, steadily approaching the dungeon's exit.
With this understanding, Shirou naturally wanted to escape this sunless place.
He didn't want to be trapped here forever.
However, perhaps due to the countless battles he had endured, or the lasting injuries from his fight with Angelica that had never healed...
As Shirou tried to leave the Dungeon, his movements became increasingly difficult. The strain on his body made it hard even to walk normally.
He was nearly dragging his battered body toward the surface.
If he avoided unnecessary actions and got lucky, perhaps he could reach the surface before his body gave out.
Perhaps.
But to Shirou, the most important thing now was not to waste energy on anything unnecessary.
Doing so might cause his already near-broken body to collapse completely.
That was exactly what he intended to do—take no extra actions until reaching the surface.
Until, suddenly, a scream rang out from the distance—
"Help! Help meeeeee!!!"
Hearing that desperate cry from a young boy, Shirou's nearly overburdened body moved almost on instinct.
He ignored all rational thought, disregarded his body's warning signals from overload—
Shirou acted purely on instinct.
Because deep within his heart, under the seemingly extinguished flame of passion, he had never forgotten that ideal from so many years ago—
To become a hero of justice!
Chapter Two – The Rescuer and the Rescued
The ideal of being a "champion of justice" originated from a fire that occurred during Emiya Shirou's childhood.
At first, Shirou lived an ordinary life, no different from any other child.
But one day, when he woke up, the familiar scenery before him was engulfed in flames—everything he saw was covered by thick smoke and searing fire.
Faced with such a sudden disaster, Shirou's heart was overwhelmed with despair and confusion. He wandered aimlessly through the blaze, unable to escape its all-consuming reach.
Just as he collapsed in hopelessness, a pair of rough hands appeared before him.
A man named Kiritsugu Emiya found him amidst the inferno.
Had it ended there, it might have been a typical story of a hero saving a life.
But Kiritsugu, upon finding Shirou, cried as he repeated over and over, "Thank God… Thank God…"
Though Shirou was the one who had been saved, the joy on Kiritsugu's face surpassed that of the rescued—he looked as if he himself had been redeemed.
At that moment, a thought sprouted in Shirou's heart: "I want to be like this man." Thus began his dream of becoming a "champion of justice."
However, that resolve once suffered obstruction and collapse.
On that snowy night that devoured everything, Shirou's path of justice came to a complete end—he lost the right to call himself a hero.
Now, he was merely someone who retained a lingering idea of becoming a champion of justice, whose body still moved out of reflex, out of a stubborn instinct he could not shake.
Yet, even if it was only instinct, when he heard the cries of a stranger for help, Shirou couldn't stop himself from acting.
"I have to go."
Even though his body was nearing its limit, Shirou moved without hesitation.
He followed the direction of the voice, weaving his way through the complex and chaotic labyrinth of the dungeon.
Eventually, he reached a dead-end passage, where he saw both the person crying for help—and the reason for their desperate scream.
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In the maze of the dungeon, a white-haired boy was being chased by a massive beast with the body of a man and the head of a bull.
The boy's name was Bell Cranel.
He was a fledgling Level 1 adventurer, a nameless beginner in the dungeon city of Orario.
He had dreams and fantasies about dungeon adventures and, driven by those desires, had recklessly embarked on what was destined to be a harsh and cruel journey. Overconfident, he had ventured into a floor far beyond his capabilities and encountered the worst possible foe.
"ROOOAAARRRR!!!"
Hearing the bellow of the massive Minotaur behind him, Bell wore a grim expression.
He never imagined a monster this terrifying would appear on just the fifth floor of the dungeon.
It was a Minotaur, also nicknamed the Rookie Killer—a nightmare for any Level 1 adventurer.
This creature was supposed to appear only on the tenth floor and beyond, but somehow it had shown up here.
As a complete novice who struggled even against normal monsters, Bell stood no chance. All he could do was desperately try to run.
"HELP MEEEEEEE!"
And so a strange scene played out in the dungeon.
The terrifying Minotaur chased after the white-haired boy, who darted about like a nimble rabbit, barely evading it by taking advantage of the maze's complex layout.
If things continued like this, perhaps Bell might have had a chance to escape.
But reality quickly dealt him a cruel blow.
In his panic, he made a wrong turn and ran into a dead end.
"Bang!"
With nowhere left to run, Bell skidded to a stop. Behind him, the Minotaur stomped its iron hooves into the ground, its scorching red eyes filled with fury and humiliation—for it had been toyed with by a mere rookie.
That fury was about to be unleashed upon Bell in a brutal assault.
"..."
Seeing this, Bell's face was filled with terror and trembling.
He had never imagined his journey to become a dungeon hero would end so soon—his fate reduced to mere Minotaur feed.
Still, his survival instinct kicked in. In that moment of desperation, he drew the dagger in his hand, ready to fight for his life.
But the gap in power was insurmountable.
"Thud!"
Before he could act, the Minotaur lashed out with its hoof like a steel arrow.
It struck Bell directly, sending him flying like a bowling pin.
He tumbled across the ground several times before crashing hard into a wall.
"Cough… cough…"
Bell felt as though his body had been reduced to tattered rags.
The intense pain left him unable to move.
The Minotaur slowly approached.
"Huff— Huff—"
The beast panted hot, foul breath onto its prey, its nostrils flaring near Bell's face.
"Ahaha…"
Looking up at the enormous creature towering above him, Bell's face twisted in despair. His teeth chattered, tears flowed, and his expression said it all: this was the end.
No miracle. No dream. Just the harsh truth.
He had foolishly believed that entering the dungeon would make him a hero, that he could start a grand tale.
But reality offered no heroes, no flowers, and no beautiful girls waiting to be rescued—only endless death and corpses of the unfortunate.
In the depths of despair, Bell couldn't even remember to shut his eyes. He simply stared ahead, awaiting death…
When suddenly—a faint light flickered in the distance.
"Snap!"
A blue flame of magical energy lit up the darkness, drawing the attention of both Bell and the Minotaur.
"What is that…?"
Before Bell could react, the blue light flared brightly.
From the shadows, a young man leapt out.
In the dim light of the dungeon, Bell caught a clear look at the newcomer—
He was a young man with fiery red hair, except for a strange white streak on his forehead. From his right arm shone a soft blue glow, and in a flash, a pair of twin half-moon shaped swords—black and white—materialized in his hands.
He moved swiftly, placing himself between Bell and the monstrous Minotaur.
"ROOOAAARRRR!!!"
The Minotaur, enraged that its hunt had been interrupted, roared and raised its hooves to strike.
"BOOM!"
To Bell and the Minotaur's shock, the red-haired young man simply raised his left hand and caught the blow with ease.
Then, without pause, he hurled the Minotaur aside and chased it down at lightning speed, twirling his twin blades like a dancer in a deadly performance.
"Slash!"
The crescent-shaped swords glimmered in the dark dungeon.
Bell couldn't even follow the movement of those blades—only see that, in a blink, they had pierced through the Minotaur's body repeatedly.
"Slash!" "Slash!" "Slash!"
The swords carved into its chest, arms, thighs, legs, shoulders—and finally, its neck.
The young man tore the creature apart with incredible precision and speed.
When it was all over, what lay before Bell was a shredded, mangled corpse—a heap of dismembered Minotaur flesh.
"BOOM!"
With a deafening crash, the Minotaur collapsed. Bell felt as though his heart had stopped.
"He… He actually…"
Staring at the red-haired figure, Bell was consumed by awe and an overwhelming surge of emotion.
Before he could even understand what he was feeling—what had stirred inside him—the red-haired young man suddenly winced in pain.
"Urgh…"
His face twisted. He clutched his right arm in agony.
Then, as if reaching some limit, the twin swords vanished into sparkling particles.
Finally, the young man himself, unable to endure the strain, collapsed unconscious.
"Sir… benefactor… what happened to you?!"
Bell didn't know his name. All he could do was call him "benefactor."
He rushed to his side and saw that the man had likely passed out from exhaustion and accumulated injuries.
Without time to think, Bell hoisted the man onto his back and ran with all his might toward the dungeon's exit.
At that moment, he had only one thought in his heart:
"I must save the man who saved me—I can't let him die for my sake!"
Chapter 3: The Labyrinth City Orario
Shirou had fallen into a pitch-black, boundless darkness.
This feeling was very familiar to him.
Whether it was back when the Ainsworth family had taken his sister Miyu away, or when he had collapsed within the icy barrier after being defeated by Angelica while trying to rescue her, this sensation always surfaced whenever his body reached its limit and his consciousness could no longer command it to move.
It was the cry of the soul, a lament from the depths of his being, that came when one's personal strength was not enough to change reality.
In these moments, Shirou would always feel powerless — powerless in the face of his own weakness.
If only I was stronger.
If only my strength could defeat all enemies and reverse every tragedy.
If only...
But there is no "if" in reality.
The only outcome for the weak is miserable defeat — watching helplessly as everything they wished to protect disappears right before their eyes.
That is why Shirou's greatest desire now was to become stronger.
If he could become stronger, perhaps he could change everything and ensure that those he wanted to protect would never have to cry again.
At the very least, he never wanted to experience again the pain of seeing something important slip away from his grasp, no matter how desperately he tried to hold on.
"Miyu…"
Whispering his sister's name, Shirou's consciousness reached the deepest part of his memory — and like a spring being released, he was suddenly ejected from the vortex of chaos.
He slowly opened his eyes and found himself in an enclosed space. Around him were cluttered, dilapidated surroundings, filled with all sorts of strange items. In the center of the room stood a tattered purple sofa.
Shirou was lying on that very sofa in the middle of the room.
As he slowly sat up, a sharp pain surged through his entire body, especially in his right arm — the searing pain was so intense he doubted whether it even belonged to him anymore.
"Huh? You're awake?"
Before he could make sense of his situation, a crisp voice rang out beside him.
Looking up, Shirou saw a very young girl, no older than thirteen or fourteen, standing before him. She wore a tight white outfit with a conspicuous blue ribbon tied around her arms.
Seeing Shirou sit up, she immediately looked flustered and rushed over.
"How are you feeling? Does your head hurt? Do you feel unwell anywhere? Do you want me to give you a massage?"
"Uh…" Shirou was completely bewildered by the girl's enthusiastic response. "And you are…?"
"Me? I'm Hestia — a goddess!"
The girl who introduced herself as Hestia declared this with great confidence. But clearly, her words didn't win Shirou's trust.
A goddess?
This little girl?
Shirou didn't believe it at all, though he responded politely, "Right, right. So, dear goddess, are your parents home?"
"You obviously don't believe me! Gods don't have parents!"
Hestia snapped, clearly irritated.
Just as she was about to passionately explain her divine identity to Shirou, their conversation was interrupted — the door in the distance opened, and a white-haired boy named Bell walked in.
"Ah, you're awake, benefactor!"
Bell exclaimed excitedly upon seeing Shirou awake.
Shirou recognized him and spoke thoughtfully, "You're the one I rescued earlier? You brought me back?"
"Yes, yes! I was so worried. I carried you back from the dungeon as soon as I could!" Bell scratched his head sheepishly. "But I didn't have any money to take you to a clinic, so I brought you back to my goddess instead."
"Goddess…?"
Hearing that word again from Bell's mouth, Shirou paused.
After all, Bell had spoken so sincerely, showing genuine reverence toward the young-faced girl beside him — truly regarding her as a goddess.
Just what kind of place is this?
With curiosity, Shirou began asking Bell and Hestia for information.
Both the boy and the girl held Shirou in high regard and readily answered all his questions.
First of all, the place Shirou now found himself in was clearly not his original world.
This was a world resembling medieval Europe, but it wasn't inhabited solely by humans — there were also beastmen, dwarves, elves, and other demi-human races, all gathered in a city known as the Labyrinth City Orario.
Orario was famous for the dungeon beneath it. Under the management of an organization called the "Guild," the city had developed extensive urban infrastructure and trade networks.
The Guild's primary structure consisted of adventurers who formed parties, cooperated in combat, and explored the dungeon's depths. They retrieved precious items and resources from the dungeon and brought them to the surface to exchange for money.
The Guild also controlled the dungeon environment and regulated all adventurers, issuing ID cards to ensure order both inside and outside the labyrinth.
If things stopped there, this might've just been another typical fantasy world — but the greatest difference was the existence of gods in this world.
Yes, literal gods.
These deities came from the heavens long ago, descending into the mortal world — which they called the "Genkai." (lower World)
The reason? Because Tenkai (heaven) was too boring. Although it had everything, that perfection made it meaningless and joyless.
To seek excitement and the value of living, the gods left their paradisiacal realm and came to the Genkai — and became fascinated by its way of life.
However, to prevent the gods from running wild, they agreed to a rule: no divine powers could be used in the Genkai. Violators would be forcibly returned to the heavens. But the gods didn't mind this limitation — in fact, they enjoyed living without such privileges.
As a result, gods in the Genkai became just as powerless as ordinary humans.
To deal with the limitations caused by this powerlessness, the gods came up with a solution — they would bestow blessings upon chosen humans, making them their subordinates to assist them in everyday life.
Of course, this wasn't a one-sided exploitation.
While humans gained the god's blessings, they also received benefits, allowing them to grow in ways impossible for normal people. This gave rise to the system known as Falna (Blessings).
Gods granted humans the power to become stronger, and humans offered their strength in return — a mutually beneficial relationship that formed the structure of Familia (divine households or factions).
Bell and Hestia, who brought Shirou back, were part of one such Familia.
However, this Familia was clearly still undeveloped — Bell was the only member, and their home was a shabby basement.
Their circumstances could only be described as extremely difficult.
This became especially apparent at dinner.
The so-called goddess and her follower had nothing but cold bread and water for their meal — a pitiful sight that made one's heart ache.
Chapter 4: The Gods and Falna
"What's wrong, Shirou? Are you still feeling unwell somewhere?"
After their conversation, Shirou, Hestia, and Bell had introduced themselves to each other.
At dinner time, when Shirou seemed at a loss holding a piece of bread, both Hestia and Bell showed expressions of concern.
"No, it's just… is this really okay? You don't have to go this far to take care of me, do you?"
Shirou spoke hesitantly.
After understanding the current situation of the Hestia Familia, he clearly realized what kind of hardship this goddess and her sole follower Bell were going through.
Even such plain bread was a precious food for this familia, and there was no reason they should share it with an outsider like him.
"What are you saying? You're Bell's savior! If it weren't for you, Bell would've died in the Dungeon!"
Hestia said this without hesitation, expressing her deep gratitude to Shirou.
Bell also nodded and said, "That's right. It's thanks to you, Mr. Emiya, that I survived the Dungeon. If possible, please let me repay this favor. I'll work hard in the Dungeon to earn money and get your body healed!"
In Bell's eyes, Shirou was gravely injured because of him, so he was eager to head back into the Dungeon right away to earn enough money to get Shirou treatment from a healer in Orario.
But Shirou knew very well that his injuries came from Angelica's full-powered attack using the "Broken Phantasm," as well as the life-and-death battles he endured afterward against numerous Dungeon bosses.
That's why he didn't just accept the Hestia Familia's kindness lightly. After taking a small bite of the bread, he slowly said: "If that's the case, let me join your familia too. I shouldn't be eating your food for free."
"Eh?! Really?!"
Hearing Shirou's words, Hestia's eyes lit up even more than Bell's!
Due to the rules between gods, they cannot freely use their divine powers in Genkai, making them almost no different from ordinary people and requiring them to rely on their followers for sustenance.
Thus, the main way for gods to distinguish themselves is through the number and strength of their followers.
Having even one powerful follower can directly change a god's status.
The strongest familias in the Dungeon City all have gods who command many powerful adventurers.
Hestia, however, was relatively unknown and only had Bell—a weak Level 1 adventurer—under her command, making life difficult.
But if Shirou joined, things would be different.
Putting aside that her number of followers would immediately double, according to Bell, Shirou had instantly defeated a Level 2 Minotaur—he might already be at Level 2, or even stronger.
Having such a strong ally join could drastically improve the dire state of the Hestia Familia and even open up new opportunities for advancement.
So, after getting Shirou's agreement, Hestia almost couldn't wait to invite him to join her familia and bestow upon him the divine blessing.
The so-called Falna is the main method for a god to establish a bond with a follower.
The divine power bestowed by the god takes root in the follower's body, allowing them to break past human limitations and reach heights otherwise unattainable.
Bell became a member of the Hestia Familia and a Level 1 adventurer only after receiving Hestia's Falna.
"Ahh, I didn't expect someone else would want to join our familia this quickly. Maybe I'm actually a really capable goddess after all—haha, just kidding."
Hestia joked to lighten the mood.
Shirou and Bell didn't say anything in response, only giving bitter smiles as they looked at the goddess who tried to find joy in hardship.
"Well then, Shirou, take off your clothes."
"Take off my clothes?"
Though such words would normally be considered sexual harassment, neither Hestia nor Bell showed any strange reactions—they acted as if it were perfectly natural.
So Shirou obeyed, removing his shirt and placing his hand on his pants.
"Y-You don't need to take off your pants!!"
Hestia exclaimed, her face bright red.
Her appearance was less like a goddess and more like an innocent, inexperienced young girl, which made Shirou instinctively think of his little sister.
But he quickly pushed away such meaningless associations and followed Hestia's instructions, lying on the only sofa in the room with his back facing upward.
"—Hiss—"
Once Shirou lay down completely, both Hestia and Bell gasped.
They finally realized just how many wounds were on Shirou's body. His skin was riddled with injuries—his battered body didn't even seem like it belonged to a living human. In such a condition, the fact that Shirou could still move, let alone behave normally, was far beyond what could be attributed to sheer willpower.
Cough cough...
Hestia's initial excitement cooled. She no longer saw Shirou's joining as a pleasant surprise, but rather felt a responsibility to care for someone so frail.
Bell, too, silently resolved to return to the Dungeon the next day and earn money to get Shirou medical treatment.
"Shall we begin?"
"Ah, right. Let's start."
Prompted by Shirou, Hestia snapped back to attention. She placed her hand on Shirou's back, took out a needle, and pricked her fingertip. A droplet of her blood fell onto his back.
As the divine blood touched Shirou's back, it rippled like a drop in a still lake, gradually spreading out.
"…The reaction is so faint… Shirou, have you ever received a blessing from another god before?"
"I don't think so."
"I see…"
Hestia was somewhat puzzled, but since her only experience was with giving the Falna to Bell, she had no basis for comparison and could only assume this was within the range of normal.
She then began drawing her divine crest on Shirou's back, starting from where her blood had dropped.
When the marking was complete, it symbolized that Shirou had officially become a member of the Hestia Familia.
However, even after everything was done, Hestia still wore a bewildered expression.
Because Shirou's status values appeared… strange.
To put it simply, Shirou's stats were a jumbled mess.
When she granted Bell his Falna, his abilities like strength, agility, and endurance had all been clearly displayed.
But Shirou's stats were so blurred they were unreadable.
Only the magic section had one legible word—
Unlimited Blade Works.
But even the skill itself appeared in a nearly broken state—its details were unreadable, and its existence seemed as fragile as a candle in the wind, ready to vanish at any moment.
Chapter 5 – Hidden Status
What on earth is this?
Hestia stared at the status appearing on Shirou's back, her expression filled with doubt and confusion.
The so-called Falna was a creation devised by the gods long ago. It is a method of engraving divine script, using divine blood as a medium, onto the bodies of mortals in order to enhance their abilities.
The primary means by which this enhancement manifests is through what is known as status.
A status contains various attributes of a Familia member—from fundamental elements like speed, strength, and magic, to unique skills and spells possessed by the individual.
Normally, an ordinary person would not possess any special magic or skills.
Only after receiving a blessing from a god and undergoing growth could such attributes potentially emerge in gifted individuals.
This is precisely why the Falna holds immense allure for mortals, compelling them to willingly become Familia members and devote themselves to the gods.
Because of this, Hestia had never imagined that someone would innately possess magic at the very moment of receiving a Falna.
While this was not entirely impossible, actually witnessing it firsthand still left her astonished.
Moreover, the fact that Shirou came with built-in magic was only a small issue.
The real problem was that his status was so unclear, not only failing to display concrete values but not even showing a defined level.
It was as if his entire being had not yet fully integrated with the world's system—everything was in a state beyond the understanding of the Falna.
At the very least, Hestia found herself utterly incapable of judging Shirou's strength based on his blessing, nor could she begin to comprehend the chaotic, indecipherable numbers behind his stats.
"What's wrong? Is it finished?" Shirou asked, noticing her dazed expression.
"Ahem… well, yes. It's finished. From this moment on, Shirou, you're officially a member of the Hestia Familia!"
Hestia forced herself to appear calm.
Despite her youthful appearance, she still held onto some shred of divine pride—she couldn't just casually admit she didn't understand what was happening.
In her mind, Shirou's bizarre status might be linked to his mysterious origins.
Such things weren't unheard of in Orario.
After all, even to the gods, Genkai still held countless strange and unknowable elements.
To Hestia, what mattered most was that Shirou had saved Bell's life and was now part of her Familia. That alone was enough.
"Lady Goddess, could you update my status too?" Bell said from the side.
In any Familia, updating one's status was a private affair—typically only the god and the individual involved would know the result. So naturally, Bell hadn't tried to peek at Shirou's status.
And since a Familia member's status could only be updated through their god, every time they returned from a dungeon expedition, they would visit their god to receive an update.
"Mhm," Hestia nodded, snapping out of her thoughts and turning her focus to updating Bell's status instead of worrying about Shirou's abnormalities.
But ironically, things only got more complicated.
After completing the update, Hestia's expression turned strange once again.
Following his recent dungeon adventure, Bell's status had evolved to include a brand-new skill:
"Liaris Freese "
The effect of this skill was that the stronger one's feelings of admiration, the greater the boost and enhancement it would bring to the user. In other words, this was a skill born from pure idolization.
Hestia surmised that Bell, having witnessed Shirou instantly annihilate the Minotaur, had been so overwhelmed by Shirou's power that he subconsciously awakened this skill out of awe.
Ordinarily, this would be a good thing—it meant Bell could chase after Shirou's example and grow faster.
The problem, however, was that Shirou was now heavily wounded and clearly in no condition to fight in the dungeon.
Because of this, Bell's newly awakened skill might not provide the intended benefits. Worse, the inability to actualize his aspirations could even have a negative impact on him.
"How could this happen…" Hestia muttered in frustration, holding her head.
She had thought Shirou's arrival would be a turning point for their Familia—perhaps even a chance to escape from their wretched life in a filthy basement, eating bread and drinking plain water every day.
But instead of a breakthrough, things now seemed headed toward a worse outcome.
Hestia was filled with a deep sense of helplessness about the world's unfairness, and her own weak but voracious life as a minor goddess.
Ultimately, she decided to keep the truth about Bell's skill and current abilities a secret from him for now—just like she had done with Shirou. At the very least, she didn't want to see him fall into despair so soon.
.
.
.
Shirou spent his first night as a member of the Hestia Familia.
Because the Familia's base was so pitiful, only the goddess Hestia could sleep on the single sofa; the rest had to sleep directly on the floor.
Although Hestia and Bell were worried about Shirou's injuries and strongly insisted he take the sofa, Shirou outright refused and forced himself to sleep on the floor.
Even so, his body didn't seem to suffer any further.
That's because his wounds were already so severe that any additional hardship made little difference. A few extra debuffs were merely the difference between -100 and -101—it didn't make things significantly worse.
Shirou was even able to get up early in the morning, dragging his heavy body, and begin practicing his projection technique.
Just as he'd experienced in the dungeon, Shirou's projection magic worked perfectly in this world—the speed and quality of his projections were unaffected.
This meant his combat capability had not diminished in the slightest. On the contrary, having killed so many dungeon bosses, his strength had even grown beyond his former self.
As for how much stronger he had become, Shirou honestly had no point of comparison.
If possible, he was quite interested in testing his abilities against the strongest fighters in this world to assess his true strength.
Of course, that would have to wait until he healed.
Currently, Shirou's injuries were so severe that merely killing a single Level 2 Minotaur would leave him completely drained and unconscious.
That alone showed just how dire his condition really was.
The problem was, Shirou didn't believe his wounds could be healed simply with time.
Without a proper healer, would he really ever recover fully?
Watching the projected weapon in his hand vanish into the wind, Shirou, after a brief moment of uncertainty, regained his resolve.
No matter what, the only thing he needed to focus on now was repaying the Hestia Familia for taking him in—and using his own strength to help Hestia and Bell.
Chapter 6: Shirou's Part-Time Job
After Shirou had gotten up early to train his projection magic for about one or two hours, Hestia and Bell finally woke up.
Their waking time wasn't actually late—in fact, it was quite early, just after dawn.
This highlighted just how excessively early Shirou had gotten up.
It was a habit Shirou had long maintained. Back when he lived in the Emiya residence, he would train his magic in the shed before sunrise.
Sometimes, he even practiced strengthening magic through the entire night and forgot to sleep.
Now, he simply kept up that same routine.
"Well then, Lady Hestia, Emiya-nii, I'm heading to the dungeon first!"
Bell, having finished preparing his equipment, excitedly headed off to the dungeon.
Calling it "equipment" was generous—he only had a visibly worn-out dagger.
The boy didn't have any quality weapon, nor did he wear proper armor.
This was because the Hestia Familia was currently in dire straits and couldn't afford any spare funds to buy Bell better gear.
Despite such terrible conditions, Bell didn't complain at all. Instead, he looked full of spirit and headed toward the dungeon with strong conviction.
His goal was to earn money to pay for Shirou's medical treatment.
To Bell, that objective was more important than any powerful item.
Watching the boy's retreating figure, Shirou couldn't help but sigh.
If he could, he genuinely wanted to go with Bell to the dungeon. At the very least, monsters like the Minotaur would be no problem for him.
Unfortunately, Shirou was well aware of his injuries. If they encountered a stronger monster he might become a burden to Bell instead.
"Don't worry. That child is really amazing!"
Seeing Shirou's concern, Hestia offered words of comfort.
"Indeed. He's quite skilled… at running away."
Shirou recalled how Bell had run from the Minotaur across more than ten blocks. If he hadn't hit a dead end, he might really have escaped.
"Well, he has been called 'Rabbit' since he was a child."
Hestia chuckled awkwardly, feeling a bit embarrassed that her Familia's most notable talent was evasion.
Shirou quickly changed the subject, asking Hestia, "Is there anything I can do? I really can't just rely on you and Bell."
"This…"
In the dungeon city of Orario, a god's follower typically had only one duty: enter the dungeon, defeat monsters, and earn money.
But such a vast city naturally had more professions than just dungeon adventurers.
There were also many other roles—blacksmiths who made equipment, healers who treated injuries, cooks who prepared meals...
Hestia herself was currently working at a food stall, selling snacks to adventurers.
"How about working with me at the food stall?" Hestia suggested after thinking for a moment. Given Shirou's current condition, working at a food stall seemed like one of the few jobs he could manage.
Shirou had no objections and nodded in agreement.
.
.
.
Shirou followed Hestia to a bustling shopping street. The street was full of Orario's residents: bright-eyed adventurers heading to the dungeon, early-rising merchants preparing their goods, and even some travelers from other lands…
Among them were not just humans, but also beastmen, elves, dwarves, and all sorts of unusual demi-humans with strange traits.
Seeing all this, Shirou became even more certain that he was truly in a world completely different from his own.
"Hey, Takemikazuchi, I'm here!"
As Shirou marveled at the unfamiliar world, Hestia approached a food stall and called out.
The owner of the stall was a young-looking man in white clothes, his hair tied into two odd braids, giving him a calm and gentle aura.
"You're here, Hestia. Hm? And this is?"
The man, named Takemikazuchi, looked curiously at Shirou.
Hestia immediately introduced them and explained the situation, allowing Shirou and Takemikazuchi to get to know each other.
Shirou was surprised to learn that this unassuming man was also a god from the heavens and a friend of Hestia's, as well as the owner of the food stall.
Currently, Hestia was working under him as a part-time employee.
"So this young man, Emiya, is your newly recruited follower? And he wants to work here too?"
"That's right."
After Hestia confirmed it, Takemikazuchi looked over Shirou and murmured, "Judging by your name, you seem to be from the Far East? But I've never seen you there."
"The Far East?"
Shirou was puzzled by the comment.
After Hestia explained, he learned that Genkai had a region called the Far East—an island nation with customs and culture very different from the rest of the world, quite similar to Japan where he used to live.
Since Shirou had already accepted that he was in another world, he didn't pay much attention to this "Far East." To him, it was simply a place that resembled his homeland but was fundamentally different.
Takemikazuchi didn't press him about it either, assuming Shirou was just someone from the Far East he'd never encountered before.
After giving Shirou a brief evaluation, he agreed to let him work at the stall.
"Is this really okay?"
Shirou hadn't expected Takemikazuchi to accept him so easily—especially since the stall didn't look very popular and hardly seemed in need of a second helper.
"Haha, Hestia and I are old friends. Of course I'll help her out," Takemikazuchi laughed warmly. "And besides, you're injured, aren't you? Taking care of someone unwell is only natural."
"…I see."
Surprised that Takemikazuchi saw through his injuries immediately, Shirou realized this god was not to be underestimated. He was also very grateful for the man's kindness.
And so, Shirou officially joined Takemikazuchi's food stall and began working earnestly.
However, just as Shirou had suspected earlier, the stall didn't get much business.
There were simply too many similar food stalls on the street, and Takemikazuchi's snacks had no standout features—the menu and flavors were too plain. Even though adventurers
constantly passed by on their way to the dungeon, only a small number would stop at the stall to buy food.
Despite this situation, Takemikazuchi seemed unbothered. He simply continued to make his modest dishes with care and had Hestia and Shirou sell them.
Seeing all this, Shirou felt a desire to help improve the situation—but he also knew he couldn't rush. He'd wait for the right opportunity to offer his ideas.
Chapter 7: Shirou Cooks
Shirou had spent the entire morning working at Takemikazuchi's food stall.
Though customer traffic at the stall wasn't particularly high, the shop owner, Takemikazuchi, still managed it earnestly, ensuring every step was done properly.
Thanks to his diligent and hardworking attitude, the stall managed to attract a number of returning customers. While not many, it was just enough to keep the business afloat.
Also, although Shirou himself lacked any particular talent for drawing in customers, Hestia's charming appearance and eloquence had attracted a decent number of people, earning the stall a fair amount of revenue.
"You've worked hard. Here's some leftover fried rice — have it as lunch," said Takemikazuchi as he handed over two boxes of his homemade egg fried rice.
Neither Hestia nor Shirou had any reason to decline, and they promptly accepted the boxes and dug in.
"Take's egg fried rice is as delicious as ever," Hestia said between bites, praising him. "I really don't understand why more people don't come buy your food."
"Well, because my cooking is pretty average," Takemikazuchi replied, aware of his shortcomings. "I only started this stall to help ease some of the burden on my familia. As long as I can earn a little bit, I'm happy."
"Lord Takemikazuchi, does your familia face a lot of pressure too?" Shirou asked, unable to stop himself from inquiring.
"Yeah, I take care of the kids who come from the Far East," Takemikazuchi said with a bitter smile. "Back in the Far East, people treated me well, so when I came to Orario, I tried to take in as many poor children from the East as I could. Before I knew it, my familia grew larger and larger, and expenses piled up. Lately, we can't even afford gear for the new arrivals."
"That's a very different kind of problem from mine," Hestia said with a complicated expression. "I've got the opposite issue — too few members."
"Haha, that's why we're all so interested in the lower world. No matter how good or bad life gets, people always have their own worries. That's the real joy of it," Takemikazuchi said with an easygoing smile, looking like he was thoroughly enjoying life.
Shirou, on the other hand, became more determined to do something to help after hearing about Takemikazuchi's struggling familia.
But before he could say anything, a blond-haired man suddenly approached from the distance.
He walked right up to the stall and said with a grin, "Hey, if it isn't the poster boy for the penniless familias — Takemikazuchi! Hah—fuhihi."
"Hermes, what are you doing here?" Takemikazuchi asked, clearly familiar with the man.
"Haha, I just got back from a trip outside Orario. Thought I'd come check on you first thing," Hermes, clearly a fellow god, laughed and slung an arm around Takemikazuchi's shoulder. "Come on, come on, I'm in a great mood today. Let's go get a drink!"
"No way — can't you see I'm working here?"
"Oh, please. It's not like that many people come to your stall anyway."
"You bastard…"
Despite his tone, it was obvious Takemikazuchi and Hermes had a good relationship and were speaking to each other playfully.
Takemikazuchi then looked to Hestia and Shirou and said apologetically, "Sorry to ask this, but could I leave the stall in your hands for a bit? I've got plenty of goods prepared from this morning, so if customer traffic stays the same, it should be enough for the afternoon."
"Don't worry, leave it to me!" Hestia said confidently, puffing out her chest. Her impressive bust, which contrasted starkly with her adorable face, naturally drew the eyes of nearby passersby.
Even Hermes couldn't help but glance over before smiling and saying, "Ah, Hestia, you're here too. How's that child in your familia doing?"
"The child in my familia? You mean Bell? You know him?" she asked.
"Well, I am the god who loves gossip the most. I know all about your familia," Hermes replied with a wink.
"Is that so?" Hestia responded casually. She didn't question Hermes further, simply offering a vague reply and deliberately avoiding mentioning anything specific about Bell, especially the fact that he had awakened the unique skill Liaris Freese.
"By the way, is this young man part of Takemikazuchi's familia?" Hermes suddenly seemed to notice Shirou. "Looks like another one from the Far East."
"No, this is my new familia member, Emiya Shirou!" Hestia declared decisively. "He's part of my family now."
"He's your familia member?" Hermes appeared surprised and gave Shirou a more thorough look. But since he couldn't see anything particularly unusual, he didn't dwell on it.
Shirou, on the other hand, gave Hermes a suspicious glance.
From the earlier conversation, Hermes had said he was "familiar with Hestia's familia," yet moments later, he acted as if he didn't know Shirou had joined. The contradiction made Shirou uneasy.
Rather than truly understanding the Hestia Familia, it seemed Hermes was simply familiar with Bell in particular.
"..."
But Hermes was a god. Shirou couldn't just confront him, so he decided to keep his suspicions to himself and remain vigilant, pretending not to notice anything.
Soon, Hermes and Takemikazuchi left the area.
That left only Hestia and Shirou to manage the food stall.
During the early afternoon, the situation was much like the morning — not many customers came by.
The food Takemikazuchi had prepared was more than enough. But suddenly, something lively must've happened in the Dungeon, because a wave of adventurers came to watch, and foot traffic around the stall skyrocketed.
As a result, the food Takemikazuchi left behind was almost instantly sold out.
When more customers came to buy snacks, the stall had already run out of stock.
Seeing the disappointed faces of customers about to leave, Hestia grew anxious. She was good friends with Takemikazuchi and naturally wanted to use the opportunity to help him earn as much as possible.
But there was truly no more food left to sell — and Hestia herself didn't have the skills to cook.
"How about I make some snacks?" Shirou offered without hesitation.
"Eh? Shirou, you can cook? That's not an easy thing to do, you know!" Hestia was clearly skeptical.
She had once tried making snacks to sell herself — the result was catastrophic. Not only did she fail to earn anything, she ended up losing even her underwear.
So, naturally, she had doubts about Shirou, who had never shown any cooking ability before.
"Well, rather than let these nearby customers walk away, why not let me give it a try?"
Shirou didn't boast about his cooking skills. Even though he was confident in them, he wasn't the type to talk big.
Hestia hesitated at first, unsure if it was a good idea.
But when several more customers walked up, saw the empty stall, and immediately turned to leave for other vendors, she panicked completely.
"No choice, Shirou — I'm counting on you now!"
"I'll do my best," Shirou said with a smile, inwardly thrilled to finally get the chance to showcase his long-unused cooking skills.
Chapter 8 – Divine Fried Rice Skills
Under Hestia's watchful eyes, Shirou began using Takemikazuchi's food stall to prepare snacks.
The food stall didn't have a wide variety of ingredients—it mainly served two dishes: fried potato balls and fried rice.
There wasn't much to say about the fried potato balls. The process was simple: mash pre-prepared potatoes into balls and deep-fry them for a few minutes.
The key lay in controlling the frying time and making the sauce.
Shirou had often made similar dishes at home before, so using the leftover ingredients at the stall, he smoothly prepared well-formed potato balls and dropped them into the fryer.
"Oh! That looks pretty good! Shirou, you might actually have a real talent for cooking!"
Hestia, who had been watching from the side, came closer—her chest squished against the food cart—and sincerely praised him.
"Be careful not to get splashed by the oil,"
Shirou simply gave a concerned reminder, then began preparing the next snack.
In a sense, this next dish was the one Shirou cared more about—it was the key to helping Takemikazuchi's stall turn things around.
Yes, during his earlier chat with Takemikazuchi, Shirou had already decided to help attract more customers to his food stall.
But unlike Hestia, Shirou couldn't rely on looks or charm to draw in people.
However, Shirou was skilled in cooking, so he naturally thought of using his culinary skills to make delicious food that would attract customers.
The fried rice he was about to make was crucial to this plan.
Most people might think fried rice is a simple dish and that no matter who makes it, the results won't differ much.
But that's a layman's view.
In truth, fried rice—though it seems simple and has few steps—is a dish that truly tests a chef's skills.
The simpler the dish, the harder it is to make it truly delicious.
Fortunately, Shirou was a god-tier chef capable of turning even plain fried rice into a delicacy.
He quickly began the preparation.
When it came to fried rice, there were three key factors: wok technique, ingredients, and sauces.
Shirou couldn't change the latter two with what he had, so the contest came down to the most fundamental and skill-dependent factor: his stir-frying technique.
"Hestia, help me watch the heat."
With that, Shirou started making fried rice at a speed that dazzled the eyes.
Under his hands, each grain of rice in the oil became golden and crisp on both sides, like it was touched by a divine hand. Nearly every grain had a crispy side, almost like pan-fried dumplings—golden, aromatic, and full of life without being burnt.
Even Hestia, a complete amateur, was dumbfounded at the sight of such fried rice emerging from the wok. Unconsciously, drool trickled from the corner of her mouth.
Shirou, on the other hand, looked a bit regretful. The ingredients and sauces Takemikazuchi had prepared were simply lacking.
Even someone as skilled as Shirou couldn't avoid occasional grains sticking to the pan due to subpar ingredients. Though still delicious, the presentation and visual appeal were somewhat compromised.
The sauces were even worse—they were the key finishing touch that could elevate an ordinary dish to the next level.
Still, Shirou's fried rice technique was undeniably divine.
As the grains turned golden, Shirou would flick them gently, forming a graceful arc in the air. The grains fell like raindrops back onto the griddle. The flying rice looked more like a stunning painting crafted by an artist than just a dish of food.
As Shirou displayed his god-like cooking abilities, his dazzling skills quickly attracted the attention of passing adventurers.
Even before tasting it, the adventurers were convinced: this stall's fried rice was no ordinary fare.
"I'll take one!"
"Me too! I want one too!"
"Move! I was here first!"
…
In no time at all, the once-deserted food stall was swarmed by excited adventurers. The snacks Shirou had just finished were sold out in an instant.
As the Matthew Effect kicked in, the livelier the stall became, the more people it attracted.
Shirou and Hestia were practically working overtime, pushing themselves to the limit just to keep up with the flood of customers.
Even so, the ingredients Takemikazuchi had prepared weren't nearly enough. Before evening even arrived, the stall had completely sold out and had to officially close for the day.
Many adventurers left reluctantly, unable to accept that they'd missed out on such divine food.
"Damn it, I'll be first in line tomorrow! You have to open again!!"
To those cries, Shirou could only respond with a wry smile.
He hadn't fully recovered from his injuries to begin with, and now after cooking at such an intense pace, he was so exhausted he couldn't even speak.
He thought to himself: sometimes, it's better not to be overly eager.
Shirou quietly took that lesson to heart.
As Shirou and Hestia lay on the stall like two exhausted salted fish, Takemikazuchi finally returned from his meeting with Hermes.
When he arrived and saw the empty stall and nearly overflowing cash register, he was completely dumbfounded. He had no idea what had just happened.
Hestia couldn't even be bothered to explain. She just handed him a hidden portion of Shirou's fried rice she'd saved.
Even though it had cooled down a bit with time, Takemikazuchi could instantly tell this was no ordinary fried rice. One bite—and he understood everything. He exclaimed in awe:
"This is the best fried rice I've had in my life—both in taste and presentation! Who made this?!"
"Shirou did."
Hestia answered quietly, pride shining on her face.
As a member of her Familia, Shirou's outstanding performance brought her great joy and pride.
Takemikazuchi, after learning everything, didn't show a shred of greed. He directly gave Shirou half of the day's profits, saying it was what he deserved.
Shirou didn't refuse—after all, given how exhausted he was, he definitely earned it.
More importantly, with money in hand, he could finally go seek a healer to treat his injuries—maybe even recover his ability to fight.
Chapter 9: Sword Demon in the Dungeon?
The first day of part-time work ended with great success.
Shirou and the goddess Hestia returned to the Familia base in high spirits, just in time to run into Bell, who had just come back from the dungeon.
Compared to the bright expressions on Shirou and Hestia's faces, Bell looked downcast and rather disheveled, clearly in low spirits.
Still, when the white-haired boy saw Shirou and Hestia, he forced a smile, trying to bury all his troubles deep inside as he greeted them with a cheerful face.
"Shirou-nii, Lady Hestia!"
"Oh, Bell, welcome back!" Hestia greeted him cheerfully, not noticing the bitterness hidden in Bell's heart. "How was your dungeon exploration today? Did you get a good haul?"
"Uh… the haul was less than usual. I only managed to earn around 1,000 valis…" Bell replied helplessly.
As a level 1 ordinary adventurer, Bell's strength was even weaker than that of an average adventurer.
Moreover, due to the current situation of the Hestia Familia, he couldn't even find a party to accompany him into the dungeon and was forced to explore alone.
Lacking experience in fighting monsters and without anyone to teach him the necessary techniques, Bell had to rely entirely on himself, which made his dungeon exploration extremely slow.
Upon seeing Bell's condition, Hestia realized she might have said something wrong and quickly tried to comfort him. "It's okay, Bell. Even if you can't make money, Shirou and I will support you!"
"What do you mean?" Bell asked, puzzled.
"Heh heh, don't be too surprised—look!" Hestia proudly pulled out a pile of pouches filled with gold coins and showed them to Bell.
Based on Orario's currency system, this pile of coins amounted to around 20,000 to 30,000 valis—what Bell might only earn from a whole month of dungeon exploration.
And this was just the result of Shirou working for a single afternoon. If he had also worked in the morning and had enough ingredients, the earnings could have doubled or even tripled.
"T-This is…?!" Bell was dumbfounded at the sight of so much money.
Grinning from ear to ear, Hestia enthusiastically explained everything that had happened that afternoon.
Hearing that Shirou had earned such a staggering sum just by making street food—far more than what Bell could earn as an adventurer—Bell's expression instantly turned gloomy, a trace of bitterness flashing in his eyes.
Because Bell hid his feelings so well, Hestia didn't notice anything wrong.
However, Shirou did see that Bell was feeling down, though he didn't say anything directly. He decided to wait for a more suitable opportunity to address Bell's shaken confidence.
"By the way, didn't something unusual happen in the dungeon today?" Hestia asked, recalling the events of the afternoon. "There seemed to be way more adventurers going in and out than usual. It was clearly not normal."
"Ah, right! I almost forgot!" Bell exclaimed, as if remembering something important. "This afternoon, the Guild issued an emergency notice, warning adventurers to be on alert for a certain presence in the dungeon."
"A certain presence?" Shirou and Hestia both looked puzzled.
Bell continued to explain further.
Apparently, just yesterday, one of the strongest Familia in the dungeon—the Loki Familia—had completed their expedition and returned to the surface.
However, during their return journey, they encountered something extremely strange: all the dungeon bosses along the way had disappeared.
If it had only been one or two floor bosses, that could be explained by another party having defeated them. But the Loki Familia had traveled from the 50th floor upward, and they didn't encounter a single floor boss—almost as if all of them had vanished from existence.
This was an unbelievable phenomenon in Orario's dungeon. Due to the dungeon's unique mechanics, floor bosses regularly respawn. Even if defeated, they would reappear after a set amount of time.
For such a widespread disappearance of bosses to occur, there was only one possibility: someone had eliminated almost all the floor bosses up to the 50th floor in a very short span of time.
Faced with such an abnormal situation, the Loki Familia naturally didn't take it lightly. After returning to the surface, they immediately investigated all the Familia in Orario who could potentially pull off such a feat.
The goddess Loki did not believe that a single individual or even a small group could kill so many floor bosses in such a short time—it had to be the result of an entire Familia operating at full strength.
After all, floor bosses weren't ordinary monsters.
Each one was powerful and came with unique traits and abilities. Without a well-equipped, fully-supported, and experienced team, it would be impossible to eliminate them so quickly.
Yet, after interviewing all potential Familias, the Loki Familia couldn't find a single group with evidence of having gone into the dungeon recently—let alone reaching the 50th floor.
The only Familia on record to have reached that depth recently was the Loki Familia itself.
This revelation not only shocked the Loki Familia but also terrified the Guild.
They realized that some unknown, powerful entity, entirely outside their control, had slaughtered an extraordinary number of dungeon bosses.
Their first suspicion fell upon the Dark Factions—a shadowy organization in Orario made up of zealots bent on destroying the city.
If the Dark Factions were responsible, no matter how bizarre or incomprehensible the situation, it would at least make some sense.
However, according to the Guild's investigation, the Dark Factions hadn't taken any noticeable actions in the dungeon lately—most adventurers hadn't seen any sign of them.
Instead, a few adventurers reported sightings of a mysterious individual.
Allegedly, some had seen a lone human wandering deep within the dungeon, carrying no visible gear or weapons, moving alone through the darkness.
These adventurers, wary and afraid, didn't dare approach, but they noticed that wherever this person went, they left behind mountains of monster corpses.
A very small number of adventurers even witnessed this person in combat.
They claimed that the mysterious figure could conjure swords out of thin air and moved with an inhuman, terrifying grace to dispatch monsters. Though clearly human, the person looked more like a monster than the monsters themselves.
Most notably, this person's strength could not be measured by the Falna - it was impossible to read their status.
Based on this collection of fragmented reports, the Guild concluded that this lone warrior was the one responsible for killing the floor bosses. However, they still had no concrete information beyond that.
As a result, the Guild issued a general notice to all adventurers, asking them to search for clues about this person in the dungeon.
To facilitate communication, the Guild gave this mysterious figure a temporary title:
"The Sword Demon."
That explained why the dungeon had suddenly become so lively that afternoon—nearly every adventurer was heading in, curious to uncover the truth behind the mysterious Sword Demon the Guild was now investigating.
Chapter 10: Stirring Up Trouble
After listening to Bell's story, Hestia didn't seem to care much, thinking it had nothing to do with her Familia.
However, Shirou's expression became rather subtle.
Clearly, the current Shirou was no longer the clueless newcomer who once wandered aimlessly in the dungeon.
Now that he understood the general situation and structure of Orario, the labyrinth city, he could pretty much confirm it— The "Sword Demon" that Bell had mentioned… was most likely himself.
Those dungeon bosses that had suddenly vanished without a trace were, without a doubt, all eliminated by Shirou on his way back to the surface.
He hadn't expected his actions to cause such a massive stir, creating waves across all of Orario. This realization left him with mixed feelings.
But in the end, he buried all those thoughts in his heart and said nothing to Bell or Hestia.
He didn't want to bring too much trouble to Hestia, who had taken him in.
Thus, Bell's account was ultimately treated as one of the occasional urban legends from the dungeon and didn't cause any major upheaval within their Familia.
.
.
.
Thanks to Shirou's large earnings from working the food stall, the Hestia Familia no longer had to eat dry bread and plain water that night—they could finally afford proper food.
After dinner, Hestia went to bed early.
Bell also prepared to rest, but Shirou stopped him.
"Bell, do you want to become stronger?"
Out of the blue, Shirou asked Bell this question.
Hearing him, Bell hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath and responded, "Yeah, I want to get stronger. I want to become as strong as you, Shirou-nii!"
"But the way you are now, that's not possible."
"…!"
Shirou's blunt statement immediately made Bell look disheartened.
He knew all too well how weak he was. Despite having been an adventurer for a long time, he hadn't gotten any stronger and remained stuck in the upper levels of the dungeon.
Shirou, understanding Bell's thoughts, continued quietly, "Do you know why you can't get stronger?"
"I don't."
Bell shook his head. Of course he didn't know. If he did, he wouldn't still be stuck where he was.
Shirou didn't hold back, explaining plainly: "It's because you're afraid of fighting beings stronger than you. When you encounter someone stronger, you instinctively feel fear and retreat. If you're not even willing to stand up to those stronger than you, you'll never grow stronger."
Hearing Shirou's words, Bell suddenly had a revelation.
He realized that Shirou was right. When he faced strong enemies, he never thought about how to defeat them—he only thought about how to escape.
This cowardly mindset had prevented him from ever truly confronting powerful foes. Without those kinds of battles, there was no way for him to grow stronger.
"I see… Thank you, Shirou-nii."
Bell thanked Shirou sincerely, then went to rest, preparing for his next day in the dungeon.
But Shirou, watching Bell's back, didn't think the change would come easily.
After all, personality is innate. Bell had always been the type to shrink back when things got tough. It would be very difficult for him to shoulder true responsibility or change that core part of himself.
However, knowing where your mistake lies is always a hundred times better than not knowing at all. And if the right opportunity comes, perhaps even someone like Bell could undergo real change and growth.
Shirou himself had once been the same—he used to instinctively retreat when faced with opponents he couldn't beat, too afraid to fight.
It wasn't until Ainsworth kidnapped his sister, Miyu, and he was thrown into an impossible crisis— When someone he cared about was taken from him—that his will was truly ignited. He resolved to do whatever it took to defeat his enemies and finally achieved his own redemption.
.
.
.
The Next Day
Bell, as usual, went to the dungeon to adventure.
Shirou and Hestia, on the other hand, went to work at Takemikazuchi's food stall.
Thanks to Shirou's cooking, which had made a big splash yesterday, a large crowd had gathered early outside the stall. When they saw Shirou arrive, they all wore excited expressions, determined to taste his food today no matter what.
Seeing the customers' enthusiasm, Takemikazuchi was pumped. He had prepared plenty of ingredients and even volunteered to assist Shirou himself, hoping to ease his burden.
As a result, the stall was packed with customers from the morning. It was absolutely booming—easily the flashiest and most popular spot on the entire commercial street.
This situation continued into the afternoon. The overwhelming success made Takemikazuchi and Hestia laugh with joy—they'd never seen this many customers in their lives.
Shirou, however, remained calm. He wasn't overly ecstatic about the overwhelming customer turnout. He simply enjoyed the experience of letting everyone savor delicious food.
But, happy moments rarely last.
As business resumed in the afternoon, a few unfamiliar men came to buy food from the stall.
After purchasing fried rice, they didn't leave. Instead, they suddenly shouted:
"Pah! What the hell—there's a bug in this fried rice!"
"This shady vendor actually put bugs in the food! Absolutely disgusting!"
"No morals at all—this is sickening!"
"…"
It was like a staged performance—these men's loud accusations instantly stirred up the crowd.
More adventurers gathered and joined in, demanding an explanation from Shirou.
Faced with this obvious act of sabotage, even Takemikazuchi and Hestia immediately realized what was happening.
But none of them had a good way to deal with it.
Clearly, the troublemakers had coordinated everything beforehand. There was no way they could produce solid evidence to prove their innocence.
In such situations, the more you try to prove you're innocent, the easier it is to fall into their trap.
However, doing nothing was just as wrong.
In business, reputation is everything. The heckling and accusations from the adventurers were starting to shake the confidence of many customers. Even those who were originally interested in Shirou's food were now second-guessing whether they should buy it.
Just as the situation grew increasingly unfavorable— And Takemikazuchi and Shirou were even considering using force to resolve things— A voice suddenly rang out:
"Huh? Aren't you guys from the Soma Familia?"
The speaker was a red-haired woman with narrow eyes and a flat chest—giving off the vibe of a sly fox.
Beside her stood a girl with long golden hair and a longsword at her waist, exuding a powerful, unspoken aura.
As soon as the red-haired woman appeared, she questioned the troublemakers sharply, her tone full of implication.
The moment she mentioned "Soma Familia," The public opinion—previously misled by the hecklers—immediately flipped.
Because when it came to the Soma Familia… Most people in Orario felt nothing but disgust.