Chapter 652

"Broly, you solved so many monsters in the Dungeon today, you definitely obtained a huge amount of Excelia. Now let me take a look at your Status Panel and update your Status for you."

Back in the Basement of the abandoned Church, Hestia couldn't wait to examine her Familia boy's body.

She had Broly strip his upper clothes and lie prone on the bed, then straddled his legs herself. She pricked her fingertip with a Silver Needle, pressing the fingertip carrying Divine Blood onto the boy's back beneath her. The mark belonging to the Goddess of the Hearth instantly surfaced, followed immediately by Broly's Status Panel.

"Ah, this?!"

However, once Broly's Status Panel surfaced, the massive numerical changes displayed on it left Hestia, sitting on his legs, somewhat Staring in shock.

One saw that last night the five Basic Abilities were still I0, but the Panel had now become:

Strength: I0→A815

Durability: I0→A810

Dexterity: I0→S915

Agility: I0→S961

Magic: I0→F313

Hestia actually understood that, given Broly's strength to defeat a Wild Wyvern, upon just receiving the Gods' Blessing his Status would inevitably show rapid growth because of the formidable power he already possessed.

But while she anticipated rapid Status growth, she hadn't anticipated the magnitude of this increase would be this fierce.

A total increase of over 3814 points in Status Proficiency — Hestia rubbed her eyes hard several times before confirming she hadn't misread.

"Lady Hestia, what's wrong?"

Broly noticed the Goddess behind him staying silent for a long while and asked curiously.

"Ah, nothing. Just that your Status increase is very large, large enough to surprise even me."

"Is this a bad thing?"

"No, this is a very good thing. Just so good I don't dare casually Expose it — I actually have such an Excessively Uncommon Familia child!"

If it were just a Status surge, it could still be explained as Broly's own formidable strength being recorded by the Status Panel granted by the Gods' Blessing, turning into fuel for his rapid Progress.

But if you add the extra Skill that appeared below, Hestia was certain any God who knew of Broly would feel their Heart Moved for her Familia boy.

Hestia had already seen the Skill 【Innate Stat Monster】, and that Skill's simple, crude description — Orario adding a total of 1000 Proficiency to the five Basic Abilities every day at exactly 00:00:00 — meant that even if Broly didn't go Adventuring in the Dungeon and chose to Lay Flat, he could still attain the theoretical limit values his current Level's five Basic Abilities could reach, namely S999, and with all five values maxed out at that.

Although Hestia had only come to the Lower World recently, she was still clear on some basic common sense regarding those Familia Mortal children. Never mind S999, even just all-A values — anyone reaching them were without exception people who could become High-Level Adventurers.

"Lady Hestia, then why don't I feel you're very happy?"

"Because this child of yours is too precious. The happy emotion was instead replaced by a somewhat anxious, fearful-of-losing emotion born from worry over losing you."

"Please, have more faith in my strength. I said, even the Gods of this World cannot force me to leave your side, unless the God making me leave is you yourself, Lady Hestia..."

His Tail coiled around Hestia's waist. As Broly twisted his body around, Hestia was also gently lifted by the Tail, facing the boy on the bed eye-to-eye. Hestia could completely feel the strong, powerful force on the boy's Tail.

The Goddess showed a bright smile, but feigned anger: "Don't randomly turn around. I haven't finished fully updating your Status Panel on your back yet. If the Divine Blood gets wiped off, I'll have to prick my fingertip again, and that hurts a bit, you know."

"Ah, okay!"

Broly hurriedly lay prone back on the bed, and as he settled, his Tail also placed the Goddess Hestia back onto his own legs.

Hestia took from the side a gray-brown Record Sheet she had long prepared for recording Familia Status changes.

She pressed the Paper against the boy's back. The Status Panel, recorded by Holy Scripture and already fully updated by her, was quickly transcribed onto it, converted into text that Mortal children could also understand.

【Broly】

Level: Lv1

Strength: A815

Durability: A810

Dexterity: S915

Agility: S961

Magic: F313

And besides these Basic Abilities, below there was an additional Development Ability never heard of before.

Ki Control: G (The Status Panel can only record what Broly has demonstrated — the level of Qi he uses to solve monsters and deploy Qi Barriers, recorded as a rank)

【Magic】:

【Water Creation】 Instant Cast, Chant Cast available. Power determined by Mana Capacity invested. When Chant Cast, power amplified.

Chant Spell: O all my retinue in this world, by the name of Water Goddess Aqua I command you, answer my plea, follow my will, manifest power upon the world, Holy Torrent!

(When Hestia saw this Magic Chant Spell, she did feel a moment of Surprise. But upon thinking and realizing she had never heard the name Water Goddess in Heaven, she Subconsciously regarded the other party as a God fictitiously created by some race worshipping a Water God in the Lower World before the Gods' Descent.

Just like the fictitious Goddess Fianna worshipped by the Pallum race. Even though real Gods walking the Mortal World can often be seen in the Lower World to this day, some Pallums still worship that fictitious Goddess. The most famous is undoubtedly the Captain of the Loki Familia.)

【Skills】:

【Innate Stat Monster】 (Described earlier, not repeated here)

【Swordsmanship Absolute Peak】: When equipped with bladed weapons, temporarily grants Development Ability 【Sword God】, amplifies power of all blade/sword techniques. Amplification effect increases with Level growth.

A Skill brazenly described with a God as its descriptor. Hestia didn't know its actual activation effect, but just the description of Sword God inside this Skill gave a feeling that this Skill is terrifyingly strong.

Hestia handed the transcribed Status Paper to Broly: "Your situation surprised me too much. If before I only had Confidence in you, now I am certain — Broly, you will be the greatest, greatest, greatest Adventurer in the Lower World."

Broly nodded. He didn't Deny anything, and he also hadn't Expected that the Gods' Blessing could actually concretize his physical development and the Swordsmanship honed in the Six-Faced World into a separate Skill.

And after Hestia finished updating his Status Panel, Broly felt his Physical Quality gain a minute increase — just like the Physical Quality increase he felt fighting monsters in the Dungeon during the Daytime was only a part of the increase, and now Hestia had released the remaining part.

"Comparatively strange though — that space Trick of yours didn't become a Skill, nor did it become Magic."

Hestia felt this a bit strange. She felt this ability was the one most likely to be recorded by the Gods' Blessing and become a Skill or Magic, but the result was no.

"Maybe my ability is rather special."

Broly said, paused, then asked again.

"Lady Hestia, with my current Status Panel, can I enter the Deeper Floors of the Labyrinth tomorrow?"

"You can, but I suggest waiting a bit. At least max out all five Basic Ability values to their limit values first, then consider entering deeper Labyrinth floors.

With 【Innate Stat Monster】 this Skill, a perfect Level Up with Status at limit values is just something you can easily obtain, readily at hand."

"Of course, excluding this skill, the ability value increase you yourself gain in a day is also an extremely terrifying figure; I'm afraid if you go into the Dungeon tomorrow and casually eliminate some monsters, that little bit of missing value will be filled."

Hestia subconsciously bit her finger, thought for a while, and then said: "How about this, Broly, tomorrow you can go down to the Third Floor, the level where Lv. 2 Adventurers operate in the Dungeon Labyrinth; one would think mere Lv. 2 monsters pose no threat to you either."

"Ah, but if I do that, won't it cause me to suddenly level up? Although I don't really mind, maybe that little bit of missing ability value."

"This... sorry, Broly, I actually deceived you this morning; an Adventurer's Level also requires their Familia God to update it before it can increase."

"A situation of suddenly leveling up does not exist; even if, with a low Level, you achieve the great feat of defeating a high-Level monster, it is the same."

Hestia apologized directly; she performed a dogeza apology toward the boy on the bed.

"Alright, this isn't a big deal either; Hestia-sama, you deceived me for my own good, didn't you?"

"Mhm."

The Loli Goddess raised her head, nodding repeatedly at the boy.

"I forgive you."

Broly said with a smile, and then was pounced onto the bed by the Goddess; her soft chest seemed to want to suffocate him.

"But, doing it this way, does that mean I can enter the Deepest Floor of the Labyrinth without any scruples?"

Broly asked; he was also somewhat curious about what was in the depths of the Dungeon Labyrinth.

"That won't do."

"Does Hestia-sama still not believe in my strength?"

"It's not that reason; rather, you've only been an Adventurer for two days, and if you directly delve into the deep floors of the Dungeon Labyrinth, it will appear extremely conspicuous."

"What's the problem with that?"

"Other Gods might covet you, wanting to snatch you away from my side."

"But I've also said, no one can force me to leave your side, not even a God."

"But what if the one wanting to snatch you is a Goddess you favor, like me?"

Broly: "..."

【If I encounter another Goddess acknowledged by the Crystal Palace as a capture target, can I refuse her directly too?】

Broly thought for a bit, felt it should be possible; it's just this choice makes one feel a bit troubled; perhaps after he has more feelings of liking for Hestia, he can gradually stop feeling troubled.

As for before he can choose Hestia without any hesitation, he just shouldn't let himself fall into this kind of troubled choice situation.

"Okay, Hestia-sama, I'll listen to you; before I can unhesitatingly refuse a special Goddess like you, I'll make myself not so conspicuous."

Broly embraced the Loli Goddess's body; although her figure was petite, the strong and forceful embrace gave Hestia a sense of peace.

"However, hunting monsters in the deeper floors of the Labyrinth yields more profit; plus the Guild keeps exchanges confidential; if I put on a cloak and act a bit secretly, not letting others know I'm someone who just became a Lv. 1 Adventurer not long ago, wouldn't that work?"

Hestia, flushed from being embraced back by the boy, scratched her face: "I'm afraid that won't work; the Guild will keep your personal Level confidential, but absolutely will not keep the Familia Level confidential."

"This involves the Guild's commission contribution ratio for Familia members after completing quests; the higher the Familia Level, the greater the privileges enjoyed in Orario, the more obligations and responsibilities must be borne."

"An Exploration-type Familia's Level mainly depends on the highest Labyrinth floor the Familia can reach; Exploration-type Familias able to explore the Upper Labyrinth Level 1-12 are the lowest rank."

"Middle Floors Level 13-24 are one rank higher; Lower Floors Level 25-36 are higher still; finally, Familias able to explore the Deep Floors Level 37+."

"Orario has only two Familias that have reached this extent: the Loki Familia and the Freya Familia; they are also currently the only two Top-tier Familia factions in Orario."

"Back to the main topic; if you bring out Magic Stones and drop items produced by deeper floor monsters, the Guild will investigate the Labyrinth floor you reached because of the items you gave; once verified you can delve into deeper floors of the Dungeon Labyrinth, they will upgrade our Familia, and this information is public."

"The Hestia Familia currently has only you as a child; if the Familia levels up, keeping your personal Level confidential has little meaning, because it will be as obvious as lice on a bald head; anyone with a normal brain can realize your situation is abnormal."

"And with just a slight investigation, they'd probably find out when you arrived in Orario and when you registered as an Adventurer."

"Uh, then does that mean I can only keep killing Killer Ants? Even if I delve into the Middle Floors and get Magic Stones and drop items from Lv. 2 monsters, I can't bring them back directly?"

"That's not quite it either; we can sell Magic Stones and drop items exceeding our Level without going through the Guild; conveniently, I have quite a few Divine Friends in Orario running production businesses."

"For example, Miach of the Blue Pharmacy; he continuously purchases various Herbs and monster drop materials that can make Panacea; and Hephaestus, the owner of Orario's most famous arms chain store, is one of my best friends in Heaven."

Hestia also has private connections; she believes the Gods she is close with, whether Miach or Hephaestus, even if they learn of this child Broly's existence, would not steal another's love, producing the thought of wanting to snatch the boy from her side.

A night without words; Broly was held by Hestia and slept again.

Early the next morning, Hestia didn't send Broly to the Labyrinth entrance again.

After saying goodbye at home, they each departed; one toward the Labyrinth, one toward the Fried Potato Ball Shop.

Broly bought some food like Meat Buns on the road to fill his belly, then came to the Babel Tower side.

Looking at the Entrance Front, those Supporters carrying Big Bags looking for odd jobs.

He originally wanted to hire such a person to help pick up Magic Stones and drop items.

However, also because he cannot show excessive excellence, he can now only helplessly give up, unless he can find a person willing to keep the secret.

But such a person is not easy to find; although he could also use force to threaten someone's life, thereby coercing them to help keep the secret, it doesn't seem necessary either.

Because, after understanding he won't be scam-leveled, Broly can completely go kill monsters in the more valuable deeper floors of the Labyrinth; the quantity fundamentally doesn't need to be much; the main focus is quality over quantity.

Of course, he probably also needs to grind some Low-Level Monsters in the Upper Floors, take Low-Level Monster Magic Stones and drop items to the Guild to exchange for money, to deceive people's eyes and ears.

The Monster Lure Tool, Broly still went up to the Tool Shop on the Babel Tower and bought one; going to the Middle Floors should also save time finding Middle Floor monsters.

After finishing these preparations, Broly once again went down into the Dungeon alone, directly delving into the Seventh Floor Labyrinth, finding a Killer Ant, beating it near death to release pheromones, then taking out his Short Sword and starting to try the 【Swordsmanship Pinnacle】 skill manifested by the God's Blessing after last night's ability value update.

After chopping the Killer Ant for a while, Broly reached a conclusion: this skill increases the power of all aspects of his sword techniques somewhat; it is a noble percentage amplification skill; the amplified power is roughly around 50%, and this is only the effect at his current Level.

As for how much this skill's effect can increase after he levels up later, Broly doesn't know.

Ending the dying Killer Ant's life, Broly sheathed his sword and began cleaning the Battlefield.

About half an hour later, he finished, and continued walking toward the deep floors of the Dungeon Labyrinth.

When the feeling of his body's basic qualities slightly increasing completely disappeared, Broly also arrived at the entrance to the Thirteenth Floor Labyrinth.

At this moment, he was wrapped in a Black Robe, his whole person shrouded in Shadow; his Sword, Leather Armor, and protective gear were all put away.

Concealment must be thorough; after entering the Middle Floors, Broly prepared to use Magic to fight monsters.

This way, even if he encounters other Adventurers and they see the Battle scene, it won't be easy to associate it with him, a Hestia Familia member who uses a Short Sword.

(Chapter End)