Chapter 655: I'm Sorry, Even Expending My Life, I Still Cannot Let Bu

"Huh?!"

Hephaestus was somewhat taken aback.

"Things like exchanging magic stones and drop items for money, can't that be done at the Guild?"

After asking, this Artisan Goddess seemed to think of something and hurriedly added.

"Let me state this first, my help is limited to me personally. If you, Hestia, want me to sacrifice the interests of my Familia's children and purchase the magic stones and drop items your child obtained at a cost far exceeding the Guild's purchase price, then I can only refuse you."

Hephaestus's bottom line was the basic interests of her Familia's children. Helping her close friend Hestia was fine, but sacrificing her own children's basic interests was not.

"Hah, how could that be? I'm not a Goddess who would take advantage of you. In fact, if you, Hephaestus, can guarantee complete confidentiality regarding Broly's information to the outside, we are willing to concede on the price as a fee for that secrecy."

"Lady Hestia, Lady Hephaestus, tea."

Just then, a black-haired, red-eyed woman with a black eye patch over her left eye similar to her own Goddess knocked and entered. She served tea to her own Goddess and the guest Hestia, and a steaming, fragrant cup was also placed before Broly.

"Thanks, Chun."

Hestia politely thanked the other party and began introducing the person to Broly.

"This is Chun Cobrand, the current Regiment Commander of the Hephaestus Familia, and also the person who often took care of me when I stayed here temporarily after descending to the Lower World."

Broly exchanged greetings with the other party. After Chun closed the parlor door, she stood beside Hephaestus.

"Concede on the price?

And secrecy?

Hestia, what exactly does your child want to process?"

A strange expression surfaced on Hephaestus's face as she asked.

Broly looked at Hestia. The Loli Goddess nodded at him: "Hephaestus is a trustworthy God. Just take the items out directly."

Broly walked to the side. Hephaestus looked at him in puzzlement, only to see a giant magic stone appear out of thin air in the boy's hand, placed onto the ground.

It wasn't over yet. Broly took out some crystal-clear scales and two crystals of different colors. One was the color of red wine, the other emitted a pale blue hue.

"Eh, Red Mist Crystal, Blue Flame Stone, and Crystal Scales. Lady Hestia, did you subjugate that Two-Headed Dragon at the Blue Waterfall?"

As a top-tier Artisan, Chun instantly recognized the materials produced from the Floor Boss of the Deep Floors and asked with a surprised expression.

"That's right. And this is my Broly's battle result today. He went alone to the 26th Floor and subjugated the Floor Boss there."

Hestia puffed out her ample chest and gave a definite answer. At this moment, this Loli Goddess displayed a look of pride and honor for what her own Familia child had achieved.

"Hestia, may I ask how long this child has been your Familia member?"

The Red-haired Goddess asked.

"Less than three months."

"The specific time?"

"Less than three days."

"Then the Falna on his body?"

"I gave it. Before this, he had no Falna on his body."

Hephaestus raised a hand to rub her temples, finally understanding why Hestia had spoken of secrecy earlier.

Less than three days since receiving the Falna, he could directly enter the Deep Floors of the Dungeon's Labyrinth and successfully subjugate the Floor Boss.

For a child like this, if other Gods found out, they would surely attract the attention of the Gods. Some ill-natured Gods might even harbor thoughts of snatching and possessing him.

"Ah, just where did you find such an excellent child?"

Hephaestus couldn't help but ask.

Although Orario is praised as the City at the Center of the World, and this City gathers a large number of excellent, talented children, even in this place where elites congregate, the feat of successfully subjugating the Two-Headed Dragon Floor Boss in less than 3 days since receiving the Falna is still terrifying.

Judging by the boy's appearance, even for a Pallum his age isn't great. Perhaps he is on the same level as, or even possesses higher talent than, the Sword Princess of the Loki Familia who reached Level 5 at the mere age of 16.

"You might not believe it if I told you, but this child Broly actively sought me out because he wanted to encounter me — me, who was somewhat dejected and lonely on the main street because I couldn't find a child to become my Familia member.

Ah, this child is like a beam of light that shone into my life when I was dejected and lonely. And on the very night we formed the Contract and I bestowed my Blessing upon him, I already... shared a bed... with this child!"

Hestia's words, spoken syllable by syllable, drawn out, and with a coquettish tone, made Hephaestus's body tremble, goosebumps rising all over.

As expected, unchanging Heavenly Gods, after encountering changing Familia children in the Lower World, are always influenced by those changing children, thereby undergoing some changes.

Even Hestia, one of the Three Great Virgin Goddesses of Heaven, after encountering her own Familia child, can now say without changing expression — even with a sense of declaring sovereignty — that she gave herself away on the very day they met, right in front of her.

"Lady Hestia, you are unexpectedly bold!"

Chun at the side looked over in surprise.

Of course, in this era where Gods descend, Gods and mortals falling in love and having physical relations isn't exactly rare.

It's just that if the Goddess in question is a Virgin Goddess, this is indeed the first time I've seen it. And the speed of Lady Hestia's self-confessed giving herself away is a bit too fast.

Those who don't know might think this is Ishtar, that Goddess who governs Desire.

"Alright then, I understand the situation. I can help you process these items."

"Then the price..."

"You are my close friend. How could I let you suffer a loss? Let's just purchase at the normal market price. Deep Floor Floor Boss materials are hot goods. Buying at the general market price means we profit too."

Hephaestus waved her hand.

"Chun, calculate the price."

After a round of inventory and calculation, the magic stones and drop items Broly harvested in the Middle Floors, plus the Floor Boss Two-Headed Dragon's magic stone and drop items, totaled a purchase price of over 300 million Valis.

Of which, over 27.5 million Valis was the sale price of the Floor Boss materials, and only over 2.8 million Valis was the sale price of the remaining monster materials.

It sounds like a lot, but in reality, Broly didn't have the costs other Adventurers might need to pay — equipment wear, potion consumption, precious Tool usage, plus the possibility of personnel injury at any time.

This is pure profit. If it were other Adventurers, just subjugating monsters worth 2.8 million Valis in materials might have required them to pay no small cost themselves.

"Hestia, the transaction is complete. However, how to settle the account is a problem."

"Can't you just give the money directly to us?"

"It's not that simple. I can certainly give you the money directly, but if you want to keep this child's information secret, even with the money it will be difficult to use large sums freely, unless you don't need to spend large amounts of funds."

Hestia nodded, feeling her friend made sense.

However...

"Broly, do you have anywhere you need to spend a big sum of money?"

"I don't. Does Hestia-sama have any?"

"Neither do I."

The dialogue of one goddess and one person gave Hephaestus a bit of a headache; she had to remind them: "You have money yet still live in an abandoned church's basement — is that reasonable? Why don't you get a better base?"

"Uh..."

Those words did remind Hestia; however, the Loli Goddess thought for a moment, then gave her reply.

"Our current residence is a bit crude, it doesn't even have a room for bathing, but as long as I can be together with this child Broly, even the crudest place is our warm little home, right, Broly?"

"Mhm."

Broly nodded.

"Still, we should fix up our living space properly."

He said again.

A good accommodation environment is also one of the conditions for a happier life.

"If you need to buy a house, I can have Tsubaki help arrange it; the account goes to my Familia's account, you spend your own money, and openly it'll be said that I lent money to Hestia with interest."

"Ah, Hephaestus, you're willing to cover for us?"

"Of course."

"Wah, as expected of my dear friend!"

Hestia pounced on her; the Red-haired Goddess caught the Loli Goddess in a fluster, and this is also one of the reasons she unconsciously takes care of Hestia.

"Buying a house, huh. Hestia-sama, do you think it's better to buy a new house and move, or renovate our current residence?"

Broly asked his own Loli deity who was acting spoiled in the other goddess's arms.

"Ugh, everyone nearby is familiar with that church place..."

Broly understood.

"Then let's renovate our residence."

"If it's renovating the base, our Familia can contract it, but to renovate it well, the price isn't cheap."

"Money isn't the problem; what's important is that after renovation, Hestia-sama can live comfortably."

【The words of a rich child are just that confident!】

Hephaestus thought, then said: "No problem, money in place, renovation in place; I'll even give you a discount, and publicly we'll say you borrowed from me to renovate the house, okay, Hestia?"

"Of course."

Hestia nodded; keep a low profile when you can, improve life while staying low-key.

Hephaestus soon had Familia children skilled at house renovation come over, to hear Hestia and Broly's requirements for the renovation.

"I want a study."

This is Hestia's request; she is a goddess who likes books.

"Also, the kitchen at home must have a large stove."

How can the Hearth Fire Goddess's base not have a stove.

"Then, we'll hire a cook with good craftsmanship, and every day we can eat hot steaming dishes at home."

Hestia said; Broly nodded in agreement, and he also proposed his own requirement: "Bathroom, I hope to make a somewhat larger hot spring pool; then I can bathe together with Hestia-sama."

The artisans recording this widened their eyes, looking at the boy with a gaze of astonishment; to so frankly reveal the desire to bathe with a goddess-sama, this young man has a limitless future!

"No problem, we will build a slightly smaller-spec hot spring pool for you according to Sacred Bath standards."

The lead artisan said solemnly.

"Hestia, you go back and sleep tonight; tomorrow bring Broly and move over; during the base renovation, you'll stay here first, in the guest room you originally stayed in."

Hephaestus said.

"Mhm."

Hestia nodded; after bidding farewell to Hephaestus, she and the boy returned to the abandoned church.

"Before sleeping, I'll update your Status Board first."

Broly was made to take off his upper clothing again and lie prone on the bed.

For a normal Adventurer, there's no need to update the Status Board at such high frequency, but for Broly, Hestia felt that even one less update might waste the 【Natural Stat Monster】 skill, because her own Familia child's excelia gain speed is too fast.

Divine Blood pressed on his back; sure enough, all five of Broly's basic abilities became S999.

Development Ability: Ki Control G became Ki Control E.

Below that, a Mado D Development Ability was added.

This is probably related to this child using magic in combat today, recorded by the Status Board.

And the Magic Slot also gained Water Blade, Water Cannon, Heavy Pressure Domain, and other magic.

And all are quite absurd — Instant Cast Magic that doesn't even need chanting.

Besides magic, a Skill was also added under Skills, named 【Fist Master】.

And its effect is the same as 【Swordsmanship Peak】: when unarmed, gain Development Ability 【Kenshi】, amplifying the power of all unarmed techniques; amplification degree depends on level.

Hestia looked at the boy's back, at the Status Board glorious to the extreme, feeling indescribably refreshed: just that smug Loki's Familia children — do any compare to my Broly?

"Mhm, next up is updating the Level."

After admiring her boy's perfect Status Board, Hestia prepared to raise the Lv. 1 Level, but when her finger pressed on it, she found that Lv. 1 Level didn't budge at all, not the slightest intention to change.

"Eh? No, why can't it update?!"

Hestia widened her eyes, unable to comprehend.

"What's wrong, Goddess Hestia?"

Broly lay on the bed, sensing the Goddess's restlessness behind him, and couldn't help but ask.

"I don't know what's going on, but I can't update your Level anymore."

She said it like that, but Hestia already had a bad premonition.

Sure enough, when they moved to the Hephaestus Familia Residence the next day and Hestia asked Hephaestus, she got the reply: "Leveling up requires looking at Deeds, but Deeds and Excelia aren't quite the same; it's not that just because a low Level reverse-conquers a high Level opponent, it can be recognized as a Deed.

Rather, there needs to be a true, genuine bitter battle where one is driven into a desperate situation; simply put, it's an Adventure — the more dangerous, the more desperate the situation, only when overcoming the danger and crossing the desperate situation will a Deed sufficient for a Level up be formed."

When Hephaestus answered these words, the expression on her face was quite subtle.

Hestia's Familia boy, with a Lv. 1 body, reverse-conquered the Twin-Headed Dragon Floor Boss 【Amphisbaena】 who was openly Lv. 5 but actually had Lv. 6 strength in the Current, successfully, yet still couldn't Level up.

This also meant that that Twin-Headed Dragon Floor Boss didn't even give that boy a bitter battle:

Sorry, you staked your life, yet still couldn't make Broly-sama Level up, right?

It really is a hell of a black joke!

"So, the reason I can't Level up is because my opponent's actual strength is too weak compared to me?"

(Chapter End)