Danmachi : The Strongest Adventurer

Inside the Dungeon

Rein stopped walking as his stomach let out a loud growl.

Ah… I haven't eaten…

He suddenly remembered that Syr had given him food before he entered the dungeon, but he had been so focused on hunting that he forgot to eat it.

Now, his body was utterly exhausted, and he needed energy to return to the surface safely.

His eyes scanned the surroundings, searching for a safe place to rest. A dungeon was not a place to be taken lightly—even when no monsters were in sight, danger could strike at any moment.

After walking for a while, he found a small alcove in one of the dungeon walls. It was well-hidden, not visible from the main corridor.

Rein checked the area, ensuring there were no signs of monsters.

"Seems safe."

Carefully, he sat down, leaning against the cold stone wall.

He opened his bag and took out the food Syr had packed for him. The moment he unwrapped it, the aroma filled his nose, making his mouth water.

Whole wheat bread, a piece of salted meat, and a few slices of cheese. A simple meal, but for someone as exhausted and hungry as Rein, it felt like a feast.

He bit into the bread, savoring its softness and slight sweetness.

The salty meat blended perfectly with the mildly savory cheese. Within a few bites, he had already forgotten the fatigue that had weighed him down earlier.

"Syr really knows how to take care of people," he murmured, a hint of admiration in his voice.

Even while eating, he remained alert to his surroundings.

A dungeon was never truly safe, and he didn't want to be caught off guard by a monster while he was unprepared.

A few minutes later, he finished his meal. His stomach felt more at ease, and his energy slowly returned.

Rein took a deep breath and stood in the quiet dungeon corridor. After eating and resting a little, his body felt slightly better, though the fatigue still lingered. He knew it was time to head back to the surface.

With steady steps, he started walking. Along the way, he reviewed the battles he had fought today. He was strong in one-on-one duels, but when facing multiple enemies at once, he quickly became exhausted. His movements slowed, and his attacks lost power. If not for his luck, he might have been in serious danger.

"I need to improve my stamina," he thought.

No matter how fast or strong he was, if his body couldn't endure prolonged battles, he would still lose. It seemed he needed to start training for endurance. Running? Weightlifting? Maybe a combination of both.

But that was a problem for later. For now, his main priority was getting out of the dungeon and exchanging his loot.

Perhaps because it was midday, Rein encountered many adventurers on his way back.

A short while later, sunlight greeted him as he finally stepped out of the dungeon. The fresh air filled his lungs, a stark contrast to the damp, oppressive atmosphere inside. He let out a sigh of relief.

"Finally back."

Without wasting time, he headed toward the guild. The grand building was always bustling with adventurers coming and going.

Some wore satisfied smiles after a successful hunt, while others looked disappointed or even injured.

Rein approached the exchange counter with a calm expression. He glanced around, looking for Eina, but she didn't seem to be at the guild right now. Maybe she was busy with other matters.

When he reached the counter, a short-haired female receptionist greeted him with a professional smile.

"Welcome. Would you like to exchange magic stones?"

The receptionist eyed Rein curiously. For some reason, she was reminded of the gossip among the guild staff about the handsome young man with purple eyes who joined a familia out of love.

"Yes." Rein nodded and took out all the magic stones he had collected from his bag.

Upon seeing the amount, the receptionist's eyes widened slightly. She stared at the pile of magic stones on the counter, then looked back at Rein in disbelief.

"Wait… this is quite a lot. You're a new adventurer, aren't you?"

"That's right," Rein replied casually.

Her surprise deepened. She had heard the rumors about the handsome young man who recently joined Hestia Familia. Many said he only joined because he was in love with his goddess, making him a frequent topic of gossip among the guild staff. But seeing the number of magic stones he brought… it seemed this young man was more than just an ordinary rookie.

"How long have you been in a familia?" she asked, still skeptical.

"Not long." Rein gave a short answer.

The receptionist held back her surprise and started processing the exchange. After a while, she finished counting and handed a pouch of valis to Rein.

"That will be 22,400 valis. Congratulations on your hard work!"

Rein took the pouch and stored it calmly. Though this amount was far from enough for a luxurious life, it was a good start. At least, he wouldn't have to worry about running out of money anytime soon.

"Thank you," he said briefly before turning to leave.

As he walked out of the guild, the receptionist continued to watch his back, her expression filled with questions.

How could someone who had just joined a small familia like Hestia Familia already collect so many magic stones? Was he really that strong? Or just lucky?

Rein stepped outside, the weighty pouch of valis in his hand. Today had been quite a success. Now, there was only one thing on his mind—or rather, one goddess. Hestia.

"The goddess must have started selling by now," he muttered, quickening his pace toward her usual spot.

As he arrived, the familiar sight greeted him.

Under a small umbrella with her cart, Hestia was busy selling Jagamaru-kun. Her signature apron was still tied around her, and her cute face was full of energy as she served customers. Her twin-tailed black hair bounced slightly as she moved, making her look even more adorable.

Rein smiled slightly. Despite being a goddess, she worked as hard as any ordinary person. No arrogance, no sense of superiority. Hestia was just herself—and for some reason, that made Rein even more drawn to her.

"Hey, Goddess," Rein greeted casually as he approached.

Hestia, who was counting money, immediately looked up. The moment she saw who it was, her eyes sparkled.

"Rein! You're back! Hmph! Why didn't you wake me up before leaving, huh?! I was so worried I almost got a stomachache, you know!" she huffed, jumping slightly in place, her cheerful expression mixed with pretend annoyance.

Seeing him, Hestia couldn't hold back. Without thinking, she ran up to him, her face filled with concern.

"Rein! Are you okay?!" she cried, nearly panicked, grabbing his hands. "Where, where?! You're not hurt, right?! Could there be an injury you haven't noticed?! Ugh, if you're hurt, I'll be so sad!"

She began circling him, checking for any wounds. Her large eyes were full of worry, showing no attempt to hide her emotions.

"Are you hurt? How's your wrist? Your knees? Any pain? Any soreness?!" she bombarded him with questions.

Rein, initially caught off guard by her over-the-top reaction, chuckled. He let her fuss over him, finding it oddly cute.

"Goddess, I'm fine. Look, not a single scratch," he reassured her gently.

Hestia, however, still frowned, unconvinced.

"Really? You're not hiding anything from me, right?!" She eyed him suspiciously, still holding onto his hands.

Rein gave a small smile, lifting both arms to show that he was completely fine.

"I'm really okay, Goddess. No injuries, no wounds, and I won't suddenly collapse in front of you," he said playfully.

After a few more seconds of scrutinizing him, Hestia finally sighed in relief. She let go of his hands but still looked slightly embarrassed by her own concern.

"Hmph! If that's true, then good!" she pouted, folding her arms.

Rein could only smile, feeling a bit of warmth in his heart. This little goddess was truly caring, even if she wouldn't admit it outright.

Hestia nodded in satisfaction, then her eyes immediately locked onto the pouch Rein was carrying.

"EHH?! Rein, don't tell me… You already got money from the dungeon?! Waaah! As expected of my beloved child! Hahaha! With this, we don't have to eat fried potatoes anymore, right?! Right?!"

"More or less." Rein replied with a small smile.

Hestia's eyes sparkled even brighter, like a child who had just received a present. She quickly stepped forward, grabbing Rein's arm with a wide grin.

"Amazing! I knew you could do it! Fufu~ Just what I'd expect from my Familia's child!" she said proudly.

Rein chuckled softly. Seeing her this happy made him feel like today's journey had been worth it.

"By the way, has the goddess eaten yet?" he asked casually.

Hestia immediately froze. Her eyes darted toward her stall before she awkwardly scratched her cheek. Just from her expression, Rein already knew the answer.

"U-Uhh… not yet… I was too busy selling things…" she mumbled, scratching her cheek. "Besides, Rein, I'm a goddess! I can survive without eating, you know?! …Ehh, but now that I think about it, my stomach does feel a little empty…"

"Just as I thought." Rein let out a small sigh, then leaned in slightly, closing the distance between them.

"Goddess, you do know that skipping meals is bad, right? What if your small body gets even smaller? I'm afraid you might disappear if you get too skinny." Rein teased playfully, his eyes glancing at her petite frame with a mischievous smile.

Though, deep down, Rein was surprised. Despite Hestia's small stature, the two mounds she carried were quite… large.

It made him wonder if they could still grow any bigger.

Hestia's face instantly turned red.

"H-Hah?! I-I'm not that small! Besides, I won't disappear just because I miss a meal or two!" she protested, puffing her cheeks in frustration.

"Sure, sure. But still, I don't want to see my goddess go hungry." Rein chuckled, then continued in a gentler tone.

"Well then, since I've got some money now, how about we have lunch together? My treat." He offered casually.

At the word 'treat,' Hestia, who had been pouting moments ago, immediately lit up. Her worried expression vanished in an instant, replaced with excitement.

"Seriously?! You're treating me?! Wahaha! In that case, I won't hold back!" she said enthusiastically, her eyes shining.

"Of course. I've already prepared myself to lose some valis for my dear goddess." Rein chuckled, amused by how predictable she was.

Without hesitation, Hestia took off her apron and temporarily closed her stall. With a wide smile, she grabbed Rein's arm, urging him to hurry.

"Come on, quickly! I'm starving!" she said excitedly, like a child being taken to a candy store.

Rein simply smiled, letting himself be pulled along by his little goddess toward their lunch destination.