Chapter 32: The Special Treatment Reserved Only for Liang Yue

"Dinner is packed for you!"

"Since these are ingredients that were going to be discarded anyway, I'll just charge you 100 Valis. This is a one-time thing, no exceptions."

The kitchen staff quickly threw the remaining ingredients together into a dish that defied naming. It wasn't neatly portioned, but the serving size was absolutely explosive—more than enough to fill both Liang Yue and Hestia. As for the price Mia offered, the primary reason was the final sentence Liang Yue had spoken.

"It is not that I am fearless; I simply do not wish to stop moving forward."

That statement completely refreshed Mia's impression of him. He was an adventurer with great drive. Setting aside his methods, his attitude toward dungeon exploration was noteworthy. With such resolve, if everything went well, he would certainly not remain obscure in Orario for long. She was actually quite looking forward to it—perhaps she might witness the rise of a new star among adventurers. It would add a little joy to her quiet life.

"Thank you."

Considering the size of the meal, the price Mia charged was effectively a gift. Liang Yue did not take this for granted. He cherished every kindness he encountered on his journey. He picked up the massive dinner box and made sure to thank Mia sincerely before leaving.

"..."

Mia waved her hand nonchalantly, watching Liang Yue's departing back. Even her usually stern face softened into a faint smile. Just as she was about to close the shop, Syr, who had finished her tasks as requested, walked curiously to the counter. Seeing Mia’s rare, genuine happiness, she asked, "Mama Mia, what is it...?"

"It's nothing. Just met an interesting adventurer."

Mia shook her head gently. Although Liang Yue had already set his path, deep down, she still hoped he would remain cautious. If one truly wants to witness the rise of a new adventurer, first... one must survive the treacherous dungeon!

***

It wasn't until Liang Yue returned to the Familia and opened the dinner box bought for 100 Valis that he realized the extent of the care hidden within. It was certainly not as Mia had described—just leftovers. The meal was based on noodles, accompanied by various meats that provided a rich source of protein. If sold at a normal price, it would have cost at least ten times as much!

"Now..."

"I really do have a reason to dine at the Hostess of Fertility again."

Liang Yue quickly made up his mind. He set out the tableware and woke Hestia, who had fallen asleep on the sofa. Eating a full meal would help her sleep more soundly. Of course, he would also need to trouble Hestia to update his status later. After the past two days of training, he held high expectations for his progress, and his goal was to venture even deeper into the dungeon.

Rubbing her sleepy eyes, Hestia sat up on the sofa. She looked at Liang Yue sitting beside her and, after carefully checking that he wasn't injured, finally let out a sigh of relief. Then, she noticed the dinner. Compared to the usual bento boxes he brought back, this was significantly different in both portion and variety.

"Such a lavish dinner?"

"Yes."

Liang Yue didn't hide anything. He told her about what happened at the Hostess of Fertility, emphasizing Mia's kindness—the price, the generous portion, and the advice for his adventures. He believed in returning kindness with gratitude; even if his current strength didn't allow for much, he would keep this kindness deep in his heart.

"Lady Hestia, let's eat!"

"Okay! You really work hard, Liang Yue-kun, bringing dinner back for a useless goddess like me every day. I wish I could help you more."

Hestia’s eyebrows arched with a smile, her tone light and slightly teasing. Liang Yue felt a sense of accomplishment in "feeding" a goddess. He looked at her with focused eyes: "Lady Hestia, please update my status after we eat."

"Leave it to me!"

***

Liang Yue
Lv. 1
Strength: E497 | Endurance: D531 | Dexterity: E466 | Agility: E499 | Magic: I0
Development Abilities: None
Magic: None
Skills: Ghost Sword Mastery, Triple Slash, Moonlight Slash, Backstep Cutter (Non-essential combat skills that do not appear on the back)

***

Hestia was already exceptionally proficient at updating Liang Yue’s status. However, as she picked up the parchment containing the newly imprinted status, her eyes lingered on the changes. Even though she had witnessed his rapid growth, seeing the updated numbers didn't make her feel shocked. Instead, her heart was filled with guilt and tenderness for this boy who "carried the burden of the Familia."

The improvement of status... it could only be achieved through combat training against monsters in the dungeon, and the key factor in the specific numbers was the intensity of that training.

"Just... what kind of battles has he been through?"

Hestia’s brow furrowed, unable to relax. She truly couldn't imagine, but she knew that everything Liang Yue did was for the sake of the Familia. The pressure of building a Familia from scratch, including paying off his debt to Hephaestus today—all these factors led to this result. As for the additional skill, Hestia didn't particularly care. Her current concern was whether the heavy burden Liang Yue carried conflicted with his original intentions as an adventurer.

"..."

She looked at Liang Yue, who had taken off his shirt and was lying on the bed. After this period of training, the contours of his back muscles were much more defined, remaining tense even while he lay prone. Hestia straddled his legs. It made no sense for her child to be working so hard while she sat back and enjoyed the results. Thinking this through, her nervous heart calmed significantly.

The girl slowly reached out. Compared to that brief touch before, this process was much longer. Her slender, fair hands rested on the muscles of Liang Yue's shoulders. Because of the intimate contact with the opposite sex, Hestia’s cheeks were gradually covered by a shy, rosy glow.

*This is a massage! I'm not doing anything else!* Hestia emphasized to herself repeatedly. This was one of the few things she, a useless goddess, could do for him! It would also help ease the atmosphere. Her voice trembled slightly as she took the initiative to change the subject: "Liang Yue-kun, you've really been working hard lately..."

"I find this life very fulfilling."

Feeling the girl's clumsy technique, this was a treatment Liang Yue hadn't expected—having Hestia, his goddess, give him a massage to relax. Perhaps it was purely psychological, but he felt his physical fatigue slowly fading away.

"I'm just worried..."

Gradually adapting to the inner fluttering of her heart and returning to her usual self, Hestia hesitated before finally saying, "I'm worried that these external pressures will make you forget why you became an adventurer in the first place."

"Of course not."

The answer was resolute. She looked at his cheek as he turned his head; his smile was completely genuine, reflecting the truest thoughts from the depths of his heart.

"I believe everything I'm doing is worth it!"