The Cloud-Raised Brave Man's Travels

[Hey, our little system doesn't have a mother anymore.]

Miss Jizi was so angry at her own system that she was broken. After taking a last look at Koya and Hestia sleeping peacefully on the screen, she threw her phone away, covered her head and lay on the bed, snoring. She was done!

Chapter 9: First Growth

It's a new day, and the sun has just peeked out from behind the walls of Orario. The slightly cool air, the not-so-warm sunlight, and the adventurers pouring into the dungeon like ants create a picture called the morning of Orario.

Passing South Street, Koya bought a dozen plain fried potato balls from Uncle Karen's fried potato ball stall. This would be his breakfast and lunch for the day. Fried potato balls are not only high in calories but also filling, making them an excellent adventuring food. And, most importantly, they're cheap. Incidentally, Hestia quit her job at the fried potato ball stall before even working a single day because she'd found her Familia. She'd probably spend her days in the old bookstore Hephaestus had given her.

The dungeon was enormous, and even with so many adventurers rushing in at once, Koya was alone after just five minutes. After yesterday's training, Koya immediately grasped a one-handed sword. Though it had only been a day, the feeling of wielding it was completely different. If yesterday she was just an ordinary person wielding a sharp weapon, today she was a warrior who could wield it with mastery.

It is obvious that Koya's first talent not only plays a role in attribute points, but his martial arts also grow with effort.

As the long sword was swung, an arc of light seemed to flash through the air, and the pleasant sound of the sword rang out quietly. In front of Koya were three goblins whose heads had been beheaded. However, Koya, who had accomplished all this, had a silly smile on his face that was quite unbecoming of a master. This kind of growth that was visible to the naked eye made him extremely satisfied. The goblins that had allowed him to return home covered in wounds yesterday were now noobs that could be killed instantly with a single wave of the sword. Even Koya himself felt that his growth rate was a bit incredible.

Koya didn't linger on the first floor. Instead, he took the map provided by Aegina and began searching for the entrance to the second floor. As the sole member and leader of the Hestia Familia, Koya knew he needed to grow quickly. For an adventurer, constantly challenging powerful monsters was the best way to grow.

The monsters on the second floor resembled wild boars. Their razor-sharp tusks had pierced countless adventurers. Compared to the goblins on the first floor, the demonic pigs were exponentially more powerful, far surpassing the goblins in both strength and defense, not to mention their tusks. Facing such a monster, Koya didn't dare charge in like he had against the goblins. If he accidentally got pierced by the demonic pigs, he'd be dead.

This time, Koya's strategy was to run. He had no other choice. He'd just tried, but his longsword had only left a flesh wound on the demon pig, unable to penetrate its fat and reach its interior. Fortunately, while these monsters would uniformly turn to ash upon death, they could bleed as long as they were alive. So, Koya ran, inflicting wounds on the demon pig. Since a head-on confrontation wasn't an option, he'd bleed it to death!

Time has proven this method effective. The demon pigs are physically stronger than goblins, but their intelligence is significantly lower. Once they identify Koya as their enemy, they relentlessly pursue him. Their wounds, which should have healed quickly if they were to rest, continue to bleed due to the intense exercise. However, while this method is safe, it offers little in the way of exercise. Furthermore, its efficiency in killing monsters is far too low. At the end of the day, they might earn even less than they did killing goblins yesterday.

So after running for half a day and finishing his lunch of fried potato balls, Koya decided that he still had to kill the demon pig head-on. Although he had only been running and dodging attacks for half a day, Koya felt that he could already keep up with the demon pig's attacks. Of course, this was just a feeling, and Koya planned to actually try it out.

The rock wall beside Koya began to swallow and spit out monsters again. Two pitch-black magic pigs appeared in front of Koya. Koya did not challenge the two magic pigs directly, but ran with them in the passage of the dungeon as before. However, this time he only used the bleeding tactic on one magic pig. The other one was naturally the sparring partner prepared by Koya.

The dungeon's mechanics were truly remarkable. Unless you were in a special situation, the dungeon would become silent after a wave of monsters spawned near you. New monsters would appear only after you had killed all the monsters in front of you. This was precisely why Koya dared to roam around with these demon pigs. Soon, only a single pig remained in front of Koya. Koya sheathed his sword and began his special training.

It has to be said that the demon pig running in a straight line is indeed impactful. Its one-meter-tall body combined with its two sharp tusks makes it look like a heavily armored chariot. Koya saw it clearly. In Koya's eyes, the demon pig rushing towards him was as fast as someone walking. He only needed to take a step to the left or right to easily avoid its collision.

only……

'Why, I can't move my legs.'

The pounding of his heart was like a war drum, a countdown to his death. Koya felt his entire body burning, the sweat soaking through his leather armor. He had killed countless fools, but why did he not dare to face their attacks directly? Why did he feel like he was stepping over a cliff even though he only took a small step?

A myriad of thoughts flashed through Koya's mind at once. He understood firsthand what fear was, and now he also understood what he should do.

Swing your sword!

This was an extremely simple sword move. He just pulled out the sword that had just been put into the scabbard behind his back and then swung it over his head and slashed forward. This move was definitely not beautiful, just like a child swinging a wooden stick casually, but such a simple sword move made Koya collapse to the ground. He sat awkwardly on the rough ground and gasped for breath. The pig in front of him that was split into two and turned into ashes made his eyes brighter than ever before, and the corners of his mouth could not stop rising.

Only he himself understood that he had not only slain a monster, but also the fear of battle within his heart! Koya had always believed that he was not afraid of fighting, but reality taught him that fear is always hidden in everyone's heart. If he could not overcome it, he would sooner or later be swallowed by this dungeon.

"Hahahahaha!"

Koya stood up, his laughter echoing in the passage of the underground city. He had never felt so happy before, and only laughing out loud could calm his mood. Perhaps in the eyes of others, Koya must look like a madman at this moment.

The dungeon is a ruthless monster, it doesn't care how you feel at the moment. Soon three magic pigs appeared in the passage, but this time Koya didn't play the bleeding kite style anymore, but walked over with a sword in hand. He didn't know how strong he was now, but he was sure that the little pigs in front of him were not his opponents.

When they come, just swing your sword and kill them.

Chapter 10: The Second Player

The sun set, its orange glow blanketing Orario in warmth. Perhaps it was the city's reward for returning adventurers. As Koya breathed in the air beneath the sky, a stark contrast to the dungeon, his turbulent heart slowly calmed. Unlike the disheveled appearance of yesterday, today's Koya was only dusty.

Seeing Koya intact, Miss Aina from the guild smiled with relief. It seemed Koya had taken yesterday's warning to heart. However, her good mood vanished as soon as Koya handed over his bag of magic stones...

Over fifty magic stones, three second-floor magic pig hides. Koya's income today was more than ten times what he'd earned yesterday, and Aina's preaching to him had also doubled. She'd been working in the guild for so long, she'd never seen an adventurer go to the second floor and kill over fifty magic pigs the next day. She couldn't even imagine the danger involved. But Koya's condition was even better than it had been yesterday against the goblins. Such a rapid growth was too much for Aina to even consider.

The next second, Koya was pulled into the private consulting room of yesterday. Just when Koya swallowed his saliva and prepared to accept the violent lecture, Aina said to Koya seriously.

"Koya, don't tell others about your growth rate."

After saying that, Aina walked out of the consulting room without looking back. When she came back, she was holding a bag full of faris in her hand.

"Koya, you may become the most dazzling figure in this era of Orario, but don't show off your brilliance until you can protect yourself. And if possible, upgrade later... Sorry, I may have overstepped my bounds."

"No, I'm very grateful for Aina's concern. Don't worry, I'm not a child anymore. I know how to hide weapons."

"That's good."

Aegina and Koya stayed in the advisory room for more than half an hour. However, this time, Aegina did not lecture Koya. Instead, she took out the monster encyclopedia and map that the guild gave to new members and gave Koya a lesson. She was trying her best to make Koya a little safer.

·Dividing line·

On the other side, in a new world, a young girl stared at the terminal, lost in thought. She wasn't just confused by this suddenly appearing game, but also by her own situation. The reason was simple: she had lost her memory. Her memory began with a little rabbit pulling her out of a coffin.

Fortunately, the little rabbit respected her and had a good IQ, so she quickly figured out the situation. Her subconscious played a big role at this moment. Although she didn't remember what the system was, her subconscious told her that it was quite useful and that infinity was equivalent to omnipotence.

"Doctor, you're so careless! Aren't you afraid these Rhode Islanders are out to harm you? I've noticed your 'coffin'. You still have a long time to sleep, and they must have woken you up early."

"It must be a kind of intuition. I feel that these people in front of me will not harm me."

"Well, at least being the commander of a pharmaceutical company sounds pretty lucrative. By the way, how do you feel about synchronizing your physical fitness?"

"It was quite comfortable. After climbing out of that 'coffin' I felt like I was floating, but after synchronizing, I felt like I could crush a rock with my bare hands."

"It's not that exaggerated... By this world's standards, you're probably about the same as a member of the Filin tribe right now. Don't worry, your growth rate will get faster and faster. By then, Doctor, even if you want to crush Draco's flames with your bare hands, it won't be a problem!"

"So I don't know what Filin is and what Drake is, but it does feel good to be healthy."

"Doctor, the situation outside is a bit chaotic right now. The Reunion Movement has raided Chernobog. We need to get out of this city as soon as possible."

Amiya walked over to the doctor, her expression aching for him. Amiya was still just a child, yet she already carried a ton of responsibility. Perhaps it was because of Amiya that the doctor was willing to trust Rhodes Island, a pharmaceutical company with questionable origins.

"I'll follow you."

The doctor put the terminal in her pocket and stood up. She spoke to the system in her mind.

"System, can you help me understand this world?"

[Of course, although I don't know the world's plot, I can tell you basic intelligence. Race, history, country, as long as it's not related to the plot, I know everything!]

·Dividing line·

Today, Keya bought Hestia a few new things, like a small, creamy, sweet fruit, and honey cake from the dessert shop! Cream was a scarce commodity in Orario. This small cake wasn't even half the size of yesterday's, but it cost Keya a tenth of his fari, almost the entire day's income. Keya also bought a bouquet of flowers at the flower shop. Flower language didn't exist in Orario.

When Koya returned to the basement, Hestia's posture was exactly the same as yesterday, except that the book in her hand was different.

"Hestia, I'm back."

"Uh-huh."

It seemed that because of the little invitation last night, Hestia now looked like a shy girl. When she saw Koya coming back, she hummed twice and buried her head in the sofa pillow, not daring to look at Koya's face.

"My god is so cute!"

Koya placed the small cake and flowers in his hands on the dining table. He also took a look at the dishes. They were very daily family dishes, one meat, one vegetable and one soup. Although they looked simple, they made people feel warm. Of course, the most important thing was that the dishes made by the God of Fire were really delicious.

Koya put his things away, took off his gear and placed it by the door, then plopped down on the sofa. Hestia was indeed quite small; even with her entire body sprawled out on the sofa, there was still plenty of room for Koya to sit. Koya's hand was already on Hestia's head, petting her like a cat. The soft, supple feeling calmed Koya down considerably.

By the way, Koya had petted a cat back home, but the kitten was so aloof that he only allowed Hera to touch it. Koya could only do so secretly when the kitten slept in Hera's arms. The kitten was the most beautiful cat Koya had ever seen, but unfortunately, Hera said she had secretly brought it from her hometown after leaving Orario because she was bored. Koya naturally wouldn't bother Hera to go back home for his own little selfish desire.

"Hestia, come eat. I brought you the most popular dessert from that pastry shop today."

"Ah."

Chapter 11: Emergency Plan

Natural disasters, ruined cities, thugs, and a dragon girl unleashing her fire—the scene before her looked like the end of the world. The doctor didn't know what the end of the world was, but she knew she was in danger, a danger that had already put one foot in the doorway of death...

"What's going on?! Is this world just too shady? You, that little rabbit, and that blonde horsegirl are all the protagonists, so how could you encounter such a terrifying boss in the Novice Village?! This doesn't make sense!"

The small system in the doctor's mind let out an indescribable wail. It couldn't figure out in which world the big boss would be blocked at the protagonist's doorstep. Even if there was, it should be the treatment of a Long Aotian-type protagonist. The doctor obviously did not fit the template of Long Aotian!

[Main system!! Help!!]

"System, think of a solution."

Although the dragon girl in front of him had no intention of attacking for the time being, but was instead engaging in verbal battles with the little rabbit, the doctor would not pin his hopes on her kindness. After all, no matter how he looked at it, the dragon girl in front of him did not seem like a kind person.

"I can activate the emergency backup, but it requires a lot of energy. Luckily, the source stone from the natural disaster has a lot of energy. However, doing so would make a lot of noise."

'How long will it take?'

【It will take about three minutes.】

'The exact time! No approximations!'

[…Five minutes! Give me five minutes and you and the people of Rhodes Island will be fine!]

"Amiya, ACE! Give me five minutes!"

"System, start!"

[I just like decisive hosts like you! Emergency rescue plan activated, enemy energy calculations initiated, contacting the main system, mission system construction initiated, orbital roulette reward construction initiated... Calculations complete, energy absorption begins! Countdown - 300 seconds!]

The wind is blowing... A strange storm is hanging over the city of Chernobog.

Amiya and ACE were a little confused at first after hearing the doctor's voice, but as the storm carried the Originium and continued to flow into the doctor's body, they instantly understood what the doctor was going to do.

"Shield Guards! Protect the Doctor. Medical troops, keep an eye on the Doctor's condition. Sniper and Warlock troops, attack indiscriminately!"

Amiya responded immediately, and the black lines were woven into a shield in her hands. The little devil didn't know what the doctor was going to do, but she believed that as long as the doctor was eager to win, then she would definitely not be a failure, and it was so before and it is so now.

·Dividing line·

[Jizi, Jizi, something's happening! A subsystem has activated its emergency plan. Its host is probably in trouble.]

'What can I do?'

"You don't need to do anything. I told you to get up and watch the show. Since the emergency plan has been activated, there's no danger."

Himeko turned on her phone; she couldn't sleep either. She had originally put it away, thinking this was the time Hestia and Koya would be showing off their affection. On the screen, Koya and Hestia had just finished their meal, and everything was just as Himeko had imagined: they were indeed arguing again, only this time Hestia seemed ready to take direct action. After all, she and Koya weren't children anymore, and it was perfectly normal for a man and a woman alone in a basement with only a bed to have something happen!

"I suddenly thought of something interesting. Koya's grandmother is Hera, and Hestia is Hera's eldest sister. So if Koya and Hestia get together, will Hera have to call Koya her brother-in-law? And how should Koya call Hera~~"

[Jizi, your question is nothing in the Greek pantheon.]

'...'

"Koya, hehehe, you can't get away this time!"

"H-Hestia, there seems to be something wrong with you."

Sitting on the sofa, Koya looked at Hestia who was approaching him with her hands behind her head, and secretly swallowed his panic and expectation. He...was he going to grow up into an adult? Would it be a little too fast? When would he take Hestia to visit Grandma Hera's grave?

"Ouch!"

Hestia opened her mouth and bit Koya's shoulder. Koya didn't feel any pain, not even as painful as the bite from Hera's grandma's cat. Hestia pressed her whole body against him, and the feeling of warmth like a fire and gentle like the ocean made Koya feel a little excited. If possible, Koya really wanted to hold Hestia forever and not let go.

"Hestia, I really want to hold you like this forever."

"Well, don't say such embarrassing things, otherwise the courage I worked so hard to muster will disappear."

"Can you let me hold you like this for a while?"

"I really can't help you."

Hestia's hands, which were originally supporting the wall, were now wrapped around Koya's neck. If they were just touching each other, then now Hestia was lying in Koya's arms. It was only two short days, and the time she had spent with him was even less. This period of time could even be said to be a blink of an eye in Hestia's life, but for some reason she had the same idea as Koya, and she seemed unable to leave the man in front of her.

"Koya, do you want to go back to the upper realm with me in a hundred years?"

"Okay, as long as I'm with Hestia."

"Ah."

Even gods couldn't use their powers in the lower realms, but this wasn't a restriction, but rather a shackle placed upon them. Violations would result in exile back to the upper realms. Hestia hated that place; the word "boring" could describe it completely, but being with Koya made it the perfect place. As for making Koya a god, Hestia could still do it. Don't underestimate the power of a primary deity, especially one who was the eldest sister of a pantheon.

[Ding, receiving the subsystem emergency mechanism activated, energy replenishment completed, host, please prepare.]

[System Roulette has been activated, and the setting has been completed. The biological power within the setting range has been extracted. The template this time is the 'Black Dragon'. The 'Tara' world template has been connected. The adjustment has begun and the adjustment is complete.]

[This energy will last for one month. Anchoring world time has begun. Permission granted. Freezing of the 'Dungeon' world has begun. Freeze complete. Acquiring the 'Terra' world quest has begun. Quest confirmed. The quest system is temporarily enabled. Host, Keya Constantine, confirms.]

Koya looked at Hestia standing still in front of him with a panicked expression, but fortunately the main system did not forget to explain the current situation to Koya. After knowing that the sound he heard when Loki's family left was this, he quickly understood the current situation. It can only be said that in a world where gods walk on the earth and monsters wreak havoc on the world, people who understand unknown things are really fast.

[Does the host accept this mission? ]

'Someone needs my help, right?'

【no doubt. 】