As mentioned before, advancing in rank requires not only status parameters but also accomplishing great deeds, an Adventure, as they call it.
This is the most challenging part!
Given Adam's current strength, defeating a single Minotaur wouldn't be enough to advance from LV1 to LV2. He'd need to face at least a group of them.
If that's what it takes at LV1, what about LV5? Would he need to venture alone to the 58th floor and defeat the Corrupted Spirit?!
"Adam, what's wrong?" Seeing him standing there with raised hands in a daze, Hestia asked with concern, "Are you alright? Did something go wrong with the magic?"
Though her divine power was sealed, she could still sense whether magic was successfully cast or not.
Even Bell could tell the magic had failed.
"It failed..." Adam stated plainly, "The summoning magic failed due to insufficient Mana."
"...I see." Hestia remained composed.
She had faced disappointment so many times that it no longer affected her.
"It's okay, Adam. A failure is just a failure — you'll succeed eventually."
Adam gave her a peculiar look at these words of comfort.
Why did this sound exactly like something Aqua would say?
"It's not our fault, it's the world's fault", "If we believe, we're the ones who can do it" — that sort of thing. The sense of déjà vu was overwhelming.
"Adam, it's okay, it's just a failure... no, I mean it's just this one failure... no, that's not..." Bell stumbled over his words, trying to offer comfort but too flustered to be effective.
"It's fine, I already know why it happened, so you don't need to comfort me anymore."
"You know the reason?"
"Why?"
"It's the Mana." Adam explained, "The Mana of the companion I wanted to summon exceeds my own, and my magic requires an equivalent amount as payment... Lady Hestia, you knew about this, right?"
"Yes, indeed." As someone in the know, Hestia naturally knew what he said was true.
"Then, Adam isn't disappointed...?"
"Not at all." He waved his hand, gesturing for them to relax, "You don't need to comfort me with such awkward words... though I appreciate your concern."
"We're Familia, we're family, so it's fine."
"Yes! We're Familia, so it's fine!"
The two of them said in unison.
Looking at them both, Adam felt warmth in his heart.
Just as he was about to speak, Hestia's stomach let out a pitiful growl.
"Uh..."
"Lady Goddess?"
"No! I-I just..." Her face turned red, embarrassed at losing composure in front of her children.
Before she could make excuses, Adam interrupted.
"Come to think of it, I haven't eaten since morning. My stomach is growling too." He rubbed his stomach in feigned hunger while giving Bell a meaningful look.
Though pure-hearted, Bell wasn't slow to catch on. He understood Adam was giving Hestia a graceful exit.
"Lady Goddess, I'm famished too. After fighting in the Dungeon all night, I can barely stand."
"You two... such good children." Hestia wiped tears from her eyes and declared, "Alright! Let's have a proper meal to celebrate Adam joining us!"
"No, we shouldn't spend too much. The Familia still needs to develop..."
"It's fine, Adam." Bell patted his arm, "I got plenty of loot from the Dungeon last night — enough for a feast."
"Bell..."
"Well said, Bell!" Hestia's twin tails swayed excitedly, "Then let's not delay — let's go now!"
"Yes!" they both replied.
Unable to refuse their sincere enthusiasm, Adam had no choice but to agree.
The three of them got ready and set out together.
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Walking along the bustling street, Hestia turned to Bell.
"Which restaurant should we go to?"
"Um... Lady Goddess should decide." Bell's mouth twitched as if about to suggest something, but he held back and deferred to her instead.
Adam noticed Bell's hesitation with surprise, having expected him to mention the Hostess of Fertility.
Last night's events had clearly affected Bell deeply — he hadn't yet recovered his spirits and couldn't face returning to the tavern where he'd experienced setbacks.
"Then let's go to Abundant Harvest! That restaurant is run by my divine friend — we should get a discount!" Hestia grabbed Bell and Adam's hands, pulling them down another alley.
The Abundant Harvest was one of several businesses owned by Demeter, the Goddess of Harvest and Agriculture. Though she wasn't present at the establishment, it was indeed run under divine ownership.
Demeter was renowned throughout Orario. Even Freya and Loki respected her influence over commerce.
Yet her lack of desire for dominance made her Orario's most beloved figure.
Simply mentioning her name was enough for Hestia to receive a substantial discount.
"Come, let's raise our glasses!"
"Oh!" they cheered in unison.
The three raised their cups.
They contained soft drinks rather than alcohol.
Drinking wasn't appropriate since they needed to visit the Adventurers' Guild later for Adam's registration.
"With Adam joining us, our Familia is now officially established!"
"Oh!... Eh, Lady Goddess, didn't you say the Familia was already established when you granted me your Falna?" Bell's cheer turned to confusion.
"No, this time is different."
"How so?"
"While the Familia began when Bell joined, Adam's arrival means we can create a new position — Captain!"
"Captain...?" Bell looked at her blankly, puzzled by the formal term.
"A Captain leads the Familia and conveys the God's will. It's a crucial position."
"Oh, I see." Bell nodded thoughtfully, "But Lady Goddess, with only two members, isn't it too early to discuss having a Captain?"
"Not at all, Bell!" Hestia slapped the table, "The sooner we establish the Captain position, the better — both for our development and for me."
"Is that so..."
"Yes indeed!" Hestia exclaimed, her twin tails swaying with excitement.
Bell, though confused by her enthusiasm, considered for a moment before saying, "Then, let Adam be the Captain..."
"Let Bell be the Captain."
"Eh?" Caught off guard by Adam's quick response, Bell stared in shock, "But Adam would be better. You're older than me and have stronger talent. Most importantly—"
"No, I'm not suitable." Adam cut him off, "Bell, for certain reasons, I cannot be the Familia's Captain. It has to be you."
"That's right, Bell!" Hestia chimed in, "You're the only suitable candidate for this position!"
Bell fell silent.
Could he really handle such an important position? Doubt crept into his mind.
After being mocked and belittled for his weakness just last night, today he was being entrusted with such responsibility. Anyone would hesitate.
"Bell, are you feeling the pressure?"
"Y-yes..."
"Pressure creates motivation, and motivation is the source of strength." Adam met his gaze directly, "Haven't you always wanted to become stronger?"
"!" The words struck Bell like lightning, "Can someone as weak as me really do it?"
"Bell, no one is born strong. You, me, all of us start the same way. There's nothing wrong with being weak, as long as you're willing to become strong."
"I see."
Bell lifted his head, finally emerging from his gloom.
"I will become the Captain!"
✧✧✧
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