Chapter 1 – Welcome to Orario
The gates of Orario loomed before me—majestic, imposing, and somehow... a bit too dramatic. Perhaps these gates were specially built to welcome adventurers with that "Wow, I'm really entering the big world" effect.
If so... wow. Effective.
I stood there, staring at the labyrinth city that was supposedly full of opportunities, adventures, and... of course, beautiful women. It was honestly for that last reason that I ended up here.
Yes, I know. Sounds shallow. But please—who wouldn't want to live as a gallant adventurer surrounded by beautiful goddesses and strong women in tight armor?
My name... isn't important yet. What's important is that this is my first day in Orario.
And so far? I haven't been killed. That's progress.
A guard at the gate looked me up and down, his expression as flat as stale bread.
"Your purpose in Orario?" he asked.
I wanted to say, looking for love and a bit of fame, maybe also money to buy expensive armor and eat good food. But I have a shred of dignity, so—
"I want to become an adventurer," I answered briefly, trying to sound like an optimistic shounen protagonist, not a handsome unemployed man with the noble intention of getting close to big-breasted goddesses.
The guard just nodded.
"Don't die on the first day."
Such a touching piece of advice. Warm like a winter hug... from a bear.
I stepped through those gates.
And there I was—officially, finally, legally and administratively—one of thousands of idiots who thought they were strong enough to face the Dungeon.
—
Everyone says: "Go to Orario, become an adventurer, your life will change!"
No one says, "You'll stay in a cheap inn with a bed like a board and a bathroom you have to share with a bearded man who snores like a drunk minotaur."
At least I still have a mirror. And hey, my looks? Not bad.
My red hair has always been eye-catching, especially with red eyes that people call 'intense'... or 'scary,' depending on who's talking. But I guess that's a selling point.
Because in this world, you need one of three things: a handsome face, bulging muscles, or godly power. I have one and a half of those. You guess which ones.
I gazed at Orario from the small window in my inn room. This city is like busy ants—merchants, adventurers, goddesses with impractical clothing, all moving about like in an over-enthusiastic anime.
Well... where do I start?
Knock knock knock.
A knock on my door made me turn. My hope? Maybe a girl who got the wrong room and falls in love with me. The reality?
"Inn is paid daily. Don't forget to pay before sunset," an old man's voice from outside the door.
I sighed.
"Yeah, yeah. Thank you, old man," I answered.
First expense of the day: one night's sleep with mosquitoes.
Time to find a familia.
Without one, I'm just an ordinary human with aspirations too high and a wallet too thin.
And somehow, I feel like whatever god ends up picking me... will definitely be weird.
But hey, this is Orario. A place of miracles, tragedy, and maybe—if I'm lucky—a kiss or two.
Please don't let that last part remain just a fantasy.
---
Sixteen years.
It's been sixteen years since I moved to this world—an anime world that used to exist only on my laptop screen. I was just a high school kid who loved anime, stayed up late, ate instant noodles at 2 AM, and... well, wasn't popular.
Then—bam—one night I fell asleep and woke up in another world. Cliché? Totally. But I didn't immediately get overpowered abilities or a harem within a week. No.
I grew up like a normal kid on the outskirts, worked odd jobs, learned to live, and... kept one secret:
I knew this was the world of Danmachi.
Dungeon. Familia. Gods and goddesses. All the things I used to watch... now reality.
And now, after sixteen years of waiting—sixteen years of being an NPC—I'm ready.
Today I'm going to the guild. Registering as an adventurer.
Starting the first chapter in what might (hopefully) be a great story full of action and anime girls.
—
The central guild was bigger than I expected. Full of people. Crowded. But my eyes were immediately drawn to one thing:
Female receptionists.
Anime didn't lie.
I chose the line with the pretty receptionist—red-haired, sharp eyes, and a professional aura.
"I want to register as an adventurer," I said with a friendly smile. Stay cool, bro. Look impressive.
She glanced at me, her expression flat but not unkind. "Do you already have a Familia?"
I shook my head.
"Then you need to find one first. Adventurers without a Familia cannot obtain permission to enter the Dungeon."
I knew that. But to look like a newbie, I pretended to be a bit confused.
"Umm... any suggestions, maybe?" I asked.
She looked at me for a moment, then sighed. "Most major gods don't accept new members randomly. But there's one goddess who... might be interested. I'll write down the address."
My inner eye immediately sparkled.
"Her name is Hestia," she said while handing me a piece of paper.
Hestia. The Loli Goddess. The goddess who loves one adventurer. Loki the ironing board's rival. And... the waifu of millions.
And now... I'm going to meet her in person.
—
The written address led me to a small house that could be called a 'divine level rented room.' Tiny, worn-down, and... well, it could collapse if a minotaur walked by and coughed.
I took a breath. I knocked on the door.
Knock knock knock.
No answer.
Knock knock knock knock knock.
Still nothing.
"Ahem... excuse me, is this... Goddess Hestia's house?"
SLAM!
The door suddenly opened. And there she was.
And I... lost my words.
Black hair, blue eyes, a mysterious ribbon that still defied physics, and a height that made me feel sinful just by looking at her too long.
"Eh? Who are you?" she asked. Her voice was exactly as I remembered from the anime. Cute, but full of energy.
I tried to focus. Not staring at certain parts that were too... tempting for someone of that height.
"I want to join your Familia, Goddess Hestia," I said. "I don't have anyone yet. But I know I can grow strong, if given the chance."
She looked at me with large eyes full of curiosity. "Hmm... you don't look special..."
Yeah, just like Bell back then, right? This is my moment.
"But your face... is pretty okay. And you don't look evil. Alright!"
What? That easy? No courage test? No rolling dice of fate?
"From now on, you are part of Hestia Familia!" she said while raising her hand as if winning the lottery.
And me?
I could only smile. In my heart, I was screaming:
Finally.
After 16 years of living quietly and being an NPC... I officially entered the game.
And with the original waifu, no less.