The next morning, sunlight filtered through the broken windows of the rundown chapel that Noah and Hestia now called home.
Noah yawned as he rolled off the small couch in the corner. He blinked sleep from his eyes—only to realize something was… off.
There was a weight on his chest.
A warm, very soft weight.
He slowly glanced down.
There, curled up against him like a lazy cat, was Hestia. Her head rested over his heart, her long black hair fanned out across his torso, and her entire body pressed tight against his side.
She was drooling on him.
"…Seriously?" he muttered.
She stirred. "Mmmn… Noah, don't go… stay with me…"
His eye twitched. "Lady. I'm going to the dungeon today."
She snuggled closer. "Nooo… the bed's warm…"
"This isn't a bed."
"I don't care..."
Sighing, Noah gently slipped out from under her and tucked a blanket around her small frame. She immediately hugged the pillow in his place.
He stood, stretched, and cracked his neck. Today was the day.
Time to start earning some glory—and some coin.
After equipping a simple second-hand sword and pouch, Noah stepped into the street and headed for the towering heart of Orario: Babel Tower, the massive spire built directly above the Dungeon.
The streets bustled with adventurers and merchants. He passed by more experienced fighters—some in heavy armor, some in robes—heading toward the lower floors like it was just another day at work.
But for Noah… this was the beginning.
He stood before the Dungeon's massive spiral entrance, lit by faintly glowing stones embedded in the walls.
"Here we go," he muttered.
One step. Then two.
And he descended into the darkness.
---
Floor 1
The stone halls were cooler than he expected. Silent. Just the sound of his boots tapping against smooth dungeon tile.
Noah drew his sword and moved forward carefully, alert for movement.
Minutes passed… until finally—
Rustle. Snarl.
A goblin darted from the shadows.
"Ugly," Noah muttered—and dashed forward.
The goblin leapt with claws outstretched, but Noah side-stepped cleanly and slashed across its chest.
Thump.
The body hit the ground, lifeless.
Then—
[Ding! Monster defeated. Skill acquired: Strength Boost Lv1]
Noah blinked.
"…What?"
He opened his stat window in his mind:
> [Skill Acquired: Strength Boost Lv1]
Source: Goblin
Effect: +100 Strength (Passive)
**[Fusion Warrior] detected.
[Human Chimera] passive ability activated: Skill Assimilation Successful.
He stared at the glowing screen in his mind.
"So that's what this 'Chimera' thing does…" he muttered. "It gives me a chance to absorb abilities from anything I kill?"
He grinned.
"This is going to be fun."
Noah moved quickly now, weaving through the first floor, engaging any monster that appeared. Each strike was cleaner, faster. Every goblin and kobold he defeated added something small—new skills, stat boosts, reflexes.
And he could feel it.
His strength was already growing beyond normal.
By the end of the first floor, he was breathing hard—but smiling.
Status Update:
> Strength: I: 100 → H: 200
Agility: I: 77 → H: 101
New Skill: Chimera Fangs (Lv1) — passive crit chance increase
He wiped sweat from his brow.
"That Kevin template's no joke…"
But that was just the beginning.
---
By the time he returned to the surface, the sky was already a deep orange.
He stopped by the Adventurers' Guild to exchange the monster cores—magic stones—he'd collected. The receptionist, a sharp-eared half-elf, gave him a professional nod.
"Next, please—oh."
She blinked.
It was her first time seeing him, but something about the way he walked in—confident, calm, like he already belonged—made her pause.
"Yes?" she asked politely.
Noah smiled, placing a pouch on the counter. "First day haul."
She opened it… and her eyebrows shot up.
"This many? From just floor one?"
"Beginner's luck."
She blinked, then offered a small smile. "You're Noah, right? New Hestia Familia?"
"Word travels fast."
"I'm Eina Tulle. I advise newcomers—if you're not already taken, I'd like to help manage your growth."
"You offering to guide me, Eina?" he teased, resting his chin on his hand. "That's a pretty big deal for a guy like me. You sure I'm worth the trouble?"
She rolled her eyes. "Let's just say I have a gut feeling about you."
He winked. "Let's hope your gut is as pretty as your face."
"You're impossible."
"And you're blushing."
"I'm not—!"
Noah took his payment with a smirk and strolled out, leaving Eina staring after him with flushed cheeks and a confused expression.
---
Back at the chapel, Hestia sat on the couch, swinging her legs anxiously.
When Noah walked in, she immediately stood.
"You're late."
"Am I? Or did you just miss me?"
"Don't push your luck, mister."
But when she saw he was unharmed—and smiling—her shoulders relaxed.
"Did you… get anything?"
He tossed the pouch of coins on the table. "You tell me."
She opened it—and her jaw dropped.
"Wh—where did you get all this?!"
"Dungeon."
"Obviously! But this much? On your first day?"
He collapsed onto the couch. "Turns out I'm kind of a big deal."
She stared at him, eyes full of stars. "Noah… you're amazing!"
"Say that again. Slower."
"Don't push it."
They both laughed.
Then her voice softened. "Seriously. Thank you. You have no idea how happy I am… that you chose me."
Noah looked at her—really looked at her. Her bright eyes, her messy hair, the way she was trying so hard to hold everything together.
And he smiled.
"I think I made the right choice."