DanMachi: Cheat? What's a Cheat?

Chapter 18 – Status Paper

Right now I'm lying flat on my back on this bed. Which honestly might as well be called heaven, I mean seriously - it smells so good.

This is probably Goddess Hestia's scent. Her fragrance... it's seriously tempting. Soft, sweet, and for some reason totally addictive.

Makes me wanna breathe in more, but I quickly calm myself down 'cause Goddess Hestia's right here.

It'd be bad if she saw me sniffing the bed where she sleeps, like some guy who's never breathed oxygen before.

Wouldn't my dignity be completely ruined?

What if she thinks I'm some kind of pervert?

With embarrassment burning my cheeks, I bury my head in Goddess Hestia's pillow, trying to wipe away all the inappropriate thoughts dancing around in my head.

Right when I'm feeling embarrassed and a bit nervous, Goddess Hestia's voice rings out.

"Kaen-kun, stay still, okay~"

...there's something soft. The weight's just right. But her sitting position.

Oh my god, she's sitting right on top of my butt.

Of course, it's Goddess Hestia.

"This is the only position that lets me see your back clearly. Don't move around too much, Kaen-kun~"

I sigh in defeat, hiding my face in the thin pillow that smells like old cotton and a bit of cheap soap.

Looks like I gotta buy better soap later.

My back feels warm. The goddess's tiny fingers slowly rub my skin in circular motions. Movements that... make me sleepy. My tense muscles start to relax, and I almost drift off if it wasn't for—

"Watch out, this might hurt a little."

"Huh?"

Prick.

I turn to the side. At the edge of my vision, I see Hestia pull out a small needle and prick her own index finger. A drop of bright red blood appears at her fingertip, then—

The drop falls. Landing right in the middle of my back.

I shiver.

For a moment, the world seems to stop. The drop of god's blood absorbs into my body, creating a warm wave that spreads slowly. Like something inside me is being... opened? Activated?

Why does it feel different from when I first received falna? Does mood affect the sensation?

"The process is starting," Hestia says softly. "Don't worry. I'll take care of the rest."

Hearing Goddess Hestia's words, my face gets a bit weird - what does she mean by "I'll take care of the rest?" Shouldn't I be the one saying something like that?

Wrong. So wrong.

What am I even thinking? I scold myself for thinking about something I shouldn't be thinking about.

With a guilty expression, I just nod slightly, too busy trying to understand the weird sensation in my body. Warm, tingly, and a bit... wincing?

"Goddess," I mumble, trying to lighten the mood,

"this feels like being massaged by invisible hands."

"Hm~? Of course. That's the effect of my god's blood entering your body," she says with a small laugh.

"The status update process is like that. Only gods can do it."

I nod, then fall silent. But the atmosphere becomes calm. Comfortable. Even a bit... weird.

While her hands keep working on my back, she suddenly asks, "Kaen-kun, you're from a village, right? Where is it? Far from Orario?"

"Really far," I answer, my voice soft because of my relaxed position. "A small village behind the mountains. If I had to describe it, it's like a lake with mountains all around it."

"Wow... sounds really isolated."

"It is. That village is like a small world separated from everything. Few people, lots of wild animals."

"Wild animals?"

I laugh weakly. "Once a snake got into someone's house and bit their chicken to death. There was also this wild boar that came in and turned the kitchen into a mud pond."

"Really dangerous?" Hestia's voice sounds a bit shocked.

"Nah, as long as we're careful it's not dangerous."

Her hands stop for a moment. Seems like Goddess Hestia's listening to my story seriously.

But then the goddess's hands move again, this time slowly, like she wants to give me comfort.

Speaking of the village, I start remembering how miserable it was living there.

I woke up earlier than roosters, went to bed faster than dogs.

Trained like a crazy person. Not 'cause I wanted to get strong... but 'cause I wanted to live to see tomorrow morning.

Anyway, danger was everywhere, especially if I got sick. No medicine in the village.

If you got sick, you had to use traditional medicine that was questionable at best.

What if it was poison? Or even just wild grass?

I once saw the village doctor - instead of calling him a doctor, it'd be better to call him a fraud.

He didn't treat the villagers as humans, he treated them as his playground.

Using villagers as experiments.

That's also why I was so obsessed with leaving the village.

What a life full of struggle, I think bitterly.

Right then, I feel something light up on my back. Like burning ink, my Falna mark glows. My breath catches for a moment.

"All done!" she says cheerfully. She pats my back like grilled meat that's finished cooking. "Wait here, I'll get the paper."

I hear the sound of paper being torn.

A few minutes later, Hestia gently pats my back.

"You can get dressed now, Kaen-kun~"

I quickly put my shirt back on and sit up. Hestia hands me the paper with a sweet smile. I take it.

[Status Panel]

Name: Kaen

Level: 1

Familia: Hestia Familia

ABILITY

Strength: I-0 → 5

Endurance: I-0 → 8

Dexterity: I-0 → 10

Agility: I-0 → 6

Magic: I-0

DEVELOPMENT ABILITIES

None

SKILLS

『Survivor's Instinct』

I take a long breath.

Just as expected.

Not much. But... still, improvement.

"My Dex is ten, huh?" I mumble, turning to Hestia.

"Dex is skill with weapons," Hestia answers, brushing her hair.

"Looks like you're talented with weapons."

Talented? I hope so.

But sadly, I'm far from talented.

I smile a little, shifting my thoughts. "But... my Strength's only five."

"Oh my, Kaen-kun~" Hestia smacks her forehead.

I laugh softly.

"feels... slow," I mumble with a bitter expression.

Even so, there's no disappointment. Instead, I feel motivated. It's like starting over, but this time... with a clear direction.

I drop my body onto the bed. The sound of creaking greets my back. Hestia also lies down beside me.

I hold the status paper with both hands, lifting it toward the ceiling.

"Time goes by so fast," I mumble.

It's been seven years since I woke up in this body.

Time really flew by. I still remember when I first woke up in this world.

Crying at night 'cause I missed food and the internet.

I hadn't even finished reading that stallion novel.

Now I don't cry anymore and I've accepted reality and become an adventurer.

Silence for a moment.

Then Hestia, who was quiet before, suddenly asks, "So, Kaen-kun... what's your goal?"

I turn toward her. "Goal?"

"Yeah. If you wanna be a great adventurer, you gotta have a goal. Something you can chase after."

Our faces are facing each other - I can see Goddess Hestia's face up close.

I bite my lip.

Goal, huh...?

I sink back into my thoughts.

Back then, my goal was simple: survive. That's it. In a village full of wild beasts, deadly diseases, and winters that were never kind... I just wanted to stay alive.

Wouldn't everyone be like that? If they suddenly found themselves in a strange world.

Their first goal would be to survive, then slowly make plans bit by bit.

I was the same. Survive first, then make plans.

Then, when I was old enough, I left the village. My goal changed: join a Familia, make money, eat good food, and not go to sleep hungry.

But now... I already have a place to come home to.

Don't need to worry about starving to death from having no money.

Already have someone waiting for me.

I turn to Hestia.

"My goal now..." I mumble. "First, I wanna improve my status (attribute points). Slowly, but surely."

"Second, I wanna save up money. So you... don't have to worry about food or living expenses anymore."

Her face turns a bit red but quickly gets replaced with guilt.

I don't think too much about Goddess Hestia's expression, still focused on my thoughts.

"Third, I wanna buy new gear. Combat clothes. Weapons. And... maybe, a small house. This church is damp. Not good for the lungs. Or more precisely, not good long-term."

Hestia laughs softly. "You sound like a young husband who wants to take care of the household."

Looking at Goddess Hestia's innocent face beside me, I can barely hold back from smiling.

I don't deny it - being a husband who takes care of the household? I think that's not bad.

Especially if it's with Goddess Hestia, there's no way I'd refuse. Who could refuse? Especially since Goddess Hestia's personality is totally my type.

As for... my fourth goal, I say it in my heart:

Become the protagonist of my own life.

Simple. But important - I realize that if I become the protagonist of my life, I'll definitely be lucky in everything.

Who in this world doesn't wanna be the protagonist?

While thinking, I glance at Hestia - she's staring at me intently. Then with a cheerful tone, she says:

"In that case, now it's my turn!"

I nod. "What's the Goddess's goal?"

She raises one finger dramatically. "My goal is... to become a goddess who doesn't have to do anything! Sleep in! Eat good food! Sleep soundly!"

I laugh. "That's... an incredibly realistic goal, Goddess."

"But!" she exclaims again, her face getting serious. "I wanna be able to support you, Kaen-kun. I wanna be a useful goddess... even if just a little."

My chest feels warm.

I stare at the ceiling. Silence. But comfortable.

We're both quiet. Sometimes, silence can be the most honest conversation.

Until finally, both our eyes start getting heavy.

Hestia yawns softly. "Kaen-kun... can I sleep here for a bit?"

I'm a bit surprised - as a normal guy, there's no way I'd refuse.

I turn and smile. "Sure."

But honestly my heart's complicated.

She slips her tiny body next to me and pulls the thin blanket that's almost see-through.

Is this really even a blanket? Though I'm doubtful, I don't think about it too much 'cause I'm super sleepy.

I'm too tired to make jokes.

"Good night, Kaen-kun..."

"Good night, Goddess..."

And just like that, the world slowly fades.

With the calm breathing of the small girl beside me, the smell of dust in the air, and a sheet of status paper that feels heavy in my hand... I drift off to sleep.

I fall asleep.

In my dream, I dream of meeting a white-haired man staring at me calmly.

For some reason, he seems familiar.