DanMachi: Cheat? What's a Cheat?

Chapter 3: The Goddess at the End of the Road

I stood in front of that church for a few minutes.

The evening breeze brushed against my face, carrying the scent of dirt, dust, and something that somehow reminded me of chicken-flavored instant noodles. My stomach joined in with a protest, but I ignored it. Focus. Focus, Kaen. This might be the turning point of your life. Or... the start of your free fall.

The old church looked even more pathetic up close. Its walls were cracked, the door was kinda hanging there, and the windows... well, let's just call them "artistically destroyed." But even though all of that screamed poverty and ruin, somehow this place didn't feel scary. Actually... it felt warm. Weird, right?

My hand reached for the door. I didn't open it right away. I knocked.

Once. Twice. Silence.

"Hello?" I called out, a bit loud. "Anyone there?"

Nothing.

I knocked again. "Excuse me. I'm looking for... Goddess Hestia?"

Still no answer. I swallowed hard.

In this world, you don't just casually drop by the gods' places. You can't just barge into their homes like some traveling potion salesman. I knew that down there—in that basement—Goddess Hestia lived. But even though I was curious, I didn't have the guts to just go down there on my own.

I'm not some barbarian. Or a thief. Or an NPC that gets triggered by events.

So I waited.

And called out again. "Goddess Hestia?"

Then...

Tap tap tap...

Light footsteps echoed from inside. From the small wooden door leading to the basement, soft rustling sounds... and then the door opened.

And what appeared was...

I froze.

A young girl—or more precisely, a short figure who could easily be mistaken for a child if you didn't look closer—emerged from behind the door. Her long black hair was tied with those signature blue hair ties, her sapphire blue eyes sparkled like a lake hiding secrets... and, well, how do I put this politely?

Watermelons.

I mean... really big ones. Completely out of proportion with her tiny body. I know the anime world is full of miracles, but seeing it in person was like watching the laws of physics get thrown out the window.

But the most striking thing about her wasn't her appearance.

It was her aura.

From the way she walked, her smile, how she moved with her hands on her hips—everything radiated one thing: confidence. But also... loneliness.

"Who are you?" she asked cheerfully, though a bit wary. "Are you lost? Or did you get the wrong church?"

I raised my hand, half nervous. "Um, no. I came here... looking for Goddess Hestia."

"I'm Hestia!" she exclaimed while patting her chest—big mistake, because her watermelons bounced like church bells at a festival. I reflexively looked away, feeling a bit awkward.

"Oh, uh, I'm... my name's Kaen," I said nervously. "I just arrived in Orario. I'm looking for a Familia... and... yeah. I found this place."

Hestia stared at me for a few seconds. Her eyes narrowed, as if analyzing. Then she smiled.

"You look honest. Though kinda naive."

"...Thanks?"

She walked out of the basement, then sat on a rickety wooden chair near the wall.

"So, Kaen," she said while crossing her little legs. "You wanna join my Familia?"

I hesitated for a moment. "I... can I ask first, are there... other members?"

Her expression changed instantly. From cheerful to somewhat gloomy, like a flame that suddenly dimmed.

"...Not yet," she said quietly. "I'm... still alone."

I looked at her face. Her gaze dropped, the smile that had bloomed earlier now fading. Even her hands that were active before now lay still in her lap. As if she'd heard that question a thousand times.

"They say I'm too poor. Don't have a base. Don't have reputation. Don't have appeal."

"You have..." I almost said "watermelons," but I saved my social life and held back.

"...presence," I said. "You're a goddess. That's enough."

She laughed softly, bitterly. "Presence isn't enough in this city. Adventurers want power, facilities, and... money. I only have good intentions and enthusiasm. But intentions can't fill stomachs, can they?"

I stayed quiet. It felt like watching someone who's trying hard, but the world keeps rejecting them.

And it felt... familiar.

"So?" she asked softly. "Still wanna be an adventurer from a poor Familia like mine?"

I looked at her. Then nodded.

How she currently had no choice, only the Hestia familia could accept her.

"If it's just you... I don't mind. Besides, after being rejected by almost all the gods, I think it's time I tried something that doesn't make sense."

Her eyes widened. "Are you serious?"

I nodded again. "Yeah."

Suddenly, she jumped from her chair.

"YESSSSSSSS!!!"

She shrieked, jumping around like a kid who just got candy, even managed to crash into a small table that immediately collapsed without resistance. She ran toward me, hugging me—or more accurately, crashing into me with those watermelons. I almost choked on my own breath.

"Thank you, Kaen! Thank you! You don't know how long I've been waiting for this!"

"I-I'm also... happy..." I answered half-suffocated.

She let me go, then grabbed my hand. "Come on! Come on! Let's start the falna ceremony!"

"Eh? Now?"

"Of course! You're my first adventurer! I've prepared everything!"

She brought me to her basement. A small, warm room, a bit stuffy but clean. In the middle were a bed and table. The scent of old wood greeted me.

I slowly took off my shirt and lay face down on the bed as instructed. I heard Hestia clear her throat softly.

"Okay... I'm starting now."

Her hand touched my back. It felt... warm. Like there was a gentle flow of energy seeping into my skin. Then something started forming there. A system. An identity. I was... part of this world now.

"Done!" she said cheerfully.

I sat up, and she handed me my status on a piece of paper.

---

Status Panel

Level: 1

Familia: Hestia Familia

ABILITY

Strength: I-0 | Endurance: I-0 | Dexterity: I-0 | Agility: I-0 | Magic: I-0

DEVELOPMENT ABILITIES

None

SKILLS

『Survivor's Instinct』

Type: Passive Skill

Effect: Provides a small boost to danger detection abilities and reactions to threatening situations. Effect increases with life-or-death experiences.

Description: A skill that appears simple for survival, but holds great potential when honed through extreme experiences.

---

I stared at the paper.

"...Survivor's Instinct, huh?"

I didn't know whether to be proud or... feel mocked by this world's system. But honestly, this skill... felt very me. Very human. Not spectacular, but important. If I use it well, this could be a lifesaver.

"Good, right?" asked Hestia proudly, as if she'd created the skill herself.

I nodded. "Yeah. This is... really useful."

We sat for a while on the bed. Hestia looked at me with sparkling eyes, and for a moment, I could see genuine hope in her gaze. Not just because she got a member, but because she could share her life with someone. Finally.

"Thank you, Kaen," she said softly.

I smiled. "And thank you for accepting me."

I suddenly remembered I had to register at the guild after getting a familia. "Now... I have to go to the guild. Report my registration."

She nodded quickly. "Yes! Don't forget to bring your status! And... be careful on the way!"

I put my shirt back on, then stood up. I looked at Hestia for a moment before stepping outside.

Outside, the sky was already dark. The city lights were starting to turn on.

And I, for the first time since coming to this world, felt like... I had a home.

Even though I also had a pen in the village—I mean, a house. But somehow, it felt different.

Pushing away the disturbing thoughts, I walked toward the guild.