Misha Flott, the Guild clerk, looked at the two peculiar beings before her – the cynical-eyed young man and the blue-haired girl proclaiming herself a goddess – with an efficiency bordering on stoicism. Dealing with the extraordinary was, after all, a routine part of the job in Orario. She adjusted her glasses on the bridge of her nose and began detailing the procedures with a clarity that Hachiman, despite his inherent aversion to regulations, had to appreciate.
"Very well, Hachiman-sama," Misha began, ignoring his slight flinch at the honorific suffix. "For your registration as an adventurer, the initial process is simple. We need to fill out this form with your basic data – name, estimated age, race... Human, correct?" Hachiman nodded. "And you'll need to undergo a basic physical aptitude assessment and a brief interview with a senior counselor, just to ensure you understand the risks and fundamental rules of exploring the Dungeon. Given that I will be your initial counselor, we can expedite part of this."
While Hachiman filled out the form with short, objective answers, feeling Aqua's impatient gaze on him, Misha continued, addressing the Goddess more directly. "As for you, Goddess Aqua... For a deity to grant Falna and officially establish a Familia recognized by the Guild in Orario, several steps are necessary. Firstly, we need to register your divine presence." Misha picked up another set of documents. "This involves a formal testimony of your identity and acceptance of the rules governing the gods' stay in the lower world – primarily, the self-limitation of your divine powers, the Arcanum, except for granting the Falna."
"Obviously, I accept!" Aqua intervened, with an air of someone doing the world a great favor. "Limiting my powers is tedious, but necessary to grace these mortals with my presence and blessings. Just tell me where to sign!"
Misha indicated the appropriate lines on the parchment, which seemed to have a slight luminescence of its own. "We also need confirmation of your ability to grant the Falna. Normally, this is done when the first member of the Familia receives the blessing. As soon as Hachiman-sama has the Falna and it's verified here at the Guild, your Familia will be officially registered, though still as a 'Starter Familia'. The Guild offers some support resources for new Familias, like access to basic Dungeon information and orientation workshops, but responsibility for housing, equipment, and sustenance falls entirely on the Familia."
Hachiman finished filling out his form. The physical assessment was quick – some basic tests of strength, agility, and endurance that he passed without issue, though without standing out. The "interview" was more of a lecture from Misha about the dangers of the Dungeon, the importance of following Guild rules, ethics among adventurers (something Hachiman doubted actually existed in practice), and the level and stat structure of the Falna. He listened attentively, absorbing every pragmatic detail.
Aqua, meanwhile, signed her divine document with an exaggerated flourish, using a finger that momentarily glowed with bluish light to mark the parchment. Misha seemed to accept that as sufficient confirmation for now. Perhaps there was some enchantment on the document that reacted to divine presence, or maybe celestial bureaucracy was surprisingly based on trust – or a lack of better options.
"Perfect," Misha said, organizing the papers. "Hachiman-sama, you are pre-registered. As soon as you receive the Falna from Goddess Aqua and return here for the status update, your registration as a Level 1 Adventurer of the Aqua Familia will be complete. Goddess Aqua, your presence is registered. I recommend you grant the Falna to Hachiman-sama as soon as possible so you can begin." She offered a restrained smile. "Welcome to Orario. If you need further guidance, you can find me during business hours."
Hachiman thanked Misha with a short nod, an almost inaudible murmur of "Thanks." He took the papers handed to him – a copy of his pre-registration and a basic informational pamphlet about the Guild and the city. Aqua, on the other hand, seemed to expect some kind of fanfare or special treatment, but Misha had already turned away to attend to the next adventurer in line.
"Humph! Such disrespect! Not even a red carpet for a goddess?" Aqua grumbled as Hachiman gently but firmly pulled her out of the crowd at the counter.
As soon as they left the hubbub of the Guild and stepped back into the bright sunlight of the busy street, the reality of the situation hit Hachiman with full force. He paused for a moment, looking at the surroundings, at the people passing by, at Aqua adjusting her divine scarf with an air of importance. He stuck his hand in the pocket of whatever simple pants he was wearing – likely part of the forced reincarnation "starter pack" – and found exactly what he expected: nothing. No Valis, the local currency Misha had mentioned. No house key. No weapon or equipment. Just empty fabric and a growing sense of helplessness.
Okay, we're registered. Or almost. Now what? His pragmatic mind started analyzing. We need money to eat, to buy basic equipment so I can... do whatever adventurers do in the Dungeon to earn more money. And before all that, we need a place to stay. We can't just sleep on the street.
A fragment of information, perhaps implanted by the cosmic entity along with the basic Danmachi knowledge, or perhaps just a logical inference based on fantasy tropes, came to mind. Bell Cranel, the protagonist of the story he vaguely knew about this world, and his Goddess, Hestia. How did they start? Poor, unsupported, living in... yes, an abandoned church on the edge of the city. A forgotten place that didn't attract attention but offered a roof.
Makes sense, Hachiman thought. Noble or commercial areas are out of the question. We need something abandoned, discreet, on the outskirts of the city, where nobody cares. A place that costs us nothing but the effort to find it and make it minimally habitable.
"Hey, Aqua," he called out, his voice low and serious.
"What is it? Ready to worship me properly already? Or perhaps you want to take me to a feast worthy of my greatness?" she replied, still a bit miffed about the lack of deference at the Guild.
"None of that," Hachiman cut in. "We're broke. Completely broke. And we have nowhere to sleep. We're going to look for a place."
"Look for a place? You mean a palace? A mansion? Or maybe a temple dedicated to me?" Aqua's eyes shone at the prospect.
"I'm thinking more along the lines of 'abandoned and free shelter'," Hachiman retorted, starting to walk towards the less busy streets, heading away from the city center. "Let's search the outskirts, in poorer or more isolated areas. Maybe we'll find something to serve as a temporary base."
Aqua made a face. "Abandoned? Poor? Isolated? That's not appropriate for a goddess! I demand comfort!"
"You can demand all you want when we have money to pay for it," Hachiman replied without looking back, continuing to walk. "Until then, it's this or the gutter. And I don't think even you would like that. Now come on, and try not to attract too much attention with those shiny clothes of yours."
Muttering about the indignity of it all, Aqua followed him. The search led them through increasingly narrow and poorly paved streets. The buildings became simpler, many showing signs of wear and abandonment. The smell of exotic food and woodsmoke gave way to an odor of mold and dampness in some alleys. There were fewer people here, and those they saw seemed busy with their own difficult lives, casting only fleeting glances at the strange pair. It was the kind of place where an empty house might go unnoticed for a while.
After nearly an hour of walking and several complaints from Aqua about her feet hurting and the lack of aesthetics in the surroundings, Hachiman spotted it. At the end of a dead-end alley, partially hidden by overgrown weeds, stood a small stone and wood house. The wood of the windows was rotten, some roof tiles had fallen, and the wooden door creaked ominously when Hachiman pushed it open. But it was standing.
The interior was as gloomy as expected. Dust covered everything like a gray shroud. There was a small living room with remnants of broken furniture, a tiny kitchen with a rusted wood-burning stove and a stone counter, a primitive bathroom with visible plumbing, and a single small bedroom in the back. The smell of mold and abandonment was strong.
"Urgh! What a depressing place!" Aqua exclaimed, covering her nose. "We can't stay here! It must be full of rats and ghosts!"
Hachiman ignored her, inspecting the place with a critical eye. It was small, dirty, and needed a lot of repairs. But the walls seemed solid, the roof, despite its flaws, still offered shelter, and it was isolated. He went to the kitchen and, out of sheer habit or perhaps a thread of hope, turned the metal tap over the stone sink. To his immense surprise, after a few sputters and a burst of rusty water, clean water began to flow.
He looked at the water, then at Aqua, who was busy trying to brush an imaginary cobweb off her shoulder. Could it have been her presence? A passive, unconscious blessing from the Water Goddess? Or just luck? Probably luck. But he wouldn't complain.
"The water's working," he announced. "It's enough for now. At least we can clean up a bit and have something to drink. We're staying here."
"But... but..." Aqua began to protest, but Hachiman's determined (and slightly threatening) expression made her swallow her words. She just sighed dramatically. "Fine. But if I see a single rat, it's your fault!"
They spent the next few hours in a superficial cleaning, using improvised rags and the running water to clear the worst of the grime from the bedroom and kitchen. It was hard, thankless work, but by the end, the space looked minimally habitable. The sun was already beginning to set, painting the sky outside in shades of orange and purple, visible through the cracks in the windows.
Sitting on the dusty floor of what would be their room (the idea of sharing a room with Aqua was another source of stress he decided to ignore for now), Hachiman felt the urgency return. "Aqua. We need to do that. The Falna. I need it to start working tomorrow."
Aqua, who was trying to fix her hair using the reflection in a puddle of water, turned to him. "Ah, yes! The Falna! Finally, I can demonstrate my divine powers! Prepare yourself to receive the greatest blessing a mortal could ever dream of!"
She approached, instructing Hachiman to take off his shirt and turn his back to her. He obeyed, feeling a familiar discomfort with the situation. Aqua placed her hands on his back, closed her eyes, and began murmuring words in an ancient, resonant language. Hachiman felt a tingling, an energy starting to build... but then, nothing. The energy dissipated.
Aqua opened her eyes, confused. "Huh? Strange... I tried to channel the power, but... it doesn't seem to connect to this world the right way. It's like trying to fit a round key in a square lock." She tried again, concentrating harder, but the result was the same. Frustration began to show on her face. "It's not working! Why isn't it working?! I'm a goddess! Granting blessings is basic!"
Hachiman frowned, thinking. Another world... different connection... And then, the words of the cosmic entity returned to him:
"Aqua," he said slowly. "Remember the being who sent us here? He said we were 'linked'. As a punishment. Maybe... maybe you can't use the normal method of this world. Try using that... link. Focus on me, on our connection, and try to channel the Falna through that."
Aqua seemed skeptical, but the idea of using something unique and special seemed to appeal to her ego. "The link... hmm... a direct connection between my divinity and your mortal being... Sounds exclusive! Fine, prepare yourself!"
She placed her hands on his back again, but this time, Hachiman felt something different. It wasn't just her energy; it was as if a circuit had been completed between them. A soft blue light emanated from Aqua's hands, and Hachiman felt an intense but not painful warmth spread across his back. There was a feeling of... awakening. As if something latent within him was being activated and mapped. It lasted only a few seconds, and then the light and heat subsided.
Aqua removed her hands, panting, but with a triumphant smile. "It worked! I knew my divinity would find a way! Now look!"
Hachiman picked up a piece of polished metal they found during cleanup and used it as an improvised mirror to look over his shoulder. There, engraved on his skin like an intricate tattoo of faint bluish light, was his Falna status. The name "Aqua" was at the top, followed by his name, Level 1, and a series of basic stats (Strength, Endurance, Dexterity, Agility, Magic) all marked as I-0, the absolute starting point.
But below the basic stats, something else caught his attention, making his heart give an uncomfortable leap of surprise. There were two additional sections he hadn't expected.
Skill:
[Protection of a Loner]: The greater the desire to protect something or someone truly important to the user, the greater the excelia gain and skill development. The skill's power grows exponentially with the strength of the bond and the imminence of danger to the target of protection.
Magic:
[Unlimited Blade Works]: Chant: I am the bone of my sword. Steel is my body and fire is my blood. I have created over a thousand blades. Unknown to Death, Nor known to Life. Have withstood pain to create many weapons. Yet, those hands will never hold anything. So as I pray, Unlimited Blade Works. (Additional description of the magic would appear here as it was understood/used)
Hachiman stared at the glowing words on his back, his brain trying to process. A Skill that got stronger by protecting others? Ironic, for someone like him. And Magic... Unlimited Blade Works? The name and chant sounded strangely familiar, echoes of entertainment consumed in his past life. It wasn't just generic magic; it was that. An internal reality, a world forged of infinite blades.
"What...?" he murmured, touching the glowing inscriptions. "Aqua, what is this? Did you put this here?"
Aqua leaned in to look, blinking. "Hmm? 'Protection of a Loner'? 'Unlimited Blade Works'? Strange names... I just granted the Falna, the blessing that allows growth! These things... must be part of your inherent potential! Or maybe... maybe they're those 'surprises' that annoying being mentioned! See? My blessing even awakened hidden gifts in you! Am I an amazing goddess or what?" She puffed out her chest, conveniently taking credit for the anomaly.
Hachiman wasn't convinced, but the mention of "surprises" made sense. That entity had said it would grant some "helps" as mercy. A powerful Skill and Magic certainly qualified. A minimal, almost imperceptible, and definitely surprised smile touched his lips. He wasn't entirely empty-handed. There was a real chance. But this chance came with a huge risk. Unique skills and magic attracted unwanted attention – from other adventurers, from greedy Familias, maybe even from smarter monsters.
His self-preservation instinct and cautious nature kicked in immediately. "Aqua," he said, his voice low and urgent. "This... this is good. But no one can know about this. Not yet. It's too dangerous. Can you... hide it? Make it so only the level and basic stats appear when someone checks?"
Aqua pouted. "Hide them? But they're proof of your special connection to me! And of my power!"
"Precisely because they're special they need to be hidden," Hachiman insisted. "Think of it like protecting a treasure. Our secret treasure. Until we're strong enough to defend it, it needs to stay locked away. You can do that, can't you? Gods can manage the Falna they grant, right?" He subtly appealed to her ego and sense of control.
It worked. Aqua pondered for a moment, then nodded with an air of importance. "Humph. Very well. If it's to protect my precious first follower and our exclusive secrets, I can conceal these lower sections of the status. Consider it done! No one but us will know the true potential of the Aqua Familia until I decide to reveal it!" She touched his back again, and Hachiman saw in the reflection that the Skill and Magic sections disappeared from superficial view, although he still felt they were there, latent beneath the surface.
Only then did he remember the other issue. "And about the link? Do you still think you can only grant Falna to me?"
Aqua sighed. "Yes, the feeling is still the same. The connection for the Falna only flows through our bond. For now, Hachiman, you are and will be the only member of my Familia. We'll have to figure out how to solve that later."
Another problem for the list, Hachiman thought, but the relief at having the abilities hidden outweighed the worry for the moment. One step at a time.
Early the next day, Hachiman put on his shirt over his now marked (and secretly powerful) back and headed to the Guild, leaving Aqua in the abandoned house with even stricter instructions not to do anything stupid or attract attention. He found Misha at the counter.
"Misha-san," Hachiman said. "I received the Falna."
Misha led him again to the small back room. Using the special crystal, she verified the Falna on his back. The tattoo glowed, revealing the Goddess's name, his name, Level 1, and the I-0 stats. No visible Skill or Magic. Exactly as planned.
"Status confirmed," Misha announced, making the final notations in her records. "Hikigaya Hachiman, Level 1. Aqua Familia. Welcome officially as an Adventurer of Orario." She handed him the simple metal plate – his adventurer license. "I strongly recommend starting on the upper floors of the Dungeon, 1st or 2nd floor at most. And consider acquiring basic equipment before entering. Good luck."
Hachiman took the license, the metal cold in his hand. It was real. He was, officially, an adventurer. A Level 1 adventurer, penniless, with no visible equipment, but with dangerous and powerful secrets beneath his skin, and a problematic Goddess (but one exclusively linked to him and now an accomplice in his secret) waiting in a dilapidated house.
The first step is taken, he thought, pocketing the license. Now the truly dangerous part begins. Surviving... and figuring out how to use this. He glanced at his own hands. I am the bone of my sword... The idea was as absurd as it was frightening. And exciting. Now the hard part begins. Surviving.