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DH : [11] Adapt
🕑 Added 2024-06-22 02:29:07 +0000 UTC"Hehe, it's my first time having a family since coming to the lower world. Aiden-kun, you're so amazing, having a skill and three magic slots at Lv.1. Our life will definitely get better and better. We might even catch up to the genius Sword Princess in the Loki Familia. No, Aiden, I'm sure you'll surpass her."
Hestia's eyes gleamed mischievously as she glanced at Aiden's golden sword, Durandal, lying nearby. "You also use a sword, so you can take her Sword Princess title."
Hearing Hestia's bold declaration, Aiden didn't know where to start his rebuttal. Surpass the Sword Princess and take her title? He was confident in surpassing her, but stealing her title? Was Hestia dissatisfied with the skills he obtained? Did she want him to debut as an idol too?!!
Aiden chuckled softly at the excited Hestia rolling on the bed. He then asked her, "Hestia, have you locked and hidden my ability values?"
The pattern formed by the Blessing was no different from a tattoo. While Aiden didn't dislike tattoos, he wasn't particularly fond of them either. Moreover, the sacred texts of the Blessing, despite their grand name, were readable by many, not just gods. For example, Loki Familia's leader, Finn, and Riveria could read them.
"Do you want to hide it, Aiden-kun?" Hestia, having her first familia member, asked curiously.
In the original story, Bell's ability values were not locked, which allowed Riveria to see his stats, all at S level, shocking the Loki Familia.
"Yes, let's hide it. From what I understand, many adventurers hide their ability values. The Guild only publishes an adventurer's level and dungeon activity records, so hiding one's ability values seems to be a common practice among adventurers." Aiden explained, recalling the plot details from the anime and side stories.
"Ah, I see. Got it, Aiden." Hestia replied, understanding dawning on her.
With the matter of the Blessing resolved, there was nothing else to do... no novels, no phones, no internet, no computers, not even a deck of cards. So, sleeping was the only option.
... Night fell, leaving a lone man and woman in a room. Especially when the woman was a goddess, combining cuteness and sexiness.
Seeing the small single bed, the old sofa that was clearly less than six feet long, and the completely unguarded Hestia, Aiden pondered, "How do we sleep tonight?"
Hestia, innocently inviting him to sleep next to her, made Aiden sigh. He raised his hands in a bodybuilder pose, then compared his height, saying, "Hestia, look at my size. Can we both fit on this bed?"
After a pause, Aiden continued, "Don't say you'll give it to me. Otherwise, I won't sleep. Plus, I'm used to sleeping in a big bed at home."
Hestia, comparing the bed's size to Aiden's frame, had to abandon the idea. She hugged her pillow, pouting, "Sorry, Aiden-kun. Joining my familia, yet you can't even sleep in a bed. I'm making you suffer."
Seeing Hestia looking as if she was about to cry, Aiden gently patted her head and comforted her softly, "No need to apologize, Hestia. I'm not suffering at all. Besides, I get hot easily. Just make a bed on the floor for me."
Hestia glanced at Aiden's black coat hanging on the rack, guessing it was just an excuse. She suddenly hugged Aiden tightly, "You're so good, Aiden-kun~"
This was too much. Feeling the majesty of the Northern Hemisphere, Aiden's body stiffened. He pretended to yawn and said softly, "Alright, Hestia, help me with the bedding."
"Okay, Aiden-kun." Hestia quickly prepared the bedding for him.
"Good night, Aiden-kun... zzz." Hestia said, settling into her bed.
"Good night, Hestia." Blowing out the candle, Aiden softly replied to the already tucked-in Hestia.
In the dead of night, with only Hestia's occasional sleep-talking breaking the silence, Aiden lay on the floor, staring blankly at the ceiling. Accustomed to reading a novel, completing game quests, and chatting with online friends before bed, he found himself with nothing to do and unable to sleep.
Reborn, the joy of gaining a system, the novelty of arriving in another world, and the push from the tasks kept him busy all day. Thus, Aiden didn't feel bored at all.
Accustomed to a life where internet and smartphones are always available, Aiden, a self-proclaimed shut-in who feels utterly lost even during a power outage, found it impossible not to feel out of place in this fantasy world devoid of such conveniences.
"Damn, I haven't seen today's updates. I haven't completed my daily quests. There's also the daily bosses..." Aiden's thoughts began to scatter, with all kinds of miscellaneous ideas surfacing.
When will Tanjiro get his revenge? How can Nezuko turn back into a human? When will Giorno become a Gang-Star? How will Carole and Tuesday achieve their dreams? Who will Fuutarou choose in the end? Will Fumino win? Who will Hachiman end up with?
How will the Avengers reverse the snap? Is Pikachu cute? What will the epic battle between Godzilla and King Ghidorah be like? How will Kong from Skull Island fight against Godzilla? How will Game of Thrones end? Is Spider-Man: Far From Home good?
Will Cyberpunk 2077 really be released in 2077? When will Hideo Kojima's Death Stranding release, and will it coincide with the PS5 launch?
When will Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord release? Will Square Enix's Final Fantasy VII Remake be as good as the Resident Evil 2 Remake? When will Devil May Cry 5 release a special edition where he can play as Vergil, Lady, and Trish?
Lying on the floor with all these questions swirling in his mind, Aiden felt a mixture of excitement and frustration. This world was filled with unknowns, both fascinating and daunting. He missed his old life but couldn't deny the allure of the new adventures that awaited him. Eventually, he let out a sigh, closed his eyes, and allowed sleep to claim him, dreaming of both worlds merging in a strange yet harmonious blend.
...
"Damn it, I can't keep thinking about this. Sigh, this is just the first world. When the multiverse comes... I have no idea where I'll end up next. Better get used to it sooner rather than later."
In the stillness of the night, Aiden lay quietly on the floor, trying to adapt to a life without smartphones and the internet. He had to get used to the idea of never being able to read his favorite novels, watch anime, TV shows, or movies again, and a life without games.
Aiden recalled the novel-like events of the day... thinking he died in a fire, acquiring a system, traveling to the anime world of Danmachi, being reborn, gaining the bloodline of Sparda, joining the Hestia Familia, and receiving a blessing.
"Death, system, isekai... where did this novel protagonist come from?"
The silver-haired boy laughed at himself. Orphaned, seemingly sacrificing himself at the start (actually sacrificing the whole Earth), wasn't this similar to those protagonists who began their journey from the depths of orphanages and started by sacrificing their parents?
At least it was better than those transformation stories or the novel where the protagonist begins by sacrificing their own kind. Wasn't it? At least he had the main character treatment.
Moreover, he had the template of Nero, the grandson of Sparda. Yes, perhaps it could be said that this child was as terrifying as the stories told.
But ultimately, there was no going back. Two lines of tears slowly streamed down his cheeks. Aiden wiped them away, and faces started to appear in his mind.
Like-minded friends; childhood buddies; roommates who stayed up all night, played games together, ate together, and shared the same fate of being perpetually single; relatives who had always cared for him; the considerate neighbors... and the online friends he chatted with before bed...
Goodbye... and to my terrible roommates, thank you for your years of tolerance.
Goodbye, Uncle, Aunt, and lovely neighbors... thank you for all your care over the years.
...
Even though I can't go back, at least I've been given a second chance at life, right?
Thank you, system, for giving me a new life.
Thank you, Hestia, for welcoming me into your Familia.
Tomorrow will come. Goodnight, Aiden. Goodnight, Nero.
...
The next day dawned with a clear, cloudless sky.
Waking up in the dimly lit basement, Aiden, out of habit, reached for his phone to check the time. If it was still early, he would go back to sleep. His hand fumbled around the pillow, but there was nothing there. It took a moment for him to remember that he was no longer on Earth.
With no phone and no clock in the room, Aiden sighed, not knowing the time. He sprang up from his makeshift bed on the floor with a swift, practiced movement, stretching his arms. As he did, his gaze fell upon Hestia, still soundly asleep.
Despite her divine status, Hestia's sleeping posture was far from graceful. A faint line of drool traced down the corner of her mouth, and her blanket kicked off during the night, lay crumpled on the floor.
She went to bed much earlier than he did, yet she's still asleep. And that sleeping posture... She's supposed to be a goddess but... Aiden sighed again, shaking his head as he walked over to pick up the fallen blanket and gently covered the still-sleeping Hestia.
These gods who descended to the lower world to play their immersive games seem no different from regular people once they seal their divine powers. He wonders... do they get sick like humans too?
