"However, compared to Bell, Takagi Akira's favor is even rarer."

As Hestia spoke, she looked at Gao Muming with complicated eyes.

"Even if children from the lower world can change easily, he has changed too much in the past few days. He has added a new skill effect in just one night."

"But the name of this skill effect, 'Carrying the Burden Forward', is too different from what I understand, right?"

"Just looking at the name of the effect 'Carrying the Load', I thought it was because Takagi Akira had been playing the role of a supporter during this period, and he had obtained a skill effect that reduced the pressure of the load."

"Why is the effect of this skill 'When protecting a friend you identify with, all ability values ​​are increased by 1.5 times, pain after injury is reduced, and self-healing ability is improved.' Huh?"

Feeling that the update of the ability value had been completed, Takagi Akira was a little confused as to why Hestia neither made a copy of her own grace nor verbally stated the value of her grace.

"Goddess Hestia, is there something wrong with my favor?"

Hestia came back to her senses when she heard Takagi Akira's voice.

"Nothing. Your ability value is increasing very quickly. The reason why I didn't take any action was just to see the new skill effect added to your skills."

After hearing what Hestia said, Gao Muming immediately became alert.

"My skills have gained new effects?"

"Yes."

Hestia nodded.

"New effect: Carrying the Burden: When protecting a partner you identify with, all ability values ​​will be increased by 1.5 times, the pain after being injured will be reduced, and the self-healing ability will be improved."

After hearing Hestia's retelling, Gao Muming frowned, somewhat dissatisfied with the result.

“It’s only increased 1.5 times?”

Seeing that Gao Muming only expressed his dissatisfaction with the increase in his effect multiplier, Hestia asked a little madly.

"Don't you think there's something wrong with the name and the effect?"

Gao Muming turned his head and asked back with some confusion.

"Really? I don't think so."

"what?"

Hestia looked at Takagi Akira's expression which looked as if something was wrong, and she instantly felt her blood pressure rise.

"Carrying a heavy load means moving forward while carrying a heavy package. I wouldn't be surprised if it reduces the weight of the backpack or reduces the physical exertion when carrying it. But how come you have something to do with combat?"

After hearing what Hestia said, Takagi Akira also reacted and explained.

"My understanding of carrying a heavy burden is to move forward firmly despite the wind and rain while shouldering the responsibility."

"So this is ah."

After hearing Gao Muming's explanation, Hestia smiled awkwardly.

After a few dry laughs, Hestia looked at Gao Muming with a serious expression.

"I heard Bell muttering 'I want to become stronger' while he was sleeping."

"Isn't it natural for an adventurer to want to become stronger?"

Gao Muming was a little confused as to why Hestia suddenly looked at him with such a serious expression.

Hearing Takagi Akira's question, Hestia just shook her head.

"It's natural for an adventurer to want to become stronger, but it's definitely not like Bell, rushing into the dungeon without thinking about the consequences."

"Bell was too eager to become stronger. He rushed to the seventh floor without any protective gear or tools, even though he didn't know you were there to protect him."

"I'm worried. I'm worried that after Bell knows your ability, he will take advantage of your protection and do more crazy things to improve his ability faster."

"Takagi Akira, the power you have now is too much for Bell, who has just become an adventurer. After understanding your strength, Bell will only subconsciously rely on you when he is with you."

"I've seen Bell's badly damaged clothes. I'm sure that if it weren't for you, the corresponding wounds on the clothes alone would have killed Bell."

"If you continue to protect him in secret like this, I'm afraid that Bell will have a wrong understanding of the consequences of the monster's attack, which will be detrimental to Bell's growth."

"What's worse is that you have been accommodating and helping Bell all the time. It is not conducive to your growth. As the chief god of the clan, I cannot watch you two, who have a limited lifespan, waste your lives like this."

"Bell is now strong enough to explore the first few floors of the dungeon safely on his own. This is to allow Bell to truly grow as an adventurer."

"Takagi Akira, I hope that from now on, until Bell is free from your protection and truly becomes a qualified adventurer, you will not continue to team up with Bell."

After hearing what Hestia said, Gao Muming looked at the not-so-tall goddess Hestia in front of him and spoke slowly.

"I understand your concerns, Goddess Hestia. It is true that humans have bad natures, and the existence of the system of grace has deepened people's dependence on external forces."

"Under the purely numerical framework that strength improvement is equivalent to ability value improvement, Bell can rely on my barrier to ensure his own absolute safety and 'independently' kill monsters that are much stronger than himself."

"This method of cheating and exploiting loopholes can indeed gain a lot of experience, which can be used to improve ability values, and this kind of leap-forward growth can really make people addicted."

"I promise you that from today on, I will no longer team up with Bell until he gets your approval."

Hearing that Gao Muming agreed to her request, Hestia raised her hand and touched Gao Muming's head.

"It is because of children like you that we like the lower world even more."

Hestia said as she loudly called Bell into the room.

"Bell, come here for a moment."

Hearing Hestia's call, Bell pushed open the door of the basement and walked in.

"What's the matter, Lord God?"

"It's like this, now you should know Takagi Akira's strength and the effects of his magic, right?"

"know."

Bell nodded, and an excited look appeared on his face as he imagined that under the protection of Gao Muming's barrier, he would kill monsters in a pile of monsters and his ability values ​​would soar.

"I thought about it and decided that for the sake of your two normal growth, you two will no longer form a team and explore the dungeon separately for the next period of time."

After hearing what Hestia said, Bell, who was still thinking about good things, suddenly changed his expression and showed an unwilling expression.

"Eh? I was thinking of relying on the protection of barrier magic to kill more monsters and improve my ability value as soon as possible."

"It is because of this fear that I gave this order."

Hestia's expression was very serious.

"If you only pursue the numerical value of your ability and ignore the training of other skills, you will suffer a great loss. Now, after knowing the power of Takagi Akira, Bell has lost his respect for the dungeon and life."

"I do not have……"

Hestia interrupted Bell directly.

"Can you say you don't have the thought in your mind that 'Anyway, Gao Muming is here, and I won't die if I face a monster that is less than level 2. I just need to rush in front of the monsters and kill them to gain experience and increase my ability points.'"

After hearing what Hestia said, Bell was stunned. Although he wanted to deny it, his heart told Bell that what Hestia said was the true thought hidden in the deepest part of his heart, which he himself was not even aware of.

Looking at Bell who lowered his head and stopped talking, Hestia knew that Bell had heard it.

"Bell, I understand your eagerness to become stronger, but Bell, becoming stronger is never that simple. I can assure you, Bell, you have the talent to become a first-class adventurer."

"As long as you take one step at a time, you will eventually become the strong person you want to be. So I hope you can promise me from the bottom of your heart and swear to me that you will never do anything like what you did last night again."

Faced with Hestia's words, Bell was a little at a loss.

Although he knew that Hestia said this for his own good, Bell, who wanted to gain the power to stand beside Sword Princess Ais Wallenstein as soon as possible, just opened his mouth and said nothing.

Seeing Bell's dilemma, Gao Muming sighed.

"With my barrier, you can indeed reach LV2 in a short period of time, but what are you going to do after reaching LV2 this way? I don't have the ability to protect people from LV3 monsters."

"Besides, what do you think the sword princess who climbed up to the first-level adventurer step by step on her own would think of you, an adventurer who rose to the top by 'cheating'?"

"The reason why Bert, the werewolf of Loki's clan, laughed at you is because your actions insulted Bert's reputation as an adventurer. Do you think someone who leveled up by 'cheating' will be recognized by them?"

When Bell heard what Gao Muming said, his face turned pale instantly.

Bell lowered his head and murmured his own voice.

"I...want to become stronger."

At this moment, Hestia patted her broad heart on her chest and made a promise to Bell.

"I respect your determination to become stronger. I will cheer you on and provide you with support."

Hestia's voice was trembling as she spoke.

"You two are my first followers and family. Please value your own lives, even for my sake, and do not put yourselves to death in pursuit of power."

Bell's body trembled after hearing Hestia's words.

"...I promise you, Lord God, I will never do anything reckless for you who consider me as family. I will work hard to improve myself bit by bit."

After hearing Bell's promise, Hestia smiled with satisfaction.

Just at this moment, Bell's stomach rumbled at an inopportune time. Seeing Bell's blushing face, the three decided to go out for a good meal.

While eating, Hestia talked about her upcoming itinerary.

"I have to attend a party hosted by Ganesha tomorrow and do some errands there. It will probably take me a few days to come back."

"I can't update your ability values ​​during this period, so while I'm away, I hope you can do what you can and don't explore the dungeon blindly."

"Especially you, Bell. Your injuries haven't fully healed yet. Don't force yourself."

Bell, who was reminded of this by Hestia, spoke up immediately.

"Please rest assured, God. I won't force myself."

Gao Muming, who was standing by, was silently recalling the relevant plot in his heart.

"According to the plot, Hestia should be planning to ask her god friend Hephaestus to help Bell forge weapons. This means that our clan will start the road of 2 million debts."

When he thought of the outstanding debt of 200 million, Gao Muming's heart couldn't help but tremble, and he sighed softly in his heart.

"It's a skill to be able to owe so much."

When Gao Muming was comforting himself in this way, he suddenly heard Hestia calling him.

"Takagi Akira, Bell's usual weapon is a short sword. What's your usual weapon? A sword or a gun?"

After hearing Hestia's question, Takagi Akira reacted immediately.

"!! Hestia didn't just want to get a weapon for Bell, she wanted to get a weapon for both of us."

"I'm afraid this request will only work the first time. As members who entered the Familia together, Hestia will not favor Bell and me over one another. This means that the debt owed by our Familia will most likely double to 4 million."

Although his mind was full of thoughts, Gao Muming still told him the weapon he was best at.

"Lance."

"That's it, I understand."

Hestia nodded to indicate that she understood, and she played it down as if she was suddenly curious about the situation of her own family, without any other thoughts at all.

Time passed quickly, and in a blink of an eye it was the next day. When it was not long before Ganesha's banquet was held, Gao Muming was accompanying Hestia to visit an affordable dress store.

Unlike Bell who went to explore the dungeon early in the morning, Gao Muming, who planned to use the characteristics of killer ants for training, decided to set the time of exploration at night in order to prevent adventurers from being involved in his actions as much as possible.

Therefore, Gao Muming, who stayed in the base, happened to see his own goddess Hestia rummaging through the closet for her most suitable clothes.

So Gao Muming, who had just earned tens of thousands of fares in the dungeon yesterday, immediately decided to buy Hestia a new dress within the limits of the fares he had on hand.

Looking at Hestia who was trying on cheap dresses, Gao Muming couldn't help but complain in his heart.

"It is indeed a female's nature to love beauty and shopping, even goddesses are no exception."

After Gao Muming sent Hestia to the vicinity of the base camp of the Ganesha family before the party started, he watched Hestia take a deep breath, lift the basket hanging around her waist, and walk towards the gate of Ganesha with a momentum of not giving up until the goal was achieved.

After confirming that Hestia had shown the invitation letter and was allowed to pass by the adventurers guarding the gate of the Ganesa family, Gao Muming turned around and walked towards the dungeon alone.

Against the backdrop of adventurers who kept exiting the dungeon after a busy day, Gao Muming began his second journey of exploring the dungeon alone.

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