??? PoV

— Yes, just follow the main street, and you’ll see it! — He gave directions for what felt like the thousandth time that week, keeping a tired, forced smile on his face.

“At least tomorrow I’ll get some rest. The job pays well, but by Freya’s boobs, it’s exhausting.”

Brown eyes scanned the long line of merchants, adventurers, and aspiring heroes arriving in the city, enduring all the tedious but necessary inspections imposed by the Guild on outsiders.

Suppressing a weary yawn, he rubbed his eyes languidly while waiting for the next person to approach him. It didn’t take long, as a soft, young voice called out to him.

— Uh, hi? Sorry to bother you, but the receptionist said I should talk to you about getting a map of the city… —

He turned to face the speaker, surprise flashing across his face before he could suppress it.

It was a teenager—no, a child—no older than 13, with short, messy white hair.

But what struck him most were the boy’s eyes: a deep wine-red, tinged with purple, and his pale skin, almost sickly, as if sunlight had never touched it.

The boy wore nothing remarkable, just simple leather trousers and a plain long-sleeved shirt.

A knot formed in his stomach as he speculated the boy might be another one of those, survivors from Rakia seeking a new start in life—a theory that solidified as he noticed how frail the boy body was.

— Uh… Sir? —

The boy’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts. The child looked at him, puzzled.

— Apologies! I got lost in thought. Tell me, young man, what do you need of me? —

The boy nodded slightly, seeming to accept the apology, and spoke in a shy tone.

— I came to get a map and ask which way I should go to find the Hostess of Familia, no, wait, the Hostess of Fertility? Sorry, I can’t quite remember the name. —

The man’s heart nearly leapt out of his chest.

“Who on earth recommended that valis-eating tavern to this boy!?”

— N-no problem, and it’s Fertility, not Familia, but… if you don’t mind me asking, why are you heading there? Are you looking for someone you know, perhaps? —

The boy looked surprised, as if unsure why the man would ask such a question, but he answered without hesitation.

— Yes. I’m looking for someone who works there. —

A mix of relief and apprehension filled him, along with the urge to ask who, but it wasn’t his business. He had his own family to care for.

So, he stuck to his job, pulling a map from the cabinet behind him and explaining how to reach that cursed valis-draining tavern while pointing out key spots in the city.

When he finished and the boy nodded in understanding, all that remained was a parting remark.

— And that’s it. Be careful walking alone by night, boy, and welcome to Orario! —

The boy nodded back, smiling faintly as he stepped into the city of adventurers for the first time.

---

Bellphegor PoV

Returning to our gacha addict Bellphegor strolled through Orario’s bustling streets with a small smile on his face. His wine-colored eyes absorving the new world around him.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

The diverse races he had only seen in anime, the lively streets filled with adventurers and families of all kinds, and the medieval-style weapons that would make any nerd swoon—it was a completely different world from the modern era he once lived.

He glanced at the map in his hands, noting the red circle the helpful guard had drawn to mark the tavern's location. Then, without hesitation, he went in the opposite direction.

Because, in truth, he had lied to the poor guard, asking for the tavern's location only to ensure he would never set foot near it.

That place was far too problematic. Not only did Freya 'work' there, but the Loki Familia were regular costumers as well. He had no intention of dealing with either goddess anytime soon.

It wasn’t that he disliked them—far from it. In his previous life, Freya had probably been his favorite goddess. But precisely because of that, he knew how dangerous it was to get involved with her.

Freya embodied everything a goddess should be: selfish to the core and, worst of all, desperate—desperate for someone who would love her for herself, not her beauty or charm.

As for Loki, she was a wild card. A highly skilled collector of reincarnates, she had managed to gather half of Orario’s reincarnations into her Familia and he didn’t know whether it was sheer luck or some ability similar to Freya’s charm, but he knew one thing for sure: Loki was unpredictable.

Dealing with either of them was a massive "no" until he became stronger.

With that resolve, he quickened his pace, heading toward the Guild.

---

Minutes later, a pale young boy was seen entering the Guild, drawing looks of pity, scorn, and disdain from some, while others whispered and even exchanged valis, betting on whether he was yet another suicidal dreamer hoping to become a child prodigy like the Sword Princess.

Bellphegor ignored it all, having anticipated their judgment.

He joined the line, waiting patiently for his turn. Minutes later, finally, he stood before one of the Guild workers—a woman with dark hair and blue eyes who regarded him with a mix of concern, resignation, and fatigue.

— Good morning. What brings you to the Guild today? — she asked.

— I’m here to register as an adventurer. I was told me this was the first step to entering the Dungeon — he replied.

Behind him, he heard a sharp intake of breath, whispers, and the clinking of valis being exchanged, but he ignored it once again.

The woman swallowed hard before responding.

— O-Of course, but are you aware that you need to be part of a Familia to register? — she asked, clearly hoping to dissuade him.

He nodded, showing he understood, and she exhaled sharply.

— Alright then, please fill out this form and provide proof that you belong to the Familia listed on it. Although not recommended, showing your Falna can also serve as proof. —

Bellphegor raised an eyebrow at that last part. Who would be foolish enough to reveal their Falna to others? Even if most people didn’t understand it, it was a huge risk to expose potential weaknesses.

“Why would she even say that?”

Then it clicked. Familias like Soma’s existed, giving Falna to almost anyone due to the god’s irresponsibility.

He simply nodded and reached into his pocket, pulling out a letter.

Though crumpled from being stuffed in his pocket for so long, the wax seal on it was still intact: Hermes’ symbol.

— Here. He said I’d need this — Bellphegor said.

The woman’s eyes widened as she took the letter, opening it carefully while he began filling out the form.

---

Name?

A: Bellphegor Cranel

Age?

A: 12 years

Familia?

A: Hermes

Level?

A: 1

---

The rest of the form asked less significant questions, like his birthplace and whether he’d visited other cities before. It felt like a casual survey about his life.

Once finished, he turned back to the receptionist, who now wore an unreadable expression.

— I’m done, miss. Is that all? Can I go now? —

She nodded slowly, speaking hesitantly as she handed him a pass—a permit to show the Dungeon guards whenever he wished to enter.

— Yes, Lord Hermes’ letter served as sufficient proof, so… that’s all — she said, after handing him the pass.

Bellphegor nodded one last time and left, missing her attempt to call out to him as he exited the Guild.

---

“Whew, I thought I’d get caught… Thank the gods Hermes agreed to follow Grandpa’s plan.”

The truth was, our young protagonist… lied to the Guild. He had no real connection to the Hermes Familia beyond a slight acquaintance with the god.

Two weeks ago, after awakening his system for the first time, he had passed out from the pain, lying in bed unconscious for days. His grandfather, panicking, sought Hermes’ help to find one of the branches Alfia used to suppress her illness.

(Not that Bellphegor remembered the branch’s name, so don’t bother asking.)

The branch didn’t do much besides hasten his awakening, but Hermes’ involvement opened doors—chief among them, the opportunity to reach Orario two years before the anime’s events.

Of course, lying to the Guild was a small price to pay for his development, a plan firmly supported by Zeus and Hermes—two crafty old foxes who devised the simple yet effective ruse.

Pretending to be part of the Hermes Familia wouldn’t be too difficult with the god himself backing the act.

“Though… I’m still a bit annoyed Grandpa told Hermes about my Falna. Oh well, you can’t win them all.”

Pushing those thoughts aside, Bellphegor entered the inn where he would spend the night, deciding not to challenge the Dungeon on his first day in Orario.

“It feels a little rude for some reason.”