The silence in the dusty basement was thick enough to cut.
Noah sat up slowly, shirt still off, watching the soft blue glow on his back fade. Hestia stared at him with the same expression someone might wear after witnessing a miracle—or maybe a glitch in the system.
"Noah," she said finally, her voice almost trembling, "you… already have stats."
He raised an eyebrow. "That weird?"
"Weird?! That's insane!" Hestia scrambled over, practically climbing onto his back to double-check the status board. "You just became my Familia like five seconds ago. New members always start with zeros!"
"I'm a quick learner?" Noah offered, smirking.
Her eyes narrowed. "This isn't funny. Your strength is already at 100. Endurance, too. And your agility and dexterity—wait… hold on."
She squinted at the section labeled [Skills], and her expression changed from surprise to absolute confusion.
"Noah… some of these skills are—are just blank. Like… I can't even read them."
"Maybe your divine Wi-Fi is lagging?"
"Stop joking!" she snapped. "This—this isn't normal."
But her voice didn't sound angry. It sounded like someone trying not to scream out of sheer excitement.
Noah stood and stretched, still shirtless. "So what does all this mean for me?"
"It means," Hestia said slowly, eyes still locked on his back, "you're already stronger than most rookie adventurers. And if I'm reading this right… your potential isn't just high. It's insane."
She reached out and traced a glowing line of his status with her finger.
"This skill… 'Fusion Warrior'? I've never even heard of it. But it's marked at level one. That means it's already awakened."
As soon as she said it, a cold, mechanical voice echoed in Noah's head again:
[Fusion Warrior: A skill of the Kevin Kaslana Template. Grants accelerated stat growth, fusion-based combat enhancement, and physical resistance.]
He smiled. "So… the system's working."
Hestia tilted her head. "System?"
Noah caught himself. "Uh. Nothing. Just… a weird internal voice. Maybe it's your blessing talking."
"Mhm." She didn't buy it.
Still, she looked at him with new eyes now—like someone who had stumbled upon a rare, priceless treasure hidden in plain sight. Which, in a way, he was.
"I can't believe it…" she whispered. "I finally have a Familia. And not just anyone. You."
Noah glanced at her. "You say that like it's a big deal."
"It is," she said, stepping closer. "You don't get it, do you? For weeks, I've been ignored. Laughed at. Everyone thinks I'm a joke. But now…"
She grinned, full of warmth and pride.
"Now I've got a child. And not just any child—a total cheat."
He blinked. "You're calling me a cheat?"
"A hundred percent!"
She threw her arms around him, giggling like a girl who'd just won the lottery.
Noah chuckled. "Careful. I'm still shirtless, you know."
"I know exactly what I'm doing," she mumbled into his chest.
Then she paused. "Wait. This means you need to earn money now."
"What, already?"
"You're my only member, and we're broke!"
Noah sighed. "So romantic."
Hestia reached into a nearby crate and pulled out an old, dusty handbook. "Here. This is the Adventurer's Starter Guide. Basic info on monsters, dungeon floors, all that."
He accepted it, flipping through the pages half-heartedly.
"Don't die," she added, her voice suddenly softer.
"I'm not planning on it."
"You say that now, but even strong rookies get overwhelmed. The Dungeon doesn't care how handsome you are."
"So you do think I'm handsome."
"NOAH!"
He laughed, tossing on his shirt again. "Alright, alright. I'll take it seriously."
As he moved to leave the room, she grabbed his sleeve.
"Noah… thank you. For choosing me."
He turned, flashing her a smile. "Thank you. For accepting me."
The door creaked shut behind him, and Hestia stood in the silence, one hand to her chest, feeling the rapid beat of her heart.
"...What a strange boy," she whispered. "But I've got a good feeling."