Recovery, and Spring

"A king's ruby... something only a dwarf king could obtain, or a noble could get by shelling out a fortune... This ring is at least a hundred years old. See the year engraved on the inside?"

She spent the whole day chattering nonstop about the ring I'd given her. As a dwarf woman, receiving this ring along with a confession meant there was no doubt the man truly loved her with all his heart. Dwarves, once they fell in love, stayed together until the forge fire died out—until death did them part. It was a precious item that made such a bond all the more special. Larirure Larirarion, perched on my lap, rubbed the ringed hand I'd slipped it onto.

From the outside, we probably looked like a disgustingly lovey-dovey couple. In my old world, I'd look like a pervert dressing a girl up in magical girl cosplay and hugging her tight.

"We'll take our time with the wedding... Yeah, kids are definitely an issue. I was kinda worried, you know? Would anyone really want a woman like me? I confessed thinking whatever happens, happens, never dreamed you'd say yes. Hell, I'm so happy I feel like I couldn't have met any other guy but you, Radamu."

"I'm thrilled a beauty confessed to me too."

"Flatter me all you want, sis—I've already given you everything! Can't give more!"

We bantered like that—Everything I own is yours already!—but she kept our finances strictly separate. I burned through consumables like crazy, so it made sense for Larirure Larirarion to handle the money. Po'runga just grumbled that rings and junk got in the way of punching, said a male's seed was plenty for a marriage, and didn't show much greed.

I'd probably never fully grasp this world's morals. Retirement meant farming and raising a big family, as if it were the most natural thing. Some places had cutting-edge tech, others were wild and free. The four heroes must've pioneered with their wildly different personalities. Honestly, it was a miracle the place functioned at all.

Captain Eagle had three digits' worth of wives, one lost his lover and gave up sex, another might not even like women (debatable), and one left kids behind. ...Maybe the goddess was cheering, Go forth and repopulate, my followers!

'Nah, I've already done plenty.' The cheerful goddess would probably just shove us along with a Handle your responsibilities!

"Mm, best not get caught for now. Heroes attract enemies targeting their loved ones—it's common."

"I do need to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠get stronger."

Nex Hades Mortis nodded at Larirure Larirarion's words, agreeing they were spot on. But you weren't born at the top; eventually, you'd hit a growth wall. She said we'd need at least Master rank, and Larirure Larirarion smacked her forehead, sighing that at her age, Master? No way, shaking her head.

"Nah, with a human hero husband now, Master should be easier... There's over a hundred at minimum, right?"

"Exactly. The only dwarf with a hero husband is you, Larirure Larirarion."

With the Adventurer's Union and All Gods Temple hunting Maou candidates, we plotted steady growth. Priority one: recover without pushing too hard.

The Union's top potions and Nex Hades Mortis's healing cut our two-month timeline to one. If we took it easy, even shorter. Lemon Hyacinth and I hunkered down—no wandering into incidents. We holed up studying for C-rank promotion.

"Hyaa—!"

Thud-wham.

Leona Violet Reinhardt hustled quests with Po'runga to fill basic ranks. Pure grit firing ki blasts looked like level-up shockwaves from punches now, or single strikes landing three hits. Her Sage Heavenly Divine Art grew daily, shifting genres. Hand-chops launching slashes bisected giant killer slugs.

Lemon Hyacinth and I deflated hearing that. One of us powered up via [Small Polymorph] recoil management and minor buffs as a weirdo hero; the other grinded desperately through hardship... but innate talent outshone us upper species.

"Quit whining!"

"Yeah, yeah♪ Come on, Radamu—energy drink. Chug it, power up! Gotta cut sleep too, right?"

Larirure Larirarion headbanded up, grinding teeth over books. Riko massaged shoulders, cheering with drinks. Lemon Hyacinth glanced back—Where's mine?—but got ignored coolly.

Circe's arm quest: solved. No extra pay demanded. Sea witches were all hero allies now; island girls sent love letters saying take us anytime, plus injury gifts. Every letter begged: Come meet Circe—we barely stopped her visiting to thank you personally.

"To Circe, you're the sudden hero, right? Slayed an Evil God for a stranger, regrew her arms, gifted irreplaceable divine elixir. You've hooked her. Pirate hero who stole the sea witches' hearts everyone craves. Gonna take responsibility?"

"Riko, don't force it..."

"Tch, but she's not hiding it, so opportunity's there? Reply for sure?"

Circe's letters—all runes—demanded replies. Riko scowled: lifelong servant, but half the words stumped her; she guessed from expressions/nuance. Knew magic runes, not casual ones. Circe never noticed—keep secret. Shocking, licked ice cream casually.

Fine witch-boy... Luckily readable; Riko's rune books let me reply normally.

Family ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠greetings from the island, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Radamu fruit packaged. Riko refined/diluted periodic fruits for party; too valuable/tricky to sell, she researched. Not fancier fruits—my growth made them ironically pricier headaches. Party elixirs only.

Comprehensive stats: 158. Huge from start. [Small Polymorph] influence creeping... 70% [Daily Bonus]. 37 mint choco tickets stacked. Ate some spare-time, still plenty.

'Hmmm...'

Told party I'm hero, briefed Union leader on Default Kingdom, Nex Hades Mortis on goddess. ...Odd reaction: tilted head at Fate Goddess, Such a goddess exists? Like All Gods Temple had no Fate Goddess. Unsettling.

...What had she sacrificed for the tilted scales? But she'd probably peace-sign: I'm an amazing goddess, right? No real worry.

'Time to use 'em... Rank-up tickets!'

Five whole... plus choice one! Jackpot... Goddess spoils—what's left?

Some fantasies neglect/mock heroes, abandon 'em, kill post-Maou. Trust Union impressive: trusted world-flippers' consciences, no controls. Maybe better.

'Let's go!'

Ripped five rank-up tickets. Trust... Spin, fate roulette! Roulette god, lend strength!

'Useless...!' No casino trips... What even for?!

Hm... "Touch ground" anywhere counts? Nice. Pick up tossed junk anywhere. Goddess artifact case haunted—lava-sunk in mine, gave up.

Only bottom passive useful. Beg Riko seriously for cosplay. She refused before—witch pride, seductress outfits only—but 80% boost? Oh well, fine. I'd be party leader forcing male magical girl cosplay. 'Human dignity where?!' Wanna cry.

'......' Usable? Kill Maou candidates. ...Yeah. Goddess, if Maou needed, I'll be it. Best hero inheriting Maou power! ...Power fantasy twist possible. Max LV usable? Tempting.

'...O...' Plucked pot leaf, activated. Tree stick born. No material thought—round-shaped. Wooden swords? Manga protagonist vibes... Superior version. Set log aside, pulled choice ticket.

Predestined target.

Main breadwinner skill. Constellation spiteful—Die exploding!—but useful. Better than suicide star. Pride in steady gains; closed book.

No party name yet—we all aimed C-rank exam. Po'runga thrilled: official enlistment. Noksu meat party for passers—subtle threat: fail, no food. Shoved us in.

C-rank exam... Brutal. CSAT vibes. [Monster Countermeasures], [Injury Treatments], [Emergency Protocols], [Class Pros/Cons], [Trust Union Laws], [Union Rules]... Insanely lethal. Library crowds made sense. Others grim too. Cheating allowed if unseen.

Result: All C-rank! Party upgrade needed more... Exhausted, later.

And spring came. Retargeted Minerva Academy enrollment. Lemon Hyacinth recoiled at study fever... Bold re-exam.

Long year... Much happened. Now, blindfolded goblin win! Fell again.

"...Didn't know human written waiver one-time-per-person..."

Even Noksu blind-sided. No goblin glimpse—math pummeled, failed threshold. Retaker hero...! Next year, Minerva...!!