Terraria, a game world teeming with hidden treasures and lurking dangers.
But the addition of "Calamity" to its name...
That signals an entirely different level of challenge.
Both in terms of the sheer power of its inhabitants and the omnipresent sense of peril.
They dwarf the original Terraria world by a significant margin.
"The first world I'm traversing to is Terraria with the Calamity mod installed. Is that really the most prudent choice for a first jump?"
After a moment of internal debate, Kevin decided he could live with it.
At least it wasn't some alternate Terra bearing a ridiculously "holy" moniker.
And in a strange, almost ironic way...
The world of Terraria, even in its Calamity-ridden state, held a certain appeal for Kevin, a fledgling adventurer in his own right!
Further details about the world of Terraria began to populate his thoughts.
[Traversable World: Terraria - Calamity]
This world operates under the following rules:
[①: The time flow rate ratio with the main world is 2:1]
[②: Upon death in this world, you will automatically be resurrected in the main world]
[③: The death penalty is a 1-day ban from entering that world]
[④: You will receive a pioneering reward upon your first entry into this world]
[⑤: Exploring a world may lead to irreversible changes within that world]
These concise lines of rules conveyed a surprising amount of crucial information.
Assuming the "Danmachi" world was designated as the primary world,
spending two full days immersed in Terraria would only equate to a single day passing in the Overworld!
Furthermore, the concept of death held a significantly reduced sting, as resurrection was an inherent mechanic within Terraria itself.
The sole penalty for succumbing to its dangers was a temporary inability to explore its blocky landscapes for a single day.
This essentially granted Kevin a remarkable degree of freedom to experiment, to push his limits, and even to die without permanent consequence in Terraria—though, naturally, actively avoiding death remained the more sensible objective.
However, considering Terraria's notorious reputation for being absolutely riddled with countless traps and intricate mechanisms that were often incredibly difficult to anticipate,
Kevin wasn't exactly brimming with optimism about his upcoming land reclamation endeavor.
"There are also rewards for pioneering new land... A strong urge to just jump into the world of Terraria right now is definitely building."
Kevin subtly glanced at the various passersby on the Orario street, adorned in their diverse adventuring attire and protective gear, carefully suppressing his burgeoning excitement.
Performing any sort of overt magical display in public was definitely out of the question in this city.
After all, this was Orario, a labyrinthine metropolis directly favored and observed by the gods themselves.
It was no exaggeration to say that every single inch of land here fell under the watchful eyes of the divine.
Maintaining a low profile was undoubtedly the wisest course of action.
"Alright, first things first... gotta go feed Hestia."
Balancing the two small bags of tater tots in his hand, Kevin began his familiar trek towards the dilapidated, abandoned church.
After all, the simple pleasure of fried potatoes was significantly diminished once they lost their warmth.
...
"Grandpa Hestia--"
"Woohoo! Kevin, you're finally here!"
The instant he pushed the creaky door open, Kevin was met with a white blur rocketing towards him.
The petite loli goddess, her waist-length black hair bouncing in two playful ponytails, pressed her cherubic face against Kevin's chest as if he were her long-lost savior.
"That unmistakable scent... it's my beloved tater tots!"
"That's right."
Kevin placed the still-warm paper bags on the dusty table and gently but firmly grasped Hestia's collar.
"Goddess, please try to exhibit a modicum of decorum. At the very least, wash your hands before you start eating."
"But I'm already so incredibly hungry!"
Hestia finally tore her wide, pleading eyes away from the tempting aroma of the fried potato balls and looked up at Kevin.
Her youthful face contorted into a pitiful expression that was genuinely quite disarming.
Had they not spent the better part of several years together, even Kevin might have been momentarily swayed.
The loli goddess before him was, in reality, a remarkably lazy and perpetually gluttonous individual who freely indulged in the hospitality of her close friend's household, leading a life of utter idleness in the bustling city of Orario, much like a well-fed parasite.
Even Hephaestus, her long-suffering close friend, was often rendered speechless by her outrageous antics.
Only Kevin, in his own quiet way, still diligently remembered to provide Hestia with her daily sustenance.
"Alright, but make absolutely sure you clean up after yourself once you're done."
Kevin cast a weary glance at the chaotic assortment of books haphazardly scattered across the worn sofa and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"These books aren't cheap, you know. Last time when I returned one to the library, they found oil stains all over the pages. I almost had to shell out a considerable sum for the damages."
"Hey hey hey…"
Hearing Kevin's gentle but firm reprimand, Hestia could only offer an awkward yet somewhat polite smile.
But then, as if an invisible switch had been flipped, her attention snapped back to Kevin, her nose twitching like a puppy catching the scent of its favorite treat.
"That distinct aura... it's 'God's Grace'!"
"Has Hephaestus finally lost all patience and resorted to attacking you?"
No sooner had the words left her lips than Kevin's hand-knife lightly but deliberately tapped the forehead of the loli goddess.
"It's perfectly normal for me to join Lady Hephaestus's Familia. Please refrain from phrasing it in such a bizarre manner."
"I see."
After a brief moment of contemplation, Hestia suddenly adopted a dramatically forlorn expression and let out a theatrical sigh.
"Between me and her... you ultimately chose Hephaestus? My heart aches with a profound sorrow..."
But Kevin remained entirely unimpressed by her overacting and merely shot her a dry look from the corner of his eye.
"I honestly can't fathom why I would ever consider joining the Familia of Lady Hestia, who hasn't successfully recruited a single member since her descent to the Lower World and who spends her days in Orario in a state of utter indolence, relying entirely on the generosity of her friends for her daily needs."
The loli goddess's face instantly deflated, resembling a frost-bitten eggplant.
"Even if there's some truth to that, there's really no need to be quite so brutally honest about it..."
"Besides," Hestia declared with mock righteousness, already happily munching on the tater tots Kevin was now offering her, "I don't need a Familia or anything like that."
"You are more than enough for me!"
Watching the loli goddess happily devour the fried potato balls like a frantic squirrel, Kevin couldn't help but mutter under his breath.
"...I consistently get the distinct feeling that I'm raising a very, very peculiar pet."
"What did you say?"
"Nothing of consequence... Goddess, please try not to speak with your mouth full. It's rather unladylike."
After polishing off both portions of tater tots in what seemed like the blink of an eye,
Hestia patted her surprisingly flat stomach, which showed absolutely no sign of recent overindulgence, with a satisfied sigh and let out a small, contented burp.
"Ah... I feel like I'm finally among the living again."
"It would be absolutely perfect if there was a tall glass of ice-cold juice at this very moment."
Kevin simply shrugged, turned on his heel, and walked towards the exit.
"Next time I come by, I'll make sure to stop by the Hostess of Fertility first."
Upon hearing Kevin's reply, Hestia's face initially brightened with anticipation.
But then, a soft, plaintive whine escaped her lips.
"Hey... are you leaving already?"
"Mm-hmm."
Kevin paused, nodded briefly, and explained his intentions.
"Lady Hephaestus has granted me a few days off so that I can familiarize myself with my new role as an adventurer and visit places like the guild and the Dungeon."
"After that, I'll carefully consider whether to remain primarily with the Familia as a blacksmith or to dedicate myself to exploring the Labyrinth."
"Ah, that's right…"
Seeing Hestia's momentarily stunned expression, Kevin added a reassuring afterthought.
"Of course, I'll still make sure to come by here at this time every single day."
In truth, Hestia wasn't genuinely worried about being abandoned.
Her mind was more preoccupied with the wistful thought that if Kevin were a member of her own Familia...
She could personally bestow upon him the divine blessing of God's Grace, meticulously update his ability values, and witness his growth firsthand, step by painstaking step.
Unfortunately, as things stood, all she could do was offer herself silent encouragement in the quiet confines of her own heart.
"Is there anything... Is there anything at all that I can possibly do for him?"
When Hestia found herself alone once more within the quiet solitude of the abandoned church, she flopped back onto the worn sofa, softly murmuring her contemplative thoughts aloud.
Lost in her own world, the loli goddess's cheeks suddenly flushed a delicate pink, and she quickly rolled over, burying her face in the soft embrace of a nearby pillow.
"This is far, far too embarrassing even to think about!"
"But..."
At precisely the same moment,
Kevin remained blissfully unaware of the internal turmoil and burgeoning feelings that awaited him the next time he came to deliver her daily meal.
Finally, he reached the familiar sanctuary of his own small room, his mind already beginning to drift towards the blocky, pixelated, and undoubtedly chaotic world of Terraria.