"Go... go home?"
Hearing this, Miko's face reddened again, instinctively thinking of her somewhat messy room at home, and the milk in the refrigerator that might have already expired.
Having the deity visit her ordinary home somehow felt a bit...
"Don't worry, I'm just going to take a look."
Phaethon saw through her thoughts again and chuckled.
"Incidentally, Hana should also learn a bit about the world we're about to visit, and the precautions for receiving blessings."
"Yes, yes!"
Hana nodded vigorously from the side, indicating she would definitely listen carefully.
The three no longer lingered, leaving this devastated battlefield.
Phaethon used a trace of power to erase the traces they had left, and slightly interfered with the surrounding magnetic field and ordinary people's perception, ensuring no one would immediately discover the anomaly here.
Then, guided by Miko, the three returned to the familiar residential area.
Passing through the somewhat narrow streets, they finally arrived in front of Miko's very ordinary-looking two-story house.
Taking a deep breath, Miko nervously opened the front door.
"I'm home..."
"Sister! You're finally back!"
A little boy who looked only seven or eight years old was the first to rush out from the living room—this was Miko's younger brother, Kyosuke.
Seeing his sister return safely, his face showed relieved expression, but then he grumbled somewhat dissatisfiedly:
"Sister, you really are something, going to a friend's house for the night without saying anything in advance, making Mom worry all night!"
"Sorry, Kyosuke..."
Miko quickly apologized, her heart filled with guilt.
At this time, a woman who looked very young and gentle, with some resemblance to Miko, also came out from the kitchen—this was their mother.
"Miko, it's good that you're back."
Seeing her daughter return safely, the mother finally put down her worried heart, showing a gentle smile on her face. "Don't do this again next time."
"Yes! I understand, Mom!" Miko nodded vigorously.
"Oh my, Hana came too?"
The mother noticed Hana following behind Miko and greeted her warmly, "Come in and sit down, have you eaten?"
"Hello, Auntie, I've already eaten!"
Hana quickly bowed in greeting, answering energetically!
However, when Miko's mother's gaze fell on the last person, namely Phaethon, she couldn't help but be stunned.
The young man before her had rare gray short hair, features so handsome he seemed to have stepped out of a painting.
More importantly, the indescribable mysterious aura emanating from him.
Made this housewife who was used to seeing ordinary people feel incredibly amazed and extraordinary.
"This person is...?"
The mother looked curiously at Miko.
"Ah... this person is..."
Miko fell into the dilemma of how to introduce him again—she couldn't directly say "This is a deity from another world, he just brought me back from saving two worlds," could she?
Just as she was stuttering, Phaethon took the initiative to step forward, with a polite and gentle smile on his face, bowing slightly:
"Hello, Auntie, nice to meet you. My name is Phaethon, I'm a friend Miko met through a special interest club.
I happened to be passing by this time, so I came along with Miko and the others."
He used a relatively acceptable reason to temporarily conceal his identity.
"Oh, oh, you're Miko's friend!"
Hearing this, Miko's mother had a moment of realization, her smile becoming even more enthusiastic.
"Please come in, please come in, don't stand at the door!"
Thus, Phaethon and Hana were warmly invited into the Yotsuya household.
Miko's home wasn't large, but it was kept clean and tidy, filled with warm family atmosphere.
Kyosuke curiously observed Phaethon, this friend of his sister's, while their mother prepared breakfast and refreshments for the guests.
Afterward, the three went to Miko's room.
After Miko instructed her family not to disturb them, Phaethon began educating Hana about the basics in the room.
"So by joining the deity's Familia, we can level up by fighting monsters like in a game, and become stronger and stronger?"
After hearing Phaethon's description of Orario, Hana's eyes sparkled with excitement.
"You could understand it that way, but the process is far more real and dangerous than games."
Phaethon reminded her: "The monsters in the dungeon aren't data, but real threats.
Every adventure requires thorough preparation, otherwise you could pay with your life at any time."
"Yes, yes! I understand!"
Hana nodded vigorously, not only unafraid but even more excited.
"Adventure is supposed to be dangerous and thrilling!"
Miko nodded silently from the side—having experienced the final battle in the Demon Slayer world, she had a deeper understanding of the word "danger."
"Since you already understand, let's go over now!"
Phaethon looked at the two girls and waved his hand.
The golden light gate opened in the air again, emanating the gentle glow connecting to another world.
"Well then, let's go."
Phaethon took the lead, stepping into the light gate.
Miko and Hana exchanged glances and smiled, following closely behind, stepping into the journey to Orario with anticipation.
Light flowed, space and time shifted.
When the three stepped on solid ground again, they had returned to the somewhat shabby Familia residence on the second floor in Orario's western district.
Butterfly Kanae, Butterfly Shinobu, and Kanao should still be resting on the first floor.
Now they were conveniently on the second floor, perfect for bestowing Hana with the Familia blessing.
"Hana, are you ready?"
Phaethon gestured for Hana to come to the bedside.
"Yes!"
Hana nodded vigorously, her face full of excitement and anticipation, without any of the shyness and nervousness Miko had initially shown.
Under her friend's company and gaze, she very straightforwardly removed her outer jacket.
Revealing her smooth back full of healthy vitality, lying openly on the bed.
That frankness and energy made even Miko beside her blush somewhat.
Phaethon looked at Hana's vitality-filled figure and nodded.
He condensed golden divine blood at his fingertip, just like when performing the ceremony for other members, precisely dropping it on her back.
"Hum——!"
Sacred golden patterns quickly spread across her back, finally settling into the unique mark of [Phaethon Familia].
Warm and vast power flowed into Hana's body, making her so comfortable she couldn't help but let out a sigh.
"Wow... it feels... like my body is full of power! So warm, so comfortable!"
With the ceremony complete, Hana eagerly put her clothes back on.
Taking the status panel paper Phaethon handed her, she looked at it curiously.
[Name] Hana
[Level] LV1
[Abilities]
Strength: I0
Endurance: I0
Dexterity: I0
Agility: I0
Magic: I0
[Magic] Healing: Objects affected by healing magic can slowly recover health.
[Skills] Vigorous Life Force: Compared to ordinary adventurers, possesses stronger life energy that can be converted into healing abilities.
"Healing? Vigorous Life Force?"
Hana looked at her panel, reading out somewhat puzzledly: "What does this mean?"
"Just as it literally says."
Phaethon explained with a smile: "You've awakened the magic [Healing], which can restore others' injuries.
And your skill [Vigorous Life Force] stems from your own powerful life energy.
This skill not only makes you more durable and faster-recovering than ordinary adventurers, but can also convert this life force into stronger healing effects."
Phaethon looked at Hana, his eyes full of affirmation: "Simply put, Hana, you're naturally a powerful healer, what we commonly call a 'support.'"