A low groan escaped Hachiman's lips as consciousness slowly returned, pulling him from an abyss of exhausted darkness. Where was he? The last thing he remembered was the blinding explosion that consumed the Infant Dragon, followed by searing pain and the ground rushing up to meet him. He opened his eyes with effort. The ceiling above was unfamiliar, simple but clean. He was lying on a soft bed, covered by a light sheet. The faint smell of medicinal herbs hung in the air. An infirmary, perhaps? Or a room in some Familia's headquarters?
His entire body ached, a deep, throbbing pain that seemed to resonate in his bones, an echo of the brutal battle and the overwhelming power that had surged through him. His ribs, in particular, protested with every breath. But, surprisingly, the pain wasn't unbearable as he would expect after being hit by a Level 2 monster. It was manageable, like the worst muscle hangover after an inhuman workout. 'Someone must have used high-quality potions... or healing magic,' he concluded.
Turning his head carefully on the soft pillow, he saw two figures sitting in armchairs beside the bed, both dozing in uncomfortable positions. Aqua was there, her light blue party dress wrinkled, her head slumped onto her shoulder, a thread of drool almost escaping the corner of her mouth. And, to his renewed surprise, Hephaestus was there too. The Goddess of the Forge, normally a figure of authority and control, looked vulnerable in sleep, her head resting on her hand, her characteristic dark leather eyepatch firmly in place over her right eye, while her left remained closed. They had been watching over him. The realization brought a mixture of warmth and embarrassment.
He tried to shift minimally in bed, seeking a less painful position. The slight movement, the subtle creak of the bed, was enough. Aqua's eyes snapped open instantly, focusing on him. A second of sleepy confusion was replaced by explosive relief.
"HACHIMAN!" she screamed, jumping from the chair and throwing herself onto him before he could react, enveloping him in a tight, desperate hug. "You finally woke up! Idiot! Idiot! I thought you were dead! You weren't moving! There was so much blood! Waaaaah!" The ever-ready tears began to flow freely as she squeezed him, oblivious to the silent protests of his ribs.
Aqua's cry woke Hephaestus, who stood up quickly, sleepiness vanishing from her visible eye, replaced by intense concern. She approached the bed, her hands hovering over Hachiman, unsure where to touch. "Hachiman-kun! Thank the heavens... How are you feeling? Don't move too much!" Her voice, usually calm and controlled, was laden with genuine anxiety.
"I-I'm... fine..." Hachiman managed to say, gently trying to push Aqua away so he could breathe. "Just... a little sore. Seriously." He forced a smile. "I think I've been worse."
"Worse?! You faced an Infant Dragon alone! And then fainted!" Aqua retorted, sniffling, but loosening her possessive grip. "We were so worried!"
Hephaestus nodded, relief beginning to soften her features. "We used some high-quality potions from my Familia as soon as the Ganesha Patrol brought you here. Your ribs were broken and there was internal bleeding, but it seems your vitality is exceptionally high. You recovered faster than we expected." She assessed him with a look that was part relief, part reprimand. "That was an incredibly dangerous thing to do."
"I know. But... you were in danger," Hachiman mumbled, looking away, feeling strangely shy under her intense gaze.
Hephaestus sighed, and the reprimand in her eyes faded, replaced by something softer, almost tender. She moved closer, her hand finding his on the sheet for an instant before pulling back as if burned. She then did something that left Hachiman completely paralyzed. Leaning down, she placed a light, hesitant kiss on his cheek. The contact was quick, but the warmth of the gesture seemed to set Hachiman's face on fire.
"Thank you," Hephaestus whispered, her voice low and thick with emotion. Her visible eye shone. "For protecting me. For protecting Aqua-san. It was... it was very noble."
Hachiman just lay there, mute, his heart pounding uncontrollably, trying to process the kiss from the Goddess of the Forge. Beside him, Aqua watched the scene with wide eyes. A dangerous glint appeared in her gaze – a mixture of possessive jealousy and the childish fear of losing the only person who was truly hers in this strange world. She huffed and crossed her arms, glaring daggers at Hephaestus.
Noticing the suddenly charged atmosphere (or perhaps just embarrassed by her own actions), Hephaestus straightened up abruptly, her face flushed. "I-I... I'll get you some fresh water!" she said quickly, turning and hastily leaving the room.
The ensuing silence was broken by Tsubaki's noisy arrival. "He's awake! Knew the brat was tough!" the Amazon captain burst into the room with a bang and an ear-to-ear grin. Seeing Hachiman sitting up in bed, she rushed forward and enveloped him in one of her characteristic crushing hugs. "Good job yesterday, Hachiman! You kicked that overgrown lizard's butt!"
"Tsubaki-san... my ribs..." Hachiman groaned, feeling the pain return full force.
"Oops! Sorry!" she released him immediately, laughing. "But seriously, kid, you're famous! 'The Black-Armored Novice Who Defeated the Monsterphilia Dragon'! It's all anyone's been talking about in the city since yesterday! Defeating a Level 2 monster while being Level 1? You became a legend overnight!"
'Famous? Legend? Oh, great...' Hachiman thought desperately. 'This is going to attract all sorts of unwanted attention. Freya, Loki... other curious or envious adventurers... Goodbye, my quiet life.' The prospect was terrifying.
It was at that moment that Hephaestus returned, carrying an elegant dark wooden box, not a glass of water. She had regained her composure, though she still avoided Hachiman's direct gaze. Tsubaki grinned upon seeing the box, clearly knowing what it was.
"Hachiman-kun," Hephaestus began, carefully placing the box on the bed. "Your courage yesterday was exceptional. As a token of gratitude for protecting Aqua-san and myself... and as an investment in your potential... I made this for you."
She opened the box. Hachiman's (and Aqua's) eyes widened. Inside, nestled on a bed of crimson silk, was a complete suit of armor, similar in design to the one he already wore, but visibly superior in every aspect. The bluish-black metal seemed to absorb light, the lines were more refined, and it radiated a subtle aura of contained power. It was a piece of functional, lethal beauty.
"It's... special armor," Hephaestus explained, her voice filled with professional pride. "Made with an alloy I developed, combining adamantite, orichalcum, and other rare metals, and imbued with complex enchantments. Most importantly, it possesses a 'growth factor'. It is linked to you now. As your Falna evolves, as you grow stronger, the armor will adapt, grow in defensive power, and perhaps even reveal new properties. It will always be suitable for your level."
Hachiman touched the cool metal of the armor, feeling the latent energy within it. 'Growth factor... adaptable... This is...' The connection was instantaneous. 'A living weapon. Like the Hestia Knife!' He vividly remembered Hestia begging Hephaestus at the party in the original story. 'So she really made the knife for Bell... and she made this for me? This is... insane.' The value of such an item was incalculable.
"Chief, you really outdid yourself!" exclaimed Tsubaki, admiring the armor. She turned to Hachiman with a mischievous grin. "Lucky kid! First gets a kiss from the Chief, then unique armor probably worth over 200 million Valis! You've definitely stolen her heart!"
Two hundred million. A kiss. Armor that grew with him. Sudden fame. Hachiman looked at the masterpiece in the box, at Hephaestus's blushing face, at Tsubaki's amused smile, at Aqua's wide and perhaps slightly suspicious eyes. He felt his head spin again, and this time, it wasn't just from the pain. His life in Orario had just taken another completely unexpected and dizzying turn.