The first rays of dawn painted streaks of pale gold across the cramped floor of the Hearth Manor's main room, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air and the utterly exhausted form of Bell Cranel slumped on the worn couch.
Dark circles like bruises underscored his crimson eyes, testament to a night utterly devoid of sleep. The source of his torment sat nearby, two figures radiating residual tension: Hestia, pouting on a stool, and Lili, arms crossed, glowering from her perch on a crate.
"...and even if such a thing were possible," Hestia sniffed, her voice still thick with the lingering emotion of hours past, "which it isn't, because Divine Beings and mortals simply can't... the audacity to suggest I wouldn't be the primary caregiver!" She shot a venomous look at Lili.
"Primary caregiver? Hah!" Lili scoffed, her voice raspy from arguing. "Lili was merely pointing out the logistical impracticalities, Goddess! Who would manage the Familia funds? Who would ensure the child had practical survival skills, not just divine coddling? And the cost of diapers alone on a minor Familia budget—"
"ENOUGH!" Bell's voice, usually bright, was a ragged croak. He pressed the heels of his hands against his temples as if trying to physically push the absurdity out. "Children? Children?! Gods can't have children with mortals! That's... that's just... fundamental!" He saw Hestia flinch as if struck, the reminder of her inherent limitation hitting her anew.
"And wives?" He let out a hollow, humorless laugh that bordered on hysterical. "A wife? Do either of you realize how utterly impossible that is? I'd be lucky to survive the next day in the Dungeon, let alone... let alone get a kiss!" The sheer ridiculousness of the entire night's "discussion" – fueled by exhaustion, jealousy, and pure, unadulterated nonsense – crashed over him again.
He lurched to his feet, swaying slightly. "I... I need air. And I have my daily quest. System doesn't care if I got sleep." His voice was flat, drained.
"Bell, wait!" Hestia scrambled off her stool, her earlier pique replaced by sudden concern as she truly saw the state of him. She caught his arm gently. "I'm... I'm sorry. We... I lost track. Are you alright? How... how was the Dungeon yesterday? You were gone a long time." Lili leaned forward, her expression shifting from annoyance to wary curiosity.
Bell stopped, turning slowly. A shadow deeper than mere exhaustion passed over his face. He met Hestia's eyes, his own haunted. "Alright?" He gave another short, bitter laugh. "Hestia-sama... if there was a Hell beneath the Dungeon, I think I visited it and clawed my way back out."
Hestia flinched "That Bad"
"Yes, I had to fight a three headed Cerberus as size of a Huge building it was luck for me to finish; I almost died in the process, I proves I am still weak" Bell says with frustration
Hestia quickly jumps from the bed and embraces Bell giving a tight hug bell returns it.
"You're not weak bell you never were; you have a big strong heart. You have a spark that no mortal in Genkai can muster. The proof that you are alive standing here is a testament to your will" Hestia looks up with a loving Gaze
Bell ran a trembling hand through his disheveled white hair. "Cerberus. Middle Floors. It... it wasn't normal. Faster. Meaner. I barely..." He trailed off, the memory raw. "But... I beat it. And... I still didn't Level Up."
He didn't wait for their stunned gasps. Reaching into his tunic, he pulled out the slightly crumpled parchment of his Status update and thrust it towards Hestia. Lili crowded close, peering over the Goddess's shoulder.
Name: Bell Cranel
Level [2]
Job: None
Title: None
Hp: 3545
Mp:3490
{STR} H-101-A 899
{VIT} H-123 – S 998
{DEX} H-190 – S-989
{AGI} I-97 – A-878
{MAG}H-164 – SS-1008
{SEN} I-20 – B-739
[Skills]
-Longevity-All diseases, poisons and status effects are healed and sleeping exponentially increases regeneration ability.
-Sprint- Mana Cost 5(+1/Minute) Activates to increase your movement speed by 30%. Costs 1 mana per minute to maintain. "Your running has strengthened your legs".
-Unyielding Spirit- When below 30 % HP, all damage received is reduced by 50 %. "You have an unyielding spirit".
Rasaka's Armored Scales-Physical damage reduced by 20%
Magic:
Umbra Mortis
Brilliant Light
Hestia's eyes scanned the familiar format, then widened impossibly. "Wha...?" she breathed. Lili let out a choked squeak.
"Strength... Endurance... Dexterity... Agility... Magic..." Hestia whispered each stat line, her voice rising with disbelief. "Bell... these... these are... A rank? S?! Across the board?! B-but... this magnitude... adventurers train for years to achieve gains like this! You... you did this in half a day? After... after fighting a Cerberus?!" She looked up at him, her face a mask of astonishment and dawning apprehension. "This isn't just fast, Bell. This is... abnormal."
"Tell me about it," Bell muttered, rubbing his eyes. "It felt... wrong. Brutal. Like the Dungeon itself was trying to crush me." He took a shaky breath.
He pulled his arm gently from Hestia's grasp and stumbled towards the door, leaving the two females staring after him, the absurd argument completely forgotten, replaced by the chilling reality of Bell's impossible growth and the unspoken dread hanging over them.
"Bell before you go I had a talk with Hephaestus and she would like your decision with our situation we are facing" Hestia says with eager anticipation as she fiddles with her finger looking down.
Bell slowly turns and looks over Hestia.
"Hestia what did you do?" Bell looks a bit nervous himself
"Nothing absolutely Nothing! I only said Feya was chasing after us! And we need an out that's all! " Hestia throws her arms around her hairs dangling around.
Bell narrows his eyes "That's all?"
"U-m I- might have said about your Insight skills detect that syr from the Hostess is Freya" Hestia closes her eyes in pain.
Bell runs his hand through his face "God Damit Hestia! What were you thinking!"
"I- wanted to help okay! Seeing you going to the dungeon day by day with you coming battered breaks my heart not to mention having stress of Freya chasing you does not help! At all" Hestia puts her hand on her waist looks bell with a fierce look.
"That's why I found a place where even Freya would hesitate to go! "Hestia gives a triumphet smile
Bell gives a shocked look where even Freya Hesitates? Where would that be?
Lili interjects in the conversation.
"Is it the Western Empire from what Lili heard that is not a Good place to go, Lili has Hear Horror stories from that place" Lili gives a nervous look as he gives a thinking pose.
"No, you Shrimp what do you Know about Altena!" Hestia lashes out to Lili.
Bell gives a confused expression "Altena Last I heard it is a place for Scholars who research magic go there if I am right" Bell thinks about the time Gramps was showing the map.
"Exactly and one of my close friends from tenkai who is another virgin Goddess lives there with Two of Us there, even if Freya uses her charm, it would be useless against us.
Lili shudders on spot" Lili heard about it the charm of Goddess of Love is frightening; there are rumors about nations destroying itself from inside because of it"
Bell and Hestia turns around in shock "What do you mean by that!"
"Lili has heard some nasty rumors from the rival of freya familia Ishtar-sama but The White and Black fairy Heidin Selland and Hogni Raganar was King of two nation of an elf Kingdom in the south that constantly warred eachother. They said one day the nation was mysteriously destroyed with only two Kings following Lady Freya"
"Some say it was Lady Freya who started the war to obtain the two Kings of the nations"
A deep chill went down both Bell and Hestias spine if Freya can do that then what would she do here.
"Lili also heard the same thing happened a year ago at Ifsaran"
Hestia and Bell looks at each other one though gone through both their head.
Freya is Crazy.
Bell gives a huge gulp and asks Hestia" What were you talking about talking with Lady Hephaestus"
Hestia takes a napkin with a shaking hand brushing the sweat of her forehead.
"Let's sit down and calm our nerves, I'll fill you up on our talk that went on"
The air in Hephaestus's private forge office was thick with the scent of ozone and hot metal, a stark contrast to the tense silence. Hephaestus sat behind her cluttered desk, meticulously polishing a delicate gear mechanism. The quiet was shattered by the sound of the door sliding open and then a soft thump.
She looked up, her single visible eye widening slightly in surprise. Hestia was on the floor, forehead pressed to the cool stone in a perfect, desperate Dogeza.
"Hephaestus," Hestia's voice was muffled but thick with emotion. "Please. I... I need your help. An alliance. A true one. My Familia... Bell... we're in danger. Terrible danger."
Hephaestus set down the gear slowly. Her initial flicker of surprise hardened into weary skepticism. She leaned back in her chair, the leather creaking. "An alliance, Hestia?" Her voice was low, calm, but held an edge like tempered steel.
"After barely a year descended? After the spectacle you dragged me into with your living arrangements " She shook her head, a tight, humorless smile twitching at the corner of her mouth. "No. Absolutely not. Fuck no."
Hestia flinched but didn't raise her head.
"Hestia," Hephaestus continued, her tone turning icy. "I saw what happened to Hera. I saw how Freya dismantled her Familia, piece by piece, until nothing was left but ashes and scattered children.
A takeover, executed with chilling precision, masked as misfortune and rivalry. You think I would willingly rope myself and my children into that kind of viper's nest? Risk everything I've built here?" She slammed her fist lightly on the desk, making tools rattle.
"Not even for you, little Goddess. Especially not knowing how deep Freya's claws might already be in whatever mess you've found."
Hephaestus sighed, the anger momentarily replaced by profound exhaustion. She pushed her eyepatch up slightly and rubbed the bridge of her nose beneath it.
"By the forge, Hestia. You haven't even been down a year, and you're already tangled in world-ending situtations? What happened?"
Hestia finally raised her head, her eyes pleading. "Hephaestus... I... I can't tell you everything. But I can tell you how we found out who is targeting Bell. Specifically."
"Specifics are good," Hephaestus said dryly, though her gaze was sharp. "How do you know? Gut feeling? Divine intuition? Please tell me it's more than that."
Hestia swallowed hard, her knuckles white where she gripped the floor. "Bell... Bell has a Skill."
Hephaestus raised an eyebrow. "Most adventurers do."
"This one... it lets him detect lies. And... see through illusions. Disguises. Like... like seeing a God's true nature beneath their Arcanum."
Hephaestus froze. Her visible eye locked onto Hestia's with laser intensity. The implications were staggering. "Go on," she whispered, her voice suddenly tight.
"And..." Hestia took a shuddering breath, the name tasting like ash. "Syr... Syr Flova. At the Hostess of Fertility. Bell's Skill... it revealed her. She is Freya."
The silence that followed was deafening. Hephaestus didn't move. She didn't blink. The color drained slowly from her face, leaving her ashen.
Her hand, still resting on the bridge of her nose, began to tremble slightly. Finally, with a slow, almost boneless motion, she slid sideways out of her chair and slumped onto the floor, her back against the desk leg.
She stared blankly ahead, not seeing the forge, not seeing Hestia.
"Oh, you foolish, foolish child," she breathed, the words barely audible.
"You utter, naive..." She trailed off, running a trembling hand over her face. "Ignorance was bliss, Hestia. Bliss. I was much better off not knowing that."
Hephaestus sat there for a long moment, the only sound her ragged breathing and the distant clang of hammers from the forge below.
Finally, she pushed herself up with effort, leaning heavily on the desk. Her expression was grim, etched with deep lines of worry.
"Alright," she said, her voice regaining some of its steel, though laced with resignation. "Alright. Knowing changes nothing about my refusal for an alliance – that's suicide.
But... knowing that..." She met Hestia's desperate gaze.
"You need to disappear. Now. Tonight or soon in a few days. Get out of Orario. Go to ground for weeks, months. Freya won't make a direct move immediately; she savors the hunt.
But she will use others. Poison whispers in Ganesha's ear, a 'misplaced' Guild directive, a 'coincidental' monster outbreak near your home, pressure from using different familia if they sense weakness... she'll orchestrate your ruin from the shadows and step in to 'claim' Bell once you're broken. She won't dirty her own hands until the end."
Hestia's shoulders slumped further. "But... where? How?"
"There's one thing I can do," Hephaestus stated, her mind clearly racing. "I can provide a carriage. Discreet. Fast. Stocked with enough funds to get you far away and keep you hidden.
You change your appearances – hair dye, different clothes, maybe even a simple illusion charm using a magic item if I can scrounge one. New identities. You head north."
"North?" Hestia echoed, a flicker of confusion amidst the despair.
"Altena," Hephaestus confirmed. "The fortress city. Athena is there."
"Athena!" Hestia gasped, a spark igniting in her eyes for the first time. "She's in Altena?"
"Yes," Hephaestus nodded. "Compared to Ares she is Trying to turn Altenas lumbering brutes into something resembling actual soldiers with tactics and mage support. A fool's errand, but it means she's there.
Freya is reckless, but she's not insane. Sieging Altena? Its magical defenses are legendary – they'd shred her lower-level adventurers and give even her elites a brutal fight.
Ottar himself might hesitate before the new generation of mana cannons, they've mounted on the walls – built specifically to give the One-Eyed Black Dragon pause, if it ever wakes cranky.
And crucially..." Hephaestus leaned forward. "Two Virgin Goddesses of significant authority, both associated with strategy and defense, residing together? Freya's Charm is potent, but breaching that combined divine aura? It would be incredibly difficult, risky, and blatant. It might just be the shield you need."
Hestia scrambled to her knees, hope warring with fear on her face. "Altena... Athena... Hephaestus, it... it might work!"
"It's the only thing that might work right now," Hephaestus corrected sternly. "But it's not a guarantee, Hestia. It's buying time. Precious, dangerous time.
" She stood up fully, her imposing presence filling the small office. "I'll make the arrangements.
The carriage will be ready by midnight at the North Gate if you accept the proposal, third abandoned warehouse on the wharf lane. Unmarked. But..." She fixed Hestia with a piercing stare.
"You cannot let Freya know I helped you. Not that it would likely stop her forever, but she won't bother destroying me just for aiding a friend's escape – harming the primary forger of her children's weapons gains her nothing but inconvenience. My Familia stays out of her crosshairs. That is non-negotiable."
Hestia bowed her head again, this time in profound gratitude and understanding. "Thank you, Hephaestus. Truly. I... I need to talk to Bell. Prepare him."
"Be swift. Be silent." Hephaestus turned back to her desk, picking up the gear she'd been polishing, her knuckles white on the metal.
"And Hestia? May your Hearth guide you. You'll need every flicker of its warmth where you're going." Her voice held no optimism, only the grim resolve of someone who had just thrown a life raft into a hurricane.
"I'll give you three days to make your decision"
"Midnight. North Gate. Don't be late."
~(Scene Chabnge)~
Bell listened to Hestia's rushed recounting of Hephaestus's dire warnings and the Altena escape plan.
He leaned against the cracked wall of the church basement, the exhaustion of the sleepless night warring with the fresh adrenaline of fear and revelation.
As Hestia finished, breathless, emphasizing Athena's presence and the formidable defenses of Altena, Bell let out a long, weary sigh that seemed to come from the soles of his worn boots.
"Altena... hiding..." he murmured, rubbing his temples. "Hestia, I understand the danger. Freya... knowing she was Syr all along..." He shuddered. "But leaving the Dungeon... entirely?"
He pushed off the wall, pacing the small space. "If I leave Orario, I lose the Dungeon. Where else will I find the constant, escalating challenge I need? To push my limits? To earn... Excella or points?"
He caught himself, switching terms for Lili and Hestia's benefit. "The points I need to truly Level Up, to gain strength quickly? Running might save us now, but it cripples my growth."
Hestia stepped forward, her eyes fierce. "Bell, listen! Your System! Your Daily Quests! You earn points every day, just for completing daily quests and normal battles ! Fifty points! Do you have any idea how much that is?" Her voice rose with incredulous emphasis.
"Most adventurers dive for days to earn the equivalent of a single Level Up in valis and excelia, and even then, it's spread across their stats!
You get a guaranteed, massive influx daily, without ever setting foot in the Dungeon! Not to mention..." she jabbed a finger towards him, "those Dungeon Keys the System gives you! You have your own paths to power, Bell! Safer, controlled paths!"
The mention of the Keys struck a chord. Bell stopped pacing. "Keys..." he murmured. A memory surfaced – the heavy, obsidian-black key radiating cold power.
He focused inward, accessing his Inventory. With a faint shimmer of displaced air, the Demon Castle Key materialized in his hand. It pulsed with a subtle, dark energy, the intricate, unsettling carvings seeming to writhe slightly in the dim light.
Hestia gasped, stumbling back a step. "B-Bell? What... what is that? Another Key? It feels... wrong. Dangerous!"
Lili's eyes widened to saucers, her pallor turning ashen. "Master Bell! That aura... it's like concentrated malice!"
Bell held the key up, his crimson eyes reflecting its dark gleam. "I received it," he said, his voice low and serious, "after finishing the first step of the S-Rank Gate quest."
"First step?" Hestia echoed, confusion warring with dread. "What do you mean, 'first step'? What is that key for?"
Bell met her gaze. "This key... it's the entrance. To the upper floors of a Demon Castle."
Silence. Thick, heavy, suffocating silence descended upon the basement. Lili made a small choking sound. Hestia stared at the key, then at Bell, then back at the key. Her jaw worked soundlessly for a moment.
"A... a Demon Castle?" Hestia finally whispered, her voice trembling violently. "You... you're telling me you have access to... to something like the Dungeon... in your hands?!"
"EEEEKKK!" Lili shrieked, the sound piercing the quiet, pure horror contorting her features.
Hestia joined her a second later, a high-pitched gasp escaping her as she clapped her hands over her mouth, her eyes wide with terrified disbelief.
"A Demon Castle?! Just sitting in your pocket?! Bell Cranel, has your system lost its mind?!"
Bell lowered the key, its dark aura seeming to recede slightly. "It might not be exactly like Orario's Dungeon," he conceded, "but it is a place of immense challenge. A place I could use to get stronger. Truly stronger."
He let out a sharp, frustrated sigh, clenching his fist around the cold metal. "But that's the problem.
I'm not strong enough now. Not for that place. Not for the upper floors a key like this implies. That's why I need Orario's Dungeon. To grind, to Level Up here, so I can survive there."
Lili whimpered, sinking onto a crate. "Never in all Lili's days... hearing Orario's Dungeon described as a... a grinding spot... for preparing to invade a Demon Castle..." She buried her face in her hands. "Lili's worldview is shattering into a million pieces."
"Tell me about it," Hestia breathed, leaning against the wall for support, looking faint. "Orario's Dungeon... the bane and lifeblood of the city... and he talks about it like it's a training field for something worse."
Bell frowned, deep in thought, then his eyes widened slightly. "Wait... the System..." He focused inward again, pulling up his quest log. A new notification glowed softly. He scanned it, and a look of stunned relief crossed his face. "Hestia-sama... Lili... look."
He projected the quest details mentally for them to see:
[Emergency Quest(!)
Objective: Reach Level 3.
Quest Completion Priorities Step 1:
Complete 10 x C-Rank Dungeon Keys (Randomized Environments).
Can be opened randomly at any spot
Rewards: Job Change Quest Unlock Condtions]
Hestia's jaw dropped. "T-Ten? Ten C-Rank Dungeon Keys? a job change quest as a reward? Just for Leveling Up?!"
Lili peeked through her fingers, her terror momentarily replaced by sheer, dumbfounded awe. "C-Rank... that's... manageable? For Master Bell? And ten of them?"
A genuine, hopeful smile finally touched Bell's lips. "Manageable challenges. Contained environments.
Exactly what I need to keep gaining points and excelling safely. Away from prying eyes... and Freya's reach." He looked at Hestia, resolve hardening in his eyes. "If the System provides paths like this... then maybe... maybe we don't need Orario's Dungeon and others breathing down our necks while Freya plots."
He took a deep breath. "Alright, Hestia-sama. I'm willing to listen. I accept Lady Hephaestus's proposal.
We leave for Altena. Things are getting too hot here anyway." His expression darkened. "I overheard some... concerning whispers near the Dedalus Street About the Kali Familia and the Ishtar Familia."
Hestia paled further. "Ishtar too?!"
Bell nodded grimly. "Apparently, they're joining forces. Ishtar is Targeting me specifically. Ishtar sees... 'potential'. Again." He rolled his eyes with a mixture of exasperation and dread. "Seems I'm a magnet for Love Goddesses."
Hestia groaned, rubbing her temples. "Oh, for the love of the Hearth... Bell, what is it about you?"
"More importantly," Bell continued, his voice flat, "they plan to use their alliance to challenge the Freya Familia. Directly. Or indirectly. I didn't catch the specifics, only that it's coming. Soon."
Hestia stared, horrified. "Kali and Ishtar against Freya? In Orario? That's... that's a catastrophe waiting to happen!"
"Which is precisely why it's none of our concern anymore," Bell stated firmly. "Let them tear each other apart. We'll be long gone when it happens.
It was going to blow up regardless of us." He paused, remembering something else. "Ah. I need to see Welf Crozzo before we go. The blacksmith I contracted."
Hestia blinked. "Contracted? When did this happen? And why?"
"Two days ago, after the... incident with the Spider," Bell explained. "I needed new armor. My old chestplate..." He reached into his Inventory again and pulled out the Ruined Chestplate. It wasn't just damaged; it was a twisted, shattered wreck of metal, barely recognizable, scorched black and rent by massive claws.
Deep cracks radiated from a central point of impact that looked like it had been hit by a siege weapon.
Hestia stared at the mangled remains. Her hands flew to her mouth, her eyes instantly filling with tears. "B-Bell...? That... that was... yours? You were... wearing this... when you fought that thing?"
The image of her beloved child enduring blows powerful enough to reduce hardened armor to that... it shattered her heart. A small sob escaped her.
Bell quickly stepped forward, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"Hestia, it's okay. I'm here. I'm fine. See?" He offered a reassuring, if tired, smile. "The armor did its job. It broke so I didn't. It will be alright. We'll get stronger, we'll get better gear." He carefully put the ruined chestplate away. "But I need to settle things with Welf. And we need funds for the journey."
He turned to Lili. "Lili, can you start preparing? Pack essentials for travel. Light, but durable. Assume we might need to move fast or rough it."
Lili snapped a salute, her usual pragmatic self-reasserting itself despite the lingering shock. "Lili is on it, Master Bell! Efficient packing is a Supporter's specialty!"
Bell nodded. "Good. I also need to make one last dive. Not deep. Just enough to gather some quick valis for supplies and travel expenses. My Daily Quest requires it anyway." He moved towards the door. "Hestia-sama, will you be okay? Do you need anything?"
Hestia wiped her eyes, sniffing. "I... I need to get to work. Talk to Miach, explain... something.
Maybe arrange a 'leave of absence'. I'll bring breakfast back from my work." She managed a weak smile. "Try not to get into too much trouble on your 'quick dive', Bell."
Bell managed a small, genuine smile back. "I'll be careful. Just some upper floors. Back soon." He paused at the door. "Lili, focus on the packing. I'll handle the funds."
With a final nod, Bell Cranel pushed open the creaking door of the church basement and stepped out into the grey Orario morning.
The weight of fleeing the city, the threat of goddesses, and the image of a dark castle key rested heavy on his shoulders, but the immediate goal was clear:
Complete the Daily Quest. Gather funds. Survive the day. One step at a time, towards an uncertain sanctuary named Altena. He took a deep breath of the smog-tinged air and started walking, the System's quest marker glowing faintly in his vision, leading him back towards the towering shadow of Babel.
~ (Scene Change) ~
(!)Alarm
. Daily Quest Complete!
-Daily Quest: [Preparing To Become Strong]
Has been Completed
-[PUSH-UPS] [100/100]
-[CURL-UPS] [100/100]
-[SQUATS] [100/100]
-[RUNNING] [11/10]
REWARDS GENERATED;
[SATUS RECOVERY]
[+50 STAT POINTS]
[RANDOM ITEM]
The familiar chime echoed in Bell's mind as he finished his daily Quest.
"Status Recovery" Bell accepts it immediately
All the pain and sore points of the body even the drowsiness went away.
It was a miraculous drug to cure his pain.
Even the mental stress.
flashed before his eyes, followed by the satisfying notification: +50 System Points Awarded. But then, another message pulsed with a subtle golden glow:
Bell then opens the Item Box.
Bonus Reward: Random Item Box (Stealth Rune) Awarded!
A genuine smile, the first unburdened one in days, spread across Bell's face. An extra reward? He quickly found a quiet spot on a worn stone bench overlooking the bustling East Market Street, the shadow of Babel looming in the distance. Focusing inward, he accessed his Inventory. The Random Item Box Reward (Stealth Rune) shimmered with a faint, shifting blue light.
[Message: Crush Rune Stone to Obtain Ability]
Light coalesced in his palm, solidifying into a smooth, cool stone the size of a large coin. It was deep obsidian, almost swallowing the light, etched with intricate, silvery runes that pulsed with a subtle energy. Information flooded his senses from the System:
Item: Shadow Veil Rune Stone (Permanent)
Effect: Grants the Skill "Passive Cloak" (Rank C).
Description: Masks the user's presence, significantly reducing detection by sight, sound, and magical aura sensing. Effectiveness diminishes against high-level perception Skills or focused divine scrutiny. Activation: Crush the runestone.
Bell's heart leaped. A permanent stealth skill! No more hide and sneak to escape Feya's sight no more constant drain on his concentration just to walk the streets unnoticed. This was freedom. Pure, blessed freedom from the suffocating fear of Freya's gaze or other threats in the shadows.
He didn't hesitate. Closing his fist around the cool obsidian, he applied pressure. The stone shattered with a soundless pop of released energy, dissolving into wisps of dark smoke that seeped into his skin. A cool sensation spread through him, settling like a comfortable, invisible cloak. He felt the Skill integrate, a new layer of awareness settling over his senses – an awareness of how to not be noticed.
No more hide and seek, he thought, relief washing over him like cool water. Just… blend. He took a deep breath, the weight of constant vigilance lifting slightly. He remembered his meeting with Welf. He wouldn't reveal everything – the System, the Demon Castle Key, Freya's true identity – that was too dangerous, even for a trusted ally. But he could tell the truth about being targeted. That was enough.
Feeling lighter than he had in weeks, Bell got up and headed towards the familiar, slightly raucous atmosphere of the Golden Boar Tavern.
Pushing through the heavy wooden door, the scent of roasting meat, ale, and sawdust hit him. His eyes scanned the crowded room and quickly found Welf Crozzo sitting at a corner table with the veteran adventurer Sanders. Welf was digging into a steaming bowl of stew, Sanders nursing a large tankard. They spotted Bell and waved him over.
"Bell! Over here!" Welf called, pushing out a stool with his foot.
Bell navigated the tables, the newly acquired Passive Cloak skill activated before entering subtly smoothing his passage – fewer heads turned, fewer glances lingered. He slid onto the stool. It seems to work great Welf did not seem to realize right before he was Infront of him.
"Welf. How's the day treating you?"
Welf swallowed a mouthful of stew. "Same old, same old. Hammering hot metal, trying not to blow up the forge, sketching designs that give Lady Hephaestus headaches." He grinned.
"So, today's the day, right? Make the contract official?" He noticed the complicated expression that flickered across Bell's face. His grin faded slightly. "Whoa. Not the reaction I expected. Is it… the Crozzo name? The magic sword thing? I get it if—"
"No!" Bell cut in hastily, leaning forward. "It's not that at all, Welf! It's… it's me. My situation." He lowered his voice. "I… I'm being targeted. Seriously targeted. By Familia. Powerful ones. Like Ishtar."
Welf's eyes widened. Sanders let out a low whistle. "Ishtar Familia? Nasty business, lad."
Welf's expression turned grim, understanding dawning. He reached out and clapped a heavy hand on Bell's shoulder.
"Yeah. Yeah, I get that feeling. Had my share of… interested parties sniffing around because of the bloodline. Lady Hephaestus usually runs 'em off, but the attention sucks." He squeezed Bell's shoulder reassuringly.
"Hey, no pressure. The contract offer stands. Whenever you're ready. No hard feelings if you need to lay low."
Bell felt a surge of gratitude. "Thank you, Welf. Really. I was thinking… I need to hit the Dungeon one last time before… well, before things get complicated. Reimburse you for the materials for the armor I commissioned, at least."
Welf waved a dismissive hand. "Forget about reimbursement for now. Actually…" He leaned in conspiratorially. "I was planning a quick dive myself later. Upper floors, just to test a new alloy and some excelia in the new floors. Need a reliable vanguard. Party up? We split the loot, you get your valis, I get my drop items. Win-win?"
Relief washed over Bell. A controlled dive, with a capable ally, was far better than going alone right now. "Deal," Bell agreed readily. "I could use the funds too."
Welf grinned. "Great! Be good to see that knife of yours in action again. See how the new armor holds up under pressure." He patted the sturdy, freshly forged chestplate Bell was wearing – a temporary, functional piece that the guild loaned him long ago.
Bell grimaced. "About that armor…" He reached into his jacket, the motion shielded by the table. He pulled out the Ruined Chestplate Piece – the twisted, claw-rent, scorched wreckage of his previous armor. He placed it carefully on the table.
Welf's jaw dropped. Sanders choked on his ale. "By the Forge!" Welf breathed, leaning closer, his smith's eyes tracing the catastrophic damage. "Bell… what in the Nine Hells happened? This was… yesterday's commission?!" He picked up a jagged piece, his fingers tracing the deep fissures. "This looks like something a Level 5 Monster sat on! In one day?!"
Bell shifted uncomfortably. "Got… ambushed. Deep. Bad timing." He kept his explanation vague, letting the ruined metal speak volumes.
He didn't mention the Cerberus, didn't mention the S-Rank Gate. Just the necessary truth: overwhelming force.
Welf's gaze snapped up, sharp and understanding. "Ishtar?" he asked quietly, his voice tight.
Bell met his eyes and gave a single, firm nod. He didn't elaborate. He didn't need to. Welf understood the unspoken threat, the kind of power that could reduce good armor to scrap metal in moments.
Welf set the broken piece down slowly, his expression hardening from shock into steely resolve. "Right. Forget reimbursement," he stated firmly.
"Consider that armor a down payment." He met Bell's gaze squarely. "Don't worry, pal. I'll make you one better. Something that can actually take a hit from whatever hell they throw at you next."
Bell felt another wave of profound relief. "Thank you, Welf." Then, remembering the other item, he reached into his pocket again. "Actually… I might have something for the next project.
" He pulled out the Cerberus Fang – a shard of obsidian-like tooth longer than his hand, radiating palpable, dark energy and cold malice.
Welf's eyes widened again, this time with pure, unadulterated smith's avarice and awe. Sanders leaned in, whistling low. "Now that's a trophy..."
Welf carefully took the fang, his calloused fingers tracing its unnaturally smooth, incredibly hard surface. He held it up to the tavern light, examining the way it seemed to absorb the glow. "This… this quality…" he murmured, stunned. "I've seen Deep Floor monster drops, Bell. Level 3 and 5 stuff. This… this feels on par.
The density, the inherent magic… it's incredible. Where did you…?" He trailed off, shaking his head. "Never mind. Don't wanna know. So… dagger? Something nasty and quick?"
Bell nodded. "A dagger, yes, if possible. But also…" He gestured towards the ruined armor pieces. "If there's any way to incorporate it, or other materials I have on me, into the new armor? Something truly resilient?"
A fierce, proud grin spread across Welf Crozzo's face. He closed his hand firmly around the chilling Cerberus Fang.
"Consider it done, Bell. We'll make you something worthy of surviving goddess-level trouble." He clapped Bell on the shoulder again.
"I got your back. Now, eat up. We hit the Dungeon in an hour. Time to earn that upgrade."
As Bell dug into the hearty stew Welf ordered for him, the Passive Cloak skill humming softly beneath his skin and the promise of powerful new gear ahead, he felt a flicker of hope. They were running, yes. But they weren't running unarmed. Not anymore.
~ (Scene Change) ~
The walk towards Babel, normally a routine pre-dive ritual, felt charged with nervous energy. Bell, still adjusting to the subtle hum of his new Passive Cloak skill – a comforting shroud against prying divine eyes – walked beside Welf, discussing strategies for their quick upper-floor dive. Funds for the journey, testing Welf's alloy, a final harvest before exile.
They passed the imposing facade of the Guild, its grand doors a familiar landmark.
Suddenly, Bell froze. It wasn't divine scrutiny this time, but something far more terrestrial and terrifying: the focused, burning intensity of a profoundly annoyed Half-Elf. He whirled around, startling Welf.
"Whoa, Bell? What—" Welf began, then followed Bell's wide-eyed gaze.
Standing rigidly just outside the Guild entrance, arms crossed, was Eina Tulle. Her glasses glinted ominously under the morning sun, reflecting no light, only a palpable storm cloud of displeasure.
A dark aura of pure, unadulterated gloom seemed to radiate from her. Bell's stomach plummeted. The appointment! He'd completely forgotten the mandatory post-Cerberus debrief scheduled for this morning, drowned out by Hestia and Lili's absurd argument and the ensuing chaos.
Eina didn't walk; she marched. The sharp click-clack of her heels on the cobblestones sounded like miniature thunderclaks, each step pounding the ground with terrifying precision. She stopped mere feet from them, radiating fury.
"BELL CRANEL!" Her voice, usually calm and professional, was a whip-crack of pure, icy rage. "I have been waiting for HOURS! Where. Were. You?"
Bell instinctively took a step back, hands fluttering in a placating gesture. "S-Sorry, Miss Eina! I swear! I had... uh... issues at home! Major issues! Like, world-ending argument issues! I completely lost track of—"
"Do not," Eina interrupted, her voice dropping to a dangerously low, controlled tone that was somehow worse than the shout, "try to placate me with excuses, Bell Cranel." She pushed her glasses up, the lenses flashing.
"I heard the rumors circulating among the night shift. I heard from multiple sources how you staggered out of Babel last night looking like you'd wrestled a Deep Floor boss single-handed. Covered in blood. Exhausted beyond belief.
" Her gaze sharpened into twin daggers. "Please. Tell me. Did you disregard every single guideline, every single warning, and plunge recklessly into the lower floors without permission? Without backup?"
Bell gave a nervous, high-pitched chuckle, his eyes darting sideways towards Welf, silently pleading for backup.
"Miss Eina, maybe we can discuss this inside? Privately? It's a bit—"
"NO!" Eina snapped, cutting him off. "You are coming with me. NOW." She reached out, her hand surprisingly strong, and clamped onto Bell's arm.
Welf, sensing the sheer force of the Guild Advisor's wrath, finally found his voice. "Whoa, hey now, Advisor Tulle! We were just heading into the Dungeon for a quick—"
Eina's head swiveled towards Welf. Her glare could have frozen lava. "You!" she declared, pointing a finger inch from his nose.
"You're in his party? Good. You're coming too. You can help ensure he doesn't do anything else monumentally foolish while I attempt to pound some sense into him.
" Her other hand shot out, grabbing Welf's forearm with a grip that made the blacksmith wince. Welf briefly wondered if the famously neutral Guild secretly ran its own Familia specializing in terrifyingly strong advisors.
As Eina frog-marched them both towards the Guild doors, Welf leaned close to Bell, a mischievous glint in his eyes despite the situation.
"Trouble in paradise, huh?" he muttered under his breath, earning a frantic, wide-eyed look from Bell.
Welf chuckled softly, then whispered even lower, barely audible, "She's a keeper, Bell. Fiery. Maybe you could hook up, settle down after all this goddess nonsense blows over?" He winked.
Bell just shook his head, a small, exasperated smile touching his lips despite the dread. Hook up with Miss Eina? After this? She'd probably assign me permanent paperwork duty.
Eina, whose Half-Elf hearing was exceptionally sharp, missed nothing. A furious blush instantly stained her cheeks, clashing spectacularly with her thunderous expression.
"Enough!" she hissed, shoving them both through the Guild doors with renewed vigor, her ears burning crimson. "Consultation Room Three. Move."
The Consultation Room felt less like an office and more like the antechamber to the S-Rank Gate Bell had barely survived. Eina stood before them, the Guild rulebook held like a sacred (and heavy) text.
For a solid, agonizing hour, the air vibrated with her voice as she meticulously drilled them through every relevant guideline, safety protocol, retreat condition, and consequence of reckless behavior.
Page after page was cited, hypothetical scenarios explored with terrifying detail, and the sheer stupidity of diving while exhausted and injured was emphasized with the force of a volcanic eruption.
Welf, initially trying to look nonchalant, gradually wilted under the onslaught, his expression mirroring Bell's own look of horrified resignation.
Finally, Eina closed the hefty rulebook with a decisive thump. She sank into her chair, the anger momentarily replaced by profound exhaustion and deep concern. She rubbed her temples.
"Now," she sighed, her voice losing its razor edge, "tell me the truth. What really happened yesterday, Bell? The rumors are bad enough."
Bell shifted uncomfortably. "I... got ambushed, Miss Eina. Deep. By something... strong."
Eina stiffened, her professional concern instantly overriding her residual anger. "Ambushed? By what? Where? Who—"
"It's... it's nothing to worry about now," Bell interrupted quickly, seeing her panic rise. "That's actually why I might not be diving in Orario's Dungeon much longer."
Eina blinked, stunned. "Not diving? Bell, you live and breathe the Dungeon! You said you need to get strong!"
"I found an alternative," Bell explained. "We... Hestia-sama and I... we're leaving Orario. Going to Altena. Goddess Athena, a close friend of Hestia-sama, is there. We'll be safer there."
"Altena?" Eina echoed, recognition dawning, followed by a thoughtful frown. "The fortress city... I know of it. Their military and magic academy is legendary, but the tuition..." She trailed off, shaking her head.
"Are you sure, Bell? Is running truly safer than staying under the Guild's watchful eye? The Guild protects adventurers."
Bell met her gaze. "The Goddess hunting me... she uses her Charm. Freely. Against mortals. In Altena, with two Virgin Goddesses of significant authority – Hestia-sama and Athena-sama – present, using that Charm becomes incredibly difficult, maybe impossible. It's a shield the Guild can't provide."
Welf, who had been listening intently, raised a hesitant hand. "Uh, Advisor Tulle? Bell? Not to interrupt the life-altering escape plans, but... should I be hearing all this? Feels like outsider intel."
Eina fixed him with a look. "You're his contracted smith, and you were nearly dragged into whatever ambush he faced yesterday. Consider yourself roped in, Master Crozzo. Forewarned is forearmed."
Welf sighed dramatically, then chuckled. "Figures. Bell Cranel: Trouble Magnet Extraordinaire." He nudged Bell. "Told ya."
Eina gave a sharp, agreeing nod that made Bell flinch. "An apt description, unfortunately."
Before Eina could delve further into the implications of Bell's flight or the identity of the hunting goddess, the door to the consultation room slammed open. A young Guild employee, pale and panting, burst in, eyes wide with terror.
"ADVISOR TULLE! HUGE TROUBLE! MINOTAUR! IRREGULAR! UPPER FLOOR ESCAPE! IT'S IN THE BABELS DISTRICT! IT'S KILLING ROOKIES! BLOOD AND DEATH EVERYWHERE! ITS EVERYWHERE!"
Eina shot to her feet, her face draining of color. "A Minotaur? Upper Floors? Escaped?! That's—"
A roar, impossibly loud, primal, and filled with rage, shook the very foundations of the Guild building. It wasn't distant; it was terrifyingly close. Screams, genuine, blood-curdling screams of Guild staff and citizens outside, followed immediately after.
Bell didn't think. He didn't hesitate. The words 'rookies killed', 'Minotaur', 'Pantheon District' ignited a white-hot urgency in his chest.
He was out of his chair and past the stunned employee before Eina or Welf could even shout his name. Their cries – "BELL! STOP!" "CRANEL, WAIT!" – faded behind him as he exploded out of the Guild and into the chaos beyond.
Bell moved like the wind, the Sprint Skill avtivated instinctively like a blue blur like shockwave breaking the sound barrier of his passage and making him a blur to panicked citizens.
He wove through the market stalls near the Pantheon, a scene of devastation unfolding. Hawkers' wares were trampled and scattered; flower petals mixed with splintered wood and spilled food.
A massive, fresh gash tore through the cobblestones, evidence of terrifying strength.
Another roar, closer this time, vibrated through his bones. He rounded a corner into a side street turned abattoir. Bodies. Adventurers, mostly low-level, lay strewn like broken dolls. Limbs severed. Torsos cleaved in two. Blood slicked the stones.
Others looked like they'd been thrown with incredible force, their bodies embedded in walls or crumpled against overturned carts. The metallic tang of blood and the stench of voided bowels filled the air.
A groan. Weak, pained. Bell's gaze snapped to a familiar face – one of the boisterous adventurers from the Hostess of Fertility who'd tried to pick a fight with him weeks ago. The man lay propped against a shattered stall, a deep gash across his chest, his eyes glazed with pain and shock.
Bell took a step towards him, intending to help, but then he heard it. High-pitched. Terrified. Children crying.
His head whipped around. Down the ruined street, backed into a dead-end corner formed by two crumbling buildings, were two small figures: a fox girl with trembling ears flattened against her head, and a half-elf girl clutching her, both weeping uncontrollably. Standing over them, blotting out the sky, was the source of the carnage.
The Minotaur. It was massive, easily eight feet tall, muscles coiled like steel cables beneath blood-matted fur. It wasn't the axe-wielding brute of the Dungeon depths; this one clutched a massive, notched greatsword, clearly looted from a fallen adventurer.
It raised the blade, the tip hovering over the cowering children, its bloodshot eyes fixed on its helpless prey. They were too far for Bell to reach in time.
Alarm(!)
-Skill Bloodlust! Has been activated
The thought was instinctive, born of desperation. Bell didn't hesitate. He focused, drawing on the chilling aura he'd learned to project in the Dungeon's crucible.
He didn't just activate it; he hurled it down the street like a physical spear, a wave of pure, predatory menace aimed solely at the Minotaur.
The effect was instantaneous.
The Minotaur froze mid-swing. The greatsword trembled in its grip. It slowly, deliberately, turned its massive horned head. Its bloodshot eyes, filled with mindless rage just a moment before, locked onto Bell.
Recognition flared within them, not of fear, but of something else entirely. A chilling, predatory intelligence mixed with savage elation.
It had found him.
The Minotaur's POV:
Pain. Rage. The smell of fear-sweat and iron-rich blood. Crush the weaklings. Chase the runners. Shatter the ones who stand. It was the purpose. The only purpose. Since... since the Beast.
The Beast. Not prey. Monster. Standing in the corridor, purple eyes like pits of shadow, looking through it. Like cattle. The insult! The rage! Charge! Crush! But the Beast moved. Fast. Too fast. Fist met... nothing. Then agony as its weapon shattered.
The image burned: a vast, spectral boar, tusks like mountains, staring down. Judgment. Fury surged. Charge again! Impact! The world spun. Stone scraped hide. Swatted. Like a fly. Humiliation burned hotter than pain.
Then... the offering. The Beast dropped the shiny tooth-pick. Why? Mockery? Trap? Take it. Swing. Clumsy. Heavy. The Beast danced. Pain bloomed – shoulder, leg, flank.
Each blow a lesson. Each fall a step towards... clarity. The haze of dungeon-madness receded with every clash. Purpose crystallized: Beat the Beast. Prove strength. Grow stronger. Fight! Rise! Fight!
But then... the Beast stopped. Looked. Satisfied? Saw the sharpness of its rage, its growing fangs? Then... gone. Vanished. Leaving only emptiness.
The purpose vanished. The weaklings below offered no challenge. Flesh satisfied hunger, not the thirst. The Thirst for Battle. The need to clash, to earn strength. Up. Must go up. Find the Beast.
Up levels. Weak warriors. Sniveling prey. Crush. Move up. More. Still weak. Not Him. Where? Where is the Challenge?
Light. Warmth. Different air. Screams. Fear. Fresh prey! Charge! Swing! Crush! They fight back! Pitiful strikes, but... contact! A spark! More! Chase! Throw! Catch! Cleave! The red haze returning, but... unsatisfying. Hollow. Not the true fight.
Smell. Small prey. Hiding. Cornered. Fear potent. Easy meat. Raise sword. End it. Fill the hollow...
Then...
HIM.
The gaze. Piercing. Cold. Predatory. Settling on its back like a physical weight. The same gaze that saw potential, saw cattle to be forged. Recognition detonated.
The Thirst roared back, a wildfire in its veins. The hollow vanished, filled with pure, savage purpose.
It turned. Saw the smaller form. The white hair. The purple eyes, now blazing with intent. Not fear. Challenge. The Challenge.
The sword lowered, forgotten. The small prey forgotten. Only Him. The Beast. The Challenger. The Answer to the Thirst.
A guttural bellow, not of rage, but of pure, terrifying greeting, ripped from its throat. It had found its purpose again.
~ (Scene Change) ~
News of the rampaging Minotaur spread through Orario faster than a Level 5's Charge Attack. Screams were a universal language, and the sheer destruction cutting a swathe through the Pantheon district was impossible to ignore.
The Loki Familia, ever vigilant and strategically positioned, were the first major power to mobilize.
"Move! Pantheon District! Irregular Minotaur breach, Upper Floors origin! Priority: Containment and Civilian Protection!" Finn's voice crackled with urgency through the communication crystal.
Within moments, a high-speed response team was airborne: Ais Wallenstein, a streak of gold and white; the Hiryute sisters, Tiona bounding with manic energy, Tione radiating focused fury; and Lefiya Viridis, desperately trying to keep pace while bearing an unwelcome passenger.
"Wheee! Giddy up, Lefiya-pon! Faster! To the carnage!" Loki cackled, clinging piggyback to the flustered elf mage, her crimson eyes gleaming with morbid excitement.
"L-Loki-sama! Please! This is undignified! And dangerous!" Lefiya pleaded, stumbling slightly.
"Less whining, more running, Lefiya-chan!" Tiona chirped, effortlessly flipping over a stalled cart.
"Focus," Tione growled, her eyes scanning the approaching chaos.
They hit the devastated marketplace like a hurricane meeting a warzone. The scene was brutal: stalls reduced to kindling, cobblestones shattered, and the grim aftermath of the Minotaur's passage – fallen adventurers, some missing limbs, others horrifically cleaved, painting the stones crimson. Lefiya gagged, her face turning green.
Loki merely patted her back, her grin unfaltering. "There, there. Battlefield reality. Gets easier."
Ais didn't pause. Her expression remained impassive, but her golden eyes hardened. She caught the distant roar and the distinctive clang of fierce combat. "Ariel," she whispered.
Wind surged around her, lifting her effortlessly as she shot towards the sound like a golden arrow. The others followed, Lefiya spurred on by terror and duty, Tiona and Tione moving with predatory grace.
They rounded the final corner, bursting into the epicenter of the destruction.
The sight that greeted them was shocking, not for its gore – they were veterans – but for its nature. This wasn't a massacre; it was a duel. A death dance.
A blur of blue light – almost too fast to track – wove around the hulking red form of the Minotaur. The beast was colossal, easily Level 4 strength, wielding a massive, notched greatsword stained with fresh blood. But it was losing. Badly.
Deep, vicious cuts crisscrossed its body, blood flowing freely from wounds on its arms, legs, flanks, and even its face, staining its fur and pooling on the ground with each thunderous step. Its movements, initially furious, were becoming sluggish, labored.
It roared in frustration, swinging the massive sword with earth-shattering force, but the blue blur was never there. Sparks flew as steel met steel in lightning-fast parries, the blue light deflecting blows that would shatter stone, but always repositioning instantly.
The Minotaur charged, a desperate, earth-shaking lunge. The blue blur didn't retreat; it met the charge. Red and blue collided in a shower of sparks, the force echoing like a small explosion.
The Minotaur staggered back, a new, deep gash opening on its shoulder, while the blue blur – now resolving slightly into the form of a white-haired adventurer – flipped backwards, landing lightly on his feet, a wickedly curved black dagger gleaming in his hand.
~(Scene Change Bell's POV)~
Rage. Pure, protective rage. The sight of the children cowering, the Minotaur's blade raised… instinct had taken over. Bloodlust had flared from him like a physical wave, yanking the beast's attention away. Good.
(!)Alarm
[-SKILL BLOODLUST: ACTIAVTED]
Sprint activated.
(!)Alarm
[-SKILL SPRINT ACTIVATED]
The world blurred. Rasaka's Fang materialized in his grip, cold and hungry. He didn't think, he moved. A streak of blue, faster than the Minotaur could track, crossing the distance in a heartbeat.
A vicious, diagonal slash ripped across the Minotaur's chest, deep and shocking. The beast bellowed, stunned by the speed and pain.
Don't stop. End it. He vanished again, reappearing behind it – slash across the hamstring. To its side – gash along the ribs. Above, dropping down – strike aimed at the thick neck. Finish it!
CLANG!
Shock jolted up Bell's arm. The Minotaur, reacting with surprising speed born of desperation or something else, had somehow twisted, bringing its stolen greatsword up in a clumsy but effective block. The force of the parry threw Bell back, arms stinging.
He landed hard, skidding.
Before he could reset, the Minotaur was on him, a roaring, blood-slicked avalanche. The greatsword came down in a brutal overhead chop. Bell brought Rasaka's Fang up crosswise, bracing.
CRASH!
The impact drove him to one knee, the cobblestones cracking beneath his boots. Pain flared in his shoulders. Strong! Too strong for UPPER Floors! He gritted his teeth, pouring strength into his legs, and shoved, using the beast's momentum to flip backwards, landing unsteadily but clear.
The Fang's effect…SHOULD COME ANYTIME now! He willed it. Rasaka's Fang pulsed, and a visible surge of crackling, violet-black lightning raced up the blade and into the Minotaur through the point of contact where the swords had met.
[PARALYSIS ACTIVATED: STAUS BLEED HAS BEEN ACTIAVTED]
The beast convulsed violently, a guttural scream tearing from its throat as the necrotic energy ravaged it internally. Muscles locked. It crashed to its knees, smoke rising from its fur where the lightning had grounded.
Got it! Bell thought, relief washing over him. No ordinary monster shrugged off Rasaka's Fang's debilitating curse.
Then, unbelievably, the Minotaur roared. Not a scream of pain, but a bellow of pure, defiant rage.
It forced itself back onto its feet, swaying, blood pouring from its eyes, nose, and mouth, the lightning still flickering sporadically across its frame. Its remaining eye, bloodshot and mad, locked onto Bell with terrifying focus.
What?! Bell's mind reeled. It came through Sheer will? Ignoring the curse, the bleed, the pain? What is this thing?!
The Minotaur charged again. Not blindly, but with shocking, sudden acceleration, closing the distance faster than Bell anticipated.
The greatsword aimed to bisect him. Bell triggered Sprint at the last millisecond, not away, but sideways, batting the heavier blade aside with a desperate parry that sent sparks flying.
He closed the gap inside the Minotaur's reach, a red and blue blur colliding once more. He landed rapid-fire slashes – wrist, thigh, side – but the Minotaur was adapting.
It wasn't just swinging wildly anymore; it was bringing its sword around in precise, if heavy, blocks and counters, its movements becoming more economical, more… skilled.
It's blocking! Tracing my attacks! Bell realized, stunned. This wasn't the mindless rage of a dungeon-spawned Minotaur. This felt… trained. Someone taught it? The thought was absurd, terrifying.
Frustration bubbled. Time was bleeding away, and so was the Minotaur, but it was still dangerous, and the collateral risk was too high. Enough.
He feigned a high stab, drawing the greatsword up. Then, point-blank range, he unleashed his trump card. "Brilliant Light!"
A searing, condensed beam of pure white fire erupted from his palm, engulfing the Minotaur's head and upper chest. The smell of burning hair and flesh filled the air, mingling nauseatingly with the coppery tang of blood.
The Minotaur shrieked, an unearthly sound of agony, as half its face and shoulder melted away under the divine heat. It stumbled back, blinded, its sword clattering from nerveless fingers.
Bell didn't hesitate. The beast was mortally wounded, but not dead. It fumbled blindly for its weapon. Bell blurred forward one last time, Rasaka's Fang a streak of darkness. He didn't aim for the body; he aimed for the source of the rage, the defiance, the unsettling intelligence.
The Minotaur, sensing death, turned its ruined head towards the approaching chill.
Vision fading, red and black. Pain… everywhere. But the fire… the fire inside… still burns. Where…? The blade… find the blade… Fight… must… fight… Him…
Then… cold. A shadow eclipsing the dying light. Blue eyes. Not the Beast's purple… but colder. Deeper. Like drowning in an endless, frozen ocean. Recognition? No. Finality.
Spurt.
A strange sensation. Lightness. The world… spinning… turning… upside down? The blue eyes… receding… burning into the soul… cold… so cold… The fire… goes out.
Darkness.
The Minotaur's head slid cleanly from its shoulders. Its body remained upright for a fraction of a second, then collapsed, dissolving into the familiar purple ash of the Dungeon, leaving only the notched greatsword and the magic stone along with its hown and the blood-soaked ground as evidence.
Silence, heavy and stunned, fell over the ruined marketplace. Broken only by the ragged breathing of Bell Cranel and the whimpers of the children he'd protected.
He pocketed the horn and magic stone and moved towards them
Ais Wallenstein stood frozen, her golden eyes wide, Ariel still whispering around her. She recognized the boy – Bell Cranel.
But the figure who had just moved with impossible speed, precision, and lethal efficiency… that wasn't the flustered Level 2 she knew.
That was a veteran warrior, dismantling a powerful irregular with chilling calm. The disparity between his known level and the skill displayed was jarring.
Loki slid off Lefiya's back, her usual grin replaced by a look of intense, calculating curiosity, a sharp glint in her crimson eyes. *'Level 2? My sweet, flat-chested butt he is. Whatcha hiding, Record Holder?'*
Tiona whistled, long and low, twirling her Urga. "Whoa! Did you see that, Tione? Like a whirlwind with a knife!"
Tione grunted, arms crossed, but her eyes held grudging respect. "Efficient. Brutal. Didn't waste a move."
Lefiya just stared, mouth agape, her earlier nausea forgotten in the face of the incredible display. "Ais-senpai… that was… that was incredible! But… Bell Cranel? How?"
Loki opened her mouth, likely to make a loud, inappropriate comment, but a sudden eruption of sound cut her off.
Cheers. Loud, relieved, awestruck cheers erupted from the upper windows of surrounding buildings where civilians had taken refuge. "Hooray for the adventurer!" "He saved those kids!" "Amazing!" "HERO!"
Bell didn't seem to hear them. Or if he did, he didn't care. His gaze was fixed solely on the two children huddled where the Minotaur had cornered them.
He flicked Rasaka's Fang, cleaning the ash from the blade with a practiced motion, then slid it into his jacket, making it vanish into his Inventory.
He walked towards the fox girl and half-elf boy, his movements now devoid of the battle-frenzy, replaced by gentle concern. They stared up at him, eyes wide with terror slowly morphing into awe.
"Are you two alright?" Bell asked, his voice soft, a stark contrast to the fury of moments before.
The fox girl, trembling, managed a shaky nod. The half-elf boy suddenly burst forward, throwing his small arms around Bell's leg. "T-That was amazing, Mister Adventurer!" he cried, tears streaming down his face. "You were like… like a Hero!"
The word Hero struck Bell like a physical blow. It stung, a reminder of dreams tarnished by reality. But he pushed the ache down, forcing a gentle smile onto his face, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "I'm glad you're safe. Are you hurt anywhere? Any scratches? Bumps?"
Both children shook their heads vigorously, clinging to him.
"Even so," Bell said, his tone firm but kind, "let's get you checked out properly." He knew the kind nurse of Dian Cecht nearby would help. He scooped the boy up easily and offered his hand to the fox girl. "Come on."
He turned, the cheering crowds and the stunned members of the Loki Familia momentarily forgotten in his focus on the children.
He began walking away, leading the two small figures towards safety, leaving behind the carnage, the ash, and four very powerful adventurers with a mountain of burning questions hanging unanswered in the bloody air.
Ais watched him go, her expression unreadable. Loki tapped her chin thoughtfully, her grin returning, wider and more scheming than ever. The hero had walked away, leaving only mystery and the echo of incredible violence in his wake.
~ (Scene Change) ~
The sterile smell of antiseptic and the low murmur of the Dian Sect Clinic offered a strange kind of peace after the morning's carnage.
Bell slumped in a hard wooden chair in the crowded waiting area, the adrenaline finally draining away, replaced by bone-deep exhaustion.
Welf sat beside him, looking similarly wrung out, while Eina stood nearby, clipboard in hand, her brow furrowed as she meticulously recorded injuries and casualties relayed by harried nurses.
"Thankfully," Eina murmured, more to herself than anyone, "no civilian fatalities. Those adventurers who stepped in… they bought precious time.
" Her voice held a somber respect. The cost had been high: lives lost, promising careers ended by missing limbs requiring expensive prosthetics, others facing long recoveries from grievous wounds.
The clinic buzzed with controlled chaos – nurses rushing, healers chanting, the low moans of the injured.
Bell watched the Dea Saint herself, a blur of focused energy, directing triage with calm authority.
The clinical environment, though tense, soothed his frayed nerves. Then, a figure cut through the organized chaos like a gaudy, grumpy stormcloud.
Dian Cecht, God of Healing, stomped over, ostentatious gold rings flashing, diamonds winking absurdly from his fingers and even his collar.
His expression was pure thundercloud. He stopped directly in front of Bell.
"You again, brat?" Dian Cecht grumbled, his voice like gravel. "I don't run a charity here, you know! Dragging in scraped knees and bruised elbows during a major incident!"
Bell stood quickly, offering a respectful bow despite the God's tone. "My apologies, Lord Dian Cecht. It was an emergency. The children… are they alright?"
The God waved a dismissive, jewel-encrusted hand. "Bah! Nothing but scraps and bruises. Took longer to calm the hysterical caretaker than to fix the tykes.
They're fine." His sharp eyes scanned Bell, lingering on the bloodstains still darkening his clothes. "You look like you wrestled a Deep Floor worm. Need patching?"
"I'm fine, thank you," Bell said quickly. He reached into his jacket, pulling out the large, pulsating purple crystal – the Minotaur's Magic Stone.
"Please, use this to cover the expenses for the children and… anyone else who needs help because of the attack." He held it out.
Before Bell could even blink, the crystal vanished from his hand. Dian Cecht had moved with surprising, almost adventurer-like speed.
He examined the stone critically, holding it up to the light. "Hmph. Irregular. Good density." He pocketed it smoothly.
"And don't think flattery gets you discounts, boy." He paused, his gruff demeanor softening almost imperceptibly. "Had to check the little ones myself. Heard the news." He met Bell's eyes.
"I don't praise much. Waste of breath. But… good work. Saving them. As the God of Healing, saving lives… that's worth a small appreciation." He gave a curt, almost awkward nod, then turned and stomped away, barking orders at a nearby healer.
Eina let out a long sigh, sinking into the chair Bell had vacated. "Bell… you know he completely swindled you, right? That Minotaur stone? An irregular Upper Floor Minotaur? It was worth at least 50,000 valis. Probably more."
Bell just shrugged, watching the God efficiently direct a nurse towards a groaning adventurer.
"He checked the children himself. Made sure they were truly unharmed. He might be… money-focused," Bell chose the diplomatic term, "but he does his actual work properly. That's worth the stone."
Welf scratched his head, looking utterly bewildered. "What a day. Seriously, Bell. I take back any doubt. You are, without question, the biggest trouble magnet I've ever met.
Minotaurs falling from the sky? Gods swindling you? What's next, the One-Eyed Black Dragon dropping by for tea?"
A small smile touched Bell's lips. He reached into his inventory again, pulling out the large, dark Minotaur horn – a secondary drop from the beast.
He handed it to Welf. "This is for your trouble today. Sorry the dive got canceled."
Welf stared at the horn, then at Bell, shocked. "Whoa, hey! No! This is your kill, Bell! I didn't even draw my sword back there!"
"Think of it as an advance," Bell insisted, pushing the horn into Welf's hands. "Payment towards the new armor and the dagger you're going to make.
Consider it raw material." He tapped the chilling Cerberus Fang still in his other pocket.
Welf looked at the impressive horn, then at Bell's earnest face. He sighed, a reluctant grin forming.
"Alright, alright. Twist my arm, why don't ya?" He hefted the horn. "An irregular Minotaur horn… gonna make one hell of a pommel or guard. Thanks, Bell."
Eina managed a tired smile. "I'll leave you two to your smithing negotiations. But before that, Bell," her tone turned professional again, "I need your official statement regarding the Minotaur itself. Anything unusual you noticed beyond its strength and escape?"
Bell closed his eyes, replaying the brutal fight – the surprising blocks, the economical footwork, the intent behind the sword swings.
He opened his eyes, meeting Eina's gaze directly. "It was definitely trained, Miss Eina."
Both Eina and Welf froze. "Trained?" Welf sputtered. "Hold on, are you seriously telling me someone taught a Minotaur how to use a sword? Like, properly?"
"I wasn't sure at first," Bell admitted, "but its movements… they weren't just instinct or rage. It parried, it repositioned, it countered specific attacks. It had technique.
And the sword itself… it wasn't some crude club. Did the Guild recover it?"
Eina nodded slowly, her expression grim. "We did. It's being examined now. It is a well-made greatsword, not typical dungeon loot.
Now that you mention it was trained…" She jotted a furious note. "These changes everything. I'll escalate this immediately. We need to find out who, and how."
Bell shook his head.
"Miss Eina… whoever trained that thing, or let it loose… they're dangerous. Extremely dangerous. This isn't something the Guild can handle quietly. It needs… a Familia. A powerful one with the reach to investigate something like this without getting crushed."
His implication was clear: This was Loki or Freya level trouble.
Their conversation was abruptly cut off by a cheerful, overly familiar voice. "Yoooo! Trouble Magnet! Hero of the Hour!"
Loki Familia had arrived. Loki led the way, Tiona bouncing beside her, Tione radiating quiet intensity, Lefiya looking flustered, and Ais… Ais's golden eyes were fixed intently on Bell. Loki sidled up, ignoring Eina's exasperated look.
"Overheard the juicy bit!" Loki chirped, her crimson eyes gleaming. "Need a strong Familia to investigate a trained Minotaur? Well, lucky for you, my lovely girls are here and very interested! We'll take it from here!" She winked.
Bell turned to Eina. "I think Miss Eina can provide you with the official findings and the physical evidence, Lady Loki." His tone was polite but firm, a clear dismissal.
Loki, undeterred, stepped directly in front of Bell, peering up at him with unnerving focus. "Oh, but I heard other interesting tidbits from my dear Finn, y'know? About a certain… hidden area? With double gates? Quite the architectural anomaly." She watched Bell's reaction like a hawk.
Bell flinched internally, the image of the chilling Lord flashing in his mind. He kept his face carefully neutral.
"I believe Captain Shakti Varma of Ganesha Familia has already briefed relevant parties on what was found there. The statues, the altar… before they disappeared."
"Disappeared, yes! Very mysterious!" Loki pressed, her grin turning sly.
"But Finn said you were there when it all went down. The statues vanishing isn't the only thing that changed, are they? You changed, Little Rabbit."
Her eyes raked him up and down. "Level 2 in a month? Beating Ais's record? That fight just now… didn't look like any Level 2 I've ever seen.
More like a predator honed for the hunt. What really happened behind those gates?"
Bell met her gaze, his own eyes narrowing slightly. "And why would I tell you, Lady Loki? What obligation do I have to reveal my Familia's private affairs to another Familia? Especially," he added, his voice dropping a fraction, "a Familia whose expedition just suffered a catastrophic security breach allowing a trained Minotaur to rampage?"
The four girls behind Loki stiffened. Tione scowled, Lefiya gasped, Tiona's smile faltered, and Ais's gaze intensified.
Eina swiftly stepped between them, her Guild Advisor authority snapping into place.
"Lady Loki! This is highly inappropriate! Guild regulations strictly forbid interrogating adventurers about private Familia matters or dungeon delves unrelated to official investigations! It undermines fairness!"
Loki pouted dramatically. "Oh, come now, Advisor! Looks like the new Record Holder has stolen your heart! Shouldn't the Guild be impartial?" She waggled her eyebrows.
Eina flushed crimson. "I am ensuring my assigned adventurer is not harassed! That is my duty!"
Loki chuckled. "How about we talk it over some drinks, then? My treat! I'll even have my cuties serve you!" She gestured grandly at Tiona and Lefiya, who both blushed furiously.
"I refuse," Bell stated flatly, turning to leave. "I have no obligation and no interest."
"Now, hold on—" Loki started, but before she could finish, a hand shot out and grasped Bell's forearm.
It was Ais. She held his arm firmly, her expression unreadable, her golden eyes searching his face with unnerving intensity. The tension in the clinic waiting room spiked instantly.
"Miss Wallenstein," Bell said, his voice calm but icy, his gaze locked on hers. "Please let go."
For a second, the air crackled. Then, it was shattered.
"MY BABIES!" A woman's voice, thick with tears and relief, cut through the standoff. Maria Martel, the orphanage caretaker Bell had seen earlier, rushed down the hall, followed by a nurse leading Rhye and Roux.
Bell yanked his arm free from Ais's grasp with surprising strength, immediately turning towards the sound. The tension dissolved as his focus shifted entirely.
Rhye and Roux spotted Bell and broke into wide smiles, dragging their caretaker towards him. "Mister Adventurer! Mister Adventurer!" they chorused.
Maria Martel, tears streaming anew, but now from joy, bowed deeply. "Mister Cranel! Thank you! Thank you so much! The Sisters said they were completely unharmed, just scared! I don't know how to repay you!"
Bell knelt, a genuine, warm smile spreading across his face for the first time that day as the children hugged his legs. "I'm just glad they're safe, Miss Martel. Truly." He ruffled their hair. "No repayment needed."
"This is Rhye and this is Roux," Maria introduced them properly. "They wanted to know their hero's name."
"I'm Bell Cranel," Bell said softly to the children. "It's nice to meet you both properly."
"Come visit the orphanage sometime, Mister Cranel!" Maria insisted. "The children would love to meet their hero!"
"I'll… see if I can," Bell promised, the title 'hero' feeling less like a sting and more like a gentle warmth in this moment. He waved goodbye as Maria shepherded the children away, his expression softening.
Shakti Varma, Captain of Ganesha Familia, chose that moment to approach, having witnessed the exchange. She offered Bell a rare, warm smile.
"Not even a month in Orario, Mister Cranel, and I find you at the center of another dramatic event." She nodded respectfully. "Congratulations on your Level Up as well. Finn passed along the Guild update. And thank you. Your actions today saved lives and contained a major threat swiftly. It shows remarkable growth."
Bell gave a simple nod. "Thank you, Captain Shakti."
"IN A MONTH?!" Loki practically shrieked, her eyes bulging. She whipped her head between Bell and Shakti. "In a MONTH?! He beat Ais's record?! That scrawny rabbit?!" Her gaze snapped back to Bell, the predatory curiosity intensifying tenfold.
The description didn't match the calm, efficient predator she'd just seen, nor the gentle man comforting children.
Before Loki could launch another interrogation, Tiona darted forward, skidding to a stop in front of Bell, her eyes sparkling. "Hiya! I'm Tiona Hiryute! That was SO awesome back there! Seriously, how'd you get so crazy strong so fast? Spill the beans!" She leaned in, grinning.
Bell offered a small, enigmatic smile. "It's a secret." He then clapped a hand on Welf's shoulder. "Come on, Welf. We've got armor to discuss and a dagger to design. Time's wasting." He steered the surprised blacksmith towards the clinic exit.
"Wha— Hey! Wait!" Tiona called out, puffing her cheeks in frustration as Bell effortlessly sidestepped her.
Loki fumed silently, watching them go. She couldn't forcibly stop him, not with Shakti and Eina present, and certainly not after his pointed remark about the Loki Familia's security lapse.
Her crimson eyes followed Bell until he disappeared through the doors, a mixture of intense frustration and burning curiosity etched on her face. The mystery of Bell Cranel had just deepened exponentially, and Loki hated unsolved puzzles.
Lefiya looked confused, Tione thoughtful, and Ais… Ais watched him leave, her golden eyes holding a new, unidentifiable depth. The Rabbit had become far more interesting than anyone anticipated.