It had been two months since Bell's first dive into the Dungeon. He had made substantial progress both in the Dungeon and in his status. He was now able to routinely beat the monsters on the 9th floor. After Alfia learned of his attempt to fight his first orc, she thoroughly impressed upon what she considered the foolishness of that decision.

  The majority of Bell's status was rapidly approaching A rank, and adults were now considering whether Bell would be able to break past the S tier limit. His highest stats, Endurance and Agility, were on the cusp of reaching the limit of S. The rest of his status ranged in the A-B range, with Magic being the closest to reaching the S mark.

  As usual the group selected the Quest:

  Practice Material:

  There is a blacksmith that needs Materials from the Upper Floors.

  Adventurers will acquire the following drop items:

  3 X War Shadow Finger Blades

  3 X Killer Ant Mandibles (I made this one up)

  10 X Needle Rabbit Tusks

  1 X Orc Hide

  Guild Reward: 75,000 Valis to be split between party members.

  Today, the group consisted of Bell, Ais, Ryuu, and Alise. They had accepted a quest to retrieve practice materials at the request of a blacksmith. They made a quick descent to the relevant floors. They were in the process of acquiring the materials when they heard footsteps approaching from the way they had just come. Alise and Ryuu were the first to respond, sensing a human presence and placing themselves between it and the others. Bell and Ais, hearing their movement, turned around while keeping an eye out for monsters.

  As they waited in the corridor, the sound of approaching footsteps grew louder until two figures emerged from the shadows. One was a tall high-elf with long emerald hair cascading down her back, while the other was an average-height cat girl with sleek black hair. Alise and Ryuu visibly relaxed at their presence, but Ais’s face stiffened while Bell's face twisted in anger.

  "Hello, Lady Riveria," Alise greeted with her usual bright smile. "What can we do for you today?"

  "I was hoping to speak with both Bell and Ais," Riveria replied, taken aback by seeing two members of the Astraea familia alongside Bell and Ais. She then noticed the animosity emanating from Bell toward her.

  As soon as he heard his name escape from Riveria's lips, Bell’s face contorted and his eyes flashed angrily as he spat a response:

  "What do you want, PRINCESS Ljos ALF?"

  “Bell, you should be more res—” Ryuu started to speak but was immediately silenced by Bell's interruption.

  "I am not being disrespectful. I am simply using her title, aren't I, PRINCESS Ljos ALF?" Bell glared at Riveria, as his anger continued to mount.

  Riveria met Bell's glare with a calm, measured look, though a flicker of hurt crossed her eyes. As the reality of her misplaced hope dawned on her, a feeling of sadness settled into her chest tightening like a vise.

  Ais, usually composed, now openly fretted about Bell's change in demeanor. Meanwhile, Mini-Ais ran around, trying to find a way to help. She glanced frantically between the duo, her hands waving in desperation.

  Riveria smiled gently at Bell, her voice careful as she tried to navigate the conversation delicately;

  "Indeed," she replied, "I am a princess. But there is no need for formalities with me, Bell..."

  "Only my friends call me Bell. To you, Princess Ljos Alf, I am Captain Cranel." Bell's tone was cold and formal as his eyes narrowed with anger as he addressed Riveria.

  Alise and Ryuu were frozen in shock by the change in Bell’s demeanor, while Riveria tried to maintain a brave front despite feeling heartbroken over this turn in the conversation. Things had turned out far from how she had hoped they would be between them. To think their relationship would be reduced to this.

  “Alright, Captain Cranel. I wanted to discuss something important regarding your party with Ais. I've been concerned about her solo trips into the Dungeon. When I discovered that you were involved in those excursions, I felt compelled to talk to you and suggest adding one more member to your team. Aki is a new addition to our familia, and I believe it would be beneficial for both her and Ais to work together with you,” Riveria explained.

  Bell's expression hardened, his eyes narrowing. "You mean with orders from the mighty and honorable princess to stab me in the back at the first opportunity? That sounds like something straight out of a plan from the esteemed Loki familia." His tone dripped with disdain as he spat out the name "Loki familia," glaring fiercely at Riveria.

  "Mr. Cranel! You are being terrible to Lady—" Ryuu began, her voice quivering with emotion.

  "Shut up, Ryuu. You don’t know anything," Bell snapped back, his anger pulsing through every word. Ryuu trembled, hurt flashing in her eyes while Bell's own eyes widened in shock as he realized what he had just said as his emotions continued to get away from him.

  Before the tension could escalate any further, Alise stepped in, her eyes flashing;

  CONK.

  In one swift motion, Alise rapped Bell on the top of his head. He looked up at her, surprise and confusion mingling in his eyes. Disappointment etched into her features, she gazed down at him before.

  Thunk.

  Alise pulled Bell into a tight hug, pressing his face against her breastplate. He struggled against her hold, still quivering with rage. Despite his anger, he couldn't help but eventually surrender to the comfort of Alise's embrace. Her voice was soft, yet firm, as she spoke:

  "I don't know what's going on between you and Lady Riveria, but it's not fair to take your anger out on Lyon. I won't tell you how to feel, but please don't direct your anger towards people who are trying to help."

  Shame and remorse washed over Bell as his temper began to dissipate. He realized that he had lashed out at someone who had shown him nothing but kindness since they first met. Despite their rocky start, Ryuu had been nothing but helpful and sincere in her attempts to make amends. The realization made Bell’s face soften slightly, thinking about Ryuu's earnest efforts.

  Eventually, Bell's trembling subsided, and he pulled away from the hug, feeling calmer thanks to Alise's intervention. He glanced at Ryuu, her expression a mix of hurt and concern. Bell took a deep breath, his voice steadier now.

  “I am sorry. My emotions got the best of me. I promise to try harder in the future,” Bell said, his voice sincere as he turned to face Ryuu, who had previously frozen stiff, twitched at being addressed.

  Ryuu took a deep breath, her posture relaxing slightly, before she responded; “Thank you, Mr. Cranel. I accept your apology. I know this is not your usual behavior, and I can't even begin to imagine what could have triggered it.”

  “There is incredibly bad blood between our families,” Riveria added, her voice filled with shame and regret.

  Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

  Bell’s eyes flashed with anger. “Ha! Is that what you call it? Your wretched...”

  “All right, Bell,” Alise said, gently tapping him on the nose to bring him back to reality. “Now, what are your honest thoughts about having Anakitty join our party?”

  Bell took a deep breath, his eyes narrowing as he gathered his thoughts. He understood the distinction between what he wanted to do and what he should do. The lessons from Alfia about responsibility and future planning kept circling in his mind. Finally, he looked at Riveria, his voice strained as he nearly spat out her title. “Princess Ljos Alf, I have one question and one condition before I can consider your request further.”

  Riveria’s eyes flickered with a glimmer of hope. “What are they, Captain Cranel?”

  “First of all, whose idea was this? And secondly, the condition, I have is that Aki swears before Lord Erebus that she has no intention of harming me. As long as that is met, I will accept her as a member of our party. She can also accompany Ais during her training at Midnight Garden,” Bell responded as his face tightened into a scowl, betraying his true feelings towards the situation.

  “I came up with this plan on my own; no one else was involved. And the second condition will not be an issue.” Riveria replied, her voice steady despite the tension, as she gently nudged Aki forward.

  The young cat girl, who had been lingering behind Riveria, stepped forward hesitantly. Aki glanced at Bell, her eyes reflecting a nervous determination. Her usually cheerful demeanor was subdued, clearly affected by receiving such a hostile reaction. Bell’s eyes turned to Aki, scrutinizing her with a mixture of suspicion and distrust.

  Bell finally nodded, his expression though still severe, softened slightly as he looked at Aki. “Very well. If Aki is willing to meet that condition, then I will accept her into our party.”

  Riveria’s shoulders relaxed, a small sigh escaping her lips. “Thank you, Captain Cranel. I am sure that they will be no problem.”

  Aki cleared her throat, the sound small but full of nerves. She took a tentative step forward, her eyes flicking from Riveria to Bell.

  “Uhm, hi. I’m Anakitty Autumn. Nice to meet you,” she said, her voice wavering slightly as she offered a hesitant smile. She glanced back at Riveria, who gave her a reassuring nod.

  Bell, still casting a wary look at Riveria, responded with a measured tone. “Hello, Anakitty. I’m Bell Cranel, Captain of the Erebus Familia. Despite what I said to Princess Ljos Alf, you can call me Bell.”

  Aki's relief was palpable, though her nerves didn’t completely settle; “Oh, okay. Well, if it’s alright with you, I would like to join your party.”

  Bell’s expression remained serious as he considered her request. “As I said, I will have to discuss it with my god first and see if you meet the requirements. If so, then I will be fine with it. What do you say, Ais?”

  Ais looked up from where she had been anxiously fidgeting.

  “I agree,” she said quietly. Beside her, Mini-Ais wrung her hands nervously, her face reflecting the tension that had been building since the conversation began.

  “Okay, then Anakitty, you can come Ais to Midnight Garden tomorrow. We'll decide what to do from there,” Bell said, his tone firm but edged with a hint of weary resignation.

  “I’m on it!” Aki responded, her voice brightening with newfound enthusiasm. She nodded eagerly as her tail swished back and forth.

  Bell’s expression softened just a fraction as he sighed. “Ais and I have a quest to complete, but I'll see you tomorrow, Anakitty.”

  Riveria gave a nod of understanding. “I’ll leave as well. Ais, we’ll talk later. I’ll continue training Anakitty on a different path so as not to interfere.” With that, Riveria turned and led Aki away, their footsteps fading down the corridor.

  As the tension that had hung in the air dissipated, Bell let out a deep sigh of relief.

  “Let’s get this quest over with. I just want to go home,” he said wearily, rubbing his temples as if trying to erase the strain of the day.

  Alise nodded as she spoke “We have most of the materials we need already. The only thing left is adamantine plus some monster drops of Needle Rabbits tusks and an Orc Hide.”

  Bell’s spirits lifted slightly at the prospect of finishing their mission soon. “Great! Let’s head down to the 10th floor and retrieve that orc hide. We can gather the Adamantite on the 10th as well and get the Needle Rabbit Tusks on the way back. What do you think Ais?”

  Ais, her voice carrying the faintest trace of uncertainty after the earlier argument, responded, “Um, yes, that sounds fine.”

  Without waiting for further confirmation, Bell strode purposefully towards the entrance to the ninth floor. His pace was brisk, and he did not glance back to check if the others were following. Ais scrambled to catch up with Bell’s quick stride, her footsteps echoing in the corridor. Alise and Ryu exchanged a glance, a silent understanding passing between them. The group pressed on, each step carrying them closer to their goals and the challenges awaiting them in the Dungeon.

  10th floor

  As the group descended, luck seemed to favor them. Needle Rabbits appeared frequently, allowing them to gather the remaining tusks needed for their quests. This left only two items to collect: adamantine and Orc Hide. Bell’s demeanor had shifted since their encounter with Riveria. His attacks grew more aggressive, often prioritizing offense over defense. Reckless charges left him with injuries that could have been avoided. Ryu and Alise found themselves protecting him, softening up monsters before Bell could engage.

  Upon making their way to one of the known Adamantite deposit on the 10th floor a deafening roar echoed through the mist, drawing Bell and Ais's attention. Emerging from the hazy shroud were a dozen monstrous shapes, their guttural roars filling the air.

  "GAWRGAWRGAWR!"

  The ground trembled with each thudding step as the large silhouettes grew closer, the mist swirling around them and obscuring their full view. The approaching horde of orcs was unmistakable.

  “Ryuu, Alise, let us take one,” Bell called out, locking eyes with Ais, who nodded in agreement.

  “You’ve grown a lot, Bell. We’ll handle the rest while you go head-to-head with your opponent," Alise responded confidently, stepping back alongside Ryuu to give Bell and Ais room to fight.

  The lead orc charged forward towards Bell and Ais with a roar, swinging its massive club. Meanwhile, Alise and Ryuu faced the remaining orcs, their teamwork evident in the way they moved together. Alise's swordsmanship and Ryuu's swift strikes kept the orcs at bay, preventing them from overwhelming Bell and Ais. The duo then began to easily cut down the orcs after allowing one through.

  Bell darted to the side, narrowly avoiding the orc’s initial blow. He countered with a strike to the orc's leg, but its thick hide absorbed much of the impact, leaving behind a gash on the orc’s leg. Ais moved and her sword flashed as she took aim at the orc’s leg, causing it to stumble as her sword bit into its leg and caused it to totter slightly.

  Bell's focus narrowed to his opponent. The orc snarled, swinging its club with brute force. Bell ducked under the swing, slashing at the orc's exposed leg. The creature stumbled but quickly regained its footing, bellowing in rage.

  Bell pressed the attack, each strike more aggressive than the last, his form growing reckless. The orc's counterattack was fierce, and Bell’s lack of defense left him vulnerable.

  A sweeping blow he couldn’t fully evade struck him, sending a jolt of pain searing through his side. Several of his ribs cracked under the force, his shoulder popped, and his vision blurred for a heartbeat. He staggered back, struggling to breathe as the agony radiated through his chest.

  “Bell!” Ais shouted, her voice sharp with urgency. She sprang into action, without hesitation, she slashed at the orc’s leg, her blade a blur of steel as it connected with the orc’s thick hide, diverting its attention away from Bell.

  Gritting his teeth against the pain, Bell forced himself upright. He could feel the bones grinding in his chest with each ragged breath, but he pushed the sensation aside. Switching his sword to his uninjured hand, Bell charged forward, his sword aimed at the creature’s center.

  The orc turned back to him, its tusked mouth twisted into a snarl. It swung its massive weapon in a wide arc, but Bell was ready. He ducked low, the club whooshing over his head, and in one fluid motion, he thrust his sword upward. The steel bit deep into the orc’s chest, piercing through muscle and bone until finally hitting its magic stone.

  The creature let out a gurgling cry, its eyes wide with shock and fury. For a moment, the orc stood frozen, as if refusing to believe it had been bested. Then, with a final, shuddering breath, it crumbled into ash, leaving nothing but a cloud of dust in the space it had occupied.

  Bell staggered back, his vision swimming as the adrenaline began to fade. He could feel the full weight of his injuries now. He glanced at the pile of ash that and let out a weary sigh. The road ahead was long, and this was just the beginning.

  Ais seeing the monster burst into ash, turned to Bell, concern etched on her face. “Are you alright?” she asked, her voice steady despite the tension.

  Bell nodded, panting heavily. “Yeah, I’m fine,” he replied, though the throbbing pain in his shoulder and ribs told a different story. In addition, he breathing had become labored.

  With the immediate threat neutralized, Alise and Ryuu regrouped with them.

  “Bell, drink this now. We need to find that adamantine and get out of here,” Alise said, shoving a potion bottle Bell’s un injured hand after he sheathed his sword.

  “Sure. Sorry about that,” Bell replied, downing the potion. The liquid’s healing properties started working immediately, dulling the pain and mending his both his ribs and shoulder.

  Ryuu’s eyes scanned the surroundings, her senses on high alert. “We should move quickly. There could be more of them.”

  Alise nodded. “The adamantine deposit is not far from here. Let’s get what we need and return.”

  Bell straightened, the potion’s effects giving him a second wind. “Lead the way.”

  After the rematch with the orc, Bell and Ais were able to complete the quest by going to one of the known Adamantite deposits on the 10th floor. After that the group returns to the surface and exchanges their magic stones and materials to complete the quest.