. nn.

Hestia Familias base, the hidden room under an old church.

The room is underground, so naturally there are no morning sunbeams or crowing roosters to wake me up. Its just force of habit to get up at a certain time.

I used to have to get up early to work in the fields back home in the countryside. I developed a very precise body clock right around my tummy.

Five AM sharp.

Just to be sure, I lift my head to check the clock on the wall.

While its dim in here, its not completely dark thanks to a magic stone lamp on the ceiling. My eyes dont even have to adjust.

Human engineers figured out how to make magic stone lamps. The gods call it cutting-edge technology. It was the discovery of the century. Even the gods acknowledged the influence of human engineering techniques. These things are amazing!

The goddess and I had a small party last night. When we got sleepy, I left the bed to her and went to sleep on the sofa as usual. Sure, its not that wide, but Im used to it.

I blink a few times to get the sleep out of my eyes. I should get up and wash my face and get ready to. Huh?

Theres something on top of me. Not the sheets, and its round and extremely light. Im breathing just fine, otherwise I would have noticed sooner.

Just what is this thing? Maybe if I touched it No way! Its the goddess!

Shes asleep with her face buried in my chest. Ha-ha, imagine that.

Did she sleepwalk?

I guess theres a first time for everything, but now I have to figure out how to get out of this predicament.

Im sure I could get out from under her without waking her up, but shes so soft and cuddly, I dont want to move. Shes an extremely good body pillow, a godlike one!

There are Familias that specialize in making items and weapons, but I can say for sure that they dont have anything like this! The goddess is incredible!

With all due respect to her, I wrap my arms around her squishy body. If cotton were a liquid, this is how it would feel.

This is bad. I really wont be able to get up at this rate.

She even smells nice Aww, a tiny yawn and now shes snuggling her face into my chest like a little baby.

Shes so damn cute!!!

Wait a second, what are these soft melons on my chest? Dont tell me, its them?

I move fast. This god pillow has turned into a death trap. I slide out a little and flip her onto the sofa, trading places with her.

She almost killed me!

Its the first time shes sent a chill down my spine

They were touching me! I couldnt breathe! What if I didnt get out of there?

I put the sheet over her and get ready to go. I shouldnt be here when she wakes up. Now that I think about it, wow, Im an idiot! What have I done?! Shes a goddess! And I felt her on me

I sneak through the room and out the door without a sound.

zzz Bell, youre so stupid zzzz

Well, that was an eventful way to wake up

I sigh to myself as the brisk morning air chills my skin.

Main Street in the morning is very different from how it is in the afternoon. The streets feel so much wider at sunriseno people, no noise. Every one of the two-story shops have their shutters closed. The shops look like a long stone wall all lined up in a row.

The eastern sky is getting brighter. Im not alone on the streets, either. A few prums are setting up their store here, and a group of dwarves are talking in a cluster over there. By the looks of them, theyre adventurers like me. I wonder if Ill run into them in the Dungeon later on.

I might have a lot in common with them. I got up, got ready to prowl the Dungeon, escaped from I mean, left my goddess behind, and am now on Main Street.

Ah, rats I didnt eat anything

Grroooowlll. My stomach is talking to me. All I can do is trudge toward the Dungeon and rub my tummy to calm it down.

There is nothing in there, just hunger.

At this rate, I wont be able to slay anything in the Dungeon. Cant concentrate

I know that I said I wanted to save money yesterday, but if I dont get something to eat, Ill starve before I even get there. Whats open at this time? Maybe I can find a nice morsel

?!

Somethings behind me!

Behind my right shoulder!

Nothing? Im not the kind of adventurer who can sense danger or anything, but I swear I felt the eyes of a killer on my back Something saw me.

Were they sizing me up? Whoever this is, theyre not normal, and they arent holding anything back.

Theres someone on the caf terrace setting up tables, two animal people standing on that corner over there, and a woman looking down from the roof of that shop My eyes are jumping back and forth to all the people I can find. Maybe I missed someone over my other shoulder?

Everything looks normal for early morning on Main Street. There isnt even a suspicious shadow around. Then again, I probably look pretty suspicious, standing in the center of the road with my head on a swivel. As soon as I look at anyone, though, they get right back to work.

Am I going crazy? Is the black hole in my gut playing tricks on me?

My heart is pounding in my ears. I know theres definitely something around here

Um, excuse me

!

I spin around and raise my fists to defend against the source of the voice. Onlookers probably think Im overacting.

A girl, a human like me, is standing there.

She wears a white blouse with a light green knee-length skirt. On top of that is a salon apron.

Her simple blue-gray hair is tied into a tight bun on the back of her head, but a ponytail sticks out from the center of it.

Her eyes, the same color as her hair, look innocent and rather cute. Shes so scared that her smooth, milky skin is all bunched up around her eyes. Oh yeah, my fist is a few inches from her jaw

Shes no threat. What the hell is wrong with me today?

S-sorry! I was just a little surprised

No, no! Im sorry for startling you

Now shes apologizing just as furiously as I am. She didnt do anything

She looks older than me, but just a year or two tops.

Was this the girl I saw on the caf terrace? She was carrying a table all by herself

Um, can I help you?

Oh yes. Here, you dropped this.

A bluish purple crystal sits in her outstretched palm.

A magic stone? Huh?

I crane my neck around to look at the pouch strapped to my lower back. I use this fist-sized pouch to hold all the magic stones I collect from monsters in the Dungeon.

A drawstring usually keeps it wrapped up pretty tight. Is it loose? I thought I exchanged all of the stones I collected yesterday at headquarters. Did I miss one?

Only adventurers would have magic stones in the first place, so maybe shes right.

Thank you for going out of your way!

Oh, no. Dont mention it.

I return the smile that blooms on her face. My eyebrows drop a bit in shame. I have no idea what to say, so I just chuckle along with her. My shoulders finally relax as she good-naturedly hands me the stone.

Are you already heading to the Dungeon at this hour?

Yep, I thought Id get to work a bit early today.

She asked that question to break the awkward silence. I didnt know what to say myself, so Im glad she spoke up. Ill try to say good-bye after a little small talk.

Or so I thought. My stomach speaks up before I can make a clean getaway.

Her eyes go wide.

My face goes red.

I hear her laugh a little. My face feels hot enough to cook an egg. Nah, it would burn

Ha-ha. Are you hungry?

Yeah.

So, you didnt have any breakfast this morning?

This is so awkward. I cant look her in the eyes, just drop my head and nod.

I see a little light flick on in her eyes. She suddenly turns and runs quickly to the caf, her boots clopping on the Main Street pavement. She disappears into a side door and returns almost as quickly as she left.

She has a charming little basket clutched in her arms. Bread and cheese are sticking up from the brim.

If this is okay I mean, the caf isnt open yet, so all I can offer is my morning rations

Eh? No, no, no. Thats your breakfast! I cant accept it!

She looks a little bit shy and bites her lip.

Whoa Shes one of those inner-beauty types.

When I see Ms. Wallenstein or the goddess, I get butterflies. Not so much with this girl, but the more I talk to her, the cuter she looks

The goddess would call her a good girl next door type of girl.

I cant leave you hungry like this. It would make me sad as a person to do that. So please, Mr. Adventurer, accept it, for me.

How can I say no to that?

How can I possibly refuse something offered up like that? I dont have the guts to say no to that smile.

She closes her eyes for a moment while I search for my next words. When she opens them, a mischievous smile creeps over her face. She leans forward until her face is just a few inches from mine.

A little too close

Mr. Adventurer, Im making this sacrifice for you. So in exchange for the bread and cheese this morning

In exchange?

You have to eat dinner tonight at the bar I work at.

It was my eyes turn to get wide.

I slowly chew over her words.

This girl has completely destroyed the ice. This is the first time weve met, and shes laughing like we are old buddies.

You dont play fair, do you?

Hee-hee-hee. Here you are! Dont worry about it because Im sure Im going to make a lot of money today!

Basically, spend a lot of money tonight! Great.

Whats with her? Isnt that a lot of pressure to put on someone you just met?

Well then, Ill be seeing you tonight.

Yes! Ill be waiting!

She laughs for me as I leave. Sure, I feel a little manipulated, but I also feel good, kind of like we just had tea together or something. Why am I suddenly so shy?

I hold the basket in one hand as she sees me off.

I look down Main Street, toward the tower at the center of the city. Lines of tall buildings pierce the morning sky, but the center tower looms over all of them. The Dungeon is waiting below it.

Something very important pops into my head as I take my first step. So I turn back to her.

She looks a bit confused. I take a deep breath.

I Im Bell Cranell. What is your name?

A heavy second passes as I squint my eyes waiting for her response. They pop open when she smiles at me.

Im Syr Flover, Bell.

We exchange names, laughs, and waves before I set out.

The Dungeon was here before the gods came down to our world.

There was a city above the Dungeon, too, just much smaller than it is today. Ive heard the Guild was there as well.

What Im trying to say is that there were people who joined the Guild and fought monsters without receiving a blessing.

Gwyaaa!

Haaaa!!!

Part of me doesnt believe it was possible. The other part of me is completely awestruck with admiration for the adventurers of old. I have a blessing, but I only recently got strong enough to slay kobolds. Those guys fought and slew monsters that were far more powerful in this very dungeon.

Shyaaa!

Hyaaa?!

Gyuee!

What if?

What if those adventurers were here now, in the present?

What if a warrior who could dominate enemies with pure power was here?

If that warrior were in my situation, he could mow these monsters down and pick his nose at the same time.

GRUOOOOOR!

Theres just no way!!

I cant do this.

Damn it, you coward!!!

GRAAAAAA!!

I turn my back to the group of kobolds and run like hell. The six of them shoot out after me, all of them tenacious fiends.

Im still in lower Level One of the Dungeon.

All I can see are the dark blue walls and ceiling as I run by. The floor spreads out in all directions in this sky-less maze. The path forks suddenly; there are many intersections, and even some slopes in here. Im pumping my arms as I run back the same path I always take through this level.

Its still morning, and Im pretty sure Im the only one here. I was playing it safe, staying on Level One, and had the luck to run into a group of these bastards.

There were eight of them at first. By some miracle, I took out two before I got surrounded. But when the rest spread out like a net, I had no choice but to run away.

Kobolds dont do thatat least they arent supposed to. Usually the dog-headed beasts wander around alone or in pairs and attack with sharp claws and fangs. I realize Im a newbie and all, but Ive never seen kobolds act like this before.

The Minotaur yesterday, and now this.

I must be cursed or something.

Huh?

Thats it! This part of the floor is a loop! I jump behind two corners and hold my breath.

Run around forever like yesterday or ambush them. I choose ambush. As soon as they turn that corner, Ill make my move.

I may have a plan, but my heart is still testing the limits of my rib cage. Damn, Im nervous.

If other adventurers were here, theyd laugh through their noses and call me an idiot.

However, the halls of lower Level One are wide. Going against a group of enemies isnt a good idea; youll get surrounded. No matter how much you run around, a one-on-one battle will never happen. So says Dungeon theory, anyway.

Theres also a risk of being caught in a pincer between two enemies.

If Im going to survive this, I have to attack.

!

Clop, clop, clop. The thumping sounds of their feet are closing in.

I look down at all five of my fingers, clenching ever tighter to my dagger.

I, Bell Cranell, am a dagger wielder. This particular dagger is about twenty celch long and is my only weapon.

My sweaty palm grips even tighter, and I try to focus through all the beasts howls echoing through the corridor. Forcing my heart to be quiet, I take a deep breath.

The second I see their bloodshot eyes turn the corner, I spring the trap.

Yaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!

Gehh?

Time slows down. I lock eyes with their leader. Jump!

My reflection grows in its eyes. Strike!

Direct hit through the heart. Thats one down.

The remaining kobolds round the corner half a breath later and jerk back in surprise. But I cant let up now! I grab the body of the dying kobold still on my dagger and charge headlong into the horde, using it like a shield. Two of them get bowled over by my surprise attack.

Ga-ghaa?

Whaa!

Gyoogu?!

I roll over the body, coming up clean and withdrawing my dagger from the first kill. The two kobolds I hit fall flat on their backs.

That ones close! Dive, slash down! Through the throat! Thats two.

Gyaoooo!!!

!

Gyo!

The last three are moving! Coming right for me!

Duck, roll back. The one above me, its wide open, but my dagger wont get there in time! I do the next best thing: kick. I bury my boot in its mouth.

Snap!

It crashes to the floor above me, its neck angled in a direction its not supposed to go. Third one gone.

I win!

Kyaaann!

I declare this battle mine.

The three left cant surround me. Kobolds arent too bright. They wont figure anything out. Especially now, since my dagger found the gut of the next jumper. Four down, two to go.

I see fear in the last twos eyes. But Im not stopping now. Two steps, two slashes, and the last two bodies hit the floor.

HaaahaaaI won.

I sit down on the dungeon floor for a breather.

Did I just do that? Ive never faced that many before, but somehow I did it.

Not even a scratch on me Not bad at all!

There might have been a better way to face them. But Im solo. Theres no one here to tell me how or give me orders.

Hell, Im the only member of Hestia Familia. Without any veterans or allies to show me the ropes, I have to do things my own way. Do things my own way Sounds nice, but Im still just a newbie making things up as I go along. Im not good for anything yet.

What if I asked someone from another Familia to train me up a bit? I mean, I dont want to die doing things my own way but wait. If I did that, Id be a laughingstock. My goddess, too. What would the god of the other Familia think if I did that? Things would get way too complicated.

Any way I look at it, Ill be better off alone.

As long as I dont go on adventures, I can fight and win.

Do whatever it takes to fight against one monster at a time.

Stay in the upper levels.

Use the surroundings to your advantage.

All right.

Time to stand up and get to work on those bodies. One of the slain monsters tongues is hanging out, like the kobolds still trying to breathe. I dont feel sorry for it but can still help it along. I raise my dagger over its body.

Flesh tears apart as I plunge the blade deep into its chest. Its body flinches and blood squirts everywhere, but that doesnt matter. Im after the small, shiny, bluish-purple shard in its chest.

The magic stone.

Its a crystal with magical power; all monsters in the dungeon have them. I know Im always saying this, but I dont know much more than that. Maybe I should break down and read a book like the goddess is always telling me to do.

Anyway, the Guild pays cash in exchange for these beauties because of their magical properties. This is how I make money, collecting magic stones to trade.

The magic stones are used for many things through human engineering, like the lamp back at my room. The stones can be used to power stoves for cooking or even to freeze foods to keep them fresh. They are a valuable resource. Orario sells the stones to other cities and countries for big money, or at least thats what Ive heard. I think the Guild should get the credit, though, not the city.

The stone that I took out of the kobold is actually just a shard.

Only about the size of my fingernail, its not worth that much money. So far, the monsters Ive slain on lower Levels One to Four have all had this kind of shard. The Guild pays more for bigger shards and full stones.

The kobolds body starts changing the moment I pull out the shard. At first, it flattens out like strings had been cut, and color drains from its face. Then without warning, its entire body turns to ash and disappears without a trace.

All monsters disappear after their magic stone is removed.

Eina said that the magic stone is a monsters core, its power source. The magical energy of the stone gives them life. Eina also said that a good strategy for taking them down in a pinch is to aim for the stones. If the stone gets damaged in battle, the Guild wont buy it. But I dont think anyone would complain about losing a little cash if theyre about to get slaughtered.

I watch the last of the body dissipate, but I cant relax yet. Ive got five more shards to collect here, and two back where I first ran into the group. I dont have time to let them just lay around.

Cut, slash, grab, pull. Walk to the next, repeat, walk farther still, repeat.

Huh?

I just pulled out the magic stone of one of the kobolds, but one of the claws on its right hand didnt turn to ash. It hit the floor with a plop and rocked a bit. The claw isnt going anywhere.

Looks like this is a drop item.

Sometimes a piece of a monsters body stays behind even after its stone has been removed. It just means that particular monsters stone stored energy in a different part of the body. So that part of the monster has enough independent energy to stay behind even after the stone is removed. It also means this kobold had a very sharp claw

I can sell this, too. The Guild will sell it to the blacksmiths, and they will make it into a weapon or something. If this is high enough quality, I might get more for it than the magic shards!

Finally! A little luck!

I put the shards into my pouch, but I put the kobold claw into my black backpack.

My backpack may look bland, but it has a few secrets. It was made with high-quality material and woven with magic. It can hold more than your average sack. Its not perfect, though. If it gets too full, the seams will tear. And of course, the weight. There really is no perfect item, is there

Usually a supporter travels with adventurers and collects all the magic stones and drop items. But Hestia Familia doesnt have any supporters, just me. I have to carry everything I pick up, and all that stuff gets pretty heavy. Ah, soloing in the Dungeon

Maybe I should hire a free supporter, someone not in any Familia. Einas been disappointed with me recently, so a supporter might help.

Then again, were broke. How can I hire someone when its all I can do to buy food and items?

UAAHHHH!!!!

Gyaaaa!!!!

Round two?

Come on! Give me a break!

The Dungeon is a weird place, even if you ignore the magic stones.

This is the only one in the world. Like I said earlier, its been here since before the gods arrived on Gekai.

There are legends about the bottom of the Dungeon. They say its connected to Hell or some magical world. Youd think the gods would be able to tell us whats down there, but they never give us a straight answer.

The Dungeon is a dungeon. What else can you find there other than a dungeon?

Words of the wise for sure. The gods really must like this place.

I was shocked the first time I heard that the Dungeon itself is alive.

Its not like the walls are made of muscle and chase you around; they dont move at all. In fact, adventurers have mapped out many of the floors. The maps are for sale at the Guild. I heard that the farther down you go, the floors get mind-numbingly huge. So the maps are less and less complete the lower the floor.

When I say alive, I mean it heals itself. If a wall is damaged or destroyed one day, its back to normal the next.

The magic stones may not be that impressive, but the dungeon itself is made from something really special. Even our best scientists cant explain how or why these things happen. All they can do is watch and marvel at it.

The walls have to be made of something a lot like magic stones. Sunlight never reaches inside, and yet its always bright enough to see. The ceiling of the first floor is speckled with tiny lights like sparks all over the place. No matter what time of day it is outside, its bright in here.

Lets not forget the monsters. Theyre born in the Dungeon.

Literally, in the Dungeon. They hatch from the walls. Im not kidding. Many adventurers have seen it firsthand. Thats why no matter how many monsters are slain, their numbers never go down.

But they dont hatch just anywhere. Each floor bears different monsters. Sure, some irregulars might go up or down a floor or two, but most stay on their birth floor. On a side note, the deeper the floor, the stronger the monsters.

The floors themselves are connected by stairs, slopes, what have you. If I make a mistake and get lost, I cant warp to the Dungeon entrance. No one can. Were not gods, you know? Adventurers and monsters can only rely on their feet when in the Dungeon.

Monsters are only born in the Dungeon.

So if the Dungeon is contained and managed, there is no threat living above it.

Thats how the first guild was formed. Now the benefits of the Dungeon and the Guild go hand in hand.

A goblin nearly killed me several years ago when I was a kid. Most likely it descended from goblins that escaped from the Dungeon before the Guild was here. Monsters live far and wide across the world as well.

So yeah, they can breed just fine.

A place that spawns prosperity and danger, very mysterious

Its kind of scary to think about, but I think that the Dungeon isnt originally part of this world, just like the gods and goddesses werent. There is no way humans and demi-humans built it.

Of course, theres no way to confirm that, its just my gut feeling.

seeh!

Gobbyaaaa!

How did I not see that goblin in the middle of the hallway?!?

Direct hit to my stomach, his foot got inside my ribs!

I catch a glimpse of his bulging eyes as my body folds under the force of his kick. I roll backward.

Those eyes I can still remember them from when I was attacked. Add in the pasty green skin, and youve got a good idea what haunted my dreams for years. But now that I received a blessing, I can kill them in a heartbeat, just like this. What a difference

I remember when I first saw one in this Dungeon my first time here. I was so scared I couldnt move. Feels like ages ago now.

Oh! Another drop item!

This time its a goblin fang.

I put it into my backpack, but the extra weight is really getting to me. Feels like Im carrying bricks in that thing. My spine itself is talking to methats not a good sign.

Theres still plenty of room in the bag, though If Im fighting goblins like that one, I can still move like normal. I think

Gyshaaaa!

Eh? Dahh!!

Correction. I should call it a day.

Sure, it was a sneak attack, but I should have been able to dodge that attack completely.

Another goblin was hiding in the shadow of the wall; now hes standing in front of me and baring his fangs. We lock eyes as I unhook my backpack and set it on the floor.

I cant take any chances. Even if Im not going on adventures, danger lurks around every corner in here. Didnt Eina say that the most dangerous thing an adventurer can think is, Ah, whatever?

I should head back. Exchange what I collected today and just head home. Its not that big a deal.

I wonder if Ms. Wallenstein will ever be interested in me. I have no damn clue how to get her to notice me, but as I am now I dont have a chance!

Just thinking about the face of my savior lights my soul on fire.

I have dinner plans tonight. Better make sure I get enough money to eat something at Syrs bar. I promised her Id be there. Gotta get more shards than usual to cover it. Ive already spent half a day prowling around down here.

Time to kick some ass!

Hey, goblin! Right back at ya!

Buweee!!

Now hes in pieces.

Bell Cranell

Level One

Strength: I-82 H-120 Defense: I-13 I-42

Utility: I-96 -> H-139 Agility: H-172 G-225 Magic: I-0

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