The mid-morning sun filtered through the clouds, casting a warm light over the rooftops of Orario. Distant bells marked the rhythm of the city, and with each chime, adventurers fanned out through the streets, beginning their own stories.
Bell adjusted his sword strap at his hip and made sure the Artemis spear was securely fastened on his back. The steel of the blade gleamed even beneath the cloak that covered it, as if it had a mind of its own. Artemis hadn't said anything since last night, and though the silence was comfortable, Bell couldn't help but feel like he was being watched by the goddess's hidden eyes within the weapon.
As he walked out the doors of the renovated church, Bell paused for a moment to look at it from the outside.
He still couldn't get used to seeing it like this: with its sturdy walls, clean windows, and restored stained-glass windows. It felt... too good for him. As if his life had changed faster than he could understand.
"One more day," he muttered to himself, going down the stairs and adjusting his coat. "One more day and we'll go."
The city buzzed with activity around him, but Bell walked aimlessly, as if guided more by the need to move than by a clear destination. Sometimes, when everything became too noisy, he needed to walk alone, in silence, to collect his thoughts.
The expedition to the 18th floor was no small feat. Even though he was now level 2 (almost 3), he couldn't get complacent. He knew from experience that a single mistake in the dungeon could cost him his life... or someone else's.
And even though he didn't say it out loud, he still felt the weight of his encounter with Freya. He still struggled to understand her words... or her intentions.
"Orion," Artemis's voice suddenly whispered, with a hint of amused reproach. "You're frowning again."
Bell let out a light laugh, his first all day.
"Does it bother you?"
"No. But you look like you're about to fight the air."
"It wouldn't be the first time," he replied.
"Where are we going?" Artemis asked.
Bell shrugged as he walked down a side alley toward the market.
"I don't know yet. Maybe to see Eina; I haven't spoken to her since I returned from the trip. Or check out a magic item shop. I want to make sure I don't miss anything for the expedition."
"That sounds prudent," Artemis said with a hint of approval. "Though it also sounds... like an excuse."
Bell stopped in his tracks.
"Excuse for what?"
"To avoid thinking about what really worries you."
Bell didn't respond immediately. He just let out a sigh.
"Maybe."
And he kept walking.
The Guild building stood imposing as ever, guarding the endless stream of adventurers entering and exiting. Bell pushed open the main door and made his way through the murmurs, laughter, and heavy footsteps. Far beyond the counters and bulletin boards, he recognized the familiar figure of his advisor.
Eina Tulle, in her distinctive uniform, was reviewing some documents behind the counter. Bell approached with a shy smile, raising a hand to get her attention.
"Eina-san?"
The half-elf looked up. Her expression changed in a split second: first relief... then anger.
"BELL CRANEL!"
The scream made several adventurers turn around. Bell took a small step back, a bead of sweat forming on his temple.
"Ah... yes, it's me…"
Eina circled the counter like a well-dressed storm, crossing her arms in front of her with an expression that was a mixture of concern and suppressed fury.
"Where were you?! Do you know what it was like for me to open the casualty report every morning hoping to find your name?!"
"E-Eina-san... I'm sorry, I didn't think that..."
"You didn't think, exactly!" she interrupted, pointing a finger at him. "You left without warning. You disappeared from Orario. No one knew if you were alive or dead. You didn't even leave a note for your advisor!"
Bell looked down, scratching the back of his neck. "It wasn't intentional… it all happened so fast…"
"If I hadn't seen you when you were accompanying Hermes-sama, I would still think you were dead!"
The room was silent. Even one of the adventurers in line had stopped filling out his form.
Bell looked up, smiling nervously.
"But... I'm okay. I made it. I'm back."
Eina pursed her lips. For a moment, it seemed as though she was going to continue screaming... but instead, she sighed, lowered her shoulders, and hugged him briefly, firmly.
"Idiot," she muttered.
Bell stood still, surprised by the gesture. Then, very gently, he returned the hug.
"Sorry…"
Eina stepped back and crossed her arms again, resuming her professional posture.
"You better tell me everything. What happened? Where did you go? Why didn't you tell me?"
"It's a long story," Bell said, scratching his cheek. "But… I'm preparing for an expedition now. We are going to the 18th floor."
Eina raised an eyebrow. "18th floor? You alone?"
"Not alone. I'll go with a group. With the Takemikazuchi Familia."
Eina's face softened slightly, though traces of annoyance still remained.
"Okay. But you owe me a full story when you get back."
Bell nodded with a smile.
"I promise."
"Before I let you go on that expedition, there's something we're going to do first," Eina said, pushing Bell down the Guild's side corridor. Her tone left no room for argument.
Bell blinked. "Huh?"
Minutes later, he was sitting in a small study room at the Guild, surrounded by stacks of scrolls, diagrams, and thick books. Facing him, Eina held a wooden pointer and the implacable expression of a determined teacher.
"Let's go over every monster you can encounter between floors 1 and 18. Where they spawn, behavior, weaknesses, attack patterns... everything. I don't plan on letting you go down unprepared."
Bell sighed. "All that...? Couldn't I just... you know... wing it?"
"Improvising is the fastest way to die in the Dungeon," Eina replied, twirling the pointer like a dagger.
Bell swallowed. "Understood."
Thus began the most intense study session of his life. As the sun slowly moved across the sky, Bell read about War Shadows, Killer Ants, Lizardmen, Infant Dragons, and even the natural hazards of certain floors. Eina didn't let him miss a single one.
So the hours passed. At some point, Bell began to find his rhythm. He even dared to crack a few jokes to lighten the load.
"Eina-san… if I study like this every day, I'll become a librarian, not an adventurer!"
"With that idea, maybe you'll live long enough to retire with all your bones intact," Eina replied without missing a beat.
When he finally closed the last book, the sky was already burning red. The golden light of sunset streamed through the living room windows, tinting the edges of the scrolls orange. Bell stretched with a groan.
"Was that…all??"
Eina sighed, though her lips curved into a small smile. "For today. But review these notes tomorrow before you leave."
She handed him a small notebook filled with summary notes. Bell took it with both hands as if it were a treasure.
"Thank you, Eina-san. Really."
She paused for a moment, then gave him a warmer smile.
"Just come back alive, okay?"
Bell nodded firmly. "I will."
The sound of Bell's footsteps on the stones mingled with the gentle evening breeze. He clutched his notebook to his chest, still mentally reviewing the details of the monsters, when his eyes lifted and he saw her: the Hostess of Fertility.
His heart skipped a beat.
It was right there, illuminated by the district's lanterns, that tavern he knew so well... and which at the same time made his stomach clench. The door was open, as always, letting out the sounds of laughter, clinking plates, and lively conversation.
For a moment Bell thought about passing by.
But his steps stopped.
"…No. Enough."
He had run away once. He had avoided that door, that place, out of fear. Out of confusion. Because of the face of a girl who didn't really exist... or at least, not in the way he thought. Syr. Freya. Lies and truth intertwined.
He took a deep breath. He gripped his notebook tightly. And took a step toward the tavern.
The tavern door closed behind Bell with a soft creak. For a moment, he stood still, feeling the bustle inside envelop him. Voices, laughter, clanking dishes... Everything sounded the same as before, but to him, it wasn't.
He took a step inside.
And then he saw her.
Syr.
She approached with a warm, bright smile, almost identical to the one she used to show him when things were simpler. But now Bell knew the truth. The 85 above her head confirmed it: it wasn't just Syr. It was Freya.
"Bell!" she exclaimed with genuine enthusiasm. "I'm so glad to see you again."
Bell swallowed uncomfortably. His body was tense, and although he wanted to take a step back, he didn't. Because he had made a decision.
He didn't know if he could forgive everything right away... but he wanted to start. Step by step.
"Hi, Syr…" he replied, trying hard to sound calm. He didn't quite smile, but he didn't look away either. His voice was firm, though there was still caution in his eyes.
She seemed to light up at that alone. Her expression filled with profound relief, as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. Gently, she took his arm to guide him to a table.
As they walked, he leaned in slightly and whispered next to her ear, his tone soft and tingling with real emotion.
"I'm so happy you considered coming back…"
Bell didn't respond immediately. His emotions were a difficult knot to untangle. But he wasn't there for her, not yet. He was there because Syr had been someone important to him, and even though he now knew the truth, he still wanted to understand. To give forgiveness a chance, not a relationship… not a fake closeness.
"I want to figure all this out… little by little," he finally said, once we were seated. "But don't expect everything to go back to the way it was. Not right away."
Syr nodded slowly. Her smile was still there, less brilliant, more serene… more sincere.
For her, that was enough. At least for now.
Bell sat at the table, noticing how the waitresses moved skillfully between the tables. Ryuu, with his usual composure, stood in the back, polishing glasses with a calm expression, while Anya walked with her usual outgoing demeanor, always with a smile. Bell, although somewhat uncomfortable, couldn't help but notice something peculiar.
The numbers above their heads had changed.
Ryuu: 10.
Anya: 12.
They had risen.
The change wasn't immediate, but Bell couldn't help but make a connection. He remembered what their numbers had been like the last time he'd been at the tavern. Lower, much lower. That time, when they'd asked him to return Syr's purse, they'd probably interpreted it differently. It wasn't just the disappearance itself; it was the feeling that, by avoiding visiting them, Bell had let go of the connection they had, especially with Syr.
But now, seeing him back in the tavern with Syr, as if nothing had happened, things changed. The fact that Bell didn't reject her, that he accepted her company without further ado, showed them that, at least in their eyes, something had changed. They no longer saw him as so distant, so alien.
Ryuu, though as serious as ever, watched more closely. Though she didn't express it verbally, the exchange of numbers reflected a tacit understanding: Bell was there, next to Syr, and he wasn't rejecting her. For them, that simple gesture seemed to be enough to elevate their perception of him. Bell noticed the weight of her gaze, but also a certain relief, as if the waters had calmed a little.
Anya, on the other hand, had something in her gaze, a mixture of curiosity and satisfaction at seeing Bell in the tavern, at seeing that, although time had passed, things seemed to be starting to fall into place again.
Bell, uncomfortable, looked away and looked at Syr, feeling that strange mix of emotions. Should he have come sooner? Should he have done it differently? He still didn't know how to fit it all together, but at least for the moment, it all seemed like a step forward, even if it was a small one.
"This isn't easy," Bell thought, sitting up a little straighter in his chair.
Bell ordered his food in a calm voice, trying to behave as normally as possible.
It wasn't long before Syr approached.
"Everything okay? You haven't forgotten how to use a fork, have you?" she joked, giving him a knowing look as she leaned slightly toward him.
Bell forced a smile. "I can manage."
Syr was called from the bar, but returned minutes later with a pitcher of water, even though Bell already had one. She didn't say anything this time; she simply placed it on the table and left with a slight twitch of her ponytail.
This continued throughout their stay. Whenever Syr had a free moment, she found an excuse to stop by their table: extra bread, clearing a plate early, asking if she needed anything else. Bell didn't turn her away, but he didn't invite her to stay, either. He just maintained his composure, knowing that this was her way of approaching him… and he, by his own choice, wasn't going to avoid her.
But they noticed.
The gazes in the tavern began to gather. Regular customers murmured among themselves, whispering with curious glances. A group of adventurers stopped talking to glance at her, and there was no shortage of mutterings: "Does Syr-chan have a favorite?"
The lovely waitress known for her kind treatment of everyone was making it clear—even without words—that Bell was not "just another one."
He felt the change in the atmosphere. It wasn't hostile, but it was marked.
As Syr returned for the third time with what was clearly an unnecessary roll, a loud voice echoed from behind the counter.
"Syr, stop flirting with the boy and get to work!"
The entire tavern fell silent for a second. Bell stiffened in his seat as all eyes turned to him.
Syr turned around with a nervous smile, "I'm not flirting, Mamma Mia! I'm just… being nice."
"Yeah. Yeah, sure, let's just say I'll believe you…" Mia Grant grumbled, shaking a bottle behind the bar. "Move it before someone thinks we give discounts for blushing!"
Syr giggled and walked away, muttering something about lack of appreciation for good intentions.
Bell, meanwhile, lowered his head slightly, scratching his cheek. He wasn't blushing from embarrassment… exactly.
"Hmm… should I have stayed studying with Eina?" he thought, trying not to look even more guilty than Mia had already made him out to be.
Bell finished his meal in silence, accompanied by the warm murmurs of the restaurant. He stood up and approached Mia to pay.
"Thanks for the food," he said, leaving the necessary coins on the counter.
Mia looked at him with one of her eyes half-closed, wiping her hands with a cloth.
"Try not to cause a disaster, with Syr behind you it's a guaranteed event, kid," she murmured, though a small smile escaped the corner of her lips.
Bell bowed his head with a mixture of respect and slight discomfort.
Bell walked calmly out of the tavern, his stomach full and his head a little queasy. He had barely stepped down the first step when a familiar voice called out to him from behind him.
"Bell!"
She stopped and turned around. Syr was standing in the doorway, holding it with one hand, her expression lit by a soft smile. When she saw that he didn't move away, she stepped out carefully and approached him.
"Thanks for coming," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Really… thanks for coming back."
Bell looked at her for a moment, nodding with a small smile. He wasn't sure what the right thing to say was, but her gesture was enough. "I'm glad I did," he replied sincerely.
After that brief pause, he turned around to continue on his way.
But before he could even take a step, he felt arms wrap around his torso from behind. His body tensed reflexively, surprised by the gesture. Syr's voice whispered softly, barely a murmur against his back.
"I know you were uncomfortable…" she said. "But still… you came. And you're trying. That… means a lot to me."
Bell stayed still. He didn't respond right away, but he didn't pull away either. He could feel the sincerity of her words in the way she held him: lightly, without pressure… as if she was afraid he'd disappear if she squeezed too hard.
After a brief moment, Syr released the hug, barely stepping back.
Bell turned his head slightly to look at her out of the corner of his eye. He didn't say anything, just nodded slightly before continuing on his way.
Syr watched him walk away, one hand on her chest and a smile that, this time, was softer… and more real.
Syr stood at the entrance of the tavern for a moment longer, watching Bell walk down the street. Then, with a calm smile, he returned inside as he closed the door behind him.
Bell let out a low sigh and continued walking down the cobblestone street. It was already nighttime, but Orario still shone with the light of lanterns and magic. He felt lighter, though he still couldn't say everything was all right.
That's when he felt it.
A cold sting ran down his neck.
The message flashed through his mind, dry and emotionless. A chill ran down his spine.
[Someone is having murderous thoughts towards you.]
Bell stopped immediately. His eyes scanned the surroundings: alleys, rooftops, shadows lengthening in the lantern light. He didn't see anyone suspicious... but the feeling didn't go away. It was faint, but constant. As if a gaze was piercing him from somewhere he couldn't see.
He didn't know who, or from where, or why.
But he did know one thing: it wasn't a good idea to just stand there.
He clenched his fists and began to walk faster. The sound of his footsteps became firmer, more determined. He wasn't running—not yet—but his whole body was on alert. Home wasn't far away. He just had to get there.
And hope that feeling doesn't get stronger.