"Only I can truly understand the value of a quirk."
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Two days since joining hestia familia.
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All For One stood near the fountain close to Babel Tower, his expression neutral as he waited for Eina to arrive. The sooner they secured him a weapon, the sooner he could resume his dungeon diving and further his plans.
The previous night had been both productive and vexing. Hestia, overly concerned, had stayed up waiting for his return.
She scolded him—him! The terror of heroes, the undisputed Emperor of Japan's criminal underworld, reprimanded like some misbehaving child for coming home late. The indignity of it gnawed at his pride.
For a fleeting moment, the thought of incinerating her on the spot with the new ability he had "acquired" crossed his mind.
But no. Acting on such an impulse would be shortsighted. Hestia had her uses. Through her, he gained legitimacy—a vital façade to shield his future... unsavory pursuits. That alone made tolerating her meddling worthwhile, for now.
He pushed the thought aside, refocusing on the more pressing matter: the lack of an investigation into the adventurer he'd killed to acquire his new ability.
He had revisited the alley from the previous night, expecting to see some sign of the aftermath—a body, blood, anything to suggest a crime had taken place. Yet it was as if the scene had been wiped clean. Not a trace remained.
Someone had found the body and removed it before the authorities could act. They had cleaned the area meticulously. Whoever was responsible could pose a threat—someone who needed to be watched and handled carefully.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Mr. Cranel!"
The familiar voice startled him slightly, his senses catching it at the last second.
How had she managed to approach him so silently?
He turned to find Eina standing beside him, her usual cheerful smile on display.
"Not at all, Miss Tulle. I just arrived," he replied smoothly, studying her.
Today, she wasn't in her guild uniform. Instead, she wore a white blouse with long sleeves, accented by a small brown ribbon at the collar, paired with a short red pleated skirt. Black knee-high socks completed the ensemble, giving her a casually appealing look.
"You look lovely, Miss Tulle," he said, allowing a practiced soft smile to grace his features.
Her reaction was immediate. She blinked in surprise, a faint blush rising to her cheeks.
"O-oh, you think so?" she stammered, clearly flustered by the unexpected compliment.
"Of course. I wouldn't lie to a lady," he responded smoothly, his tone seemingly warm and sincere.
Compliments were a simple yet effective tool, one he'd long since mastered. They disarmed people, made them more pliable—especially women. A small, calculated gesture like this could lay the groundwork for strong loyalty in the future.
Her face turned a deeper shade of pink. "T-thank you, Mr. Cranel."
"Call me Bell," he said casually, his voice calm and inviting. "Formalities aren't necessary now that you're my advisor. We should get along more casually."
Eina hesitated briefly, clearly unsure, but quickly made up her mind. "In that case, it's only fair you call me by my first name."
All For One's smile widened—an innocent gesture to any outsider, but inwardly, he was pleased. Building a closer relationship with a guild employee—especially one as competent as Eina—would undoubtedly prove advantageous in the future.
"Shall we move on to the weapon shop you mentioned?" he asked, deciding it was time to move the conversation along.
"O-of course! Follow me," she replied quickly, regaining her composure as she gestured toward Babel Tower.
As they walked, he trailed a step behind her, his thoughts already shifting to the future. His progress thus far had been steady, but there was still so much to do.
The question of how to handle the inevitable exposure of his activities from the previous night when Hestia updates his status lingered in his mind. He needed a believable excuse so she wouldn't annoy him about it.
A sigh threatened to escape him as he considered the inevitable headache it would bring.
---
Shuffling in the dark—a sound all too common in the dungeon.
"Aghaa!!" Then came the screams, sharp and desperate, followed by a chilling silence.
The reality of the dungeon was far from the romanticized tales most imagined. There were no helpless girls to rescue, no camaraderie forged in glorious battles. It was simply a cold, dark pit that birthed monsters driven by a single purpose: to devour mortal flesh.
All For One advanced steadily toward the source of the commotion, his steps deliberate and unhurried as he navigated the narrow passage.
He found it almost amusing—someone blessed by the Falna, equipped with the potential for strength and skill, had fallen on the second floor of the dungeon. What a pitiful legacy to leave behind.
Ahead, his sharp eyes caught sight of three goblins. They snarled and clawed at a fallen adventurer, the poor soul undoubtedly dead, judging by the expanding pool of blood beneath him.
All For One moved closer, his movements precise and silent to avoid alerting the creatures.
This was the perfect opportunity to experiment with his newfound magic.
Hestia had been forthcoming with basic knowledge when he'd innocently inquired about the "skills" and "magic" of this world.
As far as she knew, magic drew from an internal reservoir called "Mind." Overexertion could lead to "Mind Zero," a state of complete mental exhaustion, rendering the user unconscious until their reserves naturally regenerated.
Focus was the key. Proper control would ensure smooth energy flow and prevent costly mistakes.
Raising his hand, he fixed his gaze on the closest goblin and whispered, "Fireball."
Instantly, a sphere of flame the size of his head materialized in his palm, radiating heat but sparing him any burns. The absence of side effects was a relief. The last thing he wanted was to end up like Endeavor's boy, especially now that he no longer possessed his regeneration quirk.
The fireball launched with impressive speed, hurtling toward its unsuspecting target. The goblin shrieked as the flames engulfed it, its body writhing before collapsing into a smoldering heap.
The remaining goblins screeched in fury and charged at him, their crude claws raised to strike.
"Fireball," he muttered again, this time with less focus. A smaller flame, about the size of his fist, formed in his hand. He could feel it draining less of his Mind—a useful discovery.
The smaller fireball shot forward, striking one of the goblins square in the chest. It screeched in agony, stumbling to the ground but not yet dead.
The third goblin was now dangerously close, leaving him no time to conjure another spell. He unsheathed his newly purchased sword—Eina's recommendation.
The creature lunged, its attack clumsy and predictable. All For One stepped back with practiced ease, letting it fall flat on its face.
Pathetic creatures—driven by base instincts, incapable of any meaningful strategy.
With a downward slash, he brought his sword down onto its skull. The goblin's shriek was brief before it went limp, its body lifeless.
The second goblin, still writhing and screaming on the ground, drew his attention. Rather than waste time with his sword, All For One raised his boot and brought it down with force, relishing the satisfying crunch of bone beneath his heel.
Kneeling down, he swiftly extracted the magic stones from each goblin, his hands fast and efficient.
He turned his gaze to the fallen adventurer—the goblins' original victim. The young man's face was barely recognizable, his light armor soaked in blood. A dagger lay nearby, its blade tarnished but serviceable.
All For One picked up the weapon, inspecting it with a critical eye. "It's not much," he murmured, "but it'll suffice for now."
He cast one final glance at the corpse, a sneer curling his lips. "At least your death wasn't entirely meaningless." With that, he stepped over the body, leaving it to rot or serve as food for the dungeon's next spawn.
Continuing his descent, All For One encountered groups of goblins and kobolds. Each engagement was a methodical exercise, alternating between his new sword, the newly acquired dagger, and his fireball magic.
He noted with satisfaction how his control over magic improved with each use. Smaller fireballs drained less Mind, allowing for more frequent attacks. It was an effective way to conserve energy while dispatching weaker enemies.
So far, this had been a fruitful dive.
---
"How was your second day, Bell-kun?" Hestia asked enthusiastically as she worked through whatever magical nonsense was required to update his status.
The process was exclusive to gods, so All For One didn't bother understanding it. His mind was already occupied with far more important matters.
"It was productive," he replied curtly, his tone flat and disinterested.
"Good to know!" she chirped, flicking her finger and letting a drop of blood fall onto his back to begin the ritual.
Hestia carefully scanned the changes in her child's Falna, her expression shifting as she took note of his progress. Then, her eyes caught sight of something new. She froze, her breath hitching.
A spell.
Her gasp broke the silence, her wide eyes locking onto the unfamiliar ability. "Bell!" she called in alarm. "Did you use your skill? You promised me you wouldn't!" Her voice trembled, hurt and concern mingling in her tone.
All For One exhaled slowly, annoyance flickering across his face as a headache began to form.
"The person tried to attack me with it," he said carefully, his tone measured and deliberate.
From his earlier inquiries, he'd learned that gods could detect mortal lies. While the words he spoke now were technically untrue, they weren't entirely fabricated.
The fool he killed had made a desperate, flailing attempt to harm him. It was enough of a half-truth to weave a plausible story and hopefully bypass Hestia's divine perception through a careful choice of words.
"It was either me or him," he continued smoothly, his voice steady. "So I chose myself over him. Or…" He paused for dramatic effect, tilting his head slightly. "Would you have preferred I let him kill me?" His words were crafted to pierce her emotions, twisting the situation to his advantage.
Hestia's face grew pale, her unease deepening with each passing moment. "Y-You killed someone?" she stammered, her voice wavering. "Why?" The idea of her first child committing murder clearly horrified her.
He sighed again, irritation creeping into his voice. "I just told you why. Now, can you finish the update?" he said tersely.
"But—why—" she stammered, her frustration spilling over before she huffed in defeat. "Fine! I'll forgive you this time," she grumbled, slapping his back with a little more force than necessary as she finished the update.
Moments later, Hestia climbed off him and thrust the status sheet into his hand, her expression petulant. He could see the faint shimmer of tears forming in her eyes.
"Here's your update, Mr. 'I'll Break My Promises!'" she snapped, glaring at him before spinning on her heel.
He raised an eyebrow, irritation tugging at his features. "Where are you going?"
"To see my friends!" she yelled, stomping up the stairs. "Don't bother waiting for me!"
"Brat," All For One muttered under his breath as he watched her ascend the stairs, her indignant footsteps echoing in the quiet room.
Turning his attention to the status sheet, he scanned its contents, his eyes narrowing.
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Bell Cranel, Level 1 Adventurer
Strength: 12 I → 19 I
Endurance: 7 I → 10 I
Dexterity: 8 I → 12 I
Agility: 9 I → 16 I
Magic: 15 I
Skills:
All For One
Magic:
Fireball
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The End
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Updated version: What changed? Significantly shortened because the extra scenes didn't serve any purpose.