P/N let me know if there's any mistakes and I will try to fix them
CHAPTER 2
CHANGING ENVIRONMENT, NEW
RELATIONSHIPS
"…"
I'm lying here, looking up at the white ceiling.
I'm the only one in the room under the church, and I'm sprawled out on the
sofa.
There's really nothing for me to do besides zoning out and letting the day go
by. Ticktock ticktock. I can hear the gears inside the clock on the wall as it marks
the steady march of time.
It's been three days since the fight with the Minotaur.
This is becoming a habit. I'm getting used to daydreaming for long periods of
time, motionless.
I slept for two days at the hospital inside Babel Tower after that fight.
It took a heavy toll on me…Neither my body nor my mind held out at the
very end, and I just shut down. Apparently I slept like the dead, nothing but a
bump under the sheets. However, I was awake enough at one point to see a look
of relief on the goddess's face, and Lilly's, too. That's the only thing I can
remember after the battle.
After that the goddess and Lilly half carried me back here. I spent the rest of
that day on the sofa—exactly like I am now.
"Level…Two…"
I'm a Level 2 adventurer.
Hearing that I leveled up brought a smile to my face. The proof that I'm
closing the gap between me and her is now etched into my back.
…But I just can't get over the fact that I won, I beat that Minotaur.
It's like a never-ending transparent reverberation, unrelated to the heat of
victory. But it's not a langorous sensation—more a feeling like water rising up
out of a flowing spring.
Saying it feels like accomplishment would be an overstatement, but it doesn't
feel like I've been released from a burden, either.
Loss…Yes, I feel like I've lost something.
I can't put it into words very well, but something about that Minotaur meant a
lot to me.
Of course, leveling up is important, but the fact that I slew a Minotaur feels
heavier somehow.
"…"
I reach down beside my hip, grab what I'm looking for, and raise it up to the
light.
A sharp point, its charred surface having a few cracks. It's a horn that looks a
little bit like a long dagger.
The drop item "Minotaur Horn."
Lilly told me that when the Minotaur turned to ash, only the magic stone and
this horn remained. She'd already exchanged the magic stone for money, but she
held on to the horn for me.
Holding it under the magic-stone lamp, I scrape off some of the burned
surface.
I watch as the grayish dust falls off the surface, exposing a reddish layer
underneath. I wonder if that's how it originally was or if my magic had
something to do with it.
It's a very robust horn.
To think the Minotaur was thrusting it at me right at the very end.
Somehow, the fearsome roar that has been in the back of my mind since that
day a month ago seems distant now.
All that's left is the silent horn in my hand, like some sort of parting gift.
"…Okay."
I get off the sofa. My body is surprisingly light.
I've got to pull myself together. Clenching my jaw, I put the horn down out
of sight. Enough of this brooding.
I need to move around. First thing I do is check the clock.
Actually, I'm going to a party today. It's at my usual bar and café, The
Benevolent Mistress.
Truthfully, the party is to celebrate my leveling up…
I told Syr that I'd leveled up this morning, when I went to return a lunch
basket, and next thing I knew I was going to a party at The Benevolent Mistress.
I think she wants to get me to spend money. It does sound like one of her
plans, and I don't really need to hold back…but it just feels strange.
Would have been nice if the goddess could have come…
I don't think she has time. She said that she and some other gods are going to
go out for a drinking party of their own. I'm not sure if it's a Celebration or if
they're trying to cheer somebody up, I just know she's busy.
When she came by after the meeting, she told me my title was "Little
Rookie."
Little Rookie…Hmm. Well, the goddess seemed happy about it. She threw
her arms around me and yelled, "This is great, Bell! You got a good one!" So
I'm not…disappointed.
I've been alone with my thoughts since then. But now it's six o'clock in the
evening. Time to get a move on.
I leave the hidden room under the church and make my way outside onto the
street.
The western sky is already turning red. It's almost night.
I make my way through the side streets and out onto the busy Main Street.
"—Thereeeee heeeee iiiiiiis!!!!"
"Eh?"
It happens just as I'm about to join the crowd.
A sudden loud voice fills my ears.
Wh-what? I don't even have time to look around before a wave of people
surrounds me.
They're—gods…?!
"Couldn't find the Loli Lady's home anywhere, and we've been lookin' real
hard, too…"
"But it was worth staking out this area…"
"Lying in wait is the key to hunting, you know."
"So you finally came out of your hole, Li'l Bunny."
—I'm scared.
They're getting closer, surrounding me. I don't know why, but alarm bells are
going off in my head. Especially that last one. My blood ran cold when he
winked at me.
What the hell is going on?
What are they doing here, what are they talking about? I'm so confused.
"First come, first serve! Bell, want to join my Familia? If you come with me
right now, everyone will greet you with open arms!"
"Hey, idiot! You sound way too desperate! Wait your turn, why don't you?
That's why your Familia is still so tiny…!"
"Blabbermouths, out of my way. Bell, come to me! For it is you who has
stolen my heart, you naughty bunny!"
"What do you have in mind for this child?!"
They're arguing with one another and coming closer, step by step. I have to
say something, so I clear my throat. "Ahem."
…A Familia welcoming me with open arms? Why now?
Every single one I went to when I first came to Orario showed me the door
without a second look…
"I, um, already have a goddess…I'm a member of Hestia Familia…?!"
"All previous relationships are meaningless in the eyes of love. Don't you
think so?"
"You're too good for the Loli Lady!"
T-they aren't listening…!
"But a serious question: What's the secret to your fast growth? Raw talent? A
Skill? Or perhaps foul play?"
"A rare skill, a rare skill? Is it true, is it true? It has to be a rare skill!"
"I really wanna know what's written on this boy's back."
"If it's okay with you, would you take those clothes off? Just the top is okay!
I'll even pay you?…Hee-hee."
"We could always force him out of them…"
"—Fu-heh-heh-heh."
—I run away with all speed.
"He's here, meow!"
"Ah-ha-ha! Fashionably late, aren't you, Mr. Adventure."
The sky is completely dark and the moon shines brightly over my head by the
time I reach The Benevolent Mistress.
I reach out to support myself against one of the pillars by the front door,
hunching over to try to catch my breath. Huff…huff…huff…I'm going to need a
moment.
I flew through the back streets, doubling back many times to try and shake
my divine pursuers. I only lost them just a few minutes ago.
I should be in much better shape than them…So what was that? They almost
had me a few times; it felt like I was running for my life. I've never thought of
gods and goddesses as scary before.
Why all of a sudden…?
"Syr 'n' everyone's been waitin' for you, meow! The kitchen's really busy,
too, we're bending over backward to accommodate you, meow! So get in here,
meow."
"S-sorry…"
"They couldn't start without the guest of honor. Go over there, quickly."
Two waitresses—Ahnya, a cat person, and a human—come out to meet me
and usher me inside. If I remember right the human girl's name is…Runoa.
She's laughing, too.
I wipe the sweat from my face and stand up straight before setting foot in the
bar.
"Mr. Bell! We're over here—!"
I swear there's a customer in every single seat in here! But just over the lively
mass of humanity, I see Lilly standing on a chair and waving with a big smile on
her face.
I invited Lilly to come tonight. It's not every day that I get to do something
like this, and she responded with a resounding "Yes!" so I asked Syr to prepare a
seat for her.
…It would have been nice for Aiz to be here as well—wouldn't that be
something? But she's somewhere in the lower levels of the Dungeon right now
on an expedition, so inviting her wasn't an option. Trying to get the what-ifs out
of my head, I give a quick nod and wave back at Lilly.
The table they reserved for us is close to my usual counter seat. Syr and Lyu
are sitting beside Lilly, dressed in their nice-looking waitress uniforms.
Syr's eyes meet mine as I work my way through the crowd. I bow my head,
mouthing, "Sorry I'm late!" over and over.
"Bell…?"
"Hestia Familia?"
Just as I'm making progress toward the girls waiting for me, I suddenly feel
all the eyes in the bar lock onto me.
The topics of the conversations around me change without warning, like a
spark igniting an inferno.
I don't stop moving as I look around in every direction.
"A white-headed human…That's him, all right. What did they call him…?
'Little Rookie'?"
"That punk-ass kid?"
"You heard? He's the record holder now."
"Who said he's gonna keep it? The gods're just awestruck, nothin' more. One
month is nothin'!"
"Ya got tha' right!"
"But I've heard that he really did slay that Minotaur. You know the one, the
lower ninth."
"So he took out one Minotaur, big frickin' deal!"
"Could you kill a Mino at Level One? On your own, I might add."
"Who in their right mind would try something that stupid?"
Eyes glinting at me from every direction, I weave my way through the maze
of tables as quickly as possible. The air around me is swirling with hushed
whispers.
Being the center of attention like this is overwhelming! I must look like a
criminal or something. A man stops talking on the spot when my eyes happen to
meet his.
With ice flowing in my veins, I duck down as low as possible and quickly
escape to my destination.
"You've become the talk of the town, Mr. Bell."
"R-really? I can't relax anymore…Even on my way here, I was chased
around the city by a group of gods…"
"That is the fate of all adventurers who become known. You are not being
singled out, Bell. Please put up with it for the time being."
I can feel all the muscles in my face droop. I must look pretty funny because
Lilly's trying hard not to laugh at me.
I scratch the back of my neck with my left hand out of habit, making small
bows to everyone in turn.
"Well, now that Bell is here, let's get this thing started, shall we?"
"Um, Syr and Lyu, are you sure it's okay for you guys to be here with the bar
like this…?"
"'I'll lend 'im the two of ya. Make sure he's well fed' was Mama Mia's
instruction. That and 'spend yer cash.'"
Hearing Lyu imitate the owner's—Mia's—accent in her calm voice makes
me chuckle to myself.
As for Mia, I look over my shoulder to see her standing behind the bar,
waving her hand and giving me a hearty smile. Must be her way of telling me to
live it up tonight.
It's not long before we say "Cheers!" and clink our glasses together.
Mia suggests that I try ale for the first time, being a special occasion and all.
For now, I've got a small jug of the stuff in front of me.
Syr's holding a citrusy cocktail, Lilly's gotten sick of ale so she's drinking
fruit juice, and Lyu refuses to drink anything except for water. Wait a second…
Syr and I are the only ones drinking alcohol?
As soon as food starts arriving at our table, all the eyes around the bar finally
turn away. Such a relief! Ahnya and Chloe drop by our table a few times for
some friendly banter and we start to have a genuinely good time.
I know that Lilly and Lyu have a little bit of bad blood from an incident when
Lilly was still a thief, but it's never come up, and Lilly is laughing and looks like
she's having a great time. Syr is smiling ear to ear, while Lyu is responding to
their questions as seriously as ever.
I wonder if something happened before I got here. I keep catching Lilly
looking at me out of the corner of her eye.
"Now, Bell, drink lots and lots. You're the star of the show tonight. Or
maybe, would you like something to eat?"
"T-thank you…"
Suddenly Syr is at my side, waiting on me hand and foot.
Getting me more ale, loading up my plate with food, filling my jug, she's
zipping around all over the place. And for some reason, Lilly's usual smile is
scary.
Even though I'm feeling kind of awkward, Syr looks like she's enjoying
herself.
"I could be wrong…but you seem to be in a very good mood, Syr."
"Do you really think so?"
I think she blushed a little bit just now. I can't tell anymore because she's
hiding her cheek with her hand and giggling behind her shoulder like someone's
tickling her.
"It might be a bit bold of me to say this but…I feel like I helped you when I
gave you that book. And thinking about that makes me, I don't know, happy."
She must be talking about the grimoire. She won't take her warm gaze off of
me.
Our eyes meet and she smiles even wider. It's almost intimidating.
The muscles in my face are locked in place. What does it look like right now?
"If I may say, Mr. Cranell, congratulations to you. To think that you would be
able to level up on your own…I seem to have underestimated you."
"I-it's nothing…"
At the same time, I get a compliment from the other side of the table.
Lyu's expression hasn't changed at all, but I'm still embarrassed.
"M-many people helped me out; it's all thanks to them. Even you, Lyu…"
"There is no need for modesty. Of all the level-two categorized monsters,
defeating a Minotaur is worthy of praise. Mr. Cranell, you are allowed to be
proud of your accomplishment."
Lyu said everything in a very deliberate, serious voice. She looks at me with
a refined gaze from across the table.
I just noticed something about myself: I'm not good at taking compliments.
My face is turning red and my throat is so tight that getting the word "thanks"
out of my mouth takes everything I have.
To top it all off, Syr is giggling at me…
"Lilly was worried sick about you. Her heart was breaking over and over…"
"I-I'm sorry, Lilly…"
"…But you looked really cool, Mr. Bell."
I can't take much more of this…
Lilly leaning up to my shoulder with her big smile is the finishing blow.
Her cheeks are rosy pink, and those large, chestnut-colored eyes of hers are
so close I can see myself in them.
It could be the alcohol, but my entire body feels hot.
"Mr. Cranell, what is your plan going forward?"
"?"
"I am curious about what the two of you are planning."
After talking with Lilly, I hear Lyu's voice again as I'm trying my best to
fight off the effects of the ale. Without really taking time to think about her
question, I start talking about my plan for tomorrow.
"Well, tomorrow Lilly and I are going to go buy some new equipment. My
old armor was completely destroyed."
"…About that, Mr. Bell."
"What is it, Lilly?"
"There are many things at the shop where Lilly is staying that need to be
done…It doesn't look like she will be able to join you tomorrow."
"What, really?"
I can see Lilly shrinking in her chair, looking very apologetic. But
considering all the shop has done for her after everything that's happened, it
can't be helped…so I tell her not to worry about it and start thinking about what
I should do.
I want to start going into the Dungeon again soon, and I need new armor in
order to do that.
I should be able to find new equipment on my own, right? I could go by
myself tomorrow.
Sure, I'm not as good at judging quality…but this will be a good learning
experience.
"In that case, are you going to go shopping alone tomorrow, Bell?"
"It looks that way."
"Then, would it be all right if I came with you?"
"Huh?!" Syr's suggestion catches me off guard; I can only choke up a
surprised response.
Lilly jumps, too, but soon crosses her arms and lowers one shoulder at Syr.
She looks like a boxer before a fight…
"Wh-why do you ask?"
"I need to buy some things pretty soon anyway…I might get in the way, but
if it's okay with you, Bell, I want to go shopping with you."
"No, Mr. Bell! Miss Syr only wants you there to carry her bags! That's right,
Lilly can see your hidden agenda! Mr. Bell, she's planning to make you carry so
much that your bones will crack! Turn her down!"
"I-I'm not going to buy that much…"
A bead of sweat rolls down my face after Lilly's outburst. She's standing
right next to me, so I look up in Syr's direction.
But she seems unfazed and smirks at Lilly. "Why would I do something like
that?" says Syr, with her light gray eyes gazing warmly down at me.
Wh-what do I do…?
I don't mind going shopping with her, and I'd feel bad to refuse her
invitation…Ah—then again, things tend to happen when I go along with her
suggestions. There was the night when I came here for the first time…And just a
few days ago I ended up washing dishes to help her out.
I'm trapped between Lilly's objections and Syr's warm smile. Just as I'm
about to crumble under the pressure—the wooden floor creaks.
A large shadow falls over Syr from behind.
"Don't push yer luck!"
"Ugahh!!"
Wham! A tray appears out of nowhere, slicing through the air at an angle, and
slams into the back of Syr's head.
It's Mia. She's standing and glaring menacingly down at Syr. She must've hit
her pretty hard; Syr is holding her head, with tears bubbling up in the corners of
her eyes.
"Don' be thinkin' you can take time off that easily, ya little brat. Gettin' full
o' yourself, eh? What's the big idea, playin' hooky whenever ya feel like it," Mia
growls under her breath.
Supporting her shaking body by putting her elbows on the table, Syr looks
back, only to see Mia's burning death-stare.
She twists her body to face Mia directly. I can't see her face, just her light
gray hair tied into its usual bun with a ponytail coming out the middle. But based
on her aura, I'd say she's glaring right back at Mia.
"Those eyes'll get'cha nowhere. Here, I'm the law, got that? Lyu, keep an eye
on 'er tomorrow."
Mia's nostrils flare in anger as she turns on her heel before Lyu can answer,
going back behind the bar counter.
Our table becomes a silent island in the middle of the sea of happy voices.
The tension continues for a few moments before Syr turns to face me.
"Bell, I've become damaged goods. Would you please pat my head and cheer
me up?"
"So, Mr. Bell! Enjoy your shopping trip tomorrow and find some good stuff
alone. Lilly can't wait to see what you buy!"
I'm worried that these two will never be able to sit at the same table again.
"Mr. Cranell, what about after that?"
"Eh?"
"My question is, what are you planning to do after you have found suitable
equipment?"
"What do you mean…by that?"
"I'll take a more direct approach. Mr. Cranell, Miss Erde, do you intend to go
to the middle levels as soon as you return to the Dungeon?"
So that's what she's been asking all this time.
Lilly and I look at each other for a moment—we are in the same party, after
all—before looking back at Lyu.
"For starters, I'd like to test out my new strength on the eleventh level. If
everything goes well, I'd like to go to the twelfth."
"Yes, that is very wise."
I go on to tell her that I want to test my leveled-up abilities in the upper
levels, and the best place to do that is on the twelfth level. Lilly and I had agreed
that after warming up on that level, so long as everything looks good, we'd go to
the middle levels together.
Lyu might be worried about us, I think.
"It may not be my place to say this…but I believe that you should not
proceed to the middle levels at this time."
"In other words, Miss Lyu, you believe that Mr. Bell and Lilly aren't good
enough to make it in the middle levels?"
"It was not my intention to insinuate that you are weak. That being said, the
upper levels and the middle levels are very different."
Of course Lyu doesn't leave her explanation at that.
"It's not a problem of individual strength or ability. It becomes impossible for
a solo adventurer to dispose of every monster. That's the kind of place the
middle levels are. While I'm unfamiliar with the level of support Ms. Erde can
provide, I'm afraid that Mr. Cranell will be unable to deal with the monsters and
the Dungeon layout on his own."
"So then, Miss Lyu is saying…"
"Yes. You should add additional members to your battle party."
A three-man cell is the most basic party formation for dungeon crawling. At
the very least, that's what the Guild suggests.
The three-man cell—a formation that allows for attack, defense, and support
roles.
One member focuses on attacking the front line while another member covers
him or her from monster counterattacks. The third member stays at long range,
sometimes assisting the front line with a ranged weapon, spells, or healing items
when necessary.
The same holds true when attacked from behind. If the person in the
supporting role also has the ability to hold their own against monsters, then it's
possible to withstand wave after wave of attacks until the table turns into their
favor.
It's easy to get surrounded when working in a two-man cell, not to mention
solo. Conquering the deeper floors of the Dungeon will be extremely difficult for
us without at least one more party member to turn the tide in a pinch.
Adding a third person won't have much impact on our individual strength,
but it will make our unit exponentially stronger.
Knowing all of this, Lyu probably thinks that our two-man cell party
wouldn't be strong enough to survive in the middle levels.
"But wait a minute, Lyu. Wouldn't it be easier for them to run away if it's just
Bell and Lilly? The more people there are, the more likely someone is to be left
behind, right?"
"While your reasoning is not flawed, Syr, the only time adventurers consider
retreat is after being cornered. It is much more practical for adventurers to avoid
those situations rather than plan their escape."
An awestruck sound comes out of my mouth.
Since she was once an adventurer herself, Lyu's calculated words carry a lot
of weight.
"You must prepare for everything. Find someone worthy of your trust and
add them to your battle party."
I get what she's saying. I see Lilly nod out of the corner of my eye and start
thinking.
But…I don't know anyone like that who I could invite to join us. If I did I
would have already asked them. I suppose that's why she told me to find
someone…
I would ask her, but I'm sure Lyu has some circumstances. The only other
person who would be an option would be Nahza, in Miach Familia. But no,
she's no good, either. I don't want to take anyone suffering from monster trauma
into the Dungeon with me.
Would scouting out someone to join my Familia be the best option?
I start massaging my temples.
"Ha-ha! Having some party problems there, 'Little Rookie'?!"
"Wha?" I'm so shocked by a sudden loud voice that I can't respond right
away.
While I recover from the surprise, the customer—a male adventurer, followed
by two of his friends—comes up to our table. They stop directly across from me,
and right behind Lyu's chair.
These guys are…huge.
Their square faces are covered in scars…Enough to make me cringe.
"We heard your troubles! You need allies, yeah? Then why don't you join us,
you little bastard?"
"Eh?!"
Okay, now I'm surprised.
Who would've expected a square-shouldered, red-faced man I've never met
before to invite me into his own battle party?
"E-excuse me?"
"This ain't that hard. It's quite easy, actually. One of my fellow adventurers
has a problem, and so out of the kindness of my huge heart, I'm gonna help you
out. Hee-hee, doesn't that sound good to you?"
"W-well, I wasn't really…"
"Of course it does! It's called havin' your back, havin' your back! And
considerin' it's you, we don't mind at all if you join us…Yeah!"
"Uggh…?!"
How much ale did this guy drink?!
A wall of alcoholic stench assaults me from across the table. Syr is grimacing
next to me, and Lilly has a look of absolute loathing on her face. Oh yeah, that's
right, she's allergic to adventurers…
Lyu is the closest one to them, so she should be the hardest hit by that smell.
But she is just calmly sitting in her chair. Her stoic face hasn't changed a bit.
"So here's the deal! We'll take you to the middle levels, and in exchange…"
…Huh?
Is this situation getting worse?
"Let us have these ladies for a while?! I'm takin' this cute little fairy of an elf
for myself!"
…Whoah. Whoah.
"I'd like to have an elf fill my jug, if you get my drift. Don't know how much
you're spendin', but we scratch your back, you scratch ours. That's the basics,
don't you think?"
Sure, I'll end up spending a lot of money tonight…But what does that have to
do with anything?
The man in the middle is looking down at Lyu, and his buddies are eyeing
Syr and Lilly. They look strange, like they're imagining something extremely
perverted. I've never seen Lilly look so angry.
…This is not good, not good at all.
I will never shake hands with someone who looks at women like that.
I'm not good at this kind of thing, but I have to be the "man" here. I can't let
anything happen to my friends…!
I start building the refusal in my head.
"That is not necessary. He does not need you."
However, before I can open my mouth—
Lyu suddenly speaks up out of the blue.
"…Ohhh? What was that, little fairy? Are you insinuatin' that we can't
protect that kid?"
"Precisely. Now leave."
"Hi-hi, you guys, you hear that? She's sayin' we'd hold the rookie back! Not
the other way around, ha-ha-ha!"
All three of the men laugh out loud. Not only have I lost my chance to stand
up, I'm lost for words, too.
I'm already halfway out of my chair, but I don't know if I should get all the
way up or sit back down.
"Listen, girly, we've been in and out of the middle levels for years now."
"Is that so?"
"That's right, Level Two. The lot of us, yeah."
"Thank you for the information. Now, begone. The likes of you are not
worthy of him."
Silence. The men who had been laughing up until now go quiet, their faces
contorting in anger.
Their grins come back a moment later. But their eyes…They're like the dark,
dead eyes of a mask.
Even I can tell the tension around the table has shot way up.
"Girly, what are you tryin' to say? That we're trash, lower than that punk-ass
kid?"
The man takes a step forward and reaches out to put a hand on Lyu's
shoulder.
Ah! I'm about to jump to my feet when I remember something someone told
me not too long ago:
—Elves do not allow someone they don't trust to touch their skin.
"Hands off."
Lyu's next movements are all a blur.
She reaches out and grabs my nearly full ale jug with lightning speed, and
slams it back over her shoulder toward the oncoming hand.
A heartbeat later, THUNK!
The man's hand is now crammed into the sturdy jug, his eyes wide in shock.
A soft "Eh?" comes out of his mouth.
Lyu turns around and jumps to her feet, twisting the jug in the process.
"Ow-ow-ow-OOOWWWWWWWW!!"
The man screams at the top of his lungs; his elbow points out at an
impossible angle.
"I apologize. It appears that my reasoning was much more selfish than I
originally thought. I don't want Mr. Cranell to join your battle party."
Her words were like whips slicing through the air, the man writhing in pain
beneath her.
"And I will not allow you to look down on him. He is my good friend."
She zeroes in her icy glare on him and gives the jug yet another twist.
The man's scream goes up an octave. His buddies rush to his aid and start
pulling.
POP! PLUNK! The man's hand finally comes out of the jug and he lands flat
on his ass.
"…You BITCH!"
"Frickin' girl!"
"The hell are you doin'?!"
Did Lyu just really say that about me? A warm feeling grows in my chest as
the enraged men converge on her.
In no time at all, Lyu has a small sword in her grasp. All three of the
adventurers move to attack her together. But before they can—
SMASH! BANG! Two loud cracks erupt from behind his buddies' heads.
""Ghaaah?!""
Both of the men fall to the floor with a dull thud.
Two cat people are standing behind where the adventurers once were, holding
broken chairs over their shoulders.
"—Nyfufufu. Gotta watch yer back, meow!"
"Men are such a pain, meow—"
Chloe is laughing like she's one of the gods herself, while Ahnya's ears are
twitching back and forth out of annoyance.
I know the girls snuck up behind them but…down in one hit?! Those guys
were Level 2!
"Sir. Our elf tends to be rather violent. Backing down now would be a good
idea."
Runoa calmly walks past the scene, carrying a ton of dirty dishes in her arms,
and gives the man a friendly warning.
He's completely outnumbered in a small space, but he looks like he's itching
for a fight. Am I seeing this right?
"Ah—ah, there they go." I can feel the eyes again, and many people are
saying things. But they're not scared, it's like they knew this was going to
happen. Their stares move past me and onto the man. He's on his own little
island now, and the center of attention.
"…Wh-what the hell are you people?!"
Bathed in a magic-stone lamp spotlight, the man reaches behind his back and
draws a white blade.
It's a shortsword. He's consumed with rage, his body shaking. There's no
way to tell when he'll make his move.
The staff of The Benevolent Mistress all have their eyes locked on him.
Zing! A shiver shoots down my spine.
I have a feeling things won't end well for this guy. Just then—
An explosion comes from a different direction.
What is it this time?!
Every head in the room snaps in the new direction with blinding speed…And
now I'm really lost for words.
The counter…It was waist height just a moment ago, but now it's in the
shape of a large V. The poor customers sitting at the counter…Their mouths are
hanging open in shock.
And standing at the base of the V is Mia, her outstretched fist right in the
center.
Runoa and all the other waitresses suddenly shiver with fright.
"If you wanna brawl, take it outside. This place is for eatin' and drinkin'."
Silence falls over the entire bar. All the waitresses immediately break eye
contact with Mia and go back to work.
Finally, Mia stands up straight and squares her shoulders directly at the
adventurer himself.
"And you, ya blockhead. Be sure an' take those idiot lumps on the floor out
with ya. If ya try an' cause any more ruckus—y'all will wind up six feet below
my bar."
Doesn't that mean he'll be…A bead of sweat rolls down my face as the
adventurer silently nods up and down.
Lifting his fallen comrades up by their shoulders, he makes for the door with
his buddies' feet dragging behind him.
"Hey, crap-fer-brains! You gotta pay first!!"
"Y-yes, ma'am!!"
The man drops what looks to be all his money onto the floor in fear of Mia's
rage. A bag full of coins clinks as it hit the ground at her feet.
After the three of them practically fall through the door, the usual din of the
bar starts back up again. Prums start drinking and singing as if nothing ever
happened, their voices echoing through the building.
A bar where Level 2 parties run away in fright…
All I could do was watch…
"My apologies, I have destroyed the atmosphere on your special night."
"N-no, don't worry about it…"
"Hee-hee, Miss Lyu really is very strong…Lilly's lower back is still
tingling."
I'm still trying to shake off the panic that overtook me, and here's Lilly
teasing Lyu about her apology.
Am I the only one here who's not used to something like this…?
Tension is still in the air from what just happened when Syr suddenly claps
her hands together and stands up.
"Well, shall we try this again from the start?"
…She's pretty strong, too.
She orders a new round of drinks for all of us and a moment later we're
clinking glasses again. I can't help but smile as I watch her work.
Once again I've been reminded of what the staff of The Benevolent Mistress
is capable of doing.
After that, we enjoy good food and ale well into the night.
Beautiful blue skies and a light breeze in my face.
It's the morning after my party at the bar.
Using my hand to shield my eyes from the sun, I look up at the massive
structure in front of me.
A white tower, Babel.
I've decided to go to Hephaistos Familia's weapon shop to find the
equipment I need.
I don't have to worry about the quality of weapons and armor sold here.
Considering I don't know how to tell the good stuff from the bad, there's no
reason for me to look anywhere else. But above all, Eina brought me here
before, so I don't feel nervous going in.
I'm not concerned about money today, either. I've been able to save up quite
a bit recently…Not to mention the Minotaur's magic stone was worth 50,000
vals. Lilly told me that even the clerk at the Exchange was surprised, so I'm
pretty sure that Minotaur was something special…It was wielding a sword, after
all.
Anyway, I have more than 100,000 vals on me right now. I walk through
Babel's main gates with a smile on my face.
Rather than riding the elevator, I take the stairs all the way to the eighth floor.
The best part about the stairwell is definitely the view out of the windows.
The blue sky is absolutely stunning today.
Ah, here it is.
The eighth floor.
The layout is like a big doughnut, with a hole in the middle for the elevator to
go through. The shops are built on both sides of the circular hallway. Each shop
has its own combination of swords, spears, and the like outside its entrance or on
its sign as decoration.
Stopping to take a look at some of the tenants along my way, I arrive at my
destination.
Since the thing that protects my body, my light armor, was completely
destroyed, coming here first makes the most sense.
Just like before, it's like a forest of armor in here. Most of it is designed to
protect the torso, but the color schemes are a lot plainer than the last time I was
here. There's a lot of black and gray.
As long as I stay on this floor, I should be able to buy…pretty much anything?
I take a look at the price tags on the armor closest to me…21,000, 35,000,
46,000…Yeah, I should be okay. I can't splurge, though. Armor isn't the only
thing on my list.
To think that a day like today would come…Even a few weeks ago I couldn't
even imagine it.
…Are they not selling it anymore?
From the very sturdy to the downright gaudy, this shop has a wide selection
of expensive armor on display. But I'm looking for the work of one particular
smith.
I wore his work every day until it was destroyed by the Minotaur. Its name
was rather…strange—"Pyonkichi"—But it was light, strong, and fit my body
like a glove.
I walk all around the store before swinging by the corner where boxes of
parts of armor not on display are kept and have a look. This is where I found the
smith's work before.
And they have…nothing.
"…"
I can feel a knot of disappointment growing in the pit of my stomach. There's
no reason I have to buy something he made, but still.
Welf Crozzo…
…Well, I might as well ask.
Feeling defeated, I drag my feet toward the customer service counter.
There should be a ton of armor that's as good as or better than my old stuff in
this shop, but I can't bring myself to take a look.
When did I become this guy's fan?
"Why such…horrible…!"
"?"
Just as I'm getting close to the front of the store, an angry voice shoots out
from beside the counter.
There are actually two counters at the front of the shop, and a customer
seems to be having a very heated argument with a Hephaistos Familia clerk.
"Why always…the middle of nowhere…! You have something against
me…!"
The closer I get, the more words I can make out.
There's a young man, a human, exchanging words with an extremely
exhausted store employee. He's wearing what looks like a long black coat…but
it's in really rough shape, almost like rags.
He's got a head full of flaming red hair, and he looks a little bit older than I
am. Maybe a little taller, too, and muscular but not beefy.
I can see his face as I step up to the counter. But the front of his hair looks
rather strange. It's like his short-cut hair had grown out, but he took scissors to
his bangs because they were getting in his eyes.
There's a box of light armor parts on the counter in front of him. Judging by
his choice of words and angry demeanor, my best guess is he's also an
adventurer. Maybe the armor he bought was defective?
"This is my lifeblood, you hear me? At least treat me like everyone else!"
"This was a decision made by management…It needs to sell, and without
that…"
"Oh, so you're going to bring that up, huh?! Well then, I've got a few things
to say—!!"
The adventurer in the black body-length jacket is refusing to back down, his
rage building.
The clerk behind the second counter watches the argument with a slightly
annoyed look on her face until she realizes I'm standing in front of her.
"Welcome!" she says with a smile.
Doing my best to ignore what's going on next to me, I rest my hands on the
counter and prepare to ask my question.
"Can I help you with something?"
"Yes. Do you have anything made by Welf Crozzo…?"
—Silence. The argument stops on a dime.
The clerk's eyes go wide, and the two people at the other counter slowly turn
to face me.
Huh…wh-what?
Three sets of eyes are locked right on me; this is so awkward.
"…U-um, are you looking for Welf Crozzo's work…?"
"Y-yes. I want to buy armor made by Welf Crozzo…"
I've never heard someone so scared to ask a question in my life. Just
responding felt like something bad would happen if I said something wrong.
But the first person to react isn't the clerk in front of me but the young man
who had been arguing at the other counter just a few moments ago.
"Hee…ah-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! Would you look at that! There is at least
one name on my list of clients!!"
After laughing at the top of his lungs, the young man turns to face the clerk
before slamming his hand down on the counter.
The clerk can't respond, he just stands there doing his best to avoid making
eye contact.
I am so confused right now…The young man must have noticed the look on
my face because now he's looking this way.
"Yessir, adventurer, if you're looking for Welf Crozzo armor…"
"Eh?!"
"Right here."
Swish. He picks up the box and slides it onto the counter in front of me.
Inside is a full set of shiny, white light armor.
The shape is a little different from what I was using before…but there's no
mistaking it, this is his work!
"So how 'bout it? Will you try it out?"
"Eh? Umm, isn't this yours…?"
Is that a strange question? Because as soon as I finish speaking, he blinks a
few times before smiling like a kid in a toy store.
He looks me square in the eyes before saying, "Yep, it's mine, all right…I
forged it, you see."
"—Huh?"
"Please allow me to introduce myself, fan number one. The name's Welf
Crozzo, currently a low-level smith belonging to Hephaistos Familia. Want an
autograph?" he says with a genuine smile on his face. He has a very brotherly
aura about him…Mr. Crozzo gazes at me for a moment as I try to collect my
thoughts.
"Seriously? You're Little Rookie?! The new record holder!"
"N-not so loud…What you mean by 'record holder'?"
I have no idea what he's talking about, so what else could I say?
There is a small rest area on the eighth floor of Babel Tower, right next to the
elevator entrance. Mr. Crozzo and I are having a conversation on chairs just
inside the rest area.
After we met in the shop, he asked to talk to me in private and led me out
here.
I guess he wants to talk to me because apparently he's sold only two pieces of
his work in the past, and I'm the only one who's come back looking for more.
Everything that's happened to him up to this point…doing everything he can
to get a good reputation from the store and yet being treated like trash, the first
item of his that sold was returned to the store, the underhanded tricks that his
fellow smiths in Hephaistos Familia had used to get their way…He told me
quite a bit.
He seems to have lost himself in the excitement that someone wanted to buy
his work. Sure, he looks rather grown-up and mature, but every so often he starts
laughing. I know I just met him, but he strikes me as a good-natured, wear-his-
heart-on-his-sleeve kind of smith.
"You really are younger than me. Then again, age doesn't matter much to
adventurers, does it?"
The moment I finish introducing myself, Mr. Crozzo lightly tilts his head to
the side. His red hair swishes slightly at the same time.
He has a very masculine face and speaks with a lot of confidence—like an
honest worker who would never go back on his word, always sitting up straight
and facing forward. I know this is coming from someone who can only roll with
the punches, but he looks really cool.
His build isn't all that robust—actually, he's rather thin—but I can see the
bulging muscles around his shoulders and chest because the collar on his robe-
like jacket is very loose. There is no doubt in my mind that they were built up
over many hours of hard work in a forge.
"Um, Mr. Crozzo, can I ask how old you are…?"
"Nineteen this year. One other thing: Could you stop calling me Mr. Crozzo?
I'm not particularly fond of my family name."
That's a strange thing to say right in the middle of a conversation.
He tells me to call him by his first name. But, not only is he older than me, he
made an armor that I really liked. I should show him more respect…but since he
insists…
"Well, um…Mr. Welf? You said you wanted to talk to me about
something…?"
"Hey, hey, what's with the 'Mister'?…Eh, not important now. Okay, here's
the deal."
He stands up from his chair and looks down on me from above.
The box of armor parts from the shop is at his feet. "I made them, so it's no
problem if I take them, right?" He had said that to the clerk, took the box off the
counter, and brought it out here when we left.
"To be completely honest, I don't want to lose you."
"?"
"Doesn't matter if it's weapons or armor, my stuff doesn't sell. I don't want
to sound too full of myself, but I know I'm making good, high-quality pieces.
The only other thing I've sold was returned almost immediately. I can't figure it
out."
"…"
Pyonkichi…I want to tell him maybe the problem is the names he gives to his
finished pieces, but I can't bring myself to say it to his face.
"Despite all that, here you are. An adventurer who recognizes the value of
my work."
"And that means…?"
"You came to buy my armor again, my work. That makes you my customer,
my client. Am I wrong?"
Well, when he puts it like that…it sure sounds like it.
Even when I was wading through the forest of armor, I never considered
anything else but Mr. Welf's work.
"Truth is, lower-level smiths like me have to fight over clients, steal them
from each other. Once one of us gets famous, everyone and their mother will go
to them, asking for weapons and armor. The same is not true for the unknowns.
We fight tooth and nail to talk with adventurers, get their advice, and sell our
work. That's the world we live in. You with me so far?" he asks.
I struggle to nod.
Fighting over clients…They have to figure out if someone will be a loyal
customer or not. It's the most basic part of the business world. Also, should an
adventurer become famous, the maker of the weapons he or she uses would also
become well known. Their name would become famous even if that smith lived
in obscurity until that point.
I wouldn't say adventurers become walking advertisements…but it looks like
the connection between smiths and adventurers is far more important than I
originally thought.
"Oh, it's important, all right, when a smith's work is recognized by an
adventurer. Like I said before, you recognized my armor. There is nothing that
could make a smith happier than that. You're my first, so I don't want to let you
get away…I can't let that happen."
Despite his rather coarse choice of words, he always keeps that same
brotherly smile on his face.
He may be a little overbearing at times, but I can't help but like and respect
Mr. Welf as a person.
He's a good man, a good smith.
"So then, you would like me to continue to be your customer?"
"While you're right about that…I'm after something a little bit more
permanent."
Mr. Welf's face turns from a warm smile to a shrewd grin.
"Would you sign a direct contract with me, Bell Cranell?"
—A direct contract?
Seeing the look of confusion on my face, Mr. Welf sums it up for me.
It's a contract that binds individual smiths and adventurers together in a
mutually beneficial relationship.
Adventurers bring drop items back from the Dungeon for the smiths, who in
turn use them to make strong weapons for the adventurers at a reduced price.
Mutual benefit. Smiths and adventurers helping each other out.
And the icing on the cake: Weapons tend to have stronger characteristics
when they're made for a specific person rather than for general sale.
So that's what Eina had been talking about.
"Are…are you sure it's okay?!"
"Hey, hey, that's my line. You're already Level Two, and I'm a no-name,
low-level smith who hasn't even learned the Forge Ability yet. When you think
about it, this isn't that fair, is it?"
I'm about to say that's not true at all, but when I think about it again, he has a
point.
If I try to tell Mr. Welf otherwise, it will sound less like modesty and more
like sarcasm to him.
It takes a great deal of effort, but I manage to stop myself from speaking and
close my mouth.
At the same time that I'm thinking, Mr. Welf leans over and wraps his arm
around my neck, pointing my head in the direction of other shops. I can see a
smile on his face out of the corner of my eye.
"Have a look over there, past all the swords, axes, and shields, to those guys
standing there. They're staring right at us."
"Y-yes…"
The gazes of many humans and demi-humans meet right where we are.
It's almost like they're expecting something to happen…
"All of those guys, they're after you. They want to sign a contract with you,
just like me."
"Huh?"
"Not just you. For better or worse, all adventurers who level up to Level Two
are targeted. That's the difference between lower and upper class, my friend."
S-seriously…?
My head still locked firmly in place, I shift my eyes to look at Mr. Welf's
face.
He's sending all of the other smiths a very smug look, as if he's already won.
"Well, that's how it is," he says with a grin and releases me.
"I want to be your go-to guy for smithing. If I sit back and twiddle my
thumbs, some other smith is gonna sign you, and I'll lose my first customer. So I
have to pull out all the stops to get you first.
"And it's really good for my rep if I can sign an adventurer with a lot of
potential like you," he adds with another laugh.
"…On a bit more of a personal note, your Level doesn't really matter to me,
believe it or not. Never thought there would come a day that someone would say
they want my work, after looking at all the other options out there…You get it?"
"…"
"It's like, this awesome feeling inside me just piling up, you know? It's a
smith's badge of honor," he adds shyly.
Finally able to read between the lines, I'm not happy that he's after a direct
contract from the start.
He went a little overboard putting on this show. But the thought of the two of
us novices working together warms me to the idea.
I don't really understand it myself…but I think it's a good sign.
"…All right, then. I'll sign a direct contract with you, Mr. Welf."
"That settles it! Don't know what I would've done if you'd said no!"
I stand up and take his outstretched hand.
"Looking forward to working with you, Bell," he says, his face beaming with
enthusiasm.
Not only is his hand bigger than mine, it's as hot as a furnace.
"We'll worry about the official contract later, but for right now…"
He vigorously shakes my hand up and down as he speaks.
The other smiths who were watching us droop their shoulders and turn to
leave. Mr. Welf is putting on another show to let them know he won.
After watching the last one go, Mr. Welf immediately releases my hand and
drops his head in apology.
"I know this is a little early…but would you be willing to do me a favor?"
My eyes pop open as I look back at him.
"Of course, I'm not expecting you to help me for nothing. I'll make any and
all equipment you need for free."
"HUH?!"
"Don't be so surprised. It's common sense that adventurers want items from
smiths, right?"
Not even in my wildest dreams did I think that I'd ever get a new set of
equipment for free.
If what he's saying is true, then I don't need to replace anything else that was
broken…
All of the muscles in my face suddenly let go; I'm sure I look like a
dumbfounded idiot right now.
"Here it is. You ready?"
"…"
I hold my breath and wait for his next words.
"Let me join your battle party."