Bell Cranel, a boy with a dreamy gaze and boundless enthusiasm, grew up in a small village nestled at the foot of the mountains. Life there was simple, punctuated by harvests, markets and local festivals. But what made Bell's youth unique was his grandfather, an eccentric and mysterious man whom everyone knew simply as Z.

Z had a reputation that ranged from admiration to exasperation. The villagers respected him for his wisdom and strength, but they could not ignore his many eccentricities.

"Bell, my boy, come with me. I will teach you the art of observation," Z often said with a mischievous smile.

These "observation" lessons consisted mainly of spying on village women bathing in the nearby river. Bell, embarrassed but unable to refuse his grandfather, often followed him, hiding awkwardly behind bushes.

"Grandpa, is this really necessary?" Bell asked, red to the ears.

Z laughed loudly, his eyes sparkling.

"A hero must know the world in all its facets, Bell! Even the most… subtle."

Inevitably, both intruders would eventually get caught, and Z would get scolded by the furious women. But even after each humiliation, he would burst out laughing, learning a lesson that only he understood.

When evening came, however, it was a very different Z who sat by the fire. Every night, he told Bell stories, tales of brave adventurers, benevolent gods, and a resplendent city called Orario.

"Orario," he murmured, his eyes lost in the distance, "is a city like no other. Adventurers descend into an endless dungeon to fight monsters and protect the world. They are the heroes whose songs will speak for centuries."

Bell listened, captivated, his heart burning with desire.

"I want to be a hero too! Like in your stories, Grandpa."

Z then placed a hand on his grandson's shoulder.

"One day, Bell, you will be. But remember, a hero doesn't fight for glory. He fights to protect those he loves."

One day, as Bell was working in the fields, a sinister roar echoed through the valley. A horde of monsters emerged from the woods, their eyes glowing with savagery.

The village, caught off guard, descended into chaos. The villagers gathered to defend their land with crude tools, while the screams of the wounded and dying filled the air. Bell, terrified, hid behind a tree, his hands shaking with fear.

Z, armed with an old rusty sword, stood before the monsters with a handful of brave villagers. Despite his age, he fought with a strength and determination that seemed supernatural.

"Bell," he yelled, his face serious, "stay hidden. Protecting your future is what matters most!"

Bell watched his grandfather fight, his eyes filling with tears. The monsters were eventually driven back, but at a heavy cost. When the world calmed down, Z was gone, either taken by the battle or by forces unknown.

Bell wandered the woods for days, desperately calling for his grandfather. But he found nothing, except the rusty sword abandoned near a tree.

The village buried its dead and tried to resume normal life. But for Bell, nothing would be the same. Every night, as he looked at the stars, he thought of his grandfather's stories.

"Orario," he whispered. "A city that helps people… except us."

Bell gathered his meager possessions. He sold his harvest and left his fields in the care of the old neighbor, a kind woman who had always supported him.

On the day of his departure, some villagers came to say goodbye to him.

"You are brave, Bell," said one of them. "But be careful. Orario is not as grand as in Z's stories."

Bell nodded, his gaze filled with determination.

"I will know soon. But I have to go. I have to become a hero, like my grandfather."

With a bag over his shoulder and the rusty sword at his belt, Bell left the village.

Arriving in Orario, Bell was immediately overwhelmed by the grandeur of the city. The streets were crowded, the buildings were imposing, and the adventurers walked proudly, their weapons gleaming in the sun.

But as he explored, a harsh reality set in. The adventurers didn't seem as selfless as they were in the stories. Many were arrogant, rude, and unwilling to help a naive young man like him.

Bell finally found his way to the Guild, a large building where adventurers came and went. There, he met an elf named Eina, a smiling but professional receptionist.

"You're new, aren't you?" she asked, seeing him hesitant.

Bell nodded shyly.

"Yes… I'm here to become an adventurer."

Eina sighed slightly but handed him a scroll.

"Here is a list of the gods and goddesses that form Familias. You will need to convince one of them to grant you their blessing before you begin."

Bell thanked Eina, but deep down, a worry was growing. He didn't know that his journey to become a hero would only reveal a world much darker than he had imagined.

To be continued the story begins now