[email protected]/jelopy_jelopy for 50+ more chapters
Elias and Dee did not care about the terrified whispers around them.
They did not care about the Loki Familia, the shocked waitresses, or the gods watching from high towers.
They only focused on the people sitting at their own table.
To Elias, the rest of the world didn't matter as long as his family was smiling.
After they finished their huge dessert, Elias paid for the meal.
He even left a very large tip for Ryu and Syr.
Then, the four of them walked out of the loud restaurant and headed back into the cool night air.
When they finally returned to the old, broken church, it didn't feel lonely anymore. It felt warm. It felt like a real home.
Hestia fell onto the dusty sofa. She rubbed her full stomach with a happy, sleepy sigh.
Bell sat on the floor near the bed.
He pulled out his small dagger and started cleaning it.
Even after a long day, he was still focused on his goals.
"So,"
Elias said calmly.
He leaned against the wooden wall, wrapping his arm around Dee.
"What is the plan for tomorrow, Bell?"
Bell looked up, blinking his red eyes in surprise.
"Tomorrow?"
Bell asked.
"I am going back into the Dungeon. I need to keep fighting goblins and kobolds. I have to get stronger."
Dee smiled brightly and stepped forward.
"Great!"
Dee cheered, clasping her hands together.
"We are coming with you!"
Bell almost dropped his dagger. His eyes went completely wide.
"Really? Both of you?"
Bell asked.
"Of course,"
Elias nodded, giving the boy a warm smile.
"We are officially Level 1 adventurers now. We have Goddess Hestia's blessing, but we still need to learn how the Dungeon actually works."
Bell looked a little nervous. He scratched his white hair.
"But the Dungeon is really dangerous,"
Bell warned them honestly.
"And I only go down to the first few floors. I am still a beginner. It might be really boring for you, Elias-san. You are already so incredibly strong."
Elias shook his head gently.
"It won't be boring at all, Bell,"
Elias told him.
"My strength doesn't matter right now. Dee and I are not trying to rush to the bottom. We want to take our time."
Dee nodded happily and leaned against Elias's shoulder.
"Exactly!"
Dee agreed.
"We just want to explore the caves, see the different monsters, and enjoy the walk. Think of it like a fun hiking trip. But with swords and magic!"
Hestia peeked open one eye and giggled from the couch.
"You two are so strange,"
Hestia smiled softly.
"Most adventurers just want to get rich and famous as fast as possible. But you just want to take a slow walk in a deadly monster cave."
"We like to enjoy the little things,"
Elias chuckled.
Hestia sat up a little bit and looked at Elias seriously.
"I feel a lot better knowing Bell-kun has backup now,"
Hestia said, her blue eyes full of care.
"Just promise me you will all come back safe."
"We promise, Kami-sama,"
Elias answered softly.
He looked back down at the white-haired boy.
"We will watch your back, Bell,"
Elias promised him.
"But you have more experience in this Dungeon than we do. You have to be our guide and teach us the rules. Deal?"
Bell's nervous feeling completely melted away.
He felt a huge wave of pride and happiness. Someone finally trusted him to lead.
Bell gripped his small dagger tightly and gave a bright, determined nod.
"Deal!"
Bell smiled happily.
"I will show you everything I know, Elias-san! We are going to be a great team!"
The next morning, the bright sun peeked through the broken windows of the old church.
Bell was already awake.
He was tying his boots and strapping on his light armor.
He looked around the quiet, empty room and frowned.
"Where is Kami-sama?"
Bell asked, scratching his white hair.
"She usually sleeps until noon. Did she leave already?"
Dee walked into the room, humming a happy tune.
She knew exactly where Hestia was.
Because Dee knew the story of this world, she knew Hestia was currently begging the Goddess Hephaestus to forge a special knife for Bell.
Hestia had planned this big surprise long before Elias and Dee arrived.
Dee smiled and put a finger to her lips, deciding to keep Hestia's secret completely safe.
"She told me she had some very important goddess business to take care of today,"
Dee lied smoothly, giving Bell a cheerful wink.
"She said we should go ahead to the Dungeon without her."
Bell looked down at his own cheap, chipped dagger. He sighed softly.
"I see,"
Bell said, sliding the basic dagger into his belt.
"I hope she does not work too hard today. Well, we should get going, too."
Just then, Elias stepped out of the back room.
Bell stopped and stared. His red eyes went completely wide.
Elias was holding a long, beautiful polearm.
The handle was dark and sleek, and a sharp, curved blade rested at the very top.
Even though Elias was wearing normal clothes, holding that weapon made him look like an absolute master.
"Whoa,"
Bell breathed out, amazed.
"Elias-san, what kind of weapon is that? It is huge!"
"It is a Naginata,"
Elias explained, resting the long weapon against his shoulder.
"Its name is Twilight."
Bell nodded, totally impressed by how cool Elias looked.
But then, Bell looked over at Dee.
Dee was happily holding a plain, heavy iron sword.
The metal was dark and completely flat on the edges. It looked like it had never been sharpened in its entire life.
Bell squinted his eyes. He pointed at her hands, looking very worried.
"Um, Dee-san?"
Bell asked nervously.
"Are you really going to use that? The blade is completely dull. It could not even cut a piece of bread."
Dee lifted the boring sword and pointed it straight at the ceiling, posing like a brave hero.
"I know!"
Dee cheered proudly.
"It is completely useless!"
Bell almost tripped over his own feet.
"Then why are you bringing it to the dungeon?!"
Bell asked, completely shocked.
"Because it is fun, Bell-kun!"
Dee laughed loudly, resting the dull sword on her shoulder.
"I do not actually need a real weapon to fight anything. You already know who I am. But if we are going on a grand fantasy adventure, I have to hold a sword! It just feels right! It is all about the feeling!"
Elias chuckled warmly. He reached over and gently patted Bell's back.
"Just let her have her fun, Bell,"
Elias smiled.
"She is just playing a role today. She wants to feel like a classic adventurer. If a monster actually gets too close to her, I will cut it down with Twilight."
Bell let out a long, heavy sigh, but he could not help the smile growing on his face.
His new family was very strange, but they were also a lot of fun.
Even though the Dungeon was a scary place, Bell actually felt excited to go.
"Alright,"
Bell said, puffing out his chest and trying to look like a good leader.
"I will show you the safe paths on the upper floors. Stay close to me, and do not wander off!"
"Yes, Captain Bell!"
Dee giggled, saluting him with her free hand.
Elias smiled and nodded.
"Lead the way."
Together, the three of them walked out of the church and headed straight toward the giant white tower in the center of the city, ready to begin their very first dive into the Dungeon.