The next day quickly arrived. Upon waking up, Yuuya immediately prepared himself.
Though, he is still reeling from the discovery he just learned yesterday, that isn't as important as making sure Bell does end up in the Hestia familia.
Which also brings him into the question; how will he find Bell?
'Hey system, got any tips? The anime didn't really mention which places the boy goes when he is trying to join a familia. It only showed a compilation.'
[How about waiting in the guild? Any newcomer who doesn't know Orario usually comes there first.]
'I suppose. Let's go, if I don't think of anything else but Freya, I just might blow a gasket.'
But before he leaves, he have to ask Hestia something first.
"Goddess, don't you have work today?"
"Nope, today's a day off. Why did you ask?"
"Well I was thinking of trying to recruit one more person into our familia."
"Really!?"
"Yes. So if possible, can you wait for me until atleast, say maybe, after lunch? If I didn't came back by then, you can go on in your day."
"I will so don't worry!"
"Thanks goddess, I'm gonna go now."
"Mhm! Safe trips!"
And with that, Yuuya goes on his way.
∆∆∆∆
It was a Tuesday morning. Yuuya was standing at the entrance of the Guild, he has been there for half an hour now, waiting for Bell to show up while he leans against a pillar. Watching Eina to finish some paperwork, only for her to fall into despair as more paperwork comes in. Making it an entertaining sight for him.
He was wearing his full armor, the broken hilt of Welf's sword still tucked into his belt—a constant reminder of his unfinished business.
Then suddenly, the system speaks, snapping him out of his watch.
[Hey, Yuuya.]
'What is it, System?'
[Look at Eina's far left. Bell has arrived.]
Maybe because he is too focused watching Eina's suffering, he didn't notice Bell entering the guild.
Yuuya then shifted his gaze to the direction the system told him. There, a young boy, no older than fourteen, was walking tentatively towards a receptionist.
He is exactly as Yuuya remembered from the anime. White hair and large, innocent red eyes that looked around the room with a mixture of awe and absolute nervousness. He looked small. He looked weak. He looked like exactly the kind of person the Dungeon loved to chew up and spit out.
He was the definition of a "Rabbit."
"Bell Cranel," Yuuya whispered under his breath.
[The protagonist has arrived. The original lore is officially in play. From here on out, the world isn't just going to try to screw you—it's going to get complicated.]
Yuuya watched as the boy approached a desk, his hands shaking as he spoke to a receptionist.
"I'm ready," Yuuya thought, pushing himself off the pillar. "Let's see how much of this story can remain intact with my existence."
Yuuya walked slowly towards Bell, observing him a little more. The white-haired boy—Bell—is surprising handling his conversation with the receptionist well. Managing to not stumble in his words.
Yet, the kid is still a nervous wreck, bowing so low he nearly hit his head on the counter. But the change is definitely there.
[Well that's new,] the System remarked. [According to your memories, the Bell we should be seeing right now is someone who struggles to even make a proper conversation.]
'Yeah, something definitely feels different. As if he dealt with someone much worse before.' Yuuya replied as he continues walking towards Bell. His boots made no sound on the polished floor—a habit he picks up in his previous life. He came to a halt just behind the boy.
"He's with me," Yuuya's voice rumbled, low and steady.
Bell jumped nearly a foot into the air, spinning around with a yelp. He looked up, and up, and up, his red eyes wide with awe and a bit of fear as they took in Yuuya's full plate armor and the emotionless visor of his helmet.
"I-I-I'm sorry! Are you in this line? Did I do something to upset you!" Bell squeaked, bowing his head so low his body is at a perfect 90° angle from the side.
Yuuya reached out, but instead of a blow, he placed a heavy, gauntleted hand on the boy's shoulder. The weight seemed to ground Bell, stopping his trembling.
"Deep breaths, kid. You didn't do anything wrong," Yuuya said, his voice dropping into a tone he usually reserved for his subordinates back on Earth—a tone that demanded calm yet gentle.
"You're looking for a Familia, aren't you?"
Bell blinked, his former emotions slowly being replaced by confusion. "Y-yes... but everyone that I met so far before coming here says I'm too weak. They say I don't have potential."
Yuuya let out a huff that might have been a laugh.
"Classic. The people in this city often judge people by their appearance. Though you are kind of... Skinny? Meh, details. I'm Yuuya. Yuuya Mitsukuji."
"I'm... I'm Bell. Bell Cranel," the boy whispered.
"Well, Bell. It just so happens my Goddess and I are looking for a second child. She's small, she's loud, and she eats way too many fried potato snacks, but she's got a bigger heart than anyone in this town."
Bell's eyes shimmered. "You... you're inviting me? Really?"
"Don't make me say it twice," Yuuya said, turning toward the exit. "Come on. I'll walk you there. Consider it your first lesson in Orario: Never walk alone if you can help it."
As they walked through the streets, the contrast between them was a bit noticeable. Yuuya moved with grace, as if he was just taking a walk in the park. While Bell, though slightly composed, can't help but stare into some shops, admiring the infrastructure of Orario.
"Um, Yuuya-san?"
"Drop the formalities, just call me Yuuya.
Bell flushed red. "O-Okay... Yuuya. Why are you helping me? I'm just a Level 1 with nothing to my name."
Yuuya stopped and looked at the boy. Through the visor, his gaze was piercing. "Because I know what it's like to start with nothing. And because in the Dungeon, the only thing that matters isn't how strong you are—it's who's got your back when the lights go out. I've got yours for now."
[Warning: Bell's admiration for you is getting stronger,] the System snickered. [Keep it up and you might just become the reason he gains Liaris Freese.]
'Silence.' Yuuya thought.
They arrived at the abandoned church. Hestia was outside, hanging some laundry, when she saw the two of them approaching.
"Yuuya! You're back" She stopped, her eyes landing on the white-haired boy trailing behind him.
"Almiraj? Who's that almiraj?"
"Goddess."
"Sorry."
"Ahem," Yuuya coughed. "This is Bell Cranel. He's looking for a home. And I think he's exactly the kind of 'trouble' our Familia needs."
Hestia looked at Bell, then at Yuuya, and then back to Bell. A slow, mischievous smile spread across her face. "Well, well. If he's a friend of my Yuuya, then he's family to me. Welcome to the Hestia Familia, Bell!"
Bell looked like he was about to cry. He bowed so low his forehead touched the grass. "Thank you! I'll work hard! I promise!"
Yuuya watched the scene, feeling a strange sense of peace. The lore was changing. Bell wouldn't be a lonely, desperate rookie this time. He had a Goddess, he had a home, and he had a familia member who could silence the world with a single word.
"Don't just stand there, Bell," Yuuya said, patting the boy's head. "Go get your status updated. So that we can officially register you to the guild, buy you your equipment, and take you to the dungeon. I'm taking you to the 1st floor, and I'm not letting you leave until you can kill a Goblin without shaking."
"Yes, Big Brother!" Bell shouted, his voice full of hope.
Yuuya froze for a second, surprised at what he just heard. "Big brother? Now ain't that something new." Said Yuuya before he removed his helmet.
Which upon doing so, made Bell froze in place. Staring into Yuuya's appearance.
"You good? Do I have something in my face?" Asked Yuuya.
"No! I mean, your hair and eyes are the same color. I thought it's just the lighting making your eyes appear black. But now that I take a closer look, it is color black." Said Bell sheepishly.
Yuuya chuckled softly in respone. "It isn't entirely black, it's just a very dark brown color."
Hestia then barges into the conversation. "Now get into stripping Bell, that falna ain't gonna do itself!"
"Phrasing."
A few moments later, Bell finally got his falna. Hestia took a paper, took a copy of it, and decided to show it to Yuuya first before.
~~~~
Bell Cranel
Level 1
Race: Human
Strength: 0
Vitality: 0
Defense: 0
Agility: 0
Dexterity: 0
Magic: 0
Development abilities:
N/A
Skills:
Liaris Freese
- accelerates growth as long as feelings remain. The stronger the feelings, the more potent the effect.
- immunity to charm.
Magic:
N/A
~~~~
'Liaris Freese? How did he get this so early on? He haven't met Ais yet though?' Thought Yuuya as he looked at Bell's status sheet.
"A growth skill too and it probably works just like yours Yuuya. I don't know if I should be happy at how lucky I am or be horrified." Whisper Hestia to Yuuya.
"Horrified because you'll need to make better excuses against other gods with twice the effort from now on." Jokingly whisper Yuuya back.
"Urgh"
"But that brings us to the question, should we tell him?" Gestured Yuuya to Bell who is looking confused and patiently waiting for his status sheet.
"I think, we can...? He doesn't look like a terrible liar." Said Hestia which makes Yuuya stare at Bell.
"Huh, he does look like one."
[I can vouch for that too. For some reason that you need to ask him yourself, this version of Bell is a bit good at lying.]
Hestia and Yuuya shared a look, before nodding to each other.
"Here's your status sheet Bell. Congratulations into joining into our familia." Said Yuuya as he hands Bell his status paper.
"Thank you!" Replied Bell as he examines his status sheet.
A few moments later, Bell spoke again. "Liaris Freese?"
"It's a growth type skill, Bell. I have one too. Though mine is a little bit different from yours if we're talking about the description, it's roughly the same." Explained Yuuya. "Got any idea how did you get it? It's quite rare for someone at level 1 to get a skill. Judging by the description, it has something to do with your feelings."
"Feelings huh..." Said Bell as he goes into a deep thought, recalling any possible reasons.
A moment later, his face took on the shade of red. As he recalls a memory that made him a embarrassed a bit.
"I think I have guess as to why..." Said Bell sheepishly, his right hand on the back of his head.
"Well, I'd you don't mind sharing it with us, go on. We ain't gonna judge you." Said Yuuya, encouraging Bell.
"A-alright. You see, back when I was just a child, I guess around 7 years old? I made a promise with someone." Said Bell, his face softening as he recalls the memory.
"A promise?" Said Yuuya.
"Mhm." Bell confirmed. "I promised to her that I will become a hero. The last hero, just for her. It might sound childish but looking back at it, I'll make and choose the same words again if I have too."
After saying that, silence returned to the room. Bell expected a teasing remark, but none came.
"A hero huh." Said Hestia softly. "That's a good motivation, Bell."
"Mhm, I approve of it also." Followed Yuuya.
"R-really? It didn't sound... Well... Cringe?" Asked Bell.
"No, not in the slightest. We all have our own motivations." Said Yuuya, patting Bell in the shoulder. "I won't dig any deeper into your past. I'll leave it up to you to decide when you want to share it with us."
"Again, welcome to the Hestia familia." Said Yuuya as he puts his helmet back on. "Let's get you registered to the guild shall we?"
∆∆∆∆
The morning sun hit the spire of Babel, reflecting off the glass and stone like a beacon. For Bell, it was a symbol of his dreams; for Yuuya, it was just another day at the office—except today, he was the one footing the bill for a trainee.
After getting Bell registered in the guild, as well as make Eina his supervisor, they took off towards Babel to buy Bell his equipment.
"Stay close, Bell. Babel in the morning is a shark tank," Yuuya said, his voice echoing slightly under his helmet.
Bell nodded vigorously, clutching the small pouch of Valis Yuuya had handed him earlier. It was fifty thousand valis—a loan that Yuuya had insisted was an investment. To Bell, it felt like he was carrying the weight of the world.
Yuuya took Bell to the exact same floor where he found his weapon and armor. It wasn't the high-end Hephaestus showroom, but the steel is solid, reliable, and far better than anything a standard Level 1 could afford.
"Pick something out," Yuuya said, leaning against a display of shields. "Armor first, then a weapon, or whatever you want to look for first. Don't look at the price tags; look at the balance."
Bell nodded, before wandering through the aisles, his eyes wide. He bypassed the daggers, barely giving the short-bladed weapons a second glance. Instead, he stopped in front of a rack of straight swords—standard arming swords designed for reach and versatility.
Yuuya watched this with a raised eyebrow. In the original flow of things that he knew, Bell was synonymous with twin daggers and high-speed close-quarters combat.
"Bell," Yuuya called out, walking over to him. "I noticed you didn't even look at the daggers. Most rookies with your build go for something light and concealable. Easier to handle when you're panicking. You don't like daggers?"
Bell jumped slightly, looking down at a steel longsword he was tentatively touching. He rubbed the back of his neck, a sheepish, embarrassed smile forming on his face.
"Um... it's not that I don't like them." Bell whispered, his face flushing a light pink. "It's just... ever since I was little, my grandpa told me stories. Stories about the Great Heroes. They always had these shining swords, right? They'd stand against the darkness with a blade in their hand..."
Bell's grip on the sword hilt tightened, his gaze becoming surprisingly firm.
"I know I'm not a hero yet. I know I'm weak. But if I'm going to become an adventurer... I want to look like the ones in the stories. I want to carry a sword."
Yuuya stood silent for a long moment.
[A romantic,] the System chimed. [He's going to get his 'Heroic' sword stuck in a monster's ribs because he's too small to pull it out. But hey, variety is the spice of life.]
'He will be fine.' Yuuya thought. 'A man fights better when he believes in the weapon he's holding.'
"A sword it is, then," Yuuya said aloud, reaching over Bell's shoulder and pulling a well-balanced, high-carbon steel shortsword from the rack. It was longer than a dagger but shorter than a full broadsword—perfect for Bell's current reach.
"Let's go for a short sword for now. You can change into a longer one later once you get the hang of it. Also, if you're going to be a hero, you'd better start practicing your swings. A sword is a heavy responsibility, Bell. It's not just for show."
Bell took the sword, his eyes shimmering with excitement. "I'll practice every day! I'll be the best swordsman you've ever seen!"
"We'll see about that. Now, go and pick your armor. If you're going to use a sword, you'll be leaving yourself open more than a dagger-user. You're going to need the protection."
"Yes!" Replied Bell as he once again started looking around the shop.
A moment later, Bell came back with a crate of armor.
"Wait isn't that...?" Said Yuuya as he took a closer look. Pulling the chest piece to inspect it.
Sure enough, it was exactly what Yuuya thought it was. 'Pyonchiki Mark II? I didn't know it was here much earlier.'
"You know something about it Yuuya?" Asked Bell curiously.
"Yes. You see the the smith's brand on it? It's the same one as mine." Said Yuuya. "And looking at it, your sword just might be made by him too."
Yuuya takes quick look at Bell's short sword and sure enough, the name 'Welf' is inscribed in it.
"Yup, it's made by him too." Said Yuuya before handing it back to Bell.
"What a coincidence!"
"Yeah, a pleasant one at that. Now go on, take it to the counter.
∆∆∆∆
After Bell was fully geared—looking much more like a proper adventurer in his armor and his new steel blade—Yuuya took the courtesy of teaching Bell some basic swings of the sword before taking him to the first floor.
"Listen to me, Bell," Yuuya said as they reached the First Floor stairs. "I'm not going to fight for you today. I'll be behind you. If you get overwhelmed, I'll step in, but otherwise, the Goblins are yours. Understood?"
"Yes!" Bell shouted, drawing his sword with a slightly clumsy but determined motion.
[And so, the Hero's Journey begins with a shopping trip,] the System remarked. [I wonder how many 'Gospels' it'll take before he realizes his big bro is the real monster in this story.]
'As many as it takes,' Yuuya replied. 'Now, let's see if the kid can actually hit anything.'
The two descended into the darkness, marking the official start of a new era in the Orario Dungeon.
The First Floor of the Dungeon was, as always, a damp and dimly lit labyrinth of blue-tinted stone. For Yuuya, it felt like a walk through a park; for Bell, every shadow was a potential death trap.
"Watch your footing, Bell. The moss here is slicker than it looks," Yuuya cautioned, his voice echoing slightly. He walked with his hands resting casually at his sides, his posture relaxed but his senses keen.
"R-Right! Watch the moss!" Bell repeated, holding his new shortsword with both hands. He was practically vibrating with nervous energy, his eyes darting toward every crack in the wall.
Suddenly, a Goblin birthed from the wall ten feet ahead. It shrieked, brandishing a crude bone club.
"Go," Yuuya commanded.
Bell didn't hesitate. He lunged forward, the steel of his new sword whistling through the air as he performed a downward slash. One of the few one Yuuya taught him. It was a bit clumsy, fueled by adrenaline, but the blade is sharp.
It caught the Goblin across the chest, and with a panicked follow-up thrust, Bell pierced its magic stone. The monster dissolved into ash instantly.
"I did it! Yuuya-bro, did you see that?" Bell turned back, his face beaming with a mix of shock and pride.
"I saw. Your footwork was messy and you left your whole body open for a counter, but you hit the mark. Again."
As they moved deeper, clearing a small nest of Kobolds, Bell's initial terror began to settle into a steady rhythm. He was starting to trust his gear. But as the adrenaline faded, his curiosity took over. He kept glancing at Yuuya's waist, specifically at the empty space where a scabbard should be.
"Um, Yuuya-bro?"
"Speak, Bell."
"I was just wondering... You bought me this great sword, and you're wearing such heavy armor... but you don't have a weapon. I mean, you have that hilt on your belt, but it doesn't have a blade." Bell looked genuinely concerned, as if he feared his mentor had forgotten his equipment at home. "Is it... is it broken?"
Yuuya stopped in the middle of the corridor. He looked down at the charred, battered hilt of the Crozzo sword.
"In a way," Yuuya replied. "Most steel can't handle the way I fight. It shatters before the job is done."
Bell's jaw dropped. "Shatters? You're so strong you break your own swords?"
"Something like that. It's one of the side effects of my growth skill. But I'm never unarmed."
Yuuya reached down and gripped the hilt. He didn't draw it; he simply closed his fingers around the leather wrap.
"Watch."
With a surge of focus, Yuuya channeled his mana. A low, electric hum filled the narrow hallway. From the broken end of the hilt, a blade of translucent, ethereal blue light erupted. It wasn't solid; it was a shimmering edge of pure mana, vibrating with such intensity that it blurred the air around it.
Bell's eyes went wide, reflecting the blue glow. He looked like he had just seen a miracle. "Whoa... is that magic? It's beautiful!"
"It's not for show, Bell," Yuuya said, giving the air a light test-swing. The blade left a faint blue trail in its wake.
"It's a Mana Blade. It has no weight, so it doesn't slow me down, and it never gets dull. Though it acts like a normal blade. Meaning I still feel resistance when cutting or hitting something. Also, just like its name suggests, it drains my energy every second I keep it active."
"That's amazing! You're like... a magic swordsman from the legends!" Bell stepped closer, trying to get a look at the edge without touching it. "Can I... can I learn to do that?"
Yuuya deactivated the blade, the blue light vanishing into the hilt with a soft whirr.
"Someday, maybe. But for now, you focus on your steel. Steel is reliable. It doesn't run out of mana, and it doesn't disappear if you get a headache. A hero needs a foundation before he starts playing with lights."
"Right! Foundation first!" Bell nodded, clearly inspired.
[He's practically wagging a tail,] the System snickered. [You keep this up and he's going to start asking for a matching helmet. You're building a fan club.]
'I hope not,' Yuuya replied as he sweat drop at the thought of it. 'I don't want unnecessary attention.'
"Come on, Rabbit," Yuuya said, ruffling Bell's white hair with a gauntleted hand. "There's a pack of Goblins on the next floor with your name on them. Let's see if you can kill them without shouting 'Whoa' every five seconds."
"Yes, Big Brother!"
∆∆∆∆