Danmachi: Is It Wrong to Aspire to Be an Adventurer?

[Veltoria]

Prologue

My limbs wouldn't move. Consciousness was fading.

I knew this day would come eventually. I had killed countless people, just as I was ordered. Now, the time had finally come to face the consequences.

Ah, finally I would be free. I didn't feel pain or sorrow, what came to me first was that strange sense of release.

Footsteps approached. A large shadow blocked the faint moonlight filtering into the alley. That shadow was the target I had been trying to kill just moments ago.

Because of the backlight, I couldn't make out their expression. But this was the person who had tried to kill me not long before. Surely, they didn't have kind feelings toward me.

Strangely, I wasn't afraid. I closed my eyes and waited for my death.

But no matter how long I waited, that moment never came.

Carefully, I opened my eyes. The shadow still looked down at me, without any flicker of emotion, just calmly observing.

I don't know how long I stayed like that, but eventually the figure seemed to lose interest, turned on their heel, and left.

(...Did they spare me?)

It took me several minutes to accept that fact. And when I did, the emotion that rose within me was not relief or joy at surviving, but humiliation at being spared.

I didn't understand why I felt that way. I'm no warrior, just an assassin. A cowardly, despicable piece of trash who kills targets ordered by others, relying only on my innate skills.

Yet this feeling grew stronger, like a spring of water welling up inside me. I was losing grasp of who I was.

I thought hard, recalled everything about my short life, and reached one conclusion...

(So that's it. I was envious...)

I wasn't a warrior. But the person I fought was. It was only for a few minutes. But in those minutes, I was captivated by their strength and nobility.

Damn it. Now, I don't want to die anymore. I want to fight again, not as an assassin, but with honor. I want a real duel with the person who didn't even glance my way. That's why, that's why...

"I don't want to die...!"

…
Footsteps echoed softly. At first, I thought it was them returning, but I quickly realized it wasn't.
There were two sets of footsteps. One belonged to a woman, with small steps and lighter sounds, and the other to a man, clearly not the same person I had faced earlier, judging by their stride and weight.

A couple? Why would two people be alone in this alley?

Soon, the footsteps came closer. The woman quickened her pace, moving as if to shield the man ahead of her, and spoke to him.

"Hermes-sama, please step back. There's something here."

Hermes, yes, the god who rules a Familia headquartered in this Orario. Not well known, but not weak either. A strange Familia that doesn't ally with others.

The woman came closer. For a moment, I thought about killing her, but considering she was a god's retainer, and I was weak and injured, I decided against it and feigned unconsciousness.

I didn't want to die, but maybe, just maybe, I could accept the judgment of a god at my end. A thought that would never have crossed my mind before.

"You're just a child. There's a faint scent of blood. What should we do?"

"Hmm, let me think..."

Hermes approached.

"H-Hermes-sama, please step back! We don't yet know if the child is safe!"

"Oh, come now, don't be so rigid."

The woman sighed, she seemed tired, though why, I didn't know.

Hermes looked down at me.

"Hmm? Hey, are you awake?"

"As expected of a god. You noticed quickly..."

Resigned, I opened my eyes. The woman grew more alert.

"Well then, what were you doing here?"

"I... was trying to kill a demi-human... but got beaten instead."

The air froze. The woman gasped, but Hermes burst out laughing.

"Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha! Ahahaha!"

"H-Hermes-sama, this isn't something to laugh about!"

After a while, Hermes sat down, still chuckling.

"Ah, that was a good laugh. But boy, why tell me that?"

"There's no point in lying... so please... judge me."

"You want me to judge you?"

"Yes."

Hermes was silent for a moment. The woman looked anxious despite her earlier caution.

"Well, I'm not exactly a god of judgment. Hmm... boy, is there something you want to do?"

"Yes."

"Oh? And what would that be?"

"To become an adventurer."

Again, the air froze. Hermes laughed once more.

"Ha ha ha ha ha! I can't believe I'm laughing this much twice in one day! How about it, Asfi? Sometimes it's good to take a detour home, isn't it?"

"H-Hermes-sama, no way..."

"Boy, what's your name?"

"Toki Ortyx."

"Alright, Toki. Then I hereby declare my judgment."

Hermes stood up and pronounced his verdict.

"I will welcome you into my Familia! But you won't become an adventurer right away. For three years, you will serve as my attendant, then for another three years, you will do menial tasks for the Hermes Familia. After that, you will finally become a full-fledged adventurer!"

At first, I didn't understand what he meant. But as it sank in, tears welled up. This whimsical god would accept me.

"Well then, Asfi, take him with you. Let's head back."

"Sigh... I'm so tired..."

Carried by Asfi, I moved through the night streets of Orario. Wherever she walked, my tears fell like scattered drops along the path.

 

[Rodvek97]

Thanks for the great chapter

 

[Veltoria]

The city of Orario, built atop the sprawling underground labyrinth known as the Dungeon, is home to all kinds of people.

But there's probably no one as unusual as the boy I'm currently teamed up with–Bell Cranel.

We happened to register as adventurers at the same time, and by chance, we ended up diving into the Dungeon together. Bell is a strange kid: white hair, red eyes, and a vibe that somehow makes you think of a rabbit. He seems to be chasing encounters within the Dungeon.

At first, I thought,"What the heck?" But after listening to him, it became clear his upbringing was the cause. He dreams of harems and"male fantasies", goals most people wouldn't even consider.

Yet, just because he dreams about that stuff doesn't mean he's some kind of pervert. On the contrary, he's pretty innocent, which only shows how oddly mismatched this boy really is.

By the way, all this info came straight from him. Whenever I asked, he honestly answered. Too honest, in fact, he seems like the type to fall for scams immediately.

Anyway, right now, me, Toki Ortyx, 14 years old, and Bell...

'Vvvoooohhhhhh!!!'

"Hyaaaahhhh!!"

We're being chased by a Minotaur.

After finally becoming an adventurer just two weeks ago, we got cocky and descended all the way to the fifth level. Big mistake.

"Why the hell is a Minotaur here? Aren't Minotaurs supposed to appear on the 'middle floors,' Bell?"

"Forget that! Just run!!"

Yeah, he's right.

Then I realized something important.

"Bell..."

"What!?"

"If we don't turn at this corner, it's a dead end..."

"What?"

Sure enough, we found ourselves cornered.

"Damn!"

I spin around to face the Minotaur head-on. Taking a closer look at the enemy: over two meters tall, armored with thick muscles, massive horns on its head. Its main weapons are those three. But with the huge difference in stats, our attacks don't even scratch it.

At least, not normally.

I have the weapon, or rather, the skill, to injure this thing. But the question is...

(Is my skill enough?)

Before I can think further, the Minotaur lunges forward, hooves raised to claim our lives.

(No time to hesitate!)

I concentrate my magic at my feet,

In that instant, a sharp line appeared across the Minotaur's torso.

"...Huh?"

Bell, I, and the Minotaur all make dumbfounded sounds.

The line spreads, cutting across its chest, arm, calf, foot, shoulder, and neck, one after another.

The monster I had prepared to fight desperately simply collapses, its life ending quickly.

Then a huge spray of blood splashes toward us.

"Whoa!"

I instinctively shield myself in shadow to avoid the spray, resuming the action I had stopped earlier.

After protecting myself, I deactivate my skill and look up at the person who defeated that beast.

"...Are you alright?"

It's someone even a newbie adventurer like me knows.

Golden hair that shines, a lithe figure, beautiful golden eyes. From the [Loki Familia], known by the title"Sword Princess", her name is...

"Ais Wallenstein..."

"Uh... are you okay?"

Her voice pulls me back to reality.

"Yes, I'm fine…"

"Hyaaaaahhh!!"

Something whizzes right past me.

"...Huh?"

The thing was red and shaped like a person.

I look around, my friend who was just here is gone.

Q: What was that red thing?

A: That was my friend, Bell Cranel.

"Ais Wallenstein, thank you so much for your help! Excuse me!"

I bow sharply, then sprint after Bell with all my might.

I can still catch up, I have to!

 

[Veltoria]

In the end, I couldn't catch up.

I was pretty confident in my [Status] skill, but since that guy ran without paying attention to his surroundings, I was stuck trailing just behind him the whole time. People really do show power beyond their limits when they focus on something.

Anyway, the blood-soaked red blur, Bell, had sprinted all the way from the Dungeon to the Guild at full speed. Man, I wanted to stop that from happening…

Honestly, the real reason was simple, I didn't want anyone I knew running around town covered in blood.

I thought maybe I'd just pretend he's a stranger starting tomorrow. But if I did that, I'd have no one to party with. So, it looks like I'm heading back into the Dungeon with him tomorrow, too.

…
"So, that's what happened, Misha-san."
"Wow, sounds rough." my advisor, Misha Flott, replied with a sympathetic nod.

By the way, what am I doing right now? Waiting for Bell.

Bell belongs to the Hestia Familia, which currently only has him as a member, just starting out. Because of that, all his Dungeon knowledge and training comes from his advisor, Eina Tulle. She's really dedicated to new adventurers like Bell and gives detailed, careful advice, so it always takes time.

I, on the other hand, have plenty of senior members in my own Familia, and get decent advice, so things move faster for me.

Misha says I'm a very low-maintenance guy.

Oh, and another thing: I'm waiting for Bell to give him his share of today's loot. Since we belong to different Familias, we have to properly split the cash after converting the Dungeon treasure.

…
"...Sorry to keep you waiting."
"Ah, finally… You look kinda down, though?"

"...Yeah, just a little."

Bell returned with Eina, clearly not his usual self. But Bell's simple, he'll be back to normal if something good happens.

"Here's your share from today."
"...Thanks."

Bell took the money slowly.

"1,200 Valis, huh…"

"Well, we didn't spend much time in the Dungeon today. I also got 1,200 Valis."

I showed him my earnings, signaling that I wasn't cheating him out of his cut. Normally, I'd convert the treasure with him there, but today felt like it would take too long, and I already had magic shards on me, so I cashed it in early.

"Alright, let's call it a day."
"Yeah, same time tomorrow?"

"Yeah, looking forward to it."

"...Bell-kun?"
"Y-yes? What is it?"

On the way out, Bell was stopped by Eina who had come to see him off. I wasn't so lucky, but hey, having a beautiful woman see you off isn't something to be jealous about! (Not at all!)

Anyway, I couldn't help but eavesdrop a little.

"You know, women are attracted to men who are strong and reliable…"
I was surprised. I'd thought Eina would prefer someone more like Bell, less reliable, but maybe that's just me.

"Just keep trying without giving up, okay?"

Bell listened seriously to Eina's advice. I might've never seen him this earnest before.

"...Maybe even Wallenstein-san will notice you once you get stronger."
Ah, so that earlier conversation was a love consultation, and as an advisor, Eina was telling Bell to be realistic. That's why Bell looked down before. And now she's giving advice as a friend, not just an advisor.

...Eina really is a great person.
Hearing that, Bell's face lit up with a big smile. He took off running, then turned back and shouted:

"Eina-san, I love you!"

"...Eh!?"

"Thank you!"

Eina's face flushed bright red. Bell laughed and left. She stood there dazed for a moment. She looks like she needs someone to snap her out of it.

Trying not to smile, I approached her.
"But... what you just heard, "

She whipped around to face me.

With a big grin, I said:

"That sounded like a confession, you know."

"N-no way, n-no way!"

She quickly spun around and hurried off.

"D-don't tease your seniors!!"

I ignored Eina's shout as she stormed off.

 

[Veltoria]

A stone mansion of decent size, reasonably decorated, and with a fair amount of presence. This is the home of the Hermes Familia, the guild I belong to.

Overall, it's a decent building, but its construction is solid, sturdy enough to be like a small fortress. It might not look like much at first glance, but inside, it's something else entirely. Kind of like the god who rules this mansion, powerful and unpredictable. With that thought, I step inside.

"Oh, you're back. That was quick."

"Thanks, Meryl."

Inside, I bumped into Meryl, a female dwarf from the Pallum tribe. She's one of my seniors in the Familia and one of the top-tier adventurers here, especially when it comes to magic power.

"Where's Hermes-sama?"

"He's in the back room."

"Thanks."

I thanked her and headed straight to the back room.

When I reached the door, I knocked.

"Hermes-sama, it's Toki."

"Hm? Ah, come in."

I opened the wooden door and stepped inside. There, I found the very god himself.

If I had to describe this room in one word, it'd be"map room." Hermes was surrounded by various maps, sitting alone playing chess. He paused, then turned to me.

"You're early. Did something happen?"

"I got chased around by a Minotaur on the fifth floor."

The atmosphere instantly froze.

"...A Minotaur? You mean that Minotaur?"

"Yes, the bull-headed humanoid monster that usually appears in the 'middle layers.'"

I told him the brief version of what happened, expecting his reaction. True to form, Hermes burst out laughing.

"Ha ha ha ha ha! Minotaur, huh? Ha ha ha ha!"

"Okay, laughing's fine, but I was almost killed!"

Suddenly embarrassed, I shot back at the god. After laughing for a while, with tears in his eyes, Hermes stood up.

"I see. So that's why you came back so quickly. Let's update your [Status] then."

"Please. I ran all over today, so I'm confident my agility has improved."

I took off my jacket and lay down on the sofa in the room. Hermes took a needle from his pocket, pricked his own finger, then traced his finger down my back, leaving a glowing mark.

Every adventurer belongs to a Familia and receives a [Status], a"divine blessing" granted by their Familia's god. This is the only power gods can wield on Earth: a miraculous force that records one's history and draws out abilities that match their experience.

By the way, the first time I got my Status marked, I was struck by the fact that gods' blood is red just like ours. I always imagined Hermes with yellow or green blood, so that was surprisingly down-to-earth.

While Hermes updated my Status, I detailed what had happened today. Stories like these are a god's favorite. I like talking about it too. To me, Hermes is my benefactor, my mentor, my father figure, even though I'd never say that out loud. Never.

"All done. Hmm, your agility really is impressive."

He put on his jacket and showed me a paper with my updated Status written on it, not in common Koine language, but in the Sacred Hieroglyphs used by gods. Hermes believes in practicing these sacred texts since you never know when human knowledge might come in handy.

Apparently, no one else does this, so I'm the only one in this Familia getting this kind of treatment. Strange.

Anyway, after deciphering the Sacred Hieroglyphs, here's my new Status:

---

Toki Ortyx
Lv.1

• Strength: H103 → H105
  
  
• Endurance: I15 → I16
  
  
• Dexterity: H126 → H130
  
  
• Agility: H130 → H154
  
  
• Magic Power: G214 → G225
  

[Magic]

Infinite Abyss

• Skill magic.
  
  
• Nullifies"God's Power."
  
  
• Chant:"This body is filled with the abyss; those who touch it are stained pitch black; reflections fall into twilight; eternal city, new moon; I am the wandering slayer; manifest the power of judgment."
  

[Skill]

Endless Abyss

• Skill magic.
  
  
• Nullifies"God's Power."
  

---

A solid, well-earned update. Magic power grew quite a bit though.

"You're really never boring to watch." Hermes said with a smile. I know why.

These two fill my Magic and Skill slots.

Infinite Abyss and Endless Abyss are actually the same skill. But Infinite Abyss increases power and mass by about ten times when chanted. It's a magic skill I have had since before I could even remember.

Its defining feature? Nullifying"God's Power", meaning it ignores the opponent's Status when attacking. That's why I could kill adventurers back when I was an assassin.

Note: It's nullification, not neutralization. Neutralization would prevent me from even having my Status marked.

Because of this Status, I can never show my full strength in front of Bell. If I do, he might get suspicious, and this rare skill might be exposed. Though honestly, I doubt he'd do that.

"Well then, Hermes-sama, I'll be going."

"Yeah. I look forward to your growth."

I bowed and started to leave the room.

"Oh, wait, Toki."

Hermes called after me as I reached for the door.

"Yes?"

"What's the name of the girl you're at the party with again?"

Hermes is always overprotective of me, subtly concerned for my safety. Whether that's out of parental care or because he sees some value in me, I don't know.

"He's Bell Cranel, a human from the Hestia Familia."

"Bell Cranel...?"

His mood suddenly shifted.

"Are you sure about that?"

"Yes."

After I answered, he seemed to think deeply. Does he know Bell?

"Toki." he said,"Don't ever let her go."

It was an unusually serious order from the god himself. I grinned and replied,

"Not a chance."

Hermes smiled back.

"That's good to hear. Oh, and while you're at it, find Asfi for me."

"Going somewhere? Didn't you say you'd attend the next 'Gods' Meeting, Denatus'?"

"I'll be back soon this time."

With that, Hermes started preparing something. His sudden whims always throw us for a loop. And our Familia leader, Asfi Al Andromeda, always ends up tagging along.

Feeling a bit sorry for her, I left the room.

--------
Note: "Infinite Abyss" was inspired by the Powers of Pride, a homunculus from Fullmetal Alchemist, not that mine's anywhere near that OP. Otherwise, I'd just be unstoppable. By the way, it does have weaknesses. But that's a story for another time.

If you guys want to read up to 20+ chapters in advance of the current story, you can support me on Patreon. You can read up to chapter 35 there! Patreon.com/Veltoria

 

[Raphiel]

"Toki." he said,"Don't ever let her go."

Click to shrink...

her?

 

[Veltoria]

I, Toki Ortyx, am an early riser. This habit goes all the way back to before I traveled the world with Hermes-sama, back to my days as an assassin. I get up early every morning to train. I want to reach my dream of reverence as soon as possible, but some things just take time. So I wake early to keep my body healthy and build my skills through steady training. I truly believe this is the fastest and surest way to make dreams come true.

It's 4 a.m., and the sun hasn't shown its face yet. I slip out of bed, head to the washroom, splash water on my face, change into my workout clothes, and step into the garden.

The place I live isn't Hermes Familia's home. It's a modest, somewhat fancy detached house with a small garden, located in the eastern part of Orario. When I traveled with Hermes-sama, I had plenty of chances to earn money here and there, and before I knew it, I'd saved up quite a lot. After the journey ended and I settled in Orario, I thought about returning the money to the Familia…

But then Hermes-sama said,

"No, it's fine. You're not an adventurer yet, right? That money is yours."

So the whole sum ended up with me, and I finally decided to buy this house.

Anyway, back to the story.

Once outside, I start with some light stretching, then draw my daggers from the shadows and begin practicing my swings.

My skill,"Infinite Abyss of Endless Depths." lets me store inanimate objects, up to the size of a small wagon. How much can it hold? Still unknown.

In fact, there are lots of things about this skill that I don't even understand. I asked Hermes-sama about it, but even he didn't know, so we're still experimenting.

Anyway, once training is done, I head back inside and eat bread for breakfast while equipping my gear.

So far, I haven't used my skill in front of Bell. If I suddenly showed it when we both became adventurers at the same time, it might raise suspicion. …Well, honestly, it's more like he'd get too curious and start asking tons of questions with those sparkling eyes of his, so I just don't mention it.

After I finish getting ready, I double-check the locks and secure the house.

"I'm off."

I say it, knowing no one will answer.

"Huh!?"

On my way to meet Bell, I feel someone watching me.

"From over there, right?"

The gaze is coming from the top of Babel, the city's iconic white tower. Only a few gods live up there…

"What could a god living up there want with me?"

I think about it for a while, but then decide there's no point trying to figure out a god's thoughts. Instead, I hurried to the meeting spot.

"Ha!"

"Seh!"

I take down a charging kobold with my right dagger. Another one comes up behind it.

"Geez! Why are kobolds hanging out in packs?"

"I'd like to know that too!"

Surrounded by kobolds, dog-headed humanoid monsters, I grumble. Normally, kobolds wander in ones or twos. Having eight of them together is definitely strange.

Between yesterday's minotaur and this, maybe I've already used up all my luck when Hermes-sama took me under his wing?

For now, Bell and I take down two each, leaving four remaining.

"You handle those two!"

"Got it!"

I'm not alone in this. Bell and I are rookie adventurers. We can't really coordinate yet, but for opponents like these, I trust him enough to watch my back.

"Shaah!"

"Whoa."

I block a claw swipe from the kobold on my right with my dagger, then kick the one coming in from the left, hitting its face and snapping its neck.

"Gweh!?"

"Don't get distracted!"

Taking advantage of its momentary shock, I slash the throat of the other kobold. With two down, I turn around.

"Phew. Hey, you done over there?"

"Yeah, just finished."

"Alright, let's gather the magic stones."

We move to the fallen kobolds. I stab into the chest of mine to extract the 'magic stone shard' and put it into the pouch at my waist. After half a month of doing this, it's become routine. Incidentally, these 'magic stones' can't be stored in my Infinite Abyss. I tried while Bell wasn't looking, but no matter what, they won't go in.

I glance over at Bell, who's humming cheerfully as he works.

"You look pretty happy."

Without stopping, he replies,

"Yeah. At first, I thought I'd have to do everything alone since I don't have any seniors or comrades in the Familia. But thanks to you, I'm learning a lot. It's like… party play, you know? Like that scene just now!"

"Yeah, definitely. Oh, a dropped item!"

"No way!"

"Alright! My luck's not bad after all!"

Excited by the loot, we keep working. Then suddenly,

"Gaaah!!"

A new monster appears right in front of us.

"Damn it! Bell, stop what you're doing! Get ready to fight!"

"R-Right!"

We quickly get up and charge the monster together.

"Hey, by the way, why did you want to team up with me?"

"Well, the rest of my Familia is pretty strong. If we formed a party, it'd be unbalanced. I'm with you because sometimes one person can't handle everything alone. Plus, if there's someone to start with, I want to do it together."

"Hmm… Oh, by the way, I'm eating dinner at someone named Sil's shop tonight. Wanna come?"

"Sil? Oh, you mean the 'The Hostess of Fertility!' Nice choice! But that place is kinda pricey for what we earn now."

"Really?"

"You didn't know that? Well, whatever. Let's pick up the pace!"

"Okay!"

 

[Veltoria]

The sun was just about to dip below the western horizon. I stood alone in front of a certain tavern.

Hostess of Fertility, a popular hangout among adventurers, run by a Dwarven woman. There are a few reasons for its popularity, but let's set those aside for now.

As for why I was standing here…

"Ah, there you are! Hey, Bell!"
"Oh, Toki!"

Right. I was just waiting for Bell.

"Sorry! Did I keep you waiting?"
"Nah, I haven't been here long."

We exchanged a few words and stepped inside the tavern. And then,

"Oh! Bell-sama!"
A Human waitress approached us.

"She's here!"
"Welcome, oh, Toki!"

"Evening, Syr."

"Oh? Do you two know each other?"

"Well, I've dropped by a few times."

At that, Syr raised her voice in a clear, ringing tone.

"Two guests coming in!"

Bell hunched his shoulders and followed behind Syr, with me bringing up the rear. Bell's trying not to stand out, but with that posture, he's only drawing more attention.

"Right this way, please."
"O-okay…"

We were led to a counter seat tucked away in a corner. Bell sat in the corner most spot, and I took the seat next to him.

"So you're Syr's guest, huh? Hah! Got a cute face for an adventurer!"
The owner, Mia, called out to us as we sat.

"They say you've got such an appetite you left my girls screaming in the kitchen! I'll keep the food coming, so you'd better keep the money flowing!"
"Pffft!"

I nearly choked. I turned to Bell, who looked completely stunned. He shot a wide-eyed glance at Syr. Ah, Syr averted her eyes.

"Wait, since when am I some kind of glutton!? That's news to me too, you know!?"
"Hehehe…"

"Don't you 'hehehe' me!"

No, I can't laugh here. Poor Bell. I shook with suppressed laughter, doing my best to hold it in.

"I just told Mama Mia that I wanted to treat someone I knew, so she should bring out lots of food… and the story kind of… grew on its own…"

"That's totally on purpose, isn't it!?"
"I'm rooting for you!"

"Start by clearing up the misunderstanding!?"

"Nope, can't. Ahahaha!"

"I'm telling you, I'm not a big eater! Our Familia is already broke!"

"…So hungry… I can't move… it's 'cause I didn't get breakfast…"
"Please stop with the deadpan delivery!? Also, that's just gross!?"

"AHAHAHAHA!"

"Seriously, Toki! You're laughing way too much!"

Man, my stomach hurts. It's been a while since I laughed this hard.

"Ahh, that was hilarious. Anyway, Bell, if it comes to it, I've got some emergency savings. Eat as much as you like."
"…Well, I'll try, I guess."

You really are weak to women, huh.

After that, we enjoyed the steady stream of dishes that came out. Bell chatted away with Syr, and I figured it'd be rude to interrupt, so I gave Mia a quick update on recent events.

And then,

…Hey.
Whoa, now there's a prize.

Idiot, look at the emblem.

…Crap.

The tavern suddenly stirred. I turned to see what the commotion was about.

It was the Loki Familia.

Bell stared at them, no, at Ais Wallenstein, then flushed bright red and buried his head against the counter.

"…Bell?"

Syr tried calling out to him, but he didn't seem in any shape to respond.

"Alright, good work on the expedition, everyone! Tonight we party! Drink up!!"

Under the command of their deity, Loki, the Loki Familia had begun their celebration.

"They're one of our best customers." Syr explained."Their goddess Loki took quite a liking to our tavern."

That's actually how I first found out about this place too, through a friend in the Loki Familia.

Bell kept stealing glances at Ais, eyes wide like saucers, a dreamy expression on his face. I couldn't help but smile, though for a different reason than before.

Around the middle of the celebration, the werewolf adventurer sitting diagonally across from Ais raised his voice.

"Hey, Ais! Tell 'em that story!"
"That story…?"

Ais tilted her head, seemingly unsure.

"You know! That Minotaur you cleaned up on the fifth floor on our way back! After a few got away!"

Suddenly, it felt like cold water had been dumped over my head.

"You mean that Minotaur that attacked us on the seventeenth floor, and when we fought it off, the rest fled?"
"Yeah, that one! Climbed the upper floors like some damn miracle, we were freaking out trying to catch up! And we were already exhausted on the way back!"

I had the overwhelming urge to cover my ears, but my arms wouldn't move.

"And get this, there were these total rookie adventurers, green as they come! It was hilarious, man. They got cornered by the wall like little rabbits! One of 'em tried to fight, but the other one, a man, was shaking so badly, face all twisted up!"

My body burned like it was on fire.

"So what happened? Did they make it?"
"Ais sliced the thing to ribbons just in time, right?"

"…"

Ais didn't answer.

"And the one who was shaking, got soaked in that stinkin' bull's blood! Looked like a bright red tomato!"
"Eww…"

"Come on, Ais, you totally did that on purpose, didn't you? Please say you did!"

"That's… not true."

"And then Tomato-boy started screaming and ran off, and the other one bolted too… bwahaha! Our princess saved him and he ran away!"

Laughter erupted throughout the tavern. On our side, it felt like there was a huge wall separating us from them.

"Seriously, it pissed me off. Haven't seen such pathetic losers in a while. One cried, and the other didn't even think, just charged in."
"…Oh dear."

"They were hopeless. Crying, panicking, no idea of their own limits. If you're like that, you've got no business being an adventurer. Right, Ais?"

I wanted to shut him up. Right then and there. But I couldn't.

"People like that drag us all down. Makes us look bad."

As the sounds of the tavern faded away, only the voice of that damned werewolf rang clearly in my ears.

"Oooh, listen to the proud elf talk. But hey, what's the point in defending trash like that?"
"You're just making yourself feel better for your own screwups. What's wrong with calling garbage what it is?"

"Ais, what do you think? About those pathetic guys shaking in their boots? They dare to call themselves adventurers, same as us?"

"You're playing nice now, but let me ask you this, if you had to pick between me and those brats, who would you choose?"

"C'mon, Ais. Choose. Which male do you wag your tail at? Who do you want to get wrecked by?"

"So what, if one of those little punks confessed their love to you, you'd accept it?"

"Hah! No way in hell. Weak, soft, hopeless little losers like that don't belong next to a top-class adventurer like you."

"Losers like that don't deserve to stand beside Ais Wallenstein."

Clatter!
A chair crashed to the ground. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw something white dash past.

"Bell!?"

Syr rushed after him. I slipped a few coins from my pocket.

"Mia, the bill. For both of us."
"You sure? Yours is enough."

"No, this was always my treat."

Reluctantly, Mia accepted the reddened, warm coins. I stood, turned, and fought the urge to run. I walked briskly across the tavern, and then…

"Wait!"

My sleeve was grabbed. I turned around,

"…Lefiya."

There stood my friend, Lefiya Viridis.

 

[Veltoria]

The evening after returning from the dungeon expedition, our Loki Familia held our usual post-expedition celebration.

Although we didn't manage to reach a new floor this time, the expedition had been grueling due to fights with new types of monsters.

The celebration was held at"The Hostess of Fertility." a cozy and lively restaurant on the main street in the west. The food was delicious, and the atmosphere was joyful.

Glasses and plates quickly emptied, and waitresses bustled about with practiced efficiency. It was a truly fun night.

"Hey, Ais! You gotta tell them your story!"

While Loki was sharing tales of the expedition, Bete Loga, the werewolf member of the Familia, urged Ais to tell her own story.

It was about the fight with the Minotaurs who attacked us on our way back.

According to Bete Loga, the last Minotaur fled all the way down to the fifth floor.

When they defeated it, they also helped two rookie adventurers, but apparently, those two got away this time.

I couldn't help but laugh at that.

Then Bete Loga began speaking poorly of those adventurers. He's a staunch meritocracy and not a bad person, but with a little alcohol in him, his words were harsh.

And then…

"They're weaklings, unworthy of Ais Valenstein."

Right after Bete Loga said that, someone inside the restaurant suddenly rushed out.

"Bel-san!?"

One of the waitresses hurried after them, and Ais also tried to follow. Everyone in the restaurant was confused, unsure what had just happened.

"What? A food-runner?" someone joked.

"Wow, causing trouble at Mia's mom's place… you've got some nerve." another said.

Loki went out to bring Ais back.

I casually glanced at the seat where that person had been sitting.

"Oh."

There, I saw a familiar back. Not just familiar, he's someone who, for the past three years, has helped me think through the mindset of an adventurer. Thanks to him, I had grown into a level 4 adventurer. Without his guidance, I wouldn't have had the confidence to stand proudly as a member of the Loki Familia.

I thought about calling out to him, but since it was the Familia's celebration and he was working tomorrow, I figured I'd catch him later. Just as I was about to look away,

His face came into view. An expression I'd never seen before: raw anger mixed with the hint of tears.

Why? I wondered. Then I remembered something from the day before the expedition.

….
The day before the expedition
"Hey, so you're leaving on the expedition tomorrow?"

"Yeah. I won't be able to come here for a while after that."

"Really? Are you sure it's okay to come out the day before the expedition?"

"I'm done preparing, and I got permission."

"Alright, but still… tomorrow, huh?"

"Hm? Is there something special about tomorrow?"

"Yeah. It's my birthday tomorrow."

"No way!"

"Really. Finally, I'm turning 14."

"Oh, then…"

"Yeah! Hermes-sama's back, and I'm finally debuting as an adventurer!"

"That's great!"

"Even after becoming an adventurer, I'm planning to keep this place going."

"If it disappeared, a lot of people would be in trouble. You should've said so earlier."

"Said what?"

"Your birthday! You have to tell me so I can celebrate!"

"Wait, didn't I tell you?"

"Nope! Not a word! Honestly, you're so clueless sometimes, like a kid…"

"Hey, I am still a kid."

"Is there such a kid like you just hanging around?"

"That's a bit harsh…"

There's no proof. In a place as crowded as Orario, the chance that the Minotaur we fought on the fifth floor, the person in this restaurant at the same time as our celebration, and Bete Loga telling that story would all line up, it's almost zero.
But still, I stood up and caught his sleeve as he tried to leave.

"Wait!"

He stopped and turned around.

"…Lefiya."

His expression hadn't changed.

"What do you want?"

The restaurant murmured again. He looked around and then forced a smile.

"This isn't the place to talk. Let's go outside."

He left the restaurant with me following.

The sun had completely set. I thought Loki said something as we left, but I wasn't in the mood to listen.
"Toki, about what Bete Loga said earlier…"

"Toki? Oh, him, the Ferocious Wolf Vanargand. Yeah, he's as they say."

Toki smiled, but anyone could tell it was forced.

"The adventurers he was talking about were me and the guy who just left."

My heart felt like it was being crushed.

"I'm sorry!!"

I apologized, even though I hadn't known and laughed at the story while the person himself was there.

"That's not something to apologize for."

"But, "

"Besides, I'm not angry at you or the Loki Familia. And definitely not at the Ferocious Wolf Vanargand who told the story."

His smile vanished, and he looked up at the top of Babel.

"I'm angry at myself."

"Huh?"

"I got carried away."

His face looked lonely, as if confessing.

"I got excited because I finally became an adventurer. I thought I was one step closer to my goal."

Toki clenched his fists tightly.

"Toki, your hands…"

His fists were stained with blood from how tightly he'd squeezed them.

"Hearing that story, I wanted to deny it… but I couldn't. So, I should be grateful to that person for making me realize it, not hate him."

"Toki…"

His gaze pierced me. It was the strong gaze of a warrior.

"So, you don't need to apologize, Lefiya."

"…Okay, I understand."

He turned on his heel and walked away, toward Babel.

"Huh?"

"Oh, right! The shop will be open as usual tomorrow. If you want, come by!"

And with that, he ran off.

…..
Back inside the restaurant,

Loki approached.
"You're late, Lefiya. What were you talking about with that boy?"

"It doesn't matter."

"Aw, come on. Hey, wait, was that boy your boyfriend?"

"So what if he was?"

Loki froze. I shifted my gaze to Bete Loga, who was tied up with ropes by Tiona and others, with Riveria-sama stepping on his head. I didn't know how he ended up like that, but I felt an anger toward him I'd never felt before.

I just wanted to vent my uncontrollable fury.

"Ah, Lefiya!"

"What is it? You were talking with someone earlier, weren't you?"

"Yes, I'm fine now."

I smiled at Tiona and Riveria, then,

I stomped hard on Bete Loga's stomach.

"Ughh!"

Despite Riveria stepping on his head, Bete Loga bent in half.

"L-Lefiya…?"

Riveria sounded surprised.

"What the hell!? What're you, "

"What are you complaining about?"

At that moment, everyone in the Loki Familia thought this: Lefiya was scarier than any monster they'd ever seen.

"N-No, it's nothing…"

Ignoring Bete Loga as he suddenly cowered, I returned to my seat.

I was angry because I was scared. If at that time, Toki had rejected me…

I shook my head.

"Tione."

"Yes?"

"Pour me a drink, too."

Tione, who had been pouring drinks for the guild leader Fin earlier, usually hesitant, surprisingly poured one for me without question.

I downed it in one gulp.

"Another, please."

"L-Lefiya? You shouldn't drink so fast, "

"Loki, be quiet."

"…Okay."

I drank that one down as well and asked for another.

I didn't last long after that.

….
"Wow, that Lefiya was really scary."
"Yeah, I've never seen her like that before."

"By the way, Tione?"

"Yes?"

"Why did you pour Lefiya a drink? I thought you'd tell me my drink belongs to the guild leader!"

"Well, you see…"

"Why?"

"Because Lefiya looked like a girl in love."

---

Notes: In this work, Lefiya is already level 4, not a typo or misunderstanding, that's the setting.

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