Bell stood, his head bowed and his hands clasped behind his back. He was completely defeated, not only by the fatigue of having been in the Dungeon, but also by the scolding his goddess was giving him.
"What's wrong with you, Bell?! Didn't I tell you to take it easy?! What the hell were you doing facing a minotaur alone?!"
The Goddess's tone clearly reflected her concern for him. Bell had hoped his goddess would understand, but apparently, that wasn't the case. She looked at him with her arms crossed, her expression a mixture of frustration and fear. And the worst part was that Bell knew she was right. He'd messed up again.
Suddenly, Eina's voice crept into his mind, when he had told her about his forays into the 5th floor of the Dungeon.
Flashback:
"What are you thinking, Bell?! It's not a place for rookies like you. The 5th floor is beyond your capabilities. You have to learn to be more cautious. An adventurer's life isn't measured by the number of monsters you can defeat, but by your ability to survive."
Eina had raised her hands as if she were about to explode, and Bell had to bear her frustration. "And you, don't you realize how dangerous all this is? It's not a game, Bell."
Bell returned to the present and observed his Goddess's face. This time, there were no recriminations like Eina's, but the concern was just as evident. Bell could understand the fear in her eyes. The Goddess was not only his protector, she was also his friend, and like Eina, he feared for her well-being.
"I'm sorry, Goddess… I know I should have been more careful. But…" Bell looked up for a moment, but quickly looked down at his goddess's stern expression. "I don't want to be this weak anymore. I want to be strong… so I can protect you."
The Goddess sighed and walked towards him, lowering her voice, though her tone still showed the inner tension she felt.
"Bell, I don't want you to be strong just for me… I want you to be strong for yourself. You're not a hero yet. And even if you were, that doesn't give you the right to put your life in danger so easily."
Bell clenched his fists. He knew his Goddess only wanted the best for him. But the reality was that Eina and his Goddess's words cut deep, reminding him how fragile he still was.
"I know…" he murmured, before smiling weakly. "I'll try, Goddess."
"You better try," the Goddess said, smiling slightly, but with a protective gleam in her eyes. "I love you whole, understood? I don't want to see you do anything stupid again."
Bell nodded, though something deep inside him felt that his Goddess's words, like Eina's, wouldn't leave his mind so easily. He would have to change his approach. He couldn't keep making impulsive decisions, though his desire to become stronger still burned within him.
Hestia sighed and approached Bell with a softer gaze. "Well, even if you did something stupid, that doesn't mean there isn't something good to come from this."
Bell looked at his Goddess, not fully understanding what she meant. He was still reeling from the scolding, but he trusted that if she said it, there was something important she wanted to focus on.
With a thoughtful expression, Hestia updated Bell's status and began to closely observe the changes. Bell, although embarrassed, let her do so. He knew the status was part of his progress, even if it felt awkward every time he was updated.
A few moments later, Hestia fell silent, her eyes fixed on the screen. Then, her eyes widened in surprise.
"Hey… Bell, looks like you have not just one new blessing… but two!"
Bell looked at her confused. "Two?"
"Yes," Hestia smiled with a mixture of surprise and pride. "The first is [Divine Blessing of the Giant Slayer]: Increases combat effectiveness when your opponent is larger than you."
Bell frowned, unsure if that was a good or bad thing. He looked at his Goddess, who seemed more animated than ever.
"Do you know what this means, Bell? That's perfect for you!" Hestia laughed softly. "This blessing will activate most of the time for sure…" Hestia gave him a playful look. "With your size, I wouldn't be surprised at all!"
Bell felt somewhat awkward. He didn't want to admit it, but being small often put him at a disadvantage. Although the blessing seemed useful, he couldn't help but feel somewhat… embarrassed by what it entailed.
"I… I'm not that small," he said softly, avoiding Hestia's gaze.
"Of course you are," Hestia replied, smiling broadly. "But that's okay, you don't have to worry about that. The important thing is that this blessing is going to help you. You're one step closer to being a great adventurer, Bell."
Bell didn't know whether to feel relief or frustration, but a part of him knew the blessing could be very useful. He might not admit it, but deep down he knew that, no matter how small he was, he had to find ways to use his strengths. And if that blessing helped him face bigger monsters, maybe, just maybe, he had a chance to move forward without risking his life every time.
As Hestia continued to observe Bell's condition, her eyes widened even further as she noticed something even more surprising.
"Wait a minute…" she muttered to herself, her hands shaking slightly as she swiped across the screen. "It can't be…"
Bell looked at her confused. "What's wrong, Goddess?"
Hestia was silent for a moment, as if processing what she'd just seen. There was something about the new blessing that completely stunned her. It was something… broken.
Bell's second blessing was something incredible. It was called [Divine Blessing of Growth]. Hestia read the words several times, almost in disbelief.
While determined, stat growth is greatly increased.
It was the kind of blessing that could completely change Bell's life, and in such a powerful way that it could accelerate his progress immeasurably. But what did "as long as he was determined" mean? That wasn't something an ordinary adventurer could control so easily. However, the impact of this ability was undeniable.
"This is… too much," Hestia thought, clearly shocked. The other blessing was good, but this… this was going to give Bell a monstrous advantage, and in a way she couldn't even predict.
Hestia didn't know if she should tell Bell the truth. This blessing was practically "broken." If used correctly, Bell could grow at such a rapid rate that he could surpass many adventurers in a very short time. Although Bell had no idea what that meant, Hestia did. It was a blessing that could change everything for him.
She thought for a moment about not telling anything, about keeping this information to herself. But she'd already mentioned that he'd received two new blessings, and lying now would be too obvious. She couldn't make up something to cover it up.
Finally, Hestia sighed, looking at Bell with a slightly nervous expression, but trying to remain calm. "Bell, there's something else… a second blessing. [Divine Blessing of Growth]."
Bell looked at her blankly. "Growth?"
Hestia nodded slowly. "Yes… It's a blessing that significantly increases your stat growth as long as you remain determined. In other words, if you keep striving to improve and stay focused on your goals, your abilities will grow much faster than normal."
Bell frowned, still not fully grasping the magnitude of what that meant. "Is that… good?"
Hestia couldn't help but feel a little guilty seeing the confusion in Bell's eyes. "It's very good, Bell. It's very, very good. This blessing will make you stronger faster than you think. But… that also comes with its own burden. You'll need to keep your resolve at its peak. That's the key."
Bell nodded slowly, still not understanding everything, but a little more reassured knowing he had a chance to improve faster. He couldn't imagine how incredibly advantageous that blessing would be, but the idea of continuing to grow faster gave him a sense of hope.
Hestia, on the other hand, remained silent for a moment, thinking about everything this could mean for Bell's future. In many ways, that blessing was a double-edged sword.
"I hope you can handle it," she thought, watching Bell with a mixture of concern and hope.
Bell suddenly fell silent. His face went from somewhat thoughtful to completely alarmed. Something had crossed his mind.
"The magic stone!" he suddenly exclaimed, quickly rising from the armchair.
Hestia looked at him in confusion, not quite understanding. "Magic stone? What are you talking about?"
Bell stared at Hestia, his eyes wide open. "The Minotaur's magic stone. I left it there, on the floor where I fought him!"
Hestia blinked, finally understanding. Monster magic stones were valuable, and the minotaur's had to be one of the largest Bell had ever seen. If anyone found it, it would no longer be theirs.
Bell sighed, feeling worry creep over him. "Is valuable, Goddess. If someone found it… there's nothing we can do about it."
Hestia crossed her arms, thinking aloud. "Someone's probably already taken it. If that minotaur was this close to the upper floors, it's quite likely some adventurer came after you left."
Bell slumped his shoulders, defeated. "Yeah… I think so. I didn't think about the stone in all the chaos. And now… the opportunity is gone."
Hestia looked at him with a mixture of frustration and tenderness. "Don't worry, Bell. I already knew. I just… I can't help but think we would have been a little more at peace if that stone had been in our hands."
Bell nodded slowly, resigned. "I know… And if only I had been more careful."
Hestia sighed, realizing there was no point in continuing to dwell on what they couldn't change. "We can't just keep dwelling on it. If someone else found her, there's nothing we can do about it. All we can do is move on."
Bell nodded vigorously, convinced by her words. "You're right, Goddess. We can't stand still. We must move forward."
Hestia looked at him for a few seconds and then smiled, albeit with a hint of sadness in her eyes. "Even if it was a missed opportunity, we still have a family. And that's the most important thing."
Bell smiled slightly, though he still felt the pressure of the difficulties they faced. "Yes, you're right. We can always count on each other."
They both remained silent for a moment, resigned to the loss of the stone, but determined to move forward and face whatever came.
…
In a dimly lit corner of the dungeon's second floor, a hunched figure trudged briskly behind a group of adventurers. She wore a threadbare cloak that barely covered her small frame, and carried a backpack that seemed larger than her.
Liliruca Arde, known simply as Lili, walked silently. She was a partisan, one of those who served only to collect loot and carry the burden the adventurers didn't want. She had no name in that group, no voice, and no right to speak her mind.
"Hey, useless kid!" shouted one of the adventurers at the front, a burly guy with a giant axe. "Don't fall behind. If I lose anything, I'll deduct it from your account, do you understand?"
Lili lowered her head and murmured a small, "Yes..." under her breath. She knew she had no choice. She had no family, no strength to face the Dungeon alone, nor those who used her.
"What did you say? Are you even answering me?" the same adventurer growled, turning around with a hostile expression.
"No, sir. Sorry," she replied quickly, without looking up.
The guy snorted and turned around again. "I thought so. Just do your job and stay out of the way."
The group continued moving forward while Lili walked in silence, bearing not only the weight of her backpack, but also the weight of humiliation.
In his mind, however, the voice was different. "Someday… someday I won't have to bow my head. Someday I'll have my own strength. I won't depend on these people… or on anyone."
But for now, he had no choice. Gather valis, survive… and wait.
Wait to find someone else.
As the group of adventurers advanced without paying attention to her, Lili simply walked behind them like a shadow. Her feet kept pace, but her mind… didn't.
"That white-haired boy…"
Remembering it made him frown slightly, not out of anger, but out of confusion. It had been a brief, almost irrelevant interaction. Or so it should have been.
And yet…
It was different.
"I don't know why… but it was weird."
Lili strove to perfect her act at every meeting. Bright eyes, soft voice, charming smile. The perfect image of an innocent, trustworthy, sweet supporter. It was the only way she knew to win others' sympathy… and survive.
When she approached that boy on the guild street, she thought it would work out as usual.
But he…
He didn't react as I expected.
"For a moment there, I swear… he wasn't listening to me. He was looking… above me?"
That detail didn't escape her. Although she pretended to be distracted, Lili was very good at observing. It was her hidden talent. She watched everything. She calculated everything. And that boy, with his somewhat naive but focused expression… wasn't looking into her eyes. Or her smile. Or her carefully prepared gestures.
"Did he… notice? Did he see I was faking?"
She brought a hand to his chest, feeling an uncomfortable pang. Not of guilt. Of unease. Of vulnerability.
Lili didn't know how to feel about that. Everyone around her easily fell into her theatrics, because no one was really looking at her. But that boy...
"What if it didn't fall… because of that?"
Her brow furrowed a little further.
"Damn it… why does it bother me so much?"
She had no answers. Only more questions. But there was one certainty in her mind: she wanted to meet him again. Not out of revenge, not even out of utility.
Just to make sure.
"I want to know if it was luck… or if he really saw me as I am."
And deep down, though she wouldn't admit it even to herself... she was bothered by the idea that someone had seen through her mask so easily.
Because if he did it once… how many more times could he do it?
…
It has always been darkness.
From the first moment I became conscious… there was only nothingness. Not emptiness, not silence, not death. Something deeper. Vast. A darkness without beginning or end.
I floated in it. I was part of it. I was it.
For a long time, I did nothing. I didn't think. I didn't dream. I didn't feel. I just… existed. Until the lights appeared.
Small. Fragile. Barely glimmering sparks in the distance, as if doubting their own brilliance.
I don't know why I did it. I just know that I did it. I offered them a little bit of myself.
Of my essence.
Some accepted it and began to shine a little brighter. Others simply flickered… and went out. Others accepted it, but it didn't change anything. Not for them. Not for me.
And so countless moments passed… centuries, perhaps. I don't know. Time has no meaning here.
But then, she appeared.
I don't know how to describe her. She was a light… no, a flame. A tiny sun that emerged from the darkness. Unstable, young, but… fiery. Beautiful. Like no other before.
Its radiance pierced me. It called me.
Not as a plea. Not as a wish. It was… natural. As if it had always been destined to reach me.
And for the first time, I felt something.
Desire. Instinct. Purpose.
I offered her more. Much more. What I hadn't given to anyone else. Because this light... this incandescent spark... could burn brighter than all of them combined. It could illuminate not only itself, but the entire world.
He doesn't know what he is yet. He doesn't know what he will be yet.
But I know it. And that's why... I won't let it go out.
I want…I want that light to burn bright enough to heal this darkness.
Because this darkness that I am… is not healthy.
I wasn't always like this. I know, even if I can't remember. There's something inside me, something twisting, pulsing in places where it shouldn't have. It creates things that aren't natural. Shapes I don't understand. Monstrosities that shouldn't exist.
They crawl inside me. I feel them. I hate them.
They are my disease.
And they grow in number. More cruel. More savage. They are born from me like unwanted children. I don't control them. I don't want them. But I can't stop them. I can only watch them emerge... deformed, hungry, contaminating everything they touch.
And yet…Recently, something changed.
Some of those monstrosities… are different. Not in form. In presence. They sleep more. They hurt less. As if a very small part of me were beginning to remember something resembling calm.
To healing.
Could it be because of her? Could it be because of that incandescent light that touched me so strongly?
I want to believe it. I need to believe it.
May that little flame continue to descend. Walking inside me. May it not go out. May it not break.
Because if I reach the center... If I reach where no one has reached... Maybe, just maybe... this darkness that devours me will stop being a cancer. And I can return to being... what I once was.
Or what I once dreamed of being.