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—he remembered when he had told her about his forays into the 5th floor of the Dungeon.
Flashback:
"What are you thinking, Bell?! That'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? This isn't a game, Bell."
Bell returned to the present and looked at his goddess's face. This time, there were no sharp reprimands like Eina's, but the concern was just as evident. Bell could see the fear in her eyes. The goddess was not only his protector—she was also his friend. And like Eina, she feared for his well-being.
"I'm sorry, Goddess… I know I should've been more careful. But…" Bell looked up for a moment, but quickly looked down again 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 toward him, lowering her voice, though the tension in her tone still lingered.
"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 risk your life so carelessly."
Bell clenched his fists. He knew his goddess only wanted the best for him. But the reality was that both Eina's 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 all of you, understood? I don't want to see you doing anything stupid again."
Bell nodded, though something deep inside him knew 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, even 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 something good can't come of it."
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 it was updated.
A few moments later, Hestia fell silent, her eyes fixed on the screen. Then, her eyes widened in surprise.
"Hey… Bell, it looks like you've got not just one new blessing… but two!"
Bell looked at her, confused. "Two?"
"Yes," Hestia said, smiling 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 a 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 a little… embarrassed by what it implied.
"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 becoming a great adventurer, Bell."
Bell didn't know whether to feel relieved or frustrated, but 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 status, 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, accelerating his progress immeasurably. But what did "as long as he was determined" mean? That wasn't something an ordinary adventurer could control so easily. Still, the potential of this ability was undeniable.
"This is… too much," Hestia thought, her mind reeling. The other blessing was good, but this? This could give Bell an advantage so monstrous that even she couldn't predict the outcome.
Hestia wasn't sure if she should tell Bell the truth. This blessing was practically "broken." If used correctly, Bell could grow at a rate so rapid that he could surpass many adventurers in a very short time. While Bell didn't understand what that meant, Hestia did. It was a blessing that could change everything for him.
She briefly considered keeping the information to herself. But she had already mentioned that Bell had received two blessings, and lying now would be too obvious. There was no way to cover it up.
With a resigned sigh, Hestia looked at Bell, trying to remain calm, despite her nerves. "Bell, there's something else… a second blessing. [Divine Blessing of Growth]."
Bell stared at her, his confusion evident. "Growth?"
Hestia nodded slowly. "Yes… It's a blessing that significantly increases your stat growth as long as you remain determined. Essentially, if you stay focused and keep striving to improve, your abilities will grow much faster than normal."
Bell frowned, still struggling to grasp the magnitude of what that meant. "Is that… good?"
Hestia felt a pang of guilt at his confusion. "It's very good, Bell. In fact, it's amazing. This blessing will make you stronger faster than you can imagine. But… it comes with a responsibility. You'll need to maintain your resolve. That's the key."
Bell nodded slowly, still unsure, but reassured that he had a chance to improve faster. He couldn't yet grasp just how advantageous the blessing could be, but the thought of growing faster gave him a newfound sense of hope.
Hestia, on the other hand, remained silent for a moment, her mind racing with the consequences of this blessing for Bell's future. In many ways, it was a double-edged sword.
"I hope you can handle it," she thought, her gaze full of concern, mixed with hope.
Then, suddenly, Bell's face changed, his eyes widening with alarm.
"The magic stone!" he exclaimed, jumping up from the armchair.
Hestia blinked, confused. "Magic stone? What are you talking about?"
Bell stared at her, panic flashing in his eyes. "The Minotaur's magic stone. I left it there, on the floor where I fought him!"
Hestia's eyes widened in realization. Monster magic stones were incredibly valuable, and the Minotaur's had to be one of the largest Bell had ever seen. If someone found it, it would no longer belong to them.
Bell sighed, his expression darkening. "It's valuable, Goddess. If someone found it… there's nothing we can do about it."
Hestia crossed her arms thoughtfully. "Someone's probably already taken it. If that Minotaur was this close to the upper floors, an adventurer would have found it the moment you left."
Bell slumped, defeated. "Yeah… I should have thought about the stone in all the chaos. Now… it's gone."
Hestia gazed 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'd 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, understanding there was no point in dwelling on what couldn't be changed. "We can't keep focusing on it. If someone else found it, there's nothing we can do. All we can do is move forward."
Bell nodded, a little more determined. "You're right, Goddess. We can't stand still. We must keep moving."
Hestia watched him for a moment, before giving him a small smile, tinged with sadness. "Even if we lost the stone, we still have each other. And that's what matters most."
Bell smiled faintly, the weight of their struggles still pressing on him. "Yes, you're right. We always have each other."
They both fell silent for a moment, resigned to the loss of the stone, but resolute in their determination to face whatever came next.
…
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, a servant of sorts, tasked with collecting loot and carrying the burdens the adventurers didn't want. She had no name in their group, no voice, no right to speak her mind.
"Hey, useless kid!" shouted one of the adventurers at the front, a burly man with a giant axe. "Don't fall behind. If I lose anything, I'll deduct it from your account. Got it?"
Lili lowered her head and murmured softly, "Yes..." She knew she had no choice. She had no family, no strength to face the Dungeon alone, and no way to escape those who used her.
"What did you say? Are you even answering me?" the same adventurer growled, spinning around with a hostile expression.
"No, sir. Sorry," she replied quickly, her eyes cast down, avoiding his gaze.
The man snorted and turned away. "I thought so. Just do your job and stay out of the way."
The group moved forward, and Lili trudged behind them in silence, bearing not only the weight of her backpack but also the weight of her humiliation.
Yet, in her mind, 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 anyone."
But for now, she had no choice. Gather valis, survive… and wait.
Wait to find someone else.
As the adventurers continued ahead, oblivious to her presence, Lili walked behind them like a shadow. Her feet kept pace, but her mind… didn't.
"That white-haired boy…"
Remembering him made her frown slightly—not out of anger, but 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 felt weird."
Lili had perfected her act over the years. Bright eyes, a soft voice, a charming smile. The perfect image of an innocent, trustworthy, sweet supporter. It was the only way she knew how to survive—by winning others' sympathy.
When she approached that boy on the guild street, she thought it would play out like it always did.
But he…
He didn't react as she expected.
"For a moment there, I swear… he wasn't listening to me. He was looking… above me?"
That detail hadn't escaped her. Although she pretended to be distracted, Lili was an excellent observer. She watched everything. 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?"
Her hand subconsciously went to her chest, where an uncomfortable pang settled. Not of guilt. Of unease. Vulnerability.
Lili didn't know how to process that feeling. Everyone else easily fell for her theatrics. Because no one was truly looking at her. But that boy...
"What if it didn't fall… because of that?"
Her brow furrowed deeper.
"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 for revenge, not even for any strategic reason.
Just to make sure.
"I want to know if it was luck… or if he really saw me for who I am."
And deep down, though she wouldn't admit it even to herself, the idea that someone had seen through her mask so easily bothered her. Because if he did it once…
How many more times could he do it?
The Darkness, The Entity
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. 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.
Her 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 the others 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 be. 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.