After wrapping up my guild duties at 4 p.m., I headed back to my home base. Earlier, Loki-sama, acting as the host of the "Denatus." made some comments about the documents and even tried recruiting me, but I managed to brush it off. I used the spare time to have Hermes-sama update my Status. Here are the results:
Toki Ortyx
Level: 2
Strength: I0 → F323
Endurance: I0 → D531
Dexterity: I0 → D512
Agility: I0 → F345
Magic: I0 → B745
Skill: Assassination H
I was speechless. It seems the boost granted by my skill, Challenger Flux, doesn't affect the growth rate of my Status proficiency. Normally, ability-boosting skills are tied to Status growth, making it harder to raise your stats the more you use them. But this skill appears to bypass that entirely.
Of course, circumstances like this are rare, so I doubt I'll ever see such a dramatic increase again... or so I'd like to believe. My magic growth, though, it's as absurd as ever.
Hermes-sama mentioned he'd be heading off on another journey, taking Asfi with him. That means I'll have to cover more of the Familia's paperwork again. Hopefully, it won't be as chaotic as my recent guild work.
He also asked me to compile a report on Bell while he's away, just observertions, no peeking at his Status. I agreed reluctantly; you can't exactly refuse an order from your god.
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With time to spare, I took a quick nap before heading to the party. Upon waking, I felt a wave of dread and self-loathing. Just three days ago, I questioned whether I was even fit to call myself Bell's friend. Yet today, I acted as though nothing had happened. Could I be any more childish?
These thoughts plagued me as I made my way to the Hostess of Fertility, where the celebration was being held.
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Inside, I spotted Lili seated with Syr and the elf Ryuu.
"Bell isn't here yet?" I asked.
"Not yet." Lili replied.
I had a hunch, he's probably being chased by gods on his way here. The thought amused me briefly, but guilt soon followed. Today really wasn't my day.
After a while, Bell finally arrived. At the entrance, he seemed to be receiving some teasing from Anya and Runoa. Lili stood on her chair and waved, her face lighting up with joy.
Her voice caused a stir throughout the tavern. The moment Bell's name was mentioned, whispers spread like wildfire. Bell, noticing the attention, hunched over and hurried toward us. Unfortunately, that only made him more conspicuous.
"You've certainly become quite the celebrity, Bell." I teased.
"Y-you think so? It's really unsettling… I was chased by unfamiliar gods earlier!"
"Well, it's a rite of passage for renowned adventurers. You're not the first, and you won't be the last. Just hang in there."
I tried to keep things lighthearted. This was Bell's celebration, after all, and there was no room for a somber mood.
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Syr clapped her hands, smiling warmly."Now that Bell's here, shall we begin?"
Bell glanced at her hesitantly."What about the restaurant, though?"
"'Laugh, drink, and spend plenty of valis,' that's what Mama Mia said. Oh, and to have fun, of course."
I glanced toward Mia, who grinned and waved us off. Moments like these were part of what made the Hostess of Fertility so beloved by adventurers.
We raised our glasses in toast. Bell had a mug of ale, Syr a citrus fruit wine, Lili opted for juice, and Ryuu stuck with water. I, reluctantly, chose the same wine as Syr. I'm not much of a drinker, alcohol interferes with my control over Infinite Abyss, so I usually avoid it. But abstaining would have looked suspicious, so I decided to endure it.
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"Bell, drink as much as you like." Syr said cheerfully."Tonight's your night, after all. Or would you like something to eat instead?"
"Th-thank you…" Bell stammered, clearly flustered by her attention. Meanwhile, across the table, Lili's smile grew unnervingly sharp.
"You seem to be in an excellent mood, Syr." I remarked.
"Do I? Well, I was just thinking how glad I am that the book I gave him was helpful. It's nice to know I could be of some use."
What book? I wondered, but decided not to ask. Probing would only spoil the atmosphere, and besides, I had a bad feeling about it.
Bell, however, looked oddly tense. What on earth was happening under the table?
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Ryuu turned to Bell, her tone sincere."Congratulations, Bell. To achieve a rank-up in such a short time… it seems I underestimated you."
"Th-thank you! But really, I owe it all to the help I received from everyone. Including you, Ryuu…"
Bell's bashful smile reminded me of myself a week ago. It was a heartening sight, despite my earlier doubts.
"No need to be modest." Ryuu said.
"Defeating a Minotaur, even among Level 2-class monsters, is an incredible achievement. You should take pride in yourself, Bell Cranel."
"Yeah." I added. "Even if others helped, you're the one who made it happen. Hold your head high."
"Y-yeah… Thanks, Toki."
Despite their kind words, I couldn't accept them.
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For some reason, I felt painfully out of place, as if I didn't belong here at all. It was as though I wasn't myself anymore. Lost in thought, I stared blankly for what felt like ages.
"Toki… Hey, Toki!"
"Wha! You scared me!"
"Are you okay? You looked totally out of it."
"Ah, yeah. I guess I'm just tired. I pulled three all-nighters working on guild reports. Maybe it's catching up to me."
Even as I said it, Bell gave me a puzzled look.
"So, what were we talking about?"
"Oh, right, it's about the party." Bell said hesitantly.
"Ah, I see. Honestly, I think we could use one more member."
"You think so too?"
Our current setup was a three-person cell: Bell, Lili, and me. But with Lili serving as the supporter, our combat power was lacking. Plus, I couldn't stay with their party forever. Ideally, we needed another fighter.
"But wouldn't adding more people make retreating harder if something goes wrong?" Syr interjected. "More people means a higher chance someone could get left behind."
"That's true." Ryuu admitted,"but the best strategy is to avoid such situations entirely. For that, having more members is beneficial."
"You're surprisingly knowledgeable about this." Syr remarked.
"I learned a lot from Asfi, the captain of the Hermes Familia." Ryuu replied.
Later, a group of drunk adventurers tried to pick a fight, but the Hostess of Fertility staff, led by Ryuu, quickly sent them packing.
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After the Celebration
Once the party ended, I asked Bell for a private moment to talk. We headed to the wall in the northwest district, a spot where he mentioned training with Ais.
"So, what's this about?" he asked.
"Ah…" I hesitated, then bowed deeply.
"I'm sorry."
"Huh? W-what for?"
"I looked down on you, Bell. I didn't realize it at the time, but when I joined your party, it wasn't to help you, it was because I wanted someone to compare myself to. I only just realized how selfish that was. I'm sorry!"
Before I knew it, tears were streaming down my face. I didn't even understand why. After a long silence, Bell spoke.
"Raise your head."
His voice was calm. His face showed no anger or disappointment, just his usual gentle expression.
"You know, when you called me your best friend, it made me so happy."
His words were soft, but they struck deep.
"I grew up with my grandfather, but I never had any friends. So, hearing someone as amazing as you call me their best friend… It made me so happy I could cry. So please, don't apologize."
Damn it. If I were a girl, I'd have fallen for him right then and there.
I wiped my tears, took a deep breath, and tried to gather my thoughts.
"Alright. But… I still need to settle my feelings about this. Can I ask you for one favor?"
"A favor?"
"Hit me."
Bell blinked, utterly confused.
"H-huh? What are you talking about?"
"I heard from Hermes-sama that taking a punch helps clear things up in moments like this. So, do it. Please."
"If you're sure…" Bell hesitated but clenched his fist.
"Wait… You're really okay with this?"
"Yeah. Do it."
Bell's fist flew toward me. My body instinctively wanted to dodge, but I forced myself to take the hit. It hurt, but somehow, I felt lighter.
"Better now?" Bell asked.
"Yeah. Thanks."
That night, we became true best friends.
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Note: Next up, we'll finally dive into a new arc!
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