It had been nearly a month since Loki Familia's celebration banquet.
Perhaps the uproar caused during the last expedition had been too much—Evilus had chosen to lie low throughout the entire month.
But to Bell, their so-called retreat felt like utter nonsense.
More likely, it was just that Orario's combat strength had grown too rapidly, forcing Evilus to temporarily abandon their usual tactics. This so-called dormancy was just a way to weather the current period of peace. Bell had a strong feeling that it wouldn't be long before they made their next big move.
"Haa!"
A sharp punch carved a twisting line through the air.
Wearing only loose-fitting pants, Bell stood bare-chested, frozen mid-strike. Heat still rose visibly from his well-trained, pink-toned skin.
Once the steam coming off his body eased, Bell let out a long breath and slowly relaxed his stance.
After absorbing the Craft Essence "Iron-Willed Training," his physical abilities hadn't improved directly. What had changed was his understanding and discipline in Bajiquan.
Having already mastered the pinnacle technique "Tsubame Gaeshi," he found it a significant aid in learning Bajiquan.
And the very form and force of the style had transformed his overall fighting posture.
Looking back, aside from wielding a blade, he had always fallen short in effectively using his body's raw power in battle.
This was the product of 'experience.'
Bell, well aware of his inexperience in real combat, understood why his strength still came with so many flaws.
It was simply due to a lack of experience—and no one to guide him down the path.
So, he had spent this quiet month correcting the bad habits in his movements.
Fixing his posture was both troublesome and dull.
But with the rare chance to slow down and focus, Bell didn't grow impatient with the monotony. Instead, he used it to sharpen his mindset even further.
"Bell-kun."
Bell had just wrapped up and was getting ready to rest when Hestia walked over with a bright smile.
"Hestia."
Seeing the childish yet adorable smile on the goddess's face, Bell felt his fatigue swept away like a breeze, leaving him suddenly refreshed.
"Don't jump on me, I'm all sweaty."
"Mmm~ But I don't mind even if you are."
"It's fine usually, but try to hold back a bit after training."
Bell caught a whiff of the sweat on himself. At times like this, he really didn't want Hestia throwing herself at him.
He kept subtly shifting his body, continuing his cool-down stretches so his freshly trained body wouldn't go cold too quickly.
"Hestia, did you manage to gather the intel I asked for?"
"Mm."
When it came to serious topics, Hestia refrained from staring at Bell and her expression turned solemn.
"Ever since that banquet, all of Orario has entered a rare period of calm. There's been almost no movement from Evilus, even after Loki's children killed two gods.
Three days after the celebration banquet, the Loki Familia launched a direct assault on both the Modi and Magni Familias.
Every member of those Familias was completely wiped out. Even their gods were killed on the spot by Loki's children and sent back to Tenkai.
That's been the biggest event in Orario this past month.
"But after that, the Evilus faction completely stopped moving. All the Familias seemed to be on guard against an invasion from them. Ganesha has also taken control of Orario's security, and his children are coming down hard. From what I heard from Ganesha, many Evilus members reported by adventurers have already been captured and confirmed as members."
Bell gave a slight nod. That aligned well with what he already knew.
"It looks like Evilus has been biding their time, quietly building strength. The ones they've been sending out are probably just expendables—meant to lower Orario's guard. Now they're just waiting for the right moment to strike.
Rats in the sewers are a lot easier to deal with than snakes lurking in the dark.
Back when the Guild helped cover up my existence, they pinned everything on Evilus. And now, the consequences of that choice are surfacing."
"Hmm~ it really was too much of a shock for them."
Hestia had realized it too.
Bell gave a helpless nod.
"Yeah, the Guild's pressure pushed them too far. Those sewer rats turned into snakes in the shadows. All because they were used as scapegoats so my presence could stay hidden.
They might not know exactly what's going on, but they've figured out there's a fourth force pulling the strings.
Still, they probably have no idea the one who awakened the Black Dragon was just a nobody adventurer like me."
"Bell-kun is not a nobody."
Hestia emphasized the word "nobody," clearly aware of how humble her child was. Even so, she couldn't accept him calling himself that.
Bell blinked, surprised by her puffed cheeks and determined voice. He couldn't help but laugh.
"Hestia, I don't care much about fame. Even if people see me as 'nobody,' that's fine. Honestly, that's the best outcome for me.
Praise from others doesn't mean anything to me. As long as you and Hephaestus know, that's enough."
Although Hestia didn't want her child to go unrecognized in Orario, she knew this wasn't just something Bell said to be humble—this was how he truly felt.
She knew Bell wasn't someone who liked being the center of attention.
Bell disliked crowds and being watched—it only made him uneasy.
This kind of invisibility was exactly what he preferred. More than anything, he just wanted to erase any trace of his presence.
Still, Hestia couldn't shake the feeling that if Freya weren't watching Bell so closely, maybe he wouldn't feel the need to hide himself so much.
"Yeah, Hephaestus and I will definitely remember everything. We see everything Bell-kun does.
You are the hero of Orario."
"A hero...?"
Bell was long past the age of dreaming—no longer a boy who could casually fantasize or dream freely.
He understood the hero's path was thorny and often led to tragedy. Long ago, he'd stopped being a child who wanted to be a hero basking in the spotlight.
And yet, hearing those words now still stirred something in him.
..
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