As I stepped out of the church, the door creaking softly behind me, the cool morning air brushed against my face.
Okay… Dungeon time.
I adjusted the straps of my armor out of habit and started down the familiar road.
Orario was already waking up—shops opening, adventurers passing by with sleepy faces, the usual noise slowly filling the streets.
I hadn't gone far when a familiar voice called out.
"Bell~!"
I flinched slightly and turned my head.
Standing at the entrance of the Hostess of Fertility was Syr, broom in hand, gently sweeping the front steps.
Her silver hair caught the morning light as she smiled at me, like she'd been expecting me.
"Oh—good morning, Syr," I said, stopping.
She was the waitress who served us on our first day.
Turns out, she usually swept in the mornings, and yesterday she'd called out to me too before I headed into the Dungeon.
She tilted her head, eyes flicking briefly to my armor. "Heading to the Dungeon again by yourself?"
"Yes," I nodded. "I was just on my way."
"Be careful," she said warmly. "You've only just started, right?"
I nodded again, suddenly feeling self-conscious. "Y–Yes."
I really wasn't good at talking to girls. Being smiled at like this—so naturally, so kindly—was enough to throw me off balance.
Syr hummed softly, then leaned her broom against the wall. "Oh, right—where's your master today?"
…There it was.
"…He's busy," I replied. "Meditating, I think."
"I see," she said, smiling in that calm, knowing way. "That's a shame. I was hoping to see him again."
Of course.
I smiled awkwardly, but inside, I couldn't help thinking about it.
For some reason, people—especially women—were always easily drawn to Master Kaelis.
It happened almost instantly, like gravity. Goddess Hestia was the clearest example.
I'd lost count of how many times he'd made her flustered in two days just by talking normally.
Then there were those pretty girls from the Loki Familia a few days ago. All their attention was solely on master the whole time.
And now Syr—who'd only spoken to him once, and that was when she was taking our orders. yet still remembered him clearly enough to ask about him.
The thing was… Master hardly tried.
He wasn't doing anything flashy or going out of his way to flirt.
He didn't flirt or act charming on purpose.(he did not see) He just spoke smoothly, listened properly and never acted like a know-it-all.
And somehow, that was enough to attract people.
I want to be like that.
Strong. Calm. Unshaken. Someone who doesn't panic over a simple conversation. Someone who doesn't have to try to be impressive—because just being himself already is.
"Please tell him I said hello," Syr said. "And that he's always welcome to stop by."
"I–I will," I said quickly.
She smiled wider. "Good luck today, Bell."
"Thank you."
I gave a small bow and continued on my way, leaving the restaurant behind as she waved at me.
As I walked, my grip tightened slightly around my sword.
…Honestly.
I don't fully get it yet. Master Kaelis is strong in ways I can barely understand—physically, mentally, in everything.
And he doesn't even have a falna. Day by day, I'm more convinced that he resembles the heroes back then.
But more than that, he's steady. He never hesitates. He never once doubts himself.
Meanwhile, I'm over here getting flustered just answering questions.
I shook my head lightly.
Focus.
The Dungeon entrance soon came into view, the massive Tower of Babel looming overhead like always.
Adventurers gathered nearby—some chatting casually, others checking their gear with serious expressions.
I took a steady breath to calm my restless mind as I pressed forward.
The noise of the city faded the moment I passed through the Dungeon's entrance.
The air inside was cooler, heavier—like it pressed against my skin.
The faint glow of magic stones embedded in the walls cast long shadows across the stone corridors, and the familiar smell of damp rock and monsters filled my nose.
Focus.
My grip tightened around my sword as I moved deeper, footsteps light, just like Master taught me.
A shadow moved.
I'm much stronger now. My already trained perception before falna was already impressive by master's words of acknowledgment.
Now, with the goddess's blessing and the recent update to my status, my perception has multiple 3 fold.
So this shadow—goblin's—speed could be easily seen through by me as simply unsheathed my sword.
And with little technique, its head was separated from its body before it could even shout.
Another rushed me from the side—I twisted, slashed low, and felt what little resistance vanished as the monster dissolved into ash.
One more remained.
It screeched and raised its club, but I was already on it.
Pulling a small dagger from my waist, I threw piercing the goblin's though killing it.
The corridor fell silent once more.
I stood there for a moment, breathing lightly as the last monster crumbled, magic stone clattering against the floor.
I scanned the area for any signs of critters as master would call it but I found no more.
I crouched down and gathered the stones, habit I'm getting the hang of now that I'm an adventurer.
As I hold them in hand, I focused on the chain I had around my neck.
The sword keychain.
I lifted it slightly, letting it rest in my palm.
It looked simple—just a small silver sword as big as my pinky attached to a short chain.
Plain. Unassuming. No shine and barely any decoration that would draw attention.
But I knew better.
Master had given it to me without much fanfare, like it was just another tool.
"This'll be useful," he'd said. "Don't lose it."
Only after using it did I realize how absurd that understatement was.
I pressed my thumb against the charm.
The magic stones in my pocket vanished instantly, drawn into the space inside the keychain.
"…Still amazing."
It wasn't just storage—it was vast storage. Weapons, materials, monster drops… it held far more than something this small ever should.
And no matter how much I put inside, it never felt heavier.
Master said that another dimension was inside the little thing, and all I had to do was hold what I want to put inside and bam! It's inside.
Something he said he "made on a whim."
On a whim.
If adventurers or merchants knew something like this existed, they'd lose their minds.
I'm sure any magic item alone could be sold for absurd prices—and this one was leagues beyond anything I'd ever heard of.
And yet… he just gave it to me.
No conditions applied. No dramatic warnings about its value. No lecture about responsibility.
He just hand it to me.
I clenched my hand around it.
I'm beyond grateful. Truly.
But more than that… I don't want to just rely on gifts forever.
Nearly everything I have was given to me by master.
From the clothes I wore down to my very skill and knowledge about swordsmanship, was given by master.
I'm sure master Kaelis is strong because he understands a lot of things.
He himself told me once that his strength comes from studying and analyzing things and that's what he always does so it must be true.
That's the kind of person I want to become.
Someone who doesn't panic.
Someone who is always standing straight.
Someone who can attract girls just by being who I am.
I tucked the keychain back into my shirt as I stood back up.
"Alright," I muttered to myself.
There was still more to do today.
Even though miss eina says I shouldn't go past floor 5, I'll test myself by going to floor 10 by myself today.
Sword ready, senses becoming sharp, I moved forward into the Dungeon's depths—determined not just to survive…
But to become a better person, a stronger adventurer and a Bell Cranel master could be proud of.
—end of POV—
Chapter 74 end.
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How was these past two chapters?
Were they good?