"A man should aim for a harem!"
Bell Cranel still remembered the hearty smile on his grandfather's face when he said those words. He had taken that line as his lifelong motto, training himself with all his heart from childhood to adulthood. And now, the time had finally come to prove himself.
The Adventurers' Guild of Orario was an awe-inspiring sight, its classical oak furnishings seeming to tell tales of countless heroic legends. Bell stepped inside. A few rough-looking adventurers stood at the counter, chatting and laughing.
"Um… may I help you?"
A girl clutching a stack of documents approached timidly.
"I'm here to register as an adventurer, but it looks like there's quite a line."
"Come with me. I'm Eina Tulle, a receptionist with the Guild."
"What about them?"
Eina shot a sharp glance toward the group and said bluntly, "Just a bunch of idiots with nothing better to do, hanging around and getting in the way. Don't mind them."
Bell could feel the hostility and envy in the air, but he didn't let it bother him as he stepped behind the counter.
To be honest, Eina was quite striking for a receptionist. Her long brown hair and emerald-green eyes complemented her refined features, while the black uniform she wore emphasized her composed, intelligent charm. But what drew Bell's attention most were her long, delicate, and undeniably cute ears. It was his first time seeing an elf up close, and he couldn't help feeling the sudden urge to touch them.
Eina pulled out a set of documents.
"Cranel-san, right? Generally speaking, most people who come to Orario aim to become adventurers. But let me give you a word of advice—be sure you understand your own limits."
Bell nodded. Having grown up reading countless hero stories, he knew all too well how dangerous monsters could be. Recklessness was the mortal enemy of adventurers.
"Make sure you prepare some healing potions. The Guild will issue you basic weapons and armor…"
She glanced at the papers again and frowned.
"You haven't joined a familia yet?! I'm sorry, but we can't register you like this."
The difference between someone blessed by a god and someone who wasn't was immense. Without a Falna, one couldn't gain experience points, and even basic attributes like strength and agility were vastly inferior. The Guild's rules were clear—only those affiliated with a familia could be registered as adventurers.
Faced with the strict clerk, Bell explained, "I made a promise to my grandfather to see the Dungeon for myself like this. Don't worry, I've trained. I won't do anything reckless."
"Even so, it's not allowed," Eina said firmly.
The monsters in the Dungeon were far too dangerous. An ordinary human without Falna had no chance of surviving.
Just as the tense silence set in, the Guild master came jogging over. He leaned close to Eina and whispered a few words. Even Bell couldn't catch what they said.
Eina's expression shifted, her face stiff as she spoke after the Guild master left. "Since it's an order from that lord, there's nothing I can do. Please take these documents to the Tower of Babel. The entrance to the Dungeon is there."
"Cranel-san, please don't push yourself too hard!"
Bell left the Guild to the sound of her worried voice.
...
Dungeon, Floor 1.
The cavern spread out like a tangle of tree roots, the walls and ceiling glowing faintly blue. Bell heard soft footsteps approaching—lighter, sharper, and more menacing than a human's.
Goblin.
He held his breath, gripped his dagger tightly, and waited silently around the corner. It was a cheap weapon issued by the Guild, but it should be more than enough for exploring the upper levels.
Perhaps catching his scent, the goblin's footsteps suddenly quickened. A pair of bloodthirsty, savage red eyes flashed into Bell's sight.
The stench of decay filled his nostrils. Without even seeing its full form, Bell swung his dagger, thrusting it straight at the goblin's body.
The blade struck dark green skin but only managed to leave a shallow cut.
Miscalculation?!
No.
The moment Bell felt the blade fail to pierce, he understood why. It wasn't his mistake—the monster's physique had changed.
Before coming to Orario, Bell had slain goblins before, but the one before him in the Dungeon was far stronger.
The goblin bared its fangs in a bloodthirsty grin and slashed out with its claws.
Bell quickly retreated, gripping his dagger tightly, luring the goblin to charge. At the final moment, he sidestepped the strike and used the creature's momentum to drive his blade into its chest.
Blood spattered, and the goblin collapsed.
Though uninjured, Bell realized this battle had been nothing like his past encounters. He immediately turned and sprinted toward the entrance.
But the Dungeon that birthed monsters had no intention of letting him escape.
An eerie cracking sound echoed from the walls as malice bared its fangs.
Several goblins emerged from the stone itself, blocking his retreat.
Their laughter filled the narrow passageway.
Drawing on his training, Bell weaved between attacks, striking down foes amid the chaos. Screams rang out. The malice did not fade. Some goblins were struck by their own allies; others had their Magic Stones pierced and dissolved into black mist.
At last, Bell had slain them all.
But he was spent, his body covered in wounds.
Before he collapsed, the last thing he heard was the soft sound of approaching footsteps.
...
When he opened his eyes again, the dim cavern was gone, replaced by an unfamiliar ceiling.
"You're awake," Eina said, handing him a cup of tea.
"Where am I?"
"The Guild's lounge. You collapsed in the Dungeon, and someone carried you back."
Eina's eyes were filled with concern. "It's all my fault. I shouldn't have let you go into the Dungeon... The witnesses spread the word that you collapsed on the first floor..."
"Please don't worry. My request was unreasonable."
Bell gave a faint smile.
If anyone was to blame, it would be his grandfather, the one who made that promise with him.
But Bell knew that by stepping into the Dungeon, he had finally fulfilled his grandfather's last wish.
The Dungeon was unlike any training he had ever known—its very existence seethed with malice toward Bell Cranel. It was a hatred one could only understand through firsthand experience.
No matter how strong he became or how many hardships he endured, he must never grow arrogant.
That was the final lesson his grandfather had left him.
Bell bid Eina farewell and stepped out of the room.
The setting sun brushed against the town, filling the peaceful streets with laughter.
Adventurers and gods alike were beings who loved a good spectacle.
And now, the boy before them had become the perfect topic of amusement.
"Did you hear? Some white-haired kid got taken down on the First Floor today."
"First Floor? You'd have to stand still and let the Goblins hit you to even get scratched there."
"Haha, you guys should've seen Eina's face."
"That's pathetic. If I were that kid, I'd have tucked my tail and fled Orario long ago."
"This is headline-worthy. Let's call him the first-ever [Hero]."
...
Hero.
It was what Bell longed for the most, yet now it felt further from him than ever.
To become a hero—meeting girls in adventures and saving them from peril—that was the kind of tale his grandfather used to tell.
But Orario felt like a tomb, one that denied the very existence of Bell Cranel.
Still, so what?
They were only laughing.
From childhood until now, Bell's goal had never wavered: a harem and heroism. To him, their laughter was nothing more than Orario's way of welcoming him.
His resolve remained unchanged—join a familia and move forward, step by step. That was all there was to it.
...
Dusk fell.
As Bell pondered how to join a Familia in his current situation, a goddess appeared before him.
She had lustrous, jet-black hair tied into soft twin ponytails that reached her waist. Her face, like her petite figure, was youthful and delicate. Yet perhaps because of that, her full, mature curves stood out even more.
The girl introduced herself as the goddess Hestia. Wearing a radiant smile, she spoke with dignified grace.
"Bell Cranel, form a contract with me."
Hestia had only recently descended to the lower world. Much like Bell, she possessed nothing—no followers, no wealth—and was ridiculed by other gods as a "useless goddess."
When she heard about Bell's situation, she immediately felt that they were kindred spirits.
Bell looked at the adorable goddess before him, his gaze meeting her gem-like blue eyes. Faced with her warmth and sincerity, he accepted her invitation without hesitation.
That day, Orario's "useless goddess" and its weakest adventurer came together.
Amidst the ripples of laughter and mockery, no one noticed that when Bell joined her familia and the divine emblem was etched upon his back, the hearth fire symbolizing prosperity began to burn quietly.
Bell Cranel.
Skill: [Liaris Freese] – fluctuates dynamically based on the number and intensity of those who yearn for him.
Current EXP Modifier:
0% — Unable to gain experience.