PROLOGUE
Within this world, there exists a city, Orario. A journey to Orario is rather uneventful it seems, or rather short. It is a city of fearless adventurers seeking wealth and fame. Mortals often travels to this city in order to pursuit their unimaginable dreams and desires. In this city of adventures, Orario is known for its massive dungeon in where it is an endless labyrinth divided into multiple floors and filled with scary monsters and threatened the lives of all who lived on the surface.
The Guild oversees everyone who goes below the surface at the core of the city and not just humans, either as there are many kinds of demi-humans living. Most people here make a living in the Dungeon and they are called "Adventurers".
Two young fresh adventurers is now making their story as they start their first part of their journey.
Chapter One : Two Desires
My name is Bell Cranel. I have white hair and red eyes. I grew up in a small town not really that far from here. I was pretty-sheltered when I was a kid. My grandpa took care of me but sadly, he died about a year ago. After that, there was nothing left for me, so I decided to pack up what's left or whatsoever was left and then moved to the city
You know, If I'm gonna be honest to say at this point, but the reason I came to Orario is to meet girls in the dungeon.
"Listen well, Bell. Real men…" What gramps? WHAT?!
"MUST HAVE A HAREM!"
Seriously, just how many times did he said that? To think he said that with confidence and full of life.
Dammit, gramps.
Gramps used to read fairy tales for me. Every time he tells me those stories, I always saw myself as the one who will be the hero. Filled with dreams as one of them. How they slain monsters, rescuing people , always gets the girls and somehow, looked awesome while doing it.
Every-single-time I heard gramps tell me those stories, there's always about girls
"Bell, the hero's greatest taste of glory is not from slaying the monsters; it's about meeting the girls and having se-"
You know what, scratch that.
Gramps taught me about being a man. As I got older, Gramps, somehow? , convinced me and built me up so much that girls became my ultimate err- new goal…
That's why, I think for myself, If only I can be in a place where heroes stories were made . . . If I can just go to Orario . . . Maybe just maybe . . . If I can get into the dungeon . . .
If I can do that, maybe my dream girl will show up any day.
But now, I was wrong, I was just a stupid kid . . .
For going into the Dungeon just for the girls. I'm probably the only dumb-idiot-stupid who really went in like this.
"URRRROOOOOOARRRR!"
"AIIIIIEEEEEEKKKK?!"
Just like that, am I really gonna die right now? I'm about to die of these corrupt and naïve thoughts.
Now, I'm being chased by the Half-bull Half-man Beast, the Minotaur.
It is a monster from around lower floor 15 or lower which is not a really good news for a greenhorn rookie like me.
Yes, I'm about to be crushed by a monster that my attacks can't even stratch.
No, I'm gonna get eaten, choked to the death? No, too soft for a Bull-Headed Man-Beast.
Seriously, SOMEONE HELP ME!
I'm Levi Byleth. 18 years old. I have brown hair, brown eyes, and a fair complexion. Grew up in a small isolated village. Not really much that to talk about. No particular known relatives either. I don't even know my parents. There are many things that l like and hate. Dreams for the future? Never really thought about it.
One thing that is worth a mind about me is that I'm a survivor.
That said, I am a bit of a reckless guy and can be quite forgetful.
Right now, I'm in a Dungeon. People in Orario said that one can make a living slaying monsters in the dungeon. So I took their words in my mind.
Maybe I'll try getting in the first floor. I mean, its common sense that first floor hostiles are pretty easy to deal with.
I've killed goblins and kobolds along the way. Slicing their heads off with my long silver Ōdachi sword with a handle of which is loosely wrapped in bandages. I found it in the back of an abandoned armory with its emblem is like a crossing hammers over a volcano.
I decided to go from the lower second floor down to the lower fifth.
Goblins were the most annoyingly dangerous and irritating when they're in groups though. Although they are considered to be the weakest monster in the dungeon, they are not to be messed with if they act in groups. They will surround their victims and then so on, making their bizarrely attacks.
Kobolds, were not a problem as they look. They don't have the speed and the power to back it up.
I've been going solo in my entire life, so that would pretty much mean that I am self-taught in my combat abilities.
And yes, I've collect a sack of magic stones now.
"Hmm, this should do for today"
As I was packing up and ready to move. I heard a menacingly howl. . .
"URRROOOOAARRRRR!"
"Hmm? What was that?"
Was that a Monster? That was rather a scary howl. This is still the lower fifth right? There's no way a monster with a roar like that could be here. . .
"AAAAIIIIEEEEKKK!?"
…
It's not the same sound but…
No… It's a person!?
As I felt the ground shaking in count, I saw someone coming a way behind me.
I saw a white-haired kid running like there's no tomorrow, chased by a bull-headed beast.
Wait, what the? THAT'S A MINOTAUR!
"AHHHHH RUN MISTER RUUUUN!"
"EH? EHHHHHH!?"
Levi just saw that scary game-of-tag scene and ran desperately for his life.
"WAIT WHY ARE YOU FOLLOWING ME?!" Levi whined in a panicky voice.
"THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY TO GET OUT OF THIS ONE AND I'M DOING IT RIGHT NOW!" Bell cried.
"BY FOLLOWING ME!?"
"I AM SO SOOORRYYY!"
The two ran as fast as they could to get out of this situation. They didn't know what to do.
Bell didn't think of anything other than running for his life. He ran and ran as fast as he could not looking or glancing back at the outrageous figure behind.
As for Levi, he calmed down while running and was thinking how to get out of this one
"Hey kid, do you have any bright ideas to distract that thing?" Levi said.
"S-so-sorry mister, I just barely started adventuring a week ago, I'm still Level One!" Bell cried.
'Huh? Level One? What does that mean?' Levi thought about those words, which is, completely nonsense for him.
The Minotaur's hoof comes crashing down behind them as it barely missed them, avoiding haymakers, dodging and rolling as they scoot their sorry butt back. If someone saw them like this, they would laugh for sure.
As their back hits the wall, nowhere to run…
They sprinted to hall after hall just for the both of them get trapped in a wide, squared room.
'Is this really the end' Bell think to himself, teeth chattering and tears rolling down his cheeks.
"Tsk, I can't die here. Not in a place like this" Levi scoffed as he whipped his bandage-handle sword.
"URRROOOOARRRRRRR!" The Minotaur's howl was devastating, facing it in a somewhat point-black range.
"Take this, you ugly bastard!" Levi roared as he thrust his sword forward, aiming on the Minotaur's chest.
Only for the Minotaur to shook the ground with its hoof and punched Levi away to Bell.
As the Minotaur approaches slowly to them and glanced up at its ridiculously muscular body, twice to their size as it gloating over them with a clumsy, broken smile.
Now for the Minotaur's hoof is above their head. The next moment, a line shoots across the creature's torso.
"Huh?"
"Uooohhh?"
The broken smile of the Minotaur suddenly changed as it is confused as the two of them are.
The line doesn't stop there as it travels through its thick pectoral muscles, across the raised leg, up the thigh, to the shoulders, and finally out the Minotaur's neck. A silver light shining through….
"Guuu..? GWAARAAGGAAAAaaa!"
The monster that they couldn't scratch was cut into slabs of pile meat.
As it pain and surprise echoes through the chamber.
The beast's corpse falls along the dissection incisions. It's dark red blood sprays out like a fountain.
A wave of beast blood washes over Bell and Levi.
"Are you…two okay?"
In front of them was a young girl, goddess perhaps. Thin body, radiates feminine beauty as it decorated with light blue clothing.
She stands tall, armored, despite her petite figure. Her two dwarf planets are packed into a breastplate with a silver emblem. A same emblem graces her wrist and dark red-soaked saber.
The blond hair hanging down to her waist shines so brightly. Like a golden treasure.
As she look down upon them.
Bell knows her. Of course he does. A female warrior with golden eyes and hair, clad in light blue raiment.
Even a Level One newbie like him knows who's standing right before his eyes.
Loki Familia's Aiz Wallenstein
As for Levi, he doesn't have a clue who the beauty is, as he only got in the Dungeon today
Everyone knows she's achieved the highest rank among all female races, Level Five.
"Ummm…Are you two okay?" Aiz asked.
"Oh…Yes, thanks for the help..Umm..miss?" Levi wondered
"Aiz. Aiz Wallenstein"
"Thank you, Miss Aiz" Levi said.
As Aiz glanced her way to Bell, she kneel down and looked him straight to the eye and asked again.
"Umm . . . are you sure you're okay?"
'No, I'm not okay. Definitely not okay' Bell thought as his heart feels like it could explode and fall to pieces any second.
His cheeks blush as he gaze upon her sparkling doe eyes.
'What's this feeling, this beating in my heart' Bell thinking for himself as Love is about to bloom for him as if its erupting within him.
"Hey kid, snap out of it" Levi scolded him.
"Ah! Umm..U-um…E-Eh.." Bell, as he snapped out of reality and nervously stuttered.
As he tried to say "thank you" and reach up to shake her hand, his whole body was shaking. He suddenly got shy and really nervous.
In a blink of an eye, he ran back to headquarters at full speed.
"Oi! Kid! What the…" Levi confusedly stared at Bell as he ran.
"Why?" Aiz with saddened expression and asked.
"Beats me. Anyway, again, thank you for saving me."
"I am so sorry. It was my fault that the Minotaur was on the run here." Aiz bowed and apologized
"No idea what you mean by that. Well, I'm off to the surface. See ya around" Levi waved as he pack up his sack of magic stones as surprisingly that he still have those despite getting chased by a beast.
"Miiiiiiiiiiisssssssss Eiinaaaaaa!"
"Hm?"
Eina Tulle, a receptionist for the "Guild" that manages all dungeon activities, looked up from the book she held loosely in one hand.
Her long, pointed ears twitched as her emerald eyes took themselves away from the pages. Her short brown hair shine in the early afternoon sunlight. She was not quite as "Perfect" as the elves, she still attractive and have good locks. With her guild uniform, black jacket and pants, suited her thin frame very well.
Eina is a half human and half elf.
This time of day, Adventurers were usually out in a Dungeon so she had decided to read books to pass the time. As she heard that voice, she responded quickly to the voice that called her name.
'Hmm. . . looks like he made it back safely again today'
It's been two week since this red-eyed kid came in to register with the guild as it had fallen on her to become this fourteen-year-old's dungeon adviser.
Still, he was an adventurer, regardless of age or gender, it's still a job that anyone could get. But sadly, many people were killed by doing it. He was still a kid, and she hated sending him into a dangerous place.
She fix her glasses and straighten her clothes
As Bell came through the door with a bang
*BANG!*
"MMMMIIIISSS EINNAAAAA!"
Covered in dark-red blood as he flew into the guild
"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKK!"
"Could you please tell me what you know about Aiz Wallenstein?!"
"Could you at least take a shower before coming in here? You were covered in blood!"
"Hehe sorry about that…"
As they talk in a small room set up in the lobby of Guild headquarters. Sitting across from each other as there's a table between the two of them.
"I can't believe you, how you could you walked through the city with such a mess? Are you seriously normal Bell?"
"B. . . but. . ."
Eina, saying something that harsh so directly cuts really deep. Bell starts to well up his tears in the corners of his eyes.
"Be careful next time, got that?" Eina said as she gently pushes Bell's nose with her finger with Bell nodding up and down.
"So, you wanted to know about Loki Famillia's Aiz Wallenstein? Why?"
"Well about that…"
Bell tells her everything about what had just happened as his face is getting redder with every word
About how he decided to go down to the lower fifth
About how he and a brown-haired man encountered a Minotaur
About trying to run away and getting cornered.
Only to be saved from a certain death by the "Sword Princess", Aiz Wallenstein.
Eina was nice enough to listen to him but as every word her face gets more scarier with every detail.
"Haaahh, Why won't you listen? You are alone in the Dungeon with no party member! You can't just go that deep without preparation!"
"Y-yes ma'am I am so sorry"
No one could have guessed with a category Level Two monster like the Minotaur could appear on the lower fifth floor of the Dungeon so Eina couldn't blame him because everyone know that Minotaurs only show up on the lower fifteenth floor or lower.
But still, Bell was still a complete novice so he should be still on the first to deep second floor.
"Looks like you got some strange fantasies about dungeons. Am I right?" Eina asked as Bell laugh nervously
"Umm excuse me?" as a familiar brown-haired man suddenly show out of nowhere and asked a question to Eina.
"Hmm?"
"Do you know where I can exchange magic stones for Valis?"
"Oh?" Bell stared at the man who he met back then.
"Hmm? Hey it's you" Levi realized that the same kid who he met back in the dungeon is here as well.
"Ahh, Hi mister! Good to see you again!" Bell bowed.
"Likewise"
"Hmm? Bell? Do you know each other?" Eina curiously asked.
"Ah! He's the man I told you about when we were chased by a Minotaur. Although I still don't his name yet." Bell replied.
"Yeah, only to be saved by a girl though. How embarrassing. Oh and the name's Levi Byleth" Levi shyly said.
"Oh, I'm Bell Cranel. Nice to meet you, Mister Levi" Bell reach up to shake hands.
"Yeah, nice to meet you too" Levi also reach up and they shaked hands.
"So Mr. Levi, Is there anything I can help you? It seems you're having trouble with something" Eina asked.
"Oh, I just want to pass up this magic stones. I need some Valis"
"Well, its just beside that reception over there…wait did you just started as well?"
"Hmm? Oh yeah it's my first time in the dungeon today" Levi replied with a grin.
"Strange. . . As far as I can remember, I have not met a man like you who came in to register with the guild? May I know your familia?" Eina politely asked as she never met this man before in her life.
Eina has a good memory so she can pretty keep up on those who registered with the guild as she can remember but strangely, she had never encountered this man at all.
"Register? Guild? Familia? What are those? Seems like a pain in the arse" Levi titled his head confused.
"Eh? What do you mean, Mister Levi?" Bell asked.
As soon as Eina heard those strangely unbothered questions, she realized.
"Wait . . . Did you snuck inside of the Dungeon alone, unregistered and having no "blessing" of a deity?" Eina sharply asked as she adjusted her glasses.
"Like I said, what are those? And "Blessing"? " Levi utterly confused about it.
Eina inhaled and about to drop the bomb.
"AREEE YOU AN IDIIOOOOT!?" Eina roared across the hall. As both Levi and Bell covered their ears.
"I am so sorry. I have no Idea" Levi scratching his head and apologized.
Eina as she stared at him blank as her eyes twitching.
Bell, sitting there, as his body shaking to Eina's scary face.
"Jeez, one after another. First Bell, now you're gonna follow his last steps to death?" Eina angrily said.
"Look, I'm sorry okay? I was doing pretty good for the lower first to the lower second . I didn't know that there was a Minotaur already in the lower fifth" Levi whined miserably.
"So, Mr. Levi, was it?" Eina asked
"Byleth" Levi corrected silently, "Also I have a taboo for being called like Mr. Levi. Kinda makes me sound stupid."
"Ah right, right" She agreed with a smile. As Levi relaxed for a moment, he's still getting dark auras around the elfin beauty.
"Anyway, Mr. Levi, I have one thing to ask of you."
"Hey, I said call me Byle-" As Levi was about to correct her again, he was suddenly cut off by how the elfin beauty emitting dark auras. "Hmm?!"
"A-Ahahah, nothing nothing" Levi grinned nervously.
"Anyway, again, I have one thing to ask of you. Do you have any plans to register with the guild?" Eina asked.
"Well, since you told me that much, I guess I will. Not really have anything better to do than slashing monster's head off anyway" Levi said.
"Well, that said. If you want to be an Adventurer, you need to have a deity's "Blessing" Eina said.
A Long time ago, gods and goddesses came down to this world 1000 years ago. They call it the Gekai or "Lower World" There are many legends or reason that explain why and how. They were in their upper world, they call it Tenkai, not doing much at all for eternity. The gods and goddesses had all the time in the world but nothing to do. As they started watching the mortals wasting so much but has also make so many interesting things like culture and businesses. The "Children" ,as they referred the mortals as children, basically became the best entertainment available.
"Anyway, can you please explain, Miss Eina? I still don't have any idea. Just what do you mean by "Familia", or these "Blessing"?" Levi confusedly asked.
Eina sighed as she about to explain to the carefree brown-haired man.
"A Familia is basically a group formed by a god. For example, Loki Familia is the group put together by the goddess Loki, and Freya Familia by Freya. As for Bell's Familia, which is the Hestia Familia" Eina explained with simple details. Levi wondered why would these gods need a group when they have their godly powers.
"If you join a Familia, you will get a "Blessing". In other words, these are powers that get you strong enough to take down even the fiercest monsters. In exchange, you will use the power from the blessing to make money. To be frank, members of a Familia provide for their god." Eina thoroughly explain.
"I see.."' Levi was curious about how weak he was in the dungeon.
"Also, all blessings are equal. It's a fact." Bell said.
"Hmm? How so?" Levi asked.
"Everyone who receives a blessing starts from the same point. As for how they grow, well, that depends completely on them." Bell said with his head down.
In the end, Familias are judged by the abilities of their members, just like any shop or any country.
"Blessings will be engraved into your skin. It's called "Falna", a mark of a blessing from a god or goddesss." Eina said
"Hmm, I think I can see the gist of it now." Levi said as he gets the situation.
"Well you should because I will not explain it again" Eina said. Still mad about Levi's reckless actions a while ago.
"Well, I guess I'll be finding a Familia for now" Levi said as he stood up.
"Umm…" Bell mutters
"Hmm? What's wrong Bell?" Eina curiously asked.
"C-c-c-can I ask you to join my Familia?" Bell asked as he ran up to Levi's side staring with his crimson red eyes. "We are not very well off and it's only me and my goddess but if you join, I'll assure you that we will become a strong Familia!"
As for Levi, he doesn't care about fames or money. Well, money is still important considering he needs it to buy food. He feels a tremendous feeling for this kid, kind of like reassured. If he can just join a Familia and gets a blessing then maybe he can go to the Dungeon again.
"Strong Familia, huh?" Levi replied with a chuckle. " Well, it's not really up to me, you know? Will your goddess have me? Your goddess is the one who will decide right?"
"Oh no, don't worry!" Bell said with a big smile to his face." We aren't a big-time Familia yet so there's no way my goddess will turn you down!"
"That's not how you motivate people to join you though but. . . " Levi closed his eyes for a second…
"Alright. Bell, please let me join Hestia Familia."
That's it for now folks, this is my first fanfiction. I really like Danmachi. It's actually my favorite LN
As you can see, I'm still a novice at this. I'm also taking a few words in the LN though but some of it had grammatical errors sorry for that.
I hope you like it and I'll try do a Chapter 2 soon.