It was a bit embarrassing, taking off your shirt in front of a woman. Especially one looking a third of your age, who actually had millenias under her belt already. It felt weirdly conflicting, but no matter. None of that's too important right now.

Hearing the 'ooh' and 'aah' from behind me must mean my update was a good one. It was worth going the extra mile even though I nearly got killed. I mean, it was a plus already since I got to see THE sword princess in the flesh (Gods I still can't get her face out of my head).

" Done! Bell, just what happened in the dungeon today? Your stats blasted off!"

The paper shown to me proved her point. My stats went up by about 20 points per category. My agility and dexterity went up by extra 10 points each. Hm, probably because I didn't shy away from stealing landforms and using them against those monsters? Either way, it's a good haul.

" But before that… Who are you?"

A huge, hostile pressure came from behind. It wasn't like the fearsome intimidation from monsters, but a divine one. A realization, a painful reminder that there were actual deities hiding behind mortal coils roaming around here. A majesty beyond human comprehension, forcing immediate submission of any mortals regardless of strength.

The Goddess of hearth stood before me clad in prismatic aura.

" Your soul… is odd It's like two souls meshed into one, I can't even differentiate them properly. I had my suspicion this morning, but this clinches it. What happened to Bell?"

My stomach went cold from that question. Mortals cannot lie to Gods, not because they couldn't, but because Gods were able to discern it nonetheless. Such was the difference in divinity and experience.

So, I told her. What happened, and how I woke up here.

She was silent all the time, taking in what information offered and processing them without a word. After a while, she took the paper and burned it with a candle.

" From another world? You said something about this world being written in books there?"

" Yes. A storybook."

My heart ached. My coming here was an anomaly, an unprecedented event that would change Bell Cranell, and probably the entirety of Orario forever. Her head rested on her palm, she asked me her next question.

" So, what do you intend to do now?"

What I wanted, huh…

" I… don't know."

" Then there's your first goal in this world."

The Goddess happily patted my shoulder, almost like the divine intimidation never happened in the first place.

" You're not angry?"

" Why?"

" That I'm not Bell Cranell."

Hestia tilted her head, my question seemingly going over her pretty little head.

" It's my first time hearing someone apologizing for not being someone else. Is that some culture in the other world?"

She faced the ceiling, resting her head on the sofa's backrest.

" None of this is your fault. Besides, Bell is there, inside you. If anything, I'm glad that I have two children now. Both in one body though."

Still in shock at how easily she accepted this, I was left frozen on the floor with my upper body naked. Giggling, she threw me my black shirt while joking about getting sick with my mouth open and naked like that.

" Still, though, Goddess. It seems I'm able to understand Koine just fine."

" Ah right. Your world doesn't use Koine. In that case, sounds like you're sent here. As in, sent by a God there."

Goddess sat on the worn-down sofa, beckoning me to sit beside her.

" Sorry for the late introduction. I'm Hestia, though you already know me. What's your name?"

My name…

Ichirou Munakata died in Japan already.

But I know I'm not 'real' Bell Cranell.

Maybe, just maybe I could?

It's cringe for a middle-aged man to want to be a teenager, but this was the protagonist of my favorite novel here. Was identity theft a thing here? Pretty sure a certain prum could bamboozle her way into practically anything and anywhere and cause all sorts of chaos with no repercussions, though.

" Are you going to be Bell Cranell?"

That question haunted me even in my sleep.

Ah, did I get Liaris Freese from yesterday's update?

" They say sleep is just a free trial of death. Last night felt pretty close, I'd say."

After brief morning warm-up, training, and meal, dungeon again.

" Cranell-san, you look quite unwell. Dungeon is a cruel place, do adjust your caution with your bodily condition and not push yourself too far."

A noble, resolute voice rang from behind me.

" Do try to fix your posture also. Gosh, what will become of your spirit if your body is untidy? Back straight, eyes upfront."

Clad in her green maid uniform, Ryu Lion chided me, her arms full with groceries again.

" …Ryu-san. May I ask you a question?"

" If I suffice, then, sure."

" How do you know who you are?"

Ryu Lion tilted her head, her pointed ears twitching briefly. That's cute. The contrast between her noble and strict attitude with that twitch would surely be called 'moe' everywhere.

" I think 'who you are' is not something for others to decide, Mr. Cranell. Such right is yours and yours alone. Perhaps a little rephrasing would help."

She smiled radiantly.

" Who do you want to be?"

You know, that made a lot of sense. Even if I couldn't help walking the same path as Bell Cranell did, even if I ended up having same aspirations like in the novel, what's so wrong with that? It's not like Bell held patent to wanting to chase after someone so bad they'd be willing to die for it.

I did, even back in my previous world.

And now, again.

" Ryu-san, thank you very much. Please, allow me to help you carry this to the tavern."

Without allowing her to refuse, I picked her groceries from her arms. Then, I walked quickly to Benevolent Mistress. Soon, we arrived and I gave back her luggage.

" Then, I'll be off!"

" Yes, please be—"

I already ran off straight to the Dungeon. For now, I'd like to get stronger, enough to not bring embarrassment to the original. Of course, to return the favor to Aiz Wallenstein someday too, and maybe, probably date her in the future. Like hell she would even glance at someone less capable than her.

From now on, no regrets. This time, I'll live properly. Live everything to its fullest. There's no way I could accept being half-dead again, regretting every single step I didn't take, and fearing each one to take going forward. I'd had my fill with that already.

Hmm, yesterday I cut down around a hundred fifty or so… I'd aim for at least 50% more today. Time to walk the talk.

So I did.

Cutting through kobolds and goblins with speed and precision I didn't have yesterday proved my growth. It was as I expected, a rich man's problem. Usually, adventurers grew at a pace they could get away without adjustments. Bell, on the other hand, needed constant increase in skill to get his 'feel' back.

After all, my stats went up by 100 points yesterday.

It was easier to pluck frog shooters' tongue, and I even went further by catching several of them at once and ripping a few of them apart when I only wanted to kill them via wall smashing.

Also one more.

Monsters turn to ash when you 'kill' them really bad. As in, completely dead. Complete halt of all bodily functions. Adventurers usually dealt grievous wounds that was not quite fatal, or they're just not totally dead yet, so they had to harvest their magic stones manually.

So if I kill one, and fight the next one, the first one would already turn to ash. Provided that the core didn't get cut up of course.

No need to dismantle, or deal with blood and guts.

Just kill a whole school, and pick up the magic stones afterward.

What a hack, amirite?

So I did. Cut through hordes of ten upwards like a madman. Dungeon lizards got a bit bigger, from big iguana size to like, Komodo dragon size. They were a bit harder to kill too, if you wanted their magic stone at least.

Otherwise, one hole in the head was more than enough.

I had to aim for the neck from then on.

Still, man they were big. I mean, I was running away from a whole herd of freaking twenty of those beasts. Knife wasn't an optimal weapon to fight against the likes of those monsters, especially more than one or two.

I had to trim them down by killing one or two on the turns until all of them died. I went back the path by tracing the magic stones and drops. Some got trampled to pieces, though, too bad.

" Should be enough… right?"

My bag was getting kind of heavy now. It was filled with not just magic stones, but also lizard tails, and drop items from about all monsters on the floor 1 to 5. I had to run up a whole floor to lose that horde of lizards on the 6th, so no new monsters yet.

I was contemplating going down to see at least one of them when my instincts' volume went straight to eleven..

Like all good civilians in a robbery, I ducked.

The pillar beside me made deep, cracking sound as if groaning from the damage. I reached for my knife and hacked at the black, shadowy lower half of whatever did that, and rolled away from there.

Then I saw it.

Humanoid creature, black from head to toe with two glowing red eyes and three gleaming claws on its hand parts was looking down on me, ready to skewer me with its talons.

" Oh shit."

Side-roll to dodge and recover. The dungeon had dim light, so they had easier time blending in with the walls, pretending to be shadows. Those were War Shadows, the infamous newbie killer and I could see why.

Tired and unfocused adventurers must be easy prey for them.

I really must thank Ryu Lion for her daily reminder to never, ever let your guard down in the dungeon. Immediately, I went for the one I already hurt. It was fast, its sharp limb barely visible when it swung to cut my face in half. Skidding forward, this time I offed both of its thin legs with two slashes.

Thing was tough. For such a thin monster, that was a tough cut. The other one, though, already raised its appendage, so I had to give up killing it. But, luckily for me, its downward slash instead cut apart the downed monster from head to chest. It even seemed stunned when its comrade wasn't moving anymore.

" Ha—Ahahaha! Whoops!"

I managed to parry its enraged slash, but the force behind sent me flying quite a distance away. Hm, even monsters felt frustration, huh?

The war shadow unleashed a flurry of slashes that didn't even let me come close. It already went beyond blur, and simply turned to a net that would shred anyone coming close. So I did the most sensible thing.

" Alright, no wall behind me…"

Let it exhaust itself, and kill it easily afterwards. After around a whole minute of unending whizzing sound, it finally slowed down, and eventually, stopped. Not wanting to lose what could be my last chance, I lunged forward as fast as my feet could propel me.

That almost spelled my end. The right arm blurred, and I ducked just before my head could get lopped off. It hadn't run out of steam at all. It just wanted to get me in range. But this time, I was faster.

I stabbed it in the throat, twisted the knife, and dragged it upwards.

The war shadow exploded in a black smoke after my knife came out from the top of its head.

Suddenly, I felt loud ring from my side. Reacting before my brain could recognize it, my hand already shot backwards, hacking at whatever that hostility came from. My knife found its target, another war shadow with a deep smoky gash just below its neck. One inch upwards and I would've decapitated it.

" Damn, I'm so tired already."

My weapon was also weary. I could tell it was nearing its limit. Several exchanges with war shadows' finger blades were beyond its quality. But the monster didn't care. It lashed out and forced me on the defensive.

*Crank*

"There goes my weapon." The last parry saved my life, but without a weapon, I wouldn't be that far off. Unlike goblins and kobolds, catching their weapons and using them against their owners was downright impossible. This monster was far too sharp for that. I'd at least lose a few fingers trying that tactic.

" Is there nothing I can use?"

To slow it down, I threw several rocks, but its limbs easily cut them apart. In fact, it plucked one mid-air and threw it back. Luckily, my bracer blocked most of the impact, but I was still thrown back.

I had to gamble. There was no other choice.

It approached my downed form. My breathing slowed down as much as possible to not alert the creature, but my heart thumped quickly in both fear and exhilaration. When it was close and unguarded, I rolled and sliced off both of its legs.

My hand hurt and bled, but it couldn't be helped.

I stood up as fast as I could and stabbed through its chin with one of its comrades' claws. It was wickedly sharp, easily tearing through with little resistance.

The shadow burst into dust and scattered to the wind. I raised my makeshift weapon, unwilling to make the same mistake. After making sure there was none left, I hurriedly collected all their drops and left.

" Bell! You didn't even see—Goodness, what happened to you?!"

On my way out of the tower, a brunette woman wearing business suit was waiting for me at the exit and upon seeing my deplorable state, lent her shoulder.

" Three… war shadows. Fought two, and ambushed by the third."

My leg must've been sprained when I was fighting, but the adrenaline must've pushed that to the corner of my mind. It was swelling red.

" Gosh, and even after I told you to play it safe countless times! You didn't even come for lessons two days in a row. No dungeon tomorrow, I'll have you learn everything up to the tenth floor!"

" Sorry, Eina-san."

" You really should listen to your advisor. I told you to never go down the 4th floor too. Also… God forbid, but the white boy cornered by a minotaurus at the 5th floor yesterday…"

Her glasses shone menacingly.

" Um, sorry?"

She bopped me up the head for that.

…

" Here, low potion."

" Thank you."

Even though it was my first potion experience, I could hardly care with my eyes seeing blurs from time to time. I really pushed myself too far this time. It was really bitter, but the pain subsided and my wounds started closing. My clarity was slowly restored, too.

Even my swelling shrunk a little.

My fatigue was left intact, though.

" Don't mention it. I can't scold you properly if you can't even hear me, right?"

" Eh? EEEEHHHH?!"

By the way, during the four hours I was there, she never stopped berating me. She only stopped because her co-worker reminded that her shift was over. Even then, she continued to scold me for another hour, until another person reminded her that she was being far too loud and pulling too much attention.

Then she went to apologize, and almost caught me while I was sneaking out.

Keyword : almost.

" Finally I'm out… Man, that was horrible."

Einstein said that an hour with a beautiful woman would feel like a minute, but I felt every single minute of that four hours. My gears tattered, my weapon gone, and my eardrums half-torn, but my haul today was more than I expected.

" Whoa, this is my first time seeing a lizard hide, and what's with tails this big? Just what did you fight down there?"

" I got chased by big lizards."

" Pretty sure there ain't one this big… Wait a min, gotta check."

Soon, he came back with his superior, who was also flabbergasted by the items there.

" Send in notifications to the guild! Investigate the 4th floor downwards for lizards. It's very likely that irregular hordes have spawned!"

He also handled my transaction, and gave each lizard hide around 12.000 valis. Just for reference, a regular lizard tail wouldn't even fetch above a thousand. My big Komodo ones got at least 1500 valis each. Include my near-death spoils, my totals came down to around 270.000 valis.

" Good choice there, kid. War shadow claws can be damn fine weapons. You'll do well with weapons made out of those until Middle Floors."

I picked two sets of two of the longest and most fear-inducing claws from my haul. Like Eina-san said, I was off the dungeon tomorrow. Why not commission a weapon while at it? My armor's okay, so that's the biggest expenses gone.

At home, Goddess was already waiting with food on the table. My last haul procured us better food than Jagamarukun, and it seemed like we'd be able to eat properly from now on. She also scolded me for being reckless, but after Eina Tulle, hers was a breeze.

" Look, be careful okay? I don't want to lose both my children at the same time."

" So one is fine?"

" That's not funny at all, mister."

She pointed her fork at my light-hearted jab.

" Despite what you think, I love both of you. So don't think it's okay to die out there even if Bell is safe."

It was nice having someone to worry about you. And I got so many now. Of course, the meal was filled with stories, and I had so much to tell today. Needless to say, her scolding intensified after each near-death experience. So I didn't tell her about the opossum imitation.

" You're really, really reckless. Never in my life have I heard someone as crazy as you."

" Believe it or not, Bell Cranell is supposed to be crazier."

Oops.

She stood up and slammed the table in surprise.

" You know Bell? It's not just any old stories about this world, but specifically Bell?"

" Just a bit. Like legends and myths, yes."

" I see… May I ask like what?"

She saw through me, huh. Nothing could get past her divine eyes.

" Let's just say I'm gonna go on tons of adventures from now on. That's not something I can avoid."

" I see…"

She looked down, even a little distraught if I dare go further.

" You know, you've been really crazy lately. 70 thousand yesterday, almost 300 thousand today… That's impossible amount for new adventurers without proper supporter. Aren't you pushing yourself too hard? Your first week here, and you beat up enough monsters to wipe out the first 4 floors?"

" Wipe is a strong word. I just couldn't find any. And I made a point not to go home unless I have to, or my bag can't contain any more."

" Uwah… By the way, does Liaris Freese ring a bell?"

A lapse in my expression told her everything. She didn't need to be a trickster to use tricks.

" I knew it. Be careful to not let it slip, though. Gods have gone to war, and will happily go to one if your crazy skill is ever discovered. Let's get you updated after we're done eating."

" Sure. I'll keep my mouth shut." My zipping gesture proved my point. Yeah, but maybe there were more thing that deviated from the original? I'd really like to prepare properly.

" Err, just for reference… Can I read the actual skill description?"

She munched on a bunch of lettuce leaves with dressing, and I couldn't help but think 'goat' inside. We were having cold salad with cream soup and bread. A bit unorthodox, but it tasted great so whatever.

No seriously, cream soup might sound underwhelming, but it's really good. It's like way, way better French onion with less onion smell and taste, but delicate yet still really noticeable flavor.

It had a completely different taste profile from the Benevolent Mistress dishes.

" You sure have your way with words. I'll try cooking everyday from here on. We can save a lot while having some actually good food that way."

Soon, the food was gone and the dirty plates were washed. I was lying face-down on the bed while Goddess was straddling me, dripping some blood to my back. With a wet, rippling sensation on my back, the lock to my Status was opened.

" Oooh… OOOHHHH!"

" Please stop the cow imitation and show me, Goddess."

She ignored my jab and shakily gave me the paper, which I really, really came close to kissing with how close I was to it. I mean, how could I not? With this sort of growth, wouldn't the devs come and ban me?

BELL CRANELL

LV 1

Strength : G273 – F350

Dexterity : G290 – F370

Agility : F300 – E400

Endurance : G250 – F350

Magic : I0

Skills :

Liaris Freese

Fast growth according to user's desire. Strong desire leads to strong growth, constant desire leads to constant growth. Synced desire leads to explosive growth. Immunity to charms. Greatly resists mental attacks.

Blitzkrieg

Greatly increases surprise attack damage.

Invade

" It seems you weren't so reckless after all."

" Right?"

That new skill just showed my preferred hunting methods. Surprise attacks didn't only mean stealth attack, which was honestly the best part of the skill. Monsters were terrifyingly good at tracking down preys after all.

Just how many monsters got slaughtered by that strat for me to get a skill… I remembered walking around for ten minutes finding no monsters in the fifth floor after doing the same for the upper floors today. And yesterday. Yeah, kinda made sense.

" The problem is with this invade skill. I didn't consciously invade him, Goddess."

Hestia's brows furrowed in thoughts.

" Maybe it's not you who's doing the invading."

She pointed at the 'explosive' part. Well, that's a seriously interesting and scary hypothesis, but a possible one. The closest one we've got, really. Sync growth, huh? Wouldn't that mean I'd someday become merged with Bell Cranell, combining our egos to a single person?

That's…

But, until now I've never met the original's consciousness. Maybe we're meshed into one, and my personality got influenced by him so much, it's practically combined? That I AM Bell Cranell, just different?

Losing my own self was terrifying, but I wouldn't want for Bell to cease to exist.

" Let's think about that next time. Goddess, would you like to walk around tomorrow? With my leg not fully recovered and my weapon gone, tomorrow's a day off for me."

" Oho, inviting your Goddess out, hm? Quite bold, aren't you?"

" Of course. please be my tour guide."

It would be my first time properly exploring the town of adventurers, and see what it's all about. The Danmachi world was big on worldbuilding, and I'd always badly wanted to see it for myself. The hustle and bustle, getting a good look at other familias (not that I wanna join others, purely recreational), stalls, shops, armories… There were way too many to count, and I'd like to visit them all someday.

It wasn't like I was in a rush. It'd be nice to take it easy and leisurely visit them one at a time, relaxing during day offs. Regardless of world, holiday had always been sacred for any self-respecting workers. And it's not like dungeon would complain if we did, anyway.

Aside from technological advancement, QOL, food, and housing, I'd say this world was preferable compared to my old one. For me, at least. It's not like lavatory was super bad or anything. They've got seat toilets here, believe it or not. That's a huge point plus for me.

Honestly, I'd rather not bring capitalism here with me. There's enough resource in the Dungeon for everyone, and definitely more than enough for me and the familia if I kept on with this pace. It's an innocent world, in a way. People were more concerned with monsters than becoming monsters themselves here, after all.

" No need to worry. This Goddess of yours will make sure to show you around Orario properly!"

Poor clothes, having to strain like that. Goddesses must have Godly cooper ligaments too, huh?

Those heroic bonds finally had a chance to rest when Hestia laid down. For me, I took the sofa and laid my head down the armrest. I was already closing my eyes when my cheek got slapped gently and plenty for me to wake up.

" Mmmwat?"

" Why are you sleeping here? There's a bed, there."

She held my sleepy head and directed it at the bed. With me still braindead, I only answered with an absentminded 'mmm'. Then my consciousness went blank again.