Let's start, hopefully I'm a little closer to being on time…

Update: thank you Temsen for pointing out that embarrassing typo. Also Mannarone69: it is Bell x Ryuu. Doesn't mean things will get there immediately.

The bitter taste on my tongue won't go away. Lily and I have been walking back towards the surface for almost twenty minutes now, or at least that's my best guess, but I can't believe I zoned out and almost started walking to the stairs without her.

It was right after I killed the kobold that I felt a stirring in my heart, a stirring I'm starting to associate with my desire to go adventuring. I know I was staring at a wall, but there was something pulling at me from behind it. I'm certain that if I had busted down the wall, if of course I was capable of such a feat, there would have been some kind of a path leading deeper into the Dungeon.

It was only because Lily had fumbled one of the goblin fangs briefly and distracted me that I didn't start walking off to find a way to break the wall down or to get around it from a different path. I was going to abandon her. My party member.

What kind of adventurer would I be if I deserted my first party member in the middle of the Dungeon?

It may only be the first floor, but what if it wasn't? What if we were on the seventh floor or deeper and there were killer ants prowling about? Would I still focus on the pull of my heart and just walk off while she's busy and leave her to die?

No. I can't. My behavior was unacceptable. I have to get myself under control. It's one thing to be enthralled with adventure, its another to abandon everything else in its pursuit. I'm not alone now. Lily is relying on me. I need to be better and I will be. Maybe I should give Lily 60% of our profits today as an apology?

As we continue walking, a familiar blood splatter catches my eye. Speaking of being better… this is where I killed the first group of goblins. There had been three of them and I figured it would be fine. I was stupid.

I underestimated the length of Ira Diabolus and managed to cut myself with them. If I didn't have my vambraces or I guess if they were made of steel I may have even managed to cut off my own hands. Even after that I didn't understand just how sharp the blades were and accidentally cut straight through the goblins, destroying their magic stones in the process.

I could feel Lily's disappointed stare on me as I waited for her to collect the drop items, the only reason it wasn't a complete waste. In between that and the next encounter though, I ran through the fight over and over again, almost reliving it in a sense. Thinking about how I could have done better.

Then when we ran into the next group, I put it into practice, I was still clumsy, but it was better than before and so I kept doing that until the kobold and I finally felt comfortable to say I've gotten to a passable level with my kodachi.

I'm nowhere near good yet, but at least I can handle myself as well as I did with my knife, I still fully intend on asking Mama if she can give me some pointers though.

For now though, it's time to get those drop items turned in. I never got used to the length and sharpness of my weapons fully so we don't really have many magic stones to turn in, we got enough items to turn a profit though at least.

I feel like there's something I'm forgetting though…

As we reach the top of the staircase a glimpse of red is all I need to remember. Right. Rose. I really don't want to cause a scene sooo… sorry Lily…

"Hey Lily, would you mind turning in the drops today? I'm not on very good terms with one of the guild workers and I uh, I don't want to cause a scene." Is say while rubbing the back of my neck. Gods this is embarrassing…

Lily tilts her head with her finger on her chin "Was Lily not already expected to do that?" she said "Lily is Mr. Bell's supporter after all."

Right… she's carrying everything in that massive bag of hers… it only makes sense that she would turn everything in. I feel like an idiot. I can feel my face heat up "Right, sorry. I'm still a little new to all this haha" I really need to practice socializing more…

Lily just kept smiling as always "Of course. Mr. Bell will get better with time!" she said with a thumbs up. Why does her support make it even more embarrassing?

Clearing my throat, I expertly change the topic "So, meet at the bottom of the steps once you're done?" I ask to which she returns a nod. Heh, nailed it. "Great! Then I'll go get washed up real quick and meet you there!"

And so we went our separate ways, if only briefly. As I make my way to the guild's showers, something I only learned about from the Loki familia, I finally gave my mind the chance to wander as it pleases.

Naturally my first thoughts are about Lily, the rust haired chienthrope made my life a lot easier and faster in the dungeon today. It took me a lot longer before my sense of adventure started to tug me into the depths this time so I was able to move faster than last time.

Not only is she helpful, but she's really cute as well. Her small stature makes her almost the perfect height to rub her head. Something I've found myself desperate to do every time I see her cut little ears poking out from under her hood or her tail wagging.

Even more than that though, she seems a lot smarter than she's letting on. I don't know why she's hiding the sharpness behind her eyes, but she must have her reasons so I'll respect them and not ask. If she wants to tell me she will.

Finally divested of my armor and clothes, I step into the shower, letting the scalding hot water run over my body and through my hair.

"Come on Bell, you can handle a little hotter haha!"

It's my Grandpa's fault that I enjoy hot water as much as I do, even if this isn't my preferred method of bathing. The old man was incredibly passionate about how "Baths and hot springs are a man's greatest treasure!" which was weird, even for him. Mostly because it didn't have anything to do with women if I'm completely honest…

Oh. Never mind… he must have been talking about peeping. A sigh passes unbidden through my lips, I love Grandpa but he was a pervert of the highest order, something She never hesitated to remind me of as she beat him up with whatever she had on hand.

Actually, thinking about the mystery woman in my memories, I didn't get any new ones today until just a moment ago. Are they slowing down? Or did I just not doing anything that would make me remember a part of them?

I think it's probably the second one… I was pretty much only wandering around the first floor for a few hours after all. It wasn't anything significant. Maybe I'd remember more if I tried magic again?

I still haven't made any progress on that and I won't deny that it has me a little disappointed, especially since I haven't even found the "source of energy" that Odin mentioned in that book. Maybe I should go back to the library later and look for another book?

Or maybe I could try doing what Lady Riveria had mentioned the elves do and try contacting a spirit of some sort. Not that I'd even know where to start with that. Maybe I could ask Ryuu?

I shake my hair free of water while turning off the shower. No, I can't trouble her like that. For now, I should just try to work on that rune from the book. Thurisaz if I remember correctly.

Now dried, I returned to the bin that I had placed my gear in, my gear that is now completely devoid of the ichor previously staining it "Huh neat…" I mutter while putting it on once more, the armor going on easily as could be. I'll need to thank Pandora again the next time I see her.

Finally exiting the showers, I noticed a large crowd gathered near the entrance to the Dungeon and lots of shouting coming from the front of it. I moved closer hoping to hear it as best as I can.

"Our expedition begins now Loki familia! Let's go deeper than anyone before us!" Man, Finn really has a loud voice when he tries, I guess that comes with being a captain though. I wonder if things would be different if I was a familia captain?

I unintentionally chuckle. Yeah right. Like that would happen.

Anyways, the crowd seems to be clearing. I guess I caught the tail end of the speech. If I hadn't heard about the reasons just last night, I probably would have found it odd that they're leaving so late at night but Loki told me it's so that all the people going could spend the day with their families, friends, lovers ect…

According to her "My kids are so good they can get to the eighteenth floor in a few hours, so why not let them spend their time reaffirming what they're coming back for?" it was the first (and last) thing she said last night that I had any respect for.

But that's besides the point, I need to find Lily so we can split todays haul and head home. Looking around near the stairs it didn't take me long to find her with her adorable ears and tail out in the open.

Must. Not. Scritch.

"Hey Lily! Sorry it took me so long!" I said, jogging lightly to her when she waved me over "So how much did we make?"

Lily smiled and placed a decent sized bag in my hands. "Today Mr. Bell earned 10,000 Valis. For a day on the first floor Lily thinks its satisfactory." She said happily.

Too cute…

Counting out the coins in the bag, I split it in two, then add an extra 500 into one pile which I put back in the bag "Here you go Lily, 5500 Valis." I chirped while handing her the bag, something that seems to have flustered her.

"Nonono! I can't take that much Mr. Bell! Lily is only a supporter!" Her arms are waving frantically.

Smiling "It's alright, I was going to split it 50/50 but after with how I was in there today… well I figured you deserve a little extra is all."

Lily looked at the bag skeptically, but took it none the less, almost reverent as she held it in her hands and I put my own part into my own money pouch. "Alright then Mr. Bell… if you insist." Good, I'm glad she's taking it. It would be really awkward if I took anymore after my performance earlier.

Watching silently as she counted through the Valis, I feel a little bad. It's probably barely enough for her to survive… If we went longer we could make a lot more, not to mention it would be safe enough since we can alternate taking watch.

We could go for days or weeks if we really wanted!

I clap my hands. "I've decided!" I say aloud startling the chienthrope and almost making her drop her pouch. Whoops, guess that was a little abrupt. Sheepishly I continue "I was just thinking about how much we made today and I decided it wasn't enough. So tomorrow we'll meet here at dawn and dive into the dungeon for as long and deep as we can."

Lily's eyes go wide "M-Mr. Bell! Is that not a little abrupt!" she shouted in a fluster before waving her arms in front of her face "Not that Lily doesn't want to!" she hastily added.

"Ah yeah I guess it was a little abrupt" I said nervously "I just saw you counting how much we made and figured it might not be enough for you to survive. I figured it would solve all our problems. I need to spend more time in the dungeon and you need the money sooo…" I guess my nerves got the better of me and I started rambling off my entire thought process.

Lily just giggled "Of course Mr. Bell, thank you for looking out for Lily!" and showed me a bright smile.

Oh no… How could I not fall for such a beautiful smile?

Jumping to my feet so she can't see my blush, I give her a small wave "Okay, see you tomorrow then Lily! Bye!" then ran off.

Like hell I could let her see me like that!

It feels weird hearing all of the cheering from downstairs. I guess I kinda got used to being in the middle of the laughter after being a waiter for a few days and now it feels kinda sad not being in the middle of it but unfortunately I need to focus on what I'm doing.

Right now I'm sitting at my desk fiddling with my Thurisaz engraved stick. I still can't get the stupid thing to work. I tried meditating earlier but I couldn't focus at all with the noise from the tavern so now I'm just trying to brute force this stupid stick to work.

I've been trying at this for almost two hours now. As for how I know that… I look to the small pocket watch sitting on my desk 9:36 it reads. On my way back to the Hostess, I took a short detour to get my hands on this little marvel of human ingenuity.

It was almost a decade ago that the enchanter Perseus figured out how to make a pocket sized version of the grand clock tower here in Orario. It cost me quite a bit of the money Lily and I made today, the rest having been spent on rations for our dungeon dive, but I think it's worth it.

Having a timepiece to keep track of how many days had gone by seems like a good plan. I know I said we'd be down there as long as we can manage, but I still need to work this weekend so I got this to keep track of time.

I already told Mama about my plans, and while she seemed to want to say something about it, I guess she decided not to. Maybe she trusts my judgement? Or it could be that she wants me to learn something from this experience.

Either way, she knows not to worry if I don't show up at night until Friday.

Now then… I focus hard on the stick in my hands and the rune carved on it. Protection, polarity, regeneration, conflict and thorn. That's what it could mean, but I need the aspect of protection. Trying to force an energy I don't know into the wood, and from there the rune, it suddenly lit up a brilliant white!

…Is what I'd like to say instead I've been staring really hard at a stick with a funny drawing on it.

Nothing changed at all, as expected, and frankly I doubt anything will until I can find my mana. It seems like brute force is not in fact the answer. I didn't think it would be, but it would have been a lot better if it was. I really want to learn more about magic dammit!

I set the stick to the side. Time for something a little more productive. I pull out my journal, open it to a new page and start writing down the day's events. With the weird memory stuff going on with me, I need to make sure I write this stuff down as often as possible.

…I don't want to ever forget my adventures or where I'm starting from. I feel like I've already forgotten enough in life.

"Again" the word was spoken yet again by my silver haired master.

I'd be trying to do this for hours now but I haven't made a single bit of progress. I glare at the offending piece of paper and the weird characters and symbols drawn on it, not a single one correctly according to my slave driver of a teacher.

Just a few days ago she told me it was possible for anyone to learn magic and I've been drilled harshly ever since. "Draw this symbol. Make a perfect circle. Memorize three alphabets in as many days." Seriously its been ridiculous and even though I actually managed with the alphabets, the rest has been even harder!

It doesn't help that my teacher doesn't accept anything less than absolute perfection and so, for the fifth time today, I find myself glaring at the immaculate circle my teacher told me to replicate. Why start with the basics when you can start at a magnum opus after all?

"If you can replicate this, you can create any magic circle" is what she said when she set me to this task yesterday.

According to my Grandpa, she sees this as the bare minimum because to her it is.

"You're a prodigy when it comes to adapting to things Bell," he'd said "but she's a…"

"Monster of talent…" I mutter, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes as, once more I wake up with the sun.

Another dream- no, this was a memory. Apparently that woman tried teaching me magic. I don't think I ever cast it before, my body would at least remember the feeling of it just like it remembered how to draw a magic circle from that hellish training.

At least I think so.

Still though… a monster of talent eh? Maybe that's something that Mama could use to help me track her down… with people like the Sword Princess and The King around though it probably wouldn't narrow things down at all. I guess I'll just wait until I remember more.

I throw my jacket on and double check the gear in my bag, thinking over it briefly I grab my rune engraved stick and throw it in as well, I can't let up on my training after all. Maybe I should bring the book too?

Actually no. I still need to return that to the library and if something happens in the dungeon I don't want to have to explain that it was destroyed.

Okay. Preparations complete. Time to go meet with Lily and head into the dungeon. I wonder how deep we'll go?

I rub my eyes as I wait for Bell. Dawn? Seriously? There's no reason to go into the dungeon this early, let alone for potentially days! Honestly, the kid's a complete noobie, even if he does have some skill, four days. That's as long as I'll give it and then I'm packing up whatever I can and leaving. There is no way I'm going to get myself killed because the kid doesn't know his limits.

While I wait, I double check my gear.

Crossbow? Check.

Magic dagger? Check.

…Monster bait? Check.

I'm not proud of the last one. I never will be. But if that's what it takes to survive, I'll use it. Even without breaking the capsule, it'll attract a few monsters more than normal so I'll turn a bit more of a profit than I would without it.

"Lily!" a voice shouted, and that would be Bell I suppose. He's running up the stairs and waving like an idiot. "I uhh, I didn't keep you waiting did I?" he muttered, blushing and looking away.

Oh no, is he that naïve that he fell for my fake smiles? Sure yesterday I was a bit happy that he split 50/50 with me, but I'm still using him. Case and point, it was actually closer to 65/35 since I skimmed a bit off the top. Oh well, I can use this.

"Of course not Mr. Bell, Lily just got here." I don't like playing with his feelings like this but its beneficial "Is Mr. Bell ready to go?" I ask.

He nods, resting his hands on the pair of swords at his hips "Yep," he said "I'm ready so lets dive in there and see if we can hold out for the week!"

Then, like the child he seems to be, he ran straight into the dungeon without a care in the world and, to keep with the persona I'm putting on, I chased after him. Time to get a paycheck.

So, a little bit shorter this time around, only 3.5 k words. Originally this chapter was going to be the entire first day in the dungeon as well. However… Xenoblade 3 dlc launched and that consumed my life and mind to the point that when I did write the chapter (admittedly after 30 hours straight of consciousness) the first time, it was 6k words and every single fight was filled with "Double Spinning Edge." I have since purged that half of the chapter. I will however rewrite one as an omake for next chapter.

I also think that the next chapter will handle the full four day dungeon dive. To those who are paying as meticulous attention to the in world date as I have been, you know a certain event is due and it is in fact coming.

Anyways, thanks for reading, I'll see you in the next chapter. It might take a little bit though because next chapter is probably gonna hit 8k at the least.