Wow, over 50 follows, over 50 favorites, and more than 2,000 views. I really need to thank you all for the support. Honestly, I was quite nervous when I started writing this fanfic.
After all, this is the first "long" piece I've written, and since English isn't my native language, it's quite challenging. I struggle to keep track of what I write and maintain coherence.
Also, I don't have the novel volumes fresh in my mind since I read them years ago, so seeing this much support and knowing so many people enjoy what I write makes me very happy and motivates me to work harder to deliver something of quality—thank you so much.
Now, onto the reviews!
AsgorathAlpha: Yes, I've noticed I have some repeated grammar mistakes, but thanks for your critique; it really helps me spot these issues more easily and fix them over time. Although I can speak and write English, I still need to use a translator for some sentences and phrases, along with an English dictionary to correct certain words and phrasing. I appreciate that you like it.
RebornLikeablackPhoenix: Thank you so much for your constant support ;), I'm just happy to see that you enjoy those details.
Frey55639: Yeah, I was thinking the same, but honestly, it's a bit complicated. Even the original work leaves those characters out, so there isn't much to go on, and it's tough to keep them in character. Still, I'll definitely try.
Dman4869: Thank you! Reading your comment really brightened my day when I saw it, and it motivates me to work even harder—which I actually did. As for Bete and Rose's relationships, well, with Bete, I'm honestly not sure, though that's a bit of a spoiler, and… with Rose, you'll see something similar in this and the next chapter; hope you like it.
wardak: I thought the same; I felt I didn't quite capture Aiz's behavior properly. Don't worry, though—the love at first sight isn't from her side. It's just a bit hard to convey Aiz's feelings without it being from her POV. But I'm glad you enjoy my work.
That's all I have to say! Sorry for rambling on, and I hope you enjoy today's episode.
And here he was, standing in front of the Adventurers' Guild. He couldn't deny that he felt a bit nervous about going back in and possibly running into Rose again. She reminded him of a sister or even a mother with the scolding she'd given him before.
Without wasting any more time, Bell decided to head inside, but he was immediately stopped by a man in armor. His appearance was... normal? Average? That was all Bell could think to describe him.
"Bell Cranel, right? I'm Raul Nord, and from now on, I'll be your Senpai!" the man announced. Bell scratched his head for a moment. Was he…? A Guild employee?
That thought quickly vanished when he recalled seeing the man in the dining hall; he was from the Loki Familia.
"Oh, uh… sure, nice to meet you, Raul-san, though it seems like you already know my name. Any particular reason?" Bell asked, setting down the boxes holding his armor and weapons and extending his hand. For some reason, Raul gave him a nervous vibe.
"Well, Finn said I… needed experience leading new members and recruits to the Familia, so… um… well, I'll be in charge of you?"
"What was that? Is he asking me?" Bell thought to himself. This guy…
"Excuse me, what level are you?" Bell asked.
"4. I know I don't look-"
"No, no, I was just curious. Please, guide me through the Dungeon, Raul-san." Bell said, not intending to… well, he kind of did, but he definitely hadn't meant to touch a nerve with Raul.
"All right. For the first few days, you'll need to enter the Dungeon on your own, but when the time comes to go deeper, you'll act as our support, sound good?"
"Eh… uh… I suppose so, but which are the first floors you recommend?" Bell asked. For some reason, he wanted to be prepared in advance. He wasn't sure why, but he had a slight bad feeling that he'd end up spending more time learning than actually exploring the Dungeon.
"Probably Floors 1 to 3, though they'll tell you that in orientation. Don't tell me you were thinking of skipping it, were you?" Raul replied.
Bell could only sigh. Although it didn't really seem like it, or, well… it kind of did, Bell was still a Werewolf, with energy to spare. But in his own way; he wasn't Tiona, not by a long shot.
"Besides, your body is still recovering. I heard you had an impressive fight… I'm not sure if I'd survive it myself…"
Bell gave him a blank stare. "Of course you'd survive it, without a scratch even—you're level 4, idiot, did you forget?"
Maybe that was just a fleeting thought or one Bell never fully articulated in his mind, but he definitely believed it somewhere deep down. Now that he thought about it, wasn't Raul Nord the one they called "High Novice"?
Shaking his head a bit, he looked at Raul.
"So, does someone from the Familia need to be with me to register?" Bell asked, breaking the few seconds of silence that had formed.
"No, you can do it alone, but your Status was probably sealed by Loki, and I doubt anyone will believe someone like you is really in the Familia."
"Look who's talking…" Bell gave him a judging look but nodded, understanding why Raul was saying it, so he didn't blame him.
"Thank you, Raul-san. So… I just go to the counter?" Raul simply nodded, moving behind Bell as he waited to be attended to. Bell, seeing that, picked up his box again and moved forward, joining a short line with only two people ahead of him.
Bell could only hope for one thing: that the woman from before wouldn't be there… and there she was, right in front of him. He hadn't even managed to finish his thought before a pair of yellow eyes were staring at him intently.
"Bell Cranel, I hope you've returned with a Familia," the red-haired woman said, looking past him at the dark-haired man behind him. It was unlikely, but she preferred to wait—maybe the man was just here to ask something, right?
"Y-Yes… actually… I joined the Loki Familia, so I can register as an adventurer now. That's what you told me, right?"
Rose's expression showed two emotions: surprise and annoyance. She let out a sigh as she rubbed her temples.
"It's…" she was about to say "it's impossible," but cut herself off as the man behind Bell didn't deny the boy's words; instead, he nodded, confirming what the white-haired boy had said.
"Your information was already registered, so I'll just update the new details."
Taking a paper and pen, she handed it to Bell, who filled out his details once more: Race, age, name, level, Familia, along with other minor details.
"Perfect. Good luck in the Dungeon. The resources you gather can be traded with smiths or other Familias. If that's not the case, you can go to the Guild's exchange counter. Good luck, Bell Cranel."
Bell said his goodbyes, picking up the boxes he'd left on the floor to write. He then went back with Raul to the Twilight Manor. Raul had been filling him in on a few things. For Bell, this new life was something he cherished. He was sure that, despite not knowing Raul for more than ten minutes, he'd be a very good friend.
But on the other hand, that Werewolf woman seemed worried. Though her face didn't show it, her hand on her chest did.
"And don't die…"
A whisper to herself was all Rose murmured. She couldn't handle more accidents or bad news like that. They hurt too much.
Bell arrived at the residence alongside Raul, who separated to speak with his companions, while Bell headed directly to the room assigned to him. More than a room, it looked like a barracks where several Familia members slept.
Bell sighed without complaining. He was only level 1, and besides, the place felt cozy.
He left the boxes and stored them in what looked like a chest next to his bed. After organizing everything, he tried to put on his armor, though it was tricky after several attempts, as this was the first time he'd done something like this.
The armor was light and comfortable, a white breastplate with delicate red embroidery that covered his torso, shoulders, and wrists, leaving enough room to wear his new metal gloves. His legs were covered by thick, dark fabric pants—simple but functional. It was a suitable outfit, although it wouldn't offer total protection against lethal blows, but it gave him comfort and agility.
As for his weapons, the metal gloves, though somewhat heavy, felt comfortable when held. Despite slowing him down slightly, he was still faster than if he were using a sword or even a dagger. The weight allowed him to strike with more power, and although he described them as "heavy," when held by his hand, wrist, and part of his arm, it was actually an advantage that made up for his lack of strength, typical of a level 1. Plus, they matched his armor perfectly.
He'd have to make sure to thank Aiz later.
After receiving some teasing from more experienced members for not knowing where the training grounds were, Bell finally arrived at the place.
There, he observed several members, even though it was nearly sunset, but Aiz was nowhere in sight. He assumed she must be busy with some Familia duty and simply advanced toward what could be called "the Arena," if such a place could be considered that.
With his armor already on, he gave a soft clap of his hands, producing a loud enough sound to catch the attention of some nearby people due to his gloves. Although it wasn't his intention to do so, he was just trying to encourage himself. Among those who noticed, a black-haired cat girl approached him.
"Bell Cranel, right? I see you decided to come and train," said the girl, taking Bell by the hand and practically dragging him by force to another area of the "Arena." Bell didn't resist, and even if he had tried, he knew he wouldn't be able to escape her grip.
"I'm Anakitty, leader of the Familia's Second String. So, although not directly, you'll be answering to me, understood?" she said with a firm but not hostile tone. Dignified and typical of a leader.
"Nice to meet you, Anakitty-san. And... the Second String?" Bell asked, knowing the term only vaguely.
"Fresh out of the litter, huh...? If Loki hadn't proudly told us about your fight, we'd all be wondering how you even got in…" She let out a heavy sigh, looking him directly in the eyes.
"The Second String is the 'squad' or 'division' that supports the Familia executives. We're their backup and, at the same time, a 'bridge' between lower-ranking members like you and higher-ranking ones." Bell nodded, making sure not to forget it; after all, according to Raul, it seemed he'd be acting as support for them for a while on some occasions.
"Well, enjoy your training," Anakitty added, beginning to walk away, but before leaving, she turned once more toward Bell.
"By the way, I saw the way you look at our Sword Princess. Don't get your hopes up. The thing with the weapon is a Familia tradition, and she's just being nice to you, like she is with everyone. We don't want another young one with a broken heart, all right?" She added, ruffling the boy's hair and messing it up slightly, leaving a Bell visibly embarrassed and blushing. Although the comment affected him, he recognized she was right. Bell scratched his head lightly, careful not to forget he was wearing metal gloves. Looking at them more closely, he noticed they had small claws on the tips of the fingers; he supposed they'd come in handy.
Looking around, he tried to find a training partner, but all the lower-ranking members seemed to avoid him, and he didn't feel like facing the higher-ranking ones either.
His thoughts, however, were interrupted by an unexpected hug.
"Wolfy!" shouted a cheerful voice.
Bell recognized the nickname immediately. "Loki-sama?" he thought, though he quickly dismissed the idea. It was impossible for Loki to do something like that… or at least, that's what he thought, as he'd heard rumors about her obsession with the women at Twilight Manor.
Shaking his head, he finally identified the voice. Turning around, he saw a characteristically Amazonian woman. Bell, embarrassed to have her so close, pulled away and scratched his head, trying to calm the blush on his face.
"Tiona-san? What are you doing here?" Bell asked, puzzled, as he didn't see any other executives in the area and doubted she had come to train.
"To train with you, obviously!"
"Huh...? Isn't that a bit much…?" Bell said, clearly concerned for his own safety. He knew he wasn't in top condition, and a blow from Tiona, even if she held back, was still that of a level 5, which worried him a bit.
"Don't worry! I'll hold back as much as I can," Tiona replied, pulling out a different weapon: a simple wooden stick.
"That doesn't give me much confidence," Bell thought, sweating a little. Although he was eager to fight—because it was in his nature—his desire to survive was stronger, and he wasn't sure he'd achieve that by facing her.
With little choice, Bell prepared himself, taking on a basic stance: one fist close to his face and the other at chest level, legs slightly apart, ready to move if necessary. It wasn't an advanced position, but it was enough for someone without real training.
"Perfect!" said Tiona before charging at him.
The first attack was a simple downward strike, strong but clearly held back.
Bell blocked it with his metal glove and tried to counter with a punch to Tiona's stomach, but she dodged quickly and, seeing the reaction of the white-haired boy, kicked him in the ribs.
Bell couldn't dodge, and the force of the blow sent him flying several meters, landing on his back with his arms spread out.
The boy clutched his ribs, rubbing them.
"Ugh…" was all he could say, unable to let out a scream or grunt of pain, as the hit had knocked the wind out of him.
Tiona approached him, concerned.
"Ah! I'm sorry! I think I went a bit too hard… Are you okay?"
"P... perfect…" he said, slowly sitting up. He didn't understand how so much power could fit into such a small body. He was sure that the Amazon hit harder than any Silverback.
"I think it's best to rest and head to the Dungeon tomorrow... another hit like that, and I don't know if I'll be able to stand up," Bell said, smiling slightly, though clearly in pain. He took off the metal glove to hold his ribs where he'd been kicked.
"Hmmm… good idea! But, being level 1, make sure to stick to just the first few floors; we don't want an accident, Wolfy.
"Again with that name… where could she have gotten it from?" thought Bell, but he decided to ask anyway, "Tiona-san, where did you hear that nickname?"
"Huh? Oh! Loki's been saying that ever since she brought you here!"
"I see…" At least it was better than being called a rabbit. With a smile, he said goodbye to Tiona and headed to his room. Tomorrow would be a long day, and he was sure that spending the whole day in the Dungeon would be quite exhausting.
First day… yes, he was nervous.
Why? He had already defeated a monster on the 11th floor, right? Perhaps it was the anxiety of facing the unknown, or maybe the future awaiting him made him uneasy. His goddess had already told him he wasn't completely normal, but he was still an inexperienced level 1; it'd be embarrassing if a mere Kobold injured him.
It was midday when he reached the Dungeon after a long "little" talk from Rose about the first five floors. Although to be honest, it was anything but short; the scolding from that Lycan was intimidating. Every time Bell made a mistake, she had him reread the same part five times…
He shook his head, dispersing those memories like clouds. With his fist clenched in a "I'm ready" gesture, he advanced confidently toward the Dungeon.
The structure was impressive: large numbers of adventurers descended into it via a wide spiral staircase. Dark and majestic, the structure led to the first floor, a series of walls, floor, and ceiling in shades of blue.
Was this… the Dungeon?
For Bell, it was disappointing; he found only dark, monotonous hallways. Nothing impressive. Not even any monsters around. Yes, Rose-san had described it to him, but he had expected something much more imposing.
He scratched his head and an ear, shrugged, sighed, and put on the gloves he carried at his waist before continuing onward.
He expected, at least, to encounter some goblins or kobolds, but there was nothing. Maybe other adventurers had passed through before him?
However, as if the Dungeon had heard his thoughts, some monsters started emerging from the walls.
Three goblins.
Small, ugly, green-skinned, with tiny horns on their heads and disturbing red eyes... although the most annoying part was their shrill cry. If the white-haired boy had to interpret it, it sounded like a high-pitched, grating "Grah!"
Bell shook off his daydreams, positioned himself defensively, and awaited the first goblin's attack.
As expected, the goblin charged without technique, lunging with its teeth toward Bell's arm, who used his gloved arm to catch its bite and then crushed its head.
Blood splattered, staining his white armor and startling the other two goblins, who then attacked him simultaneously.
One goblin's leap was met with a direct punch to the jaw, smashing it and separating its head from its neck. The other goblin tried to bite Bell's leg, but he dodged with a quick jump and stomped on its chest.
The crunch of bone was sickening, even for Bell, reminding him of the pain in his leg from the Silverback's kick, bringing back unpleasant memories.
Shaking his head to clear the blood from his hair, Bell tried to avoid getting more stained, though it was already too late for that.
So thrilled was he to have killed his first monsters that he hadn't noticed his armor and right glove were drenched in blood with a nearly rotten smell.
He tried to wipe it on the wall, but the blood had already soaked into the metal and fabric. With no other choice, he decided to keep going, at least making the mess worthwhile.
Today, he'd limit himself to floors 1 through 3, as Rose had advised.
His greatest challenge of the day were the Kobolds, appearing in groups of no more than three.
Bell couldn't quite describe them: humanoids with dog-like heads, larger than goblins and slightly faster, with claws sharp enough to surprise an inexperienced adventurer.
Although, of course, they weren't a real problem for him. Though lacking combat experience and proper training, his stats compensated for those shortcomings on the upper floors. Gradually, the blue walls became stained red from Bell's strikes, crushing monsters or hitting them at their weak points. The small claws on his fingers and the spikes on his knuckles made the work easier, conserving his energy.
The metal gloves weren't the cleanest tool for killing, but Bell felt they suited him; it didn't feel like a weapon but like hitting with his own fists. They were comfortable and quick, despite their weight.
Hours passed, and between magic stones and a few monster "drops," his backpack and bags were full. However, Bell enjoyed the experience so much that he no longer killed the poor kobolds and goblins just for collecting, but for the excelia and, though he didn't want to admit it, because he enjoyed it…
Bell was exhausted. His clothes were soaked in blood, covering not only his armor but also his face and hair. Noticing there were no more monsters in the area, he guessed the Dungeon was recovering from the minor damage he had caused with his powerful punches and decided to head to the entrance of the first floor, which fortunately wouldn't take him more than 20 minutes.
Finally, upon exiting the Dungeon, he removed his gloves and shoulder plates, storing them tightly but snugly in his backpack.
The passersby didn't know whether to be alarmed, worried, or cautious... After all, seeing a Werewolf covered in blood, with his tail lowered and fresh out of the Dungeon, raised questions. Could he be injured? Had he killed monsters in an unusual way, or worse, another person?
However, their concerns faded upon seeing the boy's expression. With all that blood and his gear, he could seem intimidating, but the excitement and happiness in his eyes weren't those of a killer. More like a wolf, he resembled a puppy, though no one approached; best not to take any chances, right?
Luckily, the blood on his hair, face, and body had already dried, preventing further stains. Still, at the guild's entrance, a head of hair as red as the blood covering Bell approached him with determined steps. And come to think of it… his eyes didn't need to adjust to the light! Why was there no light?! It was nighttime!
How long had he been in the Dungeon?
Knowing that Loki Familia executives already had a scolding waiting for him, he only worried about the reaction of the red-haired Guild supervisor, who, at that moment, stood in front of him.
"Bell Cranel! Can you explain why you're arriving nearly at closing time... AND COVERED IN BLOOD?"
She massaged her temple, showing both her anger and annoyance. In a rage-filled gesture, like a mother scolding her child, she grabbed him by the collar, leaving him no choice but to let himself be dragged, exhausted and defeated, into the guild, resigned to receiving his scolding and another late-night lesson on the Dungeon.
See you in the next episode, guys! This one might take a bit longer, as I'll need to read the light novel and manga to get the characters' personalities right. Don't be shy about leaving a review and sharing what you like, dislike, or anything in between! Your feedback helps me improve a lot as a beginner writer, until next time!