Day 5
Well, it's been nearly a week since I arrived in the city. The landscape and sheer scope of it all still makes my head swim. But I think I'm settling in quite well.
The dungeon has been fun as well. Nothing can really give me a good fight except orcs. But that's mostly because I need to jump up to punch their heads off.
Other than that things just die in one hit. Which is fine and all but I can't really grow if everything is so easy. I've been debating whether or not to head to the middle floors but I feel like that's a bad idea.
Grandpa and Master said it was very different from the upper floors and that I should be careful when I make my way down there.
Living with Airmid is pretty nice. She's nice to me and treats me well. Although I am her bodyguard so that's probably a given. But I don't really care.
Oh, she likes to do this cute little thing with her nose when she smells something nice. It kind of twitches like a rabbits. Not that I'd tell her that, however.
The lock on the bathroom is still broken. I think I'll try and fix it. With Airmid's permission of course. I'm a house guest and she doesn't need me poking around.
There's also this kid I met. His name's Rye and he's just starting out. I've been running into him a lot these past few days. For some reason, I just feel the need to watch over him.
He's all alone in the dungeon. I mean so am I but with him it's different. It's clear he doesn't know what he's doing. Just killing anything that comes his way.
Which isn't a bad strategy in the dungeon because it's trying to kill you too. But it's a bad long-term one.
I'm just rambling at this point but I think since I can't go down further just yet I'll keep an eye on him. No harm can really come from that, can it?
Well, I think that's it for this entry. I have breakfast to make and then it's off to work. It feels weird saying that but I guess that means I'm growing up now.
I wonder how Grandpa and Master are doing?
Bell closed his journal and set it back on his nightstand. He stood up and stretched and made his way downstairs.
He had already worked out and took his bath. Airmid was currently taking hers while Bell began to make breakfast.
He grabbed some pancake mix and some chocolate chips as well as a pan and turned the oven on.
He whistled a little tune and began to make the pancakes. While at the same time cooking some bacon as well.
Bell noticed they were running low on a few things and decided to ask Airmid if they could go shopping later.
Mostly because he didn't want to leave her alone despite her reassurances that she would be safe in the clinic. And because he didn't know where most stores were in the city.
Airmid then made her way downstairs. She was dressed in her nurse's uniform along with her little hat to go alongside it.
When the smell of chocolate chip pancakes hit her nose Bell noted it did the cute little twitch again. He kept quiet about that however and continued cooking.
After a few more minutes breakfast was served and the two ate exchanging small talk the entire time. It was something of a routine the two had.
A comfortable one at that.
"So." Bell cleared his throat. "I was thinking of taking a look at the lock before we left today. Seeing if I can try to fix it."
Airmid gave Bell a small smile and nodded. "Thank you, not having a lock on that door has been driving me nuts. I've been so swamped with work I haven't been able to get someone to fix it."
Bell smiled back. "Well, I'll take a quick Look at it and see if I can't fix it. In my village, I had to help out with other things when my Master wasn't tossing me through the woods."
Airmid nervously chuckled as she pictured a younger Bell flying through the forest like a ragdoll.
Bell was quick to finish his breakfast and his dishes away. He looked at the growing pile in the sink and made a mental note to wash them when he got home tonight.
Without saying another word Bell made his way upstairs and to the bathroom door. He crouched down and grabbed it getting ready to remove it before he realized something.
"I don't have a screwdriver." He sighed in annoyance. He looked around the bathroom for an alternative and found a nail file on the counter.
"Well, it's better than nothing." Bell thought as he grabbed it. He then returned back to the door and began taking the doorknob off.
He caught both sides of it when it came off and took a look at the inside of it. He chuckled to himself as this was a simple fix.
By simply tightening the cylinder Bell put the doorknob back together and made sure the lock worked. Hearing the satisfying click he smiled to himself and unlocked the door.
Still, with a smile on his face, Bell made his way back downstairs where Airmid had just finished eating.
She put her dishes in the sink and looked at Bell with a small glimmer of hope in her eyes. "So...is it fixed?" She asked.
Bell nodded. "Yeah, it's fixed. The problem was a loose cylinder. All I had to do was tighten it and the lock worked like it was supposed to."
Airmid's smile brightened. "Finally, that lock has been broken for months now. Thank you so much."
Bell blushed slightly at her smile. "Uh, no problem." He nervously chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck. "I just thought I'd help out since you're letting me live here and all."
Airmid patted his arm and made her way to the door. "And I thank you for that. You've been the best house guest I've had so far."
Bell felt a goofy grin spread across his face at the compliment. For some reason it made his chest feel warm knowing he's been a good house guest.
"Alright off the work then?" Airmid asked.
Bell nodded. "Off to work."
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Airmid and Bell walked down the busy street making their way to the clinic. They had been following this routine for the past couple of days now.
Bell always kept his guard up when escorting her and made sure she stayed close to him. It was quite the sight to see the 4'11 Airmid be absolutely dwarfed by the 5'10 Bell.
A little comical to some.
However, the streets were extra busy today. So many more vendors and people from all over the world seemed to be arriving in droves.
Which unnerved Bell a little. So many people which added who knows how many more threats. His head was on a swivel looking everywhere for threats.
Airmid noticed this and looked up at Bell. "Bell it's fine. These people are just here for Monsterphelia."
Bell furrowed his brow. "Monsterphelia? What's that?" He asked.
Airmid held back a giggle at Bell's face. "It's an event where the Ganesha familia tamers put on a show for the general public using monsters."
"Isn't that extremely dangerous?" Bell pointed out.
Airmid shrugged. "It is, but it's been going on for so long now people don't really care. Which reminds me that I'll probably be helping out during the event. I'll be surrounded by security so you can spend the day doing what you want."
Bell frowned as she seemed to forget something. "I can heal people to remember. I wanna help out."
Airmid mentally slapped herself upside the head. "You're right I'm sorry. I'm just so used to it being me for most of the day that I forgot there was another healer in the familia. My apologies."
Bell sighed and shook his head. "It's fine, but just because I'm a combat healer doesn't make me any less of a healer."
"You're right it doesn't if anything it makes you a braver healer than me. Running out into the thick of battle to have people. I don't know if I could do something like that." Airmid added. The thought of battle made her nervous.
Bell chuckled. "Well, I'm not a tried and tested combat medic yet. But I will be, all that training wasn't for nothing after all."
The two then finished their walk to the clinic. They said their hellos to Martha and Bernadette and took over the day shift as the other two women left.
Airmid set up and got ready for a long day of work while Bell restocked the shelves so she could readily sell the potions if needed.
Once that was done the two gave each other a thumbs up signaling that each were ready for their day to begin.
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"So, what time are you heading to the dungeon?" Airmid asked. She had just sat down and was waiting for patients.
Bell looked at the clock on the wall and saw it was around eight in the morning. He knew Rye wouldn't be there for another two hours.
"In a couple of hours. That's the time Rye normally descends because he's busy with a bunch of other work." Bell answered.
Airmid cast a curious glance towards Bell. "Rye huh? You've seen to have taken a liking to this kid. Any reason why?"
Bell shook his head. "Not really, other than not wanting to find him dead of course. I mean when I first found him he was nearly dying to a Kobold. It's clear he doesn't know what he's doing and he's dungeon diving out of desperation more than anything."
Airmid allowed a small smile to grace her lips. Bell hadn't known the boy for a week. Yet seemed to care for him a lot. It spoke greatly about his character.
"Well, I think it's nice you're watching over someone you don't know." Airmid complimented.
Bell smiled and spun in his chair. "Thanks for the compliment. So what is MonsterPhelia like exactly? Besides being dangerous monsters to the surface?"
Airmid placed a finger on her chin. "Well, you have the added tourism which brings in lots of revenue for the city. You also have many people settling down here during the festival which brings needed trades and the like as well. There's other things as well but those are the two major ones."
Bell nodded digesting the information. He looked toward the clock again and saw only a few minutes had passed. He leaned back in his chair and spun around again.
"You know you don't have to wait here for him right? You could go wait by the fountain in front of Babel." Airmid pointed out.
"Yeah, but you're much better company than a fountain. Besides I'd just be bored waiting there as well minus the spinny chair." Bell spun around again trying to make time go faster.
Airmid rolled her eyes at his childlessness. But then remembered that Bell was only 16 and was technically still a child in some aspects.
Meanwhile, Airmid herself was 19 and had been working at the clinic for around two years now. Two long years under Dian and yet she didn't regret a thing.
Sure he was rough around the edges and greedier than anyone she ever met. But it was thanks to him she was able to heal so many people in the city.
Her thoughts were broken by Bell as she heard him groan. He shook his head and leaned back in his chair.
"Everything alright?" Airmid asked slightly concerned.
"Dizzy." Bell simply replied.
Airmid once again rolled her eyes but this time a smile was on her face. However, her attention was drawn to patients that just walked in and not the dizzy Bell.
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Airmid followed a woman who looked very pregnant into a room leaving Bell all alone at the front desk.
After they left Bell had a thought enter his mind. "Huh, I wonder if Master had any children."
It took him two seconds of critical thinking to find an answer. "No, she doesn't. I don't think anyone would be brave enough to even try and date her let alone marry her."
Bell then thought about how lonely that could feel. "But then again master doesn't seem like the dating type. I'm not going to ask her of course. I like all my ribs not broken."
Bell looked at the clock again and saw he still had an hour and a half left. He sighed in boredom and spun around in his chair again.
His vision was met with the shelves that held all the potions. There had to be a few hundred there but he didn't know the exact number.
So in his boredom, he began to count them. Raising his finger he pointed it at one of the vials and started counting from there.
This was how he spent the next five minutes until he heard someone behind him. Ceasing his counting at 124 he spun around and saw two men walking in.
One was carrying the other who appeared to be heavily bleeding. Bell was quick to his feet and pointed to the room closest to them.
"In there!" He ordered.
The man dragged his friend to the room and set him down on the bed. Bell was already inside inspecting the man's shoulder seeing dozens of wood chips inside the man's arm. The arm was also missing flesh and seemed to have been crushed by something heavy.
"What happened?" Bell questioned raising his arm. A green light appeared from his hand and began to heal the man's wound.
"A-a construction accident. A wooden beam wasn't tied off correctly and the rope holding it snapped. He didn't get away in time and it crushed his arm." The first man explained. Before being taken back by Bell's magic. He didn't hear a chant.
"I see, judging by the way the shoulder has collapsed in on itself and the way the arm looks his bone was crushed. Luckily I've dealt with incidents like this before." Bell mumbled to himself.
The second man felt a soothing cold spread across his arm and shoulder as Bell focused. Luckily for him, he had some medical experience from back in his home village. But it was always important to ask what happened to know the best way to treat something.
As weird as it felt the second man felt his bones begin to go back to normal. He didn't know how to describe it but it felt like the pieces of his bone that were shattered were being fitted back into place.
Like a child playing with building blocks.
The first man was nervously pacing back and forth at his friend's injury. The sight of it made him sick but he was more worried about what would happen if it couldn't be healed.
What would his friend do for work?
After around 20 minutes of Bell focusing he turned off his magic and looked at the second man.
"I fixed the damage to your arm and shoulder so they're no longer broken. However, I recommend you don't do anything strenuous for a few weeks because you could hurt yourself again. It won't be as bad as the original injury but torn muscles are no joke." Bell explained.
The second man gulped and nodded. "Thanks, doc, I get to keep my job because of you."
Bell smiled. "Well, that's good news. But I'm serious nothing strenuous on that arm." Bell turned his attention to the first man. "Tell your foreman to have him do coffee runs and the like. Something that requires him to not carry too much weight for at least three weeks."
The first man chuckled. "Looks like you're delegated to apprentice work again."
The second one chuckled and moved his arm around a bit. He thought he would lose it for a second there. And that thought scared him.
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After paying Bell the two men left and went back to work. Bell exited the room and noticed Airmid sitting at the front counter.
It seemed her patient had already left.
She turned her attention to Bell and gave him a smile. "Seems you're doctor material after all." She joked.
Bell sighed and sat down. He leaned back in his chair and smiled. "Told you I was a healer."
"I never doubted you. Now what was his injury?" Airmid asked. She was curious to know how Bell handled himself.
Bell turned and faced her. "A wooden beam crushed his arm and shoulder. So I fixed it with my magic. All the pain and wood chips were gone within 20 minutes."
Airmid's eyes widened in surprise before nodding. "Impressive, your first patient here, and you reacted pretty well. Most people in your position would've frozen or thrown up."
Bell nervously chuckled and scratched his cheek. "Well, it wasn't my first time seeing an injury like that. When I was around 12 my village was building a new windmill and there were a few accidents. My master wanted me to get some medical experience so she took me with her. Ugh, I don't think I ever felt as sick as I did that day."
Airmid giggled picturing a young Bell looking green in the face while being forced to heal those that were injured.
Though now she was even more curious about Bell's master. "Your master sounds like an intense person. What was she like?"
Bell seemed to pale when asked that question. His red eyes were wide and his hands shook. "Terrible, terrible woman. But I know she cared me for. She just has a certain way of showing it."
"That sounds a lot like abuse." Airmid thought to herself. She didn't dare say that out loud, however. Bell seemed to love his master in his own way and his master loved him in her own way.
"She sounds intense," Airmid said.
Bell let out a slight chuckle. "She is, very intense and I pray you never have to meet her."
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Ten minutes before the clock struck ten Bell made his way to the fountain in front of Babel. He said goodbye to Airmid and told her he'd be back at around six.
Then the two would work for two more hours while waiting for Martha and Bernadette to arrive and start the night shift once more.
It didn't take Bell long to arrive at the front of Babel. But he kept himself somewhat out of sight as right on schedule Rye entered the dungeon.
Bell conveniently at the same time entered the dungeon as well. He descended down the stairs just like Rye.
Landed on the first floor and walked down the beginner's road just like Rye. Followed him down to the second floor.
"Wait a minute the second floor? Rye nearly got killed on the first one what is he thinking?" Bell thought.
He knew he had to keep a closer eye on him now. But he wouldn't step in unless Rye's life was in danger. This could be a learning experience for him not to bite off more than he could chew.
"Gods I sound like master." Bell thought.
He kept following Rye as the boy killed a few monsters here and there. His form and movements were sloppy yet he hadn't been hit yet.
It seemed he was focusing more on defense than offense. Which was good, but it was still odd Rye was heading deeper into the dungeon when he wasn't ready.
Just what was Rye's situation? How deep did his desperation go? Bell was going to wait and see. Also, step in if needed so the kid doesn't get killed.
However, Rye kept going further down. He arrived at the third floor and combat got even harder for him.
Rye still wasn't getting hit, however. Despite the increase in enemies he was playing heavily on the defense and watching where each monster was. He took his time and slaughtered them one by one.
Bell had to admit he was a little impressed. A few days ago Rye nearly died to a Kobold. But now he seemed to be doing better defensively. Maybe the day that Bell found him he was too aggressive when it came to fighting? Maybe that's why he nearly died?
Bell didn't know the answer but that was his running theory. But then again Rye doing this well on floors he wasn't ready for didn't make much sense.
"Was floor one just a fluke? Is Rye stronger than I gave him credit for?" Bell wondered. But that didn't make much sense either.
If floor one was a supposed fluke a strike like shouldn't have crippled him like that. Which added more to the mystery Bell found himself unraveling.
When Rye finished on floor three he made his way down to floor four. Bell sighed in annoyance as he followed Rye deeper into the dungeon.
"Wait a minute could this be considered stalking?" Bell wondered. He quickly shook his head, however. "Nah I'm making sure he doesn't get himself killed."
Floor four was much the same as three. Just as three was much the same as two. Bell started to wonder if he was even needed. Rye seemed to be doing well but something in Bell's mind told him to stay.
That if he didn't he'd regret it for the rest of his life.
So he did. He stayed watching over Rye like some guardian angel. Some would probably call it stalking. But Bell felt it in his bones that he should stay.
Something was wrong. Bell just didn't know what was wrong yet.
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After a little while longer on floor four Rye made his way to floor five. The walls changed color from the pale dark blue into a bright orange-brown.
However, everything was quiet. There were no sounds of fighting. Monsters weren't spawning either which put Bell on guard.
It seemed to do the same for Rye as well yet the boy headed deeper into the floor. Bell sighed, shook his head. And then followed the boy.
Rye kept his eyes peeled for monsters. Looking down every hallway and corridor he came across. Yet nothing and no one was there.
He listened for the sound of cracks forming in the wall but that didn't happen either. It was like the floor of the dungeon itself was scared.
But scared of what? The only monsters on this floor were more Goblins and Kobolds. Something a level one could kill.
So what made this floor so quiet?
Rye turned down a dead end and sighed. There were no monsters down here either. And that's when he heard it. The sound of heavy footsteps slamming against the ground.
He quickly turned around and saw a Minotaur standing where he had just come from. The beast stood a good foot and a half taller than Rye.
Its eyes glowed red with hatred and fear as it looked at the boy. Rye didn't even have a chance to catch his breath before the creature started charging toward him.
Rye went to run and ran into the wall. His eyes filled with fear as he realized he was trapped. He turned back around and watched as the Minotaur got closer and closer.
His life flashed before his eyes and everything seemed to slow down. Rye kicked himself for his stupidity. He knew he shouldn't have gone deeper.
But he needed the money.
Now because of his desperation, he was going to be killed by a monster that wasn't even supposed to be on this floor.
"Damnit, I'm such a failure."
The Minotaur was then shoulder tackled into the wall and a heavy fist met its face. The Minotaur stumbled back as Bell took a place in front of Rye to protect the boy.
"B-Bell?!" Rye exclaimed.
Bell didn't respond and watched as the Minotaur huffed. It glared at the other boy who had just taken its kill away.
And it was angry.
It stomped forward and swung its fist at Bell. He ducked under it and uppercutted the Minotaur before delivering a three-point combo to its abdomen.
The Minotaur huffed before its other fist met Bell's face.
Blood spurted out from Bell's mouth and nose as he heard his nose break. He was very familiar with the sickening crunch a bone could make.
Yet he didn't falter however as a green glow enveloped his body. His injuries were quickly healed as Bell punched the Minotaur in the face again before kicking it back.
The Minotaur only slid a few feet back before charging at Bell again. It wrapped its arms around him and slammed him into a wall.
Bell felt something in his back crack and then his ribs break from the Minotaur's punch. But it was immediately healed by his magic.
Bell used his strength and threw the Minotaur off him before punching it in the face over and over again.
The beast's snout seemed to buckle under the pressure and then snapped when Bell delivered his final punch.
It stumbled back and roared in fury and pain. Bell still stood in front of Rye. His magic was still on healing any injuries the beast gave him.
He could outlast it if needed but Bell knew he could beat it. The monster's blows were nothing compared to his Master's.
The beast seemed to be able to sense this, however. Maybe it had some modicum of intelligence or by pure instinct. It somehow knew it couldn't beat Bell in a fistfight.
So it did the next best thing and leaned forward.
Its razor-sharp horns were aimed at Bell's torso fully intent on gutting him where he stood. Bell narrowed his eyes and hunched forward holding his arm open.
Rye still watched in fear and awe as he watched Bell. Any injury he was dealt was already healed. It was like the Minotaur could do no lasting damage to Bell.
With a mighty roar, the Minotaur charged forward.
Bell couldn't dodge or else the horns would hit Rye. So he did the next best thing and grabbed the horns with his hands.
He pushed back and flexed the muscles in his legs as the Minotaur slowly pushed him back. But Bell didn't falter and pushed back harder slowly coming to a stop only a few inches away from Rye.
Then with a yell Bell lifted up the Minotaur by horns and threw it into the wall. The beast was slammed so hard into it that the wall itself had a massive crack in it.
The Minotaur then dropped to the ground and Bell took this chance. He raised his foot up and stomped on the Minotaur's neck. The resounding crack signaled the end of the fight.
As well as the end of the Minotaur's life.
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Bell let out a breath before turning to Rye. The boy still looked petrified just by the Minotaur's body alone.
Even if it was dead.
"Are you ok? You're not hurt anywhere are you?" Bell asked. His voice was soft and calm.
Rye blinked and quickly nodded. "Y-yeah I'm ok. I-I'm fine." He shakily answered.
"Good, now mind telling me what you're doing on floor five? When just a few days ago you nearly died to a Kobold?" Bell asked. He didn't raise his voice. Nor did he ask angrily. His voice was more akin to one of wanting to understand Rye.
Rye gulped and started to grow nervous. "U-um, I uh. I needed the money."
Bell sighed. "Rye, you know you can't make money if you're dead. Now why would you take such a stupid risk like that?"
Rye sniffled but held back his tears. He was a man and men don't cry. "Because I need to provide for the others. One's too young and the other's sick. Medicine's expensive and we have to divvy it between that and food. Our caretaker and goddess are working themselves to the bone to provide. I just wanted to help them."
Bell's face softened and he patted Rye on the shoulder. "That's a very noble goal Rye. But if you die all you're doing is hurting those you leave behind. I get wanting to help. Really I do, but you can't take risks like this. Alright?"
Rye sniffled and rubbed his eyes. "Alright, I promise not to take risks like this anymore. But I don't know what I'm going to do now."
Bell sighed and stood up. He offered a hand to Rye. "I think I can help out. Minotaur stones are worth a lot after all. So are the horns."
Rye furrowed his brow. "The horns? But aren't those drop items?"
Bell looked at the Minotaur. "Not if I rip them out before I grab the monster stone. At least that's my working theory."
It was then the two heard the running footsteps of someone else. The two looked down the dead end and saw a blonde-haired woman with a rapier in her left hand.
Her eyes widened slightly at the two standing next to the dead Minotaur.
"Oh hello." Bell greeted. "If you were looking for this, it's already dead. I killed it."
The woman was shocked but sheathed her sword. "I see, are you two alright?"
Bell nodded. "We're fine, you should probably check the rest of the floor and make sure there's none left."
The woman's eyes widened and she quickly ran down the hall. Bell then turned his attention back to the Minotaur and began to pull on its horns.
"Why didn't you ask her why there were Minotaurs on this floor?" Rye asked.
Bell was able to yank both the horns off thanks to his strength and handed them to Rye. "Because it's either her fault or the fault of someone she knows. That's why she was chasing it." Bell answered.
Then with a deep breath, he raised his hand. "You might want to plug your nose. I have a feeling it's gonna smell bad."
Rye was quick to cover his nose with his arm and Bell dug his hand into the Minotaur's hide. When it opened the smell of something akin to rotting flesh filled the air.
Rye dry heaved and turned away while Bell dug deeper until grabbing the Minotaur's monster crystal. With a tug, he pulled the crystal out and the Minotaur turned to ash.
Bell wiped the blood off on a wall and turned to Rye. "Looks like the horns are still here." He pointed out.
Rye nodded. "Can we get out of here now? The smell is awful." He asked.
"Sure, let's cash these in, and let's see if I can't help you some more," Bell answered.
The two then began to make their way back to the surface. With Bell knowing his day was far from over.
Well another chapter comes and goes. Looks like Bell's been watching over Rye for a while now. Good thing he did so to cause that kid's an idiot.
Anyway I hope you enjoyed and I'll see you later.