Authors Note: Hello reader! Just a bit of background from me and why I wrote this:

This is the first full fanfic I've ever put together. I started to write one a good while ago for Girls Und Panzer about Nina and Alina growing as a team under the Katyusha regime but I fell off and I lost a good amount of interest in it. (Those three are also some of my favorite characters from that franchise!)

This fanfic however, I was fully committed to finishing. I thought Nazza was an awesome character after watching the anime and getting a bit into the LN(up to book 4). Which I was sad she didn't have that much story as some others! With her being very stoic, smart, sarcastic at times and a wonderful character all around; I wanted to give this veteran a great story and emotional development. So I did my best to expand a bit on her character and created a scenario where she saves Bell from a minotaur instead of Ais. And with that, they both start growing together.

I hope you enjoy and I am happy to accept any questions, comments, concerns, and criticisms with this story. I'd like to write more stories like this, so if you have any ideas of a character that would fit a story similar to this(wholesome romance, adventure, slight humor-esk) or would like to see a character flushed out a bit, please suggest it!

Thank you for your time reading this! Now with my blabbering out of the way, enjoy the story :)

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Prologue

A Beginning

The streets of Orario bustled with their usual energy as adventurers prepared for another day of delving into the infamous Dungeon. Bell Cranel, a white-haired farm boy with dreams far larger than his current abilities, stood at the massive entrance of Babel Tower. His heart raced, not just from the daunting challenge of venturing into the Dungeon, but from a deeper yearning to prove his worth. Memories of quiet nights under the stars back on the farm clashed with his vision of standing tall among Orario's greatest heroes. He clenched his fists, feeling the weight of both hope and doubt pressing on his chest. His heart pounded in his chest, equal parts anticipation and fear. Today, and in his eyes, every day, was going to be the day he proved to himself—and perhaps to the world—that he wasn't just another rookie adventurer. He adjusted his simple light armor and gripped the handle of his dagger tightly. The Dungeon awaited.

Inside the Dungeon's upper floors, Bell moved cautiously, every sound making him flinch. The eerie silence was only broken by the occasional growl of monsters lurking beyond the dimly lit corridors. It was another solo dive, and he reminded himself repeatedly that his goal was to gain experience and magic stones, not fame. While still hoping to meet a beautiful girl and save her from one of the Dungeon's many monsters, Bell had managed to slay a few creatures so far today—nothing he hadn't seen before.

But fate had other plans.

A sudden roar echoed through the labyrinthine halls. Bell's blood ran cold as a massive shadow rounded the corner ahead. A Minotaur, its crimson eyes glowing with feral intensity, emerged, each step shaking the ground beneath it. Bell froze, his body refusing to move even as his instincts screamed at him to run.

The Minotaur charged.

Bell ran, narrowly avoiding the first swing of its enormous fist. With the Minotaur chasing after him, a second strike caught him off guard. The impact sent him flying into a nearby wall, his dagger clattering to the ground. Pain radiated through his body, and blood dripped from a gash on his forehead. His vision blurred as the monster loomed over him, preparing to strike the killing blow.

The Pharmacist

Near the Dungeon entrance, Naaza Erisuis adjusted the strap of her satchel, filled with potions she was delivering to a few adventurers. The Chienthrope pharmacist of the Miach Familia preferred to keep her work aboveground, far from the horrifying monsters lurking below. She brushed her brown bangs out of her face and sighed.

"Another delivery," she muttered, glancing at the bustling adventurers entering Babel Tower. "All these reckless idiots rushing to get themselves hurt or worse. At least they're good for business."

Near the entrance, Naaza's ears twitched at a deep, guttural roar that sent a chill down her spine. She tensed up instinctively, a lingering reflex from a time she used to fight in the Dungeon. A Minotaur? This far up? That didn't make sense—the upper floors were no place for such a monster. Her instincts told her to ignore it, to let the adventurers deal with whatever had caused the disturbance. But something in her gut twisted, and against her better judgment, she turned toward the dungeon entrance.

Then, she saw him.

A bloodied figure staggering out of the Dungeon—a young man with white hair and wide, desperate eyes. He barely managed to limp forward, clutching his stomach with one hand and gripping a dagger weakly in the other. His legs wobbled beneath him as though they could give out at any moment. Behind him, the Minotaur's roar echoed again from the depths, sending a fresh wave of dread through Naaza's chest.

"Damn it," Naaza cursed under her breath, her prosthetic fingers flexing slightly as old memories clawed at the edges of her mind. The last time she heard that kind of roar… it hadn't ended well for her. She wanted nothing to do with this. She wasn't an adventurer anymore. But then, the boy collapsed just in front of her, his voice barely a whisper as he reached out toward her.

"Please… help me," he murmured, before his eyes rolled back and he passed out.

Naaza clenched her jaw. Logic screamed at her to leave him—this wasn't her problem, and getting involved only led to pain. But then, the sight of his pale, bloody face struck something in her. An image of herself, broken and helpless, flickered in her mind. With a frustrated sigh, she dropped to her knees beside him, yanking a potion from her satchel.

"Hey, don't you dare die on me," she muttered, uncorking the vial and carefully pouring the liquid over his wounds. The worst of them began to knit together, but his breathing remained shallow. She needed to act fast.

As the Minotaur's roars grew louder, Naaza bit her lip. Leaving him here wasn't an option. With a speed that surprised even her, she hoisted the boy over her shoulder quickly and began making her way toward the Miach Familia's home.

Bell woke briefly during the journey, his vision swimming. For a fleeting moment, he caught details of his beautiful savior—soft brown hair, sharp violet eyes, and the swish of a tail as his body jostled against hers. Even through his pain, he recognized the scent of healing herbs and something faintly soothing, like warm tea on a cold night. She also seemed to have a sharp tongue and muttered something about "idiots who don't know their limits." Despite her grumbling, her touch was gentle, and he could feel the warmth of the potion she had poured on him.

"Thank you... for helping me," he croaked before passing out again.

Naaza glanced down at him, her expression unreadable. "You'll thank me by paying back every Val this costs me," she muttered.

At the Blue Pharmacy, Miach greeted Naaza with an initially happy, but very quickly, concerned look as she saw her burst through the door carrying Bell.

"Oh my, a rescue?" he asked, his calm demeanor betrayed by the worry and concern in his voice. Getting up from his chair, he went over to assist Naaza.

"Don't start," Naaza shot back, carefully laying Bell down on a cot. " This reckless idiot thought he could take on the Dungeon alone, and pushed his luck too far."

"Let's not worry about that right now," said the god as he inspected Bell's injuries and nodded. "You did well, Naaza. Let's stabilize him."

A Healing process

Back at the old church, Hestia paced frantically, her small hands clenched into fists. Every minute that passed felt like an eternity, her mind conjuring worst-case scenarios. Bell should have been back by now. Hour after hour went by with no sign of him. Eventually, this led her to go on a frantic search for Bell that led her through the streets of Orario, asking anyone and everyone if they had seen her sole Familia member—the boy with white hair and red eyes. Her desperation reached a peak when she barged into the Blue Pharmacy, questioning, "Have you seen..." though cutting herself off quickly after catching sight of Bell lying on a cot. Naaza was next to him, still tending to some wounds.

"Oh, Bell!" she cried, rushing to his side.

Miach looked calm and collected at the frantic goddess. "Hello, Hestia. Don't worry; he's alive. Naaza saved him from the brink of death. Your child was critically wounded, which would have been fatal if she wasn't there to help."

Hestia's eyes gathered with tears, not only with gratitude but with absolute happiness. "Thank you both! Thank you for saving my precious Bell!"

Over the next few days, Bell's condition improved under Naaza and Miach's care; though still unconscious. Hestia insisted on taking him back to the old church to finish his recovery; though she couldn't deny the Miach Familia's expertise. All three of them helped to bring Bell back to the church basement.

A day after he was moved to the church; Bell finally came to, slowly opened his eyes, his vision blurry as consciousness returned. His body ached, and for a moment, he didn't know where he was. He blinked a few times, trying to make sense of his surroundings—the cracked walls of the church basement and the dim light filtering through the old windows.

"Where… am I?" he muttered, his voice hoarse.

"Ah, Bell! You're awake!" Hestia's voice broke through the fog in his mind. She was sitting beside him, her blue eyes wide with relief and joy. "You're safe now, back home."

As the memories of the Minotaur attack slowly came back, Bell winced. "The Dungeon… I was…"

"You were rescued," Hestia said gently, her expression softening. "Naaza, from the Miach Familia, saved you. She brought you to their home. Both her and Miach patched you up. You owe them a lot, Bell."

Bell's heart swelled with gratitude. "Naaza…" he murmured. Her face flashed in his mind—sharp yet kind, a bit stern yet gentle. "I remember her. She carried me, didn't she?"

Hestia nodded. "She did. She's the reason you're still here. You're lucky, Bell; you need to be more careful from now on."

Bell turned his gaze to the ceiling, the weight of his near-death experience settling on him like a lead blanket. He wasn't strong enough. Not yet. But as Naaza's face surfaced in his mind—the sharp but concerned look she had given him—he knew he wanted to change that. "I'll find a way to thank her," he said softly. "And I'll get stronger."

Hestia smiled, though her eyes shone with some worry. "You better. I can't go through something like this again. You have to promise you won't leave me, Bell!"

"I promise, Goddess; I will never leave you," he said with a smile.

Bell's determination solidified. He wouldn't just get stronger for himself. He would get stronger for the ones who had saved him, for the people who believed in him. For Naaza. The path ahead was uncertain, but he knew one thing for sure—he wouldn't let the people who cared about him down. As Bell lay in the old church's rickety bed, he stared at the ceiling, replaying the events in his mind. The pain, the fear, the Minotaur, and above all, the girl who had saved him.

"Miss Naaza" he murmured. Her name felt important somehow, like a debt he needed to repay with something more meaningful. He couldn't help but recall her kindness and how beautiful she looked, even as she grumbled while saving him. He had feelings growing for her, for the lady who saved his life.