Good afternoon, everyone—or good evening or good morning, depending on when you're reading this. Well, I guess first of all, welcome to the first chapter of this story!

I've been wanting to write a DanMachi story for some time, but I just couldn't find the right motivation and ideas—until yesterday, when everything finally came together.

Since this is my first story for this fandom, I know it might not be the best. Plus, English isn't my first language, so there might be some grammar mistakes I missed. If you notice anything, just let me know, and I'll fix it as soon as possible!

Secondly, for those waiting for the next chapter of the Épic stories, don't worry! I just needed a bit more time to remember everything I was working on before that mini-hiatus, so the chapter will be out tomorrow.

I wanted to post before the Ao3 maintenance, but I'm not sure if I'll make it today. So, the plan is to upload it as soon as the site is back up tomorrow.

With all that said, happy reading, and see you around!

"Uuuuh," a small seven-year-old boy groaned with effort as he carried a bucket full of water across an open field. There was no shade, and the afternoon sun had only just begun to rise.

The boy was doing a favor for some of the older villagers. Always eager to help, he often volunteered for tasks around the village. The villagers, appreciating his enthusiasm, usually gave him simple chores. However, this time, at his grandfather's request, he was finally given a task that required more effort.

The red glow of his eyes reflected in the water sloshing inside the bucket as he made his way back to the village. His white hair gleamed, both from the river water and the sweat trickling down his face.

His small, young body struggled to carry the full bucket. He had only been asked to bring a small amount of water, but in his eagerness to be useful, he had filled it to the brim. Now, he was pushing himself to the limit to reach his destination.

So focused and determined was he that he completely missed the faint murmurs of confusion and exhaustion echoing in his head.

As he set the bucket down to take a short break, the boy turned his head toward some trees. His task was momentarily forgotten as concern took over—he could hear the grunting of a high-pitched, distorted voice.

He took a few steps in the opposite direction, but it was too late. A small, green humanoid creature suddenly leaped toward him. It was somehow even smaller than he was, with thin, wiry arms, almost skeletal, and long, pointed ears. Tiny horns protruded from the top of its head.

The boy froze. His legs trembled as tears welled up in his wide, terrified eyes. His mouth hung open in a scream for help that never left his throat.

Only a sudden, deafening "MOVE!"—spoken directly into his mind—snapped him out of it. He jumped to the side just in time, the creature's claws slicing through nothing but air instead of his flesh.

Unlike the boy, who had fallen onto the grass from the abrupt movement, the creature wasted no time in launching another attack.

Fortunately, adrenaline took over, and the boy instinctively raised his arm. The strike that would have left him blind instead left a deep cut on his forearm.

This time, his scream was not trapped in his throat. His childish voice turned into a deep, agonized cry as his tears, once just forming, now flowed freely down his face.

In his mind, his short life flashed before his eyes. His dreams and aspirations shattered like a fragile sapling caught in a storm.

As the creature licked his blood and crept toward him, the same voice from before spoke again—this time filled with a mix of urgency and determination, yet masked by a layer of cold seriousness.

"Tell me, boy, do you want to live?"

Time seemed to slow as those words repeated in his head. His teeth clenched. His eyes, still filled with pain, despair, and terror, began to show a flicker of determination.

"I-I w-want to..." His voice trembled, breaking into sobs of pain.

"Speak clearly, boy. I can't hear you," the voice urged, sharp and fast.

"I WANT TO LIVE!" he roared, his eyes squeezing shut as he dropped to his knees. His knuckles turned white, his fists shaking.

"Then shout my magic!" the woman's voice commanded, unwavering.

"GOSPEL!" the boy bellowed, thrusting his uninjured arm forward just as the monster leaped at him, its mouth full of jagged teeth.

In an instant, an explosion erupted, sending dirt, dust, and grass flying in all directions. The creature was obliterated.

The boy collapsed backward, his vision darkening as he heard the sound of footsteps rushing through the grass. A faint smile touched his lips as the voice whispered softly, like a gentle breeze.

"You did well."

An old man sprinted toward the boy, his face drenched in sweat from worry—worry that was now forgotten, replaced by a wide grin beneath his thick beard. His eyes gleamed with an emotion he hadn't felt in a long time.

Reaching the boy, he carefully lifted him into his arms, mindful of his bleeding arm.

"Oh, my grandson, I didn't expect your story to begin for a few more years, but here you are," he laughed loudly, almost boisterously. Whether it was genuine or forced, only he knew.

"What a wonderful day, what a spectacle! And to think you'd have this magic of all things—oh ho, the irony!" His eyes welled up, filled with a mix of joy, pride, and lingering concern. Small chuckles continued to escape his lips, his shoulders trembling as he walked past the overturned bucket, knocked over during the monster's second attack.

As he ascended the hill toward his small home, the old man glanced down at his sleeping grandson. His silver-white hair shimmered under the afternoon sun, the sky a perfect, cloudless blue.

He stopped at the hilltop and turned his gaze toward the heavens, speaking as if addressing someone unseen.

"I suppose I can't delay any longer. My dear grandson, I, Zeus, will bear witness to the beginning of your rise as the Hero of the Age of Gods. Watch closely, my friends, for Bell Cranel will be the one to change the world!"

He grinned broadly, completely unaware of a pair of mismatched eyes watching him from a place beyond reach.

"Bell, huh?" The same voice that had spoken to the boy murmured. A woman followed the duo, her expression unreadable. "So it's decided, then. Don't worry, sister—I will take care of your son." A small smile graced her lips.

"Don't worry, Bell. Aunt Alfia will accompany you on your journey." Her heels made no sound as she walked, and her long dress and hair remained untouched by the gentle breeze that passed by.

"I can't let my little nephew be corrupted by that old man," she muttered with a small frown. "It seems that an adventurer's work doesn't end with death after all. Orario still needs new heroes," she mused, following them through the door of their small home.

It had been years since Bell had felt such terror. His legs moved as fast as his Level 1 novice agility status would allow, his survival instincts screaming like banshees in his head as he sprinted through the cold corridors of the Dungeon.

A roar echoed behind him, and Bell felt more beads of sweat forming on his forehead. He glanced over his shoulder to check the distance between himself and the monster.

Unfortunately, that was the wrong choice. His foot caught on a few larger stones on the ground, and he immediately stumbled, tumbling forward until he crashed into a stone wall. Bell felt his ankle nearly twist—thankfully, it wasn't sprained. But now, he was sprawled against the wall, completely at the mercy of the strongest monster he had ever faced.

As he watched the Minotaur slowly approach, he felt something familiar—something he hadn't felt in years.

Time seemed to slow as a gentle voice whispered in his mind, filled with quiet relief.

"Finally."

It was the exact same voice from his memory, seven years ago.

"I've been trying for so long to contact you again. I must admit, I almost gave up."

The voice was now composed, stripped of any emotion.

"Who...?"

"Calm yourself, Bell. There is a time for everything, and now is not the time for your questions."

He weakly nodded, still uncertain, his eyes locked on the Minotaur as it continued its slow, deliberate advance.

"Unfortunately, just helping you with my magic won't be enough. Do you trust me, boy?"

Even without knowing much, Bell understood exactly what the voice meant—trust her, or die.

But he didn't even need to think about it.

"I trust you."

With all his heart.

He still vaguely remembered the voice and his encounter with the Goblin seven years ago. Even though he had never heard the voice again or managed to use his magic since that day, he still trusted her completely.

Without further warning, Bell's vision shifted.

He saw the Minotaur, but this time from a higher vantage point. Looking down, he saw his own body still leaning against the wall.

Before he could scream in confusion and fear, he watched as his body suddenly moved—almost instantly positioning itself right in front of the monster.

"Gospel."

"Bell" said, as he drove his fist into the Minotaur's chest.

The creature exploded into a shower of blood, drenching the boy completely. The blast also tore apart a section of the Dungeon's wall and floor, sending debris flying in a thick cloud of smoke.

"If it's still possible, we'll talk later," the voice said as Bell abruptly returned to his own body.

Dazed, he looked down at his hand.

A magic stone—larger than any he had ever seen from a monster—rested in his palm.

Without a clear destination in mind, Bell started making his way back to the upper floors, his vision unfocused. He just wanted to leave the Dungeon as quickly as possible, especially since his small dagger had been completely destroyed by the magic. It had fallen behind the Minotaur when he tripped, and there was no recovering it now.

So lost in thought and urgency, Bell completely missed the stunned gaze he was receiving from a blonde girl.

Behind her, an albino werewolf was asking what the hell had just happened—and who the hell that tomato boy was.

Eina didn't want to admit it, but she had screamed in worry the moment she saw Bell's completely red form. She wasted no time scolding him for showing up at the Guild in such a state and immediately sent him back home to clean up and change into proper clothes.

She deliberately ignored his dazed murmurs about a mysterious voice in his head or a Minotaur on the upper floors. From the way Bell was acting, he must have encountered a Purple Moth that had wandered up a few floors. Of course, she also made him drink an antidote before sending him home—just another reason to make him leave anyway. It would be easier for him to recover that way.

And really, what the hell would a Minotaur be doing on the upper floors? It was completely impossible for a monster from a floor more than ten levels below Bell's to climb that high. Unless someone had made a complete mess of the Dungeon, this wouldn't happen. But the only ones capable of disturbing the Dungeon to that extent were the highest-ranking Familias—like the Loki Familia.

Eina found it highly unlikely that the Loki Familia would be reckless enough to let a Minotaur escape to the upper floors. They were far too responsible to make such a mistake, even if they did have a few problematic members in her opinion.

It was only when the Sword Princess herself approached her, asking about a rabbit-like adventurer who had supposedly killed a Minotaur, that Eina started to consider she might have made a lapse in judgment.

…Was that a slight blush on the Sword Princess's face?

Eina felt a headache beginning to form.

She wondered if she could dump some of her paperwork on Misha and take the rest of the day off.

Hestia felt the urge to scream as she stared at Bell's status.

Completely insane—that was the only way to describe it. There was no other explanation. Bell had been an adventurer for less than two weeks, and this was the first time Hestia had ever seen anything like it.

Bell Cranel
Race: Human
Familia: Hestia

Level 1

Strength: I 23 H 114

Endurance: I 11 H 126

Dexterity: I 32 H 154

Agility: I 53 G 232

Magic: I 0 H 178

[Satanas Verion]

Ultra-short chant magic that attacks enemies with blocks of sound.

Can be used with the Secondary Chant Lugio.

Chant: Gospel

Secondary Chant: Lugio

[Talent]

Rapid Growth

The greater the challenge, the faster the user will grow.

The user can surpass the limits of their level in certain situations.

Hestia knew the moment she laid eyes on Bell's status that he couldn't be allowed to know about his skill. She wanted to hide his magic as well, but unfortunately, his magic stat had increased, and she couldn't erase an entire status. Even someone as naive as Bell would notice that.

She urgently needed to figure out how to lock his falna. Fortunately, she would have the opportunity to speak with Hephaestus soon.

After having his status printed on a sheet and reading it, Bell was over the moon. He had magic. MAGIC! He almost ignored the 685 points he had gained in a single day, solely because he was too excited about finally having a magic spell.

He didn't question why the section listing his skills was smudged—his goddess probably just smudged it with her finger by accident.

"Oh, right!" Bell suddenly remembered something important he had to do.

"Goddess, I need to go take care of something!" He bowed to Hestia and rushed out before she could say a word.

Not that she would have said anything—she was still lost in thought, coming up with plans to keep her Bell away from other deities.

Especially Loki!

Finding a private spot wasn't difficult in the area where Bell lived. As soon as he assumed the coast was clear, he spoke in a hesitant, timid voice,

"Huh… voice in my head—are you there?"

He waited a few seconds, head lowered, and just when he thought he wouldn't get a response, a soft voice echoed in his mind.

"Yes, Bell, I am here. You don't need to speak out loud—I can hear your thoughts."

Bell's face immediately turned red. Could this woman hear all his thoughts? At any time? What a nightmare! He didn't think he could handle that.

"Calm your thoughts, boy. You're being too loud!"

The voice didn't yell, but its authoritative and slightly irritated tone made Bell stop immediately.

"I can't hear all of your thoughts, only the ones you allow me to."

Alfia didn't mention that, since he didn't know how to filter his thoughts, she had actually heard everything—for years. But he didn't need to know that right now.

Bell opened his mouth to start asking questions, but Alfia cut him off, speaking again.

"My name is Alfia. No, I don't know why I'm stuck with you. Yes, I am dead. Yes, I was the one who helped you as a child. And yes, I've been with you since then."

She answered all of the boy's questions before he even had the chance to ask them. His mouth slowly closed.

"Unfortunately, I wasn't able to contact you again until now. It seems I could only interact with you due to your life-or-death situation."

Bell shivered slightly at the memory.

"I have a theory that, because of your falna, I can now interact with you without the need for near-death experiences."

Bell swallowed dryly.

"Yeah… I guess it would be a bit inconvenient if we needed something like that every time."

After all, he didn't want to risk his life every time he wanted to talk to Alfia.

"Completely unfeasible."

Thank goodness she agreed!

"Moving on to another topic, from now on, I will be giving you guidance on the Dungeon."

That caught Bell's attention. Had Alfia been an adventurer?

"That's for you to find out."

Her voice was firm. "If the Guild hasn't erased all records of me…"

She didn't regret what she had done, especially since she hadn't yet seen the results. She hoped that Zald's and her efforts hadn't been in vain. It would be truly depressing if Orario hadn't grown stronger after the chaos all those years ago.

"In any case, there will be more opportunities for conversation and guidance later. Right now, you need to acquire a new weapon. You cannot rely solely on your magic. Mind Down cases at Level 1 are surprisingly common, thanks to reckless adventurers who use their magic carelessly."

Bell didn't dare say a word about his plans to go into the Dungeon and push his new magic to the limit. Especially because, judging by Alfia's tone when she mentioned it, she knew exactly what he was planning.

"Go to the Guild and get a new weapon of your choice. Beginner equipment should be enough for now."

Bell nodded and quickly headed toward the Guild.

Bell notices that the streets are particularly empty today. That's a good sign—it means he can get a better look at the city. He hasn't had much opportunity since arriving. Between searching for a familia and making constant dives into the Dungeon, he hasn't really had time to explore the city.

"Hey, mister adventurer, excuse me," a feminine voice calls out to him from the side. He turns and sees a young woman wearing a green and white waitress outfit.

"You dropped this."

She extends her hand, revealing a small magic stone.

"Oh, did I forget to exchange one by accident?" he wonders aloud. The only stone he hadn't traded was the Minotaur's, if the hit against the wall hadn't affected his memory.

"It's a marketing strategy," Alfia's voice echoes in his mind. "Just accept it. It's easier than trying to find a restaurant on your own."

Bell resists the urge to nod in understanding, not wanting to look like a weirdo in the middle of the street.

After a brief exchange, the girl—who introduces herself as Syr—hands him some food, and in return, he agrees to have dinner at the restaurant where she works later that evening.

Bell honestly doesn't see a problem with the trade. There's a chance the restaurant is great, so he only stands to gain.

"Tch."

Alfia clicks her tongue after observing the waitress for a while.

"Something wrong?" Bell asks, his voice barely above a whisper.

"She just reminded me of someone unpleasant."

The disdain in Alfia's voice is palpable, and Bell is surprised. It's one of the strongest displays of emotion he's heard from her—not that it means much, considering they haven't spent much time together yet.

"And you don't need to speak out loud. Did you forget already?"

Bell flushes and murmurs an apology.

At night, Bell was heading alone toward the pub. Hestia had told him that she had some things to prepare and couldn't accompany him at the moment. However, Bell couldn't help but wonder why his goddess had been crying with regret while saying that.

Alfia was starting to worry about the deity her nephew had chosen to follow, but for now, she was willing to ignore how the goddess seemed hopelessly in love with him.

The pub was completely packed, which only raised Bell's hopes of having found a great place. He quickly returned Syr's enthusiasm upon seeing him arrive and soon placed his order.

While waiting for his food, Bell began conversing with Alfia, who quickly started educating him on how to manage his finances and decide when to eat out versus cooking at home—especially since he was the sole member of his familia and couldn't afford to spend too much.

However, Alfia suddenly fell deathly silent for some reason. Just as Bell was about to ask what was wrong, a tall, older woman placed a large plate of pasta on his table.

Bell looked at her in confusion, and she laughed.

"So, you're the adventurer Syr met, huh? You need to put in some effort, kid—you're way too skinny for an adventurer, even a rookie."

"W-wait, I-I didn't order this…" He felt a little intimidated by the sheer size of the plate.

"Like I said, you need to put in some effort, kid—way too scrawny for my taste. Name's Mia, and I own this pub. Make sure to come by often—Syr seems to have taken a liking to you."

The woman let out another booming laugh while Bell was caught between being stunned by the dish in front of him and embarrassed by the comment about Syr.

However, he was quickly pulled from his thoughts by Alfia's voice.

"Bell, listen carefully. Be cautious with this pub."

There was a degree of seriousness and concern in her voice that Bell couldn't ignore.

"I'm not saying you shouldn't come here, just that you should be careful. Almost all the staff here are—or were—adventurers."

Bell's jaw nearly dropped at the revelation, and he held back from immediately asking them for stories about their adventures. First, because they were working, and second, because he didn't want to seem suspicious.

"At least he has a minimum level of common sense, despite being raised by Zeus,"Alfia thought with a touch of cynicism.

The night passed quickly. Between focusing on his meal, chatting with Syr, and conversing with Alfia, Bell barely noticed the time fly by. At the moment, he was simply enjoying the last bites of his final dish. He didn't think his stomach could handle any more food—or that his wallet could handle more of Mia's determination to make him spend.

Then, one of the waitresses—a cat person with brown hair—mentioned something about a reservation.

And then, a large group entered the pub and settled at the biggest table, which had been empty all night.

Bell noticed several interesting individuals, but five stood out the most—a blond pallum, a robust-looking dwarf, a green-haired elf, a blonde girl, and a red-haired woman.

"Loki," Alfia practically spat the name upon spotting the flat-chested woman.

"Listen carefully, Bell. Do not get involved with that goddess. Loki is not someone to be trusted."

Bell wanted to ask something, but the way Alfia finished her sentence made it clear she wasn't open to discussion. She also seemed to be in a bad mood, so he contented himself with simply observing the familia.

After a while, Bell was talking with Syr before leaving when something caught his attention.

"Hey, Aiz, what the hell was that earlier?"

The albino werewolf asked the stoic blonde girl, who merely looked at him and replied with a small, "What?"

"You know, the rookie with the Minotaur on the fifth floor."

Bell immediately recognized the familiar situation as he watched the obviously drunk man speak.

"What the hell did you do to that Minotaur, anyway? The whole area was destroyed, and even the monster's stone wasn't anywhere to be found."

That caught not only the familia's attention but also that of the entire pub, which grew noticeably quieter.

"I didn't kill it," the girl said. "The white-haired boy did."

Everyone—except Bell—looked at her with wide eyes.

"Impossible. Just admit it, Aiz. I saw the state that rookie was in," the man began to laugh. "The Minotaur must've exploded from your attack because the kid was completely drenched in blood—he looked like a tomato!"

Bell could hear laughter spread throughout the pub, including from some at the Loki familia's table. However, many weren't laughing—especially Aiz, whose expression changed for the first time that night.

"I already told you. The boy killed it. I only saw him get up after being cornered, release a spell, and then everything exploded—including the Minotaur."

She said it with a slight frown, clear irritation directed at her familia member.

"Come on, Aiz, you don't have to cover for the weak rookie. He probably bit off more than he could chew when he climbed to the fifth floor."

The werewolf still laughed while clutching his stomach.

"That's enough, Bete. First of all, it was our fault that the pack of Minotaurs escaped to the upper floors. And second, you will not insult rookies. Or do I need to remind you that you were once like him?"

The green-haired elf reprimanded the man, who immediately stopped laughing and scowled.

"Maybe I should have a word or two with this familia," Alfia murmured venomously, and Bell silently begged her not to.

At the very least, he was grateful that the two had come to his defense.

"Besides, Aizu isn't lying."

That made the entire pub fall completely silent as Loki herself spoke those words.

Bete, who had been leaning back in his chair, fell to the floor with a thud.

"Oi, Loki, don't joke like that out of nowhere!" he said angrily as he got back up.

"It's not a joke. The boy really did kill the Minotaur with a spell."

Loki's words carried a stretched, mischievous smile, causing several eyebrows to rise—especially those of the elf and the pallum.

"I still wonder what kind of magic would let a Level 1 kill a Minotaur in a single blow."

Her half-lidded eyes wandered until they landed on an adventurer who was just leaving the pub after paying his bill.

"Isn't that right, Bell Cranel?"

And Bell ran straight home.

Whether it was due to Alfia's warning or sheer panic, he wasn't sure.