[Author's Note]

Hello! So, I know it's been a month, but after the last chapter I had a family vacation that took a bit too long for my liking. I was away from my laptop, so I couldn't really dedicate time to writing. But now that I am back with a new chapter of Greedy in a Dungeon, you can see that I have new content for ya!

Be sure to enjoy the chapter, and remember that I do not own Danmachi or Re:Zero.

Chapter 1: A Lion's Temper

A Falna is by all extent and purposes, a 'blessing' that Gods give to their children. That's what Regulus was told when he first joined, and he doesn't like the idea of being handed a blessing. Although some part of him said that he himself was worthy of a blessing, he also believed he deserved more than just being picked by a God to be a plaything.

That was his initial reaction, but ever since then he's accepted that Hestia isn't quite a good liar, or a deceiver. It's the only reason he stuck with her for now, considering he doesn't have anyone else he can go to. Hestia herself may have a hearty and jealous behavior at times, but Regulus knew that was only a product of her ability to be honest without even trying.

It's endearing…if somewhat bothersome. Regulus thought to himself, although he couldn't really help with his smirk as he watched his Hostess do her work on Bell's back.

"So, Regulus…what exactly happened to Bell today?" Hestia hummed, asking with a slow smile but she focuses as she takes out a long needle.

"Where to start? All I ever hear is that he wants to go to the Dungeon, so of course I lead him to it…and then he gets himself lost in the Dungeon, going deeper than expected, and finds himself in said situation with the Minotaur." Regulus began explaining, although as he continued to speak, he remembered why exactly he kept speaking. He felt satisfied every time. "Of course, he found me outside of the Dungeon, we visited that half-elf Eina, and now Bell has a juvenile, albeit understandable crush."

"A crush? And who could Bell be having a crush on?" Hestia half-lidded her eyes, pouting as she looks down at Bell, pricking her finger and letting a drop of blood land on his back…and a wave of light shines on the hieroglyphs that make up Bell's Falna.

The process, while a bit close for comfort and honestly confusing, was simple. Hestia is updating Bell's Status, which makes it possible for Adventurers like him and Regulus to grow stronger. Excellia, experience from a journey, a fight, or a situation entirely, is what is used for the Gods to strengthen the blessings on their children, making their Status go up, and even potentially rank up a Level.

Truth be told, Regulus found the prospect of such strength odd, and simple on top of barbaric. He didn't hate the idea of going to the Dungeon, but he hated having to be violent in there, despite the fact that they needed to kill monsters for Magic Stones and money.

Because Regulus isn't a violent man. Let alone a man who'd willingly do something as barbaric as kill animal for fun. But then he supposed that Monsters aren't animals…they are Monsters, plain and simple.

Regulus had to get that drilled into his head the first week, and while he frowned and found himself complaining through out those lectures, he listened regardless.

Even so, Regulus watched Hestia continue to speak with a jealous undertone to her sage advice. "Bell, its a godo thing that Regulus told me, because if this Aiz Wallen-whatsit is really this strong, then she's bound to have a few favorites already of her own."

"Eh? Goddess, is that true?" Bell states with a questioning voice.

"Of course! It's just a crush, Bell, I'm sure you'll get over it eventually! There are plenty of girls around you to focus on! I'm sure that right now, there is a beautiful lady who will accept, hold and support you in your life!"

Another reason why Regulus didn't really hate Hestia, but found her antics rather uncouth and patience-testing. Her jealousy and possessive behavior is quite embarrassing, which only makes her previous excitement and doting all the more confusing.

Because if she's confident in giving out hugs, doting on Bell and spoiling Regulus…then why on green earth is she so possessive over them? Its not something Regulus could see himself being so desperately, not at all.

"Hestia." Regulus stated with a clearing of his throat, his lion-like eyebrows raised up in impatience. "If you have said enough, I'm sure you should be easier on the kid. He's 14-years-old, its normal for him to have a crush on a woman or girl about his age. You know the fact that your pretty much telling him not to even consider or to abandon his crush is just rude and insensitive to his right as a man to hold such desires."

Hestia turned to Regulus with a pout, and— "Bleh!"

"Don't stick your tongue out at me, that's improper!" Regulus exclaimed with a slightly ticked expression, his lips pressed into a proud but slowly temperamental frown.

"You're still so mean, Regulus." Hestia huffed, to which Regulus responded by clicking his tongue and brushing his hair in circles. Why must their goddess be so…well, childish?

Either way, Bell and Regulus's Hostess finished updating Bell's Status first. She took out a piece of parchment and began writing down everything that had been updated and gave it to Bell.

"Some of my stats went up. Especially my Agility!" Bell blinked as he stood up from the bed and read his parchment.

Regulus leaned over Bell's shoulder to see what the fuss was. Although he himself was interested in seeing the growth of Bell.

Bell Cranel

Level 1

Strength: I77 — I82

Defense: I13

Dexterity: I93 — I96

Agility: H148 — H172

Magic: I0

Magic: ()

Skills: ()

"Seems to me you only have a 30 point increase…at least for today." Regulus hummed, scanning through the piece of parchment, but stopping right at Magic. He was a bit…disappointed, although not necessarily in Bell. "And you still don't have anything like Skill or Magic."

Regulus was given the explanation of how these Falna's work, and how the Status and basic abilities worked.

From I to S, thats the lowest rank to highest rank of ability. The range is usually from 0 to 99, and then 100 to 199 in between each rank. 999 is the maximum, and supposedly once you max out the abilities, you get to Level Up. At least that's what Hestia told him before.

What made him feel disappointed that Bell didn't have much to show other than a basic ability increase. And some smudge close to the Skill section.

The fact that Bell might not ever get to use Magic is also an annoying truth.

"Magic is a wild card after all. I do hear that some people with high intelligence in their Excellia have more possibility to learn Magic." Hestia explained, but still remained on the bed. After all she was expectantly waiting for Regulus. "Now c'mon, its your turn!"

"Wait, Goddess…there seems to be something missing in my skill slot. Did something get erased?" Bell raised a brow in innocent confusion.

"Ah, that? It's still an open slot, some ink got on my hand and it smudged." Hestia waved it off with a small pout.

"Just my luck." Bell deflated with a bit of a sigh, although he does perk up in realization. "Oh, right! Aside from the Potato Snacks, there's dinner to be made."

"A decent…well, semi-decent meal, thankfully. Be sure not to overreach your abilities this time, okay?" Regulus sighs, crossing his arms and his lion brows furrow together while smirking.

"Right-o!" Bell nods at Regulus, giving a sincere smile that made Regulus somehow calmer and satisfied. That said, while Bell went to the kitchen…

"…well? Aren't you gonna get on the bed?" Hestia smirks, anticipating Regulus, although she tilts her head with a self-satisfied smile.

"Yes, Yes, Hestia…just give me a moment." Regulus sighs, but slowly unbuttons his white cloak, and then reveals the blue-undershirt underneath. He brought up the lower end of the shirt up to his shoulders, revealing his pale-white skin as he laid down on the bed belly first. "If this were any other person they'd usually have the right to push you off of them if this wasn't a Status Update. You know, I could just be sitting down and you just do it like that, but instead you insist on doing something as childish as being on my back—"

"Oh, shush, Regulus." Hestia sits down on his butt, and immediately Regulus grit his teeth with annoyance and impatience. She seriously doesn't consider what he has to say on the matter. "It's a good thing you have a Goddess like me doing this! Besides, Bell certainly likes it!"

"He's a growing young man, of course he would be happy with some short-sized woman such as yourself being on his back." Regulus sighs, trying to remain patient as he waist for Hestia to update his status.

Hestia grumbles, kneading his back a bit harder to cause him to exclaim a bit. He grunts a bit, but even so he didn't bite back. There's no reason to. Hestia is just being a bit jealous, and prideful right now. Something which he figured could be attributed to her being a Goddess.

Even so, Regulus waited as Hestia finished the Status Update and she began writing on the Status Sheet.

"Finally…" Regulus sighs, but lowers down his shirt and yet puts his white cloak on the coat hangar he insisted they get. "What do we have?"

"Check for yourself." Hestia grinned smugly, and Regulus groans a bit at that. However, he takes the sheet she handed to him.

Regulus

Level 1

Strength: I50 — I58

Defense: I18

Dexterity: H123 — H 143

Agility: I93 — 98

Magic: I67 — I80

Magic: Growth-Based Spell: Frostbolt ()

Skills: ()

"Over 40 points. Satisfactory." Regulus gave off a smarmy smirk, and he felt a lightness of air as he counts up his numbers. After all, it would make sense for his Dexterity and Magic to go up faster compared to the rest. His whip, while not as sharp as a knife or more elegant than a Rapier, relied on a lot more of his dexterous hand and vision to land a whip strike at his opponents.

It was useful for crowd control as well as striking down those improper beasts, but he was particularly more proud of his ability to cast Magic.

Frostbolt as a magic spell is what he got from the moment he was given the Falna of Hestia.

When Hestia had explained to him the rarity of Magic in humans, let alone in most races in Orario…that certainly made Regulus arrogant for the first few days of Dungeon-Diving. However, he did get hit a couple of times by the goblins with clubs…and that pissed him off a lot at the time, so he blasted them with his first few casts of Frostbolt. Thankfully, it was easy to use and quick to chant as well.

A single word, "Freeze", and then the spell name Frostbolt would conjure up ray of frost, which froze those goblins into ice statues, shattering with a crack of his whip.

Those few days were Regulus' best days so far this week…and it was because of the rush of superiority he felt over being able to feel satisfied with himself.

Not that he particularly was a sadist. He didn't whip or attack the Goblins or Monsters because he liked hurting them, but because he needs money for the Familia, himself and a good meal.

Needless to say, he noticed…the same blot of ink in his 'skill' section, and he raised a brow to Hestia for a moment. "Hestia, did you mess up again on the skills section? If that's the case…please don't get my hopes up like that, it's just disingenuous."

"Quit complaining, Regulus! You still got a good amount of growth from that, so I don't know why your not satisfied." Hestia pouts the entire time as she takes a seat at the couch. "Besides, now that that's done, you can go help Bell with dinner!"

"…if it were anyone else, I'd take your orders as an insult. At this point though, I shouldn't expect anything else." Regulus sighs, furrowing his brow before walking over to the kitchen regardless. As he does, he hears Bell humming away as he's making simple dinner.

Aside from Potato Snacks…it doesn't help having to make pedestrian food all the same.

Hestia had sent off Regulus to the kitchen from the couch, and she was…needless to say conflicted for a lot of reasons. Especially because once she looked at both status sheets of Bell and Regulus, comparing it to the one written on their backs.

Admittedly, she is happy and concerned and exhausted at the same time when learning about the fact that Regulus and Bell both were special…and changing very fast.

Why so? Because Children are very receptive to outside factors unlike Gods and Goddesses, where Hestia even would admit she hasn't changed much in her entire time in Tenkai or even what little time she is in Gekai. And as a result, she is very much hating the reason Bell changed.

Part of it being the fact that Aiz Wallen-whatsit is the very reason why Bell developed that skill.

Realis Phrase: Rapid Growth. Continued desire results in continued growth. Stronger Desire results in Stronger Growth.

The worst part about it though, is that this skill had been written in from Bell's excelia. As a result, she only had herself to blame for Bell's rapid future growth.

But it's not enough that there was a complication with Bell…but a subtle, and yet very much indecipherable change had occurred within Regulus. After all, while he did have Two Magic Slots and one of them had been filled…he had excelia that was rather born from a rather internal thought as well as how…greedy this young man had been.

Regulus, for someone who's only been in the Familia for one week compared to Bell, had a rather expensive sense of taste, food, and he'd let everybody know that within a 3 mile radius. However, something happened in the Dungeon for Regulus in his thoughts that had made him develop his new Skill.

Little King: Shared Growth between King and Subjects. The Little King senses Subjects despite distance so long as the Little King considers them his treasure. Growth of the Subjects is replicated and added onto the growth of the King.

That skill's description was about as worrying as Bell's own Skill, because apparently…this meant that Regulus's Excellia will progress as normal…but theoretically, Bell's excelia and stats will also tack onto Regulus' growth.

How would that even happen?

Honestly, Hestia found herself worried the more she began to think.

And to think…all of it came from the thought that Regulus saw Bell as valuable.

Hestia couldn't really feel happy about it, as she had already a complicated relation with the young man. He's greedy, complains a lot, and quite frankly rambles too much…but he is hard on Bell and very protective about him as the leader at the same time.

Maybe that's why Hestia is so patient with Regulus despite how harsh he was in the beginning. Regulus is ultimately protective over his stuff, and his greedy disposition made it more likely for him.

Which made the additional list on his sheet concerning. Because the Skill Little King doesn't even exist anywhere else. It was under something that even Hestia didn't understand.

Authority of Greed: Little King.

Authority of Greed? What kind of skill would that even be? Why tack that on the Skill Name? Hestia found herself even more confused, if not also worried. For Regulus, and more so for Bell.

Regulus had a malice and surprising amount of sin even when they had just found him a week ago. However, his actions so far have never gone beyond petty hypocrisy and greedy wants. Hestia herself had half a mind to talk to Regulus about it, but she kept it a secret because she needed to gauge the situation.

What would this Skill do, and what would happen as well? The Falna is an inherent blessing on humans but this 'Authority' isn't something Humans can get from Gods, let alone have.

So…she kept herself calm. Hestia would wait and see what happens after a day in the Dungeon.

(The Next Day)

Sleeping arrangements are tight in the Hestia Familia headquarters. Admittedly, Bell already knew that as soon as Regulus claimed the bed for himself when he arrived. Which didn't really bother Bell much, outside of the fact that there isn't much else other than a sleeping bag that would have to be used on the floor.

To which Hestia, his Goddess, decided to just sleep on top of Bell int he couch. At first Bell seemed very mortified if not also embarrassed about it, looking towards Regulus for some indication that he would have preferred something else.

As our Hostess says, you two will have to share the couch. Those were the words Regulus told Bell with a smirk, going to sleep in the bed.

It was at that point that Bell remembered how…selfish Regulus was. This is the same man who got Magic, and along with that a really demanding presence. For one reason or another, that form of confidence, overconfidence, whatever you wanna call it is something that Bell just didn't have enough of.

And the funny thing was…the three of them didn't really agree on a Captain or Leader. Regulus just appointed himself as the 'responsible' one with a right to make sure that Bell listens to his instructions and focuses on the task at hand.

That being, to go into the dungeon and earn enough Valis for a decent meal and change in housing.

While Bell didn't mind the housing he was in. After all, the Goddess herself gave him a place to stay and a chance at being an Adventurer in the first place. He had no other reason but to be grateful.

Which is why it took some time getting used to Regulus' behaviors at the time when Goddess gave him a Falna and a home. He had spent that first day complaining about the dust, the lack of bedding arrangements, and even the amount of food they had at the time. For a while, every criticism he had had made Goddess deflate like an adorable but poor balloon.

But then there were the times he'd follow it up with something akin to a begrudging acceptance and gratitude. As if Regulus didn't really have anything negative to say about Hestia, but rather about their situation. It was unfair, and completely unsatisfactory, Regulus said.

Which didn't really bother Bell much, considering how thorough and ambitious Regulus sounded. It almost made him want to look for something that he wanted to have as well. That was part of the reason why he went into the dungeon for girls.

Either way, the morning was rather eventful.

Bell was the first to wake up, and with that the realization that Goddess was…really snuggling close to him. At first he really was tempted to stay there in the hug with how soft she was. However, when her mounds started pressing against his chest…he slipped out of her grip and leaving her on the couch with him on the ground.

While he stood up and noticed her still sleeping…he realized that Regulus…would most likely still be sleeping in his bed.

Here comes the second challenge of the day…

Waking up a sleeping lion without putting it in a bad mood.

Bell adjusted his clothes, got his light armor and knife. However, he shethed the knife as he approached Regulus' bed, and noticed that the 'leader' of the Familia slept soundly. In fact, he slept perfectly horizontally on the bed, almost regal and very self-assured with a peaceful smile that is never seen when he is awake.

Bell gulped a bit, and decided to speak up a bit. "…Regulus…it's morning. We have to go."

"…" Regulus's eyes scrunched together, and immediately Bell knew he could hear him. However, Bell stood there awkwardly for a bit, glancing between him and the Goddess.

"…Goddess is sleeping so…we should go before she wakes up…"

"I have a right for 5 more minutes of sleep, don't I? Give me at least that." Regulus grumbled in his sleep.

"But Regulus—" Bell chuckled awkwardly, for a bit…unsure of what else to do to convince him.

"Very well, Very well…!" Regulus hissed out a whisper, but stood up from his bed, lifting the covers away from himself as he stood up. He was only a few inches higher than Bell, but looking down at him was a lion who had been disturbed of his sleep. Furrowed brows, and yet no hateful glare…just a mildly peeved glance. "I'm not a slob, so I won't keep you waiting."

"Oh thank the gods…" Bell sighs in relief, putting a hand on his chest. Second challenge of the day, completed with mild success.

It wasn't until they had left that Regulus realized that him and Bell didn't have any breakfast…and suddenly his mood shifted into a slightly negative one. Although, he wasn't angry enough to lash out at Bell. It was one meal, wasn't it? Later on, they could get a meal after they were done with the Dungeon after all.

Needless to say, Regulus had a lot of things to say on the matter.

"Not even a meal was ready when we left."

"I know, Regulus…but we were in such a rush, and I didn't want to wake up the Goddess immediately." Bell explained, but also had a nervous smile.

"And yet you still woke me up instead of giving me 5 or 10 minutes to wake up naturally. Are you seriously in such a rush to get Aiz's attention?" Regulus spoke with such frankness, that it surprised and made Bell turned red in a flustered embarrassment. Regulus raised a brow in bafflement. "You…seriously are in a rush to get her attention."

"H-Hey, I'm sorry, but…you should have seen her, she was—"

"Just because I have given you my support in the matter does not mean I don't have the right to rescind my support if you do something as reckless as last time, you understand?" Regulus cut through Bell's interruption, and he had a chastising look of annoyance. "I'm your leader, but Eina is your babysitter, not me. You need to have more responsibility."

"I mean, you're not even the leader yet—" Bell was about to interrupt again, but he paused and Regulus could have sworn he felt a chill himself. However, that chill felt…foreign, and entirely not his own for a moment.

It was then when he noticed that Bell froze as well, and had a chill as well. Regulus raised a brow, not in concern he swears, but in confusion. "Bell? Are you sick?"

"No, it's…not that. Something just—"

"Excuse me, you two?"

What now? Regulus and Bell both turned to see who it was that spoke to them, although Regulus' eyes could tell it was some waitress or maid of sorts. But that wasn't his priority when he saw her, let alone she wasn't his priority at all. Her face looked as if it was the perfect maiden, smiling all the time, although in this case she'd be tilting her head in concern as she walked over to the both of them. Her eyes traveled from Regulus to Bell, focusing squarely on his younger Familia member.

"Oh, sorry, can I help you?" Bell asked.

"Oh, yes…you dropped this." The girl in question held out with a small smile a magic stone…wait, a magic stone?

I'm very sure I didn't drop any Magic Stones from our pouch, last time we checked. I made sure to count every single stone. Regulus narrowed his eyes for a moment, and while the situation wasn't unlikely as to drop a single magic stone…the fact that anybody could have seen the magic stone and instead cashed-it in made him wonder a lot of things.

He crossed his arms, but kept silent for a moment before he would speak.

"Wait, a Magic stone?" Bell hummed, but he looked back at the pouch tied to his waist and opened it up. It was empty, completely, which made sense considering Regulus and him already cashed in yesterday's Magic Stones for Vals.

It's not something that anybody would be able to find on the street with this crowd, and let alone give it to somebody perfectly when there are so many people who have stones to sell anyway.

That alone made Regulus…well, not make any accusations but feel off about this woman in front of him.

"Thanks, I really appreciate it!" Bell regardless thanked the girl with gratitude.

"Oh, no, it's not a problem." The girl smiled when she said that, but soon gained a curious expression on her face. "So, you are going to the Dungeon so early in the morning?"

"W-Well, yeah, I need to get some work a bit early today." Bell had replied with no more than a smile before Bell's stomach growled. Regulus had sighed in annoyance, although it was more so laced with a matter of fact understanding. They did skip breakfast for some gods forsaken reason. Bell did flush in embarrassment and gave a small chuckle. "Well, not just me."

"Not just you?" The girl raised a brow while tilting her head, to which Regulus realized she was either ignoring him, or hadn't even noticed him at all. However, a glint in her eyes made Regulus feel as if it could be the former…but for what reason?

"Ahem." Regulus cleared his throat with a lion's furrowed brow, and turned his head up at the girls ignorance. "Yes, that would be me…this young man's leader. We were going to the Dungeon together before we got interrupted by you and Bell's hunger."

"Regulus!" Bell stammered a bit in embarrassment, but it was to be expected when the young man didn't know for the life of him how to talk to a woman without being led on.

"Hehehehe." The girl chuckled in amusement, but she also acted obnoxiously delightful to Regulus, so much so that she had paid no attention to his rudeness before going to the building in front of them. For a moment, Regulus grumbled when she just left the conversation…but then he remembered that her maid/waitress outfit meant she probably worked at a food establishment.

Which meant…dishes made by actual chef's and a seasoned kitchen.

I could use a good meal… Regulus' eyes rolled up as he realized that despite his stomach not growling, thankfully at that, he was severely hoping for a better meal than just potato snacks. After all, it was frankly infuriating that he doesn't get a good meal for the first week he has been here/conscious.

After that thought, the girl comes out with one basket of food. Just the one, unfortunately, but he figured that the place she worked at wasn't open or with any chefs.

"Sadly I don't have any more for the two of you, but I do have breakfast for one, if it's fine for you, Mr. Adventurer." The girl smiled cheerfully while handing the basket to Bell, which Regulus wouldn't disagree with.

"Wait, no no, it's your breakfast! I can't possibly just accept it." Bell doesn't seem too comfortable, but he frantically tried to turn down the offer of food for him since it was her breakfast.

"I can't leave you hungry like this." The girl pouted with a huge amount of pleading in her eyes, which would make Bell flinch and wilt. "It would make me sad as a person, so please, Mr. Adventurer, accept it, for me."

"…" Regulus remained silent with a slightly agape mouth, although that's less to say because of her offering food to Bell…but because he was being ignored again. What is it with people ignoring him these days? He's the leader that has to keep Bell in check, and yet this woman is treating Bell as if he's a helpless…well, he is a child, but not helpless and certainly could stand to learn strength of character like Regulus himself.

But for now, Regulus twitched his brow, and tapped his foot.

"I-I…I guess if you put it like that I can't say no…" Bell accepted the basket gracefully, but he had a nervously complacent smile.

Tip-tap, tip-tap. Regulus kept tapping his foot.

The waitress giggled for a moment, but a mischievous smile spread over her face as she leaned in closer to Bell. "I'm giving you my breakfast for today, but in exchange…please come to this little humble bar I work at."

"…" Bell gaped with another smile, but at at the same time it was almost one that Regulus could tell with resignation.

"Hold it." Regulus stated with a bit of a stern, albeit annoyed tone. To which, Bell twitched and turned to Regulus with worry and the waitress turning her gaze to him with a tilt of her head. "You can't just demand him to go to your bar while pushing on him your own breakfast. I'm quite sure you want to just squeeze whatever money we make out of the dungeon today. Is that not true?"

"Oh, well, that's not exactly wrong…" The Waitress in question put a finger to her chin, but she tilted with a somewhat cheeky smirk. That already made Bell wilt in a bit of a pressured smile. "What's the issue? Are you hungry as well? Because if so I can at least give you a recommendation if you come by tonight!"

"…" Regulus raises a brow, but as he studies her expression and some annoyance in his furrowed brow is expressed…he grabs Bell by the back of the collar, not unlike a lion holding its cub. "It better be worth the money, this dinner you promise. But before I do leave…you ought to introduce yourself. You have just unilaterally pushed on your own deal on him without even using common courtesy to introduce yourself. Don't you think that's unfair?"

"Well, no need to be so moody about it." The waitress pouted at Regulus, and already he doesn't like her for being so close and really convincing to Bell. "I'm Syr Flovell, and you two are?"

"U-Uhm, oh! I'm Bell Cranel." Bell introduced himself, although he young man had a nervous smile when turning to Regulus.

The 'leader' of the Hestia Familia stopped tapping his foot, and for a moment a feeling of satisfaction and a puzzle piece fitting in perfectly relieved him of the furrowed brow and a relaxed but smug smirk. "Regulus. Just Regulus."

"Just Regulus, huh?" Syr now smiled for a bit, and she raised a brow although she did make a statement. "Dinner's very well-prepared when there are empty bellies to fill. How about this, if you and Bell come by tonight, I can put in a good word and recommend you something really expensive!"

"…excuse me?" Regulus raised a brow again at that, but he didn't…hate the idea of being recommended something expensive. Let it be known that Regulus didn't want to waste an opportunity like that. "What kind of expensive food are we talking here?"

"U-Uhm, Regulus, I-I don't think it's—"

"No no, I'm talking Bell." Regulus raised a hand to prompt Bell to be still, but he did have a smirk on his expression all the same. "It's a reasonable question after all, considering Syr here is offering us an expensive dinner for an appropriate price, isn't that right?"

"Well…I won't say there's any discount, but yes~" Syr smiled, mischievously giggling all the same. To Regulus, that almost seemed mocking but he was in a good mood so he forgave that brief slight without having to mention it.

"Then it's a deal. We'll see you then." Regulus waved a hand away, but he turned away while dragging Bell by the back of the collar all the way back to the dungeon.

"W-Wha, hey! Regulus, I can walk on my own! N-No need to-" Bell stammered, but Regulus didn't pay any attention to Bell's words at all. Bell's words right now didn't matter, and they had a job to do before going to the dinner that he so righteously has earned and deserved.

Of course, Regulus wouldn't find it courteous to be in debt over a meal, so they were going to the dungeon regardless of Bell's words, and they were going to kill double their Monsters as usual.

I swear, I will be feasting on roasted or deep-fried Catfish by the time I'm done with this gods-forsaken dungeon. Regulus huffed his own thoughts, but he nevertheless had a smirk so honestly arrogant that he didn't bother to respond to Bell's pleas to let go.

Goblins and Kobolds. If you were to ask most adventurers what the difference between these two are, they'd look at you funny and yet answer as if fact. Goblins are green warty monsters, and Kobolds are furry dog-like monsters. Both short as each other, but only one of which is stronger than a Goblin.

However, if you asked Regulus, he wouldn't see any difference between two monsters and primitive and shallow existences. IT's not as if he had a monstrous hatred, or even an obsession with revenge. He is above that after all. No, he just didn't like how they looked or annoyed him. By hitting him once or twice, whether with a club, or forcing him to exert a bit more effort than he would like.

It's weird, but he chalked it up to something like a lack of need to work more. After all, the Kobolds around him and Bell were getting fiercer by the moment.

And to think, they were only working through Floor 1. The lower end, but still, they only had just begun so it would make sense. For Bell was only here for two weeks, and Regulus half of that time. However, Regulus grit his teeth as he reared his hand back to crack the whip in a quicker motion at a Kobold from a distance.

That Kobold in particular died really fast, as the whip crack itself seemed to lash at it's body and cleaved it in twain. For a moment, Regulus thought he'd be happy, until he and Bell had been stuck together and surrounded by the Kobold's. Prior to this, they were just fighting individual or paired Kobolds. That is until they suddenly decided to crack from the walls. Ah, yes, the primitive existences are born from the dungeon through the walls of all things. It's honestly weird, and unhygienic.

"Tch, surrounding us all at once? That's just unfair, now isn't it?!" Regulus chuffed with an annoyed frown, although he had a much deeper glare. He reared up his whip again, and that was enough to wrap around one Kobold's neck, followed by a jerk of his hands and leverage that snapped it's neck. That left them with 7 left, however, as he reared the tip of the whip and back into his hands…he felt the heft of the whip before realizing that the Kobold's were getting bolder and aggressive with their attacks.

One of them even swiped at him with a claw and Regulus barely dodged it before it could nick his face. His steps were clumsy, but he chuffed as Bell barely attacked and managed to counter one of the Kobolds attacks with his knives. However, after that counter, the Kobolds all countered as well, and Bell with his agility managed to dodge the attacks barely and yet with a more clever foot.

"So that's how it is?!" Regulus was back-to-back with Bell, surrounded but not cornered by the Kobolds. Six of them are left, but Bell panted with heavy breath, and Regulus chuffed but found himself impatient as he was running out of breath. "Fine, then it's only right I can do this!"

Regulus extended a hand out, and Bell charged at a few Kobold's with deftness and speed. His movements were fast and almost unbearably heavy at the same time with nervousness, but Regulus noticed he was trying to kill them one-by-one. Not at the same time, and he used the walls to his advantage. Three of them were fast, but they weren't getting faster than Bell.

Which meant Regulus didn't have to worry about the Rabbit. The Lion instead looked at the Three Kobolds that were charging at him.

But Regulus had enough distance to chant with a smirk and some focus.

"Freeze in droves! Frostbolt!" Regulus chanted, and from his hand three small but very sharp skewers of Ice jutted out and launched towards the Kobolds. They were surprised by the Magic, so two of them were eliminated, frozen like statues and deep frosted. One had been lucky enough to dodge the attack, ducking under it but rolling sloppily backwards.

The spell Frostbolt, he learned over the course of his practice and usage of the spell, that his chant was surprisingly flexible. Sure, he could say the normal one-word chant, and that would be enough for a ray of frost that froze one low-level enemy. However, when it came to attacking multiple enemies, Regulus had to get creative with a chant that was not too long but also specific. Freeze in Droves, is essentially his spell to attack multiple at once.

"Hmph!" Regulus didn't move from his spot, but he reared his whip again, and with a crack of the tip, lashed at the Kobold's head, leaving it with a gash that was so deep it splattered blood along the wall. However, none of it got on Regulus because of their distance.

After that, Regulus turned his head quickly to where Bell was. He caught a flash of two Kobold's dead on the ground, and Bell taking a daring if reckless attack to stab at the Kobold down its head. He managed to succeed, although the Kobold had its claws raised, however, it went down with no force or life, so Bell must have succeeded.

Regulus felt an internal feeling of…satisfaction for the moment. If Bell handled himself well against three Kobolds, even with a lackluster knife, then that showed signs of progress and growth. That is what made Regulus satisfied, walking towards Bell as Bell gasps for air and catches it slowly but surely. "Don't tire out now. We still haven't even gotten to the second floor, and I hope you haven't forgotten the deal we made with that maid. Either way, we aren't to be late or unable to pay. I'd rather have extra funds for a decent meal."

"S-Seriously…is food all you ever think about…?" Bell had a slightly sheepish expression as he panted for air, but he didn't really seem to be annoyed.

"Of course not, I'm not a meat-obsessed gorger." Regulus frowned at that, chuffing at Bell despite the fact that his hand gripped onto the whip. However, it was more so reflexive rather than any actual malice. He wasn't going to use a weapon on Bell.

Now that, was a bad idea, and it certainly wouldn't do to hurt his responsibility.

"That wasn't what I said, Regulus…I-I haven't forgotten what we promised for Syr. We're going to the bar, and that's after the Dungeon…so double duty, right?"

"Good, seems you were listening back there. Keep it up." Regulus took a deep breath, and smirked in such a way he was more of a lion than anyone else. "I have a decent meal to get to."

"Yes, Regulus." Bell sighed, but smiled in such a way that Regulus found himself endeared to. Not in such an affectionate way, or even too cozy. More that Bell was like a young man that Regulus took as his charge. Best not to let a child die after all. It was vastly irresponsible to do so, and Regulus is a lot of things. Patient, cultured, and certainly deserving of a common courtesy.

Irresponsible, wasn't one of them.

Satisfied? Oh, most definitely.

Bell got his knife ready, and began to opening up wounds on the bodies of the Kobold's, specifically to pry open and get at the Magic Crystal at the center of the body. Once Bell did the dirty work, he removed the Magic Crystal and immediately the Kobold's body dissolved into black powder that faded.

Regulus watched as this happened, although he did not consider getting dirty and doing the work himself. He's not touching the dead bodies of monsters like that, it felt beneath him. Even so, he was not bothered by Bell doing the work, and neither did the boy.

Magic Crystals are the reason they even had money in the first place, although they are the main trade that most Adventurers always look for. Regulus had heard that there are mostly other people who specialize in being what he considered an unwanted but important job. He didn't remember the word for it yet.

Another thing that reminded him of his predicament that he didn't want to talk about, even as the silence cut to his thoughts and the sound of nothing but removing Magic Stones. Bell had been doing this for a while, removing all Magic Crystals from the Kobold's they had defeated. Thankfully, Regulus just kept an open eye.

However, as Bell finally got to removing the last Kobold Magic Crystal, as the body dissolved…one part was left. A claw. The Kobold's Claw anyway, and Regulus blinked a bit but also stood over Bell as he examined the thing.

"It's not disappearing. That's odd." Regulus hummed, but he wasn't sure why. This hadn't happened int he week he was here, but he did hear something about Monster Parts staying behind after their death and Magic Stone Extraction.

"Wait…I-I think this is a Drop Item!" Bell exclaimed with a bit of surprise and a beaming expression.

"I see…" Regulus did see it, but he didn't really understand. What exactly is the point of a Drop Item in this case? He hadn't learned about that yet.

"Regulus, don't you et what this means?" Bell widened his eyes, but he stood up and put the Drop Item in the pouch with the rest of the Magic Crystals they had collected. "With this much Magic Crystals, and the Drop item, we can afford more than what our usual Magic Crystals get us! We might even get double the Vals for what we get with just Magic Crystals!"

"…" Regulus didn't let his surprise show, but he did already like the good news. In fact, he let out his widest most smarmy smirk ever, and yet his words contrasted. "Good, this is actually great progress. If what you say is true, and I do hope your not lying, than we can certainly afford a better dinner, and even save up the extra left-over money for a better bed. Or two. Or three!"
"There you go again…" Bell blinked, but stood up as he stretched and got all the Magic Crystals all the same. "Why are you so focused on all that? I mean…it's not going anywhere."

"That's not the point!" Regulus exclaimed, but he let himself be calm and cool for a moment regardless. He shouldn't let himself be too uncouth. "The thing is, I want more. I want better food to eat, and I want a better home to sleep in. That's simple, and its all I need it to be."

"I see…I won't lie, I want that too." Bell nodded, but he was more absent-minded about it. It sounded to Regulus as if his mind was elsewhere. However, Regulus didn't really pry yet. In fact, he had no time to what with the cracks in the walls forming.

"Ugh…again." Regulus narrowed his golden eyes, and he already felt insulted and disrespected by their interruption. "Do these monsters not know any form of common courtesy? Doesn't the Dungeon know courtesy?"
"I-It wouldn't be the Dungeon, if it weren't trying to kill us…I think." Bell frowned, but had a nervous expression as he drew his knife.

"So the Dungeon tries to kill us, and we aren't even allow a break? Not a moment of reprieve or conversation to gather our thoughts? I swear, this will not stand. If this Dungeon has a problem with me…and us…than it trying to kill us with the Monsters only means we have the right to defend ourselves, don't we?"

"W-What are you trying to say?" Bell raised a brow as the Kobold's fully formed out of the walls and began growling.
"I'm saying, to put it quite plainly, Bell. Is that these monsters and the dungeon are in clear violation of my right as a human being." Regulus grit his teeth, and his eyes narrowed into slight pin-pricks for a moment. "That, is what I cannot stand."

That day had been a really taxing one for Regulus, and the Lion himself had a temper. Something the Rabbit was all to familiar with after only a week.

The Rabbit would attack with swiftness and an innocent, albeit determined drive.

The Lion would prove its superiority, while destroying and retaliating against that which violated its right.

It's right to be, and its rights as a whole.

And that's the chapter! I wanted to focus more on having fun with the interactions and dialogue before we get to the really heavy stuff in the next chapter. Not that the next chapter is too heavy, but rather that if you guys know, there will be a moment of characterization for Regulus.

What moment that will be, you have to wait for the next chapter!

Either way, I hope you enjoyed the chapter! Feel free to leave a favorite, follow, and review of what you are interested in seeing, and what you're thoughts are.

This has been the Maelstrom, and I'll see you on the horizon!