The echo of their footsteps resounded through the halls of the Dungeon as Bell ran with all his might, sweat running down his forehead and the muscles in his legs burning.
"Stop, just a second, you damn golden hen!" he yelled, panting, as he turned the same corner for the third time.
The Jack Bird—a brilliant bird of red and gold feathers, with movements so ridiculously agile that it seemed to move at the whim of the universe—let out a mocking screech and took another physics-defying leap, momentarily disappearing into the shadows of the tunnel.
Bell almost fell trying to keep up.
"A million valis… a million…!" he repeated to himself like a mantra, trying to stay motivated while his body threatened to give out.
I had been back in the Dungeon for two days, with the firm idea of being more careful, more strategic... morenormalBut no sooner had he seen that feathery flash move across the edge of his vision than all logic flew straight out the window.
The Jack Bird.
One of the most elusive creatures in the entire Dungeon.
Difficult to kill, but with a guaranteed reward if you succeed: a golden egg, valued at nothing less thanone million valis.
With that he could pay the rent for years, buy real food, help the Goddess with her debts, and maybe, just maybe buy himself a dagger that didn't look more decorative than lethal.
But of course…
The bird seemed to have other plans.
"Why are you so fast if you can't even fly?! THAT MAKES NO SENSE!"
Bell yelled as he turned another corner, only to see the golden down disappear in a flash. damn crackThe Jack Bird had literally contorted as if his body were liquid.
Bell fell to his knees, exhausted, breathing as if he had fire in his lungs.
"…This is a nightmare."
And yet, her eyes still shone with determination.
He wasn't going to give up.
Not when there were a million reasons to keep running.
Another tiny crack in the rock face, barely visible among the cavernous undergrowth, opened with a slight creak.plopAnd out of it, as if completely relaxed after his little escapade, the Jack Bird poked his head out.
Its golden plumage reflected the dim light of the Dungeon, shining as if the sun itself had decided to hide in the form of a bird.
Bell didn't think.
Glow.
Literally.
A spark of energy erupted from his body, a faint but perceptible pulse, as if his determination had ignited something within him. A rush of warmth ran through his chest, similar to when an ability awakens.
"You won't escape this time!" he shouted with renewed strength, propelling himself forward with unexpected speed for someone who had been complaining of muscle pain just a second ago.
The Jack Bird leaped into the air, clearlysurprised—at least as much as a hen can express surprise—and began another flight down the hall.
But this time Bell was following him closely. Much closer.
His body felt lighter, his movements more precise. As if the Dungeon itself were pushing him forward.
"A golden egg, that's all I want!" he cried with a mixture of desperation and hope.
The Jack Bird squealed again and zigzagged toward a fork, but Bell had already anticipated the move.I was reading the patternThe monster had a strange, but not impossible, logic.
"Gotcha!"
He launched himself forward.
The Jack Bird turned sharply to the left.
But Bell was already there.
Bell gave a roar that seemed disproportionate to his size, propelling himself forward with everything he had. His dagger sliced through the air in a clean, shining arc. The edge found its mark.
The Jack Bird's body shuddered. A high-pitched squeal escaped its beak, and for a moment it seemed as though it might flee again… but it didn't.
The creature dissolved in a blink.
Light. Dust.
And in mid-air, floating slowly towards the ground… An egg.
Not just any egg.
The golden egg.
Bell stared at it, as if he couldn't believe it. He took a step, then another… and lifted it with both hands, raising it above his head as if he'd defeated Goliath himself.
"YESIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!"
The scream echoed throughout the apartment, bouncing off the walls like a symphony of triumph.
Bell spun around like a madman, clutching the golden egg, laughing as if he'd gone mad. He jumped, rolled, even flopped onto his back with the egg on his chest, as if he'd just conquered the world.
"This is a million valis! A MILLION! Goddess is going to cry with joy! We're going to be able to EAT! Pay the rent! EAT AGAIN!"
He stood up suddenly.
"I'm going to buy him a new mattress! And curtains! And a bathtub! And shoes that aren't broken in!"
He hugged the egg again, as if it were a son.
Then he looked up at the ceiling of the Dungeon and
shouted: "THANK YOU DESTINYYYYY!!!"
And the Dungeon, in its eternal indifference… did not respond.
Bell was walking through the tunnel with a smile so big it looked like his face was going to split in two.
Every so often, he would look at the golden egg in his hands and mutter things like, "A million valis… a million!" or "What if I buy a whole store? A good one!" and giggle nervously.
He was literally the happiest adventurer in the Dungeon at the time.
Until he heard footsteps.
At first, he didn't think anything of it. Many adventurers patrolled the first floor, especially during the guild's active hours.
But then the steps multiplied.
They stopped dead in their tracks.
And a voice sounded behind him.
"…Is that a golden egg?"
Bell froze. His smile slowly faded as if someone had blown out a candle. He turned with robotic rigidity.
Five adventurers
"Wow, wow… what a lucky find."
Bell instinctively hugged the golden egg. "I-I found it… I killed it…"
One of them—a burly fellow with a scar on his cheek—let out a dry laugh. "Oh, right. I'm sure you do. But this floor is dangerous, kid. And if something were to happen to you… it would be a shame to see that egg go to waste."
The one holding the spear clicked his tongue. "Come on, make it easy. Give it to him and it won't hurt." Bell took a step back. His back brushed the tunnel wall.
His dagger wasn't in his hand, and the adrenaline of the moment hit him like a bucket of ice water.
"…Are they going to rob me?" he muttered, incredulous. "Here? In the dungeon?"
The axe wielder smiled. "Where else? There's no law down here, only the strongest survive." Bell swallowed.
And she pressed the egg to her chest.
I wasn't going to give it up.
That egg meant survival.
It meant a roof.
Meal.
Smiles instead of tears.
It meant that their Goddess wouldn't have to cry in the darkness of a cold church for having nothing.
If his goddess was going to cry, let her cry in a mansion.
His hands trembled.
But his legs didn't go back any further.
"So… if you want it…"
His voice trembled, but his eyes hardened.
"…they're going to have to take it away from me."
The five of them pounced at once, like hyenas after wounded prey.
Bell gritted his teeth and leaped to the side, his body reacting more on instinct than tactics. A sword slash grazed his cloak, ripping it with a sharp sound. Another tried to sweep the axe handle down at his legs, but Bell darted forward, rolling on the ground, protecting the golden egg against his chest with both hands.
"AAAAAAHHHH!!" he yelled as he narrowly dodged a thrust that whizzed past his face.
His mind was in chaos. He couldn't fight with both hands full! He couldn't let go of the egg! He couldn't let them catch him either!
"DAMN IT, THEY WON'T TAKE IT FROM ME!!!" he roared, leaping between two attackers, his agility narrowly surpassing the swordsman's blow. The movements were clumsy, desperate, and yet, miraculously, effective.
Every turn, every dodge, every jump, was an inch of advantage.
One more breath of time.
"Catch him, you idiots!! He only has one damn ball!!"
Bell was panting, his feet already protesting the speed. But he wasn't going to fall.
Not without a fight.
Not without shouting.
One of the adventurers rushed forward, his dagger flashing in the Dungeon lights.
Bell had no time to think, only to react.
"HAH!" he shouted, pivoting on one foot and launching a front kick with all the force his trained legs allowed. The impact caught the attacker square in the jaw with a sharp, brutal sound. The adventurer was thrown backward like a catapulted rock, colliding with a stone column and lying unconscious.
The other four stopped dead in their tracks for a moment.
"What the hell… he knocked him out with a kick?!"
"Without using your hands?!"
Bell hunched forward slightly, protecting the golden egg against his chest, as if it were a baby. He was panting, sweating, a vein popping out on his forehead… and yet, his eyes held fire.
"No… I'm going to give it to you…" he muttered through gritted teeth. "IT'S MINE!"
The adrenaline made him feel like he was floating. As if the weight of the situation had disappeared, and only he, his precious golden egg, remained…
And anger.
One of the adventurers gulped. "It's not normal… this kid isn't normal."
"Don't underestimate him! He's still one! There are more of us!"
Bell squared up, adjusted his back foot, and readied his other leg.
He had no weapons.
But he was determined.
And he had legs. Legs hungry to kick.
Bell, breathing heavily but with a determination that overflowed his body, looked at the four adventurers surrounding him. The fact that he no longer had a weapon in his hands didn't make him any less dangerous; on the contrary, there was something about him that made them tremble with uncertainty. And it wasn't just his determined gaze, but the way his body moved, like a rabbit ready to attack at any moment.
One of the adventurers, the burly man with his great axe, advanced toward him, determined to put an end to this obstacle once and for all. But Bell wasn't intimidated. In the blink of an eye, his right leg shot up, and the kick slammed into the man's side with surprising force.
The burly man doubled over from the impact, letting out a grunt of pain. Bell didn't wait a second longer. Taking advantage of the momentum of the blow, he quickly spun around on his heels and with a swift movement of his left leg, struck the next adventurer,
"You bastard! I'll…!" one of the others began to shout, the adventurer with another dagger in each hand, but Bell, with his speed, had already overtaken her. This time, the kick was a horizontal sweep, a perfect movement that connected with her legs and sent her skidding to the ground, causing her to fall backward.
The fourth, a young man of a thinner build, seemed to be in shock, watching his companions fall like dominoes, helpless to do anything. Bell didn't even give him time to think about it. With a leap, he landed in front of him, and with a kick to the stomach, he threw him backward with such force that the young man fell into a roll and came to a stop, crashing against the wall.
In the blink of an eye, all four were on the ground, writhing in pain. Bell, meanwhile, stood tall, breathing heavily, but with that spark of pride in his eyes. His body was in pain, but his ego was at an all-time high. The golden egg remained securely in his hand, as if it were the very reason for his strength.
"What's wrong? Did you think you were going to rob me with those pathetic skills?" he said, looking at the group of defeated adventurers. His tone was cold and full of disdain, and the irony in his voice couldn't have been clearer.
"That's what happens when you underestimate someone."
Seeing the four of them lying on the ground, Bell let out a satisfied sigh. He was as exhausted as if he'd run a marathon, but he couldn't help but feel victorious. Not only had he managed to prevent them from stealing his egg, but he'd also proven that, despite being a rookie, he wasn't going to be easy prey.
"Is this the kind of adventurer I have to face in this damn dungeon?" he muttered to himself, not letting his guard down.
Bell, looking again at the golden egg in his hand, realized what he had done. He had fought harder than he imagined he had. Perhaps he was growing faster than he thought.
With one last glance at the fallen adventurers, Bell turned on his heel and started walking away, without a shred of hesitation. The day wasn't over yet, and if there was one thing certain, it was that with this golden egg in his hands, his financial problems would be solved… at least for a while.
…
"A million valis, a million valis! This is our moment, Bell!!" Hestia continued jumping up and down, full of energy, as if she had just won an epic battle. "This is going to change everything! Our future is secure!!"
Bell stood there, a little stunned, staring at Hestia, who kept jumping up and down, unable to help but smile a little at his goddess's happiness. It was impossible not to feel a little infected by her enthusiasm.
"I told you, Bell! This is just the beginning!!" Hestia continued jumping and moving around the church hall like a child, completely happy, almost as if she were at a party. "We'll be able to buy everything we want, pay off our debts, and have enough to live comfortably for a long time! And it's all thanks to you!!"
Bell tried to speak, but Hestia was so excited she wouldn't let him get another word in. "A million valis! A million! A million! This is incredible!!"
Finally, seeing that her energy seemed a little uncontrollable, Bell let out a nervous laugh. "You… you're going too far, goddess."
Hestia stopped jumping for a second, breathing heavily and looking at Bell with a grin from ear to ear. "What? What?! You did all the work!! This is your achievement, Bell!! And you did it all alone!!"
Bell looked at her, a little embarrassed, and said, "Well… actually… it was a little more complicated than it looked! It is a Jack Bird, after all!"
"That doesn't matter! You did it, and with that, we have a brighter future!" Hestia approached him, gently hitting him on the shoulder with her hand. "Bell, you're amazing! This is the beginning of our greatness!!"
Bell laughed a little at his goddess's overflowing enthusiasm. "Well, I'm glad you like it... although I still have to get used to the idea that we actually got that much money."
"Of course you will!!" Hestia jumped back slightly, suddenly sporting a mischievous expression. "Now, let's see how we spend this money! First, a big meal! Then, maybe some new clothes for the two of us!! And you'll see, Bell, everything will change!"
Bell couldn't help but smile at the sparkle in Hestia's eyes. Despite the difficulties, seeing her happiness gave him strength. "You know, goddess? With all this, I think we have a good chance to improve our lives."
"Yes, that's what I said! Let's do it!!"
Hestia's joy rubbed off on Bell, who now felt a much lighter weight on his shoulders. Although he still had many battles ahead of him, this small achievement was more than enough to give him a sense of hope and satisfaction.
"Thank you, Bell!" Hestia said with a smile she couldn't hide, and in the end, after all that jumping and screaming of happiness, she just stood there, looking at him with a mixture of pride and affection.
Hestia, still elated by Bell's achievement, paused for a moment when she remembered something important. Without losing her energy, she quickly approached Bell and gestured for him to stay still. "Wait, Bell! I need to update your status! Let's see what else you've gained from that fight!"
Bell, still enjoying the moment, felt a slight discomfort seeing Hestia so eager to review his achievements. Not because he didn't want to, but because he felt a certain pressure from being under so much scrutiny.
"Goddess, what is it now?" Bell asked, scratching the back of his neck.
"I found it!" Hestia suddenly exclaimed, her eyes shining as if she'd discovered a great treasure. "Bell, you have a new blessing! And it's amazing!"
Bell frowned, curious. "Another one? What's she doing this time?"
"This is even better than the last one!" Hestia couldn't hide her excitement. "The new blessing you've received is [Divine Blessing of the Streamlined Body]."
"Streamlined body?" Bell repeated, a little confused, not quite understanding.
"Yes! Basically, it means the wind will no longer be able to slow you down. Everything you do, both moving and in combat, will be more effective because the wind resistance won't affect you! Your attacks and speed won't be hindered by the air around you!"
Bell opened his eyes, absorbing Hestia's words. "So... I won't have to worry about the wind when I move or attack?"
"Exactly!" Hestia jumped again, bursting with energy. "This is going to be a huge advantage for you! With your speed, this kind of blessing will allow you to move even faster without the wind slowing you down, and your attacks will be harder to evade."
Bell smiled, feeling a little more confident in his abilities. "That sounds… great."
"That's right! You'll now be able to run through the dungeon without losing speed, and if you face a fast or strong opponent, they'll have no way to stop you! And your attacks will be much harder to dodge!"
"This is really going to help a lot in my future battles," he thought aloud, more to himself than to Hestia.
"Of course! This is just the beginning, Bell!" Hestia exclaimed with a triumphant smile.
Bell nodded, feeling a wave of renewed energy flow through his body. He was ready to face whatever the dungeon had in store for him. But at the same time, he couldn't help but feel grateful to have Hestia by his side, who always supported him unconditionally.
Bell looked at the sheet of paper Hestia had left on the table. Her excitement had been so contagious that she hadn't noticed something as important as the details of his stats. Bell wasn't the type to focus too much on numbers, but he was always interested in seeing how much he'd improved, especially after such a huge achievement.
Curious, he began to read the information that was carefully written down.
Bell Cranel
Level 1
Strength:I88 → F363
Endurance:I92 → E426
Dexterity:I76 → F354
Agility:H101 → E407
Magic: I0
Bell couldn't help but be amazed at the numbers. He had grown a lot! His strength, endurance, and dexterity had all increased significantly, but what impressed him most was his agility. He had made an incredible improvement, from H101 → F407 That agility could be the difference between dodging and getting hit, and if there was one thing Bell had always valued, it was his ability to move quickly.
"Wow… this is more than I expected!" Bell muttered as his eyes scanned the statistics.
He placed a hand on his cheek, thoughtful. "I can't believe I've somehow gotten to this point… I guess that's what happens when you're so blessed. And yet… I still have so much to learn."
The stats also showed an overall increase in his abilities, which was no surprise considering the battles he'd faced lately. Despite the hardships, he felt stronger. But he also realized something important: magic was inI0. Although it wasn't something he was too worried about at the time, it reminded him that he still had a lot of room for improvement.
With a shy smile, Bell stood up from his chair and stretched a little, looking at the sheets of his status update. He felt more confident, but at the same time aware that he still had a long way to go.
"No matter how strong I become, I must never lose sight of why I am here… I have to keep moving forward."
Hestia still had that excited smile on her face. "Bell! Have you checked your stats yet?"
Bell showed her the sheet, pointing at it. "Yes, and I can't believe how much I've gained. This is… truly incredible, Goddess."
"I told you! This is just the beginning!" Hestia exclaimed, her eyes shining. "Now, more than ever, you have the potential to do great things!"
Bell smiled at Hestia's confidence. Although he didn't want to get carried away by emotion, a small flicker of hope ignited in his chest. He knew that no matter what happened, he would keep moving forward. And as long as he had the support of his Goddess and his own determination, there was nothing that would stop him.
Hestia hugged Bell as he continued to look at her status sheet.
"A million valis, a new blessing, and your stats are through the roof! You're officially the pride of my Family!" she exclaimed triumphantly, hanging from his neck as if he weighed nothing.
Bell gave an awkward chuckle, partly from excitement… and partly because he was having trouble breathing with Hestia hanging off him. Still, he said nothing. He was happy. Tired, yes. Beaten up, too. But happy. For the first time since he'd arrived in Orario, he felt like he was making progress.
That I was achieving something.
"Thank you, Goddess," he said softly, with a genuine smile.
Hestia held him tighter, and for a brief moment, neither of them said anything else. Outside, the wind blew gently through the ruins of the abandoned temple. Inside, the warmth of a small victory filled the air like a promise.
A promise that the best was yet to come.