The next morning, Bell stirred awake to the sound of faint rustling.
Blinking the sleep from his eyes, he sat up on the couch and saw Orcbolg at the far side of the room, methodically fastening the straps of his chestplate. His shield leaned against the wall, and his helmet was already set beside it.
"Ah—" Bell rubbed his eyes and yawned. "Good morning…"
Orcbolg glanced his way. "Did I wake you?"
Bell shook his head quickly. "N-no, it's fine! I was just getting up anyway."
Pulling on his boots, Orcbolg adjusted the fit before answering. "I'm heading out soon."
Bell tilted his head. "The dungeon?"
"Yes." Orcbolg's tone was matter-of-fact, but he paused a moment before continuing. "But first, we'll stop by the Guild. You need to register as an adventurer before anything else."
Bell blinked in surprise, sitting up straighter. "O-oh, right! The Guild… I almost forgot." His hands fidgeted slightly, excitement and nerves mixing in his chest. "So… I'll really become an adventurer today?"
Orcbolg simply gave a small nod, adjusting the strap of his shield. "Yes."
Bell's heart raced. The words were plain, but they carried weight—his new life was finally beginning.
Hestia stirred beneath the blanket, rubbing her eyes groggily.
"Mmnn… you two are up early…" she mumbled, stretching.
"We're going to the Guild," Orcbolg said simply.
Hestia sat up, her hair messy, and nodded. "Right. Bell, make sure you listen carefully to everything they tell you, okay? And don't cause trouble for him."
Bell straightened nervously. "Y-yes, Goddess!"
After a quick breakfast of bread and watered-down milk, the three set out.
The streets of Orario were already alive with activity. Merchants hawked their wares, adventurers in armor moved toward Babel Tower, and the clamor of voices filled the air. Bell stuck close to Orcbolg, his eyes darting about in awe—he'd never walked the streets with such purpose before.
At last, they arrived at the Guild. The grand building stood tall near the base of Babel, its polished stone walls welcoming both adventurers and civilians alike.
Inside, clerks were already busy tending to long lines of adventurers. The smell of ink, parchment, and steel filled the air.
Bell swallowed hard. "S-so many people…"
"Stay close," Orcbolg said without looking back, guiding him through the crowd. His calm, steady pace cut through the bustle, and Bell found himself following almost instinctively.
At one of the counters, a familiar elf with long chestnut hair and green eyes adjusted her glasses as she looked up.
"Ah, Orcbolg-san," Eina Tulle greeted, her professional smile softening with familiarity. Then her eyes flicked toward Bell. "…And this must be the new member of your Familia?"
Bell stiffened under her gaze, bowing quickly. "Y-yes! My name is Bell Cranel! Please take care of me!"
Eina blinked in surprise at his enthusiasm, then chuckled softly. "You're very polite. Nice to meet you, Bell-kun. I'm Eina Tulle."
Then she shifted her gaze briefly toward Orcbolg. "I used to be Orcbolg-san's advisor, you know. But…" she gave a small sigh, smiling wryly, "…he studies everything there is to know about the Dungeon on his own. Every book, every record, every lecture. Honestly, he reached the point where my advice became unnecessary. He already knew everything I could teach him, and then some."
Bell's eyes widened. "He did all that…?" He turned to Orcbolg, his helmet covering his face, neither denying nor confirming.
Eina chuckled again, then returned her attention to Bell. "So, since Orcbolg-san's Familia has gained a new member, I was thinking—if it's alright with you—I'd like to become your advisor, Bell-kun."
Bell froze, eyes shining. "Y-you'd really do that for me?"
"Of course," Eina said warmly. "Every adventurer needs someone to help guide them at the start. And…" she smiled knowingly, "…unlike your 'Senior', I think you will need some guidance."
Orcbolg, ignoring them, simply nodded. "She's reliable. Listen to her."
Bell looked like he was about to burst from nerves. "Th-thank you very much!"
Orcbolg, standing beside him like an immovable wall, gave a short nod. "Register him as an adventurer."
Eina's smile faltered slightly at his bluntness, but she nodded. "Of course. Bell-kun, let's go through the process step by step. You'll need to fill out some paperwork, and then I'll explain the basics of what being an adventurer means."
Bell glanced at Orcbolg, who gave him a single look that said do it. Taking a deep breath, Bell stepped forward. His hands trembled as he accepted the papers, but his eyes held determination.