"Lord Takemikazuchi, I'm back."
Inside the communal residence.
After encountering a Minotaur, and with Ron stepping in to help, he had barely managed to escape danger—and had also received words of encouragement from his senior.
Bell did not rush back to Orario.
Instead, he continued on the current floor, clearing monsters and improving himself.
'If the future is yours, then prove it to me.'
Those words became the driving force behind Bell's constant effort. As long as he put in the work, his ability values would definitely improve as they should.
And then—
The result turned out exactly as Ron had said.
Monsters of that level would only appear in the Middle Floors. Around them, creatures like Goblins and Dungeon Lizards weren't yet at a level that was truly troublesome.
"How much will my ability values increase this time?"
The white-haired boy was filled with anticipation.
Even though he knew that, in a short period of time, he absolutely couldn't catch up to Ron, it didn't change the fact that the image of that figure—facing the black Minotaur—
With overwhelming strength—
Had left an indelible mark in his heart.
...
At noon.
Takemikazuchi had just gotten off work from the Jagamarukun stall, making it the perfect time to update ability values and take a brief rest in Orario.
As for the remaining time?
Of course, it was to keep striving toward the goal he wished to reach.
"Bell."
"How did your Dungeon exploration go today?"
With black hair tied into twin braids and dressed in a light white kimono, Takemikazuchi's expression softened slightly upon seeing Bell return safely.
That's right—
In this white-haired boy, he seemed to see a reflection of Ron.
Perhaps in terms of talent, he couldn't replicate the miracle Ron had created, but in combat arts and technique, Bell showed extremely high potential.
With a bit of training, he could definitely become a core member of the Takemikazuchi Familia.
After arriving in Orario, Takemikazuchi was the second god Bell had met. Back then, when he tried to join other powerful familias, forget meeting the gods—he couldn't even get through the door.
Understandable, really.
When he was struggling with finding a place to stay and the high cost of living in Orario, he had met Takemikazuchi—who was working at a Jagamarukun stall—on North Main Street.
A simple conversation.
Faced with the invitation of the "God of War," Bell simply chose to join his familia.
Although they hadn't known each other long, he could already feel the god's gentle personality. Still, when faced with Takemikazuchi's kind question—
The boy found it a bit hard to answer.
Was it smooth?
Overall… it probably was.
During the exploration, although the monsters he encountered were somewhat troublesome, he could still handle them using the techniques Lord Takemikazuchi had taught him.
He could defeat them without much trouble.
But when he recalled that massive creature—
The Minotaur that nearly blocked the entire tunnel—
And how he had no means to fight it, forced to flee in panic—
Death had been right at his doorstep.
After thinking it through, Bell gently shook his head.
"Overall, it should've been pretty smooth… I guess?"
"But when I reached the 5th Floor, I ran into a Minotaur. Luckily, Senior Ron happened to pass by—otherwise, I don't know if I would've made it back safely."
"Ron."
That was a name Takemikazuchi would never forget.
Especially when Bell had encountered a powerful monster, and Ron had stepped in to help in time. Even Mikoto, one of his own familia members, was training within Ron's group.
He really should find time to properly thank him.
With a relaxed smile, he nodded.
"Ron… he really is an outstanding adventurer. When you met him this time, did he say anything to you?"
"Mm…"
"He told me to work harder."
"…"
It was hard to imagine—
The once complete rookie adventurer who needed guidance was now starting to resemble a senior figure.
Takemikazuchi gently shook his head and, taking advantage of the free time, casually asked: "Do you want me to update your ability values?"
"I came to find you for exactly that, Lord Takemikazuchi."
"Alright."
"Working hard is good, but you also need to balance work and rest. As for Dungeon exploration, if there's anything you don't understand, you can ask Ron."
"He should be able to give you some general direction."
"…"
Updating ability values was something Takemikazuchi had long been familiar with.
However—
After completing the process, when he looked at the divine script newly overlaid on the boy's back, it was normal for newcomers to experience a phase of rapid ability growth.
All the stats had indeed improved noticeably.
But that wasn't what Takemikazuchi truly cared about.
When his gaze shifted to the skill section—
The previously empty space now contained a newly acquired skill.
The good news:
The familia member he recruited seemed to have excellent talent.
The problem was—
The detailed interpretation of this skill left Takemikazuchi with a… complicated feeling.
From an objective standpoint, this skill was unprecedentedly powerful.
…
[Hero Aspiration]
Greatly increases the speed at which Bell improves his ability values through training, far beyond other adventurers.
The stronger the longing in his heart, the stronger the effect.
Fighting alongside or against the object of his admiration—Ron—further enhances the effect.
...
'?'
'Why does this feel a bit… strange?'
This skill…
Could make Bell's growth speed surpass the vast majority of adventurers.
But its source—
Takemikazuchi's mood became complicated.
Aspiration.
An aspiration to become an adventurer like Ron?
He had finally trained Yamato Mikoto into a Level 2 adventurer. As someone in a parental role, he naturally supported her in finding her own future.
But Bell…
He had just recruited him, barely had time to "warm him up," and yet somehow he was already tied to Ron?
Takemikazuchi couldn't help but twitch at the corner of his mouth.
He knew Ron possessed secrets even the gods couldn't decipher.
But wasn't this influence a bit too much?
"Mm…"
"Your talent is indeed as outstanding as I imagined."
...
Dionysus Familia
Golden hair draped naturally over his shoulders. Beneath that refined and gentle appearance—
After drinking the divine wine that removed cognitive suppression—
Dionysus could no longer suppress the madness in his amber eyes.
Sending Filvis to gather information about Ron had only yielded rumors circulating among adventurers—there was still doubt about their accuracy.
So—
Dionysus chose not to wait passively.
Using divine wine capable of blocking cognition and hypnotizing himself, he disguised himself as the loser of that War Game bet, going around questioning other gods to gather information.
The latest news…
Ron.
The rookie adventurer known as the "Tarnished" had already advanced to Level 3.
This rate of growth was truly absurd.
Even—
In Dionysus's eyes, it had already reached a completely monstrous level.
At this pace, it wouldn't take long before he reached the level of the Sword Princess, Ais Wallenstein.
And that was something Dionysus absolutely could not accept.
The stronger Orario's adventurers became—the greater the obstacle they posed to his "madness" plan to destroy the city.
But eliminating Ron directly would be too much of a waste of his talent.
After thinking it over—
Looking at the black-haired elf who had returned to the familia base, Dionysus frowned.
"Filvis."
"Find a way to encounter Ron in the Dungeon. Gain his trust. If you can arrange a private meeting at the familia base, that would be ideal."
His gaze fell on the crystal-clear wine in the silver cup on the table.
If it could intoxicate even a god—
Then hypnotizing a Level 3 adventurer and rewriting his thoughts, making him transfer to the poor goddess Penia's familia—
Would be nothing difficult at all.
Dionysus looked forward to it.
He looked forward to the day he would no longer have to lie dormant in this city devoid of chaos and slaughter—
And to the moment when Orario would be completely overturned.
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