—
Hello, this is a notice that I changed Bell's stats in the previous chapter.
Bell Cranel
Level 1
Strength: I88 → F363
Endurance: I92 → E426
Dexterity: I76 → F354
Agility:H101 → E407
Magic: I0
Also, thanks to the people who point out the errors. Even if I manually see everything, I still miss a few things. XD
—
Eina greeted him with an expression that oscillated between concern and disbelief.
"So you caught the Jack Bird…"
Bell lowered his head slightly, half-shamed and half-proud. "Yeah… I traded it for the valis right here yesterday, but I didn't see you…"
"I was on my break," Eina replied, crossing her arms. "When I came back, the entire guild was talking about the level-one adventurer who showed up with a golden egg. It took me two seconds to guess it was you."
Bell laughed nervously. "Uh… yeah. It was me."
Eina let out a long sigh. "Bell, what you did was incredible. But also risky. That kind of creature is elusive for a reason. Sometimes, fool's luck works out, but you can't count on it all the time."
"I know, I know," Bell replied, raising his hands. "Actually, that's why I came today. I wanted to ask you where I can get better gear. The fight against the minotaur… it made it clear to me that I need more protection. Something I can wear under my jacket, something light but still supportive."
Eina looked at him silently for a moment. There was no lecture this time. Just a softer look, as if she recognized that Bell was starting to think more like a real adventurer.
"You're finally acting with common sense," she said, pulling out a small catalog of shops, especially several located in the Tower of Babel. "With the money you earned, you can afford something decent. There are a couple of shops here that work with reinforced leather, ideal for someone your size. There's also the option of using something made of metal."
Bell nodded attentively. "Something that won't hinder my agility. And something that won't break my ribs if something hits me head-on."
"Exactly," Eina said. "Don't worry so much about aesthetics. The important thing is that it keeps you alive."
Bell carefully took notes. "Thank you, Goddess… I mean, thank you, Eina-san!"
Eina sighed as she handed him the paper with the store addresses. "If you want, I can go with you tomorrow to see them. That way you can make sure you don't get scammed."
Bell looked up, surprised… and almost reflexively, his eyes moved up just above her head. As if it were the most natural thing in the world, there it was: the number hovering above her, glowing as if calling to him.
26
Bell blinked, not because the number surprised him—although it still seemed strange to be able to see that—but because of what it meant. He was growing… slowly, but growing. Eina cared for him; it showed in her gestures, in her scoldings… and now in this small offer as well.
He smiled sincerely. "I'd love to. That way I don't end up buying something that breaks at the first impact."
Eina gave him a slight, almost maternal smile. "Good. First thing tomorrow morning. Don't be late."
"Yes, ma'am," Bell replied with an impromptu greeting, making the half-elf laugh slightly.
And with that, he said his goodbyes, leaving the guild with a warm feeling in his chest.
Maybe the Dungeon was cruel, unforgiving…
But up above, on the surface, there were people who made all that effort worthwhile.
That night, Bell lay in bed, tucked in up to his ears and with a goofy grin on his face. He'd had a good day: he hadn't been attacked, he hadn't screamed his head off in front of strangers, and no one had tried to steal anything from him. A true miracle.
As he closed his eyes, he murmured:
"I hope the armor won't be too expensive tomorrow…"
And the universe, or rather that weird thing that gave him blessings willy-nilly, seemed to say: "Expensive? LOL, not with my boy."
A golden flash shone above her head, illuminating the church for a split second. Hestia, asleep on the futon next to her, rolled over without waking, muttering something about fried chicken and ice cream.
Bell, completely unconscious, let out a loud snore.
And just like that, without fanfare or angelic choirs, a new line appeared on his falna:
[Divine Blessing of Eloquence]: As long as you negotiate with the intent to buy, your chances of getting the best price increase dramatically. This also applies to stubborn vendors, grumpy old men, and skeptical elves.
And Bell didn't even suspect that the next day, he would be haggling as if he had been born in a shop in the central market.
…
The next day, Bell arrived punctually at the guild entrance, his gray jacket neatly tucked in, his hair roughly combed, and his valise bag clutched tightly in his hand. He didn't want to ruin this day. This time, he wouldn't rush down to the dungeon. Today was going to be a... responsible day. And that was a big change for him.
Seeing Eina, he froze for a second.
Eina wasn't wearing her classic guild uniform. Instead, she wore an elegant white blouse with fine lace at the neckline and a red skirt that fell just above her knees. Her brown hair was tied back in a delicate side braid, and a small gold earring dangled from her left ear.
Bell blinked several times, as if his brain needed to reboot.
"T-Tha… Thank you for coming, Eina-san," he stammered. And then, without thinking twice, he blurted out with all the honesty in the world: "You look very pretty…"
Eina blinked in surprise, as if she hadn't expected such a direct compliment. A slight blush tinged her cheeks, but she quickly smiled sweetly.
"Thank you, Bell. How thoughtful."
At that instant, above Eina's head, the floating number that only Bell could see changed with a soft flicker:26 → 29
Bell noticed it out of the corner of his eye and blinked.
Huh...? Did he go up just because of that...?he thought, somewhat astonished.
It was as if her heart had thrown an invisible and… naturally critical die.
But he didn't say anything. He just smiled to himself, proud of having started the day well.
And so, without further ado, they walked together toward the Tower of Babel.
Bell, without knowing it yet… was about to experience the most absurd shopping spree of his life.
Bell and Eina walked calmly to the base of the Tower of Babel, the gigantic white stone monument that rose like a column toward the sky. Upon crossing the marble doors and entering the lower floors, Bell was greeted by a burst of magical coolness, impeccable lighting, shiny floors… and display cases that seemed designed to ruin any novice's self-esteem.
And then he saw them.
A sword decorated with glowing runes: 560,000 valis. A mithril-tipped spear: 950,000 valis. A black dagger: 2,300,000 valis.
Bell froze in front of one of the display cases, with the expression of someone who had just received an emotional brick blow.
"Wh-wh-what-?" he muttered, his eyes wide. "That dagger costs more than my entire life!?"
Beside him, Eina let out a small laugh, amused by his reaction. "I know, I know, they look intimidating, right? But don't worry, these shops are for first-class adventurers. Level 4 and above usually shop here."
Bell gulped, still looking at the 2 million dagger as if it might activate itself and laugh at him.
Eina gave him a friendly little tap on the shoulder. "The beginner shops are on the higher floors. They have good gear there at reasonable prices. And besides…"—she winked at him—"if you know how to bargain well, you can get really good stuff for much less."
Bell nodded, relieved.
Thank goodness…he thought.
Since I couldn't find anything in this place, I was going to have to start seriously considering the idea of fighting monsters... with spoons.
When Bell and Eina finally reached the highest floors of the Tower of Babel, the change was almost miraculous. The display cases no longer looked like works of art decorated with stardust, nor did the price tags have so many zeros as to give her existential anxiety.
Bell looked around, his shoulders relaxing with a sigh of relief at the new prices.
"Tempered steel short sword… 6,800 valis."
"Reinforced leather gloves… 2,200 valis."
"Light hidden mail armor… 17,500 valis."
"Ah! This is something else!" he said with a glimmer of hope in his eyes.
Eina, at his side, crossed her arms with a proud smile. "I told you not to be scared by the display cases on the first floor. This is where all true adventurers begin."
Bell nodded enthusiastically, already mentally compiling his shopping list. Although… then he looked at his tattered cape jacket, which had gone from "heroic" to "fancy beggar's rag" since the Minotaur incident.
"I'm going to need more than enthusiasm to get out of here well dressed…" he muttered.
And without realizing it, deep inside him, a certain blessing of eloquence began to prepare to work its magic. Because if there was ever a perfect opportunity to haggle, it was now.
As they walked down the aisle between the display cases, Eina stopped in front of a shop with several shelves organized by weapon type. Short swords, spears, axes, daggers, even whips… all neatly lined up with more friendly price tags.
"By the way," Eina said, turning to Bell with a raised eyebrow, "are you still going to use a dagger? Just so I have an idea of what to look for."
Bell stared at the shelves, but didn't respond immediately. His gaze slid over each weapon as if calculating possibilities.
"I have the [Divine Blessing of Combat Mastery]… In theory, I could use any weapon. There's no reason to limit myself to just a dagger, right?"
He pictured absurd scenes in his mind: him wielding a spear like a general, fighting with two swords like an elegant swordsman, throwing chakrams like a circus performer. The versatility was tempting… and dangerous for his wallet.
Eina glanced at him, blinked twice, and then frowned.
"…Did you just ignore me?" she muttered under her breath, offended.
Bell, still deep in his world of theories and dream combat, muttered a "huh?" too late to save himself.
Eina sighed, crossing her arms. "Ignored and insulted. Unbelievable."
Bell scratched the back of his neck, uncomfortably. "Ah… sorry, Eina-san. I was thinking. I'm not sure yet. Maybe… I'll try something different."
"Different like what? A barbarian Amazon double axe?" Eina said, a little more amused now.
Bell smiled. "If it works for me, why not?"
"Then let's try a little bit of everything. But if you buy a spear, you'll carry it yourself. I'm not going to help you drag it all the way across town."
Bell noticed how the number floating above Eina's head, that small invisible marker that only he could see thanks to his strange blessing, descended with cruel smoothness.
29 → 26
His heart gave a small leap of discomfort. Had he messed up so quickly?
He lowered his head slightly as he walked behind her, his steps more measured, as if that would stop the number from falling. His hands were in his pockets, and his face held that uncomfortable mix of regret and guilty silence.
"Okay, Bell… don't say anything weird again. Just nod, smile, and don't be a problem. She's helping you. Don't make her regret it," Bell thought.
As Eina walked along, looking at the shelves, comparing prices and quality, Bell followed her with the discretion of a scolded cat. He only spoke when she addressed him directly, and he did so in the softest possible voice.
Eina, for her part, seemed to have recovered her good humor, although she still looked at him out of the corner of her eye as if evaluating whether he deserved a second chance.
Bell swallowed. "Come on… don't let it go any lower… Hold that 26, please!"
And so, with the invisible tension of an emotional progress bar hovering between them, they continued their search for the ideal team.
After wandering from store to store, Bell already felt like his feet were about to go on strike. Between window shopping, bargaining, and an Eina who never tired of inspecting every detail of each weapon, the day moved forward at a steady pace.
Swords, daggers, whips, even a kind of enchanted boomerang that was clearly out of budget and beyond reasonable use. Nothing seemed to convince them… until, in a more modest shop at the end of an inconspicuous aisle, Bell saw it.
A spear.
It was simple, with a reinforced wooden shaft and a double-edged metal tip. Nothing flashy or shiny, but well-balanced and with a lightness that perfectly suited her agile style.
Bell took it in both hands, made a few short movements, and felt it flow with his body as if he'd used it before. "The mastery of combat..." he thought, as he twirled the spear one last time before nodding.
Eina watched him with her arms crossed and one eyebrow raised. "A spear?"
Bell smiled slightly, keeping his eyes on the gun. "I… I like how it feels. And I think I want to try something different. Something with range."
She sighed, though with a slight smile on her lips. "As long as you don't end up impaling yourself, it's fine."
Bell laughed softly, scratching his cheek. "I'll try. Goddess would kill me if I came in with the spear through me."
And with that, the seller offered them a friendly price and they closed the deal.
Bell had found his next weapon. A spear that, unbeknownst to him, would mark a new stage in his evolution as an adventurer.
As they left the weapons shop, Eina kept glancing at her pocket watch. "We don't have much time before nightfall, so—"
"Just a second!" Bell interrupted, stopping in front of a tent that was a bit more cluttered than the others.
It was one of those shops that looked like it had seen better days. The sign was slightly crooked, and the interior was filled with chaotic shelves of armor pieces, gloves, helmets... and a suspicious pile of wooden chests stacked in one corner, covered in dust.
Driven by curiosity—and perhaps a little by the instinct that had saved his life earlier—Bell approached the crates and began searching. He opened one, two, three... until, in the fourth, he found something.
A lightweight armor, almost metallic gray in color. It seemed perfect for wearing under a cloak or casual wear, with flexible plates and a discreet yet clearly durable design. It had no embellishments, no runes, and no unnecessary glitter. It was simple, practical, and just what I needed.
"How much is this one?" Bell asked, holding it up as the clerk, an older man with dusty glasses, approached slowly.
The old man blinked, as if he'd forgotten it was even there. "That one? Hmm... it's been back there for maybe a year. No one ever wanted it because of the kid who forged it. I'll give it to you for five thousand... no, you know what? Four thousand. Take it."
Bell's eyes widened. A bargain! He literally felt like he was being propelled into an impossible streak of luck.
"I'll take it!" he exclaimed without a second thought.
Eina raised an eyebrow in surprise. "You decide so quickly?"
Bell hugged the armor to his chest. "This one… I like it. And the price… well, I like it too."
The clerk just smiled before starting to wrap it in a cloth for carrying.
Bell didn't know it, but that armor would witness many stories to come.
Bell walked beside Eina as they descended the final steps of the Tower of Babel. The sun was beginning to set over the horizon, dyeing the sky a soft orange that reflected in the windows of the colossus of stone and magic.
They were both silent at first, but it wasn't an awkward silence. It was one of those silences that comes when the day has been long but rewarding, and all that's left to do is enjoy the moment.
Bell glanced at the box containing his new spear, securely fastened, and at the pouch containing his newly acquired armor. He couldn't help but smile. He felt like for the first time in a long time, he was truly prepared.
"It was a good day," Eina finally said, breaking the silence with a soft voice. "You got good equipment, didn't spend a fortune, and… well, you didn't get into trouble. That's progress."
Bell chuckled. "Yeah… though if I become too responsible, wouldn't I lose my charm?"
Eina looked at him sideways, amused. "Don't get too excited. I still have to make sure you don't do anything stupid tomorrow."
Bell scratched his cheek, somewhat embarrassed, as they both reached the base of the tower. The city lights began to turn on, one by one, bringing Orario to life at night.
"Thanks for coming with me," Bell said sincerely.
Eina smiled warmly at him. "As long as you don't make me worry too much… I'm happy to help."
Bell glanced at the number hovering above her. It read 29 again.
And for some reason, that made him smile too.
…
Bell returned to Hestia's church, feeling the weight of the bags of new equipment hanging from his hands, but with a slight smile on his face. It had been a long, but very productive day. As he opened the church doors, the familiarity of the place welcomed him, and the first thing he saw was Hestia waiting for him near the entrance, as always, with that warm gaze that only she knew how to offer.
"Bell! You're finally here! I've been waiting for you!" Hestia exclaimed, jumping up and down excitedly at the sight.
Bell, somewhat exhausted but satisfied, smiled back. "Yes, sorry for the delay, Goddess. I was a little late, but I got everything I needed."
Hestia gave a little jump of joy. "I told you it would be easy to find everything you need! Let's see, let's see, what did you bring?"
Bell placed the bags on a nearby table and began removing the pieces of equipment he'd acquired: the spear, the new armor, everything he thought would be useful for future missions. Hestia leaned closer, inspecting them with interest.
"This looks impressive, Bell! You have everything it takes to be a first-class adventurer!" she said, excited but still smiling. "Although, I'm glad you didn't completely blow your budget! How was the spear? Did you try it?"
"Yeah, I tried it out a bit," Bell replied, touching the back of his neck in slight embarrassment. "I'm no expert with spears, but I think I'll get used to it quickly. I actually feel more… confident with all this. I think I can really improve now!"
Hestia nodded, satisfied with his answer. "I know. I've told you many times, you just needed the right equipment. Although… I wonder if you should rest a bit before returning to the dungeon. I don't want you to get hurt again."
Bell was silent for a moment, looking at his spear with some sadness. "I know. But I think I need to keep training. I don't want to remain a rookie…"
Hestia looked at him with a serious but warm expression. "Bell, you're not a rookie anymore. Every time you go out into the dungeon, you learn something new. Just remember, you're not alone in this. I'm here for you, okay?"
Bell looked up at her and nodded. "Yes, I know. Thank you, Goddess."
Hestia smiled broadly and gave him a playful little shove. "That's it! Now go rest. I don't want you to overexert yourself. And tomorrow you can help me clean the church!"
Bell smiled at the thought of a simple task. "I'll do it, I promise."
Hestia looked at Bell with a smile, enthusiasm shining in her eyes. "Bell, I want to update your status. Is that okay with you?"
Bell nodded quickly. "Sure, Goddess! If that means more blessings or improvements, I'm all for it."
With a satisfied smile, Hestia took the sheet of paper with Bell's stats and began reviewing them. A moment later, she looked up to meet his gaze. "Well, it looks like you have something new on your list. You have two new blessings."
Bell looked at her curiously, eager to know what other abilities she had received. Hestia, unable to avoid a brief dramatic pause, began to explain: "The first is [Divine Blessing of Absolute Precision]. This blessing ensures that any projectile you throw will always hit its target, as long as it's within your field of vision. You won't have to worry about missing with arrows, darts, or anything else you throw anymore."
Bell was silent for a moment, processing the information. Then, a smile lit his face. "That would be perfect if I decide to throw my spear! I won't have to worry about missing the target, right?"
"Exactly," Hestia said, smiling proudly. "It's a very useful blessing if you decide to specialize in ranged combat, or if you find yourself in a situation where using a spear or any projectile becomes crucial. Everything will be within your reach."
Bell smiled broadly, feeling a new sense of confidence. "That'll come in handy! Thank you, Goddess."
Hestia crossed her arms, watching Bell's reaction with satisfaction. "You're welcome! Although, there's something else..."
Hestia frowned as she read the following blessing aloud, puzzled by what she saw. "Let's see… [Divine Blessing of Lancer Luck Immunity]: You are immune to the bad luck that lancers suffer, Lancer ga shinda!"
A moment of silence fell over the room before Hestia let out a nervous laugh, staring at the sheet of paper as if she couldn't believe what she'd just read. "What... what's this? 'Lancer ga shinda!'? Seriously? What kind of sentence is this?"
Bell looked at her in confusion, not fully understanding the surprise on her face. "Doesn't that sound right?"
Hestia let out a small, incredulous laugh, still looking at the sheet of paper with disdain. "It's not that it doesn't sound good! It's just... why does it have to sound so ridiculous? 'Lancer ga shinda!'... This is the weirdest thing I've ever read." Her tone turned into a mix of incredulity and amusement. "What the hell is this, a joke?"
Bell couldn't help but smile at Hestia's exaggerated reaction. "So what does it mean? That I won't have bad luck when I use a spear?"
"Sure! That's what it means, but why was it necessary to include something so strange? Who knows!" Hestia shook her head in disbelief, still laughing. "But hey, if you don't suffer from the common bad luck of lancers, I suppose it's a useful blessing."
Bell, though somewhat embarrassed by the peculiarity of the blessing, nodded with a smile. "Well, it helps, in a way."
Hestia let out one last laugh as she looked at Bell. "Yeah, right... you now have a blessing that will protect you from 'lancer bad luck.' Though the way it sounds... it's a joke!"
"Should I be worried about 'lancer bad luck'?" Bell asked, still a little confused but amused.
"Probably not... but with that, you might be safer when using your spear." Hestia looked back at the sheet, still in disbelief at what she'd just read. "Though seriously, 'Lancer ga shinda!'... Who even thought that would fit?"