Bell glanced at the ornant hanging from the Sword Princess’s scabbard and turned slightly. His heightened senses no longer felt any lingering gazes.
"They’ve agreed."
His eyes swept over the people present, then he took a few steps back.
"Pardon . It looks like you’ve got matters to discuss, so I’ll take the Vouivre and excuse myself."
In an instant, space warped around them and swallowed the two.
The air returned to stillness, showing no trace that it had just been distorted.
Curious, Tiona stepped forward and reached out with her hand to test it.
"Whoa~ space magic is amazing. Being able to move so freely like that... that’s way too convenient."
"Riveria, do you know anyone who can use that kind of magic?"
That was a serious question.
Riveria took a deep breath. It was a question well beyond her usual scope.
"Since the beginning of recorded Elven history, I’ve never heard of anyone possessing such an advanced magic as spatial magic."
Spatial magic was truly overwhelming. Just from the earlier demonstration, its potential was clear—at least in terms of repositioning, it was practically a divine skill.
"Plus, Bell-kun doesn’t even need to chant. That saves casting ti and eliminates the vulnerabilities we mages usually have."
Riveria could only sigh. Not needing to chant was already ridiculous—but to control it so effortlessly on top of that? It left no room for mages to compete.
"And Bell-kun’s true specialty isn’t even magic. It’s close combat. Magic is just a supplent to support that."
Even Bete couldn’t help but scoff.
"You’ve got to be kidding. A warrior who excels at magic—and can use that kind of magic? If we ever have to fight him, how the hell are we supposed to win?"
"Yeah... if he ever ends up on the other side, we’re in deep trouble."
Finn had considered Bell as a theoretical enemy to the Familia more than once. But every ti, the scenario ended in Loki Familia getting completely outclassed.
With spatial magic at his command, Bell had overwhelming mobility. His movent was unpredictable, and his fighting style downright alien.
Finn hadn’t forgotten that Bell also excelled at suppressing his presence and sensing others. There was little point in ambushing him—on the contrary, his ambushes were a nightmare.
Unless one had perfected both defense and perception, counterattacking Bell while he was hiding his presence was nearly impossible.
Just recalling the Corrupted Spirit Guardian on the 18th floor and the severed arm it left behind was enough.
Finn didn’t think he could have survived an assault like that.
"But... thank goodness Bell-kun is on our side."
"As an enemy, he’d be terrifying—enough to wipe out all of Loki Familia. But as an ally, he’s incredibly reassuring."
As long as they stood on the sa side, Bell’s seemingly invincible abilities and magic were a trendous asset.
Even the Rune Stones, expensive as they were, had already pushed their Familia’s power to heights previously unimaginable.
"Well, thanks for the complint, Captain Finn."
All’s fair in war. Bell said he was leaving—but in truth, he’d only moved a few dozen ters while hiding his presence.
He had heard every single word they said.
"???"
The Vouivre stared at the people standing in plain view but who sohow couldn’t see them, her head filling with question marks.
"They... can’t see us?"
It was the first sentence the Vouivre had spoken. A promising sign—whether it was curiosity or sothing else, she was finally beginning to engage in conversation.
"I’m just hiding my presence, that’s all."
"But don’t try to copy this. You don’t have the ability. Even if you try your hardest to suppress your aura, you’ll still need to bury yourself in darkness to pull it off."
Bell smiled as he explained to the Vouivre, but at the sa ti, he was warning her not to imitate him.
"And rember this—always approach everyone in the Dungeon with caution, with enough malice. Don’t assu they’re good people. The only way to survive is to treat everyone like an enemy."
"Especially when it cos to ordinary adventurers."
"The only thing they’ll see when they look at you is the materials you might drop. They won’t care whether or not you have a mind of your own."
The Vouivre looked up at her teacher, confused, and asked, "Then why don’t you do that?"
"Because I don’t need to."
"Maybe in the beginning, I would’ve been desperate for the materials dropped by monsters in the Dungeon. But at this stage... they’ve mostly lost their value to ."
It’s possible—but not necessary.
Bell held no hatred toward monsters. Without that hatred or any benefit to gain, he simply chose to avoid doing things that would bring unnecessary trouble.
"Rember, human behavior is driven by motives."
"An adventurer who wants fa will seek out stronger enemies. An adventurer who wants money will hunt for ways to earn more. And so... so adventurers just hate monsters for no reason at all."
"If you understand a person’s motives, you can, under the right conditions, manipulate them."
"But that part’s not sothing you need to rember in detail. You’re a monster with a human heart—adventurers will reject you no matter what. You won’t be able to do sothing like that, not unless the day cos when you can live side by side with humans."
The Vouivre nodded as if she understood. A glimr of hope soon surfaced in her eyes as she asked, "Will that day ever co?"
Bell’s gaze shifted. He bent his knees and squatted down in front of her.
"If you can use the achievent of saving the world as your proof... then maybe, soday, you’ll be able to coexist with humans. Maybe by then, the Dungeon will have beco the cradle of a new species—your kind."
"I’m not really interested in saving the world or anything like that. But once I’ve killed the Black Dragon, I’ll leave that title behind for you. You can use it."
The Vouivre’s eyes lit up.
"You’ll save us?"
Bell nodded with a gentle smile.
"If you’re still alive, then sure, I’ll save you. And if you’re part of the party that takes down the Black Dragon, then the na of ’Hero’ will belong to you too."
"So, live on. Live with your kin."
"At least... until the day I slay the Black Dragon."
The Vouivre’s beautiful eyes sparkled with excitent and anticipation. She stretched out her hand with a bright smile.
"Then it’s a promise. I’ll live until that day cos."
Bell looked at her outstretched hand in mild surprise, but then smiled and placed his hand on hers.
"Then it’s a promise."
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