In the evening, Bell returned from the Dungeon in silence.
Today, under Adam's guidance, he had visited the 18th Floor for the first ti and witnessed Rivira — the bustling city that adventurers had built in the Dungeon's safe zone of the middle floors.
Yet seeing such spectacular sights only deepened his depression.
Raised on his grandfather's teachings and dreams of encountering maidens deep within the Dungeon, Bell finally understood just how naive those thoughts had been.
He should have known it from the mont Ais saved him — the deep levels of the Dungeon were far beyond his reach.
Following Adam's lead today had shown him just how much stronger this new Familia mber was, and by comparison, how weak he truly remained.
"As expected, soone as weak as isn't fit to be the Familia's Captain. It would be better if Adam took over, after all I..." Bell curled into a ball in the corner, wallowing in self-pity.
Adam watched, a vein throbbing on his forehead.
His intention had been to demonstrate the dangers of the deep floors while proving his strength — how had it ended up crushing the boy's fragile spirit instead?
Was the kid made of glass? The kind that shatters at the slightest touch!
Still, Bell finally recognizing his own weakness ant the goal had been achieved.
Addressing the youth who sat questioning his existence in the corner, Adam said, "Hey, Captain! Didn't I tell you that being Captain isn't just about strength — it focuses more on other qualities?"
"..." Bell looked up, his already red eyes growing redder as he gazed pitifully at him.
"Why are you so discouraged just from visiting the 18th floor?" Adam encouraged, "Think carefully, Bell. Goddess Hestia knows about my strength. Yet even knowing how powerful I am, she didn't hesitate to choose you as Captain, and even said there was no one else but you. So stop being so humble — stand tall and properly accept the role of Captain, what do you say?"
"Does Goddess Hestia... know about your strength?"
"Ah, yes, yes." Seeing Bell's mood lifting slightly, Adam pressed on with his encouragent, "Before joining the Familia, I was honest with Goddess Hestia, and she said I was a special case."
"I see." The little rabbit's emotions were too delicate — he bottled everything up inside and overthought constantly, always convinced he wasn't good enough.
"By the way, Bell."
"Hm?"
"You want to beco stronger, don't you?" Adam didn't give him a chance to make excuses, "Before Goddess Hestia left, she told that you wanted to beco stronger."
"...Yes, I want to beco stronger."
Bell softly spoke his wish, and despite his quiet voice, Adam could hear the determination in his tone.
"No matter what, I want to beco stronger, so I can get closer to that person again."
"Mm, very good." Adam was satisfied with his strong resolve, "In that case, I'll give you a little help, Bell."
"Eh?"
"Don't understand? I an, let train you a bit, how about it?"
It was decided.
Just 7 days! Until Hestia returns and the Monster Feria ends — these 7 days.
Although she didn't want to burden him, Adam could accept spending this much ti if it was just one week.
"So, what do you think, Bell?" He asked considerately to the one huddled in the corner, "If you want to refuse, that's fine too."
"No! Please teach , Adam!" Hearing that a strong person would train him, Bell imdiately agreed, his desire to beco stronger leaving no room for hesitation.
"Well then... without further delay, let's begin now."
"Yes!"
"First, let see what you can do." Adam cleared so space in the empty church, "You know my strength, so there's no need to hold back. Show just how strong you are right now."
"Yes! Please be careful!" Bell drew his short dagger and charged straight at him.
Adam didn't draw his sword or even move. He stood perfectly still, as if unaware of the attack coming at point-blank range.
Only when Bell's dagger was about to pierce his shoulder did Adam react — twisting his waist and shifting his shoulder to dodge the strike while extending his right foot into Bell's path, instantly tripping him to the ground.
"Your intentions are too obvious, Bell." He said to the youth lying face-down, "Your eyes were fixed on my shoulder from the start. Were you trying to repeat what you did before when you defeated the Kobold in the Dungeon?"
"..."
"Bell, humans are different from monsters. The monsters in the Dungeon have no reason — they only fight to the death. But humans have wisdom and rationality, and eyes that are good at detecting things, just like how you notice monsters' stiff movents when they attack you. Pay more attention to your opponent's movents and make better use of your talents."
Bell silently got up from the ground.
Though he didn't speak, he had taken the teachings to heart. Now, he was eagerly absorbing the experience being passed down by the strong.
"Again."
"Yes! Please be careful!" Bell charged forward once more.
"Use 70% of your strength and keep 30% in reserve! Don't just attack with full power — you need to keep so energy for changing moves, otherwise your body will beco stiff and show openings."
"Yes!"
"Speed is your natural talent, but it's not just for running away — it also lets you attack enemies more quickly."
"Yes!"
"Stop closing your eyes when attacking! If you can't see, how will you dodge incoming attacks?"
"Yes!"
And so, under Adam's guidance, Bell would get up only to be knocked down again with increasing frequency.
They only ended the training when Bell was black and blue all over and completely exhausted.
"Are you alright, Bell?"
"Yesh, I'm fhine."
"You can't even speak clearly and you say you're fine." Adam shook his head, helped him sit against the church wall, and used〘Heal〙on him.
One thing worth praising was that despite the beating, Bell didn't cry about giving up like the crybaby Subaru would. Instead, he gritted his teeth and trained desperately, all to beco stronger.
◈ Heal ◈
Green light emanated from Adam's hands, enveloping Bell's body. Monts later, his injuries were completely healed.
"A-Amazing!"
Bell stood up, testing his arms and legs, amazed to find his body — which had been too battered to move monts ago — was now completely fine.
"This is your magic, right?" He watched the light fade from Adam's hands, his eyes full of envy, "That's wonderful... I wish I had magic too."
No Skills, no Magic. After Hestia had hidden his only talent, seeing Adam use Magic only intensified Bell's yearning for it.
"About magic..." Adam thought for a mont before continuing, "You know, Bell? There's a special kind of Grimoire that can teach Magic to people who still have empty magic slots."
"Really?!" Bell's excitent was imdiate.
"It's true, I guarantee it." Adam nodded, "These Grimoires can be purchased, though they're often in short supply. But as long as you have enough money, you can definitely buy one."
"Short supply..." Bell seed to catch on, "You an Grimoires are very expensive?"
"Ah, very expensive. One Grimoire costs around 200 million valis."
"T-Two... hundred million?!!!!" Bell's voice shot up several octaves.
"By the way, Bell, you seem like you really want magic."
"No, no no no no! I don't want it, I don't want it at all!" Bell backpedaled, frantically waving his hands and speaking words that contradicted his heart, "I don't want a 200 million valis grimoire at all!"
"Hahaha, don't be scared." Adam patted his shoulder encouragingly, "If people don't have dreams, how are they any different from fish? So... 200 million valis, isn't that exactly the kind of small goal you should set for yourself, Bell?"
"What do you an small goal? That's 200 million valis..."
"Just 200 million! You need to have confidence in yourself!"
"Hah..."
Seeing Adam so excited, Bell could only sigh helplessly and stopped arguing.
✧✧✧
T/N: If you want more chapters like this, check out my Patreon! Take a look at my other translations too, you might like them!
For just $1.50 you can access all the extra content, and descriptive images, costs only $2!
That's it and happy reading! (-‿◦)
spatreon/collection/770985
Reviews
All reviews (0)