章 5: Chapter 5: Comfort and New Beginnings
After Bell's victory over the Silverback, the crowd began to disperse. Syr approached him, quietly emerging from the shadows. She wore her usual smile, but a glimmer of relief lit her eyes.
"Bell," she said softly, "you should take Lady Hestia back to the Hostess of Fertility's inn. She can be treated there."
Bell, still exhausted, nodded. He carried Hestia in his arms and followed her there.
At the inn, Ryuu used his healing spell to stabilize the unconscious goddess. A soothing light emanated from his hands, and Hestia's face quickly regained some color. Bell, relieved, collapsed on the stairs outside the inn, his thoughts swirling.
He replayed the fight against the Silverback over and over again, wondering if he had made the right choices. His hands were still shaking slightly.
Syr appeared at his side, carrying two cups of tea.
"You look lost in thought," she said, sitting down next to him.
Bell looked up and smiled weakly at him.
— I… I wonder if I really belong here, in Orario. It was all too close…
Syr put down his cup and gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder.
— Stop that right now, Bell. You just saved lives today. Look how people are already admiring you.
Seeing that he still seemed to be in doubt, she decided to share some anecdotes to lighten the mood.
— You know, sometimes you just need a little perspective. For example… You have no idea what strange situations happen at the inn.
Bell looked at her, intrigued, which encouraged her to continue.
— Once, an adventurer complained that one of the dishes was "too spicy." Guess what? He asked Mia, our boss, to remake his plate.
—And she accepted? Bell asked, a little surprised.
Syr burst out laughing.
— Accept? Oh, no, not at all. She threw the whole sauce on his head, telling him it was a gift from home.
Bell couldn't help but laugh at the thought of the imposing Mia being angry.
—And you want to know the best one? That same adventurer came back the next day, all smiles, because he said it was the best sauce he had ever tasted.
Syr watched Bell with satisfaction as his smile slowly returned.
—Another time, she continued, there was this poor foreign merchant who didn't understand anything about our menu. He ended up ordering... soap!
Bell let out a small laugh, imagining the scene.
— What did you do?
— He was served soap. Yes, Mama Mia said if that's what he wanted, that's what he'd get.
Bell shook his head, laughter finally lighting up his tired face.
—See? Syr added with a smile. Life can be ridiculous and unpredictable. But you have to learn to laugh at it sometimes.
She looked at him, her smile softening.
—You're doing your best, Bell, and that's what matters.
Bell was silent for a moment, but he felt his chest lighten a little.
Mama Mia, the landlady, interrupted their moment in a gruff tone:
— Syr, stop dawdling and get back to work, kid!
— Yes, yes, I'm coming! she replied, getting up.
Before leaving, she leaned towards Bell with a knowing smile:
— Remember, Bell. Sometimes, all you need is a little laughter to move forward.
After he left, Bell returned to Hestia, watching over her throughout the night.
Two days later
When Hestia woke up, she insisted on updating Bell. As she traced the runes of his status, her eyes widened.
— Bell! You got a new ability!
He straightened up, curious:
— A new ability?
— It's called Heroic Resolve. It accelerates your growth, but on one condition: you must believe in yourself completely. Plus, it gives you a natural resistance to divine charm.
Bell frowned.
— Resistance to divine charm?
Hestia looked away slightly, but an amused smile played on her lips.
— Oh, that might be useful to Orario… Be careful who you get attached to, Bell.
Ignoring the teasing, Bell focused on what this meant for his future as an adventurer.
The next day, Bell went to the guild to talk to Eina.
Upon learning that he had fought a Silverback, Eina nearly gutted him.
— What?! You faced a Silverback alone?!
—My stats are higher now… he answered timidly.
— Never mind! You need better equipment if you plan on going deeper into the dungeon. I'll help you find something.
The next day, they arranged to meet in the central square of Orario. When Bell saw Eina arrive, he was struck by her appearance. She was wearing an elegant dress that flattered her figure, and her hair was neatly styled.
Bell blushed violently.
— Y-you look beautiful, Eina!
She smiled, noticing his confusion, and decided to tease him:
— Oh, you know, I'm just doing this to impress you.
Bell, not knowing what to answer, mumbled something incomprehensible, which made Eina laugh.
They set out together for the Tower of Babel, where the best blacksmiths and equipment merchants in Orario were located.
At the Tower of Babel
Eina showed him several display cases containing expensive armor and weapons. Bell stared at the exorbitant prices, almost paralyzed.
Hestia suddenly appeared, dressed like a saleswoman.
— Bell? What are you doing here? And… with a woman?
Bell, embarrassed, quickly explained the situation.
— Hmph, at least you're not doing just anything. Come on, I know a place where you can find good deals.
They headed to a less prestigious section of the market. As they searched, Bell was drawn to a light armor on display with a label marked "Welf Crozzo."
—This one is perfect, he said, turning to Eina.
She approved of his choice, noting that the armor seemed well-made and reasonably priced. Bell enthusiastically purchased the armor.
As she left the store, Eina handed him a small shield that fit his arm.
— Here, to protect you a little better.
Bell thanked her warmly, a big smile on his face.
— Thank you, Eina. I… I love you!
Eina stood there frozen, her cheeks turning red as tomatoes.
— W-what?!
Bell, realizing what he had just said, clumsily ran away, leaving Eina alone, still troubled by his words.
Meanwhile, in Freya's Tower
Freya watched Orario from her tower, a mysterious smile on her lips. She walked over to a library filled with rare grimoires.
Picking up an ancient magic book, she whispered:
—This boy… He deserves a weapon that matches his potential.
His fingers slid over the blanket, and a smile played on his face as he thought of Bell.
— Keep growing, Bell Cranel. My hero.
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