Chapter 32. Unavoidable Malice
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Having no strength and witnessing your companions get hurt is a disgrace.
But having strength and still watching them get hurt—this is a sin!
I have the strength, and I have the resolve.
Welf watched Bell, standing at the front of the group, fending off monsters.
If I can't protect him from harm, at least let me share it with him!
Welf exhaled, drawing the large sword he had forged for himself, and slashed at a monster attacking Bell from the side.
"Welf?" Bell looked surprised.
"Hey, hey, hey, don't underestimate me. Even though I'm only level 1, I've still got some strength," Welf grinned. "I'm Welf, fighting here with you!"
"Let's fight together!" Bell nodded firmly.
"And with Lili!" Lili, unwilling to be left out, waved her crossbow. "Leave the support to Lili!"
"Count on you, little senior," Welf gave a thumbs up.
"Lili won't lose! Lili is Bell-sama's best companion!" Lili stuck out her tongue, while at the same time, her crossbow repelled a monster attacking Welf.
She had been betrayed by everyone, sunk deep in the mire of despair, even giving up on herself, drifting aimlessly. But that day, a silly guy told her, "I'll save you." Despite being just a betrayer, he opened his arms for her.
He was bound by talent, "Magic swords are strong and convenient," they said. Just because of that, his efforts were denied. No matter how excellent his creations were, all they said was, "I only want your magic swords." But that day, a naive guy told him, "It's okay if you don't make magic swords." What a fool. Those people weren't wrong. Compared to magic swords, the gear he made was truly worthless.
To them, Bell wasn't just an apprentice stumbling down the path of a hero—he "was" a hero. Because of their beliefs, their lives had been saved.
No matter what... we must protect our hero!
Lili and Welf exchanged a glance, seeing the determination in each other's eyes.
"Looks like there's not much left for us to do," Ryuu nodded in satisfaction. "Equipment, coordination, strength—these are indispensable in dungeon exploration, but they've already gained something beyond that: a bond."
"All that's left is time," Cyd crossed his arms behind his head.
"All clear, no signs of monster regeneration in the area," Bell stretched lazily.
"So tired," Welf leaned on his sword, panting.
"Teacher, which floor are we on now?" Bell sheathed his dagger.
"The sixteenth floor," Cyd patted Bell's shoulder. "You've improved! Before, I had to drag you to the fifteenth floor, and now you've made it to the sixteenth on your own."
"That's because of Welf and Lili," Bell scratched his head.
"No, no, no, we were just buying time," Welf waved his hand. "This is where you shouldn't be modest."
"Exactly, Bell-sama defeated most of the monsters," Lili nodded in agreement.
Ryuu nodded as well. Based on the actual battle, all Lili could do was harass, Welf could handle weaker monsters, but Bell... as long as the monsters weren't overwhelming in numbers, he had no trouble at all.
"But we're running low on supplies," Lili covered her forehead with a troubled expression. "Bell-sama, you alone used up all the healing potions. Why does Bell-sama always look so energized after drinking them?"
Bell, embarrassed, glanced at Cyd, who silently turned his head away.
"If we turn back now, our supplies won't last. I have a suggestion," Ryuu raised a finger. "Go to the 18th floor. There's a safe zone, and some adventurers have set up shops there. We can replenish our supplies, but be warned, the prices are outrageous."
"What?!"
"Ah... Lili has heard of it too. They say it's so expensive it can make you vomit blood," Lili instinctively hugged her pouch. "Lili will absolutely not sell everyone's hard-earned loot at a loss!"
"Well... it's just a rumor. Maybe... it won't be that bad," Bell scratched his cheek, then raised his fist. "We have to believe!"
Ryuu held her forehead. As someone who had been there, she knew all too well that the 18th floor...
"Huh?! This price? Do you think I'm selling goblin magic stones?" Lili waved the Minotaur's magic stone furiously. "Look closely! This is a Minotaur's magic stone!"
"Oh, so what?" The shopkeeper picked his ear. "You can choose not to buy it."
"Hey!!!"
"Don't be angry, Lili. We can check out other stalls," Bell held Lili's hand.
"Hmph, it'll be the same everywhere. Just a novice who only kills goblins," the shopkeeper sneered. "Don't think you can act high and mighty just because you had the dumb luck to reach level 2."
Bell froze, then lowered his eyes in disappointment.
["I've seen a hero, you know~. When he grows, he influences people, changes them, leads them. People don't envy him, they don't hate him, they don't rely on him. All they do is follow him. He... was born to be a hero."]
His kind grandfather always told him that, so... he naturally believed that if he wanted to become a hero, he could do it. It was supposed to be like that... he didn't rely on any borrowed power, always worked hard, always fought desperately, no matter how badly Hestia beat him, he would get back up, no matter how scared he was, he would face the swarms of monsters. But why...
Bell clenched his fists, his nails digging into his flesh, blood seeping from between his fingers and dripping to the ground.
["Hah, a coward who only kills goblins dares to act high and mighty."]
["I doubt he even killed that Minotaur. Probably had some big shot do it for him."]
["Look at the shield in his hand, tsk tsk tsk."]
["Hero's apprentice? Who does he think he is? Look how full of himself he is."]
He could hear it. Even if he pretended not to, he could hear it—the malice in their words.
Because Bell didn't respond, the malicious murmurs grew louder and louder.
"You guys are going too far!" Lili shouted in defiance at the growing crowd of adventurers. "Bell-sama reached level 2 by his own strength!"
"Hah? Who would believe that? Sword Princess took a year to do it, and he did it in a month? Who believes that? Just some clever trick!" A tall adventurer waved his hand dismissively. "He just used some underhanded means!"
"You!"
"It's okay, Lili," Bell raised his hand to hold Lili's. "Let's go."
"But!" Lili protested, unwilling to back down.
"It's okay," Bell shook his head, forcing a bitter smile. "We can't afford to cause a scene here."
"Tch," Welf set down his magic sword.
"Tuck your tail and run, fake hero!"
Yeah, let's break their jaws.
Cyd raised his right hand, the scarf around his neck slowly rising, and black scales spread to his fingertips.
"Teacher?"
At the moment his cool voice sounded, all the noise on the street vanished. Everyone's eyes were locked on the group appearing in the street.
A banner bearing the emblem of a trickster slowly fluttered in the wind.