Chapter 271: I'm Not Like the Sword Princess

Riveria sighed, then shifted her attention back to Ais.

"You're far too reckless."

If Ais had collapsed before Udaeus on the 37th floor, she would have undoubtedly died.

In the end, it was only thanks to a slight edge in explosive power that she managed to take one step ahead. Simply put, surviving came down to sheer luck.

Sometimes, things really are just that unreasonable—it's only because of a bit of luck that you're given the chance to move forward.

Watching Ais's slowly regenerating limbs take shape, Riveria still felt deeply shaken. This was her first time witnessing such a sight.

Undeniably, limb regeneration offered tremendous hope to countless retired adventurers.

For most adventurers, losing a limb marked the end of their perilous careers.

But if something like "Limb Regeneration" became known in Orario, countless long-silent adventurers might come flooding back like mushrooms after rain.

"His sudden appearance must've been to keep this a secret."

The moment Bell appeared, Riveria understood—he hadn't come out of concern for Ais's injuries.

He was there solely to prevent anyone from witnessing the scene of Ais's severed limbs.

He was managing the information about "Limb Regeneration."

Riveria knew Bell was always cautious, but she hadn't expected such a fast, decisive response from him.

Still, regardless of the reason, she was grateful for his help.

Without Bell, Ais might not have made it back to the surface alive.

And losing her limbs could have placed a heavy burden on her, both physically and mentally.

But maybe Ais needed that kind of pressure.

This time, Riveria clearly saw the issues Ais was facing, and she was determined to have a serious talk with her once she woke up.

As time passed, Ais's severed arms and legs, once flickering with illusion, now appeared almost solid.

Curious, Riveria reached out to touch them.

She felt warmth and a distinct sensation—regeneration was progressing well.

"Looks like it's going smoothly."

As long as her limbs could be restored, there wouldn't be too big a problem.

Riveria had no intention of returning to the surface right away.

If Ais were still in danger, she would have, but now that the worst had passed, what she needed was rest.

Even so, Riveria had no plans to enter the "City of Rivira."

She hadn't forgotten the trouble that woman caused last time.

With Ais still unconscious, Riveria had no intention of revealing their location under any circumstances.

"Good thing we brought a tent and food in the space waist pouch."

In the past, they wouldn't have packed enough for such a temporary expedition into the Dungeon. After all, each person could only carry so much.

It was thanks to the space pouches that they could bring along more supplies.

Especially on non-expedition trips—just dives into the Dungeon for money—these pouches were incredibly useful. Nearly every one could hold a tent and enough food.

They set up camp deeper in the jungle, further from the usual paths.

Once everything was ready, Riveria carried the unconscious Ais into the tent. After a long stretch of activity, she too went inside to rest.

As for Bell—though he was supposed to leave, he didn't do so right away. Only after setting up a barrier around the area did he finally depart.

Before leaving, Bell cast one last glance at the Nine Hell.

'I'm not the kind of guy who just blindly charges ahead.'

It was precisely because he understood how perilous the road ahead was that he paced himself carefully. That was Bell's approach.

But the "Sword Princess," even knowing the dangers, pushed forward without regard for her own limits—like someone who wouldn't stop until hitting a wall. The problem was, even if she smashed herself against it, the wall wouldn't budge.

That's why Bell was clear—he and the "Sword Princess" were fundamentally different.

He disliked standing in the spotlight, while she would unconsciously step into it.

That was their core difference.

'A fool who's not afraid of death is the scariest kind.'

And the fool he meant was the "Sword Princess."

Once he left, Bell stopped paying attention to the Nine Hell and the Sword Princess. He had his own matters to handle.

He couldn't afford to keep all his attention on just the two of them.

'Cognition... it's developed in a way far beyond what I imagined.'

After several tests, Bell was certain—this unique development ability called 'Cognition' was clearly influenced by the 'Nine Character Seals.'

And that influence was undoubtedly positive.

Through testing, he realized that 'Cognition' functioned similarly to the effect granted by 'Kuji Kanesada.'

The difference was that the Cognition of 'Kuji Kanesada' enabled him to pierce through defenses, while his own Cognition lacked that kind of physical effect.

This development ability didn't grant any physical power boost, but subtly deepened his understanding of things.

For example, instead of subconsciously exploiting a monster's weaknesses based on instinct, he could now consciously identify them with his eyes—clearly recognizing vulnerabilities and where to strike.

It sounded somewhat like the 'Mystic Eyes of Death Perception,' but it wasn't the same.

'Cognition' didn't interfere physically. It simply deepened comprehension.

At least, that's how Bell saw it now.

In fact, while using 'Kuji Kanesada,' his subconscious awareness could be refined into more detailed perception through his eyes.

And even when he wasn't using 'Kuji Kanesada,' that Cognition wouldn't fade.

It could be said that the development ability 'Cognition' existed to enhance the auxiliary effects of 'Kuji Kanesada.'

But it wasn't limited to that. Even without activating 'Kuji Kanesada,' this Cognition continued to deepen his perception of the world around him. In that sense, it was fundamentally different.

What it directly improved was Bell's ability to perceive and understand, allowing him to extract even more information through his eyes.

...

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