Chapter 61: Compensation and Teaching Skills

"Hestia Familia?" Hearing Bell's self-introduction, Finn couldn't help but feel a headache coming on. He knew that his goddess, Loki, and Goddess Hestia were old rivals. He had heard that Goddess Hestia was going to attend the Gods' Assembly recently, and Loki had even specially sought out a dress to provoke her. Then, she was provoked in turn and spent several days drinking alone at home. Those two were truly old arch-nemeses.

"Excuse me, why am I at the Loki Familia?"

"Do you remember what you were doing before?"

"What was I doing? I remember I gained magic, and then I kept using it in the Dungeon, and then..."

"And then you fainted, and we picked you up." Tiona, who had been sitting by and watching the show, interjected with a smile. "Gaining magic and then running into the Dungeon, constantly using it, and fainting... you're really adorable!"

Hearing Tiona's laughter, Bell's face couldn't help but turn red. A feeling of shyness welled up. So embarrassing, truly so embarrassing! At this moment, Bell just wanted to find a crack in the ground and disappear into it, escaping this world full of awkwardness.

"Don't panic." As someone who had been there, Finn, who clearly understood what these youngsters were thinking, patted Bell's shoulder and said with a smile, "It was Ais's idea to bring you back."

"Ais? You mean the Sword Princess, Ais Wallenstein?" Bell, who was already somewhat awkward, became even more flustered upon hearing Ais's name. He couldn't help but look around, searching for a way to leave.

"That's right, the Sword Princess Ais. But she should be in our patron goddess's room updating her Blessing right now; she'll be back soon." Hearing Finn say that, Bell wanted to escape even more. But just then, a heavy hand pressed on his shoulder.

"Don't even think about running, you know. If you run, Ais will be sad." Turning around, Bell saw a red-haired boy standing behind him, staring at him.

"You are...?"

"My name is Shirou Emiya, and I'm Ais's older brother!"

"Miss Ais's older brother?"

"That's right!" Placing the uncooked pOttartoes in his other hand aside, Shirou said seriously to Bell, "That child wants to apologize to you!"

"Apologize? Why would Miss Ais apologize to me?"

"It seems she wants to apologize to you for our companion's words at the tavern that day. After all, she thinks you were involved because of her."

"No, this has nothing to do with Miss Ais. I never cared about it." Bell replied seriously to Shirou's explanation. He had never thought of blaming anyone. On the contrary, because of Bete's words, he realized his own weakness and had been striving for it.

"Not bad, kid. I like what you said!" Patting Bell's shoulder, Shirou smiled, "Is there anything you urgently need, or anything else you'd like? I promised Ais I'd compensate you for her."

"No, no, no! Mr. Emiya, you don't need to compensate me at all, and I don't need anything."

"Is there nothing you subjectively want?" Ignoring Bell's statement about not needing compensation, Shirou surveyed Bell's surroundings. As for weapons, he had the Hestia Knife, so he didn't need any weapons at all. But for armor, a First-Class piece of equipment would be too conspicuous and easily stolen. If the Hestia Knife didn't have its owner-binding function, it would have been gone long ago. Indeed, in the end, it still came down to that!

"You're a member of the Hestia Familia, right?"

"That's right!" Bell nodded seriously. He was very proud of his Familia and had no reason to hide it.

"Then you probably don't have any seniors. If you think about it, no one should have taught you combat skills, right?" Hearing Shirou's words, Bell nodded. Indeed, his current combat was all self-taught; no one had taught him.

"In that case, I will teach you combat skills and the laws of survival in the Dungeon!"

"Eh?! Is that really okay?" Although Bell didn't want to accept Ais's and Shirou's compensation, what Shirou offered was exactly what he needed. Without anyone to teach him relevant knowledge, he didn't know when he might die in the Dungeon. He had a mental estimate of this. Therefore, he simply couldn't refuse Shirou's offered compensation. After all, nothing was more important than his own life, right? In short, he offered too much.

"Of course it's okay!" Looking at the somewhat embarrassed Bell, Shirou understood his dilemma. He had just said he didn't need compensation, but now he was asking if it was okay; he was probably very uneasy. Shirou patted Bell's shoulder and said seriously, "Bell, you must remember. In the Dungeon, the first priority is always to survive."

"No matter how difficult, how inglorious the process, only those who survive have a future."

"This is the first rule I, as an adventurer, will teach you!"

"Do you understand?!" Hearing Shirou's words, Bell suddenly remembered something similar Mama Mia had once told him.

"I understand, Mr. Emiya."

"Good that you understand!"

"I've made quite a few delicious dishes today, so why don't you eat before you leave?" With that, Shirou didn't give Bell a chance to refuse and headed towards the kitchen. After all, his dishes weren't ready yet.

After a period of diligent work, a table full of delicious food was prepared. After placing the dishes on the dining hall table, Shirou noticed that everyone was almost present. Besides the seven-person Dungeon exploration team, there were also Loki and Bell. However, Shirou soon noticed Bell sitting next to Finn and Loki, who was wary of him. Loki, who knew about Ais's and Bell's relationship from Riveria, was now extremely wary of Bell. She didn't want her prized cabbage to be trampled by a wild boar from outside, especially a wild boar from Hestia's Familia! But she didn't have time to deal with him today.

Once everyone was seated, Loki loudly announced, "Just today, our Familia's Ais has officially reached LV.6! And of course, Shirou has also reached LV.4! Let's celebrate them!"

"Oh!"

"Let the feast begin!"

"Oh!"

No sooner had Loki finished speaking than the already eager crowd began to vie for the food, Loki included. After all, this was Shirou's delicious cooking! When else would they get a chance to eat it? For a moment, everyone around the dining table secretly competed.

Shirou, who had been prepared, brought out the red bean cream fried pOttarto balls specially prepared for Ais and personally fed them to her. Faced with her favorite delicious treat, Ais adopted a cat-like posture and ate the fried pOttarto balls from Shirou's hand.

Watching this scene, Bell, who had been secretly peeking at Ais, felt as if struck by lightning. Then, he couldn't help but show a bitter smile. Indeed, just as Lady Hestia said, how could the renowned Sword Princess, Ais Wallenstein, not have a partner! Thinking about their names. Shirou! Ais Wallenstein! This didn't sound like a proper brother-sister relationship at all.

Greatly disheartened, Bell could only lower his head, using eating to hide his frustration. Huh? Why is this so delicious?! What kind of delicacy is this?

Bell, who had never tasted such delicious food, instantly forgot everything else and focused on enjoying the meal. Indeed, only delicious food is worth savoring!

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