'So the Dungeon really is a womb that spawns monsters. That explains why they can emerge straight from the walls. But the fact that this womb is under the control of the Black Dragon... that part is unexpected.'
'No wonder Orario was built atop the Dungeon. Besides suppressing the birth of monsters, the city was probably also meant to seize the Dungeon's core once the Black Dragon is defeated. As long as the core is secured, taking down the Black Dragon wouldn't mean the Dungeon's destruction, and this playground of the gods wouldn't have to shut down.'
'Still, the joint expedition by the former Hera and Zeus Familias to defeat the Black Dragon ended in complete annihilation. That suggests the Black Dragon's control over the Dungeon core was a major factor. But there must've been other reasons too—otherwise, two powerful Familias, one with a Level 8 and the other with a Level 9, wouldn't have been wiped out so thoroughly.'
Bell instinctively felt that there were deeper secrets at play—truths not recorded anywhere. He hadn't even read the full story of Danmachi. Skimming wikis and reading character summaries didn't equate to understanding the whole picture.
When it came to the unknown, Bell always maintained the deepest respect.
He didn't like making baseless assumptions about things he didn't fully understand. But this part of the Dungeon's background—this he would jot down in his notes. Even if it was only speculation for now, gathering more information couldn't hurt. If he found new pieces later, he might actually be able to piece together some theories about what really happened back then.
Seeing Bell so focused and deep in thought, Hestia gave a small nod. After waiting a moment for him to return from his thoughts, she picked up where they'd left off.
"So, Bell. If you're heading into the Dungeon, don't underestimate it. There are many strange and unbelievable things down there. Once you're in, it's not easy for someone to come to your rescue. You'll need to protect yourself."
Feeling the warmth of Hestia's concern, Bell naturally took her words to heart. As he had said before, he wasn't someone who enjoyed taking reckless risks. Throwing your life away when you still had room to grow—that was just plain foolish. Even if he aimed to fight above his level, he needed the right conditions and skills first.
To move an entire era with your own strength, you needed a solid foundation. Without that, forget changing the world—you wouldn't even be able to defeat the enemy in front of you.
"Don't worry, Goddess-sama. I'll be extra careful in the Dungeon. I'm just a coward who's afraid of dying, so I'm not about to throw my life away that easily."
Of course, Bell's reasons for going into the Dungeon weren't just about growth.
There was also money—and technique.
The "Type-Moon System" gave him a way to trade money for progress. Naturally, Bell wouldn't pass up on that.
Power might be something you could buy with money, but technique was something you had to earn. That made the Dungeon the best place to gather both early funds and combat experience.
The upper levels weren't especially difficult—they existed primarily to help beginner Adventurers get used to the Dungeon. It was all part of laying the groundwork for tackling the middle and lower floors later on.
Bell wholeheartedly agreed with that approach.
Hearing his reassurance, Hestia visibly relaxed. As long as Bell didn't charge recklessly into the lower floors, the danger would be much more manageable.
Once her tension eased, the fatigue from all the cleaning finally caught up with her.
Hestia let out a yawn, her eyes starting to close as she rubbed them out of habit.
Seeing how tired she looked, Bell didn't dawdle. He laid a blanket over the sofa, slipped off his shoes, and lay down.
"Goddess-sama, let's leave the rest for tomorrow."
"Mm, I'm so sleepy..."
As she spoke, Hestia's eyes drooped. Yawning, she lay down on the wooden bed. Her half-lidded gaze drifted to Bell, already asleep on the nearby sofa, and a soft smile tugged at her lips.
'Today really was a good day. Bell joined my Familia. I finally have a follower of my own.'
At that moment, Bell extinguished the candle beside him. A thin trail of white smoke rose from the wick, and the scent of burned wax spread through the room.
In the dim space, the two lay quietly—one on the bed, the other on the sofa.
Bell, exhausted from a long day, fell asleep almost instantly. After more than ten days of constant travel and wariness toward strangers, his body and mind had long since reached their limits. To finally rest in peace on the sofa—this was the best reward he could ask for.
While Bell slept soundly, Hestia, who just moments ago was drowsy herself, found her eyes fluttering open.
"Bell, are you still awake?"
Only steady, rhythmic breathing answered her.
'He's asleep? He really must've been tired.'
She didn't know what kind of hardships Bell had faced before arriving in Orario, but judging by how soundly he was sleeping, it must have been rough.
Without realizing it, Hestia sat up in bed. She didn't say a word, only silently watched Bell sleeping peacefully on the sofa nearby.
'I never imagined my first follower would come to me like this.'
Now that she thought about it, their meeting had been almost theatrical in its timing.
If she hadn't been in a bad mood from being rejected by Adventurers and gone to vent to Hephaestus, she never would've met Bell. She certainly wouldn't have become his goddess when he later came to Hephaestus asking for help.
Hestia narrowed her eyes slightly. A feeling she could only call "luck" welled up inside her.
Time ticked by as moonlight spilled in through the window.
The cool silver glow cast a soft light across Bell's face as he slept on the sofa.
Bathed in the moonlight, his fair skin looked even more radiant. His serene, flawless sleeping face made Hestia freeze for a moment, mesmerized.
'He's so cute~'
Hestia had always thought Bell suited her tastes perfectly. Now, seeing his peaceful face in the moonlight, she was even more certain. He looked so adorable—like a newborn child fast asleep, utterly content.
Though she really wanted to reach out and touch him, Hestia reminded herself it was bedtime, and held back.
'My child is just too cute.'
As his goddess, Hestia couldn't help the smile that curved her lips.
The longer she watched, the sleepier she became. Her eyelids slowly dropped, and before long, she drifted into a deep and gentle sleep.