Chapter 89 – Attack of the Frog Monster!
The sound of metal clattering echoed sharply through the dungeon chamber.
Bell's two daggers slipped from his hands and struck the stone floor. His body followed suit, collapsing beside them as his chest heaved up and down in labored gasps.
Now that the tension gripping every nerve in his body had finally unraveled, the pain and injuries he had been holding back all this time surged forward like a crashing wave.
It felt like his entire body had been shattered—like he'd been hammered from the inside out.
To Bell, this was a brutal, nearly unbearable toll.
"H-He actually won…?"
Lefiya stared at the scene before her, wide-eyed in disbelief.
He had been on the verge of losing just moments ago—how could the tide have turned so suddenly?
"Lefiya," Shin Akira said calmly beside her, "never underestimate the resolve of a man."
"Resolve…?"
She turned to face him. His smile was gentle, yet his eyes carried a depth she couldn't quite fathom.
She understood the word—but not the weight behind it. Having never tasted true despair, she had no way of comprehending the full meaning.
"He… he's amazing…"
It was Ais who whispered that with genuine admiration. Even she hadn't expected Bell to pull off such a dramatic comeback.
At that moment, Shin Akira stepped forward, pulling a small bottle from his backpack. It wasn't just any potion—it was a high-grade healing potion.
"Akira-nii… I did it…"
Bell turned to him with a bloodied smile, pain still etched across his face.
"Well done, Bell. Here—drink this."
"Okay!"
Without a second of hesitation, Bell downed the entire bottle. The trust between them went far beyond that of simple comrades.
As the potion slid down his throat, its effect was instantaneous. Warm energy surged through Bell's body, knitting torn muscles, sealing cuts, and easing the pain.
"T-That's… that's a high-grade potion… at least a hundred thousand valis…"
Lefiya murmured in disbelief, her eyes locked onto the speed of Bell's recovery.
"A hundred thousand valis?!"
Bell nearly choked on air, utterly stunned. He had never even seen that kind of money before.
A full day of fighting in the Dungeon might earn him just a few thousand at most—barely enough to live on.
"Why the surprise? Even the daggers you're using are worth several hundred thousand."
"H-Hundred thou—?!"
Another bomb dropped.
Bell froze, staring blankly at Shin Akira as if his brain had short-circuited.
"Don't overthink it. Those were just failed prototypes—one of the rejects from our captain, Tsubaki."
"Failed… prototypes…?"
Bell couldn't believe it.
A weapon stronger than anything he'd ever wielded in his life—being called a "failure"? It was clearly a high-grade weapon!
"If you really want to show your gratitude, tell that to Hestia. Don't let her down."
"I won't! I promise I'll do my best!"
Bell nodded firmly. He was someone who never forgot a debt. Even without being told, he already planned to repay this kindness.
The mood lightened.
Lefiya's gaze lingered on Shin Akira, her curiosity now turning into wonder. Just how had a beginner like Bell improved so much in just a few days under this man's guidance?
Even Ais began to view Shin Akira in a new light.
She had always pursued strength above all else. And now, seeing not only Akira's own formidable presence but also Bell's rapid growth under his tutelage… a desire began to stir within her—to ask him for guidance.
Suddenly, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed from deeper within the Dungeon.
The thudding grew louder, reverberating from the upper passageway. Everyone turned toward the source.
"Kehehe~ I finally found you, Shin Akira…"
A massive figure emerged from the shadows. Towering and obese, her wide face was lined with sagging skin. Thick, scar-like lips twisted into a grotesque grin. Bulging eyes blinked above slippery, frog-like skin. Her entire body resembled a hideous amphibious monster.
"Phryne Jamil!"
Ais's expression hardened the moment she saw her.
She knew that woman well. They had even crossed blades before.
The first encounter had been years ago—Ais was only Level 2 back then. She'd stumbled into Phryne by accident, and they clashed. That fight had only ended when Riveria and the others intervened.
Their second meeting was during an underground conflict two years later. That time, the two fought evenly until the battle ended in a draw.
But the third time? It was after Ais had reached Level 5. She had defeated Phryne—marking a turning point in her quest for vengeance.
"Eh? The Sword Princess?"
Phryne's face twisted with fury the moment she saw Ais.
If there was one person in all of Orario she wanted dead the most—it was the girl now standing before her. Ais Wallenstein. The beautiful, expressionless warrior often compared to a living porcelain doll.
Ais's fame had exploded after her victory over Phryne.
And that loss? It humiliated Phryne to her core.
"Perfect. You're here too. If I kill you now, I can erase that disgrace!"
Whatever original goal she had upon arriving, it was immediately forgotten. Enraged, Phryne lunged straight at Ais with murderous intent.
Ais didn't flinch.
In one smooth motion, she drew Desperate from her hip and met the charge head-on.
Shin Akira just blinked in mild confusion as the two clashed.
Wait—wasn't that frog-like woman here for him?
Why the hell was she charging at Ais instead?
"Akira-nii, um…"
Bell looked worried and wanted to speak but hesitated.
Phryne had called out Akira's name earlier—clearly, he was the target.
Just recently, he'd been attacked by four mysterious figures. Now today, some frog monster woman comes crashing in. How many enemies did his Nii-san even have?
It seemed like every day someone new came to kill him.
Even Lefiya understood that something was off. She hadn't met Phryne before, but judging by the way she and Ais started fighting the moment they locked eyes—it was obvious they shared a dark history.
The clash of steel rang out through the cavern. Blades clashed. Stone cracked beneath their feet.
Ais had once defeated Phryne at the start of her Level 5 journey.
Now, with time passed and the addition of Shin Akira's training methods, her strength had nearly peaked at the upper limit of Level 5.
Phryne, on the other hand, had stagnated at the same level for years. The gap between them had widened drastically.
There's an old saying—in the end, talent determines everything.
"Damn you, Sword Princess! I'm the most beautiful woman in all of Orario! Not even the goddesses can compare! You're just some emotionless doll—die already!"
Phryne, who somehow believed herself to be the pinnacle of beauty—even above the divine—could never accept Ais. The girl was beloved by the people, admired across the city, and famous as the Sword Princess whose beauty rivaled that of the gods.
In Orario, Ais was a true icon.
Showered with praise, adored by countless men.
But despite Phryne's insults and howls of rage—Ais said nothing.
She had only one goal—to defeat her.
From Phryne's very first words, Ais had realized that the woman was here for Shin Akira.
Which meant one thing:
She would deal with this threat herself.
To protect Shin Akira from harm—no matter what.
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