I stepped out of the small church and took a deep breath of the warm midday air of Orario. The sun hung high above, casting sharp shadows across the street. Near the entrance, I spotted Bell sitting on a worn stone step, idly fiddling with his short knife. He looked up the moment I approached.
"Ah, Adi, you're done already?" he asked, flashing his usual shy smile.
"Yeah, Hestia-sama's checking on Eriri now," I replied, taking a seat beside him. For a moment, there was only the sound of the evening breeze rustling the nearby grass. "So… Bell, how deep have you gone into the Dungeon?"
He blinked in surprise. "Me? Uh… only up to the third floor. I'm still not strong enough to go deeper. The monsters down there hit a lot harder than I thought."
I crossed my arms, glancing at the bright sky overhead. It seemed that Eriri and I had arrived just before the story truly began — right at the starting point of Bell Cranel's journey.
"So," I said casually, "you're thinking about trying the fifth floor next, aren't you?"
Bell's eyes widened. "Huh!? How did you— I mean… I was just considering it…" He scratched his cheek awkwardly, clearly wondering how I'd figured out his reckless plan — the one that would lead to him being saved by Ais, and afterward, gaining that strange "cheat" growth out of his desperate wish to become stronger like her after being mocked by one particular beast man.
"But if you join us… we might actually be able to reach the fifth floor, right?" Bell said, his eyes lighting up with excitement, like a child about to touch his dream for the first time.
Watching him, I couldn't help but wonder if this was really okay. My and Eriri's arrival had already altered the flow of events in this world. Bell's path — the one I remembered from the story — was slowly starting to change.
If things had gone normally, Bell would have faced that fateful encounter with the Minotaur, been saved by Ais, and awakened his incredible "cheat" growth born from humiliation and admiration. But now… with us here, maybe that event wouldn't happen at all.
"I'm not sure when Bell will meet the Minotaur and be saved by Ais," I thought to myself, glancing at the bright, hopeful look on his face. "But if we move quickly, maybe we can still make it in time. Having strong allies early on isn't a bad thing."
Still, a small voice in the back of my mind whispered uneasily that Eriri's and my arrival had already changed the fate of this world—or maybe, from the very beginning, this world was meant to take a different path, just as the Administrator had said.
"Haaa… it feels a little strange…" Eriri muttered with a sigh as she adjusted her robe. Her golden twin tails swayed slightly as she pouted, looking both tired and annoyed despite only being inside for a few minutes.
Meanwhile, Hestia looked far too pleased with herself, practically glowing with satisfaction.
"Ahahaha, I never thought I'd see such incredible abilities from people of another world! And those names—so unique and full of charm!" the goddess said with a bright, almost teasing smile, clearly delighted by what she'd just witnessed.
I couldn't help but smile wryly at the contrast between the two. Hestia was brimming with energy, while Eriri looked like she'd just been through an interview she didn't apply for. Out of curiosity, I focused for a moment, activating my skill to see Eriri's status through the [System Link].
[ Status: Eriri Spencer Sawamura ]
Race: Human
Level: 1
Basic Abilities:
STR: I 67
END: I 59
DEX: H 115
AGI: H 85
MAG: I 102
Magic:
[Art Creation] – Converts imagination into temporary reality. Currently allows Eriri to draw weapons or small items using her sketchpad, which materialize for up to three minutes.
[Color Burst] – Releases pigment-like energy that temporarily boosts her stats depending on the color she chooses.
Red = STR, Brown = END, Yellow = DEX, Green = AGI, Blue = MAG.
Skills:
[Creative Drive] – Temporarily increases DEX and MAG when drawing or crafting.
[Tsundere Spirit] – Slightly increases attack power when flustered, embarrassed, or trying to prove herself.
Her stats were impressive for a beginner—especially her DEX and MAG. I could already imagine how dangerous she could be once she got used to her new abilities.
"Hmm, that look on your face… You're analyzing me again, aren't you?" Eriri said, narrowing her eyes suspiciously as she crossed her arms.
I chuckled softly. "Can you blame me? You look more like a battle artist than a mage now."
Her cheeks puffed slightly, and she turned her head away. "Hmph, it's not like I wanted this power for you to praise me or anything. However, I can say that this ability really suits me, because basically, as an otaku and someone who likes to draw, it's not strange that I sometimes imagine my drawings could become real."
Hestia giggled, clearly enjoying the dynamic between us. "You two are really interesting… I can already tell my Familia's going to get noisy from now on."
I smiled at that. Noisy or not, this felt like the real beginning of our adventure in Orario. And honestly, after getting our blessings and seeing our new powers firsthand, there was only one natural thing left to do—test them.
The thought of stepping into the Dungeon for the first time, side by side with Eriri and Bell, sent a faint thrill through me. Whatever awaited us down there, it was time to see what we were truly capable of.
Still, for some reason, I couldn't shake off a strange feeling. Something deep inside told me that we were going to experience something extraordinary. After all, this wasn't just about exploring the Dungeon or collecting magic stones—this was a journey that might decide the fate of the world itself.
I let out a small sigh. "Yeah… it's definitely not going to be as simple as just adventuring." Entering the Dungeon alongside the protagonist of this world felt both exciting and unsettling. Even if the so-called plot armor around Bell had weakened—perhaps twisted by the chaos or miasma that warped fate itself—I couldn't shake the feeling that he would still attract every major event like a magnet.
"Maybe, no matter what happens, the minotaur's arrival will still occur…" I muttered under my breath. Then I paused, realizing what I had just said.
"Wait—did I just raise a flag?" I groaned, burying my face in my hand. "Damn it. Why did I have to say that out loud?"
Eriri glanced at me, puzzled. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," I said quickly. "Just… preparing myself for the worst. You know, in case a certain monster decides to ruin our first Dungeon dive."
[author]
Each chapter is about 1,000-1,200 words, and I'll post whenever I reach that mark. Sundays are my day off, so no updates then.
[/author]