Is It Wrong to Explore the Dungeon Even Though I’m Overpowered? (Danmachi SI- WC) (Patreon)

Chapter 15: Calm Before the Storm

In the end, Hephaistos had agreed to tutor me for an hour or two whenever she had free time, which I gratefully thanked her for. The redhead left in a cheerful mood, promising to return soon.

With all the morning’s excitement finally behind us, it was time for the moment I’d been looking forward to—the update of my Falna… and my long-awaited level-up.

“I still can’t believe it only took you a week to level up,” Hestia muttered, her tone a mix of awe and fond exasperation as she sat on my lower back, her hands glowing faintly as she updated my status. “And these stats… they’re ridiculous.”

I chuckled softly, resting my chin on my folded arms as I lay prone. “Guess I got lucky.”

“Lucky?” she huffed. “That’s not luck, Rein-kun. That’s absurd. You’ve been breaking records left and right, and now…” Her voice trailed off as she reached the section listing Development Abilities. “You even rolled Mystery. Of course you’d get something that vague and overpowered.”

She fell quiet for a moment, fingers pausing thoughtfully. “Though… I guess we could use this as a cover once people find out you managed to heal Hephaistos,” she muttered. “Mystery’s vague enough to excuse a miracle or two.”

“Are you guys done?” came Artemis’s voice, cutting through Hestia’s pondering. Her entrance signaled that she’d already finished granting her Falna to her new recruits.

“Just wrapping up, Artemis.” Hestia replied brightly. “You know Rein-kun— he just had to pull off something ridiculous again without even trying.”

She grabbled blank sheet of parchment and pressed it against my back. A soft glow pulsed for a moment before my updated stats transferred cleanly onto the page.

“Well either way—congratulations, Rein-kun.” Hestia beamed as she finally climbed off my back. “Fastest person ever—past, present, and probably future—to level up this quickly.”

The familiar warmth of my shirt and coat returned in a shimmer of light as my shroud reformed around my torso, letting me sit up comfortably.

“Congratulations, Rein~ Your hard work paid off,” Artemis added with a gentle smile. Even so, I caught the faintest flicker of worry in her eyes. “Now we just need to think up for a good nickname for you before the next Denatus.”

“I thought we were going with Sword Saint?” Hestia asked, tilting her head. “It was his title in his original world after all.”

I scratched the back of my head, a bit sheepish. “If I’m being honest… I don’t really care much about titles. I didn’t earn that one on my own—it was passed down. And besides, I’d rather people see me for who I am now, not what I was before.”

I gave them both a small smile. “Still, if you think it fits, I won’t argue. Just… don’t expect me to start introducing myself like that.”

Artemis chuckled softly, her arms crossed as she leaned against the nearby wall. “That’s very much like you, Rein. Humble to a fault. But that’s exactly why it suits you.”

Hestia grinned, hands on her hips. “Well, Sword Saint or not, once word gets out, the Guild’s going to have a field day. Not to mention the other gods at Denatus. You’ve basically lit a fire under all of them.”

I sighed, rubbing my temples. “I was hoping to keep a low profile for at least a little while longer. Maybe explore the Dungeon in peace.”

“Too late for that,” Artemis said with a shake of her head. “You’re already a walking legend before even reaching the lower floors. And now that you’ve healed a goddess? There’s no hiding anymore.”

I glanced at both of them—two goddesses who, for some reason, had taken me in, supported me, believed in me. Even with all this talk of fame, I couldn’t help but feel… grounded. Lucky, even.

“I didn’t come here to become famous,” I said, my voice quiet but steady. “I came to protect. To help. If that brings attention, then so be it. But I won’t change who I am for anyone.”

Hestia looked at me warmly, eyes shining with pride. “You’ve got a good heart, Rein-kun. Just don’t forget we’re with you, no matter what happens next.”

Artemis nodded in agreement, her expression more serious. “And we’ll make sure the Denatus doesn’t twist your name into something ridiculous.”

“…Please do,” I muttered. “I really don’t want to be stuck with something like ‘Super Handsome Fire-Haired Miracle Boy’ or whatever someone might come up with.”

That got a laugh out of both of them, and for a moment, the weight of the morning melted away, replaced by the simple comfort of companionship.

Our tender moment was suddenly interrupted as Emma Flores—one of Artemis’s newest recruits—burst into the room, practically glowing with excitement. Her pink hair bounced with every step as she rushed in, her eyes wide in admiration.

“Senpai~! Is it true that it only took you a week to level up?” she asked, leaning forward with the kind of eager energy that made me instinctively scoot back a little.

Before I could answer, the hallway behind her erupted with noise as the rest of the group followed right on her heels. Within seconds, the doorway was packed with curious faces, all craning to get a look at me. Questions started flying at me from every direction, a rapid-fire barrage of voices asking everything from how I did it to what kind of abilities I got.

Rem and Ram stood on either side of the door, trying their best to keep the group from fully spilling into the room, but even they were getting pulled along by the enthusiasm in the air.

I gave them all a sheepish smile, raising a hand slightly in surrender. “Uh… yes, it’s true. I guess I just got really lucky.”

That only made things worse.

At the very back of the crowd, just barely visible between a pair of overly curious adventurers, I spotted Lante. She gave me a cheeky wave the moment our eyes met, a sly grin tugging at the corners of her lips. That look alone was all the confirmation I needed.

So she was the one who spilled the beans.

I raised an eyebrow at her in mock accusation, but she just shrugged with a grin that said "what did you expect?"

I sighed quietly, rubbing the back of my neck. “I should’ve known,” I muttered under my breath, though I couldn’t bring myself to be annoyed. Honestly, with how excited everyone looked… maybe it wasn’t such a bad thing after all.

=====

Since level-ups had to be reported to the Guild, that was where I found myself heading now, finally breaking away from the swarm of overexcited new recruits after managing to sneak in a much-needed breather.

Oddly enough, I was alone—a rare thing these days. Est, or at least one of the twins, was usually with me wherever I went, but today the city felt strangely quiet with just my own footsteps echoing around me.

When I arrived at the Guild, the familiar sight of Rose behind the counter greeted me. Her scarlet hair instantly recognizable to my eye now, and as always, she had that calm presence about her. When she noticed me, I gave a small wave, and a smile found its way to my lips as she shyly returned it—still not quite used to gestures like that.

“Hello, Rose,” I said warmly as I approached the counter, thankful she wasn’t already helping someone. “Do you have a moment? There’s something I’d like to talk to you about in private… Some news I wanted to share with you personally.”

She tilted her head slightly, intrigued, then gave a soft nod. “Of course. Please, follow me.”

She led me to one of the smaller meeting rooms tucked away from the main floor. Once we stepped inside, she quietly shut the door behind us and locked it, a subtle but appreciated gesture. When she turned to face me, her curiosity was clear in her eyes.

“Well?” she asked, folding her hands neatly in front of her. “What’s the news?”

I took a breath, letting the quiet between us settle for a moment before speaking.

“I’ve leveled up.” I said, my voice calm, tinged with a hint of sheepishness.

Rose’s eyes widened in a rare display of surprise before she quickly schooled her expression, clearing her throat into her hand.

“That’s…difficult to believe.” She replied, slipping into her usual professional tone. “It’s only been a week since you started, after all. I’ll need to confirm it.”

I couldn’t blame her. Even I had a little trouble believing it, and I was the one living it.

‘Then again this is Reinhard we’re talking about here along with Yuuya.’

Smiling gently, I gave a nod. “Of course, Rose. I figured you might say that, so I came prepared.”

I reached into my coat and retrieved the status sheet Hestia had written up, laying it neatly on the table between us. Then, without saying anything more, I slipped off my coat and began taking off my shirt.

When I turned back to face her, I caught her staring.

Her eyes were wide again, cheeks tinged with pink, clearly caught off guard. Her gaze was locked on my exposed torso—on the divine script etched into my back, no doubt. But the moment our eyes met, she flushed deeper, turning her head away with a sharp breath as if burned.

“I-It’s just for verification,” she muttered quickly, flustered.

I fought back a chuckle and settled into the chair facing the desk, doing my best to act like I hadn’t noticed her reaction.

Still, it was cute seeing Rose flustered. She was usually so composed, it made these rare moments all the more memorable.

A moment later, I felt her presence behind me—quiet and composed as ever—before soft fingers gently brushed against my back.

“…It’s real,” Rose whispered, disbelief lacing her normally steady voice. “You actually leveled up… in just a week.”

“…Yeah,” I murmured.

“This… this is going to send shockwaves through the Guild,” she said, stepping back as if trying to gather her thoughts. “There are adventurers who’ve trained for years without seeing progress, and you… you managed it in seven days.”

“I’m sorry if this ends up making things more complicated for you,” I said, offering her a small bow.

That earned the faintest twitch of her lips—a small, fleeting smile—before she composed herself once more.

“I’ll file the report,” she replied, reaching for the parchment on the table. “But Reinhard… be prepared. This level of growth will attract attention. From the Guild, the Gods, and other Familia… Everyone will be watching you now.”

Even with her professional mask firmly in place, I could still see it—the worry quietly flickering behind her eyes.

Smiling softly, I bowed my head. “Thank you, Rose. I appreciate the warning—and the concern. I’ll be careful.”

Rose didn’t respond right away. She just looked at me for a few quiet moments, her expression unreadable. Then, with the barest hint of a smile, she shook her head.

“Don’t worry about it. I am your Guild Advisor, after all.”

I returned her smile as I finished slipping on my shirt and adjusting my cloak. “Seems like I picked the right one, then.”

Her cheeks flushed just slightly as she looked away. “Just... please don’t let this go to your head.”

A soft chuckle escaped me as I rose to my feet. “No promises, but I’ll count on you to keep me grounded if it ever does.”

She gave me a sideways glance, eyes briefly shimmering with amusement. “…You’re a strange one, Reinhard.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” I replied, stepping out behind her with an easy grin.

As we stepped back into the lobby, I couldn’t shake the feeling that everything was going to change from here on out.

The air felt heavier now—charged, like the calm before a storm.

‘I knew I couldn’t hide forever. Word was always going to spread.’ My gaze swept across the room, catching unfamiliar faces, some curious, others cautious. ‘Now I just have to get strong enough… strong enough that my actions don’t end up hurting the people around me.’

After saying goodbye to Rose, I made my way out of the Guild, a quiet resolve in my steps.

=====

(Next Day)

With a new day ahead of us, it was time to get back into the grind. We made our way toward the dungeon, with a quick stop first to pick up Naaza.

Since we usually started our day pretty early, I didn’t know if news of my level-up had reached the populace yet but I was not holding out any hopes.

Today, Est and Ram were accompanying me, while Rem stayed behind to help the girls properly settle into Sweet Home.

Strangely, Naaza seemed a bit off, her usual energy dampened despite her sincere congratulations when she heard about my level-up. Her smile was there, but something in her eyes didn’t quite match.

Intrigued and wanting to help, I made a mental note to ask her what was bothering her as soon as we stepped into the dungeon, leaving Ram to handle the brunt of things in the meantime.

“Is something the matter, Naaza? You don’t seem like yourself today,” I asked gently, my voice tinged with concern. She blinked in surprise, clearly caught off guard.

“N-no, I’m fine, really. I just didn’t sleep much last night,” she stammered, shaking her head as if to dismiss my question.

Even without the benefit of a Divine Protection or my usual intuition, it was painfully obvious that she was lying. The faint droop of her ears—usually so alert and animated—gave her away. Something was definitely bothering her.

I raised an eyebrow, unconvinced by her words. "Naaza, I want you to know that if there’s anything bothering you, you don’t have to hide it from me." I continued gently.

Her ears twitched, her posture stiffening for a moment before she gave a small sigh, her shoulders slumping slightly. “It’s nothing… really. I just—” She trailed off, hesitating, before meeting my gaze with a flicker of vulnerability in her eyes. “It’s just that... I’m not sure how to fit in with the others.”

I blinked, a little taken aback by the sudden shift in her tone. "What do you mean?"

Naaza bit her lip, eyes darting to the side as she tried to collect her thoughts. “You’re all so strong, so capable... and I feel like I’m just holding you back. I know I’m not a fighter like the rest of you... and it’s like... I don’t know if I belong here anymore.”

Her words hung in the air, a weight I hadn’t expected. Despite her happy demeanor most of the time, this hidden insecurity had been lingering just beneath the surface.

‘I see… Watching Rem and Ram fight like that—and with my recent level-up—it must’ve made her feel like she’s not contributing enough to the team.’

I took a slow breath, letting her words sink in before responding, my tone softening. “Naaza, you’re not holding anyone back. You bring more to this group than you realize.”

She glanced at me, uncertainty still clouding her expression, but a faint glimmer of hope flickered in her eyes. I offered a reassuring smile, hoping to ease the tension in her shoulders. “You’ve been scouting, brewing potions, watching our backs. Your knowledge and support skills? Invaluable. We’re all fighters at heart, but we need someone like you who can hold the rest of us together.”

Naaza’s ears twitched ever so slightly, her doubt still lingering. “But… I’m not like the others. I’m not strong like you, or Rem-san, Ram-san, or Est. I can’t even fight properly—”

“Strength isn’t just about fighting,” I interrupted gently. “In my opinion, true strength is overcoming your own shortcomings—and finding the will to keep going, no matter what stands in your way.”

Naaza’s eyes widened slightly, caught off guard by the sincerity in my voice. She looked away for a moment, as if trying to hide the way her emotions flickered behind her expression.

“That’s the kind of strength you show every day,” I continued, softer now. “You keep showing up—even after what you went through just days ago. Even when you feel like you’re falling behind. That takes more courage than swinging a sword ever could.”

Her hands eased by her side, no longer clenching in quiet frustration. The silence between us settled into something more comfortable—quiet, but no longer heavy.

“...Thank you,” she whispered after a moment, her ears drooping slightly, but her voice steadier than before. “I think I needed to hear that.”

“You’re welcome,” I said simply. “You’re important Naaza—to this team… and to me.”

Her ears perked up at that, and I could’ve sworn I heard a tiny squeak escape her—but I didn’t get the chance to confirm it. Without a word, Naaza stepped ahead of me, drawing her bow in one fluid motion as she joined Ram in clearing out the monsters on the first floor.

I watched her for a moment, a small smile tugging at the corner of my lips. She moved with more purpose now—not just going through the motions, but standing a little taller, aiming a little steadier.

Maybe the doubt hadn’t vanished completely, but for now, she was moving forward. And that was more than enough.

As I moved to join them, loosing a few quick strikes of my own, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. Like a thread tugging at the edge of my thoughts—faint, but persistent.

Something important. Something I’d missed.

And then, out of nowhere, Freya’s face flashed through my mind. But it wasn’t just her.

There was another presence—fainter, more elusive. A god I didn’t recognize, not from Orario. The impression was hazy, like trying to recall a dream that was already slipping through my fingers.

Why now?

I shook my head, trying to refocus as another wave of monsters surged from the corridor. But the sense of unease lingered, clinging to the edges of my awareness like a shadow I couldn't quite see.