Chapter 20 - I don't like this. (Patreon)

While exploring the Dungeon’s 13th Floor, Kael managed to encounter many interesting monsters. He had read about all of them, but seeing them in person made him quite excited.

They were dangerous, but they were fascinating to look at and “study.”

Even in his previous world, Kael had been very interested in monsters in general. He loved fantasy, and that was one of the reasons why. So seeing a giant worm with multiple rows of teeth was an impressive sight.

Dungeon Worm.

It was larger than he had expected and incredibly fast. Its body was soft, and it made a strange sound as it crawled across the ground at high speed. Even so, it was easy to kill.

However, it was disgusting.

Kael’s sword sliced through the worm’s flesh, and visceral sounds reached his ears. On top of that, an unpleasant smell hit his nose before the monster’s body vanished into thin air.

[EXP +1,000]

Kael picked up the magic stone and handed it to Bella. Then he asked, “Are we getting close to the 14th Floor?”

“Yes, we’re almost there.”

“We’ve encountered a lot of these worms and Hellhounds, haven’t we?”

“Hellhounds are the most common monsters on this floor. Also... the sheer number of bats annoys me.” Bella clicked her tongue.

Kael smiled and said, “Let’s hurry up. I want to reach Rivira soon.”

“We’re running low on water and food, so we really should hurry,” Bella said, quickening her pace.

Kael looked at Bella’s back before following her at a leisurely pace. He was examining his status.

Name: Kael

Title: Teleporter

Familia: Hestia

Level: 2 (59,250/500,000)

Strength (STR): I 10 (201)

Endurance (END): I 10 (192)

Dexterity (DEX): I 10 (199)

Agility (AGI): I 10 (210)

Magic (MAG): I 10 (189)

Abilities: Teleportation (EX) LV3 / Swordsmanship LV3

His abilities hadn’t leveled up, but his EXP had increased considerably, and all his stats had risen significantly. Of course, the effects would only be applied once his Falna was updated.

‘But they’ve increased quite a bit. I wasn’t expecting that.’ Kael had killed a lot of monsters, but was that really enough to make his stats rise so much? It was almost as if his efficiency had increased after he leveled up.

“If that’s really the case, then that’s great.”

“Hmm?” Bella turned around. “Why are you so far behind?”

“Oh, sorry. I got distracted.”

“I told you not to get distracted. Come on.”

Bella had spent so much time with Kael that she had started getting used to his behavior. His lack of attention and constant joking had irritated her at first, but now she no longer lost her temper so easily.

Even so, despite not being genuinely irritated, she still treated Kael rather harshly.

‘If I don't act like this, I feel like he won't listen to me.’

Whether he liked it or not, Bella was the more experienced adventurer between the two of them. Kael had to listen to her.

Kael quickened his pace, and as soon as he reached Bella’s side, she said, “Once we reach the 15th Floor, you need to be twice as alert.”

“Because of the Minotaurs and Ligerfangs?”

“Exactly. I can handle them easily, but you’ve never had to deal with either of them before. I’ll help you if necessary.”

“Do you think I can handle them?”

Bella turned her head and looked at Kael. After several seconds of silence, she said, “You can handle them, but you need to be careful.”

Kael smiled, pleased by her words, and Bella sighed.

“I don’t like that smile.”

“?”

“When you smile like that, you start fooling around with your ability while fighting monsters, and it irritates me.”

“...”

“I like efficiency. Just kill the monsters and don’t waste your energy. I’ve told you that so many times before... But it seems like everything I say goes in one ear and out the other.”

Although Bella thought Kael was ignoring her advice, he was actually learning a great deal from her.

He took everything she said seriously, even if he sometimes played around a little with his ability. But he only did it because he found it fun. That was all.

After thinking about his behavior up to that point, Kael said, “I’ll stop doing things like that.”

From that moment on, Kael stopped using his ability without a good reason.

####

While Bella and Kael explored the Dungeon, Hestia was at the Tower of Babel, inside the Hephaestus Familia’s shop. She was cleaning the floor, as she did practically every day.

After all, she worked there.

Once she finished cleaning, she sat down and drank some water.

“Argh, this is so boring,” she muttered before letting out a long sigh.

Just then, Hephaestus entered the room. When she saw Hestia resting, she said, “Have you finished all your work already? I don’t like lazy employees.” Hephaestus smiled.

It was clearly a joke, but Hestia took it seriously.

“I was just taking a short break, but I’m going back to work now.”

“I was only joking.”

Hephaestus sat down and began looking through some documents. Just as Hestia stood up and headed toward the exit, Hephaestus spoke again.

“How’s the new member of your Familia doing? He’s gaining a bit of fame, isn’t he?”

“He is?”

“Yes. He’s been attracting a lot of attention because of his appearance. Some people have also seen him fight and said he has impressive abilities. Besides, he’s already reached Level Two, hasn’t he? Isn’t that a record? I think it took him just a little over a week.”

“Well, yes... It was incredibly fast.”

“I’m disappointed in you... You should have told me you’d managed to recruit another talented member. Is he even more talented than that girl?”

“I can’t be certain, but I think...” Hestia smiled. “I think he’s more talented.”

And the most astonishing part was that he didn’t even have a "Growth Acceleration" ability.

It was frightening.

“When he needs a new weapon, I’d be willing to make another deal with you,” Hephaestus said with a smile.

Tsk!

Hestia clicked her tongue before replying, “I’m never making another deal with you. I don’t want to be in your debt forever.”

“I could give you a discount~~”