CHAPTER 392: CHAPTER 392: BELL’S DECISION

They were swallowed through space once more—before Ais and Tsubaki could say another word, they found themselves back at the camp.

"Tch, Bell doesn’t even give people time to talk."

Tsubaki muttered, admiring Bell’s decisiveness—he’d conveyed what he needed and then sent them right back.

But Ais wasn’t angry. She didn’t even feel a flicker of annoyance.

"He said what needed to be said. He has to keep his strength hidden, so he’ll omit certain things."

Tsubaki stared at Ais, surprised by her composed tone.

"Sword Princess, I didn’t expect you to be so... tactful."

"Am I not usually?"

"No, um... that’s not what I mean."

Tsubaki fumbled for the right words. This Ais was nothing like the one she’d known before—her speech, her demeanor, everything had shifted.

Back then, Ais had been cold and blunt, often acting before thinking or caring about others’ feelings. Now, she showed social grace—she could bend when needed, speak thoughtfully, even soften her tone.

Seeing that change, Tsubaki felt like they were two different people.

Ais cocked her head in curiosity, sensing the same thoughtful warmth Tsubaki saw in Finn and the others.

After a moment, Tsubaki gave her a thumbs‑up.

"It means... you’ve grown, Sword Princess."

"???" Ais blinked, puzzled—but Tsubaki offered no further explanation. She wasn’t as wordy as Finn anyway.

"One thing—don’t tell others about that trick I taught you earlier. It could cause a lot of unnecessary trouble."

Tsubaki felt the need to clarify. She’d intended to help Ais find Bell, but now realized the method was too risky—so she warned her.

Ais nodded. Bell Cranel had already warned her too; she wouldn’t run her mouth.

Now that she knew how to check whether Bell was nearby, at least she had a way forward. That she found reassuring.

Once Ais and Tsubaki were gone, Bell fell into deep reflection.

Especially when it comes to the help "Sword Princess" Ais requested, he needed to weigh the pros and cons before agreeing.

’Challenging a classic Lv. 8 front-and-back duo is extremely difficult. That couple is powerful—one’s a Spirit, the other a mercenary swordsman—it’s likely harder than any traditional Floor Boss.’

’But it’s also a golden opportunity.’

’Right now, the only well-known Floor Boss is Balor at Lv. 7. If upcoming bosses are Spirits or that couple, this might be my only path forward.’

They now knew the Spirit’s true form lay deep within the Dungeon—and Ais’s parents were there too. Both showed signs of corruption, likely Dungeon manipulation.

So it’s very possible they’ve already become Floor Bosses.

And unlike other Floor Bosses that respawn, they may only appear once—meaning only one shot at the challenge.

Bell wasn’t sure if Barol could help him break through Lv. 7, but the Spirit’s true form could.

If the Spirit could push him past Lv. 7, then Ais’s parents could be the key to Lv. 8.

So he could accept the Sword Princess’s request.

From a strategic point of view, he should agree.

"I can agree. But we don’t need to think too far ahead right now. If you want to formally challenge that couple, you need to hit the Lv. 7 peak first—otherwise, it’s just handing them an easy win."

Bell never doubted his own growth speed—the boost from the Craft Essences was just as fast as "Excelia." His only real target was Excelia itself.

Honestly, he was a bit exasperated that Tsubaki used that method to find him.

But he didn’t hide his connection to Hestia—it was his bond with Hephaestus he chose to keep under wraps.

Romancing one goddess wasn’t unheard of in Orario. But if it came out he had relationships with two? He’d vanish overnight.

Once the rumor spread, gods would swarm him—and that would be disastrous.

At least his link to Hephaestus was hard to guess. Hestia and Hephaestus were close allies, their Familias often working together. Seeing them together wouldn’t raise eyebrows.

Plus, two goddesses falling for one mortal? Even the gods wouldn’t assume that.

’Let’s just hope nobody puts those pieces together.’

Bell shook his head and dropped the subject.

Tsubaki wasn’t a blabbermouth, and Ais wasn’t a gossip—so it wasn’t going to spread.

And Bell didn’t dwell on it.

After nearly a day of recuperation, the expedition team finally recovered from the dragon’s roar.

But a full day later, night had fallen again.

The camp had quieted down; after dinner, everyone would rest until noon tomorrow before resuming the floor conquest.

It might delay them, but it was the safest, most responsible choice.

Now, nearly the entire expedition team gathered for a meeting.

Daphne and Liliruca sat together in a corner—one of the few pairs that stood out.

Liliruca, sensing the attention, raised her hand.

"Captain, do Daphne and I need to attend today’s meeting?"

The implication was clear: they didn’t feel ready.

"Don’t question it—we brought you both here for a reason."

Finn wasn’t about to treat them as newbies any longer; their skills as leaders were evident. And this meeting was important for them to attend.

He glanced around. The only ones still in the dark were Daphne and Liliruca—and Finn was more than willing to explain.

...

(100 Chapters Ahead)

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