Danmachi: Strongest Familia

Sol made his remark with a laugh, but Alfia only sighed in response.

Years as an adventurer had shown her the harsh reality of this path, a life filled with relentless danger. If she had her way, she would have preferred that Bell live out his days in a peaceful, ordinary life. With her power, she could ensure he'd never have to worry about food or shelter.

But there was no use in wishing for what couldn't be. Bell shouldn't have been entrusted to Zeus in the first place.

'I'd love to drag that old man out and give him a beating!'

Instead, she focused on the more pressing issue—figuring out how to protect Bell moving forward. At the very least, he needed the strength to keep himself safe, or a means of protection for when he ventured into danger.

"I don't feel comfortable with that kid going into the dungeon alone," she muttered. "He's just a rookie who barely knows anything."

"Haha, given time, he could have the potential to rival Riveria," Sol joked.

Potential like Riveria's? Was he calling her an "old lady" now?

She almost felt a certain kinship with Riveria.

"Understood. I'll make the arrangements—or do you intend to personally look out for him?" Sol offered.

"No, I won't be stepping in," Alfia replied, shaking her head. "If I were discovered, I'd probably cause more harm than good."

Though she had only glimpsed Bell in the tavern, for an adventurer of her caliber, a single look was all she needed to memorize every detail. It was obvious at a glance—he was doing his best.

'If you don't count that incident with that bothersome werewolf, anyway…'

"It's about time. You should head to the dungeon," Sol suggested casually. 

"The dungeon? At this hour? Why would I go there?" Alfia asked, tilting her head in confusion. 

"That kid was stimulated today. Do you really think he'd just sit still after that? There's no better place in Orario to burn off some frustration," Sol replied with a knowing look.

Usually quick on the uptake, Alfia found herself momentarily slow when it came to matters involving Bell. 

"I'll go to the dungeon…" she murmured, finally understanding the gravity of the situation. With a nod of farewell to Sol, she vanished in an instant.

Passersby at the dungeon entrance felt a sudden gust of wind but saw nothing.

——

'What…was that?'

Not far along, Alfia heard the unmistakable sounds of battle. A young boy's voice echoed in the fray, strained and hoarse.

'How long has he been fighting?'

Perhaps he'd run straight to the dungeon after leaving the tavern and had been at it for hours.

'Where does a rookie adventurer like him get all this energy? Even on the upper levels, where monsters are weaker, the oppressive atmosphere of the dungeon can drain anyone's stamina,' Alfia thought, feeling a hint of concern.

Sure enough, in the distance, she spotted Bell still locked in battle with a swarm of War Shadows.

War Shadows—monsters on the sixth floor known for their nightmarish presence among newcomers, often earning the nickname "newbie killers." Their bodies were dark, nearly featureless shadows, with crosses for faces and sharp claws protruding from thin wrists.

'This kid's facing a whole pack of War Shadows by himself… What kind of rookie can handle this?'

Could Sol-sama information have been wrong? Was Bell really a novice in the Familia?

The boy darted nimbly through the shadows of the battlefield, while wielding a dagger that appeared plain and unremarkable. 

Bell's fighting style was raw and unpolished, as though he were improvising on the spot. Yet, it was surprisingly effective, steadily reducing the number of War Shadows. 

For a rookie adventurer, Bell's performance was commendable, showing promise beyond his experience.

Alfia didn't get involved in Bell's battle, but just watched the situation quietly from the sidelines.

Of course, with Bell's current strength, he would definitely not be able to find Alfia who deliberately hid her aura.

After finally getting rid of these war shadows, Bell already had many scars on his body.

With his hands on his knees, he was panting heavily, and blood slid down his forehead to the ground.

Alfia thought that the other party would finally return to Orario, but after a short rest, Bell walked towards the depths with firm eyes.

As if offended by this boy, a new wave of monsters appeared in the dungeon again.

This time it's the Killer Ant. These guys are not as powerful as War Shadows, but they are much more numerous than War Shadows.

Even Alfia became nervous many times.

There is a lesson to be learned, she has been an adventurer for so many years, the last time she was so nervous was when she followed the Hera family to crusade against Leviathan.

Is Riveria always in this mood when raising children?

Thank you for your hard work, Riveria.

——

Meanwhile, on her return from an expedition, Riveria sneezed unexpectedly, perhaps feeling a fleeting sense of kinship.

——

Another wave of freshly spawned monsters had been dealt with, leaving a growing pile of magic stones on the ground. Alfia quietly picked them up, ensuring nothing was left behind.

For Bell, this was an extraordinary privilege—being supported by someone like Alfia. After all, this wasn't just any supporter. 

This was a Level 8 supporter.