Danmachi The hero Begins

Hestia spent a restless night after Bell told her about the incident at the Hostess of Fertility. She couldn't tolerate anyone insulting her precious Bell or belittling him like that. She knew she needed a way to help him, to make him stronger.

The next morning, after making sure Bell was leaving for the Dungeon, she made a big decision.

—If I can't fight alongside him, I can at least give him something to protect him.

She went to the domain of Hephaestus, the blacksmith goddess and one of her few friends. Despite their friendship, Hestia knew that requesting such a powerful artifact would not be easy.

— Hephaestus! she called as she entered the workshop.

The stern-looking goddess looked up from her work.

— Hestia. What are you doing here so early?

Hestia explained everything: the danger Bell faced, his determination to become a hero, and his burning desire to help him.

Hephaestus crossed his arms.

— Hestia, you know that creating a weapon like the one you are asking for is not easy. And it is not free.

"I'm ready to work, to do anything!" Hestia exclaimed, her eyes shining with a rare determination.

Touched by her friend's sincerity, Hephaestus accepted.

—Very well. I will forge this dagger, but remember: it will not be the dagger that makes Bell a hero. It will be his heart.

Hestia nodded.

— I know that. But it's a start.

Meanwhile, Bell continued to train in the Dungeon. As usual, he stopped at the Hostess of Fertility before heading home. Syr was waiting for him with a packed lunch.

—Syr, you didn't have to… Bell murmured, gratefully accepting the package.

She smiled, her gaze kind but mysterious.

— It's my pleasure, Bell. You work so hard.

As he was about to leave, she gently stopped him.

— Bell… Tell me. What motivates you so much?

Bell hesitated for a moment, then sat down at an empty table.

— I want to become strong. Not just for myself, but to protect those I love. When I was little, monsters destroyed my village. I lost my grandfather and my friends that day…

He looked down, his voice shaking.

—I swore I would never let anything like that happen again.

Syr looked at him intensely.

— It is noble… but also a heavy burden.

She placed a hand on his.

— Bell, remember that you are not alone. You have people who love you and believe in you.

His heart raced, but he felt oddly soothed.

— Thank you, Syr.

As he left the tavern, Freya, in her Syr guise, watched Bell walk away, her gentle smile fading to reveal a more calculating expression.

"What a fascinating man," she muttered to herself. "He has a pure heart… but how long will it last before it breaks?"

Freya had noticed Bell as soon as she arrived in Orario. His rapid growth and bright soul had drawn her irresistibly. But instead of approaching him directly, she preferred to test him.

The next day, Bell woke up, the morning light timidly illuminating the room. But his heart was restless. Hestia, his goddess, had not returned for two days. Even though she said nothing, Bell knew she was planning something for him.

Today was the Monstrophilia, an event where the people of Orario could observe captured monsters in the safety of a large arena. Bell decided he could take advantage of it to distract himself and perhaps invite Syr to accompany him.

Arriving at the Hostess of Fertility, he shyly asked to see Syr, but Chloe, the waitress with the feline accent, answered with a purr:

— Oh, you looking for her, nyah? She already left nyah but she forgot her nyah wallet, nyah!

Bell blinked in confusion, unable to understand. Ryuu, who was walking by, interjected with his usual calmness.

— Syr has left for Monstrophilia, Bell. Here is her wallet. Perhaps you could return it to her?

—Thank you very much, Ryuu! he exclaimed, taking the wallet.

He ran towards the event, hoping to find Syr among the crowd.

---

Meanwhile: Freya under the mask of Syr

Under a dark hood, Freya, using her Syr guise, observed the Monstrophilia with a mysterious smile. She had arranged to meet with a few monsters, using her divine charm to give them a specific order: you are free and sow chaos.

But her real goal was not general panic. She wanted to see Bell in action, to test his strength, courage and determination.

She stared intensely at a Silverback, a towering and terrifying beast.

—Him, she whispered. He will be perfect.

The monster, overcome by his power, growled and prepared to carry out his orders.

Bell arrived at Monstrophilia, scanning the crowd for Syr. To his surprise, he ran into Hestia, who was returning from Hephaestus. The dagger she had had forged for him was strapped to her back.

— Bell! she exclaimed happily. You came too?

— Yes, I was looking for someone, he replied, smiling at her.

Hestia suggested that they enjoy the event together while they continued to search for Syr. They wandered among the stalls, sharing simple moments. Bell bought a jagamaru, a small fried snack, and shared it with Hestia.

"Can I taste your share?" Hestia tried. Bell, embarrassed but amused, changed the subject.

Suddenly, a terrifying roar rang out, followed by screams.

—The monsters have escaped! someone in the crowd shouted.

Enraged creatures were causing panic among the spectators. Bell grabbed Hestia by the hand and ran to pull her to safety. But as they reached an alley, a Silverback appeared in front of them, its red eyes fixed exclusively on Bell.

The Silverback roared and charged, forcing Bell to run, carrying Hestia in his arms.

—Why is he chasing us?! Hestia cried.

— I don't know, but I have to keep him away from the others! Bell replied.

Freya, still disguised as Syr, watched from afar. But at one point, seeing Bell in danger, her hand shook slightly. An unusual emotion for her: fear.

"Don't disappoint me," she whispered reassuringly, looking at Bell intently.

Bell found a grate leading to the sewers and decided to hide Hestia there.

— Come inside, Lady Hestia. I'll distract the monster.

— What?! No, I won't leave you! she objected.

But Bell closed the gate behind her, begging her to go and take shelter.

"Trust me," he whispered before leaving, his heart heavy but determined.

The Silverback struck with colossal force, shattering the cobblestones around Bell. Its movements were fast, almost impossible to follow. Bell did his best to dodge, but he was clearly in trouble.

Hestia, from the other side of the sewers, quickly circled the area and appeared just as the Silverback was about to deliver the final blow.

— Hey, you! she shouted to distract the monster.

Bell took advantage of this moment to get up, grab Hestia, and run away again.

"Why did you come back?!" he exclaimed, desperate.

—Because I believe in you, Bell! she answered firmly.

She pulled out the dagger strapped to her back.

— Here, this dagger was forged especially for you by Hephaestus. I know you can defeat him with it.

Bell felt a surge of emotion as he took the dagger. While Hestia updated her status by using a small knife to trace a magical rune, Freya, hidden, felt her calm waver. She briefly caught the Silverback's attention to give Bell time to receive his new strength.

Once ready, Bell gripped the dagger in his hand and charged the Silverback.

The fight was intense. Hestia encouraged him, explaining that the dagger grew more powerful depending on its wielder. Bell used this information to turn the Silverback's brute strength against him, dodging skillfully and landing precise blows.

The wind had picked up in the makeshift arena of the deserted alley, kicking up dust and debris. Bell Cranel gripped his dagger tightly, his breath ragged and exhausted. Across from him, the Silverback roared, his bloodshot eyes a savage rage. The monster seemed invincible, its massive bulk taking up most of the width of the alley, its fists as massive as cannonballs.

Bell felt a bead of sweat form on his temple. "I have to stay focused," he told himself. "I can't lose here."

The Silverback leapt forward, his fist slamming into the ground with a brute force that shattered the cobblestones like glass. Bell dodged in a desperate move, rolling to the side just in time. The dagger flashed briefly in the flickering torchlight, and he took advantage of it to strike the monster's leg in one swift motion.

The metal bit into flesh, but it was only a scratch. The Silverback roared in pain, but also in annoyance, swiping the air with his arm as if to swat a fly. Bell ducked under the attack, slipping between the monster's legs before sinking his dagger into the tendon of its left calf. This time, he felt the blade penetrate deeply.

The Silverback howled, his foot pounding the ground, but Bell was already out of range. He backed up a few feet, catching his breath. "This is it," he thought. "I need to tire him out, attack him where he's vulnerable."

The monster, now furious, lunged again. Bell narrowly avoided a punch that would have shattered his skull. He leapt, using an overturned crate as a springboard, and rose just high enough to reach the Silverback's shoulder. His dagger flashed again as he sank it deep into the monster's thick flesh, just below its shoulder blade.

The Silverback tried to grab him, but Bell jumped back, landing softly on the ground. His legs trembled with the effort, but he straightened up. The Silverback staggered slightly, his left arm hanging limply, useless.

"I can do it," Bell muttered to himself. "I just have to stay fast."

The Silverback, though wounded, was not yet defeated. He charged again, but this time with an unpredictable feint. His fist struck the ground in front of Bell, creating a cloud of dust that obscured the young adventurer's vision. Before he could react, a huge hand grabbed him by the waist and lifted him off the ground.

Bell screamed, feeling the crushing pressure on his body. He struggled, striking the monster's wrist with his dagger. Once, twice, three times, until the Silverback let go, roaring in pain. Bell collapsed to the ground, panting, but he had no time to rest.

The Silverback was on his knees now, blood streaming from his wounds, but his rage seemed to make him even more dangerous. Bell charged, determined. He dodged one last clumsy punch, leapt onto the monster's knee, then onto his torso, scaling his opponent with blinding speed.

Reaching the head, Bell let out a war cry and plunged his dagger directly into the Silverback's skull, right between the eyes. The blade penetrated deeply, and the monster suddenly froze.

Bell jumped back before the Silverback's massive body collapsed to the ground with a thud. Silence fell over the alley.

The young adventurer, covered in sweat and dust, dropped to his knees, his gaze fixed on his goddess. "I did it..." he murmured, a mixture of disbelief and relief.

But he knew that this victory was just one more step in his journey.

before the amazed eyes of the audience.

Bell, panting, looked up to see a crowd of townspeople applauding in admiration. Aiz, standing back, had been watching everything, a slight smile on her lips.

Hestia collapsed in exhaustion in Bell's arms.

Freya, from afar, was smiling too, although her heart was beating faster than she would have liked.

"You're even more wonderful than I ever imagined," she whispered.