Danmachi: Is It Wrong to Be the Main Character in Orario?

Bell could clearly feel that his understanding of the Spartoi had deepened—so much so that he was now instinctively targeting the Magic Stones hidden in their skulls. But where had this instinct even come from?

He had no idea.

He knew the Guild offered strategies for dealing with many types of monsters, but because he'd always been cautious, he'd only ever studied the monster data for the first ten floors.

To learn about creatures from deeper levels, you had to borrow additional books. Without those, it was impossible to grasp their traits in detail.

So how did he know anything about the Spartoi?

Bell distinctly remembered not purchasing any information about monsters beyond the tenth floor. So how could he possibly be this familiar with them?

Even he couldn't explain it.

It felt like, after taking down the first Spartoi—he suddenly just knew where their Magic Stones were located.

What's more, based on observation, Bell could confirm that Spartoi didn't have much visual range, but their hearing was extremely sharp, with a strong ability to pinpoint sounds spatially. If he hadn't been so habitually cautious upon entering the floor, he would've been surrounded by now.

But that only made it stranger—why had he instinctively focused on these details and figured out the Spartoi's traits so quickly?

'I don't understand this at all.'

Bell glanced across the floor at the remaining Spartoi. Frowning slightly, he turned and chose to leave.

Continuing deeper into the Dungeon without first understanding the changes happening within himself was clearly unwise.

It was this lack of control that Bell hated most.

Next time he returned to explore, he would definitely be prepared for the Middle Floors.

But before that, he needed to figure out what was going on with him.

On the way back, Bell slowed his pace.

As he walked, he kept thinking hard about the phenomenon he'd just experienced.

'It's so strange. All I knew was the name "Spartoi"—so how am I suddenly this familiar with them?'

The first time he drove his blade into a skull, it was simply because it seemed like the only place something could be hidden. It was obvious that the Spartoi's Magic Stone would be inside the skull. So when he made that first move, Bell hadn't even aimed to strike the stone directly.

Yet he got lucky and pierced it with a single blow.

But the second time?

That time, he stabbed straight through the skull—and he was certain he'd aimed for the Magic Stone.

Not consciously, but subconsciously. His instincts had aligned perfectly with the Magic Stone's position, and that subconscious attack had landed a clean, critical hit.

Which meant something was seriously off with that instinct.

'Robust Health shouldn't have an ability like this.'

The first thing Bell ruled out was the concept of "Robust Health," which he'd instilled in himself just yesterday.

That concept strictly enhanced physical strength—it shouldn't be capable of triggering subconscious reactions like this.

So, "Robust Health" clearly wasn't the real cause.

That left only one possibility:

The enhanced "Kuji Kanesada."

'Looks like it has to be Kuji Kanesada.'

Bell wasn't exactly a master of deduction, but even he could see the pattern.

Since yesterday, the only changes he'd made were applying "Robust Health" to his body and then enhancing Kuji Kanesada just a short while ago. Not to mention, this Kuji Kanesada had been seized from Void Shiki herself.

'This must be a chain reaction caused by the blade's new trait.'

The "Cuts Through All Things" trait is based on Root—being able to perceive the death of all things, and in doing so, being able to cut through anything with ease.

In a sense, that's something only someone like Void Shiki!, who records beginnings and ends, can truly grasp.

Death is the end.

It's because the Void understands death, sees through it, that it becomes possible to sever anything so easily.

In a way, this property had likely imprinted onto Kuji Kanesada after countless uses by Void Shiki, manifesting as its current trait.

So then, how was someone like Bell—who lacked that fundamental perception of all beginnings and ends—able to use this concept?

That question made Bell pause. Then, he began to understand where that strange feeling had come from earlier.

'No need for testing...'

'If this is really the case, then this sword is about to drag me into something incredible.'

A potential answer had surfaced in Bell's mind—and it made him shiver.

He steadied his breathing.

Suddenly, a surge of monster movement echoed in his ears.

Bell came to an abrupt stop, just as a Killer Ant burst out from the ground in front of him, making him frown.

'Which bastard lured these things out?'

This was the fifth floor of the Dungeon, already close to the surface.

Normally, this area was hunted by Level 1 Adventurers. But someone had clearly stirred up a swarm of Killer Ants on purpose—probably getting ready for a mugging.

'And that's why I don't trust any other Adventurer.'

Maintaining his stealth, Bell followed the Killer Ants to see what was happening.

As he moved, he could hear even more Killer Ants gathering in the distance.

Amid their chittering, he also picked up the sound of voices nearby.

"Arde, you're not thinking of slacking off again like last time, are you?"

It was a man's voice—but the name "Arde" made Bell's expression shift subtly.

'Liliruca Arde?'

'That explains it... no wonder this scene and that line felt familiar.'

Now it made sense why that strange feeling of déjà vu had hit him so strongly.

This would be the third time he'd run into that Pallum girl in the Dungeon.

'Looks like no matter how careful I am, fate insists I keep crossing paths with her.'

'Though this time… it looks like it'll be the last.'

Bell kept following the Killer Ants.

After passing through a branch in the tunnel crawling with them, he finally saw the scene: three Adventurers, and the Pallum girl suspended in midair.

No explanation was needed—Bell immediately understood what was happening.

Looking at the small girl dangling in the air, he blinked for a moment, then cracked a faint smile.

'Looks like luck's on your side. Now I've got a good reason to step in.'