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

"Bell-kun, aside from learning that the 'Hostess of Fertility' is under Freya's control, there's not much else we've gained from this."

"No, that's actually the biggest advantage."

Bell shook his head lightly. He wasn't trying to sound mysterious—he just got straight to the point.

"If someone can act as Freya-sama's eyes, that means they have her ability to see into people's souls. Goddess-sama, that's not a power you can hand out lightly, right?"

"Of course not. That kind of power is unique to gods. It's one of the fundamental uses of divine authority, and it's definitely not something that can be casually granted to children of Genkai."

"Exactly. Since it's not something that can be easily passed on, even if Freya-sama happened to grant it to someone in Genkai, only a very small number could possibly use it."

That much was obvious. Hestia nodded slightly. Divine authority simply wasn't something a mortal could easily wield.

"We don't know how Freya-sama managed to grant her power to someone in Genkai, but it has to be an exception. Maybe that person has an unusual magic or skill. Otherwise, it's practically impossible for a Genkai child to use a god's power."

Which led them to one conclusion.

"In other words, that special case is likely just one person—and a regular staff member at the 'Hostess of Fertility.' That means avoiding Freya-sama's gaze is easy. As long as I stick to my usual habits, it won't be easy for her to find me."

"Can we really think that way?"

"Absolutely."

Hestia still looked uneasy. She felt that Freya might intensify her search for Bell because of all this. But Bell didn't think so at all, and he tried to ease her worries.

"Goddess-sama, do you really think Freya-sama would push even harder just to find me?"

"She... wouldn't?"

"No. If Freya-sama is smart, she'll realize I'll only become more cautious now. I won't leave a single clue. No matter how hard she tries, her efforts will be useless against the protection of my Runes. It'll all be for nothing."

Bell knew he'd be even more careful now to avoid Freya's pursuit. He wouldn't let his location slip—not in the slightest. And Freya likely understood that as well.

"She probably knows I'd never approach her directly. So she definitely won't waste her time ramping up an obvious investigation."

"In fact, if we look at the situation now, Freya-sama is more likely to back off, relax her search on the surface, and instead rely on the hidden eyes behind the scenes to track me."

"But that's exactly what benefits me the most. It means as long as I stay out of Freya-sama's line of sight—and avoid whoever's watching for her—I can stay perfectly hidden."

Even though things looked pretty bad, Bell wasn't worried at all.

In fact, he had expected the situation to be far worse. So if this was how things turned out, he didn't see it as a bad outcome—if anything, it eased some of the pressure on him.

"But... Freya's watching from behind. Are you sure that's okay?"

Right now, Hestia looked just like a nervous mother hen afraid someone might snatch her chick away. Of course, part of that was guilt for letting things get to this point.

"Don't worry, Goddess-sama."

Seeing how troubled she looked, Bell reassured her firmly.

"This whole situation is actually a good thing for us. Freya-sama won't intensify her search for me, and I can avoid her gaze while quietly building up my strength and growing stronger."

"If you hadn't met with Freya-sama this time, things might've been more difficult for us going forward. In a way, this outcome is exactly what I was hoping for."

Bell wasn't just trying to comfort her—he genuinely meant what he said.

The fact that Freya-sama hadn't locked onto him yet was his biggest advantage. If she had already set her sights on him completely, it would've been a real problem.

"You're making me feel kind of guilty saying that..."

Hestia reluctantly accepted his reasoning. Even though she suspected Bell-kun was just trying to make her feel better, she couldn't bring herself to reject his kindness.

Bell shook his head slightly. He knew she thought his words were just flattery.

But he didn't explain further. Sooner or later, she'd realize he wasn't just trying to make her feel better.

"Goddess-sama, you should also be extra careful while moving around Orario. What happened during today's Monsterphilia was a warning. We can't be sure what else might happen in the future."

"Mm."

Today's Monsterphilia really had served as a wake-up call for Hestia.

The monsters lurking in the sewers, and the darkness behind them, were clear signs that danger was brewing in Orario.

Still, the one who shook Hestia the most today was Freya. She would never forget the words Freya said to her. At the same time, she realized it would be best to keep her distance from Freya going forward. After today, their relationship was beyond repair.

After settling Hestia down, Bell put his cloak back on.

"Bell-kun, are you going out again?"

"Yeah. With everything that's happened today, Freya-sama won't expect me to still be moving around. So now's the perfect time to head to the Guild."

He definitely needed to go. It was crucial for his upcoming Dungeon challenges.

"Last time, I reached the twelfth floor. Next, I'll be pushing into the middle floors, so I need to prepare thoroughly—starting with gathering information on mid-tier monsters and what to watch out for."

"Also, I need to visit Hephaestus-sama."

"You're going to see Hephaestus again?"

Hearing that, Hestia puffed out her cheeks immediately.

"Yes, it's something I have to do. I need to explain everything that happened today to Hephaestus-sama. After all, I'll probably need her help at some point down the line."