Chapter 18: Bell Cranel
The figure of the adventurer fighting Killer Ants ahead had short white hair and a relatively androgynous youthful face.
The adventurer attire he wore had a conspicuous Familia emblem on the back.
A Valkyrie in profile, with the pattern on the back being a full-face view, adorned with flowers and wheat ears, symbolizing the bounteous harvest overseen by the goddess.
"Freya Familia."
"Bell Cranel."
Upon seeing the young man's face clearly, Liam instantly recognized his identity – the protagonist rabbit from the main DanMachi anime.
The main reason he remembered him so vividly.
Was Bell's kind (yasashii) nature: simple, good-hearted, and always extending a helping hand when others were in danger.
From the perspective of making friends, probably no one would refuse Bell, who would spare no effort to help his friends when they encountered danger.
Liam felt the same way.
It was just that when he saw the emblem symbolizing the "Freya Familia" on the back of Bell's clothes, he couldn't hide the astonishment in his eyes.
Was it perhaps because of his own transmigration that the plotline had changed?
Without rashly going over to greet him, Liam continuously organized his thoughts, choosing to use key plot points to sort out the timeline.
The Loki Familia completed their expedition, and the escaped Minotaur arrived on the 5th floor. His encounter with Ais-tan happened the day before yesterday.
And before that.
It had been 17 days since he transmigrated to the DanMachi world and was taken in by Hestia. Because she had recruited him as a dependant.
Hestia no longer lazed around.
She looked for work, wanting to save money to treat the "Kazan Syndrome" infecting his left hand. It was this interlude.
That caused a butterfly effect in the plot's trajectory.
The final result.
Was Bell successfully joining the Freya Familia. Backed by Orario's strongest Familia, he possessed a higher starting point than other adventurers.
"He actually managed to join the Freya Familia?"
"."
Liam didn't feel particularly emotional. He chose to observe Bell's fight with the Killer Ants from the side. Compared to his memory.
The various changes brought about by a higher starting point meant he was no longer the rookie adventurer from the original anime who encountered the Minotaur.
He nimbly dodged the attacks of the Killer Ant monsters.
The weapon he used was still a dagger.
Each attack could inflict damage on the Killer Ants. Facts proved that when a talented individual received a better environment, their potential would be unearthed more quickly.
It was just that as the walls continuously surged.
What came into Liam's view were countless insect monsters covered in hard armor; the characteristics of Killer Ant monsters were exceptionally obvious.
Their size was similar to Geckos.
Overall, they were like enlarged ants. The special point was that their raised upper bodies had four hooked claws. They looked like ordinary monsters.
But in reality, they were also known as "rookie killers."
A lone Killer Ant couldn't pose a threat to an adventurer. The truly troublesome part was that when the monster was in danger, it would call its companions.
If their numbers increased…
Without effective clearing methods, it was very likely one would meet their end here. And now, Bell, fighting not far ahead.
Was encountering precisely this situation.
"So."
"The opportunity to interact with Bell is already right in front of me."
To say the situation was exceptionally dangerous would definitely be an overstatement. According to the Freya Familia's wealthy and extravagant style.
Bell had probably already been given access to grimoires to learn magic skills.
Even if he stood by and watched, Liam didn't think Bell would be in danger. But now, the opportunity to interact with the original protagonist.
Was already laid out before him.
He didn't deny having utilitarian motives. After all, to develop and strengthen the Hestia Familia, he definitely needed to maintain good relations with other Familias.
Hestia and Freya didn't have any particularly significant conflicts either.
With the thought of developing his network in Orario, Liam quickly made a decision. His goal for the 7th floor was Killer Ants anyway.
Now, a vast number lay before him.
Increase his experience points, and incidentally gain Bell's friendship. Analyzing it from a relatively objective standpoint, this was a win-win situation for him!
---
"It's just as Lady Goddess said."
"When Killer Ants encounter danger, they use a special method to call their companions."
Dodging the Killer Ant's claw attack, watching the monsters continuously pour out from the walls, Bell's face was now filled with solemnity. But recalling the battlefield wilderness.
The combat techniques his Familia seniors had taught him: when facing danger, one must maintain a high degree of calmness and strive to adjust one's state.
A lone Killer Ant.
Even with his strength, it was difficult to deal with, let alone such a vast number before him.
"I must find a breakthrough point!"
Bell leaned against the wall, gripping a mithril dagger in a reverse hold. His gaze scanned the surroundings, trying to find a weak point in the monsters' encirclement.
He didn't regret politely declining the company of other Familia members.
To become a true powerhouse, one must seek breakthroughs and growth in dangerous situations. Now, he could still use his swift-cast magic.
"Firebolt."
Find a weak area in the monster encirclement and break through.
He should be able to do it, right!?
---
Facing the vast swarm of Killer Ants, Liam only felt anticipation. A bold idea even arose deep within him.
The characteristic of Killer Ants.
Was that they would use a special method to call their companions when they encountered danger.
If the experience points gained after killing them were substantial, then by utilizing the Killer Ants' method of summoning companions when in danger, and facing a swarm of Killer Ants.
He should be able to achieve the effect of rapidly increasing his level, right?
"Worth a try."
Some time had passed since he last used Triple Slash. Using it again now wouldn't put a strain on Liam's body.
He ran forward to support.
When he was about 5 meters away, facing the tide-like swarm of Killer Ants, he decisively used "Triple Slash" as a means of advancing.
Along with the slash came a sharp sword aura.
Even the extremely hard armor of the Killer Ants couldn't withstand the advance; their bodies were directly cut in half by the sword aura.
And rushing into the ant swarm meant being targeted for concentrated fire.
With Killer Ants swarming densely towards him, Liam, weapon in hand, delivered two consecutive slashes. Only faint afterimages of his swings could be seen.
Accompanying them…
Was a brilliant sword aura like moonlight!
"Moonlight Slash!"
"Battle!"
"Exhilarating."
The surge of adrenaline raised Liam's reaction speed to its peak. A clean and crisp Moonlight Slash cleared away the monsters in front of him.
As for the surging Killer Ants.
His movements were agile. While backstepping to dodge a claw attack, a sharp sword aura immediately swung out.
---
The final development of events still exceeded Bell's expectations. Because in the area just to his front-side, an adventurer was rapidly approaching.
Even though his current situation was already very difficult.
He still didn't want to involve other adventurers. Bell shouted a warning, even though doing so would draw the siege of this group of Killer Ants.
"Don't come over!!"
"There are too many Killer Ants!"
Despite the warning, the other party didn't stop. Instead, facing the Killer Ant swarm's siege, they displayed extremely strong combat proficiency.
The mithril-forged dagger Lady Freya had gifted him could only leave scratches on the Killer Ants' armor.
He couldn't end the battle quickly; otherwise, he wouldn't have drawn the ant swarm's siege.
But watching the magnificent swordsmanship Liam displayed, Bell was inevitably a little dazed. This was a fighting style he had never imagined.
Without needing to use the blade's edge, he could achieve such an effect…
The sharp sword aura erupting from his sword swings easily cut the Killer Ants' bodies in half, as if he were a walking chariot.
Destroying all monsters before him that dared to resist!
"."
The sharply reduced number of Killer Ants left Bell's eyes filled with bewilderment. He couldn't help but murmur, "We're both adventurers, but this senior..."
"Isn't he..."
"A bit too strong?!"
(End of this chapter)