Bell, still feeling the effects of a carrot coma, was recovering on a plush couch. He had eaten more food than he ever thought possible, and honestly, the mixture of carrots and potatoes might've been too much for anyone.
Hunter 1, still clad in a shiny suit of silverware armor, jumped up from his seat, his eyes burning with enthusiasm.
[Hunter 1]: Alright, Bell! Time to train!
[Bell]: Do we really have to...? I'm still full...
[Hunter 1]: Of course! You need to get stronger! You might have the level of a Level 1, but your heart? Your heart is level... something impressive!
Bell just nodded, trying his best to keep his stomach in check. The two headed out into the training grounds—Hunter 1 barking orders like some kind of military commander.
[Training Field, Somewhere Outside the Castle]
Hunter 1 was relentless, dragging Bell through a series of drills involving dodging flying carrots (don't ask), jumping over potato mounds (again, don't ask), and even sparring with an oddly-aggressive training dummy shaped like a giant potato.
Bell, while trying to avoid getting hit in the face with a rogue carrot, managed to get the basics of swordplay down, with Hunter 1 shouting advice and encouragement like it was the battle of the century.
[Hunter 1]: That's it, Bell! Strike like a potato farmer at harvest time—strong but unpredictable!
[Later that Day...]
The training was… well, it was chaotic. But eventually, Bell was ready to take on a bigger challenge.
Grey, Hunter 2, and Hunter 3 all joined them as they made their way to the Guild to officially register with the Hestia Familia.
The Guild was busy as usual, with adventurers and their Familia members milling about, discussing quests, leveling up, and making bets about who would beat the next dungeon boss.
As soon as they walked in, the whole room grew quiet. The sight of Bell and the three weirdly energetic Hunters, accompanied by the mysteriously calm Grey, attracted more attention than usual.
The receptionist, Eina Tulle, blinked and stared at them with a mix of confusion and curiosity. She had seen some weird things during her time at the Guild, but this... this was next level.
[Eina]: U-Um... hello? Can I help you...?
Grey stepped forward, completely unfazed by the intense gaze of everyone in the room. She took off one glove and gave a casual wave.
[Grey]: Hey! We're here to register our Familia. We've got a new one—Hestia Familia! You might know her... tiny goddess, frying pan enthusiast? Yeah, that one.
Hunter 2 smiled innocently, holding up a loaf of bread like a trophy.
[Hunter 2]: Got any more of that bread from earlier? No pressure, though!
Hunter 3 waved from the back, a catapult slung across his shoulder, inexplicably smiling at a nearby adventurer who was very confused by everything.
[Eina]: A-Are you... Sure, you're a Familia? You... um... look... unconventional?
Bell stepped forward, trying to calm the situation nervously.
[Bell]: It's all fine. These guys are just... um... my new... friends. They're really strong! They'll help the Familia grow!
Grey just smiled brightly at Eina, leaning against the counter.
[Grey]: Just wait till you see our team composition.
Eina raised an eyebrow, but, with no other choice, started pulling up the official paperwork.
[Eina]: sigh, Fine... I'll need to know everyone's names, levels, and, uh, skills. Please tell me you have your Falna ready...
Bell nervously stepped up to the registration desk with a forced smile.
[Bell]: Sweating. My name is Bell Cranel. I'm a Level 1 Adventurer... and... "sigh"... I'm part of the Hestia Familia!
Eina wrote that down. She turned her eyes toward Hunter 1, who was still trying to polish his silverware armor, which was incredibly loud and not at all helpful.
[Hunter 1]: Oh, right! I'm Hunter 1! Level 5! And unbeatable. Whoo!
Eina stared at him for a moment. She wasn't sure whether to be impressed or terrified.
Next, she looked at Hunter 2, who was trying to feed the receptionist a questionable-looking potato-based creation.
[Hunter 2]: Hunter 2! Level 5! I'm the best cook. Can I have more bread?
[Eina]: We'll talk about that later.
Finally, Hunter 3, who was still riding on a throne of bricks like a self-declared ruler of the sidewalk, waved happily.
[Hunter 3]: Hunter 3! Level 5! I'm also... King of the Sidewalk! Bow before me!
Eina quickly scribbled all of this down, then glanced at Grey, who was... remarkably calm and just watching the proceedings.
[Grey]: Oh, me? Yeah... I'm just Grey. I'm an honorary member of the Hestia Familia. But no level, though. Trade secret.
Eina blinked several times, trying to process what had just happened.
[Eina internal monologue]:... I should probably take up knitting.
Once everything was written down, and after Eina double-checked that no one had accidentally eaten her desk, she finally handed over the Guild Cards to Bell and the Hunters.
The Familia was officially registered:
[]Hestia Familia[]
[Bell Cranel - Level 1
Hunter 1 - Level 5
Hunter 2 - Level 5
Hunter 3 - Level 5
Grey - No level, honorary member (with an extra very weird mark)]
Grey shrugged at her Guild Card and casually stuffed it into her pocket.
[Grey]: Well, that went better than expected.
Hunter 2, munching on a loaf of bread, nodded enthusiastically.
[Hunter 2]: Yeah! We did great! Now let's go get some more food!
Hunter 3 pointed excitedly toward the Guild's quest board.
[Hunter 3]: If there are more carrots there, I'm in!
Bell, still trying to process everything, sighed and scratched his head.
[Bell]: What have I gotten myself into...?
The Hestia Familia, now fully registered, was ready for their first dungeon dive. After all the craziness of the Guild registration and getting to know each other, the idea of hitting the dungeon seemed almost normal in comparison.
[The Dungeon Entrance]
The familiar stone archways of the Dungeon greeted Bell, Grey, and the Hunters as they descended the narrow stairway into the depths. The air was musty, and the faint echoes of monsters could be heard from the deeper floors.
[Hunter 1]: This is it! The Dungeon! A whole new world of chaos and treasure!
[Hunter 2]: And, of course, more food at the end of it. You've gotta keep your energy up!
[Hunter 3]: I'll just call dibs on whatever we find... as long as it's not alive.
Bell looked around, a little nervous but excited. He had heard stories about the Dungeon's dangers, but with this strange new team, he felt like they could handle anything.
[Grey]: Alright, no pressure, Bell. We'll take it slow for now.
[Floor 1: Easy Pickings]
They started with some basic monsters. The first floor of the Dungeon wasn't much of a challenge for the powerful party. Giant rats, goblins, and low-tier creatures dashed out of the shadows but fell before the combined strength of the Familia.
Hunter 1 sliced through monsters with a grace that belied his bulky silver armor, sending rats flying with every swing.
Hunter 2 used his cooking tools in the weirdest way possible—throwing carrots with deadly accuracy to take out goblins from a distance. He somehow made it work, with each hit being a perfect strike.
[Hunter 2]: That's how you cook a goblin!
Hunter 3 was in the back, using his catapult to launch large rocks at any straggling monsters, obliterating them with ridiculous precision.
Grey, however, was a calm force of nature. Her Hollowed Abyss Sting of Death and Abysmal Dragon Shark Teeth cut through the monsters in an elegant dance. Bell couldn't help but watch in awe at how she handled herself.
[Bell]: This... this is nothing like I've seen before! You're all so strong!
[Grey]: It's just a warm-up. Don't get too comfortable.
After clearing the floor in record time, they gathered the drops—a few small coins, a couple of basic potions, and what looked like an odd set of monster ears that Hunter 1 immediately claimed as a new accessory.
The Lower Floors: The True Challenge
As they descended deeper into the Dungeon, the atmosphere grew heavier. The air grew thick with the smell of stale earth, and the temperature seemed to drop as they moved further down.
On the third floor, the monsters grew fiercer. Larger goblins with sharper claws, and even some kobolds, started to show up. The Familia easily dispatched them, but the deeper they went, the more intense the feeling of danger grew.
And then, on the fifth floor, they felt it.
The ground shook beneath their feet, and the air buzzed with a sinister energy.
A low growl echoed from the depths...
[Hunter 1]: They're coming! We've found them!
Grey narrowed her eyes, sensing something far more dangerous lurking in the shadows.
[Grey]: Minotaurs. The real challenge.
Before Bell could even react, the massive doors on the fifth floor flung open, and a horde of Minotaurs charged toward them, their dark eyes gleaming with bloodlust.
The first wave of Minotaurs was overwhelming. Massive, horned, and covered in thick, battle-worn armor, they charged straight for the Familia. The ground trembled beneath their feet as the Minotaurs' hooves struck the stone.
Hunter 1 and Hunter 2 immediately took the lead, cutting through the monsters with expert precision. But even with their might, there were just too many.
Hunter 1 swung his sword with ease, cleaving through Minotaur after Minotaur, but his movements began to slow under the relentless pressure.
Hunter 2, utilizing his strange but effective skills, sent a flurry of carrots flying in all directions, momentarily distracting the monsters. But that only lasted for a short time before they resumed their attack.
Hunter 3, the self-proclaimed "King of the Sidewalk," was oddly calm in the chaos. He launched massive rocks from his catapult, smashing Minotaurs into the walls, but it wasn't enough to stop the horde from pushing forward.
[Grey]: Everyone, move! Bell, stay close!
Grey turned, and her body shimmered with an ominous aura. She drew the Abyss Ocean Sword, which rippled with a dark energy, its blade practically buzzing with the power of a thousand storms.
She didn't even wait for the Minotaurs to come closer before charging into the fray, her Hollowed Abyss Sting of Death tearing through them with impossible speed. Each slash was a blur, leaving behind nothing but bodies.
[Grey]: Bell, you stay with them. I'll handle the heavy lifting.
[Bell]: H-Huh? But…
[Grey]: I'm not asking. They're after the whole group. I'll clear a path. You protect them. Got it?
As soon as she said that, Grey launched herself into the middle of the Minotaur horde, spinning through the monsters with terrifying grace. The Abyss Ocean Sword cut down Minotaurs like they were paper, and Grey's power, enhanced by her Abysmal Dragon Shark Teeth and Hollowed Abyss Sting of Death, was a devastating force that cleaved through even the toughest of monsters.
Meanwhile, Hunter 1, Hunter 2, and Hunter 3 fought side by side, pushing through the horde of Minotaurs and defending Bell. But the numbers were too overwhelming.
As the battle raged on, Grey's Hollowed Soul and Aura of Dread kept pushing back the Minotaurs, allowing the others to regroup. She was an unstoppable force, cutting through the monsters like they were nothing more than paper.
The Minotaurs were starting to falter—but there were so many more.
In an instant, Grey's Aura of Insanity flared, and the air around her thickened with an otherworldly pressure. The Minotaurs froze in place, their eyes wide with fear as they felt the weight of her presence.
[Grey]: Time to end this.
She swung her sword with a final, devastating slash, and the horde of Minotaurs crumpled to the ground, their roars silenced in an instant.
Bell stood during the chaos, watching with wide eyes as Grey cleared the battlefield. Despite being surrounded by Minotaur corpses, there was an eerie calm around them.
Bell, Hunter 1, Hunter 2, and Hunter 3 were panting from the exhaustion of the battle, but all of them were in awe of Grey's sheer power.
[Bell]: That... was incredible!
[Hunter 1]: We're not even halfway down! But that was amazing!
[Hunter 2]: Minotaur meat. Can I cook this?
[Hunter 3]: Yep! I think we made a good team.
Grey just wiped the sweat off her brow and looked around.
[Grey]: It's just a warm-up. We've got more to do.
After the brutal battle with the Minotaur horde, the group had taken a moment to regroup and gather the spoils of their victory. But as they ventured further into the Dungeon, things took a sudden turn.
While the group was focused on collecting loot, Bell found himself wandering just a little too far ahead, eager to explore. It wasn't long before he heard the unmistakable sound of heavy footsteps behind him.
THUD! THUD!
A massive Minotaur, seemingly surviving the previous onslaught, emerged from the shadows, its eyes locking onto Bell with a terrifying intensity. Bell's heart raced, and he quickly turned to flee, but the beast was faster, its hooves shaking the earth beneath him.
[Bell]: Why is this one still alive
He sprinted down the dark, winding corridors of the Dungeon, glancing over his shoulder, seeing the Minotaur gaining on him. The creature's menacing growl echoed through the halls as it continued its chase, its horns aiming directly for Bell's back.
Without thinking, Hunter 1 sprinted after Bell, his armor clanking as he closed the distance between them. He wasn't about to let Bell become Minotaur food. His feet pounded the stone floor as he drew his sword, ready to intercept the beast, but it was clear Bell was in serious danger.
Hunter 1's eyes narrowed with focus as he pushed himself faster, trying to cut off the Minotaur before it could reach Bell.
But it was too late.
[Chapter end]