Bell arrived at the Guild just before sunset.
At this time of day, with the sun dipping below the horizon, the adventurers still toiling in the Dungeon hadn't returned yet, while those working on the upper floors had already come back long ago. Because of this timing, the Guild was currently quiet, having just passed its busiest period.
The moment he stepped inside, Bell spotted Miss Eina sitting at the reception desk. His luck was pretty good—he didn't have to deal with an unfamiliar receptionist. With that in mind, he walked straight toward her.
"Miss Eina."
Eina, who had just wrapped up a round of busy work, looked up at the familiar voice. Wasn't this the new adventurer who'd just registered yesterday? She remembered his name—Bell Cranel. He'd struck her as someone with a decent sense of self-awareness. That was probably why she'd been a bit blunt with him.
Thinking back on the slightly harsh words she had said, Eina's demeanor grew more serious. As a receptionist, she hadn't been wrong in how she handled things—but as a person, she knew her words might have stung. Especially after realizing how thoughtful he actually was, she couldn't help feeling a bit guilty.
Still, Eina understood the importance of maintaining a professional distance from adventurers. Getting too close could lead to unnecessary complications. So the way she chose to make it up to him was through her work ethic.
Looking more closely, Eina noticed some green residue still smeared on Bell's face. It was blood—likely from a goblin. He must have just returned from the Dungeon, probably just the first floor.
"Bell, did you just get back from the Dungeon?"
"Yeah. I was just wandering around the beginner's zone, checking out the goblins. After facing them directly, I realized even the ones on the top floor aren't easy to handle. If I hadn't been lucky today, it probably wouldn't have gone so smoothly."
Eina studied the boy in front of her. Fourteen—still within the age of impulsive decisions. If he were a little older, he might have been better prepared to face the Dungeon's dangers. But that wasn't something she could control. After all, being an adventurer meant going into the Dungeon, just like a fisherman had to cast a line. It was simply inevitable. And as a receptionist, interfering with that would be overstepping her bounds.
"I came today because I was hoping Miss Eina could help me with something."
Bell didn't hesitate, going straight to the point. As an adventurer, there were only a few reasons to visit the Guild—usually to check on Dungeon reports or to process Magic Stones and Drop Items.
Eina understood right away but found it odd that he was asking for her help specifically. The Guild had a designated counter for buying and selling Magic Stones and drop items, and it was just nearby. Was he really just asking her to do something that basic? It didn't seem like that was all.
'Is there some reason behind this?'
She wasn't sure, but didn't press him. Maybe whatever reason he couldn't say out loud was the reason he came to her. So Eina gave a small nod, stood up from her chair, and pointed toward the adjacent room used for handling private matters.
"Bell, go wait in that room. I'll be right there."
"Thank you."
Bell was genuinely grateful that Miss Eina trusted him. She seemed even kinder than he had imagined. If that was the case, maybe he'd just ask her for help with handling Magic Stones and drops from now on.
He stood up and headed to the room she'd indicated.
There was no external lock—he pushed the door open and stepped inside. But as he closed it, he noticed several special locks fitted on the interior. Once the door shut, it blocked out all outside noise. The room had no windows, and its only light source was the soft glow of an orange-yellow Magic Stone.
'The room's confidentiality is solid. As long as no one sees me take out a large number of Magic Stones and Drop Items, no one can know. Unless Miss Eina is somehow controlled and accidentally lets something slip.'
'But anyone capable of doing that definitely wouldn't be human. As for hiding from the gods, that's just a matter of luck. As long as my luck holds, no one will pay attention to a small fry like me.'
In the middle of the room stood a long table, flanked by sofas on both sides.
Bell didn't sit down. He remained standing, waiting quietly for Miss Eina to arrive.
Before long, Eina walked in alone. Upon opening the door, she noticed Bell standing there. Slightly surprised, she gestured for him to take a seat.
"Bell, please sit down first."
"Alright."
Bell didn't hesitate and sat directly across from her.
"Bell, what is it that you need help with?"
Eina was genuinely curious why Bell insisted on speaking with her alone. If it was just to sell some Magic Stones and Drop Items, she might have to have a serious talk with him—messing around during work hours wasn't something to joke about.
Of course, Bell wasn't joking. Since he planned to rely on Miss Eina in the future to help handle Magic Stones and Drop Items, there were things she needed to know. Pressing his hands together with a soft sound, he slowly opened them—and countless Magic Stones spilled across the table like falling rain.
"Huh?"
Even someone as experienced as Eina froze. 'What did Bell just do?' She instinctively grabbed his hand to check—there were no holes, no tricks. So how had that many Magic Stones suddenly appeared?
Magic.
She understood instantly. That trick Bell had just used—he'd cast a spell. That was how the stones had emerged from his hands. And the nature of that spell explained why he had been so cautious.
"Bell... just now—was that magic?"
Bell gave a slight nod.
"Is it... space-type magic? The kind that stores items?"
He nodded again.
Eina immediately covered her face with both hands. In that moment, the weight of the situation hit her—if this ability were ever exposed, every god in Orario would be scrambling to snatch him up.