IN LATER EVENING AT FIRST FLOOR ON ORARIO
ISABELLA
The sound of screeching tires still echoes in my skull I remember the flash of metal, the cold rain, and that stupid thought crossing my mind 'At least I finished the last volume of DanMachi.' Then, darkness. When I opened my eyes again, I wasn't on a street. I was lying on rough stone, drenched in shadows. Blue crystals glowed weakly from the ceiling above me. The air felt… alive, thick, heavy, and full of whispers that weren't human.
"What the hell?"I gasped.
"SYSTEM BOOTING.. ERROR DETECTED: Host species mismatch. Attempting repair…[Recalibration complete." A voice said.
A glowing interface floated in front of me like something ripped straight out of a video game. My reflection flickered on its surface, and what I saw made my stomach twist. Claws. Fangs. Red eyes that glowed faintly in the dark. And scales running down my arms like molten glass. I screamed. The sound came out wrong. Like an animal's growl instead of a girl's voice.
"Welcome, Host: Isabella. Race: Dungeon Monster (Unclassified). Main Directive. Integrate into Orario undetected. Primary Quest. Capture the affection of Bell Cranel. Failure Condition. Termination."The system said.
My breath caught. Bell Cranel? The cinnamon roll rookie of Hestia Familia? That Bell?
"Additional Warning: Exposure of true form to any adventurer - Immediate Host Termination."The system said.
So let me get this straight. I died in the real world, got dumped into DanMachi, turned into a monster, and now have to make Bell Cranel fall in love with me… or die. Great. Just great. I pressed my clawed hand to my chest, feeling my heart hammering under scaled skin. Somewhere in the darkness, a roar echoed, something big, and definitely hungry.
"Okay." I whispered to myself, forcing my voice steady. "If this is a system world, then I can grind. I can level up. I can survive."I whispered.
The interface blinked again.
"Quest Activated: Survive. Hide. Charm. Conquer Bell Cranel. Or die trying." System said.
I bared my teeth, my monster teeth and took my first step forward into the Dungeon's first floor. Whatever gods or systems were watching me… they'd regret this. My name is Isabella, and this monster's got a heart to steal.
My claws glinted in the dim light, slick with something dark. Not blood, not mine, not human. I didn't want to know whose. The faint hum of the system screen hovered in the air, waiting, patient, mechanical.
"System…" My voice cracked, half-growl, half-human. "There has to be a way to to not look like this!"
"Command recognized. Query: Appearance modification?"System said.
"Yes! Whatever that means, do it!"I said,
"Warning: Host species is non-human. Complete concealment will consume continuous mana and system energy reserves. Proceed?"System asked.
I didn't even hesitate.
"Do it."I said.
"Executing Protocol: Human Disguise. Mana Drain: Active.Stability: 63%. Warning - emotional spikes may cause partial transformation."System said.
The world shimmered. My claws dissolved into light, fading into pale fingers. The scales melted away, replaced by smooth skin. For the first time since waking, I saw me. Not Isabella the monster, just Isabella, messy brown hair, wide red eyes, shaking and barefoot in a dungeon that wanted to eat me alive. I dropped to my knees, panting. It was exhausting, like holding my breath through an entire workout. But it was human. It was hope.
"Okay." I murmured, gripping my hand tight enough to hurt. "Step one: look normal. Step two: don't die. Step three: somehow make Bell freaking Cranel fall for me."
"Quest Progress: 0%. Sub-Objective Added: Establish first contact with Target - Bell Cranel. Estimated Success Rate: 3%."System said.
"Three percent?!"I asked.
"Tip: Success rate may improve with charisma, proximity, and favorable first impressions."System said.
I stared into the glowing text and groaned.
"So I have to flirt my way out of a species extinction scenario. Perfect."I sighed.
The dungeon rumbled in response, like it were laughing at me. Pebbles fell from the ceiling, and somewhere deeper, something roared again, closer this time. I forced myself to stand, brushing dust from my new "human" skin.
"I don't care what my odds are." I said. "If the gods want entertainment, I'll give them a show."
"New Title Acquired: The Deceptive Monster. Skill Unlocked: Glamour Veil (Basic). Description: Maintains human disguise. Breaks under emotional duress or critical HP."The system said.
The system's glow dimmed, and silence filled the space between heartbeats. I took a shaky breath and stepped toward the tunnel that led upward toward the surface, toward Orario, toward him. Bell Cranel didn't know it yet, but the most dangerous monster in the dungeon was already falling for him.
By the time I climbed out of the dungeon, my lungs were burning. The sunlight stabbed my eyes like knives, too bright after the endless blue glow below. But it was… real. Warm. Alive. Orario. The dungeon city. The center of everything. And right now, the most dangerous place in the world for me to exist.
"Mana Drain: 15%. Glamour Veil stable."System said.
I adjusted the borrowed cloak I'd scavenged off a fallen adventurer, nothing fancy, just enough to hide my trembling hands. The streets buzzed with life: merchants shouting, gods laughing, adventurers swaggering with weapons bigger than my entire body. All of them blissfully unaware there was a monster walking among them.
"Okay." I whispered to myself, staring at the large marble building ahead. "Step two… get registered."
The Guild Headquarters towered like a temple, runes etched across its doors. Adventurers filed in and out, humans, elves, dwarves, even a few Amazons. I swallowed the lump in my throat and stepped inside. The scent of ink, parchment, and… oddly enough, fear hung in the air. Behind the counter stood a woman with sharp eyes and a professional smile, Eina Tulle, half-elf, Bell Cranel's future advisor. My stomach flipped.
"Target's associate detected. Affection system synergy: +2% chance of indirect rapport."System said.
Oh great, I thought. I'm already min-maxing relationships like some kind of dating sim speed runner.
Eina looked up.
"Welcome to the Guild. Are you here to register as an adventurer?"She asked.
I nodded quickly, forcing a smile.
"Y-yeah! First time. I, uh… just arrived in Orario."I said.
Her expression softened a little.
"You seem nervous. That's normal. We get a lot of newcomers." She handed me a form and quill. "Name?"
"…Isabella."I said.
"Family name?"She asked.
I froze. My system pulsed faintly, as if sensing my panic.
"Generating Alias… Alias Assigned: Isabella Vale."System said.
I scribbled it down.
"Isabella Vale."I said.
"Any previous Familia?"She asked.
"…Not yet."I said.
"Then you'll need to find a god or goddess willing to take you in." Eina nodded, jotting a note. "Until then, you can't access the Dungeon. For your safety, please don't attempt it without a blessing."
Too late for that, I thought grimly.
"Got it." I said aloud.
Eina smiled.
"If you'd like, I can recommend a few Familia who are recruiting right now-"She begun.
"Quest Update:] Join a Familia to gain official access to Orario's Dungeon. Optional Objective: Encounter Bell Cranel."System said.
I nearly choked.
"Actually, um, could you… tell me if a certain adventurer is registered here? Bell Cranel?"I asked.
Eina blinked, surprised.
"Bell Cranel? Oh, yes, he's with the Hestia Familia. He's… quite well known these days. Why do you ask?"She asked.
My system pulsed again, faint warmth spreading across my chest.
"Main target located. Emotional response detected: Curiosity / Affection."Sytem said.
I smiled, hiding the tremor in my hands.
"No reason. Just… heard stories."I said.
Eina chuckled.
"Everyone has. That boy's been making waves."She said.
If only she knew. If only anyone knew.