Is It Wrong To Level Up In A Dungeon?

Chapter 5. Gifts and Debts

Bell sat at his table, enjoying the meal laid out before him. The warm atmosphere of the Hostess of Fertility surrounded him, the laughter of adventurers and barmaids filling the air. The food was delicious, better than anything he had eaten in a long time.

But as he ate, he felt eyes on him.

His white hair made him easy to spot, and it didn't take long for some members of the Loki Familia to recognize him. Among them was Bete Loga, a seasoned adventurer known for his sharp tongue and lack of restraint—especially when drunk.

Bell felt a pit form in his stomach as Bete approached with an amused sneer.

"Hah. Ain't you that kid from before?" Bete's voice slurred slightly, but the mockery was unmistakable. "Yeah... I remember now. You're the one who ran away from that Minotaur, right?"

Bell froze, his hands clenched into fists beneath the table.

The room seemed to grow quieter as more people turned to watch the scene unfold.

Bete laughed, shaking his head. "Man, it was pathetic. If Ais hadn't stepped in, you'd be dead. And yet, you're sittin' here, stuffing your face like you're some kind of hero?"

Bell said nothing, his grip tightening on his utensils.

Bete leaned in closer. "A weakling like you doesn't deserve to be anywhere near someone like Ais."

The words stung.

Bell pushed back his chair abruptly, the legs scraping against the wooden floor. Without a word, he dashed out of the pub, the sound of his footsteps fading into the night.

Ais sat in silence, her golden eyes following his retreating form. She hadn't spoken up. She knew Bete had gone too far.

But what could she have said?

—

Bell's feet carried him forward before he even realized where he was going.

The deep frustration boiling inside him needed an outlet—and there was only one place he could go.

By the time he came back to his senses, he was already in the dungeon.

He fought with reckless abandon, striking down every goblin, kobold, and needle rabbit that crossed his path. But no matter how many he cut down, the anger wouldn't fade.

Bete's words kept replaying in his head.

"Pathetic."

"Weakling."

He clenched his teeth, his grip on Kasaka's Fang so tight that his knuckles turned white.

I don't want to be weak.

Bell kept going, deeper and deeper, fighting until the night turned to morning.

By the time exhaustion finally caught up to him, his clothes were torn, and his body bore scratches and bruises. But compared to how he normally looked after a long dungeon run, this was nothing.

He hadn't even leveled up.

—

Bell finally returned home, his steps slow and heavy.

The moment he entered, Hestia's voice rang out.

"Bell! Where have you been all night?!"

He didn't answer right away, avoiding her gaze as he sat down.

Hestia's eyes softened when she noticed the marks on his body. "Bell..."

"I just... needed to clear my head."