Is It Wrong To Level Up In A Dungeon?

Chapter 13. A Magic Skill

Bell scratched his cheek, avoiding her gaze. "Uh... yeah."

Lili clenched her fists. "And you still had me carrying that monstrosity of a backpack?!"

Bell gave her a sheepish smile. "Well... I just wanted to enjoy your company, Lili."

Silence.

Then, Lili's face turned a deep shade of red, her small frame stiffening at the blatant statement.

Hestia, noticing the reaction, immediately flared up. "H-Hey! Don't go getting all flustered over my Bell!"

Lili, still flustered, turned away with a huff, mumbling something about stupidly charming adventurers.

The next day, Bell returned to the Hostess of Fertility, a neatly wrapped boxed lunch in hand. He placed it on the counter in front of Syr, who blinked in surprise before offering a warm smile.

"You really didn't have to," she said, brushing a strand of silver hair behind her ear.

Bell chuckled sheepishly. "It's only fair after all the times you've fed me."

As they chatted, he found himself asking, "So, what do you do on your days off?"

Syr tapped her chin thoughtfully. "I like to read," she replied.

Bell scratched his cheek. "I wish I could say the same, but a lot of books are just... too complicated for me."

A glint of amusement shone in Syr's eyes. "Oh? Then maybe you just haven't found the right book yet." She gestured to a nearby shelf, where a particular book caught Bell's attention—a thick tome with intricate symbols etched onto its cover.

"This one... it's about magic?" he asked, pulling it from the shelf.

Syr nodded. "It is. If you're interested, you can borrow it."

Bell hesitated for only a moment before accepting it. "Thanks, Syr."

—

Back at home, Bell wasted no time flipping through the pages, engrossed in the complex theories and explanations within. Though some of it was difficult to understand, he pressed on, answering the book's practice questions as best as he could.

Then, just as he finished a passage, a translucent screen suddenly materialized before his eyes.

[New Skill Acquired: Fire Bolt]

Bell's breath hitched. He had learned magic—just from reading?

—

Later that night, a soft rustling sound stirred Bell from his slumber. His eyes blinked open groggily, only to see Hestia standing at the edge of his bed, arms crossed.

Her eyes were locked onto a suspicious lump beneath his blanket.

Bell stiffened. Oh no.

"Bell," Hestia deadpanned, "do you want to explain why Lili is in your bed?"

Lili, curled up beneath the covers, stirred slightly but remained asleep.

Bell swallowed hard. "Uh—more importantly! I, uh, learned magic today!"

Hestia blinked. "...What?"

Bell scrambled up, grabbing the magic tome and showing it to her. "Syr let me borrow this book, and after reading it, I somehow unlocked a spell."

Intrigued, Hestia sat beside him. "That's unusual. Let me see."

Bell nodded, taking a deep breath. He extended his palm, focusing on the sensation bubbling within him. Then—

Bwoosh!

A bolt of crimson fire erupted from his hand, crackling with raw energy before dissipating into the air.

Hestia's eyes widened. "No chant..."

Bell tilted his head. "Is that strange?"

"Very," she confirmed. "Most people need an incantation to cast magic, but yours is chant-less. That makes it much faster to use."

Excitement sparked in Bell's chest. "Does that mean I can try it out in the dungeon tomorrow?"

Hestia nodded. "Yes, but—"

Too late. The anticipation was already too much for him.

—

That same night, Bell found himself back in the Dungeon, his pulse thrumming with exhilaration. A pack of goblins lurked in the shadows, snarling as they caught sight of him.

He raised his hand.

"Fire Bolt!"

The words left his lips instinctively. Flames burst forth, striking the nearest goblin and sending it flying into the cavern wall. The others hesitated, but Bell didn't give them the chance. He dashed forward, weaving between them, casting his magic with increasing speed.

Time blurred as he fought, each battle sharpening his instincts, refining his control. Hours passed, and by the time he took a breath, a familiar notification appeared before him.

[Level up! x2]

Turning, he found himself standing before two familiar figures.

Riveria, her emerald gaze calm and knowing.

And Ais Wallenstein—the Sword Princess herself.

Bell's throat tightened, nerves creeping in at the sight of Ais. But he forced himself to stay composed.

"You've been training," Riveria observed.

Bell nodded. "I... wanted to test something out."

Ais tilted her head. "Magic?"

Bell hesitated, then gave a small nod.

A brief silence hung between them before Ais spoke again. "You're improving, it's nice to see." She gave him a small smile.

Bell felt his face heat up. "Th-Thanks."

With that, he bid them farewell, heading home with a newfound determination burning in his chest.

---

Next: A Noble Challenger

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Authors Note as of 3/7/25: 

Are there any specific powers or shadows you would want implemented in this story? (Can be from other anime/media)  Currently on chapter 24 for a reference of how ahead I am. So its gonna be a while until any suggestions are implemented in this story.