Is It Wrong To Level Up In A Dungeon?

Chapter 31. The Hero and the Fox

"I still think you should've haggled more," Lili grumbled, arms crossed as she walked beside Bell, her small frame barely reaching his shoulder.

Bell scratched his cheek, smiling sheepishly. "I mean... the price seemed fair."

Lili sighed dramatically. "That's why you always get overcharged, Master Bell. You have to be firm."

Mikoto chuckled softly, walking gracefully beside them. "Lili, not everyone is as naturally gifted in negotiation as you are."

Lili puffed out her chest. "Well, someone has to make sure we don't go broke."

As they wandered past a fruit stall, Bell caught sight of a display of ripe, glistening apples. "Oh, these look good," he said, picking one up. Before he could pay, Lili swiftly handed over a few valis, completing the transaction before Bell could protest.

"See? This is why I handle the money," she declared with a satisfied smirk.

Bell chuckled as they continued on, Mikoto shaking her head in amusement. The three of them made their way toward a small park near the edge of the marketplace, finding a shaded bench beneath a towering tree.

Bell took a bite of his apple, savoring the crisp sweetness, while Lili stretched her arms above her head. "This is nice. No dungeon, no fighting, just... relaxing."

Mikoto nodded in agreement. "It is rare for us to have such moments. The tranquility of days like this should not be taken for granted."

Bell leaned back, gazing up at the patches of blue sky peeking through the branches. "Yeah... It's nice to just enjoy the city for once."

For a while, they simply sat there, enjoying the sounds of the market in the distance, the occasional laughter of children running by, and the gentle rustling of leaves in the breeze.

Eventually, as the sun began to dip lower in the sky, Lili hopped off the bench and dusted off her cloak. "Alright, break's over. We should head back before Hestia-sama starts worrying."

Bell stretched and stood up, while Mikoto gracefully rose to her feet.

"Agreed. Let's go home."

With light hearts and easy smiles, the three of them made their way back to the mansion, their laughter blending into the warm afternoon air.

...—...

Under the cover of night, the pleasure quarter of Orario pulsed with life. The Ishtar Familia prowled the streets, indulging in the district's carnal desires as their goddess dictated. Lanterns flickered with a sultry glow, casting long shadows over the winding alleyways, where temptation and danger intertwined.

At the Hestia Familia mansion, Mikoto appeared to retire for the night, yet as the household settled, she quietly slipped out into the city. Unbeknownst to her, Bell and Lili, sensing her unusual behavior, tailed her in silence.

Mikoto met up with Chigusa, her former comrade from the Takemikazuchi Familia, and together, the two ventured deeper into the red-light district. Bell and Lili followed at a distance, the neon glow of the quarter illuminating their path. However, their covert pursuit took an unexpected turn when Mikoto and Chigusa were surrounded by a group of drunken playboys, their laughter laced with ill intentions.

Lili, unable to stand by, rushed forward to intervene, swiftly dismantling the troublemakers with sharp words and an even sharper presence. Mikoto and Chigusa, grateful for the timely rescue, expressed their thanks, revealing that their purpose in the district was to locate someone from their homeland rumored to be working within the quarter.