Is It Wrong To Level Up In A Dungeon?

Chapter 31. The Hero and the Fox

But amid the relief, Lili suddenly realized—Bell was gone.

In the brief chaos, Bell had found himself separated from his companions. Unintentionally left behind, he was soon approached by a sultry woman who pulled him into a passing crowd. Before he could react, he was funneled through the throng and into the heart of a brothel.

Then, through one of the windows, his gaze landed on something—or rather, someone—a Renard woman, her ethereal presence vanishing as swiftly as it appeared.

Before he could process what he had just seen, a familiar voice called out to him. Hermes.

The god smirked knowingly, clearly entertained by Bell's predicament. To keep Bell quiet about his own presence in the pleasure quarter, Hermes handed him a small vial containing an aphrodisiac. Bell, bewildered and unwilling to hold onto such an item, immediately turned to chase Hermes down and return it.

However, before he could escape, an Amazonian prostitute named Aisha intercepted him. With a predatory grin, she seized the opportunity, claiming Bell for herself while warding off the other Amazons vying for a chance at him.

Bell soon found himself inside the Ishtar Familia's stronghold, standing before none other than the goddess herself.

In a separate chamber, Aisha and the other Amazonian courtesans surrounded him, their amused eyes betraying their true intent. They spoke freely of their customs—of how Amazons captured men for pleasure until they were satisfied. And Bell was to be no exception.

Just as he felt the walls closing in, a new presence sent a chill down his spine.

Phryne.

The grotesque Amazon loomed at the entrance, her predatory gaze fixated on Bell as she licked her lips in anticipation. The other Amazons immediately recoiled, protesting at the idea of letting her have him. A heated argument broke out, voices rising as the tension escalated.

Bell took his chance.

Shadows burst forth from beneath him. The dark tide surged, forming the shape of his summoned soldiers—an ominous legion of warriors born from his power.

The room fell into stunned silence.

The once-confident Amazons froze, their expressions a mix of shock and disbelief as the shadow infantry materialized before them.

Bell wasted no time.

Seizing the moment, he bolted, weaving through the halls as cries of alarm rang out behind him. The Ishtar Familia base erupted in chaos, rumors of his capture already spreading like wildfire throughout the pleasure quarter.

Aisha and the others quickly regrouped, preparing to retaliate—only to realize that the terrifying army that had stunned them mere moments ago had vanished into the shadows.

Bell had already recalled them.

Bell ducked into a far-eastern-style brothel, his breath steady but his senses sharp. The pleasure quarter was still alive with murmurs and laughter, but here, within the dimly lit room adorned with silken drapes and ornate lanterns, the chaos outside felt distant.

And then he saw her again.

The Renard.

She was just as he remembered—golden fur, delicate features, and eyes that shimmered with quiet sorrow. The fleeting glimpse he had caught of her before was no illusion; she was real, standing before him now.

"You..." she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

Before he could speak, she gently took his hand, guiding him toward the futon in the corner of the room. Her touch was hesitant yet resolute, as though fulfilling a duty she had long resigned herself to.