Is It Wrong To Level Up In A Dungeon?

Chapter 11. The Exploited

Bell chuckled, sliding his blade back into its sheath. "I wouldn't have been able to fight so freely without you handling the loot."

Lili blinked. The words were casual, offhanded even, but they struck her harder than she expected. Most adventurers saw supporters as dead weight. Bell... never had.

She quickly masked her surprise with a scoff. "Well, as long as you know my value," she muttered, hoisting her bag higher onto her back. There was no real bite to her words, only a quiet, reluctant warmth.

Bell only smiled, adjusting his gloves. "Let's head back."

And with that, they left the Dungeon behind, stepping into the light of the surface once more.

The two made their way back toward the surface, eventually stopping at a small food stall within Orario's bustling streets. The rich aroma of grilled meat and freshly baked bread filled the air as they sat down, their stomachs growling in unison.

Bell tore into his food eagerly, while Lili took a more measured approach, savoring each bite. The quiet camaraderie between them was comfortable, a far cry from their rocky beginnings.

Midway through the meal, Lili hesitated before setting her food down. "Mister Bell... do you mind if I take tomorrow off?"

Bell blinked, swallowing a mouthful of his meal. "Oh? Any special reason?"

She exhaled, tapping her fingers against the wooden table. "There's a Soma Familia meeting I need to attend. Just... some business I have to take care of."

Bell studied her for a moment, but Lili's expression was unreadable. Eventually, he nodded. "Alright. Just be careful, okay?"

Lili scoffed, a smirk tugging at her lips. "Please, I can take care of myself."

Even as she said it, she could feel an odd warmth settling in her chest. Someone actually cared enough to tell her to be careful. It was... nice.

With their meals finished, the two went their separate ways. But as Lili walked toward the darkened streets leading to the Soma Familia's domain, a weight settled in her gut.

She wasn't looking forward to tomorrow.

Not one bit.

A sudden chime echoed in Bell's mind, and a translucent screen flickered into view.

Ding!

[New Quest Received]

[Save Lili from the treacherous hands of the Soma Familia.]
[Reward: +5 Intelligence]
[Failure: Lili continues to be exploited by the Soma Familia.]

Bell's breath hitched as he read the words.

So that was it.

The uneasy feeling he'd always had about Lili—the way she acted, the bitterness in her voice when she spoke about adventurers—it all made sense now. He had thought she was simply jaded, lost in the cruelty of Orario's hierarchy. But no... she was trapped. Used. A pawn in a Familia that saw her as nothing more than a tool.

His heartbeat pounded in his ears. This wasn't just some system-generated task; it was her reality.

[Name: Bell Cranel]
[Job: None]
[Title: Wolf Assassin]
[Level: 25]
[Fatigue: 10]
[HP: 3465]
[MP: 546]
[Strength: 59]
[Health: 42]
[Agility: 57 (+20)]
[Intelligence: 42]
[Sense: 57 (+20)]
[Available Ability Points: 6]

He had grown. His stats had improved significantly, proof of his hard work in the Dungeon. But none of that mattered right now.

This quest wasn't about numbers. It wasn't about rewards.

It was about her.

Bell exhaled sharply, eyes burning with determination. He wasn't doing this because of some arbitrary system. He was doing it because he wanted to—because Lili deserved better.

And he would make damn sure she got it.

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Next: Saving Lili