Chapter Thirty-One

One month.

For one month, I didn't let them anywhere near the dungeon.

"Faster!"

I commanded, watching as Shohei drew his sword again, cutting through a rock thrown at him with no little amount of difficulty. When I asked Welf for weighted clothing and informed him that I had new Familia members, his expression turned sympathetic.

No idea what that was about.

"I don't think this is an appropriate use of healing magic, Captain."

Shohei muttered and in return, I threw another rock at him, which he cut through again.

Sweat dripped from his body, the ground around him damp from the training he was performing as he sheathed the sword again. I created a magic circle around him, healing his muscles, and resumed the training.

I had to give it to him, he did not give up.

"Focus, channel your mind, to strengthen your body. Remember the feeling you got when I did it for you."

He nodded the fire of determination in his eyes shining brighter as he cut through another rock.

On the other side of the yard, my shadow was training Ava, who was using her inherited magic to blast a dummy that had magic absorption on it.

The sound canceling I put up around the area made sure that nobody was disturbed.

"Your speed and agility have improved, and so have your senses, but it's not enough. The dungeon will devour you without mercy past the 8th floor."

I point out throwing another ruck, much more inaccurately which he managed to graze with his katana, managing to disturb its trajectory enough for it to fly past his head.

"I'm going to make sure that you don't die if you encounter something unusual."

He breathed in and prepared himself again. I would need to drill him into more survival habits.

"The stronger the vessel the more Excelia is absorbed from the monsters. Your body is like a bottomless cup, the Excelia is like the rain."

I started explaining, throwing rocks randomly as he listened.

"We need the cup to turn into a well, that well to turn into a reservoir, and that reservoir to grow bigger to gather more rain."

I noticed his eyes widen as if he realized something, which I had no idea what he realized, I was pulling this shit out of my ass.

"For that to happen, we need to make sure that the cup does not break."

Finishing, I threw two stones at the same time. He managed to cut through one but got hit on the shoulder with the second.

He staggered back but got into position again.

"Understood."

I grinned. What did you understand? Please tell me too...

___

"Bell... You are going too hard on them..."

I chuckled, looking at the stats that were raised in just one week. Shohei went up in double digits in all of his stats, but the most important one was the Magic stat. It was at 28.

He was learning.

I looked over to the other paper. Ava was talented in magic. Very talented. and the 167 points gained in it was indeed very exceptional by this world's standards. Her other stats went up variously, mostly her agility by 24 points and endurance by 40, dexterity was right after agility at 29 points. Her magic, however, had 47 points and strength was at 27.

Well, I taught them the basics, and now it was time to take them to the dungeon, after all, theory was just theory, and experience is what got you through life.

...Yeah, now I feel responsible for their lives. I groaned, putting a hand on my face and tilting my head back. What the hell? This was never a problem before...

But they were... My age. Well, the age of this body, they were kids.

...Wait a second, I was a kid too... Fuck.

I sighed. What was I doing? If Suzune were here, She would slap me on the back of my head and tell me to move on...

"Are you okay, Bell?"

I looked down at the worried face of Hestia and chuckled, ruffling her hair.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Let's go celebrate."

She smiled and got up from the desk she was sitting on and I got off the chair. Opening the door for her, we proceeded down the staircase, spotting Ava and Shohei sitting on the couch. Shohei was sipping on tea while Ava was reading the book I gave her.

"Get ready to head out Hestia."

She nodded and went back up the stairs while I walked over to the other side of the sofa, and sat down. Ava and Shohei immediately stopped whatever they were doing, paying attention.

"You two are doing very well and Shohei is already ready for a level-up..."

I started, getting smiles in return, 

"However. That will not happen."

They blinked in surprise and I leaned forward to start explaining.

"The concept of a level up is a boost in power, not every new Level two is the same. The numbers matter, and I'll be honest, The dungeon is not the only danger in Orario."

Shohei nodded, understanding while Ava was still hesitant.

"What do you mean, Captain?"

I looked her in the eyes for a moment, blue meeting red and I sighed, lacing my fingers.

"The Ishtar Familia, the Freya Familia, the Hermes Familia, the Soma Familia, the Apollo Familia..."

I listed off and even Shohei seemed surprised. Putting down his cup, he put his hands inside his sleeves.

"That's... a concerning amount of numbers, Captain..."

I nodded in agreement.

"Freya Familia is by far the most dangerous, the only level seven in Orario, and the goddess herself tends to charm the ones she takes a liking to."

Shohei narrowed his eyes in concern and sighed.

"I'm not sure if I can put up any resistance to one of her stronger members, but I shall not be taken Alive if it comes to it, Captain."

I looked at him for a moment, raising an eyebrow.

"You don't have to worry about that, it won't come to that if I have anything to say about it."

Shohei looked at me for a moment, before nodding.

"I don't want any of you leveling up until the main abilities you focus on reach the maximum they can be, and the others have to be in 600's, 700 would be preferable."

The two nodded but Ava seemed concerned.

"Won't that take years, Captain?"

I smiled, chuckling. No, it would not. Now that I have observed how Falna works outside of the dungeon, I believe I cracked the formula.

Well, less cracked the Formula, and learned how to take advantage of the already existing features.

In all honesty, I would be shaming my friend, who managed to crack the System and gave us the advantage we desperately needed. Falna was... A child's play in comparison.