Danmachi: Is It Wrong to Be the Main Character in Orario?

A figure dashed frantically through the dungeon, holding a girl covered in blood.

A closer look revealed the girl was drenched in blood, her right arm missing. Her legs were wrapped in gauze, but it was still clear—they'd been severed.

For an adventurer, this was almost a death sentence.

The most dreaded issue in the Dungeon was losing limbs.

Death was swift, but losing an arm or leg meant a lifetime of suffering.

Without their limbs, adventurers could no longer move with the agility they once had, barely able to use even a tenth of their former strength. They were forced into retirement, relegated to the sidelines, awaiting the end.

For those who still held grand ambitions, this was unacceptable.

Yet reality was cruel. Not even the best healers in Orario could restore severed limbs.

When the figure carrying the girl reached the 18th floor—"Rivira"—it was nighttime. The streets were bustling, filled with the sounds of adventurers drinking and chatting.

To avoid attention, the figure veered away from the main street and slipped into a slightly dangerous side path.

That move, however, allowed someone stationed on the wall to spot them clearly.

"The Nine Hell and the Sword Princess?"

Rubbing his eyes, Bell questioned if he was seeing things. Why was the Nine Hell carrying the Sword Princess, barely clinging to life?

Looking closer, Bell's expression turned odd.

"It really is the Nine Hell and the Sword Princess."

"Who the hell did this to her?"

But that thought was quickly pushed aside by another question.

"They're still in the Dungeon?"

Just a few days ago, Bell had heard that the Loki Familia had returned from the Dungeon. It wasn't a full expedition, but whenever someone from Loki Familia came back, word spread quickly across Orario.

He remembered hearing it just a few days ago.

So why had the Braver, as their leader, come back and left the Nine Hell and Sword Princess down there?

Bell shook his head, vanished from sight, and swiftly approached the Nine Hell along the narrow path.

His concealment was flawless, letting him get close enough to observe the Sword Princess's condition.

'Right arm gone? Both legs, too?'

Bell turned his attention to the Nine Hell. She didn't look like she'd been through much combat—just a bit of dust on her outer clothing.

'A Level 6 and a Level 5 fighting together, and the Level 5 ends up like this? That's rare.'

'Did the Sword Princess get provoked by that woman and push herself to fight stronger monsters? Is that how she ended up like this?'

Given the usually harmonious nature of Loki Familia, that seemed like the only reasonable explanation.

But even that made Bell speechless.

The Floor Boss for Level 5s was on the 27th floor. That two-headed dragon wasn't enough to help the Sword Princess level up, was it?

Which meant she must've gone after the Level 6 Floor Boss.

'She's seriously fearless—nearly killed herself pushing this far.'

'She didn't die, but she's this badly hurt. Must've been a brutal fight with the Floor Boss.'

Judging from the Nine Hell's current state, it was likely the Floor Boss was dead—and the Sword Princess barely survived.

But judging by her condition, she'd paid a steep price to cling to life.

Seeing how desperate the Nine Hell was, Bell instantly understood why she was rushing to get the Sword Princess to the surface.

'Seriously... don't you realize that a maimed Sword Princess will immediately become the center of attention in Orario? If word gets out that her limbs regenerate... I'll be in deep trouble.'

To avoid that hassle, Bell knew he couldn't stay uninvolved, even if he wanted to.

Only when the Nine Hell reached the entrance to the 18th floor did Bell finally make his move.

He moved swiftly, covering the Nine Hell's mouth before she could react and pulling her into the nearby bushes.

"!?"

"It's me. Stay quiet."

Just as Riveria was about to strike back, the voice stopped her cold.

The hand over her mouth was withdrawn.

Riveria cautiously glanced around. Surrounded by dense foliage, the spot was quiet and hidden from view—a relatively safe place.

Once she confirmed the area was secure, she turned to face the boy standing behind her.

He looked just like he always did—cloak and hood in place, his face completely concealed beneath the shadow.

...A stone table slowly rose from the soft grass.

"Don't speak. Lay her down first."

Riveria gently placed Ais onto the stone table.

Bell didn't waste words. He immediately began checking the Sword Princess's condition.

"Mana depletion, severe physical trauma, signs of internal rupture. These are standard injuries—Elixir could've healed all of it. Why didn't you use it?"

"The Elixir forcibly heals severed limbs. I wasn't sure if regeneration would still be possible after that."

Bell gave a slight shake of his head. Seeing the Sword Princess in such a wretched state, it was no wonder the Nine Hell had carried her all this way through the Dungeon.

"Next time, just use the Elixir. Healing the wounds won't interfere with limb regeneration."

Six runes lit up at the site of the Sword Princess's severed arm. As they activated, the bandages burst apart. Instead of blood, a faint outline of her original arm began to take form.

The same happened to her bloodied legs—phantom limbs began to manifest, though it would take time for full regeneration.

Watching the ethereal shapes slowly solidify, Riveria let out a breath of relief despite her surprise.

"Thank you, Bell-kun."

"No need."

Bell gave a small shake of his head, then glanced down at the unconscious Sword Princess.

"Looks like she was provoked by that woman. Chasing strength, even at the cost of her life... using the Floor Boss's corpse as a stepping stone to move forward."

"That kind of reckless ambition usually ends in tragedy."

"The Sword Princess doesn't have any skills that let her overcome level gaps in a short time. That's just how she was born. Please try to talk some sense into her, Vice Captain Riveria."

"When she wakes up, I'll have a serious talk with her."

Riveria knew Ais had gone too far this time. If they hadn't run into Bell-kun here, Ais might not have made it back to the surface.

"Well then, I'll take my leave. As for the treatment fee, could you mention it to Captain Finn?"

With those words, Bell vanished before Riveria's eyes.

He moved so fast, she didn't even get the chance to say anything courteous—only a sigh escaped her lips in the end.

"Isn't that just like Ais?"

...

(100 Chapters Ahead)

p@treon com / PinkSnake