Danmachi: The World's Anomaly

As Hestia and Mat continued their walk away from the Guild, a familiar voice called out, "Hestia-sama!"

Hestia's head turned quickly, her expression lighting up as she spotted Bell, accompanied by Welf and Lili. "Bell-kun!" she exclaimed, sprinting toward him with arms outstretched. She wrapped Bell in a tight hug, her enthusiasm nearly knocking him off balance.

Bell, now accustomed to Hestia's antics, simply smiled shyly, patting her on the back. "Hestia-sama, it's good to see you too."

Lili crossed her arms, a slight pout on her face. "Lady Hestia, please, could you show some restraint in public? You're drawing attention again!"

Hestia waved her off, still clinging to Bell. "Oh, hush, Lili. This is a family reunion moment. Let me enjoy it!"

Lili rolled her eyes and huffed. "Family reunion? You saw him just this morning!"

Welf, standing to the side, leaned toward Bell and smirked "Does this… happen often?" Welf asked quietly.

Bell sighed, his cheeks pink but his smile warm. "Pretty much every time they meet."

As the lighthearted banter continued, Hestia finally let go of Bell, brushing herself off. Her gaze shifted to Welf, her curiosity piqued. "Bell-kun, is this one of your new acquaintances?"

Bell nodded, smiling. "Yes, Hestia-sama. This is Welf Crozzo."

Hestia's eyes narrowed as she recalled something. "Wait, is this the same person who made that request to join you in the dungeon in exchange for forging your new dagger?"

Bell nodded again. "That's right."

Welf stepped forward, bowing politely. "Hestia-sama, it's a pleasure to meet you. As Bell said, I'm Welf. Welf Crozo. I chose to request access to materials in the dungeon instead of taking payment because I need specific resources for my work. I also asked to accompany Bell into the dungeon to acquire them myself."

Welf looked up, his sincerity evident in his eyes. "I hope you'll allow me to support Bell in this way."

Hestia's serious expression melted into a cheerful grin, She know's the Crozo Family thanks to her friend but she didn't continue because she noticed Welf's hesitations and instead continue. "Of course! If Bell trusts you, then I do too. Besides, having a personal blacksmith in the familia is a huge bonus!"

Welf's face broke into a wide smile. "Thank you, Hestia-sama! I promise to do my best."

Bell chuckled softly at their exchange, glad to see the camaraderie between his goddess and his new companion.

Meanwhile, Mat stood at the side, watching the scene unfold. His thoughts raced with a mix of excitement.

This is surreal. I'm actually meeting Bell, Welf, and Lili in the flesh!

He felt like a fan encountering his favorite fictional characters but tried to maintain his composure.

Mat's inner awe was momentarily interrupted when he noticed Welf already accompanying Bell. His brows furrowed slightly.

Wait, Welf's with him already? Isn't this way ahead of the timeline? The plot seems to be moving faster than I expected…

His lingering anxiety began to bubble up as he tried to process the rapid developments.

Lili, having finished her argument with Hestia, finally noticed Mat standing quietly beside her goddess. "Lady Hestia," she said, tilting her head. "Who is this person with you today?"

The group's attention shifted toward Mat, who snapped out of his thoughts as four pairs of eyes turned to him. He forced a small, polite smile and gave a little wave with his right hand.

"This is Mat," Hestia said with a proud smile. "He's a… special case I'm helping out today."

Lili raised a skeptical eyebrow. "A special case? And what's his connection to you, Hestia-sama?"

Mat decided to step in, maintaining his calm demeanor. "Nice to meet all of you. So… I take it this young man with the white hair is Bell Cranel?" he said in a guessing tone, though he knew perfectly well who Bell was.

Bell perked up and nodded, stepping forward. "Yes, that's me! It's nice to meet you, Mister Mat."

Mat extended his hand toward Bell, smiling. "Likewise, Bell. I've heard quite a bit about you. It's a pleasure to meet someone so dedicated to their dreams."

Bell shook Mat's hand eagerly, his bashful smile returning. "Thank you! I'm still learning, but I'm doing my best."

Mat then turned to Lili and Welf, offering his hand to each of them in turn. "And you must be Bell's trusted allies. I'm Mat. It's an honor to meet you both."

Lili sees mat's hand extended to her, she is reluctant but accepted his handshakes. "Lili, just Lili. A Supporter." Her tone was cautious, but she nodded politely.

Welf, on the other hand, grinned and gave Mat a firm handshake. "You already heard my name but Im Welf Crozzo. Blacksmith. Good to meet you, Mat."

After the introductions were finished, Lili, recalling Hestia's earlier mention of Mat's "special case," tilted her head curiously. "Hestia-sama, you mentioned something about Mat having a special case earlier. What exactly do you mean?"

Hestia's cheerful expression faltered slightly, and she sighed. "It's… complicated." She glanced at Mat, who nodded subtly, giving her permission to explain.

"Well," Hestia began, her tone shifting to one of restrained anger, "Mat's god abandoned him."

The group froze. Bell's eyes widened in shock, Welf frowned deeply, and Lili's brows furrowed as the weight of Hestia's words sank in.

"Abandoned?" Bell asked hesitantly, his voice tinged with disbelief. "What do you mean, Hestia-sama?"

Hestia's voice grew more impassioned as she continued. "Mat's god blessed him, gave him a falna, and then just… left! He didn't take responsibility for Mat as a child in his familia, didn't help him grow stronger, and didn't even care about his well-being. That god took off and left Orario entirely!"

Lili's face turned pale as she listened, her thoughts racing. It's worse than what I went through… she thought. Yes, I had a horrible childhood because my parents abandoned me. But I still had a chance to survive. I could work as a supporter, and I could level up with Bell-sama's help. Mat, though? He's stuck, chained like a cattle with no hope of breaking free. No chance to level up, no hope to change his fate… It's like being locked in a cage forever.

She clenched her a little fists, her heart aching for Mat, trying to picture herself at his situation.

Welf broke the silence with a somber tone. "That's… worse than I imagined," he said, shaking his head. "Even the majority of Orario's adventurers, who stay at Level 1 for most of their lives, still have the chance to level up someday. There's always that hope. But for Mat…" He trailed off, his expression serious. "Living like that, knowing you'll never grow stronger or be able to truly protect yourself or anyone else… That's not just tough, it's cruel."

He also added "But don't worry, you can still live as a normal civilian like the others at Orario" He smiles awkwardly then said with a serious face "But make sure not to mess someone, specially with powerful familia's that's above you"

Mat smile and said "Don't i won't" but in his mind he answered "I think.... that would be unavoidable since I'll be taking my steps"

Bell's hands tightened into fists as he looked at Mat, his eyes filled with concern. "Mat… I'm sorry to hear that. It's not fair."

Mat, despite listening to their sympathy and concern, kept his expression neutral. Internally, however, his thoughts were racing. If I managed to give myself falna before, could I find a way to level up? Maybe if I repeat the process somehow, there's a chance…

As Mat shook the lingering thoughts of leveling up from his mind, he looked at the group and couldn't help but feel grateful for their concern, even if he sensed a hint of cautiousness from some of them.

He smiled reassuringly and said, "Don't worry about me, everyone. I've got some plans. I'm not rushing into anything dangerous just yet." He spoke with the confidence of someone who knew exactly what he was doing, even though he was improvising every word.

Bell's concern didn't waver. "But Mat-san… what will you do then?"

Mat smirked, a playful glint in his eyes. "I've been thinking about running a restaurant."

The group blinked in surprise. "A restaurant?" Bell asked, his tone a mix of curiosity and awe.

Mat nodded and leaned in slightly, his tone taking on a conspiratorial edge. "You see, I've got a solid culinary background. My god, for all his flaws, was a big fan of fine dining. I've picked up a lot of skills—enough to start something unique in this city. Cooking's a passion of mine."

Hestia's eyes lit up. "Really? That's amazing, Mat! I had no idea you could cook!"

Bell's smile widened as he added, "That sounds like a great idea, Mat-san! You'd bring something new to Orario!"

Welf crossed his arms, a teasing smirk tugging at his lips. "Well, if you're talking big about your skills, you'd better be ready to prove it. I'll be your first judge."

Mat chuckled, exuding confidence. "Oh, don't worry, Welf. You'll regret challenging me once you taste what I can whip up."

Lili, who had been quietly observing, allowed herself a small smile. However, she tilted her head and interjected, "Starting a restaurant in Orario isn't easy. You'll need to step up your game, Mat-san. Competition here is fierce, especially with places like the Hostess of Fertility dominating the market."

At the mention of the Hostess of Fertility, Mat's memory clicked. He recalled the bustling establishment from the story, its popularity unrivaled among adventurers and locals alike. A wide smirk spread across his face. "Oh, I'm well aware, Lili. But don't be too surprised when I manage to carve out a place in this city. I'm not one to back down from a challenge."

Lili furrowed her brows, her expression skeptical. "That's a bold claim, Mat-san. Do you even understand how hard it is to compete in this city, especially against a place like the Hostess of Fertility? Their food, service, and reputation are unmatched."

Mat shrugged nonchalantly, maintaining his confident smirk. "Talent, determination, and a sprinkle of luck are all I need. Besides, what's life without a little risk?"

Lili remained unconvinced, but Bell and Hestia exchanged excited glances. Hestia clapped her hands together. "Mat, if you really pull this off, I'll be your biggest fan!"

Bell nodded enthusiastically. "Me too! And I'll bring my friends over to support you!"

Welf chuckled, still smirking. "Just make sure your food lives up to the hype. If it's bad, I'm going to call you out."

Mat laughed, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Fair enough. But don't worry you'll be coming back for seconds."

After saying that, Mat smiled warmly as Hestia chimed in enthusiastically. "When you get that restaurant up and running, make sure to let us know. I'll bring everyone to check it out!"

"Count on it," Mat replied, nodding. Internally, he began brainstorming. Maybe I can add a twist to stand out. Selling unique devices and books alongside food could expand my reach.

Lost in thought, Mat glanced outside and noted the time. His expression shifted to one of focus as he turned back to the group. "I should get going now. I've got a lot to think about, and I need to start planning for my future. There's also something personal I want to prepare for."

Hestia's smile softened. "If you ever need help, don't hesitate to ask us, okay?"

Mat's heart warmed at her sincerity, and he responded with a grateful nod. "I will. Thank you, Hestia. I mean it."

"It's no problem at all," she said, waving it off with a grin.

Mat gave his goodbyes to everyone, turning to leave. As he walked a short distance away, Bell suddenly called out, "Mat-san! Are you going to start diving tomorrow or the day after?"

Mat stopped and turned back with a wide smile. "Not just yet, Bell. I need more time to prepare and train myself first."

Bell's face fell slightly, but he quickly recovered. "Well, if you ever want to dive with us, just let me know!"

Mat gave a short laugh and waved. "I'll keep that in mind. Take care, everyone!"

As his figure faded into the distance, the group stood together, each lost in their own thoughts.

Lili crossed her arms and sighed, speaking with a mix of concern and her usual sharp tone. "He's going to face a lot of hardships, no doubt about that. But then again, that's just regular life for most people here."

Hestia smiled at her warmly. "Don't worry too much, Lili. He has us, and I'll make sure to watch his back. Besides," she added with a mischievous glint in her eyes, "he's technically part of our familia now—well, not directly, but close enough."

Bell blinked in surprise. "He is? How does that work?"

Hestia chuckled and explained briefly. "It's a special arrangement. He's not officially in my familia since he doesn't have a falna, but I'm allowed to supervise him and help where I can. It's the least I could do, given his situation."

Bell frowned thoughtfully but nodded. "I see. That makes sense. He does seem like someone who could use the extra support. I'm glad he has you, Hestia-sama."

Welf shrugged, smirking. "He's got guts, I'll give him that. Let's see if he can actually pull off this restaurant dream of his. Maybe I'll even get some free meals out of it."

Lili scoffed lightly. "You're already thinking about free food? Figures." But even she couldn't suppress a small smile, her earlier skepticism giving way to a glimmer of hope for Mat's future.

Seeing Mat's figure becoming more distant Hestia shifted the conversation, her curiosity evident as she asked, "By the way, Bell, why are you out of the dungeon so early today?"

Bell's expression turned serious, his usual cheer replaced by a sharp focus. "We ran into something unusual, Hestia-sama," he began. "We were fighting flying monsters, the usual ones, but then something… different appeared. It wasn't like anything we've seen before. It looked wounded already when we found it, but it was still dangerous."

Lili chimed in, her face a mix of concern and confusion. "The monster didn't match any of the descriptions in the bestiary. It moved unpredictably, and even its attacks were strange. But after a hard fight, we managed to take it down."

Bell nodded and added, "When it died, it dropped this."

Lili reached into her bag and carefully pulled out a dark yellow monster core, its surface faintly pulsing with an unsettling glow. She handed it to Hestia, who examined it closely.

The goddess frowned, her fingers brushing the core. "This… feels wrong. There's something off about it, but I can't tell what." Her tone grew more serious as she looked back at the group. "We need to figure out what this is. Come with me. We're taking this to the guild to talk to Eina."

The trio nodded in agreement, their own unease mirrored in Hestia's face. Together, they made their way to the guild's reception desk. Thankfully, Bell's advisor, Eina Tulle, was on duty and immediately noticed the group approaching.

Eina's brow furrowed as she spotted them. "Bell? Hestia-sama? You're back earlier than usual. Is something wrong?"

Hestia moves forward "Actually Eina" She brings the the strange core to Eina and Eina was confused and shock.

Hestia, seeing Eina's reaction talk and said "We need to talk about this"

Danmachi: The World's Anomaly

Mat was walking down a bustling street in Orario, his mind swirling with thoughts. Earlier in the day, he had been testing his enhanced running speed from the strange yet exhilarating benefit of receiving a falna. However, something else had been gnawing at him all day.

It was a peculiar sensation, an invisible presence that seemed to linger in the air. He'd first noticed it near Orario's wall while training, but it hadn't gone away. It followed him wherever he went: down the streets, on the stairs, inside Babel, even during his conversations with Hestia and the others.

Now, as he walked toward the inn he was staying at, the sensation was stronger than ever. He stopped for a moment, narrowing his eyes as he tried to focus on it. It appeared as a wisp of smoke, faintly shimmering with transparent colors that shifted and blended like oil on water.

Instinctively, Mat reached out to touch it, his hand brushing through the intangible haze. It dispersed slightly, only to re-form moments later. His heart raced as he whispered to himself, "What is this? Is it even real, or am I just imagining things?"

Despite the oddity, he kept walking, his gaze flicking between the shifting smoke and the path ahead. His mind raced with speculation. Could this be...

He clenched his fists, his resolve hardening. If this is real, then..

Mat moves faster as the inn came into view, Mat exhaled slowly. He'd use the time to piece things together, to try and unravel the mystery of the strange presence that seemed to follow him wherever he went.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

A/N: Im very sorry for the delay everyone, this should have been uploaded 2 Day's ago but, Im sorry for changing the atmosphere but the reason was... My Grandmother Died at 11:47 PM at the hospital, That's why even today im coping but don't worry, Im not Axing this fanfic but I'll post if im feeling a little bit better. Im loosing myself at the process and starts laughing of how much of a coincidence everything is before this happened, it was like a foreshadowing to whatever i go.

Anyways i hope you enjoyed the chapter, and also if you can, could you say the same thing at my Arknights reader's it's selfish but im really burn out and also i really hate this internet connection.

Thank you for reading and have a good day, and I'm sorry for ruining your atmosphere.