DanMachi: Cheat? What's a Cheat?

Chapter 13 – Height, Self-Esteem.

After parting ways with Eina-san and Goddess Hestia, I'm back standing in front of Babel Tower again. Back to staring at the Dungeon entrance that's gaping like some giant mouth ready to swallow me whole.

My stomach's full. My energy's maxed out. And... for the first time since I came to Orario, I'm feeling... kinda pumped.

No, not just regular "pumped."

I'm super pumped.

My right foot steps forward first—some weird little habit I picked up from who knows where. Maybe it's just habit, maybe it's 'cause I'm the type of person who likes routine. Like people who have to sleep on the left side of the bed, or who always knock three times before entering a room.

Before heading down the spiral stairs into the Dungeon's depths, I glance back for a sec.

The tower stretches up high, with bright sunlight bouncing off its sides.

...Then I shake my head.

Why am I looking back?

That's stupid.

I dunno, somehow I suddenly started thinking about all the stuff that's happened since I got to Orario.

Starting with meeting Eina and Goddess Hestia.

I've only known Eina-san for one day. And Hestia-sama... yeah, one day too. Not even more than that.

So why does my chest feel kinda... weird?

Is it 'cause Eina-san's too nice? She pays attention to me like... like I actually matter.

But come on. I know it's not 'cause I'm special. Maybe... it's 'cause I'm short?

My height right now is 160 cm. I know 'cause I got measured back in the village when I was 16. It's been a year since then, and I don't think... I haven't grown much.

Damn.

Eina-san's 164 cm if I'm not wrong. Even Bell Cranel was taller than me when he arrived in Orario.

And me... Kaen, the main protagonist of my own life, has to look up every time I talk to her.

Maybe... she feels sorry for me? Sees me as some little kid? Like a pitiful little brother lost in the big city?

I sigh.

What can I do about it?

The bitter reality is... I really did lack daily protein.

In my village, food wasn't about nutrition. What mattered was getting full. Protein? Hah! Luxury. My favorite food back then was corn porridge and salted fish. If there was a side of boiled egg, that was already a feast.

Village people don't eat wheat bread, they eat rice!

My growth period just passed by like that, swallowed up by salt and cheap carbs.

So maybe... this is the result. Growth period passed by just like that without any height bonus.

Really... depressing.

I can only hope that after living in Orario my height will increase somehow, there's still hope to grow taller.

I almost laugh at myself, but what comes out sounds more like an annoyed groan.

And that's when a goblin appears from behind the wall.

I look at that ugly goblin.

The creature stares at me with its round, dark eyes while raising a long bone like a club.

...Wrong timing, buddy.

I step forward with a flat expression.

"Sorry, Goblin. I'm feeling sensitive today."

One swing. Straight. Fast. Right at the neck.

The green creature collapses and immediately turns to ash. A small magic stone drops and glitters.

I pick it up.

And... look for the next prey.

---

I dunno how many goblins and kobolds I've faced. Time flies fast when your emotions are focused on one thing: venting frustration legally.

Every time I see those monsters, the image of my short height immediately pops up.

Eina-san having to bend down a little when talking to me. Goddess Hestia who turns out to be only a few centimeters shorter than me.

"Tch!"

My sword moves faster than usual. More brutal. The kobold in front of me doesn't even get to raise its claws before its head separates from its body.

SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!

Three goblins trying to surround me? Done in seconds.

I might look like a normal adventurer from the outside, but today... I'm a goblin-slaughtering machine in the angry eyes of the goblins.

"Full from lunch, so energy's overflowing," I mutter while wiping sweat from my forehead.

"Plus... frustration. Deadly combination."

Another group of kobolds appears from around the corridor corner. Five of them. Usually I'd back up a bit, plan some strategy.

But not today.

"Come on!"

I run toward them.

CLANG! A kobold's claw clashes with my sword. I push with full force, making the kobold stagger.

THRUST! A direct stab pierces through its chest.

Four left.

The second kobold jumps from the side. I spin around, my sword following my body movement like a deadly dance.

SLICE!

Three left.

Two kobolds attack together. I dodge left, letting them crash into each other, then attack from behind.

SLASH! SLASH!

One left.

The last kobold seems to be getting scared. It backs away while letting out weak roars.

"Don't be scared, sweetheart," I say while advancing slowly.

STAB!

Finished.

I stand in the middle of monster ashes, collecting magic stones with automatic movements.

My hands move, but my mind wanders.

Does Eina-san really care about me? Or am I just some pitiful newbie adventurer who invites sympathy?

Does Goddess Hestia... is she embarrassed to have a familia member as short as this?

If it's Goddess Hestia, I feel like she's not like that, yeah not like that.

However she is, she's a good goddess.

"Argh! Stop thinking stupid stuff!"

I yell into the empty corridor. My voice echoes, then disappears, swallowed by the darkness.