Danmachi: Is It Wrong to Aspire to Be an Adventurer?

I, Toki Ortyx, am an early riser. This habit goes all the way back to before I traveled the world with Hermes-sama, back to my days as an assassin. I get up early every morning to train. I want to reach my dream of reverence as soon as possible, but some things just take time. So I wake early to keep my body healthy and build my skills through steady training. I truly believe this is the fastest and surest way to make dreams come true.

It's 4 a.m., and the sun hasn't shown its face yet. I slip out of bed, head to the washroom, splash water on my face, change into my workout clothes, and step into the garden.

The place I live isn't Hermes Familia's home. It's a modest, somewhat fancy detached house with a small garden, located in the eastern part of Orario. When I traveled with Hermes-sama, I had plenty of chances to earn money here and there, and before I knew it, I'd saved up quite a lot. After the journey ended and I settled in Orario, I thought about returning the money to the Familia…

But then Hermes-sama said,

"No, it's fine. You're not an adventurer yet, right? That money is yours."

So the whole sum ended up with me, and I finally decided to buy this house.

Anyway, back to the story.

Once outside, I start with some light stretching, then draw my daggers from the shadows and begin practicing my swings.

My skill,"Infinite Abyss of Endless Depths." lets me store inanimate objects, up to the size of a small wagon. How much can it hold? Still unknown.

In fact, there are lots of things about this skill that I don't even understand. I asked Hermes-sama about it, but even he didn't know, so we're still experimenting.

Anyway, once training is done, I head back inside and eat bread for breakfast while equipping my gear.

So far, I haven't used my skill in front of Bell. If I suddenly showed it when we both became adventurers at the same time, it might raise suspicion. …Well, honestly, it's more like he'd get too curious and start asking tons of questions with those sparkling eyes of his, so I just don't mention it.

After I finish getting ready, I double-check the locks and secure the house.

"I'm off."

I say it, knowing no one will answer.

"Huh!?"

On my way to meet Bell, I feel someone watching me.

"From over there, right?"

The gaze is coming from the top of Babel, the city's iconic white tower. Only a few gods live up there…

"What could a god living up there want with me?"

I think about it for a while, but then decide there's no point trying to figure out a god's thoughts. Instead, I hurried to the meeting spot.

"Ha!"

"Seh!"

I take down a charging kobold with my right dagger. Another one comes up behind it.

"Geez! Why are kobolds hanging out in packs?"

"I'd like to know that too!"

Surrounded by kobolds, dog-headed humanoid monsters, I grumble. Normally, kobolds wander in ones or twos. Having eight of them together is definitely strange.

Between yesterday's minotaur and this, maybe I've already used up all my luck when Hermes-sama took me under his wing?

For now, Bell and I take down two each, leaving four remaining.

"You handle those two!"

"Got it!"

I'm not alone in this. Bell and I are rookie adventurers. We can't really coordinate yet, but for opponents like these, I trust him enough to watch my back.

"Shaah!"

"Whoa."

I block a claw swipe from the kobold on my right with my dagger, then kick the one coming in from the left, hitting its face and snapping its neck.

"Gweh!?"

"Don't get distracted!"

Taking advantage of its momentary shock, I slash the throat of the other kobold. With two down, I turn around.

"Phew. Hey, you done over there?"

"Yeah, just finished."

"Alright, let's gather the magic stones."

We move to the fallen kobolds. I stab into the chest of mine to extract the 'magic stone shard' and put it into the pouch at my waist. After half a month of doing this, it's become routine. Incidentally, these 'magic stones' can't be stored in my Infinite Abyss. I tried while Bell wasn't looking, but no matter what, they won't go in.

I glance over at Bell, who's humming cheerfully as he works.

"You look pretty happy."

Without stopping, he replies,

"Yeah. At first, I thought I'd have to do everything alone since I don't have any seniors or comrades in the Familia. But thanks to you, I'm learning a lot. It's like… party play, you know? Like that scene just now!"

"Yeah, definitely. Oh, a dropped item!"

"No way!"

"Alright! My luck's not bad after all!"

Excited by the loot, we keep working. Then suddenly, 

"Gaaah!!"

A new monster appears right in front of us.

"Damn it! Bell, stop what you're doing! Get ready to fight!"

"R-Right!"

We quickly get up and charge the monster together.

"Hey, by the way, why did you want to team up with me?"

"Well, the rest of my Familia is pretty strong. If we formed a party, it'd be unbalanced. I'm with you because sometimes one person can't handle everything alone. Plus, if there's someone to start with, I want to do it together."

"Hmm… Oh, by the way, I'm eating dinner at someone named Sil's shop tonight. Wanna come?"

"Sil? Oh, you mean the 'The Hostess of Fertility!' Nice choice! But that place is kinda pricey for what we earn now."

"Really?"

"You didn't know that? Well, whatever. Let's pick up the pace!"

"Okay!"

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