"Man… today felt way longer than it should've."
Kaelis leaned back in his chair, quite satisfied by the food served.
Hestia let out a tired groan, arms flopping onto the table. "You're telling me."
"It was a really long day… We've been out since morning." Bell laughed softly.
Kaelis glanced toward the windows.
Outside, the sky had already turned dark, the streets lit only by scattered lantern posts along the streets.
Though the city itself seems to not have registered that it's night.
"Huh. Didn't realize it got this late." He stood, grabbing the bill. "Let's head out before Hestia falls asleep on the table."
As they got up, Syr approached their table again—this time she had with her the bill for their meal.
"Here you go, Mr. Kaelis." She handed it to him with her usual gentle smile.
Kaelis took it without much thought.
Hestia, right beside him, pulled down his hand to see how much it came to.
Bell leaned over slightly to peek as Kaelis read it.
15,000 valis.
Hestia's entire body jolted. "F-Fifteen THOUSAND!?"
She nearly choked on her own spit.
"Sounds about right." Kaelis didn't even blink.
Bell nodded. "For three meals and a celebration platter… it makes sense."
"Makes—!? Are you two insane!?" Hestia grabbed Kaelis's shoulder with trembling hands.
"D-Do you have enough!? Bell! Do you have enough!? I only have two hundred on me!!"
Oi. Are you for real? That's damn concerning.
Kaelis gave her a sidelong glance. "Relax. We have enough. I already estimated as much."
Bell pulled a small pouch from his belt and handed it over to Kaelis.
"We have a hundred thousand valis worth of coins so It's okay, Hestia-sama."
Hestia stared at the pouch like it was a holy relic. "W-Where did you even—"
"I told you," Kaelis shrugged. "Money isn't an issue. And even if it was, I wouldn't drag you out somewhere we couldn't afford."
Even though they don't know the inflation rate in Orario, it shouldn't be completely outrageous right?
Then again, considering that adventurers earn fortunes in the dungeons, spending all their money today and making it back tomorrow is an option.
Though he was a little concerned if they were getting ripped off.
A few years back, old man Deus fed Bell a healing potion that cost 500 valis, so a 15,000 on a meal sounded a little sketchy but Kaelis couldn't bother to argue.
But maybe it's the luxury price. Hestia did say this place was a popular restaurant after all. Yes yes!
Hestia herself looked like she was trying very, very hard not to cry. Tears of joy? Probably.
Syr giggled softly behind her hand. "You all seem pretty close."
There was a slight glint that flashed in her eyes but they were too busy to notice.
Hestia perked up immediately. "Yes! Yes we are! Very close! Super close!"
She clung to arms as her eyes reflected dollar signs.
'He's like a walking wallet but ALSO a responsible adult!! Where were you when my church was collapsing!?'
Bell only sighed quietly.
Kaelis slid the payment onto Syr's tray with a calm nod. "Here you go. Keep the change."
Syr's eyes widened slightly. "A-Ah—thank you! I'll make sure Mia-san hears about this."
Before Hestia could start counting the coins to see "how much change" was being left behind, walked off, pulling Hestia along.
"Alright. Let's go before you pass out from financial shock."
"I'm NOT shocked," Hestia mumbled, still clearly shocked.
As they headed to the exit, Mia's deep voice rumbled from behind the counter.
"Oi! You three!"
They paused, glancing back.
Mia gave them a grin that was half-approving, half-predatory. "Come again soon. Customers like you—who spend like you don't know what savin' means—are always welcome."
Bell laughed nervously.
Hestia puffed her cheeks again. "We're not that bad…"
Kaelis gave Mia a casual wave. "We'll drop by again."
Syr waved cheerfully from behind them. "Have a good night! And please come again!"
She kept smiling until their figures slipped out through the front doors and disappeared into the evening streets.
…And then reality hit the trio the moment they reached what could barely be called home.
They had a problem.
Where were they going to sleep?
They'd completely forgotten to look for an inn earlier—because they met Hestia, joined her familia, registered Bell, and then immediately went out celebrating.
Now it was late, they were tired, and they had nowhere lined up.
Hestia's living conditions… Well, calling it a "home" was generous.
It was basically the deluxe version of homelessness—there was a roof, sure, but not much dignity under it.
What she slept on was this red-and-black sofa—if you could even call it that.
It looked like the kind of thing you'd find sitting next to a dumpster, the one stray cats use as a scratching post and dogs use as a chew toy.
That… and a wobbly, half-broken wooden table… that was the entire "interior."
Kaelis glanced at Hestia, who instantly looked away, pretending to be very interested in the empty corner of the room.
And one single question popped into his mind:
Is this really a goddess?
"I guess we'll have to improvise…" Kaelis sighed.
"Do you have something we could sleep on, Master?" Bell asked.
"Huh? What are you talking about? I don't see—"
Hestia stopped mid-sentence, eyes going wide as Kaelis suddenly summoned five large, round bags and dropped them onto the floor.
Without even pretending to be dignified, she launched herself onto them.
"Woah! What is this!? It's so comfy! Is this a bed!?"
"They're bean bags," Kaelis explained.
"People usually use them as chairs, but if you pile up a bunch, you can make something close enough to a bed."
"Ooooo! So we're sleeping on these tonight!?" Hestia squealed.
"Yep."
She continued rolling around, hugging and squeezing the bags with a goofy grin plastered on her face.
"But… don't you have a bed, Master?" Bell asked, tilting his head.
A fair question. If Kaelis had all these bean bags stored away, surely he must have proper beds too, right?
"Nope. Not here," Kaelis said simply.
He didn't need sleep, and usually spent that time meditating, so he never bothered keeping a proper bed—just things that made him comfortable, like bean bags.
"Oh. Alright," Bell said, shrugging.
After rearranging the bags into a makeshift bed, Hestia and Bell settled down beside Kaelis, who had already closed his eyes and begun meditating.
~~~
The next day came quickly.
"…Woah!"
Kaelis tilted his head back slightly. "Still impressive up close. Bigger than I expected."
Towering before them, the Tower of Babel stretched endlessly towards the sky, white stones gleaming from the sunlight.
But strangely enough… standing here, Kaelis didn't feel small.
Bell's eyes became glittery beside him. "It's cool, isn't it…?"
"Mhm," Kaelis said simply as he squinted towards the top of the tower.
Wonder what's up there? Some sleeping beauty?
Recalling stories about princesses at the top of towers guarded by dragons awaiting their knight in shining armors, he wondered if it's one of those cases.
He was not that deeply into religious things so he only heard the name babel tower from the books and from his past worlds.
For a few seconds they both just stared, taking it in.
Then Bell shook himself out of it. "R-Right! The Dungeon's entrance should be over there."
"Let's go," Kaelis said, the two stepped out into the clearing and walked towards the dungeon's entrance.
Around them, the atmosphere changed completely.
Adventurers were everywhere—sharpening weapons, tightening straps, adjusting armor, checking gear, talking loudly with party members.
Metal, leather, reinforced plates, chainmail, cloaks—everyone was kitted out.
Which made it all the more obvious that Kaelis and Bell… were not.
A few people stared openly.
Some tilted their heads.
Some whispered.
Some just looked confused.
Bell laughed nervously under the attention. "Haha… w-we stand out a little, don't we…?"
Kaelis glanced at a passing group of adventurers wearing heavy breastplates and full arm guards.
"A little? Bell, these people look like they're about to wage war."
While they were wearing casual clothes like they're not heading for the dungeon.
Bell rubbed the back of his head. "I-I guess we really should get some armor…"
Kaelis nodded. "Yeah. Once we come back with some money, that's the first thing we're buying."
Bell clenched his fist with determination. "Right!"
Kaelis looked at him. "At least get a chestplate. Maybe something for your arms. And boots. And—honestly, Bell, just get a whole set."
Bell wilted. "So everything."
"Pretty much. Just make sure it's light enough not to hinder you."
A few adventurers kept glancing at Kaelis specifically.
His posture was too relaxed for someone walking into the Dungeon.
He looked like someone who didn't belong there—either too strong or too stupid.
They leaned more towards the former. His face was too unfamiliar.
"S-Should we… maybe act more like normal adventurers…?"
Kaelis shrugged. "We're fine. Don't let hooligans get you down."
They entered the tower and descended the stairs before reaching the set of massive double doors leading down into the Dungeon.
Bell inhaled, excited and nervous at the same time.
"Here we go…" he swallowed.
Kaelis nodded. "Floor One. Let's take this nice and steady."
And together, they stepped into the Dungeon.
Chapter 62 end.