Danmachi: Is It Wrong to Be the Main Character in Orario?-Chapter 826: Compressed Time

"Shortened already? Wasn't your original estimate only nine months to begin with?"

Nine months was already frighteningly short, and now he was planning to compress it even further?

The goddesses couldn't understand why Bell would make such a dangerous decision.

Bell didn't want to shorten the timeline either. If possible, he would've preferred more time to stabilize his state.

"I don't have much choice. It's pushing me to reach my limit — the reward will be greater if I do."

"It? Are you saying that sphere still has some kind of consciousness?"

Freya's gaze sharpened with surprise. She never imagined Bell would be the kind of person to accept something like that.

"It isn't self-awareness. It's more like… a special kind of response."

"When I was analyzing the sphere's progress, it reacted to me. It wasn't a sign of any kind of self-consciousness."

Bell himself didn't know how to properly describe that sensation — all he could do was try to make Freya understand what he meant.

"So it's not the issue you've always been worried about?"

Freya had been concerned about that possibility.

"Absolutely not."

Bell rejected the idea forcefully. He was certain the sphere possessed no form of consciousness.

The incident involving the inner soul had been more than enough of a wake-up call; he would never allow something like that to happen again.

This was a conclusion he'd reached only after thorough, repeated confirmation.

"I'm completely sure the sphere itself has no consciousness. It has nothing to do with what happened inside my soul."

"Alright."

Since Bell had confirmed it multiple times, Freya no longer questioned him.

In terms of suspicion, Bell was the most paranoid among them. If even he could assert his conclusion this firmly, it meant he had studied the sphere extensively — otherwise he wouldn't dare speak so definitively.

After soothing the goddesses' emotions, Bell continued.

"My guess is that it's related to my advancement."

"Crossing two levels in just five months and reaching the peak of Lv.9… even I feel that's pushing it. This timeline definitely wasn't set based on my physical limits."

"Most likely, it's judging the timing based on my progression."

The goddesses grew quiet.

Bell's theory did make sense.

Lv.10 meant becoming a demigod — in a way, the closest a mortal could get to godhood.

The peak of Lv.9 was practically one foot already stepping onto the shore of Lv.10. Reaching that state would indeed be highly beneficial for ascension.

At that thought, all their gazes turned toward Bell.

"Is it doable?"

If achieving that level would benefit Bell's advancement, then of course reaching it as much as possible was ideal.

Bell thought for a moment before answering.

"Lv.8 isn't much of a problem. Even advancing to Lv.9 shouldn't be difficult. The real issue is reaching the peak of Lv.9 and stabilizing my strength — the time is far too tight."

"My chance to advance to Lv.9 depends on Ais. If she can reach the peak of Lv.7 sooner, I can take her to face her parents earlier and secure the advancement ticket to Lv.9."

Since the Excelia needed for advancement had to be obtained from Ais's parents, the ticket wasn't guaranteed. It required Ais reaching the peak of Lv.7 first.

The goddesses all believed Bell had the strength to challenge Ais's parents — but predicting when Ais herself would qualify was impossible.

And that uncertainty was precisely what made the timeline so tight.

"The issue is Ais's growth rate."

As Ais's Familia God, Loki also felt a headache coming on.

"Bell, do you think Ais can make it in time?"

"I originally gave Ais five months. If it's five months, it shouldn't be too much of a problem for her."

"Five months…"

Loki's brows knitted tightly. For Ais, five months was already fast — but for Bell, it was far from enough.

"Can't she speed up? Didn't she finish her last level in under three months?"

Bell wasn't sure if accelerating that pace was possible.

"At Lv.6 she had already gone through a period of growth. If we count that time, the pace slows a bit. But now that Ais has the 'Challenger' skill, it might increase her speed. Maybe she can make it in three months."

Bell couldn't judge Ais's timing precisely.

Originally, Ais's growth in five months made sense… but if they forced acceleration now, Bell couldn't be certain she could maintain the pace.

"Then three months!"

Loki made the call instantly.

"Ais's growth period will be compressed to three months. As for the remaining two months, Bell — can you handle it?"

"Two months?"

Bell quickly calculated the time he needed — mostly accumulating proficiency and stabilizing his foundation.

One month of training for Status would be enough; the remaining month would be spent entirely on stabilizing his state.

If he included time for practicing Authority, then the stabilization period did feel a bit tight.

Still, he could squeeze it out.

"Two months… is barely enough."

"Stabilizing my realm will be a little rushed, especially since my Authority training is reaching its final phase. I can't afford to neglect that part."

"Barely enough" didn't sound reassuring, but there weren't many alternatives left.

Loki looked Bell straight in the eyes.

"If two months is all you have, then Bell, you must make sure Ais grows as fast as possible within those three months."

"Alright. Bring Ais back tonight — I'll update her Status."

"Then come back once every month. In the third month, regardless of whether Ais has reached her peak or not, we'll begin the next stage."

This time, Loki was truly committing.

Three months. Whether Ais had reached her limit or not, the plan to confront her parents would begin — otherwise Bell wouldn't have enough time.

Seeing everyone's stunned expressions, Loki continued sharply.

"Ais's formal advancement can wait until afterward, but the Excelia can be earned first."

"Her Status proficiency may still be lacking, but Bell's Magic should compensate for the gap."

"As for any lingering regrets Ais might have — Bell already recreated her parents' bodies. What is there to regret? She still has plenty of time ahead of her."

Though it felt a little unfair to Ais, Loki knew this was the best option available.

...

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