Who Is Bell Cranel?

Bell Cranel is the main male protagonist of the anime and light novel series Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?, also known as DanMachi. He is a kind-hearted and ambitious young adventurer who starts out the series as the sole member and captain of the Hestia Familia. He is driven by a dream of becoming a powerful hero, inspired by the stories his adoptive grandfather told him when he was young. While initially somewhat naive and timid, he possesses a strong work ethic, high moral standards, and an unwavering desire to protect others, even at great personal cost.

Appearance

Bell Cranel is a teenage boy known for his distinctive white hair and red eyes, often noted by female characters for his cute, rabbit-like appearance. He is typically seen wearing lightweight adventurer's gear. Bell has short white hair and striking red (or crimson) eyes. He is described in the canon as being a handsome boy with a somewhat androgynous appearance, having inherited his mother's beautiful face. 

He is of average height for his age, with an average, though developing, muscle tone that becomes more defined as the series progresses and he levels up. Due to his appearance and speed, he has been given the nicknames "Little Rookie" and "Rabbit Foot". One notable incident where he was covered in minotaur blood earned him the temporary nickname "Tomato Kid" from Bete Loga.

Bell's standard adventurer outfit is practical and lightweight, allowing for maximum agility in the dungeon. His typical clothing includes a hip-length brown coat with a small black patch on the right side above his chest, a long-sleeved black shirt worn underneath the coat, black pants, a beige belt with a silver buckle, and brown shin-high boots.

Personality

Bell Cranel's personality is primarily defined by his pure-hearted nature, earnest desire to be a hero, and rapid character growth. He is known for his kindness, courage in the face of adversity, and unwavering moral compass, which inspires those around him. Bell deeply values his relationships and is fiercely loyal to his friends in the Hestia Familia and other allies. He will protest or fight for them when he feels they are being mistreated or their feelings ignored.

Especially at the start of the series, Bell is notably naive and innocent, often lacking social confidence and becoming flustered around women. This quality is often described as having a "transparent soul" or "pure soul" which makes him unique in the cynical world of Orario and attracts the attention of many, including the goddess Freya.

Despite his initial lack of experience, Bell possesses an incredible work ethic, training daily and pushing himself to his limits to grow stronger. His resolve and strong will allow him to overcome immense challenges and survive situations that would kill average adventurers.

Bell is also highly empathetic and forgiving, willing to help those in need even after being wronged, such as with Liliruca Arde or Mord Latro. This compassion leads him to make difficult decisions, such as protecting the intelligent monsters (Xenos) despite the backlash from society and his own mentor, Ais Wallenstein.

As the series progresses and he faces numerous life-or-death situations and moral dilemmas, Bell gradually becomes more calm, level-headed, and mature. He starts approaching adventures with more seriousness and begins thinking more strategically, though he retains his core heroic ideals.

Background

Bell was born to a father who was a member of the Zeus Familia and a mother, Meteria, who was a member of the Hera Familia. His mother was the twin sister of Alfia, a powerful executive of the Hera Familia, but Meteria suffered from a chronic, incurable illness. Both the Zeus and Hera Familias were effectively destroyed by the One-Eyed Black Dragon years prior to Bell's birth.

Before her death from the illness, Meteria entrusted the infant Bell to Zeus, who took him to a secluded mountain village. Growing up, Bell was raised by Zeus, who filled his head with stories of heroes and their adventures, forming Bell's core dream of aspiring to be a mighty hero himself, though notably Zeus did not tell Bell who he was, so Bell spent most of his life simply believing Zeus to be a normal human grandfather.

Bell lived a simple life in the village, but an incident where he was nearly killed by a goblin and subsequently saved by Zeus instilled in him a fear of goblins early on, a fear he would later have to overcome. Zeus knew Bell wouldn't leave the village if his grandfather was alive and in need of care, so faking his death forced Bell to pursue his dream of becoming an adventurer. After his grandfather’s presumed death, Bell decided to leave his village and travel to the bustling city of Orario, the Labyrinth City.

Upon arriving in Orario, he faced numerous rejections from various Familias. It was only after meeting the lonely goddess Hestia, who had no members in her Familia, that he finally received a falna (divine blessing) and became the very first member of the Hestia Familia, officially beginning his life as an adventurer.

Powers and Abilities

Bell Cranel's primary powers and abilities include his unique skill, Liaris Freese, which accelerates his growth based on his feelings; his magic, Firebolt; and his charging skill, Argonaut, which can dramatically increase the power of his attacks and movements. He also possesses enhanced physical abilities, rapid regeneration, and unique developmental skills that have grown significantly as he levels up.

Skills

Skills in DanMachi are unique, inherent abilities that enhance an adventurer's capabilities beyond their basic stats, often reflecting their individual experiences, personality, or even bloodline. They can be active or passive, and are distinct from development abilities, which are more like learned proficiencies that can be gained and improved with use. An adventurer can have up to five skills.

• Liaris Freese: A rare skill that significantly speeds up his growth and level progression as long as his feelings for someone remain strong and stable.

• Argonaut: Allows him to charge for a powerful burst of energy, which can be used to strengthen attacks, enhance movement, or charge a Firebolt for a much more devastating effect.

• Escape: A developmental skill that grants him enhanced speed for evasion, born from his frequent need to flee in battles.

• Ox Slayer: A developmental skill that gives him a bonus when fighting large opponents.

Magic

In DanMachi, magic is a powerful ability divided into two main types: congenital magic based on a user's race and innate talent, and acquired magic which is unlocked through a falna given by a god and learned via a grimoire. The "Mind" stat is the source of magical energy, and overuse can lead to a "Mind Down" state. Adventurers can typically learn up to three spells, each often being unique to them.

• Firebolt: Bell’s primary magic, a no-chant fire magic spell that he can combine with Argonaut for increased damage.

Development Abilities

Development Abilities in DanMachi are specialized traits that have a chance of appearing when an adventurer levels up, starting from Level 2. Unlike basic abilities, they offer a significant, specialized boost to a particular area, such as combat with a certain weapon or increased resistance to poisons.

• Rapid Regeneration: Bell can heal from grievous wounds at an extremely fast rate, allowing him to recover from even the most severe injuries, including limbs.

• Gaze Sensing: Developed from Freya's constant observation, he can feel and locate when people are looking at him.

• Physical Prowess: As he levels up, he gains immense superhuman strength, speed, and durability, with his stats surpassing those of other adventurers even at a lower level.

Goals and Reputation

Bell's goals are driven by his naive desire to be a hero and his unique skill, Liaris Freese, which accelerates his growth based on the strength of his feelings. Initially, becoming a strong adventurer was merely a general ambition inspired by his grandfather, but it has become a core part of each of his subsequent goals.

After being rescued by Ais Wallenstein and falling in love, he has sought to become her equal as an adventurer. This specific goal provides the strong "desire" required to fuel his rapid growth skill. Bell and Ais also share the goal of defeating the One-Eyed Black Dragon.

Following his experiences with intelligent, emotional monsters (Xenos) like Wiene, Bell develops a profound goal to achieve peace and coexistence between the two groups, even if it means fighting other adventurers or sacrificing his reputation. Additionally, after losing a significant fight to the powerful Minotaur, Asterius, who was reborn as an intelligent monster, Bell gains a strong personal rivalry and a serious goal to defeat him in a rematch.

Bell Cranel's reputation in the DanMachi world is complex and multifaceted, evolving significantly over the course of the story from an anonymous "Little Rookie" to a respected, if controversial, hero with great potential. 

Bell is widely known throughout the city of Orario, appearing in various rankings due to the multitude of incidents he has been involved in. Many citizens and adventurers admire him, acknowledging his immense effort in the dungeon. They praise his rapid rise through the levels and view him as an up-and-coming hero with significant potential.

For a short period of time Bell’s reputation faced a major setback during the Xenos arc when he chose to protect intelligent monsters, an act that many adventurers saw as foolish and naive. However, his reputation largely recovered after the fight with Asterius and subsequent events. His skills and abilities are now widely respected, even by those who initially viewed him negatively.

Additionally, due to his kind nature and naivete, Bell has attracted the attention and affection of numerous women. Played for comedic effect, Bell is unknowingly at the center of an ongoing, often comical "harem war," which also contributes to his unique, albeit sometimes embarrassing, reputation.