There was once a boy who knew nothing but the world underground. He did nothing save dig and dig...
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It Is Alright To Use Spiral Power In A Dungeon (TTGL X Danmachi Crossover)
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Chapter 1: Destined Meetings
LinkOnScepter
Versed in the lewd.
- Joined
- May 21, 2016
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There was once a boy who knew nothing but the world underground. He did nothing save dig and dig to support the only home he had ever known.
Then his brother brought him to the surface along with a fiery young woman with a gun. There they met many people and saw the monsters that threatened to destroy them. They fought many battles. More people followed their banner. They started to create an actual resistance against their foes. Everything was going fine. They were unstoppable.
Then his brother died.
Then he felt lost. He fought his enemies. Vented his rage out on them. But it never made him feel better. He blamed himself for his brother's death. For not being able to be like him.
Then he met a girl. That girl helped him realize the truth. His brother was dead, but his spirit lived on. Inside of him. That he shouldn't try to be his brother. He should be the man that his brother believed in; Himself.
He got back up. He kept fighting. Kept pushing himself forward. He kept on drilling. Even when the chips were down and he was near death, he kept on drilling.
And when he dug through, he won.
Not just against those who oppressed the surface.
But against those who had oppressed the universe. A race whose fear of evolution led to them locking away their own potential, and trying to enforce their views onto all living beings that wielded the Power Of The Spiral.
And when the battles were over, he turned away and left everything to the next generation.
Thus he sat in the desert, watching the sky as the humanity he fought to protect made it to the stars. He watched the lights in the glow as bright as the future he had secured. In his heart, he felt at peace.
The last thing he saw when he closed his eyes, was the night sky lit up by uncountable green stars.
....
...And when he next opened them, the first thing he saw was a dark blue ceiling with hints of purple in it.
Simon The Digger, the one who defeated the Anti-Spiral, the boy from the underground, and former leader of Team Dai-Gurren, blinked as he realized he was alive once again.
His mouth opened as he breathed in a lungful of the air of wherever he was. He quickly checked to see if his body was still in working condition. When he confirmed he could still feel his arms and legs, he used them to push himself into a sitting position. One hand reached up on instinct and he felt some of the building tension in his chest abate. He could still feel his sunglasses, securely sitting on his head. Looking to his right and holding his arm out, he could see that he still had the dark blue and red Team Dai-Gurren cape he wore when they went to fight the Anti-Spiral. And a glance at his legs showed that his blue pants held up by shining belts were still there as well. As he looked down, he saw that his Core Drill was gone. Which was expected. He had given it to Gimmy before he had left to wander the world. Entrusting the future to them. But though he didn't have it...
He placed his right hand on his chest and sighed as he began to focus. A short exertion of will was all it took to make a green light pulse beneath his fingers. He could still feel the unending well of Spiral Power that rested within him. The confirmation that he hadn't lost his connection to that seemingly endless source of power gave him some more peace of mind.
"So. I'm alive, somehow. I've still got Spiral Power. And my clothes," Simon said to himself. His voice echoed across the empty walls of...wherever he was. Frowning, he got to his feet, glad that he could move all of his limbs without issue. Though he did feel his backbones pop as he stood up straight. With a wince he stretched his arms out above his head, enjoying the feeling of his backbones popping and cracking back into place. He continued to do various stretching exercises while observing his environment. But the ease at which he was able to move his body gave him pause. He held his hands up to his face and the confirmation made him gasp.
He was young again.
Blinking, he let his arms fall back into place. He continued to do stretches while his eyes roamed the environment again.
He plainly wasn't on the surface, otherwise, he'd be able to see the sun. He hummed as he started doing a few squat thrusts to help get his blood flowing. He assumed he was underground then. It would explain the strange shape and color of the walls. And ceiling. And floor. Even the multitude of lights that hung from above. He had dug through enough underground tunnels to know that a plethora of things that could give off light even in the darkest of spaces below the surface.
Unfortunately, that went out the window when he squinted at the ceiling. And saw that the lights weren't coming from anything natural like moss. They were, literally, part of the ceiling and giving off light somehow.
Simon tilted his head as he stood up from his latches bout of stretches, "Huh. Is this place man-made? Doesn't look like it but..."
He placed a hand on his chin while his eyes roamed across everything in sight. The strangely smooth walls that didn't have a hint of damage on them, the various pillars and rocky formations some distance in front of him, and a few loops or slopes here and there. These things weren't always naturally formed underground...but they sometimes were. He couldn't tell whether or not there was anything deliberate in the construction of wherever he was. But there was one way to find out...
"Hey! Anybody out there!" he cupped his lips with his hands and started to shout. He waited for a few minutes. When no one answered, he called out again, "Yoko! Viral! Gimmy! Darry! Anyone?!"
There was no answer. Save for his own echoing voice.
Simon frowned, crossing his arms as he started to consider his current circumstances. So, he was probably somewhere underground. Wherever he was, no one, that he knew or didn't know, seemed to be nearby. And the place didn't look like anywhere he's been before. Not to mention that the last thing he remembered was dying of natural causes. Yet here he was, alive and well, and back in the prime of his life. He even still had his sunglasses form when he went to fight the Anti-Spiral. His frown grew deeper as question upon question piled higher and higher into his mind. Why was he here? Where was he? Why was he still alive?
He pondered these questions for a few moments, eyes closing as he considered them all.
Then he smiled, opened his eyes, and shrugged.
"No point in worrying over them. Not gonna learned anything just standing around," Simon said with hope in his voice. Then he placed his sunglasses onto his eyes, picked a direction, and prepared to head off.
"Urrrroooooarrrrrrr!!!!"
"Aiiiiiiiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeeee?!!"
That is until he heard a sound he didn't recognize and one he did. While he couldn't place what could've made the first cry, he knew exactly what the second cry was.
It was a cry for help.
"Hang on!" he shouted, running in the rough direction of the scream. Any other thoughts had been put to the back of his mind. He didn't know why he was here, he didn't know where he was, or how he was back in his prime. But none of that mattered right now. What mattered was that someone was in trouble.
And he needed to help them.
Bell Cranell scooted backward, trying to get as far away as possible from the towering minotaur. Unfortunately, his luck had just run out. His back hit a wall within the wide square room the monster had cornered him in. His blood ran cold as the bull-headed monster approached him. Every step it took shook the ground beneath it, its hooves crushing rocks and pebbles that got in its path.
Bell felt his body seize up as the monster got closer and closer. A part of him was screaming at him to do something. To stand up! To run! To get away before that thing killed him! But his body wouldn't listen. He couldn't do anything.
Another part kept asking why. Why had this happened? Why had a minotaur wandered onto the lower fifth floor? Why had it chosen today to come here? Why had he run into it?
All these questions and more swirled through his mind. But those paled in comparison to what got him here in the first place. The reason he dared to go to the lower fifth floor of the Dungeon.
To meet someone.
The girl of his dreams.
He had wanted to come here to find her. Have a fated meeting with her. Save her from a monster. Be a hero that others tell tales about.
Yet, those dreams hadn't gotten him anything.
Except this.
His back against a wall, about to have his head crushed by a minotaur's hoof.
He stared up into the face of his killer and-
"IIIINNNAAAAAZZZUUUUUMMMMAAAAA-"
Something made the minotaur pause.
It turned its head around as if it sensed danger. Bell thought that someone had come to save him. That someone had appeared to defeat the minotaur and stop him from being killed.
He was proven correct.
But what he didn't expect was the way he would be saved.
Following the minotaur's gaze, his mouth slowly opened as he beheld his savior.
A young man, his dark blue cape flapping behind him, a symbol of fire with sunglasses on it emblazoned on the back, flying at the minotaur's head from the sky with one foot aimed downward.
The minotaur, whether from shock or total astonishment, didn't even try to dodge.
So, the man's foot connected with its head...and managed to shatter one of its horns.
"-KKKKKIIIIIICCCCCCKKKKKKK!!!!"
A bellow of pain and rage left the minotaur's mouth as it fell to the ground in a heap. The man landed on his feet, head whipping up while his eyes fell onto the sitting Bell. His voice was filled with concern as he called, "You OK?"
Bell's mouth hung limply as he stared at the man crouched across from him. His mind raced with questions over what the heck just happened. The minotaur got to its feet, pieces of its shattered horn falling from its head in a cascade of ivory. Its hateful gaze locked onto the newcomer, massive blade rising as it roared in rage. Bell squealed and backed away from the beast but his savior merely grimaced. He stood and raised his hands with their palms up. Suddenly, twin green twisters appeared in his hands, lighting up the dim room that Bell had retreated into. A second later two small drills floated in the man's palms.
Bell's mouth somehow opened wider at the man's actions. But he didn't have time to wonder about what had happened, as the man threw one of the drills his way. It hit the young adventurer in the chest and fall onto his lap. The man said, "Hold onto that. I'll keep this guy busy. If you feel like you can stand, get up and stab him wherever you can!"
"Wh-Wh-What?!" Bell shouted, floored at how his savior expected him to fight against that monster. It was twice his size! Heck, the one who saved him only came up to its chest. It could crush both of them with one swing of its arms if it wanted. He grabbed the drill out of reflex but didn't even consider the possibility of fighting that monster.
His savior didn't seem to hear him though. As the blue-haired man just ran straight at the minotaur without a care in the world. He shouted a battle cry, raising a fist high as he charged at the monster. The minotaur swung its massive blade at the approaching human's left side and Bell thought that his savior was about to die. He started to close his eyes, not wanting to watch another person get sliced in half.
But he never did close his eyes.
Because, right when the weapon was about to hit him, the man parried the minotaur's attack.
With the small drill he now held in his left hand.
Bell's eyes went wide and his mouth hung open in awe. The man kept going, taking advantage of the now off-balance minotaur. He jumped upward, one-foot landing on the monster's chest. Using it as a springboard, he launched his right knee into the minotaur's chin. As the beast's head flew back the man put both of his hands together and brought them down in a hammer blow. Bell swore he heard an audible crack as the man's fists slammed down onto its skull.
One of the monster's hands came up, planning to grab the man in its large grip. He saw the attack coming and kicked out with his right leg at its left arm. Bones crunched beneath his foot, but the minotaur still didn't fall. It dropped its blade and swung its right fist at the still airborne man. Using his momentum, he flipped in midair and landed on the monster's arm. Then he ran up the beast's arm with his drill held in his hand. Bell swore he saw the item start to glow a bright green, creating a trail behind the man as he ran.
"Dddrrrillll-," the man started to shout, diving forward and thrusting his drill at the minotaur's face. It roared once more and tried to aim its mouth at the man's arm. But just as Bell's savior felt the minotaur's repugnant breath on his skin, he placed his free hand on its collar and pushed. He moved just enough to skim across the beast's open jaw and into its forehead.
"-Immmppppaaccccttt!"
A flash of green light was accompanied by the sound of a drill spinning.
A second later, everything above the minotaur's shoulders disappeared in a flash of green and red. Its bloody viscera exploded outwards, coating the man and Bell in the red liquid. The monster's kill fell to the ground. He stood up, his blue cap flapping in the breeze as the minotaur's body crumpled to the ground.
Bell could do nothing but stare with his mouth wide open. He didn't even mind the various drops of blood that fell onto his tongue. He was totally mesmerized. By the man. By his actions. By how he carried himself. But most importantly, by that cape on his back. The flame emblazoned on it. He couldn't explain exactly what it was, but something about it shook him to his very core.
He couldn't even move as the man turned around and rushed over to him. He skidded to a halt in front of Bell and knelt. Two strong hands fell onto Bell's shoulders as the man looked at him with concern, "Hey! You alright? Hurt anywhere? Need me to carry you home?"
Bell remained silent.
He stared at his savior while the man kept fussing over him.
Then he did the only thing he could think to do at that moment.
He started screaming.
And it was here that a new bond was forged.
The young white rabbit who wished to be a Hero.
The Spiral Warrior who had conquered the impossible.
The bond between the two of them would push them to heights never seen before. And though many hardships await them, their will to go on will persist through it all.
Yeah, this is a thing now.
What?: Basically, I've started reading through the Danmachi LNs recently. I'm only on Volume 3, so please no spoilers. Though I have read through the manga, at least some of it, but I've been told that skips some stuff.
Anyway, for some reason, whenever I thought of Bell I couldn't get this image of him and Simon fighting together. I eventually wrote a snippet for it...now I'm turning it into a full-on story. So...yeah.
Couple of things to keep in mind:
1. This is Simon after he beat the Anti-Spiral. For those of you who don't know what that is, I'd suggest you don't read through this. Cause it's gonna have a lot of Gurren Lagann Spoilers. For those of you who do know, then yeah. Simon's gonna be pretty OP going forward, but he's in charge of how much Spiral Power he uses. So, no, he won't just dumpster everyone else in the fic unless something pushes him to go all out.
2. Bell is gonna get Spiral Power. I have an idea for how it's gonna work with his Rapid Growth Skill. And, yeah, it's gonna cause a bit of a stir in the Setting to put it lightly.
3. As always with these kinds of fics, no shipping. Bell's relationships will (mostly) remain the same save for logical changes based on what happens in the fic. But I'm not gonna be specifically trying to put him one character or another. And Simon isn't getting anyone cause he's loyal to Nia. Even now.
I think that's about it. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask.
Then his brother brought him to the surface along with a fiery young woman with a gun. There they met many people and saw the monsters that threatened to destroy them. They fought many battles. More people followed their banner. They started to create an actual resistance against their foes. Everything was going fine. They were unstoppable.
Then his brother died.
Then he felt lost. He fought his enemies. Vented his rage out on them. But it never made him feel better. He blamed himself for his brother's death. For not being able to be like him.
Then he met a girl. That girl helped him realize the truth. His brother was dead, but his spirit lived on. Inside of him. That he shouldn't try to be his brother. He should be the man that his brother believed in; Himself.
He got back up. He kept fighting. Kept pushing himself forward. He kept on drilling. Even when the chips were down and he was near death, he kept on drilling.
And when he dug through, he won.
Not just against those who oppressed the surface.
But against those who had oppressed the universe. A race whose fear of evolution led to them locking away their own potential, and trying to enforce their views onto all living beings that wielded the Power Of The Spiral.
And when the battles were over, he turned away and left everything to the next generation.
Thus he sat in the desert, watching the sky as the humanity he fought to protect made it to the stars. He watched the lights in the glow as bright as the future he had secured. In his heart, he felt at peace.
The last thing he saw when he closed his eyes, was the night sky lit up by uncountable green stars.
....
...And when he next opened them, the first thing he saw was a dark blue ceiling with hints of purple in it.
Simon The Digger, the one who defeated the Anti-Spiral, the boy from the underground, and former leader of Team Dai-Gurren, blinked as he realized he was alive once again.
His mouth opened as he breathed in a lungful of the air of wherever he was. He quickly checked to see if his body was still in working condition. When he confirmed he could still feel his arms and legs, he used them to push himself into a sitting position. One hand reached up on instinct and he felt some of the building tension in his chest abate. He could still feel his sunglasses, securely sitting on his head. Looking to his right and holding his arm out, he could see that he still had the dark blue and red Team Dai-Gurren cape he wore when they went to fight the Anti-Spiral. And a glance at his legs showed that his blue pants held up by shining belts were still there as well. As he looked down, he saw that his Core Drill was gone. Which was expected. He had given it to Gimmy before he had left to wander the world. Entrusting the future to them. But though he didn't have it...
He placed his right hand on his chest and sighed as he began to focus. A short exertion of will was all it took to make a green light pulse beneath his fingers. He could still feel the unending well of Spiral Power that rested within him. The confirmation that he hadn't lost his connection to that seemingly endless source of power gave him some more peace of mind.
"So. I'm alive, somehow. I've still got Spiral Power. And my clothes," Simon said to himself. His voice echoed across the empty walls of...wherever he was. Frowning, he got to his feet, glad that he could move all of his limbs without issue. Though he did feel his backbones pop as he stood up straight. With a wince he stretched his arms out above his head, enjoying the feeling of his backbones popping and cracking back into place. He continued to do various stretching exercises while observing his environment. But the ease at which he was able to move his body gave him pause. He held his hands up to his face and the confirmation made him gasp.
He was young again.
Blinking, he let his arms fall back into place. He continued to do stretches while his eyes roamed the environment again.
He plainly wasn't on the surface, otherwise, he'd be able to see the sun. He hummed as he started doing a few squat thrusts to help get his blood flowing. He assumed he was underground then. It would explain the strange shape and color of the walls. And ceiling. And floor. Even the multitude of lights that hung from above. He had dug through enough underground tunnels to know that a plethora of things that could give off light even in the darkest of spaces below the surface.
Unfortunately, that went out the window when he squinted at the ceiling. And saw that the lights weren't coming from anything natural like moss. They were, literally, part of the ceiling and giving off light somehow.
Simon tilted his head as he stood up from his latches bout of stretches, "Huh. Is this place man-made? Doesn't look like it but..."
He placed a hand on his chin while his eyes roamed across everything in sight. The strangely smooth walls that didn't have a hint of damage on them, the various pillars and rocky formations some distance in front of him, and a few loops or slopes here and there. These things weren't always naturally formed underground...but they sometimes were. He couldn't tell whether or not there was anything deliberate in the construction of wherever he was. But there was one way to find out...
"Hey! Anybody out there!" he cupped his lips with his hands and started to shout. He waited for a few minutes. When no one answered, he called out again, "Yoko! Viral! Gimmy! Darry! Anyone?!"
There was no answer. Save for his own echoing voice.
Simon frowned, crossing his arms as he started to consider his current circumstances. So, he was probably somewhere underground. Wherever he was, no one, that he knew or didn't know, seemed to be nearby. And the place didn't look like anywhere he's been before. Not to mention that the last thing he remembered was dying of natural causes. Yet here he was, alive and well, and back in the prime of his life. He even still had his sunglasses form when he went to fight the Anti-Spiral. His frown grew deeper as question upon question piled higher and higher into his mind. Why was he here? Where was he? Why was he still alive?
He pondered these questions for a few moments, eyes closing as he considered them all.
Then he smiled, opened his eyes, and shrugged.
"No point in worrying over them. Not gonna learned anything just standing around," Simon said with hope in his voice. Then he placed his sunglasses onto his eyes, picked a direction, and prepared to head off.
"Urrrroooooarrrrrrr!!!!"
"Aiiiiiiiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeeee?!!"
That is until he heard a sound he didn't recognize and one he did. While he couldn't place what could've made the first cry, he knew exactly what the second cry was.
It was a cry for help.
"Hang on!" he shouted, running in the rough direction of the scream. Any other thoughts had been put to the back of his mind. He didn't know why he was here, he didn't know where he was, or how he was back in his prime. But none of that mattered right now. What mattered was that someone was in trouble.
And he needed to help them.
Bell Cranell scooted backward, trying to get as far away as possible from the towering minotaur. Unfortunately, his luck had just run out. His back hit a wall within the wide square room the monster had cornered him in. His blood ran cold as the bull-headed monster approached him. Every step it took shook the ground beneath it, its hooves crushing rocks and pebbles that got in its path.
Bell felt his body seize up as the monster got closer and closer. A part of him was screaming at him to do something. To stand up! To run! To get away before that thing killed him! But his body wouldn't listen. He couldn't do anything.
Another part kept asking why. Why had this happened? Why had a minotaur wandered onto the lower fifth floor? Why had it chosen today to come here? Why had he run into it?
All these questions and more swirled through his mind. But those paled in comparison to what got him here in the first place. The reason he dared to go to the lower fifth floor of the Dungeon.
To meet someone.
The girl of his dreams.
He had wanted to come here to find her. Have a fated meeting with her. Save her from a monster. Be a hero that others tell tales about.
Yet, those dreams hadn't gotten him anything.
Except this.
His back against a wall, about to have his head crushed by a minotaur's hoof.
He stared up into the face of his killer and-
"IIIINNNAAAAAZZZUUUUUMMMMAAAAA-"
Something made the minotaur pause.
It turned its head around as if it sensed danger. Bell thought that someone had come to save him. That someone had appeared to defeat the minotaur and stop him from being killed.
He was proven correct.
But what he didn't expect was the way he would be saved.
Following the minotaur's gaze, his mouth slowly opened as he beheld his savior.
A young man, his dark blue cape flapping behind him, a symbol of fire with sunglasses on it emblazoned on the back, flying at the minotaur's head from the sky with one foot aimed downward.
The minotaur, whether from shock or total astonishment, didn't even try to dodge.
So, the man's foot connected with its head...and managed to shatter one of its horns.
"-KKKKKIIIIIICCCCCCKKKKKKK!!!!"
A bellow of pain and rage left the minotaur's mouth as it fell to the ground in a heap. The man landed on his feet, head whipping up while his eyes fell onto the sitting Bell. His voice was filled with concern as he called, "You OK?"
Bell's mouth hung limply as he stared at the man crouched across from him. His mind raced with questions over what the heck just happened. The minotaur got to its feet, pieces of its shattered horn falling from its head in a cascade of ivory. Its hateful gaze locked onto the newcomer, massive blade rising as it roared in rage. Bell squealed and backed away from the beast but his savior merely grimaced. He stood and raised his hands with their palms up. Suddenly, twin green twisters appeared in his hands, lighting up the dim room that Bell had retreated into. A second later two small drills floated in the man's palms.
Bell's mouth somehow opened wider at the man's actions. But he didn't have time to wonder about what had happened, as the man threw one of the drills his way. It hit the young adventurer in the chest and fall onto his lap. The man said, "Hold onto that. I'll keep this guy busy. If you feel like you can stand, get up and stab him wherever you can!"
"Wh-Wh-What?!" Bell shouted, floored at how his savior expected him to fight against that monster. It was twice his size! Heck, the one who saved him only came up to its chest. It could crush both of them with one swing of its arms if it wanted. He grabbed the drill out of reflex but didn't even consider the possibility of fighting that monster.
His savior didn't seem to hear him though. As the blue-haired man just ran straight at the minotaur without a care in the world. He shouted a battle cry, raising a fist high as he charged at the monster. The minotaur swung its massive blade at the approaching human's left side and Bell thought that his savior was about to die. He started to close his eyes, not wanting to watch another person get sliced in half.
But he never did close his eyes.
Because, right when the weapon was about to hit him, the man parried the minotaur's attack.
With the small drill he now held in his left hand.
Bell's eyes went wide and his mouth hung open in awe. The man kept going, taking advantage of the now off-balance minotaur. He jumped upward, one-foot landing on the monster's chest. Using it as a springboard, he launched his right knee into the minotaur's chin. As the beast's head flew back the man put both of his hands together and brought them down in a hammer blow. Bell swore he heard an audible crack as the man's fists slammed down onto its skull.
One of the monster's hands came up, planning to grab the man in its large grip. He saw the attack coming and kicked out with his right leg at its left arm. Bones crunched beneath his foot, but the minotaur still didn't fall. It dropped its blade and swung its right fist at the still airborne man. Using his momentum, he flipped in midair and landed on the monster's arm. Then he ran up the beast's arm with his drill held in his hand. Bell swore he saw the item start to glow a bright green, creating a trail behind the man as he ran.
"Dddrrrillll-," the man started to shout, diving forward and thrusting his drill at the minotaur's face. It roared once more and tried to aim its mouth at the man's arm. But just as Bell's savior felt the minotaur's repugnant breath on his skin, he placed his free hand on its collar and pushed. He moved just enough to skim across the beast's open jaw and into its forehead.
"-Immmppppaaccccttt!"
A flash of green light was accompanied by the sound of a drill spinning.
A second later, everything above the minotaur's shoulders disappeared in a flash of green and red. Its bloody viscera exploded outwards, coating the man and Bell in the red liquid. The monster's kill fell to the ground. He stood up, his blue cap flapping in the breeze as the minotaur's body crumpled to the ground.
Bell could do nothing but stare with his mouth wide open. He didn't even mind the various drops of blood that fell onto his tongue. He was totally mesmerized. By the man. By his actions. By how he carried himself. But most importantly, by that cape on his back. The flame emblazoned on it. He couldn't explain exactly what it was, but something about it shook him to his very core.
He couldn't even move as the man turned around and rushed over to him. He skidded to a halt in front of Bell and knelt. Two strong hands fell onto Bell's shoulders as the man looked at him with concern, "Hey! You alright? Hurt anywhere? Need me to carry you home?"
Bell remained silent.
He stared at his savior while the man kept fussing over him.
Then he did the only thing he could think to do at that moment.
He started screaming.
And it was here that a new bond was forged.
The young white rabbit who wished to be a Hero.
The Spiral Warrior who had conquered the impossible.
The bond between the two of them would push them to heights never seen before. And though many hardships await them, their will to go on will persist through it all.
Yeah, this is a thing now.
What?: Basically, I've started reading through the Danmachi LNs recently. I'm only on Volume 3, so please no spoilers. Though I have read through the manga, at least some of it, but I've been told that skips some stuff.
Anyway, for some reason, whenever I thought of Bell I couldn't get this image of him and Simon fighting together. I eventually wrote a snippet for it...now I'm turning it into a full-on story. So...yeah.
Couple of things to keep in mind:
1. This is Simon after he beat the Anti-Spiral. For those of you who don't know what that is, I'd suggest you don't read through this. Cause it's gonna have a lot of Gurren Lagann Spoilers. For those of you who do know, then yeah. Simon's gonna be pretty OP going forward, but he's in charge of how much Spiral Power he uses. So, no, he won't just dumpster everyone else in the fic unless something pushes him to go all out.
2. Bell is gonna get Spiral Power. I have an idea for how it's gonna work with his Rapid Growth Skill. And, yeah, it's gonna cause a bit of a stir in the Setting to put it lightly.
3. As always with these kinds of fics, no shipping. Bell's relationships will (mostly) remain the same save for logical changes based on what happens in the fic. But I'm not gonna be specifically trying to put him one character or another. And Simon isn't getting anyone cause he's loyal to Nia. Even now.
I think that's about it. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask.
Cover Image
LinkOnScepter
Versed in the lewd.
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The Cover Image for this fic. I had this made by this guy:
@departament
Chapter 2.1
LinkOnScepter
Versed in the lewd.
- Joined
- May 21, 2016
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"I'm sorry!"
Simon flinched as the boy he had rescued apologized for the fifth time in a row. He started to scratch at his cheek, ignoring the blood that still covered his body. A chuckle left his throat as he spoke, "Uh, you said that already. And, I told you before. You don't have to apologize for trying to run away. I'd just like to know why? I didn't scare you did I?"
"No!" the boy shouted as he shot up from the sitting position he was just in. He rapidly shook his head while keeping his red eyes locked on Simon, "You didn't do anything wrong! I'm apologizing because I tried to run after you just rescued me! It was rude of me to do that to a fellow adventurer that just saved my life and I-"
"Hold on. Senior adventurer?" Simon raised a hand to get the kid to stop talking. He clammed up instantly upon seeing Simon's hand. Which only made him feel worse. The two of them were still in the room where he had killed that monster. Bell was sitting on his knees while Simon was cross-legged. The monster's body was still on the ground behind them, but Simon paid it no mind. Nor did he care about how the entire room was caked in blood and viscera. He instead focused his efforts on the boy he had saved. Which is what led them to their current situation.
Simon shook his head and let his hand fall, "Don't worry about it. Let's just start from the beginning. Are you hurt anywhere? None of that blood is yours, right?"
Temporarily stunned, the boy started to slowly shake his head, "N-No. I'm fine. He didn't hit me at all."
Some of the tension left Simon's shoulders, "Good. Next, how about you tell me your name? Wouldn't want to keep calling you, well, 'you'."
"It's...it's Bell. Bell Cranel."
Simon thrust his right hand out to Bell, "Good to meetcha! My name's Simon. Simon the Digger."
Bell looked from Simon's smiling face to his outstretched. Still nervous, he reached out with his left hand and gripped Simon's. Simon's firm confident grip contrasted with Bell's loose and unsure one. When the two separated, Bell stared at his left hand with a bit of awe in his eyes. Simon's eyebrows rose in confusion. Which only got worse when Bell started flexing his fingers while nodding to himself about something or other. After getting Bell's attention by clearing his throat, Simon continued, "Anyway, mind telling me why you tried to run away after I saved you? I didn't scare you or anything, did I?"
Bell's eyes went wide as he swiftly shook his head, "No! No! It's just I wasn't sure what to do or say and I was still trying to...to...uh..."
Bell went quiet when he saw Simon chuckling at his reactions. Simon put a hand on the younger boy's shoulder and squeezed it comfortingly, "Well, glad that I didn't drive you away. Wouldn't be able to say a job well done if I ended up scaring off the person I was trying to help."
Simon's chuckle turned into a full laugh. Bell, not entirely sure what was going on, responded with a nervous laugh of his own. They stopped a few seconds later, an awkward silence falling over them as they both went silent. Simon broke it by jerking a finger behind him, "So, mind telling me how you ended up nearly getting crushed by that thing?"
"Huh? Oh right! The magic stone!" Bell nearly slipped as he got to his feet. He ran passed Simon, pulling his knife out of his back and rushing towards where the monster fell. He got to his knees next to the hulking beast's body and aimed his knife where its heart would be. Confused, Simon stood up and walked to the kneeling boy. He watched as the young man tried to stab through the monster's chest with his knife, only for it to get caught in the muscles without getting very far.
"What?" Bell said, pulling his knife out and stabbing at the monster again to no avail. His blows became more frustrated as he kept trying to pierce its hide, but wasn't getting anywhere. He pulled his knife back as he spoke, "Its..its hide's too thick. I can't through it with this. Aw, and this would've given us a lot of money we could've used!"
He hung his head dejectedly as if he could see all the profits from this little adventure of his slipping through his fingers. Simon walked over and crouched next to Bell. Then he tapped him on the shoulder, "Don't give up yet. You can get through."
"Huh?" Bell looked over at Simon, confusion plain as day on his face.
Simon jerked his head at the dead beast, "Keep going. It's not over unless you give up. Whatever you want is in that...uh...what is this thing?"
"You don't know?" Simon shaking his head seemed to surprise Bell more than what he said about getting at the monster's chest. Bell looked from Simon to the dead beast, "How do you not know what a minotaur is? Every level one adventurer knows to stay far away from them and...wait. You attacked a minotaur despite not knowing what it was?!"
Simon nodded without a hint of regret, "Yeah."
"...Who...who are you?"
Simon grinned, reaching up to tap on the sunglasses on his head, "Told you already. Simon The Digger. Now, back to the task at hand. That minotaur? It has something you need, right?"
"Yea-yeah but hold on-"
"Then don't stop here. Keep going at it."
"But...I can't. My knife won't cut it."
"You don't need to use your knife. You've got something way better," his eyes moved toward Bell's left hand. Bell followed his gaze and lifted his palm. Inside he found the small drill that Simon had tossed him before.
Bell held the drill up to the light, "This? But it's...it's so small. It won't get through this thing's hide."
"Don't underestimate it just cause it's small. It's still a drill. And if there's one thing drills excel at, it's breaking through a hard obstacle," Simon felt a strange bit of nostalgia as he spoke. For a moment, he felt like he was talking to a kid who doesn't know what Spiral Power is. Then again, considering he was supposed to be way older than he looked right now, he supposed the comparison wasn't just hyperbole.
Bell didn't look he bought into Simon's words. Simon kept grinning, waving a hand at the dead minotaur, "There's no harm in trying, is there?"
Bell pursed his lips before turning back to the minotaur's body. He ignored the sharp smell of blood and death in the room, focusing his all on the spot where its magic stone should be. Taking a breath he holds the drill in his right hand and places its tip where he was stabbing with the knife. While shallow the wound did make a good hole to start from. Once the drill was there, he started to turn it with his hand and...nothing happened. He got a bit further in but other than that-
"It's not working," Bell said as he turned to Simon.
Simon nodded, "Of course, it won't work the first time. Hardly anything does. The point is to keep going. Keep on drilling. Cause once you've dug through the last barrier, you've won."
Simon placed a hand on his chin as he looked at the minotaur's body. Then he reached out and placed his hand over Bell's, "Here. Let me give you hand. Start turning it counter-clockwise."
Bell followed Simon's instructions. He made note of how, despite his rough looks, his hands were surprisingly soft. And his grip was rather gentle. Careful even as they started to drill through the minotaur's chest.
And drill they did. It was slow going. Lots of blood started seeping out of the wound as they got deeper and deeper into it. But as he kept going, Bell noticed it started getting...easier. The minotaur's muscles and bones didn't break in one rotation or anything. But they weren't as hard to break through as they were with his knife. In addition, the hole didn't just get deeper. It got wider. It was the size of his hand by the time Simon let his hand go. He hardly even noticed. He was too engrossed with getting at the magic stone.
Bell was elbow deep in the minotaur when he finally strike something solid. Blinking, he pulled his arm out and reached into the hole he made with his left hand. As the minotaur's body disintegrated, he pulled the large purple crystal out into the open air.
"I...I did it," he gasped out, barely convinced that he managed it himself.
He jerked forward at a sudden weight against his back. Looking to the side, he saw Simon patting him on the back. His face was split into a proud smile that reached his eyes, "Told ya you could do it! And now you've got what you were looking for. Great job, Bell! Knew you had it in ya!"
"Th-Tha-Thanks, Simon," Bell said, his lips quirking up into an awkward but genuine smile. He looked at the heavy magic stone in his hand, mind already thinking of how happy his Goddess would be to see the money he got from the exchange. But a stray thought made his expression fall. He looked over at Simon and held the magic stone out to him, "Oh, right. Sorry, Simon. This is yours. You killed the minotaur so-"
"Keep it."
Bell blinked in surprise. Then he looked over at Simon to see if he was being serious. The smile on Simon's face told him he was. Bell pointed a finger at the magic stone, then at himself, "Re-Really? But...you killed it?"
"Yeah. So?" Simon shrugged, "You're the one that did the work to get it out. You should take it. Besides, I wouldn't know what to do with it anyway."
Simon's last words went over Bell's head as he focused on the fact that Simon was just giving him a valuable magic stone. For free. When Simon didn't say he was lying, Bell got to his feet and bowed deeply to the older man, "Thank you so much! For saving me and for giving me this!"
Simon stood up and started chuckling, "No problem. Now, then, hmm...mind doing me a favor, Bell?"
"Of course! Anything," Bell said as he straightened himself up.
"Do you know what this place is? And the way out of here?"
Bell tilted his head in confusion, "You mean the way to the Guild?"
"The Guild?"
"You don't...wait...Simon...how did you get here? To the fifth floor? In fact...where did you come from when you kicked the minotaur?"
"Oh, from up there."
Simon turned around and pointed at a spot above them. Bell followed his finger to see a cliff hanging over the building they were in. At the top was a ledge that had a direct shot toward the minotaur if someone had jumped off it. Only issue?
"That's...that's at least ten meters high," Bell said.
"Yep," Simon declared.
"...You jumped from ten meters up. And kicked the minotaur in the face."
"Uh-huh."
"...Simon? Sorry if this is rude but...what's your current level?"
"Level?"
Simon flinched as the boy he had rescued apologized for the fifth time in a row. He started to scratch at his cheek, ignoring the blood that still covered his body. A chuckle left his throat as he spoke, "Uh, you said that already. And, I told you before. You don't have to apologize for trying to run away. I'd just like to know why? I didn't scare you did I?"
"No!" the boy shouted as he shot up from the sitting position he was just in. He rapidly shook his head while keeping his red eyes locked on Simon, "You didn't do anything wrong! I'm apologizing because I tried to run after you just rescued me! It was rude of me to do that to a fellow adventurer that just saved my life and I-"
"Hold on. Senior adventurer?" Simon raised a hand to get the kid to stop talking. He clammed up instantly upon seeing Simon's hand. Which only made him feel worse. The two of them were still in the room where he had killed that monster. Bell was sitting on his knees while Simon was cross-legged. The monster's body was still on the ground behind them, but Simon paid it no mind. Nor did he care about how the entire room was caked in blood and viscera. He instead focused his efforts on the boy he had saved. Which is what led them to their current situation.
Simon shook his head and let his hand fall, "Don't worry about it. Let's just start from the beginning. Are you hurt anywhere? None of that blood is yours, right?"
Temporarily stunned, the boy started to slowly shake his head, "N-No. I'm fine. He didn't hit me at all."
Some of the tension left Simon's shoulders, "Good. Next, how about you tell me your name? Wouldn't want to keep calling you, well, 'you'."
"It's...it's Bell. Bell Cranel."
Simon thrust his right hand out to Bell, "Good to meetcha! My name's Simon. Simon the Digger."
Bell looked from Simon's smiling face to his outstretched. Still nervous, he reached out with his left hand and gripped Simon's. Simon's firm confident grip contrasted with Bell's loose and unsure one. When the two separated, Bell stared at his left hand with a bit of awe in his eyes. Simon's eyebrows rose in confusion. Which only got worse when Bell started flexing his fingers while nodding to himself about something or other. After getting Bell's attention by clearing his throat, Simon continued, "Anyway, mind telling me why you tried to run away after I saved you? I didn't scare you or anything, did I?"
Bell's eyes went wide as he swiftly shook his head, "No! No! It's just I wasn't sure what to do or say and I was still trying to...to...uh..."
Bell went quiet when he saw Simon chuckling at his reactions. Simon put a hand on the younger boy's shoulder and squeezed it comfortingly, "Well, glad that I didn't drive you away. Wouldn't be able to say a job well done if I ended up scaring off the person I was trying to help."
Simon's chuckle turned into a full laugh. Bell, not entirely sure what was going on, responded with a nervous laugh of his own. They stopped a few seconds later, an awkward silence falling over them as they both went silent. Simon broke it by jerking a finger behind him, "So, mind telling me how you ended up nearly getting crushed by that thing?"
"Huh? Oh right! The magic stone!" Bell nearly slipped as he got to his feet. He ran passed Simon, pulling his knife out of his back and rushing towards where the monster fell. He got to his knees next to the hulking beast's body and aimed his knife where its heart would be. Confused, Simon stood up and walked to the kneeling boy. He watched as the young man tried to stab through the monster's chest with his knife, only for it to get caught in the muscles without getting very far.
"What?" Bell said, pulling his knife out and stabbing at the monster again to no avail. His blows became more frustrated as he kept trying to pierce its hide, but wasn't getting anywhere. He pulled his knife back as he spoke, "Its..its hide's too thick. I can't through it with this. Aw, and this would've given us a lot of money we could've used!"
He hung his head dejectedly as if he could see all the profits from this little adventure of his slipping through his fingers. Simon walked over and crouched next to Bell. Then he tapped him on the shoulder, "Don't give up yet. You can get through."
"Huh?" Bell looked over at Simon, confusion plain as day on his face.
Simon jerked his head at the dead beast, "Keep going. It's not over unless you give up. Whatever you want is in that...uh...what is this thing?"
"You don't know?" Simon shaking his head seemed to surprise Bell more than what he said about getting at the monster's chest. Bell looked from Simon to the dead beast, "How do you not know what a minotaur is? Every level one adventurer knows to stay far away from them and...wait. You attacked a minotaur despite not knowing what it was?!"
Simon nodded without a hint of regret, "Yeah."
"...Who...who are you?"
Simon grinned, reaching up to tap on the sunglasses on his head, "Told you already. Simon The Digger. Now, back to the task at hand. That minotaur? It has something you need, right?"
"Yea-yeah but hold on-"
"Then don't stop here. Keep going at it."
"But...I can't. My knife won't cut it."
"You don't need to use your knife. You've got something way better," his eyes moved toward Bell's left hand. Bell followed his gaze and lifted his palm. Inside he found the small drill that Simon had tossed him before.
Bell held the drill up to the light, "This? But it's...it's so small. It won't get through this thing's hide."
"Don't underestimate it just cause it's small. It's still a drill. And if there's one thing drills excel at, it's breaking through a hard obstacle," Simon felt a strange bit of nostalgia as he spoke. For a moment, he felt like he was talking to a kid who doesn't know what Spiral Power is. Then again, considering he was supposed to be way older than he looked right now, he supposed the comparison wasn't just hyperbole.
Bell didn't look he bought into Simon's words. Simon kept grinning, waving a hand at the dead minotaur, "There's no harm in trying, is there?"
Bell pursed his lips before turning back to the minotaur's body. He ignored the sharp smell of blood and death in the room, focusing his all on the spot where its magic stone should be. Taking a breath he holds the drill in his right hand and places its tip where he was stabbing with the knife. While shallow the wound did make a good hole to start from. Once the drill was there, he started to turn it with his hand and...nothing happened. He got a bit further in but other than that-
"It's not working," Bell said as he turned to Simon.
Simon nodded, "Of course, it won't work the first time. Hardly anything does. The point is to keep going. Keep on drilling. Cause once you've dug through the last barrier, you've won."
Simon placed a hand on his chin as he looked at the minotaur's body. Then he reached out and placed his hand over Bell's, "Here. Let me give you hand. Start turning it counter-clockwise."
Bell followed Simon's instructions. He made note of how, despite his rough looks, his hands were surprisingly soft. And his grip was rather gentle. Careful even as they started to drill through the minotaur's chest.
And drill they did. It was slow going. Lots of blood started seeping out of the wound as they got deeper and deeper into it. But as he kept going, Bell noticed it started getting...easier. The minotaur's muscles and bones didn't break in one rotation or anything. But they weren't as hard to break through as they were with his knife. In addition, the hole didn't just get deeper. It got wider. It was the size of his hand by the time Simon let his hand go. He hardly even noticed. He was too engrossed with getting at the magic stone.
Bell was elbow deep in the minotaur when he finally strike something solid. Blinking, he pulled his arm out and reached into the hole he made with his left hand. As the minotaur's body disintegrated, he pulled the large purple crystal out into the open air.
"I...I did it," he gasped out, barely convinced that he managed it himself.
He jerked forward at a sudden weight against his back. Looking to the side, he saw Simon patting him on the back. His face was split into a proud smile that reached his eyes, "Told ya you could do it! And now you've got what you were looking for. Great job, Bell! Knew you had it in ya!"
"Th-Tha-Thanks, Simon," Bell said, his lips quirking up into an awkward but genuine smile. He looked at the heavy magic stone in his hand, mind already thinking of how happy his Goddess would be to see the money he got from the exchange. But a stray thought made his expression fall. He looked over at Simon and held the magic stone out to him, "Oh, right. Sorry, Simon. This is yours. You killed the minotaur so-"
"Keep it."
Bell blinked in surprise. Then he looked over at Simon to see if he was being serious. The smile on Simon's face told him he was. Bell pointed a finger at the magic stone, then at himself, "Re-Really? But...you killed it?"
"Yeah. So?" Simon shrugged, "You're the one that did the work to get it out. You should take it. Besides, I wouldn't know what to do with it anyway."
Simon's last words went over Bell's head as he focused on the fact that Simon was just giving him a valuable magic stone. For free. When Simon didn't say he was lying, Bell got to his feet and bowed deeply to the older man, "Thank you so much! For saving me and for giving me this!"
Simon stood up and started chuckling, "No problem. Now, then, hmm...mind doing me a favor, Bell?"
"Of course! Anything," Bell said as he straightened himself up.
"Do you know what this place is? And the way out of here?"
Bell tilted his head in confusion, "You mean the way to the Guild?"
"The Guild?"
"You don't...wait...Simon...how did you get here? To the fifth floor? In fact...where did you come from when you kicked the minotaur?"
"Oh, from up there."
Simon turned around and pointed at a spot above them. Bell followed his finger to see a cliff hanging over the building they were in. At the top was a ledge that had a direct shot toward the minotaur if someone had jumped off it. Only issue?
"That's...that's at least ten meters high," Bell said.
"Yep," Simon declared.
"...You jumped from ten meters up. And kicked the minotaur in the face."
"Uh-huh."
"...Simon? Sorry if this is rude but...what's your current level?"
"Level?"
Chapter 2.2
LinkOnScepter
Versed in the lewd.
- Joined
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Eina Tulle's pointed ears twitched. The female half-elf receptionist looked up from the book she held in her hand. Her black guild uniform moved with her thin frame as she looked towards the entrance to the guild. Numerous adventurers were walking through the doors, many having come back from their recent trips to the Dungeon. Humans, beastmen, dwarves, and more marched in and toward the Exchange. Some with their heads held high, others with their shoulders slumped and feet dragging. It was clear to all who had had a fruitful trip with a single look.
Eina's emerald eyes scanned the crowd as she looked for a familiar head of white hair. She swore she had heard the light voice of the fourteen-year-old adventurer that was in her care. She placed her book under the counter she stood at while leaning over it with both hands. Her eyes narrowed until she finally spotted the starting adventurer. Her smile at his safe return morphed into a confused frown as she saw that he wasn't alone. Walking right along with him was another adventurer. At least, Eina assumed he was an adventurer. He had to have come out of the Dungeon if he was with Bell.
He stood at least twenty-three celch taller than the fourteen-year-old boy. A pair of red goggles sat atop his dark blue hair, and underneath those were a set of pure red sunglasses. She wasn't sure how they managed to not fall off his head, as she couldn't see them holding onto anything from where she was. The rest of his outfit was equally strange. He wore no armor save for two metal belts around his waist and five black bands around his stomach. The legs of his dark blue pants ended at long black and red boots that matched the coat flowing around his shoulders. His chest was fully exposed save for a single small object that hung from a string around his neck.
Eina frowned, watching the man as his head kept swiveling around. His eyes seemed to observe and take in everything around him. From the floor, to the ceiling, to the magic stone lights. But the main thing that he focused on was the people. His eyes would follow after many of the non-human adventurers that passed him and Bell by. A look of fascination was on his face the entire time. Eina started to wonder whether they had an adventurer like him record, but then she took notice of something else. Something that only occurred to her after Bell and the newcomer made it to her counter.
That being that they were both covered in blood.
And tracking it into the guild.
"I'm back, Ms. Eina!" Bell said as he triumphantly held up the large purple magic stone he got from the minotaur blood dripping from his sleeve onto the counter. He turned to the newcomer with a smile, "And I found this person in the Dungeon."
"Hey there. My name's Simon," the now-named Simon spoke without a care in the world, more blood falling onto the floor.
Eina was speechless. As were all the other guild employees and even some of the adventurers.
Then someone screamed.
"EEEEEKKKKK!"
"You know, Bell, after getting covered in blood, you should at least take a shower before coming in here..."
Bell hung his head in shame in his seat, "Sorry, Ms. Eina."
After watching the boy repent for a few moments, she turned her attention to the third occupant of the room. The newly introduced Simon. He was sitting next to Bell in another chair still drying his hair off with a white towel. When he finally finished, he pulled it over his head and onto his neck while shaking his hair out. He let out a thankful sigh before reaching towards the table between them. He spoke as he grabbed up his glasses and goggles, "That felt great. Don't know when the last time I had a shower was. This place is pretty nice. What did you say it was, Eina?"
"The Guild headquarters," she spoke plainly as she watched Simon loop the goggles around his head and lift them to his hair. Then he simply placed the sunglasses on his forehead. And they just...stayed there. She watched, waiting for them to fall but nothing happened.
Simon nodded as he looked around the room. A low whistle escaped his lips, "Got it. And you're supposed to be Bell's advisor or something, right?"
"That I am," she glanced sidelong at the white-haired adventurer in question. One eyebrow slowly rose as she stared at him, "And I'd like to know why he thought it was a good idea to come here in such a state."
Bell shrunk back into his chair under Eina's piercing gaze. Tears started to well up in the corners of his eyes, but Simon leaned forward and waved his hand through the air, "Eh, cut the kid some slack. He was just really excited to get here. Especially after he managed to bring that home."
Simon pointed a finger toward the magic stone sitting on the table. All eyes were drawn to the large purple crystal that released a dull glow into the room. It was the size of Bell's palm and almost as long as his arm. A stone of its size would be worth quite a large sum of money. Considering that, it made some sense that Bell had forgotten about the blood covering his body at the time. For a low-level adventurer like him, that was as good as finding an untapped gold mine.
Eina's frown softened and she leaned back in her chair. She adjusted the glasses on her face as she spoke, "I suppose you have a point."
Bell pulled himself from his seat, his eyes filling with hope.
"But that doesn't completely excuse you. Be more careful next time, alright?"
"Ye-Yes, Ms. Eina," Bell said, nodding his head up and down as fast as he could.
Eina gave him a big smile before turning her attention back to Simon. The man was staring at her with an intense gaze. His eyes were narrowed and they seemed to run up and down her body. She was already starting to feel a sense of disgust and exasperation, but masked it behind practiced professionalism, "Is there something you needed, Simon?"
"Yeah. Eina? What exactly are you? Cause you look human, but have those ears. Are you a beastman?"
Eina was temporarily stunned. Her elvish ancestry was obvious to anyone who looked at her, after all. How could he not know that? And why would he confuse her with an animal person? For a moment, she didn't know how to react and just stared at Simon with a blank look on her face.
"Mr. Simon! That was rude. And Ms. Eina is half-human and half-elf. You can tell from her ears," Bell suddenly said, leaning onto the table while staring at Simon.
Simon stretched his chin and looked bashful, "Uh, sorry. But I'm not gonna find out by just staring at her, am I? Better to just ask her for the answer. And I told you to not call me Mr. Simon's fine."
"Still, you should just ask someone that. I'm sorry, Ms. Eina. Mr...I mean, Simon is...new around here."
Eina's confusion only grew as she looked between the two of them. She shook her head and then cleared her throat to help center her focus. When she had herself under control, she placed both hands on the table in front of her. Then she spoke in an even tone, "How about you two tell me what happened in the Dungeon today? From the beginning, please."
And so they did. Bell told Eina everything that had happened up until Simon had saved him, and Simon took over from there. The two kept their stories as straight as possible, having gone over what they would say before they made it to the Guild. At first, Eina's facial expression got more and more upset as Bell described the events that led to him almost dying to a minotaur. But after Simon finished describing his brief part in the tale, her expression changed to curiosity.
"Hold on," Eina held up a hand to get their attention. She met Simon's gaze as she spoke, "Can you go back a bit? To when you fought the minotaur?"
Simon shrugged, "Sure. I was running along, trying to find the source of that scream. Ended up above Bell while he was about to get stepped on. I jumped off, aimed toward the monster, then kicked it in the face hard enough to break one of its horns. It fell over but wasn't done yet. So I got out my drill here-"
Simon grabbed the item in question from around his neck, holding it up for all to see, "-and ran right at it. I parried its attack, jumped up, stabbed it in the face, and blew its head off."
Simon mimed his takedown of the minotaur, a wide grin on his face. Bell was looking up at him with a small smile of his own. Eina stared in complete bewilderment. After a few seconds of silence, she spoke again, "I see. And where did you say you came from?"
"Uh...that's kind of complicated," Simon let his drill fall while rubbing the back of his neck, "And a long story. But I can tell you that I woke up in the Dungeon and that I ended up finding Bell."
Eina turned to the boy in question for confirmation. Bell nodded, "It's true, Ms. Eina. In fact, there's more to it than just that. He...He doesn't know what Levels are. Or Falna. Or, as you saw, elves. I don't think he's from Orario."
"But then what-wait....he...Simon...you don't know what Falna is?"
Simon shrugged, "I kind of do. Bell filled me in on the basics. It's a blessing that makes you stronger, right?"
"Yes. But you didn't know that before he told you?"
"Yep."
"Then....do you have a Falna?"
"Nope."
Silence filled the air for a long time. It was quiet enough that you could hear a pin drop.
Then Eina slammed her hands onto the table, voice cracking a bit as she yelled at him, "How is that possible?!"
For those who might not know: Celch = Centimeters.
Eina's emerald eyes scanned the crowd as she looked for a familiar head of white hair. She swore she had heard the light voice of the fourteen-year-old adventurer that was in her care. She placed her book under the counter she stood at while leaning over it with both hands. Her eyes narrowed until she finally spotted the starting adventurer. Her smile at his safe return morphed into a confused frown as she saw that he wasn't alone. Walking right along with him was another adventurer. At least, Eina assumed he was an adventurer. He had to have come out of the Dungeon if he was with Bell.
He stood at least twenty-three celch taller than the fourteen-year-old boy. A pair of red goggles sat atop his dark blue hair, and underneath those were a set of pure red sunglasses. She wasn't sure how they managed to not fall off his head, as she couldn't see them holding onto anything from where she was. The rest of his outfit was equally strange. He wore no armor save for two metal belts around his waist and five black bands around his stomach. The legs of his dark blue pants ended at long black and red boots that matched the coat flowing around his shoulders. His chest was fully exposed save for a single small object that hung from a string around his neck.
Eina frowned, watching the man as his head kept swiveling around. His eyes seemed to observe and take in everything around him. From the floor, to the ceiling, to the magic stone lights. But the main thing that he focused on was the people. His eyes would follow after many of the non-human adventurers that passed him and Bell by. A look of fascination was on his face the entire time. Eina started to wonder whether they had an adventurer like him record, but then she took notice of something else. Something that only occurred to her after Bell and the newcomer made it to her counter.
That being that they were both covered in blood.
And tracking it into the guild.
"I'm back, Ms. Eina!" Bell said as he triumphantly held up the large purple magic stone he got from the minotaur blood dripping from his sleeve onto the counter. He turned to the newcomer with a smile, "And I found this person in the Dungeon."
"Hey there. My name's Simon," the now-named Simon spoke without a care in the world, more blood falling onto the floor.
Eina was speechless. As were all the other guild employees and even some of the adventurers.
Then someone screamed.
"EEEEEKKKKK!"
"You know, Bell, after getting covered in blood, you should at least take a shower before coming in here..."
Bell hung his head in shame in his seat, "Sorry, Ms. Eina."
After watching the boy repent for a few moments, she turned her attention to the third occupant of the room. The newly introduced Simon. He was sitting next to Bell in another chair still drying his hair off with a white towel. When he finally finished, he pulled it over his head and onto his neck while shaking his hair out. He let out a thankful sigh before reaching towards the table between them. He spoke as he grabbed up his glasses and goggles, "That felt great. Don't know when the last time I had a shower was. This place is pretty nice. What did you say it was, Eina?"
"The Guild headquarters," she spoke plainly as she watched Simon loop the goggles around his head and lift them to his hair. Then he simply placed the sunglasses on his forehead. And they just...stayed there. She watched, waiting for them to fall but nothing happened.
Simon nodded as he looked around the room. A low whistle escaped his lips, "Got it. And you're supposed to be Bell's advisor or something, right?"
"That I am," she glanced sidelong at the white-haired adventurer in question. One eyebrow slowly rose as she stared at him, "And I'd like to know why he thought it was a good idea to come here in such a state."
Bell shrunk back into his chair under Eina's piercing gaze. Tears started to well up in the corners of his eyes, but Simon leaned forward and waved his hand through the air, "Eh, cut the kid some slack. He was just really excited to get here. Especially after he managed to bring that home."
Simon pointed a finger toward the magic stone sitting on the table. All eyes were drawn to the large purple crystal that released a dull glow into the room. It was the size of Bell's palm and almost as long as his arm. A stone of its size would be worth quite a large sum of money. Considering that, it made some sense that Bell had forgotten about the blood covering his body at the time. For a low-level adventurer like him, that was as good as finding an untapped gold mine.
Eina's frown softened and she leaned back in her chair. She adjusted the glasses on her face as she spoke, "I suppose you have a point."
Bell pulled himself from his seat, his eyes filling with hope.
"But that doesn't completely excuse you. Be more careful next time, alright?"
"Ye-Yes, Ms. Eina," Bell said, nodding his head up and down as fast as he could.
Eina gave him a big smile before turning her attention back to Simon. The man was staring at her with an intense gaze. His eyes were narrowed and they seemed to run up and down her body. She was already starting to feel a sense of disgust and exasperation, but masked it behind practiced professionalism, "Is there something you needed, Simon?"
"Yeah. Eina? What exactly are you? Cause you look human, but have those ears. Are you a beastman?"
Eina was temporarily stunned. Her elvish ancestry was obvious to anyone who looked at her, after all. How could he not know that? And why would he confuse her with an animal person? For a moment, she didn't know how to react and just stared at Simon with a blank look on her face.
"Mr. Simon! That was rude. And Ms. Eina is half-human and half-elf. You can tell from her ears," Bell suddenly said, leaning onto the table while staring at Simon.
Simon stretched his chin and looked bashful, "Uh, sorry. But I'm not gonna find out by just staring at her, am I? Better to just ask her for the answer. And I told you to not call me Mr. Simon's fine."
"Still, you should just ask someone that. I'm sorry, Ms. Eina. Mr...I mean, Simon is...new around here."
Eina's confusion only grew as she looked between the two of them. She shook her head and then cleared her throat to help center her focus. When she had herself under control, she placed both hands on the table in front of her. Then she spoke in an even tone, "How about you two tell me what happened in the Dungeon today? From the beginning, please."
And so they did. Bell told Eina everything that had happened up until Simon had saved him, and Simon took over from there. The two kept their stories as straight as possible, having gone over what they would say before they made it to the Guild. At first, Eina's facial expression got more and more upset as Bell described the events that led to him almost dying to a minotaur. But after Simon finished describing his brief part in the tale, her expression changed to curiosity.
"Hold on," Eina held up a hand to get their attention. She met Simon's gaze as she spoke, "Can you go back a bit? To when you fought the minotaur?"
Simon shrugged, "Sure. I was running along, trying to find the source of that scream. Ended up above Bell while he was about to get stepped on. I jumped off, aimed toward the monster, then kicked it in the face hard enough to break one of its horns. It fell over but wasn't done yet. So I got out my drill here-"
Simon grabbed the item in question from around his neck, holding it up for all to see, "-and ran right at it. I parried its attack, jumped up, stabbed it in the face, and blew its head off."
Simon mimed his takedown of the minotaur, a wide grin on his face. Bell was looking up at him with a small smile of his own. Eina stared in complete bewilderment. After a few seconds of silence, she spoke again, "I see. And where did you say you came from?"
"Uh...that's kind of complicated," Simon let his drill fall while rubbing the back of his neck, "And a long story. But I can tell you that I woke up in the Dungeon and that I ended up finding Bell."
Eina turned to the boy in question for confirmation. Bell nodded, "It's true, Ms. Eina. In fact, there's more to it than just that. He...He doesn't know what Levels are. Or Falna. Or, as you saw, elves. I don't think he's from Orario."
"But then what-wait....he...Simon...you don't know what Falna is?"
Simon shrugged, "I kind of do. Bell filled me in on the basics. It's a blessing that makes you stronger, right?"
"Yes. But you didn't know that before he told you?"
"Yep."
"Then....do you have a Falna?"
"Nope."
Silence filled the air for a long time. It was quiet enough that you could hear a pin drop.
Then Eina slammed her hands onto the table, voice cracking a bit as she yelled at him, "How is that possible?!"
For those who might not know: Celch = Centimeters.
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Chapter 2: Meeting The Advisor
LinkOnScepter
Versed in the lewd.
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"I'm sorry!"
Simon flinched as the boy he had rescued apologized for the fifth time in a row. He started to scratch at his cheek, ignoring the blood that still covered his body. A chuckle left his throat as he spoke, "Uh, you said that already. And, I told you before. You don't have to apologize for trying to run away. I'd just like to know why? I didn't scare you did I?"
"No!" the boy shouted as he shot up from the sitting position he was just in. He rapidly shook his head while keeping his red eyes locked on Simon, "You didn't do anything wrong! I'm apologizing because I tried to run after you just rescued me! It was rude of me to do that to a fellow adventurer that just saved my life and I-"
"Hold on. Senior adventurer?" Simon raised a hand to get the kid to stop talking. He clammed up instantly upon seeing Simon's hand. Which only made him feel worse. The two of them were still in the room where he had killed that monster. Bell was sitting on his knees while Simon was cross-legged. The monster's body was still on the ground behind them, but Simon paid it no mind. Nor did he care about how the entire room was caked in blood and viscera. He instead focused his efforts on the boy he had saved. Which is what led them to their current situation.
Simon shook his head and let his hand fall, "Don't worry about it. Let's just start from the beginning. Are you hurt anywhere? None of that blood is yours, right?"
Temporarily stunned, the boy started to slowly shake his head, "N-No. I'm fine. He didn't hit me at all."
Some of the tension left Simon's shoulders, "Good. Next, how about you tell me your name? Wouldn't want to keep calling you, well, 'you'."
"It's...it's Bell. Bell Cranel."
Simon thrust his right hand out to Bell, "Good to meetcha! My name's Simon. Simon the Digger."
Bell looked from Simon's smiling face to his outstretched. Still nervous, he reached out with his left hand and gripped Simon's. Simon's firm confident grip contrasted with Bell's loose and unsure one. When the two separated, Bell stared at his left hand with a bit of awe in his eyes. Simon's eyebrows rose in confusion. Which only got worse when Bell started flexing his fingers while nodding to himself about something or other. After getting Bell's attention by clearing his throat, Simon continued, "Anyway, mind telling me why you tried to run away after I saved you? I didn't scare you or anything, did I?"
Bell's eyes went wide as he swiftly shook his head, "No! No! It's just I wasn't sure what to do or say and I was still trying to...to...uh..."
Bell went quiet when he saw Simon chuckling at his reactions. Simon put a hand on the younger boy's shoulder and squeezed it comfortingly, "Well, glad that I didn't drive you away. Wouldn't be able to say a job well done if I ended up scaring off the person I was trying to help."
Simon's chuckle turned into a full laugh. Bell, not entirely sure what was going on, responded with a nervous laugh of his own. They stopped a few seconds later, an awkward silence falling over them as they both went silent. Simon broke it by jerking a finger behind him, "So, mind telling me how you ended up nearly getting crushed by that thing?"
"Huh? Oh right! The magic stone!" Bell nearly slipped as he got to his feet. He ran passed Simon, pulling his knife out of his back and rushing towards where the monster fell. He got to his knees next to the hulking beast's body and aimed his knife where its heart would be. Confused, Simon stood up and walked to the kneeling boy. He watched as the young man tried to stab through the monster's chest with his knife, only for it to get caught in the muscles without getting very far.
"What?" Bell said, pulling his knife out and stabbing at the monster again to no avail. His blows became more frustrated as he kept trying to pierce its hide, but wasn't getting anywhere. He pulled his knife back as he spoke, "Its..its hide's too thick. I can't through it with this. Aw, and this would've given us a lot of money we could've used!"
He hung his head dejectedly as if he could see all the profits from this little adventure of his slipping through his fingers. Simon walked over and crouched next to Bell. Then he tapped him on the shoulder, "Don't give up yet. You can get through."
"Huh?" Bell looked over at Simon, confusion plain as day on his face.
Simon jerked his head at the dead beast, "Keep going. It's not over unless you give up. Whatever you want is in that...uh...what is this thing?"
"You don't know?" Simon shaking his head seemed to surprise Bell more than what he said about getting at the monster's chest. Bell looked from Simon to the dead beast, "How do you not know what a minotaur is? Every level one adventurer knows to stay far away from them and...wait. You attacked a minotaur despite not knowing what it was?!"
Simon nodded without a hint of regret, "Yeah."
"...Who...who are you?"
Simon grinned, reaching up to tap on the sunglasses on his head, "Told you already. Simon The Digger. Now, back to the task at hand. That minotaur? It has something you need, right?"
"Yea-yeah but hold on-"
"Then don't stop here. Keep going at it."
"But...I can't. My knife won't cut it."
"You don't need to use your knife. You've got something way better," his eyes moved toward Bell's left hand. Bell followed his gaze and lifted his palm. Inside he found the small drill that Simon had tossed him before.
Bell held the drill up to the light, "This? But it's...it's so small. It won't get through this thing's hide."
"Don't underestimate it just cause it's small. It's still a drill. And if there's one thing drills excel at, it's breaking through a hard obstacle," Simon felt a strange bit of nostalgia as he spoke. For a moment, he felt like he was talking to a kid who doesn't know what Spiral Power is. Then again, considering he was supposed to be way older than he looked right now, he supposed the comparison wasn't just hyperbole.
Bell didn't look he bought into Simon's words. Simon kept grinning, waving a hand at the dead minotaur, "There's no harm in trying, is there?"
Bell pursed his lips before turning back to the minotaur's body. He ignored the sharp smell of blood and death in the room, focusing his all on the spot where its magic stone should be. Taking a breath he holds the drill in his right hand and places its tip where he was stabbing with the knife. While shallow the wound did make a good hole to start from. Once the drill was there, he started to turn it with his hand and...nothing happened. He got a bit further in but other than that-
"It's not working," Bell said as he turned to Simon.
Simon nodded, "Of course, it won't work the first time. Hardly anything does. The point is to keep going. Keep on drilling. Cause once you've dug through the last barrier, you've won."
Simon placed a hand on his chin as he looked at the minotaur's body. Then he reached out and placed his hand over Bell's, "Here. Let me give you a hand. Start turning it counter-clockwise."
Bell followed Simon's instructions. He made note of how, despite his rough looks, his hands were surprisingly soft. And his grip was rather gentle. Careful even as they started to drill through the minotaur's chest.
And drill they did. It was slow going. Lots of blood started seeping out of the wound as they got deeper and deeper into it. But as he kept going, Bell noticed it started getting...easier. The minotaur's muscles and bones didn't break in one rotation or anything. But they weren't as hard to break through as they were with his knife. In addition, the hole didn't just get deeper. It got wider. It was the size of his hand by the time Simon let his hand go. He hardly even noticed. He was too engrossed with getting at the magic stone.
Bell was elbow deep in the minotaur when he finally strike something solid. Blinking, he pulled his arm out and reached into the hole he made with his left hand. As the minotaur's body disintegrated, he pulled the large purple crystal out into the open air.
"I...I did it," he gasped out, barely convinced that he managed it himself.
He jerked forward at a sudden weight against his back. Looking to the side, he saw Simon patting him on the back. His face was split into a proud smile that reached his eyes, "Told ya you could do it! And now you've got what you were looking for. Great job, Bell! Knew you had it in ya!"
"Th-Tha-Thanks, Simon," Bell said, his lips quirking up into an awkward but genuine smile. He looked at the heavy magic stone in his hand, mind already thinking of how happy his Goddess would be to see the money he got from the exchange. But a stray thought made his expression fall. He looked over at Simon and held the magic stone out to him, "Oh, right. Sorry, Simon. This is yours. You killed the minotaur so-"
"Keep it."
Bell blinked in surprise. Then he looked over at Simon to see if he was being serious. The smile on Simon's face told him he was. Bell pointed a finger at the magic stone, then at himself, "Re-Really? But...you killed it?"
"Yeah. So?" Simon shrugged, "You're the one that did the work to get it out. You should take it. Besides, I wouldn't know what to do with it anyway."
Simon's last words went over Bell's head as he focused on the fact that Simon was just giving him a valuable magic stone. For free. When Simon didn't say he was lying, Bell got to his feet and bowed deeply to the older man, "Thank you so much! For saving me and for giving me this!"
Simon stood up and started chuckling, "No problem. Now, then, hmm...mind doing me a favor, Bell?"
"Of course! Anything," Bell said as he straightened himself up.
"Do you know what this place is? And the way out of here?"
Bell tilted his head in confusion, "You mean the way to the Guild?"
"The Guild?"
"You don't...wait...Simon...how did you get here? To the fifth floor? In fact...where did you come from when you kicked the minotaur?"
"Oh, from up there."
Simon turned around and pointed at a spot above them. Bell followed his finger to see a cliff hanging over the building they were in. At the top was a ledge that had a direct shot toward the minotaur if someone had jumped off it. Only issue?
"That's...that's at least ten meters high," Bell said.
"Yep," Simon declared.
"...You jumped from ten meters up. And kicked the minotaur in the face."
"Uh-huh."
"...Simon? Sorry if this is rude but...what's your current level?"
"Level?"
Eina Tulle's pointed ears twitched. The female half-elf receptionist looked up from the book she held in her hand. Her black guild uniform moved with her thin frame as she looked towards the entrance to the guild. Numerous adventurers were walking through the doors, many having come back from their recent trips to the Dungeon. Humans, beastmen, dwarves, and more marched in and toward the Exchange. Some with their heads held high, others with their shoulders slumped and feet dragging. It was clear to all who had had a fruitful trip with a single look.
Eina's emerald eyes scanned the crowd as she looked for a familiar head of white hair. She swore she had heard the light voice of the fourteen-year-old adventurer that was in her care. She placed her book under the counter she stood at while leaning over it with both hands. Her eyes narrowed until she finally spotted the starting adventurer. Her smile at his safe return morphed into a confused frown as she saw that he wasn't alone. Walking right along with him was another adventurer. At least, Eina assumed he was an adventurer. He had to have come out of the Dungeon if he was with Bell.
He stood at least twenty-three celch taller than the fourteen-year-old boy. A pair of red goggles sat atop his dark blue hair, and underneath those were a set of pure red sunglasses. She wasn't sure how they managed to not fall off his head, as she couldn't see them holding onto anything from where she was. The rest of his outfit was equally strange. He wore no armor save for two metal belts around his waist and five black bands around his stomach. The legs of his dark blue pants ended at long black and red boots that matched the coat flowing around his shoulders. His chest was fully exposed save for a single small object that hung from a string around his neck.
Eina frowned, watching the man as his head kept swiveling around. His eyes seemed to observe and take in everything around him. From the floor, to the ceiling, to the magic stone lights. But the main thing that he focused on was the people. His eyes would follow after many of the non-human adventurers that passed him and Bell by. A look of fascination was on his face the entire time. Eina started to wonder whether they had an adventurer like him record, but then she took notice of something else. Something that only occurred to her after Bell and the newcomer made it to her counter.
That being that they were both covered in blood.
And tracking it to the guild.
"I'm back, Ms. Eina!" Bell said as he triumphantly held up the large purple magic stone he got from the minotaur blood dripping from his sleeve onto the counter. He turned to the newcomer with a smile, "And I found this person in the Dungeon."
"Hey there. My name's Simon," the now-named Simon spoke without a care in the world, more blood falling onto the floor.
Eina was speechless. As were all the other guild employees and even some of the adventurers.
Then someone screamed.
"EEEEEKKKKK!"
"You know, Bell, after getting covered in blood, you should at least take a shower before coming in here..."
Bell hung his head in shame in his seat, "Sorry, Ms. Eina."
After watching the boy repent for a few moments, she turned her attention to the third occupant of the room. The newly introduced Simon. He was sitting next to Bell in another chair still drying his hair off with a white towel. When he finally finished, he pulled it over his head and onto his neck while shaking his hair out. He let out a thankful sigh before reaching towards the table between them. He spoke as he grabbed up his glasses and goggles, "That felt great. Don't know when the last time I had a shower was. This place is pretty nice. What did you say it was, Eina?"
"The Guild headquarters," she spoke plainly as she watched Simon loop the goggles around his head and lift them to his hair. Then he simply placed the sunglasses on his forehead. And they just...stayed there. She watched, waiting for them to fall but nothing happened.
Simon nodded as he looked around the room. A low whistle escaped his lips, "Got it. And you're supposed to be Bell's advisor or something, right?"
"That I am," she glanced sidelong at the white-haired adventurer in question. One eyebrow slowly rose as she stared at him, "And I'd like to know why he thought it was a good idea to come here in such a state."
Bell shrunk back into his chair under Eina's piercing gaze. Tears started to well up in the corners of his eyes, but Simon leaned forward and waved his hand through the air, "Eh, cut the kid some slack. He was just really excited to get here. Especially after he managed to bring that home."
Simon pointed a finger toward the magic stone sitting on the table. All eyes were drawn to the large purple crystal that released a dull glow into the room. It was the size of Bell's palm and almost as long as his arm. A stone of its size would be worth quite a large sum of money. Considering that, it made some sense that Bell had forgotten about the blood covering his body at the time. For a low-level adventurer like him, that was as good as finding an untapped gold mine.
Eina's frown softened and she leaned back in her chair. She adjusted the glasses on her face as she spoke, "I suppose you have a point."
Bell pulled himself from his seat, his eyes filling with hope.
"But that doesn't completely excuse you. Be more careful next time, alright?"
"Ye-Yes, Ms. Eina," Bell said, nodding his head up and down as fast as he could.
Eina gave him a big smile before turning her attention back to Simon. The man was staring at her with an intense gaze. His eyes were narrowed and they seemed to run up and down her body. She was already starting to feel a sense of disgust and exasperation, but masked it behind practiced professionalism, "Is there something you needed, Simon?"
"Yeah. Eina? What exactly are you? Cause you look human, but have those ears. Are you a beastman?"
Eina was temporarily stunned. Her elvish ancestry was obvious to anyone who looked at her, after all. How could he not know that? And why would he confuse her with an animal person? For a moment, she didn't know how to react and just stared at Simon with a blank look on her face.
"Mr. Simon! That was rude. And Ms. Eina is half-human and half-elf. You can tell from her ears," Bell suddenly said, leaning onto the table while staring at Simon.
Simon stretched his chin and looked bashful, "Uh, sorry. But I'm not gonna find out by just staring at her, am I? Better to just ask her for the answer. And I told you to not call me Mr. Simon's fine."
"Still, you should just ask someone that. I'm sorry, Ms. Eina. Mr...I mean, Simon is...new around here."
Eina's confusion only grew as she looked between the two of them. She shook her head and then cleared her throat to help center her focus. When she had herself under control, she placed both hands on the table in front of her. Then she spoke in an even tone, "How about you two tell me what happened in the Dungeon today? From the beginning, please."
And so they did. Bell told Eina everything that had happened up until Simon had saved him, and Simon took over from there. The two kept their stories as straight as possible, having gone over what they would say before they made it to the Guild. At first, Eina's facial expression got more and more upset as Bell described the events that led to him almost dying to a minotaur. But after Simon finished describing his brief part in the tale, her expression changed to curiosity.
"Hold on," Eina held up a hand to get their attention. She met Simon's gaze as she spoke, "Can you go back a bit? To when you fought the minotaur?"
Simon shrugged, "Sure. I was running along, trying to find the source of that scream. Ended up above Bell while he was about to get stepped on. I jumped off, aimed toward the monster, then kicked it in the face hard enough to break one of its horns. It fell over but wasn't done yet. So I got out my drill here-"
Simon grabbed the item in question from around his neck, holding it up for all to see, "-and ran right at it. I parried its attack, jumped up, stabbed it in the face, and blew its head off."
Simon mimed his takedown of the minotaur, a wide grin on his face. Bell was looking up at him with a small smile of his own. Eina stared in complete bewilderment. After a few seconds of silence, she spoke again, "I see. And where did you say you came from?"
"Uh...that's kind of complicated," Simon let his drill fall while rubbing the back of his neck, "And a long story. But I can tell you that I woke up in the Dungeon and that ended up finding Bell."
Eina turned to the boy in question for confirmation. Bell nodded, "It's true, Ms. Eina. In fact, there's more to it than just that. He...He doesn't know what Levels are. Or Falna. Or, as you saw, elves. I don't think he's from Orario."
"But then what-wait...he...Simon...you don't know what Falna is?"
Simon shrugged, "I kind of do. Bell filled me in on the basics. It's a blessing that makes you stronger, right?"
"Yes. But you didn't know that before he told you?"
"Yep."
"Then...do you have a Falna?"
"Nope."
Silence filled the air for a long time. It was quiet enough that you could hear a pin drop.
Then Eina slammed her hands onto the table, voice cracking as she yelled at him, "How is that possible?!"
Bell nearly fell out of his seat, completely shocked at Eina's response. Simon, on the other hand, merely smiled at her question. He raised a hand and started counting off his fingers, "Some martial arts training, my trusty drill here, a little bit of luck, and fighting spirit."
Eina's expression just got more incredulous at Simon's explanation, "You're joking."
Simon shook his head, "Nope. That's it. Nothing more, nothing less. Besides, it's not even the biggest thing I've ever fought."
"You've fought bigger things than a minotaur, Simon?" Bell asked, eyes widening as he stared at the older man.
Simon smiled, "Damn straight. If you want, I'll tell you about some of them when we leave here, Bell."
"Y-Yes, please!" Bell shook his head up and down furiously, Eina's scary face forgotten as he thought about hearing Simon's stories.
The table rocking got both of their attention. Bell got up and ran to Eina's side, the half-elf having face-planted into the table. Simon did the same, rushing to Eina's left and helping Bell lift the woman into a sitting position. She took a deep breath in and addressed them while putting her glasses back on, "Thank you. Both of you. Ow."
"Do you need me to get you anything, Ms. Eina?"
"No, Bell, it's alright. Please sit, both of you," after sharing a look, Simon and Bell did as the half-elf asked. Once they were back in their seats, Eina focused an angry glare at Bell, "And, Bell, why exactly were you in the fifth floor where a minotaur was? What have I been telling you ever since you started solo adventuring?"
Bell flinched and hung his head as he spoke, "Uh, that adventurers shouldn't go on adventures."
Silence filled the room as Eina glared at the rookie adventurer. Bell avoided her eyes out of shame. They both knew exactly what she meant. He was a low-level, solo adventurer. His best bet was to stick to the upper floors of the Dungeon and not go any deeper than that. If he did, he'd die. Just like what had happened today. Going on an "adventurer" had nearly got him killed.
However...
"Don't think I can agree with that statement, Eina."
Eina's gaze shot to the other occupant of the room, while Bell stiffened in his seat. Both turned their eyes to Simon, and the older man crossed his arms while staring Eina down. There was no fear in his voice despite the glare that Eina leveled his way, "I get what you're doing. You're telling Bell to be careful and not try to do anything reckless that will get him killed down there, right?"
Eina silently nodded, wondering what Simon was getting at. Simon leaned forward in his seat, "Yes, taking risks is dangerous. But if you're constantly refusing to do something because it's dangerous, then you'll never get stronger. You'll stay stuck in the same place. And people aren't meant to do that. They're meant to advance, getting better at what they do every second they do it. It's how people grow."
"Are you suggesting that I let Bell go into the lower floors and die to the other monsters there?"
"Nope. But what I am suggesting is that your advice shouldn't be a golden rule. Adventurers should go on adventurers. They should just be as ready as they can be for it."
Simon and Eina stared each other down for a few moments. Bell could only look between the two of them with a confused expression on his face. He didn't know why, but he felt like the two of them were having a silent argument. And that it involved him. The tension in the room got to the point that he couldn't even say anything. It wasn't until Eina called his name that the spell was broken.
"Bell, could you go get me something to drink, please? And something for Simon as well?"
"Water would be good if you can, Bell," Simon said, looking over and smiling at the young boy. Bell said yes, got up from his seat, then quickly made his way out of the room. He stopped at the door to look back at the two of them for a moment. Then he walked out, making sure to close the door behind him.
Eina pushed her glasses up onto her nose and spoke with a serious tone to her voice, "I will ask you this but once, Simon. What are your intentions with the adventurer known as Bell Cranel?"
Simon matched the calculating glare Eina sent his way with a stern one of his own. The two were silent as they stared each other down, their wills clashing as neither backed down. Then Simon broke the tension in a way that Eina didn't expect.
His lips curled into a bright, genuine smile, "I don't have any."
Eina blinked, "Huh?"
Simon starts to scratch the back of his neck, "I mean, I just met the kid. He seems pretty nice though. And I can tell he's got spirit in him. So, I figured I'd hang with him for a little bit. If he wants me around anyway. Really, I'm just kind of fumbling around. Trying to get my footing in this new place. Don't really have any long-term plans but that's never stopped me before. And it won't stop me now. Gotta keep on moving forward, even if we don't know what's ahead of us."
He started to laugh, a proud and happy tenor leaving his throat. As he did, Eina focused on his face and looked for any hint of deceit. While he did say he didn't have any intentions, she did know of a few people who could lie with smiles on their faces. And while she wasn't a god, she could tell a few things about how a person really felt based on observation. But as she stared at the laughing man, a strange sense of nostalgia overtook her. She felt like she had seen his face before. Not as someone she had met before, but the general feeling it gave her. The confident and radiant smile, the bright eyes always looking forward, his sharp yet kind gaze and-
Her eyes widened as the realization hit her like a ton of bricks. He...he reminded her of Bell.
She shook her head to clear those thoughts then cleared her throat. Adjusting her glasses yet again she continued, "Regardless, I hope you understand that you won't be getting any vals for defeating the minotaur. If you do not know what a Falna is, then that means you're likely unregistered with the Guild. Thus you are not allowed to use any of our services."
"Vals? Oh, right. Bell said that was your word for money around here. Yeah, I don't care. Let Bell take all of it. I've got everything I need right here," he beat a fist against his chest with a confident smile.
Eina hummed then crossed her arms, "Fine. Lastly, please refrain from putting too many wild ideas into Bell's head. If he ends up dying in the Dungeon because of something you told him, you'll be the one to take the blame."
Simon stared at the half-elf with a blank look on his face. Then his lips curled into a knowing smile, "Ah. I gotcha. Don't worry. Long as I'm here, your crush won't be in any danger."
"Good that-wait what?!"
The door opened before Simon or Eina could continue. Bell stepped through with a tray held in both hands. A cool glass of water sat on the left, while a steaming cup of tea sat on the right. He looked around the tray at the two and spoke, "Sorry I'm late! There was a line. What did I miss?"
Eina glared daggers at Simon, daring him to continue his original train of thought.
Simon just chuckled, "Oh, nothing, Bell. Just that Eina here really, really likes you. A lot."
"Oh, is that so? Uh, th-thank you very much, Ms. Eina," Bell smiled at the half-elf.
She continued to glare at Simon who ignored her.
Simon flinched as the boy he had rescued apologized for the fifth time in a row. He started to scratch at his cheek, ignoring the blood that still covered his body. A chuckle left his throat as he spoke, "Uh, you said that already. And, I told you before. You don't have to apologize for trying to run away. I'd just like to know why? I didn't scare you did I?"
"No!" the boy shouted as he shot up from the sitting position he was just in. He rapidly shook his head while keeping his red eyes locked on Simon, "You didn't do anything wrong! I'm apologizing because I tried to run after you just rescued me! It was rude of me to do that to a fellow adventurer that just saved my life and I-"
"Hold on. Senior adventurer?" Simon raised a hand to get the kid to stop talking. He clammed up instantly upon seeing Simon's hand. Which only made him feel worse. The two of them were still in the room where he had killed that monster. Bell was sitting on his knees while Simon was cross-legged. The monster's body was still on the ground behind them, but Simon paid it no mind. Nor did he care about how the entire room was caked in blood and viscera. He instead focused his efforts on the boy he had saved. Which is what led them to their current situation.
Simon shook his head and let his hand fall, "Don't worry about it. Let's just start from the beginning. Are you hurt anywhere? None of that blood is yours, right?"
Temporarily stunned, the boy started to slowly shake his head, "N-No. I'm fine. He didn't hit me at all."
Some of the tension left Simon's shoulders, "Good. Next, how about you tell me your name? Wouldn't want to keep calling you, well, 'you'."
"It's...it's Bell. Bell Cranel."
Simon thrust his right hand out to Bell, "Good to meetcha! My name's Simon. Simon the Digger."
Bell looked from Simon's smiling face to his outstretched. Still nervous, he reached out with his left hand and gripped Simon's. Simon's firm confident grip contrasted with Bell's loose and unsure one. When the two separated, Bell stared at his left hand with a bit of awe in his eyes. Simon's eyebrows rose in confusion. Which only got worse when Bell started flexing his fingers while nodding to himself about something or other. After getting Bell's attention by clearing his throat, Simon continued, "Anyway, mind telling me why you tried to run away after I saved you? I didn't scare you or anything, did I?"
Bell's eyes went wide as he swiftly shook his head, "No! No! It's just I wasn't sure what to do or say and I was still trying to...to...uh..."
Bell went quiet when he saw Simon chuckling at his reactions. Simon put a hand on the younger boy's shoulder and squeezed it comfortingly, "Well, glad that I didn't drive you away. Wouldn't be able to say a job well done if I ended up scaring off the person I was trying to help."
Simon's chuckle turned into a full laugh. Bell, not entirely sure what was going on, responded with a nervous laugh of his own. They stopped a few seconds later, an awkward silence falling over them as they both went silent. Simon broke it by jerking a finger behind him, "So, mind telling me how you ended up nearly getting crushed by that thing?"
"Huh? Oh right! The magic stone!" Bell nearly slipped as he got to his feet. He ran passed Simon, pulling his knife out of his back and rushing towards where the monster fell. He got to his knees next to the hulking beast's body and aimed his knife where its heart would be. Confused, Simon stood up and walked to the kneeling boy. He watched as the young man tried to stab through the monster's chest with his knife, only for it to get caught in the muscles without getting very far.
"What?" Bell said, pulling his knife out and stabbing at the monster again to no avail. His blows became more frustrated as he kept trying to pierce its hide, but wasn't getting anywhere. He pulled his knife back as he spoke, "Its..its hide's too thick. I can't through it with this. Aw, and this would've given us a lot of money we could've used!"
He hung his head dejectedly as if he could see all the profits from this little adventure of his slipping through his fingers. Simon walked over and crouched next to Bell. Then he tapped him on the shoulder, "Don't give up yet. You can get through."
"Huh?" Bell looked over at Simon, confusion plain as day on his face.
Simon jerked his head at the dead beast, "Keep going. It's not over unless you give up. Whatever you want is in that...uh...what is this thing?"
"You don't know?" Simon shaking his head seemed to surprise Bell more than what he said about getting at the monster's chest. Bell looked from Simon to the dead beast, "How do you not know what a minotaur is? Every level one adventurer knows to stay far away from them and...wait. You attacked a minotaur despite not knowing what it was?!"
Simon nodded without a hint of regret, "Yeah."
"...Who...who are you?"
Simon grinned, reaching up to tap on the sunglasses on his head, "Told you already. Simon The Digger. Now, back to the task at hand. That minotaur? It has something you need, right?"
"Yea-yeah but hold on-"
"Then don't stop here. Keep going at it."
"But...I can't. My knife won't cut it."
"You don't need to use your knife. You've got something way better," his eyes moved toward Bell's left hand. Bell followed his gaze and lifted his palm. Inside he found the small drill that Simon had tossed him before.
Bell held the drill up to the light, "This? But it's...it's so small. It won't get through this thing's hide."
"Don't underestimate it just cause it's small. It's still a drill. And if there's one thing drills excel at, it's breaking through a hard obstacle," Simon felt a strange bit of nostalgia as he spoke. For a moment, he felt like he was talking to a kid who doesn't know what Spiral Power is. Then again, considering he was supposed to be way older than he looked right now, he supposed the comparison wasn't just hyperbole.
Bell didn't look he bought into Simon's words. Simon kept grinning, waving a hand at the dead minotaur, "There's no harm in trying, is there?"
Bell pursed his lips before turning back to the minotaur's body. He ignored the sharp smell of blood and death in the room, focusing his all on the spot where its magic stone should be. Taking a breath he holds the drill in his right hand and places its tip where he was stabbing with the knife. While shallow the wound did make a good hole to start from. Once the drill was there, he started to turn it with his hand and...nothing happened. He got a bit further in but other than that-
"It's not working," Bell said as he turned to Simon.
Simon nodded, "Of course, it won't work the first time. Hardly anything does. The point is to keep going. Keep on drilling. Cause once you've dug through the last barrier, you've won."
Simon placed a hand on his chin as he looked at the minotaur's body. Then he reached out and placed his hand over Bell's, "Here. Let me give you a hand. Start turning it counter-clockwise."
Bell followed Simon's instructions. He made note of how, despite his rough looks, his hands were surprisingly soft. And his grip was rather gentle. Careful even as they started to drill through the minotaur's chest.
And drill they did. It was slow going. Lots of blood started seeping out of the wound as they got deeper and deeper into it. But as he kept going, Bell noticed it started getting...easier. The minotaur's muscles and bones didn't break in one rotation or anything. But they weren't as hard to break through as they were with his knife. In addition, the hole didn't just get deeper. It got wider. It was the size of his hand by the time Simon let his hand go. He hardly even noticed. He was too engrossed with getting at the magic stone.
Bell was elbow deep in the minotaur when he finally strike something solid. Blinking, he pulled his arm out and reached into the hole he made with his left hand. As the minotaur's body disintegrated, he pulled the large purple crystal out into the open air.
"I...I did it," he gasped out, barely convinced that he managed it himself.
He jerked forward at a sudden weight against his back. Looking to the side, he saw Simon patting him on the back. His face was split into a proud smile that reached his eyes, "Told ya you could do it! And now you've got what you were looking for. Great job, Bell! Knew you had it in ya!"
"Th-Tha-Thanks, Simon," Bell said, his lips quirking up into an awkward but genuine smile. He looked at the heavy magic stone in his hand, mind already thinking of how happy his Goddess would be to see the money he got from the exchange. But a stray thought made his expression fall. He looked over at Simon and held the magic stone out to him, "Oh, right. Sorry, Simon. This is yours. You killed the minotaur so-"
"Keep it."
Bell blinked in surprise. Then he looked over at Simon to see if he was being serious. The smile on Simon's face told him he was. Bell pointed a finger at the magic stone, then at himself, "Re-Really? But...you killed it?"
"Yeah. So?" Simon shrugged, "You're the one that did the work to get it out. You should take it. Besides, I wouldn't know what to do with it anyway."
Simon's last words went over Bell's head as he focused on the fact that Simon was just giving him a valuable magic stone. For free. When Simon didn't say he was lying, Bell got to his feet and bowed deeply to the older man, "Thank you so much! For saving me and for giving me this!"
Simon stood up and started chuckling, "No problem. Now, then, hmm...mind doing me a favor, Bell?"
"Of course! Anything," Bell said as he straightened himself up.
"Do you know what this place is? And the way out of here?"
Bell tilted his head in confusion, "You mean the way to the Guild?"
"The Guild?"
"You don't...wait...Simon...how did you get here? To the fifth floor? In fact...where did you come from when you kicked the minotaur?"
"Oh, from up there."
Simon turned around and pointed at a spot above them. Bell followed his finger to see a cliff hanging over the building they were in. At the top was a ledge that had a direct shot toward the minotaur if someone had jumped off it. Only issue?
"That's...that's at least ten meters high," Bell said.
"Yep," Simon declared.
"...You jumped from ten meters up. And kicked the minotaur in the face."
"Uh-huh."
"...Simon? Sorry if this is rude but...what's your current level?"
"Level?"
Eina Tulle's pointed ears twitched. The female half-elf receptionist looked up from the book she held in her hand. Her black guild uniform moved with her thin frame as she looked towards the entrance to the guild. Numerous adventurers were walking through the doors, many having come back from their recent trips to the Dungeon. Humans, beastmen, dwarves, and more marched in and toward the Exchange. Some with their heads held high, others with their shoulders slumped and feet dragging. It was clear to all who had had a fruitful trip with a single look.
Eina's emerald eyes scanned the crowd as she looked for a familiar head of white hair. She swore she had heard the light voice of the fourteen-year-old adventurer that was in her care. She placed her book under the counter she stood at while leaning over it with both hands. Her eyes narrowed until she finally spotted the starting adventurer. Her smile at his safe return morphed into a confused frown as she saw that he wasn't alone. Walking right along with him was another adventurer. At least, Eina assumed he was an adventurer. He had to have come out of the Dungeon if he was with Bell.
He stood at least twenty-three celch taller than the fourteen-year-old boy. A pair of red goggles sat atop his dark blue hair, and underneath those were a set of pure red sunglasses. She wasn't sure how they managed to not fall off his head, as she couldn't see them holding onto anything from where she was. The rest of his outfit was equally strange. He wore no armor save for two metal belts around his waist and five black bands around his stomach. The legs of his dark blue pants ended at long black and red boots that matched the coat flowing around his shoulders. His chest was fully exposed save for a single small object that hung from a string around his neck.
Eina frowned, watching the man as his head kept swiveling around. His eyes seemed to observe and take in everything around him. From the floor, to the ceiling, to the magic stone lights. But the main thing that he focused on was the people. His eyes would follow after many of the non-human adventurers that passed him and Bell by. A look of fascination was on his face the entire time. Eina started to wonder whether they had an adventurer like him record, but then she took notice of something else. Something that only occurred to her after Bell and the newcomer made it to her counter.
That being that they were both covered in blood.
And tracking it to the guild.
"I'm back, Ms. Eina!" Bell said as he triumphantly held up the large purple magic stone he got from the minotaur blood dripping from his sleeve onto the counter. He turned to the newcomer with a smile, "And I found this person in the Dungeon."
"Hey there. My name's Simon," the now-named Simon spoke without a care in the world, more blood falling onto the floor.
Eina was speechless. As were all the other guild employees and even some of the adventurers.
Then someone screamed.
"EEEEEKKKKK!"
"You know, Bell, after getting covered in blood, you should at least take a shower before coming in here..."
Bell hung his head in shame in his seat, "Sorry, Ms. Eina."
After watching the boy repent for a few moments, she turned her attention to the third occupant of the room. The newly introduced Simon. He was sitting next to Bell in another chair still drying his hair off with a white towel. When he finally finished, he pulled it over his head and onto his neck while shaking his hair out. He let out a thankful sigh before reaching towards the table between them. He spoke as he grabbed up his glasses and goggles, "That felt great. Don't know when the last time I had a shower was. This place is pretty nice. What did you say it was, Eina?"
"The Guild headquarters," she spoke plainly as she watched Simon loop the goggles around his head and lift them to his hair. Then he simply placed the sunglasses on his forehead. And they just...stayed there. She watched, waiting for them to fall but nothing happened.
Simon nodded as he looked around the room. A low whistle escaped his lips, "Got it. And you're supposed to be Bell's advisor or something, right?"
"That I am," she glanced sidelong at the white-haired adventurer in question. One eyebrow slowly rose as she stared at him, "And I'd like to know why he thought it was a good idea to come here in such a state."
Bell shrunk back into his chair under Eina's piercing gaze. Tears started to well up in the corners of his eyes, but Simon leaned forward and waved his hand through the air, "Eh, cut the kid some slack. He was just really excited to get here. Especially after he managed to bring that home."
Simon pointed a finger toward the magic stone sitting on the table. All eyes were drawn to the large purple crystal that released a dull glow into the room. It was the size of Bell's palm and almost as long as his arm. A stone of its size would be worth quite a large sum of money. Considering that, it made some sense that Bell had forgotten about the blood covering his body at the time. For a low-level adventurer like him, that was as good as finding an untapped gold mine.
Eina's frown softened and she leaned back in her chair. She adjusted the glasses on her face as she spoke, "I suppose you have a point."
Bell pulled himself from his seat, his eyes filling with hope.
"But that doesn't completely excuse you. Be more careful next time, alright?"
"Ye-Yes, Ms. Eina," Bell said, nodding his head up and down as fast as he could.
Eina gave him a big smile before turning her attention back to Simon. The man was staring at her with an intense gaze. His eyes were narrowed and they seemed to run up and down her body. She was already starting to feel a sense of disgust and exasperation, but masked it behind practiced professionalism, "Is there something you needed, Simon?"
"Yeah. Eina? What exactly are you? Cause you look human, but have those ears. Are you a beastman?"
Eina was temporarily stunned. Her elvish ancestry was obvious to anyone who looked at her, after all. How could he not know that? And why would he confuse her with an animal person? For a moment, she didn't know how to react and just stared at Simon with a blank look on her face.
"Mr. Simon! That was rude. And Ms. Eina is half-human and half-elf. You can tell from her ears," Bell suddenly said, leaning onto the table while staring at Simon.
Simon stretched his chin and looked bashful, "Uh, sorry. But I'm not gonna find out by just staring at her, am I? Better to just ask her for the answer. And I told you to not call me Mr. Simon's fine."
"Still, you should just ask someone that. I'm sorry, Ms. Eina. Mr...I mean, Simon is...new around here."
Eina's confusion only grew as she looked between the two of them. She shook her head and then cleared her throat to help center her focus. When she had herself under control, she placed both hands on the table in front of her. Then she spoke in an even tone, "How about you two tell me what happened in the Dungeon today? From the beginning, please."
And so they did. Bell told Eina everything that had happened up until Simon had saved him, and Simon took over from there. The two kept their stories as straight as possible, having gone over what they would say before they made it to the Guild. At first, Eina's facial expression got more and more upset as Bell described the events that led to him almost dying to a minotaur. But after Simon finished describing his brief part in the tale, her expression changed to curiosity.
"Hold on," Eina held up a hand to get their attention. She met Simon's gaze as she spoke, "Can you go back a bit? To when you fought the minotaur?"
Simon shrugged, "Sure. I was running along, trying to find the source of that scream. Ended up above Bell while he was about to get stepped on. I jumped off, aimed toward the monster, then kicked it in the face hard enough to break one of its horns. It fell over but wasn't done yet. So I got out my drill here-"
Simon grabbed the item in question from around his neck, holding it up for all to see, "-and ran right at it. I parried its attack, jumped up, stabbed it in the face, and blew its head off."
Simon mimed his takedown of the minotaur, a wide grin on his face. Bell was looking up at him with a small smile of his own. Eina stared in complete bewilderment. After a few seconds of silence, she spoke again, "I see. And where did you say you came from?"
"Uh...that's kind of complicated," Simon let his drill fall while rubbing the back of his neck, "And a long story. But I can tell you that I woke up in the Dungeon and that ended up finding Bell."
Eina turned to the boy in question for confirmation. Bell nodded, "It's true, Ms. Eina. In fact, there's more to it than just that. He...He doesn't know what Levels are. Or Falna. Or, as you saw, elves. I don't think he's from Orario."
"But then what-wait...he...Simon...you don't know what Falna is?"
Simon shrugged, "I kind of do. Bell filled me in on the basics. It's a blessing that makes you stronger, right?"
"Yes. But you didn't know that before he told you?"
"Yep."
"Then...do you have a Falna?"
"Nope."
Silence filled the air for a long time. It was quiet enough that you could hear a pin drop.
Then Eina slammed her hands onto the table, voice cracking as she yelled at him, "How is that possible?!"
Bell nearly fell out of his seat, completely shocked at Eina's response. Simon, on the other hand, merely smiled at her question. He raised a hand and started counting off his fingers, "Some martial arts training, my trusty drill here, a little bit of luck, and fighting spirit."
Eina's expression just got more incredulous at Simon's explanation, "You're joking."
Simon shook his head, "Nope. That's it. Nothing more, nothing less. Besides, it's not even the biggest thing I've ever fought."
"You've fought bigger things than a minotaur, Simon?" Bell asked, eyes widening as he stared at the older man.
Simon smiled, "Damn straight. If you want, I'll tell you about some of them when we leave here, Bell."
"Y-Yes, please!" Bell shook his head up and down furiously, Eina's scary face forgotten as he thought about hearing Simon's stories.
The table rocking got both of their attention. Bell got up and ran to Eina's side, the half-elf having face-planted into the table. Simon did the same, rushing to Eina's left and helping Bell lift the woman into a sitting position. She took a deep breath in and addressed them while putting her glasses back on, "Thank you. Both of you. Ow."
"Do you need me to get you anything, Ms. Eina?"
"No, Bell, it's alright. Please sit, both of you," after sharing a look, Simon and Bell did as the half-elf asked. Once they were back in their seats, Eina focused an angry glare at Bell, "And, Bell, why exactly were you in the fifth floor where a minotaur was? What have I been telling you ever since you started solo adventuring?"
Bell flinched and hung his head as he spoke, "Uh, that adventurers shouldn't go on adventures."
Silence filled the room as Eina glared at the rookie adventurer. Bell avoided her eyes out of shame. They both knew exactly what she meant. He was a low-level, solo adventurer. His best bet was to stick to the upper floors of the Dungeon and not go any deeper than that. If he did, he'd die. Just like what had happened today. Going on an "adventurer" had nearly got him killed.
However...
"Don't think I can agree with that statement, Eina."
Eina's gaze shot to the other occupant of the room, while Bell stiffened in his seat. Both turned their eyes to Simon, and the older man crossed his arms while staring Eina down. There was no fear in his voice despite the glare that Eina leveled his way, "I get what you're doing. You're telling Bell to be careful and not try to do anything reckless that will get him killed down there, right?"
Eina silently nodded, wondering what Simon was getting at. Simon leaned forward in his seat, "Yes, taking risks is dangerous. But if you're constantly refusing to do something because it's dangerous, then you'll never get stronger. You'll stay stuck in the same place. And people aren't meant to do that. They're meant to advance, getting better at what they do every second they do it. It's how people grow."
"Are you suggesting that I let Bell go into the lower floors and die to the other monsters there?"
"Nope. But what I am suggesting is that your advice shouldn't be a golden rule. Adventurers should go on adventurers. They should just be as ready as they can be for it."
Simon and Eina stared each other down for a few moments. Bell could only look between the two of them with a confused expression on his face. He didn't know why, but he felt like the two of them were having a silent argument. And that it involved him. The tension in the room got to the point that he couldn't even say anything. It wasn't until Eina called his name that the spell was broken.
"Bell, could you go get me something to drink, please? And something for Simon as well?"
"Water would be good if you can, Bell," Simon said, looking over and smiling at the young boy. Bell said yes, got up from his seat, then quickly made his way out of the room. He stopped at the door to look back at the two of them for a moment. Then he walked out, making sure to close the door behind him.
Eina pushed her glasses up onto her nose and spoke with a serious tone to her voice, "I will ask you this but once, Simon. What are your intentions with the adventurer known as Bell Cranel?"
Simon matched the calculating glare Eina sent his way with a stern one of his own. The two were silent as they stared each other down, their wills clashing as neither backed down. Then Simon broke the tension in a way that Eina didn't expect.
His lips curled into a bright, genuine smile, "I don't have any."
Eina blinked, "Huh?"
Simon starts to scratch the back of his neck, "I mean, I just met the kid. He seems pretty nice though. And I can tell he's got spirit in him. So, I figured I'd hang with him for a little bit. If he wants me around anyway. Really, I'm just kind of fumbling around. Trying to get my footing in this new place. Don't really have any long-term plans but that's never stopped me before. And it won't stop me now. Gotta keep on moving forward, even if we don't know what's ahead of us."
He started to laugh, a proud and happy tenor leaving his throat. As he did, Eina focused on his face and looked for any hint of deceit. While he did say he didn't have any intentions, she did know of a few people who could lie with smiles on their faces. And while she wasn't a god, she could tell a few things about how a person really felt based on observation. But as she stared at the laughing man, a strange sense of nostalgia overtook her. She felt like she had seen his face before. Not as someone she had met before, but the general feeling it gave her. The confident and radiant smile, the bright eyes always looking forward, his sharp yet kind gaze and-
Her eyes widened as the realization hit her like a ton of bricks. He...he reminded her of Bell.
She shook her head to clear those thoughts then cleared her throat. Adjusting her glasses yet again she continued, "Regardless, I hope you understand that you won't be getting any vals for defeating the minotaur. If you do not know what a Falna is, then that means you're likely unregistered with the Guild. Thus you are not allowed to use any of our services."
"Vals? Oh, right. Bell said that was your word for money around here. Yeah, I don't care. Let Bell take all of it. I've got everything I need right here," he beat a fist against his chest with a confident smile.
Eina hummed then crossed her arms, "Fine. Lastly, please refrain from putting too many wild ideas into Bell's head. If he ends up dying in the Dungeon because of something you told him, you'll be the one to take the blame."
Simon stared at the half-elf with a blank look on his face. Then his lips curled into a knowing smile, "Ah. I gotcha. Don't worry. Long as I'm here, your crush won't be in any danger."
"Good that-wait what?!"
The door opened before Simon or Eina could continue. Bell stepped through with a tray held in both hands. A cool glass of water sat on the left, while a steaming cup of tea sat on the right. He looked around the tray at the two and spoke, "Sorry I'm late! There was a line. What did I miss?"
Eina glared daggers at Simon, daring him to continue his original train of thought.
Simon just chuckled, "Oh, nothing, Bell. Just that Eina here really, really likes you. A lot."
"Oh, is that so? Uh, th-thank you very much, Ms. Eina," Bell smiled at the half-elf.
She continued to glare at Simon who ignored her.
Last edited:
Chapter 3.1
LinkOnScepter
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Simon repeatedly blinked as he and Bell exited the Guild headquarters. As his eyes adjusted to the sun shining down from above, he craned his neck up to get a better look at the new land he found himself in. When his eyes fully adjusted he couldn't help but stare at what he saw.
Bell looked up at Simon with a grin, "Yeah. That was my first reaction too. Welcome to the Labyrinth City, Orario."
Bell waved a hand toward the city laid out in front of them. Crowds filled the cobblestone streets in front of them. Pastoral wooden buildings sat side by side on either side of the street. Some had signs above their doors with words or symbols drawn onto them. Others had people or other races coming and going from their doors.
But one of the main things that caught Simon's attention were the various types of creatures that walked side by side with humans. The ones with animal features didn't bother him much. They just reminded him of the beastmen from his world. The ones that surprised him were the squat humanoids barely taller than his thighs but built like brick houses, the ones with thin frames and pointy ears like Eina, and the ones that were taller than the squat humans but not as tall as regular humans. For a second, he was shocked to see so many types of non-humans in one place. And if what Eina said about her being a half-elf was true, then some of these guys weren't beastmen.
His surprise must've shown on his face, because Bell called out to him, "Simon?"
At Bell's words, Simon shook his surprise off. He turned to the shorter boy and smiled, "Ah, sorry about that, Bell. Just a bit shocked to see this many...um...can I clarify some of this stuff with you?"
At Bell's nod, Simon pointed towards the non-humans in the crowd, "So, the ones with pointy ears are elves like Eina, right?"
"Uh-huh. Though, hers are a bit rounded near the top. It's how you can tell she's a half-elf. The others are full elves."
"And the ones that look like animals are called beastmen, right?"
"Yes. Or animal-people. Or therianthropes. Have you seen beastmen before, Simon?"
"Sort of. What about the shorter guys?'
"Oh, those are dwarves, gnomes, and prums. They're all shorter than humans but each is different in their own way."
Simon nodded and hummed in thought. His hand went to his chin as he considered Bell's words. He briefly thought about Viral and the rest of his friends. Wondering what they would think if they were with him. Yoko would probably start seeing if teaching is a profession around here, while Viral would probably go right back into that Dungeon. He wouldn't want to stay still while there was fighting to do. Simon chuckled while looking up at the sky. His chuckle caught Bell's attention, "Did you have beastmen where you're from, Simon?"
"Yeah. Though they were kind of different from the ones you're familiar with. They looked way more animal-like."
Bell leaned closer, curiosity starting to get the better of him, "Really? And where is your village anyway?"
"It wasn't a village. More like a city."
"Like Orario?"
"Kind of. But the buildings were taller. And made of metal."
Bell's eyes widened at Simon's words. Nervousness filled his tone as he asked, "Uh, how tall?"
Simon hummed in thought while he examined the buildings. He frowned when he realized the majority were hardly taller than two stories. He needed something taller to help Bell visualize what he meant. He glanced behind him and then smiled when he found what he was looking for. He turned around and pointed at the large white tower that the Guild sat at the bottom of, "Some of them came up to about half that tower in height."
Bell followed Simon's finger up.
And up.
And up.
Eventually, he nearly fell over onto his backside. Both from trying to crane his head that high and from the shock that filled his body. Simon was pointing at the half point of Babel Tower. A tower that supposedly reached into Tenkai, the realm of the Gods A place hardly any adventurers ever get to see in their lifetimes. And Simon is saying that the people in his city built structures that were close to it in height. His awe of Simon increased tenfold as he looked from the older man to the Tower and back.
Then Simon let his arm fall to his side and smiled, "But, enough about me. I'm still new around here, so how about you take me on a tour of this place? I'd love to see what else there is to do around here."
Bell found himself shaken from his temporary stupor by Simon's complete disregard for what he just said. As if saying that where he's from people can build things that can rival Babel Tower is just a fact of life. Bell shook his head, "Wait, no, you have to explain that. What do you mean it was that tall?"
Simon rubs the back of his head and looks sheepish, "Uh, well, that would take a while to explain. I'll tell ya all about it later. Right now, I think we should go find something to do with all that money you just got. What did you call it? Vals?"
Simon pointed toward the bag on Bell's hip. Bell followed his finger toward the bulging bag of money. His confusion was replaced by happiness and awe as he remembered what he got from the Exchange for the minotaur's magic stone.
Fifteen thousand vals.
That was the most amount of money he had ever had since he came to Orario. The fact that Simon just gave it all to him made him extremely happy. So much so, that he had originally planned to go tell-
"Oh right!" Bell shook his head and started heading down onto East Main Street. He turned back to Simon and said, "Sorry, Simon. I can't show you around. I need to go meet someone important."
"OK. Then I'll come with you."
"Huh?"
Simon started following after Bell, shrugging as he came to the white-haired boy's side, "I'm new here. Might as well hang out with the one person I know. Only thing that makes sense."
"I...I guess," Bell agreed as he rubbed at his chin. He briefly questioned whether he should introduce Simon to his Goddess. But then he recalled what Simon had done for him in the Dungeon. It wouldn't be right to not at least let the two meet each other. Hestia would want to know who it was that saved his life after all. Making his mind up, Bell nodded to Simon and smiled, "Alright. Follow me. I'll introduce you to someone very important to me."
"Can't wait to meet them," Simon gave Bell a smile of his own, matching the boy's pace as the two walked down East Main Street.
"Goddess! I'm home!"
Simon's eyebrow rose as he heard Bell's greeting. The boy had led him to a run-down church at the edge of a cul-de-sac. The place was abandoned and in complete disrepair. Even the statue of the Goddess had fallen apart. Half her face was missing and there were holes all across her body. But he thought it looked pretty good. Not like he could judge. He had spent most of his life underground in caves, and he spent the end of it wandering around a desert. While it couldn't hold a candle to the cities of his world, it still had this cozy and homely feeling to it. Like the moment you stepped inside it instantly felt like home.
But his original comfort turned to confusion when he heard Bell call for a "Goddess". He had followed the kid into a basement, a place that wasn't that big but was enough for a small number of people. There was some furniture in here, indicating that Bell did live here. And, apparently, it was with someone else.
Before Simon could ask the boy anything, a person jumps to her feet from the sofa in the center of the room. It was a girl and the sight of her gave Simon pause for a moment. The best way he could describe her, was if someone took Nia when she was fourteen, changed her hair to black and eyes to blue, gave her twin ponytails on the sides of her head, then gave her Yoko's bust size. Simon's pause didn't last for long though. He swiftly regained his composure while the "Goddess" he supposed, moved to hug Bell. But that was when she finally noticed Simon as he stepped off the last stair.
The two stared each other down for a few moments. Simon felt the "Goddess'" gaze focus on him. As if she was scrutinizing every fiber of his being. He felt like she was trying to take his measure from a single glance at him. Make him lay everything he was bare before her with a single glare. A faint tension fell over him for a split second as the girl's blue eyes gained a sharp edge to them for but a moment.
His response...was to smile. Then he raised his hand and waved at her in greeting, "Hey there. Name's Simon. What's your name?"
The girl blinked.
Then she shook her head in shock.
Bell looked up at Simon with a grin, "Yeah. That was my first reaction too. Welcome to the Labyrinth City, Orario."
Bell waved a hand toward the city laid out in front of them. Crowds filled the cobblestone streets in front of them. Pastoral wooden buildings sat side by side on either side of the street. Some had signs above their doors with words or symbols drawn onto them. Others had people or other races coming and going from their doors.
But one of the main things that caught Simon's attention were the various types of creatures that walked side by side with humans. The ones with animal features didn't bother him much. They just reminded him of the beastmen from his world. The ones that surprised him were the squat humanoids barely taller than his thighs but built like brick houses, the ones with thin frames and pointy ears like Eina, and the ones that were taller than the squat humans but not as tall as regular humans. For a second, he was shocked to see so many types of non-humans in one place. And if what Eina said about her being a half-elf was true, then some of these guys weren't beastmen.
His surprise must've shown on his face, because Bell called out to him, "Simon?"
At Bell's words, Simon shook his surprise off. He turned to the shorter boy and smiled, "Ah, sorry about that, Bell. Just a bit shocked to see this many...um...can I clarify some of this stuff with you?"
At Bell's nod, Simon pointed towards the non-humans in the crowd, "So, the ones with pointy ears are elves like Eina, right?"
"Uh-huh. Though, hers are a bit rounded near the top. It's how you can tell she's a half-elf. The others are full elves."
"And the ones that look like animals are called beastmen, right?"
"Yes. Or animal-people. Or therianthropes. Have you seen beastmen before, Simon?"
"Sort of. What about the shorter guys?'
"Oh, those are dwarves, gnomes, and prums. They're all shorter than humans but each is different in their own way."
Simon nodded and hummed in thought. His hand went to his chin as he considered Bell's words. He briefly thought about Viral and the rest of his friends. Wondering what they would think if they were with him. Yoko would probably start seeing if teaching is a profession around here, while Viral would probably go right back into that Dungeon. He wouldn't want to stay still while there was fighting to do. Simon chuckled while looking up at the sky. His chuckle caught Bell's attention, "Did you have beastmen where you're from, Simon?"
"Yeah. Though they were kind of different from the ones you're familiar with. They looked way more animal-like."
Bell leaned closer, curiosity starting to get the better of him, "Really? And where is your village anyway?"
"It wasn't a village. More like a city."
"Like Orario?"
"Kind of. But the buildings were taller. And made of metal."
Bell's eyes widened at Simon's words. Nervousness filled his tone as he asked, "Uh, how tall?"
Simon hummed in thought while he examined the buildings. He frowned when he realized the majority were hardly taller than two stories. He needed something taller to help Bell visualize what he meant. He glanced behind him and then smiled when he found what he was looking for. He turned around and pointed at the large white tower that the Guild sat at the bottom of, "Some of them came up to about half that tower in height."
Bell followed Simon's finger up.
And up.
And up.
Eventually, he nearly fell over onto his backside. Both from trying to crane his head that high and from the shock that filled his body. Simon was pointing at the half point of Babel Tower. A tower that supposedly reached into Tenkai, the realm of the Gods A place hardly any adventurers ever get to see in their lifetimes. And Simon is saying that the people in his city built structures that were close to it in height. His awe of Simon increased tenfold as he looked from the older man to the Tower and back.
Then Simon let his arm fall to his side and smiled, "But, enough about me. I'm still new around here, so how about you take me on a tour of this place? I'd love to see what else there is to do around here."
Bell found himself shaken from his temporary stupor by Simon's complete disregard for what he just said. As if saying that where he's from people can build things that can rival Babel Tower is just a fact of life. Bell shook his head, "Wait, no, you have to explain that. What do you mean it was that tall?"
Simon rubs the back of his head and looks sheepish, "Uh, well, that would take a while to explain. I'll tell ya all about it later. Right now, I think we should go find something to do with all that money you just got. What did you call it? Vals?"
Simon pointed toward the bag on Bell's hip. Bell followed his finger toward the bulging bag of money. His confusion was replaced by happiness and awe as he remembered what he got from the Exchange for the minotaur's magic stone.
Fifteen thousand vals.
That was the most amount of money he had ever had since he came to Orario. The fact that Simon just gave it all to him made him extremely happy. So much so, that he had originally planned to go tell-
"Oh right!" Bell shook his head and started heading down onto East Main Street. He turned back to Simon and said, "Sorry, Simon. I can't show you around. I need to go meet someone important."
"OK. Then I'll come with you."
"Huh?"
Simon started following after Bell, shrugging as he came to the white-haired boy's side, "I'm new here. Might as well hang out with the one person I know. Only thing that makes sense."
"I...I guess," Bell agreed as he rubbed at his chin. He briefly questioned whether he should introduce Simon to his Goddess. But then he recalled what Simon had done for him in the Dungeon. It wouldn't be right to not at least let the two meet each other. Hestia would want to know who it was that saved his life after all. Making his mind up, Bell nodded to Simon and smiled, "Alright. Follow me. I'll introduce you to someone very important to me."
"Can't wait to meet them," Simon gave Bell a smile of his own, matching the boy's pace as the two walked down East Main Street.
"Goddess! I'm home!"
Simon's eyebrow rose as he heard Bell's greeting. The boy had led him to a run-down church at the edge of a cul-de-sac. The place was abandoned and in complete disrepair. Even the statue of the Goddess had fallen apart. Half her face was missing and there were holes all across her body. But he thought it looked pretty good. Not like he could judge. He had spent most of his life underground in caves, and he spent the end of it wandering around a desert. While it couldn't hold a candle to the cities of his world, it still had this cozy and homely feeling to it. Like the moment you stepped inside it instantly felt like home.
But his original comfort turned to confusion when he heard Bell call for a "Goddess". He had followed the kid into a basement, a place that wasn't that big but was enough for a small number of people. There was some furniture in here, indicating that Bell did live here. And, apparently, it was with someone else.
Before Simon could ask the boy anything, a person jumps to her feet from the sofa in the center of the room. It was a girl and the sight of her gave Simon pause for a moment. The best way he could describe her, was if someone took Nia when she was fourteen, changed her hair to black and eyes to blue, gave her twin ponytails on the sides of her head, then gave her Yoko's bust size. Simon's pause didn't last for long though. He swiftly regained his composure while the "Goddess" he supposed, moved to hug Bell. But that was when she finally noticed Simon as he stepped off the last stair.
The two stared each other down for a few moments. Simon felt the "Goddess'" gaze focus on him. As if she was scrutinizing every fiber of his being. He felt like she was trying to take his measure from a single glance at him. Make him lay everything he was bare before her with a single glare. A faint tension fell over him for a split second as the girl's blue eyes gained a sharp edge to them for but a moment.
His response...was to smile. Then he raised his hand and waved at her in greeting, "Hey there. Name's Simon. What's your name?"
The girl blinked.
Then she shook her head in shock.
Chapter 3: Meeting Hestia
LinkOnScepter
Versed in the lewd.
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Simon repeatedly blinked as he and Bell exited the Guild headquarters. As his eyes adjusted to the sun shining down from above, he craned his neck up to get a better look at the new land he found himself in. When his eyes fully adjusted he couldn't help but stare at what he saw.
Bell looked up at Simon with a grin, "Yeah. That was my first reaction too. Welcome to the Labyrinth City, Orario."
Bell waved a hand toward the city laid out before them. Crowds filled the cobblestone streets in front of them. Pastoral wooden buildings sat side by side on either side of the street. Some had signs above their doors with words or symbols drawn onto them. Others had people or other races coming and going in and out of their doors.
But one of the main things that caught Simon's attention were the various types of creatures that walked side by side with humans. The ones with animal features didn't bother him much. They just reminded him of the beastmen from his world. The ones that surprised him were the squat humanoids barely taller than his thighs but built like brick houses, the ones with thin frames and pointy ears like Eina, and the ones that were taller than the squat humans but not as tall as regular humans. For a second, he was shocked to see so many types of non-humans in one place. And if what Eina said about her being a half-elf was true, then some of these guys weren't beastmen.
His surprise must've shown on his face, because Bell called out to him, "Simon?"
At Bell's words, Simon shook his surprise off. He turned to the shorter boy and smiled, "Ah, sorry about that, Bell. Just a bit shocked to see this many...um...can I clarify some of this stuff with you?"
At Bell's nod, Simon pointed towards the non-humans in the crowd, "So, the ones with pointy ears are elves like Eina, right?"
"Uh-huh. Though, her's are a bit rounded near the top. It's how you can tell she's a half-elf. The others are full elves."
"And the ones that look like animals are called beastmen, right?"
"Yes. Or animal-people. Or therianthropes. Have you seen beastmen before, Simon?"
"Sort of. What about the shorter guys?'
"Oh, those are dwarves, gnomes, and prums. They're all shorter than humans but each is different in their own way."
Simon nodded and hummed in thought. His hand went to his chin as he considered Bell's words. He briefly thought about Viral and the rest of his friends. Wondering what they would think if they were with him. Yoko would probably start seeing if teaching is a profession around here, while Viral would probably go right back into that Dungeon. He wouldn't want to stay still while there was fighting to do. Simon chuckled and looked up at the sky. As he did, he couldn't help but think about what might be beyond this world's clouds. He knew that the heavens were up there, they had to be. But what did they look like here? Were they same expanse of stars and other worlds that he had seen? Or perhaps something completely different?
His chuckle caught Bell's attention, "Did you have beastmen where you're from, Simon?"
"Yeah. Though they were kind of different from the ones you're familiar with. They looked way more animal-like."
Bell leaned closer, curiosity starting to get the better of him, "Really? And where is your village anyway?"
"It wasn't a village. More like a city."
"Like Orario?"
"Kind of. But the buildings were taller. And made of metal."
Bell's eyes widened at Simon's words. Nervousness filled his tone as he asked, "Uh, how tall?"
Simon hummed in thought while he examined the buildings. He frowned when he realized the majority were hardly taller than two stories. He needed something taller to help Bell visualize what he meant. He glanced behind him and then smiled when he found what he was looking for. He turned around and pointed at the large white tower that the Guild sat at the bottom of, "Some of them came up to about half that tower in height."
Bell followed Simon's finger up.
And up.
And up.
Eventually, he nearly fell over onto his backside. Both from trying to crane his head that high and from the shock that filled his body. Simon was pointing at the half point of Babel Tower. A tower that supposedly reached into Tenkai, the realm of the Gods. A place hardly any adventurers ever get to see in their lifetimes. And Simon is saying that the people in his city built structures that were close to it in height. His awe of Simon increased tenfold as he looked from the older man to the Tower and back.
Then Simon let his arm fall to his side and smiled, "But, enough about me. I'm still new around here, so how about you take me on a tour of this place? I'd love to see what else there is to do around here."
Bell found himself shaken from his temporary stupor by Simon's complete disregard for what he just said. As if saying that where he's from people can build things that can rival Babel Tower is just a fact of life. Bell shook his head, "Wait, no, you have to explain that. What do you mean it was that tall?"
Simon rubs the back of his head and looks sheepish, "Uh, well, that would take a while to explain. I'll tell ya all about it later. Right now, I think we should go find something to do with all that money you just got. What did you call it? Vals?"
Simon pointed toward the bag on Bell's hip. Bell followed his finger toward the bulging bag of money. His confusion was replaced by happiness and awe as he remembered what he got from the Exchange for the minotaur's magic stone.
Fifteen thousand vals.
That was the most amount of money he had ever had since he came to Orario. The fact that Simon just gave it all to him made him extremely happy. So much so, that he had originally planned to go tell-
"Oh right!" Bell shook his head and started heading down the stairs and onto East Main Street. He turned back to Simon and said, "Sorry, Simon. I can't show you around. I need to go meet someone important."
"OK. Then I'll come with you."
"Huh?"
Simon started following after Bell, shrugging as he came to the white-haired boy's side, "I'm new here. Might as well hang out with the one person I know. Only thing that makes sense."
"I...I guess," Bell agreed as he rubbed at his chin. He briefly questioned whether he should introduce Simon to his Goddess. But then he recalled what Simon had done for him in the Dungeon. It wouldn't be right to not at least let the two meet each other. Hestia would want to know who it was that saved his life after all. Making his mind up, Bell nodded to Simon and smiled, "Alright. Follow me. I'll introduce you to someone very important to me."
"Can't wait to meet them," Simon gave Bell a smile of his own, matching the boy's pace as the two walked down East Main Street.
"Goddess! I'm home!"
Simon's eyebrow rose as he heard Bell's greeting. The boy had led him to a run-down church at the edge of a cul-de-sac. The place was abandoned and in complete disrepair. Even the statue of the Goddess had fallen apart. Half her face was missing and there were holes all across her body. But he thought the building itself looked pretty good. Not like he could judge. He had spent most of his life underground in caves, and he spent the end of it wandering around a desert. While it couldn't hold a candle to the cities of his world, it still had this cozy and homely feeling to it. Like the moment you stepped inside it instantly felt like home.
But his original comfort turned to confusion when he heard Bell call for a "Goddess". He had followed the kid into a basement, a place that wasn't that big but was wide enough for a small number of people. There was some furniture in here, indicating that Bell did live here. And, apparently, it was with someone else.
Before Simon could ask the boy anything, a person jumped to her feet from the sofa in the center of the room. It was a girl and the sight of her gave Simon pause for a moment. The best way he could describe her, was if someone took Nia when she was fourteen, changed her hair to black and eyes to blue, gave her twin ponytails on the sides of her head, then gave her Yoko's bust size. Simon's pause didn't last for long though. He swiftly regained his composure while the "Goddess" he supposed, moved to hug Bell. But that was when she finally noticed Simon as he stepped off the last stair.
The two stared each other down for a few moments. Simon felt the "Goddess'" gaze focus on him. As if she was scrutinizing every fiber of his being. He felt like she was trying to take his measure from a single glance. Make him lay everything he was bare before her with a single glare. A faint tension fell over him for a split second as the girl's blue eyes gained a sharp edge to them for but a moment.
His response...was to smile. Then he raised his hand and waved at her in greeting, "Hey there. Name's Simon. What's your name?"
The girl blinked.
Then she shook her head in shock. Her head whipped to Bell, then to Simon, then back to Bell. Each time her expression shifted. First, it was shock, then confusion, then a brief moment of happiness, before it went back to shock. Her ponytails moved of their own accord, one pointing at the white-haired Bell and the other pointing at Simon. Confused, Simon looked to Bell for answers but the young man looked as confused as he was. With Bell being no help, Simon walked into the room and up to the Goddess. Her head stopped moving as Simon approached, all her focus put back on him. Still smiling he held out his right hand for her to shake.
Taking a moment to examine his hand, she reached out with her own and grabbed his. She finally spoke, tone light and somewhat surprised, "Hello. I'm the Goddess Hestia. It is good to meet you, Simon was it?"
Simon nodded as he let go of Hestia's hand. He lifted his glasses with one finger, "Yep. Specifically, Simon The Digger, but that's a mouthful, so..."
Hestia slowly nodded, her hands going to her hips as she stared up at the man. She frowned as she spoke, "Right. Well then, Mr. Digger, mind telling me what you're doing following Bell?"
Simon shrugged, "Just Simon is fine. And I'm new to the city. Bell was the first person I met, so I figured I'd hang with him for a bit."
Hestia seemed to perk up when Simon said "new to the city". Her eyes ran up and down Simon's body again, "So, this is your first time in Orario then?"
"Pretty much."
"Interesting. Bell, how did you meet this man?"
"He saved my life in the Dungeon, Lady Hestia," Bell admitted with a smile. But that smile quickly left as his Goddess' head whipped around to face him.
"What?!" her voice was filled with worry as she suddenly pounced on Bell. Literally. The boy shouted as the two fell onto the floor, Hestia running her hands up and down his body. Her eyes were frantic as she searched for any injuries, "What happened? Are you OK? Do you need me to get the salve?"
"I-I-I'm fine, Goddess," Bell's face started to flush as the Goddess straddled him. He didn't make any moves against her until she started pulling at his shirt. With a gasp he used his legs to roll out from under Hestia, sending the Goddess tumbling to the ground. As he got up, he apologized to Hestia before turning to Simon with a look of shame on his face.
That shame soon disappeared when he saw Simon's ever-widening smile. Simon chuckled while he moved toward one of the empty sofas in the room. He sat down while leaning back in the seat, arms over the top of the sofa, "You two look pretty lively. That's good. Life should be spent smiling and having the time of your lives."
Bell slowly got to his feet, a bit confused by Simon's words, "Uh...thank you?"
"No problem. Now, how about we all sit down so me and you can fill your Goddess in on everything that happened today?"
Hestia shot up from the floor, eyes staring at Bell intently. Swallowing, Bell moved to the sofa directly across from Simon and sat down. After dusting herself off, Hestia moved to set at Bell's side. She scooted as close to the boy as she could, but her eyes never left Simon who simply watched the two of them with a soft smile on his face. In between them sat an oval-shaped table that was clear of debris or dust. After leaning forward a bit, Simon described how he and Bell met. Him waking up in the Dungeon, hearing Bell's scream, finding the boy cornered by a minotaur, then drop-kicking the monster to save him from certain death. The entire time Hestia had a smile on her face. One that got wider and wider as Simon continued. However, he had been around Yoko enough to know that Hestia's smile wasn't a nice one.
It was one that women get when they're pissed.
And Bell seemed to notice as well. He got tenser and tenser as the story wore on, eyes constantly moving from Hestia to Simon and then back.
However, Hestia's smile did disappear when Simon mentioned how he took out the minotaur. A look of confusion similar to Eina's came over her face, "Wait. Simon, you fought that minotaur and beat it?"
"Yep," Simon said nonchalantly.
"But you're new to Orario. Which means you don't have a Falna or a Familia."
"Yep."
"But you beat a minotaur, something that Level One adventurers can't fight."
"Yep."
Hestia blinked.
Then she put a hand on her head, leaning over onto Bell's shoulder for support, "I...that's...how...how is that possible?"
"That's exactly what Eina said when we told her," Simon shrugged. He started to adjust his glasses as he considered the two women's reactions. Both saw the fact that he managed to defeat the minotaur without a Falna as something impossible. Which he didn't understand. He did do the impossible every day, sure, but was beating a monster without that Falna thing really that impressive? Neither Bell nor Eina had given him an in-depth explanation of what it was exactly. All he knew was that it was a "blessing" from a "God" that made someone stronger. But the way they worked didn't make much sense to him. He got the part about how you had to train yourself, fight, and do other stuff to get stronger. He didn't really get how someone's "Level" factored into it.
If you got stronger, then you got stronger. That's it. He couldn't see what the major difference between Level One and Level Two was.
Bell let Hestia lay on his shoulder, doing what he could to avoid looking down the Goddess' shirt. His eyes searched for anything else to look at, eventually landing on his right hip. His eyes went wide as he reached for the bag tied to his belt, "That reminds me! Lady Hestia, I'd like to show you something."
Hestia lifted her head as Bell put the bag filled with vals on the table in front of them. The Goddess' eyes lit up at the sound of coins jingling in the bag. She sat up then looked at Bell, "Is...is that what I think it is?"
Bell's smile grew wider as he nodded, "Uh-huh! Fifteen thousand vals! All from me exchanging the minotaur's magic stone."
"But-but I thought Simon-"
"I gave him the money," Simon interrupted. His smile only widened when Hestia looked at him in shock. He shrugged again, "Eina said that, since I'm not a registered adventurer, I can't earn any money from killing monsters. And even if I was, I'd still give it over to Bell. Don't really need it."
"But what about food? Or a place to stay? You're gonna need money for that," Bell pointed out, his previous excitement replaced with worry.
Simon waved him off, "Eh, I'll make do. Besides, you guys need it more than me. Your place looks fine, but with how Hestia reacted to the bag, I'd say times are tough for you two, right?" The two flinching gave Simon all the confirmation he needed. He waved a hand at the bag, "That's why I say you should take it. Do whatever you want with it."
Bell still looked concerned, but Hestia's face was beaming. She shot up from her seat on the sofa with her hands on her hips. She pointed at Simon, her ponytails waving happily at her sides, "Simon! From this day forth, I hereby declare you an ally of Hestia Familia! If there's anything you need from us, you need only ask!"
"Goddess Hestia?" Bell got to his feet, surprised at what his Goddess just said. He didn't sound upset though. Just surprised. He looked to Hestia and asked, "Are you sure about that? You only just met him."
"Bell," Hestia turned to her only Familia member, jabbing her finger in his face. She looked stern but happy, "I've told you before, no child can lie to a God. And the entire time Simon has been talking to us, he's been telling the absolute truth. He is willing to give up his own happiness for the sake of helping two complete strangers! A man like him is rare in Orario, and it would reflect poorly on our Familia if we didn't do what we could to help him out."
She held her head high, puffing out her chest, "And besides, Simon doesn't mind. Right, Simon?"
The two turned their attention to their guest. Simon shook his head, "Not at all. Though, instead of allies, how about we just start as friends?"
Hestia and Bell blinked at Simon's words. He tilted his head to the side, "What? Did I say something wrong?"
"F-Friends? With us? Our Familia?" Bell pointed to himself then Hestia. At Simon's nod, he continued his questions, "But...we just met each other."
"Yeah, but you guys seem like good people. And I don't know anyone else in this city, yet. So, if I've gonna be friends with anyone, why not have it be the two people who let me into their house without a care in the world?" Simon leaned forward, hands on his knees as he smiled at the two of them.
Bell and Hestia looked at each other. A silent conversation went on between them as they took in Simon's words. Then they both got determined looks on their faces. They nodded in silent agreement with each other.
"Simon," both said in unison.
"What's up?" Simon asked.
Both Bell and Hestia threw themselves at Simon's feet. They spoke in unison as they bowed to the man, "Please join our Familia!"
Simon blinked. Then he scratched his cheek, "Uh, sorry. But no."
Bell looked up at Simon with a grin, "Yeah. That was my first reaction too. Welcome to the Labyrinth City, Orario."
Bell waved a hand toward the city laid out before them. Crowds filled the cobblestone streets in front of them. Pastoral wooden buildings sat side by side on either side of the street. Some had signs above their doors with words or symbols drawn onto them. Others had people or other races coming and going in and out of their doors.
But one of the main things that caught Simon's attention were the various types of creatures that walked side by side with humans. The ones with animal features didn't bother him much. They just reminded him of the beastmen from his world. The ones that surprised him were the squat humanoids barely taller than his thighs but built like brick houses, the ones with thin frames and pointy ears like Eina, and the ones that were taller than the squat humans but not as tall as regular humans. For a second, he was shocked to see so many types of non-humans in one place. And if what Eina said about her being a half-elf was true, then some of these guys weren't beastmen.
His surprise must've shown on his face, because Bell called out to him, "Simon?"
At Bell's words, Simon shook his surprise off. He turned to the shorter boy and smiled, "Ah, sorry about that, Bell. Just a bit shocked to see this many...um...can I clarify some of this stuff with you?"
At Bell's nod, Simon pointed towards the non-humans in the crowd, "So, the ones with pointy ears are elves like Eina, right?"
"Uh-huh. Though, her's are a bit rounded near the top. It's how you can tell she's a half-elf. The others are full elves."
"And the ones that look like animals are called beastmen, right?"
"Yes. Or animal-people. Or therianthropes. Have you seen beastmen before, Simon?"
"Sort of. What about the shorter guys?'
"Oh, those are dwarves, gnomes, and prums. They're all shorter than humans but each is different in their own way."
Simon nodded and hummed in thought. His hand went to his chin as he considered Bell's words. He briefly thought about Viral and the rest of his friends. Wondering what they would think if they were with him. Yoko would probably start seeing if teaching is a profession around here, while Viral would probably go right back into that Dungeon. He wouldn't want to stay still while there was fighting to do. Simon chuckled and looked up at the sky. As he did, he couldn't help but think about what might be beyond this world's clouds. He knew that the heavens were up there, they had to be. But what did they look like here? Were they same expanse of stars and other worlds that he had seen? Or perhaps something completely different?
His chuckle caught Bell's attention, "Did you have beastmen where you're from, Simon?"
"Yeah. Though they were kind of different from the ones you're familiar with. They looked way more animal-like."
Bell leaned closer, curiosity starting to get the better of him, "Really? And where is your village anyway?"
"It wasn't a village. More like a city."
"Like Orario?"
"Kind of. But the buildings were taller. And made of metal."
Bell's eyes widened at Simon's words. Nervousness filled his tone as he asked, "Uh, how tall?"
Simon hummed in thought while he examined the buildings. He frowned when he realized the majority were hardly taller than two stories. He needed something taller to help Bell visualize what he meant. He glanced behind him and then smiled when he found what he was looking for. He turned around and pointed at the large white tower that the Guild sat at the bottom of, "Some of them came up to about half that tower in height."
Bell followed Simon's finger up.
And up.
And up.
Eventually, he nearly fell over onto his backside. Both from trying to crane his head that high and from the shock that filled his body. Simon was pointing at the half point of Babel Tower. A tower that supposedly reached into Tenkai, the realm of the Gods. A place hardly any adventurers ever get to see in their lifetimes. And Simon is saying that the people in his city built structures that were close to it in height. His awe of Simon increased tenfold as he looked from the older man to the Tower and back.
Then Simon let his arm fall to his side and smiled, "But, enough about me. I'm still new around here, so how about you take me on a tour of this place? I'd love to see what else there is to do around here."
Bell found himself shaken from his temporary stupor by Simon's complete disregard for what he just said. As if saying that where he's from people can build things that can rival Babel Tower is just a fact of life. Bell shook his head, "Wait, no, you have to explain that. What do you mean it was that tall?"
Simon rubs the back of his head and looks sheepish, "Uh, well, that would take a while to explain. I'll tell ya all about it later. Right now, I think we should go find something to do with all that money you just got. What did you call it? Vals?"
Simon pointed toward the bag on Bell's hip. Bell followed his finger toward the bulging bag of money. His confusion was replaced by happiness and awe as he remembered what he got from the Exchange for the minotaur's magic stone.
Fifteen thousand vals.
That was the most amount of money he had ever had since he came to Orario. The fact that Simon just gave it all to him made him extremely happy. So much so, that he had originally planned to go tell-
"Oh right!" Bell shook his head and started heading down the stairs and onto East Main Street. He turned back to Simon and said, "Sorry, Simon. I can't show you around. I need to go meet someone important."
"OK. Then I'll come with you."
"Huh?"
Simon started following after Bell, shrugging as he came to the white-haired boy's side, "I'm new here. Might as well hang out with the one person I know. Only thing that makes sense."
"I...I guess," Bell agreed as he rubbed at his chin. He briefly questioned whether he should introduce Simon to his Goddess. But then he recalled what Simon had done for him in the Dungeon. It wouldn't be right to not at least let the two meet each other. Hestia would want to know who it was that saved his life after all. Making his mind up, Bell nodded to Simon and smiled, "Alright. Follow me. I'll introduce you to someone very important to me."
"Can't wait to meet them," Simon gave Bell a smile of his own, matching the boy's pace as the two walked down East Main Street.
"Goddess! I'm home!"
Simon's eyebrow rose as he heard Bell's greeting. The boy had led him to a run-down church at the edge of a cul-de-sac. The place was abandoned and in complete disrepair. Even the statue of the Goddess had fallen apart. Half her face was missing and there were holes all across her body. But he thought the building itself looked pretty good. Not like he could judge. He had spent most of his life underground in caves, and he spent the end of it wandering around a desert. While it couldn't hold a candle to the cities of his world, it still had this cozy and homely feeling to it. Like the moment you stepped inside it instantly felt like home.
But his original comfort turned to confusion when he heard Bell call for a "Goddess". He had followed the kid into a basement, a place that wasn't that big but was wide enough for a small number of people. There was some furniture in here, indicating that Bell did live here. And, apparently, it was with someone else.
Before Simon could ask the boy anything, a person jumped to her feet from the sofa in the center of the room. It was a girl and the sight of her gave Simon pause for a moment. The best way he could describe her, was if someone took Nia when she was fourteen, changed her hair to black and eyes to blue, gave her twin ponytails on the sides of her head, then gave her Yoko's bust size. Simon's pause didn't last for long though. He swiftly regained his composure while the "Goddess" he supposed, moved to hug Bell. But that was when she finally noticed Simon as he stepped off the last stair.
The two stared each other down for a few moments. Simon felt the "Goddess'" gaze focus on him. As if she was scrutinizing every fiber of his being. He felt like she was trying to take his measure from a single glance. Make him lay everything he was bare before her with a single glare. A faint tension fell over him for a split second as the girl's blue eyes gained a sharp edge to them for but a moment.
His response...was to smile. Then he raised his hand and waved at her in greeting, "Hey there. Name's Simon. What's your name?"
The girl blinked.
Then she shook her head in shock. Her head whipped to Bell, then to Simon, then back to Bell. Each time her expression shifted. First, it was shock, then confusion, then a brief moment of happiness, before it went back to shock. Her ponytails moved of their own accord, one pointing at the white-haired Bell and the other pointing at Simon. Confused, Simon looked to Bell for answers but the young man looked as confused as he was. With Bell being no help, Simon walked into the room and up to the Goddess. Her head stopped moving as Simon approached, all her focus put back on him. Still smiling he held out his right hand for her to shake.
Taking a moment to examine his hand, she reached out with her own and grabbed his. She finally spoke, tone light and somewhat surprised, "Hello. I'm the Goddess Hestia. It is good to meet you, Simon was it?"
Simon nodded as he let go of Hestia's hand. He lifted his glasses with one finger, "Yep. Specifically, Simon The Digger, but that's a mouthful, so..."
Hestia slowly nodded, her hands going to her hips as she stared up at the man. She frowned as she spoke, "Right. Well then, Mr. Digger, mind telling me what you're doing following Bell?"
Simon shrugged, "Just Simon is fine. And I'm new to the city. Bell was the first person I met, so I figured I'd hang with him for a bit."
Hestia seemed to perk up when Simon said "new to the city". Her eyes ran up and down Simon's body again, "So, this is your first time in Orario then?"
"Pretty much."
"Interesting. Bell, how did you meet this man?"
"He saved my life in the Dungeon, Lady Hestia," Bell admitted with a smile. But that smile quickly left as his Goddess' head whipped around to face him.
"What?!" her voice was filled with worry as she suddenly pounced on Bell. Literally. The boy shouted as the two fell onto the floor, Hestia running her hands up and down his body. Her eyes were frantic as she searched for any injuries, "What happened? Are you OK? Do you need me to get the salve?"
"I-I-I'm fine, Goddess," Bell's face started to flush as the Goddess straddled him. He didn't make any moves against her until she started pulling at his shirt. With a gasp he used his legs to roll out from under Hestia, sending the Goddess tumbling to the ground. As he got up, he apologized to Hestia before turning to Simon with a look of shame on his face.
That shame soon disappeared when he saw Simon's ever-widening smile. Simon chuckled while he moved toward one of the empty sofas in the room. He sat down while leaning back in the seat, arms over the top of the sofa, "You two look pretty lively. That's good. Life should be spent smiling and having the time of your lives."
Bell slowly got to his feet, a bit confused by Simon's words, "Uh...thank you?"
"No problem. Now, how about we all sit down so me and you can fill your Goddess in on everything that happened today?"
Hestia shot up from the floor, eyes staring at Bell intently. Swallowing, Bell moved to the sofa directly across from Simon and sat down. After dusting herself off, Hestia moved to set at Bell's side. She scooted as close to the boy as she could, but her eyes never left Simon who simply watched the two of them with a soft smile on his face. In between them sat an oval-shaped table that was clear of debris or dust. After leaning forward a bit, Simon described how he and Bell met. Him waking up in the Dungeon, hearing Bell's scream, finding the boy cornered by a minotaur, then drop-kicking the monster to save him from certain death. The entire time Hestia had a smile on her face. One that got wider and wider as Simon continued. However, he had been around Yoko enough to know that Hestia's smile wasn't a nice one.
It was one that women get when they're pissed.
And Bell seemed to notice as well. He got tenser and tenser as the story wore on, eyes constantly moving from Hestia to Simon and then back.
However, Hestia's smile did disappear when Simon mentioned how he took out the minotaur. A look of confusion similar to Eina's came over her face, "Wait. Simon, you fought that minotaur and beat it?"
"Yep," Simon said nonchalantly.
"But you're new to Orario. Which means you don't have a Falna or a Familia."
"Yep."
"But you beat a minotaur, something that Level One adventurers can't fight."
"Yep."
Hestia blinked.
Then she put a hand on her head, leaning over onto Bell's shoulder for support, "I...that's...how...how is that possible?"
"That's exactly what Eina said when we told her," Simon shrugged. He started to adjust his glasses as he considered the two women's reactions. Both saw the fact that he managed to defeat the minotaur without a Falna as something impossible. Which he didn't understand. He did do the impossible every day, sure, but was beating a monster without that Falna thing really that impressive? Neither Bell nor Eina had given him an in-depth explanation of what it was exactly. All he knew was that it was a "blessing" from a "God" that made someone stronger. But the way they worked didn't make much sense to him. He got the part about how you had to train yourself, fight, and do other stuff to get stronger. He didn't really get how someone's "Level" factored into it.
If you got stronger, then you got stronger. That's it. He couldn't see what the major difference between Level One and Level Two was.
Bell let Hestia lay on his shoulder, doing what he could to avoid looking down the Goddess' shirt. His eyes searched for anything else to look at, eventually landing on his right hip. His eyes went wide as he reached for the bag tied to his belt, "That reminds me! Lady Hestia, I'd like to show you something."
Hestia lifted her head as Bell put the bag filled with vals on the table in front of them. The Goddess' eyes lit up at the sound of coins jingling in the bag. She sat up then looked at Bell, "Is...is that what I think it is?"
Bell's smile grew wider as he nodded, "Uh-huh! Fifteen thousand vals! All from me exchanging the minotaur's magic stone."
"But-but I thought Simon-"
"I gave him the money," Simon interrupted. His smile only widened when Hestia looked at him in shock. He shrugged again, "Eina said that, since I'm not a registered adventurer, I can't earn any money from killing monsters. And even if I was, I'd still give it over to Bell. Don't really need it."
"But what about food? Or a place to stay? You're gonna need money for that," Bell pointed out, his previous excitement replaced with worry.
Simon waved him off, "Eh, I'll make do. Besides, you guys need it more than me. Your place looks fine, but with how Hestia reacted to the bag, I'd say times are tough for you two, right?" The two flinching gave Simon all the confirmation he needed. He waved a hand at the bag, "That's why I say you should take it. Do whatever you want with it."
Bell still looked concerned, but Hestia's face was beaming. She shot up from her seat on the sofa with her hands on her hips. She pointed at Simon, her ponytails waving happily at her sides, "Simon! From this day forth, I hereby declare you an ally of Hestia Familia! If there's anything you need from us, you need only ask!"
"Goddess Hestia?" Bell got to his feet, surprised at what his Goddess just said. He didn't sound upset though. Just surprised. He looked to Hestia and asked, "Are you sure about that? You only just met him."
"Bell," Hestia turned to her only Familia member, jabbing her finger in his face. She looked stern but happy, "I've told you before, no child can lie to a God. And the entire time Simon has been talking to us, he's been telling the absolute truth. He is willing to give up his own happiness for the sake of helping two complete strangers! A man like him is rare in Orario, and it would reflect poorly on our Familia if we didn't do what we could to help him out."
She held her head high, puffing out her chest, "And besides, Simon doesn't mind. Right, Simon?"
The two turned their attention to their guest. Simon shook his head, "Not at all. Though, instead of allies, how about we just start as friends?"
Hestia and Bell blinked at Simon's words. He tilted his head to the side, "What? Did I say something wrong?"
"F-Friends? With us? Our Familia?" Bell pointed to himself then Hestia. At Simon's nod, he continued his questions, "But...we just met each other."
"Yeah, but you guys seem like good people. And I don't know anyone else in this city, yet. So, if I've gonna be friends with anyone, why not have it be the two people who let me into their house without a care in the world?" Simon leaned forward, hands on his knees as he smiled at the two of them.
Bell and Hestia looked at each other. A silent conversation went on between them as they took in Simon's words. Then they both got determined looks on their faces. They nodded in silent agreement with each other.
"Simon," both said in unison.
"What's up?" Simon asked.
Both Bell and Hestia threw themselves at Simon's feet. They spoke in unison as they bowed to the man, "Please join our Familia!"
Simon blinked. Then he scratched his cheek, "Uh, sorry. But no."
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Chapter 4.1
LinkOnScepter
Versed in the lewd.
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"And that's how it all works!" Hestia finished, holding up a finger for all to see.
Simon, his arms crossed and right leg over his knee, nodded at Hestia, "Ah, I see. So, if I were to join you guys, I'd get a blessing from you. And I'd be a part of your Familia. Which would let me register at the Guild, make money, and get any other benefits from being in your Familia."
"Pretty much," Bell shrugged, an expecting smile on his face.
Simon nodded to the goddess, "Thanks for the rundown, Hestia."
"Don't mention it," Hestia said with pride. Then she leaned forward, the same expecting smile that Bell had on her face, "Sooooo, what do you think?"
"Think about what?"
"About joining our Familia. Before, you said you wouldn't join because you didn't really get how it worked," Hestia explains, her ponytails pointing toward Simon.
"Right," Simon nodded again.
"Well, now you know. So, are you gonna-"
Simon held up a hand, "Sorry, but my answer's still no."
"What?!" Hestia's hands hit the table, while her ponytails shot toward the ceiling. Her face clearly showed the surprise she felt, "But why?"
"Hmm, two main reasons. The first is that I don't think I'm gonna need it. I'm already plenty tough myself," Simon tap a fist against his chest to emphasize, "and I don't need a God's blessing to get stronger."
"But that was one minotaur. And you caught it off guard. You do know there are stronger monsters in the Dungeon than that, right? Do you really think you can handle them too?" Hestia pointed out, Bell nodding along with all of her words.
Simon's expression turned grateful, "Thanks for worrying about me. But, seriously. I'll be fine. Like I said, I've fought tougher things than that before."
He leaned back in his seat, eyes not leaving Hestia's gaze, "Second, if I got a blessing I would essentially be beholden to the God who gave it to me, right?"
Confusion came over Bell's face while Hestia started to frown. She nodded in response to Simon's question, which made the older man hum in understanding. He stared Hestia down before he spoke again, "Thought so. In which case, I don't think I'll ever get a blessing. I wouldn't accept having a God tell me what I can and can't do with my life."
"What?" Bell shook his head in surprise. Confusion and shock clear on his face, Bell spoke up, "But Hestia's a great Goddess! She'd never make you do anything you didn't want to do."
Simon turned to Bell and shrugged, "I don't doubt that. But it's not about whether the God I get the blessing from is a good one. I've never been one to let others dictate my path in life for me. The only one who gets to decide that is me and me alone."
His words were firm and filled with confidence, but there was no malice to them. Nor any in the kind gaze he gave Bell and Hestia. Bell didn't know what to say to that. He wanted Simon to join their Familia, but he didn't want to seem like he was trying to force him into it. This was Simon's decision to make, after all. But if he didn't have a Familia then what would he do for a living? He looked toward his Goddess and waited for her to say something. She had remained silent and was simply staring at Simon, a frown marring her cute face. A part of him hoped that she would say something that would convince Simon otherwise. That with a few magical words he would see that his worries were unfounded.
But the rest of him knew Hestia. And he knew what she would say.
Instead, Hestia sighed and then fell back into the sofa. Her eyes were closed as she lowered her head, "Fine. If you're certain about it."
"I am," Simon nodded, "Thanks for understanding."
Hestia waved his words off and put her hands on her knees. She put up the face of a professional Goddess. One who was barely affected by Simon's refusal to join her Familia. But Bell only needed to look at the way her hands balled into fists on her knees. And the way her arms shook as she spoke, "It would reflect poorly on my Familia if I pushed joining onto you. I'm not one of those other deities who can't no for an answer. And besides, I can see why you wouldn't want to join besides your own personal reasons. We're a small Familia that has to rely on a single member just to make ends meet. Who's Goddess has to work a part-time job to supplement income from the Dungeon."
The longer her speech went on, the more and more Hestia's mood started to drop. She started to withdraw into the sofa, her voice turning from confident to pathetic. Simon's smile fade as he watched the Goddess hold back tears. He prepared to stand up and encourage her, but Bell beat him to it. The white-haired boy jumped to his feet and turned to stare at his Goddess. His eyes were ablaze as he pumped his fists, "Don't get discouraged, Goddess! Our Familia may be small now, but that's because we just started. Once we get through this first part and save up enough money, all our troubles will be over! People will be lining up to join us! Just you wait and see!"
Hestia stood up at Bell's words, her original despair replaced by hope. Her expression got brighter the longer she stared at Bell's smiling face. Simon found himself smiling at the, as Hestia shouted her agreement with Bell. She pumped her own fist while saying how lucky she was to have met someone like Bell. The two shouted as their spirits rose which only made Simon's smile get wider. Watching the two of them get so pumped up...well, it made him glad he decided to pick Bell as his guide to this new world. The boy might not look like much now, but he could sense that he had the spirit and the heart to become a great man. Now if only he had a bit more confidence in him...
"Now, for our future, let's update your status! To the bed and off with your shirt!"
"Alright!"
Bell ran to a door near the back of the room, Hestia following him soon after. She looked back at Simon with a beaming smile on her face, "Make yourself at home, Simon! Don't worry about the Familia stuff and just rest up. And don't leave too soon. Bell will be making dinner later!"
With that, she disappeared around the corner.
Simon waved goodbye to the Goddess and the young boy.
Simon, his arms crossed and right leg over his knee, nodded at Hestia, "Ah, I see. So, if I were to join you guys, I'd get a blessing from you. And I'd be a part of your Familia. Which would let me register at the Guild, make money, and get any other benefits from being in your Familia."
"Pretty much," Bell shrugged, an expecting smile on his face.
Simon nodded to the goddess, "Thanks for the rundown, Hestia."
"Don't mention it," Hestia said with pride. Then she leaned forward, the same expecting smile that Bell had on her face, "Sooooo, what do you think?"
"Think about what?"
"About joining our Familia. Before, you said you wouldn't join because you didn't really get how it worked," Hestia explains, her ponytails pointing toward Simon.
"Right," Simon nodded again.
"Well, now you know. So, are you gonna-"
Simon held up a hand, "Sorry, but my answer's still no."
"What?!" Hestia's hands hit the table, while her ponytails shot toward the ceiling. Her face clearly showed the surprise she felt, "But why?"
"Hmm, two main reasons. The first is that I don't think I'm gonna need it. I'm already plenty tough myself," Simon tap a fist against his chest to emphasize, "and I don't need a God's blessing to get stronger."
"But that was one minotaur. And you caught it off guard. You do know there are stronger monsters in the Dungeon than that, right? Do you really think you can handle them too?" Hestia pointed out, Bell nodding along with all of her words.
Simon's expression turned grateful, "Thanks for worrying about me. But, seriously. I'll be fine. Like I said, I've fought tougher things than that before."
He leaned back in his seat, eyes not leaving Hestia's gaze, "Second, if I got a blessing I would essentially be beholden to the God who gave it to me, right?"
Confusion came over Bell's face while Hestia started to frown. She nodded in response to Simon's question, which made the older man hum in understanding. He stared Hestia down before he spoke again, "Thought so. In which case, I don't think I'll ever get a blessing. I wouldn't accept having a God tell me what I can and can't do with my life."
"What?" Bell shook his head in surprise. Confusion and shock clear on his face, Bell spoke up, "But Hestia's a great Goddess! She'd never make you do anything you didn't want to do."
Simon turned to Bell and shrugged, "I don't doubt that. But it's not about whether the God I get the blessing from is a good one. I've never been one to let others dictate my path in life for me. The only one who gets to decide that is me and me alone."
His words were firm and filled with confidence, but there was no malice to them. Nor any in the kind gaze he gave Bell and Hestia. Bell didn't know what to say to that. He wanted Simon to join their Familia, but he didn't want to seem like he was trying to force him into it. This was Simon's decision to make, after all. But if he didn't have a Familia then what would he do for a living? He looked toward his Goddess and waited for her to say something. She had remained silent and was simply staring at Simon, a frown marring her cute face. A part of him hoped that she would say something that would convince Simon otherwise. That with a few magical words he would see that his worries were unfounded.
But the rest of him knew Hestia. And he knew what she would say.
Instead, Hestia sighed and then fell back into the sofa. Her eyes were closed as she lowered her head, "Fine. If you're certain about it."
"I am," Simon nodded, "Thanks for understanding."
Hestia waved his words off and put her hands on her knees. She put up the face of a professional Goddess. One who was barely affected by Simon's refusal to join her Familia. But Bell only needed to look at the way her hands balled into fists on her knees. And the way her arms shook as she spoke, "It would reflect poorly on my Familia if I pushed joining onto you. I'm not one of those other deities who can't no for an answer. And besides, I can see why you wouldn't want to join besides your own personal reasons. We're a small Familia that has to rely on a single member just to make ends meet. Who's Goddess has to work a part-time job to supplement income from the Dungeon."
The longer her speech went on, the more and more Hestia's mood started to drop. She started to withdraw into the sofa, her voice turning from confident to pathetic. Simon's smile fade as he watched the Goddess hold back tears. He prepared to stand up and encourage her, but Bell beat him to it. The white-haired boy jumped to his feet and turned to stare at his Goddess. His eyes were ablaze as he pumped his fists, "Don't get discouraged, Goddess! Our Familia may be small now, but that's because we just started. Once we get through this first part and save up enough money, all our troubles will be over! People will be lining up to join us! Just you wait and see!"
Hestia stood up at Bell's words, her original despair replaced by hope. Her expression got brighter the longer she stared at Bell's smiling face. Simon found himself smiling at the, as Hestia shouted her agreement with Bell. She pumped her own fist while saying how lucky she was to have met someone like Bell. The two shouted as their spirits rose which only made Simon's smile get wider. Watching the two of them get so pumped up...well, it made him glad he decided to pick Bell as his guide to this new world. The boy might not look like much now, but he could sense that he had the spirit and the heart to become a great man. Now if only he had a bit more confidence in him...
"Now, for our future, let's update your status! To the bed and off with your shirt!"
"Alright!"
Bell ran to a door near the back of the room, Hestia following him soon after. She looked back at Simon with a beaming smile on her face, "Make yourself at home, Simon! Don't worry about the Familia stuff and just rest up. And don't leave too soon. Bell will be making dinner later!"
With that, she disappeared around the corner.
Simon waved goodbye to the Goddess and the young boy.
Chapter 4.2
LinkOnScepter
Versed in the lewd.
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Simon waved goodbye to the Goddess and the young boy. Though he did think that the part about Bell taking off his shirt was weird. Curious, he got up and planned to follow the two but thought better of it. If it was something they wanted him to know about, they wouldn't have left the room to do it. And he can just ask Bell about it all later. Instead, he put his hand in his coat pockets and started to walk around the room. There wasn't much to say about it. It had the two sofas, a table, and a dresser. He leaning around the corner he could see another hallway with a second dresser on it and some stairs leading up. He supposed that was where Bell and Hestia went.
Simon hummed as the started to pace around the room. His thoughts started to go to his current circumstances. Which, to be honest, wasn't the strangest situation he ever found himself in. When he finally kicked the bucket back home, he figured he'd go to wherever Nia, Kamina, Kittan, and everyone else who died was. Get to see them all again without needing to use any Spiral Power to bring them back. But instead, he somehow ended up in this world. A place that doesn't seem to have any Spiral Power or even know what it is. Where humans rely on "Gods" to get strong enough to defeat monsters.
He looked toward the ground and thought about that word.
Gods.
Eina and Bell had given him the simplest run down. Put simply, there was another world above this one where the Gods lived. However, they got bored with their lives up there and decided to come down here to "play" with mortals. When he first heard that he felt his rebellious spirit start to rise. The only "God" that he had ever met was the Anti-Spiral. His experience with them wasn't exactly a good one. But Bell assured him that the Gods weren't "bad" and were actually responsible for a lot of the good things that humans have nowadays. Especially when it concerns that "Dungeon".
"Dungeon," Simon tested the word, a hand going to his chin in thought. He knew the place was a central part of Orario. He could tell that much from how Bell and Eina talked about it, how many people he saw come and go from within where he met the half-elf, and how the magic stones they got from monsters were exchanged for money. His eyes roamed the white walls of the basement room around him. He stopped pacing in the middle of the room and stared up at the white ceiling.
His eyes curled inward as he frowned, thinking back to his conversation with Hestia and Bell. He didn't regret what he said. His life since reaching the surface back home had been a tooth-and-nail fight to command his own destiny. Decide fate for himself and allow others to do the same. Even if the Gods of this world weren't as bad as the Anti-Spiral, he still didn't like the idea of being beholden to one of them. Especially not if it came down to a choice between what was right for the Familia and what was the right thing to do. That part of him hadn't changed, even now. If he saw something was wrong, and he knew he could do something to make it right, he'd do it. Whatever consequences came of that, he'd deal with later. In his own way. He didn't think many Gods would be happy if he said something like that to their faces.
But he couldn't deny the fact that he did need some way to take care of himself. No one knew him here, he wasn't a "registered adventurer", and he didn't have any of this world's currency. His options for ensuring his survival were slim. A part of him brought up the fact that he could take care of all his needs with just a little Spiral Power.
He quickly snuffed that part of himself out. He wasn't a God. He was Simon The Digger. That wouldn't change. Not even in this world where Gods walked among mortals.
His troubled thoughts made him sigh. He moved back to the sofa and laid down on it. He kept his boots off the upholstery, turned so he was looking at the ceiling, and put his left hand behind his head. Thoughts began to drift back to the subject of his friends. He knew none of them were here with him. If they were, he would've known. Their souls were bound together by Spiral Power, after all. If any of them were alive and in Orario, he would've felt them by now. But, so far, he had felt nothing.
Though them not being here physically didn't mean they weren't with him.
His right hand continued to rummage in his pocket until he felt his fingers brush over something. Blinking, he pulled his hand out and held it up to the light. The moment he caught sight of it, all his worries went away. His frown became a content smile as he stared at the small, white ring held in his fingers. The bright green crystal in its center seemed to shine in the light of the small room. Smile still on his face, he brought the ring toward his chest where his new Core Drill sat. When the crystal met the tip of the drill, the sound of wind chimes echoed through the room. For the briefest of moments, Simon swore he could feel two hands on his shoulders. One was firm and gripped his shoulder with hard, calloused hands. The other was soft and dainty, laying on his shoulder more than holding it.
It only lasted for a second.
Then the feeling disappeared.
Simon's only reaction was to smile even wider. He pulled the ring away from the Core Drill and placed it on his right ring finger. He held his hand up to the light then curled it into a fist. His smile turned into a determined grin as he pushed himself up and off the sofa.
He wasn't alone.
No matter how much time passed, no matter where they were, he knew that every one of his friends was always with him. Even if they weren't here in body, they were with him in spirit.
New world or not, it didn't change who and what he was. Whatever the future may hold, he'd face it with open arms and a waiting fist. He'd make his way through Orario the same way he had back home.
With an open heart, hard work, dedication to his ideals, and never wavering fighting spirit.
He nodded confidently to himself. He stretched his arms toward the ceiling, feeling refreshed and relieved after all of that. As he shook his arms out, he heard footsteps coming down the stair. Bell soon came around the corner, holding a sheet of paper in his hand with his normal clothes back on. His face was clouded with doubt, eyes furrowed in thought, to the point where he almost walked right passed Simon without a word. He stopped before reaching another door and turned to look at the taller man. His eyes widened in surprise, "Oh, Simon! Sorry, I forgot you were there. Not that I meant to, it's just-"
Simon waved his hand dismissively, "Don't worry about it. Though, I do want to ask what's up. You look like you've got a lot on your mind."
Bell turned his eyes away from Simon as he spoke, "Well, I do. Mainly my updated status."
"Status? Is that what you and Hestia went to take care of upstairs?"
Bell nodded, "Yes. All the experiences we gain in life are gathered up as excelia. The Gods then use that excelia to improve our status. Which represents things like our strength and speed and such."
"Huh. So, they take your life experiences and turn them into power?"
"That's the simplest way to explain it, yes. Though, you can also gain stuff like Magic and Skills when Gods update your status," Bell's eyes twinkled when he mentioned Magic and Skills. But it was swiftly covered by a dark cloud a moment later. The white-haired boy let out a sigh of frustration as he shook his head, "Though not everyone gets them."
Simon hummed and nodded his head, "And that's why you're so down in the dumps?" Bell flinched but nodded in confirmation. Simon waved a hand at him, "And, what was up with her telling you to take off your shirt?"
Bell's face turned a light shade of pink as he shook his head, "I-I-It's just how the Gods update our status'! They write on our backs with their blood! We weren't doing anything...uh...we just weren't doing anything else in there! I swear!"
"Never said you were."
Bell's embarrassment only got worse. His eyes darted around the room, trying to look at anything but Simon. They fell onto the door he was in front of and Bell took his chance. He swiftly opened the door, then ran inside while calling back to Simon, "An-An-Anyway, I need to make us dinner! I'll try to make something for you too, Simon! Hope you don't mind potatoes!"
Before Simon could reply, the door slammed shut behind Bell. He stared at the door for a few moments. Then he shrugged and sat down to wait for Bell to cook dinner. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught Hestia walking around the corner. He waved hello to the Goddess and smiled at her. But his smile fell as he saw the pensive expression on her face. She moved on auto-pilot, sitting on the sofa across from Simon and crossing her legs. Her ponytails were pointed toward the floor and her lips pursed at some errant dark thought.
Worried, Simon called out to Hestia and asked what was wrong. The Goddess, slowly, turned her head up until she was gazing at Simon. After a few moments of silence, she spoke with an eerie calmness to her voice, "Simon. What did you do after you rescued Bell again?"
Confused but not intimidated, Simon replied casually, "I helped him get the minotaur's magic stone."
"And, how did you do that?"
"I gave him one of these," Simon tapped the Core Drill laying on his chest, "and helped him drill through its hide."
"That's it?"
"That's it."
Hestia's eyes moved from Simon's to the drill hanging from his neck. She glared at the object as if she was trying to break it down to its base components with her gaze alone. Simon just sat there, wondering what she was trying to do. Or why she suddenly started asking him about his Core Drill. Before she could say anymore, the door to the kitchen opened up. Hestia's serious mood changed to one of giddiness as she saw Bell come into the room with three bowls of potato soup.
Simon stared at the Goddess, wondering what all that had been about. But then he smelled the soup. Any thoughts about the previous encounter were blown away by his sudden and furious hunger.
Expect chapters for all my stories to take longer than usual.
Cause I'm gonna be upping my Minimum Word Count for chapters from 3k Words to 5k Words.
Simon hummed as the started to pace around the room. His thoughts started to go to his current circumstances. Which, to be honest, wasn't the strangest situation he ever found himself in. When he finally kicked the bucket back home, he figured he'd go to wherever Nia, Kamina, Kittan, and everyone else who died was. Get to see them all again without needing to use any Spiral Power to bring them back. But instead, he somehow ended up in this world. A place that doesn't seem to have any Spiral Power or even know what it is. Where humans rely on "Gods" to get strong enough to defeat monsters.
He looked toward the ground and thought about that word.
Gods.
Eina and Bell had given him the simplest run down. Put simply, there was another world above this one where the Gods lived. However, they got bored with their lives up there and decided to come down here to "play" with mortals. When he first heard that he felt his rebellious spirit start to rise. The only "God" that he had ever met was the Anti-Spiral. His experience with them wasn't exactly a good one. But Bell assured him that the Gods weren't "bad" and were actually responsible for a lot of the good things that humans have nowadays. Especially when it concerns that "Dungeon".
"Dungeon," Simon tested the word, a hand going to his chin in thought. He knew the place was a central part of Orario. He could tell that much from how Bell and Eina talked about it, how many people he saw come and go from within where he met the half-elf, and how the magic stones they got from monsters were exchanged for money. His eyes roamed the white walls of the basement room around him. He stopped pacing in the middle of the room and stared up at the white ceiling.
His eyes curled inward as he frowned, thinking back to his conversation with Hestia and Bell. He didn't regret what he said. His life since reaching the surface back home had been a tooth-and-nail fight to command his own destiny. Decide fate for himself and allow others to do the same. Even if the Gods of this world weren't as bad as the Anti-Spiral, he still didn't like the idea of being beholden to one of them. Especially not if it came down to a choice between what was right for the Familia and what was the right thing to do. That part of him hadn't changed, even now. If he saw something was wrong, and he knew he could do something to make it right, he'd do it. Whatever consequences came of that, he'd deal with later. In his own way. He didn't think many Gods would be happy if he said something like that to their faces.
But he couldn't deny the fact that he did need some way to take care of himself. No one knew him here, he wasn't a "registered adventurer", and he didn't have any of this world's currency. His options for ensuring his survival were slim. A part of him brought up the fact that he could take care of all his needs with just a little Spiral Power.
He quickly snuffed that part of himself out. He wasn't a God. He was Simon The Digger. That wouldn't change. Not even in this world where Gods walked among mortals.
His troubled thoughts made him sigh. He moved back to the sofa and laid down on it. He kept his boots off the upholstery, turned so he was looking at the ceiling, and put his left hand behind his head. Thoughts began to drift back to the subject of his friends. He knew none of them were here with him. If they were, he would've known. Their souls were bound together by Spiral Power, after all. If any of them were alive and in Orario, he would've felt them by now. But, so far, he had felt nothing.
Though them not being here physically didn't mean they weren't with him.
His right hand continued to rummage in his pocket until he felt his fingers brush over something. Blinking, he pulled his hand out and held it up to the light. The moment he caught sight of it, all his worries went away. His frown became a content smile as he stared at the small, white ring held in his fingers. The bright green crystal in its center seemed to shine in the light of the small room. Smile still on his face, he brought the ring toward his chest where his new Core Drill sat. When the crystal met the tip of the drill, the sound of wind chimes echoed through the room. For the briefest of moments, Simon swore he could feel two hands on his shoulders. One was firm and gripped his shoulder with hard, calloused hands. The other was soft and dainty, laying on his shoulder more than holding it.
It only lasted for a second.
Then the feeling disappeared.
Simon's only reaction was to smile even wider. He pulled the ring away from the Core Drill and placed it on his right ring finger. He held his hand up to the light then curled it into a fist. His smile turned into a determined grin as he pushed himself up and off the sofa.
He wasn't alone.
No matter how much time passed, no matter where they were, he knew that every one of his friends was always with him. Even if they weren't here in body, they were with him in spirit.
New world or not, it didn't change who and what he was. Whatever the future may hold, he'd face it with open arms and a waiting fist. He'd make his way through Orario the same way he had back home.
With an open heart, hard work, dedication to his ideals, and never wavering fighting spirit.
He nodded confidently to himself. He stretched his arms toward the ceiling, feeling refreshed and relieved after all of that. As he shook his arms out, he heard footsteps coming down the stair. Bell soon came around the corner, holding a sheet of paper in his hand with his normal clothes back on. His face was clouded with doubt, eyes furrowed in thought, to the point where he almost walked right passed Simon without a word. He stopped before reaching another door and turned to look at the taller man. His eyes widened in surprise, "Oh, Simon! Sorry, I forgot you were there. Not that I meant to, it's just-"
Simon waved his hand dismissively, "Don't worry about it. Though, I do want to ask what's up. You look like you've got a lot on your mind."
Bell turned his eyes away from Simon as he spoke, "Well, I do. Mainly my updated status."
"Status? Is that what you and Hestia went to take care of upstairs?"
Bell nodded, "Yes. All the experiences we gain in life are gathered up as excelia. The Gods then use that excelia to improve our status. Which represents things like our strength and speed and such."
"Huh. So, they take your life experiences and turn them into power?"
"That's the simplest way to explain it, yes. Though, you can also gain stuff like Magic and Skills when Gods update your status," Bell's eyes twinkled when he mentioned Magic and Skills. But it was swiftly covered by a dark cloud a moment later. The white-haired boy let out a sigh of frustration as he shook his head, "Though not everyone gets them."
Simon hummed and nodded his head, "And that's why you're so down in the dumps?" Bell flinched but nodded in confirmation. Simon waved a hand at him, "And, what was up with her telling you to take off your shirt?"
Bell's face turned a light shade of pink as he shook his head, "I-I-It's just how the Gods update our status'! They write on our backs with their blood! We weren't doing anything...uh...we just weren't doing anything else in there! I swear!"
"Never said you were."
Bell's embarrassment only got worse. His eyes darted around the room, trying to look at anything but Simon. They fell onto the door he was in front of and Bell took his chance. He swiftly opened the door, then ran inside while calling back to Simon, "An-An-Anyway, I need to make us dinner! I'll try to make something for you too, Simon! Hope you don't mind potatoes!"
Before Simon could reply, the door slammed shut behind Bell. He stared at the door for a few moments. Then he shrugged and sat down to wait for Bell to cook dinner. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught Hestia walking around the corner. He waved hello to the Goddess and smiled at her. But his smile fell as he saw the pensive expression on her face. She moved on auto-pilot, sitting on the sofa across from Simon and crossing her legs. Her ponytails were pointed toward the floor and her lips pursed at some errant dark thought.
Worried, Simon called out to Hestia and asked what was wrong. The Goddess, slowly, turned her head up until she was gazing at Simon. After a few moments of silence, she spoke with an eerie calmness to her voice, "Simon. What did you do after you rescued Bell again?"
Confused but not intimidated, Simon replied casually, "I helped him get the minotaur's magic stone."
"And, how did you do that?"
"I gave him one of these," Simon tapped the Core Drill laying on his chest, "and helped him drill through its hide."
"That's it?"
"That's it."
Hestia's eyes moved from Simon's to the drill hanging from his neck. She glared at the object as if she was trying to break it down to its base components with her gaze alone. Simon just sat there, wondering what she was trying to do. Or why she suddenly started asking him about his Core Drill. Before she could say anymore, the door to the kitchen opened up. Hestia's serious mood changed to one of giddiness as she saw Bell come into the room with three bowls of potato soup.
Simon stared at the Goddess, wondering what all that had been about. But then he smelled the soup. Any thoughts about the previous encounter were blown away by his sudden and furious hunger.
Expect chapters for all my stories to take longer than usual.
Cause I'm gonna be upping my Minimum Word Count for chapters from 3k Words to 5k Words.
Chapter 4: A Night With Hestia Familia
LinkOnScepter
Versed in the lewd.
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"And that's how it all works!" Hestia finished, holding up a finger for all to see.
Simon, his arms crossed and right leg over his knee, nodded at Hestia, "Ah, I see. So, if I were to join you guys, I'd get a blessing from you. And I'd be a part of your Familia. Which would let me register at the Guild, make money, and get any other benefits from being in your Familia."
"Pretty much," Bell shrugged, an expecting smile on his face.
Simon nodded to the goddess, "Thanks for the rundown, Hestia."
"Don't mention it," Hestia said with pride. Then she leaned forward, the same expecting smile that Bell had on her face, "Sooooo, what do you think?"
"Think about what?"
"About joining our Familia. Before, you said you wouldn't join because you didn't really get how it worked," Hestia explains, her ponytails pointing toward Simon.
"Right," Simon nodded again.
"Well, now you know. So, are you gonna-"
Simon held up a hand, "Sorry, but my answer's still no."
"What?!" Hestia's hands hit the table, while her ponytails shot toward the ceiling. Her face clearly showed the surprise she felt, "But why?"
"Hmm, two main reasons. The first is that I don't think I'm gonna need it. I'm already plenty tough myself," Simon tap a fist against his chest to emphasize, "and I don't need a God's blessing to get stronger."
"But that was one minotaur. And you caught it off guard. You do know there are stronger monsters in the Dungeon than that, right? Do you really think you can handle them too?" Hestia pointed out, Bell nodding along with all of her words.
Simon's expression turned grateful, "Thanks for worrying about me. But, seriously. I'll be fine. Like I said, I've fought tougher things than that before."
He leaned back in his seat, eyes not leaving Hestia's gaze, "Second, if I got a blessing I would essentially be beholden to the God who gave it to me, right?"
Confusion came over Bell's face while Hestia started to frown. She nodded in response to Simon's question, which made the older man hum in understanding. He stared Hestia down before he spoke again, "Thought so. In which case, I don't think I'll ever get a blessing. I wouldn't accept having a God tell me what I can and can't do with my life."
"What?" Bell shook his head in surprise. Confusion and shock clear on his face, Bell spoke up, "But Hestia's a great Goddess! She'd never make you do anything you didn't want to do."
Simon turned to Bell and shrugged, "I don't doubt that. But it's not about whether the God I get the blessing from is a good one. I've never been one to let others dictate my path in life for me. The only one who gets to decide that is me and me alone."
His words were firm and filled with confidence, but there was no malice to them. Nor any in the kind gaze he gave Bell and Hestia. Bell didn't know what to say to that. He wanted Simon to join their Familia, but he didn't want to seem like he was trying to force him into it. This was Simon's decision to make, after all. But if he didn't have a Familia then what would he do for a living? He looked toward his Goddess and waited for her to say something. She had remained silent and was simply staring at Simon, a frown marring her cute face. A part of him hoped that she would say something that would convince Simon otherwise. That with a few magical words he would see that his worries were unfounded.
But the rest of him knew Hestia. And he knew what she would say.
Instead, Hestia sighed and then fell back into the sofa. Her eyes were closed as she lowered her head, "Fine. If you're certain about it."
"I am," Simon nodded, "Thanks for understanding."
Hestia waved his words off and put her hands on her knees. She put up the face of a professional Goddess. One who was barely affected by Simon's refusal to join her Familia. But Bell only needed to look at the way her hands balled into fists on her knees. And the way her arms shook as she spoke, "It would reflect poorly on my Familia if I pushed joining onto you. I'm not one of those other deities who can't no for an answer. And besides, I can see why you wouldn't want to join besides your own personal reasons. We're a small Familia that has to rely on a single member just to make ends meet. Who's Goddess has to work a part-time job to supplement income from the Dungeon."
The longer her speech went on, the more and more Hestia's mood started to drop. She started to withdraw into the sofa, her voice turning from confident to pathetic. Simon's smile fade as he watched the Goddess hold back tears. He prepared to stand up and encourage her, but Bell beat him to it. The white-haired boy jumped to his feet and turned to stare at his Goddess. His eyes were ablaze as he pumped his fists, "Don't get discouraged, Goddess! Our Familia may be small now, but that's because we just started. Once we get through this first part and save up enough money, all our troubles will be over! People will be lining up to join us! Just you wait and see!"
Hestia stood up at Bell's words, her original despair replaced by hope. Her expression got brighter the longer she stared at Bell's smiling face. Simon found himself smiling at the, as Hestia shouted her agreement with Bell. She pumped her own fist while saying how lucky she was to have met someone like Bell. The two shouted as their spirits rose which only made Simon's smile get wider. Watching the two of them get so pumped up...well, it made him glad he decided to pick Bell as his guide to this new world. The boy might not look like much now, but he could sense that he had the spirit and the heart to become a great man. Now if only he had a bit more confidence in him...
"Now, for our future, let's update your status! To the bed and off with your shirt!"
"Alright!"
Bell ran to a door near the back of the room, Hestia following him soon after. She looked back at Simon with a beaming smile on her face, "Make yourself at home, Simon! Don't worry about the Familia stuff and just rest up. And don't leave too soon. Bell will be making dinner later!"
With that, she disappeared around the corner.
Simon waved goodbye to the Goddess and the young boy. Though he did think that the part about Bell taking off his shirt was weird. Curious, he got up and planned to follow the two but thought better of it. If it was something they wanted him to know about, they wouldn't have left the room to do it. And he can just ask Bell about it all later. Instead, he put his hand in his coat pockets and started to walk around the room. There wasn't much to say about it. It had the two sofas, a table, and a dresser. He leaning around the corner he could see another hallway with a second dresser on it and some stairs leading up. He supposed that was where Bell and Hestia went.
Simon hummed as the started to pace around the room. His thoughts started to go to his current circumstances. Which, to be honest, wasn't the strangest situation he ever found himself in. When he finally kicked the bucket back home, he figured he'd go to wherever Nia, Kamina, Kittan, and everyone else who died was. Get to see them all again without needing to use any Spiral Power to bring them back. But instead, he somehow ended up in this world. A place that doesn't seem to have any Spiral Power or even know what it is. Where humans rely on "Gods" to get strong enough to defeat monsters.
He looked toward the ground and thought about that word.
Gods.
Eina and Bell had given him the simplest run down. Put simply, there was another world above this one where the Gods lived. However, they got bored with their lives up there and decided to come down here to "play" with mortals. When he first heard that he felt his rebellious spirit start to rise. The only "God" that he had ever met was the Anti-Spiral. His experience with them wasn't exactly a good one. But Bell assured him that the Gods weren't "bad" and were actually responsible for a lot of the good things that humans have nowadays. Especially when it concerns that "Dungeon".
"Dungeon," Simon tested the word, a hand going to his chin in thought. He knew the place was a central part of Orario. He could tell that much from how Bell and Eina talked about it, how many people he saw come and go from within where he met the half-elf, and how the magic stones they got from monsters were exchanged for money. His eyes roamed the white walls of the basement room around him. He stopped pacing in the middle of the room and stared up at the white ceiling.
His eyes curled inward as he frowned, thinking back to his conversation with Hestia and Bell. He didn't regret what he said. His life since reaching the surface back home had been a tooth-and-nail fight to command his own destiny. Decide fate for himself and allow others to do the same. Even if the Gods of this world weren't as bad as the Anti-Spiral, he still didn't like the idea of being beholden to one of them. Especially not if it came down to a choice between what was right for the Familia and what was the right thing to do. That part of him hadn't changed, even now. If he saw something was wrong, and he knew he could do something to make it right, he'd do it. Whatever consequences came of that, he'd deal with later. In his own way. He didn't think many Gods would be happy if he said something like that to their faces.
But he couldn't deny the fact that he did need some way to take care of himself. No one knew him here, he wasn't a "registered adventurer", and he didn't have any of this world's currency. His options for ensuring his survival were slim. A part of him brought up the fact that he could take care of all his needs with just a little Spiral Power.
He quickly snuffed that part of himself out. He wasn't a God. He was Simon The Digger. That wouldn't change. Not even in this world where Gods walked among mortals.
His troubled thoughts made him sigh. He moved back to the sofa and laid down on it. He kept his boots off the upholstery, turned so he was looking at the ceiling, and put his left hand behind his head. Thoughts began to drift back to the subject of his friends. He knew none of them were here with him. If they were, he would've known. Their souls were bound together by Spiral Power, after all. If any of them were alive and in Orario, he would've felt them by now. But, so far, he had felt nothing.
Though them not being here physically didn't mean they weren't with him.
His right hand continued to rummage in his pocket until he felt his fingers brush over something. Blinking, he pulled his hand out and held it up to the light. The moment he caught sight of it, all his worries went away. His frown became a content smile as he stared at the small, white ring held in his fingers. The bright green crystal in its center seemed to shine in the light of the small room. Smile still on his face, he brought the ring toward his chest where his new Core Drill sat. When the crystal met the tip of the drill, the sound of wind chimes echoed through the room. For the briefest of moments, Simon swore he could feel two hands on his shoulders. One was firm and gripped his shoulder with hard, calloused hands. The other was soft and dainty, laying on his shoulder more than holding it.
It only lasted for a second.
Then the feeling disappeared.
Simon's only reaction was to smile even wider. He pulled the ring away from the Core Drill and placed it on his right ring finger. He held his hand up to the light then curled it into a fist. His smile turned into a determined grin as he pushed himself up and off the sofa.
He wasn't alone.
No matter how much time passed, no matter where they were, he knew that every one of his friends was always with him. Even if they weren't here in body, they were with him in spirit.
New world or not, it didn't change who and what he was. Whatever the future may hold, he'd face it with open arms and a waiting fist. He'd make his way through Orario the same way he had back home.
With an open heart, hard work, dedication to his ideals, and never wavering fighting spirit.
He nodded confidently to himself. He stretched his arms toward the ceiling, feeling refreshed and relieved after all of that. As he shook his arms out, he heard footsteps coming down the stair. Bell soon came around the corner, holding a sheet of paper in his hand with his normal clothes back on. His face was clouded with doubt, eyes furrowed in thought, to the point where he almost walked right passed Simon without a word. He stopped before reaching another door and turned to look at the taller man. His eyes widened in surprise, "Oh, Simon! Sorry, I forgot you were there. Not that I meant to, it's just-"
Simon waved his hand dismissively, "Don't worry about it. Though, I do want to ask what's up. You look like you've got a lot on your mind."
Bell turned his eyes away from Simon as he spoke, "Well, I do. Mainly my updated status."
"Status? Is that what you and Hestia went to take care of upstairs?"
Bell nodded, "Yes. All the experiences we gain in life are gathered up as excelia. The Gods then use that excelia to improve our status. Which represents things like our strength and speed and such."
"Huh. So, they take your life experiences and turn them into power?"
"That's the simplest way to explain it, yes. Though, you can also gain stuff like Magic and Skills when Gods update your status," Bell's eyes twinkled when he mentioned Magic and Skills. But it was swiftly covered by a dark cloud a moment later. The white-haired boy let out a sigh of frustration as he shook his head, "Though not everyone gets them."
Simon hummed and nodded his head, "And that's why you're so down in the dumps?" Bell flinched but nodded in confirmation. Simon waved a hand at him, "And, what was up with her telling you to take off your shirt?"
Bell's face turned a light shade of pink as he shook his head, "I-I-It's just how the Gods update our status'! They write on our backs with their blood! We weren't doing anything...uh...we just weren't doing anything else in there! I swear!"
"Never said you were."
Bell's embarrassment only got worse. His eyes darted around the room, trying to look at anything but Simon. They fell onto the door he was in front of and Bell took his chance. He swiftly opened the door, then ran inside while calling back to Simon, "An-An-Anyway, I need to make us dinner! I'll try to make something for you too, Simon! Hope you don't mind potatoes!"
Before Simon could reply, the door slammed shut behind Bell. He stared at the door for a few moments. Then he shrugged and sat down to wait for Bell to cook dinner. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught Hestia walking around the corner. He waved hello to the Goddess and smiled at her. But his smile fell as he saw the pensive expression on her face. She moved on auto-pilot, sitting on the sofa across from Simon and crossing her legs. Her ponytails were pointed toward the floor and her lips pursed at some errant dark thought.
Worried, Simon called out to Hestia and asked what was wrong. The Goddess, slowly, turned her head up until she was gazing at Simon. After a few moments of silence, she spoke with an eerie calmness to her voice, "Simon. What did you do after you rescued Bell again?"
Confused but not intimidated, Simon replied casually, "I helped him get the minotaur's magic stone."
"And, how did you do that?"
"I gave him one of these," Simon tapped the Core Drill laying on his chest, "and helped him drill through its hide."
"That's it?"
"That's it."
Hestia's eyes moved from Simon's to the drill hanging from his neck. She glared at the object as if she was trying to break it down to its base components with her gaze alone. Simon just sat there, wondering what she was trying to do. Or why she suddenly started asking him about his Core Drill. Before she could say anymore, the door to the kitchen opened up. Hestia's serious mood changed to one of giddiness as she saw Bell come into the room with three bowls of potato soup.
Simon stared at the Goddess, wondering what all that had been about. But then he smelled the soup. Any thoughts about the previous encounter were blown away by his sudden and furious hunger.
Simon flinched, eyes blinking open as the morning sunlight shined down onto his face. He put a hand over his left eye to protect it from the light shining directly through a hole in the church's roof. With a short grunt of annoyance, he pushed himself to a sitting position atop the partially intact pew he was using as a bed. He stretched his arms out to the sky as a yawn left his mouth.
After dinner was over last night, where everyone would be sleeping became an issue. Hestia would take the bed while Bell insisted on sleeping on one of the sofas. The two offered Simon a place on the other Sofa but he declined. He didn't want to impose on them more than he already had. Even if they did say it was fine, he wouldn't feel right if he slept in the space they called home. So, he chose to leave the basement and catch some Z's in the dilapidated church's main hall. It wasn't that bad. He had slept on pure sand and inside Lagann before, so a mostly destroyed wood pew wasn't much of a difference.
He stood up and started to perform some early morning stretches, waking up the rest of his body alongside his mind. He felt his bones pop into place, back a bit sore from sleeping on the pew. The sound of a door opening made him look toward the door to the basement in the back of the church. A few moments later, he saw Bell walking up the stairs and into the main part of the church. The boy's cheeks were a light shade of pink as he came to a stop a good distance away from the basement door. He shook his head before looking up at Simon. Then he smiled before waving to his savior, "Good Morning, Simon."
"Mornin', Bell," Simon said, another yawn leaving his mouth as he walked over to the young man, "How'd you sleep?"
"I slept fine. But shouldn't I be asking you that?" Bell's eyes went to the destroyed pew behind Simon.
Simon jerked his thumb behind him, "Eh, I've slept on worse. Don't worry 'bout me. What about Hestia? You say bye to her before you left?"
Bell's cheeks got even pinker at Simon's question. He looked away from the man and nodded, "Uh, no! She-She was still asleep. I didn't want to wake her up."
Nodding in understanding, Simon turned toward the church's open front door. He jerked his head toward the bright sun beyond, "That so? Well then, what's the plan for today? We goin' back in the Dungeon or you gonna take a break?"
"H-Huh? You...you're gonna come into the Dungeon with me?"
"Of course. Why wouldn't I?"
"But...you're not part of my Familia. I don't think the Guild will let you in."
"Pfft. I'll just tell them what I said last time. Everything I get in the Dungeon'll go to you. Got nothing to worry about if that's the case, right?"
"I...I suppose," Bell looked toward the ground, not sure what to say. Simon seemed confident, but he wasn't sure if the Guild would let someone not registered go into the Dungeon. Even if they could fight against the monsters down there.
Seeing Bell's uncertainty, Simon leaned forward and placed a hand on the boy's head. Bell "squeaked" and went rigid as Simon's fingers tousled his hair. The boy's red eyes looked up into the sharp black ones of his savior. For a second, he swore he could see a bright green spiral forming in one of the older man's eyes. He swore he could see himself reflected in the strange energy. But as soon as it came, it disappeared when Simon closed his eyes.
His smile was warm and confident as he spoke, "Don't you worry about me, Bell. I've been through my fair share of trouble and I'm still kicking. So, how about instead of constantly worrying over whether or not I can do something, you do something else for me? As a favor?"
"I...I guess. What do you want me to do?"
Simon stood up, his hand leaving Bell's head. When he was at his full height he opened his eyes and pointed a thumb at his chest, "Believe in me. Believe that I'll do what I say I will. Can you do that for me?"
An errant wind blew through one of the broken windows, causing Simon's cape to flap in the breeze. Bell's mouth hung open as he stared at Simon. His eye started to shine with an awe he hadn't felt since he was a child. A familiar feeling began filling his chest. A burning admiration that he always got whenever his Grandfather would tell him stories from the Dungeon Oratoria. A feeling that would come whenever one of the Heroes in the book went to fight a great enemy, and promised everyone they would come back alive and well. All they had to do was-
"-Believe in the Hero."
"What was that, Bell?"
Bell shook his head to clear it. He shot a beaming smile up at Simon, "Uh, I said, sure. I can do that. I hope we can be good friends, Simon."
"You know it, Bell," Simon pats the young man on the back. Then he points toward the exit to the church, "Now how about you lead us to the Dungeon?"
Bell nodded and started to walk out of the church. Simon followed him, standing at his right the entire way out.
Hestia stared at Bell's status sheet with a grimace on her face. She sat in the upstairs bedroom, one hand on her chin while her other held the paper against the bed. Her eyes repeatedly went over the hieroglyphs written on the sheet multiple times. Yet, no matter how many times she did it, the same thing kept happening.
Bell's stats themselves weren't that impressive. Other than his Agility increasing by twenty-four points, his growth was relatively normal for a Level One Solo Adventurer.
No, the strange thing was the Skill that she had written into his back.
Liaris Freese.
A Skill that gave him Rapid Growth that increased with a strong desire for some kind of goal.
When she had written that Skill into his back, she had grown to hate it. The idea that Bell would only start growing more because he felt a desire for something other than her made her heart ache. That was without factoring in how the other deities, always looking for something new to slake their insatiable curiosity, would pounce on him the moment they found out he had that Skill. Or who knows what else might befall her sweet little rabbit if anyone ever discovered how powerful that Skill truly was. It was why she had kept the Skill a secret. Especially from Bell. That boy couldn't keep a secret if his life was on the line.
But that wasn't what was bothering her. The thought of the Skill had always brought her some measure of unease, sure, but she had made some semblance of peace with it. She took comfort in the fact that the Skill would make Bell stronger at a faster rate than other adventurers. Meaning he'd be far safer in the Dungeon than most Level Ones.
No, what was bothering her was what was happening to Bell's Skill.
She had noticed it while she was updating his status. And seeing it occur made her pause in her writing to stare at it with confusion and awe. Bell hadn't noticed because he was too busy talking about Simon. He kept going on and on about how cool the newcomer was. How strong he looked. How awesome he was when he took out the minotaur. At any other time, Hestia would've joked about how Bell sounded like he had a crush on Simon. But what she saw then had left her speechless.
And it was happening right in front of her.
Liaris Freese....changed.
One moment, it was the same Skill that she had written into Bell's back not so long ago.
The next-
Bell Cranell
Level One
Strength: I-77 → I-82
Defense: I-13
Utility: I-93 → I-96
Agility H-148 → H-172
Magic: I-0
Magic
( )
Skills
Spiral Power
Fighting Spirit
User can Manifest their Willpower and Fighting Spirit as Physical Power
User will Evolve at a rapid rate
-It was this.
Hestia didn't know what was happening. She hadn't seen anything like this before. There have been plenty of instances of childrens' Skills improving or mutating into something new. But this was the first time she had ever seen a Skill get replaced by another one.
And the only real clue she had...was that newcomer.
"Simon," the tiniest bit of malice entered her voice as she said the man's name. She took her eyes off the page to look up at the magic lamb on the ceiling, face contorted into a frown, "What did you do to my Bell?"
She looked back at the page on the bed...then did a double take.
The Skill, "Spiral Power", had changed back into Liaris Freese. The original Skill was back in its proper place, with its description still saying the same thing.
But what drew the Goddess' attention was Bell's status:
Bell Cranell
Level One
Strength: I-82 → I-83
Defense: I-13 → I-14
Utility: I-96 → I-97
Agility H-172 → H-173
Magic: I-0
"It updated on its own!?" Hestia shouted into the empty room. Her arms started to tremble as she turned toward the door that led downstairs.
This was impossible.
What...what did that man do to Bell?
Got this done. Oh, and I finished Volume 8 today.
Simon, his arms crossed and right leg over his knee, nodded at Hestia, "Ah, I see. So, if I were to join you guys, I'd get a blessing from you. And I'd be a part of your Familia. Which would let me register at the Guild, make money, and get any other benefits from being in your Familia."
"Pretty much," Bell shrugged, an expecting smile on his face.
Simon nodded to the goddess, "Thanks for the rundown, Hestia."
"Don't mention it," Hestia said with pride. Then she leaned forward, the same expecting smile that Bell had on her face, "Sooooo, what do you think?"
"Think about what?"
"About joining our Familia. Before, you said you wouldn't join because you didn't really get how it worked," Hestia explains, her ponytails pointing toward Simon.
"Right," Simon nodded again.
"Well, now you know. So, are you gonna-"
Simon held up a hand, "Sorry, but my answer's still no."
"What?!" Hestia's hands hit the table, while her ponytails shot toward the ceiling. Her face clearly showed the surprise she felt, "But why?"
"Hmm, two main reasons. The first is that I don't think I'm gonna need it. I'm already plenty tough myself," Simon tap a fist against his chest to emphasize, "and I don't need a God's blessing to get stronger."
"But that was one minotaur. And you caught it off guard. You do know there are stronger monsters in the Dungeon than that, right? Do you really think you can handle them too?" Hestia pointed out, Bell nodding along with all of her words.
Simon's expression turned grateful, "Thanks for worrying about me. But, seriously. I'll be fine. Like I said, I've fought tougher things than that before."
He leaned back in his seat, eyes not leaving Hestia's gaze, "Second, if I got a blessing I would essentially be beholden to the God who gave it to me, right?"
Confusion came over Bell's face while Hestia started to frown. She nodded in response to Simon's question, which made the older man hum in understanding. He stared Hestia down before he spoke again, "Thought so. In which case, I don't think I'll ever get a blessing. I wouldn't accept having a God tell me what I can and can't do with my life."
"What?" Bell shook his head in surprise. Confusion and shock clear on his face, Bell spoke up, "But Hestia's a great Goddess! She'd never make you do anything you didn't want to do."
Simon turned to Bell and shrugged, "I don't doubt that. But it's not about whether the God I get the blessing from is a good one. I've never been one to let others dictate my path in life for me. The only one who gets to decide that is me and me alone."
His words were firm and filled with confidence, but there was no malice to them. Nor any in the kind gaze he gave Bell and Hestia. Bell didn't know what to say to that. He wanted Simon to join their Familia, but he didn't want to seem like he was trying to force him into it. This was Simon's decision to make, after all. But if he didn't have a Familia then what would he do for a living? He looked toward his Goddess and waited for her to say something. She had remained silent and was simply staring at Simon, a frown marring her cute face. A part of him hoped that she would say something that would convince Simon otherwise. That with a few magical words he would see that his worries were unfounded.
But the rest of him knew Hestia. And he knew what she would say.
Instead, Hestia sighed and then fell back into the sofa. Her eyes were closed as she lowered her head, "Fine. If you're certain about it."
"I am," Simon nodded, "Thanks for understanding."
Hestia waved his words off and put her hands on her knees. She put up the face of a professional Goddess. One who was barely affected by Simon's refusal to join her Familia. But Bell only needed to look at the way her hands balled into fists on her knees. And the way her arms shook as she spoke, "It would reflect poorly on my Familia if I pushed joining onto you. I'm not one of those other deities who can't no for an answer. And besides, I can see why you wouldn't want to join besides your own personal reasons. We're a small Familia that has to rely on a single member just to make ends meet. Who's Goddess has to work a part-time job to supplement income from the Dungeon."
The longer her speech went on, the more and more Hestia's mood started to drop. She started to withdraw into the sofa, her voice turning from confident to pathetic. Simon's smile fade as he watched the Goddess hold back tears. He prepared to stand up and encourage her, but Bell beat him to it. The white-haired boy jumped to his feet and turned to stare at his Goddess. His eyes were ablaze as he pumped his fists, "Don't get discouraged, Goddess! Our Familia may be small now, but that's because we just started. Once we get through this first part and save up enough money, all our troubles will be over! People will be lining up to join us! Just you wait and see!"
Hestia stood up at Bell's words, her original despair replaced by hope. Her expression got brighter the longer she stared at Bell's smiling face. Simon found himself smiling at the, as Hestia shouted her agreement with Bell. She pumped her own fist while saying how lucky she was to have met someone like Bell. The two shouted as their spirits rose which only made Simon's smile get wider. Watching the two of them get so pumped up...well, it made him glad he decided to pick Bell as his guide to this new world. The boy might not look like much now, but he could sense that he had the spirit and the heart to become a great man. Now if only he had a bit more confidence in him...
"Now, for our future, let's update your status! To the bed and off with your shirt!"
"Alright!"
Bell ran to a door near the back of the room, Hestia following him soon after. She looked back at Simon with a beaming smile on her face, "Make yourself at home, Simon! Don't worry about the Familia stuff and just rest up. And don't leave too soon. Bell will be making dinner later!"
With that, she disappeared around the corner.
Simon waved goodbye to the Goddess and the young boy. Though he did think that the part about Bell taking off his shirt was weird. Curious, he got up and planned to follow the two but thought better of it. If it was something they wanted him to know about, they wouldn't have left the room to do it. And he can just ask Bell about it all later. Instead, he put his hand in his coat pockets and started to walk around the room. There wasn't much to say about it. It had the two sofas, a table, and a dresser. He leaning around the corner he could see another hallway with a second dresser on it and some stairs leading up. He supposed that was where Bell and Hestia went.
Simon hummed as the started to pace around the room. His thoughts started to go to his current circumstances. Which, to be honest, wasn't the strangest situation he ever found himself in. When he finally kicked the bucket back home, he figured he'd go to wherever Nia, Kamina, Kittan, and everyone else who died was. Get to see them all again without needing to use any Spiral Power to bring them back. But instead, he somehow ended up in this world. A place that doesn't seem to have any Spiral Power or even know what it is. Where humans rely on "Gods" to get strong enough to defeat monsters.
He looked toward the ground and thought about that word.
Gods.
Eina and Bell had given him the simplest run down. Put simply, there was another world above this one where the Gods lived. However, they got bored with their lives up there and decided to come down here to "play" with mortals. When he first heard that he felt his rebellious spirit start to rise. The only "God" that he had ever met was the Anti-Spiral. His experience with them wasn't exactly a good one. But Bell assured him that the Gods weren't "bad" and were actually responsible for a lot of the good things that humans have nowadays. Especially when it concerns that "Dungeon".
"Dungeon," Simon tested the word, a hand going to his chin in thought. He knew the place was a central part of Orario. He could tell that much from how Bell and Eina talked about it, how many people he saw come and go from within where he met the half-elf, and how the magic stones they got from monsters were exchanged for money. His eyes roamed the white walls of the basement room around him. He stopped pacing in the middle of the room and stared up at the white ceiling.
His eyes curled inward as he frowned, thinking back to his conversation with Hestia and Bell. He didn't regret what he said. His life since reaching the surface back home had been a tooth-and-nail fight to command his own destiny. Decide fate for himself and allow others to do the same. Even if the Gods of this world weren't as bad as the Anti-Spiral, he still didn't like the idea of being beholden to one of them. Especially not if it came down to a choice between what was right for the Familia and what was the right thing to do. That part of him hadn't changed, even now. If he saw something was wrong, and he knew he could do something to make it right, he'd do it. Whatever consequences came of that, he'd deal with later. In his own way. He didn't think many Gods would be happy if he said something like that to their faces.
But he couldn't deny the fact that he did need some way to take care of himself. No one knew him here, he wasn't a "registered adventurer", and he didn't have any of this world's currency. His options for ensuring his survival were slim. A part of him brought up the fact that he could take care of all his needs with just a little Spiral Power.
He quickly snuffed that part of himself out. He wasn't a God. He was Simon The Digger. That wouldn't change. Not even in this world where Gods walked among mortals.
His troubled thoughts made him sigh. He moved back to the sofa and laid down on it. He kept his boots off the upholstery, turned so he was looking at the ceiling, and put his left hand behind his head. Thoughts began to drift back to the subject of his friends. He knew none of them were here with him. If they were, he would've known. Their souls were bound together by Spiral Power, after all. If any of them were alive and in Orario, he would've felt them by now. But, so far, he had felt nothing.
Though them not being here physically didn't mean they weren't with him.
His right hand continued to rummage in his pocket until he felt his fingers brush over something. Blinking, he pulled his hand out and held it up to the light. The moment he caught sight of it, all his worries went away. His frown became a content smile as he stared at the small, white ring held in his fingers. The bright green crystal in its center seemed to shine in the light of the small room. Smile still on his face, he brought the ring toward his chest where his new Core Drill sat. When the crystal met the tip of the drill, the sound of wind chimes echoed through the room. For the briefest of moments, Simon swore he could feel two hands on his shoulders. One was firm and gripped his shoulder with hard, calloused hands. The other was soft and dainty, laying on his shoulder more than holding it.
It only lasted for a second.
Then the feeling disappeared.
Simon's only reaction was to smile even wider. He pulled the ring away from the Core Drill and placed it on his right ring finger. He held his hand up to the light then curled it into a fist. His smile turned into a determined grin as he pushed himself up and off the sofa.
He wasn't alone.
No matter how much time passed, no matter where they were, he knew that every one of his friends was always with him. Even if they weren't here in body, they were with him in spirit.
New world or not, it didn't change who and what he was. Whatever the future may hold, he'd face it with open arms and a waiting fist. He'd make his way through Orario the same way he had back home.
With an open heart, hard work, dedication to his ideals, and never wavering fighting spirit.
He nodded confidently to himself. He stretched his arms toward the ceiling, feeling refreshed and relieved after all of that. As he shook his arms out, he heard footsteps coming down the stair. Bell soon came around the corner, holding a sheet of paper in his hand with his normal clothes back on. His face was clouded with doubt, eyes furrowed in thought, to the point where he almost walked right passed Simon without a word. He stopped before reaching another door and turned to look at the taller man. His eyes widened in surprise, "Oh, Simon! Sorry, I forgot you were there. Not that I meant to, it's just-"
Simon waved his hand dismissively, "Don't worry about it. Though, I do want to ask what's up. You look like you've got a lot on your mind."
Bell turned his eyes away from Simon as he spoke, "Well, I do. Mainly my updated status."
"Status? Is that what you and Hestia went to take care of upstairs?"
Bell nodded, "Yes. All the experiences we gain in life are gathered up as excelia. The Gods then use that excelia to improve our status. Which represents things like our strength and speed and such."
"Huh. So, they take your life experiences and turn them into power?"
"That's the simplest way to explain it, yes. Though, you can also gain stuff like Magic and Skills when Gods update your status," Bell's eyes twinkled when he mentioned Magic and Skills. But it was swiftly covered by a dark cloud a moment later. The white-haired boy let out a sigh of frustration as he shook his head, "Though not everyone gets them."
Simon hummed and nodded his head, "And that's why you're so down in the dumps?" Bell flinched but nodded in confirmation. Simon waved a hand at him, "And, what was up with her telling you to take off your shirt?"
Bell's face turned a light shade of pink as he shook his head, "I-I-It's just how the Gods update our status'! They write on our backs with their blood! We weren't doing anything...uh...we just weren't doing anything else in there! I swear!"
"Never said you were."
Bell's embarrassment only got worse. His eyes darted around the room, trying to look at anything but Simon. They fell onto the door he was in front of and Bell took his chance. He swiftly opened the door, then ran inside while calling back to Simon, "An-An-Anyway, I need to make us dinner! I'll try to make something for you too, Simon! Hope you don't mind potatoes!"
Before Simon could reply, the door slammed shut behind Bell. He stared at the door for a few moments. Then he shrugged and sat down to wait for Bell to cook dinner. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught Hestia walking around the corner. He waved hello to the Goddess and smiled at her. But his smile fell as he saw the pensive expression on her face. She moved on auto-pilot, sitting on the sofa across from Simon and crossing her legs. Her ponytails were pointed toward the floor and her lips pursed at some errant dark thought.
Worried, Simon called out to Hestia and asked what was wrong. The Goddess, slowly, turned her head up until she was gazing at Simon. After a few moments of silence, she spoke with an eerie calmness to her voice, "Simon. What did you do after you rescued Bell again?"
Confused but not intimidated, Simon replied casually, "I helped him get the minotaur's magic stone."
"And, how did you do that?"
"I gave him one of these," Simon tapped the Core Drill laying on his chest, "and helped him drill through its hide."
"That's it?"
"That's it."
Hestia's eyes moved from Simon's to the drill hanging from his neck. She glared at the object as if she was trying to break it down to its base components with her gaze alone. Simon just sat there, wondering what she was trying to do. Or why she suddenly started asking him about his Core Drill. Before she could say anymore, the door to the kitchen opened up. Hestia's serious mood changed to one of giddiness as she saw Bell come into the room with three bowls of potato soup.
Simon stared at the Goddess, wondering what all that had been about. But then he smelled the soup. Any thoughts about the previous encounter were blown away by his sudden and furious hunger.
Simon flinched, eyes blinking open as the morning sunlight shined down onto his face. He put a hand over his left eye to protect it from the light shining directly through a hole in the church's roof. With a short grunt of annoyance, he pushed himself to a sitting position atop the partially intact pew he was using as a bed. He stretched his arms out to the sky as a yawn left his mouth.
After dinner was over last night, where everyone would be sleeping became an issue. Hestia would take the bed while Bell insisted on sleeping on one of the sofas. The two offered Simon a place on the other Sofa but he declined. He didn't want to impose on them more than he already had. Even if they did say it was fine, he wouldn't feel right if he slept in the space they called home. So, he chose to leave the basement and catch some Z's in the dilapidated church's main hall. It wasn't that bad. He had slept on pure sand and inside Lagann before, so a mostly destroyed wood pew wasn't much of a difference.
He stood up and started to perform some early morning stretches, waking up the rest of his body alongside his mind. He felt his bones pop into place, back a bit sore from sleeping on the pew. The sound of a door opening made him look toward the door to the basement in the back of the church. A few moments later, he saw Bell walking up the stairs and into the main part of the church. The boy's cheeks were a light shade of pink as he came to a stop a good distance away from the basement door. He shook his head before looking up at Simon. Then he smiled before waving to his savior, "Good Morning, Simon."
"Mornin', Bell," Simon said, another yawn leaving his mouth as he walked over to the young man, "How'd you sleep?"
"I slept fine. But shouldn't I be asking you that?" Bell's eyes went to the destroyed pew behind Simon.
Simon jerked his thumb behind him, "Eh, I've slept on worse. Don't worry 'bout me. What about Hestia? You say bye to her before you left?"
Bell's cheeks got even pinker at Simon's question. He looked away from the man and nodded, "Uh, no! She-She was still asleep. I didn't want to wake her up."
Nodding in understanding, Simon turned toward the church's open front door. He jerked his head toward the bright sun beyond, "That so? Well then, what's the plan for today? We goin' back in the Dungeon or you gonna take a break?"
"H-Huh? You...you're gonna come into the Dungeon with me?"
"Of course. Why wouldn't I?"
"But...you're not part of my Familia. I don't think the Guild will let you in."
"Pfft. I'll just tell them what I said last time. Everything I get in the Dungeon'll go to you. Got nothing to worry about if that's the case, right?"
"I...I suppose," Bell looked toward the ground, not sure what to say. Simon seemed confident, but he wasn't sure if the Guild would let someone not registered go into the Dungeon. Even if they could fight against the monsters down there.
Seeing Bell's uncertainty, Simon leaned forward and placed a hand on the boy's head. Bell "squeaked" and went rigid as Simon's fingers tousled his hair. The boy's red eyes looked up into the sharp black ones of his savior. For a second, he swore he could see a bright green spiral forming in one of the older man's eyes. He swore he could see himself reflected in the strange energy. But as soon as it came, it disappeared when Simon closed his eyes.
His smile was warm and confident as he spoke, "Don't you worry about me, Bell. I've been through my fair share of trouble and I'm still kicking. So, how about instead of constantly worrying over whether or not I can do something, you do something else for me? As a favor?"
"I...I guess. What do you want me to do?"
Simon stood up, his hand leaving Bell's head. When he was at his full height he opened his eyes and pointed a thumb at his chest, "Believe in me. Believe that I'll do what I say I will. Can you do that for me?"
An errant wind blew through one of the broken windows, causing Simon's cape to flap in the breeze. Bell's mouth hung open as he stared at Simon. His eye started to shine with an awe he hadn't felt since he was a child. A familiar feeling began filling his chest. A burning admiration that he always got whenever his Grandfather would tell him stories from the Dungeon Oratoria. A feeling that would come whenever one of the Heroes in the book went to fight a great enemy, and promised everyone they would come back alive and well. All they had to do was-
"-Believe in the Hero."
"What was that, Bell?"
Bell shook his head to clear it. He shot a beaming smile up at Simon, "Uh, I said, sure. I can do that. I hope we can be good friends, Simon."
"You know it, Bell," Simon pats the young man on the back. Then he points toward the exit to the church, "Now how about you lead us to the Dungeon?"
Bell nodded and started to walk out of the church. Simon followed him, standing at his right the entire way out.
Hestia stared at Bell's status sheet with a grimace on her face. She sat in the upstairs bedroom, one hand on her chin while her other held the paper against the bed. Her eyes repeatedly went over the hieroglyphs written on the sheet multiple times. Yet, no matter how many times she did it, the same thing kept happening.
Bell's stats themselves weren't that impressive. Other than his Agility increasing by twenty-four points, his growth was relatively normal for a Level One Solo Adventurer.
No, the strange thing was the Skill that she had written into his back.
Liaris Freese.
A Skill that gave him Rapid Growth that increased with a strong desire for some kind of goal.
When she had written that Skill into his back, she had grown to hate it. The idea that Bell would only start growing more because he felt a desire for something other than her made her heart ache. That was without factoring in how the other deities, always looking for something new to slake their insatiable curiosity, would pounce on him the moment they found out he had that Skill. Or who knows what else might befall her sweet little rabbit if anyone ever discovered how powerful that Skill truly was. It was why she had kept the Skill a secret. Especially from Bell. That boy couldn't keep a secret if his life was on the line.
But that wasn't what was bothering her. The thought of the Skill had always brought her some measure of unease, sure, but she had made some semblance of peace with it. She took comfort in the fact that the Skill would make Bell stronger at a faster rate than other adventurers. Meaning he'd be far safer in the Dungeon than most Level Ones.
No, what was bothering her was what was happening to Bell's Skill.
She had noticed it while she was updating his status. And seeing it occur made her pause in her writing to stare at it with confusion and awe. Bell hadn't noticed because he was too busy talking about Simon. He kept going on and on about how cool the newcomer was. How strong he looked. How awesome he was when he took out the minotaur. At any other time, Hestia would've joked about how Bell sounded like he had a crush on Simon. But what she saw then had left her speechless.
And it was happening right in front of her.
Liaris Freese....changed.
One moment, it was the same Skill that she had written into Bell's back not so long ago.
The next-
Bell Cranell
Level One
Strength: I-77 → I-82
Defense: I-13
Utility: I-93 → I-96
Agility H-148 → H-172
Magic: I-0
Magic
( )
Skills
Spiral Power
Fighting Spirit
User can Manifest their Willpower and Fighting Spirit as Physical Power
User will Evolve at a rapid rate
-It was this.
Hestia didn't know what was happening. She hadn't seen anything like this before. There have been plenty of instances of childrens' Skills improving or mutating into something new. But this was the first time she had ever seen a Skill get replaced by another one.
And the only real clue she had...was that newcomer.
"Simon," the tiniest bit of malice entered her voice as she said the man's name. She took her eyes off the page to look up at the magic lamb on the ceiling, face contorted into a frown, "What did you do to my Bell?"
She looked back at the page on the bed...then did a double take.
The Skill, "Spiral Power", had changed back into Liaris Freese. The original Skill was back in its proper place, with its description still saying the same thing.
But what drew the Goddess' attention was Bell's status:
Bell Cranell
Level One
Strength: I-82 → I-83
Defense: I-13 → I-14
Utility: I-96 → I-97
Agility H-172 → H-173
Magic: I-0
"It updated on its own!?" Hestia shouted into the empty room. Her arms started to tremble as she turned toward the door that led downstairs.
This was impossible.
What...what did that man do to Bell?
Got this done. Oh, and I finished Volume 8 today.
Chapter 5.1
LinkOnScepter
Versed in the lewd.
- Joined
- May 21, 2016
- Messages
- 1,987
- Likes received
- 40,359
Along West Main Street was a certain cafe.
Within the second floor of this cafe, at a table next to a glass window looking out at the street below, sat a lone woman. She wore a navy blue cloak that hid the majority of her snowy-white skin. Yet every set of eyes in the cafe was locked onto her. None could catch but a glimpse of her true features, but they all stared slack jawed at the lone figure. Every movement made their breath hitch within their throats. Even simply tracing the surface of her table with a finger was enough to make all in attendance hold their tongues in anticipation.
The Goddess Of Beauty, Freya, paid them no heed.
She merely sat at her table as her silver eyes watched the children of Gekai below. Humans, dwarves, elves. A few adventurers here and there. Some animal people trying to sell their wares to anyone who walked by.
Freya thoroughly examined them all with her sharp eyes. Never once did the leave the window, even a waiter came by to take her order. She didn't even turn to look at the boy but he was immediately captivated by her beauty. Her request for tea was short and simple, and the waiter moved to fulfill it as soon as possible.
Freya kept her eyes on the street below.
And it's thanks to that, that she caught sight of them.
It was by complete chance. Her gaze just so happened to move to the other side of the street. In the fresh early morning sunlight, the eyes of the Goddess of beauty fell upon a white haired boy and a blue haired man.
And within that instant she fell in love with the white haired boy.
His soul sung to her. A pure, white light that burned with a fire that had to blaze. A soul completely untainted by the cruelties of the world. A young man filled with the innocence of a babe, but with the potential be be so much more. This flame...this will burning within him...it was like a soprano. One that captivated her the moment she heard it.
However, the soul that walked beside him it was somehow the same...yet different.
Where the boy's soul had captured her heart, this man's soul did something else. It confused her.
For one thing, it wasn't like anyone else's soul. It wasn't an orb with a distinct color that detailed the life experiences of its owner. Rather...it was...she wasn't sure. It was green in color but that was where similarities with other souls like it ended.
Because this soul...it was spinning.
That was the best way Freya could describe it. The young man's soul was spinning. Non-stop. Without any input whatsoever. It spun in place, the green light around it flowing with it. The force made the soul transform from just a color into...a...a drill?
Yes, that felt right. Freya didn't know why but calling that soul a drill felt right. And as she examined it further she found her confusion and curiosity growing by the second. For the soul was much like the boy's. Pure, radiant, full of potential. But in some places she could tell it was tempered. Like it had clashed with the realities of the world around it. But, rather than allow the flames within it to sputter and die, it continued to nurture them. To use them to fuel its fire.
A contradiction.
Yet it existed nonetheless.
As the two walked down West Main, Freya noticed something else. Something that, once she was aware of it, made her frown.
The green light of the young man's soul...some it had taken root within the white haired boy's soul.
Was gonna have this be longer...but decided to just post it now. I am actually rather proud of it.
Within the second floor of this cafe, at a table next to a glass window looking out at the street below, sat a lone woman. She wore a navy blue cloak that hid the majority of her snowy-white skin. Yet every set of eyes in the cafe was locked onto her. None could catch but a glimpse of her true features, but they all stared slack jawed at the lone figure. Every movement made their breath hitch within their throats. Even simply tracing the surface of her table with a finger was enough to make all in attendance hold their tongues in anticipation.
The Goddess Of Beauty, Freya, paid them no heed.
She merely sat at her table as her silver eyes watched the children of Gekai below. Humans, dwarves, elves. A few adventurers here and there. Some animal people trying to sell their wares to anyone who walked by.
Freya thoroughly examined them all with her sharp eyes. Never once did the leave the window, even a waiter came by to take her order. She didn't even turn to look at the boy but he was immediately captivated by her beauty. Her request for tea was short and simple, and the waiter moved to fulfill it as soon as possible.
Freya kept her eyes on the street below.
And it's thanks to that, that she caught sight of them.
It was by complete chance. Her gaze just so happened to move to the other side of the street. In the fresh early morning sunlight, the eyes of the Goddess of beauty fell upon a white haired boy and a blue haired man.
And within that instant she fell in love with the white haired boy.
His soul sung to her. A pure, white light that burned with a fire that had to blaze. A soul completely untainted by the cruelties of the world. A young man filled with the innocence of a babe, but with the potential be be so much more. This flame...this will burning within him...it was like a soprano. One that captivated her the moment she heard it.
However, the soul that walked beside him it was somehow the same...yet different.
Where the boy's soul had captured her heart, this man's soul did something else. It confused her.
For one thing, it wasn't like anyone else's soul. It wasn't an orb with a distinct color that detailed the life experiences of its owner. Rather...it was...she wasn't sure. It was green in color but that was where similarities with other souls like it ended.
Because this soul...it was spinning.
That was the best way Freya could describe it. The young man's soul was spinning. Non-stop. Without any input whatsoever. It spun in place, the green light around it flowing with it. The force made the soul transform from just a color into...a...a drill?
Yes, that felt right. Freya didn't know why but calling that soul a drill felt right. And as she examined it further she found her confusion and curiosity growing by the second. For the soul was much like the boy's. Pure, radiant, full of potential. But in some places she could tell it was tempered. Like it had clashed with the realities of the world around it. But, rather than allow the flames within it to sputter and die, it continued to nurture them. To use them to fuel its fire.
A contradiction.
Yet it existed nonetheless.
As the two walked down West Main, Freya noticed something else. Something that, once she was aware of it, made her frown.
The green light of the young man's soul...some it had taken root within the white haired boy's soul.
Was gonna have this be longer...but decided to just post it now. I am actually rather proud of it.
Chapter 5: Into The Dungeon
LinkOnScepter
Versed in the lewd.
- Joined
- May 21, 2016
- Messages
- 1,987
- Likes received
- 40,359
Along West Main Street was a certain cafe.
Within the second floor of this cafe, at a table next to a glass window looking out at the street below sat a lone woman. She wore a navy blue cloak that hid the majority of her snowy-white skin. Yet every set of eyes in the cafe was locked onto her. None could catch but a glimpse of her true features, but they all stared slack-jawed at the lone figure. Every movement made their breath hitch within their throats. Even simply tracing the surface of her table with a finger was enough to make all in attendance hold their tongues in anticipation.
The Goddess Of Beauty, Freya, paid them no heed.
She merely sat at her table as her silver eyes watched the children of Gekai below. Humans, dwarves, elves. A few adventurers here and there. Some animal people trying to sell their wares to anyone who walked by.
Freya thoroughly examined them all with her sharp eyes. Never once did the leave the window, even a waiter came by to take her order. She didn't even turn to look at the boy but he was immediately captivated by her beauty. Her request for tea was short and simple, and the waiter moved to fulfill it as soon as possible.
Freya kept her eyes on the street below.
And it's thanks to that, that she caught sight of them.
It was by complete chance. Her gaze just so happened to move to the other side of the street. In the fresh early morning sunlight, the eyes of the Goddess of beauty fell upon a white-haired boy and a blue-haired man.
And within that instant, she fell in love with the white-haired boy.
His soul sung to her. A pure, white light that burned with a fire that had to blaze. A soul completely untainted by the cruelties of the world. A young man filled with the innocence of a babe, but with the potential to be so much more. This flame...this will burning within him...it was like a soprano. One that captivated her the moment she heard it.
However, the soul that walked beside him was somehow the same...yet different.
Where the boy's soul had captured her heart, this man's soul did something else. It confused her.
For one thing, it wasn't like anyone else's soul. It wasn't an orb with a distinct color that detailed the life experiences of its owner. Rather...it was...she wasn't sure. It was green in color but that was where similarities with other souls like it ended.
Because this soul...it was spinning.
That was the best way Freya could describe it. The young man's soul was spinning. Non-stop. Without any input whatsoever. It spun in place, the green light around it flowing with it. The force made the soul transform from just a color into...a...a drill?
Yes, that felt right. Freya didn't know why but calling that soul a drill felt right. And as she examined it further she found her confusion and curiosity growing by the second. For the soul was much like the boy's. Pure, radiant, and full of potential. But in some places, she could tell it was tempered. Like it had clashed with the realities of the world around it. But, rather than allow the flames within it to sputter and die, it continued to nurture them. To use them to fuel its fire.
A contradiction.
Yet it existed nonetheless.
As the two walked down West Main, Freya noticed something else. Something that, once she was aware of it, made her frown.
The green light of the young man's soul...some it had taken root within the white-haired boy's soul.
A growl from nearby made Simon and Bell stop walking. Simon blinked before turning to the white-haired boy. Bell stood stock still while doing his best to not look Simon in the eye. He just kept looking at anything and everything that wasn't his blue-haired companion. Simon turned to face Bell fully, both hands in the pockets of his coat. He cocked his head to the side while raising his right eyebrow, "Bell?"
"Y-Y-Yeah, Simon?"
"Did you eat breakfast before you left?"
"Of-Of course I-"
Another growl cut Bell off. The boy's face became as red as his eyes, while his hands went to his stomach. He started to involuntarily rub it while trying to put on a brave face. Simon frowned then crossed his arms, "Bell, don't tell me you were planning to go fight monsters on an empty stomach?"
"No, I wasn't. I just...I just forgot is all," Bell's pride slowly left him in the face of Simon's worried gaze. He started to shuffle from foot to foot while still avoiding Simon's eyes, "I only just now thought about it so..."
Simon's frown remained for a few seconds. Then it shifted to a smile. He reached down and patted Bell on the shoulder, "Eh, it's not that big a deal. We just need to find you some grub. But I can't really tell where you could go to get food around here. Mind helping me out?"
"Well, I don't know if-"
Both Bell and Simon suddenly stiffened. Bell whirled around his eyes wide and adventurer senses on high alert. He swore he could feel someone's gaze on his back over his right shoulder. He quickly examined the early morning West Main Street, but he caught neither hide nor hair of someone watching him. His eyes flitted over the terrace of a cafe, two animal people standing near a corner, and a woman looking down from a rooftop. But he couldn't spot where that feeling of being watched had come from.
The white-haired boy's gaze kept jumping from place to place, in stark contrast to his blue-haired companion. Simon was standing still with his head held high and a frown on his face. His eyes were narrowed as they locked onto the terrace of the cafe to their right. He swore he could see someone up there. Through one of the second-floor windows. Watching them.
He couldn't tell who they were. Nor if they were a man or a woman. But he could feel the malice they were shooting his way. Yet their malice would instantly melt away when their gaze shifted to Bell. Eventually, the young boy noticed where Simon was looking. His head slowly moved to the cafe's window, but by the time they landed on it, the presence was gone. His hands were shaking as he involuntarily swallowed a lump in his throat, "Wh-Who was that?"
"Don't know," Simon stated without taking his eyes off the cafe terrace. His eyes moved from the window to the entrance of the building. He kept watching for anyone particularly noteworthy leaving out the front door. A frown came over his features when he didn't see anyone that caught his eye. Maybe they left out the back? Was there a back door? Why were they-
"Um, excuse me?"
Bell spun around, a fist shooting out before it was quickly caught by Simon. Both turned to look at the newcomer who had called out to them. She was a human girl, wearing a white blouse and a light green knee-length skirt. A salon apron covered her front while her blue-gray hair was tied into a bun with a ponytail sticking out the back. Her eyes were the same color as her hair and they were currently wide as she stared at the arm Simon was holding back.
Despite the odd situation, Simon smiled, "Hey, there. Sorry, my friend here is a bit jumpy. Right, Bell?"
Bell shook his head to clear it, his body relaxing as Simon let go of his arm. He briefly looked at his hand and arm, flexing it as the feeling of Simon's grip faded. He only snapped out of it when Simon and the girl's stares started to get too awkward. Then he quickly apologized to the girl...but a thought remained in the back of his mind.
Simon doesn't have a Falna. He's obviously strong, but an Adventurer who's in a Familia should be stronger than him.
But if that was the case...how did he manage to catch his arm so easily?
"I won't allow it."
Bell flinched at Eina's intense stare and harsh words. He grabs onto the basket around his arm for support. After the girl, Syr Flover, had given him a magic stone he had dropped, his stomach had given away his hunger. So, she gave him a basket filled with food. While he tried to say no, Simon insisted that he take the offered meal. "A real man doesn't say no to food being given to him. Especially not by a girl," he had said with his confident smile. In the face of that, and Syr's own cuteness, how could he say no?
But the moment he accepted it, she got really close to him. Then she said he and Simon had to eat at the bar she worked at when they got back from the Dungeon. Bell felt a bit manipulated, but Simon just laughed at it. Then he patted Bell on the back and assured Syr they would be happy to do so. Saying it would be a great way to unwind after some Dungeon Diving. Bell could do little more than agree, but he felt good about it. They exchanged names with Syr, then went their separate ways.
Unfortunately, that good feeling of getting some food from a cute girl had just been dashed away by Eina's words.
The half-elf adjusted her glasses with a finger while keeping her glare focused on Simon. The tall human, still smiling, shrugged at the Adviser, "Why not? Is there some kind of rule that says you have to be in a Familia to go into the Dungeon?"
"Not exactly," Eina starts to fall into a tone that Bell was familiar with. The tone she used when teaching him about the Dungeon, "However, there are other factors to consider when it comes to sending someone who isn't a registered Adventurer into the Dungeon. Especially if they plan to party up with another one."
"Does it have something to do with how the loot is distributed? If so, then I've already told ya I'll give it all to Bell. Won't be a problem then, right?"
"Not necessarily, no. But the fact remains that without some kind of assurance of fair play amongst all individuals in the party, you can't go into the Dungeon with Bell. Even if you did, you are not at all equipped to handle such a dangerous place."
Eina stared at Simon's open jacket. He followed her eyes down and held out his arms, "What? This isn't good enough? I'll have you know this jacket has survived its fair share of scrapes. I probably wouldn't still be alive without it."
He patted the slightly tattered jacket for emphasis. Eina didn't look impressed, while Bell could feel sweat drop down his head. Simon shook his head, "And besides, I already came out of there with Bell once. Who's to say I can't do it again?"
"Um, Ms. Eina?" Bell spoke up, getting the half-elf's attention. He spoke while adjusting his grip on the basket, "Lady Hestia said that Simon was an honest person. I think you can trust him to stand by his word in the Dungeon."
Eina's expression softened but she still shook her head, "I'm afraid I can't accept that in any official capacity, Bell. The answer is still no."
Bell's shoulder slumped and he hung his head. He sent an apologetic look at Simon as if to say he tried. But Simon just waved it off, "Don't worry 'bout it, Bell. I appreciate the help, but I got this."
Simon turned back to Eina and threw up his hands, "If the issue is that I'm not registered with the Guild, then just register me. Shouldn't take that long, should it?"
"I'm sorry, but only members of a Familia can register to be Adventurers. It would be far too irresponsible to allow you to go into the Dungeon without a Falna," Eina hoped that her words would make Simon see reason. Even if he seemed capable, the Dungeon was a ruthless and unpredictable place. If a normal person went in there without a Blessing, the only thing they'd find would be a quick death. And that was true even for groups of experienced Adventurers. Simon wanted to go down there with Bell. Such a thing was a recipe for disaster.
Yet, instead of looking discouraged, Simon's lips curled into a smug grin. He leaned forward until his arm was on the reception counter, "Is that right? So, if I were to prove that I can handle myself in the Dungeon without a Falna, you'd let me register as an Adventurer?"
"That...that is not what I meant at all," Eina shook her head.
"But what if I pull it off? I'd be able to go into the Dungeon, right?"
"I suppose..."
He pushed off the counter, "Then that settles it. Let's get going, Bell."
"Wait, what?!" both Bell and Eina said in unison. However, the blue-haired man was already walking toward the entrance of the Dungeon. He stopped to say hello to passing Adventurers, most of which either ignored him or gave him a grunt of acknowledgment.
"Simon! Wait!" Bell run off after Simon, waving goodbye to Eina as he did, "Bye, Ms. Eina! I'll see what I can do about Simon. Wait! Don't go in there!"
Eina watched as the young rabbit chased after the man with the flame on his back. Her brows furrowed in worry. That man...he struck her as the reckless type. Ones who throw caution to the wind, marching to the beat of their own drum. People who charge headlong into circumstances well beyond them without a care in the world.
In some ways, the perfect attitude for an Adventurer.
But one that had a tendency to get them killed.
Unfortunately, she knew there was no point in trying to stop them. He wouldn't listen, even if she told him he'd get in trouble with the Guild. And if he was going to continue traveling with Bell then...
...she had to prepare.
Get Bell better prepared for the Dungeon...and find out who this "Simon" really was.
"So, what's the plan, Bell?"
Bell skids to a stop near Simon's right side. The two of them had made it to the Lower Level One of the Dungeon, having left behind the entrance to the Guild. Simon hadn't stopped the whole way, even when Bell told him to slow down. While he could keep up at his normal speed, he had to stop to get his weapons ready, while putting the basket up so it wouldn't get in the way. It was only now that the blue-haired man had stopped moving. The white-haired boy looked up at the older man. His red eyes blinked as he tried to parse what Simon had said, "Huh?"
Simon shrugged, "I asked you what the plan was."
"O-oh...why?"
Simon walked over and put a hand on Bell's shoulder, "Why else? I'm trusting you to lead."
Bell continued to look at Simon as if he'd grown a second head. After a few minutes, he finally understood what Simon was saying. He shook his head to clear his mind then spoke, "Oh, right! You don't know anything about the Dungeon, do you?"
"Nothing except that monsters are in here. And they drop money," Simon shrugged, "I'm gonna be relying on you to help me out with stuff I don't understand."
"R-Right. Of course," Bell nodded, trying to wrap his head around Simon's words. He was right. With Simon here, he wasn't just a Solo Adventurer anymore. He had a party now. Even if it was unofficial.
And only consisted of him and one other person.
Still, he was the most experienced person in the group now. He had to be the leader.
He felt a shiver run up his spine at that realization. Sweat started building up on his brow as the words really set in.
Him?
A leader?!
There was no way! He couldn't do that! He was too cowardly! He had run away from that Minotaur and frozen up when it cornered him. How could he lead anyone? It would be better if Simon was the leader. He was confident. He could do it!
Bell looked up to tell Simon as much...but the other man beat him to it.
"Hey," Simon crouched down until he was level with Bell. His smile was gentle and understanding, "Don't be nervous. You've been delving into this place a lot, right?"
"Um...for a few days, yes."
"And you know your stuff, right?"
"Fo-For the most part. But I-"
Simon interrupted him by poking him in the chest. Simon chuckled, "Then that's all that matters. That and what you've got in here. Just listen to your burning spirit, and you won't ever be led astray."
"I...I...I still don't know if I can...be a leader though," Bell started looking away from Simon.
Then Simon cupped the boy's cheeks in his hands. He pulled Bell's head up until their eyes met. As Bell's bright red eyes stared into Simon's swirling green ones, he couldn't help but feel his heart skip a beat. Simon's smile was so radiant that one could mistake it for a sun. The light of the Dungeon reflected off his glasses, making them shine brightly in the dim light.
Without a hint of uncertainty in his voice, Simon said these words to Bell:
"Then, if you can't believe in yourself, believe in me. Believe in the me, who believes in you. Think you can do that for me?"
Bell didn't know why, but something about those words and the way Simon said them...it felt important. He could hardly describe exactly what that meant. After all, they were just words.
But...still...
"I-I-"
"GRAAAA!"
The two were interrupted by a sudden roar. They turned their heads toward a path heading deeper into the Dungeon. There, they saw eight dog-headed bipedal monsters rushing toward them. Their claw-like feet clopped against the floor as they barreled toward the two men.
"K-Kobolds!" Bell shouted, backing up and pulling out his twenty celch long dagger. His body, honed from his time fighting for his life, was already preparing itself for combat. However, he stiffened when he remembered that Simon was with him. Needing to play the role of leader, he shouted, "Simon! We need to deal with them! Maybe if we run we can find a better position."
He was already looking for a place to run to while Simon stood up. However, before he could give any more orders, he heard a strange swishing sound.
Confused, Bell turned to see what was going on-
"Haaaa!"
CRUNCH!
"GGGYYOOOO!"
-And immediately, his body went stiff.
His jaw fell open.
And, despite it being a death sentence in the Dungeon, his grip on his dagger faltered.
For he just saw Simon fall from the sky and crush a kobold's head underneath his foot. Then, leaping off the dead monster, he proceeded to kick hard enough that four more lost their heads in a single blow. Their bodies fell to the ground headless, while the remaining kobolds all stared dumbfounded at Simon.
Simon turned around, his smile wider than before, while he started to crack his knuckles, "So, who wants to go next?"
Bell was speechless.
More than half of the kobolds were dead within seconds!
And that speed, that strength...that wasn't the power of a normal person without Falna! Or even with it! He had a Falna! And he couldn't do that! Not yet anyway. But Simon could-
It was then that Bell realized it.
He knew of the Adventurers of old. Of how they went into the Dungeon without a Blessing. Of how they fought monsters without the power of the Gods behind them. He knew that those Adventurers had to be really strong. Possibly as strong as the top-class Adventurers in Orario. Those warriors could defeat a group of eight kobolds in a single move. Taking them all down with raw power.
Just like what Simon had done to this one.
And he bet those warriors were people who could inspire others. Who could light fires in the heights of their comrades with their words alone.
Just like what Simon had done to him.
It was at that moment that Bell realized exactly what Simon was.
...And it was at this moment that his desire was set.
His desire to stand on the same level as someone like that.
Someone who could inspire others with their words.
Someone who could defeat monsters with their sheer power.
Someone...like Simon.
Finally managed to get this in. Sorry it took so long. Been busy.
Within the second floor of this cafe, at a table next to a glass window looking out at the street below sat a lone woman. She wore a navy blue cloak that hid the majority of her snowy-white skin. Yet every set of eyes in the cafe was locked onto her. None could catch but a glimpse of her true features, but they all stared slack-jawed at the lone figure. Every movement made their breath hitch within their throats. Even simply tracing the surface of her table with a finger was enough to make all in attendance hold their tongues in anticipation.
The Goddess Of Beauty, Freya, paid them no heed.
She merely sat at her table as her silver eyes watched the children of Gekai below. Humans, dwarves, elves. A few adventurers here and there. Some animal people trying to sell their wares to anyone who walked by.
Freya thoroughly examined them all with her sharp eyes. Never once did the leave the window, even a waiter came by to take her order. She didn't even turn to look at the boy but he was immediately captivated by her beauty. Her request for tea was short and simple, and the waiter moved to fulfill it as soon as possible.
Freya kept her eyes on the street below.
And it's thanks to that, that she caught sight of them.
It was by complete chance. Her gaze just so happened to move to the other side of the street. In the fresh early morning sunlight, the eyes of the Goddess of beauty fell upon a white-haired boy and a blue-haired man.
And within that instant, she fell in love with the white-haired boy.
His soul sung to her. A pure, white light that burned with a fire that had to blaze. A soul completely untainted by the cruelties of the world. A young man filled with the innocence of a babe, but with the potential to be so much more. This flame...this will burning within him...it was like a soprano. One that captivated her the moment she heard it.
However, the soul that walked beside him was somehow the same...yet different.
Where the boy's soul had captured her heart, this man's soul did something else. It confused her.
For one thing, it wasn't like anyone else's soul. It wasn't an orb with a distinct color that detailed the life experiences of its owner. Rather...it was...she wasn't sure. It was green in color but that was where similarities with other souls like it ended.
Because this soul...it was spinning.
That was the best way Freya could describe it. The young man's soul was spinning. Non-stop. Without any input whatsoever. It spun in place, the green light around it flowing with it. The force made the soul transform from just a color into...a...a drill?
Yes, that felt right. Freya didn't know why but calling that soul a drill felt right. And as she examined it further she found her confusion and curiosity growing by the second. For the soul was much like the boy's. Pure, radiant, and full of potential. But in some places, she could tell it was tempered. Like it had clashed with the realities of the world around it. But, rather than allow the flames within it to sputter and die, it continued to nurture them. To use them to fuel its fire.
A contradiction.
Yet it existed nonetheless.
As the two walked down West Main, Freya noticed something else. Something that, once she was aware of it, made her frown.
The green light of the young man's soul...some it had taken root within the white-haired boy's soul.
A growl from nearby made Simon and Bell stop walking. Simon blinked before turning to the white-haired boy. Bell stood stock still while doing his best to not look Simon in the eye. He just kept looking at anything and everything that wasn't his blue-haired companion. Simon turned to face Bell fully, both hands in the pockets of his coat. He cocked his head to the side while raising his right eyebrow, "Bell?"
"Y-Y-Yeah, Simon?"
"Did you eat breakfast before you left?"
"Of-Of course I-"
Another growl cut Bell off. The boy's face became as red as his eyes, while his hands went to his stomach. He started to involuntarily rub it while trying to put on a brave face. Simon frowned then crossed his arms, "Bell, don't tell me you were planning to go fight monsters on an empty stomach?"
"No, I wasn't. I just...I just forgot is all," Bell's pride slowly left him in the face of Simon's worried gaze. He started to shuffle from foot to foot while still avoiding Simon's eyes, "I only just now thought about it so..."
Simon's frown remained for a few seconds. Then it shifted to a smile. He reached down and patted Bell on the shoulder, "Eh, it's not that big a deal. We just need to find you some grub. But I can't really tell where you could go to get food around here. Mind helping me out?"
"Well, I don't know if-"
Both Bell and Simon suddenly stiffened. Bell whirled around his eyes wide and adventurer senses on high alert. He swore he could feel someone's gaze on his back over his right shoulder. He quickly examined the early morning West Main Street, but he caught neither hide nor hair of someone watching him. His eyes flitted over the terrace of a cafe, two animal people standing near a corner, and a woman looking down from a rooftop. But he couldn't spot where that feeling of being watched had come from.
The white-haired boy's gaze kept jumping from place to place, in stark contrast to his blue-haired companion. Simon was standing still with his head held high and a frown on his face. His eyes were narrowed as they locked onto the terrace of the cafe to their right. He swore he could see someone up there. Through one of the second-floor windows. Watching them.
He couldn't tell who they were. Nor if they were a man or a woman. But he could feel the malice they were shooting his way. Yet their malice would instantly melt away when their gaze shifted to Bell. Eventually, the young boy noticed where Simon was looking. His head slowly moved to the cafe's window, but by the time they landed on it, the presence was gone. His hands were shaking as he involuntarily swallowed a lump in his throat, "Wh-Who was that?"
"Don't know," Simon stated without taking his eyes off the cafe terrace. His eyes moved from the window to the entrance of the building. He kept watching for anyone particularly noteworthy leaving out the front door. A frown came over his features when he didn't see anyone that caught his eye. Maybe they left out the back? Was there a back door? Why were they-
"Um, excuse me?"
Bell spun around, a fist shooting out before it was quickly caught by Simon. Both turned to look at the newcomer who had called out to them. She was a human girl, wearing a white blouse and a light green knee-length skirt. A salon apron covered her front while her blue-gray hair was tied into a bun with a ponytail sticking out the back. Her eyes were the same color as her hair and they were currently wide as she stared at the arm Simon was holding back.
Despite the odd situation, Simon smiled, "Hey, there. Sorry, my friend here is a bit jumpy. Right, Bell?"
Bell shook his head to clear it, his body relaxing as Simon let go of his arm. He briefly looked at his hand and arm, flexing it as the feeling of Simon's grip faded. He only snapped out of it when Simon and the girl's stares started to get too awkward. Then he quickly apologized to the girl...but a thought remained in the back of his mind.
Simon doesn't have a Falna. He's obviously strong, but an Adventurer who's in a Familia should be stronger than him.
But if that was the case...how did he manage to catch his arm so easily?
"I won't allow it."
Bell flinched at Eina's intense stare and harsh words. He grabs onto the basket around his arm for support. After the girl, Syr Flover, had given him a magic stone he had dropped, his stomach had given away his hunger. So, she gave him a basket filled with food. While he tried to say no, Simon insisted that he take the offered meal. "A real man doesn't say no to food being given to him. Especially not by a girl," he had said with his confident smile. In the face of that, and Syr's own cuteness, how could he say no?
But the moment he accepted it, she got really close to him. Then she said he and Simon had to eat at the bar she worked at when they got back from the Dungeon. Bell felt a bit manipulated, but Simon just laughed at it. Then he patted Bell on the back and assured Syr they would be happy to do so. Saying it would be a great way to unwind after some Dungeon Diving. Bell could do little more than agree, but he felt good about it. They exchanged names with Syr, then went their separate ways.
Unfortunately, that good feeling of getting some food from a cute girl had just been dashed away by Eina's words.
The half-elf adjusted her glasses with a finger while keeping her glare focused on Simon. The tall human, still smiling, shrugged at the Adviser, "Why not? Is there some kind of rule that says you have to be in a Familia to go into the Dungeon?"
"Not exactly," Eina starts to fall into a tone that Bell was familiar with. The tone she used when teaching him about the Dungeon, "However, there are other factors to consider when it comes to sending someone who isn't a registered Adventurer into the Dungeon. Especially if they plan to party up with another one."
"Does it have something to do with how the loot is distributed? If so, then I've already told ya I'll give it all to Bell. Won't be a problem then, right?"
"Not necessarily, no. But the fact remains that without some kind of assurance of fair play amongst all individuals in the party, you can't go into the Dungeon with Bell. Even if you did, you are not at all equipped to handle such a dangerous place."
Eina stared at Simon's open jacket. He followed her eyes down and held out his arms, "What? This isn't good enough? I'll have you know this jacket has survived its fair share of scrapes. I probably wouldn't still be alive without it."
He patted the slightly tattered jacket for emphasis. Eina didn't look impressed, while Bell could feel sweat drop down his head. Simon shook his head, "And besides, I already came out of there with Bell once. Who's to say I can't do it again?"
"Um, Ms. Eina?" Bell spoke up, getting the half-elf's attention. He spoke while adjusting his grip on the basket, "Lady Hestia said that Simon was an honest person. I think you can trust him to stand by his word in the Dungeon."
Eina's expression softened but she still shook her head, "I'm afraid I can't accept that in any official capacity, Bell. The answer is still no."
Bell's shoulder slumped and he hung his head. He sent an apologetic look at Simon as if to say he tried. But Simon just waved it off, "Don't worry 'bout it, Bell. I appreciate the help, but I got this."
Simon turned back to Eina and threw up his hands, "If the issue is that I'm not registered with the Guild, then just register me. Shouldn't take that long, should it?"
"I'm sorry, but only members of a Familia can register to be Adventurers. It would be far too irresponsible to allow you to go into the Dungeon without a Falna," Eina hoped that her words would make Simon see reason. Even if he seemed capable, the Dungeon was a ruthless and unpredictable place. If a normal person went in there without a Blessing, the only thing they'd find would be a quick death. And that was true even for groups of experienced Adventurers. Simon wanted to go down there with Bell. Such a thing was a recipe for disaster.
Yet, instead of looking discouraged, Simon's lips curled into a smug grin. He leaned forward until his arm was on the reception counter, "Is that right? So, if I were to prove that I can handle myself in the Dungeon without a Falna, you'd let me register as an Adventurer?"
"That...that is not what I meant at all," Eina shook her head.
"But what if I pull it off? I'd be able to go into the Dungeon, right?"
"I suppose..."
He pushed off the counter, "Then that settles it. Let's get going, Bell."
"Wait, what?!" both Bell and Eina said in unison. However, the blue-haired man was already walking toward the entrance of the Dungeon. He stopped to say hello to passing Adventurers, most of which either ignored him or gave him a grunt of acknowledgment.
"Simon! Wait!" Bell run off after Simon, waving goodbye to Eina as he did, "Bye, Ms. Eina! I'll see what I can do about Simon. Wait! Don't go in there!"
Eina watched as the young rabbit chased after the man with the flame on his back. Her brows furrowed in worry. That man...he struck her as the reckless type. Ones who throw caution to the wind, marching to the beat of their own drum. People who charge headlong into circumstances well beyond them without a care in the world.
In some ways, the perfect attitude for an Adventurer.
But one that had a tendency to get them killed.
Unfortunately, she knew there was no point in trying to stop them. He wouldn't listen, even if she told him he'd get in trouble with the Guild. And if he was going to continue traveling with Bell then...
...she had to prepare.
Get Bell better prepared for the Dungeon...and find out who this "Simon" really was.
"So, what's the plan, Bell?"
Bell skids to a stop near Simon's right side. The two of them had made it to the Lower Level One of the Dungeon, having left behind the entrance to the Guild. Simon hadn't stopped the whole way, even when Bell told him to slow down. While he could keep up at his normal speed, he had to stop to get his weapons ready, while putting the basket up so it wouldn't get in the way. It was only now that the blue-haired man had stopped moving. The white-haired boy looked up at the older man. His red eyes blinked as he tried to parse what Simon had said, "Huh?"
Simon shrugged, "I asked you what the plan was."
"O-oh...why?"
Simon walked over and put a hand on Bell's shoulder, "Why else? I'm trusting you to lead."
Bell continued to look at Simon as if he'd grown a second head. After a few minutes, he finally understood what Simon was saying. He shook his head to clear his mind then spoke, "Oh, right! You don't know anything about the Dungeon, do you?"
"Nothing except that monsters are in here. And they drop money," Simon shrugged, "I'm gonna be relying on you to help me out with stuff I don't understand."
"R-Right. Of course," Bell nodded, trying to wrap his head around Simon's words. He was right. With Simon here, he wasn't just a Solo Adventurer anymore. He had a party now. Even if it was unofficial.
And only consisted of him and one other person.
Still, he was the most experienced person in the group now. He had to be the leader.
He felt a shiver run up his spine at that realization. Sweat started building up on his brow as the words really set in.
Him?
A leader?!
There was no way! He couldn't do that! He was too cowardly! He had run away from that Minotaur and frozen up when it cornered him. How could he lead anyone? It would be better if Simon was the leader. He was confident. He could do it!
Bell looked up to tell Simon as much...but the other man beat him to it.
"Hey," Simon crouched down until he was level with Bell. His smile was gentle and understanding, "Don't be nervous. You've been delving into this place a lot, right?"
"Um...for a few days, yes."
"And you know your stuff, right?"
"Fo-For the most part. But I-"
Simon interrupted him by poking him in the chest. Simon chuckled, "Then that's all that matters. That and what you've got in here. Just listen to your burning spirit, and you won't ever be led astray."
"I...I...I still don't know if I can...be a leader though," Bell started looking away from Simon.
Then Simon cupped the boy's cheeks in his hands. He pulled Bell's head up until their eyes met. As Bell's bright red eyes stared into Simon's swirling green ones, he couldn't help but feel his heart skip a beat. Simon's smile was so radiant that one could mistake it for a sun. The light of the Dungeon reflected off his glasses, making them shine brightly in the dim light.
Without a hint of uncertainty in his voice, Simon said these words to Bell:
"Then, if you can't believe in yourself, believe in me. Believe in the me, who believes in you. Think you can do that for me?"
Bell didn't know why, but something about those words and the way Simon said them...it felt important. He could hardly describe exactly what that meant. After all, they were just words.
But...still...
"I-I-"
"GRAAAA!"
The two were interrupted by a sudden roar. They turned their heads toward a path heading deeper into the Dungeon. There, they saw eight dog-headed bipedal monsters rushing toward them. Their claw-like feet clopped against the floor as they barreled toward the two men.
"K-Kobolds!" Bell shouted, backing up and pulling out his twenty celch long dagger. His body, honed from his time fighting for his life, was already preparing itself for combat. However, he stiffened when he remembered that Simon was with him. Needing to play the role of leader, he shouted, "Simon! We need to deal with them! Maybe if we run we can find a better position."
He was already looking for a place to run to while Simon stood up. However, before he could give any more orders, he heard a strange swishing sound.
Confused, Bell turned to see what was going on-
"Haaaa!"
CRUNCH!
"GGGYYOOOO!"
-And immediately, his body went stiff.
His jaw fell open.
And, despite it being a death sentence in the Dungeon, his grip on his dagger faltered.
For he just saw Simon fall from the sky and crush a kobold's head underneath his foot. Then, leaping off the dead monster, he proceeded to kick hard enough that four more lost their heads in a single blow. Their bodies fell to the ground headless, while the remaining kobolds all stared dumbfounded at Simon.
Simon turned around, his smile wider than before, while he started to crack his knuckles, "So, who wants to go next?"
Bell was speechless.
More than half of the kobolds were dead within seconds!
And that speed, that strength...that wasn't the power of a normal person without Falna! Or even with it! He had a Falna! And he couldn't do that! Not yet anyway. But Simon could-
It was then that Bell realized it.
He knew of the Adventurers of old. Of how they went into the Dungeon without a Blessing. Of how they fought monsters without the power of the Gods behind them. He knew that those Adventurers had to be really strong. Possibly as strong as the top-class Adventurers in Orario. Those warriors could defeat a group of eight kobolds in a single move. Taking them all down with raw power.
Just like what Simon had done to this one.
And he bet those warriors were people who could inspire others. Who could light fires in the heights of their comrades with their words alone.
Just like what Simon had done to him.
It was at that moment that Bell realized exactly what Simon was.
...And it was at this moment that his desire was set.
His desire to stand on the same level as someone like that.
Someone who could inspire others with their words.
Someone who could defeat monsters with their sheer power.
Someone...like Simon.
Finally managed to get this in. Sorry it took so long. Been busy.
Chapter 6.1
LinkOnScepter
Versed in the lewd.
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Ms. Eina had drilled many lessons into Bell's head. Ever since he became an adventurer she made sure he understood where he stood as a Level 1 Solo Adventurer. That place being at even more risk than the average adventuring party. So, he had to take a certain adage to heart when it came to fighting in the Dungeon.
Fight smart, not hard.
If the monsters were in a group, he should run away and find a better position. If the monster was stronger than him, he should get as far away from it as possible. If he encountered a monster that wasn't strong but he couldn't handle, he should run in the other direction and see if he could get an advantage.
All of Eina's strategies involved him running away and for good reason. Out of all his stats, his Agility was the one that he had made his own. While not something he took pride in he couldn't deny that running away from his foes played a big role in his continued survival in the Dungeon. It was the only reason he had survived for so long against the minotaur. If he tried to stand his ground and fight, he had no doubt he'd be dead by now.
One could say that majority of his career as a Solo Adventurer had been one long sequence of running away from threats.
Which was on of the biggest reasons why he couldn't look away from Simon as he battled the four remaining Kobolds on his own. The blue haired man was surrounded on all sides by the dog-headed bipeds. The pack was uncharacteristically coordinated in their attacks. One would charge in with its claws at the ready, swiping at Simon as the human dodged the blows. Any attacks he couldn't dodge, he'd block by clashing his arm against the Kobold's. But the monster wouldn't relent, continuing its assault while its comrades moved around to Simon's back. Once in position, the three rushed in with their claws out and ready to rend Simon's back open.
Bell's grip on his dagger tightened when he saw the Kobolds. He ran forward as he shouted, "Simon watch-"
His words died on his lips as the Kobold's claws reached Simon's back...then were deflected by his cape. Bell nearly tripped over his own feet as his mind tried to understand what just happened. The Kobolds were equally surprised, all three falling back as they stared at the fluttering blue cape on Simon's back. The one attacking Simon paused in shock. A mistake which cost it dearly.
Simon dashed forward and grabbed the Kobold by its right arm with his right hand. Placing one foot in front of its own, he span around while his left hand grabbed onto the monster's arm. Too late it realized what was happening as Simon threw the Kobold over his shoulder and onto its back. Simon let the monster go before moving to the side and lifting his foot up. Grinning he looked up and shouted, "Bell! Heads up!"
"Wha-what?!" Bell had no time to think as Simon kicked the Kobold hard in the stomach. Its choked scream echoed through the room as it rocketed across the floor. Its body skipped along the floor, flipping as it crashed against the rocky earth on its way toward Bell. The young man panicked, instinctively raising his dagger as the monster got closer and closer. Ruby red eyes filled with confusion, he nonetheless swung at the Kobold once it was in range of his blade. His attack sliced cleaning through the Kobold's neck as the body landed a few feet behind him. He briefly stopped to look back at the now dead monster as it stopped moving.
"Mind giving me a hand over here, Bell?" Bell turned back to see Simon backing away while the remaining Kobolds gave chase. Though it didn't look like they were pushing the man back. Moreover, it seemed that Simon was jumping away on purpose. He was leading them toward Bell who was still trying to make sense of everything that just happened. Simon looked over his shoulder then smiled, "Could use some help dealing with them."
"Uh-Ugh-Right," Bell shook his head to get his focus back. He moved forward to reach Simon. The blue haired man grinned and stopped running from his adversaries. The closest Kobold moved in with its claws flashing in the light of the Dungeon. Simon ducked under the monster's outstretched arms then followed up with three hard punches to its torso, ending it off with a hard uppercut to the stomach. He drove the Kobold's breath from it before spinning around to its back. His cape fluttered behind him as he kicked the Kobold in the back. Using the momentum to boost himself toward the other Kobolds, he held out both of his arms to the side. The Kobolds, already running to him, were unable to avoid his double lariat. His arms curled around their necks before he dragged them to the ground with him.
The Kobold he kicked was left off balance, letting Bell move in with his dagger. With a battle cry he drives his weapon into the monster's heart. It died instantly but Bell continued on, charging forward while throwing the Kobold off his weapon. Ahead of him Simon got to his feet and turned to look at the remaining Kobolds. The one on his left was dead and its neck was bent at an odd angle. But the one on his right slowly got with one hand on its head. Simon looked beyond it and locked eyes with Bell for but a moment. He grinned before running at the lone Kobold. Fear flashed in the monster's eyes as it realized it was alone and about to die.
Bell didn't waist the opportunity. With one slash he cleaved deep into the monster's back, carving a dark red line into its furred flesh. As it fell forward, Simon punched it in the face hard enough to make its neck snap backwards with a loud snap. The Kobold fell to its knees then onto the floor, completely lifeless.
"Haa-haa-We-We won," Bell said, panting as he stared at the dead Kobold before him. He felt the tension leave him as he sat down on the Dungeon floor. He could hardly believe that just happened. He'd never fought that many Kobolds at once before. Nor had he ever fought with anyone. Yet...it all worked out.
He was suddenly pulled to his feet as Simon wrapped his arm around Bell's shoulder. The older man laughed, "Good job back there, Bell! Sorry I jumped in like that. Didn't really do a good job following my own words did I?"
"Huh? Oh, uh, don't worry about it!" Bell shook his head while trying to avoid looking into Simon's eyes, "It's my fault. I should've been more decisive and-"
Simon flicked Bell's forehead, making the boy squeak in pain. He placed both hands on his head while Simon shook his head, "I'm the one that didn't wait for your orders. I'm the one at fault here, Bell. Don't you go blaming yourself over this, alright?"
"A-Alright," Bell said while rubbing the center of his forehead and nodding to Simon.
Simon smiled then stepped away from Bell, "OK. Then where to next, leader?"
"Um," Bell looked at the dead Kobold near his feet for a few seconds. Then he nodded, "We should start taking the magic stones from these monsters." He knelt to be next to the Kobold nearest him, raising his dagger up to cut into the monster's flesh. But something made him stop before the tip even reached flesh. He looked at his dagger then down at one of his pockets. Frowning he sheathed his dagger and pulled the Drill Simon had given him from within. He placed it against the Kobold's chest and started to drill into it.
Simon smiled and gave Bell a thumbs up, "You got it, Boss."
Fight smart, not hard.
If the monsters were in a group, he should run away and find a better position. If the monster was stronger than him, he should get as far away from it as possible. If he encountered a monster that wasn't strong but he couldn't handle, he should run in the other direction and see if he could get an advantage.
All of Eina's strategies involved him running away and for good reason. Out of all his stats, his Agility was the one that he had made his own. While not something he took pride in he couldn't deny that running away from his foes played a big role in his continued survival in the Dungeon. It was the only reason he had survived for so long against the minotaur. If he tried to stand his ground and fight, he had no doubt he'd be dead by now.
One could say that majority of his career as a Solo Adventurer had been one long sequence of running away from threats.
Which was on of the biggest reasons why he couldn't look away from Simon as he battled the four remaining Kobolds on his own. The blue haired man was surrounded on all sides by the dog-headed bipeds. The pack was uncharacteristically coordinated in their attacks. One would charge in with its claws at the ready, swiping at Simon as the human dodged the blows. Any attacks he couldn't dodge, he'd block by clashing his arm against the Kobold's. But the monster wouldn't relent, continuing its assault while its comrades moved around to Simon's back. Once in position, the three rushed in with their claws out and ready to rend Simon's back open.
Bell's grip on his dagger tightened when he saw the Kobolds. He ran forward as he shouted, "Simon watch-"
His words died on his lips as the Kobold's claws reached Simon's back...then were deflected by his cape. Bell nearly tripped over his own feet as his mind tried to understand what just happened. The Kobolds were equally surprised, all three falling back as they stared at the fluttering blue cape on Simon's back. The one attacking Simon paused in shock. A mistake which cost it dearly.
Simon dashed forward and grabbed the Kobold by its right arm with his right hand. Placing one foot in front of its own, he span around while his left hand grabbed onto the monster's arm. Too late it realized what was happening as Simon threw the Kobold over his shoulder and onto its back. Simon let the monster go before moving to the side and lifting his foot up. Grinning he looked up and shouted, "Bell! Heads up!"
"Wha-what?!" Bell had no time to think as Simon kicked the Kobold hard in the stomach. Its choked scream echoed through the room as it rocketed across the floor. Its body skipped along the floor, flipping as it crashed against the rocky earth on its way toward Bell. The young man panicked, instinctively raising his dagger as the monster got closer and closer. Ruby red eyes filled with confusion, he nonetheless swung at the Kobold once it was in range of his blade. His attack sliced cleaning through the Kobold's neck as the body landed a few feet behind him. He briefly stopped to look back at the now dead monster as it stopped moving.
"Mind giving me a hand over here, Bell?" Bell turned back to see Simon backing away while the remaining Kobolds gave chase. Though it didn't look like they were pushing the man back. Moreover, it seemed that Simon was jumping away on purpose. He was leading them toward Bell who was still trying to make sense of everything that just happened. Simon looked over his shoulder then smiled, "Could use some help dealing with them."
"Uh-Ugh-Right," Bell shook his head to get his focus back. He moved forward to reach Simon. The blue haired man grinned and stopped running from his adversaries. The closest Kobold moved in with its claws flashing in the light of the Dungeon. Simon ducked under the monster's outstretched arms then followed up with three hard punches to its torso, ending it off with a hard uppercut to the stomach. He drove the Kobold's breath from it before spinning around to its back. His cape fluttered behind him as he kicked the Kobold in the back. Using the momentum to boost himself toward the other Kobolds, he held out both of his arms to the side. The Kobolds, already running to him, were unable to avoid his double lariat. His arms curled around their necks before he dragged them to the ground with him.
The Kobold he kicked was left off balance, letting Bell move in with his dagger. With a battle cry he drives his weapon into the monster's heart. It died instantly but Bell continued on, charging forward while throwing the Kobold off his weapon. Ahead of him Simon got to his feet and turned to look at the remaining Kobolds. The one on his left was dead and its neck was bent at an odd angle. But the one on his right slowly got with one hand on its head. Simon looked beyond it and locked eyes with Bell for but a moment. He grinned before running at the lone Kobold. Fear flashed in the monster's eyes as it realized it was alone and about to die.
Bell didn't waist the opportunity. With one slash he cleaved deep into the monster's back, carving a dark red line into its furred flesh. As it fell forward, Simon punched it in the face hard enough to make its neck snap backwards with a loud snap. The Kobold fell to its knees then onto the floor, completely lifeless.
"Haa-haa-We-We won," Bell said, panting as he stared at the dead Kobold before him. He felt the tension leave him as he sat down on the Dungeon floor. He could hardly believe that just happened. He'd never fought that many Kobolds at once before. Nor had he ever fought with anyone. Yet...it all worked out.
He was suddenly pulled to his feet as Simon wrapped his arm around Bell's shoulder. The older man laughed, "Good job back there, Bell! Sorry I jumped in like that. Didn't really do a good job following my own words did I?"
"Huh? Oh, uh, don't worry about it!" Bell shook his head while trying to avoid looking into Simon's eyes, "It's my fault. I should've been more decisive and-"
Simon flicked Bell's forehead, making the boy squeak in pain. He placed both hands on his head while Simon shook his head, "I'm the one that didn't wait for your orders. I'm the one at fault here, Bell. Don't you go blaming yourself over this, alright?"
"A-Alright," Bell said while rubbing the center of his forehead and nodding to Simon.
Simon smiled then stepped away from Bell, "OK. Then where to next, leader?"
"Um," Bell looked at the dead Kobold near his feet for a few seconds. Then he nodded, "We should start taking the magic stones from these monsters." He knelt to be next to the Kobold nearest him, raising his dagger up to cut into the monster's flesh. But something made him stop before the tip even reached flesh. He looked at his dagger then down at one of his pockets. Frowning he sheathed his dagger and pulled the Drill Simon had given him from within. He placed it against the Kobold's chest and started to drill into it.
Simon smiled and gave Bell a thumbs up, "You got it, Boss."
Chapter 6: First Team Dungeon Run
LinkOnScepter
Versed in the lewd.
- Joined
- May 21, 2016
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- 40,359
Ms. Eina had drilled many lessons into Bell's head. Ever since he became an adventurer she made sure he understood where he stood as a Level 1 Solo Adventurer. That place being at even more risk than the average adventuring party. So, he had to take a certain adage to heart when it came to fighting in the Dungeon.
Fight smart, not hard.
If the monsters were in a group, he should run away and find a better position. If the monster was stronger than him, he should get as far away from it as possible. If he encountered a monster that wasn't strong but he couldn't handle, he should run in the other direction and see if he could get an advantage.
All of Eina's strategies involved him running away and for good reason. Out of all his stats, his Agility was the one that he had made his own. While not something he took pride in he couldn't deny that running away from his foes played a big role in his continued survival in the Dungeon. It was the only reason he had survived for so long against the minotaur. If he tried to stand his ground and fight, he had no doubt he'd be dead by now.
One could say that majority of his career as a Solo Adventurer had been one long sequence of running away from threats.
Which was on of the biggest reasons why he couldn't look away from Simon as he battled the four remaining Kobolds on his own. The blue haired man was surrounded on all sides by the dog-headed bipeds. The pack was uncharacteristically coordinated in their attacks. One would charge in with its claws at the ready, swiping at Simon as the human dodged the blows. Any attacks he couldn't dodge, he'd block by clashing his arm against the Kobold's. But the monster wouldn't relent, continuing its assault while its comrades moved around to Simon's back. Once in position, the three rushed in with their claws out and ready to rend Simon's back open.
Bell's grip on his dagger tightened when he saw the Kobolds. He ran forward as he shouted, "Simon watch-"
His words died on his lips as the Kobold's claws reached Simon's back...then were deflected by his cape. Bell nearly tripped over his own feet as his mind tried to understand what just happened. The Kobolds were equally surprised, all three falling back as they stared at the fluttering blue cape on Simon's back. The one attacking Simon paused in shock. A mistake which cost it dearly.
Simon dashed forward and grabbed the Kobold by its right arm with his right hand. Placing one foot in front of its own, he span around while his left hand grabbed onto the monster's arm. Too late it realized what was happening as Simon threw the Kobold over his shoulder and onto its back. Simon let the monster go before moving to the side and lifting his foot up. Grinning he looked up and shouted, "Bell! Heads up!"
"Wha-what?!" Bell had no time to think as Simon kicked the Kobold hard in the stomach. Its choked scream echoed through the room as it rocketed across the floor. Its body skipped along the floor, flipping as it crashed against the rocky earth on its way toward Bell. The young man panicked, instinctively raising his dagger as the monster got closer and closer. Ruby red eyes filled with confusion, he nonetheless swung at the Kobold once it was in range of his blade. His attack sliced cleaning through the Kobold's neck as the body landed a few feet behind him. He briefly stopped to look back at the now dead monster as it stopped moving.
"Mind giving me a hand over here, Bell?" Bell turned back to see Simon backing away while the remaining Kobolds gave chase. Though it didn't look like they were pushing the man back. Moreover, it seemed that Simon was jumping away on purpose. He was leading them toward Bell who was still trying to make sense of everything that just happened. Simon looked over his shoulder then smiled, "Could use some help dealing with them."
"Uh-Ugh-Right," Bell shook his head to get his focus back. He moved forward to reach Simon. The blue haired man grinned and stopped running from his adversaries. The closest Kobold moved in with its claws flashing in the light of the Dungeon. Simon ducked under the monster's outstretched arms then followed up with three hard punches to its torso, ending it off with a hard uppercut to the stomach. He drove the Kobold's breath from it before spinning around to its back. His cape fluttered behind him as he kicked the Kobold in the back. Using the momentum to boost himself toward the other Kobolds, he held out both of his arms to the side. The Kobolds, already running to him, were unable to avoid his double lariat. His arms curled around their necks before he dragged them to the ground with him.
The Kobold he kicked was left off balance, letting Bell move in with his dagger. With a battle cry he drives his weapon into the monster's heart. It died instantly but Bell continued on, charging forward while throwing the Kobold off his weapon. Ahead of him Simon got to his feet and turned to look at the remaining Kobolds. The one on his left was dead and its neck was bent at an odd angle. But the one on his right slowly got with one hand on its head. Simon looked beyond it and locked eyes with Bell for but a moment. He grinned before running at the lone Kobold. Fear flashed in the monster's eyes as it realized it was alone and about to die.
Bell didn't waist the opportunity. With one slash he cleaved deep into the monster's back, carving a dark red line into its furred flesh. As it fell forward, Simon punched it in the face hard enough to make its neck snap backwards with a loud snap. The Kobold fell to its knees then onto the floor, completely lifeless.
"Haa-haa-We-We won," Bell said, panting as he stared at the dead Kobold before him. He felt the tension leave him as he sat down on the Dungeon floor. He could hardly believe that just happened. He'd never fought that many Kobolds at once before. Nor had he ever fought with anyone. Yet...it all worked out.
He was suddenly pulled to his feet as Simon wrapped his arm around Bell's shoulder. The older man laughed, "Good job back there, Bell! Sorry I jumped in like that. Didn't really do a good job following my own words did I?"
"Huh? Oh, uh, don't worry about it!" Bell shook his head while trying to avoid looking into Simon's eyes, "It's my fault. I should've been more decisive and-"
Simon flicked Bell's forehead, making the boy squeak in pain. He placed both hands on his head while Simon shook his head, "I'm the one that didn't wait for your orders. I'm the one at fault here, Bell. Don't you go blaming yourself over this, alright?"
"A-Alright," Bell said while rubbing the center of his forehead and nodding to Simon.
Simon smiled then stepped away from Bell, "OK. Then where to next, leader?"
"Um," Bell looked at the dead Kobold near his feet for a few seconds. Then he nodded, "We should start taking the magic stones from these monsters." He knelt to be next to the Kobold nearest him, raising his dagger up to cut into the monster's flesh. But something made him stop before the tip even reached flesh. He looked at his dagger then down at one of his pockets. Frowning he sheathed his dagger and pulled the Drill Simon had given him from within. He placed it against the Kobold's chest and started to drill into it.
Simon smiled and gave Bell a thumbs up, "You got it, Boss," before walking toward the bodies of the other Kobolds. Bell glanced at Simon as he walked away, eyes glimpsing the symbol on it as he walked away. A blazing fire in the shape of a skull with two white glasses for eyes that resembled the glasses Simon wore. He stared at the symbol Simon moved out of sight, wondering how it managed to block three direct attacks from Kobolds. Even if they were born on a level with weak monsters, their claws should've easily shredded through something as tattered at that cape. So, how did it deflect them? Did he actually have magic? Or a skill?
"Hey, Bell?" Bell awoke from his musings, absentmindedly pulling the Kobold's stone from the hole he made in its chest. He turned around as the monster's body turned to ash in front of him. Behind him stood Simon, with four magic stones in one hand and two Kobold Claws in the other. He held up the hand with the claws in it, "I took the stones out, but these didn't disintegrate like the others. Something different about these?"
Bell's eyes widened in surprise as his lips split into a grin. He rushed over to Simon and pointed at the Claws, "Those are drop items! When you remove a monster's magic stone, sometimes parts of its body remain behind. They don't degrade or disappear, so they can be sold to the Guild or used to make special items. They're rather uncommon even among the weaker monsters."
"That so? Guess it's your lucky day you got two then," Simon said while tossing the claws and stones to Bell. The white haired boy fumbled with the thrown objects, managing to catch them all by pure luck. Sighing with relief he put them back into his bag while Simon turned to the remaining three Kobolds. He jerked his thumb toward them and Bell nodded. The two walked to the corpses, Simon putting his arms behind his head, "So, how long have you been at this whole Dungeon Diving thing anyway?"
"Um, a couple of days?" Bell said sheepishly while trying not to look directly at Simon. He shrugged, "I'm still a rookie and have a lot to learn. It's just that Ms. Eina helped me study the essentials of being an Adventurer."
"Hmm, guess you've got to thank her for a lot them," Simon said as he knelt next to one of the Kobold corpses.
Bell smiled wistfully, "Yeah. I do. Wait, never mind that! Simon, how did you deflect the attacks from those Kobolds?"
Bell gave Simon his full attention while the other man had placed his Core Drill against the Kobold's chest. Simon raised an eyebrow, his eyes focused on Bell while his hand idly turned his Core Drill, "Oh that? Spiral Power."
"Spiral Power?" Bell couldn't hide his confusion, "What is that? It is magic? Or a skill?"
"Not exactly. Hmm, the best way I could describe it is Fighting Spirit!"
Bell's confusion only got worse, "F-F-Fighting Spirit?"
Simon smiled, took his hand off the Drill, then grabbed his cape with both hands. He lifted the end it up so Bell could see it. Then he tapped on it with a finger, "Go ahead and feel it."
Still confused, Bell did as asked. He gently ran his finger along the dark blue fabric but felt nothing out of the ordinary. When he took his finger off, the cape suddenly flashed a bright green. Simon waved for Bell to touch it again, so the boy did. But when his finger touched the cape-
"Huh?!" Bell recoiled, shaking his head while his finger lifted off the cape for a moment. Curiosity getting to him, he placed his whole hand on the cape before running it up and down the object. Then he looked up at Simon with his mouth agape, "It-It-It feels like armor!"
"Yep!" Simon chuckled before pulling letting his cape go. There was another flash and it returned to being an inert piece of fabric. Simon focused back on the Kobold, his Core Drill having mad a hole in its chest while he wasn't looking. He reached into the hole and pulled out both his Drill and the magic stone, "And it doesn't take much. So I can just think about it whenever I'm about to get hit. And bam. I've protection from just about anything the world can throw at me."
Simon got to his feet while Bell tried to make sense of what he just saw and heard. He began to stutter, "Bu-Bu-But how?! It would make sense if you had magic, but...but that's just your fighting spirit? Tha-that can't do that! You can't just will fabric into being metal unless you're a God. And you're not so...it's just impossible."
Bell swore he saw Simon's grin get wider. The man walked over to the second to last Kobold. He stood with his back straight and head held high, "Impossible? Ha!"
He span on his heel, planted his feet into the ground, and crossed his arms while his cape fluttered as a sudden gust of air blew passed him. His glasses shined in the light of the Dungeon while his face was split in a confident grin. His voice echoed off the walls as the spoke, "Listen up, Bell! You need to remember this as long as you're hanging with me! To people like you and me, there's no such thing as impossible! If there's a wall in a way, then we break it down! If there's no path forward, then we'll blaze the trail for others to follow behind us! And if someone tells us we can't do something, we tell them to shove it and do it anyway! Cause that's the way Team Dai-Gurren rolls!"
Bell sat transfixed by Simon's words. Partly because he didn't understand most of it. Partly because it didn't really answer his question. But also because, and he didn't know why he felt this way, something about it felt...right. There was no words, sensible or otherwise, to explain why he felt that way. Even he wasn't entirely sure why. But part of him just knew that Simon was telling the truth.
Even if that truth didn't make any sense to him.
Temporarily stunned by Simon's speech, he kept silent while Simon knelt down and started to drill through second to last Kobold's chest. However, Bell managed to latch onto the last thing Simon said, "Wait...Team Dai-Gurren? Who's that?"
Simon turned to look at Bell. His smile had turned from confident to wistful and serene, "My friends. Good people that I'd go to hell and back for. And, in a lot of ways, I did do that."
"So, they're more than just friends?"
"Yeah, they are."
"Would they be like your Familia?"
"Suppose so. Though, we don't have a God or anything like. Just our combined want to make the world better in our own ways," Simon stood up, tossing a magic stone in up and down in his hand. As the Kobold's body disintegrated, he turned his head toward a path deeper into the Dungeon, "But I'll have to tell you more about that later. Looks like we've got more company."
"GRAAA!"
Bell tensed up as he heard the roar of more Kobolds approaching. He groaned, "Give me a break!"
"Want me to take care of these guys, Bell?" Simon tossed Bell the magic stone before cracking his knuckles.
Bell caught the stone before turning to the Kobold corpse near him, "Uh, sure. Just hold them off while I get this last stone. Don't push yourself and be careful."
"You got it," Simon said as he ran toward the sound of more Kobolds. As Bell focused on taking out the magic stone, he paused for a second. Then he stared after Simon with a single thought in his head.
Did he just give a clear and concise order? Without over-thinking it or stuttering?
"So," Simon grunted as he kicked a goblin so hard its head came off. The green humanoid's body slumped to the ground while its head hit the floor next to it. He lowered his foot and turned to Bell, "this Dungeon thing has always been here?"
Bell shrugs, "I guess. It's at least been here as long as I can remember. Though I don't think it's originally part of this world. We mortals didn't build it. Neither did the Gods."
"And the monsters are born here? Like they just pop out of the walls?" Simon placed a hand on his chin in thought.
Bell nods while walking over to the downed Goblin, "Uh huh!"
"How though?"
"No one knows. Not even our best scientist have any ideas. And the Gods don't tell us anything concrete. They just say that 'The Dungeon is a dungeon. What else would you find here other than a dungeon?'"
Simon scoffed and crossed his arms, "Sounds to me like they're just not telling you guys everything."
"M-Maybe. But I'm sure they have their reasons. Oh, a goblin fang," Bell picked up both the drop item and the magic stone before turning to look at Simon, "I mean, they're Gods. They have to know better than us mortals."
"Eh, I guess," Simon shrugged and walked passed Bell further into the floor. He put his hands behind his head while Bell moved to catch up with him. Then Simon yawned, "So, if this place gives birth to monsters...does that mean it's alive?"
"That's what our scientist and otherwise say. Mainly cause there aren't any other explanations. If you destroy a part of the Dungeon, it'll be repaired by tomorrow. It automatically regrows or recreates any resources taken from it. And it somehow manages to have a day/night cycle despite the sun not shining down here. It's all so mysterious and many people have dedicated their lives to finding out how the Dungeon works. But they've gotten nowhere," Bell explained while adjusting the bag on his back.
Simon chuckled, "That right? Leeron would take that as a challenge if he was here."
"Leeron?"
"One of my friends from Team Dai-Gurren. He was basically our go to guy for anything science related. Was responsible for a lot of the stuff that let us do our things," Simon sighed a wistful smile coming over his face.
Bell frowned and he turned his gaze toward the floor. His grip on his backpack tightened as he spoke, "Simon...how did you get so strong?"
"Huh?" Simon stopped walking to stare at Bell.
Bell stopped as well, his gaze moving to look at Simon, "You keep talking about Team Dai-Gurren as your friends or family. But you say they're not your Familia, cause you don't have a blessing or a God behind you. But...I've seen you fight. You're strong. Way stronger than me or probably even most rookie adventurers. And I-I just want to know how? What made you this powerful?"
Simon blinked at Bell who was staring at him with an intense look in his eyes. Then after a few minutes of silence, Simon grinned. He walked over to Bell and started to tousle the kid's white shock of hair. Bell stiffened as he did so, but Simon just chuckled, "Same way as you did, Bell. Lots of training, experience, and continually trying to improve myself. None of it came all at once. I had to work hard to get where I am now. Not to mention I had plenty of help along the way."
"I...I see," Bell didn't look reassured. His gaze fell to the floor as he started to turn away from Simon, "Thanks for sharing."
Simon hummed before moving his hand from Bell's head to his shoulder. Then he smiled again, "Tell you what? I do still owe you some stories about where I come from. How's about I tell you some once we get back to Hestia's place? I'll even tell you about Gunmen."
"Gunmen? What's that?" Bell's spirits visibly lifted as his eyes started to shine with curiosity.
Simon chuckled, "I'll tell ya when we get out of here. Speaking of which, when do you think-watch out!"
Simon pushed Bell aside as a Goblin stepped out from behind a pillar with its blade at the ready. The squat, green humanoid screeched as it kicked out at Simon's stomach. Simon blocked the attack with his knee while Bell struggled to stay on his feet. Simon punched the Goblin's outstretched leg, snapping the appendage in two at the knee. It screamed in pain as it fell to the ground with both hands holding its shattered knee. Simon turned to look at Bell with worry, "You alright?"
"Y-Yeah. Damn it, I let my guard down. Ms. Eina warned me not to do that," Bell said while walking over to the writhing Goblin. He pulled out his dagger and put it out of its misery with a clean cut to its neck. He sighed before turning to Simon, "Guess that should be our tip to head back. I should've been able to sense that attack coming."
"Don't beat yourself up over it. The thing was hiding," Simon points out as Bell removed the Goblin's magic stone.
"The most dangerous thing an adventurer can think is 'Ah, whatever.' That's what Ms. Eina told me. And if I started thinking like that, then it's time for me to stop for today," Bell put the stone in his bag then turned to start walking back to the Guild.
"If you say so," Simon said as he followed after Bell. He looked up at the sloping ramp they were ascending, "You don't happen to have anyway to cut our trip back short, do you?"
Bell shook his head, "Leaving the Dungeon instantly is something no adventurer can do. We're not Gods."
Simon went silent as the two kept walking. He reached up and thumbed the warm metal of his Core Drill as he mumbled, "Yeah. We're not Gods."
"Lady Hestia! We're back," Bell announced as the two of them returned to the room under the church. Bell carried with him a bag full of Vals from their recent trek. Hestia was sitting on the sofa in the main room, and got to her feet the second she spotted Bell and Simon. Bell moved to greet her but paused when he saw the dark expression on her face. However, her eyes weren't focused on him. They were completely locked on Simon. Bell stared at his Goddess with worry etched on his face, "Um, is something wrong, Lady Hestia?"
"Bell, could you head upstairs for a moment?" she said without taking her eyes off Simon, "I'll update your status after I have a talk with Simon."
Still confused, Bell turned to Simon and silently asked if he knew what was going on? Simon just shrugged but waved to indicate that Bell should go on. Taking one last glance at Hestia, Bell did as his Goddess asked and headed up to the second floor. Once he was gone, Simon spoke up, "Something wrong, Hestia? Did I do something to make you mad?"
Hestia crossed her arms while her eyes seemed to bore into Simon. Her ponytails were whipping back and forth, barely being stopped from striking out at Simon. Hestia remained silent in an attempt to make Simon sweat and try to guess what was wrong. When no such thing happened she spoke up, "I'll come straight out with it. Simon, what is Spiral Power and how did you give it to my Bell?"
Fight smart, not hard.
If the monsters were in a group, he should run away and find a better position. If the monster was stronger than him, he should get as far away from it as possible. If he encountered a monster that wasn't strong but he couldn't handle, he should run in the other direction and see if he could get an advantage.
All of Eina's strategies involved him running away and for good reason. Out of all his stats, his Agility was the one that he had made his own. While not something he took pride in he couldn't deny that running away from his foes played a big role in his continued survival in the Dungeon. It was the only reason he had survived for so long against the minotaur. If he tried to stand his ground and fight, he had no doubt he'd be dead by now.
One could say that majority of his career as a Solo Adventurer had been one long sequence of running away from threats.
Which was on of the biggest reasons why he couldn't look away from Simon as he battled the four remaining Kobolds on his own. The blue haired man was surrounded on all sides by the dog-headed bipeds. The pack was uncharacteristically coordinated in their attacks. One would charge in with its claws at the ready, swiping at Simon as the human dodged the blows. Any attacks he couldn't dodge, he'd block by clashing his arm against the Kobold's. But the monster wouldn't relent, continuing its assault while its comrades moved around to Simon's back. Once in position, the three rushed in with their claws out and ready to rend Simon's back open.
Bell's grip on his dagger tightened when he saw the Kobolds. He ran forward as he shouted, "Simon watch-"
His words died on his lips as the Kobold's claws reached Simon's back...then were deflected by his cape. Bell nearly tripped over his own feet as his mind tried to understand what just happened. The Kobolds were equally surprised, all three falling back as they stared at the fluttering blue cape on Simon's back. The one attacking Simon paused in shock. A mistake which cost it dearly.
Simon dashed forward and grabbed the Kobold by its right arm with his right hand. Placing one foot in front of its own, he span around while his left hand grabbed onto the monster's arm. Too late it realized what was happening as Simon threw the Kobold over his shoulder and onto its back. Simon let the monster go before moving to the side and lifting his foot up. Grinning he looked up and shouted, "Bell! Heads up!"
"Wha-what?!" Bell had no time to think as Simon kicked the Kobold hard in the stomach. Its choked scream echoed through the room as it rocketed across the floor. Its body skipped along the floor, flipping as it crashed against the rocky earth on its way toward Bell. The young man panicked, instinctively raising his dagger as the monster got closer and closer. Ruby red eyes filled with confusion, he nonetheless swung at the Kobold once it was in range of his blade. His attack sliced cleaning through the Kobold's neck as the body landed a few feet behind him. He briefly stopped to look back at the now dead monster as it stopped moving.
"Mind giving me a hand over here, Bell?" Bell turned back to see Simon backing away while the remaining Kobolds gave chase. Though it didn't look like they were pushing the man back. Moreover, it seemed that Simon was jumping away on purpose. He was leading them toward Bell who was still trying to make sense of everything that just happened. Simon looked over his shoulder then smiled, "Could use some help dealing with them."
"Uh-Ugh-Right," Bell shook his head to get his focus back. He moved forward to reach Simon. The blue haired man grinned and stopped running from his adversaries. The closest Kobold moved in with its claws flashing in the light of the Dungeon. Simon ducked under the monster's outstretched arms then followed up with three hard punches to its torso, ending it off with a hard uppercut to the stomach. He drove the Kobold's breath from it before spinning around to its back. His cape fluttered behind him as he kicked the Kobold in the back. Using the momentum to boost himself toward the other Kobolds, he held out both of his arms to the side. The Kobolds, already running to him, were unable to avoid his double lariat. His arms curled around their necks before he dragged them to the ground with him.
The Kobold he kicked was left off balance, letting Bell move in with his dagger. With a battle cry he drives his weapon into the monster's heart. It died instantly but Bell continued on, charging forward while throwing the Kobold off his weapon. Ahead of him Simon got to his feet and turned to look at the remaining Kobolds. The one on his left was dead and its neck was bent at an odd angle. But the one on his right slowly got with one hand on its head. Simon looked beyond it and locked eyes with Bell for but a moment. He grinned before running at the lone Kobold. Fear flashed in the monster's eyes as it realized it was alone and about to die.
Bell didn't waist the opportunity. With one slash he cleaved deep into the monster's back, carving a dark red line into its furred flesh. As it fell forward, Simon punched it in the face hard enough to make its neck snap backwards with a loud snap. The Kobold fell to its knees then onto the floor, completely lifeless.
"Haa-haa-We-We won," Bell said, panting as he stared at the dead Kobold before him. He felt the tension leave him as he sat down on the Dungeon floor. He could hardly believe that just happened. He'd never fought that many Kobolds at once before. Nor had he ever fought with anyone. Yet...it all worked out.
He was suddenly pulled to his feet as Simon wrapped his arm around Bell's shoulder. The older man laughed, "Good job back there, Bell! Sorry I jumped in like that. Didn't really do a good job following my own words did I?"
"Huh? Oh, uh, don't worry about it!" Bell shook his head while trying to avoid looking into Simon's eyes, "It's my fault. I should've been more decisive and-"
Simon flicked Bell's forehead, making the boy squeak in pain. He placed both hands on his head while Simon shook his head, "I'm the one that didn't wait for your orders. I'm the one at fault here, Bell. Don't you go blaming yourself over this, alright?"
"A-Alright," Bell said while rubbing the center of his forehead and nodding to Simon.
Simon smiled then stepped away from Bell, "OK. Then where to next, leader?"
"Um," Bell looked at the dead Kobold near his feet for a few seconds. Then he nodded, "We should start taking the magic stones from these monsters." He knelt to be next to the Kobold nearest him, raising his dagger up to cut into the monster's flesh. But something made him stop before the tip even reached flesh. He looked at his dagger then down at one of his pockets. Frowning he sheathed his dagger and pulled the Drill Simon had given him from within. He placed it against the Kobold's chest and started to drill into it.
Simon smiled and gave Bell a thumbs up, "You got it, Boss," before walking toward the bodies of the other Kobolds. Bell glanced at Simon as he walked away, eyes glimpsing the symbol on it as he walked away. A blazing fire in the shape of a skull with two white glasses for eyes that resembled the glasses Simon wore. He stared at the symbol Simon moved out of sight, wondering how it managed to block three direct attacks from Kobolds. Even if they were born on a level with weak monsters, their claws should've easily shredded through something as tattered at that cape. So, how did it deflect them? Did he actually have magic? Or a skill?
"Hey, Bell?" Bell awoke from his musings, absentmindedly pulling the Kobold's stone from the hole he made in its chest. He turned around as the monster's body turned to ash in front of him. Behind him stood Simon, with four magic stones in one hand and two Kobold Claws in the other. He held up the hand with the claws in it, "I took the stones out, but these didn't disintegrate like the others. Something different about these?"
Bell's eyes widened in surprise as his lips split into a grin. He rushed over to Simon and pointed at the Claws, "Those are drop items! When you remove a monster's magic stone, sometimes parts of its body remain behind. They don't degrade or disappear, so they can be sold to the Guild or used to make special items. They're rather uncommon even among the weaker monsters."
"That so? Guess it's your lucky day you got two then," Simon said while tossing the claws and stones to Bell. The white haired boy fumbled with the thrown objects, managing to catch them all by pure luck. Sighing with relief he put them back into his bag while Simon turned to the remaining three Kobolds. He jerked his thumb toward them and Bell nodded. The two walked to the corpses, Simon putting his arms behind his head, "So, how long have you been at this whole Dungeon Diving thing anyway?"
"Um, a couple of days?" Bell said sheepishly while trying not to look directly at Simon. He shrugged, "I'm still a rookie and have a lot to learn. It's just that Ms. Eina helped me study the essentials of being an Adventurer."
"Hmm, guess you've got to thank her for a lot them," Simon said as he knelt next to one of the Kobold corpses.
Bell smiled wistfully, "Yeah. I do. Wait, never mind that! Simon, how did you deflect the attacks from those Kobolds?"
Bell gave Simon his full attention while the other man had placed his Core Drill against the Kobold's chest. Simon raised an eyebrow, his eyes focused on Bell while his hand idly turned his Core Drill, "Oh that? Spiral Power."
"Spiral Power?" Bell couldn't hide his confusion, "What is that? It is magic? Or a skill?"
"Not exactly. Hmm, the best way I could describe it is Fighting Spirit!"
Bell's confusion only got worse, "F-F-Fighting Spirit?"
Simon smiled, took his hand off the Drill, then grabbed his cape with both hands. He lifted the end it up so Bell could see it. Then he tapped on it with a finger, "Go ahead and feel it."
Still confused, Bell did as asked. He gently ran his finger along the dark blue fabric but felt nothing out of the ordinary. When he took his finger off, the cape suddenly flashed a bright green. Simon waved for Bell to touch it again, so the boy did. But when his finger touched the cape-
"Huh?!" Bell recoiled, shaking his head while his finger lifted off the cape for a moment. Curiosity getting to him, he placed his whole hand on the cape before running it up and down the object. Then he looked up at Simon with his mouth agape, "It-It-It feels like armor!"
"Yep!" Simon chuckled before pulling letting his cape go. There was another flash and it returned to being an inert piece of fabric. Simon focused back on the Kobold, his Core Drill having mad a hole in its chest while he wasn't looking. He reached into the hole and pulled out both his Drill and the magic stone, "And it doesn't take much. So I can just think about it whenever I'm about to get hit. And bam. I've protection from just about anything the world can throw at me."
Simon got to his feet while Bell tried to make sense of what he just saw and heard. He began to stutter, "Bu-Bu-But how?! It would make sense if you had magic, but...but that's just your fighting spirit? Tha-that can't do that! You can't just will fabric into being metal unless you're a God. And you're not so...it's just impossible."
Bell swore he saw Simon's grin get wider. The man walked over to the second to last Kobold. He stood with his back straight and head held high, "Impossible? Ha!"
He span on his heel, planted his feet into the ground, and crossed his arms while his cape fluttered as a sudden gust of air blew passed him. His glasses shined in the light of the Dungeon while his face was split in a confident grin. His voice echoed off the walls as the spoke, "Listen up, Bell! You need to remember this as long as you're hanging with me! To people like you and me, there's no such thing as impossible! If there's a wall in a way, then we break it down! If there's no path forward, then we'll blaze the trail for others to follow behind us! And if someone tells us we can't do something, we tell them to shove it and do it anyway! Cause that's the way Team Dai-Gurren rolls!"
Bell sat transfixed by Simon's words. Partly because he didn't understand most of it. Partly because it didn't really answer his question. But also because, and he didn't know why he felt this way, something about it felt...right. There was no words, sensible or otherwise, to explain why he felt that way. Even he wasn't entirely sure why. But part of him just knew that Simon was telling the truth.
Even if that truth didn't make any sense to him.
Temporarily stunned by Simon's speech, he kept silent while Simon knelt down and started to drill through second to last Kobold's chest. However, Bell managed to latch onto the last thing Simon said, "Wait...Team Dai-Gurren? Who's that?"
Simon turned to look at Bell. His smile had turned from confident to wistful and serene, "My friends. Good people that I'd go to hell and back for. And, in a lot of ways, I did do that."
"So, they're more than just friends?"
"Yeah, they are."
"Would they be like your Familia?"
"Suppose so. Though, we don't have a God or anything like. Just our combined want to make the world better in our own ways," Simon stood up, tossing a magic stone in up and down in his hand. As the Kobold's body disintegrated, he turned his head toward a path deeper into the Dungeon, "But I'll have to tell you more about that later. Looks like we've got more company."
"GRAAA!"
Bell tensed up as he heard the roar of more Kobolds approaching. He groaned, "Give me a break!"
"Want me to take care of these guys, Bell?" Simon tossed Bell the magic stone before cracking his knuckles.
Bell caught the stone before turning to the Kobold corpse near him, "Uh, sure. Just hold them off while I get this last stone. Don't push yourself and be careful."
"You got it," Simon said as he ran toward the sound of more Kobolds. As Bell focused on taking out the magic stone, he paused for a second. Then he stared after Simon with a single thought in his head.
Did he just give a clear and concise order? Without over-thinking it or stuttering?
"So," Simon grunted as he kicked a goblin so hard its head came off. The green humanoid's body slumped to the ground while its head hit the floor next to it. He lowered his foot and turned to Bell, "this Dungeon thing has always been here?"
Bell shrugs, "I guess. It's at least been here as long as I can remember. Though I don't think it's originally part of this world. We mortals didn't build it. Neither did the Gods."
"And the monsters are born here? Like they just pop out of the walls?" Simon placed a hand on his chin in thought.
Bell nods while walking over to the downed Goblin, "Uh huh!"
"How though?"
"No one knows. Not even our best scientist have any ideas. And the Gods don't tell us anything concrete. They just say that 'The Dungeon is a dungeon. What else would you find here other than a dungeon?'"
Simon scoffed and crossed his arms, "Sounds to me like they're just not telling you guys everything."
"M-Maybe. But I'm sure they have their reasons. Oh, a goblin fang," Bell picked up both the drop item and the magic stone before turning to look at Simon, "I mean, they're Gods. They have to know better than us mortals."
"Eh, I guess," Simon shrugged and walked passed Bell further into the floor. He put his hands behind his head while Bell moved to catch up with him. Then Simon yawned, "So, if this place gives birth to monsters...does that mean it's alive?"
"That's what our scientist and otherwise say. Mainly cause there aren't any other explanations. If you destroy a part of the Dungeon, it'll be repaired by tomorrow. It automatically regrows or recreates any resources taken from it. And it somehow manages to have a day/night cycle despite the sun not shining down here. It's all so mysterious and many people have dedicated their lives to finding out how the Dungeon works. But they've gotten nowhere," Bell explained while adjusting the bag on his back.
Simon chuckled, "That right? Leeron would take that as a challenge if he was here."
"Leeron?"
"One of my friends from Team Dai-Gurren. He was basically our go to guy for anything science related. Was responsible for a lot of the stuff that let us do our things," Simon sighed a wistful smile coming over his face.
Bell frowned and he turned his gaze toward the floor. His grip on his backpack tightened as he spoke, "Simon...how did you get so strong?"
"Huh?" Simon stopped walking to stare at Bell.
Bell stopped as well, his gaze moving to look at Simon, "You keep talking about Team Dai-Gurren as your friends or family. But you say they're not your Familia, cause you don't have a blessing or a God behind you. But...I've seen you fight. You're strong. Way stronger than me or probably even most rookie adventurers. And I-I just want to know how? What made you this powerful?"
Simon blinked at Bell who was staring at him with an intense look in his eyes. Then after a few minutes of silence, Simon grinned. He walked over to Bell and started to tousle the kid's white shock of hair. Bell stiffened as he did so, but Simon just chuckled, "Same way as you did, Bell. Lots of training, experience, and continually trying to improve myself. None of it came all at once. I had to work hard to get where I am now. Not to mention I had plenty of help along the way."
"I...I see," Bell didn't look reassured. His gaze fell to the floor as he started to turn away from Simon, "Thanks for sharing."
Simon hummed before moving his hand from Bell's head to his shoulder. Then he smiled again, "Tell you what? I do still owe you some stories about where I come from. How's about I tell you some once we get back to Hestia's place? I'll even tell you about Gunmen."
"Gunmen? What's that?" Bell's spirits visibly lifted as his eyes started to shine with curiosity.
Simon chuckled, "I'll tell ya when we get out of here. Speaking of which, when do you think-watch out!"
Simon pushed Bell aside as a Goblin stepped out from behind a pillar with its blade at the ready. The squat, green humanoid screeched as it kicked out at Simon's stomach. Simon blocked the attack with his knee while Bell struggled to stay on his feet. Simon punched the Goblin's outstretched leg, snapping the appendage in two at the knee. It screamed in pain as it fell to the ground with both hands holding its shattered knee. Simon turned to look at Bell with worry, "You alright?"
"Y-Yeah. Damn it, I let my guard down. Ms. Eina warned me not to do that," Bell said while walking over to the writhing Goblin. He pulled out his dagger and put it out of its misery with a clean cut to its neck. He sighed before turning to Simon, "Guess that should be our tip to head back. I should've been able to sense that attack coming."
"Don't beat yourself up over it. The thing was hiding," Simon points out as Bell removed the Goblin's magic stone.
"The most dangerous thing an adventurer can think is 'Ah, whatever.' That's what Ms. Eina told me. And if I started thinking like that, then it's time for me to stop for today," Bell put the stone in his bag then turned to start walking back to the Guild.
"If you say so," Simon said as he followed after Bell. He looked up at the sloping ramp they were ascending, "You don't happen to have anyway to cut our trip back short, do you?"
Bell shook his head, "Leaving the Dungeon instantly is something no adventurer can do. We're not Gods."
Simon went silent as the two kept walking. He reached up and thumbed the warm metal of his Core Drill as he mumbled, "Yeah. We're not Gods."
"Lady Hestia! We're back," Bell announced as the two of them returned to the room under the church. Bell carried with him a bag full of Vals from their recent trek. Hestia was sitting on the sofa in the main room, and got to her feet the second she spotted Bell and Simon. Bell moved to greet her but paused when he saw the dark expression on her face. However, her eyes weren't focused on him. They were completely locked on Simon. Bell stared at his Goddess with worry etched on his face, "Um, is something wrong, Lady Hestia?"
"Bell, could you head upstairs for a moment?" she said without taking her eyes off Simon, "I'll update your status after I have a talk with Simon."
Still confused, Bell turned to Simon and silently asked if he knew what was going on? Simon just shrugged but waved to indicate that Bell should go on. Taking one last glance at Hestia, Bell did as his Goddess asked and headed up to the second floor. Once he was gone, Simon spoke up, "Something wrong, Hestia? Did I do something to make you mad?"
Hestia crossed her arms while her eyes seemed to bore into Simon. Her ponytails were whipping back and forth, barely being stopped from striking out at Simon. Hestia remained silent in an attempt to make Simon sweat and try to guess what was wrong. When no such thing happened she spoke up, "I'll come straight out with it. Simon, what is Spiral Power and how did you give it to my Bell?"
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Chapter 7.1
LinkOnScepter
Versed in the lewd.
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- May 21, 2016
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Bell sat on the edge of the upstairs bed watching the door to his room. There was no sound save for the light buzzing of the magic lamp above him. He resisted the urge to kick his legs back and forth, not wanting to make the bed creak. He wasn't sure what Simon and Lady Hestia were talking about downstairs, but he didn't want to disturb them by making any noise. If Lady Hestia needed to talk with Simon alone then it was likely important. And she'd tell him all about it later.
A part of him did feel some temptation. The want to crack the door open and sneak downstairs. Hear what was so important that he had to leave the room before they could talk about it. But that part was swiftly dashed by his complete trust of Lady Hestia. She was his Goddess and a great one at that. She was probably just explaining more about how Orario works to Simon.
Simon. The thought of him made Bell smile. Though he hadn't known the man for long, he did think he was a good person. He knew that sounded naive but it made sense to him. Simon had saved his life twice now, had accompanied him into the Dungeon without needing a formal contract, and kept letting him have all the money. Even if Bell felt bad about taking Simon's own share of the vals, he couldn't deny that it was helping his Familia. They were in a much better position than they used to be. Lady Hestia could even afford multiple potato snack dinners now! He had given them so much, yet he asked for nothing in return. Just like a Hero...
Smiling, Bell reached into his pocket and pulled out the drill that Simon had given him. He held it up to the light, the little bronze object dangling from a piece of string. Simon had done that for him when they left the Dungeon today. The string had come from his cape and he had placed it into Bell's hand. When Bell asked what it was, Simon had called it a "Core Drill". At the time it hadn't been much. Just a normal drill.
But now, as he stared at it, he swore he saw a the dimmest of green lights pulsing within its core. He turned the slightly warm object around in his fingers eyes transfixed by the light within. He was certain the thing was some kind of Magic Item. The type that the Heroes in stories get that always helps them win the day. Though he wasn't sure how this one worked, he had a theory over what it was supposed to do. And that came down to the color the Core Drill was giving off.
Because it was the same shade of green he had seen Simon use in the Dungeon.
Which meant that it was connected to...
"Spiral Power," Bell tested the words on his tongue. His eyes kept staring at the Core Drill as he thought on his theory. Simon had said that Spiral Power was "Fighting Spirit". Bell figured he meant "Willpower" or something close to it. If that was the case then...was Spiral Power the ability to manifest your Will into reality? Or make things happen through willing them to happen?
Because if so then...what could it not do?
Bell started to frown but then shook his head. He was probably overthinking things again. Spiral Power couldn't be that strong. If it was then everybody would be using it, wouldn't they? But this is the first time he's heard of it. Maybe it was something that the Heroes of Old used before Falna became a thing? He'd have to ask Simon about it later.
He lowered his head then put the Core Drill around his neck. The item fell to the middle of his chest still glowing with a faint green light. He sighed before falling back onto the bed as his mind once more drifted to the conversation happening downstairs. As they did he briefly wondered if Hestia would know anything about Spiral Power.
Hestia, the Goddess of Hearth and Home, was currently had her eyes closed as she massaged her temples. She leaned back against the living room sofa, taking a deep breath before sighing, "Oooookkkkk. Let me see if I've got this straight."
Simon sat across from her with his legs crossed. He didn't look perturbed by her mood in the slightest. If anything, his expression made Hestia more upset. And his tone didn't make it any better, "Sure. I'm all ears."
Hestia frowned but continued, "So, Spiral Power. It...it's a power source that just exists in the world."
"Yep. Well, it does for me."
"You can sense it?"
Simon shrugged, "Yeah. Passively, I can feel any Spiral Power in a radius around me. If I concentrate, I can sense it all across the planet."
"...You can...sense the presence of Spiral Power...across the entire planet if you try?"
"Uh huh! Pretty handy trick, huh?" Simon smiled and put his arms behind his head.
Hestia took a moment to breathe and calm herself down. Her ponytails were trembling as she tried to keep her emotions in check. After a few moments she continued, "OK. Lets put to the side for now. Spiral Power. It just plainly exists, and represents evolution. But less evolutions and more the concept of improving and overcoming all obstacles."
"That's one way to put it."
"And it's powered by someone's innate Willpower."
"Fighting Spirit."
"Same difference. Anyway, there's no limit to the amount of Spiral Power someone can have. Or what it can do. Someone with Spiral Power can go from digging holes in the ground one day, to defeating someone who is many years their senior in combat the next day. And it only gets crazier from there? Am I getting that right?"
Another shrug, "Pretty much. Though it's not a free ride. Everyone can have Spiral Power, but you actually have to ACT in order to make use of it. If you're a passive person, then you're not gonna get very far. Think it like a drill. Every time it rotates, it gets further and further down the hole it's digging. Just like how someone becomes different from who they were before every moment they spend improving themselves. That's Spiral Power."
Hestia blinked.
Then she spoke in the flattest voice she could manage, "Simon, are you a God?"
For the first time since she had met him, Hestia saw Simon frown. His answer was short and decisive, "No."
"And you're not lying to-"
"Why would I ever lie to you, Hestia?"
Hestia was silent for a few moments. Normally, she wouldn't have asked if Simon was lying to her. After all, the Children can't lie to the Gods. It's just impossible.
But Simon basically told her that Spiral Power looks at things that are supposed to be "impossible" and says, "Fucking watch me do it anyway."
And it tends to work.
Meaning that, if he wanted to, he could lie to the Gods.
And, truth be told, a part of her wished that he was lying to her right now. Because that would be preferable to the truth of the matter.
Unfortunately, she knew he wasn't. Because Simon was similar to Bell in many ways. And one of those ways was that he was honest to a fault. He wouldn't lie to her, because the idea of lying to her for any reason at all would never even cross his mind.
Which meant that everything he told her was true.
....
"You doing okay there, Hestia?" Simon asked, tilting his head to the side.
Hestia was silent.
Then she slowly fell back into the sofa until it looked like her body was being eaten by the fabric. It was only when she was halfway into the sofa that she finally spoke, "Th...bull..."
"Hmm? You say something?"
"I said that's bullshit!" Hestia rocketed out of her seat. She shot to her feet, ponytails whipping up a storm while angry eyes fixated onto a stunned Simon.
A part of him did feel some temptation. The want to crack the door open and sneak downstairs. Hear what was so important that he had to leave the room before they could talk about it. But that part was swiftly dashed by his complete trust of Lady Hestia. She was his Goddess and a great one at that. She was probably just explaining more about how Orario works to Simon.
Simon. The thought of him made Bell smile. Though he hadn't known the man for long, he did think he was a good person. He knew that sounded naive but it made sense to him. Simon had saved his life twice now, had accompanied him into the Dungeon without needing a formal contract, and kept letting him have all the money. Even if Bell felt bad about taking Simon's own share of the vals, he couldn't deny that it was helping his Familia. They were in a much better position than they used to be. Lady Hestia could even afford multiple potato snack dinners now! He had given them so much, yet he asked for nothing in return. Just like a Hero...
Smiling, Bell reached into his pocket and pulled out the drill that Simon had given him. He held it up to the light, the little bronze object dangling from a piece of string. Simon had done that for him when they left the Dungeon today. The string had come from his cape and he had placed it into Bell's hand. When Bell asked what it was, Simon had called it a "Core Drill". At the time it hadn't been much. Just a normal drill.
But now, as he stared at it, he swore he saw a the dimmest of green lights pulsing within its core. He turned the slightly warm object around in his fingers eyes transfixed by the light within. He was certain the thing was some kind of Magic Item. The type that the Heroes in stories get that always helps them win the day. Though he wasn't sure how this one worked, he had a theory over what it was supposed to do. And that came down to the color the Core Drill was giving off.
Because it was the same shade of green he had seen Simon use in the Dungeon.
Which meant that it was connected to...
"Spiral Power," Bell tested the words on his tongue. His eyes kept staring at the Core Drill as he thought on his theory. Simon had said that Spiral Power was "Fighting Spirit". Bell figured he meant "Willpower" or something close to it. If that was the case then...was Spiral Power the ability to manifest your Will into reality? Or make things happen through willing them to happen?
Because if so then...what could it not do?
Bell started to frown but then shook his head. He was probably overthinking things again. Spiral Power couldn't be that strong. If it was then everybody would be using it, wouldn't they? But this is the first time he's heard of it. Maybe it was something that the Heroes of Old used before Falna became a thing? He'd have to ask Simon about it later.
He lowered his head then put the Core Drill around his neck. The item fell to the middle of his chest still glowing with a faint green light. He sighed before falling back onto the bed as his mind once more drifted to the conversation happening downstairs. As they did he briefly wondered if Hestia would know anything about Spiral Power.
Hestia, the Goddess of Hearth and Home, was currently had her eyes closed as she massaged her temples. She leaned back against the living room sofa, taking a deep breath before sighing, "Oooookkkkk. Let me see if I've got this straight."
Simon sat across from her with his legs crossed. He didn't look perturbed by her mood in the slightest. If anything, his expression made Hestia more upset. And his tone didn't make it any better, "Sure. I'm all ears."
Hestia frowned but continued, "So, Spiral Power. It...it's a power source that just exists in the world."
"Yep. Well, it does for me."
"You can sense it?"
Simon shrugged, "Yeah. Passively, I can feel any Spiral Power in a radius around me. If I concentrate, I can sense it all across the planet."
"...You can...sense the presence of Spiral Power...across the entire planet if you try?"
"Uh huh! Pretty handy trick, huh?" Simon smiled and put his arms behind his head.
Hestia took a moment to breathe and calm herself down. Her ponytails were trembling as she tried to keep her emotions in check. After a few moments she continued, "OK. Lets put to the side for now. Spiral Power. It just plainly exists, and represents evolution. But less evolutions and more the concept of improving and overcoming all obstacles."
"That's one way to put it."
"And it's powered by someone's innate Willpower."
"Fighting Spirit."
"Same difference. Anyway, there's no limit to the amount of Spiral Power someone can have. Or what it can do. Someone with Spiral Power can go from digging holes in the ground one day, to defeating someone who is many years their senior in combat the next day. And it only gets crazier from there? Am I getting that right?"
Another shrug, "Pretty much. Though it's not a free ride. Everyone can have Spiral Power, but you actually have to ACT in order to make use of it. If you're a passive person, then you're not gonna get very far. Think it like a drill. Every time it rotates, it gets further and further down the hole it's digging. Just like how someone becomes different from who they were before every moment they spend improving themselves. That's Spiral Power."
Hestia blinked.
Then she spoke in the flattest voice she could manage, "Simon, are you a God?"
For the first time since she had met him, Hestia saw Simon frown. His answer was short and decisive, "No."
"And you're not lying to-"
"Why would I ever lie to you, Hestia?"
Hestia was silent for a few moments. Normally, she wouldn't have asked if Simon was lying to her. After all, the Children can't lie to the Gods. It's just impossible.
But Simon basically told her that Spiral Power looks at things that are supposed to be "impossible" and says, "Fucking watch me do it anyway."
And it tends to work.
Meaning that, if he wanted to, he could lie to the Gods.
And, truth be told, a part of her wished that he was lying to her right now. Because that would be preferable to the truth of the matter.
Unfortunately, she knew he wasn't. Because Simon was similar to Bell in many ways. And one of those ways was that he was honest to a fault. He wouldn't lie to her, because the idea of lying to her for any reason at all would never even cross his mind.
Which meant that everything he told her was true.
....
"You doing okay there, Hestia?" Simon asked, tilting his head to the side.
Hestia was silent.
Then she slowly fell back into the sofa until it looked like her body was being eaten by the fabric. It was only when she was halfway into the sofa that she finally spoke, "Th...bull..."
"Hmm? You say something?"
"I said that's bullshit!" Hestia rocketed out of her seat. She shot to her feet, ponytails whipping up a storm while angry eyes fixated onto a stunned Simon.
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Chapter 7: Going to the Bar
LinkOnScepter
Versed in the lewd.
- Joined
- May 21, 2016
- Messages
- 1,987
- Likes received
- 40,359
Bell sat on the edge of the upstairs bed watching the door to his room. There was no sound save for the light buzzing of the magic lamp above him. He resisted the urge to kick his legs back and forth, not wanting to make the bed creak. He wasn't sure what Simon and Lady Hestia were talking about downstairs, but he didn't want to disturb them by making any noise. If Lady Hestia needed to talk with Simon alone then it was likely important. And she'd tell him all about it later.
A part of him did feel some temptation. The want to crack the door open and sneak downstairs. Hear what was so important that he had to leave the room before they could talk about it. But that part was swiftly dashed by his complete trust of Lady Hestia. She was his Goddess and a great one at that. She was probably just explaining more about how Orario works to Simon.
Simon. The thought of him made Bell smile. Though he hadn't known the man for long, he did think he was a good person. He knew that sounded naive but it made sense to him. Simon had saved his life twice now, had accompanied him into the Dungeon without needing a formal contract, and kept letting him have all the money. Even if Bell felt bad about taking Simon's own share of the vals, he couldn't deny that it was helping his Familia. They were in a much better position than they used to be. Lady Hestia could even afford multiple potato snack dinners now! He had given them so much, yet he asked for nothing in return. Just like a Hero...
Smiling, Bell reached into his pocket and pulled out the drill that Simon had given him. He held it up to the light, the little bronze object dangling from a piece of string. Simon had done that for him when they left the Dungeon today. The string had come from his cape and he had placed it into Bell's hand. When Bell asked what it was, Simon had called it a "Core Drill". At the time it hadn't been much. Just a normal drill.
But now, as he stared at it, he swore he saw a the dimmest of green lights pulsing within its core. He turned the slightly warm object around in his fingers eyes transfixed by the light within. He was certain the thing was some kind of Magic Item. The type that the Heroes in stories get that always helps them win the day. Though he wasn't sure how this one worked, he had a theory over what it was supposed to do. And that came down to the color the Core Drill was giving off.
Because it was the same shade of green he had seen Simon use in the Dungeon.
Which meant that it was connected to...
"Spiral Power," Bell tested the words on his tongue. His eyes kept staring at the Core Drill as he thought on his theory. Simon had said that Spiral Power was "Fighting Spirit". Bell figured he meant "Willpower" or something close to it. If that was the case then...was Spiral Power the ability to manifest your Will into reality? Or make things happen through willing them to happen?
Because if so then...what could it not do?
Bell started to frown but then shook his head. He was probably overthinking things again. Spiral Power couldn't be that strong. If it was then everybody would be using it, wouldn't they? But this is the first time he's heard of it. Maybe it was something that the Heroes of Old used before Falna became a thing? He'd have to ask Simon about it later.
He lowered his head then put the Core Drill around his neck. The item fell to the middle of his chest still glowing with a faint green light. He sighed before falling back onto the bed as his mind once more drifted to the conversation happening downstairs. As they did he briefly wondered if Hestia would know anything about Spiral Power.
Hestia, the Goddess of Hearth and Home, was currently had her eyes closed as she massaged her temples. She leaned back against the living room sofa, taking a deep breath before sighing, "Oooookkkkk. Let me see if I've got this straight."
Simon sat across from her with his legs crossed. He didn't look perturbed by her mood in the slightest. If anything, his expression made Hestia more upset. And his tone didn't make it any better, "Sure. I'm all ears."
Hestia frowned but continued, "So, Spiral Power. It...it's a power source that just exists in the world."
"Yep. Well, it does for me."
"You can sense it?"
Simon shrugged, "Yeah. Passively, I can feel any Spiral Power in a radius around me. If I concentrate, I can sense it all across the planet."
"...You can...sense the presence of Spiral Power...across the entire planet if you try?"
"Uh huh! Pretty handy trick, huh?" Simon smiled and put his arms behind his head.
Hestia took a moment to breathe and calm herself down. Her ponytails were trembling as she tried to keep her emotions in check. After a few moments she continued, "OK. Lets put to the side for now. Spiral Power. It just plainly exists, and represents evolution. But less evolutions and more the concept of improving and overcoming all obstacles."
"That's one way to put it."
"And it's powered by someone's innate Willpower."
"Fighting Spirit."
"Same difference. Anyway, there's no limit to the amount of Spiral Power someone can have. Or what it can do. Someone with Spiral Power can go from digging holes in the ground one day, to defeating someone who is many years their senior in combat the next day. And it only gets crazier from there? Am I getting that right?"
Another shrug, "Pretty much. Though it's not a free ride. Everyone can have Spiral Power, but you actually have to ACT in order to make use of it. If you're a passive person, then you're not gonna get very far. Think it like a drill. Every time it rotates, it gets further and further down the hole it's digging. Just like how someone becomes different from who they were before every moment they spend improving themselves. That's Spiral Power."
Hestia blinked.
Then she spoke in the flattest voice she could manage, "Simon, are you a God?"
For the first time since she had met him, Hestia saw Simon frown. His answer was short and decisive, "No."
"And you're not lying to-"
"Why would I ever lie to you, Hestia?"
Hestia was silent for a few moments. Normally, she wouldn't have asked if Simon was lying to her. After all, the Children can't lie to the Gods. It's just impossible.
But Simon basically told her that Spiral Power looks at things that are supposed to be "impossible" and says, "Fucking watch me do it anyway."
And it tends to work.
Meaning that, if he wanted to, he could lie to the Gods.
And, truth be told, a part of her wished that he was lying to her right now. Because that would be preferable to the truth of the matter.
Unfortunately, she knew he wasn't. Because Simon was similar to Bell in many ways. And one of those ways was that he was honest to a fault. He wouldn't lie to her, because the idea of lying to her for any reason at all would never even cross his mind.
Which meant that everything he told her was true.
....
"You doing okay there, Hestia?" Simon asked, tilting his head to the side.
Hestia was silent.
Then she slowly fell back into the sofa until it looked like her body was being eaten by the fabric. It was only when she was halfway into the sofa that she finally spoke, "Th...bull..."
"Hmm? You say something?"
"I said that's bullshit!" Hestia rocketed out of her seat. She shot to her feet, ponytails whipping up a storm while angry eyes fixated onto a stunned Simon. She continued to yell at the top of her lungs, uncaring of how loud she was being, "You can't just do whatever you want without limit! There's no way you can use Spiral Power whenever you want, however you want, and it's not gonna cost you anything?! The only way any of that would be possible if you were a God, but you're clearly not that. Because Spiral Power isn't Arcanum. Because it if was, then you wouldn't be here right now you'd be in Tenkai for breaking the rules! Which means that whatever you're doing, it's either something all mortals can use, the implications of which are terrifying, or you're somehow tricking the rules into thinking what you're doing isn't Arcanum. And considering what you've told me already, I'm willing to believe the latter!'
Hestia started to pant while she stared Simon dead in the eye. Her ponytails were still whipping around, the dust particles in the room lifting from the ground with each wave. Simon just stared at Hestia with wide eyes and an open mouth. Then he held up a finger, "Mind if I ask you something, Hestia?"
"What is it?"
"What day is it?"
"It's the second day of the week."
"Thought so," Simon started to chuckle, rocking back and forth in his seat as he did.
"What's so funny? This is serious."
"It's just...you remind me of one of my friends. This guy named Rossiu. Your rant sounded just like something he'd say. Course, then I'd do something to prove him wrong so," Simon shrugged, an easy going smile on his face.
Hestia blinked. Her cheeks got red with rage while her ponytails pointed at Simon. Anyone watching from the sidelines would think the Goddess was trying to smite him where he sat. Or at least try to inject some shame into the man with her gaze alone. But, regardless of how intense her stare was, Simon kept staring at her with a smile on his face. Eventually, Hestia gave up with a sigh. She fell back into her chair, ponytails going limp as she crashed into the sofa. She pinched the bridge of her nose. After a few moments she spoke, "Alright. Fine. This just means I need to give you a certain talking to in regards to how things work in Orario."
"Hmm, does it have anything to do with Bell and the other Gods?" Simon ventured.
Hestia nodded. She leaned forward with a serious expression on her face, "Put simply, Simon, the God's are like kids. They love to play with their toys and are constantly looking for new things to pique their interests. It's the reason they are so enamored with the Children of the lower world. They are all so fascinating in so many ways. But that also means that Children who stand out are in danger. Especially those without a Familia to protect them."
Simon frowned and crossed his arms, "Let me guess. If any of them find out what I can do, they're gonna try to force me into their Familias?"
Hestia nodded grimly, "It'll be worse if they discover you can share it with people. If Spiral Power really is as strong as you say it is, then every God in Orario will want to have you give to every member of their Familia. And some Gods in Orario are...not kind."
Hestia looked away from Simon, a shadow coming over her face. She placed both hands under her chin while her thoughts ran down her lists of Gods she knew would kill to have Simon in their clutches. Or at least chase after him an attempt to see the newest thing in Orario. Their never-ending search for entertainment would be hell for Simon to deal with.
But Simon didn't look worried. He simply nodded along with her words, "Yeah, thought as much. Guess choosing to not be vocal about it was a smart decision then. Wouldn't feel right just announcing what I can do to the whole city you know. But that doesn't mean I'm gonna stop using Spiral Power. Not the kind of guy to let something like scare me away from doing what I want."
Hestia sighed, "At least you understand not to go bragging about it. But then, what will you do if a God tries to force you into their Familia? Without a Familia to protect you, you'll be at their mercy. And the Guild could only do so much."
"Well, first I'd tell them. Firmly. If they kept trying, then I'd start," Simon punched his right fist into the palm of his left hand, "insisting".
Hestia stared in disbelief at the cocky smirk on Simon's face. She shook her head, "You...are you saying that you'd fight...an entire Familia? By yourself?"
"If I had to? Sure."
Hestia blinked twice. Then she ran a hand down her face, "I can't believe someone like you exists."
"I get that a lot," Simon replied with a smile, "Besides, I can't just give people Spiral Power. It's something you kind of have to have a knack for. It's in everyone, but mainly shows up in people who don't give up easy. People who want to change the world, or at least themselves, for the better."
Hestia sighed then shook her head before focusing her gaze onto Simon, "I still see you as a friend to my Familia, Simon. You've done too much for us for something like this to change that. But I need you to promise me that, whatever happens, you don't let this hurt my Bell. I don't want him picking up any bad habits from you, nor do I want the Spiral Power you gave him to make him needlessly reckless. And if something happens to him, I'll hold you personally responsible. I hope you understand."
Hestia's eyes flashed with barely hidden fury. Anyone else would understand the context behind those words. How a Goddess was essentially threatening them. How they were sitting before a being that stood above mere mortals. That regardless of her appearance, she was an existence that could easily make miracles happen if she weren't beholden to the rules all the Gods followed. They'd likely be scared, quaking in their boots as they became deathly aware of exactly where they were standing.
But Simon?
His response was to give Hestia a thumbs up, "OK. I promise."
"...Just like that?"
A shrug, "Yeah. Oh, but to be clear I'm promising to keep Bell safe. I understand that you're in love with him and want to make sure that nothing bad happens to him. So, I'm letting you know that I'll make sure nothing bad happens to him in the Dungeon, and that the other Gods won't hurt a hair on his head. But I can't really promise anything about Spiral Power. How that ends up is mainly down to Bell. His life is his own, after all. How he evolves will depend on him."
Simon cocked his head in the direction of the stairs. Hestia crossed her arms and nodded, "Good. I'm glad that-wait...what?! Did you say I was in love with Bell?!"
"Hmm? Yeah."
Hestia's face flushed a dark red. Her ponytails fluttered as she stood from her seat, "H-H-How could you tell?! Did you use Spiral Power to read my mind or something?"
Simon shook his head, "Nope. You're just really bad at hiding it."
The smile he gave her was the picture of innocence.
Hestia's cheeks puffed up as she pouted. Then she turned away from Simon with a huff, "Whatever! I need to go update Bell's status! You stay here and wait for him."
"Sure thing," Simon waved goodbye to Hestia as she headed upstairs. Once she was gone, he shook his head, "Man, Bell. Tough times are ahead for you. I'll do my best to make sure you're ready though. Though, I'm not exactly the best with women either, am I?"
He chuckled while leaning back into the sofa.
"And then she kicked me out of the room," Bell explained as he and Simon walked through the street traffic of Orario. The sun was sinking into the western sky, slowly being replaced by the bluish glow of the moon above. Adventurers and workers who had returned safe from their jobs filled the various bars that lined Main Street. Orange lights poured out of the doors alongside the happy and angry voices of the patrons.
Simon raised an eyebrow, "Really? All cause of how your Status looked?"
"I...don't know. I know she was mad about something. But I'm still not sure what it was," Bell admitted, looking at the ground in shame. He crossed his arms while closing his eyes in thought, "I'd figure she would be as surprised as I was at how much I grew. Improving by a total of 200 points in one day isn't exactly normal."
"That so?" Simon smiled at Bell. He reached over and pulled the young man into a one arm hug. Then he started to rub the younger boy's head with his other hand, "Maybe all that time you spend in the Dungeon is starting to pay off, huh?"
Bell couldn't help but chuckle as he playfully struggled to get out of Simon's grasp. He bet the two looked like brothers to anyone who was watching them. And, truth be told, he didn't hate that idea. He'd never had a brother before. Much less an older one. So, experiencing something like this was...nice.
But his smile soon faded when his mind went back to Lady Hestia's reaction to his Status Update, "But that still doesn't explain why the Goddess was so upset with me. Maybe she's mad I left so early this morning?"
Simon let Bell go and waved his hand dismissively, "Don't let it get to you, Bell. You trust her, don't you?"
"Of course. She's my Goddess."
"Then trust that she'll tell you later. When she thinks you're ready," Simon smiled down at Bell. The younger man nodded, his mood improving a little bit. All around them Main Street's nightlife continued on. All around them Demi-humans draw people off the street to lure them into their respective establishments. A circle of prums and gnomes sing to their hearts' content, with a dwarf joining them shortly after. The bars are regular hubs of activity, with one having female animal people in "playful" clothing trying to entice customers. But they're soon put to shame by a passing parade of Amazons wearing little save loincloths.
Bell blushes as he averts his eyes, but sees that Simon doesn't even look their way. In fact, regardless of the things happening around them, he never seems to get distracted. His eyes are always focused forward toward their next destination. Bell is transfixed by his confident gaze to the point where he hardly notices when Simon stops walking. Simon looks up, "Think this is the place."
"Huh?" Bell blinks before turning to see a familiar terrace. The same one where he and Simon had met Syr earlier that day. Looking up saw the bar's name; The Benevolent Mistress.
Bell nodded, "Yeah. I recognize it."
"Cool. Mind leading the way in?"
"Uh, sure. Lets see what the inside's like," Bell walked through the open doors with Simon following close behind. The inside of the bar was as lively as the others, but there was a certain class to the atmosphere. The servers were all female, with the majority being catgirls of various types. A single elegant elf server gracefully glided amongst them, no making a single mistake as she served the crowd. Behind a counter stood a stout dwarfess, who Simon could tell was the owner of the establishment by the way she carried herself. And the way her eyes immediately took notice of them the moment they walked inside.
Most of the occupants were men. Adventurers if their rough looks and armor was anything to go by. And though the place looked pretty contemporary, it still held a cheerful atmosphere. Simon whistled while his eyes roamed the place, "Pretty nice place. Syr must've hit the jackpot getting a job here."
"Y-Yeah. But-I feel like it's a bit out of my league..."
Simon placed a finger under Bell's chin and lifted it up, "Chin up, Bell! When a man enters a new place, he needs to be confident. Walk with your head held high and back straight, ready to take on whatever comes your way. Got it?"
"Ri-Right!" Bell immediately stood to attention, placing both his feet together while turning his body ramrod straight. He was only able to stand like that for a few moments before his body relaxed. Embarrassed, he looked at Simon, "I...don't have to stand like that all the time, do I?"
Simon laughed and patted the boy's head, "Course not! You can relax. Just be yourself. Be confident. Be brave. Can you do that?"
"Sure. I can...I can do that."
"Good. Now, Syr's here, so how about we get seated and I tell you that story I was talking about?"
"Really?!" Bell seemed more excited at the prospect of a story than the fact that Syr somehow snuck up on him. The girl in question was wearing the same dress from when they first met her. She smiled before getting the two's attention and leading them into the bar.
Bell blinked at Simon, his barely touched pasta sitting in front of him, "So...Gunmen are golems?"
"What's a golem?" Simon said through bites of a an entire chicken.
No, not a chicken leg or breast.
And entire roast chicken.
When Syr had sat him and Bell at a quiet L-shaped corner counter where no one would bother them, the two had reacted completely differently from each other. Bell told Simon that he had about six thousand Vals on him, and thanks to the ten thousand he got from the Minotaur, they could afford to splurge just a bit. So, when the Mistress asked what they wanted, Simon ordered a meat platter while Bell got the pasta.
The younger man didn't eat much for two reasons. The first was because he wanted to hear Simon telling his story.
The second was because he was at awe of how much Simon could eat. The meat platter had come with an roasted chicken, a well done steak, and chopped up fish. Along with that was a tankard of ale that Simon hadn't touched. He and Bell asked for water, which the Mistress gave them a few seconds after giving them their orders.
Simon's order was already almost gone.
He had eaten the steak first. Literally shoving the entire thing in his mouth, then pulling out the bones. Then he got to the fish, which he at similarly.
The only reason the chicken wasn't gone yet, was because his first bite had taken a third of the meat off it. He just spat out the bones before washing it all down with water. The spectacle had actually made a few of the patrons stop what they were doing to watch him eat. Even Syr sat down to Bell's right to see it in action, while the Mistress just laughed as she worked. The dwarfess mentioned something about how "They've got a big eater on their hands" before walking away.
And somehow, between all of that, he managed to tell Bell bits and pieces of a what a Gunmen was.
Bell sat up straighter as he spoke, "They're constructs given life through magic. Most need to be controlled by one who made them to work, meaning they have to be nearby or on top of the golem to keep it running. Gunmen sound like that."
"Hmm. Well, kind of. But Gunmen can be made by hand out of metal. I could probably make one if I had the right materials," he said through bites of his chicken...which was now just bone. He put the last of it on his plate then leaned back and sighed, "Ooooh, man that was good! My compliments to the chef, Mistress!"
"I'll be sure to tell them! And if you ever want more, she'll be happy to make it for you!"
"You're awesome!" Simon chuckled before turning back to Bell. He placed both his arms on the counter, "But yeah, we used those thing in my world for all sorts of things. Building homes, traveling, anything we couldn't do on our own really."
Bell's eyes shined, "And everyone could pilot them?"
"If they learned and the skills for it, sure."
"Wow. Do you think I could visit your home one day, Simon?" Bell couldn't hide his excitement. An entire people who could making flying golems with their hands? That sounded like something right out of the Dungeon Oratoria!
Before Simon could answer, a giggle drew the men's attention to Syr. The girl was smiling as she watched Bell and Simon, "Well I'm glad you're both enjoying yourselves."
"Yeah. This is place is pretty cool," Simon crossed his arms and nodded, "Thanks for inviting us, Syr."
"And thanks you for the food today," Bell said with a bow his head.
Syr waved them off, "Don't worry about it. Seeing the two of you here tonight makes my empty stomach worth it."
"Don't you mean worth it to get us to spend a lot on dinner?" Bell said with an accusatory glance.
Syr laughs with a smile and bows her head, "Sorry, Bell. You too, Simon."
Simon raised a hand, "Don't need to apologize to me. Bell's the one spending all the money. By the way, thanks Bell."
"Anytime Simon," Bell assured the blue haired man. Then a thought came to him and he turned back to Syr, "Um, shouldn't you be at work right now?"
"The kitchen is a little busy, but everyone has everything else covered. Things are slowing down a bit too," she looks towards the owner with a pleading stare.
The dwarfess gives a her a jerking nod of confirmation.
"OK. Then what can you tell me about this place?" Bell asked, leaning in to listen to the girl. While he did that Simon turned to look out at the bar. He watched as people started to file out of the bar, leaving only a few patrons. Though that number was still high. Quite a few of the tables were full of people having a good time. He just watched them, smiling as he saw them all enjoying life. It was good to see that, even here, people managed to find joy in the world.
He did catch Syr's explanation of what the place was though. The dwarfess was an ex-adventurer named Mia, though most of the employees called her "Mama" or "Mama Mia". She got permission from her God to retire from dungeon crawling and make this place. She only hires women, but doesn't care about their backgrounds or their reasons for being here. Which made Simon respect her quite a bit more. Idly, he caught Mama's eye as Syr was explaining why she was here. The dwarfess was cleaning a tankard but her keen right eye met his own. He smiled and gave her a thumbs up. She scoffed but smiled back at him. He went back to looking at the bar...but his instincts kicked in.
Simon turned his head toward the doors just as they flew open. Ten people, adventurers by the look of it, walk into the bar like they own the place. They seemed to have made reservation because they're instantly led toward an empty table opposite the main floor. Even from where he was sitting Simon could tell they weren't normal adventurers. While their stances and gaits were casual, they were all ready to strike at a moment's notice. Something most would probably not notice until it was too late.
While there were ten members, only a few stood out to him.
One was a small boy, possibly one of those prums that Bell mentioned, with blonde hair and blue eyes. He was smiling but Simon caught how his eyes quickly scanned the entire bar in a second. A full perimeter scan to watch for any possible threats. Their tactician, maybe?
Another was an elf with long jade colored hair and eyes. She moved with the grace that Simon had seen most elves move with, but hers didn't have the same feeling to it. The others felt like they constantly held an air of superiority about them. She felt more...natural. High strung, but seeing everyone else as equals.
Two of them were nearly identical. Same wheat colored skin, same dark green eyes, they even wore similar loincloths. Though there were differences between the two. One wore a red bra that barely covered her breasts, while the other had a flat white strap across her chest. The former's hair was long and tied into two short pony tails at the front. The latter's was cut short and gave her a tomboyish look. The two seemed to be in high spirits, constantly speaking with each other regardless of where they were. Twins, maybe?
One was an animal person with grey hair, dog ears, and orange eyes. And the second Simon saw him, he was immediately reminded of Viral. The rough outlook, the claws ready to strike, the boisterous look on his face, the way he carried himself. All of it made him the perfect picture of a really cocky guy who thinks he's the best damn fighter in the room. And, unfortunately, if Simon's gut feeling was anything to go by, he was probably right. At least, he would be if Simon wasn't in the room. Though he could say that about most of the people who just walked in. But this one...this one felt like he might be trouble.
Then there were two others that seemed to be the focal points of the group. A small, red haired...woman? He was pretty sure it was a girl. It was hard to tell from where he was sitting. The way they moved their hips gave him the impression, but that was about it. Their blue shirt, black stockings, and black shorts could be worn by anybody. Not to mention their chest was flat as a board.
...Huh. He thinks he saw them wince for some reason.
And the one next to them was a golden-blonde haired girl in a white dress with blue leggings. While everyone else looked excited to be their, she looked like she wanted to be somewhere else. There was no emotion whatsoever on her face. And while her golden eyes had light in them, he could tell her mind was elsewhere. Thinking about something besides all of this.
Simon caught some whispers in the crowd talking about the newcomers. Apparently, they were members of the "Loki Familia". He noticed that Bell and Syr had stopped talking, so he turned to see what they were doing. He saw them gawking at the newcomers, Bell more so than Syr. His mouth was hanging open as he watched the party sit down and start ordering. Simon elbowed Bell and leaned over, "So, those guys are called Loki Familia. That ring any bells, Bell?"
Bell's eyes widened in shock, "L-L-Loki Familia!? That's the number one Familia in Orario. They have the highest number of High Level Adventurers in the whole city! No one can match them when it comes to Dungeon delving. They've gone farther into the Dungeon than anyone else!"
"Ah. So they're all really strong then?"
Bell nodded enthusiastically. Then he turned his eyes back to the Familia in question, "But, without a doubt, the strongest of their number is Ais Wallenstein. The Kenki. The Sword Princess. Rumor has it that she's killed a horde of Level Five Monsters all by herself."
Simon hummed and nodded, "Sounds impressive. What do you think of her?"
"Huh?"
"I mean, it sounds like you're a bit smitten."
Bell's cheeks flushed and he furiously shook his head, "N-N-No! Nothing like that! I mean...I admire her for her strength. She is a High Level Adventurer. And I'd like to be on that level one day. And she's certainly pretty. But I don't see her that way."
Simon chuckled and patted Bell's head, "Probably for the best. You're gonna have enough girl problems in the future. Shouldn't complicate it any more."
"Yeah...wait, what?" Bell tilted his head in confusion.
Simon didn't say anything. He just glanced at Syr and winked. Syr kept smiling like she didn't notice a thing. She does mention that the members of Loki Familia are regulars here. Their Goddess, Loki, seems to like the place for whatever reason. Bell and Simon nod, then go back to their respective meals. Loki Familia continues to toast and enjoy themselves. Things go on as normal.
Then that gray animal person shouted loud enough for the entire bar to hear, "Yeah, Ais! Tell us that one story!"
"That one story...?" Bell tensed up at the words, but Simon just kept drinking his water.
"You know the one! About those Minotaurs that go away! And how someone stole your kill! The Tomato Boy!"
Bell felt lightning shook through is back. He stiffened in his seat but Simon just kept drinking his water. The animal person keeps going, eventually getting the entire table talking. Which leads to Bell and Simon putting together the puzzle pieces. Essentially, Loki Familia was in the Dungeon fighting Minotaurs. One of them gets away. That one eventually runs to the floor that Bell is on and attacks him. He gets cornered and then Simon saves him.
Which meant that Ais was somewhere nearby and saw what happened. Then she told her Familia about it.
"So, a kid got himself cornered by the Minotaur like a li'l bunny! Shaking like one, too! Poor thing was about to explode!"
"Oh? What happened to the boy? Was he okay?"
"See, here's the funny part. Just as Ais here gets ready to save the kid, some dude jumps ten feet off a cliff and dives right at the Minotaur! Kicks it hard enough in the face to shatter one of its horns!"
"Wow! Must've been a High Level Adventurer who happened to be passing by. That kid got lucky!"
"Oh wait, it gets better! So, Ais moves in to see what's going on. And what does she see? The guy running up the Minotaur's arm, kicking it in the chin, then slamming his fists onto its head! Telling ya, I wish I could've seen that! Guy was just beating on the Minotaur. Then, he yells out the name of his Skill or something and just blows its head off in one attack! How'd you say it went Ais?"
The animal person put one foot on the table, making the silverware clatter as he tried to repeat Simon's words, "Drrrillll Immmppaaaccttt! PFFFTTTT ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!"
He suddenly fell back into his seat with one hand on his stomach, "Oh god, it makes my stomach hurt every time! Who the hell does that?!"
"It...certainly sounds....interesting."
"And the best part? The best part? The kid? He doesn't run! He just sits there and watches. Which means that when the Minotaur dies, both of them get covered in its stinky cow blood! They get turned red instantly. Thus Tomato Boy!"
The animal person's laughs even harder. Bell is trying hard not to shake in his seat while Simon continues to drink his water. While some of the guy's Familia were also chuckling, most were remaining quiet and glaring at him. Ais didn't react at all.
"Never thought I'd see someone manage to steal a kill from Aizee! But while that guy was cool, that kid was just pathetic! So disgusting I could cry!"
"...Hmm."
"What the hell was he doing? If you're gonna cry like a bitch, you shouldn't be down there in the first place! Right, Ais?"
"...."
"It's weak adventurers like him that give the rest of us a bad name! Especially when they have to be rescued. Make those of us with power look like babysitters. That guy should've left that kid! Maybe then he'd give it up already!"
"Shut your mouth already, Bete! It was our mistake that let the Minotaurs escape! That boy had nothing to do with it! And stop drinking! Learn some respect!"
"Oh-oh! You elves and your pride! But yeah, what's in it for you to protect that piece of shit? Saying it's our fault, you're lying to yourself! Just to keep your pride! Trash is trash! What's wrong with calling it what it is?"
"Hey, hey! That's enough! Bete, Riveria, relax! You're killing the mood!"
"Eh, Ais! What did you think about him, the pathetic piece of shit who was shaking in front of you? Do you think he deserves to stand at our level, as adventurers?"
"…I don't blame him for acting the way he did under those circumstances."
"Why you acting all Goody Two-shoes? Okay then, I'm changin' the question. Him or me—who's got it going on?"
"…Bete, are you drunk?"
"Shut it! Now, Ais! Choose! As a female, which male wags your tail? Which male makes you hot?"
"…I have no reason to answer that question, especially to you, Bete."
"You're absurd…"
"Quiet, hag!…Well then, what if that piece of trash came up to you, said he liked you, would you take him?"
"…Hm."
"Of course you wouldn't! Why would a tiny kid who's so weak, feeble, and all-around nauseating have the right to even stand next to you? There's no way he'd measure up!"
"Don't run, Bell."
Bell hardly even heard the words. His legs were already moving to push himself out of his seat.
But a firm, steady, comforting hand stopped him from moving. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't move from his seat. He turned to the owner of the hand, eyes wet with tears while his mouth and eyes quivered.
And the moment he met those swirling green eyes, all the pain he was feeling was washed away.
All because of those kind, confident eyes.
And that confident smile.
"Don't worry about a thing. You stay right there. I'll go take care of this."
What? Did you think Simon was just gonna ignore Bete's taunting?
This ain't like other Danmachi Crossovers.
If a character has reason to fuck with Canon, they will fuck with Canon.
A part of him did feel some temptation. The want to crack the door open and sneak downstairs. Hear what was so important that he had to leave the room before they could talk about it. But that part was swiftly dashed by his complete trust of Lady Hestia. She was his Goddess and a great one at that. She was probably just explaining more about how Orario works to Simon.
Simon. The thought of him made Bell smile. Though he hadn't known the man for long, he did think he was a good person. He knew that sounded naive but it made sense to him. Simon had saved his life twice now, had accompanied him into the Dungeon without needing a formal contract, and kept letting him have all the money. Even if Bell felt bad about taking Simon's own share of the vals, he couldn't deny that it was helping his Familia. They were in a much better position than they used to be. Lady Hestia could even afford multiple potato snack dinners now! He had given them so much, yet he asked for nothing in return. Just like a Hero...
Smiling, Bell reached into his pocket and pulled out the drill that Simon had given him. He held it up to the light, the little bronze object dangling from a piece of string. Simon had done that for him when they left the Dungeon today. The string had come from his cape and he had placed it into Bell's hand. When Bell asked what it was, Simon had called it a "Core Drill". At the time it hadn't been much. Just a normal drill.
But now, as he stared at it, he swore he saw a the dimmest of green lights pulsing within its core. He turned the slightly warm object around in his fingers eyes transfixed by the light within. He was certain the thing was some kind of Magic Item. The type that the Heroes in stories get that always helps them win the day. Though he wasn't sure how this one worked, he had a theory over what it was supposed to do. And that came down to the color the Core Drill was giving off.
Because it was the same shade of green he had seen Simon use in the Dungeon.
Which meant that it was connected to...
"Spiral Power," Bell tested the words on his tongue. His eyes kept staring at the Core Drill as he thought on his theory. Simon had said that Spiral Power was "Fighting Spirit". Bell figured he meant "Willpower" or something close to it. If that was the case then...was Spiral Power the ability to manifest your Will into reality? Or make things happen through willing them to happen?
Because if so then...what could it not do?
Bell started to frown but then shook his head. He was probably overthinking things again. Spiral Power couldn't be that strong. If it was then everybody would be using it, wouldn't they? But this is the first time he's heard of it. Maybe it was something that the Heroes of Old used before Falna became a thing? He'd have to ask Simon about it later.
He lowered his head then put the Core Drill around his neck. The item fell to the middle of his chest still glowing with a faint green light. He sighed before falling back onto the bed as his mind once more drifted to the conversation happening downstairs. As they did he briefly wondered if Hestia would know anything about Spiral Power.
Hestia, the Goddess of Hearth and Home, was currently had her eyes closed as she massaged her temples. She leaned back against the living room sofa, taking a deep breath before sighing, "Oooookkkkk. Let me see if I've got this straight."
Simon sat across from her with his legs crossed. He didn't look perturbed by her mood in the slightest. If anything, his expression made Hestia more upset. And his tone didn't make it any better, "Sure. I'm all ears."
Hestia frowned but continued, "So, Spiral Power. It...it's a power source that just exists in the world."
"Yep. Well, it does for me."
"You can sense it?"
Simon shrugged, "Yeah. Passively, I can feel any Spiral Power in a radius around me. If I concentrate, I can sense it all across the planet."
"...You can...sense the presence of Spiral Power...across the entire planet if you try?"
"Uh huh! Pretty handy trick, huh?" Simon smiled and put his arms behind his head.
Hestia took a moment to breathe and calm herself down. Her ponytails were trembling as she tried to keep her emotions in check. After a few moments she continued, "OK. Lets put to the side for now. Spiral Power. It just plainly exists, and represents evolution. But less evolutions and more the concept of improving and overcoming all obstacles."
"That's one way to put it."
"And it's powered by someone's innate Willpower."
"Fighting Spirit."
"Same difference. Anyway, there's no limit to the amount of Spiral Power someone can have. Or what it can do. Someone with Spiral Power can go from digging holes in the ground one day, to defeating someone who is many years their senior in combat the next day. And it only gets crazier from there? Am I getting that right?"
Another shrug, "Pretty much. Though it's not a free ride. Everyone can have Spiral Power, but you actually have to ACT in order to make use of it. If you're a passive person, then you're not gonna get very far. Think it like a drill. Every time it rotates, it gets further and further down the hole it's digging. Just like how someone becomes different from who they were before every moment they spend improving themselves. That's Spiral Power."
Hestia blinked.
Then she spoke in the flattest voice she could manage, "Simon, are you a God?"
For the first time since she had met him, Hestia saw Simon frown. His answer was short and decisive, "No."
"And you're not lying to-"
"Why would I ever lie to you, Hestia?"
Hestia was silent for a few moments. Normally, she wouldn't have asked if Simon was lying to her. After all, the Children can't lie to the Gods. It's just impossible.
But Simon basically told her that Spiral Power looks at things that are supposed to be "impossible" and says, "Fucking watch me do it anyway."
And it tends to work.
Meaning that, if he wanted to, he could lie to the Gods.
And, truth be told, a part of her wished that he was lying to her right now. Because that would be preferable to the truth of the matter.
Unfortunately, she knew he wasn't. Because Simon was similar to Bell in many ways. And one of those ways was that he was honest to a fault. He wouldn't lie to her, because the idea of lying to her for any reason at all would never even cross his mind.
Which meant that everything he told her was true.
....
"You doing okay there, Hestia?" Simon asked, tilting his head to the side.
Hestia was silent.
Then she slowly fell back into the sofa until it looked like her body was being eaten by the fabric. It was only when she was halfway into the sofa that she finally spoke, "Th...bull..."
"Hmm? You say something?"
"I said that's bullshit!" Hestia rocketed out of her seat. She shot to her feet, ponytails whipping up a storm while angry eyes fixated onto a stunned Simon. She continued to yell at the top of her lungs, uncaring of how loud she was being, "You can't just do whatever you want without limit! There's no way you can use Spiral Power whenever you want, however you want, and it's not gonna cost you anything?! The only way any of that would be possible if you were a God, but you're clearly not that. Because Spiral Power isn't Arcanum. Because it if was, then you wouldn't be here right now you'd be in Tenkai for breaking the rules! Which means that whatever you're doing, it's either something all mortals can use, the implications of which are terrifying, or you're somehow tricking the rules into thinking what you're doing isn't Arcanum. And considering what you've told me already, I'm willing to believe the latter!'
Hestia started to pant while she stared Simon dead in the eye. Her ponytails were still whipping around, the dust particles in the room lifting from the ground with each wave. Simon just stared at Hestia with wide eyes and an open mouth. Then he held up a finger, "Mind if I ask you something, Hestia?"
"What is it?"
"What day is it?"
"It's the second day of the week."
"Thought so," Simon started to chuckle, rocking back and forth in his seat as he did.
"What's so funny? This is serious."
"It's just...you remind me of one of my friends. This guy named Rossiu. Your rant sounded just like something he'd say. Course, then I'd do something to prove him wrong so," Simon shrugged, an easy going smile on his face.
Hestia blinked. Her cheeks got red with rage while her ponytails pointed at Simon. Anyone watching from the sidelines would think the Goddess was trying to smite him where he sat. Or at least try to inject some shame into the man with her gaze alone. But, regardless of how intense her stare was, Simon kept staring at her with a smile on his face. Eventually, Hestia gave up with a sigh. She fell back into her chair, ponytails going limp as she crashed into the sofa. She pinched the bridge of her nose. After a few moments she spoke, "Alright. Fine. This just means I need to give you a certain talking to in regards to how things work in Orario."
"Hmm, does it have anything to do with Bell and the other Gods?" Simon ventured.
Hestia nodded. She leaned forward with a serious expression on her face, "Put simply, Simon, the God's are like kids. They love to play with their toys and are constantly looking for new things to pique their interests. It's the reason they are so enamored with the Children of the lower world. They are all so fascinating in so many ways. But that also means that Children who stand out are in danger. Especially those without a Familia to protect them."
Simon frowned and crossed his arms, "Let me guess. If any of them find out what I can do, they're gonna try to force me into their Familias?"
Hestia nodded grimly, "It'll be worse if they discover you can share it with people. If Spiral Power really is as strong as you say it is, then every God in Orario will want to have you give to every member of their Familia. And some Gods in Orario are...not kind."
Hestia looked away from Simon, a shadow coming over her face. She placed both hands under her chin while her thoughts ran down her lists of Gods she knew would kill to have Simon in their clutches. Or at least chase after him an attempt to see the newest thing in Orario. Their never-ending search for entertainment would be hell for Simon to deal with.
But Simon didn't look worried. He simply nodded along with her words, "Yeah, thought as much. Guess choosing to not be vocal about it was a smart decision then. Wouldn't feel right just announcing what I can do to the whole city you know. But that doesn't mean I'm gonna stop using Spiral Power. Not the kind of guy to let something like scare me away from doing what I want."
Hestia sighed, "At least you understand not to go bragging about it. But then, what will you do if a God tries to force you into their Familia? Without a Familia to protect you, you'll be at their mercy. And the Guild could only do so much."
"Well, first I'd tell them. Firmly. If they kept trying, then I'd start," Simon punched his right fist into the palm of his left hand, "insisting".
Hestia stared in disbelief at the cocky smirk on Simon's face. She shook her head, "You...are you saying that you'd fight...an entire Familia? By yourself?"
"If I had to? Sure."
Hestia blinked twice. Then she ran a hand down her face, "I can't believe someone like you exists."
"I get that a lot," Simon replied with a smile, "Besides, I can't just give people Spiral Power. It's something you kind of have to have a knack for. It's in everyone, but mainly shows up in people who don't give up easy. People who want to change the world, or at least themselves, for the better."
Hestia sighed then shook her head before focusing her gaze onto Simon, "I still see you as a friend to my Familia, Simon. You've done too much for us for something like this to change that. But I need you to promise me that, whatever happens, you don't let this hurt my Bell. I don't want him picking up any bad habits from you, nor do I want the Spiral Power you gave him to make him needlessly reckless. And if something happens to him, I'll hold you personally responsible. I hope you understand."
Hestia's eyes flashed with barely hidden fury. Anyone else would understand the context behind those words. How a Goddess was essentially threatening them. How they were sitting before a being that stood above mere mortals. That regardless of her appearance, she was an existence that could easily make miracles happen if she weren't beholden to the rules all the Gods followed. They'd likely be scared, quaking in their boots as they became deathly aware of exactly where they were standing.
But Simon?
His response was to give Hestia a thumbs up, "OK. I promise."
"...Just like that?"
A shrug, "Yeah. Oh, but to be clear I'm promising to keep Bell safe. I understand that you're in love with him and want to make sure that nothing bad happens to him. So, I'm letting you know that I'll make sure nothing bad happens to him in the Dungeon, and that the other Gods won't hurt a hair on his head. But I can't really promise anything about Spiral Power. How that ends up is mainly down to Bell. His life is his own, after all. How he evolves will depend on him."
Simon cocked his head in the direction of the stairs. Hestia crossed her arms and nodded, "Good. I'm glad that-wait...what?! Did you say I was in love with Bell?!"
"Hmm? Yeah."
Hestia's face flushed a dark red. Her ponytails fluttered as she stood from her seat, "H-H-How could you tell?! Did you use Spiral Power to read my mind or something?"
Simon shook his head, "Nope. You're just really bad at hiding it."
The smile he gave her was the picture of innocence.
Hestia's cheeks puffed up as she pouted. Then she turned away from Simon with a huff, "Whatever! I need to go update Bell's status! You stay here and wait for him."
"Sure thing," Simon waved goodbye to Hestia as she headed upstairs. Once she was gone, he shook his head, "Man, Bell. Tough times are ahead for you. I'll do my best to make sure you're ready though. Though, I'm not exactly the best with women either, am I?"
He chuckled while leaning back into the sofa.
"And then she kicked me out of the room," Bell explained as he and Simon walked through the street traffic of Orario. The sun was sinking into the western sky, slowly being replaced by the bluish glow of the moon above. Adventurers and workers who had returned safe from their jobs filled the various bars that lined Main Street. Orange lights poured out of the doors alongside the happy and angry voices of the patrons.
Simon raised an eyebrow, "Really? All cause of how your Status looked?"
"I...don't know. I know she was mad about something. But I'm still not sure what it was," Bell admitted, looking at the ground in shame. He crossed his arms while closing his eyes in thought, "I'd figure she would be as surprised as I was at how much I grew. Improving by a total of 200 points in one day isn't exactly normal."
"That so?" Simon smiled at Bell. He reached over and pulled the young man into a one arm hug. Then he started to rub the younger boy's head with his other hand, "Maybe all that time you spend in the Dungeon is starting to pay off, huh?"
Bell couldn't help but chuckle as he playfully struggled to get out of Simon's grasp. He bet the two looked like brothers to anyone who was watching them. And, truth be told, he didn't hate that idea. He'd never had a brother before. Much less an older one. So, experiencing something like this was...nice.
But his smile soon faded when his mind went back to Lady Hestia's reaction to his Status Update, "But that still doesn't explain why the Goddess was so upset with me. Maybe she's mad I left so early this morning?"
Simon let Bell go and waved his hand dismissively, "Don't let it get to you, Bell. You trust her, don't you?"
"Of course. She's my Goddess."
"Then trust that she'll tell you later. When she thinks you're ready," Simon smiled down at Bell. The younger man nodded, his mood improving a little bit. All around them Main Street's nightlife continued on. All around them Demi-humans draw people off the street to lure them into their respective establishments. A circle of prums and gnomes sing to their hearts' content, with a dwarf joining them shortly after. The bars are regular hubs of activity, with one having female animal people in "playful" clothing trying to entice customers. But they're soon put to shame by a passing parade of Amazons wearing little save loincloths.
Bell blushes as he averts his eyes, but sees that Simon doesn't even look their way. In fact, regardless of the things happening around them, he never seems to get distracted. His eyes are always focused forward toward their next destination. Bell is transfixed by his confident gaze to the point where he hardly notices when Simon stops walking. Simon looks up, "Think this is the place."
"Huh?" Bell blinks before turning to see a familiar terrace. The same one where he and Simon had met Syr earlier that day. Looking up saw the bar's name; The Benevolent Mistress.
Bell nodded, "Yeah. I recognize it."
"Cool. Mind leading the way in?"
"Uh, sure. Lets see what the inside's like," Bell walked through the open doors with Simon following close behind. The inside of the bar was as lively as the others, but there was a certain class to the atmosphere. The servers were all female, with the majority being catgirls of various types. A single elegant elf server gracefully glided amongst them, no making a single mistake as she served the crowd. Behind a counter stood a stout dwarfess, who Simon could tell was the owner of the establishment by the way she carried herself. And the way her eyes immediately took notice of them the moment they walked inside.
Most of the occupants were men. Adventurers if their rough looks and armor was anything to go by. And though the place looked pretty contemporary, it still held a cheerful atmosphere. Simon whistled while his eyes roamed the place, "Pretty nice place. Syr must've hit the jackpot getting a job here."
"Y-Yeah. But-I feel like it's a bit out of my league..."
Simon placed a finger under Bell's chin and lifted it up, "Chin up, Bell! When a man enters a new place, he needs to be confident. Walk with your head held high and back straight, ready to take on whatever comes your way. Got it?"
"Ri-Right!" Bell immediately stood to attention, placing both his feet together while turning his body ramrod straight. He was only able to stand like that for a few moments before his body relaxed. Embarrassed, he looked at Simon, "I...don't have to stand like that all the time, do I?"
Simon laughed and patted the boy's head, "Course not! You can relax. Just be yourself. Be confident. Be brave. Can you do that?"
"Sure. I can...I can do that."
"Good. Now, Syr's here, so how about we get seated and I tell you that story I was talking about?"
"Really?!" Bell seemed more excited at the prospect of a story than the fact that Syr somehow snuck up on him. The girl in question was wearing the same dress from when they first met her. She smiled before getting the two's attention and leading them into the bar.
Bell blinked at Simon, his barely touched pasta sitting in front of him, "So...Gunmen are golems?"
"What's a golem?" Simon said through bites of a an entire chicken.
No, not a chicken leg or breast.
And entire roast chicken.
When Syr had sat him and Bell at a quiet L-shaped corner counter where no one would bother them, the two had reacted completely differently from each other. Bell told Simon that he had about six thousand Vals on him, and thanks to the ten thousand he got from the Minotaur, they could afford to splurge just a bit. So, when the Mistress asked what they wanted, Simon ordered a meat platter while Bell got the pasta.
The younger man didn't eat much for two reasons. The first was because he wanted to hear Simon telling his story.
The second was because he was at awe of how much Simon could eat. The meat platter had come with an roasted chicken, a well done steak, and chopped up fish. Along with that was a tankard of ale that Simon hadn't touched. He and Bell asked for water, which the Mistress gave them a few seconds after giving them their orders.
Simon's order was already almost gone.
He had eaten the steak first. Literally shoving the entire thing in his mouth, then pulling out the bones. Then he got to the fish, which he at similarly.
The only reason the chicken wasn't gone yet, was because his first bite had taken a third of the meat off it. He just spat out the bones before washing it all down with water. The spectacle had actually made a few of the patrons stop what they were doing to watch him eat. Even Syr sat down to Bell's right to see it in action, while the Mistress just laughed as she worked. The dwarfess mentioned something about how "They've got a big eater on their hands" before walking away.
And somehow, between all of that, he managed to tell Bell bits and pieces of a what a Gunmen was.
Bell sat up straighter as he spoke, "They're constructs given life through magic. Most need to be controlled by one who made them to work, meaning they have to be nearby or on top of the golem to keep it running. Gunmen sound like that."
"Hmm. Well, kind of. But Gunmen can be made by hand out of metal. I could probably make one if I had the right materials," he said through bites of his chicken...which was now just bone. He put the last of it on his plate then leaned back and sighed, "Ooooh, man that was good! My compliments to the chef, Mistress!"
"I'll be sure to tell them! And if you ever want more, she'll be happy to make it for you!"
"You're awesome!" Simon chuckled before turning back to Bell. He placed both his arms on the counter, "But yeah, we used those thing in my world for all sorts of things. Building homes, traveling, anything we couldn't do on our own really."
Bell's eyes shined, "And everyone could pilot them?"
"If they learned and the skills for it, sure."
"Wow. Do you think I could visit your home one day, Simon?" Bell couldn't hide his excitement. An entire people who could making flying golems with their hands? That sounded like something right out of the Dungeon Oratoria!
Before Simon could answer, a giggle drew the men's attention to Syr. The girl was smiling as she watched Bell and Simon, "Well I'm glad you're both enjoying yourselves."
"Yeah. This is place is pretty cool," Simon crossed his arms and nodded, "Thanks for inviting us, Syr."
"And thanks you for the food today," Bell said with a bow his head.
Syr waved them off, "Don't worry about it. Seeing the two of you here tonight makes my empty stomach worth it."
"Don't you mean worth it to get us to spend a lot on dinner?" Bell said with an accusatory glance.
Syr laughs with a smile and bows her head, "Sorry, Bell. You too, Simon."
Simon raised a hand, "Don't need to apologize to me. Bell's the one spending all the money. By the way, thanks Bell."
"Anytime Simon," Bell assured the blue haired man. Then a thought came to him and he turned back to Syr, "Um, shouldn't you be at work right now?"
"The kitchen is a little busy, but everyone has everything else covered. Things are slowing down a bit too," she looks towards the owner with a pleading stare.
The dwarfess gives a her a jerking nod of confirmation.
"OK. Then what can you tell me about this place?" Bell asked, leaning in to listen to the girl. While he did that Simon turned to look out at the bar. He watched as people started to file out of the bar, leaving only a few patrons. Though that number was still high. Quite a few of the tables were full of people having a good time. He just watched them, smiling as he saw them all enjoying life. It was good to see that, even here, people managed to find joy in the world.
He did catch Syr's explanation of what the place was though. The dwarfess was an ex-adventurer named Mia, though most of the employees called her "Mama" or "Mama Mia". She got permission from her God to retire from dungeon crawling and make this place. She only hires women, but doesn't care about their backgrounds or their reasons for being here. Which made Simon respect her quite a bit more. Idly, he caught Mama's eye as Syr was explaining why she was here. The dwarfess was cleaning a tankard but her keen right eye met his own. He smiled and gave her a thumbs up. She scoffed but smiled back at him. He went back to looking at the bar...but his instincts kicked in.
Simon turned his head toward the doors just as they flew open. Ten people, adventurers by the look of it, walk into the bar like they own the place. They seemed to have made reservation because they're instantly led toward an empty table opposite the main floor. Even from where he was sitting Simon could tell they weren't normal adventurers. While their stances and gaits were casual, they were all ready to strike at a moment's notice. Something most would probably not notice until it was too late.
While there were ten members, only a few stood out to him.
One was a small boy, possibly one of those prums that Bell mentioned, with blonde hair and blue eyes. He was smiling but Simon caught how his eyes quickly scanned the entire bar in a second. A full perimeter scan to watch for any possible threats. Their tactician, maybe?
Another was an elf with long jade colored hair and eyes. She moved with the grace that Simon had seen most elves move with, but hers didn't have the same feeling to it. The others felt like they constantly held an air of superiority about them. She felt more...natural. High strung, but seeing everyone else as equals.
Two of them were nearly identical. Same wheat colored skin, same dark green eyes, they even wore similar loincloths. Though there were differences between the two. One wore a red bra that barely covered her breasts, while the other had a flat white strap across her chest. The former's hair was long and tied into two short pony tails at the front. The latter's was cut short and gave her a tomboyish look. The two seemed to be in high spirits, constantly speaking with each other regardless of where they were. Twins, maybe?
One was an animal person with grey hair, dog ears, and orange eyes. And the second Simon saw him, he was immediately reminded of Viral. The rough outlook, the claws ready to strike, the boisterous look on his face, the way he carried himself. All of it made him the perfect picture of a really cocky guy who thinks he's the best damn fighter in the room. And, unfortunately, if Simon's gut feeling was anything to go by, he was probably right. At least, he would be if Simon wasn't in the room. Though he could say that about most of the people who just walked in. But this one...this one felt like he might be trouble.
Then there were two others that seemed to be the focal points of the group. A small, red haired...woman? He was pretty sure it was a girl. It was hard to tell from where he was sitting. The way they moved their hips gave him the impression, but that was about it. Their blue shirt, black stockings, and black shorts could be worn by anybody. Not to mention their chest was flat as a board.
...Huh. He thinks he saw them wince for some reason.
And the one next to them was a golden-blonde haired girl in a white dress with blue leggings. While everyone else looked excited to be their, she looked like she wanted to be somewhere else. There was no emotion whatsoever on her face. And while her golden eyes had light in them, he could tell her mind was elsewhere. Thinking about something besides all of this.
Simon caught some whispers in the crowd talking about the newcomers. Apparently, they were members of the "Loki Familia". He noticed that Bell and Syr had stopped talking, so he turned to see what they were doing. He saw them gawking at the newcomers, Bell more so than Syr. His mouth was hanging open as he watched the party sit down and start ordering. Simon elbowed Bell and leaned over, "So, those guys are called Loki Familia. That ring any bells, Bell?"
Bell's eyes widened in shock, "L-L-Loki Familia!? That's the number one Familia in Orario. They have the highest number of High Level Adventurers in the whole city! No one can match them when it comes to Dungeon delving. They've gone farther into the Dungeon than anyone else!"
"Ah. So they're all really strong then?"
Bell nodded enthusiastically. Then he turned his eyes back to the Familia in question, "But, without a doubt, the strongest of their number is Ais Wallenstein. The Kenki. The Sword Princess. Rumor has it that she's killed a horde of Level Five Monsters all by herself."
Simon hummed and nodded, "Sounds impressive. What do you think of her?"
"Huh?"
"I mean, it sounds like you're a bit smitten."
Bell's cheeks flushed and he furiously shook his head, "N-N-No! Nothing like that! I mean...I admire her for her strength. She is a High Level Adventurer. And I'd like to be on that level one day. And she's certainly pretty. But I don't see her that way."
Simon chuckled and patted Bell's head, "Probably for the best. You're gonna have enough girl problems in the future. Shouldn't complicate it any more."
"Yeah...wait, what?" Bell tilted his head in confusion.
Simon didn't say anything. He just glanced at Syr and winked. Syr kept smiling like she didn't notice a thing. She does mention that the members of Loki Familia are regulars here. Their Goddess, Loki, seems to like the place for whatever reason. Bell and Simon nod, then go back to their respective meals. Loki Familia continues to toast and enjoy themselves. Things go on as normal.
Then that gray animal person shouted loud enough for the entire bar to hear, "Yeah, Ais! Tell us that one story!"
"That one story...?" Bell tensed up at the words, but Simon just kept drinking his water.
"You know the one! About those Minotaurs that go away! And how someone stole your kill! The Tomato Boy!"
Bell felt lightning shook through is back. He stiffened in his seat but Simon just kept drinking his water. The animal person keeps going, eventually getting the entire table talking. Which leads to Bell and Simon putting together the puzzle pieces. Essentially, Loki Familia was in the Dungeon fighting Minotaurs. One of them gets away. That one eventually runs to the floor that Bell is on and attacks him. He gets cornered and then Simon saves him.
Which meant that Ais was somewhere nearby and saw what happened. Then she told her Familia about it.
"So, a kid got himself cornered by the Minotaur like a li'l bunny! Shaking like one, too! Poor thing was about to explode!"
"Oh? What happened to the boy? Was he okay?"
"See, here's the funny part. Just as Ais here gets ready to save the kid, some dude jumps ten feet off a cliff and dives right at the Minotaur! Kicks it hard enough in the face to shatter one of its horns!"
"Wow! Must've been a High Level Adventurer who happened to be passing by. That kid got lucky!"
"Oh wait, it gets better! So, Ais moves in to see what's going on. And what does she see? The guy running up the Minotaur's arm, kicking it in the chin, then slamming his fists onto its head! Telling ya, I wish I could've seen that! Guy was just beating on the Minotaur. Then, he yells out the name of his Skill or something and just blows its head off in one attack! How'd you say it went Ais?"
The animal person put one foot on the table, making the silverware clatter as he tried to repeat Simon's words, "Drrrillll Immmppaaaccttt! PFFFTTTT ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!"
He suddenly fell back into his seat with one hand on his stomach, "Oh god, it makes my stomach hurt every time! Who the hell does that?!"
"It...certainly sounds....interesting."
"And the best part? The best part? The kid? He doesn't run! He just sits there and watches. Which means that when the Minotaur dies, both of them get covered in its stinky cow blood! They get turned red instantly. Thus Tomato Boy!"
The animal person's laughs even harder. Bell is trying hard not to shake in his seat while Simon continues to drink his water. While some of the guy's Familia were also chuckling, most were remaining quiet and glaring at him. Ais didn't react at all.
"Never thought I'd see someone manage to steal a kill from Aizee! But while that guy was cool, that kid was just pathetic! So disgusting I could cry!"
"...Hmm."
"What the hell was he doing? If you're gonna cry like a bitch, you shouldn't be down there in the first place! Right, Ais?"
"...."
"It's weak adventurers like him that give the rest of us a bad name! Especially when they have to be rescued. Make those of us with power look like babysitters. That guy should've left that kid! Maybe then he'd give it up already!"
"Shut your mouth already, Bete! It was our mistake that let the Minotaurs escape! That boy had nothing to do with it! And stop drinking! Learn some respect!"
"Oh-oh! You elves and your pride! But yeah, what's in it for you to protect that piece of shit? Saying it's our fault, you're lying to yourself! Just to keep your pride! Trash is trash! What's wrong with calling it what it is?"
"Hey, hey! That's enough! Bete, Riveria, relax! You're killing the mood!"
"Eh, Ais! What did you think about him, the pathetic piece of shit who was shaking in front of you? Do you think he deserves to stand at our level, as adventurers?"
"…I don't blame him for acting the way he did under those circumstances."
"Why you acting all Goody Two-shoes? Okay then, I'm changin' the question. Him or me—who's got it going on?"
"…Bete, are you drunk?"
"Shut it! Now, Ais! Choose! As a female, which male wags your tail? Which male makes you hot?"
"…I have no reason to answer that question, especially to you, Bete."
"You're absurd…"
"Quiet, hag!…Well then, what if that piece of trash came up to you, said he liked you, would you take him?"
"…Hm."
"Of course you wouldn't! Why would a tiny kid who's so weak, feeble, and all-around nauseating have the right to even stand next to you? There's no way he'd measure up!"
"Don't run, Bell."
Bell hardly even heard the words. His legs were already moving to push himself out of his seat.
But a firm, steady, comforting hand stopped him from moving. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't move from his seat. He turned to the owner of the hand, eyes wet with tears while his mouth and eyes quivered.
And the moment he met those swirling green eyes, all the pain he was feeling was washed away.
All because of those kind, confident eyes.
And that confident smile.
"Don't worry about a thing. You stay right there. I'll go take care of this."
What? Did you think Simon was just gonna ignore Bete's taunting?
This ain't like other Danmachi Crossovers.
If a character has reason to fuck with Canon, they will fuck with Canon.
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Chapter 8: Bell's Dream
LinkOnScepter
Versed in the lewd.
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Stunned, confused, and filled with the urge to run right out the door, Bell trembled in place as he gazed into Simon's eyes. His body shook with unbridled shame and anguish, as Bete's words struck a chord deep within his heart. His cheeks burned as hot tears streamed down his face. He wanted nothing more than to hang his head, leap from his seat, and get as far away from the Benevolent Mistress as he could.
The only thing stopping him was Simon's comforting hand and smile. And somehow, that was enough.
Without saying a word, Bell sniffled and turned away from Simon. He fell back into his seat, head down, as he tried to stop his tears. Syr placed her hands on Bell's shoulder and arm, doing her best to calm him down. Simon nodded and patted Bell's shoulder. He finished his drink and then stood from his seat. His voice was steady as he spoke up, "Hey, Mama Mia? Hope you don't mind, but I might be causing a bit of trouble here in a bit."
Mama glared at Simon out of the corner of her eye and warned, "If you start a fight in here, you're getting thrown out. No exceptions."
Despite her cutting glare, Simon gave her a thumbs up and said, "Got it." Don't start a fight in the establishment. Don't worry. This will be quick."
Simon stepped away from the bar and headed straight for the tables where Loki Familia was. He wasn't subtle about it, and a few of the remaining patrons watched him as he walked. The elf waitress passed in front of him, her piercing sky-blue eyes conveying a silent message. A clarification that if he caused any trouble, there would be consequences for him. He took a moment to look around and soon realized that all the waitresses had similar expressions in their eyes. Even as they continued to serve the remaining patrons, they made it clear that any disruptions wouldn't go unpunished.
Simon's response was to wave at all the waitresses and wink at the elf as he continued on his way. He soon approached Loki Familia's table. The animal person named Bete was still ranting. He was drunkenly attempting to persuade Ais to be with him. The girl was pointedly ignoring him, while everybody else was giving him nasty glares. Save for the redhead who had an easygoing smile on their face. The first ones to notice Simon's approach were the blonde-haired prum and Ais. The prum didn't react, nor did he say anything. He simply watched Simon with a neutral smile on his face.
Ais, meanwhile, actually reacted to his presence. She sat up in her seat, her eyes widening slightly. Though minuscule, the action caught the attention of the entire table. Everyone, except Bete who hadn't noticed, turned to look at Simon. Simon gave each of them a friendly wave, but his eyes remained fixed on Bete's back. In his drunken state, the wolfman hadn't noticed Simon standing behind him. Instead, he mistook Ais' reaction as her paying attention to him. He put a hand on his chest with a chuckle, "Finally lookin' at me, huh? Is that your way of sayin' I'm right? That I'm the one who-"
"Hey, buddy," Simon placed his left hand on Bete's shoulder. He squeezed down without a care in the world, "I think you've had enough. How about I get ya something that'll help you get sober?"
"Wh-" Before he could continue, Simon started to drag Bete by his shoulder. Despite being caught by surprise, the wolfman attempted to break free from Simon's grip...at least he made an effort to. But no matter how hard he twisted or dug his heels and feet into the floorboards, he couldn't stop Simon. He snarled and tried to use his claws to pry Simon's fingers off. Only to find that, even with his strength as a Level 5, he was unable to remove them. Trying to get the man's fingers off was somehow more difficult than slaying a Minotaur! As he dragged toward the entrance, he shouted at his Familia, "Don't just sit there! Help me beat this guy's ass! Riveria! Gareth! Raaghh!"
However, his Familia seemed keen to sit at their table and watch him get dragged off. With Riveria looking in another direction, the dwarf Gareth taking a long swig of his drink, the Amazon twins eying the man dragging Bete away, and most others simply watching what was happening with interest.
In contrast, the rest of the place was speechless. Especially the white-haired boy sitting at the bar. He and everyone else watched with their mouths agape as Simon effortlessly overpowered one of the strongest adventurers in Orario. An animal person who was mostly known for his martial prowess, immense strength, and high level...was being dragged along like a toddler throwing a tantrum. If it were anyone else, the Mistress would be filled with uproarious laughter at the turn of events. As it stood, most people were unsure whether they should be in awe of the stranger's strength, shocked at how he was treating a member of Loki Familia, or fearful of what would happen when he finally released the wolfman.
Simon reached the front of the room, gave a wink to the scowling Mama Mia, and pulled Bete all the way to the entrance of the establishment. He made sure that both he and Bete were outside the establishment, on the terrace leading in. Once there, he tossed Bete forward, allowing the wolfman to get his feet under him. Bete spun around on one foot as soon as he regained his balance, aiming a kick directly at the left side of Simon's head. His face was flushed with both intoxication and rage. A growl escaped his mouth as his leg blurred towards Simon's head. None of the Low-Level Adventurers in the bar could even see Bete's leg; it was moving so fast. Bete's foot was an inch away from Simon's face when Simon grabbed it with his left hand.
Simon's glowing green fist was already in motion when Bete realized what had happened. He only had a split second to realize that the fiery emerald punch was hurtling towards his face. The next thing he felt was a blow strong enough to break one of his teeth.
"THIS-OUTGHTA-SOBER-YOU-UP-PUUUUUNNNCCCCHHHH!"
Simon's scream echoed down Main Street, causing everyone who was still outside to pause in shock. His punch reverberated across Bete's face, causing the wolfman's eyes to roll upwards. His body went limp as Simon released his leg, the force of his punch causing the animal person to somersault. He flipped in mid-air three times before coming to a gradual stop. Oriented upside-down, he could hardly process what had just happened.
And then he received a powerful, glowing green kick to the stomach.
Simon's leg burned with Spiral Power as it collided with Bete's torso. As the air left the wolfman's lungs, Simon shouted once more, "DON'T-YOU-EVER-INSULT-ONE-OF-MY-FRIENDS-KKKKIIIICCCCCKKKKK!"
The force of Simon's kick sent Bete flying down Main Street. He hit the cobblestones multiple times, his head, feet, and body kicking up dust as he went. Like a stone skipping across a river, he bounded down the street at least ten times. What stopped him was his back skidding across the ground until he finally came to a halt in front of the Amazons that Simon and Bell had seen earlier. His eyes were swirling and his tongue was lolling out of his mouth.
Simon sighed as his expression shifted from anger to calm. Without uttering a single word, he turned around and walked back into the Mistress. In front of the astonished customers, the shocked employees, and a displeased Mama Mia, Simon smiled nonchalantly. He turned toward Mama Mia and gave her a thumbs up, "See? Didn't start a fight in here, now did I?"
A stifled snort came from one of the catgirl waitresses. She soon regretted it as Mama Mia's withering glare fell upon her. The girl pretended to get back to work, which seemed to be the signal for the rest of the patrons to do the same. The Mistress was soon back into the swing of things, while five members of the Loki Familia stood up to check on the unconscious Bete. They made a point to pass by Simon without saying anything, glancing at him but nodding with understanding. Mia rolled her eyes, "Sure, smart ass. Next time you try that, you're getting thrown out with them. Got it?"
"Loud and clear," Simon nodded, before turning to where Bell was sitting.
Keyword "was".
His seat was vacant, and his pasta sat there untouched. Syr was picking up their plates while forcing a smile. Noticing Simon watching her, she subtly tilted her head towards the back of the room. Then, she held up her right hand to reveal a bag of Vals. Simon nodded in understanding and turned to leave the establishment. But he stopped when he spotted a familiar head of golden hair approaching him. Putting on his best smile, he turned to meet Ais Wallenstein with a wave, "Hey there! Sorry about that. I just couldn't help but notice that he was bothering everyone. So, I figured I'd help him sober up. He should be fine, though."
Ais didn't react to Simon's words. She stared straight into his eyes, placed her hands in front of her, and then bowed her head. Her voice was monotone and her expression remained unchanged as she spoke, "I apologize for what happened in the Dungeon. I mistakenly allowed that Minotaur to escape, which resulted in you and that boy being in danger. Please accept my apology."
Simon waved a hand dismissively and said, "Don't sweat it. Everyone's alright, anyway. And it let me meet a good friend of mine. So, if anything, I should be thanking you for the help."
"I see," Ais straightened up, her arms moving to her sides. Her head slowly swiveled left and right as her eyes searched the room, "There was a boy here. The one who almost died."
"Hmm? Oh, you mean Bell? You looking for him, too?"
Ais nodded, "I need to apologize to him as well. He ran away before I could."
Simon shrugged, "Probably had somewhere to be. Though, if you really want to apologize to him, I can see about making sure it happens. I do owe the guy quite a bit."
"That would be-"
"Oi-oi, Aizuuu, what'cha doin'?"
Before they could continue their conversation, the red-haired person from before suddenly appeared behind Ais. She wrapped her arms around the blonde girl's body. She shamelessly pressed her hips against Ais' backside and squeezed the girl's body and breasts. As Ais lost her breath for a moment, Simon stepped forward with the intent to help. However, Ais quickly elbowed the groper in the stomach, causing them to step back. With the space she gained, she spun around and slapped the assailant across their cheek.
The groper looked shaken as they spoke, "Chee, ya're feisty! Ya don' look it at all, Aizuu!"
Ais didn't raise her voice, "Hands to yourself."
Simon started to crack his knuckles, "What she said. Mind if I get a lick in, Ais?"
Ais shook her head, "No. Please, don't."
"Why not? I hate creeps like this as much as the next guy. And it doesn't look like they learned their lesson just yet," Simon said, taking a step toward the stranger.
Said stranger looked at Simon with fear in their eyes before suddenly smiling and shouting to the sky, "Ah, this is great! Ya' must be new 'round here. If ya' willin' to threaten little 'ol me."
Simon tilted his head and asked, "Should I know who you are?"
"Damn straight! Everyone in Orario knows who Loki is!"
Simon did a double take at the revelation. He looked over at Ais, who refused to look him or her Goddess in the eye. Then, he looked over at the table where all those strong Adventurers were sitting. Before letting his eyes fall back onto the petite Goddess standing before him. He let his guard down, one hand going to his chin as he examined Loki. Said Goddess' smile grew wider. She seemed to pose before Simon, with a playful smile on her face, "Like what ya' see?"
Simon shook his head but didn't elaborate. In his mind, he compared Loki's appearance to Hestia's. It was then that he realized he shouldn't use Hestia as the standard for the appearance of Goddesses. He straightened up, then shrugged, "Alright. Name's Simon. That bragging jerk I knocked out wouldn't happen to be part of your group too, would he?"
"Yea' he is. Bit rowdy, but guy's a good fighta'," she said, putting her hands behind her head with a jovial smile, despite the red handprint on her face, "And while seein' him get decked like tha' was pretty funny...aye hope ya aren't expectin' to get away with that?"
Despite the friendly smile on Loki's face, Simon could sense the underlying meaning behind her words. He took a moment to look around at the rest of the Mistress. Most of the patrons were either keeping their heads down or avoiding eye contact with him. The staff were doing the same, although he could tell that the elf waitress was keeping an eye on the two of them. Ais had returned to her neutral demeanor and had not said a word. The rest of Loki Familia was acting nonchalant, but he could feel the intense attention they had focused on him.
Simon crossed his arms and made it clear he wasn't intimidated, "I mean, he was being a jerk to one of your own. Don't suppose you could chalk this up to me giving him his just desserts?"
Loki shrugged, "Could. But tha' would make me look kinda bad. Lettin' a stranger just up an' clock my Familia right out. Reputation and all tha' stuff."
Simon rolled his eyes, "Right. So, what are you going to do to protect your reputation?"
Loki pretended to look hurt, "So serious. Ya could at least say you'll make it up to little 'ol me. Like, say, by joining my-"
"Not gonna happen," some of the patrons spat out their drinks at Simon's words. Ais' eyes widened in genuine shock at how quickly he rejected her Goddess. Simon shrugged, "I don't really need a Familia. I'm good on my own."
"Oh?" Loki said, putting her hands on her hips and leaning forward,"What? Do ya' think ya're too good fer a Familia?"
"Nah. Just don't want one."
"Aye, see. Then I guess, the only oth'er option is to teach ya a lesson the 'ol fashioned way."
Simon didn't need to be told what the Goddess meant by that. He could hear it in the way she spoke. The thinly veiled threat of confrontation with her Familia. Ais stepped forward to say something, but Simon interrupted her by pounding his right fist into his left palm. He cracked his knuckles and matched Loki's smile with his own, "Bring it. I'll take on anyone you send at me. Even if it's all at once."
Now, everyone in the bar was watching the two of them. Multiple patrons' jaws were agape at Simon's declaration. Loki Familia was in a similar state. Gareth was frowning and shaking his head, annoyed by Simon's apparent overconfidence. Tione was smiling, her eyes locked onto the confident Simon, while Tiona glanced over at Finn. Riveria had a hand on her temple as a sigh escaped her throat. She mumbled something about "being as bad as Bete" in reference to Simon. Finn, though, his expression was one of quiet contemplation. Neither his stance nor his expression shifted as he watched the standoff between Simon and Loki. But his mind was already formulating a potential strategy.
The tension was so thick that it could be cut with a knife.
And it all broke when a loud THUD echoed through the room. Everyone turned toward the bar, where Mama Mia was slamming a large tankard onto the counter. She glared death at both Simon and Loki, "We've had enough of this for one night! If either of you starts something, you're both getting thrown out! Goddess or not! And the rest of you! Back to work!"
Like that, the spell that had been cast upon the Mistress broke. Patrons went back to enjoying their food and drink, the waitresses resumed their work, and Loki Familia calmed down. Loki and Simon exchanged one final glance before the Goddess stood up straight. She turned her back on Simon as she spoke, "Ah, forget it. Rep ain't worth making Mama mad. Ya're off the hook for now, kid. Come on, Aizee. Let's get back to the others."
Ais didn't respond. She walked after her Goddess while waving goodbye to Simon. Simon called back, "See ya, Ais! If ya ever want to talk, just come find me!"
He waved goodbye to the kenki as he walked back to his original seat. Syr had finished gathering their plates and moved to meet Simon halfway. As they passed each other, she whispered, "Bell left out the back. No one saw him."
"Thanks, Syr. Didn't need him getting blamed by association. I'll go find him and make sure he's alright."
"Please try not to get him into any trouble, Simon."
"Can't promise anything, but I'll try," Simon said before turning and heading towards the main entrance of the Benevolent Mistress. He bid farewell to Mama Mia and the rest of the staff as he walked out the door.
Once he was gone, Loki sat back down in her seat. She scooted over to where Finn was sitting and leaned back in her chair, balancing it on two legs. She yawned as she turned her attention to the prum, "So, Finn...think ya' could take 'em?"
Finn took a sip of his drink and remained silent for a few moments. His eyes furrowed as he contemplated the words of his Goddess. After a minute of silence, he turned to Loki and said three words, "I don't know."
"Bell!" Simon called out into the night. Main Street had grown dark, with only a few people remaining outside now. He walked alone through the nearly empty streets, searching for his friend. He called again, "Bell! Where ya at?! It's Simon! If ya can hear me, give me a sign!"
He continued walking down the streets, his eyes searching for any hint of the boy he had been with. After searching for about two minutes, he finally caught sight of a familiar head of white hair. Smiling, he started walking toward Bell and waved his arm in the air, "There you are, Bell! Whatcha' doin' over there?"
Bell stiffened at the sound of Simon's voice. He quickly wiped away his tears before turning to the man approaching him, "Si-Simon!" Are you okay?!"
Simon shrugged as he came to a stop next to Bell, " 'Course I am. Why wouldn't I be?"
"B-Bec-Because you attacked a member of another Familia! Loki Familia! That's not something you can just do!" Bell shouted, apprehension clear on his face.
Simon just smiled, "Yeah? Well, I did it. And I'm just fine. See?"
He held out both of his arms to emphasize. But Bell didn't seem convinced. He shook his head and sighed, "No, it's not that. They won't just take this lying down. They'll come after you. Do something to do. And... and it's all because... because of me."
Bell's mood suddenly took a nosedive. His shoulders slumped, and he turned away from Simon. He bit his lip as he spoke, "It's because... because Bete was right. I am weak. I'm a weakling who doesn't deserve to be an Adventurer. If I were stronger, I could have easily defeated that Minotaur. I wouldn't have been chased into a corner, I wouldn't have looked so foolish, and you wouldn't have had to save me. Then Bete wouldn't have made fun of me, and you wouldn't have attacked him. It's... It's all my fault. It's all because I'm so weak!"
He turned to face directly ahead of him, in the same direction he was looking when Simon discovered him. Simon followed his gaze and saw a familiar place.
Babel Tower.
And sitting in front of them was the Guild, still open this late at night.
"I was a fool," Bell's hands clenched into fists as fresh tears appeared in his eyes. He wiped them away with his sleeves before speaking again, "I thought I could ease into adventuring. Not overtax myself. But if I don't change things, then I'll remain weak forever. I'll never become strong enough to defeat a Minotaur. I'll always... always..."
His fists clenched tighter as frustration and shame waged war within his chest. The boy's red eyes seemed to radiate with a newfound determination. He took a breath and then stepped toward the Guild, only for Simon get in his way.
"Simon?" Bell's eyes widened with surprise. Especially when he saw the frown on Simon's face. He stared, confused, at his friend and asked, "What...what are you doing?"
Simon raised a finger, "First, Bell, I do understand where you're coming from. But I want to say this: Don't let what that asshole said get to you. People like him? They're always gonna be around. Guys who insult others for being 'weak' because of their own personal issues. Letting their words get to you isn't going to help you at all. It's just gonna make them feel good because they managed to get under your skin."
"Bu-Bu-he-"
"Second," Simon interrupted, his glasses catching the moonlight as he continued, "while it is admirable to want to get stronger, you shouldn't be doing it solely to prove something to a guy who doesn't even know your name. If you're gonna get stronger, you should do it because you want to. Because something inside your heart burns so brightly that you can't help it. Because you feel like you need to become stronger for something important to you. To reach a goal that ignites your soul."
An errant breeze caused Simon's cape to billow behind him. His crossed arms made him appear as a obstacle, blocking Bell from moving forward. He held his head high and said aloud, "So, Bell Cranel, tell me. What do you want?"
"Huh?" Bell took a step back, sweat dripping down his brow, as a sudden pressure fell upon him.
"What do you want? What is your goal? Your dream? Where do you want to be when you get stronger? What image in your mind sets your soul aflame, and motivates you to become strong? What drives you to become a better person than you were the day before?"
"I-I-I don't know."
"Sure you do. Just remember why you came to Orario in the first place. Why you joined Hestia's Familia. Why you go into the Dungeon every day. Remember what gets you out of bed every single time the sun rises."
"I-I-I-"
"Bell! What do you want to achieve in life? What is your dream?!"
Bell's head shot up, and he roared, "I want to be a hero!"
Simon didn't respond. He simply stood there, his cape billowing, as he stared down at Bell. Bell started panting as his eyes bore into Simon's. He raised both his fists and continued, "I want to be a hero! I want to be strong! I want to challenge powerful monsters and defeat them! I want to rescue beautiful women from monsters and start relationships with them! I want to make my Goddess proud to have me in her Familia! I want our Familia to grow and get more people to join us! I want...I want...I want to be just like the heroes in the stories from my childhood!"
Bell started to pant, his arms falling to his sides. He felt as if all the strength and frustration within him had been unleashed in one massive burst. Like he aired all the emotions that had built up since he heard Bete in the Benevolent Mistress. But even so, he still managed to speak, "And if... if I'm gonna do that....I need to get serious about adventuring. I can't...I can't continue as I have been. Or I'll never get anywhere. So...so-"
Bell shut his eyes tightly as he awaited Simon's response. He hoped, beyond hope, that he would listen to him. He didn't know why he felt the need to let everything out like that. To explain his purpose for being in Orario to someone he had only known for a day at most. He didn't really know much about Simon, the two hadn't spent much time together, and he had given him far too much information. It was completely illogical to think that telling Simon this would lead to anything good. Yet, whenever he thought that, he remembered what Simon had told him in the Dungeon.
"Believe in me. Believe in the me, who believes in you."
He didn't know why, but whenever he thought of those words, he felt like everything would work out.
After a few moments that felt like hours, Bell heard footsteps moving to the side. He opened his eyes and felt happiness filling his heart. Before him, Simon had his back to Bell, while the path to the Guild was open. Simon looked over his shoulder at Bell with a wide smile on his face, "That's what I wanted to hear! Alright, then let's go!"
"Let's? You-You mean-"
Simon laughed, "You didn't seriously think I was gonna let you do this alone? We're a team, Bell. And now that I know what my leader wants, it's my responsibility to make sure it happens. So, how about the two of us head down into that Dungeon and get started on making you a hero?"
Bell was utterly astonished. He could hardly believe what he was seeing and hearing. Simon believed in him? He wanted to help him achieve his dream? He wasn't just going to tell him was stupid? He-He-
Bell's lips curved into a broad, joyful smile. He pumped his fist in the air and shouted, "Yeah! Let's get going!"
With that, the two boys ran towards the Guild, both intending to enter the Dungeon.
Unbeknownst to Bell, the Core Drill around his neck pulsed with a green light.
Morning, the next day...
"He got a bit tuckered out by our adventure. Make sure he gets plenty of rest today, Hestia," Simon said as he walked out the door of Hestia Familia's home.
The Goddess Hestia looked out the door and frowned at Simon, "Don't worry about my Bell. You should just stay out of trouble! You got lucky with Loki Familia last night, but who knows about next time? It wouldn't be hard for them to connect you back to us."
"Don't worry. I'll make sure that doesn't happen. And if it does, I promise I'll take care of it. See ya," Simon waved goodbye to Hestia as he walked up the stairs. He heard the door shut behind him and entered the rundown church. He stretched his arms towards the ceiling and yawned as he walked out of the church's entrance.
He and Bell had spent the entire night in the Dungeon. They didn't really have a specific goal or floor in mind. They just ran in and beat down any monsters they encountered. At first, it was just the kobolds from last time. Then they killed some strange-looking giant ants. And some other things that he couldn't remember the names of. He did remember when he and Bell saw monsters being "birthed" right in front of them. A couple of humanoid shadow monsters just burst out from the walls. No fanfare, no warning. They just appeared out of nowhere. They were certainly tougher than the fodder creatures they fought before. But neither could really hold a candle to him or Bell. Especially after he took one out with a Drill Impact. The other one couldn't handle a two-on-one fight.
They kept going until Bell eventually ran out of energy. His eyes closed as he started to fall, but Simon caught him before he hit the ground. Then, he carried the kid back to the surface and all the way to Hestia Familia. Man, did she give him an earful when he brought Bell back. Especially when he told her about what happened at the Benevolent Mistress. Though she seemed more interested in the fact that Simon left Bell with Syr, rather than the fact that he almost started a fight with Loki Familia. The relief she felt when he told her that Mama Mia had prevented things from escalating.
He smiled with pride. That kid was improving day by day. It wouldn't be long before they managed to help him reach his goal. He chuckled as he walked through the awakening Orario. People of all shapes and sizes were slowly making their way to work. Humans or animal people changing their stall signs from "closed" to "open". A few criers starting to get people's attention. A party of adventurers entering a shop along their path. Yes, even in the early mornings, the people of the Labyrinth City were quick to get to work.
Simon watched everything with a smile on his face. He didn't really have a specific objective. He was simply walking and enjoying the day. He stopped every now and then to wave hello to random people on the street. He helped an elderly woman who had tripped to get back on her feet. He even played ball with some children who were passing by. All in all, he was having a peaceful day.
But it would have been better if he didn't have two people following him.
He noticed them as he turned a corner into the western part of the city. They had come out of one of the cafes that was open around this time. Their steps quickly matched his own, moving at the same pace as he was. They didn't bother hiding either. Even when he nonchalantly glanced back to observe them, they didn't try to hide at all. Which gave him the opportunity to get a good look at them. One was a giant of a man, with twin boar ears standing out atop his head. He was so broad and bulky that Simon immediately compared him to Lordgenome. In fact, many aspects of the man reminded him of the old Spiral King. Even his neutral expression.
The other person was much smaller than the first and was wearing a black cloak that covered their entire body. Despite that, Simon noticed that anyone who passed by would stop to stare at the figure. Some people were so captivated by them that they stopped moving altogether just to gaze at them. Men, women, children, human, animal person, prum, dwarf. All races and age groups appeared to be utterly captivated by the figure.
And Simon...didn't understand why.
He couldn't see anything particularly special about them. They were wearing a full-body cloak, after all. What could be capturing everyone's attention if they were unable to see anything?
He shrugged and continued walking. He didn't know who they were or what they wanted, but he didn't want to cause a scene out in the open like this. Especially this early in the morning. While there were only a few people out, there were still enough for them to be in danger if a fight broke out. So, he continued walking until he found a secluded alleyway between two buildings. He entered the alley and walked towards the middle. Once there, he turned around and waited for his two pursuers.
They soon turned the corner and entered the alleyway with him. Simon smiled and asked, "So, is there any reason you guys are following me? I was kind of going for a walk and I don't really want any stalkers."
As expected, neither of the figures answered him. The shorter person stepped forward as they grabbed their hood. She pushed it back to reveal her face to Simon. Simon recognized the woman's eyes the moment their gazes met. Instantly, he knew he had seen this woman before. Back on West Main Street, on the second floor of a cafe, watching him and Bell from afar.
This silver haired woman, with a matching pair of eyes.
She was the one who looked at him with such malice.
He was immediately on guard, though he didn't let it show. He kept one hand clenched into a fist behind his back while waiting for the woman to approach him. She got so close that Simon could smell her floral perfume. He remained stock-still while waiting to see what she would do. She simply watched him, her lips curled into a thin smile. Then, she delicately lifted one of her hands and gently rubbed the back of it against Simon's cheek.
She spoke three little words to him, "Join my Familia."
Ottar knew that it was over for the man.
For Freya, the Goddess of Beauty, had delievered her death blow.
Her charm was so irresistible that no one could deny her. Even though most of her body was hidden from sight, people couldn't help but find her irresistible. Everything about her drew the eye and charmed those around her, compelling them to serve her. Those were the types of people who made up her Familia after all. Extraordinary people, one and all, were brought low by the mere idea of having the Goddess' attention on them, even for a moment.
And he was certain that this man was no different. Even though his soul was peculiar and resilient, Ottar had no doubts that he would also succumb to Freya's charm. Once he had, his Goddess could go ahead with her plans for the boy she fancied. And this strange man would help her. Even if she would eventually grow bored of him, as she had with many others.
For she was the Goddess of Beauty. She went from place to place, finding a person who piqued her interests. She caresses them, extols them, and encourages them to continue growing strong. Once her interest was satisfied, she would then leave them.
She was like the wind.
And no one refused the wind.
...At least. That's what Ottar believed.
Until this man, this single, solitary man, reached up to touch his Goddess' wrist...and then pushed it away.
That alone would have been enough to shock not just Ottar, but anyone in Orario. But it was the man's next words that nearly sent the boarman into a frenzy.
"No thanks. I'm good."
Finished the Gurren Lagann Manga recently. It was awesome, especially with stuff like Tengen Toppa King Kittan in it. But I do wish they had kept the ending where Simon fist fought the Anti-Spiral. Instead of him using Lagann for it.
The only thing stopping him was Simon's comforting hand and smile. And somehow, that was enough.
Without saying a word, Bell sniffled and turned away from Simon. He fell back into his seat, head down, as he tried to stop his tears. Syr placed her hands on Bell's shoulder and arm, doing her best to calm him down. Simon nodded and patted Bell's shoulder. He finished his drink and then stood from his seat. His voice was steady as he spoke up, "Hey, Mama Mia? Hope you don't mind, but I might be causing a bit of trouble here in a bit."
Mama glared at Simon out of the corner of her eye and warned, "If you start a fight in here, you're getting thrown out. No exceptions."
Despite her cutting glare, Simon gave her a thumbs up and said, "Got it." Don't start a fight in the establishment. Don't worry. This will be quick."
Simon stepped away from the bar and headed straight for the tables where Loki Familia was. He wasn't subtle about it, and a few of the remaining patrons watched him as he walked. The elf waitress passed in front of him, her piercing sky-blue eyes conveying a silent message. A clarification that if he caused any trouble, there would be consequences for him. He took a moment to look around and soon realized that all the waitresses had similar expressions in their eyes. Even as they continued to serve the remaining patrons, they made it clear that any disruptions wouldn't go unpunished.
Simon's response was to wave at all the waitresses and wink at the elf as he continued on his way. He soon approached Loki Familia's table. The animal person named Bete was still ranting. He was drunkenly attempting to persuade Ais to be with him. The girl was pointedly ignoring him, while everybody else was giving him nasty glares. Save for the redhead who had an easygoing smile on their face. The first ones to notice Simon's approach were the blonde-haired prum and Ais. The prum didn't react, nor did he say anything. He simply watched Simon with a neutral smile on his face.
Ais, meanwhile, actually reacted to his presence. She sat up in her seat, her eyes widening slightly. Though minuscule, the action caught the attention of the entire table. Everyone, except Bete who hadn't noticed, turned to look at Simon. Simon gave each of them a friendly wave, but his eyes remained fixed on Bete's back. In his drunken state, the wolfman hadn't noticed Simon standing behind him. Instead, he mistook Ais' reaction as her paying attention to him. He put a hand on his chest with a chuckle, "Finally lookin' at me, huh? Is that your way of sayin' I'm right? That I'm the one who-"
"Hey, buddy," Simon placed his left hand on Bete's shoulder. He squeezed down without a care in the world, "I think you've had enough. How about I get ya something that'll help you get sober?"
"Wh-" Before he could continue, Simon started to drag Bete by his shoulder. Despite being caught by surprise, the wolfman attempted to break free from Simon's grip...at least he made an effort to. But no matter how hard he twisted or dug his heels and feet into the floorboards, he couldn't stop Simon. He snarled and tried to use his claws to pry Simon's fingers off. Only to find that, even with his strength as a Level 5, he was unable to remove them. Trying to get the man's fingers off was somehow more difficult than slaying a Minotaur! As he dragged toward the entrance, he shouted at his Familia, "Don't just sit there! Help me beat this guy's ass! Riveria! Gareth! Raaghh!"
However, his Familia seemed keen to sit at their table and watch him get dragged off. With Riveria looking in another direction, the dwarf Gareth taking a long swig of his drink, the Amazon twins eying the man dragging Bete away, and most others simply watching what was happening with interest.
In contrast, the rest of the place was speechless. Especially the white-haired boy sitting at the bar. He and everyone else watched with their mouths agape as Simon effortlessly overpowered one of the strongest adventurers in Orario. An animal person who was mostly known for his martial prowess, immense strength, and high level...was being dragged along like a toddler throwing a tantrum. If it were anyone else, the Mistress would be filled with uproarious laughter at the turn of events. As it stood, most people were unsure whether they should be in awe of the stranger's strength, shocked at how he was treating a member of Loki Familia, or fearful of what would happen when he finally released the wolfman.
Simon reached the front of the room, gave a wink to the scowling Mama Mia, and pulled Bete all the way to the entrance of the establishment. He made sure that both he and Bete were outside the establishment, on the terrace leading in. Once there, he tossed Bete forward, allowing the wolfman to get his feet under him. Bete spun around on one foot as soon as he regained his balance, aiming a kick directly at the left side of Simon's head. His face was flushed with both intoxication and rage. A growl escaped his mouth as his leg blurred towards Simon's head. None of the Low-Level Adventurers in the bar could even see Bete's leg; it was moving so fast. Bete's foot was an inch away from Simon's face when Simon grabbed it with his left hand.
Simon's glowing green fist was already in motion when Bete realized what had happened. He only had a split second to realize that the fiery emerald punch was hurtling towards his face. The next thing he felt was a blow strong enough to break one of his teeth.
"THIS-OUTGHTA-SOBER-YOU-UP-PUUUUUNNNCCCCHHHH!"
Simon's scream echoed down Main Street, causing everyone who was still outside to pause in shock. His punch reverberated across Bete's face, causing the wolfman's eyes to roll upwards. His body went limp as Simon released his leg, the force of his punch causing the animal person to somersault. He flipped in mid-air three times before coming to a gradual stop. Oriented upside-down, he could hardly process what had just happened.
And then he received a powerful, glowing green kick to the stomach.
Simon's leg burned with Spiral Power as it collided with Bete's torso. As the air left the wolfman's lungs, Simon shouted once more, "DON'T-YOU-EVER-INSULT-ONE-OF-MY-FRIENDS-KKKKIIIICCCCCKKKKK!"
The force of Simon's kick sent Bete flying down Main Street. He hit the cobblestones multiple times, his head, feet, and body kicking up dust as he went. Like a stone skipping across a river, he bounded down the street at least ten times. What stopped him was his back skidding across the ground until he finally came to a halt in front of the Amazons that Simon and Bell had seen earlier. His eyes were swirling and his tongue was lolling out of his mouth.
Simon sighed as his expression shifted from anger to calm. Without uttering a single word, he turned around and walked back into the Mistress. In front of the astonished customers, the shocked employees, and a displeased Mama Mia, Simon smiled nonchalantly. He turned toward Mama Mia and gave her a thumbs up, "See? Didn't start a fight in here, now did I?"
A stifled snort came from one of the catgirl waitresses. She soon regretted it as Mama Mia's withering glare fell upon her. The girl pretended to get back to work, which seemed to be the signal for the rest of the patrons to do the same. The Mistress was soon back into the swing of things, while five members of the Loki Familia stood up to check on the unconscious Bete. They made a point to pass by Simon without saying anything, glancing at him but nodding with understanding. Mia rolled her eyes, "Sure, smart ass. Next time you try that, you're getting thrown out with them. Got it?"
"Loud and clear," Simon nodded, before turning to where Bell was sitting.
Keyword "was".
His seat was vacant, and his pasta sat there untouched. Syr was picking up their plates while forcing a smile. Noticing Simon watching her, she subtly tilted her head towards the back of the room. Then, she held up her right hand to reveal a bag of Vals. Simon nodded in understanding and turned to leave the establishment. But he stopped when he spotted a familiar head of golden hair approaching him. Putting on his best smile, he turned to meet Ais Wallenstein with a wave, "Hey there! Sorry about that. I just couldn't help but notice that he was bothering everyone. So, I figured I'd help him sober up. He should be fine, though."
Ais didn't react to Simon's words. She stared straight into his eyes, placed her hands in front of her, and then bowed her head. Her voice was monotone and her expression remained unchanged as she spoke, "I apologize for what happened in the Dungeon. I mistakenly allowed that Minotaur to escape, which resulted in you and that boy being in danger. Please accept my apology."
Simon waved a hand dismissively and said, "Don't sweat it. Everyone's alright, anyway. And it let me meet a good friend of mine. So, if anything, I should be thanking you for the help."
"I see," Ais straightened up, her arms moving to her sides. Her head slowly swiveled left and right as her eyes searched the room, "There was a boy here. The one who almost died."
"Hmm? Oh, you mean Bell? You looking for him, too?"
Ais nodded, "I need to apologize to him as well. He ran away before I could."
Simon shrugged, "Probably had somewhere to be. Though, if you really want to apologize to him, I can see about making sure it happens. I do owe the guy quite a bit."
"That would be-"
"Oi-oi, Aizuuu, what'cha doin'?"
Before they could continue their conversation, the red-haired person from before suddenly appeared behind Ais. She wrapped her arms around the blonde girl's body. She shamelessly pressed her hips against Ais' backside and squeezed the girl's body and breasts. As Ais lost her breath for a moment, Simon stepped forward with the intent to help. However, Ais quickly elbowed the groper in the stomach, causing them to step back. With the space she gained, she spun around and slapped the assailant across their cheek.
The groper looked shaken as they spoke, "Chee, ya're feisty! Ya don' look it at all, Aizuu!"
Ais didn't raise her voice, "Hands to yourself."
Simon started to crack his knuckles, "What she said. Mind if I get a lick in, Ais?"
Ais shook her head, "No. Please, don't."
"Why not? I hate creeps like this as much as the next guy. And it doesn't look like they learned their lesson just yet," Simon said, taking a step toward the stranger.
Said stranger looked at Simon with fear in their eyes before suddenly smiling and shouting to the sky, "Ah, this is great! Ya' must be new 'round here. If ya' willin' to threaten little 'ol me."
Simon tilted his head and asked, "Should I know who you are?"
"Damn straight! Everyone in Orario knows who Loki is!"
Simon did a double take at the revelation. He looked over at Ais, who refused to look him or her Goddess in the eye. Then, he looked over at the table where all those strong Adventurers were sitting. Before letting his eyes fall back onto the petite Goddess standing before him. He let his guard down, one hand going to his chin as he examined Loki. Said Goddess' smile grew wider. She seemed to pose before Simon, with a playful smile on her face, "Like what ya' see?"
Simon shook his head but didn't elaborate. In his mind, he compared Loki's appearance to Hestia's. It was then that he realized he shouldn't use Hestia as the standard for the appearance of Goddesses. He straightened up, then shrugged, "Alright. Name's Simon. That bragging jerk I knocked out wouldn't happen to be part of your group too, would he?"
"Yea' he is. Bit rowdy, but guy's a good fighta'," she said, putting her hands behind her head with a jovial smile, despite the red handprint on her face, "And while seein' him get decked like tha' was pretty funny...aye hope ya aren't expectin' to get away with that?"
Despite the friendly smile on Loki's face, Simon could sense the underlying meaning behind her words. He took a moment to look around at the rest of the Mistress. Most of the patrons were either keeping their heads down or avoiding eye contact with him. The staff were doing the same, although he could tell that the elf waitress was keeping an eye on the two of them. Ais had returned to her neutral demeanor and had not said a word. The rest of Loki Familia was acting nonchalant, but he could feel the intense attention they had focused on him.
Simon crossed his arms and made it clear he wasn't intimidated, "I mean, he was being a jerk to one of your own. Don't suppose you could chalk this up to me giving him his just desserts?"
Loki shrugged, "Could. But tha' would make me look kinda bad. Lettin' a stranger just up an' clock my Familia right out. Reputation and all tha' stuff."
Simon rolled his eyes, "Right. So, what are you going to do to protect your reputation?"
Loki pretended to look hurt, "So serious. Ya could at least say you'll make it up to little 'ol me. Like, say, by joining my-"
"Not gonna happen," some of the patrons spat out their drinks at Simon's words. Ais' eyes widened in genuine shock at how quickly he rejected her Goddess. Simon shrugged, "I don't really need a Familia. I'm good on my own."
"Oh?" Loki said, putting her hands on her hips and leaning forward,"What? Do ya' think ya're too good fer a Familia?"
"Nah. Just don't want one."
"Aye, see. Then I guess, the only oth'er option is to teach ya a lesson the 'ol fashioned way."
Simon didn't need to be told what the Goddess meant by that. He could hear it in the way she spoke. The thinly veiled threat of confrontation with her Familia. Ais stepped forward to say something, but Simon interrupted her by pounding his right fist into his left palm. He cracked his knuckles and matched Loki's smile with his own, "Bring it. I'll take on anyone you send at me. Even if it's all at once."
Now, everyone in the bar was watching the two of them. Multiple patrons' jaws were agape at Simon's declaration. Loki Familia was in a similar state. Gareth was frowning and shaking his head, annoyed by Simon's apparent overconfidence. Tione was smiling, her eyes locked onto the confident Simon, while Tiona glanced over at Finn. Riveria had a hand on her temple as a sigh escaped her throat. She mumbled something about "being as bad as Bete" in reference to Simon. Finn, though, his expression was one of quiet contemplation. Neither his stance nor his expression shifted as he watched the standoff between Simon and Loki. But his mind was already formulating a potential strategy.
The tension was so thick that it could be cut with a knife.
And it all broke when a loud THUD echoed through the room. Everyone turned toward the bar, where Mama Mia was slamming a large tankard onto the counter. She glared death at both Simon and Loki, "We've had enough of this for one night! If either of you starts something, you're both getting thrown out! Goddess or not! And the rest of you! Back to work!"
Like that, the spell that had been cast upon the Mistress broke. Patrons went back to enjoying their food and drink, the waitresses resumed their work, and Loki Familia calmed down. Loki and Simon exchanged one final glance before the Goddess stood up straight. She turned her back on Simon as she spoke, "Ah, forget it. Rep ain't worth making Mama mad. Ya're off the hook for now, kid. Come on, Aizee. Let's get back to the others."
Ais didn't respond. She walked after her Goddess while waving goodbye to Simon. Simon called back, "See ya, Ais! If ya ever want to talk, just come find me!"
He waved goodbye to the kenki as he walked back to his original seat. Syr had finished gathering their plates and moved to meet Simon halfway. As they passed each other, she whispered, "Bell left out the back. No one saw him."
"Thanks, Syr. Didn't need him getting blamed by association. I'll go find him and make sure he's alright."
"Please try not to get him into any trouble, Simon."
"Can't promise anything, but I'll try," Simon said before turning and heading towards the main entrance of the Benevolent Mistress. He bid farewell to Mama Mia and the rest of the staff as he walked out the door.
Once he was gone, Loki sat back down in her seat. She scooted over to where Finn was sitting and leaned back in her chair, balancing it on two legs. She yawned as she turned her attention to the prum, "So, Finn...think ya' could take 'em?"
Finn took a sip of his drink and remained silent for a few moments. His eyes furrowed as he contemplated the words of his Goddess. After a minute of silence, he turned to Loki and said three words, "I don't know."
"Bell!" Simon called out into the night. Main Street had grown dark, with only a few people remaining outside now. He walked alone through the nearly empty streets, searching for his friend. He called again, "Bell! Where ya at?! It's Simon! If ya can hear me, give me a sign!"
He continued walking down the streets, his eyes searching for any hint of the boy he had been with. After searching for about two minutes, he finally caught sight of a familiar head of white hair. Smiling, he started walking toward Bell and waved his arm in the air, "There you are, Bell! Whatcha' doin' over there?"
Bell stiffened at the sound of Simon's voice. He quickly wiped away his tears before turning to the man approaching him, "Si-Simon!" Are you okay?!"
Simon shrugged as he came to a stop next to Bell, " 'Course I am. Why wouldn't I be?"
"B-Bec-Because you attacked a member of another Familia! Loki Familia! That's not something you can just do!" Bell shouted, apprehension clear on his face.
Simon just smiled, "Yeah? Well, I did it. And I'm just fine. See?"
He held out both of his arms to emphasize. But Bell didn't seem convinced. He shook his head and sighed, "No, it's not that. They won't just take this lying down. They'll come after you. Do something to do. And... and it's all because... because of me."
Bell's mood suddenly took a nosedive. His shoulders slumped, and he turned away from Simon. He bit his lip as he spoke, "It's because... because Bete was right. I am weak. I'm a weakling who doesn't deserve to be an Adventurer. If I were stronger, I could have easily defeated that Minotaur. I wouldn't have been chased into a corner, I wouldn't have looked so foolish, and you wouldn't have had to save me. Then Bete wouldn't have made fun of me, and you wouldn't have attacked him. It's... It's all my fault. It's all because I'm so weak!"
He turned to face directly ahead of him, in the same direction he was looking when Simon discovered him. Simon followed his gaze and saw a familiar place.
Babel Tower.
And sitting in front of them was the Guild, still open this late at night.
"I was a fool," Bell's hands clenched into fists as fresh tears appeared in his eyes. He wiped them away with his sleeves before speaking again, "I thought I could ease into adventuring. Not overtax myself. But if I don't change things, then I'll remain weak forever. I'll never become strong enough to defeat a Minotaur. I'll always... always..."
His fists clenched tighter as frustration and shame waged war within his chest. The boy's red eyes seemed to radiate with a newfound determination. He took a breath and then stepped toward the Guild, only for Simon get in his way.
"Simon?" Bell's eyes widened with surprise. Especially when he saw the frown on Simon's face. He stared, confused, at his friend and asked, "What...what are you doing?"
Simon raised a finger, "First, Bell, I do understand where you're coming from. But I want to say this: Don't let what that asshole said get to you. People like him? They're always gonna be around. Guys who insult others for being 'weak' because of their own personal issues. Letting their words get to you isn't going to help you at all. It's just gonna make them feel good because they managed to get under your skin."
"Bu-Bu-he-"
"Second," Simon interrupted, his glasses catching the moonlight as he continued, "while it is admirable to want to get stronger, you shouldn't be doing it solely to prove something to a guy who doesn't even know your name. If you're gonna get stronger, you should do it because you want to. Because something inside your heart burns so brightly that you can't help it. Because you feel like you need to become stronger for something important to you. To reach a goal that ignites your soul."
An errant breeze caused Simon's cape to billow behind him. His crossed arms made him appear as a obstacle, blocking Bell from moving forward. He held his head high and said aloud, "So, Bell Cranel, tell me. What do you want?"
"Huh?" Bell took a step back, sweat dripping down his brow, as a sudden pressure fell upon him.
"What do you want? What is your goal? Your dream? Where do you want to be when you get stronger? What image in your mind sets your soul aflame, and motivates you to become strong? What drives you to become a better person than you were the day before?"
"I-I-I don't know."
"Sure you do. Just remember why you came to Orario in the first place. Why you joined Hestia's Familia. Why you go into the Dungeon every day. Remember what gets you out of bed every single time the sun rises."
"I-I-I-"
"Bell! What do you want to achieve in life? What is your dream?!"
Bell's head shot up, and he roared, "I want to be a hero!"
Simon didn't respond. He simply stood there, his cape billowing, as he stared down at Bell. Bell started panting as his eyes bore into Simon's. He raised both his fists and continued, "I want to be a hero! I want to be strong! I want to challenge powerful monsters and defeat them! I want to rescue beautiful women from monsters and start relationships with them! I want to make my Goddess proud to have me in her Familia! I want our Familia to grow and get more people to join us! I want...I want...I want to be just like the heroes in the stories from my childhood!"
Bell started to pant, his arms falling to his sides. He felt as if all the strength and frustration within him had been unleashed in one massive burst. Like he aired all the emotions that had built up since he heard Bete in the Benevolent Mistress. But even so, he still managed to speak, "And if... if I'm gonna do that....I need to get serious about adventuring. I can't...I can't continue as I have been. Or I'll never get anywhere. So...so-"
Bell shut his eyes tightly as he awaited Simon's response. He hoped, beyond hope, that he would listen to him. He didn't know why he felt the need to let everything out like that. To explain his purpose for being in Orario to someone he had only known for a day at most. He didn't really know much about Simon, the two hadn't spent much time together, and he had given him far too much information. It was completely illogical to think that telling Simon this would lead to anything good. Yet, whenever he thought that, he remembered what Simon had told him in the Dungeon.
"Believe in me. Believe in the me, who believes in you."
He didn't know why, but whenever he thought of those words, he felt like everything would work out.
After a few moments that felt like hours, Bell heard footsteps moving to the side. He opened his eyes and felt happiness filling his heart. Before him, Simon had his back to Bell, while the path to the Guild was open. Simon looked over his shoulder at Bell with a wide smile on his face, "That's what I wanted to hear! Alright, then let's go!"
"Let's? You-You mean-"
Simon laughed, "You didn't seriously think I was gonna let you do this alone? We're a team, Bell. And now that I know what my leader wants, it's my responsibility to make sure it happens. So, how about the two of us head down into that Dungeon and get started on making you a hero?"
Bell was utterly astonished. He could hardly believe what he was seeing and hearing. Simon believed in him? He wanted to help him achieve his dream? He wasn't just going to tell him was stupid? He-He-
Bell's lips curved into a broad, joyful smile. He pumped his fist in the air and shouted, "Yeah! Let's get going!"
With that, the two boys ran towards the Guild, both intending to enter the Dungeon.
Unbeknownst to Bell, the Core Drill around his neck pulsed with a green light.
Morning, the next day...
"He got a bit tuckered out by our adventure. Make sure he gets plenty of rest today, Hestia," Simon said as he walked out the door of Hestia Familia's home.
The Goddess Hestia looked out the door and frowned at Simon, "Don't worry about my Bell. You should just stay out of trouble! You got lucky with Loki Familia last night, but who knows about next time? It wouldn't be hard for them to connect you back to us."
"Don't worry. I'll make sure that doesn't happen. And if it does, I promise I'll take care of it. See ya," Simon waved goodbye to Hestia as he walked up the stairs. He heard the door shut behind him and entered the rundown church. He stretched his arms towards the ceiling and yawned as he walked out of the church's entrance.
He and Bell had spent the entire night in the Dungeon. They didn't really have a specific goal or floor in mind. They just ran in and beat down any monsters they encountered. At first, it was just the kobolds from last time. Then they killed some strange-looking giant ants. And some other things that he couldn't remember the names of. He did remember when he and Bell saw monsters being "birthed" right in front of them. A couple of humanoid shadow monsters just burst out from the walls. No fanfare, no warning. They just appeared out of nowhere. They were certainly tougher than the fodder creatures they fought before. But neither could really hold a candle to him or Bell. Especially after he took one out with a Drill Impact. The other one couldn't handle a two-on-one fight.
They kept going until Bell eventually ran out of energy. His eyes closed as he started to fall, but Simon caught him before he hit the ground. Then, he carried the kid back to the surface and all the way to Hestia Familia. Man, did she give him an earful when he brought Bell back. Especially when he told her about what happened at the Benevolent Mistress. Though she seemed more interested in the fact that Simon left Bell with Syr, rather than the fact that he almost started a fight with Loki Familia. The relief she felt when he told her that Mama Mia had prevented things from escalating.
He smiled with pride. That kid was improving day by day. It wouldn't be long before they managed to help him reach his goal. He chuckled as he walked through the awakening Orario. People of all shapes and sizes were slowly making their way to work. Humans or animal people changing their stall signs from "closed" to "open". A few criers starting to get people's attention. A party of adventurers entering a shop along their path. Yes, even in the early mornings, the people of the Labyrinth City were quick to get to work.
Simon watched everything with a smile on his face. He didn't really have a specific objective. He was simply walking and enjoying the day. He stopped every now and then to wave hello to random people on the street. He helped an elderly woman who had tripped to get back on her feet. He even played ball with some children who were passing by. All in all, he was having a peaceful day.
But it would have been better if he didn't have two people following him.
He noticed them as he turned a corner into the western part of the city. They had come out of one of the cafes that was open around this time. Their steps quickly matched his own, moving at the same pace as he was. They didn't bother hiding either. Even when he nonchalantly glanced back to observe them, they didn't try to hide at all. Which gave him the opportunity to get a good look at them. One was a giant of a man, with twin boar ears standing out atop his head. He was so broad and bulky that Simon immediately compared him to Lordgenome. In fact, many aspects of the man reminded him of the old Spiral King. Even his neutral expression.
The other person was much smaller than the first and was wearing a black cloak that covered their entire body. Despite that, Simon noticed that anyone who passed by would stop to stare at the figure. Some people were so captivated by them that they stopped moving altogether just to gaze at them. Men, women, children, human, animal person, prum, dwarf. All races and age groups appeared to be utterly captivated by the figure.
And Simon...didn't understand why.
He couldn't see anything particularly special about them. They were wearing a full-body cloak, after all. What could be capturing everyone's attention if they were unable to see anything?
He shrugged and continued walking. He didn't know who they were or what they wanted, but he didn't want to cause a scene out in the open like this. Especially this early in the morning. While there were only a few people out, there were still enough for them to be in danger if a fight broke out. So, he continued walking until he found a secluded alleyway between two buildings. He entered the alley and walked towards the middle. Once there, he turned around and waited for his two pursuers.
They soon turned the corner and entered the alleyway with him. Simon smiled and asked, "So, is there any reason you guys are following me? I was kind of going for a walk and I don't really want any stalkers."
As expected, neither of the figures answered him. The shorter person stepped forward as they grabbed their hood. She pushed it back to reveal her face to Simon. Simon recognized the woman's eyes the moment their gazes met. Instantly, he knew he had seen this woman before. Back on West Main Street, on the second floor of a cafe, watching him and Bell from afar.
This silver haired woman, with a matching pair of eyes.
She was the one who looked at him with such malice.
He was immediately on guard, though he didn't let it show. He kept one hand clenched into a fist behind his back while waiting for the woman to approach him. She got so close that Simon could smell her floral perfume. He remained stock-still while waiting to see what she would do. She simply watched him, her lips curled into a thin smile. Then, she delicately lifted one of her hands and gently rubbed the back of it against Simon's cheek.
She spoke three little words to him, "Join my Familia."
Ottar knew that it was over for the man.
For Freya, the Goddess of Beauty, had delievered her death blow.
Her charm was so irresistible that no one could deny her. Even though most of her body was hidden from sight, people couldn't help but find her irresistible. Everything about her drew the eye and charmed those around her, compelling them to serve her. Those were the types of people who made up her Familia after all. Extraordinary people, one and all, were brought low by the mere idea of having the Goddess' attention on them, even for a moment.
And he was certain that this man was no different. Even though his soul was peculiar and resilient, Ottar had no doubts that he would also succumb to Freya's charm. Once he had, his Goddess could go ahead with her plans for the boy she fancied. And this strange man would help her. Even if she would eventually grow bored of him, as she had with many others.
For she was the Goddess of Beauty. She went from place to place, finding a person who piqued her interests. She caresses them, extols them, and encourages them to continue growing strong. Once her interest was satisfied, she would then leave them.
She was like the wind.
And no one refused the wind.
...At least. That's what Ottar believed.
Until this man, this single, solitary man, reached up to touch his Goddess' wrist...and then pushed it away.
That alone would have been enough to shock not just Ottar, but anyone in Orario. But it was the man's next words that nearly sent the boarman into a frenzy.
"No thanks. I'm good."
Finished the Gurren Lagann Manga recently. It was awesome, especially with stuff like Tengen Toppa King Kittan in it. But I do wish they had kept the ending where Simon fist fought the Anti-Spiral. Instead of him using Lagann for it.
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Chapter 9: Around Orario 1.0
LinkOnScepter
Versed in the lewd.
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Hestia's hands stopped moving instantly.
As always, she was once again sitting on Bell's rear, using her blood to read the Falna inscribed on his skin. After the boy returned unconscious from the Dungeon with Simon, she helped Simon guide Bell into bed. Afterward, she gave Simon a good scolding for doing something as foolish as hitting a member of Loki Familia. Followed by an even more idiotic move of saying that he would challenge the entire Familia to a fight. He was fortunate that Loki respected Mama Mia enough not to cause a bigger scene. Though she didn't go too hard on him. If only because he had the foresight to not involve her Bell in his foolishness.
Once he had left, she crawled into bed with Bell and snuggled up with her one and only family. For entirely justifiable reasons. Such as making sure he stayed warm after staying the entire night in the Dungeon. Though he didn't seem to appreciate it when he screamed and jumped out of bed after waking up. After he calmed down, they decided to do a status update while it was still early. Hestia didn't know what to expect when she next saw Bell's progress, but what she was looking at certainly wasn't it.
Bell Cranel
Level One
Strength: H-135 -> G-251
Defense: I-30 -> H-130
Utility: H-139 -> G-266
Agility: G-259 -> F-330
Magi@#%^#Spiral Energy: ???
Skills
Liaris Free@#$%^Spiral Po@#$%Liaris Power
Rapid Gro#@Fighting Spirit
User can Manifest their Willpower and Fighting Spirit as#$%^
Continued desi#$%evolution results in continued and stronger growth
She gazed at the hieroglyphs on Bell's back with a combination of awe and slight fear. It wasn't a complete surprise. Simon had explained to her what Spiral Power was and its capabilities. If it really could do just about anything, then it wouldn't be out of the question for it to affect a Falna. But knowing it could do that and seeing it in action were two completely different things. Especially when it was happening right in front of her, to her Bell! To make matters worse, it seemed to be...rewriting his Skills and Stats. What was "Spiral Energy" supposed to be? And why didn't it have a stat like the others? Where the numbers and letters were supposed to be, there was instead a line of question marks glowing a dull green.
And then there was Liaris Freese. Or at least, what was supposed to be Liaris Freese. Because Spiral Power seemed to be fighting it for a place on Bell's back. Which presented two issues, with one being more confusing than the other.
Firstly, Spiral Power had deeply rooted itself in Bell, allowing it to match or even surpass the Blessings of a Deity.
Secondly, Spiral Power was alive and actively trying to give Bell its power.
This was all before considering how rapidly Bell was growing. This kind of growth was entirely abnormal for adventurers. The type of growth that, if any other God found out about it, would lead to Bell being approached by all kinds of deities. Liaris Freese alone would attract the attention of those from Tenkai, who were constantly seeking new entertainment. If they discovered that Bell also possessed Spiral Power, they would go into a frenzy. Especially after they realized Simon was not someone they could convince to join their Familia.
While Hestia worried about their future, Bell was focused on something else.
"And when a frog shooter tried to hit him, he grabbed its tongue and started swinging it around like a mace," Bell's voice was ecstatic as he continued to describe the previous night in the Dungeon. Specifically, all the things that Simon did to help them overcome their enemies. His lips were curled into a bright smile while his eyes shined with elation at the memories, "Then we found this chamber, and two Wall Shadows were born right there in the Dungeon! They charged at us, and we each took on one. Simon...the Wall Shadow couldn't touch him! He either dodged the attack or blocked it with his cape! Oh, I forgot! Before that, we fought some killer ants! They tried to surround him, but he just crushed them all by stomping their heads in!"
Bell continued to gush about Simon, not once mentioning any of his accomplishments during their late-night Dungeon Dive. Which made a part of Hestia upset. She didn't doubt that Simon was impressive in a fight, but why was Bell only focusing on him? She leaned forward and poked Bell in the back, "That's nice and all, Bell. But surely you did some impressive things as well, didn't you? You were right there with Simon after all."
Some of Bell's enthusiasm seemed to wane. He shrugged as best he could from his position on the bed and said, "Y-Yeah, I guess. Though I can't really remember much. I just fought some monsters, and that's it. I can hardly remember which floor we reached before stopping."
"But you can easily remember everything Simon did?" Hestia could hardly conceal the skepticism in her voice.
Bell's enthusiasm returned in full force as he nodded and exclaimed, "Yeah! Even while I was fighting, I made sure to keep an eye on him. I didn't want to miss a single moment of his fighting styles. I wonder how he's able to move his body so effortlessly like that. His every attack is swift, yet powerful, each carrying enough force to penetrate a killer ant's exoskeleton. And his coat provides excellent defense against attacks."
Hestia grinned mischievously and crossed her arms under her chest, "Well now, Bell. If I didn't know better, I'd say you had a crush on him."
She expected to see Bell get flustered due to her teasing. Instead, Bell fell silent, his gaze locked on the bed below him. Then he shook his head and said, "No. No. I don't but...but I really want to be like him."
"Eh?" Hestia said, surprised that Bell didn't fall for her teasing and how easily he admitted that.
"I mean, why wouldn't I? He's kind, confident, strong, and inspiring. He's everything that I-that I want to be," Bell pushed himself up on his arms and turned to look at Hestia. His eyes blazed with a determination that ran deeper than Hestia had ever seen.
She blinked, then frowned. She reached over and tapped Bell on his head, "Bell, while I'm happy you have someone you aspire to be like, you shouldn't adopt the bad habits of others. Not even those with you respect."
Bell tilted his head in confusion and said, "Simon doesn't have any bad habits."
"Oh, I wouldn't be too sure about that," Hestia said, looking to the side. In her mind, she could already envision Simon getting himself involved in some kind of trouble.
"You're pretty strong, you know that? Fighting you is a lot of fun!"
"Do not mock me, cur!"
Ottar launched his powerful fist at Simon's face. The punch was launched with all the skill, strength, and speed that his towering body possessed. All the mentioned attributes were perfected to their highest level. For Ottar was not just a formidable adventurer. He was The Zenith of the Labyrinth City. An existence surpassing even that of the Kenki, Aiz Wallenstein. He was the sole Level 7 adventurer in Orario. Standing at the top as the strongest adventurer of Freya Familia.
He wore no armor and carried no weapons. All he needed to defeat an opponent was his pure, overpowering strength.
The punch aimed at Simon's face was thrown by a warrior of that caliber. Nicknamed the Warlord, no adventurer or monster could withstand even a single one of those blows.
...Simon countered Ottar's punch with one of his own.
The backlash of the clash sent shockwaves of air pressure through the alley. The bricks beneath them cracked under the force of the attacks, launching dust and pebbles into the air. The reason for this?
Because Simon had checkmated Ottar's punch.
As he had been doing for the last five minutes.
With a roar, Ottar unleashed a barrage of punches and kicks at his opponent. Each one was delivered with the full force of the angry boar man's rage. All of them carried the fury that filled his heart after witnessing Simon snub and insult his Goddess.
Simon could only smile as he met the flurry of punches and kicks with his own. Dull green flames burned across his skin as he matched Ottar blow for blow, not yielding an inch in the alleyway. Outside, the citizens of Orario could clearly hear the battle raging on, but none dared to peek down the alley. Some people were too scared to witness what was happening, while others were drawn away by the beautiful Goddess standing at the entrance to the alley.
Freya absentmindedly led people away from the confrontation. In truth, her mind was trying to reconcile what had just happened a few moments ago.
She had brought Ottar with her to find Simon after he eventually got away from Bell. If he hadn't done so willingly, they would have enlisted one of the other top-class adventurers in their Familia to lure him away from the boy. Afterward, they would corner him somewhere, and Freya would bring him into their Familia. That was the plan. That's what should have happened. Simon should have been captivated by her beauty, unable to refuse any request she made of him. As the Goddess of Beauty, no one could resist her "Charm" after all.
...Well, not "no one" anymore.
Now it was more like "no one...except Simon".
As Ottar went to defend her honor and fight the young man, she continued to stare at her own hand, trying to make sense of what had just happened. She did not panic, nor did she overreact to the outcome. She simply wanted to understand what caused him to reject her. She raised her head and fixed her silver eyes on the quickly intensifying confrontation between Simon and Ottar. Another clash of fists separated the two, until Ottar used his speed to move in close to Simon. Grabbing his opponent's waist, he lifted Simon and prepared to slam him to the ground. Simon responded by slamming his elbow into Ottar's head. Although not enough to knock the boarman out, it did make the towering Ottar flinch.
Simon took advantage of Ottar's loosening grip. With a grunt, he placed a hand on the boarman's head and flipped over him to land on the other side. As soon as he landed, he kicked out behind him and struck Ottar in the back. The attack caused Ottar to stumble, but the damage was otherwise minimal. As Ottar turned to glare at Simon, the latter hopped around on his feet while making the "bring it on" gesture with his right hand. As he did so, Freya noticed a green light shining from something on his right ring finger. Her silver eyes focused on the light and quickly found its source.
A single, bright white ring.
Then everything fell into place.
"Ottar," the boarman froze in place when he heard Freya's voice. Him and Simon were staring each other down, with both of their fists aimed at each other's faces. Ottar's eyes shifted from Simon to his Goddess, but his body remained tense and ready. Freya put her hood back up as she continued, "We're leaving."
And that was all it took. Just those two words made Ottar release all of his tension. All the anger he had directed toward Simon dissipated. He transformed from a towering, raging boar into a simple, imposing man within moments. And while the furious fires of indignation and rage still smoldered behind his eyes, he did not act upon them. He simply stood up straight and placed his arms behind his back.
Simon blinked, but slowly let his guard down as well. He smiled, crossed his arms, and tilted his head, "Ah, I see what's happening here. So, that's your Goddess then? Mind telling me what all that was about? All I did was refuse to join your Familia. And while the fight was fun, I still don't get why you did it."
Ottar did not answer Simon. He simply put on his own cloak and moved to stand by his Goddess' side. The two turned to leave the alley, but Simon stepped forward and grabbed Freya's shoulder. Ottar nearly struck Simon with the back of his fist, and only controlled himself because Freya didn't seem to mind Simon touching her. Simon gently gripped her shoulder and asked, "Oh no, you don't. You're not leaving until you give me some answers. What was all that about? Why did you come after me like this, and why are you so interested in Bell? And don't try denying that last part. I felt the way you were looking at him from that cafe terrace."
Freya didn't respond. She remained silent for three tense seconds, avoiding eye contact with Simon. Then, slowly, she turned her head to look at Simon over her shoulder. Her voice had only the slightest hint of annoyance as she spoke, "All I will say is this: That boy is of interest to me. But I shall allow you to guide him. For now. Goodbye, Simon. And when you return to your wife, be sure to tell her how much you love her."
Simon raised an eyebrow and asked, "Saw the ring then? Thanks for that. But you can keep the rest of your advice to yourself. I wouldn't listen to it anyway."
Then Simon stepped past the two of them. He stared at Ottar as he passed and winked at him, "But I meant what I said to ya, man. You're a great fighter and helped me shake off some rust. If you ever want to have a real fight, just come find me. I'm always open to a good scrap."
Simon waved goodbye to the Goddess and the Warlord, with a smile on his face and a spring in his step. Looking for all the world like he hadn't just tussled with the strongest adventurer in the city and come out without a scratch on him. Not to mention getting away with touching the Goddess of beauty without her permission, and his ability to resist her "Charm" without any apparent effort on his part. Though if such a thing bothered the aforementioned Goddess and Warlord, they did not let it show. They simply turned their backs on Simon and continued on their way.
Simon's continued walk through Orario helped him gain a bit of perspective on his current location. Particularly in terms of its construction compared to Kamina City. Where they focused on building upwards toward the sky where he was from, Orario was built outwards toward the horizon. The buildings were typically of similar size, with only a few exceeding two or three stories. The main features distinguishing different areas in the city were the long cobblestone streets and alleyways. This sort of split the place like a pie. Each major section of the city represented a different slice. Whether those slices had their own "taste" and themes, he wasn't sure.
Yet. He planned to find out.
...As long as he didn't get himself lost in the process.
Thankfully, there was one prominent landmark he could always use to keep track of where he was going: Babel Tower. No matter where he went in the city, he could always see the large white tower from anywhere. Just one glance up is all it takes to reorient yourself in this place. Which made sense, considering that this place was clearly built around it. It was the focal point of the city in more ways than one. That lone, large tower connected to "Tenkai" and the Dungeon.
"The World of the Gods above the clouds, and the strange World of Monsters below the earth," Simon murmured, pursing his lips as he walked through one of the districts of Orario, gazing up at the tower. He wasn't sure which one. He was simply strolling without any specific destination in mind. As he gazed at Babel Tower, he shifted his eyes back to the sidewalk in front of him. He hummed, "Sounds a bit too coincidental. Maybe Hestia would know what's really going on?"
He nodded to himself and prepared to return to Hestia Familia. But as he turned the corner, he heard someone grunt in pain. Coming to a stop, he looked to his right and saw a man standing in front a building's open door. The building was rectangular and had a large sign hanging over the front door that read "Brax's Bar and Brewery". The man, supposedly Brax, was a slender figure dressed in a black coat, white shirt, and black pants. In front of his place of business, there were large stacks of boxes. Each stack had ten boxes on it, and the stacks were two heads taller than Simon. Brax moved to grab another box from the stack, but grunted in pain and put a hand on his back. His pale skin glistened with sweat, and his dark eyes scowled at the stacks.
Humming, Simon walked over to the man and called out, "Hey, buddy!" You good over there?"
Brax looked up, his shoulder-length brown hair whipping around his face. His eyes widened and then narrowed when he saw Simon. He turned back to the boxes and made a point of ignoring Simon even as he spoke, "Yes, I'm fine."
"You sure? It looks like you're just gonna hurt yourself," Simon observed, stopping a few steps away from the man and the crates.
"I said I'm fine. I can-argh!" Brax grunted in pain as he tried to crouch and grab the stack of boxes. He shook his head and started to grumble, "Damn it. First, Erica doesn't show up to help me, then I trip and hurt my back, and now this. This just isn't my day."
Simon looked at the stacks of boxes and then gestured toward them, "Well, if you want, I could help ya out. Could probably handle this myself."
Brax sighed as he straightened up. His back popped as he turned to look at Simon, "Look, whoever you are, I'm not going to give you a reward for this. I haven't been able to open up shop yet, and I'm not going to submit a Quest at the Guild for something like this. So if you're hoping for earn some Vals then-".
Simon interrupted Brax by walking over to one of the stacks of boxes. He crouched down and grabbed the bottom with both of his hands. Then, with a short grunt of effort, he lifted the whole thing up. He turned to Brax and smiled, "So, where do you want these?"
Brax blinked, his mouth hanging open in astonishment. He pointed at Simon and said, "Uh, didn't you hear me? You're not getting a reward for this."
"I know," Simon responded casually.
"...You're okay with that?"
"Why wouldn't I be? You need help, and I want to help you."
"...Aren't you an adventurer?"
"Nope!" Simon said happily. Then he tilted his head as he thought about something, "But, well, I would like something in return. I'd like to be your friend!"
"F-Friend?" Brax said, completely taken aback by Simon's words.
Simon walked over to him, carrying the boxes with ease as he continued, "Yeah. I don't have many friends at the moment, and you can always use more. Name's Simon. You're Brax, right? I assume that's your name on the sign."
"R-Right. That's me. Brax. And, uh, you can take those around to the back. Just follow me," Brax said, turning his back to Simon. He led the peculiar man with blue hair around the side of his building, looking over his shoulder every now and then. As if he couldn't believe what was happening.
Simon followed him and asked, "Cool. So, what's in these, anyway?"
"Just some fruits and other ingredients that I'm going to use to help me brew my drinks, while Erica prepares the food."
"That sounds great. I'll have to visit the place sometime and try it out."
"You'd better bring Vals with you if you're going to do that. Even if we are 'friends' now, you're not getting anything for free."
"Deal," Simon said with a smile as he disappeared behind the building with Brax. His first friend in Orario, aside from Bell.
"...Okay, I'll play your game. What. Is. Your. Request?"
Hestia took a deep breath as she prepared herself for what she was about to ask, "I have...two actually. The first is that...I would like you to make a weapon for Bell...a member of my Familia."
Hephaestus, the Goddess of the Forge, narrowed her singular eye and asked, "And the second?"
Hestia reached into her pocket and held up a small, conical, golden object. It seemed to emit a dull green glow as it sat in the palm of her hand. She mustered all her confidence and asked her friend, "I want you to look into this. And tell me...have you ever seen a metal like it before?"
Finally, got this in. Sorry it took so long. Will admit, kind of forced myself through this. I think I'm a bit burnt out on writing. So, not sure when the next Chapter is coming.
As always, she was once again sitting on Bell's rear, using her blood to read the Falna inscribed on his skin. After the boy returned unconscious from the Dungeon with Simon, she helped Simon guide Bell into bed. Afterward, she gave Simon a good scolding for doing something as foolish as hitting a member of Loki Familia. Followed by an even more idiotic move of saying that he would challenge the entire Familia to a fight. He was fortunate that Loki respected Mama Mia enough not to cause a bigger scene. Though she didn't go too hard on him. If only because he had the foresight to not involve her Bell in his foolishness.
Once he had left, she crawled into bed with Bell and snuggled up with her one and only family. For entirely justifiable reasons. Such as making sure he stayed warm after staying the entire night in the Dungeon. Though he didn't seem to appreciate it when he screamed and jumped out of bed after waking up. After he calmed down, they decided to do a status update while it was still early. Hestia didn't know what to expect when she next saw Bell's progress, but what she was looking at certainly wasn't it.
Bell Cranel
Level One
Strength: H-135 -> G-251
Defense: I-30 -> H-130
Utility: H-139 -> G-266
Agility: G-259 -> F-330
Magi@#%^#Spiral Energy: ???
Skills
Liaris Free@#$%^Spiral Po@#$%Liaris Power
Rapid Gro#@Fighting Spirit
User can Manifest their Willpower and Fighting Spirit as#$%^
Continued desi#$%evolution results in continued and stronger growth
She gazed at the hieroglyphs on Bell's back with a combination of awe and slight fear. It wasn't a complete surprise. Simon had explained to her what Spiral Power was and its capabilities. If it really could do just about anything, then it wouldn't be out of the question for it to affect a Falna. But knowing it could do that and seeing it in action were two completely different things. Especially when it was happening right in front of her, to her Bell! To make matters worse, it seemed to be...rewriting his Skills and Stats. What was "Spiral Energy" supposed to be? And why didn't it have a stat like the others? Where the numbers and letters were supposed to be, there was instead a line of question marks glowing a dull green.
And then there was Liaris Freese. Or at least, what was supposed to be Liaris Freese. Because Spiral Power seemed to be fighting it for a place on Bell's back. Which presented two issues, with one being more confusing than the other.
Firstly, Spiral Power had deeply rooted itself in Bell, allowing it to match or even surpass the Blessings of a Deity.
Secondly, Spiral Power was alive and actively trying to give Bell its power.
This was all before considering how rapidly Bell was growing. This kind of growth was entirely abnormal for adventurers. The type of growth that, if any other God found out about it, would lead to Bell being approached by all kinds of deities. Liaris Freese alone would attract the attention of those from Tenkai, who were constantly seeking new entertainment. If they discovered that Bell also possessed Spiral Power, they would go into a frenzy. Especially after they realized Simon was not someone they could convince to join their Familia.
While Hestia worried about their future, Bell was focused on something else.
"And when a frog shooter tried to hit him, he grabbed its tongue and started swinging it around like a mace," Bell's voice was ecstatic as he continued to describe the previous night in the Dungeon. Specifically, all the things that Simon did to help them overcome their enemies. His lips were curled into a bright smile while his eyes shined with elation at the memories, "Then we found this chamber, and two Wall Shadows were born right there in the Dungeon! They charged at us, and we each took on one. Simon...the Wall Shadow couldn't touch him! He either dodged the attack or blocked it with his cape! Oh, I forgot! Before that, we fought some killer ants! They tried to surround him, but he just crushed them all by stomping their heads in!"
Bell continued to gush about Simon, not once mentioning any of his accomplishments during their late-night Dungeon Dive. Which made a part of Hestia upset. She didn't doubt that Simon was impressive in a fight, but why was Bell only focusing on him? She leaned forward and poked Bell in the back, "That's nice and all, Bell. But surely you did some impressive things as well, didn't you? You were right there with Simon after all."
Some of Bell's enthusiasm seemed to wane. He shrugged as best he could from his position on the bed and said, "Y-Yeah, I guess. Though I can't really remember much. I just fought some monsters, and that's it. I can hardly remember which floor we reached before stopping."
"But you can easily remember everything Simon did?" Hestia could hardly conceal the skepticism in her voice.
Bell's enthusiasm returned in full force as he nodded and exclaimed, "Yeah! Even while I was fighting, I made sure to keep an eye on him. I didn't want to miss a single moment of his fighting styles. I wonder how he's able to move his body so effortlessly like that. His every attack is swift, yet powerful, each carrying enough force to penetrate a killer ant's exoskeleton. And his coat provides excellent defense against attacks."
Hestia grinned mischievously and crossed her arms under her chest, "Well now, Bell. If I didn't know better, I'd say you had a crush on him."
She expected to see Bell get flustered due to her teasing. Instead, Bell fell silent, his gaze locked on the bed below him. Then he shook his head and said, "No. No. I don't but...but I really want to be like him."
"Eh?" Hestia said, surprised that Bell didn't fall for her teasing and how easily he admitted that.
"I mean, why wouldn't I? He's kind, confident, strong, and inspiring. He's everything that I-that I want to be," Bell pushed himself up on his arms and turned to look at Hestia. His eyes blazed with a determination that ran deeper than Hestia had ever seen.
She blinked, then frowned. She reached over and tapped Bell on his head, "Bell, while I'm happy you have someone you aspire to be like, you shouldn't adopt the bad habits of others. Not even those with you respect."
Bell tilted his head in confusion and said, "Simon doesn't have any bad habits."
"Oh, I wouldn't be too sure about that," Hestia said, looking to the side. In her mind, she could already envision Simon getting himself involved in some kind of trouble.
"You're pretty strong, you know that? Fighting you is a lot of fun!"
"Do not mock me, cur!"
Ottar launched his powerful fist at Simon's face. The punch was launched with all the skill, strength, and speed that his towering body possessed. All the mentioned attributes were perfected to their highest level. For Ottar was not just a formidable adventurer. He was The Zenith of the Labyrinth City. An existence surpassing even that of the Kenki, Aiz Wallenstein. He was the sole Level 7 adventurer in Orario. Standing at the top as the strongest adventurer of Freya Familia.
He wore no armor and carried no weapons. All he needed to defeat an opponent was his pure, overpowering strength.
The punch aimed at Simon's face was thrown by a warrior of that caliber. Nicknamed the Warlord, no adventurer or monster could withstand even a single one of those blows.
...Simon countered Ottar's punch with one of his own.
The backlash of the clash sent shockwaves of air pressure through the alley. The bricks beneath them cracked under the force of the attacks, launching dust and pebbles into the air. The reason for this?
Because Simon had checkmated Ottar's punch.
As he had been doing for the last five minutes.
With a roar, Ottar unleashed a barrage of punches and kicks at his opponent. Each one was delivered with the full force of the angry boar man's rage. All of them carried the fury that filled his heart after witnessing Simon snub and insult his Goddess.
Simon could only smile as he met the flurry of punches and kicks with his own. Dull green flames burned across his skin as he matched Ottar blow for blow, not yielding an inch in the alleyway. Outside, the citizens of Orario could clearly hear the battle raging on, but none dared to peek down the alley. Some people were too scared to witness what was happening, while others were drawn away by the beautiful Goddess standing at the entrance to the alley.
Freya absentmindedly led people away from the confrontation. In truth, her mind was trying to reconcile what had just happened a few moments ago.
She had brought Ottar with her to find Simon after he eventually got away from Bell. If he hadn't done so willingly, they would have enlisted one of the other top-class adventurers in their Familia to lure him away from the boy. Afterward, they would corner him somewhere, and Freya would bring him into their Familia. That was the plan. That's what should have happened. Simon should have been captivated by her beauty, unable to refuse any request she made of him. As the Goddess of Beauty, no one could resist her "Charm" after all.
...Well, not "no one" anymore.
Now it was more like "no one...except Simon".
As Ottar went to defend her honor and fight the young man, she continued to stare at her own hand, trying to make sense of what had just happened. She did not panic, nor did she overreact to the outcome. She simply wanted to understand what caused him to reject her. She raised her head and fixed her silver eyes on the quickly intensifying confrontation between Simon and Ottar. Another clash of fists separated the two, until Ottar used his speed to move in close to Simon. Grabbing his opponent's waist, he lifted Simon and prepared to slam him to the ground. Simon responded by slamming his elbow into Ottar's head. Although not enough to knock the boarman out, it did make the towering Ottar flinch.
Simon took advantage of Ottar's loosening grip. With a grunt, he placed a hand on the boarman's head and flipped over him to land on the other side. As soon as he landed, he kicked out behind him and struck Ottar in the back. The attack caused Ottar to stumble, but the damage was otherwise minimal. As Ottar turned to glare at Simon, the latter hopped around on his feet while making the "bring it on" gesture with his right hand. As he did so, Freya noticed a green light shining from something on his right ring finger. Her silver eyes focused on the light and quickly found its source.
A single, bright white ring.
Then everything fell into place.
"Ottar," the boarman froze in place when he heard Freya's voice. Him and Simon were staring each other down, with both of their fists aimed at each other's faces. Ottar's eyes shifted from Simon to his Goddess, but his body remained tense and ready. Freya put her hood back up as she continued, "We're leaving."
And that was all it took. Just those two words made Ottar release all of his tension. All the anger he had directed toward Simon dissipated. He transformed from a towering, raging boar into a simple, imposing man within moments. And while the furious fires of indignation and rage still smoldered behind his eyes, he did not act upon them. He simply stood up straight and placed his arms behind his back.
Simon blinked, but slowly let his guard down as well. He smiled, crossed his arms, and tilted his head, "Ah, I see what's happening here. So, that's your Goddess then? Mind telling me what all that was about? All I did was refuse to join your Familia. And while the fight was fun, I still don't get why you did it."
Ottar did not answer Simon. He simply put on his own cloak and moved to stand by his Goddess' side. The two turned to leave the alley, but Simon stepped forward and grabbed Freya's shoulder. Ottar nearly struck Simon with the back of his fist, and only controlled himself because Freya didn't seem to mind Simon touching her. Simon gently gripped her shoulder and asked, "Oh no, you don't. You're not leaving until you give me some answers. What was all that about? Why did you come after me like this, and why are you so interested in Bell? And don't try denying that last part. I felt the way you were looking at him from that cafe terrace."
Freya didn't respond. She remained silent for three tense seconds, avoiding eye contact with Simon. Then, slowly, she turned her head to look at Simon over her shoulder. Her voice had only the slightest hint of annoyance as she spoke, "All I will say is this: That boy is of interest to me. But I shall allow you to guide him. For now. Goodbye, Simon. And when you return to your wife, be sure to tell her how much you love her."
Simon raised an eyebrow and asked, "Saw the ring then? Thanks for that. But you can keep the rest of your advice to yourself. I wouldn't listen to it anyway."
Then Simon stepped past the two of them. He stared at Ottar as he passed and winked at him, "But I meant what I said to ya, man. You're a great fighter and helped me shake off some rust. If you ever want to have a real fight, just come find me. I'm always open to a good scrap."
Simon waved goodbye to the Goddess and the Warlord, with a smile on his face and a spring in his step. Looking for all the world like he hadn't just tussled with the strongest adventurer in the city and come out without a scratch on him. Not to mention getting away with touching the Goddess of beauty without her permission, and his ability to resist her "Charm" without any apparent effort on his part. Though if such a thing bothered the aforementioned Goddess and Warlord, they did not let it show. They simply turned their backs on Simon and continued on their way.
Simon's continued walk through Orario helped him gain a bit of perspective on his current location. Particularly in terms of its construction compared to Kamina City. Where they focused on building upwards toward the sky where he was from, Orario was built outwards toward the horizon. The buildings were typically of similar size, with only a few exceeding two or three stories. The main features distinguishing different areas in the city were the long cobblestone streets and alleyways. This sort of split the place like a pie. Each major section of the city represented a different slice. Whether those slices had their own "taste" and themes, he wasn't sure.
Yet. He planned to find out.
...As long as he didn't get himself lost in the process.
Thankfully, there was one prominent landmark he could always use to keep track of where he was going: Babel Tower. No matter where he went in the city, he could always see the large white tower from anywhere. Just one glance up is all it takes to reorient yourself in this place. Which made sense, considering that this place was clearly built around it. It was the focal point of the city in more ways than one. That lone, large tower connected to "Tenkai" and the Dungeon.
"The World of the Gods above the clouds, and the strange World of Monsters below the earth," Simon murmured, pursing his lips as he walked through one of the districts of Orario, gazing up at the tower. He wasn't sure which one. He was simply strolling without any specific destination in mind. As he gazed at Babel Tower, he shifted his eyes back to the sidewalk in front of him. He hummed, "Sounds a bit too coincidental. Maybe Hestia would know what's really going on?"
He nodded to himself and prepared to return to Hestia Familia. But as he turned the corner, he heard someone grunt in pain. Coming to a stop, he looked to his right and saw a man standing in front a building's open door. The building was rectangular and had a large sign hanging over the front door that read "Brax's Bar and Brewery". The man, supposedly Brax, was a slender figure dressed in a black coat, white shirt, and black pants. In front of his place of business, there were large stacks of boxes. Each stack had ten boxes on it, and the stacks were two heads taller than Simon. Brax moved to grab another box from the stack, but grunted in pain and put a hand on his back. His pale skin glistened with sweat, and his dark eyes scowled at the stacks.
Humming, Simon walked over to the man and called out, "Hey, buddy!" You good over there?"
Brax looked up, his shoulder-length brown hair whipping around his face. His eyes widened and then narrowed when he saw Simon. He turned back to the boxes and made a point of ignoring Simon even as he spoke, "Yes, I'm fine."
"You sure? It looks like you're just gonna hurt yourself," Simon observed, stopping a few steps away from the man and the crates.
"I said I'm fine. I can-argh!" Brax grunted in pain as he tried to crouch and grab the stack of boxes. He shook his head and started to grumble, "Damn it. First, Erica doesn't show up to help me, then I trip and hurt my back, and now this. This just isn't my day."
Simon looked at the stacks of boxes and then gestured toward them, "Well, if you want, I could help ya out. Could probably handle this myself."
Brax sighed as he straightened up. His back popped as he turned to look at Simon, "Look, whoever you are, I'm not going to give you a reward for this. I haven't been able to open up shop yet, and I'm not going to submit a Quest at the Guild for something like this. So if you're hoping for earn some Vals then-".
Simon interrupted Brax by walking over to one of the stacks of boxes. He crouched down and grabbed the bottom with both of his hands. Then, with a short grunt of effort, he lifted the whole thing up. He turned to Brax and smiled, "So, where do you want these?"
Brax blinked, his mouth hanging open in astonishment. He pointed at Simon and said, "Uh, didn't you hear me? You're not getting a reward for this."
"I know," Simon responded casually.
"...You're okay with that?"
"Why wouldn't I be? You need help, and I want to help you."
"...Aren't you an adventurer?"
"Nope!" Simon said happily. Then he tilted his head as he thought about something, "But, well, I would like something in return. I'd like to be your friend!"
"F-Friend?" Brax said, completely taken aback by Simon's words.
Simon walked over to him, carrying the boxes with ease as he continued, "Yeah. I don't have many friends at the moment, and you can always use more. Name's Simon. You're Brax, right? I assume that's your name on the sign."
"R-Right. That's me. Brax. And, uh, you can take those around to the back. Just follow me," Brax said, turning his back to Simon. He led the peculiar man with blue hair around the side of his building, looking over his shoulder every now and then. As if he couldn't believe what was happening.
Simon followed him and asked, "Cool. So, what's in these, anyway?"
"Just some fruits and other ingredients that I'm going to use to help me brew my drinks, while Erica prepares the food."
"That sounds great. I'll have to visit the place sometime and try it out."
"You'd better bring Vals with you if you're going to do that. Even if we are 'friends' now, you're not getting anything for free."
"Deal," Simon said with a smile as he disappeared behind the building with Brax. His first friend in Orario, aside from Bell.
"...Okay, I'll play your game. What. Is. Your. Request?"
Hestia took a deep breath as she prepared herself for what she was about to ask, "I have...two actually. The first is that...I would like you to make a weapon for Bell...a member of my Familia."
Hephaestus, the Goddess of the Forge, narrowed her singular eye and asked, "And the second?"
Hestia reached into her pocket and held up a small, conical, golden object. It seemed to emit a dull green glow as it sat in the palm of her hand. She mustered all her confidence and asked her friend, "I want you to look into this. And tell me...have you ever seen a metal like it before?"
Finally, got this in. Sorry it took so long. Will admit, kind of forced myself through this. I think I'm a bit burnt out on writing. So, not sure when the next Chapter is coming.
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Chapter 10: A Deal Before Monsterphilia
LinkOnScepter
Versed in the lewd.
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Hephaestus turned the strange drill in her hand, letting the cool sensation of the metal run along her fingers and palm. She sat behind her desk in her office on the third floor of her personal weapon shop. In front of her, Hestia was on her knees, watching her with bated breath. The smaller goddess was rubbing her knees in worry, while her eyes seemed locked on the drill in her friend's hand. After a few moments, Hestia said, "W-Well?"
"Firstly, did you really choose to stay here for two days just to hear my opinions on this thing?" Hephaestus calmly asked, her singular eye glancing at Hestia.
Hestia swallowed nervously, "Partially, yes. I also wanted to hear what you had to say about my request. You didn't answer me before, so...
"That's because I wanted to see what this was first. After all, you considered it important enough to ask me about it after requesting a custom order," Hephaestus stopped turning the drill in her hands. Then she held it up between her middle and index fingers, "Though, I'm not sure what you wanted me to say about it. Because from what I've seen? It's just a drill."
"Really?" surprised, Hestia continued, "You...you haven't found anything... strange about it?"
"Not really. The metals that compose it are similar to ones I've seen before. Mostly copper, but there is some iron present. And I do feel some kind of residual energy coming from it. But that could just be magic or the remnants of a Skill being used on it."
"What about its hardness or durability? Is there anything special about that?"
Hephaestus rolled her singular eye and got up from behind her desk. She walked over to one of the containers in her room and pulled out a pitch-black ingot of some kind. Noticing Hestia's confusion out of the corner of her eye, she explained as she walked back to her seat, "This is a Drop Item that one of my children brought to me. A high-level adventurer came by and gave it to them after returning from an expedition to the lower floors, and one of my children gave it to me as a gift. It isn't adamantite, but it should do the job."
Hephaestus sat back in her chair and placed the ingot on her desk. With her face a mask of calm, she began to tap the tip of the drill against the center of the ingot. The sound of a small metal tip repeatedly pinging off a hard surface echoed through the room. Hestia winced each time the tip hit the ingot as she waited for something to happen. After three minutes of doing that, Hephaestus shook her head and said, "See? Nothing special."
Hestia felt a weight lift off her shoulders. While part of her was confused that such an item wouldn't be anything special, a greater part was relieved that it wasn't. The last thing Bell needed was to be wearing a powerful magic item around his neck at all times. That wouldn't just attract the attention of the gods, but other adventurers as well. And some of the people in Orario would willingly take advantage of such a young boy.
"As for your request, my answer is no," Hephaestus said, still idly tapping away at the ingot without a care in the world.
"Please!" Hestia shouted, leaning forward on her knees as she begged her friend.
"No."
"You have to!"
"You wouldn't be able to afford it anyway."
"I'll pay you back, I promise!"
"You've said that to me too many times to count at this point. And don't think I don't know about how you're working a part-time job to finance your Famiilia. Why would I think you could pay me back if you have to do that."
Hestia went silent, but her determination didn't waver. She leaned forward, placed both her hands on the floor, and then lowered her head until it touched the ground.
"...What are you doing?" Hephaestus said, raising an eyebrow in confusion.
"Dogeza."
"Do-ge-za?"
"Take told me this pose has the power to make people forgive whatever you have done and grant any request."
"Takemikazuchi," Hephaestus sighed and prepared to respond-
Crack
-when both goddesses heard something crack.
Something metallic.
And the source came from right beside Hephaestus.
Blinking, she turned away from Hestia to look at her left hand. The one that was tapping the drill against the Drop Item. At first, she thought that the drill was what had cracked. The Drop Item was a high-level material. Tapping something extremely bland against it like the drill would lead to the latter suffering some damage. But as her single eye fell upon the drill and ingot, she became aware of something far stranger.
The drill was completely fine.
But the ingot had a tiny crack in the center.
Hephaestus froze as her lone eye stared at the situation in front of her. So silent was she that Hestia lifted her head to see what was going on. When she saw her friend's circumstances, she opened her mouth to ask what was wrong. But she was interrupted when Hephaestus suddenly sprang into action. The Goddess of the Forge pulled the ingot to the center of her desk while holding the drill in her right hand. Focusing all her attention on the two items, she tapped the drill against the center of the ingot again.
Crack Crack
The tiny crack in the ingot grew larger. Before, one would need to squint to see the small white lines. Now, one could see them with casual observation. A third tap made them grow larger. To the point that Hephaestus knew a fourth tap would split the ingot in two. She locked her single eye onto the item in her hand. Her lips slowly curled into a smile as her eyes started to shine with a bright, fiery flame of passion. She turned to look at Hestia with an expectant gaze in her eye, "Hestia, where did you get this?"
Hestia stiffened, feeling the anxiety from before returning. She fidgeted on the spot while trying to avoid Hephaestus' gaze. She knew that look on her friend's face. Her spirit as a blacksmith had been ignited, and she was eager to learn all about the peculiar new metal Hestia had delivered into her lap. But that was what worried her. Hestia couldn't hide her nervousness as she spoke, "I... I... I don't know if I should-"
"Ah, a secret then? I understand. Hmm," Hephaestus took a moment to think, then snapped her fingers, "How about a deal then? If you bring me to where you got this from, I'll make the weapon for you at no cost."
Hestia felt a jolt go up her spine. She slowly turned her head to Hephaestus and said, "R-Re-Really?"
Hephaestus furiously nodded, "Yes. Obviously, we both have to keep each other's secrets about this whole thing. But give me the chance to better observe what this is made of, and I'll make the best damn weapon that Orario has ever seen. Deal?"
Hestia blinked.
Emotions warred within her as she thought about Hephaestus' deal. Whether she should accept it... but one thing made her decide to say yes. And it was four little words that she repeated to herself the entire time.
'This is all for Bell.'
'...Please forgive me, Simon.'
"Achoo!"
Bell stopped gawking at the weapons on the first floor of Hephaestus' shop to look at Simon. He tilted his head and asked, "Are you alright, Simon?"
Simon sniffed while wiping his nose with a sleeve, "Yeah. Just had to sneeze. No biggie. "So, you gonna head in there and buy something? You're eying that dagger there pretty hard."
Simon pointed toward the finely crafted white dagger, its tip pressed into a treasure chest-like box. Bell swallowed as his eyes went from the weapon to the price tag with numerous zeroes on it. He took a deep breath, then pushed himself off the window and shook his head, "N-No. I can't afford it. Even paying a fourth of its cost would wipe out my Familia's savings."
Simon nodded, then patted Bell on the head, "Then, you'll just have to keep at it until you get enough to buy it, right?"
"Yeah! Right!" Bell said, feelings of despair melting away with Simon's touch. The two started walking away from the store. They were on West Main Street, having just come back from an earlier Dungeon Run. They had made good money on it, far more than Bell usually made on his own. And as they left, they encountered a certain God who was close to Bell's Familia. It was this God that came to Bell's mind as the two walked, "So, what did you think of Miach, Simon?"
"Hmm? You mean the guy that gave you those two potions for free?" Simon pointed at the two vials on Bell's waist, each one filled with a dark blue liquid. The white-haired boy nodded, and Simon's response was to shrug, "He seemed cool. Anyone who's willing to part with stuff that's supposed to heal you for free is good in my book. And he didn't seem to mind me shaking his hand."
Bell smiled and nodded, "Ah, that's good. If you ever need something and you can't rely on us, you should go to Miach's Familia. He's been helping us for a while now and is a good person."
"Good to know," Simon rubbed his nose as he tried to think of another conversation topic. Then he snapped his fingers and said, "Oh, right. What was the deal with those guys bringing monsters into the Guild?"
"Those people were part of Ganesha Familia. I could tell because they were all wearing emblems with elephant heads on them," Bell explained to Simon.
"Really? Is this Ganesha guy an elephant beastman or something?"
"Uh, no. He just...really...likes them," a bead of sweat fell from Bell's head as he thought about the...eccentric god and his overworked Familia. He then shook his head to clear it, "But as for the monsters, it's for an event called Monsterphilia. Ganesha's Familia is full of people who tame monsters to exhibit them at a special fair."
"Ah, so that's what they're for. Hmm, you gonna go?"
"Maybe. I haven't decided yet," Bell scratched the back of his head in thought.
"Well, if you do decide to go, I've got someone we could invite. That Ais Wallenstein girl," Simon said with a smile.
Bell just looked confused, "Why her? The Kenki is probably really busy now. And I'm not sure if her Familia would be happy with us taking her out to a fair."
Simon waved dismissively and said, "Ah, who gives a shit what they think? Besides, she wants to apologize to you for what happened back in the Dungeon. You know, with the minotaur that I killed?"
A shiver ran up Bell's spine as he was reminded of that moment. He could still hear the minotaur's horrible roar, smell its awful breath, and feel the intimidating aura it emitted. His hands started to shake, so he hid them behind his back to prevent Simon from noticing. Gulping, he put on a false smile and said, "Th-That's alright. She doesn't have to do that. It's water under the bridge."
Simon wagged his finger through the air, "No, Bell. You don't do that. If someone wants to apologize to you, you need to face them directly and decide whether you'll forgive them. One of the worst feelings in the world is when you leave things unsaid that you wanted to say."
Bell blinked at Simon's words. He thought the man had sounded profound for a second there. So much so, that it stopped his shaking and dashed his sudden fear away. After a few moments, he started nodding, "Ye-Yeah. You're right, Simon. Um, but I don't think it should be at Monsterphilia. I need to meet her in a better circumstance before then."
Simon smiled, then patted Bell on the head, "Whatever you say, leader. Now let's get back home. Oh, I need to tell you about this guy I met. His name's Brax. He's a bit rough around the edges, but he's a good guy, too. I'll take his place later,"
"That sounds nice," Bell responded while keeping pace with Simon. His red eyes glowed as he stared at Simon with nothing but admiration.
Simon continued to smile, but his eyes soon fell to Bell's neck. And he noticed that a particular item was missing from the boy's person. He pointed at Bell and said, "Hey, where's your Core Drill? Did ya lose it?"
"Ah, no. Lady Hestia asked me to give it to her. She said she wanted to look at it for a little bit. She'll give it back when she's done," Bell assured Simon. Simon raised an eyebrow, but then shrugged off any worries he had. It was Bell's Drill to do with as he wished. If he wanted to hand it out, so be it.
Besides, he trusted Hestia. And that's all that mattered.
Three days had passed since then, and Hestia still hadn't returned to the church. Bell was getting worried, but Simon assured him that nothing was wrong. That Hestia would show up eventually. The two of them were basically family after all. She wouldn't abandon him, no matter what happened. This cheered Bell up as the two headed toward the Dungeon for another dive. However, on their way down Main Street, they were interrupted by two familiar faces.
"Oi! Wait up nya, white-head kid and blue-head guy!"
"White-head kid?"
"Blue-head guy?" Simon and Bell shared a look as the cat girl waitress ran toward them with her tail swishing and arms waving like a maniac. Behind her was the Benevolent Mistress, while an elf waitress followed closely behind.
She stopped in front of the two of them and gave them a clearly practiced bow in greeting. Bell returned it, but Simon just waved at her with a raised eyebrow. The elf stopped just behind the catgirl as the beastwoman in question spoke, "Good morning, nya! Sorry to call nyou both out like that, nya!"
"Ah, um, morning?" Bell asked, still confused about what was going on.
"Can we help you?" Simon asked for Bell.
"Got a favor to ask nyou, white-head kid! Here, nya!" she held out a cloth coin purse with a metal clasp on the top. Bell flinched in surprise, blinking at the outstretched item. He gingerly took it in his hands while asking with his eyes what she wanted. She continued with a smile on her face, "Syr is nyour friend, white-head kid. So I want nyou to give this to her, nya!"
Bell stared at the purple coin purse with confusion, his eyes fixed on the unfamiliar emblem engraved on the clasp. Simon leaned over to look at it and whistled, "That looks pretty nice. That emblem on the clasp mean anything?"
"Just that it was made by a Familia, but I don't know which one," Bell answered with a shrug before turning to the catgirl, "Um, I'm not sure if I fully understand. What am I supposed to do?"
"Ahnya. You're not being clear. Mr. Cranel and Mr. Simon are confused," the elf waitress said with a shake of her head.
While Bell was shocked that she remembered him, Simon held up a hand and shook his head, "No need for the 'Mr.', lady. Simon's fine with me."
"As you wish, Simon," her monotone voice didn't shift a bit as she responded. Then she turned back to the catgirl with a glare.
Ahnya waved her off, "Lyu, nyou're stupid! Syr forgot her wallet, playing hooky to go to Monsterphilia, nya. She nyeeds it, so I'm asking him to take it to her. Nyou knew that, right, white-head kid?"
The elf waitress's glare softened as she turned to Bell and Simon, "That is how it is. I apologize for the confusion."
"Ah, no, I got it now. That's what's going on," Bell said as he and Lyu exchanged bows again.
Simon chuckled, "Ah, I get it. Don't worry, Bell and I will find Syr in a jiffy. Though Syr doesn't seem like the type of girl to skip work. Is something else going on?"
Ahnya's eyes widened as Lyu turned to Simon and shook her head, "Yes. Ahnya misspoke earlier. Syr's situation is different from the rest of us, as she doesn't reside at our establishment like we do."
"Ah, so it's like a day off," Bell mumbled while looking at the purse. From there the two waitresses explained the whole situation. Monsterphilia's opening events were underway, involving members of Ganesha Familia showcasing their monster-taming skills to...well...tame monsters. They would fight the beasts in an arena until they submit. The restaurant staff wanted to attend the event, but Mama Mia told them no. So, Syr offered to go instead and get them souvenirs. But she forgot her wallet and so she has no money. And since none of the staff can get enough time off to take it to her, they wanted to ask them to do it instead.
Bell and Simon accepted the job without complaint and headed off toward East Main Street, leaving Bell's backpack with the waitresses. As the two moved into the crowded street, heading toward the stadium, only one of them noticed the familiar pair of eyes locked onto them.
The wide smile on Hestia's face contrasted with the bags under her eyes. It remained even as she walked out of Hephaestus Familia's main store, the source of her happiness resting in her hands. Within a small black case was the dagger she had custom-made for Bell. A beautiful blade with a black handle and sheath that Hephaestus had poured her soul into making... with a little help from Hestia. A new weapon specifically made for her favorite (and only) Familia member. The newly named "Hestia Knife" felt as light as a feather as she carried it with her. And even as she forced herself to calm down upon entering Northwest Main, her mind continued to fantasize about Bell's reaction when she gave it to him.
The smile on his face, the excitement in his eyes...oh she could hardly wait to see him again! And best of all, it hadn't cost her a single Val! All thanks to-
Hestia's mood took a sharp downturn. While her right hand brought the case close to her chest, her left tightened around the Core Drill her friend had returned to her. Her ponytails drooped as she recalled the cost of making the dagger. Well...not her exactly. While she watched Hephaestus work, the two of them had negotiated a deal between themselves. First, they would keep each other's secrets. She would not let anyone know about the special properties of the Hestia Knife, that being how it was a living weapon that would become stronger in tandem with its wielder. And Hephaestus wouldn't tell any of the other gods the truth about where the Core Drill had come from.
In return, Hephaestus forged the Hestia Knife free of charge...and Hestia had to either bring her to where she got it from or bring the person who made it to her.
While she wouldn't be paying anything to Hephaestus for the Knife, Simon would be paying for it on her behalf. And he didn't even know it. She had gone behind his back and possibly exposed something as powerful as Spiral Power to another god. Just after she got on Simon about keeping such a thing secret! She knew she could trust Hephaestus not to gossip with the other gods about it, but the facts remained the same. And after he had been so kind to them, even considering them as his friends.
The happiness she had felt was soon replaced with a sense of shame that only seemed to worsen with each passing second. However, she shook her head to clear her mind of such thoughts. Instead, she focused her efforts on finding Bell and figuring out how she would hand over the case to Bell. And seeing the crowds of people gathering for Monsterphilia gave her an idea.
"Heey! BELL!!"
"Huh?" Bell turned at the sound of Hestia's voice, with Simon following his lead. Being taller, Simon was able to see over the crowd of people around them more easily. As he did, he spotted a familiar head of black hair with twin ponytails coming toward them.
Simon pointed toward the oncoming goddess and said, "It's Hestia! Told ya she'd come back."
"My Goddess?!" Bell said in surprise, watching as Hestia ran toward both of them. He greeted her as she ran to him, "What are you doing here?"
"Don't be stupid! I wanted to see you, why else?" Hestia responded as she stopped in front of them.
Simon tilted his head to the side and said, "Didn't really answer his question there, Hestia. Why are you out here?"
"Uh, well, that's, uh," Hestia did everything she could to avoid looking Simon in the eyes. Instead, she sidled up to Bell while keeping her hands behind her back and said, "So, what a wonderful coincidence, don't you think? I wanted to see you, and here you are! We must have some kind of special connection! Hee-hee-hee!"
Bell and Simon shared a look, both puzzled by the Goddess' words. Bell tried to get her to explain, but she just said that she would tell him later. And to look forward to something "really special" later. Whatever that meant. Any other questions were swiftly silenced when Hestia grabbed Bell's hand. The white-haired boy's face turned a bright shade of red as his Goddess started pulling him away from Simon. She smiled sweetly and said, "Let's have a date, Bell!"
"...A date!?" was the boy's shocked response. It was at this moment that Simon finally realized what Hestia was getting at. He stepped forward and put a hand on Bell's shoulder. With a small smile on his face, he gently took the coin purse from Bell's pocket and held it up for him to see.
"Hey, Bell? Why don't you go hang out with Hestia? I'm sure you've both got a lot to talk about since she's been gone for a few days," he said, while tossing the coin purse up and down in his hand.
"Wh-But what about-"
"I'll take care of it. This job really only needs one person after all. Don't worry, I'll find the person who lost this and hand it back to them. You two go have fun," with that, Simon turned around and headed off into the crowd. Inwardly, he wished Bell luck on his date with Hestia. And Hestia silently thanked Simon for understanding what she wanted.
However, while the three of them parted amicably, a certain silver-eyed goddess was inside the monster pens at the stadium. She had already "charmed" the guards and attendants and was preparing to release the monsters. To find their targets and carry out her bidding.
"Firstly, did you really choose to stay here for two days just to hear my opinions on this thing?" Hephaestus calmly asked, her singular eye glancing at Hestia.
Hestia swallowed nervously, "Partially, yes. I also wanted to hear what you had to say about my request. You didn't answer me before, so...
"That's because I wanted to see what this was first. After all, you considered it important enough to ask me about it after requesting a custom order," Hephaestus stopped turning the drill in her hands. Then she held it up between her middle and index fingers, "Though, I'm not sure what you wanted me to say about it. Because from what I've seen? It's just a drill."
"Really?" surprised, Hestia continued, "You...you haven't found anything... strange about it?"
"Not really. The metals that compose it are similar to ones I've seen before. Mostly copper, but there is some iron present. And I do feel some kind of residual energy coming from it. But that could just be magic or the remnants of a Skill being used on it."
"What about its hardness or durability? Is there anything special about that?"
Hephaestus rolled her singular eye and got up from behind her desk. She walked over to one of the containers in her room and pulled out a pitch-black ingot of some kind. Noticing Hestia's confusion out of the corner of her eye, she explained as she walked back to her seat, "This is a Drop Item that one of my children brought to me. A high-level adventurer came by and gave it to them after returning from an expedition to the lower floors, and one of my children gave it to me as a gift. It isn't adamantite, but it should do the job."
Hephaestus sat back in her chair and placed the ingot on her desk. With her face a mask of calm, she began to tap the tip of the drill against the center of the ingot. The sound of a small metal tip repeatedly pinging off a hard surface echoed through the room. Hestia winced each time the tip hit the ingot as she waited for something to happen. After three minutes of doing that, Hephaestus shook her head and said, "See? Nothing special."
Hestia felt a weight lift off her shoulders. While part of her was confused that such an item wouldn't be anything special, a greater part was relieved that it wasn't. The last thing Bell needed was to be wearing a powerful magic item around his neck at all times. That wouldn't just attract the attention of the gods, but other adventurers as well. And some of the people in Orario would willingly take advantage of such a young boy.
"As for your request, my answer is no," Hephaestus said, still idly tapping away at the ingot without a care in the world.
"Please!" Hestia shouted, leaning forward on her knees as she begged her friend.
"No."
"You have to!"
"You wouldn't be able to afford it anyway."
"I'll pay you back, I promise!"
"You've said that to me too many times to count at this point. And don't think I don't know about how you're working a part-time job to finance your Famiilia. Why would I think you could pay me back if you have to do that."
Hestia went silent, but her determination didn't waver. She leaned forward, placed both her hands on the floor, and then lowered her head until it touched the ground.
"...What are you doing?" Hephaestus said, raising an eyebrow in confusion.
"Dogeza."
"Do-ge-za?"
"Take told me this pose has the power to make people forgive whatever you have done and grant any request."
"Takemikazuchi," Hephaestus sighed and prepared to respond-
Crack
-when both goddesses heard something crack.
Something metallic.
And the source came from right beside Hephaestus.
Blinking, she turned away from Hestia to look at her left hand. The one that was tapping the drill against the Drop Item. At first, she thought that the drill was what had cracked. The Drop Item was a high-level material. Tapping something extremely bland against it like the drill would lead to the latter suffering some damage. But as her single eye fell upon the drill and ingot, she became aware of something far stranger.
The drill was completely fine.
But the ingot had a tiny crack in the center.
Hephaestus froze as her lone eye stared at the situation in front of her. So silent was she that Hestia lifted her head to see what was going on. When she saw her friend's circumstances, she opened her mouth to ask what was wrong. But she was interrupted when Hephaestus suddenly sprang into action. The Goddess of the Forge pulled the ingot to the center of her desk while holding the drill in her right hand. Focusing all her attention on the two items, she tapped the drill against the center of the ingot again.
Crack Crack
The tiny crack in the ingot grew larger. Before, one would need to squint to see the small white lines. Now, one could see them with casual observation. A third tap made them grow larger. To the point that Hephaestus knew a fourth tap would split the ingot in two. She locked her single eye onto the item in her hand. Her lips slowly curled into a smile as her eyes started to shine with a bright, fiery flame of passion. She turned to look at Hestia with an expectant gaze in her eye, "Hestia, where did you get this?"
Hestia stiffened, feeling the anxiety from before returning. She fidgeted on the spot while trying to avoid Hephaestus' gaze. She knew that look on her friend's face. Her spirit as a blacksmith had been ignited, and she was eager to learn all about the peculiar new metal Hestia had delivered into her lap. But that was what worried her. Hestia couldn't hide her nervousness as she spoke, "I... I... I don't know if I should-"
"Ah, a secret then? I understand. Hmm," Hephaestus took a moment to think, then snapped her fingers, "How about a deal then? If you bring me to where you got this from, I'll make the weapon for you at no cost."
Hestia felt a jolt go up her spine. She slowly turned her head to Hephaestus and said, "R-Re-Really?"
Hephaestus furiously nodded, "Yes. Obviously, we both have to keep each other's secrets about this whole thing. But give me the chance to better observe what this is made of, and I'll make the best damn weapon that Orario has ever seen. Deal?"
Hestia blinked.
Emotions warred within her as she thought about Hephaestus' deal. Whether she should accept it... but one thing made her decide to say yes. And it was four little words that she repeated to herself the entire time.
'This is all for Bell.'
'...Please forgive me, Simon.'
"Achoo!"
Bell stopped gawking at the weapons on the first floor of Hephaestus' shop to look at Simon. He tilted his head and asked, "Are you alright, Simon?"
Simon sniffed while wiping his nose with a sleeve, "Yeah. Just had to sneeze. No biggie. "So, you gonna head in there and buy something? You're eying that dagger there pretty hard."
Simon pointed toward the finely crafted white dagger, its tip pressed into a treasure chest-like box. Bell swallowed as his eyes went from the weapon to the price tag with numerous zeroes on it. He took a deep breath, then pushed himself off the window and shook his head, "N-No. I can't afford it. Even paying a fourth of its cost would wipe out my Familia's savings."
Simon nodded, then patted Bell on the head, "Then, you'll just have to keep at it until you get enough to buy it, right?"
"Yeah! Right!" Bell said, feelings of despair melting away with Simon's touch. The two started walking away from the store. They were on West Main Street, having just come back from an earlier Dungeon Run. They had made good money on it, far more than Bell usually made on his own. And as they left, they encountered a certain God who was close to Bell's Familia. It was this God that came to Bell's mind as the two walked, "So, what did you think of Miach, Simon?"
"Hmm? You mean the guy that gave you those two potions for free?" Simon pointed at the two vials on Bell's waist, each one filled with a dark blue liquid. The white-haired boy nodded, and Simon's response was to shrug, "He seemed cool. Anyone who's willing to part with stuff that's supposed to heal you for free is good in my book. And he didn't seem to mind me shaking his hand."
Bell smiled and nodded, "Ah, that's good. If you ever need something and you can't rely on us, you should go to Miach's Familia. He's been helping us for a while now and is a good person."
"Good to know," Simon rubbed his nose as he tried to think of another conversation topic. Then he snapped his fingers and said, "Oh, right. What was the deal with those guys bringing monsters into the Guild?"
"Those people were part of Ganesha Familia. I could tell because they were all wearing emblems with elephant heads on them," Bell explained to Simon.
"Really? Is this Ganesha guy an elephant beastman or something?"
"Uh, no. He just...really...likes them," a bead of sweat fell from Bell's head as he thought about the...eccentric god and his overworked Familia. He then shook his head to clear it, "But as for the monsters, it's for an event called Monsterphilia. Ganesha's Familia is full of people who tame monsters to exhibit them at a special fair."
"Ah, so that's what they're for. Hmm, you gonna go?"
"Maybe. I haven't decided yet," Bell scratched the back of his head in thought.
"Well, if you do decide to go, I've got someone we could invite. That Ais Wallenstein girl," Simon said with a smile.
Bell just looked confused, "Why her? The Kenki is probably really busy now. And I'm not sure if her Familia would be happy with us taking her out to a fair."
Simon waved dismissively and said, "Ah, who gives a shit what they think? Besides, she wants to apologize to you for what happened back in the Dungeon. You know, with the minotaur that I killed?"
A shiver ran up Bell's spine as he was reminded of that moment. He could still hear the minotaur's horrible roar, smell its awful breath, and feel the intimidating aura it emitted. His hands started to shake, so he hid them behind his back to prevent Simon from noticing. Gulping, he put on a false smile and said, "Th-That's alright. She doesn't have to do that. It's water under the bridge."
Simon wagged his finger through the air, "No, Bell. You don't do that. If someone wants to apologize to you, you need to face them directly and decide whether you'll forgive them. One of the worst feelings in the world is when you leave things unsaid that you wanted to say."
Bell blinked at Simon's words. He thought the man had sounded profound for a second there. So much so, that it stopped his shaking and dashed his sudden fear away. After a few moments, he started nodding, "Ye-Yeah. You're right, Simon. Um, but I don't think it should be at Monsterphilia. I need to meet her in a better circumstance before then."
Simon smiled, then patted Bell on the head, "Whatever you say, leader. Now let's get back home. Oh, I need to tell you about this guy I met. His name's Brax. He's a bit rough around the edges, but he's a good guy, too. I'll take his place later,"
"That sounds nice," Bell responded while keeping pace with Simon. His red eyes glowed as he stared at Simon with nothing but admiration.
Simon continued to smile, but his eyes soon fell to Bell's neck. And he noticed that a particular item was missing from the boy's person. He pointed at Bell and said, "Hey, where's your Core Drill? Did ya lose it?"
"Ah, no. Lady Hestia asked me to give it to her. She said she wanted to look at it for a little bit. She'll give it back when she's done," Bell assured Simon. Simon raised an eyebrow, but then shrugged off any worries he had. It was Bell's Drill to do with as he wished. If he wanted to hand it out, so be it.
Besides, he trusted Hestia. And that's all that mattered.
Three days had passed since then, and Hestia still hadn't returned to the church. Bell was getting worried, but Simon assured him that nothing was wrong. That Hestia would show up eventually. The two of them were basically family after all. She wouldn't abandon him, no matter what happened. This cheered Bell up as the two headed toward the Dungeon for another dive. However, on their way down Main Street, they were interrupted by two familiar faces.
"Oi! Wait up nya, white-head kid and blue-head guy!"
"White-head kid?"
"Blue-head guy?" Simon and Bell shared a look as the cat girl waitress ran toward them with her tail swishing and arms waving like a maniac. Behind her was the Benevolent Mistress, while an elf waitress followed closely behind.
She stopped in front of the two of them and gave them a clearly practiced bow in greeting. Bell returned it, but Simon just waved at her with a raised eyebrow. The elf stopped just behind the catgirl as the beastwoman in question spoke, "Good morning, nya! Sorry to call nyou both out like that, nya!"
"Ah, um, morning?" Bell asked, still confused about what was going on.
"Can we help you?" Simon asked for Bell.
"Got a favor to ask nyou, white-head kid! Here, nya!" she held out a cloth coin purse with a metal clasp on the top. Bell flinched in surprise, blinking at the outstretched item. He gingerly took it in his hands while asking with his eyes what she wanted. She continued with a smile on her face, "Syr is nyour friend, white-head kid. So I want nyou to give this to her, nya!"
Bell stared at the purple coin purse with confusion, his eyes fixed on the unfamiliar emblem engraved on the clasp. Simon leaned over to look at it and whistled, "That looks pretty nice. That emblem on the clasp mean anything?"
"Just that it was made by a Familia, but I don't know which one," Bell answered with a shrug before turning to the catgirl, "Um, I'm not sure if I fully understand. What am I supposed to do?"
"Ahnya. You're not being clear. Mr. Cranel and Mr. Simon are confused," the elf waitress said with a shake of her head.
While Bell was shocked that she remembered him, Simon held up a hand and shook his head, "No need for the 'Mr.', lady. Simon's fine with me."
"As you wish, Simon," her monotone voice didn't shift a bit as she responded. Then she turned back to the catgirl with a glare.
Ahnya waved her off, "Lyu, nyou're stupid! Syr forgot her wallet, playing hooky to go to Monsterphilia, nya. She nyeeds it, so I'm asking him to take it to her. Nyou knew that, right, white-head kid?"
The elf waitress's glare softened as she turned to Bell and Simon, "That is how it is. I apologize for the confusion."
"Ah, no, I got it now. That's what's going on," Bell said as he and Lyu exchanged bows again.
Simon chuckled, "Ah, I get it. Don't worry, Bell and I will find Syr in a jiffy. Though Syr doesn't seem like the type of girl to skip work. Is something else going on?"
Ahnya's eyes widened as Lyu turned to Simon and shook her head, "Yes. Ahnya misspoke earlier. Syr's situation is different from the rest of us, as she doesn't reside at our establishment like we do."
"Ah, so it's like a day off," Bell mumbled while looking at the purse. From there the two waitresses explained the whole situation. Monsterphilia's opening events were underway, involving members of Ganesha Familia showcasing their monster-taming skills to...well...tame monsters. They would fight the beasts in an arena until they submit. The restaurant staff wanted to attend the event, but Mama Mia told them no. So, Syr offered to go instead and get them souvenirs. But she forgot her wallet and so she has no money. And since none of the staff can get enough time off to take it to her, they wanted to ask them to do it instead.
Bell and Simon accepted the job without complaint and headed off toward East Main Street, leaving Bell's backpack with the waitresses. As the two moved into the crowded street, heading toward the stadium, only one of them noticed the familiar pair of eyes locked onto them.
The wide smile on Hestia's face contrasted with the bags under her eyes. It remained even as she walked out of Hephaestus Familia's main store, the source of her happiness resting in her hands. Within a small black case was the dagger she had custom-made for Bell. A beautiful blade with a black handle and sheath that Hephaestus had poured her soul into making... with a little help from Hestia. A new weapon specifically made for her favorite (and only) Familia member. The newly named "Hestia Knife" felt as light as a feather as she carried it with her. And even as she forced herself to calm down upon entering Northwest Main, her mind continued to fantasize about Bell's reaction when she gave it to him.
The smile on his face, the excitement in his eyes...oh she could hardly wait to see him again! And best of all, it hadn't cost her a single Val! All thanks to-
Hestia's mood took a sharp downturn. While her right hand brought the case close to her chest, her left tightened around the Core Drill her friend had returned to her. Her ponytails drooped as she recalled the cost of making the dagger. Well...not her exactly. While she watched Hephaestus work, the two of them had negotiated a deal between themselves. First, they would keep each other's secrets. She would not let anyone know about the special properties of the Hestia Knife, that being how it was a living weapon that would become stronger in tandem with its wielder. And Hephaestus wouldn't tell any of the other gods the truth about where the Core Drill had come from.
In return, Hephaestus forged the Hestia Knife free of charge...and Hestia had to either bring her to where she got it from or bring the person who made it to her.
While she wouldn't be paying anything to Hephaestus for the Knife, Simon would be paying for it on her behalf. And he didn't even know it. She had gone behind his back and possibly exposed something as powerful as Spiral Power to another god. Just after she got on Simon about keeping such a thing secret! She knew she could trust Hephaestus not to gossip with the other gods about it, but the facts remained the same. And after he had been so kind to them, even considering them as his friends.
The happiness she had felt was soon replaced with a sense of shame that only seemed to worsen with each passing second. However, she shook her head to clear her mind of such thoughts. Instead, she focused her efforts on finding Bell and figuring out how she would hand over the case to Bell. And seeing the crowds of people gathering for Monsterphilia gave her an idea.
"Heey! BELL!!"
"Huh?" Bell turned at the sound of Hestia's voice, with Simon following his lead. Being taller, Simon was able to see over the crowd of people around them more easily. As he did, he spotted a familiar head of black hair with twin ponytails coming toward them.
Simon pointed toward the oncoming goddess and said, "It's Hestia! Told ya she'd come back."
"My Goddess?!" Bell said in surprise, watching as Hestia ran toward both of them. He greeted her as she ran to him, "What are you doing here?"
"Don't be stupid! I wanted to see you, why else?" Hestia responded as she stopped in front of them.
Simon tilted his head to the side and said, "Didn't really answer his question there, Hestia. Why are you out here?"
"Uh, well, that's, uh," Hestia did everything she could to avoid looking Simon in the eyes. Instead, she sidled up to Bell while keeping her hands behind her back and said, "So, what a wonderful coincidence, don't you think? I wanted to see you, and here you are! We must have some kind of special connection! Hee-hee-hee!"
Bell and Simon shared a look, both puzzled by the Goddess' words. Bell tried to get her to explain, but she just said that she would tell him later. And to look forward to something "really special" later. Whatever that meant. Any other questions were swiftly silenced when Hestia grabbed Bell's hand. The white-haired boy's face turned a bright shade of red as his Goddess started pulling him away from Simon. She smiled sweetly and said, "Let's have a date, Bell!"
"...A date!?" was the boy's shocked response. It was at this moment that Simon finally realized what Hestia was getting at. He stepped forward and put a hand on Bell's shoulder. With a small smile on his face, he gently took the coin purse from Bell's pocket and held it up for him to see.
"Hey, Bell? Why don't you go hang out with Hestia? I'm sure you've both got a lot to talk about since she's been gone for a few days," he said, while tossing the coin purse up and down in his hand.
"Wh-But what about-"
"I'll take care of it. This job really only needs one person after all. Don't worry, I'll find the person who lost this and hand it back to them. You two go have fun," with that, Simon turned around and headed off into the crowd. Inwardly, he wished Bell luck on his date with Hestia. And Hestia silently thanked Simon for understanding what she wanted.
However, while the three of them parted amicably, a certain silver-eyed goddess was inside the monster pens at the stadium. She had already "charmed" the guards and attendants and was preparing to release the monsters. To find their targets and carry out her bidding.
Chapter 11: Monsterphilia Mash
LinkOnScepter
Versed in the lewd.
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"Syr! Syr! You here?!" Simon shouted, one hand cupped over his lips to help carry his voice. He was oblivious to the various people around him staring at him as he made his way through the festival. Numerous stalls were around him, selling food and items of all kinds from the side of the road. Most people chose to avoid him, which wasn't hard considering he was taller than the average person in Orario. Though some did try to entice him into buying their ways, but he politely declined their offers.
"Syr!" he shouted again, stopping in the middle of a crowd to let it pass by him while looking around. When the girl in question didn't show, he crossed his arms and hummed, "Hmm, don't see her. Hmm, what did Ahnya say Syr was doing here again? Spending her day off here? Then, if she's not out here in the streets..."
Simon looked up, his eyes going to the large coliseum in the distance. His lips curled into a smile, "...she'd be where the main event is happening."
He started making his way toward the coliseum, stopping every now and then to wave hello the people on the street. As he did, he couldn't help but think of how things must be going back home. By now, Rossiu had probably made peace with everyone else. Gurren Lagann was mass produced and the various Spiral Races were all working towards a wonderful future. One he wouldn't ever see himself, but he trusted his friends. He knew they would guide their world to a bright future. Idly, he looked down at his ring and smiled. The metal was warm against his finger. A constant reminder of those who's spirits he carried with him.
However, his wistful reminiscing was interrupted by the sound of shouting. This was soon followed by the crowd around him suddenly running in the opposite direction of the coliseum. A few people bumped into him with multiple shouts of "Monsters! Monsters on the loose!" as they ran away from something. Simon looked ahead and prepared to run toward the danger and see if anyone needed help. But he soon found that he didn't have to go far. As the monster in question was walking right toward him.
It was a large, four-legged creature that reminded him of a deer. It even had a similar coat, save that the deer's he knew had brown fur and this one had green fur with white spots along its body. Though the main thing that separated it from the docile herbivore he knew, were the large sword like antlers sticking out of its head. The horns stood out like the branches of a tree, the sunlight reflecting off their sharp edges. The towered over most of the people in running away from it, its shadow falling over Simon.
However, Simon noted something interesting about the monster; It wasn't reacting to the people around it. It snorted and stomped at the ground, but it didn't try to attacking anyone. In fact, it seemed to be looking for something. Something that wasn't anywhere near it. Simon raised an eyebrow and prepared to say something to get its attention. But then he heard the sound of the wind coming from above and to his right. Smiling, he turned toward the roof of a building to his left. Pushing spiral power into his legs, he leaped onto the roof just as the wind passed over the strange monster.
He heard the sound of a sword slicing through flesh and stood up straight. He quickly looked to his right to see who had killed the monster. As he caught sight of a familiar head of blonde hair, his smile grew into a full toothed grin. He kicked off the roof and quickly caught up to the girl. With a wave he shouted, "Hey, Aiz! Guessing you know what's up with the monsters being out?"
"They escaped," Aiz hardly paid Simon any attention. Her focus was completely on finding the next monster and taking it down. She spotted another and prepared to dash in to defeat it in one blow. However...
"GURREN BOOMERANG!"
...she was beat to the punch by a pair of flying red glasses that Simon had tossed. The glasses cut through the air while spinning like a shuriken. The edges of the glasses glowed a bright emerald color. Before the monster even noticed what was happening, its head was separated from its shoulders as the glasses cut through its skin like a hot knife through butter.
The glasses turned back around and Simon caught them with ease. No blood remained on his impromptu weapon as he placed it back on his face. He casually spoke to Aiz, "Don't need to answer. Just point me towards the monsters and I'll help ya take them out."
"Not necessary. I can handle it."
"Yeah? Then you won't mind if I tag along will you? Lots of hands make light work," Simon retorted. Aiz didn't respond. Whether that be because she didn't care or she agreed with him, he couldn't tell. But that was fine. He was just happy to help. And help he did. The two working in tandem allowed Ainz to take out all the escaped monsters far faster than she could've alone. Mainly because while she needed to dash in to stab an enemy with her rapier, Simon could take them out from range with his Boomerangs.
Simon grabbed his glasses out of the air and put them back on just as the third monster he had seen went down. He kept his eyes on the area while talking to Aiz, "Okay, including the ones you got before you met me, how many is that?"
"Seven," Aiz said as the two continued moving through the air.
"And how many escaped?"
"Nine."
"So two left? Where are they?"
"Heading toward one. Can't feel the last one."
"Hmm, alright so...wait. Do you hear that?" Simon turned his eyes to the west of their current position. He frowned as his ears twitched. He could've sword he heard something...rumbling. Moving through the earth like a-
His eyes widened and he suddenly banked toward the west, "Something's up over there! I'll go check it out! You keep looking for the last monster!" Without waiting for Aiz's reply, he pushed more spiral power into his legs. With a short grunt of effort he launched himself straight toward the feeling he had. Half way to his destination, he saw an explosion of earth, stone, and smoke rise from a residential area in the distance. The force of the explosion was enough to make him pause mid-air for a second. With a grunt he kicked off the air and landed a nearby building's rooftop. He lifted his glasses up to get a better view of what had just burst up from the ground. And as the dust cleared he couldn't help but whistle in surprise.
"Well, you're a big one aren'tcha?" he asked while looking at the monster towering over the squat Orario buildings. It was snakelike with its tail rising from between the stones of the broken pavement beneath it. It had a lump where it's head should be, with pale-green smooth skin covering its body. It's "lump" for a head had no eyes nor mouth and was shaped more like a sunflower seed. Its body moved to look down at something near it, before slamming its body down and trying to hit it.
Idly wishing that he had Lagann right now, Simon jumped from roof to roof to get close to the strange monster. He stopped on a nearby rooftop and covered his eyes to see what was going on. What he saw made him hum in surprise. There were three people on the street fighting the strange creature. He recognized two of them as those twins from the bar the other night with Aiz and that asshole he knocked out. They were dashing around the monster, avoiding its rapid slams while trying to attack it with their bare fist. Emphasis on "try" because whenever they punched it, they seemed to feel the pain. Whatever that thing was made of must've been tough. Simon tapped his chin before he heard a new, sing-song voice echoing through the street.
"Unleashed beam of light, limbs of the holy tree. You are the master archer."
Looking to a part of the street slightly covered from the monster's line of sight, he spotted an elf girl standing with her arms outstretched. She had bright golden hair tied in front of her neck. Long, parted bangs framed her face. She wore a white blouse underneath a pink corset dress and skirt, with long white stockings going down her legs. Her pink slippers had dirt and dust on them. A dark red coat hung over her shoulders with only her white sleeves sticking out of it. Her mouth moved as she uttered some kind of chant as a golden circle appeared under her feet.
"Loose your arrows, fairy archers. Pierce, arrows of accuracy!"
Simon whistled, "Guessing that's what a magic spell looks like? Probably gonna be real useful against something that-"
Simon turned to look at the monster at just the right moment. Because it allowed him to spot the exact moment the monster turned its "head" to look directly at the elf girl. On instinct, he launched himself from the rooftop to the street just in front of the girl. He landed only a second before a pale green tendril shot out of the ground toward the girl's stomach. He didn't hesitated to hold out his hand and let the limb pierce his hand, before grabbing the end with his other hand.
He heard the elf girl gasp behind him, but paid her little mind. With a grunt of effort he stomped his foot into the ground, increased his grip on the tendril, and pulled with all his might. With a loud yell and the sound of plant fibers tearing, he ripped the tendril in two. The bottom part slithered back into the ground while the part in Simon's hand quickly turned to dust.
He looked over his shoulder and ignored the pain in his right hand while saying, "You okay?!" to the elf girl. She was stunned silent, her mind trying to process what had just happened. Simon got ready to call out to her again, but a loud "cricking" sound made him pause. He turned back to the monster just in time to see its lump-like head raise toward the sky-and bloom.
"OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
Its roar reverberated through the streets as petals stretched toward the sunlight. Each one was a deep, ominous red. They all met in the center, where a gigantic mouth lined with fangs awaited. Pollen shook free from it with every movement. The flesh inside its mouth was light pink, and its magic stone was visible deep in its throat.
"Not a snake...but a flower?!" one of the half-naked women yelled in horror. The beasts head reared up and it started to loom over the area where Simon and the elf were. The elf girl, still in shock, stared at the wide open maw with horror in her eyes...
...and then flying red object sliced through one of the monster's petals.
It roared in pain as the object boomeranged back toward its owner. Simon caught it in one hand while his other grabbed his goggles next. Emerald green Spiral Power flowed down his arm into his goggles. They shook for a moment before the red glass within suddenly burst out and into an pair of sunglasses identical to the first one. With both his weapons in hand, Simon pointed his sunglasses at the flower monster. His voice carried across the street, somehow louder than the monster's roar, "Listen up ya overgrown weed! I don't know where you came from, or what the fuck you're doing here! And, honestly, I don't care! All I know is that you're not gonna destroy this city or harm anyone while I, Simon the Digger, is still breathing. So, just and come at me! Double Gurren BOOMERANG!"
Simon tossed both of his sunglasses across the ground. Air parted before them as they slashed through the forest of tendrils keeping the two women from him and the elf. Once the path was clear he shouted, "Hey! You two! Get over here before it blocks the path again!"
While a bit confused, the two women did as Simon asked. They gracefully leapt and dodged around any new tendrils that grew out of the ground to block them. The monster tried to slam its head onto one of them, but Simon's boomerangs came back around and sliced off two more of its petals. The pain caused it to miss its strike and allowed both the Amazons to land on Simon's left and right. Simon grabbed his weapons as they neared him then shot smiles toward the two girls, "Nice moves. You girls are pretty good."
"Same to you," the one with long hair and a red bra said as she shook her stinging hands. She had tried to punch through the monster's hide only to end up hurting herself.
The other one, the one with short hair and a white bra, shot a sidelong glance at Simon. Then she gave him her full attention while her eyes went wide, "Wait. Aren't you the guy who knocked Bete out the other night?"
Her words got the other Amazon and elf to give Simon their full attention. Simon just smiled and said proudly, "That I am. Name's Simon the Digger."
He was interrupted when three of the monster's tendrils shot out the ground. Simon quickly dispatched them with one swing of both his weapons. As the sliced apart tendrils fell lifelessly to the ground, he continued, "Mind tell me your names? I'd like to know who I'll be fighting with today."
The short haired woman smiled and waved, "I'm Tiona! And that was an awesome punch you managed on Bete. He needed something to wake him up."
"Tione," the long haired woman said while eying Simon's weapons, "Are those...glasses? How are you slicing through this thing's hide with glasses?"
"Spiral Power," Simon stated bluntly.
"What's Spiral Power?" both Amazons asked at the same time.
"Tell ya later," Simon looked over his shoulder at the elf. She tensed but didn't flinch away from his gaze. He smiled and asked, "And you are?"
"L-Lefiya," was her answer.
"Simon. That was magic you were doing earlier, right?"
"Y-Yes. I was trying to cast a spell to help take it out. Everything was ready, I just need to say the trigger-"
"Which is when that bastard hit ya. And it wasn't paying attention to you before you did that. In other words-"
"It's sensitive to magical energy," Tione finished for Simon, "Meaning that we need to keep Lefiya safe so she can cast her spell."
"Don't worry, Lefiya. We'll keep it off your back. You just sit tight and stay behind us, okay?" Tiona said while cracking her knuckles in preparation. But while the two Amazons kept their eyes on the monster, Simon's eyes were focused on Lefiya.
And he saw how she flinched at Tiona's words. He saw how her shock was replaced by a sense of self-loathing and disappointment. He noticed how her shoulders slumped when her comrade said she should "stay behind them." He kept his eyes on the elf for a few more moments. Then he smiled and said, "Actually, Lefiya, what do you want to do?"
"Huh?" all three girls said, all of them confused by what Simon just said.
Not deterred in the slightest, he turned so that his left shoulder was pointing toward Lefiya, "I said, what do you want to do? I'm leaving the decision of how we fight this thing up to you."
"M-Me?! Bu-But I'm-"
"Lefiya's a mage, Simon," Tione interrupted, frustration clear in her tone, "She can't fight on the frontlines like we can. It's better for her to stay back where she won't get hurt."
"Maybe. But something tells me that that's not what she wants."
"Simon, you just met her!" Tiona said while keeping an eye on the looming threat in front of them.
"Yeah, but I've seen that look in her eyes before. The look of someone who feels like she has something to prove. Not to anyone around her but to herself," Simon's voice as confident but soothing, lessening the tension in Lefiya's body by the second. In spite of the lingering plant monster roaring at them, Simon looked calm and collected. His smile reached his sparkling eyes as he stared at Lefiya, "I might not know exactly what you're going through, but I can tell you this; You're not gonna get anywhere if you just stand there, saying nothing and doing nothing. The only way things are gonna change is if you take that first step forward."
Lefiya didn't know why, but something about what the strange man was saying resonated with her. This was their first time meeting each other, but the way he spoke and carried himself...it somehow made his words get through to her. However, she felt that doubt that was always there claim her heart again. She turned away from Simon while her hands tightened into fists, "You make it sound so easy. But-"
"It's not easy. Most things worth doing aren't," Simon interrupted, his smile only growing bigger and brighter, "It can be hard at first and keep getting harder the further you go. But, no matter how hard it gets, the second you get where you want to be, that's it. You've made it. And what you do from there is all down to you. All you need is to move forward, keep your fighting spirit burning bright, and never give up until you've won."
Lefiya stared at Simon with a shocked expression. She didn't know how to respond to what he said. Tione and Tiona were similarly stunned. If it were anyone else, the Amazons might have dismissed them out of hand. What could a total stranger know about how Lefiya was feeling, after all? But the fact that Lefiya seemed to actually be listening to him is what gave them pause. The moment was interrupted when the monster attacked again. Tendrils bursts from the ground toward the four while its massive head barreled toward them. The Amazons and Simon turned to face the oncoming tendrils. The tendrils were thick as a human arm and moved like snakes in the grass. They shot toward Simon, but diverted their course at the last minute, planning to attack the elf behind him.
However, Simon dashed back and sliced at the oncoming foe with reckless abandon. Severed tendrils flopped the ground, while those he missed were grabbed and ripped apart by Tione and Tiona. Lefiya watched the ongoing battle, Simon's words racing through her mind and heart. And the actions of her friends defending her only made them resonate even deeper.
What Simon had said...had been true.
She did want to prove something.
For the last few days, in the Dungeon and now here, she had been protected by the rest of her Familia. Always staying behind the fighters and away from where the fighting was thickest. Away from where the most amount of danger was. And whenever she had been caught out or put in harms way, someone, usually Aiz, had shown up to save her. And while she appreciated being saved...it didn't sit right with her.
She wasn't a delicate flower who couldn't handle being in the thick of things. She was an adventurer! A member of the strongest Familia in Orario! A member of the proud race of elves, and the one expected to replace Rivera when the time came! Staying behind while her allies did all the fighting, always needed to be saved, never doing the saving herself...it had formed a pit of shame and inferiority in her heart. One that she had been carrying all this time, yet never bothered to do anything about.
Because she knew the truth; She was weak. She would never be able to stand by the side of the girls who had saved her time and time again. They were just too powerful. Too much for her to reach. All she could ever do was-
"Lefiya," somehow, someway, she heard Simon's voice over the din of battle. She looked up to see the man looking over his shoulder at her. His arms swung away as she kept the monster's tendrils at bay. His eyes were soft but they still blazed with that confidence of his, "whatever's going through your head right now, just remember what I said; nothing's gonna change if you just stand there."
Lefiya felt her breath hitch. She brought a hand up to her chest and felt her heart start beating faster. A shadow fell over her eyes as she tilted her head down...then lifted it back up while glaring at the monster across the street. She stepped forward until she was standing next to Simon at his right. Tione threw down a destroyed tendril and gasped as she saw the elf, "Lefiya! Get back! We-"
"I can help too! I'm-I'm not gonna be a burden!" she shouted, holding up her hands while preparing her next spell, "The monster's sensitive to magic! We need to be moving the second I start casting my spell! Keep me covered while I get close enough so it won't miss!"
"But if you use magic then it'll attack you!" Tiona points out.
"If it does, so be it!" Lefiya's words shocked the two Amazon's speechless. The elf's body was shaking but her eyes were filled with a deep determination. She didn't once take her gaze off the monster before them.
Simon's laugh cut through the air just as he cut through the last of the tendrils assaulting them. He stood up and pointed his weapons at the monsters roaring mouth, "You heard the lady! She brings the magic, and we keep her covered. Now, lets take this down!"
Seeing that the human and elf were in agreement, the Amazons shared a look. Confused but wiling to trust Lefiya, they shared a nod before taking up their fighting stances. The plant monster roared. Lefiya prepared to recite her spell again. Tiona and Tione readied their fists. Simon held his arms out, revealing his bare chest and ignoring his bleeding hand while shouting, "Come on, ya big bastard! We're right here! Come and get us!"
The creature prepared to lung...only for gold and silver streaks to flash across the space between it and the adventurers. Its head flew off its body as its killer landed gracefully on what was left of the stone street in front of Simon. Behind her, the beast let out a death roar before its severed head slammed into a stone wall. Its body convulsed, collapsed to the ground, wriggled and twitched for a few moments, then finally fell still. The tendrils around them fell limply to the street below.
"Aiz!" the Amazons shouted as the human girl stood up straight. Her hair fluttered in the breeze as she looked over the party before her.
Lefiya felt the tension leave her body and be replaced with a mixture of surprise, disappointment, and shame. She shot a confused glance at Simon, silently asking him what just happened.
Simon relaxed his body a bit and rubbed the back of his neck, "Well, didn't see that coming. But, hey! Don't be discouraged! You did good standing up like that! You'll get your chance to prove yourself soon enough."
He reached over and patted Lefiya on the shoulder. The elf wasn't sure how to feel about that. So she just remained silent while turning her gaze toward Aiz. Simon, meanwhile, waved at Aiz and shouted, "Yo, Aiz! Thanks for the assist! Ya got the other monsters?"
"Yes. Is everyone alright?" Aiz asked while looking over Simon and her comrades.
"Yep! We're all okay!" Tiona shouted, hopping up and down for emphasis.
"You should've seen Lefiya. She was all confident and giving out orders. It was pretty cool," Tione said, elbowing the elf in question in the arm. Lefiya blushed and looked away from Aiz while fiddling with her hair. Aiz nodded and took a step forward-
"Aiz! Watch out!"
Simon's warning put everyone on guard again. Aiz raised her sword just as the stones around her shook hard enough to leave the ground.
"Wha-What now?!" Tione shouted as pale-green stalks rose from the dirt.
"There's more?!" Tiona shouted as the three rose like the bars of a living cage all around Aiz. The buds opened wide and bared their fangs at the girl trapped inside. Aiz frowned and looked at each of her foes in turn-when, without warning...SNAP!
A spiderweb of cracks ran through the rapier a second before it shattered.
"-"
"Huh-"
"Wha-"
"No!"
Words left Aiz, the twins, and Lefiya as they watched the splinters of metal fall to the ground.
Simon, however...
"Aiz! Take this!" he reared his right arm back and through his sunglasses with all his might. The sharped glass twirled through the air like a shuriken, slicing through any tendrils that tried to block its path. Aiz grabbed the thrown weapon out of the air. Instinctively, she summoned Airiel and called the wind to surround the weapon as she had down her rapier. For a moment, she cursed herself, believing that the glasses would shatter just like that weapon had.
However....
"...!"
Aiz was temporarily shocked as the glasses didn't break. In fact, as the wind swirled around the impromptu weapon, she felt like it was working in tandem with the winds. Pulling them around the edges and sharpening them even further than they normally were. The surprise didn't last long, as her opponents howled and converged on her. She quickly jumped out of the way and brought her new weapon down on the closest monster.
She felt no resistance as she sliced through its flesh.
The carnivorous plant howled while Aiz moved back into combat position.
"It...it didn't break?! It's stronger than the rapier?!" Tiona shouted, completely floored by how a pair of sunglasses was somehow able to withstand Aiz's fighting style.
"What are those things made out of!?" Tione demanded of Simon, looking down at the other pair of glasses in his hand...and silently questioning where she could get some.
Simon kept his eyes on the battle as Aiz continued to fight her opponents in mid-air. He shouted to the girls around him, "No time! Aiz is doing well, but she's up against three enemies at once. They're probably attracted to whatever magic she's using, which is why they're ignoring us. Lefiya! Can you use your spells while you're moving?"
It took the elf a moment to think, but she quickly nodded, "Yes!"
"Good! Then lets get going! Tiona! Tione! Follow me! I'll cut through any tendrils that get in our way!"
"R-Right!"
"On it!"
The two Amazons got into their fighting stances. Lefiya raised her hands as she started preparing another spell. Simon held his one remaining pair of sunglasses up. Then, once everyone was ready, he yelled, "Go!"
The party dashed forward, moving through the destroyed street by hopping on any stones still standing. Above them, Aiz continued to battle the three heads. Her new weapon was perfect for cutting through their flesh. The winds she called to her let her maneuver around and away from any attack, while sending effortless counter attacks their way. However, even with that, she wasn't able to land a decisive blow. While they could only sense magical energy, the three plants seemed to have some form of intelligence and coordination. Whenever she moved to take one down, another would come around and block her strike.
"Aiz! Stop using your magic! It's how they're following you!" Tiona shouted up at the Kenki.
"But-"
"Lefiya is preparing a spell! When she's done, we'll take it out!" Tione shouted in response to Aiz's objection. Aiz momentarily considered doing so...but that's when she saw her.
She caught the barest glimpse of a small human figure out the corner of her eye. A civilian who hadn't escaped in time. An animal-person child had been hiding behind the street stalls. Overcome by fear, the girl sat on the stone street, shaking uncontrollably. Their eyes met.
If she tried to dodge the monsters' next attack, their long bodies would crush the child in an instant.
She made her decision.
She gathered the wind around her, jumped to the debris on her left, and fanged jaws came down-
"INAZUMA KICK!"
All three monsters were launched away from Aiz by Simon's kick. He had leapt clear of the streets and launched a kick right at the beasts. His attack hit the nearest one, and the force pushed all three away from Aiz. The two locked eyes and shared a nod. Then Aiz leapt down to stand in front of the wooden remains of a destroyed shop. Simon joined her a second later, the two of them body blocking the child and raising their weapons at the ready. The monsters roared just as the Amazons arrived at Simon and Aiz's side. Lefiya made it just as the plants charged at the group. With a surprisingly well coordinated string of attacks, Aiz and Simon kept the monsters at bay. When she swung high, he swung low. When she stabbed, he sliced. When he jumped, she ducked. Despite the fact that neither had ever fought together, they were moving as if they had been working together all their lives. The Amazons joined them, kicking and punching at the wounds the former two left in the monsters.
And while they fought, Lefiya stood beside Aiz and began her chant. She grit her teeth as she held Simon's words in her mind. Her heart filled with determination as she began.
"I beseech the name of Wishe! Ancestors of the forest, proud brethren. Answer my call and descend upon the plains."
Simon cut through a monster's petal.
"Connecting bonds, the pledge of paradise. Turn the wheel and dance."
Aiz left a deep wound in one monster that Tiona shoved her fist into, widening it further.
"Come, ring of fairies."
Lefiya swallowed any nervousness that was left in her.
"Please-give me strength."
"Elf Ring."
The golden magic circle that was forming beneath her feet turned to jade the moment the words left her lips.
"Lefiya!?" Tiona shouted in shock.
"?!" Aiz's eyes widened as the monsters turned their attacks toward the elf. Their ferocity had doubled as they tried to destroy the strongest magic source.
Simon redoubled his own efforts, keeping the fangs and tendrils away from the elf. His strikes left emerald streaks through the air as he attacked, "Don't get distracted! Keep her covered until she's done!"
Hearing his words, the defenders put their all into keeping the monsters away from Lefiya. In the middle of a storm of blades and fangs the elf stood, her hands and body steady as she continued her incantation.
"-Harbinger of the end, white snow. Gust before the twilight. Fading light, freezing land."
Lefiya's voice was joined by a second, elegant voice as she continued. The two voices harmonized as the magic circle blazed brightly beneath her feet.
The three carnivorous plant monsters picked up speed.
Yet, even then, they couldn't get through the frontline.
But Lefiya knew what was coming.
...And so did Simon.
"Lefiya! Now!"
He held up his arm and let one of the plants clamp its fangs down...only for its fangs to shattered as they bit into his cape. With his other he tossed the elf his remaining pair of sunglasses. The elf grabbed them out of the air and, just as spear-like tendrils burst from the ground to impale her. With a roar of fury she slashed at them, cutting every single one to pieces before it could even reach her.
Despite this, she never dropped her incantation.
"Blow with the power of the third harsh winter-My name is Alf!"
The magic circle rapidly expanded. Her lips were illuminated by a blinding jade light as she said:
"Wynn Fimbulvetr."
An arctic blast filled the street.
Aiz and the twins jumped out of the way at the last possible second as chilling white winds overtook the monsters. However, Simon remained in place, his cape whipping in the biting air with a cocky smile on his face. He watched with glee as the monster that tried to bite him swiftly turned into a statue of ice. While the code nipped at him, his burning fighting spirit kept it at bay. Any snow that ice that landed on his body swiftly melted and turned to steam. The only place it found purchase was on his cape and pants. He watched as the monsters' skin, petals, and the sound escaping from their jaws froze in place. A layer of frost overtook all three of them.
When the spell finally died down, and the monsters had been fully frozen in time, Simon let out a hardy laugh. He reared a fist back and punched the monster on his arm with all of his might. It shattered into a million pieces with that singular blow.
As the fractals of snow and ice fell around the street, Lefiya found herself staring dumbfounded at Simon's back. The edge of his cape was covered in frost but he didn't seem worse for wear. He simply shrugged and shook all the ice off. He gave her a thumbs up without looking at her and said, "Good job, Lefiya! I knew ya had it in ya! Just need to take that first step."
"Wh-Wh-Why didn't you move out the way?" Lefiya asked, still confused by what Simon had done.
Simon chuckled, "Isn't it obvious?"
Then he turned around...and showed Lefiya a smile bright enough to melt the ice around them.
"I waned to see your triumph with my own eyes."
Elsewhere, in Daedalus Street
Bell steady his breathing as he held one arm out, "Hestia, please, stay behind me."
In one hand he held a broken longsword. Its blade was shattered, but the hilt still carried a jagged piece of metal.
Behind him stood his Goddess, the dark haired woman staring incredulously at her only Familia member.
And across from them stood a large, silverback monster.
...With blood dripping from the left side of its torso, where the remains of Bell sword stuck out.
Bell's didn't take his eyes off the silverback for a single second, his mind racing as he tried to plan his next move. Everything had happened so fast. He was with Hestia, the two of them simply enjoying Monsterphilia without a care in the world. They had eaten crepes together, then gone to the coliseum to look for Syr. There they ran into Ms. Eina and he asked if she had seen the human girl. She said no, so he had walked around the stadium with his goddess. Everything was going so well...then someone shouted "MONSTERRRRRR!"
The next thing he knew, a silverback monster ape came barreling toward them down a street. Chains still shacked to its wrists, the sound of dragging metal followed it as it came right for his Goddess. At the time, he felt the same way he did when he met the minotaur. A massive, powerful monster standing before him. One that he could never hope to beat as he was then. So, without thinking, he had grabbed his Goddess and tried to run. Which was when he realized who it was really after. Especially after he took a blow to his chest and got knocked into a food stall.
After distracting it by grabbing onto its chains, Bell had grabbed Hestia by the hand and ran as fast as he could. The monster gave chase, not willing to give up on pursuing his Goddess. He ran through East Main, not paying attention to where he was going...which was how two of them ended up in Daedalus Street. Named after the architect who designed it, the place was a dirt-poor man residential area. But the main thing it was known for was its strange structure. Roads would twist, overlap, and intersect with each other countless times, creating a dungeon built by human hands above ground. It spread out all the way to the city wall. And he had led them to the entrance of that place.
However, the beast roaring at them convinced him they didn't have a choice. They ran into the labyrinth, the various residents closing their doors and windows to ignore their plight. And, just when he thought they could catch their breath, the silverback ambushed them by climbing over the buildings. It forced them to separate and roared at Bell to intimidate him.
At first, it had worked. He felt the same way he did when he faced the minotaur. That same fear the paralyzed him and made his heart quake. At the time, he had wanted to curl into a ball and wish for it all to go away. But...but then he heard his Goddess cry. And when he heard that-
"Believe in the me, who believes in you."
-he knew that he had to do something. With a roar he charged the monster, drawing his blade on instinct. Somehow he closed the distance quicker than he had expected. The silverback countered by swinging its tree-trunk sized arm at him, but he ducked under it at the last second. Without hesitation he stabbed his weapon toward the silverback's ribs. For a split second, the thought he saw the edge of his sword glow a dull green. But he didn't have time to think about that...because his blade had pierced the monster's hide.
It had roared in pain, its arm whipping out and slamming into his chest again. His blade broke at the hilt, leaving the blade embedded in the monster's body. It stumbled back in pain, one hand holding its side while the other kept swiping at the air. Bell had rolled with the blow and got back on his feet. At any other time, he would've been shocked that his attack worked. But he didn't have time to think about that. He knew the blow wouldn't be enough to kill it. He needed to use the time he had bought them to move somewhere more defensible.
Which was why he had grabbed Hestia's hand and ran all the way here. Some kind of park that a lot of the roads and stairwells led to. A shabby-looking fountain sat in the center spewing water into the air. The silverback was moving slower now, the wound he had made in its ribs still filling it with pain. However, that didn't change the fact that the beast was still a powerful monster. If he wasn't careful, it would pounce on him and crush him. Or it would use those chains like whips and try to take his head off. Or it could just grab him and squeeze the life out of him.
But none of those thoughts entered he head at the moment. Because there were only two things that mattered to him. The first was the fact that his Goddess was behind him. She was breathing as hard as he was, no doubt covered in sweat from how much they had run. He couldn't see her at the moment, but he didn't doubt she was staring in fear and confusion at the monster that was targeting her. And he knew that he couldn't let that thing get to her. He had to keep her safe no matter what.
But the other thing that stuck in his mind...was that he had hurt the silverback. Oh, it cost him his sword, but the fact was that he had hurt it. With all his strength he managed to pierce its hide and seriously wound it. And while he had wanted to do that, part of him didn't think it would work at the time. He thought that his attack would've just slashed it or distracted it long enough for Hestia to get away. But the fact that he actually hurt it? That went beyond what he was expecting. But he wasn't complaining.
Because if he could hurt it?
That meant he could kill it.
He threw the shattered sword on the ground and pulled out his dagger. As he got into his normal stance he spoke, "Goddess, you should get going."
"What?" Hestia sounded surprised and quickly shook her head, "What are you talking about, Bell?"
"The monster is after you, but it's probably mad at me for injuring it. If you run now, you can escape while I take it down," his grip on his dagger tightened. He saw the silverback tense its legs to leap, but the wound in its side made it flinch. It growled while grabbing at the broken sword with its other hand. Bell knew that it would start moving in a moment. He had to be ready.
Hestia fiercely shook her head, "No, Bell! I won't just run away and leave you behind!"
"But Goddess-"
"I know you want to protect me, but I want to protect you. You made a promise, right?"
Bell's eyes widened as he suddenly remembered it. The promise he had made to her on that day. The day he swore he would never leave her alone. If the two of them separated now...wouldn't that be breaking the promise? He grit his teeth, "Y-You're right. But at this rate, if we stay together..."
He was interrupted when the silverback ripped the piece of metal from its side. Blood spurted from the open wound as the ape crushed the metal in its hand. It roared before leaping into the air and diving right for Bell and Hestia. Bell moved quick, putting his arms around Hestia's shoulders and her legs. Hestia squeaked as he jumped away from the crashing ape. He started running while carrying Hestia like a princess. In spite of the current circumstances, Hestia could only squee in happiness as Bell carried her away from the monster. She threw her arms around his neck while Bell's kept rushing through the streets. He heard the sounds of windows and doors closing as people chose to ignore their plight. In between the slams he heard the sounds of the silverback climbing along the rooftops around them.
Bell was only focused on getting as far away as possible...but...
"A dead end," he said as he came to a stop. Three tall houses surrounded them, the long road he was following having ended in a cul-de-sac. There was only one road in here, and there was no point in turning back. Especially when the silverback landed on the road they had just come from, cornering them. Bell grimaced before setting the Goddess down and turning to face the monster. He kept his dagger held tight as he waited for battle to be joined.
But then Hestia said, "No, this is good."
"EH?!" Bell shouted, watching his Goddess as she triumphantly pulled a small case out the back of her robe. Along with it she took out a familiar bronze object.
"My Core Drill? What are-"
"Bell, listen to me," Hestia interrupted, pushing the Core Drill into Bell's free hand. Then she held the case up while staring him in the eyes, "You will slay that monster."
"...uh-"
"I will update your status right now. You will use that power to take it down," Hestia said, her voice filled with confidence.
Bell considered saying that she was wrong but bit his tongue. If this was any other time, he might would've spoken up. Said he couldn't slay it because he couldn't hurt it. But, he had hurt it. His sword had pierced its hide when he put the might of his status into it. But...
"...my dagger won't be enough," he held up the plain dagger in his hand, "Even if I could hit it, it wouldn't be enough to finish it off. I...I can't kill it with this."
"Yes...but what if you had something better? Something that could led you kill it," Hestia opened up the case as she said that. Bell's eyes went wide as his Goddess removed its contents. A black knife encased in a black sheath resting in the palm of her hand. On instinct he, slowly, reaches out to take the weapon. He stands there in shock as he removes it from the protective cover. The handle and sheath are black and the blade is no exception. A black knife that was as straight as an arrow.
It glowed a deep purple in his hand, as if it was responding to his touch. However, he felt a warmth in his other hand as well. Looking down he noticed that his Core Drill was glowing a bright green color. And the color only intensified as he brought it closer to this new knife. He touched the tip of the Drill to the body of the knife and suddenly remembered what had happened the other night.
What he said to Simon.
How he said he wanted to be a Hero.
How he wanted to save girls and go deeper into the Dungeon.
To become as strong as the Heroes in the stories.
To become as strong...as strong as Simon.
And would Simon say he "couldn't defeat the silverback?"
No. He wouldn't.
"Bell?" Hestia called his name as she saw his expression change. From one of worry and uncertainty, to one of confidence and determination. His eyes were filled with a blazing green light. Keeping a hold of his new knife and his Core Drill, he quickly removed his damaged armor until he was down to his black undershirt.
He knelt down and showed his back to his Goddess, "Goddess, please."
Hestia blinked then smiled, "That's the Bell I know. Don't worry, this won't take long!"
She knelt down and started writing as quick as she could. However, the monster wasn't willing to give them the time they needed. Enraged by the wound in its side, it doubled its efforts to run them down. And even though Hestia worked as fast as she could to update Bell's status, there was no doubt it would be upon them before she could finish. Bell's grip on his knife and Drill grew stronger. He knew they needed more time, but he couldn't move while his Goddess was updating his status. They needed help. They needed...needed someone to...
"Hey! Get away from my friends you big ape!"
Bell and Hestia's heads whipped up at the familiar voice. The monster ignored the interruption...which proved to be a mistake. As a familiar form dived down from a rooftop, his blue cape billowing in the air behind him. With a roar he threw his fist forward, punching the silverback in the chin hard enough to send it flying. It skid across the ground on its wounded side, leaving a trail of blood as its attacker landed on the stones below. He stood to his full height with his right hand curled into an angry fist. His red sunglasses glinted as they caught the sunlight.
"Simon!" Bell and Hestia yelled at the same time.
The man in question turned to the two and smiled, "Hey, guys! Sorry I'm late. Had to do some gardening."
"But...but how did you know we were here?" Bell couldn't help the smile that came over his face. Hestia was wondering the same thing, until she caught a glimpse of the Core Drill around Simon's neck. The same one that Bell was holding. She silently thanked Spiral Power and promised she'd tell Simon what she had done once this was all over.
Simon kept one eye on the silverback and one on Bell as he spoke, "I'll tell ya later. Right now, we've gotta deal with this thing. What's the plan?"
"...Hestia is updating my status. Once she's finished, I should be able to kill the silverback. But it's aiming for Hestia and will attack us while she's busy. I'm sorry to ask this but...can you-"
"Hold it off while she updates your status?" Simon cracks his knuckles and gives the silverback his full attention, "No problem. Just let me know when you're ready."
The silverback got to its feet and roared in fury. It turned and charged toward Hestia and Bell, it didn't even get halfway there before Simon was in front of it. It swung its chains like whips but Simon grabbed them with his hands. Still ignoring the wound in his hand from the previous battle, he gripped the metal chains as hard as he could. Using all of his strength he pulled at the chains and lifted the silverback off the ground. It cried in shock and fear as its feet left the earth, before Simon swung it down back into the center of the road. He let go as it hit the cobblestones and dashed toward the prone monster. It got to its feet quickly and swung its arm at Simon. Simon ducked under the swing and kicked out at its injured side. The monster crumpled as Simon's heel landed right on its bleeding wound. As it doubled over in pain, he moved into an uppercut and sent its head back. The silverback recovered quickly and tried to hit Simon with a hammer blow. But the blue haired man jumped back and let the blow destroy the cobblestone below.
This continued, Simon taking time to taunt or insult the monster as he kept it busy. Behind him Hestia was hard at work updating Bell's status. Her fingers were blurs as she turned his experience into power. Bell, however, kept his eyes on Simon's back. And as he watched the man fight the silverback with ease, he couldn't help the impatience that grew within him.
He didn't want to just sit here and watch Simon take care of everything. He wanted to be there. By his side. Fighting with him. Showing that he was strong too. That he could fight just as well as Simon. That...that Simon and Hestia were right to believe in him. Were right to trust him as much as they did. And he couldn't do that if he was just sitting here!
Unbeknownst to him, he had kept his Core Drill in contact with the body of his new knife. And as his feelings reached a fever pitch, the drill's emerald glow intensified. It grew and grew until it became so bright that it could be seen from the rooftops. Hestia's eyes widened as she watched Bell's status change right in front of her. She would write a new number for him, only for it to suddenly turn green and start rapidly increasing. Liaris Freese and Spiral Power were both glowing, the hieroglyphs moving closer and closer until they "fused" into one. Eventually, the light got so bright that she had to squint to see what she was writing.
Soon enough, she finished writing. And the second she did-
"Ready!" Bell shouted, the light moving from his drill and into his knife. The purple light mixed with the green, flowing around the weapon while focusing on its edge. He threw the Core Drill over his neck and grabbed his dagger in his other hand.
Somehow hearing Bell, Simon dodged the monster's next swing by jumping over it. He used its arm as a springboard, leaping over its head and kicking it in the back. The kick sent it forward just as Bell shot forward. Simon held out his right arm and turned his hand into a fist. Green light formed around his fist and coalesced into a drill. The silverback got to its feet and, when it saw that its target was alone, charged straight for Hestia. Tunnel vision made it completely ignore the white haired blur heading its way. Simon kicked off the ground flying toward the monster's back. He reared his drill back as his eyes glowed a bright green. His voice echoed through the cul-de-sac as he shouted, "Spiral-"
"-Vorpal-" Bell shouted, raising his knife up, ready to strike.
The two reached the silverback at the same time. Their voices echoed in unison, harmonizing for a moment as they struck.
"IMPAAAACCTTT!"
White, purple, and green slashes cut through the monster just as a green drill pierced through.
Hestia, the people of Daedalus Street, and the cloaked figures who had been watching form a distance, all stared in shock as Simon and Bell landed on opposite sides of the silverback. The monster was frozen in place, its arms outstretched with an expression of shock and pain on its face. For across its chest was a large, purple and green "X" mark...with a hole the size of an arm in the center.
Simon threw his arm out to the side and willed his drill away. It shrunk back into his body until not a hint of it was left.
Bell flourished his weapons before slowly putting them back in their scabbards.
The moment his weapons clicked into place...the silverback exploded.
A green light shined with the sound of a fuse reaching its end. Then its entire body turned into a massive, red and green conflagration. It bathed the street in its shadow and could be seen from far outside Daedalus Street.
...And then it exploded a second time.
And, somehow, the second time had more force than the first time.
Yet, in spite of the wave of force that blue their hair flat, neither Simon nor Bell seemed bothered. They kept their backs to the explosion until it died down.
People will probably ask how Simon made it to Bell in time when in Canon he killed the silverback after the plant monster died?
Simple: Simon's presence ensured the battle didn't go on for as long it would in Canon, especially since he helped Aiz take out the other monsters faster. So, the plant thing died before Bell got the knife.
"Syr!" he shouted again, stopping in the middle of a crowd to let it pass by him while looking around. When the girl in question didn't show, he crossed his arms and hummed, "Hmm, don't see her. Hmm, what did Ahnya say Syr was doing here again? Spending her day off here? Then, if she's not out here in the streets..."
Simon looked up, his eyes going to the large coliseum in the distance. His lips curled into a smile, "...she'd be where the main event is happening."
He started making his way toward the coliseum, stopping every now and then to wave hello the people on the street. As he did, he couldn't help but think of how things must be going back home. By now, Rossiu had probably made peace with everyone else. Gurren Lagann was mass produced and the various Spiral Races were all working towards a wonderful future. One he wouldn't ever see himself, but he trusted his friends. He knew they would guide their world to a bright future. Idly, he looked down at his ring and smiled. The metal was warm against his finger. A constant reminder of those who's spirits he carried with him.
However, his wistful reminiscing was interrupted by the sound of shouting. This was soon followed by the crowd around him suddenly running in the opposite direction of the coliseum. A few people bumped into him with multiple shouts of "Monsters! Monsters on the loose!" as they ran away from something. Simon looked ahead and prepared to run toward the danger and see if anyone needed help. But he soon found that he didn't have to go far. As the monster in question was walking right toward him.
It was a large, four-legged creature that reminded him of a deer. It even had a similar coat, save that the deer's he knew had brown fur and this one had green fur with white spots along its body. Though the main thing that separated it from the docile herbivore he knew, were the large sword like antlers sticking out of its head. The horns stood out like the branches of a tree, the sunlight reflecting off their sharp edges. The towered over most of the people in running away from it, its shadow falling over Simon.
However, Simon noted something interesting about the monster; It wasn't reacting to the people around it. It snorted and stomped at the ground, but it didn't try to attacking anyone. In fact, it seemed to be looking for something. Something that wasn't anywhere near it. Simon raised an eyebrow and prepared to say something to get its attention. But then he heard the sound of the wind coming from above and to his right. Smiling, he turned toward the roof of a building to his left. Pushing spiral power into his legs, he leaped onto the roof just as the wind passed over the strange monster.
He heard the sound of a sword slicing through flesh and stood up straight. He quickly looked to his right to see who had killed the monster. As he caught sight of a familiar head of blonde hair, his smile grew into a full toothed grin. He kicked off the roof and quickly caught up to the girl. With a wave he shouted, "Hey, Aiz! Guessing you know what's up with the monsters being out?"
"They escaped," Aiz hardly paid Simon any attention. Her focus was completely on finding the next monster and taking it down. She spotted another and prepared to dash in to defeat it in one blow. However...
"GURREN BOOMERANG!"
...she was beat to the punch by a pair of flying red glasses that Simon had tossed. The glasses cut through the air while spinning like a shuriken. The edges of the glasses glowed a bright emerald color. Before the monster even noticed what was happening, its head was separated from its shoulders as the glasses cut through its skin like a hot knife through butter.
The glasses turned back around and Simon caught them with ease. No blood remained on his impromptu weapon as he placed it back on his face. He casually spoke to Aiz, "Don't need to answer. Just point me towards the monsters and I'll help ya take them out."
"Not necessary. I can handle it."
"Yeah? Then you won't mind if I tag along will you? Lots of hands make light work," Simon retorted. Aiz didn't respond. Whether that be because she didn't care or she agreed with him, he couldn't tell. But that was fine. He was just happy to help. And help he did. The two working in tandem allowed Ainz to take out all the escaped monsters far faster than she could've alone. Mainly because while she needed to dash in to stab an enemy with her rapier, Simon could take them out from range with his Boomerangs.
Simon grabbed his glasses out of the air and put them back on just as the third monster he had seen went down. He kept his eyes on the area while talking to Aiz, "Okay, including the ones you got before you met me, how many is that?"
"Seven," Aiz said as the two continued moving through the air.
"And how many escaped?"
"Nine."
"So two left? Where are they?"
"Heading toward one. Can't feel the last one."
"Hmm, alright so...wait. Do you hear that?" Simon turned his eyes to the west of their current position. He frowned as his ears twitched. He could've sword he heard something...rumbling. Moving through the earth like a-
His eyes widened and he suddenly banked toward the west, "Something's up over there! I'll go check it out! You keep looking for the last monster!" Without waiting for Aiz's reply, he pushed more spiral power into his legs. With a short grunt of effort he launched himself straight toward the feeling he had. Half way to his destination, he saw an explosion of earth, stone, and smoke rise from a residential area in the distance. The force of the explosion was enough to make him pause mid-air for a second. With a grunt he kicked off the air and landed a nearby building's rooftop. He lifted his glasses up to get a better view of what had just burst up from the ground. And as the dust cleared he couldn't help but whistle in surprise.
"Well, you're a big one aren'tcha?" he asked while looking at the monster towering over the squat Orario buildings. It was snakelike with its tail rising from between the stones of the broken pavement beneath it. It had a lump where it's head should be, with pale-green smooth skin covering its body. It's "lump" for a head had no eyes nor mouth and was shaped more like a sunflower seed. Its body moved to look down at something near it, before slamming its body down and trying to hit it.
Idly wishing that he had Lagann right now, Simon jumped from roof to roof to get close to the strange monster. He stopped on a nearby rooftop and covered his eyes to see what was going on. What he saw made him hum in surprise. There were three people on the street fighting the strange creature. He recognized two of them as those twins from the bar the other night with Aiz and that asshole he knocked out. They were dashing around the monster, avoiding its rapid slams while trying to attack it with their bare fist. Emphasis on "try" because whenever they punched it, they seemed to feel the pain. Whatever that thing was made of must've been tough. Simon tapped his chin before he heard a new, sing-song voice echoing through the street.
"Unleashed beam of light, limbs of the holy tree. You are the master archer."
Looking to a part of the street slightly covered from the monster's line of sight, he spotted an elf girl standing with her arms outstretched. She had bright golden hair tied in front of her neck. Long, parted bangs framed her face. She wore a white blouse underneath a pink corset dress and skirt, with long white stockings going down her legs. Her pink slippers had dirt and dust on them. A dark red coat hung over her shoulders with only her white sleeves sticking out of it. Her mouth moved as she uttered some kind of chant as a golden circle appeared under her feet.
"Loose your arrows, fairy archers. Pierce, arrows of accuracy!"
Simon whistled, "Guessing that's what a magic spell looks like? Probably gonna be real useful against something that-"
Simon turned to look at the monster at just the right moment. Because it allowed him to spot the exact moment the monster turned its "head" to look directly at the elf girl. On instinct, he launched himself from the rooftop to the street just in front of the girl. He landed only a second before a pale green tendril shot out of the ground toward the girl's stomach. He didn't hesitated to hold out his hand and let the limb pierce his hand, before grabbing the end with his other hand.
He heard the elf girl gasp behind him, but paid her little mind. With a grunt of effort he stomped his foot into the ground, increased his grip on the tendril, and pulled with all his might. With a loud yell and the sound of plant fibers tearing, he ripped the tendril in two. The bottom part slithered back into the ground while the part in Simon's hand quickly turned to dust.
He looked over his shoulder and ignored the pain in his right hand while saying, "You okay?!" to the elf girl. She was stunned silent, her mind trying to process what had just happened. Simon got ready to call out to her again, but a loud "cricking" sound made him pause. He turned back to the monster just in time to see its lump-like head raise toward the sky-and bloom.
"OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
Its roar reverberated through the streets as petals stretched toward the sunlight. Each one was a deep, ominous red. They all met in the center, where a gigantic mouth lined with fangs awaited. Pollen shook free from it with every movement. The flesh inside its mouth was light pink, and its magic stone was visible deep in its throat.
"Not a snake...but a flower?!" one of the half-naked women yelled in horror. The beasts head reared up and it started to loom over the area where Simon and the elf were. The elf girl, still in shock, stared at the wide open maw with horror in her eyes...
...and then flying red object sliced through one of the monster's petals.
It roared in pain as the object boomeranged back toward its owner. Simon caught it in one hand while his other grabbed his goggles next. Emerald green Spiral Power flowed down his arm into his goggles. They shook for a moment before the red glass within suddenly burst out and into an pair of sunglasses identical to the first one. With both his weapons in hand, Simon pointed his sunglasses at the flower monster. His voice carried across the street, somehow louder than the monster's roar, "Listen up ya overgrown weed! I don't know where you came from, or what the fuck you're doing here! And, honestly, I don't care! All I know is that you're not gonna destroy this city or harm anyone while I, Simon the Digger, is still breathing. So, just and come at me! Double Gurren BOOMERANG!"
Simon tossed both of his sunglasses across the ground. Air parted before them as they slashed through the forest of tendrils keeping the two women from him and the elf. Once the path was clear he shouted, "Hey! You two! Get over here before it blocks the path again!"
While a bit confused, the two women did as Simon asked. They gracefully leapt and dodged around any new tendrils that grew out of the ground to block them. The monster tried to slam its head onto one of them, but Simon's boomerangs came back around and sliced off two more of its petals. The pain caused it to miss its strike and allowed both the Amazons to land on Simon's left and right. Simon grabbed his weapons as they neared him then shot smiles toward the two girls, "Nice moves. You girls are pretty good."
"Same to you," the one with long hair and a red bra said as she shook her stinging hands. She had tried to punch through the monster's hide only to end up hurting herself.
The other one, the one with short hair and a white bra, shot a sidelong glance at Simon. Then she gave him her full attention while her eyes went wide, "Wait. Aren't you the guy who knocked Bete out the other night?"
Her words got the other Amazon and elf to give Simon their full attention. Simon just smiled and said proudly, "That I am. Name's Simon the Digger."
He was interrupted when three of the monster's tendrils shot out the ground. Simon quickly dispatched them with one swing of both his weapons. As the sliced apart tendrils fell lifelessly to the ground, he continued, "Mind tell me your names? I'd like to know who I'll be fighting with today."
The short haired woman smiled and waved, "I'm Tiona! And that was an awesome punch you managed on Bete. He needed something to wake him up."
"Tione," the long haired woman said while eying Simon's weapons, "Are those...glasses? How are you slicing through this thing's hide with glasses?"
"Spiral Power," Simon stated bluntly.
"What's Spiral Power?" both Amazons asked at the same time.
"Tell ya later," Simon looked over his shoulder at the elf. She tensed but didn't flinch away from his gaze. He smiled and asked, "And you are?"
"L-Lefiya," was her answer.
"Simon. That was magic you were doing earlier, right?"
"Y-Yes. I was trying to cast a spell to help take it out. Everything was ready, I just need to say the trigger-"
"Which is when that bastard hit ya. And it wasn't paying attention to you before you did that. In other words-"
"It's sensitive to magical energy," Tione finished for Simon, "Meaning that we need to keep Lefiya safe so she can cast her spell."
"Don't worry, Lefiya. We'll keep it off your back. You just sit tight and stay behind us, okay?" Tiona said while cracking her knuckles in preparation. But while the two Amazons kept their eyes on the monster, Simon's eyes were focused on Lefiya.
And he saw how she flinched at Tiona's words. He saw how her shock was replaced by a sense of self-loathing and disappointment. He noticed how her shoulders slumped when her comrade said she should "stay behind them." He kept his eyes on the elf for a few more moments. Then he smiled and said, "Actually, Lefiya, what do you want to do?"
"Huh?" all three girls said, all of them confused by what Simon just said.
Not deterred in the slightest, he turned so that his left shoulder was pointing toward Lefiya, "I said, what do you want to do? I'm leaving the decision of how we fight this thing up to you."
"M-Me?! Bu-But I'm-"
"Lefiya's a mage, Simon," Tione interrupted, frustration clear in her tone, "She can't fight on the frontlines like we can. It's better for her to stay back where she won't get hurt."
"Maybe. But something tells me that that's not what she wants."
"Simon, you just met her!" Tiona said while keeping an eye on the looming threat in front of them.
"Yeah, but I've seen that look in her eyes before. The look of someone who feels like she has something to prove. Not to anyone around her but to herself," Simon's voice as confident but soothing, lessening the tension in Lefiya's body by the second. In spite of the lingering plant monster roaring at them, Simon looked calm and collected. His smile reached his sparkling eyes as he stared at Lefiya, "I might not know exactly what you're going through, but I can tell you this; You're not gonna get anywhere if you just stand there, saying nothing and doing nothing. The only way things are gonna change is if you take that first step forward."
Lefiya didn't know why, but something about what the strange man was saying resonated with her. This was their first time meeting each other, but the way he spoke and carried himself...it somehow made his words get through to her. However, she felt that doubt that was always there claim her heart again. She turned away from Simon while her hands tightened into fists, "You make it sound so easy. But-"
"It's not easy. Most things worth doing aren't," Simon interrupted, his smile only growing bigger and brighter, "It can be hard at first and keep getting harder the further you go. But, no matter how hard it gets, the second you get where you want to be, that's it. You've made it. And what you do from there is all down to you. All you need is to move forward, keep your fighting spirit burning bright, and never give up until you've won."
Lefiya stared at Simon with a shocked expression. She didn't know how to respond to what he said. Tione and Tiona were similarly stunned. If it were anyone else, the Amazons might have dismissed them out of hand. What could a total stranger know about how Lefiya was feeling, after all? But the fact that Lefiya seemed to actually be listening to him is what gave them pause. The moment was interrupted when the monster attacked again. Tendrils bursts from the ground toward the four while its massive head barreled toward them. The Amazons and Simon turned to face the oncoming tendrils. The tendrils were thick as a human arm and moved like snakes in the grass. They shot toward Simon, but diverted their course at the last minute, planning to attack the elf behind him.
However, Simon dashed back and sliced at the oncoming foe with reckless abandon. Severed tendrils flopped the ground, while those he missed were grabbed and ripped apart by Tione and Tiona. Lefiya watched the ongoing battle, Simon's words racing through her mind and heart. And the actions of her friends defending her only made them resonate even deeper.
What Simon had said...had been true.
She did want to prove something.
For the last few days, in the Dungeon and now here, she had been protected by the rest of her Familia. Always staying behind the fighters and away from where the fighting was thickest. Away from where the most amount of danger was. And whenever she had been caught out or put in harms way, someone, usually Aiz, had shown up to save her. And while she appreciated being saved...it didn't sit right with her.
She wasn't a delicate flower who couldn't handle being in the thick of things. She was an adventurer! A member of the strongest Familia in Orario! A member of the proud race of elves, and the one expected to replace Rivera when the time came! Staying behind while her allies did all the fighting, always needed to be saved, never doing the saving herself...it had formed a pit of shame and inferiority in her heart. One that she had been carrying all this time, yet never bothered to do anything about.
Because she knew the truth; She was weak. She would never be able to stand by the side of the girls who had saved her time and time again. They were just too powerful. Too much for her to reach. All she could ever do was-
"Lefiya," somehow, someway, she heard Simon's voice over the din of battle. She looked up to see the man looking over his shoulder at her. His arms swung away as she kept the monster's tendrils at bay. His eyes were soft but they still blazed with that confidence of his, "whatever's going through your head right now, just remember what I said; nothing's gonna change if you just stand there."
Lefiya felt her breath hitch. She brought a hand up to her chest and felt her heart start beating faster. A shadow fell over her eyes as she tilted her head down...then lifted it back up while glaring at the monster across the street. She stepped forward until she was standing next to Simon at his right. Tione threw down a destroyed tendril and gasped as she saw the elf, "Lefiya! Get back! We-"
"I can help too! I'm-I'm not gonna be a burden!" she shouted, holding up her hands while preparing her next spell, "The monster's sensitive to magic! We need to be moving the second I start casting my spell! Keep me covered while I get close enough so it won't miss!"
"But if you use magic then it'll attack you!" Tiona points out.
"If it does, so be it!" Lefiya's words shocked the two Amazon's speechless. The elf's body was shaking but her eyes were filled with a deep determination. She didn't once take her gaze off the monster before them.
Simon's laugh cut through the air just as he cut through the last of the tendrils assaulting them. He stood up and pointed his weapons at the monsters roaring mouth, "You heard the lady! She brings the magic, and we keep her covered. Now, lets take this down!"
Seeing that the human and elf were in agreement, the Amazons shared a look. Confused but wiling to trust Lefiya, they shared a nod before taking up their fighting stances. The plant monster roared. Lefiya prepared to recite her spell again. Tiona and Tione readied their fists. Simon held his arms out, revealing his bare chest and ignoring his bleeding hand while shouting, "Come on, ya big bastard! We're right here! Come and get us!"
The creature prepared to lung...only for gold and silver streaks to flash across the space between it and the adventurers. Its head flew off its body as its killer landed gracefully on what was left of the stone street in front of Simon. Behind her, the beast let out a death roar before its severed head slammed into a stone wall. Its body convulsed, collapsed to the ground, wriggled and twitched for a few moments, then finally fell still. The tendrils around them fell limply to the street below.
"Aiz!" the Amazons shouted as the human girl stood up straight. Her hair fluttered in the breeze as she looked over the party before her.
Lefiya felt the tension leave her body and be replaced with a mixture of surprise, disappointment, and shame. She shot a confused glance at Simon, silently asking him what just happened.
Simon relaxed his body a bit and rubbed the back of his neck, "Well, didn't see that coming. But, hey! Don't be discouraged! You did good standing up like that! You'll get your chance to prove yourself soon enough."
He reached over and patted Lefiya on the shoulder. The elf wasn't sure how to feel about that. So she just remained silent while turning her gaze toward Aiz. Simon, meanwhile, waved at Aiz and shouted, "Yo, Aiz! Thanks for the assist! Ya got the other monsters?"
"Yes. Is everyone alright?" Aiz asked while looking over Simon and her comrades.
"Yep! We're all okay!" Tiona shouted, hopping up and down for emphasis.
"You should've seen Lefiya. She was all confident and giving out orders. It was pretty cool," Tione said, elbowing the elf in question in the arm. Lefiya blushed and looked away from Aiz while fiddling with her hair. Aiz nodded and took a step forward-
"Aiz! Watch out!"
Simon's warning put everyone on guard again. Aiz raised her sword just as the stones around her shook hard enough to leave the ground.
"Wha-What now?!" Tione shouted as pale-green stalks rose from the dirt.
"There's more?!" Tiona shouted as the three rose like the bars of a living cage all around Aiz. The buds opened wide and bared their fangs at the girl trapped inside. Aiz frowned and looked at each of her foes in turn-when, without warning...SNAP!
A spiderweb of cracks ran through the rapier a second before it shattered.
"-"
"Huh-"
"Wha-"
"No!"
Words left Aiz, the twins, and Lefiya as they watched the splinters of metal fall to the ground.
Simon, however...
"Aiz! Take this!" he reared his right arm back and through his sunglasses with all his might. The sharped glass twirled through the air like a shuriken, slicing through any tendrils that tried to block its path. Aiz grabbed the thrown weapon out of the air. Instinctively, she summoned Airiel and called the wind to surround the weapon as she had down her rapier. For a moment, she cursed herself, believing that the glasses would shatter just like that weapon had.
However....
"...!"
Aiz was temporarily shocked as the glasses didn't break. In fact, as the wind swirled around the impromptu weapon, she felt like it was working in tandem with the winds. Pulling them around the edges and sharpening them even further than they normally were. The surprise didn't last long, as her opponents howled and converged on her. She quickly jumped out of the way and brought her new weapon down on the closest monster.
She felt no resistance as she sliced through its flesh.
The carnivorous plant howled while Aiz moved back into combat position.
"It...it didn't break?! It's stronger than the rapier?!" Tiona shouted, completely floored by how a pair of sunglasses was somehow able to withstand Aiz's fighting style.
"What are those things made out of!?" Tione demanded of Simon, looking down at the other pair of glasses in his hand...and silently questioning where she could get some.
Simon kept his eyes on the battle as Aiz continued to fight her opponents in mid-air. He shouted to the girls around him, "No time! Aiz is doing well, but she's up against three enemies at once. They're probably attracted to whatever magic she's using, which is why they're ignoring us. Lefiya! Can you use your spells while you're moving?"
It took the elf a moment to think, but she quickly nodded, "Yes!"
"Good! Then lets get going! Tiona! Tione! Follow me! I'll cut through any tendrils that get in our way!"
"R-Right!"
"On it!"
The two Amazons got into their fighting stances. Lefiya raised her hands as she started preparing another spell. Simon held his one remaining pair of sunglasses up. Then, once everyone was ready, he yelled, "Go!"
The party dashed forward, moving through the destroyed street by hopping on any stones still standing. Above them, Aiz continued to battle the three heads. Her new weapon was perfect for cutting through their flesh. The winds she called to her let her maneuver around and away from any attack, while sending effortless counter attacks their way. However, even with that, she wasn't able to land a decisive blow. While they could only sense magical energy, the three plants seemed to have some form of intelligence and coordination. Whenever she moved to take one down, another would come around and block her strike.
"Aiz! Stop using your magic! It's how they're following you!" Tiona shouted up at the Kenki.
"But-"
"Lefiya is preparing a spell! When she's done, we'll take it out!" Tione shouted in response to Aiz's objection. Aiz momentarily considered doing so...but that's when she saw her.
She caught the barest glimpse of a small human figure out the corner of her eye. A civilian who hadn't escaped in time. An animal-person child had been hiding behind the street stalls. Overcome by fear, the girl sat on the stone street, shaking uncontrollably. Their eyes met.
If she tried to dodge the monsters' next attack, their long bodies would crush the child in an instant.
She made her decision.
She gathered the wind around her, jumped to the debris on her left, and fanged jaws came down-
"INAZUMA KICK!"
All three monsters were launched away from Aiz by Simon's kick. He had leapt clear of the streets and launched a kick right at the beasts. His attack hit the nearest one, and the force pushed all three away from Aiz. The two locked eyes and shared a nod. Then Aiz leapt down to stand in front of the wooden remains of a destroyed shop. Simon joined her a second later, the two of them body blocking the child and raising their weapons at the ready. The monsters roared just as the Amazons arrived at Simon and Aiz's side. Lefiya made it just as the plants charged at the group. With a surprisingly well coordinated string of attacks, Aiz and Simon kept the monsters at bay. When she swung high, he swung low. When she stabbed, he sliced. When he jumped, she ducked. Despite the fact that neither had ever fought together, they were moving as if they had been working together all their lives. The Amazons joined them, kicking and punching at the wounds the former two left in the monsters.
And while they fought, Lefiya stood beside Aiz and began her chant. She grit her teeth as she held Simon's words in her mind. Her heart filled with determination as she began.
"I beseech the name of Wishe! Ancestors of the forest, proud brethren. Answer my call and descend upon the plains."
Simon cut through a monster's petal.
"Connecting bonds, the pledge of paradise. Turn the wheel and dance."
Aiz left a deep wound in one monster that Tiona shoved her fist into, widening it further.
"Come, ring of fairies."
Lefiya swallowed any nervousness that was left in her.
"Please-give me strength."
"Elf Ring."
The golden magic circle that was forming beneath her feet turned to jade the moment the words left her lips.
"Lefiya!?" Tiona shouted in shock.
"?!" Aiz's eyes widened as the monsters turned their attacks toward the elf. Their ferocity had doubled as they tried to destroy the strongest magic source.
Simon redoubled his own efforts, keeping the fangs and tendrils away from the elf. His strikes left emerald streaks through the air as he attacked, "Don't get distracted! Keep her covered until she's done!"
Hearing his words, the defenders put their all into keeping the monsters away from Lefiya. In the middle of a storm of blades and fangs the elf stood, her hands and body steady as she continued her incantation.
"-Harbinger of the end, white snow. Gust before the twilight. Fading light, freezing land."
Lefiya's voice was joined by a second, elegant voice as she continued. The two voices harmonized as the magic circle blazed brightly beneath her feet.
The three carnivorous plant monsters picked up speed.
Yet, even then, they couldn't get through the frontline.
But Lefiya knew what was coming.
...And so did Simon.
"Lefiya! Now!"
He held up his arm and let one of the plants clamp its fangs down...only for its fangs to shattered as they bit into his cape. With his other he tossed the elf his remaining pair of sunglasses. The elf grabbed them out of the air and, just as spear-like tendrils burst from the ground to impale her. With a roar of fury she slashed at them, cutting every single one to pieces before it could even reach her.
Despite this, she never dropped her incantation.
"Blow with the power of the third harsh winter-My name is Alf!"
The magic circle rapidly expanded. Her lips were illuminated by a blinding jade light as she said:
"Wynn Fimbulvetr."
An arctic blast filled the street.
Aiz and the twins jumped out of the way at the last possible second as chilling white winds overtook the monsters. However, Simon remained in place, his cape whipping in the biting air with a cocky smile on his face. He watched with glee as the monster that tried to bite him swiftly turned into a statue of ice. While the code nipped at him, his burning fighting spirit kept it at bay. Any snow that ice that landed on his body swiftly melted and turned to steam. The only place it found purchase was on his cape and pants. He watched as the monsters' skin, petals, and the sound escaping from their jaws froze in place. A layer of frost overtook all three of them.
When the spell finally died down, and the monsters had been fully frozen in time, Simon let out a hardy laugh. He reared a fist back and punched the monster on his arm with all of his might. It shattered into a million pieces with that singular blow.
As the fractals of snow and ice fell around the street, Lefiya found herself staring dumbfounded at Simon's back. The edge of his cape was covered in frost but he didn't seem worse for wear. He simply shrugged and shook all the ice off. He gave her a thumbs up without looking at her and said, "Good job, Lefiya! I knew ya had it in ya! Just need to take that first step."
"Wh-Wh-Why didn't you move out the way?" Lefiya asked, still confused by what Simon had done.
Simon chuckled, "Isn't it obvious?"
Then he turned around...and showed Lefiya a smile bright enough to melt the ice around them.
"I waned to see your triumph with my own eyes."
Elsewhere, in Daedalus Street
Bell steady his breathing as he held one arm out, "Hestia, please, stay behind me."
In one hand he held a broken longsword. Its blade was shattered, but the hilt still carried a jagged piece of metal.
Behind him stood his Goddess, the dark haired woman staring incredulously at her only Familia member.
And across from them stood a large, silverback monster.
...With blood dripping from the left side of its torso, where the remains of Bell sword stuck out.
Bell's didn't take his eyes off the silverback for a single second, his mind racing as he tried to plan his next move. Everything had happened so fast. He was with Hestia, the two of them simply enjoying Monsterphilia without a care in the world. They had eaten crepes together, then gone to the coliseum to look for Syr. There they ran into Ms. Eina and he asked if she had seen the human girl. She said no, so he had walked around the stadium with his goddess. Everything was going so well...then someone shouted "MONSTERRRRRR!"
The next thing he knew, a silverback monster ape came barreling toward them down a street. Chains still shacked to its wrists, the sound of dragging metal followed it as it came right for his Goddess. At the time, he felt the same way he did when he met the minotaur. A massive, powerful monster standing before him. One that he could never hope to beat as he was then. So, without thinking, he had grabbed his Goddess and tried to run. Which was when he realized who it was really after. Especially after he took a blow to his chest and got knocked into a food stall.
After distracting it by grabbing onto its chains, Bell had grabbed Hestia by the hand and ran as fast as he could. The monster gave chase, not willing to give up on pursuing his Goddess. He ran through East Main, not paying attention to where he was going...which was how two of them ended up in Daedalus Street. Named after the architect who designed it, the place was a dirt-poor man residential area. But the main thing it was known for was its strange structure. Roads would twist, overlap, and intersect with each other countless times, creating a dungeon built by human hands above ground. It spread out all the way to the city wall. And he had led them to the entrance of that place.
However, the beast roaring at them convinced him they didn't have a choice. They ran into the labyrinth, the various residents closing their doors and windows to ignore their plight. And, just when he thought they could catch their breath, the silverback ambushed them by climbing over the buildings. It forced them to separate and roared at Bell to intimidate him.
At first, it had worked. He felt the same way he did when he faced the minotaur. That same fear the paralyzed him and made his heart quake. At the time, he had wanted to curl into a ball and wish for it all to go away. But...but then he heard his Goddess cry. And when he heard that-
"Believe in the me, who believes in you."
-he knew that he had to do something. With a roar he charged the monster, drawing his blade on instinct. Somehow he closed the distance quicker than he had expected. The silverback countered by swinging its tree-trunk sized arm at him, but he ducked under it at the last second. Without hesitation he stabbed his weapon toward the silverback's ribs. For a split second, the thought he saw the edge of his sword glow a dull green. But he didn't have time to think about that...because his blade had pierced the monster's hide.
It had roared in pain, its arm whipping out and slamming into his chest again. His blade broke at the hilt, leaving the blade embedded in the monster's body. It stumbled back in pain, one hand holding its side while the other kept swiping at the air. Bell had rolled with the blow and got back on his feet. At any other time, he would've been shocked that his attack worked. But he didn't have time to think about that. He knew the blow wouldn't be enough to kill it. He needed to use the time he had bought them to move somewhere more defensible.
Which was why he had grabbed Hestia's hand and ran all the way here. Some kind of park that a lot of the roads and stairwells led to. A shabby-looking fountain sat in the center spewing water into the air. The silverback was moving slower now, the wound he had made in its ribs still filling it with pain. However, that didn't change the fact that the beast was still a powerful monster. If he wasn't careful, it would pounce on him and crush him. Or it would use those chains like whips and try to take his head off. Or it could just grab him and squeeze the life out of him.
But none of those thoughts entered he head at the moment. Because there were only two things that mattered to him. The first was the fact that his Goddess was behind him. She was breathing as hard as he was, no doubt covered in sweat from how much they had run. He couldn't see her at the moment, but he didn't doubt she was staring in fear and confusion at the monster that was targeting her. And he knew that he couldn't let that thing get to her. He had to keep her safe no matter what.
But the other thing that stuck in his mind...was that he had hurt the silverback. Oh, it cost him his sword, but the fact was that he had hurt it. With all his strength he managed to pierce its hide and seriously wound it. And while he had wanted to do that, part of him didn't think it would work at the time. He thought that his attack would've just slashed it or distracted it long enough for Hestia to get away. But the fact that he actually hurt it? That went beyond what he was expecting. But he wasn't complaining.
Because if he could hurt it?
That meant he could kill it.
He threw the shattered sword on the ground and pulled out his dagger. As he got into his normal stance he spoke, "Goddess, you should get going."
"What?" Hestia sounded surprised and quickly shook her head, "What are you talking about, Bell?"
"The monster is after you, but it's probably mad at me for injuring it. If you run now, you can escape while I take it down," his grip on his dagger tightened. He saw the silverback tense its legs to leap, but the wound in its side made it flinch. It growled while grabbing at the broken sword with its other hand. Bell knew that it would start moving in a moment. He had to be ready.
Hestia fiercely shook her head, "No, Bell! I won't just run away and leave you behind!"
"But Goddess-"
"I know you want to protect me, but I want to protect you. You made a promise, right?"
Bell's eyes widened as he suddenly remembered it. The promise he had made to her on that day. The day he swore he would never leave her alone. If the two of them separated now...wouldn't that be breaking the promise? He grit his teeth, "Y-You're right. But at this rate, if we stay together..."
He was interrupted when the silverback ripped the piece of metal from its side. Blood spurted from the open wound as the ape crushed the metal in its hand. It roared before leaping into the air and diving right for Bell and Hestia. Bell moved quick, putting his arms around Hestia's shoulders and her legs. Hestia squeaked as he jumped away from the crashing ape. He started running while carrying Hestia like a princess. In spite of the current circumstances, Hestia could only squee in happiness as Bell carried her away from the monster. She threw her arms around his neck while Bell's kept rushing through the streets. He heard the sounds of windows and doors closing as people chose to ignore their plight. In between the slams he heard the sounds of the silverback climbing along the rooftops around them.
Bell was only focused on getting as far away as possible...but...
"A dead end," he said as he came to a stop. Three tall houses surrounded them, the long road he was following having ended in a cul-de-sac. There was only one road in here, and there was no point in turning back. Especially when the silverback landed on the road they had just come from, cornering them. Bell grimaced before setting the Goddess down and turning to face the monster. He kept his dagger held tight as he waited for battle to be joined.
But then Hestia said, "No, this is good."
"EH?!" Bell shouted, watching his Goddess as she triumphantly pulled a small case out the back of her robe. Along with it she took out a familiar bronze object.
"My Core Drill? What are-"
"Bell, listen to me," Hestia interrupted, pushing the Core Drill into Bell's free hand. Then she held the case up while staring him in the eyes, "You will slay that monster."
"...uh-"
"I will update your status right now. You will use that power to take it down," Hestia said, her voice filled with confidence.
Bell considered saying that she was wrong but bit his tongue. If this was any other time, he might would've spoken up. Said he couldn't slay it because he couldn't hurt it. But, he had hurt it. His sword had pierced its hide when he put the might of his status into it. But...
"...my dagger won't be enough," he held up the plain dagger in his hand, "Even if I could hit it, it wouldn't be enough to finish it off. I...I can't kill it with this."
"Yes...but what if you had something better? Something that could led you kill it," Hestia opened up the case as she said that. Bell's eyes went wide as his Goddess removed its contents. A black knife encased in a black sheath resting in the palm of her hand. On instinct he, slowly, reaches out to take the weapon. He stands there in shock as he removes it from the protective cover. The handle and sheath are black and the blade is no exception. A black knife that was as straight as an arrow.
It glowed a deep purple in his hand, as if it was responding to his touch. However, he felt a warmth in his other hand as well. Looking down he noticed that his Core Drill was glowing a bright green color. And the color only intensified as he brought it closer to this new knife. He touched the tip of the Drill to the body of the knife and suddenly remembered what had happened the other night.
What he said to Simon.
How he said he wanted to be a Hero.
How he wanted to save girls and go deeper into the Dungeon.
To become as strong as the Heroes in the stories.
To become as strong...as strong as Simon.
And would Simon say he "couldn't defeat the silverback?"
No. He wouldn't.
"Bell?" Hestia called his name as she saw his expression change. From one of worry and uncertainty, to one of confidence and determination. His eyes were filled with a blazing green light. Keeping a hold of his new knife and his Core Drill, he quickly removed his damaged armor until he was down to his black undershirt.
He knelt down and showed his back to his Goddess, "Goddess, please."
Hestia blinked then smiled, "That's the Bell I know. Don't worry, this won't take long!"
She knelt down and started writing as quick as she could. However, the monster wasn't willing to give them the time they needed. Enraged by the wound in its side, it doubled its efforts to run them down. And even though Hestia worked as fast as she could to update Bell's status, there was no doubt it would be upon them before she could finish. Bell's grip on his knife and Drill grew stronger. He knew they needed more time, but he couldn't move while his Goddess was updating his status. They needed help. They needed...needed someone to...
"Hey! Get away from my friends you big ape!"
Bell and Hestia's heads whipped up at the familiar voice. The monster ignored the interruption...which proved to be a mistake. As a familiar form dived down from a rooftop, his blue cape billowing in the air behind him. With a roar he threw his fist forward, punching the silverback in the chin hard enough to send it flying. It skid across the ground on its wounded side, leaving a trail of blood as its attacker landed on the stones below. He stood to his full height with his right hand curled into an angry fist. His red sunglasses glinted as they caught the sunlight.
"Simon!" Bell and Hestia yelled at the same time.
The man in question turned to the two and smiled, "Hey, guys! Sorry I'm late. Had to do some gardening."
"But...but how did you know we were here?" Bell couldn't help the smile that came over his face. Hestia was wondering the same thing, until she caught a glimpse of the Core Drill around Simon's neck. The same one that Bell was holding. She silently thanked Spiral Power and promised she'd tell Simon what she had done once this was all over.
Simon kept one eye on the silverback and one on Bell as he spoke, "I'll tell ya later. Right now, we've gotta deal with this thing. What's the plan?"
"...Hestia is updating my status. Once she's finished, I should be able to kill the silverback. But it's aiming for Hestia and will attack us while she's busy. I'm sorry to ask this but...can you-"
"Hold it off while she updates your status?" Simon cracks his knuckles and gives the silverback his full attention, "No problem. Just let me know when you're ready."
The silverback got to its feet and roared in fury. It turned and charged toward Hestia and Bell, it didn't even get halfway there before Simon was in front of it. It swung its chains like whips but Simon grabbed them with his hands. Still ignoring the wound in his hand from the previous battle, he gripped the metal chains as hard as he could. Using all of his strength he pulled at the chains and lifted the silverback off the ground. It cried in shock and fear as its feet left the earth, before Simon swung it down back into the center of the road. He let go as it hit the cobblestones and dashed toward the prone monster. It got to its feet quickly and swung its arm at Simon. Simon ducked under the swing and kicked out at its injured side. The monster crumpled as Simon's heel landed right on its bleeding wound. As it doubled over in pain, he moved into an uppercut and sent its head back. The silverback recovered quickly and tried to hit Simon with a hammer blow. But the blue haired man jumped back and let the blow destroy the cobblestone below.
This continued, Simon taking time to taunt or insult the monster as he kept it busy. Behind him Hestia was hard at work updating Bell's status. Her fingers were blurs as she turned his experience into power. Bell, however, kept his eyes on Simon's back. And as he watched the man fight the silverback with ease, he couldn't help the impatience that grew within him.
He didn't want to just sit here and watch Simon take care of everything. He wanted to be there. By his side. Fighting with him. Showing that he was strong too. That he could fight just as well as Simon. That...that Simon and Hestia were right to believe in him. Were right to trust him as much as they did. And he couldn't do that if he was just sitting here!
Unbeknownst to him, he had kept his Core Drill in contact with the body of his new knife. And as his feelings reached a fever pitch, the drill's emerald glow intensified. It grew and grew until it became so bright that it could be seen from the rooftops. Hestia's eyes widened as she watched Bell's status change right in front of her. She would write a new number for him, only for it to suddenly turn green and start rapidly increasing. Liaris Freese and Spiral Power were both glowing, the hieroglyphs moving closer and closer until they "fused" into one. Eventually, the light got so bright that she had to squint to see what she was writing.
Soon enough, she finished writing. And the second she did-
"Ready!" Bell shouted, the light moving from his drill and into his knife. The purple light mixed with the green, flowing around the weapon while focusing on its edge. He threw the Core Drill over his neck and grabbed his dagger in his other hand.
Somehow hearing Bell, Simon dodged the monster's next swing by jumping over it. He used its arm as a springboard, leaping over its head and kicking it in the back. The kick sent it forward just as Bell shot forward. Simon held out his right arm and turned his hand into a fist. Green light formed around his fist and coalesced into a drill. The silverback got to its feet and, when it saw that its target was alone, charged straight for Hestia. Tunnel vision made it completely ignore the white haired blur heading its way. Simon kicked off the ground flying toward the monster's back. He reared his drill back as his eyes glowed a bright green. His voice echoed through the cul-de-sac as he shouted, "Spiral-"
"-Vorpal-" Bell shouted, raising his knife up, ready to strike.
The two reached the silverback at the same time. Their voices echoed in unison, harmonizing for a moment as they struck.
"IMPAAAACCTTT!"
White, purple, and green slashes cut through the monster just as a green drill pierced through.
Hestia, the people of Daedalus Street, and the cloaked figures who had been watching form a distance, all stared in shock as Simon and Bell landed on opposite sides of the silverback. The monster was frozen in place, its arms outstretched with an expression of shock and pain on its face. For across its chest was a large, purple and green "X" mark...with a hole the size of an arm in the center.
Simon threw his arm out to the side and willed his drill away. It shrunk back into his body until not a hint of it was left.
Bell flourished his weapons before slowly putting them back in their scabbards.
The moment his weapons clicked into place...the silverback exploded.
A green light shined with the sound of a fuse reaching its end. Then its entire body turned into a massive, red and green conflagration. It bathed the street in its shadow and could be seen from far outside Daedalus Street.
...And then it exploded a second time.
And, somehow, the second time had more force than the first time.
Yet, in spite of the wave of force that blue their hair flat, neither Simon nor Bell seemed bothered. They kept their backs to the explosion until it died down.
People will probably ask how Simon made it to Bell in time when in Canon he killed the silverback after the plant monster died?
Simple: Simon's presence ensured the battle didn't go on for as long it would in Canon, especially since he helped Aiz take out the other monsters faster. So, the plant thing died before Bell got the knife.
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Chapter 12: Secrets and Meetings
LinkOnScepter
Versed in the lewd.
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"That was amazing!" Bell cheers as he runs into the living room. He turns around as Simon and Hestia walk in after him. He holds up both of his arms with a big smile on his face, "Did you see that?! We beat the Silverback in one blow! Everyone cheered for us, and I defended Lady Hestia!"
"Damn right," Simon walks over and pats the boy on his head. He tilts his head and smiles, "You did great, Bell. Beat your first big monster and all."
Bell's smile remained even as he shook his head, "No, no. I wouldn't have been able to do any of that if it weren't for you and Lady Hestia. You held the Silverback off long enough for her to update my status, and she's the one who gave me this."
Bell held up the obsidian knife that his Goddess had given him. The "Hestia Knife" she had called it, seemed to pulse with a dull purple and green light. He clipped the weapon to his belt, then looked over at his Goddess as she closed the door behind her. Before she could enter the room proper, Bell ran over and pulled her into a tight hug. She squeaked in surprise, but Bell kept hugging her with a bright smile on his face, "Thank you so much, Lady Hestia! Without the Hestia Knife and your support, I wouldn't have been able to win. I promise I won't waste this gift!"
A bright smile spread across Hestia's face as she wrapped her arms around Bell to reciprocate the hug. Her pigtails danced in the air with joy as she said, "Of course! It is only natural for me to do everything I can for you, Bell! You're my precious, all-important follower after all."
Hestia giggled while rubbing her face against Bell's chest. She also pressed her own chest close to his torso, hoping that he would notice but not run away this time. He did back away but didn't seem to notice her actions. He simply ran over to the middle of the living room and hopped in place for a bit, "And did you guys see what happened back there?! How the Silverback exploded twice after we cut it?! It was so...awe...s...some..."
Bell's body suddenly stopped hopping up and down. His eyes grew heavy, and all the energy he had seemed to flow out of his body. He swayed on his feet for a bit before starting to fall back with his eyes closed. As Hestia called his name, Simon moved over and grabbed Bell before he hit the ground. He pulled the boy up, but Bell's feet had gone limp. His mouth hung open as his chest rose and fell with each gentle breath he took. Simon rested him on his shoulder then smiled, "Figured he'd be tuckered out. Kid's been fighting for a while. Mind helping me get him to bed, Hestia? Hestia?"
Hestia shook her head when Simon called her name a second time. She blinked a few times before saying, "Huh? Uh, yeah! Yes! Of course. Let me just..."
She walked over to Bell's left and placed a hand on the small of his back. Although she wasn't as strong as Simon, she supported half of Bell's weight as they walked him up the stairs to the bedroom. After laying him down on the bed, Hestia gave him a goodnight kiss on the cheek. He didn't stir as they descended the stairs into the living room. Once they were alone, Hestia's good mood quickly vanished as she remembered that she still had to tell Simon what she had done.
Taking a deep breath to prepare herself, she stood up straight and said, "Simon...I need to tell you something."
Simon stopped in the middle of the living room and turned to regard Hestia. With a raised eyebrow, he waited for the Goddess to continue. Hestia fidgeted in place for a few moments, then she threw herself to the floor and pressed her head against it, "Please forgive me! I told one of my friends about what you could do! It was the only way I could get Bell his knife! I'm so, so, sorry but I-"
Simon held up a hand, his expression mostly neutral, "Woah, woah, woah. Slow down, Hestia. I got the gist but need some clarification."
Hestia kept her head down but nodded her head to the best of her ability. Simon raised a finger, "Okay, so you told someone about my powers. Who?"
"Hephaestus. Another Goddess and a friend of mine."
Simon held up another finger, "Okay. What did you tell her?"
"I gave her Bell's Core Drill to see if there was anything special about the metal. It didn't seem like it, but then she saw it make cracks in a powerful drop item after she tapped it against the ingot for a bit. She wanted to know where it came from, and I told her that you knew the answer. That's it. I didn't tell her about Spiral Power, where it comes from, what it can do, or anything else. I swear!"
Another finger, "And why did you tell her?"
Hestia hesitated for a moment but she answered nonetheless, "B-Because...if I didn't, I would have been in immense debt to be able to get the knife I gave to Bell. It's a custom order, and our Familia doesn't have the funds to afford something like that. But Hephaestus offered to give it to me for free if I could show her where I got the Core Drill from."
"So, you did it to help out Bell?"
"Yes. I know it was a breach of your trust. I wouldn't blame you if you decided to hold this against me or even leave and never come back. I would completely understand. Just please know that I am so, so, so sorry for this."
Simon lowered his hand and scratched his cheek with the other. He stared at Hestia with a curious expression and asked, "And that's why you're currently doing a dogeza? To get my forgiveness?"
"You know what this is?"
"Yeah. One of my friends would use it whenever he really messed up and needed to apologize," Simon shrugged, "Usually worked...though only after he got a beating."
Hestia flinched at that.
Simon held up a hand and said, "Don't worry, I'm not gonna do that."
Tension visibly left Hestia's body at that moment. She tentatively lifted her head to look up at Simon and asked, "So...does that mean...?"
Simon shrugged, "Yeah, I forgive you."
Hestia took an excited breath and pushed herself to her knees.
Simon held up a hand and said," But I have a request. You're gonna need to do a few things for me. It's only fair."
Hestia nodded as she got to her feet, "Of course! It's the least I could do to make up for what I've done. If it's within my power, I will do whatever you ask."
Simon made a show of thinking about what he was going to ask for. His eyes remained locked with Hestia's as he pursed his lips. Then he grinned and snapped his fingers, "Three favors."
Hestia blinked in surprise, "Huh?"
Simon held up three fingers and said, "You owe me three favors. It doesn't matter what they are, when I ask for them, or if it might inconvenience you. If I call for a favor, you have to answer. Do we have a deal?"
Hestia didn't hesitate. She held out her right hand for Simon to shake and said, "Deal!"
Simon took her hand and gave it a firm shake. Once that was taken care of, he crossed his arms and continued, "Alright. Before I forget, Hephaestus. Do you trust her?"
Hestia's expression turned serious. She nodded fervently, "Yes. She helped me get on my feet when I first arrived in Orario. Even though I haven't repaid her yet, she still helps me when I come asking and have a good reason. And she understands the value of secrecy. She won't tell a soul what I told her, nor whatever you decide to tell or show her. Besides, she gave us a secret in exchange."
"Exchange?" Simon couldn't hide his curiosity.
Hestia glanced at the stairs to make sure Bell wasn't listening in. She walked over and peeked around the corner to confirm he wasn't. When it was evident that Bell wasn't there, she returned to Simon and explained, "The Hestia Knife, the weapon I gave Bell, has a special enchantment on it. It, essentially, has its own Falna that's linked to the one I gave Bell. As Bell grows and becomes stronger, so will his knife. It was as feeble as tissue paper before I gave it to him. But the second I put it in his hands, it took its first breath and will only progress from there."
"And let me guess; this would be true for anyone who got a similar weapon?" Simon ventured.
Hestia nodded, "If the adventurer who got a weapon like that was 'the most powerful warrior in the world,' it would become 'the most powerful weapon in the world.' And a weapon that can instantly become the best the second an adventurer picks it up—"
"-would be bad for the one who made it, because everyone would want one. And then when everyone has one, no one would want another weapon ever again," Simon finished for Hestia. He nodded as understanding came over him. Right now, the only ones who knew about this would be him, Hestia, and Hephaestus. As long as they didn't tell anyone about her creating the Hestia Knife, she wouldn't tell anyone about the Core Drill or what he can do. He frowned and put a hand over his chin, "Will admit, I don't really like doing this kind of stuff. I understand the thought process behind it, but I'd rather just be able to trust Hephaestus with the secret."
"You can! I promise! This is just how she wanted to do things," Hestia assures him yet again.
Simon nodded, smiled, and then turned toward the door, "Well then, I guess we'd better get going, right?"
"Going? Where to?"
"To Hephaestus, duh. Need to hold up our end of the deal."
"Now?! You-You want to go now?! But what about Bell?"
Simon waved his hand dismissively, "Kid's tuckered out. Let him have his rest. And the sooner we do this, the better. Besides, considering you didn't tell Bell about this, I'm gonna guess you don't want him to know what his knife can really do, right?"
Hestia bit her lip but nodded, "Y-Yes. Bell's a sweet, honest, and innocent boy. He couldn't keep such a secret even if he wanted to. I doubt he'd lie to someone to save his life."
"Then what better time to do this than when he's sleeping?" Simon stepped out of the way and waved Hestia forward, "Mind leading the way?"
"Not at all," Hestia said as she walked ahead of Simon. He followed shortly behind her as they made their way to visit the smith Goddess.
A knock on her door hardly roused Hephaestus from her seat. Her eye was closed and her breathing was labored as she tried to recover from her exertions. Crafting a weapon like the Hestia Knife took a lot of work, even for a Goddess like her. The process to make a weapon that could grow with its user would take a lot out of any smith. Inscribing a version of Falna onto a weapon alone would put any lesser smith down for at least a week. So, it would make sense that the Goddess would be taking a break after that.
Unfortunately, whoever decided to knock on her door didn't seem to appreciate her situation. Three more loud knocks reverberated through her office. She moved her hand away from her head, revealing a frustrated and tired expression on her face. Her chair squeaked as she stood up, disregarding the mess that was her hair as she walked around her desk. A furious sigh escaped her mouth as the visitor knocked three more times.
"I hear you! I hear you!" the smith Goddess' frustrated yell was loud enough to be heard through the door. With an angry groan, she grabbed the door handle and nearly yanked it open, "What do you wan-"
She went silent when she saw Hestia standing in front of her door. The shorter Goddess' lips were curled in a nervous smile. She gave Hephaestus a small wave, while the smith Goddess narrowed her single eye. She opened her mouth to admonish Hestia for coming back so soon when another person leaned around the corner. Someone she hadn't met before with strange red goggles on his head, a shock of pointy blue hair, and a cape that did nothing to cover his toned chest. Her eyebrow raised in curiosity as she asked, "Hestia? Who is this?"
Hestia looked around, then leaned in to whisper to Hephaestus, "Do you remember what I said about how I got the Core Drill?"
Hephaestus' eye widened. All her fatigue suddenly disappeared as she grabbed both her guests and pulled them into her room. She wasted no time closing and locking her door, smoothing out her hair, and then moving to stand in front of her two guests. Before Hestia could say anything, Hephaestus stood in front of Simon and stared him in the eyes. She was a head shorter than him, but that didn't lessen the intense stare she was giving him. Her lips twitched as she resisted the urge to smile, "Your name?"
"Simon. Simon the Digger," Simon remained calm and collected despite the gaze of the Goddess on him. He raised an eyebrow and pointed at her, "You alright? You look kind of tired and-"
"Never mind that! Where did you get it from?" Hephaestus interrupted.
"You mean my Core Drill?"
"Yes! Exactly!" she started to pace around Simon, eye alight with passion as she continued, "The metal that item was made from wasn't any different from natural metals that can be found even outside the Dungeon. Copper, some iron, and otherwise. When I first tapped it against that drop item, nothing happened. But after tapping it multiple times, it somehow made noticeable cracks in the drop item. How? Did you make it? Did you use some kind of Skill? Is it a magic item that has a requirement for it to activate? What can it do besides just be a drill and break drop items?"
Simon looked over at Hestia for an explanation. The Goddess chuckled and rubbed the back of her head, "Uh, yeah. Hephaestus can get a bit...excitable when she's found something new and interesting."
"Ah. Are all Gods like that?"
"...Not all of them," Hestia couldn't look Simon in the eyes as she said that.
After chuckling, he focused on Hephaestus and put both hands in the pockets of his coat. He shrugged, "Well, to answer them in reverse order? Yeah, it can do a lot of stuff. No, it's not a magic item. I didn't use a Skill cause I don't have one. I did make it. And this is how..."
He took his right hand out of his pocket and held it out, palm up. Before Hephaestus could ask for clarification, an emerald glow appeared in Simon's palm. Hephaestus stiffened, going silent, watching as another Core Drill formed from nothing in the palm of Simon's hand. He allowed Hephaestus to examine it for a few moments before willing the Drill to unravel itself. It did so without a word and turned back into small motes of emerald light. He put his hand back in his pocket as the smith Goddess remained silent. Both Simon and Hestia could see the gears turning in her head as she tried to make sense of what had just happened.
After a few moments, she finally spoke. Her voice sounded pleading as she said, "Please tell me you have a Falna and that was a new version of the Enigma Skill."
Simon shook his head, "Sorry, nope. That was all me. Specifically, Spiral Power."
"Of course," Hephaestus slumped forward with a long-suffering sigh. She seemed to drag her feet back to her desk as she continued, "Couldn't have been something easy. Had to have some kind of catch to it."
"You see why I didn't just want to tell you before?" Hestia said to her friend.
"Yeah, but 'having a secret about a strange item' is quite different from 'knowing someone who can effectively use Arcanum without being a God or having a Falna'!" she runs her hands through her hair while letting out another long-suffering sigh. Then she looked at the two of them and said, "Can the two of you please explain so I can understand exactly what's going on? I feel a headache coming on."
Hestia looked at Simon and then waved for him to explain. And so, he did. He told Hephaestus everything he had told Hestia about Spiral Power. How it worked, how it connected to the Core Drill, and how it allowed him to do things without needing a Falna. Hephaestus listened with rapt attention, her expression growing more and more fatigued as the explanations continued. By the time Simon finished, she had her head in her hands, pressed against her desk with her hair covering her face. Simon and Hestia exchanged a concerned look, and Hestia called out her friend's name. Hephaestus raised a finger and spoke in a muffled voice, "I only have one, singular thing to say in response to what this 'Spiral Power' is."
"Okay?" Simon said, tilting his head in confusion, "What is it?"
Hephaestus pointed an accusatory finger at Simon and lifted her head from the desk. Her lone eye glared at Simon with barely contained fury as she uttered one word, "Bullshit."
"That's what I said!" Hestia shouted, glad to have someone else who understands how she felt.
"Bet that armor's gonna look great on you, Bell," Simon smiled while patting the box Bell was carrying on his back, "But you sure you just want that chestplate? Pretty sure you could've afforded more than that."
Bell adjusted the box and looked up at Simon with a nervous smile, "Y-Yeah, I could've. The vals we got from that minotaur drop item means I had plenty left over after buying this. But...it's just...I don't know. This armor was calling to me. Something about it just...made me want to buy it. The craftsmanship, the color, everything about it spoke to me."
Simon hummed and nodded in understanding, "Yeah, I get that. Sometimes you just find things that speak to you. You can't explain why, but you know you have to follow your heart. I bet the guy who made that's gonna be really happy that you bought it. What was the name of the smith who made it?"
"Welf Krozzo. That's the signature I saw on the inside. Hmm, I'll need to meet him and make sure to thank him for this," Bell looked over his shoulder at the box carrying his new chestplate. He had woken up to the smell of Hestia's cooking and ran downstairs to meet with her. He was worried when he saw her, as she appeared to be extremely tired. He could even see the bags under her eyes. But she insisted that everything was fine and just about forced Bell to eat, then let her update his status. The moment she finished that, she fell out on the bed and let exhaustion take her. Bell made sure to cover her up before heading out for the day. He met up with Simon, who was outside in the church doing some exercises, and the two went off into the Dungeon for the day. Ms. Eina had taken a moment to question Simon about some things that Bell didn't know about, but the two were able to head into the Dungeon. They made it to the seventh floor this time, something that made Bell feel proud.
Though that pride was swiftly shattered when they met up with Eina and she scolded him for going to the Seventh Floor so early. It wasn't until he revealed that some of his stats had reached G Rank that she relented. This was only because he allowed her to see his status to confirm it for herself. After that, she took him to the higher floors of Babel Tower and to Hephaestus Familia's shops to purchase some new armor.
Now, he and Simon were heading back home to get his new armor on and then go back into the Dungeon. He needed to make up for all the money he had just spent, after all. Simon smiled and tapped Bell's right arm, saying, "Hey now, don't forget about that gift you got. It's not just that Welf guy you need to thank later."
"Ri-Right," Bell's cheeks turned a bright shade of red as he thought about the green vambrace Eina had given to him as a gift. Remembering the awkwardness of the situation made him squirm on the spot. He was certainly thankful for it...but he couldn't shake the feeling that it felt like Ms. Eina gave him a gift while they were on a d-d-da-date.
Simon noticed Bell's reaction and couldn't help but chuckle. He had his own adventure while Bell was resting, but it wasn't too troublesome for him. Despite her initial response to Spiral Power, Hephaestus proved to be as reliable as Hestia had said. His conclusion on this came from two key facts. Firstly, Hephaestus understood why Simon had been concealing his powers from the general populace. Much like Hestia, she understood what would happen if the Gods discovered a man like him - someone without a Falna yet capable of fighting as proficiently as any adventurer with one. Who could effortlessly create what were essentially magical items out of thin air and perform tasks akin to the Gods without the use of Arcanum. Not only would they be all over him, but the Guild would likely seek to regulate his abilities.
That understanding only deepened when he mentioned the time he fought "that big strong dude named Ottar" to a standstill. Though he still didn't get why the two of them nearly hit the floor when he mentioned that. However, they were very insistent on telling him to stay far away from "Freya Familia", which was apparently the Goddess he had seen at that time.
All these facts combined helped convince Hephaestus that Spiral Power needed to be a well-kept secret among the three of them.
The second fact that allowed him to come to this conclusion?
He simply believed that Hephaestus was a good person.
Simple as that.
Once all that was established, he and Hestia had returned home. He got some rest, got up, did a few exercises, and went with Bell when the boy came out to go Dungeon Diving again. Though he was waylaid a bit because Eina insisted on clarifying that he had just woken up in the Dungeon with no idea how he got there. He confirmed this, Eina wrote it down on a clipboard, and then he was allowed to go into the Dungeon with Bell. Then the whole thing with Bell's status happened, and he made sure to stop Eina from looking at Bell's Skills. She promised not to, and he would hold her to that. Even if he had to put a hand over her eyes. He kept to it as well, only looking at the boy's stats. Something that made him feel proud of the boy.
After that, Eina took them to buy some new armor for Bell, and now they were here. Bell and Eina had offered to get him some equipment too, but he waved them off. He figured that Bell should use his hard-earned money on himself, not on him. Besides, he had everything he needed already. Bell reluctantly accepted that, while Eina was a bit skeptical. She continued to mention how overconfidence got even strong adventurers killed in the Dungeon, making sure that Bell heard her say that. When Bell left to look for armor, Simon simply smiled at Eina and assured her that he wasn't overconfident. He knew what he was doing. And when she still didn't seem convinced, he promised that as long as he was still alive, nothing bad would happen to Bell. He'd always come back to smile at her while Simon was with him.
While he wasn't sure if she believed him, she did seem slightly placated. If the way her face blushed at his words was any indication.
His mind came back to the present as he and Bell continued walking down West Main. The sky overhead was red, indicating that it was late in the evening. They had already escorted Eina back to her dwelling after the shopping was over. Now all that was left was to return home. However, as they walked both suddenly stopped as a sound reached their ears. A rapid "thump, thump, thump" that sounded like-
"Footsteps?" the two men said in unison. They had just come off West Main, and it sounded like the footsteps were getting closer to them. Bell moved first, carefully moving around the corner from their usual path. Simon stepped slightly to the side as he followed in case Bell needed help.
"Ow!" a sudden shout rings out as a small shadow trips over Bell's foot as it comes around the corner. Both Simon and Bell look at the source and see a person shorter than Hestia. Bell mouths "...A Prum?" to himself, but Simon heard it clearly. Bell quickly moves to the fallen demi-human and asks, "Excuse me, are you okay?"
The prum stutters and pulls her body off the pavement. It's clear she's a girl, with messy, chestnut-colored hair long enough to hide her neck. She looks like a child with oversized, spherical eyes that shifted between Simon and Bell with an unreadable expression. Before either Simon or Bell could say anything else, they heard a second pair of footsteps approaching from the other end of the street. Along with them came a loud, rage-filled voice, "Found ya, ya piece-of-shit prum!"
All three of them looked up to see a tall, rough-looking human man approaching them. His appearance and angry eyes filled the girl with fear. The man seemed to only have eyes for the prum as he shouted, "Yer not getting away...!"
However, before he can get any closer, both Simon and Bell move to block his path. Their bodies moved instinctively as they shielded the girl behind them and stood shoulder to shoulder. The man, only just realizing they were there, shouted in surprise, "...What the?! You two, yer in the way! Beat it!"
"Not gonna happen," Simon spoke up, his body tensed and ready in case things came to blows, "Do you really think we're gonna let you hurt this girl?"
"E-Exactly!" Bell shouted, though he sounded less confident than Simon. Something that the man took note of as he focused his intense aura on the boy.
"Shut it, brat! If ya don't scram right now, I'll carve both of ya up along with the piece of shit behind ya!" the man bellowed while taking another step forward.
Simon's eyes narrowed, but his lips curled into an excited smile. He pounded his fists together and met the man's gaze head-on, "Well, now we really got to stop you from touching her. Isn't that right, Bell?"
"Y-Yeah! Ba-Back off!" Bell still didn't sound confident, but he didn't back down. He pulled his backpack off and lightly tossed it to the side. The man and prum both looked shocked at his action.
The man looked between the two of them and then growled, "Th-The hell is wrong with the two of ya?! Is short stack over there yer friend or something?!"
"N-never seen her before in my life," Bell stuttered out.
"First time I've ever seen her," Simon said with a shrug.
"Then why the hell are ya protecting that piece of shit?!"
Simon didn't hesitate, "Don't really need a reason. But if you want something concrete? She's scared, and you're acting like an asshole. That's good enough for me."
The man was taken aback by Simon's response. Bell was too, but his reaction was the polar opposite of the man. Swallowing his nervousness, he summoned all his courage and took a step forward, "Wh-What he said! We-We don't need a reason to protect someone who's scared!"
The man blinked, but his anger soon returned. He reached behind his back and drew his sword, "Fine...I'll slit both yer throats!"
Bell pulled out his knife while Simon readied his fists. The two heard something gulp air behind them, but only Bell looked back to see the prum girl staring at his knife. Soon, though, he was forced to turn his attention back to the man as his killing intent washed over him. Gritting his teeth, he struggled to maintain focus. This was his first time confronting another human, and he was doing everything he could to stop his legs from shaking. Whenever fear threatened to overwhelm him, he glanced at Simon, and his resolve returned. Simon, on the other hand, appeared completely calm and ready for a fight.
Eyes gleaming with hatred, the man sized up both Simon and Bell. Even with his mind clouded by rage, he could tell that Bell was the weaker and less experienced of the two. If he wanted to succeed here, he'd have to fight smart and take that kid out first. Then he'd go for the prum before Simon got a chance to intervene. Smiling to himself, he moved in, raising his sword to strike...and then a fist collided with his face.
With a battle cry, Simon put as much force as he could into his fist. The man's body was lifted from the ground as he was sent flying at least five blocks away from the two of them. His sword fell from his grasp as he landed on the cobblestones, completely knocked out. Simon straightened up before looking over at his companion, "You alright, Bell?"
Bell blinked as he slowly put away his knife, "Y-Yeah. I'm...I'm alright. That...That was so fast. I...I didn't even saw you move."
"Indeed," the two of them looked up to see a familiar elven face coming toward them. They immediately recognized the newcomer as...
"Ms. Ryu!" Bell said, standing straight as the elf's sky-blue eyes focused on him, "Wh-What are you doing here?"
"I was shopping for supplies to prepare for this evening. Unlike in the afternoon, adventurers visit our establishment in the evening. So if we are not fully stocked, many problems tend to occur. I happened to see you in the middle of my errand and was coming to assist," she turned her eyes onto Simon, "But it seemed that would have been unnecessary."
Simon smiled and shrugged, "Hey, he's the one who swung first. I just made sure he didn't manage to hit his target. And it's the thought that counts, so don't beat yourself up for not showing up before that."
Ryu hummed and then asked, "What of you two? Why are you out here?"
"Well, you see, this girl here...huh?" Bell's surprised shout made Simon turn to look at where the girl they were protecting had been. She was no longer there, and neither he nor Bell could see her anywhere near them. Ryu asked if someone had been there, but Bell could only nod in confusion, "Y-Yeah. At least, I thought so..."
"Maybe she left after I punched that guy out? Might have gotten scared or something," Simon suggested to the two of them. It was the best explanation they had, so Bell decided to just go with it. However, the thought of the girl lingered with him even after they left Ryu behind.
He wondered if they would ever see her again.
"Misters, misters. The misters with the white and blue hair."
Bell and Simon stopped in their tracks as they tried to find the voice that was addressing them. Bell was wearing his new armor, and the two were heading towards Babel Tower for another day of Dungeon Diving. However, the call of that voice had made them pause. Simon was the first to locate the source, tilting his head down and seeing something that made his lips curl into a small smile. He tapped Bell on the shoulder to get his attention. When Bell looked at him, he pointed at the source of the voice. Bell looked where he was pointing and saw...a young girl who stood about one hundred celch tall, dressed in a plain cream-colored robe.
...And carried a backpack at least three times her size on her tiny shoulders.
"Pleased to meetcha, misters! If you don't mind me asking, are you two looking for an extra supporter?"
I have now finished Sword Oratoria Volume 6.
"Damn right," Simon walks over and pats the boy on his head. He tilts his head and smiles, "You did great, Bell. Beat your first big monster and all."
Bell's smile remained even as he shook his head, "No, no. I wouldn't have been able to do any of that if it weren't for you and Lady Hestia. You held the Silverback off long enough for her to update my status, and she's the one who gave me this."
Bell held up the obsidian knife that his Goddess had given him. The "Hestia Knife" she had called it, seemed to pulse with a dull purple and green light. He clipped the weapon to his belt, then looked over at his Goddess as she closed the door behind her. Before she could enter the room proper, Bell ran over and pulled her into a tight hug. She squeaked in surprise, but Bell kept hugging her with a bright smile on his face, "Thank you so much, Lady Hestia! Without the Hestia Knife and your support, I wouldn't have been able to win. I promise I won't waste this gift!"
A bright smile spread across Hestia's face as she wrapped her arms around Bell to reciprocate the hug. Her pigtails danced in the air with joy as she said, "Of course! It is only natural for me to do everything I can for you, Bell! You're my precious, all-important follower after all."
Hestia giggled while rubbing her face against Bell's chest. She also pressed her own chest close to his torso, hoping that he would notice but not run away this time. He did back away but didn't seem to notice her actions. He simply ran over to the middle of the living room and hopped in place for a bit, "And did you guys see what happened back there?! How the Silverback exploded twice after we cut it?! It was so...awe...s...some..."
Bell's body suddenly stopped hopping up and down. His eyes grew heavy, and all the energy he had seemed to flow out of his body. He swayed on his feet for a bit before starting to fall back with his eyes closed. As Hestia called his name, Simon moved over and grabbed Bell before he hit the ground. He pulled the boy up, but Bell's feet had gone limp. His mouth hung open as his chest rose and fell with each gentle breath he took. Simon rested him on his shoulder then smiled, "Figured he'd be tuckered out. Kid's been fighting for a while. Mind helping me get him to bed, Hestia? Hestia?"
Hestia shook her head when Simon called her name a second time. She blinked a few times before saying, "Huh? Uh, yeah! Yes! Of course. Let me just..."
She walked over to Bell's left and placed a hand on the small of his back. Although she wasn't as strong as Simon, she supported half of Bell's weight as they walked him up the stairs to the bedroom. After laying him down on the bed, Hestia gave him a goodnight kiss on the cheek. He didn't stir as they descended the stairs into the living room. Once they were alone, Hestia's good mood quickly vanished as she remembered that she still had to tell Simon what she had done.
Taking a deep breath to prepare herself, she stood up straight and said, "Simon...I need to tell you something."
Simon stopped in the middle of the living room and turned to regard Hestia. With a raised eyebrow, he waited for the Goddess to continue. Hestia fidgeted in place for a few moments, then she threw herself to the floor and pressed her head against it, "Please forgive me! I told one of my friends about what you could do! It was the only way I could get Bell his knife! I'm so, so, sorry but I-"
Simon held up a hand, his expression mostly neutral, "Woah, woah, woah. Slow down, Hestia. I got the gist but need some clarification."
Hestia kept her head down but nodded her head to the best of her ability. Simon raised a finger, "Okay, so you told someone about my powers. Who?"
"Hephaestus. Another Goddess and a friend of mine."
Simon held up another finger, "Okay. What did you tell her?"
"I gave her Bell's Core Drill to see if there was anything special about the metal. It didn't seem like it, but then she saw it make cracks in a powerful drop item after she tapped it against the ingot for a bit. She wanted to know where it came from, and I told her that you knew the answer. That's it. I didn't tell her about Spiral Power, where it comes from, what it can do, or anything else. I swear!"
Another finger, "And why did you tell her?"
Hestia hesitated for a moment but she answered nonetheless, "B-Because...if I didn't, I would have been in immense debt to be able to get the knife I gave to Bell. It's a custom order, and our Familia doesn't have the funds to afford something like that. But Hephaestus offered to give it to me for free if I could show her where I got the Core Drill from."
"So, you did it to help out Bell?"
"Yes. I know it was a breach of your trust. I wouldn't blame you if you decided to hold this against me or even leave and never come back. I would completely understand. Just please know that I am so, so, so sorry for this."
Simon lowered his hand and scratched his cheek with the other. He stared at Hestia with a curious expression and asked, "And that's why you're currently doing a dogeza? To get my forgiveness?"
"You know what this is?"
"Yeah. One of my friends would use it whenever he really messed up and needed to apologize," Simon shrugged, "Usually worked...though only after he got a beating."
Hestia flinched at that.
Simon held up a hand and said, "Don't worry, I'm not gonna do that."
Tension visibly left Hestia's body at that moment. She tentatively lifted her head to look up at Simon and asked, "So...does that mean...?"
Simon shrugged, "Yeah, I forgive you."
Hestia took an excited breath and pushed herself to her knees.
Simon held up a hand and said," But I have a request. You're gonna need to do a few things for me. It's only fair."
Hestia nodded as she got to her feet, "Of course! It's the least I could do to make up for what I've done. If it's within my power, I will do whatever you ask."
Simon made a show of thinking about what he was going to ask for. His eyes remained locked with Hestia's as he pursed his lips. Then he grinned and snapped his fingers, "Three favors."
Hestia blinked in surprise, "Huh?"
Simon held up three fingers and said, "You owe me three favors. It doesn't matter what they are, when I ask for them, or if it might inconvenience you. If I call for a favor, you have to answer. Do we have a deal?"
Hestia didn't hesitate. She held out her right hand for Simon to shake and said, "Deal!"
Simon took her hand and gave it a firm shake. Once that was taken care of, he crossed his arms and continued, "Alright. Before I forget, Hephaestus. Do you trust her?"
Hestia's expression turned serious. She nodded fervently, "Yes. She helped me get on my feet when I first arrived in Orario. Even though I haven't repaid her yet, she still helps me when I come asking and have a good reason. And she understands the value of secrecy. She won't tell a soul what I told her, nor whatever you decide to tell or show her. Besides, she gave us a secret in exchange."
"Exchange?" Simon couldn't hide his curiosity.
Hestia glanced at the stairs to make sure Bell wasn't listening in. She walked over and peeked around the corner to confirm he wasn't. When it was evident that Bell wasn't there, she returned to Simon and explained, "The Hestia Knife, the weapon I gave Bell, has a special enchantment on it. It, essentially, has its own Falna that's linked to the one I gave Bell. As Bell grows and becomes stronger, so will his knife. It was as feeble as tissue paper before I gave it to him. But the second I put it in his hands, it took its first breath and will only progress from there."
"And let me guess; this would be true for anyone who got a similar weapon?" Simon ventured.
Hestia nodded, "If the adventurer who got a weapon like that was 'the most powerful warrior in the world,' it would become 'the most powerful weapon in the world.' And a weapon that can instantly become the best the second an adventurer picks it up—"
"-would be bad for the one who made it, because everyone would want one. And then when everyone has one, no one would want another weapon ever again," Simon finished for Hestia. He nodded as understanding came over him. Right now, the only ones who knew about this would be him, Hestia, and Hephaestus. As long as they didn't tell anyone about her creating the Hestia Knife, she wouldn't tell anyone about the Core Drill or what he can do. He frowned and put a hand over his chin, "Will admit, I don't really like doing this kind of stuff. I understand the thought process behind it, but I'd rather just be able to trust Hephaestus with the secret."
"You can! I promise! This is just how she wanted to do things," Hestia assures him yet again.
Simon nodded, smiled, and then turned toward the door, "Well then, I guess we'd better get going, right?"
"Going? Where to?"
"To Hephaestus, duh. Need to hold up our end of the deal."
"Now?! You-You want to go now?! But what about Bell?"
Simon waved his hand dismissively, "Kid's tuckered out. Let him have his rest. And the sooner we do this, the better. Besides, considering you didn't tell Bell about this, I'm gonna guess you don't want him to know what his knife can really do, right?"
Hestia bit her lip but nodded, "Y-Yes. Bell's a sweet, honest, and innocent boy. He couldn't keep such a secret even if he wanted to. I doubt he'd lie to someone to save his life."
"Then what better time to do this than when he's sleeping?" Simon stepped out of the way and waved Hestia forward, "Mind leading the way?"
"Not at all," Hestia said as she walked ahead of Simon. He followed shortly behind her as they made their way to visit the smith Goddess.
A knock on her door hardly roused Hephaestus from her seat. Her eye was closed and her breathing was labored as she tried to recover from her exertions. Crafting a weapon like the Hestia Knife took a lot of work, even for a Goddess like her. The process to make a weapon that could grow with its user would take a lot out of any smith. Inscribing a version of Falna onto a weapon alone would put any lesser smith down for at least a week. So, it would make sense that the Goddess would be taking a break after that.
Unfortunately, whoever decided to knock on her door didn't seem to appreciate her situation. Three more loud knocks reverberated through her office. She moved her hand away from her head, revealing a frustrated and tired expression on her face. Her chair squeaked as she stood up, disregarding the mess that was her hair as she walked around her desk. A furious sigh escaped her mouth as the visitor knocked three more times.
"I hear you! I hear you!" the smith Goddess' frustrated yell was loud enough to be heard through the door. With an angry groan, she grabbed the door handle and nearly yanked it open, "What do you wan-"
She went silent when she saw Hestia standing in front of her door. The shorter Goddess' lips were curled in a nervous smile. She gave Hephaestus a small wave, while the smith Goddess narrowed her single eye. She opened her mouth to admonish Hestia for coming back so soon when another person leaned around the corner. Someone she hadn't met before with strange red goggles on his head, a shock of pointy blue hair, and a cape that did nothing to cover his toned chest. Her eyebrow raised in curiosity as she asked, "Hestia? Who is this?"
Hestia looked around, then leaned in to whisper to Hephaestus, "Do you remember what I said about how I got the Core Drill?"
Hephaestus' eye widened. All her fatigue suddenly disappeared as she grabbed both her guests and pulled them into her room. She wasted no time closing and locking her door, smoothing out her hair, and then moving to stand in front of her two guests. Before Hestia could say anything, Hephaestus stood in front of Simon and stared him in the eyes. She was a head shorter than him, but that didn't lessen the intense stare she was giving him. Her lips twitched as she resisted the urge to smile, "Your name?"
"Simon. Simon the Digger," Simon remained calm and collected despite the gaze of the Goddess on him. He raised an eyebrow and pointed at her, "You alright? You look kind of tired and-"
"Never mind that! Where did you get it from?" Hephaestus interrupted.
"You mean my Core Drill?"
"Yes! Exactly!" she started to pace around Simon, eye alight with passion as she continued, "The metal that item was made from wasn't any different from natural metals that can be found even outside the Dungeon. Copper, some iron, and otherwise. When I first tapped it against that drop item, nothing happened. But after tapping it multiple times, it somehow made noticeable cracks in the drop item. How? Did you make it? Did you use some kind of Skill? Is it a magic item that has a requirement for it to activate? What can it do besides just be a drill and break drop items?"
Simon looked over at Hestia for an explanation. The Goddess chuckled and rubbed the back of her head, "Uh, yeah. Hephaestus can get a bit...excitable when she's found something new and interesting."
"Ah. Are all Gods like that?"
"...Not all of them," Hestia couldn't look Simon in the eyes as she said that.
After chuckling, he focused on Hephaestus and put both hands in the pockets of his coat. He shrugged, "Well, to answer them in reverse order? Yeah, it can do a lot of stuff. No, it's not a magic item. I didn't use a Skill cause I don't have one. I did make it. And this is how..."
He took his right hand out of his pocket and held it out, palm up. Before Hephaestus could ask for clarification, an emerald glow appeared in Simon's palm. Hephaestus stiffened, going silent, watching as another Core Drill formed from nothing in the palm of Simon's hand. He allowed Hephaestus to examine it for a few moments before willing the Drill to unravel itself. It did so without a word and turned back into small motes of emerald light. He put his hand back in his pocket as the smith Goddess remained silent. Both Simon and Hestia could see the gears turning in her head as she tried to make sense of what had just happened.
After a few moments, she finally spoke. Her voice sounded pleading as she said, "Please tell me you have a Falna and that was a new version of the Enigma Skill."
Simon shook his head, "Sorry, nope. That was all me. Specifically, Spiral Power."
"Of course," Hephaestus slumped forward with a long-suffering sigh. She seemed to drag her feet back to her desk as she continued, "Couldn't have been something easy. Had to have some kind of catch to it."
"You see why I didn't just want to tell you before?" Hestia said to her friend.
"Yeah, but 'having a secret about a strange item' is quite different from 'knowing someone who can effectively use Arcanum without being a God or having a Falna'!" she runs her hands through her hair while letting out another long-suffering sigh. Then she looked at the two of them and said, "Can the two of you please explain so I can understand exactly what's going on? I feel a headache coming on."
Hestia looked at Simon and then waved for him to explain. And so, he did. He told Hephaestus everything he had told Hestia about Spiral Power. How it worked, how it connected to the Core Drill, and how it allowed him to do things without needing a Falna. Hephaestus listened with rapt attention, her expression growing more and more fatigued as the explanations continued. By the time Simon finished, she had her head in her hands, pressed against her desk with her hair covering her face. Simon and Hestia exchanged a concerned look, and Hestia called out her friend's name. Hephaestus raised a finger and spoke in a muffled voice, "I only have one, singular thing to say in response to what this 'Spiral Power' is."
"Okay?" Simon said, tilting his head in confusion, "What is it?"
Hephaestus pointed an accusatory finger at Simon and lifted her head from the desk. Her lone eye glared at Simon with barely contained fury as she uttered one word, "Bullshit."
"That's what I said!" Hestia shouted, glad to have someone else who understands how she felt.
"Bet that armor's gonna look great on you, Bell," Simon smiled while patting the box Bell was carrying on his back, "But you sure you just want that chestplate? Pretty sure you could've afforded more than that."
Bell adjusted the box and looked up at Simon with a nervous smile, "Y-Yeah, I could've. The vals we got from that minotaur drop item means I had plenty left over after buying this. But...it's just...I don't know. This armor was calling to me. Something about it just...made me want to buy it. The craftsmanship, the color, everything about it spoke to me."
Simon hummed and nodded in understanding, "Yeah, I get that. Sometimes you just find things that speak to you. You can't explain why, but you know you have to follow your heart. I bet the guy who made that's gonna be really happy that you bought it. What was the name of the smith who made it?"
"Welf Krozzo. That's the signature I saw on the inside. Hmm, I'll need to meet him and make sure to thank him for this," Bell looked over his shoulder at the box carrying his new chestplate. He had woken up to the smell of Hestia's cooking and ran downstairs to meet with her. He was worried when he saw her, as she appeared to be extremely tired. He could even see the bags under her eyes. But she insisted that everything was fine and just about forced Bell to eat, then let her update his status. The moment she finished that, she fell out on the bed and let exhaustion take her. Bell made sure to cover her up before heading out for the day. He met up with Simon, who was outside in the church doing some exercises, and the two went off into the Dungeon for the day. Ms. Eina had taken a moment to question Simon about some things that Bell didn't know about, but the two were able to head into the Dungeon. They made it to the seventh floor this time, something that made Bell feel proud.
Though that pride was swiftly shattered when they met up with Eina and she scolded him for going to the Seventh Floor so early. It wasn't until he revealed that some of his stats had reached G Rank that she relented. This was only because he allowed her to see his status to confirm it for herself. After that, she took him to the higher floors of Babel Tower and to Hephaestus Familia's shops to purchase some new armor.
Now, he and Simon were heading back home to get his new armor on and then go back into the Dungeon. He needed to make up for all the money he had just spent, after all. Simon smiled and tapped Bell's right arm, saying, "Hey now, don't forget about that gift you got. It's not just that Welf guy you need to thank later."
"Ri-Right," Bell's cheeks turned a bright shade of red as he thought about the green vambrace Eina had given to him as a gift. Remembering the awkwardness of the situation made him squirm on the spot. He was certainly thankful for it...but he couldn't shake the feeling that it felt like Ms. Eina gave him a gift while they were on a d-d-da-date.
Simon noticed Bell's reaction and couldn't help but chuckle. He had his own adventure while Bell was resting, but it wasn't too troublesome for him. Despite her initial response to Spiral Power, Hephaestus proved to be as reliable as Hestia had said. His conclusion on this came from two key facts. Firstly, Hephaestus understood why Simon had been concealing his powers from the general populace. Much like Hestia, she understood what would happen if the Gods discovered a man like him - someone without a Falna yet capable of fighting as proficiently as any adventurer with one. Who could effortlessly create what were essentially magical items out of thin air and perform tasks akin to the Gods without the use of Arcanum. Not only would they be all over him, but the Guild would likely seek to regulate his abilities.
That understanding only deepened when he mentioned the time he fought "that big strong dude named Ottar" to a standstill. Though he still didn't get why the two of them nearly hit the floor when he mentioned that. However, they were very insistent on telling him to stay far away from "Freya Familia", which was apparently the Goddess he had seen at that time.
All these facts combined helped convince Hephaestus that Spiral Power needed to be a well-kept secret among the three of them.
The second fact that allowed him to come to this conclusion?
He simply believed that Hephaestus was a good person.
Simple as that.
Once all that was established, he and Hestia had returned home. He got some rest, got up, did a few exercises, and went with Bell when the boy came out to go Dungeon Diving again. Though he was waylaid a bit because Eina insisted on clarifying that he had just woken up in the Dungeon with no idea how he got there. He confirmed this, Eina wrote it down on a clipboard, and then he was allowed to go into the Dungeon with Bell. Then the whole thing with Bell's status happened, and he made sure to stop Eina from looking at Bell's Skills. She promised not to, and he would hold her to that. Even if he had to put a hand over her eyes. He kept to it as well, only looking at the boy's stats. Something that made him feel proud of the boy.
After that, Eina took them to buy some new armor for Bell, and now they were here. Bell and Eina had offered to get him some equipment too, but he waved them off. He figured that Bell should use his hard-earned money on himself, not on him. Besides, he had everything he needed already. Bell reluctantly accepted that, while Eina was a bit skeptical. She continued to mention how overconfidence got even strong adventurers killed in the Dungeon, making sure that Bell heard her say that. When Bell left to look for armor, Simon simply smiled at Eina and assured her that he wasn't overconfident. He knew what he was doing. And when she still didn't seem convinced, he promised that as long as he was still alive, nothing bad would happen to Bell. He'd always come back to smile at her while Simon was with him.
While he wasn't sure if she believed him, she did seem slightly placated. If the way her face blushed at his words was any indication.
His mind came back to the present as he and Bell continued walking down West Main. The sky overhead was red, indicating that it was late in the evening. They had already escorted Eina back to her dwelling after the shopping was over. Now all that was left was to return home. However, as they walked both suddenly stopped as a sound reached their ears. A rapid "thump, thump, thump" that sounded like-
"Footsteps?" the two men said in unison. They had just come off West Main, and it sounded like the footsteps were getting closer to them. Bell moved first, carefully moving around the corner from their usual path. Simon stepped slightly to the side as he followed in case Bell needed help.
"Ow!" a sudden shout rings out as a small shadow trips over Bell's foot as it comes around the corner. Both Simon and Bell look at the source and see a person shorter than Hestia. Bell mouths "...A Prum?" to himself, but Simon heard it clearly. Bell quickly moves to the fallen demi-human and asks, "Excuse me, are you okay?"
The prum stutters and pulls her body off the pavement. It's clear she's a girl, with messy, chestnut-colored hair long enough to hide her neck. She looks like a child with oversized, spherical eyes that shifted between Simon and Bell with an unreadable expression. Before either Simon or Bell could say anything else, they heard a second pair of footsteps approaching from the other end of the street. Along with them came a loud, rage-filled voice, "Found ya, ya piece-of-shit prum!"
All three of them looked up to see a tall, rough-looking human man approaching them. His appearance and angry eyes filled the girl with fear. The man seemed to only have eyes for the prum as he shouted, "Yer not getting away...!"
However, before he can get any closer, both Simon and Bell move to block his path. Their bodies moved instinctively as they shielded the girl behind them and stood shoulder to shoulder. The man, only just realizing they were there, shouted in surprise, "...What the?! You two, yer in the way! Beat it!"
"Not gonna happen," Simon spoke up, his body tensed and ready in case things came to blows, "Do you really think we're gonna let you hurt this girl?"
"E-Exactly!" Bell shouted, though he sounded less confident than Simon. Something that the man took note of as he focused his intense aura on the boy.
"Shut it, brat! If ya don't scram right now, I'll carve both of ya up along with the piece of shit behind ya!" the man bellowed while taking another step forward.
Simon's eyes narrowed, but his lips curled into an excited smile. He pounded his fists together and met the man's gaze head-on, "Well, now we really got to stop you from touching her. Isn't that right, Bell?"
"Y-Yeah! Ba-Back off!" Bell still didn't sound confident, but he didn't back down. He pulled his backpack off and lightly tossed it to the side. The man and prum both looked shocked at his action.
The man looked between the two of them and then growled, "Th-The hell is wrong with the two of ya?! Is short stack over there yer friend or something?!"
"N-never seen her before in my life," Bell stuttered out.
"First time I've ever seen her," Simon said with a shrug.
"Then why the hell are ya protecting that piece of shit?!"
Simon didn't hesitate, "Don't really need a reason. But if you want something concrete? She's scared, and you're acting like an asshole. That's good enough for me."
The man was taken aback by Simon's response. Bell was too, but his reaction was the polar opposite of the man. Swallowing his nervousness, he summoned all his courage and took a step forward, "Wh-What he said! We-We don't need a reason to protect someone who's scared!"
The man blinked, but his anger soon returned. He reached behind his back and drew his sword, "Fine...I'll slit both yer throats!"
Bell pulled out his knife while Simon readied his fists. The two heard something gulp air behind them, but only Bell looked back to see the prum girl staring at his knife. Soon, though, he was forced to turn his attention back to the man as his killing intent washed over him. Gritting his teeth, he struggled to maintain focus. This was his first time confronting another human, and he was doing everything he could to stop his legs from shaking. Whenever fear threatened to overwhelm him, he glanced at Simon, and his resolve returned. Simon, on the other hand, appeared completely calm and ready for a fight.
Eyes gleaming with hatred, the man sized up both Simon and Bell. Even with his mind clouded by rage, he could tell that Bell was the weaker and less experienced of the two. If he wanted to succeed here, he'd have to fight smart and take that kid out first. Then he'd go for the prum before Simon got a chance to intervene. Smiling to himself, he moved in, raising his sword to strike...and then a fist collided with his face.
With a battle cry, Simon put as much force as he could into his fist. The man's body was lifted from the ground as he was sent flying at least five blocks away from the two of them. His sword fell from his grasp as he landed on the cobblestones, completely knocked out. Simon straightened up before looking over at his companion, "You alright, Bell?"
Bell blinked as he slowly put away his knife, "Y-Yeah. I'm...I'm alright. That...That was so fast. I...I didn't even saw you move."
"Indeed," the two of them looked up to see a familiar elven face coming toward them. They immediately recognized the newcomer as...
"Ms. Ryu!" Bell said, standing straight as the elf's sky-blue eyes focused on him, "Wh-What are you doing here?"
"I was shopping for supplies to prepare for this evening. Unlike in the afternoon, adventurers visit our establishment in the evening. So if we are not fully stocked, many problems tend to occur. I happened to see you in the middle of my errand and was coming to assist," she turned her eyes onto Simon, "But it seemed that would have been unnecessary."
Simon smiled and shrugged, "Hey, he's the one who swung first. I just made sure he didn't manage to hit his target. And it's the thought that counts, so don't beat yourself up for not showing up before that."
Ryu hummed and then asked, "What of you two? Why are you out here?"
"Well, you see, this girl here...huh?" Bell's surprised shout made Simon turn to look at where the girl they were protecting had been. She was no longer there, and neither he nor Bell could see her anywhere near them. Ryu asked if someone had been there, but Bell could only nod in confusion, "Y-Yeah. At least, I thought so..."
"Maybe she left after I punched that guy out? Might have gotten scared or something," Simon suggested to the two of them. It was the best explanation they had, so Bell decided to just go with it. However, the thought of the girl lingered with him even after they left Ryu behind.
He wondered if they would ever see her again.
"Misters, misters. The misters with the white and blue hair."
Bell and Simon stopped in their tracks as they tried to find the voice that was addressing them. Bell was wearing his new armor, and the two were heading towards Babel Tower for another day of Dungeon Diving. However, the call of that voice had made them pause. Simon was the first to locate the source, tilting his head down and seeing something that made his lips curl into a small smile. He tapped Bell on the shoulder to get his attention. When Bell looked at him, he pointed at the source of the voice. Bell looked where he was pointing and saw...a young girl who stood about one hundred celch tall, dressed in a plain cream-colored robe.
...And carried a backpack at least three times her size on her tiny shoulders.
"Pleased to meetcha, misters! If you don't mind me asking, are you two looking for an extra supporter?"
I have now finished Sword Oratoria Volume 6.