AN: Alright guys, despite the hiatus that I placed on my stories, I decided to publish my idea of DanMachi and Garo. I will still update the stories that are not on hiatus as best as I can but I can't promise that it'll be here in a flash. Now enough of that…it's Showtime!
Disclaimer: I do not own Garo or Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon.
Garo: The Wolf's Den Ch 1: Bell
Aiz Wallenstein and her Party were after minotaurs that were loose on Floor 5. Aiz separated from the group to deal with the last one before seeing it wander around. Aiz looked focused before drawing her sword. The minotaur noticed her and immediately looked agitated before charging.
But before they could make contact, something dark tackled the minotaur. Aiz stopped herself before hearing the monster's scream of intense pain and agony. She was surprised that something as menacing enough to kill a minotaur like that would exist here in the Dungeon. Aiz gripped her sword tightly to examine the threat, being the cautious warrior that she is.
She saw the minotaur being eaten to shreds by a black skeletal monster with wings and horns. It soon looked Aiz and started drooling, eager to taste Aiz's flesh like it did for the minotaur. Aiz held her cold look before charging at the monster. She tried cutting through it with her sword but…it broke.
"What?" Aiz's calm and cool demeanor was broken by that simple result before seeing the monster trying to claw her. She jumped back, only to get a major scratch on her leg. She landed with her back against the wall. Aiz tried to get up but the wound was pretty deep, preventing her from standing.
Then more of the monsters appeared and looked at her as if they were using her for a great feast.
"Is this the end for me?" Aiz wondered. She was cornered, her leg wounded, and her equipment was useless against these unknown monsters. One of them grabbed her by the neck and lifted her as she was struggling for air. She closed her eyes and braced for the end before…the monster's arm was suddenly sliced off.
Suddenly an armored figure appeared in the middle and started slashing the monsters easily and quite viciously. The figure next sliced the head off the remaining monster before it and the remains of its brethren dissipated. Aiz cough from the choke before breathing for air. She looked at up at her savior.
He appeared to be in a black bodysuit with gold armor, with a wolfish helmet with long ears, fangs and green gem on the forehead, he also had a gorget on around the neck. Gold chest plate armor surrounded his upper body and he has some gold shoulder armored pads and a green gem is on the center. All over his arms were gold armor as well and he has armored gloves. A skull themed ring was on his finger. On his legs were gold leg armor and gold armored boots and around his waist was a gold belt with a red triangle with gold outlines. In his right hand, is a golden broadsword with a red triangle. His eyes held a blue color. This was the Golden Knight, Garo.
Garo sheathed his broadsword in a gold sheath. He noticed the injured Aiz and approached her before kneeling down and examining her. Aiz was surprised by this man's sudden appearance and how he took down monsters easily when a Level Five adventurer couldn't. Was he a higher level? If so, where did he get his gear from and where was his Party?
"Are you okay?" Garo asked, examining her wound and breaking Aiz's trail of thought.
Aiz tried standing but her injured leg was preventing her from doing so.
"I'll get you help." Garo said before carrying Aiz bridal style. She was caught offguard and lightly blushed. This seemed like a fairy tale that her mother would read to her when she was a child, about the knight rescuing a princess. Aiz just looked at him before passing out form the massive amount of blood loss.
"That Horror must've cut a deep wound for her to pass out like that." The ring remarked.
Garo just walked towards a safe zone.
"Let's get her some help."
When there is light, shadows lurk and fear reigns. Yet by the blade of knights, mankind was given hope.
(Play Savior In The Dark by JAM Project)
[Yuke kaze no gotoku. Sadame no kenshi yo, yami ni magirete.] The song starts with the camera zooming in a dark background before Garo slashed the screen. The scene soon changed to a silhouetted Bell in a combat position.
[Nani yue tatakau no ka? Sore wa ken ni kike.] Garo spends some time doing poses before the camera changes to Bell, without his coat, practicing with two giant pendulums in a training room underneath the church that he lives in.
[Seigi da to ka ai nado ore wa oi-kakenai] The camera soon changes to a white background where Garo and the axe-wielding Makai Knight, Giga, were fighting together.
[Yami ni umare…Yami ni shinobi…Yami wo kiri-saku.] Several demonic hands reach for the light but only to see Garo get in between them and cutting down the hands.
[Haruka na inishie kara uketsuida simei da kara.] The camera sees the wicked smile of a hooded figure before seeing Horrors and Dungeon monsters. The camera soon changes to Garo doing various things such as writing a rune with his sword and fighting a Horror.
[Yuke kaze no gotoku. Makai no kenshi yo] A Horror blasts a dark fire ball but Garo shook off the attack before using his Blazing Armament mode. The camera soon changes to Garo riding Goten and Bell transforming into Garo.
[Tamashoo we kometa. Ikari no yaiba tataki-tsukete. Jidai ni kagayake!] The camera switches between Bell and Garo. Garo was dealing with Horrors while Bell was dealing with Dungeon monsters. The two soon did the same poses, switching in and out.
[GARO!] The camera soon changes view to see the title of the story.
(In the city of Orario)
The town was bustling with people of all different races and professions enjoying their time. Merchants were keeping their businesses up, commoners buying or working with no problems, and the adventurers heading out to make a name for themselves as they test their luck in the Dungeon, an underground labyrinth hoarding monsters from goblins to dragons with rewards well worth the toil.
A young man was approaching the Guild building, an organization which buys loot from the adventurers and advises them when entering the Dungeon. He had white hair and crimson eyes, a black duster, a red shirt beneath a layer of what seemed to be a dark leather armor of a kind with matching pants and boots, and fingerless gloves with the skull ring being attached to his left middle finger as the majority of his left arm was covered up in armor. He was also carrying a bag holding something.
His eyes soon caught the sight of a young lady with brown hair, green eyes, elf ears, and wore something that resembled a business suit with glasses. She appeared to be walking out with some papers.
"Eina!" The young man called, catching the woman's attention.
"Oh Bell!" Eina greeted before Bell approached her.
"Out of curiosity, what do you know of Aiz Wallenstein?" Bell asked, slightly surprising Eina. She soon shook off the small shock. Eina then gestured Bell to come into the Guild building before they went to a booth. There Bell told the half-elf of his encounter with Aiz and the demons known as Horrors.
Little did most people know but there is a secret order called the Makai, a group dedicated towards protecting the peaceful sentient races from the demons that are Inga, or sin, incarnate called Horrors.
Bell is a member of the Makai Order but more specifically he was a Makai Knight, a Horror Hunter. And not just any Knight, he inherited the armor of Garo, the Legendary Golden Knight and the best Knight out of the Order. In Orario, there were groups called Familias, individuals who are blessed with a god's Grace, their blessing and support. Each Familia serve a different function such as treasure hunting or blacksmithing. But certain Familias and their gods are actually part of the Makai Order.
Bell was the sole member of the Hestia Familia but he didn't mind. Hestia, his goddess, is one of the few deities that knew of the Makai but couldn't recruit anyone, Makai or not. Bell was in the same position, he couldn't join any Familia without raising attention so the two met and helped each other out. Also, Bell wanted to help and make sure that this Goddess doesn't feel alone and helpless.
"So, the Order sent you to the Fifth Floor, huh?" Eina asked, breaking Bell's train of thought.
A few of the Guild were authorized to know of the Order due to the Dungeon housing forgotten Madou artifacts and Horrors. Eina was Bell's Dungeon advisor so he would know what Dungeon Floor to start searching.
"Yeah, make sure this gets to my 'employer' soon and I mean very soon." Bell answered as he gave her the bag.
Eina opened the bag and a purple light emerged from it before Eina closed it immediately.
"I'll make sure this gets safely to her." Eina said before remembering Bell's request. She soon had a teasing expression on her face. "Don't tell me you fallen in love with Miss Wallenstein, the girl who you saved."
"I'm telling you it is love at first sight." The ring joked.
Bell just smiled before shaking his head.
"It's nothing like that, Zaruba. I'm just curious." Bell answered. But what he really wanted to know if it was safe to leave her with memories regarding their encounter. The Makai Order and Horrors are secret for a reason and that is for people to live peacefully without any fear of the darkness known as light. Horrors can possess people through items infected with Inga called Gates or just doing it physically before making their host cannibalize their own kind or other peaceful ones. People don't have to know that Horrors but Aiz has a hint as well as Makai Knights and their armor.
"Very well." Eina said, thinking this as a reward for Bell's hard work today in the Dungeon. "Aiz Wallenstein. Part of the Loki Familia. Currently Level Five. She's said to be one of the strongest swordsmen in Orario and the gods have given her the title 'Sword Princess'."
"Her pride must be hurt then, to fall as a near victim for a Horror so easily." Bell mused, wondering if Aiz felt anything after that encounter.
"I wouldn't worry about that. Also I can't say I've ever heard anybody saying that she has a 'special someone'." Eina teased.
"I'm not interested in that." Bell said but Zaruba chuckled.
"I don't know, you might stand a chance." Zaruba joked, earning a sigh from his partner.
"I just want to know if her acknowledgement of the Horrors and my armor will be a problem." Bell explained before the sun started setting.
The two soon got up and continued talking.
"Besides, you're using your blessing of goddess Hestia and position in the Hestia Familia as a cover, right?" Eina asked, earning a nod from Bell. "So you can't get close enough to check on her, given your cover, but you should probably just relax. No use on pondering the past and I doubt Miss Wallenstein will cause trouble."
Bell sighed and nodded. He was thinking that maybe Eina was right. Even if Aiz wanted to tell, no one would believe her without proof plus this just means that he has to be more careful in the future. He earned some good amount of time off working in the Dungeon today plus since he is a Makai Knight, it was only a matter of time before he gets an assignment in the town.
"Go and trade in the magic stones you earned today for money." Eina encouraged. Even Makai members need to make ends meet to survive in today's society.
"Right." Bell said before going to the currency exchange. A drawer opened up and Bell dropped a few colorful gems before the drawer closed and came back with a small pouch of coins.
"Here you go, 4500 valis." The receptionist said before Bell took the pouch and shook it to hear the sound of gold coins clattering.
"Thanks." Bell said before making his way to the exit. He stopped and looked at Eina. "Well, I'll be leaving."
"Okay and Bell…good job on today's find. I'll make sure this gets to your 'employer'. Now just relax a bit, you earned it." Eina smiled.
Bell smiled back before leaving the Guild building to go home.
"So what are your plans for tonight, seeing that we didn't get an assignment so far?" Zaruba wondered.
"I might as well check in on the Goddess, she's probably quite eager to see me after a long day's work." Bell answered. Ever since Bell joined the Hestia Familia, Hestia has been really clingy with Bell and had developed romantic feelings for him. Bell knew this but he also knew that a relationship between a human and a Goddess would never work out, given that deities are immortal and have the same appearance forever. But he does repay his gratitude in loyalty plus Hestia wouldn't let him go unless it involves the Makai Order.
Bell soon walked into a worn down church and went inside before going through the door next to the altar, revealing a set of stairs that go down. He followed them.
"I'm home, Lady Hestia!" Bell announced before being hugged by a seemingly young girl.
She has roundish blue eyes and light-black hair tied into two twin tails. Her hair reaches down to her mid thigh. The two twin tails are held up by bows that resemble white and blue flower petals and two rectangular "bell" shaped ornaments. She also wore a white mini dress with a blue ribbon around her collar and one tied under her breasts around her arms, and a pair of white gloves. She was also barefooted. This was the Goddess who is leader and founder of the Hestia Familia, Hestia herself.
"Welcome back, Bell!" Hestia cheerfully greeted before looking at Bell. "You're home early today."
Bell nodded.
"Yeah, the relic was sorta easy to find in the Dungeon today plus there weren't as many Horrors that I expected." Bell answered before Hestia examined him for any injuries.
"Really? No injuries?" Hestia asked as she continued her examination. "If you die on me, it'll really be traumatic."
Bell chuckled, appreciating the Goddess's gesture. She was like a little sister to him regardless of their working relationship.
"What about me?" Zaruba asked, pretending to be hurt. Hestia only giggled before looking at the Madou ring.
"You lived for just as long as I have, Zaruba. There's no doubt that you're going to live even more." Hestia said, reminding the ring of his properties.
"It doesn't hurt to be a little concerned, at least." Zaruba replied, feeling a little left out.
Bell just smiled as he got Hestia off her.
"It's nothing to worry about, Lady Hestia." Bell said before kneeling down so they can look at each other face to face since Hestia was shorter than Bell. "Despite being the Golden knight, I'm the only member of the Hestia Familia. Goddess or not, I wouldn't leave you alone and helpless in the world."
"Ahem." Zaruba coughed.
"And Zaruba too." Bell assured, making Hestia have a bright smile.
"Okay, glad to hear it! I'm going to choose to believe that, so you'd better not let me or the Order down!" Hestia said before remembering something. "Oh, right! I have a delicious present for you today!" Hestia soon turned around and presented a plate full of fried potatoes. "Ta-dah!"
"Where'd you get the fried potatoes?" Bell asked as he hung his duster up.
"I'm pretty sure you don't cook well." Zaruba said, looking at the fried potatoes and earning a glare from Hestia.
"You know how I started working at that food stand? Since more customers started coming, they gave it to me as a reward!" Hestia said before turning to Bell with a bright smile on her face. She looked confident. "Let's have a fancy party for our dinner. Bell…I'm not letting you get any sleep tonight!" Hestia said confidently with a thumb's up.
"As confident as ever, Lady Hestia." Bell complimented, making Hestia's smile even bright. To her, Bell's compliments made the work all the worthwhile. "But, don't forget that I have patrol later so I'm not sleeping for a while anyways."
"Well you can't patrol on an empty stomach." Zaruba responded.
"True." Bell and Hestia sat next to each other on the couch as they started eating the fried potatoes.
"Anyways…I still can't find anybody else who wants to join my Familia." Hestia said before taking another bite of her potato. "Maybe it can't be helped, since I'm a goddess nobody's ever heard of."
"I don't see the reason. You get the same Blessing no matter which god you serve, though." Bell said as he took a bite out of his potato.
"Well, as for me…I wouldn't mind it being just the two of us for a little longer." Hestia flirted, slightly surprising Bell but he didn't seemed phased. He looked at her and she blushed. "Nevermind!" Hestia said to him, not realizing that she said it out loud when it was supposed to be in her thoughts. She soon decided to change the topic to make things less awkward. "It does bother me that I'm making you do all the work alone, though."
"Don't worry about it." Bell assured. "You worked just as hard. You even brought us dinner for tonight."
However, that compliment wasn't enough as Hestia adopted a downcast look and looked away after swallowing another bite.
"But it's all I can do…" Hestia said. "I wish I could at least use my divine power, my Arcanum…But there's a rule that says you can't use it on the lower world. I'm sorry that I made you, the Golden Knight, made a contract with such a useless goddess."
She felt a little bad because Bell is out grinding and all she can do is work in the town and try to make money for her and Bell. Bell offered to pay but Hestia turned him down, saying that it's her responsibility to take care of the Familia since Bell would need that money for supplies. But while he was risking his life, she was doing nothing but hard work in labor.
"Don't be ridiculous, Lady Hestia." Bell said, surprising the seemingly young Goddess. "Our Familia is just getting started. Maybe not today or tomorrow, but surely the future wouldn't leave us hanging to dry. We just need to endure."
"Bell…" Hestia looked at him with a blush and a couple small tears. Bell was always an optimist and always finds the bright side in every situation. This is what made her fall in love with Bell, his delicate nature and optimistic personality. She can see why he's worthy of the title of Golden Knight. "Thank you! I'm so lucky to have met somebody like you!"
Hestia soon wiped off her tears before standing up proud and confident let before.
"Okay, let's upgrade your status and make ourselves a better future!"
"As you wish, Lady Hestia." Bell said confidently, feeling like he has a small family. He soon told Hestia of his Madou Relic Hunt and the encounter with Aiz along with saving her. Hestia seemed a little surprised but she soon shook the off.
"No surprise to me. Even someone from the Loki Familia can be killed easily by a Horror. The only exception is anyone from the Makai Order, you know that." Hestia said as Bell was cleaning the pot. Soon an annoying thought reached her brain. "Wait a minute, what's your interest in Aiz Wallenwhatsit!?" Hestia asked, feeling a bit jealous.
Zaruba was on his stand and had an amused look while Bell just sighed due to the fact that so many people are making a big deal out of this.
"I'm just worried. If Aiz is as strong as others say, then I fear that she'll investigate me and find out about the Order. I didn't have a Priest with me to erase her memories. She simply came in at the wrong place at the wrong time." Bell explained and Hestia nodded, understanding his concern.
Hestia thought about it as well. If she was in that situation, she would've begun investigating almost immediately upon returning to the town. And since Aiz was in the Loki Familia, they're bound to have a lot more resources to do so. The young goddess then looked at the Golden Knight with one question left in her head.
"So…you don't have any personal feelings for this girl?" Hestia asked.
"I just met her." Bell answered and it gave some closure to Hestia. She sighed in relief, thinking that she might have a chance to get Bell's love. Bell studied her expression and could tell that she was thinking of him. He never told Hestia that it would never work out because he didn't want to hurt her feelings.
He soon finished cleaning then grabbed Zaruba and his duster before placing them on. He then proceeded to leave.
"I'm heading out on patrol." Bell said. Every night, he would go out and patrol the town late at night in search of Horrors as do other Makai Knights and Priests in other parts of the city.
"Stay safe." Hestia said before Bell left the church and went outside to start his nightly routine. Hestia then sat by herself on the couch and began musing to herself. "I wish he had stats that I can look at." Hestia said, wanting to know Bell's strength.
But Bell wasn't a real adventurer, he just poses as one to avoid suspicion of his real profession, a Makai Knight. The Makai Order believes that if a stats tattoo were to be exposed to a Horror, they could easily kill their opponents with extreme precision and brutality. The Makai Priests developed a spell which permanently hidden any signs of a skill tattoo that all Knights and Priests must take. The spell was thorough, not even any of the gods could expose it.
"Maybe it's for the best." Hestia mused out loud. "It makes Bell a unique adventurer even if he never was one. No level and no skills make them unpredictable but it makes them unique since they can change so easily without anyone predicting their moves. Unlike us gods, who never changed and are always predictable."
Hestia then smiled.
"Ah who cares? Skills or not, Bell is Bell and that's what only matters to me." Hestia thought before getting ready to sleep while Bell was working the night routine.
(The next day)
It was morning and Bell woke up to see Hestia clinging onto him on the couch he slept in. Bell just sighed before prying her off without waking her up. Bell changed from his nightwear to his usual Makai outfit but minus the duster.
He then looked to the side and saw his sword, the Garoken, sheathed in red wood but some parts were wrapped in black and had a few metal parts on it. The hilt was also red with some black wrapped around and on the hilt was the triangle that represents the symbol of Garo. Bell smiled as he stared into the sword that his father bore and his father before that, the one before that and so on.
Bell was about to go downstairs for some training before noticing a red letter on his desk. It was an assignment by the Makai Order. Bell went to his duster and pulled out a silver lighter with a red metal eye in the center. He opened it, revealing a green flame. Just recently, the order issued these new Madou Lighters to serve as a replacement to the lanterns that they use. Bell only used it a couple of times but it was an improvement over the candle.
"New orders?"
Bell turned to see Hestia awake, rubbing her eye and covering her mouth as she yawned.
"Yeah." Bell said before opening the lighter and burning the letter. The letter turned to green scraps which floated around before forming a message in the Makai language. Bell soon read it out loud. "Once again, the Dungeon houses a dark Horror that has a taken a hold of a fallen adventurer. Defeat the Horror known as Cyrex before he pulls others into the fold."
"So a Horror Hunt today? No relics?"
"Afraid not." Bell said before brushing his teeth, taking a bath, eating breakfast, and finally changing into his Makai outfit. He took Zaruba off his stand before looking at him, straight in the eye. "Zaruba, let's go."
"What is it now, Bell? I was enjoying my sleep." Zaruba complained, making Bell chuckle. He soon turned towards Hestia and bowed.
"I'll be off now, Lady Hestia. Wish me luck!" Bell said before he left.
"Good luck!" Hestia said before going through the morning routine herself.
(Later in the Dungeon)
Bell just slashed through another monster before it exploded into ash, leaving behind a magic stone. Bell knelt over, picked it up, and placed it in his bag before walking down the hall.
"How much longer until we find this guy?" Bell asked Zaruba. He's been here for a couple hours already and didn't see any sign of Cyrex nor did Zaruba alert him of anything, only a faint trail.
"This guy is a slippery one, I'll give him that. But I assure you that he's in this floor." Zaruba said.
"If that's what you say, Zaruba." Bell said before continuing down the hall.
"Alright, you buggers! Who's first!?" A male voice said from afar and by the sound of it, it looks like he was in combat.
"You hear that?" Bell asked.
"Yeah and now I'm sensing…a huge bunch of lesser Horrors!" Zaruba said, making Bell run to the scene as fast as he can. Bell stopped when seeing a dwarf in a dark outfit like his fighting a huge bunch of Horrors with a one-handed axe with a pointed end.
"Come on, you Horrors! I can cut through your Inga as if I was cutting down a tree with no hands!" The dwarf mocked before one of the Horrors charged at him. He braced himself before the Horror that charged was sliced in half. He saw Bell and his eyes widened as did Bell's when he examined the dwarf.
Other than his short height, he had light skin and a long black beard but had a short hair cut. He had a tattoo of a dwarven tribal mark over one of his blue eyes and wore a silver necklace of a man wearing a bull mask.
"Dalton!" Bell recognized.
"Bell!"
Like Bell, Dalton was also a Makai Knight stationed in Orario and was charged with searching for relics and hunting Horrors in the town and Dungeon. They met on a couple of assignments but they were surprised to see each other now. They soon expressed their surprise by shaking hands.
"What are you doing here?" Bell asked his Dwarven friend.
"I can ask you the same thing, lad. I was out on a relic hunt which was supposed to be on this floor. My Dungeon advisor told me it would be I a secret treasure room."
"Bell, a treasure room could be the perfect bait that we need." Zaruba said, he and Bell knowing how much adventurers love treasure.
"Bait? Are you in a Horror Hunt?" Dalton asked, earning a nod from Bell.
"A Horror possessed an adventurer and Eina told me of adventurers coming onto this floor. I thought that could be a good lead." Bell explained before coming up with an idea. "How about we work together on this? Help each other out."
Dalton scratched his beard as he was thinking. He needed to reach the treasure room first and secure the relic while Bell needed that room as bait to hunt the Horror that he was looking for this entire day. Two Knights helping each other would be taking out two birds with one stone. Dalton soon smiled as he looked at Bell.
"It's a done deal."
Bell smiled as the two shook hands.
"So any hints?" Bell asked, wondering how far Dalton was on his search before he came in. Dalton pulled out a map from his cloak.
"My Dungeon advisor told me rumors of a map torn in pieces. The map is supposed to lead to the treasure room when it is completed. I've been hunting and gathered most of the fragments. There's only one left." Dalton revealed, having done a lot of work before.
"So any luck on finding that last piece?" Zaruba asked.
"Not really but only a small riddle." Dalton said as he took out a note that he found that came with the last piece of the map that he found. "'The element that gives life will give more. What the bloody heck does that mean? Sounds like Elvish gibberish to me."
Bell grabbed the note before studying a bit and showing it to Zaruba as well.
"Any ideas. Zaruba?" Bell asked and Zaruba appeared to be thinking.
"Well, let's take this bit by bit. What one element is crucial to all life?" Zaruba asked and the two Makai Knights thought about it.
"Food? Water?" Dalton asked, earning a nod of agreement from Bell.
"Yes, I would argue that water is a crucial element to life." Bell agreed.
"So that means that there could a spring nearby." Zaruba hypothesized, meaning that a nearby spring should hold the last fragment but there was one problem…
"No offense, but I don't think that's very likely. I've searched this entire damn Floor and I haven't seen any signs of a spring."
"Have you looked everywhere?" Bell said before looking at the map.
"Aye, I did but…no one has ever fully mapped out a Dungeon Floor and I mean everything." Dalton said, thinking that he might've missed the spring or didn't look hard enough.
Bell was thinking on the next course of action.
"Okay, how about this?" Bell started before pointing at the place where Dalton found his most recent fragment. "We'll go to the place you recently obtained a fragment. A spring or any signs of a source for water should be nearby. How does that sound?"
Dalton stroked his beard as he began thinking before shrugging.
"It's better than nothing." The dwarf said before he led Bell to the location. After getting through the Dungeon monsters and a couple lesser Horrors, they arrived in what appeared to be a small church with an altar.
"An old church…" Bell remarked before looking around. This is the first time he saw something of the Dungeon that really seemed out of place. An altar, which really didn't make much sense to be in a place like the Dungeon and raises questions in Bell's mind. Was the Dungeon much more before becoming such a dangerous place?
"Hey Bell, don't forget that we have a job here." Dalton reminded, breaking Bell's train of thought and getting his focus.
"Right." Bell said as he approached Dalton. "So, where did you find the fragment?"
"Right here, on the altar." Dalton said before Bell looked around and there were no other doorways besides the one that they used to get here. "I'm telling you, this might be a lost cause."
"You always say that and what happens?" Bell asked with a smile.
"Turns out the answer was always right in front of me this whole time." Dalton sighed as he remembered past missions with Bell. Bell chuckled at Dalton's response.
"Remember the Hemovile assignment?" Bell asked, causing Dalton to shiver a little bit.
"How can I forget? Losing your virginity to a Horror is not something you can forget." Dalton recalled, remembering that unpleasant feeling he had after…the deed. "To be fair, the Horror knows enough alcohol to get me distracted and I mean really distracted."
Bell just laughed a little before looking for a place that water can be held here. He soon noticed a basin where holy water was kept. He gestured Dalton to come over before the two saw that the basin was dried empty.
"What did I say? A waste our-."
Bell lifted the basin, revealing that the stand has been hollowed out with water. He looked at Dalton with a cheeky smile.
"Oh, don't you start!" Dalton exclaimed before placing his arms in the water before realizing that they weren't long enough to reach the bottom of the stand. "Hey um…you mind helping?"
Bell smiled before Dalton removed his arms and allowed Bell to do it. He rolled up his sleeves before looking at Zaruba.
"Hold your breath."
"I don't even breathe-." Zaruba started before Bell plunged his arms into the water. He could hear Zaruba gurgling on the water as small air bubbles came out. Bell's arms soon reached the bottom and he felt something. He grabbed the item before dragging his arms out and looked at Zaruba.
"You okay?" Bell asked, noticing the somewhat irritated expression that Zaruba is wearing.
Zaruba said nothing but spit water in his face.
"Hey!"
"There's my answer." Zaruba plainly answered before Bell looked at the item he found which was a small wooden box. He opened it to see a scrap of paper which has to be the final fragment.
"The answer always is right in front of you." Bell remarked as he gave the paper to Dalton. The Dwarven Makai Knight took out the map and attached it before reading it. Bell sat down on a pew as Dalton was reading the map. "By the way, how is Lana doing?"
Lana was an Elvish Makai Priestess, a magic user of the Makai Order. Makai Priests serve as a Knight's support but they could also hold off Horrors on their own. They were also the ones responsible for coming up with new tools that would benefit the Makai Order like the new Madou Lighters.
"She's doing well enough." Dalton said with a light blush. Bell knew that the two were dating and had always thought so when working on the assignments that he was given to work with them.
"That's really good to hear but how come she isn't here with you?" Bell asked with a curious look. As far as he knew it, those two were inseparable.
"S-She's gathering materials to work on new seals and spells." Dalton explained as he continued reading. "And Bell…."
"Hm?"
"I was thinking of asking her the big question soon. You know, marriage." Dalton said, surprising Bell. Bell knows that the two were close but not close enough to be considered as a married couple. This was a pleasant surprise.
"That's great, Dalton! I say you should go for it." Bell smiled, happy for his friend.
"T-Thanks, anyways, I know where the treasure room is now." Dalton said before he and Bell approached the altar.
Dalton looked at the symbol on it which was an angel. Dalton soon placed his fingers on the wings and pushed them in. Soon the entire altar moved to the side, revealing downward stairs. The two followed it and found a room filled with a good amount of magic stones and treasure chests but that didn't intrigue the two Makai Knights. They looked around and saw a mechanical skull with a green gem in the forehead. Dalton went over and picked it up.
"I think this is it." Dalton said before taping the forehead, making the skull's eyes glow. It then shined a light at the wall revealing a faint trail of Inga. "So this thing is an Inga detector." Dalton guessed.
"Pretty handy to have when you need a good solid trail but I won't need anything like that on this hunt. Only this room is all I need." Bell said as Dalton placed the Inga Detector in his duster.
"So you need my help to set the trap?" Dalton asked, seeing that he owed Bell.
Bell nodded.
"Just the bait." Bell said before taking a few of the magic stones and giving them to Dalton. "Look around for the adventurers and when they see you, they're bound to get curious of you loot. When they do, drop the map and I'll handle the rest." Bell explained. "You go it."
"Aye, lad but you don't need my help to fight the Horror?" Dalton asked.
Bell shook his head.
"I can take care of this. You should worry about using the money from those magic stones to buy the perfect wedding ring for Lana." Bell said, earning a sigh from Dalton.
"I regret telling you about that." Dalton replied while Bell chuckled.
"Well, I don't wanna keep her waiting for you for long. She's a good woman. Hope she makes you happy."
"Thanks, Bell. I'll see you around." Dalton said before leaving. "Good luck on the Horror hunt."
Bell smiled as he watched the dwarf leave while Zaruba seemed apprehensive about Bell not needing his help.
"You sure you can do this on your own? Another Makai Knight's help can be useful." Zaruba pointed out.
"True but…someone's waiting for him. It's best not to keep that person waiting." Bell said, hoping that things will work out between Dalton and Lana.
"Won't take long for Dalton to find our adventurers and lure them here. So what should do in the meantime?" Zaruba asked.
Bell walked over to the dark corner of the treasure room before hearing the altar closed from Dalton's absence.
"We'll just wait here in the mean time." Bell said, not worrying about the possibility of being trapped in a treasure room underneath an altar in an abandoned church room. As he was waiting, he took some of the magic stones but not all to make the treasure room look convincing.
As he was waiting, Bell took a small nap against the corner of the room. As he was sleeping, he began visiting memory lane.
(Years ago)
A small Bell was sparring against a very much older man. Bell was attacking but the older man soon tripped him and bonked him on the head with the training sword that he was using.
"Come on, how are you going to fight like that if you wish to be my successor to Garo?" The older man asked before Bell got up with a defiant look.
"Don't underestimate me!" Bell said as he charged and continued fighting the man.
Soon after a day of sparring, it was night and the two were looking at the sky.
"Bell, you were fighting with nothing but rage. Eager to defeat me, that isn't the way of the Makai Knight let alone Garo. You can't protect anyone, not even yourself like that."
Bell started crying that he disappointed his mentor but the older man patted him on the back.
"Don't shed any tears, instead just smile at knowing that we can prevent tears." The man said.
"But…don't we cause them too?"
"Maybe, but they'll move on like we do." The man said. "So if you cry, don't do it over personal loss but do it for humanity's loss and what you can do to help."
Bell continued crying before he noticed stars out in the sky. They look magnificent and held a certain charm. The man soon noticed
"Our duty is to protect the people so that they can enjoy the beauty of this world has to offer like these stars." The man said. "Rage will not grant you strength but a resolute to protect those on need is where real strength lies. Remember that and you won't need raw strength to inherit my Garoken."
Bell thought about before smiling and wiping his tears.
"Thank you…Father."
(Present)
"I think this is it!" A voice said, waking Bell up from his dream. Dalton must've gave the bait to the Party nearby. He heard the altar beginning to slide open before Bell himself hid in a very dark corner of the treasure room.
"Finally maybe we can get an item-Aaah!"
Bell heard that and decided to investigate before noticing an adventurer stabbing his Party member in the back.
The other checked on the injured one before looking at the assailant like he was mad man.
"What is wrong with you!?"
"Nothing personal but I'm getting all this treasure to myself!"
That was when Bell decided to take action. He leapt from the shadows and landed in between the adventurers.
"What the?"
Bell looked at the injured innocent adventurers.
"Run." Bell said.
Normally, the adventurer would object and looked at his injured friend. He needed help and badly too from the look of it, the wound seemed really deep. The guy nodded and helped his friend before running away, leaving only the two of them.
"Who are you?" The adventurer asked.
"I can ask you the same thing." Bell said before opening his Madou Lighter in front of him. The adventurer's eyes soon had script appear in them, indicating that he was the Horror that Bell was assigned to find. "Horror Cyrex."
Cyrex growled at Bell before trying to punch Bell but he blocked it before Bell punched back, pushing Cyrex back up a bit. The Horror growled before charging with a series of punched followed by kicks but Bell dodged and blocked them before sending his own series of attacks.
He did a sweep kick but Cyrex jumped back and started running for the exit. Bell pulled out the Garoken before pulling the sword out of its sheath and placing it back in immediately. The sheath reacted to it before the metal ornaments on it turned into small ninja stars. He swung the sheath, launching the stars into Cyrex's back. This caused him to stumble a bit before Bel jumped over him and was now facing him.
"Damn you, Makai Knight." Cyrex cursed. "All I wanted was to make a name for myself in the Dungeon while earning magic stones. Is that so hard?"
"Spare me the sob story, Horror." Bell replied. He knows that a Horror is truly capable of. They know no other emotion, they just fake them. Horrors are only capable of consuming and satisfying the Inga within their hosts. "I saw you backstab your fellow adventurers. Do you expect me to believe that after watching nearly murder a person, a living being? If that's the case, you're a hypocrite."
"Shut up!" Cyrex said before pulling out his sword and charging. Bell pulled out Garoken and blocked Cyrex's attack. The two soon separated before Cyrex tried to slash Bell in the feet but Bell jumped and performed an aerial kick on Cyrex's face, instantly putting him down.
Cyrex got up as Bell landed on the ground before Cyrex charged again with his sword as he was trying to slash Bell away. Bell blocked Cyrex's sword with the Garoken's sheath. He soon slashed Cyrex a couple times before bashing him in the face with the Garoken's sheath. Cyrex stumbled backwards a bit while Bell approached him.
"Time to finish this." Bell raised his sword up in the air but…
Cryex slit his wrist an allowed his blood to get on the walls.
"You want me? You have to go through them first!" Cyrex said before running away. The blood soon turned to portals with demonic claws coming out. Lesser Horrors emerged and roared at Bell before getting out of the portals fully.
"What a cheap trick!" Zaruba remarked. Horror Blood can be used to attract other Horrors and it appears that Cyrex knew that full well.
"We need to get through them." Bell said as he charged at the three Lesser Horrors in front of him. One of the Horrors charged first but Bell slid underneath him before getting up and slashing it in the back multiple times before it dissipating away. The remaining two Horrors charged but Bell blocked them with his sheath before kicking one of the Horrors away. He jabbed the other Horror in the stomach with his sheath before slashing the demon a few times.
"To the side!" Zaruba called and Bell looked to see the other Horror rushing in at full speed. He used his sheath to knock the Horror that he was previously fighting on the ground before stabbing the one at full speed in the head with Garoken. The Horror was puking out blood before Bell removed Garoken, making the Horror scream in agony before dissipating into darkness.
Bell then rushed at the last Horror as he held the Gaorken in a reverse grip. He punched on the Horror before shoving the Garoken deep where he thinks its heart was. The Horror screamed in agony before it dissipated away into darkness. Bell looked at where Cyrex ran off to before looking at Zaruba.
"Zaruba, can you track it?" Bell asked.
"He already left the Dungeon Floor. Turns out that the exit wasn't as far as we thought it was." Zaruba explained, making Bell a little annoyed that he couldn't catch his target. "Still that Horror would have to consume, I bet you that he'd go back into town."
Bell nodded, understand Zaruba's logic. It would seem like something that the Horror would do, given their primal instincts.
"Okay, here's the plan. We'll go back into town and resupply then we'll start searching by goin to the most popular taverns around." Bell said.
"You sure that Cyrex will be as reckless as that?"
"A few certain traits of the adventurer that he possessed is bound to stay there besides it's also a good spot to feed on, seeing how many adventurers are going to be there." Bell said.
"You have a point. Should we go now?"
Bell nodded before he proceeded to the exit.
(In Hestia Familia HQ)
"So you couldn't catch the Horror?" Hestia asked as she was looking around in her closet for something.
Bell himself stabbed his sword into the mouth of wolfish statue nearby. No one can permanently kill a Horror, not even Makai Knights. Their swords usually capture the souls of the Horrors they killed and placed them in these wolfish statues to send those souls back to be sealed in the realm of the Makai.
"No, but he's bound to come to the town to feast. No Horror can resist the chance to find the perfect person as dinner." Bell said before pulling his sword out. "Looks like the purification is complete."
The wolfish statue is folded up into the wall, making it look like that it was never here. Bell sheathed his sword before placing it in his duster. He then approached Hestia with a smile.
"Forgive me, Lady Hestia but it looks like I'm coming back home really late." Bell apologized.
"It's okay, I can't blame you. I have plans of my own." Hestia said before finding a coat and placing it on.
"Where are you going?"
"A few of my co-workers are throwing a party and I was invited. Sorry, but it looks like you have to eat dinner without me." Hestia said before leaving. "Good luck on the Horror Hunt."
"Thanks, have fun at the party."
She was soon gone and Bell was ready to leave on his own. Bell soon looked at Zaruba.
"Zaruba, can you point me at the nearest tavern?" Bell asked.
"I think so, the closest one would be The Hostess of Fertility." Zaruba answered. "It's not that far and a lot of strong adventurers usually go there to blow some steam off after a hard day's work in the Dungeon. Could the best lead that we got." Zaruba remarked. The place must be doing will in business to receive that kind of customers.
Bell's stomach started grumbling, signaling its hunger.
"I suppose we could also eat there as well." Bell joked before leaving.
(In Orario)
It was night and Bell was walking and noticed the tavern. He looked inside and it seemed very typical. All around, adventurers were feasting, drinking, or wagering while playing card games while boasting on the success they made in the Dungeon while waitresses catered to their orders. Bell went inside and looked around, looking for Cryrex before a young waitress with gray eyes and hair approached him.
"Welcome to the Hostess of Fertility!" The waitress greeted."Are you alone or with others?"
"I'm all by myself, unfortunately but I am expecting someone soon." Bell answered with a chuckle.
"Shall I keep you company?" The waitress asked.
"No need, I do need a place to sit though." Bell said.
"Of course." The waitress led him in before seating him down up front where orders and drinks were picked up. "Let me know if you need anything."
"Thank you, um…"
"Syr Flova, nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you, Syr. My name is Bell Cranel." Bell introduced as he looked at the menu.
"Would you like something?" Syr asked.
"I'll have a glass of water and some pasta, please." Bell requested earning a nod from Syr. Bell took out his money pouch and sounded the amount of valis in there. There was the 4500 valis from yesterday and the magic stones that he turned in from the treasure room gave him 5700 valis. He should be able to have a good amount left over since he wants to help the Familia despite Hestia's reluctance.
Soon his meal and drink appeared in front of him, catching Bell offguard. Bell looked up and saw a big middle-aged lady with a brown ponytail.
"So you're Syr's friend? You look pretty cute, for an adventurer." Mia, the owner and cook of the tavern, said as she studied Bell.
Bell didn't mind another friend or the compliment but he was a little embarrassed though he didn't show it.
"Thank you for the food, ma'm." Bell said as he looked at the menu again. The water was 100 valis while the pasta was 300. This was only a fraction so Bell can just eat happily before his assigned Horror appeared.
Soon Mia dropped a fried fish for Bell, surprising him since he didn't make an order for this.
"It's not enough, right? Here's today's special!" Mia winked.
"Uh, I didn't order this." Bell pointed out before realizing that Syr might've ordered this as a way of flirting or something. Maybe she just likes to tease.
"Don't hold back! You're still young." Mia said before leaving to tend other orders. Bell turned to the board to see how much today's special is worth and it turned out that it was 850 valis.
"That one might make a dent in your wallet." Zaruba joked.
"Maybe but I still have a lot, I'm only counting from today and yesterday." Bell said as he was eating. While eating, Syr approached him.
"Are you having fun?" Syr asked with an anticipated look on her face.
"It's definitely something." Bell replied with a smile as Syr giggled.
"I'm glad this is a night you'll remember. It looks like I'll be able to count on getting paid a lot tonight." Syr smiled while Bell smiled back.
"That's great for you." Bell said as he started eating the fish while Syr looked all around the pub.
"Isn't it great how many different kinds of people come here? When there's so many people, there's so many things to discover…I can't help but get excited. You could say that my hobby is meeting new people. It makes my heart pound." Syr said excitingly as she placed her hands on her heart.
Bell looked around and had a soft smile. All these people were playing, eating, and drinking with each other as they all shared laughs. It's one of the reasons why he thought being a Makai Knight was something worthwhile. Because every Horror that he sealed, the more people can feel safe and enjoy life with no worries just like this. It warmed his heart.
"Yeah…I know how you feel." Bell smiled as he continued eating his food.
"Nya! The customers with reservations have arrived!" A waitress announced as she let the guests come in. Everyone stopped what they were doing as they looked at them with widened eyes.
Soon a young woman came in first with light red hair and red eyes. She wore jeans with had black stockings with blue boots and a shirt that show off her stomach. Everyone knew her as the Goddess Loki. Behind her were her Familia which consisted of a dwarf, two elves, a pallum, two amazoness, and a werewolf. And lastly, Aiz Wallenstein came in with a bandage around her injured leg.
"Hey, she's gorgeous!" An adventurer remarked.
"You idiot! Look at the emblem! She's from the Loki Familia!" His friend corrected.
"You mean the Giant-Killing Familia? So that's the Sword Princess?" The adventurer now recognized, knowing the Loki Familia's feats.
Bell continued eating as he eyed the girl that he saved yesterday in the Dungeon. He was curious if Aiz would bring up that fact. Bell just ate as he saw a feast being set up at the Loki Familia's table. Loki held her mug up high.
"Good work out there in the Dungeon, guys! We're having a feast tonight! So drink up!" Loki said and everyone toasted her before feasting.
"Okay, let's drunk!"
"Cheers."
Bell looked at Syr for answers and Syr could just tell that as well by his expression.
"The Loki Familia are regular customers. It seems their goddess, Lady Loki, really likes this place."
Loki was trying to 'touch' Aiz but she bonked her on the head.
"That hurts, Aiz!" Loki said with a bump on her head.
"You brought it on yourself." Aiz simply said as she looked down at her bandage. It appears that she couldn't get the image of Garo saving her out of her head. She also can't help but think on the Horrors as well. What were those beings? Were they always in the Dungeon and how many of them are there?
'She seems like she's thinking about it.' Bell remarked as he took a sip of his water before continuing to eat. He kept watching to see what move that Aiz would make.
"Aiz, let's tell them all about that thing." The werewolf, Bete, said and he looks like that he was drunk.
"That thing?" Aiz was caught offguard.
"You know. We let a bunch of minotaurs escape on our way back. "You took the last one on the Fifth Floor, right? But then when we came to find you, you were sitting against the floor entrance with a makeshift bandage on your leg."
That was when Bell immediately paid attention to this as he was drinking his glass of water.
"You said something about some demons or whatever killing the minotaur and tried to kill you, hence the wound. Then you said a knight in shining gold armor saved you! What a load of horse crap, right!?" Bete laughed.
Bell was somewhat relieved, thankful that despite being told about, no one believed the mighty Sword Princess.
"Enough of that, Bete. You're drunk." The green-haired else, known as Riveria, said. "We can't verify anything but from the look of the room, there was definitely sign of a battle and not to mention that Aiz's sword got broken. We have to repair that, using the money we earned today and yesterday."
"But the whole part of a golden knight is made up, right? It has to be." Bete said before looking at Aiz. "Come on, Aiz. Just be clear with us about this, huh? You were making that part of the Golden Knight up just so you won't admit to screwing up on one monster hunt."
Aiz just stared at him with her usual emotionless glare. Bell, however, felt relieved before seeing Cyrex drinking amongst his friends.
"Time to go to work." Bell quietly said before standing up and getting the money out before laying them next to his food. "For the food and a tip."
"You're leaving?" Syr asked.
"Need to talk with someone here." Bell said before pulling out his sheathed Garoken and walking up to Cyrex. Cyrex noticed and his eyes widened at Bell's appearance. "You can't escape from me this time, Horror."
Cyrex then made a break for it while Bell chased after him, catching a lot of attention.
"What's that a dine-and-dash?"
"Those two must have guts to that in a place like Mama Mia's." Loki remarked, obviously drunk though.
Aiz's eyes widened when she saw the triangular symbol on Garo's armor on Bell's Garoken and the back of his duster. She immediately went after them.
Meanwhile, Cyrex threw throwing knives at Bell before deflecting most of them with his sword. Bell then grabbed one of his own throwing knives and threw it. It landed in Cyrex's leg and he fell down when reaching the town square. Bell approached him while Aiz was hiding from around the corner.
"Damn you, Makai Knight! Now I'm mad!" Cyrex said before transforming to a big steel golem with a big sword. He lifted his welding mask, revealing a gruesome face. He roared before putting it down.
"He transformed into the monster?" Aiz wondered. She never saw a person turn into a monster and was wondering what Bell was doing with him.
Bell had a calm face before lifting his sword and cutting his circle of light. The circle shined down on him before his pieces of golden armor emerged before fusing with Bell, becoming Garo.
"It's him…" Aiz's eyes widened at seeing Garo, the one who saved her in the dungeon,
Cyrex roared before swinging down his huge greatsword. Garo dodged the hit before running up to the giant Horror and jumping before being smacked to the side. Garo quickly landed on the floor before Cyrex's shoulders started having turrets popping up. They all fired and Garo blocked the shots with his sheath.
Garo then charged before dodging the sword being swung down on him before slashing his armor, hoping to break it. He soon dodged Cyrex's sword before moving to behind Cyrex. Garo then jumped onto his back and plunged his sword deep into it. This made Cyrex scream in pain before trying to grab Garo, who just jumped off.
Garo then examined Cyrex's massive body before getting an idea. Garo then charged before dodging Cyrex's sword and jumping on the blade. He then ran up it before jumping off and plunging his blade into Cyrex's chest. Cyrex screamed in pain before falling down. Aiz got out of cover before watching Garo remove his sword and plunging it into the visor of Cyrex's head. He screamed before going limp. He soon dissipated into darkness as his essence was captured into the Garoken. Garo looked at where Aiz hid.
"I know where you're out there." Garo said before Aiz came out.
"You're the one who saved me, weren't you?" Aiz asked, now able to see and talk with the one who rescued her yesterday.
"Yeah…" Garo answered before reverting back to Bell. "It was me."
The two stared at each other, while bother were beginning to wonder the same question; what happens now?
(In the Dungeon)
Two hooded figures were walking down the hall before coming across a huge gate with purple markings. In front of the gate, there was a pedestal with two smaller pedestals next to it that required certain swords of a kind. And main pedestal required a special stone.
"Looks like we found it." The male hooded figure said.
"Ah and when we open it….the Dungeon and all of this world will once again face the darkened skies as fear resides in every corner." The female hooded figure added.
"So...shall we begin?"
The female hooded figure smiled.
"Thought you'd never ask."
AN: This is just part one of the debut! Part two, the newest chapter, is just around the corner!