Hello Fanfiction readers! Ashbel Longhart here, back again with the third chapter. Glad to see people liked the last chapter and the number of people Fav and Following this story is still increasing. Good, good. Anyway, before I continue, cue disclaimer!
(Disclaimer: I do not own Dungeon ni Deai wo Motomeru no wa Machigatteiru Darou ka, Danmachi for short, or Dark Souls. Both belong to their respective owners. I just own this idea and nothing more. Please Enjoy.)
Now then, since the last chapter was literally a day ago, I won't bother with a recap. I don't have a lot to say except get ready for a bit of action. Now then, it's time for some Jolly Adventuring!
Is It Too Much To Ask To Be Left Alone?
Grace 3: A Familiar Face(Companion)
[Bell Cranel] [Level: Seven(?)]
[Strength: S-999]
[Endurance(Resistance): S-999]
[Dexterity: S-999]
[Agility: S-999]
[Magic(Intelligence/Faith): S-999]
[Development Abilities: Abnormal Resistance-A, Hunter-A, Luck-D, Escape-B, Magic Resistance-B]
[Skills: Pyromancy, Sorcery, Miracles, Chosen Undead(Unkindled), Lord of Cinder, Soul of Cinder]
'Still the same.' Hestia thought to herself as she looked down at her child's stats. They were still the same outrageous stats since the first time she saw it. Looking through her child's excellia to see what he did yesterday, she was informed that her child had gone down as far as the Seventh Floor.
'If he were still a rookie, I would have berated him, but with these stats, he could go as far as the Deep Floors if he wanted!' Hestia thought as she scratches her head in frustration.
This doesn't make any sense! Half a month is how long Bell's been an Adventurer and just before the minotaur incident, he was still a normal Lv. 1. Yet when he got back, he was suddenly ranked up to Lv. 7! This unbelievable growth was just...unbelievable! It made absolutely no sense at all!
'Something happened during that Minotaur encounter.' Is what Hestia deduces. She could still look through Bell's experience just fine, yet it was like there was a gap, a missing piece of a puzzle. Not only that, but her child has been acting quite strangely as well.
'For example...' Looking to her left, Hestia stared at the armor set Bell had taken to wearing since the day he found it. According to her child, he had found it in a crate just sitting there in the church and just decided to take it. While Bell seemed happy to have the armor, Hestia was anything, but.
'What the heck is that Loki up to?' She thinks. She had found the card that came with the box and instantly recognized the trickster goddess' Familia emblem. It was no secret that she and Loki didn't have the best relationship with each other, something that had yet to cease even after they both descended from the Upper world.
Not only that but the armor. Just by looking at it, even someone like her could tell that it's top quality stuff too. She'd bet it would impress her friend's, Hephaestus, high standards on weapons and armor before she had come down from the Upper World. She had half a mind to guess that Hephaestus herself made it.
She thought about selling the armor as she didn't want anything that came from her hated enemy and in order to solve her Familia's money problems, but Bell glared at her when she suggested that.
Her own child glared at her! Bell! The kid who was as cute as a rabbit! She could hardly believe it! Just how much did he like that armor?
"Hestia? Are you done yet?" Hestia was brought out of her thoughts when Bell spoke up.
Looking down at her child and the stat sheet in her hands, the goddess sighs before getting off her child. She needed to think more about this. Perhaps talk to a friend about this. But who? Hephaestus? Miach? Takemikazuchi? Whatever the case, Hestia knew she had to hide away this fact from the other gods and goddesses. After all, the main reason gods came down from the Upper World was because they were starved for entertainment. Even she'll admit she came down for such a reason. If word about this got out, it would cause a major eruption where everyone would try to get their hands on Bell. After all, before this strange change in levels, there had only been one Lv. 7 Adventurer in Orario and he belonged in one of the strongest Familias in this city.
'Considering how bad a lier Bell is, I'll have to keep him in the dark until I know what to do from here.' Hestia thought to herself. Now if only she knew just how little she knew about the new Bell.
"Well then, I'm off." Hestia was brought out of her musing again when Bell spoke up. Looking up, it seems she was lost in her own thoughts longer than she thought as Bell was already finished putting back on his armor. She hadn't even heard him move!
"Ah! Have a good day!" Hestia quickly said.
"Yeah." Was all Bell said before taking his leave.
Waking up early in the morning, Ryuu Lion got out of bed and got ready for today.
Making sure her ears were okay during her sleep, not that she was clumsy mind you, the elf fixed her bed before grabbing her equipment and went outside to the back of the pub.
Wielding her wooden sword, the Alvs Lumina, she begins swinging it around, imagining an opponent in front of her as she practiced. Her swings were fast, a testament to her level as a former second-class Adventurer.
After about an hour or so of practice, Ryuu finished up and headed back inside, stepping into the bathroom to wash up and brush her teeth. Once she was done with that, she applied green hair dye to change the color of her blond hair before washing her hands and getting dressed for work.
Seeing this, one would find it hard to believe that she used to blubber her way through all this. But after years of practice, she had gotten a routine down. She was a bit uncomfortable with the hair dye, but it was an added precaution in order to hide who she is.
Stepping outside the pub, she grabbed a nearby broom and began sweeping the front of the pub. Although looking back inside the pub she called home, the real cleaning needed to be done inside. They had cleaned up most of the mess, but the broken wall from last night was going to be an inconvenience if they didn't get that fixed soon.
*clack-clack-clack*
Her elf ears twitched as she caught the sound of clacking metal. Turning her head, she felt her hands grip the broom tightly when she saw the source of the noise.
It was that boy again, donned in that same armor since yesterday morning and last night. The way he boldly strides down the street with confidence made Ryuu think he was quite arrogant. She perished the thought as soon as it came. From what she saw last night, the Adventurer known as Bell Cranel was anything, but arrogant. Last night showed her that the armored man was quite the fighter, able to stop and knock back a Lv. 5 Adventurer, a famous one at that. It was a mystery as to why she was now just seeing such a man when he should have already been quite famous. Such strength had to have taken years to develop.
'There was also that thing last night.' Ryuu thought as she thought back to last night's incident. That strange giant knight looming over Bell. From how everyone acted, she knew she wasn't the only one who saw it.
'Just what was that anyway?' Ryuu thought to herself. Never before had she seen anything like that. She knew that the Adventurer known as Bell was projecting, an act in order to intimidate an opponent, she herself knew how to do it, but for something like that to appear... It was like she was looking at a monster from the Deep Floors and she can't help, but feel like that was a generous term to use.
"Good morning." Ryuu was brought out of her thoughts by a voice. Looking up, it was Bell, standing before her and facing her. Ryuu had to hold herself back from drawing one of her Kodachi Futaba which she kept hidden under her uniform. She had not heard the armored Adventurer coming which surprised her greatly but made sure she didn't let it show on her face.
"Yes, good morning. Is there something you need? We're still getting ready so we're not giving away food just yet." Cold and quick to the point. Such was the way Ryuu spoke to the armored Adventurer yet Bell seemed unfazed by her tone. That actually impressed the elf a little.
"Is Syr or Mia around? I was hoping to talk to either of them." Bell asked, looking over her to look inside. Now that he was closer to her, Ryuu noted that they were about the same height. If one wanted to be nitpicky, then Ryuu was shorter than Bell by only an inch and a half.
"Why do you wish to speak to Syr and Mama Mia?" Ryuu asked, suspicious. She won't lie, she did not trust the armored man one bit. Her option on Bell was not high as he almost killed Syr, something the woman seem to let go like it didn't matter. And after last night, she was even more suspicious of the man. In short, she didn't trust him for he was dangerous.
Oblivious to the elf's inner-thoughts, Bell reached into one of his pouches and produced a bag of Valis. The elf raised an eyebrow at it before looking up at the armored Adventurer.
"This is for the damage I caused last night." He gestured to the broken wall as he held up the bag of coins. "I'm sorry for all the trouble I caused you and everyone last night. I'm not sure if this is enough to pay for what I broke, but it should be enough to fix the wall at least."
Ryuu found herself blinking at the armored man in surprise. She could sense no lies from the armored Adventurer's words. What Bell had said were his true feelings.
'But that doesn't make sense.' Ryuu thought as last night's incident once again flashed through her mind. The Bell then and the Bell now were too contradictory that it was appalling.
"Bell!" Suddenly, running down from the stairs, was Syr, hurrying down with a basket in her hands. From where she was at, she could make out some sandwiches in the basket.
"Ah! Syr. I'm sorry about the trouble I caused last night." Bell immediately started apologizing once he saw the grey-haired girl.
"No, it's fine. Don't worry about it." Syr insisted until Bell held up the bag of Valis. "What's this?"
"Money for the stuff I broke. It should be enough to cover repairs for the wall."
"Oh Bell, you didn't have to do this. It's fine, really. Mama Mia can cover the repairs costs quite easily."
"Still..."
'Is this really the same person from last night?' Ryuu thinks to herself as her thoughts were shared by the others who had woken up and came down.
"Ah, are you going to the Dungeon?" Syr asked, seeing as Bell was in full armor so early in the morning. Holding up the basket in her hands, she offers it to the knight. "If you don't mind, would you please take this?"
"Eh?" Looking, Bell could see the sandwiches that rested in the basket. "Sandwiches?"
"I made them myself," Syr said with a smile.
"I can't. Just the thought is enough." Bell insisted, waving his hands in front of him.
"But I want to give it to you. Don't you want it?" Syr said that with a smile that would have made any man flustered. Ryuu had yet to figure out just how Syr could pull off such a feat. There were even sparkles around her.
"If I may be so blunt, no." But once again, the entire pub was reminded that Bell was no ordinary man as he readily denied Syr's kindness.
'What is with this man!?' Ryuu and the other girls of the pub all thought as one, something that was quite rare. To take the full force of Syr's smile and not even stutter once...
"Anyway, here." Once again, he offered the bag of Valis. "I must be getting to the Dungeon soon."
Syr, still stunned, blinked at the offered money before looking at Bell and smiled. Ryuu honestly thought it was amazing that Syr could still smile like that.
"You're not used to receiving kindness than you are giving it, are you?" Syr asked with a knowing smile.
Bell, on his part, simply shrugged. "It's just my nature."
'Is that really true?' Ryuu couldn't help but think. She found it hard to believe that there was such a man who was more inclined to give kindness than receive it. Such a thing was nothing more than a hero of a fairytale.
"An act of kindness must be returned in full," Syr said as she practically shoved the basket into Bell's hands.
The boy looks down at the given basket before sighing.
"Something tell's me you're not gonna stop until I accept this."
"You're damn right." Suddenly, coming down the stairs was Mama Mia, already dressed for work.
"Ah, Miss Mia." Bell addressed the boss of the pub.
"Didn't think I'd be seeing you so soon, Mr. Knight," Mia said as she walks up to the boy and taps the back of her knuckle against his chest. There was a dull dinging sound when she did that, informing Ryuu that there was more armor hidden under Bell's surcoat. Ryuu felt like the amount of armor Bell was wearing was a bit excessive.
"And you're even here to pay for breaking my wall last night, how kind of you." Mia eyed the bag of Valis as she said that, but Ryuu knew that she was keeping a close eye on the knight. The way she eyed him told her as much.
"Going out to the Dungeon, are you?" Mia said as she eyed Bell's armor as did everyone. They could tell, despite the lack of proper cleaning, the armor was of high quality, contrasting greatly with the short sword that hung around Bell's left side.
"So much armor, are you that afraid of getting hurt?" Mia said in an almost mocking tone. Ryuu deduced that her boss was trying to rile Bell up a little, probably trying to check if this was the same person as last night.
"Yes," Bell admitted with no shame. "I'd feel better if I had a shield with me."
'He's quite honest.' Ryuu thought. This man had just admitted to being afraid of getting hurt, something a normal man would deny in order to protect their pride.
"Anyway, I must get going. Time is money, as they say." Bell said before turning to Syr. "Thank you for the sandwiches."
Syr simply responded with a smile as Bell turned and took his leave. About to exit the pub, he suddenly stops and turns to Ryuu. Before the elf could react, the knight went and grabbed her right hand before placing the bag of Valis on it.
"I'm off!" Bell said, leaving before Ryuu could try and give him back the money.
"Well, he's certainly quick footed." Mama Mia commented as she leans over Ryuu and watches the knight scurry off to the Dungeon.
"And he left the money too," Syr said as she and Ryuu looked down at the bag of money in the elf's hands.
'Bell Cranel...' Ryuu looks up to see the knight get further and further away from the pub. 'He's a strange one.'
"I'm honestly surprised you let him touch you," Syr said. Elves were known to be selective of those who touched them and Ryuu was no different.
Looking back down at the money bag in her hand, the process played in Ryuu's head.
Bell had grabbed her hand and gave the money to her.
Bell had grabbed her hand...
Grabbed her hand...
He touched her...
...
...
...
Nope. No matter how much she thought about it, no feelings of disgust came over her.
"Lion! Listen up! If a man is able to grab your hands, don't let go of him!"
'There's no way...' Ryuu thinks to herself as her eyes follow the knight until she could no longer spot him.
(Hours Later)
*BAM!*
For the second time today, the doors of the guild were kicked open. To everyone's credit, they only got jumped scared and didn't drop down like earlier.
Eina felt her eyebrows twitch in annoyance while her co-worker, Misha Flott, shouted the thoughts of everyone in the guild.
"STOP KICKING THE DOOR!" Yep, that pretty much sums up everyone's feelings. Eina especially since it was her paycheck that went to fixing the door.
"Sorry, it's a habit." The culprit, Bell, said in an apologizing tone. Eina still wondered what had happened to her charge to make him develop such a strange(and annoying) habit.
Everyone sent a glare at the armored Adventurer until they noticed something different about him.
One, the short sword he had brought from the Guild was nowhere to be seen. Instead, strapped to his back was a Claymore sword, something Eina was sure Bell didn't have this morning.
Two, his armor was covered in blood, so much so that Eina felt like screaming at the sight.
Three was that he wasn't alone.
Carried in the arms of the knight was what appears to be a wolf as big as Bell himself with bandages wrapped around and over wounds that practically decorated the wolf.
"Miss Eina, you wouldn't happen to still have those potions the Guild offers, do you?" Bell asks as he adjusts his hold on the wolf in his hands, silently telling who the portions were for.
"Bell...where did you get that?" Eina asked the armored Adventurer as she sent Misha to fetch some potions in the back. She was obviously talking about the wolf.
"The Dungeon," Bell answered immediately.
"The Dungeon?" The half-elf raised an eyebrow in confusion until her eyes widen in both realization and horror. "Wait, is that a Monster!?" At that did everyone look at the wolf in Bell's Arms in alarm while the Adventurers that were here went for their weapons.
As for Bell himself, he didn't seem the least bit worried that he had a Monster, the enemy of mankind, in his arms. In fact, in the face of the people's alarm did Bell hold the wolf closer to him.
Now if you're wondering just why Bell was carrying a Monster from the Dungeon in his arms, well, one had to look back at what happened that led up to this point.
(A Few Hours Ago)
*SCREECH!*
*SLASH!*
With one swing of his sword, Bell instantly killed what appeared to be a rabbit with a horn on it. Bell would later learn the name of this Monster, a Needle Rabbit, but that was in the future. Right now, Bell didn't care for what it was called. It had a Magic Stone inside of it, thus it was his money.
Making sure that there were no monsters around to sneak attack him, Bell placed his sword down and drew a knife that came with the Adventurer's kit he had bought earlier at the Guild. With skill and precision akin to that of a surgeon, Bell sliced open the monster and stuck his fingers in it until he pulled out its Magic Stone. Once he did, the body disintegrates into black smoke.
"That is still strange to see."
Bell ignored the voice in his head, but he also felt the same. After fighting demons and the like in Lordran for who knows how long Bell was more used to seeing his enemies disappear into nothing instead of exploding into smoke. He knows he's done this before, but it will take some time to get back into it.
Holding up the Magic Stone in his hand, the thing was only slightly bigger than a fingernail.
'When I fought Monsters from the above floors, they were only the size of fingernails.' Bell noted. Seeing how the Monsters were getting tougher the further he went down, it was only natural the Magic Stones would get bigger as well. Though, with his strength, Bell hardly noticed the difference.
Dropping the Magic Stone into a bag that carried his other stones he's collected so far, Bell gets back up to his feet, sword in hand, and turns to a flight of stairs that went down. He was currently on the 9th Floor which meant the stairs led to the 10th Floor.
Bell hummed to himself. Should he try his luck on the Tenth Floor? Stronger Monsters meant better Magic Stones which also meant more money to help him and Hestia's money problems.
"I don't know. Seems risky if you're still gonna use that sword. It seems to be at its limit."
Looking down at the short sword he had bought from the Guild yesterday, what the voice in his head said was right. The blade of the double-edged short sword was dull and slightly chipped from all the Monsters Bell has killed using it. The bones of the monsters were probably what caused the chipping while the blood and gore were what dulled the blade.
'If it was a weapon from Lordran, even a dagger could last a week or two before I have to repair it.' Bell thought to himself as he greatly wished he had a Catalyst on him right now. He could cast a quick repair spell on the sword and reduce the risk of it breaking.
Testing the sword in his hand, Bell calculated that the blade could last about a few more fights before it would break.
'Might as well scout out the next floor.' Bell came to a decision. Gripping his sword in his right hand and igniting the flames of his Pyromancy in his left hand, Bell went down the stairs and came upon the Tenth Floor.
The structure of the 10th floor was the same as the 9th and 8th floor, Bell noted. However, what appeared to be morning mist covered the entire floor, making it slightly difficult to see. There were also what appeared to be trees all around the area as grass covered the floor.
"Well, this isn't what I thought the Tenth Floor would be like."
Bell silently agreed with the voice as he walked and looked around, keeping an eye on his surroundings. With this mist all around him, there was a chance of him getting sneak attacked, though since the mist wasn't that thick, Bell was confident he wouldn't be caught off guard. Compared to the darkness of the Catacombs, this was nothing to Bell.
*Oink-oink*
What sounded like a pig cry alerted Bell as he quickly turned and saw what looked to be some sort of fat brute with the head of a pig. It also wore what looked like a skirt made from the hide of some creature. This was an Orc, though Bell didn't know that nor did he care right now. Readying his sword and flames, Bell waited for the Monster to make the first move.
Spotting Bell and identifying him as an Adventurer, the Orc went and grabbed one of the trees and removed it from the ground. As it turns out it wasn't a tree, but some sort of club.
'A weapon from the Dungeon?' Bell noted with some surprise as the Orc cried and charged at Bell.
It swung its club down with the might of five men, but all the club hit was the air and the ground. The monster was confused and looked around to find its enemy. Turning around, it found Bell standing behind it and went to attack again...until its head fell from its body and blood erupted like an open champagne bottle.
"Well, that was easy." The voice in Bell's head commented.
Bell didn't respond back as he walked up to the body of the Orc and poked at it with his sword. He was being cautious as a lot of enemies he faced in Lordran didn't stay dead even when they look dead. A prime example would be skeletons. He hit them once, they fell down, and the second he turned his back to them, they get back up and hit him across the back. It even led to his death a good couple of times.
Once he was sure the Orc was dead did Bell use his sword to cut open the corpse and remove its Magic Stone, finding it to be the size of a small rock.
'Perhaps I should return to the surface.' Bell thought as he pocketed the Magic Stone. He'd be returning earlier than yesterday, but the sword he was using was nearing its limit. He was displeased with how low quality it is, but considering that it came from the Guild and was sold to newbie Adventurers, it was probably made with the idea of dealing with the Monsters of the Upper Floor, not Monsters around the Middle Floor and below.
'Then again...' Bell looked down and eyed the club the Orc had used against him. Its size was comparable to a Great Club and with his strength, he should be able to wield it. Bell wasn't a big fan of hammer-type weapons, but a weapon is a weapon and the longer he stayed down here in the Dungeon, the more money he could earn.
*SLASH-CLANG-SLASH!*
"Hm?" Bell turned his head, hearing the sounds of battle in the distance.
'Is someone fighting?' Bell thought as he moved his body to the sounds, thinking someone might need help.
Bell moved at a jogging pace, slowing down as he got closer and closer to the sounds of battle. Finally, through the mist, he could make out the source.
It was a band of orc, five he counted while also noticing three dead orcs on the ground, as well as four bats with sharp looking fangs. These were known as simply Bad Bats. Bell would come to know this later on and would comment on how bad the name was.
'That's quite a lot of monsters. Just who are they fighting?' Bell thought as he looked closer and froze.
The monsters were not fighting a who but a what. Standing there surrounded by Monsters and covered in wounds was a wolf creature about the same size as Bell himself. Its fur was grayish-white and clenched in its mouth was a claymore sword covered in blood, no doubt having been used against the orcs on the ground.
Now as for why Bell had frozen up when he saw the wolf creature, it was because he didn't see the creature, but someone else.
He let out a grunt as he fell to the ground on his back. Before he could attempt to get up, a giant paw stepped on him and pinned him down as a nose went down and sniffed him. If his heart were able to still beat, it would be hammering in his chest right now as he stared up at the eyes of the giant wolf above him.
Suddenly, eyes that were once filled with suspicion and anger turned into recognition and then sadness. It removed its paws off of him, allowing Bell to sit up and look up at the giant wolf. This wolf, he knew it. It was that same wolf he saved and helped him back when he fought Manus. By the Lords, she was a lot bigger the last time he saw her. Was this normal for her kind, he wondered.
The wolf let out a whine and he was compelled to reach out and pet the wolf, hoping to try and somehow ease its pain. But she wouldn't let him as she moved back and away from him.
Raising her head to the night sky, the wolf let out a cry filled with regret, anguish, and sorrow. She knew why he was here and what she had to do, reluctant as she may be. He needed the Covenant of Artorias and she wouldn't let him have it.
Head hung low, she went and picked up the sword that once belonged to her master, removing it from the ground and holding it in her mouth. Bell could see the sorrow in her eyes, as well as her determination to deny him what he had come here for. With a guilt-filled heart, he drew his weapon and shield. How ironic that he was using her former master's gear. His intentions were to honor the fallen knight by wearing his equipment, but now, it only seemed cruel.
Bell was brought out of his thoughts when he heard a whine coming from the wolf. It was the bats. They were sending some sort of soundwave, disrupting the wolf's concentration as it dropped the sword in its mouth and began rolling around to try and stop the noise. The bats then ceased screeching as the orcs all moved in to finish the downed canine.
(BGM: Goblin Slayer -Main Theme-)
'NO!' The word seems to scream and echo in his head as Bell took off like a speeding demon. Raising his right hand, he threw his short sword with all his might. The sword flew like an arrow as it struck the back of one of the orc's head and came out the other end, killing it instantly.
The orcs and bats let out cries of surprise as they all turned and freeze. From their point a view, they saw what could only be described as a demon. Its red glowing eye seemed to stare right into their very beings as it charged towards them like an angry dragon. What was worse though was the being that loomed over the demon, a giant of a man with a broken arm carrying a corrupted-looking sword as it let out an animalistic howl. All the monsters on the entire Tenth Floor found themselves freezing up in fear.
A flame ignited in both of Bell's hands and he threw two Fireballs, striking two Bats and instantly killing them as all that was left were simply ashes. Reaching down to the club of the Orc he killed, he picked it up with no problems, wielded it with two hands and leaped towards another Orc. Before the Monster could even think of doing anything, it found its entire head caved in before its body turned to paste by Bell slamming down the club with the might of Zeus as the blow seemed to shake the entire floor. With rage, but determined filled eyes, Bell picked up the club, spun around, and batted away another Orc, sending it flying until it slammed right into the wall of the floor head first and dying.
Seeing two Orcs killed instantly, the remaining Monsters followed their instincts and turned to flee. Unfortunately, they forgot about the wolf as one Bad Bat found itself in the fangs of the creature, dying as its Magic Stone was consumed by the wolf. Bell was not about to let the monsters get away either as another fireball manifested in his left hand and he threw it at the last bat, killing it instantly.
Picking up its dropped sword, the wolf stood with Bell as they both stared down at the remaining two Orcs. In the eyes of the monsters, the eyes of their predators seemed to glow as they could feel the Magic Stone within them shake in fear. In acts of desperation, the two pig-like monsters raised their clubs in a vain attempt to kill them and live to see another day. As said before, it was a vain attempt as one Orc found itself crushed into paste while the other Orc found itself sliced in two.
(BGM End)
Checking to see if there were any more Monsters coming, Bell finally calmed down when he saw nothing coming. The sound of something hitting the ground drew his attention and he turned to see the wolf down on the ground, sword dropped from its mouth once again. Worry instantly flood Bell's entire body as he dropped the bloody club in his hands and rushed over to the canine.
Seeing the armored Adventurer approaching, the wolf let out a threatening growl which made Bell stop in his tracks but only for a moment as he then slowly approached the wolf.
"It's okay, I won't hurt you," Bell spoke up for the first time since entering the Dungeon as he kneeled down to the wolf who was still growling at him, eyes filled with distrust. Seeing that it was still on edge, Bell thought about what to do before he removed both his glove and gauntlet.
"See? No weapons." Bell held up both his exposed hands and moved his right hand closer. "I won't hurt you-"
*BITE!*
Just as Bell was about to finish talking, the wolf went and bit down on Bell's hand, hard. Bell flinched as he could almost feel his bones breaking, showing that the wolf had quite the strong jaw. To Bell's surprise, he saw blood oozing from his hand.
'Blood? Impossible! Undead's don't bleed.' He should know, he's gotten stabbed and shot at multiple times yet not a single drop spilled out. Bell's mind was thinking up so many things as to why he was bleeding but pushed such thoughts away as he was more concerned about the wolf. In fact, now that he looked again, the wolf seemed to calm down as its eyes showed surprise.
Slowly, the wolf released Bell's hand and looked up at him in confusion. Seeing that the wolf was no longer hostile, Bell placed his left hand over the wolf's head and stroked the creature gently. Slowly, the wolf's eyes closed as it leaned into Bell's hands.
'Cute.' Bell couldn't help, but think as he looked down at the wolf. As he continued to stroke the canine, he looked at the sword the wolf had been using before looking at the wounds that it was covered in.
'What happened to it?' Bell thought as he looked down at the wolf. His right hand went to his side and pulled out an Estus Flask, getting the wolf's attention, but Bell assured it that it wasn't harmful as he lifted up his helmet a bit and took a sip. Instantly, his hand started healing until there wasn't a single scratch left.
"Here." Bell offered the Flask to the wolf. "It'll heal you."
Somehow understanding Bell, the wolf took a few quick licks from it and most of its wounds started healing, though not all of it. Bell thought about giving more but decided not too. He only had one Flask, not counting the Ashen one, and he wanted to save it. There weren't any Bonfires as far as Bell knew so the less he used his Flask, the better.
'Perhaps I should see to getting some of those potions?' Bell thought as he took some bandages from the first aid kit he bought yesterday and began covering the wounds that still decorated the wolf. Grabbing the claymore sword and placing it on his back where it seemingly floated there, Bell put back on his glove and gauntlet before picking up the wolf and got up to his feet.
'Here's hoping Eina doesn't mind I bring a Monster up to the surface.' Bell thought as he made his way to the exit.
Curiosity then came over Bell as he looked down at the wolf and it looked back. Without thinking, Bell began to feel under the wolf, getting a surprised cry from it as Bell felt around and...
"Ah, so you're a female," Bell said as the wolf seemed to blush and glare at him. The Undead laughed nervously. Perhaps he should have thought that through a bit more. "Ehehehe...sorry."
(Present)
"So let me get this straight." Eina began as she looked at Bell straight in the eyes, or where she thinks the eyes are. That slit in the helmet was quite small that it made her wonder how Bell was able to see through it.
"You went to the 10th Floor of the Dungeon."
Bell nodded.
"Found monsters attacking this," Eina pointed to the wolf who laid on Bell's lap.
Bell nodded again.
"Went and saved it from the monsters..."
Once again, Bell nodded.
"And you thought it'd be a good idea to come back to the surface with it?"
"You have potions, don't you? Money's no problem, I have enough for a few."
"That's not the problem here, Bell. The problem is you brought a Monster from the Dungeon up to the surface!" Eina exclaimed, emphasizing the fact that the wolf on Bell's lap was a Monster.
Eina and Bell plus the Monster were currently in the room Eina used to help teach Bell more about the Dungeon. Without having to look, Eina knew that her fellow co-workers, as well as a few Adventurers, were just outside with the latter ready to jump in should anything happen.
"What were you thinking, Bell?"
"It was injured, I couldn't just leave her there," Bell said.
"That's not the point!" Eina exclaimed rather loudly. Calming down a little, Eina began to explain. "Bell, one of the main jobs of Adventurers is to make sure Monsters don't get to the surface. Its why the gods came down in the first place as well as why Babel Tower was built over the Dungeon. You bringing that thing up here goes against everything we stand for!"
"Her."
Eina blinked in confusion. "Excuse me?"
"Her." Bell pointed down to the wolf. "She's a female."
Eina blinked again before asking, "And just how do you know that?"
"I checked." Bell immediately responded.
For a third time, Eina blinked at the armored Adventurer. "You checked?"
"I checked," Bell said. And the half-elf wasn't sure if it was her imagination, but she could have sworn she saw the wolf blush. Did...did it understand what they were saying? That actually scared Eina a little.
Actually, now that she looked at it, Eina didn't know what the wolf was. It obviously looked like a wolf, but as far as she knew, no Adventurers have ever reported seeing a wolf-like Monster nor has there ever been any documentation of one. If Bell really did find this Monster in the Dungeon, then from what Floor did it originate from?
She was getting off topic now. Adjusting her glasses and sighing, she stared at Bell for quite a while until she asked the most important question right now.
"So, you saved it. What are planning to do with it?"
"Her." Bell instantly corrected her.
Again, the half-elf sighed. She could feel a headache coming on.
"Her. What are planning to do with her?"
"I plan to take care of her, obviously," Bell said with no hesitation.
Again, Eina sighs. Who did he think the Monster was? A pet?
"And how do you plan to do that?" Eina asks. "It's-She's a Monster, Bell. Adventurers will try to kill her the moment they lay eyes on her."
"Should they try, they will find themselves a head shorter than before."
For the fourth time, Eina blinks at Bell.
'Did...did he just threaten every Adventurer in the city?' Eina thinks as she stares at her charge in disbelief. Just how much did he care for that Monster? Why does he care so much?
Bell suddenly gets up after the wolf gets off his lap and stands up. It seems it was strong enough to stand despite its injuries. "If we're done talking, Miss Eina, then I would like some potions for..." Bell trails off from there as he looks down at the wolf and it stares back at him.
"Hm, I do not know your name," Bell said as he kneels down to the wolf. "And since I cannot understand you, I guess I must give you one. Is that alright with you?"
The wolf stares back at Bell, tilting her head in confusion. A second later, to Eina's disbelief, the wolf nodded her head in acceptance. By the many gods here and above, it did understand them!
"In that case...How does the name Sif sound to you?"
The wolf's eyes widen in surprise at Bell. A moment later, her eyes seem to shine as she nods her head enthusiastically.
"Well, it seems someone likes their new name." Bell smiled under his helmet as he petted the newly named Sif's head. Getting up, he turns to the half-elf again.
"Well then, I'd like some potions for Sif, Miss Eina," Bell asked the half-elf.
Eina looks at both Bell and the newly named Sif back and forth in disbelief before settling on Bell. He was serious. He seriously wanted potions so he could heal the Monster.
Minutes later, both man and a newly healed monster walked out of the Guild together as stunned people watched them leave.
Once the armored Adventurer left with his new friend, everyone turned to the half-elf in charge of said Adventurer. Eina could only sigh as she had to question herself as to why she complied with Bell's request. Suddenly she felt very tired.
Sif. That was the name belonging to the Great Grey Wolf of legend. When the Adventurer in armor suggested that name to her, she had been quite surprised.
When she had first seen the armored Adventurer, Bell was his name as the elf called him, she had been suspicious of him from the get-go. Why wouldn't she be? Adventurers have hunted down her kind to the point of extinction. She even feared that she was the last of her kind.
But besides suspicion, she was also afraid. She had seen what the human(she wasn't so sure about that as the one known as Bell didn't smell human) had done to the Monsters that had tried to kill her earlier. How ruthless he had been when he fought. She honestly thought she had been looking at another Monster.
Fear then turned to confusion when the Adventurer showed great concern for her. Still suspicious, she bit the hand the Adventurer practically offered to her. She had seen such a gesture before. She would not be tricked like those before her.
But when she bit down on the hand and drew blood, she was surprised at what she tasted. It tasted like human blood, something she was quite familiar with. The sword she had been using once belonged to an Adventurer who had tried to kill her only to become her next meal. She didn't like the taste of Adventurers, it was disgusting, but she was hungry so desperate times call for desperate measures.
But when she bit down on Bell's hand, she had tasted the blood of a Great Wolf, of her kind.
After letting go of the man's hand did he proceed to help her, bandage up her wounds, and bring her up to the surface, something all Monsters of the Dungeon had been trying to accomplish for centuries. Ironic how it was an Adventurer that helped her do this.
The surface had certainly been not what she expected it to be. The first thing she saw when reaching the surface were Adventurers. Lots and lots of Adventurers. Her first instinct was to escape Bell's arms and run for she would surely die with so many Adventurers around, but Bell held her close and assured her that he would keep her safe. He kept his word as he chased away any Adventurer that got near them. Eventually, they came upon a place Bell said was called a Guild. It was a weird name.
She watched as Bell talked with someone with pointing ears. An elf, she remembered her mother telling her once though she thought they'd be longer. The elf argued as to why Bell brought her up to the surface, something she too wondered. She did not know what Bell looked like under that armor, she knew what it was called thanks to her father, but when Bell had saved her, she felt feelings of regret from him.
"In that case...How does the name Sif sound to you?"
She was greatly surprised when Bell spoke the name of the Great Grey Wolf, an old legend her mother and father would tell her about before sleeping. You could say she grew up listening to the stories of the legendary Sif and her escapades with a warrior that shared her kind's blood.
Monsters don't have names, that was a given. Even if she wasn't born like normal Monsters from the Dungeon, she, like every other, did not have a name to call her own. So when Bell suggested the name Sif, she found herself accepting with excitement. After receiving her new name, Bell got what he called potions. They were like that strange liquid Bell had used earlier. The difference between potions and an Estus, something she would later learn, was that the latter was warmer unlike the former. She actually liked the taste a bit. It was certainly different from all the blood, meat, and Magic Stones she's eaten in the past. But since her lasting injuries were healed, she wasn't complaining.
After healing her injuries did she and Bell leave the Guild and the armored Adventurer took her to someplace else. As they walked, Adventurers and humans that didn't look like Adventurers kept staring at her. All around her were strange...well she didn't know what they were, but she had seen them down on the 18th Floor.
"They're called buildings." Bell suddenly said, probably having noticed her stares. So they were called buildings? She'll have to remember that.
After a bit more walking, they came upon a building that looked ready to keel over. Going inside, Bell opened a secret passage and she followed him down into a room where waiting for Bell was another human, a female. No, something was different. This short female wasn't human, but something else.
"You brought a Monster from the Dungeon!?" Sif lowered her ears due to how loud the unknown being was. Was she a banshee? She certainly sounded like one.
"Her name is Sif." She felt her tail wag when Bell spoke her new name. She had underestimated how much she liked her new name.
"You named it?" The banshee looked at Bell in disbelief.
"Her. It's a female." Bell corrected the banshee. Sif felt herself blushing as the way Bell discovered that fact played in her mind. She would have bitten him if it wasn't for his armor. "I found her injured and surrounded by monsters trying to kill her. I saved her."
"Is that why you're covered in blood?" The banshee asked, looking at Bell's blood covered armor. Sif herself still had some blood on her fur. She would have to find a river somewhere to clean up.
"I'll make sure to clean up before bed," Bell said as he unclicked a strap that held his helmet in place before taking it off, showing Sif what Bell looked like for the first time.
White hair. Red eyes. He looked like a rabbit. But thinking back to the fight on the Tenth Floor, Sif felt that the comparison didn't do Bell good for he was anything, but a harmless rabbit. If anything, he was like a demon.
"Wait, that's not the point. You brought a Monster from the Dungeon up to the surface! Do you know how many rules you broke by doing that!?" The banshee once again started screaming. Sif was tempted to rip out her throat if only to get her to stop. But Bell, who saw her intention, gave her a look and she backed down. The fact that he could send such messages with just eye contact made her respect the armored Adventurer even more. She didn't like talking, it was a hassle. It's why she preferred staying in her current form.
"Bell, you know Monsters are humanity's natural enemy. The first thing any Adventurer does when encountering a Monster is to kill it." The banshee explained such common knowledge. She then gestured to Sif and asked Bell, "Why did you go out of your way to save this one?"
Yes, that was also something she wondered. Just why did Bell save her? She knows they've never met before so just why? Why did Bell seem to care so much for her?
Bell then looks down at Sif. From his eyes, Sif could make out a swarm of emotions in them, confusing her once again as Bell kneeled down and began to stroke her head. She would never admit it out loud, but the way Bell stroke and petted her felt really good. The only clue on what she really felt was her wagging tail.
"...she reminded me of a companion I once knew," Bell said. "Well, actually, we were more like acquaintances than longtime companions. But she helped me once with a problem I had been facing for some time. We met again years later and the circumstances back then were...not great." Once again, Sif could see the sea of emotions in the eyes of Bell, the strongest ones being the feeling of guilt and regret.
"We then left one another and that was the last time I ever saw her," Bell explained as he stared down Sif. "I guess the reason I saved Sif here was that I thought she was that same acquaintance, but I guess my mind was simply playing tricks with me."
"Bell..." The banshee looked worriedly at Bell, obviously seeing the emotions being displayed on the Adventurer's face.
"Perhaps by saving and assisting Sif here that I was, at the same time, helping that same acquaintance of mine." Bell lets out a sigh and laughs mockingly at himself. "I'm quite the fool, aren't I?"
So that was the reason why he saved her. He thought he was saving somebody else. Perhaps he knew another one like her? It was very unlikely, but considering the Great Wolf blood in him, the possibility was still there.
Was she angry for being saved for such a reason? No, she wasn't. Her goal had been to reach the surface, and she had done it thanks to the person right in front of her. Now here he was, berating himself.
Pushing Bell's hand off of her, Sif moved closer to Bell and tried to comfort him by rubbing her head against his face.
"Are you trying to cheer me up?" Bell asked and Sif moved back to let out a cry of confirmation. He smiled and placed a hand on her head. "Thank you."
Getting back up to his feet, he then turned back to the banshee and spoke.
"Despite my reasonings, I still plan to take care of her."
The banshee looked like she wanted to protest, but she then sighed in reluctant acceptance.
"Fine, she can stay." Bell smiled again. "But it's your job to take care of her. You're responsible for everything she does, okay?"
Bell nodded. "I understand." He then looked back down at Sif and offered another smile. "Isn't that great, Sif?"
She simply let out another cry in response.
And so, this is how Sif began her life together with Hestia Familia and serving under her new master, Bell Cranel.
And there. The third chapter. It's shorter than the last two, but that's okay. Recently I've been writing a lot of words in my chapters so this length is actually refreshing to me. Reminds me of my old days when I first started out. Good times...
Anyway, introducing a new character to the story, we have Sif, a wolf who is NOT the Great Grey Wolf Sif. I want to say this now for those that might not understand, but the wolf Bell had saved is not the wolf that was the companion of the late Knight Artorias. Now, this doesn't mean I'm trying to make Bell the next Artorias, I did this because I thought it would make this story more interesting. Please try and remember that. Nevertheless, I hope you'll all come to enjoy Sif's presence in Bell's life here.
Anyway, nothing much happened here. This was mostly so I can introduce Sif here. With the Great Wolf's presence here, things are sure to be interesting. This is Ashbel Longhart here, signing out. May the sun bless you all.
