Waking up to the cold morning air had jolted Bell and Shouji up as they prepared to take a shower.
Both looked at the bathroom with a look of hesitant plastered on both of their faces.
Evidently, both were not too eager to clean themselves since it was for sure that the water was quite cool.
Probably icy cool.
"You first, Shouji."
Shouji looked at Bell, "No. You first."
Evidently, one had to give up the fight, or else both would not go in to have a shower.
Few minutes layer, Shouji could be seen already wore his clothes with the shirt being the last to be equipped.
Looking around, Hestia was nowhere to be seen, which meant that she was already at work.
With how the two of them were prepared, they set out onto the location that they had promised with Eina.
It was a water fountain located somewhere, which Shouji didn't know nor remembered.
Thankfully, Bell knew the place, so it took them only a few minutes of their time before they reached it.
Soon, Eina was on their sight as Shouji was enjoying her beauty, while Bell was just... stunned, probably not used to her outfit, which was not strict like, but more freedom to its style.
Contrary to her strict attitude, her appearance was quite a contrast to her attitude.
And she looked so free, unrestrained from her job as a Guild executive.
"Well, how do I look?" She looked at the two boys, anticipating their reactions towards her clothing.
"Y-You look... younger than usual?"
"Hey! I'm still nineteen!" She said as she wrapped her hand around Bell's neck, doing a headlock.
Her left knuckle grinded upon Bell's head, as Shouji watched the scene in amusement.
Soon, Eina released Bell from her headlock, and her eyes moved at Shouji.
Shouji noticed her looking at him, "Um...yes?"
"How do I look, Shouji?"
He thought about what should he said about Eina's attire, which looked quite good on her, and that was why a half ass answer wouldn't cut it.
He noticed how the onlookers were looking at them, which told him enough of how a beauty Eina was.
Rather than making up an exaggeration, it was better to tell the truth.
"You look... beautiful. And-" Shouji looked at the onlookers that were looking at Eina. "-I think they can attest to how beautiful you look. Maybe we'll be curse by them. Who knows?" Shouji tried to joke, but he himself was convinced that a few people would probably cursed him and Bell.
Seemingly, Eina brighten up at the answer that he had given.
Eina smiled, "Well, let's go." She said as she took the lead.
--New Scene--
Nothing seemed different... actually Shouji didn't have any knowledge about the place, since this was not his world.
The point was, there was the Babel Tower in front of him, and they were going to buy some armors there.
Skipping ahead, they were inside the Babel Tower, passing by many shops that were selling things.
There were armors, weapons and stuff, which were obvious.
After a good walk in the building, somehow, Bell had managed to navigate his way towards Welf's armor, which was good... not that Bell knew Welf or anything.
So Shouji had decided to separate himself from Bell, and looked for his own armor.
He got two gauntlets, so he might need to find an armor for his chest.
Then, he saw an armor that covered from his neck towards his waist.
The armor middle section had a line that went from the top to the bottom, which was two celch wide, and it seemed to be made of chainmail, which allowed the armor to be folded into two.
He looked at the price... 27000 valis.
"You want this?"
Shouji was startled, but managed to calm down when he recognized it was Eina.
He remembered that he didn't have any valis, but Eina told him that she knew, since Bell had told her.
It was really embarassing, for a girl to pay for his armor, but it was great to know that he would live another day with the new set of armor.
"Thank you, Miss Eina! If someone tried to steal my valis again, I'll be sure to make them... suffer." Shouji said with determination
"W-wait! You don't need to go that far!"
"Hahaha, I'm just kidding..." He said in an unconvincing voice.
Evidently, being robbed many times had a... detrimental affect on Shouji's mind.
A while later, Shouji and Eina had met up with Bell, and pay for their armor.
With that, they decided to just walked around, maybe to get some information, and marked a good place to shop for armors and weapons.
And then, they met up with Hestia, which Shouji had expected would happen, since they literally walked around the Babel Tower.
"Bell! Shouji! What are you-hey! Where are you going, Shouji!" Hestia screamed at Shouji that was moving away.
"Bye. I'm going to the Dungeon. Thank you, Eina... for paying for me. I'll definitely pay back."
Shouji ignored Hestia, since she would be complaining and stuff, leaving Bell to be the scapegoat.
--New Scene--
"One little two little three little goblin, four little five little six little goblin, seven little eight little nine little goblin, ten little goblin on the ground..."
He was at the 1st floor of the Dungeon, just wasting his time around killing Goblins, and collect their core.
When he was totally bored, he just went to spar with the Goblins... yep... sparring, as in using hand to hand combat, being hit by the Goblin and he hit back.
And it was at the 1st floor... where the flow of adventurers were nonstop, so seeing Shouji sparring with the Goblins... some of them laughed, others just ignored him.
There were also other people that had this face that said "he is training" on their face... if only they knew.
Back to Shouji, after a couple of minutes sparring with the Goblins, he saw Bell approaching him with two lunchboxes in hand.
"So... are you ready? We're going to go to the 5th floor. Just us two." Shouji declared.
Bell nodded, determination was showing on his face.
Then, Shouji saw a figure that he recognized at the entrance of the Dungeon... Aiz Wallenstein.
As a good friend, it was Shouji's duty to help Bell, so...
"Bell Cranell is here!!!!" Shouji shouted, much to the horror of Bell.
Not the best strategy, but it would do, and beside, Aiz was looking at them, while Bell was shrieking.
Even before he managed to roll away, Bell was apprehended by Aiz, his eyes accusing Shouji for betraying, which he didn't.
Shouji turned towards Aiz that was holding Bell's left hand, "Hello!"
She blinked once, and then twice before she spoke, "...hello.."
Even though it was short, but at least she responded.
"So... Aiz? Business with Bell?" And before she could respond, "Okay! I'll give some space for you both, okay?" Shouji said as he walked away, far from the two of them.
Bell was nervous, if not, he was on the verged of a panic attack as he saw that Shouji was leaving him with Aiz.
Her eyes just blinked, and blinked, which seemed to complement her blank expression.
Shouji looked at them, minutes became more minutes as both still didn't start any conversation.
It was at that time, Riveria was approaching Shouji, "You're Shouji, right? I want to thank you for saving Lefiya and Bete."
His eyes still on Bell, "There's no way I'm going to stand by and watch someone die." Then, he looked at Riveria, faking a hesitation.
Fortunately, Bell had started the conversation, "M-Miss Aiz! I! It's nice to see you!"
"...I'm sorry.."
"Eh?"
"...For scaring you during the minotaur attack.."
Bell tried to register the words slowly, and remembered how she had came to the rescue as he cowered in fear.
Then again, he was a new adventurer, so it was a given that he would be afraid.
A look of frustration had showed up on Bell's face, but it lasted for only a second before he thought about Aiz's way of saying.
The minotaur did scare him during that time, but Aiz... she was amazing... just like an angel that had came to help him.
In fact, he admired her.
"No! I... I'm not afraid of you! You save me!"
"...but... you ran away from me..."
Sad... Aiz face was filled with sadness as she looked at Bell.
Bell always ran away when he met her, and it made her feel sad.
Just why...
"It's... "
Bell hesitated... not because it was true, but because his reasoning was because he admired her... idolized her, and seeing her...
He saw the sadness, the loneliness in her eyes, and he didn't like that...
"I want to be like you! I... I want to be able to stand beside you... but I must grow strong... strong enough to take care of myself. I! I don't want to be weak like before!" Bell announced.
Then, silence had ensued as both stood still, not knowing what to do next.
Shouji sighed as he approached them, "I guess you two have solve your problems, right?" He turned towards Aiz. "Miss Aiz... Bell and I are going to go to the 5th floor... "
"Hm."
With that, Bell and Shouji went away, leaving Riveria and Aiz.
--New Scene--
At the 5th floor...
Lili tried to hide behind a rock, while she was wearing a monster repellent that seemed to be used up already.
Evidently, she was pretty beat up, a bunch of claw mark at her left legs, clothes filled up with cuts.
"*hic*...*hic*..."
A loud roar in the distance made her shut her mouth as she cupped her mouth with her hands.
--flashback start--
It was supposed to be a normal Dungeon crawling, just like usual.
With a team of four people, they went towards the 6th floor, hoping to build some income, just like before.
And Lili was just an addition to the party, making it a party of five people going into the Dungeon.
War Shadows and Frog shooters were roaming around as the party lured the monsters one by one.
A strategy that would minimize the danger to the party.
And it was then, a slightly dark colour orc came into view as it approached the party, two clubs in each hand.
The party looked at the incoming orc, and was wary of the orc, but greed got the better of them.
Like usual, they encircled the orc as they launched their attacks on it, hoping to bring the orc down with quantity.
Instantly, the orc swung its club, propelling the nearby adventurer into the wall.
It was fast as it went towards another adventurer.
In no time, two people had already embraced death as the other two and Lili watched the orc in fear.
Lili felt herself being pushed forward and fell into the ground as she caught a glance of the two people.
It was the party she had joined, and they had used her as a bait.
She couldn't blame them because this was a matter of life and death.
Besides, she was also like them, taking opportunities from others to save herself.
Her large bag was pinning her down, but she was a supporter.
Her skills helped to reduce the weight of her large bag, so in no time, she managed to pry away.
She quickly took whatever necessary from her back and flee away towards another direction from the orc.
She also used a 'monster repellent' on her neck as she ran away.
She caught a glimpsed of the orc moving into the direction where the two people that had pushed her ran.
Soon, she heard a loud scream in the direction of the two adventurers, followed by the sound of the orc.
--flashback end--
She could feel the ground trembled as she anticipated the orc to come and get her.
She only had on 'monster repellant', which was already expired.
She was tired.
And soon, darkness swept her whole vision.
Meanwhile, Bell and Shouji had noticed how the 6th floor was eerily quiet.
And just as they passed through a corner, they saw someone lying on the ground.
"Someone's injured!" Bell shouted as he ran towards the injured person.
And Shouji could see that it was Lili.
Shouji observed the surrounding area as he could see how Lili was injured, and whatever thing that had hurt her might be around.
And true to his suspicion, an orc had arrived, and evidently, it was hunting for Lily.
"(An Orc at the 6th floor!!!)"
Bell was next to Lili as he block the two clubs that were targetting Lily.
An indentation formed on the ground where Bell stood as he bore the whole strike on him.
Shouji swapped places with Lili, and clawed the orc's legs, hoping to reduce its movement.
The orc swung its right club at Shouji, which was avoided as Shouji rolled to the right.
Shouji could see that Bell tried to get up on the orc's head, but the orc managed to stop Bell by using its left club to swat Bell towards the ground.
"(I must remove its weapons)" Shouji thought.
Shouji ran away from the orc, just far enough, and immediately swapped places with the orc's right weapon as it prepared itself to strike Bell that was on the ground.
Shouji was now on top of the orc's head, and with the helped of gravity, he clawed the orc's eyes, removing its capability to see.
Now on the ground, Bell and Shouji moved away from the orc as they gathered towards Lili.
Shouji looked around and saw that the situation kept getting worse as a group of War Shadows were heading towards them.
Shouji squinted his eyes as he saw someone brutally went through the horde of War Shadows like it was nothing.
And that person was Aiz, and at the far back he could see Riveria just following after Aiz.
Soon, they were out of sight, leaving behind the orc in pained all alone.
"Lucky?"
After a few minutes, the battle had concluded as Shouji decided to bring back Lily to their home for treatment.
--New Scene--
Lili was at their home where Shouji tended to her wounds and left her in Bell's care.
Meanwhile, Shouji went to the Guild to exchanged their crystal, and got 13200 valis for him, and 15600 valis for Bell, which he got from the strong orc.
Then, he visited the Benevolent Mistress to give back the empty lunchboxes to Syr.
It was at that time, his eyes saw two books... which somehow were left there, but no one seemed to try and took the books.
"Oh? Someone had left that book here, so we put it here so that the owner could see it." Syr said as she held a broom.
Shouji looked at Syr, and then at the book.
If he recalled, it was one of the event where Bell would read the grimoire, and gained firebolt.
A very good offensive ability.
Feeling excited, he just didn't care to make a conversation, and he just wanted to obtain a new skill.
"Well, Bell and I are going to read this books then!" Shouji said as he took the books, and bid farewell to Syr, which was speechless.
Evidently, Syr wanted to say something, but Shouji had already walked away.
She looked at the receding figure of Shouji, before she went back to her work.
--New Scene--
At a balcony on the highest point of the Babel Tower...
A goddess was enjoying the view from the top.
The wind blew past her, slowly and elegantly as if the wind admired her divine beauty.
Today, Freya wore a decent clothing, shoulders covered with a few fur.
From her rear, the clothing split into two as it covered her back in a V-shaped design where the two ended up on her left and right shoulders.
Her sleeves were long with its end shaped like flower petals surrounding her wrists.
Her chest were more than likely to spill out if she did a few vigorous movement with how the clothes continued onwards from both of her shoulders, and draped upon her chest.
Her bare skin gloriously showed itself for the world to see just below her chest till her waist.
With her in the room was Ottar.
As per usual, he was ready to meet the demand of his goddess.
"Looks like he had taken the books."
"Yes... but..." Ottar trailed off.
"Hm? Something on your mind?"
"...No..." Ottar said as he turned his eyes back to Freya.
"*chuckle*. Are you perhaps thinking how the bait was taken too fast?." Freya spoke.
It seemed to be the right deduction as Ottar showed a bit of emotion.
Just a bit.
"Don't dwell on it too much. If I can't read him, how can you?" Freya threw him a question.
Ottar didn't answer, only showing an approval of what she said.
"Nonetheless, he is an interesting one." Freya continued.
--New Scene--
"Here, 15600 valis for you, and 13200 valis for me... so... you have?"
"45600 valis!" Bell exclaimed.
He sighed at Bell's valis... it had been so long that he had gotten used to call money as valis.
Then, he had remembered about the two books.
"Bell!" He took out the two books. "Tada! Two books for us to read. Come on! Let's read it."
Shouji waited as he saw that Bell was on his way to open the book.
Suddenly, Bell just slumped on the chair with the book opened.
"I'll join you." Shouji said.
Shouji flipped open the book, and immediately, his world turned white as an open white space laid in front of his eyes.
A figure just like himself stood in front of him.
"What is magic to you?" The figure alike asked Shouji.
"You know what magic I want. Just skip all the questions, and give me my magic."
"Come on! It's not like someone is going to give you divine retribution if you skip the questions or something." Shouji stated.
A few minutes later...
And soon, the world faded to black, and slowly his consciousness had returned.
It felt like all his blood had started to flood his oxygen deficient brain.
He looked around, and saw that Bell was still unconscious, and Lili was still sleeping.
And besides, it was getting dark, so he went to prepare dinner, put a lid on it, and proceed to sleep on the floor, since Bell occupied the chair, and Lili occupied the bed.
"And Hestia could share with Lili..."
--New Scene--
Meanwhile, in the Dungeon...
The sound of walls crumbling down, the floor shaking with every rumbling sound as if something big was causing it to shake.
*rumble*
Clouds of dust formed, and in the centre of the dust was a large skeleton-like monster
Not faraway from the big monster, two individuals looked upon the monster with caution.
"Are you sure you want to go alone, Aiz?" Riveria asked as the large monster stood in front of them.
"Yes." Aiz replied, 'Desperate' ready in her hand.
After she spoken, a beastly roar shook the Dungeon fiercely as a gush of wind passed by the two figure.
"Awaken, tempest... ariel.."
Wind started to form around Aiz's stature as her gaze was locked towards the giant monster.
Obviously, the big monster had noticed Aiz.
Riveria just looked from the sideline as Aiz lunged towards Udaeus.
0000000
11/1/1
--Bell.Cranell--
Valis: 45600
Equipment: Hestia knife, dagger, chest plate, elixir
Magic: firebolt
--Bell.Cranell--
--Shouji.Tatsuya--
Valis: 13200
Equipment: Knife, axe, bag, x4 holster, x2 gauntlet, 1/4 elixir, torso armor
Magic: sight swap, ????
--Shouji.Tatsuya--