Chapter 7
"GODS DAMN IT BELL!" I cursed as I ran for dear life.
"I'm sorry!" Cried the albino right beside me. Two days, I had spent two days in the dungeon, and for some reason Bell had managed to convince me to go down an additional level against the advice of our advisor. You know, the person who is supposed to give us information and try to keep us from doing stupid shit like this. Part of me blames Bell, I won't lie. But honestly, it's my fault. I knew he was naive and stupidly hopeful; I knew he was. I could have convinced him to not go down another floor. Instead, I listened to him.
"We'll be fine." He said, "We've done well today." he said. "Things only start picking up on floor 6" he said. Well, to be fair he was right for the most part. Between the two of us, we were able to handle most things the dungeon threw at us. It wasn't until a monster had come up from at least 4 floors lower than our own that we started panicking.
I felt the hair on the back of my neck stand on end. "Oh, shit!" I ducked under a fur covered arm, doing my best to shield myself from the dust and rocks that erupted from the wall when it slammed into it. Bell was just a tad faster than me, most likely due to his 3 day seniority over me, so I was the only one having to dodge and weave. On the plus side, I was getting really good at doing a tuck and roll into a full sprint while wearing armor. Oh, and having a sword strapped to my side. Can't forget that.
I glanced behind me and paled as I saw the minotaur, a beast that was a good 8 feet tall, its biceps about as big as my fucking head ripped its arm out of the wall and roared before barreling after us. I whipped my head back forwards and reached for my magic. Red lightning arced off me as I boosted my speed using a skill/magic, Hestia called it burst I think. Either way, I was risking mind down at this point, but we were in a straight run and this thing was much faster than us in a straight line. "Must go faster!" I yelled at Bell, causing the boy to look behind us, his already white face somehow becoming whiter.
"EEP!" And faster he went. I could barely keep up with the kid, the skill I was using didn't like to work over long distances, the fact that I can even use it like I am right now is nothing short of a blessing.
"Bell, I'm going to fucking kick your ass when we make it out of this!" I screamed. It was as Bell shrieked in terror again that I saw it, our out. A single corridor coming up to our right. "Bell, go right!" I yelled at the boy.
"Huh!?" Oh now he chooses to not hear me!
"FUCK IT!"" I scream in english, slamming into Bell, sending the both of us into the corridor. Bell had barely stumbled and was quickly running again, myself not really breaking stride. I heard something crack behind me as we ran followed by a loud crash. Well, those are good sounds. Right?
I glanced behind me to see and even more enraged minotaur as it picked itself up from the ground. Well, that bought us, what… 8 more seconds? Yeah, not a lot of time, but every second counts in situations like this. All we had to do was keep running. Slowing down is death.
MOOOOOOOOOOOAR
I felt my core shake when the damn thing let out a combination of a roar and moo, which in any other situation would have been hilarious to hear. Maybe when I'm level 3 or something I'll go find another one and see if I can't hear it again. Get a good laugh then. That being said, I still felt laughter try to bubble up anyway. Damn thing sounded like a lion and cow had a child and that image just made me want to start cackling. Well, right up until I felt the ground start to shake as our pursuer started to gain on us again. And that's a dead end. Fuck my life.
Bell and I skid to a stop as we stare at the wall, a pit of dread appearing in my stomach. The gallop behind us slows to a walk, and four limbs hitting the ground becomes two. Bell and I slowly start turning around and yup. There it is. "Oh, crap baskets." Bell's low whine clearly voices his agreement with my statement.
Now… you all may be wondering how I got myself into this situation. Well, that's not that long of a story actually.
4 days ago...
"I should thank Hestia the next time I see Her." I told myself as I slowly but surely translated a children's book. 2 weeks. That's how long it's been since I met Hestia and in that time, I've found myself owing the diminutive goddess as much as Mia. Everyday after work Hestia had found time to come over and help me learn to read the language. Between Her and Syr, I've slowly been figuring out how to read and speak the language. Syr's been helping me learn how to speak them, Hestia to read.
Well… I say slowly, but I'm actually learning it far faster than I expected. Immersive learning is actually a thing I guess. That… or it wasn't just my body that was enhanced, but so was my ability to learn and adapt. It's an odd language. It has little nuances from several different languages, like someone had just mashed them together to make it. I don't quite have the language down, but I can at least communicate my intentions now. Ryuu can even offer me advice about improving my swordsmanship now. Well, my ability to fight anyway considering I'm more of a brawler than a swordsman. Still, being able to use a sword properly is useful.
"Hello Mordred!" Came the familiar greeting I'd come to associate with Hestia. Grateful for the distraction, I look up from my book with a tired smile.
"Hello Lady Hestia." I replied as I closed the book. I blinked when I noticed the person with her. White hair, red eyes, pale skin, no older than 14. "And who might this be?" I ask with a raised brow.
"This is Bell Cranel, and the first child to join my familia as of 4 days ago!" She announced happily as she grabbed the poor boy's arm, Bell lighting up an impressive shade of red in the process. "Bell, meet Mordred, Morded meet Bell." She said with a blinding smile.
I blinked. She was oddly… cheerful, more than usual. I'll ask her about it later. For now, I just smiled and stood up. "Nice to meet you Bell." I said in the local language.
He looked a little startled and confused before looking towards Hestia in confusion. "You said 'Nice to you meet Bell.'" She explained and I winced.
"Damn. I was hoping to be past that at this point." I complained to Her. Turning back to Bell, I tried again. "Hello Bell, I'm Mordred." I said slowly, extending a hand and felt relieved when he didn't show any confusion. Yes! I didn't fuck up this time.
"Nice to meet you Mr. Mordred." He said… I think.
"Just Mordred, I not old." I looked towards said goddess. "I said that correctly, right?" I asked in all seriousness in english.
"A bit broken but it conveyed what you were going for Mor." She giggled as she glanced towards Bell.
"Ok, good." I sighed as I reverted back to the native language here. I was trying to keep myself from speaking and thinking in English since it didn't really share many of the nuances as the language here, Common I believe its called. "I was… um…" I thought for a minute as I tried to think of the word and quickly snapped my fingers. "Worried, there. I was worried I messed up again."
"If it means a-, you- doing well." Bell said slowly and I blinked.
"I do not understand the two word after means." I said as I looked towards Hestia.
"Anything and you're." She said as the goddess looked at Bell. The boy looked at her for a moment before realizing what he was being cued for..
"Oh, anything. Any-thing. You're, yo-u're" The boy said, saying the words slowly for me so I could learn it.
"Anything, you're." I said, seeing how the word felt on my tongue, saying it in different ways to cement it in my mind. Nodding, I smiled at the two. "Anything, you're. There are today words."
"Today's words." Bell corrected automatically, the boy immediately slapping a hand over his mouth as I glanced at him, his mouth apparently moving a tad faster than his brain just then.
"Today's words." I said. "Thank you, Bell." I nodded at him and the painfully shy by gave a small smile at my encouragement. It's then that it hits me. "A rabbit." Bell and Hestia give me an odd look.
"A rabbit?" Hestia repeats after me, Bell's own red eyes looking at me in curiosity.
"That is what Bell remind me-"
"Reminds me" Corrected Syr and Bell.
"-reminds me of." I said slowly, correcting myself without even missing a beat. "He gave th-" I paused, "me the same feels-"
"Feeling." Thank you Bell and Syr.
"-feeling as a rabbit."
Silence reigned in the room after that, even my coworkers giving me surprised looks. Bell looks at me in shock, Hestia looks like I just revealed the secrets of the universe to her, and the others all just stare at me with mixed looks.
"You know…" Hestia starts as She finally breaks the silence. "I can actually see how you would make that comparison." Bell yells a word that I don't know yet, but is obviously referring to Hestia as his normally pale face turning a very dark red that's coming close to matching the color of his eyes, as the room erupts into fits of laughter and giggles.
"A rabbit…" Anya wheezed between fits of laughter. "That hehehe… oh gods haha… I can see it." The girl was holding her sides as she struggled to breathe.
"It works." Chloe agreed.
"That wa- -ce Mordred." Syr said after recovering for just a few moments.
"Wasn't and nice." Hestia giggled when I sent her a questioning look. I practiced the words as the others calmed down, and Bell stopped doing a very good impression of a Christmas tree. I sent an apologetic smile to the boy in question. "Sorry Bell."
"It is fine mr-, er, no, erm... Mordred." Bell said slowly making sure to speak in simple terms and correct himself as he was about to call me mr. again. Kid is a quick learner. He'll go places.
I smiled and sat back down as I turned my attention back towards the book. Suddenly, I found myself chuckling as I looked at the picture of the white rabbit in the children's book. I suppose I should continue learning about the different kinds of animals. In common. With a sigh I turned the page and nearly jumped out of my skin at the burning red eyes staring me down from the bull in the book. "Just a picture…" I muttered in english, quiet enough that Hestia didn't hear me.
The word for the animal was the largest on the page, just like all the others and a brief little excerpt appropriate for kids on it. It didn't help with the fact that I felt like it was staring at me. I swear the damn thing's eyes were following me. All in all, it just creeped me out. It really didn't help that I didn't really like bulls in general. You'd probably be the same if you saw a bull gouge a man's leg open when you were about 10-ish. I shuddered at the memory. Probably why I don't really have an issue with looking at a whole bunch of gory things.
Quickly turning the page, I slowed my pace again when I saw a cat on the page. Hestia pulled up a chair and Bell sat on the other side of me, taking the spot Syr normally sits. I raised a questioning brow at Hestia who simply shrugged. "Syr said she was busier than normal today and was behind. Bell volunteered."
"Ah." I nodded at the explanation, today was particularly busy. "Thank you Bell." I said to the younger boy.
"It is no problem Mrrrrrrrrordred." Bell replied, fighting the reflex to call me mr. I flashed a smile to the younger boy and got started. Gods, what's a kid like him doing going down into the dungeon risking life and limb? Eh, I'll ask him later. The whole not being able to talk properly is starting to get just as annoying as not knowing the language. I really need to finish learning the language.
"HIYAH!" My training sword hit my mentor's, the vibrations of the blow traveling up my arm. I hissed in pain, my hands still not used to holding the sword. It didn't take long for me to be pushed back and once again, I was on the floor, a new bruise forming. "Damn it!" I sprung up off the floor and growled. "Again!"
My mentor simply looked at me for a moment before nodding. "You've certainly got the drive." He said as he readied his sword again. I was running before he was ready. I swung blindly, wild from fury. And he promptly blocked each and every hit.
"Why. Can't. I. Hit. YOU!?" I roared, though it came out as more of a childish yell. My voice cracking midway through it only made my anger burn hotter. "AAAAARGUOH!" I was about to swung again, when a kick launched me back.
"I have told you time and time again M#^0^30 to not let your anger consume you." He scolded me. "Anger can be a powerful weapon when controlled. But let it control you, and you will-"
"Lose sight of everything, yeah, yeah, I know." I huffed and crossed my arms. "You weren't very honorable with that kick though. I thought you were a knight." I glared at my mentor, the older man giving me a small smile.
"I was a knight." He corrected me. "Now, I am nothing more than a mercenary." He gave a sad smile as he looked off into the distance, a far away look in his eye. Shaking his head, my mentor brought up his practice sword once more. "Alright, lets go again." He said as he returned to normal. "We only have so long before your mother finds out afterall."
"Oh crap!" I scrambled for my sword and quickly started trying to spar my mentor. I really didn't want mother to realize that I was missing!
"SHIT!" I cursed as once again I landed on my ass. I gasped for air as the wind quickly left my lungs.
"You are still too wild, and your stance is too… narrow." I groaned at the critique. "You are doing better if it helps." Ryuu said as she, quite literally, looked down at me. I'm honestly thankful that she isn't wearing a skirt right now, I like living after all.
"One day…" I say as I slowly get to my feet. "I will win." I promise the elf and blink as Ryuu's lips twitch. Well, I actually made the stoic elf show a bit of emotion. That's a win right there. "Well…" I leveled my training sword again. "Go again?" I asked.
"No." Ryuu shook her head and pointed towards the bar just as Syr was coming over. "No more time."
"Yeah…" I looked up to see that the sun had risen nearly the rest of the way in the sky. It was time for us to help out with lunch. I guess we lost track of time. I nearly jumped out of my skin when I felt something cool touch my cheek. I turned my head to see Syr smirking as she offered me a cup of water, a pitcher in hand. "Thanks."
"You are welcome." Syr smiled, still speaking slowly for me. "You are getting be-" Syr said and I raised a brow when I heard a word I didn't understand. "More good." Syr supplied with a roll of her eyes.
"Ah, thank you." I said with a smile. "I try." Syr returned a smile as I shrugged and we went inside. "Ryuu, you first?" I offered as the elf walked in, getting a nod in response.
"Thanks." And she walked past me into the bathroom.
"You are welco-and she's gone." I switched to english mid sentence when Ryuu shut the door in the middle of my sentence. "Well…" I raised my arms over my head and stretched. "Got some time to kill. Hi May." I waved to the blonde cook as I walked through the kitchen.
"Hello Mor. Want anything to eat? We have some food left from the morning." May said gesturing towards some unprepared food that we couldn't keep anymore. Modern comforts we may have here, but it's still difficult to keep food long term.
"Yes please." Within the minute, I'm thanking the blonde as I walk to the front of the store, a fried egg sandwich in hand. Bacon, cheese, egg and bread. Yum. Biting into the sandwich, I watched the world go by through the window. Until a mop of white hair enters my field of vision. "Hey, Bell!" The younger boy immediately whipped around towards me, surprise obvious as I scarf down the remainder of my food.
"Mordred! Hello." He gave a slight bow as I walked over to him.
"Off to the dungeon?" I asked him, getting a nod.
"Yes, I am a bit late for today though." Bell admitted.
"Eh, it will happen." I shrug. "You can not make everything on time." I tell the boy before blinking. "That is right. I wanted to ask, why are you an adventurer anyway Bell? It is a danger...ous? Dangerous thing to do for anyone."
My question was simple, but apparently the answer was rather embarrassing if Bell's face was anything to go by. Seriously I didn't know someone could turn that shade of red.
"W-well…" Bell stammered out. "I guess you could say I am looking for something."
"Really? And you will find it in dungeon?"
"In the dungeon." Bell corrected. "But yes, my g- said you could find anything in the dungeon."
I ignored the new word in favor of the new information. "Anything?"
"Yes, no one knows all the secrets the dungeon has." Bell said, growing a little excited. "No one knows what could happen in the dungeon, so anything could happen!" He had fully recovered at this point but he was starting to ramble a bit, and I could only understand every other word.
"Bell, Bell…" I grab his shoulders. "Slow down. Breathe." I say. "In, and out." I watch the young teen take several deep breaths, calming down as he did. "Now, I know a little about the dungeon, enough to know that knows one no-" "No one knows." "-no one knows, thank you, where it came form or how it works. But you said you can find anything in it, right?" I asked, getting a nod.
"Well, that is what I have been told." Bell said, slowing his speech again. I felt something prick the back of my mind and I sighed.
"Alright then, I guess I know what I'm doing next." I said in English before blinking. "Say, are you not late Bell?" I asked the boy, getting an alarmed shout and ramblings in response as he ran. "He is quite fast." I said as I watched him go.
"Not really." I nearly jumped at the sudden voice right next to me.
"JESUS H. CHRIST!" I yelled as I looked over to see Syr giggling next to me. "Do not do that." I said with a slight glare.
"Sorry." She giggled as we walked back into the bar. "I did not mean to. Ryuu wanted me to tell you that the bath is free."
"Right, thanks Syr." I said before pausing for just a brief moment and grinning. Suddenly I wrapped an arm around the silver haired girl getting an eep out of the girl when I brought her in for a one armed hug. Honestly, this is the first time I've felt comfortable enough with someone to come in physical contact like this in… gods, close to a month I think. Well, that is both depressing and happy. With that in mind, I release the girl and walk into the back of the store, not even noticing the blushing and stuttering mess that Syr became.
Within the minute I was soaking in the bath, doing my best to scrub myself clean. Gods I missed having a shower. "Anything, huh." I murmured. I sighed and stopped my scrubbing as I finally focused on what I had shoved to the back of my mind when I first came here. Why? Why was I brought here? How was I brought here? How did I become this? Why did I become this? I didn't have time before to even worry about those kinds of questions, I had to focus on adapting to my new environment. Adapt improvise and overcome. That's what my mother always says. I chuckled. Here I am sitting with what is probably a magically gifted six pack, though it is slowly becoming eight pack, abs and mom struggles to lose weight still.
I quickly frowned at the thought. Gods it feels like forever since I thought about home but it's only been, what two, maybe three weeks? I closed my eyes, sinking further into the water as I thought about it. I… I don't even know if I want to go back. I miss my friends and my parents but… I felt so out of place there. I was so lost. And the minute I arrive here, I find purpose, a drive. Now, I'm starting to settle again, I've fallen into a habit and my drive is fading. Well, right up until now.
I snorted. It's like this word saw me starting to get complacent again and started hanging another carrot in front of me and a means to get it. Or a possible means at the very least. A purpose. Dad always said that people need a purpose. I didn't have one back home. I have several here.
I sighed as I confronted the truth. I didn't want to go home to my friends and family. Did I want to see them? Yes. Do I want to go back to that hollow life I was living? No. Does that make me a bad person? I shook my head, I was getting off track again. Fucking ADD. I didn't want to go home, but I at least wanted to know why and maybe the how to see if I could at least send my family a message. And right now, I only have one clue. Maybe Hestia or the other gods have an idea, but that's a long shot. Then again… they share the names of the gods back home. Either way, I was going to have to talk with Mia.
"The dungeon?" Mia raised a brow at me when I broached the subject. "What do you want to know about that gods for- place?" She said, part of me noting the new word, and guessing forsaken was what she was going for based on context.
"I had heard that you can find anything there." I said as I placed another mug. It was after lunch rush now, and we were prepping for dinner now. I was distracted the whole day. There were no ands ifs or buts about it. Everyone could tell, particularly Mia. She was a bit of a mother hen to those under her care, which included me surprisingly enough. Well, if a mother hen could lift a ton of metal and break it over her knee.
I looked back up towards the dwarf, and yes she is a dwarf, I was surprised too. "I am thank… uhm, thank you for, no, ah, thankful." I nodded to myself. "I am thankful for everything you have done for me, but I… want? No… I need answers." I said. "It is… not likely?" "Unlikely." "Unlikely, thank you, that I will find a way home. But I will… no, I might find out why and maybe a way to at least tell my friends and family I'm fine. So… I want to know what it's like, the dungeon. Is there even a chance at me finding answers there? Who knows, but it's a starting point." I said before quickly smiling. "Besides, I think I can pay you back… better, more? More, pay you back more if I am an adventurer."
Mia looked at me long and hard, the internal debate obvious before sighing. "You do not owe me kid." She reached over and placed a hand on my head, subtely reminding me of the fact that she could break me in fucking two as she did. "You helped Syr, risking your life for a person you could not even talk to, were lost, how could I not help?" The warmth in her voice was apparent, a tone that she often reserved for the girls working for her. It was the first time she had used it with me. It reminded me of how mom used to talk to me.
"But still… part of me saw this coming." Mia said as she removed her hand from my head.
"You did?"
"Yes. The minute I saw you first pick up a sword and ask Ryuu for help, I knew you would go to receive a falna, a blessing." I blinked at that, a little surprised by Mia.
"How did wanting to learn defending myself lead to becoming an adventurer?" I asked genuinely curious.
"First, you messed up a bit there." Mia said calmly correcting me. "Second, it is because you are right. You can find just about anything in the dungeon." My eyes widened at the admittance. "I knew you would find out about that, and because you are not from around here. You didn't even know where you were, and had never heard of Orario, and you will not tell us about your home. The dungeon is where people go for many things. Fame, fortune, power, even women, or men. But just as many come to it for answers."
"Talking from experience?" I asked.
"Heh, at one point, yes." Mia nodded. "But that is a story for another time." I saw the melancholic look in her eye.
"It sounds like a, um… interesting story." I glanced towards Mia to make sure I said it right and got a nod of approval. "But would be better for another day." I said, showing that I understood she didn't want to talk about it.
"But it would be, not but would be." Mia said, getting a grimace from me.
"Damn…"
"But back to our original talk." Mia suddenly said, ending the current conversation. "You want to become an adventurer and you're asking me for permission, right?"
"I… well, kind of." I paused as I thought about what I would say next. "I wanted to look into it more before I had… decided?" I got a nod of approval. "Yes, decided and wanted to ask you about it." I gave a light laugh. "Not that it matters, it looks like my best choice is becoming an adventurer after all. Any advice?" I ask.
"Lots. But if I had to say one thing now, it is that the dungeon is alive." Mia said. "It is always trying to kill you. So, be careful, and do not bite off more than you can chew, even if your goal is right in front of you. What you are looking for, some quest, anything that would let you gain something, it is not worth your life. So make sure you come back, the minute you die is the minute the dungeon wins, the minute you leave is when you win." Mia looked at me, her gaze hard enough to cause me to swallow nervously. "Understand?"
"Yes ma'am." I squeaked out.
"Good. Now get to work. You can go out tomorrow to get fitted for some armor. Talk to Hestia tonight, join Her familia. If there is anyone you owe, it is Her." I blinked at the information, processing it and nodded. I really did owe Hestia as much as I owed Mia. "And when you are ready… tell me. I have something for you before you leave. You will need it." I looked at Mia, confused as I tilted my head. What in the world could she be talking about?
A/N
4871 words. First off, thanks for all the support I'm receiving for the story. I've gotten a lot of positive responses,and I'm not going to lie, they really motivate us writers to keep going with this stuff. Secondly, sorry about not updating in so long, college has decided I'm its bitch so that's been fun. I've also been re-reading the Danmachi series now that I'm starting to officially get into the series. I would have updated sooner, but I already feel like I've rushed a few of these scenes trying to get this out now. I'm going to try and slow down the next few chapters to the pace I was at, but I honestly wanted to get things moving a bit faster here.
Speaking of the next few chapters. I've got chapter 8 outlined, which was originally going to be part of this chapter, along with what I have planned for chapter 9, but that would have started getting a bit too long for a single chapter so I'm breaking it up into three chapters. Long story short, I should be updating a bit more this month, especially with spring break coming up. Now, time for some reviews!
Blaze2121: I'm not quite doing pre-Bell, Mordred and Bell will have been adventurers for roughly the same amount of time when all is said and done, so I hope that's alright with you
StraxyX: I try to update every month at a minimum, but otherwise, it's when I have time. This is a hobby for me, a hobby that I sink hours into mind you, but a hobby all the same.
Zasshu: Yeah, I was honestly debating still when I started this on whether I would go with Arthur prototype or a male Mordred, but yes it is a tad funny.
Again, thanks for all the support, I'll see you all next time. TJ out!
