Tragedy of Adventure
"We can't keep doing this!"
Those words were spoken by Okita as she beheaded the goblin in front of her. The others were behind her, already finishing the monsters that they were fighting.
"Every time that we spend to defeat them," She stated. "Was the time that we lost to rescue them."
"That's right." Cú agreed. "I am sure we can simply sprint towards them and just kill the monsters that are directly in our way. However…"
He turned his head towards Lily and Welf, the Level 1s of the party that was also possessing only the strength that one would expect from a normal Level 1.
"We need to split up, then." The samurai decided. "Welf, Lily, what do you think?"
"Don't worry." The blacksmith replied. "This is not my first time going alone in the upper floor. Well, at least I am not completely alone this time."
"After all the training that you…give to me," The supporter replied. "Lily's sure that she could handle it."
"Good." She then turned her attention to her fellow Servant. "Charlotte, stay with them and make sure they're alive!"
"Of course." Assassin nodded.
"Everything's settled, then. Mikoto, lead the way."
"Y-Yes!" The Far Easterner adventurer moved forward, ready to do as tasked. "Ready?"
Okita and Cú nodded their heads. The three of them then looked at Bell, who – while feeling nervous – was nonetheless ready for what was about to come.
"Now!"
The moment the word was spoken, all of them immediately ran as fast as their legs could carry them. Along the way, they saw several monsters trying to chase after them but to no avail. Those who were in the way were cut down in a blink of an eye, no one bothering to collect the magic stone or drop item.
They were in such a hurry that even a party of adventurers in their way was not enough to cause them to change direction. Fortunately, they simply jumped over them rather than knocking them out of the way. Bell watched many of them having shocked faces seeing his own party.
In a matter of minutes, they arrived at the 11th floor after running all the way from the 4th floor. When they reached this place, Mikoto decreased her speed and started to look around. Noticing this, Okita decided to ask her.
"Is this where your Famila got ambushed?" She asked.
"N-No. It's two, three floors below, if I am not wrong." She replied. "However, before I went above, we were already planning to move upward."
"Which means that – considering how long you've gone – they're likely no longer in their original position." Cú joined in before looking at others. "You heard that, right? Keep your eyes peeled."
""Yes!""
They searched the entire floor, encountering many monsters, yet found no sign of them. It was when they decided to search the floor below that they finally found one of them, lying on the stairs.
"Heiji!" Mikoto immediately ran towards him.
Okita followed her, kneeling besides the Far Easterner adventurer. Noticing the dried blood on the ground, the pink-haired samurai checked his pulse, finding none.
"He's gone." She stated.
"Damn it!" The pony-tailed girl slammed her fist into the ground.
"Hmm…" Caster looked at the corpses and magic stones that were scattered around the body. "It seems that your party tried to move upward, but was pushed back by the monsters."
"Then let's go!" Mikoto stood up. "We must find them ASAP!"
Wasting no time at all, the search party moved towards the 12th floor. In just a few minutes, they heard the sounds of fighting, causing them to immediately ran towards the source. When they arrived, they witnessed a big battle between a parade of monsters and three adventurers, protecting their injured comrade.
All of the adventurers were Far Easterner, indicating that they were likely the members of Takemikazuchi Familia. The party was being led by a Far Easterner man, armed with a big axe which he swung with ferocity against the horde of Al-Miraj. Despite that, it didn't change the fact that the adventurers had been pushed into the corner.
"There they are!" Mikoto exclaimed, confirming their identities. "Quick! We…"
Before she could finished her words, one of the Al-Miraj jumped and threw its stone axe towards the cornered adventurers. The weapon managed to land on one of their necks, causing the adventurer to fall into the ground.
"Hiro!" She screamed upon witnessing it.
"Master," Cú whispered towards Bell with serious tone. "I am going to use my strongest spell."
At first, the boy was confused on why Caster seemed to be asking for permission before he realized what he meant; he intended on using his Noble Phantasm, the strongest power that a Servant possessed.
Since he was connected to his Servants, it was likely that using a Noble Phantasm would cause a big drain on Bell's mana reserve. With the warning, he would be prepared for any possibility, with Mind Down being the worst.
"Do it." The Master told his Servant.
"Alright." He grinned. "This is going to take time, so we should buy those guys some time."
"If that's the case…" Bell drew out his blades. "Let's go!"
""OOOHH!""
Wasting no time at all, the rescue party descended towards the parade of monsters, cutting their way to reach the adventurers of Takemikazuchi Familia.
"My Magecraft is a Cage of Flames."
Bell had read that for a mage to use their spell, they had to stand still, recite every word perfectly, and concentrate fully on the spell otherwise it would literally explode in their face. There were some exceptions; people like him who could almost instantly use their spell due to the short chant.
Then there were those who could perform Concurrent Chanting; casting a spell while still able to do another activity, like dodging and fighting. A mage that was capable of doing that was considered to be among the top.
Cú Chulainn, despite preferring to be a Lancer, indeed deserved his status as a Caster.
"A flaming yet verdant giant."
"Ouka!" Mikoto called her captain.
"Mikoto!" He replied, face full of relief. "You're back!"
The boy gave a glance at the pair, smiled, before returning his attention towards the monsters in front of him; the Al-Miraj.
Despite being smaller than even goblins, these rabbits were monsters from deeper floors and thus more dangerous. They were agiler and often armed with landform weapons that they sometimes threw. They were also quite infamous for attacking in large group to gang up an adventurer from all direction.
"Retribution."
"Man, these monsters are like Bell!" Okita commented. "Hit fast and jump all around to avoid being attacked!"
"I don't act like that at all!" The boy in question exclaimed, not liking being compared with a monster.
"A shrine that purifies the evil of human affairs."
As he fought the rabbit monsters, Bell started to understand why that Minotaur that he fought in order to Level Up seemed to be quite angry with him, even beyond the normal "monsters hating everything."
"Just. Stand. Still!" He shouted as he decapitated an Al-Miraj. "Got - Whoa!"
The boy suddenly found himself being pushed back by the rest of the rabbits. Desperately, he parried all of their attacks with Hestia Knife and Ushiwakamaru. He now understood why a Monster Parade was so dangerous, even for high-level adventurers.
All it took was one mistake and you would be dead.
"The one who destroys…"
"That's it." He remembered the chant. "Everyone, retreat!"
Without hesitation, all of them moved away from the monsters with Ouka grabbing the wounded girl, the adventurer that they had been protecting. They had heard Cú chanting, knowing that a big spell was about to be unleashed.
"Wicker Man!"
Earthquake suddenly occurred. The monsters stopped attacking, falling into panic due to upcoming disaster. Then, from the ground, a giant wooden arm emerged, crushing several of them as it did so. It soon revealed the entirety of its form; a giant wooden man with a door on the center of its body. The Wicker Man, as Cú called it.
The monsters turned their attention away from the adventurers and headed straight towards a much greater danger. The arms of the Wicker Man went towards some of them and grabbed the monsters as its door became open. It tossed the captured monsters into itself. With the door closed, there was only one more thing to do.
Lighting itself on fire.
The monsters inside the Wicker Man roared in pain, as well as those close enough to the giant wooden summon. It didn't stop there, though; the Wicker Man started to slam and crush the remaining monsters with its limbs. Those that attack it simply quicken their death.
On the sidelines, the Hestia Familia simply watched as the giant wooden summon did their job. Meanwhile, the Takemikazuchi gathered around their wounded comrade, whose wound was being pressed by a girl with a bang. While his blood had stop flowing, so was his breath.
"I am sorry…" Mikoto said as she stared at the body of her friend. "I didn't come soon enough."
"No. If there's someone to be blamed, it's me." Ouka stated, face full of regret. "If I didn't lead us into the corner…"
Bell watched as they grieved over the loss of someone that they considered their family in all but blood. He could sympathize with them; he still remembered how devastated he was upon receiving the news of the death of his grandfather.
"It is done." Cú declared as the Wicker Man turned to ashes.
The boy turned his attention at the charred battlefield. Like the wooden summon, all of the monster was turned into ashes as well with only few of the magic stones remain intact. Seeing that the situation has been solved, he went towards the people that they saved.
"Miss Yamato." Bell greeted her. "Is…"
"Please, just call me Mikoto, Bell-dono." The pony-tailed adventurer replied. "We're ready to go back to the surface."
There was still more that he wanted to ask, but noticing the grief in her voice, the white-haired boy simply nodded his head.
After a while, it was decided that Caster would be the one that carried the body with Ouka giving a piggyback to the wounded adventurer, who was called Chigusa. As if rubbing the salt on the wound, the party was continually harassed by monsters but never to the point of being a serious danger.
When they reached the area where they discovered the corpse of Heiji of Takemikazuchi Familia, it was also where they reunited with the other half of the rescue party.
"It seems that we're too late, huh?" Charlotte stated as she watched them ascending from lower floor.
"We barely made it." Okita replied. "He's ready to be moved?"
Assassin nodded her head, just as Welf and Lily finished covering the body with a cloth. Due to that, it didn't take long for them to resume the journey, with the blacksmith responsible for carrying the second fallen adventurer.
With the monsters being weaker as they ascended, it didn't take them long until they reached the upper floors. The adventurers that they passed by gave them a wide-breath, likely due to the bodies of the Takemikazuchi Familia adventurers.
When they exited the Babel, it was time for the two Familia to separate.
"Thank you so much for your help." The Captain of Takemikazuchi Familia bowed after putting down Chigusa. "If not for your help, we won't make it out alive."
"The honor is ours." The Captain of Hestia Familia bowed back. "Do you still require our help or…?"
"Thank you, but that is unnecessary. We can handle it ourselves from here."
"Very well then. May you return to your home safe and unharmed."
With that, the Takemikazuchi Familia went towards their home, carrying with them the bodies of their deceased comrades. Bell watched them, knowing how much they were hurt by the experience, before feeling his shoulder being grabbed by Saber.
"Come on," She said. "Let's get back home as well."
"We're not going back to the Dungeon?" Lily asked.
"I don't think any of you are in any condition to do that. Not after what happen." The Samurai stated.
He couldn't agree more with that statement. As such, he didn't let out any protest as his Familia returned to their home, earlier than usual.
The next day, Bell was trained by Okita to learn about swordsmanship, in which he was barely adequate. Good enough to fight against monsters but not so much against human opponent. Currently, both of them were locking their blade against each other.
"You're weaker." She suddenly said.
"Eh?" It was the only response that he could said before he was being pushed to the ground. "Whoa!"
Saber planted her sword nearby and sat down near her student-Master.
"What happened yesterday is still in your mind, isn't it?" Okita asked, though it sounded more like a statement.
"Y-Yeah…" The boy replied as he sat up. "I…I don't exactly dream about it, but I keep thinking about it until I fell asleep."
"Well, we need to give you a closure then." She declared before standing up, offering her hand to Bell. "Come on."
"Um…" He accepted the offer. "So, what do we do…?"
"Just a bit of shopping."
"Eh?"
Soon enough, the two of them found themselves standing in front of a pottery shop. They could see the various wares being displayed; from a simple earthenware to beautiful ceramic.
"So, why are we here?" Bell asked, still confused.
"What do you know about Far East funeral tradition?" She asked back while walking towards the shop.
"Um, nothing." He replied, sounding embarrassed.
"No need to feel ashamed." They entered the shop. "To put it simple, we do not bury our dead. Instead, the bodies are cremated until only ashes and bones remained. It's burning, in case you don't know what cremation is."
"I see." Bell nodded before he suddenly stopped, noticing someone that he recognized. "Ah, isn't that…?"
"Hmm?" Okita turned her head to the same direction as him and saw the person in question. "Oh, Lady Hephaestus."
Indeed. In front of them, currently inspecting several ceramic vases, was none other than the Goddess of Smiths herself.
"Oh?" She turned her head to look at them. "It's both of you, huh?"
"Good day, Lady Hephaestus." The boy greeted her. "Um, if you don't mind, what are you doing here?"
"Likely the same as you." She stated, turning her attention back to the vases. "I have heard about what happened to Take."
Both of them immediately understood. Hestia and Takemikazuchi were friends. She was also a friend with Hephaestus. It was likely that Takemikazuchi and Hephaestus were friends as well.
"While that's my intention, I just realize that I have no idea what kind of urn that would be suitable." The goddess stated before looking at a certain person. "Say, since you're from the Far East, how much do you know about it?"
"Well enough." Okita replied as she looked at the vases as well. "The most important would be the size; small enough to be put inside an altar which is placed inside a room."
"I see. So, these would be a little too big?"
"I believe so. As for the appearance, it won't matter much. Lord Takemikazuchi's 'children' are people of low social caste, am I correct?"
"Yep. They're orphans that he takes care of."
"Then as long as it's decently made and pleasing to the eyes, he would appreciate it. Commoners like them don't receive even ordinary decoration vase for burial."
As the females continued their discussion, Bell looked at other wares that the shop offered, seeing that he had nothing to do. Speaking about them, he looked at the goods that were made from ceramic, interested by them. There was a vase back in the church; to be more precise, a pot for flowers, which was nothing like the vases that were here.
"Oi, Bell! We're almost done!"
The boy immediately turned his head upon being called, seeing that Okita and Hephaestus were already at the cashier.
"C-Coming!" He said, running towards them.
When he reached them, the cashier already gave them two packages; each containing an urn.
"Alright, I have paid for them. It's the least that I could do." The blacksmith goddess stated. "Unfortunately, buying these is the only free time I have. Give my regards to Take, will you?"
"Of course, Lady Hephaestus." Okita replied along with a bow. "I am sure that Lord Takemikazuchi will understand and appreciate your gesture."
"Our gesture." She corrected her. "I won't be able to do this without you, after all."
The moment that they had been waiting for finally arrive.
"I cannot thank all of you enough for saving my most precious children!" Takemikazuchi, the God of War, was wearing a formal Far Easterner clothes as he prostrated in front of them. "Please, accept my most sincere gratitude!"
Hestia tried her best not to awkwardly laugh as her "children" looked at each other, trying to comprehend what they were currently seeing. Many of them knew of how prideful a god could be; of how a petty insult could cause a rage capable of obliterating an entire city.
Seeing one basically groveling in front of them was…quite jarring, to say the least.
"R-Really, Lord Takemikazuchi, there's no need to go to such lengths to thank us." Bell stated, his hands raised and a weak smile adorned his face. "W-We just did something that everyone would do."
"Do not look down upon yourself, Bell Cranel." The god stated, sitting up. "I can assure you that what you did is an exception of what most people would do."
"Bell," Lily said. "Remember that you're an exception among the adventurers."
"That's not…" The boy tried to retort but let out a sigh in the end. "…true…"
While he believed that most adventurers were at least polite and decent people, he had to agree that faced with the situation that they faced back in the Dungeon, most of them would decide to turn tail and saved themselves.
"In any case, the honor is ours, Take." Hestia said. "Also, we've prepared something for you. Well, two things."
She – along with Okita – went to grad the items that she mentioned. When they showed them to him, the god was unable to hide his shock, causing him to stand up.
"T-T-These are….I…it's…" He shook his head. "Hestia, I can't possibly…!"
"Nu-uh, none of that, Take!" She told him off immediately. "Listen, I don't know how it is to lose a child, but I can guess that you're still in mourning. So, just accept it, OK? Even if you're still troubled by it, I am sure your 'children' will appreciate it."
Takemikazuchi remained silent, still unsure on what to do next. He looked at her friend, seeing the determined look, causing him to sigh. Knowing how stubborn Hestia could be, he decided to simply do the easiest thing.
"Alright then." He stated. "You have my thanks for these wonderful gifts."
"The pleasure is ours." Hestia replied. "Say our condolences to your Familia."
"I will. I am sure they will appreciate the gesture."
When night fell, Hestia Familia decided to have a simple dinner; nothing heavy, just several breads cut into slices, toasted, and then dipped in olive oil.
"You know, Lily couldn't help but think…" The Pallum said as she took a bite of her slice. "What would happen if Bell died?"
"E – cough!" Surprised by the out-of-nowhere statement, Bell chocked on his bread before immediately grabbing for a glass of water.
"Really, Lily?" The goddess commented. "Do you have to talk about that during dinner?"
"I am sorry, but recent event makes Lily curious." She replied. "Most of members of our Familia are summoned by him, after all."
"Well…" Okita finished her bread before answering. "Let's just say killing a Master is the guaranteed way to defeat a Servant, no matter how strong they are."
"So, if Bell got killed, our Familia would collapse faster than when the Black Dragon decimated Zeus and Hera Familia."
"Now that you mention it," Charlotte joined in. "Our Familia is quite lacking in flesh-and-blood member."
"Is – Is that bad?" Hestia couldn't help but ask.
"More or less." Cú stated. "We Servants have died quite a long time ago; from decades to centuries. Maybe even a millennium or two. Our time here would be a fleeting one."
"To put it short," The captain spoke. "The Hestia Familia, powerful as it is, has a too-big Achilles' heel that must be taken care of."
Hestia's face became sour upon realizing that – despite the improvement – her Familia was still far from being considered decent. She was at first content with it just being her and Bell. Then he summoned Okita, Charlotte, and Cú with four more on the way. They also recruited Lily to rescue her from her neglectful god and abusive Familia.
That could be problematic. She still had no idea on how to recruit people. Well, the normal way. There was nothing about her Familia that was attractive; it was not even a year-old exploratory Familia without even a decent home. Sure, the church has been renovated, but it was still a rundown building nonetheless.
"On another topic," Okita said. "I believe we should resume our expedition. While we're still not in red, we're definitely heading there the longer we delay it."
"Ah, that's right! That's why we're going there last time!" Lily exclaimed. "Well, our supply is still more or less intact. So, we can immediately go to the Dungeon."
"Then I suppose we can go tomorrow." The Samurai stated. "Any objection?"
No one raised their voice.
"It is decided then; tomorrow, we would go to the Dungeon."
"Make sure all of you come back in one piece, got it?" Hestia told her "children."
"Don't worry, Goddess." Bell replied, smiling. "We promise."
With that, the adventurers of Hestia Familia departed for the Dungeon, intending to come back with many magic stones and drop items.
Alas, today was not to be the day as well.
"Okita! Miss Okita!"
The party stopped and turned around upon having their leader being called. They saw a woman wearing a cape and beret approaching them, seemingly out of her breath.
"Ah, you are…" Saber recognized her. "You're Plume, of Ganesha Familia, right?"
"Y-Yeah…" The brown-haired woman controlled her breath for a while. "A-Anyway, I am in need of your help. An emergency."
"Um, you see, I…"
"It's a kidnapping!" She suddenly shouted.
Silence fell upon them as they realized the scope of the problem that was revealed to them.
""EEEHH?!""
Soon, the party followed Plume to one of the gates of Orario. There, they could see other members of Ganesha Familia and Guild staffs taking care of wounded people.
"What exactly happened?" Okita asked their guide.
"These people are merchants." The brown-haired woman explained. "They arrived with wounds and their clothes in tatters. They said that they were attacked by bandits and some of their numbers were captured."
"I see." The Samurai nodded. "By the way, why are you looking out for me earlier?"
"I didn't. I was actually heading towards my Familia's house – wanting to request backup – when I met you on the street. You're well known among us for accepting quite a lot of bandit hunting quests."
"I see. It would be faster to ask me – and my Familia in turn – for help."
"So, we're not going to the Dungeon today as well?" Lily asked.
"Well, there's your answer." Cú pointed at someone.
It was none other than Bell Cranel himself. While not the captain of his Familia, Bell was the Master of the Captain of the Familia, meaning that he was de facto leader of Hestia Familia. Added with the fact that Hestia had given her support for his dream, his decision was basically the decision of the Familia.
As he walked among the injured, the white-haired adventurer noticed a crying girl being consoled by a Guild staff.
"Don't worry, OK?" She told her. "We will get your mother back. You have our promise."
He didn't need to ask what happened. Besides, that would be quite insensitive.
The boy immediately turned around and walked back to his Familia. Face full of confidence, he spoke up to her.
"Okita!" He stated. "Let's help them."
The woman in question scratched her head as she let out a sign, weakly laughing.
"You are indeed a kind man, Bell." She stated before looking at Plume. "Do you know where they are? The bandits?"
"In the mountains." She answered. "That's why we need every man available; finding them alone would be a challenge."
"I see." Suddenly, Okita's face became colder as she returned her attention towards her Master. "Bell, let me remind you that we will not be dealing with monsters. Are you sure about this?"
He gulped, knowing that she would ask such a question. He wanted to help rescue the kidnapped merchants, but he also knew that doing that might put him in a kill-or-be-killed situation against another person.
"If you're…not feeling well thinking about that, then it's alright." The pink-haired Servant consoled him. "We can do it ourselves."
"That is right. There's no shame in being scared." Charlotte joined in. "Once you do it, there's no turning back. Unless you put your entire heart to it, I am telling you, don't."
Assassin was the closest who was once in the same boat as Bell. Just a normal person who one day ended up taking the life of another person. In that context, her words meant a lot in this conversation.
He had made his choice.
"It's kind of inevitable, isn't it?" The boy said. "So far, I manage to avoid it thanks to luck and all of you. Had I not summon any of you, I would likely fight other people to save Lily."
"Bell…" The Pallum spoke.
"Basically, you decide to go and face the danger now than later?" Cú commented as he smirked. "Well, I definitely like your bravery. I can't ask for a better…superior."
"So, would you help us?" Plume asked them.
The adventures and supporter of Hestia Familia looked at each other, nodded, and told their answer.
""Yes.""
And it's finally…done!
BTW, I am going to say that thanks to Covid-19, college, and other business, my productivity will drop quite significantly. I can only say I am sorry for the would-be late chapters.
If you have a question or suggestion, feel free to tell me.
Review, please!