Chapter 9: Return
"Human Speaking"
"Human Thoughts""Human Chanting"
"Xenos/Fels Sounds/Talking"
"Monster/Fels Thoughts"
"Monster Chanting"
SFX
Aki's POV.
"Where am I...?"I woke up under a tree, with my head resting on someone's lap.
I looked above and I saw a man who looks like he's around 25 tk 30 years old, he has a very long legs, a slightly strong build and a very handsome face.
"I wonder who he is..."I noticed his pure white hair, I thought it was Bell but his hair is way too short for it to be him and this kind of manly look doesn't suit his rabbit like appearance.
"Um..."
"Oh... You're awake Aki-san" He smiled very gently.
And then, I saw his eyes, it's the same red ruby eyes but now, it's a lot fiercer and a little bit intimidating to what I'm used to.
"Bell?"
"Yes?" He answered while tilting his head slightly.
"WAIT WHAT!? YOU'RE BELL!?" I exclaimed.
"Of course who else? I mean you see my face everyday so why are you acting so surprised now?"
"Wait, what do you mean everyday? I know we live in the same city and venture to the same dungeon but that's impossible!"
"What? we've been living in the same house for 7 years now"
"HHAAAAA!!!!????"
BAM!
"It hurts..." I said as I massaged the back of my head.
"Aki-san, are you okay? you fell out of your bed and you're also screaming something like ' Living in the same city ' or something like that" She gave me a worried look.
"Ah! so it was just a weird dream huh..."
"It's already noon so I think you should get up, eat breakfast and have your status updated too" She said as she exited the room.
"Haaah... Maybe I should go out for a bit after doing those..." I said as I got up.
I fixed my hair and changed my clothes to my usual one, I didn't wear my arm guards since I probably won't go to the dungeon today but I have to go to Gobniu Familia to have my sword repaired because I broke it when I used my magic against the goliath yesterday.
I ate my breakfast and went to Loki's office to have my status updated.
"Yo Aki! How's my gorgeous cat today!?" She said as she jumps around.
"Why do you always do that?" I asked with a deadpan expression.
"Because! New girl to update, new girl naked! HAHAHA-Ouch!" I elbowed her side as I entered the room.
"Lefiya already gave you a lesson yesterday and still, here you are like nothing happened"
"Whatever let's just update your status!"
I sat down to the small chair at the middle and exposed my back to her, as she update my status.
"Aki... Aki!!" She exclaimed while looking at my falna.
"What's wrong?"
"LEVEL 5 AKI IS FINALLY HERE!!!!!" She screamed.
"Eh...!?" My jaw dropped as soon as I heard her announce that I'm already a level 5.
"What did you do during the expedition heh? Pretty impressive! now you can become an executive with this!" She finished updating it and showed me my status.
Level 4-5
Strength: C 598 - I 1
Dexterity: B 633 - I 1
Agility: S 907 - I 1
Magic: D 401 - I 1
Abnormal Resistance - G
Escape - F
Skill
Speed Up - Increase speed when fighting.
Magic
Getsuga Tenshou(Heaven Piercer) - A very powerful magic that uses both the user's mind and the excilia in the air to enhance the power of the user's weapon, It can be released as a very powerful attack but once it is released, it's power is 10x more powerful than using it to just enchant your weapon but the draw back of it is that your blade will shatter except if it's a Durandal.
I looked at it with amazement because I never thought that my fight with the goliath will be the key to my rank up.
"Amazing... I didn't expect this to happen this soon..."
I walked out of the room while still holding the paper in my hands, I just couldn't believe what happened earlier.
But as I got out of the room, I was greeted by my friends' smiles.
"Congrats Aki! You're finally level 5! Yay!" Tiona rejoiced.
"Congrats... Aki you're finally a 1st class adventured just like us" Aiz smiled at me gently.
"Congrats, you've already graduated from being a weakling, keep it up"
""""HAAAH!!??""" We all exclaimed even Riveria-san who just arrived at the scene have her jaw dropped by what the werewolf said to me just now.
"What's wrong with you people? I just congratulated her like you guys did!" He exclaimed as he averted his gaze from us.
"Umm... Well thanks I guess...??" I said with a unsure look on my face.
"Congratulations Aki, I'm here to announce that you are finally a Loki Familia executive" The beautiful high elf smiled at me as she pats my shoulders.
"Thanks Riveria-san..."
"You're welcome... Oh! I remember, I have something to talk about to you... And I don't want anyone other than us when we talk, is that okay?"
"Yeah sure..."
I followed her suit as she went down to the backyard of the manor.
we sad down under the tree.
"It's about that boy Bell Cranel"
"What's wrong with him?"
"You see... I don't know what to do about it but I think... Aiz is attracted to him..."
"Isn't that nice? She have other things to think about other than getting stronger?"
"I don't know... Maybe it's just me being mama bear again... ehehe..." She giggled slightly.
If she shows this side of her to many people, I'm sure the number of guys who wants to court her will increase 100 times, not only does she look absolutely gorgeous but also cute when she's laughing even just slightly like this.
"By the way, why are you telling this to me? aren't you supposed to tell this to Aiz? or Captain?" I asked her.
"Why shouldn't I tell you? I mean you're-no... Never mind let's just forget that" She dismissed and waved goodbye to me as she walks away.
"I wonder what's on her mind..."
I also left the backyard and went upstairs to get my sword and have it repaired by the evening or afternoon, maybe I'll upgrade it after our trip to Melen but that can wait, for now I only need it to be restored.
Gobniu Familia's shop.
"Excuse me! I'm here to have my sword repaired... Hello?" I called out but it looks like there's no one at the workshop right now.
"I'll do it so just put it over here" There I saw the god of the familia, Gobniu-sama himself.
"I can't have you repair my sword! I can't afford it right now!"
"It's okay, just pay the usual price, it's just a simple repair so don't mind it"
I showed him my sword and his eyes widened as soon as he saw it.
"You've ranked up haven't you?"
"How did he know that!?""H-How...? I just ranked up earlier before going here so how did you know? No one knows about it except my familia! I haven't submited it to the guild yet!"
"I can tell what rank and level are you right now just by looking at your weapon, and not just you, it's for every adventurer.." He said as he heated up his furnace.
"Amazing... How can you do that...?" My eyes widened in shock.
"Adventurers tend to take care of their weapons more when they are on lower ranks except for your Sword Princess and that new Record Breaker"
"Do you mean Bell Cranel?"
"So that's his name huh... That Little Rookie caused a huge uproar when he leveled up, but I don't think he's faking his experience... You don't have to stay here, You can go out for a bit and this will be finished by the afternoon so if you have something else to do, you can go now and come back here before the sunset"
"Thank you Gobniu-sama, I'll see you later!" I bowed and waved off as I exit their workshop leaving him with my weapon behind.
"I'll submit this now to my adviser Noel-san so he can post it later in the bulletin"
Guild
Eina's POV.
I was just doing my usual work at my desk.
Bell-kun's party and Rescue party haven't returned yet so I don't have that many things to do so I was just reading some papers and watching people enter and leave our working place.
"I wonder what happened to Bell-kun... Is he safe...?"
Suddenly, a number of people entered the guild.
"I hope white hair is alright nya! Or I won't have any good butt to stare at!" The cat person with black hair and green eyes said.
"I'm sure they're fine! Ryuu will nyever let white hair die especially when Syr begged her so nya..." another cat person said but this time, she had a brown hair and eyes.
I also saw the former captain of Freya Familia, Mia Grant, who owns a pub called Hostess of Fertility at the main road towards the Babel.
The others are the god Takemikazuchi and Miach along with their familia members.
"Woah... so many people waiting for his return... Please don't make us wait too long...""Um... Excuse me?"
"Ah! Yes?" My thoughts was interrupted by a beautiful looking Cat person, she had gray eyes and black long hair that reaches her back.
"Can I ask if my adviser Noel-san is here? I don't see him at his front desk you see..."
"Oh! Annakity-san! I'm sorry for the inconvenience but today is his day off from work" I replied as smiled at her apologeticaly.
"Oh no it's fine! I'm just here to submit this to the guild!" She handed me a sheet of paper containing only her previous stats and current stats and level.
"Annakitty Autumn, congratulations on your rank up! I shall post it to the bulletin immediately!" I congratulated her.
I was about to walk out when someone screamed my favorite adventurer's name.
"Bell-san! You're safe! Thank goodness!"
I immediately started running towards their direction and when I saw his state, my tears bursted out and I launched at him with full force, embracing him tightly, not minding goddess Hestia's hostile look.
"Bell-kun!!!! Thank god that you're safe!!!!" I cried like a kid while hugging him tightly.
"U-Um...!!!!! EINA-SAN PLEASE LET GO OF ME!!" But I didn't obey him and instead, did the opposite as I tighten my grip on his body.
"Excuse me but Bell-san needs an immediate treatment right now since we've fought a big battle earlier at the 18th floor" Andromeda-san said as she placed a hand on my shoulder.
I nodded at her before letting go of the kid in my grasp.
"Be sure to tell me everything that happened alright?" I asked him with a still teary eye.
"Yes, thanks for worrying about me Eina-san, I promise to take my time on recovering before going back to the dungeon!" He smiled very brightly and for some reason, I felt like all the worry has been washed away because of that.
"WAAAIIIT!!" A voice from inside the guild suddenly rang out.
Bell's POV.
I heard a very familiar voice of a cat girl I became friends recently, she jogs out of the guild and is currently heading towards my direction.
"What took you so-Oh my! What happened Bell!? The last time we saw you, you're already recovered but look at you now! your condition looks much more worse than when I found you at the 18th floor!" She said as she checks me up.
"I-I'm fine! And also why are you here?" I said as I tried to distance myself from her.
"Oh! I just submitted something to Eina-san here"
"Yes, she submitted me her updated rank" Eina-san said as she looked at both of us.
"Eh?! That means..-"
"Yes! I ranked up! Amazing isn't it? I didn't expect it to happen actually" She said as she makes silly expression.
"You're really something Aki-san, not only are you beautiful but strong too..." I didn't know that I blurted that out so I just continued looking at her cute features.
"Eh? Is this a payback from me teasing you back at the 18th floor???" I noticed the slight blush on her face but that disappeared too quickly as she smiles deviously to me.
"N-No! You've got it wrong Aki-san! I'm just saying that you're really an amazing person and women! That's all!" I said loudly as I couldn't handle the embarrassment anymore.
"Ahahaha! I know, thank you for your kind words but you should reserve it for Aiz, not me" As soon as she said it, I can't help but feel disappointed to myself, because of such misguided emotions, I nearly killed myself way too many times but I don't regret it, because it made me who I am and it helped me level up faster than anyone.
"What's wrong?" She asked me, she @a noticed my sour mood.
"Nothing... It's nothing really..." I just turned away to hide my face
"Bell, if something's bugging you or someone, I'm here to listen" She placed both of her hands on my shoulders and smiled at me.
"Thanks Aki-san, I really want to tell you right now but I have to sort this out myself, this is my own feelings after all" I have her the best smile I could muster right now.
She looked at me seriously before she started giggling for some reason.
"It looks like we've got the same problem from our own feelings! Good luck to both of us, now go on and have yourself healed up! I'll go back to Gobniu Familia's workshop to fetch my weapon" She waved goodbye and disappeared at the main street.
We went to the Dian Cecht Familia's clinic because Eina-san suggested too but to my surprise, the payment isn't that high, I expected it to be very pricy because the one who healed me is none other than the Dea Saint herself.
"Is this really okay? Amid-san? I mean I expec-" I was interrupted by a finger of the said saint placed in front of my mouth.
"It's okay, just think of this as my congratulations gift for breaking the record and defeating the irregular Black Goliath, not many adventurers survived for a month encountering irregular things in the dungeon, and a floor boss irregular is much more worse than anything else" She said with a serious look but I can tell from the tone of her voice that she's relieved that I'm fine.
"Thanks, you're so nice the nickname 'Saint' really fits you well" I smiled at her to show my gratitude.
"It's nothing, now please if you could, don't go start dungeon exploration again until 3 days or so, and take care of yourself" She gave me a smile.
I bid farewell to her while Kami-sama only gave her a death glare for some reason, which earned her a sermon from her.
"Listen, I know you're his goddess Hestia-sama but you shouldn't be over protective of him, he's already an adult the moment you gave him a falna and he registered himself as an adventurer at the guild and also, why are you getting angry at me for being close to him the whole time? how do you expect me to heal him if I stand way too far away from him?" She said with a squinted eyebrow.
"I don't care! there's already way too many women after my Bell-kun and I don't want an addition to them! They're ruining our wonderful forbidden love between God and Mortal!!" There she go again, saying things like that.
"Let's just go home Kami-sama! I'm sorry Amid-san please forgive her" I bowed to her while giving her an apologetic smile.
"It's okay, I'm used to dealing with annoying customers like her" She smiled again before we exit the clinic.
Gobniu Familia's Workshop
Aki's POV.
"Gobniu-sama? Is my weapon's repair already finished?" I asked as I went to his direction.
I noticed something weird on my sword when I looked at it, somehow the fragile look on the blade vanished, replacing it by a very dense and hard look while still looking as sharp as ever.
"Did you do something on my sword?" I asked him as I went to take a closer look.
"This is my congratulations for you for both leveling up and for breaking your sword only once, even though it's a very fragile blade, you only managed to chip away the edge. This is my gift for your rank up, I made it a Durandal sword while maintaining it's slicing prowess but it's a little heavier if you don't mind" He explained as he hand me over my sword.
I also noticed the slight change on the shape, it's not something you'll notice normally unless you use it very frequently.
"But I only have 1 million valis on me, that's all I could pay for"
"What did I just said earlier? it's my 'Gift' meaning, it's free so just take it"
"Thank you so much!!" I kneeled down to him as I showed him my grattitude and my respect to him as a God.
"Go on, you have some sort of mission outside orario the day after tommorow right? Then go"
I went home as soon as I can so I can show my sword to Aiz who also owns a Durandal sword called Desperate.
I was greeted by Raul who's currently standing near the fountain with a teary eyes.
"Oy, what's wrong? Why are you crying?" I tapped his shoulders.
"Because... You've ranked up already while I'm still stucked at mid level 4 myself even though I always went on dangerous places with captain and the others... Uwaaah!!!" He started to cry like a kid after finishing.
SIGH.
"You shouldn't compare yourself to other people Raul, if you start doing that and just keep running at your own pace, you'll rank up in no time like I did"
"YOU CAN ONLY SAY THAT BECAUSE YOU'RE ALREADY A LEVEL 5!!" He started crying again but this time, he's like a baby.
"Gosh he's so loud" I looked at him with a deadpan expressionSince talking to him will do nothing I guess, I just went inside.
"Ah! Aki! Welcome back!" I was greeted by Tiona who's holding her Urga and looks like she's about to went out.
"What are you going to do going out with a weapon in hand?"
"I'm just gonna practice with Tione and Bete so we can adjust to our new status and rank! You should do it too since you also ranked up!"
"Sure, but I'll go to Aiz first since I've got something to show her" I waved at her before climbing up and there I found Aiz and Riveria-san talking about something.
"Good evening Aki" The green haired beauty greeted me.
"Good evening Riveria-san, Aiz. I have something to show you"
I pulled out my sword and both of them looked very surprised as well as me.
My Blade not only got an improvement by being upgraded into a Durandal but it also got some slight color change depending on how bright or dark the place is and right now it looks like a gold.
"Wait, that's a Durandal, how did your Regal Force became one?" Our airhead princess asked me with a very curious expression.
"Gobniu-sama said that it was his gift to me for taking good care of my weapon before and for my rank up"
"He's so kind, be sure to thank him properly" Riveria-san said before going inside her room to take a rest.
"Aiz, you see, I just ranked up and still not used to moving and fighting around so would you be so kind to have a sparring with me?" I asked her.
"Sure, but can we do it tommorow morning? I'm kinda sleepy now" She said as she yawns and rubs her eyes.
"Okay, goodnight then, I'll eat dinner first before going to sleep"
We went to our destinations, I went to the dinning hall and noticed that Tiona left me some nicely arranged and delicious looking food.
I smiled before digging in and after finishing my food, I walked around the manor for a while before going to my room for a goodnight's sleep.
As I layed down, I slowly drifted to the world of dreams again.
A/N: I forgot to put a f*cking note earlier so here I am!
News: The BellxShakti fic won't be a just the two of them! I will add some love rivalry between Shakti and a certain Beautiful lady too! Just wait for the next chapter cause I'm still writting it.
Anyway that's it! Stay safe everyone! take care, farewell.