After the sudden storm that passes in an instant, we now turn our attention to the Hostess of Fertility where the Loki Familia were gathered around while just sitting at the bar and was watching Zagreus and his so called siblings eat big meal servings served up by Mia and her waitresses.
"seconds!" The one named Ploutos called out as he still wears his armor with its mouthpiece just slide up to reveal his mouth that has burn marked scars around it.
"yeah yeah." Mia responded as she took away some empty dirty plates before Ryuu, Syr, and Anya came with new cooked up dishes.
"Mia! More Demeter Grape wine for me please!" another one named Melinoe called out as her helmet has its mouthpiece opened for her to eat.
"you've drank our last bottle!" Mia exclaimed while giving the dirty dishes to Anya to take away to the back then turns around "we've run out! Settle for good old beer!"
"Mia! You still make that pure red sauced spaghetti!? I want it!" the last sibling named Makaria called out while raising a hand up.
"it's going to take a while to make! You think you can hold some of your hunger in!?" Mia exclaimed while pouring a big mug filled with beer.
"I can!" Makaria responded before going back to eating.
"Mia! More fried rice and meat!" Zagreus called out while holding up an empty dirty plate. "and another barrel!"
"pipe down! You'll get it!" Mia responded as she gave Melinoe her mug of beer before going away to the kitchen to start help in cooking.
Zagreus and the others ate their meals as they were watched by Loki and the others.
"I really believe that they are siblings now." Said Tiona as Tione nodded in agreement because they see just how ferocious the four's gluttony are for food. "they even bite down on the bones…."
"talk about sick." Said Bete in seeing the four just eat ferociously.
"the place might have to close early today." Said Gareth with a sweatdrop in seeing how Zagreus and Ploutos were fighting over a big piece of grilled meat. "those four never changed in any manner."
"really sorry for our friends, you guys." Finn told Ryuu and the others as he felt sorry for them who will be cleaning up tons of dishes.
"just why…do they eat like they have never eaten?" Aiz asked while looking a bit awkward to how the four siblings eat.
"these four are just like that." Riveria stated to Aiz. "in fact, they're only siblings in a few certain similarities."
"only siblings? You mean they aren't?" Tione asked as she and Tiona looks to Riveria.
"Zag and the others aren't actually related, they're just siblings because they grew up in the same orphanage together." Gareth added in before they look at the four siblings who were still eating their meals ferociously. "you could say that they forge a bond together there."
"you said certain similarities, right?" said Tiona while looking curious. "so, the other three are a part of the Hades Familia?"
"no, in fact Melinoe used to be in the Loki Familia." Riveria replied in explanation while watching the four individuals still eating. "the four splits up their path when they started becoming adventurers. Melinoe in the Loki Familia, Ploutos in the Hephaestus Familia, Makaria in the Hermes Familia, and Zagreus in the Hades Familia. They were the renown 4 Kaisers of Orario in the past."
"4 Kaisers of Orario?" Aiz muttered out.
"these four did everything together." Loki added while having a nostalgic smile. "they formed a party together, they defeated a Floor Boss together when they were still level 2, they did everything with great teamwork and thus becoming a very strong team. In fact, the four of them are Level 7 Adventurers."
"they are level 7!?" Tiona stated in surprise as she along with Tione, Aiz, and even Bete were surprised to hear of more level 7 adventurers beside Ottar of the Freyja Familia.
"yes. They were the most respected adventurers in Orario" Riveria added with a smile. "even the Zeus and Hera Familia couldn't compare to their strength in battle."
In minutes time, Zagreus and the others let out satisfied exhales as they finished their meal while leaving a big mess at their table that has towers of dirty plates.
"your total is 400, 827, 999 Valis." Mia stated while Ryuu and the others worked together to take away the dirty dishes. "who is going to pay?"
"him" Ploutos, Melinoe, and Makaria instantly pointed at Zagreus who looks at them and then pointed at himself with a confused face.
"he got ahead of us, so he's got to pay." Ploutos stated.
"we would've paid but this is punishment for him." Melinoe added.
"this is for just leaving ahead." Makaria chimed in.
"jerks." Zagreus grumbles out as he reaches into his jacket and handed Mia a pouch of valis before the dwarf woman went away. "where the hell is your sibling love?"
"it went with your ego." Ploutos stated before he laughs out loud.
"enough, Ploutos." Said Melinoe while crossing her arms. "Zagreus, you told us that you left early because of a promise? With who?"
"Meteria." Zagreus replied as this made his three siblings a bit tense.
"Meteria? As in that Meteria?" Makaria stated. "what promise did you made with her?"
Zagreus crosses his arms as he took a deep breath before he sighs and reaches a fist out to them.
Ploutos and the others look at the fist before they joined theirs along with.
The four stayed quiet as they just pushed their reach out fist against each other for a few minutes before pulling away.
"so that's why…" said Melinoe while sighing with her helmet's mouthpiece closing. "you…I'm surprised that you're not dead yet after what you did."
"of all the things you could've done, you did that, huh?" Makaria added before she shakes her head. "I'm disappointed in you in so many levels."
"so? Where's the kid?" Ploutos asked while sliding down his helmet's mouth grill piece. "you met him already or what?"
"I came here just yesterday or so and I heard of him and his party being stuck in the dungeon." Zagreus replied. "I went and saved him from getting killed by an irregular Goliath. I then told him to stay alive when he comes back to the surface. That was yesterday, I don't know if he is back on the surface or not yet."
"you made a promise to look after him, and you don't know if he is back on the surface or not?" Makaria stated while waving her hands in motion. "are you taking your job in looking after him seriously?"
"like any of you can do a better job?" Zagreus retorted.
"I could if I was the one who was asked." Melinoe responded.
"even I could." Makaria added while raising a hand.
"that's because you two are girls, girls do a lot better job in taking care of the kid than we guys can." Said Ploutos while crossing his arms and leans against his chair as he looks at the two women then to Zagreus. "I'm still bumbled by the idea of you being one, Zagreus. You messed yourself up pretty well over the last 15 years."
"does it look like I'm proud of it?" Zagreus growls out in response. "I had too much that one night and everything else was a blur. I only knew after I got back and heard of what had happened."
"what are you guys talking about~?" Loki came into the scene as she got near Zagreus and Ploutos who looks at the goddess of mischief.
"just about how Zagreus is always the type to mess things up." Ploutos replied as he then got up from his seat. "we spent enough time talking like this, let's go and find the kid first."
"agreed, let's make sure he is who he is." Melinoe added as she and Makaria followed suit.
"he's in the Hestia Familia, a not so famous Familia." Zagreus stated while getting up from his seat. "I haven't heard where he is living though."
"you seriously suck at doing your job, Zagreus." Said Makaria with a disappointed voice.
"hey hey, where are you guys going?" Gareth called out. "you three just came back and we have no idea on where you guys have been, you know?"
"we can talk later, we got to find Zagreus' kid first." Ploutos replied while pointing a thumb to Zagreus who looks annoyed at the pointing.
"Zag-tan's kid?" said Loki from hearing the statement as this got everyone and especially Riveria curious.
"hey, I told you before. He's my god kid." Zagreus stated. "get things right."
"god kid? You were asked to be someone's god father?" Riveria asked as Zagreus nodded.
"Bell Cranel." Zagreus replied.
"Argonaut-kun?/Bell?" Tiona and Aiz responded as the four siblings looks at them.
"sounds like those two know him." Said Makaria.
"everyone in Orario does." Finn stated. "Bell Cranel, the Little Rookie and the current Record Holder."
"Record Holder?" said Melinoe. "did he level up faster?"
"even faster than Aiz who was the previous Record Holder." Riveria replied as this got the four siblings to look at each other then back to the group.
"how fast?" Makaria asked while sounding curious.
"he ranked up to level 2 in just a month and a half." Finn replied. "even faster than Aiz who ranked up in a year."
"those two are even faster in levelling up than we did." Ploutos stated while crossing his arms. "I think I get the gist on why you were asked to be the kid's Dad, Zagreus."
"god father." Zagreus growls out while giving an annoyed glare at Ploutos. "get it right, dumbass."
"anyway, let's go and find him." Said Melinoe as her siblings nodded in agreement.
"wait, you're going now?" Loki asked. "we didn't get the whole reunion chat along!"
"save it for later." Said Zagreus as Melinoe spreads her wings then grabs his right arm before flying up, Ploutos started hovering above the ground along with Makaria. "we got to meet him as early as we could!"
The four siblings soon flew off as they head straight for the guild.
"what's the connection of those guys with the rabbit boy?" said Bete as everyone looks out and sees Zagreus with his siblings just flying off. "a god father to the rabbit?"
"those guys are getting weirder by the second." Tione stated.
"I wonder why they got to meet Argonaut-kun so urgently?" Tiona wondered out loud.
Finn, Riveria, and Gareth got sceptic look as they were deeply thinking of their conversation with the four Kaiser siblings.
Loki hummed while rubbing her chin before looking at Aiz who was gazing at the shrinking figures of Zagreus and the others who are flying off.
Meanwhile at the Hestia Familia's home that is the abandoned church. The young white haired adventurer is currently sweeping away some dust by the street as it was a daily chore for him to do.
"maybe I should have the next day off." Said Bell while sweeping. "Welf still fixing my armor and Lili wanted the day off today….maybe I should take this whole week off from the dungeon."
Bell sighs as he keeps on sweeping the dust on the street away while just focusing on his chore.
In minutes time, Zagreus along with his siblings came flying in as they landed right in front of Bell who seems surprised at their arrival.
"so this kid is Bell Cranel, huh?" said Ploutos as he looks at Bell then at the abandoned church and let out a disappointed sigh. "even for other low ranked Familia, they have better Home than this dump."
"is it any different from where we grew up together, Ploutos-nii?" Makaria asked while placing a hand to her hip.
"this and that are different, our orphanage church was better looking than this place." Ploutos retorted while pointing a thumb at the rundown building. "this place literarily achieved the name 'Dump' as the number one prize."
"enough, you two." Melinoe stated. "we are here to talk to the young man, not talk about his rundown Home."
"even you have to agree, Melinoe-nee." Makaria replied. "for a Familia like the Hestia Familia, the goddess isn't doing well with finances, isn't she?"
"I never even heard of the name Hestia before." Ploutos added while crossing his arms. "maybe she is some sort of goddess of poverty like Penia-san?"
"hey hey, you guys are giving him an awkward vibe for our first meeting." Zagreus told his siblings as they look at him then to Bell who was looking at them with an awkward weirded look.
"Bell-kun?" Hestia called out as she exited the church while wearing her work outfit because she has a job at the Hephaestus Familia's weapon store. "there are noises, we have guests?"
"ah…goddess." Bell turns to look at Hestia before to Zagreus and the others. "I think we do…maybe?"
"you're his goddess?" Makaria asked while pointing at Hestia who slowly nodded.
"can't say that she is not a famous looking one." Ploutos stated.
"be polite to her, you two." Said Melinoe while sighing. "did your politeness disappear when we were away? She's still a goddess, remember?"
"and we still don't care." Zagreus replied to Melinoe before looking at Hestia. "mind if we talk inside? it's something that concern Bell Cranel."
"me?" said Bell while pointing a finger at himself.
"my name is Zag, Zagreus Kaiser; former adventurer of the Hades Familia." Zagreus stated as he crosses his arms. "me and my siblings are here because we are your family."
"eh?" Bell and Hestia said in unison with a surprised and confused face.
Getting inside the church, Zagreus and the others sat by the worn out chairs while facing Bell and Hestia, the goddess seems to be shaking in fright while looking down to the floor.
"Goddess-sama? What's wrong?" Bell asked as he stands beside her and sees just how she was shaking all over.
"i-I'm fine, Bell-kun!" Hestia responded in a stuttering voice. "i-It's just that we have…..very famous adventurers as our guests!"
"famous adventurers?" said Bell before he looks at Zagreus and the others.
"glad to know that our reputation hasn't been forgotten." Said Ploutos while slumping on his seat that let out a creaking sound. "but man, this place is literally a dump, inside and outside."
"but it's a bit cleaned." Makaria added as she kicks a broken rubble away. "and not infested with rats and stuff."
"you two be polite, will you?" Melinoe stated before letting out a tired sigh.
"how old are you now, Bell Cranel?" Zagreus asked while having his arms crossed. "14, right?"
"y-yes" Bell replied while slowly nodding but with an awkward smile. "Ummm…do I know you?"
"right…..i never showed my face to you at the 18th floor, didn't i?" Zagreus muttered out in reply as he uncrossed his arms. "for starters, I am the armored man who took down that Black Goliath at Under Resort."
"eh?…you were that…" Bell muttered out, remembering Zagreus when he wore his armor.
"things are a bit hectic for you to understand, but in simple manners to understand. We are your Family" said Ploutos before pointing a thumb at himself. "by the way, the name is Ploutos Kaiser. Call me Uncle Ploutos if you want."
"w-what?" Bell replied while looking confused.
"Melinoe Kaiser, call me aunt Meli." Melinoe stated in while having her arms crossed.
"Makaria Kaiser, call me Nee-san and nothing else." Makaria added before her eyes glows underneath her helmet's eyepiece. "call me aunt and I'll show you hell."
"wait wait! You are going too fast in many things!" Bell replied as he just looks utterly confused. "first of all, I never knew that I have other family members besides my Grandpa!"
"grandpa?" said Zagreus before he cupped his chin and nodded his head a few times. "right, he took you in after your mother passed away, huh? I remember now."
"eh? You know my grandpa?" Bell asked from noticing how Zagreus spoke.
"meet him once but I don't know him personally, I only know your mother very well." Zagreus replied as he reaches into his jacket and handed a photo to Bell who took it. "or rather, all of us knew her."
Bell looks at the photo in his hand as it showed Zagreus in his youth with four people, one of them was a beautiful woman with long white hair has jade-ish blue eyes and is wearing a beautiful white and blue dress.
"this person…" Bell muttered out.
"her name is Meteria, she's your mother." Zageus explained as Bell looks closely to the photo of his mother and saw just how beautiful she is. "you have her hair colour, you know."
"yes" said Bell with a nod before he slowly smiles. "she's….beautiful."
"yeah, she was." Makaria stated while chuckling a bit. "she was by far the only person in Orario whose beauty was comparable with Freya's."
"don't say that goddess' name here." said Ploutos to Makaria. "none of us like her so much, remember?"
"goddess Hestia." Melinoe called out as Hestia squeaks before looking at the four siblings.
"y-yes?" Hestia replied.
"if you feel uncomfortable with us around, I suggest you wait somewhere else until we finish talking with the young boy." Melinoe stated while having her arms crossed. "we are going to tell him many things that only he can know. Even for you, his goddess isn't allowed to hear it."
"what? Why?" said Hestia before Zagreus and the others sends him glowing red glares in response to her words. "iiigh!"
"if you know very well what the four of us are capable of and you value your life. You'd better leave." Said Ploutos in a deadly growling voice.
"y-yes!" Hestia replied before she ran outside in an instant.
Bell and the others watch the front door that was slammed shut before going back to the topic at hand.
"now that she's outside." Said Ploutos as he looks at Bell. "kid, you're the record holder, right?"
"y-yes." Bell replied while slowly nodding. "I just levelled up into level 2 and closely going to level 3."
"in how long?" Makaria asked.
"about a month…I guess?" Bell replied as this made Zagreus and the others look at each other then back to the young boy.
"Bell, do you have skills?" Zagreus asked as Bell just nodded. "show us."
"but seeing other Familia's status is.." Bell responded before Zagreus and the others got around him. "eh?"
Makaria strips the young boy's cloth, Melinoe turns him around and Ploutos holds him in place for Zagreus to check his Familia status.
Zagreus' eye scanned the hieroglyphs in the status as he scanned through each one before he made a noise when he reached the skills that Bell possessed.
"what is it, Zagreus?" Melinoe asked to Zagreus who took a step back from Bell.
"it isn't a fancy skill." Zageus replied. "his skill name is 'Argonaut'. It's a simple charging up attack skill that gets stronger for how long the charge is. seems that he levels up very fast because he always trains hard."
"so that's why, huh?" said Ploutos while letting go of Bell and Melinoe put his clothes back on. "sorry, kid."
"we were just too curious to know." Makaria added while patting Bell's head a few times.
"j-just why are you so curious?" Bell asked while blushing as he was embarrassed from being stripped of his clothes.
"matters of it aside, we want you to go to the guild today and wait there." Zagreus stated as he crosses his arms. "there is something there that we want you to have."
"something?" Bell asked as Zagreus nodded.
"we will be waiting for you there." Said Melinoe as she looks at Zagreus and the others. "let's go."
"yeah" Zagreus and the others replied before they walked off to the entrance.
"see ya later!" Makaria hollered to Bell as they exited through the front door where Hestia, Welf, and Lili came falling through.
"he's going to the guild today, goddess Hestia." Melinoe stated. "and we will be waiting for him there. Don't try to come with or we will make sure you never walk again."
Zagreus and his siblings soon walked off as they went away while Hestia and the others watch them leave before to Bell who came to them.
"Welf? Lili? Why are you guys here?" Bell asked.
"that's our question to you." Welf responded before looking to Zagreus and his siblings who were flying off. "who were those guys?"
"they are the Kaiser Siblings." Hestia stated while getting up as she looks a bit scared and nervous. "or more known as the 4 Kaisers of Orario."
Zagreus and his siblings flew off as they landed to the top of a building's roof that is a few miles away from the Hestia Familia's home.
"what was his other skill?" Ploutos asked Zagreus while having his arms crossed. "if he's Meteria kid, he should have one skill that is unique."
"Liaris Freese, crystallization of emotion." Zagreus responded. "that was his one skill that is very much unique like ours."
"seeing who his father is, I don't find it surprising that he has it." Makaria stated to Zagreus who nodded before she looks to Melinoe. "how long should we keep it a secret?"
"for as long as it is needed." Melinoe replied as she looks to Zagreus. "well, for as long as you need it, Zagreus."
"yeah, I know." Zagreus replied.
"some might know in a couple of weeks or so now that we're back." Said Ploutos while uncrossing his arms. "you might have to tell the truth sooner or later."
"you think I don't know?" Zagreus retorted before he facepalmed and sigh. "I need to think of the right way to tell her the truth about him. But I don't know how well she might take it. Especially since I betrayed her."
"you were weak that time, right?" Makaria stated while placing a hand to Zagreus' right shoulder. "she will understand if you explain to her truthfully. She's our closest friend after all."
"I just hope she can understand it well." Said Zagreus while scratching the back of his head.
"let's head to Hephaestus-sama's Home first." Ploutos stated while tapping a fist to his armor's chest area. "we've been using these for 15 years straight, we need to get them some needed maintenance like Zagreus' armor."
"agreed." Said Melinoe while nodding before she looks at Zagreus. "you think you can go on first without us?"
"like I haven't done that before?" Zagreus replied sarcastically before nodding. "see you three there."
Melinoe, Ploutos, and Makaria nodded before they flew up into the air and then zooms off to the west while Zagreus runs then jumps high into the air before doing the same action repeatedly after he landed on a building's roof.
After meeting with Zagreus and his siblings. Bell with Hestia, Welf, and Lili were gathered together as the two were being retold of what happened.
"t-that Zagreus K-Kaiser….and his siblings….the r-renowned 4 K-Kaisers of Orario!" Hestia stuttered out as she just received the ultimate shocking news of her life from Bell. "…they're…b-back on O-Orario…and are Bell-kun's family!? my mind can't process it all!"
"just like ours" Lili stated to Hestia while rolling her eyes.
"just who are these 4 Kaisers of Orario?" Welf asked. "this is the first time I have heard of them."
"u-unbelievable! Don't you two know them?! They were the strongest party of four Familias! The 4 are level 7 adventurers with lots of legends behind them!" Hestia exclaimed while looking extremely shocked. "especially that Zagreus Kaiser! he is not only a strong warrior, he's a very dangerous individual to the point that all gods and goddesses around the world fear him. He's a damn monster!"
"calm down, My goddess." Bell told Hestia while giving her a cup of water.
"be more shocked and you might die from it." Lili added.
"calm down and tell us on who are they" Welf asked while crossing his arms.
"right…only the gods and goddesses along with a few people in Orario knows who those four are." Said Hestia while cupping her chin. "I don't even know the full details on them, but that Zagreus Kaiser isn't a normal being at all, he's an inhuman. Meaning that he is an immortal individual."
"immortal? How can he be immortal? Something like that…" Welf asked.
"it's possible." Hestia replied while looking down on her lap and looks a bit scared. "he's an immortal because he is a cursed man."
"cursed?" Bell spoke out to Hestia who nodded.
"it all started nearly decades ago, I think" Hestia stated. "it was during the time when the Zeus and Hera Familia were still in their prime. In that time, the Hades Familia was also dissolved, not because of them losing a War Game or anything. they dissolved because their God disappeared from Orario 40 years ago."
"disappeared?" Lili spoke out.
"in their god's disappearance, the Familia's only member Zagreus Kaiser left his Familia's home while retaining the single blessing from his god which is a form of a curse to many." Hestia added in. "the blessing is called 'Blood Drive'. Meaning that whenever the host is in battle, his stats will increase to their limits for a short period of time. That blessing is the very reason why Zagreus Kaiser is feared in battle."
"but how is that a curse? It only works for a short period of time, right?" Welf asked from not seeing the point of the explanation.
"the blessing is what gives Zagreus an edge over anyone because it works very well with his one skill" Hestia explained while shivering a bit before continuing her explanation "his main and unique skill is called 'Kill and Take'. Meaning that whatever he kills, anything belonging to the killed becomes his."
"whatever he kills….the belongings of the killed become his?" Lili asked while looking confused. "I don't understand."
"are you saying…." Bell muttered out as he realized something that made Hestia nodded.
"any strength, speed, stamina, magic, skills, even life force of anything or anyone that Zagreus kills. It becomes his." Hestia stated as everyone imagined Zagreus standing on top of a pile of dead corpses of humans and monsters alike. "that's why he is an immortal. He is the only person in Orario's history to be given the title 'Bloody Kaiser'. Zagreus Kaiser is not like Freyja's Ottar or any of his siblings, he's a powerful person who could rival any being and destroy even the world."
"a monster of a man…" Welf muttered out as he feels scared now after hearing Zagreus's backstory.
"anyone would be slaughtered before they could even make a move" Lili added while gulping nervously as she is now shaking scared when she imagined herself with Bell and Welf getting cut into two by Zagreus who holds his shark toothed jagged sword.
"so that's…Zagreus Kaiser.." Bell muttered while looking surprised, amazed, and scared at the same time.
Meanwhile, Zagreus is walking in the street of Orario as he was heading for the guild.
'man, getting back was fun and nostalgic but explaining why might be hard' Zagreus thought as he passes by a vendor selling jewels and such. While also having a mirror that he saw his own reflection.
Zagreus went as he looks at his long hair that made him look like a girl in a way.
'some people would get the wrong idea of me being a girl, huh?' Zagreus thought as he sighs while checking his hair style that is a bit girlish in some fashion.
Zagreus scratches his head before he sighs again.
"getting a haircut after 15 years…" Zagreus muttered out as he looks around. "don't see anyone skilled with scissors and stuff."
The man started to walk away as he scratches the back of his head multiple times.
"I might need to ask Riveria or anyone to help me with this." Said Zagreus while grumbling a bit. "I hate looking like a girl."
Zagreus walks by as he passes Miach and Nazza, both stops to look at the man.
"that man…." Miach muttered as he slowly looks in realization to who Zagreus is.
"Miach-sama?" Nazza called out as Miach had a serious face on.
After walking for 10-15 minutes, Zagreus arrived at the guild as he went to a couch nearby and sat down. The man crossing his arms and legs as he waits for his siblings and Bell to arrive.
"I should've bought a snack while I wait." Zagreus muttered out as he reached into his jacket and took out a coin that has both sides scratched up. The man started flipping his coin as he was doing it to pass time. "man…..i'm getting old…."
"hey hey hey! What the heck is this supposed to be!?" Zagreus hears the sound of shouting nearby as he turns to see some adventurers hassling a guild administrator. "we're going to the dungeon! Why aren't we allowed?!"
"b-because you're Familia is under suspension, sir." The guild administrator replied while a bit scared of the big adventurers just hassling her.
"what suspension?! Because we threw trash around!? What's the problem with that!? That other Familia were nothing but trash" one of the adventurers shouted before Zagreus came and grabs his head then throws him away. "uaaah!"
"hey! You bastard!" "who do you think you are!?" the other adventurers faced Zagreus who flipped his coin a few times before catching it. The man's left eye glows red and menacingly glows.
At the street, Bell is running while being pushed by Hestia who looks extremely frantic.
"hurry! Hurry!" Hestia screamed out. "if you be late and make them angry! they go ballistic!"
"b-but! Goddess! Don't push too hard!" Bell exclaimed as the two keeps on moving while passing by people who watch them.
Bell and Hestia ran pass Aiz and Tiona, the two were walking around when they saw the two just running straight to the guild.
"Argonaut-kun and his goddess?" Tiona spoke out while folding her arms behind her head. "I wonder why they are in a rush for?"
Aiz looks at Bell and Hestia as she tilts her head while watching them just head straight for the guild.
After minutes of running, Bell with Hestia arrives at the front entrance of the guild.
"w-we finally...arrived!" Hestia gasps out air as she was tired of running while Bell looks normal because he trained his body to have lots of stamina unlike the goddess.
"Aggghhhh!" a loud pained scream rang out as this made some look in surprise to hear the scream.
Bell and Hestia turn to look at the entrance as they instantly duck when an adventurer came flying out and crash down the stairs before to the concrete street.
"w-what was that?" Bell asked as he was surprised by the body that flew out.
"please! Spare us! Please!" another scream is heard as this one sounded pleading and crying.
getting curious, Bell and Hestia went in as they find a horrid scene.
There stood Zagreus as he holds one of the three adventurers who were hassling a guild administer by the neck and was gripping it so hard to the point that the poor man went unconscious from the lack of air.
Zagreus drops the unconscious man before he lifted his right leg up and then stomps it down on the man's stomach real hard that blood came vomiting out of his mouth and woke him up.
"p-please! Stop!" Eina pleaded with Zagreus while trying to stop him by pulling his arm back as the man was torturing the poor adventurer.
"move." Zagreus stated as he pushes Eina away and made her fall to the floor.
"Eina-san!" Bell exclaimed as he with Bell went to Eina and helps her up before they look at Zagreus who looks down at the unconscious adventurer who was soon kicked straight out of the front entrance by the man himself.
"don't get so smug with me, you lot." Said Zagreus as he glanced at the adventurers who were horrified from seeing what the man did to the poor unnamed adventurer. "you shrimps think you're the best because you have your god/goddesses' blessings? you think you guys can do whatever you want at the guild?"
Zagreus turns as he looks at the last of the three adventurers, this one was pissing his pants after seeing what the one eye man did to his companions.
"you're going to be the perfect example for my lesson, pipsqueak." Said Zagreus as his left eye glows demonically red.
"iiiiihhh!" the adventurer screamed before he quickly runs straight out of the front entrance and away from Zagreus. "help me!"
Zagreus watch the coward adventurer leave before he looks away and flipped his coin then catches it.
"Thunderbolt" Zagreus chanted before a powerful yet loud thunder rang out directly outside of the guild as this caused many inside the building to close their eyes and ears from the loud sound.
"w-what was that?" Bell asked as the thunder was so loud that his ears were ringing a bit.
"you're quick to get here, Bell." Said Zagreus while outside, many adventurers look horrified as the coward adventurer who was running away had been struck with the powerful lightning bolt that turned him into a smoking charred human who was barely alive. "I thought Melinoe would be here first than you."
"Z-Zagreus-san…" Bell muttered out as he was horrified of the thunder and lightning that strikes upon the town.
"Zagreus!" a voice shouted out as everyone turns towards the entrance where three individuals came in a flash as they are Ploutos, Melinoe, and Makaria.
Ploutos seems to be a tall slightly tanned skin man who wears a half mask that covers the entire right side of his face, he has partially whiteish platinum hair, black eyes, a bit pointed ears, and some scars that are around his cheeks. His clothing consists of a purple scarf around his neck, black armbands around bronze metallic arms, green pants with white outlines and a black jacket tied around the waist, and black boots.
Melinoe is an elven woman with long red hair and amber eyes but the left side of her face had a blackish burned scar that covers around her left eye to her ear, a few scars around her neck up to her cheeks. A pair of earrings on both side of her ears, and black heel boots on her feet. she wears a black uniform that is similar to what Zagreus wears but with a red scarf around her neck.
Makaria seems to be a half elven woman who has reddish brown hair that reaches to her shoulders, she is wearing a blindfold around her eyes and a mouth mask that covers her mouth, her outfit is just a white shirt with a black jacket on top and a pair of tight long jeans with heels on her feet.
"Zagreus, did you harm those guys outside?" said Ploutos while pointing a thumb back his shoulder, mentioning about the poor adventurer who got zapped with pure lightning by Zagreus.
"those worms think they can hassle people around because they were in a Familia." Zagreus replied while puffing out some smoke from his lips. "I just taught them what happens to them they mess around with us back in Orario."
"I see." Said Melinoe while crossing her arms. "just how many?"
"just 4." Zagreus replied. "they say that they're from the Leto Familia."
"Leto Familia? That wimp of a name Familia?" said Makaria while placing a hand to her hip. "those guys are still around while we were away? What a surprise."
"should we teach them personally on what we do to scums who think they can do whatever they want as adventurers?" said Ploutos with a smirk while cracking his knuckles a few times. "I have longed to hear the sound of human skull bashing after all."
"no, we are here to get Bell his inheritance." Zagreus stated while crossing his arms as he huffs out some smoke from his lips "if we make any trouble than what I did, the Guild might put a bounty on us."
"wouldn't that be fun?" said Melinoe with a smirk as she lifted up one hand and clenched it hard into a fist. "the thrill of being chased by a predator, I haven't felt that in a long time."
"it will be more fun when our predator becomes the prey." Makaria added with a giggle that sounded evil to others.
"let's think of that later." Said Zagreus while having a tired look to his siblings before he turns his attention to Bell and Hestia. "come with me, Bell. while your goddess stays."
"eh?" said the two before Zagreus grabs Bell's hand and pulled him with him. "ah!"
Zagreus started pulling Bell through the office table as he was heading straight deeper into the guild while the guild staff couldn't stop them because of what the man did to the four adventurers.
Melinoe, Makaria, and Ploutos settled down as they waited for the two to come back while giving deadly glares to anyone passing by them.
"just what is going on here?" Hestia muttered out in pure confusion.
Zagreus and Bell are walking in the hallway as they were heading straight for the Room of Prayer. The chamber where the god of Orario, Ouranos resides upon.
Bell kept quiet in the walk as he took quick glances at Zagreus who was looking at front while smoking.
"what is it?" Zagreus asked while turning to look at Bell. "you never seen a person like me before or what?"
"n-no…I was just….a bit scared…" Bell replied while looking away from Zagreus' sight. "what you did….it kinda….scared me…"
"figures." Zagreus replied as he sounded a bit uncaring. "…once you learn of my background from someone who knows me. You should be fearing me."
"y-yes?" Bell looks confused as he didn't understand what he meant.
"we arrived." Zagreus stated as he and Bell reaches the end of the hallway and upon the exit, they arrived in the chamber of Ouranos who was looking down on them.
"long time no see, Ouranos-sama" Zagreus called out to the large god who nodded to seeing the man.
"nearly a decade or so after you left to take revenge against the Black Dragon." Ouranos spoke out while noticing the eyepatch on Zagreus' right eye. "and judging by your appearance. I can already predict that you couldn't fulfil your revenge even with your siblings' strength?"
"that matter we can speak at a later time, Ouranos-sama" Zagreus replied while looking a bit tense as Bell saw this.
"then pray tell why you have come here without my summoning, Zagreus?" Ouranos stated before he glanced at Bell that made him sigh and close his eyes. "Bell Cranel…..i see."
"he's 14" Zagreus spoke out while taking out a scroll that has a lightning bolt wax seal. "he fulfils the first condition of his inheritance from his mother and father. I'll be taking him to the Vault."
"very well" Ouranos replied as he waved a hand up and a door appeared in front of Zagreus and Bell. "proceed."
"thank you, Ouranos-sama" Zagreus did a quick bow as Bell did the same before the two went to the door that opened for them to enter before closing when they got in.
Zagreus and Bell are now walking down a tunnel path that is lighted with torches along the wall.
"Bell." Zagreus called out to Bell who made a noise in response. "you'll be extremely respectful and polite to Ouranos-sama from now on. You'll be meeting him annually at the time of your birthday."
"y-yes…" Bell muttered out while slowly nodding before looking around the long tunnel path that they were walking in. "by the way, what is this place?"
"the entrance to the Vault." Zagreus stated as they reached the end of the tunnel and finds themselves in a very large broad chamber that is filled with dozens of tall yet large doors forming in every aisle. "we're here."
Bell looks amazed at the size of the place as he is more amazed to the many doors that are in the room and just by seeing them, he could tell that there might be thousands of them.
As Bell looks around, he is suddenly face to face with Aiz Wallenstein who appeared out of nowhere in front of him.
"A-Aiz-san?!" Bell exclaimed in surprise as Aiz looks at him while wearing a white robe. "w-why are you here!?"
"I came to meet you" Aiz replied with a smile while getting closer to Bell. "Bell….my beloved Bell…"
"a-a-a-ah!" Bell wanted to scream and run but Zagreus knocks Aiz's head as her face exploded into smoke to reveal the face of tanned man with blackish long hair.
"ow! What gives, Zagreus!?" the tanned man shouted at Zagreus who glares at him in return.
"what gives? You and your old antics, Proteus." Zagreus replied before he pulls the man away from Bell. "you don't seem to surprise to see me. I figured Ouranos-sama already told you of my arrival back a day a ago."
"more like I heard ya coming." The man told Zagreus while folding his arms in a posture like a woman. "you know, you always have a way with those lightning bolts of yours."
"I see" Zagreus nodded once before looking at Bell "this boy is under my care, you shouldn't do your old antics with him while I'm still around."
"this boy?" the tanned man blinked his eyes before looking at Bell and inspects him. "white hair and red eyes? Is he Meteria-chan's little boy?"
"the looks give it away, don't you think?" Zagreus replied to the tanned man who crosses his arms while cupping his chin.
"he does look a lot like Meteria-chan in so many ways…" the tanned man stated.
"j-just who are you?" Bell asked while blushing when he thought of Aiz looking so close to him.
"I'm Proteus, nice to meet you~!" the tanned man replied while giving Bell a wink that made the boy awkwardly smile.
"he's gay and can transform to any gender, be careful when you come here again" Zagreus told Bell who shivers in fright.
"come on, Zagreus~! Don't make him feel scared of me~! He's such a cute boy~!" the named Proteus whined to Zagreus before looking close to Bell. "he looks so handsome too~!"
"whatever" Zagreus replied while pushing the gay man away from Bell who is looking rather scared. "Proteus here is the guardian of the Vault, everything that is stored in the vault he knows where to find and anyone who comes in and out of the place, he knows and reports it to Ouranos."
"y-yes" Bell replied with an awkward face.
"so? What brings you two to the vault?" Proteus asked Zagreus while crossing his arms by his stomach before he decided to lean close and winks at the two. "could it be to see me~!? I am so happy~!"
"like hell we are." Zagreus growled in annoyance before he pulls out the scroll that has the lightning and skeleton symbol wax seal and handed it to Proteus who took and opened it. "we're here to get the boy's inheritance."
Proteus reads the content of the scroll before he smiled and looks at Bell.
"you're his God Father and the boy is 14 years old, huh?" said Proteus in reading the scroll before looks at Bell with a kind smile "I guess you can have your birthday presents that your mother left you"
"eh?" Bell replied with a confused look. "Zagreus-san is really my God Father?"
"sure is!" Proteus replied while nodding a few times before reading the scroll. "I know Meteria's handwriting anywhere. She trusts only a few who are close to her to be her child's god parents. Zagreus is one of them."
"just lead us to his Vault, Proteus" Zagreus stated while looking annoyed.
"yes yes~!" said Proteus with a kind smile before he turns and started walking down the aisles. "follow me~!"
Bell looks a bit uncomfortable before he gets pushed forward by Zagreus.
"start walking or we'll lose him." Zagreus told Bell before he started to follow Proteus who is getting slightly far away.
Bell looks at Zagreus before he followed the man.
"is this whole place in the guild?" Bell asked while looking around the area.
"close~! But not so close~!" Proteus replied, hearing Bell's statement.
"this is somewhere in the guild but at the same time it is not." Zagreus replied. "it's hard to explain but this place is secured for any items needed to be safekeeping."
Bell slowly nodded in understanding as he keeps on looking around the aisles while following Proteus.
Zagreus along with Bell follows Proteus who led them down the many aisles before stopping at one aisle that only has one door within.
"the key, please" Proteus told Zagreus while holding a hand towards the man.
Zagreus reaches into his jacket's pocket and takes out a golden key that has a heart and lightning symbol encrusted to it as he handed it to Proteus who took it and inserts the key to the door's keyhole then turns it clockwise to open the lock.
The door slides open as it leads to a dark chamber that is lighted with torches to reveal many things that ranged from weapons, furniture, and Valis. Lots and lots of Valis.
"t-this many Valis…." Bell muttered while looking rather shocked when he entered the room before Zagreus and Proteus.
"your mom was a very generous yet kind woman" Proteus stated as he started picking up items that he is taking based on a list that is in the scroll. "yet she prepared very much if she started to have kids of her own."
"you mean…." Bell muttered out before looking at Zagreus. "my mother and father left this all for me?"
"some of it are from your old man, but most of it is from Meteria." Zagreus replied while crossing his arms. "your old man was a damn fool who didn't prepare inheritance if ever had a family, he only prepared so little."
"yet they were things that he was sure that his child might love, you know." Proteus chimed in as he placed several items on a table in the room that he spreads out in order. "here are your inheritances, Bell-kun."
Bell went to the table while Zagreus stood near the door and leans against the frame.
"these are?" Bell asked as he sees several things that ranged from a letter, a knife, a conch shell, an amulet, a small chest, and a pouch.
"ahem!" Proteus did a cough into a fist before he holds the scroll opened in his hand. "written and signed by Meteria and Ken Cranel. these items are to be passed on to their child, Bell Cranel. their beloved and adorable child."
Bell blushed a bit before Proteus sets the scroll aside and takes the letter on the table then handed it to the young boy.
"this letter is your first birthday present, Bell-kun." Proteus told Bell. "your mother once told me that it is filled with her love and affection for you. Make sure to read it alone first before sharing it to others."
"yes" Bell replied while nodding before Proteus handed him a sheathed dagger knife next.
"next is this adamantium dagger knife from your father as this is his very first dagger knife that he obtained during the time he became a first rate adventurer." Proteus stated as he gave it to Bell who had pocketed his mother's letter before holding the dagger knife. "be careful, it's more sharper than any dagger knife that the Hephaestus Familia ever made."
"I understand." Bell nodded as he slides the knife out of the sheath a bit and sees how it shines sharply from the torches' light. "it's…beautiful."
"yeah, mostly anyone who is close to Ken always says that." Said Proteus with a smile to Bell before he glanced at Zagreus who looks away and that made The Vault keeper sighs before he looks down and picks up an amulet. "next is this amulet, Bell-kun."
Proteus holds the amulet up to Bell for him to see that it is a very beautiful piece of jewellery with a violet blue gem in the shape of a heart and lightning.
"the shape of this gem represents the union between your mother and father, both were former members of the Zeus and Hera Familia." Proteus told Bell as he placed the gem in the young boy's right palm and close it with his fingers. "this amulet is also a very strong and blessed magic item that gives protection for its wearer. Keep it very close to you, alright?"
"yes" Bell replied as he looks at the amulet and sees how the gem glows beautifully to his sight.
"now it's the conch shell." Said Proteus while holding the conch shell in his right hand. "now, this may look like an ordinary conch shell, but don't be fooled by its appearance."
"is it a magic item?" Bell asked Proteus who nodded.
"hold it close to your ear and listen closely to it." Proteus told Bell who did as he instructed.
Placing his amulet and dagger knife on the table, Bell holds the conch shell close to his right ear and listens closely.
In a second, Bell hears a voice singing in the conch shell as it is a woman's voice.
"this voice…." Bell muttered out as he somehow feels like he wanted to cry for some reason.
"that conch shell is actually a magic item that records people's voices, but in this case. it is your mother's voice." Proteus explained before sighing while smiling. "well, her singing voice that is."
Bell listens closely to the singing of his mother's voice as the song that she sung sounded so beautiful to the point that it made him cry a bit.
"w-why?" Bell muttered as he wipes away some of his tears, but they keep on flowing out.
"your tears just show that you miss her voice, Bell-kun" Proteus told Bell while giving him a tissue that appeared out of nowhere in his right hand. "you may know this or not, but your mother has the most beautiful singing voice that could bring any goddess to shame. I always believe that she might be the reincarnation of the goddess of music or something."
Bell wipes away his tears as he holds the conch shell close and seems very happy to hear the singing coming from within it.
"thank you very much." Bell thanked Proteus as he looks extremely happy to know that he has something to always remember his mother's voice.
"don't thank me, I am just the Vault keeper." Proteus told Bell with a smile before he turns his attention to the last two items on the table. "now for these two."
Proteus slides the pouch forward to Bell as he checked the list on the scroll.
"your mother and father left you with a very big amount of their collected Valis as your own money. But according to this will, it states that you can only have 1 million Valis when you are 14 years old." Proteus stated while reading the scroll. "you will only be able to have the rest of your money inheritance accordingly to each year your birthday comes and only be able to have full inheritances of it all when you reach 24 years old."
"I understand." Bell stated before looking a bit awkwardly at the small pouch that he could tell that it only had about a thousand valis rather than a million. "but they only allow me to have this much on my 14th birthday?"
"you'd be surprised on what this pouch really is." Proteus told Bell as he put aside the scroll and picks the small pouch up before pouring out its content that seems to endlessly pour Valis out. "this pouch is a magic item can store 1 million valis and not weight like dozens of tons when in use."
"w-wow" Bell looks surprised as there were lots of Valis poured out of the small pouch.
"your mother and father didn't stop going to dungeons to make sure that you will live a very happy life, you know?" Proteus told Bell while taking all the Valis that were poured out back into the magic pouch. "they love each other and their only child very much."
"I see.." Bell muttered before he did a bow. "I'm sorry."
"don't ask me for forgiveness." Proteus told Bell with a chuckle as he handed the pouch to him. "if you want to say you're sorry, you will use your money very wisely, alright?"
"yes" Bell nodded before Proteus handed him the last item of his parent's inheritances and that is the small chest.
"now for the very last item." Said Proteus before Zagreus came and stops him.
"not this item, Proteus." Zagreus told the Vault Keeper while shaking his head. "it may be written in the will, but I am sure that it was supposed to be given to the boy on the right time."
"what?" Proteus replied before he and Zagreus moved away from Bell to have a small quiet conversation with each other.
Bell looks at Zagreus and Proteus as they conversed while taking quick glances at him.
'I wonder what's wrong?' Bell thought with a confused face.
"but it's in his rights to have this." Proteus whispered to Zagreus. "I mean, he's Meteria-chan's son."
"he may be her son, but did you think of the consequences if he learns how to use it?" Zagreus told Proteus while pointing at the chest he holds in his hands. "he is not ready yet. He's still a level 2, you know?"
"he is?" Proteus replied before he took a glance back at Bell and looks at him for a moment then to Zagreus who he nodded to. "I understand, but he will be curious to know what is in it."
"I have that covered" Zagreus told Proteus. "you just have to keep this secret from him until he's a level 4 or 5, alright?"
Proteus nodded before he and Zagreus went back to Bell.
"I'm sorry, Bell-kun" Proteus told Bell with a sincere apologetic face. "I know that I am supposed to give it to you, but as a good friend of your parents and Zagreus. I have to keep this from you."
"why?" Bell asked while confused and curious.
"this is something that you can only have when you reached level 5. Understand?" Zagreus told Bell. "no other questions."
"b-but.." Bell muttered out before he, and Zagreus were instantly out of the room while Proteus locks the door. "eh?"
"I believe i should hold this for now?" said Proteus as he holds the golden key in his grasp and looks at Zagreus who nodded in confirmation.
"make sure to keep your end of the deal" Zagreus told Proteus who nodded before looking at Bell then handed him a bag that is filled with the items that he inherited in his parent's will.
"I'm sorry, Bell-kun. But keeping that last item off the list is the right thing to do for your safety." Proteus told the young boy with an apologetic smile.
"but I don't even know what it is." Bell replied before Zagreus started to push him away.
"less talking and more walking, get back to the entrance." Zagreus told Bell who slowly walks before the man turns to look at Proteus. "make sure to keep it away from him. he might do something stupid."
"I know, Zagreus. I know" Proteus replied before looking rather worried. "but are you sure that this is the really right thing to do? I feel bad doing this to Meteria-chan's little boy."
"this is the right thing to do" Zagreus stated. "if he knows, he might use it accidentally and get himself destroyed."
"alright, I understand" Proteus replied before Zagreus nodded then walks away, leaving the Vault Keeper who has a rather tensed yet worried look.
Zagreus and Bell are now leaving the Vault as they walk in the hallway while in silence.
Bell took quick glances at Zagreus while holding the bag in his arms. The young boy is feeling rather curious about the last item that he was supposed to receive from his parent, but he didn't get it because of Zagreus' intervention.
"it's a grimoire." Zagreus suddenly stated as Bell made a surprised noise to hear his statement. "the last item in that chest is a grimoire that contains a rare and powerful spell firstly learned by your parents and passed on to it."
"rare and powerful?" Bell muttered out.
"as you are right now if you learn how to chant and use those two spells. Your body will explode into pieces." Said Zagreus while looking at Bell who looks shocked. "heed this as a warning, boy. Until you're a level 5 adventurer, you will not be allowed to think or even imagine what those two spells are. I mean this not as your God Father, but as an experienced Adventurer. Understand?"
Bell looks at Zagreus before he slowly nodded.
"good." Said Zagreus as they reached the exit door where they went through and returned to the chamber where Ouranos resides.
"I suppose that he received what is rightfully his?" Ouranos asked Zagreus nodded.
"go back to the guild and tell Melinoe and the others to come in. then do whatever you want to plan with your goddess." Zagreus told Bell. "I need to have a talk with Ouranos-sama."
"y-yes.." Bell replied before he did a bow to Ouranos and then exited the chamber, leaving Zagreus with the God of Orario.
Zagreus watch Bell leave as he made sure that he didn't stick around to listen in his conversation with Ouranos.
"that boy is unique in many way." Ouranos stated as Zagreus turns to look at the god. "he possesses something more unique in any human I have ever seen."
"he does" Zagreus nodded in agreement before his face turned serious and tensed. "Ouranos-sama, I need to know everything that transpired in Orario in the years I have been away. Every piece of information."
"very well." Ouranos replied while closing his eyes, knowing the seriousness in Zagreus' eye mean something very much dangerous to know.
Back at the guild, things were a bit tense because of Melinoe and the others. The three were either napping, checking their fingernails, and even giving deadly glares to anyone who comes near.
Meanwhile with Hestia and Eina, the two were a few feet away from the three as they were looking at them then to each other.
"Hestia-sama, who are they? And who was the man who took Bell-kun into the guild?" Eina whispered to Hestia.
"they're the Kaiser Siblings, 4 legendary adventurers who were and are still feared during the age of the Zeus and Hera Familia." Hestia whispered in reply. "they may not be really blood related, but they share some similar background, skills, and strength that makes them siblings."
"you know we can hear ya!" Ploutos called out as he woke up from his nap while looking at Hestia and Eina who squeaks in surprise. "we're half elves! We got good hearing too!"
"Goddess Hestia, you better not be informing too much on us." Melinoe stated while giving a dark stare straight at the goddess who started shaking in fear. "if you did, it shall take out the fun from how we will teach the young ones what we are capable of since we have returned to our home."
"some gods and goddesses always forget to keep their words to themselves, huh?" said Makaria while giggling a bit darkly. "I can't wait to see which god or goddesses will be used as the right example."
"t-they're scary!" Eina whispered as Hestia nodded in agreement.
Soon enough, Bell came out as he looks around while holding the backpack close.
"oh, he's back." Said Ploutos from seeing Bell as this made him and the other stand up from the couch. "kid, where's Zagreus?"
"u-um….Zagreus-san told me to get you to meet Ouranos-sama with him and then I should move my day along with my goddess." Bell replied while Melinoe and the others approached him.
"did you get your inheritance?" Melinoe asked as Bell nodded and that made her smile. "better take care of them, alright?" the red haired elf started stroking the young boy's head a few times then petted him. "your mother was a great and close friend of ours. Don't share her inheritance to anyone, alright?"
"yes" Bell replied while slowly nodding before getting another head pat by Makaria who was smiling underneath her mask.
"let's go, you two." Said Melinoe as Ploutos and Makaria nodded before the three went off.
Bell watches them go into the guild's entrance to Ouranos' Room of Prayer.
"Bell-kun, are you alright?" Hestia with Eina went to Bell who looks at them and nodded then back to where Melinoe and the others went to.
"yes, but I wonder who Melinoe-san and the others are…" Bell muttered out.
That's a wrap!
Melinoe Kaiser: looks a lot like Scarlet Hibiki but is an Elf, armor: Wingal
Ploutos Kaiser: looks like Kiba from Mazinkaiser Skl but half dwarf half elf; Armor; Iron Kaiser
Makaria Kaiser: Looks like Hurricane from Mazinkaiser Skl but half pallum half elf, armor; Psycho gear. wields Kaiser Blade
Bye bye