Hidden Side
Before they left for the Dungeon, the "children" of Hestia updated their status first. The women received their first with Bell being the last. It was rather difficult, what with being watched and making sure that she didn't put his Skill into the parchment, but Hestia once again managed to hide the rare Skill possessed by her first "child."
"Hmm…" She looked at the parchments first before giving them to her "children." "Quite interesting, if you ask me."
The three of them became curious after hearing that and looked at their respective parchment, which they also showed to their fellow members.
Bell Cranel
Level 1
Strength: G268 - G274
Defense: H132 - H140
Dexterity: F320 - F329
Agility: G251 - G262
Magic: I50 - H142
Okita Souji Fujiwara no Kaneyoshi
Level 1
Strength: I0 - I2
Defense: I0 - I1
Dexterity: I0 - I3
Agility: I0 - I2
Magic: I0
Marie-Anne Charlotte de Corday d'Armont
Level 1
Strength: I0 - I2
Defense: I0
Dexterity: I0 - I2
Agility: I0 - I3
Magic: I0
"Eh, that's so small…!" Okita complained upon seeing her stats.
"My Defense does not increase. Same thing with my Magic and Okita's." Charlotte put her hand on her chin. "I remember not defending against any attack. I simply dodge. And both of us didn't use any form of magic."
"That's how you increase your stats; by doing something related to it." The Goddess confirmed it. "Also, the harder the challenge you face, the higher the amount of point you received."
"Now that you mention it, it is basically a walk in the park for us Servant." The Samurai stated before sighing.
Bell nodded his head upon hearing the explanation. That explained why – with the exception of Magic – his stats received fewer points of improvement than usual. For the Magic, it was likely because he was now supporting two Servants.
Hestia thought deeply about it. It was not an unexpected development but not an unwelcome one. Almost every day she was worried that Bell's Skill would be discovered which would cause other gods to want to take him away from her. However, this could be the solution.
If the Servants go with him to the Dungeon, then Bell would receive fewer points compared to when he was alone. Sure, there was still the Magic stat but it was easier to explain compared to the other four stats. As for the Servants, most gods would simply look at their stats, consider them lousy, and pay no more attention.
It was not a perfect plan but it was better than having none at all.
"Oh, look at the time." The Goddess stated upon looking at the clock. "I better get ready for work!"
"""Good luck, Goddess/Lady Hestia.""" Her "children" said.
"Good luck to you three as well."
The three of them headed towards the Seventh Floor again. Unfortunately, it seemed that they arrived on a bad day for the monsters of the floor were few in number. Most of their times were spent looking for monsters and when they found them, rarely in double-digit.
"You know, I just realize something…" Bell spoke up as he slashed a Kobold into two. "…but we don't have a Familia Captain yet."
"What do you mean?" Okita asked as she dodged a War Shadow swinging its limb. "Aren't you the Captain?"
"Well, not really." He looked around for more monster. "Being the first means that technically, I can't be a captain because, well, I have no one to lead. And after you and Charlotte joined the Familia, we haven't made anything official."
"From the way you talk…" Charlotte joined in. "…you don't have any desire to be the captain."
"I-I am not sure it's a good idea for me to become one." The white-haired boy knelt in front of a Frog Shooter corpse. "It's a position with a lot of responsibility. Making sure our finance is not in red, organizing the logistic of Dungeon expedition, speaking with other Familias. I was a simple farm boy before coming to Orario. I don't think I am suitable for the position."
"Ah, I get what you mean." Saber scratched her head. "Especially if you have subordinates that are…eccentric."
"That's right!" Bell snapped his finger. "You're a captain of Shi…Shin…"
"Shin. Sen. Gu. Mi." She helped him with the word. "Please try to remember it, Bell."
"O-Of course. Haha…" He laughed awkwardly. "By the way, that's it! Why don't you become the captain, Okita?"
"Me?" The Samurai blinked several times as she pointed at herself. "I am not sure about that. An expeditionary Familia and a police force are two different things. My experience is with the latter, so I am not…"
"However, you're also the only one in the Familia with any experience in leadership," Charlotte stated as she extracted a magic stone from a Goblin corpse. "While I dislike badmouthing, I am sure we can agree our Goddess lack such quality."
Bell couldn't help but let out an awkward laugh and agreed with Assassin. As much as he loved his Goddess, he could see that she didn't possess the skill to be a good leader. She was a hard worker, yes, and also very caring to her children, yes. But that alone wasn't enough to be a leader, let alone a good one.
"I guess so…" Okita let out a sigh. "Alright, I'll take the position."
"That's great, Okita!" Bell commented in an energetic voice. "I am sure you…"
"GAAAH!"
The boy immediately closed his mouth upon hearing that. His Servants diverted their attention towards the voice as well. It was not a voice that was made by a monster but rather an adventurer. The three of them looked at each other, nodded their heads, and immediately ran towards the source, leaving the corpses of monsters with their magic stone remained inside.
"Can you hear us?" Bell exclaimed as they kept running. "Hello!"
Yet the voice that screamed in pain did not answer the question. Dread started to fill their hearts, wondering if the worst had already happened.
It was revealed to be the answer. They finally found the adventurer or rather his remains. Three Dungeon Lizards surrounded the body and were pulling it apart, wanting to get the biggest cut of the meat.
Bell increased his speed, becoming the first to kill one of the Lizards by stabbing it in the head. Another Lizard released its mouth from the corpse and was about to lunge towards him when Charlotte's angel distracted it, giving her the opening to kill it. The last Lizard tried to run away but in the end, was unable to escape from the adventurers with Okita being the one that delivered the killing blow.
With no threat on sight, the white-haired boy looked at the corpse of the adventurer that they had failed to escape and tried his best to not look away in terror and disgust. Two of its limbs – an arm and a leg – were almost torn away from the main body. Various scratches and cut adorned the corpse.
Okita knelt in front of the remains and observed it. Upon noticing something, she slowly turned it over and her eyes widened upon seeing it. Charlotte and Bell soon followed her expression when they saw it as well.
"Well, isn't that interesting?" She commented without any hint of emotion as she plucked an arrow from the back of the corpse.
"He…it…his…" Bell was unable to make a word, knowing the meaning behind the arrow.
"For some reason, at least two adventurers have a disagreement that turned really bad," Charlotte commented.
"The length of the arrow is quite short." Okita inspected the ammunition in her hands. "It also only has two fletches rather than three."
"A crossbow then." Assassin stated.
The two of them noticed that one of them remained silent after the discovery. They turned their heads towards Bell, seeing him frozen where he stood by. Saber stood up and walked towards him, touching him by the shoulder and shaking him once they were close.
"Bell, are you alright?" She asked her master.
"E-Eh?" He blinked twice before looking at her eye-to-eye. "I…I am…"
"First time seeing a dead body?" She gestured at the corpse.
"Y-Yeah…" Bell looked away. "It's…not my first experience with death. My grandfather is no longer among the living. But…seeing his…condition…"
"Unfortunately, this would not be the last time we see this." She stated in sympathy. "That's what happens in a lawless place like the Dungeon."
Bell simply nodded his head. He knew that some adventurers were wicked enough that they were not that different from criminals. It was another thing seeing it first hand, however. Killing another person for the sake of getting more money was something that he could not understand. Even with the financial condition of his Familia, never once the thought of doing "something wrong" cross his mind.
Charlotte observed the two of them before using her knife to cut the part of the clothes of the deceased adventurer that was decorated with the Familia insignia. She went towards them and handed the fabric to Bell, who accepted it.
"The least that we could do is telling his Familia of his demise." Assassin stated as her master looked at the fabric.
"Of course." He nodded his head before putting it inside his bag.
Thus, the three of them left the Seventh Floor and headed towards the surface.
After she finished her shift, Hestia decided to go to the Blue Pharmacy, a shop that sold various potion and medicine owned by the Miach Familia, whose god was one of few friends of her.
"Good afternoon," The Goddess entered the store. "Eh? Take? You're here?"
"Ah, Hestia!" The God, Takemikazuchi, greeted her. "Good afternoon to you as well."
Takemikazuchi, the God of Thunder and Sword God from the Far East, called "Take" by gods close to him, was another friend of Hestia. Just like her, he was the head of an exploration Familia with the members being six orphans that he took care of. They came to Orario in order to earn money to support the shrine where they grew up back in the Far East.
"So, what are you doing here, if you don't mind me asking?" Hestia asked as she approached her friend.
"Just restocking the potions of my Familia." He replied. "I just so happen to have free time and decide to do something to help them."
"Hestia." The owner of the pharmacy, Miach, entered the room. "You're here to pick up your order?"
"Yep." She nodded her head as she walked towards the counter. "It's ready, right?"
"Of course." He turned his attention towards his only "child." "Naza, can you get it?"
"Sure." She replied with her tired-sounding voice. "Seven bottles of tuberculosis medicine coming up…"
"TBC?" Takemikazuchi raised an eyebrow. "Hestia, did something happen to Bell?"
Tuberculosis, TBC for short, was the name used in Orario and the surrounding area to refer to the disease known as "consumption." It was used by the gods which then spread to their "children" and then to the common folks.
"It's not him. It's for my other children, Okita." Hestia explained.
"Ah, congratulations, Hestia!" He exclaimed with an energetic voice. "So, Okita, she comes from the Far East?"
"Mm!" She nodded her head excitedly. "Her name is Okita Souji."
"You're really kind, Hestia." Miach joined the conversation. "Despite the condition of your finance, you're willing to take care of your child and insists on buying our medicine rather than accepting it for free."
"Oh, come on, it's not that different from what you did for Naza." Hestia made a smile. "Besides, it's an early stage, so it's not that bad. She's more than capable of exploring the Dungeon."
"That's good to hear." The blue-haired God replied as Naza appeared with a box.
"Here you go." She gave the box to Hestia. "Remember that if she stops midway, her disease will become worse. So, make sure that she does not."
"I will force-drink this medicine to her if I must." The Goddess replied with a voice full of determination.
"I see…" Eina took off her glasses and closed her eyes. "I am sorry that you have to witness it."
After returning to the surface, the trio immediately went towards the Pantheon to informed the death of the adventurer. They approached the half-elf staff and delivered the news.
"I-It's alright," Bell assured his advisor. "I…we…we'll manage."
"If you don't mind me asking, Miss Eina," Okita asked her. "How often does this thing occurred?"
"We do not know." She answered while shaking her head. "When someone died in the Dungeon, the monsters often eat the remains fast enough that their death won't be noticed until at least a day later."
"I see. A perfect place to commit a crime then." The Samurai stated. "Especially one that involves a death or two."
"Indeed. When two Familias have a dispute that could cause…public disorder, they settle it in the Dungeon."
"A-And the Guild do nothing about it?" Bell asked, unable to believe what he had just heard.
"We can't do anything about it." Eina looked at him sadly. "Commit a crime in the Dungeon and you're very likely will leave no evidence of your involvement."
Bell couldn't help but grimaced. The half-elf also couldn't help but feel guilty. Bell was…pure and naïve, for the lack of better word. Every adventurer was a little screwed up in the head, even the kindest of them. Their life was not an easy one. Thus, Eina wanted to preserve the innocence and pureness of her latest adventurer as long as possible.
Perhaps she should have at least gave him a warning.
Speaking about the boy, looking at his sorry state of armor, which was a simple breastplate, an idea popped into her mind; a way to apologize for being an inadequate advisor.
"Say, Bell…" She opened her mouth.
"Y-Yes?" He answered, diverting his mind away from the revelation that he received.
"Are you free tomorrow?"
The next day, Bell didn't go to the Dungeon and instead went with Eina to buy a new set of armor for himself. Hestia went to the Babel to work at one of the shops owned by the Hephaistos Familia in order to pay for the Hestia Knife.
Which left two Servants in charge of the church.
"Boring…" Okita commented as she lied on a pew.
"I have some books if you want to read," Charlotte stated, currently reading one of those books.
Saber looked at the ceiling of the church. She had drunk the dose of the day of the TBC medicine that Hestia bought, thus it was unlikely for her to have a bout of cough at least until the sunset.
A part of her wished that she had this medicine back then. She wouldn't have to abandon her comrades if that was the case.
She stood up from the pew and walked towards their room. After a few minutes, she emerged from it. Curious, Assassin looked away from her book and found that the swordswoman has changed her outfit.
She had replaced her pink kimono with a white, shorter one and her hakama with black leggings that go past her knees. She had also added a black scarf on her neck and a white cord crossing her chest. Finally, she now wore the infamous asagi-iro haori with "white mountain stripes" of the Shinsengumi.
"Where are you going?" Charlotte asked as the Samurai walked past her and went towards the front doors.
"Just taking a walk," Okita replied without looking at her. "Don't worry. I will be back before sunset."
After Saber exited the church, Assassin simply shrugged and returned to her books.
She decided to not go to the Dungeon. While she could deal with the monsters alone, she lacked a short blade like a dagger or knife to extract the magic stone inside their body. Looking at her katana, the Samurai wondered how much a decent wakizashi or tanto would cost.
Entering the Pantheon, Okita looked around and located the quest board. She walked towards it with her hand on her chin. She had read some of the papers that were pinned when she visited the building for the first time with Bell and Charlotte. Some of the papers were no longer on the board and have been replaced while others still on it.
Through the quest system, people could ask for a service of an adventurer in order to deal with a problem. Ranging from collecting material to eliminating a threat, various types of quest were available for adventurers to gain extra money or even rare item, like an elixir for example.
Speaking of which, there was actually a quest with that reward. She wouldn't take it though since it required her to travel to the 20th Floor. There was also the fact that she wasn't interested.
It was another quest that took her interest.
"Yeah, there are times when bandits could be quite problematic." A guard, member of the Ganesha Familia, told her. "That's why sometimes we went to the Guild and had those quests posted."
"Why don't the Ganesha Familia handle the problem themselves?" Okita asked as she tilted her head.
"We don't have the personnel. Our members are split into several groups with their own task; performing expedition into the Dungeon, guarding the street of the city, making sure the trade routes remain open, things you expect for police and soldiers to do." The guard played with her ponytail. "We barely have enough people for Orario itself."
"I get what you mean." The Samurai nodded her head. "So, this group of bandits…"
"Ah, yes. There are seven of them, the last sighting being the forest 25 miles south of the city. As far as we know, they are not affiliated with any Familia. So, even Level 1 would be more than enough to handle them."
"I see." She put her hand on her chin. "Well, this is just like back home."
"Oh? Not your first rodeo with them?" She raised an eyebrow.
"Not really. There was a political turmoil in my home. I worked for…the police when it occurred."
"Well, I won't dig further. What happened in your past is your own business." The guard waved her hand. "Speaking of which, let me prepare your papers."
"Thank you."
Okita realized her mistake after she was near the forest. She should have accepted the offer of being given a horse. She didn't need one for she – a Servant – was faster than any steed. Of course, the meant she would need to explain to the guards how she managed to go to the forest and return in such a short time.
Well, she'll deal with it when it was the time. First thing first, the bandits.
It wasn't hard to find them, as it turned out. She could see smoke rising, indicating the existence of fire. Either it was a forest fire or someone was cooking. She bet on the latter.
She was proven to be correct. From her hiding spot, Okita saw several tents and supply; their base of operation. The fire that created the smoke was being used by two men currently grilling meat of some kind, maybe a dear or boar. Their faces matched the sketches that were given to her. She only saw them though with the position of the remaining five remained unknown.
Not that it mattered for her.
Okita emerged from her hiding spot, walking leisurely towards the two bandits. When one of them noticed her arrival, Saber immediately unsheathed her katana and – before they could make any noise – decapitated the two of them.
"AAAHH!"
Saber turned her eyes towards the person who screamed; it was another bandit, pointing at her with fear on his face. His scream warned the remaining bandits, who came out from the tents and trees with weapons on hand. She showed no reaction, retaining the cold, stoic look on her face.
Her first target was the bandit that warned her presence. He tried to run away to grab a weapon or something but was cut down before he could make more than two steps. She then went towards another bandit – who had just unsheathed her sword – and slashed her at the throat.
Sensing danger, Okita lowered her body and thus avoided an arrow. She picked up a stone and threw it at the archer. Being a Servant and blessed by the goddess, the stone cracked the skull of the archer, causing him to drop his weapon and fell to the ground.
The last two bandits slowly approached her, faces full of fear and hands trembling. The woman was wielding a pair of daggers while them man had a spear. The latter let out a battle cry – which sounded more like a whimper – and charged towards her. Okita simply sidestepped and stomped on his spear, giving her an opportunity to sever his head from the rest of his body, which she did.
She turned her attention to the last bandit, who – upon seeing that she was now alone – dropped her daggers and ran as fast as she could. The Samurai merely chased her and stabbed her through the back the moment the distance between them was close enough.
After she cleaned the blood on her katana and sheathed it back, Okita explored the base to search for valuable items. As much as she disliked looting the dead, with the exception of gathering intel, she also knew the financial situation of her Familia. She could only hope that her fellow Shinsengumi could forgive this act of hers.
Oh, who was she kidding with? Hijikata would demand her write an entire book of haiku. There was a reason his fellow Shinsengumi was the one who gave him the nickname "demon."
"Really? Seriously?" The guard glared at her hard.
"Eh? Did I do something wrong?" Okita asked, tilting her head in confusion.
"Well, not really. Technically, you didn't do anything wrong." She rubbed the bridge of her nose. "Technically."
"Err…"
"OK, you know what? I am not going to beat around the bush." She pointed at the big sack on the table. "Why. Do you decide. To bring a sack. Full of heads?!"
"For identification, of course!" The Samurai said with a tone as if she was talking about something obvious. "How else are you going to confirm that I indeed kill the bandits?"
"We have a lot of ways. Many don't involve you bringing the heads. Or any part of the body for that matter." The guard let out a sigh. "I know we put 'dead or alive' label on them but this? Come on…"
"Well, back in my home, this is how we confirm it."
"Let me guess, Far East?" Okita nodded in response. "So, we have this one member from there as well. He said that there's a ceremony of presenting the enemy head or something. Is that true?"
"I never attend one but it does exist. Depending on the region, actually. In mine, it's only a historical fact."
The guard grumbled upon hearing it.
3,000 valis. That was the amount of the reward that she got. It was actually 3,500 but the Ganesha Familia took the 500 because she "traumatized the poor fellow at the gate." Okita admitted she kind of deserved the penalty but to be honest, why do you employ someone who faints at the mere sight of severed heads as a guard?
Well, it wasn't her business. Looking at the sky and seeing that it was turning orange, Okita wondered if she should return back to the church or visiting a weapon shop.
"L-Look, why don't you calm down first…"
"Shut up!"
"That voice…" Saber immediately turned her attention towards the voices.
Bell gulped as he tried to keep himself from trembling. The adventurer in front of him was very furious with the female pallum behind him for some reason. He wanted to solve whatever problem the two of them had peacefully but he doubted it would be possible.
"Bell, who is this man?"
The three of them turned their attention to the one who spoke and saw Okita approaching them. Bell noticed that she changed her outfit and wanted to ask where she got it but considering the situation, he decided to do it later.
"This is none of your business! Stay out of it!" The adventurer stated.
"It is, in fact, my business," Okita replied with a cold tone. "The white-haired boy is a fellow member of my Familia. His business is mine as well."
"Oh, yeah? Are the two of you with that pallum?" He pointed at the girl behind Bell.
"I've never seen her before." The Samurai shook her head before looking at her master. "Bell?"
"I've never seen her as well." He replied. "L-Look, I don't know…"
"Whatever!" The adventurer grabbed the sword on his back. "If you don't get away, I'll kill you first."
At the same time as he drew out his sword, Okita did the same with her katana. Bell dropped the bag that contained his newly-bought armor and took out his knife.
"Sheathe your sword." Saber demanded as she narrowed her eyes. "Now!"
"What? You want me to kill you as well?!" The adventurer shouted at her.
"You swing that sword, then you forfeit your life." She widened her feet. "This is your first, last, and only warning!"
The adventurer and Bell couldn't help but feel fear rising in their heart. They knew that Okita was serious with her threat. The white-haired boy was even more so. He had seen Saber being serious before but this was something else. A part of him hoped that the man would comply with her and calmed down.
Unfortunately, one thing Okita was unable to do was planting immense fear on her opponent. She relied upon her reputation that she built when she joined the Shinsengumi; the reputation that she didn't bring when she was summoned.
The adventurer did not heed her warning. He looked at Bell, took a step, and swung his sword towards him. The boy braced for the attack, intending to protect the pallum behind him. But it was unnecessary.
Faster than any of them could see, Okita dashed towards the man. Her Skill, Reduced Earth, meant that distance was no issue. She slashed the man from his right shoulder down to the left part of his waist. He let out his last groan as he dropped his sword and fell to the ground.
Bell couldn't help but tremble upon seeing the event in front of his eyes. He had just seen a man being killed by none other than his friend, his fellow member of Hestia Familia. He knew that she was simply protecting him from the adventure but it was no less horrifying.
"Bell? Bell?" He blinked once, realizing that he was so focused on his fear that he didn't notice that Okita was in front of him, looking worriedly. "Are you alright?"
"I…I am…a-alright…" He said, unable to stop himself from stuttering. "O-Okita…why…"
"I gave him a warning. It's all on him. Besides…" She stated in a cold tone. "In battle, there's no good or evil…only killing."
He didn't know why but those words…they sounded so wrong to him. A part of him tried to make sense of it; the friendly, peppy, rather ditzy woman and the cold, stoic, remorseless woman was one and the same. The sheer difference between her personalities was…uncanny, for the lack of better word.
"B-But…him…what should we…"
"Worry not, Cranel. I saw what happened and it was – without a doubt –self-defense."
Bell and Okita turned their heads towards none other than the elf waitress of the Hostess of Fertility, Ryuu Lion. Despite the corpse nearby, she walked towards them leisurely and without any hint of fear.
"R-Ryuu!" Bell exclaimed, surprised to see her here of all place and time.
"So, you're willing to be a witness to what happened?" Okita asked the elf.
"I don't think it will be necessary. You can't lie to the gods. All you need to do is telling them what happens and you will be cleared of any wrongdoing." Ryuu explained.
The Samurai nodded her head. As she did so, her eyes wandered a bit towards Bell, causing her to realize something important.
"Bell, where did she go?" The Servant asked.
"Eh?" Bell blinked in confusion before looking back. "Eh?!"
The pallum girl, who was sitting behind him during the whole event, was gone.
"Was there someone else here?" The elf asked.
"A female pallum. She was being chased by that adventurer. Bell defending her is what started this whole thing." Saber explained as she squinted her eyes. "For her to just disappear…suspicious."
"She's likely involved in something shady. Not uncommon among adventurers." Ryuu stated. "Speaking of which, we better contact the Guild now. The sooner we settle this…event, the better."
Bell and Okita nodded their heads with the former looking at the latter. As he picked up his bag, he couldn't help but keep thinking about his Servant, his friend, his fellow Familia.
"Okita, just what kind of life did you have?"
For those who are wondering about the timeline, the first chapter occurred after the Monsterphilia.
Also, considering how interconnected the two stories are, Sword Oratoria will be part of the story as well, in case you're wondering.
If you have a question or suggestion, feel free to tell me.
Review, please!
