Itsuki Minami1: Well, I mean it's not like Gekai is based on reality. I have plenty of excuses for why he might have a contrary naming like that.
haziqsaffari2: And now it's being used.
KingOfP0wers: When I start out a story, the chapters are usually short and to the point. The chapters will get longer once we start detailing the major events.
"So this…is Monsterphilia?!" Silber's eyes shone eagerly at the massive crowd,
"Yep. Adventurers from all over Orario participate. It's especially good for goods-oriented Familia's like us, since not only are the participants buying new weapons and gear, but the audience is prompted to improve their own." Tsubaki explained, "Speaking of improvement…" Tsubaki handed him a pouch of gold.
"Huh? You're..giving me spending money?"
"It's yours." Tsubaki said dismissively, "Your repeating crossbow was really something. And they've made a decent amount of money, so you're getting your cut. Of course, this isn't all of the money you made, but I have a feeling that if I gave it all now, you might end up spending it."
"Yes! Thank you!" Silber beamed, 'I can't believe it…my weapons are being sold!'
"There should be a little bit of time before the festival, so enjoy yourself until then…alright?"
"Yes!"
Beneath Orario Arena…
A woman glided by as one of the guards to the monster cages slumped over.
The woman glanced at the various monsters under her hood, before focusing on a Silverback.
"So be it then…You will serve." The woman opened the cage and began to caress its cheek while staring into its eyes.
Daedelus Street, Orario
"Wow…there's so much stuff!" Silber said eagerly, as if in response to his eagerness, his goggles briefly glinted in the sunlight.
'But still…I can't believe I made this much valis after selling just a few crossbows,' Silber hefted the coins, 'And Tsubaki-sama said there's even more money…'
Silber sighed, "I can't choose…" Silber sighed,
"...So you got one too?" Silber's ears perked up at a conversation nearby,
"Yeah." An adventurer hefted one of Silber's repeating crossbows, "Dealing with things like goblins and Kobolds is a cinch with this. You just load and fire, that easy. With its insane rate of fire, you don't even have to aim."
As Silber passed them, he turned slightly red. He honestly wasn't used to being praised.
And in a single moment, it was like electricity struck his brain.
'Something is coming…!' He thought, immediately he began searching for a weapon, his eyes fell on one of his repeating crossbows on display, he rushed over to it.
"I'm sorry!" He quickly apologized to the shopkeeper before taking it and several magazines as well.
The storeowner was about to protest when suddenly, a roar sounded throughout the area.
"Was that…?"
"It's a monster!" Silber said, despite having shaking hands, Silber clutched his crossbow, and began to move toward the sound.
"Hestia-sama! Why is that monster after you!? Do you know it?" Bell asked,
"I've never seen it before!" Hestia replied,
The pair ran out into the entrance to Daedelus Street, with Bell briefly hesitating before gripping Hestia's hand.
"We have no choice!" He shouted before leading her down the street.
The pair made several twists and turns through Daedalus Street, all the while, fearful passerby ducked into buildings and scared onlookers hastily closed their shops and houses to avoid drawing the monsters attention.
Without warning, the Silverback leapt over the alley they had cut through and landed on the other side before letting out a loud roar.
"Bell-kun!" Hestia shrieked as she was toppled over by the shockwave.
"Hestia-sama!" Bell reached for her, only for the monster to turn and roar at him before reaching at Hestia.
'I'm scared…but as a man…I can't leave a girl behind!' Steeling himself, Bell let out a loud warcry and charged the Silverback with his knife. Leaping off it's left arm, he aimed the blow for its head-
Only for it to shatter into tiny glittering pieces.
Seizing on the opportunity, the monster roared and swatted Bell aside, throwing him into a wall.
"Bell-kun!" Hestia screamed as the boy fell to the ground after the impact.
The Silverback stalked forward, moving for the kill when suddenly, an arrow bounced off the metal surrounding its glowing red eyes. Without warning, a flurry of more arrows followed suit, while most bounced off the metal or missed their mark, several impaled the area around its eyes, causing it to roar in pain and scratch at its eyes.
"This way!" Silber yelled from the rooftop above, Bell took Hestia's hand and ran into the alleyway Silber was signaling them into.
Once they were through, Silber tried to jump down, but ended up stumbling and needed to be caught by Bell.
"T-thank you, miss…I don't know what I would've done if you hadn't shot its eyes," Bell chuckled out, putting Silber down.
"Miss? I'm a boy!" Silber huffed,
"Eh?" Bell cocked his head in confusion, "But…"
"No time for that anyway. That monster will catch up to us any second." Silber cut him off,
"You're right…" Bell nodded, before turning to Hestia.
"Hestia-sama…I'm sorry." Bell said quickly, before pushing her into a gate right in front of Silber. 'I don't want to lose…any more family!'
"Bell?!" Hestia said in surprise, "What are you doing?!" She asked pleadingly,
"I'll buy some time." Bell said, before turning to Silber, "Please…I don't know who you are…but keep my Goddess safe!"
Silber looked at Bell uncomfortably, if the Silverback attacked, Silber probably stood less of a chance than the adventurer in front of him.
'But…' He looked between Bell and Hestia before nodding. Grabbing Hestia, he led her down the gate.
"Let me go!" Hestia struggled against him, but Silber managed to hold firm as Bell locked the gate behind them.
"Bell-kun!" Hestia screamed as Silber dragged her through the tunnels.
The Silverback wildly struck at Bell, but missed and instead slammed its chain through the fountain behind him, but managed to break Bell's last remaining knife in the process.
'Damn it!' Bell swore, ducking into a short alley, he barely avoided the flailing chain as the Silverback busted through the various boxes and barrels behind him, only for it to overreach and tumble forward in front of Bell.
Bell gasped as the Silverback moved to its feet, and slammed it's chain down in front of Bell, the force slamming him against the wall.
'Is this it…?'
Silber and Hestia panted as they ran down the tunnel.
"Please! Let me go back! Let me help Bell!" Hestia begged,
"I can't! You'll get hurt and you'll slow him down!" Silber gripped his fists, "We'll both only slow him down…"
"He can't take it on! Not with the weapons he has right now!" Hestia retorted,
"And? Are you suddenly going to forge him a new weapon?!" Silber snapped, and Hestia recoiled. Silber didn't mean to be so harsh, but he was stressed and focused on getting Hestia and himself away from danger.
Hestia's face darkened, "I know…" She said quietly, "I know I'm not Loki or Freya. I'm nowhere near as useful or powerful. But still…" Hestia looked up at Silber with pleading eyes, "...I want to help Bell! So please, let me take this to him!" She lifted up the light purple satchel she was carrying on her back.
"This is…!" Silber opened it and gasped at what was inside, 'Was this what Hephaistos has been forging for the past few days?' He wondered,'
"If you won't let me go…then please…take this to him!" Hestia thrust the knife forward at him.
Silber nodded, "Go." He said, "I'll handle this."
Hestia nodded as Silber took the knife and ran in the opposite direction.
As Hestia looked on, Silber ran as fast as he could back to where he heard the roars.
Bell could only watch as the Silverback approached him for the killing blow, 'Ah…I see. Well…at the very least, I'm glad Hestia-sama…is okay.'
Suddenly, an image of golden hair flashed through his mind. 'I would've liked to see her again as well…although it might be better…that she doesn't see me like this.'
"Farewell…goddess." Bell bowed his head as the Silverback raised its arm for a final blow.
Suddenly, a hail of arrows embedded themselves into its knee, causing it to stumble and strike the stone above Bell.
"Bell!" Silber shouted,
"You!" Bell said in shock, 'Why…? You didn't have to come back for me!'
The Silverback stood up, albeit a bit wobbly, and turned to face Silber, roaring it prepared to throw a punch at him, only for Bell to scoop Silber up in a princess carry and get him out of the way before diving into a downwards alley, Silber still in his arms.
"You should've escaped with Hestia!" Bell said at the bottom of a set of steps, "Speaking of - Is Hestia okay?!"
"Hestia is fine." Silber stated, "And she told me to give you this:" Silber unslung the purple satchel from his back and revealed the Hestia Knife inside.
"She called it the: "Hestia Knife", and my Goddess worked on it personally."
"Your…Goddess?" Bell cocked his head in confusion,
"My Goddess is Hephaistos-sama herself." Silber said, somewhat proudly.
"A smith?!" Bell said incredulously,
"Hey!" Silber huffed, "Smiths can be good fighters too! Well…most smiths anyway." Silber added.
Bell didn't respond, but took hold of the Hestia Knife, whose engraved runes briefly shone blue before returning to its normal.
Silber stood up, and grabbed his crossbow, but Bell placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Smith-san, I really don't want you getting hurt, and you've done so much for me already…" Bell began, but Silber shook his head.
"I didn't come to Orario in order to run from every monster I see." Silber said quietly, "I may not be able to fight…but something about you makes me want to help in any way I can, Bell."
Bell looked at him, before relenting. "Alright then, Smith-san."
"My name isn't Smith-san!" Silber spoke up suddenly, and Bell turned to look at him.
"It's Silber." Silber said quietly, "Silber Perdix."
Bell smiled at him, "Bell. Bell Cranel."
A/N: Our two heroes officially meet! Let's see how they fare against their first trial.