I don't know what's up with me this weekend, but all I've been doing is writing. I just straight up can't step away because I genuinely love writing this story. If anyone is confused by something and you feel like it's something you can't wait for an explanation on, feel free to DM me. I can't answer questions here because I don't want to spoil anything for those who don't want to know yet. Thank you AvidCookieLova for pointing out the error in the summary.
I don't own Danmachi or it's connected works.
It was at this exact moment I realized the sheer level of cruelty that Mama Mia employs to keep her subordinates on a schedule of her choosing.
Glaring at the sun through my room's single window, a window that coincidentally has a direct line of sight towards the sun from the bed. At sunrise. I understand the necessity to get up at a reasonable time, any adventurer does, but this is just absurd!
Honestly, I'm tempted to try to go back to sleep out of spite but Mama said "an early morning" and considering how much she's thought through every other aspect of my stay under her to maximize my growth, I can only assume that this stupid window trick is another way in which she aims to make the most of my time.
Groaning as I pulled myself out of my bed's embrace, I sluggishly collected my haphazardly shed uniform from the chair at my desk, pulling on the slacks and the dress shirt which I left the top two buttons open so I don't look quite as fancy.
I would have worn my old dungeon clothes, but those aren't exactly clothes anymore considering the sheer size of the holes in them. The only article that truly survived my fight with the irregular war shadow is my boots. Everything else is littered with cuts, holes, or missing parts entirely. Completely irreparable.
I had just finished putting on my shoes when I hear a knock at the door "Up and at em kid! We've gotta finish up in Babel before the main rush comes through!"
I knew it! This was her plan! Opening the door, I glared at her with the might of a thousand sleepy adolescents.
She laughed "Haha! I see someone is up early! Good! It's important to rise with the sun!"
"Don't think I don't know that you-yawn-planned this by trying to turn it into a lesson…" Her smile only got wider.
"Huh, here I thought I'd be able to pull one over ya while you're tired, oh well, guess I just have to conceal my lessons even more."
"Please don't… I can barely handle this as is…"
"Haha! In this case it actually is an important lesson though." When her voice got serious I focused as much as I could. I may be grumpy, but Mama's still taught me many invaluable things in the short time I've known her. "In the dungeon, you will almost never have the opportunity to sleep a full eight hours. Last night, you got four. Over the course of the year, the exact hour of the sunrise will change. It's a way to get used to varying amounts of sleep over time. Obviously, this is a long term solution, but it will help none the less."
I know she's right. It doesn't help my mood, but I guess I'll accept that reason anyways. At the very least its better than "I thought it would be funny".
We made it to the exit before my mind finally cleared "Oh! Wait!" I shout as I run back to my room, collecting the crimson claws I had almost forgotten. That would have been embarrassing if we went all the way to Babel just to find out I forgot them.
Wait… Babel? "Mama, did you say we're going to Babel? As in the giant tower home to the Hephaestus shops Babel?"
Mia just smiled at me "Yep, we're meeting up with an old friend of mine. To get those blades attached and she'll direct you to someone to get some armor on you. Nothing first-class though obviously, don't want your gear to be responsible for your success."
I could agree with that. I want to grow because of my own power, not get carried by my equipment. "Understood." I said, staying composed outside, but inside I'm jumping around like a small child. Babel! I'm getting gear from Babel! I wonder who Mama's friend is? Is she a top tier smith? Or maybe a private one that works exclusively for her? Ah I can't help being excited!
I'm getting a weapon from the "Tower of Heroes" as my Grandpa liked to call it!
Looking over at Mia, it's clear I completely failed to hide my excitement from her so I stop trying and let my enthusiasm into my steps, the whole time Mama just watched me with a smile on her face.
In the early morning like this, the streets of Orario are almost uncomfortably barren. No merchants peddling their wares, no adventurers heading to the guild to delve into the Dungeon's depths and no civilians walking about.
I'll admit though, even if it is uncanny, it made getting to Babel a lot faster. This would be my first time entering the massive tower with the intention of going higher. I've been here before of course, every adventurer has. If the Dungeon is the door to hell, the tower of Babel constructed on top of it acts as it's lock.
Even as Mama Mia and I head towards the elevator to bring us higher, I can see those ever so enticing stairs only a few meters away. Maybe I can go down to the first floor and hunt down some monsters…
"Oi Bell! What the hell are you thinking?!" Mia shouted "You don't have any weapons or armor and your clothes aren't even close to designed for that kind of exertion!"
I stared at her in shock before I noticed just how far of course I had gotten.
Instead of being by the side of my employer, I'm instead halfway to the stairs leading into the Dungeon. Quickly, I rejoined Mama Mia. "I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me…" and I really don't. I know I want to experience adventures and to dive even further into the abyss, but what I just tried to do? It would have been suicide. Even compared to my decision to dive without a falna to begin with.
Thinking about it, this isn't the first time it's happened either. Back on the fifth floor, I unconsciously journeyed to the stairs into the depths instead of the stairs towards the surface. I didn't even think about it. Is… Is the Dungeon calling to me? Trying to lure me deeper into the abyss and into it's embrace?
I've heard people say that the Dungeon is alive but if it actually is trying to entice me to go deeper, then it would prove that the labyrinth is sentient and I don't think Orario is ready for a revelation of that magnitude…
I need to talk to Mama about this… Next time we're in private. I need to know if this is something everyone experiences. "Can we talk more about this later? After work?" I asked, my head hung low.
I can tell that she's worried about me, I'm worried about this too. I imagine it probably hurt her a bit as well considering it's been less than twelve hours since I promised to achieve her dream for her… and I just about dashed what is probably only the slightest bit of hope.
A hero is more than just an adventurer, they're a survivor too. I need to remember that. I need to learn to resist my urge to dive into the Dungeon. I can't just go diving in deeper without a plan. I can't become a hero if I die.
As the elevator dinged to say we'd reached the desired floor, the seventh in this case, I finally broke the silence we'd been sitting in "I'm sorry Mama… I won't let whatever that was happen again…"
Mama Mia looked at me with a mix of emotions I don't quite understand "See that you don't. We'll talk later, for now, get that pep back in your step. We're meeting with my personal blacksmith from back in the day."
Her personal blacksmith? "Isn't it normally the other way around in the Hephaestus familia?" I asked. Grandpa always told me that adventurers often for contracts of exclusivity to only get their gear from the same blacksmith. That way the smith can make more customized armor and weapons at a better price. But most smiths of the Hephaestus familia have multiple contracted adventurers…
Mama Mia smiled "Normally? Yes. But I'm something you might call an exception."
What does that mean?
I was just about to ask as much when a set of double doors slammed open, just barely missing Mama. Wait, no. It would have hit her, but she dodged at the last possible moment, so naturally that I barely noticed her moving… Who are you Mia Grand?
"MIA GRAND! OH HOW I MISSED YOU!" Holding my ear in pain I look through the open doors and almost recoil in shock.
In front of me stands a gorgeous woman with short azure hair and a pair of eyes more blue than the azure sky. Actually, short is the best way to describe her. She barely reaches my shoulders placing her around 5'1". Despite her short stature, her body is as womanly as can be, curves that must be molded by the gods themselves. On her back is a massive crystalline hammer almost as tall as she is. She's wearing a dirty gray- no, its actually white under the grime- sleeveless shirt that shows of her slim arms that I can tell are simply packed with muscle and a pair of blue pants.
I guess Mama and this woman have been talking this whole time because she turned her eyes on me and my head spins.
What is this? What is this feeling? It feels like Mama Mia when I still thought she was intimidating! Just how strong is she that she can match Mama?!
"This the brat you wanted me to get some armor sorted for?" She asked. Her voice a confusing mix of melodic and harsh now that she isn't yelling.
Mama nodded "Yep, and I want you to attach some handles to the kid's blades, his old weapons shattered on the fifth floor."
"Huh?" she sneered "How does someone break their weapons on the fifth? All that lives there are war shadows."
I was about to answer but Mama cut me off, pride clear in her voice "an irregular shredded his starting knife and a landform he found on his second day in the Dungeon."
"His second day?! And he survived?" And she's back to screaming.
Mia laughed "Haha! Yep! The kid dropped the dungeon on it. He may be small and pathetic,"
"Hey!" I interrupted, to no avail.
"But he's got heart, bravery and a good head on his shoulders. Even if he does some stupid crap sometimes." Mama finished with a smaller, more genuine smile.
Mama…
The girl's focus returned to me and her expression shifted on a dime "Well, why didn't you say you're a little hero in training?" she said with a smile.
"How'd you know?" I asked…
Her expression shifted again "Nobody other than a hero would do something that stupid!" Her tone was condescending then shifted to almost melancholic "I should know, I've met enough of them in my time…"
Huh? "What do you mean you've met some? The last true hero lived hundreds of years ago…"
The woman looked surprised for a moment before whipping her head back to Mama "Did you not tell him who I am?" she asked.
"Nah," Mia replied, "thought it would be more fun this way. The kid loves myths and legends. Care to introduce yourself?"
The woman performed a childish twirl before puffing out her chest in pride.
Mama, please don't look at me like I'm filth, I swear I wasn't staring as she bounced to a stop.
"Well, kid, if you like legends, rejoice! Because you're in the presence of one!" Bold words from someone I don't recognize the name of "The name's Pandora! Now do you recognize me?"
My mind crashed to a halt. "Pandora?!" I shouted "Like, THAT Pandora?! The one who opened the box?!"
"The one and only!" she proclaimed with pride.
Holy crap. Pandora, the living creation of Hephaestus, is right in front of me. The woman who opened the box which contained all the world's evil and also the first ray of hope. I don't know what to say… what is there to say? I am actually standing in front of a legend.
More importantly, at least to me, is that Pandora is a legend from before the age of gods. So if she's real, that means the other legends from before the gods' descent could be too! Truly, a ray of hope indeed.
"Well kid?" Mama began "Gonna get your foot out of your mouth and introduce yourself?"
"Ah! I completely forgot! I'm sorry! I was just a bit star struck! It's a pleasure to meet you Lady Pandora, my name is Bell Cranel. But please, call me whatever you want!" I introduced myself in a panic.
What was I supposed to do? Remain calm and collected when faced with living proof that there's at least a sliver of a chance that the myths that have inspired me could be true. That there has been heroes who've learned the art of magic before the falna ever existed. That-that I might be able to do the same.
Pandora's eyes lit up "Oh my! Lady Pandora you say? Ohohoho, perhaps I should play the part then!" her laugh changed from an almost childish tone to what I can only describe as an almost mock regal one "Very well then oh great hero to be, I shall grant you your weapons and craft thine armor myself! I will craft an inferior product however, lest you become a mockery of the hero you wish to be!"
I can't tell if she was joking or not when she called me a "hero to be", but I'm going to assume she wasn't for the sake of my own confidence. Still, this is better than I could have ever dreamed! Retrieving the war shadow's fingers from my belt and unwrapped the cloth, my old clothing I might add, around them.
"Thank you very much Lady Pandora!" I bowed, presenting the sharp, probably magical, claws to Pandora who raised her eyebrow at them.
"Wait, Mia. I thought you were just talking him up when you said he killed an irregular on his second day. These are genuine blood shadow claws." Pandora seemed genuinely confused as she took the blades.
Mama smirked "Have you ever known me to lie?" she replied.
The azure haired woman shook her head rapidly in- is that fear? Or false panic? Ugh, why is she so hard to read? Oh. Right. The whole, gifted from all gods thing. I guess that Chaos must have given her a gift as well.
"Nope! Never! I would never accuse you of that Mia!" I think it was genuine fear… Mia Grand… just who are you?
Not only is your, well I guess formerly, personal blacksmith Pandora, the woman created by Hephaestus herself, but from the way it seems, she treats you as a superior. Just who are you? You are clearly an outstanding adventurer, but in that case, why'd you stop? What made you open a dinner?
I have so many questions… but first… "Is it possible to make them into something slightly longer than a wakazashi?" I asked "I noticed in the Dungeon that a knife simply won't cut it. I want something fast but I need a bit more length than what I had."
"Ya hear that Mia? 'Is it possible?' Hah! There's nothing I can't make!" She made her claim in a boisterous tone and looking at her arms? I believe it. "Come back in a couple days Bell. Monday should do. I'll have your blades and armor ready by then."
"Don't you need my measurements or something?" I asked.
Pandora shook her head "Nah, you can thank Aphrodite for that. Just one glance and I know ALL your measurements. Ares blessed me that I'll always know what will suit a warrior best as well. Light armor right? Prioritize speed over everything else?"
"That's incredible! I guess getting blessings from the whole Greek pantheon would help with being the ultimate smith!" I can see why Mia would want to keep Pandora as her own blacksmith. The ability to know exactly what is most suited for a warrior from just a glance? That's an incredible skill to have.
Pandora puffed out her chest again- don't watch the jiggle Bell, you're better than that- "You know it! Now, get out of here. Mia? No charge on this work. I like the kid so I'll help you take care of him. I don't want to miss my chance to help the protégée of the-MMPH!" Mia slapped her hand over the smith's mouth.
"You know I left that behind Pandora, don't bring that title up again." She said.
I see… She must have a good reason to have left the adventuring lifestyle considering how excessive that reaction was. If she doesn't want it brought up, I won't ask… I'm dying to know more about Mama, but I respect her too much to pry into her life like that.
Stepping out of Mia's hold on her, Pandora raised her hands-wait, where'd the claws go?- to placate Mia "Alright, alright, it won't happen again. Now get out of here, both of you. I work alone." Just like that, Pandora pushed the both of us through the door we never fully walked through and slammed them shut, the doors themselves disappearing.
Mama Mia gave me a strange look "I don't know how you managed to poach Pandora's business offer, but I just want you to know that she only forged a contract with me because two goddesses, one of which being her mother, called in a favor for me." Wait what?! "There seems to be something about you that draws people in. You should make use of that."
"What do you mean by that Mama?"
Mia explained "First it was Ryuu. She doesn't take interest in anyone outside the Hostess as a general rule, and yet she brought you in on a whim, and then caught you when you passed out getting healed. Then there's me. At no point since I've met you, have I thought you were just another wallet to fill my own. And now there's Pandora. Someone who loathes being around other humans enough that she got her door enchanted by Hecate and Loki to be invisible to anyone she doesn't actively want to be there."
"I guess I never really gave it much thought…"
"I hadn't either until now. But there's clearly something about you that draws people in. Might as well see if you can make use of it." Mia shrugged as we exited the elevator on the ground floor of Babel "Anyways, it's time to get you some clothing. Then I'll leave you to visit the library on your own before work. Sound good?"
Ugh cloths shopping… But it needs to be done so… "Yes Mama."
This chapter is only 3.3k words, but that's because if I finished the day like I had originally planned, it would end up at around 9k and I don't want to set a precedent I don't know if I can uphold. That being said, the other "half" of this chapter is done and will be released when I finish the next chapter. That way I have a buffer so if I ever get super busy, I can still maintain my weekly schedule.
To Walidcan: If I had thought about changing everything to metric at the start of the story, I absolutely would have. Especially since I live in a metric country as well. But unfortunately, this particular country uses imperial exclusively for height so it's something I do without thinking. Changing it now would seem awkward and a bit jarring, even though I already use metric for distances.
Anyways, hope you all enjoyed this chapter, the start of unraveling a mystery I've been hinting at for a while now, and the introduction of a new member of the supporting cast. See you all (most likely, double uploads are apparently a thing I do by accident) next week!