Chapter 15 - A Risk Worth Taking

Bell was scurrying around in the kitchen of the Hostess of Fertility, checking if everything was okay.

For the past two days he had been looking for ingredients and testing out a few of them for his cooking challenge with Mama Mia.

Eina begged him to make it again, because she had taken too many days off work recently and couldn't come to the tasting session. Bell agreed.

When Ryū learned about the challenge she was shocked and asked him if he was crazy.

He was not.

All he asked was for her to trust him.

She did but was very skeptical and he didn't blame her.

Mama Mia had been cooking for longer than he had been alive for.

Plus, no one in Orario knew he could cook.

He just hadn't had a chance to since becoming an adventurer.

But Bell trusted his grandfather's recipe.

They practiced making it a few times every year, since he was seven years old.

It was one of his grandfather's favourite meals.

Very time consuming and tricking to make.

However, looking at it now, Bell was proud of what he created.

Now he just had to serve it.

In the room next to him sat four waitresses. Ryū, Anya, Chloe and Lunoire.

Plus the chef other than Mama Mia. May.

Syr wasn't there for some reason, which surprised everyone. She had been talking non-stop about wanting to taste his dish.

So that just meant more for Hestia and Lili who sat there instead.

Those two had begged him to let them attend this cooking challenge when he told them about it.

The room was so quiet that they could have heard a coin drop.

Since his meal was the trickiest to make and plate up, Mia let him serve the girls first. She hadn't said a word to him all morning except this.

With Ryū's help, Bell quickly assembled his food while it was still hot and asked all eight women to dig in.

In front of them was a large clump of a yellow creamy substance. Bell explained that this was called potato mash.

Next were some flash boiled leafy green vegetables and honey glazed roasted carrots.

But the main attraction was the thick slice of medium rare meat wrapped in a layer of mushroom with thin slices of salted pork shoulder wrapped around in a thick crispy pastry.

All the girls sighed as they smelled the delicious aroma.

It looked good too.

The last item was in a pot.

Bell called it gravy, which they could pour over the mash potatoes and meat.

"Dig in." He offered.

"Wow, my knife just cut through that meat like butter!"

"What is this magic?!"

"Hmm…"

The compliments went on and on as each girl took a bite, then sang their praises.

Mama Mia was the last one to try his food.

She was the one he needed to impress the most.

After her first bite, she looked up at him with a shocked expression.

That was the second time he had seen it.

Was it good or was it bad?

He didn't know.

Then she ate the rest of it in silence.

When she finished, all the other women turned to her.

"I don't know how you did it, but it's bloody delicious. You win."

"What?"

"Bell won?"

"But we haven't even tasted Mama Mia's dish!"

Several other voices rang out with their own shocked expressions.

This was unprecedented to them.

Almost no one could beat Mia when it came to cooking food.

But Bell did it.

Ryū was grinning at him widely when he looked at her.

She was proud of him.

And that only made his win all the better.

"But Mia-sama, can we not try your dish too? I'm sure it tastes amazing."

"Well, well Bell. Not only can you cook, but you have a way with words too." Mia smiled. "Okay, let's serve it."

Everyone praised her dish too.

It was rabbit stew.

Later, Mia offered to let him take Ryu out for free.

In exchange for his recipe.

He declined.

Bell knew it was worth a lot more, so he kept onto it.

Who knows, it could prove to be a useful bargaining tool later.

With the cooking challenge won, his next move was to prepare for the 'Celebration of the Gods' tonight.

.

When Bell arrived at the event, he was starstruck.

The entrance hall was held up by golden pillars decorated with hundreds of candles. Alabaster statues designed to look like every single god and goddess stood in different areas of the hallway too, like small shrines.

However, the room he was in now that wowed him the most.

It was possibly the largest one he had ever been in.

Giant windows on each side, while several large open arcs gave way to an exit and sparkling view of the night outside. Several thin tables almost as long as the room presented all sorts of strange and wonderful looking food which Bell had never seen before.

After trying a few different plates, he wished he could have saved some for Eina and Ryū. They would have loved this.

Everything about this event was far beyond his expectations. Even if he didn't know what to expect, everyone looked beautiful and dazzling. A god and a follower from each familia.

It was also very expensive as they wore the best clothing. This was a formal event after all.

Soon Bell met others he recognised, but the one who stood out the most was Mikoto.

Her long black hair had been expertly braided. No longer wearing a ponytail, but in the style of a bun. A flowing purple dress highlighted her slim figure. However, his eyes were drawn to all smooth white skin she showed. Her slender arms, bare shoulders and generous cleavage were all on display. Mikoto looked the very image of beauty.

His mind briefly travelled back to the time he had accidentally seen her bathing naked on the eighteen floor. She had shown a very desirable figure.

Now seeing her dressed up like this made him realise he wanted her. She was exactly the type of woman who brought out his carnal and protective instincts. Her look was unique, but her personality was even better. Kind, honourable and cute. It left a lasting impression on him.

"Mikoto, you are easily the most beautiful woman I've seen tonight. Even a goddess would be jealous."

He remembered her blushing a violent shade of crimson after receiving his compliment. She was really making him regret his rule of three. Maybe he could... no. If he pursued her now, it might give off the wrong impression. Mikoto might construe it as a way to repay him for the monster pass. If he was going to ever pursue her, then it had to be a while later.

Plus, he had been looking for someone else at the party but couldn't find so far.

Then a huge commotion from all the guests got his attention.

Freya, the goddess of beauty, had arrived.

Silver eyes and hair with a well-defined body line, her large breasts and thin waist were hidden behind a purple dress that looked like it was woven in heaven itself. With each step she took, all eyes followed her. Until Freya appeared in front of him.

Their exchange was brief, which he was glad for, otherwise what Hestia said might have come true.

She would have gobbled him up like the rabbit stew they had earlier.

Hestia had saved him.

Or crushed his only chance to bed an impossibly beautiful woman.

He couldn't tell, his feelings were all over the place.

.

A short while later and the woman he wanted to see most had appeared.

She was being escorted by a vermilion red headed goddess who was dressed up in a man's suit.

Ais Wallenstein.

A radiant woman with blond hair and golden eyes, wearing an elegant dress.

"…?!"

His eyes go wide as his face burns.

Her dress is a sea of light green, while Ais just stands there a little ways in front of him. Looking embarrassed.

"Just when did you get here?! You're not the type to sneak in!" Demands Hestia, but he blocks her out.

The heat in his body boils up again, but this time it's not going away.

He can't take his eyes off her. A princess from one of his old picture books has come to life in front of his very eyes.

Her pale green form fitting dress is open in the front and back, completely exposing her delicate, feminine shoulders. Sparkling beads and various other decorations are sown in as accents in several places on her dress. The finishing touch is the long, silky gloves that extend all the way past her elbows.

Part of her golden hair is tied with a ribbon behind her head. The rest of it is flowing gracefully down her back.

Her angelic face and thin neck, supple breasts making just the right amount of cleavage, thin waist and fluttering dress…

This is not the adventurer, the knight Ais Wallenstein that he knows.

The heat overtaking him right now is completely different from before - his heart didn't sing when he was taken in by Lady Freya or being pulled in by the mesmerising Mikoto.

His body is throbbing, refusing to move.

"Ah…"

"…!"

Ais lifts her face and they make eye contact. Neither of them can say a word.

He feels his face blush as she quickly looks to the floor, her hands together in front of her stomach as her shoulders lightly twitch up and down.

Her body swishes back and forth under Loki's shadow.

So cute!

But then his vision was blurred when Hestia and Ais' goddess focused in on him.

More bickering led to an angry bragging contest breaking out.

Unable to say a word for fear of attracting too much attention, Bell flicked his head to a random direction towards Ais. Hopefully she'd understand.

She smiled and nodded, before both goddesses dragged him and Ais away from each other.

Maybe later.

.

Two hours passed and Bell needed a break.

Hestia had been constantly introducing him to her divine friends and acquaintances, of which there were many, as they walked several laps around the party.

A heavy sigh left his lips when he finally managed to escape from it all. Outside on the balcony was his heaven now as the cool air fanned him down and propped himself by his elbows.

I'm absolutely exhausted. He told himself as his head fell into his arms. Then he looked up to the starry night above his head.

Much better. His mind drifted over to two girls far away. Eina and Ryū. They would have helped him to relax instead of feeling on edge with all the new gods and goddesses he kept meeting.

Then another beautiful woman waltzed into his mind. Ais, she was so beautiful tonight that he forgot to breathe. Maybe he should go looking, before Hestia inevitably dragged him over to meet someone else. But first, a bit of rest was needed.

Bell turned around to watch the attendants hard at work carrying even more extravagant food out to the tables and passing out richly coloured wine. Elegant music started to play, but he couldn't tell where it was coming from. Almost as if on cue, the middle of the ballroom floor opens up for dancers, but he could still see Hestia and Loki arguing in another corner of the room.

It still feels weird being here…

He couldn't help feeling that way while watching all the beautiful men and women partner up and start dancing.

His nerves started to appear again as memories flashed before him. Dancing was not his forte. It scared him since he was never able to find his feet. Luckily, only a few people from his old village knew about this and none of them were here.

I wish Eina and Ryū were here.

They would have known how to help him relax enough to take on the dance floor. Maybe even enjoy it.

Then Hermes appeared, Bell didn't trust him as the perverted god shared tales about the previous most powerful familia's of Orario, Hera and Zeus. Plus three quests, one of which still existed. The one-eyed black dragon.

However, their talk soon turned into a question about which women he liked.

Ais would then show up, which made Hermes try to offer his advice about how to ask her out for a dance, but Bell declined. He couldn't trust him again with anything woman related.

"Bell." She said, after the god left them two alone.

"Ais." He smiled, his heart thumping loudly again as his eyes took in her alluring figure, slowly. "You. Look. Stunning." Each word with more emphasis than the last

The sword princess blushed and looked away at his comment.

"Thank you." Bell heard from the smallest of whispers.

He seized the moment.

"Would you like to dance with me?" An outstretched hand extended towards her.

It was a bold move which surprised Bell, he had no idea what overcame him. Just the undeniable need to follow his instincts without thinking.

"Gladly." She smiled and his heart soared.

Her delicate fingers land in his.

Trying to remember where his free hand should go next, Bell placed it around her waist, before moving his feet.

"...I want to dance out here for a bit if you don't mind." Being surrounded and stared at by too many felt like too much pressure for him.

She nodded. "Okay."

They stepped on each other's toes a few times and even walked in the opposite direction, but that only made them laugh. However, Bell couldn't let all these missteps continue, his pride was on the line!

"Wait a minute, let's slow down and take our time. Forget about the music and just let me lead you. Okay?" She nodded again.

This felt more like his style now. Slow and romantic with no pressure to follow any musical cues or watch out for other dancing couples. His spine started tingling, someone was watching them intensely, but he paid them no heed.

Soon, the music had stopped and neither of them knew as they just danced to their own tune.

Ais looked more beautiful than ever as her face was filled with happiness. She seemed so nervous earlier that he wanted to grab her and run away.

Now, he was dancing with Ais and making her smile.

"This is my first…"

Bell tilted his head in question.

"This is my first time dancing..." He watched her lips move. They were about the same height, so it made talking face-to-face easy. "I always wanted to try, when I was little…"

"Really?"

"Yes."

That was unexpected.

It felt strange, but a small then large smile lifted his entire face. Bell's lips loosened with each passing moment.

"So I'm happy… Thank you."

She shyly glances down, then looks back up to him with a beaming smile.

For a moment, she looks like a young innocent woman instead of the battle-hardened warrior he knew. Bell loses himself in the sparkles of her golden eyes.

This was the Ais Wallenstein he had fallen in love with.

Back when he bought her a jyaga maru kun and they ate today.

Back when they sat and swayed together while overlooking a large forest and lake on the eighteenth floor.

Everything felt perfect.

Bell felt like he was losing an inner battle within himself not to kiss Ais Wallenstein until she acknowledged his strength to be equal or greater than others.

So they could never have to be split up because of their familias.

Now, it felt as if nothing else was holding them back.

Their footsteps slowed until they were barely moving at all as Bell's eyes rotated between Ais's lips and her eyes. She was doing the same as they both leaned in for the kiss…

"Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!" A sudden chill rides up his spine.

Bell turns to look at the source where an angry Hestia and Loki at charging straight at them with murderous intent.

He and Ais separate just before the two goddesses pull them apart.

Disappointment written on both the adventurer's faces as both goddesses demanded they dance with them next.

As Bell was being dragged away, he heard Hermes nearby.

"Ah, Romeo and Juliet. I sure hope they don't end up like them too."

.

The rest of his time at the party passed by in a blitz.

Apollo tried to frame him for nearly beating one of his followers to death, which didn't happen.

Then declared a War Game on his familia.

A battle between two familias with a strict set of rules. Each deity deploys their followers like pieces on a board game and sends them into battle. Winner takes all. Losers lose everything.

Obviously, they rejected it.

This creepy looking god was clearly up to something, so it was best not to play his game.

Plus, he had a much larger familia of over hundred adventurers strong, they'd never be able to win.

.

Bell woke up the next morning in a foul mood.

The stares from Apollo during his speech about wanting to acquire him, made him sick to his stomach. A long shower and sleepless night hadn't helped either.

As Hestia updated his status, she warned him to be extra careful on the streets of Orario.

That's when they attacked them.

Both his new and old armour were at Welf's shop, so the only thing Bell had on him were his knives. The red minotaur blade and Hestia's knife.

It was not enough as Apollo's familia chased them through the city until he was cornered, alone, in a dark alleyway.

Standing in front of him was their captain, a level three, who easily sliced him up whenever Bell moved.

Then a flurry of arrows saved him.

Then his friends, Welf and Lily came to assist him. As did Mikoto and her familia, but it was not enough.

Hestia was livid, before screaming at him to take her to Apollo's home.

When they arrived she took one of his follower's gloves, before throwing it at the smiling god's face, then accepted his challenge to a War Game.

Things went from bad to worse from there.

Lily had been kidnapped by her own familia too.

.

Forbidden to go after her, because Hestia promised to save her, Bell ran towards the Twilight Manor instead where he was harshly rejected. Again.

Until Tione, the one who spoke horribly to him, pulled him in close.

"-Turn right from here and go two blocks down that street." Her voice was quiet so as not to be overheard by the onlookers.

Bell did as instructed.

Ais and Tiona were waiting for him.

They had both agreed to train Bell for the War Game.

At the same place Ais trained him before and where he confessed his love to Eina.

.

Before Bell went with them, he quickly ran off to the guild.

"Bell!" Eina shouted.

"Eina, the consultation room."

She quickly found one for them and when the door was locked, Bell rushed into her with a long drawn out kiss.

"I'm not going to be able to see you until the War Game is over." He explained when they separated to breathe.

"What?!"

"Ais and Tiona have agreed to train me in secret."

Eina looked shocked.

Then he kissed her again.

"Eina, I'm going to win this… And then… I'm going to cook you the best meal of your life."

Her eyebrows raised up.

"…be careful Bell. I love you."

Bell dived in for another long kiss between them.

"I love you too Eina, and I always will." He confessed, before running off to his next destination.

.

"Bell, are you okay?" A concerned Ryū greeted him inside the Hostess of Fertility.

"Ryū, can we speak somewhere private?" She nodded and took him up to her room.

The elf said nothing once the door was shut, she was a patient girl, which he appreciated.

Then Bell told her everything about the War Game. Plus, how he was going to train with Ais and Tiona until it was all over. Ryū lamented how she wasn't able to help it, that it felt like she was abandoning him, but he stopped her.

"Ryū, you're not abandoning me and I'm not alone. All I ask is that you have faith in me and cheer me on when the War Game begins, because I'll be thinking about you the entire time."

She was as shocked as Eina had been, but shakily nodded with a blush.

"Please, be safe Bell… and come back to me too." Her nose brushed against his.

"I promise Ryū" He whispered, before sinking his lips into hers, "my sweet fairy goddess." Then dashed off to the city walls.

.

For the next seven days, Bell trained under the relentless assaults of both Ais and Tiona. Neither of them held back as they battered their years of hard-earned experience into him. The training was brutal and Bell felt like he almost saw death several times a day.

It started just before the sun rose early in the morning and continued until the stars lit up the night, dramatically increasing the length and intensity of their session from the last time they were here. They ate their meals together and slept at the same time; neither of them had gone into the city even once. A dirty pot and the remains of a fire sat on top of the path just inside the chest-high stone wall, a guardrail on the city side of the wall. Three water bottles and three sleeping bags also sat at the base of the guardrail.

While Bell was completely focused on his training, he missed seeing his girls every morning and night. Each time he woke up and before he went to sleep, his thoughts drifted over to Ryū and Eina. Especially when they cuddled him together in a tiny bed from that random inn. It left a deep hole in his chest every time he thought about not being able to see or cuddle them yet.

But on the second night he found himself staring into the Ais's eyes. She had caught him staring at her, right after they slipped into their sleeping bags.

He quickly looked over Ais to see if Tiona was awake.

She was not, having fallen asleep while letting out the quietest of snores.

Then he put out a hand towards her, palm up on the concrete floor, just like at Apollo's party when he asked her for a dance. Ais smiled and placed her hand over his, before they curled them together and locked them into place.

Bell's nights were much more peaceful and warm after that.

Tiona never saw this or how much closer Bell moved his sleeping bag towards Ais every night until there was almost no space between them. Fingers interlocked as they rested with their hands laid between their hips.

.

The chill from the morning just before sunrise washed over him again.

It was the end of their training session.

Bell thanked both of his instructors with a hug.

One for Ais and one for Tiona, who teased him for it.

He didn't mind after they went out their way to train him so that he could win the War Game.

Bell thanked them again, before promising to repay them both one day.

Once he got his status updated by Hestia, Bell boarded the last caravan heading towards the battleground. Syr also managed to give him an amulet before he left. It was in the shape of a golden teardrop, a jewel in its centre. Apparently, it was a good luck charm. She promised to have lunch ready for him when he came back. "Thank you Syr"

.

After arriving outside the ruins of Shreme Castle, where the War Game would be held, Bell headed towards the camp his friends had set up.

While he had been training, Mikoto, Welf and Lili had joined his family. Making them a familia of four right now. To say he was shocked was an understatement, but that wasn't what surprised him the most. It was when Ryū appeared before him.

Deprived of kisses and cuddles from his favourites elves for the past week, Bell walked straight up to his fairy goddess and kissed her in front of everyone. He missed Ryū immensely and didn't bother trying to hide his relationship with her.

His friends shouted in surprise, before bombarding him with questions.

Bell had to quieten them down first, while keeping a firm hand around Ryū's waist who was blushing as bright as the flames from Welf's magic swords, before explaining that he was dating both Eina and Ryū at the same time. They both knew about each other and had agreed to be with him together.

Ryū then confirmed this, which only made Welf whistle in awe, before admitting his jealousy. Lily bounced between cursing him as the enemy of all women to stuttering away looking embarrassed. Mikoto only stared at him with a bright red face, then admitted that she had no idea what to say. In the end, she settled for congratulating them on finding someone they both wanted to be with and hoped it all went well for them.

.

As night approached, Bell lay in a tent for two near his party's camp fire which had been sniffed out. Mikoto, Welf and Lily were resting in their own tents. The atmosphere was intense and quiet. Tonight would prove to be difficult for everyone to sleep.

Luckily, I have Ryū. Bell thought as she was snuggled in his arms with her face towards him. Dressed in battle gear, while their swords laid behind them, within arm's reach.

They just finished talking about the training he had received from Ais and Tiona. Particularly about fighting against adventures who changed strategies often. Monsters did not. Ais would explain further.

"People become easier to read when they see a window. Their guard is lowest when the final blow is near… That's what I was taught. Your best opportunity lies in the moment you've been cornered. Don't forget."

He wouldn't.

"Bell, you have nothing to be afraid of, I'm here for you now and I'll protect you." Her follow up kiss spoke volumes about how serious she was about this.

Ryū told him earlier that she could probably win this alone, because of her level and experience. Apollo only had one level three with barely a handful of known level twos. The rest were level ones. Bell had only asked her as a joke, but her professional answer was terrifying.

Hermes also played a part by recruiting her after taking advantage of a rule Apollo thought made a mockery of Hestia's chances. Since then, Ryū studied her new enemies from Hermes records. Bell made a mental note to thank the pervert god later, he deserved that much for bringing in someone who practically guaranteed them victory.

Plus, with Hestia's plan and Crozzo's swords, they had a strong chance of winning.

"Ryū, aren't you worried about Crozzo's swords?"

"No, I don't have any particular hatred for them, but I'm willing to do anything to keep you safe." She really meant it. "As for fighting their captain, are you sure you really want to do it? We could team up together or have me fight him instead?"

"I can't, I have to beat him myself. Our last fight still haunts me, I never want to feel like that again. Helpless and hopeless. If I need to protect you someday or catch up to Ais, I need to get stronger." Ryū looked at him with a concerned face.

"Okay, but if things look bad, will you allow me to step in? I don't want to see you lose or join that dishonourable familia with their perverted god." Bell could see that Ryū respected him, because she wasn't begging him, but her eyes betrayed her.

A heavy sigh escaped him.

"Okay, but only if things look bad."

"Thank you, Bell."

"For what?"

"For trusting in me. For not abandoning me… and for choosing me."

Bell swooped in for another kiss.

"I'll always choose you."

.

A.N.

Apologies in advance if you notice a few more spelling mistakes than usual. My proof reader was unavailable this week and I didn't want to get too bogged down in checking through it. So I just did a quick basic run through before posting this up. Once they're back and checked it, I'll make the revisions and replace this chapter with it.

Also, I've decided to change Mama Mia's speaking back to normal. It just feels unnecessary as I find it annoying trying to remember how to get the accent right. Should also make it easier for, you, the readers to understand her too.

Hestia can see Syr's true identity, that's why she's not around when Hestia is.

I lifted Ais's description from the party plus a little bit after to describe the mood, because it's just so good! I wish I could write descriptions like that, but alas it'll take a while. Writing the physical and mental parts like the main author is not an easy thing to do IMO. Especially if you're not used to it.

Chapter 15: 4741 words. (Including a few dots that act as transitions and dividers)