Chapter 16 - Everyone's Excited

It lasted less than an hour.

The War Game was won and Hestia familia were victorious.

But only just.

When Bell and Apollo's captain fought again, he easily overpowered him with faster and more precise knife strikes. Hyuakintosu, the enemy captain, then released his most devastating magic attack to even the odds. Bell survived, before beating him into the ground with a punch to the face.

Once the battle was over, Bell took his elf to a quiet place in the castle ruins away from prying eyes and kissed her.

"Thank you Ryū. I never saw the mage until you tackled them." It almost cost him the fight against Apollo's captain.

"It nothing Bell, but I'm glad I could help." Another kiss, this time by her. "But I must admit, after the magic attack almost took you out, I almost stepped in. Then I realised it was a feint you picked up from Ais and Tiona's training. So I believed in you."

Bell laughed.

"Yeah, it was close, but… thank you. Thank you for trusting in me, Ryū." His hand reached up to stroke the side of her face. "Without you, none of this would have been possible." Ryū's response was to hum into his hand with a smile. She was content with just being around him again. That would be her prize in this War Game. Plus keeping Bell away from a dishonourable familia.

.

When they all got back to Orario the following morning, Hestia was waiting with a big surprise.

Bell rushed to the guild after learning what it was.

"Eina!" He shouted as soon as he saw her at the reception's desk. "The consultation box, now!"

The half elf had been ready to congratulate him on winning the War Game, but sensed this was about something else.

What could be more exciting than coming back home after winning a battle where the enemy outnumbered you 20 to 1?

She was about to find out.

As soon as the door of their consultation box was locked, Bell launched himself into her with a quick kiss.

"Eina! We have a new home!"

A new home? That was good, because she didn't like him living underneath an abandoned church falling to pieces.

"Hearth mansion is ours!"

Wait, what-

"Bell, did you say mansion?"

"Yes!" He nodded furiously, almost comically until Eina laughed.

"Stop…! Wait a minute, before you nod your head off." He wouldn't listen to her; he was just too excited. This carried on for another minute before he got dizzy and leaned onto her for support.

Eina let out a heavy sigh, she felt happy for him. Bell deserved it all and more after what he went through, but she was curious about his new home.

"Bell, what's Hearth Mansion like?"

Her bunny rabbit lit up like a Christmas tree.

"It's huge!" He emphasised with spreading out his arms. "I've only been on the outside, but why don't I take you there after work, because I've a surprise for you." Bell was biting his lip, which could only mean that it surpassed even his expectations. "Plus, Hestia-sama is bringing in some builders to start renovating the place this afternoon. So I figured we could get some of your input too. You know, for our room." Now, Eina was excited.

What did he have in store for her?

"Wait-wait-wait, Bell. You're asking me to move in with you already?"

"Of course! Do you want to?" He asked as if he knew she was going to say yes.

"Y-Yes, but… I'm just worried about a few things."

Then before she knew it, Bell picked her up, carried her over to a chair, sat down and dropped her gently into his lap.

"Bell!" She laughed.

"Now we can have a proper conversation." He smiled.

Eina sighed with her own smile.

"Okay, well I'm a bit worried about what the guild might think if they find out."

"If they find out."

"Bell-"

"Eina, if they ever find out then you can just take a truth test. Swear that you never gave out sensitive information or did something you weren't supposed to do with our familia. Right?"

"... Right."

"Eina…" Bell whispered, before turning her head towards him for a soft kiss. When he felt so sure of himself like this, she couldn't resist. It was as if he had everything planned out and awoke her mating instincts. "What else are you worried about?" He asked, eyes closed with his forehead leaning against hers while softly massaging the back of her scalp with his fingernails.

Just how did he do this?

Make her feel like putty in his hands?

All thoughts about their relationship moving a little too fast vanished from her mind. If anything, she wanted it to go even faster!

"If you're worried about us going too fast, we can slow down if you want." Damn, he read her mind.

"Don't you dare." She whispered back, before launching a series of her own aggressive kisses.

"Good, because I want to take you to bed every night and fall asleep with you in my arms. Then, wake up to a beautiful naked half elf like you and kiss you until you're awake too." Eina hummed happily into his seductive description. "And make love to you, day and night." Shivers travelled down her spine

"And I can cook for you too, that dish you wanted." Now she was getting wet, Eina could feel it."

"Oh, and one more thing." What's next? What could top everything he just told her? "You don't have to pay rent when you move in with me, meaning you can send more money back home to your parents." Now, she really wanted his kids!

.

Bell could see it, Eina was in that state, she would pounce on him tonight or right now by the looks of it.

"When do you finish work?" Eina's hands had already started travelling south.

"I can finish in the late afternoon." She found her target.

"Then, I'll pick you up then…!" A quick squeeze made him squeak in surprise.

"Not so fast, Bell-kun, I need to get ready first."

"O-Okay… t-then I better tell Ryū too."

"Mmm. So you plan to have us both tonight?"

The thought hadn't crossed his mind until then as he sounded like a man gasping for air.

Eina giggled, "Play your cards right and who knows when that might happen."

One of his fantasies was to take Eina in her guild uniform in a consultation box just like this.

However, past experiences told him that this was not the smartest of plans.

All the animal people working at the guild would be able to smell what happened next and then put the clues together.

So Bell put a stop to her teasing, before making a swift exit out of there.

They'd meet up again just outside of Heart Mansion.

.

Then he went to see Ryū who had to sneak past the city guards again to enter Orario. So she missed the news about his new home. When he arrived at the Hostess of Fertility, everyone congratulated him, especially Mama Mia.

"Kid, you did well and you us brought a lot of money. Business was booming yesterday! So come here tonight and celebrate. We'll give you a proper feast!"

"Of course, I'll come here tonight with my friends and familia!" Mia nodded in approval.

"Congratulations Bell, you were really strong out there! The way you fought the Apollo captain made my heart beat wildly for you!" Syr's words were obviously laced with awe and affection. Bell didn't mind that right now.

"Thank you Syr, and your amulet worked! I'm sorry I couldn't bring it back though.

"Oh Bell, it's okay. But it wasn't mine… still, I'm glad it kept you safe." She smiled again.

Then he turned towards the women he wanted to see most here.

"Ryū." His smile was the biggest for her.

In fact, it made Ryū blush a little under her uniform, before she disappeared into the kitchen.

"Go on kid, we prepared a special meal for ya inside." Mia teased; it was obvious she meant Ryū as a few of the bar's patrons were watching them. Plus, she didn't want them getting the wrong idea. No one at the bar was allowed to touch her girls. Bell was an exception, but they didn't need to know that.

After finding Ryū and being taken to her room for the second time, Bell brought her in for a long kiss. When they came up for air, he stared into her sky blue eyes for a while, before giving her the good news.

"Ryū, I have a new home and I want to show you around tonight…" Then Bell took a deep breath."Plus, ask if you want to move in with me and Eina." Ryū's eyes popped out as her mouth hung open.

.

Is he serious? H-He's asking me to-to... Does Bell even know what that means? I'm still a virgin!

Her mind couldn't process anything else as it just became a blur of images and words she couldn't read or comprehend.

.

Seeing her like this, Bell took a mental step back.

Okay, maybe he asked Ryū a little bit too early. Eina was a bit different since he had already slept with her and been dating for a few weeks longer. Maybe she felt a bit too pressured into this all of a sudden. He had just dropped this out of nowhere in the middle of her work shift after all.

"Ryū, it's okay, you don't need to answer me now. But I want to celebrate with you tonight and the rest of my friends. You deserve it, Ryū. Plus, I'll speak to Mia-san about it." The elf in front of him looked a bit confused at first, then uneasy for a while longer, before relenting to his request.

"Okay." She nodded.

When he told Mama Mia, the towering dwarf gave him a booming response. "Well, you sure did make us a whole lot of money during the War Game, so I'll let you off just this once. Just be sure to spend a lot of money, you hear me?"

Bell agreed.

The new funds acquired from Apollo's treasury would be more than enough to cover tonight's party.

Before then, he got himself cleaned, new clothes and a quick bite, before meeting back with Hestia about how they were going to renovate Hearth Mansion.

Hestia would spare no expense by hiring Goibniu familia, who specialised in construction jobs. They would arrive around late afternoon to listen to requests and start taking measurements. It was perfect timing; he and his girls would be able to make their own personal requests too.

Well, almost perfect timing.

His goddess almost went on a rampage when she heard from Lily that he had two women now. It took a while to calm Hestia down, especially after telling her that he was building a harem. When Bell told her who he wanted in it, she almost had another melt down.

However, that wasn't her worst reaction.

It was when he told Hestia that he wanted all his girls to move into Hearth Mansion with him.

When she heard that, his goddess almost released her arcanum. Bell was afraid he'd never seen her react like that before. Not even when she learnt about him and Eina for the first time.

So after being chased around for a bit, Hestia finally listened to reason. She liked Eina and Ryū, who had both been instrumental to Bell's success as an adventurer so far. Ais was another matter and he agreed.

The sword princess might never be able to move in with them in Hearth Mansion. Plus, Loki would never let her go. Bell was fine with that. What mattered was she could visit whenever she wanted. Hestia was hesitant at first, but eventually relented. Like the elves, Ais had done too much for Bell to be simply ignored. His goddess agreed to let Ais visit with one stipulation. Ais was never to be allowed to wander around their home unsupervised. Their familia's secrets needed to be protected after all and Bell agreed. Not that he ever thought Ais would try to steal their secrets.

She was too much of an airhead for that.

.

For the next few hours Bell went around inviting Miach and Takemikazuchi familia out to celebrate with him. They had lent him a huge helping hand before and during the War Game. So he wanted to show them his gratitude, which they all accepted.

Grabbed a small bite to eat

Paid a small visit to Loki familia, where Tiona quickly spotted him before he arrived at the Twilight Manor and redirected him to the same spot as before when she agreed to train him. Ais was there too.

Bell thanked both girls from the bottom of his heart.

They said it was fine and complimented the speed of his growth.

He would respond by saying that it was because of all their teachings.

Without them, he'd never have made it this far.

Tiona loved his response, then mentioned if he ever needed another secret training session like this again, all he had to do was ask.

Ais agreed too.

She had enjoyed teaching him.

Bell's hand twitched at her comment, still remembering the warmth of her hand when they held each other during those nights on the city walls.

Smiling in return, Bell thanked them once again, before setting off.

With nothing else to do, he walked back to the Hostess of Fertility to enjoy a late lunch.

Then helped the girls out a bit with washing up as he waited for the late afternoon to arrive so he could take Ryū to his new home.

.

When they arrived, no one was there. Presumably, everyone else was inside speaking with the builders of Goibniu. Making sure they knew exactly what each member of his familia wanted.

Eina arrived not long after in a horse drawn taxi.

Wearing a thin flowing beige jacket that dipped just below her slim waist with a familiar short black skirt which highlighted her sexy long legs in black tights and tanned leather ankle boots. However, his eyes were drawn to the suggestively thin looking white v-neck shirt where her cleavage seemed to tease him ever so slightly.

It wasn't as bold as her last date night outfit where she wore a red woolly jumper. No, this time Eina seemed to go out of her way to seduce him with a silent and classy outfit. As Bell began to marvel and undress her at the same time. Eina turned to the elf beside him.

"Ryū, did you just come straight from work?"

"Yes, he was quite insistent we not waste any time by making you wait."

"Wow-wow-wow. Wait a minute-" But Eina interrupted him.

"Bell, do you really want me and Ryū that badly tonight?" He made a loud gulping noise as the elf next to him froze. "Oh, wait, you two haven't" Ryū looked down, trying to hide her flaming hot red cheeks. "And you brought her here without giving her a chance to clean up?"

Wait, how is this my fault? He thought.

"Bell, you need to give a woman a chance to prepare herself first." Then she turned to Ryū. "Right after this." She was referring to their tour inside Bell's new home. "Let's get you all cleaned up."

The elf in working clothes almost jumped back in shock, then she let out the tiniest of whispers while looking away from them.

Eina couldn't hear her, but knew it was something embarrassing. So she walked up to Ryū and asked her to repeat it again.

"I don't have any other clothes." The half elf pulled back in shock.

"What!" Ryū looked ashamed and Eina couldn't believe it. "Well, right after this, I'm taking you shopping!"

"Eina, we have a party right after." A single glare from his half elf shut down that response, but then she softened it.

"Fine, but I'm taking Ryū back to my place and giving her some of my clothes to borrow for tonight. There's no way I'm having this girl celebrate something so big in just her work clothes!" The girl who was about to be pampered seemed to look terrified and reached out to Bell for support from her eyes. "Don't look to Bell for help on this. I'll have you looking so good, that he'll want to gobble you up the moment he sees you!"

By the gods, Bell swore that his pants suddenly became too small for him.

He quickly changed topics and led them into his new home.

Pass the iron gates was a well-maintained and flourishing garden. A water fountain stood in the centre of it all, except there was no water coming out of it right now. Eventually, they reached the front of the large stone building with many small and large windows on each side. No one could keep their mouths closed as they went inside.

When they found Hestia, she was talking to one of the builders in front of a table with many scrolls. Once she spotted them, his goddess quickly pulled him and his girls outside for a "private" talk where she tried to confirm if their relationship was genuine. Plus a number of other things, like laying down a very strict set of rules.

"No bunnying about in her familia's home" To which Eina furiously rejected. Normally she was respectful to deities, but this time she wasn't. Bell wasn't sure what changed this time. However he noticed that she was a bit more forward than before. Maybe it was from all the love and attention he gave her.

Hestia relented, then changed it to "No bunnying about outside of their bedroom." They were to keep it strictly to one room. Eina was fine with that.

"No kissing in front of her." Eina objected to that.

And so this kind of silly interaction went back and forth as Bell could only watch their comedic routine, while Ryū only turned more red with each new rule.

Eventually, Eina and Hestia came up with an "agreeable" set of rules.

Public displays of affection were allowed around the mansion as long as it didn't escalate too far. Sex was to be confined to only their bedroom and Bell would share one room with his elves. Eina would also be able to stay free of charge as Bell argued that he would support her completely. The same applied with Ryū too.

After what felt like another War Game to Bell, he took them around the mansion to look for the perfect space for their shared bedroom. It didn't take long when Eina chose one of the largest rooms available in a corner of the building. Ryūdidn't say anything aside from agreeing with whatever Eina wanted and Bell didn't mind.

Then she searched for one of the builders and started giving them detailed instructions. Bell only caught snippets of her requests such as a king sized bed, soundproof walls and doors, a miniature cypress bath, three wooden bathtubs, a few showers and a separate wardrobe space.

That sounded like a lot to him, but he couldn't blame her. This was to be their dream home, so they might as well get it right the first time. His only request was a fully equipped kitchen where he could try cooking a few different recipes every now and again.

.

With the plans for their new home finalised, they all set off towards the Hostess of Fertility. Everyone except Eina and Ryū, who was whisked away to the former's home for a quick shower and a change of clothes.

While they all waited for the two elves at Mama Mia's bar, everyone began ordering starters. Plus, Bell noticed that Syr wasn't there. She seemed excited to host him and his friends tonight, but something must have come up.

When Eina did arrive, she gently pulled a very nervous looking Ryū behind her.

Gone were her frilly white headband, white apron and green knee dress. Instead, they were replaced by a white creamy looking woollen jumper with soft lines running through it. A vibrant dark green knee length with black tights and black ankle boots. Ryū's hair style hadn't changed, but it looked glossier and softer than normal.

"Wow…" Bell whispered in awe.

Everyone on Bell's table looked at her when she approached the table.

Then an elbow into his side woke him up from his daze.

"Bell, I have no idea how you do it, but all of your women seem to be crazy beautiful. You got to teach me sometime." Welf praised and respectfully begged him at the same time with the lowest of voices.

"What do you think Bell? Doesn't she look like a-"

"Fairy goddess." Ryū's eyes widened at his sudden compliment, while Eina giggled from behind her.

As the other waitresses complimented their off duty co-worker on how beautiful she looked, Ryū looked completely lost on how to respond. She just wasn't used to so much genuine praise.

Before Bell knew what happened next, Welf gave up his seat beside him for Ryū, while Eina asked Hestia to surrender hers. The goddess threw an exaggerated pout, but eventually relented. Eina thanked her. He was now surrounded by two stunning elves who then kissed him on each side of his cheeks. Which sent the largest shiver he had ever felt through his spine and out his ears.

"Wo-ho-ho! Looks like the rabbit is gonna get some action tonight!" Shouted one of the bar's patrons as several others joined in the cheers. They were all incredibly jealous of him and he could feel it.

The party grew even louder by that point as Bell.

Especially when Bell remembered something important.

"LEVEL THREE! ARE YOU CRAZY, BELL?!" Shouted Eina as she struggled to accept this new fact.

He had been so excited about having a new home and inviting his girls to come live with him, that he had forgotten to tell her this tiny fact. Ryū was also surprised for Bell had reached level three in one month. A few weeks faster than he had reached level two.

No one else had ever levelled up faster than their previous level.

.

When the party reached its end and many of their guests were either tipsy or drunk, Eina whispered into Bell's ears.

"Hey Bell, tonight it's just going to be you and me." He turned towards her in surprise. "Ryū's still a virgin so I want her first time to be special. Like mine. I'm sure you want that too, right?" Bell slowly nodded. "So when we finally move into our new home, you can make love to her there. After you've taken her out on an unforgettable date. I won't disturb you two and I'll move in the day after. Sound fair?"

The rabbit gulped, before nodding again. Then looked towards Ryū who wore a soft smile on her face as she seemed to be listening to Lili about something. Belled tapped his lover's shoulder.

"Ryū, are you okay?" He whispered, while running his thumb over her knuckles under the table. The elf seemed a bit confused at first as she tilted her head, but then realised that there was nothing to be worried about.

"Yes Bell, I had a wonderful evening." That made him smile even wider.

"And Eina's plan? Are you okay with that?"

His grandfather's words echoed through his mind as he asked that.

"Bell, when you've got your first two girls into your harem, you need to be careful. Your girls might lie about the other just to spend more time with you, because they can get jealous very quickly. So remember to check what they say, ask them if you find anything suspicious, then remind them that you won't tolerate it when they step out of line. This can happen regardless of whether you're dating one girl or money. Remember that."

Luckily, Ryū confirmed everything Eina said.

Plus she didn't feel ready for it, yet.

Bell understood and told her to take all the time she needs.

Then, Ryū gave him the next best news of the night.

She would move in with him when the mansion was ready.

.

A.N

Chapter 16: 4077 words. (Including a few dots that act as transitions and dividers)