Chapter 20 - You Are Not Alone

The plan they came up with was for Mikoto to go save her childhood friend, while he served as a distraction to lure as many guards away as possible. To give them the best chance of success. If she succeeded, Mikoto would shoot a green flare into the sky. Red, if not.

Things started out well when he struck the gates of Ishtar familia's home with a firebolt causing many amazons to chase him. Then he was trapped inside between Aisha, the Berbera and his would-be torturer.

Suddenly, the figure of a bronze-skinned goddess, boasting a peerless level of beauty descended into the chamber with an oriental pipe in her hand. An ornate golden crown, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and anklets decorated her body. The only cloth to be found on her perfectly proportioned body was a strip of cloth covering the bare minimum of her breasts and stomach as well as another, slightly thicker strip wrapping around her lower back and thighs. Her long, braided black hair stone with the flickering light of the nearby magic-stone lamps.

This was Ishtar and he had invaded her home. She sent everyone back to ensure the killing stone ritual succeeded. His plan had failed, but hopefully he had bought Mikoto enough time.

For now, a goddess of beauty had him pinned under her charm. So he asked her why she was going to sacrifice Haruhime. What made her so special?

It was a long rant and he learnt nothing new from it. Aside from the fact she was insanely jealous of Freya. Then he forgot he was facing a deity when she talked so casually about forcing Haruhime to become a prostitute.

Ishtar asked him why he avoided prostitutes. They helped to control the wild aggression of men, allowing women to become a pillar of stability in this world. He couldn't refute that, but then she lectured him about how sharing that kind of bond with many different men was by no means unclean.

"I don't agree." He said, but she didn't seem to care.

Bell was about to argue his point when his grandfather intervened.

"Don't argue with a woman. They don't fight like men who focus on logic. They'll fight emotionally and they'll fight dirty. Something men are not very good at. Sure, there are exceptions, but it's not worth finding out. Not without a good reason to do so. So, never argue with a woman unless it's over something important. Keep it short and let them reply with only a yes or no, nothing else. Otherwise, she'll mess it up until you don't recognise what you were talking about, then wear you down until your soul is gone, and you'll never outlast them. That's how they win."

Suddenly, a knee dove into the space between his shoulders and pinned him into the ground. Ishtar's man servant! He had completely forgotten about him during their argument.

"Oh, and one more thing Bell. Women are masters of distraction. So if they're arguing with you about something, chances are… it's about something else as well."

Too late.

I guess there's a huge difference between learning and experience.

Then she began to disrobe.

Goddess save me! He begged Hestia with his eyes closed, but she wasn't around to save him as the goddess in front uttered...

"I'll charm you - 'til your bones melt."

Bell tried to think about Ryū and Eina as much as possible as Ishtar's naked assault threatened to overwhelm him.

A moment later, she was shaking with rage. He could hear it in her voice, something about him not being charmed. Something Bell didn't quite fully understand the workings of. Then his shirt was ripped off, followed by the most hostile glare he had ever felt in his life.

"A-are you an idiot!" Ishtar shouted. The grip on his shoulders loosened, presumably the man holding him was terrified of his goddesses' anger too. So Bell used this moment to break free and jumped through the closest window to escape.

.

It felt like a miracle when he managed to catch onto a nearby window with his right hand. Then an explosion with red sparks drew his attention. Mikoto had failed.

Now it was up to him to destroy the killing stone.

.

He had given up on finding a safe route inside the tower that connected to the stone bridge, where he saw the red explosion, so he opted instead to take advantage of the intricate carvings to scale the outside wall all the way to the top. Once there, Bell hid behind one of the towers.

His biggest concern was the largest woman there. Her size and clothes stood out the most. She wore the most out of the amazons. Clad in green all over except for her arms which were bare with gold rings and a pink strap around her waist, Bell knew just how dangerous she was. Faster and stronger than him, he knew fighting her was a death sentence.

So he just watched Mikoto fight the amazons, alone. Waiting for her to give him the perfect window to strike. What happened next, surprised everyone, as she triggered an Ignis Fatuus. A magical explosion caused by incorrectly chanting a spell. It harmed the user and anyone around them. While the amazons all stood still, stunned and confused, Bell sprinted towards the killing stone faster than he had ever done in his life.

Two amazons noticed and tried to stop him.

The first was the giant frog woman who almost devoured him earlier.

He barely managed to slip past her.

Then the second amazon moved in for a kill.

His body shot forth like a firebolt as a sword was raised towards the renart's chest.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

"YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!"

Both his and the amazon's screams pierced the night as blade met stone.

Haruhime saw it all unfold in slow motion. An amazon tumbled over onto one side of the execution ground. While Bell flew over her head and directly into a stone pillar, breaking it before sliding to a stop at the edge of the platform.

A shower of shards rained down before her.

.

"Now you've done iiit…!" The giant amazoness in front of him screamed.

His battle was not over yet.

The killing stone might be gone, but now his life was in danger as the rest of the amazons surrounded the renart.

"Cranel-san…" Haruime's hands came together in front of her chest as a range of emotions passed through her eyes.

"Please take your leave… I'm fine…"

"..."

"Leave me be… I beg you, do not bother yourself with my situation any longer."

Her voice trembled out of fear of Ishtar and the amazons around her, Bell watched the renart look away as menacing grins appeared on the lips of every amazon in his line of sight.

But he kept his eyes trained on the girl who needed his help the most and opened his mouth.

"I'll save you." His left hand reached out as if to do just that.

"Eh…?"

"I'll be your hero when no one else wants to be."

Haruhime's head shot up in surprise. His voice never wavered as he continued.

"We'll make a new story together… Where a hero saved a prostitute… Where I saved you." Everyone blinked and shifted on their feet as Haruhime stood in stunned silence.

"Ge-ge-ge-ge-geh! The brat thinks he's a heeeero!" He ignored the giant woman's chuckling as his eyes burned with the determination he felt in his heart.

.

His powerful gaze scared Haruhime.

No, you can't save me! Save yourself! Her mind screamed.

She held her own body tight and shook her head back and forth.

"I…I am a prostitute!" It was her fate.

"I don't want to become your burden! I am a soiled being, not worthy of anything!"

Bell shook his head.

"No. You're not worthless. You mean something to people like Mikoto who doesn't care if your prostitute or not. She wants to save you, like I do, from a life of loneliness." His voice began to change.

"Don't think you can't do something, just because others tell you it's impossible. You should be the one to decide that."

"-!"

"And I'll help you along the way, with Mikoto too." His voice held so much conviction, it was like being confronted by a god she realised.

"Being laughed at, pointed at, being called names, being called dirty - that's not shameful at all!" His words continued to come crashing down around her.

"The truly shameful thing is standing still because you can't make up your mind!" Her eyes went wide as he continued to destroy the reality she had clung onto this entire time.

"I still haven't heard what you want!" His left hand seemed to reach out even further as he yelled. "I want to know the real you!"

.

Bell knew he was in a hopeless position.

That this battle was not winnable.

But he had to get through to Haruhime, change the battlefield to his advantage…

Whatever power she had, Ishtar had deemed it powerful enough to commit such a horrific act to take down Freya familia with.

Maybe, Haruhime could bless him with it.

Give him a chance to save her.

He watched, as a single tear rolled down her cheek.

"...Haruhimeeee." A warning from the frog woman made the renart's shoulders jump, before she gave him one last look and began to chant.

"-Grow."

The giant amazon laughed with joyous mockery as she taunted Bell.

Then…

"Uchide no Kozuchi."

A shot of light surrounded his body.

Harhume had chosen him.

That's when he realised her magic was the power to grant its target a temporary level-up.

"T-TAKE HIM DOWNNNNNNNNN!" A swarm of amazons threw themselves at him, but he easily beat them all back. They were level two and three, while he was level four. The fight was over before it even started.

His eyes darted over to Haruhime, who's neck was being squeezed by the giantess.

"I do not want to sell my body ever again…!"

She said it; that shy girl actually said it.

"I do not want to hurt anyone ever again…!"

Keep on going! Bell shouted to her in his mind.

"I do not want to die…!"

He started running towards her.

"Save me…!"

Bell sensed he wasn't strong enough to beat the giant amazon holding Haruhime in a one on one fight, but that wouldn't stop him from trying.

First, he'd try to knock her off balance, then catch Haruhime before running away together. There was no reason to stay and fight them all.

But Aisha caught the fox girl before he could.

As Bell chased after her, a volcanic voice erupted from behind him.

"OUTTA MY WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!"

Berbera were tossed by the merest touch as a giantess ploughed through them and headed straight for him. A large bloody gash on her cheek.

Was that of his own doing? But he hadn't touched her. It didn't matter as his life reached a new level of danger now. This giant mountain of a woman wasn't going to hold back any longer. Luckily, Haruhime's magic still ran through his veins as they traded blows and moved their battle towards the other tower. Bell wanted to lose her in there and run back here to save the renart.

But his plan didn't work as the sheer force of the woman's blows launched him through an iron-grated fence and tossed him off the edge toward the ground far below.

.

"...She's not coming after me?"

After he regained his bearings during the fall and landed safely on the roof of a midsize brothel behind the palace. Bell noticed the Pleasure Quarter being surrounded by a thick shroud of black smoke. So that's why his opponent hadn't chased after him.

This chaos and confusion gave him the perfect chance to go save Haruhime. With his temporary level four status still active, he climbed the stones that jutted out from the tower's exterior and scaled forty floors up.

When he reached the top, Aisha stood silently waiting for him with Haruhime lying right next to her. Unconscious, but positioned comfortably against the stone altar.

"...So you're here." She said.

"I'm taking Haruhimie with me." Bell declared with no hesitation in his voice. The amazon narrowed her eyes and cocked an eyebrow.

"...Now that's more like it."

But she wouldn't let him just take her.

"Why are you here?" He asked.

"Haha. That was my question to ask you. Why are you here? Why risk so much to save this little renart? Got a thing for her?" A smirk teased him as humour tinged her voice.

Yes, I do.

He couldn't admit that though as his heart played a violent game of tug of war inside his chest.

"I am a prostitute!" Haruhime's earlier words rang out to him followed by her pleas to be saved from a life of forced sexual labour and sacrifice to become a weapon to hurt others.

"Save me…!"

"I'll save her from being a prostitute and make sure no one ever hurts her again."

Aisha's grin grew even wider.

"Being a prostitute makes you that uncomfortable 'ey? Well, I'll let you know that she's a virgin who doesn't know her way around a man."

"What?" Bell blinked a few times, wondering if he'd heard right.

The amazon explained that she'd always pass out right before the main event. The sight of male skin made her lightheaded. It killed the mood every time and no one ever paid, because they lost interest, but Haruhime had convinced herself that something had happened. Her life had been a series of tragedies one after another. Disowned and kicked out of her family, before being forced out of her homeland. Brought into a city where she didn't know anyone or anything, then sold to the highest bidder. Forced into becoming a prostitute, exposing her skin and being touched. She had always been oppressed. Unable to escape, her life had become a living nightmare.

Maybe that's why she couldn't tell the difference between dreams and reality anymore.

A virgin.

That changed everything for him.

"-She's worth a lot, even as a crappy prostitute." Aisha's words surprised him, every other amazon seemed to not care.

"Why do you care so much?" It seemed like she was the only one from her familia who did.

"Wrong answer bunny boy."

Did he have to beat her to learn the truth?

"Say she did leave this familia, others would eventually learn what she can do and try the same ritual. She's better off with us than some other dirtbags… Ishtar-sama curse keeps telling me, don't let her go. So you know." Her tone had changed into something more serious.

"I have a plan." He didn't trust Aisha well enough to share it.

"Ishtar had a plan." She jerked her head towards the flaming pleasure district below them.

"I'm not Ishtar."

I don't force girls into prostitution.

I won't force someone to do something they don't want to do.

I will never use someone's soul and shatter it for my own gain.

Aisha seemed to sense those words without having to hear them. Then nodded with a small smile.

"No you're not." Knuckles cracked, followed by a large sword raised towards him. "Brace up. When a man rescues a woman, it's gotta be by force. Show me who you truly are, Bell Cranel!"

This is it.

"You have-" Aisha stopped mid-sentence and glared at something behind him.

"Bell." A stoic elven voice forces him to turn around.

"Ryū?! What are you doing here?" She calmly walks beside him, dressed in her adventurer's garb. A long green cloak obscured her face and body, while long brown boots and gloves covered her limbs with a white shirt underneath. Two short swords hung from her hips as a long wooden sword floated easily in her left hand.

"The others are coming, they were right behind me, but I raced ahead."

"Oh, reinforcements and a…lover?" A sultry voice sneaked in. Ryū clicked her tongue. "Looking for one more, are we?" He wasn't prepared for her teasing, but now he knew Haruhime was a virgin, all bets were off.

"Less than a minute." Aisha stated out of the blue.

She had experienced it many times and knew when it was about to wear off.

"Attack right now, and you'd wipe the floor with me before saving yer girl." A jerk from her chin pointed towards Haruhime.

Should I?

No, I shouldn't.

He was going to save Haruhime without relying on her power. To demonstrate that he was strong enough to protect her on his own. Plus, Ryū could step in at any moment if he lost. She was a lot stronger than all of them here, even with his power up.

The Amazon clicked her tongue.

"Such a moron…" Her eyes narrowed in on him as the last beads of light faded out of existence.

"But-I don't got a problem with it!"

Their battle had begun.

.

Ryū watched them dance back and forth, ready to help out a moment's notice.

When Hestia ran into the Hostess of Fertility to beg for her help, she didn't hesitate. Mama Mia even told her to "go crack a few skulls and when you come back, you're working double shifts to make up for it."

So be it. She thought, Bell was worth much more than that.

Then the goddess told her about the killing stone. Ryū shook with rage and swore to save both Haruhime and Bell, at all costs. Such evil sorcery could not be allowed to exist any longer.

Seeing the renart now, unconscious and vulnerable, Ryū stealthily moved towards her when the amazon noticed and shouted.

"LETTING A WOMAN SAVE YOUR GIRL? HOW DESPICABLE!"

Bell snapped.

"DON'T YOU DARE CALL MY WOMAN DESPICABLE!" He screamed as his knife flew straight at her. Followed by the chimes of argonaut as magic filled the air.

Aisha prepared a chant too as Ryū covered the unconscious renart and cast her own healing spell to wake up the sleeping beauty.

Broadsword knife as the two clashed again and again.

In the end, it wasn't their weapons that finished the fight.

She watched Bell slip past the amazon's strike and poured everything into one last strike.

"FIREBOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLT!"

He defeated her with a firebolt to the stomach.

While the amazon lay unmoving a few meders away, Ryū ran towards him as he stumbled his way towards Haruhime and her.

"Bell!" She shouted, before capturing his lips.

A surge of pride overwhelmed her.

He had saved a woman from the cruellest of fates.

From an evil goddess.

Brought justice on this day.

She couldn't contain herself.

I am proud to be your woman.

Her lips said.

.

Ryū's touch was soft and needy. She was worried, probably after learning how he was kidnapped and then this. He'd definitely make it up to her later.

Then a blinding pillar of light broke them up.

"What is that…?"

It reached past the sky and never seemed to end.

"A deity has been sent back to heaven." Ryū's breath hitched as she turned around to watch the celestial light too.

Suddenly, an intense stare made every hair on his body stand up.

Off into the distance, a goddess was staring at him.

He could feel it.

The gaze that had followed him throughout Orario had appeared again. Ryū noticed his sudden panic and gaze in the same direction.

"That's Freya-dono…" Ryū's hands jumped away from his body as she felt as scared and surprised as him.

Was Freya behind the attack on Ishtar familia?

It had to be.

Who else could dare to attack such a powerful familia.

But that meant-

"Nhh…" The fox girl beside them began to wake up.

She was in mortal danger, Bell realised.

He knew nothing about Freya familia and if they knew about her powers, then they might snatch Haruhime away from him instead.

Then he'd never be able to save her for they were far more powerful than Ishtar's group.

"Cranel-san…? Eh?!" Green eyes opened wide in fear as she sat up and saw the mysterious elf standing next to him.

"Relax Haruhime, she's here to help." Bell reassured her.

.

Who is she?

Her fox ears and tail twitched nervously.

The elf beside Bell was absolutely beautiful…

And she was awfully close to him.

Haruhime then noticed how Bell's ruby-red gaze locked onto her eyes as he kneeled down before her.

W-What is he doing?!

She stuttered to herself.

"Trust me?"

What kind of question was that?

But she slowly nodded her head anyway.

Then two hands reached out and tickled her bare neck.

CRICK!

SNAP!

Bell held up the black collar that had been around her neck for all this time.

And threw it aside, never to be seen again.

No…!

Impossible…

It can't be!

Another hand touched her thin neck, her own this time.

The black curse that had restrained her for years had finally been lifted.

Two hands found her shoulders as she looked into his bloody, cut up face.

Tears flooded her eyes as he spoke again.

"I've come to save you."

A hundred thoughts raced through her mind.

Is this real?

Am I dreaming?

Will I wake up only to realise this never happened?

Bell's smile told her all she needed to know as she returned one of her own.

"Thank you… my hero."

His cheeks turned pink. A carefree, almost childlike smile grew on his lips.

"BELL!"

"BELL-SAMA!"

They turned towards the newcomers, the rest of Hestia and Takemikazuchi had arrived.

I-I don't know what I did to deserve this…

As long lost friends reunited with her, Haruhime struggled to hold the tears back.

In the end, she lost the battle and let it all out.

.

While everyone crowded around Haruhime and Bell, Ryū noticed how his hands stayed wrapped around the beautiful fox girl's shoulders.

"Only you girls will get to feel my touch."

He had once said that while lying in bed with her and Eina.

Did that mean Bell was going to break his rule of three?

Did he like Haruhime too?

What about Syr?

Ryū had a feeling she wouldn't take too kindly to this.

Or maybe, she'd use it to sneak into Bell's bed too?

Then he finally broke away from Haruhime and slipped a hand into hers.

"Thank you, Ryū." She recognised that smile.

It was reserved only for her.

And Eina.

Bell then raised the hand he was holding towards his lips and looked squarely into her eyes.

"You'll always be my girl."

She didn't know what to say except feel like her cheeks were burning as bright as the light they saw earlier.

He found the perfect way to reassure her that she was still his and vice versa.

Without resorting to more public displays of affection, which she definitely wasn't ready for…

Yet.

How could she not fall for a man like that?

.

As everyone descended down the stairs of Ishtar familia's former home, with Aisha slowly limping near the back of their group after Bell asked Ryū to heal her, Haruhime couldn't help but notice how her saviour stayed with the elf at all times.

They even held hands together!

Her hero made no attempt to hide it as her heart sank at the sight of their fingers intertwined.

He might have saved her from a life of servitude and destruction.

But she had hoped.

Maybe…

Just maybe…

Bell would fall in love with her too.

It seemed like a fairytale beyond her reach now.

She didn't know anything about this elf but wished them all the best.

Mikoto noticed her friend's sudden crestfallen face and asked what was wrong.

"I'm fine." Haruhime denied with the best smile she could muster at the moment, but her friend saw how she sneaked one more look at Bell who was currently whispering to a very embarrassed looking elf.

"Don't give up." Mikoto said, then held her hand.

The fox girl tilted her head in confusion.

Apparently, Mikoto knew something she didn't with that sheepish grin of hers.

When they all reached the ground floor, a surprised shriek pierced the battle scarred lobby.

"P-Pointy ears!"

Her friend revealed that Bell had more than one lover.

And they all had pointy ears.

Haruhime spent the rest of their journey back to Hearth Mansion fiddling with hers.

.

A.N.

Bell really had no reason to not wipe the floor with Aisha with Haruhime's level up. The official light novel never told us why either from what I read. Plus, he had no idea who was invading the pleasure district during the time.

I know I said no fight scenes in the story summary, but I guess you kinda got a fight scene? As you can tell, I skimmed through it and focused mostly on the dialogue which did change a bit to show a more tactical Bell and how his speech with Haruhime changed too.

Meders = Meters (The original author used it, don't ask me why I followed his example. I have a story to write instead! XD)

Also, updated chapter 11 with just a few lines about Eina ignoring the forest moon pact. Plus two small paragraphs at the start of chapter 14 about Ryu thinking about the same thing. I forgot to add them in after reading some of the side stories. Bell has no idea about this pact, since no one is telling him. The girls won't either, not until they know Bell can make it a reality.

Chapter 20: 4090 words. (Including a few dots that act as transitions and dividers)