Chapter 2: Party Play
"Of all the Heroic Spirits out there…" Archer muttered as he placed his hand against his face.
"Hoh…" Caster Gilgamesh let out a small breath as he looked around the broken down church with a hint of amusement in his voice. "I appear to have arrived in an interesting place. Although this is hardly an appropriate place to summon a king, don't you think?"
"I'm sorry!" Bell said quickly while lowering his head. "But it was the only place really available to us…"
"No need to grovel, Mongrel," Caster said with a laugh. "Raise your head. I am rather amused right now so I will let this minor slight pass. Hmm?"
Caster's eyes fell upon Archer…or rather the small figure peeking her head around him.
Caster walked pass Bell and off the alter so that he was standing right in front of Archer.
"Move," he ordered at the tanned servant. Archer remained where he was, not breaking eye contact for a moment before stepping aside so that Caster could see Hestia fully. "So it is true then…the Gods have descended upon the mortal world and live amongst the mortals even in the dirt?"
"It-it's not like I want to live in a run down church!" Hestia shouted back. "It's just…we don't really have the money to live anywhere else…if we did, I'd want at least a two story house with five rooms…"
Caster threw his head back in laughter at that.
"Truly one can see and hear so many ridiculous things even after ascending to the Throne of Heroes," he said as he tucked his tablet under the arm holding the axe so he could place his hand against his face. "Very well, I agree to this summoning and contract if only to amuse myself in this world even further."
"R-really?" Bell asked as he jumped down from the altar and walked up to Caster. "Do you really mean it sir…no wait…you said you were a king? Then Sire…or Your Majesty?"
"Either is fine, I will allow it," Caster said as he turned to face Bell while Archer sighed into his hand again. "You will have the right to muster me into battle so long as I agree to it."
"Thank you very much, Your Highness!"
"Really now…" Hestia sighed as she glanced over at Archer before looking at Bell and Caster. "I can already tell this one is going to be a handful."
X-x-X-x-X
With the contract finished, the four of them returned to the underground room where Hestia presented them with Potato Puffs that were given to her as leftovers from the food stand that she worked at while telling Archer and Caster a bit about the world's history at Caster's request.
"…What exactly are these things…?" Caster asked from his seat on the couch as he picked one up and sniffed it.
"Jagamaru-kuns!" Hestia explained as she sat down next to Bell on the bed. "They're very popular in town. Everyone in the city knows about them!"
"If you don't want them I'll take your share," Archer said as he ate standing by the wall, seemingly not wanting to sit next to Caster.
Caster didn't say anything as he took a bite and chewed it slowly before swallowing. His eyes opened slightly before he took another bite.
"I see…this is the taste of an offering from the Goddess of the Hearth huh…" he muttered as he finished and reached for another one. "It should not be fit for a royal palate but…"
"See? They're great aren't they?" Hestia asked as she puffed out her chest.
Caster didn't answer and instead shifted the topic.
"So the Gods of this world created these Familias after descending to both amuse themselves and to give the mortals a chance to better themselves and survive against the monsters born from this Dungeon," Caster summed up and Hestia nodded. "It is more incredulous hearing it straight from the mouth of a goddess than it is learning about it from the Grail."
"It can't be helped, it's boring up there after all," Hestia shrugged. "And with so many others already descended, the work in directing the fallen souls of mortals is pushed onto whoever is left."
At that Caster let out an amused laugh at the image of overworked gods.
"You mentioned famous Familias like Zeus and Hera…" Caster began. "Is it only the Greek Gods that descended?"
"Greek?" Hestia asked as she tilted her head to the side. "What do you mean."
"I see…I shall be blunt then. Is there a goddess by the name of Ishtar about?" Caster asked.
"Ah…her…" Hestia muttered, her cheeks turning a bit red at the topic of a goddess of sexual love when she herself was a virgin goddess. "Yeah, she's around. She hangs around…or rather runs most of Orario's…err…naughty places…"
At Hestia's words Caster's face twisted into a harsh expression as if he had tasted something vile.
"I see…" he said simply before taking a rather violent bite into his potato puff.
Bell looked at Caster in worry before glancing at Archer who shook his head, telling the young Master not to ask about it.
"In any case…it seems that being in a Familia is required for most things in this city, correct?" Caster asked.
"Yes," Hestia nodded. "The Guild runs most things and although regular people can live here well enough, being in a Familia allows you access to more of the city's functions and you get a lot of direct support from the Guild itself. Even the money exchanger is only available to registered Adventurers."
"I see…" Caster muttered again, looking rather unhappy about something. "Humanity is over reliant on the gods…nothing good can come out of it should they all disappear…but that is how this world is. If I were to be incarnated I would do something but as it is…I should just enjoy what this world has to offer."
"Huh? What are you talking about?" Hestia asked.
"Never mind," Caster shook the question off. "And one can leave the Familia whenever they wish?"
"Well, so long as the God agrees to it yes," Hestia nods. "But there is a limit of one year before you can leave when joining a new Familia. It's to prevent people from just bouncing from Familia to Familia or to join a Familia then leaving just for the blessing. Umm…I would prefer if no one left mine if they joined though…we're small enough as it is."
"…I suppose it is only prudent for countermeasures like that," Caster muttered. "I do not particularly enjoy the fact that being bound to a god is the only way to get anything done. Well, I shall entertain this for the time being."
"T-Then…?" Hestia asked with eyes full of hope.
"Rejoice, Goddess Hestia," Caster said as he stood up. "I will grace your Familia with my membership."
"Hurray!" Hestia shouted as she jumped to her feet.
"However," Caster cut in before Hestia could do anything else. "I will not settle for being a second to anyone. That boy…" he gestured toward Bell with his chin. "May be my summoner, but I have not accepted him as a Master. He may rally me onto the field of battle, but otherwise I will be the one giving out the orders."
"Umm…so you want to be the Familia Captain then?" Bell asked. "That's fine with me. I don't really know how to lead people yet and since you're a King I bet you could do it a thousand times better than I can."
"Do not think you can just slip away from any responsibilities of your station," Caster said, frowning at Bell. "You are human, you exist in this world without requiring an anchor. We…" he gestured toward Archer and himself. "…are Servants. Our time here is fleeting like the morning dew. By our nature we are unable to make any true lasting change to this world. That would be up to you."
"Y-yes!" Bell nodded as he stood up straight. "I won't let you down, Your Majesty!"
"I have no expectations but see that you do not," Caster said without any change in expression as he leaned back in his seat while Bell looked rather excited at being given a task by a Hero.
"Then, do you want to receive the Falna now, after dinner or tomorrow morning before I leave for work?" Hestia asked Caster as she sat back down on the bed.
"Let us finish the meal you have laid out for us first," Caster replied simply. "Though it is fine on short notice, do not think it will be enough come 'morrow."
"I'm sure we'll be able to do something with the familia's rather small budget," Archer spoke up for the first time in a long while. "Unless you have some to contribute."
"But of course," Caster said without much fanfare. "If I am to grace this Familia with my membership, it is only natural I do not live in a ruin. Boy."
"Yes?" Bell reacted to the call, snapping out of his daydream.
"Does the Guild services also include a way to sell valuables?"
"Umm…I'm not sure but if I ask Miss Eina, my advisor, I'm sure she can help find someone that can."
"Then in the worst case I will be forced to endure these dreary surroundings for a few days," Caster sighed.
"What are you planning to sell?" Hestia asked. "If it's a weapon, I can show it to my friend Hephaistos for an estimate."
"A quote from a god of the forge?" Caster said, eyebrows rising slightly. "Yes, I suppose if one were to get a fair evaluation. I had wished to see the inside of this dungeon tomorrow but I suppose there are more important things to handle first."
"Yes…registration and orientation at the Guild may take a while too…" Bell said. "I really wanted to see how amazing the two of you can be."
"Then you'll be waiting for a long time," Caster said dismissively. "I doubt that there are any things in the dungeon that would require me to show off my full power."
In contrast to Archer who let out another sigh and rubbed his forehead, Bell just looked even more eager at the promise of strength from the king.
"Then tomorrow, the three of you should go to the guild so Archer and Caster can get registered…of course you still need me to give you the blessing," Hestia said, looking at Caster. "After sitting through Orientation, Bell should bring Caster over to my stand around closing time then I can bring him to meet Hephaistos while Bell and Archer…uh…do something else to wait for us."
"I wouldn't mind getting a tour of the market," Archer said. "If we're going to serve something fitting for His Royal Highness's stomach, then we should see what we have to work with."
"Do as you wish," Caster said, not taking Archer's bait. "I doubt you'll find anything coming close to being worthy. Although I would not mind being surprised."
"Can you cook, Archer?" Bell asked.
"I may have dabbled once or twice," Archer admitted. "At the very least, I can provide more side dishes than just potato puffs…not that these weren't nice Lady Hestia, but you and Bell probably shouldn't subsist on only potatoes."
"Just us?" Hestia asked. "What about you two?"
"Servants do not need to eat or sleep to survive," Archer explained. "We can subsist solely though the connection between our Master and the grail. It does help with Morale though."
"Once we meet with Hephaistos there would be no need to be stingy with food though so there's no need to worry about that," Hestia said. "Hopefully."
"Fear not," Caster said. "If a single blade is not enough I have countless in my treasury that should be enough to afford a new base for the Familia. Come to think of it…Boy, how many more Servants do you plan on summoning?"
"Well…I don't think I'll try summoning any more until my Magic grows a bit," Bell said. "But I think it'd be great to summon the other five eventually. Not only to help the Familia grow but I want to learn how each Hero was a Hero."
"Learning from ghosts is all well and good but do not mimic us," Caster said, folding his arms in front of his chest. "You need to find your own path of becoming a Hero, not walk down a path already traveled."
"Much as I hate to agree, he's right," Archer added. "Your reasons and ideals for becoming a hero must be your own. Not mine, not your grandfather's, but your own. Understand, Bell?"
"Yes!" Bell nodded with a smile.
"We shall see about that…" Caster muttered.
"Well, that's enough planning for the future for now," Hestia said as she stood up from the bed and slapped her hand on it. "Now take off your vest and get over here and I'll give you your falna."
Caster didn't say anything, only raising an eyebrow at the goddess before walking over and sitting down on the bed. As it seemed that he wasn't going to lay down like the others, Hestia simply crawled behind him, pricked her finger with her knife and drew on his back as she had with Archer.
"I see…so this is how it works…" Caster muttered. "The connection is now shared between the two of you."
"Archer said the same thing," Hestia said as she placed some parchment on Caster's back and peeled it off along with his status. "All right…Gil, you're done."
"…Do not shorten my name like that…" Caster said rather irritably before taking the sheet from Hestia.
Gilgamesh
Level 1
Strength: I0
Defense: I0
Dexterity: I0
Agility: I0
Magic: I0
Magic:
Melammu Dingir: Long-range bombardment spell symbolizing a long forgotten kingdom.
I permit you to ready your arrows!
Show me how you would defend Uruk and its unrivaled fortune!
It is my will that shall wash over the land!
The King's Signal Cannon!
Melammu Dingir!
Skills
Gate of Babylon: The Treasury of the King is always accessible to him and able to connect to the treasury across space so that the tools within the vault are available to use. Can be deployed at will to retrieve items from within and magic wands can be fired directly from within the gate. Most weapons are currently sealed.
Territory Creation: Creation of a Temple to draw in Magic Power is available.
The King of Heroes: Release restraints on the Gate and draw out its full power.
Omniscient and Omnipotent Star: Sha Naqba Imuru: Able to discern truth from lies and see through the eyes of all creation.
"But really…Spirits are rather amazing after all," Hestia said as Caster tossed aside the parchment after he finished reading it, allowing Bell to catch it before it hit the ground to read it for himself. "Even if your legends were based on humans, it's still completely different from how Bell started out. I'm going to have to ask Hephaistos how to lock and hide the Falna or anyone who can read the hieroglyphs will be able to understand your status and wonder why a pair of Level 1 supposed humans have skills and magic on their first day."
Archer nodded his head while Caster looked uninterested.
"By the way, about what time do you usually wake up, Bell?" Archer asked.
"At five in the morning sharp!" Bell said with a proud look on his face. "It's been pretty much ingrained into me ever since I lived with Grandpa."
"Good, then in the morning I'll measure your ability," Archer said. "I need to know what you can handle and what you can't."
"Got it!" Bell nodded, brimming with excitement over the thought of being trained by Archer. "Please take care of me!"
"If everything is settled, I will be taking my leave," Caster said as he stood up. "I wish to see what this city has to offer with my own eyes first."
"But it's late!" Hestia said. "Can't you wait until morning?"
"Servants do not require sleep," Caster said. "And the sooner we get acclimated to this city, the sooner we can focus on more important things."
"He's right," Archer said looking as though he swallowed something bitter. "In order to find out how much money we need for a new home, he needs to find a building close to our needs and what it costs."
"Close?" Caster repeated, glaring at Archer. "Do you think I will not find somewhere that suits my needs exactly?"
"Oh, I am 100% positive that you'll find a place suiting your needs just fine," Archer said with a smirk. "It's whether or not that it would be suitable for a Familia that worries me."
"Okay! No more arguing!" Hestia said, quickly inserting herself between the two. "Caster, if you want to go look at some real estate, go ahead."
Caster scoffed but nonetheless headed toward the exit without another word.
"And you, Archer," Hestia said, thrusting her finger at Archer's face barely an inch from his nose. "Why are you antagonizing him so much?"
"Call it an incompatibility between heroes," Archer said and didn't elaborate beyond that. "I'm going to look at the kitchen to see what is in stock and what appliances are available."
And with that Archer pushed himself off the wall and headed into the kitchen as silent as Caster was when he left.
"You managed to summon quite a pair of characters, Bell," Hestia said with a sigh while Bell could only let out a nervous laugh.
X-x-X-x-X
At five in the morning, Bell opened his eyes groggily and looked around. His goddess was still sleeping soundly on the bed while neither Caster nor Archer could be seen.
Sitting up properly on the sofa, he let out a large yawn and scratched his head.
"Yesterday wasn't a dream, right?" He muttered as he looked down at his hands. "Doesn't look like it."
The command spells were still marked on the back of his hand, symbolizing his connection to Archer and Caster.
"Well, you're up like you said you would be."
A deep voice spoke up behind him and Bell turned his head around to see Archer holding a glass of water out to him.
"Is the pantry usually empty?" Archer asked as Bell accepted and downed the glass.
"Yes…" Bell shamefully admitted. "Most of what we earn goes into taxes and the utilities and what little else goes into food. So…yeah, what we usually eat is whatever the Goddess can bring back."
Archer made a rather pained face at Bell's words.
"We will definitely go food shopping today," Archer said as he gestured to the door with his head. "Grab your weapon and follow me. I believe that minotaur crystal provided a good amount of money?"
"Y-yeah," Bell nodded as he set the empty glass on the table and grabbed his trusty knife before following Archer up the stairs. "I got fifty thousand valis from it. More than I made in the last two weeks combined. The monsters on the upper floors usually only give little shards and the minotaur crystal was much bigger and fuller than they were thus a lot more useful to the Guild."
Bell then let out a long sigh and turned his eyes to the side.
"Or rather…it was so much money I was surprised that such a crystal existed in real life…first class adventurers must be something else to make that much money…"
"It's probably due to their weapons as much as their skill," Archer said. "And having better weapons means the maintenance costs for them must be huge so they would have to kill a lot more of those bigger monsters just to break even like you do."
"I guess you're right," Bell nodded. "Though I think the bigger Familias have enough members to have Supporters…oh uh, Adventurers who don't do the fighting but support the front-liners by carrying equipment and carving the magic stones out of monsters so that the front-liners can pay attention to the monsters and not worry about leaving the stones behind."
"Sounds like under-appreciated work," Archer commented as they stepped out into the morning sun. "Now then, let me see your knife."
Bell pulled it out of its sheath and held it out to Archer, handle first. Archer plucked it out of Bell's hand and turned it around in his hand for a moment before holding out his other hand. Then, in front of Bell's eyes a wooden dagger suddenly formed in Archer's free hand.
"Wow…so that's your magic, right?" Bell said as Archer handed him both the wooden dagger and his real one.
"Yeah," Archer nodded. "It won't last forever but it is sufficient for what we're about to do. Is the weight all right?"
"Yes!" Bell said as he sheathed his regular knife and gave a few practice swings. "Aside from being made out of wood, it feels just like my other knife."
"That knife was given to you from the Guild?"
"Yes. The guild gives out a…um…oh right, a stipend for new Adventurers. It comes with some money and a weapon…even if you have to pay them back later. Although I suppose you and Caster don't need one. You can make whatever you need with your magic and Caster has that big axe of his."
"Yeah, this thing," Archer said as he held out his hands and blue energy swirled between them before solidifying into a large golden axe. "It's fairly light despite its looks and makes a good focus for channeling magic. The blade is rather sharp too. Perfect for a caster to bludgeon enemies with when they get too close."
"And I would prefer if you did not create fakes of my treasures so freely, mongrel."
The air behind Archer distorted for a moment before it solidified into Caster's form.
"Welcome back Your Majesty!" Bell greeted cheerfully as the axe in Archer's hands disappeared. "How was your search."
"Unfortunately the state of the city's larger homes are insufficient," Caster replied. "The ones that are kept in order are already occupied by other Familia and the ones that are not have been abandoned and are in states similar to this church."
"So we'd need to spend money to refurbish them anyway?" Bell asked as Caster clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Maybe we should try finding one through the guild?"
"I suppose it would be best to delegate this matter to others," Caster sighed. "That is, unless I decide to take on the project of building what the familia requires myself. Although I now have a better understanding of the real estate in this city. In any case, you have my leave to continue your play."
"Gee, thanks," Archer said irritably as a short sword made out of straw appeared in his right hand. "Now Bell, what do you want to focus on?"
"What do you mean?" Bell asked.
"Do you want to focus on attacking or defending? Or a mixture of both?"
"Uh…both I guess?"
"Then, defend yourself."
"Huh?"
Bell blinked in confusion and when his eyes opened, Archer was right in front of him sword hand raised over his head.
With a scream, Bell dived to the side as the straw sword went pass him only for it to swiftly curve and smack him in the back.
"Ouch!" Bell yelped as he rolled a bit and turned back to face Archer. The hit didn't so much hurt as it surprised him along with the loud clack it made on his back.
"Wha are you doing? I said defend yourself."
Archer was standing upright lazily with the sword still in his hand. He was staring at Bell with his gray eyes with a frown.
"Pay attention. We have already started."
"Y-yes!"
Bell said as he got ready and prepared himself for Archer's next attack. And the moment he did, Archer burst forward once more, sword moving toward Bell's Flank. Bell's dagger managed to deflect the sword but as it pulled away, Bell suddenly felt his legs leave the ground before his head hit the floor.
"Don't just watch the weapon, pay attention to the legs as well!" Archer shouted as he waited for Bell to get back to his feet.
"Yes!" Bell said without complaint.
Although Bell wasn't sure what to expect from being trained by what he understood was the personification of a Hero, he certainly didn't expect to get his butt kicked all morning. It also served to make him realize just how big the difference was between the two. If Archer had been a normal adventurer just how high of a level would he be?
By the end of the hour, Bell was reduced to being a bruised and panting mess on the ground.
"I suppose that's as much as we can do this morning," Archer said as the sword in his hand disappeared alongside the dagger in Bell's hand. "Anymore and we'd worry your Guild Advisor."
"You're amazing, Archer…" Bell said as he caught his breath and sat up. "You move so fast. I could hardly keep up."
"If such a speed is too much for you then your journey will be a long and arduous one indeed," Caster scoffed. "Archer's speed is only middling as far as Heroic Spirts go. The speed of Lancers and Riders will usually outclass the others."
"As much as I hate to admit it, he's right," Archer said as he took Bell's hand and helped him to his feet. "I'm a second rate hero compared to the real legends out there."
"Wow."
Far from being discouraged, Bell only grew more excited at the prospect of meeting more heroes. It was a pity he'd only be able to meet seven of them total though.
Suddenly, a loud and angry shout erupted from the entrance of the church as Hestia rushed out, stomping past an amused looking Caster.
"What are you doing bullying Bell so early in the morning!?" Hestia demanded as she walked up in front of Archer with her hands on her hips.
"That's not it, Goddess!" Bell said quickly, putting himself between Archer and Hestia. "This is training! Just training!"
Hestia didn't look convinced but said nothing as she just huffed.
"Well, we should probably get to the Guild then," Bell said as he brushed off his clothes. "Have a good day, Goddess!"
"Take care Lady Hestia," Archer said before chasing after Bell who ran off while Caster gave Hestia a simple nod, which Hestia supposed was as good as she was going to get from someone like him, before lazily following after the other two.
"Right then," Hestia said as she looked up at the sky. "I think I can make it to Hephaistos to pass along a message before work. All right! Let's work hard to day for my new boys!"
And the tiny goddess also decide to try her best for the day.
X-x-X-x-X
Bell led the way down the street toward the guild, pointing out landmarks to the two Servants while they walked almost side by side with each other. Almost in that they were walking on opposite ends of the street and Caster was walking a bit ahead of Archer. If one didn't know they were together, one would assume they were two separate parties just happening to be going in the same direction.
However, even at this distance, the two could still hear each other.
"Since you were the one knocking the fool to the ground, you should have noticed it more clearly correct?" Caster said quietly as to not let Bell hear him.
"Of course," Archer replied pretending to be looking at a food stand to avoid looking in Caster's direction. "It was only a bit, but he was getting a bit faster toward the end. Is this the Falna doing work or our little Master's own talent?"
"At this point, it is a fluke, nothing more," Caster decided. "Unless you mean to say you insulted him by lowering the difficulty after coming on too strongly?"
"Peh. Hmm?"
The two of them stopped as just a little bit ahead, Bell had been accosted by a girl in a green and white uniform with gray hair tied in a bun.
She was handing him a magic stone, one that she was thinking Bell had dropped…even though Bell had exchanged all of his stones yesterday when Archer went with him to the Guild.
"Hoh…" Caster let out an amused laugh. "It seems the boy has caught the eye of some server girl."
"Where did she get the stone though?" Archer muttered. "Stones are to be traded for Valis by Adventurers. They should be normally useless to civilians."
Bell then gestured to the two of them as he explained to the girl that he was showing his new Familia members to the guild and not to the dungeon as she had initially thought.
At that moment Bell's stomach started growling, much to his chagrin as his face started reddening. Caster let out a laugh at Bell's expense while Archer pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Did you not have breakfast yet?" the girl asked.
"Ah…no not yet," Bell admitted as he looked at the building that the girl was next to. "Do you work here? 'Hostess of Fertility?'"
"Yes, ah…but we're not open yet, my apologies," the girl answered before lowering her head in apology.
"It'd probably be a good idea for you to get something to eat before we meet with the advisor if you're hungry," Archer said. "You don't want your stomach growling in front of her too, do you?"
"Umm…I suppose so…"
"In that case, please wait a moment," the girl said before running back inside the building before coming back out with a small wrapped boxed. "It's not much but please accept this."
"Eh!?" Bell let out a surprised shout as the girl forced the box into his hands. "No way, I can't accept a free meal from someone I never met before. And this is your breakfast right?"
"Don't worry, once the pub opens I can just get something to eat then," she says, gesturing back inside the pub where a pair of waitresses with cat ears were running around cleaning and preparing for the day ahead. "But in exchange, you have to eat dinner tonight at the pub, okay?"
"So that's what she was after," Caster said with a smirk. "Accept it, Boy. We'll have a proper celebration of our addition to the Familia here alongside the goddess."
"Ahaha…that's true," Bell said with a smile. "Then, I'll take it. We'll be back tonight if all of our errands are finished. If not, can you accept us coming tomorrow night instead?"
"Mmm…that's fair," the girl nodded. "But still, I hope to see you tonight."
At these words, Bell's face flushed once more as Caster rolled his eyes.
"If you are going to woo a girl you only met five minutes ago, Boy," he began, causing both of them to go red, or even redder in Bell's case. "Then at least give her your name."
"Ah…right…" Bell nodded before clearing his throat. "I…I'm Bell Cranel. What's your name?"
"Syr. Syr Flover. It's nice to meet you Bell."
X-x-X-x-X
"It would seem as though you got your special meeting after all, Bell," Archer said as they continued to walk to the Guild while Bell was munching on the bread and cheese in Syr's lunchbox.
"Ugh…please don't bring it back up…" Bell said with a nervous laugh. "Ah, we're here."
"I see…so this is the most important place in the city besides the dungeon?" Caster asked.
"Yes. If you want to know more about Orario or the world, the Guild keeps a rather large library that's open to all registered Adventurers. Though most Adventurers don't go there."
"As is typical of those who simply wish to fight and do as little thinking as possible."
As they walked through the doors, Bell spotted Eina at her usual counter and ran up to her.
"Good morning Miss Eina!"
"Good morning Bell," Eina answered his energetic greeting with a smile. "Are you here to register Mister Archer?"
"Yes!" Bell nodded. "Also another person as well!"
"Two new Familia members?" Eina asked in surprise. "My…your Familia's is growing so suddenly good for you Bell."
Bell simply scratched his head with a smile as Archer and Caster walked up to the counter.
"Here you are Miss Tulle," Archer said handing his form over. "And we'll need another one for that guy."
Caster glared at Archer at his rather rude referral but didn't say anything.
"There's no problem," Eina said as she pulled out another folder and made her way around to the other side of the counter to the other three. "Do you mind following me? I can give the two of you the orientation while you fill out the registration form."
Eina led them to a private booth where she began to give the Guild approved orientation of the dungeon to Archer and Caster. She briefly went over the history of the dungeon, how it spewed monsters out constantly in the pass before the Gods descended and placed the Tower of Babel over it to seal the dungeon and keep its monsters at bay while also going over details of the monsters that appeared on the Upper Floors and recommending that they, as new Adventurers, shouldn't venture pass the Fifth Floor until they got a better handle on things.
"I see," Caster said, looking up from his paperwork. "So the Dungeon can be considered a living entity with an extreme hatred for mortals and the divine alike."
"Yes," Eina nodded. "That is why it is forbidden for the Gods and Goddesses to enter the dungeon. It is known to cause irregularities and spawn powerful monsters in an attempt to kill them and possibly make a break to the surface as well."
"And no one's ever been to the bottom?" Archer asked.
"No one," Eina confirmed. "The furthest anyone has ever gone down was the Zeus Familia before their defeat and loss of power fifteen years ago. I believe they made it to around the fifty-ninth floor during their thousand year tenure."
"I see…" Caster nodded. "And it was through their effort and sacrifices that the Guild has so much more information about the dungeon to pass on to the newer Familia that came after them?"
"Not many people see it that way anymore but I believe so."
Caster nodded before passing the form out to Eina who accepted it with a smile.
"Everything seems to be in order," she said as she looked through both his and Archer's forms. "Hmm? The two of you are going by different names than what's written here?"
"Is there a problem?" Caster asked.
"Not at all," Eina replied quickly. "I apologize if I offended. It was merely a comment. As long as a name is given then that is fine."
Eina then nodded as she collected the papers.
"Then is there anything else you would like to know?" Eina asked.
"Oh right," Bell spoke up. "Miss Eina, do you know of any homes for sale? We kind of need a new one since our old one…isn't quite up to snuff anymore."
Bell glanced over at Caster as he spoke but the Servant didn't say anything.
"A new home huh…" Eina repeated. "Well, I can't say I am opposed to you finally moving out of that rundown ruin…but what is your budget? A decent home around this part of the city can go up to eight hundred thousand Valis."
Bell made a small choking noise at the absurd amount and started shivering as if the thought of spending so much money at once would kill him.
"Three million," Caster said simply causing Bell to shout in surprise. "Five million if it is furnished. It needs to have at least ten rooms so that our Familia can grow and accept new members without any problems."
"I see…" Eina said, eyes blinking rather rapidly.
"Also…you said that the Guild can purchase not only Magic stones but also items dropped from Monsters, correct? Do you also purchase weapons and armor?"
"I'm afraid not," Eina answered. "For those, you should go to one of the blacksmith Familias like Goibniu or Hephaistos. Although we can get you a permit to sell weapons at a stand in the marketplace as well."
"That would take too much time," Caster sighed. "We'll go for the original plan then. In any case, if you do provide services in searching for houses or can direct the request to someone who can, here are the conditions."
"Is the budget a hard limit?" Eina asked as she scanned through Caster's list.
"If whatever you find impresses me enough, I can be a bit more flexible," Caster answered.
"I understand," Eina nodded as she put the list away. "I'll send it over as soon as possible."
"Good," Caster nodded as he stood up. "Then I shall take my leave."
Archer stood up as well followed by a stammering Bell.
"Then, see you later Miss Eina!" Bell said as he ran after Caster and Archer.
"Good luck with your new Familia members," Eina waved goodbye with a smile.
Once outside, Bell quickly ran up to Caster.
"Y-your Majesty, is it really okay to spend that much on a house?" Bell asked.
"I looked inside Babel Tower last night," Caster said. "I believe I saw part of Hephaistos Familia's shops. The so-called high end weapons on display went around thirty million Valis on the less expensive end."
"T-thirty million!?" Bell shouted.
"You are too loud, mongrel," Caster said with his annoyance rather obvious causing Bell to slap his hands over his mouth. "The point is, my treasures are much greater than the things they showed there. If the god were to purchase one, then the Familia's money problems will be a thing of the past…be grateful mongrel. For the king is willing to part with one of his treasures for you and your goddess."
"Yes! Thank you very much!" Bell said with complete honestly as he lowered his head to Caster without being prompted.
"There is no need to prostrate yourself in the middle of the street," Caster said with a smile on his face. "You're in the way."
Archer simply sighed as he looked up at the sky.
"What time does Lady Hestia get off work?" Archer asked. "Do we have time to go to the dungeon?"
"Huh? Oh…" Bell said looking around for a bit. "I think we got done rather early so we could try going down into the dungeon for a few hours before heading to Goddess's stand…but didn't you want to buy groceries, Archer?"
"Well, since we're going to probably be eating at Syr's place, I think we can put off groceries for another day."
"I see. Then follow me. Goddess's stand is this way."
Bell led them through the marketplace until they stopped at a small stand where their tiny Goddess was standing behind, wearing a frilling pink apron and a headband that had two little balls bouncing around on the end of wires.
Both Caster and Archer fell silent at the sight as they watch Hestia happily spread some cream onto a potato puff and hand it to a customer.
"…Bell…" Archer began. "When you said 'Hestia's Stand' I thought you meant that she was the owner…not…a salesclerk."
Caster, on the other hand, had one hand over his stomach and the other covering his face as his body was shaking from holding in his laughter.
"A goddess selling street food to make money…" Caster said as he regained his composure. "This would be infinitely more amusing if it were not the one whose Familia I have graced with my presence."
Bell could only respond with a small laugh as they walked up to the stand.
"Welcome!" Hestia greeted them with a bow before she realized who her customers were. "Oh, hey there boys! Done with orientation already? How was it?"
"It was sufficient for the time being," Caster admitted. "What about on your end."
"Ahh…I left a letter with one of her Familia members out front but…" Hestia began with a sigh as she wrapped up some of the product in front of her when Archer plucked Bell's wallet from his waist and pulled out some coins. "It seems like they received a huge order recently so she may not be able to get to it for a while."
Caster made an annoyed face but didn't say anything as it was simply bad timing and just quietly accepted the potato puff.
"Then the three of us will head out to the dungeon," Bell said as he also took one. "Goddess, we got a…reservation at a pub tonight so let's have dinner there. Or we can do it tomorrow if it's a better time."
"Reservation?" Hestia repeated. "Ah of course! Let's have a party to welcome Archer and Caster to the Familia! We got a lot of money from the minotaur crystal right? Let's celebrate properly!"
Bell let out a cheer alongside Hestia while the other two remained stoically silent.
"You two are no fun," Hestia said with a pout. "Oh and Caster. I should be able to see Hephaistos directly tomorrow or so. Ganesha is throwing a big party for all the gods and goddesses and I got an invite and I…think it said it will be tomorrow night. So if she attends I will be able to meet her there."
"Hoh…even a goddess of a small Familia of one would be able to get an invite?" Caster asked, honestly rather surprised. "Ganesha…the Advisor said that his Familia is the largest one in the city and handles various things from guarding the city walls to being private guards?"
"Well…Ganesha is a weirdo like that but people like him in spite of…or rather because of it," Hestia admitted.
"In that case things should go smoothly then," Caster nodded. "I shall hand you a smaller item from my treasury to take with you to the party to show Hephaistos that this transaction is real."
"Ah yeah…I hadn't thought of the fact that she might think I was pulling her leg or something…" Hestia nodded seriously. "I mean…I was poor and broke for weeks and now I'm coming up to her asking to sell a powerful magic weapon? Ahaha…even I would think that's a joke…or rather I still can't believe this is real."
"Believe it or else we will not get anywhere," Caster said irritably.
"So we'll meet back home then head off to the pub tonight then?" Bell suggested to Hestia.
"That's fine with me," Hestia nodded. "You're going to the dungeon then?"
"Yes. I wanted to show them and I want to see how Caster fights."
"Humph, do not expect anything if the enemies do not warrant my attention," Caster answered simply. "My treasures are not to be used for clearing out rats."
"Then, we'll get out of your way," Archer said, taking a bag from Hestia. "Good luck, Lady Hestia."
"Bye! Stay safe boys!"
X-x-X-x-X
The dungeon was the same as it ever was. Dreary, slightly chilly, with strange sources of light coming from the walls making it seem like one brightly lit tunnel instead of something deep underground. The trio had barely walked ten minutes into the first floor when cracks began to form in the walls.
"I see…" Caster muttered walking right up to one as a goblin's hand was forcing its way out of it. "Hearing it from the Advisor is one thing, but seeing it for one's self is another. What a strange-" As the Goblin's head appeared, Caster brought down his axe on its neck and the rest of the body fell out with a thud. "Phenomenon."
"Yes," Bell nodded as he dodged a swing from another goblin and slashed it across the chest. "Monsters are born in the dungeon full grown. Every monster on the surface came from this dungeon or are descended from the ones that reached the surface in the past."
"How are other places handling them?" Archer asked as a pair of black and white swords appeared in his hands and he charged forward and cleaved through several goblins in the same instant as Bell took a breath.
"Not all Gods live in Orario. They're spread out all over the world. This city just happens to have the most number of Gods since the dungeon is here."
Bell bent over one of the dead goblins and started carefully carving into its chest and pulled out a small crystal. Once he did, the monster's corpse began to dissipate into black mist and be absorbed back into the dungeon.
"So that's how it works," Archer noted.
"Yes," Bell nodded as he placed the crystal into his pouch. "Remember how I mentioned supporters before? This is one of their duties. Of course…we can't afford one right now so I'll do it. I can't ask you two to do so."
"No, it's fine," Archer said. "Right now it is imperative that you grow stronger so I'll support you for today."
"You want to summon more Servants, do you not?" Caster added. "If these creatures are what spawns this far up then there is no point in either of us fighting them. You need to grow in order to let your body support more Servants. Archer will handle cutting out the crystals while you focus on these beasts. I will make sure your fights are not interrupted. Be grateful."
"Yes!" Bell nodded as Archer walked from corpse to corpse easily fishing out the crystals before holding his hand out to Bell. "Huh? Oh right!"
Bell unhooked the bag he used to hold magic stones and tossed it at Archer who dumped the crystals inside.
"I see…" Archer noted as he looked inside the bag. "That minotaur crystal was indeed much bigger than these ones."
"Yeah…" Bell nodded with a frown. "I'll be lucky to get fifty for these compared to the fifty thousand from the minotaur's crystal."
"Such discrepancy!" Caster shouted, voice filled with irritation. "Why must we waste our time here? Let us move on to the lower floors at once! Your status will improve faster the stronger your opponent, correct? Then we will have you face those that can kill you!"
"B-but I haven't even reached Floor Six yet!"
"No excuses! As long as both of us are here you will not die! Now march!"
And march they did. Archer and Caster both stood back when monsters appeared to let Bell fight them alone. But for some reason even though Bell never particularly had trouble fighting them before despite being alone, just the fact that there were two people watching his back made him feel more confident. Eina had told him that if he was ever outnumbered he should run. However, even though he was fighting six kobolds at the same time, just being watched by Archer, the man who saved his life, made him want to prove himself.
He can't always be protected forever. He wanted to be someone worthy to stand beside him. Someone that was good enough to be called "Master" by the spirit of heroes.
But even so…compared to Archer, these monsters were so much slower.
"Do you see mongrel?" Caster said as Bell tried to catch his breath while being surrounded by monster corpses. "You can do it if you put your mind to it."
"Yes!" Bell answered with a nod of his head as Archer gathered the magic stones.
"However…" Caster began as he looked upward. "I suppose we should stop here for today."
"Huh? But I feel like I can keep going," Bell said.
"We will descend more seriously another day," Caster declared. "Tonight however, you are to dine with your goddess at that server girl's establishment, remember? It will not do to drag your ruined body there and spoil the meal for the other patrons."
"What he means is that you shouldn't push yourself too much just yet," Archer said with a sigh. "Prepare a bit more before diving any further than this today."
"Oh…all right," Bell said feeling just a bit disappointed. He felt like he was just reaching his stride too.
"Do not think I am going soft on you," Caster warned him. "Today we have reached the Fifth Floor, but we will force ourselves down to the Tenth Floor once your goddess makes contact with the Smith God and purchases a few of my treasures. Then we shall hire this Supporter you speak of to take care of trivialities such as harvesting these crystals as well as more supplies for you. As it is we are making sure you haven't taken any damage from these beasts but once we have enough supplies to heal you…"
Bell felt a slight chill at Caster's words. He now understood that while the golden hero did have high expectations for him, he was more or less letting Bell take an easy route by letting him fight by himself without much chance for a break. He had noticed a few monsters had been injured behind his back and knew they had stepped in once or twice to save him from being injured but once they had enough money to buy potions then that would mean they would stop protecting him.
Rather than be scared of the prospect, it instead filled him with anticipation.
"Yes! I won't fail you, Your Majesty!" Bell said with a bow.
"See that you do not," Caster said with a smirk.
"Come on then…" Archer said, smacking Bell on the back. "Let's head back so you can clean up before dinner. Unless you plan on meeting your date covered in monster blood."
"I-it's not a date!" Bell quickly shouted, face turning as red as Archer's clothes.
"So you plan on having a one night tryst with her then?" Caster asked, joining in on the fun. "I approve! A hero should not be tied down to a single woman!"
"No I'm not!" Bell's near crying shout echoed through the halls of the dungeon floor as the made their way back up to the surface.
