Chapter 4: Lililuca Arde
Hestia didn't return to the church until early the next morning as she spent the time sharing a drink with Hephaistos where she told the others about the result of the meeting and the plan to meet with Hephaistos later that day before flopping down on the bed, still in her dress, and quickly falling asleep.
"So…what do we do now?" Bell asked as they tucked Hestia under the covers.
"I will wait here to wake her up in time for the meeting," Caster said. "You…head to the dungeon to gain more experience in the meantime. If possible, hire a Supporter as well." He looked toward Archer. "Unless you want to continue carving monsters yourself?"
"What do you think Bell?" Archer asked, not answering Caster.
"I…think having a Supporter wouldn't be bad at all," Bell nodded. "It might cut into the profits a bit but I think if we spend more time moving forward we can get more money that way."
"If your objective is clear then begone," Caster said irritably. "The funds leftover after purchasing the fabric should be enough to hire the services of one."
After being chased out, Bell and Archer made their way to Babel tower and stopped by a fountain.
"Well, we're here…" Bell muttered as they looked around. "How do you think we'll find a Supporter?"
"Perhaps we should have gone to the Guild and asked Eina instead?" Archer suggested. "I mean…do Supporters just walk around and advertise their services to people outside their Familia?"
"Yes they do, Mister Adventurer!"
Bell and Archer exchanged looks before Archer turned around and the two of them saw a tiny girl, barely a meter tall, holding a massive backpack almost three times her size. She was wearing a white cloak that covered her entire body but Bell could spot two bumps poking up from her hood, telling him that she was an animal person. Most likely a Chienthrope.
"Good morning Mr Adventurers," the girl greeted them. "Lily overheard that you two were looking for a Supporter. If Mr Adventurers want, Lily can be your Supporter."
"Oh…" Bell replied as he looked at Archer who just shrugged his shoulders. "Are you part of a Familia, Miss Lily?"
"Yes…Lily is part of the Soma Familia but Lily can Support other Familias if need be," Lily replied with a nod.
"All right then, you're hired," Archer said as he looked at her pack. "I take it you have some sort of skill to let you carry that?"
"Yes!" Lily nodded. "It lets Lily carry big things like this without any problem."
To make her point she hopped up and down a few times to show that she could properly maintain her balance and the massive weight had no effect on her.
"All right then," Archer nodded as he took out a bag of coins and held it out to Lily who stared at it.
"Uh…what is this?" Lily asked.
"What is this?" Archer repeated looking as confused as she did. "Signing on bonus…or do you not do these kinds of things around here?"
"But Lily hasn't even done anything yet?"
"Well you explained some things about yourself and Supporters so that's a good start right?" Bell said as Archer grabbed Lily's arm causing her to flinch and stuffed the bag into her hand. "We're planning to hit the Sixth Floor and eventually the Tenth so anything you know about it will be helpful."
"Uhh…Lily will do her best!" Lily said, regaining her composure. "Will we be going down now?"
"Yeah, let's go," Bell nodded before heading toward the tower. Archer gestured for Lily to follow him before he took up the rear behind her.
Once they were inside, Archer stayed beside Lily as she carved out the magic stones from the monster corpses while Bell handled the monsters on his own.
"Umm…Master Archer, are you not going to help Master Bell?" Lily asked, looking up at him.
"Captain's orders," Archer replied. "Bell is still a novice while fighting so we're letting him raise his stats a bit. Duck."
Lily quickly hit the dirt as Archer swung a blade above her, severing the head of a Kobold that had spawned behind them.
"Don't worry," Archer said as he gestured to the monster's corpse. "I'm here to keep them off of you so Bell doesn't have to worry."
He then tossed his blade in Bell's direction, striking a Kobold that was trying to jump Bell from behind.
"Too slow!" Archer shouted as Bell pushed off the Kobold in front of him and jabbed his dagger into its heart, destroying the Magic Stone inside and causing the monster to turn to ash right away. "Keep a sense of everything around you, not just the one in front of you. Back up and reset."
"Yes!" Bell called back as he backed up away from the remaining two kobolds.
"Umm…Master Archer?" Lily began as Bell charged the left kobold before kicking the other kobold in the side. "Where was Master Archer keeping that weapon?"
Archer wasn't wearing a bag aside from a small pouch tied to his waist where he kept some emergency money so it was only natural Lily would be confused.
"That's a secret," Archer replied, holding up a finger to his lips to which Lily nodded in understanding. It wasn't her place to pry either way.
Once the last of the Kobolds were defeated and the entrance to the Sixth Floor was in sight, Archer turned to Bell.
"What do you think?" He asked Bell. "You think you can keep going or should we stop here?"
"Hmm…let's take a look at least," Bell said. "Hey Miss Arde…"
"Lily prefers to be called Lily if Master Bell doesn't mind," Lily, full name Liliruca Arde, said quickly.
"Then Lily, do you know anything about the monsters on the Sixth Floor?"
"Yes!" Lily nodded. "War Shadows and Frog Shooters appear there. The War Shadows are living shadows that are extremely resistant to regular weapons but weak to magic. They have an eye that looks like a giant crystal which is their weak point. Frog Shooters are giant frogs that try to grab people with their tongues and swing them around or eat them."
"Sounds…disgusting…" Bell said as he looked at his hand. "Too bad I don't know any attack magic yet."
"Just focus on their weak spots," Archer said as he tapped Bell's back. "I'll keep any others off of you until you get used to fighting them."
"Okay!" Bell nodded before turning to Lily. "Make sure to stick close to Archer so you won't get targeted, okay?"
"Are you saying that I can't protect both of you at once?" Archer asked as Lily laughed. "Whatever. Let's head down."
And so Bell began his first journey into the Sixth Floor.
X-x-X-x-X
As they made their way further down the dungeon, Hestia and Caster were walking down Main Street, heading toward the large Weapons Shop known as Hφαιστος.
Hestia was stealing glances at Caster who was looking rather irritated.
"I am not angry," Caster said, causing Hestia to jump. "I am merely annoyed that you decided to barter with my treasures for something other than what we decided on."
"I'm sorry…" Hestia said lowering her head.
"But your reasoning is sound," Caster continued. "A weapon to help pave the road into that boy's future would be an investment worthy of one of my treasures. I will not listen to someone who cannot properly stand beside the Heroes he wishes to command. However…does a weapon that allows him strength to fight but neither restricts his growth or quickly becomes obsolete exist?"
"Uuu…Hephaistos was wondering the same ting," Hestia admitted. "But! If it's her, I know she'll come up with something!"
Caster gave Hestia a sideways glance before letting out a long sigh.
"It is my policy to never apologize to someone on another's behalf, especially not to a god, but I feel like it will be required here due to this burden…" he muttered.
"Hmm? What do you mean?" Hestia asked as they came up to a large three story building that was twice the size of it neighbors. She opened the door and made her way through the shop with the clerks letting them through, having no doubt been told ahead of time about the appointment. Hestia then led the way up the staircase toward Hephaistos's office.
"Hephaistos! I brought him!" Hestia said as she opened the door and the two of them walked inside.
There, Caster saw the Smith Goddess sitting behind a well kept and used desk with stacks of forms sitting off to the side no doubt awaiting her authorization and signatures. On the wall to his right were several weapons of different makes and qualities. They certainly seemed special to the goddess but nothing good enough to belong within his treasury. Perhaps they were merely there for sentimental reasons. Products or gifts from her Familia no doubt.
"Thank you for coming," Hephaistos said as she stood up from her desk. "You must be the one Hestia was talking about?"
"Greetings Goddess Hephaistos," Caster greeted the goddess respectfully. "I am currently going under the name 'Caster' during my time in this city. I come to you today to offer some of my treasures in order to secure funds for my Familia's future."
"So I've heard," Hephaistos nodded as she gestured to the seats in front of her. "But you don't seem to have anything on you right now?"
"A king's treasury goes wherever the king goes," Caster said as he sat down on the chair with Hestia plopping down on the one beside his. "Allow me to demonstrate."
He held his hand to the side, parallel to the ground and the air behind him started shimmering gold. Then a golden handle pushed itself out of it which Caster grasped firmly in his hand and pulled it out. It was a sword so long that it could easily be mistaken for a spear.
"Unfortunately its name escapes me at the moment and I do not care to spend the effort to remember it," Caster admitted with a shrug. "I am told that it was used to slay a drake from the eastern lands but I do not know if it holds true."
"My…" Hephaistos gasped as she accepted the blade from Caster. "From what I can tell it certainly has the quality to do so."
"I am willing to part with it if you wish to add it to your own collection or to sell it off to someone who would require such a blade," Caster said as he glanced back at the wall of weapons. "I trust you will provide an honest quote for it. If it is not to your liking I suppose I can search for something that may interest you at your request."
"Really? I think this one will be sufficient for a start," Hephaistos nodded. "It's weight and balance are fine and its edge is indeed sharp enough to pierce through a drake's hide…perhaps even larger dragons. It feels like it was created specifically to hunt a dragon as well. Would a hundred million Valis be sufficient?"
"Puwha!?" Hestia let out a noise like a choking cat at the absurd amount for a single weapon. "One…one hundred million!? How many Jagamaru-kuns can you buy with that?"
Caster and Hephaistos glanced over at Hestia as she tried counting them on her fingers before Hephaistos gave Caster an apologetic look to which Caster let out a small sigh in response.
"I considered this before but…" Caster began. "Weapons and armor go for rather exuberant prices in this city do they not? Far more than the daily necessities of the common people."
"Yes," Hephaistos nodded. "Not only are they the product of the work and skill my children put years…decades into obtaining, they are also the product of the brave Adventurers that go into the dungeon's lower floors and bring back the drop items of monsters that go into their creation. The fact that you managed to come across a weapon of this quality outside the city is truly surprising."
"Hmm…I suppose there is a point to the absurd prices then. Let me change the topic then. How much would it take to create the weapon that this foolish goddess asked you about?"
"Hey!" Hestia shouted indignantly as Hephaistos chuckled.
"A weapon that won't stunt his growth and won't fall into mediocracy that would shame the name Hephaistos," Hephaistos said with a sigh. "To be quite honest, it is quite a troublesome request."
Caster nodded his head in understanding if not in apology as Hestia deflated.
"Although…with Hestia's assistance, I do believe I can come up with something," Hephaistos said causing a look of shock to spark in both Caster and Hestia's eyes.
"You're going to make it!?" Hestia asked.
"Of course," Hephaistos nodded. "This is an exchange between two goddesses after all. There is no need to trouble my children over it. Of course, that also means the price will match its quality."
As Hestia's eyes shined toward her friend, Caster merely laughed.
"A blade forged by the hands of a goddess…that boy is truly blessed with a loving goddess," Caster said with a smile. "Very well, I shall take this investment and see this boy's path to the end. If nothing else, it will prove to be worthy entertainment."
"When you talk like that, you sound like one of the other gods, you know?" Hephaistos pointed out.
"As a king, only the highest grade of entertainment is suitable for my palate," Caster replied. "If it is comparable to that of the gods then the gods simply have tastes similar to the king, do they not?"
"My you are a unique one," Hephaistos laughed. "How on earth did Hestia find you?"
"A little rabbit led me to her," Caster replied with a smirk. "My talents are simply limited to judging mortals and gods. And alcohol. According to the one I once called my only friend."
"Your friend must have been one-of-a-kind as well…but back to the topic at hand."
"Indeed. The cost of that little fool's new weapon, crafted by the hands of the Goddess of the Forge herself."
Goddess and King looked eye to eye at each other, ready to wage war over the price of Bell Cranel's, the one who summons heroes, new weapon. The battle within this office, fought with words and coin combined together with the technique known as "Haggling" shall now begin.
"Umm…should I still be here for this?" A crying and fearful goddess spoke up to the deaf ears of the other two.
X-x-X-x-X
"Amazing, Lily can hardly believe that Master Bell is a novice!" Lily said as the three of them returned from the dungeon just as the sun was beginning to set. "Lily understands why Master Archer wants Master Bell to grow quickly."
"No no, I think Miss Lily is amazing for being able to cut out the stones so quickly," Bell replied. "We managed to progress so much further because of it. We actually managed to make it to the Seventh Floor! Caster is going to be so surprised."
"About what, mongrel?"
The three fo them turned around to see Caster coming up to the tower with a hand on his hip but without Hestia in sight.
"Oh Your Majesty!" Bell said, running up to Caster like a child wanting to surprise his parent with news of his success. "We made it all the way to the entrance of the Eighth Floor today! Miss Lily's help in carving out the crystals and her knowledge of each floor is amazing."
"Hoh?" Caster began with a slight widening of the eyes and the ghost of a pleased smile on his face. "You've done well Bell Cranel. As always your growth is worthy of some praise."
If Bell had a tail like Lily did it would no doubt be wagging right now.
"So, how was his progress?" Caster asked Archer.
"Like he said, we made rather fast progress," Archer replied. "He had a bit of trouble with the War Shadows on the Sixth Floor due to their inherent resistant to physical attacks but we managed. The Seventh Floor was more manageable but the Killer Ants there would call for back up if their heads weren't destroyed…something we experienced the hard way…There were also monsters that spread a poisonous powder from their wings so I suggest we pack some Antidotes if we are to go there again."
"I see…" Caster nodded. "Fortunately our business with Hephaistos went perfectly and I have secured enough funds to purchase them. Now where is the Supporter?"
Archer gestured toward Lily who was trying to avoid notice despite her large bag.
"Why do you hide your face?" Caster demanded as he stood in front of her. "You are in audience with a king. Remove your hood."
"Lily's fur is dirty so she doesn't want to pollute Sir's eyes with it…" Lily said quietly.
"Irrelevant. Remove your hood and show me your face."
Shaking slightly, Lily did so, revealing a messy mop of chestnut hair with pointed ears on the top of her head. Gingerly she peeked up at Caster's face only to turn pale and step back at the glare he was throwing her way.
"Y-your Majesty, is something the matter?" Bell asked nervously as he stepped between Lily and Caster.
"Move," Caster demanded, grabbing Bell by the shoulder and pushing him aside. "I will, in my boundless patience, say it one last time. Show. Me. Your. Face."
Bell moved to try and cover Lily again but Archer grabbed his arm and shook his head.
Still shaking and looking like a cornered animal, Lily slowly raised up her hood over her head and lowered it once more. The furry pointed ears on her head were gone and were replaced by ones similar to that of a human on the side of her head.
"Magic? A disguise?" Bell asked. "So she was a Pallum after all and not a Chienthrope."
"When I ask you to show your face the next time, I expect you to comply immediately," Caster said as he held out his hand to the side and a bag fell out of a golden hole in space into it. "Here."
The bag fell into Lily's hands and she looked up at Caster before opening it, revealing a large amount of coins.
"Seventy thousand Valis," Caster said, causing Lily to stare at Caster in shock. "Ten thousand for each floor they cleared. That will be your payment for taking care of those that fool today. I trust that will be sufficient?"
"Y-yes…" Lily nodded her head as if she couldn't believe she was getting so much money for the work she did. "Y-your are too kind Your Majesty…Lily apologizes for insulting you…"
"I need no false gratitudes from a fearful child," Caster said as he turned away from her. "If you wish to please me with words then say them honestly. Anything else will ring as hollow as your spirit."
"T-that's too much, Caster!" Bell said, unable to accept the abuse Caster was hurling at Lily even though she helped them so much.
"Besides, I think she's gotten your point," Archer said, still holding onto Bell's shoulder to keep him from running forward.
"Humph," Caster scoffed as he shook his head. "Goddess Hestia is currently assisting Hephaistos in private matters. She will not return until the morning of Monsterphilia. However, at her request, for now the dungeon is off limits until those matters are complete."
"Huh? Monsterphilia?" Bell repeated.
"It's…it's a festival hosted by the Ganesha Familia…" Lily squeaked out, pulling her hood back on now that Caster wasn't glaring down at her. "It's a festival where they showcase monsters and tame them."
"As she says," Caster nodded. "As such, we shall respect her wishes and prepare for a longer expedition after she returns. You are dismissed."
With that said, Caster left and Archer finally released Bell who ran to Lily's side.
"Are you all right, Lily?" Bell asked. "I'm sorry about Caster. He's really tense sometimes but he's not…that bad of a person."
"No…it's Lily's fault…" Lily mumbled, shaking her head. "Lily shouldn't have tried to trick him…or Master Bell and Master Archer…"
"Still…" Bell muttered as he looked to Archer for help.
The bowman sighed as he walked up to the two of them and placed a hand on their shoulders.
"Come now it's late," he said. "Lily, why don't you join us for dinner as an apology? Our treat. And don't worry, we won't invite his royal pain in the behind."
"You're not mad?" Lily asked. "Mad that Lily lied to you?"
"Everyone has their secrets," Archer shrugged. "Come on. Let's eat some good food and forget about that golden oaf."
"Then…Lily will take you up on that offer…" Lily nodded.
"Good girl," Archer nodded as he placed a hand on her head. "Then let's exchange today's loot and then find a place nearby."
X-x-X-x-X
After exchanging the day's earnings which amounted to about thirty thousand Valis total they headed over to the closest eatery as planned.
"As expected, it really is too much," Lily muttered, looking at her bag sitting in the corner of the pub where the money she was given by Caster was kept tucked away. "It was even way more than what Master Bell and Master Archer earned in the dungeon today…"
"If you try to give it back to him he'll only be even more angry," Archer said as he set down his knife and fork and put on a rather familia looking sneer. "'You dare reject the king's generosity, mongrel girl?!' Or something like that."
"Ahh…I can definitely hear it," Bell said with a laugh. "Archer, you don't like him very much either but you understand him pretty well, don't you?"
"Not at all," Archer said with a smirk as he picked his utensils back up. "I just know the type."
"Ahaha…"
"By the way, Lily," Archer said. "What does your Soma Familia do? Are they an exploration type?"
"Yes…but only on paper," Lily mumbled. "The Familia only exists for Lord Soma's hobby. Lord Soma only really cares about making his wine. And since Lord Soma needs money to make it, he gives a little bit of it as a prize to the Adventurers who bring in the most amount of money. Everyone in the Familia becomes obsessed with it after one drink so they're always after money and do whatever they can to get more of it."
"Have you tried it before?" Bell asked.
"No…and Lily has no intention of doing so."
Bell and Archer shared a glance and Archer shook his head, telling Bell that he shouldn't push any deeper.
"Then…do you think you'll be busy during Monsterphilia?" Bell asked as Lily looked up in surprise. "If not, why not join Archer and me? It's our first Monsterphilia so we'd be happy if you could show us around."
"Oh, that's not a bad idea," Archer agreed. "How about it, Lily? We don't have to invite Goldy if you don't want him to come along."
"But…won't he be angry then?" Lily asked worriedly.
"He disappears from the house to do whatever he wants every night," Archer answered. "If he doesn't even tell our goddess where he's going, then we don't have to tell him where we're going."
"Is that so…" Lily said. "Then…Lily will be happy to show you two around."
"All right!" Bell cheered, throwing his arms up in the air. "Then we'll be counting on you two days from now!"
Once they finished their meal they decided to part ways at the exit.
"Are you sure you don't need us to walk you home?" Bell asked.
"Don't worry Master Bell," Lily nodded. "Lily will be fine. Then, goodnight, Master Bell and Master Archer."
The two of them watched Lily leave and disappear into the night before Bell turned to Archer.
"Hey Archer, even if she says that, I can't help but be worried," Bell admitted. "Do you think you can keep an eye on her?"
Archer didn't say anything as he glanced upward to the roof of the building for a moment before turning back to Bell.
"I'm sure she'll be fine," Archer said as he placed a hand on Bell's head. "Don't worry too much. Girl's don't like nosy men after all."
"T-that doesn't have anything to do with this!" Bell said as Archer took him by the shoulder and steered him back home. "Archer? Hey Archer, listen to me!"
X-x-X-x-X
Lily felt exhausted as she made her way back to one of her hideaways.
As she traversed the quiet and empty alleyways of the city, she thought back to her experience with the so-called Hestia Familia.
There were only three members but they were all completely different.
Bell Cranel…he seemed to be the youngest of the familia members and was held with high expectations of the other two and at the same time he seemed to seek their praise like a dog and seemed to look up to them. He was also kind…almost infuriatingly so. He was skilled despite being a self-described novice, capable of earning thirty thousand valis in one day more or less alone when a party of five Level 1 Adventurers would struggle get that much in a week.
Archer…the tallest of the three and acted as both a mentor and an older sibling to Bell. Their relationship felt both warm and strict but he did not hesitate to help her out and invite her along for fun out of genuine motives. He was like the adult of the three, making sure to keep the peace and keep both of them from causing too much trouble.
Caster…the Captain of the Familia and a so-called king. Lily had to admit that he had the air, arrogance and wealth of one. It wasn't as though royalty never became Adventurers…she heard rumors that Loki Familia's Nine Hells was some elven princess before becoming one. All the elves in the city seemed to treat her like one anyway. Lily felt like she couldn't like the man, but he had paid her an absurd amount of money for almost no work at the drop of the hat and according to Archer, would be flat out insulted if she even thought about giving it back. He was the one Lily understood the least. He had all the spite and arrogance of those Adventurers in Lily's Familia but would pay her far beyond her "fair share" without hesitation when those other Adventurers would try their damndest to cheat her out of every last Valis.
"That golden person…who exactly is he?"
"Yo, fancy meeting you here."
Lily's breath was caught her in throat as she turned around to see a trio of Adventurers standing behind her. Members of her own Familia.
"Heard you got paid rather handsomely today," the leader of the trio, a male Raccoon People. "How about sharing t with your fellow Familia Members?"
Share? Yeah right. They were planning on taking all of it. All sixty thousand Valis that that Caster person gave her. No, there was a chance that they didn't know the entire amount. If she could find a way to keep fifty thousand…that's right…they would never believe that she had earned so much money for a few days of work helping a pair of Adventurers on the Upper Floors.
"Fine…" she said, taking out a small bag from her pack. She had thought ahead and separated the sixty thousand into several smaller amounts just in case after all.
The thug walked over and snatched it out of her hands only to then kick her, sending her falling back down the staircase she had just climbed up.
"See, that wasn't so hard," the thug asked as Lily coughed and clutched her stomach. "It's only right that you pay tribute to those Adventurers that let you freeloading Supporters into the Familia."
"Be that as it may be, that coin was not meant for you, mongrel."
A loud explosion rang out from the top of the staircase, prompting Lily to quickly slip out of her pack and huddle close to the bottom of the stairs as the three men were sent flying down as well.
She chanced a look up and saw Caster standing there, with the money bag in his hands.
"You bastard!" The thugs shouted as they got to their feet. "Who do you think you are?"
"You are not worthy of knowing my name," Caster said as he held up what looked like a stone tablet which started shining.
There was a scream of pain and Lily turned to see two of the thugs were wrapped in golden runes that were slowly squeezing them before a loud and sickening crack echoed in the night and the runes disappeared, dropping the two men like puppets who had their strings severed.
"Take your fellow mongrels and leave," Caster said as he slowly walked down the stairs with the tablet still in his hand. "The king is not without mercy and he will let you flee with your lives."
"You making fun of me?!" the Raccoon shouted hysterically making Lily think he had lost his mind. He then pulled out a small blade that was glowing red.
A magic sword.
"Let's see how you like this!"
"Don't!" Lily screamed as a blade released several balls of fire out at Caster.
Almost lazily, Caster tucked his tablet under his shoulder and raised the hand that was covered in a golden gauntlet. The flames impacted the gauntlet and fizzled out like matchsticks in the rain.
"I-impossible…"
"To raise your hand against the king…it would appear some more discipline is required," Caster said as he opened up the tome again. A shimmer of gold appeared behind him and Caster reached into it with his free hand, pulling out a magic stave made of gold and topped with a bright crystal. With a lazy movement, he jabbed the bottom of the stave onto the ground and a bolt of lightning shot out of it, striking the thug before he could even do so much as scream.
Lily stared at the smoldering crisp that was once a normal person and realized, with a mixture of amazement and horror, that he was still alive.
"As expected of a god's blessing," Caster muttered, causing Lily to shriek as she realized he was standing right next to her now. "It can make even the lowest of wretches survive anything thrown at them."
"U-umm…Lord Caster?" Lily began. "Lily is…"
"Silence mongrel girl," he said simply, making Lily clam up immediately. "You dare try to hand over the king's gift to someone else without my permission. Your punishment is next."
Archer was right. His arrogance was on another level.
"Pick up your belongings girl," he ordered. "And follow me."
Lily didn't dare flee or disobey his order. She picked up her pack and followed Caster back out onto the main streets without any word of protest. She waited behind him as he flagged down a passing Ganesha Familia member working as a city guard and told them about the location of her injured Familia members before he gestured to her to continue following.
He led her all the way to one of the poorer districts and she found herself standing in front of a ruined church of some goddess.
"What are you doing?" Caster demanded as he opened the crumbing door. "Inside."
"Y-yes…" Lily nodded as she quickly fell in step. Caster led her to the back of the altar and pushed open a hidden door before descending the staircase.
Once he opened the door at the bottom, Lily heard a familiar voice.
"Oh, welcome home, Your Majesty! Sorry we ate dinner without you."
"You are forgiven. I had other matters to attend to in any case. What are you waiting for? Inside."
Lily realized that he was referring to her and she slowly walked into the room…which she realized was even smaller than her own hideaway.
Bell was staring at her in surprise from a rather old and worn couch while Archer was busy stocking pouring a drink into four glasses.
"Miss Lily? What are you doing here?" Bell asked. "Ah, you're hurt! Archer, get the first aid kit!"
"N-no…Lily is fine, Master Bell…" Lily said quickly as she felt Caster push her forward from behind so he could shut the door.
"She has done something unforgivable in my presence," Caster explained. "As such, her punishment will be to sleep in this dreary place where we can keep an eye on her."
"It really would kill you to be honest, wouldn't it?" Archer asked as he helped Lily out of her bag and sat her down on the bed before pulling out a small case from underneath the bed. "Where does it hurt?"
"No…really…Lily is-" she began but Archer placed a finger on her lips and gestured with his head toward Caster who was sitting on the couch across the room from the bed, looking in their direction with his stark red eyes. Lily then recalled what Archer said in the pub. "Then…Lily was kicked here…"
She held a hand on her stomach and Archer nodded.
Lily gingerly removed her robe, causing Bell to blush, babble a bit and run out the door, causing both Caster and Archer to sigh before Archer started treating the rather large bruise on Lily's stomach.
"I will be asking questions and you will answer them properly, understand?" Caster suddenly spoke up and Lily nodded obediently. "Your name?"
"Lily…Liliruca Arde…" Lily replied.
"Your Familia?"
"Soma Familia."
"Those three from earlier?"
"Soma Familia…"
Archer's hands stopped moving as he looked up at Lily before turning toward Caster who simply frowned.
"What about your God?"
"Lord Soma doesn't care about Lily and the rest," Lily mumbled bitterly as Bell pushed the door opened slightly and poked his head in to listen better. "Lord Soma spends all day making wine and only updates the status of those who make enough money for him to make the wine."
"I see…" Caster nodded. "Wine made from the hands of a god, even without their divinity, will still be a potent thing. Those fools are probably desperate addicts climbing over each others' corpses for another taste. Is that correct?"
"Yes…" Lily nodded. "Lily hasn't ever drunk the wine though. Lily just wants enough money to meet Lord Soma to leave the Familia."
"I can't believe it…" Bell muttered as he walked back in the room properly. "A Familia is supposed to be one big family…how can anyone, god or Adventurers do something like this?"
"It's not surprising at all, boy," Caster countered. "From the start, the gods only ever pay attention to things that interest them. Your goddess is the same. She goes out of her way to take care of you because you belong to her like a little pet rabbit."
"That's not true!" Bell shouted. "The goddess…admittedly is a bit clingy but she honestly truly cares about all of us, not just me. She works hard because she wants to provide for us because we're family and that's what family does for each other!"
"Are you raising your voice at me?" Caster asked but to his surprise, Bell didn't back down and was weakly glaring at him, causing the king to chuckle. "Fuh…very well, I will allow it as a sign of your growth. But now we reach the crux of the problem."
Caster stood up just as Archer finished his treatment of Lily and stepped back.
"I have no use for someone who follows two kings," he said looking down at Lily with his red eyes that seemed to shine in the dimly lit room. "As punishment for your grievance from earlier, you are to remain in our custody until the end of Monsterphilia and face the judgement of the Goddess Hestia. She will decide what to do with you."
"Caster…" Bell spoke up again. "We can't just…not…help her!"
"The internal workings of another Familia are not our place to interfere," Caster said, glaring at Bell. "Doing so without reason will incur a penalty from the Guild. Are you willing to subject your Goddess to that for your own selfishness?"
At the mention of Hestia, Bell turned his head away from Caster, hands clenched into fist and biting his lip hard enough to draw blood.
"Unless Arde herself gives us a reason to interfere, we cannot do anything," Caster said, turning his eye toward Lily while facing Bell. "Understand?"
Lily blinked in surprise, turning to look at Archer who met her gaze with a smile.
"Lily…" she began. "Lily doesn't deserve everyone's help…Lily doesn't deserve anyone's help. Lily is a bad person! Lily planned on taking more money for herself at the Exchange! That's why…that's why…Lily doesn't deserve everyone's kindness!"
"…Whether you deserve it or not, it is my decision to give it," Caster said as Bell walked around the couch and crouched down in front of Lily who had stood up in the middle of her self-depreciating rant.
"Please Lily…" he said, taking her hands into his. "I know we only just met today and you have absolutely no reason to trust us but…I don't want to see you…or anyone for that matter, suffer like this.. I want to help you. So…"
"…Please…stop…please…" Lily choked out as tears formed in her eyes. "Don't make Lily hope…"
"Too bad," Bell said with a smile. "Heroes exist to give girls hope after all."
"What is that nonsense!?" Lily half screamed half sobbed at Bell. "Master Bell is horrible! Pervert! Playboy! Enemy of all women!"
As she hurled such abuse at the flabbergasted Bell, Lily buried her face in his chest as Archer just threw his arms out in a shrug and Caster let his head fall to the side in exasperation.
Author's Note:
Do not expect this speed of updates to continue for long. I am on a writing high right now but it will not last.
