Chapter 6: Path of a Hero
Come morning, Caster was gone as usual.
"He's probably meeting with a real estate agent or something," Archer pointed out. "Or gone to pick up Lady Hestia. She said she would be back by today, right?"
"Oh that's right," Bell said with a nod. "Should we go wait for them at Babel first?"
"She might not even be there," Archer said. "Besides…" he placed a hand on the tiny Lily's head who wriggled a bit under it. "Today is Lily's day after all."
"M-Master Archer, that tickles…" Lily said, having used her magic to turn back into a Chienthrope to add another layer of disguise.
"I guess you're right," Bell said with a laugh. "Come on, let's go!"
"Yes!" Lily nodded. "Lily will be happy to see the afternoon sun again after two days."
"Sorry about that," Archer said with a wry smile as they climbed the staircase.
"Lily understands. It is to keep Lily safe after all. But it smelled of men the entire time Lily was in there."
"I'm sorry…" Bell apologized with a small laugh.
They exited the church and Lily stretched her arms out, taking in the open morning air after a long while.
"Monsterphilia is a big festival," Lily explained as they walked down the street. "The entire city gets into it and lots of stands pop up to sell food and souvenirs. But the main attraction is in the stadium. There, Ganesha Familia puts on a show to tame monsters."
"Taming monsters?" Bell asked. "Is that even possible?"
"Yes," Lily nodded. "But Lily heard that it is very difficult and you need the Tamer skill to do so. Ganesha family have a lot of Tamers and monsters that they use to help fight in the dungeon and other places too."
"Heh…that's sounds amazing."
"And the stadium is where they do it in front of an audience?" Archer asked.
"Yes," Lily nodded. "Lily never had the chance to see it herself, but she has heard that it is very popular even though monsters are dangerous and scary."
"I see," Archer nodded. "It's like a circus attraction."
"Yes."
"I kinda wanna see it," Bell said with a smile. "How about we make our way there?"
Since neither of the other two had any concrete plans either way, they agreed.
Even though it was still early, the streets were already crowded and filled with both tourists and locals with everyone scrambling to buy things from the various stands around them. Archer, being the tallest and strongest of the three, kept his hands on both of them as they pushed their way through the crowd. He kept Lily as close to him as possible as she was invisible to practically everyone around them.
"The ring really works…" Lily said after she had jumped around and made faces in front of the owner of a potato puff stand while Archer was buying from him. "Lily admits she was skeptical but…"
"Don't let Caster hear you say that or he'd be really mad…" Bell said seriously as Lily nodded her head quickly.
"Still…it's going to take some time making our way through this crowd…" Archer noted, a bag of potato puffs in his arm while using a free hand to snack on one himself. "Did people stay up all night to get seats I wonder?"
"Do not worry, Master Archer," Lily said as she reached into the bag for a potato puff when he offered it to her. "The taming events go on all day and well into the night. We will have plenty of opportunity to watch it."
"That's good," Bell said with a smile. "I would really hate to miss it. Hmm?"
Bell suddenly turned his head to the side just as Archer did when-
"Beeelllllll!" A tiny white clothed goddess jumped out from an alleyway and into Bell's arms.
"Dowah!? Goddess!?"
"Ahh Bell, it's been so long since I've seen you," Hestia said as she hugged him tightly, pressing her body against him. "It makes all that work worth it in the end!"
"This is…Goddess Hestia?" Lily asked, looking up at Archer who had a rather complicated smile on his face. "Ahh…"
"Hmm? Who is this?" Hestia asked, noticing Lily after peeking around Bell and looking directly at Lily, confirming Caster's prediction that the ring's effect was useless in front of a God.
"Ah, pleased to meet you Lady Hestia," Lily greeted with a bow. "L-…I am Liliruca Arde."
"Lily joined us as a supporter in the Dungeon," Bell explained. "But she got caught up in some trouble so Caster is helping her out by hiding her with us for the time being."
"Caster?" Hestia repeated. "Caster. Our Caster? Mister High-and-Mighty-and-Arrogant-With-a-Stick-Up-His-Butt King Caster?"
"Yes…" Bell nodded with a wry smile, unsure whether he should laugh or not.
"Hmm…does that mean you're someone special to him or does it mean that you got big problems tagging along?" Hestia said as she released Bell and examined Lily.
"Definitely the second Lady Hestia…" Lily replied seriously.
"Hmm…" Hestia let out another hum as she looked around. "Then, let's stop by over at that park so you can tell me the details."
Though it was called a park, there wasn't much greenery around it. Just a large fountain and a few trees and benches. It was the perfect place for people to relax or meet up with each other.
Hestia, Lily and Bell sat on one of the benches while Archer stood behind them with his back resting against the back of the bench as Bell and Lily explained what was going on.
"Soma huh…" Hestia sighed. "I never really talked to him much but when I was living with Hephaistos I overheard her children complain about his Familia a lot."
"Yes, they are most likely all true," Lily nodded. "That's why Lily wants to leave. Lily can't take it there anymore."
"Hmm…well it sounds like Caster put a lot of effort into this already," Hestia said. "So you boys keep at it. I don't want all of your work to be for nothing."
"Thank you very much, Goddess!" Bell said, bowing to her in gratitude to which Lily followed up.
"No worries. But Miss Supporter?"
"Yes, Goddess Hestia?" Lily asked.
"I really would like it if you joined our Familia after you leave Soma's," Hestia said with a smile. "After all. Only an idiot would go after you again with Caster looking over your shoulder, right?"
"Yes, Lily thinks so too," Lily said with a smile.
Behind them, Archer had a smile on his face, glad that things were going well before he suddenly pushed himself off the bench, his body completely tensed.
"Archer?" Hestia asked as Bell also looked around. "Bell? What's wrong?"
"…I thought I heard a scream?" Bell replied.
No sooner did he say that did someone shout out "MONSTER!"
At that moment, there was a crash as several stands and crates were smashed, revealing a four legged monster with massive antlers that were sharp as blades.
"A sword stag!?" Lily gasped just as Archer launched himself forward without a second though.
"Archer!?" Bell shouted after him as a pair of blades appeared in Archer's hands. The blades shot forward like arrows and planted themselves in the ground where the chains that were probably keeping the monster secure was lying.
The blades locked the chains into place just as it tried to jump, causing it to fall back onto the ground with a loud crash. Taking the opportunity, Archer landed by the beast's side and a large two handed sword appeared in his hands which he brought down on the beast's neck, severing it clean from the rest of its body.
"Wow…" Lily said as the crowd began cheering. "Lily knew Master Archer was strong but…"
Bell nodded, his eyes shining in awe at Archer as he dismissed his blades and looked at the city. A fire inside Bell renewed its heat. He wanted to be of use to this person. He wanted to be someone that can stand beside this person. He wanted to be a hero like this person.
"Master," Archer said, catching Bell's attention. "It sounds like there are more that have escaped into the city. I want to go help but…"
"Don't worry," Bell nodded. There was no way he was going to keep a Hero from saving people. "Go after them. I'll get Lily and Goddess to safety."
"Sorry and thanks," Archer nodded before he leaped up from the street onto a nearby building and started making his way to the source of the commotion.
"We should get out of here," Bell said as he took Lily and Hestia by their hands.
"Yes!" Lily nodded. "Lily isn't sure if the ring protects Lily form Monsters but Lily has no desire to check right now!"
"Ahh~ Bell is holding my hand~" Hestia said happily as he pulled the two of them down the street.
"Now is not the time for that!" Lily retorted.
No sooner did she say that then another monster crash down just in front of them.
This one was much larger and bulkier than the sword stag from before. It stood on two legs but used its massive arms to support its equally massive body.
"S-silverback!?" Lily breathed, tears forming in her eyes.
People around them were screaming and running away as the silverback roared.
"Master Bell, that monster is from the Eleventh Floor! We have to run!"
"R-right!" Bell nodded before leading the other two the opposite way. There was another crash and Bell took the chance to look behind him only to pale. "It's chasing us!"
Lily and Hestia turned around to look as well, only to scream as the monster was slowly gaining on them. Bell looked back and forth between the two of them before making a decision.
"Sorry you two!" He shouted as he scooped Hestia with his left arm and Lily in his right, causing both of them to squeal in shock and ran as fast as he could down the street, holding Hestia over his shoulder like a sack while keeping grip on Lily under his arm like a stack of books.
"This isn't romantic at all!" Hestia shouted only to scream when she saw the silver back leap over them and cut them off.
"Master Bell, turn left!" Lily shouted, pointing at an alley. Bell did and they slipped into the alley just as the silverback crashed into the walls behind them, its body being too big to fit into it.
"Waaahhhahaha!" Hestia cried as they ran through the alley. "Where is Caster when you need him?"
"Master Bell, watch out!" Lily's call came a bit too late.
Just as they were about to reach an exit, a large chain slammed the area in front of Bell. Thankfully it didn't hit any of them but the force sent Bell flying…and made him lose his grip on Lily.
"Lily!" Bell screamed as she landed right in front of the silverback.
Lily looked up at the monster in fear before curling up and praying that it wouldn't be too painful only for the blow to never come. Instead, the monster sniffed at her once before ignoring her completely and leaped after Hestia and Bell.
"Lily…is not dead?" Lily asked herself, completely amazed. "…Lily didn't want to die?"
She then looked down at her hands. Did the ring work and save her? Or did it just not care about her?
There was a scream and Lily looked up.
"Master Bell, run!" Lily called out as the monster landed in front of them but Bell managed to run around it before it could swipe at him.
"I can't just leave you!" He shouted back.
"Lily will be fine!" She said. "It's ignorning Lily! Just run!"
Bell shot her a pained look before taking off, with the Silverback hot on his tail.
Lily tried to stand up but a sharp pain in her leg forced her back down onto the ground. Looking down, she saw that her ankle was a bit swollen.
Lily reached inside her cloak and pulled out a small potion from her pocket. Draining it quickly, she felt the pain in her leg vanish as she stood back up, using the wall for support.
"What should Lily do? What should Lily do?"
Should she try to find Caster? But she had no idea where he was. Should she try to chase after Bell and Hestia? But then what could she do to help when she didn't have any weapons?
"Useless!" She screamed as she pounded her hand against the wall. "Lily is always useless!"
The Hestia Familia was doing their best to keep her safe and help her and she couldn't do anything. Bell had said that Caster and Archer were spirits that had contracted with him. If Bell were to get killed…what would happen to them? Would they disappear?
Lily couldn't let that happen. Not just for her own sake, but the Goddess's sake too.
"Lily…Lily needs to do something!"
"Good words."
"Huh?"
Lily turned around and felt a hand on her head. Standing behind her was Caster, wearing an approving smile as he picked her up in one arm.
"Lord Caster!" Lily said, relief and happiness filling her body. "Hurry! Master Bell and Lady Hestia are in danger!"
"Do not worry about them, Arde," Caster said as he picked her up in one arm and leaped up onto the rooftops. "They will be fine. Or the name of Hephaistos will no longer be worth anything."
"What do you mean?" Lily asked as Caster hopped from roof to roof with surprising grace.
"Do you want to see it, Arde?" Caster asked, a rather feral smile appearing on his face. "The first steps of a new hero?"
X-x-X-x-X
Standing on one of the tall columns that lined the city as lookout points, Archer held a black bow in his hands alongside an equally pitch black coiled sword. In his eyes, he saw several monsters wandering around near the stadium, although he had no idea what they were. Nonetheless, he nocked the sword in his bow and the blade coiled up even more.
Before he could shoot it though, a gold and green blur swept across the monsters and blood spilled out of them.
"That's…the Sword Princess…" he muttered as he relaxed his stance. "Pretty fast. So that's a level 5 then?"
Seeing as that area was taken care of, he looked around for other targets.
"Was that all of them?" He wondered only to spin around as a cloud of smoke and rubble erupted in the distance. "Damn."
Leaping off his perch, he hopped from rooftop to rooftop until he could get a look at what was going on. There, he saw a pair of dark skinned women…Amazons…punching down a strange green monster that was sprouting from the ground only to jump back and shake their hands in pain. It seemed as though its hide was rather strong. There was a third girl standing a bit further away, her arms held out toward the monster as the Amazons were distracting it. A mage of some sorts…?
Suddenly, the monster turned its head toward the mage and the next instant, another green monster sprouted up and stabbed her in the side, sending he flying in the air.
Archer clicked his tongue as he bursted forward, catching the girl as she fell out of the air and landing hard on some crates.
"Oi, are you all right?" He asked but the girl looked like she was just barely keeping conscious.
"Hey! Who are you!?" One of the Amazons shouted at him only for the ground to rumble as the head of the monster opened up, revealing a large flower with many many teeth.
"Did it bloom?" The Amazon dressed in red gasped.
"It was a flower, not a snake!?" The yellow dressed Amazon shouted. "Hey you! Get Lefiya out of there!"
Archer nodded as he jumped away from the plant monster to land on a roof, only for the roof to explode open and reveal another plant monster.
"Damn!" Archer grunted as two more monsters sprouted beside it.
Then, he felt himself be blasted out of the air away from the flower heads. Bringing the girl closer to his chest, he managed to land on a different roof just as the Sword Princess landed in front of him.
"Sorry," Archer said. "Thanks for the save."
"It's fine," she replied. "Thank you for protecting Lefiya."
"A-Ais…" the girl, who Archer realized was an Elf, managed to croak out.
"Please look after her," Ais said as she jumped back into the fray.
"Wait!" Archer called out. "That sword is-"
But before he could finish, Ais struck one of the plant monsters and severed its head…only for the sword to shatter as well…
"Damn…" Archer cursed again as several vines like the one that struck Lefiya started sprouting all around the street.
It was clear to Archer that that wasn't a sword the Sword Princess was used to using. Or rather, it was the first time she really seriously used it if it shattered so easily.
He carefully set Lefiya down on the roof and stood in front of her as he watched the three women struggle against the plants without any weapons.
"Blunt attacks aren't working…" he muttered as he noted as the Amazons' attacks were not doing anything. Even a magic powered strike with the pommel of the blade didn't do anything more than knock it down for a moment before it went right back to chasing her, completely ignoring Archer, Lefiya and the two Amazons.
"I get it!" The red Amazon shouted. "Ais! It's attracted to your magic!"
Once the Amazon said that, Ais started pulling away from the roof Archer and Lefiya were on…only to end up in the same area as-
Archer noticed just a bit before Ais did and he reinforced his body and launched himself off the roof. He reached his target just before Ais did and held his hand out in the direction of the incoming woman and monster plant. The moment Ais slipped past his hand, he poured his magic out.
"The Seven Rings that Cover the Fiery Heavens: RHO AIAS!"
A large shield made from magic energy formed in front of his hand, taking the shape of a pink flower that shout out six rings of pure light in front of it. The plant monsters crashed into the ring and were sent flying back as Archer felt a sharp pain run through his arm. Behind him he saw Ais grab a Chienthrope child that had been cowering behind a crate and leap to safety, prompting him to do the same.
"Sword Princess!" Archer shouted as he channeled his energy in his hand and formed an exact copy of the sword she had been using. "Trade!"
He threw the blade at her as she released her grip on the girl, allowing Archer to grab her before she started falling. Archer landed with the girl in his arms and looked down at her with a smile while she glanced at him with tears in her eyes.
"Are you okay?" He asked and she timidly nodded her head. "That's good."
There was a flash of light shining from the monster and when it died down, it was suddenly encased in ice.
"Ahh…and I ran all the way here for nothing," came a voice beside him.
Archer turned around and found the Goddess Loki standing there, leaning on a wall for support with one hand and a blade in the other.
"Goddess Loki," Archer said as Loki smiled at him.
"Sup Hero?" Loki greeted with a cheerful smile as the amazons shattered half the monster with a powerful combined kick while Ais destroyed the rest with the sword Archer gave her.
"I see…so that's your Familia," Archer said as he set the girl down and placed a hand on her head.
"Yeppers, wanna meet them properly?" Loki asked.
"Mister Archer!"
Archer turned around and saw Eina running up to them.
"Eina Tulle…"
"What are you doing here?" She asked before looking down and seeing the girl. "Oh dear, are you okay? Are you hurt?"
"I'm fine," she said, clinging onto Archer's leg.
"Looks like you got a fan, Red Man," Loki said, elbowing Archer in the side. "Hey Miss Guildy, think you can look after the kid? I wanna talk to this guy for a bit."
"Of course, Lady Loki," Eina nodded as she crouched down to the girl. "Come on, I'll help you find your parents."
With the child taken care off, Archer was dragged by Loki to the other girls.
Once they were there, Archer noticed that the elf girl from earlier, Lefiya, was up on her feet despite her wound. It seems like she was the one who casted the spell from earlier.
Before anyone could say anything, Archer quickly lowered his head in a bow to Lefiya.
"My apologies," he said to everyone's surprise. "I heard from one of my seniors that Elves did not like being touched by strangers."
"An no, it's okay," Lefiya said quickly. "You helped me after all."
"Yeah no need to worry about things like that when people are in danger," the Amazon in yellow said patting Archer on the back. "You're pretty quick on your feet aren't you? What's your name and what Familia are you from?"
"I go by Archer…" Archer replied before glancing at Loki who cocked a brow in confusion. "And I'm not sure if I should say the name of my Familia in front of your goddess."
"Hmm? Why not?" Loki asked before blinking a bit. "Wait…don't tell me…you're from that chibi Hestia's Familia too?"
"Yes."
"Gahh! First Goldy then this one too!?" Loki shouted as the other stared at her in confusion before Ais walked over and held out the sword to Archer.
"Thank you," she said. "It was helpful."
"No problem," he said as he reached out for it and took it from her before it dissolved in his hands.
Loki and her Familia members froze as the the particles of magic slowly drifted to the ground before Ais started shaking and her eyes turned rather dull in fear and worry.
"I'm sorry…" she said quietly. "I'll pay you back for it…"
"Pay?" Archer repeated before he held a hand to his mouth in a laugh. "No, don't worry about it."
"But that looked just like Ais other sword," The yellow Amazon said. "Wasn't it worth Forty Mil-"
But she was quickly quieted by the other Amazon who slapped her hand over her mouth.
"No, really, it's fine," Archer said as he held his hands out again and projected two more identical copies of the same sword. "They're actually just cheap throwaway copies that I can create in an instant."
"Wait…so you can just make swords whenever you want?" The yellow Amazon asked, pulling the hand off her mouth.
"Yes," Archer nodded as the blades vanished as well.
She stared at him for another second before jumping away from the other Amazon and planting herself right in front of Archer before grabbing his hands and shaking them.
"Hi, I'm Tiona, let's be friends," she said, introducing herself to him.
"Huh?" Archer looked at the Amazon in confusion. "Uh…okay?"
"Great! And since we're now friends let me show you my Urga and see if you can't make me copies of that too! Bufwa!"
She was stopped as the other Amazon chopped her on the head.
"Don't bother him like that," she said with a sigh. "I'm Tione Hiryute. This idiot's sister."
"Ais Wallenstein," Ais said, looking slightly relieved she didn't have to pay forty million valis and putting herself further into debt. She then leaned in a bit closer to him. "Hmm?"
"Yes?"
"No…never mind. It's nothing."
"Umm…and I'm Lefiya Viridis, thank you again for helping me!" The elf girl said with a bow.
"No…I'm sorry I couldn't do anything before you got hurt," Archer said as he scratched his head.
"No worries, she'll be fine after a little rest," Loki said as she slapped his back. "No need to be so hard on yerself. Not like we've ever seen these things up here before. By the way, did you girls get them all?"
"No," Ais said, shaking her head. "I didn't see a Silverback."
"Hmm…that's no good," Loki said as she tossed Ais the blade she was holding. "Go find it before something else happens."
"Yes."
And with that, she took off.
"Now then tall, dark and swordy," Loki began, leaning on his arm. "First it was Caster and now Archer but those aren't yer real names right? This some sort of play that Hestia's got you doing?"
"It is not," Archer replied.
"Heh, so you're just following a theme yourself then? Well, I wanna thank ya for helping my girls out. Wanna come visit us for a bit? You can bring Goldy along with you."
"…I do not think Lady Hestia will let us," Archer said honestly.
"Oh come on, it's not like I'm after your inbuilt sword printing press or Goldy's wine."
Archer and the girls stared at Loki with suspicious eyes.
"What? I'm not. Honest! Scouts Honor!"
"I'm afraid I will have to decline," Archer said. "I need to make sure my Familia members are safe." He then turned to the others. "Stay safe ladies."
Then, reinforcing his legs once more, Archer leaped up to the rooftops and made his way back toward the area where he left the others.
X-x-X-x-X
"And there he goes…" Loki said with a sigh. "Come on guys, why didn't ya back me up?"
"Well…I kinda wanted to but…" Tiona admitted before flinching from her sister as she raised her hand up again.
"I don't think it would be right to try and take him from his Familia right after he helped us," Lefiya said just as Eina came running back.
"Huh? Mister Archer already left?" Eina asked.
"Yeah, said he was looking for his other Familia members," Loki said.
"I see…" Eina said. "Thank you for looking after him. He must have been in over his head."
"Not really," Tiona said. "He was really calm and knew what he was doing except for that one part where more flower heads popped up. He even backed up Ais."
"Huh?" Eina was confused. "Aren't you giving him a bit too much credit? He's only a Level 1 that hasn't even been an Adventurer for a week yet."
"""Eh?"""
"Eh?"
The sisters and Lefiya gaped at Eina in surprise only for the Guild Worker to gape back at them.
"No see, they were just surprised to see him save that girl so easily," Loki said, slipping in between them. "They thought he had a little more experience under his belt than that. Guess he's just a natural born hero or something."
"I see…" Eina said with a nod. "He certainly is as reliable as he looks isn't he? Then I'll be taking my leave now, Lady Loki."
"Sure thing! Don't overwork yourself."
"Hey…Loki?" Tiona began as Eina ran off. "Was she telling the truth? That Archer guy really is only a Level 1?"
"At the very least she believes it," Loki said with a smile. "That Chibi ain't the type to lie about something like Levels either…at least not without getting busted right away."
"But that movement and his creating swords and that wall of light he put up in front of Ais," Lefiya said. "There's no way he can just be a Level 1."
"Girls, what did you see when you saw him?" Loki asked.
The three of them looked at each other before answering.
"A human male?" Lefiya asked. "One who tries to help people?"
"Someone that laughs things off easily?" Tiona added.
"And is harsh on himself?" Tione finished.
"Probably," Loki shrugged "But are you absolutely sure about that first part, Lefiya?"
"Eh?" Lefiya blinked. "But…what else could he be?"
"What indeed?" Loki asked with a smile.
X-x-X-x-X
Back over on the other side of the city, Caster and Lily were perched on a rooftop as Lily was looking down at the ground with awe, having watched Hestia quickly update Bell's status and then have him charge the Silverback with a new knife in hand.
"A-amazing…" she said as the people hiding in the houses started to cheer. "Master Bell just…defeated that Silverback in one hit."
"Of course he did," Caster said with a smile as Hestia ran toward Bell. "Monsters die in one blow if you destroy the crystal, do they not?"
"S-still, Master Bell is just a newbie right?!" Lily insisted. "That's not something anyone can just pull off."
"Exactly," Caster said, leaning in closer to Lily before backing off. "Come."
Lily grabbed onto Caster and the two hopped down just as Archer landed down beside Bell as well.
"You're late, mongrel," Caster said.
"Considering I just came from the opposite end of town, I'd say I made great time," Archer insisted.
"Ahh jeez, stop fighting you two!" Hestia shouted as she helped Bell sit up. "Grab Bell and lets go home."
"Sorry…" Bell said as Archer picked him up on his back. "I'm feeling really tired right now…and I left all my potions at home."
"Master Bell, please remember to always carry at least two potions with you even when doing things like shopping," Lily said as she walked beside them while Hestia walked in front and Caster took the rear.
"Yeah…I'll remember that…" he muttered.
"Rest now, Bell Cranel," Caster said. "You have the king's blessing. Leave the rest to your Familia."
"Yes…thank you very much."
And with that, Bell fell asleep, letting out light snores on Archer's back.
Hurrying through the city, the five of them made their way back to the church where Archer placed Bell on the bed on Hestia's orders.
"Now then…" Hestia said as she sat down on the bed next to Bell and Caster on the couch as usual with Archer against the wall and Lily on the floor next to Caster. "What did you two learn?"
"On the far side of town a strange species of monster appeared," Archer reported. "It wasn't one anything Eina mentioned in her lessons. Some kind of plant monster…it was resistant to physical attacks but magic and cutting attacks were effective. It also…dropped this."
Archer pushed himself off the wall and placed a magic stone on the table. Instead of the usual purple color that all the other stones they had collected so far had, it was a strange yellow color that was almost like a rainbow.
"Arde?" Caster asked but Lily shook her head.
"Lily has never seen a stone like this before," she replied.
"Hmm…we should probably ask the Guild about it but…" Hestia began before looking away. "I feel like we'll be getting involved in something too dangerous if we do. On the other hand…ahhh…"
Hestia scratched her head violently and shook her upper body around for a moment before stopping.
"Let's put it off!" She declared causing Lily to thump her head on the table, for Archer's knees to buckle slightly and for Caster to sink a bit deeper in the couch. "So, what about you Caster?"
"I went and investigated the cages where the monsters were let loose," Caster said, placing his gauntlet hand in front of his face. "From what the Ganesha guards believe, it seems as though the guards on standby were drugged with something before the culprit released the monsters to cause a ruckus. However…"
His hand then fell onto his face and Lily suddenly felt all the hair on her body stand on end.
"There was no drug used on those guards," Caster spoke in a low voice to the point of a growl. "There was a sickeningly sweet stench that lingered all over those cages. The stench of a Goddess of Love."
"Wait…you're saying that a goddess released those monsters?" Hestia asked.
"The monsters, while a menace, completely ignored the unconscious Ganesha Familia members that were lying around defenseless due to being 'Charmed' by the Goddess. The goddess then used that same Charm to bewitch the monsters into 'looking for something.'"
Caster then lowered his hand and turned his eyes toward Hestia who shook in surprise.
"Come to think of it, both the Sword Stag and the Silverback only attacked when you were near it," Lily pointed out. "But why would someone want to attack Lady Hestia?"
"Are there any gods or goddesses that you aren't on good terms with?" Archer asked. "Aside from Loki I mean?"
"Hmm…" Hestia folded her arms and tried to think. "I don't know. I really only ever talked with my friends up in 'Tenkai' and I don't really mingle with any other gods down here. I don't think I ever did anything for anyone to hate me that they would send a Silverback after me."
"Perhaps it wasn't Lady Hestia specifically but rather any goddess in the area?" Archer suggested. "Lady Hestia just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time?"
"Hmm…that is a possibility," Caster admitted as his frown deepened.
"Did you have another idea, Lord Caster?" Lily asked.
"…No…" Caster said after a long pause. "I do not."
"Well, let's send a complaint to the Guild about that anyway," Hestia said. "See if I can't get any compensation for being chased all across Daedalus Street by a monster from them or Ganesha. Anyway, is there anything else?"
"Well…" Archer spoke up. "There is one little thing. In my fight against the plant monsters, I cooperated with Loki Familia. The goddess herself invited me and Caster over to give her thanks."
"Me?" Caster asked as Hestia started shaking. "Ah…she's after that I see…"
"NO WAY IN HELL!" Hestia shouted, causing Bell to jerk awake.
"Who…wha?" Bell groaned as he looked around. "Oh, I'm back home."
"Moving on…" Caster sighed as he sat up. "I also have news. I received a notice from the Guild. A site for our new Familia home has been picked. We can finally leave this wretched place."
"Yes!" Hestia cheered as she jumped up. "Finally a real house to live in! Ah…but it's still kind of sad…thinking of leaving this place."
"I can see why," Archer said. "This was Bell's and your first home together after all."
"Yeah…it was only three weeks but I think I'll miss this place," Bell admitted.
"We will examine the place tomorrow," Caster said as he turned to Lily. "Afterward we will settle Arde's debt with Soma. In the meantime, you shall move in with us as well."
"Eh?" Lily gasped. "Is it really okay?"
"I am not one to do things half-heartedly," Caster said. "At this close to the end, the amount of things that can go wrong increases exponentially. Having you within sight of Archer or myself decreases the chance of failure. And I refuse to fail when I have sunk so many resources into this."
"L-Lily apologies…" Lily said, her dog ears drooping slightly.
"If you wish to show your gratitude then you must live out the life you choose afterward to the fullest. You are still a child. A child should face everything around them with their eyes full of wonder. Like that fool over there."
"T-that's mean, Your Majesty!" Bell protested. "I'm not that much of a country bumpkin!"
"…I never called you that…" Caster muttered before turning back to Lily. "You are to decide your own path. This is the King's gift to you. Until you can firmly place both feet on the ground and move forward, you may live alongside us. Once you can take the first step with confidence, then you can move forward wherever you wish with my blessing. Onward, to a new Adventure."
""Yes!""
Answering the wise king's words, were two different voices, brimming with life, youth, and determination.
