Chapter 17: A Hero's Truth

A week had past since the impromptu meeting with Welf and the rest of Hestia Familia. The group had been going into the Dungeon each day and Welf was extremely satisfied with the amount of Drop Items they were getting. They even managed to reach the staircase of the Thirteenth Floor, which led into the areas known as the Mid Floors.

However, because of Lily's advice Bell decided not to go any further because starting from the Thirteenth Floor, monster spawned by the dozens and often traveled in swarms and there were Hell Hounds who attacked with fire magic as well as their fangs and claws. The lack of misty weather also meant that Assassin's stealth while fighting monsters was also diminished but that wouldn't be as important as Assassin was even faster than Bell when she wanted to be.

But…an Adventurer must go on an Adventure if they wished to continue their legend.

X-x-X-x-X

In the early morning hours of Orario while the early morning dew had yet to settle, the sounds of steel clashing against steel could be heard in front yard of the Familia Home of one of Orario's newest Familias.

A young boy was defending against a taller man wearing a black mask with the visage of a dragon while striking at him with two silver daggers.

Each blow felt as though they carried the weight of a dragon behind them with the boy being sent flying from each strike more often than not, but each time he was knocked back, he managed to land on his feet, or failing that, he was able to flip back up almost immediately.

"You are hesitating too much," Saber said as he charged forward again, filling Bell's vision with flashes of steel. "It is fine to be afraid of your opponent, but you must be confident in your own actions."

"Yes!" Bell shouted back as he jerked back and Saber's blade just narrowly missed his hair.

"Pay attention to your opponent. Keep track of everything they do to find a tell for their attacks. Their position, their stance, their eyes...figure out what you can use to take control of the battle and turn the tide."

Easier said than done as Saber's mask was covering his entire face and his movements were just one step too quick for Bell to see.

"If you cannot defend, dodge. If you cannot dodge, defend! If you cannot do either, then prepare yourself to take it and minimize the damage!"

Saber's leg struck out, catching Bell in the side, sending him flying toward a wall. But Bell was able to flip around and land on the wall with his feet before kicking off it and launching himself toward Saber like a black and silver bullet.

"Excellent," Saber said as he released his grip on his daggers, letting them fall to the ground as he reached out and grabbed Bell's arms out of the air before slamming him to the ground. "But not enough!"

"Ugghh…" Bell groaned for a moment before flipping over onto his back with a bright smile. "I thought that would work…"

"It was certainly a new tactic," Saber nodded. "Against a lesser opponent it may have caught them unawares."

The knight then extended his hand toward his Master and helped him to his feet.

Saber then thrust his hand into the air behind him, catching a surprised squeak as Assassin appeared with both her arms and legs wrapped around his long arm.

"Good morning, Jack," Saber said.

"Good morning, Mister Saber, Mommy," Assassin replied as she dropped down and moved to hug Bell, only to bang her head against his breastplate. "Owie…"

"Ahaha…good morning Jack," Bell said as he rubbed the spot on her forehead.

"Are you done playing?" Assassin asked as she shook off Bell's hand. "Can We play with you next?"

"Umm…we're not exactly playing but working," Bell said as he lowered himself slightly to speaker to her face to face. "We'll be going to the Dungeon later so you can 'play' with the Monsters then, okay?"

"Okay!" Assassin nodded with a cheerful smile before disappearing back inside the house.

"…Is it bad that I kind of understand how to handle her now?" Bell asked Saber who shut his eyes before answering.

"I believe being able to handle and understand the personalities of all your Servants prove that you are a very capable Master," Saber said diplomatically. "Keeping someone like Jack happy and under control is crucial for their development. A child that has no qualms about killing people is dangerous after all."

"Yeah…" Bell admitted as he rubbed his stomach. "Hey Saber?"

"Yes?"

"…The Grail is supposed to summon Heroes, right?" Bell asked. "Then why did Jack show up? Serial killer or not…she's just a little kid, right? Truth be told, I'm not even sure I believe that she's actually a killer…"

Saber didn't respond to the question for a while as he slowly raised his hand and adjusted his glasses for a moment.

"First off…what do you consider a 'Hero,' Bell?" Saber asked.

"Huh? Umm…someone who fights monsters and saves people?"

"True, but how do you know that someone is a hero?"

"Umm…because bards and the like tell stories about them?"

"Exactly," Saber nodded. "We Heroic Spirits are enshrined in the Throne of Heroes after achieving deeds worthy of being spread to the point that even we Heroes from before and even after their eras have heard of them. The villains of the stories you know would also count as they are part of that Hero's legend. "

"So even the giant enemy the Hero David defeated in his legend?" Bell asked and Saber nodded.

"Yes. Even if a Hero's rival had no mention in any other legend or had any legend of their own outside of being 'someone who could fight this hero' can be considered for the throne. It is not the deed itself that is important, but how many people know of the person or the deed."

"Then…why Jack?"

"The killings of the one labeled as Jack the Ripper were unique and extraordinary to the people at the time. Their…legend was spread far and wide and the people in the country where the legend began were interested in it as the killer was never known or found. Thus the Grail chose something suitable for a vessel…in this case, a child that did similar killings for reasons known only to her."

"I see…so that's why Jack said she didn't know if she was the one the legends were referring to…" Bell muttered and Saber nodded.

Bell would have to ask Jack for her reasons for doing so but…he felt afraid to do so…as it might change the way he saw her. If he became afraid of her afterward…

"It is not unusual for legends to change depending on who tells it, right?" Saber asked, unaware of Bell's dilemma.

"Yeah…" Bell admitted. "Grandpa hams up his stories every so often as well. Like the one about Albert the Great. Grandpa said that one of his lovers was the great Hight Elf Queen Celdia…but in elven legends, they say that Queen Celdia remained pure and never had any children and their noble line came from the queen's younger sister."

"It is only natural to take well known stories and put ones own spin on them. My own legend was changed when told by people in a different country as well. To the point that even the dragon I defeated was different in everything but name."

"Yeah, the different races would change the race of heroes to their own as well," Bell nodded. "Though I don't think Grandpa changed any…he told me stories of all sorts of different races…"

"…Your grandfather…he was the one who filled your head with tales of rescuing maidens and forming harems?"

"Grk…"

Despite Bell's goal of reaching the level of Hero, deep down, he wasn't completely sure that he truly gave up his dream of meeting a girl in the Dungeon…even if it was rather shameful.

"Harems aside…I do not think it is necessarily wrong to wish to meet the love of your life during one of your adventures," Saber said with a chuckle.

"Ahahaha…please don't tease me like that," Bell begged him as he scratched his cheek.

"By the way…what exactly was your original plan?"

"Err…promise not to laugh?"

"You have my word."

"Well…Grandpa always said that the best way to find romance was to save a girl…and when you do you should love her, settle down and marry her."

Bell felt his face heat up as he spoke while Saber stared at him.

"Kuku…"

"AH!" Bell shouted as Saber turned his head to the side and brought a hand up to his mask. "You laughed! You promised you wouldn't!"

"My apologies," Saber replied as all signs of mirth vanished from his face. "I was simply wondering why you hadn't done so already."

"Hmm? What do you mean?"

"Save a girl, love her, then marry her. You already saved one, haven't you?"

"…I have?"

"Have you already forgotten? You saved Lily from a Minotaur, did you not? If you were to follow your grandfather's words, should you not settle down and marry her already?"

"Master Saber, Bell! Breakfast is ready!"

"Ahh! Ababab! Ababa!"

As soon as Saber finished talking, Lily poked her head out of the front door to call them back inside, causing Bell to yelp and babble nonsense in an attempt to drown out Saber's words.

"What are you doing, Bell?" Lily asked, having not heard Saber's words. "Did Master Saber hit you too hard in the head?"

"N-nothing! Nothing's wrong with me!" Bell said rather hysterically as Lily tilted her head to the side while Saber chuckled into his hand again. "Saaaaabeeeeer…!"

"Apologies Bell. I shall not mention it again."

"If the two of you are done, come inside for some breakfast," Lily said before stepping back inside while Bell slapped his cheeks to try and get his emotions under control.

"But still…you take the words of your late grandfather seriously, do you not?" Saber asked Bell quietly as the boy turned back to him with a smile and a nod.

"Yes," Bell said. "He was my first hero after all. Before I came to Orario, I wanted to be like him when I grew up…but he told me that I was aiming too low and should aim higher than that. I wonder…if I managed to make him proud."

As Bell lowered his head while he talked, he suddenly felt a hand brush up against his hair.

"Do not worry, Master," Saber said as he gently patted Bell's head. "I am positive that your grandfather…and the parents who brought you into this world but were unfortunately unable to raise you themselves…could not be any more proud of the young man you are today. That is why you should hold your chin up and keep moving forward. After all…"

Saber removed his hand from Bell's head and extended his hand out toward him.

"…We await you at the end of the path that you seek."

A rather goofy smile appeared on Bell's face as he tried not to cry at Saber's words as he took the hero's hand and the two of them returned to the house for breakfast.

X-x-X-x-X

"I shall assign a new goal for your Party," Caster said from his seat at the head of the table as everyone else was eating. "You are to make your way to the end of the Sixteenth Floor and reach the entrance to the Seventeenth Floor."

"You think we're ready for the Middle Floors now?" Bell asked, looking up from his breakfast.

"Whether or not you are is for you to decide," Caster said simply. "Those are simply my expectations of you."

Hearing those words caused Bell to wiggle happily in his chair.

"Does Lord Caster mean to challenge the Floor Boss Goliath?" Lily asked.

"That is indeed a plan for the future. When Archer returns, we shall make an attempt against the Floor Boss."

"'We' you say?" Hestia asked with a large smile on her face. "Are you finally counting yourself as part of the Familia, Caster?"

"I am not. You are merely my followers."

"Geez, still so dishonest with yourself, Gil. Still so tsunde-GAH!"

As Hestia ducked under the table to avoid an arrow of light flying over her head which was neutralized by a lazy bolt of flame from Saber.

Excitement welled up in Bell's stomach. Like a hero in the legends his grandfather told him, he was being given a quest by a king to slay a giant monster! Honestly, the only thing missing from this was marrying a princess after the deed was done but Bell didn't think Caster had one in his treasury.

"In any case," Caster continued as Hesita poked her head up from underneath the table. "You and Arde will attempt to make your way to the Seventeenth Floor with Saber and Assassin. Once Archer returns, he will join you in your dives. Once you reach the Seventeenth Floor, do not engage the Monster Rex if it is there. Do you hear me?"

"Y-yes!"

"I will not accept another foolish attempt like the minotaur. Do not forget that it is not simply your existence that disappears should you die."

"Aww, you do care," Hestia said again before quickly ducking under the table again before Caster could retaliate.

"Umm," Lily began as Caster retracted his wands and sat back down in his seat. "What about Master Welf?"

"The Smith?" Caster asked and Lily nodded. "What about him? If he wishes to latch onto us like a remora then he is free to do so if he dares."

"So it's okay if we invite him?" Bell asked. "We've been in a Party for about a week already so I think it would be a bit sad to leave him out of something like this."

"Do as you wish. This is your prerogative as Master."

"A Monster Rex often requires a small army to defeat," Saber said as he adjusted his glasses with a finger. "Would it be safe for Bell, Lily and Welf to come along?"

"It will be up to them to survive."

"Uuu…Lily suddenly feels sick…" Lily muttered as she slumped in her chair.

"Is a Monster Rex that scary?" Assassin asked as she turned to Hestia who finally returned to her seat now that she was sure that Caster wouldn't try to attack her again.

"It's very big and scary," Hestia nodded as she started cuddling Assassin. "But it's definitely no match for Saber so you don't have to worry about a thing."

"I cannot judge the accuracy of that statement without seeing the Monster Rex for myself first but I have no intention of being defeated," Saber replied.

"Arde," Caster said simply as Lily nodded.

"Yes!" She began, understanding that he was asking her to to explain what she knew about the Monster Rex. "The Floor Boss on the Seventeenth Floor is known as the Goliath. It doesn't have any particular special abilities outside of its massive size and strength. Of course, being a monster that stands over seven meters tall and made of pure muscle, Goliath has a lot of physical strength and natural armor and is considered a Level 4 monster. It's Drop Item is its hide which can be sold for a lot of money since it is often used for higher tier armor and that's before taking into account its massive Magic Stone-"

"Your greed is showing, Miss Supporter," Hestia said with a smile as Caster let out cough to tell Lily to get back on topic.

"A-anyway…it doesn't have any spells or other abilities and is often cleared by the Under Resort Adventurers in order to keep the road clear to Rivira who are Level 3 at best. The main dangers would be its massive strength and size and that Monsters may come down from the Sixteenth Floor to interrupt the fight."

"Under Resort…Rivira?" Bell asked.

"It's a town that exists in the Dungeon," Lily explained. "Made by Adventurers, for Adventurers. It is completely separate from the Guild so they have no presence there. They sell items at rip off prices and buy them at lower than Guild standard prices too!"

"…Did you get cheated, Lily?" Bell asked.

"Who on earth would sell a backpack at that cost!? It was ten times more expensive than one on the surface! They also don't accept money but trade in Magic Stones and Drop Items. They also take IOUs in the form of receipts and Familia Emblems which they collect from the Familia home back on the surface."

"It is the nature of such places that are on the frontier," Saber said. "Material goods are more valuable than gold in a place where replenishment is not guarantee."

"Lily understands that Master Saber! It is the principle of the matter! They are Adventurers through and through!"

Bell felt that Lily's way of saying "Adventurer" sounded a lot more like "Scammer" than anything else.

"In any case, most Adventurers who plan to dive deeper than the Eighteenth Floor will either rest in the town's inn or camp out on the floor as for some reason Monsters do not spawn on the floor. Lily thinks that if we want to fight the Goliath, we should camp out there as well so we can fight it at full strength rather than waste time and energy going down Eighteen Floors again.

Caster nodded before turning toward Bell with a smirk.

"Do you understand, Boy?" Caster asked. "Your growth has been…explosive as usual. That is why I have considered this goal. Well? Does it tickle your fancy?"

"Yes!" Bell nodded, filled to the brim with excitement. "I won't let you down."

"My expectations are higher than when you first summoned me. See that you do not."

X-x-X-x-X

"…Fight a Floor Boss?" Welf asked looking rather surprised. "With you guys?"

"That's right," Bell nodded. "Our Captain has decided that that will be our next Familia Goal. He said that if you think you are up to it, you can come join us."

"That's…wow," Welf looked rather flattered and seemed like he was at a lost for words. "I don't know what to say."

"You only need to answer 'Yes' or 'No,' Master Welf," Lily pointed out with a smirk as Welf chuckled, not falling for her teasing.

"Well, taking part in a fight against a Floor Boss would definitely help with Leveling Up…wait…he's not expecting me to bring a Magic Sword along, is he?"

"Umm…actually…" Bell began.

"For better or worse…Lord Caster doesn't care about Master Welf at all," Lily replied bluntly. "Lord Caster was disappointed that Master Welf didn't want to make Magic Swords when Master Welf wishes to be a great blacksmith. 'A Smith that refuses to use a skill just because he doesn't like it for his craft is the same as a chef who refuses to use an ingredient in his dish just because he doesn't like it…' Is how he put it."

"Well…that's a new one…" Welf muttered as he scratched his head with a frown.

"There is no need to do anything you do not want to do, Welf," Saber spoke up. "A Hero's prerogative to do as he wishes after all, something our Captain will agree with no matter what he says."

"Yeah, I'm no Hero," Welf said with a smirk.

"On the contrary, your Spirit Blood and freedom from your family 'curse' is the very definition of a 'Hero.'"

Welf could only let out a snort at that.

"Well, I'll think about coming along," he said as he pulled out a small red dagger and held it out to Bell. "Here. I finished the knife I promised ya."

"So that's what Bell did with the Minotaur Horn?" Lily asked as Bell received the knife with starstruck eyes.

Compared to the silver knife he got from Archer and the Black one he got from Hestia, the new dagger made from the minotaur horn was a deep red color and seemed to boast a powerful cutting edge compared to the other daggers that were made with precision strikes in mind.

"…Aren't horns bones?" Assassin asked as she popped her head up between Bell's arms to look at the knife, causing Bell to yelp. "Why does it look like metal?"

"Glad you asked, Jackie!" Welf said, sounding rather enthusiastic about the topic. "You see, there's this metal called Adamantite and it can only be found in the Dungeon. Every so often, it's spawned from the wall just like a monster and people can get rich finding some of the pure stuff…though it's mostly only from the lower floors."

"…And since Monsters are also born form the walls…some of them have bits of Adamantite inside them?" Bell asked.

"Got it in one. That's why Drop Items like hides, bones, claws and horns are so important as they can be made into weapons and armor. Course, it's not as good as the pure stuff."

"Is that so?" Assassin asked as she tilted her hand to the side. "So…if we get Monsters to drop their body parts as much as possible then it will help?"

"W-well that's the basic idea," Bell nodded.

"Okay! Then we'll help Mommy as best as we can!"

As Assassin trotted over toward Lily to get onto her backpack again, much to the other girl's annoyance, Welf leaned over to whisper to Bell.

"You know…I tried to ignore it as much as I could but…why does Jackie call you 'Mommy?'" Welf asked.

"I honestly have no idea…" Bell replied as he let out a dry laugh. "She was an orphan so I guess she wanted a mother. Saber thinks it's because 'I brought her into our Familia' so I'm her mother."

"Ehhh…well…so long as she's happy right?" Welf asked with a shrug and a smile. "Well, that's enough chatter! Let's get going!"

"""Ohhh!"""

X-x-X-x-X

As usual, Saber escorted them to the Tenth Floor before Bell and the others made it to the entrance to the Thirteenth Floor once more.

"Now then, we should prepare for the Middle Floors," Lily said as she set her bag down and started rummaging through it, pulling out several red robes and handed them to Bell and Welf. "These cloaks are made from Salamander Wool and have the blessings of the Salamander Lesser Spirits. They can help protect us against the cold as well as the magic of the Hellhounds below. Lord Caster gave Lily the funds to purchase them and they cost a lot so everyone should do their best not to get them torn up too badly that it can't be reused."

"…How much…?" Bell asked as he draped the cloak around his neck.

"Five zeroes."

"Grk…"

"I'll uh…pay you back somehow," Welf said as he accepted the wool as well.

"Lily also prepared one for Master Saber but…" Lily began as Bell removed Assassin's black cloak and replaced it with the Salamander Wool.

Saber received the wool and held it up in front of his face as he adjusted his glasses a bit.

"I see…so that's how it works," he muttered before draping around his neck. "Thank you, Lily. I shall use it."

"Damn it…I'm gonna make something way better than this soon, just you watch…" Welf muttered under his breath as he gave a few practice swings with his sword before adjusting his cloak a bit. "I'll become the first High Smith to do so!"

It looked as though he was feeling a bit competitive when it came to making anti-flame equipment. Even anti-element equipment made from High Smiths would pale in the face of the material that was made with the abilities of Lesser Spirits such as Salamanders, Undines, Sylphs and Gnomes. Lesser Spirits were often called "Fairies" by the mortal races.

"Where did you get them?" Bell asked.

"Bell knows of Lily's friend, Mr Bom, right? Mr Bom is a Gnome and he helped Lily buy them!"

"Heh…you got friends in high places, doncha?" Welf asked as he rested his sword on his shoulder.

"Connections are the backbone of any good Adventurer!" Lily said with a smile as she closed her pack. "Now then, Lily will begin the briefing for the monsters that can be found on the 'Mid Levels.'"

"Hellhounds, right?" Assassin asked. "Doggies that breathe fire?"

"Exactly," Lily nodded as she extended her hand out and patted Assassin's head. "Hellhounds are black wolf like creatures that can attack with their claws, fangs and fire magic. After that there are Al Miraj, monsters that look like large white rabbits with red eyes and are as big as Lily that often carry Landform Weapons in the shape of hatchets and swords. They also throw them often so please be careful. Like Imps, they travel in packs and while a Level 1 Adventurer can beat them one-one-one they are very fast so please don't underestimate them." Lily then turned her head toward Bell who returned the look with a confused face. "Basically, consider them like a Monster Bell."

"Hey!" Bell shouted indignantly as Welf let out a snort and started coughing as he turned his head to the side. "You too Welf!"

"Anything else?" Saber asked, ignoring the commotion.

"Yes, please be prepared for any of the monsters from the upper floors as well. They often wander down there looking for food, which tends to be the occasional stray Al Miraj that get separated from the pack. Also…"

Lily trailed off as she glanced toward Bell's belt.

"Minotaurs…" Bell muttered, realizing that Lily was looking at his new red dagger.

"Yes. Minotaurs wander the Mid Levels beginning from the Fifteenth Floor…but they can go up on occasion so…"

"Got it."

"And the 'boss monster' of the Mid Floors on the level of an Infant Dragon would be a Lygerfang. It is a large tiger with fur that is as hard as armor so it would be best to run or let Master Saber handle it if we see one. Lily would suggest waiting until everyone else is Level 2 before taking it on."

Bell and Welf nodded their heads as Assassin turned to look at the staircase again.

"We don't see any mist down there," Assassin pointed out.

"Yes. The Middle Floors are different compared to the Tenth to Twelfth Floors. The layout is similar to the Floors before that in that it's a bunch of stone maze-like rooms. There are also a bunch of holes everywhere that can drop you down several floors, so please…do not fall down. We may never see you again."

Assassin nodded her head to show that she understood.

"Then that is everything Lily knows about the Middle Floors," Lily said as they all stood up. "We can head down when you are ready, Bell."

"Then, let's go!" Bell said as Welf nodded and started heading down first as the Vanguard with Bell and Assassin following behind him and Saber and Lily taking up the rear.

The first few minutes were met with nothing. Not a single Monster showed itself as they anxiously walked down the main path, accompanied only by the sound of their echoing footsteps.

"It's actually scarier when you're expecting something and nothing shows up, huh?" Welf muttered as Lily and Bell nodded their heads in agreement.

"We can scout ahead if Mommy wants," Assassin offered.

"No that's okay," Bell replied. "We only just got to this floor so you don't have to do that yet."

Though he said that, they traveled for another ten minutes without meeting anything or anyone else.

Until…

"Something is up ahead," Saber said from the rear.

"Oh my-finally!" Welf let out a strained voice as a pair of Hellhounds appeared over a slight slope in the path. The two wolf-like creatures were pitch black in color and were the size of a small cow. "Plan?"

"The Hellhound's range is pretty far so be careful!" Lily called out.

"Then we charge!"

Hoisting his sword over his shoulder, Welf sped toward the Monsters with Bell right behind him. The two Monsters let out a roar before charging at the two as well.

The two pairs met in the center as Bell overtook Welf and struck first. Jumping back in a somersault, Bell delivered a kick right into the lower jaw of the closest Monster, sending it flying upward and allowing Welf to cleave it in two with his blade. The second Hellhound stopped and leaped backward, gathering flames in its mouth in a magical attack, only to be interrupted by a silver arrow to the eye, allowing Welf to move forward and strike it down as well.

"Nice assist, Lil'ly!" Welf called back.

"Please be careful!" Lily shouted as she and the Servants ran up to them. "Our Party doesn't have much in the way of range after all!"

"In any case, it seems as though the two of you are a match for the Hellhounds," Saber said as Assassin was looking around. "There should be no problems further-is there something wrong, Jack?"

"There's another Mommy behind us," Assassin replied as she pointed behind Saber, causing them all to wheel around to see-a large rabbit with white and yellow fur and a large horn sticking out of its head.

"Oh! It is!" Lily added with wide eyes.

"It's an Al-Miraj!" Bell shouted indignantly.

"Looks like Monster Bell's up next!" Welf said with a serious expression but his mouth was quivering.

Four more Al-Miraj pop up behind the first and stare at the Party with their large red eyes.

"A whole bunch of Mommies appeared!" Jack shouted as they hopped over to a large rock and stomped on it, scattering rubble in the shape of hatchets which they all picked up.

"Be careful, Master has picked up Landform Weapons," Saber said.

"You guys are mean!" Bell shouted as they got back into formation to fight the incoming Monsters.

"But they're so cute…" Assassin muttered as she pulled out her cleaver and smashed it against the Landform Weapon the Al-Miraj was holding, crushing it and splitting the Monster in two. "Sorry Monster Mommy!"

"Jack! Please stop!" Bell begged as he jumped back to avoid a swing from the rabbit Monster before throwing his silver dagger forward into its face.

"Sorry real Mommy!"

"You know…this is the first time I've ever felt bad killing a Monster," Welf said as he simply batted the Al-Miraj away with his sword, sending it flying into a wall.

"Indeed," Saber nodded with an Al-Miraj hanging limply in his hand before slamming it into the ground. "What a dreadful Monster. Using its cuteness as a weapon against Adventurers."

"Lily thinks everyone is taking this too easily," Lily muttered as she used her dagger to lock the stone hatchet in place before aiming her small crossbow into the Al-Miraj's face and shoot it.

"Well, it can't be helped," Saber said with his arms folded. "It was Bell after all."

"Guuuuuys!" Bell let out a whine before looking around. "Anyway! Was that the last of them?"

At Bell's question, several squeaks echoed around them about two dozens rabbit heads popped out from the holes.

"…This…might be bad," Welf muttered.

"Everyone make a break for the corridor!" Bell called out. "Get out of this wide room! Saber, up front!"

"Understood!" Saber nodded as he drew Gram and charged forward, making wide slashes through the crowd of Monsters towards a narrower corridor.

Welf and Bell followed close behind with Lily and Assassin taking up the rear.

Assassin was the last one to the corridor before she turned around and drew out two of her daggers.

"Massacre time, start!" She declared as she used the corridor entrance to funnel the Monsters into range of her attacks. One of the Al-Miraj tried attacking with a Landform but the hatchet was destroyed before it even came close to cutting Assassin. In a matter of minutes, all the monsters were dead and a blood stained Assassin remained.

"Mommy, they're all dead!" Assassin called out cheerfully as Bell and Welf poked their heads out from another corridor.

"There are seriously just some things a kid that little shouldn't be doing…" Welf muttered as Bell let out a dry laugh.

"Sorry Lily," Jack said as Lily walked over and picked up a Magic Stone. "We broke some of the stones."

"Don't worry," Lily said as she adjusted her gloves and started wading into the pile of corpses. "Most of them are still okay. Good job, Jack."

"Ehee, We got praised~"

"That was a good call, Bell," Saber said.

"It reminded me of the time Lily and I got attacked by a swarm of Killer Ants," Bell replied. "Though Jack managed to get them all before we needed to rely on a magic spell."

"I see."

"Man, you really have some kind of bad luck in the Dungeon, don't you?" Welf asked. "Swarm of Killer Ants, Minotaurs, Infant Dragons, and now Al-Miraj."

"You don't have to tell me twice," Bell agreed with another laugh. "Let's let Lily do her thing first then we'll find a new room."

"Oh! Bell left behind a lot of Drop Items!"

"LILY!"

X-x-X-x-X

As the dive went on, they ran across a few more close calls including one Al-Miraj trying to hit Lily by throwing its hatchet, which flew just over her head and a Hellhound dropping down from the ceiling of all places on to Saber's back.

Currently, the found a relatively safe spot at a dead end with only one entrance so no Monster could wander in without them noticing and decided to rest a bit and take inventory.

"Lily has never been so happy to be short," Lily muttered as she pulled back her hood and rubbed her hair to calm herself down. "Is Master Saber, okay?"

"Yes, I was careless," Saber nodded as he patted his back. "The Salamander wool protected me from the flames."

"Still, we got quite the haul today," Welf said as he pulled out several Al-Miraj furs and Hellhound Fangs. "Quite a few furs…I can get to work on a new coat with this…"

"Should we head back then?" Lily asked Bell who was feeding Assassin a bit of his lunch from Syr.

"Hmm…what do you think, Welf?" Bell asked as Assassin bit into the sandwich in Bell's hand and pulled it out of his grip. "Do you have enough to keep yourself busy?"

"Hmm…if we get a bit more, I can try making something for Jackie or Lily too," Welf said. "A few more fangs wouldn't hurt either…"

"Then…let's try one more room," Bell decided. "Then we'll call it a day."

With the plan of action decided, everyone checked their belongings and headed back toward the main path.

As they walked forward with Saber in front, the man suddenly held his hand up to tell them to stop.

"There are sounds of fighting ahead," Saber reported. "Metal against stone…most likely another Party is fighting against some more Al-Miraj."

"What do you want to do, Bell?" Welf asked. "This is the only path."

"Hmm…let's take a look and see if we can't squeeze around them," Bell replied.

With a nod, Saber continued down the path. Entering the next room, they found themselves on top of a cliff with a trail leading downward into the a large pit with the exit of the room located across from them within the pit itself.

Also within the pit was another party of three men and three women that had been surrounded by a swarm of Al-Miraj.

Bell quickly turned toward Lily who bit her tongue before she could say anything.

"There seems to be enough room to get pass them without incident," Saber noted. "But we may pull some unseen monsters out of the crevices there. Shall we still move to the next room or return to the surface?"

Before Bell could answer, a scream came out from the other Party and Bell saw one of the girls fall over, having been hit by a Landform thrown by one of the Al-Miraj.

"Ah…bad luck there," Welf muttered as the rest of the party scrambled. "Just barely missed that archer and hit her instead. We should probably get back then. Come back another time."

"Eh?"

"Huh?"

Bell and Welf looked at each other in surprise.

"Wait, you're not thinking of helping them are you?" Welf asked, pointing down into the pit. "It's none of our business."

"Lily agrees with Master Welf," Lily chimed in. "There is a lot of risk for no real gain if we try and help…there is also a chance that they will run the moment we step in, leaving us with the Monsters."

At that moment, the walls around the other Party began to crack as several Al-Miraj and Hellhounds began crawling their way out of the walls.

A mass birth event. A Monster Party.

Bell knew that they were right. As a Party Leader, he can't risk the lives of his Party for his own selfishness. He could try jumping in on his own, but he knew Lily and Welf well enough at this point that they would follow him as well if he did.

Bell glanced over at Saber but the knight had clasped his hands behind his back with his eyes closed. He was not going to offer any advice or his own opinion on the matter this time.

Bell then turned to Assassin but the girl simply cocked her head to the side as she returned his gaze with a smile. She didn't seem to care one way or the other about the other Adventurers.

As Bell opened his mouth to speak, he thought he saw something…or someone standing at the edge of the cliff.

A man standing a few heads taller than Bell himself, wearing a red mantle over black and white armor with his back toward him. Seeing that back Bell felt comfort, warmth and safe. The goal he desperately wanted to reach.

The man turned his head slightly to look over his shoulder toward Bell and gave him a small smile.

"Can you keep up with me?" He seemed to be saying before taking a step off the ledge and disappearing from sight.

Seeing that, Bell's hand balled up into a fist as shame and self-loathing burned in his body. He cursed himself for his indecision and hesitation. Was this the limit of his dream? Was this all it took for him to flee?

A Hero can't hesitate to save people.

That was the truth Bell came to believe in.

"Sorry, Welf, Lily…" Bell spoke up as he raised his head. "I won't ask you to follow me, but I'm going to help them."

"Ahhhh…like I thought…" Welf said with a sigh but he seemed to have a resigned smile on his face. "Guess we're doing this after all."

"As expected of Bell," Lily said with a smile on her own. "He does not fall short of expectations."

"That doesn't sound like a compliment when you put it that way…"

"In any case, your orders, Master?" Saber asked, eyes open and ready for combat.

"Saber, Jack," Bell began as Assassin also got ready. "Please clear the path toward the other Party."

"Understood."

"Let's go!"

As Assassin launched herself off the cliff, Saber unhooked his smaller daggers and tossed them in the air in front of him before smashing his fist into them and shooting them toward the group of Monsters.

The daggers crashed into spots where the Monsters were most clumped up together. The daggers lit up and exploded on impact, blowing back the monsters to give the other Party some breathing room and caused them to turn toward their direction.

"Welf, Lily, keep the exit clear!" Bell said as he leaped after Assassin with Saber jumping in after him as well.

"Yes!" Lily nodded as she prepared her crossbow while Welf kept an eye on the exit to make sure nothing spawned behind them.

"Is this a bad habit of his?" Welf asked Lily with a tired smile.

"'Bad' implies it isn't something Lily likes about Bell," Lily replied with a smile before she loaded her bolts and began firing at the feet of the Monsters in front of Assassin, causing the monsters to flinch when they missed or pin their feet into the ground when they hit, allowing Assassin, Saber and Bell to cut them down without worry.

"Jack, give us some cover!" Bell called out.

"This is the beginning of Hell!" Assassin chanted as she jumped well above the monsters and landed in the center of the other Party. "We shall be the flame. We shall be the rain. We shall be the power. Shroud Us and Burn Us. Let Us begin the Slaughter."

"A chant?" The one who looked like the Party Leader asked in surprise as he was carrying the injured girl in his arms.

"Darkened Misty Metropolis: The Mist!"

At that, a thick and heavy fog shrouded them, causing shrieks of pain and fear to rise up from the monsters.

Assassin's spell created a heavy fog in the area that could hide Allies from sight while damaging and disorientating enemies within it. It wasn't perfect however as Caster had showed once by using a wand that let out a burst of air which cleared the mist in an instant when Assassin had been practicing it outside one morning.

But as it was, it allowed Bell to reach the confused Party without fear.

"Are you okay?" Bell asked as the fog faded a bit around him so that he and the other Party could see each other.

"You are…the Record Holder?" A woman with long black hair asked, her body covered in sweat from the fighting.

"Introductions later!" Bell shouted. "We cleared a path! Follow me!"

The woman turned to look at her Party Leader who nodded as Bell ran back through the fog with the Party right behind him.

As Bell moved, the fog thinned out so he wouldn't get lost, allowing Bell to cleave through the writhing and poisoned Monsters that were in his way.

Within seconds, they were out of the fog and near the steps leading out of the room.

"Go go go!" Bell shouted as he waved the other party pass him.

"Thank you!" The black haired swordswoman said as she ran pass, followed by her Leader and the others.

"Jack! Saber!"

"Jack, you first!"

"Okay!"

A small red blur shot out of the fog as it started to disappear, showing a red blade shining through as it cleaved the monsters around it.

Once he was sure Jack was a good distance away, Saber fell back as well.

"Fall back to the corridor!" Bell said. "We'll funnel them in like before! Keep an eye out for the Hellhounds!"

"Mikoto! Tasuke! Help them out!" The Leader ordered as the swordswoman and man holding a bow nodded.

""Yes!""

Mikoto and Tasuke moved toward the front where Welf and was while Lily moved to the rear with Saber and Bell.

"The Monsters themselves are no problem but there are a lot of them," Saber said to Bell as Gram flashed in front of him, cleaving the Monsters before they could enter the corridor. "Bell, please give me permission to release my Noble Phantasm."

Noble Phantasm.

Bell was told that it was the crystallization of a Servant's legend but he really didn't understand what that meant. What he did understand though, was that it was usually a Servant's "trump card." Something that could turn the tide of battle instantly if used correctly.

And from what he heard, Saber's Noble Phantasm would definitely be able to clear out the Monsters instantly.

"Do it!" Bell called out.

"Command acknowledged. Noble Phantasm, Release."

"Everyone, give him some room!"

Assassin and Bell jumped back as the members of the other Party scattered.

"Demonic Sword, preparation complete," Saber reported as Gram started shining in the darkness. "Allow me to show you the manifestation of mysteries."

"What is he-" Welf began as Saber launched himself forward and thrust the blade into the frontmost Hellhound.

"This is the dawn of destruction! Heaven's Wheel of Destruction! Bölverk Gram!"

As he slammed his fist into the pommel of the blade, the blade erupted in an explosion of red light, blasting through the corridor and vaporizing all that was in its way.

All the Adventurers fell silent as the entire corridor was suddenly clear of monsters save for Assassin who was clapping at the display.

"…That's a…Magic Sword?" Welf asked as Saber returned the blade back to his back.

"Incorrect, it is a Demonic Sword," Saber replied. "Unlike the Magic Swords that you are used to, this Gram does not simply fire an inbuilt spell. It uses my own Magic to channel and fire my technique."

Welf just stared at the blade awestruck before place he seemed to realize something and placed a hand over his mouth and started muttering to himself.

"Umm…"

Bell turned from Welf toward the voice and saw Mikoto and the other Party Leader standing in front of him.

"Thank you very much for helping us," the leader said as he and Mikoto bowed their heads.

"We are in your debt," Mikoto added.

"Oh, no it's all right," Bell said quickly. "Y-you just looked like you were in over your head so…"

Inwardly Bell cursed himself for flubbing the line before he quickly cleared his throat.

"I just saved you for my own personal satisfaction and got my friends involved in it," Bell said as he turned toward Lily and the others.

Lily had wandered over toward Saber only to sigh as all the Magic Stones and possible Drop Items from the monsters had been vaporized as Saber lowered his head in apology while Jack had jumped onto Welf's back again and was patting the young man's head but he was ignoring her in favor of his own mutterings.

"Still, we can't thank you enough," Mikoto said as she turned her head to her injured comrade who was being administered a potion after they removed the hatchet that was lodged into her collar bone.

"It's fine, it's fine," Bell said with a smile. "Umm, how about some introductions? You are… Zetsu Ei, Yamato Mikoto, right?"

"Yes," Mikoto nodded with a smile. "And you're Moonlit Dawn, Bell Cranel correct?"

Bell nodded, completely unaware that his goddess had suddenly doubled over with her hands over her heart in pain thirteen floors above.

"I see, so that makes you the Takemikazuchi Familia," Saber said as he walked up beside Bell. "Then it was fortunate that we managed to assist you. Our gods are friends after all."

"Your Goddess is Lady Hestia, right?" The other man asked. "Oh right…Kashima Ouka, Captain of the Takemikazuchi Familia. Are you the Captain of the Hestia Familia, Mister…?"

"I go by the name of Saber," Saber replied. "And I am not. Our Captain, Caster, is currently back at our home taking care of logistics."

"Captain Ouka."

As Ouka nodded his head, a young woman wearing a white tunic and a cloth headdress came up to them.

"Sorry to interrupt but we should probably get Chigusa back up to the surface," she said. "Naoki said we're running low on potions as well."

"Got it, Asuka," Ouka nodded as Bell turned toward Welf.

"Should we head back up as well?" Bell asked.

"Yeah," Welf nodded. "Got a flash of inspiration just now…want to see if I what I came up with works or not…though I'd probably need to be Level 2 first…"

"Guess we're going back up as well," Bell said with a smile as Mikoto and Ouka exchanged looks. "Mind if we join you?"

"The more the merrier I guess," Ouka said as Mikoto lowered her head in thanks again.

As Saber took the vanguard position, Bell lagged behind a bit as he looked back down the path to where the Takemikazuchi Familia had been fighting.

Honestly, Bell would like nothing further to keep on going all the way down to the Eighteenth Floor.

Not to see what Rivira was like but to simply wait there in hopes of reuniting with Archer even a day sooner.

"Well, there's no point in being impatient I suppose," Bell said with a soft smile.

"Bell! You're falling behind!" Lily called out to him.

"Sorry!" Bell called back before running up toward Lily.

Their reunion will come soon enough.