Chapter 18: Reunion
"I see, so you ended up meeting and saving Take's kids," Hestia muttered at dinner the same day they returned from the Thirteenth Floor. "On his behalf, thank you, Bell."
"No…it's just my selfishness," Bell repeated, shrinking a bit underneath the glare of Caster.
They had parted ways with Takemikazuchi Familia once they reached the surface. Ouka had promised to return the favor some day and Saber had accepted it in Bell's place before the boy could say anything.
"It would seem that you cannot be trusted to not do something unbelievably foolish," Caster said as he glanced toward Saber and Assassin. "The fact that you are followed by enablers only encourages such behavior."
"Lily apologizes for being unable to stop him…" Lily quickly said but Caster waved his hand.
"You do not have the strength to physically restrain him in any case," Caster pointed out. "And he has constantly proven that he will not listen to reason."
"Ahahaha…" Bell let out a dry laugh as he sank underneath the table.
"How did you come to be acquainted with the God Takemikazuchi?" Saber asked. "The Hearth and War are rather separate things, are they not?"
"There's nothing special to it, we just know each other from our time in Tenkai and are friends," Hestia replied with a smile and a nod. "Well, we run competing Jagamaru-kun stands but it's all under the same owner so it's just a friendly rivalry. Of course, our stand's business is way better than his since I'm there after all."
"As expected of a mascot character," Caster muttered dryly as he looked to the side. "For a goddess to be treated as such…I can no longer tell if I find amusement or exasperation toward it."
"By the way, Caster," Hestia began. "What the heck is with those giant stone statues in the corner of the yard? When did they get there?"
"Think nothing of them. They are merely décor."
"I know you well enough by now that there is no way that they are 'merely' décor," Hestia countered as Caster responded with a simple smirk.
"Have no fear, they are simply my own touches to the manor," Caster continued, still ignoring the question much to Hestia's dismay. "In any case, regarding the Dungeon Dives…it would seem that your impulses need to be properly reigned in."
"You're coming with us?" Bell asked.
"Do you plan on jumping into every situation where you can enact your selfish desires?" Caster asked back.
"…Selfish or not…I don't think that they are wrong," Bell replied, his hands shaking on his lap as he looked Caster in the eye and did his damndest not to look away as the king's dark red eyes boor into Bell's own.
"Humph, just as well," Caster said with a nod, surprising Bell. "The reason I have decided to join you is because the respawn time for the Goliath is fast approaching and the Loki Familia should be reaching the Eighteenth Floor as well where they will no doubt slay the Monster Rex on their way back up. Unless we have to wait another two weeks, we will move now and reunite with your precious Archer in the meantime."
"…Does that mean you won't be coming home for a few days?" Hestia asked as she reached over and pulled Assassin to her in a hug.
"That depends solely on them," Caster replied as he looked toward Bell and Lily. "If they cannot make it to the Eighteenth Floor on their on power then we will have no choice but to accept the delay."
"Uuu…this is something I just have to deal with huh?" Hestia mumbled as she ruffled Assassin's hair, causing her to giggle. "Ugh…I've gotten so spoiled lately. I had no problem waiting for Bell to come home alone the first two weeks…"
"Lily thinks its because Lady Hestia is a kind goddess," Lily spoke up with a smile.
"I don't think I'm that kind," Hestia said with a bashful smile before finally releasing Assassin. "All right then! I'll spend my time coming up with an Emblem then!"
"You should have done so weeks ago," Caster countered, causing Hestia to groan again. "In any case…the two of you should prepare yourself for the journey. We shall not spend much time gathering the Drop Items and Magic Stones so be prepared to stand on the front as well, Arde."
"Yes!" Lily nodded, looking a bit nervous.
"Is there a need to rush though?" Saber asked. "There is nothing wrong in taking our time and let the two move through the Dungeon at their own pace."
"If they cannot reach the destination then they cannot reach it," Caster simply with a shrug. "However, a little extra motivation and proper guidance can go a long way."
Saber did not look convinced.
"Are you not doing this for your own entertainment?" Saber accused Caster who simply laughed.
"Everything I do is for my own benefit," Caster confirmed without a care in the world. "What is the point of remaining in this lacking Familia otherwise?"
"Uuu…sorry for not getting any new recruits…" Hestia mumbled.
"Don't worry about it Goddess," Bell said as he clenched his fist. "Once we beat the Floor Boss, our Familia will definitely become popular enough for more recruits!"
"How would we split the work load though?" Lily asked. "A new Level 1 wouldn't survive long in the Mid Floors and Lily doesn't think any Level 2 would want to leave their more established Familia to join ours, no matter how famous we might become."
"We would simply have Assassin become a Supporter for any new members," Caster said, turning to the girl who cocked her said to the side at being mentioned. "You know how to remove the Magic Stones, correct?"
"Uh huh!" Assassin nodded. "We watched Lily do it a lot! It's just like removing a heart from a Monster."
"Well…that's not exactly wrong…" Lily muttered.
"So we would have Jack accompany any new members into the Dungeon while I, and Archer when he returns, continue to accompany Bell, Lily and Welf?"
"Indeed. Any objections or questions?" Caster asked but no one spoke up. "Very well. Saber, be sure to visit the Smith and tell him to prepare for a trip to the Eighteenth Floor. If he is unable to, then we shall leave him behind."
"Understood. Then I shall do so immediately."
Having finished his meal, Saber stood up first.
"Then, Bell…Lady Hestia…I bid you good night," the knight said with a bow.
"Uh huh, good night, Saber," Hestia replied with a nod. "Try not to stay out too late."
"Good night, Saber," Bell said as well.
Saber nodded before dematerializing and disappearing from sight.
"Then I shall be preparing as well," Caster said as he stood up and turned to Lily and Bell. "Be sure to be well rested. The trip will be a long one with very few opportunities to rest."
""Yes!""
X-x-X-x-X
Saber touched down in Orario's Northeastern district, also known as the Industrial District.
It was a spot just off the path of the main street, amongst buildings made of stone.
A compact one-story building covered in soot and various burn marks with a smokestack spewing out ash and smoke to the sounds of a hammer beating against metal.
Saber walked up to the door and simply knocked.
The hammering stopped and the door creaked open just a crack so the owner could peer outside.
"Oh…Saber," Welf said as he opened the door all the way. "What's up? Coming here so late."
"My apologies for the visit," Saber said as he adjusted his glasses. "But I came to inform you that our Familia Captain will be joining us tomorrow in the Dungeon."
"Oh, so your mysterious Captain finally shows his face?" Welf asked with a smile. "Been wondering if I was ever going to meet him…but that can't be the only reason you're here, right?"
"Indeed," Saber nodded. "We will be making our way to the Eighteenth Floor in earnest tomorrow. Should we make it, we will not return to the surface until we face the Monster Rex."
"…Moving a bit fast, aren't ya?" Welf asked, looking rather surprised. "I mean, Bell only reached Level 2 the other day, right?"
"Our Captain has a plan that he is not sharing," Saber said with a sigh. "The invitation to join us still stands but if it would cut into your time smithing, then there is no need to force yourself."
Welf was silent before turning to look at a red blade resting against the wall of his forge.
"Good thing I asked to take that with me…" Welf muttered.
"Is that a new work?" Saber asked.
"No, that's something I made when I first joined the Hephaistos Familia. We all make one piece and show it to Lady Hephaistos as an initiation test."
"I see…so you made that to prove your Crozzo Blood," Saber muttered as Welf grimaced and nodded.
"Yeah…" Welf replied. "Thought I could use it as a reference for a new project…but…"
Welf fell silent again as he scratched the back of his head.
"…Are Lily's words bothering you?" Saber asked softly.
"She's not wrong…" Welf admitted although it looked like it was a rather bitter pill to swallow. "First three Infant Dragons then two almost back to back Monster Parties…"
Welf took a step back from the door way and walked toward the red sword against the wall.
Looking around for a moment, Saber took a step inside and closed the door behind him.
"What Jackie asked the other day and seeing what you did today got me thinking," Welf said as he picked up the sword. "I hate Magic Swords because they always break, leaving their user behind no matter what. But then you showed me that it's possible for a sword to shoot magic out yet not break…at least not in the way Magic Swords do."
"Is there a difference?" Saber asked as he unhooked a dagger and flipped it around in his hand. "Gram was reforged by me after all."
"Magic Swords crumble to dust when they're spent," Welf replied. "It's impossible to gather up the shards and remake it like you did. Like this shoddy thing. It's got one shot at best before crumbling…even if the spell is on par with what you showed."
"That is quite the boast, Welf."
"Yeah, you're right," Welf admitted with a chuckle. "What's the point if it breaks in one shot anyway? Nearly all of the Crozzo swords are like that. The more powerful they are, the less shots they got."
Welf then turned toward Saber who lobbed the dagger over to Welf. The smith caught it by the handle and held it up to the light in the ceiling. The silver blade shined a weak red as if reacting to Welf's Crozzo Blood or the young man's own magic.
"But you found a way around it…even if you 'merely' reforged it, you still managed to capture the spell or technique or whatever it is inside it."
Welf walked over and held the dagger back to Saber.
"I won't ask you how you did it," Welf continued as Saber took the dagger back. "There's no point to it if I don't figure it out myself. Just knowing that it can be done is all I need."
"I see…" Saber said as he closed his eyes. "Then I shall look forward to when you Level Up and continue your progress."
"You damn well better," Welf said. "That's why I'm coming along to the Floor Boss. I won't hold you back. I promise."
"Then please be prepared for the trip."
"Got it. Maintenance materials, portable furnace…I'll be ready."
"Very well. Good night."
"Yeah. Night."
Welf returned to his work in front of the furnace as Saber let himself out, silently wishing the young man luck as he tried to find his own path forward.
X-x-X-x-X
Dawn arrived sooner than Bell would have liked as he opened his eyes while still lying on his bed. Lifting his hand over his eyes, Bell stared at his calloused and blistered hand before clenching it into a fist.
"Today…we make it to Floor Eighteen," he muttered. "…Has Archer made it back there? Did he go on an Adventure?"
Bell felt his mouth stretch into a wry smile as he let his arm fall over his eyes.
He was jealous.
Not of Archer for going on an Adventure without him, but of Loki Familia for being able to go with him on one. What Bell considered an Adventure and what Archer would consider one were as different as the sun and the moon.
"I want to get stronger…" Bell whispered to himself.
He was happy that Caster was giving him an opportunity to do so and was interested in rushing his growth a bit as well.
Bell also wanted more Familia members outside of Lily and the Servants. His Servants were tied to him after all. If something were to happen to him then Hestia and Lily would be all alone. If he was honest with himself, he would like another Mage in the Familia.
Lily often mentioned their lack of power in the Rear. Although that would end when Archer returned, the Servants were not supposed to interfere in their trips to the Dungeon aside from Assassin in any case.
So having a Mage support from the rear would definitely help in the long run.
"Though if we do get one…the goddess would probably be looking for a girl, haha…" Bell laughed before sitting up. "All right…time to get ready."
Bell got dressed, brushed his teeth and washed his face. After making sure his armor and weapons were all secure, he made his way downstairs where Hestia was waiting for him.
"Good morning, Bell!" Hestia called out with her usual smile.
"Good morning Goddess!" Bell greeted Hestia as he heard movement behind him. Turning around, he saw Lily coming down, carrying a pack about half the size of her usual one. "Good morning, Lily."
"Good morning Bell, Lady Hestia," Lily greeted with a low bow. "Lily has prepared as much as she could for the trip."
Lily then pulled back her sleeve to show her wrist mounted crossbow before patting her waist where a dagger was carefully held in a sheath. Bell's longsword was also attached to the side of Lily's backpack which was filled with basic necessities as well as potions as usual.
"Lily doesn't know what to do about food though," Lily muttered as Hestia waved her hand.
"Don't worry about that," the goddess said. "Caster left just a bit earlier to get more potions and some rations."
"…Caster went to buy things on his own instead of making someone else do t?" Bell asked as Lily looked dumbstruck.
"Right!?" Hestia asked with a nod. "Now you just need to wait for the other two…aha!"
"Uuu…sleepy…"
"Pay attention or you'll fall down the stairs."
Saber was walking down the stairs, leading a half-asleep Assassin by the hand.
"Good morning," Saber said simply. "It seems we are the last ones."
"Don't worry, they're not going to leave without you," Hestia said with a smile before pulling Assassin in for a big hug. "Uuu…please keep yourself and Bell safe, Jackie!"
"Uh huh," Assassin nodded.
"Now then, it's only reheated Jagamaru-kuns, but it's at least something to start your days," Hestia said as she passed a small bag full of potato puffs to Lily. "You're probably going to be moving non-stop if Caster gets his way so eat on the go!"
"T-thank you very much, Lady Hestia…" Lily said as she stepped back.
Hestia then turned toward Bell and quickly wrapped her arms around his waist.
"Dowah! G-Goddess?" Bell shouted, blushing at the sudden contact.
"Promise me…" Hestia said softly as she tightened her grip around Bell. "Promise me that you'll all come home safe."
"…I promise," Bell responded as he slowly brought his arms around Hestia. "So…please wait for us, Goddess."
With a tearful nod, Hestia released Bell and watched her Familia leave with one last round of goodbyes.
Hestia watched from the doorway as the five of them exited the front gate and disappeared down the street.
The goddess then shut the front door and turned around to look at the now empty house behind her.
"…At least I have work today…" she muttered as she went over to the couch to pick up her coat. "…Wonder if I can get a shift tomorrow too…"
And with that, Hestia left, locking the door behind her, leaving the Manor completely empty.
X-x-X-x-X
Before heading toward Babel Tower, Bell led the others down West Main toward the Hostess of Fertility where Syr was waiting for them as usual.
"Good morning, Bell!" The silver haired waitress said as she held out the usual lunch to him. "Here you go."
"Thank you as always," Bell said as he accepted it. "Oh…right, I wanted to say that I probably won't need one tomorrow."
"Oh? Why not?"
"The Familia is planning to head down to the Eighteenth Floor today," Bell replied. "We're planning to spend a few days down there if we make it."
"The Eighteenth Floor!?" Syr repeated in surprise. "But…didn't you only make it to Level 2 the other day?"
"You don't need to worry about me, I have reliable Familia Members."
"If you say so…" Syr muttered before placing a hand on her chin as if considering something. "Umm please be careful, okay?"
"Don't worry. We're always careful in the Dungeon."
"That's not what I mean. Yesterday, a god was asking around for information about you," Syr said. "He was definitely up to no good so we kicked him out."
"What else is new…" Bell replied with a dry laugh before wincing a bit. "Sorry, that might have came out harsher than I'd meant."
"Hee hee, it's all right," Syr giggled. "It just means you're becoming more famous and popular. Though I think you're doing the best where you are now so don't fall for any bad god or goddess's trick and leave your Familia, okay?"
"Ahaha…I'll do my best."
"Then, good luck…and please stay safe."
"I will. See you again soon!"
With that simple farewell, Bell returned to the others as they made their way toward Babel Tower and the Dungeon.
"…Lord Caster will definitely not be happy…" Lily muttered when Bell mentioned the warning Syr gave him.
"I suppose it was only a matter of time before the other gods attempt to take you for themselves," Saber muttered. "We must be extra vigilant in the Dungeon today."
"Right," Bell nodded.
Short of Hestia being sent back to Tenkai, nothing will ever make Bell leave the Familia willingly. He still remembered when he first arrived in the city almost two months ago now. Every single Familia he attempted to join turned him away without even giving him a chance. It wasn't as though he only looked at joining the big Familias like Freya, Loki or Ganesha but even the smaller ones wouldn't give him the time of day…most likely due to his age. Hestia was the only one to give him a chance and that is why he was here now.
A Level 2 with the ability to recall Heroic Spirts of the past and give them corporeal form.
If it weren't for Hestia, he can't even imagine where his life would have been now.
"…Mommy is mad?" Assassin asked, jolting Bell from his thoughts.
"Umm…just a bit," Bell admitted.
"Someone might be trying to take your mommy away from you," Lily whispered into Assassin's ear causing the girl's eyes to widen. "So it's Jack and everyone else's job to make sure that that doesn't happen."
"Okay!" Assassin nodded. "We'll protect Mommy!"
"Ahaha…thanks, Jack."
They finally made it to the plaza in front of Babel Tower where Welf was waiting for them as usual.
"Mornin'" Welf called out as he stood up from his seat at the fountain. "Hmm? Don't see anyone new…your Captain not here yet?"
"Caster went shopping for some extra things first," Bell explained as he looked around. "He should be…ah."
Caster was making his way through the crowd from the North Western area of Orario.
"Good, you have all arrived," Caster nodded before turned to look at Welf. "So you're the Smith?"
"That's me, Welf Crozzo," Welf nodded as he extended his hand toward Caster who simply glanced down at it for a second before back up at Welf's face, causing the young man to pull it back and awkwardly scratch the back of his head.
"You are a part of this Party at Cranel's request," Caster continued as he handed a case depicting the emblem of Dian Cecht Familia to Lily. "I shall see whether or not such an arrangement is worth the effort of maintaining. I trust you are at least capable of pulling your weight?"
"Yeah, I won't get in your way," Welf nodded with a resolute expression.
"We shall see," Caster scoffed before walking ahead toward the Dungeon's entrance with Lily trotting after him.
"…He's kinda hard to deal with, isn't he?" Welf whispered to Bell and Saber.
""We know,"" the two replied at the same time, causing Welf to chuckle.
"Right…before I forget…here ya go, Bell."
Welf held up a small buckler for Bell. It wasn't particularly anything special. Just a small shield that Bell could attach to his forearm without weighing him down too much or get in the way of his knife. A simple sturdy shield more focused on function than form.
"Having a knife in your offhand is good and all but I think it's better for my piece of mind if you used this instead," Welf said.
"Thanks, I'll take it," Bell nodded with a smile. "By the way…what is that other sword you have there?"
Still resting by the fountain was a blade wrapped in white cloth.
"Ah…that?" Welf asked, looking a bit uncomfortable as he picked it up and tied it on his back. "It's just a good luck charm. Don't worry about it."
Bell turned back toward Saber who simply shook his head as if to ask Bell not to question it.
"What are you lazing around for?" Caster shouted causing Bell to jump. "Get a move on!"
"Y-yes!" Bell called back, quickly equipping his new shield as they all ran to catch up to Caster and Lily.
X-x-X-x-X
"…Lily's backpack is too small and Welf's sword is in the way…" Assassin muttered. "We can't ride on anything today!"
"Jack is already old enough to walk on her own!" Lily pointed out. "So do so!"
"Ehhh…but that's boring…"
As Lily and Jack had their usual fun arguing with each other, Saber was clearing the front as usual while Bell, Welf and Caster were in the rear.
As it was still only the First Floor, no one was particularly on their guard.
"I see…" Caster muttered after Bell repeated the warning Syr gave him. "I suppose it was only a matter of time."
"That's really unlucky, man," Welf said sympathetically. "I mean, I got a few of those annoying people myself but they never did anything since they can't really go against Lady Hephaistos."
The protection of a big name Familia couldn't be overstated, especially not one like Hephaistos Familia who, along with Goibniu Familia, controlled most of the high end weapon and armor production in Orario.
Getting on their bad side by trying to poach one of their members was the equivalent of signing your own death warrant in the Dungeon, or at the very least the end of your progression.
"Regardless, we shall push on," Caster decided, glancing over his shoulder for a moment before turning back to the front.. "Hestia Familia as a whole needs its name in the minds of all of Orario's people. Annihilating the Floor Boss with only so many members will be the first step in achieving that goal."
"…You sure it's okay for me to come along then?" Welf asked.
"I care not to repeat what has been constantly bored into your head by your Familia leaders and your would be customers," Caster began, causing Welf to put on a bitter face. "But I will not squander the opportunity to increase the quality of the boy's equipment. But whether you actually survive the battle will be based on your own merits. Do not count on me to expend any effort on you."
"I hear ya," Welf nodded with a challenging glare. "I'll make you eat those words too!"
"Humph, we shall see won't we?"
Bell could only glance between the two as sparks flew between the two and he hoped Welf didn't lose himself to Caster's overly hostile words and do something reckless.
For the first time in months, Bell felt afraid of the Dungeon…and it was due to his own Party members.
X-x-X-x-X
Despite not having entered the Dungeon in well over a month, Caster showed none of the interest he had in the Dungeon since he had first entered after he was summoned.
Caster did not lift a finger to fight any of the monsters even once as they traveled through the Dungeon and eventually hit the Fourteenth Floor.
"Whew, no Monster Party this time," Welf said as he rotated his shoulders in relief.
"No sign of Takemikazuchi Familia either," Bell noted. "I wonder if they're taking a break after what happened yesterday"
"One of their members nearly died and they were nearly overwhelmed," Lily pointed out. "Lily would be surprised if they decided to jump back into the Dungeon after only a day."
The three of them were in the front, chatting as they walked down the stairs to the Fourteenth Floor. Caster was just behind them, walking down with a map in his hands while Assassin was taking her time by jumping down a few steps at a time with Saber taking up the rear.
"Halt," Caster said simply causing Lily to stop immediately and for Bell to nearly knock her over from behind.
"What is it?" Welf asked as Caster walked past them. A moment later, a familiar roar echoed down the hall, causing Bell and Lily's shoulders to hunch up.
"Minotaurs…" Lily said, her voice barely above a whisper as Welf turned toward her, eyes wide. "W-wait, Lord Caster!"
Caster had walked all the way down the stairs and stopped, prompting Bell to jump down the last of the steps and stand beside his Captain.
Bell's breath was suddenly caught in his throat.
In front of them were the scattered and broken bodies of another Party. An elf's corpse was lying on top of his comrade's, their bodies crushed by a heavy weight. Either he was trying to cover her or he had fallen over her and were killed at the same time. On the other end of the room was another corpse with their head caved in…and at the exit…
Three Minotaurs devouring another body.
"…!"
Bell's vision turned red as he launched himself at the Minotaurs, only to feel someone grab his shoulder and fling him backwards toward the steps.
"Calm yourself, mongrel," Caster said he lowered his hand to his side. "Acting on your emotions here will only get yourself killed."
However, the noise attracted the attention of the Minotaurs and they charged Caster with a roar.
"Do not interrupt me, fodder."
Caster held up his hand and drew a circle in front of him, punctuating certain points with a poke of his finger. At these points a golden portal appeared and a different magic stave poked out of each of them.
"Rejoice mongrels…and burn."
A raging inferno shot forward, engulfing the minotaurs in a massive pillar of fire.
When the flames died out, there was nothing left of the Monsters aside from a black wisp as their corpses returned to the Dungeon.
"…So that's why he's your Captain…" Welf muttered with his jaw hanging open.
"Are you okay, Mommy?" Assassin asked as she helped him to his feet.
"…No," Bell replied with a grimace as he looked at the corpses of the other Adventurers.
"Such a thing happens every hour of every day in the Dungeon," Caster said simply as he picked up what was left of an arm of the body that the Minotaurs had been feasting on. "If you have time to shed tears over every dead fool then you shall be crying until the end of time."
Saber walked over to the two bodies which still had their heads intact and looked into the empty eyes still showing the expression of horror and despair of their last moments before quietly closing them with his hands as he offered them a silent prayer.
"…Not much to bring back up even if we wanted to, huh?" Welf asked as he was covering Assassin's eyes, to the girl's confusion.
"…Can't we do anything?" Bell asked desperately. "It feels…wrong to just leave them here."
"Mongrel."
Bell turned his head toward Caster only to quickly raise his hand and catch something thrown his way. A balled up cloth wrapped around a rock.
Unfurling the cloth, Bell saw that it was an emblem of their Familia.
"If you wish to take news up then bring up their Emblem," Caster said. "Give them to that Advisor of yours and the Guild will send word to their God."
"…Thank you, Caster…" Bell said as Lily nodded toward Caster and carefully moved over to the third corpse and used her knife to carefully cut out the emblem showing on the sleeve.
At the very least…their Familia could have some closure.
"Bell."
Lily's quiet voice caught Bell's attention as she tugged on his sleeve.
"Don't let it get to you," Lily said as she pushed the emblem she cut out into his hand. "…Like Lord Caster said…this…happens all the time. It's normal."
"…It shouldn't be…" Bell muttered as Lily slowly nodded her head in agreement.
"Bell."
Saber walked up to Bell and held out two bloodied emblems.
Bell took the emblems and carefully stored them in the bag around his waist.
"Let us move on," Caster said as he walked out of the entrance room first with everyone else slowly funneling out as well.
Although they had been chatting without a care barely five minutes ago, everyone was walking in somber silence.
Bell thought he was completely aware of how dangerous the Dungeon really was thanks to Eina beating it in to his head almost daily but seeing the dead Adventurers seemed to have really hammered it home.
"The Dungeon hates mortals."
It was a phrase passed around Orario between the gods and mortals alike. It was common knowledge.
From the look of things, Bell thought that that Party must have been ambushed. Minotaurs usually didn't go above the Fifteenth Floor and it looked as though those ones had been lying in wait for an unsuspecting Party to come by. They must have been cheerfully chatting with each other like Bell and the others had been before disaster struck.
They probably died only just realizing what was happening.
"Don't worry about it."
Welf suddenly leaned forward and grabbed both Bell and Lily with his arms and brought them close.
"That definitely won't happen to us," Welf said with a smile. "So cheer up. We're not going to beat any Floor Boss if you guys make such faces."
"Welf…" Bell called out his friend's name before his face relaxed into a smile. "Thanks."
"Lily is annoyed that she has to be cheered up by Master Welf," Lily muttered with a pout. "But Lily thanks Master Welf all the same."
"Come on, can't you just take it as it is?" Welf asked with a laugh as Assassin walked up to Bell and wrapped her arms around his waist.
"We'll protect Mommy and Lily too, so please cheer up," she said as she looked up at Bell.
"…I will, thanks Jack."
Bell returned the hug as Assassin squeezed him a bit harder before letting him go.
Behind them, Saber closed his eyes with a nod, no doubt smiling under his mask while Caster let out a quiet huff as he turned back around.
"If you are quite finished, then prepare yourselves," Caster said as portals appeared around him.
No sooner did he say that did cracks start appearing in the walls around them with Al-Miraj poking their heads out. It would have been cute had they not been looking at Bell and the others with bloody murder in their eyes.
"Not a word!" Bell preempted any jokes as Lily and Welf clicked their tongues while Assassin giggled.
"At least they're back to normal," Saber muttered with a smile as he drew out his daggers.
"I grow weary of fighting these things," Caster said. "We are moving through them! Forget about the Stones and Drop Items and cut your way through!"
"Yes!" Lily said as she prepared her crossbow and dagger.
"It's butchering time!" Assassin said, pulling out her cleavers and leaping head first into the mob of Monsters.
"Hey, get in line Jackie!" Welf called out as he ran after her. "I'm the Vanguard, remember?"
"Welf is too slow!"
As Bell charged forward as well, he was thankful for the distraction as well of Welf's cheerful nature.
There was no point in thinking about heavy things until the Goliath was beaten. For now, Bell decided to focus on his Adventure.
X-x-X-x-X
On Caster's command, Bell's Party ran through the Dungeon, ignoring most of the monsters that they came across and those that tried to get in their way were blasted into oblivion thanks to Caster's magic.
"Uuu…all those Magic Stones left behind…" Lily groaned as she looked over her shoulder toward the dozen Stones lying on the ground.
They were making their way through the Sixteenth Floor now and the Magic Stones were immensely valuable down here for a Familia of their size. Each one could easily fetch four or five digit prices and they were just leaving them behind.
"If you wish to gather them, feel free to do so and make your way back to us later," Caster said with a smirk as Lily quickly shook her head.
"Lily is fine! Lily doesn't need them that badly!"
"Oh no, far be it from me to stop you," Caster continued before holding his hand to signal them all to stop again as his brows declined ever so slightly.
In front of them was yet another Minotaur, one wielding a massive Landform Weapon in the shape of a large sword.
"Caster!" Bell ran up to the front, drawing his own longsword from Lily's backpack. "Please."
Bell didn't elaborate what he meant by that. He felt that he didn't have to.
"Again!?" Lily shouted as she walked forward. "Why does Bell always want to-"
"…You have one minute," Caster said as he placed a hand in front of Lily to quiet her.
"Oi oi…I don't think one minute is enough to-" Welf began but Bell had already charged forward, sword in hand.
Bell's roar echoed in the corridor as he smashed into the Minotaur before Lily or Welf could even blink.
The two blades clashed…but the Minotaur was the one reeling back as its arms shook from the violent blow. However, the monster quickly recovered as it pushed Bell back, sending the sword flying from his hands. No, Bell had released the sword himself, letting it serve as a distraction as he had already crouched down below the Minotaur with his daggers out.
In a flash of red, Bell's newest dagger shot out, carving a red line across the monster's wrist, forcing it to drop its weapon.
With another roar, Bell struck again and again. Countless violet and crimson lines crisscrossed the Minotaur's body. Each strike forced the monster to step back in pain, unable to counterattack at all. With each strike, Bell was also moving faster and faster before he dropped his daggers and picked up the dropped Landform and swung it across the Minotaur's waist, cleaving it in two and letting the two halves fall to the ground.
Then, ignoring the corpse, Bell turned down the path, weapon at the ready as small sparkles of light appeared around Bell's hands. Two more Minotaurs stumbled out of the darkness, heads lowered with their horns pointing at the boy, ready to gore him with them.
As they charged, the chiming sound that accompanied the lights around Bell's hands grew louder as he lunged forward, swinging the Landform down on the Minotaurs.
Just like the time with the Infant Dragon, a bright light exploded in the corridor where Bell swung his weapon down, vaporizing the two Minotaurs and a bit of the tunnel without any fanfare.
Lily and Welf could only stare at Bell in quiet shock as the boy lifted his head up and stared at the ceiling, letting out a long sigh as the Landform shattered into tiny shards, having been unable to withstand the power of Bell's Skill.
He then turned around and lowered his head toward Caster.
"I'm sorry for my selfishness."
And apologized to his king.
"…That was two minutes, mongrel," Caster said as he walked toward the first minotaur's corpse that hadn't been vaporized by Bell's Skill and flexed his gauntleted hand before he drove it into the monster's chest and wrenched out the Magic Stone, causing the blood and the corpse to vanish back into the Dungeon. He then tossed it toward Bell. "Do not waste our time like this again."
As Caster continued down the path, Welf and Lily walked forward, the former picking up the discarded longsword.
"Geez, if you keep doing this it'll make me think that you prefer Landforms over my stuff," Welf said with a smirk.
"I'm sorry," Bell said with a smile. "I guess I kinda…lost it there."
"Is Bell feeling better now?" Lily asked as she took the Magic Stone from Bell.
"Yeah…I just…I just needed to vent a bit."
"Still…guess those rumors of you beating a Minotaur wasn't just hot air…" Welf said as he wrapped an arm around Bell's shoulder. "One Minotaur solo at Level 1 and then two of them in one blow at Level 2 with a third being hacked to death with your daggers. What's going to happen at Level 3 I wonder?"
As Bell let out a dry laugh at Welf's teasing Caster called out to them.
"Enough tomfoolery! We are almost there."
The Party ran forward to catch up to Caster, only to find him standing beside a descending staircase.
"…Beyond here is the Floor Boss area…" Welf muttered with a gulp.
"Do not fret," Caster said. "The Monster Rex has not spawned just yet. You will rest on the Eighteenth Floor while we wait for-hmm?"
Caster turned toward the stairs before taking a step back from it, prompting everyone else to do so as well. A moment later, someone came flying up from it.
"Wha!?"
A rather familiar Adventurer appeared and landed beside him.
"You are…Vanagrand?" Caster asked as the Werewolf turned his eyes at Caster and swept them across the party before they stopped on Bell and Lily.
"…You lot are Archer's Familia?" Bete asked as his ears twitched slightly. "How the hell did you get down here?"
"Umm…like usual?" Bell answered as Bete's eyes narrowed.
"Whatever, I don't have time for this," Bete said as he started walking but Caster held out a hand in front of him. "What do you want?"
"Arde, the case," Caster said simply.
"R-right!" Lily nodded as she set her bag down and pulled out the case and handed it to Caster who opened it up in front of Bete, causing the Werewolf to raise an eyebrow.
Inside the case were several dozen high rank antidotes and elixirs.
"This is what you are after, correct?" Caster asked with a smirk.
"…What's your game?" Bete demanded as he looked from the potions to Caster.
"Do not think of it as mere charity," Caster replied as he shut the case and held it out to Bete. "I fully expect to recuperate the cost plus extra from your leaders. Of course, you are free to make the run back up to the surface yourself. But who can say if Dian Cecht Familia will have replenished their stock by then."
"Tch…whatever, I ain't got the time to argue," Bete growled as he carefully took the case with two hands. "…Those weaklings will be thankful for this."
"Humph."
For a moment, Bell wondered if Caster was going to demand at least a word of gratitude before releasing the case but Caster let Bete have it without another word.
As Bete turned around to descend the stairs, he looked over his shoulder toward Bell with a frown before disappearing without another word.
"…What was that about?" Welf asked, scratching his head.
"He was there when Bell beat the Minotaur on the Ninth Floor," Lily explained. "Maybe he was curious?"
"But…if he's here…then that means…" Bell began as his eyes started shining. "Archer has to be there too, right!?"
Lily's eyes widened in realization as well as the two of them turned to Caster.
"If he has not perished down in the Deep Floors then he would naturally still be with Loki Familia, would he not?" Caster pointed out.
Lily and Bell turned to look at each other as Caster proceeded to walk down the stairs to the Seventeenth Floor with the two of them close behind.
"Guess this 'Archer' guy is important to them," Welf said as Assassin hurried up to walk beside Bell as well.
"Indeed," Saber nodded. "I joined the Familia after he had already left on the Expedition with Loki Familia thus have not had the opportunity to be introduced yet. This will be both of our first times meeting him."
The two of them quickly moved to catch up with the others and the Party came dow to the Seventeenth Floor where a strange scene met them.
Unlike the drab stone walls that had accompanied them all they way from the Thirteenth Floor, the Seventeenth Floor contained a single room about two hundred meters long from the entrance to the exit. It was also another one hundred meters wide and twenty meters tall. A perfect arena to fight a massive creature like a Monster Rex.
The walls and ceiling were covered in many layers of jagged rocks aside for the one to the left of the entrance, which was completely smooth to the point that it looked unnatural.
"The Great Wall of Sorrows…" Bell muttered, naming the mysterious wall.
The ones who gave it such a name were Adventurers who came down here when the Monster Rex was active. For behind the wall was where the Monster Rex slept as it waited to be reborn into the Dungeon. When it did, the wall would shatter like an egg shell, and the massive monster would smash its way out, bringing despair to those who ventured here unprepared.
The resting place for one of the King of Monsters, the Goliath. The massive wall that separated the High Class Adventurers from the rabble.
"It's so big!" Assassin shouted as she stared at the wall that held the target of their Expedition.
"Lily feels…exceptionally small right now…" Lily whimpered as she shrunk down slightly in the face of the Great Wall.
"Hold your head up high, Arde," Caster said as he boldly strode forward. "You cannot hope to stand alongside us if you cower at the face of a rock."
"Y-yes…" Lily nodded as she closed her eyes and trailed behind Caster.
"…You don't think there's more than one Goliath behind that thing, do you?" Welf asked.
"I ask that you do not say such ominous things," Saber said as he tapped Bell and Assassin's shoulders to get them to move as well. "Let us continue, you two."
"R-right…" Bell nodded as he took Assassin's hand and started walking.
Bell knew that the Goliath was supposed to be a massive Monster but the fact that he was now in the room where the Monster Rex was supposed to be fought in made him realize that he didn't have any idea just how big eight meters truly was if it needed this much room to fight in.
A new feeling appeared in Bell's gut.
Fear? Anticipation? Dread? Excitement? Worry? Eagerness?
He wasn't sure which word was right even if they all were more or less the same as the other. At the same time, there was a feeling that he just couldn't shake. The feeling that something bad was about to happen.
Shaking his head, he picked up the pace, wanting to get out of the arena as soon as possible.
Once he reached the stairs to the Eighteenth Floor, Bell was finally able to breathe easy.
"Ugh, finally out of there…" Welf muttered from behind Bell as well.
It seemed as though only the Servants were unaffected with the heavy atmosphere of the room. Probably because Caster and Saber had already dealt with massive titans in their respective legends while Assassin…
"Hmm?"
Assassin cocked her head to the side as Bell stared at her before smiling at Bell. She probably didn't even notice anything to be stressed or worried about.
As they left the stairway, a splendid sight appeared in Bell's eyes.
The first thing Bell noticed was…that it was bright. The Dungeon was never pitch black thanks to tiny glowing crystals embedded in the walls to illuminate the path no matter what time of day it was but right now it was as though they had returned to the surface while the sun was high in the sky.
The next was that there were crystals everywhere. Some barely the size of Bell's foot, others were even larger than the Minotaurs they had fought earlier. In the very center of the Floor was a massive tree that stretched all the way to the ceiling that stood even higher than the one on the Seventeenth Floor and was covered with even more crystals and were the source of light for the entire Floor. The largest ones in the center were a bright white color, mimicking the sun, while the smaller ones around it were light blue like the sky.
"…Is this really the Dungeon?" Welf asked as he looked around. "I feel like I got transported to an Elf Forest or something…"
"This is the Under Resort…" Lily muttered as they continued walking. "Lily heard that some nobles outside of Orario would hire High Class Adventurers to take them here just for the view."
"What an amazing use of money…" Bell muttered with a laugh.
"We will not be staying in the town," Caster said with a smile. "No doubt they will attempt to charge some outlandish price. Let us indulge in the hospitality of Loki Familia instead."
"Are they nearby?" Assassin asked as her head moved back and forth like it was on a swivel as she took in as much of the forest around them as she could.
"Why don't you ask your 'mother' Assassin?" Caster asked with a smirk as Bell blushed slightly. "You should know, right?"
That's right…if Archer was really here then.
Bell closed his eyes as he placed a hand on his chest, expanding his senses out. He felt a small pull against his heart, telling him that he was moving toward them as he opened his eyes and looked to his right.
No sooner did he do so did a pair of feet land there.
"…I don't believe it. Bete was right."
Standing there was Bell's first Servant and Knight of the Bow, looking just as he did when he left some two weeks prior.
"Aren't you all a sight for sore eyes," Archer asked with a smile.
"Archer!"
"Master Archer!"
Bell and Lily ran up toward the man, the latter dropping her pack so she could move faster before jumping into his arms.
"Whoa there," Archer said as he caught them and steadied himself. "Looks like you both are doing well…especially you, Bell."
"Yes," Bell nodded, having not seen Archer since the Minotaur Incident. "Archer…I'm Level 2 now."
"Is that so?" Archer asked as he set them down and placed a hand on Bell's head. "Good work."
Bell had no idea how much he had wanted to hear those words of acknowledgement until now. But he had them now…and Bell truly believed he had taken one step closer to his dream.
