Chapter 32: Radiant Dawn Argonaut

"Geez, do you always have to act like an idiot?" Tione was chastising Tiona who was sitting on her knees in front of her down on the Tenth Floor of the Dungeon.

"But come on!" Tiona protested. "It's THE Argonaut! The actually actual really real one!"

"Even so…that's no reason to knock him down the stairs. I mean, that's actually Bell Cranel's body, right? Though…I don't quite understand how that works."

Said Argonaut was lying on the ground a few feet away, looking rather battered as he was helped to his feet by Ais and Lefiya.

"Ahaha…it's fine…" Argonaut wheezed. "It's only natural to act in such a fashion when in the presence of a legend. Ugh…but please remember that this body is a rental…I don't want to break it before I give it back to Bell."

"But why are you in Bell's body anyway, Mister Argonaut?" Lefiya asked. "He may be an Adventurer but he's still only a fourteen years old."

"Haha, it just so happens that my Spirit is drawn to the boy," Argonaut replied with a smile. "Perhaps he is my descendant or maybe even the reincarnation of my soul? Or perhaps its merely something as simple as that I have simply answered his desire for strength. Ah, but I don't mind if you jus call me 'Argo.' Argonaut is kind of a mouthful isn't it? Also, I apologize for saying it again but you really do remind me a lot of my little sister, Fina, and hearing 'Argonaut' instead of 'Argo' gives me the shivers."

"Did you not get along with your younger sister?" Lefiya asked.

"Oh no we get along perfectly!" Argo replied with a smile. "She is always there for me to hide behind when things get too tough for me to handle!"

"Huh?"

"D'uuh…I mean, I have always been able to trust my front and my back to her!"

"Hah…"

Lefiya then turned toward Ais who was staring at Argo's sword, which was resting on the ground. It was a golden blade that practically radiated in power. In the story of Argonaut, it was supposed to be the proof that the boy, Argonaut, had inherited the power of General Minos, a powerful warrior bearing the symbol of thunder upon his helmet that defended the last bastion of hope for humanity against the tide of monsters before he was slain by the Minotaur. Seeing such a legendary blade in front of her made Lefiya's hair stand on end, and it was not just because the blade was practically swimming in the power of lightning.

"This sword…is it the power of a Spirit?" Ais asked.

"Oh, you can tell?" Argo asked with a smile. "During my journey to inherit the power of General Minos, I came across a shrine dedicated to a powerful Spirit named Jupiter. After passing its trials, I was bestowed with its power. With it, I challenged and defeated the Minotaur terrorizing the kingdom. With a little help from the princess at the end I suppose."

"So everything that happened in the legend is true?" Tiona asked, suddenly appearing in front of Argo with a smile causing Argo to blink in surprise as if he was seeing something completely unnatural in Tiona's face.

"That I cannot say," Argo replied quickly bringing a smile to his own face. "Although I have some vague idea of what the story you heard contained thanks to Bell's memories, I expect Orna would have exaggerated some things to make it work as a comedy after all. Ah, but if you are asking about my heroic feats and my splendid heroic visage, then yes. Those will all be true! Ha ha ha!"

"Does that include being saved by the princess at the end?" Tione asked causing Argo to deflate, holding a hand over his heart as if he had been shot there. "Not very heroic is it?"

"Oh! You wound me, Miss Tione!" Argo said. "Your words are as painful as Elmina's love taps when I go too far in offering my compliments to Orna!"

"You said that name before," Tione noted. "Who exactly is Elmina?"

"Ahh, she was an Amazon who came to be known as the strongest warrior in the Kingdom after General Minos," Argo explained. "She was Orna's adopted sister. You may probably know her better as Elshana, the War Princess."

The revelation seemed to have struck the twin sisters speechless. Elshana had been an Amazon warrior of the highest renown in Telskyura. A powerful Battle Lord that was known throughout the country as the strongest of the Amazons.

"Man, I remember when I really made her mad and she tried to rip my arm off," Argo continued as a joke. "She really did not like me at all, ahaha! Compared to Minotaur, she was definitely the scarier opponent. But I have to ask…are you two true-blooded sisters?"

"Yeah, that's right," Tiona nodded, looking rather confused at the sudden question. "We're twins."

"I see," Argo nodded, a soft and kind smile on his face. "That makes me really happy. It means Elmina's wish came true. She and Orna became true sisters in blood as well as everything else. I thank the gods for allowing her wish to come true."

"Uh…sure?" Tione muttered, looking rather embarrassed as she scratched her cheek.

"Hey hey, does that mean you knew the other legends Orna the Storyteller wrote?" Tiona asked. "Like Galmusa and Yuris?"

"Of course! All three of them assisted me by helping me clear the path of monsters to reach Minotaur. Galmus was only eighteen when we met but he was already a powerful dwarf warrior with the strength of a hundred men. He also sported a full beard that reached all the way down to his waist. We all were surprised at his age when we found out. Yuri was a prideful werewolf who fought for a home for his clan, the Loga tribe. He took down two dragons and one wyvern all on his own under the light of the full moon. Oh and he was always willing to look the other way when I sneaked some food off of his plate. Usually."

Argo boasted about his companions like someone who was more of a tagalong to heroes rather than their companion but it was clear that he held them all in high esteem.

"To be honest, all three of them were way more heroic than I. They just needed someone to pull them all together for a common goal. And that someone just happened to be me! How fitting for 'Argonaut!' Ha ha ha!"

"So the four of you traveled together along with Orna the Storyteller?" Lefiya asked. "And she recorded your adventures as legends to be passed down?"

"Well, there were seven of us in total," Argo corrected. "Myself, Orna, Elmina, Galmus, and Yuri as you suspected. But my sister, Fina, also came along as our Mage. Also Ryulu or Wishe, I suppose, would sometimes tag along when we crossed paths with each other for more stories to tell. And I guess there was one more, but he left to raise a family. We did keep in touch though."

"It really was an 'Argonaut,'" Tiona said with a laugh before stopping as she thought of something. "Wait…Loga tribe? Isn't that Bete's family?"

"W-well that is his last name in any case…" Tione muttered.

"Ohh, to think another descendent of my friend would be in this town as well!" Argo cheered. "That means he must have succeeded protecting his people after everything. Truly it was a good thing for me to come here. For I have seen the wishes of all of my friends' wishes have come true!"

At Argo's words a growl sounded around them.

"Looks like the Dungeon's had enough of us just hanging around here talking," Tione said as imps and orcs started to close in on them.

"Ehhhhhh! I want to talk with Argo a bit more! Don't get in our way!" Tiona pouted as she prepared to get rid of them but Argo held his hand out.

"No, allow me," the hero said with a smirk as he hoisted his blade over his shoulder. "I've been using Bell's weapon for my entire time down here. Allow me to give my proper demonstration of my heroic power. Fight by my side once more, Jupiter!"

Without even waiting for the girls to say anything, Argo shot forward, clad in lightning as he disappeared in a flash of light and reappeared by the monsters with thunderbolts surging outward into the monsters, burning them to crisps.

"As I thought, it has to be with you after all," Argo said as he placed his hand on the flat of the blade. "My Radiant Sword."

Several bad bats started to surround him but with a single swing of his blade, they too were vaporized in an instant.

"And this body…" Argo muttered, glancing at his hand. "The backlash is almost non-existent. Is it because I'm now a Servant…or is it because of the goddess's blessing? Either way I should be more careful. I won't forgive myself it I do the same to Bell's body that I did to mine…"

Behind him, the girls were watching him with awe.

"Even if they were just Level 1 monsters, that speed is something else," Tione muttered. "That sword is the real deal…it's like I'm watching Archer work all over again."

"Bell's speed was always rather fast for a Level 2," Lefiya admitted. "Even I had trouble keeping up with him back when we were camping on the Eighteenth Floor. Is that Mister Argonaut's power mixing in with Bell's Status? And that Magic Sword…"

However, Argo let the sword vanish in his hands alongside his armor and turned back toward the girls.

"Well, I've had my fun," Argo said with a smile as he tapped his chest. "I better go return what I borrowed before they get mad at me."

"Ehhhh, do you really have to go so soon?" Tiona asked, her voice full of disappointment. "I wanted to hear some more of your stories."

"Hahaha, surely everything about me would be passed down by Orna?" Argo asked. "I asked her to spread my name far and wide after all. It must be my karma to be able to be reunited with my beautiful honeys after coming back to this world! Tis as though I have jumped back into my golden days!"

As he said this, Argo slipped into the middle of the girls and pulled them together in a hug. In response to this, both Tiona and Lefiya delivered a pair of beautiful punches into his stomach, causing him to bowl over in pain.

"Bufawagh!?"

"Wait, Tiona?" Tione shouted in surprise as Argo dropped to the ground. "And Lefiya too?"

""Ah.""

The two girls stepped back in surprise as they looked at their hand.

"Strange…my body moved on its own," Tiona muttered as she rubbed her hand.

"M-mine too…" Lefiya admitted. "I…think I'm also getting a headache. Is it because Mister Argonaut…umm…Mister Argo acts so different from Bell, I wonder?"

"Koff…ack…koff…yep…just like old times," Argo coughed as he remained curled up on the ground, clutching his stomach.

"Pfft…"

Tione, Tiona, Lefiya and Argo all turned as one toward Ais who quickly covered her mouth with a hand and looked away.

"Yes!" Argo said, pumping a fist. "I still got it!"

"Ahaha, as expected of Argonaut!" Tiona said with a laugh as she helped the hero to his feet. "You can make anyone laugh!"

"Of course I can!" Argo replied, throwing his chest out. "It is the duty of all heroes to make sure the people can live with a smile on their face!"

And certainly, the four girls around him did have smiles on their faces, although Tione's was a bit more stiff than the others.

To Lefiya it felt as though Argo was an actor who did his best to overact at every opportunity. He was called a Fool because he actively did to make people smile, even to his own physical detriment.

"Hey Argo, do you mind if I ask something personal?" Tione began.

"Of course, Miss Tione," Argo nodded. "I am perfectly willing to give you my autograph if you ask."

"We don't need it," Tione said, quickly slapping her hand over Tiona's mouth before she can contradict her. "In the story, it said that you set out to be a hero because you wanted to become one. Why is that?"

"Because the world needed one," Argo replied without hesitation, his expression becoming slightly more serious. "I don't have the entire picture of what the world is like today but back then, in the era of darkness, we didn't have anything as convenient as the Falna. Back then people lived with a looming shadow over them that they could die at a moment's notice. Every so often you would hear stories of cities being overrun or even an entire country disappearing overnight under the monster horde."

Argo closed his eyes as if he was trying to relive those dark days as clearly as possible.

Intellectually, Lefiya already knew this. She had learned about it during her lessons about the previous era but hearing it from someone who supposedly lived through it first hand was something else. With the Falna, none of the monsters on the surface would be any threat to humanity, but before then…people had to suffer under the endless horde with no hope in sight.

"It was an era where people would both throw their own children to monsters in order to live while others would throw themselves at them in hopes that their children could live even a moment longer. And even then, there would be people too focused on their own survival that they would ignore a girl crying over her parents' bodies. It is because I could not stand to see such things that I decided to become a hero! Nay, that was when I must become a hero!"

His eyes snapped open as he spoke his resolution.

"People needed something to rally around, a beacon of hope to shine during those trying times. However, I am nothing but a clown. I do not have the power to physically save everyone. But even so, that is something I could leave to other heroes. Instead I would save the ones that fall through the cracks! If I can give them a reason to laugh and keep smiling, to give them the strength to keep living, perhaps that one will go on to save hundreds of others in return! Heroes are there to shine as brightly as possible to leave something for the people behind them. If my comedy can make people smile, if it can let them get through even one more day, then isn't that enough of a reason for me to become a hero?"

"So you realize your story is a comedy?" Tione asked with a wry smile.

"Of course! For I have made it so! Although I will admit that even I didn't expect to be saved by Aria at the last minute, ahaha…"

"By 'Aria' you mean the Princess Ariadne, right?" Lefiya asked.

"That's right. Miss Ais's beauty is almost a perfect mirror to Aria's. Although her eyes were blue instead of golden. Which is why it must be destiny for us to meet here once more. So please, Miss Ais. Please allow me to take your hand in marr-bufwah!"

Argo's rambling was quickly cut off by Lefiya slapping him across the face.

"Stop saying such things with Bell Cranel's face and voice!" The elf shouted as Argo simply chuckled with his face firmly planted in the ground.

"Lefiya…" Tione sighed, causing Lefiya to flinch as she realized that she hit Bell's body rather hard. Again.

"A-Ahhhhh…I did it again…"

"Well…I'm only half serious," Argo admitted as he sat back up, rubbing his cheek. "While this body's heart beats rapidly at the mere sight of Miss Ais and Miss Lefiya, there's no point in a transient Spirit such as myself to tie myself down like that. As it is, I am but a mere Alter Ego of this boy. I will disappear in time."

"Rapid beats, huh?" Tione began with a smirk as Lefiya and Ais flushed at Argo's confession on Bell's body.

"You're going to leave!?" Tiona asked, cutting in to the conversation. "But I wanted to talk to you some more!"

"And I would love to hear more about your life as well, but as I must remind you, this is not my true body," Argo replied tapping Bell's chest again. "I will no doubt fade by the day's end and there is still much I need to do today. I need to hurry back up to the surface. My tour of this era has not yet ended after all!"

"Oh…does that include hiding from the rest of Bell Cranel's Familia?" Tione asked with a smirk as Argo flinched.

"I…might have escaped them in order to fulfill my desires, yes," Argo admitted. "But I swear on my name and honor as a hero that I will return this body the way I found it! Minus the few bruises I gained within the last few minutes of course."

Lefiya let out a groan as she buried her face into her hands. She needed to find a way to apologize to Bell after this.

"T-then can we at least talk as we head back up?" Tiona asked. "I have so much I want to say!"

"By all means," Argo replied with his usual smile. "If you ladies are able to keep up with me."

With that said, Argo turned toward the stairs and began to make his ascent back to the surface at a rather alarming speed considering Bell's Level 2 body. Was it because he was a Spirit or was it because of the power of lightning?

"Argonaut!" Tiona shouted as she quickly ran to follow him with the other three close behind. "I want to say that your story definitely helped me! It made me smile when I didn't know what to do with myself! It gave me the resolve to keep on smiling for myself and those that couldn't!"

"If that is true then everything I did was worth it in the end!" Argo shouted back to her without turning around as he disappeared up the stairs in a flash.

When the girls cleared the stairs to the Ninth Floor however, Argo was nowhere to be seen.

Only the echoing satisfied laughter of a clown, happy with what became of his legacy, remained.

X-x-X-x-X

Clang. Clang. Clang

His hammer struck the metal again and again, filling the admittedly messy and otherwise empty forge with signs of life. Even though the vacation had been cut short and smothered with a rather wet blanket in the form of Fia and the knowledge of the Xenos, the time Welf Crozzo spent with Hestia Familia had been rather enjoyable.

But now here he was, home alone in his forge with no one to keep him company.

Welf did not want to admit that he was lonely. He had spent so much time and effort on his own after all and he wanted to say that it was enough that Bell and the others were happy and willing to pay for his work. As a Level 2 High Smith of the Hephaistos Familia, he had the privilege of using his goddess's signature on his works and had the opportunity to make some more clients…at least in theory.

But his name would always draw in the worthless people who only saw the possibility of a powerful Magic Sword and nothing else. They were only after a product that would be discarded after use, not a trusted partner that would stand by them through thick and thin.

But it wasn't the Magic Swords' fault.

It was the fault of the Smiths who made them.

"Magic Swords will always break."

That was the fatal common sense that had been drilled into everyone. It was the undeniable "fact" that existed in this world.

Or at least, that's what it should have been.

Gram.

It was the name of Saber's Magic Sword. A blade so powerful that it could cleave through that Enhanced Monster Rex's arms and not shatter immediately after use. And even then he would use it as an actual sword and cut up monsters with it on occasion.

A Magic Sword that did not break. Such a thing was possible, somehow.

At first Welf thought that Saber had somehow managed to make a Durandal Magic Sword but the blade itself contained no trace of Orichalcum, the key material required to make Durandal weapons.

Simply seeing it in action stoked his Blacksmith soul while at the same time gave rise to some other complicated feelings. He had made such a big deal about never making a Magic Sword but as the days went by, the more and more he thought about making a Magic Sword that could rival that of Gram's might. It wasn't as though it was a mere boast either. He felt it, deep down in his soul, that he could make a blade that would rival that weapon…and it would be one step closer into catching up to his own dream.

To make a blade that could rival his goddess's.

When an aspiring Smith wanted to join Hephaistos Familia, they are taken to a private room and shown a single sword resting on top of a pedestal. A blade both simple and beautiful at the same time that it sent chills down his spine. A blade made by the goddess herself, using only pure human techniques while using none of her godly powers.

"If you don't feel it, go someplace else."

And feel it he did. Even just remembering the blade gave him goosebumps. A part of him wanted a fellow sword maniac like Archer to see it but he felt that his goddess wouldn't allow an outsider to lay eyes on it.

And his desire to create something to surpass it was easily read by his friends' Familia Captain. During the night before they set off to meet the talking monster, Caster and Welf had a small chat to pass the time. Although Welf had been the one to instigate it as it was only the two of them sharing the room together, Caster humored him.

When the topic came to Welf's dreams however…

"You wish to create something that surpasses that of a god and yet you refuse to use the full extent of your abilities?" Caster had asked. "Do you consider your destination so shallow that you can afford to do so? Is it your desire to insult your goddess so blatantly?"

It was never his intention to do so but he was ashamed that he only just now realize how it could be taken from an outside point of view. To surpass a blade created by a goddess without using the full extent of his abilities…it was like claiming to be able to beat a master swordsman recognized by the entire world in a duel while blindfolded with one hand behind your back.

There's confidence and then there is just running your mouth.

Welf then laid out the blade in front of him.

It was made from the ores he managed to find during the trip to Melen and had been completed into a beautiful red blade, making it look like it was made out of crystal rather than metal. Of course, it was a regular sword rather than a Magic Sword.

"Yep, I'm satisfied," Welf said with a metaphorical pat on his back.

It was made rather easily and quickly but it didn't mean it was low quality. It was just that the material was easy to work with. It should be able to stick with Emma for a long time, so long as something catastrophic didn't happen for it to shatter.

Welf then let out a long sigh as he rubbed his head.

Catastrophic as in finding out that there were a group of monsters in the Dungeon that could speak and understand humans and wanted to live on the surface with them. If he was honest with himself, he wanted nothing to do with them. Sure, he felt sorry for the harpy, Fia, and its companions but Welf did not have the motivation, opportunity, nor ability to help them.

But…he did want to help Bell help them.

"What do I do?" He muttered to himself.

He felt rather lost and there was no one that he could talk to about it.

"Well, you could just do what you want and worry about the consequences later."

Welf jumped up to his feet and spun around at the voice, only to place a hand over his chest and sigh.

"Ah geez, it's just you Bell," Welf said as he scratched his head. "Gave me a fright there."

"My apologies my dear friend," Bell replied with a smile, his head poking in from the window that Welf had opened earlier. "But I did not wish to disturb your work."

"…Why are you talking like Saber?"

"Well, probably because…I am not Bell but the legendary Hero, Argonaut!"

Silence filled the forge with only the sound of the smoldering embers cracking to fill in the blanks of Welf's head as he just stared at him in confusion.

"Are you feeling okay, Bell?" Welf asked. "Did that rescue mission addle your brains a bit?"

"Hoh hoh hoh, I expected such a reaction," Bell replied with a nod as he flipped through the window and landed inside the forge. "As expected of Crozzo's descendant! But would you believe me if I did this?"

"Bell" held his hand out and red lightning arced out of his arm and a blood red blade formed between them.

"Tell me, descendent of Crozzo! Does your blood still burn?"

"Bell!? What the-huh!?"

Welf's eyes fell on the blade and as the boy said, he felt something burn inside of him just by looking at it. It was a feeling similar whenever he looked at one of Hephaistos's personal works like Bell's black knife but this felt much more personal and intimate.

"You need not just simply take it in with your eyes," the boy said with a smile as he held the blade toward him. "Feel free to hold it as well. Though the blood of Ursu has thinned out, you should still be able to tell what this is, right?"

"This…this is a Crozzo Magic Sword," Welf said as he could feel the heat radiating out from within. Even without seeing it in action, Welf could tell that its sheer majesty made the power of Kazuki, the flames he used against the Monster Rex, look nothing more like a match stick in comparison. "But how?"

"I said so before, didn't I? I am Argonaut. And although the legends may have forgotten that he was a part of my story, I have not. It is a blade given to me by your ancestor, the first Crozzo."

"Then…this blade…" Welf gasped, his throat feeling rather dry. "It's…"

"That's right! The second Magic Sword forged by your great ancestor! The Magic Sword-"

"The original Minotan!" Welf shouted, holding the blade up. "It is it! I can't believe it actually existed! So he did end up making more Magic Swords after all!"

"Ahh…yes…Crozzo did call it that, didn't he?" Argo muttered with a dry laugh. "Well, do you believe me now?"

Welf nodded.

He had to. There was no way Bell could have gotten his hands on such a legendary blade within the span of a few hours since he last left him.

"I must say though…" Argo said as he placed a hand on his chin and looked up and down Welf as if appraising him. "You are the splitting image of my friend, your ancestor Crozzo. It truly is a strange fate that you would be friends with Bell Cranel as he was to me."

"Wait…does that mean Bell is your descendant?" Welf asked as he handed the blade back to Argo.

"Who can say?" Argo replied vaguely with a shrug. "He is but a simple farmboy raised only by his grandfather while I am a Heroic Spirit currently having fun while possessing his body. Our souls resonate rather well with each other though, if I do say so myself."

Argo let out another laugh before looking at Welf with rather serious eyes.

"But I didn't come here to talk about myself. I wanted to see how my friend's legacy lived on."

Argo looked around the forge to see the various blueprints and designs for the girls of Hetia Familia Welf had stuck up on the wall above piles of material he had planned to use for them.

"Compared to him, it looks like your business is actually doing rather well!"

"Hahaha…well, its all from a single source…" Welf admitted with mixed feelings that his ancestor also had trouble selling his wares as a blacksmith.

"Hmm…but do you not sell Magic Swords?" Argo asked. "Watching you, I can say that your skill would not fall behind that of my friend's in time. Any Magic Sword you create would surely be powerful beyond measure. Even the Magic Sword of Flames should easily be surpassed if you work hard enough."

To hear such high praise from a legend who new his ancestor stirred the same mixed feelings from earlier.

"I…" Welf began as he slumped down in a chair. "Don't want to make Magic Swords. I don't like them."

The confession caused Argo to frown slightly as he glanced down at the Magic Sword in his hands.

"I see…" Argo said with a nod as though he already knew Welf would say that. "My friend would be sad to hear that."

"No one asked you," Welf growled.

"My apologies, you misunderstand me, Welf Crozzo," Argo said quickly. "I do not mean it like that. I mean that he would be sad to hear that his blood seems to be the source of your problems."

Welf stared at Argo in surprise.

"I may not understand the problems you have with them but if you don't want to make Magic Swords then I'm sure he would support your decision with all of his heart," Argo continued with a smile. "He was that kind of person after all. He would smile, nod his head and say 'If that's what you want, then that's what you should do. If that is the path you want to take to your goal then go for it. I'll be here waiting either way if you change your mind.'"

"…It's not," Welf said as he held his head in his hands. "It's just my own personal beef with them. I can't trust them. Magic Swords always break after all, leaving their users behind."

"Is that really true?" Argo asked, a light tone in his voice as he walked closer to Welf and held the Magic Sword in front of Welf again. "Then why is this in my hands? How many hundreds of years have passed since my story became known across the land? But behold, the Magic Sword of Flames is still with me. It hasn't broken. It is still my trusty partner after all this time."

Welf lifted his head up, eyes wide as he stared once more into the dark crimson blade.

"I can't say what you should do," Argo said, standing up as the Magic Sword disappeared into red wisps of light. "I shouldn't have to. I think you already know what you want to do and how to do it. If there is a flaw in your Magic Swords…then you just have to remove it, right? Even a child like Jack can, and did, tell you that, hahaha."

"Yeah…she did, didn't she?" Welf asked with a smile as he looked toward his forge again.

"Well whatever you decide to do, know that Bell and the others will be with you right there to support you no matter what. That's what comrades do, after all."

Welf turned to look back at Argo but the young man was already gone, just as quickly as he came.

"Comrades, huh?" Welf muttered as he went to sit back in front of his forge. Taking a piece of metal ore from a bag, he stared into it before rubbing his back. "…I'll think about it as I work. It's not something I can just decide on a whim."

As the sound of flames and hammering of steel sounded out from the smithery once more, a young man smiled at the renewed spirits of his friend before disappearing back into the city.

X-x-X-x-X

"Nnnngghh! I had fun today!" Argo said as he stretched his arms over his head. "I got to see the power of the gods first hand and see a possibility that I never thought I would be able to see. A reflection of Orna's smile…haha…"

He didn't manage to see if all of his friends' descendants but considering he found so many of them within the limited time he had, he would call it a win.

"Now then…" he said before turning to look at one of the archways into one of the watchtowers that were placed along the walls of the city. "Can I help you?"

Another person was looking at him from the shadows. It didn't seem like they had been tailing him, but rather they had simply came across him by coincidence and was trying to keep themselves hidden while observing him.

It was one thing if they had been a cute girl, but Argo had no interest in letting a man watch him, no matter how handsome he was. Someone like Ryulu was free to watch him all they wanted though.

"My bad my bad, I saw little Gina and the rest of Hestia's Children running around looking for you that I wasn't sure if I was safe coming out."

And out came a golden haired man wearing a feathered cap over a smile. The aura he exuded was beyond anything Argo had ever seen before. Even without looking at Bell's memories, he could tell what this person was.

A god.

"Oh, what a divine visage!" Argo found himself saying while feeling a bit charmed by the smile. "If I had even a fraction of your good looks, I would have won over Aria and Orna in an instant!"

"Ahaha, I'm flattered Bell," the god replied with a small chuckle. "Or perhaps I should call you 'Argonaut' instead?"

"Oh, you have heard of me?" Argo replied with a smile.

"In passing. One of my children overheard one of Bell's Familia members talking to some of Loki's children and told me about it. First off, is Bell all right?"

"Of course. If anything were to happen to him, I would suffer for it in return in more ways than one. The moment his life were to be in danger I would sacrifice myself without a second thought."

"That is a relief," the god said with a nod. "I am rather fond of Bell myself so I'd hate to see something happen to him. Oh but I suppose I should introduce myself. I am Hermes, a…well, I suppose not quite 'friend' per se, but an acquaintance of Bell's. I've heard quite a few tales about you, Argonaut."

"Oh, so my legend has been seen by the gods above after all?" Argo asked, looking rather happy and pleased at the thought.

"That's right," Hermes nodded as he walked closer to Argo and leaned against the wall. "Sadly I was too busy to watch you during your original journey but I knew a few gods that were quite fond of your little performance so I heard about it secondhand. Zeus in particular absolutely loved it."

"Ohh! That is high praise indeed! For such a famous god to go out of his way to watch a clown's performance."

"Well, you did cause quite the stir after all," Hermes said with another laugh as he rummaged through his bag. "Though I suppose that is why so much of the true story was kept secret from the world."

Argo found himself frowning as Hermes held out a small book…no, it was more of a journal. It looked positively ancient with the cover just barely holding its contents together and several of its pages were frayed and torn. It would be a miracle for someone to make sense of its contents.

"What is that?"

"As you might have guessed, it is a journal. One written by someone very close to you. Close enough to know that you passed away on your very next adventure soon after saving the sacrifice from being offered to Minotaur."

"Ahahaha, what a strange tale. I certainly don't know anything about that."

"Argonaut," Hermes began softly. "I was wondering if it would work considering your unique circumstances but I suppose even someone like you cannot lie to a god without them knowing."

"Tis not a lie, Lord Hermes," Argo insisted with a smile. "Argonaut is the fool who wished to become a hero. Along the way he was tricked by the evil people around him and even the king himself. And in the end he was saved by the princess he set out to save and together they defeated the darkness looming over the kingdom. That is the story of Argonaut."

"…Lord Zeus's taste in heroes sure is something," Hermes muttered with another chuckle. "Well, I was only looking for confirmation about its contents. I won't spread them around, your highness."

"Oh dear, now I am certain that you have the wrong tale," Argo said as a laugh. "Certainly there can't be a prince so useless and incapable of protecting his people as the clown in front of you Lord Hermes."

"Haha, I suppose not. Then, if you don't mind me asking something random…if you were to have a wish for this new lease on life, assuming you weren't on a time limit what would it be?"

"Of course, it would be for everyone in the world to be able to smile from the bottom of their hearts!" Argo replied instantly, causing Hermes to chuckle.

"I'm sorry, I was asking Argonaut, the person in front of me, not Argonaut the Dawn," Hermes said as he adjusted his hat with his finger. "It's just the two of us, Argonaut. Surely you can have some selfish desires."

"…"

Argonaut just stared at the god for a moment before a rather bitter smile appeared on his face.

"Well, if we're being selfish, then I suppose I would want to duel Minotaur one more time," Argo admitted. "One where we face each other alone with both of us at our very best. And no Aria to be there to save me this time."

"Hoh…that would be quite a spectacle to see," Hermes muttered. "I don't suppose one of the many minotaurs roaming the Dungeon would work?"

"No, that one was special. It had devoured the lives of countless humans and monsters after all. It would have to be what people here call an 'Enhanced Species' I suppose."

"Ahaha…I suppose that is just one of the many reasons why you are drawn to Bell. His achievements usually center around minotaurs after all."

As if chuckling about some inside joke, Hermes glanced to the side for a moment before turning back to Argo.

"Well, I apologize for bothering you but I should say that it would be best to return Bell to his friends soon. Before they burn down the city looking for you."

"I shall take that advice to heart. I will return by the time the sun sets, have no fear."

"Then it was a pleasure meeting you, Argonaut."

With a sweep of his hat, Hermes gave Argo a quick bow before heading back down the same way he came.

"Geez, the gods are far seeing after all," Argo muttered. "But…it looks like everything worked out in the end for the most part."

He glanced back toward the city and Babel Tower that sat in the very center of it.

"The hole at the edge of the continent that Orna talked about has been plugged and the brave Adventurers of this city go in to keep the monsters from escaping with the help of the gods. Hahaha…would it be too much for me to take credit for this? Yeah…it was everyone's effort after all. Hmm?"

As Argo turned around, a pair of feet landed beside him.

"Oh, Miss Ais," Argo greeted the golden haired, golden eyed swordswoman. "I didn't think you'd be able to find me."

"I followed the wind," Ais replied as she looked out to the side toward the setting sun. "Argonaut…are you like Archer and the others?"

"Hmm? Ahh, well if you already know then I suppose more or less," Argo replied tapping his chest. "Although my presence is a bit more transient than the others. I'll disappear and Bell Cranel will come back."

"…I don't…"

"Hmm?"

"I don't quite understand," Ais said. "What exactly are you? You are Spirits…but also different from them."

"…I said so before, didn't I? I am a Hero. Someone who appears to make people smile."

"A Hero…and a Spirit."

"That's right."

"Then…if you're here…would he be able to appear as well?"

"Who?"

A name escaped Ais's lips and Argo blinked in surprise.

"Ahh…that guy, huh?" Argo said with a chuckle. "If one thinks of a hero then that guy definitely comes to mind first or second."

"Then…!"

"I'm sorry, it probably won't happen," Argo said sadly. "The circumstances to call him here are rather specific and it's already too late for that to happen."

"…I see…"

Pain shot through Argo's heart as Ais's body slumped as if a lifeline had been forcibly tugged away from her. It wasn't the face of someone who was hoping to meet a fairytale like Tiona did and found out that it wasn't possible but a more personal sadness.

"But…when I go back to where I came from, I can try to find him for you," Argo said. "The Throne may be a big place but I'm sure I can find him if I look and pass along a message if you want."

"Throne?" Ais asked, sounding both confused and curious.

"Yep. The Throne is a big and magical place where heroes of all eras, past, present and future go and hang out. It's like one big dorm room."

"…Are you making fun of me?"

"No, I would never! I swear on my name, Argonaut!"

Ais just stared at him as Argo did his best to keep his smile up under the gaze of the Sword Princess.

"Is there…any way I can go there too?" Ais finally asked.

"Of course," Argo nodded. "However it is neither an easy nor a quick path. To reach that point yourself, you need to have lived a full life. A life full of adventure. A life without regrets. A life that you could be proud of. A life told by the entire world for years to come. A life of a Hero."

"Hero…"

"That's right, it is a place where only Heroes, people whose deeds have gave way into legend can reside even if their souls have gone onto heaven or have been reincarnated back into this world. If you truly want to see that person again, then I suggest becoming a Hero yourself."

"But…I don't know if I can."

As Ais held her arm and turned her head to the side, Argo placed a hand on her head with a chuckle.

"Don't worry about that," he said softly. "If a clown like me can become a Hero, then you definitely can. You've already taken the first step after all, 'Sword Princess.'"

Ais puffed up her cheeks in embarrassment as she lightly brushed Argo's hand off her head. As she did, his body began to glow in a golden light.

"Seems like time's up," Argo said, looking down at his hands.

"Do you have to go already?" Ais asked. "Tiona really wanted to talk to you more."

The two of them turned their heads back toward the city as if they heard someone screaming Argo's name as they ran through the town.

"Well, this is for the best after all. My story is already over. It's time for the next generation to make their mark…and I want to be a part of its audience this time. The roster for this play is already kinda full anyway."

A fun idea suddenly popped into Argo's head as he turned toward Ais with a smile.

"Though…if I could just ask for one little favor before I go…" he said as Ais tilted her head to the side in confusion.

X-x-X-x-X

It was as though He was looking through the eyes of someone else.

The eyes of a man who knew what he was, what he wanted, and how to achieve it.

The eyes of a Hero.

As the man interacted with the people of a town that was close yet faraway, He felt as though He could get a glimpse of what it was that He felt He was lacking.

"Is it not because you lack a proper path to become a hero?"

A path?

"Indeed! To rescue a princess from a monster. To bring smiles to people everywhere. To simply help anyone you can. The routes one can take to become a hero are as many as there are stars in the sky!"

He was looking out of the city on one of its many walls in the direction of the setting sun, standing beside someone who could be his twin. A copy perfect in form and voice. Although the voice sounded like His own, it was different. There was no shortage of confidence and drive in the voice, like they had already figured everything out.

"The main thing is to simply do as you wish and don't listen to anyone that says that you can't be a hero. No matter how painful it is, no matter how much you want to cry, no matter how many people hate you, as long as you stick to your guts, you are already a hero. So, I ask of you Master, how do you wish to become a hero?"

How did He wish to become a hero?

It had been his dream…and yet all he had been doing was chasing after that person's back.

Ahh…so that was it.

"Indeed. It is not enough to simply chase after your heroes. You cannot become that person, no matter how hard you try. Therefore what you must do is seek the path beyond him! Do not limit yourself to such a simple goal. Seek out a path that will let you surpass him and be even better!"

That was right. It was not enough to simply chase after that person. He had to…He wanted to be better than him. His path would never end if he limited himself to that person's back. If He kept on doing so, He would simply always be a single step behind. If He wanted to truly stand beside him…He had to chase after something bigger than either of them.

The end of the path he wanted to reach.

"And how will you reach it? Have you figured it out?"

He did not. After all, He would only know that after He had already reached it. But He did know the first step to reach it. He would help the Xenos. Even if helping "monsters" was against everything being an Adventurer stood for, being an Adventurer was not his end goal…but a means to His end.

To lay the foundations to that the Xenos could live out their lives on the surface together with humanity…that is his current desire.

"And what are you willing to risk in order to make that dream a reality?"

He could not ask Lily, Emma, or the other girls to risk their lives for His dream. He was not a leader that would order His followers to make His desires a reality. While He would not turn away their help, He did not want them getting hurt for His own selfish reasons. He would stake His life, His reputation, His very soul on fulfilling his own desires, and no one else's. He would save those people who others would ignore and leave behind no matter who or what they were. This was His only path.

His resolution was met with a small chuckle of amusement and relief.

"I am truly happy to meet you, My Master. It looks like you'll be all right now. I'll be turning things back over to you then, Little Hero. Let us see a new Heroic Myth."

As the light began to dim, He could see his reflection smiling back at him.

"I can't offer you anything else but if you ever wanna chat again, I'll be here to listen. Servant Alter Ego, Argonaut, will be at your service for anything other than fighting! Leave that to the others! But please enjoy one last gift before we meet again, fuahahaha!"

X-x-X-x-X

"Mm…mmm…"

Bell found himself enveloped in a rather deep slumber. His body was wrapped in both the warmth of the setting sun and the gentle brush of the cooling breeze. His body felt strangely tired and coupled with the extreme softness around his head made him so comfortable that he didn't want to move.

It was only when he realize that part of the reason for his comfort was that someone was stroking his hair and brushing their fingers against his cheek.

Mom?

It reminded him of a mother's gentle touch even though he had no idea what that would be like personally. The closest he got to that was when Rider insisted that he use her lap as a pillow the previous night and her kind maternal nature gave him one of the most peaceful and comfortable rests he had ever had. As expected of a woman who had raised and given birth to several daughters. Even Fia, a monster who only considered the Dungeon as her mother, had also fallen completely under her spell.

"I'm sorry…but I'm not your mother."

"Huh?"

It was not the voice of Rider nor any other member of his Familia.

His red eyes snapped opened and he found a pair of golden ones staring back at him.

"Are you awake?" Ais Wallenstein asked him softly.

Bell suddenly felt wide awake. He also understood that the soft feeling underneath his head was most likely her lap. Which mean that she was, for some reason, giving him a lap pillow like Rider did.

"…Am I dreaming?" Bell asked, begging someone for a lifeline.

"You are not," came the cruel reply of Ais and reality.

"U-umm…why are you doing this?" Bell asked, finding his voice slowly going up in pitch with each word.

"A friend of yours asked me to," Ais replied, brushing Bell's bangs to the side and out of his eyes. "He said you would be happy…was he wrong?"

"I don't hate it at all! In fact, it's more like a-a side benefit? I-I mean, no! No, that's not what I meant! Forget that! I mean, I did enjoy it, but—Wait, I didn't mean that in a weird way…!"

As Bell started panicking and running his mouth in seven different directions at the same time, Ais simply tilted her head, not quite understanding anything he was saying.

"Then, do you want to rest a bit more?" Ais asked, holding her arms out to the side.

"Huh!?"

Bell stopped his babbling long enough to turn and face her just in time to see her wave her arms up and down as if trying to invite him even more.

"Err…I…uhh…" Bell began, feeling his face light up as he looked around randomly. "I…I…"

"Do it Bell! This is your chance!"

Within the confines of his brain, Bell heard the voice of his grandfather edging him on and take advantage of the invitation to get closer to his crush.

"Don't you dare do it, Bell! I'll never forgive you if you go after yet another girl!"

On the other hand, his goddess's voice was pulling him away from his impure desires.

"Don't get in the boy's way of a hero!"

"Wha-gyaaaahhh!"

The goddess lost and evil triumphs!

"T-then…just for a little bit?" Bell asked, having already lost all inhibitions against lap pillowed the previous night.

For her part, Ais looked rather happy as Bell gingerly rested his head down on her lap again. As Bell tried not to enjoy the feeling too much, Ais started brushing her fingers through his hair again.

Bell was trying very hard not to focus on the softness below his head but it was impossible for his fourteen year old self. After all, was he not in a position of envy that hundreds, if not thousands, of other Adventurers would have killed to be in?

"What's wrong?" Ais asked. "Do you not like it after all?"

"I-it's not that…" Bell managed to squeak out. "It's just…embarrassing when I'm still conscious."

"…So it would be better if you were unconscious?"

That one question sent a thousand shivers down Bell's spine as he tried to focus on something other than Ais. And then something caught his eye on the top of one of the wall towers.

A smirking red bowman and a smiling dragon slayer.

Bell's embarrassed scream proceeded to echo under the red sky.

X-x-X-x-X

"Well…all that matters is that you're back home safe and sound," Hestia said once Archer and Saber brought Bell home with him kneeling in front of her in the living room floor.

"Yes…" Bell replied with a dry throat.

"I leave for barely five minutes and the Familia descends into chaos," Caster muttered rubbing his forehead. "Still, it looks as though the problem has resolved itself and before Ganesha Familia will be visiting too."

"Speaking of which, where did you go anyway?" Hestia asked. "I would have thought that you would stay and oversee Bell summoning Berserker."

"Considering the boy's state in the morning, he was no where near mentally capable of performing the ritual at that point in time," Caster replied simply. "Thus there was no need for me to remain here."

"Then did you go to the Dungeon after all?" Gina asked. "Or to the Casinos?"

"The Dungeon," Caster replied, raising an eyebrow as if surprised that Gina had guessed his intentions. "In order to prepare for what this city will have in store for us, I have judged it necessary to acquire more funds for the coming days. The material reward from Fels will not be included in this."

"Is there something that we would need a lot of money for?" Emma asked, placing a hand on her cheek in thought. "We're not in debt or anything, right?"

"Due to a certain goddess's suggestion," Caster began as he turned toward Fia. "In order to keep 'Tamed Monsters' on the surface, there would be an exorbitant fee. I suspect that it would be around ten million valis to start."

"I see…" Archer nodded in agreement as the mortal members of the Familia turned rather pale at the amount of money Caster suggested with Lily choking on her own saliva. "Around the price of a decent weapon for a High Class Adventurer. This way only a few Familia would even bother with it. Well, I suppose the reward I got from Loki Familia should cover most of it."

"Indeed," Caster nodded. "However, while the Magic Stones provide us no immediate use aside for feed for the harpy, the Drop Items are much more valuable. Do not part with them so easily."

Scales, fangs and talons from dragons from the Dungeon's lowest explored level tend to be that way after all.

"Still, it would not do for you all to rely on ghosts for all your monetary needs," Caster said with a smirk. "Therefore, I will have you all focus gathering funds on your own as well. Party B will be charged with acquiring three hundred thousand valis in two weeks and Party A will gather five times that number. A rather fair exchange, I think. Previous earnings will not count."

"W-we'll do our best," Gina said as Emma and Primo nodded their heads in agreement.

Considering that on average a party of five Level 1 Adventurers could gain around twenty-five thousands valis in a day, they might just barely reach it depending on their luck with Drop Items.

"O-one million five hundred thousand valis…" Lily muttered, looking rather pale. "W-well our Party's been lucky with Drop Items the last time we went into the Dungeon so it should be fine…Lily hopes."

"I hope Welf's got some progress done…" Bell said with a dry laugh. "W-well, with Berserker it should make things easier, hopefully?"

"We shall see," Caster said with a frown as if he didn't care for the Hero of rage to join their number. "Move the furniture and set up the circle. Be sure to use the modification in the chant."

"Y-yes!"

By his order, Bell and the others quickly moved the sofas and armchairs to the side of the living room for the final time as Hestia ran up to retrieve the Grail.

"You better not do something stupid again," Hestia said as she came back down while glaring at the golden chalice. "I'm watching you!"

Naturally, the Grail gave no response although it did seem to hum a bit.

"But the last one is a Berserker, right?" Primo began, looking rather worried. "Will we be able to talk to them?"

"That depends on the person in question," Archer replied. "While they are usually warriors who sacrificed their mind in exchange for pure power, they should have enough reason to listen to their Master at the very least."

"I am suddenly very worried."

"Have no fear, Primo," Saber said. "We have six other Servants on our side. It would be unlikely for a Servant that would refuse to listen our Master and be capable of overpowering all of us to show up."

"Well, at the worst case scenario we do have the Command Spells," Rider pointed out with Fia poking her head from behind her, completely at a loss to what was going on and what they were talking about. "Though I hope we can come to an understanding before it gets that far."

"I did not spend countless of valis on this manor just to have it destroyed by a rabbid dog," Caster growled.

With the preparations finished, Bell stood in front of the circle once more.

The time to summon the final Hero.

Although Bell shared Primo's worries about a Servant that wouldn't be able to listen to him, he wanted to believe that his Berserker would be able to understand and help him help Fia and the other Xenos find a proper life for themselves where they would't have to fight every waking moment against monsters and people just to survive. Granted, he couldn't discount the possibility that there would be a few of them that wanted and enjoyed that life but from Fia's words, they all had wanted to live above ground and outside the Dungeon.

Adding the Xenos to their Dungeon dives would also be a tremendous boon for not just Hestia Familia but other Adventurers as well. As they lived in the Dungeon, they must know several hidden paths in the Dungeon such as the various Safe Zones, areas where monsters did not spawn like the Eighteenth Floor, that the Xenos used as places to live and rest. Such places could be invaluable for Adventurers making long expeditions deeper into the Dungeon.

"Yet, thou serves with thine eyes clouded in chaos. Thou, bound in the cage of madness. I am he who command those chains!"

But as the summon ended and Bell could hear the drawing of weapons from the Servants behind him, Bell realized that something unprecedented had happened.

It was hard to believe the one in front of him could be called a Hero. The Servant in front of him could only be called a Monster.

"M-Minotaur!?"

"▂▂▃▃▃▃▄▄▄▄▅▅▅!"