Chapter 43: Preparations
It was late at night when Hestia finally dragged herself back into the Hearthstone Manor with Lancer, Gina and Emma walking with her as guards.
"Ugh, I can't wait to get to bed right away," Hestia groaned, swaying back and forth with several official looking documents in her hands. "But I gotta go over this with Caster first. At least I don't have to go to work tomorrow."
Or at all anymore really.
She had already gone to her old boss and formally resigned after paying back the money she owed for blowing up the grill when she first started working. The old woman was sad to see her go, and not just because people tended to buy more when she manned the stand just to get a chance to pet the goddess's head.
Hestia was also sad to bid goodbye to her job. She not only enjoyed the work, she also enjoyed the opportunity it gave her to meet and chat with all sorts of people. She also used the opportunity to try and get people to join the Familia once-upon-a-time. Though her only successes were Primo and Emma and they actually asked to join.
Well, there will be more opportunities once the inn gets up and running at least.
Bidding good night to her girls, who were also tired from the studying they had to do on top of guarding her at the new place, Hestia walked all the way up to the fourth floor and kicked open the door as her hands were full.
"Hey Gil, you still up?" Hestia called out.
"A Servant does not require sleep," came the natural reply from her Captain. "And even if I were asleep, I certainly would not be after that."
As usual, Caster was sitting behind his desk although he miraculously didn't have any documents in front of him…a grace that Hestia happily destroyed.
"All right, I've gone over more or less everything with Goibniu," she said as she slammed the documents in front of Caster.
Caster picked up the first sheet on the pile, glanced at it, then tossed it back on top with disinterest.
"Far be it for me to criticize the work of a God of the Forge and a Goddess of the Hearth," he said with a smirk.
"You seem pretty keen on criticizing everything else I do," Hestia pointed out as she sat down in front of him.
"I have invested nothing into this project of yours. I shan't suffer any losses should it fail."
"Mumumu…"
He had a point. This was entirely Hestia's venture. There was no point in getting him involved if he didn't want to. But…
"Can you at least give it a look over?" Hestia begged. "You have that Skill for it, right?"
"You should have more faith in your abilities, Goddess Hestia," Caster replied. "You'd involve me less."
"But it's a Goddess's duty to trouble her Familia with her whims!" Hestia pointed out and the look of exasperation he was giving her almost made her laugh. "Though if you're too tired to do so, I'll understand."
Putting aside her own nervousness in running her own business, she didn't want to overwork her Captain who was doing so much on his own.
Caster's response was to simply spin his chair around and refuse, just as she expected.
Well, it was probably best to stop relying on him for so much. Speaking of which.
"Well, putting aside me forcing my problems on you for a moment, you're not overworking yourself, right?" She asked, leaning forward slightly. "Like you're taking breaks properly, right?"
"I am not so foolish as to forget my health," Caster said and Hestia could swear that she heard a silent "again" in there somewhere. "I refuse to die from overwork. I take outings into the city purely for pleasure on occasion."
Hestia knew Caster well enough that he absolutely did not mean that kind of pleasure. Well, not so long as it was Ishtar running that place anyway.
It made her wonder just what he did for fun. She certainly couldn't imagine him playing tag with children or something like that. Then again, if someone like Dionysus could, then maybe there was hope for someone like Caster too.
"Heh, did you actually make a friend out there?" Hestia asked with a smile to which Caster responded with a scoff.
"Do I look like someone who would carelessly make friends?"
"Considering you didn't answer with a simple yes or no…yes."
Hestia couldn't see his face but he became rather hilariously still at her words. But this wasn't something she could leave alone for any longer.
"King Gilgamesh," she said, trying to pull out as much of her godly authority without actually using her divine aura or anything godlike. "Do you actually enjoy being alone like this? Is making friends something you can't do no matter what?"
Caster was silent at her question.
For a moment, Hestia wondered if he was trying to formulate a response to get around lying but it was taking far too long for the normally sharp tongued Caster.
Feeling like she overstepped her boundaries and that she shouldn't bother him any further, Hestia picked up her stack of documents, bade her Child goodnight and headed for the door.
"…In all the world…" Caster suddenly spoke up, surprising Hestia so much that the documents nearly slipped out of her grip. She whirled around, one hand still on the doorknob as Caster continued. "…I have only one friend. And so that value will never change. For all of eternity."
It was such a quiet confession. One so abnormal and unexpected that Hestia wasn't sure that it had happened at all. Nevertheless, she supposed it was a sign of trust, one that must have made taken a tremendous amount of effort to say.
"…What, so you could make friends after all…" she replied softly.
Hestia didn't need to be a genius to know where said friend is now. Caster was a hero from eons past. That friend would have long since passed on by now…and from the sound of things, had passed on before even Caster did as well.
Hestia wanted to ask if said friend would feel happy that Caster that Caster placed so much value in their friendship that he would spend an eternity alone for it. However, she didn't know his friend, and some small part of her felt that such a person would have to be of similar mindset to be friends with someone like Caster. Or someone whose heart was great enough to be friends with someone like him.
Most likely the latter.
In which case, they would probably be heartbroken seeing their important friend all alone like this. Even a shut-in like Hestia had friends in Hephaistos and Takemikazuchi back in Tenkai.
And so, she quietly exited the office and closed the door before whispering to the empty hallway, "Goodnight, my lonely Captain."
X-x-X-x-X
"Hey, are we going to do anything special for Grand Day?"
It was a question Gina suddenly threw out the next morning.
"Grand Day?" Lancer repeated. "What is the significance of this day?"
"It's the day when Zeus Familia and Hera Familia took down Behemoth, one of the Three Grand Quests," Gina replied. "Though it happened before all of us mortals here were born I guess."
"And the Grand Quests are?"
"The three massive black monsters that the Dungeon spawned that roam around on the surface," Lily explained. "There was Leviathan, Behemoth, and the One-Eyed Black Dragon."
"Quite the mouthful," Archer muttered as Lily continued.
"Zeus and Hera defeated the first two already, with Leviathan's remains being used to block off an underwater entrance to the Dungeon and Behemoth's remains having turned a huge part of the continent into a massive desert of black ash. The One-Eyed Black Dragon is the only one of them still alive and it destroyed both Familias when they went after it."
"Did…did it kill all of the Adventurers?" Primo asked.
"No, but Lily heard they lost all their veterans so the Familias were more or less dead regardless. And so Zeus and Hera were forced out by Loki and Freya Familias, who took their place at the top of Orario."
"And the Guild did naught to protect the ones who have accomplished so much for them," Caster noted as his eyes met Hestia's. "You'd do well to remember that."
Hestia grunted in response.
"God Zeus and Goddess Hera, huh?" Bell muttered to himself. "I wish I could have met them. They must have been amazing."
"Nothing good would have come from you meeting Zeus, Bell!" Hestia shouted, thrusting her fork at him. "If you think Hermes is a lecher, then Zeus is a million times worse."
"Eh!?" Emma let out a shout in surprise. "You actually knew him, Goddess?"
"Why the heck do you sound so surprised?"
"Well…I mean…uh…we're talking about the Legendary Zeus right? And you…well…um…said you stayed in your temple all the time?"
Emma withered slightly under the glare that Hestia was throwing her way as if daring her to continue with her unflattering comments.
"We're from the same place in Tenkai," Hestia replied offhandedly. "Zeus is an old pervert that doesn't act his age and always drove Hera up the wall. That said, he loved you children a lot. Supposedly, he would sneak off to watch your ancestors live their lives and would record their stories. I'm pretty sure he kept has a 'god's eye account' of every legend and myth your ancestors passed down for the last few millennia."
Her description simply made Bell want to meet the old god even more. To hear the original Legends and Myth from someone who had a front row seat of them all was something he would give almost anything to listen. The gods approved version of Dungeon Oratoria, an anthology of the most famous myths, was out there but it was near impossible to find as the various mortal races preferred their "embellished" versions instead. But as was said, Zeus and Hera had been long since ousted from Orario once Loki and Freya came into power.
"I believe we have drifted a bit off topic," Lancer muttered before Gina spoke up again.
"Yeah, so, Grand Day, anything?" Gina asked again. "Like should we open a food stall or something?"
"By 'we' you mean me and Rider, right?" Archer asked as Rider giggled into her hand.
"No way, I'm going to be helping as well!" the little amazoness insisted. "I want to get better at cooking too!"
"Do you think you will be able to get your inn up and running in time for Grand Day, Lady Hestia?" Primo asked Hestia as Rider was patting Gina on the head with a loving smile on her face.
"Ngh…that depends on Goibniu," Hestia said. "We're remodeling most of the rooms after all. So it depends on how quickly his Smiths can work. I believe in them!"
"Does Lord Caster feel like there is something that needs to be done?" Lily asked Caster who hadn't said a word all morning.
"Tis a holiday, is it not?" Caster replied after a moment. "There is no reason to make any concrete plans. Let those who wish to work, work and those who play, play."
"Does that mean you plan to play on that day as well?" Saber asked and Caster only offered a chuckle in response.
But Grand Day was still days away.
As such, there was still the need for Adventurers to adventure.
"I believe it is time to combine the two Parties," Caster declared. "With Gwen now Level 2, it would be more prudent for Flores and Libera to gain their excelia by going beyond the Fifth Floor."
"Eeeeeehhh…you're going to let them go on without me?" Gina asked unhappily as Primo looked a bit worried.
"Were you not just wishing to run a concession stand with those two?" Caster asked, gesturing his chin toward Rider and Archer. "Find a way to entertain yourself until you are fully healed."
Gina could only respond by puffing her cheeks up at Caster before Assassin and Primo poked both of them, causing her to sputter weakly.
"Are you coming with us today, Saber?" Bell asked.
"My apologies, Master," Saber apologized while lowering his head. "But I have a previous appointment."
"Then…"
Bell turned to Lancer next but the woman shook her head.
"Sorry, Bell. Lancer's coming with me again," Hestia cut in.
Seeing as the usual "adult" Servants were all going to be busy, Bell and the others slowly turned their heads toward Caster.
"Hmm…looks like there is only one choice left, is there?" Caster mumbled. "Very well. I shall use the opportunity to exercise."
And just like that, the Hestia Familia Captain decided to move.
"I'm suddenly very glad I'm not going," Gina muttered to herself.
"And perhaps we shall take along one more."
Caster looked to the side with everyone following his gaze.
At the end of his gaze was a minotaur who was slowly nibbling on a sausage link dangling from his mouth, trying to make it last as long as possible after having already devoured two dozen of them on his lonesome while holding one above the harpy sitting next to him.
The two monsters suddenly noticed that all eyes were on them as they stared back in confusion.
X-x-X-x-X
"So, what were you hoping to do by running a concession stand, Gina?" Archer asked as he, Rider, and Gina sat at the dining table to talk about their future plans. With the others having left the manor, it was just the three of them plus Fia left at home. "It's not as though we're hurting for money or anything."
"Well…to be honest it's because I just kinda wanted to do something…" Gina admitted as she scratched her cheek shyly. "I still can't move my arm so I can't join the others in the Dungeon."
"Aww, are you feeling lonely?" Rider asked as she pulled the Amazon into a hug.
"I-I think 'stir-crazy' is a better word…" Gina mumbled.
"All right then, then we'll leave the decisions for the stand to you," Archer said with a smile. "First things first, location…well, I suppose that's already covered."
Before she left, Hestia said that, to save money, they could operate the stand in front of the inn. That way they'd have a proper storage area and a bigger kitchen if needed. The fact that it was located near the market district meant that there would be plenty of traffic around and there was enough space around the building that should a crowd swarm the stand, it would not get in the way of other people trying to pass by.
"Then what kind of food do you want to prepare?" Rider asked. "Something light for a snack? Or perhaps something heartier? Or maybe a dessert?"
"Or perhaps some jagumaru-kun?" Archer asked with a smirk.
"I'm pretty sure like half the concession stands in Orario will be selling those," Gina pointed out with a pout as Archer chuckled to himself.
X-x-X-x-X
"Hmm?"
"What is it, Miss Wallenstein?"
"I'm sorry, Teacher. I just felt as though I missed out on something."
"Is that so?"
"No, never mind. I'm ready to begin."
"Understood. Then, prepare yourself."
X-x-X-x-X
"Anyway, I wanna do something sweet and easy to carry around," Gina said. "Maybe a drink of some kind? Ah, but will we be able to get enough disposable cups?"
Archer's response to her question was to hold out a hand to the side and allow a light plastic cup to appear in his hand before it disappeared into wisps of light.
"Your magic is the very definition of 'disposable, isn't it?" Rider asked, sounding both impressed and perturbed. "No wonder both Caster and Welf aren't sure how to feel about it."
"Well, Caster aside, I do feel bad when I use it around Welf," Archer admitted. "That said, I don't know about doing drinks. Maybe as a side thing but I suspect most people will be carrying canteens with them. Hydration is important during festivals after all."
"Hmm, then do you know anything sweet that's quick and easy to make that's also eye-catching?" Gina asked. "Well, after that Cooking Show the two of you did, I think anything you make will draw the attention of moms and their kids.
"Then something to cater to that demographic…" Archer muttered as he turned toward Rider.
"Galettes…would probably take too much time to make, huh?" Rider asked after a moment. "I mean, if we can use the inn's kitchen then that would help but if it is up and running at that time then we can't expect to monopolize it."
"Right. It should probably be something that can be made using a portable fryer or grill."
"…Then, Jagamaru-kun?"
"Please no," Gina refused them once more. "I want something sweet, remember? But not anything that mixes savoriness and sweetness."
"The goddess will be sad if you refuse them so much," Rider said with a laugh.
"Something sweet, right," Archer muttered. "Tempura ice cream? Preparation might take some time but…it might be fine for the Cooking Show though. Chocolate dipped fruits are a staple for festivals but the initial costs…"
"Well it's a festival so we can probably get away with selling things at rip off prices," Gina said with a smile. "Though I don't think the goddess will be too happy about that."
"Though knowing her, it'd be best if we put a little effort in acquiring the ingredients for as cheap as possible," Rider said.
"Cheap ingredients, sweet…" Archer muttered to himself as he crossed his arms and tilted his head to the side in deep thought. "I got it."
"You do?" Gina asked. "What is it? What is it?"
"Well, I don't want to say anything yet if it doesn't work out," Archer said. "But I didn't see anything like it during Monsterphillia so the snack should be unique. Whether that's good or bad is something we'll have to see. The ingredients we can get cheap but we'd have to get them the day of or day before…"
"You're not talking about the honey cloud fruits, are you?" Gina asked.
"I am," Archer nodded. "It's juice is sweet enough to work and easy to relatively easy to harvest. It'd be cheaper than getting sugar some other way. Well, there's no telling if it'll work until we try it but we'd have to send the others on a Quest first."
"Then if that's a 'maybe,' we should think about a backup too, right?" Rider asked. "We don't want to put so much effort that they get tired just before the festivities. If it's a festival, then grilled meat and vegetable skewers would definitely go well…ah, but if you're set on sweets then we can try making some kind of sweet cream from all the milk Caster keeps buying."
"He does seem to be getting a lot of cow products," Gina muttered. "Did he sign some sort of sponsorship with Nunsun Familia even before you guys signed on to do the Cooking Show thing?"
"Who can say," Rider replied with a knowing smile while Archer rolled his eyes and shook his head. "He certainly doesn't look happy to be coming back with a new milk jug every so often. Maybe she's forcing it on him."
"Well, it helps with feeding Fia and Berserker so it's fine," Archer said with a shrug.
"About that…" came a voice from the window as Fia's tuff of red hair poked itself above the windowsill. "That 'tempura ice cream' thing sounds weird. Like, I know what ice cream is and what tempura is…but how do you mix them together? Won't it melt?"
"I've been wondering about that myself," Gina said. "It sounds really neat."
Archer looked from the two "young ones" and then toward Rider only to see that his fellow Servant was looking expectantly at him as well. Seeing as he had no way out, he stood up from the table with a sigh.
"Then I'll be using the pound cake you made this morning," Archer told her.
"Sure sure," Rider said as she stood up to help as needed. "I made it for Gina to eat anyway."
Fia and Gina followed the two Familia cooks toward the kitchen and sat at the counter as Archer took out cream, milk, sugar and some vanilla. Almost lazily, he measured out a few cups of the cream and milk and sugar.
He then took out the blender and poured the cream and sugar in first, mixing it together inside before slowly adding the milk and vanilla to it. Once it was blended enough that the sugar had dissolved, he poured the contents out into a container and placed it into the freezer.
"All right, we have to wait about half an hour for that to chill," he said as he washed his hands. "Why don't we use the time to make more pound cake?"
"Got it," Rider replied before turning to Gina. "Would you like to help?"
"Are you sure?" Gina asked, rubbing her injured arm.
"Of course. It's a simple recipe after all."
X-x-X-x-X
A bloodcurdling roar echoed in the room of the Dungeon before a massive explosion of rock, dust and dirt filled the air.
The dust cleared instantly as a three-meter tall monster burst through and smashed into the smaller monsters around him, scattering their corpses across the room.
A pair of silverbacks, monsters that had the appearance of apes with silver fur, rushed toward the massive monster only for one to be sliced in two by one of the massive axes the creature was wielding while the other had its head grasped by the minotaur's massive hand. The silverback let out a squeal of pain and fear before its head was smashed against the ground, splattering like an overripe tomato
"Descend o starry tears! Blast away these hapless rejects!"
And seated on the steel saddle strapped to his box was a little elf girl, swirling with magic energy.
"Lumine Pleiades!"
Beams of light blasted out from the saddle, shooting into the air to rip through the bat-like monsters that had converged above.
"We're done here!" Primo shouted as she looked around just in time to see Assassin slice off a hand of an orc, allowing Emma to shoot forward and stab her swords into its throat.
As the massive monster fell to the ground, blood gurgling out of its throat, the surroundings quieted down as Primo could take in the field of monster corpses with her Familia members scattered everywhere.
"And so?" Caster began, having not lifted a finger to help in anyway, allowing Lily to stand in front of him to fight the monsters that got close. "What have we confirmed with our trek down to the Eleventh Floor?"
"That uh…the monsters really, really, don't like Berserker?" Emma offered as Lily returned her silver knife into its sheath in her sleeve before taking out a carving knife to get to work on the corpses.
The Party had encountered swarms of monsters on each Floor from the Sixth Floor down. Most of them charged blindly toward Berserker, as if wanting nothing more to tear him to shreds regardless of their own safety; even ignoring the Adventurers to do so. One al-miraj had jumped onto Welf, but that was only because it was trying to use him as a stepping stone to leap at Berserker. It was quickly cleaved in half by the rather irate Smith.
"So this is the part where a group of Infant Dragons comes after us too, right?" Welf asked before he, Lily, Assassin and Bell whirled toward one of the exits of the fog filled room they were in. But nothing else showed up. "Shame, I'd love a few Drop Items from them."
"Maybe Saber already ran into them on his way down first," Bell suggested as he returned his weapons into their sheaths. "Need any help, Lily?"
"Lily is sorry to have to ask, but if everyone can help drag the bodies into a pile, that will be great."
"There's like sixty bodies here, it's fine to ask for help," Emma said as Berserker dragged over two silverback corpses. "We need to hurry before another Party passes through after all."
"Umm…the bad bats kinda got disintegrated, sorry," Primo said sheepishly.
"Well, that's to be expected with Magic," Lily said with a shrug. As she and Assassin started digging into the corpses for the Magic Stones, she turned to Caster again. "Was this the reason Lord Caster wanted to bring along Berserker?"
"The harpy said that the other monsters in the Dungeon attacked it and its fellows even though they were all born of the Dungeon," Caster reminded them as he glanced over his shoulder. "It would appear that they consider Berserker on the same level as a Xenos."
"I hope no one else is getting caught up in these swarms though," Bell muttered. "It'd be like we're Pass Parading them."
"That is the risk of entering the Dungeon," Caster reminded him. "Do not concern yourself with others."
"How far are we going today?" Assassin asked Caster. "Can we just stay here? We like these Floors a lot."
Caster simply rolled his eyes as Welf pulled out a list that contained the amount of Drop Item Quests that they received as well as stuff for his own personal use.
"Let's see…" Welf muttered. "Hey, Lil'ly, where are the Drop Item bags?"
A large bag was flung at Welf's direction and he caught it without looking away from his list.
"…I think we're short a few of the hard armored's shells," Welf reported after going through the contents. "We did pretty much only get swarmed by imps and orcs back there."
"Lily suggests we head to the Middle Floors then," Lily spoke up. "Jack has the advantage in the fog but everyone else has a harder time fighting here. Those monsters still spawn on the Thirteenth Floor after all. But Lily is worried that it might be a bit too much for Miss Emma and Miss Primo right now."
"It…should be fine," Bell said slowly. "With all of us here, I don't think any normal monster would be much a problem."
Strictly speaking, going beyond the Tenth Floor wasn't recommended for any Level 1 without at least a B in their Status. However, that wasn't exactly a hard rule or anything, but the recommendation from the Guild and its Advisors, Eina included. But as Primo and Emma were in a party of multiple Level 2s and a Level 3, Eina felt that the danger would be marginal so long as they don't overdo it. Not to mention Emma already went all the way down to the Eighteenth Floor the other day, albeit only as a Supporter and had to be closely watched by Bell and Rider.
"Then Berserker," Bell said, turning toward his largest Servant. "Can we leave the patrol to you while we take a break and finish harvesting the Magic Stones?"
Berserker gave Bell a nod as he let Primo down so that she could run over to the others before the minotaur picked up his axes and started prowling the room through the fog.
"…Is that a good idea?" Welf asked.
"Why not? He does it at Home anyway, right?"
"Yeah but…what if he ends up running into another Party and they think he's a normal minotaur?"
"Ah."
At Welf's warning, Bell quickly ran after Berserker with the intent on joining him on the patrol.
Emma watched him as he disappeared into the fog, a small frown on her face.
"Something wrong, Emmy?" Welf asked as he walked over and handed her a canteen.
"Not really," Emma said as she accepted the drink. "It's just…Bell is leagues ahead of any of us, isn't he? Aside from the Servants of course."
"Well, to be fair, he did start before you, so that's obvious," Welf began after taking a sip from his own canteen to gather his thoughts. "That said, he is going super fast. Faster than the previous Record Holder. I just chalk it to finding that Holy Grail thing."
"I suppose so," Emma admitted with a nod. "It's just…I feel as though he's going to keep climbing and climbing while leaving the rest of us behind."
It wasn't just the Level 1s Bell would be leaving behind. If his growth continued at such blinding speed, he would soon leave Welf and Lily behind as well as he would need to go even deeper into the Dungeon in order to gain the necessary excelia for someone of his Level. Which meant going down into the Deep Floors, somewhere where only the Servants would survive following him.
Welf opened his mouth to say something to that but someone else spoke up first.
"It is only natural for the boy to grow as he chases his dreams."
Caster strode up to him, his blood red eyes locked on them both while at the same time seeing beyond the two mortals.
"Mankind must always strive forward to reach their impossible dreams," Caster dictated. "To do so is to progress. To strive. To live. Ones dreams are always moving. To stop and wait for even a second will only prove fatal and see them slip out of one's grasp forever."
It was no secret to what Bell's dreams were. There were several living representations of them living beside them within Hestia Familia alone after all. Not to mention that said desire was also literally engraved onto his back and soul.
"If you wish to stand beside him, then continue to strive forward. Find a more far reaching than simply being reunited with your sister. A dream that sets the fire in your soul alight. Lest you waste your time wallowing in mediocracy."
"See, that would have been moving if you left out the last part," Welf felt the need to say as Caster simply scoffed and walked away. "That said, he's not wrong…as usual. Do you have some goal you want to reach besides finding your sister?"
"A goal?"
"Yeah. Like there's Bell wanting to be a hero, me wanting to make a weapon on par with the gods, and Primo wanting to be a mage on the level of Nine Hells. I'm sure Gina and Lil'ly have their own goals and inspirations too. So, what about you? It doesn't need to be anything grand. Just…a reason that you'd want to stay in Hestia Familia after finding your sister or something I guess."
"Oh," Emma's response was barely audible. "Did…did I give off the impression that I'd leave after finding Sophia?"
"Well…no…" Welf began, drawing out the last word. "But you said that the entire reason for coming to Orario was to look for her and that you weren't really planning on joining a Familia in the first place, right? Not to say I don't want you to stay or anything, cuz it'd be super lonely without you and Primo would definitely be sad. But that said…you shouldn't feel like you need to stay either. If you want to leave to be with your sister, I'm sure everyone will understand."
The Smith then left Emma to her thoughts as Lily was calling out for him. As she watched him go, Emma's hand went for the pendant hanging from her neck.
What did she want from this Familia? At first it was just something to help her find Sophia, but now things were different. She did want to stay with them all so long as nothing on Sophia's side would prevent it. She was watching a new heroic myth being written after all.
Even so…
"If you were in Orario, you should have seen me, right?" She whispered to no one. "I'm right here…so why haven't you found me yet?"
But of course, the whispers to no one reached no one at all.
X-x-X-x-X
As Hestia's children worked hard at home and in the Dungeon, the goddess herself was busy overlooking the construction efforts of her new inn with Lancer by her side. Goibniu's smiths were already beginning the prep work such as building scaffoldings along the outside wall of the building and removing the outer barred wall around the property. The assigned leader of the smiths, a half-dwarf by the name of Marco Powell, was also currently going over the plans with Hestia in a tent located on the yard of the house.
"So what do you think?" Hestia asked the red-haired woman. "Do you think we can finish by Grand Day?"
"Hmm, it's cutting it a bit close but we should be able to make it," Marco replied. "But, it would be like one, or two days beforehand. Would you be able to fill the rooms in that time?"
"Oh, I'm not worried. There's always some losers that forget to book an inn until the last minute after all. I'll get my money's worth from them."
"Ahaha…I suppose so."
The Smith wasn't able to refute that logic as she simply let out a dry chuckle in response.
"Besides, so long as the restaurant portion of the inn is up and running, that's all we need to make money for Grand Day."
"Should we focus on the kitchen area first then?"
"Hmm…I do want to train the employees there first and foremost so I'd love it if that gets done as soon as possible. But I'd rather you work on the employee housing area instead."
Thankfully, not much work needed to be done there. As the kitchens had already been fitted to feed over a hundred people, it was already more than enough for what Hestia needed. All she added were a few more sinks and dish washers to accommodate the turnaround time of customers rather than live-in Adventurers.
Nevertheless, the employee housing area was the most important part. Her workers needed a place to sleep after all!
"Oh and don't worry about lunch," Hestia said as she hoisted a basket onto the table. "It's not much but Rider and Archer made some sandwiches for you all."
With the promise of a tasty and, above all else, free lunch waiting for them, Marco pushed her fellow smiths to work even harder.
"Will we simply be watching over the Goibniu Familia as they work today?" Lancer asked as Hestia leaned back in her chair.
"Nope," she replied as she pulled out a flyer from her bag and handed it over to Lancer.
It was an advertisement seeking employees to work at the inn. It was offering quite the decent wage and was also offering housing opportunities for anyone that needed it. Men and women were both welcome to apply but Hestia made it clear that there was no promise of actually joining the Familia and receiving her blessing. Anyone using the interview as a way to try and join the Familia would get their ass booted to the curb by Lancer.
"There are plenty of people out there who either can't join a Familia to become an Adventurer or drop out after being unable to make a living out of it," Hestia said. "I mean, honestly, going underground for hours on end to fight for your life on your own to barely scrape by if you didn't join a veteran Familia? Not too many people can deal with that after all. I'm still ashamed of myself for forcing Bell to do that for the first two weeks."
"That is true…" Lancer agreed with the goddess's words. "It takes a strong body and an even stronger will to make a living like this."
"So there are plenty of people who are stuck living on the streets after being cast out of their Familia or are unable to find permanent shelter after moving here to look for one. If this place can work as a stopgap for them to find their bearings then I want to give them that opportunity. If they want to stay on permanently then all the better. Heck, maybe we can welcome a new Familia member eventually too."
"As expected of the hearth," Lancer said with a smile as she clapped her hands together. "You are certain to draw people together."
"So long as they are right and upstanding people," Hestia said as she leaned back and looked out the tent toward the working Smiths. "Hey, Lancer?"
"Yes?"
"Is there anything you want?" Hestia asked. "Out of everyone of 'you,' you're the one that really hasn't made their wants known for your time in Orario. Is there something you're hoping to get out of all of this?"
For Archer and Caster, the two of them seem to be using this lease on life as a vacation or a break. Saber seemed eager to train Bell into a hero. Rider was content with taking care of the home and the younger kids rather than going on Adventures. And Assassin and Berserker were just happy to be here, under the sun and away from the dark.
"I…am perfectly content with how things are right now," Lancer replied after a thought. "All I ever wanted…was to see that person again. Although the urge to take his life still exists, it is enough for me right now. The two of us here, working together to protect our Master; it is like a dream to me."
"If only that curse wasn't around, huh?"
"It is an intricate part of my legend, just as your divinity is a part of you, Lady Hestia. It is not something either of us can shed so easily."
"I wish it wasn't true though…"
As Hestia let out a sigh, Lancer let out a small giggle into her hand before looking to the side.
"I believe someone is wandering outside the property."
"Is it someone looking for a job interview?" Hestia wondered aloud as she stepped out of the tent to take a look for herself.
There she saw a woman with long brown hair and green eyes. She seemed to be a Cows, a rarely seen race in Orario, with the horns, ears and tail to go with it. The woman was walking back and forth near the gate didn't look like an Adventurer nor did she carry herself like one. Well, not that that meant anything considering there were Adventurers as adorable as Bell and Primo walking around too.
Still, there was no harm in calling out to her.
"Hey, Miss Cows!" Hestia called out, causing the woman to jump and wheel around toward Hestia. "Were you here for an interview?"
"A-ah, yes!" The Cows replied as she quickly straightened out her sweater top and skirt. "Umm…are you the Goddess Hestia?"
"That's right. If you're here for an interview then come on in. Don't mind the noise."
Hestia welcomed her first potential employee in with a big smile while leading her toward the tent.
After clearing away the reconstruction plans, she had the woman sit across from her while Lancer served her some tea.
"Now then, let's get started with your name."
"Yes! My name is Iris Bennet," the woman said.
"Then Iris, were you born in Orario or did you move here?"
"Umm…I moved here looking for work but it hasn't been going well."
"Are you affiliated with any other Familia?"
"No…I am not…though not for a lack of trying."
"Did you want to be an Adventurer then?"
"That is my dream but…I don't have any way of making that happen yet."
So a woman who came to Orario to become an Adventurer, failed, and is now looking for work to sustain herself. Frankly, it was exactly the type of person Hestia was hoping to find and to find one as her first employee made Hestia wonder if someone was conspiring against her using Iris as a pawn. Then again, she found Bell as her first Child which made her fame skyrocket practically overnight so she may just be lucky in that regard.
Well, either way, this interview was sure to be a lucrative one in any case.
X-x-X-x-X
CLANG
Ais had lost count of the amount of times the clash of metal against metal echoed in her ears. Each time their blades connected, every bone and joint in her hands felt like they were going to disintegrate.
Her teacher, the one known as Sigurd going under the name Saber, was a Legend, one who wanted her to surmount him. But each time they clashed, the distance between them became clearer and clearer. One as wide as the distance between the earth and the stars and the sky.
For he was a true Spirit. For he was a true Hero.
He had said that this training session was to push her to her limit so he could properly set the bar for future sessions.
And yet she had completely underestimated just what that entailed.
BANG
The next clash sent her sliding across the ground of the Eighteenth Floor of the Dungeon, only stopping when she smashed into a tree.
"TEMPEST!"
She didn't give herself any time to get her bearings and instead used her Ariel to blow herself away from the tree, flinging herself to the side as the green blade sliced right through the bark as if it was nothing more than butter.
As the tree slowly slid off its trunk, the Hero spun around and kicked the wood straight at her.
Seeing it as the distraction that it was, she braced herself on the ground and smashed straight through the wood, meeting the charging Hero and locking blades once more.
Saber's face was completely hidden behind a full mask and the green lenses provided no insight to his thoughts. It was as if she was fighting against a living statue of ice…or at least something inhuman. The warm and and kind smile, easily seen through the half mask he always wore was nowhere to be found. There was only a warrior that bested a dragon without the use of a Falna left in front of her.
"…You still hesitate…" Saber said as he forced her blade up and threw a kick at her stomach. Her wind softened the blow but she was forced to allow it to throw her back to gain some distance. "Are you…frightened…? No, the word is too strong. Are you wary about fighting other humans?"
"I…I'm not sure…"
"It is nothing to be ashamed of," Saber said as he took a relaxed stance, giving Ais the opportunity to catch her breath. "In a perfect world, humanity would not need to fight itself when the Dungeon provides such a convenient outlet for their aggression and a natural enemy. But…what you hope to defeat is not human, but this…Creature, correct?"
"How do you know about them…?" Ais spoke up for the first time since their training resumed.
"Your blade seeks to cut down only monsters," Saber said as he looked up toward the crystal ceiling of the Under Resort. "I have heard of the existence of these…beings from my Captain, who heard it from another source that I am not aware of. Unfortunate souls who have had their humanity stripped from them by an unknown being and have had a Magic Stone inserted into their body. Now they seek to destroy this city. Once that has happened, they are no longer human. You must not see them as such. It is one thing if they try to resist these dark temptations and remain human, but your enemies have cast that aside for one reason or another. They are a threat to humanity. And must be put down…for their own sake as much as every life in Orario."
He then turned back to face her.
"That is why…we must remove your hesitation."
Saber inserted his sword into the ground in front of him before placing a hand over his heart.
Ba-thump. Ba-thump. Ba-thump.
The mechanical beating of a heart seemed to echo in Ais's ears. She wasn't sure if it was her own or not but she quickly got back up to her feet, her body groaning in protest as she got into a defensive stance.
The beating heart was quickly growing faster and with it, the sparks of lightning surging around Saber's body.
"You must bring forth everything you have…even that dark flame of yours."
And then…
"Or you will die."
All at once, her blood turned to ice even as an intense heat erupted in front of her.
"…! TEMPEST!"
Lightning exploded in all directions as Ais threw everything she had to create a shield of wind in front of her. It was as if a star had been born right in front of her. No. It wasn't anything so brilliant or beautiful. Not in her eyes at least.
It was as though a the Spirit had become a Dragon right before her eyes without changing anything of its physical form.
"Dragon core set. That life, I shall devour it."
And then the dragon was upon her. Its green blade cut straight through her wind and blew her away in a single strike.
"Your flame is dangerous and seeks to consume you whole," the dragon roared, its voice distorted even further beyond its mask. "You must not let it. You must control its raging fury. Unleash its wrath upon the foe in front of you."
It did not even give her the chance to land on the ground as it pounced upon her once more.
"It is not a person! Nor a hero! Nor a spirit! It is just a dragon! Devour it before it devours you!"
His blade, now clad in explosive green energy, slashed down toward her.
"…GRRAAAAAAHHHH!"
With a scream of exertion and rage, she deflected the blade as it smashed into the Dungeon floor.
"Push forward! Break through your limits! Overcome the myth in front of you! Show me your heroic resolve!"
A sword bathed in green light clashed against one wreathed in green wind.
"Take that rage and use it to achieve what is important to you! Your enemies are nothing more than stones on the path to your dream!"
Light and wind mixed together and erupted, scattering the two powers all across the floor. The dragon in front of her would not stop her. Neither will the massive shadow covering the city. She would overcome them both and take back everything that was lost to her.
"But never forget what it is you fight for. What it is that binds you to this world. Those bonds are what keep your soul sane. Your reason to live and press forward."
"TEMPEST!"
With another roar, her wind exploded with all of her fury as the dragon leaped back. Her wind shielded her like hundreds of blades slicing across the air and ground, carving trenches in the dirt by her feet. Like a spinning buzzsaw, she charged forward toward the dragon as it gathered its energy into its blade once more. Seeing this, she condensed her wind into a single point.
"LIL RAFAGA!"
And then…a quiet voice spoke out.
"Gram."
Wind and light clashed once more. The wind condensed, pushed, snapped and lashed out against the all encompassing light. Her body took a step forward even as her body cried out in agony, as her bones snapped backwards in response. She refused to back away from the dragon. Both the one right in front of her and the one standing at the end of her path.
And yet…the light did not budge. It's overwhelming yet tranquil fury was more powerful than even the Monster Rex Udaeus.
And so…
The wind lost.
The next thing she knew, Ais was on her back, staring up at the crystal lights of the Eighteenth Floor.
"Good morning."
A calm voice greeted her and she turned her head to see Saber, sitting on the dirt with his back against a tree. The mask was gone, exposing his entire face, and his sword had returned to its shimmering red color. A quick look around revealed a scarred forest with several monster corpses and body parts scattered here and there. She must have been unconscious for some time.
"My apologies," the man said, looking rather bashful. "I may have pushed you a bit too far. Is your body all right?"
Ais sat up and apart from feeling rather tired, her body felt fine and she didn't seem to be in any sort pain. Which was rather strange because she could have sworn she felt her fingers bending backwards from the sheer power of the Spirit. That and her gauntlets and breastplate have both been blow to pieces with bloodstained tears running along her tunic as well. However, she felt no traces of wounds even as she ran her finger across the tears.
"An elixir?" She guessed but Saber shook his head.
"I do not have such a valuable healing item with me," he replied. "Only a few high potions. I am not as adept in healing as my wife, but I can supplement my skills using potions."
Ais nodded her head in understanding. Although they haven't been able to see it in its entirety, Lancer had been able to heal Gina to the point that she was almost completely healthy when Ais saw her the other day.
But there was something she needed to say.
"You…really are a dragon."
"I said as much during the previous session," Saber acknowledged. "I am what I am. Use me as you see fit. Either as a stepping stone or a lift in your fight against your foes."
Ais shook her head as she forced her unsteady legs to stand.
"I will have you as a teacher," she said. "And…a friend?"
Saber's eyes widened in surprise at her words and for a moment, she was afraid that she had been a bit too forward. However, the hero…no, the man simply chuckled appreciatively.
"I thank you for your kind words," Saber replied as he stood up as well. "But it is getting rather late. We best return to the surface."
No sooner did he say that did the crystal lights of the Eighteenth Floor dimmed, signaling the start of the floor's "night" which correlated with the time on the surface.
"…Was I asleep for that long?" Ais asked, surprised at herself.
"No. It couldn't have been more than an hour at most," Saber said. "You must have lost track of time during the training. Still to keep up with me for several hours deserves its compliments. The blessings of the gods cannot be understated. As expected of a Level 6. I can only wonder how far the Level 7 can go."
"At the very least, Ottarl is stronger than the level of power you were using before unleashing the dragon."
She only ever had one one-sided serious fight with the man but even she could tell that much.
A flame of hunger burned within Saber's eyes at her words. The possibility of a challenge in this world. For some reason, seeing that flame irked Ais. Was it because it meant she wasn't enough of a challenge?
Was this the secret to Bell's growth? The sheer desire to prove himself to Saber and the other Spirits? To be someone who can stand on the same stage as them?
She didn't know the boy very well but even she could see how much he idolized the older members of his Familia. The Spirits in turn, seemed to adore their "Master." Even Argonaut was quick to show how much he worried about injuring Bell's body even though he one-sidedly took it for himself for a few hours.
"That is indeed something to look forward to," Saber said, snapping Ais out of her reverie. "But a selfish clash with Freya Familia will only bring trouble to the Goddess Hestia. Especially considering her Familia has already been attacked by an outsider already."
Outsider.
That golden haired boy with unbelievable power in Melen.
Ais had no doubt that the boy was a Spirit as well, one that was probably related in some way to the one called Caster. However their method of attack was different. The boy seemed to crystalize his magic into blades and flung them at sheer speeds toward his enemies not unlike Archer while Caster's magic took the form of wands and staves. The fact that he paid no attention to Archer or Saber proximity to his attack during that fight made Ais believe that they were most likely two separate people but ones closely related to each other.
Then again, there was the possibility that the Spirit was simply confident that Saber and Archer would be able to survive such an attack. One that was simply a barrage of powerful blades with no special quality.
Clashing against a modicum of Saber's power firsthand and witnessing Archer's in the Deep Floors allowed Ais to easily make that deduction.
And if the boy really was Caster disguising his form, it was easy to deduce why he attacked Freya Familia.
The minotaur that Bell fought.
Considering Ottarl was blocking Archer and Ais's path yet gave up as soon as one of them slipped past, it was rather easy to figure out that he was the one that sent the minotaur after Bell for some reason.
It was a simple retaliation.
But Saber was not a part of the Familia at that point in time so he most likely didn't know about that if no one told him about it.
But it was not something Ais could stick her nose into. Not so long as she was part of Loki Familia and she did not want to drag Finn and the others into a possible war between Spirits and Freya Familia.
But…
"Umm, you have heard about Grand Day, right?" Ais asked as they began to make their way back up to the Surface.
"It is a day of festivities to celebrate the triumphs of Zeus and Hera over Behemoth, correct?" Saber asked.
"Yes. On the day before the actual day, Grand Day Eve, there is to be an exhibition match that Loki Familia is holding."
"Ohh, that sounds like it will be a joy to watch."
It probably wouldn't as the Guild Captain, Royman Mardeel, made it absolutely clear that Loki Familia wasn't to go overboard for fear of scaring off the delegates of other countries who had been invited to watch the exhibition.
But there was a small part in Ais that wanted to enjoy herself there instead of just putting on a boring show. So…
"Ottarl will also be taking part in it," she said and she saw Saber freeze for the smallest of moments in the middle of his step. "Although he will most likely be forced to take it easy as well."
Ais wasn't sure what exactly she was hoping to do by telling Saber this. Maybe she wanted him to join the exhibition as well but it was unlikely for the Guild to accept a change in the program at this point in time. Maybe Saber could crash the festivities in a disguise but that sort of attitude was a complete contrast to the professional demeanor that he carried himself.
However…
"…An exhibition, huh?"
Saber seemed rather interested in the idea.
X-x-X-x-X
"Welcome back!"
Bell and the others returned rather late today but Gina was there at the door to welcome them all home with a big smile. Bell had been worried that Gina might have been upset at being left behind while everyone else went into the Dungeon, but the big eager smile she was showing told him that she had a very productive day of her own.
"Come on, come on!" She said, grabbing Welf by the hand as she dragged him inside. "We got dinner already ready!"
"Whoa there, easy now," Welf said with a chuckle as they all funneled in.
It looked as though Hestia, Lancer and Saber weren't home yet though. Archer and Rider were busy setting the table while Fia was laid out on the couch, a wing over her stomach with a rather goofy smile on her face. It looked as though she ate first, and was very content with her meal.
Berserker proceeded to materialize by her side as he gently lifted the harpy up and carried her outside, seeing as she was too lazy to move.
Seeing that just made Bell realize just how hungry he was and his anticipation for dinner grew. The moment he stepped through the doors, a pleasant aroma wrapped itself around them. Bell, Assassin, Primo and Lily immediately quickened their pace to head into the dining room where Archer and Rider were setting the table.
"Hmm? Are Saber, Lancer and the goddess not back yet?" Bell asked as he, Emma and Caster stepped in after the others.
"Doesn't seem like it," Archer replied. "Well, I doubt that anything bad happened. You'd know right away after all. Anyway, wash up before you sit down."
""Kaaay!""
Primo and Assassin rushed toward the sink as Rider set down a sizzling iron hot plate ladened with a mound of rice in the center with black pepper sprinkled over it and some kind of dark butter in the middle. The rice mound was surrounded by smoked meat and vegetables that were slowly being cooked by the hot plate they were resting on.
"So that's why you wanted those plates the other day," Welf said as he leaned in close for a whiff. "Oh man, that smells great."
However, Rider quickly pulled him back.
"Now now, that's Lily's," she said before placing down a plate with much larger portions in front of him. "This is yours."
"Love ya, Mom."
Rider simply chuckled as she patted Welf on the back as she went back to the kitchen area to fill up more hot plates. Once everyone had one placed in front of them, dinner began as they had no idea when the other three would return.
As their Master, Bell could still feel Lancer and Saber's presences but it didn't feel like they were moving any closer to the manor, meaning that both the two Servants were still preoccupied with their errands. Saber with something in the Dungeon while Lancer was assisting Hestia.
As they ate, Bell noticed that Gina was looking a bit antsy. She kept stealing glances at everyone's plates as well as toward the fridge. She also hadn't said a word about the dinner. Was it not what she was so eager about?
Gina fidgeted throughout the entire dinner and once the last of the meat and rice were gone, she immediately jumped up and ran toward the fridge.
"Gina…" Rider began with a wry smile but the amazoness simply smiled back as she pulled out what looked to be small balls of bread in food wrap.
"Hee hee! Sorry Rider, but dessert is the best part of the meal after all!"
"Be that as it may, you're not using the oil pot alone with only one arm," Archer said
"Fiiiine. Not like a little hot oil is gonna hurt me at Level 2 anyway…"
"What is it, what is it?" Assassin asked as she and Primo followed Rider and Archer into the kitchen area.
"Hee hee hee, just watch! These are ice cream wrapped in pound cake that we left frozen for a bit. But first…"
With Rider's help, Gina unwrapped the balls as Archer heated up the pot of oil sitting on the stove. Gina then mixed together a cup of flour and an egg into a bowl while Rider poured a cup of water into it in small increments at a time. Once the batter was done, Gina picked up the breaded ice cream balls and dipped them into it and set them to the side.
Archer then scooped one of them up in a ladle before dunking it into the oil.
"Wait…isn't that ice cream?" Primo asked as the batter sizzled in the oil. "Won't it melt?"
"Not if we take it out…now."
Expertly fishing the now golden ball out, Archer set it on a new plate as Gina drizzled some melted chocolate and sprinkled some sugar over it.
"Ta-dah!" She said as presented the dessert to Primo and Assassin. "Fried ice cream!"
"H-how decadent…" Primo muttered as she and Assassin lowered their faces to the edge of the counter to gaze at the ice cream as close as possible. She then asked again, "But wouldn't the ice cream have melted though?"
To answer her, Rider took a spoon and cleaved the ball in half, revealing the still firm ice cream that was only a little bit runny due to the heat. She then used to spoon to carry one half up to Assassin who happily snapped it up before using another spoon to hand over to Primo.
"Sweet!" Primo gasped. "Are you thinking of doing this for the food stand?"
"Well, we'll need to see how long they can keep but hopefully!" Gina replied with a big smile on her face.
As this was happening, Archer prepared several more of the fried ice cream and handed it out to the rest of the Familia.
"What do you think, Bell?" Archer asked. "Not too sweet for you?"
"Yeah, it's fine," Bell replied with a nod. "But you don't need to go out of your way for that…"
"No, when making something to sell, you should consider that adults may have similar tastes. We can't count on all of our customers being only women or children."
"Well, selling ice cream would mean that most of them will be in any case," Welf pointed out.
"It's Miss Gina that's proposing it after all," Lily said.
"Hey! What's that supposed to mean?"
As Gina ran over to complain and smack Lily in protest, Caster stood up from the dining table before Archer could serve him the dessert.
"What, don't want any?" Archer asked.
"Deliver ten of them up to my office later," Caster replied. "There are a few things that need my immediate attention."
"Even though you put them off to go galloping in the Dungeon?" Rider pointed out.
"And thus, the reason for its urgency," Caster said with an amused huff.
"Well, we need to make some to leave for the goddess anyway."
"I do not appreciate the insinuation that I am being given the goddess's leftovers."
Rider's mature response was to stick her tongue at him.
Glancing out into the backyard, Bell watched Berserker hold the fried ice cream curiously between his fingers before Fia's mouth closed around the treat, snatching it away. Berserker's response was to close his massive hand around the harpy's face causing her to flail around haplessly as she apologized before Archer handed the monstrous Servant another one.
Bell then turned to the one member of his Familia who hadn't said anything ever since they left the Dungeon.
"Emma? Are you all right?"
The girl was staring rather blankly at her empty dinner plate and hadn't touched her dessert yet. However, Bell's words seemed to jolt her out of her stupor.
"Ah, sorry," Emma said, trying to force out a fake smile that was obvious to even Bell. "I was just thinking about some things. Nothing important."
Bell's disbelief must have been readily apparent on his face as she quickly winced after turning to him.
"…No good?" She asked weakly.
"No good," Bell confirmed. "Is it about your sister?"
The rather pained looking face she made confirmed his question. She then stood up and walked out into the backyard. Bell wondered if that had been the wrong thing to ask before deciding to head out after her.
He followed her as she walked around the building back to the front yard, stopping at the base of the tree, the same spot where they had their chat before the "Argonaut Incident" as Lily liked to call it.
"Emma?" Bell called out again. However, he didn't know what to say. It was clearly obvious that Sophia, her sister, was weighing heavily on her mind. If he had to guess, the reason may be because that there had been no contact from Sophia's end. Thanks to the War Game, Hestia Familia and its members are well known throughout Orario. If Sophia was in the city, she would no doubt have seen them then.
Then that meant Emma must be wondering why she hadn't made any moves to reconnect.
Yeah, this wasn't something his grandpa's tips are going to help with.
But as Bell tried to come up with something to break the silence, it was Emma who spoke first.
"There could be any number of reasons, I know," Emma began vaguely, not that Bell needed her to clarify what she was talking about. "She could have left the city. She could just not be allowed to by her god. She could…just not want to…"
Or she could already left this world…
But Bell wasn't nearly stupid enough to voice a thought that no doubt haunted Emma every day since she lost contact with her sister.
"She definitely wants to," Bell decided to say. "There's probably a good reason that she can't. Like…maybe she's with a Familia that travels a lot like Hermes Familia. Maybe she's doing something that doesn't let her easily stop and write."
"Or maybe she's in some kind of trouble and doesn't want to drag her sister into it."
Bell flinched at Emma's words. That thought had come to mind but Bell didn't want to say it out loud either.
Considering that the Guild doesn't have any information about a Sophia Flores, Sophia either used a pseudonym when registering with the Guild, was a noncombatant member of a Familia or she didn't become an Adventurer in the first place. That led to the possibility that Sophia tried to become an Adventurer and failed and was now too ashamed to meet her younger sister who more or less became famous overnight.
"I-in any case, there are too many possibilities to worry about," Bell said, quickly shaking the thoughts out of his head. "If she's in trouble then Caster will find out before long and then you can give her a piece of your mind."
"Just me?" Emma asked, finally turning around to look at Bell, allowing him to see the small smile on her face.
"Of course, everyone will pitch in and help," Bell answered with a smile of his own.
"Thank's Bell. You're right. I'll place my trust in the Captain. Until then, I'll think long and hard about where we stand with each other and my future."
"Huh? What do you mean by that?"
"Nothing at all, 'my hero.'"
"Come on, don't tease me like that," Bell said, a blush forming on his face as Emma giggled into her hand.
"Oh, but I'm not," she said, taking a step closer to Bell. "After all, what did you do during my first day in the Dungeon?"
Bell blinked once. Then twice.
And then his gaze fell back down toward Emma's pink face, illuminated by the beautiful moon above.
"Hey Bell?" She began, hands behind her back as she leaned slightly closer to him. "Do you think it's wrong to have a fated meeting in the Dungeon?"
It was a question Bell had asked himself ever since he first arrived in Orario. His answer came to him the instant he gazed upon the red-cloaked back of his hero.
"No. It isn't wrong."
As the two of them shared a laugh, a pair of red eyes watched them with an impassive gaze from above. The eyes slowly turned away from them toward the wall they were standing beside and watched as a shadowy figure quickly disappeared into the dark of night.
