Chapter 48: Into the Dark
"Now then, does everyone have a glass? Then a toast to the Adventurers' safe return! Cheers!"
"""CHEERS!"""
The banquet hall of the Hearth's Chime was filled with Adventurers, cheers, food, and merry making.
Once Hestia had gotten word that her Children were all alive and relatively unharmed, she had reserved her own inn's banquet hall and set her employees to prepare a celebration for their safe return. That being said, it had to take place the day after their proper return since Orario as a whole immediately went into their own welcome back party for her Adventurers.
She also invited Dia's children to celebrate with them to which her friend obliged. And so, Hestia's Adventurers mingled with Dia's as the latter bade farewell to one of their number that was then welcomed into Hestia's.
"Hee hee, I knew she would be a crier," Dia said, standing next to Hestia as the two of them watched Dia's Captain place a hand on Karen's shoulder with a gentle smile as the girl was fighting back tears. "It's always the quiet ones after all."
"I could never do what you do," Hestia admitted. "There wouldn't be enough tears in the world if I have to bid goodbye to one of my Children every few months."
"The lives of our Children are fleeting after all," Dia reminded her. "'Goodbyes' are the closest companions to 'Hellos' and are always trailing close behind. That being said, some goodbyes are further behind than most of course."
Hestia noted that Dia was glancing over at Primo when she said that.
The goddess didn't want to think about the future. A future where it would just be her and Primo together in an office some one hundred or so years later, reminiscing of the "first generation."
"Oh my, it seems as though I brought the mood down quite a bit…" Dia said after glancing at Hestia's face. "My apologies. But, if your rising star keeps on Leveling Up, he'll be around much longer than Humans usually are."
"Yeah…"
A side effect of the Falna was the ability to slow the aging process of Adventurers. A prime example of that would be Loki's Captain, a forty-something year old pallum that didn't look a day over twenty. That being said, most of them die in the Dungeon or in some other form of battle long before they could die of old age anyway.
And didn't that thought just make her even more depressed?
There was only one thing left for her to do.
Drink until she stopped thinking about it!
She might regret it in the morning but problems for tomorrow shall remain problems for tomorrow!
X-x-X-x-X
Karen Morris
Level 1
Strength: B740
Defense: C621
Dexterity: B750
Agility: A827
Magic: I0
Magic:
None
Skill:
Never Retreat: Increases parameters when engaging in one-on-one combat.
Noblesse Oblige: Increases Strength and Agility when attacking from the front.
X-x-X-x-X
The party eventually wound down and Hestia returned home with their new member in tow.
When morning came, everyone gathered at the dining table as usual.
"Once again, my name is Karen Morris," Karen said as she stood up from her seat near Caster's end of the table. "I look forward to working with you all."
The rest of the Familia gave her a polite applause as she sat back down and breakfast began proper.
"Man, it's so nice having you all back home again," Hestia started the conversation with a big smile on her face. "It was so quiet at home that I stayed at the inn the entire time you all were away!"
"Very well, let us begin planning our expedition into the Dungeon," Caster suddenly declared. "As our Familia rank has increased, we are expected to show the Guild our progress in the Dungeon so you all shall be spending a few days away once more."
"YOU ARE THE ABSOLUTE WORST!" Hestia screamed as she slammed both her hands on the table, causing Fia and Berserker to poke their heads in through the window, wondering what the noise was about as Caster simply gave an evil laugh in response. "DEMON! TYRANT! GOLDEN BALLS!"
"Silence, you useless goddess!"
"Jokes aside, it is something Lily and the others will have to do that eventually," Lily said as Hestia turned a tearful eye toward the Supporter. Lily simply held up the Guild letter they had received before breakfast began. "Hestia Familia is now officially Rank D thanks to our performance in subduing Behemoth Alter, which means we have to go on expeditions as decided by the Guild."
"Umm, how does that work?" Emma asked, looking from Lily to Gina.
"It could pretty much be anything," Gina replied. "Normally, a Familia would just push further into the Dungeon than they had done so before. Since Hestia Familia beat the Floor Boss, and camped on the Eighteenth Floor, we'll probably be doing something like 'Reach the Nineteenth Floor and gather Drop Items from the monsters there."
"F-first time I've heard of that…" Hestia mumbled as she sank in her chair, looking absolutely miserable at the thought of her Children leaving for another long period of time after just coming home. "Wait no…I think Loki mentioned something like this ages ago…"
"Now now, it's not as if we all have to go," Rider tried to assure her with a smile. "We can have two of the…adults go along with the children while the rest stays behind to take care of things."
Rider's eyes moved to Karen as she spoke, but the girl had been too engrossed in her food and missed it.
"A fine idea," Caster agreed, turning to Bell. "Figure out who you wish to bring along while I decide on your objective."
"Even the girls?" Bell asked as he turned toward Emma, Karen and Primo.
"There is no need to split the Familia even further," Caster decided. "Or do you wish to leave them behind and Adventure all on your lonesome?"
"N-no, I didn't mean it like that."
"Then it is settled. Think clearly about who you shall bring along and submit your request to me by the end of the day."
"Understood."
"An expedition, huh?" Welf said, leaning back with his fork dangling from his mouth. "Feels kinda exciting."
"Did you not go on one when you were in Hephaistos Familia?" Primo asked.
"Nah, we…err…Hephaistos Familia is a Smithing Familia so it wasn't required," Welf said quickly before seeing the frown Rider was giving him, causing him to quickly sit up straight and pull his fork out. "So this will be my first one."
"What about you, Gina?"
"Ehh…Hermes Familia isn't High Rank enough to need to do that," Gina replied. "Probably cuz Hermes kept lying to the Guild about Level Ups."
"Feels like I should have too…" Hestia groaned.
"Even if you did, Master's accomplishments would have quickly exposed those lies," Lancer pointed out, causing Hestia to let out another groan and for Caster to revel in her misery.
"Then we should start by procuring some supplies," Archer said. "Since the objective is the Nineteenth Floor, any plan will involve spending at least a night on the Eighteenth Floor, correct? Will we need tents?"
"Either that or pay out the nose to stay at an inn at the Under Resort," Gina reminded him.
"Question!" Primo began as she turned to look at Berserker, who had gone back to focusing on his meal. "Are we going to bring Berserker along?"
"While bringing Berserker along will make it more convenient to hunt for Drop Items," Saber began. "It may prove dangerous in an area most of us have not explored yet."
"…What is this about Berserker?" Karen asked. "Does the minotaur have some sort of ability?"
"Rather than ability, it's more like the monsters in the Dungeon really really hate him," Welf said. "Like every third room become a Monster Party if we stay in there for too long."
"Is…that so?" Karen said, still looking a bit confused. "I wonder if it is because the Dungeon considers him as much of an aberration as we do."
Bell wasn't sure who "we" was but it probably wasn't far from the mark.
When they had asked Fia if she or the other Xenos made the Dungeon give off such a strong reaction, she had looked confused and worried. She explained that while regular monsters did seek them out if they had spotted them, they weren't actively hunted down or anything.
It must be due to his dual nature as a monster and a Heroic Spirit.
Yes, that must be it. Bell wasn't sure but it must be it.
"Well then, let's split up to buy supplies then," Rider said with a smile and clap of her hands. "For rations, we can make those at home to save on costs so let's focus on buying fresh things we can preserve rather than buying pre-made jerky."
"Then, the two of us and…let's take Gina along too," Archer said after glancing around the room.
"Okay!" Gina replied as she raised her hand.
"Then, Lily will take Miss Primo, Miss Emma and Miss Karen along to shop for potions and…" Lily began before placing a hand on her chin. "Should we get some tents too?"
"Ah…it might be more expensive but I wanted to see Dungeon Resort," Bell said. "They have inns right? Let's stay there so we don't have to worry about monsters attacking us at night."
"Well, if that is what Bell wants."
"It might be best to buy the tents anyway for future use," Emma pointed out.
"There is no way Lily will be able to carry all of those tents down by herself. Lily's backpack is big, not infinite! Miss Primo, Miss Karen and Miss Emma will have to help since the three of you are still Level One!"
"Then, I shall join you in your shopping," Lancer offered.
"Then I guess that leaves you and me to go shopping for our own materials," Welf said to Bell. "I mean…you did kinda wreck your armor. Again. Or rather, it got completely obliterated."
"Ahahah…sorry."
The armor got destroyed when he stood between Lefiya and the Behemoth Alter's attack after all.
"Well, better it than you of course. You wanna come with, Saber?"
"My apologies," Saber answered with a curt bow of his head. "But I have a previous engagement."
"T-then Jack…stay here with me today okay?" Hestia asked as Assassin turned to her.
"We wanna go shopping with Mommy though?" Assassin replied with a smile.
A smile that struck the goddess's heart like an arrow, causing her to slam her head against the table and sob uselessly to the stares of her Children, unsure of what to do.
X-x-X-x-X
"Why can't you take into consideration my feelings before declaring another Expedition!?" Hestia demanded, slamming her hands on Caster's desk over and over. "I had to sleep at the inn because I couldn't bear to go back to an empty home! Me! A goddess of the hearth! Sleeping at work! Can you believe that!? What about my quality time with Bell!?"
"The boy is precisely the cause of this Expedition in the first place," Caster reminded her. "There is no reason to delay it for another time when we an get it over with immediately."
"Mugugugu…" Hestia could only grumble as she sobbed into her arms. "All right, fine. Then what are we supposed to do, exactly?"
"The purpose of these Guild Mandated missions is to increase the efficiency in which a Familia conquers the Dungeon Floors," Caster outlined. "The make-up of the Expedition can include members of other Familias but over half must be from the Familia leading the Expedition."
In short, Hestia could ask Takemikazuchi to lend his three Adventurers to join the Expedition but Hestia would need to send at least four members to go along with them.
"But you want everyone to go with only two Servants as their minders, correct?" Hestia asked.
"That is already more than enough for something like this," Caster replied with a nod. "I will have a task for the ones staying behind, including myself."
"I have a very bad feeling about that so I don't want to know," Hestia said immediately. "Just make sure everyone comes home safely!"
"Fear not, I am simply laying the groundwork to reunite Flores with her sister."
"Oh, really?" As far as she could tell, that was completely truthful. "That's fine then. Go right on ahead."
"I am pleased to have your blessing in this endeavor," Caster said, rolling his eyes. "For now, let us decide the purpose of this Expedition."
"Hmm? Aren't we just going to collect some random drops and hand them over?"
"That would be far too simple," Caster replied with a smirk as he turned toward the balcony just before a knock came from it.
"Fia?"
Hestia spotted the red-feathered harpy tapping her wing against the frame of the glass door, prompting the goddess to hop out of her chair and open it for her.
"What's the matter?" Hestia asked. "I didn't think you'd want to come into this guy's room?"
"I umm…I have a request," Fia said as Caster glared at the goddess. "Umm, I think it's called a Quest? I want to make a Quest for Hestia Familia! Or something!"
Hestia blinked in surprise before turning over her shoulder to look back at Caster who had that usual smirk on his face.
"I will allow it," Caster declared. "Let's hear it then. What is it that you desire?"
"I want you all to meet my comrades," Fia said. "I can't take it…I can't be the only one up here anymore."
Hestia's shoulders drooped slightly as she turned toward Caster. The king had his eyes closed and his arms folded over his chest, seemingly deep in thought.
"Mmm…I suppose we have sat on this time bomb for a bit too long," Caster said as he turned toward Hestia. "Are you prepared to begin, Goddess Hestia?"
"Hmm…to be honest, I'd rather wait until we aren't in the public eye so much," Hestia admitted. "But all things considered, that doesn't seem likely to happen any time soon. But I do think Bell, Emma and Jack do need to see them all since they are the ones who really wanted to do this in the first place."
That vacation seemed so long ago now…
"But we'll need Ouranos to go along with this, right?" Hestia asked. "Unless you know how to find your friends, Fia?"
The Harpy shook her head sadly.
"We have several villages scattered throughout the Dungeon," Fia explained. "Other monster's don't spawn there and they're far off the corridors that Adventurers pass through. But we all move as a group to a new one every so often so…"
"So you have no idea which one they are at right now," Hestia finished for her.
"Yes…but Lido, Rey, and Gros usually talk with Fels to ask for supplies and to trade some things back."
"Trade?" Hestia repeated, unsure of what they could have to use to trade.
"Some of my comrades have horns, claws or fangs that keep growing too big so we cut them off and if they don't disappear we give them to Fels since they're just trash to us…"
"Wow, renewable Drop Items," Hestia said blankly before shaking her head. "In any case, I'll see if I can't talk to Ouranos about setting up a meeting…but how would I do that?"
"Simply go to the Guild and speak to Royman Mardeel," Caster said. "Even if he does not know about the true nature of the Xenos, he should be able to arrange a meeting."
"That feels like I'm going to inconvenience them a bit but I suppose we can't just sit on this forever."
"T-thank you very much!" Fia said, bowing her head as relief seeped out of her shoulders.
"So long as you live here with us, you're part of my Familia too, Fia," Hestia said, pulling the harpy into a, somewhat awkward hug due to her large wings getting in the way. "So don't be afraid to ask for anything, okay?"
"Okay…"
"Well, there is no downside to this event either way," Caster said with an uncharacteristic smile on his face, telling Hestia he was up to no good.
She just hoped that it won't do anything to ruin the relationship she hoped to build with the Xenos.
X-x-X-x-X
"…Hah…"
"What's wrong, Lefiya? You've been sighing a lot today."
"N-no…I'm just thinking about things…"
Lefiya was walking around town with Tiona today, the latter having nothing to do and decided to tag along with Lefiya as she went shopping while thinking about things.
Chief of which being what Bell Cranel had told her about "Hero Spirits."
"Legends in corporeal form" he had said before clamming up and apologizing before saying that he couldn't say anything more.
It was something completely vague…yet completely understandable at the same time if she were to take it and place it against Argonaut's existence.
Argonaut was one of, if not the most famous legends passed down in this world. It was the first story of a hero, even if Argonaut himself was not the first hero. And said Hero was currently hanging around in Orario within Bell's body.
Which meant that "Hero Spirits" were heroes from the old tales given bodies to live in the modern world when they had existed some untold amount of centuries ago.
Argonaut had also been able to call other such Spirits to this world, as seen with how he had called a Spirit into Lefiya's body, albeit temporarily. It was a magic befitting of one whose name meant "ship of heroes" and someone who was referred to as "Master" by several members of Hestia Familia.
If that was the case, then it possibly meant that many of the other members of Hestia Familia, specifically the ones with similar titles, were also Spirits.
Lefiya did not have much knowledge of the old legends, especially not human ones considering most of Hestia Familia appeared to be humans. Therefore, she had planned to go to a bookstore and see if they sold any of the official god recognized legends. She wasn't sure of the details, but she had heard that one or two of the gods had paid attention to every single heroic tale from their seat in the heavens and when they came down to Gekai, they published them in books that didn't fall under the self-serving edits that the mortal races made. Things like changing the race of the main characters to their own and things like that.
Worst were the ones that changed a figure altogether. As a self-depreciating example, a brave dwarven hero sung by the dwarves would often become a despicable coward when told by elven bards. That's just how things were when the different races placed their own heroes above others. Lefiya suspected that if such figures ever took corporeal form, they might hold quite the grudge against the offending races.
Perhaps Caster was one of them? It sure would explain why he seemed to hold everyone of all races in contempt, even humans.
Which was why the "God Approved" versions were what Lefiya needed
Lefiya had already taken Dungeon Oratoria, one of said books, from the Loki Familia Archives to purview later but it probably wouldn't be enough considering just how many stories were out there.
"Still, I didn't think you'd get interested in Hero stories," Tiona said with a smile. "You talked with Little Argonaut right? Did he get you interested in them?"
"A little bit," Lefiya replied truthfully.
"Aww, I wish I still had my books, but Tione and I had to leave them behind when we left Telskyura."
"I-it's fine. I have a lot left in my savings."
Thanks to Bell's absurd luck in gambling, Lefiya's savings were through the roof, even after giving most of it to the Familia.
Buying a few books wouldn't even begin to put a dent in it.
Then again, it wasn't as though she could just buy things at random either…and it wasn't as though they gave any clues as to what legends they came from.
…
This might have been a bad idea after all.
Lefiya now understood why the Goddess Hestia gave them those weird nicknames. That way, even if someone figured out what they were, or most likely were, without a name to go by, the person would have to dig through thousands of years of legends to find out any information about them.
On the other hand, it wasn't as though Lefiya really had any idea what to do with any information she might find. It was more to satisfy her own curiosity first and foremost…and perhaps draw a bit more insight into Ais's past…even though Lady Riveria told her to wait until Ais revealed it herself.
"Oh, I know!" Tiona spoke up as they reached a bookstore. "How about we look for more of Orna's stories? Argonaut said that I reminded him of Orna, right? Then maybe some of her stories will be interesting!"
"Miss Tiona, you're a genius!"
"Huh? Why?"
That's right! Considering that Argonaut's magic allowed him to summon other Spirits, then the best place to start would be the stories written by someone who actually knew him! The elven bard Wishe's tales should also be something to look out for.
They entered the store and Lefiya immediately placed a request with the owner for books, poems and stories written by Orna and Wishe. The official "God Approved" versions.
"Also…do you have any stories about warrior queens?" Lefiya asked as Tiona disappeared amongst the shelves as if she had just walked into a treasure room.
It was another clue she had just remembered.
Back during that Quest to accompany Bell to the Casino, Rider and Caster also tagged along. Considering the Hestia Familia Captain made zero attempt to hide his identity as a king and that his pride was clear as day for all to see, it wasn't too farfetched to believe that Rider was a queen of some renown in legend as well if he considered her the only one that could accompany him as an escort.
"Quite a few," the old human woman said with a smile. "Any particular race you are looking for? I mostly have stories of Amazons such as Elshana, Ivelda or Penthesilea."
"Any notable human ones?" Lefiya began, only to remember a certain standout detail of the recent War Game. "One that rode chariots into battle perhaps?"
"Chariot riding queens?" The owner replied with a hum as she stroked her chin. "Off the top of my head…there is Maev and I believe Boadicea."
"I'll take whatever you got on them!"
As the old woman nodded and went to collect the books, Tiona came back with a few of her own in her arms.
"Lefiya! They got a copy of Argonaut in here!" The amazoness said cheerfully as she held out a tome in front of Lefiya's face.
"Are you buying them yourself, Miss Tiona?"
"Yep! Kali may have said that she didn't throw my old things away but it's not as though she brought them with her so it might as well be gone. So there's nothing left for me to do but to rebuild my old collection!"
Well, at least she was having fun.
Lefiya ended up buying about a dozen different books in the end alongside Tiona's half-dozen. Naturally, as a Level 3, carrying all the books by herself was no problem, but she did feel as though she went a bit overboard.
"…So…is this really all because of Argonaut?" Tiona asked, looking up at the massive stack in Lefiya's arms.
"Yes," Lefiya replied as she started walking back toward the Twilight Manor.
"Oh, is that you Lefiya Viridis? And Tiona Hiryute."
A familiar voice called out to them and Lefiya spotted a blonde-haired god and a dark-haired elf walking toward them.
"Ummm, you're Lord Dionysus right?" Tiona asked. "I heard that you've been hanging out with Loki lately."
"Hahaha, you could say that," Dionysus confirmed. "Although it's more like I've been tagging along with your Familia's investigations into you-know-what."
"Ahhh…"
"Miss Filivis! How have you been?" Lefiya asked happily as she peered around the stack of books she was holding. "You went along with the northern army with Ottarl, right?"
"'Went along'…it was more like we were trying to keep up the entire time…" Filivs replied with a bitter face. "The Warlord's strength is unparalleled and he more or less took down every single one of those monsters alone."
"Isn't that fine?" Dionysus asked. "It just means that everyone managed to return home safely thanks to his work."
"I suppose so…"
"In any case, that is a lot of books."
Dionysus switched gears as he looked up and down at the spines of the stack in Lefiya's arms.
"…These aren't magic reference books," he noted. "Are you looking for some light reading material? Excuse me…"
"Well, something like that," Lefiya said as Dionysus picked up the top book, one that depicted a red-haired woman riding a chariot while surrounded by roaring flames on the cover.
Lefiya had thought she hit pay dirt with that but the picture of the warrior queen felt as though they were the complete opposite of what she saw of Rider. She couldn't picture that kind woman who was always smiling as she took care of the younger members of Hestia Familia.
Then again…that moment during the War Game…
"Hmm…quite a dark tale," Dionysus said as he returned the book back on the stack. "I didn't realize you were interested in such things, Lefiya."
"W-well, I was thinking of researching queens found in the old legends," Lefiya admitted. "And the first step is to find the legends dealing with the old queens after all. Good and bad."
"I see…if Zeus were still around here, you could have probably asked him," Dionysus muttered. "He loved sneaking off from work to watch the lower world back up in Tenkai. After that would probably be Ouranos…or maybe Hermes?"
"Lord Hermes, huh."
He seemed rather close to Hestia Familia as well, much to their member's annoyance. Lefiya couldn't help but wonder if he also realized what was going on in that Familia. But if he didn't know and Lefiya ended up pointing him in that direction…
"I'll think about it…" she ended up deciding to put it off. "Then, well be taking our leave now."
"Don't be a stranger, Lefiya Viridis," Dionysus said as he waved them off while Filvis gave them a bow before the two of them disappeared down the street.
"Come on, Lefiya!" Tiona said impatiently. "Let's hurry back home so we can start reading. It's back to searching starting tomorrow after all!"
"R-right!" Lefiya nodded as she hurried after Tiona while glancing at the top book again. "Warrior Queen Boadicea…huh…"
X-x-X-x-X
"Ka-choo!"
"Uwaah! Rider sneezed! Wait…Archer, can you guys even get sick?"
"Only if we're hit by a curse or something I suppose."
X-x-X-x-X
"By the way, Miss Karen," Lily began as she led the way down the street. "Has Miss Karen gone into the Dungeon yet?"
"No, I have not," Karen replied.
"Really? Even though your Parameters are so high?" Emma asked in surprise.
"I fought against monsters and bandits while traveling with Dia Familia. Combined with training with the senior permanent members, I believe it is only natural."
Karen then turned a glance toward Lancer who was in the back of the group before turning back toward Emma.
"And before you ask me such things, shouldn't you be asking such things to Bell Cranel first?"
"Ah, right," Emma replied with a dry laugh. "It was always like that since I joined so I just accepted it as natural."
"But…I still can't believe bandits exist," Primo muttered. "Isn't it hard enough with monsters everywhere? Since they can't live in towns that means they have to live out in the wild right?"
"It's not as if all of them are just ruffians with little more than rusted swords and the clothes on their back," Karen replied. "Dia Familia isn't some traveling band of heroes or anything but we do come across Familias operating as criminals on occasion and if commanded by the Goddess Dia or Captain Enciodes, we would move to strike them down."
"It would be best that Miss Emma and Miss Primo remember that most of the gods consider their life down here as a game," Lily reminded them. "Lily wouldn't be surprised if many of them would consider 'being criminals' fun or something. Remember the monster traffickers in Melen?"
The other two girls made miserable faces at that, Emma especially.
"Sooner or later…Caster will have us move against them," Lancer spoke up for the first time since they left the manor. "Therefore, Miss Flores and Miss Libera…simply focus on your training and studies. Leave facing them to us."
"Yes…" Primo replied while Emma simply nodded her head.
"In any case, we're here," Lily said as they arrived in front of a large general store that sold various camping equipment that could be used for long Expeditions. She then turned toward the other girls and held out several slips of paper to them. "Here. Lily has written down the things we need for the Expedition. Everyone should try to find what is on their list and if you can't then we'll move on to the next store."
"Are we not picking up any potions here?" Karen asked, as she scanned all the lists.
"It's better to buy them straight from their respective pharmacies rather than buying the resale ones at a store," Lily replied. "Hestia Familia has a good working relationship with Miach Familia's Blue Pharmacy so we might be able to get a better deal there…provided Miss Lancer does not scare half their members again."
Lancer's face lit up slightly as the woman turned her gaze to the side.
"Umm…two members of Miach Familia used to be part of Apollo Familia," Emma explained as Karen let out an "Ahh" of acknowledgement.
"In any case, we need tents, sleeping bags…" Primo read off the list. "Umm…do we really need things like pots and portable stoves?"
"We can rely on Master Archer and Master Welf to make them for us," Lily admitted with a smile. "But it might be best to buy them just in case there isn't enough time."
"Right," Emma said as she turned around. "Huh? Where did Lancer go?"
The rest of the girls turned around to see that the woman was nowhere in sight.
"Maybe something caught her eye?" Karen offered but Primo shook her head.
"I don't think Miss Lancer is the type to just walk away without saying anything," Primo pointed out as Lily frowned.
"She might be doing something else," Lily said carefully before taking Primo's hand and pulling her into the store. "Miss Emma and Miss Karen, go find the things on your lists while Miss Primo and Lily find the rest."
"Right…"
As Lilly pulled Primo away, Emma and Karen shared a look before shrugging their shoulders in unison and heading toward a different end of the store from the shorter girls.
X-x-X-x-X
A short distance away from the store, two pairs of eyes watched as the girls as they went in.
But they made no move to follow nor leave. They simply remained where they were as they kept watch on the shop and the area around them.
However…
"May I inquire as to what you are doing?"
Two hooded figures whirled around in surprise as a woman whose appearance could rival that of a goddess of beauty appeared between them without a sound.
Her voice was soft and without inflection, yet there was a burning flame in her violet eyes.
Neither of them said a word and instead simply retreated away.
Lancer frowned but did not give chase. Though the two were cloaked to hide their identity, Lancer could tell that they were human males of unassuming visages. Though they did not wear their Familia emblems, Lancer had a small idea who they might be.
"The most likely culprits are the ones after Fia or…the one after Miss Flores," she decided.
It was one of the reasons Caster did not protest the decision to house Fia or any future Xenos within Hestia Familia. He had been planning on using them to draw out Evilus into the open and crush them at once. It was also probably why he encouraged Fia's use during the Grand Quest against Behemoth Alternative.
As for Emma…
Lancer remembered that Emma and Caster mentioned something about a god that had taken a liking to Emma back before the War Game. Seeing the strength of the Servants and their Master may have made him more cautious in obtaining his so-called prize and therefore he might be trying to watch them for now.
"…This is not good…" she muttered to herself as she stepped out of the alleyway. "This is not good."
"Is something wrong with the-eek!"
As she said this while passing by a stall selling potato puffs, the owner turned toward her in confusion, only to recoil at the sight of Lancer's face.
The shriek brought Lancer back to her senses as she quickly turned her face away. And when she brought it back, the soft smile returned to her face.
"My apologies," Lancer said softly before pointing at the fried snack. "May I have one bag of this?"
The shopkeep merely nodded silently as they quickly filled up a bag and handed it to Lancer after receiving the payment.
Once she had the bag in her hands, she walked over to the store and stood outside the door to wait for the girls to finish their shopping.
"This is unacceptable," Lancer thought to herself. "I cannot cause trouble for Master or Lady Hestia by losing control here."
She would have to discuss this with Caster to see where they should go from here.
It would be best to nip this problem at the bud but the laws of the Guild would be against them if they went attacked the other Familia before they even did anything.
Bringing a potato puff to her mouth, she glanced through a window to see Emma and Karen. The former was holding up a sleeping bag, some pink frilly thing with a cute animal design, no doubt asking Karen for her opinion on it to which the other girl was shaking her head rather quickly. It would appear that their tastes did not quite match, judging from Emma's deflated expression.
Still, it would not do for Lancer to lose to her emotions so easily.
"I wonder why…?"
Those words filled Lancer's thoughts.
Aside from her Master, the other mortal members of Hestia Familia did not hold souls that had been able to move her heart. Yes, her Master…alongside Caster, Archer and of course her Beloved were the only ones in the Familia to cause a burning flame to course through her blood…and yet she could not help but love them all the same. Not with the same burning desire as the aforementioned four of course, but the love was there all the same.
"But why?"
Yet the question still remained.
She had forced herself not to love, lest she repeat the tragedy once more.
But…had that tragedy not been reversed, however temporarily thanks to her beloved Master? She was here…in the living world with her Beloved…living each day happily and each night dangerously as the two…worked out their issues.
That was right. Her life here and now was one…not of peace but it was as close to it as it could get so long as she was a Servant.
"Ah! There you are Miss Lancer!"
Broken from her thoughts, Lancer turned to see the girls, led by Lily, come out of the store with Lily's bag significantly larger than it was when they had entered.
"Geez, Miss Lancer should say something before she disappears!" Lily scolded the Servant to which she gave an apologetic smile and lowered her head.
"My apologies but these caught my eye," she said as she held out the fried potato puffs out to the girls.
"I didn't think you could be distracted by Jagamaru-kun, Miss Lancer," Primo muttered as Karen accepted a snack without a word before it quickly started vanishing into her mouth.
"My apologies," Lancer apologized with a smile once more. "But the smell was rather appetizing despite having breakfast already."
Lancer passed out the rest of the snacks, leaving one for Emma for last.
As the girl took the puff, Lancer gently grabbed her wrist.
"L-Lancer?" Emma began as Lancer leaned in close.
"Miss Flores…if something is bothering you, it is fine to ask us for help. Understand?"
"I…I'm sorry…"
As Lancer released her grip on Emma's hand, the girl turned her face away. Something was indeed bothering her…and she clearly didn't want to share it.
The inability to help the troubled girl hurt Lancer…but it looked as though she could only rely on Caster for this.
"Perhaps…Rider is not the only one who sees the children as something else…"
That was the conclusion Lancer came to as she silently uttered in her heart a name that she no longer had the right to say aloud.
X-x-X-x-X
Hestia muttered venomous words under her breath as she looked over the budget reports while sitting in her inn's office.
The contents of the reports weren't what was bothering her. On the contrary, she was finally making a profit now that things were back to…almost normal. She received both normal guests looking for a place to stay and more well off guests looking to stay in the inn of the still famous Hestia Familia for the prestige.
That the inn itself was on the higher end scale was just a bonus. Hestia put a lot of effort in making sure each room, the basic and VIP, had access to running water, soft beds, proper lighting, and decent service. She was not a goddess of the hearth for nothing!
No, she was still angry about the fact that her "Bell Time" had been cut short once again by her irritable, tsundere Captain. And he even had the gall to have Hestia hold onto a letter for him!
Not to mention that she'd have to find a way to talk to Ouranos after this and try to set up a meeting with the other Xenos.
"Ahhh…I need another vacation…" she groaned as a knock came from the door. "Who is it?"
"It's Iris, Lady Goddess," the Cows's voice came from the door. "You have a visitor."
"Is it Dia again?"
"No it is…"
"Me!"
The door was thrown open as Iris let out a squeak of surprise. Standing at the door was who else but Hermes.
Hestia provided the appropriate greeting to her fellow god.
"Uuuugggggghhhhhhhhh…"
Followed by thumping her head on her desk.
"Whoa there Hestia, are you all right?" Hermes asked with his usual dumb smile, stepping into the room while closing the door behind him, leaving Iris outside. "Not taking the work too well?"
"What do you want?" Hestia demanded. "I'm not exactly in the mood nor have the time for you, okay?"
"Ow so harsh," Hermes said, faking a wounded look as he placed a hand over his chest. "And I came all the way here for a little gossip."
"I don't have time to gossip, Hermes…" Hestia said as she sat back up and started writing again.
"Not even about the illegal sales of monsters?"
The quill froze in Hestia's hands along with every muscle in her body.
She looked up at him, unable to keep the surprise off of her face as he sat down in the seat in front of her desk.
"My Children raided a place that bought them other day," Hermes continued. "Within an estate of Elurian royalty of all places. Aren't they so hard working? Not even a few days after Behemoth's pseudo resurrection were they back at it. So? Are you interested now?"
"Of course I am," Hestia said, trying to still her rapidly beating heart. "I'm working with the Guild and Ganesha about it after all. Illegal sales of monsters concern me quite a bit."
"I'm sure. Just…you see…according to my dear Laurier…have you seen her before? Elf, golden hair, quite glamorous? You see, according to her, they were being held in just the most awful of conditions. All chained to one another and violated with such cruelty that I dare not repeat in your company."
Hestia remembered how Lancer had described the conditions Fia had been found in. Trapped in a tiny box with broken wings and forced to wallow within her own refuse and grime with nothing but tiny holes for air.
"But…then Laurier said the most curious thing happened," Hermes continued, milking every word to be dramatic as possible. "Though they were all on death's doors when she and the others arrived…one of them spoke to her."
The quill in Hestia's hand snapped in two.
"With tears in its eyes…they begged her for help," Hermes said as he held out an item to Hestia. A scarred monster horn…a Drop Item. "It asked her to deliver this to its comrades."
It meant nothing to Hestia…not beyond the obvious…but to Fia?
"Quite the tale, huh?" Hermes asked, his usual smile looking a bit weaker than before as he placed the monster horn on Hestia's desk.
"Yes…quite," Hestia muttered hazily as she stared at the horn.
She needed to talk to Ouranos immediately.
"Anyway…I didn't just come here to gossip," Hermes said as he also placed a letter beside the horn. "Got a message for you from the Guild too."
He then reached into his bag and pulled out a rather large package with a letter with the Guild's seal on it.
"Your Children were running about town preparing for an Expedition weren't they?" Hermes asked. "Then this is probably some good timing on the Guild's part."
"They sent us a proper Quest for it, huh?" Hestia asked as she took the letter.
"That's right. Well, I'll get out of your hair now. I need to make another delivery."
"Oh…speaking of which."
Hestia quickly pulled out the letter Caster had given her and held it out to Hermes alongside a bag of coins.
"Deliver this for my Captain for me will ya? Since you're here and all."
"Well, since you're paying me," Hermes said as he accepted both and glanced at the intended recipient. "…Wait. You want this delivered to-"
"AH BAH BUP!" Hestia cut him off with series of incomprehensible sounds. "I purposely avoided looking at the recipient because I know nothing but stress will come from knowing it. So don't you dare say who it is."
Hermes gave another look at the letter before shrugging and placing it into his pack.
"Well I got another package to the same person anyway so no skin off my nose," Hermes said with a smile. "Say hi to Bell for me!"
Hestia made a noise that neither affirmed nor denied his request as the god left the room.
…
It wasn't even ten minutes later that Hestia was out the door and running back toward the Hearthstone Manor herself.
X-x-X-x-X
"Things are proceeding quite nicely," Caster said, tossing the Guild's orders down in front of Bell while the entirety of Hestia Familia were gathered at the dining table for dinner.
During the dinner, Karen was filled in about the truth of the Servants and the two resident monsters of the Familia, which left the noble girl in quite the daze.
As for Fia…
The harpy was sitting on the grass outside, wings wrapped around her legs as she stared aimlessly into the sky while a concerned Berserker gently rubbed her back. She hadn't said a word since Hestia showed the horn to her and simply nodded her head as if Hestia had confirmed something Fia had been dreading about all this time.
Bell picked up the letter and glanced over it himself.
Included in the Guild package had been orders to descend to the Twentieth Floor and gather ten drop items from two different kinds of monsters as well as to reach a location on one of the deepest ends of said floor marked by a large red circle in an included map. There were also explicit instructions to bring Fia along as well. The reason why however, was left out but Bell had an idea of the reason that probably wasn't safe to put into a letter.
"These orders changes nothing aside from the departure time," Caster said. "You are to enter the Dungeon before dawn and head to the indicated location as soon as possible. Gather everything you can within the time allotted."
"Understood," Bell replied with a nod.
"And have you decided which two will accompany you?"
"Yes. Rider and Lancer."
The two women glanced at Bell in surprise.
"Us? Why?" Rider asked.
"It's…well…before all of…this…" Bell began, gesturing to the Guild orders. "I was thinking that I haven't had much opportunity to go on Adventures with either of you. Is…that bad?"
The two women glanced at each other before Rider let out a titter into her hand.
"No, of course not," Rider replied. "I have no problems with it."
"I too, wish to see my part in this through to the end," Lancer said. She then turned toward Emma and Gina. "And…we shall be able to have more opportunities to further your studies."
Both girls winced at Lancer's gaze.
"Umm…please go easy on us…" Gina begged to which Lancer simply offered a smile that signaled her doom. "Hey Karen! Come join us!"
"Huh?" Karen snapped out of her stupor and turned to Gina. "Umm…join you in what?"
"Learning magic from Lancer," Emma replied causing Karen's eyes to light up in interest.
"The opportunity to learn magic from a Spirit?" Karen asked before turning toward Lancer. "Umm…if you would have me."
"Of course," Lancer accepted the request without hesitation.
"So the Expedition will consist of Bell, Lily, Welf, Emma, Primo, Gina, Karen, Jack, Rider and Lancer then?" Hestia asked. "Oh…and Fia too, right?"
"Yes," Fia replied as she stood up causing Karen to twitch and shake her head. "I…I need to make sure everyone else is okay with my own eyes."
"Me…go too?" Berserker asked, pointing toward himself but Caster shut him down with a shake of his head.
"The journey will be perilous enough without you accompanying them and creating Monster Parties in each and every room," the king reminded the minotaur to which it let out a sigh.
"Umm…a Monster Party is when several monsters spawn from the walls, floor and ceiling of the Dungeon, correct?" Karen asked.
"That's right," Lily answered. "And they are dangerous because they can spawn in the middle of a formation. Even Miss Lancer will have a difficult time protecting us if a monster spawned directly underneath us."
"You would be surprised," Lancer replied simply, her smile not leaving her face as Saber let out a soft chuckle.
"All right then, if there's nothing else, everyone should rest up once dinner's over," Hestia said, looking as though she's come to terms with everyone leaving again so soon before turning to their newest member. "Karen. If you need to, you can come talk to me and Caster in his office."
"I refuse to continue playing therapist for these children!"
"You're not playing therapist, you're doing your job as Captain and king in listening to the worries of you followers!"
As the two argued, Karen turned toward Emma.
"I cannot tell if the goddess and Captain get along or not," Karen said as Emma giggled into her hand.
"This is their way of getting along, yes," the other girl replied with a smile.
X-x-X-x-X
The next few hours passed by in a blink of an eye and dawn quickly approached.
While the mortal members of Hestia Familia rested in their beds, Archer and Rider were in the kitchen, hard at work for the final preparations for the Expedition. More specifically, making the rations for the expedition with what they managed to procure during the day.
"By frying the ingredients and stuffing it into the ball of rice then frying the rice itself, we can preserve it for a while. Then by pouring hot water over it, it can quickly turn into a nice soup."
"I see…so this was how you did it before I was summoned. We should consider doing a show on this next time too. It'd certainly catch the interest of Familias that go on longer expeditions."
"I don't really care about the other Familias," Archer replied before adding with a wry smile. "But Welf and Bell might cry if they can only eat sweet Dungeon Fruit Sandwiches while they're down there."
"That they might," Rider agreed with a giggle.
The two of them split their tasks with Archer frying the meat and vegetables before handing them over to Rider to pack into balls of rice to be fried later.
"Hey Archer?"
"What is it, Rider?"
"I noticed that when cooking dinner, you usually make bread as the side. Forgive me for referring to stereotypes, but don't easterners usually prefer rice?"
Archer stopped in the middle of dicing the onions as he turned toward his red-haired kitchen partner who looked rather embarrassed at what she had just said.
"…Well I won't deny that there are some people who feel like they would probably starve if they don't eat rice at least once a week, I'm not one of those types," Archer said with a wry smile.
"So you don't necessarily prefer it over bread?" Rider asked.
"…I don't have any preferences whatsoever when it comes to food," Archer admitted. "In fact, for the longest time, I didn't particularly care what I ate so long as it was filling."
"Really? Even though you're rather good with home cooking?"
"I don't cook for myself."
That was right…the reason he started cooking was simply because that person could not and eating out for each meal would add up in a lot of pointless expenses.
"Cooking was simply a necessity to get by."
"If that was all then you wouldn't put so much effort into it," Rider pointed out with a smile. "You say you don't cook for yourself even though you clearly enjoy it…does that mean you cook for other people's sake instead?"
"You don't need to ask a question you already know the answer to, do you?" Archer asked back only for Rider to put on her own wry smile.
"It's not cute when you act like Caster to avoid answering a question, Archer," Rider pointed out, causing him to grimace and avert his gaze.
"Come to think of it…only Welf and Primo seem to be enthusiastic about having rice as a side in the Familia don't they?" Rider continued as she started moving her hands again. "Everyone else seem to prefer either bread or don't have any particular preference to either."
"What, you seem to have a sharp eye for that as well," Archer said.
"It's a mother's duty to pay attention to how the children eat their food after all," Rider replied with a warm smile. "Right, Archer?"
"Don't you start. I get enough of that from Lily."
The smile became a full blown giggle as Archer simply shook his head.
However, it only lasted for a few seconds before her face became rather serious again.
"How long after we leave do you think he will move?" She asked.
"However long it takes for them to move, I think," Archer replied. "Could be anywhere from a day to a few hours."
"Are you all right with this?" Rider asked, eyes narrowing. "They're your friends, aren't they?"
"I trust them," he replied. "They're a strong and stubborn lot."
"Birds of a feather then," Rider said, her expression softening as the two returned to their work.
X-x-X-x-X
His was a life that never should have been. That much was clear to him for as long as he could remember.
Born from a king's betrayal and the gods' wrath, he was sent to live within the darkness, never to see the light of day. Yet one could say it was his fortune that he was not killed the moment that he first drew breath and was cursed instead.
Cursed to be cast down into a place where none shall ever escape…the Labyrinth.
From there the boy wandered around its endless halls…understanding every route, every wall, every torch…every last stone of the Labyrinth was burned into his memory. He did not know anything but the stone around him…and the stone should have known nothing but the one they kept contained within their white walls.
But it was not so…for by the king's command, young boys and girls were sent into the Labyrinth…sacrifices meant for him and him alone. They would wander around the cursed hallways, lost and alone, until they were found by the one who made the darkness his home.
And thus, he partook in such sacrifices.
Not out of anger nor out of hatred.
But out of evil.
An evil of necessity. The necessity of survival.
Thus, he hunted down every intruder that came within those cursed walls and devoured them to continue his cursed existence. Not only did he partake in these unfortunate souls but even those of warriors and heroes that came down to be rid of him.
But those warriors and heroes fell all the same. Crushed underneath his massive body and devoured to fill his desire for life.
A life away from these cursed stone walls.
Eventually, the day finally came.
Having traversed the stone walls for all his life, he made the proper turns, took the right stairs, opened the correct gates…
And then…there he was. Standing at the entrance hall with a bright light at the end…a way out of the darkness.
Yet as he shielded his eyes from the light and placed a hand on the wall beside him, his vision became tinged in red followed by a splattering sound.
A splattering red handprint had formed on the wall he rested his hand on.
Stepping back and away from the handprint, he found his feet suddenly surrounded in deep liquid. Looking down, he found himself standing in a pool of red. Bones and corpses littered the pool, all floating face up and staring at him with their empty eyes.
And then their screams echoed within his ears. The boys and girls sent to him by order of the king to be his sacrifices, the heroes that journeyed to slay the evil…their death screams echoed within the darkness…alongside the screams of a single boy.
The boy turned away from the light. The light that he did not deserve.
And thus did monster descended back down into the cursed darkness.
Gone was the boy that hoped to live under the light of the sun. Only the feared Minotauros remained.
…
…
…
Time passed and a new sacrifice ventured into the monster's lair.
However, unlike the previous sacrifices, they did not wander around aimlessly. They had a vague idea of where they were and could retrace their steps perfectly, following a thin thread that they left in a trail behind them. They were looking for something…looking for the monster that made the darkness its home.
And so, seeing that the latest sacrifice was not succumbing to the Labyrinths curse, the monster had no choice but to reveal itself.
The latest sacrifice…the latest hero was shocked at the appearance of the Bull of Minos and yet there was little fear in his eyes unlike that of so many other heroes before him. So shocked he was that he nearly failed to ready himself.
"Monster? But you're just a b-"
But the minotaur did not give him a chance to speak.
The monster charged forth, seeking to partake in its next meal. The hero, despite trying desperately to reach the monster with his voice, was instead forced to defend himself.
But filled with the love of the princess and gifted with a treasure to secure the exit of the Labyrinth, the hero did not falter and met Minotauros's fury head on.
And thus…did the hero slay the monster.
Truly, it was a wonderful heroic myth worthy of being passed down through the ages.
Thus, on the verge of death, did the monster regain some semblance of sanity to speak with the hero.
The hero asked for his name…not the name of the Bull of Minos, but the name of the boy born of the queen of this land.
It was a beautiful name, one that meant "he who rules the stars." It was an ironic name, given to one who had never laid eyes on the stars his entire life.
And yet the one given such a name never once cursed nor blamed his father, the king, for his fate.
Not because there was any love between he and the king. For it was not his mother's fault nor his own that he was born a monster, but that of the king. For it was he who spurned the gods and valued a bull over his promise of tribute.
And yet, he never blamed the king.
Because the king gave him something that one might say he never deserved. A name…and a hero to deliver him salvation from his cursed life.
To a monster, it was far more than anything he deserved.
And so…even if it was only for that one moment…he became a being that could not hate his father.
And thus did the hero save the land from the monster.
"I didn't want this…not like this…"
And yet the hero did not revel in his victory. He who had rid the land of the horrid monster and saved the people whose faith he held in his heart, had nothing but pain and regret in his face.
"I wanted to save you…"
The kind hero, whose appearance he did not remember clearly and may have replaced with a head of white hair and red eyes, could only throw out these heartfelt words to the dying boy.
…Ah…
He was a being of born of an evil necessity who did not deserve such kind words. But he had no strength to thank the hero for this salvation.
All he could do was offer a grateful smile before the end.
But even so…perhaps the hero would see this wish accomplish in some far distant land and time.
A time where the hero and the monster's wish would be fulfilled thanks to the wish of a young boy with a faraway dream.
X-x-X-x-X
Berserker awoke with crick in his neck.
The massive Servant sat up, being careful not to awake his tentmate resting on a pile of cushions. From his position, he could see the damp trails falling from the corner of her eyes. He wanted to wipe them off but with his big fingers he might wake her so he could only dab them with one of the blankets and even that caused her to groan. Thinking that was enough, he carefully grabbed the project Caster had tasked him with and slipped out of the tent as quietly as he could.
Which, granted, wasn't very quiet…but it was still enough to not wake her.
Stepping out of the large tent meant to accommodate his three meter tall body, Berserker could smell the cooking of the kitchen. Although the smell would normally stimulate his stomach, he found that he had no appetite at the moment and instead walked to the edge of the yard and sat down with his back against the stone wall.
He then spread the project he took in front of him. It was a map. A map of the Labyrinth that made up his old home. After he was summoned, Caster had asked Berserker if he remembered its layout for some reason. When Berserker confirmed that he did, the king ordered him to prepare a detailed map as soon as possible.
Berserker didn't pretend to understand why he would want such a thing but did as he was told as he had plenty of free time.
Caster suddenly told him to get it done by the day's end so he planned to work on it all day even though it was still early morning. However, the moon and stars were still rather bright so he had plenty of light, not that he would really need it.
As Berserker stared up at the moon, someone stepped up to him before sitting down beside him.
"What's wrong? Can't sleep?"
"Work…for Caster," Berserker replied.
It was Berserker's dear Master. A young boy who seemed rather familiar to Berserker despite their first meeting being the Servant Summoning.
"Is that so?" Bell asked, looking curiously at the parchment. "Guess we'll both be busy, huh?"
Berserker simply nodded before looking back up at the sky.
"…It's really pretty isn't it?" Bell asked, looking up as well. "The moon that is."
"…Yes," Berserker replied.
The two sat in comfortable silence with only the rather distant sounds of Orario filling the air.
"But…too much…for just me."
Berserker suddenly spoke, causing Bell to turn back toward him.
"Me…want to share with more…" he said, trying to find the right words to express the heartfelt wish inside his soul. "So please…help Fia's friends. Help them see the sky."
A sorrowful and pained expression stretched itself across Bell's face for a moment as he scrunched his eyes shut and took a deep breath to hold back some deeper emotion.
"Aah…" Bell replied with a nod. "I will help them. I promise you…I'll save all the Xenos. No matter what."
It was a promise made from a young hero to a monster. Influenced by the desire to see people happy, no matter the circumstances of their birth.
Whether that promise would be a chain that drags the young hero down forever into the depths of the earth and away from the sun himself was not something either of them could tell as of now.
However…neither of them felt that they were wrong in this desire.
X-x-X-x-X
The cool and crisp morning air greeted them as the entirety of Hestia Familia walked through the streets of Orario.
The sun had yet to rise, making the streets quite empty as not even the shops and stands that catered to Adventurers had begun opening up yet. The empty streets were a blessing however, as it allowed them to move without drawing the eyes of half the city.
The procession, led by Caster and the goddess herself, stopped in front of Babel Tower and the group split in two.
Hestia stood facing the tower with Caster, Archer, and Saber standing by her side along with a dematerialized Berserker looming over them. Standing across from them with Bell was the Party descending into the Dungeon.
The designated roles were: Gina, Welf, and Karen forming the vanguard; Bell, Assassin, Fia and Lancer at the center to help the rear and front as needed; and lastly Lily, Primo, Emma, and Rider as the rear guard.
"It is as if the men are the ones sending the women and children off to war," Caster said with a rather derisive chuckle.
"Hush you," Hestia said as she smacked his arm. "Now see them off properly."
"Humph."
Though he found such a thing tedious, Caster nevertheless complied.
"There is only one thing that I will have you all keep in mind," Caster began. "The laws of Orario do not extend past the surface. Therefore, you have free reign to do whatever it takes to not disappoint me."
"""Yes!"""
"Therefore…" he continued, eyeing Lancer and Rider in particular. "Do not bring the troubles of the Dungeon back to the surface. If any incident occurs, end it with impunity."
"""Yes!"""
"Well, you all need to remember that regardless of any other detours you take, this is a Guild mandated Expedition," Hestia said. "So don't forget to hunt for the Drop items while you're down there. I'm counting on you to keep that in everyone's mind, Miss Supporter."
"Yes, Goddess Hestia!" Lily replied with a bow and a smile. "Lily will make sure Bell doesn't get over his head…although do not expect too much."
"Hey…" Bell could only offer a weak protest as the girls giggled at his expense.
"And Fia…" Hestia said as she walked toward the cloaked Xenos and placed her hands on the harpy's cheeks. "Know that you'll always be welcome up here with us. Don't force yourself to stay behind with the others. We can't bring them all up at the same time but we will get them all up eventually, okay?"
The harpy's eyes wavered slightly before she nodded her head and Hestia pulled her into a big hug.
"If you are quite finished," Caster said impatiently, forcing Hestia to break off the hug and stick her tongue at Caster. He then turned back to Bell with a rather uncharacteristic smile. "Then go forth, Young Hero. I shall prepare a feast worthy of a king when you return. Do look forward to it."
"Yes! Thank you very much!" Bell replied before turning toward the others. "Then let's go. Our first destination: The Under Resort!"
"""Oh!"""
And so, Hestia Familia's first Guild Mandated Expedition began.
