One week before Bell's fight with the Minotaur
It was a quiet evening in the Yew Village. Asfi al Andromeda found herself accompanying Hermes as his bodyguard because he had a personal delivery request. He did not want to delegate the task to their Familia members. To Asfi, that just meant Hermes was about to do something shady, and she wanted to be there to at least protect him if something were to happen. Who knew? It was Hermes, after all.
Their walks brought them to a small tavern. While Asfi had never been to Yew Village before, it wasn't a big village, so seeing the small tavern did not shock Asfi. When Hermes entered it, she had to sigh. Even when he was supposedly working, Hermes still couldn't help but play around. The sight that greeted them when they entered was quite surprising. Inside the small tavern in the quiet village, the pub was noisy and full of customers.
"Today's sort of a celebration for the villagers, so they're having fun," Hermes explained, not surprised in the slightest.
"Have you visited this place before, Lord Hermes?"
"Nope. But my contact is here for a while, and he explained some things in our correspondence."
Did that mean their meeting place was this tavern? Also, since when did Lord Hermes got normal messages without her vetting them first? Somehow this set her mind at unease. Too many red flags. Her God was about to do something shady.
They took a seat at the barstool, where Hermes immediately ordered an ale.
"Local specialty," he mentioned to her. She herself did not order anything in fear of failing to restrain Hermes should something happened.
Her intuition was correct. No, it was not precisely her intuition. It was her experience of being Hermes's captain. Not even ten minutes into his drink, Hermes joined the festivities and bought everybody two rounds of drinks. She just sighed.
"Please keep him here. I shall be back with the money." Asfi told the bartender before exiting the tavern. Because of his stunt, now she had to dig into the 'Hermes Emergency' fund every member of their Familia always had when traveling with their God.
Hermes took a glass of beer he had ordered and offered it to someone beside him.
"Now that Asfi's gone for a while... let's talk, Zeus."
Taking the glass offered to him, an old man grinned. "It's not every day you're trying to reach me, Hermes."
"I couldn't help it. Your grandson... he's blowing all my expectations away," Hermes's eyes glinted in delight as he took the surprised expression on Zeus's face.
"I was pretty sure he's going to vanish into mediocrity," Zeus stated, taking a shot. "No matter how many times I tried to nudge him into heroism, he never went for it. It's always family for him. I thought for sure that when he joined a Familia, he would be content about it and never tried for more. Judging from your grin, I was wrong."
Hermes frowned. "I thought you trained him in Far Eastern's swordsmanship? Or at least, had someone taught him."
Zeus blinked. "No. Like I said, when I dangled some heroic piece of a tale in front of him, he never took it. It's all about family." When he told Bell the tale of Argonaut, he'd always focused on the relationship between Argonaut and Fina. When he regaled him the story of Dungeon Oratoria, he was focused on Albert and the people he helped. The same could be said about the Adventures of Garland. "It's why I faked my death. That boy considers our bond to be sacred, the bond of a grandfather and his grandson. If I didn't fake my death, he would never leave and try to join another FamilyFamilia.
"Then... who taught him swordsmanship? He matched a Level Four who was holding herself back in pure swordsmanship."
They looked at each other.
"Okay, so he's talented. That's good. But you can see it, can't you? His interest lies not in heroism." Zeus took another drink.
"But he's still a good person. I suppose you're raising him right."
"If there's one thing I didn't raise him right, it was his manly desire!" Zeus lamented. "He's too obsessed with familial relationships that he never considered his love life!"
"...He does have a crush on a girl." Hermes offered.
"Really!?" Zeus grabbed Hermes's shoulder. "My little Bell is falling in love!? The Bell, who never even looks at the romance between a hero and the heroine, and instead looks at the familial bond the hero had with people around him!? That Bell!?"
"Y-Yes..." He confirmed to Zeus.
Zeus only sat down in contemplation. "He changes so much... I guess my decision is correct. What Familia did he join, Hermes? Don't tell me it's Freya? Anyone but her! She's going to prevent him from having his own harem!"
"No," Hermes chuckled. "He's under Hestia's care."
Hearing that, Zeus's expression turned somber. "Hestia, huh... I guess I'll see him soon."
Hermes furrowed his eyebrow in confusion. What could Zeus mean...? He gasped when he arrived at one conclusion.
"Olympia."
"I'll have to change some of my plans for watching over Olympia if Bell is with Hestia," Zeus put the empty glass on the table. "Another round, bartender."
"Ah... he's not going to accept the situation," Hermes winced. Olympia was a clusterfuck if he had to put it into a word. And the God beside him was not absolved of any responsibility.
"That's right. That boy is obsessed with family. There is no way he could be persuaded to let Hestia purify the flame, not even if the request came from Hestia herself," Zeus sighed.
"His interest lies not in heroism. If he had to choose between saving the world or his family, he'd save his family. A selfish hero. I like it," Hermes grinned.
"He's not the ideal hero the world needs," Zeus nodded. "That is if he considered himself one. I'm sure he won't. Bell is like that."
Zeus's statement was correct, Hermes thought. He truly knew everything about his grandson.
"Think I can nudge him here and there to a heroic path?" Hermes asked, to which Zeus only laughed.
"You can try, certainly. But no matter what you do, he'll choose his family in the end. Try to go around that."
Hermes finally took the first sip of his own ale.
"So you don't really mind him becoming Gods' entertainment?"
"When you say it like that... but no matter what I say, he's going to be your source of entertainment, isn't he? Be careful when playing with fire, Hermes."
Hermes's eyes widened.
Zeus knew! Gods can lie to each other. He must be lying when he said Bell didn't train under his supervision.
"I'll be careful, Zeus."
There were few seconds of silence after that. Hermes was smirking inside his mind. Despite being away from politics for a long time, Zeus was still a formidable opponent.
"Well, enough about that. Tell me, how did you meet Bell, Hermes?" Zeus took a drink of the newly refilled glass of beer.
"So there I was honoring my dead Familia members when I saw someone hanging over unnamed gravestones. When I looked closer, it was to see a white-haired boy cleaning Alfia's makeshift gravestone."
Zeus spurted out the drink on his mouth. Coughing in shock, he looked at Hermes. "What!?"
"Got you!" Hermes laughed for a minute. "That was not a lie, however. He was cleaning Alfia and Zard's gravestones. Seeing someone close enough to resemble her standing over her gravestone, my interest was piqued. So I approached him, and we introduced ourselves."
"What do you know? Fate seems to like irony. A boy obsessed with family unknowingly visited his relative's graveyard..." Zeus chuckled, finding Hermes's first meeting with Bell ironic.
"Not to mention Hestia's domain is Hearth, and therefore include Home and Family." Hermes followed. "He's quite something else."
Hermes kept regaling Zeus with the tale of Bell in Orario while, in turn, Zeus told him about Bell growing up. Unfortunately, Asfi soon came back with the money, so Zeus and Hermes bid goodbye.
After Asfi paid all the tabs, Hermes motioned her to get out together with him. They walked towards the inn.
"...Lord Hermes... you sent me away to do some shady things." That was not a question. Hermes just laughed in response.
"You know me so well, my favorite child."
"You have no favorites. I know you said this to others."
"Guh," Hermes playfully made a motion that his heart was struck. "At least play along, Asfi. You're no fun."
"...Is it at least not incriminate our Familia's reputation?"
"Nope. I can assure you."
"That's not reassuring at all," she deadpanned. Honestly, why was her God always like this?
Three days before Bell's fight with the Minotaur
Ottarl believed in the wisdom of his Goddess. She was his everything, and he paid her back with his full faith.
However, he did not understand why his Goddess was so taken by her new findings. From the first time he laid his eyes on the boy, there was nothing remarkable about him.
An innocent face that never faced an insurmountable challenge. A lean body that was not the fruit of years of training. A pair of red eyes full of wonder looking around. Ottarl did not pretend to understand his Goddess's fascination with the boy. He knew his Goddess was wise beyond mortals. If something was captivating her about the boy, then the boy was probably worth it, even if he did not see anything.
It was why when his Goddess requested him to run some errand, he accepted it, even after knowing that it was about the boy. Were it Allen or any other members, he had no doubt they would try to hurt him in order to quell their Goddess's interest in the boy.
Allen and similarly-minded members were fools who did not fully understand their Goddess's wisdom.
Can you bring middle floors monsters for him to face? I want him to face challenges. Challenges that he will not face before he Level Up.
That was his Goddess's request. So Ottarl followed them from behind, and while they killed monsters on the upper floor, Ottarl slipped down to the middle floor.
His first destination was the thirteenth floor. A pack of Hellhounds should be sufficient to challenge him.
As he arrived there, however, there was one problem.
He... couldn't control them. He had no skills in taming. Most of the time, they died with one swing. So he let them bite him in the arms and feet and dragged them above towards the ninth floor.
(He had to knock them out by bonking them in the head to release their bite from him.)
He took a position outside of their purview to observe. He wanted to know why his Goddess was so taken by him. There was nothing remarkable about him.
Soon enough, the fainted packs of Hellhounds opened their eyes and looked for their nearest target. And then Bell Cranel's party arrived at the scene.
Good.
He watched as Bell Cranel twisted and slashed, trails of water circling them, protecting them from the Hellhounds' fire. Then he slashed at one of them.
Fast for a Level One, but still nothing remarkable.
In the end, the party killed them all with no casualties, but Ottarl still couldn't understand his Goddess. He left the Dungeon and reported back to Freya about the task.
"Lady Freya. I had challenged him with Hellhounds," he kneeled in front of Freya in her abode.
"Very good, Ottarl. I shall see if it's enough," He still did not raise his head, but he knew Freya was looking at the boy. "It's not enough. That boy's soul hadn't changed. Hmm..."
Ottarl frowned. "Lady Freya. If My Lady allows it, I shall bring him another challenge tomorrow."
"Raise your head, Ottarl." She looked him in the eye. What was currently on her mind, he wondered. "I understand. I shall allow it."
Ottarl nodded and left the room. But before he closed the door, his Goddess called him.
"Ottarl, thank you."
She knew.
She knew that Ottarl did not see anything in the boy but kept doing it for her. She knew it, and she appreciated it.
Ottarl shook his head. "No need to thank me, My Lady."
"Oh, but I believe an appreciation is in order," She said with a smile. "It's what he would've done, after all. Ufufu."
Even if she did not say anything, Ottarl had a feeling about the 'he' she mentioned.
Bell Cranel. Despite his appearance and his unremarkable skill, he held power to even influence a Goddess.
He had to keep an eye on him.
Two days before Bell's fight with the Minotaur
Ottarl went into the Dungeon again. Fulfilling his promise to Freya, he intended for Bell Cranel to face another challenge from the middle floors. However, another problem arose. Around the ninth floor, there were a lot of Adventurers belonging to Ganesha Familia, gathering information about strange activities of the Dungeon.
This would make his job harder.
From what he observed, though, it wasn't the more powerful members. It was mostly the rank and file Adventurers they had, no one worth mentioning.
While this would make his job harder, he could cope with it. For his Goddess... he'd overcome anything.
And so he slipped down the fourteenth floor and gathered a pack of Almiraj. Their agility proved to be Ottarl's worst enemy when all he wanted to do was to corral them and brought them to the ninth floor.
After countless tries (and minor, unnoticeable bruises, but Ottarl wouldn't admit it), he finally managed to bring them to the ninth floor. He patiently waited until the Ganesha Familia members dispersed. He knew Bell Cranel's party would sweep the ninth floor off of any monsters based on yesterday. It was only a matter of time until they were alone.
(The jumping Almiraj was annoying, though. The thing he did for his Goddess...)
Soon enough, they were alone as he predicted, and so he unleashed the Almiraj, who jumped around until they reached Bell Cranel's party.
There were some conversations they had, but he couldn't hear them from his position. After that, Bell Cranel swept the incoming Almirajs with Fire. Was that the thing that caught Freya's attention? Someone who can use Water and Fire magic?
He continued observing Bell Cranel. His movement was graceful but deadly. Was the thing that caught his Goddess's attention his sword style? It was pleasing to watch, he had to admit. But the movement was not efficient. His Goddess wouldn't be so taken by someone who could do that. There must be something else that caught her attention... What was it?
Show it to him, Bell Cranel.
In the end, Bell Cranel, with some help from his party members, killed the Almirajs with no trouble. Ottarl frowned, seeing their relaxed posture. Was that not enough challenge to fulfill his Goddess's request? Also, what was that? Bell Cranel closed his eyes and put his hand together as if he was praying.
Now that Ottarl thought about it, Bell Cranel always put the same gesture every time. He did not understand what it symbolized, but it could be the thing that caught Freya's attention.
He'd have to continue his observation tomorrow and also bring other challenging monsters. For now, he would go back and report today's progress on Bell Cranel's challenge.
One day before Bell's fight with the Minotaur
Ottarl watched as Bell Cranel slashed the Dungeon Worm he faced and killed it. Giving him Dungeon Worm was not enough, it seemed. Bell Cranel. What an enigma. He struggled a bit, but in the end, he dealt with them all quite easily.
Ottarl came to one conclusion. Bell Cranel's skills and status weren't matched. It was as if he always had the skills but lacked the status to delve deeper into the Dungeon. Was this the thing that caught Freya's attention? If so, he couldn't blame his Goddess, as he was also curious about it. How did one gain so perfectly polished skills without raising their status? There was the option of hard training before getting a Falna, but that wouldn't be enough.
He reported back to Freya about his observation.
"Lady Freya," Ottarl kneeled.
"Ottarl. Good job. Although it is still not enough for him, fufufu."
Ottarl nodded, acknowledging his Goddess's appreciation. "My Lady... I have a few questions."
"Speak them, my beloved child. You must be wondering why."
Ottarl shook his head. "I've learned to not question your wisdom. However, I am curious about what you see in him. These past two days I observed him, there was nothing remarkable. Only one thing stood out."
"Raise your head, Ottarl, and what might that be?" Freya held back a smile.
"The dissonance in his skills and status."
Ottarl saw Freya frowned. So that was not the correct answer, then.
"That's certainly the case, yes. However, that's not what I see in him. I'm interested way long before he showed me his proficiency in wielding his sword."
...
Ottarl didn't say anything.
"I'll give you a clue. Try giving him a Minotaur." Freya then said with a smile. Coming out of her seat, Freya patted Ottarl's head once. "Maybe you'll come to see what I see."
As the smooth hand left his head, Ottarl stood up.
"As you wish, My Lady."
Three hours before Bell's fight with the Minotaur
Minotaur.
That was what his Goddess told him. She posed it as a suggestion, but he knew it was an order. Freya wanted to see Bell Cranel fought a Minotaur. Being the loyal captain of the Familia he was, Ottarl obeyed her command.
He delved down into the middle floor and looked for a Minotaur. He did not need a long time before one spawned.
Ottarl wasted no time to knock it unconscious. Since the Minotaur wasn't working in a pack, it was significantly easier to do it. He dragged the Minotaur's unconscious body after making sure that no irrelevant Adventurers were in the area.
On his way to the ninth, Ottarl had to hide the unconscious Minotaur frequently, as many Adventurers ventured on their way down. Fortunately, none of them was of importance and mostly paid no attention to him.
(He did not realize that the sight of the strongest in Orario standing menacingly in a random corner in the Dungeon would repel most of the average Adventurers.)
But his luck did not last.
Unlike yesterday, the investigating Adventurers from Ganesha Familia were in greater number than before. Ottarl could still hide the body in the corner and stand as they passed him for the first or so patrols. The only thing left was to wait for them to disperse and Bell Cranel to come.
However, one thing stood in Ottarl's way. For some reason, today, Bell Cranel took a longer time to come to the ninth floor.
Frowning, Ottarl had to wonder if some complication on their journey arose.
"Um, Mr. King," a nervous Adventurer finally gathered the courage to approach him. Ottarl took a glance at him. "W-We are from Ganesha Familia. W-We heard about the report of monsters not belonging to their floors spawning on the ninth floor. D-Do you know anything about that?"
Ottarl did not answer. He just looked at the trembling man.
"U-Um, right. It's just... I'm supposed to ask, you know? I guess you don't know anything..."
The man muttered some things Ottarl couldn't hear.
"O-Oh, right. Protocol. Mr. King. Thank you for your cooperation," the man left after thanking him. Ottarl did not reply. He just kept standing there. As long as the investigating Adventurers hadn't dispersed, he couldn't freely move.
His ears heard something from behind him. The unconscious Minotaur was waking up before it was needed. That was not something that he could let go of. So before it fully regained consciousness, Ottarl hit its head with the flat side of his sword.
He did not hit too it hard, just enough to make it faint again. In case Bell Cranel arrived, he wouldn't need to wait for a long time before presenting him with the Minotaur.
One hour later, Bell Cranel still hadn't arrived. Ottarl frowned. Could it be possible that he had complications on the floor above? After a few seconds of consideration, Ottarl knew it was impossible. Bell Cranel's skill was enough to carry him to this floor singlehandedly. There was nothing that could hold him back unless it was something specifically engineered, like what he was doing for the past few days, or if the Dungeon itself spawning him problems. In any case, he still had to wait for him.
Another Ganesha Familia member was patrolling through his standing place.
"Mr. King, I am from Ganesha Familia. May I ask what you are doing here? There are reports from the Guild saying that monsters not belonging to their floors spawned here. Everyone entering this place had to be checked."
Ottarl looked at him. It seemed that this one was more seasoned than the one before. He had no nervousness even when being stared at by Ottarl.
"Would you be amenable to follow me? We are all trying to get any suspicious individuals. And well... no offense, Mr. King, but you being here raised a few questions."
He had no desire to follow the guy. After all, it was not needed to fulfill Freya's request of getting Bell Cranel to face the Minotaur. However, at the same time, if he did not follow the guy to be questioned, his Goddess's integrity would be tarnished.
This was quite a hard choice, he had to admit.
"Fine."
(And so Ottarl moved and followed the Ganesha Familia member. Unknowing that his decision would lead to something grand.)
It happened in the middle of the questioning.
When Ottarl was answering some of their questions with nods and shakes of head, another member of the investigating Adventurers ran towards them.
"Minotaur! Minotaur on the ninth floor!"
All of them looked at each other, although Ottarl kept his stoic face. Nobody should know it was him that brought it here. And nobody would know if he did not look suspicious. Still, he did not expect the Minotaur to wake up this early. Did he not knock it hard enough? No, he did not. But he knocked it lightly with the assumption that Bell Cranel would come, and it looked like the decision backfired, as Bell Cranel still hadn't been seen on the ninth floor.
"Let's go!"
Everyone there, who all came from Ganesha Familia, ran towards the Minotaur. Ottarl did not know any of their names, so he doubted they were first-rate Adventurers. At most, they were probably third-rate. But something like a Minotaur shouldn't be a problem for a decent third-rate Adventurer.
It was a setback for him, but Bell Cranel still hadn't arrived, so he still had time to pick another Minotaur from the fifteenth floor. He turned and walked towards the stairs to the lower floor.
However, he heard a roar.
It wasn't a roar of defeat. It was a roar of triumph.
And so Ottarl stood his ground. He decided to believe in this one Minotaur he had chosen. Step by step, Ottarl followed the source of the roar. Along the way, it was a bloody mess. He knew Minotaur was a Level Two monster. He believed the Adventurers were strong enough to handle a single one.
But what greeted him when he arrived had his eyes widened in surprise.
The Minotaur was swinging a cleaver, probably something he took from one of its victims. He did notice one Ganesha Familia member having a large cleaver on his back when he stood and hid the Minotaur body.
The Ganesha Familia members were ganging up to fight it. The two people that questioned him weren't there, nor was the nervous guy who first met him. While he hadn't seen their corpses on his way, he was sure they were already dead. Still, it had a decent defensive awareness to keep itself from too big of an injury.
Ottarl frowned. There was no evidence pointing that the Minotaur was an Enhanced Species when he chose it. They should be strong enough to handle it.
So how and why were they still struggling to kill it?
Was it possible that it woke up sooner and killed monsters to eat Magic Stones in the small window of time before anyone realized its presence?
One of the Ganesha Familia members was struck in the head, instantly killing him. The others began to panic. The one who looked like he was the most experienced told one of them to go up and ask for help.
Ottarl took his sword out, but a stray thought entered his mind.
Amidst the chaos, he saw an opportunity.
None of the investigating Adventurers left saw him. If he did not do anything, nobody there knew it was him that brought a random Minotaur to the ninth floor. His Goddess's honor wouldn't be sullied. He wouldn't have to delve down and brought up another Minotaur; therefore no chance for him to miss Bell Cranel.
This was the most efficient path.
And besides, facing an enhanced species would provide more challenges for Bell Cranel. Freya would approve.
So he sheathed his sword and watched from a sufficient distance.
He watched as the enhanced Minotaur slowly killed each Ganesha Familia member one by one. However, it wasn't without a cost. At last, they managed to injure it in the leg, preventing it from moving to the upper floors.
They certainly are their own brand of heroes, Ottarl admitted.
Not long after, Bell Cranel and his party arrived.
Good. Show him, Bell Cranel. Show him what captivated his Goddess.
However, there was no epic showdown. There was no duel to death where one mistake could send you to the afterlife. There was no hero vs. monster confrontation.
Instead of raising his sword to attack, Bell Cranel took a guardless stance while strolling towards the Minotaur. Of course, his effort was rewarded by a swing of the cleaver by his enemy. For the nth time, Ottarl questioned what his Goddess saw in the boy. He couldn't see anything worth noting from the boy.
When reinforcement came from Loki Familia, Bell Cranel's Pallum stopped them from interfering. Ottarl nodded. Even she knew it was Bell Cranel's test. Good. Maybe she hid some qualities behind her cowardly facade.
Then the air changed.
After countless times of approaching the Minotaur, after so much shouting, finally, Bell Cranel went into a stance. However, there was no expression of utmost concentration. There was no tension. It was so sudden that Bell Cranel ran towards the Minotaur and jumped.
The strangest thing was that this time, the Minotaur did not do anything. It was as if it offered its neck for Bell Cranel. Also, was that a ghost of a smile on its face? Ridiculous.
Without any resistance, Bell Cranel cut the neck of the Minotaur. There was no grand triumph in the air, only silence. As the sudden rain that fell down towards the Minotaur body faded, Ottarl saw Bell Cranel closed his eyes and put his hand together again.
It was a gesture Ottarl had seen from him so many times. It shouldn't do anything.
And yet...
He understood.
Bell Cranel never hated any monsters he slew. He also did not treat them beneath him. To him, all monsters were his equal. And so he offered the same thing to all of them.
His kindness.
It was why he did not aggressively strike the Minotaur; rather, he gently cut its neck, and even the monster itself smiled, welcoming its death. If Bell Cranel met any other monsters with the same circumstances in the future, Ottarl had the confidence to say that Bell Cranel would do it again.
Ottarl looked up towards the Dungeon ceiling, imagining that nothing was obstructing him from viewing his Goddess.
Was this what Freya wanted him to see?
Nothing else worth noting, aside from his kindness. No, rather than that, his Goddess's point of view was probably his kindness outshone everything else. She was that kind of person.
Still, a kind Adventurer was something like an oxymoron. It was a self-contradiction. An Adventurer who was too kind would be taken advantage of and trampled by other, more ambitious Adventurers. Was Bell Cranel simply hadn't tasted the more greedy side of Orario? Or had he tasted it but still kept his own value?
He would keep an eye on Bell Cranel. Not only for his Goddess's sake but for his own curiosity too.
Before he quietly left, he heard something about Bell Cranel cremating them and bringing them up for burial.
Ottarl stopped and looked back.
He frowned.
What was this gnawing feeling inside his chest?
No, that was less important than going up and reporting to his Goddess.
Once he arrived in his Goddess's room, Ottarl kneeled.
"Lady Freya. I believe I understood why you couldn't avert your eyes from him," he said. "It is that boy's kindness, isn't it?"
"I see it, Ottarl. Thank you for your effort. You did a good job," Freya paused for a second. "Hmm, can you stand up, Ottarl? Let me see you more clearly."
Ottarl blinked. He was quite close to her already. What did she-Ah, she was using her gaze on him. But why? Nevertheless, he complied and moved closer to her.
"Ufufu, that child is truly beyond my expectation. To think that he was able to do something like that..."
Ottarl still didn't get what she meant, but if he asked, she probably would divert. When she did not want anyone to know, she wouldn't tell. She would tell it later in the future if she'd like. THat was how Freya was.
"Ottarl. Is there something that you'd like to do tomorrow?"
"...No. Nothing in particular. I'd fulfill your wish as usual."
Freya's eyes glinted. "Are you sure? How about this, then. I'll give you a whole free day tomorrow. You're free to do anything you want."
Ottarl nodded. "As you command, Lady Freya."
(When Ottarl left, Freya couldn't hold back her hysterical laughter anymore. To think that a piece of Bell's soul's warm light was now lodged on Ottarl's soul... How did he always leave her speechless? Now to enjoy herself, she didn't need to look always look for him. Looking at the light growing in Ottarl's soul would also be fun.
For now, she'd look at every soul which had been lit up by Bell's soul to see if they changed.
Oh my, even her dear Ryuu had changed so much!)
One day after Bell's fight with the Minotaur
"Lord Ouranos," A hooded figure entered a dark room under the Guild. Their voice echoed, and nobody could discern whether it was a man or a woman. Their hooded figure, covered in a dark robe, revealed almost nothing as if the hooded robe hid its wearer from the world.
"Fels," Ouranos, the first God who descended, stopped his 'pray' and acknowledged the figure. "I see you have finished your assignment."
"Yes," the distorted voice of the one known as Fels answered. "A new Minotaur Xenos was found on the ninth floor a few hours ago. I have sent Debaeu and Lyd to approach him."
"To ascertain which one he is. This does confirm it, then."
"Almost all of the monsters Bell Cranel has slain were reborn as the Xenos."
Xenos was a race of intelligent monsters born inside the Dungeon. For the past several years, Ouranos and Fels had been trying to help them. However, there were too many obstacles for the populace to accept the Xenos. After all, weren't the Dungeon's children would always follow their mother's command? Kill. Kill all the humans.
Not for the Xenos. They had their own ambitions and goal, just like the humans. So Ouranos and Fels secretly helped them to coexist with humans.
Although, their progress was going slowly until three weeks ago.
Since three weeks ago, many Xenos, ranging from Goblins to the Killer Ants, and even an Infant Dragon, were born inside the Dungeon. Nobody knew the reason for the surge of the Xenos's birth. From what Fels gathered, the birth rate of Xenos in the past three weeks was ten times the number of Xenos born in the last ten years.
They had only two clues, gathered from the remnants of the Xenos's memories. The first was red orbs, and the second was a pure transparent light that emitted warmth.
At first, the older Xenos believed they were referring to the sun, as it was red and also emitted warmth. However, Debaeu, the Killer Ant, had more vivid memories than others and elaborated.
The red orbs weren't the ones emitting warmth; it was the transparent light. (How can light be transparent, anyway, Fels wondered.) Instead, the red orbs, when they remembered them, there was a sense of relief going through them, even though they did not remember why.
It wasn't until Debaeu, who was exploring the seventh floor, saw two red orbs that relieved him when the Xenos got their possible answer.
Bell Cranel.
A new Adventurer in Hestia's care.
The timeline also matched as Bell, when Debaeu saw him, had only been an Adventurer for around four weeks. So Fels had one of his Familiar tailed him when he was outside the Dungeon to ascertain whether Bell Cranel was the answer.
They would get their confirmation soon when Debaeu and Lyd questioned the Minotaur Xenos. But all possible deductions Fels thought pointed out to the fact that Bell Cranel was the catalyst for the change, hence Fels's statement before.
"What should we do regarding Bell Cranel?" Fels questioned his superior. "Shall we approach him?"
"Not now," Ouranos held Fels back. "Factoring his growth as reported by his Advisor, we should wait until he is at least Level Three before approaching him."
"...Our biggest enemy isn't the monsters, huh?"
Indeed. One of the biggest obstacles to the Xenos's freedom was poachers. They hunted monsters and captured them to be sold to the highest bidder. The more exotic the monsters, the higher the price.
"As he is currently, Bell Cranel had not been challenged by fellow humans enough. When he had gained sufficient experience, only then shall we approach him," Ouranos told Fels.
"...what if he changed his heart?"
In his long lifespan, Fels had seen too much of the human heart's corruption. He feared that the same would happen to Bell Cranel.
Hearing this, Ouranos smiled.
"Recite to me again the report from the Xenos about Bell Cranel's exploit inside the Dungeon after he killed monsters?"
They used the Xenos to observe Bell inside the Dungeon and Fels's Familiar outside the Dungeon. They had gathered information about him this way. From his habit of training since the dawn to his unusually strong swordsmanship inside the Dungeon, they compiled it into one extensive report.
"'He usually closed his eyes and put his hand together. Conversations with his party member imply that he was praying.' Why?"
"The act of praying is baring your soul towards the deity you prayed. Long long ago, before we Gods descended, we communicated with humans in the lower world this way." Ouranos smiled. "There is no way someone with a soul so warm to ever change its nature, as long as it is not tarnished."
Fels gasped.
"The transparent light... is his soul?"
"I suspect the soul of the monsters lingered for a while after death, and they saw Bell Cranel baring his soul to the Dungeon," Ouranos explained his theory. It was just a theory, but...
"It explained why the new Xenos saw the exact same thing, although with different levels of clarity." Fels jumped on the theory presented to him. "The red orbs were his eyes."
"That's also my conclusion. Quite an interesting one, isn't he?"
"Indeed. For now, shall we develop the Hidden Village to protect and accommodate more Xenos?"
"Until we can bring Bell Cranel," Ouranos nodded.
"I'll see myself out," Fels bowed to the divine being.
One day after Bell's fight with the Minotaur
The wisdom of a Goddess was truly unmatched.
That was the thing that ran inside Ottarl's mind as he walked towards a certain destination.
It was as if she read his mind.
Hmm, not his mind specifically, but Freya could see souls. Was there something that could give her a tell there?
If she did not mention anything, Ottarl would've just spent the day doing her biddings as usual. However, his Goddess specifically said that today he was free to do as he pleased. He did not know what his soul told her, but indeed, if Freya did not order him to do anything, he wanted to do something today.
"Welcome to Gloria, the best flower shop in Orario. What can I help you?"
A woman, the clerk, greeted him.
"Flowers for honoring the dead."
"I see, I see. Is it alright if I ask you the following questions?"
Ottarl nodded.
"Is it for someone you know?"
"No."
"Then, what do you feel about them?"
At that question from the clerk, Ottarl frowned. Ever since yesterday, there was a certain gnawing feeling inside his chest. He did not know the name, but he did know the origin.
That feeling always resurfaced whenever he thought about the dead Ganesha Familia Adventurers. They did not have to die. He could help them fight the Minotaur. Their death was needless. He knew that his thought process concluded that it was necessary to fulfill his Goddess's request. However, he understood that his choice was wrong, even if it led to a satisfying end.
If Ottarl had to describe the thing he was feeling...
"Regret."
That was the only fitting word.
"...My condolence," the clerk bowed a little. "How many would you like them?"
"Five."
"Please wait here while I arrange some wreaths." The clerk went towards the back room.
"Hello," when he waited, Ottarl was greeted by a child. "Are you an Adventurer?"
"Ottarl nodded."
"Awesome! I also want to be an Adventurer when I'm grown up! Just like Big Bro Bell and you!"
Ottarl's eyes widened. Bell Cranel... he even influenced a normal civilian child to follow his steps.
"Is it okay to ask you whose grave are you going to visit?" The girl asked him. "Or is it impolite? Mom always tells me that asking like that is impolite."
Ottarl looked at her. "The latter."
"Ehehe, I'm sorry. Please wait here for a while. I have a gift for you!" The child went towards the same door the clerk went. Presumably, it was the place they kept their flowers fresh. A greenhouse?
Ten minutes later, the clerk went back to the front store, bringing five wreaths of purple hyacinth with her.
"Purple Hyacinth. It symbolized regret. Is there anything else you need?"
Ottarl shook his head. "This is enough."
"Then everything's totaled to-"
The door from the back room was slammed as the child from before ran. "Mr. Adventurer! Here, I gift it to you!"
"Rosie! This is a customer! Please keep up your manners!" The clerk turned her attention to him. "Please forgive this child, Mr. Adventurer."
Ottarl nodded and kneeled. "What is this, little girl?"
"This is a daisy flower! I hope you like it!"
Ottarl took the flower and looked at it. "Why daisy?"
The child frowned. "I don't know. I feel like it's a good fit for you, Mr. Adventurer."
Ottarl smiled. "Thank you."
"Ehehe," the girl ran back towards the back room.
"Seriously, that child. Bell kind of spoiled her. So please forgive his manners, Mr. Adventurer."
"It is nothing," Ottarl took up his bag and brought out five thousand valis.
The clerk gasped, seeing the amount of valis being placed on the counter. "Sir. This is too much. The total is not even nine hundred valis."
Ottarl shook his head and left with the wreaths.
"For the daisy."
The clerk bowed, "Thank you so much, Mr. Adventurer!"
After that, Ottarl visited the Adventurer's Graveyard and quickly found the newly built grave by following Ganesha's wail of sorrow. That God was noisy like that. Of course, he paid his respect long after the Ganesha Familia members left, so nobody could see him.
When he arrived in Freya's room to report his day, she unexpectedly giggled at him. He wondered if there was something he missed.
(As it turned out, Freya loved the daisy. Maybe he'd buy some more daisies from that shop. The small amount of money he gave them was not enough to repay the Goddess's happiness from being given the daisy.)
(Freya was over the moon. The flower was given to her from Ottarl, whose soul was aglow from Bell's influence, which in turn, accepted it from a little girl, whose soul was aglow from Bell's influence.
It was like Bell himself gave her that flower!)
Two days after Bell's fight with the Minotaur
Hestia entered the Denatus with Hephaestus at her side. Hephaestus had already briefed her on what to expect, especially how the other Gods and Goddess would give an alias for her beloved child. That still did not make her stop being nervous, especially if Loki, her eternal nemesis, offered some foolish names just to spite her.
"Actually, everyone there will offer foolish names. Nothing against you, Hestia, but that's how they are," Hephaestus sympathized with her longtime friend. "I'll probably try, but well... I'm just a drop in the ocean."
In the end, Hephaestus patted her on the back for one last reassurance, to which Hestia accepted with a smile.
The party started, and the Gods and Goddess who descended to Orario were having a good time exchanging information. Hestia herself stayed out of the limelight because she knew that the naming ceremony where they give Adventurers aliases would drag her to the spotlight.
"Alright, it's time for the Naming Ceremony!" Loki shouted to the party attendant, who cheered in good spirit. Well, those who did not have their children Levelled up, anyway.
Those who had, like her, were dreading this.
One by one, comical names were uttered by random Gods and Goddesses. Hearing some of them made Hestia really wanted to curl up and lie down. Some were just cruelly embarrassing, at least to the Gods. Even those she knew, like Take-Mikazuchi, weren't spared of the embarrassment.
The arrival of Freya, however, caught her attention. She was having a spat with Ishtar, but there was no denying the rumor that her children were in roaming in the middle-floor, floors way below their level. Coupled with reports of monsters belonging to the middle-floors appearing on the upper-floors, Ishtar was clearly attacking Freya.
She really wanted to question Freya, since her Familia was involved. Still, she did not want to make a baseless accusation. Especially since she knew Bell would frown upon such things.
She shook her head, smiling. Goodness, Bell's bleeding heart was infectious.
The next one on the list was Ais Wallenstein. Hestia frowned. She did not dislike the girl, especially since she confirmed that she was not the source of Bell's Liaris Freese. (That would be his admiration for the figure in his dream.) But that fact did not change that Ais Wallenstein was from another Familia. Bell should not fall in love with someone from another Familia.
Then again, Bell was strange. Hestia never blatantly asked about his real family before coming to Orario. Still, bit by bit, she could picture the story from pieces of story Bell told her.
In summary, Bell was seeing their Familia, the Hestia Familia, as a substitute for a family he never had. And... Family wouldn't 'fall in love' with each other, right? She was pretty sure that was Bell's track of mind. She was very confident of it by looking at the way Bell treated Lili, a possible future member of their Familia. He showed her affection and care, but never in a romantic way. She suspected that Lili knew but still tried anyway. (She couldn't help but feel proud to understand her children this deeply. In a sense, she was growing up as a patron Goddess.)
Hestia sighed.
"Next, the last one." Everybody in the room went quiet. All of them looked at Hestia, who tensed in anticipation.
"...before we start naming, can I say something? Hestia. You expect me to believe that your kid leveled up in just one and half months?"
...she even used her name. Loki was really pissed.
"It took Ais one year. One year! And your kid does it in one and half months!?"
The other Gods and Goddesses were silent. No doubt, Loki had voiced their own doubt over Bell's accomplishment. One and half months to level up... indeed, it was unheard of. She wouldn't even believe it if someone else told her that they could do it.
Not without a skill like Liaris Freese.
Unfortunately, that was the thing that she had to hide over other Gods and Goddesses, as their greed would definitely make them steal Bell from her.
"You'd understand it if you know Bell. I admit I am also shocked by his rapid progress. It's not like I used Arcanum or something. Heck, I still asked Hephaestus here on how to maintain a Falna. So if you suspect me of any foul play, I'm sorry, Loki. I have no involvement with it. It's all Bell."
Loki glared at her. "Tch, fine. You're an idiot, anyway. You wouldn't be able to mess with the Falna."
Veins appeared on Hestia's head. Despite all that convincing, she was still being insulted.
"Why you!"
"Catfight!" a random God shouted, and all hell was almost broke loose if it weren't for an intervention.
"Calm down," the soothing voice of Freya arrived on her ears, and she turned her attention from Loki to Freya. "It's taboo to interfere with other Familia's internal matters, right? So Hestia's explanation is sufficient."
"One month, Freya. One month!"
"My my, perhaps you are jealous that your child's record was broken by Hestia's."
"I'm not! I'm just wondering how a newbie managed to defeat a Minotaur!"
Freya was about to say something when Hestia cut in first.
"He didn't kill a Minotaur in a glorious fight. Can't you even read?" That prompted everyone to read the document of the official level up. "He let a Minotaur let him kill it."
"...most of us was fixated on Minotaur and kill. Besides, what does 'let a Minotaur let him kill it' even mean!?" Another random God shouted.
Before Hestia could answer, another unlikely voice entered.
"Nooo! Don't spoil it! I want to hear it straight out of Bell's mouth!"
Now the attention of the room was on Hermes.
"Oh, sorry I was late. Just arrived from a trip outside. I can't help but hear about Bell leveling up just now. Hestia, please don't explain anything! I want to hear it officially from Bell!"
"...that's right. You know Bell."
"I do too."
"So do I."
"Yup yup. He always passed by me every morning."
"Maybe Hermes is right. I also want to hear it from Bell."
Similar sounding agreement Hestia was a little surprised that Bell was very well known even before his level up. Was this the power of his compassion? How many of these Gods and Goddesses were the face he greeted every morning in his run?
"Then why don't you defend him? Some friends you are..." Hestia asked them.
"Well," one of them replied. "Even if we knew Bell, it's hard to believe that such a good boy who greeted you with a smile every morning is the same as the one in this document, you know? So we sided with Loki on this."
...sadly, that was fair.
"Not to mention he always said he was a newly-minted Adventurer. Who's going to believe that in just six weeks, he leveled up? Certainly not me."
...that was also fair. Damn.
"Ghh, so what do you want me to say? When I wanted to explain, you said don't. When I didn't explain, you demanded it. Why are you a bunch of children? Look in the mirror and remember your age."
There was an outcry after she vented her frustration. That jab was unexpectedly straight into their heart.
"Now now, let's put that aside and continue our party, yes?" Freya suddenly spoke, catching everyone's attention. "Alias for... Bell Cranel was it?"
"That's right," Loki took control of the situation. "Make it embarrassing, damn it! I'm still salty Hestia broke my precious Ais's record!"
"Loki, you flat bastard!"
The deities began murmuring some names.
"He always greeted me every morning. Morning Bell!"
"Innocent Rabbit!"
"Crimson Gaze!"
"I want to protect that smile, damn it!"
"Wait, was that a suggestion or something else?"
"Yes!"
Some were so mysterious she didn't know where that came from. Others were embarrassing for her. She could only tearfully looked at Hephaestus, who awkwardly smiled at her.
'You can endure this, she read Hephaestus's lip.
Meanwhile, on the side, Loki was laughing at her predicament. Tch. Annoying.
"If it's a name, I believe I have something fun," everyone's attention was now on the speaker, who was actually Hermes. Tipping his hat, he looked straight at Freya. "But before that, Freya. I've not seen you uttering any names. Are you not interested, perhaps?"
Hermes! That fool! Challenging Freya like that... She knew he was quite acquainted with Bell, so she could at least trust him to give a non-embarrassing name despite his shadiness.
"My my, Hermes. It's not that I am not interested. I was just in a conundrum. Hestia is quite kind to me in Tenkai, so I don't wanna give her first child an embarrassing nickname like Loki suggested." She turned her attention to Loki. "Loki, you won't declare a War Game because of this, will you?"
"Who do you think I am? I am petty, but not that petty."
"Then, I think 'Radiant Blade' is a fitting name," Freya finished with a smile.
"I see... what do you think, Hestia, would Bell like a heroic name like that?" Hermes asked her. However, his eyes lost all the playfulness from before.
What is it? What is it that he was doing? Openly asking Freya like that and then asking for her opinion?
Hold on.
"Hmm," Hestia made a gesture of thinking and took a glance at the document that the Guild provided for the Denatus. Scanning her child's profile, she quickly noticed one thing.
There was no information of his skill, only his weapon.
So how did Freya came to a conclusion about the word 'Radiant'? The other Gods offered a name based on his appearance and his habits. Others followed Loki's jab at her and went to embarrass her. So why did Freya went to the conclusion about 'Radiant'? There was nothing that indicated any 'radiant' thing about him in the document. Well, maybe his smile, but no way Freya could draw conclusions from just that.
Was this was Hermes was trying to tell her? That Freya was observing Bell from afar?
Then was the one sending those monsters for Bell, Freya? No, she should not think about those things now. Her Familia... was still way below Freya's.
"I like it, but giving such a heroic name to Bell will make his head big, you know?"
She played along with Hermes. This, she decided, was her gratitude for giving her the information.
Freya pouted, "Aww, and I thought for such a long time too... Oh well. If that's your opinion..."
"I see, I see. Then I'll give my recommendation. For Bell, the only fitting name is... Kagura."
Everyone was silent. A Far Eastern's name? Even some of the Far Eastern's Adventurers weren't given aliases in their language.
"After the Kagura dance?" Take-Mikazuchi asked Hermes for confirmation.
"Indeed. I know that not all of you have seen Bell's movement in a fight. It's... there's not a single word I can use to describe it. It's just... argh, I can't describe it! Bell once described his style as dance, so I looked up some dictionary for Far Eastern's word on dance and voila, I meet Kagura there." Hermes explained the reasoning behind the name he gave.
"What the hell? I like it."
"Sounds exotic. I love it."
Wait, that implied that Hermes knew Bell would Level Up sooner or later. She... couldn't really drop her guard around him, could she? Shady Hermes was shady. Next time she wouldn't blindly accept his offered hands!
"Then it's decided," Loki retook control of the crowd. "Be grateful to Hermes for offering such exotic words, you loli big boobs."
She really really wanted to retort, but she decided not to squander this. Who knew Loki would be petty enough to change the registered alias? At least Kagura wasn't as embarrassing as Morning Bell. She had a feeling having his name as part of his alias would embarrass him more than her.
After the party ended, Hermes was approached by Take-Mikazuchi and Benzaiten.
"Oh, it's unusual for you two to approach me. is there something you need?"
Take-Mikazuchi sighed. "Hermes. You said you opened a dictionary, right? Then you'd know what Kagura can mean in Koine?"
Hermes blinked, his playful smile still plastered on his face. "There is more than one meaning?"
"Cut the crap. That boy is kind. He even helped to get the body of my child to the surface. For him to be saddled with that kind of name... what kind of game are you playing, Hermes?" Benzaiten glared at him.
"You got me," he dropped his grin. "When I researched the fitting name for his eventual Alias, I went over several words until I found that."
"I don't know Hestia, but I know you, Hermes. That theatrical performance with Freya, are you working with her against Hestia?"
Hearing Benzaiten's question, Hermes frowned. "I'm against those that will hinder Bell Cranel."
That was a perfectly neutral answer.
"And yet you gave him a name that could mean God's Entertainment," Take-Mikazuchi frowned. "To give Hestia's child such name, aren't you the one hindering him?"
The hatted God laughed. "He's entertaining us already, couldn't you see? I'm just giving him an appropriate name. Not in a mean spirit, mind you. I'm giving it because I have faith that he will entertain us."
"Well, nothing can be done now that we Gods and Goddesses have decided," Take-Mikazuchi sighed. "Just don't get surprised when Amaterasu come all the way here and demand to see the Adventurer who was given the alias 'Kagura.'"
Benzaiten winced. "Ah... I can see that shut-in got pumped and come here." Kagura dance was, after all, a folk dance originating from the Far East from way before the Gods descended to the Lower World. Amaterasu loved it so much she always went out of her cave when the Far East worshipper did it in ancient times just to watch it.
"Then we'll accept another divine guest here in Orario. Maybe let Bell danced in front of her to entertain her," was Hermes's nonchalant reply.
"I see that we cannot change your mind," Benzaiten turned her back. "Maybe I'll approach him to see his dance someday. I'll bring my Familia members too. The Far Eastern members would be delighted to see a Kagura dance."
"A good idea, Benzaiten. Ouka and the rest surely would love to see a Kagura dance performance too. I'll suggest it to Hestia; a dance performance to raise money."
They left the grinning Hermes. There was no contest in Denatus, but this time, the Denatus had a clear winner.
Hermes.
(Hestia ended up rejecting the proposal from Take-Mikazuchi. She did not want to 'whore out' her precious Bell for everyone's eyes. And besides, their financial situation was secure enough to not eat any leftover Jagamarukun because they had no money soon.
A place to sleep was another thing. Seriously, it was tough to find a vacant home in Orario. Either it was too small for their planned expansion of the Familia or too expensive that they would have to eat leftover Jagaramarukuns.)
A/N: Finally finished this. It's actually hard to write a chapter without any interaction with Bell. There are so many parts of interlude that I decided to use a timeframe of Bell's fight with the Minotaur. Does this chapter finally answer some of your questions? I hope so.
Alias. All of your ideas are interesting, but ultimately I went with my own idea because
I love Japanese double meaning it is a cool name but also demeaning when you can understand the meaning. Kagura's kanji can mean god's entertainment, and it is actually a dance performed to lure Amaterasu out of her cave in the mythology, so it can be said it is entertaining her. Seriously, it's just too fitting and also demeaning at the same time. Lowering all of Bell's effort and struggle and passed as an entertainment for the divine. I love it. I believe I decided this since I wrote chapter three. That said, Radiant Blade is a surprisingly cool name I came up on the fly. I was tempted to use it but I love Kagura more.
One of the theme of this story, aside from family, is also kindness, as can be seen from Bell's interaction with Orario. In this chapter, I elaborated more on through Ottarl, and ended it with the symbolism of Ottarl trying to be better. I hope some part of Bell's kindness also touched your heart. Of course, his kindness couldn't go unanswered, and so I got him to interact with little Rosie, thus fulfilling the belief that kindness begets kindness.
And we also got to know the Xenos situation! That's right. The number of Xenos this time is much more. This has always been the thing i planned since I introduced Bell's prayer. At first I want to expose it through one of the Xenos's perspective, when the older ones asking what he remembers, two red orbs and a warm light. They mistook it for the sun, etc. But it was too hard to write, so I used Fels and Ouranos instead. I hope it doesn't disappoint.
As for Hermes and Zeus... I know I have to give an onscreen interaction between them after Aedes Vesta. And yes, Aedes Vesta will probably be canon here. A story about family? Sign me up! Although that means Arrow of Orion is also canon. I'll probably put it somewhere before Haruhime arc, though I still don't know how to retheme it into something that fit this story.
With this, I've set foundations for future chapters. I hope I can do them justice. See you later.