It has been three months since Bell and Kojiro arrived in the city. Two months for Kojiro to reach level three and gain the Abnormal Resistance ability. It was weird, how Bell didn't even mind now. Maybe it was because he and the other girls grew a lot in that time period as well. The gap didn't seem too big now, after having fought together like they did. To say their vacation two days ago was eventful was an understatement. The vacation itself. The sudden appearance of the strange monster. The assailant that put Lyra out of commission up until even now. And then the Asura. The beautiful, strong and very intimidating amazon queen... despite not being an amazon herself. He had no idea how that worked but he assumed it was something about how the strongest was their queen. It would certainly explain their... courting behavior.
Long story short, after sparring, which often felt more like death battles, and then collectively getting ragdolled by the Asura, a lot of amazons were lovey dovey for them, for lack of a better word. As expected, Kojiro had the most fangirls, having challenged the most 'low' ranking and even middle ranked amazons. Bell himself had some cute, but very aggressive pursuers. What was even weirder was that Solaris and Haruhime gained their own admirers as well if he read the signs correctly. The former didn't care whatsoever, considering them more as a pest while the Renard had spinning eyes, her brain overloading from the situation. Not that Bell judged. As grandfather said, love was love.
Still, they all agreed that amazons were weird. Returning to the every day that was the dungeon city Orario was almost a relief. Well. Almost. When they returned, they also returned to the Stardust Garden. Suffice to say, some of them were not very pleased hearing about the events. Not that their lives were threatened, no, that was almost taken in stride besides Lyra's injuries. No, Bell currently was being judged as he knelt in front of Ryuu, who seemed to glare at him for some reason after wanting to interrogate him. What did he do? How many women? Did he touch them? And so on. Once he gave her his answers, she seemed to sigh in relief, nodding as she leaned against the cough with her back.
"It is good you did not take advantage of the situation, Bell."
"In what way?" Kaguya asked dryly, raising an eyebrow at the elf. Ryuu stiffened up. Bell tilted his head, not sure how he would've taken advantage of the situation. Then a furious blush appeared on his face when he recalled the Asura's words. Or rather what amazon usually did with men. Noticing his blush, Ryuu's eyes widened before she frantically shook her head.
"D-Do not misunderstand! It isn't as if I didn't trust you to be a gentleman!" She coughed, looking away as she tried to regain her composure. "I was just... concerned for your safety!"
"More like his purity so that you can take it."
By now Bell and Ryuu steamed. Snapping her head at the Pallum lying on the couch, grinning at the elf, Ryuu's voice became awfully high pitched. It was kind of cute.
"What?!"
"Ryuu, I swear if you have your eyes on him as well... !" Hestia growled, slowly standing up as her twintails twitched as if they were part of a wild animal. The elf immediately waved her hands frantically as she backed off.
"This-This is a misunderstanding! I-I would never do this to you or Syr!"
Bell blinked with a blush. What did Syr have anything to do with this?!
"You're not denying it though." Kaguya casually chewed on some bread before pointing at Ryuu with a smirk. "Say it. Say you are not interested in Bell."
"Enough! Don't put any ideas into his head!"
"What ideas?" Alise asked, tilting her head innocently if it weren't for the smug smile on her face.
"You know-" She turned to the White Fool and grabbed his hands, holding them up as she intensely looked into his eyes. "Bell, you believe me right? That I do not have ulterior motives, correct?!"
"Y-yes?" He stuttered out, trying to not focus on her soft hands, with minimal success as he blushed. With a furious nod, Ryuu turned to the others, as if in victory.
"There you have it!"
"That kinda falls flat with you still holding his hands," Kaguya pointed out. She looked down, seeing their hands still touching. She slowly let go and Bell tried to not look too disappointed about that. Then she slowly backed off... before rushing out, covering her face with both hands.
"I hate you all!"
As the room was filled with laughter, with Arash shaking his head in exasperation, Bell lowered his head, biting his lip. There was no way... right? The cool, beautiful Ryuu wouldn't fall for someone like him, right? She only blushed out of embarrassment for being put on the spot like this, not for any affection. Besides, there already was Aiz in his heart! Yet, as Bell lowered his head, he could not deny that Ryuu had her own charms. He could imagine it. Living in a nice forest, with her wearing an apron and gently smiling at him as she made some foo-
Bell frantically shook his head before he exhaled slowly, a frown on his face. Begone, grandfather and those treacherous daydreams! That was disrespectful! For both Aiz, his main love, and Ryuu, the victim of being teased! This was just some misunderstandings, nothing more!
"Ah. No matter how much they grow, sometimes they are still just children," Astraea said in a wistful tone, putting her hand against her cheek. The other girls and Arash chuckled at what occurred. Then Alise clapped her hands and turned to Bell with a nod.
"Alright, let's focus on business!"
With that, Kaguya and Alise led the way with Bell following them after he waved goodbye to the others. Bell sighed as he considered the current situation. Most of them would be patrolling the streets or be on standby otherwise to make sure Lyra would recover in peace. There was a certain tension in the air. The public itself didn't change at all, merchants doing their business and children playing as usual. Yet for those who were of the shadows in the city like him... it made him nervous. As if sensing that, Alise patted his back with a small smile.
"You're lucky." At his confused look, she raised her hand and began to show off two fingers. "The only ones that can touch her are Syr and Arash." She paused before giggling and pointing at herself. "And yours truly."
"Really?"
Bell knew about how elves were particular about who were allowed to touch them usually. Ryuu also had this aloof air when she was patrolling, making sure strangers wouldn't get too close. But to think that she would only allow four people, himself included, to touch her? And what even were the 'requirements'? It seemed rather random. If it was just 'liking' than her entire Familia should be included, not just two, right? No matter how hard he strained his brain, he couldn't find the common ground and could only chalk it up to randomness. Kaguya chuckled, covering her mouth before shaking her head with a sigh.
"Yes, with us, she lets us, but she's clearly uncomfortable with doing so. And it took years."
"Let's see if she listens to my advice this time."
Bell blinked at Alise's comment as she crossed her arms behind her head, whistling innocently. Kaguya rolled her eyes before jabbing her elbow into her side, causing the captain to let out a yelp.
"What advice?"
"Oh, nothing you need to be concerned about," the Scarlet Harnel said, waving her hand in dismissal. Bell slowly nodded, having the feeling that he should be concerned about it in the future. Anyway, as they walked the streets, he couldn't help but send Kaguya a concerned look. She seemed casual, joking around with Alise in exasperation, but he could tell that her heart wasn't quite into it. How could it? Lyra's revelations were concerning. About how she fought the mysterious, powerful woman, who used a trademark technique of Kaguya's. Or rather her clan. The fact that Haruhime remembered why her own assailants reminded her of something didn't help. After all, it appeared those individuals died by Gojouno brand drugs. To say that Kaguya was shaken was redundant, as much as she tried to hide it.
The other pieces of news concerned Bell himself however. The reason for two days of 'doing nothing' had more than just recovery in mind. They had to make sure they could catch Nyx in order to meet her. He didn't want to believe it. But he also trusted Lyra and the others. If they said the crates of the Night Company held Violas, just like in Yggdrasil... if they said that the attackers were some of the Night Company's workers that went missing in the aftermath... he could only steel his heart and believe that Nyx had a good explanation for those things. With that in mind, they stopped in front of the small house. Bell was surprised to say the least. A head of a merchant company should have a bigger office, if nothing else. Yet this place looked liked a humble home for a guild worker like Eina. Shaking his head, he glanced at Kaguya and Alise, who nodded grimly. With a deep breath, he knocked on the door. At first, nothing happened. Then however, he heard shuffling, as if paperwork was thrown around. Then the door opened. What Bell saw caused him to flinch back.
"A-Ah... B-Bell."
Nyx looked terrible. Not only was her fear aura stronger than before, causing Kaguya to unsheathe her blade ever so slightly before Alsie stopped her, but her eyes were red, sensitive due to the tears glistening in them. Smilin gently, he began to raise his hand.
"Hey. C-can we-"
A sniff later and he heaved, as he was practically tackled by the goddess. He stood his ground but he could only awkwardly pat her head as she whimpered into his chest, her arms wrapped around him. Minutes later, they were all seated on the couch... which was the only place that was not littered with paperwork. Alise whistled before Kaguya slapped her over the head, clicking her tongue in annoyance at her captain before motioning with her head at the gloomy goddess. Alise zipped her mouth before raising her thumb at Bell. He gave the two ladies a small glare before taking a deep breath. Leaning forward, he pressed his lips together.
"Are you... alright?"
It was a foolish question, all things considered, but he needed an ice breaker in this awful silence. Nyx sniffed, wiping her tears before looking up with a shaking smile.
"I... I'll be b-b-better... " She shook her head, looking down at the ground of paperwork once more. "I-I know I s-s-s-shouldn't mourn. They... are in a b-better place now... b-but... " She choked and covered her face. "G-Getting eaten... s-s-sounds so... "
Immediately, the two Astraea members shared a shocked look. Bell's eyes were wide as well. She... didn't know? He could feel the suspicious looks sent at the goddess. They were unable to read her. Bell was no exception. However… he recalled this scene. A crying goddess, clinging to him. A goddess who couldn't tell he was lying. There were many hints that something was wrong with Nyx. That she was shady. However... Bell decided to trust her. Many would call him foolish. But he didn't care. This was one of his first friends he made, divinity or not. Thus, he gently held her shoulder, biting his lip as he mentally apologized for what he was about to do.
"Nyx... " He gulped before gently holding her hand. "They weren't eaten."
"Eh?"
Nyx's head snapped up, her eyes wide with confusion. Kaguya sent Bell a look of disbelief. Before she could say anything, Alise raised her head and shook her head at her vice captain. Then she looked at Nyx with a serious frown.
"They were part of the attackers. Went after Lady Hestia. Then they... well... died. From the drugs they were taking."
The dark aura intensified at once. The humans in the house grit their teeth, willing themselves to withstand the primal fear in their spines. Nyx started to hyperventilate, shaking her head furiously.
"N-No... t-t-t-that... " Suddenly her eyes widened and she returned to her human form in their eyes. Looking at Bell, desperation filled her eyes. But there was also a knowing look. As if she recalled something. "The... the m-m-monsters. F-From Yggdrasil! Were-were they... ?"
Bell slowly nodded. Nyx bit her thumb, her eyes wide and frantically moving over the ground, as if she was thinking about several things at once.
"Why did Eros... " She shook her head, muttering to herself. "He-He p-p-probably d-d-din't want to-to hurt me... "
Then her words became unintelligible as she chewed on her thumb a few times. Bell shared a worried look with the others. Alise cleared her throat, raising her hand.
"Uhm-"
"H-How can I help?!"
The goddess' shout caused Alise to lower her hand with a flinch. Nyx was leaning forward, her hands pressing against the table as she had a yearning look in her eyes. Bell pressed his lips together with worry.
"Are you sure? It's a lot to take in."
"Y-Yes." She smiled softly at him. "Thank you... f-for being honest. But... " She let out a growl, a dark miasma forming around her before she forced it back in with a deep breath. "It happened again... I-I thought I was being p-paranoid but... "
"About what?" Kaguya asked, jumping at the hint she was dropping. Nyx glanced at Bell who nodded encouragingly. With a sigh, she leaned back, covering her mouth as she closed her eyes.
"S-Someone is manipulating my company," she whispered, confirming one of the theories the Stardust Garden had. But to hear it outloud was still shocking as Bell gasped. "I-It's like I'm l-losing control... it's-it's the little things. Numbers don't match up. P-People disappear. C-Crates that shouldn't be there... " She hit the table with a fist, her eyes filled with fury. "If-If someone is u-using us to commit those c-crimes, I want to stop them!"
"Any help you can give us would be appreciated," Alise said with a smile. "We are trying to get evidence against Ishtar. We know she is involved in smuggling Violas out into Melen. We just need something substantial."
Nyx nodded a few times, tapping her chin before standing up.
"...C-Can you wait ten minutes?"
Well, they had nothing else to do. What followed went over Bell's head. Apparently Nyx was the type to believe in organized chaos, because she quickly picked up several pieces of paper off the ground, as if they were exactly what she needed. Then she went to her desk, pulled out a feather and began to write down a bunch of numbers at high speeds. Honestly he thought that Nyx was using her divine power to write faster because her hand almost seemed like a blur. After exactly ten minutes, she was drenched in sweat, yet a satisfied smile was on her face as she presented a stack of papers to them.
"H-Here."
"This is... ?" Alise trailed off, turning the pages as her eyes went wide with Kaguya's. Bell leaned over it and had to gape. It was filled with names. Locations. And other logistics that went over his head. Meekly, Nyx nodded at them.
"S-suspects... " She lowered her head with a deep frown. "I-I want to believe in them. But-But if they are being blackmailed or-or something it would explain... " She shuddered, shaking her head before looking back up at them with a determined expression. "A-anyway, you should c-check Eris."
"Eris? Why?" Kaguya asked, not sounding pleased at all. Nyx flinched before playing with her hair nervously.
"C-Casino is good b-business. F-For me and I-Ishtar." She cleared her throat. "If-If you can find the p-paper trail... maybe that'll lead-lead you."
Which meant infiltration, something none of them were very suited for. Lyra was the closest thing but she was still healing up. Yet Bell couldn't help but straighten up at the confident smirks Kaguya and Alise shared. Alise folded the papers and secured them before bowing with Kaguya.
"That's great. Thank you."
Nyx stammered a bit before silently accepting their bows. Then she took Bell's hand and shook them with a smile.
"T-Take them down. Who-whoever it is."
Bell smiled back and hugged her. After a short squeeze, Alise opened the door, with Bell exiting. But for some reason, Kaguya stayed behind. Turning around, they saw the Far Eastern woman cross her arms, a skeptical look on her face.
"One question before we leave." Nyx nodded slowly and Kaguya took a deep breath. "You said you want to believe in them. Why aren't you just asking them? They can't lie to you."
The goddess flinched. Averting her eyes, she grabbed her arm and bit her lip. Bell took a step forward with worry as Kaguya's eyes narrowed.
"I-I...c-can't," Nyx whispered, her voice filled with shame. Kaguya growled slightly and approached her, only stopped by Alise and Bell quickly grabbing her left arm. Shooting them a glare she turned back to Nyx with a huff.
"Why not? It should be-"
"I said I can't!"
Bell almost fell down. Not only was this the first time he heard Nyx shout in anger, the short burst of her aura hitting them caught them off guard. To her credit, the goddess gasped in shock, reigning her emotions back in. As Kaguya groaned, shaking her head as Alise kept Bell steady with a strained smile, Nyx lowered her head in shame. The vice captain bit her lip before lowering her head, eyes closed.
"My apologies. I was too rude."
"N-no... I-I shouldn't have lost my t-temper... " The goddess muttered. Quietly, the trio left the building. With one last sad smile, Nyx closed the door behind them. Bell could only bite his lip with worry. What was that about? He never expected her to react like that. With shame. With anger. He thought back to the time he lied to her, when they left Yggdrasil. Was it possible that... ?
"Bell, you do realize-"
"Yes," Bell replied almost by instinct. At Kaguya's surprised look, he looked her into the eyes with a frown. "I still trust her."
For a moment, they stared each other down. In the end, it was Kaguya who let out a sigh, breaking the staring contest off as she ran her hand through her hair.
"Alright. You know her longer than us." She sent Bell a pointed look. "Still, we'll keep an eye on her."
"I understand... " Bell muttered, lowering his head. Whether she intended to or not, Nyx was acting suspicious. But given that she was innocent in his eyes, she would be cleared of any doubts soon enough. Alise cleared her throat loudly before patting her shoulder with the paperwork they were given.
"Guess we got some leads!" She licked her lips with a laugh. "But yikes. That's a lot."
"We should cooperate with Ganesha Familia and the Guild. Get them all at once or we risk some of them hiding away. Best case scenario, we time it with a raid on Ishtar as well," Kaguya suggested, causing her captain to nod in approval. Yet that still left one thing open. He raised his hand, causing them to turn towards him.
"But who goes to Eris then?"
"Well, Astraea Familia is sort of banned from the Casino soooo... " Alise trailed off as she twirled her hand. She shared a look with Kaguya before the two women giggled and looked at him. "Do you have a suit, Bell?"
Bell gulped as the ladies' eyes sparkled at him and he laughed awkwardly, tugging at his own collar. Oh boy.
