Chapter 13.
Normal POV.
It was a very calm morning and Riveria just woke up, the sun is just about to rise and it is a little bit cold so she immediately changed to her regular clothes before fixing her hair.
"Hmhm... Hmhmm..." The elven princess started humming as she combed her silky emerald hair in front of the mirror. Even though she hates being the object of a man's lust, that won't mean she won't take care of herself.
She was about to do the same old style of tying her hair but decided to try something new.
"I hope this will look fine..." She started to tie her hair in a mid-high ponytail and kept it nice and tidy unlike her usual style.
After fixing her button, she opened the door and went out of her room.
"I wonder if Alfia is awake..." She glanced at the room beside hers.
Alfia originally should have a shared room with the other girls since she's not an executive yet but knowing her, Finn decided to give her her own room in fear that she might kill her roommate if they made too much noise.
"Guess I'll check it out, I have something to ask her after all." She gently knocked at the door.
After a few more knocks, she received no response and decided to leave her alone. She might be still asleep and she doesn't want to disturb her rest.
But as if getting possessed by something, Riveria for some reason slowly opened the door even questioning her own decision.
What am I doing? She asked herself inside her head as she slowly opened the door.
What she saw after that is something she both found sweet and something that would melt anyone's heart.
Bell and Alfia's forehead was pressed against each other while their arms were gently wrapped around each other. The boy's arms wrapped around his mother's slim waste while his mother's were wrapped around his shoulders and neck.
"Somehow, I'm kinda envious-"
Alfia's eyes shot wide when she heard a voice behind her, she didn't bother knowing who it is and did what she has always done when Zeus tries to sneak on her sleep.
"GOSPEL!!"
"Na-!!" Luckily, she wore her robe and managed to block the sound wave using it. Thanks to it's highly resistance to magic, it minimized the damaged but that doesn't mean she was saved from being sent flying.
BANG.
Her back collided at the wall outside of Alfia's room which alarmed the others who came rushing towards them.
"WHAT'S WRONG!?" Aki came rushing, still in her cute pajamas along with Line and Elfy.
"I'm fine, it's my fault anyway for entering her room." She stood up.
She was fine thanks to her father's gift, for once she felt grateful of receiving something for him.
"What happened miss Riveria-YAWN" Elfy asked groggily while still clutching the huge Rabbit stuff toy in her arms.
"Sorry for disturbing you all so early but it's nothing serious, it's rude of me to enter a sleeping maiden's room after all." She shook her head gently.
"Riveria/Riveria-san..." Alfia and Bell called out to her as they slowly walked out of the room.
"Are you alright!?" He rushed to the high elf when he saw her holding her forehead.
"I'm fine, sorry for waking you two up and disturbing you."
"Mom why did you attack her?"
"It can't be helped alright? You know that old man's tendencies when a woman of my calibur was around him, he will use any means just to do something vulgar."
"Instinct huh..?" Riveria sighed.
"Mom you know that grandpa is not around anymore so there is no need for you to be on guard like that." Bell explained with a sad expression, trying to reason with his mother.
"As I said, it's just a force of habbit. Why are you siding with her anyway? Are you fine with her disturbing our time together?" Alfia made a counter.
"That's not what I mean-"
An hour has passed and Loki finally arrives at the scene with Gareth and Finn. They have no idea why it was so crowded in front of Alfia and Riveria's room and they had to force their way through just so they could see and hear everything.
"Mom, please apologize to Riveria-san." Bell said sternly to his mother who's in seiza for some reason.
"No means no, how is it my fault? In the dungeon, you have to possess this type of defensive mechanism in your body in case a monster attacks you in your sleep." Alfia said with a straight face.
"Mom, we're at our home right now not in the dungeon. There are no monsters here."
"No means no and besides, why are you the one lecturing me?" Alfia stood up. "I'm the older one here."
"Mom, being an adult doesn't mean you stop making mistakes. We are not gods, we are nothing but mortals. We make mistakes from time to time, even grandpa said that gods also make mistakes." Bell and Alfia frowned at each other.
Finn and the gang looked at the two with large eyes especially Bell. Who would have thought that he could hold his own on a level 7 monster of talent like his mother.
"Haah... Is this the extent of your feelings for me? Bell? Here I thought that you would take my side, I guess you don't LOVE me after all. So much for saving me from my regret." Alfia said smugly as she raised her hand slightly.
"OH! WHAT A DIRTY MOVE!!" Loki screamed as she watched everything in amusement while Finn only smiled as he already knew what the boy would say in response to her.
"Mom..." Bell closed the gap between them and held her cheeks, preventing her from looking away from him.
"You said this to me once remember? True love is something that will do everything no matter how small it is to the object of our affection? Even if it means opposing them just to correct them if they make a mistake?" He smiled gently at the woman, trying to convey his feelings to her.
This made the woman under his gentle gaze blush and fidgeted like a maiden in love which erupted a cheer from the crowd for some reason.
"I really can't win against you huh...?" She looked down. Still with a light shade of pink on her cheeks before gazing at the high elf who saw everything unfold.
"Sorry, Riveria. I didn't mean to hurt you." She gazed straight into her eyes which made the princess smile.
"Don't be, it's only natural especially when you stay around with Zeus for a long time." She smiled. "But who would've thought that you of all people would... Kukuku..." The high elf turned around and tried to suppress her laughter which made Alfia angry.
"Hey stop laughing!! Well you won't understand me anyway since you remained a virgin for one hundred years."
This sparked a heated argument again but not between mother and son anymore.
Both of them finally stopped and went to get a very late breakfast since Aki forgot to cook as she watched everything unfold earlier.
They all sat in silence in the dining room as the executives shared the table with all the members.
"Who would've thought that Silence of all people would cower in fear against our mighty Rabbit Hero! AHAHA-AGH!!"
"Shut up Loki, it's all over already. Move on." Riveria shut her mouth by shoving the food she scooped up with her own spoon.
NOM NOM.
"Yey!! An indirect kiss from Riveria!!" The goddess of mischief cheered as she devoured her food.
Realizing what just happened, Riveria's jaws dropped as she gripped her spoon harder. Snapping it into pieces before standing up and throwing it away.
"Ey!! This is the worst morning!!" She walked out of the dining hall with a sour expression.
"What a noisy bunch of people, why did I even join this familia?" Alfia held her head.
"I don't think it's that bad mom, in fact I love their antics just as much as how I love our time back at the mountains." Bell smiled before taking another spoon of the fried rice into his mouth.
"Is that so." She said before picking the rice that was stuck on his cheeks.
Everyone in the Familia watched the two eating in peace with a smile on their faces, how the two mirrored the image of Aiz and Riveria 8 years ago.
Except for the fact that they look like a couple rather than a family which for some reason they don't realize.
Bell went to the guild with his mom for the day to meet his advisor and ask permission to explore all the middle floors with his mother's back up.
The two reached the counter while having some light conversations and laughter before the guild receptionists caught their attention.
"Good day Cranel-san, you are quite late today compared to yesterday." The dark purple haired advisor smiled at him.
"Hello Mei-san, something happened earlier that delayed me but it's all fine." Bell gently smiled while remembering Alfia's look earlier.
"Based on your expression, I guess it is something good. Anyway what can I do for you today?"
"I would like to explore the middle floors, I also have a company from my familia. I think you know who she is?"
"Of course. As long as you have a companion as strong as her, middle floors won't be difficult for you. Not that it matters since you can go solo anyway."
After explaining how they plan on exploring and what their formation they will have, Mei gave Bell some few tips before sending him off with his mother for the day.
"With her by his side, I don't have to worry about him. Well not that I need too since he's already strong enough on his own." The far eastern girl then went back to her own working table beside the half elf called Eina.
"Is that the adventurer you mentioned yesterday? He's quite young." The half elf said as she fixed the stack of papers in her hands.
"Which is a good thing for him. He was already strong enough to explore the middle floors without a Falna, what of now that he is blessed by the gods?"
Dungeon 13th Floor.
Alfia's POV.
"Ha!" I watched my son slice every monster he saw, usually this scene would bore me to death since my previous familia members could wipe out the entire floor single handedly.
But right now I feel so proud, who would've thought that the crybaby and cute little boy I raised would become so strong and heroic.
You've matured so much Bell.
"No, I don't think so. At least not yet mom." My eyes widened when he uttered those words before proceeding to butcher the Hell hounds and Al-miraj that's blocking our path towards the next floor.
Did he just read my mind?
"I can't read minds but... I can tell what you're thinking based on your expression, after all I've seen your face more than I've seen mine."
I smiled gently at his remark before trailing behind him.
We entered the 14th floor without any issue before Bell encountered a very rare monster on the middle floors.
"Crystal Mantis." I whispered as he slowly approached the monster.
"Ha!" Slashing it from behind, the monster vanished instantly but not before leaving a drop item that every party of level 2 to 3 adventurers want.
Crystal Mantis Wings.
The Guild always buys it at a very high price because of it's rarity especially in this floor but both Hephaestos and Gobniu Familia will give you twice the amount the Guild will give you because of how excellent of a material it could be for High-Mid Tier equipment.
So much for the cursed blood of Fram race.
I chuckled as I remembered the old god's story about Bell. Which I still don't believe, not like I would ever believe such a convenient story.
"There are no other monsters aside from that one, is it okay to proceed?" My boy asked me before giving me the drop item.
Since he's already strong enough to wipe the middle floors alone, I decided to act as his supporter and carry crystals and drops alike so it won't hinder his movement when slaying monsters.
Now that I think about it.
"There." He dodged the incoming attack from the minotaur by ducking, but not only that. He also trip it on it's fit by kicking it's legs while he was moving his body down.
There is not a single waste of movement now on his fighting style unlike our time back home.
It was all child's play for him and he can probably challenge Goliath with my support but given how much time we've spent now, I suggested that we make our way up at the end of the 16th floor.
Which is uneventful for me since all I did was watch him as his sword slice through even the hardest monsters as if it's a hot knife slicing through butter.
Surface.
Bell's POV.
I can do it!! I can do it at this pace!!
After receiving a status update from Goddess, I expected to gain much more status but who would've thought that they will increase my overall capabilities!? I feel like I could jump from here and reach the top of the wall!!
"Eh? It's already this dark?" I uttered in surprise as we reached the exit of babel and saw the clear night sky.
"Yeah, I guess we got distracted down there but I don't think it's a bad thing. Given how much you gained yesterday reaching almost the middle of all stats, I bet you can level up later. After all, it is unheard of for a level 1 to defeat 3 minotaurs at his first exploration and clear 90 percent of the middle floor on his second day." Mom commented with a hint of joy in her voice.
Luckily, the guild was still open even around this time as I saw the light inside completely lit and the adventurers and employees alike entered and exited the building.
"Mei-san, we're back." I greeted my advisor who smiled at us when she noticed our presence.
"It looks like you are fine. I take it that you want to cash in your earnings for today?"
"Yes."
"Then please follow me."
Mom and I trailed behind her silently and reached the exchange counter.
We placed the huge sack of drop items and magic crystals at the table, surprising all the other adventurers inside the hall.
"Woah! You've earned a hundred times more than you did yesterday! Not to mention this drop item! You must be lucky to encounter a Crystal Mantis!" The guild employee laughed before giving us a big sack of Valis.
"360k Valis!"
""WOAH!!"" The people inside were taken by surprise.
"Wait isn't he the guy that Lady Freya was targeting!?" An elf male adventurer exclaimed.
"No wonder she has her eyes on him."
It was a little noisy for my own liking and especially to mom so we exited the guild, luckily no one dared to stand in our way thanks to mom.
"I guess some things just don't change." She sighed as we walked back to our home.
Normal POV.
The two arrived back and went immediately to Loki who was just about to open a bottle of wine when Alfia and Bell opened the door of her room.
"Yow! I thought you were going to camp on the 18th floor or something." She immediately stood up and pulled the needle out from her pocket.
"I think he's ready to level up. I know this might sound absurd but I just knew."
"I know that, given how much stats he earned just from the upper floor and some irregular. Now that he explored the middle floors and killed monsters with a higher level than him, he'll rank up."
Bell wasted no time and removed his shirt before exposing his back to Loki.
After dropping her blood, the red haired goddess started to update his status before writing it down to a small paper.
But Alfia noticed that frown on Loki's face.
"What's wrong Loki?"
"Sorry kid... YOU RANKED UP!!"
"JUST DIE!!" Alfia screamed at the goddess before casting her magic.
A loud explosion was heard throughout the manor along with the voice of a goddess who's laughing his heart out.
Hello, I don't have anything to say.
See you guys in the next chapter.