Is It Wrong to try to pick up Girls in a Dungeon? The Discovered Secret (Short Story) Part 2
(This one is just one that I may or may not keep. I may not even continue it. It all depends on how it goes when I am writing it).
Characters:
Bell Cranel
Hestia
Ais Wallenstein
Lilliluka Arde
Welf Crozzo
Mikoto Yamato
Haruhime Sanjōno
Loki
Finn Deimne
Bete Loga
Riveria Ljos Alf
Gareth Landrock
Tione Hiryute
Tiona Hiryute
Lefiya Viridis
Eina Tulle
Ryu Lion
Continued:
Divulging that Ais Wallenstein alias the Sword Princess had a Brother and that it was Bell Carnel alias the Little Rookie. Spread across the city like wildfire. What seemed almost irrelevant to the populace was that the Hestia and Loki Familias were combining. It was like no one really cared that much, which did not go over well with either Goddesses. They had expected at least to have some type of interest from everyone. But at most it was like secondary news. As if the news of the Two Familias combining was no big deal. Just about everyone was talking about that the Sword Princess had a long lost Brother.
"I guess we worried about nothing." Hestia said as she sat on the Couch, flinging the News Release that had been distributed throughout the City. There at the bottom was the announcement about the Combined Familias. All the rest was about Ais and Bell. The rest of her Familia were sitting and waiting as well. All except Bell who was anxiously pacing back and forth. Today was the day that Ais, Tiona and Tione were moving into the Mansion. All part of the agreement that Hestia and Loki had made.
"Take it easy Bell. I am sure they will be here soon." Welf said as he watched Bell walk back and forth over the same path the younger man had walked over several times before. He could understand why Bell was anxious. Here his Sister was about to move in along with his possible love interest. Welf was a little surprised that Hestia was going to allow Tiona Hiryute to move in. Especially since Bell and the Amazon Girl were seeing each other. Or rather started to see each other. Actually he suspected that he was not the only one that was surprised that Hestia was allowing Tiona to move in.
"Maybe I should have gone there and helped them carry their things." Bell said glancing out the Window again. Then he saw three of them and visibly relaxed and then headed for the door. Opening it for them.
"Sorry it took so long. We had a hard time getting past Loki." Tiona said as they came in. Ais smiled at Bell as he smiled back.
"It is about time you got here. Bell there has been passing the floor for the past two hours." Hestia said as she welcomed the three live in Loki Familia members. The agreement was that the three would live within the Hestia Familia, but still be part of their own Familia. At most they were just boarders and once in awhile they would go with Bell and the others on Quests. Though that all determined on if their own Familia was not doing a Quest.
"I was a little anxious. I was thinking that Loki might have changed her mind." Bell admitted as he blushed slightly. Ais shook her head.
"That Bell was not going to happen. I told her regardless I want to be closer to my Brother. We have years to catch up on." Ais said grabbing her Brother for a quick hug. Then turned towards Hestia. "Uhm Goddess Hestia...As his Sister...I recommend that you have Tiona put in the furthest room from Bell's as possible." Everyone chuckled except Bell and Tiona.
"That does sound like a good idea. We don't need either one of them doing anything, do we?" Hestia smiled over at Ais approvingly.
Alone and Rage:
It was not that Bell was not used to having someone obsessively worry about him. Goddess Hestia had since almost the day he had met her and he had joined her Familia. It had not really been that bad. Hestia did make sure that he was taken care of. But now with an Elder Sister, it was entirely different for his Sister was perhaps a little more obsessed then Hestia had been. To take a guess, he suspected that Ais had never been an actual Elder Sister to someone and then to suddenly have a younger Brother. She had no idea how to be just a Sister. Though he could relate. He never had an Elder Sister and had no real idea how to be a Younger Brother. What was somewhat weird was he could not step out the front door now, without having an overprotective Sister wanting to know in complete detail where he was going and how long until he came back. Even when he went out with Tiona. To get some piece of mind left him only one option. He had sneaked out and went for a walk within the City without telling anyone where he had gone. He knew he was in trouble. Fully expecting Hestia, His Sister Ais and probably Tiona were going to really yell at him when he got home. As he walked back towards home, he barely felt the dart strike him on the right side of his neck. Darkness overtook him within a few seconds as he slumped to the ground. He awoke what he suspected was hours later and he could tell he was in the Dungeon. Groggily he sat up and tried to clear his head of the fogginess. Then noticed the piece of paper in his right hand. Unrolling it he tried to focus his mind and eyes on the words. When he finally was able to read it, he had to reread it again to make sure he understood what it said.
"I finally have my revenge for what you have done to me. I was tempted to just kill you as you lay there helpless, but decided this was a better fate for you. Welcome to Floor Level 32 of the Dungeon Bell Carnel. I have taken everything from you but your Knife. I expect that the Monsters will make you suffer worse then anything I could do to make you suffer. So I hope you die horribly all alone and in great pain." Bell swallowed heavily as he read who the letter was from. Hyakin one time Captain of the Apollo Familia. Forcing himself to stand, Bell looked around and then checked what he did have on him. Hyakin had told the truth. The two HP Potions he usually carried were gone as was a few other things he carried with him. All he had was the Hestia Knife and that was about it. He knew there was no possible way that he could make it safely to Floor 18, the safe zone. That left him only one option that Hyakin had no clue about. His only hope was to try to make it to the nearest Xenos's Hidden Villages. The closest one to him was on Floor 28. He and the others from his Familia had visited Wiene, Lido, Rei, Gors and the others not more then a few weeks ago. So that did give him at least a chance to make it to somewhere safe until he could somehow make it to Floor 18. Before he was ready, three Large Orcs appeared and he had to fight them.
Panting for air, Bell eased his wounded left arm into a sling made by his belt around his neck. He felt the pain ebb through him as he limped onward. Since leaving Floor 32 and nearing Floor 29. He had been forced to fight over a dozen different Monsters and to his dismay he had been injured three times. He knew his right ankle was broken, he also knew that he had two broken ribs on his left side and now his left arm had three about four inch gashes on his forearm. He had used his shirt to apply a dressing to his wounds on his arm. But it still bled and hurt. He still believed his only hope was to reach the Xenos Hidden Village on Floor 28.
At the same time, Ais along with everyone else had become concerned since Bell had not returned and had not been heard of in the last eleven hours. Two hours later Lilliluka Arde had pieced together what had happened to Bell. So upon seeing Hyakin sitting within the the Rustbucket Tavern from the door. She lost it and kicked down the door with relative ease. No one within dared to protest or get in her as she stormed towards Hyakin who was there celebrating what he had done to Bell Carnel. Flipping the table out of her way, Ais grabbed him by his collar and pushed him up against the nearby wall. All of his portrayed bravado and arrogance he had instantly disappeared as he looked down at the cold gold eyes that leered up at him angrily. Then looked beyond her to see Tiona hoisting her Urga menacingly and finally at the short Pallum Girl moved to join Ais. "We know you did something to Bell Carnel! You have been bragging about it! Where is he?" Lilli asked from besides Ais who growled and Hyakin shook his head not answering. Causing Ais to really loose control.
"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MY BROTHER!" Ais growled in utter rage slamming Hyakin against the wall. He still did not answer so she drew her Sword and pointed it at the bridge of Hyakin's nose. He swallowed heavily as he looked down at the extremely angry Sword Princess. She flicked her wrist and he felt a sudden twinge of pain on the tip of his nose where she had cut a sliver of the tip of his nose off. He gasped in pain and before he could say anything. "WHERE IS HE!" She demanded now pointing the tip of her sword directly at his right eye. "TALK OR LOSS AN EYE!" He nodded and confessed everything. Telling her in a babbling tone that he had drugged and then with the protection of a certain item given to him by Apollo. Had taken Bell Carnel down to the thirty second Floor and left him there. Ais in her anger brought him closer to her. "IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO HIM...I WILL COME BACK AND KILL YOU!" She then threw him against the far wall ten meters away with a resounding crash. Knocking him unconscious. She and the others left and once outside.
"We need to go and find him." Tiona stated and the others were all set to go with her. Ais turned towards Welf, Lilli, Mikoto, Haruhime and the Goddess Hestia. Shaking her head.
"Me and Tiona will handle this. You would just get in the way." Ais told them and the others protested. But they knew she was right. All but Lilliluka who suddenly thought of something.
"Wait. Master Bell would probably go to one of the Xenos Hidden Villages. He knows there is one of them on the Twenty Eighth Floor." Lilli informed Ais and Tiona.
"She is right. Bell would go there." Hestia reaffirmed what Lilli had said. Ais looked from Hestia to the others of the Goddesses Familia. She exhaled with a deep sigh. She did not know where the Hidden Village was. She looked over to Tiona.
"Guess we have to take them with us. I doubt that any of them would just tell us where the Hidden Village is." Tiona said then she and Ais noticed the sly smiles on the others faces.
"Fine. You can come. But not you Goddess and you know the reason why. You cannot do it again." Ais commented and Hestia nodded with a grimace. No she could not risk angering the Dungeon again. The last time caused a lot of problems on Floor 18. Within twenty minutes they were on their way.
The Hidden Village: Floor 28
Crawling the last few meters, Bell used what strength he had left to move the Boulder away from the Secret Entrance he knew about. Once inside the Tunnel, he pulled the Boulder back in place and then a meter or so he dropped to the stone floor. Unable to go on. He did not expect that any of the Xenos would actually be there and at the moment he just did not have the strength to even inquire if they were there. For now though he was safe, for Monsters did not spawn in any of the Hidden Villages. So he passed out as soon as his head touched the floor. Not even hearing when someone found him.
With a moan, Bell awoke to find himself lying on something soft and not the cold stone floor. Opening his eyes, he blinked a couple of times to see Wiene, Rye and Gros sitting to his left. "Bell...Bell...Bell." Wiene said excitingly and happily as she bounced with delight.
"How are you feeling...Bell?" Rei asked placing one of her wings onto Wiene in an attempt to control her. Bell swallowed dryly and exhaled softly.
"Better...Then I was." Bell replied and the two Xenos female Monsters smiled while the Gargoyle Gros grumbled something. Bell looked down at where he had been injured and noticed that his wounds were gone.
"We had some Potion that Fels gave us." Rei said with a small smile gesturing at the Empty Vial off to one side. "What happened? When we found you...you were barely conscious and...your wounds were quite severe." The Siren asked and Bell shrugged slightly.
"I have no idea other then someone that I had fought before said in a note that he left me on Floor 32 and expected me to just roll over and get killed." Bell said summoning up what the note had said. Wiene could no longer be controlled as she lunged at Bell hugging him with utter glee. "Thank you for healing me and bringing me here." He said to them and Gros grumbled again.
"We owe you favors Bell Carnel. This is just one of the favors we owe you." With that said Gros walked to the entrance of the Shelter and with another grumble left. Rei chuckled and shook her head.
"Don't let him fool you Bell. He is the one that found you and he is the one that suggested we use one of the limited Potions we have to help you heal. He may never admit it...but he greatly admires you." Rei said as she and Wiene both chuckled. "You got lucky Bell. We plus four others are all that is left of our kind here. The Rest have moved onto another of our Villages." She told him and Bell smiled.
"I need to get to Floor 18 and the safe zone." Bell said and Rei nodded.
"You can come with us tomorrow...we are joining the others at the Village on Floor 21. You remember that one you first met us at." Rei said and Bell smiled slightly. He knew even from there it would be difficult for him to make it to Floor 18 by himself. Not impossible. But difficult and he was not about to ask any of them to risk being discovered helping him get there. The Xenos still needed to stay hidden from the other Adventurers.
"Thank you." Bell said and Rei and Wiene shook their heads.
"There is no need to thank us Bell. Like Gros had said...we owe you a lot for what you had done for us." Rei said before Wiene could, she then lightly touched the Vouivre's right shoulder with her Wing. "Come Wiene..Let Bell rest until it is time for us to depart." With some reluctance Wiene stopped hugging Bell and followed Rei out of the Domed Shelter. Laying back down, it did not take long for him to drift back to sleep.
Floor 18:
It shocked Mikoto, Welf, Lilli and Haruhime on how quickly it took them to reach Floor 18. Ais and Tiona were not in a mood to take it slow and easy. Also once at Floor 18, Ais was in no mood to even wait as she led them towards the Entrance that led down to the Lower Floors. "Uhm Miss Ais...perhaps we should rest first for a bit and then continue." Welf suggested and Ais turned towards him, scowling.
"If you need to rest...then you can remain here. Just tell me where the Hidden Village is on Floor 21 and I will go alone." Ais said back towards them all, including Tiona.
"It is not that we need rest. I was actually thinking you and Tiona might need to. After all you two have cleared the way and even took down the Floor Boss Goliath. You both have to be tired." Welf quickly said and Ais shook her head.
"I will rest when we find my Brother. Not before then." Ais stated, drawing her Sword and then led the way to the Passage that led to the Lower Levels. Slicing a Monster before even it could be recognized or before it had a chance to get in the way. She had taken down Goliath just as viciously and quickly. Slicing the huge Monster into ribbons in an almost blink of an eye.
"I almost pity any of these Monsters that try to attack her or get in her way." Tiona said to the others as they all followed the now determined Ais downward. It took no time at all for them to come to the Secret Entrance to the Hidden Village and after Welf moved the Crystal. They went inside and found themselves before most of the Xenos Monsters.
"Before you ask. We received word that Bell is with some of our kind at the Village on Floor 28. He will be brought her tomorrow." Lido the Lizardman said as soon as he approached them. Ais exhaled with relief, but she was still concerned.
"Is he alright?" Ais asked and Rex the Goblin chimed in.
"Yes he is...Miia there had just arrived from that Village on 28 and told us about him being there." Rex said gesturing over at the Lamia that moved closer.
"Gros had found Master Bell at the Entrance...He was injured but we gave him some Potion and now he is fine." Miia informed them all and Ais again sighed with relief. Then looked back at the Lizardman.
"I owe you my gratitude for helping him." Ais said and Lido shook his Lizard like head.
"We owe him Favors and he like them there are our Friends. We would give what aid we can whenever he or they need it." Lido stated happily. "So until he and my Comrades arrive...I welcome you all as our Guests." He then led them further into the Hidden Village.
"Can I ask if that Vouivre will be with him?" Ais asked and Lido and the others all looked at her. "I have not had the opportunity to thank her for what she did before. She kept me from...harming Bell and I need to thank her for that." She said and The Lamia slithered nearer to her.
"Yes Wiene should be coming with Master Bell." Miia said and Ais smiled. Once within the main Room of the Village, she and the others were fed. She and Tiona then were introduced to all the Xenos that were there.
When Bell arrived, he was essentially attacked. Ais was the first to hug him, with Tiona right behind her. But his Amazon Girlfriend elected to kiss him as well. Then the others hugged him as well. After that, Ais again hugged him. "If you ever scare me like this again and I will have to hurt you." She said sadly as she held onto her Brother tightly. She had only cried three other times in her life and right now she cried. But this time with relief that Bell was unharmed. It took several minutes before she was able to properly thank Wiene, Rei, Gros and the three other Monsters that were with them. She also then finally was able to thank Wiene for intervening back when she was about to harm Bell. Also giving her promise that like Bell, someday they would find a place for the Xenos and them to live together.
The Return:
Journeying back to the Surface took longer then when the group had come down. Mainly due to this time they stopped long enough to pick up the Monster Stones after they defeated the Monsters. Though Ais and Tiona kept close tabs on Bell all the way. Tiona had told Bell that when they got back, she wanted to spend a lot of time with him. He suspected that once back home, that Ais, Tiona and even Goddess Hestia would barely let him leave the Familia home without him telling them exactly where he was going and how long he would be gone. He also suspected that Ais his Sister and Tiona his Girlfriend would demand to go with him if he did want to go someplace without the others. So in essence Hyakin had really screwed up his needing to have a little freedom. He wondered if that asshole would consider that adequate revenge.
Hestia hugged him and cried for about an hour. Informing Bell that he had made her worry so much about him that if it was possible, she would have aged several decades. So he from now on would have to be more careful. Though at that point she silently came to the realization that to tell him that would be the same as trying to beat a dead horse in hopes that it would run. Bell did receive a stern lecture from Hestia and Ais. When he later went to bed, he was shocked to find Tiona in his room. Laying in his bed, completely naked. She then informed him that they needed to progress their relationship to the next level. She grabbed him and pulled him down onto his bed. Basically ripping his clothes off.
In the Morning, upon leaving Bell in a dazed stupor. Tiona tried to sneak out of his Bedroom. But as she neared her own Bedroom she was caught by Ais who for some reason deduced what she had done. "So you...seduced my Brother." Ais said with a bewildered expression and Tiona had no choice but to admit what she had done. Though she did claim that she was in love with Bell. "Then that leaves us only one option. You and Bell must become engaged. Otherwise I believe when I inform Hestia...The Goddess is not going to be exactly pleased that you took his virtue." She said with a huge smile. Though she was not looking forward to the fallout that would occur when they did tell Hestia about what Tiona and Bell had done. But that is a completely different story that may or not be told.
The End or the Beginning.
