Chapter 3

"Well, here we are!" Hestia exclaimed

The Hestia Familia plus Ryuu had set off in the direction of the Guild. 2 members of Ganesha Familia is currently standing right in front of the building. With Hestia exclamation, one of them approached the Familia.

"Hestia Familia isn't it? We had received an order to guide you the event hall…please follow me" The adventurer said as he lead them to building

Hestia proudly walk in front of her children as if signifying that she's the head of the Familia.

The walk towards their destination is short, not taking more than 3 minutes before the guard stop right in front of a large door. The member of Ganesha Familia turn his attention to the familia behind him.

"We had arrived. Please enjoy the event, Lady Hestia and Hestia Familia!" The guard said as he opened the door, allowing Hestia and her children (plus Ryuu) to enter the hall

The hall is massive with walls made of marble decorated with many paintings, with various assortments of foods and drinks prepared at both sides of the hall. So many sofas were laid out in the center of the room. What really caught Bell attention is that the massive stage at the front of the hall. Unlike the extravagant luxury of the rest of the room, the whole wall above the stage is completely empty.

'Huh, wonder why they make it like that…' Bell thought before he noticed that there's no one here except for the familia

"Hehehehe, we're the first one to arrive!" Hestia said with pride in her voice while the members of her familia sweat dropped at her

"It is because the Goddess being too excited…we end up arriving 1 hour early" Lili pointed out

"True" Welf said as he nod while Haruhime and Mikoto just giggled

"Urgh!" Hestia flinched before glaring at the supporter

Lili just stuck her tongue as a response

"Well…not like we have anything to do with no one here yet, just enjoy the foods all of you!" Hestia said before she marched toward the cake section of the room.

"Yo, Bell! Lets check out the drinks section!" Welf said as he drag his white haired captain

"Wha-but I'm still underage Welf!" Bell said

"Please don't put any bad influence on Bell, " Ryuu said as she follows after them

"Well, there they go…what should we do girls?" Mikoto asked but notice only Haruhime is standing next to her

"Uuh, Lili's looking at the paintings" The renard said

True to her words, Lili is currently closely examining various painting that decorated the wall, probably trying to determine their worth.

"Let's accompany Lady Hestia then…" Mikoto said as she drag Haruhime towards Hestia who's currently munching on the cakes

While the members of Hestia Familia are busy with their own activities, the door suddenly got slammed open…revealing Loki and her Familia.

"Loki's here!" Loki yelled, trying to draw the attention of the room but found that only Hestia and her familia that are looking at her.

"Grhg, chibi!"

"Gah, flatboard!"

The two goddess marched on each other before they start head-butting each other

"Now now Loki, please don't do anything that might embarrass our Familia" Finn chided as he stepped in to the room, followed by the rest of Loki Familia' executives and…Lefiya?

"The same for you as well, goddess!" Lili said as she tries to pull Hestia away

Bell cannot help but gulp as he took the sight of Loki Familia. Although any misunderstanding during the Xenos incident had been cleared, he still felt uneasy. Aiz is the only one he got the chance to talk to. Bell flushed red as Aiz enters the room, wearing a very beautiful white gown that really fits her.

"You okay there, Bell?" Welf teased as he wrapped his arm around Bell's shoulder

"Wha! Welf!"

"Thought that your mind go off somewhere for a minute there"

It is not only Bell that openly staring at Aiz, as Ryuu is doing the same thing as well

'The Sword Princess…truly a difficult opponent…'

Now that she finally being truthful with her feeling, Ryuu sees the other blonde as a competition for Bell's affection

"Bell Cranel" Finn's voice finally draw the attention of Bell, Welf, and Ryuu

"Ah, Mr. Finn! I…uh, never really apologized for the trouble" Bell said as he bowed to the prum.

"Hahaha, please there's no need for all that. It's the opposite actually, I really want to express my gratitude to you"

"Uuhh, to me?" Bell asked, confused why Finn is thanking him

"Lets just say that I found something important thanks to you" Finn said with a smile

"HAHAHA, you have my gratitude as well boy!" The Elgarm, Gareth Landrock, said as he approached the group with a grimacing Bete.

"I-um..-"

"Oh, and congratulations for your level up as well. Level 5 now isn't it?" Finn chuckled

3 weeks after his adventure (More like death experience) in the deep floor, Hestia had updated his status and found that he now can level up to Level 5. Everyone was shocked by how fast it was, but considering what he experiences down there…it's not impossible.

"Thank you" Bell said sheepishly

From the center of the room, Aiz is openly staring at Bell as well

She had heard the news of his level up. She had to admit that she's kinda jealous of the boy's growth but she crushed that feeling of envy before it grows. She also heard that something had happened during his first ever expedition though there's no clear information about that. To other people, nothing had changed for the boy…but Aiz can see that's not true.

His smile while still bright, it's not as bright as before. Something's still plaguing his mind and it affects him deeply. It saddens her, to see the bright boy that had brought light into her life being so troubled.

'Bell…what happened to you…' she thought sadly

She would approach him later, trying to find out what had happened during his expedition.

"Miss Aiz…" Lefiya muttered

'That damn human again…urgh, why it is always about him!' Lefiya thought as she glared at her self-proclaimed rival

"Oh ho, seems like we're a bit late Asfi!" Hermes voice once again draws the attention of the entire hall as he make his entrance along with Asfi, the Perseus.

"You're here as well, Hermes?" Loki asked while still pinching at Hestia' cheeks with the smaller goddess trying her hardest to break free

"Of course! It seems that my feeling is correct on this one" Hermes said as examined the peoples gathered before his eyes stopping at Bell.

Hermes grins as he strode forward toward the boys gathering (and Ryuu lol)

"Bell, congratulations for your Level up! I don't have the chance to congrats you before this" the messenger god said he stood next to Finn

"Thank you Lord Hermes" Bell said neutrally

He doesn't hate the god before him. Although his action towards the Xenos is abhorrent, it was done on Bell's interest. Bell cannot brought himself to hate the god after he had already helps his goddess and familia so many times before, but he cannot fully forgive the god…yet.

"Hermes's here as well…" Hestia said as she rubbed her burning cheeks

"What is Ouranos planning…"

"Hell if I know" Loki huffed while Riveria just chuckled

"Oooh, I guessed I'm the latest one to arrive" an alluring voice called out

Freya and Ottar had finally arrived…and her presence causing the other children to look at her with only the high levels able to control themselves

"You okay there Bell?" Ryuu asked as she's trying her hardest to not being drawn by Freya's allure…like Welf

"Umm yeah, what's wrong with Welf anyway?" Bell asked, confused why his friends seems to be gawking at the silver haired goddess.

"You really are full of surprise…" Ryuu muttered

"I'm sorry?" Bell laughed nervously

"Grrrr Freya, cut it out!" Loki growled

"Ufufufu, Sorry…it's kinda hard to stop that habit" Freya said without any ounce of sorry. A small smile still plastered on her face

While the 3 Goddesses starts with their 'argument' Ottar saw that Aiz had been looking at him and giving him a small nod. Ottar also nod his head in response.

As the pace of the activity starts to picks up once again. Gareth, Welf, Bete, and Hermes had a drinking contest while Bell, Finn, Tiona, Haruhime, Mikoto and Tione watching them. Ryuu just stood next to Bell silently. Riveria and Asfi is locked in a conversation while Lefiya, Aiz, Ottar, and Lili stuck with their goddess.

Aiz cannot help but noticed how close Bell is with the blonde elf as they're having a conversation about something. She…doesn't like it.

Riveria noticed the pout on Aiz's face and follow the blonde swordswoman's line of sight. When she realized what's going on, a tiny smile starts too formed.

'She's jealous'

"What's with that smile, Lady Riveria?" Asfi asked

"Oh nothing" Reveria chuckled

"It seems that everyone is already here, Lord Ouranos" an unknown voice said

"Indeed, we can start with your… plan then" Ouranos said as he and Zelretch stepped in to the hall that he had prepared

"Ouranos…who's that?" Loki asked

All of the adventurers in the hall are in high alert. They don't know who is this unknown man that standing next to Ouranos. However, there are 2 things that they know for certain.

Inhumane

Dangerous

Even Ottar, the only Level 7 in Orario, is in high alert as he positioned himself in front of his lady to break the line of sight of this unknown entity.

"…Stand down Children, there will be no violence while I'm here" Ouranos command with a trace of his divinity

All of the adventurers obeyed the command of the old god but their eyes never leave the white haired and red eyed old man standing next to him.

'Reminds me a bit of Bell though' that is what Hermes wants to said but feel that his joke won't be appreciated at the moment

"Zelretch…you may begin" Ouranos said

Zelretch chuckled as he strode forward to the stage that had been prepared, he can feel all eyes of the guests are focusing on him. As he reached the stage, he turn his body to face everyone in the hall. His eyes swerved, taking the details of every guest before stopping at Bell. A grin appeared on his face, showing a bit of his fangs.

Bell cannot help but shuddered as the old man directly looking at him. Ryuu suddenly pull him away and positioned herself in front of Bell while glaring at the man, hostility in her eyes. Bell cannot help but feel touched at Ryuu's action…until he noticed another presence suddenly appears next to him.

Aiz Wallenstein

She's also glaring at the man

'I'll not let you hurt him!' is what she's trying to convey through her glare

Zelretch cannot help but chuckle, the hostility directed at him doesn't faze him at all. Fighting to the death against Crimson Moon Brunestud aka Type-Moon had really destroy any sense of fear in him.

"As I had the permission from Lord Ouranos, I'll start by introducing myself first" Zelretch said

"My full name is Kischur Zelretch Scheweinorg, but you can just call me Zelretch or Kischur if you want to…and I'm a Magician from another world" Zelretch said with an exaggerated bow

A deafening silence covers the entire hall

"…is he telling the truth Loki?" Riveria asked

"…yes" Loki said. Both of her eyes opened, a rare sight indeed.

"What the fuck!? Do you really think we would just believe this bullshit?" Bete said while still glaring at Zelretch

All of his sense is telling him to run away from this man, something that he would never do and it's irritating him.

"…No, he's indeed telling the truth. I sense no lies from him" Hermes said seriously. His eyes narrowing.

"A magician…from another world" Bell slowly said

While he knew the situation is kind of tense at the moment, he cannot help but feeling a little bit excited. Dimension travelling is real!? Loki and Hermes had confirmed that what the man had claimed is nothing but the truth.

"Well, lord Ouranos had given me the permission so I don't really care whether you believe me or not" Zelretch said nonchalantly as he waved his right hand.

"You're standing here because you had been personally handpicked by Lord Ouranos himself to take part in this once-in-a lifetime experience that I would provide for you" the vampire said smugly, his irritating smile really getting into the Loki and Freya' nerves.

"…and I'm especially interested in you Bell Cranel" he said

That sentence break the tense silence

"WHAT DO YOU WANT WITH MY BELL!?" Hestia shouted

"…" Freya did not say anything but her expression say it all. She's furious.

"You…" Hermes said with a glare

The glare on both Aiz and Ryuu had reached the point where if a glare can kill or burn someone, Zelretch would be nothing but dust right now.

But the vampire has nothing to fear

No one in this is room is a threat of any form for him

Call it arrogance or hubris if you want, but nothing can tops fighting an Ultimate One, a celestial body of a planet and coming on top, albeit narrowly.

"Peace, no harm would come upon the boy" Zelretch said "As it would counterproductive"

"What do you mean by that!?" Hestia yelled

"Alas we're wasting precious time here. All of you here would be watching the tales and life of various figures from my world"

"And why we would do that?" Freya finally broke her silence, drawing all attention to her

"Things that happened in your world would not have any effect on us. Tell me Undead, why should we do that?"

"Hahahaha, good question goddess Freya. Why indeed…" Zelretch chuckled, his eyes never leaving the trembling Bell.

"I had noticed that many adventurers in this room had been hailed as heroes of your current era, I just would like to know what they would think about the figures I had in mind"

"…why not?" this time, it is Hermes that draw all of the attention to himself

"We had nothing to lose either way, to be honest I'm curious myself" the god said with a grin while his captain just shake her head exaspertedly.

"Hermes got a point…" Loki said as she makes herself comfortable in one of the comfy sofa that had been prepared

"At least it would be quite of an entertainment.." the trickster goddess said with a smirk while Ouranos sat beside her.

Freya cannot help but sigh as she makes herself comfortable as well, the same with Hestia. Soon everyone follows their god/goddesses action and filled in the sofas.

Hestia, Loki, and Lefiya is menacingly glaring at a certain sofa, her hairs lashing out like a whip. There 3 people sits. Bell, Ryuu, and Aiz…with the blushing Bell in the middle. Bell had picked the nearest sofa to sit in when the empty spaces besides him quickly taken by both blondes.

'That boy really reminds of that Emiya boy' Zelretch thought

"Very well…Now.." The vampire started as a massive mirror appeared, replacing the previously empty spot on the wall

"Would like to see the tales of the FIRST recorded legend and the FIRST Hero of my world?"

Bell being giddy is an understatement.

Notes:

Yeah, you would already know who is that right? Hehehe

Unfortunately, I can't use Danmachi Isthar as at this point of the story, she had been sent back to Heaven by Freya.

I apologize for any grammatical errors, hope you enjoy the story.