81 FOLLOWER, this seems to get better and better :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

Disclaimer: I don't own anything, not even the soundtracks. Danmachi belongs to Fujino Ōmori, Final Fantasy XV belongs to Square Enix.

Is it wrong to seek answers?

Chapter 10: shopping

9th FLOOR – BABEL – LATE MORNING

After the elevator closed, they could see countless shop windows, showing not only equipment but also beautiful clothes but also rather expensive, as both realized.

After some sightseeing, they decided to enter one of the shops.

(OPENING: HIROYUKI SAWANO feat: Eliana – S_TEAM)

„good morning sir, can I help you, " the salesmen asked.

„Good morning, I saw the nice adventurer suits outside and I'm looking for something from 100.000 Valis up, I hope we're in the right place, " Noct said playfully, hoping to spend as less as possible.

„then you're in the right place sir, we have a wide range for the varied needs for adventurers" the salesman replied.

After the salesman's presentation, Noct and Bell could see mannequins with very different equipment.

Bell started imagining how he would look with this expensive equipment, while also wondering how much Ais would be impressed.

Noct, on the other hand, was still looking, but getting bored.

When he was about to go back to the entrance, he suddenly saw something familiar.

Noct thought he was hallucinating, but as he came closer he saw it. Now there was no mistake.

'Isn't that the equipment I once got from that cat girl, what was her name, Jhimei or that, I could never spell it correctly.'

It is nearly identically the 'Glamour Prism' Attire he once had back in Eos, the only difference is that the two blades on the sides of the pelvis are missing.

„What about that one? "Noct asked the salesman, who was happy that his customer had chosen something after a while.

„ooh, that's our 'gato cyan' attire, It's designed by the Family Business 'Ramirez-craft *, one of the most famous Handicrafters here in Orario, in my option of course, " the salesman said.

„is that the only example?" Noct asked, hoping the salesman wouldn't agree.

„right now, there should be enough examples here, also for different sizes, " the salesman said.

Noct went near the Attire to see the price.

'170.000 Valis, Not cheap'. Noct thought for a while.

„may I try it on? "

„If I may recommend, It would be wise at first to measure your body to see if the right size is available." the salesman explained.

After Noct agreed and was about to go measuring with the salesman, he saw briefly how Bell was picturing himself on the available equipment.

When the salesman finished, he said that for his size they were indeed 3 examples available, which pleased him very much.

After dressing himself in the changing room, Noct didn't hesitate to buy all 3 examples, „I can make you an offer today, sir" the salesman said.

Noct looked at him curiously.

„instead of the summed up price for 510,000.00, I offer, for all 3 available examples reduced to 400,000.00 Valis, only for you."

Noct was about to ask why 'only for him' but then thought otherwise.

„Deal", seems today was a lucky one for Noct.

When both left Babel, they went, as Bell suggested, to the clothing shops at the north of Orario, so that Noct could also buy various underwears, and lastly to the so-called 'Jagamarukun Stall', some kind of food stall selling potato snacks, since it was near.

JAGAMARUKUN STALLS – NORTH OF ORARIO – LATE MORNING

When both reached their destination, they really could see the many stalls.

While Noct felt hungry, Bell told him to wait until they reached the stall their goddess is working on.

But Bell soon realized that their goddess wasn't there, so he decided to go to another stall with a familiar face.

Noct saw how Bell was going to a man with long black hair with two pick tails and white-yellow clothes.

„Good morning, lord Takemikazuchi"

„oh, good morning Bell, how are you doing today, Mikoto told me what happened yesterday."

„Yeah, we're alright." Takemikazuchi saw how Bell then held proudly an arm of a spiky black-haired young man, probably as tall as himself without his geta, „and may I introduce, this is our newest Familia member, Noct Gar."

„so you're the one Mikoto couldn't stop talking about, I am Takemikazuchi, leader of the Takemikazuchi Familia." he introduced himself while looking at the young man.

He also remembered how Mikoto told their whole familia that he looks like a famous character from one of those popular 'Mangas'(far eastern style comics).

While Takemikazuchi himself isn't interested in 'Mangas', all his children always loved them ever since they were children, therefore he always bought them if his children behaved and when they had enough money to afford it.

„Good morning, sir, uhh, 'Takemikasushi' ?"

„hahaha, I know my name is long, and for non-far-east people difficult to pronounce, so just call me 'Take',"

„y-yes, sir, uh, Take"

„anyway, we want two Jagamarukun, please"

Take then prepared two for his customers and friends.

„here you both"

„thank you, say, lord Take, where is goddess, is she on break or something ?"

„no-no, she isn't working today here, today she's in one of Hephaestus shops in Babel if I'm not wrong"

„really ?"

„Yeah, fun fact, she forgot that which is the reason she came here early in the morning." Take remembered the funny expressions Hestia made, when she appeared here,

„But when I asked her why she's here today since she told me last week that she'll be working the whole day in Babel, she suddenly got so scared and embarrassed that she immediately run away heading towards Babel"

'so she forgot' both boys thought while making a dumbfounded expression.

After eating the 'Jagamarukun', both boys said goodbye to Take before leaving for their home.

Noct had to admit that the 'Jagamarukun' tasted good.

After the whole shopping and lunch, Bell and Noct went straight for their home, so that Noct can put his new clothes on.

ONE HOUR LATER – Hephaestus shop 4th Floor - BABEL – LATE MORNING

Hephaestus and Hestia were in one of Hephaestus shops.

Hephaestus was still angry towards Hestia for coming late today since she's waiting for someone who ordered a special armor, which should've been cleaned by Hestia a while ago, who put it on the sales desk.

„good morning, Hephaestus, you too Hestia", the both turned their heads, seeing the expected customer with a bag full of Valis just arriving.

„good morning Dia", they greeted towards her.

Dia checked the required armor she ordered for one of her children.

„I think Oriana will be happy to try it on soon," Dia said with a happy smile.

„didn't expect you to come to that early, Dia, " Hephaestus said to her.

„Usually yes, but since part of my children, including Oriana, are returning soon, I sent Emma's Team to provide them with food and other supplies, so it was fitting for me to appear now, " Dia said to them.

„I've heard 4 of your children leveled up?" Hephaestus asked curiously while Dia looked at her.

„yes, three at Level 2 and one at Level 4, others might also have leveled up after the expedition."

„now that I think about, isn't it now time for your strongest to Level up?"

„I wish, but as you know, I'm not putting any of my children under such pressure."

While Hephaestus and Dia continued talking to each other about Dia's children, Hestia continued cleaning the other equipment.

„Oh, I've nearly forgotten, Hestia … ", Hestia turned her head towards them.

„yes, Dia … ", Hestia wondered what Dia was about to ask her.

„I've met your 2 Children a short while ago. I think they should be in the 9th Floor right now..." Dia said, „...and I have to admit, I didn't expect for you to gain such a strong young man"

Hestia was surprised by Dia's statement, „ really?!...", Hestia smiled, „ well I'm also happily surprised that I got a new child to my family "

„I've heard about it, a young man named 'Noct Gar', right?". Hephaestus said while remembering how Welf told her about him.

Then suddenly, Dia and Hephaestus started giggling loudly. Hestia didn't like it for some reason.

„Tell me, Hestia, is it true that he lost his underpants, " Hephaestus asked while trying to contain her giggling.

Hestia got a little bit annoyed, „h-he didn't lose it, that monster has torn it apart"

Now the other both goddesse's giggling turned into a loud laughing, while Hestia started getting embarrassed.

„I've also heard about that, but I didn't expect it to be him." Dia said, also trying to contain her laughter, „ I remember Emma telling me that Lowe got unconscious after seeing him without any clothes and that he only had his weapon on his hand." Dia said before she and Hephaestus started laughing louder again.

Hestia got deep red out of embarrassment since one of Dia's children was a victim of Noct coming out of the water naked

But also a little bit angry, thinking Dia's mocking her while she's working right now.

„A-Anyway, if that's what you wanted, now you know it"

„well it wasn't … ", now Dia was about to ask her real question, „ I've talked with Noct and Bell a bit, and was surprised to hear that he's from 'Crystallum' "

Now Hestia's eyes opened wide in disbelief.

Hestia remembered Astraea telling her his real story when they were alone in her House's living room. Hestia remembered Astraea telling her that Noct came from 'far far away', which means another world. Because the story would be too crazy for everyone else to believe it, so Astraea came up with another one for him, which also meant that 'Crystallum' doesn't exist.

But now Dia seemed to prove it otherwise, which irritated Hestia even more while keeping a friendly smile on her face.

„maybe I forgot to say it, but my strongest children are also from 'Crystallum' "

Hestia's eyes opened even wider this time.

What's more, she now remembered about Astraea's talk about 'Silverlight' and his full name.

…...

And now everything makes sense to Hestia since the famous adventurer 'Silverlight' is the Captain of Dia's Familia.

…...

At this point, Hestia knew that the chances that Noct might be familiar with 'Silverlight' increased highly, maybe even with the other children of Dia.

„So, your children are also from there?, I didn't expect that" Hestia, still keeping her fake smile.

„I know, an unbelievable coincidence, right" Dia explained while remaining positive about the situation, „that's why I thought: how about if I invite you and your familia to my 'familia's return home' party"

Hestia looked at Dia for a while. She remembered how she frequently met Dia back in heaven, even though they both like each other and never had any conflict, Hestia also knew that despite Dia's childish appearance, she was very wise and attentive, since knew how to deal with other, less friendly gods.

Even here in the lower world, both, Hestia and Hephaestus knew that Dia acts more like an older sister towards her Familia instead of a stereotypical goddess.

„I would like to take that invitation, but I don't know if I'll have enough time and- " Hestia was about to reject Dia's offer.

„we'll have a large Banquet with a lot of different kinds of food, " Dia said. She remembered how Hestia loved to eat a lot back in heaven.

„we're coming" Hestia happily smiled while agreeing, while Hephaestus looked dumbfounded at Hestia, thinking how easy it was to convince Hestia with delicious food.

„thank you, Hestia … " Dia was really glad that Hestia agreed, „I think my children might rejoice after seeing a fellow man from the same hometown".

Dia then looked to Hephaestus, „you've also invited Hephaestus, I'll also send others each an invitation"

„I doubt that I'll be able if I think about my timetable, but I think I can send Welf since he's meeting Bell a lot anyway"

After their talk, Dia took the requested Armor while giving the last down-payment to Hephaestus.

„you sure you can lift that, Dia", Hephaestus asked while

„yea, don't worry, and I've ordered Gita to wait outside anyway since she also helped me with the moneybag," Dia said while taking the armor, which was inside a box.

„Have a nice day you two" were her final words before leaving the shop.

While Hestia then continued working, she knew that when she comes home, she needs to talk with Noct about 'Silverlight'.

HESTIA FAMILIA HQ - NOON

Bell was confused. As waiting inside the church for Noct to come outside when he has put his new clothes, he didn't know if he was exhausted or excited.

The morning just passed and he already experienced a lot with Noct.

First the sea snake, then his negotiation with the Guild's captain.

As he said before, he now considered Noctis his 'sempai', as Mikoto probably would also say to him.

After checking his weapons, like the Hestia Knife, and other equipment, Bell was ready for the dungeon,

Bell saw the door opening, revealing Noct with his new attire, and even Bell had to admit that he looked much cooler than with the previous mainly black one.

(ENDING: KARMINA - WALK YOU HOME)