DanMachi Emerald Version

Chapter 2

His Side: High Elf's Worries

The issue with monsterphilia still wasn't resolve. Sanctions were given to Ganesha'sfamilia and some of the guild's personnel yet the culprit or should I say culprits are still out one responsible for the monster's escape is most likely the Goddess Freya. From my discussion earlier with my Goddess Loki, she already confronts the Goddess of Beauty but for some reason, Loki is backing out. Her odd reaction of not wanting to be involve in the investigation that might lead to the Goddess of Beauty means the two reach a compromise or at best,LadyFreya's leverage is far greater than Loki's.

Then there's that rookie adventurer. He and his Goddess seem oblivious that the attack of the Silverback on them was staged. From his Goddess's testimony, the monster was focused on chasing her. It only focused on attacking Mr. Cranel when he starts fighting back. Is this whole incident brought by the Goddess's jealousy? Wanting to take the white haired adventurer for herself, she staged a scenario for the demise of the Goddess Hestia. In that case who ever he fell in love with that is not Lady Freya herself will be in for a lot of trouble.

The high elf took a sudden pause and sigh as she was reminded of the longing if not lovestruckgaze the white haired adventurer gave her from time to time.

"Let's not go there..."

If the plot is that sinister, I don't think my Goddess would easily back down. She may whine and quarrel with the Lady Hestia but she herself is enjoying those small quarrels she had with the that case, is this perhaps the 'playing a prank to the one you like' or something deeper?

"...ria!"

Huh?

"Eeeeehhh?!"

That voice...

Turning around, I saw two familiar faces. The first one being the daughter of my long friendAina and the one next to her with a panic expression is the white haired adventurer that's occupying a part of my mind as of late

"If it isn't Eina and Mr. Cranel."

Being called by, I decided to walk to them and noticing the extreme despair of the white haired adventurer and the questioned look of Eina.

"Eh?! Y-you know each other?!"

I replied with a soft smile and a nod to her puzzled look while taking a short glance at the adventurer beside her that keeps muttering It's over.

"Are you two by chance on a date?"

I jokingly asked only to receive an unexpected response. Bell Cranel seems to be in utter shock to have heard me while my friend Eina blushes and fidgeted profoundly.

You've got to be kidding me.

"T-that not the case, Lady Riveria!"

Eina vehemently denied. With a flustered face.

"I..."

And she told me the whole incident since yesterday.

"Seventh floor?"

I asked once more hoping I didn't heard it wrong.

"Yes. This idiot here just came waltzing to the seventh floor with such armor."

This is giving me a headache. His recklessness is on the same level or even higher than that of Ais.

"Eina, you do know that having good equipment is not enough for adventurers to survive the lower floor, right?"

I ask just in case. She seems to harbor special feelings for the adventurer under her care that I need to make sure she is not being swade by emotions for her decision making.

"His status already covers it."

Eh? A new adventurer that hasn't been in this field of work for a month has a high enough status that allows him to solo play the seventh floor. Is this the brilliance the Goddess of beauty mentioned?


"Welcome, we have special discount for – ack! R-R-Riversomething!"

Ummuuu what is the meaning of this Bell?!After being kick out- er ask off the weapons section, they had me go to the entrance and call for potential customers. My charisma might not be as absurd as Freya but I'm doing quite a nice job if I say so my self until they come. Walking side by side is the adviser of MY Bell and that high elf Riversomething. A few feet away is my child walking almost lifelessly.

"Hello there, Goddess Hestia," the two replied to my outburst.

"... ack! G-G-Goddess!" upon realizing who the two is talking to, my child jolted back as if waking from a horrible dream.

"Bell, what is the meaning of this?!"

Without further ado I jumped into my child and begins to badger him with questions.

"When did you start acting like a stalker?! What the heck do you think you're doing?!"

"Lady Hestia, actually..."

From Ms. Adviser's explanation, she invites MY Bell out so that they could find a suitable armor if she is ever to allow him to go adventuring in the seventh floor onward. Seeing that this reckless child is doing something dangerous again, I can't help but agree with her. But...

"By the way,"

Taking a peek at the high elf accompanying them, I drag my child's adviser away from the two.

"Is there a reason to invite her?"

I whispered while pointing at Riversomething's location.

"Eh? Lady Riveria is a top class adventurer that does not look down on new or low level adventurers. I think hearing her opinion or output would be beneficial for Bell."

Mukiii! I can't argue with that logic if its beneficial to my Bell.

"There's no hidden motives here right?"

I KNEW IT!

Seeing Ms. Adviser fidgets and avoid my stare are enough warning signs to tell me that she's not on my side..

"Well... I thought it would be nice if Bell is to meet the person he admires and listen to her side. Hoping that would be enough to ingrain somesense of danger into him."

*sigh*

"Very well, you can go now."

"Thank you Lady Hestia."

Ms. Adviser left after bowing.

"But I have my eyes on you."

I said loud enough for her to hear. How dare she play match maker with MY Bell!


While Ms. Eina and Goddess are talking, I was left alone with Ms. Riveria while the desire to flee grew stronger.

"Mr. Cranel,"

Just when my foot took one step back, MsRiveria suddenly called me.

"Y-yes?!"

"Honor and fame is worthless if you're dead."

Eh? This line…

"Things only have value if you're alive."

This is similar to what Mama Mia told me.

"I… I'm sorry…"

I see… Ms. Eina's being angry is warranted for my actions. I once again let my naivety get the best out of me.


And yet even after all those words of wisdom, that scolding's that I'd receive, I still let my naïve impulse lead me.

"Any last words Bell?"

My Goddess asked. She is furious for multiple reasons and being late for the job is the least of it.

"I'M SOOOORY!"

"It's not my place to reprimand you as you don't belong to our Familia but-" Ms. Riveria said with a piercing look. "Not only you've disregards our advice but you also run from our sword princess that stays up late to guard you during your time of invulnerability."

S-s-s-so that really was Ais Walenstein!

"Seriously Bell. What is wrong with you? Aren't I enough?"

Eh? What does Goddess mean by that?

"Wooing another one. Bell are you still going on with your childish dreams of picking up girls in the dungeon?!"

"Eh?"

Nononononononononono! Goddess, why did you have to tell that right in front of Ms. Riveria?


"Eh?"

I unconsciously blurted out. Picking girls in the dungeon?

"Pfufuhahahaha."

In an uncharacteristic manner, I laugh. Similar to my outburst earlier, I laugh.

"Sorry about that,"

I apologize to the questioning look of Lady Hestia and the white haired adventurer who is on the verge of tears.

"That was rude of me. No matter what it is, those goals serves as fuel for adventurers to continue their pursuit. Even something like building a harem."

He is a honest to goodness a pure and naïve kid. The purity that makes him not suitable to be an adventurer.

"It's not like that, Ms. Riveria!"

So even he can make such a face. Even on the verge of crying, he stood defiantly to us who were reprimanding him earlier.

"Are you making me a liar, B~E~L~L?"

"I-It's not like that Goddess! It's true that was my goal when I first came here to Orario but that is no longer the case!"

"Never the less,"

I intervene just in case Lady Hestia forgot what was the purpose of this talk.

"You go into the dungeon and uses magic until you faint."

"Mind zero? Bell! What the heck is going on in that mind of yours."

Hearing the reason as to how Mr. Cranel is in that state in the dungeon, Lady Hestia panics and start shaking him violently.

"You're practically begging for the monsters to come right at you!"

"I'M REALLY SORRY GODDESS!"

Once again, the adventurer Bell Cranel knelt.

"As much as I hate it, Ricersomething and Ms. Adviser are right. I'm too lenient on you."

Starting from an angry expression, the Goddess Hestia kneel in front of Mr. Cranel with a worried and sorrowful expression.

"You can't continue doing this Bell."

"Goddess."

The Goddess Hestia cup both cheeks of Bell as she level her self to him, head and eyes looking at the floor.

"I told you to not leave me behind remember?"

With teary eyes, she face him.

"T-that's why-"

"Owowowowow-Goddess that hurts!"

From an gentle and mournful expression, the Goddess' angry facial expression returned as the hands that cupped his cheeks gently are now pinchh him mercilessly.

"Owowowowowowow- G-goddess, I'm sooooorrrrrry!"

Seeing the antics being unfold right in front of mereminds me when our familia is just starting. The quarrelsI had with Finn and Gareth and our interactions with our Goddess Loki.

To avoid another outburst of laughter, I turned my head aside and there lying on the table of their small familia is a book. Not just any other book but a Grimoire. Considering the state of the Hestia familia, [seeing a grimoire is the least I'd expect.

*Cough*

"Lady Hestia, is this perhaps a Grimoire?"

Walking pass them, I fake a cough to get their attention.

"A-Aaaaaaaaaaah!"

Seeing where I am standing, Lady Hestia panics and rushes quickly and grabs the book lying on the table and kneel in a similar fashion as Mr. Cranel earlier.

Giving in to my skeptic look, Lady Hestia confessed the 'crime' they apparently had committed even if I didn't ask for it. Lady Hestia confessed that his child suddenly gained magic yesterday and did not question the methodology of how but upon realising the book left there was a grimoire,

"Please keep it a secret! I beg of you. I am already in a massive debt with Hephaestus. Paying this grimoire would take more than an eternity even for me. So please I beg of you!"

The kneeling position, he must have learned it from her.

"A quick trigger spell."

I mutter under my normal circumstances, I would believe that it really is an unfortunate incident that a grimoire was left in the Hostess of Fertility and was given to him when he is pondering about having his own magic. But the key word here is normal circumstances. Mama Mia was the former captain for Lady Freya. Even if she retired a long time ago and had not been involved with her old familia, that place of hers is still... no. I must not over think this and jump to conclusion until I have solid proof.

"Mr. Cranel, in this situation, how would you response?"

"Well..."

"Bell those kind of book cost a fortune. It's as expensive as your knife that I beg Hepaestus to make that's why we should have thrown that book! Bell you're too kind but the world in not kind. In fact it would eat you up. That's why we should not let anyone know that you've read this book especially if you meet the real owner!"

"That's Lady Hestia's stand. What about yours?"


"Mama Mia, I'm terribly sorry about this!"

Following my conscience, I went to the Hostess of Fertility and apologize to Mama Mia while Ms. Riveira accompanied Goddess to her work place to apologize for being late.

"Actually about this-eek!"

I couldn't help but shriek at the furious gaze Mama Mia gave after I shown her the Grimoire.

"He-he, looks like you're in big trouble, Bell."

Coming out from the kitchen, Ms. Syr approaches us with the regular lunch box at hand.

"Ms. Syr, please don't act like you're not involve in this!"

"Eh? But I'm not the one who did the incredible right?"

Ugh! That begging puppy dog eyes is cute- I mean too cunning. She's using me as a sacrificial sheep.

"Right, Bell?"

"Even if you look at my like that- "

*bam*

Mama Mia Slams the table and look at the both of us.

"It's irritating for you to do this early in the morning. But this was already read so don't fret about it."

"Eehhh? But…"

"Listen, this is a Grimoire, the owner must be liable for this. She should already expect that the book will be read by someone else if she left it elsewhere."

For some reason, Mama Mia whose eyes were closes when explaining took a small peak at Ms. Syr before looking at me.

"So get your lunch and scam already."

"Y-yes!"


A/N:

So that's for this chapter. Unlike the original where Ais had little interaction with Bell, Riveria takes center stage. As seen in the previous chapter, I took a small jab at the Goddess Hestia whenever she is updating Bell's skill. I mean is there really a need for Bell to take his clothes off?

For this arc of the story, I spilt it into his side and her side. One with Bell and the other with Liliy. Though for the time being I have yet to write Lily's side as I'll be focusing back to Divergence.

For the review, likes and follows, thanks.