Danmachi Emerald Version
Chapter 1
World's fastest Rabbit
A/N:
Narration
"Talk"
Monologue
*sfx*
Dungeon,
"Seriously!" Gareth is flabbergasted. "Just what happened?"
Standing next to him on top of a plain are Finn, Riveria and Ais. Gareth looks at the stunned 2nd tier adventurers while Bete and the Amazon sisters went on a rampage.
"Though them going wild like this hasten our progress but at this rate the others won't be able to do a damn thing."
"Let's just say they saw a legend unfold before their eyes," Riveria said as she take a side glance at Ais who is controlling herself not to join in.
"A legend?" the dwarf asked, confuse as he looked at their leader who only give him a smile.
"Are you familiar with the story of Argonaut?" the Pallum asked.
"Familiar? Hah!" Gareth guffaw. "Just so you know, my line age comes from Garm's lineage himself. Of course I am well aware of it. So what's the deal anyway?"
"Let's say it is like seeing the epic fight of the Minotaur and Argonaut himself. Minus the princess helping him win. " Riveria added with a laugh. "Though it's not like our Princess didn't try helping him." she then glance at the so called princess at her side which earn a small laugh from Finn.
"Really? Damn! If I know such a thing then I might not agree on leading the main group."
"Indeed," Finn followed up. "His movements may have been crude and there are still some rough edges and openings here and there but Ais' little rabbit', a level one he may have been was able to defeat the Minotaur all by himself. To us who priority safety above else, his recklessness and bravery in the face of adversity is too alluring."
"Hoho~ Wait- Level 1?" Gareth asked his mouth hanging open. "Are you sure he is not just faking it?"
"Riveira and Ais have seen his status."
"Riveria," Ais said as if a trigger was ignited. Once again being reminded of Bell's fight. It reminded her of the status written on his back. "Is there a way to break your limit?"
"Ais, perish that stupid idea," Riveria warned sternly while massaging her temple.
Seeing Ais like this... there's no helping it.
"No need to hold yourself for us. Go."
"Thank you."
Ais jumped from the plain they are standing, activate her aria and shoots herself at the center of the horde of monsters where Bete and the Amazons are going.
"Ais as well?" Gareth face palm as he sees the valkyria side of their doll like princess. "Finn, Riveria just what the hell is going on here?!"
"Hmmm..." Riveria looked at Finn who looks back at her as well.
"Aside from a certain Goddess declaring war on me, nothing much. Ehe~" Riveria said cheerfully while knocking her head with her right fist while posing in a cutesy manner with her tongue out made the other two executive laugh so hard that they fell from the plain.
As if I can say that,
Riveria thought while firmly gripping her staff.
"Riveria, your's and Ais' reaction regarding Bell Cranel's status," Finn said. "You're hiding something."
"True," Riveria answered honestly much to the Braver's surprise. "Finn, how about a wager?"
"A wager?" Finn asked. "Why are you changing the subject?"
"With the exception of hooking you up with Ely-"
"W-where did that come from?!" Before she could interfere, Finn answer back.
For a rare instances, Finn showed a very flustered face.
"Ahahahahahaha! Good one!" Gareth laugh out loud.
"You too Gareth?"
"Please, it's written all over your face," Riveria added. "And her well being is the first thing you asked after catching up with you. So how about it?"
"And what's the stake here?" Finn sigh in defeat.
"Hey, don't exclude me,"
"Very well," Riveria said. With one eye close, she look at the battle field, mainly where Ais is. "If I win, I'll keep my mouth shut." She then stare down at their leader. "If Finn wins I'll tell you what is bothering Ais and some important information regarding Ely" She then look at Gareth as she figures out what is the best reward for the dwarf. "and if Gareth wins... well how about drinks on us for the next two months."
"Sounds interesting," Gareth said as he caress his beard. "And what are we betting at?"
"Floor Boss," Riveria said. "It's been a while so why don't we wager on who gets to kill each floor boss up to Balor"
"Wait... don't tell me you too as well?" Gareth exclaim. "Aren't you too old for this?"
"I'm in," Finn said a little more determined than before as he tap his right foot while his right hand uses the spear as support. He then look at the dwarf's questioning gaze. "Gareth, if you were there, you will also feel the same thing Bete and the others have."
"Heh! Very well then,"
Guild office
"Eina, are you listening to me?" Eina's superior Rehmer, a Chienthrope asked.
"Yes sir," Eina replied with her head down. "I won't make such an outburst anymore."
"Such actions will ruin the reputation of the guild," Rehmer continues. "And you Misha,"
"Y-yes!" Misha who is standing next to Eina straighten her back and replied frantically.
"Guild documents are to be handled properly,"
"Sir yes sir!"
After the chaos caused by Eina's sudden outburst, their team leader called them to his office. It was suppose to be just Eina but Misha's action(droping guild documents and stepping on some of it) after hearing Eina's outburst earn the ire of their superior.
"Good," Shifting his gaze from Misha to Eina before glancing at the report on his desk, the beastman scratches the back of his head while massaging his temple using his right hand "But seriously what is this?"
The 'this' in question is Bell Cranel's exploration record that Eina wrote after her small outburst.
"Do you really think we can publish this as a sure way to level up?"
"..."
Eina hung her head down as Misha glance at her and their superior. Whatever is in that report, the secret of Bell Cranel's quick level up is, their team leader is sure as hell adamant of keeping it a secret.
"This is practically telling the level one no, all adventurers to go die there!"
"I'm sorry."
"I appreciate the effort you give in making this report but we can't approve of this."
In all sense and manner, Eina understood her superior's sermon. Bell Cranel's growth is absurd and his exploration suicidal. Solo playing up to the tenth floor is already a herculean task for new adventurers but the monsters he hunts is something no normal solo adventurer of a months worth experience can do. War Shadow, Killer ants, Orcs, the Silverback of Monster Philia and at last the Minotaur that appeared on the ninth floor. A monster even seasoned level 2 have problem facing alone.
"I understand..." Eina lament as for the first time in her life, a report she made will not see the light of day. Little does she knows that this is just the beginning of it.
"Don't worry Bell," Hestia assured after embarrassing her child for his second er first skill. "I'll make sure you'll get a wonderful name."
With that, the Loli Goddess headed to her first Denantus, the Gods meeting where they discus important things and issue concerning all familias and also where they decide the nickname of adventurers that level up.
But...
"Bell I can't doi it," Hestia sobs repeatedly as she buried her face on the table after seeing how the God's meeting is being done especially to picking nicknames. Takemikazuchi's anguish is still fresh to her mind.
"Don't worry Hestia," Hephaestus console her as she rub her back. "I feel the same before."
"Hephaestus..." Hestia tilts her head and look at the one eyed goddess.
"You'll get used to it." Hephaestus said with dead fish eye and an aura of resignation.
"D'ya want me to butcher ya all?!"
With Loki's outburst, Both Hephaestus and Hestia look her way.
"So who's saying that MY Ais would be renamed as God's bride? Huh?!"
"NO MA'AM!" the Gods replied in unison.
"I thought so,"
After calming down, Loki sat down and put Ais' paper at the back.
Hm?
Loki tough as she scrutinize the next page. The adventurer under the midget.
"Before we began for this last one," Loki said sternly. "Shorty, be honest, what did you do?"
"This is it, Hestia," Hephaestus whisper as she nudge to the Loli goddess beside her using her elbow.
"Oi, just what are you implying here?" Hestia replied.
"Heh! Feigning ignorance eh?" Loki said grumpily with a click of the tongue. "Tell me, how can our grace let this happen? tell me."
"Loki, are you insinuating that Hestia modify this child?" Hephaestus asked as she look at her friend. "Hestia, she is accusing of modifying your child."
"I would never do that!" Hestia exclaim. "I may be new her but even I also know that is against the rules."
"Pheiphei, I know the two of you are friends but you must also find this strange right?" Loki said seriously. "We are talking about a month and a half here. A Friking MONTH AND A HALF!"
*bam*
Loki slam the table and stood violently.
"Even my Ais who is the previous record holder took a year before she level up. And that's with a party mind you."
I doubt shorty would use her arcanum. She's too stupid to think of that but there's also that other option of using monsters...
Loki took a deep breath as she arrange her thought.
She's stupid so it is possible that others would use that stupidity and play with her child's body.
"What's wrong with it?"
Eh?
As she is cornering the midget goddess and trying to extract information that might link her to 'them', the group her familia encountered time and time again, a certain goddess voiced her opinion. A goddess of beauty that has not even tried participating in their activity. Heck even her being here is nothing more than a miracle itself.
"Oi boob fer brain," Loki mocked. "Don't ya get it? Can't yer horny mind process this? We are talking bout a month and a half here."
"All I see here is a goddess throwing tantrum because her favored child's record has been broken," Freya said coolly as she look at the gods ans goddess in the room. "Hestia also denies that allegation. From my view you are the one doing something improper here.
The improper in question is the rule that other familia can't interfere with other familia's internal affairs including information of the children's skill.
"Haaaaaah? Where is this... Don't tell me yer covering up for that midget coz yer feeling guilty, is that it?"
Seeing as the deities started to murmur with one another, Loki sat with a satisfied look.
The issue Loki raise as counter is how Freya's familia is connected to the Minotaur getting up to the ninth floor. The same Minotaur that Hestia's child beat.
Seeing how the others are starting to agree with her, Loki shot Hestia a condescending look before focusing on a certain inter looper.
Eh?
Loki is taken a back. Rather than feeling irritated or cornered, the Goddess Freya just look at her straight in the eye with a smile on her face.
"Fufufu," Freya gave an alluring and gentle giggle that takes the attention of all the Gods and Goddesses in that room. "If you truly are going that path then I have no choice but to point one glaring fact as well."
"And what could that be?" Loki asked not even hiding her irritation.
"Hestia," Freya called.
"Y-yes?"
"Is this the first time your child faced against the Minotaur?"
"No."
Hestia's answer began another small discussion among the deities as Loki started to sweat as well as she is seeing where the conversation is going.
"The first one was a week after My Bell became an adventurer. I think it was on the fifth floor."
*tsk*
Loki click her tongue with Hestia'a answer.
"See?"
"See what?"
"The actions of your children that let loose the minotaur up to the fifth floor created a predestined relationship with that child. Because of that relationship, the grace given to that child gave extra meaning to when that child breaks the barrier between levels and miraculous defeated that monster don't you think?"
"As farfetched as it sound, I have to agree in that logic," Hephaestus added.
One by one, the deities who are questioning the legitimacy of the child's level up began to side with Freya's argument.
*tsk*
Loki click her tongue as she look at the goddess of beauty who shot her back with a meaningful smile.
Wait a minute... don't tell me... is he the...
*clap*
Freya clapped her hands once, garnering all their attention.
"This conversation reminds me of a similar conversation Nine Hell had with my child, on the eve of the Minotaur's attack" Freya look at Loki seriously before giving a mischievous smile. Beautiful but mischievous. "Truth be told, I also feel guilty for the events that had happened a few days ago," Wiping a tear(fake) on her left eye, the goddess stood and look at the rest of the deities bar Loki. "Though it may not be enough, I payed the quarter amount of dept Hestia have with Hephaestus as compensation. I just hope you'll be a bigger person and take responsibility with your child's action as well."
With that the Goddess of beauty started to left.
"Wait!" A goddess with a very bountiful chest and wavy golden haired called her. "Aren't you going to finish this?"
"Sorry, I have some things to finish but if you are going to give him a nickname, can't you think of something cute?"
"Yes!" all the Gods replied.
"Whew... safe..." Hestia sigh. Before looking at the person standing next to her. "What do you want?"
"Though I don't like this but letting that bimbo do as she please pisses me off."
"And?"
"Consider this as partial payment." Loki said as she look at the door Freya exited. "Be careful shorty."
"Bout what?"
"That bimbo just protected your child. Think about it."
"Eh? Freya... and Bell?"
Guild lobby
An hour after the God's meeting, the guild posted the nicknames of the adventurers.
Several employees and adventurer alike gather around the bulletin board. Two of the employees are the Half Elf Eina and the human Misha.
Seeing her friend glow, Misha snicker and walk beside her. "So what's his nickname?"
"Little rookie," Eina replied with a smile.
Hearth Mansion.
"Hyakinthos," After arriving back from the God's meeting, the God Apollo called the captain of his familia. "Station some personnel and gather information about our rookie."
"As you wish,"
Aaaaaaaaaannnnd cut!
A/N:
And with this the chapter comes to a close. Though the story is slow of pace (romantic development wise) and runs in parallel with the canon time line, the small pebbles, changes scattered around the previous and current arc will have some major changes in the near future.
For the review, likes and follow, thanks!
Made some minor changes. Corrected some grammar and spelling err. v.1
