"Bell!" Serafall leapt from the couch as soon as she saw the flash of red. She had been sprawled across the cushions while reading another novel one of her servants had discovered from yet another fallen Adventurer. It was not only her source of entertainment for a long while but it was also insight towards the machinations of the surface world.
She found some of the pages annoying. They were stained with the blood of the Adventurer. Especially when it covered up the specifics behind the lovey-dovey scenes.
But now the book was meaningless when she had the raw source material! Someone who actually lived in the surface world!
She tossed the book over her shoulder and approached her Queen.
"H-Hello… Sera…fall…" he grumbled as his balance swayed.
A full week had passed since they found each other and still he hadn't gotten used to the teleportation magic she showed him. He showed improvement in his tolerance but he was still far from fully functional after the transfer was done. He still needed a moment to regain his equilibrium.
"Welcome back!" Serafall cheered and approached him. "How was your trip today? Slay any monsters? Meet any new Adventurers? Did you get into a bar fight over a wench yet?"
"Um… no?" Bell offered with a wary smile.
"Poo~" Serafall puffed out her cheeks in disappointment.
"I'm sorry, Serafall," he said while crossing the room and unstrapping his pouch. He emptied the contents into the small table. "This was all I was able to get today."
They were a few copper and silver coins collectively worth no more than three hundred valis.
"Hey!" Serafall beamed a smile at him. "That's more than yesterday! And you didn't come back ruining your dress this time! You've improved by a whopping 270% efficiency rate, Bell! Way to go!"
"Somehow your words hurt more than help," Bell sobbed as he fell into the loveseat. "I'm doing the best I can but this is all I can manage to grab. I don't know what I'm doing wrong. Whenever I go into the Dungeon… I can't find any monsters. And whenever I manage to run into any of them, they immediately run away from me as soon as they see me."
Serafall plopped down onto the couch across of him. She didn't say anything as her eyes watched him closely.
"I talked to Miss Eina about it," he went on. "She said she found it strange too. She said monsters attack any Adventurer, especially newbies like me. I haven't been able to fight a single monster since joining your familia. All I'd manage to do was find magic stones left by other Adventurers and put them into the Exchange in the Guild."
Hence why he had chump change after spending half a day down in the Dungeon.
"Maybe they don't want to ruin your dress?" Serafall suggested with a serious and focused look on her face. She leaned forward, propped her elbow onto her knee, and rested her chin onto her knuckles. "It's not exactly pink but… you pull off the blue nicely. Hmm. Maybe I should have made it white or red? Something that makes your eyes pop out?"
"I don't think that's the problem!" he blurted out with a flushed face. "And Serafall, please, can I have attire for men! All the other Adventurers I run into keep trying to court me! A-And with what happened with Miss Wallenstein…"
"Nuh-uh," Serafall wagged her finger like a mother scolding her child. "Bell, I chose this outfit specifically with you in mind. I'm doing this for your sake. This is all for your goal in becoming the greatest Adventurer out there. Trust me."
"But everyone keeps thinking I'm a girl!" Bell cried with tears threatening to fall. "The maids from the Benevolent Mistress keep asking me to apply for a job! Adventurers keep buying me drinks and asking me to join their parties! S-Some have even tried to… to… t-t-touch me."
He was shaking hard enough to visibly vibrate the chair.
"Why don't you join their parties then?" Serafall asked him with her tone shifting. "Part of the contract was for you to engage with people more often. I wanted to learn everything about the surface world, don't you remember?"
Bell flinched as he recalled the conditions for joining this familia.
"But why does it have to be in a dress…?" he asked with a defeated voice. "I wanted to be a hero like in the stories Gramps told me."
"…You could say it's a special property after joining my family," Serafall said aloud.
Bell lifted his head to look at her.
She had a thoughtful expression as she was looking away. "You are my Queen, Bell. Therefore, you are in identical likeness to myself. You not only hold a part of myself inside you, but you also share in the same characteristics."
"W-What does that mean, exactly? Are you talking about the falna ritual?"
"The dress will make you stronger," she said, turning her eyes back onto him. She then smiled sweetly and added, "It's super cute and it makes you look adorable. You are going to be the center of everyone's attention. You are going to have everyone's… Envy."
Bell shuddered. It felt like a phantom hand had just ran its fingers down his back in an attempt to sooth him. All it did was frighten him.
Something in her tone and the impish smile she had proved she was no mortal creature. She was his goddess.
She was also significantly older than him. She called Adventurers 'heroes', signifying she was around before the formation of the Guild, before Babylon Tower was built, and before the rest of the gods entered the mortal plains.
"You mean… it's to boost my self-confidence?" he asked next. He wondered if she was trying to teach him a sort of morality lesson by forcing him into this dress.
"Oh yeah huh," Serafall blinked with astonishment. She smiled brightly and waved a hand towards him. "That's something else too! Sure, sure. If you can embrace the moé side, only then will you understand the true meaning of power!"
She finished the statement with a twinkle in her eyes and a fist shaking in triumph.
The doorknob to her room rattled a few times. Bell heard the scratching and cawing from the other side. He stood up immediately and hurried across so to let Sebastian inside.
The Crow Demon cawed once in (presumably) thanks while hopping inside. It bobbed its head up and down once in its fashion of a bow, and then let out a series of caws to Serafall.
"Eh?!" Serafall blanched and jerked where she sat. "N-Now?! They're here?! B-But the meeting wasn't supposed to happen until the end of the month!"
Sebastian cawed again.
"That's not fair!" Serafall pointed a finger at the Crow Demon. "It's only been a week! We all agreed I would have a month to give a detailed analysis for them. What am I supposed to tell them?!"
Another caw.
"…I guess there's no helping it," Serafall deflated in her seat.
"Serafall?" Bell approached her and stood beside the butler. "Is something going on? Is everything alright?"
"Thank you, Sebastian," Serafall stood with an annoyed huff. "Please see to it our guests are treated to while they wait. This is so not cute. If I knew what they were up to I would have bathed this evening. Today was supposed to be my veg day."
Every day was her veg day these days. Today she was still in her wooly pajamas.
Sebastian cawed, bobbed his head again, and then hopped away back out the door.
Somehow, the door closed behind him without anyone touching it.
"Bell, come over here for a second," Serafall said as she pulled open her wardrobe. A single moth flew out of the still empty boards. She shut it quickly with another huff. "I need you to help me dress."
"W-Wha?!" Bell's face heated up. "D-Dress?! Y-You want me to dress you?"
"…Only if you want," Serafall said with another thoughtful look. She shook her head and snapped back into focus. "Maybe later. We don't have time for that. I need to know something. What kind of clothes would a… hypothetical dark lord wear?"
"Oh…" Bell breathed out a huge sigh of relief. A part of him was disappointed but he wasn't going to admit it to Serafall anytime soon. "That's all you wanted? But, Serafall, why dress like a villain? Shouldn't you wear something more like a goddess?"
"I have a reputation to hold up," she answered. "I want to wear my miracle magical girl outfit… but it's improper for this situation. So-tan would chew me out for this and I don't want to make my adorable little sister mad again…"
For the record, Bell had yet to run into this So-tan—or Sona, which was her actual name—since joining the familia. He was starting to believe she wasn't real.
"Are the people who came really that important?" Bell asked. "Are they other gods from your pantheon?"
"…Sure," she said after a moment. "In a sense. It's complicated. Downstairs in the foyer is Bee-tan, Asmo-tan, and my technical boss, Luci-tan and his wife, Fia-tan."
Bell's mouth dropped open. "T-They're here?! Here?!"
"Yes! Which is why I need you to help me put on a dress! We can't keep them waiting much longer. I bet getting Asmo-tan to show up cost an arm and a leg. Maybe even literally! Now, what kind of clothes would a dark lord wear?"
Bell didn't understand why she wanted to dress like the villain in his stories.
…Then again, he couldn't understand why she dressed him up like a girl.
He decided to go along with it and describe what he remembered from Dungeon Oratario. He recalled the black knight, the evil sorcerer, the corrupt advisor, the bad witches, and several others.
Serafall nodded her head at every time he described what the pictures in his storybook showed. Most of the time the villain dressed in spiked armor or shredded robes. Really, they wore anything that made them look all the more menacing.
"Menacing…" Serafall muttered. She stared at herself in the mirror while tapping a finger at her chin. "Now how to combine menacing with cuteness?"
"…Serafall I don't think that's how it works," Bell tried to tell her.
"The artist is at work, Bell," Serafall cut off any other word while she made a square with her fingers, squinted one of her eyes, and tried to look at herself through the block. Inspiration struck her like a bolt of lightning suddenly. "Ah ha! I think I got it! Wait. No. Lost it. Hold on… processing… downloading… GOT IT!"
Another one of her magic circles sprouted below her feet and rose up to envelope her body. It spun as it climbed higher, altering her clothes with a completely new fashion.
When she was finished… Bell was rendered a gaping fish.
She had an exotic black suit that exposed a large sum of her pearly skin. It was really black fabric with golden embroidery that kept her breasts upright like a pair of hands cupping along their sides, a strip covering her midriff, and a long flap covering her precious spot. It left the entirety of her legs, hips, waist, and half of her breasts exposed for the world to see.
But she also donned a large black cloak with a high collar that was cut to look like a pair of black wings, gauntlets and spalders with golden sigils etched into them, and black boots.
"Well Bell?" Serafall spun around to eye herself in the mirror. She struck various poses, enjoying herself further with every motion. "What do you think? Is it menacing and cute at the same time? I think so!"
Bell couldn't stop staring. Specifically at her breasts. They looked ready to pop out of the barely managing dress, especially with the way she was moving around in front of the mirror.
"I shall take that as approval," Serafall said with a delighted smile.
"I-I didn't say anything!" Bell said with a deep flush.
"Oh Bell," she giggled. "The fact you can't stop staring at my breasts prove it. Think about it! While the hero is captivated by these things I could have killed him several times over! This is exactly the attire of a dark lord!"
She made him flush further by grabbing her own breasts for emphasis.
"Alright, that's enough of that," she said while eyeing him. "Hold still. And… done!"
She waved a hand in his direction. A magic circle appeared below his feet, rose, and altered his appearance. He was no longer dressed in his blue Adventuring uniform. Serafall had managed to dress him in a fine pressed suit belonging to a wealthy merchant.
He almost embraced her and shed tears of joy. He had forgotten the blessing that was pants!
"Now come on," she said while skipping towards the door. "We can't keep them waiting any longer."
"You mean we're not going to teleport there?" he asked incredulously. He walked passed her to open the door for her.
She stopped in her tracks to stare up at him for a moment.
"Bell… I'm not that lazy. We can walk. Don't tell me you've been teleporting everywhere! Shame, shame! You're going to get fat if all you do is zip to your location all the time!"
"I do not!" Bell tried to convince her otherwise.
0-0-0
Bell had yet been able to explore every crevice of Serafall's castle. Honestly, he was afraid of getting lost. Serafall hadn't had much of a chance to show him around. She was either too tired in the mornings or he was too tired after being in the Dungeons. Their sleep schedules were always against the other's.
Sebastian was also no help. He was often nowhere to be found except whenever Serafall called for him. And whenever Bell could get the Crow Demon's attention… he was starting to think Sebastian couldn't understand him.
The Crow Demon pecked at his head and usually walked away.
Today was a lucky day. Serafall held his hand as she pulled him along. The hallways were lit with magic lanterns unlike any other Bell had seen. Serafall called them lightbulbs and said they were an invention of 'Bee-tan'. She pointed down hallways and doors, telling him which way was what and what led to where.
He found out he had a room of his own. He always thought he was supposed to dorm with his goddess.
They descended down a grand set of marble stairs with velvet carpeting. An extravagant chandelier hung over the high ceiling, lighting up the entire room that was as large as the Guild's main building interior.
They turned the corner and went to one of the rooms in the side.
The foyer was just as ludicrously large as Serafall's room and just as ridiculously extravagant as anything else Bell had seen in the castle. There was a fireplace as high as he was tall and three times as wide. A row of velvet chairs and sofas were spread out with small tables per each group. Rugs of slain beasts covered the carpeted floors.
In the front of the fireplace were three humanoid figures in each of their own seats. Two of them were sitting upright in chairs while the third was laying sideways on a sofa with his elbow propped and supporting his head. They were dressed in the same ragged cloaks Serafall had worn the first time Bell had ran into her. The two in the chair were engaging in conversation; one doing all the talking while the other quietly sipped his tea.
If Serafall could be confused as an extremely dangerous monster or a high-level Adventurer, there was no doubt at all in the presence of the two conversing.
Both of them, without any need of argument, were gods. Bell could almost grasp the thickness of their power exuding out of their bodies.
The third figure, however, had the same presence as Serafall.
"Bee-tan!" Serafall skipped past Bell and ran up towards the group. "Luci-tan! Asmo-tan! So good to see you again!"
"Squaw!" croaked the servant standing to the side.
"No, I'm fine, thank you," Serafall shook her head. "But I don't think Bell has eaten. Why don't you bring him something?"
"Squaw!" said the servant again as it tattered on its eight legs out of the room. It had to crawl sideways in order to squeeze through the door.
It should be mentioned all of the servants of Serafall's Castle (trademarked, according to Serafall herself; whatever that meant) were monsters. All of them.
The one servant tending to the guests hadn't been Sebastian. This one had been a giant spider, a baby Mother Arachnid based on its size to move freely around the castle. But, frighteningly, this one had a maid's lace headpiece.
Bell had seen imps carrying laundry, orcs polishing the statues and lighting, and bugbears mopping the floors. According to Serafall, the kitchens were run by goblins and the gardens managed by gnomes.
He had yet to see a single window inside the castle so he couldn't exactly see the gardens. Nor could he tell where exactly the castle was within Orario.
"I wish you would stop calling me that," one of the men stated in a flat tone.
"Don't be like that, Bee-tan," Serafall waved a dismissive hand at him. "It makes your name that much cuter. Doesn't it sound nice?"
'Bee-tan', Bell didn't know what it was short for, let out a weary sigh.
"I think it's refreshing," said the other stranger sitting across of him. His tone was pleasant and charming. "Besides, you know it's impossible to stop her once she has her mind set on something."
"…Not without destroying a small continent just to have her start thinking about reconsideration," 'Bee-tan' muttered once before drinking his tea again.
"Hngh," snorted the third member.
…No, not snorted. Snored. He was fast asleep.
"Hello there," said the charming man. He rose from his seat as a pair of glowing blue-green eyes pierced through the darkness of his hood. He had spotted Bell. "You must be Bell Cranel. We have heard so much about you."
He became the sudden center of attention. The more somber man turned his head; a pair of glowing turquoise eyes studied him with clinical fascination. And the slumbering man was awake. But he only raised a half-lidded glowing red orb at Bell. It soon shut and he was back asleep.
"Bell, come here and introduce yourself!" Serafall said quickly. She waved a hand at him for him to hurry.
He stepped up and bowed his head. "H-Hello! I'm Bell Cranel. I'm the first member of S— of Miss Serafall's familia. I'm sorry, I've only heard a little bit about you, sir."
"Serafall…?" 'Bee-tan' muttered with mild curiosity. "Familia?"
"Is that so?" the man's eyes glittered with a smile. Bell could almost see pearly white teeth but the fire behind him made it harder to make anything out. "I'm sure everything you heard has been exaggerated. Ah, but where are my manners? Please allow me to introduce myself. I am Luci—"
"TAN!" Serafall shouted out at the top of her lungs. She waved her hands around everywhere as a cold sweat washed over her brow. "Don't forget to add the 'tan' honorific! It's what makes your name cute."
Everyone stared at her for a moment. Her eyes continued to beam up towards 'Luci-tan' in hopes some sort of telepathic message would make its way towards him.
"Um…" Bell went back to face the man. He bowed again, "I-It's nice to finally meet you, Mister Luci."
Suddenly, everything just went wrong.
The fire went out. Darkness descended down onto the room. No, more than just darkness. The shadows themselves bent and became blacker than what was possible. Something cold swept through Bell as he felt something sharp press itself against his neck. He couldn't breathe. He couldn't move. The smallest twitch would end his life.
Death, he realized. This was the feeling of death.
Something slithered through the darkness. He could make out the twisted and corrupt figure of some sort of abomination. It was darker than the darkness of the room. It had a face, it had several appendages, it had claws and hooks and fangs sharper than any Adventurer's blade.
A monster he hadn't seen before made itself present. It let out a hiss as three eyes made contact with Bell's.
He was sure he was about to soil himself. Or faint. Or both.
"Grayfia, darling," 'Luci-tan' chuckled lightly. "Be reasonable. The boy obviously doesn't know anything about us. It's all just a misunderstanding."
The oppressive aura of death tightened for just a second. And then it quickly washed away. The fire came back alive and light returned to the room. The darkness shrank as the light grew to its natural brightness.
Bell saw the thing slither across the air and make itself the shadow of the man.
"Now then," the man said aloud. "Serafall, why don't you properly introduce us to your charge?"
"…That probably would be best," Serafall considered. "Okay! So! Bell, this is… Bell? Are you listening?"
"W…What…" Bell sputtered in a squeaky voice. "What was that…?"
"My lovely wife," the man leapt in with an excited tone, gushing full of love and admiration. "Her name is Grayfia. Please forgive her. She can be a little harsh at times but she means well. You should see her back home. She spoils our son rotten and—ow, ow, ow, ow!"
A tendril of darkness appeared… and began to twist his ear.
"She is a Lucifuge," the other man replied in a lecturing tone. "The last of her kind. They are a unique breed of monster only found on Floor 95. A very territorial bunch that will attack anything under their control. Including their own kind, which is why she is the last. That being in defense to the entire floor, treasures from fallen heroes, lesser monsters under their command, to even a husband's honor."
"A… A m-monster?!" Bell blurted out. "And he's married to one?!"
The man continued to study him as though Bell were some sort of scientific experiment.
"I know!" the charming man gave a delighted sigh. "I'm the lucky one. Ours is a story straight out of a romance novel. She was the enemy and I will not deny we had tried to kill the other numerous times. It was a forbidden love. She was branded a traitor and her followers turned against her. And it was I who came to her rescue. I'll never forget that day. Incidentally, we celebrated our nine-thousandth anniversary not so long ago."
Nine thousand?! They've been married that long?! How old was this god exactly?!
He must have been as old as the Dungeon itself. Adventurers in the modern age have only been able to reach down to the Floor 50 with Thor Familia rumored to break that record and challenge the Leviathan.
But to marry a monster? Bell could only chalk it up as the different thoughts of a god when compared to a mortal.
Wait… didn't he say they had a son?! HOW?!
He failed to see the man offer a different sort of smile towards Serafall. And she, in turn, looked grateful for it.
"Bell, let me introduce you now," Serafall said as she pulled Bell a little closer. She pointed first towards the charming man. "This is… um…"
She paused to think. It was the same way she did when she was trying to introduce herself to Bell the first time.
"Sir…zech…s," she said, adding that extra S at the last instance. "Sirzechs! It has nothing to do with my figurine collection at all, I swear!"
"…You mean like with Grayfia?" asked the somber man.
"Me coming up with her name is entirely different!" Serafall defended. "We can't just call her Lucifuge the entire time! Why don't we just call Bell Human from now on?"
The man, Sirzechs spread his hands and offered a light bow. "That is me. Sirzechs. It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Mister Cranel. Would you permit me to call you Bell from now on?"
"Ah… y-yes!" Bell said, snapping his attention back to Sirzechs after being distracted by their argument.
"And this guy right here is…" Serafall turned Bell's shoulders and pointed at the next individual.
The somber man crossed his legs and cupped his hands together over his knee. He had a mildly curious expression in his eyes but not one with high expectations.
"A…ju…ka. Ajuka!"
"Ajuka it is," the man dipped his head in acknowledgement.
"And last is… Bru… No that's not cute. Fal…bi… Fali… um… Wait. That's it! Falbium!"
…Bell doubted the credibility of Serafall's word at this instance.
"Hmn," the man lying on the sofa grunted with both his eyes lazily opening.
"Yes," Sirzechs said aloud. "His name is Falbium. Isn't that right?"
"Hngh," Falbium snorted and readjusted the placement of his head before shutting his eyes again.
At this instance, the servant's door opened again with the Mother Arachnid crawling around the furniture to reach Bell. On its head was a tray of sandwiches and glass of milk.
"T-Thank you," Bell said as he inched himself as close to the spider as he dared and took the tray. It felt like the… maid was going to eat him alive.
The hooks that made for its teeth chattered, it bent its legs in what could be its version of a bow, and clacked its hooks once more.
"That'll be all, thank you," Serafall said to it.
The Mother Arachnid bowed again and scurried out of the room.
"Now that introductions are out of the way," Ajuka said with an impatient tone, "I would like to hear more about you, Mister Cranel. Would you mind if I prod your mind with questions?"
"Aju-tan," Serafall said in a scolding tone. She no longer called him 'Bee-tan', Bell noticed. "Don't be rude now. Bell just came home from a long day down in the Dungeon. At least let him have his dinner!"
"…Dinner?" Ajuka questioned. "But it's only evening. Shouldn't he be having breakfast?"
"Bell hasn't adapted to our time just yet," Serafall replied. "He still works in the daytime, which, I learned, is what the majority of the surface world does too."
Ajuka nodded once but his eyes showed dissatisfaction.
"It's okay, Serafall," Bell told her. "I don't mind answering a few questions. It's the least I can do after everything."
Serafall looked like she wanted to argue. But she gave in. Though, she puffed out her cheeks like a child.
"Bell," Sirzechs spoke up. "Oh, please, go ahead and eat while we talk. Can I first ask what you were doing down in the Dungeon? Serafall doesn't have you managing her minions in her stead, does she?"
"I pull my own weight, thank you!" Serafall argued.
Bell didn't fully understand the question. Had he asked in regards to the servants of the castle? That Bell was looking to recruit more staff?
"Um… I don't think so, Mister Sirzechs," Bell returned.
"Just Sirzechs is fine," the man replied with a gentle smile. "You're one of us now and I never truly cared much for such pleasantries."
It would have been rude to call a god just by their given name. But… Serafall had been the same way towards him and wouldn't take no for an answer. He had a feeling Sirzechs would be the same way and Bell didn't want to anger the man.
"Yes… S-Sirzechs. I'm not sure I understand the question. I was down in the Dungeon trying to fight monsters."
"Already claiming territory?" Sirzechs mused as he rested his chin on his knuckles. "And it's only been a week. Have you had any success against any of the Floor Bosses or a Monster Rex? I trust if you've been entrusted as a Queen you should be powerful enough to challenge the Goliath on your own."
What ridiculously high expectations did they have for him?! What had Serafall been telling them while he was out risking his life?!
He bowed his head in shame, "N-No, I'm nowhere near able to do that just yet. I'm still a newbie Adventurer. I can't even find any monsters to—"
"What?" Ajuka cut in with a cold voice.
Bell bowed his head further. He hadn't been able to reach their expectations and he was already upsetting them. Even Falbium was staring at him; his eyes were fully open with complete consciousness.
"I'm sorry!" he said. "I'm trying my best! I promise to do better! Serafall gave me great armor and a legendary weapon. I'll talk to my advisor tomorrow to see what I can do to improve myself!"
"…This was not what we agreed to," Ajuka said to Serafall.
"No, but it's what I'm doing," Serafall crossed her arms and stood in front of Bell to defend him. "Bell is my servant. What I choose to do with him is up for me to decide."
"I did not give you the Evil Pieces for something like this," Ajuka argued back. "They were entrusted to you because you have the most amount of experience with the surface world. Weren't those your words?"
"We can still meet our quota!" Serafall said in a low voice. She had dropped all childishness. "Bell is just the first. We can still accomplish our goal this way. No, it's because of this way that we'll be able to achieve our goal."
Ajuka stared at her with disappointment.
Bell, meanwhile, took a few bites out of his dinner while they argued.
"What do the heroes say?" Falbium spoke for the first time.
Serafall turned to regard him, "They constantly ask him to join their parties. He has an advisor to the Guild— a sort of organization that manages the heroes. Why, on his first day, this super high-end hero saved him from a Minotaur abduction."
Bell was glad she left out all those parts about him crossdressing and, especially this, Aiz Wallenstein finding out his gender.
But was Falbium asking how Bell compared to the rest of the Adventurers? Serafall didn't answer that question directly. She only told him how popular Bell was.
Falbium didn't make a noise this time. He shut his eyes, making Bell think he had fallen asleep. But the other gods kept their eyes on him, expecting something from the man.
He opened his eyes, no longer full of slumber as they were as sharp as Eina when scolding Bell on safety protocol within the Dungeon.
"It is an effective enough strategy," was all he said before shutting his eyes and letting his head sag a little more.
Serafall gave Ajuka a smug look. Ajuka's expression never changed.
"We are going to have to trust Serafall's judgement, Ajuka," Sirzechs said in a level tone. "She has the most amount of experience out of all of us. I highly doubt the heroes even remember our names. If she has chosen this sort of path for Bell, then we are going to have to respect her decision. However, Serafall, I still expect results."
"Of course!" Serafall bounced around on her heels as she offered Sirzechs a gracious smile. She stood straight and offered a salute. "That's why I am the Head of Foreign Affairs!"
"…The head of what?" Ajuka asked. "No. Never mind. Tell me, Serafall, what sort of progress have you been able to make since assuming that form? I trust, with the way you dress like the surface dwellers, you have been able to learn something of their society?"
"Um…" Serafall looked away and played with her fingers. "More or less? This is actually something Bell told me about. It's something dark lords would wear."
"…Is that right?" Ajuka said as his eyes scanned her attire. Not once did he leer at anything indecent… which was the majority of her dress. "While this may work here and now, what about on the surface? What are the surface people like?"
"Er…" Serafall was now trying to look everywhere else besides Ajuka's position.
"What have you seen?" Sirzechs asked. "Surely you at least know what the common folk wear outside of your… books and comics."
"Of course I've seen them!" Serafall became flustered. "They wear tunics, and shirts, and vests, and pants, and skirts of various lengths! I've seen that much of the city!"
"Mister Cranel," Ajuka snapped his focus to Bell suddenly. "Could you tell me what…"
His eyes leered at Serafall for a moment, making her breakout into a flash sweat.
"What Serafall does while you are occupied with your daily routine?" he finished.
Bell was put into an awkward place. On one hand, he felt the need to answer this god as he would then be answering to the entire group. On the other, he didn't want to say anything that would embarrass his patron goddess. Serafall had done so much for him and he owed her so much.
"She sleeps," he answered. "B-But! She's awake throughout the entire night when I return!"
"Asleep during the day," Ajuka muttered with a sigh. "While she says the surface world is most active during that time."
Both Bell and Serafall flinched at his hurtful tone.
"Very well," Ajuka dismissed it with a wave of his hand. "We are all nocturnal, therefore I have no reason to criticize her for her habits. However, what does she do during the night?"
Bell opened his mouth to answer. But… he found he didn't really have an answer.
"I… don't know," he said while looking at his goddess. She was watching him. He turned back to Ajuka. "We… have dinner together. Talk about what I did during the day. And then I go to bed. She usually sees me off in the morning and that's it. I don't know what she does while I'm asleep."
"Well now…" Sirzechs said. He sounded like he wanted to defend Serafall but couldn't any further. "Serafall, is everything you've told us about only through the perspective of Bell? Have you been to the city aside from the one time you chose Bell to be your Queen?"
Serafall slouched as though she were a puppet and a few of her strings suddenly snapped.
"Yes…" she admitted. She then lifted her head with tears about to fall. "B-But I can't help it! Just look at him! He's so cute! Think about what he looks like when he sleeps! He's so precious I can't force myself to leave his side! I just have to cuddle up with him!"
Bell's face was burning. He had purposely left out that information to save the both of them.
…At least she didn't admit the times she offered to wash his back during bath time. Yet.
"I understand completely," Sirzechs said with a sagely nod. "My Ria-tan is much the same. She's absolutely adorable when she's sleeping. Sometimes I also can't help myself and sneak into bed with her and—"
A black hand appeared and smacked the back of his head before vanishing.
"But…" Sirzechs recovered instantly and spoke in a more regal tone. "We have a duty to fulfill and a role to play. Each of us has a part if we are going to be able to achieve our goal together. You've already agreed to this. With the forms we've made for ourselves, there is no turning back. I'm not asking you to sacrifice your luxurious lifestyle. I'm only asking if you are willing to bend a little to make things work.
"How about… you start waking up a little earlier than usual until you can function in the day," he suggested with a raised finger. "That way you can double your time with Bell as well as sharing bedtimes."
"…I'm not particularly a fan of the sun," Serafall muttered with a thoughtful expression. "But if it's for Bell's sake then I'll do it! It's a shame though. I really enjoyed watching him sleep."
"You mean you're awake the entire time?" Ajuka questioned. "I assumed you slept alongside him."
"I'm not a Falbi-tan!" Serafall interjected with a slightly offended tone. "I only get a healthy eight hours of sleep!"
Falbium did not stir from the jab to his character.
"Then it's settled," Sirzechs spoke in a clear imperial tone. "Serafall, you are to start interacting with the surface world more often. While Bell is a remarkable individual, our research and understanding will only be able to get so far. We need someone who can sympathize with our plight if we are to proceed with the next phase."
"Yes, I understand," Serafall said in a serious tone. "I will alter my sleeping schedule accordingly and go into town more frequently. In fact… I might get myself a job!"
"Whatever produces the best results," Ajuka mentioned.
"Of course it will!" Serafall argued back with him. "Bell, tell them about the Benevolent Mistress!"
Bell shook as he was put back on the spotlight. "Um… I-It's a tavern that functions as a café during the day and a bar at night. It's a very popular place Adventurers go to after they spend their time in the Dungeons."
"A waterhole?" Ajuka questioned. "Interesting. Heroes gather around a place of drink. Do they fight amongst themselves over who gets the first drink or adequate space?"
"S-Something like that," Bell scratched his cheek. "Bar fights are kinda frequent. But Mama Mia— er, the manager of the tavern, she usually just glares at them and they stop. They happen more often in other taverns, though. I've only seen Adventurers fight over who bumped into who or trying to get the attention of the same waitress."
"Fascinating," Ajuka commented in a neutral tone, though his eyes shimmered with genuine interest. "There's not much difference after all. Very well. I entrust this to you, Serafall."
"Aw, Aju-tan," Serafall gushed with a smile. "That almost sounded like you believed in me!"
Ajuka didn't comment.
"I apologize for dropping on like this, Serafall," Sirzechs said as he stood. "I understand our arrival was improper and perhaps a little rude. We were all a little excited and wanted to know more about Bell after hearing the first phase was a success. Can you excuse our impatience?"
"Don't worry about it, Sir-tan," Serafall smiled at him. Then she frowned and took another thoughtful expression. "That doesn't sound so cute. Zechs-tan?"
"I would recommend Ze-tan," Sirzechs suggested with a matching smile.
"Oh! I like that!" Serafall was bouncing where she stood. "Ze-tan! Anyways, it's fine. I was the most excited out of all of us so I understand where you're coming from. But next time at least call ahead! A girl needs time to get ready, you know!"
"My apologies," Sirzechs offered a bow towards her. When he lifted himself upright, he regarded Bell. "It was a pleasure to finally meet you, Bell. Please take care of Serafall. And I hope to hear more from you in the future."
"It's more like she's the one taking care of me…" Bell said with a sheepish smile.
He froze when Sirzechs extended a hand for him to take. Bell put down the tray of half-eaten food on the small table, wiped his hands on his pants, and went to shake the god's hand.
He had a very strong grip and a hand full of callouses.
He had to be a god of war.
A few more words were exchanged between Serafall and the other gods while Bell stood at her back. Ajuka nodded at him. Falbium yawned and took his time getting off the sofa.
Grayfia straightened Bell's tie… and then patted his head. It felt like ten years of his life were sucked out of him by that small contact.
They all vanished through the same red magic circles Serafall used to teleport.
0-0-0
"Thank you all for gathering today," Sebastian said as he flapped his wings around once. He craned his neck to adjust his sight and observe those huddled in front of him. "I have brought you all here today by decree of our lord and master, the great Leviathan. She has selected you specifically to carry out a task that can only be performed in the floors closest to the surface. A task that must not rouse suspicion."
The ones in front of him, gathered in a secret room of the fifth floor, were a groups of goblins and kobalds. They were the first wave of dark dwellers that fought off the heroes and closest to the surface world.
They all gathered together after hearing the name of the Leviathan. Even clans who had feuds, who distrusted the other, or had wanted nothing to do with each other, had all set aside their indifferences just to hear what Sebastian had to say.
"The Leviathan has chosen an heir," Sebastian spoke up. Immediately, the dark dwellers started to gossip among themselves and were considering celebration. "This news has not been made public. So I urge you to keep it among yourselves. He is still young and is in the process of learning the ways of the hunt. And that is why I have come to you with a request from the Leviathan herself."
He extended his neck and pecked at one of the pockets to his suit. It took a few attempts until he could pull out the photograph of Master Cranel.
It was one of the several hundred snapshots his master had made while Master Cranel slept unawares.
Sebastian flicked it towards the front group so he could use his beak to continue talking.
"Get a good look and pass it around, thank you. That is the profile of the Queen of Leviathan. He masquerades as a surface dweller and partakes in their expeditions through the Dungeon. However, in order to fully convince the surface dwellers he is one of them as well as strengthening his fangs, he must learn the ways of the hunt. And that is where you come in."
He paused, waiting for the picture to be passed around to the majority of those present. He took note how a lot of the creatures had seen Master Cranel before. They feared him. They had sensed his dominating presence marked by the Leviathan. Master Cranel was a dark dweller beyond their means to face and knew it well.
"Quiet down now. Thank you. The Leviathan wishes you to hunt her Queen. You are free to use any method of your choice with the exception of bringing any other dark dweller inhabiting or born outside these floors. Should you succeed, all of you will receive triple your salary's worth."
"…We get paid?" asked one goblin.
"Didn't you join the union?" asked his counterpart.
"We have a union?" asked another.
"It was posted in the town hall," another.
"…We have a town hall?" another.
"What? Yeah! It's right off the freeway."
Sebastian cleared his throat (which was more of a screech to anyone else's ears) to regain their attention. "A final mention before you carry this out. The single warrior who delivers the dolorous blow will receive a two-week vacation, with pay, and be elevated to the next Level."
The entire room went silent.
The dark dwellers all raised their weapons and let loose a unified battle cry.
They all rushed out of the room.
Sebastian flapped his wings a few times and shook his head as he watched the mob of dark dwellers flood out of the room. He waited a few moments before heading out himself. He was tasked by his master to observe how Master Cranel faired against this.
He said he wanted to fight monsters as an Adventurer. The Leviathan always followed up on those wished to her.
0-0-0
"Bell, over here!" Eina called out to him.
Bell had been looking for his advisor at the front windows when he heard her voice. She was sitting on one of the couches used to discuss matters with other Adventurers. She was also with one of her clients at the moment but didn't hesitate to wave him over.
When Bell got a little closer… he froze.
"This is Miss Wallenstein of Loki Familia," Eina gestured to the Adventurer across of her. "We were just talking about you and she has an offer that I think will put all of our minds at ease."
Aiz Wallenstein, the blonde Adventurer that had saved him from the Minotaur attack on his first day, was sitting on the opposite couch. Her dreamy expression shifted slightly upon looking at Bell. Her eyes flashed with something like childish delight as though she were just promised some candy.
A faint blush rose through her cheeks.
Slowly, with cold sweat settling on his brow, Bell started to track backwards.
"Now don't be rude!" Eina was out of her seat and pulling him forward before he could book it. "Miss Wallenstein came all this way just to see you. You can at least listen to her!"
"B-But Miss Eina!" Bell wanted to argue.
"What is it?" Eina asked with narrowed eyes.
He found he actually didn't have anything to say. Aiz Wallenstein knew that he was a boy. But what good would it be to tell Eina this? Even if he did, it wouldn't change anything. No, it was because she knew this would he have to confront Aiz himself and beg for her to keep this a secret.
So, with some reluctance, he took a seat next to Eina.
There was awkward silence as Aiz just… stared at him.
"Bell, is that a new dress?" Eina spoke up to begin chatter.
"Um… no, not really," Bell said with a timid smile. "My goddess just changed the dye. She said the colors work better with my hair and eyes."
His magical attire was no longer blue with silver plating. It was now white with red plating. Serafall had wanted something that would make Bell stand out even more.
His request to wear pants again had exploded in his face.
"Cute," Aiz said in a quiet voice.
It made Bell blush with shame and avert his gaze.
"Miss Wallenstein was telling me about what happened with the Minotaur," Eina began, gesturing towards Aiz. "You neglected to mention anything about a Minotaur appearing on the fifth floor. For, for the fact of the matter, that you ventured down onto the fifth floor on your first day."
He shrank by her glare.
"I-I went straight home after that!" Bell said. "And I went down to the fifth floor because I couldn't find any monsters! Not one! And I still can't! I don't know if Adventurers keep wiping them out before I can get to them or what!"
"Your situation is certainly strange," Eina commented. "The spawn rate for monsters is rather frequent. But you also mention they run away from you as well. I've talked to it with my coworkers and they find it just as strange. I will continue to look into this.
"In the meantime, Miss Wallenstein came here with a suggestion I think you should definitely hear."
Her tone of voice suggested more. That he should do more than just listen. That he should agree to whatever it was no matter what.
"Training," Aiz said in a monotone voice. "I think it would be best if you… accompany me. So I can show you what an Adventurer is like. I can teach you."
He blinked at that. Aiz Wallenstein, with the heroic title of Sword Princess, one of the strongest Adventurers in one of the strongest familias, was going to personally teach him?!
"I-I can't agree to that!" he said in haste. "I'm grateful for the offer but I can't accept. I don't want to impose on a high-tier Adventurer like you."
"It's not a request," said both Eina and Aiz. However, Eina was surprised Aiz had said it at the same time.
Aiz had a look of utmost determination.
"Bell, I think you should accept Miss Wallenstein's generosity," Eina said, adjusting her glasses and intensifying her glare. "You are a newbie. Do you have any idea what sort of knowledge you can learn from a first-class Adventurer? Do you know how many Adventurers would kill their fellow for a chance like this? If you will not accept personally, I am going to make it a criteria as your advisor."
Meaning, Bell had absolutely no choice in the matter at all.
"Ah… O-Okay," Bell faced Aiz and bowed his head. "Please take good care of me. When do we—"
"Now," Aiz said.
Without another word, she stood, nodded at Eina in thanks, and started to head out of the building.
"Now?!" Bell quickly rose to follow her. "Like now? Miss Wallenstein, shouldn't we talk about this a little more? Please wait!"
0-0-0
"…This is strange," Aiz commented.
"You think so too?" Bell asked.
Aiz only nodded once. She wasn't one for conversation. She preferred to show by example. But, the flaw in her philosophy was the lack of material to work with.
An hour into the Dungeon and they hadn't been able to run into any monster. Aiz often made gestures for him to stop moving as she listened to the silence of the Dungeon. But, more than often, she frowned and told him to keep pressing forward.
"Monsters attack, always," she said to him. She suddenly stopped walking and sat down on the floor with her facing the wall. "No matter what Level Adventurer. But I hear them… running away."
"Miss Wallenstein? What are you doing on the floor?"
"Waiting," she answered while keeping her eyes locked on the wall in front of her. She patted the ground at her side, gesturing for him to join her.
He did, though choosing to sit a full meder away from her.
She had a soft scowl and cheeks somewhat puffed with irritation. She patted the ground again as she stared at him.
He scooted a little closer. She wasn't satisfied with the distance. He moved again, and again she gestured for him to come closer. Each time he inched closer, his face began to heat up.
It wasn't until they were practically touching at the elbows was she satisfied. She went back to staring at the wall while he was shaking at being so close to her.
They sat like this for a long time.
"Um… Miss Wallenstein," Bell began in a slow voice. "A-About the other day. It's not what you think."
Aiz shifted her gaze to look at him through the corner of her eye, all without removing her focus from the wall.
"My goddess makes me wear this, I swear!" he blurted out. "And I can't afford to buy my own armor until I start making a profit down here. I'm really grateful for saving me a-and for doing this with me. But, please, don't tell anyone!"
"Get ready," she said instantly, disregarding his concern for something more important. She stood and had a hand on her sword. "Surround it. Don't let it escape."
At first, he had no idea what she was talking about.
There came a rumbling sound coming from the Dungeon's wall. A crack appeared that soon grew. Something was sprouting out of the wall itself.
The body of a goblin eventually made its way to the surface. It was curled up as though it had been sleeping this entire time. Only when the majority of its body was surfaced did its eyes open up. It landed on the floor and took note of its surroundings.
Aiz drew out her sword and circled around it, blocking one exit.
Bell realized what she finally meant and stumbled into position. It took him a moment to draw his sword and get ready. He couldn't stop shaking as nerves betrayed him.
This would be his first real fight.
The goblin looked up at Aiz and bore its fangs at her. And then it swiveled its head and looked up at Bell.
They stared at another. Bell shaking hard enough for his armor to rattle while he tried his best to keep his courage.
It was the goblin who stumbled backwards at the sight of Bell. It looked… terrified of being in front of him. Its head spun around in search of a point of escape.
It chose to flee towards Aiz's direction, choosing to confront her instead of Bell.
Her brows furrowed as she watched the monster approach her. With a flawless swing of her sword, too fast for Bell's eyes to see, was the goblin slain before it could get anywhere near her.
"…Strange," she commented as she flicked her sword and sheathed it. She bowed her head and wrapped her fingers under her chin.
Meanwhile, Bell was trying to regain his bearings. He let out a heavy sigh of relief… and then came the disappointment. He was ready to fight his first monster.
"They always do that," Bell said. "I don't know why."
"Very strange," Aiz said. She looked up at Bell and explained. "There are two exits only. Through you or through me. You are the obvious weaker one. It should have attacked you. It would have had a higher chance to escape. But it didn't."
Even a veteran like Aiz didn't know why the monsters behaved like that? Was Bell a unique case? Did he smell or something?
But then that wouldn't explain why the Minotaur attacked him. Or was it because it was a stronger monster? Did he have some sort of innate skill from his goddess that allowed weaker monsters to avoid him?
…There's no way it could have been a property of his dress. Could it? She did say it was based off of the design of a mage. Maybe it was enchanted and she forgot to mention about it?
All thoughts about the matter were halted. Aiz flicked her head upwards and spun around with sharp intent. She had heard something he couldn't and it caused her to draw her sword once more.
And then, he started to make out the sound of pattering. Like rain drops that gradually started to become downpour.
Then, dozens of glowing red eyes of goblins began to appear at the other end of the hallway.
"Stay behind me," Aiz ordered as she got into a battle stance.
"S-Shouldn't we run?!" Bell asked in a frenzy. There were so many of them. There was no way he could deal with these numbers. He couldn't hope to have Aiz protect him while she dealt with most of them. They would be surrounded in a matter of seconds!
"We would draw them to other Adventurers," she said. "Besides, I can handle this much."
To prove her point, she drew a line in the ground with her sword. She crossed over it and lowered her stance. She would not let a single one cross over that line. It was a personal objective she made for herself.
Bell was left awestruck by this sort of amazement. This was truly a high-class Adventurer. This was the class of hero he would want to be one day. To be able to stand up against unreal forces while protecting those he cared about.
Things changed in an instance.
Bell saw a few black feathers fall from the ceiling as something black flew over him from behind. He began to shout in warning. Aiz, sensing the danger before he saw it, was already turning with her eyes wide.
A black monster struck at her back with enough power to knock her off her feet. Talons grasped her body, shoved her onto the wall, and dragged her along its side as it continued to fly swifter than any arrow.
In just that instance was Aiz Wallenstein taken away from Bell, leaving him alone with the oncoming goblins.
Both parties stared at each other. The goblins looked up at him with intimidation clear in their eyes. Whatever charisma they had fell apart as soon as they were within his proximity. Bell was beyond terrified, to the point his body could no longer shake. And he prayed to Serafall Almighty that whatever it was that kept monsters at bay would work again.
"Gruk kukuku graaaah!" shouted one of the goblins as he lifted a club over his head.
"Graaaaaaah!" roared the rest of them as they lifted their weapons.
And then they charged.
Bell was not ashamed to say he screamed like a girl at the top of his lungs. With so many numbers against him, he turned and ran with all his might.
0-0-0
"Very, very strange," Aiz commented.
All Bell did was continue to sob and wouldn't let go of her arm.
She didn't mind. Inside her mind, she was screaming and rolling around on the floor with excitement. But to all outside observers, her face remained as blank and expressionless as usual.
This boy was the cutest thing she had ever come across!
The sun was beginning to set by the time they made it back to the surface. She found Bell in the fetal position, cradling himself, crying, and rocking back and forth. His white dress was stained red. Surrounding him were the corpses of goblins that had pursued him.
He had fled and she found him in one of the Dungeon's many dead ends. With the wall to his back and a legion of goblins at his front, he had no choice but to fight or die.
As soon as Aiz found him did he latch onto her. He hadn't let go of her since then.
But what was most odd was that crow-like monster. It was as large as a human, oddly dressed in a butler's suit, and had the horns of a ram. And it was able to fight her to a standstill.
She had never come across a monster like it. If it was powerful enough to challenge a Level Five Adventurer like her… what was it doing on the starting floors?
"There, there," Aiz chanted while patting the top of his head. An idea struck her. "I will treat you to some potato puffs."
"P-Potato puffs?" he sniffed.
"With red bean paste," she said with some excitement slipping through her voice. Her stomach growled with equal excitement. She couldn't wait to eat one herself!
They skipped visiting the Guild, and therefore the Exchange for all the stones Bell obtains; it would still be open for the next few hours. She led him through Main Street, pulling him through the stalls, until she stopped at one particular shop.
"Two of the usual, please," Aiz raised two fingers to make sure her order was heard. And then she realized Bell was still with her and she raised an additional finger. "Plus one more."
"Coming right up!" the Goddess Hestia called from the stand. "Welcome back, Miss Wallenstein. Is that Asgardian still— whoa. What happened to her?"
Her eyes landed on Bell, who was still covered in blood and beginning to calm down. He still shook and sniffed on occasion.
"Goblins," Aiz answered. She blinked and then added, "A lot of them."
"Yup, that'll do it," Hestia nodded. She blinked a few times herself, leaned over the stall, and stared closer at Bell. "Hold on… Well no wonder why she's all shaken up! She hasn't received any falna yet! T-That means you're available?! Loki hasn't gotten her grubby little hands on you yet?! Why don't you join my familia?!"
Aiz was silent as she thought. This goddess said Bell hadn't undergone the falna ritual? He hadn't been granted his god's blessing in order to be able to fight monsters? Then… did that mean he took on an entire hoard of goblins as a normal human?!
"Eh?!" Bell snapped into reality at that comment. "W-What are you talking about? I have received my goddess' blessing! I belong to the Serafall Familia! I'm her Queen!"
"I hear similar things all the time," Hestia waved it off. "Children join familias but never really receive any falna. They're a part of the familia in name only. Join up with me and I'll give you all the perks! I can make you into a real Adventurer! Come on. What do you say?"
"…Can I have my potato puff?" Aiz asked.
"Oh, yeah, sure, here you go," Hestia finished with her work and handed Aiz two bundles of potato puffs with stuffed red bean paste. She also handed one to Bell.
Aiz placed coins on the counter and began to nom onto the deep fried sweet delight. Most of her focus was on the snack but she still kept an ear open for the discussion.
"I'm already a part of a familia," Bell insisted. He searched through his pouch until he pulled out an identification card. "See? The Guild fully recognizes me as a member to Serafall Familia. It means I've received a blessing and am a fully-fledged member!"
Hestia leaned forward and squinted her eyes. Her face fell with disappointment. She couldn't argue against legal documentation, even as a goddess.
"Something doesn't add up about this…" she muttered. But she couldn't add anything else as another customer approached the stall. She left the two of them to tend to the new person.
"Thank you for everything, Miss Wallenstein," Bell said after taking the bite out of the snack. "You didn't have to do all of this for me. But… why?"
Aiz had finished her first snack and was beginning on her second. She chewed a few times before answering him.
"Cute," was all she said. She took another bite.
Bell's face lit up at her answer.
"Bell~" someone called out for him. "There you are!"
He turned around to see his goddess running down the street in a green and black maid outfit. He recognized it immediately as the uniform for the waitresses of the Benevolent Mistress.
"Serafall!" Bell hurried to meet up with her. "I'm so glad to see you!"
"Yup!" she struck a pose and gave him a wink. "I set my alarm a little earlier than usual and decided to meet with you once you were out of the Dungeon. Look, look! It's my new uniform! Isn't it cute? I got a job at the Benevolent Mistress!"
"That's great," he said but then noticed something. "Um, Serafall? How did you know I was out of the Dungeon? And how did you know where to look?"
"What's that?" Serafall asked instead, looking at the snack in his hands. "That looks great! Hey, miss? Can I have one of those too?"
Hestia, working hard on the fryer, gave Serafall a thumbs-up.
"So Bell, who's your friend?" Serafall asked next, noticing Aiz's presence.
"Ah!" Bell jolted where he stood. He had forgotten about Aiz in this instance. "T-This is Aiz Wallenstein. She offered to give me a few tips while we were down in the Dungeon. She helped me a lot when—"
Aiz placed her hands on Bell's shoulders and pulled him closer to her. Enough so his back was pressed against her. Bell sputtered at the closeness.
Aiz, however, continued to watch Serafall like a hawk. To her, Serafall didn't feel right. She had an overwhelming presence around her but it was closer to that of an Adventurer higher than Freya's Warlord… or a Monster Rex of gargantuan proportion. It didn't exactly feel like a goddess.
She wondered if Serafall was a trickster goddess like her own, Loki.
Or… was it possible? Serafall was an evil goddess?
"Mine," Aiz said to her.
"EHHHHHH?!" Bell shrieked.
Serafall smiled. She didn't say anything at first. Her eyes lit up with glee as her smile gradually grew into something mischievous. She stared up at Aiz with Cheshire amusement.
"See Bell?" Serafall leaned forward with a sweet smile. "I told you. And you've gotten stronger for it. Those goblins were nothing, weren't they? Congratulations in raising your first flag!"
"…How do you know about the goblins?" Bell asked.
Serafall blinked as though caught in something. Her smile returned as she giggled, "Oh, you know what they say. Gossip spreads faster than light."
Aiz held Bell a little tighter as her eyes narrowed.
"Miss, your potato is ready," Hestia called out.
"Thank you! How… much…"
The two goddesses stared at each other. Hestia frozen solid with her eyes wide open. Color drained from her face as her expression began to twist into something frightful.
"Oh. Hestia. You're still alive. Well… oops?" Serafall stuck her tongue out and knocked her knuckles against her temple as though she had just made a childish mistake.
"DEVIL!" Hestia screamed and threw herself away from Serafall. It was loud enough to gather everyone's attention on the street. "Someone sound the alarm! Contact the Guild! A Devil! A Devil is here!"
Nobody moved. People muttered to themselves as they watched Hestia panic.
"What are you people waiting for?!" Hestia flung her arms around. "She's a Devil! Adventurers! Do something!"
"What's she talking about?" one Adventurer asked.
"Dunno," answered a merchant.
Similar short conversations went around. Everyone went back to their business shortly after.
"Miss Wallenstein do something!" Hestia slammed her hands on the stall counter and leaned as far forward as she could. "Stop her! Stop her before something bad happens!"
Aiz only tilted her head.
"What's all the commotion?" a group of guards approached the stall.
"Officers! Arrest this woman!" Hestia pointed at Serafall.
Serafall munched on her potato puff while she watched with an amused expression.
"On what pretense?" the main guard asked with an annoyed tone.
"She's a Devil!" Hestia announced. "She's evil incarnate! A monster in disguise!"
"Goddess Hestia," the guard sighed. "I've asked you before to not disturb the peace. What did she do? Comment on your height? Touch you inappropriately? Not pay for her sweet?"
"Oh, I didn't do that," Serafall realized. "How much do I owe you?"
"Thirty valis," answered the guard in Hestia's stead.
"Here you go," Serafall chimed with a smile as she placed a few silver coins on the counter.
"Thank you," the guard nodded. He and his group turned around and began to walk away.
"Wait! Where are you going?!" Hestia called out to them. "Come back here! Don't you see what's wrong?!"
The guards ignored her and went back to their patrols.
"Alright Bell," Serafall smiled at her child. "I'm going to be starting my shift in a bit. Why don't you get yourself cleaned up and join me for dinner. I'll get to serve you! Miss Wallenstein, you're welcome to join in as well. My treat. It's the least I can do to thank you."
"This isn't over!" Hestia continued to bark. "Do you hear me?! I know what you are! I will bring about the truth so that—"
"That's enough," an elderly man came up behind Hestia and forced her head down. He bowed to Serafall, "Miss Goddess, I apologize on my employee's behalf. Please accept this coupon."
"Ooo~" Serafall took the ticket he extended. "Thanks! I'm definitely coming back again! I liked this place."
"Thank you very much," the man said while making sure Hestia remained in a similar position.
"I'm running late so I should hurry," Serafall said to herself while pocketing the ticket into her apron. "I'll see you in a bit, Bell. Bye-bye, Miss Wallenstein!"
"See you later, Serafall," Bell said, unsure what else to say after watching the exchange.
Aiz only nodded at Serafall.
With that, his goddess hurried past them, making her way towards the Benevolent Mistress.
"…I am hungry," Aiz said.
Bell gave a nervous laugh, "W-Would you like to join me for dinner?"
"Yes," she said. Her head tilted slightly as she realized something. "It'll be like a date."
"A date?!" steam almost blew out of his ears.
"A date," she agreed. Without another word, she grabbed him by the wrist and began to pull him along.
"Wait! Miss Wallenstein! I still need a shower! I can't go in there like this! And I didn't bring a change of clothes!"
"I will talk to Mama Mia," was all Aiz said.
0-0-0
"Cao Cao!"
"Hmm? Georg? What is it?"
"Leonardo and I heard something on Main Street! A goddess was calling somebody a Devil!"
"Oh? Are you certain? It could have just been an insult."
"She was more terrified than angry. I think she really was a Devil."
"Ah. Then it would seem Ophis' observation was true. That might also explain what happened to Thor Familia."
"What do you mean?"
"The Leviathan was nowhere to be found, according to some of the surviving members. But in order to avoid bankruptcy, they filed a report claiming their raid was intercepted by Great Red."
"…There's life insurance against Great Red?"
"More like Great Red Insurance, specifically. In any case, Ophis claimed the activity within the Dungeon has been… different. I haven't been able to investigate personally so I don't know how. But I have heard a rumor monsters are avoiding a specific Adventurer. I think it's just coincidence."
"About the Devil, though. What are we going to do about it? This could be what we need to get the recognition we deserve."
Silence for a moment.
"No. Proceed as planned. It will take time to expose the Devil. Only those as old as the Dungeon itself even know what they are. Beings like the primordial divinities… and Ophis herself. The people will first need education on what they are and what sort of threat they possess.
"We will need to let this Devil commit evil and catch it in the act.
"Resume preparations for Monsterphilia. That is where we will make our debut. That is where we will show these… Adventurers our greatness.
"As Heroes."