AN: Two things.
First, this chapter went longer than expected so I decided to cut it in half.
Second, made a mistake in the previous chapter that I need to point out (yes I'm aware of a few others but this one specifically I'm addressing). Hestia should still believe Bell is a girl. Yet she calls him a boy in the last chapter. This was my mistake.
So until the reveal, she will keep believing he is a girl.
That is all.
Now on with the show!
It was another morning. Bell had gone to bed in his own private room, only to find Serafall snuggling at his side… in her room. He had no clue how he got there and her answers were always vague about it. But, as this was yet another morning like this, he was starting to expect this to happen and might freak out that one random morning he did wake up in his room.
It wasn't his stomach that woke him up this time. Nor was it Serafall's warms trying to squeeze the life out of him… or her snoring… or the random burst of giggles while she dreamt.
What woke him up was a slight pain in his hand. It was a prickly feeling at first and he had assumed to have laid on his arm awkwardly so the circulation numbed his hand. But after moving to readjust himself, the pain didn't go away. It gradually increased.
Eventually, he couldn't ignore it any longer. He opened his eyes, staring up at the veil that covered Serafall's bed, and raised his hand to see what the fuss was about.
…A slime ball was staring back at him.
It was blue, as big as both his hands, and, for whatever reason, had a pair of red-rimmed glasses despite not having eyes or even a face.
And it was slowly, as slow as a snail, crawling up his hand and eating away at his skin.
"Kyaaaaaaa!" he shrieked, sat straight up, and flung his arm around in an attempt to throw the thing off of him.
"Bell?" Serafall slowly sat up and rubbed her eyes. "What's wrong? Are we under attack again…? I thought Bael-chan was on duty…"
She stretched, blinked a few times, and then looked at Bell.
"SONA, NO!" she screamed and swatted her hand around.
The back of her hand smacked perfectly onto the side of the slime ball despite how much Bell was flailing his arm around. There was a loud crack upon impact as the monster was blown off of Bell and flown across the room.
It crashed onto the wall, splattering into a giant blotch of sticky goo. Its glasses and a magic stone the size of a pebble clattered to the floor.
"Serafall… W-What…" Bell looked at the stain starting to dry.
There came the sound of wood and plaster breaking. Trickles of dust landed on his nose. It forced him to look up at the source.
The ceiling that the veil didn't cover cracked open and grew wider. It was just wide enough for Bell to be able to put his hand through if he could reach. Something blue began to ooze out. It was a single drop but comprised of a mass exactly as large as the slime ball.
A second slime ball dropped down and landed on the sheets between the two.
The red glasses flew into Serafall's hands and she placed it delicately on the slime ball's apparent front. She even took a second to adjust them to fit to scale.
"Sona, be nice," she said sternly to the slime ball, wagging a finger at her. "This is Bell, the one I told you about. Don't make me do things I'll feel guilty about later."
"…Serafall?" Bell asked.
The slime ball did not move. There was no indication it had heard any of her words.
"Auuuuu, I can't be mad at you!" Serafall gushed and grabbed the slime ball. She held it tight against her arms. "What kind of onee-sama would I be if my So-tan looked at me like—"
It popped. She squeezed the slime ball so hard it popped. Blue gunk exploded everywhere with the magic stone landing on the sheets.
A moment later, a third slime ball fell from the same crack above the ceiling.
Serafall put the red glasses on it, adjusted them, and then softly patted its top. The slime ball jiggled per each pat.
"What's going on?" Bell asked after wiping some of the gunk out of his face. "Why did that crack just form? Did… Did a monster just spawn in your castle?!"
"Bell, this is my So-tan," Serafall lifted the monster with both her hands. She rubbed her face against its side. "Isn't she adorable? She's super smart! Did you know she wants to build a school for everyone? Say hi to her!"
Bell looked at the monster in her hands. It was either tamed since it wasn't trying to dissolve Serafall's hands… or so completely harmless it would take a great deal of time to begin the digestive process. He also couldn't tell whether the thing was alive or not. It didn't move on its own other than to quiver slightly in response to Serafall's respiratory system.
Honestly, he could be looking at the thing's butt for all he knew.
There was also the fact this was the third slime monster he had seen. The other two were clearly dead. And who knows how many others there were before them?
"Um… hello?" he brought up a strained smile and asked rather than greeted. "It… It's nice to finally meet you… Sona."
The slime ball did not respond.
"There, now you two have met," Serafall's smile was loving as she let the monster rest in her lap. Her fingers stroked the top as she addressed Bell. "Sorry I haven't had the chance to introduce you two earlier. Sona's been really busy lately with club activities. But sometimes she misses me so much she sneaks into my bed while I'm asleep. Don't tell anyone this. It's a sacred secret between sisters and as my Queen I expect you to honor it!"
He could only stare at the slime ball in her hands. The glasses were starting to fall off with each pet Serafall gave it.
"…Your sister is a slime ball?" Bell asked with heavy skepticism… and slight worry. He knew his goddess was a little… eccentric. Sure, she was bubbly, chipper, perky, spontaneous, and more than often mischievous, but never did he think she was… off.
Serafall gasped with a stricken expression. She snapped back at him, angrily, "Bell! That's not nice! My So-tan might give me the cold shoulder in public, but she's the most responsible person you'll ever meet! Apologize!"
He didn't understand. He didn't insult the monster. All he had asked was how and why her 'sister' was a slime ball…
He reconsidered the statement. Slime ball. Through a certain perspective, the term slime ball can be taken in a figurative sense. He had heard some of the farmers back home describe the dishonest merchants from traveling caravans.
"I didn't mean it like that!" Bell put his hands up and tried to defend himself. "I meant it in a literal sense!"
It didn't work. Serafall made a deeper gasp with her mouth hanging open.
"Bell Alcaeus Cranel!" she breathed out like an enraged mother.
"Serafall, please, let me explain… Alcaeus?"
"That's not important," she said quickly. "There are some things you don't call a lady, Bell. I'll excuse you this first time only because Sona is a very forgiving person. Now, I don't want to hear another word of this. Go on and get ready for the day."
He had questions. He had so many questions. He had heard so many things about Sona since his first day in her familia… peerage… whatever this family really was. But never did he think Sona was really a slime monster. He always assumed Sona was a younger version of Serafall.
"Go on, go on," she told him, waving her hand in a gesture for him to shoo. She was still miffed with him over the accusation. But her ire was dwelled as she continued to stroke her fingers on the surface of the slime ball's gooey texture.
He had no choice but to put this on the list of things he started to build in secret.
The things she had him do, the terms she used, and the way other gods and Adventurers treated them; it all felt like they weren't a true familia despite having a registry in the Guild.
And why, just why, did that goddess Hestia call her a Devil?
0-0-0
"So Bell, I've been thinking…" Serafall began as she was sprawled across the bed on her stomach, her legs kicked up in the air, and facing him while he gathered the rest of his things. At her side rested Sona, who Bell had noticed was gradually dragging itself across the sheets towards the edge of the bed.
Rather… towards him.
"I know it's your big plan to become the bestest hero ever," she continued. "But do you have any short goals that will help you along the way? I found it best to have a bunch of them, like stepping stones."
"Short goals…?" he asked, tilting his head as he thought.
"Yup! Usually when I achieve something, I feel great about it but I also know there's something else I need to achieve after it."
"Do you have any of those?"
She gave it some thought, looking away with a finger tapping against her lower lip. "Well, one of the first things I did was find you and get you to join my family. Right now I'm focusing on learning as much as I can about the surface world. After that? Well it's a secret~"
She winked and blew him a kiss.
He gave a light laugh at that and went back to strapping on the next piece of armor to the battle gown Serafall made for him. After that, he debated about putting on the bonnet. Really, he didn't think there was a point to it other than a fashion sense. But then some of the members of Loki Familia told him there were powerful charms placed on the headpiece that he couldn't ignore.
The entire armor set had impressed them, the second best familia in all of Orario. There was no way he could ask his goddess for a similar set for a man. Who knows how much this all cost already?!
But… he was tired of people confusing him as a girl.
He was tired of all the groping!
"I guess… I would like to save up for male clothes," he said under his breath.
"What was that?" she asked with a sweet smile… but there was something dangerous mixed into it. Her hearing was sharp. He wasn't even that loud!
"I-I said…" he glanced at the mirror, trying to find an excuse quick enough. "Y-You know. You said this outfit was for a battle mage. So I was thinking… about trying to learn magic?"
"Magic?" she blinked once at the idea.
He was sweating bullets. There's no way she was going to believe his excuse.
"Bell, if you want to learn magic, I can teach you the bare basics," she said next in a simple tone.
"R-Really?" he blinked at that, twice. Once because she was going along with his words and twice because of what she said. "But I thought magic can only be acquired with really expensive grimoire. Or other times it's because they're from magical species like the elves. That's what Miss Riveria said."
"Details," she waved it off and kicked her feet around so she could sit upright. "You're part of my peerage, Bell. It's natural for us to be able to twist and bend the order of things. It's just what we do! Come over here and I'll show you."
He crossed over the throw rugs to stand a few celch in front of her.
"Magicians back in the day used really complicated algorithms for their spells," she began to lecture. "They created magic circles using math to activate spells. I know a lot about them, and I use them to sharpen my techniques like the teleportation spell I gave you. But you'll find once you get a grasp for things, it'll all come natural and you can toss those silly rules out the window."
"But… I was told magic is all about finding your center, channeling and maintaining your inner energy, and reciting an aria," Bell said, repeating the lecture Riveria gave him the other night.
"I'm surprised you remember all of that," Serafall said with honest astonishment. "You had so many drinks that night."
"I just don't remember how we got home…" he muttered with an apologetic smile. He knew Serafall had somehow managed to get him home.
"You don't need to worry about modern magic, Bell," Serafall put her hand to her lips and gave a haughty laughter. "I know all sorts of secrets about magic! And thanks to the Queen Piece inside your core, you're compatible with my style of magic. You don't need all that complicated stuff! Watch!"
She raised one hand, palm facing the ceiling. There was no magic circle this time but he could feel the familiar tingle of energy coursing through her. It began to distort the air in her palm like an invisible flame.
In the next instant, water began to form, filling in an invisible spherical vessel as though a greater force was pouring into it from a pitcher.
His eyes widened with amazement. She saw and her smile grew with both pride and cheer.
"Remember how to use the teleportation spell? All you need to do is focus your desires on what you want, wish for it to be true, and voila!"
She moved her fingers through the water. It changed shape, becoming a flowing stream, becoming a band of rope wrapping around her wrist and fingers, and then became serpentine with a maw and eyes. With a flick of her wrist did it freeze over into a beautifully detailed ice sculpture.
Bell clapped his hands in amazement.
"It'll take some practice to get used to," she said next. "But I do have some premade spells for you to mess around with until you can start making your own spells. Let me see your hand."
He nodded eagerly, giving her the same hand she used when transferring her family crest over to him as well as the teleportation spell. A magic circle lit up in her palm as it hovered over his. A matching circle appeared in his almost immediately. With a few flexing of her fingers, new markings were added to the circle's already complex design.
When she pulled her hand away, both circles had vanished.
"Fire, ice, lightning, for starters," she said, wagging a finger each time she listed off an element. "I also gave you a basic shield and healing. The bare essentials for any starter mage!"
"It's that easy?" he asked with mild disbelief. He was looking at his hand. "I can shoot fireballs out of my palm? Or freeze monsters in an instant? And block attacks with a magic shield!"
"Sure, maybe?" Serafall shrugged. "If that's what you want to do with them. Bell, this is very important. We use our imagination to give our spells form. So if you want to chuck a Molotov or flamethrower, you're going to have to picture it inside your head. All I did was make it so the element will listen to your command until you can do it on your own. Like riding a bike! You start with training wheels!"
"…Molotov?" he questioned. "Flamethrower? Bike?"
"It also depends on your will," she continued on, wagging a finger with a stern face to get her point across. "Imagine creating a shield. It depends on how much effort you put into it. A strong will won't let it break. But if you panic, if you're afraid and want to run away, that shield will fail you. You need to stand strong and remain focused! Do you understand me?"
"I… I understand," he said and meant it. He clenched his hand into a fist and repeated her words into his mind.
He wouldn't be able to call himself a hero if he had a weak fortitude. His grandfather told him a hero needed to be strong if he was going to save the maiden in trouble.
"Good," she said with a gentle smile. "I'll see about Aju-tan giving you lessons on magic. He's the best magician in all the world!"
He stared at his hand again, eyes tracing the crest of Serafall that had disappeared.
"Bell…? Is something wrong?"
He looked up at her. He felt… guilty. "It's just… I had a thought. You gave me so much, Serafall. You were the only one to accept me into your familia. You gave me the weapon of a legendary hero. You gave me high-tier armor that even Loki Familia complimented… even if it's for a girl. And now you're giving me magic?
"I… I haven't done anything to deserve this. I've hardly been able to fight any monsters and gain any magic stones. The only money I brought in was from that night at the Benevolent Mistress. And even then you made me keep it! Serafall… this is all so much. I feel like I should do something for you!"
She looked at him for a moment. There was a sad look in her eyes.
"Bell… are you afraid I will leave you?" she asked in a low voice.
He wanted to deny the idea. But the idea was what brought this moment of doubt. He hesitated before answering.
"…Maybe," he said with shame and fear as he looked away. "I'm doing my best. I really am. But I'm afraid… I'm afraid I'm not good enough. That eventually you'll get tired of me and my lack of progress. That—"
She came to him, wrapping her arms around him and squeezing him tight. Despite having such a small body, Serafall's grip around him was strong enough to force his words to end.
"We have a contract, Bell," she said more to herself than to him. "You're doing more than enough. I couldn't ask you for anything else. All you need to do is follow those guidelines. Keep telling me stories about your adventures. And, please, never leave me. I need you more than you can ever realize."
She gave him one more squeeze and released him. When she stepped away, she gave him a large smile. But her eyes were still sad.
"Now go!" she said, falling back into her chipper personality. "This morning's horoscope predicts today is going to be eventful! Use today to test out some experimental magic that's definitely not dangerous! Go on! Shoo, shoo!"
She turned him around by the shoulders and pushed against his back. After a few more short exchange of words, Bell conjured a summoning circle and teleported away.
Serafall walked back to the bed… and began to sag.
She gave a long and loud yawn. "Sona… it's way too early. How do humans deal with these bright hours? It's exhausting even when I got a full four hours of sleep."
Sona didn't respond.
"I guess it's all worth it if it's for my Bell," Serafall said, grunting as she stretched with her arms over her head until something popped, and then fixed the fluffy pink robe over her shoulders. Now that Bell wasn't here there wasn't a reason for it to start slipping and show her cleavage.
Again, Sona didn't respond.
"There is something I need you to do," she said next, picking up the blob with one hand before it was about to fall off the edge. She raised it up to look at it straight through the glasses. "I need you to stick with Bell today. And I don't mean like that. So-tan has me so there's no reason for you to be trying to look for a boy. Hmm. I don't mind sharing Bell with you… but only if your Onee-sama gets to join!"
The slime monster began to droop as it was being upheld by Serafall's fingertips.
Serafall put her other hand under it to give it a better foundation. "Stay with him. If things play out like I planned, he'll be at Monsterphilia. If he somehow makes it to the Dungeon, draw in as many monsters as you can. I have a plan for my adorably doubtful little Queen! Do this for me and I'll treat you to some udon. Understood? Thanks, So-tan! You're the best!"
The slime said nothing.
Serafall tossed it underhanded towards the center of the room while her other hand created a magic circle. The monster spun lazily with its glasses threatening to fall off, yet it never did anything in response to being tossed. Another summoning circle appeared where the slime ball would have landed. In a flash of light, Sona was teleported out of the room.
0-0-0
Bell reappeared in the familiar back alley he and Serafall used whenever using the teleportation spell. It would only work towards her castle or in this specific spot. Nowhere else.
He also needed a minute to regain his bearings. No matter how many times he used the spell, he couldn't get over the nausea that came afterwards. He wished to just walk to the Dungeon like a normal person but Serafall wouldn't let him. He didn't even know where her castle was!
The nausea was the reason why he didn't eat breakfast in the castle. The first two days of that were horrible. Instead, Serafall sought an alternative.
Fortunately, this alley was close to Main Street which would then lead towards the Dungeon. But before the Dungeon would it lead to the Benevolent Mistress.
The maids were always hard at work. Right now, this early in the morning, they were busy cleaning the interior while setting up tables and chairs for the outside. They were transforming the nightly tavern into a daytime café that was popular for the wives and lovers of Adventurers.
Serafall had made a deal with Mama Mia for Bell's sake. The cook who made the maids' morning portions would make an extra meal for Bell.
Normally, it was the ashen-haired Syr who waited for him to arrive and hand over his wrapped breakfast and lunch. But today, it was the blonde-haired elf, Lyuu. She was doing Syr's job of brushing the front patio with the bento resting on the windowsill.
"Good morning, Miss Lyon," Bell greeted as he approached.
"Bell," Lyuu's eyes widened the smallest of fragments. It hardly affected her stoic expression. "Good morning."
She put the broom aside, went over to grab his meal, and climbed down the steps to approach him.
"Is Syr sick today?" Bell asked with worry.
"Nothing like that, I assure you," she said stiffly. She was always like this around him. Then again, she rarely talked to anyone else other than Syr or Mama Mia. She didn't say anything to the patrons or to the other maids other than a few orders.
"Syr asked for the day off," she continued. "Today is Monsterphilia and she asked Mama Mia if she could attend. She was permitted to go as she does not live within the Benevolent Mistress."
"I was wondering why everyone seemed so excited for the past few days," he mused. "I didn't know the festival was today."
"Have… you never attended Monsterphilia, Bell?" she asked slowly, almost unsure of herself.
"I just recently moved into the city," he answered. "The farming village I grew up in had festivals but none as big as this. Honestly… it's a bit overwhelming."
Lyuu nodded in understanding. She handed over the bento and he accepted it with thanks.
"There is one more thing," she said suddenly. "A favor, if it is not out of your way. In fact, it might be beneficial so you can enjoy the festival before going into the Dungeon."
"Um… sure," he nodded. "If it's something I can help with, I'll be more than glad. You helped me a lot that one night, Miss Lyon. I wouldn't have been able to face any customer without you!"
He offered her a sincere smile. She didn't respond other than a single blink. But, he could have sworn, her face was starting to redden.
"It would seem in her excitement, Syr had forgotten her wallet," from the front pocket of her apron did she pull out a coin purse. "None of us can leave to deliver it to her. I was hoping you could bring it to her in our stead."
"Oh, yeah, sure!" he nodded and accepted the coin purse. He put it inside the side pocket of his travel bag. "Do you happen to know where she might be?"
"Not… precisely," Lyuu admitted. "I don't believe she will be in the arena to spectate the monster taming events. You would want to check the main venue where the stalls are lined. The festival grounds are down Main North, and make a right onto East Main."
"Thanks, Miss Lyon!" Bell said and turned to leave. He waved a hand at her. "I'll make sure to give this to Syr!"
He took off jogging towards the festival grounds.
Lyuu watched him go until the crowds swallowed his presence. Once he was out of reach, she let out a breath of air not necessarily a sigh.
From the same pocket she pulled out Syr's wallet, Lyuu pulled out a crisp white envelope. It had Bell's name on it in her handwriting, a heart sticker sealing it shut, and a small splash of perfume.
She had almost given it to him.
It wasn't her style. She was more direct with any means of approach, if not heavily secluded from making unnecessary attachments. Even now she questioned why she wrote such a thing.
She blamed those patrons who left their romance novels after leaving.
With another breath, she tucked it back inside and went to retrieve her broom.
"Not today, Lyuu," she muttered to herself and went back to work. "Remember Syr. Remember your friendship. This is why you have the portrait of him stashed away."
"Have what, nyah?" asked Anya as she came outside with sheets for the tables. "Lyuu, are nyou talkin' to nyaself again? Been doing that a lot nyore soon as the White Rabbit showed up, nya."
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Lyuu retorted with a frosty stare that left no room for argument.
Anya's tail stiffened as she quickly turned away and went back to work.
0-0-0
Carbuncle Redfist Ufiti, a proud Ufiti beast and alpha of his troop, sat in his cage as he awaited his turn for these savages to pull him before a crowd and have him do tricks like a circus freak. They even refused to call him by his name! It was insulting!
He bore the symbol of his great ancestor, the first Ufiti and what they named themselves after! And his symbol, the patch of silver fur along his back, was the largest and most shimmering of his kind each strand may as well have been woven out of silver.
These animals called him Silverback for it.
If he could speak in their tongue, and provided he was willing to stoop to their vulgar levels, he would have dared to call them mudmen. It would serve them right.
But he wouldn't. He was an Ufiti of refined taste and culture.
He watched them run around the backstage of their stadium. Other impressive individuals such as Carbuncle were chained and caged, sometimes both, like he, and were wheeled away for the stage further up. They were set on a schedule with one oaf barking out orders in their tongue.
Then, all of a sudden, there was a gap. None of these savages were there to keep an eye on him. It was as though every possible coincidental incident happened all at once that demanded their immediate attention without them noticing the shift.
"Wow! You're so big!" said someone in the universal language.
He looked down, spotting a small individual peering up at him from the other side of the cage.
Though she appeared in the shape of the savages, she was nothing like them. She was a creature from the dark under. Her presence itself demanded his full respect or damnation of the worst kind would fall upon him. She was not of his troop, or even of his clan, or even of his kind altogether. Yet she still exuded the aura of being his alpha.
"You're probably the biggest one I've seen in a long time!" she continued to compliment him. "What's your name, fella?"
He tried to answer. But the muzzle along his mouth made him sound like some rampant beast snarling and growling.
"Oh, hold on," she said and then quickly looked both ways to see if anyone was watching her. There were no monsters around so there was no point to her gestures, perhaps in the name of a personal play of things.
Power poured out of her hands. Taint of the dark belonging to legend. Reality warped at her command through her nimble fingers.
He understood who this was. He had never crossed such an entity nor ever had been exposed to its might in any way. The difference in authority was as vast as the ground was to the sky.
The muzzle was unlocked. It hung off of one strap. Not enough to completely fall off but enough for him to speak. She also didn't undo any of the bindings keeping him in place.
"Leviathan," he dipped his head in absolute respect and fealty. "Your Highness, you grace me with your presence. I am Carbuncle Redfist Ufiti. Please forgive me for not showing you the proper formalities. I would pound my chest in the beat the world will sing at your arrival upon these heathens were I not foolishly captured."
"Oh that old thing?" the Leviathan gushed with joy. She put a hand to her cheek and had a broad smile. "I was actually working on something new. Something for all ages! But never mind that. Don't worry about me so much. Besides, we all have our off days. You would not believe how many of those I've had this week…"
"I am not worthy of your kindness," Carbuncle lowered his head further.
"Anywho, I'm here to make you an offer," the Leviathan spoke cheerily, but with a healthy amount of malevolence behind her intentions. "It's been kept mum for now. But… I have chosen a successor."
"This is most glorious news!" Carbuncle praised. The approving grunts and cheers from the nearby prisoners agreed with him. "Why, this is a cause for celebration!"
"Sure, sure," she nodded a few times. "But not right now. Right now, he's not exactly up to par with the job. I'm trying to fluff him up, so to speak."
"Ah, I understand completely," he returned with a nod of his own. It was as much tradition as it was law. Only the strongest may lead. Be it from a pack, a troop, a clan, a territory, to even the entirety of the Dungeon.
"I've been stuffing that boy with greed since I found him," she said, placing her hands on her hips and raising her head with pride. "He's powerful enough to tackle a Monster Rex on his own. I'm sure of it! But the problem is… he doubts himself. He thinks his progress is too slow and thinks I'm going to give him the boot. That's where you come in!"
Carbuncle began to understand. "Am I to assume you wish for me to challenge this ward of yours in the ways of old?"
"Through combat to the death, yes!" she answered with another broad grin. "Don't worry about not being a Monster Rex. While he is powerful, he's inexperienced. And you look like you've been around the ringer a few times, Redfist-san. You're exactly what I need to knock some sense into him!"
Ah. The power of the Leviathan without the wit of the hunt. Nor was this ward arrogant with his power. He doubted himself. He doubted he was going to meet the expectations of the great and mighty Leviathan.
"You honor me with such a privilege, Your Highness. My name shall be revered for being able to match blows against your chosen. Alas, I am bound. And even if you were to free me, I fear the monsters will become alert to my freedom."
"Don't worry, I have an idea!" she said, lifting a finger into the air. She then regaled everyone within the chamber. "Listen up everybody! When I give the signal, all of you will be set free. Cause as big of a commotion as you can so that Redfist-san can sneak through all the chaos. Make it back to the Dungeon and I'll reward you well!"
There was a round of excited muttering amongst themselves.
"Your Highness," Carbuncle spoke up. "Do you mean to say your chosen walks among the monsters? He is disguised as one of them just as you are?"
"…Something like that," she answered with a sweet smile. "You will be able to find him. Just… search for the scent of a Level One Slime."
"Can we eat the humans?" one of them asked.
The Leviathan paused, her eyes flashing with something as cold and dark as the deepest ocean. She looked away, but the feeling of dread never escaped the room.
"Well… Luci-tan might not be too happy about it. But it's part of the Stage Three and Five plans. Since we're still on Stage One, I don't think it would hurt it. Plus, it would have to be convincing. I guess I can write it off as a worker's expense…
"You know what? Sure! As a matter of fact, there's a certain goddess working one of the stalls. She's the only goddess working so you can't miss her. The one who devours her and sends her back to Genkai will receive the grand prize! A complete Level Up!"
She waved her hand. The muzzle on Carbuncle returned in its uncomfortable place. It was as though time had been paused and then resumed while he failed to notice it. The humans returned from whatever it was that occupied them. The schedule was back on and the next prisoner was wheeled away for the stage.
The Leviathan was nowhere to be seen.
0-0-0
"Syr!" he called out to the crowds. He couldn't find the ashen-haired maid anywhere. He was hoping to find her soon, give her the wallet, and then run off into the Dungeon.
He couldn't wait to go down there, find a monster, and try out his new magic!
But priorities first. He had to find Syr because he already made the promise to Lyuu.
The festival grounds were crowded. There was enough room for him to move around the wide street but at certain stalls did he have to try and swim through the crowds to get across. Children ran around with toys and sweets, vendors were shouting to sell their products, and everyone else was trying to get around just like Bell.
There were more than the common citizen attending. There were a lot of Adventurers present too. Some were in ordinary clothes while others were in their gear.
Further down, towards the end of the street where the colesseum was, a constant roar of applause was heard from this distance. That was where the main event of Monsterphilia was being held.
He debated about buying a ticket to see how professional Adventurers fought against monsters… but thought against it. He didn't want to spend any more money than he needed.
"Syr!" he called out again, looked around to see if he could spot her, and then kept moving.
"Bell?" he heard a voice from where he came.
"Syr?" he turned and called out.
"Bell!" a hand shot up over the heads of the crowds. It waved at him. "I'm over here!"
"I'm coming! Ah, excuse me. Sorry. Sorry, sorry!"
He had to fight against the traffic of people, stepping on a few toes and getting into others' way. But eventually he managed to find a gap and freely move back towards Syr.
He didn't know he expected to find her in her maid uniform, and it may have played a part on why he couldn't find her. Syr was dressed in a modest but cute dress that matched her eyes.
"Bell, what're you doing here?" she asked while looking at his battle garments. "Were you on your way to the Dungeon?"
"I was but then Miss Lyon asked me to give you this…" he said while pulling out the coin purse from his pack. He handed it over to her.
Syr blinked, patted her skirt and realized the same purse wasn't where it belonged, and then smiled at him. "Oopsie~ That would have been embarrassing. Thank you so much, Bell. You didn't have to do this. I could have gone back to the café."
"Don't worry, it's nothing," he waved it off. "I just came by to drop that off. I'll be going to the Dungeon now."
"Wait!" she said before he could leave. She stepped up and grabbed him by his hand.
He blushed. Syr was a really cute girl. Having her hold his hand like this made him stop in his tracks.
"At least let me buy you something for this!" she said.
"Y-You don't have to do that much…" he muttered, failing to meet her eyes.
"Bell… you're not going to disregard a cute girl's offer of thanks, are you?" she said with a sweet smile that would have competed with Serafall's. It even had a similar presence of dread.
"N-No…" he sighed. "Thank you very much, Syr. I would appreciate it."
"It's no trouble at all," she said with the same sweet smile while leading him to the nearest stall. All the while, she continued to hold his hand. "Two potato puffs please! One with wasabi cream. The other with… do you have any preference, Bell?"
"Ah… I liked the sweet bean one," he answered.
"And one with sweet bean filling," Syr finished.
"Coming right— YOU?!" the vendor began to fill out their order, glimpsed at them, and then snapped upright as soon as she did a double-take and spotted Bell. She leaned over the counter with her face nearly touching his.
It was the same black-haired goddess he had met the other day. Hestia, if he remembered correctly.
Syr was looking at him through the corner of her vision. Her sweet smile shifted and he felt the grip on his hand tighten. "What's this? Bell? How do you know this goddess?"
"I… I didn't do anything!" he blurted out to her. It made her eyes narrow with suspicion. "Honest! Miss Wallenstein and I went to the same shop down Main Street and she was working there. That's it!"
"With a new girl," Hestia pointed out while she worked the stove. "I see through your act, Devil thrall. You're secretly trying to harvest the souls of those innocent girls with your charm, aren't you? I'm onto you and your master!"
"Actually, I was hoping to ask you about that," he said, leaning a little bit on the stall's counter.
Hestia eyed him with a flat stare.
"Do you have something against Serafall or something?" Bell continued. "Does she come from your pantheon or something? Did she do something to you back in heaven?"
"Don't pair me up with that monstrosity," Hestia snapped while sticking a wad of potato and batter into the fryer. "What? Did your master not tell you? She's the enemy of all gods and Adventurers."
"Lady Serafall?" Syr cackled at that idea. "She's harmless. Sure, she lets on she knows more than most but I think it's all talk. The other day she was trying to learn everything about the falna ritual. She's not a very good goddess. Sorry Bell."
"…Y-You're not wrong," Bell admitted. "Please don't tell her I said that."
"It'll be our little secret," Syr winked at him and put a finger to her lips.
"She is not harmless!" Hestia argued, pulling out the fried potato puff and started to apply the toppings. "She is a monster in disguise. Everything she does is an act to deceive you. This little thrall here is probably in the know. Don't be fooled by her cuteness."
"I'm actually as clueless as the next person," Bell said. "I don't know what you're talking about or why you think this with my goddess. Really, is there something between you and her? Something that I can help you two get over?"
"I can't tell if you're fooling me or really clueless…" Hestia muttered as she wrapped the potato puffs into little sheets and handed them over. Syr placed a few silver coins on the counter. "You must be fooling me. Everything about you screams 'Devil' to me. From the way you're dressed, to the way you look and talk, to even how harmless and innocent you appear.
"That's just how they work. They're a bunch of seducers. They make you lower your guard, get a hold of your heart, and then bleed you dry. They corrupt everyone, even the most pure of heart. I wouldn't doubt you've been feeding on everyone's greed with the way they've been looking at you with the way your dress is so coordinated. I wouldn't even doubt if you weren't ever a girl in the first place."
He wasn't sure what reason he should be sweating for. The fact everything she had just said resonated with Serafall's action of dressing him up, making him work at the Benevolent Mistress, and gaining all the attention of the other Adventurers. Or, the fact Hestia started to see through his crossdressing.
"That's all Devils do," Hestia went on, placing her hands on her hips. "They lie. They reap on the innocence of the mortal children and grow stronger for it. They're a serious threat. Granted, I haven't seen one in… awhile."
"How long exactly?" Syr jumped in with another sweet smile.
"T-That's not the point!" Hestia bellowed with her face reddening. "The point is, they're evil!"
"No, seriously, I have no idea what you're talking about," Bell jumped in, growing a little irritated she continued to badmouth his charitable goddess. "Serafall is the kindest person I've met since coming to this city. She gave me a home and let me join her familia! She gave me all this gear and everything! She hasn't done a single thing to make her seem evil. I really don't know why you keep calling her these things."
Hestia looked at him. She stared at him, never blinking and trying to read his expression.
"You're serious," she said after a moment. "You really don't know what's going on, do you?"
"I really don't," he said with a serious voice. "I'm still a newbie and would like to get along with other familia. So if there's something between you and Serafall… I want to know."
"…There's nothing between us, per se," Hestia said after a moment. "You can say we never actually met in person. You don't even know her real name, do you? Serafall is one I haven't heard before."
He looked away as he recalled the moment of their introduction. She had made up the name on the spot, taking parts of names from her figuring collection and mashing them together. So, no, he didn't know her real name.
Nor did he know the names of the other gods from her pantheon.
"Tell you what," Hestia huffed, standing a little straighter with her head lifted. Her breasts flopped around with her sudden jerk. "I change shifts a little after noon. Come back by then and we can… talk. You can even bring your master if you want."
Bell considered it. By noon? He would still be down in the Dungeon on a normal day. Serafall wouldn't suspect a thing. He almost felt guilty about sneaking around her like this. But, at the same time, she was never direct in her answers whenever he asked.
He didn't know what she was hiding and it was making him worry. It was as though she didn't trust him enough despite how much she showered him with.
"It'll just be me," Bell said.
"Bell," Syr spoke softly. "I hope you're not making plans with this goddess while in the presence of another girl. I'm still here, you know. I even treated you to something sweet. Don't you like me? I might just cry."
She sobbed quietly while wiping one of her eyes.
"It's nothing like that, Syr!" he waved his hands around, not knowing how to comfort her. "Please don't cry!"
"Bell, how could you?" she continued. "After everything. I thought you were a nice person. But you've been playing with my feelings all along, haven't you? It's her boobs, isn't it? She's charmed you because they're so much bigger than mine."
Hestia didn't say a word. She had an expression that said she had heard it all before.
"No!" Bell blurted out, his face heating up. "This has nothing to do with that!"
"It really is about her boobs!" Syr's eyes widened.
"This is about my familia!" he tried again. His face was becoming as red as his armored plating.
"I'll never forgive you!"
Bell took a step back as though struck. "S-Syr! Please! I only want to talk to her! I want to learn more about my goddess! That's all!"
"She was right all along, wasn't she?" Syr continued. "Even now, you're just deceiving me."
"I would never! Syr, what can I do to prove to you I'm not?"
"…There is one thing," she said, raising her head with her eyes peering behind her hand.
He couldn't see the smirk hidden behind her hands.
"Anything," he leapt at the opportunity to get her to stop crying.
"Take responsibility and work at the shop again," she insisted. "Only then will I forgive you for cheating on me with the goddess."
"Please don't drag me into this," Hestia muttered.
Bell hesitated. She wanted him to work during the night shift again as a maid? It was hell! He had only done it because Serafall made him! It was a living nightmare walking around in the maid uniform while serving the Adventurers.
But Syr was on the verge of breaking down into tears again. The longer he hesitated… the closer she was to come to the wrong conclusion about him. He can already see it play in his mind. She would call him something vicious, possibly slap him, and then run away. She would never forgive him.
He would break one of the rules his grandfather gave him about dealing with fair maidens.
"O-Okay," he said in defeat. "Just… please don't cry, Syr. I'll do it."
"I forgive you, Bell~" Syr sang with a bright smile. "You better keep your promise or I'll really be mad at you this time."
All expression from him washed away. He blinked. His mind came to a screeching halt. It took a minute for thoughts to come back to life.
He eventually realized Syr played him like a fiddle. She continued to smile at him as she bit into her potato puff.
"Are you sure you're not a Devil yourself?" Hestia asked.
"Oh no," Syr replied in kind. "I merely learned from the best, that's all. But thank you for the compliment."
Bell began to sulk. He should have known Syr was going to do something like this. But he was a sucker for cute faces and couldn't stand to see a girl cry. It was a taboo his grandfather had drilled into him.
Be nice to every girl, even the uglies, because you never know when they will bloom into something beautiful.
Never make a girl cry, do everything you can to cheer her up if it wasn't his fault, and then beat the crap out of who or whatever made her cry in the first place.
And, always, always, always protect the maiden from harm.
Those three rules were the secrets his grandfather proclaimed that were key to acquiring a harem. Bell didn't know if they really worked, but, well, he had no reason to doubt his grandfather.
"Hmm?" he turned his head once something caught his attention. The crowds were shifting and the noise towards the stadium was getting louder. It wasn't the regular shouting of applause. It sounded more… hectic.
"Is something going on?" he asked aloud.
0-0-0
"Siegfried? Why aren't you in position?"
"Cao Cao! I just heard something important that you need to hear."
"Then out with it. It's not like you to be so rattled."
"I've heard the tales but it's a little different being so close to the source. A Devil appeared. She's in the guise of a goddess like Georg said. She mesmerized the Ganesha staff maintaining the monsters. I heard her speak to the monsters. She's planning on releasing them onto the public."
"…What? Here?"
"I came to you because she's a little out of my league. You need to deal with her."
"Perhaps. I was hoping to educate the populous more about their kind. It will be unfortunate many will not know the value of my triumph but it is better than having pointless slaughter. But the Devil is of little importance at the moment. Do you not see it, Siegfried? This is great! This is the moment we need!"
"I don't understand."
"We were supposed to release all the monsters onto the stadium in a controlled environment, swoop in, kill them, and make our debut. I was a little worried the people might mistake it all as a part of Ganesha's act. But with this? With this we can prove our worth as real Heroes!"
"Then… we're going to do nothing?"
"On the contraire, we are going to fulfill our roles to the letter. When the monsters escape, we will be there to stop them. Simple as that."
"And if people get hurt…?"
"People will always get hurt, unfortunately. It's saddening, but this needs to happen for the people to understand how big of a threat the monsters are and why they will need us over the Adventurers. It is a rallying point to acquire more members. That was the purpose of today."
"…I see. There is one more thing."
"Yes?"
"She is sending the Silverback to challenge her heir. Something about teaching him a lesson. She mentioned while he is powerful, he is also inexperienced. He might be a newborn monster."
"…An heir. So the Devils can now increase their numbers. This goes against what Ophis mentioned. But if it is as you say… A Silverback, huh. They're a second-tier monster. And, knowing Ganesha, this Silverback is the best pick. If it's going to challenge the Devil's heir…"
"I think I should follow it to discern the heir. And execute it if I am able."
"Not until you achieve Balance Breaker, Siegfried. We don't know the full capabilities of these creatures. I will send Heracles instead. He is durable enough to evaluate the heir as well as survive any surprises it may possess. I also need him to grow more accustomed to his Balance Breaker. This is the perfect chance for him to do so."
"If he survives."
"Of that I have no doubt he will. A Silverback is nothing compared to any of us. Twice so against anyone who has achieved Balance Breaker. I will expect him able to kill the heir but will not assume until he brings us its magic stone. Now go and tell the others about the change of plans. I will need to tell Indra this information."
"Cao Cao, what about the Devil? What if she tries to defend the heir?"
"…Then I will drag her into the light, reveal her true form, and slay her with my True Longinus. Such is the role of a Hero, Siegfried."