And So, Bell Became a Hero
INTERLUDE
No, this is not part 22/ch17. It's an interlude to give you all my thanks for your kind reviews and deliver two omakes/side stories more requested/commissioned.
Reviews first, then omakes. Feel free to skip this section if you wish to read the omakes/side stories first!
Extra side note: This Omake is released along with an Artwork of Rose Fannett (done by myself) in the Discord Server. Other artworks are being uploaded to the patron to accompany the story, but this Rose Fannett was done for the public. Don't expect much but also expect a lot ahahaha.
Reviews:
Y'all legit did not let me sleep well last night, my phone went crazy with continuous vibration/ringing from the review emails xD. Thank you all so much for your support! It really, really, really gladdens me and fills me with determination to continue delivering the work you all enjoy^^.
There's so many reviews that I don't want to leave anyone out but at the same time I don't want to make the word count high with my response so I'll try to summarize the vibes y'all shared with me!
First for the critics: There's a lot that occurs before the story starts in the prologue, I thought writing the setting so many times would've made it clear that Zeus was more involved in Bell's early life than in canon which changed a lot of things. Stuff like his initial stats, how there was an 'elder god blessing' already on his back when Hekate found him in Orario, and so on.
As the story goes on, more of the past will be revealed either via commissioned side stories/omakes OR through the story itself at some point.
There's also the fact that I feel many kind of skipped the part where Hekate mentions that Bell would be a new type of adventurer with multiple blessings, so it's pretty dumb of you (no I don't take that back) to think he'll be bound by the Original Work setting which haves all adventurers with 1 god's blessing.
For the questions about the harem members: There's a loooot of girls I want to add, and a lot that I WILL add but I've reached a compromise with the discord readers and that is, I will disclose the girls that will join the harem at the start of the arc but just that, you'll have to wait and see how they join!. As for the current size of the Harem (which is 100% planned right now) I'll tell you the following information:
There's 22 people in total right now. 6 of those have already shown feelings in the current story, 1 that is a yes or yes. There's 6 goddess in total planned, which I may or may not add one more depending if I can fit her in.
Seems like a lot right? But it's Zeus grandson we're speaking about, and counting how many Zeus wooed, I feel it's nothing in the grand scheme of things ahahaha.
My strong and weak points in writing: Writing lemons and tragedies/sad moments IS my strong point because there's many emotions, feelings, scenes, etc. I can invoke with a few words because that's what's important in a lemons/tragedies to me. Something sometimes slow, other times fast, etc. So, it's really easy for me to find a compromise between showing, telling, and having the characters 'feel'.
Personally, I dislike writing lengthy battles because 1. NO battle last more than 5 minutes at most, even duels in current times are short spars, etc. that are divided by rounds.
I HATE it when you have a fight scene in anime/manga/novels in which the protagonist is fighting, and suddenly has time to think/look at everything around them as if the other person isn't moving to attack them at all.
That kind of thing doesn't exist, period. Well, unless you have time-stopping abilities but you get my drift. It's the reason why my current fight scenes feel "lacking" compared my lemons.
To me, the protagonist never has time to "think" during a fight, because they're either focused so much on the opponent there's no time to see if there's a hole 3 steps behind them, which they can use for bla bla bla and so on.
There's also the fact that the current Bell isn't stronger than everything he's fighting against except for monsters below the 10th floor as of now, so unless I willingly write another scene like the first few fight scenes in this story where he's fighting something on equal or lower level, my 'focused' type of fights will continue.
That does not mean I will be sloppy, but find better ways to find a proper middle ground between my 'focused' type of fight scenes and the show/tell which I use in my lemons. So, please look forward to my growth!
For the last chapter (part 21, the great fight of the savior): Yeah, Bell did not need to kill the monster but I had him do it, the story is about him overcoming everything through sheer Determination.
There're consequences to his actions of course, the next chapter is the arc's culmination with said consequences and another view of the fight which explains why others didn't move to help.
The Broken King gave him stats rivaling those of level 6 in my story (6000+) actually, but the skill's a temporary boost. He'll go back to level 2 with 3000 or so'ish total stats.
In case you want the math: Level 1 Base Stat: 2000 + Level 2 30% Upgrade = 600 + Level 2 current stats = 400~700+ soooo: 2600 + 400~700 then multiply that by 2, and you have the broken king total.
Yeah, broken as fuck.
Parting words for this interlude: There's really so much more I want to tell you all, but it would end up being spoilers... As the words of Zeus in a certain part of this omakes; Thank you, for Everything.
Let's meet/talk again in the next interlude! Or if you wish to join the discord and talk to me there, please do ^^
DISCLAIMER: Danmachi belongs to its respective owners. Everything that occurs in this story is of my own creation and the characters abide by the fictional laws in the setting.
Author Note: If you'd like to support me, please consider joining the dis cord server (42SQENPj54) or supporting my Patron (IreJasmine)
Omake 4: Life behind the counter
It was another slow day at the Guild for one Eina Tulle, her shoulders sagging as she waited for the next adventurer in line to reach the window. A young boy who could be no older than 15 with black hair and amber eyes stepped up with a girl of the same age with equal features but longer hair.
"Good afternoon, what may I do for you today?" Eina gave her professional smile.
"Hi! We would like to become adventurers!" The boy exclaimed.
"I see, can either of you read and write?" Eina asked, already opening the drawer for the files needed for new adventurers.
"We both can!" The girl replied.
"Great, please fill in your details in this sheet then," Eina handed them the papers, one for each, and waited patiently as the two traded the pen to write down their personal information.
Eina's eyes wandered as she waited, her gaze coming to her senior coworker of the werewolf race. From the way the werewolf woman was sagging, it was evident there was something weighing on her mind, but she still retained the professionalism needed to deal with the adventurers in her queue.
"Done! Is there anything else?" The boy exclaimed again, bringing back Eina's gaze.
The half-elf took the sheets, giving them a one over before nodding in satisfaction. "Yes, as new adventurers you must take an initial lesson provided by the Pantheon before entering the dungeon"
"Drats! Do we have to pay for it?" The girl asked, glaring at the boy.
"The first lesson is free of charge but if you request more lessons, then there will be a fee," Eina explained, placing the closed plaque on the booth, and waved for the two new adventurers to follow her.
"Told ya' it was free," The boy quietly exclaimed to the girl who huffed in annoyance.
"You're lucky it was free! We have no money left after you spent it all in that overpriced sword!" The girl punched the boy in the arm, Eina patiently waiting for their bickering to be over before continuing her walk to one of the tables at the far side of the pantheon.
Once the three were sitting, Eina adjusted her glasses.
"For starters, you must know…"
And so, Eina explained the laws to which adventurers needed to abide, some of the more informal rules by which adventurers lived along with much more, the two new adventurers eye spun in circles from Eina's verbal vomit and when she finished with the topic of Familias and Advisors, the two perked up.
"As new adventurers, it would be best if you join a Familia that can help you start your adventure and have a Guild Advisor to watch over your personal growth." Eina finished, fixing her glasses once more.
"Man… that was long," The boy muttered, not low enough but Eina refrained from letting it get to her. "Do we really need to join a Familia?"
"It's for the best she said." The girl punched the boy's shoulder.
"It would be most helpful, yes." Eina replied, smiling at the two's banter.
"Drats, how long's gonna take for one to take us in?" The boy asked.
"Anywhere between a day and a month." Eina slid them a sheet she had prepared beforehand, one that displayed a list of the Familias that accepted new adventurers within a week, "I suggest trying these ones as they're known to take new adventurers very often"
The girl took the sheet before the boy could reject it, glaring at him scarily enough to shut him up.
"As for the advisor, I wou-"
"We don't need one." The boy crossed his arms, "I mean, we're already gonna join a Familia so someone will teach us there, right?"
"Yes bu-"
"Sides' that would cost us money that we kinda don't have." The boy interrupted Eina again.
"Your fault." The girl reproached him.
"The guild accepts part payments, so you don't have to pay n-"
"Thank you, but we really can't afford that." The girl was the one to stop Eina this time, a somewhat annoyed look on the girl's face.
"Then at the very least let me use what's left of this first lesson to-"
"No can do! If we waste any more time today, we won't have a place to sleep by the night! Gotta' get to these Familias and try our luck there." The boy stood from the table, the sword on his hip clanking against the table and throwing some of the paper contents to the floor.
Eina sighed, knowing when to stop fighting a losing battle, and started picking up the papers from the floor.
It wouldn't be the first-time adventurers rejected the advisor's offer, and Eina had come up with the idea of using the first initial lesson to provide as much valuable information she could to new adventurers to avoid this very situation.
That still worked one out of ten times at best, and this was not one such time.
"Sorry for my friend's attitude but he's right, thank you for all your help!" The girl gave her the last paper and off the two went, out the doors before Eina could give them even some parting advice.
The half-elf sighed, returning to her post at the reception desk where a tall bespectacled man was attending it for her. His name was Hans Mill, and he was one of the newest members to join the guild under their werewolf senior tutelage.
"Rejected again, miss Tulle?" Hans quipped, standing from the seat, and stepping back enough for Eina to slide into the seat.
Eina noted he stayed standing behind her, staring down at her from behind his glasses and she felt it directed somewhere he shouldn't be looking.
"Yes, thank you for covering mister Mill." Eina replied, awkwardly covering her collar with her hand.
"You should follow Rose's teachings to the letter and stop giving new adventurers so much information, you're scaring them off." Hans looked at their werewolf senior sitting one booth down.
"How I handle my adventurers is my business mister Mill, and it's Miss Fannett to you. I don't believe she's given you permission to call her by name, less during work hours." Eina scolded, slightly angry that the newcomer was treating her like she hadn't been in the job for the last five years.
"Right, sorry. Still new and all that," Hans fixed his own glasses, finally looking away from her covered chest, "If you'll excuse me, I'll continue learning from Miss Fannett."
The man stepped to stand behind Fannett, his excuse of being a new member allowing him to creep the werewolf who ignored him as she continued expertly handling her adventurers.
Just five minutes talking with him, with his gaze somewhere inappropriate for the entirety of the conversation, was tiring. How their senior, miss Fannett, managed to ignore him, and still teach the bespectacled man she didn't know, and only earned more of Eina's respect.
"Excuse me."
Another adventurer in her line, Eina quickly filtering away her thoughts and once more professionally smiling.
"Yes, what can I do for you?"
-0-
Two days later, Eina was sitting once more in her booth attending more adventurers. Three new parties formed, with all rejecting her offer for becoming their advisor or letting her give them any sort of advice before leaving the Pantheon.
So far, her day had been the same as any other. Attending, filtering papers, having lunch with her coworkers while making small talk, then returning to her post.
It was exactly ten minutes after she had come back to her post when the gates of the Pantheon were thrown open, a party of one of the many Familias affiliated with the Guild walking forward with two black body bags that were taken to the backrooms.
The sight wasn't all that rare, and most adventurers ignored the matter with ease, but that was not the case for Eina.
She may have 5 years in the job, but seeing those bags being brought back always made her heart pang painfully.
If that wasn't enough, she was called to the backroom too by one of the party members.
And Eina knew what was coming.
The part of the bag covering the two bodies face was parted open, Eina easily recognizing both faces even though many features were missing, and the skin was black and blue.
Her hand covered her mouth, muttering the name of the two young adventurers she had attended not two days earlier, the party members thanking her for the confirmation and letting Eina leave the room.
The half-elf steps were unsteady, and she didn't return to her post, couldn't return to her post. Her werewolf senior appeared from nowhere, taking her arm and helping her back to the Guild's resting room where she was sat down, given water and a rub on the back before being left alone to sort her emotions.
Perhaps… If she had tried harder, managed to convince those two, they would still be alive…
But that was life, and everyone fought their own battles.
And Eina had lost that one.
Three hours later she would return to her post, her professionalism in place was more despite the redness and puffiness of her eyes and cheeks.
That evening, before leaving the Guild, she left a notice that she wouldn't be coming the next day to rest since she felt sick. Her senior giving her a parting hug that she was extremely grateful for before leaving home.
The half-elf had nightmares that night, and even after waking up it would seem life was not done yet with her.
Eina decided against actually pushing through with her sick leave, going to work after midday at the Pantheon only to arrive and see the frenzied state in which the Pantheon was swept in.
The half-elf spotted the bespectacled man talking with an adventurer group that was quick to set off, she closed in before he could move away and asked.
"What's happening?"
"She's gone!" Hans shouted.
"Who's gone?"
"Rose!"
"Wha-"
"We received a report that some adventurers had abducted a woman with features similar to Rose!" Hans quickly explained, eyes looking for another party he could ask for help, "She hasn't returned since her early lunch, and we had confirmation that adventurers from the report were last seen carrying a sack by other adventurers! That must be Rose they have I tell you!"
Eina's breath was taken away from her, Hans ignoring the half-elf alarmed expression and leaving her to ask for more help as many other Guild members were doing.
The next four hours would be the longest of Eina's life, she had been swept with the rest of the members ordering search parties for their missing werewolf senior and helping as best as she could.
When the Loki Familia arrived with said missing werewolf senior, Eina had tackle-hugged her for all she was worth. Later, while Rose had been questioned by the Guild's upper management, she heard from the rumor mill about how the white-haired adventurer Rose had taken a fancy to was the one to save her along with the help of the Loki Familia.
The last she saw of her kind werewolf senior that day was the sight of her walking out of the Pantheon along with said white-haired boy.
Eina smiled, glad that miss Rose was safe.
The two dead adventurers all but forgotten.
-0-
The next day wasn't so bad, but Eina could do without the added workload of their missing senior, one that had been granted a week's leave after the abduction incident, however she was not alone in taking care of miss Rose's adventurers.
Hans, the tall bespectacled male, had stepped up to gain brownie points by taking miss Rose's booth and was doing a decent job at it.
"I tell you Miss Tulle, once Rose's back and sees how good we've taken care of her post she's going to give me some kind of reward," Hans giggled to himself, Eina skirting away from him.
"It's Miss Fannett to you," Eina scolded again, though she knew it was probably another losing battle.
"Yeah, yeah." Hans waved a paper, ignoring Eina's words once more.
"And I don't think miss Rose will give you anything, at all." Eina muttered, not really intending for the bespectacled male to hear those words, his head turned towards her.
"What do you mean?"
"Haven't you heard?" Eina tilted her head curiously.
"Heard what?" Hans harrumphed.
Eina smiled smugly, glad that she found something she could hold over the creepy man's head.
"Oh nothing, don't worry about it."
Four times more during that day was Eina asked what she meant with those words, each becoming more and more pressing to the point another Guild Member had reminded them to not talk so much during work hours.
That did not stop Hans from asking a fifth time, and Eina had finally had enough.
"Look, from what I know, miss Rose's already meeting someone."
"WHAT!?"
"Quiet you two!"
"What do you mean Eina!?" Hans angrily whispered.
"It's Miss Tulle to you!" Eina scolded, "And you shouldn't be looking into your senior's private life like that"
Hans blew hot air through his nose, ignoring Eina's words again and vowing to find out what Eina had insinuated.
Eina didn't know, and wouldn't know, that her words that day would cause the bespectacled man to filter during his free time through Rose's booth, linking the appearance of a certain white-haired boy with the start of the rumor about Rose's seeing someone in the guild.
The new guild member would arm an inquisition later, trying to discredit a certain white-haired boy's despite going against the guild protocol in jealousy for possibly being the person who had taken away his precious senior.
Eina's days would've continued the same unless she also met a certain white-haired adventurer who quickly became someone incredibly dear to her, an adventurer that did not reject her advice, actually listened to her, and even returned for more.
And so, the life behind the counter continued with a small change.
Omake 5: How the Past met the Present
[Warning: Graphic Content (not the happy kind)]
Whoever says raising children is an easy task is very, very wrong and Hekate would personally lead them to a circle of Hell specially reserved for those kinds of liars.
Hekate grumbled to herself as she washed her hands for the third time already, the distinct smell of the child's feces Zeus had brought into her domain still very much stuck to her skin and she hated it.
It had been one year since the sorry excuse of a God crawled into her domain with the child in hand and she had accepted his contract, and damned she be before she broke the contract.
Not when she got the better end of the deal.
Having the leader, if he could even be called that, of the Greek Pantheon as her missing weapon for a millennium and owing her a promise, which most likely he would break, and a vow that he wouldn't dare even think of breaking was too good to let pass.
Even if she had to wipe clean the ass of a baby.
A fifth wash of hands later, Hekate went back to the baby she left sleeping on the bed. The home she lent to the God to live in being nothing great, a simple wooden house with two rooms that the elder god hadn't remodeled yet.
Not her problem.
Hekate sat at the edge of the bed, clean fingers pressing on the pudgy child's belly while he slept wrapped in a comfortable wool blanket.
"You are so much trouble," Hekate pressed the finger lightly, a vindicative grin when the baby frowned in discomfort. "Lucky you, we have the same eyes or else."
She let the threat hang and scoffed to herself seconds after.
"Really, threatening a child… How low have I fallen?" The red-haired goddess sighed and tried to pull her finger back.
She couldn't.
"Troublesome;" Hekate murmured, lightly glaring at the child that had squirmed in his sleep and took hold of her finger as if his life depended on it.
A goddess known to protect the household she was, but not one to raise it! Really, there were better gods out there for that kind of responsibility, someone like the perverted god's sister, Hestia, for example.
But a contract was a contract.
"Mmmmom…"
Ah, her moment of grouchiness distracted her from the child's first words…
Wait, those were his first words, right? Zeus bemoaned that this child wouldn't even speak a yes or no, no matter what he tried.
"mmoooom."
"I'm not your mother," Hekate didn't know the sensation that fluttered in her belly, out of all the words the child could use as his first words, they had to be those.
The grip on her finger tightened the slightest bit, the baby's face scrunched up. A telltale sign of his discomfort or unhappiness.
"mmmooooooooo,"
"Fine, fine I get it." Hekate grouched out, climbing on the bed, and lifting the baby to her bosom, which the baby quickly made himself comfortable with a blissful sigh.
"Still not your mother."
A fart.
S#!%
-0-
The red-haired goddess laid on her back inside a wooden tub filled with warm water, her crimson hair clung to her cheeks, collarbone, and perky breast as she made herself comfortable. The pitter patters of a certain white tuff two-year-old child echoing in her bathroom.
The goddess spared a glance at the child she contracted herself to, the kid played in a smaller wooden tub made specially for him and splashed the water with childish glee.
"Fun?"
"Un!" The kid replied with a hum rather than words.
"Good," Hekate replied, leaning back to her comfortable position, and let her thoughts wander again.
Soon, the child would be three. Not that either Zeus or she knew his exact birthdate since he was born in secret, but they were aware that it would be soon. Hekate didn't worry about the mortal things such as gifts, she was looking forward to the date only because it meant she would be one year closer to fulfilling her contract.
And then she could go back to…
To…
…
What did she even do before the child fell in her hands?
Wow, immortal life sucks if she couldn't remember the last time she had fun without going back a couple thousand years in her memories. Well, he would become another memory in due time.
"mom"
"Not your mother," Hekate instinctively replied, turning her head to find the child had left his wooden tub to peer from the edge of her own tub.
Crimson eyes watering slightly as his brain was old enough to understand her words.
"Urgh, fine. Come here," Hekate sat up, and picked the child up who giggled happily as he was once more pressed to her naked bosom and made himself comfortable in her soft embrace. "Don't get used to this."
The child nodded, closing his eyes and in seconds dozed off in her arms.
Hekate ignored the stubborn sensation in her belly, she was not one for sentiments. She was a guide, not a caretaker!
Well… It wasn't so bad…
-0-
"Why does he speak with you, and nothing with me! What kind of sorcery did you use on him?" Zeus bemoaned again; the old, gruff looking, white-haired man slammed his beer mug on the table he recently brought for his sole family home.
It was the only thing he had bought actually, as Hekate was forced to stand with arms crossed and glaring back at the elder god at the other end of the table.
"Perhaps, if you spent more time around him and less around my maidens, then you would hear more of his words."
Hekate was not angry, no sir.
She was absolutely livid.
"Should I waste your vow and force you into abstinence?" Hekate grumbled. Today was the fourth time one of her maidens claimed Zeus went into the village springs and tried to spy on them while they bathed.
It was only because he spied, and didn't do anything else, that she didn't punish him.
Scolding and threatening were fair game though.
"Wait, wait, you wouldn't do that right?" The old man clutched his heart, "I would die if you did that."
"Right," Hekate huffed. "Then behave, this is my domain. I'm not as forgiving as your wife."
The elder God nodded, and quietly sipped his mug.
"Also, when are you planning on renovating this house," Hekate pointed with her chin at the only new furniture for the last four years.
"A bed and table's all we need, one to sleep and one to learn and drink!" Zeus exclaimed, patting his belly in satisfaction.
Hekate narrowed her crimson eyes, "The child won't grow properly."
Zeus smirked, "Oho, growing soft for him?"
Hekate grind her teeth, "Are you mocking me and everything I stand for?"
"Wh-"
"I accepted the contract, and I'm living bound by the rules set by myself. The least you could do before paying the full price is respect me, Zeus."
"Sorry… I'll look for more furniture this week…"
"Do you even know where to look for?"
"I…"
"Four years, Zeus. Four years you have been here, and you have yet to make it up to me for keeping you hidden and safe along with your grandchild."
"But I thought-"
"That I did it out of the goodness of my heart? Zeus, I DON'T have a heart, I CANNOT have one."
"…"
"You have one, all your kind does. Show me I'm not wasting my time and start acting like the elder that guided the Titanomachy. That's who I accepted as my spear, not this…" Hekate shrugged her arms at the elder god's beer belly.
Zeus placed the half-full beer mug on the table and went towards the door of the house.
"Very grown up, Zeus. Leaving in the middle of a di-"
"Where do I go for furniture?"
"… Martha's house, third to the left after passing the fountain at the center of the village. Tell her I'll pay for everything."
The elder god gave a tight nod and left.
The crimson-eyed five-year-old stumbled out of his room, the commotion had woken him up and he dared not interrupt them until it was over. "Angry?"
"Yes."
The kid walked towards her, head down and gently grasped her fingers in his tiny hands.
"Help?"
"Not your problem to solve."
The hand tightened around her fingers, and a concerned and guilty look fell upon her. "My fault?"
Hekate huffed, kneeling to be at eye level with him. "Yes, everything is your fault."
That was the harsh and honest truth, and only someone who had a heart would've hidden such cold honesty towards a child. If it weren't for him, she would not need to whip Zeus's ass back into gear.
But she had no heart.
"Sorry," The kid sniffed, face tightened to stop the tears for the emotions he felt.
"Good, you're forgiven."
"Huh?"
"Something bad happened because of you, and you apologized for it. So, you're forgiven" Hekate ruffled his white hair. "Now come here and give me a hug, you like my hugs, right?"
The kid nodded, and awkwardly circled his arms around the crimson-haired goddess's neck who was quick to pick him up in her arms.
"Soft right?"
"Hai mom."
Hekate snorted, "Not your mother."
-0-
Where was he?
Where did he go?
Stupid snow, stupid climate, stupid earth.
Why did he run?
How far away did he go?
Stupid Zeus, stupid contract, stupid mortals!
She shouldn't have let them take him.
A twig snapped; the crimson-haired goddess face swiveled only to find a frozen deer looking back at her.
Why now of all times when she couldn't access her power!?
Those idiots, they said they would take care of him.
That it would be a fun experience for him.
A sudden influx of power made her stumble, a deep exhale leaving a warm puff of smoke in the frigid air.
There.
"Bell!" Hekate shouted, running towards the tree the five-year-old used as a hide spot against the snow. "Bell I'm here, please come out!"
The boy sneaked his head out of the hiding spot, face lighting up with a blinding smile as soon as he saw her running through the snow towards him.
The kid left his spot and started running towards her, but he barely started when the crimson-haired goddess crashed into him and sent them both plummeting to the snow-covered dirt.
"You're safe, you're okay," Hekate gripped his head tight to her bosom.
"Mom!"
Hekate kissed his hair, just this time she wouldn't deny him that.
-0-
Zeus scratched his white beard and then took a sip of his mug, the bitter taste of coffee made him almost wretch, but he kept it in. Bell was seven years old already, and many changes occurred since the last two years.
Hekate's words about his uselessness cut deep, and the elder God took her words to heart and got back in shape. Though there were still times he slipped, such as his perverse nature still luring him into the springs, or the time the village's hunting group lost sight of Bell during a hunting game.
The elder God's face still stung from the slap Hekate delivered to him, and all males involved from that time.
For a Goddess without a heart, she sure could imitate emotions.
But well, they deserved that one. It was the village's tradition for all men to learn about hunting from a young age, and for women to take care of the household. That's the way Hekate had set her domain, and Zeus respected her laws.
Most of the time… He could've waited like all other men who brought their kids after they passed their tenth birthday, but Zeus was stubborn and decided to bring the five-year-old who was quick to get lost in the snow.
At least that brought Hekate and Bell closer, the goddess no longer referred to him as 'child' or 'kid', or the rare case of 'offspring' but instead called him by name.
As for his grandson, the experience didn't mark him at all. Probably something done by Hekate, but he wouldn't ask.
There was one change a year ago in Bell though.
And that was after their wholesome grandfather to grandson talk about heroes, and how Bell wanted to become one. The, what Zeus believed to be fruitless efforts, of telling bedtime stories about heroes to Bell in order to get him to talk were rewarded with the six-year-old conviction to become one.
And as any proper parent would, Zeus took that responsibility like a proper man.
"Zeus"
Hekate's deadly voice brought the elder gruff man out of his reveries.
"Why is Bell asking me what a harem is?"
-0-
"Miss Kat, aren't I a little too old for this?" Bell asked, covering his privates as he sat between the crimson-haired goddess legs in her wooden bathtub that was much too small for the two of them.
"You're only ten Bell," and I'm over 4 billion old, Hekate finished in her thoughts. Her fingers ran through his snow-white hair, creating bubbles with the soap she had chosen for him.
"It's awkward," Bell mumbled afflicted from the sensation of Hekate's breast on his back.
"If this is making you awkward, then what hopes you'll have of accomplishing your Gramps childish harem wish?" Hekate hummed, pressing her back further on his back and laughing in victory when the boy tensed.
"This and that are different!" Bell exclaimed out loud, face burning.
Why did his Gramps need to have the talk with him so early in his life!? Actually, why did he have to be so explicit about everything!? He couldn't even look at his mother-like figure, one that had made it very clear through the years she was not his mother, without being reminded of how the bees and birds worked.
"Well, you better get over your shame because we're not stopping doing this anytime soon," Hekate laughed out loud.
-0-
"Well, you certainly got over your shame soon," Hekate grumbled, one hand resting on her naked hip and the other throwing up and down a bar of soap.
She referred to the eleven-year-old Bell who no longer covered himself in front of her during their bath times, there was still a light tinge of red on his cheeks, but the boy made no move to hide himself.
"Gramps said I should… learn with you…" Bell didn't know what his gramps meant with that, so he conveyed the exact words the old man used.
"I'm sure he did, now come here. There's only a week left before the worst of winter comes, and I won't see you anytime soon."
Bell sat on the wooden stool, and like all the baths they took together, waited patiently until his sister-like figure had thoroughly smeared the soap all over him. Then it was his turn to do the same, albeit with a bit of hesitation.
"The faster you get over this, the easier it'll become in time."
Right.
-0-
The crimson-haired goddess sat by a tree, watching as a twelve-year-old Bell and Zeus fought with sticks made in the shape of longswords. The elder god whacking Bell black and blue without the boy connecting any blow of his own.
The meal Bell had cooked for her rested in her lap, a veggie soup she was extremely fond of, half empty since she was still savoring the warm meal.
Bell was growing into a fine young man, willing to take the blame for many of his grandfather's faults and learn everything about everything that existed under the sun. Only a couple more years and her contract would be over.
…
Weird, why did her chest feel tight?
Whatever, its not like Gods could get sick without another God cursing them, so probably something unimportant.
Over the years many Gods and Goddess had come to her domain asking for refugee, but only two out of the many that came were honest with their needs as others had come looking for the elder God.
Those two requests paid the proper price and received protection from her in her other domains in Heaven and Hell.
Neither of those were as important as the boy who Zeus knocked flat on his back and left gulping for air.
Huh, when did she finish her soup? Whatever, she could always ask for more and Bell would drop everything he was doing for her. She deserved as much after raising him into what he was, right?
Though it was a little weird that he was growing too fast.
Whatever, only a couple years more and it wouldn't be her problem.
…
She needed to get her chest checked out, this lack of breath was concerning.
-0-
"Thank you, for everything." Zeus bowed.
"Haa?" Hekate angrily exhaled, "You're breaking our contract!?"
"No. I'm merely asking for some time before paying the price in full."
"That's not what you contracted me under, Zeus."
"I know, but this is something that must be done."
"… Then leave, I knew I should've never trusted your kind. What a waste of time."
"Was it really a waste?"
"Leave."
"I will return, I vow out of my own will."
"Not worth shit, just leave. I don't need a faulty spear that will stab me back when I least expect it."
"Thank you"
"LEAVE ALREADY!"
Those who straddled the boundaries could not afford to hold emotions. Those were her primordial grandmother words, and she lived by them for the entirety of her life.
So…
Why…
Why knowing that Bell's future was another toy for the Gods hurt her so?
…
"I don't need this."
And so, the liminal goddess once more ripped her chest open, plucked out the beating organ that had grown inside her over the last years and squashed it under her feet.
-0- Past End -0-
-0- Present Start -0-
The Earth continued spinning, time continued flowing, and the Goddess of Crossroads moved on. The child she was no longer contracted with left on a journey of his own, and her problems were no more.
There was no throne in Heavens, Earth, or Hell for her but that did not stop her from sitting like a queen in her own home.
Empty, desolate, and cold home.
Her subjects went about their daily life, her maidens courting the young ones and the older ones teaching the new generation about their rituals, and beliefs. Sustenance was brought to her, an offering for another eventful year which she accepted.
But did not eat.
A liminal being like her did not need food.
All those mortal pleasures were meant for the mortals, and for those who wished to live like them. Her job was to look over them, to guide them, and then to judge them.
And as judge, she could not afford emotions.
The Goddess of Crossroads felt her skin crawl at the mention of emotions, the desire to scrounge whatever wrongness off from her skin led her to her bathroom. Her clothes were quickly discarded, and she was left standing in the wooden tub that had much use for the last fifteen years.
Warm water filled the tub, and the goddess sat down until only her head remained above water.
When did water get into her eyes? Weird.
The Goddess cleaned her face from the water that spilled down her cheeks; water that continued spilling.
How bothersome, when did it start raining inside her house? Weird.
Fingers gently cleaned her skin; the water turned red.
Hands diligently caressed her softer parts; the water turned viscous.
Arms and legs carefully stretched until she sighed in bliss; the villagers bowed their heads as a bloodcurdling scream echoed through the village.
Immortal life was great!
The Goddess hummed to herself, and walked naked to her bedroom, leaving behind a trail of water in her path; a bleeding, moaning, mass of gore stained crimson the wooden floorboards.
Her back gently laid on her bed, hands coming to rest on her chest with fingers clutched together. Memories played in her mind, and she giggled at each one of them; the mass ripped its chest apart again, crunching again and again the organ that grew after the previous one exploded, screams and thunder echoing in the village.
Suddenly, a connection was made.
Someone, or something, connected to her for a second.
…
…
…
Well, she was a Goddess too, right? So, nobody could blame her if she went and got herself a mortal toy too, right?
She was lacking a spear again, after all.
-0-
The connection led her to Orario, the city with her remains. Entrance was free for someone of her kind, gifts, requests, and wishes were also common for someone of her kind.
But she was not here for any of these mortal toys, she was in search of the one that connected with her, and the one that would serve as her spear to rectify the mistakes made by her kind.
A nondescript toy was kind enough to guide her to the establishment set by the toys to regulate other toys, there her disdain for the mortals was proven right when two souls with a hell promised at their end captured a being closely related to her domain.
Sadly, for that being, she was just another toy in the grand scheme of things.
But at the very least, the Goddess of Crossroads could leave her fate to other toys. She left a warning in the establishment and left in search for her own mortal toy.
-0-
A friend, right she was a friend. She could trust her, even if she was of their kind.
They shared the same domain after all, she could do the same that was done to her.
Let someone else raise and nurture her toy, and then take it away.
They all deserved to feel that kind of pain.
Innocent or not.
-0-
It was easy to get Hestia's trust, specially because told the truth and only the truth. Someone found her Witchcraft Grimoire, and she wanted someone to take care of that person.
That was the truth.
Just because she didn't say why she wanted someone to take care of that person didn't mean she had lied.
That was how Gods played right? And she was a God too, after all.
-0-
Ah, so the being closely related to her domain did not have a tragic fate. Why… was her scent so familiar? Weird, didn't matter. Her toy that would cause chaos to the world was just a couple steps away, all she needed was to reveal a little bit more of the truth.
The Goddess of Crossroads was the one to warn the establishment, in return she should be allowed inside her home for that, right? That's how some mortals thought, so it would be easy to convince her so.
Access was given, and she walked forward ignoring the two naïve ones left behind.
Just a bit more, and she would get her own toy to fuck the Gods and Goddess with.
…
Ba-dump
…
How annoying, had she not destroyed that enough times? Why did it return so suddenly, there was no reason for it to return, right? Bah, she could take care of that later. A door was all that separated her from her toy.
…
Ba-dump
…
"I should've seen this coming."
Ba-dump
Ba-dump
Ba-dump
Well, a liminal one having a beating, feeling, heart was another way to fuck with the Gods and Goddess, right?
Hekate smiled, a true smile and started clapping her hands.
"Up! Up! Up!"
-0-
"What does one such as you do here?"
"I was led by the front entrance, like any other really. There's some stuff I've seen around that I didn't like, so I'm here to fix them."
"You're not a fixer, that is not your domain."
"Yeah, and nobody else seems to care about their domains after toying around for so long."
"Your Grandmother would be disappointed."
"My Grandmother would tell you to suck her where the mortal sun doesn't shine."
"What do you want?"
"Skipping the warm greetings, I see"
"Speak, or I'll cut this meeting short."
"I've left with your phantom my needs; I want them all granted."
"Then leave, I have no time for those like you."
"That's where you're wrong Ouranos, soon you'll need me."
"… You know of what's to come."
"Better than all of you do, and I'll be at the center of all of it. So, if I was you, I'd start acting nicely because nothing will be left unscathed after I'm done."
"I request a contract." Ouranos pointed at the barrier he held with his prayers.
Hekate gave a demented smile, "As the Goddess of Crossroads and Boundaries, I accept this contract. Now name your price, and the Bell will toll for you."
-0-
One piece was already on her side, now all she needed was to fill the rest of the board with more pieces. Perhaps, irony was the way to go seeing as Hestia was her partner in crime? A message that prickled his arrogant pride would do.
Oh wow, Hestia had grown bigger. Hmm, her Bell did like them bigger, something that most likely stemmed from her upbringing.
Something to consider.
-0-
Huh, guess Zeus did care about the boy more than he let on. What a stupid blessing he had left Bell with, well, she should've expected something like that when the elder God said Bell was going to be quite the man in the future.
Little bit sad that she was not his first partner, but well, as the mortals say, leave the best for last, right?
…
Could she even hold for being last? Who would even be the last?
…
Whatever, there were more pressing issues to take care of. Like not derailing her Bell's future by letting him get his partners pregnant, that stupid skill of his coped with Zeus's blessing made him what mortals would consider a 'stud' if that was the right term.
"So come on boy! There is nothing down there I haven't seen already."
-0-
Bell was doing something stupid again, she could feel it through their bond. Haa, what a troublesome child. Well, she already knew that, so there should be no surprise.
"Zeus's training did pay off in the end." Hekate murmured to herself as she viewed Bell's actions through her mind, the boy was fighting tooth and nail against a horde of giant mantises which showed no sign of stopping soon.
"Hekate, you're here!" Hestia's voice cut her off the connection.
"What's up dear?" Hekate turned around to listen to her friend.
"It's Bell, he hasn't come back, and I can feel his Falna burning, do you know anything!?"
"Mmm yeah, don't worry. He's doing something stupid, if worse comes to worse I'll pull him back here."
Hestia looked down, "What if he-"
"Won't happen," Hekate interrupted. "He's our first Child, have more faith in him."
"Right, Bell's determined so he will come back!"
Hekate nodded… Had she looked this naïve in front of Zeus when she accepted to contract too?
-0-
And Bell was back, with another woman to boot. Guess the werewolf did satisfy his obsession with the color red, which Hekate admitted was most likely her fault, and went for the complete opposite.
Yeah, he would do just fine.
"Oho, quite the magnificent return my prodigal Child!"
-0-
The Goddess of Crossroads wandered a lot on her own around Orario, mostly to see what had become of the land her remains stood on.
It was totally not because she was checking out the other Gods and Goddesses, what they were up to, what they had done, what they stopped doing, what they should be doing.
No, she was not like that. Right?
Well, she also wasn't a being with a heart until a couple of years ago.
And so, the Goddess of Crossroads became Hekate once more, the Goddess in charge of Bell Cranel, who would become the next Soteira.
-0- Omake End -0-
Author's Note: I have no problems clarifying this for those who do not understand, Hekate was a being that imitated human emotions, and I tried to depict that in the way I've written her personal view from the events that have occurred through the story.
She has an agenda of her own and has done many things that in the main story were mentioned off-camera. And by next chapter, (part 22/ch 17) you'll see another part of her hidden agenda.
The reason I ended up choosing her over other Gods that could've raised Bell is because her domains over "boundaries" and the fact that she belongs to all three places, Heaven/Earth/Hell. There's very few Gods that equal her in that regard.
I hope you liked the side story/omake, compared to the others I know it's on the darker side but this is what's truly been going on in "Miss Kat/Lady Hekate" brain from the start.
Thank you very much Mazzel (The commissioner for all these Omakes) for continuing to trust me to write these side-stories! I hope I'll be in your care the future too!
Extra side note: This Omake is released along with an Artwork of Rose Fannett (done by myself) in the Discord Server. Other artworks are being uploaded to the patron to accompany the story, but this Rose Fannett was done for the public.
-Jas / Shiiva