And So, Bell Became a Hero
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
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Chapter 17: The Curtain Closes [Part 2&3/4]
Part 23
Bell woke up the next morning alone in the bed, feeling much better than the previous day. Most of the soreness was gone and only the itch from wearing the bandages for too long remained, said bandages still covered most of his upper and lower body, the lower ones hidden by the gray pants someone, most likely Rose, had dressed him in.
He walked around the room to stretch for a bit, feeling most of his joints pop back into place while looking around for a change of clothes but he didn't dare step out of the room as he didn't know whether his stay was known to the rest of the Loki Familia, or it was something kept in private by the mischievous goddess.
Bell continued looking around the room for a while, his search for a change of clothes turning in the negative, until the door to the room opened.
"Oh, you're awake." Riveria, dressed in what she considered lighter clothing consisting of two sets of greenish elven robes with sewn patterns, commented as she walked inside with a food tray in her hands.
"Good morning, Miss Riveria." Bell politely greeted as the high elf placed the tray on the bed.
"How are you feeling today, Bell?" Riveria asked, searching through her sleeve for something that she quickly found and presented to him.
"Much better, I'm sorry for troubling your Familia," Bell replied, curiously taking the yellow pill given to him. "What's this?"
"You are no trouble, Bell," Riveria lightly scolded and proceeded to present the water glass from the tray to him. "It's an elven medicine that helps the weariness go away."
Bell nodded, chugging the pill along some of the water before setting the glass down. "Thank you, um, where's everyone?"
"Loki Familia's preparing for another expedition. As for your Familia, Lady Hestia, and Lady Hekate are meeting with Lady Hekate's friend," Riveria moved the chair behind Bell and sat the adventurer down against his will, the food tray being pushed into his lap.
"Your… mate, Miss Rose, went back to the Guild along with the Ankusha early in the morning." There was a little distaste in Riveria's voice at that response as she sat in front of Bell on the bed.
Bell nodded and blinked when Riveria presented the fork with a sliced apple to his mouth, he opened his mouth to speak but instead had the slice shoved into his mouth, after chewing it down he asked, "What about Alicia?"
Riveria paused for a second before plucking another slice with the fork, her movements were so delicate and caring that it left Bell wondering where did the Riveria that cowed yesterday the other two top executives of the Loki Familia went. "Receiving her follow up medical check."
Bell response was delayed by another slice shoved into his mouth, "What about Lord Ganesha?"
"Left yesterday after you fell asleep, the last we heard from him is that he's investigating with the Guild any matters related to the mutated monster." Riveria replied, gathering a spoonful of soup, her lips gently parted to blow the heat from it before she presented the spoon to Bell.
Bell blinked again, "Umm, Miss Riveria?"
"Mmm?" The way she battled her eyelashes, the sharp yet softness of her features made Bell's stomach feel butterflies.
"I can feed myself?" Bell pointed out, taking a deep breath to which Riveria hummed in response.
"I know," Riveria fixed a silky strand of green hair behind her long elven ear, the distinct shape where her earlobe connected with her jaw crossed his sights, "Do you not like this?"
"No, I mean yes I like it, it's just… I didn't expect this?" Bell replied pointing at the spoon that hovered near his mouth.
"Then enjoy the surprise," Riveria's motherly smile defeated Bell's reservedness and the one-sided feeding continued until all the food contents of the tray were gone and Bell feeling like he was a young child all over again.
"Um, miss Riveria?" Bell timidly set the tray aside, "Would you mind replying to some more questions?"
Riveria folder her arms inside her sleeves and gave him a slow nod.
"Why am I here?" Bell started with the most obvious one, as it was weird for him that instead of getting taken to one of Orario's medical Familias he was taken instead to an exploration one.
"That was my suggestion," Riveria confessed fixing another strand of hair, "We arrived at the medical bay a few minutes after your fight was over to see how Alicia was faring, and we saw you both there. The…" Riveria paused for a second, a troubled outlook adorning her features "… Ankusha was ordering other members to give their elixirs to you since the ones you had already taken weren't effective."
Bell nodded, learning a little more about his time unconscious and replied, "Skill effect."
Riveria blinked, surprised that Bell revealed why he was not healing without her asking directly, or indirectly, and continued, "The Ganesha Familia ran out of elixirs, and you were still not healing, so I… I mean, Loki decided to help you in gratitude for saving Alicia's life."
Bell noticed the slip of the tongue but kept quiet.
"Even after we wasted the elixirs we had on hand, most of your wounds were still unfixed. Your Familia came in at that moment and Lady Hekate moved everyone, and I mean everyone, out of the room to update your status and hope that would help your body recover." Riveria explained more and nervously fiddled with one button of her robe, "The update stabilized your inner wounds, so we had to wrap you in bandages and hope you healed the old way."
Bell was grateful to finally know why he was wrapped in bandages from head to toe, and also curious as to how did his status change after the update but that would have to wait until he met with either of his goddesses.
"After that, I suggested that the Loki Familia take you in and continue monitoring your condition since we have vast healing resources at our disposal from the last expedition," Riveria looked away for a second and admitted, "I also suggested it because it would give us a chance to finally have a proper talk."
"A proper talk?" Bell curiously leaned in, making Riveria's face warm slightly.
"There's this rumor about you and the Ankusha being an item…" Riveria said that while looking away from Bell's curious gaze.
"Ah, we… are, I think, or will be, I'm hoping…" Bell gave a contradicting answer to both himself, and Riveria.
"But are you not Miss Rose's lover?" Riveria asked that with her jade irises falling on him.
Bell took another deep breath and reminded himself that he would never hesitate about his selfishness ever again, his response was filled with the resolve that would've made his gramps proud, "Yes, Rose and I are lovers."
"Then-"
"I'm also Eina's lover and partner, and hopefully, I will become Shakti's partner too." Bell's addition left Riveria floored for a dozen seconds before she shakily replied.
"But… You…"
"I love Rose for all she has done and does for me, I'm starting to love Eina for all she has to put up for me, and I really like Shakti for the kindness she's given and continues to give me, there's more I would like to say but my feelings for them start there, and I will live up to their expectations of me."
Riveria was taken aback by the resolute response, the rampant childish memory of wishing for someone so selfish, and caring, to rescue her from her elven family prison returning in vengeance as the crimson-eyed adventurer gave her a smile that left her conflicted.
"I know that some will see me as a selfish man but I'm fine with that, all I care about is keeping those who want to be with me happy and in turn, find my own happiness with them." Bell finished, nodding to both himself and Riveria who replayed his words in her head a few times.
"I see, I was mistaken to think of you as a naïve and innocent child." Riveria shocked her head, "Your words left me much to think about."
Bell scratched his cheek, "Nothing bad I hope."
"I will be the judge of that," Riveria gave him a smile that left him knowing she said so in jest.
Bell, feeling some of his determination return after his previous words decided to start with the heaviest topic so far, "Why did the Loki Familia go so far for me?"
"I could ask you the same, why go so far for Alicia?" Riveria countered, crossing one leg over the other.
Bell frowned, "Why wouldn't I save her?"
Riveria shocked her head, "I meant why didn't you just run out of the arena after securing her, why did you stay to fight that monster? If you went in, you could've gotten out, no?"
Bell leaned back on the chair with a surprised expression as Riveria continued, "You could've avoided the fight altogether by running away, and if you did manage to escape then the Familias in the Coliseum would've worked with the Ganesha Familia, or even with the other Familias in the Arena, and taken down the monster."
"I, I didn't really think about anything when I went in," Bell admitted.
Riveria sighed, "I know miss Rose supports your reckless behavior, even encourages it to a point, but what if the monster was too strong for you to take alone then? Did you not think about those who were watching you and could do nothing but pray you didn't die?"
"I did." Bell interrupted Riveria, a slight tinge of anger appeared in his features, "Every time I step into the dungeon, all I think about is becoming stronger so I can return to my loved ones and support my family moving forward."
Bell abruptly stood up from the chair which fell over as he continued with a louder tone.
"There's not a moment I don't stop thinking about what happens if I'm too weak, its why I strive to become stronger as fast as I can."
"And how did you know you would be strong enough to save her? Or did you not think that you could've ended up dying along with her if things went just slightly different?"
"I don't know! All I knew was that I had to save her, and I will never believe my decision to do so was wrong!" Bell's previous conundrum born under the silent stare of the spectators after killing the mutated monster gave birth to those words and saying them out loud felt like a proper way to reassure himself.
Riveria, used to her Familia strong attitude, did not feel angry at Bell's outburst. It actually reminded her that despite having the determination and resolve to make impossibilities a reality, Bell Cranel was still a young man experiencing new things in his life.
"And I will be eternally grateful you saved her," Riveria voice was soft, so soft that it blew the flames of anger inside Bell and made him feel even worse as Riveria continued, "All I want you to do is to think a little more before and after you act, is that too much to ask, Bell?"
"I'm so sorry Riveria, I didn't mean to shout, it's just…" Bell bowed apologetically, stopping before he made an excuse for his unnecessary actions, "I will take your advice to heart, I'm really sorry."
"Good, that's all I can ask for," Riveria replied softly and caressed Bell's untamed white hair which fell close to her after he bowed.
"Hai," Bell kept bowing at a perfect 90-degree angle again which made Riveria chuckle and continue running her fingers through his unruly hair.
"Is there anything else you would like to ask?" Riveria asked once Bell stood straight again, her hand coming to rest on his chest, something both didn't seem to notice.
Bell hesitated for a moment but gave up in the end "No, that's… all."
Riveria hummed and after a second thought said, "Well, you don't mind me asking some more questions now?"
"Hai?"
"Why and how did you lie yesterday?"
Ah.
"You must've forgotten, or not told, but miss Rose gave me and another member of the Familia a very thorough recount of the time you saved her in the dungeon, and it does not match your response to Finn yesterday."
Bell's panic must've been visible because Riveria stood up so she could hold his cheeks, the motion comforted him and calmed down his erratic thoughts.
"All I want…" Riveria's soft tone disarmed his anxiousness, "Is to understand you a little better."
"Because I know I'm not a normal adventurer," Bell replied looking down at his hands, seeing something that Riveria couldn't see. "I wish I could tell you more, but I don't even know enough myself to give you the response you're looking for."
"Just knowing you're aware of your own uniqueness is enough for me now." Riveria sighed unhappily but was glad that he decided to be honest with her at the very least.
Bell glanced up at her response and once more found himself mesmerized with the way Riveria's unique jade-colored irises brilliantly shone with profound care, "You have such beautiful eyes…"
Riveria's face warmed up again as she felt Bell's compliment being completely genuine and devoid of any lustful desire, "Thank you, that's the second time you've said that to me."
Somebody knocked on the door which interrupted the two's moment, and both looked to see said interrupter was none other than the golden-haired elf bringing in a change of clothes for Bell, she was wearing her adventurer's brown dress minus the full body suit and the padded armor parts.
"Ah," Alicia paused at the door, torn between her loyalty and self-need to preserve Lady Riveria's royal elven status and her new bond with her life's savior. "I've… brought, um, away, um clothes."
Bell, understanding a little bit about the way Alicia's feet shifted between the known aggressiveness he knew she possessed and the previous day's insecurity, stepped away from Riveria's reach, "Good morning, is that mine?"
"Hai," Alicia replied, still shifting uneasily by the door which left Riveria perplexed as to her friend's confusing behavior.
"Thank you," Bell gratefully received the clothes, which was only his black dungeon long-sleeved shirt.
"Lady Hekate said we should return to your... Our Familia house after you woke up," Alicia informed him, glancing between the silent Riveria and white-haired adventurer.
"But you're both still recovering?" Riveria suddenly interrupted, crossing her arms and frowning.
Alicia shocked her head, "Lord Dian Cecht cleared us both this morning, Miss Fannett was given the medical conditions I have to follow."
Riveria frowned further, "That's… It's only been four days!"
"Calm down mama," Loki appeared from the room's entrance, her signature mischievous smile in place, "Dian's child will continue visiting Alicia at her new home for her treatment, we can't have them stay any longer since it will give the wrong impression to other Familias."
Riveria grumbled, nursing her forehead, "I see, yes, that makes sense."
"What about Alicia's belongings?" Bell asked to the mischievous goddess that had no qualms entering his personal space and hugging his midsection by the front, both Alicia and Riveria were surprised that their normally lesbian goddess showed interested in the opposite gender.
"Bete's already taken them to your mate's house, you should lend'er to use sometimes cus' the way she orders around that unruly pup's glorious," Loki grinned as she pressed herself against Bell, grinning more when she felt something shift inside his loose pants.
"Bete?" Riveria exclaimed in further surprise.
"Yeah, you missed the show mama," Loki continued grinning for a second before fully staring at Bell and spoke in a softer tone, "Do bring my little sapling back to me from time to time, yes?"
"Hai," Bell replied putting on the shirt over his bandages which felt incredibly itchy but would have to wait, much to the displeasure of the goddess pressing herself against him. "Thank you for all your help, Loki, I promise to make it up to you sometime"
"I'll hold you to that, Soteira," Loki replied pinching his cheek before letting go and turning to Alicia, "Now come give mama one last hug before you're taken away by the big, bad adventurer~"
Alicia cringed but gave in and hugged Loki expecting the goddess to sneak a squeeze but was pleasantly surprised when Loki actually held her like a mother bidding goodbye to her grown up child.
"Take care my little sapling, know that you will forever have a second home in my domain," Loki whispered, tightening the hug the slightest bit before releasing Alicia.
"Thank you, Lady Loki." Alicia replied through emotional tears.
"So, what did you get out of him?" Loki asked Riveria while the two women watched Bell and Alicia leave the Twilight Manor through the window of the room Bell had used for the last three days.
"Nothing I will share with you," Riveria replied, hand pressed against the glass in longing.
"Awww, guess I'll have to directly ask Hekate again then," Loki whined, crossing her arms petulantly, "Sucks."
"That sounds like a 'you' kind of problem," Riveria scolded and turned away from the window once she could no longer see either Hestia Adventurer's back.
"Was your curiosity satiated at least?"
"No, I've only grown more curious and fonder of him." Riveria replied and left the room, leaving Loki to stare at the empty bed that once housed the white-haired boy.
Loki climbed up to the bed, wrapping herself in the covers that still smelled of him and retained his warmth, "Why do you possess such unnatural warmth… Not even this cold body can refuse your charm… Curse you… Hekate…"
The Trickster fell asleep with a cozy smile.
The afternoon walks from the Twilight Manor, as the Loki Familia's home was called, to Rose's apartment was a short one since both were located on the northern side of Orario however for the two adventurers of the Hestia Familia, it might has as well taken hours with how awkward the silence between the two was.
Bell did not know how to start a conversation with Alicia since the golden-haired elf preferred to look down at her feet and follow exactly one step behind to his left and he did not know how to breach the subject about her wounds without stepping on a landmine.
Still, the stifling silence between the two would not do if she was to follow him 'for the rest of her life' as her elven family customs dictated, so what better way to start a conversation than with that.
"Miss Alicia?" Bell quietly called out her name as the two passed some market stalls.
"Yes?" Alicia's voice was soft and distant, as if she had replied solely because she was called out.
"Excuse me if this sounds rude but," Bell scratched his cheek. "Could you tell me a little bit about your family? I know a fair bit about elven traditions but since they vary…" Bell let the statement hang and hoped the golden-haired elf understood what he meant with that.
"Family…" Alicia distantly repeated that word which made Bell wince, "My family resides near the forests near the Alf Royal Forest, both my parents are into the older stages of their lives and they're believers of the Yggsdrasil's traditions."
"Oh," Bell knew a fair bit about the Yggdrasil's traditions, mostly because there were several hero stories hailing from that tradition. "Did your family adopt the tradition or were born in it?"
Alicia looked up surprised at Bell, "Adopted the religion, my ancestors come from a forest lost to the records of time."
Bell nodded, slowing down so he could walk next to Alicia, "Then we'll plant a seed of your selection and boil water for it every day."
Alicia froze up, eyes wide with mouth open. "Wh- How?"
Bell smiled, scratching his cheek again, "I said I knew a fair bit about elven traditions, yours is one I've heard about a lot."
Alicia narrowed her eyes, "Does that mean you knew about Lady Riveria's status when you tried to seduce her?"
Bell blinked in surprise as the aggressive side of Alicia returned with vengeance, "Um, what status? Also, that was an accident!"
Alicia frowned, "You don't know who Lady Riveria is?"
"A top adventurer from the Loki Familia?" Bell awkwardly replied, Alicia frowned deeper, and Bell quickly added, "A high elf?"
Alicia sighed out loud before replying, "Lady Riveria is a lot more than that."
Bell decided against asking for clarification as it was obviously another sore topic that triggered the golden-haired elf, "Is there any seed you'd like to buy before we go home?"
Alicia looked down again with a sad smile, "You don't need to uphold that tradition, there's no means to it if I'm barren soil."
"But I-"
"AH! But if it isn't my prodigal Child!" Hekate's loud exclamation interrupted the two's conversation.
Bell and Alicia looked ahead to find the crimson-haired goddess and hearth goddess accompanied by two people Bell had seen in passing before in the market.
Those two were a tall (2m), muscular man with a short, curly blond hair with sharp features and a strong jaw, eyes the deepest of blue that gazed at Bell with an intensity that made him feel uncomfortable.
The man's choice of clothing was a blue, long sleeved, skin-tight body suit open at the front, displaying his entire ripped chest and stomach, around his waist was a white waistcoat with golden circular patterns and below that baggy seaweed green pants.
Beside him was a buxom long-haired brunette (1.8m), that now that he was closer could see her hair was on the redder spectrum, dressed in a deep blue full body suit with an extensive portion of the cleavage cut open displaying from her bellybutton and closing again on her neck, around her waist and covering her left leg was a skirt resembling a stage costume.
Two fingerless sleeves of a deep red color adorned her forearms, with white flowery frills around the wrists. Gold colored irises widened in the slightest bit of recognition, but the buxom woman made no move other than that.
"Miss Kat?" Bell waved at his crimson-haired goddess who was quick to spin in a circle around him and Alicia, the later who gripped Bell's black sleeve by the elbow.
"Hm, hm, hmm~" Hekate hummed until she stopped in front of Bell and nodded twice in quick succession. "Yup, almost as good as new."
Hestia laughed awkwardly to the two unknowns next to her as Hekate pulled Bell towards them, and Alicia who'd held onto Bell, until everyone was standing in a circle at the side of the street in front of a closing stall.
"Bell, do you remember the friend I told you about?" Hekate asked with a grin that made the hair on the back of Bell's neck stand.
"Yes?" Bell glanced at the ripped blond-haired man whose gaze was already set on the white-haired adventurer.
"Well! It's these two!" Hekate presented with her arms to the two unknowns and Bell gave his crimson-haired goddess a side-glare.
"I don't think that's how you should introduce them…" Bell whispered and felt Alicia's body suddenly get closer as the eyes of the blond-haired man shifted to her for a second.
Hestia slapped her forehead and then slapped the back of Hekate's head, the sight being comical enough from the height difference and making the buxom brunette giggle softly.
"Bell, meet…" Hestia awkwardly looked up at the taller blond, "My brother."
…
...
...
"You forgot to say which one, my dear," Hekate cheekily grinned at Bell's, and Alicia's, dumbfounded faces.
"Mfufu~" The buxom brunette giggled again, her tone a velvety voice, "Allow me to introduce ourselves properly, I am Eden Voluptas and this is Lord Poseidon."
"Ah." Bell's brain kicked into gear, and he gave a perfect 90-degree bow, "It's nice to meet you both."
"Soteira, raise your head." The curly blond-haired man, Poseidon, ordered.
Bell, noting that was the second time a God called him by that nickname also recognized the arrogant and strong tone to the one in his memories after fainting in the arena, and he obeyed the elder god by standing upright. "Yes, sir."
"Do not call me sir, ever." Poseidon's strong gaze narrowed, and an otherworldly pressure pressed down on Bell's shoulders.
"Oi, oi, you can't do that to my chosen one," Hekate knocked her fingers on Poseidon's stupidly ripped abs as the people walking around them fell to their knees in surprise.
Poseidon grunted and increased the pressure, to his surprise, Bell did not back down, instead he moved his body to cover Alicia as much as he could from Poseidon's godly aura that pressed down on them.
Satisfied, Poseidon instantly erased his aura that had made many folks around them faint, yet Bell did not seem in the least affected.
"Brother!" Hestia, much to the surprise of everyone, yanked down on Poseidon's ears making the two times taller family member stumble and grunt as Hestia continued pulling on his ear, "Do not threaten my children ever again, understood?"
"Release me!" Poseidon grunted out, easily escaping his eldest, yet youngest, sister grip with his unsealed godly body. "Did we not all agree to my final test?"
Bell blinked, "Test?"
"Ah don't mind that," Hekate waved her hand, looking at the numerous fainted people around them, "We should change venue if we're to finish this talk."
"Yes, it does seem necessary," Eden, with her velvety voice, agreed. Her golden irises falling on Bell, "I believe your current abode is near, yes?"
Bell had many questions, but he held them in for the moment, one last frown thrown at the annoyed God of the Seas before he replied to the buxom brunette, "It should not be far."
"Right, off we go!" Hekate, ever the free-spirited Goddess, marched forward, stepping over a nondescript person's stomach. Hestia, Poseidon, and Eden followed, in that order.
Bell kept still for a second longer before he turned around to the frozen Alicia whose eyes were wide open, "Are you okay?"
Alicia slowly nodded, not trusting her voice to speak out words at the moment, and for the third time in her life was glad that Bell touched her again, taking her hand and guiding her through the fainted folks on the streets.
"Ahhh~ Home sweet home!" Hekate exclaimed as she threw herself face down on the L-shaped couch in Rose's apartment, taking three out of the four seats from the longest end as Hestia guided Poseidon and Eden inside.
The God of the Seas and his attendant opted to stand next to Hestia on the wider side of the living room while Bell sat Alicia beside Hekate, and coincidentally as far away from Poseidon before Bell choose to stand in front of the golden-haired elf.
"Well, now that we're all comfortable~" Hekate started with a grin as she held her chin with both hands and kicked her feet in the air, "Let's start with explanations. Eden, if you would be a dear?"
Eden glared at Hekate, and for once Bell shared the same animosity with the buxom brunette for his carefree goddess, "The full explanation?"
"Yes, the full one," Hestia was the one to reply, glancing up at her brother who continued to keep his intense gaze on the white-haired adventurer.
"Very well," Eden curtsied to Hestia.
"No need, I'd rather not waste more time over this graveyard, we're here for one thing and thing alone," Poseidon grumbled and pointed one finger at Bell.
Bell frowned and dared ask, "And that is?"
"Retribution" Poseidon gave a fanged grin that distorted his features into something akin to a monster of the deep seas, "The liminal titaness chose you and I've seen enough to know why, and enough to cast my lot with hers!"
Bell did not understand a thing the God of the Seas said except for him referring to Hekate however seeing as the God had yet to finish speaking, Bell kept quiet.
"I expect remarkable things from you, filthy mortal who earned our epithet," Poseidon walked forward until he towered over Bell. In a split second, Poseidon jammed his index and middle finger into Bell's chest, right in the center where his heart would be.
Bell instantly looked down to assess the wound but was surprised to find none, nor pain.
"You, who reeks of death and time, who grasped what belongs to Gods, and Gods alone, have earned this Lord of the Seas favor," Poseidon chanted, the maniacal grin never leaving his face, "I bestow upon you the might of the seas, the wrath of the storms, and the curse of the drowned!"
Bell felt a surge of something well up in him forming in the place where Poseidon's finger pierced his chest, the edges of his vision blackened and the last he heard were the final rites of Poseidon.
"Let it be known to the other half of Earth, the Heavens and the Hells! Half of Earth have found his Champion in this mortal soul!"
Bell blacked out.
"Again!?"
"…"
"Oh,"
"…"
"You should be wary of her,"
"…"
"You already are? Always were? Interesting, yet contradicting. You two are more alike than you believe."
"…"
"What is to come? I do not know what lies above me, but I do know it's not good, for you."
"…"
"Two can play that game, now go."
Part 24
"Hmm~ Hmm~" A soft hum brought back Bell to the land of the living and the young adventurer sat up holding a hand to his aching forehead, "Oh, you're awake."
Bell looked to side and to the owner of the velvet voice, finding the golden irises of Poseidon's attendant and owner of the soft hums sitting beside him on the L-shaped couch, fiddling with a black cloth in her hands.
"What…?"
"I apologize on behalf of Lord Poseidon," The buxom brunette said as she cut a string with her teeth. "He's normally more composed but your unique situation brought out his godly interest."
"That doesn't explain anything," Bell grumbled, holding his forehead that continued feeling like his grandfather had used for striking practice. "What happened?"
"Before, during, or after you blacked out?" Eden asked, placing down the cloth on her lap and giving Bell her full attention.
"All of them," Bell looked around, seeing that the apartment's first floor was empty and noted from the faint light peeking through the window that it was already evening.
"All," Eden cupped her cheek, "Very well, I'll be as direct as possible then. Lady Hekate faked an incident in Orario that required Lord Poseidon's attention, once here she explained to Lord Poseidon something I'm not aware of which the Lord then decided to stay around for the Monsterphillia."
Bell nodded as Eden gathered her breath to continue.
"Before; Lady Hekate insisted about something until my Lord gave in, we were invited to the spectacle in the Coliseum where my Lord noted your peculiar choice of weapon and his interest, and hatred, in you raised the slightest bit."
"Wait, hatred?" Bell interrupted Eden who chuckled.
"Mfu~ Yes, hatred. My Lord is not fond of land dwellers, even less of those who 'soil' his treasured weapon," Eden explained, and Bell felt another headache forming. "Lady Hekate and my Lord continued speaking through the rest of event until the skeleton monster mutated, and well, let's just say you gained a new admirer with your stellar performance."
Oh yeah, definitely a headache, alright.
"My Lord and your Lady made a contract of which the details I'm certain will be favorable for you. You were then taken to recover to the Trickster's abode while Lady Hestia and my Lord shared some familial time."
Bell nodded slowly again while he tried to wrap his head around the need for all those nicknames everyone threw around so much.
"During; We met you today." Eden continued, obtaining Bell's full attention at that which made her chuckle again, "Fufu~ As you obviously noticed, my Lord had a final test for you before fulfilling his end of the contract and bequeathing upon you the promised terms."
"I don't like where this is going…" Bell commented which brought another chuckle out of the buxom brunette.
"You passed with flying colors," Eden golden irises glinted, and Bell recognized the emotion within them as he'd seen them enough times whenever Rose was up to something, "After; Lady Hestia scolded Lord Poseidon for acting before they could explain what he was going to do as Lady Hekate laughed and your elven partner fretted over you."
There were many pieces of information in that last statement that made head spin, the one occupying most of his brain power was miss Kat's laughing at him blacking out followed by Alicia fretting over him.
"As for a little later, your elven partner was tasked with escorting both goddesses who bid goodbye to my Lord. I was left behind to attend to your needs," Eden tilted her head further into her hand, "Anything you'd like me to repeat or expand upon?"
"Hai, the contract details." Bell nursed his forehead.
"In exchange for a descendant of your blood, Lord Poseidon would bequeath upon you a fine selection of his riches and a piece of his Arcanum."
"… What?"
"Mfufu~ With that said," Eden giggled, placing aside the cloth that only now Bell realized was his silverback armor that got destroyed in the last fight, and stood up to bow at him.
The position made her breasts almost spill from the generous cut to her cleavage's tight suit and hard for Bell to tear his gaze away from them, "My name is Eden Voluptas, holder of the 'Mundi Divitae' skill, new treasurer of the Hestia Familia and also your new intimate partner, please take good care of me."
"… What?"
Eden sat back down, taking the armor back into her hands and continued mending it while Bell wrapped his head around the contract details.
"Okay, help me through this again," Bell shocked his head, "Poseidon left you behind so you could make a kid with me, which would be raised by him?"
"Yes," Eden replied as she cut another thread with her teeth.
"You also joined the Hestia Familia?"
"Yes, again."
"Mundi Divitae?"
"World's Riches; Lord Poseidon decided that instead of bequeathing you physical riches, he would give you the way to obtain them, which is me, or my skill." Eden noted Bell's confusion and recited her skill effect, "Curses the user's bloodline with the ability to birth only one time, and a female spawn, in exchange for providing vast wealth."
"… And you're fine with the Gods dictating your future?"
"We're nothing but toys to them," Eden's sad smile made Bell's stomach twist in distaste, "Besides, who's to say I won't come to like you in time."
"You." Bell replied instantly, "You only have one chance to have a child, you deserve to find someone you love out of your own volition and not… forced… into this."
Eden cupped her cheek again, "You would go against a God's decree?"
"If it meant protecting my, or in this case, your free will. Yes."
Eden smiled, "Then I'm not wrong to be fine with my Lord's decision."
Bell blinked and could do nothing but sigh in quiet acceptance, "If you ever change your mind, know I'm willing to break the contract for you."
Eden tittered, her laugh much too close to an amused Rose, "We'll see, Soteira, we'll see."
Bell shocked his head again, a bit of anger in his voice as he felt his life was being toyed around and no longer in his control, "You're the third person I hear calls me that, what does that even mean!?"
Eden felt the anger and stopped mending the clothes, "I apologize for my choice of words, as for the epithet, it means 'Savior'. You were granted that title by the Gods after your performance in the arena, it also holds a second meaning which Lady Hestia and Hekate should be the ones to explain."
"Oh," Bell oh'ed as he finally understood where the nickname came from. "You said Poseidon gave me a piece of his Arcanum too?"
"Yes," Eden nodded, "Or a 'True Blessing' if you will, unlike the Falna on our backs, it is something granted directly to mortal souls. The one provided to us by Lady Hekate is another True Blessing, which is why it's possible for Lady Hestia to add her Falna to our bodies."
"Miss Voluptas," Bell started but the buxom brunette raised her hand.
"Eden is fine," Eden corrected.
"Miss Eden, you're explaining too many new things to me… Things I feel I should know," Bell frowned as he said that.
Eden cupped her cheek, "Yes, that does seem to be the case. Perhaps, Lady Hekate already knew Lord Poseidon would come to Orario and bring me along, and then use me and my knowledge as a means to explain just how little we matter in the grand godly scheme of things."
"… What?"
"Have you never questioned Lady Hekate about her desires?" Eden tilted her head further into her hand, "Did you never question why she does the things that she does, or how she gets them done? Have you not seen how irregular you are compared to other adventurers or how our Familia is different to them?"
"I…" Bell looked through his memories and realized that no, he had never questioned miss Kat's intentions, he always trusted her blindly from the very start since she was involved in a grand majority of his life.
Even when miss Kat obviously had something on her mind and ignored him, he never asked…
He knew he was different from other adventurers but chalked it up to his unique skill and unique Familia situation, but was there more to it than he initially thought?
"I'll take your silence as a no," Eden sighed with a concerned expression. "Perhaps, that is also the reason why Lord Poseidon granted me to you. The Gods are not above using us, mortals, for their own gains and I'm the wrench he's thrown into our Lady's plans."
"But Miss Kat…" Bell stopped as the conversation he had with the horned one in his dreams had a similar nature to the current one.
"Or perhaps, I'm reading this all wrong," Eden reassuringly rubbed Bell's back, scratching an itch he didn't know he had since the bandages were still on his person. "You said you would be willing to break the contract for me, then in exchange, I'm willing to reply to the best of my abilities anything you feel like you should know about the Gods, even if its taboo for some."
"And how do I know I can trust you?" Bell asked seeing as trust was something he was giving too easily to others around him.
"You don't," Eden retracted her hand and went back to mending his clothes again, "It's up to you to decide whether my knowledge is real or not, whether it's useful or not. I am but another tool at your disposal."
"We're back~" Hekate exclaimed loudly, throwing the door wide open and making Bell jump in his seat.
"Miss Kat!" Bell exclaimed surprised, clutching his chest as the entirety of the Hestia Familia entered Rose Apartment and each went their own way.
"Oh, you stayed behind Eden?" Rose was the first to speak, walking behind the couch until she was behind Bell and took off her guild tuxedo and popped the first button of her uniform's white shirt.
"Yes, it seems my Lord had other plans for me," Eden replied standing up and taking the guild tuxedo from Rose's hands, folding it over her forearm.
"Well, we can properly catch up for the last ten years then," Rose fixed strands of her long red mane out of her shirt, before bending down to kiss her surprised mate's cheek over the couch headrest. "Bell?"
"Welcome back," Bell snapped out of his stupor, "You already know each other?"
Both Rose and Eden tittered at the same time, something that Bell felt would be a common occurrence in the near future, and Rose replied, "Yes, we're distant relatives."
"Oh," Bell oh'ed and now that he saw Rose and Eden side by side, could see both shared a similar body structure and height with the sole differences being Rose's long red mane a lighter tone than Eden's brownish one, and the werewolf's ears sitting atop Rose's mane.
"Bell~" Hestia suddenly glomped Bell, rubbing her cheek with his, "Are you okay? My little brother didn't hurt you too much, did he?"
"Welcome home Goddesss," Bell smiled, patting Hestia's hair as she continued rubbing their cheeks together, "I think Poseidon just caught me off-guard."
"That he did," Hekate's voice came from the kitchen along with the sound of pans clinking together, "Didn't expect him to be so rash but he fulfilled his part of the deal."
"I apologize for my Lord's behavior," Eden curtsied to Hestia.
"You shouldn't apologize for him Eden," Hestia scolded, pouting at the brunette, "Everyone apologizing for him is the reason he's so spoiled!"
"Mfufu~ If you say so, Lady Hestia," Eden giggled, receiving Rose's shirt, and making all head turn to the werewolf who had no issues walking around the living room without anything covering her bare breast.
"Miss Rose!?" Alicia alarmedly shouted, scrambling to cover the werewolf's body with her own which made Bell facepalm as Rose tittered again.
"You don't need to do that Alicia," Rose giggled.
"But Bell-"
"Is going to take a bath with me," Rose passed past the bewildered elf and pulled Bell up from the couch.
"I am?" Bell aptly replied, "I mean, I am." He corrected once he saw the certain hungry glint in his mate's gaze.
"That's a good idea," Hestia rubbed her nose, "Bell was starting to smell, don't take too long because we still need to bring Bell up to date!"
"Oh, my sweet, naïve, Hestia," Hekate bemoaned from the kitchen, shaking her head at how the virgin goddess believed those two children would only take a bath, "Just come here and help me with dinner, will you?"
"On my waaay," Hestia skipped to the kitchen, leaving a giggling Eden and bewildered Alicia around Bell who did best to keep looking at Rose's face and not her breast that were pressing against his chest.
"Hm, a bath does sound like great idea," Eden hummed, cupping her cheek, "Do you have warm water?"
"And the Ofuro we always talked about," Rose added as she grasped Bell's shirt and took it off her resigned mate or was that eagerness? She was seeing in his crimson eyes.
"Great! Lord Poseidon never had any warm water," Eden clapped her hands excitedly, "You wouldn't mind me joining in?"
"Let's make it a Familia tradition, Alicia, you're coming with us," Rose turned around to the alarmed golden-haired elf.
"… What?"
Bell was glad he was not the only one using that word several times during the day, though he was also concerned that Rose was forcing Alicia into something she did not want however before he could stop Rose, he was surprised by the golden-haired elf looking at him with a frown before she nodded to herself.
"Yes… I understand."
"Great, Eden please go ahead and warm the water, I trust you know where the bathroom already is?" Rose asked to the buxom brunette who nodded in the positive and gathered all the clothes that had been thrown around, folding them over her forearm, before she want up the stairs.
"Rose," Bell called out his mate who turned around to look at him again, "Why?"
"Trust me," Rose whispered, and Bell noticed the split second of concern hidden behind her playful nature.
"Lady Hekate," Rose exclaimed as she pulled on both Bell's and Alicia's hands, "Remember that Alicia can't eat anything heavy."
"Right, veggie soup for Miss Sapling," Hekate replied with a wave of her hand, "Don't take too long or I'll eat it all!"
"We won't," Rose confirmed, rapidly ushering the two adventurers up the stairs and into the bathroom where she could hear Eden humming from. "Bell," Rose started once she closed the door to the bathroom, the first section being much too small for Bell, Alicia, and Rose. "Has Eden explained anything to you?"
Bell blinked, "A bit, the contract, who she is and why Poseidon was here."
Rose nodded, "Good, that leaves less things for us to explain, away from our goddesses."
"Huh?" Alicia breathed out her confusion.
"You'll understand soon, for now, do prepare for a bath," Rose replied taking off her guild pants and underwear in one smooth motion that left both Alicia and Bell bewildered, the later only for a second before he recovered.
Bell gave a trouble smile to the golden-haired elf who kept looking with wide eyes between the naked Rose stretching her legs and Bell who admired the motions of his partner before he tried to make Alicia feel as comfortable as he could with how pushy Rose was being by giving her one of the bigger towels that would cover most of Alicia's body before he started taking off his own pants.
The golden-haired elf whirled around, hiding her face in her hands as Bell pants hit the floor, though he still had his underwear that was yanked off by the impatient werewolf before she pushed him through the glass doors to the bigger section of the bathroom housing the Ofuro and showers.
Left alone with a towel and a decision to make in her hands, Alicia frowned, resigning herself to follow her new Familia orders, and to accept whatever her sinful partner wanted.
"Alicia," Rose's returned just as the golden-haired elf started to lift her dress, "I know you're extremely uncomfortable and I understand your hesitation to us, but just this once, please trust me?"
"There's something else going on…?" Alicia, without Bell around to make her continuously think about what she would have to do for him, finally heard the urgent undertones in the older woman.
"Yes," Rose smiled sadly.
Alicia nodded, not having any problems being seen by the werewolf as she discarded her dress, her signature white panties contrasting with the blackened scar covering her entire left midsection.
The giant reminder of her body's new condition was quickly covered by the towel her savior had given her earlier, the panties falling to the floor after she pulled them down through the opening of the towel.
"Does it hurt?" Rose couldn't help but ask as Alicia winced when she lifted off her left foot to throw away the underwear.
"Slightly," Alicia made sure the towel covered her breasts and privates before patting down the left side of her body, "Airmid said the pain will completely disappear in a few days."
"That's good," Rose offered her hand to the golden-haired elf, "Pain means we're still alive."
Alicia cracked a sad smile, withdrawing into herself, "Yes…"
Rose felt for the golden-haired elf, she knew better than anyone in her Familia just how bad the damage to her body was since Dian Cecht Familia gave her Alicia's medical sheet, so when the werewolf enveloped the younger girl in a hug which made her tense, it was not done out of pity but sympathy.
"As long as we're alive, there's a chance for what we believe gone to find their way back to us, in one way or another," Rose whispered to the elf that untensed in her arms.
"Don't give me hope…" Alicia whispered in hurt.
Rose rubbed her cheek on the elf's hair, "You're the proof he did the impossible once, maybe, just maybe…"
Alicia looked up to the smiling werewolf whose protective nature could be felt in the way she reassuringly rubbed Alicia's towel covered back, her lidded eyes displaying nothing but care and a silent promise to help her through her pain.
Rose's body heat was the reminder that it was this very same woman who held her when Airmid delivered the news of her body's condition, the woman who kept her company through one of the most painful experiences in her life before her own Familia arrived to console her.
Alicia knew then that it was not only Bell Cranel's touch that she felt comfortable in, and the words left her mouth before she realized.
"He'll do it again…?"
Bell got pushed through the glass door into the open space of Rose's Apartment's bathroom, to him it felt like years had gone by since the last time he saw the soft-blue tiles decoration, or the showerhead to his right with the wooden box containing Rose's shower products or the stone Ofuro tub to the left.
Though there was one new addition right beside said tub.
Sitting next to the filling ofuro in seiza was his contracted partner, the buxom brunette Eden as naked as the day she was born. Bell's brain helpfully supplied how her curves were not all that different from Rose, though the way Eden kept her back straight made her breasts look bigger than Rose's despite the smaller creamy tips.
"Oh, please don't mind me," Eden giggled into her hand, droplets of water already falling down her matted long hair that was glued to her body. "I have already taken a shower and only waiting for the tub to fill."
'That's not what I'm concerned about' Bell thought to himself, awkwardly hiding his privates as he moved to sit on the stool under the showerhead, he wasted no time turning the knob and sighing blissfully as the light drizzle pelted his bandage covered body.
Insight, for the nth time in this volume, did not trigger to warn Bell about anything around him until he felt fingers scratching the section between his nape and shoulder, the distinct hum he had come to relate to the owner of those fingers sounding much closer than he'd seen earlier.
"Miss Eden…?" Bell did not dare turn around.
"Hmm~ Hmm~ Yes?"
"What are you doing?"
"Taking off your bandages, hmm~" Eden replied and continued humming.
Bell's teeth clacked shut as he felt this situation had already happened once not that long ago, the moment the brunette's arm went over and above his shoulder to unravel the bandage on his front and had her sizeable breasts push against his back, Bell realized there were more glaring similarities between her and Rose.
And he was not sure whether that was good or not.
Look at it from the positive side my boy! There's two of them now! Gahahahah!
'Not helping!' Bell shouted back to the voice of his gramps in his head.
"Hm- Oh, that must certainly be new," Eden stopped humming once most of Bell's bandages on his upper body were unraveled.
"I'm not going to like this, am I?" Bell whispered to himself before asking out loud, "Is there something on my back?"
"Yes, your Familia Emblem is slightly different from mine," Eden replied, tracing something with her nails Bell couldn't see between his shoulder blades. "There's rainy clouds surrounding the moon made of chains, most likely Lord Poseidon's influence."
"Oh," Bell oh'ed, glad that it was not something as bad as he initially thought and he voiced it out, "That's not a bad thing, right?"
"Mfufu~ Of course not," Eden giggled.
"Ah, you already took most of his bandages off, thank you," Rose's playful voice echoed in the bathroom followed by the pitter patter of two set of footsteps.
"It was nothing," Eden velvety voice replied, and Bell felt how her tips slid across his back before his left arm was enveloped in a marshmallow prison shortly before his right arm got enveloped in a similar one that he knew very well.
"I have so much I want to say but I don't know where to start," Bell admitted once Rose started humming along with Eden as both women passed shower items over his chest, ignoring the fact that he was in between them.
"… Sinful man…" Alicia's voice made Bell's head tilt down however he was extremely surprised when he felt a third set of marshmallows press on his back, "… I'm not doing this because I want to."
Before Bell could retort to that, Rose coughed to gain all three's attention.
"First, welcome to the Hestia Familia; Eden, Alicia," Rose whispered, loud enough for the four to hear, "I'm glad there's more people around to help us in what's to come, as I'm certain I would not be able to help Bell as much as you two will."
Eden cupped her cheek while Alicia frowned.
"Lady Hestia has received several complaints in the last few days from other Gods about Bell's performance in the Coliseum, our Lady has ignored them all so far but its best all three know that other Familias are not happy with us."
Rose clenched her fist as she continued, "We've received support from other Familias such as the Ganesha's, Loki's, Hermes', among others. Those three were the most vocal about allowing Lady Hestia to keep Bell's Falna a secret to others Familias, as it normally should be."
Bell whipped his head to look at Rose at that, however the werewolf continued before he could ask anything, "Lord Ganesha paid an incredible fine to the city of Orario for endangering the lives of several Gods, citizens and merchants, for allowing the accident to escalate to the point it did in the Coliseum and playing it off as a planned event." Rose took a deep breath, "Lord Ganesha also paid the fine for Hestia Familia for interrupting the event, regardless of the situation it occurred in, and we're indebted to them for it. The Lord may claim to not care but it would be in our best interested to cooperate with them to the best of our abilities, be it in explorations or war games."
"But how would we be of help if we're only four members, one out of commission and two supporter types?" Alicia asked, Bell filtered the titles she used for later questions.
Eden, knowing her worth, replied, "With my skill and from what Rose's has told me of Bell's luck, we can provide as many materials as they need to cover the cost of their lower ranked members equipment while Bell himself can participate in the explorations as the Hestia's Familia Captain."
"Yes, I was thinking the same," Rose gave a grateful nod to her distant relative, "There's more, and that is, we've been excluded from the New Familia Laws Protection, which exempted us from paying the Familia Annual Tax and, more importantly, participating, or being challenged to, in war games by other Familias due to Bell's irregularity."
Bell started feeling the pressure his uniqueness created. The expectations he had set for himself being all too welcoming to the anxiousness that froze his veins as more and more came out of Rose's lips.
"The 'Holy Grail' as Eden is known as for her unique skill, is another reason we'll most likely receive various challenges which we'll need to be extremely careful to turn down in the correct way." Rose sighed after she that, giving her relative an apologetic expression, "I'll trust you to teach Bell as many customs as you can about all the Familias you've been in."
"Don't worry, in the off-chance I sacrifice myself for the Familia, I'm certain Lord Poseidon would be all but willing to win me back and return me here," Eden winked at Bell as his head whipped around to stare at her after she said 'sacrifice', as if it was a certainty she would do so in the future, "It would also give the Familia, or Bell who's most likely our sole participant, the experience he needs."
"I'm sorry I can't be of more help," Alicia mournfully replied from Bell's back, touching her left side, and being reminded once more that while not in a critical condition, she could not overwork herself as she used to do in the Loki Familia.
"Don't be, the experience you have from your time in the Loki Familia will be of immense help for Bell as you two travel the dungeon," Rose caressed Bell's chest, making him turn his head to her, "I expect you to protect our little, mending, sapling well in the dungeon."
"I will," Bell's resolve made Alicia's chest, which was pressed against his back, feel warm and her stomach funny.
"There's also Lady Hekate to be wary of," Rose looked away from Bell's alarmed expression, a guilty expression setting on the werewolf's face.
"There's many things I've spoken with on my free days with Lady Hekate, and I've come to realize she's not… a nice Goddess. She's aware of it, I'm aware of it, and she's aware I'm aware of that." Rose sighed scratching the hair spot between her werewolf ears, "Her love for Bell is what's keeping her sane but us, and all others around him, need to be careful with her. She trusts me and I trust her, but we both know if push comes to shove, she'll take Bell away from us, from me."
"Miss Kat wouldn't do that…" Bell whispered but more and more was he presented with evidence that Hekate was not all that he'd believe to be. First Eden, whom he couldn't really trust yet as she was a new person in his life, and now Rose, whom he loved and shared his first time with.
"I trust she will not," Rose looked back to Bell, "But it's something to keep in mind, and maybe something you have to speak with her in time."
"She can't be as bad as Lady Loki, right?" Alicia tried to joke but received a wince from the werewolf.
"With all due respect, Loki would be a better goddess for us than what Lady Hekate could turn out to be." Rose replied, ignoring the hurt in Bell's gaze or the way his arm tensed between her breasts. "We're also in Lady Freya's sight."
"Oh dear," Eden fanned herself, "Please tell me its in her good graces at least."
Rose smiled, giving the first good news for the night, "Yes, in her good graces. She was another supporter for Hestia, weird considering the animosity between them when Lady Hestia just arrived from Heavens."
Bell felt Alicia sag in relief on his back as she said, "Oh, that's great, I know Lady Loki would be willing to help us but having Lady Freya, the strongest Familia in Orario, backing us from all you said puts my mind at ease."
"Yes, Freya Familia is a great deterrent," Rose nodded, "Which also means we must treat all their members well, regardless of how they treat us, to stay in her good graces. That, or…" Rose's irises glinted, and Bell knew what she would say before it came out, "Lady Freya herself vows to help, with good faith, Hestia Familia."
Gahahaha, you won the jackpot my boy! Can't believe this one wants you to seduce a Goddess but here we are!
Rose giggled at Bell's expression however her face fell seconds after, "Great Lord Ouranous also wants to meet you, Bell. We're scheduled to meet him in three weeks' time, and I am not privy as to the reasons for this meeting."
Bell felt his head spin.
"Back to the Familia related issues, without the NFLP, we need to report to the Guild at least one instance of an expedition by Hestia Familia before we hit the six-month mark. There's still time, but we should keep that in consideration."
"Are we allowed to hire other Familias to explore with us?" Alicia, the one with the experience, asked and Bell was grateful for her knowledge.
"Yes, but it must be done under the Hestia Familia's name, or it'll not count." Rose replied, knowing that Alicia was going to suggest joining the Loki Familia for one of their expeditions and calling it a day.
"Please tell me there's no more," Bell silently whispered, overwhelmed by the number of things his actions had pushed the Familia into.
Rose kissed his cheek, much to the amusement and surprise of Eden and Alicia, "I'm sorry, but there's more, I mean it when I say you're such a handful."
Bell sagged into Rose's embrace, "Sorry."
"Lady Hephaestus wants to meet you too Bell, she's curious as to how you were able to overwhelm the weapons she crafted for the Monsterphillia to the point they broke apart. Lord Miach's was fined for selling stale products, which they found out because of the elixir you saved Alicia with, and Lady Hestia wishes to help him."
Bell felt Alicia tense on his back again, and he felt his own body weigh even more.
"Lady Ishtar has already requested Lady Hekate a trade, Bell for one of her higher ranked amazons to which Lady Hekate rejected, but knowing Lady Ishtar, this is not the last we'll see of her." Rose kissed her distressed mate's hair, "Lastly, Bell is prohibited from leaving Orario until Great Lord Ouranous permits him so. That's all from my side of things, Eden, if you would?"
"Yes," Eden pressed her fingers to her collarbone, "Lord Poseidon has tasked me with watching over the Soteira's growth as his chosen Champion, there are no champion duties set by my Lord yet, but we may receive our first task in the months to come depending on my Lord's mood."
"But I didn't ask to become his champion!" Bell hotly whispered, regaining some of his strength and turning to the naked Eden whose gaze softened.
"I am aware, but as I told you earlier, we're nothing but toys in the eyes of Gods and there's not much we can do to go against them. I value your indomitable will, and it saddens me to tell you, not all of us have it." Eden cupped Bell's cheek. "You're more special than you were led to believe, and I apologize for being the one to tell you this and not Lady Hekate, as she should've been."
"But…" Bell tightened his fists, reminded again that miss Kat might not be the benevolent elder sister personality he'd believed in.
"Whatever Lady Hekate plan for you is, know that we had no part in its creation," Eden finished, releasing Bell's cheeks, and folding her hands on her lap.
Rose suddenly stood up, all eyes turning to her, "I believe that much is enough for tonight, let's wash ourselves up and try to relax as best as we can…" Bell had no qualms following that, though he did have qualms with Eden and Alicia standing up around him, seemingly forgetting he was there with them while they started cleaning themselves.
At least Rose certainly did not forget, for she pulled him up and slightly away from the other two.
"I know there's a lot going through your mind right now," Rose whispered, pecking his lips and washing his hair, "But for now, just focus on me and we'll deal with all of them as they come, alright?"
Bell, not trusting himself to speak with how much his head was spinning from the information dump, merely nodded and trusted his body to his mate who lovingly washed him from head to toe.
Rose continued her loving ritual as Bell lost himself in his thoughts, feeling for the first time in his short life how abnormal his adventurer life was.
He expected to become an adventurer, explore the dungeon, maybe meet one or two girls along the way to make his grandfather proud of, and slowly but surely make himself known to the world but not become such an irregularity that, with how many Familias interest he gained, most likely shifted the way Orario looked at adventurers.
The words he shared in his dreams with the horned one being another reminder that there was something even bigger waiting for him down the line, something which involved going against his own loved crimson-haired Goddess.
A Goddess that seemingly hid everything except her love for him.
The Falna burning in his back as he was guided to the corner of the Ofuro, sat down with the warm water easing his sore body, was another reminder that there was even more he had yet to know about himself, about his skills, about his blessing, about his so called 'champion duties'.
At the very least, the red-maned werewolf that sat on his lap, her breast pushing into his face as she made herself comfortable in his arms, was willing to stay by his side and accompany him through all the challenges his life was creating for him.
And so, Bell Cranel was extremely grateful to Rose Fannett for believing in him, at the start of this story, and at the end of this chapter.
-0- Chapter 17 Part 2&3/4 End -0-
Author's Notes: Hello again, it seems I have a penchant for pushing Bell to both his physical and mental limits, lol…
Alicia's wound was not the only consequence of Bell's actions, and it's a topic I'll slowly be exploring on through the next volume and her apprehensive, contradicting, feelings for her savior.
I will also explain the Yggdrasil traditions when Bell and Alicia have their next moment, obviously it's something I'm creating by mixing several myths/poems and molding it for this story alone. Yggdrasil, the tree of life, will be Alicia's theme. I'll leave you wondering what that means~
As for the unsealed Lord of the Seas, Poseidon, I'm using his appearance from "Shuumatsu no Valkyrie" or "Record of Ragnarok" in case you want to know how he looks like. I've obviously toned down his arrogance to fit in the more comedic style of Danmachi but still retain the strong-headed attitude and disgusts of mortal.
His attendant, Eden Voluptas, comes from the character in Honkai Impact, Eden, her surname something I've decided to add for this story in particular. She's the second O.C character that fits in this story (first being Hekate) since she's really similar to Rose, something I'm going to continue expanding upon. ALSO, BEFORE you say, "Hey, if her bloodline can have only one child, how is she Rose's relative".
Rose's granduncle married into the Voluptas family, where the beastkin genes lost to the human curse of the 'Mundi Divitae' skill.
Voluptas means Pleasure, and the name is a wordplay about this skill too, "The Pleasures of Eden" along with "World's Riches", a wealth granting skill. I'll explore her background when Poseidon enters the scene again, for now, please welcome the new character.
These part 2 and 3 of Chapter 17 is the heaviest of them all, in the sense that Bell's finally feeling the weight of his actions and uniqueness, something I felt was ignored in the original work except for those really looking at him until later on.
I've not forgotten about Eina, she simply hasn't had a part to appear in the aftermath yet since it would be stupidly strange for her to be in Loki's Familia home or know when Bell returned to Rose's home.
I'm also glad to tell you that yes, Loki will keep being her seductive self to Bell in this story and much more, glad you enjoyed the personality I went for her.
A LOT of foreshadowing was thrown this chapter, but don't fret too much about what it all means, we'll slowly walk through all of it, together.
- Jas / Shiiva