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.
Welcome back~ I missed you guys too, let's continue this journey, shall we?
Volume 2, Prologue: The Spiteful Mistress
Innumerable number of strings surrounded Her, each leading to an end that she knew very well. Sometimes those string touched each other, other times they united with others, and on the rare case, split under her tension.
And all of that was normal to Her.
So, when a red string appeared under Her watchful gaze, and started knotting itself with several others, She was curious as to what had brought that unusual occurrence.
It was not the first time,but it certainly was more interesting than the last one.
For this red string continued stringing many others along, so many that after a single, divine, blink, a giant knotted ball of strings fell on Her hands, one held together by the red string.
Whoever that red string belonged to, he had managed to sever his connection to Her, and She was not happy with that.
Nobody messed with Her domain.
Not even the other Gods.
For all humans prided themselves in creating their own future, they all were but one of the many strings surrounding Her, strings that She already knew where they would lead.
But not to this one string ball in Her hands.
There was no beginning, nor end to it.
It was annoying Her so much, so, so much, that She made it her personal, primordial, mission to create and end to that ball.
After all, even She needed something to do with all her free, eternal, time.
"Bell Cranel…"
Volume 2, Chapter 18: And So, A New Journey Begins
Part 26
Bell Cranel contently watched in silence his sleeping lovers, Rose's red mane contrasting with Shakti's azure hair, and he found it extremely cute that, for once, he was not the one being drowned in the warm, naked, bosom of his lovely werewolf.
It had taken him two long hours in the bathroom to satisfy his partners, and if it wasn't for the unusual blessing on his back giving his body a stupid boost, Bell was certain he'd be sandwiched in between the two mature women.
And as much as he wanted to be in between their naked bodies again, there was someone who had yet to return home.
So, he couldn't sleep just yet.
That thought led him to the kitchen of Rose's apartment where he made a simple dinner for himself, just a loaf of bread, some sliced hams, and a cup of coffee to scare away his need to sleep for the moment. The young adventurer settled in the inner corner of the cleaned sofa, sinking into the soft cushion as he patiently waited for the golden-haired elf to return from her day out with Riveria, and her old Familia.
His adventurer's life had just started, and so much had happened already.
He'd gone into the dungeon without a Falna after being rejected by all the Familias he applied, only later learning from his first lover whom he rescued from an extremely precarious and dangerous situation that it wasn't so much as he was rejected but rather that he had been too hasty.
Then Miss Kat had come all the way from the village, revealed she had been a Goddess all along, and granted him her True Blessing. He'd finally found a Familia thanks to her, or more like the Familia had found him what with his petite, and motherly, Goddess of the Hearth, Hestia, going along with Miss Kat's whims.
In such a short time after that, he'd been involved in more things than a year of his gramps' tales.
A Falna with several Skills undeciphered, his first taste of love, helping a group of adventurer's in the dungeon, obtaining a one in a lifetime chance to work with Hephaestus's smiths personally, the worries of his half-elf lover, his second taste of love, fighting his way out of a dungeon's trap, his chance meeting with his third lover, him almost losing his Skill for being undecisive about his selfish wishes and emotions, participating in the Monsterphillia…
And just as Bell thought of the part where he'd saved Alicia, there was a tender knock on the door and without waiting for a second knock, the young adventurer jumped to his feet and opened the door to welcome the tender golden-haired elf whom he'd promised to make her life beside him the best one he could create.
"Welc-" Bell stopped, seeing the soft-features of Alicia contorted into a pained, filled with despair, look, and he softly called her name, afraid that even being just a tad louder would make her feel worse, "Alicia?"
It wasn't to be as Alicia's eyes shimmered and tears trailed down her face before she crashed into his chest, seeking comfort from him and he instantly gave what she looked for by spreading his arms around her, gently and carefully bringing her entire body closer to him so she could feel he was there for her.
"I- I'm sorry!" His gentleness caused her to slack against him, and Bell brought her even closer to keep her steady as she mumbled something incoherent into his chest.
"Alicia, what happened?" Bell whispered, concerned and scared that something happened, and he wasn't there to help her, as he'd promised.
"Some dickheads made fun of her condition," A gruff, snarky, voice echoed from beyond the porch's stairs, and Bell spared a second to look at the speaker.
Bell felt he should know who the man was; Wild silver hair, silver wolf ears, a purple lighting tattooed on his left cheek and dressed in adventurer's gear that showed off his muscles.
"We sent those dickheads packing, but bastards had the last laugh. Ya' got a war game to win next week."
No sooner had the man word's left his mouth that Alicia sobbed harder into his chest, repeatedly mumbling wets 'I'm sorry' into his chest filled with guilt and despair.
There was a lot that still needed to be explained, way too much, but explanations could wait for the moment.
"I want a full explanation tomorrow." Bell told the silver-haired man who narrowed his eyes at the tone Bell used, but Bell wasn't in the mood for a pissing contest, "Thank you for bringing her back."
The silver haired man continued glaring at him for a second longer before tsk'ing and looking away, "I'm not cut out for this, I'll tell the old hag to come tomorrow."
Bell had no idea who was the old hag, but he would grill her for all details tomorrow morning. With a curt nod, Bell bid goodbye to the silver-haired man before coaxing Alicia to enter the apartment, and he carefully sat with her in his lap on the couch where she continued holding his shirt and apologizing.
"Alicia, there's nothing to apologize for," Bell whispered but it only made Alicia shake her head in the negative. "Can you try to explain to me what happened?"
The golden-haired elf took a deep, shuddering breath, and leaned back for a second to look at Bell before giving a teary nod. Bell released one arm from his embrace of her to gently clean the tears on Alicia's cheeks before she grabbed his hand with both of her trembling hands, and pressed it between her bosom, right where he could feel her fast heart beating.
Bell was going to say something, but he felt her heart slowing down as she continued taking deep breaths. Seeing as she had found a way to calm herself down, Bell decided to not interrupt her and simply waited for Alicia to be ready to speak.
"I…" Alicia rasped out, sniffling a little bit before continuing, "I got angry… They said… They said a damaged woman like me couldn't be wanted by anyone… And I… I said… They were wrong!"
And they were, but Bell wasn't going to interrupt her.
"But they insulted you too… And I got so angry… I just, I hit them…"
Oh.
"They tried to hit back but… My friends were there, but… because I hit first, they said they would challenge us…"
Oh.
"I know we weren't meant to fight in war games… But I was just… so angry!"
"I would've hit them too," Bell quietly admitted and smiled at Alicia's sudden widened eyes. "You're beautiful, and I know there's probably many out there who would die to just have you look at them."
Alicia snorted and sniffled at the same time, something Bell found extremely endearing and made him pull her closer into his lap, "Besides, you're not damaged in any way. We'll find a way, I promised you that, remember?" Alicia nodded, cleaning the tears that had pooled again before Bell continued, "And if it's a war game they want for you doing what's right, then it's a war game I'll win for you."
"But you'll be alone," Alicia whispered her doubts, and Bell shrugged noncommittally.
"Then it'll be an even fight."
"Pft," Alicia snorted again, a smile finally returned to her lips, and it suited her a whole lot more than the despairing look she had earlier.
"You can forget about those idiots, I'll deal with them if they try something stupid again," Bell puffed his chest out with those words, earning another snort from Alicia at his dramatic bravery, "You had fun before that happened, right?"
"Yes…"
"Then just focus on that," Bell pulled Alicia down until her chin rested in the crook of his neck, "I promised I would do everything in my power for all of you, and absolutely nothing will stop me from that."
Alicia mutely nodded into his shoulder, and the two stayed like that in silence for a couple of minutes longer.
It was really funny how the heart works.
Not two week earlier, she'd hated this man for trying to seduce Lady Riveria, and now here she was, seeking the comfort and warmth he'd given her when she was at death's doorsteps, the warmth that proved that she had survived thanks to his recklessness and the comfort he'd given her after she had learnt of her loss.
There was something to him, something that she still couldn't quite put her finger on.
But it was something incredibly nice.
Something that made her feel safe around him, his words, his gaze, his touch.
Everything about Bell Cranel screamed, 'I'll keep you safe'.
And that was his dream, that was what he had told her was his drive. To keep his loved ones safe, and she was part of that group the moment she'd decided to follow her elven family customs and spend her life beside him.
"Thank you, Bell."
Bell replied by embracing her tighter, and Alicia sank into his protection. The young adventurer tenderly rubbed her back, up and down, sometimes nuzzling his chin to her hair while she enjoyed his company and touch in silence. The moment felt like it lasted forever… Until Bell's stomach rudely interrupted it with a loud grumble.
"… You did not hear that," Bell awkwardly said after his stomach stopped grumbling and she couldn't help it.
"Pft," Alicia snorted again, and escaped his arms to look down at Bell with a smile, "You haven't had dinner?"
Technically, he did.
With Shakti, but that fuel had long since been spent after he had his second dinner… With Shakti.
And Rose.
Obviously, that wasn't what Alicia had asked but Bell's mind, in all its youthfulness, couldn't help returning there, especially when it had ended not an hour earlier. "It wasn't enough." Bell coughed into his fast, cheeks slightly red after he realized that, no, it was not just Rose who was insatiable.
"How about we make something, together, then?" Alicia gave him a wide smile, something that made her look so much incredibly beautiful that he lost his voice for a moment and rather than leave her question hanging in the air, he replied with quick affirmative nods, much to the golden-haired elf's happiness.
Bell and Alicia fooled around in the kitchen for another hour, Bell trying his best to continue making the golden-haired elf laugh with their silly antics and make her forget the pain she had gone through earlier. Pain that he would personally deliver back hundredfold to whoever had hurt such a kind and tender woman.
-0-
'Sorry my boy, I can't help you out of this one, that's on you.'
Those were the words his gramps spoke in his head the moment Bell and Alicia retired for the night, and he'd accompanied her to Rose's bedroom where Alicia paused when she saw a naked Shakti and an equally naked Rose cuddling together.
"Bell."
Oh, come on, how come even someone as kind as Alicia could make the kind of voice that made him fear for his life!
"You're sleeping with us tonight."
He wasn't-
Wait, "What?"
Alicia's cheeks were slightly red when she turned to look at him, and her fingers gingerly grabbed his sleeve, "I don't want you to be far away for tonight…"
Bell's fears disintegrated under the bashful cuteness displayed by the golden-haired elf, and he gave her a slow, affirmative, nod which she then gave him another soft smile before pulling him deeper into the bedroom. Carefully, so as to not wake up the other two already sleeping and she sat him down on one of the many boxes they had moved during the day, one right next to the wardrobe.
It was surreal and nerve-wracking for Bell when Alicia slid the wardrobe door open, and with it hiding a good portion of her body, started undressing at arm's length. The sound of clothes ruffling echoed in the quietness of the room before Bell saw how the dress went above Alicia's shoulders, and Bell could clearly see the curve of her bottom covered by her purple bodysuit from the section the wardrobe door didn't cover.
"Bell?" Alicia's face peeked from behind the door; her cheeks, and long ears incredibly red and her eyes looking at anywhere but him.
"Hai?"
"… Help me?" Her voice was soft, almost whisper-like with her question and Bell gulped.
Just by standing up, the young adventurer was already in the personal space of the golden-haired elf, and with two steps more, Bell stood behind Alicia who gathered her long golden-hair and brought it forward, giving Bell access to the back buttons of her bodysuit.
'I always wondered how she wore that…' Bell thought as his fingers clasped around the zipper, one palm resting on Alicia's shoulder who released a shuddering breath as Bell popped button after button, revealing more and more of Alicia's cream-colored skin…
And then he popped the button covering her middle back, and the first sign of her black scar appeared.
Bell didn't pause, nor did he tense his grip on her shoulder. It would be an insult to her, an insult to what he had told her an hour earlier, and an insult to himself as a man for not accepting her just because of that.
Once the last button came undone just above her tailbone, Bell whispered, "It's done."
Alicia, in a rare moment of bravery, denied with her head, "It's still on me."
'Told you, my boy! Elves truly bring out a man's hidden romance!'
Bell carefully grabbed the upper sides of Alicia's bodysuit, pulling them apart over her shoulders and revealing more of her back to him, and then he had to step closer, pressing himself against her back, as his hands continued pulling down her bodysuit through her arms, and when Alicia slipped her hands through the holes, the bodysuit fell freely.
Again, Bell was left speechless at the tenderness he could feel from Alicia's body by just being pressed against her naked back, with how close his head was to her, he only needed to look down over her shoulder to see that it seemed the golden-haired elf disliked wearing upper underwear.
He didn't mean to stare, but it was hard not to.
Alicia took another deep breath that made her chest rise and fall under his gaze, and her back pressed against him, and Bell could feel the subtle movements of her muscles as she looked through the wardrobe for her pajamas, finding it much too slow for Bell's sanity, yet when it was bundle around her wrist, Alicia paused.
"Bell?"
"Hai?" Bell rasped out.
"Do you… want me like this…?"
It would be a crime to say no, "I do, but… you're forcing yourself, again…"
Bell couldn't see it, but Alicia smiled at those words, and she bundled the gown in her hands and threw it back into the wardrobe. "Miss Rose was right about you."
Again, his beloved werewolf had done something without his knowledge, first Eina, then Shakti, and now Alicia. Bell was starting to see a trend, and he was going to have some words with her… Which would probably end up turning physical considering Rose's teasing nature.
"Besides, I…" Alicia slowly turned around, vulnerable honey-colored eyes connecting with his crimson gaze, "I trust you. I now know you won't do anything to me without my consent, nor will you force me to do anything I don't want."
That was true, and Bell would die on that hill before he ever changed that part of him.
"And you promised you would do everything for us, so please… for tonight I'm asking you to hold me, to not let me see that nightmare again, please..."
A nightmare of the time she died or, better said, should've died.
Bell felt his back burn the moment he gave a resolute nod to the golden-haired elf whose only piece of clothing were her white panties, and the two slowly waddled together until Bell managed to sit on the bed, his weight making it creak slightly under his weight as he scuttled until his back touched Shakti's back, only then did Bell lay down and Alicia climbed next to him.
Not a moment later, Alicia made herself comfortable under his arm, pressing her body against his side and letting her head rest on his chest, his palm rested on her side and with a little bit more of wriggling in place, managed to pull her closer.
And so, with the heartbeat of the young adventurer who had saved her, the young adventurer who had become her hero, and now, the young adventurer whom she was offering a chance, lulled her to the first night without any nightmares, just like it had done to his first lover.
-0-
Part 27
Bell was definitely going to have to get used to the feeling of not feeling his arms at all in the morning with how his love's life was going, what with Rose strangling his right arm with her bosom and thighs, Alicia cutting the blood flow to his left arm by using his bicep as a pillow, and the cherry on top was Shakti almost strangling his neck with her embrace that pushed his head into her incredibly soft bosom.
Though he was willing to exchange not feeling his own body for the feeling of his partners peacefully sleeping and cuddling him.
Bell felt bad that Eina wasn't here with them, and he decided that during their date, he was going to make it up to her… More than he was already going to from all the worry she most likely suffered… And on that note, he was not looking forward to what she would do to him for making her worry like that, again.
He really was going to need to start getting stronger even faster with how often shit hit the fan in his life, and that reminded him that it was very likely that next week he would fight alone against an entire Familia, one he forgot to ask which one it was because he was more concerned with easing Alicia's worries and guilt.
Bell had used bravado last night to ease Alicia, and regardless of how strong or weak Familia that had deigned to hurt her, Bell would live up to his bravado and make them regret trying to harm his Family.
But first, he needed to escape the entanglement of limbs and lovely bodies around him to start his day as early as he could, as he had no doubt he would need all the time in the world to prepare for what Mistress Future had in store for him.
It was easy to slip from Rose's embrace, a flickering touch to her core served enough to make her momentarily weaken her grip and he escaped before she could recover. The fast movement had the unwanted action of smacking his hand against Shakti's absurdly soft bottom that faced Rose's direction.
"Mmm? Bell?" Shakti's eyes blearily lidded open, her cool gaze meeting Bell's apologetic one.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you up," Bell apologized, his voice reverberating on Shakti's bosom and making her release a long breath that filled his lungs with her scent.
"It's morning already?" Shakti cutely yawned, wiggling down his body until her face was at the same level as his.
"Yeah," Bell smiled as Shakti continued blinking blearily several times trying to wake herself up.
"Mmm, 5 minutes more," Shakti bemoaned, pushing her face back down and nuzzling her nose against his cheek.
Rose was right, Shakti could be incredibly adorable when she wanted to be.
"I'd love to give you those 5 minutes, but I really, really need to go to the bathroom."
Shakti huffed directly into his skin, her warm breath tickling his neck and she raised herself up to glare down at him and clicked her teeth in annoyance.
"Would you forgive me with a morning kiss?" Bell offered and no sooner had the words left his mouth that Shakti grabbed his cheeks and crashed her lips against his, there definitely was no grogginess in her actions as her tongue forcefully entered his mouth and with her sudden surprise attack, had the upper hand for most of the tongue battle until she separated with a victorious, wet, grin.
"Yes, now you can." Shakti giggled at Bell's stunned face and pecked his lips once more before climbing down off him and standing in all her naked glory at the foot of the bed.
Bell couldn't help staring again, even less when Shakti caught his gaze and with only the experience a woman like her could possess, stretched her body in a way that Bell could easily see everything about her. Another victorious smirk danced on Shakti's lips when a tent pitched under the covers of the bed, and Bell recovered from his stupor and slipped from Alicia's grasp with more difficulty than he had Rose.
"You did that on purpose…" Bell grumbled as he walked past the grinning, naked, Shakti that shrugged noncommittally and he left the room to deal with his morning body necessities before the Ankusha made it harder for him.
In both the figurative, and literal, sense.
For a moment, the young adventurer stared at himself in the mirror after washing his hands, noting that his hair had grown slightly, and it was something he would need to take care of before it became a bother. It had been over two months since the last time his gramps cut his hair, after all.
At that thought, Bell wondered if his grandfather would be proud of him for how far he had come along after his death, and when Bell returned to the bedroom and found a still naked Shakti with a now awakened, and equally naked, Rose amiably chatting on the bed, he was certain that at least that sight would make his gramps proud a hundred percent.
Even more so when both women beckoned him to sit between them where they peppered him with their morning lovely greeting.
-0-
Bell and Alicia were on the cooking side of the kitchen that morning, the young adventurer with his only available set of clothes and Alicia in one of her breezy dresses that hugged her curves, while Rose and Shakti sat on the counter talking to them, Rose in her Guild uniform minus the vest and Shakti in the clothes Rose had lent her… Which was the stupidly tight white shirt that was several sizes too small, and she left unbuttoned, with only her panties covering her privates.
"The possibility of a war game, huh?" Rose hummed in thought, "This might actually be good for us."
"Eh?" Alicia stumbled and Bell caught the frying pan she almost let fall.
"With how many Gods are angry at Bell for being different, this will be a good chance to prove that even for a small Familia, we're not one to be taken lightly." Rose looked at Shakti, and the Ganesha's Captain understood the silent message.
"It will also be a good opportunity to reveal that the Ganesha Familia and the Hestia Familia will be working together in the immediate, and far future," Shakti grinned, "My Lord was curious about Bell and I's relationship too, and he'll be pleased to know that we're an official item now."
"Eh?" It was Bell's turn to stumble and for Alicia to catch the same frying pan.
"It'll look like we're protecting the Hestia Familia but after the war game, they'll realize that the Ganesha Familia is still only focused on Orario's festival events, upholding Orario's laws and sharing the city's guardianship with other Familias and have now decided to make a partnership with an exploration type Familia, one that a single member can turn the tides of any war game thrown their way, to further solidify their power in Orario."
That was extremely high praise and hopes Shakti was pushing on Bell's shoulders, yet Bell faced them with a manic grin that threatened to split his lips for how much Shakti was willing to bet on him, and him, alone.
To know his actions had caused her trust in him to reach that point made Bell know that he was indeed walking the right path.
"But wouldn't that put us in the strongest Familia's war sight, then?" Alicia quietly asked, "Loki Familia wouldn't take kindly to someone breaking the records Miss Ais created for them," Her words came from her personal experience living the Loki Familia, and while she knew they loved her, their love did not extend to the Hestia Familia just yet.
Only to Bell, to some extent.
"That won't be a problem," Rose pointed at Bell who already knew what she was about to say, "A certain Goddess seems to have a crush on our Bell."
Yep, called it.
"I will not use Loki's feelings like that," Bell crossed his arms.
"We're not telling you to use them," Shakti sighed, giving Bell an amused and exasperated glare, "We're telling you to accept them."
"Oh," Bell blinked, "That makes a lot more sense."
"Freya Familia is also on our side, or at least that's what Lady Hestia and Lady Hekate informed me last time from their last meeting with her, so no chance of being backstabbed by her, yet." Rose continued, "Lady Hestia also mentioned that there are other Gods willing to stand by her side in case things go sour for us, but she has faith that we won't reach that point."
That was great news for Bell, to know there was more people willing to help them in case of an emergency.
Not that he was planning on failing to meet any of their expectations, but with how often Mistress Fate enjoyed being a spiteful mistress, like his gramps taught him Mistress Fate liked to be, it was very likely that they would need that extra help at some point.
"Besides, I believe with how many members we have now, it's time for Bell to learn what it actually means to be the captain of a Familia," Rose looked at Shakti again, "I trust you can help with that?"
"Didn't even need to ask," Shakti grinned back, "I'll speak with Lord Ganesha and ask him for a couple of weeks off, with our need to lay low for a while until we regain the other Familias trust, it's very likely he won't reject my petition."
"Dates?" Bell smiled cheekily at Shakti who huffed and nodded back at him.
"Yes, we're still having those dates you promised me."
"… I'd like…" Alicia whispered, and all three sets of eyes turned to the golden-haired elf flushing and glancing at Bell through the corner of her eyes, "I'd like to know Bell better too…"
"Then let's plan it this way then," Rose put on her Guild vest as she continued, "We'll speak all this with Lady Hestia and Eden later tonight and spend the rest of the week preparing for whatever comes next."
Simple, with more heads to think together.
It also gave time for Bell to learn of the updates to his Falna, obtain new gear, get back into the dungeon and see how strong he had become after the Monsterphillia event.
And prepare for the dates he owed his partners; he was not going to skip that.
And so, Bell Cranel prepared for the new journey his road had led him to, with the help of those he had yet to meet and the hopes that his lovers had for him.
-0- Chapter End -0-
Author's Note: Hello~ It's been a while, eh? Sorry about that, I've been drafting ideas for this volume, and I can safely say now that the draft is complete, so expect constant (maybe weekly?) updates again for AsBBaH~ Obviously, there will be changes to draft as the story continues evolving when I turn it into the release version but it's a journey we'll all walk together, again.
As a teaser for all that is to come, both in the romance and the adventurous department, I'll tell you the following again~
*reads notes* With how the draft has gone, there will be 6 confirmed new partners for Bell, and Alicia will have her special scene after the war game which no, it's not an OC Familia, and no, nobody guessed it correct, yet~ So that makes 7 new partners for Bell in this next volume, for a small(for Zeus) total of 10 confirmed partners!
And not just that, there will be the war game, covering the first arc and then another two arcs, the last one which will surely surprise you all for I have planned for it be an even grander event than what was the Monsterphillia.
There's also a special surprise waiting at the end of Vol 2, a very, very, very special surprise that will mark the 3rd Volume and involve more Gods from **reads notes again* Outside of Orario.
A lot of emotional moments will occur in this volume, some that will even have a trigger warning for how I've planned them out to be, and another step in the mental and emotional growth of my chosen Bell Cranel, so please, look forward to that!
- Jas / Shiiva
P.S: I'll wait until Monday to upload Misha's omake to the previous chapter and reply to your reviews for the omake/volume end/and this chapter there~ So please, review and ask away!