And So, Bell Became a Hero Volume 2
DISCLAIMER: Danmachi belongs to its respective owners. Everything that occurs in this story is of my own creation and the characters abide by the fictional laws in the setting.
Author Note: If you'd like to support me, please consider joining the dis cord server (42SQENPj54) or supporting my Patron (IreJasmine)
Chapter 20: And So, Their Gazes Lingered
Part 30
Bell started to believe there was something amiss with him, not because of his unknown skills but because despite everyone telling him he had become famous in Orario for his actions in the coliseum, even with Alicia holding onto his hand who undoubtedly should be as known as him for what happened in the arena, not a single person on the crowded streets of Orario turned to look at them whatsoever.
Such an abnormality deserved his attention, but for the moment it he welcomed it as it gave him a chance to simply enjoy holding onto the hands of both of his elven partners, one that refused to leave his side even for a minute, because he would probably end up doing something incredibly reckless again, and the other because she sought some sense of comfort from him.
His mischievous werewolf lover found joy in walking ahead of him, swaying her hips with an extra spring that made his young eyes stray from the road and the townsfolk towards her bubbly rump with her wagging tail swishing back and forth…
Had Eina and Alicia not been holding onto his hands, Bell was certain he would've pulled on Rose's tail in response to her silent teasing.
As it was, Bell merely conformed himself to staring, looking away when either Eina or Alicia narrowed their eyes at him, then continued staring again.
What?
It was hard not to.
Especially when he knew how tantalizingly soft and kneadable Rose's rump was.
…
'I'm blaming you, Gramps, for turning me into a pervert.' Bell thought as he looked away again when Eina huffed and tightened her grip on his arm, her own bountiful bosom devouring his limb and reminding him that Rose's body was not the only one he knew intimately.
That Eina had sparked the fire inside him earlier and dumped an extremely cold bucket of water when she asked to wait until the night probably had a lot to do with his wandering eyes and thoughts.
Bell blamed Rose for turning him into the hungry sexual beast he was.
As if reading his thoughts, Rose tilted her head to glance at him with a knowing smile which turned devious, and she licked her lips so sensually that she hypnotized him yet again.
Yep, she was totally at fault.
"Earth to Bell, Earth to Bell," A voice drifted up from his chest, ahead of him but he was far too lost in thought. "He's a lost cause, what did you girls do this time?"
Both Alicia and Eina pointed fingers at Rose who giggled at the accusations.
"Should've known." Hestia nursed her forehead.
"Mfufu~ Lady Hestia, if you would allow me." The velvety voice of Poseidon's former member drifted around Bell, then with an ease only his beloved Miss Kat possessed, yanked on Bell's ear as if scolding a child.
Which wasn't all that far from the truth.
"Agh! Eh? Hestia? Eden?" Bell blinked and finally noticed they had arrived at the front of Rose's apartment where Hestia stood with crossed arms and a frown, while Eden continued pinching his ear, gentler than when she had snapped him out of his thoughts, but hurtful enough to remind him not to lose himself in them again.
"Finally!" Hestia knocked on Bell's chest with her knuckles.
"Sorry Goddess," Bell scratched his cheek with his apology, then offered his arms for a welcome hug, "I'm happy to see you again."
Hestia huffed but happily accepted the offer nonetheless, "Un, I'm happy too, Bell." Then the goddess arms squeezed him, "I half-expected to return to you being unconscious, or missing, again."
Bell winced at the emotional damage, "Sorry Goddess."
"You're forgiven," Hestia rubbed her nose on Bell's chest before withdrawing from the hug, "Now let's all go inside, there's a lot we have to talk about."
"Hai!"
- 0 - AsBBaH Vol 2 - 0 -
Rose apartment, specifically the living room, became crowded with the amount of people sitting around the low coffee table… Or better said, Bell's personal space became crowded with the amount of people sitting by his sides, and on top, of him on his side of the L-shaped couch.
Eina who was the one to least see him in the last week had taken his lap, Alicia took his left side and arm, and after a short, silent, conversation between Rose and Eden, the later took his right side and arm.
Rose sat beside their Goddess who looked troubled between smiling at the pile of people sitting together and scolding them for their behavior, the former emotion won in the end, and she simply gave up with an exasperated huff.
"Since Miss Eina's here, I'm guessing Bell's already aware of the Hestia Familia arrangements?" Hestia started the conversation with a prodding question to the half-elf.
"Not all of the arrangements, Lady Hestia." Eina replied with a troubled smile, "I've explained the sudden rank ups of the Hestia Familia along with the expectations the Guild set for them," Then she glanced at the humming Eden besides her, "I believed it would've been better for Bell to learn of the other arrangements directly from his Familia."
"Others?" Bell voiced behind Eina and propped his chin on her shoulder to look at his Goddess.
"Yes, Bell, there's finally some good news for us." Hestia replied with a tired smile. "Eden, please?"
"Yes, Lady Hestia." Eden replied with a light bow of her head. "First, we've established a contract with the Hephaestus Familia wherein the Hestia Familia would directly exchange their monsters drops for valis at market price with the Hephaestus Familia, the monster cores will still be traded for valis at the Guild."
That was extremely good news for Bell, and also for Miss Misha whom he was still indebted for taking the risk of continuing exchanging his loots despite the abnormal rate.
"Second, Alicia Forestlight's treatment by the Dian Cecht Familia will be paid in full by the Loki Familia as a farewell gift, this cleared the path for all Familia transfer papers to be finished without any further issues. On that same note, both Alicia and I are officially part of the Hestia Familia… This also ties into the third good news." Eden gave Bell a warm smile that made him feel all sorts of funny inside.
Eden's similarities to Rose were likely the cause for those funny emotions.
"If you still remember, My Lord Poseidon promised a fine selection of his riches for you as part of his contract with Lady Hekate." Bell nodded to that. "I, myself, am a part of this deal and, under my Lord's will, to use my own discretion on which riches should be bequeathed upon you."
"… That's a lot of words…" Bell heard Alicia whisper, and he agreed.
"Fufu~ My apologies," Eden giggled into her gloved hand, "To make it short, at my behest, I've transferred the rights of Lord Poseidon's holiday home in Orario to the Hestia Familia. This was my promised solution to our current living condition problems."
"Eh?" Bell aptly responded.
"I will also be taking care of all payments related to the services required in our new Familia's home, as part of my duty entrusted by Lord Poseidon, however any extra expense will not be under my jurisdiction."
"That… was not what I was expecting at all." Bell slowly replied, "Thank you, Miss Eden…"
"When you say services, which ones do you mean?" Alicia asked.
"Magical cores for appliances, clean water, previous Lord Poseidon debt fees, among others minuscule fees." Eden hummed in response, "Equipment and food supplies are out of my jurisdiction."
"That's already a lot! Are you sure it's okay for you to take care of so much?" Bell knew how much those very same expenses were one of the causes for him to go on a rampage in the dungeon.
"Mfufu~ It's no issue at all," Eden patted Bell like he was a young child, "Wherever I go, wealth abounds. Such expenses are but a drop in the ocean of wealth I possess."
Right, her skill gave her such freedom…
"However," Eden fierce smile and glimmering amber eyes froze Bell, "Know that such wealth is mine alone, and whether it's shared it's all up to your actions. You've earned this much from myself, any more depends entirely on your own efforts."
"I understand." Bell understood very well Eden words.
Just because she could, seemingly, easily take care of any economic problem did not mean she would go out of her way to fix them all for the Familia.
Eden's contract was with him, not with the Hestia Familia.
That she went ahead and obtained a proper home for them already spoke volumes of whatever she had found in him, Bell would not let her down.
"We'll still keep the apartment," Rose added from the other side of the couch and all eyes turned to her, "I… hold a sentimental value to this property, and it would be nice to have somewhere private that few know of. I'll continue paying for it on my ow-"
"We," Bell interrupted Rose, "will continue paying for it."
Rose's tail waggled happily, "Right, we."
"Ah, young love~" Eden fawned, causing Bell's face to redden slightly. "As for the last good news, Lady Hephaistos wishes to meet you, Bell, and try and help Lady Hestia decipher the unknown skills of your Falna."
"Right! About that," Hestia stood up from her seat, hands in hips. "I need to update all of your Falnas before any of you go and do something reckless."
Cue, two crestfallen faces.
"… You already did something reckless…"
"It was not their fault, Lady Hestia," Rose explained, with the help of Bell and Alicia, the events of the previous day, and the morning, where Alicia was harassed and threatened with a War Game, about Shakti's decision to make her relationship official with Bell along with cementing the supportive relationship between the Ganesha and Hestia Familias.
Alicia, having to explain how a few comments escalated into the War Game threat, curled into Bell's side where his touch reminder her that she had absolutely no fault for what happened.
"That stupid chopping board…" Hestia grumbled under her breath, "Then, where's this supposed person from the Loki Familia that will apologize?"
As if on cue, a knock on the door echoed in the apartment.
There was another silent exchange of stares between Rose and Eden before Eden rose from her seat beside Bell to answer the door.
He was starting to become really weary of those silent exchanges between Rose and Eden…
Eina moved from Bell's lap to his side since they would no longer be in a private setting.
"Pardon our intrusion," A young motherly voice greeted, and Bell was surprised to see Riveria enter the house along with the fair-skinned golden-haired woman with a blank expression.
"Riveria?" Bell blinked, did that mean that the silver-haired werewolf from yesterday called Riveria an old hag?
"… I'm starting to see another pattern here, Bell." Hestia glanced at Bell who tilted his head. "So, out with it, how's Loki going to apologize?"
Not even a proper greeting for them, Hestia must be really angry that they allowed her new child to be put in such a tough situation.
"About that…" Riveria bit her lip, hesitation quite obvious.
"Loki said 'I'm sorry', that was it." The golden-haired girl had no such qualms.
Hestia scoffed, "Of course she would say that much." But she could understand where Loki was coming from.
Adventurers were reckless by nature, that her Familia was no longer protected by the laws was something they brought upon themselves, and Loki had no way of knowing, or any real way of helping them since it was not her fight to battle anymore.
Alicia was Hestia's child now, not Loki's.
Besides, it wasn't even confirmed there would be a War Game, so why should Loki apologize?
"Such an event should never have occurred," Riveria found her strength, and bowed to Hestia, something that left all, but Bell, perplexed by the royal elf's actions. "Mister Cranel trusted me with Alicia's care, and I failed."
…
No.
Riveria was wrong.
She had not failed him.
"Alicia's safe," Bell replied with a smile in Alicia's direction, one that she timidly returned. "You didn't fail, it was all… an accident, and, honestly, I don't mind giving a lesson to those kinds of people too."
'She's in good hands' Riveria thought while she looked at the smiles shared between Bell and Alicia. "You're too kind…"
Hestia sighed and silently agreed with the Nine Hell's. Bell was too kind, far too much to those he cared for, not that she would have it any other way. "If that's all, my Familia has important matters to attend to."
"Yes, thank you for your time." Riveria didn't bow again, she turned to leave with her protegee but paused when she didn't see Ais where she should have been. "Ais?"
"Yes?"
All eyes blinked and turned to the blank-faced girl that sat on Bell's lap, nobody aware of when she even moved to do so.
"Err… Miss?" Bell blankly stared.
"Ais."
"… Ais."
"Yes?"
"Why?"
"You looked comfortable."
"…"
"You are comfortable."
"Uh… Thank you?"
"You're welcome."
- 0 - AsBBaH Vol 2 - 0 -
Who would've thought that making the Sword Princess leave Bell's lap would be such an arduous task, even with the help of a mortified Riveria, it took the Hestia Familia well over thirty minutes to finally lift Ais from Bell.
Level 6 strength was no joke.
Still, there was no lack of laughter at Riveria's expense as she scolded Ais for her random actions while leaving the apartment, the Sword Princess none too apologetic about it at all.
Only after the two Loki Familia members left and the Hestia Familia ate lunch together did Bell realize, he still hadn't asked which Familia was the one that brought all those problems to his.
In the end, Bell gave up his notion of not bothering Alicia and asked her.
"I didn't tell you?" Alicia's forgetfulness was quite the adorable sight, "They were from the Soma Familia."
…
"Who?"
Right, trust the recently made adventurer who never had an uneventful day for the last month until a day ago to know which Familia was that. Bell knew most of the Gods name, but further than was a blank in his mind.
"Oh, that explains why Mister Lustra stopped Lady Hestia and I earlier," Eden cupped her own cheek.
"… Who?"
Really, his Familia should really remember that Bell didn't know anyone besides… well, them.
"Zanis Lustra, Captain of the Soma Familia," Rose replied from somewhere in the kitchen. "Ambitious businessman… Ah."
"Ah, indeed," Eden rubbed her temples. "Miss Alicia, when you participated in the Loki Familia's gathering, did you mention my name?"
Alicia frowned, "No, I… don't think so?"
"Hm," Eden hummed, "Perhaps, it was simply a stroke of luck then."
"Miss Eden?"
"I may be wrong about this, but with Mister Lustra words earlier, I believe he's learned that the Holy Grail is in the hands of the Hestia Familia and set up Alicia into creating a situation which would give him the…" Eden paused when she noted her words made Bell's eyes spin. "My apologies, I believe someone informed Zanis about my existence, and he set up Alicia, and the Hestia Familia, into a War Game where he can legally acquire Mundi Divitae to fulfill his greediness."
"That's… Is that even possible?" Bell frowned, "You've only been here for a bit over a week, no?"
"Yes, and that should be enough time for information brokers follow my footsteps and find me again," Eden looked away, biting at her thumbnail. "Perhaps, I was too hasty with my transactions, I hadn't expected for anyone to act so fast…"
"But how would they know I was in the Hestia Familia where you are too!?" Alicia asked a very good point, one that Bell felt that he could reply to.
"Someone's been watching us… No, someone's been watching me." Bell met the confused and concerned gazes of his Familia, "For a few days now I've felt like someone has been watching me, you all have said I've become famous in Orario yet not even once has anyone recognized me so far, not when I went out to eat with Shakti, not when I visited Welf in the morning with Alicia, not even when we entered the Guild."
"… It isn't Hekate, right?" Hestia felt like she needed to confirm that.
"No." Bell shook his head, and closed his eyes, the world slowed down as Insight flared alive.
A crystalized rock.
A waning hearth.
A broken clock.
A passing bird.
A wet mirror.
A single azure slit-eye stared back at him, it blinked, and Bell fell flat on his ass.
"Bell!?"
"… Miss Kat, come back soon, please…"
And so, Bell was helped to his feet by his Familia, concern that he eased despite the numbing fear of the numerous gazes lingering within his perception.
- 0 - Chapter End - 0 -
Author's Note: One chapter more for setup along with Falna updates (also with a lemon) and the next one's the war game, all in all, this is a minor introductory arc for Volume 2. Sorry if you feel the chapter are shorts, but this is the pace with which I started the story in volume 1 and it'll build up (with longer chapters) when the action/lemons pick up/start!
- Jas / Shiiva