Hello, now that this is the actual chapter thirty, I can say that it would be at least two-three more chapters until the end of the Arc. I'm happy with my plan. Hope you all enjoy.
...
Early the next morning, Isaac was the first one up. He needed to start looking for Bell. It gnawed on him that he wasn't home. Maybe since the War Game, he's been treating him like an apprentice. Since their training, he's noticed the subtle changes in his fighting style.
That being, aiming for vital weak points, like the joints. Disable an opponent by their elbow limits their options. Cripple a leg and the agility becomes your advantage unless the adversary is specialized in point defense. Still, he needed to move.
The sight Isaac turned around to was heart-warming. Dia and Irene were wrapped in each other's arms. If he didn't know any better, then he'd assume they were lovers. Irene would figure out how to make it work. Isaac silently grabbed a piece of parchment and a quill. He wrote down his plans and what he was going to accomplish today. It was short, formal—probably—and easy to follow.
With that done, Isaac took a bath, got dressed, made a light breakfast for the two slumbering ladies, and headed for the door a few minutes later. He paused when he felt something. Turning to the common room, he saw a tarp, a familiar one at that. The magic energy from yesterday was coming back in droves. He felt that they were impatient. The two blades were eager for their new wielder to use them. It felt right, and it would be a perfect time to attune themselves.
Isaac gently unwrapped the tarp, seeing the shine of the blades. They looked similar to his armor and current weaponry...Isaac thought back to that blacksmith they met out in the Far West. The man claimed that he was a wandering smith, one who just travels, looking for materials and testing his craft.
Now, Isaac never got into smithing, but from what Bell has said about Welf and his abilities, the fire of a smith is not something to mess with nor slander. Isaac could see the beauty within each and every creation, and these swords were no different.
Still, that blacksmith seemed to just have it all, and he was blanking on the name of them, but he definitely knew a thing or two about the forge. Hell, even seeing some of Hephaistos' work on the Hestia knife—because the sheath it resides in displays Hephaistos's symbol. He seemed to have a knowing look every time Isaac looked at the man. What was his name? It started with a 'V', I know that much. The man basically gave us this armor for free, and then he left without a trace.
Isaac continued his line of thought, We still have to decide whether or not we're going back. I know she wanted to, but I'm truthfully on the fence about it...but I want to see you, Mom...Dad…
Snapping out of his stupor, he clenched his hands on the handles before feeling reassurance. Are they comforting me? Isaac knew something was up, but told off the feeling as he put them in their respective sheaths. He needed to name them...and once he thought that, he felt a wave of elation from the blades.
"Okay, definitely excited…and I better make sure I don't ask Welf. His naming sense is about as good as the author's," Isaac grinned at the thought of naming them. It felt like he always should have. Were these unnamed for a long time?
Deciding it wasn't worth it trying to think about it, he quickly got up and left, taking them with him. The Complex was quiet and he made sure of it. He locked the door, and as soon as he did, he felt eyes on him. Freya...you're up early…
Sending a half-ass wave at her, he continued on his way, heading right to the Pleasure Quarter. He didn't have to go far, as Bell was exiting the damn place. "Bell!"
The rabbit turned towards the quarter elf, looking immensely relieved, "Isaac, oh it is so good to see you, I have news!"
"You're still a virgin right?" Issac asked bluntly.
The flush was brilliant on Bell's face and he denied that he did anything, "I'm still a virgin, jeez, why do you have to embarrass me?"
"It's easy, you naive boy," Isaac teased back. "Now, explain what happened when we got separated, you know Lady Hestia is going to have a fit, that and you smell like sex. Better go find a shower or something…"
Bell sniffed himself and grimaced, knowing he was right. "Okay, but I found Haruhime…"
Isaac shot his eyes over to Bell, "Let's go now." Sis, are you awake?
Hmm? Yeah...why? Thanks for breakfast by the way.
You're welcome, now, Bell found Haruhime, we need everyone present to discuss. We're headed back.
"You know, your eyes dilate when you do that," Bell pointed out.
A scoff, "First the King, then you, who next? Some civilian off the street?" Isaac rolled his eyes.
"Wait, the King?" Bell asked confused.
Isaac paused in dragging Bell along to look him seriously in the eyes, "You are unaware of who's top dog around here?" When he was met with silence, "Okay...Freya Familia is the top familia, Loki Familia is their rival, then Ganesha Familia because of security, then everyone else, down to us at the bottom, okay?"
"Yes," Bell confirmed. "So?"
"You are really ignorant of what goes on behind the scenes. To put it simply, if the King noticed, that's one thing, but…" he debated telling him for a split second, but figured he should know, "the Freya Familia is after my sister and I."
"W-What? B-But-"
"You haven't heard of Lady Freya's methods, have you?" Bell shook his head in the negative, "Good, pray you never do."
"Shouldn't I know this though?" Bell argued, which was good for him. The boy needs to be a little assertive, but considering how he was during the War Game, that side of him comes out when it needs to. It needs to be present more often. He can still be that cute little boy that everyone sees him as. However, he needs to not be a pushover because when he pushes back, he will make sure that no one does it again.
The pair continued talking, "You should, but it's good to not know the specifics because of what they entail…" Isaac froze as he felt the gaze he's been dreading. "Head to the manor, don't deviate from main roads, understood?"
"W-Why?"
"Just do it," Isaac said before ushering him down the main road. Breathing a sigh of relief before leaning on a wall, just off the main road, Isaac felt the stares lessen but they did not leave. Bringing a hand up to rub his eyes, "So, what do you want?"
He spoke to seemingly nothing and no one, but of course, he knew someone was there.
The tall imposing man appeared at the other end of the alley, looking him down, "My Lady wishes to speak with you."
"Again? What now?" Isaac asked. "I think I deserve to know what she wants this time and if it's about conversion, that's a fat no, full stop." I may be delayed. He covered his eyes to not let him know.
What is it this time? Irene's curiosity piqued.
Ottar… That silenced her before he felt a mental wave of anger.
Get home, now.
Impossible, I'm being surrounded. Isaac knew as soon as he let Bell go that he was going to be harassed by them. Seriously, why won't she just let up?
I'm coming to get you, Irene declared. No doubt Dia was completely worried.
Isaac shut that down quickly, all while not even flinching or moving from his position. Instead, he was rubbing his eyes to push away the forming headache. NO! Stay, listen to Bell's story, he gave me the rundown.
"What my Lady wants to talk to you about is private. Do not resist," the man's voice was much more stern than previous, which put Isaac on the backfoot.
However, that didn't stop him from saying, "You know, if she wants to win my affection like she claims, she could at least...you know...come talk to me herself." There was no taking that back. "You probably have more important things to worry about rather than a level four of a familia of three." Ottar was in Isaac's face before he could finish the sentence, "Holy fucking hell!" The speed made his heart leap in his chest. His arm was in the man's grasp, tight enough to hold him, but not tight enough to cut off circulation. No bruises would be left behind.
"She insists," was all he said. The veiled threat went unsaid.
"Okay, okay, fine... if it means that much to you," Isaac said, backing slowly away from Ottar. The Boaz could rip him apart without so much as breaking a sweat. It's honestly feeling like a power creep. And to think that there were once people higher than him, Grandma included. "I'm using the roofs as transport to make it faster, so feel free to follow; and if you were worried about me slipping away, then don't. I know at least four of you will be following." I swear if you show up...
Ottar said nothing, not even a nod before he let Isaac go. What concerned Isaac was the fact that Irene didn't respond, nor acknowledged his words. The connection was open...and that meant she heard him.
"Son of a bitch," Isaac cursed as he took to the roofs and started his trek to Babel, knowing that Freya was looking at him. The thing is, he's used to jumping around these roofs, he's honestly surprised that he hasn't gotten a skill from it that allows him to accurately determine the gaps between roofs. An idea for later, but it'd be one of those non-combat skills. Come to think of it, it would be useful for running, maximizing his potential.
Within a few minutes of Isaac starting his approach, he continued to jump from roof to roof, and citizens noticing but not commenting. They all knew Isaac preferred this and they started calling him Harpe the Grasshopper. Appropriate since he does like jumping from the roofs; it's honestly peaceful to jump on roofs. Everyone should try it (don't actually). If he was in any other situation, he'd feel like an assassin pursuing his next target.
He was outside Babel before someone grabbed his arm, "What the hell do you think you're doing?"
"Irene?" Isaac turned to his sister, who caught up with him, "I thought I told you to not come!"
"I listen as well as I did when we were kids, not at all!" Irene countered, her hazel eyes boring into his. "You say Ottar and I'll come running, always. Okay? I'm not just going to let you go at it alone," she leaned up and whispered, "Even with our skill, she still can sway you."
"You think I don't know that? However, now you've put yourself in their sights, did you not pay attention to what's going on around you?" Isaac chided. "I have at least five of the executives on me, and no doubt Lady Freya is looking down at us, now probably demanding the both of us, which is exactly what I wanted to avoid! So, leave, go back to the Manor and find out how to get Haruhime out, contact me when you need me. Right now, I need to have a very awkward chat with the Goddess of Beauty."
The twins departed, but one of the Freya Familia executives followed after her, something she noticed. This would be a problem.
Isaac entered Babel Tower's base and waited by an elevator. Immediately, Ottar was by his side, ushering him into the elevator. Not only him, but an elf and a dark elf followed. Isaac had a feeling of who they were. The White and Black Knights. The pair was never far from one another, and they were both kings of their lands once upon a time, but with a promise from Freya, they came to serve her. This was one of the reasons why Isaac didn't ever want to be in the Freya Familia. It would lead to false promises.
Creepily enough, no one said a word on the way up, but Isaac had his hands on his knives, not with an intention to draw them. He's not stupid. Even with his experience in Lady Nike's arena, it was impossible for him to fight a level six, let alone two. Ottar was in a class of his own. Not to mention, they could disarm him before he even knew it. I hate being at such a disadvantage…
You're at a disadvantage? Well, tell that to us, considering what we just learned. Irene said to him, and with each passing second, his stance became more and more tense. He did not like the situation he was now in.
How do you think I feel? I feel helpless, being surrounded by a total of nineteen levels, each one meant to correct me if I so much as move without warning, Isaac internally groaned.
"Do not speak with your sister here," Ottar said, clasping a hand on Isaac's shoulder.
The weight behind it made him snap out of his thoughts, "That's like asking me not to breathe," which judging by their looks of disdain, they want to happen, "which is impossible. It works like a muscle and it's a natural reflex." Why he was arguing it, he doesn't know, but if it gets the King to understand, then sure.
The hand left his shoulder and the pain that he was holding back was unnoticed by the two elves. Oh, yeah...forgot about those two, who more than likely have a racist comment waiting.
Seriously, how can a supposedly easy day get much worse?
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The long, slow, mostly silent elevator ride ended with a ding, and the four passengers all moved to the small room which the so-called Queen of Orario watched over the mortals and her fellow deities alike. "Is it too late to back out?" Isaac asked as a joke.
He was met with two glares and an impassive look.
"You all need a sense of humor, like damn…" Isaac whispered. His eyes then followed a girl who waited at the door.
She didn't acknowledge Isaac as she spoke to Ottar, "Lady Freya only requires him, dismissed." The cold, bitter tone suggested she was not happy with Isaac's presence either.
Ottar left without a word, knowing that his Lady would be fine. However, the two elves were very much against that idea. Isaac looked over and saw a table, large enough for everything he had.
Isaac walked over to the table and immediately put all of his throwing knives, his daggers, and his two new swords, plus their sheaths, on the table. "If you thought I'm going to make a move on your Goddess, you're mistaken. I have nothing to gain by 'harming' her. In fact, I see no reason for me to attack. My only complaint was her summoning me when I'm busy already. This could have waited."
"Watch it, quarter…" the dark elf spoke.
"Prideful one, are you?" Isaac shot back. "'Stuck up snob-noses, unless they prove it otherwise' is proving itself here. I should thank Grandma later," Isaac mused aloud.
"If anything happens to our Lady, you will not be leaving whole," the elf threatened, his coral eyes brewing up multiple methods of punishment.
"And who do I have the pleasure of meeting for the first time?" Isaac addressed the girl, ignoring the two dunderheads that call themselves elves.
"Horn, or Helun," the girl replied. Her one eye was black, but the other was grey or silver if the light was right.
"Preference?" he shot back.
"Horn," she replied.
"Despite you knowing my name already, it'd be terrible if I did not give you the same courtesy. My name is Isaac Vlahos."
"Do not keep her waiting," Horn ignored his introduction. She had her own opinions about him, none of which were going to be pleasant for him to hear.
Isaac groaned, "You're making it sound like I'm spending the night with her...which isn't happening." He saw the looks become far more than disdain. Downright hostility. "Seriously get a sense of humor!"
"Is that you, my dearest Isaac? Please, come in." That voice sent a shiver down his spine and not in a good way either.
Horn opened the door and he entered, and then Horn shut the door, making him have to face the music. "Lady Freya, may I ask the purpose of this summons, when I am not in your familia?"
The Goddess turned around in her chair and he immediately averted his eyes. Whether she reacted at all to his clear emphasis on 'not' was uncertain. She was wearing close to nothing, covering most of her essentials, but not much was left to his imagination. "Fufufu, I wanted to ask you how your date went."
Slack-jawed, he focused on her face, not her eyes or her body, "Really?" It was more in disbelief than in shock, even though the emotion was there.
"Mmhmm, I wanted to know what you've done," Freya said, unperturbed.
"Excuse me while I fail to believe you. How do I know you aren't going to attack my courted or anyone close to her and me? You—and I mean no offense—give me a yandere vibe. You'd kill anyone who got in your way as long as you can have me, Bell, and my sister."
Freya detected no lies, her silver eyes looking over Isaac's form, seeing the armor covering his form-fitting muscle. She was wondering what he looked like under it all. However, that would have to wait. "No, I am genuinely curious and I told you on our date that I would not harm Dia. Since I also respect mortal traditions, such as courting, I cannot do anything about your relationship." Isaac's posture relaxed, but he was still on guard. This was the last place he wanted to let it down. "Sit down, would you?" Freya asked, gesturing to a seat next to her.
Resigning himself to his fate, he did, with a noticeable distance from her. Freya frowned, moving closer to him, "So, what is it that you want to know?"
The goddess inched all the way over until her leg was touching his, even though the clothes, Freya wanted to be close to her beloved. "Everything…" she whispered. If it was supposed to be sensual, it worked. If not, that was just how she worked.
"We kissed, and I know you were watching. No shame?" Isaac countered, wondering how she'd react. A subtle twitch of her wrist answered him. She was angry that she didn't get his first kiss. "We spent the day together, finally getting to know one another. With the War Game, that took up a lot of my time, then after getting back, I leveled up, you know this," Isaac prattled on with the details from his date. The Guild announced his sister and his level-ups prior to this. They work fast when the details are important. He left out the talks about Haruhime and his plans for the Far West.
"Sounds like fun," Freya said, now leaning most of her body on him. Isaac didn't smell any wine, so she was sober as sober can be.
Isaac had this nagging question on his mind, "Are you lonely?"
"Lonely?" Freya repeated, sitting up, clearly interested in what he had to say.
Isaac turned to face her, "Yeah, lonely. I often wonder about how you Gods live lives down here. You came for entertainment, but there is always, and I mean always an ulterior motive. I want to know yours. Do you chase after love because that's what you're known for? Or because you genuinely want to find a lover who will love you back for all you are?"
Freya wasn't caught off-guard often. Counting, on one hand, was the number of times she's been put on the back foot like this. Not only did her beloved know she's more than a Goddess of Beauty, but a Goddess of Love—and War as well, as she was quite well-known for her prowess in battle. He didn't outright say it but implied it heavily.
Horn, on the outside of the room, heard the question and felt the confliction in her Goddess. She wanted nothing more than to open the door and throw him out, but that conflict was soon replaced by admiration. This gave her pause.
"You might be the first person, in all my years down in Gekai, to have asked me that. Just for that, I will tell you. Yes, I desire to find genuine love, no matter what it takes," Freya admitted.
"Even if that means disrupting the loves of already happy people?" Isaac asked, trying to keep his eyes from wandering. The mental fortitude to keep a level head with a breathtaking woman, such as Freya, was difficult. Without Liaris Freese, she could have charmed him. She already knew he was immune to it anyway, or at least had an inkling about it. Her natural looks were another weapon, much more subtle. A second knife, if you will.
A gleam entered her eyes, making Isaac shiver, "Yes. You want my honest assessment?" Even these words shocked Freya, but she wasn't going to rescind them.
"Got nothing to lose by knowing," Isaac said, looking out the window.
"If it weren't for those traditions…" she slowly leaned and whispered, "you would've been mine already."
Isaac violently shivered again, looking at Freya in fear, then he realized the position he was in. He was so focused on not wanting to be charmed that he failed to notice his surroundings. Freya's arms were next to his thighs and she was crawling over him, "N-Now wait, I d-do not c-consent to this."
"Clearly, your body disagrees~," Freya said, giggling all the while. To reference, his arousal was building during the conversation, but only now, it was pointed out, like a neat campground. His hands covered it, begging internally for it to go down. "I could help…" she crawled closer, making Isaac flush even more than he already was.
Reacting instinctually, he quickly flipped their position so he was looking down at her. Freya's hair, which wasn't in her usual getup, sprawled all over the seat. Isaac quickly stood and half-turned away. Clearing his throat, "Besides that, i-is there anything else you want to know that doesn't involve p-physical con-" he stopped as he felt something push on his back. Even with his cloak, armor, and clothes, he couldn't not feel Freya's massive bust pressing into him.
"I'm enjoying your company, Isaac," Freya whispered. "You're right, I am lonely."
"I can't be that person for you," Isaac said, speaking softly and trying to keep the shake out of his voice. "If it means anything, you'll find that someone one day, but that's not me. Miko is important to me and I'm not giving that up."
The next action surprised Isaac, to the point of thinking the worst of thoughts. Freya bit him. "Mmmhmm…"
"W-Wh-What...are y-you do-doing? S-Stop…"
"Marking my territory, my beloved Isaac," Freya said, before leaving a noticeable hickey on his neck. "Have fun explaining that to your precious Miko." If he noticed the slight disdain in her voice, he didn't comment. He was more focused on other things, like getting out of here.
"M-My answer will not change, Lady Freya," Issac said once she unlatched herself from his neck.
He heard Freya sigh before releasing him, "I figured, but I do hope you'll come around." That might have been one of the most genuine statements he's ever heard from her. "You may go, have Horn escort you down."
Isaac headed for the door, reaching for the handle, "If you wanted to talk, Lady Freya, you can at least send a letter or something, not your aide. He's got a knack for being a special brand of terrifying."
A short chuckle escaped the Goddess, "I see, farewell, my beloved." Then, he left. Once he did, she smiled, "You will be mine, but I did enjoy our conversation. I know we will have more in the future, fufu."
Isaac wordlessly grabbed all of his weapons and put them back into place. He also didn't look at Horn nor anyone else, too deep in his own shame to even bother retorting. The members of the Freya Familia present all glared at him with a wish of death. They wanted to pummel him, but after he glared just as harshly back—with far more intent that could rival Allen's on a good day—did they back down.
As soon as the elevator went down, did Horn turn to her Goddess' room and peer inside, only to see her smiling with a wistful expression, "Horn, do you think I'm lonely?"
The attendant wisely did not answer.
Irene was happy that Isaac made breakfast and once she found out that he was being cornered, she rushed out and went to go find him, the conversation went about as well as one would expect. Since then, she's kept an open line to him, but he wasn't talking to her.
Bell arrived through the door, somehow after Irene got back. "Alright, we need to talk."
Everyone assembled and even the Takemikazuchi Familia entered, along with the Miach Familia. Everyone was gathered in the main common room. Dia and Irene sat on one couch, the Hestia Familia claimed another couch, Lili and Hestia sharing a seat while Welf took a whole seat to himself. Mikoto stood between her old and new familias. The Miach Familia chose to stand up, and the Takemikazuchi Familia took another couch. He only brought Ouka and Chigusa.
Miach also brought Daphne and Cassandra, who recently converted after the War Game. No other familia would accept so he took them in. "So what information have you brought, Bell?" Miach's soft-toned voice said, making the young boy ease up.
"They plan on doing some ritual that involves Haruhime, and she's accepted it…" Bell said.
"So, she made it Orario after all?" Ouka mused aloud.
"She was disowned by her family, after supposedly eating an offering meant for someone else. They believed them over her. She was then transported here and brought into the Ishtar Familia."
"Is there anything we can do?" Irene asked.
Dia mused in her mind, then spit out a theory, "Well, since Ishtar operates a business, this being of the carnal variety, you could make enough valis and buy Haruhime her freedom. However, just because you can doesn't mean you are able. The reason being-"
"Is how important she is to the Familia…" Irene finished for her Goddess. The petite Goddess nodded her head. She knew that it was a long shot.
Bell hesitantly spoke up, "Should I go ask Lord Hermes to see what it would take to get her out?"
Hestia spoke up, "As much as I don't want to allow it, that may be our best option. Please don't tell me that you plan on going to save her from that…" Bell had the decency to look sheepish.
Daphne spoke now, "What did you guys talk about all night? Considering from what I've gathered, you spent the night...in the Pleasure Quarter. You do know the implications of that, right?"
"I-Isaac questioned me on it, and I still have my chastity, and we talked about hero stories all night...something she also has an interest in," Bell blushed. Being put under the spotlight like this was a lot for him. Lili and Hestia both glared at him. Welf rolled his eyes. Irene had her thinking face on.
"You mentioned she's a Renard, right?" Multiple head nods confirmed it. "I remember reading something about Renards that make them special…"
Take's eyes brightened, "How can I forget? Renards are capable of casting a different type of magic called Sorcery. Each one has a different effect, ranging from a simple enhancement to a powerful spell."
Dia spoke, "There is something we're all forgetting…" all the attention was on Dia now. "Ishtar is jealous of Freya...overzealously so...and dependent on what Haruhime is capable of…"
"She wouldn't…" Take murmured.
Lili interjected with her opinion, "So what you are all saying is that there is no way for us to obtain Miss Haruhime legally?"
"Nope, looks like there is only one way to get her now…" Irene said. "You all up for a prison break?" Despite the silence, there was a steeled resolve in each of the adventurers present. Even so, a lot still needs to be considered. "Bell, is there anything else you can tell us? Anything you saw? Heard?"
"Lord Hermes was in the district, holding an object. He wasn't supposed to show it to me, but he did. It was a red stone of some kind," Bell said.
"Wait…" Take said. "This stone didn't happen to reflect like a…"
"Kaleidoscope?" Mikoto offered.
"Yes, that."
Bell gulped, "I-It did."
"Lord Take, what is so important about this stone?" Irene asked, not liking the fearful look on the War God's face.
"There is a ritual that can only take place on a full moon and it's called the Killing Stone ritual. Aptly so because of what it entails…" hunching forward, he continued to explain, "When a sacrifice is killed at the moon's peak, their soul is put into the stone."
"Can the soul be moved back?" Welf asked.
"If the stone remains whole…" Take said, making the mood shift down.
Nahza had to be the one to bring up the point, "And if the stone is shattered?"
"Then there is no hope for the person to ever be whole again. Even if the stone was put back together, they will never be the same," Take finished.
"So, simply put. Haruhime is a Renard, under the possession of a jealous Goddess of Beauty, this ritual is specifically for Renards, and if she dies, she will be lost forever," Irene said. "Did I hit every important point?"
"I believe so," Take said.
Dia, however, had to pile onto this rising shitstorm with this, "There is one more tiny little problem…" The Goddess of Divinity saw the gears turning in her child's head before she shouted.
"Tomorrow's a full moon!"
Chigusa fainted, Ouka caught her. Cassandra, who hasn't spoken at all, also fainted right into Daphne's arms. She almost didn't catch her because of the shock she just experienced. Welf just looked down in deep thought. Hestia looked appalled, looking to her fellow deities to see there was no refuting that statement.
Isaac! You better open your damn ears because of what we just learned! Get back to the Manor as fast as possible.
Yeah sure, just after I figure out how to get a hickey off my neck because Lady Freya decided to be a little forward, he responded, his voice distant, and not because of the distance either.
"Freya did what?!"
Mikoto jumped at Irene's tone. "What happened?"
Irene calmly looked towards her potential sister-in-law, "Freya got a little handsy with my brother, left a nice mark on his neck...if I were you...mark your territory before she does."
"He didn't…"
"Isaac would sooner cut himself off before he even thinks about cheating, plus...I'll be the one to beat him up if he ever was a cheating bastard," Irene swore, shocking most of the occupants of the room.
Welf snorted, "He'll probably beg for your forgiveness if he's smart."
"Most likely, Lili knows that he's into you, Miss Mikoto," Lili said, playing along to the red-headed smith's subtle change of subject. The girl in question blushing made it obvious.
"Apologies for my outburst," Irene said with a small bow. "Lady Dia, I will go fetch my brother and bring him back so we can talk. We're getting to the bottom of this."
Bell, deciding that there was nothing he could do for Haruhime yet, spoke up, "Should we go to the Dungeon, the whole group of us? I k-know that with our emotional states like this, it's a bad idea, but we know we can't just charge in and free her. If we go into the Dungeon, we could perhaps come up with something."
Dia quickly regarded, "You do know what you are suggesting, Little Rookie?" Her serious persona was in play and Irene sucked in a breath, "You realized the kinds of implications that this could bring onto your familia and fellow adventurers?"
Bell was at a loss for words, "Right now, all I can think about is helping a friend in need."
"How heroic of you, Bell," Irene teased, having calmed down from her outburst.
"Well, I do want to be a hero…" he muttered. No one heard him though.
"When are they supposed to get here?" An Amazon of the Berbera said.
"Quiet," Aisha said, silencing them. "They will get here when they get here and once they do, we wait until they let their guard down, then strike, alright?"
"Hek hek hek, who put you in charge?" Phryne sneered at Aisha.
The woman was unaffected, despite wanting nothing more than to smash her face in and cleanse the planet of this disease, "Follow Goddess Ishtar's order then everything will be fine."
"Oh look!" one of the Berbera, Samira said. Her gray did not depict her age, as it was her natural color, and her eyes were sharp as a group of adventurers passed them. Those very people were Aspis, Harpe, Little Rookie, Ignis, Eternal Shadow, Masuratakeo, Jian Girl, and a Supporter, who did not have an alias yet, walked by and passed the group who lied in wait on the fifteenth floor.
Aspis and Harpe were in the rear, along with the Prum. Little Rookie was in front, along with Ignis. Everyone else was in the middle. Harpe was shooting Eternal Shadow looks of adoration, to which the latter blushed, nudging him.
"Time to go," Aisha murmured, but her thoughts went to the girl in the cage just off to her left. My little sister, you of all people don't deserve to go through this.
The plan to snag them was in progress and there was a multitude of ways that this was going to go.
This was one of them.
...
Freya's impatient, ain't she? As much as I want to make Freya the villain, I can't help but think of how closed-off she must be. She's been waiting for who knows how long, and now she has three potential candidates for being her Odr. Still, Bell is the first, that hasn't changed, but if she got the twins, then the third will follow.
Stay tuned.