I let out a large yawn, opening the covers to see the sun is just rising up, just under the new window frames I put up.
Not too bad if I do say so myself, I get out of the bed, pulling the covers of myself while I stretch my arms.
"Another day, another early morning" I said, seeing the sun turning red from rising, can't break that early morning habit.
I get out of the bed, start making the bed sheets, and straighten the covers while fixing the pillows.
Another habit by grandma did to me,
Make your own dam bed boy,
I do a few more stretches to shake off the sleepiness, opening the door, looking in the other rooms to see Bell sleeping in bed, smiling at his snoozing while making my way down.
Checking the goddess Hestia to see her snoozing as well, her cute little face as I can see a little snot bubble, seeing Pebble snuggling in her arms, like a little teddy bear.
"Luckily golem" I said, seeing Pebble close to Hestia bare boobs, I walked downstairs to the little makeshift kitchen, which is just a stone like table with a few metal pots, pans and wooden plates.
"No dungeon driving this time" I said, happy to not be in a rush for once, could do more sleeping in but someone has to clean this place and make breakfast for everyone.
I check the little cupboards around the make-shift kitchen, seeing some bread, butter, cheese, a bottle of milk, a bit of ham and some eggs.
"How about some eggs" I said, grabbing the small basket of eggs, looking them over, no cracks or anything.
Perfect.
"Let's try some scrambled eggs today" I said, grabbing the eggs and pulling out two wooden bowls from the cupboard, grabbing the bottle of milk as well, putting it to the side.
I crack an egg on the top of the wooden bowl, be careful with the egg as I slowly open it up, putting the yolk and egg inside the bowl, placing the egg shell in the other bowl.
Grabbing the other eggs to crack them and put them in the bowl, filling up the bowl is yolk and egg, putting all the shells in the other bowl.
"It will do" I said, grabbing the bottle of milk and a spatula for the side.
I hear the walking of rocks coming down the stairs, looking up to see Pebble jumping on the table.
"Morning Pebble" I greeted, Pebble nods in greeting as he looks at the egg shell, looking very edgier as he tries to grab the plate.
I stop him with my hand.
"Wait till it's ready Pebble" I said, making Pebble cross his arms.
"Go get the plates ready you doll" I said, Pebble sticks his rock tongue out as he goes to grab the plates, getting the table set up while I cook the eggs.
Pouring the milk in the bowl, then grabbing the salt and pepper to sprinkle on the top, grabbing a metal spoon to start mixing the eggs and milk together, mixing it around.
Grabbing the metal pan I reach for the butter and putting a slice of butter into the pan, moving it around while I summon my Typhon Gauntlet in one hand.
Putting the gauntlet under the metal pan with the metal stands, helps hold the pan as I start to gather some fire magic in my gauntlet to cook the eggs.
Making a fire under the pan as I use the spatula to mix the eggs.
Clap clap
Pebble comes next to me, clapping his little hand at the sight of the scrambled eggs.
"Yes yes, it's almost done" I said to him, seeing his smile widen, shaking from side to side.
I hear a nose smell from upstairs, hearing someone jumping out of the bed and running down the stairs.
Seeing Hestia up and out of bed, her nose twitching from the smell as her twin tails shake in excitement.
"Do I smell eggs?!" Hestia said in excitement, looking to see me cooking scrambled eggs.
"Scrambled eggs, you're up earlier than normal" I noted, seeing Hestia normally sleep till midday one time, made her breakfast and a packed lunch a few times.
"Yes I am, so feed your goddess" Hestia demands, giving a little pose to show how serious she is.
It's cute.
"Give it a minute, take a seat on the table" I said, smiling at her, as she made her way to the table.
"Good morning Pebble, ready for eggs?" Hestia cheered, as Pebble claps his hands in excitement, Hestia copying his actions.
"Alright alright it's ready" I said, like spoiled children clapping for attention.
I pour the metal pan into the wooden bowl, pouring it all into it as the two clap happily at the scramble eggs.
I put the pans away as I grab the bread and butter for toast, putting it on the table I use a knife to butter the bread and toast it with some fire magic,
"Scrambled eggs and toast" I said, putting the butter toast on Hestia plate,
"Mhhm thank you Magnus, I love it when you cook food" Hestia praised me as she dug into her scrambled eggs on toast.
"Thank you goddess" I said, grabbing the hard egg shells and putting it on Pebble's toast as Pebble smiles.
"Eat up Pebble" I said, Pebble nods while he jumps on the plate, cracking the egg shells and eating it together with the burned toast.
"Can Pebble eat that?" Hestia asked concern, seeing Pebble eating burned toast and egg shells instead of their food.
She is concerned for her little stone guardian.
"Don't worry, anything he eats turn to energy, burn toast and egg shell give him the most of it" I explains to her, Pebble doesn't have a stomach, he turns food into mana to power himself, other times he takes mana from myself,
But he likes food better and will eat anything.
Pebble nods happily as eat digs into the food, Hestia shrugs doing the same, I smile before taking a bite of my own food.
We eat in silence, enjoying the good food.
"Any plans for today? Hestia " I asked her, she took another big bite while looking at me.
"mhmhmh Yeah mememe I memem got" Hestia tries to say, but she eats with her mouth full.
"Swallow your food before you talk" I said to her, seeing her struggle to talk.
"Sorry, it's so good, yeah I'm starting my new job" Hestia said, taking another bite.
"Thought you had a job selling potato snacks or something" I said, she does work while we're away, which is weird for a god to work.
But we're currently poor and everyone needs to pull their weight.
Honestly happy my goddess is willing to work as well instead of lazing around while I, Bell and Pebble do everything.
"Yeah…but I thought of another job to earn more for my three favourite boys" Hestia said, why she is looking weird for a second.
I shrug, she's right, more work means more money.
"How about I make you lunch? Egg sandwich this time" I said, seeing we have some egg left over as she smiles.
"That would be amazing, you such a great child Magnus, don't know what I do without you" Hestia said, I smiled at her.
"Struggle to get by and be late for your new job" I tease her, making her flush red.
"That mean Magnus" Hestia smiles at me teasing, Pebble claps as well.
Making all of us laugh.
"What about you Magnus, going to the dungeon today with Bell?" Hestia asked, staring at me.
"Not today, going to make a rune for Bell today while he goes shopping for armour" I said to her, Hestia eyes widen,
"Really you make runes?" Hestia asked with wide eyes, but frowned in confusion.
"What a rune?" Hestia asked, I signed at this
"Runes are magical items, they have multiple abilities depending on the symbol carved in the stone" I explain, pulling out Teleportation Rune from the side of my Belt.
Hestia grabs the rune with wide eyes.
"There like mini magic swords" Hestia eyes widen in the rune, I shake my head at that.
"Not really, while I could make it, the runes themselves are non-damaging utility, primarily mobility" I said to her, magic swords are for magic attacks only, seen a few people use it.
"But this is a magic item, Magnus, what does it do?" Hestia asked, looking over the rune in wonder.
"Teleportation Rune, Teleport to target location after short channel duration. Around 60 metres' ' I explained to her, her eyes widened in surprise.
"Teleport, that amazing, wait, you're making one for Bell?" Hestia asked, looking at him.
"The Dash Rune, Quickly dash in the direction you're moving, giving Bell a boost in speed and dodge attacks" I said to her, giving Bell a boost to his already fast speed would be the best use for it, maybe the Invisibility Rune too.
"That's amazing, how much is this worth?" Hestia asked, Pebble eats the bread looking at the two, I think about it.
"Hard to say, never thought about it, 20 to 40 thousand valis, only the Dash Rune, the other ones, maybe more, one can make you fly even" I thought about it, Hestia jumps on my face.
"You have a rune that makes you fly" Hestia yells at my face, getting a little too close.
"Yeah, though you need to practise on that part" I said to her, remembering that damm tree.
"Can I take one with me?! Please!" Hestia asked loudly, I stop her.
"Calm down, Hestia, maybe one day but not today" I said. I'm considering selling a few basic runes, not the Chronomaster Rune one, that's off limits.
"Please Magnus, this can help with my debt, hmmmm" Hestia said, my closed her mouth from her hands.
Debt? I caught the word.
"You're in debt? To whom?" I asked her, Pebble looking at Hestia too, wondering why she looked around.
"Debt who's debt, no one in debt, right, yeah" Hestia said, trying to deny the word, both me and Pebble gave her a look.
I grab Pebble and face him to Hestia, Pebble gives her the look, Hestia fidget from the stare, she shakes from Pebble's look.
Yeah no one can handle Pebble's stare.
"mhmhm" Hestia struggles, trying not to break, Pebble stares at her harder.
"Ok the Hestia knife, I took a loan of 200,000,000 valis from Hephaestus, she said I have to pay it off" Hestia cave from Pebble stare, I look at her in shock.
"200,000,000 bloody valis, for a knife?" I asked her, shocked by the price, Hestia nodded.
"Please don't tell Bell, it would devastate him on how much the knife is worth" Hestia begs me, Pebble gasps as well, now he is getting it.
"He swinging 200,000,000 valis around, who wouldn't freak out" I said to her, taking a deep breath to her.
"Ok, ok, we can fix this" I said to her, a 200,000,000 debt,
Is it too late to jump ship?
No no, we can fix this.
Somehow.
"Does Hephaestus have a way to pay for it?" I asked her, Hestia nodded.
"She let me work for her to slowly pay off the debt" Hestia said, I nod.
"Good, that good, a start, ok" I said to her, that is a start to a massive debt.
"But she said she cut it in half for a piece of your special dagger" Hestia said to me, I pulled out the Typhon Dagger,
"That going to be hard" I said to her,
"Why not? Hephaestus said you break it off and a new one grows" Hestia said, I shake my head.
"It also grows stronger the more you break it off, now I can't break it off anymore" I explain to her. The Typhon Dagger is slowly getting unbreakable at this point.
"Maybe I can" Hestia tries to reach for it, Pebble slaps her hand.
"Ow Pebble" Hestia complains, Pebble shakes his head, not letting her touch the dagger.
"He right Hestia, the blade feeds on blood, and I don't want it tasting god blood" I said to her, the Dagger is dangerous.
"Ok, what about the other blades, you broke some off before" Hestia asked, I summoned the Typhon Gauntlets.
"I used them all to make this" I explained to her, as she signed looking down.
"Then I'll have to pay it the hard way, forever working without getting paid" Hestia complains in sadness, Pebble went to give her a hug, she takes it.
"It ok Hestia, I will make some Runes for you" I said, not going to let her debt affect the Familia, grabbing one of the runes from my inventory.
"Here take the Springstep Rune, it helps the user leap into the air in the direction they are moving" I said to her, getting a look from Hestia.
"That jumping" Hestia said, stating that simple act, I groaned.
"It makes you jump higher than before, and it never runs out of mana" I explain to her,
"It takes 5 seconds to be used again and won't break with continued use, as long as you don't break it" I said to her, I know it not much, but it's all I got.
"I don't know," Hestia said, I signed.
"Just show it to Hephaestus, tell her to press the rune firmly and walk, she will see the result, I promise you" I said to her, Hestia looks at me for a second before taking the rune.
"Ok Magnus, I trust you, and you promise you won't tell Bell" Hestia said, I nod.
"It will be our little secret," I said to her, finishing my breakfast, taking the plate to the bench, I took some of the scrambled eggs and put it into a sandwich, adding cheese in it for good measure, wrapping it up for my goddess.
Seeing her getting more food for her plate.
"Shouldn't you be at work?" I remind her, make her stand in shock.
"Oh you're right I need to go, bye Magnus bye Pebble, stay bye to Bell for me" Hestia said, running out the door, I shake my head, holding a wrapped up sandwich.
"Hestia" I said, shaking the lunch, watching the door open and the lunch flying out of my hand, watching the little goddess run out.
"THANKS MAGNUS" I hear her shouting as I smile at her, Pebble laughs while shaking his head.
"Haha now grab the plate and help me wash them" I said to him, turning my Typhon Gauntlets to Water, I began to wash the plates with a little water magic.
It's good to be a mage.
LINE
Hestia looks at the rune in her hand, playing with it between her hands.
"This makes someone jump higher," Hestia said, looking at the rune symbol of the rock.
Hestia remembers what Magnus said about how to use the rune.
Press it firmly in her hands.
She suddenly feels energy going through her, making her gasp in shock when her body jumps forward in the air.
"Wow" Hestia gasps, looking back to where she was and the rune in her hand.
"That was a big jump" Hestia saw the rune made her jump further than she thought possible.
"Incredible" Hestia said, pressing the rune again, wanting to jump again.
"What? Why isn't it working?" Hestia said, trying to get it to work.
"Wait Magnus said, wait 5 seconds" Hestia recalls, looking at the rune, it starts to glow back up again.
Pressing it again, feeling the energy again she jumps high in the air, landing on her legs she laughs again.
"This is fun, wait I can get there early now" Hestia cheered, using the Springstep Rune to jump every now and then, to the surprise of those seeing the little goddess jumping higher than they thought possible.
"If Magnus makes more of this, we can get out of debt in no time" Hestia said, cheering but a thought went to her.
"Wait, could a rune help fix the church?" Hestia wonders out loud, Magnus said he used magic to fix their home, could it be a rune.
"I'll ask him when I get back" Hestia said, getting to the bottom of her child's Mystery skill.
Heading to Hephaestus office,
"Morning Hestia, go in that room and put on your uniform" Hephaestus said, Hestia going into the room to change.
Hestia comes out wearing a red maid's uniform to Hephaestus' amusement, holding her mouth to stop herself from giggling.
"Are you sure about this?" Hestia asked, blushing in the uniform.
"Of course hhihhih" Hephaestus giggles to Hestia frown.
"Then I guess you won't want something Magnus made," Hestia said, stopping Hephaestus giggling.
"You have a piece of his dagger?" Hephaestus asked, looking serious and eager for that dagger.
"Ahh no Magnus said he can't break it, and he used the pieces to make his magic gauntlets" Hestia explains, getting a raised eye on her.
"I could have done that, who did he ask to make them?" Hephaestus said, Magnus is going to someone else to make a weapon, not her, the goddess of the forge.
That's a blow to her pride but got her curiosity.
"Now I want to know who this blacksmith is" Hephaestus said, seeing if this blacksmith is a high level smith of another god's familia. Wanting to see if they know about the material and how they make it into a weapon.
"He never brought it up, but he did made this" Hestia said, pulling out the Springstep rune,
"What's this?" Hephaestus asked, grabbing the rune.
"It's a rune, a stone that gives a magical ability, it doesn't break and you have to wait 5 seconds to use it again," Hestia explains. Getting an interested look from Hephaestus.
"Really, what does it do?" Hephaestus asked, Hestia stood back.
"Press it firmly and get ready" Hestia said, Hephaestus frowns at her, seeing her cheeky smile on her face, standing up and pressing the rune firmly.
Feeling magic go inside her, she forces to jump in the air, landing in front of Hestia who catches her.
"What the..?" Hephaestus gasped, looking around as Hestia held her.
"Looks cool right, worth lowering my debt?" Hestia asked, Hephaestus looked at her in surprise and at the rune itself.
"Tell me everything about this and will see about your debt" Hephaestus said, looking deep at the rune itself as Hestia smiles.
Thanking Magnus for possibly lowering her debt.
LINE
Aiz Wallenstein looks over a rock as she walks forward with her familia on the 19th floor, with her are Finn Deimme, there Pallum captain, Riveria Ljos Alf, the elf vice-captain, Tinoa and Tinoe Hiryute, twin Amazoness, and Lefiya Viridis, elf apprentice to Riveria.
Aiz came to the dungeon to get some valis for her new sword, she destroyed the other one against the plant like monster from before, before the encounter of the new wolf monster.
While Aiz would pursue those new monsters, her familia were in trouble against another monster as well.
The others tag along as well for the fun of it, getting valis and excilla as well, top familia made it to the 19th floor in no time.
Now they are heading to the town on the 19th floor for a rest.
"Another day on the 19th floor" Tinoa said, stretching her arms in the bright room, others followed behind her.
"Miss Aiz, are you alright, you are staring at the rock for a while now" Lefiya said, seeing her idol and crush Aiz been staring at the rock for a while now, Aiz shakes her head.
"I'm fine, this rock reminds me of Pebble" Aiz said, turning the rock around, and seeing that it looks like Pebble's head.
"That is a pebble?" Lefiya said, seeing the pebble in Aiz's hands.
"Pebble? You mean that cute little golem that night, with the little dances" Tinoa said, giggling remembering the little golem in the Hostess of Fertility.
"Oh yeah, that was so fun, dancing around with his little arms, reminds me of our captain" Tinoe said, the little golem reminds her of her beloved Finn.
"Remember this move," Tinoa said, putting one arm to her side, kicking her left leg and jumping on her other leg.
She does the Hype from Pebble.
"That a fun one, and this one" Tinoe said, wiggling her arms and body side to side, doing the Wiggle.
Lefiya laughs at the two dancing funny, Aiz chuckling a little, even Finn and Riveria have smiles on their faces.
"That ridiculous" Lefiya said, laughing at the two's dancing.
"Yeah, but it's fun," Tinoa said, doing the dance moves as Tinoe frowned.
"Shame we didn't get that little guy in our familia" Tinoe said, wanting to play more with the golem.
"It's that stupid werewolf's fault for scaring that mage away" Tinoa said, blaming Bete for the recruitment.
"To be fair, Loki didn't make the best first impression," Finn said, remembering the night with Magnus and nearly stabbing Loki.
Remembering Loki asking him about a rabbit horn she found, getting his attention he watched her try to talk to a hooded figure, while the other 's play with the little golem, Finn watched when the golem went to the hooded figure, resting in his hand when Loki went to grab it, getting a knife in between her fingers.
Such action shocked everyone; no one ever draws steel at a goddess, especially goddess to the strongest familia in the city.
Yet he did, and Loki wanted him more.
Finn himself was interested in the possible new recruit, to make a golem and go to the dungeon without a Falna is unheard of, despite being a rare natural human mage.
Loki tries to get a few recruits to find Magnus, but he proves too illusive as other familia try their hand in recruiting him.
Now he has been recruited by another goddess, one Loki hates.
"Shame really, he would have been useful" Finn said to Riveria nods.
"Natural Human mages are rare, would be interested to discussed his magic" Riveria said, most human mages get their magic from there divine Falnas, but a human with magic on their own, she heard about his many elemental attacks and pure magic feats as well.
Many mages wish to know his secrets as well.
"Is his magic that good?" Lefiya asked, curious about this mage.
"I've heard he has over a thousand magic spells," Tinoa said, getting an interesting look from Lefiya.
"I've heard he goes for the biggest baddest monsters deep in the dungeon" Tinoe said, hearing monsters always attack the mage.
"Sounds like quite the adventurer" Lefiya said, Finn nodding.
"Who knows what other secrets he may hold" Finn said, seeing there's more they don't know about Magnus.
"Maybe we'll see him again, as least apologised for Loki actions" Riveria said, knowing her goddess isn't the best at recruiting; only getting those that go to her.
It is rare for Loki to recruit someone herself.
They enter the town as they make their way to the inn.
"So where are we going to stay?" Tinoa asked, normally they do camping but they didn't bring any supplies with them.
"How about we stay at an inn for a while?" Finn said, Tinoe looked at him.
"But captain, the inn around here is too expensive," Tinoe warned him, but he waved it off.
"It's on me," Finn said, Tinoa getting excited.
"Yeah free inn stay" Tinoa cheered, Riveria looks around, noticing how quite everything is.
"What's wrong?" Aiz said, seeing Riveria stop.
"The Town feels off" Riveria said, everyone noticing how empty everything is.
"Its streets are empty" Lefiya said, a door opens revealing a man with an eye patch, Bors Elder.
"This can't have happened" Bors Elder said, Finn called for his attention.
"Not the Loki familia" Bors holds his head.
"What's going on?" Finn asked, and Bors signed for them.
"There was a murder at Willy's inn" Bors admits, the Loki familia gasping.
The familia follow Bors into Willy's inn, everyone trying to get in but are cut at the door.
"I'm not asking you to get involved in this" Bors said, the Loki familia behind him.
"We're going to be guests here, we can't ignore this," Finn said to him. Bors grunts, opening the curtain, Lefiya gasps at the sight.
A corpse with his head smashed with a rock, blood splattered around the head, Finn kneels to the dead body.
"Any suspect?" Finn asked,
"He was with a girl, most likely suspect, she was goon when Willy got here" Bors said, Willy nods at that.
"Can you tell us what the woman looks like?" Tinoa asked, Willy shakes his head no.
"I can't, she covered her face with a cloth" Willy said, looking at the dead body.
"This guy was fully covered in armor, didn't know which familia he was in" Willy said, holding his head in horror.
"Oh gods" Willy said, not believing he was seeing.
"Not even sure of the victim's identity?" Finn asked, Bors shook his head.
"No clue, poor bastard has no face, had to call an expert on these matters" Bors said, Tinoa looking at him.
"An expert?" Tinoa asked, the curtains open up, making Tinao gasp in shock.
Seeing a tall man, dark patches of leather robs brown gloves with a wooden walking stick, belts full of many potions and liquids, and a pale bird mask with a hood and hat on.
Ambroise Paré, the old plague doctor of the town, the highest authority everyone listens to beside Bors.
"Ambroise" Bors nods to his friend, the other Loki familia backs away from the plague doctor, the only healer in town that is actually pretty cheap, but his methods scare most adventurers, the reason they buy healing potions then go to the doctor.
"A murder, here, you sure it is not a local?" Ambroise asked, kneeling to the body, getting a better look at it.
"No monster, a woman" Bors said, getting a nod from the plague doctor.
"The second most dangerous creature then" Ambroise said, getting a smile from the men and a frown from the woman, Ambroise pulls out a potion.
"That Statist thief, you're going to break into his seal, desecrating a corpse isn't something to praise doctor" Riveria glares at the plague doctor, Elfs have issues with Plague doctors methods.
"Without this we may never know his man's name or deed, he'll be forgotten, and without justice to his killer" Ambroise said, putting a drop on it on the dead man's back, revealing the man's falna
"Hashana Dorlia, of the Ganesha familia, level 4" Ambroise reading the Hashana back, to Bors shock.
"Your joking, level 4, guy was slaughtered like a helpless animal" Bors said, how a level 4 can be killed so easily.
"This man died from the throne of passion" Ambroise said, feeling around the body, especially his crotch area.
"Wait he dies during…" Willy asked, the woman blushing at the mention of it.
"No after it" Ambroise said, looking around the body, as Bors and Willy looked at him.
"The suspect is a woman," Bors stated.
"And an adventurer stronger than a level 4" Willy said, the two turn to the Loki familia, 5 of them women stronger than a level 4, Lefiya eyes widened at their look.
"Well it adds up, acting like you just got here, who's to say it wasn't you all along" Bors accused,
"Yeah, any one of you could have seduced him and dropped his guard" Willy said in agreement.
"Was it you?" Pointing at Aiz.
"You?" Lefiya
"About you?" Riveria
"Or you?"Tinoa but noticed her lack of boobs.
"Oh, yeah it's not you" Bors said, Willy nodding.
"Yeah not a chance" Willy agrees to Tinoa pride as an amazoness.
Then they turn to Tinoe, noticing her large breast.
"Now she is suspicious" Bors blushes at her.
"Yeah, strong evidence against her '' Willy blushing as well, making Tinoa grow in anger.
"YOU FILTY LITTLE SHITS, I'M SAVING MYSELF FOR THE CAPTAIN BACK THE FUCK OFF OR I'LL RIP OFF YOUR LITTLE DICKS OFF" Tinoa shouted, scaring the two men.
"As you can see, none of them can seduce the opposite sex, sorry" Finn said,
"If you're done mucking around, this man died before his head was crushed" Ambroise said, getting their attention.
"It does seem a bit extreme for a burglar" Finn said, crushing a skull is a bit much for murder, noting the man's bag is ripped open.
"This woman was searching for something" Riveria said,
"So she lost her temper and went off, maybe she didn't find what she was looking for" Bors theories, Ambroise lifts the rock off the body, getting a grossed look from Lefiya and Tinoa.
"If that's true, then the killer would still be in town" Finn said, getting a gasp from the others.
"Think about it, you want something bad enough to kill for it, you wouldn't give up so easily" Finn said, getting a grave look from the group.
"Interesting," Ambroise said, looking at the blood spat.
"What is?" Willy said, closing his eyes seeing the blood under the rock.
"Are you sure it wasn't a monster, this man is missing a few pieces from his face" Ambroise noted, to the disgust of the group.
"A sick bastard, I'll call everyone to gather up" Bors said, Finn nodding.
"We'll follow you" Finn said,
"I'll clean up here, fix the body for transport, inform you if I notice anything" Ambroise said, getting a nod from Bors as they all leave, leaving Ambroise with the dead body.
Amborise grab a rag to wipe the blood, putting a potion on the rag to clean the blood.
"Did one of you do this?" Amborise asked out loud, no one answering, a figure appearing out of nowhere on the bed.
Will Sommers, Captain of the Sheogorath Familia,
Will shakes his head, Amborise nods.
"Do you know who did this?" Amborise asked, Will nodded, never speaking a word.
"Are they from downstairs?" Amborise asked, Will shakes his head.
"That's a relief, No Zeus or Hera members to stop them" Amborise said, looking down, as did Will.
"Are they a threat?" Amborise asked, Will put his hand out, giving him a so- so gestor.
"Not much help you are" Amborise said, Will giving a 'what are you gonna do' shrug,
"Hoping to stop this nonsense, this woman stole this poor soul's face" Amborise said, picking up all the skull pieces, but not finding any skin anywhere.
"The woman must have ripped his face off before smashing it" Amborise explains, Will gives a jester of an 'interested' look.
"Don't scare anyone, you know how these godlings react to your presence" Amborise said, wrapping up the body.
"Now I have work to do" Amborise said, picking up the corpse to bury it,
"How's that young man doing?" Amborise asked, Will turns his head, his mask makes him look like he is grinning widely.
"That good ha, keep me informed" Amborise nods, grabbing the corpse as he makes his leave, looking back to see Will Sommer disappear, like he was never there in the first place.
LINE
Bell came down from his bedroom, looking into the main room he saw Magnus writing a book with Pebble eating bread.
"Morning Bell, made you some scrambled eggs" Magnus said, pointing at a plate with sweet smelling eggs.
"Wow Magnus thanks, '' Bell said, taking a seat and grabbing their fork and plate.
"Where is Hestia?" Bell asked, haven't seen his goddess yet.
"She went out early" Magnus said, writing into his book with Pebble nodding.
"For what, she is not working today" Bell asks, knowing their goddess is working but today isn't her work day.
"Don't know, she ate and left" Magnus said, Pebble shaking his head up and down while holding his mouth.
"Right, what are you writing?" Bell asked, never seen Magnus writing before.
"Research and data on magic, how I use it, what it's for and it benefits" Magnus said, writing into the book.
"Is it a magic secret?" Bell asked, looking at the book, seeing words and other things he never read before.
"Not really, just about mana control in general, helps put my ideas to paper to review later" Magnus said, turning the paper to write another page.
"Mana?" Bell said, never heard the term before.
"Another term for magic energy, Mage uses mana to use spells and what not" Magnus explains, not looking up from his paper.
"Ha" Bell thought, thinking about the mana term.
"Anyway, today I'm going to make you a rune," Magnus said, to Bell's shock.
"Really, like the wolf blood rune!?" Bell asked, wanting to try the wolf howl again, see through walls and everything.
"No, something better" Magnus said, getting Bell excited.
"But it will take a day to make you one, so wait till the end of the day" Magnus said, closing the book to Bell frown.
"Ohh" Bell said, eating the scramble eggs as Pebble went to him.
Pebble looks at him, eager to go as Bell looks at him.
"What's wrong Pebble" Bell asks, unsure about the egger look on the little golem.
"He wants to go on that shopping day with Eina" Magnus explains, making Bell remember,
"Oh right, Eina wanted to go shopping," Bell remembers, finishing up the breakfast.
"You don't want to come, Magnus?" Bell asked, missing the smirk on Magnus' face.
"You want the rune right, I'm busy today, plus I believe Eina would rather have you to herself" Magnus said, making Bell blush.
"What, no it is not like that" Bell said, embarrassed by Magnus' humour, Pebble jumped on him.
"Head out Bell, don't keep Eina waiting" Magnus said, opening the door to his workshop as Bell signs.
Pebble gives him a hit to make him focus, pulling his clothes to move him.
"Yeah lets go" Bell said, leaving Magnus to his workshop.
LINE
Bell stands in the middle of the street with Pebble on his shoulder, looking around for Eina.
"You think she is coming?" Bell asked Pebble, he shrugged.
"Bell over here" Eina called him out, making Bell turn to see Eina in a more casual dress without glasses.
"Morning, you got early, you must really want to go shopping with me" Eina teased, Bell blushed and looked embarrassed.
"What no I mean" Bell tries to say, Pebble rubs his hair, trying to calm him down.
"It's ok, I was looking forward to it as well, that's why I dress up?" Eina said, Eina giggles getting closer.
"You're supposed to complement my dress" Eina said, Pebble looks at her and gives her his thumb up.
"See Pebble more of a charmer then you" Eina giggles at the little golem, making Bell spit take.
"Aa you look nice, a lot younger" Bell said, Eina puts Bell in a headlock.
"Hey I'm not old, you better apologies to me" Eina said, putting Bell in her breast, as he tries to get out,
"Please let me go, Pebble help me, help me" Bell begs, Pebble smiles as he jumps on Eina's head.
Eina lets go of Bell as she laughs away, leading Bell to the tower of Babel.
"Where are you taking us Miss Eina?" Bell asked a giggle half-elf, Pebble on her shoulder.
"Up there" Eina points to the Tower of Babel.
"Babel?" Bell asked, Eina nodded.
"To the Hephaestus familia shop" Eina said, Bell freaks out.
"WHATTTT no way, they are too expensive, I can't afford to think about going there" Bell said Eina smiles at him.
"Would you stop yelling, you should calm down, you made more from working with Magnus" Eina said, grabbing Bell's hand, dragging Bell.
"But Miss Eina, Pebble help" Bell begs for the golem help, only getting a laugh from him.
Eina drags Bell into the elevator, pressing the floor as they take the ride up.
"This is amazing," Bell said. For the first time in an elevator, Eina smiles.
"They use crystal with magic to power these elevators, surprised Magnus didn't take you up here" Eina said to him.
"Magnus has his own blacksmith outside the city" Bell said, getting a curious look from Eina.
"Really, must be a really good one then" Eina said, the doors open to a bright shiny hall, filled with beautiful weapons and armor, to Bell and Pebble awe.
"Wow look at this, it incredible" Bell admiring the shiny weapons and armor, Pebble was too.
"The top attracts the most attention, it is the Hephaestus store front" Eina said, smiling at the two looks of awe.
Eina leads the two forward, Bell and Pebble looking around in awe, Bell going to a well-crafted sword.
"This is 30,00000 valis!" Bell looks at the sword's price, Pebble looks at the glass as well, and the doors open next to them.
"Welcome to the shop, how can I help you today" Hestia came out smiling, both Hestia and Bell blinked seeing one another.
"Bell" "Goddess" they shouted, Pebble claps as well, adding his sound to them.
"What are you doing here, since when do you have two jobs?" Bell asked, Hestia held her hands together.
"Well first what are you doing here, and who is this half-elf" Hestia said, noticing Eina here.
"Goddess Hestia, meeting Miss Eina," Bell introduced.
"It is a pleasure to meet you goddess, I'm guild woman Eina Tulle, I'm the search adviser for Bell" Eina introduces herself.
"Oh it that so" Hestia looks at her.
"I also used to advise Magnus as well" Eina said, adding as well, Hestia leans in, Pebble jumps on Hestia.
"Is that true Pebble, is she Magnus advisor too" Hestia asked, him getting a nod from the golem.
"Really, well miss adviser, you would be abusing your position to seduce Bell now would you" Hestia asked her, Eina stepping back from the fuming goddess.
"I keep business and pleasure separate" Eina said, Hestia was about to yell some more.
"Excuse me, I need a little help please" someone called out, getting Hestia's attention.
"Be right there sir" Hestia said smiling, before narrowing her eyes at Eina.
"I'm watching you miss adviser" Hestia said, two fingers at her eyes then pointing at the half-elf before running to another customer.
"Hihi Let's just keep going" Eina said, Bell and Pebble following her to the elevator.
"She has some character" Eina comments, Bell looks sheepish, Pebble just smiles.
They set out to a more lively area, people all around discussing weapon prices and blacksmiths making all sorts of weapons in their own forges. Not as fancy as the upstairs, but it looks human.
"Here we are, now you think all these items are beyond your price range" Eina said, Bell rubbing his head at that.
"Well this will surprise you," Eina said, showing him a nice sword at an affordable price.
"Wow that is not that expensive" Bell said, looking at the sword price, Pebble jumped down to touch the weapon.
"Nice right, everyone down here is sold by novice craftsmen, they can sell it for cheap, below standard prices and reviews help beginner blacksmiths," Eina said, showing everyone going business between blacksmith and adventurers.
"You could find a good bargain here, come on" Eina said, Bell and Pebble following behind, they all looked around the different armor and weapons around here.
"I'm going to look over there" Bell said, running through a hall of armor pieces, Eina giggles, looking to find Pebble.
"Pebble? Where did you go?" Eina asks, one helmet moves on its own, Eina turns her head but the helmet stops, Eina looks around for the Pebble as the helmet moves closer to her.
Eina looks to see the helmet again, turning to the side as the helmet goes closer.
"Where are you?" Eina said, concerned for the golem.
The Helmet does up to her face.
"AHhh" Eina jumps back scared of the helmet, only to see Pebble under the helmet laughing at her.
"Pebble, you scared me" Eina said, looking mad at the golem, who smiles, holding out the helmet to her, which she smiles, and picking it up.
"It's too big for you" Eina said, putting the helmet down as she picked up Pebble, they went to look for Bell.
Finding him holding a small piece of light armor
"There you are," Eina said, seeing Bell holding an armor piece.
"I'm going to buy it," Bell said, Eina smiling at him.
"Another light armor piece" Eina said,
"Is that bad?" Bell asked, looking at the new piece.
"Not at all, if you really want it then get it" Eina said, Pebble jumping on Bell's shoulder, looking at the armor piece.
"Look Pebble, you think it's a good pick?" Bell asked, Pebble nodded, sitting on the piece.
Eina smiled at the two, happy to spend a day with Bell.
LINE
I blow on the Dash Rune, finishing craving the symbol on the stone, now I have to grind it into shape.
"That's good, very good" I said, looking at the rune itself.
"Luckily it is only a simple rune, compare to Chronomaster" I said, making the right runes is complicated, not only do you need the right symbol, but also the right about of mana inside the rune, and insure the symbol includes the reacting to either mana or hand touch.
Otherwise the rune doesn't work on the person using it.
"Still need to test it on Bell, and train him on it" I said, using Runes is different than using magic weapons, they affect your body differently, one wrong move and you could run into a wall.
Going around the workshop I went to a blacksmith pedal grinding wheel, which was a broken piece a blacksmith had, I bought dirt cheap from him.
I love the Chronomaster Rune.
Putting the Grinding wheel back like they just made it, taking a seat on the contractions, and grabbing some goggles for the process.
I begin to grind the Dashstep rune to the right size for Bell to put on his belt.
Wait now we need to get him another belt to fit runes.
I grunt, stepping on the pedal of the grinder to start the wheel spinning, putting the Rune on the wheel.
ZIIZZZZZZZZ
The sound of stone grinding fills the room, as I start to sand the rune around the edges and make it to a more rounded shape.
Channelling a bit of mana to reinforce my foot, I put petals to the metal.
"There we go, grind that rune" I said, grinding the rune when sparks come out.
KNOCK KNOCK
"Hmm, Bell, Hestia?" I called out, stopping the grinding as I stepped out of my workshop.
KNOCK KNOCK
"Ok I'm coming" I went to the church door, lucky I fixed the door and put chains on it.
"We need to have a key to this place" I said, removing the chains to open the door.
Looking outside to see a tall young woman with graceful features and alabaster skin, and looks drop-dead gorgeous. She is well-endowed, has light blue eyes and straight, long blonde hair, kept in a ponytail tied with a braid and red hair clips secured on both sides of her bangs.
She wearing a yellow and black sleeveless dress with silver trimmings that hides her body (plump in the right places), black chainmail, and a silver armor composed of metal greaves, sabatons, tasset, shoulder plate on her left side, wing-like cloth perched upon her right shoulder and a cuirass with a red bow.
"Hello, can I help you?" I said, seeing a gorgeous woman here.
"YES, I mean are you Magnus?" the woman asked, looking at me.
"Who's asking?" I looked at the woman.
"Sorry, my name is Darkness, we met at Monster Feria" Darkness introduced herself, now I remember the blonde woman before.
(Darkness from Konosuba)
"Oh yeah, I vaguely recall, sorry about that" I said to her, I don't fully remember her.
"That ok, monsters seem to be after you, watching you fight against such foes made me a bit jealous" Darkness said; ok the nice, wait jealous.
"I wanted to find you actually, I asked the merchant Kraft on you wearables" Darkness said, getting a look from me
"Really" I said, Kraft is a smart guy, he knows not to send people asking about me and when I lived, beside anyone wanting to give me a quest but that's different.
"First I wanted to thank you for saving not just me but others as well" Darkness bowed her head, I waved it off.
"Don't bow, just help out a fellow adventurer" I said to her, she wants to show her gratitude, that's fine.
"Good, but I also wanted…to..join your familia" Darkness gasped in joy, I looked at her in shock.
Join this familia? Why would anyone join Hestia's familia? We're not famous,
"Are you sure you got the right guy? Right familia even?" I asked her, seeing her armour and all, should she go to the higher familia.
Not that we shouldn't recruit anyone, it's just we still starting out.
"Yes, I know it you, I heard how you fight the most dangerous monsters, how you saved anyone running from a monster group up, facing them head on, just my calling as a crusader" Darkness said about me.
Yeah most adventurers run from a gang of monsters charging at them, me I run to them, leading them away from the fleeing party and finishing them off myself.
Mostly that's to get the monster loot and their stones.
"Listen you seem nice, but this familia is still new, our Goddess is in debt, we only have two members, one still new in the dungeon, and I'm kind of insane at this, so we still starting out" I try to say, I have enough issues with Bell and Hestia, not to mention Pebble.
"So I recommend you look elsewhere," I said, trying to close the door, but Darkness stopped me from closing it.
"That's even better! The truth is, this is difficult for me, but while I have confidence in my strength and stamina, I am rather clumsy" Darkness admits to me.
Strength and stamina?
"Wait, you haven't joined a god yet?" I asked her.
"Not yet, mostly I dealt with bandits and a few monsters, haven't gone to the dungeon yet" Darkness said to me, which is interesting.
She is a newbie but with such high armor.
I Observe her armor.
[Semi-Crusade armor]
[A well-crafted armor, designed by a father wanting to protect his daughter, the father had his blacksmith created armour strong enough for his daughter to grow out of her adventure faze]
"I see, your armor looks like a newly-rick aristocrat's son would wear, more focused on looks than actual protection" I said to her honestly, the armor doesn't have any protection effects, it was made by a father thinking his daughter is going through a faze.
Darkness moans in front of me.
"Such brutal truths" Darkness moans in front, What the?
"Magnus, please let me join you familia, you can use me as a decoy or a wall anytime" Darkness smiles at me, blushing very heavily right now.
Oh I get it.
She is one of those people.
A masochist.
"Let me see that sword" I said, Darkness handed me the sword no question.
Observe
[Noble's Two-handed Sword]
[A noble sword to show of the noble's wealth, worth quite a bit and made of the best quality to increase its wealth]
Looks? Noble's wealth, this sword isn't for adventuring.
"I'll even give my valis to your goddess" Darkness offers, bowing her head to me, as I think about this.
Here a noble girl with a wealthy father, has experience fighting some no name bandits and weak monsters, I see she trained her body to the limit, and has quite a bit of valis to her name judging by her looks alone.
On the other side, she is a masochist, likes to get injured or humiliated from the few minor affronts, has no experience in the dungeon, and all her gear are for show, good quality but not blacksmith with a falna quality.
But, Bell speed and agility, if Darkness here has strength and stamina, and my magic in between them to support, plus the more stupid shit me and Bell do the faster she would catch up.
But her masochist may affect us, not just in the dungeon but in public as well.
I need to discuss this with Hestia and Bell.
"Ok Darkness, my goddess isn't here, but she will return here soon, how about you come in and I'll make you some tea while we wait" I said to her, can't leave a woman outside, that's just rude.
And something tells me she will come back if I kick her out, so might as well invite her in.
"Really, oh thank you Magnus, I promise you won't regret it" Darkness said, bowing her head to me.
"I already do" I said to her, getting a light moan from her, I signed.
Wonder what Hestia will say about this