Bell POV

"So tell me a bit about yourself Bell" Lyd asked.

I was sitting next to him as he was the leader of the Xenos. He said he used to be the strongest but he wasn't anymore since they got a new member not too long ago but he wasn't here as he was training in the deep floor. We were drinking a wine of sorts made from dungeon berries, it was very sweet.

At first, everyone was a little hesitant to interact with the Xenos. I mean we almost fought each other but in the end, we didn't. After a few hesitant moments, everyone seemed to warm up to them and were socializing. I glanced to my left and saw Haruhime fawning over a unicorn. But there were a few Xenos that were off to the side on their own. They still didn't exactly trust us.

"Well let's see, I grew up in the mountains far from Orario, lived on a little farm with my grandpa and it was peaceful, then my aunt showed up and my life turned upside down, I realize this now, but she practically turned me into a solider, it made me a good fighter but I wasn't a good person per se, at least I didn't see myself that way," I told him.

"What changed," he asked.

I looked back at my familia, who were eating and talking with the Xenos like they were ordinary people. I saw Wiene sitting in Haruhime's lap. I felt a small smile spread across my face.

"I just met the right people"

Lyd looked where I was looking and nodded. He then looked back at me and asked a question.

"How come you didn't hesitate when I stuck my hand out for you to shake"

I glanced over a Regis for a moment. He was being pestered by an Al-mirage and hellhound.

"Because that glowing purple dickhead over there could kill everyone here"

"I heard that!" Regis yelled.

I said nothing and stuck up my middle finger towards him.

"Really? Then why doesn't he?" Lyd asked.

"Because he listens to me, if I tell him not to he won't"

Lyd took a sip of his wine.

"Not gonna lie that's kinda scary"

I shrugged my shoulders. "Eh I wouldn't worry too much, if we're gonna make this little friendship of ours work we need to at least try not to kill each other"

Lyd let out a chuckle. "Well if we're gonna be friends you're gonna need a nickname"

I gave him a side-eye. "Oh? And what's my nickname"

He put a hand on his chin as he was thinking. "Hmm, how about Bellchi"

"Oh come on they already call me the little rookie" I complained leaning my head back.

"Hate to tell ya but it's staying," he told me.

I groaned in annoyance. I looked over at my familia again watching as they ate and drank with the Xenos. I felt a smile grow on my face. The Xenos's dream was to one day live alongside humans on the surface, and seeing this, humans and monsters enjoying a meal together, it brought their dream one step closer to fruition.

"Word of warning, however," Lyd's voice brought my attention back to him. "We've been dealing with some people trying to kidnap and sell us"

"Ikilos familia?" I asked.

Lyd nodded his head.

"Yeah had a couple of run-ins with them" I pointed to Wiene. "They were looking for her when I found her, and then they tried to rape three of my familia but Regis stopped them, if it's a fight they want we'll help you"

"I thank you for the promise"

Then like all good things the party came to an end because of one gargoyle.

"You say that now, but when the time comes will you really help human," Gros said.

I rolled my eyes and spoke before Lyd did. "Take the stick out of your ass Gros, it's a party enjoy yourself," I told him taking a sip of my wine. Eh too sweet.

Gros mumbled something under my breath about not trusting an adventurer.

"He always like this," I asked Lyd.

"Yeah, Gros and a few others think they should fight adventurers to get our dream recognized"

I shook my head setting my empty cup down. "That won't work, I know it sounds hypocritical but violence won't achieve your dream, it will only make people more scared of you than they already are"

Lyd shrugged his shoulders. "That's what I've been trying to tell him, but his dumbass is so thick-skulled he refuses to listen"

I let out a chuckle before turning to Regis. "Hey what time is it," I asked the purple dickhead.

"One, I can read your thoughts, two fuck you, three it's about 4:30 in the morning" he answered.

I turned back to Lyd as I stood up. "Well looks like we should be heading out, gotta get home before the city wakes up"

I stuck out my hand for him to shake. "It was nice meeting everyone" I looked toward Gros. "Even you grumpy" I joked.

He grumbled again while Lyd laughed. He grabbed my hand and shook it.

"It was nice meeting you folks as well, we look forward to working with you in the future"

After we shook hands I walked away from him and toward Wiene and Haruhime. The two were hugging and trying to hold back tears.

"I'll miss you Wiene" Haruhime shuddered.

"I'll miss you too Mama"

I then crouched down next to the two of them and patted Wiene on the head.

"Don't worry Wiene, this isn't goodbye, it's just a see you later, we'll be sure to visit a lot" I told her. I made sure I was smiling so she knew I wasn't lying.

She then gave me a hug still trying to hold back tears. I patted her on the head running my fingers through her hair. After a minute she let go and rubbed her eyes.

"I'll see you later then papa"

I stood up and nudged her to the Xenos.

"That's my girl," I told her as she walked forward.

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Lyd POV

"Come on hurry up" I called out. My group and I were running to where Wiene's group was attacked. We got word of the attack from Arles who escaped from members of the Ikilos familia. Once we reached the cave in the dungeon of where they were it was too late. All the Xenos except for Ray the harpie were dead and Wiene was gone.

"Shit, contact Fels and have him get word to Bell, I have an idea as to where they went" I ordered.

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Bell POV

We arrived back home at around 6:30 AM. Everyone was tired so they decided to head to bed. Aisha asked if I was coming to ours but I told her no. I wasn't tired and I wanted to take a walk around the city. I stepped outside and felt the chill morning air run down my spine. Fall was right around the corner and the fall festival was coming up.

I took a walk down Main Street enjoying the space as the city hadn't fully awakened yet. I passed the canals and watched as the water ran down them. I was amazed at the technology this city had. But in terms of mages Orario didn't come close to Athens, Altens, or Babylon. Those three were in a league of their own producing multiple white core mages. While Oario only had seven those three countries had dozens.

White core. I felt my mana core and I could feel I would break into mid-silver soon. Thanks to the elixirs I got from Lyra and Laurier it helped advance my core a lot. A big fight and my core would advance. Not that I would want to get into a big fight, however. I did feel a pang of sadness thinking of Lyra but quickly shook it away.

I turned down a corner and saw an empty street, and not empty as a few people here and there I mean fully empty not a person in sight except for one.

A tall muscular man with short black hair was leaning against a wall. He was wearing somewhat dirty goggles. He had on a brown jacket with a white shirt underneath it. He wore a brown pants with a very long dagger that could be mistaken for a short sword. It was the same man I ran into on floor 19.

"Well well if it ain't the little rookie, ain't it a shocker running into you here," he said strutting up to me like a confident asshole. I noticed a sphere-shaped object in his pocket.

Out of an alleyway, a man with dark blue hair and eyes appeared. He also had brown skin, is of average height, and was wearing black clothes. I could feel the divinity coming off him and knew he was a god.

"Oh my the little rookie what an honor, you reached level three in a month and a half, two months was it" Ikelos pointed at me.

"What is it you two want," I asked. I knew what these two were trying to do.

"Well we were wondering, why you're asking about talking monsters," Dix asked putting his hand on my shoulder.

I quickly cast an illusion on both of them so I could lie. "Talking monster, really, you guys must be out of it, only monster I know can talk is Regis but then again he ain't really a monster, just an asshole.

A mortal couldn't lie to a god. But an illusion of a mortal can lie to a god. You see I had a working theory about my illusion magic. I always wondered if it would work on higher leveled adventurers. Because sure their body gets stronger each time they level depending on their stats. But their brain remains the same squishy ball of neurons. It doesn't level up as well, it stays the same. Sure the skin to break way to the brain is thicker but not the brain itself.

And by the looks of it, it seems to be working. I saw the disappointed look on Ikelos's face as he shook his head toward Dix. Seeing as the two were distracted I swiped the object from Dix's pocket without him realizing. Before any more talking could take place a familiar voice called out to me.

"Oh, my Bell is that you" Hermes called out from the end of the street.

I quickly dispelled the illusion and turned around brushing Dix's hand off my shoulder in a rude way. I wasn't afraid of this prick.

"Uncle Hermes," I said as he threw his arm around me.

"It is you my dear nephew, but why are you hanging with this rabble" Hermes waved the two off as we walked away. Once we were in the clear Hermes gave me a cheeky smile.

"You're lucky I was around Bell," he told me.

I rolled my eyes. "I could've taken them"

Hermes flicked my forehead. "Bad Bell, stop fighting people that are stronger than you"

I shook my head chuckling a little. "Anyway what is it you need, you didn't bring Aphrodite around again did ya"

Hermes laughed at the joke. "She has been asking about you every time I visit Babylon, but no I'm afraid this isn't a social visit," he said turning serious.

I straightened my posture a little and got serious. "What is it"

"About an hour after you left the Xenos their secondary party was attacked, most were killed but Wiene was captured"

"Do you know where she is?" I asked. Lucky for me I still had all my equipment on me since I didn't go back to sleep. I wasn't gonna ask how Hermes knew about the Xenos as right now I didn't care. I just wanted to get my daughter back.

"She's been locked in Knossos, you'll need a key to get in," he told me. I opened my palm and showed him the sphere I had swiped from Dix.

"Does the key look like this" I handed it to him. He inspected it and smiled.

"I see my pickpocketing skills have rubbed off you on, yeah good work Bell, with this you'll be able to get into Knossos"

"Then what are we waiting for let's go" I started walking forward but Hermes grabbed my wrist.

"Slow down Bell, you don't even know where Knossos is"

I stopped in my tracks, he was right.

"But lucky for you my captain does and she'll show you the way, now let's be off Bell, it's time to save little Wiene" Hermes paraded off as I followed him.

Don't worry Wiene I'm coming.

And I'm gonna end it here. Just finished my first week of work and it was hard cause they had me working tile. But next chapter Bell's about to go ham and they'll be emotional moments as well.

Also, I hope my explanation of Bell talking about the illusions was clear enough. If not it's pretty much the body gets stronger when you level up but the mind doesn't and the reason it worked on a god is because his powers were sealed. If they were Bell wouldn't be able to do something like that. Yet.

Also, I can't remember if I said this but I'm gonna retcon the only 7 white cores in the world. If I didn't mention anything about that pay this no mind. But I thought why not world build a little?

And if you're wondering about Aphrodite in Babylon she runs the place. Hope that clears it up.

Anyway, I hoped you enjoyed and I'll see you next time.