I'm back bitches!
"I smell a woman!" Alfia spoke and sat up.
"Huh?" Zard asked. He only got to sleep for what felt like 2 minutes. It was more like 2 seconds.
Alfia hastily walked towards the window and looked at the entrance and saw a speck of blonde at the gate looking inwards hesitantly.
"I have questions I need answering." Alfia said and walked out the room with Zard close behind.
…
"Maybe, I should go?" Ais asked herself as she could not find any trace of the boy. She turned around before being forced to stop.
"Don't even think about it." Zard said as he appeared right in front of her before she could even blink.
"We have questions, little girl." Alfia said and spawned right behind her.
'When?! How did they?! Before I could see them?!' Ais thought to herself as she found herself boxed in and had no way out.
"How about we take this inside?" Zard asked her.
"Wonderful idea." Alfia answered with a hum and turned to the mansion.
"After you." Zard ordered.
"… Right." Ais said. Try as she might, her adventurer's instincts told her she had no choice but to listen to them and followed Alfia into the Zeus familia's mansion.
…..
Alfia and Zard led Ais to a small living room near the entrance as to not show her much of the house.
"Uhm, what am I here for?" Ais asked the two.
"That's what we'd like to know." Alfia answered. "Showing up to another familia's home with no warning? Have you no manners?" She added
"Well, I wanted to see how, 'Bell'? was doing." She explained.
"You're not even sure of his name." Alfia said disgusted.
"Now now, let's talk this out." Zard said calming Alfia down.
"So, why were you following him around?" Zard asked and turned to the sword princess.
"How did you know?" Ais asked shocked.
"Kid it's not hard to put two plus two together. Besides, how else would you know how he was hurt?" Zard pointed out.
"Oh." Ais replied.
'Not the brightest tool in the shed, huh?' Zard thought.
"Now answer the question, why were you following him?" Alfia asked.
"I, well, after what happened I wanted to talk to him but when I found him he kept throwing himself at monsters and talking to himself. I didn't know what to say and just watched him." She explained.
"Oh, so you're a stalker now?" Alfia asked in disgust.
"Stalker?" Ais asked not understanding what she said.
"You don't even recognize your own behavior?" Alfia asked in shock.
"Behavior?" Ais asked with another head tilt.
"This will take a while." Zard noted and took a seat.
One explanation later…
"Is that what that is?" Ais asked in wonder.
"Bell really knows how to pick them." Zard said sighing to himself.
"Bell? That's his name, right?" Ais asked making sure she remembered his name.
"Don't wear it out." Alfia said.
"He's perfectly fine now if that's what you're wondering about." Zard informed her.
"Okay." Ais said.
And with that, the trio sat in silence. It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Ais didn't know what to say and the other two were deep in thought.
"Well, maybe I should go?" Ais asked as she couldn't figure out what to do.
"Ah, yes. Wouldn't want to get on Loki's bad side am I right?" Zard joked.
"What could she do about it?" Alfia asked with a hint of annoyance.
"Well, thank you." Ais said and turned to leave.
"So long, girl of the dungeon." Alfia said, emphasizing the last part to really get Ais's attention.
Zard watched as the golden swordswoman froze in shock and slowly turned back at the two with a questioning look on her face.
"H-h-how?" Was all that she could sputter.
"Who do you think found you?" Zard asked with a raised eyebrow
"W-w… when?" Ais asked still shocked.
"Sit down. There's a lot that needs to be discussed." Alfia told her as the three got right back down to business.
….
*Yawn* "Where am I?" Bell asked as he woke up confused.
"Ah, finally awake?" Zard asked setting down a book he was reading.
"Hey dad. How long was I out for?" He asked while getting his bearings.
"You were out for quite a while Bell! We were worried about you." Zeus told him.
"I'm sorry about that." Bell apologized.
"Don't apologize to me, apologize to Alfia. She was worried sick about you." Zeus told him.
"You're damn right I was." Alfia said and stormed into the living room.
"Annnd that's my cue to leave." Zard spoke and left before getting caught up in Alfia's storm of terror.
"I'm sorry mom." Bell apologized.
"You better be! Do you know how worried sick I was last night? Do you know what went through my mind seeing you so cut up when you returned?!" She yelled.
"I'm really sorry mom! Please forgive me!" He pleaded.
"Hmmmm. Gospel." Alfia groaned before ultimately unleashing her divine punishment. She had a lot she needed to talk to him about, but for now that would have to wait. She was in a too unstable mood to do so.
"GEh! Mom! I'm still injured!" Bell complained.
"You'll live." She told him. "Come on, we are resuming your training today." Alfia told him.
"But! I was out all night!" Bell whined.
"That's precisely why we're resuming it now." Alfia explained.
"Awww!"
"You only have yourself to blame. Come on. Zard's waiting outside." She finished and left the room.
"I might actually die today." Bell said in fear.
….
"I'm dead." Bell groaned as he plopped down on his bed exhausted.
Zard had a long physical training session with him to get his strength and endurance stats up and Alfia started her magic training session right afterwards and he still had to find time to go into the dungeon where he applied both lessons with Zard and Alfia behind him critiquing his every move.
Other people who were passing by were at first in awe of seeing the two heroes but soon turned away as their harsh critiques scared them away.
"Why was mom so upset today? At least, more than usual?" He asked himself. He tried to piece what got her upset more than usual today but he just couldn't figure out what it was.
"Eh. I'll find out sooner or later." He told himself. He started getting ready for bed before realizing something.
"Oh. I should talk to Welf again. I'll see him tomorrow." He decided before turning in for the night.
….
"Again, thank you so much for this Bell!" Welf cheered as they explored the 7th floor.
"It's no problem Welf! But be sure to keep your end of our contract." Bell told him.
"Of course! I wouldn't dream of driving away my best customer!" Welf said proudly before slicing through hell hounds with ease.
"Good. Oh, and uh sorry for holding you back." Bell apologized as he watched Welf take down another group of monsters with ease..
"No problem! With me here, you'll get more quality excelia and you'll catch up to me in no time while I get to hone my sword skills!" Welf turned and smiled at him.
"Gospel!" Bell chanted killing a war shadow behind Welf that he hadn't noticed.
"Eh, thanks." Welf laughed embarrassed.
"Maybe it's you who should catch up to me." Bell mocked him.
"Shut up." Welf laughed and turned to some nearby monsters. "Hey, how about we have a little race. First to kill 30 monsters win?" Welf asked.
"Way ahead of you! Gospel!" Bell chanted, taking 6 monsters out.
"No fair! I didn't say go!" Welf complained and lunged at the monsters.
….
"Here you go! 7,500 valis!" The teller said happily and handed them their coin.
"I think I should take the better half. Afterall, I did win our bet." Bell told him.
"I was holding back man. If anything you should be paying me!" Welf yelled still salty about his loss.
"Haha! Here!" Bell laughed and gave him his cut.
"Thank you, Bell. Hm? Hey, I think you gave me too much." Welf told him as he examined his hefty bag.
"Nah. You did most of the work today Welf. I promise I'll get stronger!" Bell told him.
"No Bell, I couldn't! Really! Here take this!" Welf argued and tried switching their cuts around.
"No Welf! I insist!" Bell argued back.
"Fine." Welf agreed to it after some back and forth. "But I'm buying dinner this week then. Come on! I know a place!" Welf told him and led the way.
"Eh, fine. Right behind you!" Bell answered and ran after him.
….
"Camping supplies, 3 main weapons, 2 armor sets, cases of normal and mind potions, 1-month rations for 2 people, I think that's all we'll need to go to floor 59." Zard noted and turned to Alfia. "We don't have to worry too much about water, we can refill at the water zone and floor 50 when we get there. There's more to get if we want to be fully prepared but preparations are being made." Zard explained.
"Yeah. And who will carry this or look after Max? And Bell? Where's his place in all this? Who'll look after the old man? Less importantly, who will look after the mansion?" Alfia asked.
" 'Less' ?" Zard asked.
Alfia just shrugged. "Wasn't much of a fan of this place." She explained and looked around.
"Hm. Well I didn't say we were ready to go." Zard replied.
"We will need supporters to haul this down there with us. Plus, we would have to take supplies for them too which will need even more supporters which means we'll need people to protect them which means even more supplies. You know what? I'll leave this to our captain to deal with." Alfia said giving up and walked away.
"Coward." Zard complained and went back to strategizing. 'If we want the highest chance of success we'll need a party to traverse the dungeon's deeper floors. We are not working with Loki's brats with us nor are we working with the boar child. That leaves…
"I've got it." Zard said and made his way out.
"Gospel." Alfia's signature phrase was echoed throughout the halls.
"Huh?" Zard asked in surprise. He made his way downstairs to find Alfia glaring at a poor guild member with a paper in hand.
"If that's what I know it is you're better off burning it and pretending like you never saw us." Alfia warned him.
"I'm sorry I can't! It's orders from Lord Ouranos himself!" He cried out.
Zard just grabbed the paper from the poor man and sent him away with one glare. Once he ran with his tail between his legs Zard opened the leader and read its contents while sighing.
"Looks like we'll be going into the dungeon sooner than we thought." He sighed again.
…..
"Wheeeeew! Bell you are something else that's for sure!" Zeus yelled excited.
Bell Cranel
Human
Strength: G 210 - E 485
Defense: H 120 - F 390
Dexterity: H 180 - E 450
Agility: G 220 - E 490
Magic: H 150 - E 410
Skills:
Realis Phrase Ultima
Rapid Growth
Continued desire results in continued growth
Stronger desire results in stronger growth
Allows familia members to gain similar growth depending on relations with him.
Side effect: User is not affected by charms.
Magic:
Satanas Verion
Super short chant magic that hits enemies with a sound attack.
Chant: Gospel
"I'm guessing this isn't normal growth, huh grandpa?" Bell asked in awe of his jump.
"Of course not Bell! Usually it'd take months to jump this much in status! And you did that in a week!" Zeus explained.
"Hehe." Bell chuckled.
"At this rate, I dare say that you might level up soon!" Zeus said excitedly.
"Do you really think so?!" Bell asked excitedly.
"Yes Bell! In fact, I will confidently say that you will shatter the previous level up record!" He added.
"Haha! I'll tell mom the good news!" Bell cheered and set off to find Alfia.
"Mom! Mom! Check out my new… status?" Bell shouted before stumbling upon an exhausted Alfia.
"That's great Bell." She said in a monotone voice.
"Mom?" Bell asked.
"Sorry." Was all she said before collecting herself.
"Is something wrong?" Bell asked.
"Our beloved Ouranos wants us to head to the dungeon immediately. He wants us to clear an irregular on floor 59. How he knows it is there is beyond me. Right after Zard gets back too. Not a moments rest." She explained.
"You're heading to the deep floors already?" Bell asked concerned. He's heard plenty of stories from them of how the deep floors could be. And now his pseudo parents are being ordered to go down there? (Zard's second time down there.) By themselves? He knew they were strong but there's only so much the two of them can do in their state.
"We'll be fine. Now with my insurance that is." Zard huffed as he entered the room.
"They really agreed?" Alfia asked.
"Mmhm. I was turned down at the start but they just could not refuse a 40-60 split on the loot down there." Zard smiled.
"That much?" Alfia asked almost disappointed on her husband's negotiation skills.
"With what I made in the glacier zone this will be next to nothing. Besides, we won't even be there long." He told her.
"Fair enough." Alfia scoffed.
"I'm a little confused, who are you guys talking about?" Bell asked.
"I'm sure you'll enjoy this one. Us and Loki familia do not see eye to eye so we can't rely on them, we do not want to associate with that boar child. It was hard finding a strong enough familia to do this but I remembered that Hephaistos familia has a level 5 captain to help us out. They wont contribute much by themselves but at least we'll have the muscle to bring our supplies down there." Zard explained.
"Wow! Hephaistos familia? That's awesome! But, will that be enough? This sounds like something big for just you two and them." Bell asked.
"The truth? No. I saw that monster when I adventured down there and we're going to need more than the two of us to take that thing down." Zard told him.
"It's that strong?" Bell asked in fear.
"Perhaps. Maybe I'm wrong, but it's better to be safe than sorry." Zard explained.
"While we're down there we expect you to take care of Max and to keep exploring the dungeon." Alfia told him.
"Yes ma'am!" Bell replied.
"Oh. And to look after the old man too if you must." Alfia added
"Hey! I can look after myself!" Zeus whined.
"Debatable." Alfia scoffed.
"Anyhow, it's time for you young man to earn your keep. Just because we'll be leaving soon doesn't mean you get to slack off." Alfia ordered him.
"Right! I'll be off!" Bell shouted and set off for the dungeon again.
"Is there really no one else you'll take?" Zeus asked hesitantly.
"We'll see what that dungeon girl does. If she wants to train under us she'll have to accept." Zard told him.
"Did you really have to offer her that?" Alfia asked annoyed.
"It'll help us keep tabs on Loki familia. Plus, you can gauge yourself if she's worthy enough for Bell." Zard told her.
"She's not." Alfia said coldly.
"Haha. That's for Bell to decide. Now, let's go talk with that 'Justice' family. They might not be totally useless." Zard said and started to head out.
"Yeah yeah." Alfia hummed and followed suite.
…..
The other day….
"Really?! You'll actually train me?" Ais asked shocked.
"Sure why not? It gives me something to do." Zard told her.
'Getting trained by two level 7 adventurers? What more could I ask for?' Ais thought to herself
"It won't be for free you know. We'll need you for something later on." Zard added.
"Later on?" Ais asked.
"Yeah. See, we're planning on heading to the deep floors on an expedition soon. We will be needing extra hands to get down there. Of course, if you can't cut it we won't bring you along. But then we also wouldn't train you." Zard explained.
"I don't think Finn and the others would be okay with that." Ais told him.
"Can't even leave without their permission? Forget I ever asked then." Zard said and went back into his thoughts.
"No!" Ais stood up. "I'll talk to them. I'll get them to understand." She pleaded.
"For your sake they better." Alfia said to herself.
"Good. Anything else you want to ask?" Zard asked.
"Hmm. Well, if you found me in the dungeon why did you leave me with Loki?" Ais asked. It was a fair question.
"That is something you'll want to ask that old hag about." Alfia chimed in.
"Riveria?" Ais asked.
"Sure. Whatever she calls herself now." Alfia replied.
"So, who's going on this expedition?" Ais asked.
"Hmm. Well, here's what we have planned." Zard said before he started to explain his initial plan.
…..
"We really need a supporter." Welf groaned as he looked at the pile of monster crystals Bell left behind.
"Hahaaa." Bell chuckled quietly. He felt bad seeing Welf struggle with carrying a bigger backpack with the crystals and carrying his big greatsword. But to be fair, he did lose the bet.
"We'll see what Eina recommends when we get back. I don't like carrying this bag either." Bell told him while also complaining about his own bag.
"Yeah. Come on! The next floor awaits!" Welf said getting them back on track.
…
"That comes to 38,000 valis. Thank you for your hard work." The teller smiled.
"Thank you very much." Welf said and grabbed their hard earned paycheck and made his way over to Bell.
"A supporter?" Eina asked.
"Yeah. If we want to explore the dungeon better we'll need more hands. Please Eina you're all we have!" Bell explained and brought his hands together.
"Leave it to me! I'll ask around and get back to you." Eina smiled.
"You're the best Eina! Thank you so much!" Bell thanked her and made his way back to Welf.
"No one?" Welf asked sadly.
"Eina doesn't know but she will ask around for us. In the meantime it's business as usual." Bell explained.
"Fantastic. But hey! We got a decent haul today!" Welf explained and handed Bell the valis.
"Woooah. At this rate we'll be down in the 12th floor in no time." Bell smiled.
"It's almost frightening. Bell, what do you do to get stronger so fast? You've changed so much from when we first met." Welf asked.
"Heheh. Well, I put in a lot of work. Plus, getting the status beaten into you by your own parents sure does wonders." Bell said. He started off in a joking tone before ending in a deep thousand-yard stare as he recalled last night's training.
"Forget I asked." Welf said scared for his buddy.
"Same time tomorrow?" Bell asked.
"You know it. Have a good night Bell!" Welf told him.
"See you!" Bell replied before taking off to the Zeus manor.
A few yards away.
"A supporter eh?" A voice asked before smiling.
….
And fin. I apologize for not uploading in a while. I hadn't been in the right place mentally and took some me time while I got my life in order. I won't make empty promises saying I'll be uploading regularly but I will promise that I haven't given up on these stories and more chapters will be out later. It shouldn't be as long of a wait as before but I ask for your patience and greatly appreciate it. Thank you and have a great day.