Hi Everyone! So, here is another chapter. I would like to thank everyone for their reviews, even if a few were unpleasant. Its good to ahve criticism. Now! I would like to address a few of the reviews. I won't call out names, but I'll post their reviews here with responses!
"bell doesn't use the f word too much you didn't developed him you completely changed him this is not how it works." - Ah! You would be right. A 14 year old Bell doesn't curse... but this Bell is 18 and his life was different. His personality is pretty much the same. Excitable, nervous, very apologetic, etc. It's just the addition of some languages, especially during times of crisis. Don't like it? Oh well. It makes sense to me.
"Can I make you reconsider Wiene in his harem, she is more of a daughter figure for him and to be honest their being in a romantic relationship disgusts me" - I absolutely love this review, because its asking me to keep the respect of the characte intact. I respect that man! Now, would it change your mind if I told you that Wiene will also be aged up? This entire story will have ages upped to match Bell. He will still be younger than everyone, so it'll be hotter with Riveria having him... I mean... Riveria won't be with him. Of course not. *Cough* So, would this alleviate things? I will also be changing her personality slightly for more romance, a bit of her backstory, but keeping her Wiene.
Anyways. I think that will be it for any reviews to respond to directly. As for the harem. As of right now, I am going to be doing Loki, Ryuu, Aisha, Mikoto, Tione, Riveria. I might be forgetting someone but this is what im going with at this time. I am always looking to give more ladies to him of course!
Bell would be found, walking out of Babel behind a Red-haired woman. Loki. Not that he knew of her name, as she didn't tell him and still haven't told him despite him asking her name. She merely smirked and told him, 'not yet'. Bell was all healed up, though he was a little tired so his movements were a little slower, but he still kept pace with the carefree Goddess before him.
"M-Miss? You… really want me in your Familia? I… I'm not that strong… a-and everyone has rejected me already. I'm sure you can find someone else." Loki glanced behind her with a raised eyebrow.
"Mmmmm. I'm guessing you met Bete and he rejected you from joining huh? Well, I override him and I want you in. As for all that other stuff, I don't really care about strength and all that. Well, actually I do but I also care about other things. You may not be strong but everyone starts out weak… even Bete started out weak…. Even if he forgets." She replied, humming. "You interest me Bell Cranel and I am a connoisseur of interesting things. Satisfied?" She asked. Bell looked up from his feet.
"N-Not really Goddess." Bell admitted. Loki gave him a smirk.
"Well either way, we're almost there. You'll recognize my name as soon as you see it." She said with a grin, leading the way to the large gate that Bell was thrown from. Bell's eyes widened, his jaw dropping when he laid eyes upon the large LOKI made out of the metal fencing.
"L-Loki?! I… Aren't you tied for the strongest Familia in all of Orario?"
"Mmmm that seems to be the rumor. Yes, I am the Goddess Loki and you, my white haired friend, are going to join today." She said, giving him a grin.
"A-Are you sure? I… I am not worthy of joining this Familia. He even said so… I'm weak… and know nothing." Bell said timidly, not believing his eyes as he was being offered his dream. Loki frowned.
"I meant everything I said. I do not care what Bete thinks of you. It is my choice to bring you in and mine alone. I find you worthy, so stop with the pouting. It doesn't suit you." She said. When Bell looked up and into her face, the absolute sour look on her face was something he would never wanna see. If didn't suit her face either. He liked it better when she smiled.
"Yes of course Lady Loki."
"Mmmmm I don't like that coming from your lips either. Loki or Goddess will do."
"A-Are yo-" His words died on his lips from the thin line of her lips, giving him a disapproving stare. "Yes Goddess."
"Better. Now then, let's get inside mmkay? I need a drink and you need to get my blessing." She said with a smirk. She knew she was going to have fun giving him her blessing. She could just tell how the boy would react. She was already glad she decided to bring this boy into her Familia.
Leading the way into the mansion, Bell's jaw dropped at how beautiful it was inside. The mansion, known as the Twilight Manor, was built vertically instead of out in a wide space. Loki had explained that it was due to when she bought the land, she could only afford a small piece and the other bit of land was bought up. It was built with many towers overlapping, each helping to hold up the next. It was absolutely stunning in Bells eyes. When they arrived in the main hall, Loki stopped walking to let Bell get the wonder out of his head. After a minute of jaw dropping staring, Loki grinned.
"Alright, first things first. We drink to our new partnership!"
"W-What?" Bell replied, not expecting that. He was expecting a blessing first!
"Hey! You only live once so come on! Let's have a drink together!" She exclaimed, grabbing Bell by his left wrist before moving towards the kitchen, cellar and dining room section of the manor. Bell followed despite his reservations, stammering along as he was dragged by his future Goddess. She released him as soon as they reached the cooler. She opened the cooler, entered it and began rummaging through before she laughed. "Aha! I knew we still had this! Riveria lied to me! Ooooh you're gonna love this bell. This here, is a very lovely drink. It's not as good as Soma wine, but this is a second best! This stuff we get shipped in from Telskyura. The land of the Amazon's as I call it. They got really good winery's. Now, I only bring this out during special occasions, so you should feel honored to drink some of this stuff!"
Bell blushed. "Goddess… I'm too you-"
"Uh uh uh." Loki wagged her finger at Bell. "I don't wanna hear that. That rule is nonsensical and doesn't apply to people like us. You're old enough to go into the dungeon and die for your Familia, you are old enough to drink with your Familia. Get it?" She said with a smirk, before taking out two wine glasses before pouring the wine into the glasses, filling them about a quarter of the way, before putting the wine back into the cooler. "Can't overuse this stuff. It's too precious." She said, looking at Bell before humming. "Now then, let's drink to our new friendship!" Loki said, lifting her wine glass. Bell looked uncomfortable with all that. "Just drink it Bell." Loki said, giving an exasperated sigh. Bell gulped down his nervousness and saliva, before picking up the wine glass. Loki grinned and clinked her glass against his before bringing the glass to her nose, taking a big whiff. "Ooooooh yeaaah. That's the good stuff." She said with a big grin waiting for Bell to copy her. "Grow a pair will ya? Drink it." Loki said, giving him the mom stare, telling her son to do as he's told. Bell nodded and copied her, taking a big whiff of the glass. He actually shuddered from the lovely scent of the wine, before he decided to grow a pair, as his Goddess said before drinking the wine down in a single big gulp. Loki grinned and copied him, before slapping the table. "Now that's what I'm talking about! Alright kid, let's go get you my blessing and see to your living arrangements."
Bell nodded and stood up, in which Loki followed his movements before she started off. She hummed a bit as she went up the stairs in the main lobby, heading up towards one of the smaller towers of the Manor. She opened up the singular door in this tower before gesturing him inside. What awaited was a massive room. It was filled with empty liquor bottles and other trash thrown about. Bell blinked and glancing at his Goddess who didn't seem the least bit embarrassed.
"Take your shirt off and go lay down on your stomach on the bed." Loki said, as if it was a normal thing to say to a man you just met. Bell immediately clammed up, blushing hard and stammering.
"I-I-I… w-w-wait! We just met! I could never! I…" He stopped when Loki started laughing hard, her hands on her hips. She stopped laughing after a bit and grinned.
"I knew you would give me a priceless reaction to that but you ain't that lucky kiddo. The blessing goes onto your back." Loki said, pressing one hand on her hip and the other pointing at him. "Now chop chop, I don't have all day."
"I thought you have nothing to do…?" He said, recalling a bit of the meeting at the guild.
"Shut up and get undressed before I return you to Eina like an unwanted gift." Loki threatened, smirking at the boy who immediately took his shirt off, climbing on her bed and getting on his stomach without a second though. 'Oh I knew this was going to be fun. I can't -wait- to see what new memories I can craft with this boy.'
Loki followed Bell before taking a seat on his butt and upper thighs, relaxing with a sigh. "Been a while since I've had a new child. We continuously send away new recruits all the time." She commented, trying to strike up a conversation.
"Is that… what you want? You don't seem to stop it…?"\
"Mmmm. It's not that it's what I want… I guess I don't really care enough to stop it either. The recruitment for strong people is a farce honestly. All the strong adventurers are already taken by Familias. I suppose I could go for a mass recruitment, but it's not as if we are in desperate need of numbers either. Its hard to provide room and board with a place like this. It'll be a hassle to find you a spot, but we'll figure something out. Maybe someone will be a roommate with you." She hummed. "Anyways…" Loki trailed off before she focused on drawing her Falna all over his back, making sure to go extra slow during it just so she could embarrass him with the touch. The poor lad was dark red, just like a cherry tomato. This was all too fun for the Trickster Goddess. She had a large smile all throughout, her eyes glancing over to his face every so often. 'Been a long time since I've had to do this. Ever since Finn… I've never spoiled one… taken care of one. I got lazy… complacent… I forgot just how amazing it was to care for one of my children.' Loki thought, her lips thinning out at her thoughts. 'I think I shall spoil this one. Can't say he doesn't deserve it….' She smiled softly before she finished with her drawing on his back. Once completed, a bright light began to shine, filling up the room as the magic of the blessing took place. After ten seconds, the magic died down in brightness and Loki began copying the information on Bells back and placed it onto a sheet of paper. It was there she began to read and her narrow eyes grew ever so wider in surprise.
Child: Bell Cranel.
Familia: Loki
Strength: 5-I
Endurance: 10-I
Dexterity: 3-I
Agility: 14-I
Magic: 0
'How the… He was only in the dungeon twice! What experiences did he go through and why is those two stats so high!? He shouldn't even be getting stats when he's without a blessing.'
Loki shook her head and lifted herself up off of Bell's butt, which allowed him to flip over, before she settled back down on his upper thighs. She then handed him the stat sheet. "I don't know what you did, but your stats are quite high for someone beginning. I reckon you went through quite a lot of troubles down in the dungeon." Bell looked at the stat sheet, staring at it. He stared at it before before a big smile came across his face. "Don't get to excited now okay? You're still fairly weak so don't get too confident." Loki said, seeing the smile on his face, but she was surprised. Bell immediately wrapped his arms around Loki's shoulders, hugging her tightly.
"I'M AN ADVENTURER FOR REAL NOW! I'VE MADE IT GRANDPA!" He cried into her shoulder, tears falling. He was overjoyed. Loki smiled softly, gently patting Bell's head as he wept in joy.
"Jeez, you're such a child. Don't need to be that excited." Loki said, with playful mirth. She didn't scold him nor did she really mean it, but with jest. She enjoyed his reaction and every reaction that came from him. Sure, he was an adult but he had such childlike attributes that she couldn't help but want to embarrass him, tease him, and make him flustered. 'I need to protect this child… I'm sure Mama will be upset for a little while… but it'll be okay in the end. It's what I must do. I'll visit Hephaestus in the morning while Bell goes off to the dungeon. Hmmm. Might need to be strict about where he goes too… or do I let him run wild… Protect him or let him grow. Gaaah, who knew that this parenting stuff could be so hard?!' Loki complained in her head, though her affection towards Bell didn't once waver, letting him cry with joy and sadness from how much he had to go through to get here.
It took ten minutes, but Bell passed out in Loki's arms, which got the Deity to sigh. She gently laid him down on her bed, before getting up. She left the room, leaving Bell to rest. 'Have to wonder… What made him turn out like this? Still so much like a young boy, yet clearly a man. Wonder where he came from… Hmm.' Loki thought to herself as she wandered the nearly empty manor before ending up in the kitchen where she found another bottle of wine before taking a seat at the empty dining table, sighing as she began to drink straight from the bottle. 'Mmmm hope he gets along with everyone. I can see Bete not liking him though.' She thought before leaning back and enjoying the quiet for the time being. She knew things were about to get interesting starting tomorrow.
Bell didn't wake up from his sleep until a few hours before dawn. His eyes fluttered open before he shot up, taking several looks around the room he was in before he blushed. 'Ah… I slept in her b-bed.' He got out of her bed quite quickly, exiting the bedroom right after before making his way down the stairs.
"Awake already huh?" Spoke a voice, which got Bell to jump and let out a very unmanly yelp in surprise. Loki was sitting in the center of the lobby, right underneath a statue. She had climbed up the statue's base and was relaxing against one of the legs of the statue. Bell didn't recognize the figure in the statue except for the fact it was a large wolf. Loki smirked and jumped down from the statue before walking over. "You heading out?"
"Ah yea… figured I'd go into the dungeon." Bell said, scratching the back of his head with a blush.
"Hmmm. So soon after getting injured. You really enjoy the dungeon huh?" Loki mused with a question that she didn't really mean to ask out loud.
"Yes Goddess! I… I want to have an adventure! I want to have a lot of adventures! I want to be the hero that my Grandfather told me about!" He said, giving his deity a bright goofy smile. Loki shook her head in mirth, before smiling.
"Your Grandfather sounds like an interesting piece of work. Well, I won't stop you. Just come back home safely every time. Oh, and I do recommend making a party. I'm sure Eina has told you this, but the dungeon is not a great place. It will attempt to kill you, should it feel your weakness. It has fangs… and isn't afraid to bear them. A Solo adventurer, not matter how strong, will fall should they get outnumbered and weakened. So, I won't stop you from any particular floor… but don't push yourself further than you should go." Loki said calmly, looking at Bell intensely. Bell nodded rapidly in respond to everything she said.
"Yes Goddess. I will keep what you said in mind when I am out there. If I can manage to find someone who wants to party up… I will. Anyone from your Familia maybe…?"
Loki frowned. "Most of my adventurers are either partied up. I don't know of anyone solo right now, but I'll keep an eye out."
"Where… is everyone now that I think about it Goddess?"
"Ah… most of my adventurers are in the dungeon. I have a few still at home…. Mmmm all my really strong ones are down doing a deep dive. I think they said level… 59? They are attempting at least."
"59?!" Bell yelled out in complete shock forcing Loki to cover her ears from how loud the boy was, only to give him a pointed glare with a thin mouth showing her annoyance. Bell blushed. "Sorry…. But isn't that really deep and…. Dangerous?"
"We are the second strongest Familia and not far behind the strongest either. Of course they would go deep. The party alone has four level 5's and 3 6's. Not to mention multiple supporters. Though, I don't think they'll reach that level. Not yet anyway, but soon for sure. I'm sure once my Aisy-poo levels up…" Loki said with a fond smile.
"Aisy… poo?"
"Ah… my star pupil. You'll meet her… but don't you dare think about her. She's -MINE-." Loki said, quite possessively.
Bell nodded. "Uh… alright Goddess."
"Good. Anyways, I think before you go, I need to know a bit more about you as an adventurer. What are your weapons? I'm sure I could approach Eina but it's better if I get the information from you." Loki asked, crossing her arms.
"OH! Uh right Goddess! I have two long knives as my primary, and two chains that I can use with the knives or separately. I'm still practicing with the chain though… I'm not very good yet but I'll get there!" He said proudly, smiling brightly. "I also have a few knives to throw, though I'm not great at aiming them yet."
"Hmmm. So you are mostly close range, but the chains give you a bit of range. I see. You had light armor on I believe hmm?"
"Aah… just some leather gauntlets and a small chest piece… nothing much. It's what I had back in the village…."
"That won't do…. Not at all. Alright, I said I wouldn't forbid you going deeper into the dungeon than you have last time, but now I am. You are to stay at the first three levels of the dungeon. I do not want you going any farther. Do I make myself clear Bell?" Loki said, getting -very- serious. Bell could only nod with wide eyes and a few sweat drops. She was kind of scary when she was serious. "Good. Alright get going and be back by dinner. I recommend you start taking a lunch if you are going to be in the dungeon for a day. I also recommend you listen to your guild advisor too. It'll keep you as safe as possible." Loki said, before gently shooing Bell out of the door, who blushed and nodded, before he took off running. 'Hmmm. Guess it's time to pay Ol' Pirate a visit. This is going to be expensive…' Loki thought with a sigh.
Bell ran with a big smile on his face, having been accepted into a Familia and sent on an adventurer! Sure, he had one before when he was Falna-less, but now it's a real one. His life was about to improve. It was then he stopped, almost right in the middle of the street. He looked around as the street was empty. It was still in the dead of night, an hour away from dawn, yet he felt a pair of eyes on him. He shuddered a bit at the feeling, before the feeling went away. They stopped looking at him but he could feel a general direction from it…. Babel. 'What… was that. Something… someone… so powerful…' Bell shook his head and started running down the street again. Unfortunately for the poor boy, he would end up colliding with someone full force, having not paid any attention as his gaze was locked upon Babel, a giddy smile on his face. Despite having a near death experience in the dungeon, Bell was ever eager to get back in there.
"OOF." Bell groaned out as he was sent crashing to the ground after having collided with someone. While Bell whined and rubbed his forehead, he opened his eyes and looked up. He ended up being the only one knocked down, despite having run into this person full force. His eyes slowly wandered up her form, her long snow white legs, a slim stomach, bright sky blue eyes and light olive green hair. She had long ears, marking her as an elf. Her chest was reasonable, not that Bell cared, but most all of. She was super pretty. He immediately got into one of his many bad habits, immediately leaping into the air before getting on his knees, bowing to her. "I'm so sorry! I wasn't looking where I was going! Please forgive me!" He pleaded. The woman looked down at the apologetic boy.
"It's quite alright… I am not hurt. Are you alright?" She spoke, her voice silky smooth and on a lower baritone. Bell blushed, her voice sending a shiver down his spine.
"U-uh… yes! I'm alright, really!" Bell said, looking up from his position, once again moving up her long slender legs before staring into her eyes. The woman nodded.
"That is good. Next time watch where you are going okay?" She asked, backing up a bit to give Bell some breathing room. Bell nodded rapidly, slowly standing up.
"Yes Miss! I will! I promise!" Bell said, before he ran off again, dashing away. Unknown to the boy, due to him crashing into the elf, his sack that he kept on his lower back that was strapped to his belt, fell off due to the strap shearing off from the impact. When the bag hit the ground, a large amount of crystals spilled out which was filled to the brim with the crystals of all the monsters he slaughtered before he got surrounded and nearly died. The elf knelt down and picked it up, watching as the boy shrinked away into the distance too far for her to call out to him.
'I'm sure I'll see him again… hard to miss…'
Loki knocked three times on a door covered in ornate markings, each a fiery red or a deep anvil black. After a good twenty seconds, the door opened and a beautiful woman with dark red hair and an eye patch stood before Loki. Her eye narrowed at Loki and she frowned.
"What do you want this time…?"
Loki grinned. "Helllooooooo Hephaestus. Long time no see aye?"
"Still want to liken me to a pirate… not long enough I reckon. I repeat, what do you want Loki?"
"I…" Loki started before she stopped, her lips thinning. She began to get serious. "I would like you to make me something…" Loki said, her voice no longer cheery but almost pleading.
"The last time I made you something, you decided to use it in a bet and you lost it. Why would I ever want to make you something when you so easily squander it?!" The fiery haired Deity demanded.
"I was wrong to gamble with it… but that was years ago. This time it's truly going to someone… I… I need to get them a weapon." Hephaestus sighed.
"Who is it for? Finn? Ais? One of the two Amazon's? I can't make anything for the elf, as I don't do magic wands." The Blacksmith Deity asked.
"It's none of those. It's for… my new child."
"You want me… to craft a weapon… for a new child? What level is he?"
"One…?" Loki said slowly.
"I have so many questions… and now I have a headache… ugh. Fine. Just to get you to leave… what exactly are you looking for? What does this child use?"
"He uses large knives… almost mini-swords… I think a foot long of a blade? He also uses a chain… as a whip… or an attachment… I think? I didn't get to see him fight." She admitted.
"Must be like the Kusarigama from the east." Hephaestus commented. "That will be interesting to make… or what exactly do you wish for me to make?"
"I want two chains… and one of the knives." Loki replied, getting Hephaestus to nod.
"What attributes?"
"Durability… I also want the power of each to grow as Bell does. Hmmm… and if he has magic, let the weapon be a conduit."
"…. This is ridiculous you know that? Giving such a weapon to a beginner. Why exactly do you want this so badly?"
"I just want Bell to survive… He's… He's just him. I can already tell that he's going to be a handful. Probably stubborn, reckless and insanely brave. Not allowing fear… He will easily push himself further and further… risking his life to get stronger. I am afraid he will have a low chance of survival… which is why I want to do anything and everything I can for him… to give him that chance." Loki admitted. She usually never talks like this, all serious and with concern. Usually she's just a pervert towards Ais, but having Bell in her Familia, has given her a new goal…. One that she had lost long ago. To care for a child.
"You've changed." Hephaestus commented, getting up from her desk with a smile. "You aren't the same annoying Goddess that you once were…. Alright. If it'll please you, I will do it… but you are going to be helping me you got that and you will pay for these items full price. No discounts." She said, giving Loki a glare. Loki gave her a nod before following the Blacksmith.
Bell was grinning, laughing as he started collecting the stones at the end of the fourth floor. He didn't pay much attention to how many floors he's went down. He's been doing nothing but killing monsters and collecting crystals. He even got a few drop items! There was an egg, two Kobold nails, and a Goblin Fang! He realized early on that he lost his pouch, but luckily his jacket had pockets that were still functional despite having been shredded from his previous adventurer. He felt the increase in strength from having a Falna as well as a few stats. He was faster, stronger, he had better accuracy, his focus was better. He was like a machine! He didn't even have to use his Maelstrom technique!
'I'm sure Goddess will be proud of me! I'm sure she won't be upset if I went down one more floor for she'll see just how awesome I am! Yea! I'll make her proud! Maybe I'll get her a gift too?!' Bell thought excitedly, before entering the stairs to the fifth.
It took him a few minutes to reach the beginning of the floor. Once again, the floors changed color. It was a mixture of a dark brown soil with a tint of green, before further up to the ceiling being a sickly green and a hint of brown tint. That was the first thing Bell noticed. The second? How eerily quiet it was… Usually he could hear monsters in the distance… or the sound of an adventurer… but it was quiet. He could hear his heart beating… the wind flowing through his hair…. But not a peep from the dungeon. A more experienced adventurer would have felt the danger… but Bell's experience didn't provide him with such a sense… so he merely ventured onwards… looking around for any hidden monsters.
THUD!
Bell stopped immediately when he felt the ground shake. He looked into the distance as a pair of blood red eyes appeared in the darkness.
THUD!
Another shake of the ground and the first thing that appeared was a dark brown hoof.
THUD!
And then another. Coming out of the darkness was a half man, mostly bull. A Minotaur. Bell grinned, taking his blades in his hands, ready for a fight… not knowing that the Minotaur was beyond him. Bell charged.
And with that, I end this chapter with a cliffhangar. I hope you all enjoyed this! I shall now do my normal exit.
Read. Review. Moo.