Exploring with New Supporter and Mercery Help
"Here you go, and you're all set for the dungeon." Cattleya placed the finishing touch on Leina's new temporary armor.
Leina is now wearing an armor familiar to her old one except the front armor piece covers her center body all around with bronze shoulder pads, the gauntlets and greaves are gold-brown covering the lower upper part of the legs and arms, and she now dons a helmet with little white wings.
"So, how does it feel, Leina?" Bell asked.
Leina moves around a little and swing the new temporary sword while looking at the shield too to see how they move around with her body movements.
"Hmm, I believe armor will do just fine. Thank you, Cattleya." Leina thanked.
"I'm glad you like you, and I will have your armor fix in a day or two." Cattleya informed.
"Let's get going, it's time we see what the seventh floor is all about!" Bell excited.
"Right, goodbye!" Leina said as she and Bell walks out of the shop.
"Bye guys, come back again soon!" Rana waved goodbye at the two adventurers as see them getting further away from the shop.
"Man, I bet it must be really fun to go dungeon exploring with friends." Rana wondered if he could go dungeon exploring one day.
"It was for me and Owen, though it was really dangerous with the monsters, and you also have to be prepared for the long journey such as being down there for days." Cattleya explained as she puts Leina's sword and armor in the back.
"Wow, you and dad must've seen lots of cool things together down there." Rana amazed.
"Yes, we did a lot together in those days." Cattleya smiled as she got the fire ready and picked up the little hammer, ready to begin repairing Leina's armor.
While thinking of her husband at the same time.
(Dungeon Entrance)
"Okay, we're ready to go." Leina said to Bell with a thumb up.
"Yep, though I hope we can find ourselves a supporter like Miss Eina said." Bell mentioned.
"Sounds like we came to you guys at the right time." Risty said as she and Liliruca walks up to the Hestia Familia pair.
"Risty, Liliruca, what are you two doing here?" Bell asked surprise.
"We were just going to find an adventure or group that needs some extra supporter help, then we just happen to hear you two saying about finding a supporter." Liliruca explained.
"Yes, our advisor told us a little that having a supporter would definitely our better chances in the lower levels of the dungeon." Leina said.
"Then your luck will get better with the two of us by your side. You have my word; little Lili and I will help you guys go down lower than you can imagine!" Risty grinned.
"Yeah, so will you please give us a spot!" Liliruca pleaded with her a clap of her hands.
"Well, I suppose it wouldn't hurt to see what they're capable in the dungeon firsthand." Bell considered as Leina felt the same.
(Down in the Dungeon)
Bell slicing away a few giant killer ants with his Hestia knife, Leina charges forward and ram one giant ant with her shield pushing it back against two more and impale all three of them, Risty is smashing away the other remaining ants with her mace killing them with one blow each.
Meanwhile, Liliruca is standing back from the action seeing the three fighting against some more of the killer ants coming out and saw two others coming out from above and shot two little exploding arrows to save them.
"Master Bell!" Lilruca alerted Bell of another ant coming out.
Bell saw this and jumped at the ant almost ripping its head off though it died from that strike.
"Wow, that was"
"Look out!" Leina thrusted her sword at one more giant ant that was coming at Liliruca from behind on the left, impaling through the head.
"Phew, are you alright, Liliruca? Are you hurt anywhere?" Leina asked concern.
"N-No, I'm okay, thank you for saving me." Liliruca thanked smiling, and suddenly had a flashback of someone she knew.
"(Mom?)" Liliruca thought.
"Wow, having a supporter and another fighter in the group has certainly helped us better than I thought." Leina amazed.
"Yeah, this way we can concentrate on fighting while Liliruca provide us from the sidelines." Bell nodded in agreement.
"Oh please, you two taking out those monsters was way more impressive than I thought." Liliruca complimented.
"I'll say, you two say you're only beginners but from where I'm standing, you two fight more like pros." Risty pointed out.
"That's because of my special skill, Maiden Heart. It ties to my heart to become strong for those around me and helps level myself up faster than most would struggle to." Leina explained about her skill.
"Wow, that's an impressive skill!" Risty complimented and looks to Bell.
"What about you, white rabbit, do you have any skills like that?" Risty asked.
"No, I don't think I developed a skill yet, but it feels like I am growing stronger than most as I appear to be leveling up faster too." Bell answered.
"I also notice a powerful knife you're using when you battle those monsters." Liliruca pointed at Bell's knife.
"Yeah, this was a gift from the Goddess of our Familia as a way of her lending me her strength." Bell mentioned looking at the knife.
"Sounds like your Goddess must have made a deal with a crafty blacksmith to get a knife like that." Risty commented.
"I'm not sure, she didn't tell where she got it, but it has helped us get through some tough times before you two showed up." Bell said, feeling thankful that he got his own signature weapon thanks to Goddess Hestia.
"I see, and have you gotten your armor upgraded as well, Leina?" Risty asked.
"Oh no, this is only temporary while Cattleya is fixing up my armor." Leina mentioned and thought about asking Risty something.
"Hey Risty, you don't belong to a Familia, right? Because you're a mercery?" Leina asked curiously.
"That's right, never joined for personal reasons and just became a hired woman to get by." Risty answered, feeling proud of it too.
"Huh, sounds like a lonely life to me." Leina commented.
"I don't is that lonely as long as she has a friend to be with like Lili here." Bell stated looking at Liliruca as she picks up the magic stones.
"Well, Risty has always been there for me when we first met since none of the others in the Familia I'm in don't seem to care much." Liliruca said out loud which is a little shock to her.
"I've been wondering, what Familia is she in?" Bell asked the red hair woman thought she went silence for a bit as did Liliruca.
"The Soma Familia, let just say that group is nothing but idiots along with their God and just leave it as that." Risty answered before walking away and smash the dead giant ant to get the magic stone.
"I think you brought up something most people wouldn't like to talk about their past." Leina whispered.
"Oh, hope I didn't hurt their feelings." Bell worried.
"Come on, you two. I think we should call it a day." Liliruca suggested as she gentle pushes Bell forward.
Liliruca is secretly sharing at the Hestia knife thinking it might be worth something great for a big price as Risty looks back knowing her little helper is doing the plan they talked about this morning.
(Guild)
"Wait, you're saying the supporter is part of the Soma Familia?" Eina asked after hearing this from Bell and Leina.
"That's what Miss Risty said." Bell mentioned.
"She also said everyone there are "idiots" including their God. We were wondering if you would know something about it." Leina hoped to somehow help Liliruca in a way.
"Well, the Soma mainly focus on explorations, and they sell a lot of boozes too, which is fine but…" Eina paused with a worry expression on her face.
"But what?" Bell asked concern.
"The whole group just seems to be so desperate like they're always in a panic about something." Eina mentioned.
"(Always in a panic? But why, and for what?)" Bell thought wondered.
"But besides all that, what do you two thinks of Liliruca, did you all end up getting along?" Eina asked.
"Yeah, she was nice and perhaps smarter too. We got a good haul today too." Bell smiled and showed the bag of magic stones.
"Well, that's great. I won't suggest otherwise then, do whatever you think it's best for your Familia as it is your decision." Eina smiled, glad the supporter they found is good to them.
"Thank you, we will. And I was thinking about hiring Risty again since she doesn't belong to a Familia." Leina shared her little plan of Risty.
"Oh, are you going to try making her consider joining ours?" Bell asked.
"Maybe, but that's her decision to make and we'll have to respect it if she doesn't want to join ours." Leina stated.
"Oh, that's very thoughtful of you, but I would suggest being careful around her. Risty has been known to swipe things from adventures from time to time, being called a thief and beating up some adventurers who makes her angry." Eina warned.
"Don't worry, I'm sure we can trust Risty." Leina said before walking away.
"Goodbye, Miss Eina." Bell said following Leina to head back home.
As Eina see the two walking off, she notices something off on Bell and quickly realize that Bell's black knife is gone.
"Bell! Your knife, the one your Goddess Hestia gave you, it's gone!" Eina alerted.
"Huh?" Bell confused and reached to the back of his waist to feel little sheath, but no Hestia Knife.
"I DROPPED MY KNIFE?!" Bell panicked.
"Calm down, Bell! I'm sure the knife is still around here, maybe we can go around to see if anyone who found it and picked it up." Leina said calming him down.
Then a thought came to her mind thinking about Risty and what Ryuu said about her the other day.
"I see you still have your thieving habit."
"(Wait, could it be…?)" Leina thought.
(With Risty and Liliruca)
"Well, thanks for nothing." Risty yelled at the dealer as she and Lili leaves the shop, they were in.
"I can't believe he only offered 30 Valis." Liliruca said upset.
"I know, that knife the boy used cut down all those monsters without getting a single scratch! That old fart must not see good quality as he used to." Risty complained as she looks at the knife.
"Oh well, somehow I knew little knife would only be good to Bell." Risty sighed.
"Guess we're gonna have to return it then." Liliruca mentioned their failed backup plan.
"Yep, no use in keeping this around anymore." Risty shrugged.
"Oh, so then you took something from Bell just like the others, Risty?"
Risty and Liliruca froze in fear upon hearing that voice and look ahead seeing Ryuu and Syr standing in front of them holding each one grocery bag shown they have been out doing a little shopping.
"H-Hey there, Ryuu, having a nice evening?" Risty asked trying to play cool though being nervous.
"Me and Syr were just getting groceries for the restaurant, then we happen to find walking through their ally talking about taking things that doesn't belong to you." Ryuu looked at the two sending a fierce feeling through their bodies.
"Whoa, whoa, I know this may look like we stole something but it's not what it looks like... We just found Bell's knife. Figured the little goof must've dropped by accident." Risty acted innocent, but Ryuu wasn't buying any of that.
"Yeah, but we just remember that we have other plans and since you're here, you can return this for us." Liliruca quickly snatched the knife from Risty's hand and give to Ryuu.
"Thanks a bunch, bye!" Lilirouca rushed away with Risty right behind her.
"And good luck being single for the rest of your life!" Risty said making Ryuu a bit angry on the inside.
"Risty! You get back here right now!" Ryuu demanded chasing after them.
"Huh, wait, Ryuu! The groceries!" Syr ran after Ryuu to remind her of the errands they're supposed to finish.
Risty and Liliruca ran as fast as they could to get away from Ryuu not wanting to deal with her when she is angry like that, but suddenly then bump into Bell who he and Leina were searching for the knife, and they just happened to come by to the exit of the alleyway. The collusion causes the three to fall to the ground as Leina was shocked to that some people are in a rush these days.
"Uh, Risty? And Liliruca?" Leina recognized the two.
"Oh, Lady Leina, and Master Bell-AH!" Liliruca gasped.
"Sheesh, that hurt." Risty groaned a bit.
"R-R-Risty! Master B-Bell is under your… y-your…!" Liliruca stuttered pointing at Bell.
Risty is confused of what her little friend is saying until she looks down seeing Bell with his upper half of his face blushing all red and his lower half being pressed by her breast.
"Uh, didn't know you were that kind of guy?" Risty teased, along with her cheeks blushing a little.
"Will you get off of him, please!" Leina pulled Risty away from Bell.
"Are you okay, Bell?" Leina asked.
"Y-Yeah, everything's right as rain…" Bell blushed still.
"Oh, Mister Cranel and Miss Vance." Ryuu surprised to see them as she and Syr exit the alleyway too.
"Miss Ryuu, and Miss Syr, have you two by any chance seen a knife that is jet-black from top to bottom with little writings on it? It's really, really important to me!" Bell asked.
"You mean this one?" Ryuu showed the Hestia Knife to Bell.
The first thing he does when seeing his knife again is almost crying, then running up to Ryuu holding her hand with his own while hugging her with the other much to the elf woman's shock. And jealous shock of Syr and Leina.
"Thank you, thank you so much! You're the best, Miss Ryuu!" Bell thanked joyfully.
"M-Mister Cranel, please… Could you stop that." Ryuu embarrassed of being hugged by a young boy and her heart is suddenly racing and tiny blushes appeared on her cheeks.
"I know you're excited, why don't you hug Syr instead." Ryuu suggested making Syr gasp.
"Ryuu, what are you doing?" Syr asked blushing a little.
"(Goodness, don't tell me these two have a love crush on Bell and why do I feel a little upset about this?)" Leina thought asked herself.
As Bell took his knife back from Ryuu, the moment he touches it the little writings on the knife glows for a second or two as Liliruca and Risty saw this.
"(So, it's just as I thought.)" Risty thought.
"(The knife does only work for Bell.)" Liliruca thought figured.
"Thank you for that, where did you find it? Bell was worried sick that he dropped it somewhere." Leina asked.
"To be precise, it was Risty and Liliruca who found it." Ryuu mentioned making the two flinched.
"Really? You two found it, thank you so much!" Bell thanked them, holding their hands and smiling brightly at them.
"N-No problem, kid." Risty said looking away.
"Happy to help." Liliruca smiled nervously.
"I don't know, Bell. It almost sound too good to be true that they just happen to find your knife probably sometime after you realize you lost it." Leina pointed out making Risty and Lili sweat like little harder.
"I think it's fine, the important thing is that we got it back and no one is harm. All's well that ends well." Bell stated.
"If you say so." Leina decided to keep quiet about Risty and Liliruca being the thief much to their relief, but she gave them the "I'm keeping an eye on you" gesture.
"Well, we must be going." Ryuu bided farewell as she and Syr leaves, but not before the gray hair girl lean to Risty and Liliruca.
"You two should be such naughty girls." Syr advised and leaves with Ryuu.
"Well, it's a good thing we caught up to you." Bell smiled.
"And why's that?" Risty asked.
"Because we were wondering if you two would like to go exploring back in the Dungeon with us tomorrow." Leina answered with a gentle smile.
(The Next Day)
Bell and Leina are seen standing together in front of the dungeon tower ready to explore it again, and this time they have Risty and Liliruca by their side as officially supporter and the extra fighter as they look at each for a moment before walking toward their next adventure.
KO a new chapter is done and hope you all enjoy it!
Well, Risty and Liliruca sure made some good impressions with the two only members of the Hestia Familia in the Dungeon though the two did tried to sell off Bell's knife, but that didn't happen, and things worked out in the end. Now Leina and Bell have new friends exploring the Dungeon with them, and perhaps Leina is getting a little more competition for Bell's affection.
KO comment, favorite, and follow through of how this story will go!