Danmachi Emerald Version

Chapter 7

Behemoth 1

A/N:

Narration

"Talk"

Monologue

"▂▂▃▃▄▄▅▅": Monster noise

*sfx*

Central Supply Route

Inside a carriage that carried the God Ganesha

"I see... so they are trying to use the commotion to poach monsters,"

The god Ganesha rubs his chin as he wears a troubled expression beneath his mask. It wasn't that long ago when Perseus came under the order of Shakti that she asked for backup. Right now, Shakti returned from her investigation and reports of an encounter with Evilus.

During the expedition, while the Loki and the Freya familia had the authority to manage their own respective alliance, members of the Ganesha familia were also sent to monitor any unlawful acts the adventurers might commit during the crisis. To that end, they make it seem like some of their dispatched members got separated from the supplier escort after fending off some monsters.

"Is that all?" Ganesha asked curiously. While he trusts his captain, he senses that she is withholding some information.

"This is related to the adventurer Little Rookie," Shakti lowers her head and closes her eyes while recalling the reckless action of the white-haired adventurer. "But it is still inconclusive for me to give a proper report..." she trails off as she looks outside. "All I can say is that if that aspect of him remains, he will likely be a key asset to that other plan of yours."

"I see..."

At the same time,

In a nearby shade near the carriage carrying the God Hermes, Goibnu, and Takemikazuchi, Hermes is also receiving a similar report from his Captain, Asfi. This however includes the direction where the Evilus members flee and the action the white-haired rabbit did.

"Hmmmm..." Hermes lowers his head, rubs his chin, and frowns.

"Something wrong, ord Hermes?"

"If I knew this would happen, I should have come with you."

"I know you have an unhealthy fascination with Little Rookie but this is not the time and place for your scheme," Asfi warns. Hugging herself, she shivers as she recalls their previous experience where they were forcefully taken to Freya's suite. "We got lucky with Lady Freya, doing somethings under the Braver's command might tip Lady Loki of what you are scheming at."

"Come now, Asfi," Hermes removed his hat, dusted it off, and looked at the invincible Asfi sitting on a thick branch above him. "I know the proper time and place to do that. It just pains me to learn something interesting happened to Bell without my knowledge."

"Haaaaah... you're hopeless," Asfi shakes her head as her hand massages her temple.

"So how's Bell holding it in?" Hermes asked curiously. After all his actions of defending the captive black beast are illogical to most adventurers. Then again some of his actions are foolish in nature. During the Black Goliath incident, saving his enemies seemed fruitless. And even Lily, if his investigation of her background is correct, also tried to take advantage of Bell before.

"More than regretting his act in saving the beast, he seems more bothered that his actions almost cost him the lives of his friend after encountering the darker side of Orario,"

"Is that all?"

"yes," the branch shakes a bit notifying the god resting at the trunk below that Asfi is about to leave.

"Why not Rest for a bit- owww," Hermes tried to look up and advise his overwork child to take a breather first only to be hit by a small bag full of drop loots. "It's not like I can see anything, you know."

"..." Asfi did not reply but instead she jumped off the trunk and landed beside her Deity. "I'll say this in advance but no," She removed the helmet that turned her invincible as she stared suspiciously at her God as if she already knew what he was planning next. "I'm not taking you with me."

"Not just me," Hemes replied. "We're bringing Suicia and Tabitha with us."

"You know you are already thinning out our numbers here," Asfi reminds him. As part of the supply route alliance, the Hermes Familia is responsible for the Logistics of the supplies coming from Orario. While they worked hand in hand with Ikelos and Dionysus on that task, Hermes stationed a few of their members in the Eastern and Western alliances to gather intel. Asfi and Lulune were placed on the Eastern Alliance while Laurier and Pock were put on the Western Alliance.

"Let's just say it is easier for them to let their guard down when they know they are not being watched."

"Very well, but the two need to run."

"Oya~ don't tell me you want to be alone with me?" Hermes asked with a teasing smile hidden behind his hat. "I am not against the idea though."

"It's either you or them," Asfi replied coldly. While controlling the urge to hit him as she can easily "accidentally" drop him later, she fixed her glasses while her head turned in the direction of the Eastern Alliance. "I can carry both and leave you by yourself or bring you to the eastern alliance as fast as possible to sate your obsession. Take your pick."

"... I'll go on land, you can carry Suicia while Tabitha can carry me on her back," Sensing something amiss with Asfi, Hermes followed his gut instinct and decided to split the labor between his children.

Dungeon 20th floor

In the middle of a small crater, a humanoid beast with white fur stands on top of a mountain of corpses while being surrounded by dozens of monster cores and loot.

It hadn't been that long since she gained sentience, and the humans in white rope and the monsters of the dungeon began attacking her one after another. "Weak," the beast murmurs as she squashes the head of a female sapient who tried begging for her life. "Hmmm..." seeing the pile of corpses and the clothes of her victim, she took the robes out there and put them on herself.

"Too tight," the beast complains as she rips the sleep off her body before taking a different robe.

"Too loose..." the beast pauses for a bit to see the owner of the robe she is wearing. the corpse of the female human with a bountiful chest.

"Grrrrrrr..." the beast growls as an image of a petite female with black twin-tail hair and a chest larger than the one on the floor pops from her head. "What was that..." the beast ponders as she becomes more irritated with what the corpse has that she seems to lack.

"Damn"

taking one last robe that fits her perfectly, she rips the sleeves to shorten it before stomping the corpse of the female human that irritated her for some reason.

East alliance

The closer we get to the large tornado, the more frantic the monsters become and the larger the miniature black beasts become. Far larger compared to the ones that attacked Orario or even the ones caught by poachers.

"Haaaaah... haaaaaah..."

As I wipe the sweat on my forehead,

I breathe deeply as I look at the first-class adventurers who hardly break a sweat.

So this is how expeditions with First-class adventurers are.

I thought as I once more looked at my goal to be with Ms. Riveria. If I don't improve my stamina, even if I get strong, I won't be able to go on adventures with her.

Strength

Speed

Techniques

Knowledge

Endurance

Once more, I look at my current self and see how many holes I need to fill if I want to stand side by side with Ms. Riveria.

"Haaaaaah... haaaaaah... haaaaah..."

Right now, the main alliance decided to take a stop to let other adventurers catch their breaths, properly manage their supplies, and have the left-behind adventurers to catch up.

Considering we just got out of a rough patch against outlaws earlier, this is as good a time as any to rest for a bit and check our inventory.

"Let's see..." I said in a small voice as I looked at the supplies in my pocket and the condition of my armor and weapon.

"Lily," I quickly turn to Lily only to be devastated by her shaking her head. "This is not good..." I mumble in a low tone followed by biting my lower lip in frustration. Most of my weapons won't last long and from the looks of it most of our supplies were also used up.

Damn! We shouldn't have gone there!

Regret piled on to my growing frustration. We would not be in this predicament if I hadn't decided to go and check the irregular movements of the monsters.

"What to do... what to do..." I frantically look around while trying to remember the lectures Ms. Eina gave me on being an adventurer to no avail.

Should we go back?

The idea crossed my mind but I quickly brushed it off. Being accused of being a coward is one thing but with the current conditions of our equipment and supplies, it will be more dangerous to return on our own than stay with the main alliance.

"Yo, you okay?"

As I am wracking my head with thinking of a solution, Welf taps my right shoulder.

"Ah... sorry about that..." It was then I noticed my party's worried look.

"Don't forget you're not alone in this," Welf added as he raised a thumbs up. "We're a party and right now, we also belong to this alliance so you don't need to shoulder everything." followed by him pointing to Lily and Ms. Karen.

"He's right, Master Bell," Lily chimed in as she took one step forward. "As long as we're careful, we'll be able to save our supplies till we reach the rendezvous point.

"And Bell," Ms. Karen called. Turning to her, I saw her shake her head. "Don't regret your action earlier." Hearing her say this, I somehow felt my heart tighten. After all, it was my decision that caused this. "Your intention to help is noble."

"She's right master bell," Lily nodded in agreement. "We are just unlucky that they have first-class adventurers with them."

I wipe the tears building up in my eyes as I smile at my party. "T-thanks everyone!" I say to them gratefully with a smile on my face.

This made me realize just how important having reliable friends is. I was so busy in my self-loathing that I fully ignored everyone and began thinking that I was the only one with the solution.

While it is true that I became overly reliant on Lily when I began neglecting some of the responsibilities of a leader, it does not mean that I should not rely on my party members.

A few minutes after our stop, more and more adventurers are now able to catch up to the Eastern alliance

And while the first-class adventurers from the Loki Familia handle the monsters so the others can rest, Finn starts checking our condition.

It was after Finn left our party,

"Captain," Anakity came running to him bringing urgent news. "A few black beasts headed to a forest east of us. Lefiya, Raul, Liza, and Karos are already going there to evacuate the elves living in the forest but they might not make it."

"I see," Finn said in a low tone. He looks at the rest of the Loki Familia adventurers before turning his gaze towards the large tornado. "We could send some of our other members as backup to deal with the monsters that went to the forest but it will significantly weaken our overall fighting power against the large one." He then turns his gaze to the rest of the adventurers of his alliance. With most avoiding his stares. "Hmmm... not that I can blame them." troubled by the adventurers diminishing steam, Finn furrowed his eyebrows and he formulated for their next course of action.

"Ah-" I said as I almost raised my hand to volunteer only to fully restrain it with my other hand

I want to help even by myself but it is pretty selfish of me to leave them here and it is also dangerous to bring them with means our party is in no shape to go after more frantic monsters. The pressing matter here is that the forest the monsters went to is home to some elves of the area. While the monsters ignored the dense forest, after being pushed back by our alliance, some of the beasts began taking other routes to go around our forces. The forest is one of them.

"You want to say something Bell?" Finn asked as he looked at me curiously before shifting his head a few degrees to my right where Lily was sitting. Lily for some reason avoids his stares causing Finn to chuckle a bit.

"I won't mind going there," a loud voice came from our back.

"L-Lord Hermes?!"

Only for us to see the one that volunteered is the god Hermes surrounded by his children. Asfi nodded to me when she saw me looking at her.

Beside Asfi is a small Chienthrope with black hair, and on Lord Hermes' other side stands a female elf with long hair braided on the back. she wears a full-body outfit that barely shows any skin and a cape. Next to the elf is a female beast human with shoulder-length wavy dark hair and wears a skirt above the knee cap and revealing sleeveless upper clothing. In contrast to the elf that barely shows any, her lower chest down to her navel was exposed for the rest to see.

!

Seeing that she noticed me staring at her, the beast human gave me a wink as her lips curled into a smile.

"ouch!"

I wince right after Lily pinches my waist.

"Master Bell! Behave or I'll tell Lady Hestia," Lily whispers.

"But i-" I tried to answer back but her glare stopped me.

"But I thought you're into elves?" Welf follow up. He gave the beast human a few second look before looking back at me. "Not bad... not bad Bell, are you perhaps into the motherly or big sister type?"

"It's it's not like that!" I frantically reply as I shake my head furiously.

"Haaaah... boys..." Karen sighed while shaking her head. As if to say she did not want to participate in this discussion, she turned her back on us and distance herself from us by a few feet.

"Can't help but agree on you there," Lily nods in agreement as she follows Ms. Karen.

"Lord Hermes," Ignoring the conversation of our group, Finn looked at the god suspiciously. "While I appreciate that you offer your service, I can't help but wonder what are you doing here."

"I got bored there so I left overseeing my duty to Falgar,"

"But lord Hermes, isn't it dangerous for you to come along?" I asked curiously. While I am confident with Ms. Asfi's strength during the fight with the black Goliath, this time around, Lord Hermes will come along with them.

"Ahahahaha, I appreciate your concern Bell," Hermes just laughed off my concern as he removed his hat and dusted it off. "But we are a wondering familia. This kind of thing is a cakewalk," he then rested his arm on Ms. Asfi's shoulder. "And if it is too much for us, Asfi can just fly me out."

"But if you're still concerned about us," Asfi shakes off Lord Hermes's arm before elbowing his stomach. "Why not come with us?"

"Eh?"

"What now, Asfi?" It seems like not only me but Lord Hermes who is squirming on the ground was puzzled by Ms. Asfi's proposal.

"..." Asfi fixes her glasses before walking towards our party. Ignoring the fact that she purposely step on Lord Hermes. "If your are uncertain, I won't blame you for staying but if you want to help, Learn from your mistake and don't let it stop you from moving forward."

My eyes open wide in shock.

Ms. Asfi also knew of our previous situation and saw right through me when I hesitated to raise my hand.

"Everyone, I know this is too much but," I turned to my party with a serious look. They trusted my decision which almost killed us and I almost volunteered myself to go without asking them first. This time around, I want to make it right. "This will be dangerous but I want to help them evacuate. And you are free to stay. I'm not forcing you to come with me."

*tap tap tap*

Lily stood from the ground and lightly tapped the dust on her clothes. "If it was earlier with Master Finn, I'd smack some sense into you Master Bell."

"Besides, we have the Hermes familia backing us up," Welf added.

"If we can't do it anymore, we'll let you know," Karen finishes.

"There you have it," Ms. Asfi lightly tap my shoulder. "We already waste time, let's go."

Ms. Asfi and her party quickly ran towards the forest without looking back at us and with renewed vigor, "Guys, let's go!"

"On it,

"You can count on me, Master Bell,"

Welf and Lily replied in unison. Ms. Karen on the other hand.

*zazazazaza*

Already ran before us.

"Last to arrive will pay for everyone's dinner tomorrow."

"Oi! Please don't include me in this!" Lily protested and yet she ran before me and Welf. "I'm just a supporter!"

"Thank you in advance, Ms. Karen," I replied as I chased after her with both hands curled to a fist.

Aaaaaaaaaannnnd cut!

With this, the chapter came to a close.

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