Danmachi Emerald Version
Chapter 1
Grand Day Eve
A/N:
Narration
"Dialogue"
Monologue
*sfx*
"Order whatever you want, it's on me,"
In a certain cafe's private room, A bewildered Bell is seated across the God Hermes with Asfi seating adjacent to them.
"Uhm..." Bell looks at the menu and almost faints after seeing the price. The food on the menu is all expensive even with a single cup of their cheapest coffee. A single brewed coffee costs almost equivalent to his Goddess weekly earning at the Jagamarukun stall.
"... You don't need to bother about the price," Asfi who saw his expression said while looking at the menu. "If not for you, we would be dead by now. So order as many as you want and I will make sure Lord Hermes will pay every penny if it." despite the ominous dark tone of Asfi, the God seated with them maintained his smile.
"Ahahaha..." Bell laughs dryly as he scratches his right cheek.
Earlier, after leaving the pub, Bell went straight to the Freya familia to meet with Karen. To say that he is not welcome in her familia based on the looks they are giving him might be an understatement. The ones he has gotten there are far colder and harsher than with the Loki familia members and that includes the wild forest fairy in the list.
Karen for her part, gloss over her participation in the dungeon and instruct Bell if he truly wished to really thank her, he should meet with her goddess and express his gratitude to her. After all, she won't be with them if the Goddess Freya didn't allow her.
This leads them to go to the top suite of Babel where the Goddess of Beuty is known to reside. In there, they saw Asfi and Hermes kneeling in a dogeza in front of the Goddess of beauty and the King. For Bell knowing the meaning of the position, he asked Karen the gist in which she revealed that their Goddess was furious about the peeping incident Hermes led. Hearing her say this, all color drains out from Bell as he quickly pales as a ghost. Lord Hermes might have planned the incident but he was there involved in that incident as well.
Yet despite the possible outcome, it might bring to him and the pressure from the strongest adventurer of Orario, he mustered enough courage to walk beside the God Hermes and his child, bowed to the Goddess of Beauty as a sign of respect, thank her for allowing Karen to join and the presence of the king back in the dungeon a few days ago before kneeling beside the two and asking for pardon for what had happened in the under resort.
To be honest, I thought I was a goner too.
Bell thought as he recall the incident earlier. But for some reason, the anger that the Goddess had quickly disappeared as she pardoned them then and there. In fact, she seems amused and contented with his action. While she did leave out a few things she wishes to discuss with him and her goddess at a later date before dismissing them, she made him know one thing.
I still have my doubts but is it really her? Bell thought as he once more looks at the menu.
"In that case, I'll uhm... have this one," Bell said sheepishly as he randomly points to a cake and coffee set.
"So, where is your next destination?" Hermes asked as he raised his hand to signal the waiting staff that they are about to make an order. "From what I saw, you seem to be going from one familia after the other expressing your gratitude for their part in the dungeon a few days ago." He opens one of his eyes and peers at Bell. "We can accompany you if you like."
"Uhm, actually, I was planning to either go to your familia next or to the Loki familia." Bell replied. "Though it did save me time looking for you Lord Hermes as I am not certain if you have a fixed base here in Orario."
"Hoo~ that's quite nice of you Bell," Hermes replies as he further stretches his grin. Seeing her god like this, Asfi can't help but scowl and massage her temple in irritation. "We can discuss the matter here but I have to raincheck you on going to the Loki Familia."
"I have to agree on that," Asfi mumbles. "We already got spared from Lady Freya, we might not be as lucky with Lady Loki."
"Ahahahahaha" Bell laugh dryly.
"So Bell, does that mean you want to pay us a favor for back then us well?" Hermes cuts in.
"Please have some shame, Lord Hermes," Asfi grumbled.
"Come now Asfi, this and that are two different matters." Hermes open one of his eyes and took a side glance at Asfi before closing it once more. "Speaking of owing a favor Bell, do you have any plan tomorrow afternoon?"
"Hmm?" Bell tilts his head to the side as he recalls if he did make some arrangements with his Goddess or Lilly tomorrow afternoon. "Nothing comes to mind. Is there something that I can help you with?"
"Actually, this is something I believe only you can do," Hermes replied seriously.
Seeing the troubled expression of Asfi and the gut feeling Bell has that what the god might be similar to what he asked before, Bell knotted his eyebrows and smiled wryly at the scheming God. "As long as it won't kill me like last time, I'll try my best to help you."
"Ahahaha... don't worry Bell, we won't be doing that anytime soon," Hermes replied as he open both his eyes and stretched out his hands. "We need to let the issue calm down a bit so that we can try again once their defenses are down."
*thud*
This in turn enraged Asfi as she hit the back of her God with her fist. "Seriously Lord Hermes! Haven't you learned anything?!"
"Come now Asfi," Hermes rubs the back of his head and looks at his child who is holding her tears. "Of course, I learn my lesson. So next time, there won't be any from the Loki or Freya familia members when we peep-"
*bang*
"I had it with you!"
Asfi slams the table trembling in rage, tears building in her eyes before running out in frustration as fast as she could. "Lord Hermes you IDIOT!"
"I think you should have not done that Lord Hermes," Bell said, reluctantly as he reached out for the plate handed to him by the waiting staff. "Ms. Asfi is looking for your wellbeing after all. You shouldn't tease her that much."
"Hmmm..."
Upon seeing the troubled look of the God, Bell lowered his head as he took a bite of the cake included in his order, quietly.
"Say Bell, how much money do you have right now?" the God Hermes breaks his silence and asked before reluctantly finishing his drink in one fell swoop.
"Hmm? Not much," Bell replied calmly before taking a sip of his coffee. "Is there a problem, Lord Hermes?"
"Actually, Asfi is the one managing most of our money," Hermes replied with a troubled expression. "And well... you know..."
"Hmm?" Bell looks at him in confusion while he continues to savor the cake he ordered. Slowly, the meaning of the God's word slowly sinks in. With a shocked expression and mouth half-open, the spoon fell off his mouth just before Bell voiced his shock. "Eeeeeeeeeeehhhh?!"
Twilight manor, Riveria's quarters, evening.
As the sun finally set, the high elf Riveria stood in front of her slightly open window and look at the two individuals leaving the premise of their mansion. The white-haired Adventurer with red eyes like a rabbit Bell Cranel and their very own golden-haired Sword Princess. As she gave a faint smile seeing how happy Ais looks while chatting with the sinful rabbit.
*knock knock*
She heard two knocking sounds on her door.
"Elly, get the door for me" Riveria called, not taking her sight off the two.
"Yes, Lady Riveria," Elly nods before standing from her chair and walking to the door, opening it.
"Yo! I heard that you're drinking now," Gareth greeted with a loud voice. Looking back, the High Elf saw him holding a bottle of liquor made by the Demeter familia and behind him stands the captain of their familia holding three goblets.
"Elly, you can leave now," Riveria replied with a frown before she closes the window of her room. Not noticing that Bell just look back at her
At the same time
"Is something wrong Bell?" Ais asked after she noticed her white-haired companion took a quick stop.
"Uhm... nothing..." Bell replied with a frown on his face. "It's just..." he trails off as he is having a hard time figuring out how to say what he wants to say without sounding pretentious.
Is Ms. Riveria mad at me? Bell thought as he continue to stare at the now-closed window.
Following his line of sight, Ais figure out what Bell is looking at and said. "Ah! She... she's in a foul mood since this morning."
Ais hesitate for a bit before deciding to keep the incident that morning a secret only for the Loki Familia.
The scene where they saw Riveria sleeping beside the window with an empty wine bottle nearby or when she refused to leave her room. Before Bell arrives, many members tried to pursue the High Elf to leave her room and fail, and even after when Bell arrive late that afternoon from his previous engagement (Washing the dishes alongside the God Hermes), Riveria still refuses to leave even if it will be seen as a rude behavior from their vice-captain especially when Bell came to express his gratitude to them and to her especially for healing them. Outside of Riveria, the only one from the executive office that didn't meet with Bell was Bete who went to the dungeon.
"Eh? since this morning?" Bell asked as he recall the frowning image of the lovely high elf before she closes her window.
"... yes,"
"Is she alright?"
"It's better to leave this issue to them," Ais replied with a reassuring smile. "I'm sure she'll be fine the next time you see her."
"I see. In that case, I better get going now,"
Ais nod back at him with a smile.
"Thank you for seeing me off and see you next time Ms. Ais,"
After finishing his farewell, Bell started to walk away from the manor.
"Wait!" but was quickly stopped by the sword princess when she quickly grab his left hands
"Ms. Ais?"
"Uhm... are you available tomorrow?" Ais quickly asked.
"Eh?"
"Tomorrow," Ais repeats her last word. "Are you available tomorrow?"
"I will stroll around town with Goddess and members of my party tomorrow morning and I have an errand to attend to with Lord Hermes tomorrow afternoon.
"Good," Ais replied with a satisfied smile. "Tomorrow morning. Before noon. Please come"
"Come where?"
"Please come to the coliseum and watch."
"Colesium?"
"Yes," Ais nodded. "There will be an exhibition match tomorrow morning. I... uhm, many first-class adventurers will be participating. I want you to watch. You might learn a thing or two."
"Are you also joining the match?"
"Yes," Ais replied.
"Then I'll come and cheer you on," Bell replies as he beamed at her.
*doki doki*
Hearing Bell's intention, Ais' eyes widen in shock. While she did have the intention to invite him to watch her, an intention she held back to say, she is taken aback by his honest opinion.
She was so shocked to the point that she let go of his hand. Seeing this, Bell once more bowed to her before finally leaving the manor. "I'll be going then."
"...hmm" Ais nods as she watches the figure of the white-haired adventurer grow smaller and farther. It was during this period that Ais tilts her head in confusion before placing her right hand over her chest and her other hand over her forehead. "Am I sick?" Ais asks as she examines her face which is heating up and her heart that begun to beat faster. "I better consult Riveria."
Twilight manor, Riveria's quarters, evening.
"So what do you two want?"
Breaking the silence of the room, the high elf asks her two companions who sat quietly beside the small round table in her room.
Gareth and Finn did not utter a word after opening the bottle of wine he brought and pours its content to the three glass goblets that Finn brought. They just sat there while drinking their wine as they waited for the next action of the High Elf.
"Come now, this is a celebration for you," Finn answered with a knowing smile.
"I don't remember anything worth celebrating," Riveria said as she pick up her wine glass, and gave it a few spins before taking a sip. This in turn shocked her two companions as they look at her with eyes wide open.
"Finn, please tell me I am seeing a nightmare right now,"
"As much as I want to, we are both seeing the same... wait-" Finn furrow his eyebrows as he notices steam coming out from her glass and quickly took her glass the moment she placed it back on the table. "Oi! Old hag, you're ruining a fine wine if you warm it up."
with a smirk Riveria replied. "But I am drinking it."
"Gahahahahaha!" Garet guffaw loudly as he held on to his belly and continue his thunderous laughter. "Seriously! Just when we think we can finally share a drink when one of us finally made it and then you suddenly pull this crap on us."
Riveria scowl and glares at the brutish dwarf. "I don't know what you're talking about," Riveria replied as she look at her window.
"Come now, You can't easily fool us," Finn added. "Others might buy Loki's excuse but not us. So as our first level seven, at least have a drink with us."
"You two, I haven't leveled up yet." Riveria sighs heavily and massages her temple. "Not right now at least."
"You're joking right?" Gareth asks in disbelief. "You are seriously wasting such an opportunity? This is not like this damn wine you know."
Riveria shook her head and frowned. "No. I asked Loki to postpone it until I am convinced that I am worthy to this level up."
Finn scratches his head in irritation and looks at her lukewarm glass. "So what's your grand reason for being this stubborn?"
"There are many things stopping me but my main driving factor would be not until I manage to come clean to Ais,"
"You mean about you charming her rabbit?" Gareth asked.
Riveria glared at him which he nonchalantly shrugged off. "If the thing with Bell Cranel falls apart in the worst possible way, Ais might turn to a far worst being than just an Avenger."
The two shared a look and frown over the implication of the High Elf's words regarding the skill only a few of the Loki Familia knew. The deep-seated hatred that Ais carries is strong enough to develop into a skill on its own.
"Is this related to the things you don't want to tell us?" Finn asks, remembering the discussion they had before their ill-fated bet in which the High Elf replied with a nod. "So you and Loki knew something about Bell Cranel's background that might affect Ais if we don't handle the information properly. Am I right?"
"Yes, and by far, I believe this as the greatest sin our familia had done to him," Riveria replied as her tone took a dive as she look at the two seriously. "Far worst than letting the Minotaur reach the fifth floor, Bete's mockery, or even how our members treated him back then."
"Those things huh?" Gareth mumbles as he stared at his drink. "I can understand the other two but the first one was an accident."
"But if those were to come out and twisted by someone that hated us, it will make us look like we were the villain in those incidents. Especially the last two are connected to the first." Riveria replied as she once more heated her newly filled glass.
"I get your point but I remembered something Loki said earlier," Finn look at his hands. Right now, he felt no trembling on his thumb. Something he always sees as an omen. "It might be me but I think you and Loki are on a different wavelength regarding this issue."
"Then what did Loki do?"
With a closer look, Mama has a point but to the other one. Not her.
"She came in your stead earlier and I noticed that she thoroughly scrutinize him from top to bottom before mumbling that while you have your point. It's to the other one and not the one you are thinking."
"..." Riveria's eyes widen in surprise as she instantly understood what Loki meant. It means that he has indeed some connection to silence but he is not directly related to her. His connection with the Hera familia is with Silence's sister, Meteria, the frail and probably one of the few pure and beloved members of the Hera familia when the familia was still in their prime.
"Riveria, I think you need to relax a bit," with a concerned look, Finn called and said to her seriously as he reveal his hand. "I don't see any omen regarding the secret you and Loki knew of him. At the very least, I think you are overthinking this issue."
"You might be right," Riveria replied as she relax her back to her chair as she took her glass filled with new wine, and poke her tough on it. "yuck! I still can't understand why you two like drinking alcohol," before warming her glass once more.
"Does that mean you're finally going to level up?" Gareth asked.
"Hmmm..." With a playful smirk, Riveria raised her glass to them until steam started to come out from the wine before drinking it.
Tavern, Night
As darkness enveloped the land of Orario, a hooded figure entered a tavern and sat beside a god with golden hair.
"Is there a big reason you called me in secret, Lord Dionysus?" the hooded figure asked as she carefully survey her surroundings.
"I need a favor to ask you, Thousand elf," Dionysus replied as he leisurely enjoy his drink. "A task only you can do."
Guild, Morning.
The following day, in front of the guild, a small stage was prepared, and on it stood the Half-elf Eina, wearing a blue gown and a matching blue bard hat as she gave her opening oratory.
A long time ago, in a not so distant past.
The birth of the greatest legend came to be.
In time immemorial, a beast emerge from the land,
and brought destruction in its wake.
With its huge body as black as night and roars as powerful as the storms.
The heavens, seas, and lands are torn by its power.
O despair upon the vile wind of darkness.
O terror to the fearsome beast.
Thus eternal darkness covered the land,
and the voice of the poor prayed for salvation in the starless night.
Two deities took pity and descent to answer their prayers.
A brave God who wears a magnificent bracelet
and a beautiful goddess in white robes.
The sky roared on his command,
The queen's voice echoes
as the armies brought by the Gods faced the terrible beast.
Gaze upon the shining bracelet that divides the darkness,
marvel upon the robe that washes away the night.
With marks engraved upon the children of the land,
the beast of the land fell and turned to ash.
The darkness was driven out and light once more shone upon the world.
O Orario, our Arcadia.
The birthplace of heroes.
The brave raised their swords to answer the plea of the oppressed.
O Heavens, let us remember the names of our saviors you gave us.
The brave God Zeus and the nurturing Goddess Hera.
Glory to the world they save,
and let us carry out the hope they entrust us!
As new myths unfold, a new heroic tale.
A great day! A Grand Day full of hope!
Ladies and gentlemen, this eve of Grand Day.
Let us celebrate the peace brought by the Gods,
here in the towns, heroes are born...
To a day full of excitement and hope!
After Eina finishes her line, she was greeted by applause from all sides as this officially starts the two-day celebration of Grand Day.
Aaaaaaand Cut!
With this, the chapter came to a close. Once again, the motherly side of Riveria is showing up in regards to Ais' budding feelings for a certain white-haired adventurer. This is the very wall Bell must climb if he wished to court the High Elf. With the recent Ais Engagement event, Riveria's fear is not far from reality as the event shows that Ais has the potential of becoming a yandere if the right buttons were pushed. It was shown in the event that she is possessive and is jealous when Bell acts as a hero to someone else (Weine) that is not her.
Update wise, still, no fixed date as the usual rotation of updates for Ai and fate are now back.
for the reviews like and follow, thanks!