CHAPTER 7: THE WORLD TRULY IS…

Yawn*

A loud yawn could be heard as the light of the sun shone brightly on his pure white hair. Letting out a few stretches, he got up from his bed as he exited from his room.

Upon exiting he was greeted by silence, before he could wonder about the sudden quietness of the house, saw a piece of note from his master when he entered the living room. He read the letter saying that his master would be out for a while and had said he could do what he wanted for today while he was out.

Still sleepy, Bell let out another yawn and went to the kitchen to make his breakfast. Taking only two pieces of bread and coffee, he usually does not drink coffee too often because when he first tried one, it tasted pretty bitter, but when his master gave him advice on how to lessen the bitter taste, he learned to like it.

'It is…really quiet…' he stared at the window watching the clouds that float through the blue sky. He looked back to everything that happened to him till now, all his life, It was only him and his grandpa, reading him hero stories and farming with him. When his grandpa suddenly died, it took him a while to stand up again as he wondered what will he do now. Meeting his master had re-ignited his dream and goal to be a hero.

Throughout his time with his master, he learned different things that he would never have expected to hear, such as finding out that his master comes from a faraway land similar to the Far East but never said the name, and had their own heroic tales that Bell was excited to hear.

However, the white-haired boy could not help but wonder…..after the mercenary finished training him, what would he do? Go to Orario? Or…..try to train more till he is ready?...-shaking his head at that thought, he contemplated what he would do for now. Maybe he would visit the village for the time being ?…..maybe hunt for a little in the forest?

As Bell finishes his breakfast and goes outside, he brings a small hunting knife just in case he decides to hunt something.

Many had waved their hellos at Bell as he strolled the village. As usual, the atmosphere was very lively as many villagers were helping each other to contribute to the village.

"Hello, Bell, not with the mercenary today?" said a middle-aged man who was in front of Bell, his bow and quiver were attached at his back.

Bell only gave his usual wide smile before replying. "He said he had to do something, so he let me have a day off today."

The middle-aged man only nodded while crossing his arms. " Good, good, people need a break from time to time. So what will you do on your day off?"

"Hmm I don't know yet, I was planning to hunt in the woods or something like that."

"Well…I do need to check some traps I set in the woods outside the village today, but I am also busy with something….mind helping me out?"

Bell instantly agreed to the request and asked which area of the woods he had set the traps.

"Oh just in the south outside the village…and don't worry, there are no goblins there who would bully you, Hahaha."

Bell blushed at the joke, true he was still afraid of goblins due to the one who attacked him when he was small but his still trying to overcome it. He tries to calm himself from his awkwardness by quickly running to the south while leaving a still-chuckling middle-aged man behind.

"Hahaha, you're growing up to be a fine young man, Bell, your grandpa would be proud of you." The middle-aged man looked at the sky thinking Bell's grandpa smiling in the heavens. 'But don't be a pervert like your grandpa.' He sweated remembering what his friend once peeked at a bathing woman and ended up getting beaten to a pulp, shaking off the memory he walk-off.

"Another trap and no animal. Hmm, it's strange."

After roaming for a while in the woods, Bell encountered a few traps that were set off, but the weirdest thing was there were no animals caught from the trap…. as if they were disabled by somebody. Did the huntsman mess up or something?

No, Bell had known the man and would never make a mistake, so maybe a bear or something did it? He continues strolling around through the woods, hoping to find other traps that were placed and find out who disabled them.

"Please spa-"

"Quiet you! It's hard enough that there are traps here! We don't need you screaming from you girl!"

When the boy managed to see a clearing and was about to go there, he suddenly heard screams. Trusting his instinct, he slowly walks there while hiding in one of the bushes. Bell was shocked at the sight upon seeing what the noise was. He saw a hooded figure scolding a girl who was tied down to a tree.

However, the most horrifying was that the girl had many bruises on her body, torn off clothes, and tears were coming out from the girl.

"Geez, you keep quiet or I'll cut your throat." threatened the hooded figure making the girl shut up but still whimper in fear.

The white-haired boy was now holding tightly the knife he was holding, as he contemplated on how she could save the girl from the hooded figure. Shaking a little a thought suddenly appeared in his mind that he would fight the figure to save the girl, however, this would be the first he would try to fight with someone other than his master, what would he do? He could not just abandon someone in need.

"He just said he'll just walk around the woods, what's taking him so long? " complained the hooded figure while shutting the girl's mouth with a cloth.

He?...there someone with him!? This is bad, Bell did not notice anybody walking while in the woods, there's a chance he was seen. He needs to move quickly. The boy was about to move but felt a cold chill freezing him in place. For him, time froze as his mind tried to calculate the reason for the sudden chill, it felt like he was in the jaws of some monster ready to kill him at any moment.

Too late to realize, his body moved on its own, he rolled forward exposing him to where he was hiding, and let out a scream.

"KYAAA!"

After his scream, the area went into an awkward silence as the boy noticed that he unconsciously dodged an attack from his back…and blushed when he realized he let out a…. 'manly' scream. Re-composing himself he turned his back quickly and saw who attacked him. Wearing the same clothes as the hooded figure, but a pair of animal ears can be seen from the man's head…his a beastman!?

"A white-haired and red-eyed human, huu~ that's rare, I wonder how much worth we will get if we sell you off? Hehe" said the beastman who was slowly walking out from the forest showing a toothy grin and a killing aura.

The boy gulps as his hands grip the knife he is holding, while his eyes are focused on the laughing beastman. Seeing the boy look at him with a serious expression, the beastman could not help but chuckle more.

"What~, thinking of yourself as a hero, kid? Hahaha, are you a little too old for that?" mocked the beastman as he unsheathed a short sword, still showing a cocky grin, he pointed his sword at the boy. "Very well let's play, hero"

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING BEAT THAT KID BEFORE SO-" Said the hooded figure as he pointed at the two, but was cut off by the beastman.

"Relax, it's just some kid, he won't kill me, so just relax and watch the show." He said, confident he would win.

After a moment, the beastman launches toward Bell while swinging his sword, surprised by the speed, the boy tries to block it with his knife. Both metal and metal clash with each other, making sparks whenever they collide with each other. One was showing a cocky grin as he dodged and parry each attack, while the other was straggling to keep up as more and more gaps slightly get shorter.

It doesn't matter if a normal person is trained, there will always be a difference in power between someone with a Falna, and someone without one. When both weapons clashed with each other again, the beastman opened his mouth and said something.

"Hmm, impressive~, you're keeping up from my attacks kid…. too bad I'm stronger." He then put more force on his sword making Bell struggle more from the weight.

There for a moment, Bell came out with an idea, however, this would risk his life if he failed. He stepped to the side, but due to the weight and speed of the short sword, it managed to injure his right shoulder. Ignoring the pain, he clenched his left hand into a fist and punched the surprised beastman in the face.

For a small moment, Bell slightly smiled thinking he managed to deal some damage, but that relief soon disappeared when the beastman looked at him with an angered look.

"Did…you think that could damage me? Play time's over." the beastman said, his cocky smile now replaced by an angry scowl.

Before Bell could act, he was kicked forward into the air. As he landed on the ground, he dropped his knife. He tried to get up, but the beast man pushed him to the ground and choked him.

"Hahaha, just stay still and this will be over quickly." The beastman said as he continued to choke Bell.

The boy franticly tried to move, however, due to the pain he was in and the injuries of his shoulder his movement slowly stopped. Before his mind could shut down, he managed to hold something. Without a second thought, Bell swung the object to the beastman's neck in a desperate move as his eyes closed.

For a short while, everything went quiet, the beastman stopped choking him and slowly regained his consciousness. When he opened his eyes, confused as to why the beastman suddenly stopped, he was horrified…. There, the beastman looked at him with the same wide eyes as his, before could realize it, he felt blood drip from his hand where he was plunging the knife… into the beastman's neck…Oh no.

"You…..*Cough*….bastard….." that was the last thing the beastman could say as his lifeless body dropped to the ground.

To Bell, he was…gasping, His eyes were wide in shock as he looked at his bloodied hand with a horrified look. He….He ki-killed someone….why….why….part of him was relieved?! Is it because he was trying to kill him? Why….why.

"YOU GONNA PAY FOR THIS KID!" screamed the hooded figure as he regained from the shock that his comrade died and charged at the boy with his knife.

He was cut off from his thoughts and tried to move, however, Bell's body was still in shock, and it was too late.

"CAW!...CAW!"

The charging figure stopped as a crow suddenly appeared and attacked the hooded figure making him drop the knife he was holding.

"Are you alright Bell?" said the familiar voice of his master with concern and worry in his tone.

Bell only looked at his master, still in shock at what happened, and only nodded. Michael then scanned the area and understood what happened and slightly frowned at Bell's shaking and bloodied body.

"Listen Bell, take the girl with you to the village and I'll handle the rest." He ordered before taking the drop knife and using it to cut the ropes that tied the girl.

After the girl was free, Both Bell and the girl ran off in the direction of the village, leaving only the mercenary and the hooded figure who was still trying to fend off the crow. The mercenary ordered the crow to stop when the figure hit the tree with his back.

"D-Do you know, who we are, we will destroy you, and that-" Threatened the hooded figure but was cut off when Michael dropped a bloodied bag.

In an icy gaze, he opened his mouth. "Oh, I know who you guys are, luckily for me there's a wanted poster about you guys, unlucky for you it never said 'Dead or Alive', hehe."

The hooded figure manages to see what the contents of the bag are and is horrified when he sees it. Now trembling in fear the hooded figure looked at the mercenary, his eyes met his, and his oak-colored eyes only showed unforeseen pain would happened to the figure.

"P-please sp-"

"SHHHH~, just be quiet." Said with a menacing smile as Michael unsheathed his sword, "But I do need information, so you gonna tell me, alright?"

If other people would see him at that moment, they would run and scream for their life.

After a while, the mercenary returned to the village and quickly asked about Bell and the girl. After confirming that the girl was now in care and had healed her bruises, he quickly went to where Bell had gone when the villagers mentioned the boy went somewhere after bandaging the wound. There's only one place other than the house Bell would go, and set off to the direction of a small hill

Seeing Bell huddled up next to the tombstone of his grandfather upon seeing him, he slowly walked toward him as he heard faint sobbing coming from the boy. Knowing what Bell is currently feeling, he kneels in front of him and pats his uninjured shoulder.

"You did well out there." He said with warmness in his voice.

The boy kept quiet, refusing to lift his head as more sobbing could be heard. Closing his eyes and letting out a deep breath the mercenary stood up and prepared what he was about to say.

"Say it, say everything that happened, scream it all, don't leave any details, I won't judge you."

Bell quietly stood up and looked at Michael with his still-crying eyes. His body shook as he tried to let out all his feelings about what happened.

"I-I-I ki-ki-killed someone….b-but w-why I feel s-so….!" He said in a shaking voice and still crying state. There he let out all about how he killed someone, how it felt, and part of him was disgusted that he was relieved that he killed the beastman.

Bell let out all his emotion, to the point he was screaming it all, confessing all his guilt, and feeling about taking someone's life. Michael only looks at him with a neutral expression, not saying anything. When Bell's scream gradually stopped, and only a still sobbing boy was left, Michael's arm wrapped around Bell and hugged him.

"Its okay, Bell…..its okay." He said while still hugging the crying boy, he didn't care if the boy was dirtying his clothes, as long he could help his student, that's all that mattered. "Bell, let me give you some advice, that I learned a long time ago…saving someone's life will always have a price, no matter what you do…you either have to give up something precious, to save a life…or let it go." Each word he said helped a weight of responsibility as memories of a distant past showed themselves in Michael's mind.

He still remembered that moment, every second, how the person's hand went cold as he uttered their last words on him….not this time. The mercenary then looked into Bell's eyes and let out a warm smile.

"You want to be a hero right, so make sure you could save everyone….don't make the same mistake as I did."

The boy only says one word, and that one word causes Bell to strengthen his resolve.

"Okay."

The mercenary let out a small laugh as he smiled at Bell, the heartwarming atmosphere soon disappeared when Michael opened his mouth.

"However….you should fix your…. 'manly' scream."

At that word, Bell deadpanned while his mouth let out a scream.

"EEEKKKK!"

"HAHAHAHA."

"BELL, YOU IDIOT!"

When Bell woke up from the clinic, he was greeted by a screaming Hestia. He begged for forgiveness while Hestia scolded him for being reckless and almost dying, this only led to a very funny sight in the clinic as others chuckled at the sight. When Hestia was finished scolding him, he looked at the bandaged arm and clenched his fist with determination.

"Goddess."

"Hmm?"

"I want to be strong."

Hestia only let out a huge sigh and let out a warm smile at him before patting his back.

"You will, I believe in you."