In the dimness of the Red Bulls' meeting room, a tense silence hung in the air, broken only by the soft shuffle of Castor's golden sandals on the polished wooden floor. The room, illuminated only by fragile lights on the walls, cast dancing shadows on the faces of those present, enhancing the atmosphere heavy with mystery.
"From what I see, the supposed killer entered through the front door and proceeded from there. At that point, when they invaded Dionysio-sama's room, they used some sort of blade to slit his throat. There are no signs of a cover-up; whoever did this didn't mind being found," Castor reported, his toothy smile faintly glimmering in the half-light.
"Onii-chan, try not to look so pleased about it. It's bizarre," Pollux reproached, her voice softly echoing in the room.
Castor glanced at his twin sister, trying to hide his true emotion behind a mask of seriousness. "Pollux, I'm not happy..." he blatantly lied, his gaze betraying him as his smile persisted.
The twins shared identical features, with the main difference being Castor being a man and Pollux a woman: hair, eyes, and skin tone that linked them undeniably. Castor sported a short haircut, while Pollux preferred a pigtail. Both wore white fabrics with black details, adorned with golden accessories. Castor wore golden sandals, while Pollux sported high heels of the same color, completing their looks with petrol-blue headpieces. Castor held a small three-layered golden shield, while Pollux wielded a golden sword, both with black details.
Castor and Pollux were the intelligence service of the Red Bulls, responsible for their small organization, handling any investigations that required a brain.
Now, the twin siblings stood before the organization's leader, Alexander, to present their report. Alexander, a red-haired boy with long braids and eyes of the same color, listened attentively as his hoop-shaped earrings lightly swayed with his movements. His black attire, adorned with the Argead star, highlighted his imposing figure, while the red skirt he wore added a touch of distinction.
There were several words that could be used to describe the Leader of this Organization, but the most popularly known one that he particularly hated was "The one who will kill you with his cuteness"... Needless to say, some of his members had to hold him back from going after the Goddess who provided him with that tacky bathrobe.
But Alexander had a more subtle reputation for his strength, the man who alone reached the lowest floor of the dungeon. And having fought mano a mano with Ottar the most powerful adventurer currently in Orario and caused him trouble.
"Well, from what I see, the person who murdered that God doesn't care about being found, and yet we have no leads against them. It's an intriguing case, or did you miss something?" Alexander pondered.
Indignation erupted on Castor's face. "Are you telling me we did a shoddy job?" he questioned, his voice laden with challenge.
A sigh escaped Alexander's lips, a clear sign of his frustration. Castor, consumed by anger, moved towards the leader, his fists clenched and his eyes flashing with rage. Pollux, acting quickly, held him firmly to prevent him from doing anything foolish.
"Onii-chan, Alexander-kun will put you in the hospital again!" Pollux's words slightly deflated, not believing in his strength.
Meanwhile, Galahad Van Animusphere carefully observed a photo with the mark on the murdered God's neck, an intrigued expression painting his face.
"Alexander-san, we couldn't see much after the Astrea Family arrived and cordoned off the area," Pollux spoke, much to the leader's displeasure.
"Tch! Damn, Alise. Couldn't you have arrived earlier?" Alexander questioned.
Castor crossed his arms in an unfriendly manner. "Things happened too fast, be grateful that Pollux and I got out of the tub for this," he said.
Pollux blushed at her brother's statement. "Onii-chan!?" she exclaimed, putting her hands in front of her face to disguise the blush.
"What?" Castor asked, confused.
"In any case, it won't be long before information leaks out, the Gods tend to gossip," Galahad then began twirling the photo between his fingers. "But we can't fully believe it, I'll talk to Marie-chan about this. I don't want to jump to conclusions, but responsibility might end up falling on the guild successors, not to mention the Gods who have increased security. It's going to be intriguing either way," Galahad said, keeping his eyes on the photo.
"That's good, it gives us more freedom to work." Alexander said.
Galahad couldn't help but let out a slight laugh at the mercenaries' leader's statement. "Alexander-kun, for our goal to have Gods dying in the corners of Orario giving us freedom is good, but where would that end?" He then squeezed the photograph and crumpled it. "Our duty is to put out these flames before they turn into a fire."
Alexander maintained his relaxed posture and sighed, "Sure, why not... He might be strong, but believe me, we won't put much effort into this. Personally, I have a different view on this situation." Alexander said in a tone that piqued Galahad's curiosity.
"And what would that be?" Galahad asked.
"To make all the other factions pale in comparison and lose credibility." Alexander said, earning an intrigued look from Galahad.
Realizing they were no longer needed, Castor then took Pollux by the waist, eliciting a slight grunt from his sister. "Let's go nee-san, I'll wash your back." he said, practically dragging his blushing mess of a sister away.
(Mansion Animusphere)
This was the Animusphere Mansion, the place where successors of the influential Adventurer's Guild resided, especially the current temporary Guild Master, Olga Marie Animusphere.
Olga was in her office having coffee, indignant at the untimely situation. What time was it now, 3 in the morning? It was easy to say she was not a night person.
Besides Olga, there were two more people accompanying her, especially one particularly unpleasantly noisy.
Beside her, a tall, slender woman with long red hair stood with a haughty posture. Her green eyes shone with a mix of curiosity and disdain as she looked around the office.
This woman was Alise Lovell, one of the most experienced and renowned adventurers in Orario, known for her direct and outgoing nature. She didn't hesitate to speak loudly and boast about her accomplishments, which could often be somewhat annoying to those around her. However, despite her somewhat unpleasant personality, people still respected her for her skill and courage as an adventurer.
On the other side of the room, a quieter, more reserved figure observed the scene with calm and serenity. It was Ryuu Lion, an adventurer known for her strength and stoicism. Her blue eyes and golden blonde hair.
Olga Marie sighed deeply. "Alright, Alise, Ryuu. Thank you for the report. It seems we have a murderer on the loose in Orario," she said, her voice laden with frustration.
Alise, as always, got straight to the point. "Yes, it seems someone invaded Dionysio-sama's mansion and murdered him with a blade. We found no signs of cover-up, so the killer didn't care about being discovered," she explained, her optimistic tone contrasting with the gravity of the situation.
Ryuu added calmly, "Furthermore, some witnesses saw a suspicious figure lurking around Dionysio's house on the night of the murder. It seems we have a starting point for our investigation," she added, her voice steady and firm.
Olga Marie nodded thoughtfully. "Alright. Let's work together to solve this case as quickly as possible. Orario cannot have a murderer on the loose," she declared, looking directly at Alise and Ryuu.
Alise smiled confidently. "Absolutely, Marie-chan. Let's find this killer and bring them to justice!" she exclaimed, her contagious enthusiasm filling the room.
Ryuu nodded silently, her expression determined. "Let's investigate carefully and uncover the truth behind this murder," she said, her calm and firm voice conveying a sense of assurance.
"PLEASE! YOU CAN'T JUST BARGE IN LIKE THAT!" The women in Olga's office heard the voice of Olga's maid, the one known as Charlotte.
Suddenly, the office door was abruptly opened with the maid in question being pushed in.
The person who invaded was Dionysio's only 'daughter', Filvis Challia. She had long black hair and red eyes. She wore a white frilled dress with a white coat with light blue edges over it.
She was not a lucky person, having witnessed the nightmare of the 27th floor and being the only survivor while her Family was annihilated, and now her God was murdered. Who could blame her for being hysterical...
But Olga didn't think like that, feelings like these were complicated and defied logic, but they brought more trouble than anything else, something she didn't need at 3 in the morning.
She walked, probably expected to reach the front of Olga's desk, if Ryuu hadn't stepped in front of the black-haired elf. Both stared at each other for a brief second, Ryuu with a look of understanding but still a warning. While Filvis did not convey the friendliest feelings to those present.
"I want the head of the killer or killers!" She demanded almost like a whisper.
Olga Marie, even in the face of Filvis's tumultuous entrance, kept her posture firm and professional. She looked at the black-haired elf with a serious yet understanding look, while Ryuu remained in her way, acting as a protective barrier between Filvis and Olga.
"Miss Filvis, please understand that we are dealing with a delicate and complex situation," Olga began, her calm and controlled voice contrasting with the elf's agitation. "Demanding the head of the killer will not get us anywhere. We need to investigate carefully and follow the clues we have until we find the culprit and bring them to justice."
Filvis, with her eyes burning with anger and pain, seemed unwilling to listen to reason. She was consumed by emotion, mourning the loss of her God mixing with the thirst for revenge. "I don't want to hear excuses! I want justice for Dionysio-sama!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling with the intensity of her emotions.
Alise, who had been silent observing the scene with a raised eyebrow until then, could no longer contain her comment. "Wow, this girl means business," she murmured to Ryuu beside her, her voice low enough for only the blonde adventurer to hear.
Ryuu nodded with a slight bow of her head, her blue eyes focused on Filvis's agitated figure. She knew the elf was suffering, but she also understood that letting emotions take control would lead nowhere.
Olga Marie sighed, trying to find the right words to calm the situation. "Miss Filvis, I understand your pain, but acting impulsively will not help us solve this case. We need to work together, follow the clues, and find the person responsible for Dionysio's murder."
The elf looked at Olga with eyes sparking with anger and frustration. "You don't understand! Dionysio-sama was everything to me! My family, my guide... and now he's gone, and you want me to just sit and wait while you investigate?" she said, her words laden with emotion.
Olga remained firm, her expression serious and determined. "Filvis, please trust us. We will do everything in our power to find the killer. But we need to do this calmly and methodically. Please give us time to investigate before acting impulsively."
Filvis, unable to contain her anger and despair, ignored Olga's words and took a step forward, determined to follow her own path. She was about to reach the door when Alise's direct and almost malicious words pushed her over the emotional edge.
"Do you really think you can handle this on your own, Filvis?" Alise said, her tone dripping with disdain. "You can barely control your own emotions, how do you expect to face a killer?"
The words had no effect on Filvis, but that didn't stop Alise from continuing to speak.
"Well, I don't expect you to get far anyway, the killer must be long gone from Orario by now if they're smart, and good riddance too, that Dionysio never seemed like a pleasant flower, I think I might even go out to celebrate having one less crappy God in the city--!" Alise's taunt was enough to push Filvis beyond her limit. With a roar of anger, the elf drew her sword and advanced towards Alise, clearly intending to harm her.
"You have no idea what it's like to lose someone you love! You have no idea what it's like to feel this pain!" Filvis snarled, her red eyes shining with a mix of tears and anger.
Ryuu, seeing the situation rapidly unfolding, acted swiftly. She moved between Filvis and Alise, her skilled hands grabbing the elf's wrist before she could strike. Ryuu's stoic face showed no emotion, but there was an undeniable strength in her grip.
"Calm down!" Ryuu said firmly, her voice echoing in the room.
Filvis trembled with rage and emotion, her eyes fixed on Alise, who looked back with a gaze whose meaning she didn't understand. She was about to protest again when Alise interrupted with a calm yet firm voice.
"Your God is dead! And you won't live much longer if you continue like this. If you're so eager to die, don't use your God's death as an excuse for justice or revenge," Alise asserted.
Alise's words seemed to reach a place within Filvis as she widened her eyes at the words, but the elf was still consumed by grief and the desire for vengeance. She looked at Ryuu, who still held her firmly, and then at Alise, whose green eyes met hers in a serious gaze.
"Please, Ryuu, let her go," Alise requested gently. "Filvis, we cannot change what happened, but we can work together to ensure that Dionysio-sama gets justice."
Ryuu glanced at Alise for a moment, her face serious as she assessed the situation. Then, with a discreet nod of her head, she released Filvis's wrist. The elf stepped back, still holding the sword, but seeming less inclined to use it.
"You... you don't understand..." Filvis murmured, her voice a whisper laden with sadness and despair. She slowly lowered the sword, her body trembling with conflicting emotions.
Alise sighed, looking at the elf with sympathy. "We understand more than you think, Filvis. Let's work together to resolve this. And as for the killer, we have some theories that might lead us to them."
"He's a tall man, wearing a white cloak with a hood and a sword as tall as his body." She began describing the characteristics of the supposed killer, details that the witnesses had provided. Filvis listened attentively, her expression still troubled but seeming more willing to listen.
"I... I'm sorry!" Filvis finally said, her voice faltering slightly. "I... don't know what to do..."
Alise gave a gentle reassuring smile. "It's okay, Filvis. Together we'll handle this."
With an irritated grunt, Filvis turned and left the office, her sword still in hand. Ryuu and Alise exchanged glances.
"Is she going to cause us trouble?" Olga was the one who asked.
"That's the intention, darn it, staying up all night is quite annoying for my beauty!" Alise said, yawning. "Hopefully the killer had a personal grudge against Dionysio and his family, and will go after its members, she's a good noisy bait." The girl affirmed, then nodded to Ryuu, a sign for the blonde to keep an eye on the elf.
With that, the blonde elf followed Filvis's steps, leaving only Olga and Alise alone.
Olga leaned back in her chair and grunted in irritation. "We need to find this person quickly before the news spreads. I don't want my idiotic brothers sticking their fingers in this situation," she stated.
Alise moved to the window where she could observe the moonlight. "Not to worry, the Red Bulls were there before we rushed away from the crime scene, those idiots are quite fast. Galahad must already be thinking about how to handle the situation." She informed, to Olga's shock.
"Don't you think you should have informed me about this earlier? He must have already had the Loki Family investigate the city!" Olga spoke clearly irritated.
"That could make you excited to solve everything, and we don't need to hurry to solve this all." She said looking up at the sky.
"And why do you think that?" The Guild Master questioned.
"Ah, I always forget that you've never lived an adventurous life and spent your whole life rotting away in this mansion." Alise said with a glint of humor, although her expression soon turned serious. "For us adventurers, killing Gods isn't difficult, most of them don't tend to have abilities much above average compared to adventurers. Still, it's considered taboo to kill them, they say that besides provoking hatred and repulsion from other Gods, the person who commits the act is cursed and curses those around... Anyone who has the madness to commit such an act won't be far and will soon appear!" Alise said with conviction.
Olga then noticed an almost frighteningly excited smile appear on the redhead's face.
"I'm excited! Who is this person? They must be someone crazy and very strong! Oh, I hope we can curse each other to death!" She said with an almost sickening gleam.
On the other hand, Olga had only one thought, "What nonsense!"
( With Bell )
Damn lights... Is it already morning? By the Gods, what a night that was!
The boy blushed as he remembered all the events with that insatiable Goddess last night, he abruptly got up only to realize he was alone in the room.
"I had sex!" Bell still couldn't believe it... Then he raised both arms in the air with a satisfied smile. "Grandma, thank you!" He then flopped back on the mattress with the silliest grin he had ever had.
"But where did Astrea-sama go?" Bell found himself lost in thought, trying to piece together the events of the previous night while still feeling enveloped by the pleasant sensation that lingered in his body. He thought about the laughter, the moments of intimacy, and the exchanged glances with Astrea-sama.
However, his daydreaming was abruptly interrupted when he heard the door of the room being opened.
Jumping up, Bell looked towards the door, seeing an older man, the landlord of the room he had rented for the night.
The man had a serious expression, and Bell felt a shiver run down his spine. "Sorry for the inconvenience, lad, but Astrea-sama's reservation has expired," the landlord said with a deep, authoritative voice. "You need to vacate the room immediately."
Bell felt a chill of confusion run through his body. Astrea-sama had left? Without even saying goodbye? He felt a bit betrayed and confused by the situation. However, before he could fully process the situation, the landlord made a comment that made Bell blush to his ears.
"Oh, and you should put on some clothes," the man said with a disapproving look. "It's not appropriate to be like this around the house."
Bell looked down and realized, with horror, that he was still naked. He had completely forgotten about his nudity amidst the memories of the previous night. With a quick motion, he grabbed the blanket that was on the bed and pulled it around himself, trying to cover himself as decently as possible.
"Uh, y-yes, of course," stammered Bell, his cheeks burning with shame. "I... I will dress immediately."
The landlord only nodded with an impassive expression and left the room, leaving Bell alone with his embarrassment and confusion. He quickly got dressed, still trying to process everything that had happened the night before.
"This won't leave my head anytime soon..." he muttered to himself.
( Scene transition)
Bell walked through the bustling streets of Orario, his steps echoing on the stone sidewalk as he counted the last coins he had in his small travel pouch. He felt hunger gnawing at his stomach, but he knew he needed to make that money last until he could find a family and become a real adventurer.
As he made his way, Bell noticed a commotion of people gathering around some posters scattered on the walls.
Curious, he approached to see what it was about. The posters showed detailed illustrations of a hooded man holding a sword the size of his own body. Below the image, in large, bold letters, it read "Wanted: Assassin of the God Dionysus, any information about the individual will be rewarded with 50,000 Valis."
Bell was shocked to read those words. He knew someone who matched that description, who happened to tell him that he was coming to Orario to kill someone...
He killed a God? How could someone commit such an outrageous crime? He heard murmurs around him, conversations among the adventurers who gathered to discuss the matter.
"Have you heard of this assassin? They say he's ruthless."
"Yes, and the reward for capturing him is huge. Imagine what we could do with all that money..."
"Idiot, someone who has the courage to kill a God must be a powerful psychopath. I'd be happy just to provide information, it's easy money they're offering just for information."
Bell listened attentively, his mind spinning with thoughts. He had never been so close to such a serious crime, and the idea that Kunihito was such a dangerous killer and was loose on the streets of Orario sent shivers down his spine...
He killed a God... Bell believed he wouldn't feel too bad, considering what he was thinking of doing... Which way to the Guild?
( With Kunihito )
The day passed without contact from his 'sponsor' so far, and apparently they were after him. In the early part of the day, things didn't seem so hectic, but a little after noon, things got busier for some reason... It was strange.
It was already sunset, and he needed to get rid of his travel cloak and blend in with the crowd. Don't get him wrong, Kunihito appreciated a good fight, but he wanted to satisfy his curiosity about his contractor at the moment, so he preferred to stay in the shadows.
Walking through the busy commercial streets, oblivious to the frequent hustle, he felt his arm being tugged. With a sharp look, he was prepared to attack his assailant at that very moment, but the urge to fight faded when he saw who the attacker was speaking.
"Hey! Hey! Come on, Onii-chan! Take a break and have some baked potatoes, they're the best in Orario!" A young girl, tiny compared to him, pulled him eagerly with an animated attitude.
She's a lovely, petite girl with a youthful appearance. She has blue eyes and black hair down to her thighs tied in twin tails that reach to mid-thigh. Her hair is adorned with hair accessories. She has a small frame that emphasizes her bosom even more.
Kunihito was a bit stunned to realize how Orario was a city of novelties; the girl's disproportionate appearance was almost comical.
The half-elf, somewhat distracted, allowed himself to be pulled to the small potato stand, where he caught a glimpse of the food... He didn't like it; it seemed too greasy. He hated fried food, preferring sweets for most meals.
"So, Onii-chan, how many are you getting?" The girl asked.
"The only way I'll eat that is if you come as a side dish." Kunihito said simply, giving her a skeptical look.
The girl looked at him with her own skeptical gaze, as if analyzing what he had just said. "Really?" She asked.
"No, as tasty as you might be, I don't think you're worth that much for me to eat that." Kunihito retorted.
The girl raised an eyebrow, a playful smile playing on her lips. She seemed intrigued by Kunihito's response, as if she wasn't used to hearing such frankness.
"Wow, you're straightforward, huh? But don't worry, I'm not for sale, Onii-chan." She replied jokingly, winking at him.
Kunihito just looked on gently, finding the girl's laid-back demeanor a breath of fresh air. He glanced around the stand, seeing people passing by and greeting the girl as they paid for their potatoes.
"You seem pretty popular, huh?" Kunihito remarked.
"I have a knack for it!" She said, unashamedly puffing out her ample bosom, which caught the half-elf's eyes.
"Interesting... Alright, I've made up my mind!" Kunihito said with a glint in his eye.
"Ah! Finally come to your senses, how many are you getting?" She asked, seeing that the man had fallen for her charm.
Kunihito then gestured with his index finger to the girl. "You!" He said to her lack of understanding.
"What?" She said, not understanding the meaning.
"From today onwards, you're mine." He said simply.
She blinked a few times, trying to process what she had just heard. "Wait, what? I'm yours? What do you mean?" She asked, now completely confused by the situation.
Kunihito just shrugged. "You said you weren't for sale, right? Well, I'm stealing you." He said simply.
The girl turned her head, then let out a loud, contagious laugh, clapping her hands as she doubled over in laughter.
"You're hilarious, Onii-chan—HEY! WHAT THE HELL IS THIS!?" She didn't even realize when the man grabbed her with one of his hands and hoisted her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes... ironic twist of fate.
"I've told you, now you're mine." He said simply.
The girl began to struggle and exclaim protests, but Kunihito simply ignored her. It was when the owner of the potato stand appeared.
"Hestia! What the hell were you doing!? You should be working, not lounging around!" The owner didn't seem to be in a good mood.
Hestia was visibly shocked at the scene before her. The owner of the stand, a short, chubby man with an oil-stained apron and potatoes, was furious. His eyes narrowed as he saw Kunihito holding the girl over his shoulder like a bag of groceries.
"Well, well, what do we have here? A girl thief now, is that it?" The man growled, his voice echoing through the busy street.
Kunihito, still keeping his calm gaze, simply ignored him.
"Kohta-kun, it's not what it looks like!" Hestia tried to intervene, but the stand owner was clearly agitated.
"I always have trouble with you! A useless girl who can't even peel a simple potato!" He began to launch a series of insults and accusations against her, saying she was useless and always causing trouble.
"And you'll pay for this! I'll call the guards, and you'll be arrested for disturbing the peace of my establishment!" He said, pointing a finger at the half-elf.
Without hesitation, Kunihito raised his right fist and punched the man directly in the face. The impact was like an explosion, the sound of flesh hitting flesh echoed down the street. The stand owner flew backward, knocking over tables and stalls along the way, before finally hitting the ground, unconscious and bleeding.
The people around were shocked, some screamed, others began to disperse in fear. Hestia looked at Kunihito, her eyes wide with surprise and concern.
"What have you done?! Today was the day of my payment." She exclaimed.
He just shrugged, looking at the confusion around him. "He was annoying me. Besides, he reeked of fried food."
Kunihito then, still with Hestia over his shoulder, began to walk as if nothing had happened while she tried to wriggle free.
"Hestia, right? As long as you're entertaining, I'll keep you with me." He said.
"Screw you!" She grunted, but he ignored her.
"By the way, what do you think about having kids?" Kunihito asked simply.
This made Hestia stop struggling for a moment to process what the half-elf had just said, and only one thought came to her mind. "WHO THE HELL IS THIS GUY!?"
( TO BE CONTINUE!?)
N.A:
A preparatory chapter for the main event.
Now raise your hands and celebrate, Bell Cranel got laid... Yuuuuu doesn't seem like this should have happened in the first chapter of the light novel...
Anyway, until the next chapter.