Is it Wrong to Live Transmigrated as Bell Cranel in a Dungeon?

Chapter 2: Familia

"All things are connected through the Force. From such acts of kindness, great things may come."

Meetra Surik, Jedi Exile, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic: The Sith Lords

Main POV

I could feel myself start to wake up, and I could immediately tell that I was comfortable, in a bed of some sort. If I was even more aware, I'd be surprised, but in my waking state I didn't question it.

As my brain was trying to boot back up, it naturally tried to remember what I had been doing lately. And upon remembering the encounter in the alley, I instantly became alert as chemicals in my brain did the equivalent of yelling that I was in danger.

My eyes snapped open and I rapidly breathed as I tried pushing myself up to look around. I winced as my ribs felt stiff. I tried looking for my weapons, only to notice I seemed to be in a small sleeping quarters. Naturally, this calmed me down as I realized I had long since been out of danger.

I also noticed that I wasn't alone. Sitting asleep in a nearby chair was the blond elf I attempted to help the night prior. 'Attempted' being the key word, I realized with a little awkardness, as I could now recall how swiftly she knocked both of those jerks out.

And it was only then, that the dots finally connected in my head. Golden-blond hair, blue eyes, green outfit, found near a pub, an elf. 99.99% chance that this was Ryuu Lion.

I felt myself start to blush. I slapped my cheeks in annoyance. I was blushing from embarrassment and definitely not at how beautiful Ryuu was! Honest! I swear! Please believe me!

I mean, how awkward, Ryuu was an experienced warrior with the strength of a higher end Level 4 adventurer who kept up her skills despite her change in employment. She had the entire situation handled and no doubt had to deal with such arseholes before. Most adventurers in the city are level 1, and any higher levels that would be jerks wouldn't be near the Hostess of Fertility to begin with. There was no threat for someone like Ryuu. I was probably more of annoyance than the failed sexual assaulters!

Part of me wanted to drop dead at how embarrassing this whole situation was. Can you blame me for wanting my first impressions with Ryuu and the other Hostess girls to see me in a cooler or more respectable light?

'AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!' I mentally screamed in realization.

I grabbed her wrist last night! She should be pissed at me right?! There's like no rapport between us - and even with rapport elves find that kind of contact frowned upon! But this is probably her room? Eh?

I was seriously confused right now.

Doesn't she wake up early to train? That seems in character for her. How did I beat her in waking up?

Eager for the non-sequitur to take me away from the dangerous line of thought I was about to approach, I quickly look through the window to see the sun only beginning to go over the horizon.

So knowing my luck, Ryuu could wake up any moment.

"Oh you're finally awake," Ryuu said to me.

I shouldn't have tempted fate. If my life was actually an anime I'd probably have anime tears going down my face for a few frames. And don't prove me right with a Skyrim meme!

"Ah, yes," I said, trying and failing at not being shy.

"I didn't get the chance to say so last night," Ryuu said, "but thank you for your help with those men. I appreciate it."

"Oh no!" I deny, "It was nothing. It is what anyone wou– should've done. Not that I really did anything in the end…"

"You are too humble," Ryuu insisted, "If not for your intervention, I would have had to face both of them on my own. It was most unfavorable odds. By distracting one of them, you gave me the opportunity to focus all my attention on one of them at a time. It was most helpful."

Kill me now. Ryuu was lying as easily as she breathed in an attempt to make me feel better about myself. She probably noticed I have no Falna and made the reasonable assumption that I don't know how strong she is and how little of a threat those men were to her. After all, a newbie to the city with no Falna probably isn't aware of the intricacies of how different the power levels between adventurers actually works.

Accept I do know all of those things. But I couldn't act like I knew those things.

Part of me felt happy that Ryuu was going out of her way to accommodate my feelings. And part of me was horrified for the exact same reason.

I believe that first feeling is coming from Bell's influence, and the later from the both of us.

"If you say so…" I finally say to Ryuu, trying my best to hide my mortification.

Ryuu, bless her heart, took this as a chance to change the conversation, "I never did get your name. I am Ryuu."

"Right!" I perk up, glad at any chance to change topic, "I'm Bell Cranel! Please take care of me!"

Don't take that the wrong way, it's a common Japanese saying that's also used here in Orario.

"Well met," Ryuu said, "Are you well enough to stand?"

"Ah yes!" I answer, swinging my legs out, "My ribs feel a little stiff but I'm much better than I have any right to be! I take it you healed me up?"

Ryuu raised her eyebrow, "What makes you think that?"

Ah, that was a good question, let's use naivety to bullshit my way through this one. "Pardon my phrasing, but I've noticed that you are an elf. I've heard many stories from my grandfather about elves. That they are skilled and prideful. Good with many types of magic, especially healing, and that they are very beautiful! AH!"

I squawked in embarrassment at the end there. Damn it Zeus! What did you fill this kid's head with! It was all Bell's info that got pulled up just then! Please kill me!

I then proceeded to dig a further hole for myself, "I'm so sorry! I'm sure you find such words disgusting to hear from a human like myself! But don't take it the wrong way! You — I mean! Uh! I've never met an elf before! So I wasn't sure how much grandpa was exaggerating when he told me all that stuff about making a harem! AH! Not that I'm trying to do that! My gramps was just a big pervert! And I'd be happy being able to just make one woman truly happy! Not that I'm saying that person is you! I just met you! You are really pretty though! Ugh! Which I literally just said you probably find disgusting to hear from me! So! Uh!"

I proceed to bow my head so I'm looking at the floor, "Please make it painless."

"Eh?" Ryuu said, apparently confused. Which made me confused.

"Uh… killing me for daring to touch an elf's wrist and calling her beautiful twi… three times now," I answer, tilting my head up at her.

Ryuu looked at me for a moment before saying, "If we count the time you called me a 'Fairy' before you passed out last night, it would technically be four times. And what was that about a harem?"

I could feel myself simultaneously pale and blush at the same time. I was going to pass out again if my blood was actually moving around like it feels like it is. Having Ryuu of all people tease me was just too much!

I was moments from throwing myself outside the nearby window and running away as far as I could - the fact that I would be shoeless and weaponless was meaningless in the face of my embarrassment.

Thankfully the door opened at that moment. I felt hope that somehow the universe had some mercy on me.

I should have known better.

Syr proceeded to peek into the room, "Ryuu, are you up? How's that b– ohho?"

The silver haired goddess in disguise was smiling in amusement, likely because my face was red like a tomato. I had to stop her from joining in on teasing me or I'd drop dead.

So I jumped out of Ryuu's bed and performed a dogeza, "Please have mercy! If I'm teased any further right now I might die for real!"

"Haha!" Syr laughed, "That sounds like quite the series of events that I've missed out on then! Oh well. Still, I'm not sure what you mean~ I wouldn't tease you, even if it looks like you were having dirty thoughts about our resident elf. Though I guess you are a growing boy after all…"

"I–!" I was going to deny Syr's suggestive comment, but I also couldn't find it in myself to lie either. I just can't win right now.

"Oh so I hit the nail on the head, huh?" Syr noticed my hesitation, "Don't worry though. When Ryuu-chan rejects you, I'll be there for you to wipe your tears away, okay?"

"My rejection is already guaranteed?!" I immediately called out, somehow becoming the straight man in the comedy skit that is my life now.

"Yes!" Syr immediately replied, completing the bit.

"..." Meanwhile Ryuu was still just sitting there, watching the show.

I took a deep breathe, faced Ryuu from my position on the floor and bowed slightly. Trying to will my blush away, I said, "My name is Bell Cranel. Thanks again for looking after me. I swear I'll repay this debt."

Yes, I was all but pretending that the interaction with Syr hadn't happened. Everyone knew it did. But this was the epilogue to the comedy skit that I needed to do in order to not die of embarrassment.

"Oh there's no nee–" Ryuu began to deny the debt that very much existed, but I cut her off.

"I insist. I can see the empty potion vials over there. Those were used on me, weren't they? At the very least I should find a way to repay you for those."

Ryuu glanced away, "No, I used those on myself to recover my Mind after using my magic to heal you. If anything they were used more for my sake than for yours."

I wasn't buying it.

"Madam," I said, dramatically motioning at Syr, "what is your verdict? Is Ryuu-san telling the truth? Or fibbing in order to spare the feelings of a very embarrassed young man?"

"Hmmm…" Syr dramatically faux thought it over, before saying, "My womanly intuition says that Ryuu-chan is a sweetheart!"

"A cop out answer, huh?" I said, realizing that Syr was agreeing with me, but phrasing it with a more neutral response. I then grinned in Ryuu's direction, "Good thing there's nothing stopping me from figuring out how much those potions cost and then spending that much money at a certain pub~"

"I'm surrounded by scheming humans," Ryuu deadpanned.

Syr and I both scoffed in mock offense, which caused the silver-haired girl to blush? Huh.

I then wince in shame before saying, "At least, I will as soon as I manage to join a Familia…"

"Oh?" Syr became interested, the why to that being so obvious I need not say more, "You're looking to become an adventurer?"

I smile softly, "That's the first step, anyway. To my goal I mean."

"And what is your goal, Mr. Cranel?" Ryuu asked me.

I chuckled, "Don't laugh at me, okay? But… when I was little, actually all my life, my grandpa regaled me with stories of heroes and monsters (among other things). And… so…"

"Wanting to be a hero? At your age?" Syr teased shamelessly.

But I was unaffected, I smiled sadly and said, "When my grandfather passed away a couple weeks ago, he left me all alone in this world. And part of me wanted a hero to come down and tell me it wasn't true. I wanted a hero to save me. No one did, of course. Who would? And it wouldn't have mattered, because death is final… but that's not what needed saving…"

I looked up at them, "I'm incredibly selfish, you see, when you love someone, you never want to let them go. You don't want to lose them. That's the way the world is. If you want to keep the ones you love safe, you have to be willing to fight for it. For them. But you can't do anything without power. The power to act. To Save."

I then look out the window, "And because I know what it's like to lose someone dear to you… I'd like to be the kind of person that helps people, so they don't have to endure that pain needlessly…"

Grandpa Zeus might not actually be dead, but… that doesn't mean I don't know what it's like to lose the ones you care about. Grandpa…

I then rub my head in embarrassment, "I talk a big game though for someone who can barely handle surface goblins, huh? Pretty arrogant of me, right?"

"No," Ryuu disagreed, "There's nothing wrong with that. It's a good dream. Yes. I wish you the best."

I could tell how earnest Ryuu was despite the lack of change in her tone. I could my face and chest fill with warmth. It was… really nice. I shyly scratched my cheek, "T-thanks."

I then squawked as Syr suddenly glomped me. She then whispered into my ear, "You are so c.u.t.e!"

I blushed as I lightly tried to move the well-endowed goddess in disguise. "And you said you wouldn't tease me…"

"Sorry, sorry!" Syr chuckled as she released me.

"In any case," I say, grabbing my boots and moving to put them on, "I should probably also say my thanks to the owner as well for letting me rest here for the night. We're still at the pub, right?"

"Yes, I'm sure Mama Mia will appreciate it," Ryuu answered.

I quickly gathered my things, trying to quickly allow Ryuu to finally have her room and privacy back.

"Follow me," Syr said, leading me from the second building over to the pub proper where Mama Mia was already up and about.

We left the dormitory building, through a garden-like courtyard, and into the pub building proper.

We found Mama Mia already hard at work opening up the shop for the day.

"So," Mama Mia said as we approached the large woman, "you're that boy that Ryuu brought in last night."

"Yes, I'm Bell Cranel," I introduce myself with a small bow, "Thank you again for taking care of me."

Mama Mia grunted, "I'm not so cold to leave you out on the streets after standing up for one of my girls. Not that they needed the help. You need to learn to watch out more for yourself, you hear?"

I got the impression Mama Mia was just trying to tell me to not get hurt like that again if I can help it. Basically looking out for me in her own way.

"Of course," I respond, but then add, "But I also can't help but step in when someone's in trouble right in front of me."

"Especially when it's a fair maiden?" Syr chipped in.

"Exactly!" I instantly respond before realizing what Syr just said, "Wait! You tricked me again! Not that it's a lie though!"

"Hah!" Mama Mia laughed at our banter, "As long as you're aware that might get you killed someday, then fine."

"Mama," Syr then spoke up, "Bell-kun has been trying to apply to Familias to become an adventurer, but he's down on his luck. And his funds. Can't we do anything to help?"

I wince, "It's embarrassing, but I am one day from becoming a homeless person. But I'd hate to impose myself any further on your generosity. So, really, don't worry about me. You've already done plenty, as is. "

Mama Mia hummed to herself. Then made a surprising offer, "Help us set up in the morning, work the evening rush, and clean up after closing. Do that, and I'll provide room, board, and your uniform. But I won't pay you until you give up on becoming an adventurer, you hear?"

"You've got a deal!" I exclaim, enthusiastically. Things were looking up for me! The only problem being that it did seem like Freya was interested in me, but I'd just have to cross that bridge when I get there.

"Fine," Mama Mia said, concluding the deal, "Syr, show the rabbit what he needs to do and… get one of the other girls to get him breakfast. The boy needs some more meat on his bones."

Syr pouted, "Why did you feel the need to make it sound like my cooking is bad? I'm getting better!"

"Better at putting customers into an early grave more like!" Mama Mia said with a laugh before walking off to do her morning routine or something.

I looked over to Syr, "Please take care of me, Syr-san."

"It will be my pleasure, Bell-kun," Syr responded with a wink.

Oh have mercy on me. This woman! Living with such a minx of a woman is sure going to be an experience…

I didn't really get to interact with the other girls of the Hostess, as Syr went to great lengths to show me around everywhere and everything I might need to know while on the job. By the time that was done with, it was already time for the pub to open for the morning.

I only stayed long enough to get a simple breakfast from one of the girls who attempted to grope me before being intercepted by Syr. Then I went out for hopefully my last day of Familia hunting.

I went to great effort to avoid taking the main streets, on the off chance that somebody like Ottar had already been sent after me to take me to Freya. I just had a feeling that Freya wasn't going to approve of my apprehension of romantic relations with the divine and so I was going to kick that problem down the road as long as possible.

In any case, I began my day of trying and failing to apply to the last batch of Familias I hadn't applied to yet. By the time I was at the final one, the sky was starting to orange. I had barely been in my last stop for a couple minutes before I was kicked out with a, "Come back when you're stronger."

Once again a strange combination of frustration and relief went through me. I didn't particularly want to be a part of that Familia anyway, but the blunt rejection still hurt to hear.

I was so out of it, I didn't hear someone else approach me in the alleyway.

"Hello, young man," A feminine voice called out to me.

I could instantly recognize it. Not her voice, but her divinity. The feeling was hard to describe. But if I had to give it words, it was like warm air pressing down on my entire existence. It was like the feeling of finally coming home after a long trip. It was the feeling of being surrounded by your loved ones. Truly, a deity of hearth, home, and family.

"Are you looking for a Familia?" Hestia asked, as I turned to look at her in shock. She probably assumed my expression was from her offer. But it was more so from her appearing out of nowhere.

Hestia simply offered her hand out to me, because there was nothing else that could be said. Hestia wasn't exactly swimming in resources or fiscal assets. She would have had a functional Familia already otherwise. I knew this, though I obviously shouldn't have.

Still, despite all that, I knew how much of a staunch and loving ally she would be. And maybe, I couldn't help but hope that she'd be able to help me build a new place to call home, so I wouldn't have to be alone in a strange new world.

So I grabbed her hand, and said, "I'd be honored."

Hestia seemed surprised at my quick decision, "… Are you sure that you are okay joining a Familia like mine?"

"Yes, of course! Are you sure that someone like me is welcome?"

Hestia needed no further convincing if the light in her eyes and the size of her smile was any way to tell.

Everything happened quickly after that. With just some simple words and introductions, Hestia Familia was born. I was dragged by Hestia to a run-down bookstore, apparently the owner lets her read upstairs; at least that was the impression I got based on her brief interaction with the owner.

Hestia quickly ushered me to remove my clothes for placing her Falna. Thankfully I knew she only meant my shirt, so that was an embarrassing conversation averted. Hestia's giddiness was easily apparent as she got to work on my back.

"Bell, why did you want to become an adventurer?" She asked me.

"Well, actually, ever since I was young I wanted to be like the heroes in Dungeon Oratoria…" I answered simply, not having expected the question out of the blue.

"Aren't you a little old for that?" She said teasingly.

"My grandfather read those stories to me all the time," I said further, my tone solemn and very effectively conveying his apparently grim fate, "the only thing he was more passionate about was trying to teach me about harems and girls."

"...I'm sorry for your loss, but your grandfather is a pervert."

"I swear I'm innocent!" I felt the need to defend myself, "I'd be happy making just one woman happy for the rest of my days!"

"I feel like there's an unspoken declaration that you're still going to try to live up to all of your grandfather's expectations anyway."

"...no. I mean, every man has such thoughts at least once in their lives. I just know that I'd have it cut out for me to just make one person the happiest they can be. I'm innocent I say!"

"Uhuh," Hestia didn't seem convinced.

Hestia finished imprinting her Falna in no time at all…

And then she screamed, "What the hell is this?!"

I paled, did my Status have multiple names on it or something else incriminating?! "What? What's wrong, Hestia-sama?!"

"How in the world do you have two skills upon receiving your Falna?!" Hestia cried out.

I immediately span around in place so I was now facing Hestia, who was still straddling me. I quickly covered her mouth with my hand and whispered harshly, "Even I know that isn't something you should be yelling for everyone in Orario to hear!"

Hestia blinked and took a deep breath, "Right. You're right."

"Is it really that surprising?" I then ask, "I only know the jist of how Falna works from talking with my advisor from the guild."

I managed to get Eina Tulle as my advisor, because of course I did. Because in this world, it seemed like Eina was still the only one doing her job. At least, that's what it seemed like considering the amount of paperwork on her desk. She was probably the only one who bothered seriously offering to be an advisor for adventurers.

Hestia hummed in thought, "Hephaestus told me that it was possible for children to get a skill upon receiving their Falna. And that said skill couldn't be removed or anything by their God or Goddess. But also that it was incredibly rare for it to even happen so I shouldn't worry about it."

She then mock glared at me, "So, of course, my first child has to go ahead and come with two of them!"

I chuckled nervously, "W-what even are they? Wouldn't it be funny if they both were both useless skills?"

"How would that be even remotely funny?" Hestia asked, "And turn back over, I didn't actually get the chance to read them."

"Well, if it's so rare to get multiple skills upon receiving the Falna," I explain, "everyone's high expectations would be subverted upon learning the skills in question didn't really do anything."

"Sounds like a bad joke to me," Hestia said, unknowingly affirming the thoughts of many a TV show and/or movie fan.

"So?" I asked, blushing a little as I finally realized exactly what position I was in with Hestia a moment ago.

There was a beat of silence as Hestia read over my skills. And another.

I felt the urge to start sweating. At least there were no multiple names on the name card of my Status, or that would have come up before anything else. But that didn't mean my Skills weren't going to try and give away my transmigratory status.

Being a transmigrator with knowledge of the show wasn't even such a great thing. And not just because of the potential butterfly effect, but also from the lack of guarantee that this universe I was in was in fact identical to that of the show. Any and all of my foreknowledge, which wasn't even a lot by the way as it had been a little over a year since I last watched Danmachi, had to be verified before being presumed to be the same. While I had some fan fictions between then and now - they also couldn't be relied on entirely. Either due to writers intentionally or unintentionally getting the timeline wrong, adding AU elements, or etcetera.

Though admittedly, it sure seemed like this world was identical to that of the original source material.

Finally, Hestia began to speak, "...This first skill is particularly insane."

"How so?" I asked, curious.

"It's called Liaris Freese," Hestia declared, instantly making me confused. I know enough to know that Skill was not something Bell had upon getting his Falna. In fact, Bell's Falna was supposed to be entirely blank.

She continued, "All the description says is: Fast growth as long as feelings last. The strength of the effects corresponds with the level of the user's feelings. I've never heard of this skill before. It sounds like a kind of development skill, but it's so vague. Does it help grow your stats? Or is it for more things like learning skills like swordsmanship or academics? All of the above?"

"And with how obsessed all the Familias are about strength and powerful skills…" I observed the problem.

"It could shake the foundations of Orario," Hestia confirmed, "Wargames would be the least of our worries."

"Wargames?" I ask, knowing the vague idea already but trying to play myself as a newbie adventurer. It wouldn't hurt to get concrete specifics.

"I'll explain another time," Hestia dismissed for the moment, keeping us on track. "Bell, you have to promise me you won't tell anyone about this skill. Try to avoid gods from even asking you about it, as we can tell when you're lying."

"I promise to only those I trust absolutely," I promise to her, "which, at the moment, is only you Hestia-sama… which is nice but in another way kind of sad…"

Hestia giggled, "Well it certainly makes me feel good, hehe~"

"And what's the other skill?" I ask her.

"Ah right," Hestia focused in again, "the other Skill is called 'Singularity', which I'm not exactly sure means by itself. The description is interesting though. 'The user is immune to all mental and spiritual attacks.'"

Singularity, while that could refer to a lot of things, my first thought is always the theoretical singularity of a black hole. Is it a reference to the fact that my soul escaped from the unescapable? In this case, my home universe? Or is it a reference to something else?

In any case, it seems like my theory that Bell's soul is still around, because otherwise gaining Liaris Freese - which is a skill unique to Bell's soul - is mathematically impossible; no statistics course required to know that much.

But that second skill… spirituality is likely more a reference to the divine than to the creatures called spirits that are supposed to exist here. And against 'attacks'? I frankly consider that ability for the divine to be living lie detectors an attack on my right to personal privacy, but does the Skill recognize that?

Let's test it. "Hestia-sama, the sky is green."

"...No it isn't," Hestia said in the kind of tone that implies they think you are being an idiot.

"Obviously," I said, "but did your Arcanum tell you I was lying?"

"It…" Hestia began to say confidently, then paused in realization, "didn't… okay maybe both of your skills are scary."

"I imagine the gods wouldn't be pleased to know that a mortal could potentially lie straight to their face with them none the wiser," I pointed out.

"I hadn't thought of that," Hestia admitted, "My first thought was how goddesses like Ishtar and Freya would react considering you would likely be immune to their charms. I can guarantee that Ishtar would be furiously offended."

"And Freya?" I asked, curious about her opinion.

"Either extremely curious or apocalyptically furious," Hestia said matter-of-factly.

I deadpanned, "Let's keep that skill a secret too."

"Agreed," Hestia was quick to acknowledge that.

With that out of the way, we began to talk logistics. She asked if I had a place to stay, and if not that I could stay with her at her place. She was being a bit evasive on where exactly her place was.

I explained that I wasn't from Orario, and how I managed to get some temporary lodging in exchange for labor. I simplified the story in that I was trying to help out a waitress who was being accosted by unruly adventurers and got roughed up. And that I'd like to at least take up their offer to help repay Ryuu for the potions she used on me.

Hestia seemed to be conflicted after hearing that. My guess was that her place wasn't that great and so she was embarrassed to be trying to offer me a more subpar living arrangement, yet she was also disappointed she couldn't live with her first Familia member.

So I said I'd only take up the Hostess' offer for a week, which I figured might be enough labor to cover my expenses if I don't take up Mama Mia's offer on the 'free' food.

Which also reminded me that I probably needed to get heading that way now if I didn't want to be late.

Which just made Hestia want to tag along so she could thank the staff for watching out for me. She'd show me where her place was another time.

With all that settled and needing to keep to a schedule, I went on guiding my goddess to the Hostess of Fertility.

My face was no doubt tomato red right now, as I looked at what had been laid out before me.

"Syr," I asked and definitely did not squeak, "what is that?"

"Your uniform for tonight!" Syr supplied helpfully.

"This is a woman's uniform," I pointed out, vainly hoping this was just an elaborate prank.

"We don't exactly hire boys here you know," Syr pointed out, "and uniforms are expensive you know? Cotton is apparently all imported from abroad, and clothes made from monster drops are also incredibly expensive. And you want to pay off your debt to Ryuu as soon as possible, right? You wouldn't want to burden Mama Mia and Ryuu with buying a uniform that might not even get a lot of use, right?"

"The logic is sound, but doesn't count for the emotional damage caused in the process," I deadpanned, my blush dimming, but not going away. "Where did this one come from then?"

"Well…" Syr hesitated seemingly embarrassed, "We might have gotten your measurements from Chloe and then adjusted one of Ryuu's spare uniforms since she was the closest fit to you."

And the tomato blush was back… Wait…

"How does Chloe-san have my measurements, exactly?!" I exclaim in fright.

"Don't worry," Syr assured me, "we managed to protect your purity last night."

"I'm going to pretend I didn't ask anything or what you said just now," I said, trying to deny reality that Chloe, the damn shotacon, felt up who knows how much of my body.

"If it's any consolation," Syr said with a teasing smile that sent horrified tingles up my spine, "you will make that future harem of yours very happy. If Chloe-chan is to be believed at any rate."

Kill me.

"They're all women!" I heard Hestia cry out in the distance, apparently having now realized the staff was all women, "I knew he was a lying, cheating, player!"

Kill me now. Good news, this might mean I still have Bell's Luck. Bad news, I probably have Bell's Luck.

This was going to be a long night wasn't it…

Other POV

Rumors would soon circulate around certain circles in Orario about a cute new waitress with white hair and red eyes, that gave off a rabbit-like impression that works at the Hostess of Fertility. Rumor had it the girl must be sickly considering she only appears in the evenings and always appeared with a flushed face.

Author's Notes:

Yes, my profile name is just a Star Wars reference. Expect many KOTOR2 references, you've been warned lol. Easily my favorite Star Wars game - you might find understanding the Jedi Exile to be useful much later on.

Another reminder, since the protagonist is an unreliable narrator, is that personality-wise Bell and the protagonist have merged. The protagonist, however, simply assumes they are the dominant one and simply doesn't realize how they act rather Bell-like. It's a mental block caused by the trauma of crossing dimensions. Thinking too much on the block, especially on how the protagonist died, will cause pain and confusion.

'Fate' has changed in minor ways. Bell meeting Syr/Freya so soon is like a small sound that will create a much larger echo farther down the road. In the meantime, Freya doesn't aggressively try to get Bell into her Familia because she is aware that he isn't strong enough to not get merked by the other jealous members. Freya is possessive, but she's not an idiot who will threaten the stability of her Familia and power without a good reason. Like the entire Ishtar fiasco - desperate times.

'Syr' takes advantage of Bell's bad finances in that one moment to attach him to the place she works at. It allows her to help her love interest while allowing her to see him in person on the daily - a win-win. Bell can totally pull off cross dressing with his age and build. This will come to serve as a source of comic relief and surreal encounters. And a vital source of information - drunk adventurers make for good sources of information that Bell will overhear.

Also there needs to be more Belko-chan. You are welcome.

While Liaris Freese does come from Bell's soul, it also represents the protagonist's genuine desire to be a hero like Bell and Spider-Man and etc. Not that the protagonist realizes that, and instead solely attributes it to Bell; in his head he's just a normal person being incredibly arrogant. Meanwhile the actual in-universe reason for the skill is that Bell was inspired by the protagonist, the protagonist's knowledge on the OG Timeline, and stories from his world.

Liaris Freese is being powered by a desire to be a hero, to surpass all foes including the OEBD. As such, as long as Bell is earnestly walking the path of justice then he gets massive stat increases. Should Bell, for example, become angry and full of hate to the point of considering murder than Liaris Freese would become inactive. It will also slow down and/or become inactive if Bell doubts his own heroism too much - reflecting his feelings.

Due to Singularity, Bell has to watch his words around deities. If he tells an obvious lie, and they don't detect it, they will realize something about Bell is fishy. Thankfully, Bell believes that lying is not very conductive and so either chooses between honesty or omittance. Singularity is from the protagonist's portion of their connected souls. Due to being from an alternate reality, the protagonist's soul is heavily connected to SpaceTime… and the place where space and time is broken. Space and Time… I wonder what kind of magic can spawn from such a soul…

Sorry if you find the Japanese honorifics annoying. It's to help remind everyone that in-universe everyone is speaking Japanese. IE that the local language of Kione is effectively Japanese. This may end up being an important fact later should the protagonist want to hide information by using English speech or the written word.

And to reiterate, the protagonist has unknowingly picked up behaviors from Bell. Its a by-product of using the same physical brain. So if you are wondering why a westerner thinks of performing a 'Japanese' dogeza in the first place, that's why... and because the protagonist is obviously knowledgeable about Japanese culture - I mean, they watch anime after all. Weebs, am I right?