A week passed with nothing much going on in the Miach familia home. Other than the fact that renovations were done.
Meaning Bell and Regis finally got their own room.
"Hmm, this bed is comfy." Regis sighed.
"Sure beats the couch," Bell added.
"Yeah, and you have a door for privacy now. That's a big bonus."
Bell let out an agreeing hum and the room fell silent as Bell lamented over the last week. Dungeon dives with Haruhime and Aisha made things easier for him.
Welf hadn't been able to join as he was making a surprise for Bell and it would take some time to create.
They hadn't gone down to the middle floors yet as Bell knew going down in a three-man team would be risky. Especially with Haruhime at a low-level one. He also had yet to level up but could if he wanted.
While Haruhime was good with a bow she wasn't good in close quarters. Meaning Bell and Aisha would have to train her. Especially given her magic.
"Hey, Regis."
"Yeah, Bell."
"When we're in the dungeon can you prioritize Haruhime? She's the weakest link right now and with her magic, she'd be a prime target for kidnapping."
"Sure, but when it comes down to it-
"Choose her." Bell cut him off.
Regis cracked an eye open and stared at Bell. "Bell-
"I'm serious, if you have to choose between us choose her. We don't want her going through what she did with Ishtar again, do we? She's too kind for something like that to happen to her again." Bell argued.
Regis huffed and sighed. "Alright fine. But I'm making fun of you more now."
"That's fine. Besides I'm tough I can take a few hits. If I get captured you'll know where I am so you can come and rescue me." Bell added.
"Alright, alright you made your point. Save the girl not you I got it."
Bell let out another content sigh. "Man, it is so nice to have my own room again."
"Yeah, now you and Aisha can have some privacy." Regis teased.
"The door has a lock right?" Bell asked.
Regis perked his head up and glanced at the door. "Uh, yeah."
"Good, that's good to know."
"We're locking it at night aren't we?"
"Absolutely."
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While Bell relaxed in his new room Haruhime and Aisha were out shopping with Nazha for stuff to decorate their new rooms with. More for Haruhime than Aisha but she still tagged along.
The three girls were currently in a Far Eastern shop when they just so happened to run into an old friend of Haruhime and Aisha.
"Little Haru is that you?" A voice called out.
Haruhime perked up slightly. She turned around while Aisha shook her head. Standing next to them was a short perky Amazon named Lena.
She was a young Amazon. Around the same age as Haruhime so she was far from maturity. Maybe that was why she and Haruhime got along so well.
"Ms Lena!" Haruhime cheered.
Lena ran and hugged the Renard happy to see she was alright.
"Oh, I'm so glad you two are ok. I looked everywhere for you two after that night. I was starting to wonder if you two were dead." Lena laughed.
"Looks like it was pure dumb luck you found us," Aisha grumbled. Yet a small smile was laid on her face. She was happy to see Lena after all.
"So where have you two been staying? Are you safe? Is Haruhime safe?" Lena whispered the last part.
"Yes they're safe, and I know about Haruhime. Name's Nazha a pleasure to meet one of their friends." Nazha greeted.
Lena looked Nazha up and down before taking her hand and shaking it. "And what familia are you a part of? Are you still recruiting?"
Nazha let out a small giggle. "I'm a part of the Miach familia and yes we still are. We just finished renovating so we have room for new members if you're interested in joining."
"Oh really, I'd love to. That way Aisha, Haruhime, and I can stay together forever." Lena cheered.
"I don't know about forever. But it would be nice to have another friendly face around." Aisha added.
"Yay, Ms Lena is coming to live with us!"
Nazha chuckled and went over to the counter to pay for their things. "Sorry Bell, looks like this is becoming more of a girls club."
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"Bell! Regis! Can you come down here please?" Micah called out.
Bell and Regis descended the stairs into the new dining room where the familia would eat their dinners together. The only problem was they had no table or chairs yet.
"Yeah, what do you need Miach?" Bell asked.
"I have to go pick up our food for the celebration tonight. I don't know how long I'll be gone and I was wondering if you and Regis could put the furniture together?"
Bell and Regis looked to the numerous boxes and then back at Miach.
Bell shrugged. "Uh sure, I helped fix up a few things back at the cabin. Shouldn't be too hard right?"
"Oh, you don't know city furniture then." Miach chuckled. He patted Bell's shoulder before leaving the Blue Pharmacy.
"Ominous." Regis chirped.
"Well let's get to work. I mean it's just wood and putting it together. How hard can it be?"
After 30 minutes or so they got their answer.
"Bell I've been holding up this damn table forever now. You gonna screw the leg on or what." Regis growled.
"I'm looking at the instructions and the screws don't match."
"Then use different screws!"
"There are no different screws!"
"Good gods you dumber than a bag of rocks."
"And you're a dog. You got four stubby little legs!"
"Stubby?!"
"Yeah stubby short stack."
"Oh that's it I'm-
"Boys settle down," Nazha called out.
The two looked over to the entrance of the dining room and saw the girls plus one more Bell hadn't seen before standing there and trying not to laugh.
"Uh, how much did you hear?" Bell asked.
"Only all of it." Nazha snickered.
Bell groaned. "Great, now would you mind helping?"
Nazha giggled again as she set her bags down. "Miach has you putting furniture together. Let me guess he ran off to get the food?"
"You would be correct."
Nazha got down on her back and helped Bell with the screws. "So city furniture. Not a fan I'm guessing?"
"No, too many complicated instructions."
"That's because you're dumb," Regis added.
"Boys don't argue," Nazha ordered.
"Yes ma'am." The two grumbled.
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"So a talking dog and a boy are the ones who saved you Haru Haru?" Lena asked.
"More like Bell. The dog just sat there and did nothing." Aisha answered.
"So the boy saved Haru Haru?" Lena asked.
Haruhime blushed and nodded. "Y-yes. He refused to leave me behind. Even when I begged them to."
Lena looked toward Haruhime and then back to Aisha. "Is she-
Aisha nodded. "Yup. Hopelessly."
Lena nodded and looked around. "So what now?"
Aisha picked up the bags Nazha put down. "Now we go put our stuff away while they assemble the furniture."
"But it's fun watching them bicker."
"Come along Lena."
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After another 15 minutes the table was assembled as well as the chairs and the dining room was fully furnished.
"You made this look easy," Bell grumbled crossing his arms.
"Well yeah, she has a thing called a brain," Regis added.
Bell grumbled again and grabbed the instructions. "Read this! It's like it was written by a toddler!"
Bell set the instructions down and Regis looked at them for a second before looking back at Bell.
"I owe you an apology. These instructions are terrible and I rescind any comments I may have made about you." Regis curtly spoke.
"Thank you. I accept your apology." Bell nodded.
The room filled with a comfortable silence and Nazha was glad the two weren't making fun of her at the moment.
"Alright now that we have everything set up let's set the table," Nazha ordered.
Bell and Regis walked to the kitchen area and fished around the drawers for utensils. Regis used Aether to keep them afloat as Bell tossed them to him.
Once they got enough for everyone they went back to the dining room and set the table. Once that was done all they had to do now was wait.
"I'm bored," Bell said.
"Go find Aisha and you won't be," Regis responded.
Bell let out a groan. "I walked right into that one."
"I wouldn't mind." Aisha's silky voice called out.
Bell felt a chill run up his spine as he turned toward the busty amazon. She strutted over to the chair next to Bell and took her seat before resting her head on her hand. She gave Bell an almost predatory look causing the boy to gulp.
Regis snickered as he trotted away leaving the two alone in the dining room. Bell gulped as the amazon stared at him with a smoldering gaze that threatened to eat him whole.
"So, uh, who's your friend?" Bell asked.
"Oh Lena, don't worry she's practically harmless. I think you two will get along nicely. Just like we will." Aisha purred that last part.
"Oh, yeah 'cause we're familia members. Right?"
Aisha leaned closer. Her breasts nearly touched Bell's chest. "Not exactly, I was thinking more-
"Hey, I'm back!" Miach called out.
Bell let out a sigh of relief while Aisha grumbled in defeat. Miach entered the dining room holding bags of food but stopped at the entrance. He looked between Aisha and Bell a few times before speaking.
"Am I interrupting something?" He asked.
"Nope. Here let me help you with that." Bell was quick to respond.
Aisha clicked her tongue watching as Bell walked away. "One day. One day." She thought.
Aisha then stood up and walked out of the dining room and toward Haruhime's room.
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"She seems interested in you." Miach teased. He reached inside a bag and handed Bell the spaghetti.
"I know, that's scary," Bell whispered. He grabbed the spaghetti and set it down.
Miach chuckled. "Oh really, and why is that?"
Bell paused for a minute. "I don't know. It just is."
Miach chuckled once more. "Alright, well, when you figure out an answer let me know."
Bell was confused about what Miach meant by that. But didn't ask as he and Miach began to get the food ready for everyone else.
"Oh by the way. We have someone else who wants to join our familia." Bell said.
"Oh really? Well, I'll always take an extra hand to help out. You didn't happen to catch a name did you?" Miach asked.
Bell set down a plate of chicken. "Aisha said it was her friend Lena. Apparently, she'd mesh well here."
Miach smiled. "Oh, another amazon. Well like I said I'll welcome the help. I can give her my falna after dinner."
The two didn't say anymore and continued to set the food out for everyone. Once they were done Miach went into the kitchen to get the alcohol and call everyone down.
The party then began.
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The next morning Bell was relaxing in his bed. The light shined down on the almost empty room. He hadn't furnished it yet because Bell hadn't felt like it. He just enjoyed the softness of his bed and the warm atmosphere the sun provided.
Bell couldn't feel Regis in the room so assumed he had left earlier. So he just enjoyed the softness of his bed and the smell of lilac and gooseberries that invaded his nostrils.
Bell furrowed his brow in confusion before his eyes shot open. Aisha lay across from him. A playful smile gracing her beautiful face.
Bell immediately shot up. "How'd you get in my room?!"
Aisha playfully smirked but still laid down. "You dragged me in here. Don't you remember?" She giggled.
"I uh, um, huh, uh what?" Bell bumbled out.
Aisha giggled again as she sat up. The sheet covering her dropped revealing her bare breasts to Bell once more. The boy struggled to keep eye contact with her as his face turned scarlet red.
"You got drunk and dragged me in here. You wanted to have sex but I said no." Aisha explained.
Bell's brown furrowed in confusion. "I did what? Wait you've been trying to have sex with me for over a week now. How come you didn't jump at the opportunity?"
Aisha slightly tilted her head. "Because you weren't in your right mind. I didn't want to take advantage of you." She softly explained.
Bell's brow furrowed in confusion once more. "So nothing happened?"
Aisha shook her head. "Nothing happened." She confirmed.
"Then why are you in my room? Much less my bed?" Bell asked.
Aisha chuckled to herself as Bell didn't seem to remember a thing. "Because you asked me to silly. You said you didn't want to be alone."
Bell grimaced and looked away. Finding out that he said that made him feel weak. Bell didn't like feeling weak. It made him feel helpless.
"What else did I say?" He mumbled.
"Nothing, that was it. It seemed like you were about to say something else but stopped." Aisha explained.
Bell assumed Regis kept him on the straight and narrow. Bell knew he couldn't get drunk again. Or else there was a good chance he would spill his secrets.
"And...did I touch you in any way?"
"Only grabbed my ass a few times and my breasts." Aisha shrugged.
Bell winced. "Sorry about that...being drunk is no excuse to do that."
Asian giggled. "It's fine, I didn't mind. I'd much rather you do it while sober."
Bell nervously swallowed as he glanced back at Aisha and quickly looked away. The amazon smiled at his reaction.
"You know I don't mind you staring Bell? I encourage it." She teased.
"Let's just go get breakfast," Bell muttered.
Aisha snickered as she crawled out of his bed and put her clothes back on. Bell let out a sigh of relief as Aisha turned to face him.
"So when are you going to take your level up?" Aisha asked.
Bell raised an eyebrow. "Whatever do you mean?"
"Your level up. You defeating me as a level one while I'm level three is a feat worthy of a level up. What's holding you back?" Aisha questioned.
Bell stuck up a finger. "Well, one. I already have the power of a level two thanks to my mana core being above mid-yellow. Two I want to see if I can push my stats up a bit more."
Aisha nodded. "Yes but if you level up now you'll have the power of a level three thanks to your mana core."
When mana cores first became prevalent among adventurers they discovered one thing. Depending on the purity of one's mana core it allowed the user to punch above their weight class.
From mid-yellow and above those with mana cores could take on a level higher than them and win. As long as the person they were fighting didn't have a mana core themselves.
But what was different about Bell's fight with Aisha was despite the fact she was a level three Bell still beat her. Such a thing was never heard of before. A level one beating a level three that is.
But the only reason Bell won was because Aisha was relying more on her stats than her actual technique. Had she actually taken the fight seriously Regis would've had to step in.
"Well, that's true. But I could also push my numbers as high as they go and then level up." Bell countered.
"How much higher can they go?" Aisha asked opening the door.
"No clue," Bell replied following her.
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After breakfast ended the group composing of Bell, Aisha, Haruhime, Regis, and Lena began to make their way to the fountain outside Babel.
They went there every morning to wait for Welf to see if he had finally finished the project he was working on.
Today he had.
"Yo Bell- woah who are your friends?" Welf greeted. He held a black bar in his hand that looked like a cane.
"New familia members. That's Aisha and over there is Lena. The Renard here is Haruhime and of course, you know Regis." Bell explained.
Welf nodded before shaking his head and looking at Bell. "Well good for you on getting new familia members. It's nice to meet you all. Anyway, I finally finished what I was working on. Take a look."
Welf handed Bell the black object and the boy took a look at it. He first noticed how light it was. It felt nearly weightless in his hands.
Upon further inspection, he could see a small crack between what looked to be a handle and the rest of the object. Bell grabbed the top part and pulled. His eyes widened in shock at what he saw.
A teal blade that glistened in the sunlight. It was sharp, very sharp. That much Bell could tell by just a single look. It had a pointed tip and sharp sides allowing Bell to thrust and slash should he choose. He could also direct magic into the blade to give it that little extra oomph.
But none of this is what surprised Bell. No, he had seen this blade before. Not in his lifetime but he knew what this blade was.
"Yeah so I was thinking of naming it-
"Dawns Ballad," Bell said cutting Welf off.
"Oh, uh. That's a much better name than I had." Welf muttered.
"Welf…what is this made out of?" Bell asked.
The smith shrugged. "No clue. It was just in my forge one day as well as a blueprint for the blade. Since I didn't know what it was Lady Hephaestus took me to her private forge and we worked on it together."
Aisha smirked. "Oh her private forge you say? Anything else happen while you two were alone."
Welf blushed slightly but shook his head. "No nothing else happened." He then cleared his throat. "Anyway, Bell are you ready for the dungeon?"
Bell blinked and shook himself out of his stupor. He would have to talk to Regis about how a replica of his great-grandfather's sword was created using the same materials as the last one.
But pushing that thought from his mind he smiled as he attached the sheathe to his belt. "Sure let's get going. But before we do."
Bell reached behind him and grabbed the orange blade Welf had created for him. "Hey Welf, it alright if I give this to Haruhime. So she can at least have something for close quarters?"
Welf shrugged. "Yeah, sure. I mean I made it for you so it's yours."
Bell smiled and unclipped the sheath from his belt. He then handed it to Haruhime who nervously took it.
"Are you sure Master Bell?" She timidly asked.
Bell nodded. "I'm sure, it's made out of a Minotaur horn. So it should hold up for the upper and middle floors. Besides I have this cool new sword now, so two knives seem obsolete."
"Ok, thank you, Master Bell." She replied.
Bell smiled as Haruhime added the dagger to her arsenal. Once that was done the group finally decided to head into the dungeon.
Well, I think I'm gonna stop here and split this chapter into two halves. Mostly because I don't know what else to put and I want to get something out.
Anyway not much happened here just some character interactions and a blast from the past. Hope you enjoyed and I'll see ya later.