Bell Cranel
Astraea familia
Level 3
Strength- I0
Endurance- I0
Dexterity- I0
Agility- I0
Magic- I0
Skills:
Jigen-Ryū
Spirit Eidolon: %*#!
Heroic Vengeance
Vicious Fighting God: Allows the usage of aura to increase power and when in the heat of battles halves damage and spreads a fear effect.
Development Ability:
Luck
Sword Saint
Magic:
Satanas Verion: Gospel, Lugio
Bell looked at his status sheet with a smile on his face. In the span of six months, he had reached level three.
Though some part of him was annoyed he didn't understand most of what his falna did. Hell if he was honest he only really knew what 20 percent of it did.
"Why did I get the Falna without an instruction manual?" Bell thought to himself.
He set the paper down on his lap and looked at Astraea. The goddess sat across from him. A bright smile still painting her face from the good news Bell had told her earlier.
"So, what did you take from Apollo?" Bell asked. He set the paper down and put his shirt back on.
Astraea's smile turned from bright to glee in an instant. "Everything he owns, the disbandment of his familia and his banishment from the city for 400 years."
Bell's face grew slightly horrified as Astraea said that with the biggest smile on her face. "Uh...aren't you supposed to be a Goddess of Justice? That doesn't seem like Justice but a personal vendetta."
Astraea giggled and tilted her head. "Oh Bell, Apollo has done a lot of deplorable things since he's been in the lower world. I'm merely doing my duty as a Goddess of Justice by punishing him."
Bell gulped and nodded his head. "Alright, noted. But what are we going to do with his mansion? We already have a house."
Astraea shrugged. "Haven't thought of anything yet. But we could always turn it into a business. Like a hotel or something and have some money coming in on the side. Of course, we'd have to hire staff and security for that, however."
Hearing the would hotel gave Bell an idea of what to do. "We could turn it into an orphanage. Get all those kids out of Daedalus Street, and I can call in my favor with Ganesha to turn it into a guard house so they'll have a tax break and have role models around."
Astraea nodded at the idea. "That's not a bad idea, and if they want they could join the Ganesha familia as well."
"Can you schedule that lunch with Ganesha? I'd like to talk with him about this. If he agrees to this it could really help this city out." Bell asked. It seemed he had made up his mind on what to do with Apollo's old house.
Astraea just chuckled and shook her head. "Yes, I'll see what I can do. But you better go survey the place. Gods only knows how many Apollo statues are in there."
Bell's face paled slightly at the thought. "Yeah, you're probably right. Haa so many things to do. And here I thought we'd celebrate after winning."
"Oh don't worry too much about the celebrations. You just leave those to me and I'll make sure it's a party to remember." Astraea said.
Bell smiled and stood up. "Well, it's probably best if I got take a look at Apollo's old manor. If it's alright with you I'd like to meet with Ganesha tomorrow."
Astraea chuckled as she understood Bell's rush. He wanted to get those kids out of there as soon as possible.
"I'll see what I can do," Astraea answered.
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Bell arrived at the old Apollo familia manor. The place was now abandoned since everyone who used to live here had to clear out.
Based on the rumors Bell had heard and from what Astraea told him it was probably for the best his familia disbanded.
Most of his familia were either kidnapped from their old familia's or he just hounded them until they joined. So this seemed to finally set them free.
"Alright take a look around, find out how many people it can house. Find out where the statues are so they can be destroyed. Then go and see Anya." Bell thought.
He walked inside the old manor and was immediately greeted with a golden Apollo statue. He deadpanned and kept on walking.
"Well, that's one."
He proceeded throughout the manor. Counting all the bedrooms, bathrooms, and statues he came across. His eyes nearly busted out of his head when he walked into the kitchen.
"Woah...this is massive. Well, a hundred people used to live here. I guess you would need a big kitchen. And with all the kids that will live here, this should be good as well. But we're going to have to hire cooks and more caretakers as well."
Exiting the kitchen he walked back outside and saw vast amounts of land in every direction. Bell thought of using one plot of land for a garden and another plot for more housing if needed.
"Alright, so there's about 200 bedrooms and 70 bathrooms. So if we put two beds in each room that gives enough living space for 400 people. But we have to account for the guards and staff needed to run this place. So that expansion will be needed to house more children. But we'll need to start small. Hire the staff first and get the first few children in to see how well this will work." Bell thought to himself.
While doing more calculations in his head about the gardens two women approached the gate.
"We could smelt down the statues to get more revenue to put into this place. They are made from pure gold after and should net a hefty profit-
"Excuse me." One of the women called out.
Bell snapped out of his thoughts and turned toward the main gate. When he did he saw Daphne and Cassandra standing there.
Daphne looked like she wanted no part in being there while Cassandra looked meek and shy. Bell wondered what it was they wanted so he approached the gate.
"Oh hello, how can I help you?" Bell asked.
Cassandra seemed to shoot ramrod straight and covered her neck with her collar. Daphne just sighed and shook her head.
"Cassandra left her pillow here. I told her to buy a new one but she says she can't sleep without this one." The redhead explained.
"But I had a vision about it, Daphne!" Cassandra protested.
Bell nodded putting the vision part in the back of his mind and turned to Cassandra. The girl seemed to shy under Bell's gaze and he didn't know why. "Do you remember where you left it?"
Cassandra gulped. "Um behind a pillar near the entrance. I dropped it when we had to leave and didn't realize until after we arrived at the inn."
Bell nodded and turned around. "Wait here I'll try and see if I can find it."
Bell turned around and walked back into the manor. Daphne and Cassandra waited by the gate for a minute until Bell came back holding a pink pillow in his hand.
"Is this it?" He asked.
Cassandra's eyes seemed to brighten as he opened the gate and handed it to her. "Yes it is, thank you so much for getting it!"
Bell was a little taken aback by her cheer. It was just a pillow after all. "Uh, no problem."
Cassandra hugged her pillow while Daphne rolled her eyes. "So what do you plan to do with your new home?" The redhead asked.
Bell turned around and looked at the manor. "Well, I was thinking of turning it into an orphanage and a guard house. I mean we don't need it since we have the Stardust Garden so why not use it for something good?"
Daphne nodded and looked at the manor. "An orphanage makes sense but why will it also be a guard house?"
"Because guard houses don't pay taxes. That way the orphanage will not have to worry about paying the staff and food. Planning to use the Apollo statues I plan to melt down to help kickstart this whole thing."
Daphne nodded again slightly impressed by his business skills. If Bell wasn't an adventurer he could've made a good businessman.
"Well I guess will be going now. We've taken up enough of your time with Cassandra's silly dreams." Daphne said. She turned around and Cassandra went to follow but Bell called out.
"Why do you call them silly dreams when she had a vision about where her pillow would be?" The boy asked.
"Because she normally has these silly dreams all the time. Mumbling in her sleep and keeping me awake." Daphne answered.
Cassandra's head seemed to droop hearing what her friend said. But Bell had another question on his mind.
"So what's going to happen to you two now? Now that your familia is gone I mean?" He felt dumb for asking that last part.
Daphne shrugged. "Wander around and see who will take us."
Bell nodded but had another idea in mind. "Hey Cassandra, you're a healer right?"
Cassandra slowly nodded while Daphne raised an eyebrow. "I'm a frontline fighter if you're wondering," Daphne added.
Bell nodded. "Well, I know this may seem odd since we were just enemies. But if you want a familiar to join you could join Astraea's. I mean Cassandra here would be a massive help since we don't have a healer and Daphne would be a wealth of combat knowledge."
Daphne narrowed her eyes in suspicion. "Uh-huh, and what will it take to earn our spots in your familia?"
Bell's face scrunched up in confusion. "Uh, I just listed the reasons why. As it stands right now about half the familia is very novice when it comes to combat. Having you two would help balance that out. Look you don't have to accept the offer if you want to. I mean we were just fighting against each other. But like I said offer's there."
Bell knew this was a long shot. Even he was having trouble figuring out how to explain this to Astraea and the rest of the familia. But having someone like Cassandra would be a massive boon to their operating strength. Daphne would further add to that with a wealth of combat experience in the dungeon. Going to much deeper floors than even Welf and Lili combined.
"And how will your familia react to this? We did just fight them not too long ago." Daphne pointed out.
"I think we're all grown enough to realize half of the people there didn't want to do this. Besides they'll realize there's more benefits having you around than not." Bell countered.
Daphne was still suspicious until Cassandra spoke up. "I think we should at least try an interview. I don't think these are bad people. The man in armor let me heal you and Lissos where your fight ended. He could've attacked me instead but he didn't."
Bell held his hands up. "Look if you don't want to join I won't force you. But like I said it's an option and me personally I'd love to have the two of you. You have a wealth of experience we could use. Emma and Karen especially."
Daphne closed her eyes before throwing her head back. She groaned in annoyance because Bell was making too much damn sense. "Alright fine, but one interview. If we like what we see we'll join. If not we'll move on elsewhere."
Bell just simply shrugged. "Alright, that's fine with me. Man, I have so much to do today."
Bell then shut the gate and started heading back to the Stardust Garden. He would have to put off seeing his girlfriend more. He felt like a bad boyfriend for doing so but he had to take care of familia business.
He hoped she'd understand and wouldn't be mad at him. Bell was starting to feel more and more of the weight of being captain.
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After a few minutes of walking Bell arrived back at the Stardust Garden with his two guests in tow. He hoped his familia would behave like adults when they saw who he was with and he had faith they would.
Once opening the door he was greeted with the sight of Emma and Lili sitting in the living room. When they saw Bell enter their heads perk up before their faces filled with confusion.
"Uh Master Bell, what are you doing with two ex-Apollo members?" Lili asked.
"Oh, they're here to talk with Astraea about joining," Bell answered.
"Oh, well I hope they decide to join. It'll be nice having more people around." Emma said. She then went back to her book and continued reading.
Lili did as well seeming to be alright with this. Bell gestured to the two to keep following him and they made their way to Astraea's office.
Bell knocked on the door and it was soon opened by Astraea. Her face was filled with confusion seeing the two ex-Apollo members. But with a single look from Bell, she shrugged and welcomed them into her office.
Astraea took a seat at her desk while Bell took a seat in the leftmost corner. Daphne sat in the chair on the right while Cassandra took the left.
"So to what do I owe the pleasure?" Astraea asked. Her voice wasn't condescending or mocking. But held genuine curiosity.
"Well, I ran into them when I was checking out the Apollo familia manor. We got to talking and they're in between familia's and we're lacking in the healer department and deep floor dungeon experience so I offered them a spot."
Astraea nodded digesting the information. As captain Bell had the right to recruit for the familia. But the final day was up to her.
"I see, and do you two want to join the familia you just fought against?" Astraea asked. She folded her hands on top of each other.
"We simply agreed to a talk to see if this would be what we wanted. Nothing more nothing less." Daphne answered.
Cassandra just weakly nodded in her seat. Astraea hummed and nodded before starting to speak.
"Alright that's fair, I assume your reason for extra caution is because of Apollo. But I can assure you if you do join you won't be treated like that. But before we talk anymore I have to ask what you two think about Justice."
Daphne and Cassandra flinched a little before looking at each other. Daphne then turned her attention back to Astraea and answered.
"I think Justice is a fool's ideal. What someone who has nothing believes in as a means to keep going. Because if they don't have something like that then the world seems too cruel and unforgiving to them."
Astraea nodded at the redhead's answer before turning to Cassandra. The healer squirmed in her seat slightly now having all the attention on her.
"Um, I believe Justice doesn't really exist. At least not in the way people think. I believe that people confuse Justice with karma. Because sometimes Justice can be wrong. But with karma, it can always get people no matter what."
Astraea nodded again and digested both their answers. They weren't wrong of course. There was no real right answer for what Justice was since everyone had a different view of it.
"I see, and if you were to join would you have any problems with any of the members already here?" She asked.
"As long as they don't start anything with me or Cassandra we won't have a problem," Daphne answered.
Cassandra just nodded in response to Daphne's answer. Astraea looked to Bell who simply shrugged showing he was fine with this.
"Alright well then let's talk about more of the semantics of if you stay here. You each will have your own room and will have to listen to Bell since he's the captain. Is that alright with you?"
The two women nodded and Astraea continued speaking.
"Bell holds a training for the others whenever he can and educates them in the dungeon to help further prepare them. You'll be expected to attend these lessons either through learning or teaching. Is that ok with you?"
They nodded again.
"You will also be expected to go on patrols and help the people of this city. Of course, you will be in pairs but will be expected to patrol nonetheless. Is that agreeable to you?"
Daphne and Cassandra agreed again.
"Alright, that's all I have to say on the matter. If you decide to join the familia then I have no problems with you doing so."
Daphne and Cassandra leaned back in their chairs and digested the information. After a minute they turned to each other and Cassandra gave Daphne a shrug.
"Alright, we'll join. But if you're anything like Apollo we will leave this house and stay away for the year before demanding you remove our Falna's. We're not going to deal with another Apollo if we can help it." Daphne stated. Her eyes were hard and focused. Yet there was a fiery determination behind them.
Astraea gave them a small nod. "That is acceptable and I hope to ease your worries by saying I will do nothing like Apollo. Neither will Bell isn't that right?"
"That's right." Bell agreed.
"Actions speak louder than words. You don't seem like bad people but we'll wait and see what we do before we form our opinions." Daphne said.
Astraea stood up from her desk."I understand, Bell could you-
"Leave the room? Don't have to tell me twice." The boy said. He quickly walked out of the office and into the hallway while Astraea began to imprint her falna on them.
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Bell exited the office and chuckled to himself. Old enemies becoming allies wasn't what he had expected today.
"Now I'll have to register them at the guild along with the level-ups. But that's a tomorrow problem I need to go see Anya."
Bell turned on his heel and made his way out of the Stardust Garden once more. Entering the streets he made his way down to the Hostess of Fertility.
He got many stares as he made his way down the street. Bell thought to himself the city was about to explode even more once he posted his familia's level-ups.
Three members of his familia had leveled up in three months and Bell leveled up twice in six. He could already hear the hounding coming.
But that was tomorrow's problem. Right now he was going to see his girlfriend. So nothing else mattered right now. He could talk to Welf about smelting down those statues and finding the staff needed to run the new orphanage. Talk with Ganesha about turning it into a guardhouse.
But all that had to wait until tomorrow.
Stepping inside the Hostess of Fertility he saw it filled with people. The dinner rush was in full swing but Ryu seemed to be missing as well as Anya. Bell looked over to Mia and she gestured with her head for him to follow her.
Bell maneuvered his way throughout the dining area and to the kitchen where the cooks slaved away making meal after meal.
When Bell was done making his way through he followed Mia outside and into the back of the Hostess.
Outside Anya and Ryu were waiting for him. Ryu was dressed in her plain clothes while Anya was dressed in her Hostess uniform. She smiled seeing Bell and he smiled back at her.
Their attention was drawn to Mia however when she shut the door behind him. Not a word had been said but Bell knew something was about to go down.
"So…Ryu tells us you got her bounty cleared. Is she telling the truth brat?" Mia growled. Bell heard her knuckles crack as she closed her fist.
Bell closed his eyes and sighed. He opened them and looked Mia directly in the eyes. Her hard gaze met his own.
"I did, the announcement should be coming later today or tomorrow," Bell answered. His left hand rested on the pommel of his sword.
Ryu and Anya watched the scene and were surprised at how Mia was acting. She seemed to be angry but the two didn't know why.
Mia nodded as she took a step closer to Bell. "I see…do you know Ryu here is leaving the Hostess to return to adventuring?"
Bell glanced at Ryu before shaking his head. "No, I did not. But I'll be glad to have her around more. It's time the new members met the old guard."
Mia took another step forward. "Dungeon diving's dangerous kid. You had a good reminder of that a few months ago. And trouble seems to follow you wherever you go. How do I know you can keep her safe?"
Bell chuckled and put one of his legs behind him. He took his left hand off his pommel and grabbed it with his right. "Well, she is a level higher than me. It'll be more likely her keeping me safe than the other way around."
Mia narrowed her eyes at Bell. "So you leveled up again?"
Bell clicked his tongue. "Crap you weren't supposed to know that yet. But yes I did, I'm a level three now."
Mia nodded slightly impressed. "You still didn't answer my question. If I'm going to release my daughter into your care I want to know what you're willing to do to keep her safe."
Bell glanced over to Ryu who nervously looked back. He sighed before looking back at Mia. "If the need arises I would gladly give my life for Ryu's. Though I'm not exactly looking to die but that's what I would do for anyone in my familia."
Mia nodded at his answer and turned to walk away. Before quickly spinning on her heel with her fist raised. Bell didn't have time to blink. He didn't even have time to breathe.
Mia was already in front of him. Her fist inches from his face. But Bell wasn't frozen in fear. His leg muscles were already flexed and he leaned down.
In a flash, his sword left its sheath and Bell shot forward. Mia's fist met air but the force of said punch caused the wind around Bell's head to break.
The boy was already behind Mia near the door to the kitchen. He was panting as the adrenaline rush started to die down. He reached up to his cheek and winced at the cut Mia had given him.
He turned around and saw her looking at the cut in her shirt. With a very tiny cut on her hip. Not even an inch long.
"Nearly took my head off there Mia." Bell panted. He sheathed his sword before letting out a breathless chuckle.
Mia just shook her fist before a chuckle of her own left her lips. "Had to make sure you were willing to fight for her. I am not disappointed, you even managed to cut me. Even if just barely."
"Adamantine sword, gotta love what it's made out of," Bell said before chuckling again. Mia had nearly taken his head off after all.
"Well, you passed your test good job. Ryu you always have a place here no matter what. You too kid cause I like ya. Now I'm leaving you three alone since you have some talking to do." Mia said before walking back inside. Even holding back a tremendous amount of her strength Bell was still able to react in time. She was a little impressed.
Bell groaned before he sat down on the ground. His heart was racing a mile a minute before Ryu and Anya made their way over to him.
"Are you okay nya?! She nearly took your head off!" Anya yelled.
"Let me help you with that cut on your cheek Bell." Ryu offered kneeling next to him. She began her chant to Noah's Heal and a comforting green light glowed from her hands.
After a few seconds, his cut was healed and his face was as good as new.
"I'm alright Anya, oh gods that scared the crap out of me." Bell nervously chuckled some more coming down from his adrenaline high.
The two women took a seat on opposite sides of Bell. They waited for a minute to let him catch his breath. Once he did so he felt like the two wanted to ask him something.
"Why do I have a feeling I'm about to be asked something that needs my approval?" He asked. Something felt very off about the atmosphere here.
"Well since Ryu has to reregister as an adventurer she'll need a new name and cover story nya," Anya answered.
Bell nodded having no idea where this was going. That was until Ryu began to speak.
"And well the easiest way I could think of a cover story that also showed how grateful I am for this. Well…was to pose as your wife and take your last name as my own." Ryu said.
"Oh…OH!" Bell responded. His brain now having caught up to what was just said. His head whirled around to Ryu who was looking away, the tips of her ears bright red.
Bell's head then turned to Anya who seemed to be holding back a snicker. "And you're ok with this?!"
Anya took a deep breath and sighed. "Look Bell, I've known Ryu for almost six years now. I've never told this to anyone but she's my best friend whether she likes it or not. I can see Ryu has wanted to help you and the familia but couldn't because of her bounty. Now she can and if all it takes is her having your last name as a sheet of paper and being a "legal wife" then that's fine with me."
Bell pinched the bridge of his nose and let out a long sigh. "Ryu, you know I don't feel that way about you right?"
Ryu nodded. "I know, I don't feel that way about you either. I only propose this because it's easy and as a way to honor you."
"Alright just putting that out there. If Anya's ok with it I don't mind you taking my last name. If it'll get you back in the adventurer's saddle I'll take it." Bell said. A weight seemed to be lifted off of Ryu and Anya's shoulders. Bell felt like his cheeks were red but ignored them.
"Hear that Ryu, we're basically sisters nya." Anya teased.
Ryu blushed again and looked away from the giggling Anya. Bell smiled at the sight before his eyes widened. He groaned and put his face in his hands.
"What's wrong Bell?" Ryu worriedly asked.
"Welf's going to have a field day once he finds out we're hitched," Bell grumbled.
What happened next surprised both Anya and Bell. She started laughing, it wasn't a small giggle or a tee-hee. But an actual laugh that made Euu grip her sides.
Bell and Anya looked at each other concerned by this. Bell had only heard Ryu laugh once and that was the tiniest of giggles when he was in the hospital.
But now she was full-blown laughing. Like she had just heard the funniest joke in the world. Bell found her laugh a pleasant sound to listen to. For some reason, it just felt right to hear.
"Yes, yes he will. He's going to get you back for all the jokes you made about him." She giggled. Bell nervously smiled while Anya was happy. Ryu seemed to have finally dropped her walls after so long. Or at least let them crack a little.
"Well, we can register you tomorrow. Along with some level-ups and our new members. Oh, I'm going to have so much paperwork to do." Bell groaned.
Ryu laughed again while Anya just rubbed his shoulder. But even though Bell was dreading the paperwork he had a smile on his face.
Ryu was fully coming back to the familia. Her expertise would be needed to help them grow as fighters. She could help teach them how to survive in the dungeon.
But also how to survive against people that are trying to kill them as well.
Bell spent the next few hours in the Hostess's backyard talking with Anya and Ryu. They mostly talked about the bizarre situation Bell was about to find himself in.
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Bell and Ryu returned home after having dinner at the Hostess. The sun was starting to set over the city giving it a nice orange glow.
Bell placed his hand on the doorknob before stopping. "We have to tell Astraea about what we plan to do."
Ryu's eyes widened and her face paled. "Oh, she's going to tease me so much."
"Welp it was your idea, let's go suffer the consequences." Bell joked before opening the door.
They walked inside and saw their two new members socializing with the rest of the familia. Daphne seemed to sit rather close to Welf.
Something the smith picked up on.
Upon hearing the door open the familia perked up and saw them. They all greeted them and the two greeted the familia back.
"I need to talk with Astraea again. You know where she is?" Bell asked.
"In her room. She said she was feeling tired and went to bed." Karen answered. She was sitting with Cassandra and the two were reading a book.
It seemed the rest of the familia was playing a board game. Which one Bell didn't know but assumed it was a team-based one since Emma and Lili sat together while Daphne and Welf did the same.
"Oh alright, we'll just talk to her tomorrow then. You all seem to be getting along, however." Bell pointed out. He made his way to the living room while Ryu stayed behind.
Now being faced with the entire familia she didn't know what to do. Bell noticing this turned and waved her forward.
"Come on Ryu, socialize with the rest of us." He smiled. That damned smile broke down her defenses. Making Ryu take the final step toward rejoining the familia.
Well, I made a mistake and didn't realize it til just now. The Apollo familia isn't supposed to be in Orario. But they are now and that's my fault.
So with the power of quantum physics and time stuff, they're here now and cleared all their stuff out before Bell got there.
Anyway, besides that mistake, I hope you enjoyed the chapter and there will be more calm ones to come. They still need to celebrate after all.
