Burning Love of Justice!

by Ventanus

My idea of Bell entering Orario during the Dark times, it isn t a full Ero story, but there will be plenty of naughty stuff. Harem setting.

9. Dungeon trip

Author´s Note1: Hello everyone, thank you for the reviews, especially the long ones.^^ To make it clear, it was Alise who snuck into his room.

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"You read Argonaut too?!"

Haruhime´s ears perked up when Tiona sat down on the couch next to her.

"Jup! It was my first book! I love it!"

"I love Argonaut too, it´s such a fascinating story!"

Ardee chuckled, she sat on Haruhime´s other side. "It was also my first hero story."

Tiona beamed. "Really?!"

"Yes, it helped me a lot."

"So that was why you were reading it in the park?"

"Yes."

Tiona looked genuinely curious. "But why did you hide your scars?"

Ardee smiled slightly sad. "It wasn´t easy for me to see them, to walk around like that."

"So it´s different for someone who isn´t an Amazon?"

"Yes, very different. Most men will show their scars openly, but for women from other races its different."

"Hm..sorry then for talking about it."

"You couldn´t know it. By the way, Bell has by far the largest book of Argonaut I have ever seen, it´s around one-third thicker than my own."

"Why that?"

"There is stuff written in there that you won´t find in any other book! So much more information."

"Really?!"

Haruhime nodded eagerly. "I started to read it with Bell, it is really exciting!"

"Awwww, I wanna read it too..."

"We have only started, we can ask Bell to start over again, if you want."

Tiona´s face lit more up. "Really?! Thank you! Haruhime...right?"

"Yes."

"What does this name mean?"

Haruhime got a bit red. "Spring Princess..."

"Wow! That´s a pretty name."

"Thank you..."

"And you´re her little sister?" Tiona pointed at Neze.

"I am."

"Hehe~~ It´s good to have siblings."

She looked at Ardee. "Do you have siblings?"

"Only one..the others...passed away."

"Oh...sorry..."

"It´s alright, the world is like that."

"And where is she?"

"Shakti is the captain of the Ganesha familia, my former familia."

"Why did you change?" Tiona looked still openly curious.

"Since you´re part of the familia now, I will tell you. I have a skill, that increases the status of nearby people who have the same blessing as I do."

"Oh! So I will be stronger when I´m close to you?"

"Yes, if Lady Astrea would check your status now, you would already be stronger."

"Wow, what is it called?"

"Dharmas Argo."

"Heeeeh~~" Tiona smirked. "So you like Argonaut so much that you got a skill that has a part of his name in it?"

Ardee got only slightly red. "Maybe?"

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While the three kept chatting, and Tiona already going along wonderfully with them, Tione sat in an armchair, next to her sister. She didn´t join the conversation, instead she made a weird face and looked at the opened kitchen door, where Bell was visible, helping Maryuu and Iska with the breakfast.

Tione wasn´t the only one looking. Ryu sat on a couch, and kept glancing at the kitchen...very often!

And more than one time, Ryu bit her lower lip for a second.

Neze, who sat next to Ryu, smirked again.

Jup, definitely happening. Our little one is awakening. Bell, you will need to take responsibility.

When Neze looked to the left, she saw someone else glancing at the kitchen, Chloe.

The cat maid was very bad at hiding her affection for Bell. And right now she didn´t glance at him because his behind was facing towards her, instead she was looking at his face! She out of all people! The movement of her tail gave away what she felt and thought.

"Ms. Cat maid?"

For the umpteenth time, did Kaguya call out to Chloe. Normally she was the perfect maid, showing off her skills...mostly to impress Bell. But right now, she didn´t hear anything.

Eventually, Kaguya lost patience, rolled up a napkin and threw it at Chloe, hitting her left ear. As an adventurer, especially at level four, Chloe should´ve been able to notice the approaching "projectile" and easily evade it.

"Unya?! What was nyat for?!"

"I called you like twelve times already, what kind of maid are you?"

"Nya...sorry about nyat..."

Kaguya showed her a smug grin. "At least you´re always keeping an eye on your ma-..."

Kaguya stopped for a moment when she noticed how Ryu still looked openly at Bell, not caring about the "ruckus", normally she would do that.

"At least you´re always keeping an eye on your master. But starting today you will get additional duties when it comes to my Honey."

Haruhime tilted her head curious. "Honey?"

Ardee giggled. "It´s just a nickname that Kaguya uses for Bell, because he is so sweet."

"Oh! Then...can I give him a name too?"

Neze looked a bit uneasy, she hoped that Kaguya didn´t teach Haruhime something weird this way. "Like...what?"

Haruhime looked down for a moment, her ears and tail twitched. "Big...brother?..."

Most of the women present sighed when they heard that, it should be forbidden for someone to be that adorable.

Chloe coughed to cover her embarrassment and picked up the napkin bundle. "What kind of duties, Nya?"

Kaguya smirked. "Bell will soon leave the house to get something from Tsubaki. So it will be your job to clean his room."

"Nya?! C-Clean his rrrroom?"

"Is that a problem?" Kaguya again looked like a cat playing with a mouse.

"N-No..."

Actually, it was a HUGE problem for Chloe! Just this morning she felt a troubling problem for herself when she woke up. Her cheeks and forehead were burning, her tail had twitched without anything touching it. She knew these signs, it wasn´t a cold.

Chloe was going into heat!

It happened only two times before, a part of her growing up as a cat girl...but now shouldn´t be her time of the year to go into heat! Which could only mean one thing. The owner of this delicious cake made her fall for him...

And now cleaning his room, alone! Chloe would have Bell´s scent all around her, and get bombarded with it! And even when he changed the bedsheets already, after last night with Alise, there would still be faint parts of his lewd smell in the air!

Unya...

Chloe was in serious trouble...and Kaguya knew this.

"There will be other duties coming up too, be prepared for it."

"Nya..."

Astrea, while present, didn´t say a single word to it, she was on cloud nine, she even mewled slightly.

"Haaah~~~ Lunor, your hands are a divine gift.~~~~"

"Lady Demeter says the same thing."

"Haaah~~~~"

Lunor was giving Astrea a shoulder massage again, she became less and less the familia´s part-time maid, and more Astrea´s masseuse. Maryuu had also asked her for that one time, sighing in bliss.

"I´m just glad my hands can do something else besides punching."

"Hehe~~ You really have a talent for that. If Demeter ever needs money during winter, maybe you could offer a massage service in Orario? I know a lot of goddesses who would love it."

Because many goddesses were quite stacked.

"But I´m not allowed to into the city."

"Since it´s work for your familia, it would be alright."

"Ahaha...I don´t know if I will tell Lady Demeter about this idea."

Astrea looked up and showed a "mean" smile. "Then maybe I will do it.~~~"

Kaguya shook her head. "That won´t do, Lady Astrea. During winter we need more help here to clean, and Lady Demeter most likely needs the snow to get removed. She won´t have time for that. Also, we need her to show our cat how to give Bell a proper massage."

"Nya?! Massaging, why?!"

Kaguya showed her a smug grin. "Because Lady Astrea was so kind to give me the role to decide what kind of work you will have to do, remember?"

"Nya..."

Kaguya moved a finger as if she wanted to wave Chloe closer and whispered into her ear.

"You might get a chance to massage his rump too, you k-don´t drool!"

As soon as Kaguya said the magical words, Chloe´s tail twitched and she drooled slightly.

Lunor looked to the kitchen. "I don´t know if I will be good at massaging a guy."

"So far Bell didn´t complain."

"That´s true."

Kaguya smiled very lovely. "Maybe I can show you two some far-eastern ways to massage someone, it works for men and women."

"Hm."

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After breakfast was over, which had been quite troublesome, since Tiona had basically no table manners, Bell took his jacket and was about to leave the house.

"Boss Bell?"

He blinked and turned to Tiona.

"Eh, what? Boss?"

"I don´t know your role in the familia, and you beat us, so..."

Astrea, who came to the door to see Bell off, smiled. "He doesn´t have an official role. Not like Alise who is the captain, and Kaguya who is the vice-captain. But we call Bell our Champion."

"Champion?"

Astrea smiled lovingly, very lovingly. "Indeed. My Champion of Justice."

"Oooooh! That sounds awesome!"

Bell smiled wryly. "It´s a bit embarrassing, but I guess since everyone calls me like that..."

""Champion of Justice", I like that!"

"Alright, but what did you want to ask?"

"Where are you going?"

"To Babel, not in the dungeon, but the floors above, where the Hephaistos familia has their shops. My armor and other weapon are finished."

"Oooooh! Can I tagg along?"

"If you want to."

Originally, Tsubaki had promised Bell to take "good care" of him when he came the next time. But after what Alise did with him last night, he had to re-charge first...

He still wouldn´t miss this chance the next time. Maybe his grandfather did have a much greater influence on him than he thought.

Not that his lovers complained.

"Ooooy, Tione!"

"What?"

"Let´s go to Babel, Bell is getting his new armor and weapon!"

"Hm, alright..."

Astrea chuckled. "This will be an excellent opportunity. Show them the city a bit, Bell. And they will need an adviser, so use this chance to go to the guild too."

"Understood."

She leaned closer and whispered. "But not Rose, don´t give her even more work. Also...maybe in the future...Rose...you know."

"I do."

Bell knew exactly what she meant, he wasn´t flustered about his feelings for Rose...he loved her...he wanted her. He might be quite greedy, but that was who he was.

But before he could leave the house, he heard a voice.

"Bell, can you come here for a moment?"

It was Ryu who called for him, waving from the doorframe that lead to the halway with her room in it.

"Can you two wait here for a moment? I will be back soon."

"Haaay!"

"No problem."

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Ryu wanted to show Bell something in her room, he didn´t know what it was. But as soon as he entered her room and closed the door behind him, he saw it.

Ryu´s expression...how she looked at him...how she bit her lower lip...how her hands twitched in her desire to take his. While Ryu was the most romantic one in her familia by far, she also had a side in her, where she longed for Bell´s touch. That he held her in his strong arms, were a bit pushy.

And when she looked at him like that, it took him only a second to pull her into his arms, close them around her in a tight hug...and stole her lips.

He didn´t only kiss her, not as gently and lovingly as they usually did, it was a more hungry kiss. Passionate.

She would later get embarrassed about the fact that she pressed her body against his, seeking him out. And loved how he pressed her against him, sighing when she felt his muscular chest. Bell remembered the words of his grandfather.

Bell, elves really are a fascinating race. So reserved, strict, and always holding back. But once one is in love, and gets honest with her desires...they change.

He saw that with Celty already. And according to his grandfather, the more strict and reserved an elf was, the "deeper she fell". Zeus didn´t mean they became slutty or lewd, at least not compared to other people.

But Ryu loved Bell´s attention, was a bit starved for it, love it to melt in his arms, feel his lips on her own.

The fact that she delayed his trip only to get kissed by him...shameful. Was it because of that why it felt just so good.

Their lips separated for a second, and a string of saliva connected them.

"Bell..."

"Ryu.."

Her ears and face turned crimson, she only dared to whisper something into his ears. Something about a trip to Melen they would have in the future, about the full moon night then...what Ryu wished for then...

She was unable to look into his eyes.

But there was no need, she felt his response. Ryu squeaked into the following kiss, feeling one of Bell´s hands groping her thigh, the other on her back, not letting her escape. Going too far was out of question, if he would dare to kiss Ryu like adults did, she would faint.

The last kiss lasted thirty seconds, while they held hands.

Both hands.

In a naughty way.

Double, bare, unprotected, uncovered, sweaty...well not really sweaty...handholding.

And as abashed as she became, Ryu loved it...

Handholding, kissing, letting Bell grope her thighs...she felt like a lewd elf.

At the same time, her heart tried to burst out of her chest, she was just so heavily in love.

And every single member of her familia would say the same thing when they saw Ryu fidgeting around in embarrassement, after the first time Astrea had asked her whispering if she was in love with Bell. She had dropped the broom she was holding, fidgeted back and forth.

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"So, we can go."

The Amazon twins looked curious at him, then at Ryu, who came into the living room again. She was still red in the face, and squeaked heavily and very loud when Ardee giggled, leaned over to her, and gave her a short kiss on the cheek. It might look just like a usual tease, but the fact that Ardee did it so naturally, said a lot.

But also...the fact that Ryu didn´t react appalled.

Bell was about to open the door, when a loud knock came from it.

"Huh? A visitor?"

He opened the door, seeing a red-haired woman in front of him.

She looked at him, like he looked at her.

She squeaked.

Her face became red.

She fled and hid behind another woman.

"Huh?!"

The other woman sighed. "Hah...running right into him. Heith, calm down..."

The young woman couldn´t even say why she behaved like that! But when she saw Bell´s face up close, so early in the morning, her heart ached and beat fast again.

He then noticed the other woman.

"Lady Freya?"

"Good morning, Juggernaut."

From behind came Tiona´s voice. "Is that your title? Sounds awesome!"

"May I help you, Lady Freya?"

"I would like to talk to Astrea."

"Please wait a mom-"

Astrea walked next to him. "It´s alright, Bell. Good morning, Freya."

"Good morning, Astrea."

"Would you like to come in?"

"Gladly. Heith? Heith? Aww, not again... Juggernaut, you were about to go, right?"

"Yes?"

"Then please go first, I will need a moment with Heith."

"Al...right? Hm. Ms. Tiona, Ms. Tione, we can go."

"Just Tiona is fine."

"So is Tione..."

"I will do my best."

Freya waited, with Heith hiding behind her back, until Bell, Tiona and Tione left.

"New followers?"

"Yes, they joined yesterday."

"Ah, these were the twins who caused a ruckus in the city?"

Astrea giggled. "Quite. Now come in, you two."

After Bell left out of sight, Heith relaxed...and Astrea noticed that. She looked at Freya, who showed her a special smile, a smile easily understood among gods.

"Oh my...another one?"

Freya winked. "I will tell you once we´re inside."

Freya followed Astrea inside, Heith slowly calmed down. There wasn´t one person in the living room who didn´t react to Freya´s presence.

Most of them did in the same way, they gasped.

The goddess chuckled. "Ehehe~~ Good morning, children of just-Oh my! What is this adorable bundle of cuteness?!"

And Freya reacted in the same way as most people did towards Haruhime.

Haruhime looked with big eyes up at the goddess.

"This is Haruhime, she became a member not long ago. And is my beloved child."

Freya noticed how different Astrea spoke the world from normal. So for her, Haruhime was similar as Ottar, Allen, and Anya were to Freya. More her child than her follower.

"H-Hello..." Haruhime looked very shy.

"Oh my, she is so cute and adorable."

Freya looked at Astrea. "May I greet her?"

"Just be careful, she is shy."

Freya´s request was different from Loki´s, that was why Astrea allowed it. Also, Haruhime wasn´t currently sitting on her lap. So the Goddess of Love crouched down in front of Haruhime, smiling gently.

"Nice to meet you, young Haruhime."

"Mmmh...n-nice to meet you."

Freya smiled friendly. "Don´t worry, I won´t do anything to you. But you´re really cute."

"Th-Thank you."

Following Astrea´s offer, Freya sat down on a couch, with Heith next to her. The other familia members remained where they were, except for Chloe...since now it was her job to clean Bell´s room...a chance she wouldn´t miss!

"Would you like some tea, Freya?"

"Gladly."

Astrea looked at Lunor, she didn´t need to say a word.

"On it, Lady Astrea."

Freya looked curious. "Since when do you have maids?"

"For a while now."

"I could´ve sworn I saw the short-haired one walking around with Demeter?"

"Let´s say Lunor has an "internship"."

"Ah, I think I understand. It was from the day when Heith here healed Bell, right?"

"Exactly."

"You really have a good heart, Astrea."

"It is my nature, what can I say."

"Orario can be glad to have someone like you, my friend."

"The same goes for you. So, what brings you here, Freya?"

"You could say...an internship?"

"Hm?"

"My adorable Heith here has problems in my familia. You know we tend to be a bit "rough". You said you want to return the favor for Heith healing your Bell. Since it would probably be better for Heith to go into the dungeon, rather than continue with the baptism, I would like to ask you something. Would you allow Heith having an internship in your familia? I don´t intend to let her convert, and she doesn´t want to."

Freya smiled lovingly at her follower, who tried one of the snacks that Lunor brought with the tea.

"So, Astrea, would you be willing to have Heith as an intern? I promise she will be a good girl."

While Freya talked, she secretly made a few gestures with her hands, a way for gods to communicate, forming a few symbols and divine runes.

She basically said to Astrea while slightly nodding to Heith. She. Love.

Astrea understood, it really looked like yet another one had fallen for Bell.

Oh, dear...We will need to make our home much bigger...maybe very soon. I need to have a serious talk with my girls. If too many drop out because of pregnancy...we might become unable to do anything at all. Bell, you sinful, sinful man...I love you.

The Goddess of Justice smiled friendly. "Heith?"

"Yes?"

"I have nothing against welcoming you. Freya, I also still want to repay the favor, for you sending your captain after my familia was...indisposed."

Freya was still flabbergasted, that an orgy out of all things probably saved the lives of many members of this familia.

Astrea looked at her followers. "What do you say, my children?"

There were no objections, Astrea was on good terms with Freya, they got along so well that someone even might call them friends. It might because of the mixture of Astrea´s very being. She was a virgin goddess, yet not one of the three great virgins. So she was mostly immune to Freya´s nature, but not repelled by her like the other virgin goddesses. Except Hestia maybe, apparently she also got along quite well with Freya in heaven.

"So, my children have nothing about you staying here, Heith. Freya, I will gladly welcome your child and let her go into the dungeon with us."

"I thank you, Astrea. With that, think of the favors as dealt with."

"Alright, I have to see what we do about a room for Heith, we got multiple new members, so the room might be a bit of a problem soon."

"Oh, I have to adjust new space to Folkvangr all the time, I know someone who will be able to help you in no time."

Astrea sighed. "That would be great, thank you, Freya."

"Hm..Astrea, can we talk in private for a moment?"

"Of course. My children, please excuse us for a moment."

Freya followed Astrea into her personal room, in there Astrea got told the truth by Freya. That Heith was head over heels for Bell, a maiden deeply in love, yet she didn´t even realized it herself. As her goddess, Freya couldn´t bring herself to "imprison" Heith in their home, she wanted her to become happy. Astrea understood, but would pretend to not know about Heith´s condition.

"You really love your children, Freya."

"Heh, of course I do."

"But you know, I would still like to repay you more. Maybe, if you´re interested and he will agree to it, Bell could give you a massage one day. I swear to my name in heaven, his hands are divine."

"Oho? Now you got me interested in him.~~~"

"He is still my precious f-...Lover."

"Oh, I don´t intend to steal him from you, Astrea. But I will gladly come back onto the massage."

Freya couldn´t know what would await her at this massage since she didn´t know anything about Bell´s "Mirror Image" skill...and what not one, but up to three Bells could do.

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"So, what do you say, Bell?"

"It looks amazing, I have no other word for it."

He stood inside of Tsubaki´s personal forge, clad in his new, heavy armor. Tiona and Tione stood at the side, looking at some of Tsubaki´s weapons, but not touching anything. More than that they looked at Bell, for different reasons.

"Turn around, let me look from behind."

"Alright."

He slowly turned, Tsubaki stepped close to him, looked at the individual parts, told him to move his arms and legs.

"Problems somewhere?"

"Not at all."

"Hehe, nice. Now try your greatsword."

As promissed, Tsubaki had shortened Zard´s old sword, it was still a greatsword, but it now fit Bell perfectly.

He closed his hands around the hilt and lifted the massive sword up. "Much heavier than my swords."

"Obviously."

Bell made slowly a few test swings, careful not to hit anything.

"I will have to test it out in the dungeon."

"Then good luck with that, can´t have you accidentally destroy my forge here."

Bell put the sword back on the table, and was about to take the helmet off, but Tsubaki stopped him.

"Didn´t you forget something?"

"Ahm...thank you?"

She grinned. "Not that."

In the next moment, Tsubaki pressed her lips onto his, not caring about the twins. When they separated their lips, Tsubaki whispered into his ear.

"Don´t forget our promise next time.~~"

"I swear on my honor."

"Hehe, good.~~"

Tsubaki didn´t give him a sheath for the greatsword, he would never be able to draw it with this length. Instead she showed him a special kind of leather belt, that could be wrapped around the very blade.

"The King uses the same for his swords, so I guarantee you they won´t get cut."

"Thank you, Tsubaki, you´re the best."

She grinned. "Of course I am. Now get going, I have lots of things to do. And judging the way these Amazons ogle my weapons, their hands are itching to test them."

"Alright. I´m looking forward to my next visit, Tsubaki."

"So do I...so do I.~~"

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"The guild isn´t in Babel?"

"No, I was surprised too at first, but it would be too crowded if they were here."

"Hm, so when you come out of the dungeon, you have to go there first to exchange these crystals?"

"Yes, magic stones from the upper floors aren´t worth much, so for a familia like ours, it is the rule to destroy them on the upper floors while we move down. Letting them lay around could lead to irregular monsters."

Bell had noticed that Tione had a bit more problems with Koine, than Tiona did. He would help her and never comment on a mistake she made, which would probably make her angry anyway.

"What that?"

Tiona didn´t join the conversation, even when she listened. Currently she was too fascinated from Bell´s greatsword, after he allowed her to hold it. It was really heavy!

"When monsters devour magic stones, they get stronger, it can also happen that they change. There are a few irregular types that are considered normal. Like a kobold pack leader, a goblin lord, or further down, Orc kings."

"These happen often?"

"No, not that often."

While she made a slow test swing with the sword, Tiona couldn´t help but grin. Tione´s interaction with Bell was too funny! She never saw her sister like that! But she caught Tione´s glare, if she would dare to make fun of her or say something, she would punch her.

Eventually, Bell took his sword back and hang it on his back. He drew in many stares, due to his massive, black armor.

"Can I hold the helmet for a moment?"

"Just be careful."

Tiona put the helmet on her head and grinned. "Hah! I can see perfectly! Feels weird though!"

"You won´t see many adventurers with helmets, except for those fighting in the vanguard. Especially beast people don´t wear them, it gives them problems with their ears."

Tiona laughed. "I don´t see the point in armor anyway."

Tione nodded. "Tiona right, not necessary."

It would take a while for Tione to become fluent in Koine, and she wouldn´t complain that it was Bell who helped her. She knew he was strong, and that armor gave him a certain touch.

If only he was a bit more wild...

While they walked, Tiona, still with the helmet on, pointed at a street stall.

"What´s that?"

"Ah, Orario´s most famous snack, the Jaggarmaru-kun. Or potato snack."

"Are they tasty?"

"They´re pretty good, wanna give it a try?"

"We don´t have any money."

He smiled to them. "It will be my treat."

Tiona grinned, the look of her with the helmet was quite amusing. "Thanks, Champion Bell!"

"Just Bell is fine."

Tione´s cheeks got a bit darker. "Thank you."

The vendor greeted them, Bell was well known in the city already. Bell looked at the stall, there was a separate section with Premium snacks. When he looked behind them, he saw a blond girl with golden eyes, waiting in line. And behind her, two elves. Since she was focussed on the stall, the small Ais didn´t recognize Bell. And since she was focussed on Ais, Riveria Ljos Alfr didn´t notice Bell at first. And...since the elf next to Riveria was focussed on her, she also didn´t notice Bell at first.

Bell saw that there was only one premium snack left. Also, that there was a small separated snack, with a note in front of it.

Super Duper Premium Snack! And the price was enormous! A million Vals!

"What snack do you want?"

Bell looked at his two companions. Tione looked only slightly interested and pointed at a normal one. But Tiona got curious about the premium one. When she looked in that direction, Bell noticed how the small Ais got stiff...and a single tear appeared in the corner of her eye.

He leaned closer to Tiona. "Please take a normal one, the girl behind us loves these snacks, and there is only one premium left..."

Tiona looked over her shoulder, then down to Ais, and winked.

"No problem, so a normal one."

Bell nodded. "Three normal potato snacks please."

In the corner of his eye, Bell saw how Ais´ face lit up.

"Alright, coming up."

Suddenly, the shop owner, rung a bell.

"Congratulations, dear customer! You are our ten-thousand´s customer! So you have the right to try this special tombola!"

The tombola looked like a wheel, Bell had to spin it. He could feel Ais´ devastated expression behind him...

"Ahm...can I give her the chance to spin the wheel?"

"I´m sorry, dear customer. But it has to be you, yet you can give her the prize if you want."

Now Bell could feel Ais´ eyes digging into his skull. Riveria was about to say something about Ais´ behavior, but Bell turned around to them.

"Ms. Riveria, I wish you a good morning. I know you noticed the moment, would you allow it that she will receive the prize after I spun the wheel?"

The elf next to Riveria got red cheeks, but not from embarrassement. Well it was, but a different kind.

"How dare you call Lady Riveria so casually! Have some shame!"

Riveria sighed. "Alicia...please not now."

"But...hmpf..."

Ais looked with puppy eyes at Riveria.

"Why would you do this for her?"

"Because you told me she loves them. And I would like to ask you for permission first, since the last time I gave you trouble."

"Hm."

Riveria´s opinion of Bell grew a bit, and if she wanted to admit it or not, he looked quite good in that armor. And that helmet on the Amazon´s head probably belonged to his armor too.

There was no way Riveria would make Ais sad like this.

"Alright, I will allow it."

Ais beamed.

Bell smiled. "Then I will do my best."

He turned to the shop owner, and grabbed the wheel. Bell was careful not to break it.

It spun and spun, got slower...and eventually stopped moving.

DING! DING! DING! DING! DING!

The bell rang heavily this time.

"I can´t believe it! Dear customer, you won the super duper mega prize!"

The wheel had stopped at a section so small, the chance of hitting it was about one percent...

"The prizes are. This Jaggarmaru-kun blanket and pillow! This keychain, which can also be applied to a weapon hilt! And...the platinum ticket! With it, you will be able to get one Super Duper Premium Potato Snack each day for a year!"

Ais squeaked three times, each was louder than the previous one. Bell almost grabbed his heart, she looked so cute and adorable!

He smiled. "Then please, let Ms. Wallenstein have this prize, like we said."

"Alright, dear customer!"

The shop owner gave a bag with the pillow and blanket to Ais, then a smaller bag with the keychain and figure. The figure looked like Ais plushy "Prince Potato", but instead of a shield, it had a tiny sword. The upper part was black, looking like pointy hair. And it had a red scarf. The idea for this figure was a certain statue on the bridge of heroes. Bell couldn´t even closely guess just how much this figure would mean to Ais Wallenstein... And when she got the platinum ticket...

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Grooowwwlll...

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Her stomach growled pretty loud.

She looked up at Bell. "I...I...th-thank you so much!"

He crouched down to be on the same level as her eyes. "I´m glad you like it. Since you like it much more than I do, you should have it."

Tears pooled in Ais´ eyes, then she moved quickly. Riveria and Alicia cried out when Ais gave Bell a kiss on the cheek, like she did with Gareth when he won Prince Potato for her.

"Ais!"

"Ms. Ais!"

She looked up at Riveria and Alicia. "Was that wrong? Mama always thanked Papa like that..."

Alicia didn´t know what to say, Ais probably didn´t think much into it, she was still mostly a child.

Riveria shook her head. "Just say thank you next time, Ais."

Then she looked at Bell, Riveria felt a bit weird. "I thank you, Mr. Cranel. This was really kind of you."

"I´m glad it made her happy. Ms. Wallenstein?"

"Ais is fine."

Bell looked at Riveria again, who nodded.

"Alright. Ms. Ais, now that you can take the Super Duper Premium snack, would it be alright if I give Tiona here the normal premium one?"

Ais nodded enthusiastic. "Mh!~~"

They wished them goodbye and continued their way to the guild.

Alicia mumbled. "Why would he be so nice to Ms. Ais?"

Riveria took the prizes from Ais, so that she had her hands free to register as the Premium customer and receive the special snack.

"Maybe he is just kind because Ais is still a child?"

Or the rumors were true, that Bell just was like that. Riveria followed Bell with her eyes, while Ais was busy almost melting while she ascended to heaven...the premium potato snack was just THAT special. And now she would have it every day for a year!

She wasn´t worried that Bell might have an influence on Ais, or try to come close to her, since Ais was way too young for someone like Bell.

No...what troubled Riveria...Bell had all the qualities she would ever want in a partner...

Also, he didn´t seem to care that she was a princess, and he most likely knew it.

And another part of Riveria, one hidden deep inside her, almost locked away...also noticed how handsome he was...and what a nice body he had.

But what currently overshadowed...or outshined Riveria´s growing affection and desire for Bell, was the sight of Ais´ happy face, while she stuffed her mouth with the potato snack.

I can´t thank you enough for giving her this happiness, Bell Cranel.

Bell had started to slowly make his way into the heart of the high-elven princess. A first crack had appeared in her shell of restrain.

If Zeus ever had planned to take revenge on Orario or Freya and Loki, the living weapon of mass seduction would be the perfect opportunity. But Zeus was just glad that his grandson apparently was very much like his old man!

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Bell, Tiona, and Tione were almost at the guild building, when a female voice called out to him.

"You there, young man!"

He turned around and noticed a woman walking towards him, a goddess no doubt.

She wore a gyptian style tunic, which left her legs mostly bare, her arms were covered by see-through sleeves. The most interesting part about this goddess was her mask. It was black, there didn´t seem to be holes for the eyes. On first glance it looked like a jackal, but was actually a stylized cow.

"Lady Hathor?"

Her visible mouth curled into a smile. "Exactly, I didn´t know the mighty Juggernaut knows me."

"The name of Lady Hathor is widely known."

"Is that so?" She smiled.

Hathor was mostly known in Orario for a simple fact. Among all the gyptian gods, there were only two that didn´t rebel against Zeus and Hera, taking part in the dark times. Hathor and Anubis. Hathor was neutral and just cared for her familia and what her nature was. And Anubis resided in Orario´s enormous graveyard, taking care of it.

"How can I help you, Lady Hathor?"

"Could you stand still for a moment?"

"Hm?"

Hathor walked towards him, she was a bit smaller than Bell, but the horns on her mask let her look taller. The goddess circled around him for a few moments.

"Lady...Hathor?"

"Hmmmm~~ You´re perfect!~~"

"Huh?"

The goddess smiled wide. "Young man, would you be interested to be my model?"

"Model?"

"Yes. You may know it or not, some of the principles I reside over are Art, Love, Beauty, Sexuality and other things. Currently, since these dark times are finally over, at least I hope so, I want to teach more about art, currently paintings. I have a class for young women, they learn how to paint, and more about the art of love."

She smiled. "So you could say, I show them more of the beauty of the world."

"But why would you need me as a model?"

"Your armor, your overall build. They have learned how to draw women. Now I need a male model, and with such an armor, we could even paint with different layers, it will help a lot."

"Hm."

"I can pay you. And I will make sure it will be worth your time."

"I have enough money, but it sounds interesting. When would that happen?"

"In two weeks."

Hathor handed him a note, with the details. "Please bring your armor with you, weapons won´t be necessary. And if you just come from the dungeon, it won´t be a problem, a bit dirt on the armor would help to teach them more about details."

Bell started to look forward to this, it would surely be interesting to learn something about art.

"I will, thank you for this opportunity, Lady Hathor."

"I have to thank you, Juggernaut."

It maybe would´ve been better if Bell asked for more details...

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Hah...I can´t believe what I almost did...

Rose sighed for the umpteenth time this day. She couldn´t forget how close Bell´s lips had been to her own...they almost kissed. And oh...how she wanted that to happen...even when it was forbidden.

Or maybe...because it was forbidden.

Everything on Bell attracted Rose, she wanted to get held by him. To her great shame, this night she had a dream, of having a private tutor session with Bell. But as soon as she closed the door, he hugged her from behind, was about to pin her down on the couch...bringing his lips close to her...about to steal her lips.

Her cheeks felt hot just from thinking about it.

Rose had a similar problem to Chloe, who was currently sitting on Bell´s bed, holding his sleeping shirt to her nose, inhaling his scent deeply.

And in a way...Ryu had the same problem.

The two beast women were going into heat...and Ryu´s sexuality awakened. At first, she thought of herself as being too young for that, but now...her heart was ready. She wanted to make love with Bell.

In a romantic way. At night. In a forest. With only the moon as their witness.

And Rose, she found her mate, all of her instincts screamed at her, and the kick of it being forbidden...made it only better.

And for Chloe...who didn´t notice Kaguya standing at the door, while she now lay sideways on Bell´s bed, inhaling his scent...was the same.

Maybe it was better for Rose to take a short break and take a shower to cool her head off.

Maybe...it was just Eina Tulle´s bad luck again...but right when Bell came with Tiona and Tione to the guild, her mother came to visit again. Giggling when she saw Eina noticing her, and doing her best to handle the forms correctly so that Tiona and Tione could get registered.

But what surprised the adult elf, were some gods glaring at Bell, and cursing him for claiming yet another two beauties!

Who might this young man be?

Aina remembered something. Riveria had one day visited her and talked about a not-so-pleasant incident, where a young man caught her in his arms.

That surely can´t be him.

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With Tiona and Tione being registered at the guild, Astrea familia´s rank might go up again. The strength they had would be enough to count as an A rank familia. Which would make Lyra very unhappy...she was one of the two people managing the finances.

They had to pay more taxes now, which meant going into the dungeon more. The prum girl would cry happy tears when she received the note from the guild later.

Astrea familia.

Rank: A

Tax Rank: B

Due to Bell´s more than generous donation to Ganesha, which got used to help a lot of people in Orario and repair many damages, it would be counted as taxes for the Astrea familia for a long time. They still had to pay taxes, but less than normal. It was Astrea who refused a complete tax cut for a while, this wouldn´t feel right, since it wasn´t Bell´s intention when he donated the money.

But to give the Astrea something back, they received a piece of land next to the Stardust Garden, where ruins of destroyed buildings were. With the money from Bell, the people who formerly lived there used to chance to leave Orario and settle in Melen. As long as the people had a chance to repair their lives or go somewhere where they wanted to be, Bell was happy.

The familia was in dire need of this land, since...mostly due to Bell´s fault...they would need to enlarge the house...by a lot. The plan so far was, that most shared rooms would be given up, only Iska and Maryuu would continue to share their room on their own wish.

Each member, and Heith, would receive a room that was as large as Alise´s current room, and Alise would get a bigger one, as the captain. Astrea didn´t talk about this right now, she planned to do it in the future, but "something coming up" would force her to talk about the topic earlier than anticipated, the goddess planned to let each of her followers have a room big enough for themself...and possible babies...

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Bell showed Tiona and Tione a bit more of the city, but eventually they returned home.

Since Bell knew his familia quite well, he put on the helmet before he entered the house. Most of them reacted in the same way. They cheered, some whistled, a few gasped.

Haruhime made a cute noise, her tail wagged and she looked with sparkling eyes up at the black knight.

While flirting, cuddling, kissing, and other lovey-dovey stuff wasn´t allowed in front of Haruhime, Bell couldn´t stop himself from doing one thing.

With thunderous steps, he walked to Astrea, knelt down in front of her, and took her right hand.

"Milady, your knight...your Champion has returned to you."

The he kissed the back of Astrea´s hand.

She got quite red, but looked very touched. Astrea smiled, gently put her hands on the sides of Bell´s helmet, and lifted it from his head.

"Welcome back, my Champion."

Someone didn´t need to be very sharp to see how much affection Astrea felt for her champion.

Then the dam was broken, and the familia was all over Bell.

Alise whistled. "Bell! You look great!"

"Nice armor!"

"Our personal knight in shining armor!"

"Lovely!"

"So heroic!"

"The most handsome man in Orario!"

Other comments followed, and Bell noticed that only two people in the room were quiet. The first was Chloe, she was enchanted of the contrast between his armor, and his butt covered by pants. She blamed Kaguya for that, giving her the chance to inhale so much of Bell´s scent in his room...with a lingering rest of his lewd scent from the night before...drove her crazy.

She bit her lower lip to prevent herself from making a noise.

Nyaaa...

Ryu and Ardee blushed heavily when they saw this heroic knight. For Ardee, it was a fantasy coming true. For Ryu, it was Bell´s overall figure.

He looked at the other person who kept being quiet, a red-haired girl sitting on one of the couches.

"Lady Velvet?"

"L-Lady?!" Heith got even more red, she was worried, and her heart seemed to be making trouble again.

She couldn´t know it, but Freya currently sat in her room high up in Babel, watching Astrea familia´s home with her mirror. She didn´t look at Heith, since she belonged to her familia, but since she watched the room, Heith was in it. Freya had to cover her face with her hands when she saw Heith´s reaction and her soul.

Her pure follower was too cute! Freya couldn´t bear looking at Heith, without getting embarrassed!

Bell went a step closer to Heith, after she saw what he did with Astrea, she immediately hid her hands. Her heart beat even faster.

Since Haruhime sat next to Heith, with Neze on her other side, Bell knelt down in front of them, to gently rub Haruhime´s head, which let the girl purr again.

Heith felt like her heart was about to jump out of her chest! Many of the young women in the familia noticed her behavior and understood it at once, they all had felt like her at some point.

But for once, Bell seemed to be a bit dense, for not noticing it...and from her behavior, Heith also didn´t notice it!

Astrea explained to Bell the fact of Heith´s internship.

He smiled friendly to her. "Then I´m happy to have you with us, Lady Velvet."

"M-Ms. Heith is fine!"

"Alright, Ms. Heith. May I ask what level you are?"

"F-Fresh level two!"

"That is remarkable."

Bell looked at his goddess. "Lady Astrea, I would like to take Tiona and Tione with me tomorrow on a first trip into the dungeon, also to test out my new equipment. If it would be alright, also for you Ms. Heith, I would like to take Ms. Heith too."

Astrea nodded. "That would be fine with me, what do you say, Heith?"

"I don´t have much experience in the dungeon."

Tiona grinned. "Neither do we, but I´m sure it will work out!"

Ardee raised her hand. "Can I come along? I will act as the rearguard."

Ryu raised her hand too. "Then I will help out too, so you all can focus on the front, Ardee and I will protect the backline."

Bell nodded. "Thank you, it will be a big help."

Heith still looked extremely flustered, Bell thought it was because of the dungeon.

He smiled in a way that would steal her heart if he didn´t already do it. "I will protect you with all I have, Ms. Heith."

Lyra had to avert her face. Dear heavens, Bell! You´re torturing the poor girl!

"Th-Thank you!" Heith squeaked more than that she spoke.

The following evening was very nice, Heith calmed down a bit, but she also wasn´t used to such a friendly environment. To help her a bit, Astrea later had a talk with her, the topic was Freya, since Astrea was a friend of her. Astrea knew that Freya´s familia had secretly helped her children sometimes in the dark times, something she would never forget.

Heith opened up easily like this, she spoke of Freya with great affection.

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Late at night, it was one of the rare nights when Bell truly slept alone in his bed, a certain adult elf still lay awake in her bed, not being able to fall asleep.

Ais didn´t sleep at her side, but it didn´t bother Riveria. When she saw how happily Ais hugged Prince Potato, while she used her new pillow and blanket, the key-chain figure hanging from the hilt of her sword, her heart grew warm.

Riveria looked up at her ceiling.

Bell...Cranel...

She should be ashamed, her mind was filled with moments when she saw or spoke to him. Why couldn´t she get him out of her mind? And why couldn´t she forget how good it felt when he suddenly hugged her, held her pressed against his body to make sure she wouldn´t fall?

Ngh...curse you...

Riveria rolled around in her bed again and again, but he refused to leave her mind...and she could still remember very well what she had felt with her palm...

For the first time in her life, Riveria started to feel...aroused.

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In the morning of the next day, the adult members of the Astrea familia would get a "horrifying" note. It wasn´t a bad thing, Kaguya had talked with Bell in private. For her treatment, the hospital would need a sample of his semen, a quite big and potent sample, not affected by his contraceptives.

So, starting with the next Monday, he wouldn´t be allowed to have sex for two weeks with anyone but Astrea, since his chance to impregnate one of the others would increase drastically since he had to take medicine, which would have the exact opposite effect of his contraceptive. It would also increase his libido and the rate at which he produced semen.

Since they all adored Kaguya, none of them saw a problem with it. Still, Kaguya would apologize to Neze especially, since the full moon would a exactly in the middle of Bell´s abstemious phase.

And to her enormous shame, the second greatest shame in her life...only overshadowed by the incident when Bell shot her in the face...Ryu was "relieved", that the time when Bell had to remain abstemious would end before the familia made their vacation trip to Melen...

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Before they went to the dungeon, Tiona and Tione sat in their room, preparing their equipment. Yet, Tione was distracted, she looked out of the window, seeing Bell a bit away in the garden, moving slowly through a routine with his greatsword.

Her chin rested on her crossed arms, she couldn´t help but watch him, her cheeks slightly darkened.

"Champion...Bell Cranel...Wonder if I could be Tione Cranel one day..."

In the next moment, Tione was so ashamed that she slumped to the ground, hiding behind the window when Bell was about to look in her direction. She scolded herself.

"Idiot! That guy is just some human, remember?!"

Silence followed.

"..."

"Well...he´s not a coward...and really strong..."

Only...he lacked a wild side. Tiona didn´t say something, she was busy preparing her equipment and looking forward to seeing the dungeon.

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"So, everyone. For this dungeon trip, Bell will take command. So, Tiona, Tione, listen to him, alright? The dungeon isn´t like any place you have ever seen before."

Tiona raised her hand. "Haaaay!"

Tione nodded. "Of course."

The goddess smiled. "Hehe, good girls.~~ And if you do a good job, you will get something special for today´s dinner. The same for you, Heith."

All three looked a bit strange at the goddess, they weren´t used to such behavior. Having a kind, caring goddess. For Heith at least not in that way, but she would never get led astray!

Tiona looked curious at Ryu´s sword. "Why is your weapon made of wood?"

"It is special wood, an elven weapon. Also, I can use it like a staff, and it helps me with my magic."

"An elf who can use magic?! I knew it! Like in a fairy tale!"

"Celty can also use magic."

Tiona looked even more happy now. "Your mask lets you really look mysterious, by the way!"

"Oh..ahm...thank you."

Bell checked his equipment one last time. "Oh, good that you mention Ryu."

"Hm?"

"Tiona, Tione, Ms. Heith. When we´re outside of the familia´s grounds, only call her Leon. It is an elven custom, that we don´t speak their first names, only in our home."

Tiona raised her hand again. "I read about this! No problem here!"

Tione just nodded.

Heith also nodded. "We have the same rule, only Lady Freya was allowed to call the elves of our familia by first name outside of the home."

Ryu nodded to them. "You have my thanks."

Ardee readied her sword, Sacred Oath, and smiled. "So, shall we go?"

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In the home of another familia.

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"Filvis."

A young, black-haired elf looked up. She sat on a bench in the garden of her familia, gently stroking a cat that purred next to her. Filvis liked cats, they were such gentle animals, not caring about her hair color...

Who came to her was a human woman, wearing a long, white tunic, which was common in her familia.

"We´re gathering in the living room. The captain wants to talk to everyone."

Filvis nodded, getting carefully up from the bench, waving a last time to the cat.

The Dionysus familia had gathered in the living room, it was mostly humans, but also a few beast people, and another elf besides Filvis. She had white hair and was called Aura Moriel. Dionysus´ captain was quite handsome, tall, and strong, with short, blond hair.

"Alright everyone, listen up. It has been roughly two years since the last great battles against Evilus. Now they are withering down to a nuisance. And we, Dionysus familia, have devoted ourselves to destroying Evilus with all we´ve got, all to restore Orario´s order."

He took a breath.

"But Evilus shadow is still lurking over Orario. And threatening the peoples lives, which slowly are getting more and more peaceful. Our beloved and respected Lord Dionysus is greatly concerned. And just now, I received word from him, that Evilus seems to try to resume their alarming activities. They are planning something, starting in the dungeon."

The captain looked at his comrades.

"The location is the 27th floor."

The woman who had called Filvis to the meeting looked concerned.

"The lower floors, huh...there´s only a handful of familias that could go there."

"That´s right. And Lord Dionysus said the guild has asked us!"

He raised his left fist.

"Let´s go! We´ll help bring back and protect the smiles of Orario´s people!"

Aura looked a bit uneasy, yet determined. "C-Captain... This time, I also will go, please let me go!"

He looked like he was in thought. "Aura, the lower floors are a bit too much for you at this moment. We need someone to stay aboveground and guard Lord Dion-"

A calm voice interrupted the meeting. "It is alright, my children. Have faith in each other, I believe in Aura´s strength. Also, I will visit someone, so I won´t be in danger."

His followers looked at the handsome, smiling god.

"I understand, Lord Dionysus. Filvis."

"Yes, captain?"

"You will work as a team with Aura. Aura, listen to everything Filvis says."

"Understood!"

The captain continued. "We will meet with a group from Ganesha familia deeper down. Loki familia is busy somewhere else, according to Lord Dionysus, the Astrea familia too...and Freya familia won´t come to help with such a "nuisance". So it will be for us to act!"

The familia got ready.

"We are in a race against time and must act immediately! Our objective is to wipe them out and look out for "Vendetta", Olivas Act! If we can get him, it will be a huge blow to Evilus´ remains!

Not one of Dionysus´ followers noticed his smirk when they went out of the door.

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"Bell, why are they staying behind us?"

Tiona pointed at Ryu and Ardee, like they promissed, both wouldn´t intervene and only guard their rear.

"Monsters can appear from every wall, in front of us, next to us, behind us. So that we can do our job and focus on the front, they will do their job and keep our backs clear."

"Woah...is...is that what it means to fight as a group?"

"Yes, and it is the most important thing in the dungeon, to watch out for each other."

Bell walked with his greatsword in the same way as his uncle Zard showed him in the past. To honor his uncle, he had named it "Gluttony".

"That is also why Heith is walking in the middle, she has healing magic and will alarm us of monsters that spawn on our sides."

Bell didn´t use any honorifics with Heith´s name this time, he had explained to Tiona and Tione, that time was of the essence in the dungeon, and there was no time for speaking long names.

Tione looked curious at Heith´s staff.

"How you fighting with that?"

"It helps me to channel my healing magic. Aside from that, I´m well used to fighting with a staff. Our captain once said "The stick is the origin of every weapon out there, so master it. What is a sword other than a pointy, sharp stick? A spear, a pointy stick. And so on."

Bell smiled slightly. "The staff will give her a good chance to defend herself until we come to help."

Heith looked determined. "Don´t underestimate me!"

He nodded to her with honesty. "I would never do that."

"Good...how deep do you intend to go today?"

"With you at level two, three level three, Leon at level four, and me at level five, I thought about showing you something truly amazing. Tiona and Tione can´t know it, but Heith, have you ever seen the water capital?"

"No, only heard about it."

"Good."

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Their way down wasn´t a problem, Tiona and Tione were eager to test their strength against monsters but listened to everything Bell said. And often enough he took the lead, cleaving monsters apart with Gluttony, it truly was an amazing sword! Sometimes he could almost feel Zard´s hand on his shoulder.

Ryu and Ardee talked to each other with low voices while they traveled down.

"The Amphisbaena got slain last week, right?"

Ryu nodded. "Loki familia took it down."

"Good, then there shouldn´t be any problem."

Ardee wore a big backpack, acting as their supporter on this trip. Bell, Ryu, and Ardee weren´t in dire need of money. But Tiona and Tione didn´t have any money, and Heith didn´t have much either. So they decided to let them keep what they earned today, except for drop items, since they could be useful in a different way. This way they could teach Tiona and Tione about magic stones exchange and drop items.

The Amazons couldn´t stop gawking when the environment changed, especially when they reached the 18th floor after two hours.

"By Kali!...I mean Astrea! Is this still the dungeon?!"

"Yes, this place is called "Under Resort", it is a safe zone. This means monsters don´t spawn here, and don´t roam to attack people. The few monsters you see normally only go their own way, they only react if you go too close."

"Wow!"

Tione was equally surprised. "It surely is a sight..."

"And in some places here grow fruits, we call them "Dungeon Gifts"."

Ardee called out from behind. "When Bell came to Orario, he had notes of places where fruits grow that no one else ever found, and about a spring with special water, the best water there is!"

Now Heith looked curious. "Bell Cranel, would you maybe show me these places one day? I would like to bring Lady Freya some of these, she absolutely deserves it."

"Of course, maybe when we return to the surface."

"You have my thanks."

Heith smiled happily, Freya would surely love these. And the best water of all? She deserved this! And maybe...maybe Heith would get a pat on the head...or could she even dare...to dream...for a kiss on the cheek?

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They went further down, the great forest labyrinth let the Amazons gawk again.

"We have to be careful, sometimes it can rain here heavily."

Tiona grinned. "No biggy, we don´t mind getting wet."

"It can also destroy supplies that we carry with us, and especially for someone like Heith, who wears a robe, it can become a problem."

Tione looked at Heith as if she was in thought. "We never thought about that. Moving in a group is really different."

Bell continued his lecture. "And when we go on an Expedition, it is much different again."

"What is an Expedition?"

"Something like we do here, but with the whole familia, and we would go down far deeper. Depending on the rank of the familia, with us at A now, we will receive more missions from the guild. To explore the depths of the dungeon, and bring back drop items to prove that we were there."

"Why would or could they force us?"

"This is how Orario works, we also benefit greatly from the guild´s work. Like they have advisers for new adventurers. And it will benefit the city in general. After all, we don´t live in the city alone, it is our job to deal with evildoers and monsters. Plus, you could say, they give us a certain direction, otherwise we may only go to the same floors again and again."

"Hm."

"I´m sure you will learn everything quickly, Tione."

"Mh."

Ardee and Ryu enjoyed seeing this sight of Bell, he had it in him to become a good leader one day. Much of it thanks to the teachings of his aunt...or rather, his young aunty...his uncle, and his grandfather.

Ardee chuckled. "Our uncrowned prince makes himself good."

Ryu nodded. "Indeed, he does."

"Hehe, Leon.~~ Charmed by Bell´s heroic figure?"

"F-Focus on the dungeon, Ardee..."

"Hehe, you´re too cute.~~"

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Due to the strength of their group, and their knowledge of the floors, they moved down further, pretty quickly.

"HOW CAN ALL OF THIS WATER EXIST DOWN HERE?!"

Tiona had to yell because the great fall was so insanely loud.

Tione´s eyes widened, as did Heith´s.

"Shocking..."

"I only heard stories from Allen and the others...what a sight..."

Bell smiled to the three. "I´m glad you like it."

He gave them a few minutes to just take in the sight. Seeing such a new environment needed to be taken in, so they wouldn´t feel overwhelmed.

"The water on these floors is the most dangerous part, monsters lurk down there and are quick to jump out. Tiona, Tione, be careful now, on these floors it gets dangerous even with your levels. And it becomes even more important to protect our party´s healer. Heith is our lifeline now, while you two will focus on the monsters, I will keep an eye and protect Heith."

With their current levels, Ryu and Ardee were better at healing, especially Ardee, but the new ones had to learn.

More than a few magic stones and drop items were already in Ardee´s backpack.

"Also, keep in mind that the biggest part of our supplies and potions is in Ardee´s backpack. Heith and Ardee are what will keep us alive down here. So that you two can do your part, they will do their part. But we will always make sure to protect them."

"I thought that is the rearguard´s job?"

"It is, but we all have to be careful at any time."

Tione looked more than slightly interested in Bell. "What your job at Expedition?"

He smiled wryly. "I am our "champion". Lady Astrea gave me this title and role. I don´t know if you will find it in any other familia or party. I move back and forth how I see fit, to help wherever the situation makes it necessary."

Tiona looked impressed. "You sound more and more like a heroic knight!"

Ardee chuckled. "Because he is one!~~"

Ryu couldn´t stop herself from nodding and agreeing with Ardee.

Tione glanced at him again, he was strong, that was for sure, he had a small wild side to him...but not the kind of wild side that Tione hoped for.

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They went further and further down.

"So, we will soon arrive on the 28th floor, this is a safe zone. We will rest there and then go back up again."

Heith looked a bit exhausted, but not even close to being as exhausted as she usually was in Folkvangr during the baptism. And she didn´t even get hurt once, Bell personally intervened a few times to protect her.

"You will see that this safe zo-"

In the moment that Ryu´s ears twitched and she heard the faint noises of screams, Bell´s behavior changed completely.

At first, it was a joke that Bell had a sixth sense when it came to women in danger, but this had changed, and was now part of his skill "Blood of Zeus".

"Ryu! Ardee! You take the lead, move after me!"

"Hay!"

"Understood!"

Tiona looked surprised, as did her sister.

""Wha-""

Bell suddenly exploded into a swift movement, grabbing Gluttony and charging like a rampaging minotaur forward.

"What´s wrong?!"

Ardee ran after Ryu. "Tiona, Tione, Heith, follow us, stick close! Get ready to fight! Danger ahead!"

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Bell heard it...he heard the noises that he hated so much. Screams of terror, screams of fear, weapon clashes. And roars of many monsters.

Faster and faster he run, despite his heavy armor.

Move! Move! Move!

A corner followed after corner, he followed the noises that a human shouldn´t be able to hear.

Soon the noises became louder, he could hear voices.

"Gyaaaaaaaah!"

"Move! You´re in the way!"

"I can´t use my magic! I´d hit the others!"

"Damn it, I can´t fight properly!"

"Guwaaaah!"

"UAAAARH!?"

"KyAAAAH!"

"Stop it, our members will get caught up in it!"

"Why now, of all times?!"

"Kyaa!?"

"Withdraw! Monsters in the wat-!"

"This is insane!"

"Don´t push! The magic will go out of control!"

When he turned around the next corner, a slaughter festival awaited him.

The combined party of Ganesha and Dionysus familias got lured into a trap by Evilus. They had triggered a passing parade, sacrificing many of their devoted fanatics. Many adventurers already had died, and others were in dire situations.

There wasn´t one adventurer on Bell´s side, the monsters stood with their backs to him.

He didn´t shout, Bell roared. Like a true rampaging juggernaut, making his name honor, did he crash into the monsters from behind.

"FOR JUSTICE!"

The roar would alarm the other adventurers that help was there. It also got obvious in the moment when Gluttony cleaved five monsters in half with the first swing. Bell used the momentum to return the movement of his blade, hacking apart other monsters.

To his right, there was a large crowd, for only one second did he charge himself with his skill.

"FIREBOLT!"

With a strong detonation, the monsters got ripped apart. With level five, and his extreme status on each level, nothing here came even close to being a threat to Bell, at least not when they wouldn´t all come at him at once.

Gluttony went up and down, from right to left, slicing and cleaving monsters apart. So that blood and fat wouldn´t let his weapon slip, Bell used his fire magic, the burning blade smelled, but it had an even greater effect on the adventurers in front of them.

"HELP! HELP IS HERE!"

"IT`S ASTREA FAMILIA!"

"BREAK THROUGH!"

The remaining adventurers doubled their efforts. With a fierce warcry, jumped two Amazons at Bell´s sides into the monsters, soon after, Ryu followed, while Ardee protected their backs and got ready to heal.

"HEITH! Heal every adventurer you see!"

"Understood!"

"IT`S COMING! RUN! RUUUUUUN!"

Bell felt it, there was something behind the monsters, on the other side of the fleeing adventurers.

But the monsters didn´t want to let them go, and even when Bell´s familia attacked them with great speed and precision, it was a lot.

Eventually, they managed to break through...but what they saw...Bell had no words for it.

Tentacles, dozens of tentacles. Quivering flesh, groaning bodies...all fused to an enormous mass...this was something unnatural.

Just as he cleaved a monster apart and was able to see it, Bell saw the last two survivors...two elves.

And one just screamed for her life.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! FILVIS! HELP MEEEE!"

"AURA!"

The white-haired one got dragged backward, her left ankle held by a tentacle. And the black-haired elf tried her best to hold her and pull her back. Judging from the mutated bodies inside the enormous mass, Bell understood what would happen to the elf if the other let go.

He didn´t have time to think, he didn´t have time to chant. Using the chantless version of his second magic was very dangerous, but he had no choice.

Inside Bell´s mind, appeared a wheel inside the darkness, divided into twelve symbols. The wheel rotated, and a pointing-down arrow was a the top. The wheel stopped at the sign of a lion.

The Nemean Lion

It looked like a faint portal made of light appeared behind Bell´s back. Two enormous claws, followed by a lion´s head slowly came out. The lion´s legs came to rest on Bell´s shoulders, the claws resting on his hands, while the head hovered above his.

When Bell roared this time, the lion roared with him...it was far louder and wilder than before. With the animalistic wrath of the king of the animals, Bell charged through the monsters, ripping them apart when they got in his way. Heroicae Fabulea, Trials of Heracles, trial one, the Nemean Lion, gave Bell in this version a great buff to his strength and dexterity.

Gluttony almost moved on its own. He ripped the monsters in his way apart, saved the dark-haired elf´s life this way, and moved past her. The burning blade hacked down in the second that another tentacle shot forward...and pierced the black-haired elf´s belly at the side, while the first one got rammed in the back of the white-haired one...

His movement caused the tentacles to get ripped to the sides at first before he separated them. Like this, the wounds of Filvis and Aura got bigger. And when the fire of Bell´s blade ran over the tentacles...it burned them, even the parts in the elves´ bodies.

Both elves screamed like never before in their lives. But as painful as it was, as horrible as the wounds that Bell inflicted with his action...it saved their lives. With a scream, both elves toppled over, and were about to fall to the ground.

His action left burn scars...scarring both elves at these spots for life...

But...they didn´t mutate.

Bell yelled again, another chantless spell, equally dangerous.

The wheel rotated in Bell´s mind again, this time in the other direction, depending if it rotated left or right, Bell would either buff himself with the effect of this trial or...summon it.

Heroicae Fabulea, Trials of Heracles, trial twelve, the most dangerous one...

"CERBERUS!"

Darkness emitted from Bell´s cape, and six red-gleaming eyes appeared, followed by an enormous body. At the same moment, Bell let go of the Nemean Lion or his mind would get drained too fast. Now he had to wait for at least a day before he could call the lion again, in active or passive version.

"PROTECT THEM!"

Bell didn´t ask for forgiveness, he hurled both heavily wounded elves backward and trusted Cerberus to protect them. The guardian of Hades, for some reason Bell´s most trusted summon, ripped every monster that came even close to pieces.

Basically, all twelve trials, if summoned, were just a form of Bell´s magic with a different effect...yet Cerberus was the only one to behave almost... intelligently. As if it had a will on its own. When Bell wrote his grandfather a letter about his new magic, he wrote back that he had to visit someone and talk to him...that something seemed off.

Bell couldn´t know this...there was no way he could...but what he called upon the mortal realm...was the true Cerberus, something different than a spirit, yet on the same level when it came to strength. Yet it would drain his mind power very fast, for that reason he carried a few high mind potions at his belt.

If this would ever get out to most of the gods...it could cause a problem.

But why was Bell able to summon the true Cerberus?

The reason was simple...when nobody watched, Hades did an itsy bitsy tiny something...to support the last child of his two beloved siblings. Not because he feared what Hera would do to him if he didn´t help Bell in some way...he didn´t even do it for Zeus.

But because he wanted to do something to help Bell. And sending a "spirit" down to earth was something the gods were allowed to do. That Hades bound this "spirit" to Bell, was just an accident...yes...nothing more...

Just.

An.

"Accident"!

Ryu, Tiona, and Tione dealt with the last monsters. Tiona gasped when she found herself face-to-face with one of Cerberus´ heads.

"No way!"

Ardee dashed past her. "Cerry! You´re in the way!"

It wasn´t the first time that Bell called Cerberus, and Ardee had taken a liking to the Guardian of Hades. Cerberus growled and moved to the side, turning around and baring ALL of his fangs.

"Heith! Help me heal them!"

"On it!"

Ryu went past the small group, standing next to Cerberus.

"Tiona, Tione, you guard Ardee and the others!"

""Hay!""

Cerberus suddenly growled and inhaled.

"BELL!"

Just when more tentacles shot forward, unleashed Cerberus his fire odem. All three heads at once!

Ryu used this moment to hide behind Cerberus and started to chant. They didn´t know what this tentacle monster was, but they would either escape or slay it. The tentacles seemed to be extremely dangerous, Ryu noticed bodies at the walls, pierced by tentacles and swollen up. Many of these bodies now got cremated by Cerberus´ odem...and thankfully finally put to rest this way.

Even the corrupted spirit´s avatar´s tentacle couldn´t withstand hellfire. Many got burned and scorched off.

Bell looked at the enormous mass in front of him, maybe magic would help, there was no way he could charge in and attack it with his sword.

"RYU! Together with me!"

Ryu didn´t react, she kept chanting, while Cerberus still breathed hellfire onto the mass, barely holding it back.

The Amazon twins witnessed how Bell started to glow brighter and brighter, particles of light gathered around his body, and wandered to his left hand, which pointed at the corrupted mass of flesh. As long as Ryu chanted, Bell kept charging himself up. He rammed Gluttony into the ground, opened a high mind potion, and gulped it down, then another one.

For the first time in their lives, Tiona and Tione witnessed what true magic looked like.

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"LUMINOS WIND!"

"FIREBOLT!"

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Ryu fired all magic orbs at the same time in tight formation. Bell´s fire magic enveloped Ryu´s magic as if he were embracing it, just like Bell would embrace Ryu. Both magic spells enhanced each other, fire creating more wind with its heat, while Ryu´s wind fanned Bell´s flames.

Like a lance of fire, light, and wind, the combined spell tore and dug deep into the corrupted spirit´s avatar´s mass, while Cerberus´ hellfire overwhelmed the quivering tentacles. Bell poured all he had into the magic spell...yet it didn´t look like it was enough.

Ryu slumped to the ground, close to a mind down, Cerberus had to stop the fire odem, and even Bell had to stop his magic. There was only one high potion left...yet the mass still lived...and seemed to regenerate...

Bell panted, his head hurt from using so much magic, especially the dangerous chantless version of Heroicae Fabulae.

Since it would bring Bell in danger when he remained longer, the portal that appeared whenever Bell called a summon, opened and Cerberus jumped into it. Bell didn´t notice that it looked different from normal. He gulped down the last high potion, his mind cleared.

The quivering mass created new flesh tentacles...

Then it came...the melody...the Song of Silence...

Tiona, Tione, and Heith's hair stood on end and they got goosebumps when the music came out of nowhere.

And she came out of...nowhere.

From the void.

It started with the sound of string instruments, they played repetitive music, then came flutes...and in the background the quiet sound of a piano.

A dot of darkness appeared in front of Bell, growing in size until it had a height of two meters.

Fog streamed out of the swirling portal.

The three party members who didn´t know this spell were struck with an emotion that was unknown to them in its sheer intensity.

Fear.

Primordial Fear.

Fear of Darkness, fear of true death.

A silent groan came out of the portal, then appeared a hand with creamy-white skin, grabbing the edge of the portal. Two backward-curved horns came, then ash-colored hair, and the head with the slightly see-through veil.

Even the tentacles of the spirit avatar twitched backward, it felt something unnatural happen. That something came that shouldn´t be here!

Free shoulders, a deep cleavage, and the black dress appeared. With a step that didn´t make any noise, appeared the foot in high heels.

Bell groaned. "My...angel..."

The dress left the back free as usual. Tiona´s eyes widened even further when she saw the dragon wing growing out of it. But instead of being leathery and slightly ripped, like normal dragon wings, it almost looked...feathery...

Bell´s guardian, the Angel of Silence and Death stepped out of the portal.

As usual, the last thing that appeared was her right hand. Ripping the Warscythe out of the portal. Strings of darkness and fog followed the scythe.

Under the veil opened the mouth, moving.

Only Bell heard the words in his mind.

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Step back.

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Tiona, Tione, and Heith grabbed their hearts as the Angel spoke, even Ryu and Ardee, used to this sensation, struggled.

The wing of the angel rose.

Behind the angel came something else out of the portal.

It was a fox.

A fox of a white so pure, it was like freshly fallen snow. The fox turned its head to Bell, he saw heterochromatic eyes. One grey, the other...blue.

The female fox was the absolute contrast to the dark angel. Where the Angel of Silence promised darkness after death, the fox represented the sweet, warm, calm, gentle embrace in the afterlife.

After looking at Bell with a warm expression, the fox turned to the corrupted mass, baring its fangs, growing a bit in size.

The wing shot down, both dashed forward with murderous speed. Even the spirit´s avatar felt something like fear when these THINGS shot towards it. It screeched, and tried to attack the angel with its tentacles.

The scythe whirled around, cleaving up the tentacles. Only two tentacles made it past the scythe and got ripped to shreds by the fox.

The Angel spoke again.

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Go.

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The fox "spoke".

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Run.

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Bell didn't want to leave his beloved, feared, beautiful, terrible, protective, destroying, preserving, life-ending angel alone. Nor the fox.

But he would follow whatever they said.

They would remain as long as his mind lasted.

"Retreat! Now!"

Thankfully they listened. The titanic duel might´ve overwhelmed their senses, but the primordial fear that the angel struck into Tiona, Tione, and Heith hurried them to listen to Bell. The twins picked up the wounded elves, then they fell into a run.

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The corrupted spirit´s avatar got more than mortally wounded by the duo of death. They could only last longer because while they ran, Ryu pressed her lips onto Bell´s, giving him a large part of her mind. That he was able to do this with her or Celty, was only thanks to a part of his skill.

And it worked only with his elven lovers.

When they were far away, the magic spell ended, and the Sisters of Death vanished again. In the darkness, deep inside Bell´s mind, where they resided, curled the fox up, closing its eyes. The angel gently hugged her beloved fox from behind, curled as the big spoon around it.

Then both fell asleep again.

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The corrupted spirit wasn´t killed with this, not even close to being killed. But its avatar had to retreat and regenerate for a long, long time. It had taken more damage than the consumed bodies gave it. And the angel´s scythe had separated the souls of the mortals from the mass, letting them flee to heaven.

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Many hours later, evening was about to make way for the night, did they stumble out of Babel. Since they were faster, Bell took over Filvis from Tiona, and Ryu carried Aura, after taking her from Tione. They sprinted to the hospital, while Ardee alarmed the guild and her other familia. While Heith went to Folkvangr to report to Freya. Tiona and Tione didn´t know what to do at first, but Ardee told them to go and alarm their home.

In the span of an hour, moved a strong extermination force of the Ganesha familia into the dungeon, supported by no less than all Freya familia high executives, except for Ottar.

They would arrive at the location of the fight in under an hour, due to Freya familia clearing the way ahead.

None of them would find the spirit´s avatar.

The members of Ganesha familia, led by Shakti, would scream out and cry when they found their slaughtered, mutated, scorched comrades...

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Dionysus had to wait until he got alarmed, that something terrible happened. Of course, he lamented, cried out that so many of his "beloved" children had died. But he was truly euphoric! Filvis AND Aura survived! He heard they got attacked by a weird monster and survived.

Did that mean the spirit "impregnated" them as possible hosts?!

He was so euphoric that he ran to the hospital...heavily drunk on divine wine.

His expression, which no one could see, was the most disgusting he was able to make. He cried from bliss, imagining the cries and screams of his followers getting devoured by the corrupted spirit.

Oh, what wonderful horror, fear, and devastation did they experience?! Surely it tasted sweeter than the most divine wine! And with a chance of Filvis and Aura being defiled, turning into creatures...Oh! Ooooooh! How he would drink their desperation! Bath in it! Enjoy it! How he would mentally torture and break them! How he would enjoy it! They would become so beautiful!

Dionysus couldn´t wait to see them!

He was so extremely excited, that he started to run, not looking much where his feet landed.

Maybe it was a divine joke or some sort of reversed retribution.

On this day, the Demeter familia delivered fruits into the city. Their captain, Persephone, had also delivered something, a box of bananas. How Demeter was able to grow bananas in this climate was a secret. Since she was short on time, Persephone took a shortcut, through this alley. She didn´t notice it, but one of the bananas fell from the top of the box.

Not one person who came through this alley picked the banana up for a step on it and slipped. Slipping on a banana and falling because of it would be an incredible shame. More than a few people came close to doing that, but something always let them place their feet right.

Something...or someone.

Dionysus didn´t notice the tiny glowing orb that drifted along in his alley, this orb had been here for the whole day, ever since it noticed Persephone dropping the banana.

This tiny orb was a spirit.

A spirit that drifted around on the surface and didn´t anything else but play pranks, some of quite malicious nature. It was in its nature, since back in heaven, it was made by a certain...surprisingly pretty attractive...red-haired trickster goddess.

So when Dionysus started to run and laugh in euphoria, the spirit moved the banana just a tiny little bit.

Dionysus's foot hit the banana, which got squashed, making him slip.

This spirit hated Dionysus since Loki hated Dionysus, so it made sure he slipped in a certain direction.

Many emotions washed over Dionysus's face when he slipped. At first still euphoria, then surprise, confusion...

And then, for a split second, disbelief and anger.

He fell in such an unlucky way, that his neck hit the step that led into the house he was running past. A mortal would´ve his or her neck broken and died instantly. But since he was a god, his arcana activated just before the impact.

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Many people in Orario looked up in surprise and cried out. A pillar of light shot up into heaven.

A god returned.

Dionysus got catapulted back up to heaven in the most pathetic way. His divine pillar of light evaporated the house he ran past, atomizing every single person in the house.

The spirit had made sure it would be this house, since all people in it were hidden Evilus agents, planning the next terroristic attack.

Dionysus screamed in never-known anger and rage when he got pulled back up to heaven. All of his plans got ruined in such a pathetic way! Now Evilus had lost its hidden head, leaving only Thanatos as their supporter of them. This would be way too much work for the god, maybe this would lead to an earlier and easier collapse and destruction of Evilus.

Right when he arrived back in heaven, Dionysus was greeted by a fist of another god.

Hades.

The others had seen what Dionysus did on the surface, what he had planned to do. While they agreed to have their fun down there, not messing with each others plans, Dionysus went too far.

So as one of the leading gods of his mythology, Hades took it upon himself to imprison Dionysus in the most cruel way for this god. By separating him from every emotion that came from the surface, like this he could never again hear the cries of fear, pain, and despair, that he loved so much.

But Hades only imprisoned Dionysus, another god would watch over him and make sure he would remain in his prison.

A god who was given a pretty simple punishment for leading Evilus years ago.

After all, Erebus did horrible things with the best intentions.

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Due to Dionysus returning to heaven so early, another spot on the surface was free. A small goddess, with an enormous rack, ran cheering out of her temple.

"It´s my turn now! My turn! I waited long enough! And down I g-"

"Hestia, stop."

"Hades? What´s wrong?"

"You have to wait another week."

"Buuuh!"

"You know our rules, the mortals will get scared if you come down right now, just when...he...returned."

"Mh...alright, I can wait another week!"

"Thank you, sister."

"Hehe, not for that! Now...where will I land..."

Hestia didn´t think about it so far, maybe Orario would be a good place? Making the children feel better, trying to erase some of the despair that Dionysus caused?

Maybe even take a look at Zeus´ grandson? But he followed Astrea...well just a look couldn´t hurt anyone!

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Bell got stopped in the hospital before he or Ryu could step into the containment area. Filvis´ and Aura´s wounds were severe. The only reason why they were still alive was thanks to Ryu´s and Ardee´s healing magic.

"Please, you must save them, do your best!"

"Of course, we will do our best, you have our thanks for bringing them here."

The containment area was closed, and they had to make sure that nothing dangerous remained in Aura´s or Filvis´ wounds.

Bell and Ryu just stood there for a moment, they only now had time to process what happened. A healer showed them chairs where they could sit down since they weren´t hurt.

He noticed that Ryu´s hands were shaking, so, not caring about embarrassment or something else, Bell put his arm around her and pulled Ryu close. She took his free hand with both of her, gently squeezing it.

"Bell...what...was that?"

"I don´t know...I never saw something like that before..."

"So many...dead..."

"Unh..."

"Only two...only these two..."

"Do you know which familia..."

"Dionysus familia, I believe."

"Do you know them?"

Ryu slightly shook her head. "I don´t like it, but words got around in Orario, that a black-haired elf joined this familia."

"What is so special about black hair?"

"It means...she is cursed...it´s an elven superstition..."

"Oh...now..I guess now many elves will think..."

"Mh..."

"If that was Dionysus familia...and a group from Ganesha familia...oh dear heavens."

"Almost a whole familia...wiped out. And some of these at least...did Ardee know."

For a while, they just sat next to each other, until steps alarmed them, it was their goddess.

"Bell! Ryu!"

Astrea was followed by Tiona and Tione, as well as Kaguya.

""Lady Astrea.""

The goddess stopped in front of her two followers, put her arms around their necks, and pulled them into a loving hug.

"Oh thank the heavens you two are alright... Tiona and Tione told us you encountered a dangerous monster...that...so many..."

Ryu nodded. "We did...thankfully we...mostly Bell...were able to drive it back."

New steps came, it was Ardee, she still wore her armor and sword. "Lady Astrea!"

"Ardee, my child!"

Before Ardee could say something pulled Astrea into a hug, the movement was so fast that Ardee tripped a bit, and her face got cushioned by Astrea´s bosom. For such a pure goddess, did she hug many of her followers surprisingly often this way.

"Mufu!"

"Thank goodness you´re alright too!"

Without disturbing the hospital staff too much, did they report to Astrea what happened. The goddess clapped her hands over her mouth.

"Oh no...these poor children..."

They saw tears glistening in Ardee´s eyes. "I knew some of them...Ganesha and Shakti are enraged...I never saw him like this before..."

Ardee didn´t resist when Ryu hugged her gently to give her comfort, Bell did it from the other side.

They talked softly and reported everything to Astrea. Tiona and Tione were still on high alert, their Amazonian blood was burning. For Tione it was also for another reason...maybe the situation was the worst possible. But she had seen just how wild Bell could become...

He was definitely the one for her.

"Where are Alise and the others?"

"In the city, something happened, a god returned to heaven, destroying a building, they´re helping."

"Who..."

"I don´t kn-"

Astrea couldn´t end her sentence.

The door to the containment area got pushed open, a healer ran outside.

"Where is Lord Dian Cecht?! We need him! NOW!"

No one seemed to answer, since they didn´t know it, the healer noticed Astrea.

"Lady Astrea!"

"Yes, what is it?!"

"Please, I need your help! The two elves suddenly became very weak, and their blessing vanished! We need a god to give them a blessing right now or they will die!"

"Oh dear heavens...it was Dionysus who returned..."

"Lady Astrea!"

"Yes, of course! Lead me to them!"

This would mean that Filvis and Aura "technicallly" converted into Astrea´s familia if they wanted to or not. The goddess would later apologize to both, for now, it was more important to save their lives.

And it was good that Astrea was so close by, the healer was able to stabilize both elves after Astrea gave them her blessing.

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"Lady Astrea, thank you for your help, without your quick reaction, we wouldn´t have been able to save them. But...as much as it pains me to tell you all this...you have to leave the hospital now, we need peace here."

Astrea nodded to Amid, even as young as she was, she was already the best healer in her familia.

"I understand, Amid. Will they make it?"

"Yes, at this point they´re out of danger."

The goddess exhaled. "That´s good...when will they wake up? Maybe it is better when...I tell them the news..."

"We used magic to keep them sleeping, they should wake up tomorrow around noon."

"Then I will return tomorrow."

"Understood, good night, Lady Astrea, Astrea familia."

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The mood when they returned wasn´t good, they made sure that Haruhime was already asleep in Neze´s room, and Heith had also returned.

"What does Freya say?"

"She sent all of our strongest, except for Ottar, with Ganesha familia down there. Hedin is pretty good at discovering things, and she wants to make sure that not more...you know..."

"I have to thank her for that."

After the Astrea familia got their full report, Astrea looked at her two new followers.

"Tiona, Tione...I´m really proud of both of you."

"Hm?"

"Huh?"

The goddess smiled gently, got up, walked over to the twins, and pulled them into a loving, motherly hug. Neither Tiona nor Tione had any experience with this kind of comfort, but...it felt really good.

"You did well on your first trip, listened to the others...I´m so proud of you."

They didn´t know how to react, so they didn´t return the hug. But...it felt nice.

Since it was already late, and the party pretty exhausted, especially Bell, they ate something light, showered, and went to bed.

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Bell didn´t sleep alone that night. Ardee snuggled up at him from the left side.

And...

For the first time, did Ryu snuggle up to him while someone else was there. She wouldn´t do this with someone like Kaguya, even when they were friends...it would feel lewd.

But with Ardee, it wasn´t a problem.

The presence of the other two helped each of them a lot. Tiona and Tione slept next to each other in their shared room, finding peace in the presence of their sister.

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Bell woke up in the morning to the sound of snoring.

Loud snoring.

Very loud snoring!

But it didn´t come from Ardee or Ryu...Bell still believed they couldn´t snore for real.

No, this noise came from somewhere else...from the carpet next to the bed. He opened his eyes and turned his head to the right side. Ryu´s peaceful face greeted him as the first thing in the morning.

She was so beautiful...

But how did she manage to still sleep with this noise behind her?!

Bell saw her right ear, it was always a precious sight...he couldn´t deny that he would love to kiss and nibble it...maybe even give it a soft, gentle lick...

But right now these thoughts got stopped...he saw something behind Ryu.

Something black, moving slowly up and down.

It was...a dog.

A big dog.

A giant dog...easily having the size of a cow!

And...he heard triple snoring!

This dog...had three heads!

His eyes widened.

How was this possible?!

Bell gasped. "Cerberus?!"

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.

.

The Guardian of Hades opened his six eyes, and each of the three heads yawned strongly, then the giant dog stretched its front paws, yawned again, and sat up.

His tail started to wag behind him...and all three heads panted happily.

And then...the door opened. Chloe came inside to wake him...them...up.

Cerberus barked.

Loud.

.

.

.

..

.

Author`s Note2: I wanted to give Dionysus the most pathetic "death" possible.

Cerberus is now basically like a spirit, acting on his own. There are some spirits in Orario, like Gnomes, but Cerberus is a bit different.

Small preview for the next chapter, aside from other things, Bell will have close combat training with Chloe...and things might get a bit out of hand. *wink wink*