Shakti stared at Bell's level-up announcement with a twitching eyebrow. The paper crumbling in her grip as she shook. The paper in front of her simply did not make any sense whatsoever.
She had seen Bell fight, and he fought with the strength of a level two. She had seen him take down dozens of Minotaur's and Ligerfang's with relative ease.
So why? Why did this paper just say he leveled up to level two? There was no way he was a level one, no way at all.
Her door barged open and she already knew who it was. Dick skipped inside with a smile on his face.
"Hey Captain did you hear the news? My student leveled up, isn't that great?"
Her glare was enough to make Dick yelp and ice shiver. "Your student? You haven't even started training him yet."
"W-well sure he hasn't shown up for any lessons yet. But I still agreed to take him in as my student nonetheless." Dick replied. "So therefore he's technically my student, but with the way your eye is twitching I might have schedule it somewhere away from here."
Shakti put the paper on the table. Air exiting through her nose as she huffed. "Dick, do you know why I am a little agitated with this news?"
"I wouldn't say you're a little agitated-
"Richard!"
"Oh shit she used the government name," Dick whispered.
Shakti's eyes snapped to him. "What was that?!"
Dick raised his palms. "Alright, alright. Please tell me why you're the tiniest bit agitated, and totally not furious at some random child you've known for a month."
Shakti regarded Dick with an even sharper glare than before. She was not in the mood for his playboy attitude. "Because Dick, I watched him take down sleuths of Minotaur's and Ligerfangs, and all manner of level two monsters before he announced his level up. He even killed three infant dragons for god's sake!"
"So you think he was lying about his level?" Dick asked.
Shakti ran her hand through her blue hair. A sigh escaping her lips as she sat down. "I don't know, Bell's a good kid. He doesn't seem like a liar-
"But the whole level-up fiasco makes you think he isn't our resident Boy Scout anymore?" Dick finished.
Shakti sighed again and pinched the bridge of her nose. "I don't know, I want to give him the benefit of the doubt. He really helped us out a lot during Monsterphelia and the 18th-floor incident. But with this, I can't help but feel like he lied to my face the entire time."
Dick sighed and lowered his head. "You haven't taken such an interest in someone like this in a while. The last time was Ilta and look at her now, she's the vice captain. Captain, do you feel like you need to keep an eye out for Bell? Is that why this bothers you so much?"
Shakti didn't respond immediately. Instead, her eyes looked over to one of the pictures on her desk. The one where her sister's smiling face lied.
She couldn't help but see the similarities between the two. Both always seemed to smile or laugh despite the situation. Both always seemed to make people smile or brighten their day. Both cared for people to an almost zealous degree.
"Bell's only been in the city for a month and already he's done great acts of service. Both to the people of this city and the under-resort where he is adored. Is it not our job as children of the god of the masses to help him nurture and grow so he can help the masses out even more?"
Dick sighed and crossed his arms. "I mean I guess. But that still doesn't really answer my question captain."
Shakti didn't respond as she kept her gaze on Ardee's picture. Dick followed her gaze and only saw the back of the frame. But he knew who she was looking at, and it all made sense now.
"Oh, I get it. He reminds you of-
"Don't finish that sentence, please," Shakti asked.
Dick closed his mouth and nodded. "Right then, I'll leave you to it."
Dick then turned and left the office. Knowing how Shakti got whenever she thought of her sister.
Shakti just sat quietly in her office. Holding the picture frame of her long-dead sister. Running her thumb over the face.
Why did Bell have to act exactly like her?
Why did she feel so strongly about a possible lie he told her? They weren't that close so why did it bother her so much?
Shakti didn't know and that was what bothered her the most. But her attention was drawn to her door as Ganesha opened it.
"Get ready, our spies in the casino have reported that Ted has moved the women and taken a new one as his own. Get two teams ready, one to secure the other women and one to raid the casino." He ordered.
Shakti set the picture down and gave her god a sharp nod. "It will be done."
"Good, we cannot afford for this to go awry. So pick your teams wisely, and when we succeed we'll have taken down one of the largest trafficking rings in the city."
The woman stood up as her god left. This was good, it was something else to focus on. Something that was important to the city's safety, which was her job to uphold.
She needed to push Bell to the back of her mind and focus. Her questions about him could be answered later. Right now she had a trafficking ring to take down and women to rescue.
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"Rye are you absolutely sure you want to do this?" Bell asked.
He, Welf, and Rye were at the entrance to floor ten. Having walked through and cleared floor nine for Rye's training. But the boy had been insisting on going further.
"I'm sure." Rye nodded. "I did a few lessons with Eina, and I want to be brave. I don't want to cower away from going deeper."
Bell looked to Welf who just shrugged. "Alright if you want to go down we'll go down. But remember what we said about the Imps, and with the Orcs you just need to be faster than them. They're big, slow, and dumb. Use that to your advantage."
Rye nodded before a look of determination set itself on his face. Bell and Welf looked at each other. A silent vow to watch out for Rye was shared.
Then without any hesitation, Rye took the stairs down. Followed closely by Bell and Welf. When they reached the 10th floor the thick mist that Rye was scared of appeared.
But he pushed it down. He needed to, getting scared and running away wouldn't do him any good. Not with what he trying to accomplish.
So with another deep breath. Rye unsheathed his sword and went further into the mist.
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Freya sat on her throne and looked down upon the city. Her fingers were lightly tapping against the armrest of the chair. To her right was a small table which held a bottle of wine and a glass.
The city below was mundane and boring. But she couldn't help the smile that was on her face and the fluttering of her heart.
Her dear Odr had leveled up and broke the record for it as well. She couldn't help but be giddy at the thought.
'Oh, and he's watching over the kids as well. I can't help but feel joyful knowing he's good with kids, and he's so kind as well. Taking care of little Fena and standing up to Dian.'
Freya reached over and grabbed her glass of wine. Taking a sip of it and enjoying the rich flavor of dark berries. The wine was a gift from some merchant wanting to curry her favor.
She couldn't remember his name, not that she wanted to. His soul was nothing that special. A dark brown like mud.
But her beloveds, now his was such an interesting color. A bright shining white, with a hint of green at its core. She had never seen anything like it before.
Such radiance, such beauty. The sight of it made her knees weak and her legs tremble. She wanted it, she wanted him. But she had to wait. She knew he could still grow so much brighter.
But a reward was in order for her dear Odr. However, she needed to first make contact with him and gain his trust. Otherwise, it would seem suspicious.
Luckily for her, she already had an idea. But that all required on Rye and his introduction skills.
Freya couldn't help but pout. 'Why hasn't he come by the restaurant? Does he not want to see his big sister anymore?'
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Bell caught a flying tree in midair before spinning on his heel and throwing it back at the Orc. It rocketed through the air before impacting it in the face and tearing its head clean off.
"Next one's yours Rye! Remember what I told you!" Bell said.
The trio had been fighting for a few hours. But Bell and Welf had been taking care of any and all Orcs that had come their way. The big green piggish-looking monsters were a sight to behold for young Rye.
But they had long since played off their fear factor for him.
He took off running like a bat out of hell. His footsteps slamming into the ground as he ran at the second Orc.
He dodged to the side and avoided an Imp. The monster was killed right after by Welf who was following the boy as a safety measure.
The Orc raised its fist and swung down. But Rye was quick to roll out of the way. He sprung back up to his feet and charged. Raising his sword and swinging down across the Orc's leg.
He cut just above the ankle where Bell said a weak spot would be. It seemed Bell was right as the Orc couldn't hold itself up anymore and it took a knee.
Rye went to attack again but was yanked back by Welf as the Orc's fist almost hit him square in the chest.
"Don't get too cocky! It might be on its knees but it's still a monster with fight left in it!" Welf warned.
Rye nodded and Welf let him go. The boy started running again, this time aiming for its other leg.
A shadow hovered over him and Rye quickly dove forward. The Orc's fist impacted behind him as he rolled to safety before quickly shooting back up to his feet.
He spun on his heel and dragged his blade across the same spot. This caused the Orc to fully kneel. Significantly lowering its height and making it immobile.
Rye didn't waste the opportunity as he dodged another fist and jumped in the air. Despite being only 13 he still had a Falna.
Which means he could jump higher than a normal person, and because of that and the other circumstances Rye was able to clear the Orc's head.
He aimed his sword down as the Orc looked at it. It went to raise its right fist but found it couldn't. It looked down and found a smiling Bell holding it down.
"Now Rye! Stab it in the eye!" Bell cheered on.
The Orc went to raise its other fist but Welf was quick to stab its hand into the ground. Now that it was utterly immobilized the Orc could do nothing but watch as Rye's blade fell.
A second later the sleek orange blade went through its eye like a hot knife through butter, and everything for the Orc went black as life faded from its eyes.
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Rye took his blade out from the Orcs eye and let out a breath. His heart was racing and blood was pumping to his ears.
But he couldn't help but smile. He had done it, he had killed his first Orc. Even if it was with a great amount of help.
Rye looked over to Bell. The older boy had a small smile on his face with his head tilted slightly.
"I did it! I did it!" Rye cheered.
Rye jumped off the Orc's body. Excitement coursed through his veins as he got closer to Bell. When his feet touched the ground they immediately slipped out from under him and Rye became covered in blood.
He had slipped in the Orc blood when he had landed, and Bell couldn't stop himself from the laugh that escaped his lips.
Welf's howling laughter didn't make it any better either.
Rye couldn't help but blush in embarrassment as he sat up. The back of his shirt, pants, and head were covered in purple blood.
"Stop laughing! It isn't funny!" Rye protested.
Neither heard him as Bell held his hands on his knees and Welf was hunched over on a rock. Both still howling with laughter as Rye stewed in embarrassment.
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"I hate both of you," Rye muttered drying himself off.
Welf was still snickering but Bell had stopped laughing. The smile was still on his face though. One mixed with pride and amusement.
The trio had gotten back to the surface a little while ago to cash in their rewards and for Rye to get cleaned up. Bell couldn't help but chuckle at the shriek Eina let out.
Nor the stern talking to he was given for taking Rye to floor ten again. Honestly, that woman seemed to care for Rye like a little brother.
"Come on lighten up Rye, you killed your first Orc. That's something to be proud of." Bell said. Though he couldn't help but feel Eina's cold glare aimed at his neck.
"W-well yeah...but you still laughed at me." He grumbled.
"Would you have laughed at us if it had been one of us that slipped and fell?" Welf asked.
A sort of irking sound left Rye's lips before he frowned and looked again. That was the only answer Welf needed as he snickered once more.
"There's your answer, now stop grumbling about that fall it built character." Welf waved off.
"How?" Rye deadpanned.
Welf stood up and stretched. "Don't worry about it too much." He then turned to Bell. "Anyway, I'm off to my own personal hell. I need to go and make your armor after all."
"Give Tsubaki my regards," Bell said.
Welf grumbled and waved goodbye as he left the guild. Having already gotten his payment while two waited as Rye cleaned himself up.
"So...what do we do now?" Rye asked.
Before Bell could answer he felt his stomach grumble. "Well, I could go for lunch. Do you know any good places to get food? Airmid and I normally do our cooking at home."
Rye nodded. "I know a place."
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Bell and Rye stood outside a tavern called the Hostess of Fertility amongst a sea of people. It was close to two in the afternoon and the tavern looked slightly busy. It was a two-story wooden building with a rustic charm to it. That was how Bell would describe it since no other words came to mind.
"And you said you knew a waitress here?" Bell asked.
Rye nodded. "Mhmm, big sis Syr always brings us food whenever she can."
Bell quirked an eyebrow and looked down. "Big sis Syr?"
"Yeah, she's been coming around the orphanage for years now. Bringing us food and taking care of us. Isn't that what a big sister does?"
Bell shrugged. "I guess, I wouldn't know exactly since I don't have any siblings."
"Oh, well she's nice. I think you'll like her."
The two then walked inside the tavern. It was a homely place. With a light brown wood that reminded Bell of home. The dining area was big filled with tables and booths. The bar was a spacious area as well able to seat multiple people and have room for all their plates and drinks.
Behind the bar was a tall burly dwarven woman with bulging muscles. She was dressed in a blue button-up shirt with short sleeves and brown pants. She wore a white apron over her clothes and had her brown hair tied up in a ponytail.
Upon seeing Rye enter her brown eyes narrow. "Rye, the hell you been at? Syr's been missing you!" She then looked at Bell who was standing next to Rye. "And who's your friend?"
Rye went ramrod straight at the woman's harsh voice. A chill ran down his spine as his hand became clammy. "U-uh well, you see...It's entirely his fault!"
Rye pointed at Bell causing the older boy to look down at him. Rye didn't look at Bell, his eyes focused on the dwarf who looked at Bell with an appraising gaze.
"Wait a minute, you're that kid that broke the level-up record." She said. "Come on and take a seat. Tell me what you've been doing with the boy and how you broke the record. Rye sit your ass at the bar as well, Syr will be happy to see you."
Bell sighed feeling like he had just stepped into the lion's den. What had Rye gotten him into? And who the hell was this Syr he kept hearing so much about?
The two boys took their seats at the bar, and Bell noticed a brown-haired cat girl dressed in a green maid outfit. He raised an eyebrow as he turned back to the bartender.
"Dress code." She then stuck out her hand. "Name's Mia Grand, but you can call me Mama Mia as the rest."
Bell took the hand and felt that the woman had a very considerable grip. It was tight, and he knew if he tried to pull back he would fail. So he did the thing his master had taught him with these shows of strength.
He squeezed her hand hard as well.
A look of surprise washed over Mia's face as Bell didn't flinch or even wince. Whatever pain tolerance this kid has was either impressive or very dangerous.
"Well then now that we're acquainted mind telling me why Rye's been so busy?" Mia took her hand away. "And how did you manage to take the city by storm in the span of a month?"
"He's been training me, Mama Mia." Rye cut in. "Making sure I got some good equipment and knowledge for the dungeon. He's even helping Fena while she's sick and bought Roux a book he won't pull his nose out of."
Mia raised a brow as she looked at Bell. "So you're taking care of the kids huh? What brought that on? Hoping to get some reward later down the line? Pining after Maria?"
Bell was quick to shake his head. "No, I-I'm good. I just saw that they needed help and wanted to help them."
"That's it, no ulterior motive?" Mia asked.
"No Mama Mia, Bell's been really helpful to us. Fena would've died if not for him...and I would've have as well." Rye cut in.
Mia was quiet for a moment before nodding and letting out a hum. "Alright then, what will you be having be for lunch."
Bell felt himself get whiplash from how fast the conversation had just changed. But he was pretty hungry so put the thought aside as Mia handed him a menu.
He gave it a once over as Rye ordered chicken tenders and fries.
"A-and an ale?"
"No." Both Mia and Bell said at the same time.
"Oh come on! I go into the dungeon every day. I even killed my first Orc today, you're telling me I can do all that but not have an ale?" Rye complained.
"You can have an ale when you kill a Minotaur or when you reach 14," Mia said.
"Wha- a Minotaur! That'll take at least another year!"
"Good, you'll be 14 by that point. You're having orange juice." Mia told him leaving no room for argument.
Rye grumbled as Bell set his menu down and placed his order. Steak and potatoes with a glass of water to go with it. Mia wrote their orders down and passed them off to the kitchen as Bell noticed an elven woman walking past him wearing the same green maid outfit.
'Never thought I'd see an elf wear that.' Bell thought to himself.
He watched as the woman moved with poise and grace befitting her species. She set the tray of drinks she was holding down before passing them amongst the table.
Her short green hair highlighted her beauty and her blue eyes made Bell feel like he was staring into the ocean. Even though he had never seen it before he assumed it would look like her eyes.
"Hey, Rye, who's that over there? The elf." Bell asked.
Rye looked over his shoulder before back at Bell. "Oh, that's Ms Ryu, she a friend of big sis Syr. She normally acts as big sis's bodyguard when she comes by the orphanage."
Bell sighed as he looked away from the elf right as their eyes met. "Seems everyone and their mother knows who this Syr is."
"That's because I get to know people." A cheery voice said.
Bell jumped in his seat and quickly turned his head to see a small woman with gray hair and the same maid outfit as the rest of the staff standing next to him.
'How did she sneak up on me?'
The girl, who Bell now knew as Syr wore a bubbly smile on her face with her head tilted slightly. Rye smiled upon seeing her but began to shake in fear as her smile turned menacing.
"So tell me Rye, why haven't you been by to see me lately? Have you outgrown your big sis?" Syr pouted.
The boy shook in his seat as he stumbled over his words. "N-no I-I w-well you see I-well."
Bell sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "He's been with me this entire time. I found him needing help in the dungeon one day and helped him. Since then I've been keeping an eye on him and making sure he doesn't get himself killed."
"Mia said he fought an Orc today. Tell me Rye are your stats high enough for that floor?"
"Uh...no." He mumbled.
"Hmm, so you took him down to a floor he's under-leveled for. That seems counterintuitive for what you're trying to accomplish." Syr pointed out.
"If he was alone you'd be correct. But he was supervised by myself and a mutual friend we share. Both of us held the Orc's arms down as Rye dealt the finishing blow. Trust me when I saw no harm came to Rye at all during our journey."
Syr's gray eyes shone with a certain gleam and she leaned back and smiled. "Well, as long as Rye is ok in the end we won't have any problems. My name's Syr Flova and it's a pleasure to meet you."
Bell blinked a few times before signing. "My name's Bell and it was nice to meet you Syr."
"Syr!" Mia yelled. "Get your ass back in here and clean these dishes!"
Syr jumped before smiling. "Teehee, looks like I made Mama mad. I hope to see you again sometime soon."
Syr ran back into the kitchen as Bell slowly turned to look at Rye. The boy looked as pale as a sheet and had his head in his hands.
"Rye."
"I know, but I promise big sis Syr isn't normally like that."
Bell smiled. "I was going to say she's very unique. She seems to care for you a great deal by the way she questioned me."
Rye rubbed the back of his neck. "Well, she's been around us for a while now. We owe big sis Syr a lot of things. Even before Goddess Hestia came to us."
Bell patted Rye on the back as their drinks arrived. "Well, why don't you get her a present with your earnings from the Orc hide and monster stone? I bet she'd really like something like that."
"Well, what should I get her? I don't know what women like?"
Bell went to open his mouth to respond but the words died in his throat. 'I am not giving him Grandpa's lessons. Master would kill me if I passed those on.'
"Could always try some jewelry. I heard women like those sorts of things."
Rye crossed his arms and hummed as he contemplated on what to do. But was snapped out of his thoughts by their food arriving.
He looked to Bell who gave the boy a nod. "Think about it while you eat. Better yet ask Maria or your goddess, both of them are women."
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Lunch was a nice affair and Bell and Rye spent at least an hour at the Hostess. For which Bell paid despite Rye's protests. It seemed the younger boy was still acclimating to the help Bell was offering.
After lunch was over Rye decided to head home. He wanted to tell Maria and his goddess about his exploit of killing an Orc. Bell couldn't fault the boy for wanting his caretakers to be proud of him.
It was one of the reasons he wanted to write a letter to his Master and Grandpa. So he could receive words of praise, but he couldn't do that without Hermes being here.
So he had to wait.
But he didn't really mind. Maybe he'd reach level three before the letter was sent and really impress them. Leveling up twice in two months, Rose would probably not believe him. But he would pay any amount of money in the world to see the look on her face when she read that letter.
He couldn't help but chuckle to himself as he made his way back to the clinic. Maybe Airmid had calmed down from the news of his level-up by now?
Oh, he still remembered the earful he got from her. About how stupid he was fighting all those level-two monsters during Monsterphelia and how he needed to take better care of himself even if he could heal all his wounds.
Honestly, it felt nice when she nagged him. It reminded him he had someone that cared about him. Someone he wanted to come back home to at the end of the day.
Someone he didn't want to make sad.
Bell sighed as he put his hands behind his head. 'Hmm, I wonder what we'll have for dinner? Maybe after some of the heat dies down I should take Airmid out to dinner like Shakti said. But wait would that be a date?'
Bell shook his head. 'No, no. Not a date, just two friends going out to dinner after a long day's work. People do that all the time and it's not a date. Yeah, yeah that makes a lot of sense. Yeah.'
"Are you Bell Cranel?" A figure asked.
Bell had just arrived at the clinic and turned his head to the side to see a rat-faced man dressed in a finely tailored suit leaning against the wall.
"Depends on who's asking," Bell replied.
The rat-faced man straightened his posture and fixed his tie. His brown hair rustled in the wind but the combover held.
"I represent the Grand Casino El Dorado Resort."
Bell's brows furrowed. "The...Grand...Casino-
"The Grand Casino El Dorado Resort." The rat-faced man said again. "Or as it is most commonly referred to as The Grand Casino."
Bell nodded. "Uh-huh, and what do they want with me?"
The rat-faced man cleared his throat as he reached into his breast pocket and pulled out a white envelope. He outstretched it to Bell which the boy hesitantly took.
"Inside is an invitation to the Casino along with a golden chip. Show your invitation at the front door along with the chip for easy access into the premises. Do be aware we have a strict dress code. What you are currently wearing now will be unacceptable. Black tie only or you won't be allowed in, oh, and do bring a plus one. It would be bad manners otherwise."
Bell felt like his head was swimming as he digested the information. He was just invited to what he assumed was one of the biggest casinos in the city on a whim, and he didn't even know why.
"May I ask why I'm being invited?" Bell asked.
"Management has seen fit for the new record holder to allow you within our walls. Be grateful for the opportunity as not many get it."
Bell's brows furrowed looked at the envelope again and then back to the man. "Uh, I'll stop by then. Thank you."
The rat-faced man regarded Bell with a nod before he walked away. Once he was gone Bell looked at the envelope in his hand and sighed.
'Alright, I'll need to get a suit first. I've always wanted to wear one, but what color should I get it in? And who do I take as my plus one?'
Only two people came to his mind. Airmid and Shakti, but he quickly scratched out Shakti. She was the captain of Orario's police force and would most likely be busy.
Which only left Airmid in his mind.
But that's when Bell felt his heart flutter as he grew scared. 'Ah crap this would seem like a date
Ah, I don't want her to think I'm asking her out on a date. She'd probably do some cute giggle and laugh at me or something.'
Bell's hand ran through his shaggy white hair. 'Ah, what do I do?! He said to bring a plus one as it's proper and all. But I don't want Airmid to think I'm asking her out on a date.'
He dropped his hands to his side and took a breath. 'Alright, deep breath Bell. Just simply walk into the clinic and ask her if she would like to go gambling with you.'
Bell facepalmed. 'Yeah because that's something you just ask you idiot.'
Bell spent quite a bit of time thinking of how to ask Airmid to go gambling with him. But he finally worked up the courage and marched inside the clinic.
Alright as you have probably seen Dick is going to be appearing a lot more since we don't know anything on Ganesha's 11 level fives except for two of them. Which leaves nine nameless level fives in the Ganesha familia.
Nice job Omori.
Anyway here's his stat sheet:
Richard Grayson
Alias: The Acrobat
Age: 22
Ganesha familia
Level five
Strength: B720
Endurance: C601
Dexterity: B735
Agility: A850
Magic: I26
Skills:
Keen eye: Improves user's eyesight and hand-eye coordination.
Tightrope: Gives user impeccable balance no matter the circumstances.
Heat Barrage: Increases all the user's base abilities.
Tora Tora Tora: Boost user's agility in all types of combat situations.
Development Abilities:
Abnormal Resistance: E
Diving: G
Strong Defense: E
Staff Master: B
Magic:
Unknown: A Magic that is only known by Dick and a select few others. Only used in dire situations as its effects have a massive adverse effect on Dick.
Well, I think that's it for his Falna/info sheet. But just know Dick's a rising prodigy in the Ganesha familia and the god along with the executives have high hopes for him. Despite his playboy attitude, he's well-liked in the familia and city for his kind and cheerful attitude.
Also if you guys want I can make character sheets for the other level fives I've named though their influence on the story will most likely be minimal with only a few appearances here or there. But you know the information could be nice to have.
Anyway, I think that's all I really have to say. So I hope you enjoyed and I'll see you all later.