Apologizing Night and Resupplying Day
"Goddess Hestia!" Leina and Bell shocked at the same time.
"Bell, Leina, you're both okay… Thank goodness!" Hestia jumped onto Bell giving him a big hug that knocks him down and crying like she hasn't seen them in years.
"My sweet Bell, you and Leina are safe! Then that means Lili and Risty are safe too!" Hestia smiled, feeling very happy to know that her children are okay just as she hoped for.
"Goddess Hestia! I can't believe you're really here, all the way down in the Dungeon!" Leina shocked as she kneels down to Hestia, poking her shoulder to make sure this isn't some sort of illusion or anything.
"I'm very real, Leina, and I'm glad you're okay too." Hestia smiled at her second child.
"Guys, over here! Our Goddess is here!" Leina alerted her fellow Familia members as they come to see what is going on here.
"Well, I'll be damn! It's really her!" Welf surprised.
"Goddess Hestia! Get off of Master Bell this instant! He needs to recover!" Lili quickly ran over to push the short Goddess off of Bell.
"Hey! I just wanted to have a little moment with my first child and lover!" Hestia complained as Lili pulls her off, and she gaps when she sees Ais is here as well.
"Hold on! This girl is here too!" Hestia pointed her foot at Ais. Wondering if the damn fates are trying to bring Ais into Bell's love life too.
"Nice to see that you guys are alright." Echidna said.
"Miss Echidna, and Miss Ryuu too!" Bell shocked to see the woman who works as a waitress in that restaurant.
"Would you mind not telling anyone about her being here, she has her reasons." Echidna asked a favor from them.
"Bell! Everyone, I am so happy to see you all safe and sound." Melpha smiled, getting their attention.
"What the… Even Melpha is here too! Hold on, can she even fight?" Risty asked shock.
"She can, we've seen her fight a few Hellhounds here and there." Echidna grinned, these guys will be in for a surprise about what she can do in a fight.
"Ah, the famous Bell Cranel and Leina Vance in the flesh." Hermes walked up to them.
"That is us and, I feel like you're a deity like Goddess Hestia." Leina guessed.
"Good hunch, you can just call me Hermes. Pleasure is all mine." Hermes held out his hand to Bell.
"Thank you for coming sir." Bell thanked as he shook Hermes' hand, but he could've sworn that Gods aren't allowed in the Dungeon from what he heard.
"No problem, anything for my pal, Hestia." Hermes smiled.
"You should also know that we didn't come here alone." Echidna said.
"She's right, the one you should be directing your gratitude over in that direction." Hermes gestured his hand over to the three members of the Takemikazuchi Familia coming in.
"They helped us get down here, and they want to have a word with you five." Echidna explained.
Bell and Leina look at the three Adventurers surprise to see them here after what happened yesterday, Welf and Lili aren't exactly thrilled to see them as Risty wants to give those three a piece of her mind for ditching her group like that.
"Hey, is everything okay?" Mirim asked, then spotted more people here.
Later, everyone has been gathered into one tent to have the talk about the incident on Floor 13.
"We beg for your forgiveness." Mikoto said, on her knees and head down on the carpet.
"So, these are the fools who dare brought danger to your Party?" Menace asked.
"Yep, that's them." Risty nodded.
"Listen, you don't have to do that." Bell said, not wanting them to be too formal with him and his group.
"You can say sorry, but you can't expect us to forgive you like that. I mean you guys almost got all of us killed!" Lili pointed out the harsh fact.
"She's right, I can't just turn a blind eye to something like that." Welf agreed.
"You're lucky I'm not gonna smash your heads in right now." Risty glared fiercely at the three.
"Hold on, I know what they did was bad. But it's not like they had any other choice!" Mirim tried to see the reason here.
"Are you kidding me? They left us to get killed." Welf proclaimed.
"But that was not their intention. They were just looking after their friends!" Mirim believed, even if she knows what they did was wrong.
"It was inexcusable, we're very sorry." Chigusa said, knowing how they feel right now.
"We understand you have every right to be angry with us. I take full responsibility." Mikoto said, believing she should've spoken up more back there.
"If anyone is taking the blame, I be the one who deserves it. I chose this, and honestly, I still believe it was the right decision." Ouka stood strong with it.
"Oh, you got a lot of nerve saying something like that to my face, buddy. Watch yourself." Welf said and the two stare at each other intensely.
"Calm yourself, Welf." Melpha stepped in between the two men.
"I know there are tensions between the two groups, and you all have your good reasons, but all must be forgiven as those who wish to make amends for those actions. Does that not show how sorry they are? To even swallow their pride to apologizes." Melpha apologized kindly.
Welf and Ouka glare at each other, still not exactly on the same level.
"There is a time when we must come together knowing that deep down, we're no different from each other. We must remember the love we learned from those before us and embrace the warmth of Heaven." Melpha believed strongly with her body glowing again like back at the church.
"This light again!" Mikoto gasped.
"What the fuck is going on here?!" Lili screamed, feeling like she's in the presence of a greater God than Goddess Hestia.
"Has she always been able to do that?" Risty asked.
"Why are you asking me, you know her longer." Welf covered his eyes with his arm.
"My eyes! It's like I'm crying from joy!" Mirim screamed.
"This woman… She has holy light powers?" Menace groaned, feeling her body a little hurt from this.
"(It's almost like this is Melpha's special skill to stop any conflict that might happen.)" Bell thought surprised that Melpha could do something like this.
Soon, the glowing stop and the conflict has almost faded away though it is still there.
"To be honest, she's right." Bell said, getting everyone's attention on him.
"I mean, if it were me… If Leina and everyone in our group were in danger, I think I might've done the same thing." Bell imagined himself in Ouka's position, maybe doing the same.
"But even so, you would come to regret it and want to go back down to make amends for that. Am I right?" Leina asked with a smile.
"Am I really that obvious?" Bell chuckled, scratching the back of his head.
"I can also forgive you guys for what you need to do, but I do hope in the future that you'd be more careful with your actions and give us a head up too." Leina said to Ouka.
"I'm fine with it, even if you all haven't fully forgiven us." Ouka nodded.
Bell and Leina smile at each other and then smile at Hestia seeing that everything has been worked out for the best, meaning there's nothing to worry about between the two groups.
"For a second there, I thought there was gonna be a blood bath." Echidna joked a little.
"Now, it's time we plan our next move. Asfi?" Hermes turned to his best girl.
"We need to get back up to the surface. Although, we should wait until the Loki Familia defeats Goliath. It looks like they'll be ready to move out again in two days at the earliest." Asfi stated.
"So, in other words, we got a full day to kill! That's a rare opportunity, so let's get some rest tomorrow." Hermes suggested which everyone agrees.
It's been decided that the boys will be sleeping together in another tent while the girls are to remain together in this tent, much to Menace's dismay that she won't be able to get her fun with Bell until later.
"Hey, Welf!" Hestia called out, getting his attention and Chigusa held up the wrapped item to him.
"Hephaestus said that she wanted me to make sure I got this to you." Hestia informed.
"Uh." Welf surprised a little as he took the wrapped cloth item.
"Along with a message." Hestia mentioned.
Welf looks down at the item having a feeling that he may know what this is.
"Be sure to really think about the message from your Goddess. You'll never know when they may hold something more than words." Echidna advised.
Sometime later, after everyone went to sleep, Bell steps out of the tent because he couldn't bring himself to sleep and the same thing goes to Leina who didn't want to miss out on the night.
"I see you couldn't sleep either." Bell said to his first girlfriend.
"How could I knot when I'm still thinking about this Dungeon being so beautiful, the ceiling looks like it's really the night sky." Leina pointed out with a smile.
"I see you two are doing okay." Ais revealed herself standing next to them.
"Oh, Hello Ais, are you also having trouble with sleep?" Leina asked.
"No, I heard footsteps and saw you two walking together. But your concern for me is very thoughtful." Ais answered.
"When are you heading out?" Ais asked.
"Not until after you guys leave. We're taking it easy tomorrow since we're still pretty tired." Bell answered.
"It's been quite the journey, but I'm about ready to head back home." Leina said.
"Well, you two will get to see the city tomorrow." Ais mentioned.
"What? You mean there's a city down here in the Dungeon too?!" Leina and Bell shocked as they ask the same question at the same time.
"I see you're looking forward to it." Ais nodded.
"Of course! Every time we learn something new in the Dungeon, I just get more excited to see them for myself" Leina smiled.
"Me too! I can't wait to see what kind of place this city is like!" Bell excitedly.
Despite all the danger and surviving death in every corner along the way, Leina and Bell couldn't help themselves but feel excited to see what other amazing things this Dungeon has.
(With Welf)
Welf is seen sitting on a ledge of a cliffside, holding onto the clothed item that was given to him and received the message from his blacksmith Goddess.
"(Damn it…)" Welf thought cursed at himself.
He remembers the time when he decided not to make magic swords anymore, the day when he told Goddess Hephaestus his declaration to never make magic swords again.
And he also remembers the words she said to him.
(Flashback)
The scene shows Welf and Hephaestus are alone together as the former told her the news about his decision.
"I refuse. Never again." Welf said, being serious about his decision.
"Alright then, so no more magic words." Hephaestus accepted his decision, but she also has to tell him this as well.
"But Welf, you'll end up regretting this. Believe me, you'll wish you have when there's someone out there you care for. So please, don't make you companion pay for your stubbornness." Hephaestus advised.
"She is right, you know." Owen said, walking into this talk.
"Owen!" Welf surprised to see him here.
"I won't say you shouldn't go back on your words, but there will come a time that you may bring yourself to make magic swords again from your heart." Owen said, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Never give up your heart for blacksmithing, it's what you love to do. Just like me." Owen smiled.
(Flashback End)
Welf softly sobs from the memory of that day and hugs onto the clothed item.
"Damn it…" Welf cursed, he knew that he is starting to see what his Goddess and Owen were telling him, now that he has true friends in his life.
(Tomorrow)
The Hestia and Loki group are walking up a roadside slope that leads to the city of Floor 18 as Bell and his friends and girlfriends are getting excited to see, but Hestia looks more exhausted than excited unlike the others.
"Bell… Are we almost to the city yet? My feet are killing me." Hestia asked wincing.
"Don't worry, Goddess, we're gonna be there before you know it." Bell promised.
Leina is seen at the top of the slope with everybody else, he saw Hestia and Bell coming up to them.
"(I guess Goddess Hestia is worn out from having to climb down the Dungeon that she can't go up much.)" Leina thought giggled.
"Bell, Goddess Hestia, hurry up and see this wonderful view!" Leina called out.
Bell arrives with Hestia riding on his back, and then his mind exploded of the amazing view right in front of him with the further distance having crystals like the giant one in the ceiling, and he also notices some flying monsters here too.
"The monsters visit Floor 18, just like we do." Asfi mentioned.
"And they don't attack anyone here?" Leina asked.
"As long as you don't provoke them. I'd actually say it's a place for the monsters and not the Adventurers, everything needs a place to relax." Asfi pointed out.
"I see, it's so amazing!" Leina smiled.
"Yes, I had heard many stories about this place being paradise and I'm glad that I get to see this with my own eyes!" Menace smiled as well.
"(This place would be ideal to restart Amara.)" Menace thought saw this place having potential to be a kingdom ground.
The continues on until they stumble the city with the sign that reveals the name of the city.
"Rivira, looks like a good name." Mirim commented.
"It's a city that was built down here by Adventurers." Ais explained.
"How long has this been here?" Leina wondered, there must be some strong people being so willing to live down here deep in the Dungeon.
Everyone enters the town seeing everything is mostly made of wood and appears to be a little old and rundown, it's a miracle that a city like this is still running despite the condition it's in and there are even a few stores here too.
"What the fuck are with these prices?" Risty asked shock.
"Yeah, 1300 Valis for a little wet stone? That's crazy!" Welf surprised.
"And they want 2000 Valis for this dirty-looking old handbag, you gotta be kidding me!" Lili said, couldn't believe the price they have here.
"If you don't like it then take your business elsewhere." The old man running the shop said, making Lili angry.
"Forgive them, good sir. I can understand the refuse for your prices to be so high since we are on the 18th floor of the Dungeon with some of the Adventurers coming being able to come down here freely nor stop by here for long with the monsters and other things." Melpha said gently to the old man.
"At least one of you understand how we're trying to keep our business up as much as possible." The old man looked at Melpha's gentle smile, and big boson.
"All the inns here are the same, very pricy." Tione informed.
"That's why we decided to camp out." Tiona added.
"Understandable, we should—Goddess Hestia! What are you doing?" Leina asked shock, seeing Hestia at a small perfume store.
"Just getting something appealing." Hestia responded.
Bell is surprised that Hestia was able to sneak away without him even knowing, but then a big man bumps into him.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, sir." Bell apologized, but becomes surprised to see a familiar face such as the man with the two scars on his face along with his two friends.
"Well, well, if it isn't the white boy again." The shorter man said.
"You're the three from that night at the restaurant." Leina recognized those men as well.
"I owe you two for what you did that night." The scared man angered at Bell and Leina.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you." The taller blonde man said.
"Why?" The scared man asked until he saw three girls from the Loki Familia, including Ais the Sword Princess which made the man shocked, and they just leave.
"What's with them?" Tione wondered about those guys.
"They're just losers." Tiona shrugged.
KO a new chapter is done and hope you all enjoy it!
Bell and everyone had a moment together with Mikoto and her group gave their apologies to the Hestia Familia, and they have gone to Floor 18's own city though it's a little rough with the prices. It's still a beautiful city for anyone to come and see.
KO comment, favorite, and follow through of how this story will go!