Chapter 11: Saving hides Pt1

(Night 20 after minotaur)

Level One

Strength: A801 S952 Defense: B702 A862

Dexterity: B782 S921 Agility: A899 S998

Magic: I0 C680 Luck: I

Skill ()

Magic ()

Firebolt – Swift strike magic

"Goddess, is everything okay?" I looked back to the wide eyed silent Loli goddess straddling my bare back. She had trouble even thinking of words to say as her mouth moved but no words came out. "Goddess." I looked back concerned.

"There is no easy way to say this, Bell. You went up a terrifying number of points." She placed the sheet on the bed.

"Terrifying?" I sat up and put my shirt back on and grabbed the paper. "Wha-wha-What?" My mouth was wide open as my smile filled my face ear to ear. I couldn't contain my excitement. "Goddess that is over twelve hundred points. H-How?"

"Bell what have you been doing in the last five days?" Goddess Hestia calmly asked as her eyes moistened.

"I got a new bow made from Welf and was practicing with it at Loki familia manor. The time I snuck out to test my magic. I went all the way down to floor 8 and Riveria helped me train on the way back up. Then the out of control spar with Hod, floor 8, floor 9, floor 8 again….." My smiled ceased as I tried to suppress my excitement and panic. I trailed off. "floor 12….."

BAM.

Goddess Hestia fell backwards onto the bed and fainted.

"Goddess. Goddess. GODDESS!" I shake her back awake.

A minute later she regained consciousness. "Bell w-why?" She slowly sat back up with a pale face. "Why did you go down that far?"

"Lily was in trouble. Her familia tied her up on floor 12. They were using her to lure monsters and doing something strange. They got overwhelmed by a monster and left her there to die. I was able to deal with the silverbacks, orcs and imps, but I got cornered by a dragon until….." I blushed a deep crimson. "Riveria rescued me, again."

Hestia was tempted to throw on her usual cheerful smile, crack a joke about his growth. "Bell, you need to stop trying to be a hero just to impress a woman. This Riversomething is getting married."

"Goddess she was begging for help." I said with a pained voice.

"Bell you're gonna get yourself killed. I told you not to leave me alone."

"Goddess I can't help it. I can't sit by and let somebody get hurt, especially when I can do something about it. I agree with my grandpa. I made the decision myself. I will not compromise myself for anyone. Not for a spirit or a god." (1)

"You're talking about the same man that wants you to start a harem and hunt down women in the dungeon. I swear I am gonna have some choice words for your perverted grandpa if I ever have to go back to Tenkai." Hestia gritted her teeth and clenched her fists.

"Yes, my grandpa was a pervert. Yes, I still have those thoughts rattling around my foolish heart and mind, but I only desire one woman in my life. My grandpa was the only family, I have ever had. I still take his words to heart. I will not blindly obey and I am in charge of my own story." (1)

"I don't want our story to end." Hestia pouted.

"I will do everything in my power to prevent my end. I feel like me and Lily can make a good team, if we give her another chance and help her."

"Hmmpf. Fine. I want to meet this Lily at a café tomorrow."

"Okay Goddess."

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(Day 21)

Sometime later in the early evening, I was carrying a tray with three drinks over to a café table. A very upset Goddess Hestia and a nervous Lily were sitting across from each other, not speaking. Lily was in a clienthrope form. I placed the tray on the table noticing the tension. 'This is awkward.' I stood there off to the side of the two-person table.

"Bell, please take my chair. I can sit in your lap."

"You're funny goddess. I will go look for one." I walked away from the table.

"Good he will be busy for a few minutes. Let's get right to it Lily. I hate you. I don't want you anywhere near him. You almost got him killed twice you thieving vixen."

"Lily is sorry. She was desperate." Lily pleaded.

"I will ask you directly. Are you planning to pull anymore scams?" Hestia narrowed her eyes on the Lily.

"Absolutely not. I will never hurt Master Bell again. Lily will never betray my hero." Lily placed her right hand over her chest.

"You can't lie to a god but it's hard to believe Bell made you a new person. If you go back to your old ways or put that boy in danger. I will make your life a living hell." Hestia stared down in Lily's frighted eyes.

"Lily Swears."

"Fine, I will decide your punishment. You have no right to refuse a God's judgement." She crossed her arms below her chest. "Please look after Bell."

"What?" Lily was shocked.

"Supporter make sure he doesn't get fooled by another stranger. If you really have changed prove it through your actions and look after him."

Lily sighed in relief. "I-is that all? I will be happy to protect Master Bell."

Hestia looked around seeing Bell asking the staff for another chair. "Do not bring this up to him. I need you to slow him down."

"What do you mean Goddess Hestia?" Lily stared up to the goddess confused

"I don't want him to die. He is running into one dangerous situation after the next without thinking, all to try an impress some elf woman. Keep him focused on making money."

"Elf." Lily eyes shifted downward.

Hestia noticed Bell coming back empty handed. She smiled and raised her voice. "Well then supporter. I will be counting on you." I arrived next to her. Hestia lunged out for my left arm and hugged it close to her. "To look out for my Bell."

"Goddess, what are you?" I stared down flustered at the random close contact.

"Eh." Lily eyes went wide in shock.

"Supporter you have my permission to join Bell's party. It's your job to protect him. Don't push your luck." Hestia flashed an evil grin at Lily.

Lily stood up. She looked side to side to see if anybody was watching and placed her hands on her head and whispered her chant. "Stroke of the Midnight's Bell, Cinderella." Lily clienthrope ears disappeared and were replaced by elf ears. Her shaggy chestnut brown hair straightened out and turned blonde.

Hestia's eyes bulged out of her skull as Lily raced over to my right arm and hugged it closer to her. "Now Lily can always be together with Bell who is incredibly nice to her."

"Lily." I surprised as a second woman held my arm with their body.

"What do you think you're doing miss supporter?" Hestia pulled me closer to her. "That's too close back away from Bell and do away with that cheap trick."

"Goddess. Lily." I shifted my head back and forth confused and red faced feeling their bodies tight against me.

"Lily wants Master Bell to be happy and for him to crawl in the dungeon arm and arm with her."

"You thieving Vixen. He's mine."

"Is that Loki familia?" I pointed randomly down the road. Both small women loosened their grips and stared to where I pointed.

I collapsed to the ground on purpose and rolled backward, using my hands to push myself upwards to my feet. I scratched my head and smiled at the twitching faces of my goddess and supporter. "I must be seeing things."

"Beeeeelllllll!" Goddess Hestia stared me down angrily.

"Sorry." I smiled nervously. "I forgot I need get some more arrows and pay welf." I turned to Lily. "I will see you tomorrow, Lily."

"Okay Master Bell." We waved to each other, as I set off to the west to get my coin pouch from the church.

"Urrrrrrrrrggghhhh. Supporter you better not seduce my Bell." Hestia placed her forehead against Lily's and puffed out her chest.

"Lily might be helpless if Master Bell seduces her." She sticks her tongue out to tease the goddess.

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I made it back to the church and sorted through my stash of valis. I retrieved sixty thousand valis. I made thirty thousand yesterday in the dungeon with Lily on floor 8.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

"Hmmm, one minute?" I walked over to the door and opened it up.

"Evening Bell." The mature brown haired clienthrope Nahza was standing behind the door in her normal blue robes.

"Miss Nahza. Surprising to see you stop bye."

She flashed a devilish grin. "Hello Bell, I been trying to find you. I just noticed you run back here a few minutes ago."

"Oh, I am sorry. I have been busy of late. What did you need from me, Miss Nahza?"

"I was wondering if you would be interested in taken up a quest for me."

"A quest."

"Yep, I will even give you a reward if you help me out."

"What do you need?"

"I need wings from a blue papillon butterfly. There is no time limit but the earlier the better."

"Okay Miss Nahza. I would be glad to help you and Lord Miach out." I smiled.

"Thank you, Bell. Did you learn any magic yet?"

"I did."

"Congratulations." She reached into her coat and pulled out a blue vile. "Here I will give you this mind potion as an incentive."

"Thank you very much. I will try and complete your quest as soon as possible."

"Wonderful. Thanks again. I have to get back to the shop." She walked back upstairs and out of the church with a grin on her face. 'To easy.'

I followed her out of the church and turned north towards the Hesphaistos smith shop. Walking along the alley way. "Aw crap. I forgot to ask about the potions. I will finish the quest and have a talk with her."

I continued to walk north. I looked around feeling two pairs of eyes focused on me. Every time I turned around or looked in the direction of where I thought they might be located, weirdly the sensation ended. "I swear I am paranoid." I scratched the back of my head and walked off to the shop.

Two women peaked out from a rooftop. "I swear it's like he knows were watching, Line." First woman was slim red head human dressed in sleeveless black high top with shoulder guards and brown shorts. She was leaning over the rooftop watching him run down the alley, while her friend was hiding behind a chimney.

"Was kind of weird Sharon. Why are we doing this again?" Line had her back to the brick chimney. She was a curvy black-haired woman that wore glasses. She was dressed in a purple and white uniform with a white headband.

"We were ordered by Loki and Raul to keep an eye on him in shifts. Hod is sure to try and kill him."

"Why? He seems like a nice person." Line questioned in a soft voice.

Sharon put her hands on her hips. "Well, Bell did embarrass Hod in front of the strongest familia in the world. Being part of Loki familia is the dream of every adventurer in Orario. Hod's petty jealousy caused this all to happen. I refuse to let Hod's creepy ass run our familia's name into the ground by trying to kill him."

Line steeled her nerves and stood up. "Your right Sharon. Bell doesn't have anybody in his familia to protect him. I need to stop complaining. Besides Eina seems to care for him a lot."

"That she does Hehe." Sharon chuckled. "All she's been doing over the last two days is pacing around her room talking about him or training on the roof alone. It's rather cute how worried she is over him. I want to change Eina's mind about Loki familia."

Line held her chest. "I want to support her as much as possible too. Being in different familias will be a difficult love but we can at least try to capture Hod and befriend her." Both women jumped off the roof and walked after Bell keeping their distance.

They watched the boy stop off at Tsubaki's shop, go back to the church to drop off his quiver. They were about to go home when he came back out and started walking over to the western wall. They didn't want to expose themselves and lost him on the wall. Both were stunned at the speed of greenhorn adventurer.

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Loki familia battle party somberly marched back to the twilight manor. Many were in low spirits after witnessing the carnage of the twenty fourth floor and the sheer power of the enemy. They were spared casualties by the slimmest margins but many met their end at evilus's plot. Especially Hermes familia who lost five of their members. Finn especially felt horrible witnessing the end of two shining examples of prum bravery. Pott and Pokk sacrificed themselves to save their familia.

Tione reached out for his shoulder. "Captain is there anything I can do?"

"Just gonna take time Tione. Especially for Lefiya. That dwarf woman gave her life to protect Lefiya. Maybe keep watch over her for a while." Finn suggested staring up with a strained smile towards the amazon.

"You're home." The red-haired goddess raced out of the manor with surprising speed. She jumped forward. Each person getting out of the way until she landed on Lefiya. Loki's hands reach out to grope the young elf.

"Get off me." Lefiya cried out as she blocks her chest from being groped by the perverted goddess.

"Woah."

"Get off of her." Riveria picked the goddess up with one hand and threw her ten feet away on to her back. "You need to stop doing that Loki."

"Owie. Sorry. Just seeing all my children safe makes me happy." She jumped up to talk with Finn.

Finn rolled his eyes. "The mission was a completed. We put an end to their plot. They were growing monsters in the various pantries of floor 24. We were lucky to not have any casualties but many others died down there, Loki. We will discuss further what our enemy is up too."

"Gotcha Finn. Glad you're all alive though wish you came up earlier." Loki scratched her face nervously.

"Something wrong goddess."

"Hod e-escaped." Loki painfully admitted.

"What?! How?!" Riveria was full of rage and towered over the shaken goddess.

"Somebody must have informed him and gave him a potion. He snuck out in the middle of the night with all the confusion over the mission. Before you ask, I have people watching over Bell from afar. Wasn't sure how you would react if I placed a bounty."

"Probably a good thing. We don't want our reputation being shredded and further." Finn state noticing the pain in his finger.

"Dam the reputation." Riveria shouted. "We need to get him before he tries to kill Bell or hurt Eina. Where is Eina?"

"She's on the roof training. I didn't want her to leave the manor." Loki stated as Riveria rushed past her to the inside the manor.

"Let's take this to the office, Loki." Finn held the bridge of his nose in pain.

"Alright Finn." Loki stayed back and leaned over to Lefiya. "Somebodies growing."

"I am not!" Lefiya screamed out red faced.

The twins came over to grab Loki under the armpits and carry her off. "Stop it you perverted old man."

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Eina was on the rooftop of the twilight manor all alone. Glistening with sweat as she furiously swiped her blade endlessly at an invisible opponent. She was distraught and more worried than she had ever been. She was also angry that she wasn't allowed to go see Bell and protect him, herself from that lunatic.

"Somebody's training hard." Riveria watched the young half elf swing her blade.

"Riveria." Eina dropped her weapon and raced over to the high elf and gave the surprised high elf a hug.

"E-Eina, w-what are you doing?" Riveria was red in the face from the close contact.

"Oh sorry." Eina released her grip and backed away into an apologetic bow. "I have been so worried and Loki won't let me leave the manor." She stared up with tears in her eyes.

"Probably a good thing since Hod is jealous of you and Bell being together. He probably will use you to get to him or hurt you." Riveria warned.

"Me and Bell aren't together." Eina's face went red and her ears drooped. "I told you he likes somebody else. I don't want that asshole to hurt him."

"Loki has people watching him. We can go see him tomor-row." Riveria's advanced senses picked up on something running the walls. She trailed off amazed by the level one speed.

Eina followed her gaze. She smiled watching him disappear. "Geez even with a skill. How is he improving that fast?"

"Surprised you didn't tell him about his skill. You sure he doesn't know about it." Riveria wondered

"He doesn't know about it." Eina smiled plainly and shook her head. "I didn't think it was my place to tell him and at the time I was worried about my job."

"Well." Riveria eyed the sky and leaned her neck to the side. "You don't have to be worried about your job anymore. You can always change his heart toward you."

Eina's face turned red. "I kind of want to root for him. He's too afraid to tell her and she might be hiding her feelings. I don't deserve my hero for how I acted."

"Eina I am sure he would be happy to have you in his life. You are incredibly beautiful young woman." Eina's face went even more crimson. "I do wish he would stop trying so hard to be a hero. He's gonna get himself killed next time."

"Eh." Eina's face went pale and her eyes widened. "What did he do now?"

"We found him rescuing his supporter on floor twelve."

"WHAT!?' Eina yelled out at the top of her lungs.

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High on top of Babel the goddess of beauty was staring down at the boy with a lustful gaze as he once again exceeded her expectations. "Fufufu. Ottar." She stared up at the stoic seven-foot tall boaz man standing quietly by her throne with a glass of tea in her hands. "The boy has gotten stronger."

"Does that please you, my lady?"

"Yes, it does. His soul shines even brighter, but there is one little dull spot that's preventing him from shining through." She takes a sip of her tea. "Any ideas Ottar?"

"Ties Perhaps? He may not realize it but the incident with the minotaur may be tormenting him.

"How can we help free him?"

"A person must break free by their own hands and sever the chains of their past."

Freya pouted. "Makes me jealous that you understand him better than I do now."

Ottar stood at attention and stared down at his goddess. "My lady I am sure he will come running into your arms when he realizes your love has been guiding him."

Freya smiled as she placed her glass on the table. "I will leave his development to your hands."

CREAK

The doors were pushed open. The male elf Hedin entered Freya's chambers. He approached her throne and took a knee. "My lady, I have news."

"What is it, Hedin?" Freya tilted her head.

Hedin stared up from his kneeling position. "I have received news that the human male Hod that tried to kill Bell during training, has escaped the Loki familia manor. I ask your permission to hunt him down to protect your betrothed."

"Interesting. So that is why I have been seeing Loki familia tailing him around the city."

"My lady should we not just bring him in now. He is getting too close to Loki familia. It's only a matter of time before that half elf seduces him." He grimaced in disgust.

"If I were to bring him in now. He would probably get hurt in training. I can tell when my children are jealous, Hedin."

Hedin placed his hand over his heart. "I will protect and guide him my lady. Me and Lady Riveria will watch after him like his mother and father. Until he is strong enough to be worthy of your undying love."

"Fufufu. So sweet Hedin. Unfortunately, I can't convert Bell to my familia even if we took him." Both men stared wide eyed in shock at the goddess of beauty. Freya just smiled and rolled her eyes. "Goddess Hestia is a virgin goddess. She is immune to my charms and she is a lot more powerful than she looks."

"Goddess nobody is more powerful or beautiful than you. Surely you could just send her back to Tenkai or capture them both." Hedin bowed his head.

"If I do that then his soul would be affected. Same if I were to outright kill the half elf." Freya's smile widened evilly. "We will deepen the divide between his goddess and Loki familia by allowing this man to force his way between my Bell and this half elf woman."

"The half elf is not allowed to leave the twilight manor, my lady."

"Her infatuation for my Bell will make her slip up. In the meantime, find this human Hod and keep an eye on him. Prevent him from getting close until we can set the stage. All our problems will be solved in one day." She glanced up to the towering Boaz and chuckled.

"As you command my lady."

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(Day 22)

"Eina hurry up." Riveria turns her head to the half elf behind her as they walk along a service road that paralleled the northern wall.

"Coming." Eina races up to the side of Riveria. "Sorry, everything just feels weird not sleeping in my apartment."

"I can understand you're not use to being around the familia, but I would like talk to him on the wall instead of going to that ruin where he lives. I would rather have a civilized discussion then risk a headache this early with his goddess." Riveria found the tower with the spiral staircase that led to the top of the wall. Both women ascended the stairs.

"Ouch my back." I felt my back burning as I raced to the northernmost tower at full speed after jumping off the parapets. The morning light was playing tricks with my eyes as two women appeared out of darkened tower oblivious to me.

I noticed too late. I was too surprised and couldn't slow myself down in time. I tripped and lunged forward into the bodies of the two elven women. Landing my head in the center of the high elf's chest. Riveria wasn't awake enough to respond quickly and the three of us toppled to the ground into the dark tower entrance. The pain of the impact was mitigated by the divine softness of the two women I landed against. The floral smell emanating from their bodies was intoxicating.

"B-B-Bell get up p-please." Riveria ordered in an uncharacteristic whimper. She was flustered that a young man had accidently landed against her womanly body.

My hand magically found its way to Eina's chest. I heard a light squeal that alarmed me. Alarmed I propped myself up with my hands against the ground as fast as possible, staring down into the red-faced high elf. My face was redder than a tomato as my eye sockets were stretched to their limits in shock. "S-Sorry." I jumped up as fast as I could and immediately dropped into the dogeza position before the two women.

Both of them jumped to their feet both embarrassed and speechless by being accidently groped in the morning. They stared at me with my head into the brick wall. "Please forgive me for touching you." I shouted out.

"B-Bell p-please get up. It was an a-accident." Riveria stuttered out. Her mind racing over the thought that he was the first man to touch her without her getting violent.

"Get up Bell." Eina chuckled.

Slowly I got to my feet trying to suppress my nervous smile. "Sorry again."

"I-I should of drank coffee to avoid triggering your luck ability." Riveria covered her face and shook her head.

"You know about that." I said surprised.

"Sorry. I told her Bell." Eina stated.

"Its fine Eina. What can I do for you this morning, Riveria?" I said curiously.

"We came to warn you, Bell." Riveria stared down at me with soft eyes. "Hod escaped."

"Escaped from where? Isn't he part of your familia?" My brow raised out of confusion.

"Not anymore Bell. He was supposed to be stripped of his falna after awakening from his coma."

"Why?"

"For trying to kill you." Eina shouted.

"Oh." I finally pieced the puzzle in my head. "So, you think he wants to get revenge."

"Yes Bell." Riveria folded her hands together in between her sleeves. "Loki has people following you."

"Is that why I feel like I am being watched? Here I thought I was being paranoid." I grinned nervously.

'Watched again.' That thought rattled around Riveria's head. "I don't think it would be a good idea to travel alone.

"You don't need to have people look after me. Maybe track down where he's hiding."

"Bell theirs over a quarter million people in this city and he is level two." Riveria stated.

"I think I can take him. I almost beat him last time and I got a status update." I shifted around nervously.

"Did you level?" Riveria stared at me with interest.

"Not yet but it was a nice boost." I smiled up to her.

"I wonder why?!" Eina stared down at me angrily with her face twitching. I started to break out in a nervous sweat as my face went pale. Eina walked up to me. "I heard you were on floor twelve alone. WHY!?" Eina started to tear up.

I took a deep breath and stared back into her emerald eyes. "They were dragging Lily down there against her will. They abused her and chained her up letting her dangle like a worm on a hook, to lure something out. They left her there to die when things got difficult." I lowered my head to hide my pained face. "Nobody should have to go through something like that."

Eina wrapped her arms around me. "Bell it's wonderful that you care so much but you're gonna get yourself killed one of these days."

"I am sorry." I rested my chin on her shoulder.

Riveria stood there watching us for a minute. She chuckled at my red face. "Should I leave you two alone." We quickly split apart embarrassed. "Hehe. I still don't think you should travel alone Bell, especially in the dungeon."

"I kind of have too. Miss Nahza wants me to do a quest for her to find blue papillon butterfly wings. Lily wants to be my supporter again. Plus, I am a little short on valis." I scratched the back of my head nervously.

"Hmmm. How about you meet us outside Babel at 9am? We can go along with you." Riveria suggested.

"I don't want to force Eina back in there and I am sure watching me would bore you Riveria."

"I will go." Eina responded quickly to my surprise.

"I am sure you will be anything but boring Bell." Riveria smiled.

"If, you're sure."

"I am Bell. Now I think we interrupted your run. We will see you later."

"Okay. See you both later." I raced off down the wall with a huge smile on my face. Both of them blinked deeply noticing the progress.

"Don't stare to hard Riveria." Eina teased.

"Eina." Riveria glared at the half elf with an icy stare. "Please tell me you're not gonna tease me too. Besides he seemed to enjoy your embrace."

"I don't know. I have never seen you that red before." Eina raced to the tower and down the stairs.

Riveria clenched her fists and jumped off the side of the wall. Creating a small crater when she landed in front of the scared half elf. "Do I have to train your endurance Eina to make you stop?"

Eina was consumed with fear. She pleaded with her hands out. "No …. No."

Riveria walked forward and flicked Eina on the head lightly with her finger. Enough for Eina to hold onto her head in pain but not seriously hurt her. Riveria shook her head. "Come let's get some breakfast and go get your armor."

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