"So then, you have made a full recovery?"
"Yes, I feel great." I smile and nod at Eina.
I had decided to drop by Guild Headquarters the day after the events at
Hibachitei.
She and I are sitting in one of the Guild's consultation boxes as I bring her up
to speed and we discuss how to proceed from here.
"Do you know how worried I was? I just about had a heart attack when I
heard you hadn't returned from the Dungeon."
"I-I'm sorry…"
"…But I'm willing to forgive you. You made it back in one piece, after all."
She flashes a grin.
My cheeks flush with warmth as my eyes are drawn in by her beautiful,
refined smile.
She was so happy when I came to see her the other day that she cried. The
image of her first tear rolling out from beneath her glasses is still fresh in my
memory.
"I can't thank you enough for the salamander wool…It saved our lives."
"Is that right…" She softly smiles at me again, her eyes half closed.
We sit on either side of the desk in silence, regarding each other for a few
moments.
Eina coughs under her breath. The atmosphere in here is getting a little
awkward.
"Back to the business at hand, Bell…Strictly speaking, I'm not allowed to
pry for information, but it was quite dangerous?"
"…Yes."
She didn't have to say anything else for me to know what she was talking
about.
It could only be the Irregular's—the Goliath's—appearance in the safe point.
The Guild was doing everything in its power to keep the incident in the dark,
including forbidding its employees to look into it themselves. So instead of
talking about the cause, Eina asks me about the perilous situation.
I slowly nod my head. Looking back at her, she also nods and says, "I see."
I see a flash as she adjusts her glasses—it feels like her emerald-green eyes
gaze right through me.
"I would like to offer you as much assistance as possible from here on out.
For starters—I'll increase the scope and depth of our study sessions."
"Huh?"
"I was foolish not to inform you about the monsters deeper in the middle
levels and the safe point, since I assumed that there was no chance you could
possibly go that far. It was my fault you weren't prepared. I won't let that happen
again. It's become evident after this incident that it's impossible to predict what
you might encounter, and where…Yes, I'll make sure you're ready for anything
the Dungeon can throw at you."
Eina has been giving me what she calls personal lessons—more like heavily
informative lectures—ever since the day I first registered with the Guild and she
was assigned to be my adviser. The Guild doesn't require her to do any of this,
so it's all her idea. Thanks to these lessons, knowledge of the Dungeon—
monster types and abilities, the layouts of the floors, and so on—has been drilled
into my head.
I come to the painful realization that I'm alive today as a result of her
aggressive teaching techniques…and now they're going to get more intensive?
Both Eina's strict lessons and Aiz's harsh combat sessions could give the ancient
Spartans a run for their money.
Eina just grins that same grin as my body shrinks back into the chair, my face
drifting backward. "Let's do our best," she says, her eyes smiling at me.
She's really worried about me. I can't refuse her offer.
I lightly return the smile, nod again, and say, "I will…"
"All that's left to discuss are your plans for today."
My heart rate goes back to normal and our conversation resumes. I tell Eina
the schedule I have in mind. "Ah…sure. I'm planning to go back into the
Dungeon in two days."
"In two days…Is it correct to assume that you're taking a rest?"
"Well, the truth is that Welf…the smith I have a contract with is making some
new equipment for me."
I see a spark of understanding flash in Eina's eyes the moment I mention
Welf's name and our contract.
We lost a lot of weapons and armor on our trip to the eighteenth floor. My
light armor is in bad shape after the battle with the Goliath. While it's still
usable, Welf insisted on crafting new gear for me.
The work of High Smiths, those who have acquired the Forge ability, puts the
quality of all others' work to shame. This is Welf's first job as a High Smith; he's
a bit more excited than usual. I can't wait to see what kind of armor and weapons
come out of his workshop.
"In that case, you will resume Dungeon activities once your new equipment
is complete, yes? Which floor are you planning on going to first?"
"I think it's best that we start at the thirteenth floor. We might have made it to
the eighteenth, but it wasn't pretty…"
Eina gives a few more pieces of advice as she and I work out a few finer
details for my battle party's return to the Dungeon.
Our first goal is to completely master the thirteenth floor. Now that Welf's
Level 2, it should be much easier to hold our own. Still, we can't let our guard
down.
Next, Eina introduces several quests that we could undertake after evaluating
my battle party's new balance. Quests are issued by individuals who require
items that can usually only be found in the middle levels and below inside the
Dungeon.
I'm thankful to Eina for giving me this opportunity to gain valuable
experience and accept two quests: one, find the drop item from a specific
monster; and two, locate a special mineral found on the thirteenth floor and bring
it back to the surface.
Our very productive conversation over, the two of us stand up and leave the
consultation box.
"One last thing, Bell. Don't get into fights with adventurers from another
Familia. I'm sure that Goddess Hestia has already scolded you enough, so I
won't say much…"
"Y-yes…"
"But I'll say this much: Nothing good can happen from two groups fighting
with each other."
She leans in closer and talks about last night's events. "In the worst case, the
entire city of Orario could become a battlefield if two Familias fight head-tohead." A chill of fear runs down my spine as I gulp down the air in my throat.
I thought I'd understood how dangerous these fights could be, but the
seriousness in her voice makes that threat feel very real.
"…?"
We had just returned to the lobby and I was about to say good-bye to Eina at
the reception counter.
I feel someone looking at me from behind. Turning around, I suddenly meet
the gaze of two female adventurers in the corner of the lobby. Both of them seem
to be looking at my eyes and hair for some reason. They must've been trying to
find me, because they're coming this way.
It's about noon. There are usually a lot of adventurers coming out of here at
this time of day, and today's no exception. The two women weave their way
through the white marble lobby and come to a stop right in front of the two of us.
"Bell Cranell—am I wrong?" the lady with short-cut hair asks in a strong,
curt voice.
"Th-that's me." I'm at a loss as to how to respond. Her partner lightly drifts
up to me, long hair lightly swishing behind her as she nervously sways back and
forth.
"Umm, this…"
She bows forward, her eyes glancing up at me as she holds out a letter.
No, it's…an invitation.
The envelope is extremely fine and sealed with a wax emblem. Ingrained in
the wax is a bow and arrow in front of a sun.
My eyes widen in surprise. The shorthaired girl opens her mouth to speak.
"The name's Daphne. That's Cassandra. As you can see, we're from Apollo
Familia." The lady, Daphne, introduces herself and confirms what I thought.
An emblem that simultaneously inspires images of an archer and a beam of
light through the darkness—Apollo Familia. These two are in the same group as
the adventurers last night at the bar.
Eina leans over to me and whispers in a hushed voice, "Daphne Laulos and
Cassandra Illion. Level Two, third-tier adventurers." They must be well-known
veterans.
I'm sure both of them are older than me. I picked up on the aura of strength
emanating from Daphne right away, but she seems calm and in control. The
same can't be said for her friend Cassandra. The air about her is distant, a
childlike innocence in her eyes.
I'm pretty sure they were waiting for me, watching all the adventurers come
in and out of the Guild from a spot where they could see everything.
I freeze in place, looking at both of the ladies in turn. The one named
Cassandra takes another step forward.
"Um, you see, it's an invitation. Lord Apollo is going to hold a Celebration,
a-and if you'd like…I-if-if you don't want to, that's okay…"
Slap! Daphne hits the back of Cassandra's head with an open palm and steps
in front of her.
"Oww," comes a soft cry. Daphne ignores both the cry and the beads of cold
sweat running down my face and shoves the invitation into my hands.
"You must inform your goddess. Got that? You got the invitation."
"…I understand."
Daphne steps away as soon as I get the words out of my mouth. She must not
have wanted to waste any time on idle talk, because she motions to Cassandra
and turns to leave.
She suddenly stops in midstep and looks over her shoulder, short hair shifting
to the side.
"My condolences."
What? I open my mouth to ask, but Daphne doesn't say anything else.
She's already halfway into the crowd. Cassandra makes a small bow before
taking off after her.
Eina and I watch them go. I look down at the invitation in my hands as soon
as they disappear out the front entrance.
That night the goddess and I are at home, just like usual. I tell her everything that
happened this afternoon.
"An invitation to the 'Celebration of the Gods'…"
The opened envelope lying in front of her, my goddess sits in her chair as she
reads the paper in her hands.
We've just finished dinner. All that is left on the table are two cups of hot tea.
The goddess was tired after a long day at work, so I'm washing dishes.
"It's been about a month and a half since Ganesha held one…I imagined
someone would organize something soon."
The Celebration of the Gods is a party for deities by deities.
I've heard that part of it is so that the host can brag about their Familia's
influence and power, but it's basically a place for the gods and goddesses to have
fun. My goddess has participated in at least one of these Celebrations before.
This time, Apollo Familia will be hosting a Celebration in two days.
Apollo Familia…I've looked into them myself. They have a good deal of
influence as well as many powerful adventurers. One of their battle parties
successfully slew the Goliath on level seventeen. The Guild gave them a D
ranking.
Compared to our undersize Hestia Familia, they are far more prominent in
Orario.
"What should we do?"
"We can't ignore it, not with the fight yesterday…"
I feel absolutely horrible. The goddess looks trapped, as though both
decisions are impossible.
The brawl with Apollo Familia was only twenty-four hours ago. How would
it look if we refused their invitation so soon after?
Thinking about it logically, ignoring their invitation would be like throwing
mud in their faces.
"Hmm." The goddess's mouth pouts up toward her nose in thought.
I quickly apologize. "This is all my fault, Goddess…"
"No, it's all right, Bell. You don't have to feel that way…The truth is, I don't
like Apollo that much."
"Eh? Can I ask why?"
"Ha-ha...A lot happened in Tenkai."
I tilt my head to the side, confused by the change in the goddess's tone.
"Anyway, back to the matter at hand…This Celebration is a little bit different
than usual. A bit more interesting," she says while looking at the invitation, a
grin on her lips.
I gave her the envelope without reading it myself. What could be so
interesting about this Celebration?
I start putting dry dishes away, but my mind won't stop racing.
"It's pretty well decided that we have to participate. Miach and the others
probably have their invitations by now. Chances like this happen once in a blue
moon, so why don't we all enjoy this together?"
Enjoy this together? I look over my shoulder at the goddess.
This may be a little out of the blue, but Orario is greeting spring now.
The heavy clouds of winter have all disappeared, leaving behind the blue sky
as a background for all of the blooming flowers. I've heard that many people
come to Orario this season to visit because the weather is very stable. The
seasons were beginning to change when I came to the city about two months
ago. It could be said that outsiders like me coming into Orario are what make
this city so lively.
The air is still crisp in the mornings, but the temperature steadily increases
day by day.
Signs that summer is fast approaching are everywhere—but I know that the
changing of the seasons isn't why I feel so hot right now.
Rumble, rumble. The wooden wheels of our horse-drawn carriage grind
against the stone road beneath me. I run my fingers through my bangs for no
reason at all. My palms are moist with sweat.
I can't relax. I don't think my body will calm down until tonight is over, but
we have to get there first. I cast my gaze out the window and watch the redtinted cityscape pass by.
The carriage comes to a stop.
The horses neigh in the background as the door of our fancy carriage opens in
front of me. I step outside.
I'm not used to these clothes—wearing a coat with tails feels weird. Even the
sound of my expensive shoes clicking with each step sounds like someone else.
My feet finally beneath me, I turn around and extend my arm to the girl
behind me.
Lady Hestia emerges from inside the carriage, a joyous smile on her lips.
Just like me, she's wearing extremely formal clothing. She looks even more
beautiful and stunning than usual.
"Thank you, Bell. You're pretty good at this escort thing."
"R-really…?"
She's taking long, elegant strides toward me. I'm so nervous that my joints
are tightening up. A puppet could move more freely right now.
More and more extravagant horse-drawn carriages arrive every moment.
Handsome men and dazzling women wearing some of the most expensive
clothing I've ever seen fill the street. But the knockout punch comes from the
exquisite manor—no, the absolute palace—that's looming over me. I'm trapped
in a different world, and even breathing is a challenge.
Today's Celebration hosted by Apollo Familia requires deities to bring one of
their followers, making it a god and human mixer party of sorts.
These parties are called "Celebrations of the Gods" because only gods are
allowed to attend. However, this time the host has decided to change things up a
bit. The deities want entertainment, and this gives them an opportunity to show
off their favorite followers. So there are many adventurers and smiths mixed in
with the absolutely flawless looks of their gods and goddesses. Lady Hestia and I
are among them.
A farm boy from the middle of nowhere, wearing extravagant clothing and
trying his best to look taller…I must stick out like a sore thumb.
I look down at my black coat, wondering if I even belong here. All of my
clothes were prepared specifically for tonight, which makes me feel even more
out of place.
"You look amazing, Bell. There's no need to be embarrassed," the goddess
says calmly as I start to feel light-headed. I don't know if it's because she has an
excuse to wear an extravagant dress, but she's in a very good mood.
Her aquamarine dress is lined with many frills and laces; it looks like flowing
water as she moves. The focal point of the dress is, of course, her magnificent
chest. Honestly, I don't know how to look at her right now.
The queen of a distant land…Well, maybe not that far, but the goddess has
achieved a radiant balance between cute and beauty.
"My apologies, Hestia, Bell. Preparing everything for us, including these
clothes, must've been difficult."
Lord Miach emerges from our horse-drawn carriage and joins us. Nahza is
beside him, her hand resting in the crook of his arm. Of course the two of them
are dressed just as formally as we are.
Lord Miach's Familia is very poor, so he was opposed to spending money on
something like this. He wasn't planning on coming to the Celebration at all until
Lady Hestia told him, "It would be good for Nahza to get out and spread her
wings once in a while." Lord Miach nodded and eventually agreed. As a thankyou, the goddess and I had paid for their formal attire, as well as hiring the
horse-drawn carriage for this evening.
Considering that they give me substantial discounts on high potions and dual
potions that normally cost tens of thousands of vals, this was much cheaper.
"Thank you for the invitation, Bell…"
Nahza is a Chienthrope, a dog person. She says hello from beside Lord
Miach while our two deities carry on their own conversation.
I've only seen Nahza wear simple clothes, so seeing her in a full dress is very
novel, not to mention appealing. The dress itself is a soft red with long sleeves
designed to cover her artificial right arm.
"…Do I look nice?"
She lightly pulls the skirt of her dress out to the sides with her fingers and
does a little curtsy. I give her a big nod, as big as my stiff neck will allow.
Her eyes are the same as always, half closed. But there's the joy in her
expression that I haven't seen before. Swish, swish. Her tail happily flicks back
and forth beneath her dress.
"Well then, shall we proceed?"
"Sure. All right, Bell. I'm counting on you?"
"Y-yes!" Slowly but surely, I reach out and take Lady Hestia's extended
hand.
I turn to the front and am once again overwhelmed by the extravagant palace
in front of us. The doors to the front entryway are open. All of us make our way
inside, our clothes and shoes sparkling as we pass through the well-lit doorway.
My breath leaves me.
It's a different realm, one that I have no connection to, a world of the night.
If someone had told me when I first came to Orario that I would be able to be
a part of this realm alongside my goddess, would I have believed them?
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't excited…but more than that, I'm nervous.
Time stands still as I'm swept up in the luxurious atmosphere around me. I
take a small breath before taking my first step into the hallway.
Other guests make their way into the building as well, men escorting the
women. Lord Miach and I each take the hands of our partners and join the line
flowing deeper into the palace.
The entrance hall is just as ornate as the outside of the building.
Golden pillars decorated with hundreds of candles line the hallway. I have to
squint my eyes. The soaring style of architecture makes it feel very open.
Alabaster statues designed to look like every single god and goddess stand in
different areas of the hallway like small shrines.
The hallway leads to a set of equally extravagant stairs. The location of
tonight's party is waiting for us at the top: the second-floor ballroom.
The ballroom is already noisy with guests who had arrived before us. And, of
course, the ballroom is just as well decorated as everything else. Many
chandeliers equipped with magic-stone lamps hang from the ceiling, and long
tables with elaborate spreads of food run down the sides and back of the
ballroom. There's a balcony beyond the tall, thin windows.
The sun has already set, and no light is coming in from outside. This building
is located on North Main, surrounded by the houses of some of Orario's
wealthiest residents. That could be why the sounds of the taverns and nightlife
feel very far away. This place is so quiet that it's hard to believe I'm still in the
same city.
It's amazing that a place that can give you the feeling of stepping into another
world exists in Orario.
"Um…That person, I've seen him before…"
"That adventurer has been famous for a while. He's strong, too…I haven't
heard good things from other members of his group. They're a bit afraid of him,
actually. Be careful…"
I catch glimpses of well-known adventurers as we go into the center of the
ballroom. One elf looks like she'd rather be anywhere but here. There's a dwarf
whose clothes are too tight, and some sharp, vigorous-looking animal people and
Amazons. Humans and demi-humans are intermingling with the gods and
goddesses.
Nahza tells me a lot of things as we go, but I'm still overwhelmed by this
atmosphere.
"Ah yes, there you are."
"Miach, too! This is a surprise."
"Hephaistos, Také!"
A god and goddess greet us as we make our way toward the corner of the
room—and Lady Hephaistos and Lord Takemikazuchi. Lady Hestia rushes out to
meet them, followed closely by Lord Miach and Nahza, who smile and give
short bows.
"Hey," says Nahza.
"You look well," says Lord Miach. Both sides smile and say hello.
"You brought Mikoto, eh, Také? Thanks for what you did the other day."
"Y-yes, er, n-no! It's nothing…!"
"Who is accompanying you, Hephaistos? I don't see anyone."
"He's a strange one, leaving me here to explore the party on his own."
Lady Hestia expressed her gratitude to Mikoto, the human hiding behind
Takemikazuchi's back. The girl who came deep into the middle levels to save me
not too long ago is now blue in the face with nervousness.
Her long black hair has been expertly braided and matches her flowing dress.
She's physically shaking…I'm glad it's not just me.
She must not be used to exposing her shoulders, because she's huddling in,
making them as small as possible. Even the tips of her ears are turning red.
I can relate. I don't blame her for standing there with her eyes flying left and
right. Lord Miach and Lady Hephaistos continue their conversation beside us.
"—Hey hey, everybody's here! Let me join in the fun!"
"Ah, Hermes."
I turn around in time to see Lord Hermes practically bound over to our group.
He's wearing his usual charming smile, his eyes narrowed.
"Feh." Lord Takemikazuchi doesn't seem to be too happy about this.
Miss Asfi is right beside him, her silver glasses sitting comfortably on her
face. "Lord Hermes, please lower your voice…" There's a hint of protest in her
tone as she sighs under her breath.
"Why did you come over here? We haven't had direct contact for very long at
all."
"Hey, c'mon, Takemikazuchi. Didn't we just work together? Don't leave me
out in the cold!"
Lord Hermes slips by the obviously perturbed Lord Takemikazuchi after
giving us an energetic greeting.
A few moments later, he's standing in front of me, showing off a toothy grin.
"Hi there, Bell! Love that jacket, that's what I call style! And Nahza, wonderful
dress!"
"Th-thank you."
"Appreciated…"
"What's this? Got some butterflies in your stomach, little Mikoto? Your cute
face is going to waste!"
"C-cute…?!"
Unlike Lord Miach and myself, Lord Hermes is dressed rather casually. He
goes around our circle, complimenting everyone from my goddess to Nahza. His
eyes twinkle like a kid who's found a new toy when he turns to face Mikoto. He
reaches out and takes her hand before pressing his lips onto her fingers. Poof!
Mikoto's face practically explodes in a deep red blush.
Thud! Smack! Lord Takemikazuchi slaps Lord Hermes in the back of the
head at the same time that Miss Asfi drills her heel into his shin.
"Many of us have come out tonight."
"This time the children are with us. Tonight's Celebration promises to be a bit
livelier than usual."
Lady Hephaistos and Lord Miach strike up a conversation to try and ignore
Lord Hermes's whimpers of pain after he collapses to the floor.
But they're right…This is starting to feel like a party. Even our little corner of
the ballroom is starting to get noisy.
I think I'm getting used to this atmosphere, though.
"—My guests! I'm glad to see you've all arrived!"
A loud voice echoes through the ballroom.
Every head around me instantly turns to face the other side of the room.
There is a god standing in front of the opposite wall.
He has blond hair that seems to shine like the sun. The bright and wavy locks
glide over one another like early afternoon sunbeams. With a smile that is
equally as brilliant, his handsome looks are powerful enough to make me,
another male, stand and stare.
He's pretty tall, too, and wearing a crown of laurels on top of his head.
Two very powerful-looking adventurers, a man and a woman, are standing
just behind him on either side.
There's no doubt about it. This has to be Lord Apollo.
"An idea came to me about how to make this event special. How do you like
it? Dressing up the ones we hold most dear and bringing them to our Celebration
—what could be more delightful?"
I can clearly hear the excitement in the voice of our host. Quite a few other
gods agree with him, shouting and clapping in approval.
"Seeing so many of my kin and the faces of their beloved children fills me
with great joy. Tonight is a night destined to be filled with grand opportunities
and new meetings. I have foreseen it."
I step to the side to get a better view, when suddenly—
Lord Apollo's gaze sweeps over the crowd, but then seems to instantly lock
on me.
…?
I frown for a moment and look behind me over my shoulder. Lord Apollo
doesn't seem to react; he'd already started talking again as soon as I turned back
toward the front.
…I might be overreacting because of what happened between me and Apollo
Familia. That has to be the source of this awkwardness I'm feeling. I should just
ignore it.
"The night is young. I have assembled only the finest wines and freshest
food. So by all means, wine, dine, and enjoy yourselves!"
He raises his arms high into the air as the last echoes of his voice make their
way through the ballroom.
There's another cheer, mostly from the male deities, in response to this.
Wineglasses with all sorts of designs carved into their bases are filled and
clinked all around me as the party officially gets underway.
"Goddess…Um, what should we do?"
Lady Hestia looks at Lord Apollo the moment I ask her my question. "Mm, I
want to settle things with Apollo, but it might be a good idea to wait. He looks a
little busy right now."
Of course we need to clear the air after what happened at the bar, but all of
Apollo Familia is in motion. The Familia members are all dressed in their
uniforms and are taking the role of attendants for the other guests. Lord Apollo
is surrounded by other deities, greeting and talking as he tries to make his
rounds. It would be difficult to even say hello at this rate.
Just like Lady Hestia said, we should wait for things to settle down a bit.
"Well, it's not every day that we get to do something like this, so let's enjoy
the party. Let's dig into the food, Bell!"
"Ah, sure."
The goddess and I join Lord Miach and the others in their circle next to a
table. All of them already have wineglasses in their hands.
"Um, Miss Mikoto. Thank you for everything you did on the eighteenth floor.
You did so much to help me…"
"I-it was nothing. Really, I didn't…"
Mikoto must've gotten used to this atmosphere and overcome her nerves. She
responds quickly.
Not only was she part of the search party, she also came to our rescue when
my goddess was kidnapped by other adventurers. I tell her how grateful I am, but
she just lightly shakes her head.
"Do not forget what you accomplished, Sir Bell. Facing down a floor boss
under those circumstances and delivering the final blow…It's embarrassing to
say this myself, but your strength and bravery left a profound impression on
me."
"N-no, I wouldn't have been able to do that alone. Actually, alone I wouldn't
have been able to do anything…"
There's an air of nostalgia in her voice, but I can't claim full credit for what
happened.
The two of us exchange a few more denials. We smile at each other before
we know what is happening.
"…Sir Bell. If you are ever in danger, summon me at any time. My sword
shall defend you."
"Miss Mikoto…"
"Captain Ouka and Miss Chigusa would also like to lend you their strength,
just as I would."
"Well, me, too…If any of you are in trouble, call me anytime. I'll do
anything I can to help." We promise to help each other in the future.
Mikoto's face melts into a smile as we both nod.
She extends her right hand. I feel a wave of shyness rush through me before I
reach out and give her a firm handshake.
"If I may ask you a question. I've heard that you grow at an incredible rate.
Would you be willing to share some advice?"
"Bell's not completely human. I dope him up with muscle-building pills of
my own design every day…" Nahza joins our conversation, clearly enjoying
herself.
"Please don't tell stories like that!" I take another look around the room.
I've heard rumors that these Celebrations of the Gods are overwhelmingly
strict when it comes to etiquette, but there seems to be none of that here. The
gods and goddesses are laughing, drinking, and enjoying themselves. Everything
seemed so formal at first, but it turned out to be no big deal.
The only thing left that's making me uncomfortable is this absurdly luxurious
building.
"Um, does this building belong to Apollo Familia…? Is this their home?"
Asfi answers my question right away.
"No, it is not. This building is under the jurisdiction of the Guild. Familias
and merchants who require this facility are able to rent it as needed."
Lord Takemikazuchi opens his mouth to speak. "I only know of one god who
prefers to hold Celebrations at home, and that's Ganesha. Most of us wouldn't
think of inviting other Familias directly into our base of operations."
"Everyone's always looking for something to give them an edge. It's
impossible to keep secrets from this many of us all at once." Lord Miach adds
his own explanation. I understand and nod back.
Lady Hephaistos and Lady Hestia are standing next to our conversation, their
eyes scanning the room.
"This Celebration has a different feel to it. Many gods who don't normally
participate in these events are here tonight."
"Yeah, Apollo has some unique ideas…"
I take a look around the room for myself.
I see a lot of smiling faces and pause a moment to take in the atmosphere, but
there's something else on my mind.
"Excuse me…What's Lord Apollo like?"
"Oh? Are you interested, Bell?"
Lord Hermes turns to face me. "Yes," I say as I make eye contact.
His orange eyes smile back at me as he takes a step closer.
"He's an interesting one. I've known him since we were in Tenkai, and even
now I haven't gotten bored of him. That guy has provided us with millennia of
entertainment."
Huh? I feel my eyes pop open. I wasn't expecting that answer…
"Anyway, he's rather frisky. Even though he's not an adventurer, we still
gave him the title 'Phallus the Passionate' because it fit him so well."
Ph-Phallus?
Why would they do that…? I have no clue.
"He's quite the persistent lover boy—wouldn't you say, Hestia?"
"How should I know?!"
My goddess has her back to us, sampling the food—more like stuffing her
face—when she snaps at Lord Hermes's playful verbal jab. She immediately
dives back into the food, shoveling it into her mouth a little more vigorously.
Lady Hestia said that she doesn't like Lord Apollo…Did something happen?
"Also, he is extremely…tenacious."
"Huh?"
I flip my head back around to face Lord Hermes.
I'm just about to ask what he meant by that, when suddenly—
Waaaahh! A wave of sound comes from all directions simultaneously around
me. It drowns out my question.
"Would you look at that…The big cheese has arrived." Lord Hermes sounds
surprised once he finds the reason for the commotion.
I follow his eyes—and instantly find the source of everyone's excitement.
All of the attention in the ballroom is focused on one giant animal person and
the silver-haired goddess standing beside him.
"Who's that…?"
"That, Bell, is Lady Freya. I'm sure you've come across the name Freya
Familia before?"
I lightly nod my head yes. It's a lot to take in at once.
Freya Familia—they're just as powerful as Loki Familia. It wouldn't be a
stretch to say that those two groups are the heads of the Labyrinth City in terms
of strength and influence. Even newbie adventurers have at least heard about
both Familias' bravery and deeds.
So that silver-haired goddess is the leader of that Familia…?
The Celebration's mood instantly picks up upon Lady Freya's arrival. She's
just that beautiful.
Silver eyes and a well-defined body line, her large breasts and thin waist are
hidden behind a dress that looks like it was woven in heaven itself. She takes one
step forward, and all eyes in the room lock onto her. Another step and the gazes
follow. She's quite a ways from me, but I'm already hot under the collar.
I've never seen anyone so alluring…
"—Huh?!"
Without warning, Lady Hestia's twin black ponytails shiver out of the corner
of my eye. But this other goddess is just so dazzling…
Lady Hestia's face emerges from the table, takes one look at Lady Freya, and
then glances at me with wide eyes.
As if understanding everything in a flash, she jumps toward my shoulder.
"Don't you dare look at Freya, Bell!"
"Bwuh?!"
"Any child who sees a Goddess of Beauty will get brainwashed by her
charm!"
Coming in directly from my side, she almost knocks me off my feet.
I somehow manage to regain my balance with the goddess draped around my
neck, forcing me to look away.
A Goddess of Beauty—it's common knowledge.
A deity who is beauty incarnate, with the ability to entrance gods and mortals
alike.
It looks like the goddess wasn't kidding. Almost everyone around me is
slack-jawed, staring at her. Man, woman, it doesn't matter. They're just standing
there, as if their spirits have left their bodies.
Mikoto and Nahza are fighting hard against Lady Freya's influence. Nahza's
eyes are clenched shut as she shakes her head back and forth. Mikoto has turned
the other way, but her entire face is blushing. Only Asfi seems to be holding her
own. She's looking out in the middle of nowhere, like a daydreaming kid.
"First Ganesha's Celebration, and now this one…Freya never comes out in
the public this much."
"H-how do you mean?"
I hear Lady Hephaistos whispering as I struggle to free myself from Lady
Hestia's grasp and ask for clarification. It's Hermes who clears things up.
"Lady Freya usually stays in her room on the highest level of Babel Tower,
rarely showing her face in public. Many of the gods here come to Celebrations
just for a chance to see her with their own eyes."
She doesn't show her face in public…Well, yes, it'd be difficult to go
anywhere if you get that much attention just by stepping outside. Lady Freya
might like to be among us, but I'm sure utter chaos happens every time she tries.
Looking at how people react to her now, I don't blame her for staying up in
the tower.
"—"
That's when her silver gaze falls upon me.
She stops walking and turns in my direction…and smiles.
Ker-tap, ker-tap. The heels on her shoes echo as she approaches. Everyone in
her path makes way, backing out as if pushed by some unseen force. Lady Hestia
stops struggling for a moment and watches the silver-haired goddess and her
massive attendant walk right up to us.
"So you're here, Hestia. Hephaistos as well. First time since Denatus, I
believe?"
"…Freya, what are you doing here?"
Lady Hestia lets go of me and squares her shoulders directly in front of Lady
Freya the moment the other goddess extends a friendly greeting.
"I'm glad to see you are looking well," says Lady Hephaistos next to my
goddess. Lady Hestia looks like she's trying to hold back a torrent with a cork.
"I merely came to say hello. It's a rare chance to see so many familiar faces
at once, so how could I not make my way here?"
The words roll off Lady Freya's tongue as she glances toward the small mob
of male gods that have assembled around her.
All of them seem to melt as her silver eyes pass by. Lord Hermes is weakkneed, a dumbstruck look on his face. Lord Takemikazuchi is blushing a light
shade of pink and clears his throat with an "ahem." Lord Miach bows and
compliments her by saying, "You are quite beautiful this evening."
Not a heartbeat later, the heels of the expensive shoes that belong to their
female followers find their way to the toes of the male deities. "Gah?!"
"Uwoh?!" "Nuah?!" come their yelps of pain. I take a step back.
Once again, her silver eyes alight on me.
Air leaks out of my mouth as those silver spheres draw me in. Lady Freya's
cheeks pull back into an even deeper smile.
She leans forward, extending her arm, and strokes the side of my face.
"—Tonight, will you make a dream of mine come true?"
"—Dream on!" Lady Hestia roars at Lady Freya right in front of me. She
slaps Lady Freya's hand away, her eyes burning with rage. "What are you getting
excited for, Bell?!"
"S-s-sorry!"
"Listen up! That goddess is nothing more than a dragon that devours every
man within reach! A rabbit like you wouldn't last two seconds!"
"Yes…!!"
The goddess is overwhelming. My body shrinks away from her without even
thinking. It's almost like she's unleashing round after round of Swift-Strike
Magic, forcing me back.
Her twin ponytails are sweeping out behind her like they're trying to express
just how dangerous the other goddess truly is.
But Lady Freya is laughing to herself. "My, my, how disappointing."
I think she's enjoying my goddess's reaction…Then she steps away and says,
"I seem to have upset Hestia, so I'll take my leave. Until next time."
She turns her back on the still-infuriated Lady Hestia. "Ottar," she calls to the
animal person beside her and starts walking. I stand in awe of her follower—a
boar man standing more than two meders tall—as the two of them make their
way into the crowd. I watch them go, my eyes following the fluid motions of
Lady Freya's hips.
My body cools down the farther away she gets. Finally, the last lock of her
silver hair disappears.
"—Not here two seconds, and that vixen's already showin' me up."
The storm has passed. A new voice cuts through the calm.
It's coming from the other direction.
It catches me off guard. I spin around and—receive the biggest surprise of the
night.
"Loki?!"
"Yo! Itty-Bitty! See ya learned how t'wear a dress. You're actin' so grownup, I could bust a gut!"
Lady Hestia yells at a goddess with vermilion red hair who's dressed in a
man's suit.
And standing beside her…
A radiant girl with blond hair and golden eyes, wearing an elegant dress.
"…?!"
My eyes go wide and my face burns.
Her dress a light green, Aiz looks slightly embarrassed standing just a little
ways in front of me.
"Just when did you get here?! You're not the type to sneak in!" demands
Lady Hestia.
"Shut up, idiot!! Two floppin' boobies stole my entrance, got that?!"
It sounds like Aiz and her goddess Loki only just arrived. Everyone was so
preoccupied with Lady Freya that no one noticed.
Lady Loki is in a sharp man's suit, and Aiz wears a form-fitting dress. It
almost looks like some high-ranking nobleman's daughter with her bodyguard,
which is the complete opposite of reality.
My body feels hot again, but it's not going away this time.
I can't take my eyes off her. A princess from one of my old picture books has
come to life in front of my very eyes.
Her pale green dress is open in the front and in the back, completely exposing
her delicate, feminine shoulders. Sparkling beads and various other decorations
are sown in as accents in several places on the dress. I have no doubt that her
goddess was in charge of the design and Lady Loki had no problem spending a
large amount of money to show her affection for Aiz. The finishing touch is the
long, silky gloves that extend all the way past her elbows.
Part of her golden hair is tied with a ribbon behind her head. The rest of it is
flowing gracefully down her back.
Her angelic face and thin neck, supple breasts making just the right amount
of cleavage, thin waist and fluttering dress…
This is not the adventurer, the knight Aiz Wallenstein that I know.
The heat overtaking me right now is different from before—my heart didn't
sing when I was taken in by Lady Freya.
My body is throbbing, refusing to move.
"Ah…"
"…!"
Aiz lifts her face and we make eye contact. Neither of us can say a word.
I feel my face blush as she quickly looks to the floor, her hands together in
front of her stomach as her shoulders lightly twitch up and down.
Shff, her body swishes back and forth under Lady Loki's shadow.
S-so cute…!
"…Ehh?"
"Ouch?!"
My goddess buries the toe of her shoe deep into the side of my shin. Is it that
obvious how I'm feeling? Does my face betray me?
"Ohh, so this is Itty-Bitty's kid…"
I grab my leg and fight back the tears when suddenly I feel Lady Loki's eyes
on me.
Her vermilion eyes carve right through me. Every single muscle in my mouth
and throat tenses up. She doesn't even blink. Is that a hint of annoyance? Well,
whatever it is, it's making me uncomfortable.
After a few moments…
"Nah, this kiddo does nothin' for me. My Aiz is so much better it's like
comparin' heaven 'n' earth!"
Her words crack like a whip.
I know that Aiz is out of my league, but that hurts a lot.
I almost lose my balance, feeling light-headed, when I catch a glimpse of my
goddess's face. Her cheeks are trembling.
Suddenly, she turns to face Lady Loki head-on.
"Just like before, you know you can't win in an argument, so you have to
brag about your child this time?! So predictable, it's painful to watch!"
"—Oh yeah?!" A vein suddenly pops out of Lady Loki's head.
"Anyone can see that my Bell is much cuter than your Wallensomething! So
charming, just like an adorable little rabbit!!"
"Ya hit yer head, moron?! My Aiz is a hundred times cooler than that puny
bunny!!"
An angry bragging contest breaks out.
The two goddesses trade verbal blows with reckless abandon. Lady
Hephaistos sighs to herself, whispering, "Here we go again…" Lord Miach has
an empty smile on his face. Nahza and the rest just watch, their mouths slightly
open.
As for me, I'm absolutely horrified. They hate each other. All of the warmth
in my body suddenly fizzles out, plunging me into despair.
The insurmountable barrier between men and women in different Familias…
There can be no better example than this.
The two of them are practically growling at each other, and other deities are
starting to take notice. "Hey, look, it's round two!" "Now this is entertainment."
"Check that out." Gods and goddesses are gathering around us. Aiz and I have
reached our limit. Both of us step forward and try to calm our goddesses down.
Both of them are breathing heavily, eyes filled with flames of rage. Luckily,
Lord Hermes steps in and we finally get them under control.
"…Humph. Itty-Bitty just spoiled my good mood!"
"That's my line!!"
"Ohh? Aiz, we're leaving!"
"Bell, so are we!"
Lady Loki grabs Aiz's wrist as Lady Hestia takes hold of my hand. Both
goddesses storm off in different directions, pulling us with them.
I take a quick look over my shoulder. Aiz is looking back at me. Our eyes
meet for a brief moment.
If only I'd said something, if only I'd heard her voice…As I watch her get
farther and farther away, I can't help but feel I've lost my chance.
How pathetic. I have neither the guts to break away from the goddess's grasp,
nor the courage to approach Lady Loki. Aiz turns away, her delicate shoulder
blades flashing for a moment from beneath her hair. She's so distant now—is
this how things are going to be from now on? Once again, reality has made itself
clear. The amount of time I was able to spend that close to her on the eighteenth
floor was really special.
More and more people are gathering around Lady Loki every second. Finally,
I tear my eyes away from her as the painful reality of my mediocrity sinks in.
I give up hope of getting a chance to speak with her and join my goddess as
she moves to another side of the ballroom.
After that, Lady Hestia introduced me to her divine friends and acquaintances as
we walked several circuits around the party. It's not easy to introduce yourself to
a god, but somehow I'm able to overcome my nerves and string words together.
Two hours have passed since we arrived at the party, and I need a break.
I move away from the group of people, alone, find a quiet spot, and lean
against the wall to avoid bothering anyone.
"Whew…" A tired sigh escapes my lips.
I'm absolutely exhausted.
I take a look out over the party. The bright chandeliers hanging from the
ceiling light everything up like a work of art.
The attendants are hard at work carrying even more extravagant food out to
the tables and passing out richly colored wine. Elegant music starts to play, but I
can't tell where it's coming from. Almost as if on cue, the middle of the
ballroom floor opens up for dancers, but I can still see Lady Hestia and Lady
Loki arguing in the other corner of the room.
It still feels weird being here…
I can't help but feel that way watching these beautiful men and women
partner up and start dancing.
This is a sparkling world of beauty and status. Completely different from the
world I was in yesterday.
Maybe it's because I'm alone, but I feel more and more like I don't belong,
like I'm sticking out. The unfamiliar environment keeps me feeling uneasy.
It's pretty close to how I felt when I first started crawling the Dungeon.
If I have a few more chances like this in the future, maybe I'll get used to this
world, too.
But I can't picture that happening.
"…"
I leave my spot against the wall and try to find an escape.
I don't have to walk far. One of the tall windows was left open and I step
outside.
Cool air envelops me the moment my foot hits the cement balcony.
A starry night opens up above my head. I take a look around the black abyss
and see a faint glow coming from the closest Main Street. A soft breeze tickles
my skin.
All of the stress and tension that had built up start to melt as I take a few
breaths of fresh air.
My mind is clear.
"…?"
I walk out to the ornately carved hand railing and hear some strange sounds
coming from below.
Looking out over the green lawn decorated with a fountain and many trees,
my eyes find two human-looking figures.
Isn't that…?
This must be a garden of sorts, and probably part of the building itself. The
edge of the property is lined with tall trees, enough to remind me of a wooded
area. There, in a dark spot where the lights from the Celebration can't reach—
The handsome man from Hibachitei, the one who beat me so easily…
Hyacinthus and a man I've never seen before are talking.
What are they doing out here…?
"Tomorrow morning at the earliest…According to plan…We will handle the
timing…Is that clear, Zanis?"
"Yes…About the money…"
I can't make out all of their words. My body moves on its own.
Concentrating with all of my might, I focus my ears—enhanced by my Status
—on their conversation.
They're quite a ways from the balcony, but I can also make out their lip
movements. With that, plus snippets of their voices, I get a general idea what
they're talking about.
Zanis…?
That must be the name of whoever Hyacinthus is talking to.
I know it's not nice to eavesdrop, but I lean a little farther off the balcony.
When suddenly, shff, Hyacinthus and the other man look my way. I instantly
freeze as I watch their eyes scan all the balconies on the side of the building.
"Bell?"
"!"
A voice comes from behind me and I spin to face it.
Lord Hermes is standing next to the window that leads to the balcony. The
Celebration is still in full swing behind him. I look over my shoulder back to
where the two men were just a moment ago.
Hyacinthus and the man are nowhere to be seen.
"What are you doing out here?"
"Ah…Nothing really."
Lord Hermes walks out to meet me at the hand railing.
I was eavesdropping, but I can't exactly say that to him. I wish I could've
heard more of their conversation, and I try my best to reassure myself that it was
nothing important.
"…Oh well, it doesn't matter. Here, drink up."
"Th-thank you…"
Lord Hermes has one glass in each hand and holds one of them out in front of
me. I take it and thank him.
Only once I get it to my lips do I realize it's just water. Honestly, I didn't
want any more wine, so I'm grateful.
I look at Lord Hermes with ques
tioning eyes, as if to say why are you out
here? He takes a swig of the wine in his own glass and grins at me.
"We never did have a chance to chat. Sorry I'm not one of those cute girls
inside, but may I join you?"
His joke makes me smile and I nod at him. "Of course."
I quickly fix my posture and meet Lord Hermes in the center of the balcony.
"You and Hestia just keep making progress. I've known who you are for a
while now, but after seeing what you can do on the eighteenth floor, you can
count me as one of your fans."
"I-I'm not that great…"
Seeing Lord Hermes come out here was a little scary at first, but there's
something about his friendly smile that eases the tension in my shoulders. He
compliments, teases, and jokes as the two of us get settled. Lord Hermes is by
far the best oral tactician I've ever met.
Muffled but beautiful music makes its way from the ballroom's dance floor
through the window in front of us. The gorgeous tones fill my ears as Lord
Hermes and I start talking like friends.
"Say, Bell. Why did you become an adventurer?"
Lord Hermes leans against the hand railing as he asks me the question.
The muscles in my mouth tighten up. What am I supposed to tell him? "I
came to meet the girl of my dreams in the Dungeon!" "I couldn't give up my
childhood dream of becoming a hero!" It's getting embarrassing, repeating the
same answer over and over.
I scratch my head and think about it for a moment before finally making up
my mind.
"My grandfather…The man who raised me said this before he passed
away…'Orario has everything you could ever want. If you wanna go, go.'"
"Oh?"
"Orario has money and, um, I could meet lots of cute girls, fulfill any
dream…He told me that joining a beautiful goddess's Familia and being part of
a big family was more than just a possibility."
"—Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!"
Lord Hermes tilts his chin toward the night sky and laughs from deep within
his belly.
I look at the red-faced deity who's clutching his stomach and doing his best
to calm down.
"'You can be a hero. Go, if your will is strong enough.'…Those were his
words," I say.
It wasn't a demand; it was up to me to decide.
I was still very young, but I clearly remember Gramps saying all of that only
once.
That's the reason I came to Orario. That's why I wanted to be an adventurer.
After my grandfather's death, I thought about everything he'd ever said. It
didn't take me long to make my choice.
I wanted the warmth of a family.
The one thing I craved ever since childhood—and reinforced by my bond
with Gramps—was to meet the person who would make that dream come true.
So I came to Orario, my soul filled with visions of becoming a hero.
Even as I talk with Lord Hermes, flashes of the life I once knew bubble up to
the surface of my memory. I look at the floor of the balcony and relive every
single one of them.
"…Your grandfather sounds like he was very amusing."
"Yes, he was. He made every day entertaining."
I try to stifle the grin on my lips. The word "amusing" describes my
grandfather so well that I just can't help it.
Lord Hermes looks at me like he's going to flash yet another smile. Bringing
the wineglass up to his lips, he tilts his head back and downs the rest.
"So then, you spent your entire life in the town where you were born until
you came to Orario?"
"Yes. A small village in the middle of the mountains…So, there is still so
much I don't know."
Lord Hermes's expression softened the moment I admitted to how little I
understood about the city. I have to admit, this is pretty embarrassing.
He looks at me, orange eyes twinkling under long, thin eyelids.
"Well then, do you know of a god named Zeus?"
Then he asks me about a god I've never heard of.
"Lord Zeus…No, I don't. Is he well known?"
"Oh yes. He used to be the leader of the most powerful Familia in history,
starting from the day we first arrived in Orario."
That was unexpected. My eyes wide open, I look back at Lord Hermes,
giving him my full attention.
"A-aren't Loki Familia and Freya Familia the most powerful…"
"Now they are, sure. But it wasn't that way until very recently. Fifteen years
ago, to be exact."
Fifteen years ago…My lips go to repeat his words, but no sound comes out of
my mouth.
Lord Hermes starts talking again.
"Until Loki and Lady Freya claimed control themselves, Zeus and a goddess
named Hera were the top dogs in Orario. The current arrangement came to be
when Loki and Lady Freya took them down and banished them from the city."
"…Lord Zeus's and Lady Hera's Familias were defeated in battle?"
"That's true, but not in the way that you're thinking. You see, the shift in
power all started with a failed quest."
It sounds like he's about to get to the juicy part of the story.
Lord Hermes holds out his hand and sticks up three fingers.
"This world has burdened Orario with the Three Great Quests."
My eyes focus on the three fingertips in front of me.
"During the era that you children call Ancient Times, three monsters with
incredible power escaped from the Dungeon—the quests are to eliminate them."
"Eh…So then, that means…"
"That's right, they're alive. These ancient monsters that burst out of the
Dungeon are still out there."
I gulp down the air in my throat.
"Ancient Times"—That means these monsters have survived for more than
one thousand years. This is incredible.
Judging by the way Lord Hermes is talking about them…I don't think they're
related to the monsters Nahza told me about, the ones that escaped the Dungeon
and reproduced on their own on the surface.
"This should be obvious, but the Dungeon provides adventurers in the
Labyrinth City with the perfect training ground. As citizens of Orario, they have
the obligation to the rest of the world to dispose of the monsters that emerged
from beneath their feet."
No other city can rival Orario in terms of pure power and influence. This is
directly due to the Dungeon, a place where monsters continuously spawn and
provide adventurers with nearly limitless opportunities to level up.
Aboveground, monsters and humans are much weaker, meaning that adventurers
have a very difficult time acquiring excelia—and chances to level up are hard to
come by. I've heard that the strongest adventurers in other cities are only Level
2, rarely making it to Level 3.
That's the real reason that Orario is considered to be the center of the world,
this source of absolute power.
"Fifteen years ago…Zeus and Hera were at the height of their power. Their
Familias were home to the most powerful adventurers in history, and they set out
to challenge the three ancient beasts. First, the Terrestrial Tyrant, Behemoth, then
the Ruler of the Sea, Leviathan, were defeated.—And last…"
Lord Hermes puts down two fingers in turn. He raises the last one up to his
face.
"The last one, the Black Dragon, was too strong and wiped them out."
I finally remember to blink.
"The B-Black Dragon…It can't be—is that the One-eyed Dragon?"
"That's right. You know about it?"
Oh, I know. I know.
I met that living embodiment of death and despair in the pages of one of my
books when I was a kid.
The epic tales of heroes from the Ancient Times immortalized in the pages of
the labyrinth's scripture, the Dungeon Oratoria. It's a cruel and merciless
monster that appears in the book's final chapter.
The bravest of the heroes sacrificed his own life to cut out one of the beast's
eyes, forcing the Dragon King to retreat into the clouds.
Words have left me, but with Lord Hermes's story replaying in my mind I
manage to grunt an affirmation.
The living scourge, living legend, the living end.
This creature that appears in many heroic tales and legends of old is not just a
work of fiction, but alive…I'm absolutely stunned.
"Both Zeus's and Hera's Familias lost their strongest followers in the battle
with the Black Dragon, leaving them weak and vulnerable. And now we're back
to where we began. Loki and Lady Freya teamed up to force the two highranking scrappers—no, their biggest rival deities—out of the city."
Lord Hermes smiles again and shrugs his shoulders.
"It was just a sign of the changing times. Even the Guild, which had
supported them through thick and thin for generations, didn't protect a feeble
Zeus and Hera."
Lord Hermes goes on to say that it might be better to say the Guild couldn't
protect them.
"That's the fall of Zeus and how the Orario you know came to be."
"…"
"The peoples of the world still yearn for the completion of the last of the
Three Grand Quests, the slaying of the Black Dragon. As a citizen of Orario, you
will have a part to play."
Lord Hermes sums up his point while grinning at me as I stand frozen in
place.
He just explained how the once powerful and famous Zeus Familia and the
fate of the city of Orario were intertwined.
Sure, I grew up in a little village in the middle of nowhere. But it's painful to
realize just how clueless I was. This world seems peaceful at first glance, but
there's a disaster waiting to happen hidden in the shadows.
Where is the Black Dragon now, what's it doing, there's so much I want to
know…But as one young and inexperienced adventurer, I don't have the right to
know those details. There's not much reason to.
But at the very least, the ones closest to that Dragon in power are—the
warriors belonging to the two most powerful Familias.
"…Um, Lord Hermes?"
"What is it?"
"Lord Zeus and Lady Hera…Can I ask what happened to them?"
I have a feeling he won't tell me anything more about the Three Grand
Quests, so I ask him about the banished gods instead.
He looks at me for a very long moment before flashing a grin and closing his
eyes.
"That's a tough one. The idea that they would return to Tenkai sounds pretty
convincing, but no one really knows what happened to that good-natured old
man. He might be out scouring the globe for new heroes, or he could be hiding
in some shack, wallowing in despair. Knowing him, he could be traveling to the
ends of the earth just to see what's there…That's more likely."
"I-I see."
"Are you curious?"
I look away and say that I'm not really interested. For some reason, I can't
give him a direct answer.
Hearing that those two deities were chased out of the city makes me think.
If for some reason I was drawn into a battle for power and my side lost…
Lady Hestia and I…Would we be banished, too?
I can't ignore this and assume that it's someone else's problem. It's a little
scary.
"Well, our chat went a little long. Sorry to take so much of your time, Bell."
"N-no, it's all right. Thank you for talking with me."
Our conversation over, Hermes gives me one of his charming smiles.
Suddenly the atmosphere on the balcony changes completely.
Lord Hermes cocks an eyebrow after I thank him.
"Say, Bell, are you not going to dance?"
"Eh?"
"Take a look inside. See?"
I follow his gaze and, sure enough, the center of the ballroom is sparkling,
alive with movement.
"That grandfather of yours told you, didn't he? That Orario has enough
gorgeous women and beautiful ladies to turn the world green with envy? This is
your chance to enjoy it."
"Eh? Um…what?"
Oh no, it's that grin. I've seen Lord Hermes make that face before.
He puts his arm around me, guiding me to the window. The corners of his
mouth are so far back, I'm surprised his teeth haven't hit his ear.
"L-Lord Hermes, I don't know how to dance, so don't worry about me. I'm
happy enough just being here…!"
"What happened to your spine, Bell? So now, what's your type?"
He tightens his arm around me, grinning hugely.
Completely unable to move, I have no choice but to look at the women
scattered around the ballroom. There's an absolutely gorgeous goddess dancing
in the middle of the floor, her dress fluttering around her. A little ways back, an
elf is being invited to dance at this very moment. A sleek catgirl is enjoying the
cuisine at a table off to the side. More and more young women come into focus
as I look from corner to corner and back again.
I fight back the burgeoning heat coming from under my eyes. The only thing
I know for sure is I can't look at her, anywhere else is okay but not at her…But
that plan backfires.
My eyes manage to find a streak of blond hair amid the lights and decorations
of the ballroom—I find Aiz right away.
And, of course, Lord Hermes notices.
"Oh-ho! The Kenki, eh? You don't mess around."
"No! I just, um…!"
The words stop coming out as my face starts to boil, turning beet red.
Lord Hermes looks at me in silence. Then without warning, his eyes light up,
accompanied by another toothy grin.
"—So that's how it is…I see, I see."
"Uh, uhhh…"
The deity nods and looks at me with that cheek-splitting smile plastered on
his face.
He knows. He just figured everything out; I can see it in his expression. My
whole body feels like it's on fire.
He saw right through me like it was nothing. I look away, unable to maintain
eye contact, and throw my head back, resigning myself to misery.
At the same time, "All right, that settles it!!" Lord Hermes sounds much
more excited than he did a minute ago. "I'm no God of Love, but that doesn't
mean I can't make sparks fly!"
"Why are you talking so loud?!"
But Lord Hermes doesn't respond to me. Instead, he grabs my hand and pulls
me back into the ballroom. He takes long powerful strides straight toward Aiz.
"Wh-what are you doing?!"
"Taking you to your dancing partner, obviously! The Kenki, who else?"
My heart jumps into my throat.
"I can't, it's impossible! There's no way!"
I repeat myself over and over, getting louder and louder as Lord Hermes pulls
me through the ballroom. But he's not listening.
Like hell I can ask her. Even if I did, there's no way she'd accept. But above
all else, our goddesses would never allow it to happen!
Lord Hermes turns around and gives me one of his classic "manly" smiles.
Perhaps one of my objections finally made it through?
"Leave it to me. I've got a plan."
That said, he takes off at a brisk pace with me in tow.
Perfectly crafted melodies from the musicians fill the dimly lit ballroom. The
magic-stone lamps on the chandeliers have been turned down, leaving the dance
floor illuminated by moonlight.
Lady Hestia and Lady Loki are still arguing in the back corner. Aiz is
standing just behind them. I bet that anyone who extended a hand to her was
immediately driven away by her overprotective goddess under threat of the
wrath of Loki Familia. I doubt anyone has even said hello.
She's just standing there, watching the goddesses go at it and wondering if
she should step in.
Lord Hermes finally releases my hand and walks over there.
Finding a brief opening in Lady Loki and Lady Hestia's argument, he puts on
the air of a gentleman and bows in front of her.
"Oh my, how exquisite you are on this night, Kenki! May I, Hermes, have
this dance?"
I see him thrust his hand out to her. My mind is racing on so many levels.
Aiz's face goes pale as she stands, motionless, in front of the god. Unsure of
what to do, she tries to catch the eye of her goddess, Lady Loki. Unfortunately
for her, the argument between the two goddesses is still in full swing.
A few long heartbeats later, Aiz looks back to Lord Hermes and opens her
mouth. She's probably going to refuse, but before she can…
"Oh, goodness no! How could I have forgotten something this important?! I
just remembered!"
Lord Hermes turns away, his hand over his face. It feels like I'm watching an
actor on the stage more than anything else.
I blink several times, my eyes nothing but little dots on my face. Aiz isn't
moving. I don't think she's even breathing.
Clap! Lord Hermes brings his hands together as if he's just gotten an idea. He
looks back over his shoulder before spinning to face me.
"It is an embarrassment as a god, and as a man, to not be able to honor my
own invitation—Bell, take my place."
My jaw drops to the floor. Aiz looks light-headed.
Both of our eyes are as wide as they can go.
"Huh, what's going on…?"
"You understand, Bell? My reputation is at stake, so don't let me down."
Every muscle in my body suddenly tenses. Then, Lord Hermes winks at me.
The whimsical god has just forced me to play a part in some kind of scheme
—did Lord Hermes just give me an opportunity to ask Aiz to dance? He's
willing to take the heat from the goddesses?
Then a wink makes me realize what had just transpired. Lord Hermes was
with us on the eighteenth floor as well as in the town of Rivira. He seems to
believe that since Aiz and I know each other, she won't refuse my invitation.
Lord Hermes grins and walks away. Aiz and I are alone, staring at each other.
"…"
"…"
The distance between us unchanging, we stand in one spot, staring into each
other's eyes.
My body's getting warmer and warmer. I make up my mind.
I can't waste the chance that Lord Hermes gave me. But more than that, I
can't walk away from the confused girl in front of me. The shame of abandoning
her would be unbearable.
But…how do I ask her to dance?
A storm is raging in the back of my mind, sweat pouring like rain down my
face and hands—that's when Lord Miach appears at my side.
I look back toward Aiz and see that Nahza is standing beside her.
The two of us watch with wide eyes as Lord Miach and Nahza step toward
each other.
"My lady, would you care to join me for a dance?"
Lord Miach extends his hand to Nahza and gives a respectful bow.
She smiles and puts her hand in his.
"Gladly."
The two walk, hand in hand, to the dance floor.
Aiz and I watch as an example unfolds right in front of us. Lord Miach and
Nahza grin back at us, thoroughly enjoying the moment.
Ba-dum. My heartbeat fills my chest.
The two of them went out of their way to help me; I can't just stand here
anymore.
Aiz is looking right at me when I take my first step.
Tap, tap. The sound of my footsteps cuts through the other sounds in the
room. I gradually approach her, the distance between us disappearing.
I come to a stop an arm's length away and meet her gaze.
"Can I…May I—have this dance?"
I quickly look down to hide my bright red face.
I extend my left hand, my heart rate increasing every second.
I sneak a peek at her face…Aiz, clad in that beautiful dress, is smiling at me.
"…Gladly."
I feel the weight of her hand in mine. Summoning up every ounce of courage
in my body, I close my fingers around hers.
The two of us turn toward the dance floor, holding hands.
I hope she can't feel my pulse through my fingers; my heart's beating like
crazy. Doing my best to keep my breath steady, the two of us find an open spot
in a ring of dancing couples. I slowly loop my right arm behind her and put my
hand on her back as she lightly places her left on my shoulder.
Now all I need to do is listen to the beat, watch the others, and try to dance.
"Uwah—"
"Nnn—"
We're not in sync at all.
I stumble; she trips. We're fighting just to keep our balance. Aiz is first and
foremost a knight, so dancing might not be her thing. But then again, I'm a man
and yet I'm failing to lead. This is pitiful.
Thump. Aiz's head hits me square in the chest. If I don't do something soon,
this'll be a complete disaster. But what? A wave of cold sweat escapes from
every pore in my skin.
"Calm your mind. Do not try to lead by pulling her with your arms."
"!"
Another couple comes close to us just as Aiz and I are trying to find our feet.
It's Lord Takemikazuchi and Mikoto.
Mikoto is blushing again, but Lord Takemikazuchi's precise movements
guide her effortlessly around the floor. They step toward us, and Lord
Takemikazuchi and I are back to back as he whispers more advice into my ear.
"Relax your shoulders. Take your eyes off your feet and look ahead."
"S-Sir Bell. The battle is not lost as long as you don't step on your own feet."
Lord Takemikazuchi guides Mikoto right past me. A new bead of sweat rolls
down my cheek as I desperately try to decode their instructions.
Aiz is listening, too. Our feet start to line up.
"You're adventurers—look at each other. Discern each other's movements
with your feet and communicate with your eyes. No techniques are necessary,
only advance and retreat."
Lord Takemikazuchi's words echo over and over in my mind. Just for a
moment, it feels like I'm back on the city wall, training with Aiz.
I desperately try to read her attacks, figure out where she is coming from, and
defend. How would she follow, what is she aiming for? It all comes down to that
first step and moves on from there.
I look into her eyes, glistening in the moonlight. I'm not sure who breaks
down first, but we suddenly smile.
—Right?
—L-left, please.
Uneven at first, then slowly but surely, then finally we move in unison.
We don't need to speak; our eyes and subtle movements do all the talking.
Lord Takemikazuchi smiles. He must think we're okay on our own now,
because he and Mikoto glide away to another part of the dance floor.
"—Whaaaaat?! What in th' hell d'you think you're doing, Aiz?! Leggo of
me, Itty-Bitty! I said, hands off—!!"
"Huh? What are you sayi—whaaaaaaa?! Wait, Bell—!"
Two loud voices reach my ears from the corner of the ballroom. I catch a
glimpse of two raging goddesses from the corner of my eye. Seeing Lady
Hestia's hair flare out like that makes my blood run cold.
But at that moment, Lord Hermes points and Miss Asfi's dress flutters
through the air.
"—Hold them back, Asfi!"
"I take no responsibility for the consequences…"
""Ngggh!!""
Thin, feminine arms wrap around each of the goddesses. The two deities get
yanked from view. Looking back at Aiz, she's just as speechless as I am.
"…Ottar. Tell me, is it possible to unleash a horde of Minotaur here right
now?"
"It is not, Lady Freya…"
…Why is my spine tingling?
"This is my first…"
"Huh?"
"This is my first time dancing…" I watch Aiz's lips move. We are about the
same height, so talking face-to-face is easy. "I always wanted to try, when I was
little…"
"R-really?"
"Yes."
That's unexpected.
It feels strange, but a smile grows on my face. I can feel my lips loosening
with each passing moment.
"So I'm happy…Thank you."
She shyly glances down, then looks back up at me with a beaming smile.
For a moment, she looks like an innocent child instead of the hardened
warrior I know. I lose myself in the sparkles of her golden eyes.
The mask of refinement and grace she always wears is gone, replaced by the
smile of a little girl.
Maybe, no, definitely—this is the real Aiz Wallenstein. Not the warrior.
"…!!"
I'm pretty sure I'm smiling.
I'm so happy, I wouldn't know if I were making a weird expression.
She smiles back, her gaze slightly trembling. My hand on her waist and hers
on my shoulder, we join the ring of couples and dance a waltz.
Her golden locks flow in perfect time with the music.
Our steps slightly better than before, we spin in place, matching the other
couples on the floor.
All the beautiful people and perfect clothes sparkle in the moonlit ballroom.
The magic-stone-lamp chandeliers give the illusion of a starry night as she
and I dance, the moment feeling like a dream.
The dance over, Aiz and I find Lord Hermes and the others standing close to the
ballroom wall.
I lead Aiz as far as I can until finally I let go. I can still feel her fingers,
delicate and warm, in the palm of my hand. My head is somewhere in the clouds,
but Aiz sighs as all of her muscles relax at once.
Lord Miach, Nahza, as well as Lord Takemikazuchi and Mikoto smile at the
two of us. I don't think I've ever felt this shy in my life, but I need to show them
my gratitude.
"Um, thank you so much, for all of your help. You, too, Lord Hermes…"
"Glad to be of service."
He grins at me before opening his mouth to continue. However, he
immediately closes his mouth again and sticks both hands high into the air.
"At least I can die knowing you're happy."
""Hermes!""
Two goddesses cloaked in auras of fury appear directly behind Lord Hermes.
Snatch! Two arms suddenly pull him off his feet and drag him into the corner.
"Gyaaaaaah!!" A scream of pain cuts through the air. The color drains from my
face.
Lord Hermes's "execution" complete, Lady Hestia charges toward us like she
were shot out of a cannon. Bang! Aiz goes flying from my side.
"Bell! You're dancing with me next!"
"Aiz, yer hittin' the floor with me! No refusin'!"
Lady Hestia grabs both of my hands with vigor. The look in her eyes is
terrifying. Aiz isn't doing much better. Lady Loki practically has her in a bear
hug.
All of my muscles stiffen at once, making my body stand up straight at the
speed of light as I hold out my hands.
I force a smile. There's no way I can refuse her—
"—Guests, are you enjoying the Celebration?"
Lord Apollo, the host for the evening, appears in front of our group.
A handful of his uniformed followers spreads out behind him as he squares
his shoulders.
Wait a minute, why did the musicians stop playing? It's eerily quiet in here.
"It brings me great pleasure to see you are indulging. That lets me know
hosting this Celebration was worth it."
All of us stop moving, frozen in place as other guests make their way toward
us. There's a ring around us in no time at all and Lord Apollo is at the center.
The god wearing a crown of laurels locks his eyes on Lady Hestia as soon as
he finishes his general greeting.
"Much time has passed but…Hestia. It appears my children have caused you
some trouble."
"…Yes, and mine you."
Lord Apollo smiles, but my goddess is eyeing him suspiciously.
First and foremost, we need to settle this. Lady Hestia takes a deep breath as
she figures out the exact wording she wants to use.
However, the god doesn't give her time.
"My precious child was critically injured by your boy. I demand
compensation."
He takes a step forward and makes his claim.
I tilt my head in confusion, my nerves getting the better of me. Lady Hestia,
on the other hand, becomes furious.
"That's an exaggeration! My Bell was hurt, too! You have no right to demand
anything!"
"My dear Luan came home so beaten and bloodied that day I had to hide my
eyes…My soul wept in his presence!"
Lord Apollo puts his hand on his chest like an actor trying to be overly
dramatic before spreading his arms open wide. He points out his other followers,
all of them crying as if on cue. A figure emerges from behind them. "Aah,
Luan!" Lord Apollo cries as he rushes to his side.
Luan…that's the prum from the bar…His entire body is wrapped in
bandages, like some kind of ancient mummy. He groans in pain as he works his
way forward with Lord Apollo's aid.
"It hurts, everything hurts…"
"B-Bell…! You didn't do this, did you…?"
"I didn't, I didn't!"
I yell at the top of my lungs, trying to reassure the visibly shaking goddess
next to me. This is way over the top!
"Additionally, I have heard that it was your boy who initiated the fight. There
are many witnesses. You are not talking your way out of this."
Swish. The god raises his arm and wiggles his fingers as if beckoning
someone forward. Forward they come, all at once. Many people come to the
front of the crowd, forming an even closer ring around us.
Witnesses…The other customers at Hibachitei? I don't remember seeing any
of them, but all of them in turn say they were there and side with Lord Apollo.
The strange thing is, they all grin at me right after doing so.
Were they paid off? Were they really there?…Either way, this is no
coincidence.
I'm starting to get a really bad feeling about this.
"Wait, Apollo. It was my child who made the first move. Surely Hestia does
not deserve all of the blame."
"Ah, Hephaistos, what a beautiful friendship you have. But you need not
stick your neck out for her. It is clear as day that Hestia's boy is the one who sent
your child to do the dirty work."
Lord Apollo quickly dismisses Lady Hephaistos's claim, adding that she
could ask any of the witnesses present for the full story. The goddess's good eye,
the one not covered by a bandage, narrows.
He's trapped us in some kind of elaborate blame game, saying who did this
and who didn't do that. Unfortunately, Lord Apollo has brought a large number
of supporters with him. His argument is much stronger.
"One of my beloved followers was badly wounded. I cannot accept this lying
down. The reputation of my Familia is on the line…Hestia, will you not take
responsibility for his actions?"
"Enough already! Like hell I'll accept that!"
I watch Lord Apollo's face contort after Hestia's refusal—into an evil visage.
The corners of his lips curl upward into a dark expression unfit for a deity.
"Then you leave me no choice! Hestia—I declare a War Game!"
My goddess is just as flabbergasted as I am.
—"War Game."
It's a staged battle between two Familias with a strict set of rules. Each deity
deploys their followers like pieces on a board game and sends them into battle in
a test of wills.
In other words, followers fight a war for their god.
The victorious deity steals everything from the defeated. The winner receives
the right to order the loser to do anything. Normally, they take all money,
property, and even Familia members for themselves.
One of Eina's more recent lectures flares to life in the back of my mind. It's
not long before I'm completely speechless.
Hestia Familia, just me and my goddess, against an upper-mid-level Familia
like Apollo Familia in a War Game?
That's not even funny.
"Apollo's done it now—!" "What a bully…" "Actually, I'd like to see that!"
Voices erupt all around me as soon as Lord Apollo makes his declaration.
The gods and goddesses are always looking for entertainment, and this seems
to have piqued their interest.
The ring of people around us voices their support for Lord Apollo. The
goddess and I are surrounded on all sides. I scan the crowd and catch a glimpse
of a silent Lady Loki and briefly meet the gaze of a very concerned Aiz.
"Should my side prevail…I demand you surrender the boy Bell Cranell to
me."
Those words practically knock Lady Hestia off her feet.
"What?!" My eyes snap back to Lady Hestia in time to see her whip herself
into a frenzy. "This is what you were after all along…!"
I'm so confused—what are they talking about? I look back and forth between
the two deities over and over again.
A horrifying smile filled with greed appears on Lord Apollo's face.
"—It's unfair, Hestia. You keeping such a cute boy all to yourself…"
Zing!
Every hair on my body stands on end. The color drains from my face.
Lord Apollo's penetrating gaze bores right through me.
Never before in my life have I felt such a powerful sense of foreboding. The
goddess told me a little while ago that Lady Freya would "devour" me—now I
think I understand what she meant by that.
"You vile pig…!!"
Lady Hestia casts her infuriated eyes on Lord Apollo as if he was the root of
all evil. The deity just glares back at her.
"Harsh, Hestia, very harsh. We sang the melodies of love once. I even offered
you my heart back in Tenkai, now didn't I?"
"Lies!! All lies!! Don't get the wrong idea, Bell!! This airheaded creep
wouldn't leave me alone, and I shot him down right away! Do you think a
goddess as young and pure as me would accept an offer from a perverted bastard
with standards like that?!"
"O-of course not…!!"
The air around Lady Hestia is pulsing, the heat from her red face pushing me
back.
So that's the reason why she doesn't like Lord Apollo—he asked her to marry
him. Lady Hestia's energy must've just run out. "Haaah, haaah." Her shoulders
heave up and down as she wipes sweat off her chin.
But I get it. I understand.
Most likely, Lord Apollo is attracted to those who look like my goddess…or
me. Man, woman, it doesn't matter to him. Once he sees something he likes,
he'll stop at nothing in his lustful pursuit.
Apollo Familia…Now that I think about it, all of the members of his group
that I've seen fit that description: young, innocent-looking men and women. The
staff here, Daphne and Cassandra when they gave me the invitation…even Luan
the prum has the same kind of cute features.
Passion that has gone too far, burning bright like the sun.
—Phallus.
A god whose desires carry him to comical lengths…That's Lord Apollo.
"Starting the fight at the bar, everything that happened, it was all part of your
plan, Apollo…! Everything was to steal Bell away from me!"
Realizing she's trapped, Lady Hestia glares at each of the deities who had
thrown their lot in with Lord Apollo for sheer entertainment. What few allies we
have are in disarray. Nahza and Mikoto are looking around in confusion. Lord
Miach and Lord Takemikazuchi are frowning, silently watching the events
unfold, powerless to stop it. Lady Hephaistos sighs, massaging her temple. Lord
Hermes is standing right next to her, grimacing alongside Miss Asfi.
We're isolated, alone. My head starts spinning as I desperately look from face
to face, and I happen to spot Lady Freya quietly sipping from her wineglass. We
lock eyes for a moment.
"Hestia, what is your answer?"
"I have no obligation to accept, now do I?!"
The goddess turns her back on Lord Apollo when he asks for her response.
If this really does escalate to a War Game, Hestia Familia doesn't stand a
chance. I would have to take them on myself.
Lady Hestia outright rejects him.
"Are you sure you won't regret this?"
"Hardly! Bell, we're leaving!"
Lady Hestia's eyes flash at the smirking Lord Apollo as she grabs my wrist.
"So dull…" Several deities voice their disappointment as they step aside,
allowing us to pass. Honestly, I don't think they want to be the one to get in
Lady Hestia's way right now. She may be small, but the fury emanating from her
is terrifying. We leave the ballroom and walk down the stairs.
"—"
A handsome young man is standing right next to the exit. We make eye
contact.
Hyacinthus's cold stare burns itself into my memory.
"…"
The goddess pulls me past him, but I look back over my shoulder.
I watch as the palace of the building and the follower of that deity shrink into
the distance.
It's almost like they're telling me that this isn't over.