Chereads / Danmachi volume 1-19 / Chapter 12 - Chapter 2 part 2

Chapter 12 - Chapter 2 part 2

P/N Let me know if there's any mistakes and I will try to fix them

"Bell!"

"Ah…!"

Hestia spotted Bell and walked up to him.

At first, Bell was relieved to hear a familiar voice. But when he looked up at

the owner of the voice, he did a double take.

Hestia had changed her hairstyle. Her usual twin ponytails were let down, and

her glossy black hair flowed freely down her back. The young fairy had grown

up, and she took Bell's breath away.

The ribbons with bells that she normally used to tie her hair up were wrapped

around her wrists like bracelets. She wore the best clothing she owned. Hestia

had pulled out all the stops.

Hestia held her breath for a moment, standing in front of Bell. Her cheeks

turning a bright shade of pink, she worked up the courage to ask him a question.

"W-well, what do you think? I'm trying out a new look, so…"

"…Ah, yes, you look great! Very, very great! How should I put this? You look

much more refined than usual, Goddess! You're…um…p-pretty!"

Bell's face turned red as he stumbled over his words, trying to praise the

goddess.

He was doing his best to show respect to the head of his Familia, but there

was a great deal of shyness in his voice. At this moment, Bell was captivated by

Hestia.

Hestia may have looked calm on the outside, but inside she was pumping her

fist with a big "Yessss!"

"I meant to get here earlier—sorry, Bell. Did you wait?"

"N-no, I just got here a moment ago."

They looked away from each other, fiddling with their own clothes.

This was beginning to feel so much like a real date that Hestia's cheeks were

starting to go numb.

No matter what happened from this point on, nothing could bring down

Hestia's high spirits.

"Well then, Bell, you'd better be a good escort for me tonight!"

"I-I will!"

Then he smiled and extended his hand. Hestia was about to take it—then it

happened.

They rounded the corner of the square like a pack of wolves.

"There they are!"

"Hestia's here!"

"So then…that guy next to her is…!"

It was the goddesses from the bath. All of the insanely beautiful girls' and

women's eyes sparkled with the same fervor as they charged en masse.

Bell froze at the onslaught of deities. Hestia stood next to him, her eyes as

wide as they would go.

"Awww! He's so cute!"

"So he's Hestia's type!"

"M-mmpph!"

The swarm pushed Hestia out of the way and swallowed Bell in one swift

motion.

Arms from all directions pulled Bell into their owners' breasts, each goddess

embracing him one by one.

Oxygen was hard to come by, trapped in the heavenly cage from hell. Bell's

face was burning red in a matter of seconds as he struggled to come up for air. "Nah…Hnnnnn…Hahhhh?!"

"Sorry, Hestia! We wanted to know who it was so badly we couldn't help it.

So we followed you…My, my, my! He really does look like a rabbit!"

"Nnn—hnnnn—!"

"B-BEEELLLL—!"

Echoes of Hestia's scream bounced around the square.

Bell's life was hanging by a thread. He had fallen into the valley that was

Demeter's massive cleavage. None of the other goddesses even came close to

her overwhelming chest canyon. Every time Demeter stroked Bell's white hair,

pressure built up within Hestia. Veins in her head were bulging to the point that

blood should have been shooting out her eyes.

The spearhead of the goddesses' desire for entertainment had struck her

personal life, and it was mercilessly trampling everything in its path.

Just when Hestia was about to hit her breaking point—

Clothing disheveled, face beet red and hair going in all directions, Bell

popped out of the group through a small opening.

"God…dess…"

"B-Bell! Are you all right?!"

"…I can die happy…!"

Whack! Hestia buried the tip of her shoe in Bell's shin.

"Sorry…!"

"Accepted. Now, time to get out of here!"

Pulling a one-legged Bell out of the swarm by force, Hestia started their

escape.

It took a moment for the goddesses to realize their prize was gone; their

moment of surprise was the opening that Bell and Hestia needed to get out of

Amour Square.

The two of them took off at full speed through the city, keeping an eye out for

the pursuit of the relentless deities.

"Ahhh! Why are they always like this?! Goddesses have no self-control, really!"

"Ha-haaaa…"

Bell grimaced next to a frustrated and yelling Hestia.

The two of them had finally shaken their pursuers in an old bell tower just off

West Main. Made of brick, the now silent tower stood by itself with the original

—but broken—bell still hanging overhead.

They hid themselves inside the tower until the goddesses passed by, allowing

Bell and Hestia to finally relax for a moment.

"It's already the middle of the night…Aww, and tonight was supposed to be

our date, too."

"D-date?"

There wasn't much time left before midnight. Hestia let out a long sigh as she

fumbled with her hair, which had gotten tangled from running around so much.

The day had come to a lamentable end, and she stewed in it for a moment.

"Oh…! Goddess, take a look at that!"

"...?"

Bell enthusiastically pointed outside to get Hestia's attention.

What unfolded before her as she turned around was the city itself, lit up by

magic-stone lamps like stars in the night sky.

More lamps than she could count shone with dazzling colors on every

building of Orario.

In the center of it all, a massive white tower pierced the darkness to reach

well into the black sky.

Hestia lost herself for a moment in the beautiful view from the top of the old

bell tower. She didn't say a word as she looked over at Bell sitting beside her.

She could see the entire city's reflection in his shimmering eyes.

Bell felt Hestia's eyes and turned to meet them. Seeing this amazing view

side by side with Hestia made him feel warm inside. Harnessing its power, he

opened his mouth to speak.

"Um, Goddess…Let's go again sometime. For sure."

"Bell…"

"Until then, I'll work as hard as I can to save money. We can eat delicious

food, have delicious drinks, and then let's come here."

"..."

"We found this amazing view today…so let's come here again, together."

He continued, telling her that the day had not been wasted.

And that he was glad to share this moment with her.

Bell was trying to keep Hestia's spirits up. It wasn't just for show, either; he

really felt that way.

A carefree smile lit up Bell's face and struck a chord with Hestia. She slowly

closed her eyes, butterflies dancing in her stomach.

That innocent, stupidly honest smile made her even more attracted to the boy,

right then and there.

She felt love in the memories she'd made that day, and in Bell's promise of

tomorrow.

"I'm looking forward to it, Bell."

"Yes."

She smiled back at him with a grin wide enough to split her face in half.

The two of them looked back outside at the beautiful city and enjoyed what

was left of their time alone.

Hestia had succeeded in getting closer to him. The feeling made her blush and

let her mind be at ease.

I was going to ask him about that supporter tonight, but…I just don't feel like

it anymore.

Now wasn't the time for anything so uncouth, she thought to herself, and took

in the view once again.

Feeling the warmth of the boy next to her, she closed her eyes and smiled.

The bells on the hair ribbons she'd tied around her wrists rung faintly,

shaking in the cool breeze that flowed through the tower, caressing them both

under the old bell.