by Fujino Omori
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.
CHAPTER 3
OUTBREAK
The sun has risen on the morning after the Celebration of the Gods.
Hestia updated Bell’s Status in their Familia’s home, a hidden room beneath an old church. The two of them were busily preparing for the day.
Bell Cranell
Level 2
Strength: C 635 Defense: D 590->594
Utility: C 627 Agility: B 741 Magic: D 529
Luck: I
Magic
(Firebolt)
•Swift-Strike Magic
Skills
(Heroic Desire, Argonaut)
•Charges automatically with active action
It went up a little…
Bell slipped a potion into his leg holster as he held a sheet of paper in his left hand.
He looked over his Status one more time, his gaze trained on his Defense, which had improved since his return from the Dungeon.
He hadn’t set foot belowground since the battle with the Goliath on the eighteenth floor five days ago. A full two days had passed since the brawl at Hibachitei. The hit he took from Hyacinthus during the fight that day was strong enough to earn excelia and be reflected in his Status.
His Level 3 wasn’t just for show. Bell scratched the back of his head as memories of that embarrassing sequence of events floated to the surface.
“That jackass. War Game this, War Game that…”
At the same time, Hestia had just changed into her uniform. She’d been muttering curses under her breath since the moment the two of them arrived at home last night. She closed the closet door, sat down on the sofa, and called out to the boy.
“Bell, please be careful. I doubt he’d be stupid enough to try anything today, but some of his followers might try to pick another fight.”
“I-I will…”
Bell lightly nodded at his goddess’s warning.
Apollo Familia was in the midst of a grand scheme to steal Bell away from her, and she would have nothing of it. Updating Bell’s Status, despite his lack of dungeon crawling, was one of the countermeasures she was using to prepare for their next stage. Of course, they didn’t have many options, but she felt it was necessary to do everything she could.
“Promise me, Bell—promise me you’ll run away at the first sign of danger. Never travel alone, and always stay in areas with lots of people.”
“I will.”
“And for the time being, it might be a good idea to work with Mikoto and her group. Také knows what’s going on, so they should allow you to join their battle party.”
Bell took his goddess’s words to heart. He had heard from both Aiz and Lilly many times that ambushes were common in the Dungeon. He knew that he couldn’t be too careful.
The boy had equipped the armor that was still damaged from the battle on the eighteenth floor of the Dungeon. He was wearing his old boots in place of the greaves that had been completely destroyed. Hestia Knife and Ushiwakamaru strapped firmly to his lower back, Bell stood in front of the door, ready to reenter the Dungeon.
“Bell, both of us are going to Babel Tower anyway, so let’s go together?”
“Yes, good idea.”
Hestia smiled back at the boy. She was due to work a shift at one of Hephaistos Familia’s shops in the tower. Bell opened the door and led the way up the staircase that connected their room to the surface.