No one's POV
Let's take a look a day after Bell and the others had just head towards their first expedition. On the thirtieth floor of Babel, the titanic structure at the center of Orario, an abnormal din filled the halls. A Denatus was under way. Deities young and old, male and female, were attending the so-called advisory council, which was about to begin. All of them had too much time on their hands.
God 1: It's been a while since the last Denatus, hasn't it?
Goddess 1: That's because right when it was time to hold one, Ikelos Familia went and caused all that trouble.
God 2: Who could possibly host a Denatus in the middle of such a racket?
The meetings were supposed to take place every three months, but due to events surrounding the Xenos, the latest one had been postponed. Now, after repeated delays, the deities were chatting excitedly as they gathered in the large hall. Some were even stretching in preparation, though there was no reason for it whatsoever.
Hestia(mind): Astrea didn't come because she said she didn't want to stand out yet. And Hermes isn't here...Well, maybe that's for the best. If I saw him again so soon after his visit, I might drop-kick him again!
Hestia was sitting at an enormous table that could seat fifty. She craned her neck around. She still hadn't forgiven Hermes for what he'd done, and just thinking about it got her worked up. She scanned the faces in the hall. Loki, Freya, Miach, Hephaestus, Takemikazuchi, and Ganesha were all present...Aside from Apollo and Ishtar, who had been banished and sent away, the crowd was almost identical to the one at the last meeting. But a lot had happened in those three months, including the conflicts between her familia and those belonging to Apollo and Ishtar. Hestia couldn't help thinking back on the dizzying swirl of events and reflecting on the richness of time in the mortal plane.
Ganesha: I am Ganesha!! More importantly, I am the facilitator of this meeting!
God 1: No way!
God 2: Ugh, if Ganesha is moderator, I'm going home...
Goddess: Wait, wait, don't be hasty!
Ganesha: All righty then! I, Ganesha, will recount the recent events in the city!
The god in the elephant mask energetically got the meeting started. First came the regular briefing, where information about the city and other locations was exchanged. But despite Ganesha's enthusiasm, the briefing ended almost before it had started.
Ganesha: Any questions? Speak up—I'm happy to answer any questions you have!
Ganesha prodded. The attendees, however, seemed to want nothing more than to get things over in a hurry. This was depressing to Ganesha, who had devoted himself day and night to maintaining the peace in Orario.
Hestia(mind): He's not going to mention the Xenos, is he...?
Hestia felt slightly apprehensive about the topic, but it seemed that Ganesha wanted to hold his tongue, too.
Ganesha: Okay, let's move on to the Naming Ceremony, then...
Ganesha announced spiritlessly. The instant he did, the mood in the room transformed. The deities were suddenly full of life and exploding with excitement.
God 1: Yes, finally!
God 2: This is what I was waiting for!
God 3: It's the only reason I showed up today!
Everyone grabbed copies of the Guild documents that were being passed around the table and eagerly began flipping through them. The last page was what caught the attention of many in the group. That's where they found the information about the white-haired human, hurriedly updated at the last minute by Guild staff, just like it had been at the last Denatus. The Little Rookie, Bell Cranel.
God 2: I've never seen a kid pop up at the Denatus so many times in a row.
God 1: Yeah, can you believe he leveled up twice, from Level Two to Three and then Four? My goodness.
God 3: Insane!
Voices rippled out from around the oval table. They were all exuberant, joyful cheers of support. The goddess of beauty smiled sweetly, while the goddess of tricksters narrowed her eyes and hummed a tune. How was the boy able to grow so rapidly?
None of the deities in attendance uttered such an insensitive question as that. Everyone agreed that someone who had shown himself capable in a decisive fight with the minotaur was worthy of being called a hero. Their grins deepened and spread around the table.
Hestia(mind): It's okay; it's going to be okay...
Meanwhile, Hestia's expression became stiffer and stiffer as the other deities grew more excited.
Hestia(mind): After what they saw about Sora. Our group is more respectable now, with a big home and everything. Our familia has even leveled up alongside Bell...Yes, things are really different from how they were three months ago...! And my own ability to speak up should be improving, too...!
The young goddess squeezed her hand into a fist. Dripping sweat and struggling with her internal worries, she focused all her energy on avoiding a title that might embarrass Bell. Soon, the Naming Ceremony would begin in earnest. But it's not something Hestia thought it would come.
Ganesha: Well then, thanks to the Majority votes from the Gods and Goddesses from Orario, we all agree to give our very own Light of Hope, a new tittle.
Gods: Agree!
Hestia: Eh...? EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHHHHHHHH?!?!?!
Hestia scream from the top of her lung.
Hestia: What's the meaning of this?! I haven't heard about this at all!
God 1: Can you blame us for not giving him a new nickname?
Goddess 1: That fight, and knowing that he's a Spirit makes my heart racing!
Hestia: Your kidding me! He didn't even rank up! I reject!
Gods: Your rejections is reject!
Hestia: Noooooooooooooooo!
Hestia slump on the table knowing that she was powerless to change the outcome. Hephaestus, Miach, and Takemikazuchi just slowly comfort her.
God 1: Wait, let's save the main dish for last!!
God 2: Yeah, someone else at Loli's place leveled up, too.
God 3: Yeah, yeah...that Pyonkichi kid, Wel-something-or-other, right?
Goddess 1: Right, then, we'll start by deciding on a name for Welf Crozzo!
Goddess 2: Ignis, the Ever Burning.
Gods: Perfect!
Gods 2: That's for sure.
God 3: Yes, it's decided!
God 1: As the boy said himself, 'This is nowhere near enough to quell the fires you stoked in my heart.'
God 1: Oh, I'm dying!
God 3: It's just right!
Just like that, the deities decided on Welf's nickname. Hestia wanted to protect him, but she decided this was better than most alternatives the crowd was likely to come up with and let it go. All the same, it could be quite a blow to Welf...
She glanced diagonally across the table. The goddess of the forge, her close friend, had carelessly boasted about Welf's declaration of love before, and now her words had come back to haunt her. Her eyes were fixed in the opposite direction as she blushed deep red.
God 2: Two people in Takemikazuchi Familia leveled up as well.
God 3: The kid from the Far East!
God 4: I'd say Black Locks is a good one.
God 5: Chigusa Hitachi...She's shy, but I can tell she'd make a good wife.
God 6: How about Love Bird, Takemikazuchi?
God 7: It's better than Eternal Shadow!
The Naming Ceremony proceeded without a hitch, and soon enough, it was Bell's turn. He got the nickname Rabbit Foot. With the help of Miach and Takemikazuchi, Hestia—who was still panting hard—managed to wrench a safe nickname for Bell from the group. Next was a certain elf.
Ganesha: Next, is none other than Loki Familia, the elf princess, Asuna Yuuki!
Immediately the Gods were in an uproar.
God 1: Uooooooooooo!
God 2: A new level 7!
God 3: That make 3 level 7 in Orario!
Loki: Heh! My Familia is stronger than ever now!
Yes, Asuna had rank up to level 7. Ever since the 59th floor, she only got her update only once. And her stats were already at it maxed. The fight with the amazons Argana at Melen. Then during the first assault at Knossos. And her fight with Sora during the Xenos outbreak was enough to gave Asuna the excelia to rank up.
Loki: The Next Adventurer is Asuna, my favorite!
Gods: Yeah!
God 1: The Berserk Healer arrives at last!!
God 2: And still as beautiful as ever, to boot.
God 3: Level 7 already? Impressive...
Loki's own follower was up, and all eyes were on her. It was her blue-haired, diamond-eyed swordswoman, boasting the same level of fame and renown as the two top of Orario and, an adventurer known as the Lightning Flash and The King.
God 1: C'mon, we've gotta think of a new alias!
Gods: Hmm...
God 2: But do we really need to change hers? Seems a bit silly if there's no reason to.
God 3: Indeed.
God 4: If we were to change it...perhaps something like Sword Angel?
God 5: Sword...Angel?
God 6: Doesn't really seem to fit her, though, you think?
Loki: I already know what I want to give to my Asuna-chan! And I expect there will be no complaints!
Loki glare at the Gods as they all just shiver in fear. They all waited for to what Loki have to say and she shouted.
Loki: Brynhildr (Angel of Protector)!
Gods: Oooooooo.....!
With that Asuna's new nickname will be Brynhildr. Soon enough, it was Sora's turn Hestia, who was experiencing déjà vu, inhaled deeply then held her breath. The other deities were grinning and murmuring that the crucial moment had come. As they exchanged glances as if to ask who would start the debate —the elegant goddess of beauty raised her fresh and youthful arm.
Freya: Pardon. May I offer a suggestion?
Hestia: Huh?!
Hestia(mind): Freya made a move!!
A murmur passed through the gathering. Not only the terrified Hestia but the Denatus as a whole had reached a peak of nervous tension and excitement.
God 1: What's this? Lady Freya herself is showing interest?
God 2: So you're a fan of Sora's now, are you?
Freya: I am indeed. I couldn't help feeling a thrill as I watched that battle. And knowing that he is a Spirit really got my heart pounding.
The notorious Freya had finally laid her eyes on the Lightning Flash! This was surely a sign of trouble to come. The deities, who had no inkling of Freya's true involvement, assumed her interest in the boy to be an inevitable development. After all, Sora Yatagami could hardly escape the notice after causing such a stir throughout the city. Some of the deities even suspected the goddess of beauty had developed feelings for the boy and watched in amusement to see what would happen. Among the crowd, Hestia alone was feeling extremely on edge.
Hestia(mind): I must never let Sora's origin got out to the public! And he already agree to let the people call him a Spirit.
Hestia: Well, Freya! That's nice, but this is MY Sora we're talking about, so you better have racked your brains to come up with a darn good name for him!
Freya: Of course. Have no worries, Hestia.
Freya responded, smiling back beatifically. Even the gods, who would normally be teasing the Goddess Loli in a situation like this, were overawed. Had the final battle of Ragnarök finally arrived? Freya brought one hand to her cheek and put on a great show of hemming and hawing before finally flashing a brilliant grin.
Freya: I suggest we call him... Vanadis Odr(Husband of Freya)! It's such a fitting name!
Hestia: Hey, Hey, Heeeeeeeeey!!! No freakin' way!!
Hestia slammed both her fists down onto the table with a loud bang and stood up.
Hestia: 'Husband,' my ass! Sora belongs to my familia!!
Freya: What, you didn't like my suggestion?
Hestia: What the hell is there to like?!
Everyone knew that Freya was an extremely passionate goddess. For the moment, the deities set aside the question of whether her initial proposal was sincere, a joke, or an attempt to meddle in Hestia's business and chattered with glee. Her supporters were especially excited to see a display of her queenly behavior once again at a Denatus.
Even though the boy's patron deity immediately shot down Freya's suggestion, she showed no sign of being upset. Instead, she smiled mischievously and withdrew her proposal with a sigh and a "Too bad."
Loki: That's no good! Vanadis Odr, are you kidding? You're way too obsessed with sex, and it doesn't make any sense anyway.
Loki commented with a roar of laughter.
Freya: Okay then, Loki, what's your suggestion?
Freya countered.
Loki: Hmm, let me think...
Dramatically ignoring Hestia's glare, which all but screamed, "Don't say anything stupid!" Loki raised a finger into the air.
Loki: Loizarus(Fool's Plaything).
Hestia: Get out of here!!
Hestia shouted with indignation.
Hestia: Anyway, why should he be your plaything?
Soon, all the other deities were piling onto the nasty party that Freya and Loki had started.
God 1: Yeah, I have an idea! Chestnut Cream!
God 2: Oh So-Ra! Marry me! How about Wedding Sora?!
Goddess1: You just turned eighty percent of the girl deities in this room against you!
Goddess 2: That huge smile on Freya's face is the deadliest look I've ever seen!
God2: Eeeeee!
God 3: Shut up and listen to my song! It's called 'Womanizer'!
God 4: Give it up already!
Goddess 2: White hair handsome!
God 5: Youuuu're trying too hard.
Goddesses: But he is handsome! They way he's gray hair swoosh when the wind blows is dazzling!
God 1: Doesn't he have any other distinguishing features? Like, some other rumor or information about him?
God 2: Now that I think about it, there was a rumor at one point that the Hero was a monster lover.
Gods: What...?
God 2: So that means...he'll go for humans, and he'll go for monsters...and he'll even go for us deities?
God 1 and 2: How about All Okay(Omnisexual)?!
Hestia: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGHHH!!!
Hestia's patience had reached its limit. Screaming, she waved both arms in the air. Takemikazuchi and Miach tried to calm her down, but even as they did, the other deities continued to roar with bawdy laughter. Hestia howled with rage. Chaos in the room was reaching a fever pitch.
Hestia: Quit it, you jerks! Stop acting like my Sora is just some plaything for your amusement!
Takemikazuchi: Calm down, Hestia!
Hestia: I'll calm down after they shut up!
Finally, someone mentioned it was time to get serious, and the deities put an end to their rowdy jokes. With the help of Hephaestus, Miach and Takemikazuchi, Hestia—who was still panting hard—managed to wrench a safe nickname for Sora from the group.
Hestia: Shit...They really messed with me.
After the meeting ended, Hestia threw her head down on the table, completely out of breath. Hephaestus sat beside her, smiling wryly.
Hephaestus: That's because you're really moving up in the world these days. It was a kind of baptism, in one sense.
Miach: Come on, all's well that ends well.
Hestia: If Sora got a lousy nickname, I wouldn't hear the end of it from Astrea.
Hephaestus: Astrea has truly change. For her to be so obsessed with Sora.
Hestia: Tell me about it.
Perhaps because they had succeeded in teasing the cheeky Goddess Loli, the other deities left the room looking very pleased with themselves. Their number included Freya, who cast a sidelong glance and a smirk at Hestia as she left, as well as Loki, who hugged her stomach and tried to catch her breath after laughing far too hard. Hestia watched them leave with a critical look in her narrowed eyes.
Hesti: But in the end, Sora's honor has been protected...
Hestia seemed to have expended her last bit of energy waving good-bye to Hephaestus, Miach and Takemikazuchi. She looked completely exhausted as she looked at the slip of paper.
Hestia: Fang of Flash/ Flash of Fang(White Fang of Orario)! That's going to be your new name, Sora!
A/N: Whichever you like to call it, is your choice.
(Timeskip)
3 days had passed since the Denatus was held. At the Hostess of Fertility.
Lunoire: It's no good; I can't find Ryuu anywhere.
The human waitress Lunoire said, shaking her head. She had just returned to The Hostess of Fertility, the bar on East Main Street. It was shortly before opening time, and her words caused a sudden uproar among the other employees.
Anya: Where could that girl have gone~nya? This is the third day since she went missing~nya. I'm sure she's playing hooky. Unforgivable~nya...
The catgirl Anya complained, flinging herself onto the table. Her words, however, had no bite to them.
Lunoire: But this is the first time she's gone off without saying a word, leaving only a letter behind.
Lunoire said, gripping the piece of paper and sighing as if she was quite upset. Ryuu had vanished from the bar. Without permission and unexpectedly. She had left a note in her room in the back building, announcing in her beautiful penmanship that she would be away for a while and apologizing.
Lunoire: She's disappeared now and then in the past, but...this time...
Something felt different. The staff of The Hostess of Fertility had sensed it and had split up a little earlier to search for their elven coworker in her usual haunts.
Chloe: She's been really tense lately, you know? So tense that whenever I saw her...I felt uneasy.
Lunoire: Hey, you blackhearted cat, watch your mouth!
Chloe: Whoops!
Chloe covered her face with a hand in response to Lunoire's reprimand. The catgirl had been narrowing her eyes and looking completely unlike herself, but when she moved her hand away from her mouth, it was wearing its usual smile, as if she'd switched personalities once again.
Chloe: Meow...I'm just worried something happened to her, given she's someone who has been forced to do work dirtier than cleaning the sewers~nya. Or rather, that she made something happen~nya.
She pronounced, swishing her cat's tail and smiling inanely. Her worry was more premonition than insight—the premonition of one who knew about the past of the elf called Gale Wind.
Lunoire: Hey now.
Lunoire said, scolding the catgirl's half-joking words for a second time. She glanced at the corner where a girl with blue-gray hair sat wordlessly. Syr remained silent, an expression of intense thought on her face. As if to dispel the tension in the room, the two temporarily quiet catgirls began to chat noisily again.
Anya: While the gray-haired one is holed up in the Dungeon, Syr is down in the dumps, meow! I'm sure it's all one of his plots~nya!
Chloe: Definitely! It's all the Hero's fault~nya! To make up for it, I'll force him to let me bury my face in that ass of his~nya!
Lunoire: You two are disgusting! What in the world are you talking about?
But even the ordinary scene of Anya and Chloe running their mouths and being scolded by Lunoire didn't bring a smile back to Syr's face. That was because the serious elf, who always reproached the others so calmly, was missing from their circle. Suddenly, the door to the room opened with a bang.
Mia: What the hell are you idiots doing? Stop gossiping and get to work!
It was the dwarf owner of The Hostess of Fertility, Mia. Anya, Chloe, and Lunoire jumped at their boss's shout and scurried out of the bar like so many baby spiders. Alone now, Syr and Mia exchanged looks in the suddenly quiet tavern.
Syr: Mama Mia...Do you know something?
Mia: If you don't know anything, how am I supposed to?
Mia replied curtly. Syr was Ryuu's closest friend. The dwarf turned and left the bar.
Mia: That elf is a real handful.
She muttered on her way out.
Syr: Ryuu...
Syr's whisper disappeared into the hushed bar.
(Elsewhere)
At the ninth floor of Knossos. Sora was currently standing inside a room where below him was a dead body of a man. The person was wearing a hooded cloak of dark color covering his face one a shadow, and he wields a kitchen knife dagger. As Sora was panting heavily tired from his battle with blood all over his body.
Sora: *Pant*Pant*
Asuna: *Pant*Pant* Are you alright, Sora?
Standing next to him was his girlfriend Asuna who was also panting and bleeding harshly after a harsh and hard battle. Her opponent had an appearance of a beautiful woman with long silver hair and blue eyes with a monotonic expression. She doesn't look like a living being, but rather more akin to a sentient doll.
Sora: I should say the same to you? The poison got us good.
Sora, Asuna, Loki Familia, the new Astrea Familia, Ganesha Familia, Dionysus Familia, and Hermes Familia. The approaching Knossos subjugation operation. The Gods coalesce after removing the barriers between themselves, the adventurers put their wills together as one, and the Xenos gather on that fateful day. What awaits them are the remnants of Evilus, the Creatures, and Enyo. Sora and Asuna were task to deal with the Creatures while the rest of the party try to map Knossos and defeat the last remaining members of Evilus as well as their Evil God Thanatos.
Sora: That damn Red Tamer managed to slip away from us again.
Asuna: She's persistent on getting her hands on Aiz.
*Clap*Clap*
Sora and Asuna: !!
Sora and Asuna looked towards the direction where they heard the clapping noise and saw a woman standing there. She has purple hair and eyes . Her hair has two triangles connected at the edge of it. Sora and Asuna's eyes widened in shock as the woman standing there smirk at him.
Sora: You are...
Asuna: No way...
??? I congratulate you for making this far. Sora Hatake, Titania Ljos Wishe.
Sora and Asuna: !!
Her voice filled with equal parts joy and anger. Sora and Asuna looked at the person as the two of them tremble. Not only does this woman knows Sora and Asuna's identity, the pressure she was emitting was so powerful that Sora and Asuna couldn't help but tremble.
Sora: Should I assume you want to go next?
???: Ahaha! Quit with the joke. You and I know that even with Slyphid's power, and Titania's Stacia and your full power are no match for me.
Asuna: Don't call me by that name!
Sora:...
Slyphid:...
Sora: Then, should I assume that everything that happens, the murder at Rivira, the pantry at 24th floor, Melen, and even the Xenos incident was orchestrated by you.
???: What an excellent deduction. Indeed.
Sora: Why...? Why go so far just to destroy, Orario?
???: Hmm... I don't really care about Orario's destruction, or Enyo's divine will. My objective was always and will always be you, Sora.
Sora, Asuna, Slyphid:...
???: I want your Spirit of Origin's power that is laying dormant within you.
Sora: For what purpose?
???: To control the worlds fate. I will rule over this world. Whether it'd be Gods, Spirits or you Mortal being. You see, to me everything is nothing but a game. Like chess pieces on a game board. I will enjoy playing with the lives of people while leading them straight to their doom.
Sora, Asuna and Slyphid tremble at the revelation.
Slyphid: Your insane.
Asuna: Is there seriously no good left in you?
Sora: Does that mean, we'll be enemies during the final battle.
???: Correct. But if you want to win against me. I suggest you started calling the other 4 Grand Spirit. Before it's too late.
Sora, Asuna and Slyphid:...
???: I'll be waiting...
The person immediately disappeared into the shadow as none of trace left was there. Silence fell over the three of them as the three of them tried to comprehend what just happened. Until they heard a voice.
???: Sora Yatagami! Asuna Yuuki!
Sora and Asuna: !!
Slyphid had already disappeared from view while Sora and Asuna looked back to see Asfi and some of the Hermes Familia coming towards them.
Sora: Asfi! What's up?
Asfi: It's Lion... She's gone.
Sora:...
Sora looked down as he clenched his fist tightly.
Sora: She's still obsessed with those Evilus.
Asuna: I thought it had mostly subsided at this point.
Sora: It's Jura. Isn't it?
Asfi: Yeah.
Sora: Her past karma. Her connection to Alise and the others. It'll all burn in the flames of vengeance. Are you going down that dark path yet again, Ryuu...?
Asuna: Go.
Sora: Asuna...?
Asuna: I know how much the former Astrea Famila meant to you. So go. I'll take care of everything here.
Sora: Alright. But first we gotta stop that.
Sora, Asuna, Asfi and the rest of the Hermes Familia prepared their weapons as the face against their opponent. The being had its right arm was enlarged, its left arm an elongated tentacle, and its legs had morphed into a sluglike tail. Its head looked like a collection of insect eggs. While every other part of it had morphed, inducing a visceral disgust, its left eye, inscribed with the letter D , remained unchanged and blazed without the light of intelligence. Its cloudy white body had pitch-black veins pulsing all over it, creating a gnarly contrast. It was over five meders tall, on the same scale as a large monster.
(Elsewhere)
Syr: Are you okay?
She remember that warmth. She remember the hand the girl with the blue-gray hair extended to her. She remember the smile of the girl who brought her back to the world of light after she had wreaked her vengeance, driven by raging emotions and a misplaced sense of justice, long after she had lost her reason to live.
Ryuu(mind): She saved me.
Those women rescued her as well—those catgirls who worked at the bar and its crazy dwarf owner. She feel as if that noisy, pleasant bar washed her body clean. Her body defiled by blood and filth. Her sky-blue eyes that had been burned to ash by the flames of revenge.
Ryuu(mind): If someone was to ask me now what the most precious thing in my life was, I'd probably say The Hostess of Fertility.
That's how sacred everyday life with those women is to her. All the same, her wounds never went away. The emptiness from losing her familia, which was as important to her as that bar. Even when she heard that her patron goddess had a new Familia at a new town.
The palpable loneliness that would throb painfully at any chance. Although she closed her eyes to them, she knew the black embers were still smoldering inside her heart. She would dream about it.
The shrieks that filled the air.
The horrible, piercing screams.
The tears stained red.
The violent last moments of those girls, once so beautiful and noble, kept rising before my closed eyes.
On mornings after she had the dream, she fought to overcome the writhing of her terrible emotions and the unbearable sense of loss. Her raging emotions was crying out. It almost seemed like she could hear the lingering regrets of companions, their cries searing her body.
She would hold herself and dig her fingernails into the flesh of her arms.
In the shadow of the gentle light that The Hostess of Fertility shone on her, a small darkness lurked. For the past five years, she has been bearing two emotions in her heart.
So she may have known. She may have known full well that if the chance presented itself, the dam would break and she would transform into an unstoppable monster. There exists a certain dim underground maze. Cold drafts fill its passages. In that maze, there is a cesspool of Evil that the sun never reaches. What she saw there made her hair stand on end.
Evilus: L-L-Leon!
A voice of despair. Her name, drenched in fear. The men shivered as they looked at her. Time stretched out, and when the moment broke, the monster in her heart shattered its chains and roared.
Astrea Familia: Leon?!
She heard them call her name again. It may have been the last thread holding her back. But she shook off the voices of her comrades and surrendered herself to her raging emotions. As the men ran in a panic away from her, she pursued them.
Wherever they run, whatever tangled corner of the maze they try to hide in, her desire will never stop screaming out within her until she pounce. The flames from the black embers are spreading. All too easily, they have transformed into hellfire.
Old Ryuu: You'll be back, Gale Wind.
Ryyu's heart told her that. And it was right.
Ryuu(mind): As long as I do not overcome my past—
(Timeskip)
After defeating the enhanced species, Bell's party left the lower levels together with Dormul, Luvis, and their companions.
They had suffered major damage and loss of their supplies, and therefore they took the shortest route to the Colossal Tree Labyrinth without making a single detour. From there they returned to the safety point of Rivira. The town's residents made no fuss whatsoever over the armless Luvis and the other injured party members, as if seeing adventurers with irreparable injuries was just a part of daily life. They requested and received accommodation to treat the wounded here.
One full day has passed since Bell's battle with the enhanced species.
Bell: Are you...all right...?
Their party has come to the inn to check on Luvis and the other wounded, who they've heard have made it past the most dangerous stage of their treatment.
Luvis: Sorry to worry you! It's nothing life-threatening.
Luvis says, sitting up in bed. Bell can tell Luvis was still exhausted, but he gives Bell a hearty smile. He's sharing a large room built into a cave with a number of other adventurers, including other elves from Modi Familia and dwarves from Magni Familia, which Dormul belongs to. They're all resting on beds or sheets spread on the floor. A boundary line has been drawn down the center of the room— evidence of the usual bad relations between the dwarves and the elves.
Dormul: Thank ye kindly. Yer kindness has warmed me heart and, well...yo-ho- ho?!
Dormul blushes and bursts into laughter as he looks at Cassandra and Haruhime.
Cassandra: I'm so glad you're doing better.
Haruhime: Are the other dwarves recovering all right?
Everyone glance over at Luvis, who has already changed into a spare set of battle clothes. No arm protrudes from the cuff of the short sleeve on the right side.
Bell: I'm sorry we weren't able to fix your arm...
As Bell had feared, there was no way to restore it. The severed limb that they recovered was already beginning to rot, and if they had attached it, it would probably have caused necrosis from the shoulder down. No healing item or magic has the power to reverse time and undo decay. Bell was worried his apology might have sounded arrogant, but Luvis answers.
Luvis: No, I was lucky.
Bell: Huh?
Luvis brings his left hand to his right stump and shakes his head.
Luvis: I lost an arm, not my life.
Muller:...Luvis.
Luvis: Don't worry about me, My Lady. This all happened because of my own carelessness.
Everyone follow Luvis's eyes and see that several other bandaged elves are smiling, too. One female elf is missing a leg. Bell don't know what to say.
Luvis: This is an adventurer's life. This is the Dungeon.
Luvis says, drawing his thin eyebrows together.
Luvis: This is the price we pay in our quest for the unknown. It's a reality we all must face.
Like Luvis says, the reality of being an adventurer is right here before Bell and the others very eyes. It's not at all like a splendid fairy tale. It's the hard truth of losing an arm or an eye or even your life. Still—continuing the fight as long as you have your life is part of being an adventurer. Seeing Luvis's sudden smile helps Bell realize that.
Luvis: When we get back to the surface, I'll go see Dian Cecht Familia and get them to make me the best prosthetic arm out there...Oh boy, it'll drive our patron deity wild to hear we're going into debt over that!
Maybe because he's imagining the moment he reveals the news, Luvis giggles. It's a pleasant laugh, not in the least shadowed by bitterness. The graceful elven youth looks up at Bell.
Luvis: Little Rookie... No, Rabbit Foot...Bell Cranell. Thank you for rescuing us. I swear on the name of Luvis Lilix that one day I will repay this enormous debt... My deepest gratitude, comrade of the elves.
He puts his hand on his chest and bows deeply. The other elves do the same, with smiles on their faces.
Dormul: Hmph! Ye elves are too formal. Ye ought to do things more simply.
Dormul, who had been watching the Hestia Familia and their party exchange with Luvis silently, approaches me with his companions.
Dormul: Thank ye, Hestia Familia and other adventurers. If ye find trouble in the future, we dwarves will help.
Bell and the others grin at each other, and then he grasp the massive hand Dormul has extended. Rin, Lili, Welf, and the others shake hands with the other dwarves.
Aisha: Enough with these boring formalities! We've gotten through the worst; now I say it's time for a few drinks!
Haruhime: M-Miss Aisha? What in the world are you talking about...?
Haruhime gasps.
Aisha: Thanks to that lumbering giant, our plans got all messed up and we had to give up the expedition halfway through. The least we can do is enjoy ourselves now!
Aisha answers smugly. The dwarves' eyes sparkle at her suggestion, while the elves look astonished.
Dormul: Getting wounded people drunk, eh, Amazon?
Dwarves: We're in!
Aisha: Right, then, it's a drinking party! We'll drink this town dry!
Lili: Miss Aisha, this is absolutely not acceptable! The exorbitant prices of drinks in Rivira will be our ruin! At least wait until we're back on the surface...!
Lili shrieks.
Welf: Stop being so stingy, Lil Lili! After all, we did bring back plenty of jewels from the lower levels!
Lili: That's a separate issue!! You think I'm going to let you waste my jewels on drinks?!
Rin: Back to the same old nonsense...
Rin sighs, recalling a similar scene from the first day of the expedition. Muller laughs hollowly. Bell smile wryly and sneak out of the large room. Maybe part of him wants to avoid getting pulled into the celebration, but mostly it's that he want to tell the townsfolk who helped them out that Luvis and the others are on the mend.
Outside the cave-turned-inn, the eighteenth floor is bustling with midday activity. The chrysanthemum-like crystals on the ceiling are glowing with a soft sunlike light.
Boris: Hey, Little- no, Rabbit Foot! I heard you met up with quite the monster down there! Bad luck for your first expedition, I'd say!
Boris, the head of Rivira, buttonholes Bell as soon as he step out of the inn. A smile on his unseemly face and a patch over one eye, he pounds Bell on the shoulder. His odd charm makes Bell smile back at his straightforward words in spite of himself.
Boris: Tell me the whole story! I'll pay for the drinks if you get the snacks.
Bell: Uh, well, how about having a party with everyone, then...?
Boris: Right! Leave it to me!
Bell make the suggestion thinking Aisha and the others will appreciate it, but just then they were interrupted.
Animal person: Boris! Boris!
An animal-person adventurer runs up to them.
Boris: What's all the fuss about?
Animal person:...der.
Boris: What?
Animal person: A murder! An adventurer has been killed outside of town!
Both Boris and Bell stare in shock at the bearer of this news.
Boris: Wait now, are you sure this isn't the work of a monster?
Animal person: No, a human! I saw the criminal!
As the extremely upset animal person describes what they saw, Bell couldn't hide his own distress. Once again, death is close to him...A shiver runs down his neck, the blood drains from Bell's face, and his stomach churns with an awful sound.
Boris: Who is it you say you saw?
Boris asks, narrowing his eyes sharply. The animal person hesitates for a minute, then goes white and speaks.
Animal person: Gale Wind...
Bell: Huh?
Bell stand there like a statue, not comprehending what he just heard. The townsperson continues in a loud voice.
Animal person: It was the work of that blacklisted adventurer with a bounty on her head...Gale Wind!
Boris: C'mon! There's no time to waste! Hey Rabbit's Foot. You should come with us, too!
Bell: There's no way. It's just not possible. Miss Ryuu would never... murder someone!
A/N: Okay! We're starting the Calamity Arc. Sora will start appearing on the story. And please don't complain or leave any toxic comment if Sora in season 4 got a bit nerfed. Since he was just from his own adventurer at Knossos.