Emerging from within was a Goddess possessing a truly... titanic heart.
Pinch—!
"Where exactly are you looking?"
"My apologies..."
Under Alfia's razor-sharp glare and the agonizing pressure of her fingers, Akumo broke into a cold sweat and averted his eyes. Simultaneously, Hestia, having just swung the door open, spotted the pair standing before her.
"Wh-whoa! Who are you people?"
"Is there an adventurer here by the name of Bell Cranel?"
"...! N-No! There isn't!"
'...Why is she hiding him?'
Hestia remained on high alert, glaring at the man before her. He radiated an unfathomable, overwhelming aura—one that felt incredibly refined and tempered. It was absolute proof that this man was a powerhouse of a different caliber.
The woman beside him was shrouded in a robe, her identity hidden, but judging by her proximity to the man and the sheer pressure she exhaled, she was undoubtedly a master in her own right.
'They must be here for Bell-kun's Skill!'
"Yah!"
Slam—!
"Bell-kun!! Hide!"
Hestia slammed the door shut, intent on shielding Bell inside, but not even three seconds had passed before Alfia simply shattered the doorframe and stepped through.
Cr-crack—!
"Hiiieee!"
Though terrified by Alfia's sheer force, Hestia stood her ground, physically shielding Bell—her first and only follower.
"I won't let you take Bell-kun—"
"Mom?"
"...Eh?"
Hestia's thought process ground to a screeching halt at the incredibly familiar tone and the word "Mom" coming from Bell's mouth. While she stood there frozen, Akumo stepped forward and began to explain the situation.
"My name is Akumo."
"Akumo...?"
"We've actually met at the Hephaestus Familia forge, remember?"
"Ah! You're that guy who's always hanging around Hephaestus!"
Shudder—!
"Wait a second...!"
Feeling a sudden, lethal chill creeping up his spine, Akumo immediately grabbed Alfia and retreated to a corner to whisper frantically. Hestia watched, utterly confused, as Akumo broke into a frantic sweat while trying to placate the robed woman.
"Just what is going on...?"
"Ah, Goddess! These people are my family!"
"Family!?"
"Yes, they're my dad and mom!"
"His parents!!??"
'Wait... is that normal!? I mean, I never actually asked Bell-kun about his family history!'
Shocked by Bell's revelation, Hestia shouted in disbelief. Seeing this, Akumo quickly ushered everyone in the church to sit down so he could provide a proper explanation.
"So, basically..."
"Think of us as his foster father and foster mother. It'll make things easier, Lady Hestia."
"I appreciate that! Akumo-kun!"
'To think Bell-kun had family like this! Come to think of it, they both have white hair just like him!'
Hestia finally seemed to relax, her expression brightening as she spoke with Akumo. Meanwhile, Bell sat on a chair, contentedly letting Alfia stroke his head.
"Hmm.... still, Bell-kun is..."
"Haha! Lupia is just very protective of him."
"Lupia Cranel, was it? I look forward to working with you!"
"The feeling is mutual."
"Hmph! I'm taking full responsibility for Bell-kun—"
Thump—!
"However."
"If you do anything foolish, there will be consequences."
Alfia placed her hand on the table with just enough force to emphasize her point, delivering a cold warning. Her gaze implied that if the Goddess laid an untoward finger on the child, she would be sent back to the heavens immediately.
As Hestia shrunk back in fear, Akumo signaled for Alfia to calm down and turned his attention to the core issue.
"So, what did you see on Bell's Status?"
"...Follow me."
Step, step—
Hestia went silent for a moment before whispering softly to Akumo. He followed her into a private room as she stood up.
Slide—
"This is Bell-kun's current Status."
"This is...."
"This needs to be hidden."
"I agree. Bell-kun's Skill is far too extraordinary."
'I don't know how strong he'll become, but I've never seen a Skill like this before...'
"That's why I will hide this information and protect Bell-kun at all costs!"
'And here I thought she was just a freeloader Goddess living off Lady Hephaestus...'
"Huhu!? I feel like you just had a very disrespectful thought!"
"It was nothing. Regardless, it seems I can leave him in your care."
Akumo felt a wave of relief seeing Hestia's genuine devotion to Bell, and he offered her a warm smile. Hestia beamed back confidently as they returned to join Bell and Alfia.
Over a fortnight had passed since the boy of the heroes entered Orario. In his pursuit of adventure, he had descended to the 5th floor.
"Uwaaaaahhh!!!!!"
Thump—! Boom—!!
Chasing him was an entity that had no business being on the 5th floor: a Minotaur. It pursued the boy with predatory ferocity.
'What do I do!? In a situation like this...!'
"That's it! The terrain!"
—'You're using a dagger? Hmm... it's not the best for hunting monsters.'—
—'But since I'm small...'—
—'In that case, let me show you properly. Exactly how you're supposed to wield a blade!'—
Recalling the training from the veteran hero who had taught him, the boy gripped his dagger tight.
'When facing an enemy far larger than yourself...!'
Whoosh—!!!!!
A massive, heavy fist swung toward him, but the boy instantly ducked. Utilizing the sheer size difference, he slipped effortlessly out of the attack's range.
CRAAAASH—!!!!!!
"Now!"
Slash—!!!!
The white-haired boy, Bell Cranel, lunged low and sliced through the Minotaur's ankle with surgical precision.
—ROOOAAARRR!!!!!!!!
His mobility crippled, the Minotaur began to thrash wildly, pounding the ground in several directions as it tried to crush Bell.
BOOM—!!!
CRASH—!!!
KA-BOOM—!!!
"Kh—!?"
The shockwaves from the haphazard attacks were enough to buckle the cavern floor. Bell momentarily lost his balance and was forced to focus entirely on evasion.
"Not yet!!!"
But the boy refused to give up. Just as he lunged with his dagger toward the Minotaur—
Shing—!!!
—UURRRGHHHH!!!!!
FLASH—!!!!!
—RAAAAAA!!!!!!
A beautiful sword strike carved through the air, butchering the Minotaur in an instant.
Splurt—!
In the chaos, blood erupted from the dying Minotaur's wounds, drenching Bell's entire body.
"Um.... are you okay?"
Before he could even offer a word of thanks, Bell found himself utterly spellbound by the sight of the Sword Princess. Realizing he was soaked in blood and overcome with embarrassment, he turned and fled the scene.
".....UWAAAACK!!!!!!!!!"
The scream he let out was a mixture of panic and a new, fluttering emotion he had never felt before.
"Is everyone back?"
"You were waiting for us, Akumo?"
"I felt bad for not being able to join the expedition."
"If you're that sorry, I'd prefer you actually participated in the next one, Akumo."
"I'll consider it, Riveria."
Akumo went out to greet his Familia members as they returned from their expedition. Among them, he noticed Ais, who seemed unusually deep in thought.
Ais stared intently at Akumo, her eyes scanning him as if trying to cross-reference his appearance with someone she had met today.
"Hmm?"
"....."
"What is it, Ais?"
"He looked like you..."
'...!?'
"Wh-what do you mean?"
"...It's nothing."
'What the!? He looked like me? Who?'
Akumo was internally flustered by Ais's words. He wondered what prompted her to say that, but Ais quickly averted her gaze, and the other members didn't seem to have noticed her encounter.
'Maybe I'm overthinking it...?'
"Akumo-san."
"!?"
"Could we talk for a moment?"
"Uh... sure."
Grip—!
"Akumo?"
'Your eyes are terrifying, Riveria...!!!'
Riveria fixed Akumo with a look that screamed, "Are you hiding something?" as she placed a hand on his shoulder and applied significant pressure. It was only after Ais tilted her head in confusion that the Elf finally let him go.
"I suppose if it's nothing important, it's fine."
"Phew..."
"That aside, I'm organizing a list of equipment for the executives that needs repair. Once we're done talking, deliver it to the Hephaestus Familia and the Goibniu Familia."
"Got it. What about the payment?"
Grin—
Akumo felt a surge of foreboding. The smile currently playing on Riveria's lips carried a heavy, crushing pressure.
"....Riveria?"
"You should have quite a bit of spare cash lately, shouldn't you?"
"...!?"
'No way!'
"I'm not sure what you mean...?"
"The casino."
Thud—
Akumo dropped to his knees the second the word left Riveria's mouth.
"I am deeply sorry."
"I heard you went with Loki?"
"It was just for fun...! I didn't lose any money!"
"Then you won't mind spending those 'fun' winnings on the repairs, will you?"
"....Khugh....!"
She left before he could even attempt a rebuttal, leaving a pathetic-looking Akumo slumped on the ground.
The Amazon sisters and a nearby Elf girl watched the scene, offering their own silent commentary.
"Wow.... Mama Riveria is scary..."
"Akumo is groveling again~"
"As expected of Lady Riveria...!"