Bab 778: Peculiar Energy...Fate?
Now that things had calmed down a bit, Vahn was able to observe Bell in greater detail than before. He had to admit, compared to his expectations of Bell, the white-haired young boy didn't really have the 'aura' of a Hero at all. Instead, he actually seemed somewhat wimpy and frail, a stark contrast to what Vahn had expected, even though he seemed like a good kid. Still, Vahn believed that Bell could undoubtedly become strong and, just like he didn't know much when he first arrived in the City, it was possible that Bell would change a lot in the coming months. After all, even in the original manga, Bell had appeared to be a wimpy kid until he started trying to pursue Ais...he just needed a 'push' in the right direction.
Seeing Vahn observing him, Bell couldn't help but squirm a little as he asked, "Ahh...umm, Vahn?" To this, Vahn raised his brow slightly, curious as to what Bell wanted to say only for the latter to surprise him by asking, "Umm...exactly how many girls are you in a relationship with...?" There was a glimmer in Bell's eyes, full of expectation and curiosity, as he asked his seemingly innocent question. Vahn, however, couldn't help but release a small sigh as he said, "That isn't really something you should concern yourself with. Though you'll probably meet some of them in the future, you should instead focus on increasing your strength and starting your own adventure..."
Bell just laughed awkwardly in response, then, as if the words didn't actually process in his mind, said, "You know, I heard a lot about you back in the village I grew up in. One day, I want to become a great hero that is surrounded by beauties, just like you!" This time, Vahn released a light chuckle and 'almost' reached out his hand to pat Bell's head before casually redirecting it to lightly pat his shoulder, stating, "You're making a small mistake there, Bell...men that only seek to selfishly increase the number of women they are involved with aren't heroes...instead, you should just focus on being the best you that you can be. If you work hard, girls will naturally be drawn to you...haaaa..."
Having learned from experience, Vahn knew this to be a truth as, with the prerequisite that you were handsome, rich, famous, or capable, any of these things could draw women to you. Though Bell had a somewhat girly appearance, he also had various unique features that gave him the semblance of a handsome young man. Once he matured a bit, there would undoubtedly be girls drawn to just his looks, even without him putting in much effort. Since he also had the potential of becoming very powerful, that meant money and fame would follow his rise to prominence. The only thing that would prevent Bell from having women gather at his side would be his own willingness to be with them...
Before Bell could continue asking questions, Vahn held his palm in front of the confused boy and used his cleaning magic to pull all the blood and gore away from his body. The fact that Bell seemed to be completely unaware of just how messy he had become made Vahn realize the former was more than a bit of an airhead. Though, as this thought crossed his mind, Vahn realized that many of the main characters within the manga he read matched that description. Luffy was a notorious idiot, Naruto had been a dunce that never would have graduated without fate guiding him along, and even characters like Goku and Ichigo had been the type to just 'go with the flow' of things, never really thinking for themselves...
After observing Tina for a while, and seeing that she had also become a little airheaded, Vahn wondered if the influence of fate actually made a person more 'oblivious' to their surroundings. This likely made them more susceptible to getting wrapped up in the flow of fate, instead of resisting it, which allowed them to walk the path that their 'creators' had established for them. At this point, though Vahn didn't know what level of influence they would have had, he understood that the 'creators' of the records, even though they were normal humans, had a powerful influence on 'fate' within the records that had come about as a result of their efforts. Going against the intent of the creator could potentially cause the record itself to identify you as a threat, even though it didn't actually seem to be something that had 'awareness'...
Shaking his head lightly, Vahn decided he would need to pay close attention to how events transpired around Bell in the future so that he could have a better understanding of how to manipulate the flow of fate in the future. Many of the records he would visit in the future would be places he had no information on, meaning he could actually experience innumerable setbacks if he didn't know how to recognize the machinations of fate. Fortunately, it seemed that he had an 'instinct' that allowed him to sense when something was afoot and, depending on what he 'desired' from The Path, there would be plenty of ways he could work around such troublesome matters.
Once Bell was completely cleaned, Vahn ignored the boy's starstruck gaze and began walking towards the nearest corridor, saying, "Follow me, Bell. I'll take you to the surface and help you get situated within a Familia...hmm, I also want to see how well you can fight, so take this..." Pulling out a nondescript black dagger, as Bell's had broken from his previous fight, Vahn handed it over while explaining, "I know you might be a little shaken after everything that happened, but it is events like those that will help you grow as a person. In order to avoid another situation where you are powerless to protect yourself, you need to constantly press forward, always aiming for greater heights..."
Bell accepted the dagger with both hands, holding it like some sort of sacred artifact as he put on a vibrant smile and exclaimed, "Thank you very much, Vahn! I swear, I won't let such a small thing set me back. Just watch, I'll show you that I can also become a great hero, just like you!" Hearing this, Vahn shook his head, surprising Bell a little until the former explained, "Having a goal isn't bad, Bell, but you should never aspire to be 'like' someone else. You can be similar, sure, but a 'real' goal would be trying to overcome the person that inspires you...if you are content with such a small goal, it will only prevent you from reaching your full potential. Even I, as strong as I might be, understand that there is 'always' someone stronger...never stop aiming for greater heights, or you'll eventually be overtaken by someone else you set their goal as exceeding you. If that person is good, it isn't a problem...but, if they were evil...well, there is no medicine for regrets..."
Though he said that, Vahn was curious if the system shop might actually have such an item. Given the myriad of different items contained within, and the functionally infinite number of records to pull from, Vahn believed the chance of there being such an item was actually close to 100%. Still, it was a cool phrase that he had been a recurring sentiment in several novels he had purchased from the system and, given the circumstances, it seemed like the correct things to say. It also helped that, after experiencing it himself several times, Vahn knew his words were an absolute and inviolable truth. Even Eva had always cautioned him to never assume he was the strongest and, considering she was 'only' at the peak of Tier 5, Vahn knew that entities from higher tiered records would be almost 'impossibly' strong from his current perspective...
As if he had just heard the most insightful words in the entire world, Bell's expression transitioned into a serious and reverential one as he firmly nodded his head. He fixed the dagger to his back and said, "From now on, I'll do my best to never forget those words, Vahn! I don't want to become the kind of person who can't protect the things he cares about, just because I thought I was the strongest in the world. As long as I draw breath, I swear that I will never stop pursuing even greater heights!" Bell held up both his fists as a fiery light was glowing within his ruby red irises. Vahn couldn't help but feel he was somewhat similar to Vana, a thought that made him more appreciative towards Bell, even while feeling slightly perturbed by the fact. He just hoped that Vana didn't become an airheaded person in the future...
Having Bell lead the way, though Vahn instructed him what directions to take, the duo began making their way towards the surface. When the encountered a pair of Goblins, Vahn didn't even have to give Bell any advice as the latter immediately dashed towards the two monsters and, using more agile movements than should be possible for his level, began attacking while evading the Goblins' attacks. This peculiarity caused Vahn to activate his [Eyes of Truth], noticing that formless energy was flowing through Bell's body as the latter fought against the two monsters as though his life depended on it.
This energy was unlike anything Vahn had ever seen before and seemed to be 'guiding' Bell's movements, making it seem like his earlier speculation about fate literally guiding the main characters more than a simple assumption. Vahn could see a 'path' created by the energy that, when Bell followed it, allowed him to slide underneath the sharpened stick of the Goblin, slicing into its side before Bell twisted around like his feet were almost frictionless surfaces. It didn't really make sense how he was able to pull off such movements, especially considering that Bell didn't even have a Falna at the moment...
Though it had taken around three minutes, Bell managed to kill both Goblins by cutting the first one across both eyes, blinding it, and somewhat severing the arm of the second. The dagger Vahn had given him was actually just a 'practice' weapon that he had forged for use by the School's students. It didn't have very high attack power at all and shouldn't have been sharp enough for Bell to cut through flesh, tendon, and even bone with a single strike. Vahn knew there had to be more going on than his eyes could currently see and figured it was like an Innate that hadn't been revealed within the original manga.
Once again, seemingly unaware of the blood staining his hands, Bell wiped the sweat from his brow and smeared blood there instead. Vahn didn't understand how the sweat could have bothered him since he was seemingly unaware of the blood, almost like he simply 'couldn't' be affected by it. One of the things that affected most newbie adventurers was a general aversion to blood, as it would cause people to tense up when they saw it, especially in large quantities. Bell seemed completely immune to this, however, almost like he was unaware it even existed...
Out of curiosity, Vahn asked, "Do you not care about the fact that you're smearing blood on your own face? You know, it will be difficult to impress girls if you're covered in blood..." While he was speaking, Vahn watched as Bell's face showed confusion, even going so far as to tilt his head slightly and mutter an, 'Eh...?' before looking down at his own hands. As if noticing the blood for the first time, Bell released a much louder, "Eeeeeeehhhh!?" before wiping it off on his own tunic. Vahn just laughed when he saw this, throwing a towel to the boy who graciously accepted it while asking, "How are you able to just pull stuff out of thin air? I've never heard of such an ability...is it something I can learn?"
Since this was a question he actually got asked a lot, Vahn casually responded by saying, "I've always been highly proficient with 'Storage Magic', and other space-related abilities...well, you'll understand better in the future, just know that everyone has elemental affinities that make it easier for them to learn specific skills. It isn't impossible for you to learn storage magic, but it would be very difficult if you didn't have an affinity with space..." While saying this, Vahn was inspecting Bell's internal flow of energy and saw that it was a triple helix of pure red, violet, and pristine white.
After seeing this, Vahn smiled and explained, "I've always been able to discern the affinities of other people and I can tell you that yours are Pure Fire, Pure Lightning, and Pure Light. It is already very rare to have a single purified affinity, so you should feel blessed having three...if you work hard, you will be able to use powerful skills, abilities, and magic related to your elemental affinities..."
Bell was very excited to learn of his own affinities, especially after hearing Vahn explained he had three rare ones, but he couldn't help but release a sad sigh when he realized Vahn hadn't said he had an affinity related to Space. It seemed like a super useful ability, being able to put things away and pull them out whenever he wanted, without having to carry them himself. Still, he didn't stay upset for long and immediately resumed smiling as he asked, "How can I learn how to use my affinities? I've never even heard people mention them before...and, can I really learn magic? I thought only Elves and a few exceptional geniuses were able to use magic...?"
Hearing this, Vahn shook his head and confidently stated, "That is a misconception that is held by many people, so I can't exactly blame you for believing that to be the case...however, you should know that there are no limits to a person's growth. As long as a person never gives up, even the impossible is something that can be overcome, as there is no such thing as impossible from the start...anyone that says otherwise simply lacks the comprehension required to perform such feats. If you had attended my School, you would have been able to learn magic there, regardless of your race..."
Bell's eyes lit up again as he asked, "Can I still join the School? I really want to be able to use magic!" Vahn, however, immediately shook his head and explained, "The cutoff for the School is being fourteen years of age...you should already be fourteen, so its a little late for you to enroll. Also, now is the middle of a semester and you would probably be able to become much stronger than most normal students before the next enrollment came around. Focus on increasing your own strength and understanding your own abilities before you start trying to learn things like magic. After all, with how little mana you currently possess, magic wouldn't really be a reliable way for you to fight. Overusing it leads to a state called Mind Down and, as you currently are, you would probably only be able to shoot off a few fireballs before you passed out and ended up getting killed by a stray monster..."
Hearing this, Bell released a sigh and slumped over, eyes becoming slightly moist as he said, "I really am just a weakling right now...aren't I...?" Vahn immediately nodded his head, making Bell release a pitiable whine until Vahn explained, "It is perfectly normal to start off weak, Bell, especially if you haven't actually put in an effort to become stronger...even I almost lost my life to a simple Goblin in the past. Heck, when I first came into the Dungeon, I almost died a second time when I first met a Kobold...that was only around two and a half years ago, so don't beat yourself up just because you aren't already strong. The fact you can already fight multiple Goblins, even without a Falna, actually makes you ridiculously strong for a beginner..."
Having been a fan of Vahn's, Bell knew that his words about only having been an Adventurer for a little more than two years were the truth. One of the things that made Vahn so famous was how he had been able to rise from a fresh Level 1 and, in less than two years, managed to reach the peak of all the Adventurers within the City. He had become an inspiration for all Adventurers, young and old, for how perseverance and determination could pay off. After all, it was also well known now that Vahn had actually been much weaker than normal and, only by constantly working to improve his strength, was he able to reach the point where he was currently at...standing at the top of a massive pyramid as he led the most powerful organization on the entire continent...
With Vahn's encouragement, Bell was excited to increase his own strength and, mid-conversation began running down the corridor as he looked for another monster to fight. Vahn blankly stared at the boy's back for a few seconds before following behind, wondering just what exactly went through Bell's head to make him act so spontaneously. One thing he did know was that, after giving Bell a bit of advice, the strange energy surrounding his body actually become slightly more noticeable. Vahn was beginning to wonder if this energy was 'fate' itself, being so thick around Bell's body that it actually became visible to those with the discernment to see it. He would need to get Anubis or Freya to look at Bell's soul and see if they were able to discern anything if he wanted to be certain...
While following along behind Bell, who had started to fight another climactic battle with a single Goblin, Vahn turned his attention briefly to his Inventory and inspected the [Fate Severing Knife] he had received from saving Bell previously. It looked like a straight blade with a tip that had a 45-degree angle instead of a curve, giving it the appearance of an angular tanto. The handle was comprised of interwoven black cloth and had a red cord tied around the end that spread out into a small tassel. Overall, it was a very strange looking blade but it was the description of the item that truly caught his attention...
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[Fate Severing Knife]
Rank: Unique
Use: Allows the user to sever the fate of a target, resetting their karmic value to 100 and breaking any vows, strings, or promises linking them to any other entities. [!!( Warning)!!] This knife has the ability to affect causality and fate, changing the perception of other entities towards the target. Using this item also severs any connections between the target and any soulbound items, including those acquired through special circumstances.
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By and large, this was the most 'powerful' unique item Vahn had ever obtained, even though it didn't actually seem that useful at a glance. The fact that it actually came with a warning showed that he would have to seriously consider how he wanted to use it in the future. After all, if his interpretation of the knife's use was correct, it meant that even his [Enkidu] or, at worse, Eva's fragment would be 'severed' and split from him. Since neither object was something that existed in a physical sense, they would likely be destroyed the moment they were separated from him, meaning he wouldn't be able to use the knife to 'reset' his own karmic value...even if it would have been a mistake to do so from the start...
Since he had obtained it in relation to Bell, Vahn felt as though The Path had actually given it to him in the event that he decided the boy was no longer 'important'. Severing Bell's fate would essentially remove his status as the protagonist and, as it seemed to affect how other people saw him, it would probably prevent Ais and other significant characters from even caring about their relation to him. If Bell's existence became too troublesome, Vahn now had a way to simply 'cut' ties with the boy and send him to an area where he would no longer be able to influence events...
Imagining 'severing' the fate of another person, Vahn couldn't help but frown slightly since it seemed like an inextricably cruel thing to do, at least in relation to someone destined to save the world. Though he hadn't exactly stolen anyone from Bell, there was still a small part of Vahn that felt somewhat guilty that he might have taken the girl that Bell had been fated to love at some point. If the original author was setting things up as they appeared, this meant that he and Ais probably would have become a couple at some point or, at the very least, had some kind of powerful fate binding them together. There was almost no chance of them being with each other now, but Vahn still felt it was 'wrong' to sever the bond between them, especially considering it might be important to Ais' past and helping her resolve the matters of her past...
Since he didn't plan to let Bell actually do anything that would negatively impact his family, Vahn didn't see the need to use the [Fate Severing Knife] on the boy. After all, Bell was a good kid who had never really wronged him in any meaningful way. He also had a powerful fate that meant, as long as he was given time to grow, meant he would be able to shoulder the burden of the entire record at some point. This made Bell a very powerful ally that would actually allow Vahn to relax a bit more in the future since Bell would likely be able to deal with most smaller matters without any direct involvement on his part...
With that thought in mind, Vahn decided to hold on to the [Fate Severing Knife] for the time being, as it would be very useful if he ever encountered someone with a 'tragic' fate. One such example was Eva herself as, from what Vahn was able to discern, she seemed to be one of the central characters from her record. If he used the [Fate Severing Knife] on her, it would allow her to avoid association with the Mage of the Beginning or, at the very least, allow her to be rid of any of the negative karma she might have garnered over her six hundred years as a Shinso Vampire...
(A/N: Today's chapters will be split into two parts. I have two coming out this morning, and two more coming out this afternoon.)
(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'The journey towards the top has no final destination~!','Protagonists are innately dense!?','Severing fate isn't something to be treated lightly...')
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Bab 779: Joining a Familia
From observing Bell, there were a few things that Vahn had come to understand about the capabilities of those who were fated to be the protagonists of their record. Bell, even though it was obvious he was tired, seemed to have an almost limitless amount of stamina. It didn't seem like, regardless of how fatigued he was, that he even had the thought of slowing down at all. Instead, every time he saw a new enemy, it was almost as though he was suddenly revitalized, causing him to immediately run headlong into danger once again. The most notable thing, however, was the fact that Bell seemed to be 'adapting' to the fights at a very fast pace, to the point that he was able to almost instantly kill a Goblin by the time they reached the exit.
Once they were on the surface, Bell released a long sigh of relief and, even though they were surrounded by other Adventurers, he plopped down onto the ground with a grin on his face as he said, "I was able to make it all the way back without stopping! Ahahahahaha~." Seeing this, Vahn released a sigh of his own before extending a hand to the young boy and helping him rise to his feet, saying, "You won't impress any women by suddenly laying down in the middle of a public area, Bell...hahaha~."
Unfortunately, though that should have been the case, almost every girl in the immediate vicinity was looking towards them with glittering eyes. Vahn felt a shiver run up his spine, unaware of the thoughts going through the minds of the various female Adventurers as they looked toward him and Bell. Though he was no longer in his 'Lightning Emperor' form, Vahn still drew a lot of attention to himself as a result of his general good looks and the influence of his [Charm] Development Ability. When they saw him next to Bell, who they instinctually knew to be a boy, it was like something terrible had 'awakened' in them as untoward thoughts spread through the minds of various female Adventurers...
Feeling strangely unnerved by the gazes directed towards him, Vahn inhaled through his nose and allowed his 'default' appearance to shine through, immediately causing a variety of different reactions from the surroundings. Those that had been looking towards him with playful interest suddenly had shocked expressions on their faces that quickly turned into embarrassment as they quickly went about their business. Nobody wanted to inadvertently offend the most powerful man within the City, even if they knew him to be a relatively amicable person...
Bell, seeing Vahn suddenly 'transform', now had a shocked expression of his own as he exclaimed, "Wow, that is incredible! I wish I could transform like that~!" At this point, Vahn was beginning to get accustomed to Bell being a bit of a 'fanboy', something he was used to as a result of interacting with the children at the School. He never expected that his interactions with the students would help him cope with these circumstances, as it was very strange that the 'main character' of the record was treating him like an idol. If it had been a little more than two years ago, their roles could very well have been reversed...
Shaking these thoughts from his mind, Vahn asked, "Are you afraid of heights...?" Though he was a little confused, Bell shook his head and said, "No...? I always liked climbing trees and it was always fun looking down at the village from atop the hill where my house was located..." As he was speaking, Bell suddenly put on a very melancholic expression and looked downwards. Vahn raised his brows at this, asking, "What's wrong, Bell...?"
Releasing a sad sigh, Bell turned his watery eyes up and muttered, "Sorry, I was just thinking about my Grandpa...the whole reason I came to the City was that I heard from the villagers that he died to a Goblin attack..." When he heard this, Vahn's mind became somewhat dull and he had to fight the urge to laugh since, even though he knew it wasn't the truth, just imagining someone like Zeus dying to a Goblin was hilarious. Still, he was wondering if he should explain to Bell about his Grandfather's true identity and, almost as soon as the thought crossed his mind, Vahn made the decision to do just that.
Levitating into the sky, breaking Bell out of his melancholy, Vahn also lifted Bell up at the same time while explaining, "I'm not going to badmouth your Grandfather, Bell, but you deserve to know the truth of the matter. Your Grandfather, Zeus, wasn't an ordinary human at all...instead, he was actually a god, and quite the famous one at that. There is no way he would have died to a Goblin and, though I can guess at his reasons for faking his death, you should know that he is undoubtedly still alive. If you were to ask me, I'd imagine he wanted to give you the opportunity to go on your own adventure without having the burden of worrying about him and the village you had come from..."
Bell, hearing all of this, just stared blankly without seeming to even realize they were flying through the sky. After a few seconds had passed, his eyes suddenly opened wide as he loudly exclaimed, "Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeh!?" Vahn began to laugh, finding most of Bell's reactions refreshing, even though they were somewhat troublesome as well. Before the boy started asking any questions, Vahn explained, "For now, you should focus on increasing your strength and pursuing your dream. I'm certain Zeus would have wanted you to live your life the way you chose, even though...well...that isn't really important right now..."
Vahn, though he had a personal grudge against Zeus, wasn't going to go out of his way to badmouth the god to his own grandson. Bell seemed like a good kid and it was unlikely he saw Zeus as anything other than his beloved Grandpa. Though the manga didn't go into too many details, it was obvious that Zeus did his best to raise Bell and treat him kindly, even if some of the lessons he imparted on the boy were a little suspect. If he suddenly started saying slanderous things, it would only cause Bell to be confused and hurt, especially since he was still processing the fact that his Grandpa was still alive, while also being a god to boot.
As if the gears had finally locked into place, Bell stopped stammering and asked, "Is that really true...? Do you know my Grandpa? Is he really a god?" Vahn nodded his head, explaining, "Yes...a few years ago, he was actually the God of the most powerful Familia within Orario. Unfortunately, most of his members ended up dying when they tried to subjugate the One-Eyed Black Dragon. After that, the Zeus and Hera Familias were disbanded and Zeus ended up disappearing from the City. Though he showed up a little more than a year ago, he had been missing ever since his Familia had disbanded...probably to look after you, I'd imagine."
Bell had a thoughtful expression on his face, mulling over the new information he had just obtained and trying to sift through his memories to discern the truth. He knew that Vahn didn't really have a reason to lie and, if his Grandpa was actually a famous god within Orario, it wouldn't be that difficult to find out more about him. Thus, instead of doubting his 'hero', Bell decided to believe in Vahn's words, looking towards the sky as he silently swore, "I'll do it Grandpa...I'll become a hero, just like the stories you used to tell me about when I was a kid...one day, I hope we meet again and that you'll be proud of me..."
Though Bell uttered his words very quietly, Vahn had still been able to discern them, even though he showed no signs that this was the case. There was no need for him to try and make Zeus out to be anything other than the loving Grandpa that inspired Bell to become a hero. Though this might change in the future, depending on the actions Zeus himself took, that was something that could be addressed then and there. He had already made preparations to prevent Bell from becoming a tool that could impact the affairs of the Hearth Manor, so there wasn't any real reason to pressure and manipulate Bell to resent his only living family member...
After a relatively short flight, which seemed to completely pass under Bell's perception, the two had arrived within the expansive courtyard of the Twilight Manor. Though many of the Loki Familia members were now stationed within the Alliance's territory, there were actually more people here than in the past. Not only had Vahn 'recommended' a lot of promising members into the Loki Familia's ranks, but Loki herself had greatly increased the amount of recruiting they did, compared to the past.
Previously, other than a few children she had taken an interest in, most of the members that were recruited into the Loki Familia had come there after gaining a bit of experience in lower ranked Familias. They would then spend a few years as a Supporter before finally moving up into the ranks of official Adventurers. Now, however, the Loki Familia had more than quadrupled in size and had branches for Logistics, Supply, and Construction. Since the Loki Familia was in charge of the management of Lil Geirr, they needed to increase the number of personnel available in order to ensure that things were running smoothly, both within the Dungeon and on the surface.
Bell was awed by the sheer size of the Twilight Manor, barely able to squeak out the words, "Is this...the Loki Familia...? It's so huge...there are so many people here...awaawaaa..." Vahn lightly frowned when he heard Bell's words, asking, "Is this how you imagine your Grandpa would have wanted you to behave...? Look at all the Adventurers who are looking this way...see how many girls there are...? Are you sure you want to be acting like a frightened rabbit right now...?" Vahn could understand why Bell would have trouble interacting with other people, especially after only entering the City recently, but he still wished the boy would show a little backbone...
When he heard Vahn's words, Bell looked around and saw that there were actually several cute girls looking towards them, many eyeing him with curiosity while the majority focused on Vahn next to him. Looking over, Bell saw that Vahn had a calm and casual expression on his face, seemingly unfazed by the fact that so many people were looking at him. Realizing that this was the type of person he wanted to be like, Bell tried to stand with his back straight and took several deep breaths through his nose to calm down. Once his nerves had settled a bit, he tried to show a polite and casual smile towards the girls, earning a few smiles and waves in return. Though it made his stomach flip a few times, this reaction from the girls made Bell feel happy, causing his smile to become more natural as a result.
Seeing Bell calm down, Vahn gave a small nod and said, "Follow me. We're going to go meet with Loki. She should have already arrived by now and I don't want to keep her waiting for long." Bell quickly fell into pace next to him, asking, "Can we really meet with Loki-sama so easily? I know you are supposed to be the leader of the Alliance, but..." To this, Vahn just began laughing out loud, confusing Bell as even some of the people who had heard his words in the surroundings also began to laugh and snicker. Bell started to feel embarrassed once again and wondered if he had said something wrong as, from his perspective, gods weren't existences that most people could approach that easily...
A few minutes later, Vahn and Bell arrived at the same study where Vahn had originally encountered Loki, finding the latter sitting on a sofa. Next to her, surprising Vahn a great deal, Erika was also present while Doppel was playing around nearby. As for Bell, he immediately bowed in a stiff manner as he loudly exclaimed, "G-Greetings, Loki-sama! My name is Bell Cranel! I swear that I will do my best to meet your expectations in the future!" Though there was nothing wrong with Bell's greeting, per say, the fact that he had bowed towards Erika caused Loki to begin cackling while Erika frowned slightly.
Vahn pat Bell on the back a few times before walking over, stunning the boy silly when he sat down between Loki and Erika and said, "First of all, the person you just greeted isn't Loki, but our daughter, Erika..." Then, alternating his gaze between the mother-daughter pair, Vahn asked, "Secondly...why is Erika here...?" To this, Erika pushed up her glasses and said, "I asked Mother if I could come along...I was slightly curious about something and wanted to get out of the Manor for the first time. I'm sorry if I have upset you, Papa..."
While she was speaking, Vahn's mind raced to think of the reasons why Erika would have wanted to come here, especially knowing she would meet Bell. He knew there was no way she was actually interested in the boy, at least in any meaningful way, so the only things he could think of was that she wanted to use her mask on him. The fact Loki allowed her to come here at all meant this was very likely to be the case so Vahn just lightly shook his head and said, "I'm not really that upset, Erika...I know you and your Mother wouldn't take any chances that might endanger you..."
Vahn knew that, to Loki, Erika was inarguably more important than even her own existence, meaning she would never endanger their daughter...
Bell was having a hard time making sense of what was going on, at least until he remembered one of the rumors claiming that Vahn had been helping goddesses get pregnant. He knew that Vahn had married a goddess named Hephaestus, but he had no idea that Vahn was also involved with other goddesses, or that his children were already so old. It looked like the girl next to him was similar in age to himself, maybe even a little older, which didn't make sense considering that Vahn should have only arrived in Orario around two and a half years ago. Unfortunately, he didn't get the opportunity to think about it further as the goddess whose Familia he was about to join turned to him and said, "Sit down and tell me a bit about yourself, kiddo. I told Vahn I would let you join my Familia, but that doesn't mean you'll be given any special treatment. If you want to rise up through the ranks, you'll need to bust your ass and work hard, okay~!?"
Loki had practically shouted her last word, startling Bell and causing him to stand at attention as he loudly responded, "Yes, I understand! I promise to work hard!" This response, however, only made Loki want to tease him even more as she began to laugh mischievously before saying, "Good, good, good...it's good that you say you'll work hard...even though you can't seem to follow simple orders...kukukuku~." Hearing this, Bell became confused for a moment before remembering that Loki had told him to sit down. Thus, without considering the details any further, Bell sat down...on the ground...
Vahn couldn't help but pinch the bridge of his nose while Loki began laughing like a maddened hyena. From his right, Erika's frown deepened as she leaned in closer to his ear and asked, "Papa, could it be that this boy is actually an idiot...?" Because she had been present during the discussions about Bell, Erika thought he would have been a more 'capable' person. From this first meeting, she couldn't really see the boy sitting on the floor as anything that special. Though he had a strange appearance, not that she had interacted with many other boys, it didn't seem like he was that competent...especially compared to her Papa...
Eventually, Bell finally made his way to the opposite sofa and answered all of Loki's questions as though they were conducting an interview. She mainly asked things about his past, including things like his parents, the village he grew up in, any training he might have done, and what he wanted to accomplish by joining a Familia. Bell's answers were that he couldn't really remember his parents, as they had died when he was very young, that his village was known as Shalia, he hadn't really done much actual training, and his 'dream' was to become a hero that was strong enough to protect the people he cared about. Vahn noticed that Bell didn't say anything about his 'desire' to have a bunch of girls surrounding him, seemingly sensible enough not to say such things when he was in the presence of his goddess, her daughter, and Vahn himself...
When Bell had finished answering all the questions he had been asked, Loki nodded her head before turning to Erika and saying, "Go ahead and give it a try, Erika. Though I can already tell he is being honest, I'm curious how much information you can glean..." Bell was confused by Loki's words but Vahn had already expected things to develop in this manner, thusly being unsurprised when Erika produced a somewhat translucent white mask and put it over her face. The mask seemed to expand like a viscous fluid that quickly spread across Erika's body before her appearance morphed into that of Bell, clothing and equipment included.
Bell was startled by the sudden appearance of another him, especially since he had seen the girl named Erika transform right in front of his eyes. Then, adding to his confusion, the brown-skinned girl that had been sitting on the floor off to the side suddenly transformed into him as well. He had no idea what was going on and it didn't seem like anyone was going to explain anything as both Vahn and Loki were focused on the 'other' him.
Erika, as Bell, frowned deeply and felt very uncomfortable with her new appearance since it felt like she was wearing a very thick and heavy film over her entire body. Though she could move around, see, hear, and even touch things, it didn't 'feel' like she was herself, more like she was sensing things through a proxy. Still, remembering the reason why she had come here, Erika focused her mind and noticed there were several thoughts and memories within her mind that were not her own. She could see hazy images of a man and a woman, not quite able to discern their form clearly, a small cottage next to a farming village, an old man named Zeus, and various different girls that the boy across from her had taken an interest in.
Seeing that some of the girls within her home were on the boy's mind, including her mother and herself, Erika's frown deepened even further. Still, she knew that Bell had told the truth so she turned to her mother and nodded before reaching up and 'pulling' off Bell's face from her own. It felt like she was emerging from a pool of syrup and, once it was finally removed completely, Erika couldn't help but release a sigh of relief as she muttered in a voice only she and her Papa could hear, "Disgusting..."
Vahn didn't know exactly what his daughter had seen, but he could make a few guesses based on her behavior and that quiet remark. Since she had never really interacted with people outside of the Manor, especially boys, it was probably a very 'eye-opening' experience to suddenly have one's thoughts in her mind. Bell must have been thinking about his 'dream' when Loki was questioning him and, even though he might not have had any licentious thoughts, it could certainly appear disgusting from the perspective of another person. Vahn knew that his own mind wasn't free of such thoughts, so he didn't really lay much blame on Bell, assuming that the latter didn't actually have anything perverted on his mind. If that were the case, and it somehow negatively influenced his daughter...
Though he hadn't been upset at first, Vahn couldn't help but frown when this thought crossed his mind. Fortunately, Loki had already advanced the conversation forward and rose from the sofa as she walked over to a chair, saying, "Move over here and sit down, Bell. You'll need to take off your shirt so I can put my Familia crest on you. After that, you'll be able to gain exillia from killing monsters and start increasing your strength as a real Adventurer. The fact that you had even gone into the Dungeon before getting a Falna...haaaa, whatever, just get over here." Loki wanted to call Bell an idiot but, remembering that Vahn had actually done the same thing in the past, she decided to keep it to herself so as not to be hypocritical. Then, after a ceremony that had lasted for around half an hour, she, as well as Vahn, was finally about to see the Status of the boy that was supposed to have a powerful fate...
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[[Status]]
Name: Bell Cranel
Race: Human, God(sealed), Spirit(sealed)
Age: 14
Level: 1
POW: I0
END: I0
DEX: I0
AGI: I0
MAG: I0
Skills: [Liaris Freese:Innate:SS], [Argonaut:Innate:(sealed)]
Magic:
Development Abilities: [Child of Destiny:Innate:SS], [Spirit of the Hero:Innate:A], [Luck:(sealed)], [Abnormal Resistance:(sealed)], [Escape:(sealed)]
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(A/N: I made the mistake of reading Vol 11 of Sword Oratoria and learning how badly the canon material had been butchered to create one of the most bogus and forced developments I've ever seen. As a result, though I already said this in the past, I will essentially be treating the story as an AU that is only loosely related to the original canon. Seriously, I have no idea what was going through the author's mind when they wrote Vol 11, but it's simply ridiculous to see some of the shit they threw into their story...well, hope you enjoy how things develop from this point forward (UwU)...!)
(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Bell is so oblivious','Disgusting...','Bell is living life on easy mode (-_-)...')
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