章節 25: Creature. Mentor.

What a strange guy. For his age, he is amazingly naive, perhaps this is why his soul is so pure.

...

*Next day evening, Hostess of Fertility*

- Syr, Loki family has booked a table for the evening again, today you are working with me.

- Fine. Oh look, that strange boy we saw yesterday.

A red-eyed teenager walked into the bar with uncertain steps.

- Good evening. Can I eat here?

Chloe ran up to Bell.

- Yes, of course, place at the counter is free. You can sit there. And if you need anything, call me. Only me.

- I'd like some pasta and a drink, please.

- Chloe, leave the boy alone. And finally get to work.

After which Mia took charge of the innocent teenager, squeezing a special dish into his order, costing 850 valis.

But boy's face contorted and he began counting on his fingers.

It seemed that his money situation was extremely tense.

Driven by his desire, Crowley walked up to him and patted him on the shoulder.

- Hard day? Don't worry, I will pay for your order today.

- Bb-but I can't do this! We don't know each other, and I have enough money, it's just....

- Are you just starting out and want to leave it for your family? Understand. But I still insist. When you receive enough money, you will return the favor. My name is Cheshire Crowley. What is yours?

- Bell Cranel. Mr. Crowley, maybe I'm too curious, but why are you wearing a mask?

- Due to certain events, my face began to frighten everyone who sees it. That's why I hide it.

- Sorry...

- *Laugh* For your own good, Bell, you're too naive. This is not a taboo topic for me. And I would like to chat with you longer, but work doesn't wait. Bon appetit.

At some point, the voice of Anya was heard in the bar - Nya, regular customers arrived!

Bar fell silent, members of the Loki family began to enter from the street, this time "Thousand Elf" Lefiya Viridis was with them.

The moment Ais Wallenstein walked inside. A bar erupted with the sounds of impressed patrons, but only a couple of waiters noticed sitting gray-haired teenager, whose face had turned a deep red color.

- Syr, do you see this?

- Yes, I think he's redder than a tomato now. *shared laugh*

Soon the feast began. Head of the family took the floor. - We had a good hunt, and now... Let's drink! Crowley, mind to join?

- This time I have to refuse.

- Boooring.....

.........

At a certain point, alcohol took its toll. Bethe began to rage again.

- Ais, tell us about that under-hero boy.

- Under-hero?

- Well, yes, the same one who cowardly ran from the Minotaur we missed all over the 5th floor. And when Ais saved him, he ran away in fear. It seemed that the story only brought a smile to the younger members of the family; the rest maintained a stoic expression.

But the mental state of the mentioned "under-hero" was unstable, it seemed that it was about to collapse.

Until at a certain moment the voice of a hunter was heard next to him.

- Calm down, Bell. It's not your fault. You are still a complete beginner, and minotaur is a monster capable of killing 2nd level adventurers. You sit here, I'll figure it out.

And although his senior comrades "tried" to calm him down, Bethe did not let up.

- Ais, which of us would you choose if me and this tomatohead asked you to date? Why am I asking, you wouldn't let him even stand next to you. A weakling is weak...

Suddenly, a thin hand grabbed the violent adventurer by the throat, and then lifted him into the air.

- Loki, perhaps I was too soft on you last time? Finn told me it won't happen again and look..... Adventurer, part of your family is throwing mud at a newcomer who almost died because of you. And the only thing your family does is laugh and symbolically try to calm him down.

The entire Loki familia present stood up from their chairs. Bete tried to break free from the waiter's grip, but to no avail. The battle was about to begin.

- Do you think you can defeat all of us? - the drunken goddess of deception, even knowing that the person in front of him was unusual, seemed to believe in her people.

Crowley decided to use the power of the Great Ones, sending a message directly into the mind of the goddess.

- I know that the gods are able to sense lies. And here is my answer: The blood on my hands is capable of flooding the entire Labyrinth itself. I am not afraid of losing a limb or two in battle, and in the end... Loki, I have already killed the gods... Death of another one will not make my soul darker. Are you ready to take a risk?

At the beginning, dismissive goddess was calm, but by the end of the threat, she felt real fear. The creature in front of her was telling the truth.

- Stop! - all the adventurers, ready for a skirmish, freeze in surprise.

- I understand that we broke our word, but Mr. Cheshire, please forgive us this time too.

- Okay, I'm glad there was no blood. Bon appetit, adventurers.

The hunter walked back to the confused teen. - Miya, I'm done for today! Bell, let's go. I want to talk to you.

The duo went outside.

.........

*Loki familia POV*

Finn decided to break the silence first.

- Goddess, why did you stop us, even though we were wrong, his actions cross all boundaries.

- He would have killed us all.

- What?! Even Ottar can't do this, why do you think he's capable?

- He's not human.

- What?

- This creature is not a human, he would kill me too.

- You too?! But killing a god curses soul, who would dare to do such a thing?

- He would. From now on, you should not conflict with him. Topic closed.

.........

*Hestia's church*

-Bell, I didn't expect that we would have guests today. Would you like to introduce us? - Certainly! This is Cheshire Crowley, an adventurer working at "Hostess of Fertility", who stood up for me in the bar today.

- Is it true? - The goddess's eyes sparkled with suspicion.

- If he is so good, then why does he wear a mask, huh?!

- The thing is that his face...

- Bell, don't. I'll show you my face lady Hestia, but the boy must turn away. He's not ready for this.

The hunter's hint reached the loli goddess.

- Okay, Bell, turn away and close your eyes.

- Yes!

The Young Great One took off his mask, revealing his face to Hestia.

- Damn... I meant... It's not that scary, I have a friend who suffers from a similar illness * nervous laugh *.

- No need to lie, goddess, you are a complete layman in this. I know how my appearance affects others, fortunately, even without a mask, I'm used to wearing clothes that hide my face.

Today in the pub I defended your "servant" from Loki's family, but their accusations are not groundless.

Bell, sitting to the side, slumped his shoulders.

- I offer you help. Every time Bell goes to the dungeon, I will go with him. At the same time, I will teach and protect him. But everything has a price...

- How much?

- I don't need money, goddess, I have one friend who, due to certain events, left her family. Take her to your familia and we are even. Deal?

Seeing the only member of her family in a desperate situation, goddess made a choice.

- Deal.