10 Chapter 9: My Little Sister/Childhood Friend Is A Witch?!

Bell was stunned by the realization that his childhood friend was the infamous witch of betrayal he had read about in the story of Fate/Stay Night.

'Looking back on it now, there were obvious signs pointing towards this...'

A father named Aeetes, a mother named Idyia, and a daughter with purple named Medea. The signs couldn't have been more obvious for any person well-versed enough in mythology and fate lore, yet Bell didn't realize such a fact due to the fact he didn't believe elements from another story would collide with another.

'How are elements connected to Fate appearing in the world of Danmachi?... Is it related to my reincarnation?'

Such was the only conclusion he could draw. During his training with his grandfather, he would ask Zeus to verify if his knowledge of the world of Danmachi held true. The age before the gods' descent from Tenkai. The promise between the gods and the dungeon. The three great quests. Everything that was vital to Bell's plans for the future, and to his relief, all remained the same.

Bell's main concern at the moment was how many elements from Fate were present in the world.

'I have to determine whether or Alaya and Gaia exist in this world. If they do, which one is the more dominant force?... If Gaia were to be more dominant...'

Scenarios of dead apostles going on killing sprees around the world, aiming to rid the world of humanity, flashed through Bell's mind. It was a horrifying prospect to consider.

'I'll have to run this through grandpa first. He and his familia were a dominant force in the world for hundreds if not thousands of years, he's bound to have encountered any possible elements from Fate in his long life.'

Bell pondered so deeply on the ramifications of what he had encountered that he completely forgot about the elf-eared girl beside him.

Medea slowly but surely removed her drowsiness from her sudden awaking. Once she had done so, she began slowly analyzing what she was seeing.

'Oh Bell's awake, and I'm beside him in bed....hm?...Bell's awake...and I'm beside him in bed...BELL'S AWAKE AND I'M BESIDE HIM IN BED?!-'

Blood began rushing to her head, embarrassment boiling in her heart. Bell was unaware of this and continued looking towards her, not actually perceiving Medea, but stuck in deep thought. Unable to bear the sheer absurdity of the situation she found herself in, being stared at point-blank range by the boy she fancied. Medea did thusly.

"KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!-"

She screamed.

"Huh?!-"

Hearing Medea scream, Bell was immediately taken out of his pondering, surprised at the sudden action of his childhood friend.

Bell wanted to ask what was wrong, so he immediately reach his hands out to Medea. But before he could ask her what was wrong. The door to his room burst open.

"Medea?! What wrong-"

Idyia came rushing in, concerned at the scream her daughter made, but what she saw left her dazed for a moment.

Bell, still sweaty from his awakening from his dream, had his arms around Medea. Medea, embraced by Bell, was blushing profusely, almost as if she were a ripe tomato. Both are beside each other in bed. The atmosphere was tense enough to be cut with a knife.

Such were the observations Idyia had made in 2.7 seconds upon entering.

'oh my...oh my...OH MY OH MY OH MY!!-'

She was positively ecstatic seeing the kids she raise share a moment of heated passion together.

"So sorry to disturb you two. You can carry on. Just forget little 'ol me even came here in the first place~"

Idyia spoke whilst wearing a wide smile. Bell couldn't help but think a misunderstanding was taking place before his eyes.

Before Idyia left, however, she sent a silent message to her blushing mess of a daughter.

"I'm so proud you're already using the lessons I gave you! Go get 'em, tiger!-"

Idyia then promptly closed the door, and the sounds of her footsteps could be heard, a series of quick footsteps that faded in volume as she got farther away.

Medea, having experienced a myriad of various stimuli in quick succession, promptly broke down as she could no longer handle the level of embarrassment she was going through.

"Awawawawawawawawa-"

Bell, seeing his friend undergo a mental breakdown in front of his eyes, immediately rushed to help her, not even thinking about what had just occurred.

"Medea?! Hang in there! Medea?...MEDEAAA!-"

For Bell, it had only just been a short moment since his life-or-death battle against a fearsome foe, but he was already back in the comfort of the second life he so dearly cherished.

...

..

.

Finally calming down from the mental breakdown she experienced from an emotional overload, Medea began regaining a steady breath, held in the embrace of Bell atop his bed.

The situation would've normally embarrassed her, but after what she had gone through, it brought her a sense of great relief and comfort.

"You alright now Medea?"

"Hm? Oh, yes. I'm alright now Bell"

Hearing Bell call out to her, Medea replied to his question with a quick reply and a bright smile.

"Geez, why were you so worked up? Haven't you seen me wake up before?"

Though Bell was a bit surprised to see that Medea was sleeping beside him in his bed, he had many times slept with her in the meadow they played in, so it wasn't as shocking as it might've been to him.

Medea, hearing what he had said, began to wear an expression of anger on her face. Bell was confused seeing her like that, but before he could ask, Medea embraced Bell tightly.

"You almost died, you idiot!"

Medea shouted as she embraced Bell, her arms trembling from recalling what had happened"

"What?..."

Bell was confused but stayed quiet to hear what Medea had to say.

"two days...You were asleep for two days straight...Grandpa Zen brought you back to the village shortly after I called for help..."

"You...I was unable to say anything when I saw you Bell...stabbed in the stomach...scratches everywhere...blood all across your body...your skin was white..."

"I-I...I thought you died...I thought you died protecting me..."

Bell began to feel the trembling in Medea's embrace tighten and tremble even more. Moistness on his chest as the little girl began to cry in his embrace.

"Grandpa Zen said you would be fine...but when you didn't wake up...even after getting a potion...I was scared Bell...I didn't want to lose you...I didn't want to lose you because of me"

"I'm-... sorry-...I'm-... so sorry...for being weak-...for leaving you...I'm!-"

Medea began choking on her words as she cried whilst apologizing to Bell.

But before she could speak another word of apology, Bell wrapped his arms around Medea. Embracing her tightly, not to the point of discomfort, but to convey the gentleness he wishes for her to feel.

"You have nothing to be sorry for Medea. Nothing at all"

Medea was fully prepared to be hated by the boy she loved, but hearing and feeling the kindness he exuded, she just couldn't accept it.

"B-but!-"

But before she could speak yet again, Bell cut her off. Looking into her eyes with a piercing gaze.

"Medea"

Seeing how serious he had looked. Hearing the tone which commanded her attention, Medea couldn't find it in herself to speak.

"..."

Now that his friend was listening to him, Bell began to console the poor girl.

"Medea...when I was asleep, what did you do?"

Hearing his question, Medea quickly replied.

"I-I helped mom take care of you..."

"so much so you even slept beside me?"

"...y-yeah"

Medea blushed a bit at having her clinginess be known to Bell.

"Then...if I was never able to wake up...would you stop taking care of me?"

When Bell posed that question, Medea did not hesitate to give him her answer.

"Of course not! Even if I had to wait forever...e-even if you never woke up...I would never leave you again..."

Seeing how passionately Medea responded, Bell could only smile at how earnest she was.

"Then in the same way you would dedicate your life to me. I would dedicate mine to you Medea. Without question. Without hesitation"

Bell gave the trembling girl a smile filled with all the kindness he could muster. Giving off a genuine appreciation for the words he had heard, one that could only be gained after going through a life of endless loneliness.

A gentle breeze blew into the room. Fluttering the curtains and Bell's hair as he gazed into Medea's eyes.

'...that's...not fair...'

Medea had fallen even deeper in love. In the face of such a declaration, how could Medea find it in herself to refute it? The words she had always wanted to hear him say. The dream she constantly yearned for. A promise. That no matter what came in life, they would never be separated. No matter the distance. No matter the time.

'Together...forever...'

Medea's feelings reached a boiling point. Not of embarrassment, but of love, of admiration, of desire. Her throat didn't disavow her attempts to confess what she felt. She gathered strength in her lungs and prepared to give unto Bell her own declaration. But before she could do so-

"I'd do anything for my little sister!"

...

"...Medea?"

Bell became worried. The teary eyes of Medea which were once filled with innocence and emotion had all of a sudden turned lifeless. He prepared to ask if something happened to her, but before he could.

"HMPH-"

A slap ran across Bell's face, knocking him out in an instant. It was a maneuver that exuded precision and skill. A slap taught to Medea by her mother. One of the very first techniques she taught her when it came to dealing with love.

The name of this fearsome technique? 「Heart-wrenching Punisher」. A slap powered by the emotions of a maiden whose heart had been played by a sinful man. A just punishment for sinners who took advantage of their fragile love.

Though Bell was able to overcome a semi-variant surface monster, he had unknowingly stepped into the territory of an opponent he could never defeat, a girl in love.

"ack-"

And with one swift strike, Bell was knocked unconscious. Perhaps it was karma for all the ragdolling he dealt the two regular goblins before.

"..."

Seeing her strike had been successful, Medea promptly hopped off of the bed, tucked Bell into the covers, and left his room.

After closing the door behind her, Medea took a deep breath to regain her composure...and immediately failed.

"Bell you idiot!- you idiot!- you idiot!- you dumb adorable idiot!-"

Medea silently complained as she stomped on the floor whilst covering her face with her hands. She hated Bell for ruining their moment with that single comment. She hated how he still saw her as just his little sister, even after all the subtle hints she had been giving him over the past few years. She hated how awkwardly dense he was...but...the way he so easily declared how he would sacrifice everything for her...

"Even though I hate it...It's the entire reason I fell in love with you..."

Medea whispered.

She simply resolved to wait for another day. Another chance will come to confess her feelings, she was sure of it.

Having accepted she had lost the battle, but not the war, she began making her way to the pantry of Bell's house, wanting to prepare him a snack for when he woke up.

But, unaware that she had been observed, Idyia could only sigh and smile empathetically at her daughter who was fighting an uphill battle of love.

'You'll get him next time Medea. Mommy will always be here rooting for you'

Authors Note:

Little fluff chapter. Busy with celebrations, so I couldn't write much. Hope you all have a Merry Christmas! Also do give your opinions about the writing for this chapter. Too cringy? Too fluffy? Let me know.

[Update]

I agreed with the comments that the age progression didn't really suit the events playing out.

So their current age is now 7 years old. After chapter 5, instead of only having a 1-year pass, it's now 4. Bell trained for 4 years with Zeus before he fought against the goblins. I also updated the dialogue of previous chapters so that it stays consistent with this change.

Some people might be weirded out about a kid talking about romance, but I just want to say that I won't make them pursue anything as children. It will stick to just being a one-sided childhood crush until I age them a ton later on.