6 Chapter 6: For the sake of a little girl

Several days had passed since they signed their contract.

With Lilly's help, Bell and Shirou had had some very productive days in the Dungeon. Perhaps Bell had adjusted to the life of an adventurer. His daily kill count was increasing by leaps and bounds, far greater than it had been when he worked with Shirou.

Now he was going full speed toward his own goal.

Bell was continuously surprised by how much difference the presence of one supporter could make.

Meanwhile, Lilly was confounded by the freakishly high kill count of this supposed newbie adventurers every day.

"So then, fifty-fifty on today's loot?" Bell said

"…Mr. Bell, I think you need to learn about the value of money and common sense. It may not be Lilly's place to say, because Lilly is very grateful…but Mr. Bell is too generous… Mr. Shirou is also too much generous to the point of being foolish" Lilli said.

"But you need money now, right, Lilly?" Bell asked.

"That's true…But it's like Lilly can't stand to see you vulnerable, like Lilly's taking care of someone else's pet rabbit and is worried about every little thing…Lilly feels like she's being poisoned." She's been giving Bell and Shirou a lot of these lectures

recently, Bell thought to himself.

Their relationship had been like an ordinary person working with an aristocrat until a short while ago. But the etiquette and protocol for interacting with strangers had been long-since discarded. Bell felt as though the gap between them had been bridged

—like he and Lilly were becoming friends.

Bell, Shirou and Lilly traveled through level one, tossing any goblins that appeared in their path aside like tissue paper, and left the Dungeon. After a quick shower and a trip to Babel's Exchange, the two of them left the front gate.

"Wow, you weren't kidding! It's very late…" Bell said.

Central Park, the open area around Babel Tower, was covered by a curtain of darkness.

Amid the lights of the magic-stone lamps embedded in the walls of the city, there was a silence that was completely different from the afternoon.

On the other hand, all the bars in the distance looked as lively as ever even at this hour.

"…It really is huge." Bell's eyes did a circuit around Central Park until his gaze finally landed on the tower itself.

It pierced the evening sky. Babel stood calmly, looking down over them.

Even though it was impossible to see at this time of night, Bell knew that there were meticulous designs carved into the tower from corner to corner.

The outside was almost a work of art; it didn't match the practical facilities on the inside. Bell took a deep breath, staring at the tower that embodied the extravagance and dignity of the gods themselves.

"I wonder, why is Babel Tower so tall? It's great that the Guild rents out spaces to tenants, but hauling things all the way up to the fiftieth floor seems like more trouble than it's worth…" Bell said.

"Mr. Bell, the Guild's tenants only go to the twentieth floor, you know?" Lilli said.

"Um…is that right?" Bell said.

Lilly lips twitched ever so slightly at the look of cluelessness in Bell's eyes.

Slightly embarrassed, Bell decided to ask her directly.

"If it's not filled with stores, then what the heck is above the twentieth floor?" Shirou asked.

"Gods and goddesses reside on those floors, Mr. Shirou." Lilli said.

"…The gods?" Bell asked.

"Yes. Just the heads of the many Familias in Orario are allowed to live there, but their rooms go up to the top." she clarified.

It seemed only natural that gods, who had a taste for the extravagant, would want to live in Babel Tower, the symbol of the Labyrinth City Orario. Each room was equipped with the most advanced and elegant amenities, but the real draw was the view. No

other buildings were allowed to climb that high, so the gods could see the entire city from out their window.

Gods paid a very high rent to the Guild in order to live there. However, if they had enough money to ignore that detail, then they could inhabit the highest-class dwelling in all of Orario.

In other words, only the richest, most powerful gods and goddesses could live there.

"Ohh…So there are gods who don't live at home but choose to live apart from their Familias." Bell said.

"Think of it like a private room, Mr. Bell. While there are gods who like to talk and interact with us, there are other gods who like their privacy. That's how their image has been since ancient times."

Bell nodded in understanding.

"Lilly has heard that Babel Tower wasn't always this high. It used to be the lid over the Dungeon, but it wasn't any bigger than the other buildings around it."

"Well, then why is it so big now?" Shirou asked.

"When the first gods came down, the tower was destroyed…They came down like shooting stars and hit the tower."

Like they did it on purpose.

Those gods completely destroyed the finished tower and laughed at the crying faces of the ancient people of Orario. In his mind, Bell could see the citizens' faces, mouths half open, tears rolling down their cheeks, as well as the cackling gods trying to

apologize. He let out a dry chuckle.

"Yeah… that sounds like the gods I am familiar with alright" Shirou thought.

"Since then, it's been known as Babel the Falling Tower. That could be another reason why gods live here now."

Lilly continued by saying that the gods apologized by contributing to the rebuilding effort…and by deterring the Dungeon monsters. Their method: Falna.

The people of the time revered the blessings of strength they received from the gods and allowed them to live in Babel as a way of showing their appreciation.

Soon, many gods and goddesses began appearing on Gekai—the lower world, to them—and created the groups known as Familias in many places around the world. Their worshipper–worshippee relationship continued as Babel was built higher and higher

to represent the gods' influence on Gekai.

Babel Tower grew to its current height as a result, as well as gained the image of a shrine to the power of the gods.

"I think I understand…Whenever I hear stories about the gods, I can't help but wonder just how boring their world is. They'd have to be bored enough to want to leave the heavens and come down here, right?" Bell said.

"Maybe they hated their jobs enough to run away?" Lilli said with a shrug.

Bell had been looking at the tower during their conversation, but these words got his attention and he turned to face Lilly.

"Lilly's heard that the gods had many responsibilities in Tenkai—the upper world. Their most important one is taking care of us, their children, when we go to eternal sleep." she said.

"Isn't that…?" Bell said in shock.

"Yes. They're in charge of guiding people after they die." she said.

Hearing those words, Bell felt his heart speed up a little. That was not the typical reaction to this topic, but he sensed his destiny in Lilly's voice.

Lilly's point, in short, was that the gods would decide what happened to mortals after death.

To put it another way, they judged everyone's souls.

The treatment of a soul could vary wildly, depending on the god responsible for it. It might be allowed to live on in Tenkai, or it could suffer unimaginable pain, or be forced into endless, meaningless hard labor…If one were to begin listing the possibilities,

the list would never end.

The fate of all the souls released from the bonds of Gekai hinged on the caprices of the gods. The concept of being a good or bad person during life didn't enter into it.

The gods either liked you or they didn't.

Their mood determined heaven or hell.

A "judgment" free of rules and regulations, instead based on whims and opinions, awaited them.

"Then again, most souls just get reincarnated anyway…Since there is all this work to be done, the gods still up in Tenkai have to pick up the slack left behind by the gods living down here.

They're overworked with no time to rest. They'd be angry, wouldn't they? The next ones to come here will have a very intense 'discussion' to determine the order they leave."

"I don't wanna go there…I don't wanna die…" Bell was deep in thought.

If he were to go up there now, they'd put him through to hell. For fun.

As if she could see where Bell thoughts were taking him, Lilly reached up and shook his shoulder.

He snapped out of it and gave her an embarrassed smile.

Something was off.

"…But there was a time when Lilly longed for death."

That was it.

Those words were like a punch in the gut.

"…as I thought… she is just like her… back when I was young… will I be able to do for her what I couldn't do back then?" Shirou thought as his stomach twisted remembering the failure he had back then.

No… he would not allow the tragedy to repeat itself.

He had grown as a person, a magician and as a human.

"If Lilly went before the gods…if Lilly could be reborn…the new Lilly would surely be better than the current one…"

Lilly stared at the top of Babel—no, farther out into the heavens as she spoke.

Her hood folded back as she looked up, exposing her chestnut hair and big, round eyes. They were blank.

It seemed like she was looking into the sky, yearning to go home.

"L-Lilly!"

Bell suddenly yelled.

He felt like if he didn't, Lilly might just disappear.

Lilly slowly closed her eyes, breaking off her staring contest with the stars, and looked up at Bell with her eyes hidden behind her bangs.

"Sorry for saying such an odd thing."

"…"

"That was a long time ago. Please don't take Lilly seriously. Lilly's stronger now. Lilly doesn't have those thoughts anymore." she said.

Bell couldn't say anything.

She had to be telling the truth. Lilly puffed out her chest with a small grunt, and there was no sadness in her body language whatsoever.

She must have recovered from something in her past.

That was yet another reason Bell couldn't put his emotions into words or action.

"Well, it's already very late, Mr. Bell. Let's hurry on home. Lilly has to go back to her Familia tonight, too." A bright and cheerful Lilly turned her back to the tower. She moved away from it, taking little steps.

Bell glanced down at her shoulders, shoulders that were much too small to be carrying that much weight.

He watched her carry that backpack, unnaturally large on the girl's tiny frame, with a heavy heart. A moment later, it was Shirou who ran after her.

Elsewhere

"So, you've gotten even stronger."

A voice from above whispered.

Below, a white shadow, running after another shadow and getting farther away.

A woman's excited eyes followed this shadow with the utmost intensity.

Clouds in the night sky shifted, flooding the woman's room with moonlight.

The entire outer wall of the room was made of glass. The woman standing next to the glass wall was so clearly illuminated it was as though the moon were casting a spotlight on her.

Her thin yet luscious body was wrapped in a sheer black nightgown.

Her fair, light skin gave off a mysterious air as it was bathed in the lunar glow.

Silver hair reaching almost to her waist sparkled as if made of ice.

"That's wonderful. You must shine even more…"

Clap. The woman—Freya—put her hands together, her outrageously beautiful figure reflecting off the glass.

It was the highest floor of Babel Tower.

Freya resided in the highest, most glamorous room in the whole building. She watched Bell from her window wall.

"More, more, shine even brighter, child. It's your duty, now that you have my attention."

A deep love was in her eyes, along with the absolute authority of rank.

Freya was obsessed with the boy, with Bell.

Obsessed enough to ignore other trifling things and to be caught up in a burning passion of love. The goddess of beauty was entranced by him.

Freya possessed the Eyes of Insight, an ability that allowed her to see the truth inside the souls of the people of the mortal world.

This was a natural gift of hers, not one of the abilities known as Arkanam. The gods had an agreement forbidding the use of these powers on Gekai, but Freya's Eyes of Insight weren't affected. She had once used those eyes to judge souls of dead people

that came to her temple in Tenkai, especially the souls of warriors who fell in battle, and to transport them.

Into her collection, that is.

Freya could determine the nature of a soul faster than any other god, and she quickly embraced her favorites.

Souls who received her judgment after death were the lucky ones.

Those who caught her eye as they were dying were extremely fortunate.

This is because they would be loved by the goddess of beauty for all eternity.

Even if they were forever restrained and denied their freedom.

Freya controlled both love and beauty.

For better or worse, she was a wild and cruel goddess.

"Grow stronger, grow more befitting of me…That is your task."

Like many other gods, Freya had left her temple and Tenkai itself to come down to Gekai, but that didn't mean her "hobbies" had changed. She used her eyes to see the true colors of the children and to add the most talented, brightest souls to her own

Familia.

No one refused her. No one could refuse her.

No one had ever been able to resist the magic that was her beauty.

For that reason, members of Freya Familia had strength and power completely separate from those around them. Even among the powerful Familias of the Labyrinth City, Freya Familia stood apart in its might.

The goddess Loki knew perfectly well about Freya's eyes, and called it the "rot in hell, you lousy cheater" power.

"I just happen to like strong men."

She had discovered Bell by coincidence.

It was early one morning. Her silver eyes spotted him walking down West Main.

—I want that.

That emotion went through her at first sight.

It had been a long time since she felt like that. Her whole body lightly shook in anticipation; her stomach jumped; a breath of euphoria escaped her lips. Just as it had always happened with her, she became no better than a child who'd found a new toy in

a toy store. A pure but ugly urge to possess him consumed her.

Bell's soul was a color that Freya's eyes had never seen before: clear.

What color would he become? Or would he stay clear? Anything with an element of uncertainty could keep a god interested indefinitely.

That's why she couldn't stop.

So she decided to wait and watch. It would be fun to turn him into her own color, but she felt as though there would be plenty of time to do that later.

"I can't wait. How strong will you get? How bright will you shine? What color will you become?"

There was indeed love in her silver eyes as she watched the boy from her room, but it was a corrupt love.

She placed a finger on her full lips and playfully bit the tip.

Just then she felt it… a powerful stare.

It felt the same as that time.

Her body tensed and shivered remembering the sensation she had… her brush with death.

She looked around to see if she could find the one responsible to deny her love to another… the interloper.

She tsked… unable to do more than watch at this juncture… the interloper was keeping an eye on her as she was on Bell.

"Ottar… ready the book… you should know where he will find it" Freya said.

"As you command… my lady" Ottar said with a bow.

Benevolent Mistress

"Ah-choo!"

Syr let out a cute little sneeze.

She blushed behind her hands, covering her mouth. All of the staff in the bar around her stopped what they were doing to look her way. Syr's face got even redder, and she looked at the floor.

"Syr, have you caught a cold?" One of the other staff members asked.

"N-no. I'm fine. Nothing to worry about."

Syr forced a smile through her rosy cheeks in response to the elf Lyu's question.

Syr's blue-gray hair was tied into its usual style, a bun with a ponytail in the middle. Her ponytail shook as she waved her hands, trying to convince the elf she was okay.

"Maybe someone's talking about you?" Lyu offered as an explanation.

"The answer's obvious! Mya-ha-ha, it's that adventurer boy, meow!" Chloe, the cat girl maid said mockingly.

"You're going to make me angry, Chloe."

Syr hung her shoulders, glaring at the catgirl who wore a very feline grin on her face.

The girl named Chloe did nothing in response, simply staring back with that same smile.

Moreover she was moving one of the bar's tables and playfully whipping her tail back and forth under her skirt.

Syr let out a heavy sigh.

"But that adventurer didn't come in last night!"

"Even though he always returns the empty basket after eating Syr's lovey-dovey lunch, meow!"

"Syr even opened early and looked for him, meow!"

"I didn't go looking for him!" she said while blushing madly.

All of the staff was setting up tables to prepare for the day, but they took turns teasing the human girl from all sides. Syr yelled at them from the middle of the bar, but the girls showed no signs of learning their lesson. They continued circling her like

cockroaches, the same grin on their faces.

"Do not worry, Syr. Mr. Cranell is not the type of man who would neglect your feelings for him. I'm positive he was just late coming out of the Dungeon and didn't have time last night."

"If that's supposed to make me feel better, Lyu…No, never mind, I give up."

The elf watched in confusion as Syr got frustrated. "It's just a misunderstanding," said Syr, but the always serious Lyu didn't seem to understand.

Syr had been making lunch for Bell every day since she first gave him her own lunch. She didn't really know why, but everyone around her had come to this conclusion.

"Still tough… if it was me I prefer the red haired young man that is part of the same famili-nya… he knows how to cook really tasty food… not bad for a man… he could be a house-husbandnyah" Chloe said as she was remembering the odd fish food he

had made that day, it made her blush and drool.

It was just that tasty.

Lyu couldn't find a fault on this man as well, he was well mannered, even tempered and was willing to help if he was asked for.

Perhaps… this man would be worthy.

The catgirl took her eyes off the ceiling and planted them firmly on Syr.

"Syr, I need to make a confession…" Chloe said seriously.

"A-and that is…?" she asked, taken back by the sudden seriousness of her.

"I…sure do like his tight li'l bod! His booty turns meow on…!" Chloe said, talking about Shirou

"…"

Syr was speechless as she took it as she were speaking of Bell

"When I think about the ripe fruit inside his thin pants…mya-ha-ha! Ah, all the dirty things I would do…! I want—Oww! Ouch—!"

"…"

"A…wait—Oww, s-sorry! I give up! Uncle! I was talking about Shirou… SHIROU!" Chloe yelled as she was being strangled.

All the other employees stopped what they were doing and rushed to stop Syr.

The Benevolent Mistress had been filled with an unusual amount of noise this morning.

"Oi! You dim-witted lasses! Quit playin'! Back t' workin'!"

The owner Mia's voice boomed from the backroom door as she looked over the girls' lack of progress.

The "dim-witted lasses" jumped in surprise before hurriedly returning to their duties. "Of all the…" the dwarf woman started to say as she shrugged her shoulders.

"…Hmm? Syr, what's that?" Mama Mia asked.

"Huh?" Syr's human coworker pointed behind her, and she spun around to look.

It was at the counter, right where Syr had prepared a special place for Bell the first time he'd visited The Benevolent Mistress.

On the chair where Bell had sat that night was a book.

"What's this…?"

"Someone dropped it?" "What's that, meow?" "Something wrong, meow?"

Syr picked up the book with both hands, her coworkers peering over her shoulders to get a look for themselves.

"I'm not clever enough to read, meow." "Me too, meow."

"Yes, I know, so shut up."

"Why I oughta—"

"Syr, what is it?"

"There's a book here…It's not one of ours. Maybe a customer left it behind?"

"Ohh…? It wasn't there last night…"

"Right, right! Runoa's mistake, mistake, meow! If it's not a customer's book, what would that mean, meow? Somebody snuck into the bar and left it there, meow? The idea's so full of holes, me feels sick…" Runoa's said.

"As always, the idiot with useless knowledge, meow…" Chloe said with a sight

"What?! I'll cut you!"

Ignoring the commotion behind them, Lyu and Syr took a closer look at the book. Completely white and very thick, it smelled like old paper.

It was lined with many undecipherable figures and patterns. There was no title.

"…Wait a moment. This—"

Lyu realized something, but before she could get it into words, Mama Mia's roar of anger filled the room.

"How many times ya gonna make me say somethin'?! Words not good enough for ya?! Time for this dwarfess t' beat some discipline into y'all!"

Everyone froze with fear.

"W-wait, Mama, meow! We found something suspicious, meow!" Chloe said.

"This! This here!" another maid said.

"Syr, hurry up and show her already!" another shouted.

"Huh? Somethin' suspicious?" Mama Mia asked.

Ushered on by peer pressure, Syr gave an "Um, okay…" and stepped a few paces forward, the rest of the girls behind her. Syr's blue-gray hair shaking, she showed a very serious-looking Mia the book in her hands.

"Mama Mia, it looks like someone left this book behind by accident. What should we do about it?" Syr asked.

"…Whaaa?"

The entire staff watched with bated breath as Mia thoroughly looked over both Syr and the book with a deep scowl on her face.

Lyu couldn't understand why Mia would have that look on her face. It was because the dwarfess had once been an adventurer herself and could still run with the best of them. But Lyu had never seen Mia wear this expression before.

As the elf tried to make sense of it all, Mia's sharp eyes hadn't left the book.

She then gave instructions to Syr in a voice so gruff it was more suitable for a battlefield than a peaceful café.

"…Put it somewhere it can be seen. If the owner's not an idiot, they'll realize it's gone and come lookin' for it."

"Yes, understood." After Syr lowered her head in a polite bow, the staff scattered.

The fear of this new kind of anger in Mama Mia's eyes drove them to work harder than ever.

Lyu stopped for a moment when she happened to see two of her coworkers having a friendly chat, but sighed and got back to work by herself.

Dungeon: 9th floor

Bell's POV

"Mr. Bell! Look out! Your feet!"

"Huh?"

Lilly's scream hits my ears.

We're currently on the seventh level. I was about to dive into a killer ant with the Divine Knife in my hand, so my reply was a little clumsy.

I've slain so many monsters on this level that it's basically become my playground. I was so confident that I didn't realize what was happening.

"—Kiihiii!"

"?!"

I knew what she was talking about right away.

A needle rabbit.

The rabbitlike monster with tusks growing out of its cheeks crept up to me in my blind spot. The tusks often become very valuable drop items used to make weapons ucky to escape with my life.

It's making a beeline for my left leg, its eyes glaring red.

"Keh!"

I just planted that foot so I can't dodge! Being in the middle of an all-out run, my right leg's safe from the monster's attack but swimming uselessly in the air.

I quickly bend my left knee.

The only armor plates on my lower body are protecting my knees. It's a last-ditch effort to block the needle rabbit's attack. Just as I had hoped, the monster's tusk hits the plate and bounces off.

SHING! The sound of bone on metal reverberates in my ears as pain shoots through my body.

The rabbit passes by with a high-pitched metallic clang, but my balance is completely broken.

"Gyaaaaaaaaaa!"

Great timing…like it saw that coming.

My original target sees the opening and is charging me along with his friend.

I've slain dozens of these killer ants in the past few days. I took on four of them at once at one point.

When it was just one, I didn't think much of my enemy. Now there are two.

As a result, now there are four sets of merciless claws heading right for my eyes.

"Keehhh!"

Guard! I snap my left arm, equipped with my green vambrace, in front of my face just in time to block the attack.

The protector is very durable, and there's not a scratch on it. But the impact of the blow not only shoots waves of pain through my arm, my whole body shoots off to the side.

I don't spin at all. Landing gracefully on the balls of my feet, I slide straight back, as I done many times before when I trained with Shirou in the back of the church that served as out HQ... my protector still in front of my face.

It's the other killer ant's turn now, and it's charging!

Oh, shi—

I'll be pinned down!

Once it plows into me at full force, holds my limbs down with four of its legs, and skewers me with its claws, there'll be no hope of escape. The killer ant's body is like armor, and just as heavy.

Eina warned me about this.

With my thin body type, getting pinned is the same as defeat.

—Ah.

This is the second time.

This feeling of an unavoidable death, the same as when I fought the Minotaur.

Body shivering, cowering in fear. Can't breathe. Time standing still.

The killer ant's hideous mouth suddenly opens.

I can see sickening rows of teeth, all dripping with saliva.

My mind goes blank. All that's left is to absorb the incoming blow, and I brace myself for impact.

"NO—!"

The next moment, Lilly's high-pitched yell and a sword flies trough the Dungeon, hitting the killer ant square on the head, such was the force that it tore it's head off its body.

"Bell you can't keep doing that, how many times must I tell you? Don't get cocky… underestimating an enemy is deadly… all an enemy needs is for you to slip just once" a familiar voice said as it resounded over the dungeons area.

"S… Shirou-sama?!" Lilli said in shock.

Shirou walked next to her and patted her head.

"I saw what you were about to do… you are a good person at heart… don't worry, your magic sword's charge was not used thanks to my intervention" Shirou said causing Lilli to blush.

I was taken back by the beautiful sword a mere feet away from me, yet again he surprises me when I noticed something.

This sword had the Hephaistos's insignia, no… moreover… this was a sword I been eyeing a lot! This was the sword that costed 20 billion Valis!

He went to pick it up and with a florish he put it back into it's sheath.

Wait… didn't he say he made them with magic… then why just not vanish…

Oh…

It was due to Lilli… he did not want his abilities known for some reason.

Still tough, it was a perfect reproduction… how could someone just make a copy so good? You would be hard pressed to find any differences!

"I guess I am going to have to train you on how to get out of pins and situations like that uh? Maybe Aiz-san would also be willing to help… what do you say Bell? Sounds good?" Shirou said with a playful smirk.

"D-d-dont get her involved in this!" I shouted… aware that I was blushing furiously.

Shirou had been late due to his own investigation… he had managed to get the biggest clue when be was currently looking for a deity to help.

Unfortunately it just so happen to be a divinity that hated Hestia and had a bit of a grudge on Shirou… however luck seemed to be on his side for once.

And that thought fucking terrified him.

Flashback 4 hrs ago Orario street near a Item shoppe

Shirou had been walking about and decided to shop for some things to kill time, he walked into an old looking store and was browsing to see what he could get as a gift for Hestia for her hard work.

He decided to look for some wine, gods loved to party and be merry, regardless of it would screw someone over or not… tough, he had to admit, Ganesha and Hestia were pretty good gods… something most Gods should aspire to be for their followers.

Hestia being poor as hell notwithstanding.

The wine was a product of the Soma Familia, interesting… he used structural analysis on the bottle to get an idea of the content within.

It was superb wine… ordinary wine that held no other qualities, but superb in any shape or form.

Then why did the Soma Familia acted so strange, and what was the scent he caught coming off them?

He then looked at the price.

"sixty thousand valis?! That is…" Shirou was in shock… this costed more than Bell's entire equipment set.

"aren't you that boy from the Hestia Familia… Emiya Shirou?" a voice asked.

Shirou turned around, it was a tall and beautiful elf girl.

Her glimmering jade-colored hair was tied into a single ponytail that hung halfway down her back. Her ears stuck up like leaves on a tree, guiding her gorgeous long hair backward. Even among the beautiful and refined elves, the woman looked on par

with royalty. Her looks could even be described as otherworldly.

Fitting right in with her elegance, the woman's emerald eyes were the same emerald green color as Eina's, if not a little deeper shade.

Shirou looked at her… She was familiar to him… Where had she seen her…

It was then when he remembered his fight with the wolf man.

"Ah… you are… from that time… I am sorry but I never got your name" he said apologizing.

"No, if anything I should apologize for our teammember's attitude towards your companion, I must say I was rather impressed with the way you fought… I was quite certain you would be needing a funeral with that suicidal style of combat you had" she

said.

"Hey, you know the saying… if it's stupid but works…" Shirou said.

"Still, thanks to you Bete's ego had been more… shall we say… manageable, you really humbled him" she said with a small smirk. "By the way my name is Reveria Riyos Ahrve… but you can call me Reveria"

"Pleased to formally meet you" Shirou said with a slight bow.

"Ahh, this wine. There are many in my Familia who adore it." she said as she saw the item Shirou held in his hands.

"Um…can I ask you a question, Reveria-san? Do any of them show signs of dependence or act strangely?" Shirou asked with trepidation.

"Everyone who drinks alcohol looks strange to my eyes…but no one has done anything I would consider out of the ordinary. Why do you ask?"

"Well…"Shirou then used his limited ability to twist the truth a bit, something he learned from spending so much time with a certain black haired tsundere magus that shall go unidentified "a friend of mine recommended it to me… I was thinking of getting

it as a gift for my goddess but from the things I've heard about Soma Familia…"

There was some truth in Shirou's words. Even though he didn't feel right, purposely misleading Reveria with his answer, the chance of getting valuable information from her was too good to pass up.

"I see. I too have heard a few things about members of that Familia being odd, almost cold."

"Reveria-san, do you know anything about them?"

She got his hopes up.

Reveria closed one eye and stared at the excited Shirou for a moment.

Oh no…Shirou froze. He realized his mistake a moment too late.

Reveria was very sharp. He could sense the Reveria had more than likely figured out that he was investigating Soma Familia.

Shirou took a deep breath as he waited for the high elf's response.

"…Whatever. I'm sorry to say that I don't have any information concerning that Familia. No more than you know, probably less."

"Oh, is that so?"

Reveria had seen right through him, but he was relieved that the high elf hadn't asked for a reason why.

She gazed at Shirou for a few moments before opening her mouth to speak.

"While I don't know about them…I do know someone who knows something concerning that group."

"…Yes?" Shirou asked.

"Would you accompany me to my Familia's home?"

Shirou blinked.

Would that be wise?

Loki's Familia HQ

The head residence.

That was this building put into words.

I never heard anything about them…but this is just how the home of a prominent dungeon-prowling Familia should be…

The building was located on the northern edge of Orario. It stood on the side of a backstreet, one block away from North Main.

Long and thin, it was as if the builders had to squeeze it onto the spot. Several pointed towers protruded from the roof like a line of spears standing on end, supplementing one another.

Of course these bronze towers were nothing compared to Babel but were still tall enough to make someone crane their neck to look up at them. The very tips of the towers were dyed black by the evening light.

It was a dwelling carved from flames.

"Lady Reveria, welcome back." someone said

"Excuse me, this person with you…is he with another Familia?" they asked.

"he is a guest of mine for the moment, please excuse us."

After being questioned by male and female guards at the doorway, Reveria and Shirou walked into the building.

The two of them looked as though they could be lovers, walking side by side. In reality, Reveria was many times older than Shirou.

Elves live the longest of all the races of demi-humans.

"I suppose it's a little late for this, but…but are you sure this is all right?" Shirou asked awkwardly.

"What is?" Reveria asked.

"Inviting me, a member of the Hestia Familia, into a home like this…If private information about Loki Familia became public because of me… or Hestia asked me to divulge secrets…"

"Do not speak of impossibilities. If I felt you had the potential for something like that, I would not have brought you here. Or perhaps you are trying to insult me?"

"N-no, not at all… I won't betray your trust"

They made their way from the Reception room.

The room itself was completely open to the hallway and decorated in a calming, light orange color scheme. There were many expensive-looking sofas and round tables draped in cloth. While every furnishing there was of the highest quality, it seemed less

a reception room than a space for repose and conversation.

Shirou got a good feel for the overall atmosphere and mood of Loki Familia just by looking around this room.

Hey, not bad. I wouldn't mind living here myself—Hmm?

He noticed something as his gaze reached the far corner of the room.

It was in an armchair facing away from her. There seemed to be a big fluff of golden string attached to the side of it.

No, not string—blond hair. It was the back of someone's head, their hair flowing down the side of the chair and sticking out.

The person sitting there slowly turned her thin neck to face the elves.

Shirou suddenly swallowed a lump of air.

"Welcome home, Reveria."

"Yes, Aiz. I have returned."

The speaker was the woman that had nade Bell push himself to grow so fast.

What stood out more than her soft, delicate features was her refined solemnity. Still, her eyes glimmered like pools of gold on her face. The word "innocent" seemed to fit her very well.

A noble beauty and a childlike purity seemed to coexist within her.

Shirou had to admit… this girl could give Caster a run for her money on looks.

Aiz Wallenstein.

The blond-haired, golden-eyed adventurer whom Bell couldn't get out of his mind.

"Who is…Shirou-san?" Aiz said as she recognized mr from out brief encounter.

"Hello Aiz-san, i apologize for the sudden visit… I have some business to attend, perhaps we could chat another time?" Shirou said.

She nodded as she returned to her original position

Shirou had to admit that without any armor on, Aiz looked like a very sheltered girl. She was very feminine, with her slender body wrapped in a pure white one-piece dress. It accentuated her generous bosom, as well.

Aiz's bare feet were pearl-white, like alabaster, smooth and vibrant.

Not that it mattered… he had some info to pump out of a certain someone in here.

"…Reveria-san. About the reason I came here today…" Shirou said

"Oh yes, my apologies. Let's call her here"

A still-smiling Reveria reached into the bag she had brought back with her, she had apparently bought it with no second thoughts… must be nice to be able to spend so much with no care.

She pulled the bottle of Soma out of it.

"Um…Reveria-san? Weren't you going to summon someone for me…?"

"It would be a waste to go looking for her. She has always been very elusive; I don't know how much time finding her would require. It would be more effective for her to come to us." Reveria said.

Before Shirou could ask another question, Reveria removed the lid of the wine she'd purchased herself, though the fact that she'd put all of her purchases on Loki Familia's tab seemed somehow more striking.

Soon, the surprisingly sweet smell of the wine filled the reception room.

"Wow…a frosty smell." Shirou said.

"I may be quite accustomed to it, but this smell still has that effect."

Shirou enjoyed the aroma for a moment before realizing that Reveria was holding out a glass in front of him and took it out of reflex. Before she knew it, a high elf was pouring him a drink.

Feeling bad that Reveria had gone through the trouble, he cautiously raised the glass to her lips.

"Oh my…!"

His eyes shot open the moment the glass touched his lips.

It was heavenly. Too heavenly.

It was so sweet that his tongue almost went numb. But somehow it had a smooth, almost melting texture.

Its sweet bouquet instantly filled his nose. The aftertaste was so invigorating that him very consciousness seemed to be tossed around inside her head until the very last drop. That feeling made its way into her body, right down to the tips of his toes.

No wonder so many people like this wine…In just one gulp, he learned firsthand where the wine's reputation came from.

"I know that smell…"

It was only a heartbeat after Shirou put Soma to his lips.

Thump, thump, thump, thump. The sound of excited footsteps drew ever closer, as if being pulled in by the smell of the alcohol.

"Hey, you—is that Soma?!"

With that, the vermillion-haired goddess of this Familia, Loki, appeared from around the corner a second later.

"She has arrived."

"So that's what you meant by her coming here…" Shirou said with a smirk.

"I knew it! I knew it! That's Soma, all right! Did ya get me a present, Reveria? You devoted child, you!"

Shirou took a look at the glass in his hand, the source of the mellow smell around him. Next he looked at Loki, in awe of how well Reveria's plan to summon her had worked.

Even in the dimly lit reception room, Shirou could clearly see Loki's vermillion hair and eyes.

"While it was I who purchased the wine, the idea was not mine." Reveria said.

"Well then, musta been Aiz! And here ya were actin' all sad since you came back from the Dungeon! It was ta keep this a surprise! Geee! Aizuuu, yer soo cute!"

"Not me."

Loki was ready to jump onto Aiz and give her a big hug, but an intimidating glare from the depressed girl stopped her in her tracks. Aiz's eyes were saying "Touch me and I'll slice you."

Shirou had a strange look on his face… it was like someone was smirking and trying not to laugh at the same time.

"Huh…?" Loki was confused as she took a few steps backward, sweating.

"A-Aizuu…Isn't that a little too prickly, even fer you? What ya think?"

"If you want my permission, use words I can understand. More importantly, the person who brought the wine is standing right there."

Ah, so that's how this is going to work.

Shirou realized this was part of Reveria's plan as well.

The person who had information about the inner workings of Soma Familia was in fact the goddess of her own Familia, Loki. By appeasing her with a gift, Loki might be willing to answer a few questions.

It was all too very cunning.

Directly asking a god for their opinion made Shirou rather uncomfortable, as he had heard what gods did to humans even when thry had done nothig wrong… let alone to anyone who tbey considered enemies… such ad the Gorgon sisters… loke Rider and

her sibblings...but he forced himself to relax.

"Huh? Who's this boy here?"

"This is our second meeting, Lady Loki. It is my pleasure to make your acquaintance formally...My name is Emiya Shirou and I was under the care of one of your children not so long ago. I know that my being here is very unexpected…"

"No need ta be so formal. Yer makin' my neck itchy. Talk normal, got it?"

Loki waved off Shirou's formality like it was too much trouble to bother with as she turned to face her. Loki stiffened when she noticed who it was.

"Wait… aren'tcha the one that beat Bete?" she said.

"Well I did not beat him persay…" Shirou said looking to the side.

"Still… to think you are wasting your talents with that cow Tits of a goddess… why not convert and join me?" Loki asked.

"I appreciate the offer but I am afraid I must decline… you see I owe her my being alive to Hestia… I promised her that I would help her as a member of her Familia… as a way to pay her back for her kindness and help during my time of need" Shirou

said.

Loki stared at him with her eyes… he could feel it, the power of the goddess penetrating him… it was invasive… she wanted to know if what he said was the truth.

She sighed, the boy had spoken truthfully.

"That's enough with keepin' up appearances, let's get ta it. Ya brought me one of my all-time faves, which means ya wanna ask me somethin'. Am I right?" Loki said with a grin.

"…Well then, I'll get right to the point. If you know any details about what goes on behind the scenes at Soma Familia, would you be willing to tell me?" Shirou said as he looked at Loki straight in the eyes.

"Bringin' Soma fer that? Ha-ha. I see how it is."

Holding the bottle in one hand, Loki rudely grabbed a glass from the table and poured her own drink. One big gulp and a long, satisfied sigh later, Loki turned her reddening face in Shirou's direction.

"It's not like I got a good connection with that idiot Soma. Don't know if I have the info ya want, Emiya…But what the heck, I'll spill the beans on anythin' ya want. So, what'll it be?"

"…Do you know the reason behind the strange tendencies of the members of Soma Familia?" Shirou asked.

"Hmm, right ta the good stuff, eh?…But how to explain it." Loki swirled the wine around in her hand a few times, watching the waves wrap around the inside of the glass. After a few moments, Loki downed the remainder of the wine in one loud swig.

"Got it! I'll tell ya a story 'bout me and Soma. Ah, just bein' clear, the wine Soma. Not that idiot god, just t'be clear."

"Ah, okay?"

"Well then…Ya know me, I love me some wine. Goin' ta different shops, tryin' and comparin' all brands every day. Gettin' drunk off my ass, pukin', passin' out…Livin' the dream in a loop until one day…I ran into this li'l beauty, Soma."

Reveria was staring at Loki with her eyes half closed, with no notion where the goddess was going with this. Loki, however, didn't care, and continued her story.

"One of those fated meetings, I guess you could call it? It was love at first taste! Some Familia made it, but I didn't care. Went 'round Orario, buyin' Soma left 'n' right…But while I was doin' that, I heard somethin' very interestin'."

"Something interesting…?"

"Can ya wrap yer head 'round this, Emiya? This wine is defective, a failure." she said with a grin.

Shirou might not be a connoisseur but he was very sure this wine was well worth it's price… to say it was a failure…

"failure you say… then… if that's the case doesn't that mean…?" Shirou said taken back by all this.

Loki's smile grew deeper.

"Makes ya wonder, don't it? A failure that's this good? What about the successes, huh? I had ta know. Found my way to Soma Familia's home base by myself."

Reveria looked down on Loki with disgust. While the two gods weren't exactly enemies, a god going directly into another's territory was almost an open invitation for an attack.

Even the gods had manners. While part of this was to protect personal information, there was no reason for a member of one Familia to go waltzing into another's home.

"Went up ta the porch, yellin' 'SOMA! Marry me! I'm beggin' ya!' But I was ignored, ta the point of gettin' lonely…I was gettin' ticked off, so I went inside without askin'."

Eina rubbed her fingers up and down her temple as though she had a bad headache.

However, Soma Familia's lack of resistance to an intruder added to her curiosity about the members themselves.

"Place was totally silent. Not a single child anywhere. This is their home, y'know? Why'd everyone be out at the same time? I could tell somethin' wasn't right, and it gave me the chills…But I ignored it and perked up a bit. Went snoopin' 'round the whole

place."

"…"

"I implore you, Loki. Do not reveal any more embarrassing information." Reveria pleaded in embarrassment.

"Ge-hee-hee, you're no fun, Reveria. Anyway, couldn't find the real Soma anywhere. Finally got to the point o' gettin' fed up with it, turn ta go home…and there he was, that idiot himself."

Loki lowered her head as if remembering every detail of that meeting. Her smile vanished.

"I let out a big friendly 'Hey, there!' and that idiot responded with only 'Welcome.' Nothin' else. It was our first time meetin', y'know? Hardly ever looked at me, either, just stood there with a hoe in his hand. Was tendin' ta his garden. Only heard 'bout this

later, but he grows all the ingredients fer his wine. Ah, nothin' too alarmin' goes in, though."

Loki continued to refill and drink the wine even while telling her story. Her bright pink cheeks were getting redder by the minute.

The tone of her voice went up.

"This Soma god…really pissed me off."

"Huh?"

"Tried talkin' 'bout everythin', but all he did was answer 'yeah' or 'hmm' and kept on hoein'…He was implyin' that his shit-filled fertilizer was above me."

Just talking about this memory made Loki's gaze grow more and more serious.

Shirou was intently listening in to get all the details.

"That god was nothin' more than an indecisive pitiful coward. But he acted like I was some dumb scarecrow and ignored me…Makin' me sick just thinkin' 'bout it!"

"…"

"Overlookin' all of that, all of his rudeness and whatnot, I still asked ta taste the real 'Soma,' bein' real polite and everythin'! Even bowed ta him! Me! What ya think that idiot's answer was?"

Since Loki hadn't sensed any kind of hard feelings from Soma, she thought there was a chance she could try the good stuff—if not a full bottle, then at least a cup or two. However, Soma finally stopped working and turned to Loki for the first time and

said:

"I refuse."

Apparently that was the first time he had shown any kind of emotion.

"Geeyahh! He's supposed ta be on my side, but that kinda tone pissed me off more than ever!"

"Loki, get a hold of yourself. Stop going off on tangents and get to the point."

"Hee-hee-hee." Loki took a few quick, deep breaths to calm down before her face relaxed. She sank back into the sofa.

"Sorry, sorry. Beat 'round the bush a bit, but I asked that idiot about his Familia.

When I asked, what he said made me sick, that idiot. He's got absolutely no clue how to run a Familia, no sense at all. Like his heart wasn't in it from the start."

Shirou's eyebrows flicked up.

His heart wasn't in it from the start…?

Well then, what was his goal? Shirou had a new train of thought take off in his mind.

What was Soma's goal?

"Shirou, don't be thinkin' too hard on it, y'know? The god known as Soma has only one thing in his skull: his hobby. Plenty o' those types, right? Their head's so far in the clouds, they can't see nothin' else. That idiot is case number one, the ultimate

example. Not barbaric or evil, just purely livin' fer his craft. A god o' pure amusement. Guess you could say he's the wise ol' hermit of the gods—ha-ha!" joked Loki.

There were many strange and usual personalities among the gods, but Soma was weird even among them.

At least that was the impression Shirou was picking up from Loki.

"Now, the problem is that wine, Soma. That idiot made his Familia for one reason only: his hobby. But they weren't bringin' in enough money. Not enough ta support his pastime, anyway—makin' wine's expensive, yeah? Couldn't keep it goin'. What little

brain he had told him to give them a 'prize.' Somethin' really special—a trigger ta get them ta work harder."

"Don't tell me…"

"Yep, that Soma. The good stuff, yeah?"

A drop of wine from her last swig started to roll down Loki's lip. She licked it up a second later.

"Shirou, ya drank the failure, so ya probably know, but the real stuff isn't playin' 'round. It takes ya. Not talkin' 'bout getting hammered outta yer mind, now. The deepest part of yer soul, the spirit, gets taken. Like it takes hold of the mind and body, like

they're not yer own."

Whoosh. A sudden chill ran through Shirou.

He thought back to the warm, elated feeling she got from drinking the failure before.

His senses had been swept away by the wine, in a good way. His spirits had been lifted.

Something even more euphoric than that?

Goose bumps quietly erupted on her skin beneath his outfit.

Loki then said, "Maybe if I put it like this, you'll get it easier," as a way of leading into her next sentence.

"The children who follow him aren't there fer the idiot, but the Soma itself."

Members of that group weren't worshipping a god, but divine wine.

That meant that the reason Soma Familia had more members than the god Soma's reputation would allow was because their spirits were taken by the wine he gave them. His followers had fallen in love with wine that could give them more happiness

than anything else with as little as one sip.

"That idiot is a real monster. He's not gettin' help from members with Enigma, he's just growin' ingredients, mixin' 'em, and brewin' them himself That idiot has driven his hobby ta utter perfection." Loki said.

It suddenly came to Shirou.

Part of the reason Loki referred to Soma as "that idiot" was out of fear and awe.

"He ain't usin' 'our' power, either. He's usin' the same abilities as his children, maybe even less, ta make somethin' like that. Can ya believe that? In other words, human hands can make the wine o' the gods. It's, like, what the hell'd he do up in Tenkai,

right?"

"Hmm, I think I see the gist of your story. The god Soma uses his wine as bait to lure in members…" Shirou said as he breathed in, trying to reign his emotions.

"Yep, that's right. Once the members knew the flavor of Soma, they did anything they could ta get money. While I did call it a 'prize,' not everyone in the Familia gets an equal share. On top o' issuin' a quota, the idiot only gives the highest earners the

good stuff. That Familia is at war with itself. Ah, yeah, those who fill the quota get a sip, most likely." Loki racked her brain, trying to remember. However, Shirou had a realization.

This was why the Soma Familia members he sometimes saw at the Guild were obsessed with money.

They were thirsty for Soma.

They were just glorified drug addicts… searching after another high… this… this is just…

And thus he begun to hate the God Soma.

"The more I hear about this, the more it sounds like a dangerous drug. Is it acceptable to let this continue?" he said as he was sorely tempted to make it hail Noble Phantasms over their HQ… a thought he never had before.

"Might just be my bad choice of words. The spirit 'gets stolen,' but yer brain doesn't go up in smoke like that other stuff. Ya don't go mad, just feel really good. Makes yer whole body tremble. Makes ya want ta take another sip, no matter what. But, just

like with normal alcohol, that feeling will go away."

Loki explained the difference between Soma and drugs like this:

There was no withdrawal with Soma. Its addictive qualities were not particularly strong.

Since Soma's followers' condition was only temporary, everyone would return to normal in time.

However, in the case of Soma Familia, members were given their next drink before the effects of the first dose had worn off. They were stuck in a hellish cycle.

"Can you explain what you meant by the addictive period being short?" Shirou asked in order to be better prepared.

"Well then, there are loads o' children who have tasted Soma but got cut off and managed ta recover, right?"

To add to that, it appeared that even Soma drinkers became tolerant of it over time. The strongest members of Soma Familia were almost always at the top, and therefore received the wine all the time. However, somehow they could drink it without their

spirits being stolen, and stay normal.

Come to think of it, thought Shirou, of all the members of Soma Familia who demand money at the Exchange, the ones who have reached Level Two are always much calmer and more collected… somewhat.

"To sum it all up fer ya, the leadership of a careless idiot obsessed with his hobby, the allure of Soma, and the members cravin' fer it all mix together ta make the craziness that infects Soma Familia."

Normally, if the god at the top of a Familia had real interest in it, things wouldn't turn out this way.

This was because if the one who empowered everyone raised their voice, the Familia would fall silent. If they didn't, they would be stripped of their Falna.

All this information seemed to indicate that, although he was not at fault for the current conditions, Soma himself was responsible for setting them in motion and not putting them to an end.

"That's all there is ta it, Emiya. Anythin' else ya wanna ask?"

"No, that's all. Thank you very much for your time… I thank you for your time and hope we can speak again as formally as we have done so today"

"Hahaha… dontchu worry about that… you are aright even if you are with that Hestia" Loki said with a grin.

Shirou understood what was happening at Soma Familia.

While their craving for that special wine was a bit scary on its own, this was a case of her being too focused on appearances.

He came to this conclusion because their yearning for alcohol and large amounts of money were not much different from other adventurers trying to strike it rich quick in the Dungeon. The only scary part of it was how they chose to reach their goal.

However, according to Loki's explanation, this was only a risk for part of the Familia, not every member. The supporter whom they had hired sounded as though she was perfectly normal, by the way he described by the last time they talked.

"Emiya."

"Yes?"

"Do ya know what happens ta donkeys that have a carrot hung in front of 'em but can never reach it?"

Shirou was dazed by this sudden, strange question.

Loki stuck out all of the fingers on both hands one by one and continued without waiting for his answer.

"The weaker ones get run over as the stronger ones go fer the others' carrots, kickin' and thrashin' their competition outta the way."

At first, he was confused. The answer dawned on him a moment later.

"That's what's happenin' at that Familia. All the idiot does is hang carrots. Nothin' can stop them now."

Then Loki folded all of her fingers together, except for the pinkie on her right hand.

"There might be a donkey that doesn't care how many times it gets kicked down by its 'allies.' One who can't do nothin' alone…but in exchange skillfully spurs sympathy and pity from a different 'master.' A smart, uncompromisin' donkey."

The face reflected in Loki's vermillion eyes suddenly tensed. Shirou's face.

"The new master might realize his carrots are gone, yeah?"

Loki sat up to peer into Shirou's eyes, sliding all the way into the sofa.

Pouring what little was left of the wine into his glass, Loki continued:

"Just thinkin'. If ya got a friend connected with one of 'em, ya might wanna let 'im know, just in case? Don't think it'll be serious, but there might be some problems. " said Loki, crossing her legs and grinning.

She had seen through him. Loki was truly worthy of the title of goddess.

"Sayin' it outta kindness might not be my place, though." she said with a playful smirk.

"…No. I'm taking your advice to heart."

She was a good goddess, I thought you may try to play a trick or something of that matter but I truly see you in a new light Goddess Loki. Shirou said earnestly.

Loki blushed lightly… not sure if it was from the wine or his honest and earnest words… be that as it may she had a reputation.

"If that is all you wanted to ask, you can git out here… I am quite sure ya don't wanna have your goddess on your case for speaking ta little ol me" Loki said.

"Why should I care about that? Whom I speak to or befriend is my decision and mine alone… even if she is my goddess that is one thing I will not allow" Shirou said.

"Tsk… you are wasted on Hestia" Loki said.

"Thank you for your time… it seems it flew by so quick… I must meet my teammate on the dungeon… I hope he is not foolish enought to venture on his own" Shirou said.

With that he was escorted all the way to the exit.

Shirou rushed all the way to the dungeon… as soon as he got in and did not see Bell on the first level he knew there would be trouble awaiting.

"Trace… on"

With that he traced both Kanshou and Byakuya on his hands as he sliced 3 wall warriors and 2 kobolds on his path.

He was on the first floor… he needed to go at least 4 to 5 levels more..

"Damn it Bell" Shirou cursed as he was now meet with a horde of monsters… it was as if the dungeon itself was actively trying to prevent him from reaching his allies.

However… even if there where so many in front of him…

SHING

An eye blink later they all vanished into ash leaving around 20 magic stones that Shirou left behind.

3rd floor

Shirou was dispatching some goblins and more wall warriors there was an occasional kobolds as well allies bats and wolf like creatures but still nothing that could stop him.

He could make it to the 10th floor on his own so the monsters on these levels were just wet tissue paper for him.

He finally reached the floor Bell was… and not a minute too soon… Bell was pinned down by a Killer Ant who was about to eat his head off.

He saw Lilli grasping a weapon… it was a magic sword! If she used it the blade would only have 2 more uses… that is one less than ideal!

"Trace on… barrel open… projection standby… shoot sword bullet!" Shirou yelled.

SHING

A peerless blade flew past Lilli at such force that made her stumble somewhat.

The blade flew straight to the Killer Ant's head… piercing it and ripping it out of its body, saving Bell in the process.

Back to the present

Shirou along with a slightly shocked Bell and Lilli managed to make it out of the dungeon with a lot of magic stones of a sizeable size as well as lots of Killer Ant parts that would fetch a good amount of valis.

300 thousand valis was their grand total.

Shirou and Bell both divided the loot equally among all 3, much to Lilli discomfort, she looked rather distraught.

"Is it okay to get an equal share? I only picking up the stones… I feel rather unclean" she said.

Shirou just smiled as he patted her head.

"Then let us pamper you… as a female you should just enjoy the feeling right?" Shirou said teasingly.

"D-don't say things like that… what if someone misunderstand?!" Lilli said with a blush.

"Bell, go and have a bite to eat ok? I will eat later I need to get a few things ok? Don't wait up" Shirou said ignoring Lilli's outburst.

Still Shirou knew he was not done… not by a long shot; while he understood the near pathological NEED of the Soma Familia for money... it didn't explain Lilli's behaviour… she did not have the scent of the corrupting wine he had the displeasure of getting

the hint off from a member of that Familia… so what was her endgame? Why was she behaving this way?

Thus he begun to shadow her… he wouldn't be back home for a day and a half.

The next morning

Shirou had slept outside near their usual meeting point at Central Park. He went to the water fountain nearby and washed his face to wake up and went to a nearby cafe and got a steaming cup of Joe.

That's when he spotted Lilli, she had arrived a hit earlier… about 10 minutes before their usual meeting time.

Shirou then happen to catch a glimpse of something strange on his way toward Babel Tower.

It's in a part of Central Park, under the shade of a tree with large leaves. Lilly is standing with three adventurers, sunlight dancing on their faces as the leaves sway in a soft breeze. It looks very comfortable.

However, the three large men are surrounding Lilly. They have their chests puffed out, looking down on her and saying something while Lilly frantically shakes her head from side to side. No one looks all that happy.

—Could they be members of Soma Familia?

As soon as the thought crosses my mind, I immediately go in their direction I reinforced my hearing.

"…enough…hand…over!"

"Already…gone…Really…!"

It sounds like they're having a heated argument.

I hide behind a tree in their blind spot and prepare to jump in at a moment's notice.

"Hey!"

But then, out of the blue—

Someone grabs my shoulder as if they're trying to get in my way. I spin out of it in a surprised reflex and turn to face the grabber.

It's a male adventurer. A human with black hair, excellent physique, and a longsword strapped to his back.

…Wait a second, isn't he…?

"Wait.…dont I know you? You seem familiar" he said.

Apparently the beating Shirou gave him managed to erase a bit of his memory about that night.

"don't matter, got a question for ya: Ya working with that runt over there?"

That voice, that tone…No doubt about it. He's the man I met in the alleyway a while ago.

"Oi! Haven't got all day! Did ya hire that supporter or not?" he asked rudely.

"…What of it?." Shirou asked.

I can tell he's pissed off just by looking at his eyes, but I still give him that answer. Part of it might just have been a reflex.

It's hard to tell because she's wearing an oversized robe and has a deep hood over her face, but Lilly isn't a prum. She's a Chienthrope, a dog person… at least that is how Shirou decided to play it out.

"Moron…is what I wanna call ya, but what ya think is yer own business. Ya wanna play the fool, be my guest."

Sounds like he's giving me an angry lecture, but there's something in the tone of his voice that bothers me.

It's like he's saying I'm being tricked.

Too bad for him I knew already what she is and what she wasn't… for now I should play the fool.

I squint my eyes in suspicion, and the man makes a jeering smile back at me.

"But that don't matter; yer gonna help me…We're gonna snatch her."

"I see…" Shirou said darkly, the other man did not notice notice the change of demeanor nor tone.

"Not askin' ya to do it for free. I'll pay ya a bit up front and a share of what we get out of the runt."

This guy sounds serious. I'm so shocked by his sudden proposal that words leave me.

"All ya have to do is go into the Dungeon like usual. After that, find an excuse to leave her alone and I'll do the rest. Piece of cake, ain't it?"

The man's mouth opens wide as he laughs with all his might.

I don't like that laugh at all. It reeks of malice… it took all of my self restrain to not shove a dagger trough his skull.

Even as a chill of nervousness sweeps through my body, I clench my fist.

"Think of all the money yer gonna get from this. Hell of a sweet deal."

"Ha-ha!" The man lets out another round of ridiculing laughter. "Use yer brain, boy! That's just a supporter—the runt carries the bags! Yer no worse off if that useless piece of trash were gone, now are ya? Wring her dry while ya can and ditch the rest."

I'm way past my boiling point.

This is different from the back alley. —a fierce rage is taking over.

"I see…. So this is her 'reality'" Shirou thought as he understood.

Then this is what I can do to shield her.

Shirou smiled "I see… then how about it? Shall we shake on it?"

"glad you could see it my way, don't worry here is an advance payment" he said giving Shirou a hefty sum of valis.

He declined "Don't worry… I will charge you AFTER the deed is done" Shirou said.

The man blinked.

For some reason… that smile…

He felt as if a cold hand had ripped it's way into his body and was grasping at his heart.

"…Shirou-sama?"

"!"

A voice comes from behind Shirou.

He turns around, almost as if drawn in by it, to find a dumbfounded Lilly standing there, looking up at him.

The flames of rage that had been burning inside me cool. I return to my normal self.

"Lilly? You okay? You look rather hungry, why don't we see if we can get something to eat?" Shirou asked.

They walked to a small pastry shop and bought a few small pastries to fill themselves up along with more coffee.

"Lilly just got here…What were you talking about with that honorable adventurer?" Lilly asked.

"Ahem…Nothing much, he was interested in asked business venture… he might be rather surprised by the outcome" Shirou said.

"I can't exactly tell the person in front of me that he was trying to set up a trap for her." Shirou thought.

Lilly can tell something is off. She stares at him with her mouth closed. Her expression seems a little dark.

Time to change the flow of this…

"Oh! You seemed to be tangled up in something a minute ago. Is everything okay, Lilly?" Shiri asked.

Lilly blinked surprised at that

"So you saw that…Please don't worry. As you can see, Lilly is fine."

She holds out her arms and does a small twirl before looking up at me with a big smile.

No bruises or tears on her robe. It looks like nothing happened. That's a relief.

"Lilly, who were those—"

"They were picking a fight with Lilly. Maybe Lilly just looks so weak?"

She jumped in before I could finish.

Smiling her usual bright smile and telling more jokes, she didn't let me get another word in. I don't think she wants to talk about what really happened.

"All right, let's go, Shirou-sama! Since Lilly hasn't worked in two days, Lilly's counting on your efforts today"

She passes right by my side, heading toward Babel Tower. Her bangs sticking out of her hood shake as she turns back around for a second. I catch a glimpse of her chestnut-colored eyes—they're perfectly normal. It's like nothing happened at all.

I decide to let it go and not say anything else. I close my mouth and follow her.

Bell was rushing in, apologizing for being late and with a bento box on his hands.

Lilly decided to put it on her bag for safekeeping, that way Bell wouldn't be encumbered by it.

They decided to go to the 10th floor as they would get better quality magic stones and would help Bell get more experience fighting stronger monsters.

Shirou had to keep back and protect Lilly in case a monster managed to get by Bell or birthed behind them.

It seems as for some reason Bell has learned magic overnight. While Shirou was highly suspicious of this Bell later confided in him what had happened.

Still for a Gremouir of such powerful magic to appear just so casually to him.

Shirou was sure it was that meddlesome deity he had been trying to keep tabs on.

The scent of that deity was rather strong in the Babel Tower… is as she spend a considerably amount of time there… so that meant it must be a rather powerful Familia's deity… but who?

Regardless the magic had no Ill effects and was unconventional, as in it required no magic chant to use… handy.

And so Bell plowed trough the monsters combining his melee attacks with judicious use of his new magic attack… firebolt.

Shirou was taken back, it was a shot of flame and electricity all in one, it was pretty fast, and by the looks of it it was only begening to power up as magic grew stronger the more the user used it.

"Lilly has been as far down as the eleventh level with other adventurers, so you can take Lilly's word. Mr. Bell and Shirou-sama will have an easy time on level ten. Lilly's guarantee." she said nodding confidently.

As they continue their genocidal route in the Dungeon Lilly spoke once more.

"…The truth is, Lilly has to gather a large amount of money in the next few days." she said.

"Wait a minute, is that…!" Bell said.

"Lilly can't say the details, but it involves Lilly's Familia…"

As if she were guiding Bell'z thoughts, she hits him with her real motivation.

Shirou couldn't help but remember her being surrounded by those three adventurers.

And than man… Yes… he would be getting something alright.

"Can you blame Lilly for being selfish, Shirou-sama?" Lilly asked.

Lilly bows down in front of me, looking up at his face.

If this is really about her contract with her Familia, then Shirou's interference—basically shouldering the load to help her gather the "large amount of money"—would work against her. It would depend on who was there at the time, but if it were

discovered that someone from another Familia helped her gather the money, they would have some hard feelings toward said Familia. It might be humiliating.

Shirou didn't have any way of knowing if Lilly's claims are true. He doubt she'd tell him honestly if he asked her.

I know I wouldn't if I were in her position.

I make up my mind and clench my right fist.

"All right. Let's go to the tenth level."

A large smile blooms on Lilly face when I say that. She bows over and over again, saying, "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

"Should we leave right away? Or should we buy some more items inside Babel, just in case?" Bell asked.

"Lilly bought extra items yesterday. Lilly has a suggestion, though: why don't you try this?" she said.

"This is…" Bell said.

Lilly set her backpack down on the pavement as she spoke. She pulls out the ink-black sheath of a short sword.

The Divine Knife is about twenty celch long, so I would guess this weapon is about fifty, just by looking at it.

"A baselard?" Shirou thought as he saw the blade.

The simple round sheath is flush against the blade's hilt, perfectly hiding the blade within. It's a very simple design for a sword.

"So, why?"

"Don't feel bad, Mr. Bell, but this was part of the preparation. Mr. Bell's current weapons don't have enough reach to fight against larger monsters. Also, Lilly has been thinking for a while that Mr. Bell needs more range." Lilly said.

"So you're…giving it to me? I don't feel right, not paying you for it…" Bell said feeling awkward.

"Mr. Bell has accepted Lilly's selfishness; this is a thank-you gift. Please accept it." she said with a smile.

"…Well, if you're going to put it like that…"

I draw the blade of the baselard she's given me.

The silver blade is thin on both sides. It's very light, and not that much bigger than my dagger, so for someone like him who has never used a sword, it might be pretty useful…

"I wonder if it suits me. I've never used something like this before…" he said.

"How about testing it on the way to the tenth level? The monsters down to the seventh level would be perfect for practice. If Lilly's eyes aren't playing tricks on her, Mr. Bell would do very well using a shortsword." she said with as sagely nod.

Lilly's been with many parties and seen many fighting styles; I can trust her on this. She's been with me a while now; she knows what she's talking about.

There is no reason to doubt her; I'll take her word for it.

"Ah…I don't have a belt for a sword…" Bell said.

All he can do is hang it from his waist. I was a little slow to realize that the sheath would get in my way.

"Mr. Bell, Mr. Bell."

"?"

"If Lilly remembers correctly, Mr. Bell's protector can hold weapons about that size, right?"

"Ah, forgot about that. I even told her that myself." thought Bell.

He takes the Divine Knife out of the protector for a moment to see if the baselard will fit inside. Yep, no problem.

"You have an amazing memory, Lilly. I completely forgot."

"Hee-hee, Lilly only just remembered now, too." Lilly puts her hands behind her head and shyly turns away for a moment.

He can't help but laugh as he watches her, but soon I realize I have another problem: Where do I put the Divine Knife?

"…"

Suddenly, I hear the goddess's words from last night in my head:

—Is this supporter worthy of your trust?

It's almost like the Divine Knife in my hand speaks to me, as the goddess's voice asks me the same question for a third time.

Hestia had some misgivings about little miss supporter here, but just decided to warn Bell.

Bell quietly close his eyes, asking for forgiveness.

When he opens them up again, he slips the knife into the leg holster.

It has slots big enough for potion tubes; the knife and its sheath fit securely.

"…"

Lilly watches him silently, giving a light nod.

"Well then, shall we go?" Shirou asked as he tightened his armor.

Lilly raises her head at Shirou's invitation. Bobbing her head slightly, she smiles and says, "Yes."

Deeper into the dungeon

Bell's POV

The layout and interior of the Dungeon change dramatically on levels eight and nine.

First of all, the number of rooms increases and they become much wider. The corridors connecting the rooms are all very short. Next, the ceiling that had been three or four meters above my head before is now about ten meters high.

The walls in these levels are yellow and covered in moss. Since the floor is covered with short grass, these levels look like a vast prairie. The light above is concentrated into one spot, like the sun over a massive plain. It feels like I've stepped into the

countryside.

The monsters that show up here are like a review of previous floors—rather than new ones roaming the floors, stronger versions of goblins and kobolds show up. As long as adventurers don't underestimate their strength, all of the techniques they've

learned fighting these monsters on the upper levels will work here, too. Conquering levels eight and nine should be relatively easy.

As proof of that, Lilly, Shirou and I have come down here many times in the past few days.

Now, our main destination: the tenth level.

This floor is…

"Fog…"

It's not that bad, but there's a cloud of mist hovering in this floor that's thick enough to make it hard to see the other end of the room.

The look and pattern of the tenth level is more or less the same as eight and nine. However, the bright "sun" shining down from above is gone. Instead, it looks like a morning fog just before sunrise in here.

This is the first time that visibility has been an issue in the Dungeon.

"Lilly, stick close to Shirou."

"…Yes." she said.

I don't know how many times I've said that to her, but I say it one more.

Of course I'm worried about getting separated and losing her in the mist.

In any case…this thing isn't half bad.

Keeping Lilly in my line of sight, I take a look at the baselard in my right hand.

It's been very useful. I've never used a blade longer than my dagger, so it felt a bit awkward in my hand at first. But I think I'll be giving it my seal of approval. It turns killer ants into mincemeat.

The baselard's longer reach is like a breath of fresh air. I never knew how it felt to launch strike after strike from a safe distance.

It doesn't have the cutting power that the Divine Knife has, but I can't complain.

"…!"

A room opens up in front of us as we exit the corridor.

It's another room of open savanna. The fog is still hanging in the air, but I can make out the dimensions of the room.

There are leafless, limbless dead trees scattered all around.

"…"

They stand eerily still within the haze. I frown as we set foot inside. For now, the best plan is to get away from the wall before a monster is born.

We approach a small group of the dead trees. Each stands somewhere between one and two meters tall. Abnormally thick bark covers a wide base, but the trunk becomes thinner and thinner the taller the tree grows. Very strange indeed…

—Ah, this must be them.

After giving the dead trees a once-over, I turn to talk to Lilly.

"What do you think? Should we cut these down?"

"No, we don't have time for that." Lilly's voice jumps in surprise as she stares past me.

I feel a wave of dread run down my back as I turn around to see what startled her.

A large silhouette is moving through the fog. Not only can I hear its gigantic feet hit the floor as it walks, I feel the vibrations of the impacts through my boots. My whole body is shaking.

I put up my arms defensively, with my face cramping up as I clench my jaw, hard.

"Ughaaaaaaa…"

The orc—a monster solidly in the Large category—appears through the fog with a low growl.

It has brown skin and a boar's head. With old hide wrapped around its waist, it looks like it's wearing some kind of beat-up old skirt. I think it's about three meters tall—just a bit taller than the Minotaur.

However, compared to the thickly muscled Minotaur, the orc is round—squat and hugely fat.

"Well, they really are large…" Shirou said, not having seen an orc before, since those Phantasmal Beasts had long since disappeared from the world he lived in so long ago that where now classified as myths.

"You mustn't run away, Mr. Bell!"

Lilly always says that escape never leads to the way forward. I swallow and nod.

She's right. If I can't slay this orc, then I'll never be able to take down other large-category monsters later on…like the Minotaur.

I can't let it scare me just because it towers over me. I take a deep breath and make up my mind.

"Gahhh, ungahhh…!"

The orc catches us in its beady yellow eyes.

Locking onto its prey, the orc quickens its pace and the floor shakes even more. It makes its way through the group of dead trees, holding out its arm.

Grabbing onto one of the trees with its meaty hand, the orc pulls it out of the floor.

What was once just natural scenery inside the Dungeon has become a crude club in the monster's hands.

A landform—the Dungeon's own armory.

Yet another one of the Dungeon's troublesome characteristics.

The living Dungeon itself provides natural weapons to the monsters that roam around inside it.

Landforms first appear on level ten and give the monsters here that much more power.

The Dungeon's support has given one or two extra stones to monsters that could be taken down if unarmed.

"Lousy timing…"

Landforms can be destroyed, but since they are part of the living Dungeon, they grow back after a certain amount of time. It's the same as the monsters themselves. However, I've heard that these dead trees grow back almost instantly.

Normally, adventurers would cut down the landforms before monsters arrived to prevent them from being used as weapons. The timing here couldn't have been worse.

Now I have to confront a fully armed orc with almost no room to spare.

The orc's heavy breathing is getting closer.

Its eyes are sparkling, like it could jump at me any second.

This will be my first battle with a large-category monster. I couldn't be tenser.

My chest feels like it's going to explode. Trying to get a handle on my beating heart, I take a deep breath and relax my shoulders.

"Bell, relax, this monster is a lot slower and more stupid than a Minotaur… you will be fine as long as you remember the times we spared and your training" Shirou said. "As usual I will only jump in if you seem like you need it"

That's when the orc roars with all its might.

"GUOOOUUUHHHHHHHHHHH!"

The starting bell. It's time for battle.

Hearing the signal, I charge.

I can't take a hit!

The difference in size is just too great. There's no way I can block an attack.

If I'm hit, I'll go flying. The protector on my arm isn't going to stop anything.

Thus this means I had to rely on my high agility!

On the other hand, if I'm on the attack…

First locate the target: the lower body. Especially the feet planted firmly on the ground.

Just because it's big doesn't mean it's invincible. Sure, I've been scared of its size from the start, but just like all big monsters, it has weaknesses.

When the enemy is big, it can't hit a smaller, nimble target very well.

This is particularly true for the slow and sluggish orc. Its body is so heavy that it loses its balance very easily.

One hit.

Just one hit.

If I can avoid the first hit, it'll be wide open to a counterattack.

The orc is getting closer, charging right for me!

"UGHOOOOOOOOOO!"

The orc builds up a head of steam, raising its club as it comes barreling forward.

The dead tree's roots are round, making it look like a big hammer or club. The orc swings it around over its head, lining me up for its first strike.

Over its head…That means—!

"!"

I shoot forward with no hesitation.

It's much easier to dodge an overhead arcing strike than a sideways sweep. If I can just figure out where the weapon will land, I can get out of the way. Once the club hits the ground, I don't have to worry about a follow-up attack. And the orc can't

defend itself until it raises the club again, so that's my chance.

I'll hit with everything I've got!

"GHOUUUU!"

"Gotcha!" I said with a smirk.

"—Gwouhhh?"

I handily dodge the falling club.

I use that momentum to get close to the orc's right side and thrust the baselard into the beast just below its ribs.

The orc lets out a piercing scream as greenish liquid squirts out of its wound.

The grass below is stained a slightly thicker green.

"Ha!"

I quickly decide to follow up my stab attack with the original plan, and attack the legs.

I spin around, getting the blade as low as possible before bringing it up and into the monster's thick right leg.

I grasp the shortsword in both hands as it skims the top of the grass before the blade makes contact just below the orc's knee.

A deafening roar hits my ears like a wall.

The baselard hits bone and comes to a stop. I can feel both the bone itself and the monster's weight bearing down on it; the blade won't go any farther.

But I grit my teeth.

I use all of my strength to lift the orc up, forcing the baselard's cutting edge forward.

"TAKE THIS!"

Its leg comes clean off.

The baselard shoots out of the back of the monster's shin. Its lower leg no longer attached, the orc falls to the ground.

The room shakes with the beast's scream of pain. The orc is in serious agony, but I can't stop now.

Thok, thok. I dash up onto the orc's back and run to the back of its head. Holding my shortsword upside down, I take aim and thrust the baselard into its skull.

"GIH, GOUghhh…"

"Mr. Bell! Another one!" Lilly shouts

The orc beneath me violently shakes before expiring. I look up from its corpse to see, just as Lilly said, one more orc charging at us from the way we came in. It must have heard the sounds of battle and become enraged because even as it plows through

the fog, it's ignoring the landforms entirely.

I jump down from the lifeless orc and stick my right arm out, straight forward.

"I will take care of this one" Shirou said as he shot out.

With a speed rivaling that of my own Shirou had cut the distance between the Orc and himself in the blink of an eye. He rose his two armed hands and with a quick florish brought both blades down marking a perfect X on the orc's body.

"Gyaaaaah"

The wounded orc trashed wildly as Shirou side stepped it's wild attacks.

Shirou then jumped and landed on the orc head.

And then he stabbed his blades on its neck.

"Gyaaaaaaahhhh"

Snap

The orc head flew off the body landing a few feet away near my own feet.

The body then feel down only to vanish into ash… leaving a large magic stone.

"Lilly! We did…it…"

I turn around to find her, a look of pure happiness on my face. But all that's there to greet me is white fog.

The partner who's traveled with me up until today has disappeared.

My euphoria is gone.

"Lilly?!"

My voice is just a pitch shy of a scream as it leaves my throat.

My head spins as if I had been slapped in the face. But no matter what direction I look, I can't see hide nor hair of Lilly, just the fog.

I fear the worst at first, but I take a deep breath to calm down, then take off running.

maybe a monster caused her to flee.

I make for the corner of the room where the fog is thickest.

Weaving my way through the dead trees, a horrible smell hits my nose like a ton of bricks.

I bury my nose in my sleeve and look around for the source. It doesn't take long.

There is a hunk of bloody, raw meat at the base of one of the trees.

"Isn't that…a monster lure…?"

I kneel down next to the oily mass of processed flesh to get a closer look.

No doubt about it. These things are sold in item shops. Adventurers like me can use these trap items to draw monsters to them and increase their haul of magic stones and dropped items without leaving their usual route in the Dungeon…

But why is there one here…?

"—"

The sound of heavy footsteps reaches my ears. Orcs.

As in not a lone orc. The impacts of many sets of feet are coming all at once; it sounds like the world's worst drum line.

And then I notice something else. There are masses of glistening, slimy meat scattered all over the place.

I stand there, stunned. The footsteps are close enough that I can get some idea how many orcs there are. Air leaves my lungs.

…Oh shit…

—Four.

I curse to myself in a numb silence as their shadows appear in the fog, all walking in a line, side by side.

Taking down even one of these took everything I had. Four at once is impossible. I don't stand a chance. I'd be surrounded and sent into the afterlife in seconds. And then there's their size. If they used any of the natural weapons around here, there'd be

no escaping their wide range.

I have to get out of here, now.

There's no way I can get out of this alive.

But what about Lilly?

What if she's lying injured in this room or can't escape for some reason?

Do I leave her behind? Do I leave Lilly to die?

The orcs lured here by the smell of the bloody meat notice me, and they're less than pleased. The dark green veins in their thick, muscular arms slowly pulse as they glare at me.

It's to the point now that I won't be able to get away without drawing my sword, but I still can't move an inch.

Suddenly, something flies at me from out of sight, whistling as it cuts through the air.

Shirou put his hand on my shoulder.

"Don't worry, I will deal with Lilly… you deal with the Orcs… you will be fine even if there are 4 they are still slow and stupid, if you can't defeat them on your own… make your enemy defeat each other for you" Shirou said

Make my enemy defeat itself?How...?

That's when it hit me…

It seems my high agility will serve me for more than to run away.

With a smirk I readied myself to rush them and use that idea given by Shirou.

Suddenly, something flies at me from out of sight, whistling as it cuts through the air.

"Huh?!"

Clang! The thing strikes my left leg holster, sending a piece of it flying. The piece containing the Divine Knife. That piece.

I see a small golden arrow sticking out of the holster as it flew up and away.

Another one hit the bundle that held Shirou's swords on his back… both where flung away from their owners.

The orcs see my wide eyes following the holster, and the bundle… figure that's their chance, and all come at me at once.

"OOUUUUUGGGGHHHHHH!"

Two of the orcs grab landform weapons and take a big swing in my direction.

I make one of the most ungraceful dives ever but manage to get out of the way.

I don't have time to catch my breath. As big and clumsy as they are, the remaining two orcs cover the distance between us in no time flat.

"E-gaaa!"

I scream out as massive arms come at my head from all directions.

Shirou managed to tackle me out of the way as he then makes an immproptu dodge from an awkward angle.

This is serious! What the hell are we gonna do now?!

I've never felt this vulnerable before. I don't even have time to breathe as I dodge the storm of fists and strikes raining down from the orcs around me.

When I dodge an overhead strike and happen to glance past the monsters, that's when I see her.

She's a safe distance away from the orcs, walking as if she were in Central Park.

"Lilly?! Eh-dahhh!"

The next attack comes down the moment I yell for her. I can't lose my focus, even for a moment.

While I'm dodging for my life, Lilly picks up the piece of my leg holster and takes out the Divine Knife as well as Shirou's Kanshou and Byakuya.

She then looks it over carefully before tucking it into her shirt and looking in my direction with her usual smile.

"Sorry, Mr. Bell, Mr. Shirou This is where it ends."

"Lilly, what the hell are you saying?!"

"Lilly thinks that Mr. Bell shouldn't be so trusting of others."

I catch another glimpse of her between orc limbs: she's tilting her head to the side like a cute little girl, even though I'm screaming at her.

Her eyes aren't covered by her hood or her bangs, and as always, her cute little smile.

But she looks somehow…lonely.

"I hope you find an opening and escape."

Lilly speaks from the other side of the orcs, like she's leaving her last bit of advice.

Then she adjusts her bulging backpack before turning her back to me.

"Good-bye, Mr. Bell. We won't be seeing each other again."

She takes one last look over her shoulder before running off into the fog.

"Lilly! Lilly!—Dahhh! Enough already!"

"BUGOuuhhh?!"

"Trace...on"

With that a new Kanshou and Byakuya formed in his hands and cut one orc's hand and another's feet.

"You deal with them… I will see to Lilly… can you deal with them?" Shirou asked.

"I don't know… but I sure as hell gonna try" I said in an uncharacteristically sounding manner.

"Good… if things become too much it is okay to run away… victory means nothing if you are dead" Shirou said with a smirk.

I gave a mighty roar as I jumped and stabbed an orc in the eye… Shirou had long since left.

Dungeon

Lilly's POV

"You two where too nice."

Lilly ran through the halls of the Dungeon, carrying bags that no normal person could hope to lift.

Grasping the straps of her backpack, she kept on going forward with no hesitation in her steps.

Lilly had told Bell and Shirou a total of two lies.

The first was that she was a dirt-poor supporter.

Lilly was a thief. Or "con artist" might be a better way to put it.

She targeted adventurers with high income and class, especially ones who had valuable weapons and armor.

For example, she'd worked with Bell and Shirou up until this point because they both had been her target. Or rather, to be more precise, the Hephaistos Familia knife he carried and that high quality sword made from a fallen star had been her targets.

The story about being poor was nothing more than a way to approach him.

And the second lie…

"Hmm."

A breeze blowing against her as she ran pushed her hood down. Her fluffy, furlike hair and dog ears were exposed.

Lilly reached up to lightly pet her ears as her lips recited an incantation:

"Stroke of midnight's bell."

As if she had been dosed in ash, a gray dust covered her head.

A light flashed without sound, and the ears on her head were gone when it cleared.

That wasn't all. The bangs that covered her eyes and the furry tail behind her had disappeared as well.

"Looks like a full transformation isn't necessary. Changing out a few parts is just as effective."

If Bell had been here to see this, he would surely have been shocked.

Her big chestnut eyes looked cheerful, her face that of a cute girl. The dog-girl child was gone.

There was no doubt now—Lilly was the prum girl who had run into Bell that day in the back alley.

Lilly's second lie: Who she really was.

She had been running away from that male adventurer and used her "Cinder Ella" magic to change her appearance from a very suspicious prum girl to someone else entirely.

Lilly had used this special magic to fool many, many adventurers.

Her victims would charge after her in a rage, but she would change her appearance and make them think she was someone else. They had made a mistake; they couldn't do anything to her. The rumors going around among adventurers about a "group of

thieving prums" was a testament to the power of her magic.

Sometimes she became a supporter. Other times she was an innocent civilian.

Lilly had used this magic not only to change her appearance but also to change her race, and she had committed hundreds of crimes up to this point.

Looks like being careless enough to let that adventurer see me transform was a big mistake…

The man who had pursued her the other day was a victim of one of Lilly's schemes, and he happened to see her reverse the effects of Cinder Ella. He saw her true face. That was the full story behind the incident in the alleyway.

She'd made a clean getaway, but now it seemed like that adventurer had told Shirou some things he didn't need to know.

Ever since she'd spotted them having a secret meeting that day in Central Park, the boy started acting much different toward her. He was always looking at her, and he hid information from her anytime she tried to ask why. It was almost as though he

was suspicious of her, or he knew that she could change her appearance and was on the lookout for it.

It looked as though deciding that this was her last chance and making her move was correct…

…This really is it…

What a waste, she thought to herself as she remembered all the money she made while working with Bell and Shirou.

It was over—the good mood and security he'd provided were gone. A part of her felt the loss. This was a strange feeling for a thief such as herself. She didn't understand. But there was something that she did understand: No matter how much she

thought about this odd feeling, it was nothing more than a useless emotion.

There was no way to continue any connection with the two boys.

She couldn't ignore the risks of continuing the contract after what that man might have told him.

Now that Shirou knew everything, there was no way he would forgive her.

Lilly's face became downtrodden. But she took a deep breath and shook her head from side to side.

Who cares? she thought to herself as she dismissed any feelings of guilt. For someone like her to be moved by the kindness of an adventurer—what a joke.

Because all adventurers were the same.

Adventurers…adventurers…!

Lilly had been born into Soma Familia. Her parents were members, which meant that from birth, Lilly had no choice but to join Soma Familia herself.

Just by being who she was, the gears of fate might well have been snarled from the beginning.

The world had not been kind to Lilly.

Both of her prum parents said over and over how they wanted to save money to support Lilly when she was just an infant. However, they never did anything that could be considered parental, and before she knew it they were dead. Their desire for

money—for Soma—drove them to prowl dungeon levels that were way out of their league. Apparently they were killed by a monster before they even realized what had hit them.

This left Lilly on her own in Soma Familia to fend for herself, in a group that was always stealing Soma from one another. She was alone. No one in the Familia looked after her. Those were very painful days.

Since the moment she drank Soma when being officially inducted into the Familia, she too had fallen under its spell.

There was no one she could depend on. So she decided to go it alone and make money by herself. But it was futile. She didn't have what it took to become an adventurer and was forced to work as a supporter.

Then she was exploited.

Whenever she worked with a party, they would always say: "You stole some magic stones for yourself, didn't you?" "You swiped some cash, didn't you?" "You should be punished." "You're not getting any of our shares."

She frantically tried to tell them there was a mistake, that she was innocent. But all they did was turn their backs on her, smirking. When she was in the clutches of a monster, inches from death, they didn't help her. They even refused to heal her

afterward. She was kicked around all the time. They threatened to do all sorts of things to her if she lost the bags.