Chapter 13

The next day was no big deal, they just stayed home while Hestia went to work. They practically had to dig Jack out of Hestia's embrace for this to happen, although Bell was a little relieved to have someone in whom Hestia acted the same as he did, but thought it wouldn't be good for Jack if this continued. After lunch, Bell asked to see some movements from Jack and Astolfo. Knowing how his allies move would help him a lot. He saw that Jack kept four knives under his cloak. Astolfo did not show everything, after all, his spells did not differentiate enemies from friends and the one that differentiated could not be called, although Bell wanted to see another monster that understood the common language.

Tamamo was watching them while demonstrating what they could do, Lili was preparing things for when they go to |Dungeon| Tamamo focused on Jack for the longest time. |Servants| supposedly they are invoked in their apex, if Jack's apex was a child that age, it only made Tamamo even sadder while thinking how short her life had been. Astolfo had thought the same thing when Jack introduced himself yesterday.

Bell showed his swords and the way he fought with two, and then with the three, it surprised Jack, Tamamo and Astolfo. Although Saber and Lili told how the swords acted it was still a surprise to see with their own eyes. During the afternoon Bell tried to control the 'Legacy of Chaos' the same way he controlled the others and although he managed to make it float, it was only a few centimeters from his hand and he had to concentrate a lot, which left him confused, because the 'Promise of Light' and 'Forgetfulness of Darkness' went without a hitch, but when he focused only on the 'Legacy of Chaos', the other two fell to the ground.

When the night came they went to the usual pub to celebrate, when they entered Bell he already felt several looks turning to him with many being envious, after all he was again surrounded by the beauties, what made Bell think about how funny their faces they would stay if they knew that Astolfo is a man.

(Syr): "Bell, I was getting lonely." - she was ugly to them and did a little as if she was disappointed.

Bell saw that expression and found it funny and cute so he decided to stroke her head. Syr immediately went red. And the looks only got more piercing, especially those of Lili and Tamamo, but luckily for Bell he was used to it.

(Syr): "I will guide you to the table." - she was very tame and still red when she said that.

When they followed her, Chloe lowered her head a little as if she wanted the same treatment that Syr received, but Tamamo and Lili stayed in the middle. They all sat down, Jack sat on Bell's lap, they ordered and right after that Syr and Ryuu brought the food and joined the table.

(Tamamo): "Isn't it okay if two of you don't work?"

(Ryuu): "Mama Mia said that everything is fine."

(Syr): "Besides, Ryuu needs a little break."

(Bell): "Well, then let's just enjoy it."

After all, it was to celebrate Jack and Astolfo's entry into [Family], as their Level up. They took their glasses, only Tamamo was drinking, the others were drinking juice.

(Tamamo): "Well, a toast to our new members, and to Master's Level Up." - she said while raising her glass.

The others followed his example, even Jack. With that comment from Tamamo, the others looked at Bell, without those jealous looks. While they ate, the could hear everyone talking.

(Man 1): "He's the one with the white hair, isn't he?"

(Male 2): "|White Dawn Rabbit| ..."

(Man 3): "The fastest boy to reach Level 2 ..."

(Bell): "They don't even try to disguise it..." - he murmured to those at his table.

(Astolfo): "Haha, it looks like you're a celebrity Master."

(Ryuu): "In fact, after all, the fastest record before Mr. Cranel, was |Sword Princess| one year."

Bell looked around a few times, and whenever he ended up looking at Chloe, she winked and Tamamo, Lili and Syr's bloodlust went up. They ate for a while until Ryuu spoke.

(Ryuu): "What do you plan to do now?"

(Bell): "Tomorrow we will register Astolfo and Jack, and I will get new armor, mine was destroyed in the battle against <Minotaur>, then we will try to go to the |Middle Floors|."

(Syr): "Do you think you are ready?"

(Bell): "Yes, maybe not too deep, but it sure does get in, especially now that we have our new members." - he said that while caressing Jack's head, which made her happy.

(????): "Don't you think you're being too arrogant, |White Dawn Rabbit|?"

They turned and saw that the voice came from the man at the table next to him who had just stood up, while he was still on the shore he tapped Jack on the shoulder and she understood what he wanted, she took the knife he was using to eat and got off his lap.

(Man): "Don't expect the |Middle Floors|, are like the |Upper Floors|, where you can go and come back for good."

The man who spoke was tall, with short brown hair and two scars on the same side of his face. He had an expression of depoche.

(Man): "If you think that with this group you will achieve something, forget it. Alias ​​looks more like you are surrounding yourself with women."

Astolfo chuckled at that comment, and Bell almost followed him. Meanwhile the women at the table were starting to get irritated.

(Bell): "And what do you suggest?"

(Man): "Me and my friends are going to |Middle Floors|, for a long time, join our group, in exchange-"

(Bell): "No thanks."

The man in front of him was amazed he had not even finished speaking, and had already been refused. He managed to hear the others at the place laughing at him.

(Man): "Do you think you have a chance?"

(Bell): "You can't even see a child with a knife around your neck, I'm surprised it lasted on |Middle Floors| with that level of attention."

When Bell said that the expression of everyone in the place was confused, even who was at his table, but soon after the man felt a sting in the neck, he did not dare to move his head, but out of the corner of his eye, he saw the little girl who arrived with Bell slung over his shoulder, staring at him while holding a knife that was being pressed against his neck. One move and he was dead. Everyone at the scene was surprised that they did not notice a child climbing him with a knife in his hand.

(Man): "Child, this is dangerous... put the knife down..." - he didn't even dare to talk much.

Jack looked at Bell.

(Jack): "Mommy, can I kill him?"

It shocked everyone present, she asked Bell for permission in the same way that a child would ask to go play, it was so shocking that no one paid any attention to how Jack called Bell. He looked at Bell practically apologizing to him with just his eyes.

(Bell): "No, Jack, you can't, now come and sit and eat or your food will get cold." - he said while hitting his leg that Jack was sitting before.

(Jack): "Okay!" - She said cheerfully as she let go of the man and went to the Bell.

Bell picked her up, placed her on her lap and she went back to eating, that seeing that scene would never believe that that girl, who was acting like any child her age, had the ability to kill.

(Bell): "Anything else about my group?"

(Man): "No, no, sorry."

He was still looking terrified at the child. He was sure that if Bell had said yes, that child would have opened his neck without even thinking twice. He and his friends paid the bill and left quickly, the weather got a little heavy but quickly returned to almost what it was before. Bell noticed that several looks still fell on him and Jack. Syr and Ryuu did not ask anything about Jack's behavior. From her attitude, it was clear that she had a difficult life before meeting them.

(Ryuu): "So Jack has the ability to pay for her presence... this is really useful."

(Bell): "Yes, and Astolfo is a monster tamer."

The two of them, and the others who heard that name, were surprised, wondering who he was talking about.

(Syr): "Won't that be a problem?"

(Ryuu): "The [Guild] doesn't seem to allow a monster tamer outside the [Ganesha Family]."

(Astolfo): "Really ?!" - he looked at her after that statement

He was quite shocked by that information. He was almost crying when he turned to Bell.

(Astolfo): "Master, what do I do? I don't want to have to change [Family]..."

(Bell): "Easy, we try to fix it."

(Syr): "Wait, shouldn't it be Astolfo who should be crying now?"

(Astolfo): "What do you think I'm doing?" - He looked at her even more sadly.

Syr was speechless for a few seconds, as well as everyone who could hear the conversation, with the fact that her name was Astolfo.

(Ryuu): "If I may ask, why did your parents name you Astolfo? They wanted a boy, but when you were born they decided to put it on anyway?" - an angry tone was possible to be heard in his voice.

At that time Bell and Astolfo looked at each other, and started to hold back a laugh. Ryuu seeing that scene did not understand what was happening.

(Ryuu): "Did I say something funny?" - she looked at Tamamo and Lili, who were on her side.

Both were with a painful expression on their face, when Tamamo started to speak Bell and Astolfo returned to look at Ryuu's face.

(Tamamo): "Actually, Miss Ryuu... Astolfo here is a man." - she said pointing to Astolfo.

The pub was silent, everyone stopped moving, and slowly looked at Astolfo, who was just smiling.

(Everyone): "WHAT !?" - the shout was loud and perfectly synchronized.

That even made Ryuu lose her stoic expression. Everyone was in shock, even more than they were with Jack, when they saw those expressions Bell and Astolfo started to laugh.

(Syr): "How can he be a man? He looks more like a woman than me."

(Tamamo): "We were surprised by this too."

(Ryuu): "What about you, Mr. Cranel?" - she had returned the expression of before and Bell had stopped laughing, but Astolfo was still laughing with everyone's reaction.

(Bell): "I realized that he was a man... although I have no idea how I got it."

After that, the rest of the celebration went on without a hitch. But even after they left and returned home, Astolfo couldn't stop laughing.

The next day Bell, Lili, Jack and Astolfo went to register the two new members. Hestia drank a lot at the Take party and had a hangover, so Caster stayed to look after her again. Jack was a little confused by the registration part, but when they explained that she was supposed to be on Bell's side, she was very happy because she would be on her Mommy's side all day. As they walked she was acting like a child her age. They were on their way to the [Guild], there Bell separated from them to buy his new armor, although he had to wait a while to convince Jack to let him go and left it for Lili to register.

They joined the [Guild], and Lili was holding Jack's hand, just in case they got lost and she activated her ability. She stood still for a while.

(Astolfo): "Is there a problem, Lili?"

(Lili): "I don't see the usual counselor today. But that one I recognize." she said as she walked over to the counter.

They went to the counter for Misha, Eina's best friend.

(Lili): "Good morning."

(Misha): "Oh ... you're from Eina's little brother's [Family], aren't you?"

(Lili): "Little brother?" - he was confused by this question.

(Misha): "Ah, no ... I know he is not her little brother. She just treats him as one."

(Lili): "Hah ..."

(Misha): "A-anyway ... welcome to [Guild], dear [Adventurers]. My name is Misha Flott. How can I help you?"

(Lili): "I would like to register two new members in our [Family]." - She said indicating Jack and Astolfo.

(Misha): "Wow ... it looks like Eina's little brother is forming a harem ... there is only a girl joining the [Family] ..." - she murmured this part while taking the forms, but Lili heard it.

Lili was silent for two facts. One that she was sure about Bell forming a harem, she just missed who was in it, and if she should tell Astolfo that he was a man.

(Misha): "Ahem! Very well, please fill out these forms ..." - she said while placing two forms on the counter.

Lili waved and took the two forms and helped them to fill out. In the case of Jack, she completed it herself, since Jack did not know how to write.

(Astolfo): "I thought I was going to ask for more. Is everything okay, having little information?"

(Misha): "[Families] has their secrets. The [Guild] just needs the name and the Level. The rest is detail. However, the [Guild] has no right to know the skills and magic so she doesn't ask. The status of an [Adventurer] is your life, so don't show them to anyone. Are you bored? "

(Jack): "Status ... is it the thing behind Our backs?" she asked as she tried to reach her back with her hands where the status was.

(Lili): "That's right. Jack makes sure no one sees this. This is as important as protecting Bell and Lady Hestia."

(Jack): "As important as protecting Mommy and Mommy Hestia. Okay. We are not going to let anyone see Our back."

(Astolfo): "I have a question related to monster tamers." - he asked while he and Lili returned the forms.

(Misha): "What is it?"

(Astolfo): "There is a special procedure for some monster tamer that just appeared?"

(Misha): "Well, this is not exactly my area ... it seems that the [Guild] insists on everyone being from [Ganesha Family]. Why?"

(Astolfo): "I am a monster tamer."

(????): "You won't need it."

They turned and stung Eina's boss, Royman Mardeel, coming towards them.

(Misha): "Mister Mardeel, are you sure?"

It was a long time ago that they only allowed the monster tamer to come from [Ganesha Family].

(Royman): "They have permission from Lord Uranus."

That surprised Misha, Lord Uranus was not involved in this type of subject.

(Royman): "The only thing you need to demonstrate and be able to tame a monster."

(Astolfo): "Easy. Thankfully, the doors are wide open."

He went to the middle of the room, while the two [Guild] employees looked at him in confusion.

(Astolfo): "Attention everyone, could you leave this middle area free for a few seconds?"

All those present looked at him and agreed, although the men were more wanting his grace, commenting on the same mistake that everyone who did not know Astolfo's secret. When the area was clear, Astolfo let out a loud whistle, a few seconds later they heard a sound that looked like an eagle, and shortly afterwards a monster flew into the [Guild]. He had the white head of an eagle, the body resembling a horse covered in brown feathers until just before the belly, from then on it was the same color as the feathers, the front legs were that of an eagle and the rear legs were that of a horse, and he had a white ponytail. The wings, also brown, were the same length as his body. Hippogriff, posed where there were no people, with everyone looking at him, both in surprise and fear.

(Astolfo): "Hippogriff!" he shouted as he ran up to him and hugged him around the neck.

Hippogriff even fixed his head with that Astolfo gesture, as if trying to do the same, which surprised everyone in the place.

(Astolfo): "Is that enough?" - he said as he turned to face Misha and Royman, who were looking astonished to say the least.

A monster that responded to a simple whistle, not to mention that it was so tame. They had never seen anything like it. If you tell them that that monster was unknown to them.

(Lili): "Astolfo... is that your Hippogriff?"

(Astolfo): "Yes. Hippogriff, these are Jack and Lili, they will be working with us from now on."

(Jack): "Hi, we're Jack." - She said while extending her hand, as someone normally would do to shake hands.

The Hippogriff made a low sound and extended his left front leg, Jack took one of his fingers, and they waved their arms. That was making everyone's head almost explode, Hippogriff was understanding them, to the point of even greeting back.

(Royman): "How did you get this?"

(Astolfo): "Being friends with him? Well, he was a prisoner of a magician in my homeland, after I released him we ended up becoming friends, right?" - he said the last part looking at Hippogriff.

The Hippogriff made an animated sound, confirming his words. Royman understood why Uranus decided to let Astolfo be an exception.

(Misha): "Why did you release a monster?"

(Astolfo): "It seemed like the right thing to do."

Astolfo didn't care about details, he followed the rule of doing what seemed to be good, he didn't think about the pros and cons, if it seemed right to help someone, he would help, if it seemed right to end someone, he would end up .

(Royman): "Well, it is obvious that this is enough. Finish their records and put the girl as a monster tamer too, and you leave some information about this monster, he is unknown after all."

Again Astolfo almost burst out laughing with the last part. But he agreed to talk about Hippogriff.

(Misha): "Sure."

Astolfo asked Hippogriff to watch over Lili, while he and Jack went to receive Misha's guidance. When they came back, Hippogriff was on Lili's side watching around.

(Lili): "Is the orientation over?"

(Jack): "Yes."

(Astolfo): "And what do we do, wait for Mestre? Are you going after him?"

(Lili): "I will show you the city, since we will not be going to | Dungeon |."

They walked around the city, with Lili showing everything they could about the city.

(Astolfo): "So many different people ... where I lived this could very well end the death of some people."

(Lili): "In fact, some races don't look like others, but everyone can live here ... or at least put up with it so that they don't find any problem."

(Jack): "Hey hey Lili, what is this?" - she said while pulling Lili's hand and pointing to something.

Lili looked at where Jack was pointing. It was a stall selling potato puffs.

(Lili): "Ah, those are Jagamaru-kuns." - she said while paying five of them, two with azuki cream.

She offered it to Jack and Astolfo. Astolfo took a normal one and Jack took one with cream.

(Astolfo): "This is delicious! No wonder there are so many stalls selling this." - he said after taking the first bite.

(Lili): "Yep, potato puffs are well known and people of all races and ages can enjoy them. Lily heard that they are also the |Sword Princess|'s favorite food too."

(Astolfo): "Are you talking about the one who had a record before Mestre?"

(Lili): "Yes. Apparently she visits Lady Hestia's stall a lot. Even if they just potato puffs, each stand has their own toppings and recipes after all... they are the epitome of 'simple, cheap, and filling'."

(Astolfo): "Do the [Gods] work? I thought they stayed in his while the children worked."

(Lili): "Well ... usually the poor [Gods] who have little money or small [Family] who work. Although some [Gods] have [Families] and businesses like [Demeter Family] 's vegetable farm or [Hephaistos Family] 's weapon shops have their [Gods] or [Goddesses] working with them. Others like [Freya Family] or [Loki Family] are big enough for their [Goddesses] to be able to live with what your [Family] wins at |Dungeon| without having to work. "

(Astolfo): "I see..." - he said while taking another Jagamaru-kun.

Lili stared at Astolfo for a while. She was not a [Hero] story specialist like Bell, she only knew the most famous ones like 'Argonaut', but she knew that a [Hero]'s life had several tragedies in them, as many were defined by them. Saber, Tamamo and Astolfo seemed to have passed their twenties, maybe Astolfo you are much older than he appeared after all, no one could distinguish him from a woman, so hiding his age was no problem. If they were [Heroes], there must be a lot of tragedy in their 'pasts', not just fun and adventures. Perhaps they even encountered a tragedy that took their lives. Not only them, but also the...

(Jack): "Isn't Lili going to eat anymore?" - she said that while taking a potato puff and holding it in front of Lili.

The other three were adults who experienced happiness and unhappiness. But Jack was a child, younger than Bell. She was able to kill without even worrying, she had already killed people for reasons that only she knows. At that time Lili realized that her life could have been much worse than it was when she was with [Soma Family].

(Lili): "Thanks Jack." - she said with a smile as she took it from her.

Lili stopped worrying about it. There was no reason to worry about the past. She was with [Hestia Family] like all of them, and the only thing that mattered was the future.

(Jack): "Lily should eat more to grow up faster" - she said while patting Lili's head.

(Lili): "Lili is a [Pallum]. Lili is already all grown up! Lili won't get any bigger than this!" she shouted.

(Jack): "Is it that so?" - she asked as she kept on patting Lili's head.

(Lili): "Giiiiiii! Stop treating Lili like she's younger than you just because she is smaller!"

Astolfo started to laugh, seeing that 'relationship of sisters', while Lili tried to escape from Jack running around Astolfo just for Jack to chase her with a smile on her face.

While Astolfo shocked everyone with his Hippogriff, Bell went to the [Tower of Babel]. He followed the same path he had taken with Eina and the others to the store where he bought his armor. He went to the same place where he found her, but he didn't see any more work by Welf Crozzo, but another piece caught his attention. It was a black coat is a full-length black coat with a hood and a waist-high slit going up the back. It has a large silver zipper that fastens at the top and zips down to seal the coat. It has silver drawstrings for the hood decorated with a large silver bead hanging from the end and a silver chain ornament adorned with four large cylindrical silver beads that fastens to a loop on either side of the collarbone region.

Bell was not what but something about that coat attracted him, it didn't seem like much, but even so, he decided to take it. He looked for the price but didn't find it, so he decided to ask the owner. When he took the coat he realized that it was very light and that he could use it with the armor he wore. He went to the counter and the owner was arguing with a red-haired boy.

(Boy): "Why do you keep doing this to me. I'm risking my life here. Can't you treat me better?"

(Owner): "Welcome! Can I help you with something?"

(Bell): "Yes, in two ways. First how much does it cost here?" - he said while putting his coat on the counter.

(Owner): "This is not from my store, sir."

(Bell): "No? But it was in the background."

(Owner): "Well, it still isn't. Someone must have left it there, if they want, they can take it."

Bell was confused, he knew that the coat had something special, maybe the previous owner did not know what it was and tried to undo it.

(Owner): "What about the second one?"

(Bell): "Ah, yes. Wouldn't you have more armor made by Mr. Welf Crozzo?"

The boy next to him looked at him, he and the owner were surprised.

(Owner): "Welf Crozzo?" - he said as he turned to the boy next door.

(Boy): "You see, even I have a loyal customer." - he said with a victorious face.

(Bell): "Uh ..." - he was not sure if he was following that dialogue.

(Boy): "If you want armor from Welf Crozzo, here they are." - He said while taking a box and placing it on the counter.

When he looked into the box, he saw armor similar to the one he wore before, although he did see some differences here and there.

(Bell): "It looks like the armor I wore."

(Boy): "I charge you a little more than you paid in the previous one."

(Bell): "But they are yours!"

(Boy): "Yes, they are. After all, I made them."

(Bell): "So you are..."

(Boy): "Welf Crozzo. How about we talk somewhere else?"

Bell took the coat and said goodbye to the owner while following the Welf, they went to the surface and sat on a bench.

(Bell): "Nice to meet you. My name is Bell Cranel."

That made Welf happy and surprised.

(Welf): "You're the |White Dawn Rabbit|!? You're the new record holder who broke the previous record!" - he spoke in a loud tone, as if he wanted the others to listen too.

(Bell): "Sshh... Your voice is too loud..." - she was nervous about all those looks.

He knew that Welf was doing it on purpose, he just didn't know why.

(Welf): "You really are younger than me. No there is no conncetion between [Adevntures] and age, right?"

(Bell): "Umm, Mr. Crozzo, how old are you ...?"

That left Welf's face seriously.

(Welf): "This year I'll be seventeen. So, please stop with the 'Mr. Crozzo'. I don't like my family name."

He wondered why, but he was quiet. Maybe he had a fight with his father or he just didn't like being on the same level with them.

(Bell): "Then ... Mr. Welf?"

(Welf): "You don't need 'sir', but it's okay. I know that I'm the one who's saying this, but I have confidence in being able to dish out good quality stuff. However ... none of it is selling ... after buying it, customers immediately return everything.

Bell thought of his armor, the 'Pyonkichi', and he was sure the problem was with the names.

(Welf): "But then you appeared. You acknowledged my product's value and came to buy a seconde time. That's is a true customer. So I would like to know if you would not make a direct contract with me."

hat surprised Bell, he remembered Eina talking about direct contracts.

(Bell): "I-IS IT OKAY ?!" - he ended up screaming.

(Welf): "Hey now, that's my line. You're already at Level 2. A smith like me doesn't have any abilities. Normally you think that someone like you and the anonymous-old me wouldn't go together well. And besides... "- he said as he put his arm around Bell's neck.

(Welf): "Look at the shop over there ... aren't there people constantly looking at us?"

(Bell): "Ah, yes ..."

(Welf): "They aiming at you. They want to make a contract with just like what I'm doing now. In a good way and a bad way, they're always keeping an eye out for adventures that have Leveled Up to Level 2. This is the difference between [Low Class Adventures] and [High Class Adventures]. So, what do you say? "

Bell was considering, he liked his armor, and from the way he was treated at the store, he won't be able to find them unless he's direct with the manufacturer. And he was thinking of getting another sword, or a two-handed sword, after all, he manages to float two of the three swords he has. And I could get something for Lili too. And above all, he liked Welf, he knew he couldn't jump to the conclusion, but he thought he was a trustworthy person.

(Bell): "... Understood. I'll form a contract with you, Mr. Welf."

(Welf): "Alright it's been decided! I wouldn't have known what to do if you had refused! SUCK IT!" - he said the first part shaking his hand, in the end he shouted and raised his hand and Bell's for the others to see.

Those who saw it quickly turned a little angry.

(Welf): "Well, let's leave the contract for another time. Could you hear a request from me?"

(Bell): "Request?"

(Welf): "Put me on your team."