Chapter 70

The next day we all got up bright and early to subjugate Knossos, well all of us except for Bell as Eina apparently visited us in the night and he brought her in and got rung out.

The reason I know this is I was the one to volunteered to make sure he was awake. I saw his door was cracked open and thinking he was just waiting for us to call him out to leave like most teenagers do when they are waiting for their parents to finally get their shit together and leave the house, I didnt bother knocking on his door and just pushed it open.

"Bell you ready to go?" An awkward silence took over as Eina was putting back on her bra while Bell was pulling up his pants and I could see literal lipstick stains on his lower stomach... "Ah excuse me." I said calmy and closed the door firmly.

After a moment I considered calling out loud like an older brother would, about how Bell had a girl in his room, but I decided to be a bro and not embarrassed him as the rest of the girls besides Ryuu were downstairs getting dressed as well.

I then went over to the other side of the room and sat beside Ryuu as she was engrossed in reading her book and with how calmy I acted and closed the door she didnt seem to notice anything. "How is your progress to hitting level 6 Ryuu?" I threw out as a conversation starter.

Ryuu closed her book after carefully marking her place and turned to me to give her full attention. "I am making good progress and I imagine with another couple weeks of grinding stat points we will all be able to comfortably level up with all the high quality Excellia taken care of with our journey and killing that Balrog and other monster."

I nodded hearing her news and I agreed with her statement as the whole Familia basically grew at a stable rate and would all level up at the same points as the majority of all our stat points came from my quest skill. "Well, Ryuu you have been working with us for a long while and I wanted to know if you would allow me to fuse a piece of equipment similar to me and Bell's." Well Bell's weapon was still low Platinum ranked and mine was basically in the middle of diamond rank so I wouldn't have any problems making a platinum equipment for her and Haruhime at the same time.

Ryuu quickly nodded at the offer responding. "Jake I would highly appreciate equipment like yours but if I could request a pair of flying boots like yours, as my method of flying is to explode my magic around me to launch myself. I also have my own magic to use offensively, and my sword is capable of healing itself of small damage so the boots or another accessory would be best." She explained making me nod in understanding and thankfully such a request was easily filled out using the same materials as my own boots.

"Ok gimmie your boots for me to upgrade really quick before we leave."

Within the very next minute I used a couple harpy feathers and a couple drops of Hestia's blood to turn Ryuu's simple tan boots that went all the way up to her thighs into dark red boots with what looked to be blue feathers lining the sides of the boots.

"Here try them out and remember flying uses a decent amount of mind and don't use too much power at first." I warned her thinking of Iron Man and how he threw himself into the concrete roof when he used too much power and Ryuu would throwing herself into Fused hardwoods I used on the ceiling and would probably give herself a concussion.

She quickly enough put back on her boots and honestly the red and blue boots kinda contrasted pretty heavily with her green bloomers, cloak and white shirt.

But if she wants me to fuse matching armor/clothes for her she will need to give me some of the materials not to mention I want some of Astrea's blood as her domains are literally the exact opposite of a Balrog with them being justice, purity, innocence, and precision.

After a few moments of talking about my experiences using the boots, Bell and Eina made the walk of shame out of his room just as Hestia and the rest of the girls came out of the basement.

Hestia simply gave an eyeroll seeing Eina power walking out of the Church blushing at us give her 'the look' "Bell when you guys are done with the expedition just meet me at the guild so we can get dinner at my place." She stammered as the half elf quickly made her exit out of the church.

Seeing her leave I gave Bell a look and teased him. "Wow Bell, she's got you on lockdown doesn't she Haha."

Bell turned bright red as Aisha matched my laughter. "Well just try not to knock her up too soon otherwise you will be wearing a ring around your finger." I couldn't help but also think there would also be a ring around your neck as well as Freya was a bit latched onto me and I certainly didnt get enough time to figure out anything to do with her before Hestia just made the decision on her own.

But I am happy with said decision as Freya makes a wonderful advisor to Hestia not to mention honestly once all the power of her Familia was taken away from her, she mellowed out and the baby on the way also contributed to her being more relaxed.

'Speaking of pregnant women, I wonder if Demeter got my message about wanting to meet...' I wondered offhandedly as we were all getting suited up in our armor and prepared to walk out the door.

"Alright Ryuu it's up to you to lead us to a good place for the invasion." I said giving Ryuu the lead in taking us into Knossos as I had no idea where we were going, not to mention how to navigate the labyrinth itself.

"Very well Jake I shall take command of leading us through Knossos." Ryuu nodded in understanding.

We quickly made our way into the poor district of Orario and Ryuu used her sword to flip a sewer cover off and throw it aside in one smooth motion showing the experience she had in removing the things.

"Girls first." I gestured and they thankfully nodded knowing what I was aiming at as Aisha and Ryuu both were wearing what amounted to a bikini for there bottoms.

I could feel we were already being watched but the Daedalus Street District was famous for its street rat orphans and other people playing scout for the criminal groups within this place watching out for known Ganesha members that attempt to patrol this basically lawless place.

After the girls climbed down, I then did the same leaving Bell on top as I climbed into the dark tunnel. Not seeing Ryuu or Aisha in the pitch darkness I lit a small finger sized flame of fire which broke the hold of darkness, and I could see the both of them blinking blankly at the surprising amount of light being made as they had already adjusted a bit to the darkness.

"Did we really forget a lantern..." I muttered and I could literally see the realization cross Ryuu's face as she herself forgot to point it out and at least I had the excuse that I have only adventured within the dungeon.

Bell soon made his way down and brought down the lid over his head shutting out the little ray of light coming from the surface's dawning morning light.

"Let's get going. Ryuu you can still lead right?"

She answered by a small amount of fire running off her boots lighting up the tunnel even more and wordlessly she led the way. I could tell she was obviously thinking of the last time's she probably has been down here with her own Familia.