Chapter 3

Her blonde hair swinging along with the wind she dashed forward toward the Amazons who were eager to take my dignity.

Her movements are delicate and gracious as if she was a butterfly with huge wings of the color of night.

"Don't think that we are giving up, Bitch!" One of the Amazons snorted sprinting towards her....it was a grave mistake.

The elf girl grabbed her head and immediately slammed it into the ground.

The electric cracks started to form on the broken ground plate.

Just at that moment, I sensed that I was no longer on the ground.... upon realizing what happened I saw that Amazon who was near me grabbed me up.

"Whaaaaa!?"

I screamed in confusion.

"It's futile to scream, cutie, I will surely enjoy our time together."

Her tone seemed to be one of the most sadistic that I ever heard of....like Really!? Why I'm always in trouble with women!?

I closed my eyes in regret as the image of my late grandfather popped up.

"Bell! Do you think men should be sad about this!?" He said with a mighty and jealous tone.

"N-No but...A man should not be always kidnapped ya know!?"

"That's just details! Give yourself in and become a ma—"

Suddenly Image of my grandfather disappeared as my goddess Hestia appeared kicking him out.

"What are you teaching to my Bell!?"

She says with an angry aura around her.

I sweat drop as.....

Bam!!!

I was snapped out of my dreams realizing that now I was Falling.

Looking upward I saw that the Amazonian who kidnapped me just now was kicked out cold by Elf who chased her till here.

I was startled... rumors about elves were right...they are delicate and gorgeous creatures.

As to what I heard Elves were one of the most outstanding demi-human races among any other races.

Their fits were their beautiful appearance, extremely good magical skills, and... Proudness of an unknown level.

Seeing the elven girl deal with Amazons I confirmed that the rumors are true.

Despite me falling right now I can say that she is....wait...Right, I'm falling!

"WAAAAAH!"

Scared for my life I closed my eyes ready to be imprinted onto the ground, however...

I was yet again grabbed.

The gentle hands wrapped around me while slowly going down I calmed myself.

That same elf girl saved me from the deadly fate which was coming toward me.

"Th-Thanks you...."

I timidly said to her.

Looking at her closely I noticed that she was blankly watching me.

She didn't listen to my words...she was staring at me with red cheeks and sparkling eyes.

*

*

*

Her heart was throbbing as she was watching the guy in her hands.

He was so cute, innocent, and mostly...her body was getting warmer as she watched him.

Bell's pheromone skill started to work again.

The elf girl didn't know what to say as she was staring at him...she could swear that she could watch this same face all day long forgetting about everything...it was a calming and pleasant face to look at.

"U-Umm...th-thanks for saving me."

He finally spoke. His voice seemed cute to her as well.

Her long and sharp ears twitched as she still silently was looking at him.

What was this feeling??? Why do I feel warm?

These thoughts occupied her head.

Bell was getting nervous as she did not reply.

"Umm..."

"Oh! Sorry."

She immediately placed him on the ground feeling a bit sad as she wanted to hold this little bunny in her hands for a little longer.

"I'm thankful to you for saving me, Miss!"

He bowed down. His white hair shining in the night elf girl started to regain her composure.

"It wasn't a big deal. Besides it was my duty as the employee of this tavern to eliminate any threat that may cause a reduction of clients."

Her answer was fast, swift, and monotone.

Bell's sweat dropped and he smiled at this.

"Haha...it seems you love to work here."

His smile as pure and as charismatic as it can be made the elf girl's delicate heart skip for a moment.

'A-Again this feeling....?" She thought to herself.

Since she met this guy, and it was not even an hour or a day, she felt as if she knew him for an eternity.

The calm and peaceful aura, pure innocence, and naiveness.... everything made her feel weird and strange.

Maybe outside she seemed like a calm and stoic iron maiden but deep inside she was screaming from an unknown feeling in her heart.

"I do love to work here...this place is precious to me."

"Whoah! That's great...a-actually I was scared that these girls might harm you... I'm sorry...if I only I wasn't that weak...to be saved by a woman and already twice a week ..."

His body loosen its composure as he looked down sad and a bit disappointed in himself.

Elf girl was silent but...

"I don't think that you being weak or strong physically means anything."

"Huh?"

"The true power lays inside you and besides..."

She placed her finger on his chest.

"Mental strength is much better than physical."

Bell's sad eyes changed their shape...from a weak and pathetic look, he switched to one of the men who were ready for battle would do.

"Y-You are right!" He cheerfully said and added; "Sorry, what is your name?"

The elf smiled.

"My name is Ryu. It is nice meeting you."

The girl hearing her name smiled.

"Pleasure is all mine, my name is Bell Cranel!"

With that said she guided him towards the tavern.

_______________

The wooden tavern named 'Benevolent Mistress' was pretty popular among adventurers of Orario.

Its wooden-style bar added an atmosphere around it making this place shine at the night.

Bell and Ryu entered inside seeing tons of customers flooding in.

Maids were running with all of their might. They didn't have any strength to even look toward Ryu or Bell.

The tavern wasn't full but it was huge meaning that there still were plenty of customers inside.

Just in that very moment.

"Bell!"

The cheerful voice echoed in his ears as upon turning around he saw Syr running towards him.

"You came as promised!"

Bell smiles awkwardly.

"Yes. I couldn't force myself to not come after the kindness you showed me."

Bell bowed down to Syr as she smiled seeing him.

"You are kind, Bell....oh and Ryu is here as well?"

She finally noticed her elf friend.

"You know him too, Syr?"

"We met today. I told you about him, remember?"

Ryu remembered that today Syr was nearly flying from happiness and she remembered how she asked the reason behind her friend's happiness.

Syr told him what happened and Ryu was glad to see her colleague so happy.

"What about you, Ryu? How did you both meet..."

Ryu told her what happened as Syr listened with a bit worried expression.

Her face seemed calm but her aura was a bit evil.

"To think that someone would dare to do this to Bell...."

"Haha... Th-There is nothing to worry about, Miss Syr! I mean it happens regularly."

"Huh?"

Now not only Syr but Ryu as well was confused.

"I m-mean I'm always being kidnapped or lured somewhere by women...m-maybe they hate me? Haha."

A bit nervous he said looking down.

It was common thing for him to get into these situations and surprisingly they all involved some women around him.

Now that he mentioned it Ryu and Syr noticed something strange.

All female looks were plastered on them...well not on them but on Bell.

They could see the lustful eyes and a bit of predator-like aura flowing around.

Their sweat dropped...Bell's circumstances were the complete opposite of what he thought they were...these women didn't hate him...they all were obsessed with him!

"W-Well I can't blame them for this...." Both Ryu and Syr thought in unison.

They could agree that Bell was a natural chick magnet....and it concerned them.

"Mr.Cranel"

"Bell"

Both Ryu and Syr look at him with a protective aura.

"You are strictly prohibited to walk alone at night."

Short, strong, and fearsome words pierced through the poor boy's delicate heart.

"W-Why is that?"

"You see...Mr.Cranel....night is time for predators..."

"Yes... these predators won't stop no matter what and they would devour you."

Bell started to sweat...of course, by predators, they meant 'Girls' but it's Bell we are talking about...he was dense and a bit too naive.

"S-So monsters are Popping out in the city at night?"

Syr and Lyu fell into deep silence.

"Lyu... it's meaningless he is too naive."

"I agree...."

The awkward silence was raised among the three of them until...

*growl*

Bell's stomach announced that he was hungry.

"...again!?"

It was already twice this day that his stomach was announcing that he was hungry.

Putting his hands on his stomach he blushingly looked away as both Ryu and Syr awestruck were looking at him.

".....S-S-S-Sorry...."

"C...Cute."

"Cute...."

Both of these girls nearly jumped up from their places.

"Mia Mama! Bring the most nutritious thing we have!"

"Bring Tons of food, Please!"

Both of the maids who were usually calm, especially Ryu, now were impatient to bring him his food.

"Wh-Wha!? I-I am not that hungry—"

He was shushed by Syr.

"Bell...my heart will hurt if I see someone starving."

"R-Really?"

"Yes."

"Whoah! You are so kind."

Syr smugly laughed inside. 'Naive.'

Suddenly as they screamed towards the kitchen...the huge masculine woman in her late 40s got out.

"Quite yelling ya both!"

Mama Mia. She is the owner of this place as well as the descendant of the dwarf race.

She was known for being a rough type of woman.

Calmly she walked forward toward Ryu and Syr.

"What is the fuss about food?"

"Mia Mama...Miss...we need to feed a rabbit."

"Yes. The rabbit is a real glutton."

Both of them were pointing their fingers toward the already red Bell who was sitting in the corner.

"The Rabb....it!?"

His pheromones worked again. Looking at him Mia felt a sudden heart burst within herself.

"Understood. Coming up with food right away."

She ran off towards the kitchen and started to cook. Rough, gentle, and very vigorous.

In about Ten Minutes his food was ready.

Ryu and Syr ran towards him, and they started to serve the food.

Various food start with a huge plate of pasta continuing with a huge bowl of chicken stew.

"I-I won't be able to afford it!"

He was sweating buckets as the food on his table might have been worth half of his Familia's savings.

Ryu and Syr were strictly looking toward him.

"Bell, you should eat and as for details...you should not care about them."

"Easy to say than done! I C-Can't...."

It was already embarrassing to him and now this.

"So you are the boy Syr was talking about all day? I would admit you are really cute for the adventurer."

Mia Mama standing beside him slapped his back assuring him that he should eat all of this food.

"Everything is on me today. Especially for you lil Rabbit."

Mia Mama's expression was surprisingly strange...if all it seemed more like an expression of a young maiden in love.

It was all because of his skill....and part of it was his charm.

"I...."

"Mr. Cranel....you said that you wanted to repay me for saving you, right?"

Ryu said with a serious face.

"Huh? Yes....?"

"Then eat all of this."

"Huh?"

"Eat all of this, be healthy, and never be in danger."

"M-Miss Ryu....you seem strange."

Lyu however was serious.

"Eat, Sleep, and be healthy."

So this was the rumored killing aura of an Lv 4 adventurer...poor Lv1 Bell gave up and started to eat the food near him...and of course, he started with carrots.

Slowly munching the carrot his face seemed pleasured by it.

"Awww"

Girls thought in unison. Even Mia Mama.

Munch. Munch. Nom. Nom.

"S-something wrong?"

He turned around as the girls averted their eyes from him.

He was confused but regardless sit a bit aside.

"U-Umm... would you mind sitting with me....?"

He wasn't sure why they were watching him so intensely.

"I will be glad!"

Uncanny as ever Syr decided to sit beside him...Ryu wasn't an exception as sat near him as well....in the end it became more of a Bell Sandwich deluxe.

Bell in the middle and gorgeous maids of Benevolent Mistress on his sides.

"Here, Bell, say 'ah' "

"Huh...o-okay...?"

He opened his mouth as Syr placed stew in his mouth.

He slowly chewed it down and smiled thanking her.

Ryu seeing all this also got the spoon of stew.

"Mr. Cranel. I would like to feed you as well..."

"What? U-Um...yes...?"

Munch.

The spoon, as if a bird entering the nest, sinks into his mouth.

The sight was truly worth male jealousy....and as well as female jealousy considering those deadly looks on the female part of the tavern.

The atmosphere was really good...at some point it was amazing.

Too good actually...

Just at that time.

Slam!

The door was wide open as the atmosphere changed from good to exciting.

A bunch of adventurers came in.

They all had high-class equipment and all of them seemed to be as strong as hell.

Dwarves, Elves, Humans, and even Amazons along with their goddess.

Bell narrowed his eyes looking towards them as....he suddenly noticed a certain girl among them.

"Aiz... Wallenstein!?"

He quietly exclaimed under his breath.

Syr and Ryu noticed his troubled look.

"Something bothering you, Bell?"

"Mr.Cranell?"

He didn't say anything but looked in their direction.

"Are you perhaps interested in Loki Familia?"

"Loki Familia? Y-You mean one of the strongest Familia in Orario?"

He knew that Aiz was part of Loki Familia but he needed to confirm anyway.

"Yes. They are often customers here."

"I s-see...."

Bell felt a bit pathetic at the moment...remembering the events which happened in the dungeon he was always running away from.

Minotaur chased him and he ran away...Aiz Wallenstein saved him and even confessed to him and yet...he ran away for no reason... it's pathetic.

"Hahahaha! Today's expedition ended well!"

The silver-colored werewolf exclaimed while drinking his beer. His name is Bete.

His silver hair swayed left and right while he is aggressive as ever talking with his Familia.

"You are just drunk, Wolfy boy."

Another member of Loki Familia...the Charming young Amazonian girl, Tiona, was messing with the werewolf guy.

"Shut up!"

"Sigh...as aggressive as ever."

Now it was Elf girl who was Messing with him.

Her name is Riveria and it seems that she was one of the leaders in Loki Familia.

Besides them, there were more members....the blonde-haired Prum, and Finn.

The brown bearded Dwarf, Gareth

Amazonian, Tione...at all she was looking exactly like Tiona besides her hair was longer and her breasts, as well as her eight bigger and higher.

Sword Princess/Kenki, Aiz Wallenstein. The blond-haired beauty with amazing abilities and power.

Elf girl, Leifiya.

And at last there was there goddess....the always lying deity who would mercilessly crush anyone who stands in the way of her Familia...The goddess Loki...her vermillion-colored hair was one of her most outstanding traits.

She always had closed eyes and a smug smile.

The atmosphere was good even among them and Bell was trying his best to approach Aiz Wallenstein....he wasn't sure what to exactly say to her...he was thankful that she saved him but it was nothing similar to love... however considering what she said in the dungeon he wasn't sure what to say.

"Hey, Liz, did you fall in love with such a wimp?"

Suddenly already drunk Bete started the conversation about Bell.

Every person in the tavern narrowed their eyes.

"Aiz fell in love!?"

"No way!"

Everyone was surprised to hear that...well besides Riveria who was already aware of that.

"Haha damn right! Our cold-hearted Aiz fell for a boy she saved! The Tomato Hero."

"Tomato Hero?" Tione and Tiona asked in unison.

"Yes, that guy was running away from Minotaur but our Kenki saved him and Minotaur blood was splattered all across his body! She saw that guy confessed to him! Hahahaha...and he ran away!"

His laughter was getting annoying to Aiz, Tiona, Tione....and even Riveria.

"Bete, you are drunk," Tione said.

"Shut up! I want to settle things! Whom would you choose, Aiz? Me!? Or that good-for-nothing wimp!"

Aiz was calm but she was getting annoyed by him.

"I would choose that white-haired boy even if you would be the last male alive."

She said calm, cold, and a bit angry.

"Pfft! You were rejected, Bete!"

"Hahahaha! Totally!"

"Grrrr shut up! I am a hundred times better that that white-haired tomato Hero. I'm sure he is not popular with girls. And maybe he is under some punny god's familia."

"Just stop it, Bete, my drink is going to taste bad ya know?"

This time it was Loki who tried to silence the wolf.

Tons. Yes...tons of insults were flying toward Bell.

He gripped his hands hard enough for them to bleed.

"Mr. Cranel, your hand..."

"Bell?"

Bell was fazed...what should he do? Run away again? But.... won't it be more pathetic this way?

Running away might always be an option in every battle however....it won't make him manly.

He finally stood up going towards Loki Familia's table...his hands bleeding from his grip he was just blankly going towards them.

"Take that back..."

He silently said already approaching the table.

Loki Familia was too focused on their conversation not noticing him...

"Take that back!"

He screamed loud enough for the whole tavern to hear that.

His eyes were shining from the rage he had.

He can endure any insult towards him but.... he won't stay silent when his goddess's good name is in line.

"Huh?"

Everyone was plastered on him.

Male gazes were filled with confusion while female gazes were filled with.... lust? Love? Well, something similar.

Bete was silent not understanding at first... however, upon closer look he finally recognized him.

"Hahahah look! Speak of the devil....so Tomato boy is here?"

Aiz was surprisingly nervous seeing him. Her monotone face changed into one with a shade of red.

"You are here....." She said under her breath.