Demeter Familia Premise Chapter 3 (Patreon)

Hello friends and fans, Kairomaru is bringing you another chapter! Bell has received an offer of training in swordsmanship from Ais! Tiona and Tione offer their help as well! Bell says yes, of course! What Adventurer would turn down instruction from such famous and powerful Level 5’s? Bell will give his all to improve and get stronger! Demeter introduces Bell to Lili, the Prum has years of experience as a Supporter and has no problems working with Bell since she was saved from her old Familia thanks to Demeter. With a Supporter helping him in the Dungeon, how much will Bell’s efficiency increase?

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Chapter 3 – Rumbling Thunder

-Wheat Manor ~ Morning-

“Bell, this is Liliruca Arde.” Demeter beamed at Bell as she introduced the Prum girl to Bell.

Lili had semi-short brown hair, chestnut brown eyes, a light complexion, and was rather curvy for a Prum woman. She wore a red and white shirt, a red skirt with a black belt, black stockings on her legs, and sturdy brown boots on her feet. She gave Bell a smile and held out her hand to him. “Liliruca Arde, I look forward to working with you, Bell.”

“I look forward to working with you too, Liliruca.” Bell smiled back as he shook her hand.

“Just Lili is fine, Bell.” Lili shook her head once with a grin. “We’re Familia, we should be friendly.”

That made Bell smile even more. “Lili then.”

Demeter pulled them both into a warm hug with a beautiful smile on her face. “I knew you two would get along!” Bell’s face was pressed into her large breasts in what was becoming a normal part of Bell’s day. Lili, with her shorter height, had Demeter’s large breasts gently resting atop her head. The Prum only smiled and playfully rolled her eyes as she returned the hug. Lili knew many men would love to be where she was right now, getting the ‘boob hat’ from the bustiest Goddess in Orario. “You two be safe, okay?” Demeter requested with a smile as she let them go.

“We will, Lady Demeter.” Lili assured her Goddess. “Lili will look after Bell.”

“Thank you, Lili.” Bell chuckled at the confidence of his new Supporter. “I’ll be starting my training today after I get back from the Dungeon, so I’ll be getting home a bit later.”

Demeter nodded to Bell. “I remember. Do your best, Bell.”

Bell gave her a quick nod. “I will, Goddess.”

Lili pulled on her beige long coat and then hefted her massive green backpack onto her shoulders like it barely weighed anything. The backpack was bigger than she was and Bell could only marvel at how easily Lili carried it around. With Lili ready, the two left the Wheat Manor behind to head for the Dungeon with Demeter watching after them fondly.

-Dungeon ~ Sixth Floor-

“Whoa…” Lili blinked as she watched Bell activate his Magic and blitz a group of Killer Ants in a spark of blue-white lightning. She shook herself out of it quickly and hurried to start gathering up the Monster corpses as quickly as she could. “Can Lili even keep up with this kind of speed?” She dragged the first two Killer Ant corpses away and piled them up before going back for more.

Bzzzt

Bell fried the Killer Ant he’d just stabbed his sword through from the inside out. In a blur he was gone, lopping off the head of another Killer Ant a dozen meters to the left of the first one…before the first one’s body had even hit the floor. The third Killer Ant was bisected by Bell’s sword, then it’s head was stabbed through by Bell’s lightning-clad hand as he thrust it forward in a spearhand strike. He was gone by the time the top half of the dead Ant hit the stone floor.

“KREEEE!!!” The remaining Killer Ants swarmed towards Bell all at once from every direction.

Bell focused, knowing his Magic was capable of projecting lightning when he needed it to. “Hah!” He pushed his lightning outwards and bolts leapt from his body, striking all of the encroaching Killer Ants.

“Skree!”

“Kree!”

“Seerrrk!”

The Ant Monsters screeched as they were electrocuted before going silent. The lightly steaming corpses fell to the ground as Bell cut off the flow of Mind to his Magic and his spell faded.

“Not too bad…” Bell commented on his new use of his Magic. ‘A bit more draining than how I usually use it, but it’s good to know that I can.’ He thought to himself. He noticed Lili dragging off the dead Killer Ants and blinked in surprise to see the floor where he’d fought was already cleared of the corpses. “You’re so fast, Lili.”

Lili actually laughed a little at Bell’s compliment. “If anyone is fast, it’s you, Bell.” She shook her head. “It’ll just be a minute for me to harvest the Magic Stones.”

“I’ll keep watch for you, Lili.” Bell said with a smile.

Lili worked quickly and efficiently, opening up one Killer Ant after another and pulling out their Magic Stones. “Huh, a Drop Item.” She picked up the Killer Ant Claw and put it into her green backpack without looking.

Bell was already impressed by Lili’s speed at cleaning up the corpses, but to see her speed at harvesting Monsters was truly impressive. In the time it would take him to harvest a single Magic Stone, Lili had done three, plus any Drop Items. Just as Lili had said, in roughly a minute, she’d finished harvesting the pile of Killer Ants and the last two bodies were crumbling away into white ash.

“Ready to go, Bell?” Lili asked as she hefted her huge backpack again.

“Yeah, I’m ready.” Bell refocused from his marveling at Lili’s skills as a Supporter.

-Later-

“Gugugu!” A War Shadow swiped it’s knife-like claws at Bell.

The golem Monster stopped it’s attacks as it ‘looked’ at its missing hand.

Then its head fell off.

Bell’s lightning coated sword was merely a streak of blue-white as he swung through one Monster after another. All the while the cloak of lightning covering his body kept him moving at the same ridiculous speed. A Frog Shooter’s tongue was split in half, lengthwise, and the current passing through the long muscle killed the Frog Monster without Bell having to deliver a finishing blow. Three Killer Ants were hacked apart in a flash with limbs, heads, and thoraxes flying through the air to hit the ground. Another War Shadow was killed as Bell thrust his sword through its circular ‘face’, shattering the glass-like material.

Lili collected the Frog Shooter and one of the Killer Ant thoraxes to drag off to her pile. “Lili is getting a workout today.” She said with a chuckle. “Can you grab the last two Killer Ants and the War Shadow, Bell?”

“Yeah, I’ll get them.” Bell sheathed his sword and grabbed the last three Monsters that he’d killed, well, the thoraxes of the Killer Ants which had their Magic Stones in them at any rate. He hauled them over to Lili’s pile, the Prum already harvesting Magic Stones quickly.

A minute later and Lili was packing up her green backpack again. “Ready to move on?” She asked while hefting the huge pack onto her back.

Bell nodded, but his curiosity finally got the better of him. “You carry that huge backpack so easily, Lili. It’s amazing.”

Lili smiled at Bell. “Thank you, but it’s just Lili’s Skill helping her.”

“You have a Skill, Lili?” Bell asked, happy to learn more about his new Supporter.

“Yeah, it helps Lili carry heavy things. It’s not very practical for an Adventurer, but for a Supporter it’s helpful.” She pulled back the right sleeve of her beige coat to reveal a bowgun strapped to her forearm. “One second.” She took aim and fired towards the ceiling.

Wsh

“Gkh!” A Purple Moth fell to the floor with the bolt through its head.

Bell looked at the dead Monster and then at Lili who was already heading over to harvest it. “I didn’t even notice that Purle Moth.”

Lili looked over her shoulder after setting her backpack down. “You should always keep your senses sharp in the Dungeon, Bell. Monsters can spawn from any wall and even the ceiling. When we make it down to the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth floors, Monsters spawn from the ground too.”

Bell made sure to noted that information down in his head. “You’ve been to the double digit Floors before, Lili?”

“Yeah, a few times, with members from Demeter Familia.” Lili said as she opened up the Killer Moth and collected its Magic Stone. The huge insect Monster crumbled away into white ash. “Tch! Didn’t get the Drop Item this time.” Purple Moth Wings could be sold for a decent amount of Valis to pharmacy type Mercantile Familias.

“That’s amazing.” Bell praised her. “I hope to get down there in time too. So, I’ll count on your experience, Lili.”

Lili pulled her backpack onto her shoulders and gave Bell a grin. “Leave it to Lili, Bell.”

The two continued on their path, looking for more Monsters.

-Guild Exchange ~ Late Afternoon-

“Your Magic Stones were worth 15,608 Valis; have a nice evening.” The Raccoon Man behind the glass pushed the tray back onto Bell’s side with a nod.

“Thank you, sir.” Bell collected all of the Valis and carried them over to a free table with Lili. “Time to divvy up the money.”

“Lili’s favorite part.” Lili joked with Bell as they both chuckled together. The Drop Items would be sold by Lili, who had more experience with it, and she’d give Bell his half tomorrow morning before they left Wheat Manor. They were Familia, and Familia trusted each other. Something that had taken Lili time to get used to after what had happened with her previous Familia.

Bell counted out the money, splitting it fifty-fifty with Lili because that just made sense to him. “That’s 7,804 Valis for Lili…” He moved Lili’s cut towards her. “And 7,804 Valis for me.” Bell put his coins into his money pouch with a smile. “That’ll pay for equipment maintenance on my day off and leave some to save to afford better gear later.”

Lili nodded at Bell’s plan. “Lili is happy that you’re thinking ahead, Bell. A lot of Adventurers blow their money on booze or mess up a lot in the Dungeon and have to pay for medical treatment.”

“I want to get better and stronger, so planning for the future just makes sense.” Bell shrugged. “I’ll see you back home, Lili.”

“Enjoy your training, Bell.” Lili said sarcastically, a laugh in her voice as she waved to him. “Just remember, a single slip up from a Level 5 could kill you instantly. So, don’t slip up!”

“Lili!” Bell called out to the giggling Prum as she trotted out of the Guild. ‘It couldn’t be that bad…right?’

Bell put it out of his mind and headed over to the meeting area to give his report for the day to Sophie.

-Guild Advisors’ Offices-

“And now he has a Supporter…” Sophie let out a sigh, both of relief that Bell wasn’t solo anymore, and of exasperation at the number of Monsters killed increasing. She set the report on her desk and let some of the other curious Advisors look at it. “An almost fifty percent increase just from getting a Supporter.”

“Two-hundred-fifteen!” Misha Flott gaped at the number from a newbie Adventurer. “I didn’t think he’d break two-hundred the very next day…”

“Must be a good Supporter.” One of the other Advisors gave a nod at seeing such an increase in Bell’s numbers just from getting a Supporter.

Sophie picked up the report and put it into Bell’s file. “He’s progressing incredibly quickly. But at least he’s not being too reckless about it.” Left unsaid was that she’d swat his head with whatever she had available if Bell got out of hand. The cute Elf didn’t want to see one of her Adventurers die, so she took on a bit of a disciplinarian role with most of them to make sure they didn’t act stupid in the Dungeon.

-Atop the City Wall ~ Later-

“Good afternoon.” Ais greeted as Bell walked up the stairs to the large space atop the immense wall that surrounded the city. Her golden eyes looked Bell over in his armor as her long golden hair was lightly blown by the breeze.

Tione greeted him with a smile. “Hey, Bell.” Her green eyes gave Bell a once over as well. “Not too bad.” She complimented while pushing her long hair behind her ear.

Bell thought she looked beautiful in the late afternoon sunlight.

“Hi, Bell!” Tiona beamed at him, her smile nearly outdoing the sun itself with how warm and bright it was. She surprised Bell by giving him a hug tight after her greeting. But that didn’t stop him from returning the hug at all.

“Good afternoon, Ais, Tione, Tiona.” Bell greeted the three Level 5 Adventurers with a smile of his own.

“Sorry to make you come all the way out here.” Ais apologized to Bell. “It’s one of the few places that’s out of the way enough to train in without anyone disturbing us.” She motioned to the wide area that was just flat stone with no obstructions.

Bell waved off her apology. “It’s alright with me.” He couldn’t complain about an out of the way place to train. It made sense that they’d need space where others wouldn’t bother them. Inter-Familia training probably didn’t happen often, so it was better to stay out of the way and out of sight as much as possible.

“We’ve decided to take turns with your training.” Ais informed him of the plan that she, Tiona, and Tione had decided on. “So, let’s get started right away.”

“Yes, Ais.” Bell smiled and waited for instruction. “…What should I do to start?”

Ais stared at him for a long moment before looking slightly away. “What should you do?” She looked as if she was questioning herself.

“Hahahaha!” Tiona burst into bubbly laughter at Ais not having come up with any plan to teach Bell.

Tione shook her head with a smile. “If you didn’t have any ideas, Ais, you could’ve asked us.”

Bell blinked at Ais not having any kind of plan. ‘Is…is Ais an airhead?’ While that thought was adorable and made the beautiful Adventurer even cuter in Bell’s eyes, it wasn’t what he was expecting.

“I’ve been thinking…since yesterday…” Ais admitted as she turned her head back to face Bell. “…How about practice swings? Show me how you normally use your sword.”

“Sure…” Bell agreed as he drew his sword. He went through the motions he’d worked out in the Dungeon against the various Monsters. He tried his best to move at the same speed he normally did while fighting (without his Magic) to give Ais the best understanding of his self-taught moves.

“…Do you only use a sword?” Ais asked when Bell came to a stop.

Bell blinked at the sudden question. “At the moment, yes. Do you think I should use more than one weapon?” He wondered if that was what Ais was trying to get at.

“That’s…up to you.” Ais looked thoughtful for a long moment. “I have no experience wielding anything other than a sword.” She placed one hand on the sword at her hip. “But…” Ais looked over at Tione. “All the knife users that I know also utilize Martial Arts to fight. Some of the moves are usable when wielding a sword too.” She held out her hand. “May I?” Ais looked at the sword on Bell’s hip. When Bell unsheathed it and handed it over to her, he felt a bit of excitement building up. “...Like this.”

‘She’s going to demonstrate?’ Bell couldn’t believe that he was about to get to see the skills of a First Class Adventurer up close. Ais’s golden gaze sharpened and she stepped forward strongly. A pivot on the ball of her foot and Bell only had an instant to blink. “Eh?!” The Kenki’s foot slammed into his breastplate and sent Bell reeling backwards. His feet left the ground entirely and he bounced twice off the stone floor before he came to a stop. “A-Ais…?” Bell tried to look up with the wind knocked out of him.

Ais looked shocked at what she’d just done. “Ah…sorry…” She apologized to Bell.

‘Yep…she’s an airhead…cute…’ Bell thought before lying back on the floor and slowing getting his breath back from the unexpected kick.

“A little much there, Ais…” Tione commented on the demonstration.

Tiona agreed with a wince. “I get what you were going for…but yeah…”

Ais approached Bell after a few moments of letting him recover. “Can you stand?” She asked, a phrase that would become ingrained into Bell’s mind soon enough.

“…Yes.” Bell sat up and got to his feet. Ais handed him his sword back once he was back on his feet.

“Then…let’s fight.” Ais drew her sword and set it against the wall. “I’m not as good at instructing as Riveria and the others.” She removed the scabbard from her hip and held it like a practice sword. “I think this is best.” Bell would swear he saw Ais become a black silhouette with glowing golden eyes for a second.

‘Strong!’ Bell thought as he skipped back and readied his sword. The danger that Ais exuded as she prepared for combat had triggered his fight-or-flight response just like the presence of a powerful Monster could.

“Yes…that’s good.” Ais nodded and Bell blinked at the praise. “Just like now, I want you to perceive as much as you can from what’s about to happen.” She set a focused stare on him that made Bell tense up.

“Yah!” Bell rushed forward to make the first strike.

“That won’t work.” Ais denied as she swung her scabbard directly into his unguarded side. Bell gasped at the sharp pain and was sent skidding across the stone. “You must never be reckless. Especially not in the Dungeon.” Ais walked over to Bell as he coughed and tried to get back on his feet. “Can you stand?”

“Y-yes…” Bell stood up and exhaled heavily.

“You’ve experienced pain…” Ais thrust her scabbard into Bell’s breastplate before he could react. “That’s why you know to fear it.” The red-eyed young man was knocked off his feet again and slid backwards into the wall.

Bell looked up at the approaching Ais. ‘I knew… I already knew, but…she’s really fast…and more than that…she’s strong.’

“Can you stand?” Ais questioned again, scabbard in hand and ready to continue.

“Yes… I can…” Bell forced himself to his feet and the duo moved to the center of the large open space atop the wall again. His red-eyes widened as the scabbard impacted his breastplate again. He’d seen it coming just a bit and rolled with the force of the strike. This time when his feet left the ground, he rolled his body and performed a back flip that saw him landing a few meters away.

“Just following the attack is good enough for now.” Ais praised Bell’s quick response. “Learn to read your opponent’s movements.” She instructed before she blurred forward. Ais was crouched in a low stance and inside his guard before Bell could react. “Adventurers depend too much on their Falna.” She slammed the scabbard into his side. Bell, staggered from the hit, couldn’t react when the next blow struck his left leg and broke his stance entirely. “What would be left if you lost your Status?” Ais stood up to strike his shoulder, knocking him backwards slightly. “That’s what…” Her next strike caught him under the chin and lifted him off the ground a bit. “…I will teach you.” Ais’s final strike struck the descending Bell hard and made him collapse onto the stone, his sword clattered to the stone floor from the rapid beatdown.

“Gkh…” Bell hacked and coughed as his body flared with pain. He strained to at least push himself up off the stone, but it was slow going.

“It seems like your defense is lacking.” Ais noted of their brief exchange. “When you’re able to read and successfully avoid my attacks…I think you’ll be one step closer to your goal.”

“Hah…hah…” Bell panted as he managed to sit up on the floor.

“Can you stand?” Ais asked him again.

‘That’s right… I’m still just a beginner…but, even if it’s just a little… I want to be closer to where you are.’ Bell thought as he wiped the blood from his nose. He picked up his sword and stood up. “…One more time, please!”

‘Very good.’ Ais felt her heart beat strongly in her chest at the determination and fire she saw in Bell’s eyes. She readied her scabbard for the next exchange with a small smile on her lips.

Tione had an approving look on her face as she saw Bell get back to his feet from the brutal start to his training. “Bell’s not backing down. Can’t help but respect that.”

“Right?!” Tiona beamed at her sister. “Even when he gets taken down, he gets right back up! He’s like those Heroes in the old tales!” She was clearly excited if the way her eyes were sparkling was any indication.

-Later-

“You did well for your first lesson, Bell.” Ais smiled at Bell who was getting back to his feet again. ‘He listens to advice, observes during our spars, and is picking up swordsmanship fairly quickly…’ Ais thought to herself even after training with Bell for roughly an hour only, she saw the potential in him. But beyond any potential or talent he might possess, it was his unending drive and tenacity that were the most impressive. Ais felt her heart flutter slightly in her chest again and once more wondered why Bell made her feel like this.

Tione stepped up next and drew her two kukri knives. “Are you ready to continue, Bell?” She asked, pointing the right kukri at him.

“Yes…” Bell breathed out a bit heavily.

“I’ll give you another moment to recover by asking you this: What do you think I’m going to teach you?” Tione asked Bell pointedly, emphasizing her kukri by moving them slightly up and down.

Bell thought about it for a second as he got his breath back. “You want me to learn how to wield a knife?”

Tione grinned at Bell for a second before she was right in his face with her left kukri coming at him.

Clang

Bell managed to block the large knife with his sword, if only just. ‘Heavy! Even holding back, her strength is so much higher than mine!’

Tione’s right kukri came in from the side, aiming for Bell’s unarmored flesh.

Bell grunted as he threw himself backwards, the tip of the kukri passing within a centimeter of his body. He wasn’t given any reprieve as Tione stayed on him, keeping his sword occupied with one knife while the other went for his openings and the places where his armor didn’t cover.

“You’re dead.” Tione said a moment later, her left kukri forcing Bell’s sword down, while her right rested against his neck. Bell’s rubellite eyes burned into Tione’s dark green, unknowingly riling up her Amazon Blood at the ferocity she saw within. “Do you understand what I’m going to be teaching you now?”

“How to fight different weapons?” Bell said with some uncertainty.

Tione gave him a smile as she pulled back her kukri knives. “Correct.” She nodded as Bell caught his breath again. “If you only ever fight Ais, and only ever fight against another sword wielder, you’ll develop some bad habits. Not many Monsters in the Dungeon fight like humans. Of those that do, only a very small number use anything like a sword.” The Spartoi and Lizardmen were the most commonly known to do so, and of the two, the only one that Bell would likely encounter any time soon would be the Lizardmen in the Big Tree Labyrinth. But they were down in the second half of the Middle Floors, so that would only happen after Bell had Leveled Up for the first time and made his way that deep into the Dungeon.

Bell had caught his breath and took up his ready position again. “Thank you very much for the instruction, Tione.”

“No problem, Bell.” Tione grinned back at him as she readied both of her kukri knives. “Let’s see if you last a little longer this time!” She was upon him a split-second later.

Clang

-Later-

Bell had taken a few minutes to rest after Tione said they were done with her part of today’s lesson. He felt like he’d learned a good amount already in just the first two hours. ‘But I can keep going!’ He stood up and left his sword propped up against the wall next to where Tione and Ais were sitting. The path to his dream of being a Hero required that he give his absolute best to learning everything he could. “I’m ready, Tiona.”

“Great!” Tiona smiled brightly at him as she limbered up, going through a few stretches. “All Adventurers should learn some hand-to-hand combat, just in case! That’s what I’ll be teaching you!” She took up a stance that Bell had never seen before, showing that Tiona definitely had proper training from somewhere. “Ready?”

“Ready!” Bell declared and stepped forward to close the distance.

Bam

Bell saw the sky moving above him.

Then his back hit the stone floor hard.

“Gah!” Bell coughed out as he felt the pain radiating from his stomach. Forcing his neck to move, he looked at where Tiona was and saw her outstretched fist being pulled back as she stood up. “Didn’t…even see…it.”

Tiona trotted over to him with an apologetic smile. “Sorry, Bell, I thought you were ready.”

Tione shook her head. “Ease up a little more, Tiona! That was low Level 4 strength and speed, you need to hold back to Level 3 standards if Bell is going to have any chance to call this training.” Getting beaten into the ground and left unconscious wasn’t going to help Bell much beyond increasing his Endurance stat; and the length of time that he was unconscious was time wasted in his training with them.

“I’m…okay…” Bell said as he slowly got back to his feet. “You’re very skilled, Tiona.”

“Hehe… Thanks.” Tiona rubbed the back of her head with a small grin. “I’ll hold back a little more this time.”

The two took up their stances again. On an unseen and unheard signal, the two began. Bell managed to dodge the first punch this time. He went for a kick, but Tiona almost negligently dodged it by barely moving her body. She kicked high, forcing Bell to duck low, only to demonstrate her bodily control as she stopped her high kick and turned it into an axe kick instantly. Bell barely threw himself to the side to dodge, Tiona’s heel stopped just before it hit the floor so as to not damage the bricks. Bell tried a punch, but Tiona knocked it aside and socked his in the face with a jab that took Bell off his feet and bloodied his nose again.

Tiona crouched next to Bell as he lay on his back, trying to recover his senses. “You don’t guard well, Bell.” She said plainly to explain why he was on his back with a bloody nose. “Attacking is great, but if you leave yourself open after every punch or kick you throw, you’re just asking to get hurt.”

“What can I…do to…fix my defense?” Bell asked as he caught his breath.

Tiona smiled happily at his question. “Watch the whole body, there are always small tells that precede a person’s moves. Even the best fighters can’t hide all of their tells, once you have a hint at what your opponent’s next move is, you can counter and defend better!”

Bell thought about that for a moment. “So, I need to work on my observational skills while in combat.”

“Yep! That’s the first step!” Tiona nodded, looking pleased that he understood so quickly. “The second step is practice!” She stood up and then offered Bell her hand, when he took it, she helped him to his feet. “Ready to go again?”

“Yes!” Bell stated after wiping the blood off his face. He tool up his stance again, but blinked when Tiona gently guided him into a slightly different position, raising his right arm a little higher to better guard, and widening his stance slightly to give him better balance.

Tiona nodded her head after repositioning Bell. “Feels better, right?”

Bell blinked as he noticed the change. “It does. I don’t think I’d lose my footing as easily this time.”

“Great!” Tiona took up her own stance again. “Go!”

Bell moved in first, doing his best to watch all of Tiona this time. He saw the fist coming towards his face and moved his head to the side, letting it pass him. Bell threw a jab towards Tiona’s chest but her free hand caught it, stopping it cold. Bell felt her hand that he’d dodged latch onto the back of his neck and just managed to get his leg up in time to block the knee that would’ve slammed into his gut. With a grunt, Bell threw his head forward with a headbutt. Tiona leaned back and avoided it, but that had been the point. Bell’s free hand grabbed her left leg, his palm against the back of her thigh, and he jerked upward with all his strength while pushing his bodyweight forward.

“Nice!” Tiona grinned brightly as Bell tried to take her down to the floor. She seemed to go with it, until Bell realized that it was his feet that were off the ground. “Now what?” Tiona giggled as she was standing on her right leg, perfectly balanced, her body horizontal with Bell laying atop her from his failed takedown.

“Uh…” Bell was trying his best not to get flustered at their current position…but that was hard when he was literally lying on top of Tiona. The fact that she was easily balancing on one leg with his full bodyweight on top of her wasn’t lost on Bell, but it didn’t fully register at the moment.

Tiona decided to show him what to do next as she twisted her hips and slammed him into the ground. Bell hacked out a pained gasp while Tiona quickly took the dominant position and pinned his hands to his chest with her left arm, her right arm putting pressure on his throat and cutting off his air. “This is how you grapple. It’s all about controlling your opponent through positioning!”

“Um… He can’t say anything…while you’re choking him.” Ais pointed out as Bell’s face was turning red from the lack of air.

“Right, right!” Tiona let up, sitting up and straddling Bell in the process. “Sorry about that! Did you learn from it?”

Bell only nodded as he took a few deep breaths. Getting air back in his lungs certainly helped him ignore how nice it felt to have Tiona straddling him, her ass practically resting on his pelvis.

Tione looked at the position of the sinking sun. “I think we have enough time for some three-on-one sparring.” She looked at Bell, still lying on his back with Tiona straddling him. Her sister didn’t seem to be in any hurry to move either. “What do you say, Bell? You want to spar with us using your Magic?”

“Isn’t that dangerous?” Bell asked them.

Ais smiled at his concern for them. “It’s alright. We’re all…Level 5.”

“The Level disparity will make it much harder for you to hurt us, Bell, even with Magic.” Tione assured him with a grin.

Tiona slowly, almost reluctantly it seemed, got up off of Bell. “We’ll be fine! Plus, it’s the only way you can train your Magic!” She may not have any Magic herself, but she knew how it worked, just like any other Basic Ability.

Bell stood up and grimaced just a little from the various sore spots on his body. “Alright.” He picked up his sword and unsheathed it. He set the scabbard back against the wall and took his place across from Ais, Tiona, and Tione. Holding his sword at the ready, he called upon his Magic. “Spark!”

“Ooh!” Tiona marveled at the lightning that surrounded Bell’s body and covered his blade.

“Whenever you’re ready, Bell.” Tione had her kukri knives ready.

“Mm.” Ais nodded once; her scabbard held in her right hand.

Bell blitzed forward in a blur of blue-white lightning. The edge of his blade closing in on Tiona’s face a fraction of a second later.

Tiona backstepped, and the blade swung through empty air. “Pretty fast!”

Tione attacked, one of her kukri looking to pin Bell’s sword.

Clang

Bzzzt

“Ngh!” Tione grimaced from the shock as she brought her second kukri around, only for Bell to have moved in order to dodge Ais’s scabbard.

Bell’s sword clashed with the blue scabbard, but because the material was non-conductive, Ais managed to avoid the electroshock. She forced him back with a swing and charged in with a thrust. Bell moved to the side to dodge, his speed much greater with his Magic active. Tiona’s fist came screaming in from Bell’s blind spot and managed to land a blow that sent Bell flying a couple meters.

“Egh!” Tiona shook out her hand, a tingling sensation having come over it from the brief contact with Bell’s lightning-cloaked body.

Tione wasted no time in closing the distance with the staggered Bell. She ducked low when Bell thrust his sword at her, her hair getting static filled from the closeness to Bell’s Magic. Her kukri flashed out at Bell’s sides, looking to score a blow.

Zap

Bolts of lightning spread out from Bell’s body, striking Tione before she realized what he’d done.

“Hrnh!” Tione grit her teeth but kicked Bell away as she leapt backwards.

Ais was already behind the airborne, Bell. Her scabbard slammed into his back, and knocked him to the floor. Bell turned and lashed out with his sword. Ais moved backwards on instinct. Lightning arced out from Bell’s swing, passing through the area that Ais had been in a mere half-second ago.

“Gotcha!” Tiona punted Bell into the wall, having taken advantage of his distraction. “Eh, it tingles!” She looked both amused and mildly confused by the lingering effect of touching Bell’s Magic.

“Agh…” Bell’s Magic flickered as he lay on the floor after being kicked into the wall. “Owww…” He shot to his feet as if the electricity was moving his body and flashed towards Ais.

Ais blocked the blade easily enough and pushed Bell backwards with her superior strength.

“Hup!” Bell spun, having caught Tione moving in from his peripheral vision. His blade was knocked aside by her kukri knives and she shoulder tackled him with her weight and the speed she’d built up. “Guk!” Bell coughed from the force, but managed to make Tione back off with a bolt from his sword.

“Hyah!” Tiona’s fist was coming towards the back of Bell’s head.

Bell spun and thrust a spearhand strike straight at Tiona in return, his lightning covered hand was heading directly for her chest.

“Whoa!” Tiona once more showed off her incredible flexibility and bodily control as she leaned backwards enough to dodge the spearhand even at the speed Bell was moving and with the lack of distance.

Tione and Ais both took the instant that Bell was focused on Tiona to strike. Tione’s kukri deflected Bell’s sword, even as lightning sparked off of it in a flash and almost blinded the Amazon. She managed to backstep to avoid the tip of the sword, while her kukri forced it to the stone floor. Ais’s scabbard finished the spar as it slammed into Bell’s armor-covered chest and knocked him to the ground.

“OOF!!!” Bell hacked out harshly, the wind knocked out of him. His Magic flickered out and he lay there on the floor just trying to breathe.

The three girls stood over Bell and looked down at him with approval.

“That was good…Bell.” Ais smiled at Bell’s three-on-one spar.

“You’re Magic is really cool!” Tiona leaned over him with a bubbly laugh. “It feels funny to touch it too!” The tingling sensation even brief contact left behind was interesting to her.

Tione leaned over him like Tiona, a grin on her lips. “Even though we were holding back a lot, you still did pretty well against all three of us. Not sure there are many Level 1’s that can keep up with you if you’re going all out with your Magic.”

“Thank you…” Bell appreciated the compliments as he finally started to breathe normally again. “But I can still do better.”

“Never lose that drive, Bell.” Tione smiled at him. “It’s very attractive.”

“Yeah it is.” Tiona giggled brightly.

That’s when the results of the spar finally revealed themselves. Not in any kind of injury suddenly making itself known. But with the giving way of two certain pieces of cloth that had been too close to Bell’s lightning.

Tiona’s white breast wrap frayed at the hems and fell open, the white cloth cut through from her earlier narrow dodge of Bell’s spearhand. Her small handfuls revealed to Bell’s eyes as she was leaning over him at the time.

Tione’s red bikini top split in a perfectly clean cut at the straps, just below the circular, silver charm with the stylized moon on it that held them tight. Her large tits bounced into Bell’s view at almost the same instant that her sister’s had.

Bell’s rubellite eyes widened in shock at the sudden exposure. He took in the two pairs of breasts literally dangling in front of him though. From the shape, to the bronze color of the skin, the darker, dusky nipples and areolae, and the way that Tione’s bounced while Tiona’s jiggled from the sudden loss of support from their tops.

“Oh?” Tiona blinked as she straightened up and caught her white breast wrap before it could fall to the floor. “Guess I didn’t dodge that strike completely, huh?” She stood their topless without a care.

Tione stood up to her full height too, her tits bounced from the movement, and she held up the cut straps to look at them, not doing anything to cover her breasts at all. “Same here. Could’ve sworn I dodged the blade entirely.”

“Um… Tione, Tiona…” Ais spoke up, reminding the sisters that their was a man present by pointing down at Bell.

“Hm?” Tiona looked down at Bell before smiling. “It’s fine if it’s Bell.” She smiled at him “You want a better look?”

“I don’t mind, not like I have anything to be ashamed of.” Tione smirked at Bell, nearly jutting her chest out so that he could see them sway and bounce from their size.

Bell blinked at the offer and the fact that neither of the Amazons was trying to cover up at all. “I… Uh…” He nearly slapped himself before he shook his head once and sat up. “One second!” He was next to his sleek black backpack a second later and pulling out his folded up jacket and a folded up spare black shirt. “I’m glad I listened to Lunoire when she told me to pack at least a change of clothes for the Dungeon.”

Tiona blinked as Bell handed her is jacket. “Thank you.” She smiled at him as she put it on and buttoned it up to cover herself.

“Such a gentleman.” Tione teased Bell with a grin as she accepted his spare black shirt and slipped it over her head. The black fabric swelled around her bosom, the shirt tailored for a man, and Tione winked at Bell as she saw his eyes briefly stare at how his shirt clung to her tits.

Ais had a small smile on her lips at how Bell had handled the situation. “That was…kind of you, Bell.”

“I couldn’t let Tiona and Tione walk through Orario topless.” Bell shook his head at the idea.

“Hehe… I like this.” Tiona giggle as she wore Bell’s jacket. “It smells like Bell too.”

Tione smiled as she ran her hands over the black shirt. “It’s pretty nice. Kinda like Bell is staking his claim.”

“C-Claim…” Bell knew his face was burning but couldn’t do much about it.

Both Tione and Tiona took one of Bell’s arms, wrapping their arms around it and pressing their bodies against him.

“Mm…” Ais wasn’t sure why there were butterflies in her stomach, but the sight before her made her both happy, and yet slightly…envious?

“Ais, are you pouting?” Tiona grinned at her third ‘sister’.

“She is.” Tione smiled at Ais actually expressing herself more openly.

Ais shook her head, not knowing what kind of face she was making right now, her cheeks turning pink.

Bell couldn’t help but smile at the situation. “Cute.”

Tiona agreed wholeheartedly. “She really is!”

“Absolutely adorable.” Tione said with a soft look.

“Th-Thank you…” Ais gave the three a small nod of thanks, while trying not to look at them, lest she become even more flustered than she already was. ‘Why does being called cute by Bell make me feel like this?’ She liked the feeling, even if it was new to her.

After a short while longer, Tiona and Tione let go of Bell’s arms. Though not before teasing him a little and enjoying their closeness. The four of them didn’t have to split up for a while as they headed home, given that both the Twilight Manor of the Loki Familia, as well as the Wheat Manor of Demeter Familia, were located in the northern part of Orario.

When they did eventually have to part ways, Bell was hugged by Tione and Tiona, both thanking him once again for letting them borrow his spare clothing. Ais bid him a good night with a little smile, and Bell did the same. Bell headed home with a little spring in his step, until his body reminded him of why that was a bad idea with a round of all the sore spots on his body flaring up.

-Twilight Manor-

“What’s this?!” Loki exclaimed loudly as she nearly ran down the stairs when Ais, Tiona, and Tione arrived home. The Trickster Goddess skidded to a stop and looked the three of them over, her red eyes focusing on the jacket and shirt that Tiona and Tione wore respectively. “Those’re a man’s clothes! What fool would put his hands on my girls?!”

Tione rolled her eyes. “Bell.”

Tiona smiled at Loki. “He was looking out for us after a little mishap.” She put her hand in the pocket of the jacket and then pulled out her sliced breast wrap. “He didn’t want us walking around Orario topless.”

“Demeter’s little rabbit?” Loki recalled the young man from when Tiona had dragged him over to their little party at the Hostess last night. She looked at the ruined breast wrap and then at the black shirt on Tione, a slightly closer inspection revealed that the older of the twins was definitely going braless beneath the black fabric. “Don’t tell me you three were… In front of our darling Ais?!” Loki then made an overdramatic shocked face. “N-No… It couldn’t be… Not my adorable Ais!” She launched herself at Ais, only for the swordswoman to pivot out of the way and let Loki crash to the floor.

“Nothing like that happened. Stop being overdramatic about it.” Tione rolled her eyes as the three Adventurers left their Goddess behind to head to their rooms.

Ais tilted her head for a second, until she realized what Loki had suspected and her cheeks went red.

-Wheat Manor-

“You look amazing, Goddess.” Bell smiled at Demeter and the lovely dress that she was wearing for the Banquet of the Gods tonight.

The dress was a soft yellow color with orange along the bottom hem. It had a somewhat plunging neckline to show off Demeter’s bountiful cleavage and was strapless, leaving her shoulders bare. The ruff around the top hem gave the dress some shape while partially covering Demeter’s chest a little. It was tight up top to accentuate Demeter’s figure, while being loose and flowing below the waist, letting the soft and high-quality cloth swish around her ankles. To finish off the outfit it was embroidered just below the waist with an image of wheat stalks on the right side. Demeter paired the dress with a pair of white evening gloves and matching white heels.

“Thank you, Bell. You’re so sweet.” Demeter giggled softly. “I still have a little time before I head out, so let me give you a Status Update so that you can get a bath, some dinner, and then head to bed. You look tired and more than a little beat up.” She lightly tapped the tip of his nose with her index finger.

Bell smiled at his Goddess for her concern and care. “Thank you very much, Goddess.”

In short order, Bell was sat on a stool and had his armor and shirt off. Demeter had taken off her with evening gloves and pricked her right index finger to let a drop of blood fall on Bell’s back. The blue-white glow emerged as Bell’s Falna appeared on his back. Demeter watched Bell’s Excelia, seeing how he and Lili had done in the Dungeon today with a smile. Then she watched Bell’s training and winced more than a few times at what Bell had endured today.

“Oh my, they’re rather rough with you, aren’t they?” Demeter said as she moved the Excelia over into the Basic Abilities and watched the number rise as the Falna grew stronger.

“It’s tough, but I’m not going to give up!” Bell stated with absolute resolve. “Tiona, Tione, and Ais are spending their time on teaching me all these things…I can’t let them down or waste their time.”

Demeter smiled softly at Bell, even though he couldn’t see it. “I’m certain they appreciate that determination, Bell.” She giggled when she saw Bell twitch slightly at her words. He now knew that she’d seen the very last part of his training today, and the accidental ‘reveal’ by the Hyrute Sisters. She placed a blank paper on his back and copied the new Update over with a twirl of her finger. “Here you go, Bell.” She handed him the paper while locking up his Falna securely.”

Bell took the Status Update, eager to see what another day in the Dungeon plus training with Tione, Ais, and Tiona had done for his growth.

-Status-

Bell Cranel

Level 1

Strength – F 311 > E 434

Endurance – G 272 > E 406

Dexterity – F 324 > E 448

Agility – F 365 > E 487

Magic – F 370 > E 492

-Magic-

Caelum – Incantation: “Spark.” This Magic allows the user to imbue their body and weapons with Lightning Magic.

-Skills-

Liaris Freese – Fast growth as long as desire lasts. The strength of the effects corresponds with the level of the user’s desire towards their goal. Makes the user immune to Charms and Mental Magics. Passive.

-Status-

“So much…” Bell blinked at the leap in his stats. He’d never expected an increase of six-hundred-twenty-five points in one day!

Demeter gave him a hug from behind and kissed the top of his head, even playfully nuzzling his soft white hair. “Training so hard with three people that vastly outrank you will certainly produce results, Bell. Liaris Freese only boosts what you put into it, after all. It can’t make you stronger by itself. This growth is a result of your own desire and all the hard work you’re putting in to achieve your dreams.”

Bell appreciated the praise as he let himself relax in his Goddess’s embrace. “I’ll keep doing my best, Goddess.”

“I know you will, Bell.” Demeter hummed softly, just enjoying the closeness for a bit longer.

Eventually, Demeter had to leave for the Banquet of the Gods, and Bell walked her out to the carriage with a smile. He helped her into the carriage and then waved to her as it pulled away. Once it had turned the first corner, Bell headed back inside the Wheat Manor to follow Demeter’s instructions.

“A hot bath, dinner, and then bed sounds great.” Bell sighed as he still felt the twinges of pain and soreness throughout his body. He carried his armor to his room and prepared for a bath first to get the sweat of the day off of him.

-Ganesha Familia Home ~ Aim Ganesha ~ Banquet of the Gods-

‘Oh dear, Dionysus is talking to Loki… That could be bad.’ Demeter thought to herself, a sigh escaping her lips. “I should try to mitigate any shenanigans that brat nephew of mine is planning.” She took a glass of the fine wine being carried around by members of Ganesha Familia dressed as waiters for the evening. She sniffed it, a little check to make sure no one had tried to play a prank at someone else’s banquet (it had happened before, more than a few times), before swirling it once and then taking a sip. She put a friendly and carefree smile on her face before heading over to Loki and Dionysus. “My, my. It’s been a little while, Loki~ How have you been?” She put just a little skip in her steps to make her girls bounce, knowing how it got Loki riled up by the vast difference in their bust sizes.

“Ohh… D-Demeter… You’re here too.” Loki nearly recoiled away from the Goddess of the Harvest, though her red eyes were clearly following the bounce of Demeter’s breasts with barely hidden envy.

Demeter only smiled at Loki, but was glad that she’d managed to break up whatever Dionysus had been talking with the Trickster Goddess about.

“Yes, Demeter and I were talking earlier.” Dionysus said to Loki with a small smile.

The ‘talk’ had been more of a greeting than anything else.

“At any rate, Ganesha’s banquets are as extravagant as always.” Loki mentioned, looking at the large number of Deities present. “Looks like almost every God and Goddess in Orario is here.”

“More like he has to be as generous as possible.” Dionysus said while pointing at a sign on one of the nearby pillars that supported the massive structure that was the Ganesha Familia Home. “In other words: ‘Don’t do anything to interfere with the big day, even by accident.’ Monsterphilia can’t continue to be held every year without the Guild and Ganesha Familia’s full support. The show of taming Monsters from the Dungeon, not to mention showing off their Xenos Monsters to the public. There’s a lot of people that Ganesha and the Guild have to keep happy.”

“Monsterphilia…eh?” Loki looked thoughtful, lightly tapping her cheek with her right index finger.

“Do you plan to attend, Loki?” Dionysus asked the Trickster Goddess.

Loki shrugged once. “Thinking about it… I just might. But what’s it to you?”

Dionysus gave Loki a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Surely, you’re not serious? Are you planning to stir up a ruckus?”

“Wanna clarify what you mean by that?!” Loki grabbed the Wine God by the front of his suit, messing up his white cravat, as she glared at him, clearly agitated by the insinuation.

“Easy, easy now!” Dionysus held up his hands in front of him to ward off Loki’s annoyance with him. “I didn’t think you would even be interested in Monsterphilia.” He looked off to the side. “And I know what you were like back in Tenkai.” Loki tightened her grip on him and let out a little growl. “My fault if I touched a nerve! My apologies…!”

“Alright then, what about you?” Loki let go of Dionysus’s suit with a huff. “Planning to go?”

Dionysus shrugged once. “I’m not sure. In all likelihood, I won’t be able to. I have something to attend to that day.”

Loki picked up a wineglass from a passing waiter. “Ah, that so?” She sniffed the wine and then sipped it. Her eyes caught sight of Freya and she blinked once. “Freya actually came to a Banquet of the Gods? That seems a little odd…” Loki turned and gave Demeter and Dionysus a quick smile. “Think I’ll take my leave. There’s something I want to check out. But Demeter…”

Demeter perked up, giving Loki a smile. “Yes, Loki?”

“Need to have a little chat with you about that rabbit of yours and how he’s hanging around some of my girls.” Loki said with a pout.

“Oh?” Demeter giggled behind her hand. “Are you jealous that my adorable Bell is getting their attention?”

“Hmph!” Loki turned away with a huff. “We’ll discuss this later, you buxom showoff!” She walked off quickly, heading straight for Freya on the other side of the room.

Now that Demeter and Dionysus were left alone, the air between them noticeably shifted.

“Planning to cause another commotion?” Demeter asked Dionysus before sipping her wine.

“You seem to have the wrong idea, Demeter.” Dionysus put his gloved hand on his face and moved some of his long blonde air away from his face. “When have I ever done such a thing?”

“Well…” Demeter looked at him unamused. “When you make that face, something always happens.” She pointed out the rather vicious smile he had on his face as he turned to look at her. “You forget that all of us of Olympus remember what you were like back in Tenkai as well. Even after Hestia was so kind as to give you her seat as one of the twelve.”

Dionysus’s smile fell and he gave Demeter a flat look. “You’re really going to bring that up?”

“Yes.” Demeter said without hesitation. “You, Hermes, and Apollo are all a bunch of brats that Zeus should’ve disciplined better.” She saw Dionysus flinch slightly at being compared to his half-brothers. “If my brother won’t properly discipline his brats, then it falls to me to do so as his only sibling that’s currently in Orario.” She looked at Dionysus expectantly. “Don’t think whatever game you’re playing will go as you like.”

“I’ll keep that in mind…Aunt Demeter.” Dionysus gave Demeter a smile with his eyes closed before taking his leave.

Demeter let out a sigh once Dionysus was gone. “It was easier to deal with those three when Zeus was still around.” A pervert her brother (and one time consort) was, but if Apollo or Dionysus ever acted up, he’d personally go see them and set them straight back in the day. Hermes seemed to be playing ‘daddy’s boy’ for one reason or another, but she tried to keep her distance from all of her brat nephews. “Why couldn’t more of my nieces have come to Orario instead?” Demeter sighed wistfully, missing Hebe, Athena, Ilithyia, Artemis, and even Aphrodite…admittedly a little less than the others, given that she was a bit bratty.

Seeing that Loki was still talking with Freya, Demeter smiled, hidden by her wine glass, and headed over to chat…and tease Loki some more. With any luck, Freya would get in on it too. The Goddess of Beauty, Desire, Love, War, and many other Domains always did like to hear about potentially budding romance.

-End Chapter-

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Bell meets Lili! Yay! Da Bean is here and will be Bell’s Supporter!

It’ll be fun to see what the two get up to while dungeon crawling together. With how long Lili has been away from Soma Familia, able to get a Status Update whenever she wants, perhaps she’s already close to Leveling Up? Could be interesting!

The training with Ais has begun much earlier than in Canon! Plus, we have Tione and Tiona their too! With hours of training with three Level 5’s each day after the Dungeon, until they think he’s learned what they want to teach him fully, just how much will Bell grow?

He also got quite the nice surprise on the first day! Hehehe~

Tiona and Tione certainly don’t mind if Bell sees them topless! Kek!

But Bell is a gentleman about it and offers them his jacket and shirt to cover up. Tione and Tiona don’t mind that either, and it certainly earns him more respect and appreciation from Ais.

Adorable airhead Ais, still has no idea what these new feelings are, but knows that she likes them. So cute!

Loki is not amused though! The bunny is trying to steal her girls! Loki pout

Demeter goes to the Banquet of the Gods and meets up with Loki and Dionysus. Aunt Demeter can tell when one of her brat nephews is acting up. She may not know what game Dionysus is playing at yet, but she reminds him that since she’s Zeus’s only sibling currently in Orario, she will step in to discipline any of her brother’s brat children that try and act up. Her Familia might not be overly strong, but as far as Demeter is aware, Apollo, Hermes, and Dionysus don’t have any Level 4’s, and she has one in Lunoire, so any battle between them would see even their Captains beaten black and blue.

Unfortunately, two of those brat nephews are liars…so things aren’t what they appear.

Can Bell get strong enough to help protect his Familia before something happens?

Keep reading to find out!

Until next time, later!