Familia Myth: Journey to Hero Chapter 11 (Patreon)

Hey friends and fans, Kairomaru is bringing you another chapter of Familia Myth: Journey to Hero! It’s time to hit the Tenth Floor! Bell knows this is where the first Large Category Monsters begin to spawn. Luckily, he’s as prepared as can be! Lili has been to the Tenth Floor before while being a Supporter, so they’re not going in blind either. But certain people are going to cause problems regardless.

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So, without further delay, please enjoy.

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Chapter 11 – Tenth Floor, Large Monsters, Scheme

The Tenth through Twelfth Floors kept the same overall structure as both the Eighth and Ninth Floors, however the light from above becomes reminiscent of morning mist. The ceiling was a bit higher as well and the grass-covered floor sprouted the snags of dead trees. Not a single leaf on any of the wood, yet they grew from the floor as if they were living plants. According to Bell’s lessons with Eina, this was to provide the Large Category Monsters with landform weapons to use against Adventurers.

“Something’s moving around.” Bell spoke softly, just loud enough for Lili to hear him. The light creaks from the dead trees and the rustling of grass alerted both of them to the presences of something hiding at the edge of the mist. “Lili, stay close.”

“Yes.” Lili moved to stand directly behind Bell, but just out of reach of his spear in case he needed to use it.

“Gii!”

“Gii!”

“Gii, gii!”

“Master Bell, they’re Imps!” Lili informed him after hearing the sounds. She had only been to Floor ten and Floor Eleven twice in all her years as a Supporter, but she wouldn’t forget the sound of the little Monsters.

The Monsters revealed themselves as they came flying out of the misty fog. Small Demon Type Monsters with jet-black skin, humanoid bodies, small wings on their backs for limited flight, and long tails tipped with what looked like small axe heads. Their eyes were a nearly glowing red, they had small mouths full of little fangs, their ears were sharply pointed, and they each had a single small horn on their heads.

“Imps travel in groups.” Bell recalled as he brandished his spear. He was honestly surprised at how easy it was to keep track of their movements. He would’ve thought that Floor Ten Monsters would be faster. He didn’t realize that his increased stats from his daily training with Ais, Tiona, and Tione had simply put him above the Imps’ level.

“Gii!” The lead Imp rushed Bell with its claws and was followed by two more Imps on either side, just slightly behind.

“Yah!” Bell swung his spear in a wide arc, cleanly splitting all three of the short Monsters. The longer blade of his spearhead made it an excellent slashing weapon against unarmored targets.

“Gii!” The remaining four Imps had split into two pairs and tried to flank him.

Bell rushed the pair on his right, startling the Imps as they tried to change direction to avoid his charge. They didn’t get the chance as the rapier-like blade of Bell’s spear skewered both of them straight through the chest. ‘You can use a Monster to beat another Monster if you do it correctly!’ Tiona’s giggling voice flitted across Bell’s mind and he grinned while swinging the dead Imps impaled on his spear around.

“Gii?!” The last two Imps cried out as they were hit with the bodies of their fallen kin. The two living Imps ended up in a pile with the two dead ones. Bell wasted no time and impaled one through the head, withdrew, and then thrust his spear forward again to finish off the last Imp.

“So fast…” Lili blinked at seeing Bell finish off his first group of Imps so quickly. Most Adventurers were said to react defensively upon being attacked by a group of Imps for the first time. Bell had taken the offensive instead and slaughtered them all. “That was great, Master Bell!” She smiled while moving forward to harvest the Magic Stones.

“Thanks Lili, I thought they’d be faster though.” Bell looked at the dead Imps with some doubt on his face.

“They were moving at their regular speed as far as Lili could tell.” Lili blinked at him while drawing her knife. “Perhaps you’re stronger than you think, Master Bell?”

“…Maybe?” Bell didn’t seem like he believed that even as he looked between the dead Monsters and his spear.

Lili carefully cut open the Imps and extracted their Magic Stones. The small bodies held larger stones than a Goblin. But that just meant a Supporter had to be more careful not to crack the stone during harvesting. Seven new Magic Stones were placed in her large pack, and Lili closed it with a small smile. They were already making money after only a few minutes on Floor Ten.

“Ready to go, Master Bell?” Lili hefted her large backpack onto her shoulders.

“Let’s go, Lili!” Bell smiled as they walked further into the widespread, foggy floor.

Several minutes later and a thud rang out. The sound of something heavy hitting the ground. Bell raised his hand to call a halt to their movement. The thud came again and from the mist appeared a hulking figure. It was a huge, pig-headed monster standing roughly three meters in height. It had greenish skin and wore what looked like old hide around its waist like a skirt or kilt.

“An Orc!” Lili identified it immediately.

“Lili, get behind me!” Bell instantly put himself between the Large Category Monster and his Supporter. He readied his black spear to combat the hulking Monster even as the Orc grabbed one of the dead trees and tore it from the ground. “A landform!” Bell grimaced as the Orc now had what amounted to a large club in its hand.

“Gwaarrrggh!” The Orc let out a cross between a hog’s squeal and a roar as it raised the club and rushed at Bell.

The Monster slammed the club down at the white-haired Adventurer, but only succeeded in smashing the ground as Bell moved to the left. ‘Countering with the reach of a spear is easy, if you know how. Sidestep and thrust into a vital area, then pull back to made the wound bleed heavily.’ This time it was Tione’s voice flitting through Bell’s mind. He’d sidestepped to his left to leave the Orc’s front completely open to his counterstrike. His spear nearly blurred as the sharp blade passed into the Orc’s neck and out the back. Bell withdrew and reset as the pig-like Monster hacked up blood and reached for its mortally wounded neck. Blood ran down the Monster’s front like a waterfall. With a gurgling cry the Orc collapsed forward and died.

“I did it!” Bell couldn’t help but smile at taking down an Orc in a single strike. All of his training was really paying off! He’d definitely have to do something nice to repay Tione, Tiona, and Ais for all their time and effort! “Huh?” Bell’s nose was suddenly assaulted with the smell of fresh, bloody meat. He looked down at the dead Orc in confusion. ‘The Orc wouldn’t smell like this... it’s almost like I’m near one of the butcher shops in the Market District.’ He looked around for the source and noticed a ball of literal meat, fat, and blood on the ground not too far from his position. “Isn’t that a Monster Lure item?!” Bell exclaimed in shock at seeing one deployed so close to him. “Lili! We need to get out of here!” He turned to look behind him only to go still when he didn’t see his Supporter. “Lili?” He turned his head, trying to see through the misty fog.

“Master Bell!” Lili cried out and Bell’s gaze quickly shot to the source. What he saw made his blood instantly boil. Lili was being manhandled and carried off by four other people. He recognized the Adventurer that had just put his hand back over Lili’s mouth to keep her quiet as Ged.

“LILI!!!” Bell was about to bolt after her, but the sounds around him made him pause.

“Gii!”

“Gii, gii!”

“Gii!”

“Gii!”

“Buhwa!”

“Buwa!”

“Buuhaa!”

From the mist, lured by the smell of blood and meat, was a small horde of Monsters. Bell quickly scanned the area and counted. ‘Eight Imps and four Orcs, so far. More will come the longer I stay here too.’ He growled as he readied his spear. “Get out of my way!” He rushed forward and bisected two Imps with his first swing.

-Dungeon ~ Floor Eight-

“I better be getting an apology; you piece of shit Prum!” Ged roughly tossed lily onto the ground. Lili grimaced at the pain and wondered why Kanu and his two idiots were helping Ged.

“Gahk!” Lili hacked as Ged kicked his in the stomach while she was down.

“That’s a good look for you, covered in dirt and blood!” Ged laughed at the injured girl. He walked towards her with a sneer. “I’m surprised you haven’t ditched that white-haired punk yet.” He yanked her large backpack off and tossed it aside. “Something about him make your eyes go all atwitter?” He mocked as he grabbed her beige cloak next. “Before tearing you limb from limb, I think I’ll get some payback from you for stealing from me!” He roughly tore the cloak off of Lili. All the while, Kanu and his two cohorts made their move subtly.

“Agh!” Lili cried out as Ged stepped on her left hand.

“I’m taking everything you got!” Ged declared as he spotted the bow-gun strapped to Lili’s left forearm. “Let’s start with this bow-gun.” He roughly yanked it off her arm, not caring about the bruising the removal caused. “What else do you have stashed away in here?” He rummaged through the cloak. “Let’s see…some Valis, a gold pocket watch, and…hey, a Magic Weapon?! Did you steal this too?!” He kicked Lili in the stomach again making tears fall from her eyes at the pain. She hacked and coughed as she tried to get air back into her lungs.

“Certainly, going all out, Master Ged.” Kanu spoke up and Ged turned to look at his accomplices.

“The runt had a Magic Weapon!” Ged laughed as he held up the white and red knife. “Just like you thought, the bitch is loaded!” He laughed before noticing the wrapped bundles under the arms of the three Soma Familia members.

“Master Ged, I have a proposition.” Kanu grinned at the other Adventurer.

“What? You want this Magic Knife?” Ged asked rhetorically. “I’m the one that found it.”

“No, no, not just the Magic Weapon.” Kanu smirked as he tossed the wrapped bundle between them. “I want you to leave everything you’ve taken from her.” He sneered as the bundle unfurled to reveal the barely alive top half of a Killer Ant. The weak noises it made and the slight twitches of its body alerted Ged of what was going on.

“Why the hell are you carrying around half of a Killer Ant?!” Ged demanded as he took a step back. Kanu’s accomplices tossed their own bundles forward, revealing two more barely alive Killer Ants, each bisected and weakly moving. “Their pheromones are going to lead a swarm here! Are you out of your damn mind?!”

“You see, Master Ged, you’re stronger than us.” Kanu raised his hands and shrugged. “So, we had to strategize…” Already the loud skittering of Killer Ants could be heard coming from the multiple corridors that led into the large chamber they were in. “You don’t want to become their prey while fighting us, do you, Master Ged?” The Raccoon Man grinned darkly at the other Adventurer.

“Damn you…” Ged snarled at the three Soma Familia members even as dozens of Killer Ants began to fill the cavern, all of them clicking their mandibles threateningly. He looked around at the situation before throwing down Lili’s cloak and the items he’d taken from it. “Damn you all!” He rushed towards the only corridor that wasn’t filled with Killer Ants. Unknown to all was that he wouldn’t make it out of the Dungeon that day. A horde of Killer Ants would block his path and overwhelm him. Only his long sword and some scraps of cloth would be found later by a random Adventurer Party.

“Aaaahhh!” Lili cried out as the Killer Ants moved in and one took a swipe at her. There had to be almost fifty of the ant Monsters in the cavern now, with more still coming! The Killer Ant that was attacking her lost its head as Kanu swung his machete-like sword through it.

“You okay there, Arde?” Kanu asked the Prum as she sat on the ground, her stomach bruised and her body aching. “Did you see that? I saved you. Went and put myself in danger for ya.” The Raccoon Man looked down at her with a greedy gleam in his eyes. “We are members of the same Familia after all…you know what I’m saying, yeah?”

“…Yes.” Lili looked down at the floor of the Dungeon with a grimace. They were going to extort her and take everything because she wouldn’t survive against the swarm that they’d intentionally summoned.

“Hey, hurry up!” The younger accomplice called out as he and the older man kept swinging their swords to kill the encroaching Killer Ants. “They just keep coming!”

“I know.” Kanu shouted back as he crouched down next to Lili. “The other day…you told us you didn’t have any money. You better drop the act.” His tone turned threatening. “You know what will happen if you lie again, right?”

“Okay! Okay, okay, okay!” Lili reached behind her neck and unhooked a necklace hidden by her clothing. Handing it over revealed a key on the chain.

“This is?” Kanu looked at the small key questioningly.

“The key to a gnome storage unit in the eastern ward…there’s jewels and Valis inside.” Lili answered even as she fought not to scream out in despair and rage. That was her largest stash of Valis. If Kanu stole it then she’d lose well over half of the money she’d saved up.

“Clever.” Kanu snorted as he looked at the pattern on the key. It would need to be matched to the same pattern on the unit to find out which one it opened. He pocketed the key and then bodily lifted Lili off the floor by the front of her shirt.

“Kanu?! What are you doing?!” Lili’s feet were off the ground entirely and she looked into the Raccoon Man’s eyes in confusion and fear.

“You see, we’re surrounded.” Kanu grinned remorselessly. “It’s looking pretty bad.” Lili could see the large swarm of Killer Ants and realized what was about to happen. “We need a decoy. It’s time for you to do your last job, Supporter.” Kanu said her role like an insult just before he threw her as hard as he could into the horde. Lili hit the hard ground and bounced once. The Killer Ants skittered away from the object thrown at them for a moment, unsure of what it was.

‘If this is some kind of punishment for everything up until now…’ Lili thought to herself as she lay on the ground in pain. ‘It’s far too cruel…’ She could hear the rapidly fading footfalls as Kanu as his cohorts made their escape. ‘But if it’s for scamming Master Bell…then maybe Lili deserves it.’ The skittering of the Killer Ants moving closer started to get louder.

“Gods, why?” Lili spoke, keeping her eyes closed. “Why did you make Lily this way?” She questioned aloud as she recalled her past. ‘Supporter. Someone that can’t do anything alone. Lili’s fate. Lili is exactly that. Lili hated herself the most.’ Lili felt tears sting her eyes as she remembered her life up until now. ‘No one to depend on…and no one to depend on her. Always being alone was…’ She sniffled. “So… lonely…” She didn’t want to cry anymore. ‘Lili can die at last. Can go back to the Gods. The Lili that no one would help…the worthless Lili…the lonely Lili…can finally have her reset.’ She opened her tear-filled eyes to see a Killer Ant standing just beside her, raising one of its forelimbs to kill her. “Ahhh…Lili was finally…so close to finding someone to be with too…so close.” She closed her eyes as the tears fell and waited for death.

“LILI!!!” Bell roared as he threw his spear with all of his might. The black weapon rocketed through the air and impaled the head of the Killer Ant about to strike Lili. It was dead and knocked into the nearby wall before any of the other Monsters could react. “Firebolt!” The scorching flames tore through multiple ants and sent the horde into confusion. Bell leapt through the flames and was at Lili’s side in seconds. “Lili!”

“M-Master Bell?” Lili blinked as Bell knelt beside her and gently lifted her up.

“Lili!” Bell examined her with a glance and saw the bruises and injuries she’d taken. “You’re hurt!” He quickly pulled a vial from the side pocket of his black leather backpack. “Here, a potion, drink…” He pulled the cork from the vial with his teeth before gently bringing it to Lili’s lips and letting her drink it.

“Master…Bell…” Lili coughed after drinking the potion but felt her injuries healing as her pain vanished.

“You’re okay, right?” Bell looked at her with such relief and concern that Lili felt her face grow warm while her heart thumped in her chest. When she gave him a small nod, a warm smile spread across his face. “Thank goodness.”

“Master Bell…I…” Lili didn’t even really know what she wanted to say in this situation. Somewhere in the back of her mind she realized that her Transformation Magic, Cinder Ella, wasn’t active and that Bell was seeing her true form for the second time. But it was overshadowed by everything else that was going on.

“Just wait here, like we usually do.” Bell smiled at her as he stood up and faced the horde that had started to close in now that all of the flames had gone out. “Okay, here we go…Rise!” Bell incanted and felt the rush of his Vesta Enhance spell kick in. He raised his hand towards the approaching Killer Ants. “Firebolt!” The flames roared as they leapt from his palm and tore through the numbers. He drew both of his knives and leapt into the fray.

“Bell…” Lili could only watch, leaned up against the wall, as Bell tore through the large swarm of Monsters. His knives flashed as Killer Ants lost their heads, limbs, or were vertically bisected. When it looked like he’d be surrounded an overrun, he merely sheathed one knife and raised his hand again.

“Firebolt!” The flames blasted through a few more ants, scorching them alive and thinning the numbers. Then he drew his second knife again and continued the slaughter. The few times that a strike connected, either he’d block with his vambrace or his armor would take the blow for him. “Firebolt!” With a boom another group of Killer Ants were wiped out from the empowered spell. “Yah!” He slashed another ant, decapitated the one beside it, pivoted to drive his Hephaestus Familia knife into a different ant’s head, and then spun to decapitate the first ant. The horde of near sixty Killer Ants had already been whittled down to about a dozen. Bell sheathed both of his knives and raised both hands. “Firebolt! Firebolt!” He cast twice, first from his right hand and then his left. The empowered spells rocketed towards the remaining ants and engulfed them with a boom. “Hah…Hah…” Bell was breathing heavily now. Taking on a horde like that alone was ill-advised to say the least. But the combination of his Basic Abilities, Training, and Magic had seen him through without taking much damage.

“…Why?” Lili spoke as she looked down at the floor.

“What’s that, Lili?” Bell asked as he walked towards her.

“Why did you do this?” Lili spoke louder this time. “Why did you save Lili? Why didn’t you abandon her?”

“What?” Bell looked at her confused.

“Did you really not notice this whole time?” Lili snapped her gaze onto Bell. “Every single day that Lili prepared the Potions, Antidotes, and other gear, she charged you almost double! You have no idea how many times Lili considered swiping a few of the Magic Stones for herself!” The Prum was on a roll now. “I was even plotting to steal that black knife of yours one day!” She stood up as her voice continued to rise. “Now do you understand?!” Lili placed her hand on her chest. “Lili’s a bad person! Lili’s a piece of shit Prum that scammed you and lied over and over!” She was nearly yelling at this point. “Even so, Master Bell still saved her?!”

“Y-Yes?” Bell nodded with wide eyes.

“Why?!” Lili demanded.

“Because you’re Lili,” Bell replied as he gently put his hand on top of her head, patting it softly before running his fingers through it.

“Eh…” Lili’s eyes were wide at the show of affection.

“I wanted to save you, Lili.” Bell gave her a warm look as he continued to gently run his fingers through her chestnut brown hair. “I didn’t want you to disappear. There’s nothing more to it than that.” He saw Lili’s eyes begin to tear up. “I don’t need a reason to save you Lili.”

“M-Master Bell…” Lili felt the first tear roll down her cheek. Her hand came up to hold his against her cheek.

“Lili…talk to me if you’re in trouble.” Bell smiled softly at her. “I can be an idiot, so I won’t know for sure unless you tell me.”

“I-I’m…sorry…” Lili’s tears couldn’t be stopped now.

“I’ll help you.” Bell promised her then and there.

“So…s-sorry, Master Bell!” Lili threw her arms around him and hugged him for all she was worth. Bell returned the hug, putting all of his care and affection for Lili into it. Lili finally cried for the first time in years. Letting out all the sadness and pain into the embrace of the first person to care about her and want her in his life. Through it all, Bell held her close and reassured her that everything was going to be okay.

After Lili had gotten out most of her emotional pain and had stopped crying, she just let Bell hold her for a while. Bell had no problem with doing so and gently held her close. The Supporter had refused to let Bell’s hard work go to waste and had harvested all sixty Magic Stones from the Killer Ants. Even though she was emotionally drained, Lili had even wanted to go get the Magic Stones from the Tenth Floor Monsters. Bell had nixed that and told her he’d carry her out of the Dungeon if he had to. The blush on Lili’s cheeks was cute. Together they ascended the stairs and floors until they were back on the surface. Bell shot a look Eina’s way when they passed through the lobby only a couple hours after heading into the Dungeon. The Half-Elf, seeing the look on Lili’s face and her lack of her normal beige cloak, had nodded to her boyfriend I understanding. Clearly something bad had happened in the Dungeon and Bell was taking his Supporter home.

-Hestia Familia Home-

“Bell?” Hestia blinked at seeing Bell home so soon. She’d barely gotten the grocery shopping done and returned home when the front door had opened again.

“I’m home, Hestia.” Bell smiled at his lover and then ushered Lili inside. “This is Liliruca Arde, my Supporter.” He introduced Lili with a smile.

“So, you’re Lili?” Hestia looked at the Prum girl that was even shorter than her. Seeing the look on her face and the emotional drain in the girl’s eyes, Hestia’s own blue eyes softened. A warm and welcoming feeling seemed to emanate from the Goddess as the Familia Home gained a relaxed atmosphere. “Come here…” Hestia opened her arms for a hug. Lili didn’t know why, but she let her large backpack drop from her shoulders and walked the short distance. She wrapped her arms around Hestia’s waist as the Goddess pulled her into a hug.

“Goddess…” Bell couldn’t help but smile at Hestia comforting Lili.

With gentle steps, Hestia walked Lili over to the couch and sat down with her. Never once did they separate from their hug. Lili nearly fell asleep on Hestia’s large breasts and the Goddess of the Hearth, Home, and Family only smiled softly and cooed to the Prum. She gently ran her fingers through Lili’s short brunette locks and just held her close.

“Lady Hestia…” Lili murmured even as she felt herself dozing off.

“Shh…” Hestia kissed the top of her head. “Get some sleep, Lili.”

‘Warm…safe,’ Lili’s thoughts were already fading. ‘Is this what Home feels like?’ She was asleep the next moment, her head laying on Hestia’s chest like a pillow.

“You’re amazing, Hestia.” Bell whispered as he sat next to her and placed a loving kiss on her lips.

“Mmm, Bell.” Hestia happily returned the kiss as she continued to hold Lili close. They’d put her to bed in a bit, the Supporter clearly needed it.

-Later-

“Hmmm?” Lili woke up incredibly warm and cozy. Lying in a soft bed in an unfamiliar room, she slowly sat up. “Where?” She looked around the large bedroom before seeing two doors. One would most likely lead to a private bathroom while the other would lead outside. Her memory finally caught up and she remembered entering the Hestia Familia Home. She’d felt so warm and welcomed that she’d accepted Hestia’s hug without a thought. She didn’t really recall falling asleep, but it had clearly happened. Looking down, Lili realized she was in a simple nightgown and blushed at the thought that Bell might have changed her himself.

She moved the blankets aside and set her feet on the floor. Standing up, she made her way to the door she thought would be the bathroom. She was correct and was quick to use it. She left the bedroom and was surprised to find herself on a large wrap-around balcony overlooking a decently spacious courtyard. She headed down the nearest stairs and noticed the position of the sun.

‘Did I sleep for four hours?’ Lili questioned herself before entering the main building through a doorway. The smell of cooking food caught her nose and made her sigh even as her stomach growled a little.

“Hey Lili,” Bell smiled at her from the couch.

“M-Master Bell!” Lili blushed cutely at seeing him as her thoughts about him undressing her and putting the nightgown on her returned. “G-Good afternoon.”

“Lunch will be ready soon, Hestia wanted to wait until you woke up, so we’re having it a little late.” Bell explained as he patted the spot next to him on the couch. Lili padded over and sat on the couch next to Bell with her cheeks pink. The nightgown covered her perfectly well, but knowing that it was sleepwear just made it slightly different.

“What’re you reading, Master Bell?” Lili asked after a moment, seeing the book in his lap.

“The Dungeon Oratoria.” Bell smiled as he showed her the cover. “I grew up with these stories, so every now and then I like to read them again.” Lili leaned over a bit to see the book and to see if she knew which tale he was currently reading. “Do you want to read it with me? I just started the next story.” He offered her with a smile.

“Okay…” Lili couldn’t help the small smile that formed. She leaned against his side and let out a cute squeak when he took his left hand off the book and put it around her waist.

“Is this too much, Lili?” Bell asked, hoping he hadn’t made her uncomfortable.

“No!” Lili denied as she leaned into him more and curled into his side with a smile.

“Alright then,” Bell chuckled as he flipped the page to the first page of the next tale. Lili happily started reading as she cuddled up to the one that she most definitely had a crush on. Being held by Bell was so warm and comforting that Lili was sure that she’d never get tired of it.

“Bell, can you go get…” Hestia started to say before seeing Lili curled up with Bell on the couch and reading. “Nevermind…” She giggled at the cute sight. “Are you two hungry?”

“Yep!” Bell smiled at her and Hestia smiled back.

“Thank you for lunch, Lady Hestia.” Lili stood up after Bell had let her go and gave a bow to the Goddess.

“You’re welcome, Lili.” Hestia grinned at the Prum happily. The trio were in the dining room and eating in a matter of minutes.

“It’s delicious…” Lili stared at her plate in shock. “This is the best food Lili’s ever eaten in her life.”

“Ehehehe~” Hestia happily accepted the praise. “Eat as much as you want, there’s enough for seconds!”

Lili did indeed take the offered seconds.

After lunch, the trio were sitting in the living room once more. Lili formally introduced herself to Hestia an sat next to Bell to listen to what the Goddess had to say. She wasn’t expecting the subject of their conversation, that was for sure.

“You’re not happy in Soma Familia, are you, Lili?” Hestia asked the Supporter directly.

“…No, Lili isn’t, but she can’t just leave either.” Lili shook her head. “Leaving takes an enormous sum of money and it can’t happen right away.”

“I’ve heard a bit about how Soma Familia operates already, can’t say I’m a fan of Soma’s methods though.” Hestia shook her head, her twin tails swaying back and forth. “How much is required to leave the Familia?”

“Ten…” Lili mumbled the rest.

“What was that?” Hestia leaned forward a little.

“Ten Million Valis.” Lili spoke a little louder as she looked down at her lap.

“T-Ten Million?!” Hestia gaped at the ridiculous price. “What the hell Soma?!”

“Lili has a good amount saved up, but not anywhere near enough.” Lili replied, but bringing up her savings reminded her that Kanu had stolen the key to her storage unit that held almost half of it all. “Well, Lili did have a good amount…Kanu is probably going to have taken half of it in the next day or two.”

“Who’s Kanu?” Bell questioned, already figuring it was one of the other three Adventurers that had carried Lili off after setting the Monster Lure loose to stall and or kill him.

“The Raccoon Man…he’s part of Soma Familia.” Lili muttered out. “He’s completely addicted to the ‘good’ Soma Wine. He steals, threatens, and extorts people all the time to make the monthly quota.” She gripped the nightgown she was wearing tightly. “Lili had to give him the key to her storage unit in the eastern ward or he threatened to leave her to the Killer Ants. Then he…then he threw her to them as a decoy anyway!” She felt so angry at the betrayal still.

“Hmm…” Bell hummed as he thought about what he could do to try and help Lili. ‘Eina would probably know at least something about the guy. From there I should be able to find him myself.’ He’d make sure to get Lili’s key back and the money if the Raccoon Man had already stolen it.

“Lili,” Hestia spoke and waited until Lili looked up at her before continuing. “Would you like to convert to my Familia?”

“…What?” Lili looked dumbfounded at the question.

“Would you like to become a member of the Hestia Familia?” Hestia rephrased her question.

“B-But Lili can’t leave…Lord Soma has to agree to a conversion…Lili doesn’t have the money.” Lili shook her head, knowing that no matter how much she wanted to leave, that she wouldn’t be allowed to without the Valis up front. Zanis heavily enforced that rule ever since he’d been made Captain of the Familia.

“You let me worry about that.” Hestia smiled beautifully at Lili. “With your desire to convert to my Familia, they have to let me meet with Soma. I’ll make sure to impress upon him that I won’t be taking ‘No’ for an answer.” She stated firmly, gently rubbing the back of her right hand with a grin.

“If…if Lili can say it…if she can…” Lili was starting to sniffle as her emotions welled up. “Please take Lili into your Familia, Goddess Hestia!” She looked up into Hestia’s gentle blue eyes with a desperate plea.

“Welcome to my Familia, Liliruca Arde.” Hestia beamed at the Prum happily.

“Welcome home, Lili.” Bell smiled warmly at Lili as he pulled her into a hug.

“M-Master Bell…Lady H-Hestia…” Lili’s tears turned from desperation to joy as she hugged Bell. She snuggled into his embrace and only sank further when Hestia sat on her opposite side and hugged her too.

“You’re home now, Lili,” Hestia smiled into the girl’s hair. “And we’re so happy to have you here.” She kissed the top of the Prum’s head.

“Thank you…thank you…thank you…” Lili mumbled over and over into Bell’s chest as she enjoyed the warm and loving embrace she was in the center of.

-The Next Day-

Bell’s hunch had proven true. Eina did indeed know a bit about the Soma Familia member Kanu. After hearing about what had happened, she’d been more than happy to ask one of the other Advisors that dealt with Soma Familia for a little more information. Now Bell was making his way towards a spot that he’d heard was frequented by the middle-aged Raccoon Man. His ears caught a conversation that let him know he’d found his target as he was passing by a small dead-end alley.

“How long does it take to find the right unit?” A younger man questioned.

“I didn’t know the damn place had a thousand units!” Kanu snapped at the younger of his accomplices.

“The problem is the patterns,” The slightly older cohort spoke up. “There are so damn many that look similar without being exact.”

“We just have to keep looking, we can’t let anyone else in the Familia know about this treasure trove we’re sitting on.” Kanu reminded them both with a grunt.

“Hey, are you Kanu Belway?” Bell asked even though he already knew it was.

“Who’s asking…” Kanu trailed off as he saw the white-haired guy they’d left for dead in the Dungeon. Both of his cohorts went wide-eyed and backed up two steps in shock.

“You took some things from Lili. I want them back.” Bell spoke firmly, his ruby red eyes narrowed into a harsh glare. The young man was practically radiating an aura of pressure that demanded them to comply.

“I…I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Kanu denied after a second.

“Uh huh…well, alright then.” Bell closed his eyes. For just a split second, Kanu actually thought that Bell believed him.

“Guph!” Kanu cried out as Bell slugged him in the face so hard that he was knocked to the ground.

“What the hell?!” The older accomplice backed up until his back was to the left wall.

“You can’t just do that!” The younger man cried out as he pressed himself back against the opposite wall.

“Did that hurt?” Bell stomped forward towards the downed Kanu.

“What the hell?!” Kanu demanded through his bloody nose and busted lip.

“Doesn’t feel good, does it?!” Bell raised his voice after seeing that Kanu’s two accomplices weren’t planning to help him. “Huh?!” Bell grabbed Kanu by the front of his shirt and punched him again. “Where’s Lili’s money?!” He demanded of the Raccoon Man.

“Agh!” Kanu cried out at the second punch.

“Where is it?!” Bell asked loudly, this time yanking the middle-aged man to his feet.

“Ow! Damn it!” Kanu stumbled to his feet and took a wild swing at Bell. The punch was dodged and Bell kneed the man in the stomach. “Gakh!” Kanu hacked as the wind was knocked out of him.

“Where’s Lili’s money?!” Bell punched the other Adventurer again. “You gonna give me her money?!” He punched him in the face. “Where’s her money?!” He punched him a third time and Kanu’s shirt ripped as the man fell to the paved ground. Bell shot a sharp glare at both of the other Adventurers and they both backed up further into the alley with their hands raised in front of them.

“Ugh…damn it…” Kanu coughed up some blood. He then took a blow to the back of the head from a wooden pole. Bell wielded the broken broom handle he’d found next to a trash can like a sword as he started hitting Kanu with it.

“Where’s her money?!” Bell demanded as he hit the Raccoon Man again.

“Aah! Ugh! Ow! Ack!” Kanu grunted and cried out as he was repeatedly hit.

“Where’s Lili’s money?!” Bell yelled at the downed man before hitting him so hard the wood broke over Kanu’s back.

“AAGGHH!!!” Kanu hit the ground entirely and laid there. Bell was already tired of this man and grabbed him by the scruff of his shirt and jacket. He dragged him over to a water barrel set up under a gutter’s downspout and dunked the thief’s bloody face into the cold liquid.

“Where’s her money?!” Bell demanded as he dragged Kanu from the water and shoved his face into a nearby trash can. “You gonna give me her money?!” He started slamming the metal lid of the can onto Kanu’s head over and over again as the man screamed. Bell threw the bastard onto the hard ground.

“Kuh!” Kanu hacked and coughed; his face covered with blood as he tried to get his breath back.

“Where’s Lili’s money?!” Bell stood over Kanu’s beaten form angrily.

“Y-you’re a freakin’ psychopath…” Kanu uttered as he looked up at Bell.

“Getting really tired of doing this…” Bell held out his hand.

“L-look man…you…you just want your cut, right?” Kanu guessed and his eyes widened when he saw fire emerged from Bell’s palm. “Oh my God!!!”

“Firebolt.” Bell intoned and blasted the ground next to Kanu. The flames naturally spread and the man’s clothes caught fire setting him ablaze.

“AAAAGGGGHHHHHH!!!” Kanu cried out as he rolled around on the ground trying to put out the fire. When the flames where extinguished a few moments later, Kanu was lying on his back, singed and panting for breath. Bell loomed over him and the Raccoon Man had finally understood that this wasn’t going to stop until Bell got back what they’d stolen from Lili.

“Well?” Bell looked down at him.

“The key…is in the pouch…on my hip…” Kanu revealed as he tried to draw in air. Bell roughly tore the pouch off the older man’s belt and rifled through it until he found the key that Lili had described to him.

“Where’s the Magic Knife and the bow-gun?” Bell demanded, shooting a look towards the two terrified Soma Familia members against the far wall.

“K-Kanu has the knife!” The older man pointed at the downed thief.

“The bow-gun?” Bell looked over towards the younger man.

“I…I have it in my bag…” He shakily reached for the small pack on his back and removed the Prum specialty weapon. He tossed it to Bell without hesitation.

“Thank you.” Bell caught the bow-gun and started searching the passed-out Kanu’s coat until he found the familiar red and white knife. “I don’t ever want to see the three of you again, understand?” He glared at the two conscious thieves.

“Yes sir!” Both of them stood ramrod straight and nearly saluted out of sheer terror.

Bell left the alley a moment later, leaving Kanu’s cohorts to drag him off to get a potion or two.

-Hestia Familia Home-

“Here Lili.” Bell smiled brightly as he set the key, bow-gun and Magic Knife next to her. Lili was currently borrowing some of Hestia’s spare clothes until they could go shopping to buy her new things.

“M-Master Bell…you, you got them back?!” Lili looked at her stolen possessions in a happy shock.

“Yep, they haven’t taken any of your money either, they couldn’t find the right unit.” Bell reassured her with a grin.

“Thank you!” Lili leapt up and wrapped her arms around Bell’s shoulders. Ge returned her hug, but was then shocked when Lili’s lips met his for a kiss.

“Lili!” Hestia had just walked into the room and saw Lili kissing Bell. “You can’t just kiss Bell!”

“I…I’m sorry, Lady Hestia.” Lili dropped back down to the floor with blazing red cheeks. “I was just so happy and…” She was cut off as Hestia spoke again.

“You have to join the relationship properly first.” Hestia stated with a nod.

“Huh…?” Lili gaped at the Olympian Goddess.

“Huh…?” Bell was also staring wide-eyed at Hestia.

“We’ll have to have Eina over tonight to get her approval too.” Hestia held her chin with her index finger and thumb. Lili’s whole face was now red at hearing that Bell was with his Dungeon Advisor too.

“I repeat…huh?” Bell just stared at Hestia who only grinned brightly at him while holding up a ‘peace’ sign.

-End Chapter-

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Well…things certainly didn’t go well for Kanu and his cronies, huh?

Lili has been saved and now has requested to convert to Hestia Familia!

Now the Soma Familia can’t just turn them away at the door! Me thinks that Soma has a semi-unpleasant visit in his future. Perhaps one involving a Divine Backhand across the face!

Lili kisses Bell! Hestia sees! Lili tries to apologize, but that’s not the issue!

She just needs to join properly first!

One might be starting to wonder if it’ll really be Bell’s Harem, or if it’ll be Hestia’s! Is Bell’s ability to attract lovely women going to end up making Hestia a happy Goddess with a full love nest?

Be one hell of a way to start growing their Familia, wouldn’t it?

What’s next for the rabbit-like Adventurer that wants to be a Hero?

Keep reading to find out!

Let me know what you think with a review!