Episode 11- The one who was called Black Swordsman
The thunder cracks the sky.
The sound of lightning roars throughout the forest.
The rain washes the blood off from my body.
My eyes staring at the ones who are laid down completely covered in blood.
Drops of blood trails down my swords as I look up towards the dark sky.
Suddenly I hear chains dropping from a certain height, as I turn my neck, a man with black hooded cloak stared at me with an insane smile on his face.
"I told you didn't I…."
I lose my breath, the jet black cloak I wore starts to burn in black flames. My eyes widened as I saw the faceless man grinning at me. I see nothing but a foreshadow. Suddenly my eyes focussed on the swords held by my hands, the silver and a red one.
"No matter where ever you are… I will always haunt you in your dreams…"
A hand grabs my legs, another hand grabs my hands, dragging me down to the surface. I lost control of my limbs.
The man laughed at me while I was dragged by those dead people into a dark pit.
'I can't breathe, nor can I move… please… someone… someone… save me!'
…
…
"Ahh!"
My eyes snapped open, I found myself in a familiar place, I was at home. I breathed heavily and again glanced around my surroundings.
"It was a dream?…"
Rest assured I sighed but my head hurts, not to mention I was covered in sweat.
"Why did that show up after a long time?"
I massaged my head with my right hand and took a breather, I can't help but look at my left hand, well they say it alright… karma always returns to you.
It was about to hit noon, that's awful of me, I usually get up early and go to the dungeon. Well this might be also possible because I went to the dungeon to try out my magic at midnight and might have exhausted myself even more.
My thoughts stopped as I looked at the Grimoire placed in the book shelves. Seems like Hestia didn't open it and just kept it there. Oh that also rings a bell, I have to ask Syr about this. I quickly took another look at the book and yup the pages were blanked. Not wasting time I took a quick bath and exited the church.
"Is Syr here?"
"Ohh, look who's here! Morning to ya, meow!"
One of the catgirl waitresses at The Benevolent Mistress responds to me while sweeping the street outside the bar.
If I remember right, her name is Chloe. She looks at me with a giddy smile, her tail swishing back and forth behind her.
"What's this, what's this? No morning greeting and calling on Syr at this early hour, meow? What are you planning to—"
"Please call Syr!"
"Wha—?! Okay, okay, meow!"
She finally understands my sharp words and jumps in surprise. Maybe she can tell I'm not my usual self. She runs into the building so fast she almost slips a few times. The bell on the front door rings as she flies inside.
A few moments later, Chloe sticks her face out from behind the front door and motions for me to come inside.
I step inside the café and bar; they're still getting ready for the day.
"Good morning, Bell. Is something the matter?"
"Syr!"
Tap tap tap tap. I can hear her shoes on the floor as she comes running from the kitchen. She must have come in a hurry. She's still carrying a wooden tray in her arms.
Her blue-gray hair is tied back with a triangular bandanna. I started to tell her the gist of everything that had happened.
At first she wears a polite but confused smile, but her eyes grow larger and larger as I talk. The color of her face changes at some point…When I finish speaking, just like she had done at some point before, she breaks off eye contact.
"…Well, that's a very sticky situation you're in, Bell."
"Hold on there, Syr! How come you're acting like you're not involved?!"
I had to say something about her strange tone. What is she planning to use me as, some kind of sacrificial lamb?
She lifts the tray up to her mouth, hiding the lower half of her face. She looks at me with upturned eyes.
"So…I can't?"
"As cute as you look right now, no! Absolutely not!"
I strike down her request despite those imploring eyes. This woman really is a damn witch!
"You're hittin' a nerve, boy! Burstin' into other people's shops this early in the mornin'."
The bar's owner, Mama Mia, must have heard our squabble and followed the noise all the way here. Despite being a dwarf, her frame is absolutely imposing. My body freezes as she walks up to me and plucks the book out of my unusually stiff hands, before glancing over the book herself.
"That's a grimoire, all right…But what's done is done. Boy, pay it no mind, ya hear?"
"Uh…"
"The dimwit who left it here is at fault. Like saying, 'Here, please read this.' Boy, if ya hadn't read it, some other adventurer woulda said the grimoire was his and taken it anyway. That's just how it is."
"But…"
"He was prepared to lose it the moment he let it outta his sight. Think about it, boy: if ya lost a wallet full of cash, you'd come back to get it, wouldn't ya?"
"Well…"
"It's the same thing. Useless to worry about it, boy. Be happy ya got somethin' outta it and let it go."
Mia said her piece and leaves it at that.
I look back over to Syr. She has a small grimace on her face, tilting her head to the side. This still leaves something to be desired, and I get a bad aftertaste from it. Mia glances at me through the side of one of her big eyes. "Real men don't brood over nothin'!" she says.
"Yes, ma'am!" Her voice is like a slap on the wrist. My whole body shoots to attention in response.
As I watched the dwarfess make heavy strides toward the back of the bar I asked syr if I can have lunch here. Since it's almost noon and I am hungry too.
She made me sit near the counter and quickly rushed back to the kitchen. I was silent as still water trying not to dare speak to the dwarfess in front of me, who was currently setting up the plates.
Honestly, her presence shook me off my boots here, it was awkward silence between us.
"Hey kid just eat and get back to yer dungeon business, is tha' clear?" Her way of saying yet again made me stiff.
Mia left the counter for a few minutes, by that time the cat-person Chloe engaged in a conversation with me holding out a tray with glasses of water. I can clearly tell, this damn cat is a pervert, if only grandpa were here he would've probably enjoyed her company.
I can clearly tell she was at her best to flirt and hit on me, well it was like a… what can I say… irritating. The cat carried on until someone stomped on her tail.
"OWWWW NYAAAA~~~"
"Behave properly with a customer of Syr, Chloe."
Ryu stomped hard on the cat's tail making her scream in pain. Chloe rubbed her tail as her tears kept flowing. The glass spilled water on the floor which hardly anyone could notice as the cat-girl yelped in pain.
"Forgive her Mr. Cranel, on behalf of that stupid cat I apologize."
"No need for that… Ryu right?"
The elfess nodded when I confirmed her name. Chloe went back in to get me some fresh water but she forgot to inform anyone about the spilled water. In the meantime I just looked around the pub. Well this place is filled up with weirdos…
"Is there something else you want-"
Ryu stepped forward almost completing the sentence but slipped, instinctively I quickly caught her, say it was too sudden. One of her hands flung onto my back and the other held onto my waist, now we seem to hug each other.
A pause, the girls leered at me with a cheeky smile with a red tint on their faces. I awkwardly looked at them then at the aloof elfess who seemed to wear a pink blush herself.
"Uh… you good?"
"Yes."
She rolled her eyes and looked at me, while I totally forgot that elves hate being touched by the person they don't accept.
Dammit, what kind of situation is this!?
"Bell you lunch is here~"
"Uh..."
A pregnant pause, Syr was almost about to drop the tray with my order but she didn't. Instead her mouth wide opened and screamed,
"Ryu! What do you think you are doing!?" her tone, sounded slightly annoyed, snapped both Bell and Ryu
"Syr, it's not what it looks like…" the aloof started, trying to ignore the warm feeling from the rabbit.
"Ya she slipped and I caught her, calm down Syr," Bell panicked and explained with sweat-drop.
The elf panicked, the girl still not believing what she is seeing. Why the hell am I even here?
"Mr. Cranel you should be doing stuff like this with Syr not with me," she quickly moved away and distanced herself with a red tint on her face.
That comment blew both of us, That came out of nowhere.
"If Syr was about to fall then I would've helped her too."
The commotion got even bigger, soon the head arrived smacking hard on the tabletop, breaking it into bits though. Everyone stiffened up.
"YOU ALL GET BACK TO WORK RIGHT THIS INSTANCE."
With one single command from the dwarf, everyone scattered back to their work. I am still shaken in my boots, just how terrifying is this woman?
She glared at me, standing like a wall crossing her arms as if she was about to throw me or something.
"I gotta say kid, ya are quite a charmer."
"I get that alot from girls."
Syr quickly plated my lunch and went back to her work, Mia on the other hand charged me with the tabletop that she broke on my account saying I made a mess by staying here.
I know it's kind of unfair, but fair at the same time. I quickly had my lunch and left the pub.
The co-workers glanced on the aloof, commenting as if she achieved the impossible feat.
"Didn't expect you to go for him Ryu."
"Ryu you must be thankful to menya~"
"Just shut it you two."
The aloof gave a stare and silenced them at once.
The sun shines overhead, it's unusually warmer than the rest of the days. I raised my head high giving shade from sun using my right hand,
"Were noon's always this hotter or is today something different?"
Currently I am wandering aimlessly, I decided not to go to the dungeon and take the remaining day off. I know I am slacking off but I am not in a hurry to get stronger.
Unlike other adventurers who work harder, I work in a smarter way. A good leader must be prepared with backup plans to act on so that if the initial plan fails, the secondary plan could be executed.
That thought awakened a memorable moment of my past. I was not a lone member of Zeus familia, I also had one member on whom I trusted the most of all.
Even though it was the two of us, we were an amazing tag team for sure.
As those memories flooded in my thoughts, I decided to enjoy the time remembering those memories.
I am currently in the central park, I got myself an empty bench to sit on and remember those precious memories with me and my partner.
...Seven years ago…
"Hya"
"Kya!"
*clang* *sweep* *clutch*
A wooden sword and a wooden spear were clashing with full force, the sound of the clash spreading wide area scares the birds on land making them to escape.
Two boys, with determined looks, fought each other. Not holding back they gave everything they had up in sleeves. One of the boy's weapon got bashed, knocking him back to the other side.
"Heh, Bell you got sloppy or what?" a hobbit, around 90cm height, having brown eyes and black hair, extended his spear and mocked the white haired boy.
"Well I am just getting started Ren," the rabbit like boy replied with a confident smirk, "I was holding back a bit but I guess I have to go full force," his hands reach his back to draw the secondary sword.
"Ah… finally you are gonna take me seriously eh?" The hobbit named Ren prepared himself for Bell's oncoming attack. "Now show me your dual wielding!"
"You made a big mistake Ren!"
Bell drew his secondary sword and rushed at Ren, the rabbit was faster but the hobbit excelled in evasion. The primary sword flew in downward direction, the secondary flew in upward direction swinging it swiftly with precession.
Simultaneously Bell aimed to disarm his opponent, he was well aware of the opponent he was facing. Left, right, double left, downward slash, and an enormous number of combos. The hobbit doing his best to keep up with dodging the oncoming attacks with his spear.
Noticing that his opponent lost his grip on his weapon, Bell's sword sweeped in and threw the spear away from its wielder, the primary sword's tip pointing at the hobbit's neck, only with a few centimeters difference.
"So it's my win again," Bell smiled at his opponent.
"Yup, I yield," raising his arms in defeat, Ren returns a smile to his opponent with a sweat-drop, "You sure become crazy when you dual wield Bell!" he exclaimed.
"It's 5-4, I am in lead again," Bell made a fist for his success.
"Well, I will be the next one to draw that again," Ren gave him a fistbumb. The two fighters were called by Zeus for having their lunch.
Ren is a hobbit holding promising desires for his race, the first time I met him was back then when he was being attacked by some bad guys. When the hobbits found out that their goddess, Fiona never actually existed, they gave up on living.
Their lives had become a lie, but Ren didn't let it get him. He wanted to stand up and give hope for his race that they can live even if their goddess never existed, he wants to give them hope that we also can face this fact and move on with it.
His desire started by hearing about the great 'Braver', one of his own kind who stood up and is trying his best to have a better future for the hobbit race. Inspired by his stories, Ren also started to march on Braver's path but he was not sure on how to start.
This young prum at the age of 9 left his hometown and went on a crazy adventure all by himself. On his way of the journey to assist Braver, he ran into some members of a bad group, we call them Evilus.
Evilus are the group that threatened Orario after the Zeus Familia and Hera Familia weakened in power and were subsequently exiled from the city. It was weakened by the efforts of the Guild along with various Familia, such as the Loki Familia, but it didn't end only at that.
It was then when Grandpa, after hearing from Hermes found out that there are some Evilus hideouts placed outside of Orario so that the transportation of any malicious magic items or any illegal smuggling could be done easily.
As the only member of Zeus familia, it was up to me to make them surrender and eliminate their hideouts. For me alone, it was hard so we did have to collaborate with other weak familia's to face them.
Some of them intended to work only for their own reasons but some of them denied taking risks. It was tough times as our familia was run by a single person and a single god that is me and Zeus.
At times, Astrea Familia was generous to help us out, and since we took help from adventurers of Orario I had to cover my face to secure my identity so that when I go back there then no one would know who I am.
I was assigned to eliminate the camping site set up by Evilus members nearby a forest area which is a few kilometers away from a cave. The cave is said to have Laumradite ores which are strong metals for coating durandal weapons. They are extremely rare and dangerous as the cave is filled with fearsome monsters so nobody dares to mine them.
My task was to capture all the Evilus and hand them over to the adventurers who were sent to us by the god of Origin's, Lord Ouranos.
All of this was happening backstage so Orario had no knowledge about the outside status of the Evilus. Thankfully Ouranos just wanted to capture them else he was ready to make them burn alive.
I finally reached their camping site, hiding myself on the branch of a teak tree. It was night time and the moon was covered by the clouds, the only source of light was the campfire set up by them.
There I saw him, a hobbit completely beaten up, cornered by five members. Analysing them two were dark elves, one was a human, and the remaining two were wheretigers. It was all pitch black from my view to even see them clearly.
I kept calm and heard their conversation.
"Look kiddo, give us the item back!" the weretiger screamed at the young boy.
"He is not gonna give it up like that," the human joined in the conversation.
"This doesn't belong here, this belongs to that old man," the prum held on to a box like item, he replied with pain and fear, yet he replied bravely.
The men tried again but the prum refused to obey their orders, so they moved in to kill him with a knife,
"Stop right there!"
"What?"
Sound echoed throughout the area surprising everyone standing there, a shadow appeared dragging them one by one and knocking them out. The boy completely trembles in fear, he is confused on what is going on?
The shadow appeared in front of him, standing bravely. The boy shook but was little calmer,
"Who are you?" were the only words that could escape his lips.
"Rest assured, I am here to help you."
The campfire's light falls on his jetblack hoodless coat, two swords strapped on his back and making his ruby eyes glow due to the reflection of the fire, with a soft and big smile on his face, Bell neared the shaking boy.
"You really are Brave kid!" Bell softly patted the prum's head. The hobbit looks at him with glistening eyes filled with tears,
"What's your name kid?"
"I… my name is…"
...Present Time…
"Ren…"
Bell crossed his arms under his chin and smiled to himself.
"The bravest young hobbit I've ever seen. Oh boy, now I miss him…"
Bell raises his head high up and looks at the clear blue sky which now covers the blazing hot sun.
"It was like we were brothers. It felt as if we were meant to meet at some point."
And I am sure, you will be leading the familia with ease in my absence Ren.
Bell closes his eyes and imagines Ren, holding his spear and pointing to the new Zeus familia containing humans, chientrope, elves, werewolves, and many more potential members, heading towards the victory.
The market street was packed tight even at noon, a blonde god observed the items presented before him along with a lady by his side having aqua blue hair and cyan colored eyes with glasses on who sighed.
"Lord Hermes, why did you suddenly decide to take a stroll?" the woman said it with an exhausted tone as if she is already tired to start off with.
"Oh, come now Asfi, I too need some slack off my work as the familia god," Hermes returned the lady a cheeky smile.
"Why do I feel like you are going to cause another trouble for me."
The lady named Asfi is the captain of the Hermes familia. She is loyal to her god and had to always fix the mess created by her stupid and sly god. As they were strolling through the market street and made their way to the central street, their eyes landed on a certain someone who could be noticed easily.
Hermes spotted his good old friend, looking at the sky, smiling peacefully. The god didn't want to interrupt his private time but he somehow wanted to start a conversation about his level and growth.
After Bell questioned about his Level stats, Hermes tried his best to keep low and not tell him the reason for him being Level 1. This bugged him a lot so he decided to give him a challenge to overcome and then get his reward, the reward of learning about his Level 1 problem.
"Asfi, mind waiting here for me," the god cheerfully requested his child.
The aqua eyes of the lady now lands on the boy "Old friend of yours again?" she confirmed.
"Yes, I have something personal… so just wait here my dear Asfi."
"Just don't make another mess," the lady sighed but blushed out of embarrassment when Hermes replied to her with ''Love you'', that is one cheeky flatterer right there.
As the white-haired rabbit was lost in his precious memories he didn't notice the voice of a familiar face until it reached him.
"Bell, hey there!" Hermes exclaimed
"Hermes?"
Bell frowned, was he tailing him? And he wasn't aware when the god showed up.
"Mind if I sit here?"
"Ya sure, the seat is yours."
The god rested himself on the seat, Bell sure was surprised to run-in with his old friend, the god was like he always had been. The same old cunning smile on his face.
"So what's up with you? It's odd to see you outside the dungeon around this time," Hermes asked, fixing his hat properly.
"Well, I decided to take a break."
"Oh~ Bell is slacking off?"
"Can say that,"
The conversation is going plain, Bell's expression was a little like he is annoyed in some way, probably because Hemes still had that irritating cunning smile. Hermes asked about his performance and his life going as the only adventurer of Hestia familia.
It was no different feeling for him as he already had been an only member of Zeus familia. As the conversation proceeded, Hermes decided to drag 'it' in.
"So Bell, there is something I wanted to tell you…"
"Hm? What is it?"
Bell could sense the tension in his tone, it might be a serious matter that he is going to discuss with him, will it be Evilus or perhaps...
"Well, I wanted to hide this fact from you but it seems like I can't hold it with me any longer," Hermes stretched his arms and shrugged them.
"What fact?" Bell now becomes curious.
"It's about your Level stats," Hermes crossed his hands placed under his chin, he leaned forward.
Bell was left dumbstruck, he had the hunch that Hermes knew something about his Level 1 problem but why had he kept it with himself.
"If you knew you should've told me!" he exclaimed.
"I wanted to, but it still is not the right time for that."
"So now tell me right now!"
The boy became more desperate to find out the solution to his problem but as always, Hermes wasn't gonna hand over any information that easily.
"Well, if you want to know you have to succeed in my challenge," Hermes gave a sketchy grin.
"What kind of challenge, throw in!"
"Well, there are two options for you. Succeed in either one of them then I will tell you. The first one is a bit long, that is I need you to rank up to Level 2 first. If not then here is the easiest route, the second option that is..."
"What's the second choice then!"
The god was enjoying the desperate expression of the boy, he had fun in it for his own, but how would he react with this one.
"Nothing much," his expression of cheeky grind formed into a cunning smile, "Accept that power of yours."
As the god finished, he could clearly witness the looks of the boy, an immediate change from the desperate need for knowledge into a fearsome rage being loaded only to be executed. His nerves popped out from his forehead and fists, his eyes gleamed as if the fire had ignited itself up, strong foreshadow developing also making his surroundings tense.
The god kept his composure and enjoyed the scenario.
"Where are you getting at… WITH THIS!"
Bell sounded calm because he was rather frustrated and mad at Hermes, to think he would remind him of 'that' power. He was even madder when he noticed the god enjoy seeing him in vengeance for him.
"I told you… It wAs ALL iN PaST!"
"Haha Bell, so what is your call?" leisurely crossing his hands on the back of his head the god grinned at the boy.
"I would rather go the longer route."
After saying that, the rabbit stomped his way out and left. Hermes finally let out a sigh of relief, not too soon Asfi came and asked.
Even if she was distancing herself with the god and the boy she easily felt the presence of uneasiness around her. The god just kept his cunning smile and told her that he just screwed with the rabbit in a friendly way.
She was still concerned about the rabbit looking boy, to distract her from him Hermes asked Asfi,
"Asfi, do you know about the adventurer, who was called… The 'Black Swordsman' ?"
Quiet surprising question from Hermes? This is too odd for him to ask about the person who is outside Orario…
Asfi rubbed her chin, trying to recollect what she knows about the 'Black Swordsman'.
"It is said that he is the only adventurer who excels in dual-wielding. Even if Level is low, his dual-wielding is precise and can take over any opponent easily, even if the opponent is higher level or the same level as him. (Her eyes meets Hermes's eyes) I also heard that he might be able to even keep up with the strongest adventurer in Orario, the King that is. Not in terms of Level, but in terms of skills. Why did you ask this for Lord Hermes?"
Her questioned face made the god chuckle a little, "I just wanted to see if my dear Asfi here is well aware of the world outside of Orario," He patted her head.
"Why you…"
She grumbled wearing a pink face due to embarrassment.
...Later that night...
-Traveler's Inn-
"Ah… his face had a priceless look," Hermes laughed out loud making his stomach hurt, he still remembered Bell's mad face and for some reason instead of fear, he is taking it as a joke.
He peeped out of the window, viewing the beautiful nightlife of Orario.
"Well, I wonder what his reaction would be after seeing his 'real' status," the god kept grinning at the sheet of paper placed right in front of his desk.
Bell Cranel
Level 3 - force ascension - 5
STR: D 510 - I 0
END: G 295 - I 0
DEX: D 501 - I 0
AGI: B 650 - I 0
MAG: C 650 - I 0
SKILL
(LIARIS FREESE)
Rapid Growth
Continued desire result in continued growth
Stronger desire results in stronger growth.
MAGIC
(FLAMEBURST)
Fire element enchantment power.
DEVELOPMENTAL ABILITIES
Sword Master: SS
Divine Blades: F
(Dual wield proficiency)
Escape: B
Abnormal Resistance: S
Ailment Resistance: B
Spirit Healing: G