Guess what everyone? It is April fool's day...but don't worry this chapter update ain't a joke.

Just before we begin, I would like to extend my thanks to all of you who took the time to read my first chapter. I'd also like to offer my gratitude to those that left a review as well, really appreciate your kind and supportive words. Finally, I just want to point out that this Fanfic is AU so if you manage to spot anything that differs from the canon material, please keep in mind that it is all intended. Some notable differences will be the changes in the concept behind character levels and adventurer ranks.

With that all said and done, I hope you all enjoy chapter 2 which will focus on the first interactions between the main romantic pairing, Bell and Ais!

Chapter 2 : Bonding with The Sword Princess

"Mhmm..."

A small yawn could be heard from a certain white-haired young man as his mind slowly left the pleasant land of dreams, a smile forming on his features with his senses gradually returned to him.

Bell was fairly certain that it was still early in the morning seeing as his alarm had yet to shout his ears off which meant he likely had some time to laze around in bed. His muscles ached ever so slightly although the exact reason why alluded him completely. Perhaps he had flailed a bit too much in his sleep? After all, he did have a particularly strange dream that remained oddly vivid in his mind unlike the usual daily occurrences.

He wasn't sure whether to call it a nightmare or just a roller coaster of emotions really. It was certainly true that the idea of being teleported into a fantasy world was well...every otaku's dream. The chance to start over in a alternate reality where magic and adventurers existed was very appealing to someone like himself who essentially lived an extremely bland and boring lifestyle. Instead of going to school and eventually picking up a 9-5 job, who wouldn't want to go on an adventure of a lifetime instead? Perhaps this was the reason why Bell always particularly enjoyed watching animes and reading mangas with the Isekai theme, constantly picturing how much fun he would have if he was in the main character's shoes.

What's more, there was always a beautiful and strong heroine in every single one of these fictional tales who eventually gets close with the main character. What else does a healthy 18 year old boy need to be convinced that this genre was the best? The only thing better than a 2D waifu was a 3D waifu right?

So at the very least, that part of his dream had been an absolute bliss. On the other hand, his summoning itself left much to be desired, being thrown into a location with virtually no one around. Furthermore, being chased by an army of slimes that shot puddles of poison? And right off the bat too? No thanks. If anything, shouldn't he have gotten some form of overpowered weapon or ability like every other protagonist in animes beforehand?

Bell shuddered a little as he recalled the rain of poison that would have spelled the end for him moments before his dream ended. If his mind was going make a Isekai dream for him, why wasn't it at least a pleasant one?

Well a dream is a dream, there's no logic behind it. And in hindsight, it was probably better that it wasn't too good of an experience otherwise he would just be left disappointed once he woke up right?

Satisfied at the conclusion he had arrived at, Bell stretched his aching limbs in order to loosen the tense muscles, another yawn escaping his lips during the process.

'But anyway, why does my pillow feel so nice today?' Bell wondered as he readjusted his position so that he lay on his right side. 'And it smells really pleasant too.'

Taking another whiff of the soothing fragrance, Bell couldn't help but relax in response. It was hard to put a particular name to it, but it was certainly several times better than the best perfume he had ever smelt. While the aroma was sweet and delicate, it had a very natural hint to it that reminded him briefly of flowers, a scent he could certainly get used to every morning.

As much as he would like to get to the bottom of the source though, Bell ultimately decided to put aside the task for now, instead feeling more inclined to continue snuggling against his strangely soft pillow. With his eyes still closed, Bell decided to investigate by using his hands, curious as to why it seemingly changed overnight.

But as he rubbed his hands against his 'pillow' surface, an unfamiliar feminine voice reached his ears.

"Ahh!"

It wasn't particularly loud or sharp but rather just a small yelp of surprise. But for Bell who had been living alone for years in his own apartment, waking up to the noise of another person was certainly something that he did not expect. Therefore, out of sheer shock, the young man immediately shot up from his spot before spinning around.

And the scene that filled his vision was surely not something he would have imagined in his wildest dreams.

Kneeling before him with her hands on her lap was a very beautiful woman with long silky gold hair and a slender figure that would put even the most famous models to shame. Her attire which consisted of a white sleeveless dress paired with a blue skirt complete with golden accents only further accentuated her beauty, finished with matching white stockings that stretched from her thighs all the way down to her feet.

But what really stood out to him were her captivating golden eyes as she locked gazes with him, her lips slowly curving into a small smile that caused his heart to skip a beat. She certainly did give off a warm and welcoming vibe and Bell found it hard not to stare at her, clearly mesmerized by the mysterious individual before him.

To say that she was attractive would be the understatement of the year for she was like an angel that had been breathed to life by the divines.

A short gust of wind gently flew past, causing her long flowing hair to sway ever so slightly in response. Daintily brushing a few strands aside and tucking it behind her ear, the blonde-haired beauty gracefully arose from her position before making her way over to him.

"What's wrong master?" The young woman questioned him with a rather innocent look, completely unaware of the blush that formed on his face from their close proximity.

"N-N-Nothing is wrong! Um..this might come off as a little rude but who are you?" Bell managed to splutter out his thoughts, taking a few steps back in order to get some breathing space.

As though only realizing that she had yet to introduce herself, the girl bowed her head in apology. "I'm sorry for not introducing myself earlier, my name is Ais Wallenstein and I've been summoned to be your personal guardian."

'Ais Wallenstein?' Bell muttered to himself, trying to remember where he had heard that name before. It didn't take long for his brain to put two and two together, reminding him of a message he had seen in his dream before waking up.

Congratulations, you have successfully formed a permanent partnership with summoned guardian, Ais Wallenstein!

Now that Ais was actually in front of him...perhaps it was not a dream after all?

Instead of losing himself in thought over it, he decided to carry on with the conversation, deciding that it was not a dilemma he could solve alone.

For now, he had to assume that this was reality.

"Ah Ais-san. It is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Bell Cranel, I hope we get along!" Bell naturally extended a hand, performing what everyone he knew would consider a courtesy when getting acquainted with someone for the first time.

Instead of returning the gesture however, Ais stared blankly at his outstretched hand before surfacing a slightly troubled expression in return.

"...Oh sorry, I can understand if you don't want to handshake with someone you just met." Bell let out an embarrassed laugh as he hastily retracted his hand, mentally berating his own actions especially since he never really held a girl's hand before.

"Handshake?" Furrowing her eyebrows in confusion, Ais lifted a finger up to her lips in a thoughtful gesture. "Sorry Bell-sama, I'm not sure what that is."

"Oh..." Taken back by the fact, Bell scratched his head, racking his brain for the right words. "It's something that two people do as a sign of mutual acceptance when they want to get to know each other in order to signal the start of a friendly relationship."

"I see." She replied with an understanding tone, her gaze shifting between her hand and his. "Could you show me how to do a handshake?"

"Oh um of course."

It was a little strange to have to teach someone how to shake hands but Bell found the entire incident to be rather amusing to say the least. If anything, it helped to settle his nerves greatly especially with his mind currently being weighed down by the notion of him being in an alternate reality. So as he watched the blonde-haired beauty before him follow his instructions with curiosity that matched that of a child, he couldn't help but chuckle out loud.

"Bell-sama?" Ais furrowed her eyebrows in response to his sudden outburst. "Did I do something wrong already?"

"No, just hold out your right hand like this. Yup, that's it. Finally we hold each other's hands and shake."

"Woohhh." Her eyes lit up as they gently held each other's hand, a small smile once again decorating her immaculate features. "Does this mean that Bell-sama now accepts me as a companion?"

"Huh? Well yes." Bell replied, slightly dumbfounded by how serious she looked. If one didn't know better, they would have thought that they were doing a knighting service. The small fist pump she did when he acknowledged her was also ridiculously adorable.

"Then once again, please take care of me Ais."

"Likewise Bell-sama."

"Oh, could you just call me Bell? I'm not really used to being called Bell-sama."

"Wouldn't calling you Bell be a bit too formal since you are my master."

"Please call me Bell. After all, we are partners now right?" Bell liked the sound of having someone so beautiful around him as a companion. For the first time since this morning, the young man was silently thanking the heavens for teleporting him here.

"Alright Bell, if that is your wish then I shall comply." Ais glanced down at their still connected hands before looking back at him. "Bell, your hands are very cold. Please come this way."

With that said, Ais quickly pulled him back to their original camping spot which was in the hollow trunk of a massive tree. It was big enough to house the both of them together comfortably and provided more than adequate shelter from the near freezing temperatures outside. If Bell had to give a blind guess, he would estimate that it was probably around midnight at the moment given the obvious absence of the sun and the complete darkness that obscured his vision in all directions. Thankfully it would appear as though Ais had prepared a little in advance as Bell could see some bedding made from leaves made in one corner as well as a bunch of logs neatly aligned with kindling ready underneath.

Once the pair were safely inside, Ais settled herself in front of the woodpile before snapping her fingers. A spark of flame immediately sprung to life, igniting the kindling and quickly spreading to form a brilliant campfire. It didn't take long for the fire's warmth to reach the every nook and cranny of their makeshift tent, causing Bell to breathe a sigh of relief.

Making her way over, Ais reached for both his hands before clasping them in her own.

"You're still cold Bell." She frowned at him with worry apparent on her features.

"Don't worry about it haha, it'll get better soon." But when he tried to retract his hands, the blonde-haired beauty only shook her head as she continued to hold on tightly.

"At this rate you will get sick."

With his hands still cupped in her own, Ais adjusted her position so that she was sitting directly in front of him. Before Bell could question her however, the blonde-haired beauty leaned in and gently blew her warm breath into his hands whilst slowly rubbing them with her own, repeating the process over and over in the same manner.

'ijsflejisflsvklnnbrbk!' Bell had to focus every ounce of his strength into containing his voice as his mind went into overdrive from Ais actions. He certainly wasn't troubled by what she was doing in a negative sense but rather, felt extremely embarrassed by how she would be willing to perform such an intimate action. It was clear from her innocent expression that she was doing so with the sole intention of maintaining his health but as a healthy young man, you couldn't blame him for letting his thoughts wander. Just how devoted was Ais to him?

Once she had made sure that he was no longer cold, Ais gracefully sat herself next to him before turning to face him. "Feeling better Bell?"

"Much better, thank you very much Ais."

"You're very welcome." She flashes a cute smile at him, pleased at the results.

A comfortable silence filled the air as the pair stared at the fire, watching it cackle and spit furiously.

It was a little strange to say since Bell didn't really know her well yet, but it was hard to deny the level of comfort that she brought him. In a world where he knew close to nothing, it was reassuring to have her by his side especially given the way she had treated him so far. Even now as they sat side by side, Bell could feel himself gravitating towards her, feeling as though everything will be fine so long as they were together.

Although she did display some childish tendencies here and there, Bell knew she was someone he could get along with well. Their interactions didn't feel forced at all, in fact he felt he could bring up anything and they would be able to converse naturally.

To put it simply, he was glad that she had been the one that had been summoned from the guardian gacha.

For the first time in his life, he had been extremely lucky when it mattered the most.

Still there were some things he wanted to get off his mind and address, finally managing to ask the a question that had been bugging him for a while.

"Hey Ais, how much do you know about this world?"

"Unfortunately I only know that I have been summoned to be your personal guardian and that Bell was originally from another world called Earth."

"Oh?" Even though he had yet to tell her anything about himself, Bell was pleasantly surprised to hear that she knew about his current situation. Sure it wasn't anything he wasn't already aware of, but it was a relief to know that at least someone knew the truth. After all, he highly doubted anyone in this world would believe him if he started rambling about being from another reality.

"So how do you know that I'm from a different world?"

"When I was being summoned, part of your memories and knowledge were transferred into me so I knew right away who I would be serving."

"I see..." So it probably wasn't a stretch to say that they shared a bond of some kind. After all, the message itself did imply that they would have a permanent partnership moving forward. Obviously he had no way of knowing the specifics but he would be lying if he said he wasn't thankful to have her. Unfortunately, despite having shared knowledge, Bell himself didn't know a whole lot about the Gacha game to begin with. So there was little they could work off at the moment.

They had no choice but to learn more about this world through first hand experience.

"Still, it is a little nerve-wracking to know nothing about this place." Bell unconsciously voiced out his concern to no one in particular.

"Please don't worry Bell, I've sworn to serve and protect you with every fiber of my being. No matter what happens, I will always be by your side. Together, I know we can overcome anything that comes our way." Ais leaned forward, staring intently into his eyes as she held one of his hands, her gaze transmitting an unwavering sense of loyalty that Bell couldn't ignore even if he tried.

"You're right, I'm sure we can do anything together." Bell grinned happily at the blonde-haired beauty who returned his enthusiasm with a smile of her own. "Speaking of overcoming stuff, when you were summoned, did you by any chance fight an army of slimes?"

It had only just occurred to him how his so-called 'dream' had ended and that his recollection of the events that followed were nonexistent.

"Oh yes, shortly after I was summoned, I managed to beat all those slimes before carrying Bell here where we set camp up till now. Oh and I almost forgot..." Seemingly remembering something important, Ais quickly made her way towards a corner of their shelter before returning with a bunch of mysterious objects in her arms. "I'm not sure what these are, but the defeated slimes each dropped one of them."

There were easily over a hundred of these purple crystal shards amongst the pile that Ais had set down in front of him. Picking one up and holding it to the light, Bell could see that it was nearly transparent save for one dark speck in the middle of it. Honestly, had Bell not known that they dropped from a monster, he would have easily placed his money on this being a rare gem of some kind.

"Perhaps these are what monsters drop in these world?" Bell speculated before noticing that the shards were all slightly different from one another. "Some of them are jagged and crude while others were more finely cut. There are also a few that are larger than the rest."

"Yup, I was thinking of keeping them as they might have some monetary value." The blonde-haired beauty sought his approval and was overjoyed when he offered her a nod.

"Good thinking, it might be something that we can sell to traders." Again he wasn't the most experienced when it came to games but surely this could used in jewellery of some kind right?

It was then that another important fact dawned on Bell.

"Ais, did you by any chance see a mobile phone drop anywhere when you were summoned?"

"Oh you mean this?" She closed her eyes and held her hand up into the thin air where a mobile phone seemingly materialized into existence from nothing.

"Whao, that is so cool!"

"You can do it too Bell. Just try copying what I did while concentrating your thoughts on picturing your mobile phone."

'I can do magic too!' This thought alone was making it hard for him to sit still, as Bell rubbed his hands in excitement. "Okay, then let me give it a shot."

Taking a deep breath, Bell mimicked Ais movements down to the tee, slowly conjuring an image in his mind that resembled his phone as much as possible. Several seconds passed and nothing seemed to happen, causing the boy's brow to crease. Just as he was about to give up however, a familiar weight suddenly dropped into the palm of his hand.

"I did it. I can't believe I actually did it!" He tilted his head back and yelled, assuming a victory pose like someone who had just won the Olympics with a world record.

"Ooooh, as expected of Bell." Ais congratulated him wholeheartedly while giving him a round of applause. Still, having her look at him with such an impressed smile made Bell blush a little.

When the excitement had finally died down, Bell began browsing through his mobile, studying the various new tabs that had appeared on his home-screen.

Party

Skills

Profile

Equipment

Inventory

Gacha

These were some of the ones that jumped out to him most as they likely contained a fair amount of interesting information within. For instance when he tapped on the button named Party, Bell could see a new screen popping up on his phone with information about him and Ais.

Bell (Leader)

Ais (Unique Guardian)

By clicking on their respective names, Bell was able to find more detailed stats about each of them such as their respective STR, DEX, INT, DEF values and more. There was a lot more for him to see but he ultimately decided to study them at a later date since there was simply too much to process as it is. Besides he wanted to check out the other tabs too.

What's even more mind boggling at the moment was the fact that Ais, who was currently sitting next to him, possessed a mobile phone of her own. Although both of their devices were identical in appearance, they were both different colored so it was easy to differentiate the two. Still, it was fairly entertaining to watch Ais fiddle away at her own phone, her expression clearly showing a great sense of interest. Every so often, she would tap Bell's shoulder and show him something that interested her with child-like innocence.

It was strange how doing something so simple felt so fun with the right company.

'Well, might as well check out some of the other tabs while we are at it.'

Deciding to check his inventory next, Bell quickly navigated through the appropriate options before finding something fairly interesting.

For there was one item currently listed in his otherwise empty inventory with the name A Beginner's Starter Pack.

Are you sure you would like to use 'A Beginner's Starter Pack'? Yes/No

"Sure why not right?"

Selecting the appropriate option, an animation of a gift box gradually being tugged open appeared on his screen, it's contents spilling out with confetti before a new message appeared.

Congratulations Bell! You have received the following items :

- Beginner Equipment set (Contains body-wear and footwear)

- Beginner Combat Knife (Weapon)

- Potion of Minor Recovery x 2

- Food and Drink consumables x 6

- Small Pouch of Gold

- Small Leather bag

These items have been added to your inventory!

'Ooooo food consumables?' Despite there being a whole list, Bell was instead attracted to one item in particular right as his stomach growled in hunger.

How many food consumables would you like to use? And would you like to use the small leather bag as well?

Driven by sheer curiosity, Bell quickly entered the appropriate amount before his phone screen erupted with a ray of bright light that directed itself onto the spot in front of him, forming a small silhouette.

"Bell!" Ais immediately leap in front of him with a sword in hand. She had been startled by the sudden intrusion of light and reacted immediately to protect her master. But instead of seeing a monster, a leather backpack filled their vision once the light had dissipated.

"Sorry, that was my fault. I was messing around in my inventory and found this. I had no idea that it would materialize like that." Bowing his head in apology, Bell quickly showed Ais the contents of his phone.

The pair gingerly inspected the bag before carefully opening the straps, peering cautiously inside soon after. The contents however came as a surprise to both of them.

Inside they found 2 sets of bento boxes, each containing a large serving of rice and side dishes. Furthermore, there were also two bowls of steaming miso soup on the side to boot. He could already feel his mouth watering at the sight.

"Oooohh, are these the famous bento boxes from Bell's world?" Ais questioned in awe, intrigued how compact and neatly designed it was.

"I wouldn't really call it famous but it certainly is very common from where I come from." Bell smiled before handing his companion one of the sets. "We should eat while it is hot."

"Thank you." Ais received it with both hands like it was some treasure.

"Itadakimasu~" Bell was of course more than eager to dig into his meal but he was quick to notice a pair of eyes on him. "Ais?"

"What does Itadakimasu mean?"

"It's a tradition from where I come from to say it before a meal as a brief way to express our gratitude for the food."

"Hohh." Once again expressing her childlike wonder, Ais stared at the meal before copying exactly what Bell had done only a second ago in an elegant fashion. "Itadakimasu."

With that all said and done, the pair began to partake in the food, each expressing their thoughts on its taste. To put it simply, it was ridiculously good for something that effectively was...well...created by his mobile somehow. It was nothing like the bentos that were mass-produced for convenience store shelves. Not saying those were bad, but this was by comparison much more well done. It's taste was strong but not enough to have any lingering aftertastes with each side dish cooked and spiced to perfection. Bell liked the fried chicken in particular which was extremely crispy.

"Mhmmm~~this is delicious." He exclaimed in a sing-song voice, completely forgetting his table manners as he stuffed his mouth full.

"Indeed it is." Ais studied the ingredients as though trying to memorize the appearance and taste. If Bell liked it so much, she wanted to try her hand at cooking later. Perhaps she would be able to impress him.

Having wolfed down the last of his meal, Bell leaned back against the wooden wall behind him and casually watched the blonde-haired beauty beside him.

"Here Bell, have this."

She gave him a warm smile and held the last piece of fried chicken up to his mouth.

"Don't you like it?"

"Well it certainly has a very pleasant taste but I like watching you eat it more."

"Hmmmm..." He was certainly tempted by the offer especially since this was the first time a girl had ever fed him directly. On the other hand though, he wanted them to share everything together. "How about we each have half?"

"Half?"

"That way we both get what we want right?"

"..." She couldn't help but giggle a bit at his logic but gave him a nod of approval. "Then you can have the first bite."

Being careful to only take half, Bell watched with a blush as Ais daintily popped the rest into her mouth. It only just dawned on him that this was kind of like an indirect kiss.

With the meal now over, Bell surfaced a yawn before stretching a bit. The food paired with the warmth from the campfire was a combination that brought him an immeasurable amount of comfort, enough to make his eyelids feel a little heavy.

Noticing this, Ais poked his shoulder softly to get his attention.

"I think you should rest for tonight Bell. If all goes well, I want to show you how to do some basic combat tomorrow."

"Basic combat?"

"Yes. Of course I will always be there to protect and defend you, but it would be nice for you to have some experience in it too. Don't worry, I'll make sure it is safe."

"Alright." If monsters existed in this world, then their next encounter with them would only be a matter of time. When that happened, Bell wanted to at least be able to hold his own and not be a burden. Besides, he wanted to be able to protect Ais too one day. "Then we should both rest up!"

But when he got up to make his way over to the mattress of leaves, the young man felt a light tug on his sleeve. Glancing back down to face her, Bell found Ais still kneeling on the floor.

"What's wrong Ais?"

Instead of answering him, she simply patted her lap with her hands.

"Huh?" He wasn't really sure what she was trying to get at.

"..." A small blush surfaced on her face as she pouted a little at his reply, feeling somewhat embarrassed as she explained the reason behind her actions. "Would you like a lap pillow, Bell?"

"W-W-What?!" Clearly taken back by her suggestion, Bell quickly waved his hands in front of him. "B-B-But how would you sleep then?"

"It's okay, I'll be fine."

"B-B-But..."

"Do you perhaps not want it?" Her expression faltered, displaying a slightly hurt look.

"No, I most certainly do!"

He was obviously weak against her poppy dog eyes so he had no choice but to rush back to her. To be fair, he did want a lap pillow but was simply worried that it would be uncomfortable for her.

"Is this okay?" He questioned nervously after laying his head on her soft thighs, feeling extremely conscious as he remained as still as he could.

"You don't look very relaxed to me." Ais furrowed her brow in concern as she stared down at him from above. "It's okay, you don't need to be so tense around me."

The young woman gently brushed his white hair while giving him a warm smile, feeling overjoyed as she felt his muscles relax under her touch.

Her soft voice was very calming and soothing as she continued to reassure him with comforting words, all the while still stroking his fringe.

But before he could completely doze off, a sudden thought dominated his mind. After all, the sensation he currently felt under his head was the exact same as what he felt earlier when he had first awoke. To make matters worse, didn't he rub his hand on his so-called 'pillow' whilst trying to determine what it was?!

"A-A-A-A-Ais-san? Can I ask you a question?" He managed to stutter out with flushed cheeks.

"Why are you being so polite all of a sudden?" She raised an eyebrow at his weird behavior before continuing. "What is it Bell?"

"E-E-Erm were you perhaps also giving me a lap pillow when I was sleeping earlier?"

"Oh yes I was. Did you perhaps not like it?" Her golden iris clearly reflected the worry she felt, afraid that he might get up and sleep on his own after all.

"T-T-That's not it," He panicked, pausing to try and conjure up a more appropriate way to phrase his next question. "When I was waking up, did I happen to um... touch anywhere I shouldn't have with my hands?"

"Nghhhh..." Ais let out an embarrassed whimper as her beautiful face immediately flared up once she realized what he meant. Clearly unable to formulate a reply, she instead bit her lip before looking away as though suddenly finding the wall very interesting.

But to Bell, her dramatic change in character was more than enough of an answer.

"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to."

"Bell...doesn't need to be sorry. I'm not angry, I just wasn't prepared for it." She replied with a small voice which only further elevated the tension he felt. "J-J-Just tell me in advance next time and I will be fine with it."

Bell internally screamed in embarrassment. Sure her reactions were extremely cute, almost dangerously so, yet that didn't change that fact that he had done something extremely daring from the get-go to Ais even if it wasn't intentional.

And what did she mean by next time?! Could that possible mean that... NO!

How was he going to sleep with these thoughts circling in his mind?!

This was going to be a long night after all!

Author's note - Thanks for reading and hope you all have a good day !

Coming soon - Chapter 3 : Time for the Real Tutorial!