Hestia grumbled as the light of the sun began to hit her closed eyes, the intensity stirring the Goddess to wakefulness. She soon rolled onto her back and rose to sit with effort. She stretched her arms and gave a deep yawn, her generous chest pressing against her pajamas and nearly busting a button on them.
She opened her eyes halfway, grumbling as she rubbed her stomach in an idle gesture. It was early in the morning and Hestia could faintly smell something good coming from somewhere in her home.
'Definitely the new kitchen,' Hestia thought , 'smells like Rinko and Kirumi are making something nice…again.'
It had been a few days since the last summoning and Hestia familia were active in a way Hestia hadn't dreamed before. More party members for dungeon diving, more gifted people with unique abilities and skills, and more people in the house in general.
Hestia was especially glad for the later, given how much bigger the home has become and the space it provided now. If Hestia were honest, she'd honestly feel agoraphobic if there weren't a good number of people in the home beside her. A house this big wasn't meant for just one or two people, it was meant for a big group, a familia.
A family.
Hestia paused putting on her wardrobe, her dress just about to be put over her breasts. Family, a word she now could say with confidence in regards to her familia. Sure, an unconventional one, but a family nonetheless.
It was strange at first, she remembered. Eros gift, Bell summoning gorgeous women, the strange skill everyone summoned possessed, and more. It was all so crazy and convoluted and happening so fast that Hestia was worried she'd go down as one of the mad Goddesses of old.
Thankfully, that wasn't the case and Hestia soon adjusted to the way things are. Albeit 'soon' was far more relative to a God than a mortal.
'Eros,' she thought , 'I don't know if I should thank you for your gift. I still don't trust you, even if you were talking honestly at Denatus. You've left some things out. I know it and so do others I'm sure. Whatever other reasons you had in making this gift, know that anyone who is summoned is part of my family, not yours.'
She could already see that man smiling at such a proclamation. She hated that smile.
Hestia finished putting her clothes on and tying the ribbon that helped support her breasts.
Knocking came to her door a second later. Not loud or soft, but firm and polite. Hestia already knew who it was before a voice came from behind the door.
"Goddess Hestia," Kirumi said, "preparations for breakfast are nearly complete."
"Okay," Hestia called, "I'll be down in a minute. You get yourself ready to eat too."
Hestia reached over to her desk where her hair pins were, a gift from Bell when he first started earning good money from the dungeon. She secured them firmly in her hair, giving her her signature twin tail look.
She made ready to leave her room, the smell of breakfast encouraging her footsteps.
She hoped Bell would be at the table soon as well. Usually when she woke up, Bell was close to finishing his morning training with the others.
Though with the arrival of Olivier, training took on a different approach when it was her turn to train Bell today.
"Seventy-eight. Seventy-nine. Eighty."
Bell kept counting as he did his sit-ups. Feeling his core burn something fierce. He was tired and hungry. He was focused and determined. He was familiar with pain and would overcome it.
What he wouldn't overcome anytime soon…
"Your form is lousy! Quit trying to pull yourself up with your legs! Use your arms and shoulders!"
Was fear.
Olivier stood in front of Bell, on his feet, dressed in her blue uniform and carrying a silver sheathed saber over her shoulder. She looked down at Bell with glacial eyes that could freeze a man in place with its gaze.
Not that she had any intention of stopping Bell from completing his training.
"You want to be strong, right?" Olivier asked, "Strong enough to fight any foes and complete any challenges against you?"
"Yes!" Bell answered, unhesitatingly. Counting his eighty fifth and eighty sixth sit up.
"Then you have a ways to go still," she said, taking her sword and lowering it down so that Bell would touch it with his chest anytime he rose up, "don't get cocky just because you leveled up in a month. You think there won't be worse threats to face now that you've leveled up?"
"No!" Bell answered, feeling the hard poke of the sheath tap his sore and burning chest as he rose up again and again.
"Right," Olivier agreed, "for whenever someone is strong, there is always someone stronger. It's a cruel fact of any world, mine or yours," she pressed the sheath deeper into Bell's chest after he counted ninety, "do you know the solution to this, captain?" she said the last word with some amusement, as if tickled that this young man was such a thing.
"Yes!" Bell answered, now having to struggle with his sit ups by pushing against the sheath. He soon counted ninety two sit ups. He'd be done had Olivier not press him further.
"How is it then?" she asked, "How is it that you face someone or something stronger than you? How do you overcome such things?"
Bell didn't answer, instead he counted to ninety five and ninety six.
"Is it by strength?" Olivier asked, pushing the sheath harder against Bell, "is that the answer? Is that the solution?"
Bell had to push harder against the sheath, feeling a bruise form on his chest from the pressure. He counted to ninety eight.
"Well, captain? What's your answer?"
"Ninety nine," Bell gritted out before being pushed back harder and into the ground. He pushed harder against the weapon. Struggling to finish his last sit up.
"You answer, Bell," Olivier said, losing the honorific she previously said.
Bell was so close and as he finished his one hundred sit ups he answered.
"It's not getting stronger to beat the strongest," Bell said, knowing the answer, "it's about having the will to beat the strongest in the first place."
He slapped his hands to the ground to stop himself from falling back. Staring into the visible eye of his trainer for the day.
Blue met red in a fiery exchange of wordless challenge.
Eventually, Olivier replied, "You are…correct."
She removed the sheath from Bell's chest and stepped off his feet, allowing Bell to drop his legs fully to the ground and lean back on his palms. His body sore and sweaty.
"I'm glad you remembered," Olivier said, attaching her sword to her side with practical ease, "anyone can have strength but few can have the will to use that strength. It doesn't matter if you can lift a boulder or fight an army by yourself, if you don't have the willpower to do those things then it's just wasted potential."
"And wasted strength is just another way of being a coward," Bell finished for her with a deep sigh, "you taught me this the first day you offered to train me."
Indeed, after the last summoning and a day later, Olivier watched Bell train in the morning along with the others. She commented that Bell lacked significant stamina to account for his fast attack style of fighting, though still impressed with it nonetheless. Mentioning she trained in a harsh environment that sapped your stamina by the second, she offered to train Bell in getting it up to a standard he could barely dream about and thus be capable of maintaining his fighting ability for his style of combat.
At the time she asked, Olivier was polite and practical in her offer. During the time of her training, she was an icy storm of unforgiving focus.
Whatever stamina training Bell had done for the day, she would automatically double it. Whatever gap in exercises she saw, she would fill with more. Whatever resistance she could apply further growth, she would.
On their first day training together, Bell had actually passed out, until a barking order from Olivier woke him up and he was back at it with fear in his heart and determination in his step.
Regardless of how cruel or insane the training was, Bell could already feel a difference. He supposed that it was worth it…most of the time.
A towel slammed into his face nearly making him sputter. He removed it and saw it was Olivier who threw it a ways away from him . She pointed a thumb at their home, "It's nearly time for breakfast. I'd recommend wiping the sweat off yourself before sitting at the table."
Her piece said, Olivier walked to their home with brisk strides.
Bell began to do so with earnest glee, training was over and he could now enjoy a nice breakfast to recover his energy after such an active morning. He heard footsteps coming from behind him and saw it was Takeru, Kallen, Ibuki, Chitoge, and Hana walking just behind him. They all looked a bit haggard but nowhere near as bad as Bell.
Still, despite how tired he was, Bell still gifted them with an honest smile, "Training went well for you all too I see," he said, "glad it was such a nice day for it."
Looking at each other before looking back at Bell, Kallen was the first to ask, "I thought our training was rough for today. Bell, you look like you just had a casual spar with a minotaur."
The others nodded their agreement, even Takeru who was a tough teacher in her own right.
Bell just laughed the words off, "Not a minotaur," he said with a tired smile before thinking for a moment, "maybe…a bear?"
"Don't think that's any better," Ibuki commented, coming to his side and lifting one of his arms and putting it over her shoulder, "come on Captain, let's get some grub."
"I-Ibuki," Bell started, "I'm all smelly and sweaty."
The ninja gave a scoff, "So am I," she replied, "and we're gonna be like this for a while too, at least until after our dungeon trips today."
Bell was going to say more when another weight took his other arm up and put it over their shoulder. He looked and saw it was Chitoge, who was looking ahead with a slight blush on her cheeks. She gave Bell a small glare but kept her grip on him firmly.
"You got put through boot camp, cap," she said, "take a load off and be carried once in a while."
Bell could tell he wasn't going to win any argument with the two and just let himself be carried. He did walk for himself somewhat so as to not burden them with his weight.
As they made their way to their home, a sudden realization came to mind, "Hey, where's Elbia and Mildred? I haven't seen them since we all left for training."
The others looked around in response to Bell's question, also curious now.
"I did see them leave with us this morning," Takeru said, "but I lost sight of them some time ago."
"Dammit," Kallen cursed, "where could they be? Breakfast is nearly ready and I know Elbia is usually by the door at this time."
"Perhaps they are taking an extended training session with each other?" Hana asked, "I know Elbia was excited to test out her new increase in abilities and Mildred was determined to master that bow she received."
Before any more speculation could be had, they heard footsteps coming from behind them. Turning, they saw it was the two in question, in quite the state themselves.
Mildred, with a wooden bow slung over her back, was carrying Elbia in her strong arms, who was looking dazed and stupefied right now.
"What happened?" Bell asked, concerned at seeing Elbia in such a state.
Mildred sighed and gave the werewolf girl in her arms a suffering look, "Well, where to start?" she began, "I guess to simplify things, Elbia and I were training. She wanted to test out her stat increase and see how much faster she became. I wanted to familiarize myself with my bow so I can get used to its strengths and limits. We figured a long range game of tag would do. Don't look at me like that, captain! I was using soft tip arrows! I couldn't put a hole through paper with these things. Anyway, needless to say, Elbia recognized the difference from how she was before and was ecstatic at the change. We had a good time of it, granted I won more than she. Then she found her defeat in a most spectacular way," Mildred sighed again but gave the wolf girl a smile, "ran face first into a ruin wall while laughing happily until impact."
Bell and the others didn't say anything after that. Together they all stared at the dazed and unconscious Elbia.
"…Let's get her inside," Bell said, "Misato should fix her up and have her ready for breakfast."
With the decision made, the group all went back to their home, ready to finally have breakfast after a morning training session.
Just before they reached the door, Ibuki spoke up, "Oh! By the way Bell. Are you free tonight?"
Bell blinked at the sudden question but replied innocently, "Yeah. After dungeon diving to get our familia's coffers up, I don't have anything planned, why?"
Ibuki smiled at her captain, an action mirrored by Chitoge just a few steps away.
"Well~ we were thinking…"
"You're going on a date!" Hestia exclaimed, hands on the table and standing up from her chair.
A gentle hand and a firm push, seated the surprised Goddess, "Hestia," Rinko said admonishingly, "inside voices at the table, please."
"Ain't a big deal," Chitoge said, downing some hot eggs, "just a little something to do followed by dinner. Ibuki and I have talked about it for a while. We just needed a chance to ask Bell."
Ibuki nodded from her seat, happily enjoying some fresh buttered toast, "Yep, and he said yes! Mission accomplished!" she ended with a thumbs up. A thumb with a dab of butter on it.
Hestia grumbled nonetheless. She should be more accommodating to the idea of the girls dating Bell, she'd already accepted the existence and use of that strange skill after all. Still, a part of her felt torn about it. It was definitely jealousy, she knew that. Immature as it was, she was jealous of the girls in her familia. They could date him, flirt with him, be…intimate with him, and more.
It wasn't fair! Hestia wanted to date Bell! She wanted to flirt with him…well flirt more with him!
She wanted to be intim-
Hestia caught herself from her thoughts going further. Her face turned a cherry red. Was she about to really…consider 'that' with Bell.
She took a calming breath, getting her nerves and thoughts under control, "So where are you three going?" she asked.
Ibuki and Chitoge shared a smile and looked to Bell, "After some thought," began Chitoge, her red ribbon bobbing like energetic rabbit ears.
"We decided," continued Ibuki, grinning like a fox.
"To take Bell on a shopping trip!" the two exclaimed.
Bell blinked in surprise at this announcement. They never did tell him where they would like to go when he agreed, but shopping? Bell did recall that dates sometimes did involve shopping trips.
Another thought occurred to him, something he should have realized the second he agreed to it.
This was his first date.
An actual date.
With two girls!
The thought and realization alone nearly made Bell catatonic in disbelief.
"Shopping? Really?" Hestia asked, "Didn't we already spend a great chunk of cash by getting everyone's clothes?"
As always, the summoning never did provide a few extra changes of clothes. Hestia familia had to go out and get a great chunk of new clothes for their new allies. Hestia found it lucky that many of them weren't too picky about what to wear.
Well…maybe not Black General. She really loved those trench coats and seemed adamant about wearing them wherever she went.
Hestia imagined that would change when summer came around. See how she'd wear a trench coat in hot sunny weather.
"We did get a bunch of new clothes for our new friends but there's been a problem that we've been ignoring for far too long," Ibuki said, her voice taking on a serious tone.
"Yes," agreed Chitoge, her tone not too dissimilar, "Something that we should have done something about a long time ago.
"And that is?" Hestia asked.
Together, both Chitoge and Ibuki pointed at Bell, more accurately, his clothing.
Bell blinked at the extreme focus of attention he was suddenly under. Looking back and forth between Ibuki and Chitoge, he could only add one thing.
A clueless, "Eh?"
"Your clothes, captain," Ibuki said, "you need a wardrobe change."
Bell looked down at himself, at his casual clothes, "What's wrong with my clothes?"
Ibuki and Chitoge stared at Bell with looks of both pity and disbelief, "Bell," Chitoge began, "You've been wearing the exact same style of shirt and pants for casual wear ever since I first met you. You are in need of a wardrobe change."
"And who better to help with that than the most stylish of the familia!" Ibuki proclaimed, "Trust us, Bell! You'll have a taste of style before you know it!"
Bell didn't know how to respond to that. He looked down at his brown long sleeve shirt and simple black pants. Were they really that bad?
The more he thought of it, the more he realized he didn't really have much taste in clothing. Armor and weapons definitely, but not clothing.
Perhaps he should expand his wardrobe and perhaps Ibuki and Chitoge were the best ones to help him with that. They were certainly the more stylish of the familia.
"I think it would be nice," Bell said, "I don't have a great variety of clothes and frankly," he rubbed the back of his head, as if embarrassed, "I really didn't think too much outside of just buying the basic essentials."
"There's nothing wrong with simple clothing," Olivier said from her seat at the dining table, eating her breakfast with a noble grace, "practicality is usually the better part in wardrobe selection," she turned a stare at Ibuki, an elegant eyebrow raised, "I trust you'll take that into account when getting clothing. I'd hate to go down in history as the familia who's captain died because style took priority over form."
Ibuki nodded with a smile, not at all bothered by the stare Olivier was leveling at her, "Don't worry," she replied, "I know better than to go overboard. Besides, it's not like he's gonna wear this stuff in the dungeon. Surface clothes only, scouts honor!" she ended with putting one hand up and the other over her heart.
Takeru saw this and commented, "I would comment on that statement but you are a ninja and technically a scout so I'll hold my tongue."
Hestia had little room to argue, as she was both mollified somewhat by assurances by both the girls and of Bell. So now she turned to a different topic.
"Koukin," Hestia addressed her second in command, "any word on how our familia is registering with the Guild?"
Koukin dabbed a napkin at her lips before replying, "If by that, you mean does the Guild find it suspicious that a good amount of female members are registering as adventurers over multiple days?" she asked, to no answer, "surprisingly no, thankfully our little plan to register with the Guild over multiple days didn't draw too much attention. Apparently we are hardly the only familia that did this," she took a soft drink of apple juice, licking a small drop that passed over her lips, "though Miss Eina was worried that Bell was getting 'smothered' by all the women in this familia."
"What did you tell her?" Hestia asked.
Koukin smiled, one that grew when Hakufu, who sat next to her and was eating ravenously at her meal, began to laugh, "I said that the one who she should be worried about smothering Bell was you, Goddess."
Hestia puffed her cheeks and glared at Koukin, who looked ahead without acknowledging the focus of her Goddess.
"If I may," Takeru said, "I should mention that I was approached by Genasha familia yesterday."
Hestia immediately zeroed in on Takeru, "What?! Why?! Why would they approach you out of the blue like that?!"
Takeru didn't respond, instead she looked to another part of the table, where a joyful Black General was munching on waffles right next to a bemused Misato. Black General blinked at the sudden attention before raising a hand and waving.
"Oh," Hestia said in blank realization, "It's because of what she did, huh?"
Takeru only nodded, the memory of the incident still fresh in her mind.
A day after Black General was summoned and after she registered as an adventurer, for some spontaneous reason, she decided to try and make a name for herself within minutes of registering. Not by diving into the dungeon.
But by becoming a public nuisance!
After she left the Guild, she immediately made herself scarce from those accompanying her, Takeru, Chitoge, and Milsato. After seemingly vanishing from sight, she found herself at a local park where she began to orchestrate her spontaneous plan.
Namely by inciting a small rebellion amongst the kids playing in the playground there. Hestia didn't know how, but Black General managed to convince the children to rebel against their parents by setting up fortifications within the playground and loudly proclaiming "Playtime is hometime!".
Hestia didn't think the children knew what was going on, they were just having more fun thanks to this funny character that showed up. It made her feel all the more guilty that this character was one of her children.
Thankfully, Ganesha familia members were nearby as well as their captain, Shakti, who was quick to diffuse this ridiculous rebellion with firm words and sharp gestures.
She couldn't convince Black General to stand down immediately. In fact, she couldn't get a word in edgewise thanks to General going on a sudden tirade about the 'tyranny of responsibility!' Knowing she wasn't getting anywhere with her words, Shakti utilized the next try and true method of convincing someone to stand down.
By punching them in the gut, hard.
When Takeru and the others arrived at the site of the commotion, they were embarrassed to discover their new familia member face down and ass up in a sandbox, with a very unamused Shakti standing over her.
Thanks to Takeru's positive reputation with Ganesha familia and their captain, they were able to retrieve Black General with minimal issue. Though they did have to walk home with the loud voices of frustrated parents behind them.
Which was why the very next day, Shakti approached with some news.
"Pay a fine or do some community service, her choice."
After informing the culprit, who had hardly a valis to her name, Black General chose community service.
"So that's how it went, huh?" Hestia asked tiredly, "at the very least, the punishment isn't too bad."
"Agreed," Takeru replied, "nonetheless, Shakti would appreciate it if I accompanied her for her tasks. To make sure she doesn't cause more trouble."
Hestia nodded, "Good idea. You hear that, Black General? Takeru is gonna watch ya like a hawk! So no shenanigans like the ones you did in the park!"
Black General swallowed a mouthful of syrupy waffles before a gleam entered her visible eye. Without preamble, she stood from her seat. Standing tall with hands on her hips and chest stuck out. She was wearing her trench coat but even still, her breasts managed to bounce quite well with her actions.
"Heh! You think what I did was shenanigans?!" the wild haired blonde asked, "No! Don't be ridiculous! What I did was merely the first part of a multi-stage plan!"
Silence was the loudest sound at the table after that proclamation. Bell turned his head this way and that, meeting the eyes of each of his familia members in turn and each coming to the same conclusion.
"What?" everyone said.
"It's simple!" Black General said, "Convincing the children to rebel against their parents was step one. Step two is to gradually urge the children to negotiate with their parents to return, in exchange for raised allowances. Step three is to start another rebellion again in time, only this time with part of the additional funds from the children's allowances to fuel it without spending it. Rince and repeat from park to park, again and again," she held her arms out, as if holding a great treasure in her hands, "the full proof plan that has helped secure RX's funds from month to month shall be the reliable financial zone of this familia! Hahahaha!!!"
Nobody said anything while this problem child laughed like a maniac. What could be said after hearing such a crazy, ridiculous, and absolutely illegal plan like that?!
"A pyramid scheme?!" Hestia exclaimed, "You tried to start a pyramid scheme?! With children?!!"
Now that she said that out loud, Black General suddenly realized how bad her plan actually sounded. Meekly, she sat down and poked her fingers together, doing her best not to look anyone in the eye.
"I-it wouldn't be a lot," she said in an embarrassed voice, "it's how I used to fund RX back in my old world."
"Curiously speaking," Rin Tohsaka began, "how long did these schemes usually last in your old world?" the way she phrased the question made it sound like she already knew the answer.
Black General was turning red with embarrassment but answered, "U-um, usually about a day or two. Sometimes the kids' parents threatened to call the police and sometimes the kids threw rocks at us and sometimes we were stopped by Braveman himself!" she ended that last example with clear pride and joy before swiftly deflating into embarrassment once more, "O-other times we couldn't get to the park because walking there took too long or we couldn't afford a bus ride at the time."
Rin was struck speechless like everyone else at the table after hearing that. She didn't know what she or the others could say about that.
Eventually however, Bell was the one to speak up, "Miss…General?" he asked, still finding it odd and confusing to address her name as a rank, "We make ample amounts of money in the dungeon already. You don't have to do…that kind of thing," his voice became more imploring, "please don't, I don't want our familia to encounter any legal troubles that could be very dire…no matter how ridiculous the reason."
Black General stared at her captain, seeing his red eyes that shone with a plea, a wish, a simple request that he earnestly was asking for.
Black General's face gradually grew a flush across her cheeks and eventually looked away and sat back in her seat. Trying to avoid locking gazes with someone so sincere.
'My captain,' she thought , 'truly, you are formidable! Not even Braveman was this cute!'
"Very well," Black General said, "I'll stop."
'Stop 'this' scheme, that is,' she thought slyly , 'I still got plenty of good ones in my back pocket. That cute face isn't gonna stop me all the time! Just you wait, little rabbit! Just you wait!! I'll turn Hestia familia into the next great organization of villainy, RX 2.0.!!!'
Let it not be said that Black General was an original soul.
"Black General," Misato said from beside her, seeing her expression, "your face is gonna stick if you keep grinning like that."
Hestia decided it was best to move on to something else, "Hey, Misato," she began, "things going well for you? No one bothering you for your wardrobe?"
The red-headed elf shook her head, a gentle smile on her face, "No, Goddess Hestia. Though I still get strange looks when I walk the streets," she put a hand to her cheek with a sigh, "in all seriousness, I find it hard to think my attire is so eye-catching. I believe it to be quite modest if I do say so myself."
Misato knew that elves were more modestly dressed than most races in this world, thanks to her summoning, but she thought her wardrobe was pretty modest herself. It wasn't like she was showing herself like an amazon would. Were people really surprised to see an elf just expose a little cleavage and shoulder? Absolutely ridiculous!
Even her captain blushed when he looked at her and especially when she got closer to him to check for any injuries from training or dungeon diving.
"Well," Hestia trailed, "at least you don't seem too bothered by it."
Misato nodded, a smile on her face, "Greet every day with a smile," she said, "and the day will always smile on you!"
Hestia and a few others did smile at the sincere words of their elf companion. Misato always seemed to know just how to cheer someone up. Hestia honestly felt she could pass for a nice teacher at times.
"Well, does anyone else got any plans?" Hestia asked, "Any I should know about?"
Koukin, wiping bemusingly at Hakufu's face of stray hash browns, spoke up, "Yes, later today I'll be having Miss Arde over to discuss some plans in the future. More accurately," she stopped wiping at Hakufu's face and addressed the familia directly, "the plan for Hestia familia to finally reach floor eighteen."
It has been a discussion that has popped up quite a bit amongst the members, especially between Bell and a few others. Since leveling up, Bell has once again regained his desire to push deeper into the dungeon and floor eighteen was the intended target this time.
Koukin at first was apprehensive, given the potential exposure this could bring. So it surprised her to find it wasn't uncommon at all for a level two to venture to the eighteenth floor, provided they were careful. If they were with a party? It would hardly be uncommon at all.
"Hmmm," Hestia hummed in thought, "you sure it's alright for her to come over? Won't she find it suspicious seeing everyone here and Bell being the sole male in the familia?" Hestia's eyes suddenly widened, "what if she tells someone and that starts a rumor that I'm a Goddess that is making a harem rom-com in her home?! I don't wanna be one of those weirdos!"
"Kinda late for that, ain't it?" Miyuki said from her seat. She thought everyone in this world was strange to her. Though she knew that was like throwing stones at a glass house.
Koukin interjected before things went off the rails, "You needn't worry, Goddess. I scheduled the meeting for when most of us will be out of the house when she arrived, even you with your part time job won't be here," she saw Hestia visibly calm down and continued, "and Miss Arde is a covert soul. She wouldn't share any information we impart to anyone, not even her own familia."
"No surprise there," Kallen added, "her familia ain't exactly the bee's knees."
"I'm confident those black hearted drunks would cut off their knees to gain more sacred beverage," Arue added, her tone contemptuous, "Lili would be better off with us than those brigands."
Charlotte looked back and forth at her two allies, with a curious look she asked, "Who is Lili anyway, and what familia is she with?"
Kallen explained to her who Lili is and what familia she belonged to. She omitted the betrayal Lili attempted but made sure to include her allies actions in bringing down the poor pallums's abusers and exposing the familia's lucrative activities.
By the end of it, Charlotte had a frown on her face and concern in her eyes. She stood with a huff and loudly declared, "Let's kidnap Lili!"
Silence once again ruled the room after such a statement, only to be broken by another loud voice.
"I object!" Black General said, "If I can't make pyramid schemes then Charlotte can't kidnap people!"
"We're kidnapping to save someone!" Charlotte said, "there's a difference!"
"I'm scheming to help our familia!" Black General shot back, "it's the same!"
The two went back and forth incessantly, each trying to poke out the other's arguments to do a crime.
Hestia and the others got the two to calm down, granted, with difficulty.
"To clarify," Koukin began, "as much as I would like to take Miss Arde out of her familia, such actions would only bring scrutiny upon us. From a few familias, sure. From the Guild, definitely, given that Soma familia would have grounds to declare themselves the victim," she steepled her hands in thought, "given what Miss Arde has told me about her familia, her captain would definitely use the opportunity to get himself out of the hot water he's currently in with the Guild," she gave a sigh, the issue subtly frustrating her, "one thing I've learned in my past life, the hard way no less, is that no matter how weak they may seem, an opportunist can topple even the mightiest of powers."
Hakufu put a hand on her lover's shoulder, an act that got the strategist to calm down. Memories from their old life and the tragedies they suffered by those seeking more power then they could imagine coming to their minds.
Bell decided to step in and talk, seeing his vice-captain in a state, "Charlotte, I feel the same way you do, if not more," he said, "I want Lili safe, I want her to be our ally for years to come and more," he sighed, feeling what he said and the earnestness in the words like a physical blow, "but we can't act rashly either. If we do, we could end up hurting Lili far more than ourselves," he leveled a stare at Charlotte, the pink haired girl flinching at the intensity of that gaze, "but eventually we will, I promise you."
Charlotte sat down at hearing that, both relieved at her captain and summoner's words, and stunned by the intensity of them. She had only known Bell for a few days but this conversation gave her a better glimpse at his character.
And she found herself happy at being summoned by him.
Around the table, others smiled at their captain and summoner's statement. Feeling similarly to how Charlotte feels, though with varying degrees.
Takeru met Koukin's eyes across the table, perking her brows up briefly as if pleasantly surprised.
'He's getting better,' the gesture seemed to say and Koukin had to agree with a smile at the swordswoman.
"Well, on to another topic," Rin suddenly said, "I myself will be going into the dungeon to collect magic stones."
"For your experiments?" Bell asked, genuinely curious, "you're still doing them? Any breakthroughs?"
Rin raised a hand to calm her captain before he got too excited, "Easy there, Bell. Results haven't been…ideal but they haven't been fruitless either," she said, "honestly, I'm still adjusting to the idea that these magical stones are so easily obtained," she looked down at her hands, a smile on her face as she imagined holding the stones, "it's honestly impossible for me to think that such materials are so easily required in this world. Meanwhile, in my old world, such fine catalysts could cost you an arm and a leg," she began to laugh softly, remembering those days.
Bell felt a little bit creeped out by that laugh. It sounded full of hardship and stress. He'd hear his Goddess laugh like that when recalling her early days upon the world.
"Here though," Rin continued, "I can just go into a hole in the ground, fight some monsters, and get them myself. No need to get a loan, no need to dig into a family treasury, no need to get a job just to secure the least pure gems I could get," she laughed again, feeling the bittersweet memories upon her, "I can get them directly from the source. It's almost like a dream."
Bell and the others stared at Rin for a moment, concern and trepidation written on their face at the almost dazed and dreamlike state the twin tailed mage was in. Miyuki, who was closest to Rin, scooted her chair slightly away from her along with her breakfast.
Rin seemed to realize she was going on a tangent and swiftly returned to her professional demeanor. She coughed into her hand before continuing, "Well, in any case, besides getting more magic stones to make into magic gems, I'll be assisting Arue and Miyuki with their experiments when I get back," she turned to Arue, who was staring at her with a visible brow raised, "when 'we' get back, sorry Arue."
The Crimson Demon gave a bemused smile at Rin, "I was worried that you'd forgotten me, fellow mage in red."
Rin waved a hand at her and went back to her food, "You wouldn't let me forget, of that I'm sure."
Bell swiftly picked up on what Rin said and looked to Miyuki, who was eating her breakfast with clear joy, "You're working on something, Miyuki?"
Finishing up a piece of toast, Miyuki nodded eagerly, "Yep! I'm working on some gear that you could take in the dungeon," she closed her eyes and crossed her arms, incidentally emphasizing her large bust and making Bell's face turn red, "It's slow going though. I hope I can at least get some prototypes ready for you and the others before long. Need to go shopping for some materials and maybe visit the engineering sector to get a better idea on how that magic power works with the stones," she gave a sigh, it was going to be a busy day, "I hope Rin and Arue can help me with the process. They are familiar with magic power naturally then I am," she looked to Misato, "no offense, I know you're also a mage but-"
"You needn't worry," Misato cut her off with a gentle smile, "my understanding of magic isn't exactly easy to explain. At least with the other two, they could break it down much easier for you to follow," she tilted her head in thought, "though I suppose I could still offer my help, albeit more supportive than scholarly."
Miyuki smiled, glad for the assurance and happily accepted the aid.
Hestia gave a sigh and leaned back in her seat, "Man, looks like we're all gonna be busy today. Times like this I wish we could go on vacation."
"It's a little early for that," Olivier said, dabbing a napkin at her lips, "I'd like to do far more before considering a break. Speaking of which, I too will go into the dungeon."
"Same," Mildred added, "Gotta say, having a target rich environment like the dungeon is a good boon for an archer like me. Great practice!"
For a moment no one had anymore to say, contently eating their food in peace.
Only Hestia had one thing to add, "Oh! By the way, Rinko, Charlotte, if you want, you can come with me to work today. My boss said she'd like to have more hands on deck, todays' supposed to be a busy day and we could use the help, you in?"
"Wonderful!" Rinko said, "It'll be so novel to work a stand in this world!" she seemed almost too excited.
"Yes!" Charlotte added, "Now I can see what it is like to have a job!"
"That's…a weird thing to cheer for," Hestia said, "but regardless, yes! My employer would be happy for some extra hands! Especially with summer approaching closer and closer."
Bell blinked at this reveal as did a few others. Rinko and Charlotte were probably the least combat experienced members of the familia. They received training, albeit not as harsh as Bell and the others experienced, but still they were willing to try. It was slow going though.
Bell guessed that they felt like they should do something besides stay in the house and train. He thought about making them supporters for a time but Koukin was quick to argue against the idea. It was still too early for even that.
He assumes Hestia was similarly worried and thought of this idea. To keep spirits up with their new arrivals and maybe set an alternative plan for them to follow.
He met his Goddess's gaze and she winked at Bell, causing him to smile.
Message received, Hestia will handle it.
He suddenly remembered someone else and looked around for the maid of the familia.
"Is something the matter, Mister Cranel?"
Bell jumped in his seat with a yelp at the voice that came from behind him. Looking around his chair, Bell saw Kirumi standing there with her hands folded at her waist. She cocked her head at Bell's reaction, as if wondering if she'd done something wrong for a moment.
"K-K-Kirumi!" Bell loudly said, "you surprised me!"
"My apologies," she said calmly with a slight bow, "I had thought I made my presence clear. I'll strive to do better, Mister Cranel."
"I-it's okay," Bell said, taking a breath, "I should have paid more attention," he kept the embarrassment out of his face the best he could but the barely silenced snickers from several of his friends made that difficult, "I was wondering, what are you going to do today."
Kirumi answered swiftly, as if it were obvious, "I plan to stay at home and monitor and maintain the house. Making sure it is tidy and well kept for everyone's return," she turned her gaze to Koukin, "in addition, I suppose I will help aid in the meeting with this Miss Arde character as well. I may be new here but I do have experience in different forms of planning. Whether it be political, economical, social, ecological, logistical, scientifical, and so on."
'Just what kind of maid does all that?!' Was the shared collective thought of the Hestia familia.
"Alright," Bell said, not sure how else to respond, "then I hope you can at least enjoy yourself today."
Kirumi bowed and Bell somehow knew it was one of thanks. A few days of living around her and he was beginning to tell the meaning behind some of her gestures. Granted it was still difficult to tell even in the best of times.
"Well alright then," Hestia said, "seems like we all got something to do today. As the Goddess of this familia, I ask that you all do your best today and more importantly, come home safe and sound," Hestia smiled then, looking out at her familia in full, "Goddess's orders," she finished happily.
No one had anything to say in objection to that and continued to happily eat their meals. Though all were glad to hear such reassuring words from their Goddess.
Soon they were all done with their meals and made ready to depart. Facing what may come this lovely day.
They were all unaware of just how strange this day would be.