The faint light of dawn filtered through the half-open window, bathing the wooden floor in a soft golden glow. Bell opened his eyes slowly, blinking a few times before letting out a small sigh. For the first time in a while, he had slept soundly, and perhaps more importantly, without a goddess curled up on top of him like a caring limpet.
He sat up in bed, rubbing his eyes as a slight smile spread across his face.
"So this is what it feels like to sleep alone…" he muttered to himself, tone almost incredulous.
He vaguely remembered the discussion from the night before. Hermes had gotten Hestia to agree to the idea of taking another room. "Give the boy some space, Hestia," he'd said. "After that tunnel trip, he probably needs to stretch and not wake up with someone hugging his head like it's a pillow with legs."
Bell stood up, stretched with a soft creak in his back, and walked over to the window. The town still seemed quiet, the bustle of the day just beginning. He leaned against the frame, breathing in the fresh morning air.
The inn wasn't luxurious, but it had a certain charm. In some ways, it felt more relaxing than the ruined church in Orario.
Bell returned to his bed, grabbed his jacket, and draped it over his shoulders. "I guess the others are still sleeping," he thought. Although with the god Hermes around, that was never a guarantee. Perhaps he was already planning something.
Bell had barely closed the door to his room at the inn, barely taking two steps when a familiar figure emerged from the hallway with perfect timing. Hermes with his usual mischievous smile, greeted him with one hand raised and a steaming cup in the other.
"Ah, just the person I wanted to see!" he spoke, approaching casually. "Good morning, Bell Cranel. Did you sleep well?"
Bell blinked, somewhat surprised by the encounter, but responded with a slight nod. "Yes, thank you. Quite well, actually."
"I imagine so. I suppose having a room without a honeyed goddess trying to use you as a pillow greatly improves the quality of sleep." Hermes chuckled. "And don't give me that look. Hestia told me about it. Proudly, by the way."
Bell looked down, a little red. "Yeah… that helped."
Hermes took a sip of his drink, then looked at him with a special gleam in his eyes, as if he'd been rehearsing this moment. "Look, Bell. I don't want to beat around the bush or give you long speeches, so I'll get straight to the point: you should come with us."
Bell blinked. "Huh?"
"The mission at hand is a long one. Journey after journey, difficult terrain, mysterious disappearances… and you, my boy, have something that could make our lives a lot easier." Hermes smiled, leaning toward him slightly. "That tunneling ability of yours. I still don't know how you did it—and no, don't tell me, I like a mystery—but you shaved over an hour and a half off our time in three minutes. You don't see that every day."
Bell hesitated, lowering his gaze. "But I'm not part of the Hermes famila."
Hermes shrugged. "So what? We're not talking about a contract. Just a temporary cooperation. We'll share part of the mission fee with you, and you could help us move forward as well. It's a win-win."
The god watched him silently for a few more seconds, then sighed in mock resignation. "Besides… I'm starting to get bored. And you seem to be a magnet for weirdness. I like that."
Bell looked away thoughtfully. There was no rejection on his face, just a mixture of doubt and analysis.
Hermes raised an eyebrow. "Think of this as a favor between friends. Nothing serious, nothing forced. Just one more little fling before we get back to the routine."
And with that, he started walking towards the dining room, not waiting for an immediate response.
"Come on, there's breakfast. And if you don't go, I'll eat all the bread."
Bell sighed internally as he followed Hermes down the hallway toward the dining room. The way the god had said "friends" had left a strange taste in his mouth—not because it was unpleasant, but because it sounded too casual, as if Hermes would throw those words around just anyone. Something theatrical, something strategic. Bell couldn't help but feel a little uneasy.
However, as she walked behind him, she discreetly looked up.
Above Hermes' head, a number floated: 15.
Bell blinked. That number was higher than he expected. It meant that, at least on some level, Hermes truly felt a certain closeness to him. It wasn't just a ploy to leverage his ability. Perhaps he found him useful, yes… but there also seemed to be some genuine appreciation there, however small.
With that thought, his tension dissipated a little.
Bell realized then that he hadn't checked the relationship numbers of the other Hermes family members the day before. It was something he'd simply forgotten amidst all the chaos of the trip and the sudden arrival in the village. Perhaps now was a good time to pay more attention to that... to better understand the people around him. After all, those numbers didn't lie.
Hermes, without turning around, raised his cup in a sign of victory. "I hope you like the local breakfast. I thought it was passable, but I have godlike standards, so it's not saying much."
Bell gave a small smile. Whether it was the number or the breakfast, the atmosphere was starting to feel more relaxed.
Bell entered the dining room with calm steps, rubbing his eyes with one hand while the other held his belt. The aroma of bread and some salted meat greeted him, along with the soft murmur of conversation.
The Hermes family was already seated around a long table, quite awake for that hour. They were… early risers, apparently.
As his eyes flicked from one to the other, he instinctively looked up to see the numbers above their heads:
Asfi 7. Lulune 10. Falgar 7.
They weren't particularly high numbers, but they weren't low either. Somewhat neutral, though with a hint of openness, especially in the case of Lulune.
"Just in time to make sure you don't run out of bread," Hermes exclaimed with a smile.
Bell greeted them with a slight nod, receiving a few welcoming gestures from the others. He sat next to Lulune and across from Hermes, where a freshly served plate was already waiting for him.
Hermes took a sip from his cup and said with a mischievous smile, "Hestia's still asleep. Not for nothing, but your goddess is quite lazy in the mornings, huh?"
Bell gave a small laugh as he spread butter on his bread. "She may look like it but when ahe puts his mind to it, Hestia works really hard." Then he added with a slight smile, "She just has a hard time getting started."
Hermes raised his eyebrows and nodded, amused. "I see, I see. A goddess of contrasts. Like all of them, I suppose."
Lulune laughed softly and Asfi barely moved her eyes, as if she was already familiar with that type of conversation.
…
An hour passed.
The dining room slowly emptied as the sun climbed the sky, casting its first steady rays over the village. Hermes already had his traveling attire on, his hat tilted stylishly and a light backpack slung over one shoulder. Bell was at his side, his gear strapped in and ready to go.
Except for one small detail.
"Is she still asleep…?" Bell murmured, looking towards the stairs that led to the inn's rooms.
Hermes, sitting in a chair, leaned toward him with a resigned smile. "I've sent Lulune to knock on his door twice. The last time, she threw a pillow at her and growled something no one understood."
Bell sighed. "She doesn't usually sleep that much or at least not when there are plans. Although after yesterday, I think she's relaxed a little more than he should have."
Hermes clicked his tongue. "I don't blame her. That fall down the tunnel was more intense than I expected. Fun, but intense!"
Bell couldn't help but laugh softly.
Hermes stood up from his chair with a lazy stretch. "So what do you propose, Bell? Do we carry her asleep like a sack of potatoes, or are you going to wake her up with your worried adventurer's tenderness?"
Bell looked down with a resigned sigh. "I'll go."
"I thought so!" Hermes winked at him as he patted him on the shoulder. "Good luck. If he screams, I'll pretend I didn't hear anything."
With an even longer sigh, Bell headed upstairs.
Two minutes later, Bell came down the stairs... with Hestia hanging over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes, still fast asleep. Her disheveled hair fell like a messy waterfall, and she was muttering something unintelligible, possibly about a dream involving giant onigiri or something equally chaotic.
Hermes saw him appear and raised an eyebrow. "Well… that works too."
Lulune giggled, while Falgar tried not to look too closely so as not to laugh too much. Asfi simply shook her head, as if she'd already resigned herself to the fact that everything with that combination of people would inevitably be functional chaos.
Bell just quickened his pace a little with an awkward smile.
"Seriously, she sleeps like she hasn't slept a wink in three days," he murmured.
"That's some talent," Hermes replied amusedly, turning on his heels to lead the way.
And so, with Hestia still snoring softly on Bell's shoulder, the group left the inn, ready to continue their journey. The sky was clear, the wind was fresh, and, at least for the moment, it seemed like nothing could go wrong.
Already on the outskirts of the village, the group stopped near the main road. Bell took a few steps forward, surveying the terrain in front of them as he mentally prepared to activate his ability. He had grown accustomed to the sensation of tunneling underground, though it still seemed strange to him that something like this was possible.
Just as he was about to hit the ground, a calm but firm voice interrupted him.
"One moment."
Asfi appeared next to the group almost like a ghost, serious and composed. Bell blinked in surprise. He hadn't seen her leave their group at any point.
"There are rumors," she said bluntly, looking at Hermes. "Some townspeople speak of villages right in the direction we're going that have been attacked by monsters. Some have even been completely destroyed. These aren't new rumors, but they've become more frequent lately."
Hermes's good mood faded a little. His eyebrows furrowed a little.
"...I see." Then he looked at Bell. "In that case, I think we'd better go town by town, just to be sure."
Bell nodded, noticing the change in the atmosphere. It was strange to see Hermes so serious, but it only reinforced how important the matter was.
"OK."
Hestia, still half asleep hanging on Bell's shoulder, murmured something like, "Mmnh... good idea..."
Asfi gave a small nod and stepped back to give them some space. The group settled into a circle as Bell prepared.
A couple of hits on the ground... and the tunnel formed again, opening like a dark portal to the underground.
Bell looked at the tunnel calmly for a moment… and then, without much ceremony, he threw Hestia inside.
"WAAAAHHH–!"
Hestia's scream echoed throughout the tunnel as she fell, waking up right in the middle of her descent.
"BELL, DAMN YOU!"
Bell sighed with a mixture of resignation and habit, and launched himself after her.
Hermes was next. "Time for some underground fun!"
Asfi frowned in annoyance, but followed him without saying anything, more out of keeping an eye on her god than out of pleasure.
Falgar nodded briefly and descended with discipline, without noise.
And finally, Lulune looked at the hole with some doubt. "Can we just… use stairs or something?"
But she jumped anyway, though with a small squeal as he fell.
The entire group disappeared into the tunnel, and soon there was only silence on the surface… and a shaking branch, still marked from the accident of the last time.
The first town they reached was peaceful. People walked calmly through the streets, fruit stands opened to the morning sun, and there were no signs of monsters or destruction. Hermes shrugged.
"Looks like everything's going well here," he commented, as Bell prepared the next tunnel.
Once again, they descended. The journey was quick, and upon exiting the next town, the situation was the same. Tranquility, daily routine, even a dog sleeping in the central plaza without a care in the world. Hestia stretched her arms.
"This feels like a vacation," she said with a smile.
Hermes chuckled. "Don't say that too loudly, or you'll attract drama."
And they were right.
At the third stop, as they emerged from the tunnel, the atmosphere changed immediately.
The smell of smoke still hung in the air. The houses were burned out or partially collapsed. The silence was total, broken only by the creaking of charred wood underfoot. Bell stood still, staring at the remains of what had clearly been a village.
Hestia covered her mouth with a hand. "This is recent…"
Hermes frowned, his relaxed demeanor gone. "Very recent."
Asfi quickly scanned the surroundings. "No bodies… but no signs of a struggle either. This was quick."
The group cautiously entered the ruins of the town, the atmosphere becoming much more tense than before.
The silence of the destroyed village was brutally broken when, from the rubble, giant scorpion monsters emerged. Dozens of them, perhaps more, advanced in formation, their bodies covered in a black shell with disturbing red markings covering their carapaces.
Bell took a step back, his mind processing the speed with which the creatures had appeared. Hestia clutched his arm, clearly nervous.
"This is no good!" Hermes exclaimed, his tone now full of seriousness.
Asfi stood at the front, observing the creatures. "They're bigger than any scorpion I've ever seen! And those markings... they look magical." Her eyes scanned the ground quickly, assessing the situation. "We can't stay here. We have to fight or find a way out quickly!"
Lulune, looking up from her position behind Falgar, muttered nervously, "What... what are we going to do?"
Hermes shot a quick glance at Bell. "Can you use your tunnels? Quick! We don't have much time!"
Bell hesitated for a moment. There was something strange about these creatures, something that made him feel that using the tunnel might not be enough to escape. But seeing the growing mass of monsters approaching, without thinking too much, he stamped his foot on the ground, creating the hole beneath his feet.
"Get in!" Bell ordered, his voice firm. "Quick!"
But just as everyone was preparing to jump, a group of scorpion monsters leaped forward, blocking the tunnel. Their enormous pincers closed in midair with a dull sound, bringing the group to a screeching halt.
"We can't let them catch us here!" Asfi shouted, drawing her weapons as she began to back away.
The scorpions, with their swift and deadly movements, began to surround the group. Bell felt the pressure of the situation, but then he remembered something: those monsters weren't just fast, they also had brutal stamina. Using the tunnel now could be even more dangerous.
"Then we face them!" Bell exclaimed, getting into a fighting stance.
Bell stepped forward, quickly assessing the situation: they were surrounded by dozens of scorpion monsters, their bodies dark and shiny with red markings, moving with alarming coordination. They had no way to escape on foot without suffering casualties.
He turned to Lulune, who was holding Hestia by the arm as she stepped back with a frown.
"Hey!" Bell shouted, getting their attention. "Please take care of Hestia. I have a plan."
"W-what? But—!" Lulune hesitated for a second, but seeing the seriousness on his face, she nodded vigorously. "Yes!"
Bell said no more. He turned, gritted his teeth, and launched himself straight into the densest group of scorpions, which were already beginning to surround them with venomous buzzing and raised tails. The monsters' legs crunched against the ground, and within seconds, Bell was swallowed by the monsters.
Asfi, who was watching from the rear alongside Hermes, took a step forward in shock. "Did he just commit suicide?! He charged straight at them like a madman!"
But then, from among the mass of scorpions surrounding Bell, a light suddenly burst forth. Small at first... then intense, fiery. The air trembled.
"Explosion!" was heard shouting from within the chaos.
A brutal explosion swept across the land. A ring of fire and air tossed the scorpions around like rag dolls, tossing them through the air or turning them to dust in a single instant. The force of the magic opened a crater in the ground, sending dirt, charred legs, and pieces of the monster flying in all directions.
As the smoke began to clear, a figure emerged from the center of the chaos: Bell… alive.
"He's alive!" Lulune exclaimed, relieved but still tense.
Hestia stared at him, her eyes wide open. "Bell, you idiot! You almost scared me to death!"
Hermes whistled softly as he looked down into the crater. "What a way to make an entrance... or rather, a clearing."
Asfi's eyes were still wide open, trying to process what had just happened. "That was... completely suicidal... but it worked."
Bell stood up with difficulty, but his gaze remained somewhat serious, focused. "It wasn't suicidal. It was a risky calculation."
"Yeah, right…" Asfi murmured, still in disbelief, as the group quickly regrouped, ready for whatever came next.
As the group began to regroup, still amidst the dust and scorpion remains, a sound broke the brief calm: the clicking of legs dragging behind.
A scorpion, still alive and with burns on its shell, was approaching Hestia from her blind spot, its stinger raised, ready to strike. No one had noticed it yet.
"Goddess, behind you!" Lulune cried, alarmed.
But just before the monster could attack, an arrow whizzed through the air and pierced its head cleanly. The scorpion fell dead instantly.
Everyone turned around instantly. Not far away, standing among the trees, was a woman with a bow still in hand. She was beautiful, her long blue hair moving gently in the wind. Her expression was calm, attentive.
Hestia recognized her instantly. Her eyes lit up, and she let out a small, happy exclamation.
"Artemis!"
Hermes raised an eyebrow in surprise, though smiling. "Wow, I didn't expect to see you here."
Bell blinked, still processing what had just happened, as Artemis began to approach without saying anything.
Hestia didn't waste a second. She ran straight to Artemis with a radiant smile and hugged her tightly.
"Artemis! I knew it was you!"
Artemis blinked softly at the gesture, somewhat uncomfortable, but still briefly reciprocated the hug, resting a hand on Hestia's back for a few seconds before pulling away.
Hestia let out a small whimper of disgust when Artemis pulled away so quickly.
Without answering, Artemis walked straight towards Hermes, serious as ever.
"I need help."
Hermes raised an eyebrow curiously. "With what exactly?"
"Antares," he replied simply. "Something's happening near the seal. I… need reinforcements."
Hermes laughed softly, as if this were part of a cosmic plan that had just aligned. "What a coincidence. We're also investigating that same problem."
Artemis nodded serenely, as everyone present began to exchange glances. The path they were following, it seemed, had just become much more serious.
Bell couldn't help but notice the object Artemis was carrying on her back. A sleek, dangerous-looking spear, its tip wrapped in a shimmering crystal. It didn't look merely decorative: the crystal glowed with a strange energy, as if it contained something that should be kept sealed.
"What is that?" Bell asked, pointing at it curiously.
Artemis turned slightly toward him. "It is a very powerful weapon… but I cannot use it. Only one who is worthy can wield it."
"'Worthy,' he says…" Hestia murmured, pursing her lips in distrust. "That sounds ambiguous."
Hermes smiled. "Well, if it's so powerful, we'll have no harm in trying. Surely one of our people can give it a try, don't you think?"
Artemis nodded expressionlessly. She carefully removed the spear from her back and placed it in front of the group. The crystal-wrapped tip served as a support, leaving the spear standing on the ground, straight as a column. The crystal seemed embedded in the earth, holding it as if it were waiting for someone specific.
The atmosphere grew slightly denser, with everyone regarding the spear with a mixture of respect and doubt. Despite its simple form, it seemed to radiate something… ancient. As if it wasn't just the weapon that decided who was "worthy," but something beyond their understanding.
One by one, members of the Hermes family stepped forward to try.
Asfi was the first. She crouched down calmly, assessing the spear critically before taking it in both hands and pulling gently. Nothing. It didn't even move an inch. She frowned, stood up, and crossed her arms.
"It must be sealed with ancient magic," she muttered, somewhat frustrated.
Lulune was next. She rubbed her hands together, smiling nervously before approaching. She held the spear with both hands, pulled... and nothing. The weapon didn't even flinch.
"Ugh, this thing weighs more than Hermes' ego," she grunted, taking a step back.
Falgar, serious and methodical, tried again next. He crouched, took a deep breath, and applied force with precision. But like the others, he achieved nothing. The spear remained steady, as if it didn't recognize them.
Silence fell over the group for a moment, until Bell took a hesitant step forward.
"I don't think anything will happen, but…" he said softly, reaching for the spear.
As soon as Bell's fingers touched the shaft, a blue light began to spread across the surface of the weapon. The ancient runic language emerged from the base to the tip, shining brightly. The crystal sealing the tip vibrated… and with a sudden pop, it shattered, revealing a polished, shiny, and lethal-looking metallic blade.
Everyone took a step back, surprised.
"What the…?" Asfi muttered, eyes wide.
Artemis's face suddenly lit up, with an expression of pure emotion that no one expected from someone so normally serene. Without a second thought, she launched herself at Bell and hugged him tightly, nearly knocking him over from the impact.
"It's you! Orion!" she exclaimed, with a mixture of joy and relief.
Bell stood completely rigid, unsure of how to react, his arms raised in the air as if he didn't know what to do with them. "O-Orion...?" he muttered, completely confused.
Hestia, a few steps away, froze, her expression one of utter shock. The vein in her forehead began to bulge dangerously.
"What?!" she finally managed to say, her voice high and full of disbelief.
Hermes simply laughed, crossing his arms. "And suddenly, the trip became much more interesting."
[A/N: I didn't find this chapter very interesting apart from the introduction of Artemis, so I'm going to start making the next chapter in a few hours.]