by Fujino Omori
“Oh?”
“Well, that’s new. Got somethin’ that needs takin’ care of?”
Riveria and Gareth cast dubious glances at the prum, but he just smiled back at them.
“I’ve thought about looking into something for a while now…”
Finn’s eyes, blue as the surface of a lake, narrowed as he looked at Orario’s massive city walls off in the distance.
“There’s one other ‘mission’ that’s had no progress at all, despite the fact that I’m an adventurer, and I’ll be checking it out.”
“Hellooo. Lilly’s here—.”
The prum opened a door that didn’t fit properly in its frame and entered a small house.
The sun was just barely visible on the eastern horizon.
Oversize backpack strapped to her shoulders, she paid the pawnshop the Gnome Trader a visit. Passing through the messy living space behind the main showroom, she quickly spotted the owner of the establishment; he was barely awake and sipping hot water from a cup like a groggy child.
Glug, glug, glug. She could hear the water making its way past his white beard and between his lips.
“Oh, if it isn’t Lilly…Mornin’.”
“Good morning. But please wash up and sit up straight before drinking hot water. Lilly won’t be here for long.”
Without his usual red cap, the gnome’s bald head was completely visible. “Sure, sure,” he responded, mumbling to himself as he climbed out of his chair. Lilly set down her backpack and started preparing the store for business while the owner washed his face.
Lilly had lived here at the Gnome Trader until Hestia Familia acquired a new home in the War Game.
Her situation with Soma Familia had come to a head two months ago, and she had needed a place to stay. She was familiar with this shop from the days when she frequently stole items from other adventurers and sold them for money. On that particular day, however, she had arrived at the shop and said, “Please let Lilly live here in exchange for work.” The owner had never seen her real face, but she’d placed all her faith in him as a person.
“Cinder Ella,” Lilly’s Magic, granted her the ability to change her physical appearance at will, and that was the first time she’d let him see what she looked like. “You’re in luck; I’ve been wanting another set of hands around here,” he’d said, and hired her on the spot. She’d been coming to check on him early every morning and help out around the store before going into the Dungeon, then again before going home each night—as a way of repaying her debt of gratitude—ever since.
“I feel a bit guilty with you comin’ in every day like this even when your familia’s grown so much.”
“Don’t worry about Lilly—worry about your health first, Mr. Bom. Lilly can’t take care of everything if you collapse from overwork like last time.”
“Don’t know what I would’ve done without you. This geezer’s not worthy.”
The shop owner’s name was Bom Cornwall.
The fairy races weren’t known for individuality, but he had a vibrant personality. His superb dexterity and eyesight made him right at home in Orario. When Lilly had asked him why he chose to live in the city rather than out in nature, he’d simply replied, “This geezer is the worst of the worst when it comes to fairies.”
He made his living by appraising items that came into the shop, buying them for as cheap as possible, and selling them for profit.
“This breakfast was prepared at Lilly’s home this morning—make sure to eat everything. Also, the lamp in the storage room was broken, so Lilly replaced the magic stone. The stock of jewels in the safe is running low, so it might be a good idea to put more in.”
“Ah, ahhh, thanks…”
Slightly intimidated by Lilly’s efficiency, the gnome put on his signature red cap. Bald head hidden, his round eyes gazed up at the girl who stood a head higher than he.
“Off to the Dungeon again today?”
“Yes. We should reach the sixteenth floor today! As you know, Lilly’s familia has been on a roll!”
A beaming smile appeared on her face as she spoke. Thinking of her friendly and dependable allies, she added, “Lilly will do her best not to hold them back!”
She did a few more things around the shop before taking a glance at the clock. It was time for her to meet Bell and her other allies at their usual spot at the base of Babel Tower.
“Mr. Bom, please don’t forget to eat the food Lilly brought.”
“I won’t, I won’t. Have a good day.”
“Good-bye until tonight!” She responded with a smile still in place and waved as she went out the door.
“…She can smile like that now, huh.”
The owner mumbled to himself, eyes on the door that Lilly had passed through.
Without the abilities they possessed in the Ancient Times, gnomes had fallen to the bottom ranks of the fairies, but he was still a member of a race that was considered closest to the gods themselves.
Lilly thought that her secret past was still hidden, but his eyes saw through her disguises.
An air of nostalgia filled his gaze. The white hairs of his beard ruffled as a happy smile grew on his lips.
The moon hung high above Hestia Familia’s home, Hearthstone Manor.
Back from the Dungeon, everyone had finished eating dinner together. Now they were taking turns going to Hestia’s room to receive a Status update.
They had agreed that checking their Statuses should happen on a weekly basis, like this night. Unless one of them had special circumstances, Hestia would take a look at their Falna one at a time on the scheduled day.
It was Lilly’s turn. She was a bit nervous to see how much her own excelia would be reduced, now that Haruhime had joined the familia, and exposed her back.
“All done.”
Sitting topless in a chair, Lilly pulled her shirt back over her head as Hestia wrote down her updated Status on a piece of paper.
Lilly looked at the details that her goddess had translated into Koine, the common language of Orario.
Lilliluka Erde
Level One
Strength: I 81 Defense: H 123 -> 124 Dexterity: G 232 -> 236 Agility: F 383 -> 388 Magic: E 402 -> 404
(Magic)
“Cinder Ella”
• Shape-shifting Magic
• Target will take the envisioned shape at the time of the spell. Will fail without clear image.
• Imitation is recommended.
• Trigger Spell: “Your scars are mine. My scars are mine.”
• Release Spell: “Stroke of midnight’s bell.”
(Skill)
“Artel Assist”
• Activates automatically when weight carried exceeds a certain level.
• Amount of assistance is proportional to weight carried.
“…Haaaaah…”
A long, slow breath of disappointment escaped Lilly’s lips.
One look at the growth of her Basic Abilities was disheartening.
Lilly never thought that half a year’s worth of excelia would be enough to level up, but…
There had been a six-month period when, as a member of Soma Familia, Lilly had never received a Status update due to circumstances within that group.
After undergoing Conversion to participate in the War Game, she’d finally received one. Although her expectations were low, her half year’s worth of excelia unfortunately didn’t amount to all that much. Her Basic Ability levels still placed her among the lower ranks of lower-class adventurers. Every Status update since had been similar to this one.
It didn’t make sense for a low-level Status to improve by leaps and bounds in only six months.
“Supporter, I understand your frustration, but…”
“Lilly understands; she is a supporter. It’s common knowledge that a supporter’s Status improves at the slowest rate.”
In fact, Lilly had become a supporter in the first place because she didn’t do well as an adventurer. Growing at a slow pace
certainly didn’t help.
Her response was rather cold toward Hestia, who had pricked her own finger so she could use the ichor for Lilly. She turned her back to the sympathetic goddess and left the room.
She arrived at the living room after walking through the first-floor hallway.
Welf and her other allies were gathered in a happy circle, excitedly discussing and comparing the Statuses written on the papers in their hands.
Her arrival signaled that it was Bell’s turn for an update; he was the last. Lilly thought about joining the circle as soon as Bell left, but…she caught a glimpse of the reflection of her back in the window and came to a stop.
Her usual robe was hanging in her room. The shirt she had on now was for relaxing in. Part of her lower back wasn’t covered, and she could see some of the black hieroglyphs that made up her Status.
Seeing it in plain sight made her eyebrows sink into a stern expression.
“I’ve been curious for a while…”
She joined the circle in the living room as soon as she saw Bell and Hestia return from his completed Status update, and she was quick to bring up what was on her mind.
“Why are our Statuses visible?”
“Ah, I was wondering about that, too.”
“I-I as well…I felt it strange that Lady Hestia made no attempt to conceal it.”
“I was certain it was a policy in this familia…Did I assume too much?”
“Huh…? There’s a way to hide Statuses?!”
Lilly’s question got an immediate response from Welf, Mikoto, and Haruhime, each of whom had once belonged to another familia. Hestia was stunned—Bell also gave a surprised “Eh?!”—so Lilly explained that there was a way for gods to “lock” a Status.
It was a technique that deities used to keep the hieroglyphs on their children’s backs invisible to the naked eye. This “lock” made sure that the valuable information contained in a Status was protected against prying eyes.
Hephaistos, Takemikazuchi, Ishtar, and even the good-for-nothing Soma knew how to use this Status-hiding technique. Hestia, who had only recently come to Gekai, was absolutely floored by this information.
“So that’s why…I’ve never seen Statuses on any of the Amazons walking around the city…I always thought they used body paint.”
“N-now that you mention it, Miss Eina said I should always ‘lock up’ so others couldn’t see my Status…I guess she wasn’t talking about locking the home’s doors after all…”
“I’ll, uh, ask Hephaistos or someone next time I see one of them…”
The others in the room softly shook their heads, while Bell’s and Hestia’s minds had been blown by such common sense. That’s when Lilly finally joined the circle.
“Would it be okay if Lilly saw everyone’s Statuses?”
“Sure, no prob.”
“Of course.”
“This is mine.”
With Lilly asking politely, Welf, Mikoto, and Haruhime each passed their papers over to her.
Welf Crozzo
Level Two
Strength: I 67 -> 70 Defense: I 50 -> 53 Dexterity: I 78 -> 82 Agility: I 36 -> 38 Magic: I 57 -> 61
Forge: I
Mikoto Yamato
Level Two
Strength: H 133 -> 134 Defense: H 129 -> 130 Dexterity: H 178 -> 181 Agility: H162 -> 167 Magic: I 84
Immunity: I
Haruhime Sanjouno
Level One
Strength: I 8 -> 9 Defense: I 32 Dexterity: I 15 Agility: I 23 -> 26 Magic: E 403 -> 405
Okay, so this is normal…
Seeing that her level of growth was par for the course, she passed her own sheet around the circle.
Once everyone had seen Lilly’s, all eyes fell on the boy who came in last.
Feeling the pressure from being the center of attention, Bell became flustered.
Scratching his head with his left hand, he didn’t put up a fuss and slid his own paper into the center of the circle.
Bell Cranell
Level Three
Strength: F 377 -> 391 Defense: F 389 -> 396 Dexterity: F 377 -> 392 Agility: D 583 -> 594 Magic: F 352 -> 360 Luck: H Immunity: I
““““…””””
No one could say a word as they stared at Bell’s Status. His Basic Abilities had improved by over fifty points. Of course, Bell was at a higher Level. Still, he had improved more than any of them.
Something strange was going on.
They were fighting in the same Dungeon against the same monsters. True, he’d delivered more blows during combat and probably had a higher kill count, but nowhere near enough to explain such a disparity in growth.
Each of them had thought it a bit mysterious whenever the topic of Bell’s unusually fast growth came up, and today they were united in their curiosity.
“Seriously, what is going on with you?”
“B-beats me…”
Welf held the piece of paper in his hand and pressed the issue. Judging by the white-haired boy’s reaction, though, he really had no idea.
Questioned about his unusual growth speed by so many other people at once, Bell was clearly uncomfortable because he didn’t have an answer for them.
“Lilly thinks it’s less Mr. Bell’s natural talent and more some kind of special power at work…”
Making sure that Welf and Bell couldn’t hear, Lilly quietly whispered to Mikoto, Haruhime, and Hestia, looking at them out of the corner of her eyes.
The young goddess closed her eyes and whistled like a child desperately trying to keep a secret. A bead of sweat rolled down her cheek.
Lilly rolled her eyes at Hestia before making brief eye contact with every other member of the familia—except Bell.
Her intent was simple: Today, we find out the truth.
“It’s getting pretty late. Anyone done for the day should hop in the tub.”
Welf made the first move.
He rolled his shoulders and neck, stretching as he turned to face the boy, and said, “Bell, why don’t you head in first?”
“I, um, already took a shower at Babel…”
“But I already prepared the bath tonight. It would be a waste not to enjoy it, Sir Bell.”
Mikoto’s words made Bell feel a twinge of guilt.
Hestia stepped in to try and protect him, but Lilly’s sharp glare stopped her in her tracks.
“B-but is it really okay for me to go first? Everyone’s worked so hard…If it would go to waste, why not join me, Welf?”
“I got stuff to do in the forge.”
“I must prepare ingredients for tomorrow’s breakfast.”
“I-I, um, that is…My tail requires grooming!”
Welf’s and Mikoto’s excuses rolled off their tongues, almost as if they had planned them. Without missing a beat, each left the circle and started toward their destinations. On the other hand, the renart was forced to improvise. As soon as she came up with something, Haruhime turned away from the circle while holding her tail awkwardly in both hands, pulling out loose hairs.
“Lilly has something to discuss with Lady Hestia.”
“Eek…” came the goddess’s voice, clearly intimidated by Lilly’s half-eyed stare.
Everyone plainly told Bell to go ahead. “Well, in that case…” he said as he turned on his heel and left the living room.
Everyone came back to the circle the moment the boy disappeared, and they surrounded their goddess.
“Now then, Lady Hestia, if you know anything about Mr. Bell’s ‘growth,’ please say it. Today we want the truth.”
Hestia was speechless as Lilly stepped into the leadership role and began questioning her.
Her head on a swivel, the goddess searched in every direction, only to see she was completely surrounded. Even more beads of sweat rolled down her face until she finally gave in. Taking a deep breath, she made a long sigh.
“I suppose it makes no sense to hide things from members of the same familia…Fine, I’ll tell you.” She was qu
ick to add, “But it doesn’t leave this room, got it?” before revealing the secrets of Bell’s “growth”—although it pained her to do so.
That’s when Lilly and the others learned about the boy’s Skill.
“Liaris…Freese…?”
Lilly’s soft, stunned voice echoed Hestia’s explanation about Bell’s Skill, Liaris Freese.
Everyone was understandably shocked by a Rare Skill that could influence the rate of an adventurer’s growth. But even more so, the finer details of the Skill left them speechless.
—Rapid growth.
—Continued desire results in continued growth.
—Stronger desire results in stronger growth.
The Skill was directly influenced by the feelings lurking within the boy’s heart.
Those feelings—his feelings for Aiz—had become the driving force behind his unbelievably fast ascension to the upper ranks of adventurers.
“So basically him falling head over heels for that Sword Princess makes him grow stronger like there’s no tomorrow?”
“Head over heels…?! W-well, I guess that’s true…”
“The one…in Master Bell’s heart…”
Welf was confirming that he understood Liaris Freese correctly after Hestia fell silent. Meanwhile, Haruhime and Lilly couldn’t hide how jarred they were by the revelation.
Bell Cranell was more than just interested in Aiz Wallenstein.
That fact took all the wind out of their sails.
There was a reason he was trying so hard. I knew that, but…
Even when she first met him, Lilly knew there had to be something behind his motivation to work so hard in the Dungeon, that there was some goal.
However, to think that his goal had been to catch up to that famous woman, the Kenki…
Considering his age, it wasn’t all that strange for him to harbor affection for someone of the opposite gender, but…knowing about how he and Aiz had met, with her saving him from a Minotaur, was making Lilly’s chestnut-colored eyes tremble.
