Resisting the urge to pinch Loki’s butt, Vahn did his best to keep a stoic expression on his face as Alicia glanced towards him briefly before turning away with a fl.u.s.tered expression. Loki began cackling as she ’casually’ guided Alicia away so Vahn would be free to talk with Bell. Seeing this, Vahn was full of mixed feelings because he knew that, while Loki was teasing Alicia, there was so truth to her words. His impression of Alicia had never been bad and, if she genuinely showed an interest in him, Vahn wouldn’t be averse to the idea. It ultimately depended on if she wanted a permanant relationship which, considering she was an Elf, was more than likely the case. If that were so, he would have to politely decline her advances and then ’punish’ Loki for putting him a difficult spot when they were alone...
Moving to where Bell was, Vahn extended a hand to help the boy stand before surprising Line and Plum by ’pulling’ away all the excess ointnt and forming it into a small ball. With a slightly stern expression, Vahn looked at Line and scolded, "Line, dicines like this are very expensive. Please, keep that in mind..." Though the ointnt was significantly cheaper than an Elixir, that didn’t an it was sothing that could be squandered without consideration. He may not be the best person to lecture others about not to waste resources, but Line seed like a calm and intelligent girl and it was a little unexpected for her to lose her cool.
Line lowered her head, showing an expression of embarrassnt as she muttered, "I understand..." before sending a complex look towards the smiling Bell. For Plum, this was her first ti eting Vahn up close and she had turned into an immovable statue with her mouth slightly agape. Though he didn’t have the title of Braver, Vahn had beco the true hero of Pallums the world over. It was because of his efforts to help the Pallum people that her family had tried their luck at fleeing to the City in the first place. Thus, for Plum, seeing the person that so many Pallums looked up to within arms reach of her was a very big impact...
As he was already accustod to such looks, Vahn didn’t pay too much attention to it and simply pulled out another [Effigy of the Hero], placing it into the small girl’s hands and allowing her to absentmindedly stare at it before turning to Bell and saying, "Bell...grit your teeth..." To this, Bell showed a face of confusion and uttered an ’Eh?’, completely unable to react to Vahn bringing his middle finger to his head and flicking him with enough force to knock the boy end-over-end a few tis. Vahn noticed that the flow of energy around Bell’s body actually protected him, which was both interesting and annoying, but let it slide for the ti being.
With a teary-eyed expression, Bell rubbed his forehead and asked, "What was that for...?" as if he was completely incapable of understanding the error of his ways. Vahn, understanding this was likely a product of fate, in conjunction with Bell’s [Luck], felt a powerful urge to sigh before explaining, "Line should have already told you about it, but that effigy you used would have been enough to pay the salaries of thousands of people, including all of their living expenses for years. The fact that you used it just to kill a monster...haaaa..."
Though he didn’t really care that Bell used the effigy, as that was its intended purpose, Vahn didn’t want him to start treating it as so consumable item that would allow him to get through sticky situations. It was ant to be a last resort and, while the Killer Ant Queen was a major threat, Bell didn’t actually ’need’ to stick around and fight it. In fact, with Plum’s own enhancents from her effigy, they would have been able to escape with relative ease. If that event had been sothing orchestrated by Enyo’s forces, the fact that Bell would have lost the ability to fight afterward would have gotten his entire party wiped...
Bell suddenly showed an extrely apologetic expression on his face while Plum tightly gripped the effigy in her palms as if it were a precious treasure. In fact, after having experienced its function for herself, she knew it was exactly that. Having Vahn give her a second one was almost like receiving a third chance at life, one which she would have already lost if not for the original one he had given her. This realization made her feel a little choked up without any ans of truly expressing herself with any words or actions she could think of.
Since reprimanding Bell wasn’t exactly his reason for coming here, Vahn just released a small sigh before helping him rise to his feet again, saying, "The only reason I’m going to forgive you is that you used it to at least try to help the people you care about. However, you have to rember that this item is extrely precious and is ant to help you preserve your life in a dangerous situation. You already experienced the fact that you won’t be able to take any actions after the fact, so treat this as a lesson and make sure you never use it in such a haphazard manner again. I understand you may not have been in the right state of mind after watching your companion get seriously injured, but this will be the last ti I show you leniency...rember, Bell, a hero isn’t soone who gambles with their lives and the lives of others. Beco strong enough that the effigy is nothing more than a reminder of your mortality, not a crutch you can use to overco your enemies..."
Taking another [Effigy of the Hero], Vahn placed it into Bell’s hand and reiterated, "Think about the hero you want to beco...is it the type that relies on handouts from others just to protect the things you hold dear...?" Bell had been sowhat absentminded when he had been handed the new effigy but, after hearing Vahn’s words, he squeezed it tightly and even considered giving it back to Vahn in order to prove his convictions. Vahn, noticing this change in Bell, just snorted and said, "You will keep it until I’m confident you are capable enough to avoid having the need for it. If you want to prove sothing, bring that effigy back to in one piece after you beco strong..."
This ti, Bell’s expression shown a fierce resolution burning in his eyes and Vahn could even see the ’fate’ around his body beco slightly more powerful. He didn’t know if this was a good or a bad thing, as it ant Bell could potentially influence a greater number of people both positively and negatively. There was even a strand that ca from Bell’s body and tried to contact him, sothing Vahn hadn’t quite expected to occur at all. However, when the thing tendril of energy got near him, it suddenly shrunk back like it had received a powerful shock and retreated into the energy around Bell’s body once again.
Seeing this, Vahn couldn’t help but smile, causing Bell to misunderstand slightly as he interpreted Vahn’s smile as encouragent. This caused Bell to produce a radiant smile of his own, which seed infectious as it was quickly followed by Line and Plum showing happy expressions of their own. Vahn was slightly taken aback by this but chose to ignore it as he turned to Line, asking, "I had a few questions about the battle between the Killer Ant Queen. Since Bell was out of commission, I figured you would be the best person to answer my questions, Line."
Hearing this, Line nodded her head, a more serious expression on her face as she said, "Please, ask away, Vahn-sama..." Though he was a little bothered by the sudden address of ’sama’, Vahn buried it in his heart and just smile casually as he asked, "Tell , did you notice anything strange about the Killer Ant Queen’s behavior? Also, were you able to collect the monster core and Drop Items?" To this, Line inclined her head to the side and seed to lose herself in reflection before answering, "It was strange that we encountered her on the 11th Floor, as Killer Ants have never been sighted down there previously. Also, though I didn’t have ti to loot all the items, I did manage to get the magic core from the Killer Ant Queen. However, when I inquired about it at the Guild they acted strangely and, even when I asked for the core to be returned, one of their managers ca out explaining that it had been destroyed during the identification process..."
Vahn wasn’t exactly surprised to hear that the Guild would have taken such action as Ouranos was obviously keeping a lot of secrets about the Dungeon. Since Ouranos was helping to keep the seal in place, Vahn knew he had to be aware of so of the threats that others were simply not privy to, even in the godly community. Vahn would need to co up with a ans to make Ouranos more forthright about the situation in the future but, for the ti being, simply pulled out the strange plant monster’s magic core and asked, "Did it look like this...?"
Even without Line answering, the look on her face told Vahn everything he needed to know, confirming his suspicions, at least based on the variables he had analyzed. Without waiting for her to explain, he stowed the core away and asked, "Tell , Line, Plum, are you going to beco permanant party mbers to Bell?" This questions had caught the two girls off guard but Plum collected herself rather quickly, putting on a resolute look as she said, "Yes, I will follow Bell-sama for as long as it takes, even if he is a big idiot...!"
Though she had received a trauma after nearly dying, Plum had already beco accustod to death, including the thought of her own, long before Bell had saved her. The fact that he had fought tooth and nail for her twice had already left a deep impression on her heart that wouldn’t fade away so easily. As for Line, she had a sowhat tired expression on her face and didn’t seem to know how to answer until she saw Bell smiling back at her. She felt her heart thumping in her chest and, even though she felt like she would regret it, averted her eyes and said, "If soone doesn’t look after this idiot, he’ll end up getting himself and Plum killed..."
Bell’s smile broke slightly but he managed to prevent it from fading away completely as he internally remarked, ("Why are they both calling an idiot...I’m not that bad, am I...?"). As for Vahn, he had already nodded his head and said, "If that is the case, head over to the Hearth Manor in the next few days and we’ll get the three of you fitting with so suitable equipnt. Since I have a feeling things are going to get pretty hectic in the next couple of months, I’d feel better if the three of you were prepared to deal with any situation that might arise. That goes for you as well, Plum...even if you don’t like fighting, or just want to act as a Supporter, you need to beco strong enough to protect yourself when Line and Bell are fighting serious threats..."
Plum nodded her head, even though she had a few inhibitions about trying to beco strong as a Pallum, while Line sowhat hesitantly asked, "Are...you going to make the equipnt...?" Vahn, understanding so of her concerns, smiled politely and said, "Don’t worry, I’ll have Tsubaki take your asurents in private. Depending on your needs, it may be , Tsubaki, or even Hephaestus that forges your equipnt. As for the price, that isn’t sothing you’ll need to worry about unless I catch you trying to exploit or resale the things you’re given~." Since he said this in a teasing voice, Line blushed slightly as Plum and Bell were shocked to learn they would be receiving equipnt made by three of the most reputed [Master Smith]s in the entire City, including the most prolific goddess of forging in both Heaven and the Mortal World...
Seeing the surprise on their faces, Vahn felt a small amount of pride before turning his attention to Bell and wondering if he was about to make a grievous error. For the last year and a half, Vahn had been keeping two [Grimoire of Guidance] on his person, never quite sure the best thod to make use of them. Since it allowed him to bestow any non-Innate skill, magic, or developnt ability, it was easily one of the most useful items he had ever received from a quest. Since he had yet to discover the ans to acquire more of them, even though he had ’wanted’ it quite a bit, Vahn had been keeping them safely stowed away in his Inventory. Right now, however, he was wondering if he should use a [Grimoire of Guidance] in a way he had never quite considered in the past...
Vahn wanted to help the three of them beco strong enough to face whatever would endanger them in the future but, for the ti being, he could only really afford to give out a single fla seed. Since Bell already had [Liaris Freese], Vahn didn’t want to waste it on him, especially since the skill itself was a growth-type Innate. However, this didn’t an Vahn couldn’t teach Bell [Prothus] itself, even though the actual skill he was thinking about bestowing upon Bell was the [Pactio]. For soone like Bell, having a ans to increase his Magic parater, while also helping to empower the girls around him, these were two extrely useful boons that many would cry tears of blood to obtain. Vahn was just worried that Bell might take things too far and get in the habit of bestowing the [Pactio] to any girl he randomly started to fancy...
This thought caused Vahn to release a sigh, confusing the three people and causing them to give him strange looks. He was just thinking about the parallels between him and Bell, specifically about his own inability to refuse the affections of won. In truth, Vahn was worried Bell would be like an unrestrained version of himself but, after rembering one key feature of this record, cald down as he said, "Bell, I have a gift that I think will be extrely beneficial in your journey. However, in order to receive it, I would need you to make a life-long vow to never, under any circ.u.mstances, bestow this skill upon other people. In fact, before you’re able to use it, I would require that you go through extensive asure ensuring that others aren’t even able to observe the skill besides those who have also made vows to keep the secret..."
These words had caught the interest of Loki, who had been listening in with Alicia from the side after teasing the latter for a bit. She used this mont to walk over, asking, "Vahn, have you considered this decision of yours properly? I understand that you have high expectations for the boy, but he hasn’t really done anything deserving of the amount of attention you’ve shown him, right~?" To this, Bell, who had been sowhat confused by what was going on, took a deep breath and exclaid, "Loki-sama, please trust ! I won’t let Vahn’s expectations go to waste; just watch , I’ll surely beco a hero that can protect everyone!"
Hearing this, Loki just snorted and said, "You brat. It is easy to take big but, without all of the help and support you have been given, where would you be right now? Hell, if Vahn didn’t save you, wouldn’t you already have failed to achieve your dream...?" These harsh words of Loki caused Bell to shy away slightly but the resolute look in his eyes didn’t fade in the slightest as he confidently said, "I know...I really do know that I’ve done a lot of foolish things...but! I won’t always be the foolish and childish person that needs to rely on others! In order to create a world where everyone can smile happily, I’ll never give up trying to improve myself!"
Resisting the urge to strangle Bell, Loki turned her slightly parted eyes toward Vahn and remained silent for several seconds before releasing an exasperated sigh. She could also see the similarities between the two boys and knew that Vahn probably saw himself in the young Bell. Since there was nothing wrong with Vahn trying to support the people he had taken an interest in, Loki decided to take a step back but not before asking, "Which skill are you thinking of giving him...?"
For a brief mont, Vahn was tempted to tease Loki by saying he would give Bell the [Charm] Developnt Ability but, as this would also reveal to the girls present that he had it, Vahn decided to play it safe. With a serious expression on his face, he simply stated, "[Pactio]...", causing Loki to take a deep breath through her nose like she was about to lash out at him. Instead, she turned a fierce glare towards Bell and warned, "If you use that skill Vahn is going to teach you haphazardly, I’ll castrate you myself, Bell..." This caused Bell to instinctually close his legs together as Loki then turned her attention to Line and Plum before saying, "Though the skill Bell gets can drastically improve your power, make sure you think about the consequences before accepting it...haaaa..."
Turning her back, Loki began walking towards the door as she stated, "I’m going to look into a few things on my own and try to squeeze out so information from that old man. I’ll see you back at the Manor this evening Vahn..." Then, without requiring a response, Loki exited through the door to go investigate so of her own hunches. She had already discussed things with Vahn before they had even headed to et up with Bell so, now that things had been ’confird’, Loki had a few threads to follow. It helped that she had several mbers of the Hers Familia as part of her network now, especially since they had been the gophers of the Guild for years...
(A/N: seems to be trying pretty hard to push EPIC out of the rankings for their premium content. Don’t let their bots promote novels that have more than 50 grammatical errors in a 1k word chapter rise into the top 3. Seriously, so of that stuff looks like it was translated through multiple language filters before finally being converted into English xD...)
(A/N: Alternate Titles: ’Hero of the Pallum People’,’Ouranos needs to fess up...’,’Giving [Pactio] to a Harem Protagonist...oh god...’)
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