Liliruca Arde was waiting by the large fountain near the dungeon entrance. Her gaze following various adventures and supporters alike, entering and exiting the dungeon in a monotonous regularity.
It had been a few days since she had decided to partner herself with the Hestia familia party she came across. Since then, she was pleasantly surprised by the overall gains she had made with them. She had a difficult time believing they were all level one with all they accomplished before her eyes but chalked it up to them having been in other occupations other than adventurer.
She could definitely see a few of them being former soldiers or something similar. Takeru definitely fit the bill to a t and as recently, her time spent with their new members like Kallen and Ibuki, told her that they too were familiar with combat to a great degree. Much more than any other fresh faced level one she'd met.
Lili gave a sigh and looked down at her feet. This party she's been a part of, this familia she'd allied with, has been one chaotic surprise after another. Between Bell's insane performance and Takeru's preternatural abilities, Lili could hardly imagine any other adventurer performing as well as they did. She'd even say she'd been impressed.
There was another thing she was impressed by, their generosity. During each of the times she'd traveled with them, at the end of each journey, they'd make sure she got a healthy amount for the work she provided. They still took a majority, sure, but Lili always expected her share to be in the single digits in regards to percentage, the low ones at that. Yet they gave her twenty to even thirty percent of total winnings, depending on her performance, as that stern woman Koukin put it to her one day.
Lili shuddered at the memory of meeting Koukin for the first time. The moment Lili introduced herself to the her, she felt her very existence judged in the span of a second, before Koukin reciprocated the greeting and eased up on her examination.
Lili walked on eggshells whenever she was with her in the dungeon. Careful not to do anything overt that would jeopardize her cover. She only hoped it was enough.
At the very least, Ibuki and Elbia greeted her warmly enough. Perhaps too warmly if Lili was any judge to say. Ibuki nearly leapt at her, arms outstretched, when she saw her chienthrope ears and screaming how cute she was and Elbia leaned far too close to her during their first meeting, as if she was trying to see if something was right. She ended her stare by looking around Lili at her small tail before giving out a puff of air and wagging her larger tail in emphasis and pride.
Lili wouldn't lie to herself, she felt briefly annoyed by that. She could get a bigger tail if she wanted to! She just didn't want to trip over herself with its size is all!
She shook her head, dislodging the ridiculous thought.
None of it mattered in any case, today had to be the day, she couldn't push it back any further. Her…accomplices were getting impatient and were pressuring her to act now, regardless of how many could get wrapped up in the attempt.
Easier said than done. Lili had thought to act far sooner but found herself unable to with her new contracted party. Between most of them having an eye on her, many of them being able to give most veteran adventurers a run for their money, and their overall numbers in general, Lili couldn't even dream of acting against them without it backfiring horribly.
That didn't matter to her associates, however. It was either today or…Lili didn't want to think about that.
Subconsciously, she rubbed at her sides, where bruises once laid upon her skin. She could remember how sore her ribs were for a few days after, trying desperately to hide her pain from Bell and the others.
The pain only reminded her of what she knew throughout her life.
'Lili hates adventurers,' she bitterly thought.
Her thoughts were broken by the sound of a familiar voice reaching her ears.
"Lili!" the voice exclaimed, causing her to look at who was calling out to her.
It was Bell, or 'Mister Bell' as she had come to call him during their trips down. Walking towards her, hand raised and waving a greeting, and sporting that smile on his face.
Lili tried not to stare at that smiling face for very long, it made her… feel things she couldn't really explain. Nor did she want to right now.
Not when there is business to be had.
"Good day Mister Bell," she said with a smile, before noticing that he had no company with him, "are the others not with you today?"
Bell gave her a nod, "Yeah, sorry for the surprise," he said apologetically, "everyone had their own interests to take care of today," he gave a helpless shrug and a light laugh, "so it's just me today. That won't be a problem, will it?"
Lili didn't respond at first, processing the information Bell had just foolishly shared. It was just going to be them in the dungeon. No Koukin, Hana, Arue, Chitoge, or any of the other menagerie of characters from his familia.
This opportunity seemed too perfect and Lili was keen to capitalize.
"Not at all Mister Bell," Lili said with a smile and a twitch of her ears, "Lili has seen you take care of yourself and Lili, inside the dungeon. Lili has faith we will be fine!" she ended with a cute tilt of her head that made Bell blush at the sight.
Lili had to do her best not to laugh at such an obvious expression. She had to keep up appearances for a time, at least until they reached far enough into the dungeon that is.
Then things will change.
With a final check up on their equipment, Bell and Lili both headed down into the dungeon. Ready to face the dangers and earn the rewards.
For Lili though, it was time to put a plan into motion.
She looked at Bell's back with a cunning smile. Glad her luck finally paid off with the most gullible adventurer she had met.
If he trusted her so much, that was on him. She never asked him for the amount he paid, she never asked him to watch over her during a big monster attack, she never asked for him to fret over her, show concern, ask her advice, be so kin-
She stopped herself from thinking about it any further.
As they continued on, Lili did allow herself a single thought to cross her mind.
On how it was a shame what was about to happen to Bell.
They pressed on through the dungeon at a stable pace. Bell was dispatching each monster with relative ease and Lili was contributing by shooting at foes overhead with her arm mounted crossbow.
They took their time going down the depths. Bell was being a bit more meticulous than he had been during his previous ventures with Lili. Making sure to grab every magic stone off the ground and checking the area thoroughly for any drop items.
Lili gave little thought to it, focused only on what's to come.
After some time, they made their way down to the tenth floor. Where things took a turn.
Bell quickly reached the floor first, having seen a large group of orcs at the bottom and deciding it was best to take them out before Lili could be seen as a potential target for them.
In hindsight, it was not the smartest decision. The minute he took one down, the rest were on guard and ready to advance upon him.
Bell leapt back from a downward strike that would have crushed his head, before following with an upward slash of his own at the creature's neck.
He swerved around a wide swipe at his midsection, took a step back, and closed back in. Impaling his knife into the beast's heart. Or its equivalent.
Bell launched himself back after his last strike and followed with his magic next.
With a cry of "Firebolt!" Bell blasted what targets he could see before him. When the smoke cleared, he was glad to see the group of orcs he faced were left as simply ash and magic stones.
His gladness evaporated suddenly when he saw what was waiting for him behind the smoke and mist.
Glowing eyes full of malevolence, stared at Bell. Where once he only had to deal with a small group, now he had to face what felt like a small army.
He readied himself for the next stage of combat, withdrawing another knife he got from Ibuki, a kunai if he was correct.
The next battle was to come, but a thought entered his mind before his instincts retained his focus.
'Why did so many suddenly appear!'
He was sure there was only just the initial group he destroyed. He hadn't seen any signs of others during his initial encounter and he doubted the orcs he killed would attract this many.
He caught something out of the corner of his vision. An item he recognized from Eina's lessons.
A trap-bait meant to attract monsters.
His focus waned and before long, he felt a sharp blow hit his knife. His Hestia knife, knocking it out of his hands.
Before he could react to the sudden strike, an orc charged at him with a piggish roar, making him leap aside as it and others went in the attack around him.
He barely dodged swipes of fists, clubs, and tusks as he was made to go on the defensive. He counterattacked wherever he could but was unable to do enough significant damage due to the orc's pressing assault.
"Lilli!" Bell called, "Are you alright? They haven't gotten to you have they?!"
A calm familiar voice answered him, "I'm sorry Mister Bell."
Bell had enough distance between himself and his foes to look in the direction of his supporter, seeing her holding his Hestia Knife and her wrist mounted crossbow out and loaded.
Bell widened his eyes at her, realizing what she did.
"You shouldn't be too trusting, Mister Bell," she said, storing the knife away, "you never know what threats could be beside you without your notice," she secured her large bag and turned her back to him, "You might survive if you run fast enough," she proceeded to do so herself, "Lili doubts will meet again."
The orcs went to attack Bell again, causing Bell to once again go on the defensive. Feelings of betrayal welled in his heart for a moment before he gave a anguishing cry.
"Lili!"
But the cry wasn't for himself, rather for the poor supporter who was holding back tears as she ran away from the only adventurer she ever came close to trusting.
Lili didn't know how long she was running, only that she shouldn't have long to go.
She had a meeting to get to, a critical one that could decide her fate in this world for years to come.
Finally, something she could control with her bare hands.
All she had to do was meet him in the dungeon, give him the knife, and soon she'd be free of her miserable fate.
'The knife,' Lili thought, 'Mister Bell's knife.'
Despite her overwhelming desire to go through with her plan and be rid of her rotten place in life, she couldn't help thinking back to the one she betrayed.
The one who trusted her, who helped her, who believed in her, who relied on her, who thought her more than just a supporter.
She shook her head. Why was she thinking this now? She had to do it, she told herself. She had to in order to escape from the greedy clutches of her own familia.
Yet still a part of her ached at what she did. She all but shot him in the back, which she nearly did as a form of insurance and only stayed from going that far because that could land her into a whole new fire.
At least Bell had a 'chance' to escape. If she actually injured him badly enough that he couldn't, his familia would probably scour the city to hunt her down, and she wouldn't blame them at all for that.
At least she gave Bell a fighting chance, somewhat. Without his rare knife it might be a tad more difficult but not impossible, not in the least.
Despite Lili assuring herself again and again, her clear feeling of guilt was still eating at her and it made her ask something she didn't consider until now.
If she just told Bell, told his familia, told her party, what was happening to her. Would they have helped her?
Lilli thought back to Bell, remembering his sincere features, his overly polite mannerisms, his honest enthusiasm, and his kind nature.
It hurt her to think about him like that.
It hurt worse, remembering what she just did.
Lili felt a blow slam into her stomach all the sudden, taking the breath out of her and making her collapse on the ground coughing and groaning.
"Finally found you," a voice called over her.
With what strength she could call upon, Lili looked up at who her attacker was. She immediately recognized him as the man that chased her in the alley some time ago.
'Why was he here?!' she thought with panic, 'I thought he gave up pursuing me after I partied with Bell and the others?'
"Finally got ya, you shitty pallum," he said with a growl and a wicked smile.
He kicked her in the stomach again, making Lili wheeze and curl in on herself.
She felt him tear her backpack off her back and heard him rummage through its contents.
"Ah here it is," he said, drawing out a sword from the bag, "I wondered where this thing was," he looked down on her, his smile sick with satisfaction, "gotta admit, you were a cunning one. Taking this from right under my nose. Must've thought yourself pretty clever huh," he laughed, amusement mixed with suppressed anger, "if you think my sword is the only thing I came for? Guess again!" He stomped on her, holding her down while he rummaged through her bag, "you have to have more good shit in here. Especially since you've been around that motley bunch of babes and that white haired kid."
Lili couldn't find the strength to speak, let alone remove the foot she was held under. Pain wracked her body and she could only watch as this man tore her bag apart in search of anything valuable.
She saw him remove magic stones, a gold watch, and her…
"Now now!" He said excitedly, "Is this a magic sword? You steal it too?!"
Yeah she did, some time ago. Held onto it in case she was well in over her head. Like right now.
She felt him remove his foot only for it to be brought down again on her arm, making her cry out.
"Can't forget that crossbow of yours, can I? That thing can pelt monsters something fierce."
Lili was helpless to stop him, her body was injured, her weapons were taken, and she had no one to come save her.
"Hey hey. You're making quite the racket, aren't ya Ged?"
A familiar voice brought Lili's attention back. She turned her head to see a raccoon man walking towards her and her attacker, alongside two others carrying bags at their sides.
Lili knew this man all too well, she lost her first big payment from Bell and the others to this man, and at the same time, she was the one she was trying to meet with.
But given how he seemed familiar to her attacker, Lili suspected that was a mistake.
"Oh, you got here fast, Kanu," came the reply of Ged, Lili's attacker. He held up Lili's magic sword with a grin, "this bitch even had a magic sword. You were right too," he gestured to a significant pile of magic stones at his side, "that asshole she was with was loaded if he was bringing in this much on his trips down here."
Lili was in shock, Kanu told this man about her? He told him about Bell as well.
Lili felt a cold pit of fear form in her chest.
"I see," Kanu said with a smile, "Ged, I have an offer for you."
"What, you want the magic sword? Hey, I deserve my share-" he was cut off when Kanu threw something at his feet.
"No," began Kanu, "Erm, I want you to leave and leave everything you took from her and him behind, that includes the magic sword."
Ged looked down at what was thrown at his feet and Lili felt a fresh wave of fear take her again at what she saw.
It was the severed half of a killer ant, one that was making a terrible clicking sound.
A sound that was meant to call for help.
"Are you out of your mind?!" Ged shouted, looking around himself, seeing the many glowing eyes and chitinous armored bodies making their way towards them all.
Kanu gave a shrug, as if the outcome of what was happening was as normal as the weather, "I know we can't win against you in a normal fight," his two allies dropped their bags, revealing more killer ant upper torsos, "you can't blame us for resorting these measures."
Ged looked left and right, seeing the ants closing in around him, he looked forward again and saw Kanu and his group had their weapons drawn, their gazes focused solely on him.
He couldn't win, not with these odds. With a growl of frustration he turned to a clearing and ran, dropping what he took off Lili, "Damn you! Don't think I'll forget this!"
Kanu gave a chuckle before seeing where he ran off to, he raised his voice to Ged, "Oi, I wouldn't go that way. There was a big group on that path that we-"
He was cut off by a blood curdling scream and sudden splash of blood from around the corner of where Ged ran to. A short moment later, a dozen killer ants came around the corner, their mandibles dripping with blood.
"-had to navigate around," finished Kanu with a pitiable sigh, before shrugging nonchalantly, "Oh well, that's just one loose end tied up."
Suddenly, Kanu swung his sword down near Lili, cutting down an ant about to encroach upon her, making her flinch at the sudden action.
"Now we move on to present business," he said with a nasty smile, "I believe the deal was, 'you get us enough cash, we get you out of our familia,' that's correct, right?"
Lili nodded, the gesture bringing a wince of pain to her features.
"Well yeah, here's the thing," Kanu gave an idle wave around them, "things as you can see have changed and we're gonna need more incentive if you want us to save you."
Lili wanted to throw up. Whether it was from the pain and stress or the disgust she felt for this man, she couldn't say. All she knew is that he was her last lifeline out of this mess and she didn't really have a choice if it meant getting out of this mess.
She didn't have much else though, they claimed what she had on her already…unless.
Lili reached up to her neck, pulling out a necklace from under her shirt. On it was a small key.
"This," Lili began, "is a key for a safe deposit box. It's in a shop run by a gnome to the east, it has all of Lili's savings inside."
Kanu smiled at her and took the keys from her. Lili felt like she was giving away a part of herself along with that key. So many years saving, just to see it all given away like this, against her will.
But if it got her out of this hell, a price worth paying.
She felt a hand grab her by the front of her shirt and lift her off the ground, she stared with disbelieving eyes at Kanu, who regarded her with a nonchalant gaze and cold smile.
"Thanks," he said, "now time for us to get out of here and you're gonna help us," he knocked his arm back, with her in his grasp and tossed her, "make sure you 'support' us one last time, ya hear?!"
Lili flew through the air and landed with a hard thud, sparking new flashes of pain across her body and ringing her head something awful. In her daze-like state, she could just make out the killer ants as they surrounded her, looking at her as an easy meal rather than bother with Kanu and his cronies.
She could just make out their retreating features as they went down a passageway, carrying what was left of her bag and supplies, the raccoon man gave her an idle wave from behind and said what were potentially the last words she would ever hear before leaving.
"Be good bait for us."
Lili wanted to cry, she did cry. As the massive hoard of ants were making their way to her, time seemed to get slower and slower, and her thoughts seemed faster and faster.
So much was happening right now, around her and inside her. She knew she probably had this coming. No, she definitely had this coming.
She finally tricked her last client and it was all for naught. She wouldn't be free of her familia, of her supposed God, or the countless crooks around them. She would never leave the dungeon, see the sunlight, or the city ever again.
She would never see Bell ever again.
Lili lingered on that thought, longer than the others. Bell Cranell, one of, if not the, green as grass adventures she has ever met. He almost always seemed ready to fall about himself when seeing something new, his excitement practically on his sleeve. He always asked questions that Lili was compelled to answer, as the most veteran member of the party, ranging from the obvious to simply frank curiosity. He fretted over her and the other members of the party, his familia, always willing to offer a hand.
Always willing to help.
Lili rolled on her back, staring up and the dungeon ceiling, at the glowing stones embedded into it. Her mind and emotions warring with each other.
Bell was perhaps the only adventurer she had met that genuinely seemed to actually care about her, and what did she do in response to that kindness and concern?
She betrayed him for the chance at being free, only for her efforts to be spat on and tossed into her face.
She betrayed the one person she wanted to stand beside.
Really, wasn't death what she deserved after all of that?
Nonetheless, her heart cried with regret, so much that she couldn't help herself but give voice to it.
"I'm sorry Bell," she whispered with tears in her eyes.
She saw the ants were just about upon her and could only hope it was quick.
"Firebolt!" a voice rang out.
A flash of light, followed by an explosion, engulfed the lead ants that were about on her.
Lili was shocked at what she saw, leaning up to see the horde of ants give pause in their execution, before turning to who exclaimed so loudly.
White hair, red eyes, and a smoking palm from a freshly fired spell greeted her.
Bell Cranel had come.
The captain of the Hestia familia did not stay still, again he fired his spell off, taking out more ants, causing them to retreat slightly from the destruction and flames being shot at them. Though not fully withdrawing, simply organizing to stand a better chance at killing this interloper who interrupted their meal.
Bell heard their frustrated chips and chirps of their mandibles, he did not care in the least, only moving swiftly to interpose himself between the monsters and Lili.
Lili was shocked, Bell Cranel was here. He had somehow escaped his would-be demise and was now standing before her.
Standing against the monsters.
She couldn't form words. Why was he here? Why hadn't he run away?
Why is he protecting her?
Bell stood against the many foes before him, his borrowed kunai knife held firmly in his hands but a brief glance down told Bell that the weapon was on its final legs, looking like it would break in the next swing.
He couldn't say he was surprised, those ogre's were really tough and Ibuki had warned him that the weapon wasn't made for long melee combat. It was more effective to be thrown or stabbed quickly and occasionally.
Which was why when he spotted a familiar black knife on the ground, Bell acted on impulse.
Casting several firebolts at the encroaching monsters, Bell made a dash to his knife. A killer ant leapt from the smoke and into his oncoming charge. Bell swiftly named the kunai up into the creature's head, ending it. He retrieved his knife and got ready to fight in earnest.
He swiftly cut down two ants coming from the side and leapt over another's charge before swinging his arm around and casting a spell at its back.
He dodged, jumped, countered any attack he was confident in receiving. Killing ants left and right with blade or spell.
Lili could only watch in amazement as Bell was facing an army of monsters by himself. He had come back from facing ogres on the tenth floor and was now fighting practically an army.
'Bell is really a beginner adventurer?' Lili asked herself.
Before she could think more on it, she saw an approaching horde of ants coming at Bell's back. His attention was focused on the foes in front of him and couldn't bring himself to turn around.
"Bell! Look out!" Lili shouted.
The crack of a whip split the air and several ants had their heads split open before bursting into ash.
Lili saw the black whip swinging in the air like a cobra ready to strike. She followed its length to see a tan skinned woman in revealing clothes but with a fierce and focused expression.
"Koukin!" Bell exclaimed happily, "You made it!"
"Less talk and more combat my captain, the enemy has us greatly outnumbered," beside her, the forms of Chitoge and Hana appeared, "even with some help, they present much a good challenge."
The three additional members of the Hestia familia took to the field alongside their captain. Chitoge launching sharp and powerful strikes and Hana breaking multi-limbed joints and tossing the insects into broken messes. Koukin kept her distance and was dispatching what creatures came near her way with cracks of her whip, splitting the creatures in a messy but elegant display.
Add in Bell's magic attacks and swift strikes with his knife, the battle finally turned into the adventurers favor. Though there were still many killer ants taking whatever opportunity they could to strike back.
Koukin thought it was time to end this. Snapping her whip out and cutting an ant's head in two, she withdrew her weapon back to herself and took a step back.
"Everyone, cover me," she began, holding her weapon above her head, "I'm going to use magic."
Bell and the others moved around her as she prepared, ready to guard her from any would-be attacker.
Koukin took a deep breath and began to chant.
"Face forward, unflinching," she felt heat begin to stir around her, tickling her skin.
"Stand firm, unyeilding," she saw her comrades fight around her, igniting her fervor all the more.
"By my will, kindle," the whip in her hand began to glow, a soft red at first but becoming more so a vermilion pink.
"By my shout, burn," pink and red flames were licking out of the whips thong, as if along its length was an inferno trying to bite its way out of the weapon.
"Let the mountains ignite," she swung her whip over her head, a graceful act that served a dual purpose of warning her party about her attack and drawing the monsters' focus to her.
Bell, Chitoge, and Hana were briefly dazzled by the display Koukin was showing before taking the wise decision and moving swiftly behind her and away from her avenue of attack.
With a swing of her arm, she brought the whip around her in a full circle overhead, leaving a soft trail of embers in its wake and shouted.
"Great Flame of the Red Cliffs!"
With a quick motion, she struck her whip across the ground in a wide arch. As soon as the whip finished its course through the ground, arches and waves of red and vermilion flames cascaded toward the oncoming monsters, the flames engulfed the horde as if they were facing a flood, ants that were up on the wall were not as safe as they hoped as the flames seemed to reach up the wall and consume them like a thrashing wave.
Eventually the flames died down and what was left was burnt ground and walls, glistening with magic stones from where the monsters once were.
Koukin let loose a deep sigh, feeling great exhaustion take her, she reached to her side and pulled out a vial of mind-potion and drank the contents quickly.
"An effective spell," Koukin said, finishing the vial, "but one I would need to practice a great many times before I find myself used to the effects of casting it."
Bell, Chitoge, and Hana looked at the effective devastation before them, deciding not to comment about such a powerful spell and just appreciate that the caster was on their side.
Bell finally turned his attention to Lili and rushed over to her, who was sitting up and looking at everything with disbelief.
"Lili," Bell started when he was near, "I'm sorry I wasn't here sooner, those ogres kept me occupied for longer than I thought," he looked over her, frowning in worry as he spotted several bruises and cuts on her. He reached to his side to pull out some healing potions, "Here," he said, "these will help you rec-"
"Why?"
Bell was cut off by the sudden question of the pallum and paused to listen.
"Why," Lili asked again, "why did you come back for Lili, why didn't you flee," frustration entered her voice, "you should've left me. You had no reason to come find me, not after what I did to you."
Bell only looked at her with a perplexed expression, as if what she said didn't make sense to him.
Lili could see it and it just made her more frustrated, "Lili betrayed you, Mister Bell!" she shouted, "Lili was going to take the earrings she got from you and your equipment, and she was going to sell them off. Lili was willing to let you get killed by monsters! You should hate Lili!" tears were coming from her eyes, as she felt her emotions sting at her conscience, "you should despise her! You shouldn't want to have anything to do with me after that! You and your familia both!"
She was shaking now but she still had questions bubbling inside that she had to get out, "So why?" she asked, "Why did you come save me? Why did you bother? What did you have to gain to help a weak, pathetic, traitorous pallum like Lili?!" her eyes stung with tears as her own words jabbed into her, each hitting their self-appointed marks.
Bell was stunned by the vitriol that Lili was spewing at herself and at him. Still, he found it difficult to answer her questions, until he felt the direct answer was probably the best.
"Well," Bell began, "I guess it's…because you're a girl?" he guessed.
Koukin slapped a palm to her head at her captain's clueless attempt at an answer,Hana was giving her captain a deadpan stare directed at his back, that Bell could feel, and Chitoge had a similar look directed at him but with a comment of, "cringe," escaping her lips.
Lili ignored the actions of his familia in favor of gapping at this idiot savior before her.
Lili couldn't take it anymore.
"That's why?!" she yelled at him, her outrage obvious, "That's why you saved Lili? I knew it! Mister Bell is a womanizer! Creepy! Pervert! Playboy! Clueless idiot!"
Lili was panting for breath after her tirade, leaning over gasping for breath. She was about to go on another verbal attack but felt a gentle hand on her head.
Lili looked up to see the gently smiling face of Bell Cranel, who didn't look even remotely affected by what she had just said to him.
"Then I guess I did it because it was you, Lili," began Bell, "I wanted to save you because it's you, Lili."
The tears flowed endlessly down the girl's face as she listened to the kind words of this person. Kind words she didn't feel worthy of.
"I don't need a reasonable reason…to save you Lili," Bell finished.
The dam broke and Lili threw herself at Bell, crying her heart out in regret and thankfulness.
Bell brought his arms around her in a reassuring embrace, "Speak to me if you have any troubles. I'm an idiot, so tell me or I'll never know."
"I'm sorry," Lilli bawled into him, "Lili is so sorry Master Bell!"
Bell simply held her content to hold her like this for as long as she needed.
Koukin watched her captain, proud at what she was seeing.
Still, a part of her wanted to criticize his recklessness for this plan of his. She should have insisted more about the obvious flaws in it.
Though she confesses, this was probably the best outcome for everyone.
At least the best outcome they could think of this morning.
"I believe Miss Arde has the intention of betraying us."
Those words came from Koukin at the dinner table this morning. Everyone had woken up to a hearty breakfast provided by Kallen and Ibuki. Bell and the others thanked the two for their work and showed their appreciation all the more by gorging themselves happily.
All except Hestia, who had to take an early morning shift at one of her part-time jobs and was thus absent. Much to her wallows of unfairness.
Outside of the sound of eating, it was relatively quiet at the table. At least until Koukin made her announcement.
Bell heard this and nearly choked on his food. He swiftly downed a glass of water and began to speak, "Why? Where did this come from?"
"After initial observations from Arue and Takeru and from my own scrutiny upon meeting her, my suspicions were further aroused," she gave an idle gesture to Ibuki's direction at the table, "I had Ibuki trail her a few days ago, quietly of course, in hopes of confirming our suspicions."
Ibuki felt the eyes of the other familia members on her, compelling her to talk, "Yeah," began Ibuki, "it was after Koukin's first meeting with her. She had me shadow her to see if we could get a hint of her plans," Ibuki suddenly looked uncomfortable as she continued, "turns out, it's not fully her plan."
Koukin picked up the explanation, "She appears to have a rather… 'unfortunate' relationship with her fellow familia members. With them taking her earnings so they could obtain Soma wine," Koukin had a look a disappointment on her face as she continued, "an all too common practice in that familia, if my research holds up."
Bell was outraged at this news. Lili had been a great help to their familia. She had offered advice and insight on many things Bell had not seen or heard of. She kept track of their supplies, made sure to pick up any magic stones they missed, and she wasn't caught offhand when Bell had a question to ask, even a ridiculous one. To Bell, Lili had been a great help and good friend.
To find out she had been abused by her familia over wine was sickening to him.
"So what do we do now?" the question by Kallen drew back Bell's focus, "if she is going to stab us in the back, whether now or later, we can't just keep on like nothing is going to happen. Eventually she'll get an opportunity, then we're screwed," she scrunched up her face in thought, "well maybe not entirely, I'm sure most of us could give her and her associates a good run for their money," she gave a look a Takeru and Arue, "some of us more than others."
Takeru gave nothing away at Kallen's slight compliment but Arue puffed her chest up in pride, making it bounce.
Koukin coughed into her hand, bringing attention back to her, "I was about to discuss that," she said, "Frankly, we don't need to think too hard on a decision. We can just sever our partnership with Miss Arde and be done with it."
"But what about Lili?"
The question came from Bell, who was looking at his vice-captain with an earnest gaze. A gaze Koukin met with one of her own, albeit a far more stern one.
"What about her, captain?" asked Koukin, "It is dangerous to continue working with her. While I admit I feel some sympathy towards her, I will not risk our lives for it. Something I'm sure you agree with, yes?"
Bell nodded, but he wasn't finished, "I wouldn't want any of you to risk your lives," he stood up from where he sat, "but I can't just leave Lili either. Even if she is gonna betray us, why give us so much help as she has already?" he looked around the table, meeting the eyes of his familia members, "Why go as far as she has with us if she was just going to betray us? She didn't have to, but she did. We can't just ignore that."
He took a deep breath, realizing something. It was perhaps a stupid thought, but it was one that felt right to him and he had no problem voicing it.
"Lili has been asking for help, but didn't know how to."
The table was silent at that. Looks were shared with one another. Koukin looked at her captain carefully, taking in his demeanor. Wondering what else he was going to say.
When he didn't say anything else, Koukin prodded him with a question of her own.
"Then what do you want to do, captain?"
Bell thought for a moment, but again, the simplest answer came to his mind, "I want to help Lili," he said with fervor, "I want to help her get away from those people using her like that. I want her to keep helping us," he looked at Koukin, determination in his gaze, "that is what I want us to do," he said resolutely.
Koukin kept her eyes locked on her captain's own, neither of them breaking contact with the other. Until Koukin gave him a smile and nod.
"Very well captain," she said and looked around the table, "Are there any objections to the captain's wishes?"
Kallen stood from her seat and looked her captain in the eye, "In my old world, I've seen too much abuse and was almost helpless to stop it. I'm not gonna stand by when there is something I can do now."
Elbia stood up, her ears perked and a determined look on her face, "Elbia wants to help Lili. She helped clean my tail off when I accidentally dragged it through some slimes in the dungeon," she wagged her tail for emphasis, thankfully slime free.
Arue stood with a flourish and already everyone knew what was coming, "My captain!" she posed, "My summoner!" she posed again, "You wish to bring this lost soul, who has been trapped in despair, into the light?" she gave a huff and pushed her chest out and boldly declared, "Then it is I, The Most Voluptuous of the Crimson Demons, who will aid you in laying spark to that light!"
Everyone at the table was struck dumb by such a boastful declaration. Leave it to Arue to exceed expectations in terms of presentation.
Though her little display seemed to encourage the others to voice their agreement.
"To save someone from her own familia," said Hana, "that is already an eccentric story on its own. One I would love to be a part of."
"I've never been one to stand aside when someone is getting the raw side of the deal," Chitoge said, cracking her knuckles, "and knocking a few bastards' heads together just might make my day."
"I'd this an 'all in or all out' thing?" Ibuki asked, looking around before raising her hand up high, "Cause I'm all in! Let's save that poor girl!"
Takeru had nothing to add, merely locking her gaze with Bell and giving him a resolute nod.
Bell felt his heart swell with gratitude. He truly has been blessed with a great familia. They were willing to help him, they could have said no and Bell would have accepted that, but instead, they chose to stand by him and his decision.
Was this what leadership felt like? Bell still wasn't sure. He knew it was heavy at times but at times like these, it could feel quite light.
Koukin was looking at her captain with a smile as she saw his expression, 'Good,' she thought, 'he's starting to understand.'
Slowly, yes, but it was a start.
"Then if everyone is on board with this," Koukin began, "let's go over any plans of action we can think of to sabotage the betrayal and bring Miss Arde out of her mire."
They spent a good chunk of the morning going over potential plans. Some leaning on the safe side, while others were leaning on the reckless.
Their captain eventually offered a reckless idea but with a great chance of success.
In more ways than one.
Koukin looked down at the white charcoal mark on the ground. It was small and you had to actively know what you were looking for if you wanted to notice it.
Bell's plan was simple, he would go into the dungeon with Lili alone today, much to everyone's shock and worry. He would use white charcoal from Hana and Elbia's art supplies to mark where he and Lili were heading in the dungeon. Koukin told him upfront that he was careless if he didn't think Lili would notice right away. To her shock, Bell replied he would make his marks when he was picking magic stones from the monsters, when Lili wasn't focused on him. Koukin had to relent, it was a good plan.
They would delay their own entrance into the dungeon by an hour, in hopes that would provide enough distance between them and Bell and Lili. So far the plan worked as expected, a little close to the razor's edge with those ogres but Bell proved himself capable of handling it.
But that wasn't the full plan.
They had completed Bell's half of the plan.
Now it was time for Koukin's half of the plan to begin.
The strategists of the Hestia familia looked towards the pathway Lili's 'allies' went, a small cunning smile on her face.
Kanu felt very proud of himself right now.
As he laid back against the dungeon wall on the fifth floor, he thought of everything he did to get himself here.
Lead and lie to that foolish pallum girl, promise a greedy rival a cut of the profits from said pallum, stab said rival in the back and take his shit, and finally, take all the shit of that foolish pallum girl.
Kanu gave a deep laugh as he twirled the lockbox key by a finger, already imagining the potential payout he would have by the end of the day.
And how much wine he'd get to buy.
That precious, precious wine.
That stuff was worth his soul and more.
Thankfully there were enough fools in this city to sell off theirs so he could get his.
He briefly glanced at his two co-cospiraters. They were resting after their long trek back up from the ninth floor. It was to be expected that they, and himself, would be out of breath after pulling off what they did.
He turned his gaze to the giant bag full of magic stones and valuable equipment, including a magic sword of all things.
That would definitely buy him enough bottles to keep him happy for a long time.
He was cut off from his musings by a sound coming from just down another pathway, footsteps, and close by too.
Kanu stood, prompting his associates to be on guard, and followed where the sound was coming from.
'Nobody should be near here,' Kanu thought , 'this little hideaway is too out of the way for most adventures.'
He looked around a corner and saw someone limping along the far side of the pathway.
Coming along the wall was a woman, a very gifted one, given Kanu could make out her curves even through the brown hooded cloak she wore. She was limping along, one hand on the wall for balance, the other clutching at her side that was stained red.
Kanu was high on success and decided to take his chances again, this time with a different 'reward' for himself this time around.
He walked to the woman, his pace casual, "Hey," he began, "you lookin alright there?"
The woman turned her head towards him, letting Kanu just make out the blue eyes and red hair underneath the hood. She gave a relieved sigh at the sight of him, "Oh thank the Gods," she exhaled, "I didn't think I'd run into anyone so soon. Please help me! I was attacked by a large group of monsters and I had to drop my supplies to escape," she winced at the effort of talking, clutching at her side all the more, her pain evident.
"Well don't you worry," he pointed behind himself, "me and a few friends got some potions if you need any."
The woman nodded her head, tuffs of red hair falling past her hood, "Thank you!" she said before frowning, "but I don't have anything to pay you back."
Kanu just smiled, "I'm sure we can work something out," he said, his thoughts drifting to an 'alternative' form of payment.
Together, they both returned to where Kanu came from, he had a hand on the woman's shoulder, guiding her along.
When they reached the hideaway, Kanu stopped in his tracks at what he saw.
Or who he didn't see in this case.
His two companions were gone, the supplies and weapons were there but his two compatriots were nowhere to be found.
"Hey!" Kanu exclaimed in the space, "Where the hell did you two go?!"
He got no answer in reply and his demeanor became one of caution. Something wasn't right.
"Sir, I just remembered something," the woman at his side said, drawing his attention, "I just remembered something I can pay you with."
She straightened herself and looked him in the eye, bringing her blue eyes into focus.
"I can give you an ass kicking!"
With that exclamation, the woman struck Kanu in the jaw, dazing him, she followed up with a jump and a powerful kick to his head that rendered him unconscious.
Before blackness took him, his final thought was that red stain at the woman's side looked a little too…painted on.
The woman removed her cloak, revealing Kallen Kozuki, who stared at the unconscious raccoon man with disdain and disgust.
"Just having you touch me," she said, "made me want to shower."
"Sorry if this little mission made you uncomfortable."
The voice came from the opposite end of the hideaway, where Takeru was walking towards her from. The purple haired samurai looked around at the various supplies around her with an air of pity. So much taken from that poor girl and who knows how many others had suffered similarly.
Koukin half of the plan was on the mark. Once the perpetrators got what they wanted, they would hide somewhere and potentially wait till nightfall before returning to the surface. Less eyes on the dungeon that way and less likely anyone would bother to ask any questions about their generous surplus.
Granted, it nearly rankled Kallen having to wait back while Koukin, Hana, and Chitoge went ahead to aid Bell and Lili, but her time and experience in her previous life tempered her frustrations and in the end, they are successful.
"Ibuki and Elbia got the other two?" she asked.
Takeru nodded, "Yes and they had practically no problem in doing so either," she looked at the unconscious raccoon man at their feet, "I believe we may have come over prepared for apprehending them," she shook her head in disappointment, "they are all probably level one. Just one of us could have been enough to handle them."
Kallen looked down at the man again, taking note of the large swelling bruise appearing from where she punched him.
'I thought I held back enough,' she thought , 'If I was a bit more serious, I might've killed him.'
Which wouldn't be a big loss as far as she was concerned.
But Bell was adamant that they not kill the perpetrators, having preferred they turn them into the Guild. Koukin had wanted to argue but Bell presented a strong case for it.
Who's to say this was the first time they've done this before?
The Guild would surely be interested in hearing firsthand from the perpetrators themselves and it might close the books on a few open cases involving similar incidents. Some that had disastrous endings.
Koukin saw the boon immediately, as did a few others. This would put a minor familia like theirs in good standing with the guild, granted it wouldn't be major, but it was still a good step.
Kallen grew tired of thinking about it anymore and grabbed Kanu by his ankle and dragged him forward as she walked.
"You going to pick up the supplies?" Kallen asked behind her.
Takeru nodded, "I'll be carrying what I can. Ibuki should be coming back to join me, Elbia was confident she could drag the other two perpetrators out of the dungeon with little ease."
Kallen nodded and continued on, dragging Kanu along.
Takeru watched her go for a moment longer, until she turned a corner and was out of sight. She then turned and looked down the opposite way, where she knew a ways down was where her captain and remaining familia were busy with Lili.
She was absolutely confident that they were as successful in their mission as she was with hers.
She smiled, remembering Bell's determined look to save Lili. It was a good look on him and he could stand to have that fire in his eyes more often.
Whenever he became a bit more sure of himself.
Takeru let out a laugh, her captain was certainly a unique character.
Then again…that could be said about everyone in the familia.