DANMACHI: The Silence's Heir (OC x Freya)

Chapter 14

A young Ais Wallenstein fought a hoard of kobolds after having snuck out of the Loki familia mansion without any supervision, and in her hubris had ventured into the initial middle floors, and now she huffed as she bled through the various wounds covering her body, as she faced a throng of ogres.

She stood defiant, yet utterly outnumbered, and at that moment where she stood there fuelled only by her hatred for monsters and her desire to get stronger, her body began to falter, unable to keep up with her indomitable will.

"Aer..." and as her vision spun, as ogre attacked her.

And yet, before the attack could land, a voice that would soon become a rather permanent fixture in her life erupted from above.

"Astaraxis!" and a silverish hue covered her body as a sole figure not much larger than her jumped infront of her.

"Gospel!" and with a single shout sent decimated the ogres surrounding her before turning towards her.

"What are you doing down here all alone, Princess?" and in that moment, the darkness enveloping her being lessened as she saw him extend his hand towards her.

INUMAKI-The Silent

Aiz Wallenstein needed friends. She needed a family. Her mother's abduction had left her a gaping hole in her heart, one that she had filled with hatred for monsters. And in the absence of any kind of love, she turned to that desperation and that hate for power, which, given her unique heritage, interfered with her mind and magic.

So, Aiz Wallenstein needed many things.

Yet what she did not need was a hero, despite what she may believe. Inumaki could never be that hero, despite what the girl may think. What he could be was a friend, one she could rely on, and turn to in her desperate times.

"I thought you would hate me," she said as the three of them made their way back to the surface after defeating Udaeus, and he shook his head.

"Why would I?" he replied. They were both young and being played around by adults and deities around them. Both part of sinister plots that neither had an inkling about.

"We were children," he said, and she looked down in embarrassment as Riveria-san led them through the dungeon.

"But I am still ashamed of my actions from that day. About how I publically blamed you for thing..."

"It is fine," he cut in, for he was in no mood to remember those troubling times. There were good times to remember as well.

"How have you been all those years?" she asked him with a smile, and he shrugged.

"Fine, the outside world was far bigger than I realized. Getting out of the city, traveling, and seeing the world outside helped me mature quite a bit," and it truly had. For all his life since his birth, he had been burdened by the legacy of his mother, something that he had let cloud his judgment.

He was not troubled by it, and yet, in a way, the grandeur of the task had blinded him to the usual aspects of life. Getting away from the city had helped him in that regard and more.

"Plus, I was able to find out about the sheer extent and reach of the evil that plagues this city," he finished as Ais nodded.

"You think this is them?" she asked gravely and he could see Riveria-san listening in as he replied.

"Yes, this is most definitely them. The monsters, the plant-like creatures that we are being faced with, I saw them out there as well," and he had. However, it had taken him some time to connect the dots.

"Where?" both Ais and Riveria asked him together.

"In a town near the port. However, I fought them while they were underwater. That is why it took me so long to make the connection," and then there was the name of the God involved in all this.

A rather unlikely Goddess—the Goddess of beauty and seduction, Ishtar.

And suddenly, as they entered the fifth floor, his eyes landed on the body of an adventurer lying down on the floor. And for some reason, he found those white hair rather familiar.

"Bell," he recognized that face, as he ran towards his familia member, as Ais and Riveria-san followed.

"He is fine," Riveria-san said as she examined him.

"He is just under mental out. He must have used too much magic without supervision," and he perked up at those words, remembering the little titbit, growing rather suspicious as well about the actions of a certain Goddess.

"What should we do?" Riveria asked them as Inumaki looked towards Ais, who was eyeing the boy with curiosity rather than the adoration he had expected.

Interesting.

And so, with a sigh, he picked him up and hauled him on his shoulder.

"Let me take care of him. He is going to get a scolding from me later on," and so they continued on and entered left the dungeon just as they had come, yet more powerful and more informed than before.

0000

GODDESS HESTIA

"You idiot!" she screamed at Bell-Kun. She gave the young boy a lecture, and he looked down bashfully, making him look so cute.

"What were you thinking? Do you have any idea what could have happened to you?" she screamed at him as he sweated, looking to the side for support. Thankfully, he found none as Inumaki-kun simply shrugged and raised his hands.

"I agree with her. That was stupid of you," he agreed, and she nodded in support of him.

"See, he agrees. Now, what is going to be your punishment," she began as she made a thinking pose.

"I know you are going to be sleeping with me for a week," and at her words, Inumaki-kun slapped his forehead.

"I doubt something like that is a punishment," and she perked up at that and eyed him.

"What! Do you want a reward like that as well, Inumaki-kun?" she teased as he shook his head.

"I am fine, thank you. But there are things we need to discuss, I believe," he said, turning towards Bell-kun, who had grown serious suddenly.

"Yes," and so Bell-kun told Inumaki-Kun the very tale he had told her earlier about the little prum supporter that he wished to help, the very supporter who was trying to steal from him and could even betray him in the future.

"You wish to save her," Inumaki-kun asked as Bell nodded resolutely, and the older boy seemed to think about it for a second before he shrugged.

"Do as you wish. She is from the Soma familia, right?" he asked with a certain glint in his eyes as Bell-san nodded.

"In that case it is fine. If you need my hel..."

"No!" Bell-kun cut in before Inumaki-san could finish.

"I wish to do this by myself," and Inumaki-kun shrugged.

"So be it, this is your adventure. You have every right to do things your own way. But that does not mean you get scott-free for what you did in the dungeon today," he added with a rather sinister smile that made a shiver run down her spine.

"I believe it is time for training. Since I do not plan to go on any expedition for some days, I believe we should have a bit of training from tomorrow onwards. What do you say Bell-kun?" and Bell-kun had paled at those words.

"Please, have mercy."

"I will try," and so what that Bell-kun left, leaving her alone with Inumaki-kun, whose status she upgraded despite the lack of cheating Bell-kun had. His growth was still astronomical, which was not surprising given that he had ventured into the deep levels and had faced even a monster rex.

"You have gained about eighty points," she said as he handed him the piece of paper, and he nodded.

"That is good. Other than that, I had something to talk to you about as well," and she nodded as he passed her a guild card.

"That is my guild card. I deposited my loot in the guild earlier, and that account is flush with money at the moment. I believe it is time for Hestia familia to have a home of its own," and she eyed the card with amazement, never having thought that she would ever have such an amount of money at her disposal.

"Of course, we cannot have an extravagant castle or something yet, but we have ample amount on our hand to move out of this church," and despite the good news she was rather saddened by that word.

This church had as special place in her heart. It was where it had all begun, and yet now they were about to leave it.

"I cannot accept this," she said. After, all this was his earning, and she had done little to support him, and yet Inumaki-san shook his head.

"Of course you can. You are my patron goddess, and though I may not have been with you for as long as Bell-kun, it changes little. I am a part of this familia, am I not?" he asked, and she shook her head as she took the card.

"Thank you. I will begin looking for places," she said, and he nodded.

And there was the difference between him and Bell-kun. While Bell was always cheery and hopeful, Inumaki-kun's nature had been tempered by time, and though there was but a few years of age difference between the two, Inumaki-kun was much more mature and serious.

It was not surprising, though, given how long he had been an adventurer.

"What about the thing with Soma familia? Do you think it wise to get involved in this mess?" she asked him, and he waved away her concern.

"They are inconsequential. Their numbers may be large, but they lack any First-class adventurers. If things go wrong, and they try something, we can always settle things by brute force," he said confidently.

"If they mess with us, I will simply have to crush them all," and it was said with such nonchalance and confidence, something that reminded her that the boy sitting infront of her was one of Orario's strongest adventurers.

"Speaking of that, I was told that you are friends with Hepaesteos-sama?" he suddenly asked, and she nodded.

"Yeah, I am," though the other goddess would not quite call it that.

"I need you to tell me about the location of her forge?"

0000

Late into the night Syr worked in the Hostess of Fertility when suddenly the inn became rather quiet as a grey-haired adventurer entered the inn, his eyes looking through the crowd until they finally landed on her and Syr felt a shiver run down her spine as she saw those eyes turn scarlet, as the adventurer smiled and walked straight towards her.

He sat down on the seat beside her and she gulped down and came to him.

"Can I get you something Inumkai-kun?" she asked, professionally not trying to give away her cover when suddenly the boy smiled.

"I am afraid I am in need of some of your time, Syr-san, or should I call you..." and at that, her own eyes glinted. It seems it was naive of her to think that she would be able to keep her secret from him.

"Wait for me outside," she said as she turned back and called for Ryuu-san.

"Ryuu-san, could you please cover for me for some time?" she asked, and the elf girl nodded as she eyed Inumaki-kun.

"Of course," she said, and with that, she followed after him and entered the alley beside the inn, leaning against the wall opposite the infamous Silent.

"How did you know?" she asked, and his eyes glew red once more.

"Is that really important?" he asked, and truly it was not, and so she shrugged.

"I thought you had forgiven me for my actions?" she asked and he nodded.

"I had, but then you suddenly began interfering in the life of one Bell Cranel, and so I had to intervene and ask," he finished.

"What are you playing at this time, Fr..."

"No," she said, cutting him.

"Do not take that name so openly, for in Orario, even the walls have ears," she warned him, and she did not wish to have her cover blown away.

And seeing his expression, she smiled seductively and put a finger on her lips.

"Are you jealous, Inumaki-kun? Jealous at the attention I am giving to your friend?" she asked, and he did not reply. Now, as she stared at him from so close, she was reminded once more why she had fallen for the boy all those years ago.

That soul is so rich and beautiful yet so burdened. It was the soul of a wounded hero, one whom she wished to soothe and keep to herself. In time, she assured herself, in time!

"I would not worry much," she said as she pushed herself forward and hugged his arm.

"Bell Cranel is but a simple interest," she whispered into his ear.

"My desire for you has not lessened even a bit in all these years," she whispered.

"One day, I will make you mine, as it was destined. Afterall, you do carry my bl..."

"Enough," he cut in, looking her in the eye. He placed his hand on her mouth, halting her words. She smiled and slowly removed his hand from her mouth.

"Say the word. Say it just once and I shall grant you my falna, no matter what you may ask," she offered as his lips thinned.

"I will never understand you," he said as he pushed a hand through his hair and began to walk away.

"You and I both know that I can not join you, not after what you did to Hera-sama," he said and wasn't that a regret of hers.

"She is gone now, and it has been years. Even Hera herself would forgive me for it, if she were here," she added, and he sighed.

"I am afraid I cannot. But for your little help, I am going to repay you," he said, making her perk up at those words.

"Ohh, there is no need, of course," she said.

"Just you coming, here to meet me is payment enough for me," and it truly was. It truly helped her see the disparity between Bell-kun and Inumaki-kun, to see the disparity between the two shining stars of Orario.

"Regardless, there is someone who bears you quite a grudge and wishes to see you destroyed. I plan to take care of that little problem for you," he said, and she smiled, her heart on cloud nine at his words. At the mere thought that he was going to do something for her.

"Then I am thankful for your actions, Inumaki-chan," she whispered as he vanished from the alley, leaving a befuddled Syr right there as she collapsed onto her knees.

"If only you knew what a favour you have done for me, Ishtar," she whispered as she chuckled in the darkness.

0000

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