(Riven POV – Outside Guild)
'I think I broke Misha.' I muse, the memory of her staring blankly at the table, muttering rapidly under her breath, brings a faint smirk to my face. 'Still, I got what I wanted. She agreed not to announce my Level up before the next Denatus.'
If it were up to me, I'd have the whole city convinced I was Level 1 even if I reached Level 10. Unfortunately, given the people paying attention to me… that level of peace was never an option.
'There's two and a half months until the next one.' Simply asking Misha revealed that the last Denatus was about a week before I arrived. 'Which means Bell should appear in about a month.'
Hence, there's no need to rush, given how much time I have to work with. Even if Hestia says I can't go into the dungeon, that won't last long. Besides, there's no shortage of ways to keep busy.
Because the truth is, I've been criminally neglectful of everything outside the Dungeon recently.
'Hmm… I wonder how my best bud's holding up?' I think with a malicious smirk. 'She seemed spooked when last we parted. I ought to visit and check up on her more often.'
Just imagining the look on Loki's face when I stroll up uninvited is enough to brighten my entire afternoon. Some hobbies, a man simply can't give up.
But terrorizing the goddess aside, I do have actual work piling up.
Blacksmithing under Hephaestus, for one. It'd be extremely beneficial to learn how to apply different attributes to equipment. The potion venture with Naaza. I still need to officially sign the agreement and give her an improved formula.
The clothing shop, which I can just leave to Hestia. But we should probably hire some employees to help out. Even the church, although decent, could use some more improvements.
And, of course, Ais, who, whether I want to or not, will probably start swinging a sword under the guise of training.
'At least every last one of them pays well.' I sigh. 'And I should expand my list of skills and magics too.'
Finally, there's one thing that outweighs all of it…
[Notice: Analysis of Grimoire complete.]
GS chimes in, a touch later than usual, which is understandable, given a Grimoire's complexity. But now, as long as I have the materials, I can mass-produce them.
An item adventurers would kill to get their hands on, but…
'What should I do with them?' I ponder as I walk. 'Selling them seems like the most logical thing to do.'
Of course, not just to anyone. But specifically allied, and trusted Familia… that can afford them. And even then, in limited quantities.
'Which leaves Hephaestus and Loki's Familia.' I sigh internally. 'I'm not hurting for Valis, but it's such a waste.'
Obviously, I considered using them myself, but it's not as efficient. Everyone has three magic slots at most, but using GS and Predator, I can acquire magic without limit.
It's better to sell the Grimoires, make Valis, and the condition of sale being I get to see the magic being used, and building up my arsenal.
'I'll think it through more before committing.' I decide, leaving the Guild behind, while humming to myself as I make my way home. 'And I wonder… has Bell started his journey yet?'
(Bell POV – Mountain Village)
"Hah…" I let out a long breath and cinch the pack shut. "That's everything I'll need."
I nod seriously. Then I check the pack again, because checking is useful and standing still in the middle of the room is not. Anything to spend a little more time here.
The house is colder than it had been a few days prior, despite the temperature remaining unchanged. I walk through it one last time, room to room, making sure every shutter's latched, and everything is packed neatly away.
It doesn't need doing. It won't matter to anyone… but I do it anyway. The house's silence keeps me company, and with it, nostalgic memories of gramps. His laugh that was way too loud, his voice as he told me stories. Even the warmth of his hand as he pat my head seems to resurface.
My eyes sting, but I tip my head back and glare at the rafters until it stops.
'Gramps said people cry when they've had to be strong for too long and can't anymore…'
"Then I'll just be strong forever." My voice comes out more steady than I actually feel, which is the whole point of saying it out loud. To convince my mind. "Bell Cranel isn't weak."
I shoulder my pack and step through the door, exiting the place I've called home for the last 17 years. I take one look back, the memories trying to pull me back… but I force myself to turn around. Looking back is for people with somewhere to return to.
The sun's warm on my arms as I climb the hill, wind tugging at my hair, until I'm standing in front of a stone with gramps' name on it.
I crouch and start cleaning it. Brushing off the dust, picking the newly budding weeds at its base. Small, careful work to keep my mind distracted.
"Gramps. I'm heading out soon." I say softly. There's no one up here to be tough for, so for a moment I don't bother. "…Sorry. About the burial. We never found—" I pause for a moment and take a breath and setting the pain aside. "There's no body under here. I know you'd hate if we kept searching for too long, so I hope this is enough. You always said a hero deserves a proper send-off."
I keep scrubbing.
"Ever since I was little, you filled my head with stories of heroes, monsters, and about adventures so long you couldn't finish telling them in one night, so you'd make me wait a week for the ending." A small laugh sneaks out of me. "Well. I'm going to become one now. A real adventurer." I sit back on my heels and lift my chin at the stone. "I'm going to Orario. I'll join a Familia, dive the Dungeon, and get strong enough to become a hero. Just you watch."
Then I stand, plant my fists on my hips, and grin the same way he always did.
"And the big one, old man… I'm gonna build a harem bigger than yours!" I jab a thumb at my chest. "You always bragged you had twelve. Twelve who'd follow you anywhere. So I'll get thirteen and beat your record."
A harem. I've wanted one forever. It's the part of the stories I can never ignore. Not the thrilling adventures, or fearsome monsters… but the company. The band at the hero's back. People who'd march into the depths of hell with you, never hesitating. People who'd be there at your highest and haul you up from your lowest and never, ever leave.
"A group you love like family and can trust to always have your back."
That's what gramps said the day I asked him what a harem even was. That's what he told me. I've carried my yearning for it ever since.
A whole pack of people like that. The thought makes my chest ache so warmly I have to scowl to mask it.
I give the stone a final wipe and rise, slinging the pack across my shoulders, and my grin settles back in place, surer now.
"Don't worry, gramps. I remember everything you taught me. No slick-talking adventurer's gonna trick me."
I recall the lessons that have been drilled into my head over years. If a man lays a hand on you, bite it. Never trust a guy, no matter how nice he seems. Anything they offer, take it and run. Kick them between the legs if they try anything funny. And finally, always disguise yourself.
I've got every one memorized.
'…Though.' My brows pull together. 'How come it's only ever girls I'm allowed to trust?'
I ponder the question for a while, and still can't figure out the reason. But gramps was right about everything else, so I figure he was right about this too, and let it go.
"See you, gramps." I say finally, and walk down through the village, out past the last fence, onto the road that runs all the way to Orario. The first step of the long way to my harem. It's going to be the best one anybody's ever had.
**********
A/N: Hello Everyone! How are you all? If you've enjoyed the chapter and book thus far, please consider leaving me some comments, reviews, or power stones. It really helps the book out.
So, this chapter was shorter than I like, but I also had to deal with a lot of stuff I wasn't comfortable with here (more as in, a lack of skill/experience than willingness). I'm not good at summaries, which was what was coming next, and there was a lot of sequencing issues.
Mainly, I needed to show what was happening with current Bell (since these events are happening at the same time), and if I did the time skip now, it's be hard to add the Bell scene.
Also, I've aged Bell up to 17. Would be problematic otherwise. So yeah... I accept deviation from the source.
Also, what do y'all think about Riven selling the Grimoire to specific Familia/People, in limited quantities. Obviously, he's not arming everyone, and it'll be quite expensive. At least a 100 million Valis for each book, and it circumvents the magic limit if he makes them demonstrating the magic a condition.
I think I'll wait till after the time skip, let him spend more time with them before doing that. And another question, which is something I'm on the fence about. Should he terrorize Loki, or should that be time-skipped🤣. I think he should, then the time skip. So unless popular demand says otherwise, that's probably what'll occur. And Bell will be appearing soon.
As for the paper tiger stuff, it's happening. It might not have been obvious here, but it'll quickly become apparent.
You can also read 10 chapters ahead and support me at [email protected]/AMV_WEAKLY
Anyway, that's all from me. Hopefully you enjoyed the chapter, and have a wonderful rest of your day/night😁