Inari Familia Premise Chapter 5

Hello friends and fans, Kairomaru is bringing you another chapter! Bell’s growth skill has affected both the Takemikazuchi Familia and now Ais as well. With two Deities now wondering just how working with Bell has increased their ‘children’s’ growth, Inari can definitely expect a visit soon. Meanwhile, as Bell continues to dungeon crawl and become more familiar with Orario, a certain annual festival begins. Monsterphilia is bringing in thousands of visitors from outside of Orario and the entire city is abuzz. But amidst the celebration, things move in the shadows, waiting to strike.

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Chapter 5 – Questions and Monsterphilia

At Fushimi Taisha, the shrine and home of the Inari Familia was bustling with more visitors than ever.

The reason?

Monsterphilia was being held today and it was one of the biggest events in all of Orario every year. People from far and wide came to Orario for the festival, ballooning the city’s population by a considerable amount for the day. That also meant that a rather substantial number of travelers from the Far East also arrived, and with the talk of Inari Ōkami having established her Familia within Orario and the new Shinto District within the ‘Center of the World’, the district, along with Fushimi Taisha, was filled with hundreds and hundreds of visitors.

Inari was sitting within the main shrine, her silver fox ears twitching slightly in excitement and happiness, and her nine beautiful silver fox tails were spread out behind her, swaying softly through the air in subdued excitement as well. Inari smiled at all of the visitors to her shrine as they bowed at the torii gate entrance, washed their hands and mouths with the purification trough just inside the gate, and then explored Fushimi Taisha, visiting the shamusho to buy charms and talismans that Inari had helped make and therefore carried a bit of her divine domains to promote prosperity and worldly success. The hundreds of visitors that came to the main shrine to gaze upon Inari herself and feel her Domain Divinity wash over them, all bowed low, prostrating themselves before the Ōkami as they prayed for her blessings in their life. All of which made Inari’s divinity swell ever further and fill the Shinto District as a whole, bolstering the prosperity and worldly success of the businesses within her domain.

“So many people…” Bell said for what had to be the tenth time this morning. The priests and Miko of the Familia were working hard to handle all of the visitors. Guiding people around the shrine, selling charms, fortunes, and talismans at the shamusho, and anything else that needed to be done.

Even the Shinto District itself, still only about two-thirds complete, was filled with visitors enjoying the shops filled with traditional Far East materials, items, and clothing. The restaurants and street stalls selling the traditional foods and festival foods of the Far East were incredibly popular not only with those from the Far East, but also the people of Orario and the visitors here for Monsterphilia. The small cherry and plum trees that Inari had purchased from Demeter Familia still had some of their pink blossoms on them as well, giving a lovely look to the festival atmosphere as they were lined up along the streets and planted in the park that had been completed not long ago.

“Bell…” Mikoto spoke up and Bell blinked as he realized that he’d been so caught up in the sight of the shrine being busy that he hadn’t noticed Mikoto approaching. She smiled beautifully at her boyfriend as her violet eyes met Bell’s rubellite gaze. “…it’s quite busy today.”

“It is…” Bell agreed, smiling at Mikoto warmly even as his eyes looked her over once. Mikoto was wearing a modified black kosode top that hugged her figure, accentuating her trim waist and her large breasts. She wore short white hakama-style pants that went down to just above her knees, leaving her lower legs uncovered and her outfit finished off by simple black shoes on her feet. “You look beautiful, Mikoto.”

Mikoto blushed adorably at the compliment. “Th-Thank you, Bell…” She smiled happily as Bell gently took her hand in his and they left Fushimi Taisha and headed out into the Shinto District and then into Orario proper, heading for East Main Street where the main part of Monsterphilia was held at the colosseum. The only thing that gave away that the couple were Adventurers was that both still had their swords with them on their hips. It was a ‘just in case’ measure given that anything could happen with so many people in the city for the festival.

“Should we get some food from one of the stalls, Mikoto?” Bell smiled as he and Mikoto took in the festive atmosphere of Orario. “Monsterphilia is where the Ganesha Familia slays Monsters in the big colosseum, right?”

“I’d like to try some things.” Mikoto agreed, her cheeks practically permanently pink at the moment. “Monsterphilia is actually about seeing the Adventurers from the Ganesha Familia tame Monsters taken from the Dungeon.”

Bell blinked at what Mikoto had just said. “Did you say…tame?”

Mikoto gave Bell an understanding look, seeing that he was confused. “I take it you haven’t heard about that before, Bell?”

“Not at all,” Bell shook his head slowly. “I didn’t know that Monsters could be tamed at all.” Every Monster that Bell had ever met had tried to kill him as soon as they spotted him.

“Taming has been recognized as a Skill.” Mikoto said, happy to explain the point behind Monsterphilia to Bell. “It depends heavily on the strength of the user, supposedly. There’s not too much information on how to obtain the Skill, however.”

Bell hummed thoughtfully at what he’d just learned. “So the Ganesha Familia makes Monsters behave with the Taming Skill?”

“Yes, it’s almost like an animal show, but with Monsters instead.” Mikoto explained as they continued walking down West main, getting close to the center of the city surrounding Babel Tower. “The greatest feat of Taming is when a Monster reaches the level of intelligence required to speak.” Mikoto continued the explanation after a moment. “Once a Monster reaches that point, it is given the designation of ‘Xenos’ and becomes a partner of the Ganesha Familia.”

“Monsters that can speak?” Bell looked shocked, never having thought such a thing was possible. “They can be taught to speak?”

“Not all of them, but several of them have been shown in the past few years at Monsterphilia.” Mikoto said with a nod. “Mock battles between the Xenos are a crowd favorite at the colosseum during Monsterphilia nowadays. Seeing tamed Monsters up close helps the citizens lose their fear of them. All of the Xenos are given clothing with the Ganesha Familia emblem on it. To attack one of them is considered an attack on the Ganesha Familia itself.”

“That’s incredible…” Bell was amazed. To think that some Adventurers had the strength to use a Skill to tame Monsters and make them into companions. ‘Is there anything the Blessing of the Gods can’t help the people of Gekai do?’ he wondered if there was any limit on the types of Skills that could manifest, briefly thinking about his own special Skill.

Mikoto smiled at Bell, seeing his rubellite eyes nearly sparkling in amazement. “There’s also a standing order for Adventurers that if they ever run into a Monster that can speak in the Dungeon, then it’s probably a lost Xenos, and they shouldn’t kill it. The Xenos can apparently become confused when separated from a Tamer for too long. But if you bring them back to the surface safely and reunite them with the Ganesha Familia, they’ll give you a reward.” Mikoto hadn’t been in Orario when said order had been put out by the Guild, but it was still relatively new when the Takemikazuchi Familia had come to Orario just over two years ago. “If you look up in the sky, you’ll sometimes see a Xenos flying between the Guild and the Ganesha Familia, but that’s usually only if there’s an emergency. The Guild has granted the Ganesha Familia’s Xenos permission to live on the surface within Orario’s territory as well. So, people are slowly getting used to the idea of Tamed Monsters being friendly.”

“Can they ever go back to being regular Monsters?” Bell questioned, wondering if the Taming Skill could wear off.

“No one has ever seen it happen.” Mikoto shook her head. “But… Well, some people worry that a Tamer with bad intentions could raise a Monster Horde on the surface and cause a lot of damage.” Bell’s eyes widened at just how bad a large group of Monsters being unleashed on Orario’s streets could be. “That’s why the Guild heavily monitors those that acquire the Taming Skill, for the safety of the city. So far, only a few members of the Ganesha Familia have acquired it and it’s been classified as a Rare Skill because of it.” Mikoto said, giving Bell the last of the information that she knew about the purpose behind Monsterphilia.

“Wow…” Bell breathed out, now knowing that the massive Monsterphilia festival was being held because of the power of a single Skill that had turned common sense on its head.

The couple stopped at a stall to enjoy some grilled meat skewers made with spices from the Kaios Desert Region. Then they’d bought some iced fruity drinks from the south, the citrus flavors were sweet and a little tart on the tongue.

“Ahh~” Bell held out his crepe to Mikoto, offering her a bite.

Mikoto’s face burned a dark red as she leaned forward to take a small bite from the treat. “It’s…very g-good, Bell…” She managed to say through her adorable flustered state. Her heart was thumping in her chest and her stomach was filled with butterflies. “U-Um…” She held up her own crepe to Bell. “A-Ahh~?”

Bell happily took a bite from Mikoto’s crepe, right where she’d taken a bite previously, sealing an indirect kiss. “It’s good!” He smiled at Mikoto, even as he was sure that he saw steam rising from the top of Mikoto’s head while she stared at him with her face a dark red color.

The couple were leaning against each other as they finished their crepes, only for a loud announcement to get their attention.

“Don’t miss the Xenos Mock Battles!” A member of Ganesha Familia stood on a small platform and hollered over the crowd. “See the pinnacle of the Ganesha Familia’s rare Taming Skill! The intelligent Monsters that we call companions! The first mock battle happens at noon!” The man handed papers with the schedule of Xenos-related events at the Amphitheatron out to everyone that was gathered around his small platform.

“Would you like to go see the Xenos at the colosseum, Mikoto?” Bell asked his girlfriend with a warm smile.

Mikoto nodded, returning his smile with her own. “I’d like that very much, Bell.”

Bell stood up and then held out his hand to help Mikoto up. Placing her hand in his, Mikoto was gently pulled to her feet and the couple head for the colosseum together, hand-in-hand.

-Amphitheatron-

“Now! For the moment you’ve all been waiting for!” The announcement came over the speakers. “The first Xenos Mock Battle of the day!” The crowd roared in excitement. “From the east gate, the Lizardman warrior himself, Lyd!”

“Yeah!” Lyd was a red-scaled Lizardman with light armor strapped to his body, a shield in one hand, and a sword in the other. He raised his sword high to the cheers of the crowd.

“And from the west gate, the Foimore powerhouse, Four!” The announcer pointed to the opposite gate where a large goat-headed humanoid Monster walked out, carrying a large metal club and wearing armor similar to Lyd’s.

“Baauuhhh!” Four bellowed out loudly, before pointing his large club at Lyd challengingly.

“Are you two ready?” The announcer looked at both of the Xenos with an excited grin.

Lyd raised his shield and readied his sword. “Let’s go!”

Four nodded, taking his large club in two hands, ready to fight. “Bah!”

“BEGIN!!!” The announcer declared, and was quickly drowned out by the roar of the crowd as the two Xenos rushed towards each other as the fight began.

Bell and Mikoto could just keep up with the fast moves made by the two Xenos during the fight. Every blow was dodged or parried with skill, Lyd making excellent use of his shield to deflect Four’s large club instead of taking the full force of the heavy blows directly.

“So fast…” Bell nearly gaped at the blurring speed of the Xenos’s combat.

Mikoto’s eyes tracked the movements as best as she could, but every strike was so swift and every parry or dodge so perfectly timed that it was hard to keep up. “They have to be close to Level 4…maybe Level 5?” It was Mikoto’s best guess, given that she’d never fought such a high level Adventurer before, and the Xenos fought more like Adventurers than Monsters.

All too quickly, the match was won by a single swift move utilizing an appendage that most simply didn’t have and therefore wouldn’t consider.

Lyd’s tail swiped one of Four’s legs out from under the Fomoire. The goat-like humanoid staggered a step, only to take a shield bash from Lyd and be knocked to the ground. The next instant and Lyd’s sword was pointed at Four’s neck.

“Shuah…” Four snorted out and yielded to Lyd.

Lyd chuckled to his friend. “Good match.”

“And we have our winner!” The announcer called out into his mic. “Give it up for Lyd!” The crowd burst into applause and cheers for the Lizardman.

Lyd helped Four up and the two walked off to the south gate together, both waving to the people as they left the field to make room for the next Xenos participants.

-Later-

Bell could honestly say that he was amazed at what he’d seen from Monsterphilia and the Xenos, so far. The battle following Lyd and Four’s had been an aerial battle between a Gargoyle, named Gros, and a Siren, named Ray. The two Xenos had displayed impressive speed and aerial maneuvers as they fought in the air without ever once touching the ground.

The main event after the battles had been Ray’s singing, which had also been superb. The Siren Xenos’s voice was melodic in an almost hypnotic way, making everyone relax and enjoy the songs she sang for them. The large applause that Ray had received had made the Siren blush and cover the lower half of her face with one of her feathered wings.

“It’s been a lovely day.” Mikoto said softly as she and Bell walked down a street together. She was happier than she could remember right now as she leaned into Bell, their fingers entwined.

“It’s made all the better because we got to share it together.” Bell agreed, smiling lovingly at Mikoto and making her cheeks heat up again.

The two leaned in, their eyes closing as their lips met in a soft kiss. Mikoto pressed herself flush against Bell’s chest. Bell wrapped his arms around Mikoto’s waist, keeping her close as their lips gently moved against each other. When the two pulled back from each other, they smiled as Bell’s rubellite eyes met Mikoto’s beautiful violet eyes.

“It feels like the ground shook a little.” Mikoto said softly, her cheeks pink.

“Yeah it does.” Bell agreed warmly.

Then it became obvious that the ground actually was shaking.

“Huh?” Bell and Mikoto blinked and looked down at the ground.

Crack

BOOM

Dust was thrown into the air as the street cracked. A long sinuous body moved around as people yelled in panic and fear. The green skin looked scaly, like a snake, but the ‘head’ was weird, with no visible mouth, eyes, or features of any kind.

“A Monster?!” Bell yelled in surprise at the sudden appearance.

“Is that another new species?!” Tiona questioned loudly from a rooftop above the street, making Bell turn his head to look up towards the Amazon.

“But the other new species were all the way down on the Fiftieth Floor!” Lefiya, a cute Elf that was a Level 3 of the Loki Familia and known throughout Orario by her Title of ‘Thousand Elf’, exclaimed.

“Ais, use your speed and get the civilians away from that thing!” Tione started giving out orders, having some training in leadership thanks to Finn making her a leader of small squads from time-to-time.

“Yes.” Ais nearly vanished as she blurred towards the people closest to the strange Monster. She grabbed the two people that were within the snake-like beast’s range and dashed away with them quickly.

“Lefiya, look for an opening and start casting!” Tione instructed the Mage.

“Y-Yes!” Lefiya agreed quickly.

Mikoto looked up at the four from Loki Familia as they immediately jumped into the fray against the strange-looking Monster. “Loki Familia?”

“Gaaaahhh!” A Cat Man cried out as the ‘head’ of the Monster rushed towards him.

Tiona and Tione launched themselves off the nearby roof so hard that some of the tiles cracked. Both of the Amazons’ eyes almost seemed to glow as they blurred towards the Monster; such was the intensity of their focus. As they blurred towards the strange new species, Tiona cocked back her left fist, while Tione cocked back her right.

Wham

The ‘head’ of the Monster shattered the street as the twin punches knocked it down. The Cat Man was grabbed by the swift form of Ais and removed from the area a second later.

“Nnnngh.” Tione hissed, raising her right arm above her head, gripping it with her left as her hand throbbed with pain.

Tiona was hopping in place, cradling her hand which was noticeably bruised. “It’s so hard?!”

“Punches aren’t going to get us anywhere!” Tione took up a stance anyway. “This thing is made to withstand blunt force!”

“Gahh! Why didn’t we bring weapons?!” Tiona questioned, only to remember that they’d been having a nice day at Monsterphilia before this; so weapons shouldn’t have been needed.

“Unleashed pillar of light, limbs of the holy tree. You are the master archer. Loose your arrows, fairy archers. Pierce, arrow of accuracy.” Lefiya was nearly finished with her chant and the Monster hadn’t noticed her yet. She could take it out before it caused any further damage!

The Monster’s head snapped around and locked directly onto Lefiya.

Crack

The ground next to Lefiya’s feet broke and a green tentacle, or limb, perhaps a tail, slammed into the Elf’s side with a snapping sound. The limb shot up high into the air, sending Lefiya flying into an abandoned stall, collapsing the canvas and wood.

“That thing had a tail?!” Tione nearly cracked a tooth in anger at not having considered that before, trying to get to Lefiya’s side.

Tiona rushed towards their injured friend. “Lefiya!”

The ‘head’ of the weird Monster shuddered, nearly vibrating, for a second before it split and then burst open to reveal a flower with jaws similar to a humans. “ROOOOAAARRRR!!!” The weird Flower Monster roared, briefly revealing that its Magic Stone was attached to the roof of its mouth, as more vine-like limbs burst through the road and swung around.

“It…bloomed?” Tione looked confused by this new species now that it had revealed its true form.

“It’s not a snake…it’s a flower?!” Tiona exclaimed, dodging the rapidly flailing vines that were rising from the ground.

The flower Monster disregarded the Amazon sisters, turning its attention to the downed Lefiya. It slithered towards her, mouth opening, clearly intending to eat the Elf.

“Lefiya! Get up!” Tione called out a warning, trying to force her way through the wriggling vines.

“These damn things are in the way!” Tiona punched one of the vines, but even as it was knocked aside, she could tell that it hadn’t really been damaged.

Lefiya seemed to come to, trying to sit up proved to be the wrong move, however. “AAAAHHHH!!!” She cried out in agony, her hand going towards her injured side, clearly something was very wrong to make a Level 3 be nearly unable to move.

But even through the pain, Lefiya tried to get away from the Monster. As it came closer, even as the Elf continued to cry out from the searing pain of her injury, she never stopped trying to get away from it.

The Flower Monster’s head went flying through the air. A clean slice had separated the head from the long, sinuous body in a single strike. Lefiya felt a tear fall from her eye in shame at having to be saved by Ais, again.

‘Made it.’ Ais let out a breath that she didn’t know she was holding. ‘Pushed a little too hard though.’ She felt her body twinge in pain from blasting all the way back to the battlefield in one burst of Airel. “Lefiya?” She turned to check on her friend.

As if reacting to her presence, three more Flower Monsters burst from the ground, shrieking at Ais. Revealing that the other vines belonged to them and not the first Monster.

“There’s more?!” Bell’s hand shot to the hilt of his sword.

Mikoto took hold of her sword as well, ready to jump in to help the Loki Familia against the Monsters. “Let’s fight, Bell!”

Crack

Bell and Mikoto’s eyes widened as they heard the sound. In a fraction of a second, the two looked down and to the side, seeing the paved street cracking and bulging upwards. Bell let go of his sword and his foot left a small crack on the stone street as he activated his new Skill outside of practice for the first time.

“Eh?” Mikoto felt Bell’s arms around her just as the street exploded upwards, but then the world blurred.

“I’ve got you, Mikoto!” Bell said to his girlfriend as the world stopped blurring. The two were now at the other end of the street as another of the odd Flower Monsters rose up from the ground.

“RAAAHHH!!!” The Flower Monster roared at Bell and Mikoto, the two being the closest prey to it as it had emerged from below when it’s kin had done so. The difference in their location under the street had resulted in the new Flower Monster emerging on the next street over from the others, though.

Bell and Mikoto both took hold of their swords again as they unsheathed their weapons and stood side by side. The Flower Monster slithered straight at them with incredible speed.

Bell activated Shukuchi again, blurring forward as he slashed at the Slower Monster. His blade cute through the scales, but only shallowly as the Flower Monster had managed to partially dodge the strike, displaying the vast difference in their Levels.

“RAAHH!!!” The Flower Monster’s sinuous body slithered around, changing direction as it rushed at Bell’s back.

“Hyah!” Mikoto’s blade cut the tail of the Flower Monster, sending blood flying, but not deterring he Flower Monster’s charge.

Bell blurred with another use of his Skill, right before the Flower Monster’s jaws snapped through the air where he’d just been. “Foxfire!” Bell cast his spell and the blade of his sword was wreathed in spectral blue-white flames.

“REEEAAAHHH!!!” The Flower Monster’s shriek was even louder as it seemingly went crazy as soon as Bell cast his spell. With jaws wide open, the Flower Monster lunged at Bell to devour him in a single bite.

“YAH!!!” Bell pivoted to the die, getting out of the path of the lunge, and brought his blazing sword down on the strange Monster. The speed of the scaly skin ground against the blade, but a length of scales were burned and cut off, scattered across the street.

The Flower Monster didn’t even seem to care about its injuries as it twisted around to lock onto Bell again.

Mikoto took the Flower Monster’s complete focus on Bell as the advantage it was, coming in from the side to cute a line across the green scales. “It’s so tough!” She grimaced at the dense body of the strange Monster. Her blade had only made a shallow cut through the green scales of the Flower Monster.

The Flower Monster lunged at Bell again with a screeched. Bell blurred with another use of Shukuchi and dodge the snapping jaws of the Monster, appearing at its side with a downward slice with his flaming blade, cutting a deeper laceration into its flesh which burned with white-blue spectral fire. The long snake-like body thrashed and Bell barely managed to leap aside to lessen the blow as he was struck and knocked through the window of one of the building in a shower of glass.

“Ack!” Bell hacked out, the force of the blow felt like it had rattled every bone in his body.

“I respectfully speak to you, my War God that can break through anything…” Mikoto began to chant and focus her Mind into her spell. She was hoping that her own magic would attract the Flower Monster just like Bell’s had.

“REEAAHHH!!!” The Flower Monster’s head whipped around as Mikoto’s magic power rose. It shot towards her at speed, jaws wide open to devour her.

Mikoto threw herself to the side, letting the Flower Monster pass through the space she’d just been standing. “…lead me from the precious heaven. Give my petty body divine power of your grand body.” She continued her chant, even as she moved, demonstrating her ability with concurrent casting, an advanced casting technique where one can still move, even while chanting and casting magic, which usually requires absolute focus to avoid an Ignis Fatuus. “Rescue them light of purification, sword of crushing evil. Sweep sword of suppression, sacred sword of conquest.”

The Flower Monster lashed its long body at Mikoto, looking to strike her and pin her down.

Boom

A spectral blue-white fireball exploded against the back of the Flower Monster’s head, engulfing the flower in the flames.

“REEEAAAHHH!!!” The Flower Monster thrashed around, slamming its head into the nearby building, crashing through walls and windows, trying to put out the foxfire.

“Hyah!” Bell blurred forward with another use of Shukuchi. With a fast swing of his sword, Bell sliced another deep laceration through the tough scales of the Flower Monster. The spectral flames of Bell’s foxfire continued to cling to the thrashing Monster, burning it more and more.

Mikoto put all of her stats to use as she leapt up to a balcony and then onto one of the rooftops. “It arrives here now by my order. Descend from heaven, rule the earth - shinbu tousei.” Mikoto held her hand out, palm facing the burning Flower Monster. “Futsunomitama!”

A pink-purple glow appeared above the Flower Monster before an equally pink-purple, giant, glowing blade descended and stabbed through the Monster pinning it in place. The instant that the tip pierce through the snake-like Monster and touched the ground, a large magic circle appeared and spread out to fully surround the trapped beast. A second later and the Flower Monster was flattened onto the street, the very air within the magic circle vibrating with the intensity of the gravity.

“ReEeEaAaHhH!” The Flower Monster’s shriek was warbled as it was forced into the ground by Mikoto’s spell.

Bell conjured as much foxfire as he could and unleashed it on the trapped Monster, though the heavy gravity of Mikoto’s spell interfered slightly, preventing Bell’s spectral fire from completely engulfing the Flower Monster. “Nnnngh! More!” His foxfire exploded forth. “More!” The spectral flames began to roar as Bell tried to burn the trapped Monster to death.

“Bell…” Mikoto called out as she held her spell, feeling the strength of the Monster as it fought against her magic. “…it’s strong. I’m not sure, I can hold it…” The Flower Monster’s long body was indeed moving, slowly straightening out even as it screeched in pain from being crushed and burned.

“Damn it!” Bell cursed, seeing the burning Flower Monster still struggling, even as his foxfire clung to its body, continuing to burn it.

It happened in an instant.

The Flower Monster’s tail managed to reach the edge of Mikoto’s spell and breach the gravity cage. With blurring speed, the tail lashed through the building the Mikoto was standing on.

Mikoto staggered as the building shook and part of the roof crumbled, upsetting her footing until she fell. “No!” She nearly snarled as she kept her spell up, taking her sword in one hand, she dove straight into her own spell, using the incredibly amplified gravity to shoot straight down, sword first, into the Flower Monster’s head.

“RAAAAHHHH!!!” The Flower Monster roared as Mikoto’s spell faded, but it now had a sword pierced through its head. With a wide sweep of its burning body, it slammed Mikoto into the wall of one of the buildings and then dragged her along it before tossing her off entirely.

“GAH!” Mikoto hacked out in pain as she fell through the air and crashed through an awning, rolling along the ground as multiple cuts opened up across her body, blood running down her face and staining her white hakama-like pants.

“MIKOTO!!!” Bell moved faster than he’d ever moved in his life, pushing his body ever harder with Shukuchi. His burning blade passed through the Flower Monster’s tail, removing it entirely, before he stopped at Mikoto’s side. He was too focused on Mikoto to realize that his steps had left small indents in the paved street.

Mikoto opened her right eye, her left closed as blood ran down her face from a cut along her forehead. “I’m…alright.” She said, even though both could tell it was a lie. “We need…to fight…” She struggled to stand, even with Bell’s help.

“Mikoto…you’ve got broken bones.” Bell said, seeing how she favored her right side and the way her left arm was hanging limply.

The Flower Monster slammed the stump of its tail into the street over and over again, trying to put out the foxfire that was still burning. Every place that Bell’s spectral flames had touched was still burning, blackening the green scales and burning the exposed flesh of the lacerations. “REEEAAAHHH!!!”

Bell’s rubellite eyes snapped to the flailing Monster, righteous anger burned within as he readied his sword again. “I’ll finish this.”

Mikoto’s hand on Bell’s chest made him wince. “You have broken bones too, Bell…” She said as she breathed heavily. “We’ll finish it together.” She gave him a smile, despite the pain she was in. “Can you make…an opening for me?”

“Yes.” Bell agreed, already seeing in Mikoto’s violet eye that she wouldn’t back down from this fight. He readied his sword, focusing all of his foxfire onto the blade and then pouring as much Mind as possible into his spell on top of that. With another burst of Shukuchi, Bell nearly vanished from sight, ignoring the audible crack from his legs.

“REEAAAHHH!!!” The Flower Monster lunged at the most powerful Magic it could sense. The ‘fangs’ on the edge of its venus flytrap like mouth managed to tear off part of Bell’s shirt and cut lines into his flesh.

But Bell’s speed made him too fast for the Flower Monster to fully snap its jaws on his arm. “HYAH!!!” Bell roared as he managed to angle his body away from the snapping jaws and bring his fiercely burning blade straight through the green scales along the Monster’s body. The blade cut at a shallow angle through the lunging body and Bell felt something in his arm tear from the force.

Snap

Bell felt his sword break. His rubellite eyes saw the upper half of his sword, the metal glowing slightly with heat, flying off to the side. But in that instant, as if time seemed to have slowed down, Bell felt an understanding…as if something had just ‘clicked’ in his mind. He changed the angle of his broken blade and moved his injured arm and good arm in sync. Without having the reach to cut through the thick body of the Monster, the flesh still split and the upper half of the Flower Monster sailed through the air along the length of the street.

Bell managed to twist his body, even as he fell, to watch as Mikoto leapt towards the bisected Monster’s head.

“YAH!” Mikoto let out a war cry as she forced her injured body to move, jumping as strongly as she could as the burning, bisected Flower Monster careened through the air. Her leap allowed her to reach the Monster’s head, and she instantly used her good arm to grab hold of her sword. As the Flower Monster’s upper half crashed into the street, jarring its body upward, Mikoto put all of her strength into shoving her already impaled sword downward into the flower-like head. The snap she heard from her body was ignored as she felt her blade touch something solid within the flesh of the burning Monster. “TAH!” Mikoto twisted her sword and the solid object the blade was touching gave way even as the blade cracked and left Her only holding the handle atop the still Monster.

With a muffled bang, the remains of the Flower Monster exploded into black ashes as its Magic Stone had been destroyed.

Mikoto collapsed to the ground with a pained groan.

Bell forced himself forward, his broken sword held limply in his ‘better’ arm, given both were throbbing with pain. Once he was next to Mikoto, he knelt down and gently helped her to sit up. “Are you…okay?” He asked, even if it was a dumb question.

“I’m fine…” Mikoto lied as she looked up at Bell with love in her single open eye.

Neither could help it as they smiled softly at each other.

“You’re beautiful.” Bell said warmly.

Mikoto managed a little giggle. “I know I’m a mess…”

“Bell?!” Tione’s voice rang out from the end of the street the fight had taken place on. The Amazon was rushing towards Bell and Mikoto instantly. “POTIONS!!! NOW!!!” She roared back towards the direction she’d come from.

“Bell?” Tiona nearly skidded around the corner after hearing Tione’s frantic yell. She raced towards Bell in the next instant. “Bell! Did you two fight one of those things?!”

Behind Tiona came five members of Ganesha Familia, three armed and armored, ready to fight, but the other two, while armored, held bags filled with various potions.

As Bell and Mikoto were looked over by the two Ganesha Familia members and given potions for their multitude of injuries, Tione and Tiona examined the long pile of black ashes that had been a strange Flower Monster before its death.

“They really took one of those things down.” Tiona said with some awe in her voice. “But these Flower things are easily Level 3…” She looked at Tione in surprise.

Tione knelt down and moved the black ashes aside, finding small pieces of the oddly-colored Magic Stone that these strange, colorful Monsters possessed. The fragments became dust at the slightest touch, but Tione expected that. “They shattered it Magic Stone…” Looking around the damaged buildings and the bloodstains on multiple spots of the street, it was clear that Bell and Mikoto had nearly died fighting the strange Monster. “Both of them are Level 1…” Tione said, nothing but respect in her voice for Mikoto and Bell. “We saw how well Bell managed against the Minotaur before…but even together…those two shouldn’t have been able to take down one of these things.”

Tiona hummed for a moment. “But since they did, it’s fine, right?” She smiled brightly, like sunshine. “I’m gonna go congratulate them!” She nearly skipped over to Bell and Mikoto.

“Wait, idiot Tiona!” Tione chased after her sister, not wanting bell and Mikoto’s healing to be interrupted.

The two saw Ais, Loki, and several member of the Guild entering the damaged street. The Guild members made their way over to Bell and Mikoto, seeing that both Adventurers looked much better after some High Potions. Loki’s red eyes were visible as she looked around the area, then focused on Mikoto and Bell, before looking at Lefiya, Ais, Tiona, and then Tione.

“Something’s going on.” Loki said simply, but it was clear that she was trying to put the pieces of this incident together. “Monsters this strong appear on the surface without warning, Lefiya gets injured, the four of you take out four of them, but there’s a fifth that appears close by and is taken down by two Level 1’s…” The fact that it was Inari’s bunny only made Loki more curious, given what she knew of Bell from Ais, Tione, and Tiona. “Curious, and curiouser…” The Trickster Goddess murmured to herself. A small thought that perhaps someone…unsavory…had found out about Inari’s little bunny’s odd ability to boost growth in others passed through Loki’s mind. “Looks like I’ll need to have that meeting with Foxy sooner, rather than later.”

Ais’s golden gaze had barely left Bell the entire time. “Bell…” She saw the state of Bell, but the potions had clearly helped, which eased her mind (and made her heart feel like it wasn’t suddenly constricted) and she smiled when their eyes met. “Good work…”

Bell returned her smile and nodded without saying a word.

Tiona stopped at Bell’s side and knelt next to him. “You’re amazing…Bell.” She smiled warmly at Bell and then looked down at Mikoto. “You too! Both of you managed to take down one of those weird Flower Monsters! They’re at least Level 3!”

That got Mikoto and Bell’s eyes to widen, neither of them having realized just how strong the strange Monster they’d fought had been. However, their desperate struggle and the loss of their weapons, plus the severity of their injuries, made a lot of sense now.

The Guild members, after getting the ‘all clear’ from the two Ganesha Familia members, began to question Bell and Mikoto about the incident they’d been apart of, needing to know just what they’d seen today.

-Fushimi Taisha ~ Evening-

Inari smiled as she gently ran her fingers through Bell’s hair as he slept. She looked at the Status Update paper again, still astounded by what she saw.

-Status-

Bell Cranel

Level 1 (2)

Strength – C 679 > SS 1,018

Endurance – C 662 > SS 1,000

Dexterity – B 718 > SS 1,077

Agility – C 677 > SS 1,016

Magic – C 670 > SS 1,010

-Magic-

Foxfire – Special Fire Magic – Swift Strike Magic/Enchantment

-Skills-

Han'ei no Yokubō (Prosperity Desire) – Fast growth. Greater desire results in faster growth. Greater effort results in larger growth. As a side-effect, those who work with the user experience faster growth in proportion to their efforts.

Shukuchi (Reduced Earth) – High-speed movement that makes the user appear to blur or vanish to the eyes of others. Effect rises based on the Agility stat. Active Trigger.

-Status-

“You’re truly one of a kind, Bell.” Inari whispered softly as she looked at Bell’s sleeping face. After what had started out as a great day, turning into a fight for his and Mikoto’s lives, and then the long questioning by the Guild. It was no wonder that her Bell was exhausted, especially after walking Mikoto back home first, before he made his own way home. The impossible growth that had even broken the limit of the Falna had been the final straw for Bell for the day and he’d nearly collapsed. “Just rest, Bell. We’ll go over everything together once you’ve got your strength back.”

A light knock on the door to Inari’s bedroom got the Goddess’s attention.

“Inari-sama, Takemikazuchi-sama has arrived and is asking to speak with you.” One of the male retainers spoke softly through the shoji door.

“Také?” Inari hadn’t been expecting her friend to visit tonight. “Please tell him that I’ll be there shortly.”

“Yes, Inari-sama.” The man said and his steps faded away a moment later as he went to fulfill his Goddess’s orders.

Inari gave Bell’s sleeping form a soft, loving smile before leaning down to gently kiss his forehead. “I’ll be back, Bell.” She stood up and left her room quietly before heading to the sitting room for the unexpected meeting with Takemikazuchi.

“Inari-sama.” Takemikazuchi bowed formally from his sitting position a soon as Inari slid the door open. It instantly set the tone for this meeting as formal, rather than personal. “I have a question and something I wish to discuss with you. Please, grant my request, Ōkami-sama.”

“Very well, Takemikazuchi-no-o no Kami.” Inari used Takemikazuchi’s full name as she took her seat on the cushion on the opposite side of the low table. “What do you wish to speak with me about?”

Takemikazuchi sat properly on his own cushion before pulling out a folded up piece of paper from within his white kosode top. “This…is my ‘child’ Mikoto’s newest Status Update.” He unfolded the paper and placed in on the low table before turning it around so that Inari could read it.

-Status-

Yamato Mikoto

Level 1 (2)

Strength – B 740 > S 962

Endurance – B 724 > S 941

Dexterity – A 813 > S 999

Agility – B 765 > S 995

Magic – D 570 > B 741

-Magic-

Futsunomitama – Gravity Magic – Incantation: “I respectfully speak to you, my War God that can break through anything, lead me from the precious heaven. Give my petty body divine power of your grand body. Rescue them light of purification, sword of crushing evil. Sweep sword of suppression, sacred sword of conquest. It arrives here now by my order. Descend from heaven, rule the earth - shinbu tousei.” Magic that crushes a set area with heavy gravity. Area of effect is determined by the amount of Mind used, intensity is determined by the Magic stat.

-Skills-

Yatanokurogarasu (Three-Legged Black Crow) – Enables the user to search for enemies within a set effect range, including hidden enemies. Only works on Monsters. Active Trigger.

Yatanoshirogarasu (Three-Legged White Crow) – Enables the user to search for other Familia members within a set effect range. Only works on those with the same Falna as the user. Active Trigger.

-Status-

Inari saw the large increase –and even the maxing out of Mikoto’s Dexterity stat—along with fact that Mikoto had achieved a Grand Feat and was able to Level Up now. “Mikoto-chan did something most would deem impossible today, it’s understandable that she would have a large amount of growth from such a Grand Feat. What exactly are you trying to ask me, Takemikazuchi?”

Takemikazuchi looked Inari in the eye, even if it was technically something he shouldn’t do given that Inari was above him within the hierarchy of their Pantheon. “Inari-sama, all of my ‘children’ have experienced remarkable growth from training with Bell, and this time around, Mikoto has grown more than I’ve ever seen before in a single update.” He bowed low from his sitting position as he asked his question. “Does this large boost in my ‘children’s’ growth have something to do with Bell?”

“Yes, Také, it does.” Inari, as the higher Kami, changed the tone of the meeting from formal to personal. “Bell has a unique Skill born from his pure hearted desire to grow and become a true Hero, along with his desire for a family of his own. It just so happens to also be rather similar to my Domains of Worldly Success and Prosperity.” She gave her friend a soft smile. “My Bell takes after me quite a bit.”

“I see.” Takemikazuchi let out a relieved sigh, his shoulders slumping a little as the tension drained from them. “It seems that the ‘child’ of an Ōkami is just as impressive as their Kami.” He chuckled a bit and Inari smiled at the flattery. “I was worried that my inquiry might sour our relationship.”

Inari waved off Takemikazuchi’s worries. “You and I have always gotten along, Také. You also took me in when I arrived in Orario by my own mistake, despite the burden it placed on you. Your concern for your ‘children’ is more than reasonable and only speaks to your good character.”

Takemikazuchi smiled and shook his head once. “You flatter me, Inari.”

There was a light knock on the shoji door, interrupting the two Kami from their discussion.

“Inari-sama,” A female retainer spoke through the door. “Loki-sama has arrived at the shrine and is requesting to speak with you.”

Inari was completely confused now. “Loki wants to speak with me?”

“The incident today did involve her Familia; perhaps it’s about that?” Takemikazuchi suggested as he took a thinking pose. “Should I leave, Inari?”

“Stay, I’ll see what Loki wants to speak about first.” Inari bid Takemikazuchi to remain as she stood up. “Bring Takemikazuchi tea and an evening snack.” Inari instructed the female retainer with a gentle smile.

The woman bowed to her Goddess with a smile of her own. “Yes, Inari-sama.”

Once Inari stepped outside, she immediately spotted Loki looking at all of the wooden plaques on the Ema board from how busy the shrine was today. “Loki, what brings you to my home this evening?”

“Yo, Foxy!” Loki greeted with a wide grin. “Got a question for ya, if you have some time!” The easy-going tone and grin didn’t fool Inari in the slightest.

“Would this be about today’s incident?” Inari questioned the Norse Goddess.

Loki’s eyes opened a bit, revealing her red irises. “That too.” Her eyes looked towards the home behind Inari. “Plus a bit of curiosity on behalf of one of my favorite kiddos.”

Inari’s silver fox ears appeared atop her head and her nine silver foxtails spread out behind her. “You wouldn’t be trying to interfere with my Familia, would you, Loki of the Aesir?” The barely restrained Divinity that made the air around Inari buzz showed just how serious the Ōkami was about Loki’s answer.

“No, no…why would I do that?” Loki waved off Inari’s suspicion with a chuckle. “I’m just wanting to let you know what I know, about today’s incident.” Her grin became a smile. “What I want to know for my kiddo will determine how much our Familias will be allowed to interact from now on, you see? I’m just looking out for my Ais-tan~”

“Hah…” Inari side as her tails and ears disappeared. “You are so frustrating sometimes.” Loki’s bright smile at her words made Inari nearly deadpan. “That wasn’t a compliment.”

Loki laughed as Inari motioned for her to follow. “Can’t blame me, Foxy-tan! I’m a Trickster Goddess!”

Inari looked over her shoulder with a fox-like grin. “I can and will.”

“Hey!” Loki was always competitive, and Inari’s little retorts with her fox-like features often made her wonder if the Fox Goddess of many Domains wasn’t a trickster too.

It would be a three-way meeting between Loki, Inari, and Takemikazuchi. A meeting that would go on much longer than either of the two Kami expected with what Loki was willing to share with them; after getting her own question answered about Ais’s unexpected growth during her ‘Dungeon Date’ with Bell. Though Inari merely said it was a Skill that somewhat mimicked her own Domain of Worldly Success, in order to protect Bell and keep the secrets of her Familia.

By the time the meeting was over, all three Deities had new information and things to think about.

-End Chapter-

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Cute date to Monsterphilia for Bell and Mikoto! Aww~

But then things took one hell of a turn!

Bell and Mikoto manage to take down one of the strange ‘new species’ Monsters! Even if it did nearly kill them both!

But the boost from Bell’s Skill has pushed him beyond the limits of the Falna from accomplishing such a Grand Feat!

Mikoto’s boost was equally as impressive as she maxed out her Dexterity stat and almost maxed out Agility too!

Two Level 1’s versus a Level 3 Monster and winning is most definitely Grand Feat worthy! Bell and Mikoto are able to Level Up!

Bell just completely SHATTERED the old record for fastest Level Up!

But now Loki has brought some new information to Inari, in exchange for a question of her own. Just what will the meeting between Takemikazuchi, Inari, and Loki mean for the future?

Keep reading to find out!

Let me know what you thought!

Until next time, later!