Chapter 18: Ais and Bell

Morning came, day change. I wake up on my bed as usual while thinking that yesterday was really tiring, I have to talk about formal stuff with people. Still, act tough and spending time with your loved ones are satisfying. 'Should I sneak to the dungeon to fight? I don't know if the city of Babylon even exists in this world, but if I search for Kriemhild and Brynhildr, It has to be the city of Babylon. Siegfried supposes to be a hero that slain a dragon, but the City of hero should have a powerful Hero.'. I think for a while but quickly remove that thought when I see Aphrodite sleeping peacefully beside me.

I get up without waking her up and leaving her alone in the room since the other already wake up and doing morning exercises at the backyard. I go to the bathroom to clean up and go to the dining room to eat breakfast. Not long, someone from Hephaestus Familia enters and tells me that I'm needed at Estas's office which she moves to my mansion.

I go to Estas's office to see what happen. There stood 3 figures, Ais, Tione and Tiona. "So, what happens here Estas?" I asking a question to Estas while Estas shakes her head " Nothing happens here, just these three standing outside the mansion looking for you."

I look at the three Ais seems normal with no expression on her face, Tiona also normal with her cheerful face, while Tione making a troubled face. "So what do you three come here for? Let's see start from~ Ais.". I said to three of them. Ais look at me and said, "I want to become stronger." while keeping straight face.

"Ok, next Tiona" I said to them, "I want you Argonaut-kun" she said to me. "Argonaut? Don't you know my name? or you don't know?" I ask her. She just smiled at me "No, I don't know your name so I will call you Argonaut-kun". Tione adds after Tiona "I'm sorry she always adds a nickname to people". "It's fine and why are you here Tione." I said to her asking the same question. "I want to ask for you to battle Captain."

"Pfftt... *cough*" I spit my coffee that was given by Estas's Familia. "What do you say? fight Finn? Why?". Tione makes a complicated face "I.... I... I just want to know which one of you is stronger. That's it.".

"Tione, I already tell you that Argonaut-kun is stronger don't I. Why are you here anyway to ask him to battle Captain." Tiona said to Tione. "Tiona, my name is not Argonaut-kun, you can call me Alan if you want. I'm Alan Siegfried, captain of Aphrodite Familia. If I'm not wrong Argonaut is a team of a hero right?" I said to Tiona, which Tiona answer "Yes, Argonaut is a story about a hero. You said that you're a true hero."

"Hmmm..... I think it's not Argonaut then, for me it should be Nibelungen if you want to call me base on hero story. How is it?" I said to her. She seems to confuse "Nibelungen?? It's hard to pronounce I will just call you Alan then." she comes and hugs me. "So, Alan-kun can I be with you?" Tiona ask me.

"Nope, you can't. The only one that can be with me is my wives. which is now in my Familia. So the answer is 'No'" I said to her. Tiona now changes into thinking face "I want to but I also don't want to leave my sister alone. Tione, do you want to change Familia with me?"

Tione hearing this grit her teeth "I still waiting for Captain. I can't change Familia unless he beat Captain." I really troubled and look at Hephaestus for help. She just shakes her head to me. "Hah~ Before I talk to you girls. I know more about you girls than what you think I know about you. Which means I know something that sometimes only you know." I said to them

"Not only you, twin sisters. Also you, Ais. Mind if I talk?" I said to them while taking a seat on the sofa opposite them but Tiona keeps hugging my arm. They nod at me to continue my talk. "Okay first you Tiona, I know you like a hero but you should think about the one that you want to marry. Also you Tione, I don't know what your trainer gives you information about Finn, but you should find your own love rather than continue to pursue someone that your trainer love. Both of you are amazoness but lack the conviction to be with me. Will you abandon your tribe to be with me? Of course, you can't. The same with you Ais, Why you want to become strong? The reason for you to become strong is because of your past. You lose your cool when people provoke you. Do you want to try?" I taunt Ais to show her weaknesses.

Ais nods at me. "Let's go to the training ground," I said to Ais. We go to the training ground where the other training while Tiona and Tione still think about what I say. "New sisters?" Lena said and I give her a chop on the head "Even if I brought someone doesn't mean they're new sisters. Anyway, where's Ryuu, Lunoire, Anya, and Chloe?" I ask Lena which she answers they already done their practice and Lunoire is sleeping again while the other is cleaning the mansion.

After a short conversation with Lena. I give Ais a wooden sword "Okay Ais, try to attack me while I will also taunt you." I said to her and Ais quickly when dashing at me "So, is this your only strength? you will disappoint Aria if this keeps going on" I whisper when I dodge Ais's strike. Ais hearing what I said stuck not moving while look at me with a quick rotation "How do you know that name?". "As I said, I know more about you than you think I know, Just like before, How do I know that Tione's trainer is in love with Finn. You lose your mother when you're 1 year old, it's supposed to be 15 years ago. You're entrusted to Loki by your mother when your mother helps your father fighting One-eye black dragon. Am I right so far?" I ask her about her past.

She's trembling hearing what I say. I continue telling her "The reason for you to get stronger is because of your past, that's why you lose the reason to get stronger." "Lena!! call Ryuu here!" I said to Lena. not long after that Ryuu coming to the training ground. "Now, Ais, why do you think I call Ryuu here?" Ais stop trembling and look at Ryuu and shake her head. "Because you and Ryuu are the same. You girls lost your reason to get stronger." Ryuu which at first confuse, realize what happen and look at me.

"Do you want me to point it out what makes you the same? Ais, The reason for you to get stronger before this is revenge. Revenge because One-eye black dragon took your parents away, while Ryuu revenge because someone took her familia member. Both of you listen to me. The past is already past you can use the past as fuel to get you stronger but don't make it your purpose to get stronger. If you make it your purpose then it's the same as letting the past shape you. Shape who you really are. Ask yourself what do you really want to live for. That's it for the lesson. Think about it if you want to get stronger. For both of also find your purpose of living." I said back to the mansion 'YES!! ANOTHER ACT OF TOUGH!! I'm getting better and better aren't I. Let's just rest for the whole day. I never have a full day with Aphrodite before. I guess I owe her one.'

I back to my room watching Aphrodite sleeping "Wake up ditey honey. You still haven't eat yet aren't you." Ditey half-awake and look at me "Hmm? Alan, you still here? why don't you go to the city and don't disturb my sleep? I'm tired after going all day yesterday." and back to sleep.

'This Goddess!!!' I wryly smile with a tick mark on my head and contain my anger. I walk around the city while cursing Ditey but suddenly stop because it's a waste of time being angry with that wife of mine.

I walk to the plaza and see Bell is with Lili talking. 'Hmm? this might be fun' I equip my armor and also my weapon. "Yow Kouhai, what are you doing here? Want to go to the dungeon?". "Ah Alan-senpai, Sorry about leaving you when I'm at the Inn with you the other day, I'm sorry, sorry that you have to pay for my meal," Bell said while bowing 90 degrees at me. "What did I say to you Kouhai-san, You said sorry too much for a person. Have some confidence in yourself. Hmm? you got yourself a supporter, Kouhai. Want to join inside the dungeon with me Kouhai? Also you Supporter-san"

Bell's eye glimmer "Yes, please Alan-senpai. How about you Lili." Lili looking at me while gritting her teeth but then smile "Sure, as long as Bell-sama want to.". I nod at her "Good since you guys join me, I will lead the party. Let's go."

"We get inside the dungeon now, Bell will be the one fighting while Lili will support him with your arm-bow and your magic weapon," I said while looking at them but Lili stiffens at what I said since she never shows her magic weapon. "Yes!!." Bell said while dashing forward. "Relax Lili, I ask Bell to be the one fighting since I want to talk to you. You will know that Bell is a weird person. Just don't try to steal from him and betray his trust in you. If you need money, Let's get it today inside the dungeon." I said with a strange light on my eye that makes her shiver. "Okay, let's go deeper Bell. This floor has nothing. We will go to the 16th floor. HAHAHAHA!!!! I will cover you if something happens." "Are you crazy?? We're only level 1 adventurer!!" Lili said angrily at me.

"Hooo~ would you rather I said your identity then? Liliruca Arde member of Soma Familia, finding money by stealing them from adventurer to get out of his Familia. aren't I right?" I speak in a low voice to let only Lili hears it. Lili's face once more darkens and becomes stiff hearing what I said to her.

"What do you want from me? If you know who I'm you wouldn't let me come here with you." Lili said after quick thinking. "Hahaha.. nice thinking. What I need from you is to always be by his side and never betray him. For the money, we will find it together today and this is the front payment." I give her 1 million valis. She's looking at the money and looks back at me "Why are y.." "Oh! one more thing I need from you. Lure your Familia, please. I have some score to settle with your Familia. Hehehehehe...." I said interrupt her.

The party goes into the 16th floor and still fighting when we go back up. Bell drop-dead tired when we climb up to the 14th floor. So I pick him up and going out of the dungeon. We sell the monster cores to the guild and split the money but only include Bell and Lili. Each of them gets 312.000 valis. Bell is so happy "Can we eat together senpai? I want to thank you and Lili too." "Sure, that's my Kouhai. Let's go." I said to Bell and Bell quickly point toward the road. "Now, Lili you just need to somehow lure them with the money today, Tomorrow we will go inside the dungeon again. If I'm right they should greed over your money. Hehehehe.... or maybe if you can, lure over Zanis too will you."

After that, we spend time eating while Bell seems happy with his work for today.