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DH : [85] Discerning Eye
🕑 Added 2024-08-23 16:00:03 +0000 UTCBell suddenly realized that the clothes worn by the two in front of him looked quite valuable. Whether it was the outfit Aiden had before taking a bath or the current one he was wearing, especially the katana strapped to Aiden's back just now, it was much better than what Bell had seen in Hephaestus' shop window.
'So, I've joined a formidable familia.'
Bell thought to himself, then raised his hand eagerly and said, "Hestia-sama, I can help in the kitchen. I know how to cook a bit and I can assist."
Hestia smiled and shook her head, "No need, Bell-kun. You and Aiden-kun have other tasks."
With that, Hestia's expression turned serious. She walked over to Aiden and cleared her throat, lowering her voice as she said, "Since it's still early, Aiden-kun, take Bell-kun to register at the guild. While you're at it, help him get a set of beginner's gear."
"And after that, take Bell-kun around Orario, let him get familiar with the surroundings, and perhaps guide him through the dungeons to get used to combat. In short, fulfill your duties as the captain." Hestia continued with an air of leadership, hands on her hips.
Indeed, new adventurers could receive beginner's gear from the guild, though its quality was rather basic. Aiden opted to buy better equipment directly, a choice Hestia didn't oppose knowing his financial capability.
However, Bell was currently penniless and could only rely on the guild-provided equipment.
Despite being part of the same familia, blood is thicker than water held true in Orario as well. Hestia didn't suggest that Aiden buy equipment for Bell.
Seeing Hestia's authoritative demeanor, Aiden couldn't help but playfully pat her on the head, "Alright, alright. I'll make sure to prepare well."
"You can count on me." Hestia smiled with a thumbs-up.
"Let's go, Bell." Aiden patted Bell's shoulder.
"Yes." Bell quickly followed.
"Oh, one more thing." Aiden turned to Hestia.
"What is it?" Hestia asked curiously.
"Don't call me captain." Aiden said wearily.
"Understood, Captain Aiden." Hestia said in a respectful tone.
"You're really something." Aiden replied with exasperation.
"Hmph." Hestia didn't say anything more, just hummed victoriously and turned into the kitchen with an air of triumph.
Meanwhile, Aiden led Bell out of the door, heading towards the guild.
As the sun set, the labyrinthine city of Orario gradually became enveloped in the twilight's glow.
Orario, about to embrace its nocturnal life, appeared even livelier.
Cheerful songs and melodies poured out from taverns and squares. Magic stone lamps gleamed brightly along the streets, crowded with adventurers just returning from the dungeon.
Bell and Aiden walked a short distance, but it took them quite a while, mainly because Aiden had an unusually abnormal streak of luck.
Every few steps, a coin. Every ten steps, several coins. Wherever they walked, Aiden seemed to spot money lying around that only he could see, prompting others to pick it up. Bell silently chuckled to himself at Aiden's seemingly magical fortune.
From initial excitement over finding money, to subsequent disbelief, and eventually becoming accustomed to it, Bell had grown completely numb to it all. His senpai truly possessed a magical fortune.
As Aiden approached the Babel Tower, he felt eyes on him. He scanned around but found nothing unusual. Shortly after, a scorching gaze enveloped him, and his right arm began to ache faintly. Looking up towards the towering spire disappearing into the clouds, Aiden confirmed that the gaze came from above.
It was due to Aiden's reactions along the way that Bell, arriving at the Babel Tower, didn't exclaim about feeling like a country bumpkin entering the city. Instead, he silently followed behind Aiden, awaiting his instructions on where to pick up the money.
Observing Aiden's unusual behavior while waiting for instructions, Bell naturally asked, "Senpai, is something wrong?"
Aiden smiled and shook his head, gesturing that everything was fine. Some things didn't need to be spoken aloud. In his mind, he whispered, "Freya, are you watching me, or rather, are you watching Bell?"
In the past month of frequent visits to Babel Tower, Aiden had never felt someone scrutinize him like this. Today, with Bell by his side, someone was watching him. Aiden immediately thought of Freya, one of Bell's potential romantic interests in the original story.
Oh, how intriguing, Freya, with her soul-piercing eyes, must have noticed Bell's extraordinary qualities early on, yet for some reason hadn't recruited him into her familia.
His own soul was that of an ordinary young man, unlikely to capture Freya's attention. However, none of this mattered to him; he would be leaving Orario soon.
...
"The transparent soul..."
At the same time, in one of the most luxurious rooms at the top of Babel Tower, which even within the tower was considered premium, a murmured voice echoed downward.
She gazed down at a small, white figure visible below, her expression tinged with excitement as her intense gaze fixated on the gradually enlarging figure.
'I want him.'
That was what she thought the moment she first laid eyes on Bell.
The twilight's glow cast a crimson hue into the darkened room.
A flawless figure dominated the entire wall, standing by the floor-to-ceiling window with a swaying glass of red wine.
Wrapped in a black, mist-like chiffon nightgown that accentuated her porcelain-like fair skin, the gown's neckline embroidered with golden threads exposed a deep cleavage tinted cherry blossom pink in the evening sun.
A perfect devil's figure, as if the concept of the golden ratio originated from her.
Waist-length silver hair shimmered like ice crystals, delicate eyelashes fluttered pitifully, and her eyes exuded unparalleled allure as if the word beauty was born because of her.
She was Freya, the Goddess of Beauty.
"Has he joined a familia?" Freya twisted her body, lightly sipping from her glass, its dark red liquid akin to fresh blood, and softly murmured.
Freya possessed the Discerning Eye, capable of peering into the souls of mortals below.
Even Loki, who knew of her eyes' ability, had been known to say things like, "Damn cheating ability."
Freya's captivating eyes were filled with both charm and an overwhelming sense of superiority as she looked down upon Bell. "You've caught my eye. It's your duty to become stronger, more dazzling, and more brilliant~"
As Bell drew closer to Babel Tower, Freya's silver eyes brimmed with increasing allure, her gaze growing hotter, like magma capable of piercing a man's heart effortlessly.
Yet as Bell approached closer to Babel Tower, Freya finally noticed a young man in black with hair as white as his walking beside him.
"Ah~"
