Karen stepped up, her long black hair trailing behind her. Resting her hand on the rapier at her side, she let out a bitter smile and said, "I would like to reiterate Primo's sentiments, Mister Bell. I, and I am sure that the others as well, appreciate the lengths you are willing to go in order to protect us. But..." Her dark eyes shimmered a bit with unshed tears before she let out a deep sigh and regained her composure. "We... at least I do not wish to be a burden."
I sighed. "I know. And I understand." I pushed myself off the wall and lowered my arms. "I just... wish this was a world where you didn't have to fight so hard. Where you didn't have to experience what you did."
The fact that such girls could come to Orario chasing dreams and adventure, only to fall into that situation in the red-light district... and most because they wanted to save other people...
It pissed me off to no end. Especially more now that these girls were all family. All my little sisters.
Even so, I remained cool. Placing a gentle smile on my face, I said, "But what's in the past will stay there. What we need to focus on now is the future, so..."
Cracks echoed from down the corridor. The walls, floor, and ceiling all opened, dropping down a practical green sea of goblins.
I glanced over and chuckled. "It's time to get in some training. Thanks for cooperating today, Dungeon-chan!"
[I HATE YOU]
I heard the shrill female voice of Dungeon-chan echo in my mind as usual.
Emma nervously took a few steps back, resting her hands on her twin swords.
Karen took a step back as well, drawing her rapier. "M-Mister Bell. A-Are you certain it is fine to be taunting the dungeon like that...?"
"It's fine." I waved my hand and said, "Dungeon-chan and I go way back. We like playing rough too."
[I WILL HAVE YOUR HEAD ANOMALY! ONE DAY! SOME HOW!]
I chuckled and said, "You can have me when you show up in person, Dungeon-chan. Or when you join our Familia. Then you can be my little sister just like these cute girls... or my lovely adopted daughter."
A frustrated and bloodcurdling scream echoed in my mind.
But I ignored it.
Karen blinked and quietly muttered, "Are all great men insane? I have heard the rumors and read the stories, but..."
I decided to ignore her. Instead, I waved towards Primo, who had been stunned silent by the appearance of so many goblins. "Hey, Primo."
Primo flinched and then looked over at me. "Y-Yes, Mister- I mean, Big Brother Bell?"
I walked to her side and knelt down to her eye level. Then I pointed at all the goblins and said, "You can take these guys. So let me teach you how."
Primo shook her head, trembling. "I-I don't know, Big Brother. I-I'm so small and there are so many... W-What if-"
"Hey. Relax." I spoke in a warm voice and said, "Can I hold your hand?"
"A-Ah." Primo blinked, confused. But then she nodded. "It's okay if it's you, Big Brother..."
I gently held her hand and raised it, holding it up to face the goblin horde. As I did, I started circulating my mana and said, "Don't worry. Against hordes of monsters and enemies, you're definitely the most suited... after all, you use light magic, right?"
Primo relaxed a bit and nodded. "I-I do, Big Brother. Then... should I just start chanting...?"
"Here. Just relax and try copying me." I gently melded my mana with Primo's and focused.
My dear mother Alfia had showed me an incredible light magic spell in our spar back during the Monsterphilia incident.
Now, I didn't know exactly how it worked, and Primo didn't have the raw mana to pull it off as well as my mother did... but I could teach Primo something similar that suited her. So...
"E-Eh?" Primo blinked and tilted her head, as if listening to a voice only she could hear. "False Genos... Angelus?"
'Oh good, it worked.'
I nodded and gave an encouraging smile. "That's right. Just follow that feeling, Primo."
Karen quickly shuffled over to stand behind me.
Emma did as well, shaking a bit. "M-Mister Bell..."
Karen swallowed and said, "I-I think they are beginning to move..."
"It's fine, guys. Worst case, I just blow up this entire floor."
[DON'T YOU DARE]
I stuck my tongue out at the wall.
[AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH]
I smiled and then shifted my gaze back to Primo.
Primo slowly raised the staff in her right hand, speaking slowly as if in a trance. "Beloved by heaven, melody of light born from sin. Shatter desting and show absolution..."
"That's the spirit- Wait."
Something was wrong.
No, something was going horribly right.
I'd intended to just 'gift' her a spell kind of like how I gifted Welf his new set of skills.
But...
I quickly let go of Primo and then grabbed both Karen and Emma.
Emma gasped, her face red. "M-Mister Bell!?"
Karen blushed as well, squirming. "Y-You cannot just grab a lady like that, Mister Bell! E-Even if we are like family, especially around-"
"Explain later, for now, hold on tight!"
Primo pointed her staff at the horde of goblins, still chanting. "Shut the path to heaven and destroy everything stained by sin..."
The horde of goblins roared and charged.
I held Karen and Emma tight, then reached over to grab the back of Primo's shirt.
A distorted silver bell emerged above Primo.
The goblins seemed to notice something was wrong and stopped charging.
But Primo continued chanting. "Scream in this place, Bell of Destiny. Fall, False Angel of Genesis."
"WHY IS IT ALWAYS BAD IDEAS TO POWER PEOPLE UP!" I let out a strangled scream and quickly opened the fast travel menu to send us home.
A warped sound, like a distorted bass. A shimmering orb that flew out, hazy like a mirage.
Pitch black feathers- No, feathers that drew in so much light they appeared black.
And then an explosion.
But before that explosion hit us, I tossed us all back home.
Karen landed on the ground with a small squeak.
Emma rolled along the ground, saying 'wawawawa' as she tried to stop.
Primo immediately slumped, unconscious from
And as for me...
"BELL!" Tia's voice echoed as she ran out the front door. "Why did you do something ridiculous again!?"
"...Uh." I glanced at the slightly singed clothes on the three girls I brought with me along this little training trip. Then I chuckled and said, "...Is it wrong to-"
"Finish that sentence and you are sleeping on the couch tonight, Mister!"
"...Okay, fine. I'll stop trying to give everyone overpowered abilities..."
It seemed like only I was really able to handle those anyway...
Let's shift priorities a bit. I should go check in with Welf on making everyone overgeared instead of overpowered... that was probably safer...