Danmachi One-shot Archive

Honest Work

The gods were powerful beings. Their presence helped reshape the entire world. They gave humanity the edge they needed to fight back against the relentless onslaught of monsters that poured out of the Dungeon during ancient times. With the gods in place, mortals managed to keep a lid on the hole and it has now become a dungeon that helps in birthing mighty adventurers. Those same people are then blessed by the gods and they all work together for their own goals.

In his prime, Zeus had once led one of the most powerful Familias to ever walk the lands. However, they were wiped out and only he is the only remnant of a golden age. As of now, that same god was leading a small boy through a field of vegetables that was almost ready to harvest. 

Zeus: Don't dawdle, my boy. These babies look like they grew mighty big this time around.

He smiled and rubbed his hands while the little boy caught up to him. The old god wore blue overalls on top of his white shirt along with a farmer's hat. The little boy who couldn't be more than eight years old wore mostly black except for his brown boots and a short sleeved coat of the same color. 

Zeus: Hand me a basket, Bell and we can get started.

The little boy smiled and handed him one of the baskets they brought with them.

Bell: *Smiling* Okay!

When they were ready, they began picking their fields clean of all the fresh vegetables. They started bright and early, before the sun had even started rising. Even then, they had picked one of their fields clean before the first rooster crowed. 

Once noon had rolled around, they took a break to eat.

Zeus: *Wiping the sweat off his head* Phew! You ok, Bell?

Bell: *Nodding* Mm!

One meal later and they were back at it. By sunset, they had picked everything they needed.

Zeus: And we're done!

Bell: Are we going to go into the market to sell these tomorrow?

Zeus: *Nods* That we are.

He rubbed the boy's head before the two started to clean up. They gathered their baskets and stored them inside before getting ready to end their day. That included reading the boy more tales about heroes.

As Bell lay in his bed, he looked at his Grandfather and wondered if he could be like them too.

Bell: Grandpa, do you think I can be a hero too?

Zeus: Of course. The question is whether you want to or not.

Bell: Then, if I asked, would you help me?

Zeus was no fool. Well, in certain situations as more than a few goddesses would beg to differ but that is a story for another time. The old god knew full well the stakes at risk. Not for Bell, but also the entire world. 

After his Familia failed to slay the last of the Great Quests, The One-Eyed Black Dragon, almost all hope was lost. With no one else in the world able to match his Familia's strength, the dragon remained unchallenged to this day. All that remained was keeping the promise to Bell's dead mother and raising the boy like his own.

Still, the world needed a savior and he was Zeus. As much as it pained him, he would be able to accept it if the boy willingly chose to walk down that path and walk it he did.

3 years later...

Now eleven-years-old, Bell had undergone intense training under Zeus' tutelage. Though, due to their current conditions, most of his training was relegated to working the fields and mock training.