An Assassin's Adventure: Hot Spring Paradise

Part 5

As Hit faced this veritable wall of monsters, Bell sprinted down the underground canyon, with Goddess Hestia resting softly in his grasp. The boy gritted his teeth, pushing down his worry for Hit, and ignored two incredibly soft objects that bounced against his chest with every stride. 'No, I can't get distracted! I need to protect her!' Bell's eyes shone with hope as he approached the end to the ravine. 'Almost there; almost there!'

"Oof!" Unfortunately, Bell's escape was interrupted by a long tendril, which caused the boy to trip and fall onto the orange-tinged riverbed below. Shaking, Bell forced himself up slightly, and looked around himself. His heart sank as a previously hidden anglerfish was now gliding towards his location.

"Mph... B-Bell?"

A feminine voice squeaked beneath Bell, forcing the boy to shoot his gaze towards its source, worry clear on his young face. "Goddess! Are you hurt? ... H-HUH!?" Concern was quickly replaced by stupefaction as Hestia's intricate blue-green bikini was eaten away before his very eyes, setting free even more of her alabaster skin. Bell and Hestia's faces blushed crimson and the two quickly sat up, facing opposite directions.

"I-I didn't see anything!" Bell completely forgot about their impending doom and kept his eyes firmly closed, pushing down his excitement.

"Bell!!!" Goddess Hestia ignored the detection of a lie and screeched as an immense maw descended from the heavens.

Time froze for Bell as he whirred around to face his precious Goddess, seconds from death; the instinctive boy could see no way to save them both, and so leapt towards her, shielding the petite girl within a loving embrace. He prepared himself for a painful demise.

*BAM*

*BOOM*

Suddenly, the fish was catapulted into a faraway wall, cratering it. With a pitiful groan, the crafty enemy fell to earth and burst into smoke.

"What a pain... Have you learned nothing, boy?" An incredibly grumpy man sighed above the pair, causing Bell to look up at the familiar voice.

Bell held back tears as he hugged his Goddess even more tightly, overflowing with relief the precious woman was still with him. "M-Mr Hit! Thank you! Thank you so much for saving us!"

"I did no such thing; that was my opponent. Next time, you will have to save yourself." Hit spoke harshly yet extended a hand to the prone pair. Bell gladly took the offering, and was hauled up, rather forcefully. Hestia continued to cling to Bell, blushing fiercely at their proximity.

*Patter* *Patter* *Patter*

Not a moment later, and their colleagues arrived on the scene, sprinting to join them. Ryuu was at the lead and called out first. "Are you all alright, Mr Cranel?!"

Asfi had witnessed the end to the brief battle and followed behind her. "That was a close one... good thing you got here first, Mr Hit."

"We're okay! It's all thanks to..." Bell was about to sing Hit's praises when a squeaky voice barrelled into the conversation.

"GODDESS HESTIA! Get your naked body away from master Bell!!!" Lili ignored the tense atmosphere and began yet another argument.

Thankfully, Asfi removed her white cloak and ran to wrap it around the nude deity. "Here, Hestia, you may use my cloak."

Now that the enemies had been vanquished, the band of adventurers began to relax and recuperate in the now-silent corridor. Hit approached Bell, soundlessly, and spoke in a curious tone. "You activated your skill?"