Danmachi SI-The Silence's Heir

Part 7

Chapter 7

BELL CRANEL

Bell Cranel was an adventurer, one who wished to be a hero. That was his dream, a dream instilled into him by his grandfather, who had beguiled him with tales of heroes and their awesome victories ever since his childhood.

A hero always stands for what is right, cares for his friends and family, and does the right thing. Most of all, a hero never backed away from a challenge. And yet here he was doing just that as he ran through the streets of Orario with his Goddess in his arms, and a monster chased after them.

BOOOM!

As a hero, he could not let a girl in his arms die, for that was what it meant to be a hero. Yet he was powerless as the silverback raced after him, crashing into buildings and destroying them as Bell rushed and jumped.

"Look out!" the Goddess screamed as Bell saw that the monster had thrown a massive rock at them, and he jumped forward.

"Hestia-sama," and yet the force from the explosion was enough to send him tumbling forward. He was weak, and hated being weak.

"ARGH!" he grunted in pain as his goddess's body slipped from his arms, and they both rolled on the ground. If only he was stronger, he thought, as he tried to think of a way out of this situation.

His mind raced back to the time he had been cornered by that minotaur, and he thought of his own helplessness and the blonde goddess who had saved him and his fits balled up at his lack of strength, at his uselessness.

'No' he could not wait for someone to save him. What kind of a hero does that?

"Bell! Bell!" the Goddess approached him as she shook him. And he fought through the pain as he struggled to his feet, knowing that even if he could not defeat the beast, the least he could do was save his goddess.

And so, he scanned the surroundings and found what he was looking for as a plan formed in his mind.

"ROARRRR!" the silverback raged behind him as it raised his arms, trying to crush them both as Bell pushed his legs.

"Goddess Hestia!" he screamed as he pushed them both forward, tumbling onto the ground as the monster crushed the street behind him.

BOOM!

"Here with me," he rose back to his feet and rushed towards the small alleyway as the Goddess followed behind him. The Silverback raged, his vision obscured by the dust cloud, allowing them enough time to enter the alleyway.

Slowly, he let go of her hand, and she ran forward his feet stopping at the gate as he saw her vanishing back as a sense of ease enveloped his heart. At least he would not lose her. At least he would be a hero to her.

"Just straight down that path. It will help lead you to the city center," and he closed the small door, only for Hestia-sama to notice afterward as she turned back towards him wide-eyed and pale-faced.

"Bell-kun," she gasped as she rushed back as his fists balled.

"What are you doing, Bell-kun?" she raged as the metal frame of the door clacked as she pulled on it.

"I cannot defeat the monster yet. I am not strong enough," he admitted to his weakness, and it cut him hard to realize his weakness twice over in such a short time.

"I cannot let you die. So, please, I will lead the monster away and occupy its attention for as long as possible. In that time, you need to get away," he said as he smiled at her. The Goddess's lips parted in a gasp as he turned away from her, not able to stand the expression of betrayal on her face.