Before making their way to the Dungeon, Shurry and Al stopped at a place with a direct view of the Heroes' bridge. Al's eyes widened at what he saw.
"This…"
"Yeah, I had a feeling they'd do it at some point. I don't know how much I like it though…"
"Huh? It looks great, and there's a lot of people coming to see the new statue."
The statue in question was meticulously sculpted by hand, using a degree of care only an extremely small handful of individuals in the city possessed. Everything was captured, perfectly, to include each of the minor imperfections of the subject's body, further limiting the scope of people who would even have the skills to make something like the magnificent statue now placed across from the Hero Albert.
"It's not about how it looks, more about how it makes me feel conflicted. I know that'll give the citizens, and other newbie adventurers hope. However, for me it feels… Well, I'm not sure how I like it, or if I even can. I didn't do anything to become a hero, I only did what I had to do, the result be damned. In other words, I guess it was foolish."
Al chuckled for a moment, and then laughed, holding his sides. Shurry's brow raised slightly, looking at Al…
"Sorry, it's just too funny, Fels said something about heroes being fools before. So it made me laugh."
"That was when you fought to protect the Xenos, correct?"
"Yeah, how'd you know?"
"You may have a hard time understanding it yourself, but… If I had to answer, it's similar to what you're doing now. You're here in this timeline, away from your home, I too was plucked out of my home world, and wound up here. I don't really mind it though. I've had a lot of fun, my only wish was to still have my aunt… I- I miss her more than words can really express."
"It's hard, isn't it?"
"Yeah… But I have Ardee by my side, and a whole host of other people to embrace the struggles ahead."
"So, why did you bring me here first, if the dungeon is in desperate need of your attention?"
"Because that statue means a lot to the people, but it means nothing to me. So, do not get side tracked or absorbed in being the image of a hero, instead, be the hero. The one who bears everyone's suffering, and continues pushing forward regardless of the task ahead."
Al's eyes widened. I… Have I been focused too much on the image, instead of actually being her hero? Why do I feel like my blood is flowing easier now?
"Alright, enough of this, let's head down to the dungeon. I'll go slow at first, so do your best to keep up, alright?"
…
Down in the dungeon, a couple days later, Shurry and Al reached the 70th floor, where Al was put through the ringer. First a giant monster rex, then a serpent with a quickness, and an Oversized Ooze… Al fought monster rexes each with an overall rating near his, or greater. Shurry only helped out whenever absolutely needed to avoid death. The battle went on for 3 days before finally, Al started becoming see through.
"Alright, it's time to take a break."
Shurry's words came followed by a summoning of numerous wolves, each with power equivalent to, or greater than Al's… They dealt with the monsters for a while, to buy the time for a break.
"Huh? I'm, see through?"
Luna appeared out from Shurry, and stretched, then rubbed her belly… A sign she enjoyed the meal.
"Who… So, beautiful…"
"Pfft, sorry this is the first time meeting you, I was really quite tired after that big fight. I'm wide awake now, and full. Since you helped me out, even if only a little bit, allow me to give you a gift, Bell Cranel, from the future timeline."
Luna held out her palms, and out from them, appeared a small fairy, floating above her hands.
"This little cutie will travel with you, and help to manage your soul. If you forget anything from here, she'll remind you."
The fairy floated over to Al, who was now hardly visible. The fairy disappeared into his soul.
"Al, when you wake up, go to your goddess, and ask her for a status update. I'm sure that you'll be level 7 after all of this. Good luck, and live the life you want, but do make sure that you spend effort to properly address the feelings of those around you. Ryuu in your time loves you far more than you realize. And there's no longer any need for you to rely on that crutch of a skill."
Al grit his teeth, then smiled.
"I won't fail. I promise this, I'll do everything it takes to be the hero I want to be!"
Shurry through a heavy pouch of monster crystals to Bell.
"Huh?"
"That's probably going to be worth enough to cover the knife your goddess got you. Tell her that this is payment to keep her lips sealed tight about me, and that the only one she can share this with is Lady Hephaestus. Later Al!"
Before Al could protest, Chaos had taken him from the timeline, returning him to where he belonged, his home… And everyone but the gods, and 4 others forgot all about him.
"He should be fine. Right?"
"Yeah, he's a lot stronger, and most importantly, far more confident in his strength now. So, let's go hunt some of the bigger prey again!"
…
The future timeline… Bell was laying in bed, when he rose with a start.
"Huh!? Where am I!?" Bell was frantic, and quickly looking around the room. This is my room, in my familia's home! I'm back?! Was it just a dream? Bell tried sitting up, when a heavy weight shifted off his chest. HUH! That's the bag!!!! "THIS BAG! HOW!?" …
Bell got up quickly, he was a little dizzy, and a bit squeamish but he made it to where Hestia was…
"Bell! Did you have a nice nap! Huh? What happened to you?!"
Bell's eyes scanned having seen that Lily was present, going over past events from the dungeon with Hestia, trying to get a goddess level opinion of the strategy. Bell was drenched in sweat, and shirtless.
"Goddess, can… Can I talk to you in private for a moment…"
The sudden shout of something happening, drew the attention of the other members, when Ryuu arrived and saw the falna written on Bell's significantly more muscular appearance… Her eyes went wide with utter shock, one she couldn't hold back…
"Bell, how'd you level up?"
Hestia's shock grew, she moved like a missile pulling Bell aside in a private room of their familia home.
"Bell, you really did level up. How the hell did you do it? I'm the only one who should have the ability to do it. Was it Freya, did she pull something?"
"No… It was you."
"Huh? Wait, why, how, are you lying, and not lying at the same time? Ugh this is so confusing."
"Goddess, please listen to me, I'll explain everything."
Hestia reluctantly shut up, and sighed, her look of shock, horror, and brain dying by the second as Bell talked about everything that'd happened in Bell's "Dream".
"Bell, turn around, no… Get dressed, and come with me. We're going to see Hephaestus. Give the bag of stones to Ryuu, and Welf, then have them meet up with us at Hephaestus place."
…