Author note:
This story started out as a simple idea that just wouldn't leave me alone, so I decided to write it.
I hope you like it, because I'm a fan of Danmachi and Fate Stay, but I've decided to take a more unique approach.
PS. This story is not Canon, it is not officially part of my Chronicles of the Celestial House timeline.
XXX
Story title: The King of Grail: Servants, Witches and Hestia Familia
Synopsis: Traveling the dungeon, Bell Cranel manages to find three things, a raging Minotaur, Mash Kyrielight and the Last Master of Chaldea, Bruce Belmont.
Trying his luck, Bell manages to convince Mash and Bruce to join his family, completely unaware of the consequences.
Because wherever the King in Black of Chaldea goes, his Servants, his knights, his witches and his extended family will follow him.
Hestia will be busy managing the new influx of heroes and witches.
XXX
Story Arc: Welcome to Labyrinth City Hours
Episode 1: Is it wrong to take a gap year in a dungeon? (THE)
Chapter 1: White rabbit meets king in black and his shield
XXX
POV Narrator
There was a dark empty space, nothing could be seen in either direction, however, there was one person in this void, one person who had a tan colored coat, black boots, and a book in his left arm.
The person holding the book is a young man in his early twenties, wearing a faded gray jacket with off-white cuffs, silver buttons, black trousers and strappy leather boots, and a red scarf.
He also wears a hood, which is part of the tunic, with which he covers his face as well as his hair, but his mouth and nose are visible, albeit barely.
He smiled before removing the hood, revealing his black hair slicked back and gray eyes.
The gray-clad Prophet looks towards an invisible audience that only he is able to perceive and interact with.
"Greetings, dear readers, I am Woz, the scribe and chronicler of the greatest Demon King who ever lived." declares Woz, proud of his position and the master he serves.
" So far I have told you the right story of my glorious king. But today I want to delve into the possible alternative paths of my Waga Maou." Woz declares, in a tone full of curiosity, opening the book, preparing to tell a new story.
"Time. Space. Reality. It's more than a linear path.
It's a prism of endless possibilities, where a single choice can branch out into infinite realities, creating alternate worlds from the ones you know.
I am your guide through these vast new realities.
Follow me, and ponder the question...
What if... the great heroes of Chaldea would end up in a dungeon from another world ?
What if ... Would the King in Black of Chaldea, Lady Knight of the Grail, the Good Witch of the Boiling Isles and the Calamity Quartet join the Hestia Familia?" Woz asks, asking the question that it could create a new timeline.
XXX
Our story begins with Bell Cranel is a 14 year old boy, 165cm tall.
Her distinguishing features are ruby-red eyes and snow-white hair.
These traits combined with his youthful looks and great speed make him look like a rabbit.
He wears black pants, a dark yellow coat, and an iron breastplate to protect his vital organs.
This boy's dream is quite simple, to travel with pretty girls, date girls of different species and rescue a girl in danger.
A monster's screams, screams echo, a sharp sword cuts at the last moment, as Bell himself stands gently, above the fallen girl, the faint hint of a new love appears.
Too bad, but right now, such a scenario can only happen inside Bell Cranel's head.
Because the boy who aspires to be a hero with a harem is weak and shy with women.
Plus, he could die in the next few minutes if a miracle doesn't happen.
XXX
Piercing screams, a thunderous roar, a gigantic body charging and a crucial moment for survival.
Inside the dungeon, somewhere on the fifth floor, a white rabbit is running away from an angry bull.
The rabbit is Bell Cranel, a young Level 1 adventurer, who has only a few weeks experience in the Du geon.
The bull is a Minotaur, a monster created by the dungeon to kill adventurers who dare enter it, a beast that can easily kill Level 1 adventurers.
Bel is running with all his might, wanting to survive and return to his Goddess.
They take a right turn, in an attempt to escape from the monster, Bell ends up in a dead end of all things.
Turning abruptly, he sees the Minotaur looking at him with a ferocious gaze.
It seems that the myth of the lucky rabbit is not so true.
'Oh ... I'm going to die here.' Thinks Bell, feeling like a cornered mouse, facing the biggest and ugliest cat in the world.
" Someone save me !" Bell shouts at the top of his lungs, hoping a Higher Level adventurer can hear him and save him.
Meanwhile, as the boy cries, the Minotaur leaps forward, unleashing a punch that would have reduced Bell's head to a blot on the walls of the Dungeon.
At the last second, two spots of black and purple got in the way.
Crack!
The Minotaur's fist hit a large shield and all the bones in the hand were broken.
"Argh!" The Minotaur screams in pain, using his good hand to grab his shattered hand.
"Pathetic, compared to Gugalanna or any other Beast I know, you are butcher cattle." Said the second spot, before unleashing a singular sword blow.
In an instant, with ridiculous ease, the Minotaur was perfectly cut vertically.
For the rest of his life Bell Cranel will remember perfectly what he saw.
Before him are two people, a woman holding a giant shield and an armored knight wielding a wind-wrapped sword.
Bell stands still as a statue staring at his saviors, memorizing and analyzing their appearance.
The woman should be 18 years old, 158 centimeters tall, with short lilac hair, lavender eyes, and pale skin.
Her figure is quite athletic and her breasts have prompted comments from many other Servants about her physique and also earned her the nickname "Mashmallow".
He wears black and purple skin-tight armor enhanced with high-tech gear.
The girl's armor resembles an extremely short mini dress that exposes her butt, emphasizes her breasts, and reveals her panties. In some sections of the armor there are small circles that emit a glow of light.
He also wears elbow-length metal gauntlets, shoulder guards, thigh-high metal boots, all designed to enhance his physical abilities.
Finally, the girl's eyes are covered by a rectangular black visor, with small bright lines at the corners.
The girl in her hands holds a huge shield of black and gray color, a combination of an oval medieval shield and a futuristic cross-shaped shield, in the center there is a vertical line formed by runic inscriptions.
The man is 171 centimeters tall, has a slim and lean build.
His entire body is covered in some of the most gorgeous and high quality armor Bell has seen in his life.
The armor plate of black obsidian color, with engravings of amethyst color.
The armor is segmented, beautifully constructed to resemble a dragon, and designed specifically for its bearer's body.
The gauntlets and armored boots have claws.
In various places on the armor there are red gems that resemble the eyes of a dragon.
The armor on his shoulders has two red eyes on each shoulder, two red eyes on the back of each hand, and each foot armor has two eyes on it.
The black helmet seems to be the most advanced and technological part of the armor, equipped with a red cross-shaped visor.
In her right hand she holds a sword wrapped in the wind, making it invisible to the naked eye.
" Are you OK?" She asks the lilac-haired girl, with a gentle tone and sweet smile, as she reaches out to help the albino boy up.
If the white-haired boy isn't sure he's alive, he might believe that an angel has come to get him.
"Mash, I think Bunny-Boy is shaken by his near-death experience, you should slap him to bring him back to reality." Said the knight in black armor, in an androgynous voice and a thin British accent.
"Senpai, couldn't we use less violent methods?" Mash asks, turning in the direction of the black knight.
"My little Kohai, after everything we've been through, you haven't learned that violence is a safe option for most of life's problems." Said the black knight, as he raises his left hand and touches a precise point on the left side of the helmet.
At the same time, the heavy helmet that covered the face split in two and became one with the armor.
'Senpai likes Mordred's helmet trick so much, he uses it instead of dematerialization.' Thinks the lilac-haired girl, accustomed to her Senpai's transformable helmet.
At the sight of the face of the knight who killed the Minotaur, Bell Cranel's brain rebooted, allowing him to say something stupid.
"You are a woman! I was saved by two women! This is the opposite of my dream!" Bell said, letting his mouth go wild without getting a correction or censorship from his brain.
The Black Knight has pristine white skin, as if it were made of porcelain.
Her face is youthful, making it hard to tell if she's 16 or 20. Heart-shaped face, delicate and sweet features of the face, give it an androgynous or absolutely feminine look in the right light.
Her atypical hairstyle for a man, combined with her androgynous face and slim build, help no one to correctly establish her gender.
Her inky black hair is long and tied in a braid that falls to her shoulders, with thick bangs hiding her left eye.
His right eye is exposed, showing a beautiful large, light gray eye.
"I have to correct you; my Senpai is a man, he may look like a princess, but I assure you he is a man." Mash said, trying to resolve this misunderstanding that happens quite often.
"Had it been Mordred in my place, words like that would have earned you a beheading." The black knight comments, in a neutral tone, not seeming bothered by Bell's words.
The white-haired boy realizing his mistake and decides to apologize ... in an exaggerated way.
In a moment, Bell is on his knees with his head bowed.
"A thousand apologies, you saved me and I insulted you unintentionally." Bell said, forcing himself a little too much to apologize.
"No problem, I often get mistaken for a woman. I was born with many talents and blessings, but no testosterone in my body." The black knight replies, while he shifts his gaze to the Minotaur's corpse which has evaporated, leaving a purple gem in its place.
'Interesting trinket.' He thinks the black knight as he picks up the purple gem, examining it closely with his good eye.
"Bunny-Boy, get up you don't need to humiliate yourself for me." Said the black knight, while he turns towards the corridors of the dungeon, managing to perceive a flapping of wings.
'Carmen, she's finally coming, I don't like leaving her behind to deal with the luggage. But someone had to save Bunny-Boy.' Think the black knight, having the priorities of him.
"Oh yes!" Bell said as he quickly got to his feet.
"Thanks again for saving me." Bell said, wanting to thank his saviors properly.
"Just another day on the job, protecting and rescuing the innocent on a large and small scale." Mash answers, with a warm smile and a proud tone.
Clearly, taking on the role of heroine is pleasure for Mash.
"Sir Cavaliere, Mash, you saved the Lady of the day, we can go back to find an exit from this cursed place." Comments the black knight, leaning his wind-wrapped sword against his left shoulder.
Bell's cheeks flushed slightly as he began to realize that he'd ended up in the role of damsel in distress and been rescued by a knight in shining armor. Just like in his grandfather's fairy tales.
"If you don't mind, Mister..." Mash stops for a second, not knowing the white-haired boy's name.
" Bell Cranel, I am Bell Cranel from the Familia Hestia." Bell said, in a shy voice, delivering the name of him you have saviors of him.
"Me, I'm Mash Kyrielight, but you can call me Shielder." Mash said, placing a hand on her chest as she introduces herself to Bell.
The girl with the shield points her finger at the black knight.
"He is my Senpai and my Master, his name is Bruce Belmont, but you can call him by his stage name Arkan. Although lately he wants to be called, Saver." Mash said, making introductions for his dear Senpai.
"After all I've done, I should be called, Grand Saver, King of the Grail!" He exclaims the black knight aloud, sure he deserves both titles for his actions during the crises he faced in Chaldea.
"Senpai, we've already talked about this, you are a Master, you cannot receive the title of a Servant." Mash said, with a small frown, having already had this discussion several times with his Master.
Bell stared at the odd couple not understanding much of their argument.
" Bell, if you don't mind, you could show us the way out of here. Senpai and I, are we a bit lost ?" Mash confesses, not having a clue how he can get out of the dungeon.
The white-haired boy blinks, surprised by Mash's request.
Two people who appear to be elite adventurers are unable to get out of the dungeon and ask for directions from a Level One novice adventurer.
"Me and Mash, we're new to the area, we haven't memorized the ways in and out of this bad place yet." Bruce said without going into details.
"If you two are new to town, how did you get such elite gear?" Bell asks, not knowing just when to hold back her curiosity.
" A life full of adventures and travels to places so far away that you can't imagine." Bruce said, as if she was already ready to face such questions.
"Well, I'll show the way out, that's the least I can do for you two." Bell said, preparing to act as a guide for the odd couple.
"Wait, Bunny-Boy." Bruce said, in a voice of authority, putting a hand on Bell's shoulder, stopping him abruptly.
"We can't go yet, vital elements of my team are missing." Bruce said, before removing his hand and turning towards a certain corridor of the Dungeon.
"Are there others like you who have a bad sense of direction?" Bell asks, in a slightly surreal tone.
Two adventurers with elite gear unable to exit the dungeon is one thing; a whole team is a completely different story.
In about ten seconds, the sound of flapping wings were heard even on Bell's ears.
Something so ridiculous appeared in the cul-de-sac that Bell thought for a moment that he was hallucinating.
Before Bell, Bruce and Mash is a blue-eyed female raven, feathered with obsidian-colored feathers, with a silver beak and claws
The female crow uses her claws she is carrying a big red camping backpack.
In the side pockets of the backpack are two more bizarre creatures.
In the left pocket is Bruce's second "pet", a mutant ferret-like creature, reminiscent of Kudamon from the Digimon cartoons. The name of this animal is Asuka Vritra.
In the right pocket is Mash's pet, a small white-furred creature that looks like a small cross between a squirrel and a fox. The name of this creature is Fou.
"Do you also see a crow carrying a large backpack, with the pockets occupied by two adorable little animals with white fur?" Bell asks, worried that he might have a concussion and suffer from a strange hallucination.
"The female crow is Carmen, the female ferret is Vritra, the last one left is Fou." Mash said, continuing to make introductions this time for the "pets".
"As always, Carmen, you prove to be indispensable to me. Now you can pass my luggage to me." Bruce said, grabbing the backpack and slinging it over his shoulders.
After that, the crow and ferret moved on, sitting down in their favorite places.
The obsidian bird sat on Bruce's left shoulder, while the mutant ferret wrapped itself around Bruce's neck and left shoulder like a scarf.
A faint smile has appeared on Bruce's face, clearly enjoying the company of Carmen and Vritra.
Fou also ran towards Mash, the little Pokémon with its little paws took a big leap and landed on Mash's right shoulder.
Did they bring their pets into the dungeon? Why? Isn't there a rule that forbids it?' Thinks Bell, having never heard of an adventurer entering the dungeon with his exotic pets.
" Bell, we are full, now can you show us the exit ?" Mash asks, kindly
"Senpai, now that we've completed the mission, what are you going to do?" Mash asks politely, making Bell forget his questions about their quirks.
"Now, Mash!" Bell exclaims, unable to refuse the requests of a nice and kind girl.
"Less shouting and more walking." Bruce comments, as his helmet reforms to cover his head, hiding his identity from everyone.
'I would love to have such armor.' Thinks Bell, finding the transforming helmet gimmick impressive.
XXX
The group of three "pets" and three adventurers are working their way up the dungeon levels with no problem...by Bruce and Mash's standards.
On the way up to the surface several Goblins and Kobolds got in the way, each of them being dusted by Bruce and Mash.
The lilac-haired girl using simple kicks turned the goblins into dust, one punch, one instant kill.
The black knight didn't kill the goblins with his sword, instead he completely incinerated them with fire magic, he simply snapped his fingers in their direction, then the monsters were burned to death.
During this one-sided slaughter, Bell did nothing but watch in admiration and collect stones from dead monsters.
There were some adventurers along the way, but they kept their distance from Bruce and Mash, not wanting to intrude on their affairs.
It was clear to everyone that the boy and girl dressed in black armor are powerful. And the powerful shouldn't be bothered by Level 1s.
XXX
At the entrance to the dungeon located on the first underground floor of Babel.
In the center of the room is a ten meter long hole that leads directly into the dungeon.
Within the circular room are multiple columns at equal intervals and above is a beautiful blue painting of the sky resembling the actual sky.
Along the circle are delicate stairs that spiral down into the dungeon.
Bell, Bruce, Mash and the three pets are climbing the spiral staircase.
" So ... Saver can I know why you did not use the sword against the Goblins and Kobolds ?" Bell asks, trying to have a little chat with Bruce who has been silent most of the time.
"They weren't worthy of my sword." That was Bruce's quick and short answer.
"Could you take advantage?" Bell asks, slightly confused by the meaning of his savior's words.
"Senpai is a great swordsman, one of the best I've met, but he's quite proud and selective about who or what can be cut by his sword." Mash answers for Bruce, something Bruce does quite often.
There is a small system between the Master and his Servant.
When it comes to socialising, making friends and gaining someone's trust, it's Mash's job.
Whether it's about lying, manipulating, making up excuses or explanations for their presence and unusual abilities, the job falls on Bruce.
"That's not entirely true, Mash. I adjust the use of my energy and strength based on the enemy.
A weak opponent deserves less than a punch or a burn from me.
If the enemy proves good, I'll deign to show them my high-level skills and weapons." Bruce talks a bit about his rationale, whether this proves he's selective or good at saving his energy, it depends on your opinion of the person listening.
"Even though it's rare nowadays, getting stronger means having fewer and fewer worthy opponents." Bruce said, in a melancholy tone, lowering his head.
Carmen the Crow tries to provide some comfort, rubbing her head against her master's helmet.
The female ferret simply increases her grip around Bruce's neck, as if he is giving a tight hug.
' Is this the thought of a strong adventurer ? ' Thinks Bell, assimilating the words of the black knight, not paying attention to the overly intelligent and thoughtful behavior of the two "little animals".
" I think I have found a new bone to gnaw for the near future." Bruce said, his tone happier than before, as he looks down into the depths of the dungeon.
"The initial plans and his little monsters are worth nothing to me, but I'm sure that in the depths of the dungeon there must be a quarry of my level.
Whether it's a mighty evil dragon, a black demon from hell or an invincible giant or whatever beast, I want a good battle that makes me unleash to the fullest." Comments Bruce, certainly grinning devilishly under his helmet, imagining a battle beyond the human capabilities.
''Where we, beginners, look for monsters that are easy to defeat to gain experience and money, he looks for increasingly stronger opponents just for the sake of fighting.
This is more than a difference of ability, it is a difference of thought and principle.' Think Bell, unable to imagine looking for ever stronger opponents to defeat.
"Senpai, I understand that fighting is one of your favorite activities. But we can first return to the surface, get some fresh air and rest." Mash said, not sharing his Master's enthusiasm for exploring the dungeon's depths.
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you. For all who ask will receive, All who seek will find, To all who knock it will be opened (Matthew 7:7-11)." Bruce quoted from the bible, as if in reply to Mash.
"Very inspirational words." Bell murmurs, surprised that the Black Knight can speak such profound and uplifting words.
"Senpai likes to quote all kinds." Comments Mash, accustomed to her Master's many quirks.
XXX
Within minutes, the wacky group is out of the dungeon, being able to watch as the sun is preparing to set.
The obsidian-feathered crow never missed an opportunity to spread its wings and fly over the city.
Bell for once noticed one of his saviors' quirks.
Mash is looking at everything around her with awe and surprise, as if she were a tourist or a princess leaving her castle for the first time.
" Mash, you get excited about the smallest things, once you see one Medieval Fantasy World, you've seen them all." Bruce comments, crossing his arms, acting calm and composed.
"Bunny-Boy, ignore my Kohai's childish joy, unlike me, she hasn't traveled far and wide." Bruce said as he patted her Kohai on the back.
The lilac-haired girl blushes and nearly drops her shield.
"Thanks, Bell, for helping us out of the Dungeon." Mash said, resuming proper demeanor.
"Let's hope that at our next meeting we won't have to save you from a monster again. Good evening and all." Bruce said, preparing to leave the albino boy behind, and go with Mash to look for lodgings for the night.
When Bell saw the two adventurers in black and purple armor turn and start walking away, something in him snapped.
The little white rabbit ran towards his rescuers, reaching them in seconds, placing himself in front of them.
"Before we part, can you at least tell me which Familia you belong to!?" Bell asks, not knowing at all why he's asking this question.
For a moment no one spoke, Bruce and Mash look at each other as if they don't understand Bell's question.
'It seems, that instead of waiting for Carmen to come back with information about this world, I'm going to have to use my gifts.' Bruce thinks, knowing that she will have to learn things quickly through not too pleasant methods.
Beneath the helmet of the Black Knight, something that few people can imagine is happening, Bruce is using a gift of sight and wisdom.
'Lovecraft, partial training, activation of Look To The Stars.' Mentally chants Bruce, as a white colored substance with black spots oozes from his pores.
The mysterious substance forms a kind of tight mask that covers the left half of Bruce's face.
Through this "mask" Bruce gains an ability that can be described as the combination of Clairvoyance and Revelation.
But the black knight didn't stop there.
'Sjálfr Sjálfum Mér, activation, 10% potency.' Mentally recites Bruce, as his right eye gains an unusual design and coloring, as if the night sky were held captive in his eye.
In less than a few seconds, Bruce's mind was assaulted by an avalanche of information, much of it centered around this world.
But the clearest and most important information of all concerns what the Familias are.
"Shielder and I are not part of any Familia. We only came to town to see the Dungeon and decide if it's worth my time." Bruce said, speaking normally, as under the helmet his eyes return to normal.
" You're serious, you're strong enough to kill a Minotaur with one shot and you're not part of a Family, how is that possible!?" Bell exclaims, not being able to believe what he hears.
"Senpai is very strong, the strongest wizard and warrior in the Boiling Isles." Mash said, trying to give an explanation for the Master's strength of him.
" I'm not only the strongest of my Earth, I'm also the Ultimate Life Form, Evolutionary Apex !" Bruce proclaims, placing his hands on his hips and chest forward, unable to help himself from uttering those titles.
Bell Cranel blinks slightly confused.
"I don't understand much from what you said, but I'm sure it's great." Bell said, won over by the energy and confidence of Saver's words.
The black knight shakes his head slightly, almost amused by Bell's answer.
"Instead, act like the rest of the plebeians, shouldn't you ask me something else?" Bruce said, keeping his arms crossed, waiting to receive a long-term job offer.
Bell reminds himself that the purpose of the discussion is to try his luck and try to get new members for his Familia.
"Then can I ask you two to join my Familia?" Bell asks, in a shy voice, as he scratches his head.
This guy is a fish out of his own lake.
"I admit that I am the only member of the Familia and my Goddess has no luck finding new members.
In addition, our economic situation is not particularly prosperous." Bell said, too sincere to embellish the situation of the Familia Hestia.
"Bell, I don't mean to insult you, but you're not very good at recruiting." Mash comments, trying not to hurt the albino boy's feelings.
Bell doesn't answer, just chuckles sheepishly, he's never practiced doing anything like this.
"I can't make any promises, Bunny-Boy, but I'm interested in joining a Familia and exploring the Dungeon in my own way, so a small Familia early in its career is ideal for me.
But before I seal the deal, I want to meet your Goddess in person and see what kind of person she is." Bruce said, his tone calm, having something on his mind.
"I'll let you know my Goddess right away, but first I have to go to the Guild and exchange the stones for some Valis." Bell said, in a happy tone, feeling lucky.
"It seems to me an acceptable plan, first in the Guild, then in the home of your Goddess." Bruce said, motioning for Bell to show the way.
XXX
At the beginning of the walk to reach the Guild, the lilac-haired girl approached her Master to talk.
"Senpai, you have used your Clairvoyant abilities to understand what a Familia is and how this world works." Mash said, less as a question, more as a statement.
"I got a slight migraine from the influx of information, but nothing serious, I only used 10%, to avoid unnecessary pain." Bruce said what Mash really wants to know.
"Did you seriously talk about wanting to join the Bell Family?" She asks the lilac-haired girl, not too sure if her Senpai is serious or not.
"It all depends on how Bell's Goddess turns out to be." Bruce answers as he continues to walk behind the albino boy.
" But why do you want to settle here, we've been traveling from one world to another for almost a month, without stopping too long ?" Mash asks, curious about Senpai's change of plans about her.
" Mash, after we resolved the Human Order Revision Incident.
I decided to take a year for myself and explore the multiverse in search of a captivating place.
You, you insisted on accompanying me." Bruce said, in a calm voice, talking about why the two of them are in this world.
" Senpai, I haven't forgotten the reasons for our trip, you want a break from saving the world, while I want to be by your side.
But why did you choose this particular world?" Mash said, wanting a clear and simple answer. As much as possible with a person like Bruce.
" I do not know exactly." The Last Master of Chaldea answers, shrugging his shoulders.
The lilac-haired girl raises an eyebrow not completely believing her Senpai's words.
"I'd say it's a mix of foreboding, interest in the dungeon, the Dungeon and Dragon-style environment, and a weird feeling of déjà-vu." Bruce said, listing the little things that piqued his curiosity.
The frown is etched into Mash's face who is thinking of phoning an experienced witch, who is better at dealing with Bruce's tantrums than she is.
" Things with that face, Mash ?" Bruce said, not liking to see such an expression on his Senpai's face.
"Is it wrong to take a gap year in a dungeon?" Bruce asks, innocently, tilting his head, as if he were some kind of dog.
This behavior improves the behavior of Mash, who cannot resist certain antics of his Senpai.
"I don't know, Senpai? But I think we're about to find out." Mash answers, with a small smile, deciding to wait and see what happens.
Continues ...