Chapter 209: Luke: I Don't Think I Have Any?
Ever since Bell could remember, he had loved the heroic tales his grandfather read to him.
Hearing stories of cool heroes slaying monsters, saving people, and rescuing princesses, Bell genuinely admired and looked up to them.
The youth then made these tales of heroes his dream.
But as time passed, the growing white-haired youth began to understand reality, realizing he couldn't become as great as the 'heroes' in the stories.
His dream gradually withered.
What reignited the dying flame of dreams in Bell's heart was his grandfather's 'death'.
The many heroic tales Zeus had told Bell in his 'lifetime', led by the 'Sacred Tales of the Labyrinth', became his 'grandfather's only legacy'.
After losing his only family, his grandfather's legacy became Bell's only connection to this world.
Orario!
This stage appeared in the 'Sacred Tales of the Labyrinth', this city known even to Bell living in the countryside, this center of the world of many heroic legends.
Orario became the object of Bell's admiration.
'If only I go there... if only I go to Orario, become an adventurer, enter the dungeon!'
Driven by this remaining belief, Bell crossed mountains and rivers alone, traveling great distances as a mortal to reach this labyrinth city.
But actually, the white-haired boy knew in his heart.
He understood his own weakness better than anyone.
He was very aware how childish it was to admire the 'heroes' from storybooks.
Stories are fiction - this was common sense to ordinary people.
So when Bell came to Orario and heard about Luke's celebrated 'heroic deeds', he was deeply moved.
There were many stories about Luke in Orario.
Whether his unprecedented leveling speed or his achievement of annihilating the Evilus's main force by using himself as bait years ago, people still talked about it.
As an executive of one of Orario's strongest familias, Luke's various experiences became popular topics for city residents' casual conversations.
The most widely spread was the 'Nightmare Incident'.
As one of the defining events of Orario's dark period, the 'Nightmare Incident' has now been told in countless versions.
But in any version, Luke was absolutely the protagonist.
His heroic name began spreading from this event.
Besides this, rumors like 'Ending the Amazoness Sisters' Military Tales' and 'Rescuing the Astraea Familia' also circulated.
'So heroes really do exist.' This was Bell's only thought after hearing the rumors about Luke.
It was then that Bell's image of a 'hero' gradually changed from fictional characters to a real existence.
And now, a living 'hero' said this to Bell:
"Bell Cranel will definitely become a 'hero'!"
The dream the youth considered naive, childish, and unattainable was affirmed by the senior closest to his dream's endpoint.
He was moved... no, not just moved.
Various emotions erupted like a volcano.
At the same time, the skill recorded on Bell's Falna kept flashing with light.
...
Luke took the two drinks Ryuu brought over and placed them on the table, pushing one to Bell while quietly waiting for the youth to 'wake up'.
Before long, Bell recovered from his daze.
"Ah... I-I'm so sorry, I actually zoned out while talking with you."
Bell's first action upon regaining his senses was apologizing to Luke.
His face also showed traces of frustration, seemingly reproaching himself for spacing out while his idol was talking to him.
"It's nothing, I won't get angry over something so minor."
Luke shook his head, pointed at the drink he'd pushed over, and said:
"Since your concerns are resolved, let's talk about something else."
"Bell, did you come to Orario with your parents?"
Luke wanted to chat with Bell mainly because he was interested in Bell's grandfather, the so-called God Zeus.
"Ah no, I've never met my birth parents since I can remember, I was raised by my grandfather."
"Grandfather has passed away, it was because of his death that I could make up my mind to come to Orario and become an adventurer."
Bell showed no sadness while explaining.
It had been quite some time since his grandfather's death, and the sadness and grief had become things of the past.
Everyone dies eventually, and now when Bell thought of his deceased grandfather, he felt only nostalgia and memories.
After hearing Bell's explanation, Luke first apologized for bringing up painful memories, then continued:
"What kind of person was Bell's grandfather?"
"My grandfather? Hmm... he was probably... um..."
Bell stopped halfway through answering Luke's question.
Cold sweat quietly trickled down.
Feeling somewhat embarrassed, Bell wasn't sure whether he should continue.
After all, that was an old lecher who constantly talked about 'harems' and 'cute girls'.
Though influenced by his grandfather to the point that Bell also longed for such things, he knew this topic wasn't something to discuss openly.
After hesitating briefly, Bell finally decided to first probe Luke's views on this matter indirectly.
He didn't want to be looked down upon by his idol.
"Th-that's right!"
"Mr. Luke, you're so famous in Orario, you must have many gi-girlfriends, right?"
Luke saw through Bell's attempt to change the subject but didn't mind, just assuming there was something inconvenient about discussing matters related to Zeus.
Though slightly disappointed, he didn't plan to press the issue.
Instead, Bell's diversionary question made him ponder.
"Girlfriends, huh..."
For a moment Luke thought of several people, first Ais, then Ryuu, even Riveria and Alise who had left the city.
Looking further back, he thought of the girls from the Asterisk.
Thinking about it, there were quite a few women Luke had taken advantage of.
But speaking strictly, it seemed he hadn't officially confirmed a relationship with any of them?
Unlike his emotionally turbulent state in Asterisk, Luke now had the Sheath of Tranquility that calmed his mind and was generally more composed.
Moreover, in Orario with its dungeon, absorbed in getting stronger and living a fulfilling daily life, he rarely thought about such matters.
The only time his desires were aroused was due to Goddess Astraea's teasing.
But afterward, with Ais's 'help' relieving his desires, Luke returned to his fulfilling life of monster hunting and leveling up.
So, after careful consideration, Luke answered Bell like this:
"As for girlfriends, I don't think I have any?"
…
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