[Cross Blood], the mutation of his Crozzo blood that allowed him to incorporate materials and resources in ways that shouldn't be possible.
[Will of Re-Bel], the skill born from knowing Bell that allowed him to advance to match his ridiculous friend.
'Not Celestial Bronze. Not mythical metals. Not anything we know.'
Welf held out his right hand and gathered his mana, casting the one magic he knew. "Burn out, False Works."
An incantation and affirmation.
To discard what wasn't his. To sublimate it into something that was.
'...It has to be me.'
The cube that he had given Bell wasn't made by his hands alone.
The magic swords that Bell used weren't Welf's either.
Only the armor. It had always been the armor.
"...If you're so determined to set out there alone, Bell..." Welf murmured as he watched the copper ingot meld with the adamantite. "...Then at least let me be with you in spirit."
===
Pyrrha watched her father work while stubbornly ignoring the flames and blinding light from the surging flames.
'Papa...'
Pyrrha still didn't understand it. Not really.
She wasn't smart like Bella or Fina. Although she tried hard, complicated things were complicated. All she knew how to do was to make things.
'Just like Papa. But...'
Pyrrha could tell. Even if no one said it, she knew she was different.
She wasn't squishy like Bella. She didn't get hurt when things hit her. No matter what people did, she was sure that she would be fine.
Not like Papa.
"Papa. You're going to get hurt."
Pyrrha couldn't help her worry and finally spoke up as she watched her Papa place the glowing white metal on the anvil and start shaping it with a hammer.
Welf wiped his brow and gave her a warm smile. "It's fine, Sweetheart. Papa's got this."
It wasn't a lie. But it also wasn't true.
Pyrrha knew that her Papa would be fine. But it would hurt. It DID hurt.
That white metal was hot. And hitting it with the hammer would make it worse.
Papa would be doing this for hours, his body running ragged until he was finished.
He would rest and heal afterwards. But...
"I don't want Papa to be hurt!"
Pyrrha teared up, watching her Papa ignore his pain to work.
Welf paused. Then he slowly set down his hammer. "Pyrrha..."
Pyrrha ran over and hugged Welf. "No! No hurting!"
Welf trembled and hugged her close. "...Okay. Okay. If you don't want it, then I won't. This is important, but..." He knelt down and pressed his forehead against hers. "You're the most important. Promise."
"...Promise. You promised. So... no more hurting."
"Okay." Welf let out a long sigh. "...I'll figure out a better way. Deal?"
"Nn!"
Welf ruffled Pyrrha's crimson hair. "How about I read you a story book? It's been a while, hasn't it?"
"Okay, Papa!"
Pyrrha smiled and then hugged Welf's side.
He chuckled as he walked off with her back to their bedroom. "Clingy today, hm? Were you jealous of Bella and Fina?"
"...Nooo."
Welf smiled. "Well. I guess it's my turn to spoil you then. Come on. I found a fun book the other day in Auntie Hestia's library. Let Papa tell you the story of a brave pierrot who became a hero..."
===
Late in the evening, long after the moon had risen into the night sky.
Downstairs, in the main hall of the Hestia Familia's church, seven young women had gathered to discuss the recent events.
Emma, Karen, Primo.
Then Iris, Silva, Oriana, and Haruhime.
Emma nodded and let out a bright smile. Clapping her hands, she said, "So, the first meeting of the Big Brother Bell appreciation club has begun!"
Primo let out a faint smile. "Un! Let's talk about Big Brother!"
Karen looked over at Primo, concerned. "Are you sure it's okay for you to be up, Primo? You were exhausted from the Mind Down..."
"I'm okay!" Primo puffed up her chest and said, "I learned a lot! Because Big Brother showed me how to use mana, I healed myself!"
"My!" Iris idly brushed away a strand of her light brown hair and said, "You learned how to heal yourself too, Primo?"
"Mmhm! I'm a genius!"
Silva chuckled, the catgirl idly preening herself as she watched the others talk. "You certainly do learn fast, Little Goldie."
Primo's eyes lit up. "That's right! I'm golden!"
Oriana let out a warm smile. "How wonderful! Then perhaps we should train you in weapons as well? To be all gold."
Primo jumped up. "Yes! I'll be like Big Brother and use both magic AND swords!"
Haruhime covered her mouth and giggled. "Our Big Brother IS quite inspirational... Though Primo. Remember, it's late."
"O-Oh! Right!" Primo quickly sat down and let out a sheepish smile.
Silva rolled her eyes. "Please. As if we'll disturb anyone. Ryuu is still awake, being paranoid about watching the perimeter. Fina is sleeping in Miss Selene's room, and Miss Selene put up a barrier to stop sound from entering. Mister Welf's workshop is soundproof. And then Big Brother and Miss Hestia... well." She giggled.
Primo tilted her head. "...Well what?"
Iris chuckled. "Don't worry about it, dear. It's adult territory."
Primo puffed her cheeks. "I'm mature enough to- Wait. 'Adult' territory?" The young elf blanched and said, "Never mind!"
Oriana cleared her throat. "Let's focus, shall we?"
Karen nodded, idly unbraiding her black hair to be more comfortable. "Yes. We should at least be somewhat productive." She looked at Emma and said, "You're the leader here, Emma. Is there anything you wanted to talk about in particular?"
"E-Eh?" Emma blinked. "M-Me? I'm the leader?"
Silva nodded. "Duh~ You're the one who set up this group, remember?"
Iris let out a warm smile. "Yes, dear. You're also the one who got us all here."
Haruhime chuckled. "Well, if you don't know what to talk about... Shall we talk about how heroic our Big Brother is?"
Oriana nodded. "Quite! Even though we-" She cut herself off, her throat suddenly tightening. "A-Ahem." She cleared her throat. "Although there was... the incident. The fact that he made sure we were all okay, contacted our families, and then gave us a place when we all had nowhere to go..." Oriana cleared her throat again and wiped away her watery eyes. "I say that's quite the heroic feat."
Silva preened. "I still remember how he showed up, walking in like a villain only to clear out the REAL villains..."
Karen's eyes turned vicious. "Good. Bastards like those who did that to us...!"
Iris shuffled over to Karen's side and pulled the younger girl into a hug. "There, there. It was terrible. But it's over with."
Karen let out a shaky breath and nodded. "...Right. It's... done. They're done. That bastard's gone too."
Haruhime pursed her lips. "...Yes. The great evil was felled by our heroic Big Brother. So... shall we move on? And talk about something brighter? Like Fina's-"
At that time, a slight shuffle echoed from the side.
All seven girls immediately jumped into action.
Oriana snatched up a nearby broom and took a spear stance.
Karen lunged towards the nearby fireplace, pulling out the firepoker and pointing it in the direction of the sound.
Iris stood in front of Primo and Emma, arms held out and a determined look on her face.
Meanwhile, Silva pulled out a knife from somewhere, already ready to throw.
And then Lili froze mid-step, seeing the sudden hostility. She cleared her throat and said, "L-Lili is sorry for scaring you. B-But she was curious what you were doing..."
The seven girls let out a collective sigh of relief.
Emma peered out from behind Iris and let out an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry, Lili. Please, sit in with us! We were just chatting..."
Karen sighed and lowered her firepoker. "...Please announce your presence next time, Miss Lili. We are all... reactive towards sudden noises."
Lili quickly nodded. "Yes! Lili understands. Never again. So... Um..." Lili awkwardly walked over and joined the circle. "...What are your thoughts on Mister Bell?"