is it wrong to try to build a criminal Empire? Danmachi x MHA

"i have no need for friends; only pawns."

---

"It seemed quite valuable. Are you sure it was wise handing it over to him?" Riveria asked, questioning Ais's choice regarding the fate of the rare drop item.

They were heading to the surface after Ais had faced Udaeus, the monster rex of the 37th floor, and emerged victorious.

Although not unscathed, her clothes and armor were worn out, with the right side of her breastplate exposing part of her right breast where the cloth had torn, revealing a small portion.

"It's not like I can use large swords," Ais answered. She had decided to hand the drop item to Bors Elder, the representative of the 18th-floor adventurer town.

The man had literally begged her to give it to him.

Entering the sixth floor, Riveria decided to comment on Ais's feat. "After this solo endeavor, I'm sure you'll be satisfied with your next status update," a small smile on her face.

Ais was about to respond when they were both taken aback by the sight of five people lying still.

Some were visibly dead.

"What happened here?" Riveria asked, shocked.

What could have caused these people to fight each other like this?

She didn't dwell much on the thought and quickly moved to the nearest body—a red-haired man—and inspected him for any fatal wounds.

Ais looked past Riveria to the other bodies. The man in the middle was definitely dead, the blood puddle beneath him and his burnt legs confirming it.

She saw an arm lying there; past it was the white-haired kid she'd saved, along with a dwarf and a pallum—wait. White-haired kid?

Ais moved toward him, wanting to confirm if it was him and, if needed, help him.

Approaching closer, Ais looked at the white-haired kid—Bell Cranel, the one she'd saved from the minotaur.

Also, the one who seemingly hated her for some reason, a reaction she was not expecting to get from someone with features like his.

"Ais, let me check on him. You check on the dwarf and the pallum," Riveria said as she approached, having finished her inspection of the red-haired man. Ais nodded and moved on to the others.

Riveria eyed Bell Cranel. "You again," she muttered in slight annoyance. "Well, it's no harm in making sure you're not dead," she sighed and checked him for possible injuries.

'No physical injuries. Exhaustion. Mind down,' she concluded. He must have had a hard battle.

The human and the dwarf were certainly dead, judging by the amount of blood pooling beneath them—a pity.

"Riveria, the pallum is bleeding slightly," Ais calmly called, holding the pallum in her hands.

"Lay her down here; I'll heal her up," Riveria instructed.

A faint glow of her magic started the healing process on the pallum, mending whatever injuries she might have had.

"She's unconscious. She just needs some rest," Riveria confirmed to Ais, who was looking at Cranel with a troubled expression.

"Is something wrong?" Riveria asked, curious.

Ais turned to her. "I think he hates me," she said, gesturing toward Cranel.

Riveria was surprised. "What gives you that impression? Didn't you save him from certain death?" It was true—she had seen how poor of a state he was in.

Ais thought about it for a moment. Why did he hate her?

Deciding on an answer, she looked over at Riveria again. "I think he wanted to beat all the minotaurs by himself."

Riveria chuckled lightly. "I think you hurt his pride, Ais. He's a man, after all; being saved by a girl must have stung a little." Her tone was light and humorous.

Ais thought about it. It did make some sense.

"I want to make it up to him," she suddenly said, fidgeting nervously.

People fear her, some hate her.

She doesn't want that list to grow.

Though... she admits that she's a little curious about him. His confidence was baffling. He's just a level one, yet talks and behaves around first-class adventurers like they are nothing.

Riveria looked thoughtful. "I'm not quite sure, but I know a technique I learned from a goddess long ago. She said young men can never stay mad after you use it on them," she added with a small smile.

Ais nodded, resolved to make amends with Cranel.

---

All For One floated in darkness, his senses dulled, surrounded by a stillness he found disturbingly peaceful.

No One For All to steal, no world to dominate—only silence.

He hated it.

Then, a familiar voice broke through. "Brother."

All For One's eyes snapped open, the brightness momentarily blinding him. As his vision adjusted, he saw someone he thought he'd never see again: Yoichi.

Alive—sickly as ever, but undeniably alive—sitting on a stool in front of a counter.

Was that Kurogiri cleaning a glass behind the counter?

His gaze swept across the room, taking in the dim light of the... bar?

Kurogiri's bar.

"Yoichi…" All For One muttered. He'd just collapsed after his recent battle with that dwarf; surely, this had to be a dream.

He examined himself, confirming he was still in his new body.

"Come, sit with me, brother," Yoichi said, gesturing to the stool beside him, his smile warm and genuine, as if truly happy to see him.

Kurogiri didn't look up, focused instead on polishing the glass in his hands.

All For One approached slowly, taking the empty stool beside Yoichi. His expression was cautious but curious.

Kurogiri, apparently satisfied with the glass's shine, set it down and began pouring drinks. Once finished, he placed two glasses in front of them with a calm "Enjoy your drink, Master," before resuming his quiet work.

The silence stretched between them. All For One lifted the glass, taking a sip, savoring the taste.

"I heard you've made new friends," Yoichi said suddenly, his tone fond, as though pleased at the thought of his brother forming genuine bonds.

Friends? How absurd. "You're mistaken," he said dismissively. He didn't make friends—only pawns.

Yoichi's smile faltered slightly, the warmth dimming just a little. "Then I hope you do in the future, brother."

The silence returned, broken only by the faint sound of Kurogiri setting down a glass and picking up another to clean.

Growing impatient, All For One finally spoke. "What is the meaning of this? You're not real. Why are you here?"

Instead of answering directly, Yoichi replied, "I'm not sure—you wanted to see me."

Annoying. His own mind was playing tricks on him now. "I should wake up soon," he muttered, shifting his gaze back to the drink in his hand.

After a long pause, Yoichi spoke again. "When you wake up, try making real friends. Subordinates aren't the same, you know?" He chuckled softly, his tone light.

All For One was on the verge of lecturing him about the futility of friendship when his surroundings began to crumble. Reality itself seemed to unravel at the edges.

He was waking up.

As he glanced at Yoichi one last time, he saw a sad smile on his brother's face.

Before he could respond, everything went dark once more.

---

Consciousness returned slowly. All For One blinked, his eyes adjusting as he saw a blurred figure hovering above him. "Yoichi?" he murmured, uncertain who stood over him.

Ais looked down at the white-haired boy resting in her lap. Following Riveria's suggestion, she hoped this gesture would help ease the tension between them. "Sorry, I don't know who Yoichi is," she said softly, brushing her fingers through his hair, her cheeks faintly flushed.

All For One's senses sharpened with feral clarity, and his vision focused. His expression darkened slightly as he recognized the face above him: Ais Wallenstein.

Why was her right breast slightly exposed? Why was she stroking his hair? And why was he lying in her lap!?

Too drained to move, he simply asked, "What are you doing?" His tone was flat, bordering on annoyed.

Ais tilted her head slightly, as though his question was strange. "Stroking your hair," she replied, as if it were the most normal thing in the world.

All For One stared at her, unimpressed. 'Is this girl an airhead?' The irritation within him simmered.

Ais began to feel uneasy. This wasn't the reaction Riveria had led her to expect.

He attempted to sit up, but Ais gently pushed him back down. "Riveria said you severely overused your Mind. Stay down until you feel better," she said, her tone firm yet gentle.

All For One opened his mouth to argue, but a sharp pain in his head silenced him. He resigned himself to this humiliating position, lying on Wallenstein's lap.

The silence stretched. Ais fumbled for something to say, but no words came to her lips.

Finally, All For One broke the quiet. "Why are you here?" His voice carried a mixture of curiosity and annoyance as he scanned the unfamiliar ceiling. She must have moved him somewhere safer.

"We found you and your companions unconscious," Ais explained softly. "Riveria healed the pallum and the red-haired one. They're fine but still unconscious. The other two didn't make it."

All For One sighed irritably. This fool had saved him—again.

Ais studied his expression curiously. "Can you tell me what happened?" she asked, her curiosity evident.

"We were set up," he replied curtly, offering no further details.

Ais blinked, then nodded. "You did well," she said softly. She was well aware of the alarming number of ambushes in the dungeon. At least he had survived with little to no injury.

Too drained to continue the conversation, All For One attempted to stand again. "I feel better," he said curtly.

Ais nodded hesitantly, watching as he approached Welf and Lili, who lay nearby. He grabbed Welf by the collar, intending to drag him, while lifting Lili over his shoulder. They felt surprisingly light, almost like pillows, though his body was still too weak to carry both effectively.

He decided to take the little supporter with him to the church. As much as he wanted to break her to pieces, a perfect narrative had been established. Gaining her trust would be easier now that he was her "hero"—not once, but twice.

As he prepared to leave, Ais called out, "Are you going to drag him all the way to the surface?" Concern laced her voice as she gestured toward Welf.

He nodded silently in response.

"I could escort you out," Ais offered, her tone calm but slightly eager. "You're in no condition to fight if something happens along the way."

All For One paused for a moment before shaking his head. "That won't be necessary," he refused, his steps unsteady as he headed toward the exit.

'What a pathetic body,' he thought bitterly.

Ais watched him go, her hopes crumbling with his refusal. "Maybe he really does hate me," she whispered softly. The thought of being added to yet another person's list of avoided faces soured her mood.

Then, as if struck by an idea, she perked up. "Oh!" she exclaimed softly. "I should've just asked if he hates me." She muttered to herself, feeling like kicking herself for not thinking of it earlier.

If she knows why he hates her, she can make it up to him accordingly!

Resolving to confront him properly next time, she turned toward the exit. Her spirits lifted slightly as excitement bubbled within her. She was also very eager to update her status too.

Red hair flashed through her mind, but she dismissed the image, continuing her ascent to the surface.

She needed to grow stronger. And fast.

---

All For One reached the surface without incident, still dragging Welf by the collar and holding Lili on his shoulder. The crisp night air greeted him as he exited the dungeon entrance, the moon shining brightly in the sky, signaling the late hour.

Before he could take another step, a loud voice rang out.

"Bell!"

He barely had time to register it before Hestia threw herself at him, clinging tightly to his chest.

He sighed, too tired for her dramatics.

"I thought something terrible had happened! You didn't come back like you usually do, and I was so worried!" Her voice wavered, tears glistening in her eyes as she clung even tighter.

"I'm fine. Let's just go home," he said, voice hoarse and heavy with exhaustion. He tried to step forward, but Hestia's grip remained unyielding.

"Ahem," an unfamiliar voice interrupted.

Peering past Hestia, he spotted a red-haired woman with a serious expression. Beside her stood a brown-skinned girl with black hair, both of them oddly wearing eyepatches.

"I think that one belongs to me," the red-haired woman said, pointing to Welf, who lay limp on the ground.

All For One raised an eyebrow, his fatigue making him more blunt than usual. "Your man?"

The woman's composure cracked, a faint blush spreading across her face.

Before she could respond, the dark-haired girl burst out laughing. "Ha! Oh, goddess, that's a good one!" she managed between fits of laughter.

The red-haired woman ignored her companion's outburst, quickly regaining her composure. "N-no, I mean he's a member of my familia. I'm Hephaestus."

This is Hephaestus?

He studied her for a moment, unimpressed.

His gaze shifted to the laughing girl. She caught his look and grinned. "Tsubaki Collbrande, captain of the Hephaestus Familia," she introduced herself cheerfully.

"We've been worried about our golden boy," Tsubaki continued, gesturing to the unconscious Welf. "He didn't return from his dive, so we came to find him."

'Good,' All For One thought. One less burden on him.

He released Welf's collar, letting the smith slump to the ground. "Bell Cranel, captain of the Hestia Familia," he said flatly, dragging Hestia along as she clung to him.

Tsubaki effortlessly hoisted Welf onto her shoulder, handling him like a sack of potatoes.

"Well then, ladies, if you'll excuse me." Without warning, he picked up Hestia and slung her over his other shoulder like she weighed nothing.

"O-Oi! Bell! Put me down! I can walk! You're embarrassing me in front of my friend!" Hestia protested, squirming in his grasp.

Ignoring her protests, he headed for the church. Thankfully, the streets were quiet, and no one was around to witness the ridiculous scene.

Tsubaki watched them go, a chuckle escaping her lips. "Weird kid."

Hephaestus smiled faintly. "Maybe, but Hestia seems quite attached to him."

The two turned back toward their base, Tsubaki adjusting Welf on her shoulder.

"Well, at least he's not being dragged anymore," Tsubaki remarked with a grin.

Hephaestus chuckled softly. "Yes, definitely an improvement."

---

Gently placing Lili on the couch, All For One paused to observe her peaceful, unconscious form. Then, he crossed the room and sank down beside Hestia on the bed, letting out a long, weary sigh.

"Are you alright, Bell? What happened in the dungeon?" Hestia's concern was unmistakable, her eyes scanning him for injuries. The sight of him returning so late, carrying two others in tow, had unsettled her.

"We were ambushed by two adventurers," he said curtly, staring ahead. "I had to kill them and take their abilities." His tone was calm, almost detached, as he delivered the explanation without embellishment. He hoped that would satisfy her enough and she would be done with her complaints—he had no patience left.

Suddenly, he felt her arms wrap around him, catching him off guard.

"I'm just glad you're okay, Bell," Hestia murmured, her voice soft and trembling slightly. "You don't have to explain yourself this time. If something had happened to you… I don't know what I'd do. I'd be so lonely."

All For One stared ahead in silence, uncertain how to respond to her unexpected display of affection.

With a sigh, he broke free of her embrace, pulled off his shirt, and lay down on the bed. "Update me," he said, his voice heavy with fatigue.

"Of course!" Hestia replied, her tone immediately brightening. She eagerly climbed onto his back and began the familiar ritual of updating his Status.

When she finished, she handed him the sheet, beaming with pride.

His eyes widened as he read over the numbers. "This…" he muttered, momentarily caught off guard by the results.

---

Bell Cranel: Level 1 Adventurer

Strength: 112 → 224 G

Endurance: 76 → 103 H

Dexterity: 79 → 98 I

Agility: 110 → 153 H

Magic: 70 → 90 I

Skills:

All For One, Feral Clarity, Durak'gor

Magic:

Fireball, Raijin

---

"Amazing, right?!" Hestia exclaimed, practically bouncing with excitement. "It's that new skill—Durak'gor! It doubles your strength and potential, making it easier to gain Excelia in strength!" She pointed to the skill on the sheet, her pride practically radiating. "My Bell-kun is growing so much!"

All For One scanned the page again, his mind already analyzing the implications. So that's why the dwarf had been able to nearly shatter his spine with a single blow.

A useful skill, indeed—one that would prove invaluable.

His thoughts drifted back to the attackers. The knockoff samurai had lacked any distinguishing marks, but he'd caught sight of an emblem on the dwarf: an eight-legged spider.

His lips curled into a faint, sinister smirk. He'd make sure to repay their little group—dearly.

---

The End

---

Updated version: what changed?

AFO dream state changed

kurogiri added because why not?

Ais is now more canonical I guess, I'm writing her Manga personality so bare with me

We also now have a reason of why Ais is curious about AFO, for now It's just curiosity unlike Canon.

Other Minor changes.