In a corner of the forest, Bell stood outside his tent. Finn glanced around the camp and said, "Bell Cranel, you've never camped in the Dungeon before, right? How are you this skilled?"
"My grandfather taught me everything."
Rivira Town, having just suffered a monster rampage, was in the middle of rebuilding. As the Rogue's Quarter, its residents were far tougher than anyone expected. In return for helping them, the Loki Familia accepted tents and supplies.
The female members headed off to bathe, leaving the others to set up camp. Bell worked with practiced ease, pitching the tent and setting up a stove on the open ground.
"Seeing you like this… don't tell me you can cook too?" A spark lit up in Finn's eyes.
"If it's nothing too complicated, I can. But before we left, Tione-san and the others kept emphasizing everyone's assigned roles. Shouldn't cooking be theirs?"
Bell had grown up alone with his grandfather. When he was still very young, his grandfather pushed all household chores—including cooking—onto him under the pretense of training. And from that day on, the "training" never once stopped.
"If it's you, they'd gladly hand that job over. This is a personal request—can you take charge of the cooking? The Hestia Familia just started out, and your finances must be tight. Think of it as me hiring you. What do you say?"
Finn spoke seriously and even offered an amount higher than what cooks in Orario usually earned.
"I'm happy to help. Does the Loki Familia have any dietary restrictions?"
"Well… not exactly…" Finn hesitated.
Gareth, watching from the side, burst into loud laughter.
"I remember now. When we returned from the expedition a few days ago, it was Tione-san and the others who were in charge of the cooking…"
Amazoness cooking wasn't bad in flavor, but the portions were overwhelming—especially for Finn, a Pallum. Last time, under the sympathetic stares of the other members, Finn had been forced to eat far more than he could handle just to avoid wasting food. The strange fish Tione prepared had been nearly a meter long before it was fully cooked.
After hearing the story, Bell assured him, "Finn-san, leave the cooking to me."
"That's a relief." Finn let out a wry smile and shifted back to the main topic. "Bell Cranel, do you think this feigned-death operation will actually draw out the mastermind?"
After the Rivira incident, Finn had sent Bete—the fastest among them—to the surface to report and check on Orario's current situation. The group was now camped on the 18th Floor, waiting for Bete's return.
Bell frowned. "Probably not… That red-haired woman didn't even know who I was."
The Tamer who attacked Rivira Town had no idea what Bell looked like or any details about him. Because of that, Bell had been able to bluff his way through and rescue Ais at the cliff. It also proved the red-haired woman wasn't the mastermind they were after.
"But the Viola from both incidents were the same species…" Finn hesitated, then decided to share the information he had. "During our last expedition, we also saw that giant female-type monster on the Deep Floors."
The red-haired woman wanted the Jewel Fetus, while the mastermind wanted Bell dead. They weren't the same person, yet they were connected through the Viola. Add to that the method of transporting monsters to the surface, the ability to mutate them, and the unknown embryo existing deep below…
The whole incident was like walking into thicker and thicker fog.
Bell murmured, "So it's not just two factions…"
Finn nodded. "I think so too. They're using each other. But whatever they're planning, another large-scale attack like today's won't happen again anytime soon."
The red-haired woman had clearly set her sights on Ais. After committing so many forces, she wouldn't be able to act again right away. The question was—after diving into the lake, where could she have escaped to?
Finn had already instructed Bete not to reveal much to the outside world. Issuing a wanted notice for the red-haired woman was enough.
If the feigned-death plan worked, they could trace whoever showed up. If it failed, at least one thing became clear.
In the enemy's eyes, the Jewel Fetus was the highest priority. Besides mutating monsters, what else could that bizarre object be used for…
Their thoughts drifted as the crystal light reached its brightest point.
"Bell Cranel, go fetch them back."
Finn decided to let things take their course. Thanks to the boy, he now knew the enemy wasn't just one person, and their objectives differed. If even one weak point appeared, they might be able to follow the trail and uncover everything.
"...Should I go?"
Bell hesitated for a moment. Lefiya's relentless chase and her muttering "unforgivable" were still vivid in his mind.
"Well, this counts as part of the payment for the cooking," Finn replied with a smile.
"No problem. Leave it to me, Finn-san."
Bell didn't hesitate for even a second and dashed into the forest.
...
On the small path, the distant blue crystal cast a cool, serene glow. Before Bell reached the spring, a figure stepped out to block him.
"Lefiya-san?"
"You… You didn't come here to peek, did you?!"
The moment she saw him, Lefiya charged forward, her voice sharp and accusing.
"I'm just running an errand for Finn-san, Lefiya-san. Your—"
"..."
Following Bell's line of sight, Lefiya finally noticed what was wrong.
Her current appearance was far from proper.
Her blouse wasn't fastened at the collar, revealing her fair, flawless neck and the faint suggestion of a curve below it.
The suspender of her over-the-knee white stockings had snagged on her skirt, leaving her right thigh completely exposed.
Water droplets trailed along her skin, and even her small red shoes seemed tinged with the air of a beauty fresh from her bath.
"You… Where are you looking, you idiot!"
Lefiya's shout sent several birds flying from the trees.
The Amazoness sisters' voices followed right after.
"Did something happen? I'll go check!"
"Tiona, put your clothes on first!"
"..."
Hearing the ruckus from the spring, Lefiya immediately realized Tiona had run out completely naked.
"You, come with me!"
Without even stopping to fix her own clothes, she grabbed Bell's right hand and pulled him away from the spring.
Under the canopy of green trees, her damp blonde hair occasionally brushed against Bell's face as they ran.
"Lefiya-san, you could just tell her it's fine. There's no need to run," Bell said.
"...Why didn't you tell me sooner!"
They had already covered some distance when Lefiya, panting, questioned him.
"I was saying it, but you didn't hear me," Bell answered honestly.
"Hnn…"
Flustered and overwhelmed with embarrassment, Lefiya hadn't heard a single word he said earlier.
Thick foliage blocked out the harsh sunlight, and beneath the shade, a small stream flowed quietly.
"Turn around first."
Only then did Lefiya release his left hand, her cheeks burning so hot it felt like the lingering water droplets might evaporate. She adjusted her clothes while glancing toward him.
"All right…"
Bell turned around. Her outfit was neatly arranged again, though the blush on her face refused to fade.
"...I don't think I remember the way back."
Lefiya looked around, surrounded by scenery that all looked strangely similar.
"I remember."
Bell truly no longer knew how to tease this clumsy Elf.
"Um..."
Lefiya lowered her head, wearing an expression that screamed, I messed up again...
And as if to deliver the finishing blow to her embarrassment, her stomach rumbled loudly.
"..."
"..."
Seeing the boy's slightly helpless expression, Lefiya muttered in defeat, "I… I'm hungry…"
Bell glanced around. "Since we walked in opposite directions, it'll be a long way back. Do you think you can make it?"
"Of course I—"
Before she could finish, her stomach growled again.
She wished she could crawl into a hole in the ground.
"Lefiya-san, you can handle the monsters on this floor, right?" Bell asked, shifting the topic.
"Mhm."
Just like with the Minotaur, as long as Lefiya wasn't scared, she could fend off monsters even by whacking them with her wand.
Bell remembered the earlier situation. It was unlikely, but a monster might have slipped into the forest.
"Then keep watch. I'll get you something to eat."
"Okay. Be careful…"
Lefiya gripped her wand and positioned herself beneath a tree.
A blue crystal column at the roots cast a steady glow as Bell climbed the trunk, inching upward.
Leaves rustled softly. The forest was unusually silent.
Then the ground began to tremble. Lefiya saw it first—a hulking bear-like monster, claws raised, closing in on them.
Lefiya lifted her wand and murmured in her mind, I'm a magic idiot…
"Firebolt!"
The moment the beast lunged, flame and lightning crashed down from above, striking it clean between the eyes.
Blinded by the sudden blast, it staggered—just in time to receive a heavy smash from her staff.
As the monster reeled, the white-haired boy dropped from above. Using the momentum, he drove his black dagger straight through its chest.
"Lefiya-san, I didn't expect you to stay quiet on purpose and lure the bear monster into our little trap."
Bell praised what he thought was coordinated teamwork.
"..."
Lefiya couldn't bring herself to say anything. She hadn't planned anything—she'd simply been thinking one thing:
Protect Bell Cranel.
That resolve alone had kept her silent.
"What's wrong?" Bell asked gently.
"N-nothing."
As she tried to hide her fluster, Bell pulled a few fruits from his coat.
"Honey Cloud fruits!"
Seeing the Dungeon specialty, Lefiya immediately remembered their honey-like sweetness and cotton-soft texture.
She swallowed hard.
Bell handed all of them to her.
"You're not having any?" Lefiya accepted them happily.
"No. But the Magic Stone from this bear is mine."
Bell drew his dagger again and walked toward the corpse.
"Of course." Lefiya took a big bite of the fruit, the sweet aroma blooming instantly in her mouth. "Bell Cranel, you're short on money, right? If you don't mind, I could—"
Cough, cough—
Lefiya clamped her mouth shut.
What was she even thinking?! Was she starving to the point of delirium?
As she chewed, the nostalgic sweetness pulled her mind straight back to the boy's lips.
Because of the blood, they had tasted sweet then too. Just like this.
Remembering that moment from the morning was exactly what had made her slip up.
"What can you do, Lefiya-san?"
Bell really was starting from nothing and desperately needed funds.
In his past battles, most of his opponents were strong enough that he shattered Magic Stones outright.
And he had only joined his familia a few days ago—his finances were anything but stable.
"N-nothing..."
Lefiya had completely missed her chance to speak. She wasn't wealthy to begin with—what she currently owned was barely enough to buy a few bottles of potion. The potion she'd fed the boy had only been entrusted to her by Riveria, who was worried something unusual might happen.
But taking care of his food, clothing, and shelter… that much I can handle…
It was all Riveria's fault for being too exceptional. Who else could casually pull out a potion like it was nothing? Before she realized it, Lefiya found herself comparing herself to Riveria.
She quickly shook her head, tossing aside this strange competitive impulse.
While Lefiya was spiraling in her thoughts, Bell extracted the bear monster's Magic Stone. Then he suddenly noticed the grass near his feet glowing with a pale blue-green light.
"Lefiya-san, look at this."
"Wow, Crystal Drop!" Lefiya gasped as if she had just opened a treasure chest. "This is super expensive on the surface! I've only eaten it once…"
"I know."
Bell picked up the extremely rare fruit. The Crystal Drop was as clear as gemstones—yet only two pieces lay there.
"...Why do you even know about this? And the Honey Cloud too—they're Dungeon-exclusive! You've never been here before, right?"
Lefiya asked, puzzled.
"My grandfather's guidebook mentioned it. If you come to the Dungeon and end up missing rare foods or ores, you'd kick yourself afterward."
Bell explained. To have something valuable right in front of you yet lose it because you didn't recognize it—Bell would never forgive himself for making such a beginner mistake.
"Your family's guidebook… isn't it kind of amazing…"
Lefiya recalled all the rare items she'd missed in the past and couldn't help complaining.
"They're just hand-drawn children's books."
Bell held out one of the Crystal Drops. "Anyway, enough about that. This is yours. If you see something, you get a share."
"Really?" Lefiya accepted it happily. Then, as if remembering something, she asked, "Are you planning to sell the other one?"
"Oh, right."
It was a delicacy favored by the upper class—worth far more than the Magic Stone he'd just taken.
"..."
Lefiya glanced at the Crystal Drop in her hand, then carefully tucked it into her inner pocket.
"If… if you're going to sell it, then sell it to me."
"Lefiya-san, haven't you only eaten one before?"
She might be clumsy, but she'd been collecting Magic Stones and Drop Items the whole time—clearly a frugal person. Bell couldn't imagine her spending a large sum on a single Crystal Drop.
"Hnn…"
Lefiya winced—he was right. She never wasted money unless it was for helping a friend. Even the amplification gem embedded in her wand was something she protected with extreme care, terrified it might break the way Riveria's wand sometimes did.
Why is he so perceptive at times like this?!
Lefiya pressed her lips together, thinking hard. After a long struggle, she finally spoke softly:
"I… really like this Crystal Drop.
So keep it for me. I'll pay you a deposit now, and when I want to eat it, you can sell it to me."
The Crystal Drop, stored in a glass jar, could be preserved like a gemstone. Lefiya didn't want Bell to sell it to someone else. Just imagining that made her chest ache faintly.
So she had wracked her brain until she managed to come up with this excuse.
Bell looked at the Crystal Drop in his hand, then at Lefiya's flushed cheeks.
"Alright, I'll agree. But you don't need to pay a deposit."
"B-but that won't do!" Lefiya protested immediately.
"…Okay."
Seeing her insistence, Bell relented and tucked the Crystal Drop into his coat.
"Lefiya-san, let's head back."
"Mhm."
Clear stream water murmured beside them as the two slowly made their way toward the camp.
"You absolutely must not sell it," Lefiya emphasized once more.
"I promise I won't."
Having made that pledge, Bell wouldn't sell it even if a god demanded it.
Lefiya held her wand close, noticing the boy was matching her pace. A faint smile curved her lips as she said, "And no more carrying me around recklessly. Manipulating a magic sphere is incredibly difficult."
Setting aside how embarrassing that posture had been, Concurrent Chanting was far from simple. Even if someone carried you, you still had to control the gradually condensing sphere of magic. If it collapsed and dispersed, the chant would fail entirely.
Lefiya had trained in Concurrent Chanting since long ago. When she was alone, she could complete a chant by moving slowly. If not for that, who knew how that final battle would have ended.
"But Lefiya-san managed it. I believe in you."
"...What does that even mean?" Lefiya pouted.
During their time together, she'd learned that the boy would never gamble with anyone's life. Even if Lefiya failed her Concurrent Chant, he wouldn't let Ais or her face mortal danger.
"So what's the real situation?" Lefiya pressed.
"The monster numbers weren't high, and that terrain isn't like the surface. The Viola won't burrow underground. Even if the Concurrent Chanting failed, we could attract the monsters with magic power and use the trees to stall them for a long while."
Bell explained his reasoning honestly.
"..."
Lefiya froze, surprised he had thought things through so thoroughly.
"But when I said I trust you, I really meant it," Bell added.
"You're definitely lying again," Lefiya huffed.
"Hey, it's the truth! Who told you to be a magic idiot?"
"You're the idiot! And another thing… don't peek next time…"
"That was force majeure. I completely forgot about it."
"...Then tell me—what color is my underwear? And don't you dare lie."
"White, with lace trim."
"Hmph… You answered instantly? And you said you forgot?!"
"I guessed."
"Who guesses the style?! Idiot, don't you dare run!"
Their figures gradually receded down the path.
At some point, the crystals above had turned pure white.
The soft white glow illuminated Lefiya's face, capturing that faint smile within the forest.
...
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