"What did I just see?"
"N-nothing!"
Syr quickly turned around, her cheeks still flushed. "Such lovely weather today…"
The tavern after the rain was calm and cool, with a faint rainbow arching beyond the window.
"Yes," Bell replied softly, remembering the morning's downpour.
Every time he came here, the place felt oddly dreamlike—like something out of his grandfather's whimsical tales, come to life.
"Cranel-san."
Ryuu stood composed as ever, completely unaffected by Anya's teasing.
"I've retrieved your weapon. Naaza-san is safe in the next room. As for the kidnappers, they've been handed over to the Guild. If there's any news, someone will come to inform you."
As she spoke, she held out the dagger—its blade spotless, every trace of blood washed away.
"Thank you. I really appreciate you coming to help," Bell said earnestly.
Because the dagger and its sheath were made of different materials, the sheath hadn't survived the mercenary's final strike—it had splintered into several pieces.
Ryuu held the dagger carefully by the base, raising it just enough to keep him from accidentally cutting himself.
"I'm really lucky to have teamed up with you, Ryuu-san. You're incredibly reliable."
The praise came straight from his heart.
Rescuing a hostage while keeping them safe was the hardest part of such a mission—and for someone at his level, it would've been impossible.
Only someone as swift and precise as Ryuu could have made it happen.
Bell smiled faintly and extended his hand.
The hilt was narrow, only wide enough for one person's grip.
He pinched the end of it gently with his thumb and forefinger, signaling her to let go.
Even though he tried to keep some distance, his fingers inevitably brushed against the back of her hand.
Ryuu's body twitched ever so slightly. Her emerald eyes drifted away for a moment before quietly settling on Syr.
She stared in silence until the warmth on her hand faded, then slowly turned her gaze away.
"Eh—" Chloe, watching nearby, had seen everything.
She remembered their first day working together at the tavern—how she and Lunoire had bet on whether the icy Elf would ever shake hands with anyone.
After several attempts, Chloe's side had won—Ryuu had refused every time.
But Lunoire hadn't accepted defeat. She tried to exploit a loophole by reaching for Ryuu's hand herself.
The result? The human girl had spun several times through the air before flying straight out the tavern door.
The gap between people really could be terrifying.
"What's wrong?" Bell asked.
Chloe glanced at Ryuu's serene face. If she told that story now, she'd probably share Lunoire's fate.
"N-nothing, nya."
Bell took the dagger and placed it on the bedside table.
He'd noticed Ryuu's subtle reaction but didn't think much of it.
Having someone of the opposite sex suddenly touch your hand—it was normal to be startled.
Compared to the flustered heroines in those adventure tales, Ryuu's response was remarkably calm.
Still… she must have cleaned the dagger herself.
The sky-blue blade gleamed without a single trace of blood. Even the hilt was spotless, not a smudge left behind.
Could Ryuu-san have a touch of obsessive cleanliness?
Bell dismissed the thought with a quiet laugh. Speculating about her after she'd taken the time to clean and return his weapon just felt wrong.
"Cranel-san."
The Elf girl spoke softly. "Your injuries have fully healed. If it's alright with you, would you join me for lunch?"
Ryuu needed some time alone with him.
She had to confess her level—and apologize.
If Bell knew she was a retired Level 4 Adventurer, he would have acted far more cautiously. She had dragged him into danger, stood by and watched him fight, and forced her ideals onto him. Those selfish actions needed to be laid bare.
But because of her identity, she couldn't let her coworkers at the tavern know. Meeting Bell privately was the only way.
"Of course. Where should we meet?"
Bell agreed without hesitation.
When Ryuu had bought him clothes before, he'd already promised to treat her to a meal as thanks.
And setting aside the morning's events or any sense of obligation—having lunch with a green-haired, blue-eyed beauty was not something he'd ever refuse.
Ryuu blinked thoughtfully. If she was going to reveal her identity, she needed somewhere private.
The tavern was too public, and the staff dormitory would surely be invaded by Chloe and the others.
As for anywhere else in the city…
Before long, silence fell as Ryuu pondered. The others simply watched the two in quiet anticipation.
"Hmm... what about your place?"
"!"
"What?"
"Nya?!"
Amid the startled reactions, Ryuu made up her mind.
She'd heard Loki once mention during drinks that the goddess Hestia now lived in a run-down church on the outskirts of the city.
Since the goddess was usually away working and only returned at dusk, it would make for the perfect place to talk.
"I don't mind. What about the food?" Bell asked.
"Leave that to me, Cranel-san," Ryuu answered decisively.
"Alright then, noon it is. See you there."
Bell nodded, assuming she would've chosen the tavern.
If they weren't spending money there, it hardly counted as "treating her." From an outsider's perspective, the whole thing could easily look like something more than a simple thank-you.
Bell didn't think much of it, but the others in the room immediately huddled together, whispering conspiratorially.
"Syr, I think Ryuu's acting suspicious, nya."
"I agree, nya. Something definitely happened this morning."
"H-how could that be? It must be a misunderstanding."
"He was badly hurt, and now they're suddenly close. Not impossible. Moments like that show who people really are."
"I will find out the truth, nya."
"You could just ask directly—hey, stop pulling my tail, Syr!"
"No, we can't. We have to trust them."
"I think so too. Let's just keep an eye on things for now."
After reaching their conclusion, Chloe smirked and walked toward the bed.
"If you're all done talking, get out for now, nya. I've got something to discuss with the boy."
She spoke while nudging Ryuu toward the door.
Amid some light protests, Chloe's eyes flicked toward the dagger. Bell caught the signal and nodded, politely asking the others to step out first.
Soon, only the two of them remained in the room.
"Youngster, here's a spare," Chloe said, pulling a sheath from her pocket. "But since it got washed, the poison on the dagger's gone, nya."
"So it was coated with poison?" Bell asked, surprised.
"Yep, nya. But if you stab too many people, it loses its effect, nya."
...
Such an important detail, and she mentioned it only now.
"Nya~" Chloe wiggled her ears and put on a cute, clueless expression, trying to cover her slip with charm.
Bell looked at the girl before him, but he wasn't angry. He'd borrowed her weapon in the first place; he had no right to complain.
"This dagger really helped me out. Thank you."
Chloe smiled warmly. "No need to thank me, nya. What I really wanted to say is—the poison it used before doesn't exist anymore, nya. If you want poison, this cat's got other types, nya."
Bell thought back to the poisons he'd seen in her wooden box and asked, "Would any of those work on monsters in the Dungeon?"
"Monsters?" Chloe tilted her head, her short black hair swaying. "Of course not, nya."
...
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