Bell wasn't stupid. If he couldn't even grasp a girl's thoughts, how could a blockhead like him ever hope to reach the threshold of a harem?
The elf girl met his gaze, silently waiting for an answer.
"I guessed it for two reasons," Bell explained. "First, the timing of the rescue was too convenient. The battle had just ended when that wind-like healing magic appeared."
The world was cruel. Reality didn't work like stories, where rescue arrived at the exact moment of desperation. A bit of thought was enough to realize that the person must have been observing the battle all along.
The dignified elf girl hadn't stepped in immediately because her high level allowed her to ensure his safety.
Ryuu stared at the boy, surprised that his mind had remained so sharp even in such intense combat.
"Second, the reason you invited me to dinner—don't you think inviting me to eat here is a little unfair?"
A beauty as divine as a goddess, inviting him to dine at his home. Bell wasn't about to lose himself in such a dreamlike development. Though they'd only spent a short time together, he understood well that the elf girl before him would never invite a man to share a meal without a particular reason.
Ryuu pressed her lips together, as if considering how to apologize.
Bell smiled lightly. "So? Didn't I look pretty cool? It's thanks to you being there. If no one had seen that fight, I might've been too discouraged to go back to the Dungeon."
It was an obvious lie.
The boy had stood back up, battered and bloodied—there was no way something so small would stop him.
Ryuu knew that, but she couldn't argue. The boy had already taken away her reason to apologize.
"Well, it was the second coolest fight I've seen since reaching Level 4."
Ryuu smiled in relief, inadvertently revealing her level.
"Eh? Then who was the first?"
Bell had successfully shifted the topic. What he wanted wasn't guilt or tears—it was a genuine smile. Only by stacking these little smiles could he reach the place he longed for.
"The first one's a secret."
"No… it's not a guy, is it?" Bell teased, pretending to be shy.
"You guess."
Ryuu felt her heart lighten. The warm atmosphere at the table reminded her of the old days.
As she finally relaxed, Ryuu noticed that Bell's complexion looked a bit off.
"Cranel-san, are you all right?"
"I'm fine. Perfectly fine."
No sooner had Bell spoken than he shoved a large piece of grilled meat into his mouth. With each swallow, the shadow on his face deepened.
"If you can't eat it, don't force yourself."
Ryuu stopped short of saying it tasted bad. To point it out would only make his effort meaningless.
"It's just so delicious that I cut too much," Bell lied.
He couldn't quite describe the flavor—it was as if too many ingredients had been piled together, when skipping a few steps might've made it taste better.
Ryuu looked curiously at the thick soup.
Chloe and the others had stopped her from tasting the final dish, but could it really be that bad?
She'd memorized all of Mia's tricks—what to add for flavor, what to use to mask odors. Surely it had to be better than Syr's cooking, right?
"Let me try it."
Ryuu leaned forward, took the wooden spoon, and scooped directly into the thick soup.
"Wait…"
Bell couldn't stop her. The elf girl's speed was simply too fast—she truly lived up to the name Gale.
"I've already eaten this."
Bell played his trump card. He had long suspected that the elf girl suffered from a touch of cleanliness. The thick soup had been served in a single bowl; he'd never intended to share it, so he'd naturally left his used spoon inside.
Ryuu froze when she heard his words. Her gaze fell on the wooden spoon in the bowl, her mind blank for an instant. That brief hesitation led to an accident.
She moved too quickly. The spoon in her hand brushed against the rim, sending the entire bowl of thick soup toppling toward Bell. The liquid splashed through the air—too late to stop it. The boy's limited agility left him no way to dodge.
Realizing her mistake, Ryuu darted forward like a gust of wind, lunging straight at the boy. To keep the soup from splashing onto herself, she didn't stop until she collided with something solid.
Bell barely understood what had just happened. Judging by the situation, he had been pushed onto the bed by the elf girl.
A refreshing fragrance surrounded him, evoking the image of an ancient forest filled with quiet, solitary blooms. Strands of emerald hair hung loosely, and a single fine, golden thread slipped free, brushing gently against his face.
A soft and delicate sensation pressed against him, yet Bell had no mind for it. He was completely captivated by her expression.
Ryuu's gaze remained calm and proud, shining like a star in the night sky. Yet her cheeks were tinged with faint color.
Ryuu could swear to the gods she hadn't done it on purpose. She harbored no improper feelings toward the boy. The blush on her face came not only from instinctive embarrassment but also from guilt toward her friend.
This should have been Syr's place.
As her supporter, even by accident, Ryuu shouldn't have been here. Even the clothes she wore were a gift from Syr.
Her friend's smile flashed in her mind as the boy's face lingered close before her eyes. Ryuu tried to think of how to explain herself and was just about to rise when—
A goddess arrived quietly.
...
The midday sun shone brilliantly.
Hestia met her divine friend. "Miach, how's your shop doing?"
Miach was carrying a heavy bag. "Thanks to Bell, Naaza is safe and sound, and we've received compensation. But to rebuild the shop, we'll need to refine these materials into potions first."
"Heh heh, you can see it too, right? My Bell has such a bright future ahead!"
Earlier that morning, while working her part-time job, Hestia had overheard people calling him "the weakest adventurer." Though she'd argued fiercely in his defense, they kept insisting he'd collapsed on the first floor, and the quarrel ended unresolved.
Unable to vent her frustration, she naturally took the chance to boast before her friend.
Miach chuckled softly. "That young man is sure to become a hero. When he left this morning, his wounds had already healed. If he ever needs anything, we'll do everything we can to help."
His words were sincere, not flattery.
"Then do me a favor—come with me to tomorrow's Denatus. Those scheming gods are bound to badmouth my Bell!"
Hestia tried to recruit support.
Miach lifted the bag in his hand and shook his head. "Sorry, it's a critical time. I can't leave my Familia member to handle all this alone."
"Aww…" Hestia pouted briefly. "Fine, I'll go home and recharge my Bell energy. I'll take them all on tomorrow myself."
Seeing the goddess so full of determination, Miach didn't even question what "Bell energy" meant. "Alright. Good luck."
Hestia walked away with a smile, murmuring to herself.
"I skipped lunch… When I check on Bell later, asking him to feed me isn't too much, right? Hmm, perfectly normal. Totally not too much."
The banquet was fast approaching, and for Hestia, it would be a true trial.
To strengthen her resolve, the goddess decided to seek a bit of warmth from the boy.
With a blissful smile, Hestia stepped into the church, carrying her sweet little fantasies.