Dungeon ni Deai o Motomeru no wa Machigatte Iru Darou ka - Volume 8 - Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2 

THE PRUM'S PROPOSAL 

Fifty kirlos due east from Orario. 

While life was going on as usual behind the city wall far away, the Alliance was still busy dealing with Rakia’s army. 

“Gahh, I’m soooo bored. Fiiiinn. End this already, will yaaaa.” 

The battle had begun five days ago. 

Loki Familia had built their base of operations in a clearing in the middle of the plain. There they had a commanding view, from the harsh Alb mountain range all the way to the edges of the Deep Forest Seoro. While Loki Familia’s flag flew high above their heads, they kept a close eye on enemy movements. 

A goddess lazily sprawled out over several chairs lined up side by side underneath the largest tent inside the base. Finn, meanwhile, leaned over a large map stretched across a table. He smiled dryly to himself. 

“I would like nothing more than to do just that…” 

Alone with his goddess inside the tent, Finn studied the locations of different pieces on top of the map. 

“Their movements seem half-hearted, far too indecisive.” 

“What’s that supposed to mean?” 

“They cause enough commotion to get our attention but never truly go on the offensive…Even their generals, equal to our second-tier adventurers, refuse to show their faces. Their forces take one step forward and then three steps back. Our allies are being spread too thin chasing them down. We can’t keep this up.” 

If Rakia had one advantage over the alliance of powerful adventurers, it was numbers. 

It went without saying that many large familias resided within Orario, but none had the manpower to match that of an entire country. It might have been the era of quality over quantity, but overwhelming an opponent with numbers was still a viable strategy. 

Even if the Orario familias committed their forces to eliminating all the small battalions that were cutting off Orario’s trade and crippling its economy, they would inevitably end up chasing the enemy too far, stretching their already thin lines to the breaking point. 

“So the main army’s hidin’ somewhere, and the guys we’re fightin’ now are just distractions?” 

“That can’t be completely ruled out, but…” 

Finn begrudgingly answered Loki, who hadn’t shown the slightest interest in, nor bothered to remember, any incoming information since the start of the war. That was when another member of Loki Familia ran into the base and entered the tent. 

“General, I have confirmation.” 

“Good work, Raul. What’s the latest from Port Meren?” 

“Everything seems normal. There were no sightings of a fleet or even suspicious ships, from Lolog Lake up to the cliffs.” 

Finn listened to his subordinate’s report and turned to face the map. His hands went to the west side of Orario, opposite to their base’s location on the map, and he removed all the stones from the lake, all the way up the coastline. 

“So there’s no possibility of an incursion by sea…” 

Loki got out of her makeshift chair bed and joined Raul beside the map. They could see that Finn had marked the location of the first battle and indicated the current location of Rakia’s many battalions with red pieces. The troops that Finn had sent in pursuit were marked blue. 

“It appears our enemy wants to draw out this war…They want to spread Orario’s forces as thin as possible, chip away at our supplies and morale, then finish the bulk of the fighting outside the city.” 

“Ahhh, got it. So that’s what’s goin’ on.” 

Loki smirked as Finn worked out Rakia’s strategy piece by piece and arrived at their final goal. 

The prum general had a little chuckle at the range of expressions that passed over his god’s face. 

“Let’s return to the city for the time being. Whatever the enemy is after, it’s there.” 

“Music to my ears!” Loki jubilantly clapped her hands, rejoicing in her newfound freedom. 

“Raul, we’re withdrawing. Spread the word to all units. Leave our flags in place. Rakia can’t know we’re gone.” 

“A-are you sure, General…? If we just abandon the front…” 

“We have a good reason to return to the city. I doubt the Guild will complain.” 

Finn ignored his subordinate’s shocked expression and started packing up his belongings. 

“Freya Familia can take care of the rest.” 

“Hee-hee-hee! She can’t say no to the Guild ’cause of everything that happened with Ishtar. That airheaded vixen got slapped with a mighty high penalty. They can take care of all the dirty work!” 

Loki couldn’t have looked more pleased, since a certain Goddess of Beauty would have no choice but to obey the Guild’s orders. She could unload all the boring jobs onto that goddess’s familia. A small group of messengers rushed out of the base to deliver the orders to field commanders. Loki Familia was in full retreat a little less than an hour later. 

“Any powerful familias still left in Orario?” 

“Hmm…Of the big ones…there’s probably only Phai-Phai’s kids.” 

“Hephaistos Familia? That’s perfect. I’ll have them help out as well.” 

After going over a few more things with Loki, Finn left to oversee the final stages of their withdrawal. 

Much like during the expedition into the Dungeon, the familia’s lower-ranking members quickly disassembled the base, packed it into cargo boxes, and carried it all away effortlessly. The only difference was that, this time, it was under a clear blue sky. They set their sights on the white tower rising up above to the west. 

“General! Need something to drink? Or maybe some food? I just caught a wild boar! Should I roast some for you?” 

“Oh, um, I’m going to have to decline, Tione. If you do start a fire, make sure there’s no smoke.” 

“Will dooo!” 

With bronze, wheat-colored skin and long black hair, the Amazon Tione Hyrute wore minimalist battle gear that barely covered her lush bosom and smooth skin. Finn gave his Amazonian field commander a vacant smile as she made another pass at him. 

Tiona shot a look that screamed, “Again?!” at her older twin sister, Tione, who made no attempt to hide her intentions. This was a common occurrence in Loki Familia, so Aiz and the other members were used to it and took care not to get involved. 

Finn waited out the storm until someone else got Tione’s attention and she left. 

“Finn, what are your plans after our return?” 

“Okay to wait fer new orders at home?” 

After Tione left, the elf Riveria and the dwarf Gareth came up to talk to him. 

Finn turned to face the other two leaders of Loki Familia and opened his mouth to speak. 

“I’ll issue orders in advance, so could I have a little time off, Riveria, Gareth?” 

“Oh?” 

“Well, that’s new. Got somethin’ that needs takin’ care of?” 

Riveria and Gareth cast dubious glances at the prum, but he just smiled back at them. 

“I’ve thought about looking into something for a while now…” 

Finn’s eyes, blue as the surface of a lake, narrowed as he looked at Orario’s massive city walls off in the distance. 

“There’s one other ‘mission’ that’s had no progress at all, despite the fact that I’m an adventurer, and I’ll be checking it out.” 

“Hellooo. Lilly’s here—.” 

The prum opened a door that didn’t fit properly in its frame and entered a small house. 

The sun was just barely visible on the eastern horizon. 

Oversize backpack strapped to her shoulders, she paid the pawnshop the Gnome Trader a visit. Passing through the messy living space behind the main showroom, she quickly spotted the owner of the establishment; he was barely awake and sipping hot water from a cup like a groggy child. 

Glug, glug, glug. She could hear the water making its way past his white beard and between his lips. 

“Oh, if it isn’t Lilly…Mornin’.” 

“Good morning. But please wash up and sit up straight before drinking hot water. Lilly won’t be here for long.” 

Without his usual red cap, the gnome’s bald head was completely visible. “Sure, sure,” he responded, mumbling to himself as he climbed out of his chair. Lilly set down her backpack and started preparing the store for business while the owner washed his face. 

Lilly had lived here at the Gnome Trader until Hestia Familia acquired a new home in the War Game. 

Her situation with Soma Familia had come to a head two months ago, and she had needed a place to stay. She was familiar with this shop from the days when she frequently stole items from other adventurers and sold them for money. On that particular day, however, she had arrived at the shop and said, “Please let Lilly live here in exchange for work.” The owner had never seen her real face, but she’d placed all her faith in him as a person. 

“Cinder Ella,” Lilly’s Magic, granted her the ability to change her physical appearance at will, and that was the first time she’d let him see what she looked like. “You’re in luck; I’ve been wanting another set of hands around here,” he’d said, and hired her on the spot. She’d been coming to check on him early every morning and help out around the store before going into the Dungeon, then again before going home each night—as a way of repaying her debt of gratitude—ever since. 

“I feel a bit guilty with you comin’ in every day like this even when your familia’s grown so much.” 

“Don’t worry about Lilly—worry about your health first, Mr. Bom. Lilly can’t take care of everything if you collapse from overwork like last time.” 

“Don’t know what I would’ve done without you. This geezer’s not worthy.” 

The shop owner’s name was Bom Cornwall. 

The fairy races weren’t known for individuality, but he had a vibrant personality. His superb dexterity and eyesight made him right at home in Orario. When Lilly had asked him why he chose to live in the city rather than out in nature, he’d simply replied, “This geezer is the worst of the worst when it comes to fairies.” 

He made his living by appraising items that came into the shop, buying them for as cheap as possible, and selling them for profit. 

“This breakfast was prepared at Lilly’s home this morning—make sure to eat everything. Also, the lamp in the storage room was broken, so Lilly replaced the magic stone. The stock of jewels in the safe is running low, so it might be a good idea to put more in.” 

“Ah, ahhh, thanks…” 

Slightly intimidated by Lilly’s efficiency, the gnome put on his signature red cap. Bald head hidden, his round eyes gazed up at the girl who stood a head higher than he. 

“Off to the Dungeon again today?” 

“Yes. We should reach the sixteenth floor today! As you know, Lilly’s familia has been on a roll!” 

A beaming smile appeared on her face as she spoke. Thinking of her friendly and dependable allies, she added, “Lilly will do her best not to hold them back!” 

She did a few more things around the shop before taking a glance at the clock. It was time for her to meet Bell and her other allies at their usual spot at the base of Babel Tower. 

“Mr. Bom, please don’t forget to eat the food Lilly brought.” 

“I won’t, I won’t. Have a good day.” 

“Good-bye until tonight!” She responded with a smile still in place and waved as she went out the door. 

“…She can smile like that now, huh.” 

The owner mumbled to himself, eyes on the door that Lilly had passed through. 

Without the abilities they possessed in the Ancient Times, gnomes had fallen to the bottom ranks of the fairies, but he was still a member of a race that was considered closest to the gods themselves. 

Lilly thought that her secret past was still hidden, but his eyes saw through her disguises. 

An air of nostalgia filled his gaze. The white hairs of his beard ruffled as a happy smile grew on his lips. 

The moon hung high above Hestia Familia’s home, Hearthstone Manor. 

Back from the Dungeon, everyone had finished eating dinner together. Now they were taking turns going to Hestia’s room to receive a Status update. 

They had agreed that checking their Statuses should happen on a weekly basis, like this night. Unless one of them had special circumstances, Hestia would take a look at their Falna one at a time on the scheduled day. 

It was Lilly’s turn. She was a bit nervous to see how much her own excelia would be reduced, now that Haruhime had joined the familia, and exposed her back. 

“All done.” 

Sitting topless in a chair, Lilly pulled her shirt back over her head as Hestia wrote down her updated Status on a piece of paper. 

Lilly looked at the details that her goddess had translated into Koine, the common language of Orario. 

Lilliluka Erde 

Level One 

Strength: I 81 Defense: H 123 -> 124 Dexterity: G 232 -> 236 Agility: F 383 -> 388 Magic: E 402 -> 404 

(Magic) 

“Cinder Ella” 

• Shape-shifting Magic 

• Target will take the envisioned shape at the time of the spell. Will fail without clear image. 

• Imitation is recommended. 

• Trigger Spell: “Your scars are mine. My scars are mine.” 

• Release Spell: “Stroke of midnight’s bell.” 

(Skill) 

“Artel Assist” 

• Activates automatically when weight carried exceeds a certain level. 

• Amount of assistance is proportional to weight carried. 

“…Haaaaah…” 

A long, slow breath of disappointment escaped Lilly’s lips. 

One look at the growth of her Basic Abilities was disheartening. 

Lilly never thought that half a year’s worth of excelia would be enough to level up, but… 

There had been a six-month period when, as a member of Soma Familia, Lilly had never received a Status update due to circumstances within that group. 

After undergoing Conversion to participate in the War Game, she’d finally received one. Although her expectations were low, her half year’s worth of excelia unfortunately didn’t amount to all that much. Her Basic Ability levels still placed her among the lower ranks of lower-class adventurers. Every Status update since had been similar to this one. 

It didn’t make sense for a low-level Status to improve by leaps and bounds in only six months. 

“Supporter, I understand your frustration, but…” 

“Lilly understands; she is a supporter. It’s common knowledge that a supporter’s Status improves at the slowest rate.” 

In fact, Lilly had become a supporter in the first place because she didn’t do well as an adventurer. Growing at a slow pace certainly didn’t help. 

Her response was rather cold toward Hestia, who had pricked her own finger so she could use the ichor for Lilly. She turned her back to the sympathetic goddess and left the room. 

She arrived at the living room after walking through the first-floor hallway. 

Welf and her other allies were gathered in a happy circle, excitedly discussing and comparing the Statuses written on the papers in their hands. 

Her arrival signaled that it was Bell’s turn for an update; he was the last. Lilly thought about joining the circle as soon as Bell left, but…she caught a glimpse of the reflection of her back in the window and came to a stop. 

Her usual robe was hanging in her room. The shirt she had on now was for relaxing in. Part of her lower back wasn’t covered, and she could see some of the black hieroglyphs that made up her Status. 

Seeing it in plain sight made her eyebrows sink into a stern expression. 

“I’ve been curious for a while…” 

She joined the circle in the living room as soon as she saw Bell and Hestia return from his completed Status update, and she was quick to bring up what was on her mind. 

“Why are our Statuses visible?” 

“Ah, I was wondering about that, too.” 

“I-I as well…I felt it strange that Lady Hestia made no attempt to conceal it.” 

“I was certain it was a policy in this familia…Did I assume too much?” 

“Huh…? There’s a way to hide Statuses?!” 

Lilly’s question got an immediate response from Welf, Mikoto, and Haruhime, each of whom had once belonged to another familia. Hestia was stunned—Bell also gave a surprised “Eh?!”—so Lilly explained that there was a way for gods to “lock” a Status. 

It was a technique that deities used to keep the hieroglyphs on their children’s backs invisible to the naked eye. This “lock” made sure that the valuable information contained in a Status was protected against prying eyes. 

Hephaistos, Takemikazuchi, Ishtar, and even the good-for-nothing Soma knew how to use this Status-hiding technique. Hestia, who had only recently come to Gekai, was absolutely floored by this information. 

“So that’s why…I’ve never seen Statuses on any of the Amazons walking around the city…I always thought they used body paint.” 

“N-now that you mention it, Miss Eina said I should always ‘lock up’ so others couldn’t see my Status…I guess she wasn’t talking about locking the home’s doors after all…” 

“I’ll, uh, ask Hephaistos or someone next time I see one of them…” 

The others in the room softly shook their heads, while Bell’s and Hestia’s minds had been blown by such common sense. That’s when Lilly finally joined the circle. 

“Would it be okay if Lilly saw everyone’s Statuses?” 

“Sure, no prob.” 

“Of course.” 

“This is mine.” 

With Lilly asking politely, Welf, Mikoto, and Haruhime each passed their papers over to her. 

Welf Crozzo 

Level Two 

Strength: I 67 -> 70 Defense: I 50 -> 53 Dexterity: I 78 -> 82 Agility: I 36 -> 38 Magic: I 57 -> 61 

Forge: I 

Mikoto Yamato 

Level Two 

Strength: H 133 -> 134 Defense: H 129 -> 130 Dexterity: H 178 -> 181 Agility: H162 -> 167 Magic: I 84 

Immunity: I 

Haruhime Sanjouno 

Level One 

Strength: I 8 -> 9 Defense: I 32 Dexterity: I 15 Agility: I 23 -> 26 Magic: E 403 -> 405 

Okay, so this is normal… 

Seeing that her level of growth was par for the course, she passed her own sheet around the circle. 

Once everyone had seen Lilly’s, all eyes fell on the boy who came in last. 

Feeling the pressure from being the center of attention, Bell became flustered. 

Scratching his head with his left hand, he didn’t put up a fuss and slid his own paper into the center of the circle. 

Bell Cranell 

Level Three 

Strength: F 377 -> 391 Defense: F 389 -> 396 Dexterity: F 377 -> 392 Agility: D 583 -> 594 Magic: F 352 -> 360 Luck: H Immunity: I 

““““…”””” 

No one could say a word as they stared at Bell’s Status. His Basic Abilities had improved by over fifty points. Of course, Bell was at a higher Level. Still, he had improved more than any of them. 

Something strange was going on. 

They were fighting in the same Dungeon against the same monsters. True, he’d delivered more blows during combat and probably had a higher kill count, but nowhere near enough to explain such a disparity in growth. 

Each of them had thought it a bit mysterious whenever the topic of Bell’s unusually fast growth came up, and today they were united in their curiosity. 

“Seriously, what is going on with you?” 

“B-beats me…” 

Welf held the piece of paper in his hand and pressed the issue. Judging by the white-haired boy’s reaction, though, he really had no idea. 

Questioned about his unusual growth speed by so many other people at once, Bell was clearly uncomfortable because he didn’t have an answer for them. 

“Lilly thinks it’s less Mr. Bell’s natural talent and more some kind of special power at work…” 

Making sure that Welf and Bell couldn’t hear, Lilly quietly whispered to Mikoto, Haruhime, and Hestia, looking at them out of the corner of her eyes. 

The young goddess closed her eyes and whistled like a child desperately trying to keep a secret. A bead of sweat rolled down her cheek. 

Lilly rolled her eyes at Hestia before making brief eye contact with every other member of the familia—except Bell. 

Her intent was simple: Today, we find out the truth. 

“It’s getting pretty late. Anyone done for the day should hop in the tub.” 

Welf made the first move. 

He rolled his shoulders and neck, stretching as he turned to face the boy, and said, “Bell, why don’t you head in first?” 

“I, um, already took a shower at Babel…” 

“But I already prepared the bath tonight. It would be a waste not to enjoy it, Sir Bell.” 

Mikoto’s words made Bell feel a twinge of guilt. 

Hestia stepped in to try and protect him, but Lilly’s sharp glare stopped her in her tracks. 

“B-but is it really okay for me to go first? Everyone’s worked so hard…If it would go to waste, why not join me, Welf?” 

“I got stuff to do in the forge.” 

“I must prepare ingredients for tomorrow’s breakfast.” 

“I-I, um, that is…My tail requires grooming!” 

Welf’s and Mikoto’s excuses rolled off their tongues, almost as if they had planned them. Without missing a beat, each left the circle and started toward their destinations. On the other hand, the renart was forced to improvise. As soon as she came up with something, Haruhime turned away from the circle while holding her tail awkwardly in both hands, pulling out loose hairs. 

“Lilly has something to discuss with Lady Hestia.” 

“Eek…” came the goddess’s voice, clearly intimidated by Lilly’s half-eyed stare. 

Everyone plainly told Bell to go ahead. “Well, in that case…” he said as he turned on his heel and left the living room. 

Everyone came back to the circle the moment the boy disappeared, and they surrounded their goddess. 

“Now then, Lady Hestia, if you know anything about Mr. Bell’s ‘growth,’ please say it. Today we want the truth.” 

Hestia was speechless as Lilly stepped into the leadership role and began questioning her. 

Her head on a swivel, the goddess searched in every direction, only to see she was completely surrounded. Even more beads of sweat rolled down her face until she finally gave in. Taking a deep breath, she made a long sigh. 

“I suppose it makes no sense to hide things from members of the same familia…Fine, I’ll tell you.” She was quick to add, “But it doesn’t leave this room, got it?” before revealing the secrets of Bell’s “growth”—although it pained her to do so. 

That’s when Lilly and the others learned about the boy’s Skill. 

“Liaris…Freese…?” 

Lilly’s soft, stunned voice echoed Hestia’s explanation about Bell’s Skill, Liaris Freese. 

Everyone was understandably shocked by a Rare Skill that could influence the rate of an adventurer’s growth. But even more so, the finer details of the Skill left them speechless. 

—Rapid growth. 

—Continued desire results in continued growth. 

—Stronger desire results in stronger growth. 

The Skill was directly influenced by the feelings lurking within the boy’s heart. 

Those feelings—his feelings for Aiz—had become the driving force behind his unbelievably fast ascension to the upper ranks of adventurers. 

“So basically him falling head over heels for that Sword Princess makes him grow stronger like there’s no tomorrow?” 

“Head over heels…?! W-well, I guess that’s true…” 

“The one…in Master Bell’s heart…” 

Welf was confirming that he understood Liaris Freese correctly after Hestia fell silent. Meanwhile, Haruhime and Lilly couldn’t hide how jarred they were by the revelation. 

Bell Cranell was more than just interested in Aiz Wallenstein. 

That fact took all the wind out of their sails. 

There was a reason he was trying so hard. I knew that, but… 

Even when she first met him, Lilly knew there had to be something behind his motivation to work so hard in the Dungeon, that there was some goal. 

However, to think that his goal had been to catch up to that famous woman, the Kenki… 

Considering his age, it wasn’t all that strange for him to harbor affection for someone of the opposite gender, but…knowing about how he and Aiz had met, with her saving him from a Minotaur, was making Lilly’s chestnut-colored eyes tremble. 

“D-does Sir Bell know of this? Have you told him nothing?” 

“That boy couldn’t keep a secret to save his life. If anyone pressed him for information about his Rare Skill, soon everyone would know. In this case, it’s better to keep them in the dark…And it’s not like he’d ever say it’s all thanks to being lovey-dovey for Wallensomething!” 

Mikoto and Hestia’s conversation passed right through her ears. 

It was as though her spirit was disconnected from her body. All sorts of thoughts and emotions coursed through her heart, but her arms and legs stayed unnaturally still. Her heart was ripping through her modest chest. 

Lilly took an unsteady breath and said the words she just couldn’t keep down. “L-Lady Hestia, c-can you accept…this?” Even as she stuttered, she questioned her goddess. 

She knew that Hestia had feelings for Bell that went beyond a deity’s love for her children. Would she allow this situation to continue? That was her question. 

“…Bell himself said he wanted to get stronger. He made his decision. I couldn’t bring myself to stop him once I saw how badly he wanted it.” 

She couldn’t douse her child’s determination. Lilly was taken aback by Hestia’s words. 

“But that doesn’t mean I’ll let her have him! Never, not in a million years! One of these days he’ll notice me; I’ll make him notice me…!!” Hestia clenched her fist, trembling. 

Their goddess’s public declaration made Welf and the others lean away out of reflex. At the same time, Lilly looked over at Haruhime. 

The renart could feel her clinging gaze. Haruhime, dressed in her usual kimono, avoided making eye contact, glancing left and right before finally down at the floor. 

She brought her hands together above the billowing fabric around her chest. 

“I-I have lived as a courtesan…I have no right to pursue romance with Master Bell.” 

“…” 

“…B-but as his concubine—no, as a one-night stand, surely even one such as I…!” 

“HEY, HEY, HEY!” 

The former courtesan’s face turned red as she unwittingly loosed a bombshell into the circle. The goddess rose up, thundering with all her might. 

“M-my deepest apologies!” Haruhime squealed, hiding her head behind both her arms. 

“Did you actually think I’d let that slide?!” continued Hestia, her booming voice echoing throughout the room. 

While Hestia and Haruhime’s banter went on for some time, Lilly was isolated in her own little world. 

Bell had someone special. 

She had never seriously thought that there was a chance she could be by his side, but the shocking news still cut deep. Lilly was speechless that the boy’s feelings were strong enough to create a Skill. She could only stand there, listless. 

Lilly returned to her room shortly after that evening’s events, completely forgetting to take a bath. She collapsed onto her bed right away but stayed wide awake, unable to sleep. 

She stared at the ceiling of her room, her brain working at full speed. Her heart would twinge every time she closed her eyes. Even rolling over into a more comfortable position did nothing but make the sound of her rustling sheets hang in the air of her spacious room. Other than that, the room was silent. 

Time crawled by as her thoughts clashed with the emotions in her heart. At long last, she climbed out of bed. 

The darkness of night was coming to an end. Lilly left her room without a wink of sleep in the very early hours of morning. 

“Laughable…” 

Robe draped over her usual clothes, she closed the door behind her and berated herself with a tired expression. 

She scolded herself over and over for getting worked up about something so trivial as she walked through the long hallway. 

All members of her familia had rooms on the third floor. 

There were times when Welf would spend the night cooped up in the forge, but for the most part, all of them slept up there. 

Hestia’s room was the first one at the top of the central staircase, then came Mikoto and Haruhime’s double room. Welf’s room was a few doors down from there…and finally Bell’s. Lilly’s feet came to a stop for a moment outside his door, but she thought better of it and decided to get a drink in the kitchen. 

The first hints of sunrise were beginning to seep through the windows as Lilly lethargically made her way through the hallway…Whoosh! Whoosh! 

The sound of something sharp slicing through the air came from a window above the garden outside. 

“!” 

She quickened her pace and followed the sound all the way to the window. 

She could barely see over the windowsill when she stood on tiptoe. Once she looked down—a white-haired boy appeared. 

She panicked and quickly ducked down to hide herself, even though she knew it wasn’t necessary. A few moments passed before she ventured another peek. 

Her eyes peered over the windowsill once again, and she saw Bell’s violet and scarlet blades carving arcs through the air. He was practicing by himself. 

Whoosh! His knives sliced through the air, trailing streaks of light and producing the sounds that had lured her to the window. 

…Is he…fighting someone? 

The boy launched his body, twisting and jumping at a furious pace all around the expansive garden. Every move flung droplets of sweat off his body. Lilly could tell he was visualizing an opponent and fighting as hard as he could. 

That, and that his invisible opponent was terrifyingly strong. 

Lilly had had many opportunities to watch adventurers at work up close and personal. Her insight as a supporter told her all this. 

The boy was already a second-tier adventurer, and yet he couldn’t keep up with the opponent in his head. 

Ahh…He lost. 

The boy came to a sudden, unnatural stop. 

With his knives in an awkward position, almost like he was trying to block an oncoming attack, his upper body was leaning backward as though there was a sword against his throat. He held that position for a few moments before he let out a “Gah!” and finally took a breath, crouching down. 

Hands on his knees and a small river of sweat flowing down his face, Bell’s shoulders rose and fell as he tried to catch his breath. 

“…” 

Bell’s white hair stuck to his wet cheeks and his shirt was soaked through. Lilly could tell that the boy had been practicing for a long time before she showed up. She continued to watch in silence. 

Who was he fighting just now? Aiz? He’d been getting up this early to train every day to catch up with her? There was no one to answer her questions. Lilly stood there like a statue, forgetting to breathe while pondering. 

The boy stood back up and started practicing once again. 

The intensity of his strikes showed her the level of his devotion, in a very blunt and direct way. The longer Lilly watched him, the more thoughts began to stir in the back of her mind. 

Turmoil, uncertainty, anguish, and a host of other feelings mixed together. She could practically hear them breaking her apart from the inside. 

That day, everyone met in the morning to go into the Dungeon, as usual. 

Having cleared the fifteenth floor the other day, they decided to go on to the sixteenth. The familia was on a roll and progressing at a good pace. The rest of the group was in high spirits, but a dark cloud was roiling inside the one wearing an oversize backpack, and it showed. 

“…Lilly, are you okay?” 

“!” 

Before she knew it, Bell had dropped back to the middle of their formation when he noticed she was hunched over and dragging her feet. He watched Lilly with clear concern. 

“You look really tired…Are you sick?” 

“L-Lilly’s feeling fine, Mr. Bell! Lilly didn’t get much sleep last night, but see? It’s nothing to worry about!” 

She forced a smile, putting on a well-rehearsed show. It was a skill she had developed during her time as a thief, a smile that could put someone at ease. Now she employed it to convince Bell nothing was wrong. It seemed that Bell was not convinced, but the appearance of monsters cut the conversation short, and they prepared to attack. 

That was too close! What am I doing?! Lilly scolded herself again. 

They were in the Dungeon. Even the smallest lapse in concentration put her and her party in mortal danger. Keeping a careful eye on the flow of battle between her allies and the monsters, Lilly focused on her breathing to keep her mind clear. 

That’s right. Lilly is Mr. Bell’s…supporter. 

But knowing the person whom Bell adored the most had shaken her to the core. Lilly was starting to wonder what Bell thought of her. 

A support specialist. The object of unmasked contempt. A simple laborer for other adventurers. 

Lilly’s individual abilities did nothing to help the party. She didn’t have the strength to put herself on the front lines to defend Bell, like Welf and Mikoto. Never mind standing beside him, she could not even follow from behind. 

During her time as a thief, the adventurers she stole from had always called her “useless,” with demeaning grins. All those memories were coming back. On the surface, her iron will let her put on the mask of the ever-dependable supporter. But underneath, Lilly’s emotions were in chaos. 

“…” 

The Crozzo Magic Sword clenched tightly in her grip, Lilly was ready to unleash its power at any moment. Glancing to her side, she saw Haruhime nervously twitching while watching Bell and the others fight. 

Haruhime held the same position as she did, working as a supporter. The big difference was that she could use a powerful spell. 

Level Boost. A type of Magic that brought out amazing strength and speed from any adventurer it was cast on. With that spell at her beck and call, she could do more as a supporter to directly assist the party. Haruhime was worth far more than Lilly. 

Not to mention that the renart was gorgeous. 

Her bushy, golden fox tail and long, silky hair aside, Haruhime possessed soft, delicate features that Lilly could never compete with. Even the aura of purity that surrounded her might give the Sword Princess, Aiz Wallenstein, a run for her money. 

And her breasts were…impressive. 

When Miss Haruhime… 

If she gained more experience, would Lilly be deemed unnecessary? Would she lose her place before she ran into the obstacle of Aiz Wallenstein? 

Before that happens, should I…stop training Haruhime as a supporter? Or should I follow through as a teacher? 

That’s when Lilly realized where her train of thought was taking her—and vigorously shook her head. 

“Lady Lilly?” 

“…It’s…nothing.” 

Haruhime had taken her eyes off the battle and was now focused on her. Lilly barely managed a perfunctory reply. 

Why am I so shallow?! She felt sick to her stomach. 

Calling herself horrible names, Lilly fell even deeper into the darkness. 

Compared to the other women around Bell—she was nowhere near as pretty as Hestia, Eina, Syr, or Haruhime. 

Her heart was unclean. She was so desperate to look good in front of others. She wasn’t right for Bell, a pure, naive child who knew nothing of the real world. 

In the end, this pain, all it really is… 

That’s right. To put it bluntly, Lilly had an inferiority complex. She couldn’t compare with the girl whose beauty was in the league of goddesses and could make Bell blush just by talking to him. 

She was beautiful, strong, refined. Many adventurers, not just Bell, idolized Aiz Wallenstein. Lilly could never win against her even if heaven and earth happened to switch places. Knowing this caused her pain. An inferiority complex told her she would lose at every turn. Her adversary was a flower in bloom at the top of a mountain—the place where Bell was always looking. She would never enter his line of sight. 

Lilly could never become Bell’s one and only. 

That burning truth had kept her awake through the night and brought her to the brink of despair. Tormented by her jealousy and thrown for a loop by her emotions, she was disappointed in herself. 

“…” 

The battle had ended, so Lilly and Haruhime set to work on collecting the magic stones and drop items from the monsters slain by Bell and the others. She picked up a magic stone from the floor of the dark Dungeon. The reflection of her small face on its surface made her heart cringe. 

“In that case, is it safe to assume you made it to floor sixteen today?” 

“Yes. We still don’t have a good grasp on the layout, but we can hold our own against the monsters without too much trouble.” 

I arrived at the Guild before dark. The blue sky’s still visible outside the windows as I talk with my adviser, Miss Eina. 

Our party came back to the surface and visited the Exchange at Babel before we went our separate ways. I’m sure they’re back at home by now. But I decided to come here on my own and give a report on how everything went. 

There were two reasons why we came back a little bit earlier than usual. The first was that we had collected an unusually high amount of loot in the Dungeon. Lilly’s and Haruhime’s backpacks were filled to the point of overflowing, so it would’ve been difficult to bring any more back to the surface. 

And the second…was that Lilly didn’t seem like herself. 

“I couldn’t be happier to hear you’re making progress. Just don’t push too hard, okay?” 

“I’ll be careful, Miss Eina.” 

She really seems glad to hear that we were staying safe despite all our progress in the Dungeon. Her short brown hair sways back and forth around her pointy elf ears as she smiles back at me. 

We finish discussing everything at the counter rather than going to the consultation box, so we say our good-byes, and I turn toward the exit. 

“Lilly…I wonder what happened.” 

It wasn’t just in the Dungeon, either. Lilly hasn’t been her usual self since breakfast, now that I think about it. She put up a strong front all day, and it’s making me worry. 

I cross the Guild’s white marble lobby as I continue to think about my companions. 

“?Bell Cranell.” 

“Huh?” 

Someone calling my name snaps me out of my train of thought, right as I’m about to leave Guild Headquarters. 

It sounds like a boy about my age, maybe a little younger. I spin around to find him—and my eyes shoot open as soon as I see the person standing behind me. 

Light golden hair and a small stature. 

With a face like his and a body that size, he could pass for a kid, but nothing about his appearance matches the mature aura emanating from him. No, this is definitely a top-tier adventurer. 

Words leave me the moment I make eye contact with the prum. 

“Finn Deimne…?!” 

I can’t hide my surprise that the leader of Loki Familia is calling out to me. 

“Sorry to stop you like this. I’m not here to cause trouble, so please try to relax.” 

Finn smiles, completely calm. Meanwhile, I’m stiff as a board and can’t stop shaking. 

But there’s something soothing about Finn’s smile. It loosens me up a little bit, but I’m still in awe of this top-class adventurer who stands at the very peak of Orario, basically above the clouds. Trembling, I finally respond. 

“Umm, wh-what can I do for you…?” 

“Why so nervous? We met during the Minotaur battle, back on the eighteenth floor, so this isn’t the first time, yes? I’ve been waiting for a chance to talk with you properly. Unfortunately, contacting you in the usual way would cause a few inconvenient misunderstandings…Sorry, but I had no choice but to wait for you here.” 

Hestia Familia’s gained some notice almost overnight thanks to the War Game. Finn explains to me that our quick rise to fame caught a lot of attention, so knocking on our front door was out of the question, no matter how much he wanted to say hello. Doing so as a member of Loki Familia would have led to many troublesome misunderstandings, so Finn was trying to be low-key. 

“Actually, I snuck away from my subordinates,” he adds. It’s only then that I realize many girls have gathered around us. He’s the center of attention. 

“He’s so small!” “What a cutie!” “So cool!” Their voices echo throughout the busy Guild lobby. He forces a smile and looks up at me. 

“I have a bit of a favor to ask. If you’re not busy, I’d like to sit and talk with you for a while. What do you say?” 

Of course, I have no reason to say no. 

Finn and I leave Guild Headquarters and take a series of backstreets to reach a café called Wish in Orario’s southwest district. 

“A young elf magic user told me about this place,” Finn says as he leads me through a series of repeating narrow passageways to the front door. 

This is actually my second time here. Lord Hermes brought Mikoto and me here not too long ago, but I haven’t been back since. I follow Finn inside, and we take seats on opposite sides of a table in the quiet café. 

“As this is a secret meeting between the highest-ranking members of two familias, I would like to request we keep what is said confidential. Agreed?” 

“Y-yes…!” 

We’re the only ones in here, with the exception of the café owner, an elf behind the counter. Being all alone with such an amazing adventurer would make anyone nervous. Finn takes a sip of the tea he ordered, ignoring all my anxious fidgeting. He casually starts the conversation. 

“For starters, I would like to congratulate you on your victory in the War Game. I watched the whole thing, and I must say I was impressed. Also, congratulations on the formation of your familia.” 

“Th-thank you!” 

My body takes over, and I involuntarily bow the moment I hear his sincere praise. 

This prum hero just complimented me…I think this is a serious honor. Even being singled out to talk face-to-face with one of the most famous adventurers in Orario doesn’t feel real. 

Finn smiles and watches me with his clear blue eyes. My heart is trying to leap out of my chest with nervousness, but I’m also really happy. 

“Not to change the subject, but has anything strange happened recently?” 

“Strange?” 

“It’s peaceful inside the wall, but it might be a good idea to keep your eyes peeled…Recently, it feels like there’s going to be trouble,” Finn says with his mouth behind the cup in his hands. 

I tilt my head, wondering what he means by that. A hint of some kind, maybe? Is he referring to the recent trouble with Rakia…Ares Familia’s attack? 

Well, I know that their army is basically a large group of low-level adventurers, and they’ve been fighting against several of Orario’s familias for the past few days. 

Wait, wasn’t Loki Familia participating in the Guild’s mission? Weren’t they ordered to fight Rakia…? Is it okay for their leader to be here right now? 

“That’s enough small talk; let me get to the point.” Finn changes the subject just as my thoughts start coming to a head. 

“I would like you to introduce me to your supporter, a prum with chestnut eyes.” 

“……Huh?” 

It takes a few long moments for me to comprehend that. But once I do, it hits me like a ton of bricks. 

My supporter—he wants to meet her and is asking me to set it up. The unexpected request leaves me breathless. 

But Finn isn’t done. He goes even further. 

“Well, I should be more direct. As a member of her race, I would like to offer her my hand in marriage.” 

The ton of bricks just exploded. 

“—E-EHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH?!” 

I jump out of my chair, almost sending it toppling to the floor. 

This is no joke. My shocked voice is still echoing inside the empty café, but Finn just looks dead serious. This is by far the biggest surprise of today. 

Lilly—is going to get a proposal?! 

“Wh-what…what are you saying…?!” 

“First off, I would like you to calm down. Then, I would like you to understand that this is not some spur-of-the-moment proposition.” 

I’m on the verge of losing my mind, but Finn is absolutely calm, never stirring from his chair and asking me to relax. Those serene, incredibly blue eyes lock onto mine. Gulping down the air in my throat, I manage to regain a semblance of composure. 

The elf at the back of the counter looks through his glasses as he wipes off a just-cleaned goblet at the other end of the room. Meanwhile, I sink back into my chair. I try to listen to what Finn has to say. 

“For starters, you might be wondering why I would make such a proposal to a member of my race who belongs to a different familia…But first I must ask: Bell Cranell, do you know of the goddess Phiana?” 

The goddess Phiana…I’ve heard of her. 

She’s a fictional goddess who many prums believed in. 

There once was a group of strong and proud prum knights in the Ancient Times who worshipped her. 

Maybe it was because of their small size and gentle appearance, but prums were generally considered to have the least amount of potential, compared to other races like humans and demi-humans. In truth, very few prums at all have become world famous in the thousands of years of their history. 

The exception was that group of knights. Accomplishing one heroic act after another, they became known as “Spears of the Battlefield.” Their glory became the pride of the prum race and also inspired deep faith in Phiana. 

They were so acclaimed that even I’ve read about the exploits of those brave men and women in many of the Tales of Heroes. 

—However, once the Ancient Times ended and the Divine Era began, faith in Phiana dried up in the blink of an eye. 

It was all because the goddess revered by the entire prum race was not among the deities who descended to the mortal world, Gekai. Prums everywhere lost their confidence in their faith, and their lives completely fell apart. It was a decisive blow their race hasn’t recovered from even today…or so I hear. 

I lightly nod at Finn, and he cuts right to the chase. 

“Prums need a light they can call their own. A new hope that can fill the role that faith in Phiana once held.” 

“…And that would be?” 

“Just as you’re thinking. I came to Orario to live as an adventurer so I could become that hope for my people and bring them together. I wanted my name to be legendary, so other prums could have someone to aspire to.” 

Finn’s ambition—no, his magnificent cause—leaves me speechless. 

He’s fighting to change the fortunes of an entire race, carrying the future of all prums on his small shoulders. He arrived at the gates of Orario with the goal of becoming so famous that his very name would inspire his kin around the world. 

And now he’s a top-tier adventurer—a member of the highest echelons of the Labyrinth City, at Level 6. 

In Orario—a place that’s called the center of the world. 

People of other races like me, even the gods and goddesses, know his name. I’d be surprised if someone didn’t. I’m sure that stories of Finn’s bravery and heroics have spread around the world and have already become a source of pride for prums everywhere. 

“However—it can’t stop there.” 

Finn strengthens his tone even though I can’t string any words together to respond. 

“One moment of glory is insufficient to build a future for my people. The light of hope must continue to be cast on prums for years to come.” 

Finn declares that his people would not know lasting prosperity if they had no hope. He doesn’t try to pad his thoughts but instead speaks clearly and directly. 

“Frankly, the light needs to be passed to the next generation. And the best way to do that would be to have an heir with my blood in their veins.” 

“…!!” 

“A Half won’t do. The pride of our race must be a pure-blooded prum.” 

Someone has to carry the torch and return their race to glory—it’s necessary to pass on the genes of a prum given the title of “Braver” to the next generation and beyond. Finn insists that those descendants have a completely prum lineage. 

All the races of demi-humans can reproduce only with themselves. 

While it goes without saying that spirits like fairies can’t have any offspring at all, elves, dwarves, and animal people cannot have children with one another. The exceptions would be humans, who can interbreed with demi-humans, and Amazons, who will always give birth to a female offspring of their own race. 

So of course, marrying an Amazon is out of the question, as is having a human give birth to his heir—a half-prum would face tremendous difficulty being recognized as the savior of all prums. 

Finn says that for the sake of his future child, he must marry another full-blooded prum. 

“A-and you want…?” 

“Indeed. I would like to take that girl as my bride and for her to bear my children.” 

So that’s why. My face grows hot as the words flow out of his mouth. 

—He’s going to ask Lilly to bear his children. 

My cheeks are absolutely burning. The scale of this “favor” has gone way beyond what I was expecting, on so many levels. I feel so awkward as shock and surprise swirl in my head, turning my ears red as well. 

But Finn is completely the opposite. There isn’t even a stutter in his voice, and that intense look in his eye is starting to make me desperate to find something to say, anything. 

“But she’s, um, not in your familia. People in different familias can’t get married, right…?” 

That’s one of the things that makes being in a familia complicated. I brought it up to see how Finn answers. 

He simply says, “That’s not a problem. I have Loki’s permission. Well, I should. I agreed to join her familia under two conditions: one, that I have her cooperation in assisting my people; and two, that she not get in my way.” 

Apparently, Finn was the first member of Loki Familia, and that’s how the negotiation played out. 

It was an even trade-off for Loki and her first follower. 

She secured someone who had great potential for her familia, and he received the goddess’s resources for his own needs. 

Even now, the conditions of their agreement are still in effect. 

“Of course, I care deeply for my familia. It’s grown so much since the beginning, and I feel it’s my duty to protect them.” 

To think a group as fearsome as Loki Familia had such humble beginnings. I consider that for a little bit, but he just shrugs and tells me to not get the wrong idea. 

He looks so young, yet he carries all the responsibility of the leader with a smile on his face. I can tell he’s speaking the truth. 

“One other thing I’d like to make clear: Even if I do have Loki’s permission, I can’t allow this personal matter to make life difficult for my familia. Should your supporter, Lilliluka Erde, refuse, or should Goddess Hestia object to my proposal, I won’t pursue her any further.” Finn is being clear to avoid starting any problems between our familias. Then he smiles dryly and adds one more thing. “And I’m not as young as I used to be. I can’t urge someone into an engagement anymore.” 

“Huh…Um, I-I don’t want to be rude, but…may I ask your age?” 

“Over forty by now, I suppose.” 

“F-forty…?!” 

“What? Don’t tell me you don’t know about the side effects of having a Status?” 

Finn looks back at me with that incredibly youthful face and starts to explain, while clearly enjoying my surprise. He details how high-level adventurers gain the ability to slow the aging process. 

Basically, a stronger spirit container doesn’t wear down with age, and in fact has a greater longevity than most. The effect increases every time a person levels up. 

When it comes to eternal life, with the exception of the creator of the Philosopher’s Stone, mortals have yet to unlock the key to perpetual youth and true immortality. Instead, over the past thousand years, the repeated leveling up of many adventurers has displayed the possibility of conquering the aging process to the world, or so Finn says. 

…If Lady Hestia were here, she’d probably say, “Leveling up brings a mortal closer to godhood.” 

We gain more abilities the higher we ascend. In other words, the closer we get to the eternally youthful gods and goddesses, the more we resemble them in various ways…That’s not too hard to wrap my mind around. 

Although, actually getting to where deities stand is probably impossible. 

Finn ends his explanation by saying that I shouldn’t assume anything about a high-level adventurer based on their appearance. “We got off topic a little bit there, but…if you don’t have any objections, I would like your help in meeting her.” 

Since circumstances prevented him from talking to Hestia or Lilly directly, he needed to make his approach through me. Now that he’s said his piece, he states his intentions one last time. 

My head is still a swirling mess, but I’m calm enough to fight through it and gather my thoughts. 

I wasn’t able to ask much yet because I was shaking too hard. Regaining control from sheer willpower, I manage to ask a very important question: 

“Why…are you interested in Lilly?” 

A simple question. There are so many prums in the world, so why did he choose Lilly? I don’t have the guts to say it, but even at his age, a top-tier adventurer like Finn could have anyone he wanted. All he had to do was make himself available, and he’d have more attention than he could handle. 

And I don’t think this is a case of love at first sight. 

He’s been so calm and collected ever since we arrived. There’s been no wavering in his voice. It’s—I don’t know…Finn doesn’t seem head over heels for her, and there’s no heat or excitement. It’s more like the calm of someone watching from the sidelines. 

Finn closes his eyes when I ask. Then his deep-blue irises appear from behind his eyelids as he looks directly at me. 

“How long ago was it, maybe two months? The day you defeated that Minotaur on the ninth floor.” 

The battle against a Minotaur that wielded a greatsword; the day of my first level-up. I fought that monster with everything I had. It just so happened that Finn, Aiz, and the rest of Loki Familia were in the middle of one of their expeditions and witnessed the fight. 

Lilly was the one who’d led them to me in a desperate attempt to find help. 

“She was so determined to save your life that she ignored her own injuries and threw away her pride in order to convince us to help you. Seeing her do all that…It made quite an impression on me.” 

Finn places his left hand on his heart as if to say that’s how he truly feels. “She’s not strong by any standards, but she showed enough bravery to rival anyone.” He narrows his eyes for emphasis on that word. “It’s true that I want a partner, but not just any partner. Right now, what my people need is bravery…I’m looking for someone who possesses this forgotten weapon of the prums to join my cause.” 

Prums are considered to be the weakest of all the races. 

They lack the physical capabilities of humans, they don’t possess the magical prowess of elves or the physical strength of dwarves, they haven’t developed the combat expertise of the Amazons, nor do they have the enhanced senses of animal people. 

The one weapon that the race shorter than all the others did possess—was bravery. 

Like the prum knights of the Ancient Times, they possessed the courage to face enemies much larger than themselves in those days from long ago. Unfortunately, that one and only advantage had disappeared with the passage of time. 

And that is how Finn is planning to restore his people to their rightful place in the world: by drawing out the courage they all have buried within them. His partner needs to be someone worthy of standing next to the man the gods had named “Braver.” Someone who had a great deal of courage and could pass it on to his future child. 

“So then Lilly…” 

So that was the reason he wanted Lilly. 

He recognized her courage because, rather than running away, she chose to try to save me. Finn had been moved by seeing her covered in blood and tears, calling out to Aiz and the other members of Loki Familia for help. 

“B-but…if that’s the case, wouldn’t anyone who meets your standard be…?” 

“Yes. You’re absolutely right.” 

I had to remind myself to breathe before pressing further. He didn’t try to deny anything and simply nodded. 

Finn doesn’t have any special feelings for Lilly herself. 

“If they are worthy, and are at least a decent person, then I probably would offer my hand in marriage to anyone. The idea of having multiple partners doesn’t sound half bad.” 

—My eyes fly open. 

A sharp jolt shoots through my chest. 

Gulp. That sounded a lot louder than I thought it would. 

Open to the idea of having multiple partners…So, in other words… 

A man’s dream, the one Gramps would always talk about, the pinnacle of manliness, a man’s romance… 

“…A harem?” 

Exactly what I fantasized about in my foolish, slightly younger days… 

I can’t help but tremble as I look at the prum hero facing me across the table. My lips won’t stay still as I try to speak to him. 

“I-I hear that’s nothing but trouble…” 

I wait with bated breath for his next words. And then he says: 

“I’m completely serious.” 

Completely serious… 

Looking at his bright, unclouded eyes, I realize the depth of his determination and resolve. 

Finn possesses the courage to do whatever it takes to fulfill his mission without a second thought. A sudden rush of respect and admiration, one man to another, overwhelms me. I’d prostrate myself at his feet right now if there wasn’t a table in the way. 

“…But of course, I wouldn’t actually do that.” Finn looks me in the eye and flashes a quick grin. Adding that he wouldn’t be able to help those who depend on him if he tried to maintain multiple partners, he smiles wryly to himself and closes one eye. 

“I hold the rank of general now. I can’t afford to give my subordinates the wrong idea.” 

“Ah…G-good point…” 

I force myself to laugh and nod. 

I feel so stupid for randomly thinking of this guy as a god among men for a moment. 

“…I left all that behind me when I chose this path. I’ve dedicated my life to serving my people.” 

He sits up straight and falls silent for a moment, his face calm once again. 

He sounds like a young teenager, but his voice is steady and clear. Each word resonates in my ears. 

“As I stated before, if she or Goddess Hestia rejects my offer, then that’s where this ends. On the other hand, should my offer be accepted, I will take it seriously and want to devote myself to building a strong bond with her.” 

All I can do is listen to him. Finn’s face brightens with a smile. “She will live happily, that I can promise. Would you tell her all that I told you today, in my place?” 

With that, he drinks the last of the tea in his cup. Getting to his feet, Finn withdraws a piece of paper from inside his vest and places it on the table. “Unfortunately, I only have time tomorrow.” He says a few more words and leaves me sitting alone with the piece of paper, a location written on it. 

He pays the entire bill and waves at me one last time before leaving the café. 

“…” 

—If she has an answer for me, tell her to go there tomorrow. 

—If she doesn’t want to answer, that’s perfectly fine. I’ll be there all day either way. 

I take another look at the piece of paper. Directions are written in Koine, in really nice handwriting, along with a map to a meeting place. I look up at the ceiling after staring at the sheet for a few moments. I haven’t moved from my chair, still leaning all the way back into it. 

Honestly, I don’t want to do this. 

But I owe Finn, and Aiz, and really all of Loki Familia for everything they’ve done to help me. How would they react if I don’t follow through with this? 

At the very least, I owe it to him to give Lilly the message. I feel like it’s my duty. 

…What if… 

What if Lilly accepts his offer after hearing what he has to say…? What’ll I do? 

This labyrinth I’m stuck in doesn’t have an exit. I stay in the chair, staring at the ceiling for I don’t know how long, trying to find an answer. 

Lilly was still struggling even as everyone gathered to eat dinner together. 

She acted like everything was normal, participating in conversation like usual. She sealed away the heavy feelings in her heart to keep the mood light around the table, even smiling and laughing along with everyone else. 

Mikoto and Haruhime were in charge of preparing dinner tonight, and they received many compliments before they were soon deep in their own conversation, enjoying each other’s company. Welf was busy chowing down and didn’t try to engage Lilly in conversation. Hestia, however, could tell something was wrong. Her deep-blue eyes would occasionally glance in Lilly’s direction, but the goddess said nothing and joined Mikoto’s conversation like she normally did. 

Bell looked anxious, and she noticed him looking in her direction more than once, but she pretended as if she hadn’t. 

Dinner ended soon after. Lilly didn’t go to the living room, and instead started heading back to her own. 

“Um, Lilly…do you have a minute?” 

“!” 

She was just about to go up the stairs in the main hallway when she heard Bell’s voice behind her. 

A small jolt ran through her body as she froze in place. All the uneasiness and emotions that had been building since last night came to a head. She was extra conscious of the young boy at the moment. 

“Wh-what is it, Mr. Bell?” Lilly responded in a jumpy, forced voice. She turned to see that Bell seemed embarrassed. 

“There’s, um, something I need to tell you…” 

Since she wasn’t sure of her own feelings, she probably should have refused him. But he asked so nicely that she made an awkward nod and the two of them went to an unused room on the second floor. Going inside, they turned on a magic-stone lamp. 

Then— 

“An offer of marriage for Lilly…?” 

“Y-yeah…” 

Lilly opened her chestnut-colored eyes as far as they would go. Bell had told her about an offer of marriage from another prum. Earlier that evening, Finn Deimne had asked Bell directly to arrange an in-person meeting with Lilly. 

With a stunned stare, Lilly looked up from the sheet of paper Bell handed to her. The boy trembled as he nodded to confirm. 

Why would the Braver be interested in her? That was the first question to pop into her head, but it didn’t stay there for long. 

There was something more important. Lilly clenched her lips together and looked at her feet. 

As expected, in Mr. Bell’s eyes, Lilly is nothing more than… 

The fact that Bell had delivered this proposal of marriage sent her into a tailspin. The fact that Bell offered another man’s proposal to Lilly, instead of his own, gave sharp claws to the emotions coursing through her heart. She had already been dealing with the Aiz incident from last night, and now this. Her gaze didn’t move from the floor. 

Bell took one look at the girl, hunched over and trying to hide her reaction, and knew that his words had made her upset. Starting to panic, he quickly tried again. 

“Y-you don’t have to answer if you don’t want to! Finn said he didn’t want to force anything, so I can go tell him you’re not interested…!” 

She understood Bell’s position. Lilly knew the boy could never turn down a request. Especially if said request came from Finn, the head of Loki Familia. Considering what they had done for him, Bell would never reject them. 

But… 

She didn’t want to hear it. 

She didn’t want to hear that news from Bell. The pain tearing through her at that very moment was all because he delivered the message. That thought alone filled her mind. 

Presenting another man’s proposal showed Lilly exactly where she stood with him. 

Bell thought of her as an ally, a member of the familia. If he loved her, it was as family, not in a romantic way. 

Her eyes quivered. The pain, the anguish, and the loss in her heart forced tears to well up in her eyes. All the feelings crammed into her chest were about to burst. She had not heard anything he had been saying. 

Lilly didn’t look up as she forced words through her trembling lips, somehow making it past the storm of emotions swirling within her. 

“Your thoughts, Mr. Bell…?” 

She wanted to know his opinion about the offer and how he would respond depending on her answer. 

The night sky was barely visible through the slightly open curtains covering the windows. The room’s magic-stone lamp illuminated only one side of Bell’s face. She could see uncertainty in his shaking eyes. 

“I…I, um…” 

He started to open his lips, body swaying side to side, but no words came out. 

Seeing him flustered was the last straw. Thundering anger roared to life within the storm of emotions and it all rushed straight to Lilly’s head. Teeth clenched, fists shaking, she felt her chestnut-colored eyes flash menacingly as she looked up at him. 

Her head started to rise—and then a heartbeat later, all the built-up anger exploded. 

“Lilly hates that you can never make up your mind!” 

Her shriek rang inside the room, every word raining down on the boy in front of her like hammer strikes. 

“That settles it! Lilly will meet the Braver!” 

“You what?!” 

“An offer of marriage from the Braver? Lilly will be the envy of not only other prums but every woman in the city!! He has it all—power, money, fame! Yes, it’s the wealthy marriage Lilly has always dreamed of!” 

“L-Lilly, don’t you think you’re sounding a little desperate…?” 

“Lilly is not desperate!!” 

They matched each other tit for tat, almost like a quarreling couple. More harsh words tumbled out as they continued to go back and forth. 

Lilly’s face turned red as her ranting intensified, which made Bell only more defensive. 

“Finn Deimne is so, so, sooooooooo much better than some indecisive, womanizing blockhead who can’t even understand emotional signals obvious to a child, like Mr. Bell! He’s a class act, the perfect gentleman!!” 

Lilly’s last verbal blow had the same effect as a knockout punch. “Ge-hah?!” Bell staggered backward, bent over at the waist. 

Being compared to Finn, not only as an adventurer but also as a person, shook Bell to his core with feelings of inferiority. 

Lilly turned sharply on her heel, but Bell wasn’t able to make a sound. 

“!!” 

Flinging open the door, she ran out of the room. 

“Lilly!” 

Bell stepped forward and yelled at the top of his lungs, but it wasn’t enough to reach her. The girl was already out the back door. 

Passing through the rear metal gate, she dashed into the city sparkling with streetlights. 

Lilly let her emotions take over as she ran headlong into the city. 

“—Riveria, I’ll be away from home all day tomorrow as planned. Keep an eye on things for me.” 

The home of Loki Familia, Twilight Manor. 

Their residence was composed of a group of several high towers, one of which contained the office of the general. Finn’s room was decorated with a thick rug that was as colorful as a garden, a marble fireplace, and a tall grandfather clock. Every item in the chamber was high quality and fitting for someone of his rank. But the most striking feature inside the spacious room was, without a doubt, the tapestry on the wall—an image of a goddess wearing armor, with spear in hand. 

Finn was sitting in a chair behind a black wooden desk that was covered in stacks of paperwork. He filled them out while talking about tomorrow’s plan with his second-in-command, Riveria. 

“…This is unexpected.” 

“What is?” 

“I am well aware of your personal mission, as you’ve told me on many occasions since we met. It would be unreasonable for me to feel any different after all this time. However, you don’t seem to be showing much interest in romance. Your extremely assertive approach…surprises me.” 

The elegant elf’s long jade hair flowed down her back below a small ribbon that tied it back to the nape of her neck. She stood quietly, analyzing Finn’s face from beside him. 

Proposing marriage to someone of his own race was much more proactive than anything he had ever done. 

At the same time, ignoring the fact that it was part of his mission, the prum hero appeared to be looking forward to it. 

“…I’ve been far too busy to reach this stage, but now it feels like taking it into consideration might not be such a bad idea. That and…there might come a day when I lay down my life in service to this familia. Taking recent events into consideration, I can’t help but feel that day draws near.” 

“…” 

“Of course, my will is just as strong as ever.” 

Finn’s feathered pen kept moving throughout their conversation. He stopped writing and looked up from the paperwork. 

“I might be getting on in years,” he said to Riveria with a strained smile. 

Saying that his forwardness might be his own way of having insurance for the future, the small prum adventurer added one more thing. 

“But above all…I was lucky enough to meet someone special. Seeing one of my own kind do what that girl did that day left quite an impression on my heart.” Finn closed his eyes as if remembering the moment he first saw her. Leaning back in the chair with a smile on his face, he slowly looked out the window and up at the moon rising over the city. 

“Now, will she come?” 

The darkness of night faded, replaced by light appearing in the east. Morning had arrived. 

Many adventurers were already on their way toward the Dungeon. Lilly trudged her way through the crowd on South Main Street. 

“What am I doing…?” 

Head low, she whispered to herself while looking at the stone pavement beneath her feet. 

She went directly to the Gnome Trader after running out of her home last night. Of course Bom, the owner, was surprised to see her, but he didn’t turn her down when she asked him to put her up for the night. She stayed there until morning…As for the out-of-breath white-haired boy who came looking for her, she asked the owner to tell him she wasn’t there and to send him home. 

It was all out of desperation. How shameful. Had she wanted Bell to feel anxious, worried…or perhaps jealous? 

How shallow, Lilly scolded herself as an air of gloom enveloped her. She had run away to avoid hearing what she didn’t want to hear, to turn a blind eye to what she didn’t want to see. 

“…” 

It shouldn’t be a big deal, but she didn’t know how to face Bell now. What could she do? How could she apologize? Could she go home? 

Her feet stopped in front of a certain building as she pondered these questions. It was the place described on Finn Deimne’s note; the place where he was waiting for her. 

She had walked a long way from the main street, passing through several alleyways to get here. Coming this far, she might as well see it through to the end. She had hit rock bottom and was perfectly fine with letting the cards fall where they may. Why not? she thought to herself as she stood on the front doorstep. 

The building indicated on the note was surprisingly small. Located in the west-southwest area of the city, it was on the outer edge, close to the city wall. Almost no one frequented this area, so the café known as the Hidden Home of the Prums was very difficult to find among the other tall buildings on this narrow street. 

It also happened to be a bar, by the look of it. 

“So this kind of place can be found in Orario, too…” 

Lilly passed by a big sign that said PRUMS ONLY! written in big Koine letters, before placing her hands on the wooden door and opening it with a soft creak. 

Everything inside was built with prums in mind—in a word, small. 

Not only were the ceilings lower, but the tables and chairs looked suitable for children of other races. Quite a few patrons were already inside despite it being before noon. The customers, the waiters on staff, and even the bartender behind the counter—every single one was a prum. 

All of them fit right in with the size of the café, and no one felt out of place. However, if someone of a different race, like a human, saw what went on here, they would likely be quite shocked. After all, no one expected to see what looked like a bunch of children sitting at a bar, downing ale. Even Lilly, a prum herself, felt it strange to see prums sitting in chairs and their feet touching the floor. 

Despite its location, the prum-only bar did some brisk business—maybe it was because many of the patrons felt a sense of pride coming here because of how exclusive it was. Lilly was standing just inside the front door, taking it all in, when one of the prum waiters came to greet her. 

“Welcome. If you’re by yourself, there’s a spot at the counter—Wait.” The rather discontented-seeming employee froze on the spot once he got a good look at her face. 

The hood of Lilly’s robe shifted as she tilted her head in confusion. But then— 

“Ah!” 

“Lilliluka Erde?! Hestia Familia?!” 

“Might you be…Mr. Luan?” 

Lilly recognized the man who had shouted as he pointed at her. 

With large, round eyes and brown hair, he looked like a child whom nobles would hire to take care of odd jobs. 

Luan Espel. 

An adventurer and former member of Apollo Familia, Hestia Familia’s opponent in the War Game. 

Lilly and her friends had emerged victorious from that encounter and, as a result, exiled Apollo from Orario. Former members of Apollo Familia had been released and been given the chance to join another familia of their choice…Luan, it seemed, had taken a job as a waiter at this bar and café. 

Luan’s surprise quickly turned to anger. He glared at Lilly with seething hatred. 

“I-it’s all your familia’s fault that I’m stuck here cleaning tables instead of down in the Dungeon as an adventurer! So, what are you going to do about it?!” 

“Wasn’t it your side that hunted Mr. Bell and declared the War Game to start with? There is no reason for Lilly to do anything…But yes, there were a few dirty tricks involved.” 

By the sound of it, Luan had been rejected by every other familia after the War Game. 

Prums were already subjected to discrimination, and he was just a low-class adventurer who had never leveled up. He might have been a former member of the middle-class Apollo Familia, but unlike third-tier members like Daphne and Cassandra, no one came to him with an offer. 

Even when he went to offer his services, all the talk turned to his apparent “betrayal” during the battle at Shreme Castle. The obstacle was too much to overcome, and he had been shown the door every time. 

…His reputation as the “Trojan Horse” had spread throughout the city, when in fact it had been Lilly, disguised as Luan using her Magic, Cinder Ella, who stabbed Apollo Familia in the back. The real Luan never made it to the battlefield and spent the entire time locked in a storage container somewhere in the city. Apparently, all the attention had been on the battle taking place outside the castle, and there were no witnesses to Lilly’s big reveal, when she deactivated Cinder Ella. Therefore, the dramatic shift in the War Game was blamed on Luan…He couldn’t escape the stigma. 

Although it was common practice to devise strategies before the War Game to reduce an enemy’s fighting strength before battle—Welf, Mikoto, and Lyu themselves had been hindered by a mysterious robber while in transit to the battlefield—Lilly still felt they had wronged Luan in their pursuit of victory. 

“But Lilly has heard that Lord Miach offered you a place in his familia. Lilly also heard his offer was rejected…Why didn’t you accept?” 

“E-wh…I-I was a member of Apollo Familia, you know? Why the hell would I join such a weak familia that’s drowning in debt?” 

Lilly looked at him with her eyes narrowed in a pointed stare, clearly unswayed by the short adventurer’s excuses. 

It wasn’t as though she didn’t understand the stress that came with a loan…but more than that, she felt it was Luan’s trivial pride that was stopping him. As proof, Daphne and Cassandra had chosen to join that “weak familia that’s drowning in debt” of their own accord. 

“Well then, how about joining Lilly’s familia? Lilly will ask Lady Hestia herself,” she suggested with a hint of sympathy in her voice. 

“Like hell I would! You guys have even more debt than Lord Miach’s lot!” He shot down the suggestion. He brought up the bombshell of her own familia’s financial situation. Lilly could see there was no point in trying to help anymore and gave up. 

“…Someone is waiting for Lilly, so Lilly’s going inside.” 

“Whatever.” 

She brought the fruitless argument to an end. Luan turned his back, seething with anger. 

A little put off by his rudeness, Lilly stepped past him and onto the dining floor. 

She started looking for the one who invited her to this place—and found him immediately. 

He was sitting at a table at the back of the bar, next to an open window. Illuminated by incoming sunlight, he was extremely easy to find due to all the excited whispers and people looking in his direction. 

“—Oh, you decided to come.” 

Finn Deimne had been reading a small book, one sized for prums. Noticing Lilly’s presence, he looked up from its pages as she approached. 

Perhaps to hide his identity, or perhaps as a fashion statement, Finn was wearing glasses. 

They gave him an air of intelligence and suited his combination of childish visage and mature aura, which was one of the main reasons he was so popular with female adventurers all over the city. Lilly could see that firsthand now. 

He gave her a friendly smile, stirring onlookers into a small frenzy. No one would have guessed that Lilly was the person the famous top-tier adventurer, beloved by his people and proud holder of the title “Braver,” was waiting for. 

Lilly could feel the surprise in their collective gaze gathering around her. Even Luan, mouth open and glaring daggers at her, was frozen in disbelief. She felt like a fish out of water, unsure what to do next. 

Finn, on the other hand, didn’t seem to care about their audience and kept talking as if nothing was out of the ordinary. 

“I honestly didn’t think you would come here today. Perhaps a messenger, but never you in person.” 

“…If you were so uncertain, then why make the offer in the first place?” The situation with Bell still weighing on her heart, Lilly’s response was heavily laced with irony. 

Oh no! she thought as soon as the words were out of her mouth. She had just addressed a first-tier adventurer, someone who was unquestionably her superior, with such a rude tone. A thrill ran up her spine as she waited for his response, but he just quietly chuckled to himself. 

His golden hair gently swished in the soft sunlight coming in through the window. 

“How about taking a seat?” 

“…” 

His calm demeanor was unchanged as Lilly stayed quiet and did as she was told. She didn’t take her eyes off his smile as she sat down in the chair on the opposite side of the table from Finn. 

“Since this is the first time the two of us have had a chance to speak like this, I think self-introductions might be in order? I’m Finn Deimne. Thank you for coming today.” 

“…Lilliluka Erde.” 

Both of them knew each other’s names, but Finn still gave her his name out of courtesy. Lilly followed suit. Their meeting to discuss the possibility of marriage was officially under way. 

Finn set his glasses down next to a cup that was still mostly full. He ordered a drink for Lilly, and Luan brought it to the table. He set a glass in front of her, his expression a stew of complicated emotions. As soon as Luan stepped away, their conversation began. 

“Is it safe to assume that you are open to my proposal, since you came here yourself?” Finn didn’t try to make small talk or give any explanations. His voice was soft, and a gentle smile never left his face as he spoke. All Lilly could do was look at her lap. 

—It might be a good idea to accept his offer, said a little voice inside her head. Her feelings for the boy would never lead to anything; that was painfully obvious now. Therefore, she couldn’t shake the feeling that going along with the proposal of the man sitting in front of her was the best option. Finn was a prum like her, but the one everyone knew as the “Braver.” 

Bell had said that she would “live happily.” That was likely true. Sitting face-to-face with him, she got a good sense of Finn’s integrity as well as the strength of his character. Considering his social position and resources, whoever became Finn Deimne’s partner would no doubt live in great comfort, without a worry in the world. 

This kind of offer would never come her way again. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, her only chance. Without Hestia’s permission, Lilly couldn’t leave the familia, but if she chose to follow Finn, most likely she’d live an easy, privileged life for the rest of her days. 

There might even come a day when Finn would displace the young white-haired boy in her heart. 

“…Please answer one question.” Lilly had posed many questions and answered them inside her own head up until that point. Her words came out as little more than whispers. She slowly lifted her head and her chestnut-colored eyes met his blue ones. “Why was Lilly selected?” 

That was the most important question. 

To be blunt, she hadn’t had the best upbringing. A life of crime—her past was stained by her time as a thief. 

Lilly thought that a person who had walked her path was unfit to be with someone like Finn. So she wanted to know how he truly felt. 

“Did Bell Cranell not tell you? It was your courage that made an impression on me.” 

“Courage? Countless other prums have courage. What’s more, there are many far stronger prums than Lilly.” 

“You may be right. But strength and courage don’t always come together. You faced incredible danger and still had the will to overcome it while knowing your own weakness. I remember what you did on the eighteenth floor. You put your own life at risk to help others, much like the great Phiana. You are a shining example to prums everywhere.” 

Lilly blushed as Finn brought his innermost thoughts to light without any fanfare. Caught off guard by his honest praise for a moment, she shook her head as soon as she collected her thoughts. 

“You give Lilly too much credit. Lilly is not some great angelic prum. As an adventurer, Mr. Finn surely has heard rumors of a prum with ‘sticky fingers’? One who steals items and money from other adventurers?” 

“That I have.” 

“Lilly is that prum. She lured adventurers into traps and stole everything valuable they carried. Yes, anyone Lilly didn’t like met the same fate. So Lilly is the worst, a horrible—” 

“The fact that rumors exist in the first place means the victims lived to tell their tale. I have looked into these incidents myself, since one of my subordinates was involved. Every single one of the victims is alive and well.” 

“…” 

Even after Lilly confessed to her dark past, Finn was unfazed and calmly pointed out that she hadn’t killed anyone. 

Lilly looked back down into her lap. 

She wanted to refute his words. She had committed so many crimes over the years, and there were a few times she’d seriously considered taking the lives of adventurers. 

However, those adventurers had been so tenacious. 

Despite losing everything, they clung to life with the persistence of cockroaches. 

That was the reason she had stayed her hand—it wasn’t worth it. 

The best way to get revenge was to make them suffer as much as possible. Killing them quickly would have been too merciful and a waste, so she chose not to go through with taking their lives. 

Lilly…had been naive. 

“I’ve lived in Orario long enough to know that stealing possessions rather than taking lives is very tame…I’m no god. I have no right to judge you, nor am I interested in doing so.” 

His words were strong, piercing like a spear. But his expression was gentle. Finn smiled and said: 

“All I see is who you are now.” 

“…” 

“And who you are now possesses an important quality that our people have lost.” 

Finn’s blue eyes blinked. He looked at Lilly with admiration. 

“Lilly…hasn’t come home.” 

I whisper to myself while standing in the living room. 

I looked all around the city for Lilly last night, but there was no sign of her, so I came back to our home with my nonexistent tail between my legs. 

The one shred of hope that I still had, that I repeated to myself over and over, was that she’d be back by morning…And now the sun is up, but no Lilly. 

“Did she really…go to meet Finn…?” 

She said she would. And today’s the day. 

Welf and Mikoto are making breakfast in the kitchen…I think about it long and hard, but I decide to go to the goddess for advice. 

After climbing the stairs, I arrive at her third-floor room and knock on her door. “Come on in,” comes her voice from the other side. 

“Oh, it’s you, Bell. I heard from Haruhime that our supporter is gone. You know anything about it?” 

I…I don’t know what to say. 

She’s getting ready to go to work at her part-time job at a Jyaga Maru Kun street stand when I step inside. She hits me with that question right off the bat. I avoid making eye contact, looking around the room for a few moments before I divulge everything that happened last night with what I’m sure is a pitiful look on my face. 

I give her every detail, hoping for some tidbit of advice. She sighs. 

A big one, too. I blink a few times. 

“Bell. You—If you’re trying to make her happy, you can’t think so hard before you take action.” 

“!” 

My head snaps up to look at my goddess. 

It’s true. Considering all that happened to Lilly while she was with Soma Familia, I don’t want to say it’s out of sympathy, but I want her to be happy. 

And after Finn said that…Finn said that she would “be happy.” And knowing who he is, I’m sure he would make her happy. She’d be happier with him, a top-tier adventurer much stronger than me. 

Lilly said it herself. That the famous prum hero is much better than me, a class act, the perfect gentleman. 

…No matter what I say or do, nothing will change. 

“Just to let you know, should the supporter…Lilliluka…ask to leave my familia, I won’t stop her.” 

“?!” 

My goddess could see right into my mind—Is she actually reading my thoughts?! 

A part of me deep down believed that, as our goddess, Lady Hestia would put an end to this whole thing if it came to that. Suffice to say, that confidence is gone now. 

“That’d be one less rival to worry about…” 

My mind is going in too many directions at once to comprehend what she just said under her breath. Then she raises her head. 

“Bell. From the supporter’s point of view, your inability to make a decision either way just feels like meddling in her business. I’m pretty sure she’d say it herself: that she’ll decide how she wants to live, how she’ll be happiest.” 

“Ah…” 

“If I were in her shoes, and you were the one who came to me with that proposal, it would be a real shock.” 

She looks at me kindly and says something that sounds like criticism, but it also sounds like she’s enjoying herself. 

“Bell, our supporter will disappear if you don’t do something. Is that what you want?” 

“I…I…” 

“You know, you should be more selfish.” 

She smiles at me with those pure blue eyes of hers. I stand still for a moment. My hands curl into fists a heartbeat later. 

“—Please excuse me. I don’t need breakfast!” 

I turn away from Lady Hestia and run out of the room. I see her soft smile after taking one last look over my shoulder. Then I’m down the stairs and out of the manor in no time flat. 

“…Haaah…Gods always have to suffer.” 

Hestia let out a long sigh as she watched Bell race through the front gate from her window, knowing full well she was helping her rival. 

Despite what she had said, the smile hadn’t disappeared from Hestia’s lips. 

“Hey! Hey, Aiz! Get a load’a this! Finn’s gonna get hitched!” 

Aiz turned her head to face the voice and received a hug from behind. 

It was at Loki Familia’s home, in a narrow hallway of the residence. 

The Amazonian girl Tiona ran by many doors as she raced through the passageway toward Aiz. She had both her arms around the human girl’s shoulders in an instant and was absolutely bubbling with energy. 

“Finn is…?” 

“Yep, yep! I heard him talking about it with Riveria in the hallway last night! Just happened to be at the right place at the right time!” 

Aiz’s golden eyes were wide open in a rare expression of surprise. At the same time, Tiona was vigorously nodding, barely able to contain her excitement. 

“And get this! Finn was wearing glasses when he left this morning—saw it myself! He was going to meet his bride for sure! Ohhhhh, I wonder what kind of lady he’s gonna bring home?” 

Tiona verbalized every thought flying through her head, causing a ruckus in the hallway. 

Aiz did her best to move with the elated Amazon who currently had her in a bear hug. “Hmm,” she said quietly, raising her chin as she thought about it. It seemed strange to her that that prum, her general, would be discussing marriage. She was just about to mention that when— 

“—Want to clarify what you’re talking about?” 

A voice as cold as ice. 

““Ah.”” 

Aiz and Tiona froze in place. They knew who the female warrior standing behind them was without looking. 

“I only received the grandiose title ‘Braver’ because I pressured Loki into it.” 

It was a corner in the Hidden Home of the Prums. 

Finn and Lilly’s conversation continued with the whispers of onlookers still swirling around them. 

Finn explained how he had negotiated with Loki to push for his moniker to be “Braver” at his naming ceremony during a Denatus session. It was his way of denying himself an escape route from his mission. He was bound and determined to become the rallying flag of the prum race. 

“I’m willing to do anything for the revival of our people. That goes for the prums yet to be born into this world as well. And to do that…I need an heir of my own.” 

Lilly sat, dumbfounded, and listened to Finn talk about the extent of his resolve and why a fitting partner was necessary for him. 

Orphaned at an early age, Lilly had struggled just to stay alive. She had no time for faith in Phiana, nor did she know all that much about the goddess. However, she knew that Phiana was important to prums, which was just about how much other races knew about the prum goddess as well. 

Despite that, Finn helped her understand the important role courage played in providing a beacon of hope in place of Phiana. As well as how much he devoted himself to it. 

“…Mr. Finn, is there no woman who holds a special place in your heart?” 

The question came out of Lilly’s mouth before she knew it. 

Everything she’d heard up to this point made her believe that Finn was sacrificing himself for the good of his people. She couldn’t help but ask. Her question caught Finn by surprise, but he answered. 

“…There is one obnoxious girl who is rather fond of me.” 

He paused for a moment then chuckled at himself. 

“It’s led to some embarrassing moments and quite a few headaches…but it feels like something’s missing when she’s not around. Sometimes I wonder if there’s something wrong with me.” 

His lips awkwardly turned up into a forced smile, but Lilly could see the kindness in it. 

“—But I have no interest in just living a happy life. No, the moment a simply happy life grows on me, everything I’ve done, every obstacle I’ve overcome so far will have been for nothing.” 

A new wave of conviction passed over his face. Like a valiant knight renewing his vows, Finn’s blue eyes sparkled in the sunlight. 

It was all for his people. As a fellow prum, Lilly was moved by his awe-inspiring willingness to devote himself to that cause. She couldn’t help it. She could never possess such strong conviction, such dedication to a lofty goal as he had to his people. 

Ah—. 

Seeing the way Finn lived his life inspired something within her heart. 

No, made her remember. Her feelings for the boy. 

That’s right… 

The one who had rescued her wasn’t her fellow prum Finn Deimne, nor was it one of the gods. 

It was Bell. 

Everyone had always ignored the muddy prum at their feet. The first person to look her way, to really see her, was that white-haired boy. 

Yes, that’s right. Lilly is… 

As unlikely as it was, even if Hestia ever turned away from him, Lilly would never abandon him. Even if the world labeled him a criminal, exiling him to some faraway place, it would be Lilly right by his side. She would continue to support him. 

The boy was barreling forward at a breakneck pace, but even still, Lilly would travel that path with him for the rest of her life. 

On that day he forgave, accepted, held, and laughed with her—she had made her decision. 

“…” 

What’s this? Lilly laughed to herself. 

All in all, she and Finn were one and the same. It was almost like looking in the mirror. She had something to devote her life to. 

In that moment, a guaranteed happy life slipped through Lilly’s fingers. The same emotions that had caused her so much pain over the past two days would probably strike again. 

However, she had already decided: No matter what happened, she would never leave that boy’s side. It was not completely out of atonement—she simply wanted to. Lilly would continue to support Bell. 

She would devote her life to her family, much like the man in front of her was doing. 

“It really…didn’t matter…” 

“?” 

Lilly quietly whispered under her breath. Finn tilted his head. 

In negative terms, Lilly was blind; to a more neutral perspective, she was loyal. But looking at it in the best possible way, it was unconditional love. 

She, a very plain-looking girl, was competing with a goddess, among others. A tiny part of her felt that way. But whether Aiz Wallenstein was in the running or not, whether Bell had someone special to him or not, none of that had mattered from the beginning. 

“…Sorry, Mr. Finn.” 

Lilly sat up straight and looked Finn directly in the eye. 

“Lilly declines your offer.” 

She smiled softly and bowed her head. 

“Can I hear the reason?” 

Finn returned her smile and asked why. 

“Just like you have devoted your life to our people, Lilly, too…has devoted her life to Bell. Lilly has made up her mind.” 

Lilly explained that the two of them were one and the same. 

The scale of their commitments might be completely different, but their level of determination was identical. Lilly responded with gratitude to the man who had reminded her of something she nearly lost. 

“I see,” Finn said with a nod. “…Haaa…So it wasn’t going to work out after all.” Finn closed his eyes and sighed, a weak smile on his lips. 

“I had an inkling going in that there wasn’t much hope. Even my thumb told me this wouldn’t work out…Call it my intuition.” 

“If that’s so, why make the offer?” 

Lilly was confused by his remarks. Finn, however, whose youthful expression matched his appearance, gave her a genuine smile. 

“Didn’t I tell you? It was your courage that caught my eye.” 

“Ah…” 

“From one prum to another, your courage took my breath away,” he said. “How could I not try to make a move?” 

He placed his right hand over his chest, but he seemed truly happy. 

It was his standard as Braver. 

Just as he was trying to inspire his people, he was looking for a partner who could inspire him. 

“Well, looks like I’m back to square one.” 

Finn leaned back in his chair and cast his gaze thoughtfully toward the ceiling. 

It wasn’t Loki Familia’s general sitting across from Lilly at the table but Finn as he truly was as a person. Seeing that made Lilly smile. 

“If Lilly meets anyone special, she’ll introduce you right away.” 

“Please do. I don’t think I’m cut out for this sort of thing. I’ve always been unlucky.” 

Finn grinned back at her. 

Although she had turned down his proposal, the two were happy to at least find someone who shared their strong feelings of devotion to a cause, and they exchanged lighthearted smiles. 

A calming air descended upon the table. 

“Sir, sir! What are you doing?!” 

““?”” 

That’s when it happened. 

The door was practically thrown off its hinges as every customer looked toward the front in a mix of surprise and confusion. 

Lilly and Finn were among them. And what should greet their eyes but an extremely out-of-breath white-haired human boy. 

“M-Mr. Bell?!” 

Lilly reflexively jumped to her feet as the boy made a remarkably late entrance. 

His eyes opened wide the moment her voice reached his ears. Breaking through the bar staff trying to block his path, Bell rushed over to their table. 

The boy had made his way all the way to the Hidden Home of the Prums either by his vague memories of the map on Finn’s note or by wandering around aimlessly until he found it, and he went straight to Finn. Lilly watched in dumbfounded silence. 

“Mr. Finn! Please, please don’t take Lilly away!” 

“Huh?” was all Lilly could say. 

Finn stayed seated with a blank look on his face. 

But only for a moment. Instantly piecing together what was happening, he glanced over at Lilly and winked. A slightly evil smile appeared on his lips. 

“How unfortunate—She’s already accepted my offer, Bell Cranell.” 

Lilly was speechless. Shock was the only thing keeping her from jumping in and asking what he meant by that. 

Just wait, the prum said with his eyes, stopping Lilly in her tracks. Her chance to get angry at him was gone. 

At the same time, all the color had drained from Bell’s face. But he didn’t give up. 

“I still—I still want to be with Lilly! I don’t want to let her go!” 

The strength behind Bell’s scream caught Lilly by surprise, making her blush. 

A glint appeared in Finn’s eyes, as if he was enjoying himself. He started speaking again, the wicked smile still on his lips. “The two of us have already decided to unite as one. Are you really going to trample on that?” 

“Yes!” 

“Well, it sounds like you have a vested interest. So then, what is she to you?” 

“She’s part of my familia—my family!” 

“Is that all? That’s hardly enough.” 

“…She was my first ally and is a very, very important partner!” 

Finn spurred Bell into yelling his true feelings for Lilly at the top of his lungs. 

She listened to every word, her heart beating with every syllable. Heat built up inside her, to the point that her chest was aching. 

That’s when she figured out his plan. He was trying to show her exactly how much Lilly meant to the boy. It was unfair, almost dirty. Was there a way to stop this runaway train? 

This human who had forced his way onto the dining floor was now exchanging words with Braver in the center of a crowd. Lilly was turning redder by the second, unable to do much more than look left and right between the two. 

“At long last, I found the bride I’ve been searching for. I won’t give up on this marriage that easily…Or will you try to take her by force? From me?” 

Screech. Finn stood from the chair, looking up at Bell as he issued a challenge. 

He was Level 6, a top-tier adventurer even stronger than Ishtar Familia’s Phryne Jamil. Bell cleared his throat but didn’t back down. 

It was his turn to be selfish, and he would see it through to the end no matter who stood in his way. Bell squared his shoulders and faced Finn directly. 

“You’ve got spirit, and this could be interesting…The winner of our duel will decide her fate!” 

Braver was getting caught up in the moment and having a bit too much fun. Forgetting his age, Finn pointed at the ruby-red-eyed boy, like he was a cocky teenager itching for a fight. 

Luan had gone completely slack-jawed as he watched it all unfold. The rest of the prum staff and patrons gathered around the table, excited to see what would happen next. 

As for Lilly, she couldn’t be blushing any harder. 

Wh…What is going ooooooon?! 

Bell and Finn were about to fight over her? 

One of them might’ve been just joking around, but the other one was completely serious. She could see it in the boy’s eyes. 

It was like a scene out of a fairy tale—two knights fighting for the right to marry a young maiden, or perhaps the queen. That was her part in the story, and it made her face burn with embarrassment. 

I’m not fit for this role! I’m a servant of the castle, at the most! Or so she silently screamed inside her head. 

Looking vaguely similar to a boiling apple, Lilly watched Bell muster up every bit of courage he possessed and Finn grin with the same twinkle in his eye. 

Surrounded by the cheers of his kin, Finn declared: 

“If by some chance you manage to land a hit, I will concede. However, should I win, she will be my bride.” 

“Get him!” came the jeering voices of the prum onlookers. Bell slowly nodded and took three steps back away from the corner of the dining floor before turning to face Finn once again. 

This has gone too far, Lilly thought to herself, the shame taking its toll. She had to stop this, run in between them and— 

“?General?” 

A cold chill swept through the bar. 

“““?!””” 

Lilly, Finn, Bell—all flipped around to face the terrifying, murderous aura emanating from the front. 

On the other side of the panic-stricken crowd was an Amazon shrouded in a black miasma. 

“T-Tione…How long have you been standing there?” 

“General, what did you mean by that just now? Marriage…Your bride?” 

Finn reeled backward. Tione hadn’t been there long enough to hear the whole thing. 

There was no light in the Amazon’s dead, empty eyes. Her plump, heavily exposed breasts swayed with each heavy step she took in his direction. The floor under her feet groaned precariously. 

Her very presence overwhelmed the bar’s patrons. Unable to withstand the pressure of a top-tier adventurer, many collapsed to the floor like flies, staring at the ceiling with drool running down their chins. 

“How did you know I was here…?” 

“I followed your scent.” 

“What are you, some kind of animal person…?” 

While it might have been in jest, she was the last person Finn wanted to hear say those words. Sweat was pouring down his face. At the same time, this Amazon who was head over heels for the general to a frightening extent swayed back and forth as she made her way through the tables and closer to the corner of the bar. 

As soon as Tione got within three meders of Finn, her voice exploded: 

“GENERAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLL—!!” 

“Get a hold of yourself, Tione!” 

Finn darted away to get out of the charging Amazon’s path. Pushing his small body to its limits, he stayed as close to the floor as possible and dashed away like a scared rabbit, hopping in leaps and bounds. 

An ominous light came to life inside the Amazon’s eyes. Going berserk, she spun around and chased the Braver out of the bar and into the streets at breakneck speed. 

Thump, thump, thump, thump, thump! The last of their footsteps echoing through the bar, a strange stillness filled the air. 

Lilly, Bell, and the still-conscious prums were stunned. 

“…Um, Lilly.” 

“!” 

At a time when no one knew what to say, Bell cautiously broke the silence. 

The rest of the prums lost interest, returning to their seats and massaging their aching heads. Lilly’s shoulders jumped up to her ears as she spun around to face the boy. 

Bell threw his body into a deep bow right in front of her. 

“I’m sorry! Sorry I couldn’t make a decision, sorry that I wasn’t clear…” 

“N-no! This is a misunderstanding! That was all Mr. Finn’s idea…! He was teasing you!” 

“He…he was?” 

“Yes! Lilly didn’t accept his offer!” 

Lilly desperately tried to explain what happened. Relief swelled within Bell’s heart with each passing moment. 

Hand over his chest, the tension started to disappear from Bell’s shoulders. He still had a guilty look on his face, but he maintained eye contact with Lilly and spoke as clearly as he could. 

“I’m sorry—for everything. But I just…I still want you to be here with me.” 

Bell bared his heart to her, his cheeks taking on a slightly scarlet hue. 

Lilly was much the same way, wide-eyed and blushing. Her lips slowly spread into a smile. 

“…Lilly is sorry, too. Suddenly getting angry, running away from home…” 

“N-no, that was all because of me…” 

“No, Mr. Bell. Lilly is at fault. She said in anger so many things she doesn’t believe about you and put you in a bad situation.” 

The two stood there, exchanging apologies. They looked away at the same time, spouting even more explanations. Then they made eye contact again, blushing in embarrassment and feeling a little awkward. 

“…Shall we go home?” 

“Yes!” 

Bell shrugged and smiled. Lilly enthusiastically smiled back as she answered. 

Bell then went to apologize to the prum staff for all the trouble he caused, breaking into their bar, and did the same to the patrons soon after. Luan looked up from one of them who was still passed out on the floor and yelled, “Never show your face here again!” with all his anger. With that, Lilly and Bell left the Hidden Home of the Prums. 

A clear blue sky above their heads, the two of them passed by crowds of demi-humans as they walked down the side streets. 

“Um, also, how can I put this…?” 

The two of them were almost home. They were in such a good mood that the events of last night didn’t feel real anymore, and Bell felt comfortable enough to say what was on his mind. 

Lilly looked up at him and saw him blush a little as he stumbled over his words. 

“Lilly, you’re like a little sister to me.” 

“Mhh…” 

“I-I only ever had my grandfather. No brothers, no sisters…So I didn’t want to lose one.” 

The boy shyly exposed the very deepest part of his heart to her. The corner of Lilly’s mouth twitched. She knew that he thought of her as nothing more than a little sister, but hearing it still stung. She had decided to never leave his side no matter what happened, but this was something else entirely. 

Cheeks trembling as anger started to take hold once again, Lilly suddenly thought of something and flashed a grin. 

“Mr. Bell, oh Mr. Bell. Please lean in close.” 

“?” 

Making a face fitting for an innocent little sister, she came to a stop and Bell did the same, albeit confused. The clueless white rabbit did as he was told and bent over at the waist so that the prum could whisper into his ear. 

Lilly put her lips right next to it. 

“? I am older than you, Bell.” 

She spoke in the most adult, seductive way she knew how. 

“?!” 

A jolt ran down his spine as Bell stood up with a start. As he held his ear that Lilly had spoken into, the rest of his face hung limply. It wasn’t long before he began to blush. 

Lilly was looking back up at him, barely open eyes twinkling. Without warning, a grin appeared. The innocent-little-sister smile was back. 

“Now let’s get home, Mr. Bell.” 

“…Ho-hold on a second, Lilly! Are…are you serious?!” 

“Who knows?” 

She walked ahead at a brisk pace. Bell desperately tried to keep up. 

Lilly’s robe swished as she took a peek over her shoulder and saw that the boy was beet red and practically falling over his feet. It brought yet another smile to her face. 

I see, I see. 

So thinking of her as an older sister triggered a reaction like that. 

It was worth remembering. 

Lilly’s cheeks turned a light shade of pink as she listened to the boy’s rambling behind her and smiled happily. 

Holding her hands behind her back, she had a bit more spring in her step as her footfalls echoed off the stone pavement. 

The boy’s pitiful voice echoed through the busy street. 

The prum girl enjoyed the warmth of the sunlight, dimples forming in her cheeks as she savored the moment.