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 asHestia 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 whitehaired 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 thatfamous 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 toptier 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 cafe
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 cafe .
"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 cafe 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 cafe , 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 justcleaned 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 highlevel 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."