Is it wrong to try to meet someone in a dungeon?

In that unnoticed moment, the boy's tragic fate was sealed.

“…………”

After thinking through many questions, Eina took a breath.

She raised her head, her eyebrows arched.

"Bell, stand up."

"Uh, what?"

"Just stand up!"

“Okay, okay!”

She gave the order with an expression that could almost be described as stern.

Bell hurriedly stood up from his chair.

Eina also got up, walked around the table, and moved in front of the boy.

She held out her hand.

Bell was nervous, unsure of what would happen to him, and closed his eyes, thinking he was about to be scolded.

then……

"Huh?!"

She hugged him tightly.

She hugged the boy's body.

"Bell... thank you for your safe return."

Eina told him how she felt.

She wrapped her arm around the body that was about the same height but looked much stronger than before, bringing the distance between them to zero.

"I may have said this many times... but because so many adventurers have gone and never returned..."

After she whispered those words in his ear, Bell's shoulders swayed slightly.

Eina has seen many adventurers over the years.

Countless adventurers went on their journeys and never returned.

There were far more adventurers who returned safely than those who had returned safely.

It wasn't just Eina who felt this way; the staff of the "guild" probably felt the same way.

"You faced such great danger, and returned safely from a place where it wouldn't have been surprising to die... I'm truly happy."

"Miss Eina..."

"So, thank you, Bell..."

This is the truth.

The adventurers that Eina originally led are no longer around.

She's not coming back either.

At that time, Eina was about the same age as Bell.

Perhaps that's why.

She may be overlapping her past sorrows with her present feelings, hoping to find redemption through Bell.

(He has overcome countless "adventures" and is now standing here perfectly fine...)

The boy's heartbeat pounding in his chest proved that this was neither a dream nor an illusion.

Eina knew how precious it was to be able to face Bell like this.

It would be even more valuable if he had returned from the "deeper" realm.

That's why she couldn't help but reveal her true feelings.

To express the feelings in one's heart that are hard to distinguish as either joy or peace of mind.

This feeling of gratitude for being able to reunite continues to flow even now.

"It's so good to see you again..."

His white hair touched his cheeks, as if bringing the fragrance of snow.

Bell's previously stiff body slowly relaxed, and Eina knew he was smiling.

So Eina smiled too.

After hesitating for a long time, Bell raised his right arm and gently patted her back a few times, as if to reassure her.

A stronger feeling of tenderness welled up from the depths of her heart, and Eina pulled Bell even closer into her arms.

—But.

Normally hidden beneath her uniform (suit), her breasts—quite full for an elf (though a hybrid)—were pressed against Bell's chest and deformed, looking as if they were resting on Bell's sling-on left arm. In fact, they were practically resting on the plaster cast.

Bell blushed.

Eina, who had made this blunder, blushed deeply.

The next movement was as fast as sound.

*Snap!* Eina grabbed Bell's shoulders and pulled him off her.

Once they regained their senses, the two stared at each other, their faces as red as apples, and abruptly stepped back.

"I'm going to get some materials!? A whole bunch of textbooks!! I want you to study them so well that even if you run to the 50th floor, it's okay!!"

"Okay, okay, you're right!? Wow—I'm so happy—!!"

Eina offered a flimsy excuse to temporarily leave the private room.

Bell wasn't much better off. Despite receiving a death sentence, he agreed without hesitation to ease the awkward atmosphere.

After being warmly and enthusiastically escorted out of the private room by Bell, Eina was about to leave in a hurry...

"Ah, Miss Eina!"

But then he was suddenly called to a stop.

"Ah!" Eina's shoulders jumped, and she turned around cautiously—

Bellhoud bowed deeply.

"Thank you so much! Thanks to Miss Eina for teaching me, I was able to return safely!"

Her emerald-like eyes widened.

The monster knowledge I had learned came in handy.

The "deep" intelligence that Eina taught him saved his life.

That's what Bell means.

The boy straightened his back and smiled shyly, his face still flushed from the fever.

Eina was taken aback at first, then showed a contradictory expression that seemed to be embraced by joy, yet also like she was still shy, and smiled awkwardly.

It was an expression of both crying and laughing, with drooping eyebrows.

Then she finally closed the door and left the interview room.

"...Ahhhhhh!! What am I doing!? I'm genuinely happy, but...! What if Bell sues me for what the gods call 'sexual harassment'...?"

She moved quickly, and even the tips of her pointed ears turned red.

How could she be so careless, or rather, so bold, just because it was a private room? No, no, I didn't mean that... She muttered to herself, only to dig her own grave and worsen her blush.

Eina tried to cool her burning face with the air of the spacious hallway while making loud clattering footsteps to hide her feelings.

"But... I'm really happy."

She remembered Bell's last words, and a pure smile appeared on her face.

That must be something he's been thinking about conveying ever since he came back from the "deep."

Just as Eina, as an advisor, spoke her mind, Bell, as an adventurer, also expressed his true feelings to her.

Eina almost broke into a weak smile, but she quickly restrained herself and went into the office that was separated from the foyer by a window.

She made sure her colleagues didn't notice what had just happened, and returned to her desk.

"Ah...Zul?"

"Rose? What's wrong?"

At that moment, a senior waitress called out to her.

Rose, a beautiful werewolf with long, flowing red hair, is a respected leader among the waitresses, but she has put aside her usual tough attitude at this moment.

After glancing around, she timidly raised her hand:

"About that money..."

"Money? I don't think I've lent anyone money or borrowed money from anyone, have I?"

"No, that's not what I meant..."

Just as Eina was completely confused, she saw Rose rummaging around under her desk.

She took out a large bottle.

It was filled with a considerable amount of Fari gold coins.

Eina almost fell backward.

"Look, didn't we have a 'bet' before? Our waitresses made some bets among themselves..."

Ah. Eina remembered.

Yes, that was six months ago.

They did something that guild staff shouldn't do—"make a bet".

"The longest anyone has been an adventurer is 'half a year,' so... [Rookie], I mean [White Rabbit's Feet], has been an adventurer for almost half a year now, and then..."

"Now only Eina is left..."

The usually expressionless elf service lady continued, speaking after Rose.

Everyone calls this waitress "Ice Fairy," and she's actually second only to Eina in popularity, but now her face shows signs of anxiety.

Upon closer inspection, they noticed that the other waitresses were also holding their breath and watching how things would unfold behind them.

"How much has this money accumulated to?"

"Ah... about five times our salary?"

Upon hearing the accumulated amount, Eina fell silent.

At the same time, the doubts in my heart were completely dispelled.

In short, the betting game that they entered with the mindset of "I'm sure to win," "It's just a joke," or "They'll just say it doesn't count in the end" turned into a "solo win" for Eina, so they panicked.

If the boss found out that a top waitress in the guild was making such a bet, everyone would be severely reprimanded. So, some people would probably say, "Let's cancel this bet..."

Even Missia, who didn't participate in the "bet," was surprised when she heard the amount.

After observing Eina's silent expression for a while, the werewolf waitress probably mistakenly thought there was a chance to let the matter drop, and a relieved smile appeared on her face.

"I think so too. How could a good girl like Eina possibly accept this kind of money?"

"No, I want it."

Reach out and scoop it up.

Eina seized the bottle filled with gambling money.

Then, everyone was shocked!

The waitresses all widened their eyes.

Eina smiled sweetly, except for her eyes.

Then, displaying undeniable authority, she said: