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

At this unexpected turn of events, Ahh, Hill covered her mouth with her hand, and Haruhime trembled as well.

"【Great Severing】【Fiora】...!"

Faced with the intervention of a third force, Liu elegantly frowned.

Is it because they're afraid of [Gale]'s true identity being exposed that they've become noticeably more passive?

"Hmm, Argo-kun, you've really gotten stronger! Not just in terms of level, but also in both 'technique' and 'strategy'! You're so much stronger than you were in the war game!"

"Thank you, thank you so much..."

Ah, Ais exhaled a satisfied breath as she finished eating the potato balls, while Tiona, who had stopped attacking, beamed with delight. Before her innocent and carefree smile, Bell was already covered in wounds.

Tiona was in a good mood and hugged Ais.

"The special training has paid off, Ais! Argo-kun, you've used a lot of what we taught you! That's what you call our 'disciple,' right!"

"Hmm...yes, that's how it is."

Before engaging in a war game with the faction of the sun god (Apollo's Familia), Tiona and her friends underwent a week of intense training at Bell's request.

Tiona smiled brightly, having thoroughly learned the fighting styles that these people liked. Ais said the same thing, her cherry lips blooming in a way that captivated Bell.

"Hmm—"

In contrast, the one who is furious has become a fairy.

"...It's true that Mr. Craney may have studied under you in the past. However, he's currently working with me to build up the results of our 'morning training.' His methods of blocking attacks and counter-attacking are all things I taught him."

Despite having to hide her true identity, she inexplicably began to assert her own identity.

It seems there's something they can't back down from, igniting a sense of pointless confrontation, and proclaiming that they are now Bell's master.

Despite her emotionless expression—hmm, Ais's brow did indeed twitch.

"...Really, Bell?"

"Eh, ah, yes... The commotion at the big casino, oh no, ever since after the war games, it's been with Ms. Ryu every morning..."

Bell suddenly felt very uneasy when faced with the golden eyes looking in their direction, but Ais immediately shifted her gaze to the fairy in front of her.

"...But I was the first one to train with Bell. Even before the War Games, it was the same; it was the two of us..."

"The order of instruction is not of great importance. What matters is whether it becomes nourishment for Mr. Crannie, and is absorbed into his being. Only those who are best able to guide him are worthy of calling themselves his 'master.'"

“…………”

“…………”

"Ah, oh, Miss Ais, Miss Ryu?"

Faced with the strange turn of events, Belle rightly begins to feel a sense of dread.

The beautiful human and the fairy girl continued to stare intently at each other.

There was indeed a fleeting spark between those golden and blue eyes, which even the timid Chun Ji witnessed.

"Bell is... someone I raised."

"Ah, that's a line the chief god (Loki) often says!"

"That's too arrogant. It's me, right here, guiding Mr. Crannie step by step."

"Wow, Ryu is really bold to touch you hand and foot like that!"

"Um, why is the air making those beeping sounds like it's about to explode!? Ah, WEI SHEN ME A!?"

"But he did too—! Argo-kun taught me all about defense and kicking techniques!"

"Miss Tiona, please be mindful of the atmosphere!?"

The [Sword Princess] and [Gale] staring at each other, the noisy street girl, the desperate boy, and the [Great Slash] laughing "Hehehe". From the perspective of Haruhime, who stood frozen a step away, sweating profusely, the space that had become an alternate dimension abruptly announced its end.

"Then let's just ask Argo-kun's body directly! Whose 'technology' does he use most often!"

Upon hearing the female warrior's battle cry, "Eh?", the boy froze as if time had stopped.

Upon hearing Tiona's innocent proposal, Ais and Ryu slowly turned to look at Bell.

The eyes of the two, who were always beautiful and imposing, narrowed sharply.

In the next instant, their eyes, filled with the intensity of wild beasts, pounced on Bell.

"Let's fight Argo-kun together, all three of us!!"

"Ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!?"

Teona joined in too, and it turned out to be this kind of "real combat method".

Bell, attacked by three powerful individuals, let out a scream as if the world was about to end.

"Although it seems to have turned out completely unexpectedly, Mr. Bell! Listen to my wish and make a promise with me! The only one who can stop this rampage is me, the tavern signboard girl and the trickster of West Street!!"

"I've never heard of that nickname before!?"

"Anyway, after we've had our fill of fun, you'll take my place and get a scolding from Mommy Mia. Please make a promise with me!"

"Is this a death sentence?!"

"Does this mean my fate is doomed no matter where I am?!" The boy's cries echoed.

During this process, Bell's body was constantly injured. Although Ais and the others had no intention of inflicting fatal injuries on him, they felt that the brutal training was only natural and pushed him to the point of "barely going too far." Ais's spinning kick, Tiona's iron fist, and Ryu's throwing techniques repeatedly broke through the boy's defenses and sent him flying.

Although Bell had fully utilized the 'techniques' and 'strategies' that had been taught him to the core, he was, to be honest, exhausted.

"—Please stop!!"

At that moment, Haruhime's body moved.

Upon seeing Bell's injured profile, both fear and hesitation vanished. Ignoring his own safety, he ran towards Bell, who was about to be knocked down by the three attackers.

With her eyes closed and arms outstretched, she used her back to shield the boy.

“Waaaa!?”

"That's too dangerous."

"!"

Tiona, Ais, and Ryu each reacted and stopped at the last second.

The seasoned adventurer lived up to his reputation, stopping his attack just before encountering Haruhime.

"Lord Bell has fallen! Please, stop bullying him!"

"Haru, Miss Haruhime..."

Seeing Haruhime's figure as she spoke through tears, Bell's heart skipped a beat.

On the other hand, Ais and the others looked embarrassed. They had indeed gone too far in their training-oriented attack.

Then, seeing Haruhime stepping forward to protect the boy, the tavern sign girl, who was about to negotiate with him while secretly plotting something, collapsed to the ground on the spot, thinking, "What kind of noble and flawless overwhelming power is this...! Guh!?"

"Lord Bell! Where are you?!?!"

"Finally shaken off that auntie's pursuit, here I come, knowing I'll have no lunch break or days off!!"

"Bell-kun! Come with me to turn ourselves in! Aa ...

"Oh no!? Haru, Miss Haruhime, run!"

"scare!?"

Not long after Ais and the others stopped attacking, the clearly audible sounds of Lily and the others approaching made Bell reflexively afraid, and she grabbed Haruhime's hand and started to run away.

He grabbed her body and jumped onto the building next to him.

"Ah, Argo and the others are gone!"

"Ryu, please! Hold off the adventurers! I'm going after them!"

"—!? Hill, this is just too reckless!"

Ryu, having been pushed to hold back two first-class adventurers who were about to give chase—a mission that was utterly impossible—had no choice but to refuse. Although Bell and Haruhime, who had landed in the dark alley, were able to create some distance thanks to this, they were still at their wits' end.

"Found it—! It's right there—!!"

"Ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!?"

Bell and Haruhime continue their escape from the heroines.

Having escaped from the dark alleys, they ran along the main streets, attracting much attention as they centered their escape in the northwest district.

"That's... Bell Craney? [Rookie]?"

"What exactly are they doing, being chased by so many people?"

—While it may seem like hindsight to say this now, Bell Craney attracts attention wherever he goes.

He achieved the fastest [leveling up] in the world and also won a resounding victory in the war game. Incidentally, he also reached an extraordinary Lv.3. Now, he is undoubtedly Orario's most famous new adventurer. Undoubtedly, everyone would acknowledge his [potential].

Repeat again.

Bell Craney is currently attracting more attention than anyone else.

"It's rumored that whoever captures Bell Craney can become his bride!"

"What did you say?!"

What if we added more embellishments to this?

The surrounding crowd (mostly women) erupted in shouts, their eyes turning a different color.

Centered around the instigation of the gods eager for entertainment—the "Bell Crane Contest" has begun!

"Marrying Bell Craney!?"

"And that world's fastest rabbit!?"

"With that rich guy!?"

"And Bell-kun, whose ranking is skyrocketing in both the cute and handsome adventurer category and the adventurer category where people want him to be their younger brother!?"

"The list of boys that the gods most want him to dress as a girl is also rising rapidly!!"

"Belson—, it's me—! Marry me!!!"

The hunters on the streets have awakened!

Along with a group of male idols, they stirred up a huge wave and signed up to join the battle for Bell!!

As an aside—while there are countless rough adventurers in Orario, cute male adventurers are extremely rare. Even a former farmer who has just come from the countryside will be in demand as long as he has achievements!

"What on earth is going on?!?!"

Not only Hestia and her companions, but also ordinary people and female adventurers, were chasing after Bell, who let out the first scream of the day as the gods pounced on him.

Needless to say, Ryu and Ais were being chased, and now, with their bodies covered in wounds, trying to evade people who weren't even adventurers was incredibly difficult. The only salvation was that people were holding each other back, but they were definitely feeling increasingly exhausted.

"Lord Bell...!"

Holding hands with Chunji, who was being protected by him, Chunji suddenly felt a pang of regret.

There's no point in using rank advancement on a street like this; it's completely useless. Ultimately, this escape scene started because of shopping with Haruhime. She felt like the very calamity that brought misfortune to the boy, a 'monster' herself.

At that moment, a scene from a heroic tale flashed through my mind.

No matter how beautiful, no matter how innocent like a child, if she is a monster of calamity, she will be abandoned by the hero. No, if she is not abandoned, the hero will never find happiness, no matter how much time passes!

"Lord Bell, please leave Haruhime here...!"

"I can't hold back any longer," Chun Ji shouted.

"Abandon my daughter...!"

As if touched by a heroic tale that stirred his conscience, these words came out of his mouth.

In contrast, the boy—

"What are you saying?! No way!"

"Eh?"

—It was taken for granted that it would be vetoed.

"Leaving Miss Haruhime to run away and taking all the blame upon yourself?! No, no, no, that won't do! Wouldn't that be even more unpleasant than being scolded and suffering the consequences yourself?!"

He said it.