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

This strange feeling was something I couldn't even explain to myself.

When Miss Ais stood at the grave offering flowers in the morning light, did her expression really look like she was commemorating her ancestors?

Where does this lingering doubt in my mind come from?

What kind of answer am I trying to find?

(Also, Albert's "last"...)

The trail left by great heroes in legends.

The "great achievement" accomplished by the mercenary king was—

"—? The doorbell is ringing?"

My thoughts were interrupted by a ringing bell, and I immediately looked up.

If the ringing is coming from the entrance hall, then there must be a visitor.

I looked out the study window and saw Miss Haruhime hanging clothes in the courtyard. She was startled by the ringing of the doorbell and let out a cry, her fluffy tail wagging wildly. Seeing that she couldn't answer the door, I put away my books, left the study, and ran across the corridor facing the courtyard, calling out to Miss Haruhime, who was dressed in a maid's outfit, "I'll answer the door!"

I waved to Miss Haruhime, who was bowing and apologizing repeatedly, to indicate that she didn't need to take it to heart, and arrived at the entrance hall faster than Lily and the others who were inside the house.

Hearing the doorbell ring again, I called out, "Coming!" and pushed open the door.

"────"

I was instantly stunned and speechless.

The reason was that a beautiful girl, who was unfamiliar yet somewhat familiar, was standing in front of the door.

Her long, flowing hair, which covered half her face, was a gray color, as if all its color had faded.

Her exposed left eye appeared black, as if filled with darkness, but this did not detract from her beautiful features. Her black, dress-like outfit, which was not too revealing, reminded one of the "witch's" apprentice.

I feel like she's older than me. She's about the same height as me, and her race is human.

Her face, hidden by her long hair, was completely expressionless, like that of a doll.

But... why is that?

The way she looked at me was less "cold as ice" and more "hostile"...

"Bell Crane".

"Ah, yes... wait, do you recognize me?"

"As long as you stay in this city, you can hear the name of the world's fastest White Rabbit even if you cover your ears. I hope you are aware of the extent to which your annoying reputation has spread. Also, please don't make that vulgar expression; it's very unpleasant to see."

“Hmm!?”

Faced with my bewildered expression when my name was suddenly called, the girl spoke in a voice as cold as her eyes.

Even though it was our first time meeting, she spoke so rudely to me, and the way she looked at me was as if she were looking at a wild rabbit covered in mud!

I have never met a woman with this kind of personality before...!

"...If only that person hadn't met you."

When I felt frustrated and helpless—

The girl lowered her left eye and muttered to herself.

I opened my eyes wide in confusion, only to see her nonchalantly turn her gaze back to me.

Please accept this.

"Huh, a letter?"

"This is a letter from an important person. Please read it carefully."

After giving her concise explanation, the girl turned away, flicking her long sleeves.

The figure seemed to be telling a story of being driven mad by the man before her, radiating an atmosphere that could freeze the air. She quietly crossed the front courtyard and quickly left.

I stood there, frozen in place, until the other person walked through the main gate and disappeared from my sight.

"Who was that person just now?"

“Huwa!?”

Suddenly someone spoke to me from behind, which startled me so much that I jumped.

I quickly turned around and saw Welf standing there with an air of self-righteousness.

"Could that letter be a love letter?! Lily doesn't want to see any more romance gossip!"

"A love letter!? He actually came to deliver it to Lord Bell in broad daylight!? Whoaah…!"

"Please calm down, Lady Haruhime! It's not certain yet that it's a love letter!"

Huh! Lily, Haruhime, and Mikoto are here too! When did you all get here!?

And please stop emphasizing that this is a love letter!

"You...you all saw it!?"

"Yes, it was around the time when Lord Bell was told, 'You goblin bastard with that damned look, get the hell away from me!'"

"She didn't say anything as bad as she claimed!!"

"Let's stop joking. That person seemed overly hostile as a visitor, so we came to check on him."

"Since you were completely overwhelmed by the other party's aura, it's understandable that you didn't notice."

"After all, you were so flustered that your neck was covered in sweat..."

After I excitedly and loudly refuted Lily's seemingly sarcastic remark, Welf, Miss Mei, and Miss Haruhime took turns sharing their thoughts. It seemed they had all been eavesdropping from behind me in the entryway.

Miss Haruhime casually took out a handkerchief and kindly wiped the sweat from my neck. As my cheeks flushed, I saw Lily suddenly thrust into the maid's waist. Startled, Miss Haruhime cried out, "Hoo!?" But Lily ignored her and pointed her little index finger directly at me.

"More importantly, what is your relationship with that woman?! And when did you become so close that she started targeting you?!"

"What do you mean by being so close to her that she's targeting me?! I really don't know her! This is the first time I've ever met her!"

Although I panicked, I still confessed honestly.

Lily remained silent for a moment, then adopted a serious expression.

"That woman is a member of the Freya Familia."

"Huh... Freya Familia!?"

Faced with this unexpected word, I couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

Their power is comparable to that of the Loki Familia, to which Miss Ais and others belong; they are a member of the largest faction in the city!?

"She is 'Goddess's Attendant Heron'. She is also the chief attendant who accompanies Lady Freya, besides the 'Guardians'. Usually, in order to take care of Lady Freya's daily life, she always stays in the tower or the main camp, and rarely goes out, just like the faction's chief god..."

"Are you sure you haven't mistaken me for someone else?"

"She had badges on her clothes, and her features were similar to what I had heard, so it must be her."

Lily and Welf answered my questions one after another.

With gray hair and predominantly black clothing, he is most likely the rumored "goddess's attendant".

I blinked, then voiced the question that had been on my mind.

"Um, is her only name Herren? As for her surname..."

"I heard she has no surname and no title."

"what?"

"I heard that Lady Freya refused the Council of Gods' offer to bestow a title upon Heron, on the grounds that 'this servant will not become anyone.'"

My mind was instantly filled with trivial thoughts like, "So it's possible to refuse the naming of the Conference of Gods" and "Is it really because we're the largest faction in the city?" Then, a question popped into my dazed thoughts.

To relinquish the right to be given a title.

Generally speaking, it's impossible for anyone to do that.

Although some gods expressed their disapproval with incomprehensible reasons such as "I don't want to see children being labeled with such dark history so early on," titles were originally a symbol that made it easiest for people to identify the identity of high-ranking adventurers when discussing them.

Ultimately, the reason why the gods bestow titles upon adventurers is to praise the achievements they have made.

For the [Family], this is the most obvious achievement. In addition to demonstrating the combat power of their own faction, it can also have a restraining effect on other factions. I didn’t expect that someone would choose to refuse.

The Freya Familia is the strongest faction in the city.

If we say they don't dwell on such trivial matters, it's reasonable in principle, but...

"So when people talked about her, they used her nickname instead of her title. And her nickname became 'The Nameless Goddess Messenger'."

"Nameless?"

"Yes, because she doesn't have a title, she has actually gained some fame, making her a very special high-level adventurer."

The contradiction of someone who rarely goes out yet is quite famous has finally been explained.

As a member of the Freya Familia, she is a high-ranking adventurer without a title.

Why would someone like that send me a letter...?

"Should we read the contents of the letter first? After all, thinking about it too much won't lead to any clear conclusions."

"Ah! That's right! Lord Bell, please quickly see what's written inside!"

"Hmm, um."

At Miss Ming's suggestion, Lily urged me on as if she had finally remembered.

The envelope used was not particularly high-end, and the wax seal did not bear the faction's emblem.

Instead, it looked like a cute and delicate design that a girl would use. I nervously and carefully opened the envelope.

"It's possible that, like with Apollo, it's an invitation to a 'feast of the gods'..."

"And then you bring up war games with us? Please, don't be ridiculous."

"What will become of us if a faction that even the goddess Ishtar couldn't defeat attacks...!?"

"Lord Bell, please crouch down a little! Lily wants to see too!"

Miss Mei, Welf, Miss Haruhime, and Lily spoke in turn.

Faced with this letter from the Freya Familia, everyone could hardly hide their nervousness.

At Lily's request, I bent my knees slightly, while Welf and the others crowded around from both sides, and we all read the neatly folded letter together.

The letter contained the following neatly written content in Common Language.

To Mr. Bell,

This time, I've asked you to go on a date with me during the goddess festival, and I want to spend some time alone with you.

Seele

...?

...Huh? Miss Seele?

How could that be?

Reading this article, which was enough to dispel the tension and ominous premonitions in my heart, my brain was temporarily unable to function.

Lily and the others, who were also stunned on the spot, first trembled all over, and then screamed at the same time.

"Love, love letters────!!"

"Huh?! Hu ...

"Do you think Bell received a love letter?!"

That night.

At the dinner table where everyone was enjoying their meal, a deity who had just returned from work roared in anger.

"Where is the sender!? Who is it!? Is it the guild's advisor!? Or Cassandra from the Mih family!? Could it be Aisha, the Amazonian lady who's after Bell's virginity!? Don't tell me it's some kind of Miss Warren, oh my god!?"

"It's Lady Seele, the 'Mistress of Abundance,' the goddess Hestia!"

"It's that bartender—!"

I was terrified when I saw a deity hunched over a table, head in hands, looking utterly distressed.

It was dinnertime, but all this commotion made it impossible for me to eat...