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

"Mr. Pan, why are you willing to help me...?"

"...I know all too well how terrifying Lord Hegni and his men are. So, I might at least have some respect for a warrior who fights tirelessly despite knowing such fear and pain...but I still hate you!"

"Leaving aside Paine's difficult way of expressing love."

"But I genuinely think you're amazing... although I've thought so for a long time."

Mr. Paine and the other members of the group, who had always been hostile to me, have all come to agree with me at some point.

Although I don't know them as family members (family members), I have a very strange feeling in my heart.

"You want to go out, don't you?"

"Yes, yes... Is that alright... Miss Haiji?"

"Hmm~ It should be fine, right? I'll pass on the message to Goddess Freya and the others."

"Can...can I really go out?"

"Yeah, everyone else can go out freely. But you absolutely must have someone accompany you, especially when going to the dungeon. It's your own fault for being 'cursed' without your knowledge; if something happens again, it'll be terrible. Especially since it affects my reputation! I don't want to be called a useless healer again. Please don't give me any more work! Understand!?"

“I, I understand…”

Although there were conditions for going out, fortunately permission was granted quickly.

In principle, "baptism" is still the priority, but I used my limited time to run all over the city—which only resulted in countless moments of despair.

From beginning to end, no one remembered "me, a member of the Hearth Goddess Familia (Hestia Familia)". Even seeking help from Hermes or Fels, who should have been able to devise a solution, was ultimately futile. Whether I brought up the spying incident on the eighteenth floor or past events known only to me and the parties involved, they all looked confused... no, more like "indifferent," as if they were under a "spell" that prevented them from understanding Bell Crane's words. And then there's Miss Seele, who suddenly disappeared. I've been desperately searching for her, but to no avail.

I then ventured into the dungeon, but again found nothing. I also tried to find Winnie and the other "outcasts" with a sliver of hope, but I wondered if they were afraid of the Freya Familia I was with. I didn't see a single monster, not even a talking one, let alone any armed ones. Were Winnie and the others just a figment of my imagination?

Mr. Paine and the others who were with me did not monitor me; instead, they let me find what I wanted. In other words, it seemed as if they were very sympathetic to me.

This almost made me give up, no, I probably couldn't have kept going.

Although the "baptism" left me battered and bruised, the fact that no one recognized "me" was even more disheartening.

As night falls over the city, I can only gaze from afar at the "Kitchen Firehouse" where warm light shines through the windows.

Sometimes I feel like I'm making eye contact with a deity (someone) standing by the window, but that might just be my imagination.

Whether it's the body, mind, or soul... they are gradually being forced into a corner with no way out.

"Welcome, Bell."

In such circumstances, going to the shrine to chat with people after nightfall was my only solace.

Because only there is a place where "I, the Familia of the Hearth Goddess (Hestia Familia)" can continue to exist.

The goddess Freya always looked at me with tender, loving eyes.

Thanks to being able to share "Bell Crane of the Hearth Goddess Familia (Hestia Familia)" with others there, I was able to barely maintain myself. No matter how much pain and torment loneliness brought me, I could continue to endure it.

No matter what I say, the noble goddess never laughs at me, nor does she even show the slightest hint of doubt.

She always responds and listens patiently; she's the only one who truly understands me.

Only she... only she would treat me like this.

"Um, Goddess Freya...where should I sit...?"

"Starting today, you will sit next to me."

“Eh!?”

"Because your chair has already been put away."

"This...this is too cunning..."

The goddess Freya often teases me like this.

The fact that she was more than just a sacred goddess gradually dismantled my defenses.

Watching the goddess gently pat the recliner, I could only keep a distance from her, where our shoulders might accidentally touch, as I talked to her, unable to resist her advances.

My words are no longer so unfamiliar, and I am slowly weaving a bond that is different from that between master and servant or mother and son.

Faced with the changing sense of distance and relationships, I suddenly realized something.

Being by the side of the goddess Freya... being by her side makes me feel very comfortable.

*

Are you tired, Belle?

“Eh…”

We continued our nighttime conversations today as well.

As usual, I finished the battle in the field and visited the shrine as usual. I felt a sudden unease at the unexpected concern from the goddess Freya.

You look more haggard than usual.

“No, that’s not the case…”

"Even when I ask you questions, you seem distracted. Are you perhaps too tired?"

After we finished speaking, our foreheads touched.

"Wait!?" Startled and blushing, I quickly stepped back, looking at the goddess Freya who was chuckling, and couldn't help but feel embarrassed.

Indeed, today's "baptism" was particularly difficult. Although Mr. Hegney and Mr. Alfred were as usual, I vaguely sensed that Master's attacks were becoming increasingly intense. Of course, it could also be due to the accumulated fatigue...

Despite wanting to complain loudly about why I have to endure these things day after day.

But now I openly regard baptism (battle) as a means of "escaping reality," so I really can't have any complaints about the goddess Freya.

The relentless battles allowed me to leave behind the loneliness and despair that I couldn't change.

Sometimes, I accidentally let my mind wander into terrible thoughts.

If I were to meet my ideal woman (Miss Ais) in this state, and be rejected in return... what would become of me?

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see that the goddess Freya was staring intently at me, but I couldn't react for a long time.

Even the sacred flame (warmth) that had been burning on its back seemed to be quietly and gradually weakening—

"Bell".

At this moment, Freya spoke up.

From the boy's profile, one could see that he was growing weaker and weaker, as if he were standing in the narrow crevice of troubles, gasping for breath in pain. So she decided to pull up the "fishing hook" that had been hanging there for a long time.

"Why don't you try asking someone to help you break the 'curse'?"

The face that suddenly turned around revealed a pair of deep red eyes that snapped open.

Freya secretly scrutinized the subtle changes in the boy's expression, and continued in a worried tone:

"I didn't mean to deny you, 'the Hearth Goddess Familia (Hestia Familia)'... but you seem to be in a lot of pain right now, as if you want to be freed from loneliness."

"...!"

"Even if it's just once, how about having someone heal your 'curse'?"

Bell appeared quite shaken.

You can tell that he is quite shaken.

You can see that he longs for a ray of light to help him escape the cage called loneliness.

Freya was absolutely certain of what the "victory conditions" were for this game.

That is to dismantle [Liaris Freese].

A crack was etched into this will that was strong enough to resist the allure of the "goddess of beauty".

(This child's single-minded aspiration (skill) can be described as an unknown (exception) in the lower realm, but it is not without flaws and can become very unstable under the influence of the mind.)

【一心憧憬】 is by no means an invincible "skill"; rather, it is quite fragile.

The reason this "skill" is so rock-solid is thanks to Bell's pure soul, or rather, his flawless transparency. If this ability were in someone else, it would probably become completely useless immediately. Because carrying out one's inner will is just that difficult.

Therefore, as long as the boy's aspirations (ideas) waver even slightly—

Once the suspense arises—"Was that cherished memory all fabricated?"—

His heart will then show a "flaw".

(My victory condition is for this child to admit that his "trajectory" is due to a "curse".)

That's why Haici planted the hammer (keyword) called "Curse" in advance.

When the path to salvation is laid out before one's eyes, who wouldn't be tempted? At least, the people of the lower realms couldn't resist the temptation. A seed of doubt had already been planted in the boy's heart.

The "closed world" is a foreshadowing and setup for this purpose. The boy is isolated by the reactions of others, and his physical strength is exhausted by the "baptism" during the day, leaving him no time to suspect anything. At night, Freya plays the role of the "only understanding person" to comfort the boy, making him at least willing to listen to Freya's advice, and finally, he pulls the trigger with sweet words.

Bell becomes vulnerable when he admits that his memories—his longings—his aspirations come from a "curse."

It is as fragile as a sandcastle submerged in water.

In this way, Bell could no longer resist the "allure".

Furthermore, it's just a matter of slightly altering his aspirations.

There's no need to distort your mind like others; just a slight deviation is enough.

Bell will break free from the shackles of her dreams and be liberated from the golden curse, and from then on she will always look at herself (Freya).

"I...I..."

Freya watched Belle, who was in great distress, and pondered this in her heart.

She asked herself if there was a way to get the result she wanted, and then confidently gave a positive answer.

This judgment was made by the omniscient power of the gods.

She was able to possess the boy's pure soul completely, without allowing it to be tainted or corrupted in the slightest.

As for that slight "deviation," it's all within the acceptable range.

The goddess was full of self-affirmation.

She firmly believes that Bell will be willing to accept her in the future.

You will become her person.

He was no longer " ", but willing to accept her "love" —

Really?

Just then—

Freya felt a ripple in her heart.

“…………”

When she came to her senses, she found herself covering her ear with her right hand.

I feel a sense of unease and a dull ache in my heart.

No, that's an illusion.

Because he had already made up his mind to forcibly take the child.

"I...I'm fine, so I won't accept treatment for now..."

"...I see. I'm sorry, I was being nosy."

Freya, who had been distracted, smiled nonchalantly after hearing the boy's answer.

There's no need to rush. The evidence is that Bell has already begun to hesitate. Anyway, there's plenty of time; we just need to gradually force him to comply.

Therefore, Freya ended the nighttime conversation earlier than usual, allowing Bell to leave the shrine.

“…………”

The maids who entered the room began preparing Freya for bedtime.

Freya, sitting in a chaise lounge, gazed at the wine that had been served.

The reflection in the swaying wine glass didn't seem to be the goddess's (her own) face, but rather someone else's.

Freya chuckled dismissively.

He gave a dismissive, light laugh.

Then he downed the glass of wine, which seemed a bit too much for a bedtime drink.