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

As my body and mind gradually reached their limits, I could no longer deny the idea that I had been able to laugh off a little earlier. Before I could shake off this gloomy mood, I had already arrived at the shrine of the goddess Freya.

"Come here quickly, Bell."

Having received permission, I left my master behind. As soon as I entered the room, I saw the goddess Freya, dressed in a pure white nightgown. I was involuntarily drawn to the goddess who brought me comfort every night, and I began to get used to sitting with her on the same chaise lounge.

I felt this gentle warmth, as if continuing a scene from an Arabian Nights tale, and tonight, once again, it was my turn to tell the story—

"...?"

But I feel like today is different from the past.

"What's wrong, Belle?"

The goddess Freya tilted her head in confusion. Her long, shimmering silver hair made a sound like silk rubbing against skin, reflecting the light from the room as it fell from her shoulders.

I'm probably just imagining things. The goddess Freya looks exactly the same as always.

However... I have a strange feeling that part of her mind isn't on this.

Those beautiful silver eyes seemed to contain "other colors".

"...Excuse me...what happened?"

By the time I came to my senses, the question had already slipped out.

The goddess Freya paused in surprise.

"...Why would you ask that?"

"Um... because you seem a little listless..."

I didn't know how to explain, and after stammering out my explanation, the goddess Freya, who had been watching me intently, suddenly relaxed and gave me a wry smile with her eyebrows slightly lowered.

"You're usually so oblivious to women, but you're exceptionally perceptive at times like this."

“Hmm…!”

After being clearly teased, I let out an embarrassed groan.

The goddess Freya had already smiled like a mischievous cat, her eyebrows curving upwards, and she let out her usual soft laughter.

At the same time, I was surprised to find myself feeling a sense of relief.

"...If you don't mind, I'd like to listen to your story."

"Oh, do you want to hear it?"

"Yes... after all, it's usually you who listens to my troubles."

The goddess Freya neither agreed to nor rejected my proposal.

She simply looked back at me with her eyes, which seemed to shine like winter stars in some unknown place.

So I reflexively opened my mouth to show my concern.

"What happened?"

"...I feel a little sentimental. I hurt some people I considered friends."

"You?"

"I suppose so," the goddess Freya said vaguely.

"Um, is there any way to make up...?"

"There's nothing I can do. It's all my fault."

This time, it wasn't me speaking, but rather the goddess Freya speaking to me.

This gave me an incredible feeling, and after a moment's hesitation, I chose the right words.

"If that's what you think... then why not try apologizing to the other person...?"

"You're right, the problem is I can't do it."

“…Why?”

"Because I have already chosen what I want most."

The goddess Freya didn't look at me; instead, she stared straight ahead. Her profile was resolute, almost cold.

"I've also decided that I'm willing to sacrifice everything for this."

That voice, which sounded like absolute zero, sent a shiver down my spine; it didn't sound like it came from the goddess who brought me warmth.

However, her resoluteness truly gave me a very lonely feeling.

"If you accidentally give up something very precious... is it impossible to get it back?"

"what?"

"If there's still time... even if some time has passed, is it really impossible to go back and pick it up again?"

So I couldn't help but say this.

I almost gave up on everything I had up to that point.

Even if you want to cherish it in your heart forever, it will still gradually wither and peel away.

But even when I was sad and in pain, and almost gave up, I was still glad that I didn't give up hope and choose to abandon it.

If it were truly lost along the way... I believe it can still be retrieved.

"Once I get it back... I'll definitely cherish it even more than before."

After I finished speaking with a smile, the goddess Freya opened her eyes wide in surprise.

Her slightly parted lips trembled slightly.

I don't know much, but at least I understand that whether it's a human or a god, deep down they will always regret the things they've given up.

The goddess Freya didn't say much.

However, her cheeks were slightly flushed, and she smiled sweetly at me.

"Bell, I like you."

"what?"

I really like you.

The next moment──

It was as if time had ceased to exist.

"...Huh!?"

Because of this sudden confession, I couldn't help but scream out in surprise.

I straightened my body and tried to back up, but the armrest of the recliner blocked my way!

On the other hand, the goddess Freya revealed a mischievous smile.

"Hey, Bell, do you know how to comfort a woman?"

"W-what...?"

"Learning this will make you more popular, because women like men who can make them feel safe."

"No, no, no, I don't care! I don't care about being popular or those indecent behaviors...!"

"But aren't you looking for a chance encounter?"

"Wow!?"

How come the goddess Freya even knows about something like this?!

I should have only mentioned this to the gods and the "guardians" I encountered when I first arrived in Orario!

"Let me teach you. Just follow my instructions."

The order to be mischievous was not canceled, and in the end I had no choice but to give in to the goddess's wishes.

"First, put your hand on their shoulder."

“Um, um…”

"Hurry up!"

As instructed, I sat down next to the goddess Freya, my heart pounding with fear as I placed my right hand on her shoulder.

Our bodies were pressed tightly together. A pleasant fragrance wafted into our nostrils.

Then I noticed that even the simplest pajamas would instantly transform into a sexy gown that would captivate men when worn by her.

"After the woman leans on your shoulder, you should also lean your body towards her."

"..."

"If you sense the other person looking up, make eye contact with them."

“…………”

After gazing into each other's eyes for a while, reach out and lift the other person's chin.

"........."

"And then they kissed—"

"No, no, no, no!! I can't do it!!"

I couldn't take it anymore and fell backward.

He fell off the recliner with his back landing on the ground.

"Hehehe, ahahahahaha! Bell, what are you doing?!"

When the goddess Freya saw me fall flat on my back with my face completely red, she couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"You're both so naive and pathetic."

"I'm sorry... but it seems like we can't say it like that...!"

"I love you so much, why won't you reciprocate my feelings?"

"Eh! Well, you can't say that...! After all, I can't do anything inappropriate to the goddess...!"

"The goddess of love has expressed her love for you, and you actually turned around and ran away. That's really rude."

The goddess Freya reached out and helped me up, who had made a complete fool of myself. Seeing my panicked state, she couldn't help but smile. When she wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, there was no trace of sadness on her face.

Although it was the first time I'd seen her like this... I'm so glad she was able to cheer up.

Thinking this to myself, I couldn't help but give a wry smile.

"Ah~ I still couldn't help but fall in love with you."

I was stunned on the spot.

The way the goddess murmured softly suddenly overlapped with a certain memory of mine.

"Miss Seele—?"

I don't understand why I called out that name.

Yet, it just slipped out involuntarily.

Ah, I can't help but fall for you.

Miss Seele seems to have said this when we were in the Grand Hall.

The smile before me was exactly the same as Miss Seele's expression back then—

As I stood there in shock, even the goddess Freya was stunned.

The surroundings were so quiet that even the sound of rain seemed to have disappeared, leaving only two gazes locked tightly together.

After several minutes... or seconds? Anyway, after a period of eye contact that seemed to last forever, the goddess gently reached out her hand to me.

Unable to move, I watched as that right hand pressed against my cheek—

"—The goddess of love (me) is right in front of you, yet you dare to call out another woman's name. What are you thinking?"

"Ouch! O ...

Then he pinched my cheek hard!

Looking at the goddess Freya with her furrowed brows, the "beautiful figure" she had sensed earlier had vanished without a trace.