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

"Hey everyone, I think this is what they call a dungeon. If we don't work together, I'm afraid we won't be able to move forward."

The three, who had never listened to the squad leader's instructions before, were now all watching Nina intently and listening attentively.

"To stop people from calling us the 'bottom-of-the-class team,' I want to continue working together with everyone from now on... What do you think?"

She received the dishonest reply, "...I really can't do anything with you guys."

"It would be very frustrating not to get the 'credits' in order to realize my dream... so I'm willing to cooperate."

"I also think this is much more fun than fighting alone! Let's do it this way next time!"

"Dwarves and dwarves... they're so simple... but... I'm willing."

I breathed a sigh of relief after hearing their replies; Nina, on the other hand, seemed deeply moved, her eyes slightly moist.

After stuffing the "dropped items" into my backpack, we carefully carried them all the way home.

By the time we returned to the surface, it was already dusk.

Influenced by a sense of accomplishment, I inexplicably felt that today's sunset was particularly gentle, even giving people a warm feeling.

The "Third Squad," with smiles on everyone's faces, did not return directly to the "School District," but instead headed towards the "Guild Headquarters."

"...Well, I think we should just forget about it. After all, the 'Tower of Babel' does offer a 'Magic Stone' exchange service..."

"Today is the day we break through to the 'upper level'! Since we're returning in triumph, going to some small exchange would be such a waste of our time! This is the day we should walk into the 'Guild Headquarters' with our heads held high!"

Watching the dwarf put the hammer back on his back and transform back into "Young Master Iglin," I couldn't help but smile wryly, but then I noticed that Nina's expression was somewhat gloomy.

"But……"

"Nina, you were the one who first suggested that everyone should learn to cooperate! And I also know that your current attitude is called 'clueless'!"

After being confronted by Iglin and Chris, Nina was left speechless and could only remain silent.

Since I wanted to gather information from the guild bulletin board before and after exploring the dungeon, I agreed to do so—of course, I was still a little worried about running into acquaintances—but seeing how resistant she was made me a little puzzled.

However, this question was quickly answered.

When we entered the "Guild Headquarters" and successfully exchanged our money in a corner of the lobby—

"...Nina, is that you?"

"!"

The call came from behind Nina, who was about to leave the hallway quickly.

The one calling her was none other than Miss Eina.

"...You're Nina, right? It's me, Eina! Do you remember me!?"

When Nina saw the person behind the glasses, who had the same emerald-green eyes as her, she couldn't help but gasp.

Then, she immediately turned and ran.

"Wait, wait, Nina!"

Nina ignored Miss Eina's calls and ran quickly outside.

Like Iglin and the others, I was stunned. I looked back and forth in the direction where Miss Eina and Nina had left, their faces filled with sorrow. In the end, I reluctantly chose to chase after the latter.

"I am a student (rabbi)" is not an excuse at all, so I kept apologizing to Miss Eina in my heart and started to catch up with my classmate who was behaving strangely.

"Nina, wait! What's wrong with you!?"

"Huff... huff...!"

Running down the streets bathed in the red glow of the setting sun, weaving through the crowds, I barely managed to keep up with her until Nina stopped in Central Park.

This is the northwest side of the square. The half-elf girl stands with her hand on her chest in front of the fountain that keeps splashing water.

"...I'm sorry, but you don't need to worry about it."

“B-But…”

"I'm really fine... it's just that I'm so useless..."

After Nina finished speaking, she lowered her head, and this was the first time I had ever seen her with such a melancholy expression.

Looking at her, bathed in the orange glow of the setting sun, I couldn't think of any comforting words to say, nor did I have the courage to ask further questions.

"...I'll head back to the 'school district' now...Sorry, Rabbi."

As soon as she finished speaking, Nina headed towards the main avenue in the southwest of the city leading to the port city (Meren) and disappeared into the crowd.

Wearing my "school district" combat uniform, I slowly looked back and forth in the southwest and northwest directions, bathed in the curious gazes of those around me.

"...Doing this might just be meddling in other people's business..."

These two women are clearly sisters; they have been helping me all along.

So I made a decision in my heart.

I retraced my steps, handed my backpack and other belongings to Iglin and the others, and after bowing my head and pleading, I was granted free time to act on my own.

"well……"

When the sun has set and the sky is filled with stars.

I saw her emerge from the back door of the "Guild Headquarters" with a sigh, and I immediately called out her name.

"Miss Eina."

"Huh...? Belle?"

Miss Eina's eyes widened when she noticed that I felt bad for standing there blocking people.

At this moment, I have removed my wig, changed out of the "school district" combat suit, and stuffed a whole set of costume props into the bag I prepared beforehand.

After parting ways with Iglin and the others, I quietly went to a small alley on the main northwestern avenue, "Adventurer's Street." After making sure no one was watching me, I entered the underground shop, "Witch's Retreat." This was a shop run by a magician, and I had visited it before during the battle of Labyrinth Street (Daedalus Road) and during my hide-and-seek date with Miss Seele.

It would be disastrous if rumors spread that students from the "school district" were entering and leaving the Hestia Familia's headquarters... After much deliberation, I realized this was the only place I could turn to. The shopkeeper, Granny Renoir, recognized me and sternly said, "You're here again." Having arrived uninvited, I could only bow and apologize repeatedly. Then, I used the reward I'd received from Iglin and the others to buy a new outfit. Thus, when I left the shop, I was no longer a student (Lavi), but an adventurer (Bell) arriving at the guild headquarters.

"W-What happened to you? Why did you suddenly come here? And you look more stylish than usual...?"

"Ah, hahaha..."

I bought this outfit on a whim, but I was praised for being fashionable. Feeling a mix of emotions, I decided to get straight to the point.

"Actually, I came to the 'Guild Headquarters' this afternoon and happened to see Miss Eina... and a girl who looks quite like you..."

My conscience was troubled by the lie, and seeing Miss Eina's sorrowful expression after hearing my words only deepened my guilt.

"This matter is bothering me a bit, which is why I'm waiting for you to get off work here... If you don't mind, I hope you can tell me about it."

I understand that doing this is completely interfering in other people's family affairs.

But I cannot abandon either Nina or Miss Eina and remain uninvolved.

Miss Eina hesitated for a moment, then nodded slightly to me.

"That girl is my sister... her name is Nina."

Since dining out as guild staff and adventurers could easily cause controversy, I first accompanied Miss Eina home to change before heading to a charming restaurant tucked away in the northern part of the city. With its glass windows instead of blinds, it was a more suitable place for upper-class people to conduct business than an adventurer's bar.

Sitting across the table from Miss Eina, I ate my dinner while listening to her tell her story.

"Nina is six years older than me... and we have very few memories together."

"Huh...? Why is that?"

The two are indeed quite far apart in age, but how could their memories be so few...?

"This is because I enrolled in the 'school district' not long after Nina was born."

"!"

"Our mother is frail and often ill, and needs to buy medicine, so my father is often away working... I, being young, also want to help support the family and really want to go out and do odd jobs to earn money, but my mother says that if I insist on doing so, she hopes that I can at least go to school in the 'school district'..."

I was quite shocked when I first heard about Miss Eina's family situation.

Miss Eina entered the "school district" at the age of six, as if she had taken over from Nina when she was just born, and went to the hall of learning on her own.

She then explained, in a slightly self-deprecating tone, that the reason she came to work for the association right after graduating from the "school district" was simply because she was attracted by the high salary, which allowed her to help support her parents.

"I didn't have time to go back to my hometown to visit my family during that period. Nina probably doesn't even remember me. She only knows that she has an older sister. To her, I was practically a stranger."

"No, that can't be happening...!"

"...I'm sorry to say something so silly. But we've just drifted apart. I only vaguely remember her as a baby... By the time I finally had time to go back home, Nina was the one attending school in the 'school district' this time."

When I learned that there seemed to be a chasm between the two sisters in terms of both distance and time, I was stunned.

I believe Nina's decision to attend the "school district" must be based on the same reasons as Miss Eina's.

To help their beloved family, they didn't hesitate to leave their hometown. Perhaps this kind of thing is quite common in the lower realm, but after hearing it, I still felt sorry for the two of them.

"So I started writing letters, not only to my parents, but also to Nina, who was going to the 'school district.' Although doing so might overwhelm her, I wanted her to know that she had an older sister who could tell me if she had any difficulties. When I received a reply, even though the letter sounded distant, I was still very happy..."

Miss Eina, who had been smiling as she shared her past experiences, suddenly adopted a gloomy expression at this point.

"However, after a certain period of time, I stopped receiving replies from Nina... At first, I guessed that she was busy or found writing letters troublesome... Later, I couldn't help but worry that she might hate me, even though we had never met and I had never helped her, yet she was acting like an older sister..."

As a result, I no longer had the courage to send her letters—Miss Eina confessed this incredibly sorrowful statement.

"Although my parents comforted me and said that this was not the case, insisting that Nina actually missed me a lot... I was just so scared. So when I learned that the 'school district' would be returning to port this year... I couldn't be happy about it from the bottom of my heart... no, I even felt a little scared. Because Nina is on this ship."

……I see.

When Miss Eina mentioned the "school district" and the journey to the port city (Melen), the fleeting sadness in her eyes was because she was thinking of Nina.

"...So, when I saw Nina today, the feeling of 'meeting for the first time' was perhaps stronger than the feeling of not seeing her for a long time."

"Eh... But, Miss Eina, you didn't recognize Nina... your own sister right away, did you? After all, you were the one who called out to her first..."

"Of course I know. Because she wears the 'school district' uniform... and she looks exactly like her mother."

Miss Eina smiled slightly, seemingly recalling the scene from earlier that afternoon.

Although Miss Eina said that Nina looks very much like her mother... I think the two of them are more alike, and no matter what others say, I will never doubt that they are sisters.

"But Nina doesn't seem to want to see me..."

"...!"

"She ran away as soon as she saw me... I guess she really hates me."

After speaking, Miss Eina forced a smile onto her face.

However, this made me somewhat aware of the relationship between the two.

As Leon once said... Nina also had some kind of "worry".

Does this feel related to what Miss Eina is sharing with me right now?

Professor Lyon wants me to find out about this from Nina... but do I really have the ability to do so?

At least in my opinion, Nina should never be forced to say it.

I have a feeling... Nina's troubles might be more complicated than Miss Eina's.

Moreover, this is a problem between sisters, and I'm even unsure whether I should get involved.

I myself need to think carefully before acting on this issue.

Even so, I am now—

"Miss Eina, I think your sister should... no, she definitely doesn't hate you."

"what?"

"Because no one would show such a tormented expression in front of someone they dislike."

I recounted my impressions after observing the two of them up close.

Nina's speechless profile when Miss Eina recognized her, and her incredibly vulnerable expression as she ran outside in the afterglow, had absolutely nothing to do with the word "disgust."

Under the gaze of those wide-open, surprised eyes, emerald green like Nina's, I asserted with unwavering conviction.

I thought Miss Eina, who was temporarily stunned, wouldn't react... but then I saw tears welling up in her eyes, and for the moment she seemed to forget her sorrow and smiled at me.

"Thank you, Bell..."

"Ah, no, no... On the contrary, it's me, an outsider, who has presumptuously offered my opinion... I'm so sorry."

"That's absolutely not true... I'm really happy."

Finally snapping out of my daze, I quickly apologized, and Miss Eina slowly shook her head after hearing it.