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

Bell has someone she likes.

She never felt that she could stand beside the boy, or that she could have the place to occupy by his side.

But a blow is a blow.

Upon learning that the boy harbored love that could become a "skill," Lily was speechless and could only stand there in a daze.

*

After what happened that night, Lily forgot to take a shower. She went back to her room, lay in bed, but couldn't fall asleep.

She stared at the ceiling, unable to stop her mind from wandering. Even with her eyes closed, she remained restless, tossing and turning in distress. The rustling of the blankets echoed several times in the spacious single room, quite jarring to the ear.

After battling with her inner turmoil for hours, Lily finally got out of bed.

She hadn't slept all night and left her room as night fell and morning was approaching.

"How ridiculous..."

Lily changed into her usual clothes and robe, closed the door, and looked weary while mocking herself.

She didn't know what she was panicking about. She muttered to herself as she walked down the long corridor.

The main goddess Hestia and the group members all lived on the third floor.

Sometimes Welf would stay in the blacksmith's workshop in the backyard, but basically the members of the Familia slept and slept on the top floor of the mansion.

Starting from the center of the floor were Hestia's sacred bedroom, the double room for Destiny and Haruhime, and further away was Welf's private room... then Bell's room. Lily almost stopped in front of the last room, but she held back and went to the kitchen to get some water.

Before the morning glow had even appeared outside the window, she staggered down the third-floor corridor where everyone was still asleep... and then she heard a "whoosh! whoosh!" sound.

A sharp, whistling sound came from the direction of the central courtyard.

"!"

The sound, like someone practicing swordplay, startled Lily, and she ran to the window in the corridor.

She stood on tiptoe and peered through the window at the courtyard of the mansion below—the figure of a white-haired boy came into view.

There was no need for her to hide, but she hurriedly pulled her face back, and only after a long while did she timidly peek out.

Lily peeked out the window and saw Bell wielding blue-purple and crimson daggers, training alone.

He described the flashing swords and the sound of wind cutting through the air, which was just heard.

(...is he...fighting with someone?)

Seeing the boy move vigorously across the wide lawn, beads of sweat forming on his brow, Lily realized he was battling an imaginary enemy. Bell was engaged in a fierce simulated battle with an unseen adversary.

This hypothetical enemy is incredibly powerful.

As a supporter, I've observed the adventurers up close on several occasions and noticed this with my keen eye.

Even the boy who became a second-level adventurer was no match for him.

(Ah... I lost.)

Soon, Bell's movements froze.

He raised the dagger halfway, as if his neck was blocked by the tip of the sword, unable to move. Then he suddenly exhaled with a "whoosh!?" and went into a half-squatting position.

Bell rested his hands on his knees, his face dripping with sweat, his shoulders heaving as he gasped for breath.

"..."

White hair clung to his damp cheeks, his short-sleeved shirt soaked with sweat. The boy must have been training intently for a long time before Lily even noticed him. Lily watched him silently.

Was the opponent I just fought Ais?

To catch up with her, the boy gets up so early and exercises every day?

Unable to find an answer, Lily forgot to breathe and stood there like a statue.

Soon the boy straightened his back and began exercising again.

The boy's honest and sincere way of wielding his weapon made Lily realize his feelings for the girl, plunging her into a vortex of regret.

Wavering, unease, and sorrow—all sorts of emotions swirl and churn within me.

On this day, as usual, they went to explore the maze in the morning.

The team passed the 15th floor they had explored a few days earlier and entered the 16th floor of the dungeon.

The [Family] advanced with unstoppable momentum. The squad's morale soared under these circumstances, but Lily, carrying her backpack, looked dejected.

"...Lily, are you alright?"

"!"

Bale, who had somehow retreated to center-back, spoke up to check on Lily, whose head was slightly bowed. He looked at Lily with concern.

You seem very tired... Is something wrong?

"N-No, it's nothing, Lord Bell! Lily just didn't sleep well last night, and as you can see, she's perfectly fine!"

Lily snapped out of her daze and quickly forced a smile. She wore the smug grin she'd honed as a thief, insisting she was perfectly fine. Bell remained worried, but a monster had appeared on the road, forcing him to confront it.

"Thank goodness, what was I doing?" Lily scolded herself.

This is an underground city. Being distracted will not only harm yourself but also put your companions in danger. Lily stared intently at Bell and the others battling the monster, taking a deep breath to try and switch her focus.

(That's right! Lily is Lord Bell's... supporter.)

However, upon learning that Belle had someone she loved, her tender heart wavered, questioning what value she held for the young man.

Professional supporters, objects of contempt, and "porters" for adventurers.

Lily had no abilities to be proud of; she couldn't stand up for Bell like Welf and Fate were fighting right now, nor could she stand by his side. No, she couldn't even catch up with him.

In the age of thieves, the word "trash," repeatedly hurled at her by adventurers, resurfaced in her mind, accompanied by lewd laughter. Lily outwardly fulfilled her duty as a supporter with an iron will, but inwardly she was in turmoil.

"..."

Lily gripped the "Crozo's Demon Sword" tightly, ready to swing it at any moment, and looked to her side, where she saw Haruhime staring at Bell and the others with a worried look.

She was a supporter, just like me, responsible for carrying luggage, but she possessed powerful "magic".

Level Up. Haruhime's sorcery grants adventurers powers beyond the norm, making her perfect as a support character; she is far more valuable than herself.

To be honest, she is exceptionally beautiful.

Needless to say, the fox-woman's golden fur and flowing long hair are exceptional, and her refined beauty far surpasses that of a short, stocky woman like Lily. Coupled with her pure and innocent aura, she might even rival the [Sword Maiden].

Her chest is quite impressive too.

(Lady Haruhime...)

...Once she grows up, will I no longer be needed?

There's no need to compare myself to Ais; otherwise, I'll lose my place to live.

(Since that's the case, let's just...)

Let's just stop teaching Haruhime to be a supporter.

Or just teach them randomly.

Lily was startled to find herself having such thoughts and shook her head vigorously from side to side.

"Lady Lily?"

"……nothing."

Haruhime turned her face away from Bell and the others towards Lily, and with great difficulty managed to squeeze out an answer from her throat.

That was so despicable, she felt nauseous.

What a nuisance! She's started to hate herself.

She was not as pure and kind as the women around Bell—the goddesses Hestia, Eina, Seele, and Haruhime.

My heart is filthy; I only think about whitewashing myself.

They are not worthy of the naive, innocent, and simple-minded Bear Grylls at all.

(This suffering, in the end, is nothing more than—)

That's right.

Ultimately, Lily suffers from severe low self-esteem.

Ais Wallenstein, a Level 1 adventurer. Lily had seen her in person as well.

Having personally witnessed the beautiful girl with golden hair and eyes, who was no less stunning than a goddess, he calmly conversed with Bell, whose face was flushed.

Beautiful, strong, and brave.

Not only Bell, but many adventurers admired her.

Even if the world were turned upside down, Lily would still be no match for her.

This is what Lily suffers from.

She harbored a sense of inferiority, knowing that she was no match for the female swordsman in anything.

Bell kept looking up at the unattainable beauty—looking up high, she couldn't see herself at all.

I could never be number one in his heart.

This undeniable fact has left Lily in a state of despair and despondency since last night's ordeal.

Lily is tormented and manipulated by selfish jealousy, and disappointed in her own insignificance.

"..."

After the battle, she and Haruhime collected the spoils dropped by the monster horde that Bell and his companions had defeated.

As Lily picked up the "magic stones" that had fallen to the ground in the dimly lit dungeon, a pang of pain shot through her chest at her pathetic state.

*

"So you've safely made it to the 16th floor?"

"Yes, although I haven't fully mastered the terrain yet, I have no problem fighting monsters."

It was afternoon, before dusk, at the guild headquarters.

When the sky was still a clear blue, I went to visit my commissioner, Miss Eina.

The party returning from the dungeon had already exchanged their money at the Babel Tower facility, and I asked Welf and the others to go back to headquarters first. To regularly report the dungeon's progress to Miss Eina, I went to the guild headquarters alone.

The reason I returned from the dungeon earlier than usual today is because the monsters dropped an unusually large number of "dropped items".

Since Lily and Miss Haruhime's bags and backpacks were already full, it was inconvenient to collect more loot, so they ended their exploration early.

And then... Lily's appearance worries me a little.

"It's great to see that everything is going well for you. Don't overexert yourself in the future, okay?"

"Yes, Miss Eina."

Miss Eina seemed pleased to hear that our dungeon raid had gone smoothly and safely; her brown hair and half-elf pointed ears swayed with her smile.

I didn't go to the interview room; I just gave a brief presentation at the window and then said goodbye to Miss Eina.

"Lily...I wonder if something's wrong."

Not only in the dungeon, but throughout the past half day, Lily had been listless, which made me mutter to myself. I was also worried about my companions' forced smiles.

I walked across the main hall, which was made of white marble, thinking about my companions.

"—Bell Crane."

"what?"

Just as I was about to leave the guild headquarters, someone called my name.

The youthful voice, like that of a teenager, made me turn around—and the figure standing there made me stare in astonishment.

Golden hair, short stature.

Including his decent appearance, although he looks like a child, the aura he exudes is far more mature than mine... no, that's the imposing presence of a first-level adventurer.

Looking at the Lilliputian male so close to me, I said in a trembling voice:

"Fin, Mr. Finn Dimna...!?"

Meeting the renowned leader of the Loki Familia filled me with astonishment.