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

This is the "entertainment" of the gods.

They got caught up in "God's pranks," which often happen in the lower realms and treat people like fools.

"How boring. I thought both of them would get slapped and rejected by Eina."

"Okay, I won the bet!"

Seeing their god laughing heartily with his back to the moonlight, Dorumur and Luvis gritted their teeth, and the proud elf Luvis turned red all over.

Their clenched hands trembled as they endured the humiliation.

"Luvis~, Dad won some money gambling~, treat me to something good~"

"Dorumur~, I've lost all my money, can you lend me some~? Please~"

"Go to hell! Aa ...

The two men either took out short bows to show their bows or picked up stones from the ground and fired directly.

Before the arrows and stones could hit them, the two gods swiftly dodged, their piercing laughter echoing all around, before disappearing into the depths of the moonlit night.

"..."

"……that……"

Eina, who had remained silent alongside Bell, was deeply saddened and wanted to say something to the two of them.

With their shoulders heaving violently, Luvis and Dorumur seemed to have gone all out, and suddenly raised their heads.

"Damn it, I won't give up so easily!? Miss Eina, I love you! I hope you will marry me!!"

"I...I love Eina too!? Be my bride!"

"Huh... Huh!?"

Just as one problem subsided, another arose, and Eina screamed in agony.

Even she blushed as Luvis and Dorumur approached, their faces flushed.

She'd lived to be nineteen and had experience being confessed to by men, but this was the first time she'd ever received a marriage proposal. And she knew without even needing confirmation that the other person was sincere and serious.

Bell, left standing to the side, also stared wide-eyed and leaned back.

"How could I entrust my sister Eina to someone like you! Go back to the forest!"

"Nonsense! Besides, a dwarf like you can't possibly have children with her!"

"Hey—!? What are you trying to do to Eina, you little devil!?!"

"You idiot, don't get the wrong idea!? I'm just speaking purely from a racial point of view...!"

Dorumur and Luvis, who were arguing, suddenly turned to Eina with the same gesture.

Unable to speak, she felt a heavy jolt on her shoulder.

"Please tell me your answer, Miss Eina!"

"I'm prepared for the worst!"

Forced to make a decision, Eina was unusually flustered and at a loss.

She simply couldn't accept the idea of ​​getting married as soon as she agreed. But even if she refused, given their personalities, they would definitely pursue her again with their passion unless there was a clear reason.

Eina felt like crying and looked to the side with a dependent expression.

Bell, standing beside her, watched anxiously as Eina and the others made their decision.

(Ugh! Can't you say something too...!?)

Seeing that the boy didn't say anything made her feel angry for some reason.

Eina's dissatisfaction was rising, her eyes filled with tears, as if she were staring at Bell with a glare, but he only said "Huh?" with a blank expression that made people angry.

Eina's cheeks turned red and hot.

I just don't know if it was because Bale was there.

Eina lost her composure, her anger flaring, and temporarily closed her emerald eyes.

"I cannot answer either of you."

Then, she took Bell's arm and pulled him forcefully toward her.

"Because I'm dating him!!"

"Eek eek eek eek ——————————————!?"

The three shouts overlapped.

"You mean even you're calling me that!"

"I'm...I'm sorry...!?"

After being yelled at aggressively by Dorumur and Luvis, Bell apologized in fear.

They approached Eina, who was still wrapped around Bell's arm.

"W-Is this real, little sister Eina!?"

"You were just saying that casually, weren't you?!"

"No, we're dating! He confessed to me!!"

Eina, with her eyes closed, angrily asserted, leaving Bell speechless with shock.

With her face as red as an apple, Eina released her arms, grabbed the boy's shoulders, and faced him directly.

"Bell, you came back safely from the 5th floor back then and confessed to me, right!?"

「!?」

That was a long time ago. Back then, Bell was attacked by the Minotaur and was rescued by the swordswoman Ais, which allowed him to return alive.

Eina leaned closer, as if to say: You did say that, didn't you?

Now, here—I'll say it again.

His emerald-green eyes, brimming with power, spoke volumes from the distance between their noses, which were almost touching.

Bell's mouth opened and closed.

"Say it again, Bell! Say what you said back then!"

Seeing Eina blushing and pleading desperately, Bell's eyes darted around for a long time.

Finally, as if he had given up hope, he moved his lips slightly.

"I...I like you the most..."

The boy blushed and lowered his head.

"—This, this is it!? Just like this, it makes me want to protect him! I love this type—I love Bell!!"

fatal blow.

As if struck by lightning, "Boom—!!" Dorumur and Luvis were both greatly shocked.

Perhaps unable to discern any insincerity in Eina's attitude and words, they froze for a moment before hanging their heads and staggering away.

"..."

"..."

The dwarf and elf departed, and a cool breeze swept between Bell and Eina.

Neither of them was inferior to the other; both were as red as ripe tomatoes.

A moment later, Bell, who was on the verge of tears, looked at Eina as if she had something to say.

Eina turned to him, clapped her hands together, closed her eyes tightly, and lowered her head.

"sorry……!"

A pitiful apology squeezed out from her cherry blossom-colored lips.

*

The morning sky was a clear, bright blue.

Warm sunlight streamed through the window, and the guild headquarters was as bustling as ever today.

Many adventurers came and went, queuing at the window as usual.

Regardless of her inner thoughts, Eina at least perfectly projected the image of a waitress.

(I'm so embarrassed to see Bell...)

Just thinking about what happened last night makes my face burn with rage.

Although she was out of her mind at that time, although it was a momentary impulse, and although her mind was in chaos and she was at a loss.

But the thought of dragging the boy into this mess for her own sake still filled her with extreme guilt.

She was clearly the older sister... Just as Eina was sighing in her heart for what felt like the umpteenth time.

""ah……""

Bell appeared before them.

"..."

"..."

Neither of them spoke.

Everyone around them looked at them with surprise, and Eina blushed and looked away.

How embarrassing, what should I do? Eina desperately tried to think of something to say.

However, Bell seemed to be suppressing his embarrassment and spoke first with a wry smile:

"Um, there's something I'd like to discuss with you, is that alright?"

Seeing Bell trying to speak to her in a normal manner, Eina's eyes widened.

Then, a small smile slowly appeared on her lips.

"Hmm...no problem."

The two looked at each other, their eyes meeting, and in an instant, they returned to their usual selves.

Advisors and adventurers, or older sisters and younger brothers.

The two went to their room to discuss things, chatting side by side. This is good, this is perfect.

Eina thought so.

Let's maintain the status quo in our relationship for now.

"I'm sorry... Thank you, Belle."

"..."

"I'm so happy to hear you say you like me again."

“…………”

He murmured to himself, pretending not to hear. He kept his head down, his face flushed.

Eina smiled shyly.

Volume 8, Chapter 5: The City Girl's Secret

"—It's done!"

Black smoke billowed from the narrow kitchen.

The charred appearance of various ingredients and cooking utensils illustrates the chaotic process of cooking.

The girl in the apron, Seele, with her light gray hair swaying, was all alone in the kitchen with a big smile on her face.

In the kitchen, where there were no colleagues, staff, or female owner, she stuffed the unfinished dishes—meat pies with less-than-appealing colors and sandwiches with a dangerously strong aroma—into containers without tasting them.

After stuffing it in, they put the container into a larger wicker basket.

She hummed a song as she changed her clothes, then picked up her wicker basket and left the room.

"I wonder if they'll like it today?"