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

"No, look, they say even a rabbit will climb a tree if it's too obsequious! That's the meaning!"

"Lily doesn't understand what Lord Bell is trying to say at all, but let's just go with the flow! Lord Bell is amazing! Your strength is not only limited to this!"

"It's not as good as you say, Lily!"

We were so overjoyed and excited that we couldn't stop.

Even though they weren't in a tavern, the two of them were shouting, jumping around, and laughing so hard they couldn't stop.

As night was about to fall, we were the only two adventurers in this simple restaurant in the Tower of Babel. Everyone else had probably gone to the tavern.

"Yay!" I high-fived Lily, who was standing on the chair; our excitement hadn't subsided yet.

"...So, Lord Bell, may I collect my share of the profits from you?"

"Okay, here you go!"

I handed the heavy thirteen thousand falies to Lily.

“…Huh?”

"Ah, if that's the case, maybe we can feed the gods some delicious food more often...!"

I clenched my fist, and the scene at that moment appeared above my head.

Finally, I can repay the gods for their kindness!

Lily next to me seemed to widen her eyes, but I ignored her and continued to indulge in my imagination.

"Lord Bel, what is this...?"

"Profit sharing? Need I say more! Oh, right! It's a rare opportunity, Lily, how about we go to a pub later? I know a good one!"

I happily invited Lily to dinner, and she stared in disbelief, gasping in surprise.

Ah, didn't she say she didn't want to go to "the bountiful mistress"?

But it should be okay, right? I'm happy today!

"Well then, let's go, Lily!"

"Lord Bel!"

Doing good deeds should be done early. I started packing my luggage when Lily called out to me loudly.

Huh? I looked incredulous as she moved her lips indistinctly in front of me.

"...Would Lord Bell ever think of... taking it all for himself?"

"Eh, why?"

I asked back, utterly bewildered.

When Lily saw that I answered her question with a question, she was speechless.

"I couldn't earn this much money on my own. It's because Lily is here, isn't it?"

So, thank you, I say, still in a good mood.

I added, "I'll be relying on you from now on."

I was really happy to see Lily, and I smiled at her again.

"..."

"Lily, okay, shall we go?"

I reached out my hand to Lily, who was looking up at me.

She stared at my outstretched hand and timidly placed her own hand on top of it.

"...That's strange."

I completely missed those little murmurs.

Bell Craney

Affiliation: [Hestia Familia]

Race: human

Occupation: Adventurer

Arrival floor: 7th floor

Weapon: Hestia's Blade

〖Short sword〗

Money held: 18,900 fali

[Ability value]

LV.1

Strength: D591 Durability: G233 Dexterity: C607 Agility: B702 Magic: I0

〖magic〗

【】

〖Skill〗

【Heartfelt longing】

·precocious.

• Maintains the effect while simultaneously expressing feelings of longing

The stronger the longing, the greater the effect.

【equipment】

Pyonkichi Rabbit Armor Mk-II

• The first piece of armor crafted by Welf Crozo, who belongs to the Hephaestus Familia.

• It was almost sent to a warehouse because the title of its work was too... suggestive. It was also almost for the same reason that it was put up for sale in boxes. This left a slight scar on Bell's heart.

• The material used was the dropped item "Metal Rabbit Fur". According to Bell, it was "incredibly light".

On the contrary, their high level of defense was praised by the management team of the Hephaestus Familia.

Green protective gear

Price: 7700 Fali.

A gift from Eina. It was emerald green, just like her eyes.

• Protective gear with the same purpose as a shield. It is less durable than a regular shield, but lighter in weight.

It is narrow in width but relatively long and thin. It can hold a short knife or dagger.

Volume Two Insert Chapter: "Goddess of Fortune"

The color covering the sky is about to change from bright maroon to the vastness of dusk.

Western Orario. The West Street, teeming with craftsmen returning home from work and groups of adventurers finishing their dungeon explorations, was as bustling as ever today.

"We made it through today too..."

Blending into the crowded streets, Hestia staggered down the avenue. It was as if she were trying to escape the Tower of Babel, the towering skyscraper that stood in the heart of the city, as she made her way towards headquarters with great difficulty.

She finished her work at the Babel Tower branch of the Hephaestus Familia and is now heading home.

"Couldn't Hephaestus have been even a little bit nicer to me...?"

Although it was entirely to repay the loan, the various arduous tasks she was experiencing for the first time were, to put it mildly, harsh for Hestia, who had been living a life of laziness until now.

Whether it was at the behest of her divine friend (Hephaestus) or not, the children working in the same workplace showed no respect for the goddess (Hestia), instead behaving arrogantly and bossily. They eagerly piled tasks onto her, much to her annoyance.

This shows that Hephaestus is determined to correct Hestia's habit of always relying on others for everything.

"Ah, I really want to see Belle...!"

After days of heavy labor that had completely worn down Hestia's body and mind, she thought of her family (children).

Not long ago, gently welcoming the boy back from the dungeon was still her daily routine and a great pleasure—for which she used to always leave her part-time job early—but now the positions are completely reversed.

Hestia longed to be in his arms as soon as possible and indulge in her affections, but this was something she could never do. She dragged her heavy body home.

"—Ugh!"

On the bustling street, a white, rabbit-like object flashed past the corner of her vision, causing Hestia to turn her head almost reflexively.

Deep within the diverse crowd of people, a familiar figure appears and disappears intermittently.

—It's Bell!

Hestia recognized the person instantly, her big eyes sparkling.

He was probably heading home after exploring the maze. Wearing his newly bought protective gear, Bell turned his back to her and headed towards headquarters.

Hestia, as if a fish in water, regained her composure, took a step forward, and was about to run to Bell's side—the next instant.

"!"

The figure next to Bell, who had been hidden by the shadows of the crowd, was now revealed.

She was smaller than Hestia, and carried a backpack over her large robe. From behind, it was difficult to determine her gender or other details, but it was definitely a woman, Hestia instantly understood.

A mysterious girl who makes men want to protect her tightly holds the hand extended by the person beside her.

Then the girl, who probably had to look up to see herself, gave Bell a sweet smile at his profile.

—Clang—! A shockwave crashed down on Hestia's head.

Exhausted both physically and mentally, this pursuit was like a fatal blow. The boy who was her last refuge (the Oasis) was smiling happily at a woman other than herself. Coupled with this moment of being ripped from heaven to earth, the depth of Hestia's pain was immeasurable.

Having missed the chance to realize that the girl was the supporter Bell had talked to her about, Hestia, burdened by immense pain, staggered a few steps before finally turning her back on them and running away into the distance.

◇

"—Listen to me, Mich! Bel, Bel has actually changed his mind!"

With a thud, Hestia slammed her empty wine glass onto the table, bursting into tears and screams.

Nestled in an alleyway some distance from the main road, a tavern far from the city center. Inside the narrow, old wooden shop, most of the patrons are adventurers in rough gear, their boisterous laughter and far from elegant conversations rising and falling.

Mixed among the adventurers drinking cheap liquor, Hestia recounted the entire incident she had just witnessed to the deity sitting across the table in front of her.

"To say he's fickle, that doesn't sound good. I can't imagine Bell doing something like that."

The handsome Mihe, speaking in a slightly low voice and with a polite tone, listened attentively to Hestia while offering his own opinions. His worn gray robe blended seamlessly into the tavern's old-fashioned decor.

Hestia and Mich are both chief deities of the lowest rank—the lowest of the low—of the [Familia]. Due to their similar status, they are exceptionally close. The [Hestia Familia] frequently patronizes the [Mich Familia], which manufactures and sells healing potions, and members of both factions are also close friends.

Even when Hestia, whom he had bumped into by chance on the main road, dragged him here and forced him to drink alone with her, Mih didn't show any displeasure and acted as the one to whom she poured out her grievances.

"I saw it with my own eyes! I saw Bell holding hands intimately with a girl! Isn't that irrefutable evidence?!"

"Bell has his own affairs and his own friends. I think it's too early to say that the evidence is conclusive... To be honest, you two are not husband and wife, not even lovers, so how can you say that he has been unfaithful?"

The latter part of the speech did not reach Hestia's ears, who was just taking a big gulp of her next glass of wine.

"I'm really full of resentment today," Mihe sighed, shaking his dark blue hair.

"Damn it! Seriously, who is that girl anyway?! Belle belongs to me!"

"Control yourself. Even a god wouldn't be so arrogant as to say that. Bell doesn't belong to anyone."

"Of course I know that! I was just saying it for the first time! No, I just really wanted to say it once and see!"

Are you drunk?

"Is that even a question?"

How could she survive without getting drunk? Hestia chugdled down her drinks like a barrel. By the time she realized it, the narrow table was covered with empty glasses and beer mugs, reeking of alcohol.

Hestia, her face flushed, downed another glass of wine, first staring blankly into the distance... then her eyes filled with tears, and she cried out:

"Wa ...

"No, no! You're being too loud, Hestia!"

The enormous, heart-wrenching sobs that drowned out the surrounding noise startled Mihe. All eyes of the other guests were now fixed on Hestia and her companions.

"I'd live in the sewers if you just smiled at me! That's how much I love you! Seriously, I want to sleep in the same bed as you, hold you tight, and rub my face against your chest! I could eat three loaves of bread if you just smiled at me!"