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

Unlike Lilyluka Erd, he stands at the opposite end of my spectrum. What I find most difficult to fathom is this young man's thoughts.

I am merely a magician; by comparison, he is a blacksmith.

Just mentioning this point is enough to show how far apart the world we live in is.

Undoubtedly, he was one of the people who supported Bell Craney; but he had his own criteria for judgment, what is known as the craftsman's temperament. He was willing to discard fame and fortune as if they were worthless, and unafraid of the condemnation of others, as long as he was to follow his own will. Once he believed something was right, he would swallow the filth along with it, even if it meant being scorned. And vice versa, of course.

To put it bluntly, one action by the dragon girl could either make Welf Crozzo stand on her side or turn him into an enemy; I can't predict it.

Compared to magicians like myself, who mostly rely on theories and analysis to judge things, true "craftsmen" act according to their so-called beliefs. They possess the philosophy of acting according to their believed morality, and their actions often develop in directions that are utterly insignificant compared to the predictions of mere magicians. What theoretical magicians fear most is the inability to analyze.

On the previous page, I called his stance "moderate," which is nothing special; it just means I don't know how to view him yet.

If I had to define Welf Crozo's position, I would say he was a factional "orator."

Bell Craney goes without saying, and even Lilyluka Erd, who occasionally showed a fleeting look of bewilderment, would sometimes ask Welf Crozzo for advice. His outspokenness served as a guide for action, even for Lilyluka Erd, a realist.

The following is a dialogue from today:

"Lord Welf...have you forgotten what Lily told you the other day? She's a monster. If you get so close to her, and even you, Lord Welf, develop feelings for her, this [Familia] will..."

"Don't be so nitpicky about everything. Just like forging swords, in order to make a good sword, the iron can't just be hard; it also needs to be flexible."

"...Are you saying that Lily doesn't know how to be flexible?"

"I didn't say that. It's just that making conclusions without understanding the other party is too hasty, isn't it? I understand you don't want to get involved, but if you could understand her a little more, some situations could be changed. That's how I've always dealt with weapons."

"..."

"Little Lily, how about you join them just this once? I can put on airs for you, okay?"

"...Whatever you wish!"

I think this conversation accurately reflects their relationship.

Judging from their seniority, the Hestia Familia is still quite young; however, among them, Welf Crozo is the oldest. Perhaps he is drawing on his experience from the great forging faction (the Hephaestus Familia) and insists on acting as an elder brother to his family.

In the end, even their smallest conversations were about making up for each other's shortcomings.

What a wonderful clan. Although there are a few too many overly kind people, they've achieved a balance.

Is it the virtue of Bell Crane, or the divine virtue of the goddess Hestia?

Most surprisingly, aside from Bell Crane, everyone else is a conversion from another faction. They are certainly a rare Familia in Orario.

Day four of observation, morning.

The Hestia Familia was bustling this morning. A major reason was that the goddess Hestia had taken a day off from work. Previously, the main deity was always out working during the day, rarely away from the residence. After observing for a few days, I don't think this faction is so poor that the main deity needs to work… I heard they owe hundreds of millions of families; it seems it's true. This Familia certainly doesn't lack for topics.

When the goddess Hestia saw the dragon girl clinging to Sanjou Haruhime, it seemed to ignite a competitive spirit within her, and she frequently offered to take care of the girl. It's more accurate to say she simply likes children—even monsters.

Bathed in sunlight, the sight of goddesses and monsters frolicking in the lush green courtyard evoked an indescribable mood. I won't go into too much detail, but I can say that the feeling was even more incredible than seeing mutually hostile elves and dwarves dancing hand in hand.

Under the cool shade of the trees, the goddess Hestia let the tired dragon girl lie down and sleep on her lap. I didn't understand her divine intentions. However, the gentle gaze she cast over the girl's sleeping face told me that compassion must be present in the things she governed. She exuded a serene goddess aura, making one forget her usual noisy and boisterous behavior.

Later, the sleepy-eyed dragon girl addressed Bell Cranel and the goddess Hestia, who had returned to check on things, as "Father" and "Mother," making me want to spend an hour interrogating them about what they had taught her. The two blushed and looked at each other, then burst into laughter like a family. Then, Lilyluka Erd, sensing the danger (something was amiss), intervened, causing an even bigger commotion than usual. And here I was, unusually, feeling sentimental, trying to recapture my emotions.

Putting aside my pent-up frustrations, thankfully the dragon girl's first encounter with the goddess Hestia was the goddess of the land. Let's put aside any romantic notions; this makes me even happier than Bell Crane finding the girl.

If someone familiar with the whole situation saw Hestia now, would they say I'm too optimistic? I don't think so. The one most panicked by this situation was none other than the omniscient and omnipotent Hestia, yet she still accepted the heretical girl excluded from the world.

She wasn't looking at the species but at the girl herself; she wasn't feeling the power of the "monster" but at her own heart; and she reached out her hand.

Uranus was right; she was a noble goddess.

She is the goddess of love, the hearth fire that shelters those who pray.

I think I can understand why Uranus had no doubts about her.

She truly deserves the title of protector of orphans.

There's only one thing... I have to admit she's a die-hard fan of French fries, or rather, a French fries addict. "Come on, Winnie, have some French fries!" "Great!" This kind of scene played out as usual today, the dragon girl was completely tamed by the goddess Hestia.

She actually fed the "heretic" with fried potato balls... It seems she is indeed a goddess after all.

Oh no, I'm wavering too much.

My hand holding the pen is trembling, and I can't write Koine well.

Observation on the fourth night

This notebook once became a record of observations on human nature, but since we have this opportunity, let's mention the most important one, Bell Craney.

First, I must admit that his daily life is the most difficult to observe.

Bell Craney's perception is astonishing. In that respect alone, he stands out among high-level adventurers. I've aroused his suspicion countless times, forcing me to abandon my surveillance.

Just like a timid rabbit... Is that an exaggeration?

If I were to offer my honest praise, I would say that he truly lives up to his reputation as a Level 2 adventurer. In other words, the titles of "Rookie" and "World's Fastest White Rabbit" (record holder) are by no means exaggerated or embellished.

I've digressed. Anyway, it really took a lot of effort. But it wasn't me who was exhausted, it was the familiar (Garfield).

I instructed the familiar never to stare at Bell Crane, to avoid direct eye contact, and to maintain a natural distance. Of course, flapping its wings must be silent, and it must operate entirely in stealth. Once this task is finished, I'll reward it with a pile of its favorite mice, or it'll throw a tantrum…

For the past four days, Bell Crane had been almost constantly with the dragon girl. Because she practically refused to leave his side—following him to bathe and sharing his bed—the goddess Hestia, trying to take advantage, clashed with Lilyluka Erd and the others for what seemed like the umpteenth time, while the dragon girl simply used Bell Crane as a pillow. As for the constantly worried Bell Crane, Welf Crozzo's assessment was:

"It's just like a dad who doesn't know how to discipline his first daughter."

I think he really hit the nail on the head.

Bell Craney now seems to have gotten used to it and can handle it with a wry smile, but he must have blushed countless times when the dragon girl hugged him back then. Bell Craney was so frightened by her actions that he ran around frantically, screaming and running for his life... completely disoriented.

The young man was prone to displaying naivety and immaturity, making him appear foolish and completely unlike a seasoned adventurer, a far cry from the prevailing opinion of the world. In fact, the image of him engaged in fierce battles in the war game that the "Mirror" projected onto the city was entirely different from his current self.

And then there's... this is just my premonition, the self-proclaimed fool, but I feel he seems to have a troubled past. It's not a predetermined misfortune, but something deeper... a destiny instilled in him unconsciously, or the reason why a boy is a boy, or the responsibility that his relatives who raised him should bear... I don't know how to say it.

Those in the mortal realm favored by a goddess are said to have a very high chance of suffering calamity—most often, even if the goddess herself has no ill intentions, other capricious gods will deliberately cause trouble or steal her away—or, to be precise, they will never be bored. I don't know if that boy was no exception, and I can't guess what will happen to him.

However, I trusted his sincerity towards the dragon girl just as much as I trusted the goddess Hestia. Although he often showed an apologetic expression to his companions, he still insisted on doing his best for others, appearing completely innocent. His pure kindness not only earned my favor, but to me now, it was almost too dazzling.

But at the same time, he was still a child.

His uneasy and confused expression when he was freed from the dragon girl said it all.

This illustrates his inner turmoil, where he couldn't find any answers.

This happened at bedtime.

Just as I was thinking that today's observation might end after seeing the Hestia Familia enter the depths of the mansion, out of the sight of the familiar (Garfield), Bell Craney and the dragon girl sneaked out of their bedroom into the mansion's corridor and then out of the window.

I was wary because I didn't know what they were up to, but they simply sat down in a corner of the roof facing the courtyard, gazing up at the sky. I went outside, still observing them with my glasses, and then it dawned on me.

Beautiful stars shone brightly above me, truly deserving the description of a sky full of stars.

It must have been the dragon girl who said she wanted to see the starry sky. Seeing her amber eyes sparkle, Bell Craney and I couldn't help but smile wryly. However, the vast, mesmerizing starry sky immediately captured our attention.

At the same time and in the same city, gazing at the same summer night sky, suddenly, a beam of light pierced the vast darkness. It was a shooting star. The brilliance of the star streaking across the night sky made the dragon girl momentarily forget to breathe, then, her face filled with excitement, she repeatedly asked what it was. Bell Craney, captivated by her beauty, explained to her, like an adult telling a story to a child, that if she spoke her wish before the shooting star disappeared, her wish would come true.

Soon the dragon girl closed her eyes and moved her small lips.

Seeing her make a wish even after the shooting star had disappeared, Bell Craney asked her, "What did you wish for?" The girl smiled broadly upon hearing this.

"I hope to be with Bell, and everyone... forever."

Even now, I can still recall Bell Craney's expression when he heard those words.

After a long silence, he replied with an unusual smile, "We can be together forever."

At that time, I felt a clear and distinct sense of disappointment.

Bell Craney, oblivious to the situation, offered her some casual words of comfort.

It even deceived itself, which had always harbored doubts about a peaceful future.

He couldn't find any answers, so he simply turned his attention away from reality.

The dragon girl hugged the boy with a beaming smile. He held her close, and together they gazed at the night sky in profile—how fleeting and ephemeral that moment was.

This relationship is about to break down.

Unfortunately, I can confirm that.

The Hestia Familia is a beautiful sight. However, the future that awaits them is surely as Lilyluka Erd fears. And they… Bell Crane is powerless to face that future. One day we will have to intervene.

I knew long ago that it was too harsh to expect a "heretic" from a member of a clan or an adventurer. The current situation, stemming from the boy's sympathy, still torments him, leaving him teetering between conscience and remorse. But the world will not heed his inner turmoil and will likely force him to confront the moment of truth.

What answer will he choose?

Will they abandon the dragon girl, as I have seen countless times before?

Will they kneel before the opinions of the entire human race and turn their backs on the cries for help?

Or will a third answer be presented?

No, let's not make any optimistic assumptions. My tiny wish could never possibly reach that shooting star.

Their time is like starlight flying across the sky, a fleeting moment.

Sooner or later they will be like other adventurers—

"……never mind."

I stopped writing.

In the gloomy private room, I stared at the open pages of my notebook, then tossed the quill pen in my hand onto the table.

This kind of investigation record, full of selfishness and lamentation, is simply not fit to be considered a report. I think it's better not to hand this notebook over; let it remain my personal secret diary. This report not only arbitrarily interprets their words and actions but also wildly speculates on their inner thoughts—it's utterly tasteless.

I only need to say this to Uranus.

They told them they were fine and wouldn't harm the dragon girl.

They are said to be but tiny specks of light among the stars, yet they are indeed a harbinger of hope for us.

Even in their ignorance, even in their current pitiful struggle, their way of being is still precious.

"..."

My opinion remains unchanged.

In the not-too-distant future, they will have to face the harsh reality directly.

As we remain bystanders and observe the unfolding events, what kind of answer will the Hestia Familia – Bell Crane – deliver?

I only wish them a happy future.

Because the smiles on the faces of the boy and girl in that small miniature garden must be something more irreplaceable than anything else.

"...You think so too, don't you, Garfield?"

In the dimly lit room of the "Sage," filled with ancient books.

The owl familiar that was asked closed its eyes and let out a "whoosh" as if nodding.

A bookstore date as part of the Volume 10 bonus content?

The online translation is from the Kingdom of Light

Image source: cleverchm

Translation: cleverchm

"Mr. Craney?"

It's a sunny and pleasant afternoon.

Ryu, who was out buying ingredients for the tavern, bumped into Bell at the corner.

"Ah... Ryu, Miss."

Bell immediately responded with a big "Oh no!" expression on his face.

Ryu was now wearing a uniform, but the boy had no adventurer gear on; he was only dressed in ordinary casual clothes. At the same time, he was holding something in his arms.

Those were several blunt instruments stacked on top of each other.

Where are these books going to be moved to?

"Ha, hahaha... no, that..."

I'll help you move a few books too," Liu asked, intending to do so, but all she got in return was a stiff, empty laugh.

Beaming with sweat and flushed, Bell slowly retreated, protecting the book. Liu immediately narrowed his sharp, pale eyes. Something was amiss—could he actually be holding those shameless male gods' favorite erotic novels?

If that's the case, we can't let it go. Both out of consideration for her admirer colleague and to utilize her fairy-like fastidiousness, Ryu approached with lightning speed—a swift attack typical of a second-tier adventurer.

She pulled a book from Bell's lap, who was terrified.