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

"Aha!?"

"This is... a fairy tale? No, a 'heroic tale'?"

Ignoring Bell's strange cries, Ryu opened the book directly, and an illustration came into view.

The painting depicts a fairy heroine aiming at a giant monster and unleashing an extremely cold blizzard.

"No, this, that...! While organizing the base's library just now, I found a few books I read when I was a child, and I got so engrossed in reading them...!?"

"..."

"And, well, we don't need to explore the dungeon today... so I figured this is a rare opportunity, why not browse the bookstore and collect some more..."

Bell panicked and began to explain, but he gradually became stammering, and by the end his voice was almost gone.

It seems that Bale doesn't want others to see that he's still collecting "heroic tales" at his age; he lowered his head shyly, his face flushed.

Upon hearing this, Ryu was unusually surprised, but immediately smiled. She didn't think there was anything shameful about it; on the contrary, it was just his style.

At the same time, she felt somewhat guilty for having doubted Bell earlier.

"...Didn't you prepare a bag?"

"I was wearing one... but the bottom broke just now."

Ryu returned the book to Bell and asked him a question, answering with a slightly embarrassed smile.

Upon hearing this, Liu immediately volunteered.

"Then, I'll go with you."

"what?"

"There are too many books. Let me help you."

Although Bell's actions just now were indeed very suspicious, Ryu still couldn't forgive herself for doubting him. In short, the earnest fairy wanted to atone for her sins.

Bell was visibly apprehensive upon hearing his proposal.

"No, no need, it's too much trouble for you. Besides, Miss Ryu is still on duty, isn't she..."

"Just make sure you get the things back before evening. You don't need to worry at all, and..."

In order to persuade the flattered Bell, Ryu immediately recited the lines she had prepared beforehand.

"This journey is bound to be very arduous. After all, you are pursuing legends that recount heroic deeds, so you will inevitably have to traverse this vast labyrinthine city."

Ryu's story is like a heroic tale of an adventure to find ancient documents of legend.

Although Belle was still a little shy, seeing Ryu's dashing appearance, she couldn't help but blink, and then immediately smiled with delight. It was just like a child listening to their sister tell a heroic tale.

"Then...please take good care of me. I would also appreciate it if you could be my companion on this noisy journey."

Yes, I will accompany you.

Liu was amused by him and smiled slightly, and then she and the boy began to search for the legends of heroes.

They first bought two sturdy tote bags to pack the books, and then began their treasure hunt, centered on the eastern part of the city.

The heroic tales Bell was looking for were almost all "unofficial histories," so it was impossible to buy them all in one place. They browsed bookstores run by orcs without a home, open-air stalls where vendors spread their coats on the roadside and displayed their wares, and flea markets set up in the trading post. Sometimes the two of them would tiptoe in the dimly lit shops, reaching out to the bookshelves, and sometimes they would bend down to examine the book covers displayed in the flea market. Whenever Ryu found a book with the title he had told them about, Bell would cheer.

The two of them thus wandered smoothly among bookstores, searching for books.

"Ryu-chan, Ryu-chan."

"?"

When Ryu and Bell were shopping, someone greeted her.

The other party was a regular customer who had been supplying ingredients to the tavern; she was a cheerful middle-aged woman.

Ryu and Bell gestured and then walked toward the woman who was beckoning to them.

"You've finally found a 'good person'!"

"...?"

"Don't play dumb with me! You're on a date right now, aren't you?"

It took Liu a while to understand what the loud-voiced aunt was saying.

"Hill-chan is the kind of girl who takes the initiative, so I've always hoped that a pretty girl like you could find a 'good guy' soon... After all, you've never been popular with men, and I've been worried about that for a long time. Now I can finally relax!"

The woman looked back and forth between Bell and herself, who were waiting for the conversation to end.

The two were carrying identical handbags.

In addition, they had been chatting and laughing while strolling through the streets and leisurely visiting various bookstores.

So that's how it is. To outsiders, this behavior might actually be seen as dating.

I see, I see... This won't do.

"And look at that one, isn't he a 'rising star' who won a war game?! You have such high standards—"

This is not a date.

"Wait, but—"

This is not a date.

"Ryu, Ryu-chan—"

“This is not a date. Also, please, absolutely do not tell Hill about this.”

"Good, good."

"Important things should be said three times," Liu said firmly.

Faced with Ryu's serious and approaching expression, the aunt who provided the ingredients nodded vigorously.

(This wasn't a date, and I didn't have any romantic intentions. That's for sure. But it would be too unfair to Hill to do this... It seems I should say goodbye to Mr. Crane... No, that's too casual... I only suspected him because of unfounded rumors, and now I'm abandoning him for my own convenience. That's shameless...)

On her way back to Bell from the old lady's place, Ryu was filled with conflicting emotions.

She was meticulously troubled, caught between a sense of transgression towards the girl and a feeling of guilt towards the boy.

"Miss Liu, what's wrong? That person seems to be someone you know..."

"No, it's nothing, let's go."

Ryu, back by Bell's side, ultimately decides to continue searching for the book.

At the same time, she apologized to her female colleague in a corner of her heart.

"You've collected so many... Thank you so much, Ms. Ryu."

"I'm happy to be able to help you."

After they had walked around enough, the two sat on a bench set up on the east side of the central square.

The bag at his feet was already bulging. Bell was incredibly satisfied with the large number of books he had found. Seeing his expression, Ryu's gaze softened as well.

"Did Miss Liu read any tales of heroes when she was little?"

"No, my family are guardians... a clan of guards who must protect the secret realm generation after generation, so we're practically unrelated to this kind of thing. Even after coming to the city... if you could, could you tell me about it?"

The fountain beside them shimmered in the sunlight, and when Bell heard what Liu said, his expression lit up. He poked his head out like an excited rabbit.

"I understand, just leave it to me! Um, what should I say? Everyone should know 'The Sacred Tale of the Labyrinth,' but 'The Legend of St. George'... is a bit too obscure, hmm~"

Ryu was somewhat surprised to see Bell rapping as he took the book out of the bag.

It also created a sense of novelty.

It's surprising that Bell has this side to him; he can be just as enthusiastic about topics he knows as his peers.

"And Grandpa said that his favorite story is 'Agno'..."

Bell knew many stories that Ryu didn't. He recounted one story after another in detail.

When he spoke of heroic tales, his red eyes gleamed.

Like a gemstone, and a pure deep red one at that.

As Liu listened intently, her gaze was deeply drawn to the radiance, and she felt an immense sense of peace within her.

My mood gradually warmed up, while at the same time I felt a sweet, heart-wrenching feeling.

Liu unconsciously broke into a smile.

"I...like you when you tell heroic tales."

She uttered the words softly.

These words also reached the ears of the boy who was engrossed in his storytelling.

"what……?"

Bell froze, his face flushing red in an instant.

Liu then realized something was wrong; she felt her face getting hot.

"No, just now... please don't misunderstand. It should be said that it was a smile, or like the feeling of an innocent child, something like that..."

“Child, child… ah.”

Liu hurriedly changed his tune, and Bell immediately looked dejected.

Seeing the boy so dejected, Liu was at a loss. Even if she wanted to change her mind and say that it was just a slip of her tongue, she could no longer speak freely.

Because the heat on my face hadn't subsided and my heart was pounding excitedly.

At this moment, all she could do was open and close her small lips repeatedly.

(This is not a lie...)

The next moment, Ryu lowered her eyes and faced her own feelings.

(I love...those beautiful eyes that, like so many stories, illuminate hope.)

Liu finally realized her truest feelings, and she raised her head.

“Mr. Craney… what I just said was not a lie.”

Ryu sat on the bench, looking ahead and avoiding eye contact.

She gazed at the splashing fountain, weaving words into her voice as Bell looked up at her.

"So...please, continue telling me the story."

I want to look into your captivating eyes.

She conveyed her most fervent wishes to the other party through words.

Liu gently took the Heroic Tale from the boy's hand and placed it on her lap, noticing that the cover was somewhat wrinkled.

"Ok."

The boy's innocent voice plucked at the slender, pointed ears of the fairy.

Liu Zhen lovingly stroked the cover of Heroic Tale, closed her eyes, and smiled serenely.

BD Bonus Novel BD1 Short Story: The Day of Departure

The online translation is from the Kingdom of Light

Image source: uiop031

Translation: pdapanda

"The labyrinth city has everything."

That person said this to me when I was a child.

"Not to mention the pretty girls, there are also the fairies you especially like, the goddesses of 'Puyo Puyo'... and even fateful encounters exist. If you want to go, then go."

That was when I held a copy of "Heroic Tales" in one hand, and my young heart was still full of longing.

"If you do well, you can gain wealth and fame. However, you'll also be swept up in the tides of time without explanation. That's the kind of place it is."

Looking down at me, so small, he neither laughed nor got angry, but simply spoke calmly.

"That's precisely why... you can become a hero. If you're prepared, then go for it."

That grandfather did indeed say that.

Do not surrender your will to others. This applies to both elves and gods. I will say no more.