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

If this was her punishment for deceiving that boy, then she felt much better.

He was clearly an adventurer, yet he was nothing like the adventurers Lily knew. If this was the retribution she deserved for deceiving him, inexplicably, she was happy to accept it. If that were the case, she truly deserved to be punished.

"Chirp...!"

Countless killer ants surged forward like waves, writhing and pressing in.

Lily was thrown into a place with nowhere to escape. It was a space where the entire wall was the only wall.

Lily, lying on her back with her side facing the wall, was surrounded by insect monsters.

"...I'm so unwilling to accept this."

The soft mutterings were trampled over by the chaotic footsteps of the killer ants.

A professional supporter. An object of contempt.

Even losing adventurers wouldn't bother her; she's just a porter. Useless. Lily's calling, capable of nothing alone. She's practically Lily's very name. My own dullness.

What Lily hates most is herself.

"God, why...?"

Lily longs to hear someone call her name. She longs to be relied upon by others.

Not to be used, but to be needed.

She hated her own weakness. She loathed her life, which was controlled by others.

Lily longs to be someone other than herself.

The magic she learned must have come from Lily's wish, which then manifested itself in a concrete form.

"Why did you create Lily like this...?"

To this day, she has lost count of how many times she has contemplated suicide.

She can't remember how many times she wanted to return to God and start her life over.

Lily yearned for a different version of herself, a more presentable, completely different Lily. The timid Lily ultimately failed to take that step.

In a corner of Lily's heart, she always hoped to start over.

"Whoosh...!"

"...Yeah. It doesn't matter anymore."

The semi-circular space formed by the monsters gradually shrank and narrowed.

Lily turned her face to the side, pressed her cheek to the ground, and gave a resigned smile.

In the shifting field of vision, a killer ant grew larger and larger.

The final moment is fast approaching.

"...I'm so lonely."

The words that slipped out unintentionally startled Lily.

Finally, these are my heartfelt words.

It turns out, I was just too lonely.

She had long been used to not being needed.

Although I've gotten used to it, the loneliness won't disappear.

I feel so lonely.

She felt incredibly lonely, unable to rely on anyone and yet not being relied upon by anyone.

Although I've long been used to being alone, I still feel lonely.

"I see, Lily..."

It turns out she just wanted someone to keep her company.

Finally acknowledging her true feelings, Lily couldn't help but laugh at herself.

"Sh ...

The killer ant swung its claws. Illuminated by the phosphorescent light streaming from the underground city's ceiling, the claws flashed coldly.

Bye now.

Finally, I can die. It's finally over. I can finally go back to heaven.

Finally, finally we can start over.

Finally, I don't have to be powerless anymore. Finally, I can put an end to my weakness.

A small, insignificant self that no one is willing to help, a self without any value, a lonely self.

Finally, we can start over.

(Ah, Lily finally made it...)

...Finally, I was almost ready to find someone to keep me company, but unfortunately...

(Is this...finally, I'm going to die?)

A mixture of sadness and joy appeared on Lily's face.

then,

"Fire and Lightning—!"

Explosion of flames.

“…Huh?”

Crimson flames rose in the cave.

●

"it's useless."

Hestia, looking up at Eina, said this with a sigh.

"Huh...?"

"It's no use. Bell has already decided not to abandon that supporter."

The unexpected answer made Eina stop what she was doing, and Hestia sighed again.

With her eyelids slightly lowered, Hestia recalled the events of last night.

"God, even so, if that child is in trouble right now, I still want to help her."

When Bell heard Hestia tell him firmly that he couldn't trust the girl (the supporter), this was his response.

Hestia raised her voice, questioning whether he was listening to her, but Bell remained unmoved—no, he couldn't change his mind, no matter how hard he tried to explain.

"That child looks so lonely. It's like she's become so oblivious that she doesn't even realize it herself, laughing adorably like a fool... saying she doesn't care if she's alone."

Bell recounts what he has seen, repeatedly mentioning Lily, whom Hestia has never seen in person.

Finally, based on all of this, he revealed his feelings.

"Didn't the gods help me when I was all alone?"

He said he saw himself in Lily.

Before meeting Hestia, he wandered alone in Orario. Almost overwhelmed by anxiety and loneliness, he now saw his former loneliness in Lily.

"If I'm mistaken, then so be it. But if I'm not mistaken... then this time, it's my turn to help that child."

Just like the goddess (Hestia) who saved him, Bell finally asserted.

"...That child, Bell, is someone who has received kindness from others and is able to treat others the same way. He has experienced pain himself and is able to use that to understand others..."

Hestia, whose eyes were slightly lowered, raised her head and looked at Eina again.

"Once Bell makes a decision, he can be very stubborn, you know? You can't reason with that kid, he just won't listen."

Seeing Hestia shrug and tell her that, Eina looked panicked and confused, wanting to say something but finding it hard to speak.

"You're not convinced?"

"No, if it were Bell... he might indeed say that. But he has absolutely no basis for saying so..."

Hestia slowly crossed her arms over Eina, who was still unable to hide her unease, revealing her anger.

It was as if what she was about to say was something she herself found extremely regrettable. She pouted and told Eina:

"And besides, Bell has a really good eye for women. Just as accurate as God (me)."

★

"Lily—!"

The call for Lily tore apart the swarm of killer ants.

The explosions were followed by a series of deafening roars. The sudden attack from behind startled the killer ants, who tried to change direction in a panic, but were blocked by their companions and unable to move freely.

The bursts of flame, like a punching machine, ripped through the insect army. Just as Lily's wide-open eyes could clearly see the fire and lightning... the white-haired boy broke through the monster barrier and flew out.

"Get out of my way!"

"Chirp!"

The young boy Bell, wielding a short sword and a dagger, forcefully repelled the giant ant horde.

He approached the killer ant that was frozen in place beside Lily, its arm outstretched, and instantly chopped off its head.

"Lily! Are you alright? Answer me! Do you recognize me?"

At first, Lily didn't recognize the person who was hugging her.

Her deep red eyes trembled with unsteadiness. The fingers gripping her shoulders tightened until they ached.

He hurriedly took out the elixir and brought it to his lips.

Under the pleading gaze, Lily slowly opened her mouth and drank the blue liquid.

Then, a cute coughing sound rang out.

"...Bell, sir?"

"Yes. Are you alright?"

Like Lily just now, Belle smiled through her tears, her voice sounding off-key.

Lily felt a sudden pang of pain and heat in her chest, which had been frozen for so long.

After confirming that Lily was safe, Bell immediately looked up.

His sharp eyes were fixed on the still-living monsters.

Lily unconsciously moved her little hand and handed Bell the black dagger that she had kept hidden in her bosom until the very end.

He smiled broadly and accepted the Blade of Hestia.

"Just wait for me as usual, okay?"

After saying this, Bell stood up.

Angry cries echoed throughout the cave. Wisps of black smoke rose from the flames—remnants of Bell's magic.

Ultimate isolation and helplessness.

The number of monsters that completely surrounded Bell and his companions was as high as thirty. More were still being produced from the depths of the passage.

However, Bell was not afraid of the horde of monsters that might pounce at any moment.

If it were Bale from two days ago, he would have already given up against this number of opponents. No, even now, a direct attack wouldn't be enough to defeat him.

However, Bell now possesses "magic".

"I'm going to go...!"

He took out a test tube filled with citrus liquid from his leg bag.

This was Bell's last trump card, purchased with a desperate determination after learning of the existence of mental power that restricts the use of magic, for 8,700 falies.

"Magic Elixir". A highly effective medicine for restoring mental energy.

Bell pulled the plug and drank it all in one gulp.