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

With his feet on the edge of the bed, Belle, still a body height above him, gently looked down at the speechless Chun Ji.

"Because Miss Haruhime seems very depressed, so..."

In other words, Bell was worried.

It took me 5 seconds to notice this.

Then, it took another five seconds to notice that Bell had come specifically for this purpose.

Chunji, who had been stunned, blushed instantly.

"But, but, that won't do, Lord Bell. We can't meet, we've said it so many times already... If this gets out, Lord Bell will be scolded again."

He shook his head from side to side, glancing furtively out the window as he spoke softly.

Although he wasn't facing inwards towards the central courtyard of the mansion, Bell could still be clearly seen from the outside, crouching by the window like a thief. Any ordinary person walking around the base would immediately notice him if they even looked up. And if it caused a commotion, it would definitely reach Lily and the others' ears.

I don't want Bell to be scolded because of my own mistake.

"That's true... um—hmm."

"...Lord Bell?"

"If we go in and out through the room door, Lily will definitely spot us..."

It's unclear whether they understood Haruhime's confused feelings.

Bell seemed to have considered something, and after a moment of hesitation, he decided to do it anyway, a determined wry smile appearing on his face.

"Miss Haruhime, may we leave?"

Huh? Before asking back.

Bell extended his right hand in front of Chun Ji.

"Let's go out today."

Bell, who had reached out his hand, said these words.

Under the clear blue sky, a slightly willful boyish smile appeared on his face.

With her eyes wide open, Chun Ji slowly, cautiously, and after a long time, or perhaps as if she were drawn to it, placed that hand over her own.

then.

Haruhime, who was holding Bell's hand, finally noticed.

Like a princess imprisoned in a castle, rescued by a hero.

Even though she claimed to be a girl with a heart like a child, her cheeks still flushed red.

Without knowing why, Haruhime was taken away by Bell.

In order to avoid being discovered by Lily and the others, they even got help from Welf to get around to the back door of the mansion.

The young blacksmith showed no resentment towards Bell and Haruhime, and even saw them off with a smile, saying, "Ah, go and come back quickly."

"Bell, Lord Bell, what on earth is going on...?"

"The weather has finally cleared up, I'd like to go for a walk with Miss Haruhime. Besides, you see, today's a whole day off."

That's why he brought Haruhime out without even fully grasping the situation; it's definitely not like Bell's style.

Normally, he would either feel apologetic and lower his head, or he would explain the situation carefully.

Orario is very lively.

Once you leave the southwestern residential area of ​​the city where the mansion, which serves as your base, is located, you can hear noise everywhere.

Although it wasn't a main thoroughfare that stretched all the way to the end, the road was filled with demi-humans. Walking along the side of the road, Haruhime saw, as she realized, a peaceful street scene that matched the blue sky.

"You wanted to go for a walk with my daughter...? Not with Lady Lily and the others?"

Haruhime, her red kimono swaying, frequently tilted her little head.

A bunch of question marks came from Chun Ji. Sure enough, this was still too much of a stretch. After scratching his cheek with his finger, Bell spoke up a little shyly.

"Miss Haruhime, haven't you been working all day? Ever since you joined our [Familia], whether at the base or in the dungeon..."

"Eh?"

"And when we first met, you mentioned that you'd always admired Orario."

「… … !」

"We've finally arrived in the city we've always dreamed of. If we don't see lots and lots of things, it wouldn't be worth it, wouldn't it be a waste?"

Chunji's eyes were filled with surprise.

Bell was thinking about Haruhime, and in order to relax, he became her tour guide.

This is about the labyrinthine city that Haruhime has admired since childhood, a city that has given birth to many heroes.

Chunji did not try to suppress herself.

However, the very act of being freed from the "Ishtar Familia"—being liberated from the status of a prostitute—was a source of immense joy and happiness; it was a form of redemption. That's why Haruhime wanted to repay Bell and the others for freeing her from the curse of prostitution.

So the longing for Orario was simply something I'd forgotten.

To be precise, it was just the sights of the city while shopping and going to the dungeon—scenery I'd almost never seen outside the entertainment district, having been confined in my birdcage—that was exciting and satisfying enough.

Bell, in place of Chun-hime, remembers her aspirations.

"...Perhaps this was unnecessary, but..."

Bell smiled wryly, seemingly reflecting on how he had somewhat forced Haruhime to come out.

"No, nothing like that happened!"

Haruhime responded reflexively.

Bell was also surprised.

For a moment, everyone around turned their attention to Haruhime and her companions, who had suddenly stopped and shouted from the roadside. However, they quickly lost interest and continued walking.

Relieved, Chunji curled up and looked around aimlessly before starting to mutter to herself.

"Did I cause you any trouble?"

"Eh?"

"Being with my daughter... always causes trouble for Lord Bell..."

This is Chunji's true feeling.

It's also a burden on my heart.

Her self-loathing for her constant failures made her unable to meet those deep red eyes.

"Haruhime is very grateful for Lord Bell's kindness. She truly is deeply thankful. But I am always causing you trouble..."

"..."

"Haruhime was also reprimanded by Lady Hestia and Lady Lily. That naive girl always fails..."

The incident at the bathhouse, which began a few days earlier, was brought up.

Chunji lowered her brows and looked up cautiously.

"...Why is Lord Bell so gentle with such a young girl...?"

In the end, what was uttered was pure doubt.

People kept passing by Haruhime and her companions.

They looked at each other, and Bell was the first to look away.

"Well... it would be a little embarrassing to be presumptuous..."

Once again, the boy said, blushing and scratching his cheek.

"Miss Haruhime, you did that because of me, didn't you?"

"Eh?"

"Being scolded by Goddess and the others must have been because they wanted to do something for me, that's why they acted that way, that's what I think..."

Upon hearing this unexpected confession, Chunji's eyes widened.

"Although I truly do not know what Miss Haruhime intends to do... however, Miss Haruhime's feelings have been conveyed."

They watched with great interest as I washed my back at the bathhouse, wearing wet clothes, and did things like knee pillows and ear cleaning.

For Bell, whose mind was in turmoil due to shame and wavering, the action itself was difficult to understand, but he understood the meaning of Haruhime's "serving"—that heart of devotion.

Faced with this fact, Haruhime froze.

Why did Bell answer her question before she could respond in a whisper?

"Because, when Miss Haruhime is working hard, who is she doing it for?"

A sudden tightness gripped my chest.

My face feels so hot.

The ears on the head are also included.

Bell's words, and now his gentle gaze, made Chunji's heart flutter, and she felt a sense of warmth.

"So, there's no trouble at all. On the contrary, I'm quite happy."

Bell smiled like a boy with a childlike face.

Chunji, who had stopped moving, slowly smiled back, as if she had been hooked by that smile.

—You're the same way.

That's how I wanted to respond to the boy in front of me.

When the boy was working hard, just like now, it was definitely for others.

A very gentle, clumsy, pure white boy.

It was because Haruhime gained courage from Bell that she was able to dedicate herself to others to the best of her ability, that's all.

As a result, Haruhime had no further counterarguments.

Instead, feelings of self-loathing and inner burden disappeared.

The boy before her had unknowingly melted away all of that.

"Thank you, Lord Bell... Haruhime is very, very happy."

Chunji was unable to express her current feelings in words.

Therefore, in response, this answer was given.

"Could you be my daughter's guide through the streets of Orario today?"

"OK!"

When Belle smiled, Chun-hime responded with a smile in return.

The labyrinthine city of Orario is enormous.

Its total area could easily fit the capitals of two or three small kingdoms. It would be virtually impossible to see all of it in a single day.

Therefore, it would have been more appropriate for Bell to make the proposal verbally.

"There are many places in Orario that even I don't know about... So, shall we go see the places that Haruhime wants to see and that she's interested in today?"

We walked side by side with Bell along the street.

Chunji was already very happy with this, and she was even more delighted that Bell had asked about her feelings. "Okay!" she nodded.

"I brought a map with me. It's called a tourist map, I think? It should be a good reference when making a decision."

As Bell spoke, he took a scroll from the pocket at his waist.

Upon seeing the unfolded map, Haruhime let out an excited sound.

"Wow...!"

The circular city is divided into eight equal parts by eight huge main roads, like a cake.

Each area is marked with different colors for various buildings, starting with the Pantheon in the northwest—beginning with the guild headquarters. To the northeast is the magic stone manufacturing factory in the industrial zone, then the prototype arena and Daedalus Street in the east, followed by the entertainment district and bustling streets that stretch from southeast to south, and the massive exchange in the southwest, among others. So many dazzling sights have been introduced. But the one that stands out most prominently is the lead-gray tower, the Tower of Babel, painted in the center of the city.

Besides the city's main buildings and facilities, the strongholds of major factions such as Loki's Familia's "Twilight Mansion" and Ganesha's Familia's "I am Ganesha" are also introduced as scenic spots. However, there is a dangerous warning: "Tourism is at your own risk"—if you are suspected of being a spy by your fellow members and detained, just give up—marked in a corner. Especially near Freya's Familia's stronghold.