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

I suppressed my inner turmoil and tried to regain my composure.

Volume 16, Chapter 4: The Princess's Great Disturbance!

The sun is at its zenith.

Despite many setbacks, at least half of the originally planned trip has been successfully completed.

Today's lunch was a bento box specially prepared by Miss Seele.

We came to a quiet, secluded path and sat on a bench under the shade of a tree to enjoy our lunch, listening to the rustling of leaves carried on the gentle breeze.

Considering that we would be eating while visiting the festival, Miss Seele prepared a smaller bento box this time. However, the meat and omelet inside were prepared more carefully than usual, and the flavor was more unique. I used all the steely willpower that my master had trained me to successfully squeeze out a bright smile: "This bento is delicious!" But Miss Seele started to sulk when she heard that, as if she had already seen through that I was forcing myself.

After I apologized repeatedly and desperately, Miss Seele, who had been fuming and stern, finally let out a bell-like laugh.

"Why do the dishes I make always taste so strangely different?"

"So you are aware of your own actions after all..."

"Of course there is. It's because every time I ask Mr. Bell for his thoughts, you always deliberately dodge the question."

"Hmm."

"And I value creativity and ingenuity so much!"

After lunch, Miss Seele walked slowly beside me, carrying a handbag that was almost empty.

Now we don't feel much resistance to holding hands anymore, even though it's still quite embarrassing when our eyes meet. The warmth from holding hands even gives me a sense of security. It would be more accurate to say that it calms my mind.

Originally, we came to the East District of Oralari, and then we walked into the Central Plaza.

The crowds in this largest square in the city were unprecedented.

"That's the 'altar' of the Goddess Festival... the 'Tower of Abundance'."

In the central square, there are four towers that I have never seen before and that I have to look up to see clearly. Many spectators—no, worshippers—gather around the towers they wish to visit.

From the tower, you can see goddesses, including Lady Demeter.

"The goddesses who govern the harvest sit on the 'altar,' right?"

"That's right, the gods who govern the harvest are also the symbol of the 'Goddess Festival,' so everyone goes up to worship like that."

The area beneath the stone tower is still packed with people.

People lined up to offer flowers at the foot of the "altar" and looked up to express their gratitude to the goddess.

So that's what "worshiping" is.

Offerings are made to symbols of abundance to express gratitude. In essence, they are no different from the original harvest festival.

"The Goddess Festival lasts for three days. Because many people come during this period, the goddesses must stay on the 'altar' the whole time."

"Ugh, does this have to happen for three days in a row...?"

According to Miss Seele's explanation, strictly speaking, the goddesses don't stay on the altar the entire time during the festival; they take turns going up. Only on the first day of the Goddess Festival are all four goddesses present. This is why the place is so crowded with worshippers. Speaking of Lady Demeter, she maintained her smile, stood up, and waved to the crowd, which delighted the travelers and citizens. However, some goddesses showed their weariness on their faces, and one goddess even slumped her upper body on the armrest of her chair like a quilt that had been taken out to dry.

Yet the crowds of worshippers and their support continue unabated, which is truly astonishing.

I feel like everyone is just enjoying this as a classic scene that happens every year...

"The crowds this year are relatively small."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"Actually, there were five 'Pillars of Fertility' in the past... but the goddess Ishtar has been sent back."

I let out a somewhat off-kilter exclamation.

"Ishtar is a free-spirited goddess of beauty, so every year she would throw down the words 'I'm bored' and run off the altar, causing the situation to completely spiral out of control... And then, uh, she would also cause all sorts of disturbances because she sees a certain god as a thorn in her side..."

The goddess Ishtar, who has been sent back to the heavens, is not only the goddess of love but also the goddess of abundance. Since I was also involved in the incident that led to the destruction of the Ishtar Familia, I couldn't pretend to be indifferent and felt somewhat embarrassed.

At the same time, I immediately realized which god was the thorn in Lady Ishtar's side.

The deity was located in the north tower among the four stone towers.

It was an altar presided over by the goddess Freya, where the number of worshippers was comparable to, or even seemed to be, that of the West Tower where Lady Demeter was located.

"Goddess Freya—!"

"Thank you for this bountiful harvest!"

"May the goddess of beauty bless me!"

"Goddess Freya—! It's me—! Please, marry me—!!"

Even though we were on the east side, we could still hear many prayers coming from the North Tower.

She truly deserves to be called the "Goddess of Beauty," who is far more beautiful than anything else in the world; her popularity is unprecedented and unparalleled.

Legend has it that the goddess Freya rarely appears in public, which is why so many people are eager to catch a glimpse of this embodiment of beauty. The male gods are also naturally causing a ruckus... Ah, they've been dragged away by what appears to be guild staff and members of their familia.

(...Did she find it boring?)

The silver-haired goddess stood atop a tower the size of a balcony, gazing absently at the crowd. With her boar-man attendants waiting nearby, she sat on a throne-like chair, resting her elbows on the armrests and propping her chin up.

After all, even a goddess would get bored being forced to stay in the central square all day...

"────!"

at this time.

Those silver eyes, which had been gazing down, suddenly turned towards us without warning.

This is definitely not my imagination.

The goddess accurately found us amidst the sea of ​​people.

—"I love you."

I couldn't help but recall the day the Ishtar Familia was destroyed.

When the goddess sent Ishtar back to the heavens, creating a pillar of light that reached the sky, she did indeed smile at me and confess her love to me from a great distance.

Through this serendipitous encounter, the existence of the silver-haired goddess has been deeply imprinted in my heart.

The goddess Freya in my memory has a very different expression from the goddess before me.

At that time, she saw in it an emotion similar to that of someone suffering inner torment.

Now, however, he shows no emotional fluctuation whatsoever... no, he's as cold as ice?

Those silver eyes stared at me—at us—as if they had witnessed something that displeased her.

"...Mr. Bell, let's go."

Miss Seele pulled me forward, as I stood there unconsciously.

I weaved through the crowd and looked up at the Tower of Abundance once again.

The goddess continued to gaze in their direction.

"Mr. Bell, since you're with me, please don't pay attention to other women. Besides, if you're so captivated by the beauty of our goddess that you lose all sense of respect, she'll think you're being disrespectful."

"I... I wasn't completely absorbed in watching...!"

After leaving the central square, Miss Seele puffed out her cheeks in a bit of a huff.

Seeing that I quickly tried to explain, she smiled as if she was deliberately teasing me.

"Being glared at so fiercely by the goddess of abundance on this day might just bring disaster upon you, wouldn't it?"

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

Hestia was exhausted.

Faced with endless labor, she was so exhausted that she felt dizzy.

Taking orders, running around, serving food, serving guests, washing dishes, and taking out the trash. As a waitress in "The Abundant Mistress," she is forced to take on all sorts of chores, a workload far exceeding what the goddess is allowed to handle.

"Although Belle finally came back looking exhausted last night, she dressed up specially and went out again first thing this morning. I tried to secretly follow her but ended up being dragged into this mess... What kind of goddess festival is this!? At least give me, the goddess, a little something in return!?"

While Mikoto, Haruhime, and Welf were all busy, Hestia, who was washing dishes in the kitchen, couldn't help but let out a scream.

Then a crisp "clang" sound was heard.

"You gluttonous goddess! How many plates do you want to break before you're satisfied?!"

"Waaaaaahhhhhh!! I'm so sorry, manager~!"

Hearing Mia's furious roar, Hestia almost reflexively pounced in front of Mia and kowtowed in apology.

"If an apology could solve everything, there would be no need for gods in this world!" Hestia was refuted by Mia with perfectly valid reasons, and after experiencing several thunderous wraths, she was already haggard and unrecognizable.

"Goddess Hestia! Leave this to Lily and us! You should run away now!"

"Huh!? Is this really alright!? Supporter, are you sure it's okay!?"

Lily grabbed Hestia by the back of her collar and lifted her up, making this suggestion in a subtly low voice.

"You're just causing trouble here! It would be better if you left!"

"I see."

"Instead, I'd like to ask you to follow Lord Bell! Lily is also very troubled, but there's no other suitable candidate right now... so I can only ask you!"

Hestia was terrified by Lily's bloodshot eyes and domineering aura, and could only express her gratitude to her family.

So, taking advantage of Mia's distraction—in fact, Mia had come to the same conclusion as Lily, and even if she noticed, she would pretend not to see it—she planned to escape through the back door.

"I'm sorry, Miss Supporter! I'm sorry, everyone! I will not let your sacrifices go to waste!"

—Whoosh whoosh whoosh! I'm coming to find you right now! Belle~~!

Her black ponytail swung up and down with her movements, and Hestia, still wearing her bar uniform, rushed into the vast crowd.

"Hmm~ This weather is perfect for the Goddess Festival. I've finished all the work I've been working on, so I'll take advantage of this rare day off to enjoy the fun of striking up conversations!"

Hermes took a deep breath of the air that belonged to the Harvest Festival.

On the bustling, crowded street, he immediately began looking for beautiful women and girls who had dressed up carefully for the festival.

"Before you are stabbed to death from behind by someone with a grudge, do you need me to do it for you, Hermes?"

"I...I was just joking! I was just messing around with you! Asphie! So please take your hand off the dagger right now!"

However, an absolutely cold gaze immediately shot from behind, completely disallowing the person in front of him to do anything unbecoming.

Hermes apologized to his family member, Asphie, who had short, light blue hair.

"You've been assigning all the work to Asphie all this time, so you can have a proper day off today! Of course I remember that, I haven't forgotten at all!"

"That's right. After all, I've been working like a slave for you, almost to the point of exhaustion. After a busy life where I wasn't sure when I could take a vacation, today is finally a day when I can finally rest and recuperate."

"Yes, yes! There are several cases that only you can solve! You truly deserve the title of 'All-Rounder'! You should relax today!!"

Faced with a long string of complaints, Hermes tried his best to appease them.

Filled with resentment, Asifi glared hatefully at Hermes. The dark circles under Asifi's eyes, hidden behind her glasses, further emphasized how she was often forced to take on all sorts of arduous tasks.

"...Therefore, let me be your protector for the whole day."

Hermes, who was usually very carefree, felt a great deal of guilt towards this woman who was often hardworking and selfless because of her omnipotence. Although it was not easy to see in daily life, Hermes truly possessed a divine love that cared for children.

"Today is a bountiful feast that promotes love between men and women, so let's follow the custom and go on a date together, shall we?"

"It's disgusting, please don't do that. If you say anything offensive to me, I might just punch you to the ground right now."

"Is it really necessary to get so worked up...?"

"I don't need to say anything; I believe you are already aware of this. In addition, there have been constant disturbances and various disturbances lately."

Asifi let out a sigh, almost as if complaining, before finally managing a slight smile.

"Your pampering will only exhaust me, so just walk with me on the street."

"Hmm, I'd say this is a great suggestion? It'll put my mind at ease."

"On a sunny day, taking a leisurely stroll and enjoying the lively scene is enough to relax both body and mind."

"I always feel that these words vaguely reveal the dark side hidden in your heart..."

"Don't you even think about who made me this way?"

The two walked down the street, bickering with each other like close friends.

Hermes first tipped the street minstrels and travelers, then habitually handed the cider and ice cream he'd bought to Asphie. Asphie, usually quick to anger like a domineering wife, softened considerably after being treated this way. Hermes also showed a rare, genuine smile.