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

"I recommend this! Put these two silver pieces together like this, and you'll see they become one!"

"Uh-huh."

"When broken into two, girls can wear them as hair accessories, and boys can wear them as brooches! We'll give you a discount if you want to buy them!"

The other party recommended a pair of silver ornaments with a bluish-gray decorations, shaped like ocarinas or magatama, which together would form a full moon-shaped pendant.

Indeed, as he said, it was a pair of ornaments.

"This thing also has the effect of bringing good fortune and warding off evil!"

"Seeking good fortune and avoiding misfortune?"

"That's right. When I made it, I sincerely prayed that the couples who wear this item won't end up with a tragic love story like the knight and the fairy!"

Although I believed that no matter how much the maker prayed, the ornament couldn't possibly have the power to ward off evil or bring good fortune, Miss Seele, who had crouched down to examine it curiously, ignored my embarrassed expression. In fact, her eyes seemed to be shining as she looked at it…

"Look at you two, young man and young lady, you're such a perfect match! This pair of ornaments originally cost two thousand falis, but I'll sell it to you for only one thousand falis!"

We didn't even have to haggle before they got a 50% discount...

This situation left me speechless for a moment.

"Stare—"

Miss Seele beside me was staring at me intently.

That expectant yet deliberate look in my eyes froze my entire face.

To be honest, I don't really want to buy this. It's not because I don't have the money or find it too troublesome... it's simply that it reminds me of being alone just now, which evokes a feeling that's hard to describe.

...However, my master once warned me.

Although it is said that as long as one has a heart, one does not need to be bound by external material things, it is indeed tangible things that can bring happiness to people.

I barely managed to suppress the urge to sigh and gave up the resistance.

"Then I'll buy it."

Thank you for your patronage!

I paid the boss.

Then hand the items to Miss Seele.

"please."

"Wow...!"

Looking at the silver ornament in her hands, Miss Seele looked genuinely happy.

She seemed completely surprised that I would be willing to buy it, like a child receiving a new toy.

Miss Seele carefully disassembled the pair of ornaments in half and checked the front and back of the ornaments several times.

"Then I'll keep the half with the fairy pattern! Mr. Bell, you can take the other half with the knight pattern!"

"Haha... Let's do it this way."

We each keep silver ornaments with knight and crystal motifs.

Miss Seele held the half of the ornament tightly in her arms for a while before putting it on her light gray hair.

"Is it suitable for me, Mr. Bell?"

"Hmm...it suits you very well."

This is what I really think.

The evidence is that both I and the stall owner were captivated by her adorable appearance with the silver hair accessory.

Her hair ornaments, reflecting a pale light in the afterglow, were dazzling, and her shy, overjoyed smile was equally captivating.

Miss Seele gently touched her hair ornament, a radiant smile spreading across her face.

"I will cherish it, Mr. Bell!"

As the afterglow of sunset lingered in the western sky, night quietly descended from the east.

As if urged on by the night, one lamp after another was lit up in the city. In addition to streetlights, many magic stone lamps decorated with pumpkins could be seen on wooden barrels and boxes.

We returned to the southwest part of the city.

They tried to avoid detection by using alleyways, but became more open when they reached the main streets. Being furtive would only attract the attention of the Freya Familia. At this point, their spies were undoubtedly spread throughout the city, so they could only gamble on luck.

In addition, I mentioned the restaurant we booked to my mentor, and he might help cover for us and lure the group members to other places... I really hope he's willing to lend a helping hand.

As I moved through the crowd, I tried to be as alert as possible, while Miss Seele acted quite naturally even without my prompting.

She immediately put on the hair accessory and asked me several times, "Does it suit me?" and "How do you feel?" Each time, I smiled wryly and praised her, "It suits you very well" and "You are very beautiful."

"Hehehe..."

Miss Seele beamed with delight upon hearing this, revealing a shy smile.

So cute... No, wait!

Perhaps it was because Miss Seele looked different from before, but seeing her genuine, radiant smile gave me an indescribable feeling.

The mindset that my mentor taught me about how to take the lead in a date has long since been worn away.

Along the way, Miss Seele was like a puppy wanting to be pampered. Whenever she had the chance, she would hook her arm around mine and press her whole body against mine. After several rounds of back-and-forth between me and her, we finally arrived at our destination.

"This is... a 'ship'?"

Miss Seele opened her eyes wide in surprise.

As she said, there was a huge ship docked on the shore.

"Mr. Bell, is this the restaurant you mentioned?"

"That's right, this restaurant is called 'Water Boat Key'."

I made a reservation at a "floating restaurant".

Miss Seele, still in a daze, had to look up to see the enormous white ship clearly.

Although not as luxurious as a luxury cruise ship, it must be over fifty meters long, with enough space to accommodate our base camp, "Zao Huo Guan." This ornately decorated vessel floated leisurely on the vast river.

At the pier leading to the ships, you can see elegant waiters and a stylish sign that reads "Welcome!" in Common.

"Is this the floating restaurant? I've heard that there are several such restaurants in Orario..."

"That's right. This restaurant is usually located on the riverbank, but during this period it will circle around Orario along the river."

"So... will it sail later?"

I smiled and nodded in affirmation.

As I just explained to Miss Seele, "Water Boat Key" is a restaurant that is regularly moored at the shore, where people can dine on the boat. According to the tour guide, the owner bought this second-hand boat, dismantled it, transported it to the city, and reassembled it, eventually transforming it into a trendy restaurant.

From the southwest district, which houses the "exchange," to the south district, where the "bustling area" is located, the land is already filled with all kinds of shops and facilities, leaving no extra land. So, the business owners came up with the idea of ​​"since land is not an option, let's open the restaurant on the water!" Although this boat cannot go out to sea, it can still navigate the city's waterways.

(Actually, I racked my brains trying to choose a restaurant...)

When planning the trip, dinner is arguably the highlight and the most crucial adventure of the entire trip.

After my master's strict guidance and my desperate investigation, I finally found this "Key to the Water Boat". It is said that the food here is very delicious, and with the funds that my master and I raised together, we were able to afford to eat here for two.

The key point is that for Miss Seele, who works at "The Abundant Mistress," ordinary restaurants simply cannot satisfy her. Aunt Mia's cooking is unparalleled, so I decided to let Miss Seele experience a different dining atmosphere than usual, thinking that eating on a ship would bring her a sense of novelty.

I racked my brains to find this restaurant that would surprise me... Miss Seele was overjoyed.

"I'm so happy, Mr. Bell. You must have racked your brains to choose a restaurant for me, right? You're always talking about the dungeon, didn't this give you a real headache?"

I've been seen through...

Hearing this praise with a hidden meaning, I could only respond with a wry smile.

Seeing how happy she was... for a planner, there could be no more gratifying reaction than this.

Miss Seele, who was so happy that she seemed impatient, took my hand and walked quickly across the wooden pier that was about six meters above the water.

After I boarded the ship and gave my name to the steward, I was led to my seat on the deck.

Before me was a stylish white dining table with two chairs, and a vase on the table. There were several other similarly decorated sets of seats around me.

For someone like me who usually only eats at the Adventurer's Bar, it felt like I'd wandered into the wrong restaurant. I felt a pang of regret for trying to act mature, and at the same time, I desperately tried to recall all the guidance my master had given me.

The last rays of the setting sun had completely disappeared, and the sky was shrouded in the deep darkness of night.

At the same time, an announcement came over the loudspeaker inside the ship.

"The Water Boat Key is officially setting sail. We cordially invite all distinguished guests to enjoy a pleasant dining experience on board."

As this brief greeting came from the magic stone megaphone, the boat slowly moved forward.

As I watched the boats glide across the water and gradually move away from the shore, a huge weight was finally lifted from my heart.

As long as we stay away from land, we don't need to worry about attacks from the Freya Familia. After all, the Water Boat Key is a huge ship that doesn't pass under bridges; its route is only through wide canals like canals, meaning there's no way to get onto the ship from land.

Even a powerful group like the Freya Familia shouldn't be able to do that...

In short, as long as the ship sets sail, at least the mealtimes can be passed safely.

(...However, I always felt like several pairs of eyes were watching us...)

When the waiter elegantly serves up fine wine and delicacies, I always feel a chill run down my spine.

While not exactly murderous—there was definitely hostility in some of them—they didn't seem like the Freya Familia...

"Mr. Bell, what's wrong?"

"Huh? Ah, I'm perfectly fine. Ah, hahaha..."

Looking at Miss Seele, who wanted to toast with me, I returned a stiff smile.

As I asked the waiter to pour me my drink, I could only convince myself not to overthink it.

"When did Bell grow up to the point where he could discover such trendy restaurants...!"

"This is my first time dining on a ship..."

Hestia and Ais are having dinner.

The location needs no further explanation; it was on the "Key to the Water Boat" where Bell and his companions were.

"Wherever you want to escape to, Belle, it's all within my expectations, as the great detective Hestia predicted!"

"Goddess Hestia, so amazing..."

Hestia devoured her meal, while Ais, sitting opposite her and slicing open a butter-fried fish, nodded in agreement. Throughout the meal, the two would occasionally steal glances at Bell, who sat some distance away.

After Bell used magical artifacts to shake off his pursuers—

Hestia and Ais, who had lost track of Bell and the others just like the Freya Familia, joined forces with the others to search for the boy.

"Given Bell's personality, she must have kept some reference materials for the date!"

Searching aimlessly in the vast world of Orario would be a terrible idea, but the goddess knew exactly what the boy was doing and how he was thinking, so she quickly came up with a plan.

Hestia took Ais back to the "Hearthouse" and secretly ransacked the boy's bedroom. As she expected, she found information about the "Water Boat Key," and the boy even dutifully drew a red circle in the information.

"This is it────────!!" Hestia shouted, immediately launching a charge towards the ship. Although the two were initially hindered by dress code regulations, after a period of running, they successfully arrived at the restaurant ahead of everyone else.

"Luckily, Miss Warren was a great help, otherwise I definitely wouldn't have been able to get on this ship on my own."

"I was just following the goddess Hestia, I wasn't really of any help... Ah, this meal is on me..."

"Huh! Is that okay!?"

Hestia wore a turquoise dress, while Ais wore a light green dress.

It was the same set they wore when they attended the "Feast of the Sun God".

In fact, this riverside banquet was very popular. Hestia, who had not made a reservation in advance, should have been turned away, but she was allowed to enter thanks to Ais's company. This was not limited to restaurants on the water; for any business, the presence of a first-class adventurer was a valuable advertisement.

The two sneaked into the restaurant before sunset, waiting for Bell and his companions to walk right into their trap, and have been there ever since.

Now they have finally found their target.

"But our seats are inside the ship, while Bell and the others are on the deck... Damn it~ They're having such a good time. Bell~ Where did you learn all these dating tips~ Take me with you next time~!"

"I always feel like Bell looks really handsome...?"

"Hey, Warren, what kind of Miss is that! You're not allowed to flirt with Belle like that!"

Putting aside Hestia's loud and boisterous behavior, the two of them still attracted a lot of attention.