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

(After all, this is something I learned from Eina, so it's only natural that I would know.)

It was immediately apparent that Bell appeared quite disoriented.

Freya hid her smile in her heart and gently rested her elbow on the cushion beside her.

(To be precise, I learned all this from the advisor's (Eina's) log.)

Freya had been carefully reading the "book" hidden under the cushion before Bell's visit; it was the "logo" she had recently confiscated from Eina. It recorded Bell's debut battle in the dungeon—a battle he was forced to confess to under pressure from Eina, a battle both laughable and amusing. After thoroughly reading Bell's adventurer's log, Freya recounted it as if she had witnessed it herself, trying to deceive Bell.

It's not just Eina's log.

She also revived the information about the "city girl" who had died in her heart in the "story".

The "city girl" who worked at the tavern had interacted with the boy (Bell) and they talked about many things. She knew a great deal about his adventures, his private life, his favorite and least favorite foods, and even his interests and hobbies. Putting aside his god (Hestia) and his companions (familia), no one knew the boy (Bell) better than the "city girl." Freya then embellished the story based on this information to enhance its realism.

Whether it's Bell's naive side or his role as an adventurer.

Having obtained information from both sides, Freya can easily fabricate the past of "another Bell".

It's perfectly natural for her to be closer to the boy than anyone else in the tavern, and to pay more attention to the boy than anyone else in the Tower of Babel.

"Then, how did I [level up] to Lv·2!?"

"The location is the fifth floor, and your opponent is the Minotaur. This monster was one that Loki's children couldn't kill when they ended their expedition, but you were the one who finally defeated it. Remember, the guild still has records of that?"

"Hmm...!! How did I reach Level 3!?"

"You have successfully defeated [Phoebus Apollo, the Sun's Beloved Child]. He is a child of the Apollo family."

"...Is it because of the war games?"

"War games? Nothing like that ever happened. We were simply fighting against Ishtar, who was trying to take you away, and incidentally crushing Apollo as well."

Because Freya is a "goddess", Bell finds it difficult to harbor any suspicions towards her.

As a being beyond existence (Deus·Dea), she is able to remember everything she has ever seen.

In this situation—

If this person is present—

When faced with an emergency—

Considering all the uncertainties mentioned above, the most likely action Bell Craney would take is—

By examining, considering, and reflecting actual events, accidents, and disturbances, the author ultimately fabricates "the history (route) chosen by Bell Crane in another (hypothetical) world."

This is such a realistic "history (route)" that Bell can't help but wonder if "it really happened." If Bell were to inquire around afterward to verify the story, various altered documents, starting with the "guild headquarters," could serve as corroborating evidence.

The way the goddess narrates her story, the varying intonation and pace, and the changes in her gaze all contribute to the authenticity of her tale.

A child trapped alone in a "closed world" would never be able to see through all of this.

"Bell, stop asking questions and let me hear your story, okay? After all, I don't want to impose the 'Bell I know' on you."

"...Okay, okay..."

Sweet words, as melodious as ice crystals and snowflakes, eroded the boy silently, like a witch's specially concocted poison.

—Right now, Freya and Bell are “playing chess”.

Perhaps because he didn't understand the rules yet, Bell, who hadn't gotten into the game, desperately moved his pieces in order to affirm his own world and find a breakthrough.

The goddess, who found him so endearing, narrowed her eyes and gently taught Bell how to play chess, patiently guiding him.

"You can't go down there."

"I won't let you go down there."

"That's right, that was the best move."

Freya then guided Bell step by step and tried to entice him.

She forced Bell to shut down his thoughts, erasing any sense of unease in his heart, and making him exactly what she wanted.

He even made Bell completely unaware that he had "nowhere to escape (a dead end)," and thus took him for himself.

This is the gentlest way to kill a teenager.

A method of appropriating Bell Craney's soul, body, and spirit.

To achieve this goal, Freya did not hesitate to manipulate things outside the game.

That's why she sent out her family, that's why she used her charm, that's why she broke her own taboo.

That's why this "closed world" was created.

"………………!?"

That being said, let's stop here for today.

Bell was completely at a loss, feeling dizzy and helpless. Pressuring too hard on the first day was a terrible strategy. After all, the goal wasn't to kill him with a soft knife, but to make the boy willingly rely on the goddess.

Freya made this judgment after observing Bell's expression.

"...? Excuse me... what's wrong?"

"It's okay, don't worry about it."

Seeing Bell look up, Freya, who was secretly observing, smiled back as if nothing had happened.

-- I almost forgot that this child is very sensitive to "gaze".

Freya suppressed her smile and, to change the subject, revealed her slightly flushed skin.

"It just feels a bit hotter tonight than usual."

Freya transformed into a composed queen, gently brushing the hair that had fallen on her chest behind her back.

The next second, Bell's cheeks began to turn red.

"?"

Freya was initially puzzled by Bell's reaction, but she soon realized what was going on.

The reason was that Freya's sheer nightgown had a wide-open neckline, and when she brushed aside her long hair that fell over her chest, her sexy cleavage was on full display. Faced with a pair of ample breasts that could easily be completely exposed, Bell was so frightened that he quickly looked away.

Just think about it, he's such a shy kid.

Freya couldn't help but smile at his youthful appearance, and then she stood up from her seat.

"Someone come here, I want to change my clothes."

Freya gave instructions to her attendants waiting outside the door. They would prepare the clothes for her to change into afterward.

Just then, Freya suddenly had the idea to play a prank on someone.

"Bell, I want to change."

"Oh, really?"

"Come help me."

"Huh!?"

The boy choked first, then let out a nearly broken scream.

Freya gathered her hair into a ponytail with one hand, revealing the buttons at the back.

"I can't take this long dress off by myself. I can't reach the buttons on the back."

"Huh? Ah? Uh!?"

"Could you please help me untie this? I can do the rest myself."

"Can I...can I refuse!?"

"That's possible, but the dog staying outside the door might get angry, and you'll suffer even more tomorrow!"

In such a state of utter chaos that he had long since lost all semblance of normalcy, Bell seemed to recall today's "baptism" and turned pale with fright. After endless turmoil, he finally reached out his trembling hand to the goddess's back.

Freya struggled for quite a while to hold back her laughter.

"My outfit seems a bit too provocative for you."

"Ugh, ugh...!"

"Or is it that I don't look good in it?"

The hand that finally reached out cautiously unbuttoned the buttons one by one.

Freya smiled, closed her eyes, and asked the question. The boy, suppressing his shyness, answered:

"No...that's not true. You look very nice in this outfit."

It was just such a simple compliment.

Freya, no longer an innocent girl, inexplicably felt a sweetness in her chest, while at the same time feeling a little breathless.

"Um."

Perhaps for this reason, Freya reflexively let out an annoying groan when the boy's trembling hand accidentally touched her back.

Compared to Freya, whose shoulders trembled slightly, Bell convulsed all over.

The pathetic young man, realizing he had inadvertently touched the goddess's tender skin, immediately blushed—ultimately exceeding his limit of patience, he simply slipped away.

"I'm so sorry!!"

Bell sprinted at full speed.

With a loud shout of apology, the boy rushed out of the shrine in the blink of an eye.

A stunned Freya wore an expression of disbelief she had never seen before, but the next second—

"Pfft... Ahahahahahaha!"

She laughed heartily like an innocent child.

The child actually ran away from the goddess's (Freya's) boudoir in the middle of the night, crying and screaming!

Neither gods nor children have ever reacted this way before!

Freya, laughing until tears welled up in her eyes, placed her hands on her mouth and stomach respectively, and moved around in circles as if dancing.

Then she threw all the formalities to the back of her mind and pounced on the bed.

"...Goddess Freya?"

After a while, Herren timidly poked his head into the shrine.

She should have confirmed first that Bell had left.

He was holding a change of clothes for the goddess.

Ota, standing behind Herren, unusually looked unsure how to react.

"I've prepared a change of clothes for you..."

"No need."

"what?"

"Because the child said I looked good in this, I'll wear it to bed."

The goddess wiggled her legs slightly, then rolled over to lie on her back.

The perfectly shaped twin peaks rose and fell slightly with each breath.

She placed her right hand on her forehead and stretched her left hand toward the ceiling, revealing a bright smile like that of a young girl.

“…………”

Ota silently watched the chief god, who was in a very good mood.

Herren pressed his hand gently to his chest, his eyes also fixed on the goddess.

*

The moon is beautiful tonight.

Hestia looked up at the night sky, but the person she could easily talk to was no longer by her side.

Under the clear, cloudless moonlit night, which was the complete opposite of her own mood, Hestia wandered through the alleys of Orario.

She forcefully persuaded Lily and the others who were trying to stop her from going out, and walked forward alone.

(...Someone is watching me.)