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

But she tried her best to restrain herself and force a smile onto her face.

"It's okay if you can't remember, but try to feel the bond between you and the armor user!"

After speaking, Hestia ran out of the room that was being used as a warehouse.

No matter how Freya twists people's hearts with her "charm," the bond between everyone and Bell remains. If they search diligently, they can definitely find more, and discover "hope" within it. Hestia, having regained her spirits, hurried towards her destination.

Hestia finally arrived at the workshop in the backyard, unlocked the door with her key, and went inside.

As soon as the wooden door closed, the room became dark and appeared empty... but then she discovered that the floor leading to the basement had been lifted up. Hestia silently walked down the stairs and replaced the floorboards.

"—Goddess Hestia, I apologize for troubling you to come here, for I need a secret room where I won't be overheard."

Asphie, having deactivated her "transparent state," suddenly appeared out of thin air.

"Ah, ah... Asphie────!"

"Pfft!! You, you need to calm down. Even in the basement, if you're too loud, the monitors (Freya's Familia) will still notice...!"

Hestia, who bumped into Asphie's stomach, was deeply moved.

In fact, Hestia had seen the red writing on the note.

The reason is that Hestia had someone confirm that the "forged Daedalus Notebook" that Hermes had on the night of the battle in the labyrinth street (Daedalus Road) caused by the heretics was made by Asphie.

Even without confirmation, it was certain that Asphie had not been affected by the "charm." Although it was rare to finally meet a few reliable adventurers who were on her side, Hestia still felt guilty for losing her composure, but this incident still moved her to tears.

"Thank goodness you're safe and sound! Because I've been all alone and helpless, which has made me both sad and lonely...!"

"I feel the same way, Goddess Hestia. It seems that trusting you, the Virgin Goddess, to remain unaffected was indeed the right choice."

The two, excluded from the "closed world," were naturally filled with mixed emotions when they met each other.

The usually calm and collected Asphie seemed to relax completely, revealing an innocent, childlike smile. Hestia, on the other hand, was sniffling without any regard for her image.

"By the way, how did you sneak into the workshop? Wasn't the door locked before?"

"After all, I am the 'omnipotent one'."

"That makes sense."

Asphie pushed up her glasses smugly, and Hestia immediately understood. In short, it involved using lock-picking techniques.

When did Asphie return here? What has she been doing since then? Although the two wanted to catch up, they decided to share information first. The reason was that Asphie had a firm grasp of the goddess's (Freya's) will, while Hestia was fully aware of the current situation of the goddess's faction (Freya's Familia).

"The Freya Familia's movements have changed...?"

"That's right. Although the 'baptism' has become more intense, there are no other significant changes... but I feel a sense of anxiety about it."

"Anxiety? Freya and the others? What's the reason?"

"...I suspect it's because Bell Craney hasn't been 'charmed' yet."

Compared to Asphie, who offered her opinions based solely on intuition rather than concrete evidence, Hestia was utterly dumbfounded after hearing her explanation.

Then she looked down at the note that she never parted with, which at first glance seemed inconspicuous—or rather, her last remaining hope.

"Could it be... that the 'timing' has finally come...?"

*

Endless wear and tear.

Endless torment.

Having undergone intense "baptism," their bodies, minds, and souls have been completely exhausted.

Even though I was on the surface, not in the underground city, I was forced to face an ultimate state that pushed me to the brink of the aberration. Despite receiving ample treatment, food, and sleep, when I realized that the current situation was just as grueling as my previous perilous journey to the "deeper" level, I couldn't help but vomit everything I had eaten.

In the deadly battle against the first-level adventurer, I realized something.

That means their every move is aimed at killing me.

I am not seeking a way out of a dead end, but I have no choice but to fight my way out.

If you don't learn the new trick, you'll die.

If you only bleed but don't become stronger, you'll die.

In this situation, I could indeed feel myself gradually growing stronger, but ultimately I was trampled underfoot by even more brutal violence, and then forced to rise from the ground again. How does an immortal warrior die? It is through the collapse of his soul—I have come to understand this.

This situation is almost indistinguishable from taking banned drugs.

One day, we will have to pay the price for growing too fast.

And that so-called "day" is now.

No matter how positively I faced the challenges, my will, perseverance, and passion were completely shattered, leaving only the survival instinct of fearing death. I couldn't tell if I had given up resisting, nor did I know if I was standing on the edge of a cliff or had already fallen into the endless abyss.

The key issue is that the "aspiration" that I used as my driving force is almost gone.

Where do those unattainable flowers actually bloom?

Isn't it growing on the mountain I'm climbing?

Ultimately, does that flower truly exist in the world?

At this moment, I am covered in wounds, my body and mind are worn down, and precious things are gradually slipping away from me.

I desperately want to escape this place.

The problem is that I have nowhere to go even if I escape from here, and all the people I know are gone.

This fact is what pains me the most and what frightens me the most.

—You are about to become a first-class adventurer in just six months, and are recognized by everyone as a "fierce warrior".

This is a sentence that someone who takes great care of me like a sister once said to me.

"Fierce Warrior".

This term, which originated from the mouth of the gods, actually has another meaning.

It refers to "the fallen warriors".

They are destined to die at sunrise and live at moonrise.

As I emulated this lifestyle, the things I could rely on became increasingly simple, until finally only one remained.

She is the only pillar in my heart.

"Hey, Belle, shall we sleep together tonight?"

“…Huh?”

Inside the shrine after nightfall.

She looked absolutely stunning tonight as well.

She tied her long silver hair into a ponytail and wore an elegant outfit, looking so solemn and sacred.

In contrast, I was as tired as some old man.

Although my brain had almost stopped functioning, the last vestiges of reason in my mind still reminded me not to do anything inappropriate to her.

"I promise I won't do anything to you... so let's sleep together tonight?"

...Then there's no problem.

Since we can maintain a healthy relationship, it's natural that I, who can only rely on her, can't resist the temptation. After all, she's the gentlest person in the world.

I nodded like an obedient child and lay down with her on the canopy bed.

A silk quilt was placed over me.

I initially remained in a supine position.

But soon a hand reached out and gently turned my face to the side.

Her face was right in front of me.

"Hey, Bell, is there anything you want?"

"What you want...?"

"That's right, for example, wealth, fame, power, making a name for yourself in history, becoming a hero, or the world... or someone's heart. Whatever it is, just tell me, and I'll give it to you."

"..."

"So, is there something you want?"

I... gave the answer very quickly.

"I...don't want anything."

Despite her fear of what might happen if she refused this kind offer, she smiled slightly.

"Yeah, I knew you'd answer like that."

"what?"

"Because I like you just the way you are."

Is she testing me?

I don't understand.

However, she revealed a tender and affectionate look, and whispered with an unprecedented gentleness:

"Bell, I like you so much... I like you the most."

She reached her hands towards my head and pulled me into her arms.

I feel its unparalleled tenderness, enjoy its exquisite fragrance, and most importantly, it brings me warmth.

I long to be held in her arms forever.

...Isn't it time to let go?

Isn't it time to admit it?

All the memories, aspirations, and experiences that I have never doubted to this day are all just a dream.

The desire to escape from a "nightmare" is not an unforgivable idea, is it?

Because she was so warm, so incredibly warm. She was my only safe haven. She stroked my hair with her hands, like soothing a child, and it felt so comforting. The loving kiss on my forehead soothed the wounds etched on my body and soul. This cradle called the Goddess enveloped me, melting away everything within it.

Is it really a mistake to be obsessed with love?

It wouldn't matter if we did that, would it?

but……

But…………

But………………──

If I were to let go of the heartache of rejecting that person... and the heartache of rejecting "Miss Seele's" confession, I would never understand why I hurt her in the first place.

No matter how painful it was, even if this memory was false, I still hurt that person in the end.

It was my fault that made that person cry.

To completely forget about this and treat this memory as a daydream with a laugh... that would truly be a grave sin.

—A complete bastard (Bell Crane) doesn't know how to fool himself.

Even if the sweetest salvation is right in front of me, as long as I haven't lost everything... I can't choose to accept it.

I was trapped in the narrow gap of my thoughts, and my journey was not over yet, but my eyes had already closed.

Before I lost consciousness, I realized something.

It's her—the goddess Freya—who no longer says "I love you" to me.

That night, I had a dream.

It was a dream I had while I slept in the arms of a girl with pale gray hair.

*

Today's weather is different from yesterday's; the sky is clear and blue.

The sky was so blue that it was hard to look directly at it, and even my tired eyes hurt from looking at it.

The next morning, after sleeping in the arms of the goddess Freya.

After I regained consciousness in the shrine, I climbed out of the empty bed, returned to my bedroom to prepare, and when I pushed the door open—an elf stood before me.