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

To be honest, Bell was more overwhelmed by the feeling of "What on earth is going on?"

"what……"

「… … !」

Bell looked over with a mixture of surprise and confusion, just as Nina was also peeking in their direction, and the two ended up staring at each other.

The young girl's gaze was slightly passionate, and she immediately lowered her head, her cheeks flushing slightly.

Bell also recalled the girl's heartfelt words on the 25th floor: "I want to see all kinds of scenery by your side." This self-destructive statement, which could be called a confession (marriage proposal), made Bell blush just like Nina—not really, he just narrowed his eyes slightly, feeling a sense of warmth.

In other words.

"She probably feels embarrassed now because she said something strange back then."

That was his conclusion.

Surrounded by older women has its downsides. Whenever he encounters someone younger than him, like the dragon girl (Vinnie) or the little girl from the orphanage (Fina), Bell Crane immediately transforms into a goofy, lovable rabbit exuding the aura of a 'super-adventure older brother.' Add to that Nina's habit of constantly calling him 'Rapy-kun, Rapy-kun!' and relying on him like an older brother, Bell Crane's paternal instincts are unconsciously aroused.

Faced with this, even the god (Zeus) would sigh in despair, and the daughter of the gods (Helen) would have to sharpen her Eastern killing blade (kitchen knife) in her presence. The merciful goddess Hestia stepped forward and pinched the buttocks of her kin, first gently, then giving them a hard squeeze.

"Goo-a-ah!" The pitiful cry of the foolish rabbit echoed in the room.

"I'm very sorry... for taking up your valuable time."

Just then, Nina's "companion" spoke up.

She was another half-elf, Eina.

"Whether it's Bell or that half-elf over there, I really want to ask them why things turned out this way... but first of all, why are you here too, Ms. Advisor?"

"During the faction experience, a guild member must be present as a witness for the first meeting. Also, it's not exactly special treatment, but... she is, after all, my sister."

Behind Hestia, Lily silently unleashed a series of Lv.2 headbutts at Bell. Hestia listened to Bell's muffled screams of pain, such as "Wait... Ouch!? Why!?", while staring sharply at Eina and asking questions.

The other person adjusted their glasses and looked at their younger sister.

"I told you... I already said it would be very embarrassing if my older sister came...!"

"As I said, because I'm Bell's advisor, I'm basically considered the person in charge of the Hestia Familia. Besides, Missia and the others are very busy..."

Nina pouted slightly, like a daughter embarrassed by her overprotective mother. Eina, who looked almost identical to her, lectured her as if she were persuading her unruly younger sister. The distance between them had long since faded, quickly closing to the level of long-time family.

He didn't know what had happened between the two of them.

However, watching Eina and Nina gradually regain the sisterly affection they had longed for, Bell couldn't hide his joy and smiled sincerely.

Even now, his side was still being hit by Lily's rocket headbutt.

"While I can't accept the burning gaze you're giving Bell, that can't interfere with the factional experience of the 'school district'..."

"That's right. Not only are they promising students, but they also hold the prestigious position of therapist. This absolutely cannot be ignored..."

Hestia brought her face close to Lily's, who had stopped headbutting, as if they were having a war meeting.

Just as they had told Bell before, given the addition of the Level 1 adventurer (Ryu), Hestia and the others' original strategy was, "Since a Level 6 has arrived, we won't be greedy. Therefore, we won't get involved in the school district's student recruitment war, and we hope that the various factions won't see us as a thorn in their side." However, if students were to come to them willingly, that would be a different story.

I don't want the group leader to be surrounded by more and more women; this is the truth.

However, it is true that there is an extremely strong desire to acquire Lv.2—Advanced Adventurer level personnel.

Moreover, Nina is very strong.

Specifically, the "therapist" label is just too powerful.

Ultimately, the number of defenders is pitifully small compared to midfielders, and among defenders, pure healing classes are even rarer. This healing power will undoubtedly make a huge contribution to dungeon攻略 (strategy guide), while also greatly promoting Lily's much-anticipated item-saving efforts. In fact, if they were to turn her away here, the other factions and the gods in charge of operations would definitely call them "stupid." In other words, Nina Zul is simply that charismatic.

Furthermore, if there's any advantage to her, it's that as one of the top students in the 'school district,' her joining won't cause any trouble.

Even the gods (Hestia) who can see through lies and true nature admit that she has a very high compatibility with the goddess of virginity and her [familia] (a certain battle prostitute (Aisha) once got stuck at this point).

After several whispered discussions with Lily, Hestia—the chief goddess in charge of the faction's security—with an iron will decisively cast aside her troublesome girlish heart with a "Hey!" and reached out her hand to Nina.

"...Welcome to the faction experience, Nina. I'm not sure if you'll officially join our [Family] later, but I'd be happy if you're willing. Of course, if you think, 'I guess I'll pass,' then I can breathe a sigh of relief... Ah, anyway, please take care of me!!"

"Ah, yes! Please guide me!"

Nina grasped the outstretched hand, a sense of peace and gratitude welling up within her.

The goddess beside them had an expression as if she had just eaten a dried plum from the Far East, which made them smile wryly.

"So, for this kind of faction experience, do we live right inside the base? It's quite a hassle to go back and forth to the 'school district' every day, and besides, there are still some empty rooms here..."

"Yes. If the faction allows it, the guild actually recommends living at the base."

"Well, Lord Bader actually told me 'there's absolutely no problem,' so the luggage is already outside... I'll go get it with my sister now!"

Faced with the goddess's confirmation, Eina answered without hesitation, while Nina seemed a little embarrassed and decided to leave first after speaking.

"Ah, let me help too, Nina."

Bell then gave chase.

however,

"It's alright, Senior Bell!"

"Bell...senpai Bell?"

The way the other person addressed him startled him.

He stopped what he was doing, a look of embarrassment and awkwardness appearing on his face, as if he had just tasted some kind of rare delicacy, his expression shifting rapidly, before he spoke in a slightly flustered manner.

"No, no need to be so formal. Just call me as usual..."

"You mean the usual way... should we call him 'Lapi-kun' then?"

"Ugh...!?"

In just a moment, Nina regained her tone of voice when interacting with people her own age and looked up at Bell.

Indeed, using a pseudonym (Lapi-kun) is quite inappropriate.

First, people who don't know the situation would be completely confused, and second, Bell's conscience wouldn't allow it.

Seeing Bell speechless for a moment, Nina not only didn't flinch, but instead smiled happily.

"As an adventurer, I'm the junior, so please let me call you senior, okay?...No, please let me call you that!"

"Um, um... I understand, Nina..."

"Thank you! My sister and I will go get our luggage now!"

This time, Nina smiled brightly and left the living room with her sister.

Bell watched her leave, her long, brown hair swaying lightly like an animal's tail, seemingly reflecting Nina's good mood. He couldn't help but raise his hand and touch the back of his head.

"He seems like a pretty good guy, senior."

"No, please don't do this, Welf."

"I never thought you'd be called a senior one day... It really makes me feel quite emotional."

"Even Miss Ryu...!"

He felt a weight on his right shoulder; it was Welf's arm that had come up to him, and a pleasant smile played on his lips.

Ryu, who was on the left, also had a smile on her face at that moment.

Completely exhausted, Bell could only look once more at the other side of the door where Nina had left.

"Ahhh! I'm so nervous!"

Walking down the corridor of the mansion, Nina placed her hand on her chest and let out a long breath.

Perhaps only in front of her sister (herself) would she show this side of herself, a person of such reliability. Walking beside her, Eina felt a gentle, comforting feeling well up inside her.

"Thank you for your hard work. But like I said, it'll definitely be fine. Goddess Hestia is of very high divine rank. So are Bell and the others..."

"Lord Badr told me this too, so I'm not worried... but calling him 'Bell-senpai' is the biggest challenge! Although I pretended to be calm just now, to me, Lapi-kun is Lapi-kun..."

"Ah, you mean that...?"

"Ah~ My heart still races when I see those red eyes! And it'll definitely keep going like this!? At least can't we let him wear the wig he had when he was with Rappi-kun again?"

"That's probably unlikely..."

Nina's face flushed bright red one moment and then faded to a pale pink the next, her expression changing as quickly as Bell's earlier. Seeing this, Eina could only suppress the urge to sigh.

Furthermore, after learning a series of things related to "Lapi-kun," Eina initially wanted to give him a good scolding for "concealing his identity and sneaking into the 'school district,' it's outrageous!" But since even the headmaster and her mentor (Leon) were accomplices, she was completely speechless. She could only sigh and think to herself, "What on earth are these two doing?"

Her head was already spinning, and now that she remembered this, she couldn't believe that even her beloved younger sister was taking responsibility for her adventurer... Just then, Nina stopped and turned around to face her.

"Speaking of which, I didn't expect even you, my older sister, to like Bell-senpai... From now on, we're rivals in love!"

Ah~ you really are sisters~, you even thought of the same thing.

Eina, who had momentarily escaped reality, hurriedly adjusted her glasses, which were about to slip off.

"I...I don't like Bell-kun...!"

"You're lying, sister, your face is all red. And, well, I can understand why you like Lapi-kun... like Bell-senpai. Even though he's younger than you and older than me... um, I get it. After all, we're sisters."

Unexpectedly, her sister turned the tables and offered her advice, leaving Eina momentarily speechless. Nina, on the other hand, placed a hand on her chest and nodded solemnly.

We have the same preferences.

You could even say that our entire family (Zul) bloodline is completely defenseless against that type.

The evidence is that even mothers are helpless against that type of father.

Seeing that her sister was about to say those words, Eina's face flushed, and she quickly reached out to cover her mouth.

"Besides... Senior Bell is a Level 1 adventurer. Even if you're not interested, there are plenty of people who would want to attract his attention."

Indeed, in fact, Bell is already a true Lv.5.

At this point, it would be strange if they weren't popular.

but,

(Believes Bell... I don't want to see Bell that way...!)

Eina had been silently watching over Bell since he first emerged from obscurity, her deep-rooted yet thorny "sisterly heart" shouting out loud.

The concept of "Bell Crane, the first-class adventurer and richest man" was a serious point of contention for Eina.

"Bell-kun should be more... more... more..." The inner lament couldn't be louder.

On the other side, Nina, who had intended to shut her up, suddenly became annoyed and quickly dodged away, looked puzzled but at the same time struck a pose of confrontation.

"But I won't lose! Not to my sister, or anyone else!"

Ah, I've completely transformed into an athletic girl.

Her gaze was earnest, and her heart was pure, but she had unknowingly been influenced by the atmosphere of the "school district." Looking at her younger sister like this, Eina felt a mixture of joy and sorrow, and then she closed her eyes for a moment.

I really should tell her.

The moment I realized it, it was already too late, and I almost gave up because of "a certain fact".

The real enemy is someone else entirely.

"I mean... Nina?"

"What's wrong, sister?"

"Bell-kun, you have someone you admire... someone you like?"

"Eh... Eh eh ...

Accompanied by her sister's loudest cry of the day, Eina silently tucked her fingers into those long, pointed ears.

"I have a feeling I heard someone scream..."

After Nina and the others left, I felt a cold sweat on my back as I stayed in the living room of the mansion, and glanced at the door leading to the corridor.

After the faction members left, the atmosphere in the living room relaxed considerably. The goddesses and the others nestled on the sofa, chatting leisurely.

"But to be honest, I never expected that the 'school district' would specifically point us out... I never even thought of it."

"We should have informed the guild that we're not considering recruiting any new members for the time being, right?"

"Well, since even Miss Fairy has joined, we can't get too carried away. Of course, I've also thought before, it would be great if someone offered themselves up... something like that..."

"Anyway, the school district wouldn't actively recruit students anyway, so this unexpected bonus is just a bonus."

"I feel the same way. Putting aside those we train ourselves, there aren't many factions that can recruit Lv.2 healers. We should cherish this good fortune."