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

I covered my face, which had turned into a bright red fruit, with my right hand, and secretly, with a heart pounding with fear, peeked at her.

I looked up and saw her eyes widen slightly... then her cheeks did indeed flush, and she smiled.

"Bell, you're always so nervous..."

This sentence, delivered with a sense of intimacy, sounds as if it were spoken to someone close to you.

She called my name. I couldn't speak. My chest felt so tight.

I never expected there would be a moment that made my heart tremble so deeply.

This is... the first time I've heard this.

"..."

No, I'll get dull.

If I continue to stay by her side like this, indulging myself in her presence...

If you are clearly unworthy of her and have accomplished nothing, yet you are captivated by her tenderness...

If things go wrong, I might not be able to continue pursuing her.

I lowered my head, covering my eyes and my entire face with my bangs.

My heart pounded throughout my body, and I pursed my lips, desperately trying to regain my self-control.

At the same time, I felt my back getting even hotter, as if it were about to catch fire.

"Ah! What a beautiful view!"

“Ah!”

Suddenly, without any warning...

Just as I was about to separate us, standing together gazing at each other, a deity suddenly appeared before my eyes.

She peeked out from under my feet like a bamboo shoot after a rain, her petite body fitting perfectly between me and Miss Ais.

Miss Ais was startled and her eyes widened; the fairy, on the other hand, had her eyes half-open and a stiff smile on her face.

"Bell, you're being so formal! If you wanted to see the scenery, why didn't you ask me?! Aren't Bell and I very close?!"

"I'm so sorry!" I apologized nervously when I saw the fairy's smiling face, but her cheeks were twitching. For some reason, she kept emphasizing "our relationship," and she looked quite frightening.

"That's how it is. Miss Warren, please step aside! From now on, Belle and I will be spending our time together as a loving couple!"

“Um, um…”

The fairy shoved Miss Ais's breastplate several times with one hand, telling her to go away. Miss Ais seemed very troubled. I was terrified and quickly stopped the fairy.

I don't know if it was just my imagination, but it felt like the deity was right next to me, growling menacingly at Miss Ais, making me sweat profusely.

"...? Wait, deity, did you wipe something?"

"Oh, you noticed, Bell!"

The fairy turned to look at me, her expression instantly brightening. She rummaged through her bag, then held out her hand to me, revealing a small, transparent bottle.

"Is this... perfume? Could it be the one you saw at the store entrance just now...?"

"Yes, that's right, this is the proper manners a young lady should have! Belle wouldn't like a girl who brandishes a sword recklessly and reeks of sweat!"

The deity leaned towards me, her body exuding a delicate fragrance, and spoke with malice. Miss Ais blinked and also brought her arm to her nose to sniff. No, you only smell of water… Why is the deity so aggressive today?

By the way, it seems the perfume was bought with money (badges) borrowed from the god Hermes. Considering the gods have been in the dungeon for more than a day, they must care about their own scent.

"Um... Miss Ais defeated the floor master all by herself, right?"

To break the awkward atmosphere, I tried to change the subject.

Moreover, this topic... is necessary for me right now.

Staring up at her like that from the god's head, Miss Ais tilted her head slightly and replied, "Mm."

"But Rivera also helped me..."

Even so…

"...Yes, defeated."

—My only option after encountering the floor master (Goliath) is to run away.

—In contrast, she single-handedly defeated the stronger floor master (enemy).

She's still so far away. The distance between us now, where our eyes meet, is practically an illusion; there's an obvious distance between us. Even the small glory I've gained seems insignificant.

Through this, I was able to reaffirm my lack of ambition and my ever-growing aspirations.

"Don't rush, Bear Grylls! Let's keep moving forward steadily, step by step, until the seas run dry and the rocks crumble!"

The deity suddenly started shouting loudly.

I was taken aback, but after hearing what she said, my expression softened considerably.

To achieve my dreams, I must strive to become stronger.

But for the sake of the goddess, I won't be stubborn. I won't let her be alone.

I remembered a promise I made a long time ago. Looking at the faces of the fairy and Miss Ais... I decided to do what I could do now, without rushing, just to do my best.

I confirm this again.

"Miss Warren! You're not allowed to sneak off without my permission!"

"sorry……?"

I watched as the fairy and Miss Ais argued about something right in front of me.

My eyebrows drooped low and I wore a bitter smile, but it was a carefree smile.

●

After Bell and the others returned to the campsite, "Daylight" soon visited the 18th floor.

The white and blue crystals emanating from the ceiling enhanced the light source, and within ten minutes, the floor was transformed, becoming brightly lit. From the north, the distant howls of monsters echoed, as if thanking the dungeon for its bounty.

"Hey, everyone, let's all go take a cold shower!"

During that ambiguous period between noon and afternoon, Tiona cheerfully made a suggestion to everyone.

Before the girls scattered to different parts of the campsite, she also asked Ais, Tione, Hestia, and others.

"You want more? How many times do you want to go before you're satisfied?"

"It won't cause any problems—I'm free anyway—and the clean water here feels so nice to wash in—"

"Besides, won't you go crazy after seeing Hestia's breasts?"

"No, no way! I, I would never do that!"

After glancing at her sister (Tiona) who was telling her sisterly story to her older sister (Tione), Lily turned to Hestia.

"What do you think, Goddess Hestia?"

"Hmm... I do have an urge to take a bath."

Hestia looked down at her body and her slightly dirty clothes.

She was drenched in sweat on her way to the 18th floor, and she even slipped and fell, getting covered in dust. It was one thing to not be able to wash her clothes, but getting her sticky body clean would have been a bonus.

"Ming, what about you guys? Do you want to go take a cold shower with them?"

"If I could, I'd also like to go... What about Chigusa?"

"I...I also...okay."

"Where is Lady Asphie?"

"...Hermes."

"Ah, sure—let's suspend the guard duties for now and give you the freedom to move around."

When Lily looked up and asked her a question, Asphie turned to Hermes. He had his back to Asphie and waved his hands to the left and right, as if to say, "It's okay, you go ahead." Asphie pushed up the bridge of her glasses with her fingers and agreed with, "Then I'll go too."

"Ais, let's go together too!"

"Um……"

"Let's invite Linne and the others to come along and take turns guarding the area."

Ais, who was being hugged from behind by Tiona, nodded, and the girls began to move in groups.

When Tione went to inquire, the female members of the Loki Familia all followed. Taking a cold bath in a dungeon inhabited by monsters without someone guarding it was rather terrifying.

Leaving the male members at the campsite, Hestia and her group, led by Tiona, ventured deeper into the forest.

"Ta-da—this is it!"

"oh oh--"

Hestia, Lily, Mikoto, and Chigusa all exclaimed in unison.

What comes into view is a large waterfall where water cascades down from a height difference of about ten meters.

Tiny water droplets danced like a thin mist, bringing a refreshing coolness. The gentle, moistening touch of the water droplets on the skin felt slightly ticklish.

Tiona led everyone to a large spring at the foot of the waterfall. Surrounded by trees and crystals, and completely covered by the branches and leaves of huge trees, the blue-tinged landscape even evoked the image of a "forest sanctuary."

"Isn't it amazing? I just discovered it during our last exploration!"

"Yes, the scenery is indeed very beautiful..."

"I have a question, Lord Tione, where does this water come from?"

"It's not exactly 'eternal snow' (ice). It's actually a large piece of crystal deep inside the building, and the water flows out from there, just like melting ice. It's safe to drink, and you could even say it's cleaner than the water on the ground."

Tiona and Fate, Tione and Lily each had their own conversation.

By this time, the girls were neither shy nor reserved. They chatted as they took off their clothes, and Tione's full breasts and Tiona's slender body were gradually revealed without hesitation. Mikoto and Asphie calmly placed their clothes on the ground one by one, while Chigusa, blushing and whimpering, was a step behind the others in taking off her clothes.

As for Ais… she removed her breastplate, gauntlets, and other equipment with a rustling sound, then began to undress. Hestia stared at her as she undressed beside her—or rather, at her rounded breasts.

Then she boldly and forcefully took off her clothes.

"Hmph! A resounding victory!"

"What are you comparing yourself to, Goddess Hestia...?"

Look at your chest, and puff out your chest.

Seeing Hestia flaunting her ample breasts, Ais, holding her clothes, looked somewhat bewildered. Lily, about to pull her underwear off her legs and become completely naked, cast a weary glance at the young goddess.

"By the way, this hair accessory was a gift from Belle! It's a present that carries the child's heartfelt sentiments!"

"Wait, Goddess Hestia, please explain this more clearly...!"

Hestia untied her two ponytails and proudly displayed the small bell hair ornament. Lily pressed forward, demanding an explanation, while Ais peered with great interest at the blue hair ornament.

Surrounded by guards and with some people talking at once, the girls began to take cold showers.

"...It's about time."

Hermes gently raised his chin and whispered.

"what?"

"Little Bell, can you come with me for a moment?"

As I was idly passing the time at the campsite, Hermes appeared before me.

He lowered his voice as if it would be bad if someone overheard him.

"I've been waiting for this moment. No, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that I came to the labyrinth for this moment... this moment when I can be alone with you."

Is he waiting for the time we can be alone together...?

Hermes' tone suggested he had something important to tell me. His long, narrow eyes, no longer playful as usual, were fixed on me with a serious gaze.

I had never seen Hermes with such an expression, which made me gag. Glancing around, I saw that Welf and Mr. Cherry Blossom were sitting a little distance away, unaware of us.

I nodded slowly and nervously.

Hermes said, “Follow me,” and then quietly began to move. We left the campsite without being stopped and went into the quiet depths of the forest.

"...Um, Hermes, where are we going?"

I followed silently and asked the question while looking at the back of Hermes, who was only focused on walking forward.