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

"You went to the red-light district and only came back this morning!? Fine, Belle, do you have any explanation for that!?"

His visit to the brothel was immediately exposed.

Of course, because I exude a sweet, cloying fragrance from head to toe. Hestia looked down at me with the disdainful gaze one might have for scraps of paper, causing me to burst into tears.

She worked late and came home to find the headquarters deserted. When Welf and the others returned, one person was missing. She was heartbroken with worry, while I, the person directly involved, returned home nonchalantly in the morning. No wonder the gods were angry. It's understandable that her jet-black hair was standing on end in anger.

Lily, with a fierce expression, was also beside the fairy, looking down at me.

Welf sighed from a distance, while Miss Fate was flustered and didn't know what to do.

"H-Goddess Hestia!? This was all caused by my personal affairs, you can't blame Lord Bell...!?"

"I told you not to interrupt."

Miss Ming tried to defend me, but the deity didn't even glance at her and coldly refused.

Even Lily, who knew why I went to the red-light district, was furious—meaning that everyone was suspicious of me because I smelled so sweetly of women.

"So...did you sleep with a prostitute...?"

"I...I didn't!?"

I've never heard a deity speak in such a deep voice, shaking his head with the speed of sound.

"I...I had absolutely no intention of having fun, and I didn't do anything like that!? You've misunderstood!?"

"Then why did you only return from the red-light district at dawn?"

I desperately insisted that I was innocent, but Lily glared at me with an expression I had never seen before, leaving me speechless for a moment.

I'm hesitant to talk about what happened in the Pleasure Quartet, or how Miss Haruhime let me escape, and how I got lost in the Labyrinth Quartet for half a day.

Having suffered in silence, I can only sincerely declare my innocence.

"P-P-In any case! I didn't do anything strange!?"

"Oh?"

As soon as the fairy narrowed her eyes, Lily immediately and tacitly handed her a small bottle.

"Then, what is this?"

What the deity presented to me was a container resembling a chess piece in a board game—an aphrodisiac.

(Hermes, oh my god!?!)

I screamed in my heart at the top of my lungs.

Just like last night, I was driven to the brink again by the aphrodisiac he forced on me. I cried out in my heart, and the image of my god (Hermes) with his refreshing smile appeared in my mind, but this time he really looked like a plague god.

I really want to tell Hestia and the other goddesses everything about how I came to possess this aphrodisiac.

But Hermes said, "Do not tell anyone that I am here."

Although it was just a verbal agreement, I still didn't dare to break the contract with the gods.

After all, gods and immortals are beings that must be revered.

Faced with Hestia's sub-zero gaze, I felt like a puppet with its strings cut, utterly dejected.

"...What should we do, Goddess Hestia?"

Seeing my ugly state, Lily asked the gods for advice on how to judge the situation.

"...You cannot lie before God, and Bell did not lie."

After a long silence, the goddess Hestia sighed deeply and said this.

I put on a genuinely relieved expression, but the deity immediately became furious again.

"However! I can't forgive you for going to the red-light district! The fact that you were interested in such a filthy place is enough to make me angry!!"

I quickly straightened my back, wanting to tell her that I wasn't interested and that she had misunderstood.

But the sharp eyes of the deity subdued me, and I dared not speak.

"I'm going to make you accept your punishment for the rest of the day, and then reflect on your actions, understand?"

"Yes……"

I lowered my head and answered in a low voice.

The faction (familia) has barely expanded before causing a commotion in the red-light district, setting a terrible example, especially since I'm the leader. The deity is the supreme god who governs the entire organization, and in order to correct the overall atmosphere of the faction, it's necessary to make an example of me—or rather, to punish me in a show of force.

The goddess Hestia displayed the majesty of a chief deity, but still fuming, she turned her back to me and walked out of the living room. A sulking Lily followed behind the goddess.

"I'm so sorry, Lord Bell..."

I was finally freed, and my legs were numb from kneeling for so long when Miss Ming came over.

"It's my own fault for being a stalker. Getting lost in the red-light district is entirely my own fault. No! It's my fault," I said, waving my hands.

"So, are you alright? We were all worried about you!"

Welf also came over and gave me a wry smile.

After getting separated from me last night, Welf and the others seemed to have noticed the commotion of the Amazons from the Ishtar faction chasing the "rabbit" everywhere. Once they were sure the Amazons had lost me, they all retreated, and they also made a quick escape before being spotted by the other side.

I have indeed caused trouble for everyone and made you all worry... I feel extremely guilty.

"I think you understand, but you must listen to the goddess Hestia and not go there again."

"..."

"You must have seen some things you didn't want to see, right?"

Upon hearing Welf's words, I turned my gaze to the floor.

The memory of Miss Haruhime flashed through my mind.

"...By the way, why did Miss Mei and Miss Chigusa end up in the pleasure quarters?"

To change the subject, I asked Miss Ming.

I asked them why they went to the red-light district, and she explained it to me.

"I've heard there's a fox-woman prostitute in the red-light district... I'm looking for that lady."

She said the man looked very much like a long-lost acquaintance from the Far East.

Upon hearing this, I showed a look of astonishment.

I realized that both Miss Mikoto and Miss Haruhime were from the Far East, however…

"Hey! Bell—! No time—!?"

The calls coming from outside the room interrupted my thoughts.

Although I was worried about it, I still went to the immortals' side first.

■

I was punished by being required to do volunteer work.

Simply put, it means greeting your neighbors after moving and helping them with chores.

I state my affiliation and name to help residents on the street resolve their problems and assist with their work.

"I'm so sorry, [Rookie]! You've done me a huge favor!"

“No, no!”

Cleaning alleyways, repairing magic stone streetlights, moving things... I ran around everywhere, helping my neighbors with all sorts of things, and the good-natured uncles and aunties all thanked me.

For families who are accepted and live in the country or city, this social contribution is of great importance. At the very least, it helps to consolidate faith in the main god, and people will remember the appearance of the family members. Gaining the recognition of the neighbors is the first step in starting local life.

We used to live in poverty and didn't have the extra resources to do these things... But treating people in the lower realms with neighborly affection is indeed very much like the personality of the goddess Hestia.

I think this punishment is probably just an excuse.

"It's a 'rising star'—!?"

"It's me—!?"

I was carrying timber and running when a little boy and girl playing on the road pointed at me.

I realized how powerful the war game was; even such young children remembered my nickname, and... well, how should I put it, they looked at me with sparkling eyes.

What should I do... I'm so happy.

Having worked up a sweat from the heavy lifting, I waved to them shyly, "Haha!"

"So skinny—!"

"Looks so weak—!"

His innocent yet blunt way of speaking made my smile twitch.

In short, the ability to borrow adventurers' power for free without even having to make a request has made me a hot commodity. Everyone wants to use my Level 3 abilities, keeping me constantly on the go.

When I noticed, the volunteer activities had already expanded to the West Street area near the headquarters.

"White-haired head, working hard for the cats, meow!"

"Sorry, adventurer!"

As I passed by the "Abundant Mistress" shop on West Street, Miss Cat People Anya caught up with me and asked me to fix the leak in the roof of another building in the shop.

I was called to climb onto the roof, and Miss Anya and Miss Lunova, a human, spoke to me loudly.

Doing things like this, it's like they've turned into a jack-of-all-trades shop...?

"Oh dear—having this adventurer brother is a huge help!"

"Young man—! Once you fix it, I'll give you a pair of cat underwear, meow—!"

"I don't need that!?"

Miss Chloe, the cat-woman standing next to Miss Lunova, said this, which made me blush and shout.

Miss Elf Liu approached the three of us looking up at me from behind, and without a warning, she smacked them on the back of the head with a tray. "Ugh!?" screams rang out.

The shop assistants' struggles made me sweat, but they still managed to fix the roof with a hammer and planks.

My grandfather's life experience can be helpful even in a small place like this. As I climbed down the ladder, Miss Ryu and Miss Hiel came to comfort me.

"Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Craney. I'm so sorry."

"I'm so sorry to have you help with the shop's chores, Mr. Bell."

"Oh, no, it's okay."

After being apologized to by the two of them, I bowed slightly in acknowledgment, indicating that I was usually the one being taken care of by them.

Miss Ryu narrowed her sky-blue eyes, while Miss Seele smiled, her light gray hair swaying.

"Mr. Bell has become a complete celebrity on the street."

"Is there...?"

"Yes, all the adventurers and residents are talking about Mr. Bell."

Miss Seele told me that I'm now in high demand.

According to her, for a long time after the war game ended, you could hear my name every day in the tavern.

I remember something similar happened when I leveled up to Lv. 2... But thinking about the reactions of the two kids just now, I have some real feelings about it, so I feel especially embarrassed.

Seeing me scratch my cheek to look away, Miss Seele chuckled softly.

"Mr. Crannie, please come to our restaurant for lunch."

"Huh! Is that okay?"

Seeing that the conversation had come to an end, Ms. Liu invited me to dine at her restaurant, to which I couldn't help but ask in return.

"Yes, you've fixed the roof for us, and Mia's mother has already agreed—"

Miss Liu suddenly fell silent at this point in her story.

I faced her, within arm's reach, and tilted my head slightly.

"Where does this seem to be...?" I was wondering when I heard her mutter to herself. Miss Seele seemed to notice something and took a step closer to me.

Miss Seele's face was so close to mine that I couldn't help but blush, and she sniffed me.

"This tastes like..."