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

"Bell Crane, [Hestia Familia]".

Reflected in the crystal were white hair and deep red eyes.

Upon hearing this information, the old man narrowed his pale eyes.

"A rookie adventurer (rising star) who stirs up the city's bustle... Is he the one the heartthrob (Hermes) has his eye on?"

"What should we do, Uranus?"

"...Let's wait and see."

When asked for instructions by the man in black, the old god quietly closed his eyes, then opened his eyelids and answered.

"Is this a good thing? The Hestia Familia is receiving excessive attention from the city, both for its strengths and weaknesses. If something goes wrong, we might regret it..."

"He is a member of the goddess's (Hestia's) retinue, and could not possibly be one of the hunters we are currently tracking. More importantly..."

God's eyes were fixed on the crystal placed on the pedestal—the face of a young boy emerging from its depths.

"I want to find out what changes the goddess's (Hestia's) retinue can bring... whether it can become silence," the man in black nodded.

"I understand, Uranus, I will obey your will."

The torch crackled and exploded with sparks.

"Send out 'spies' to monitor Bell Craney and the monster girl."

"it is good."

In the quiet stone hall.

With a flick of his black robe, the figure disappeared into the depths of darkness.

Volume 9, Chapter 2: The Dragon Girl's Daily Life in Cohabitation

We didn't return to the surface until almost midnight.

Lily was right. The Tower of Babel was now deserted. We blended into the darkness, left the central square, and headed towards headquarters via back alleys and other sparsely populated roads.

The bustling tavern and the passersby—the overwhelming noise and lights of the entire city startled the dragon girl several times, but we arrived safely at the "Stove House".

"Lord Bell, please wait here. Lily, please ask Mihe and the others to go back first."

Lily and the others told me and the dragon girl to wait near the back gate of the base camp (headquarters) before entering the mansion.

Today, while we were exploring the dungeon, the Mih Familia kindly stayed behind to guard the manor for us. Putting aside the gods (the Mih), if Chienthrope Naza, new member Daphne, and Cassandra saw this girl—just like Lily and the others had before—it would definitely cause a commotion. Although they're from the close-knit faction, Lily and Welf still think it's better not to let others know of her existence, and I've followed their advice.

She held me tightly through her fire-element protective garment, and the two of us hid in a dark hiding place... After a while, we noticed that Mihe and the others had returned from the main gate.

Not long after, Miss Ming and Miss Chunji ran out the back door to pick us up.

"Lord Bell, regarding the matter of explaining to the goddess Hestia..."

"...Let me do it, please let me do it."

"Is everything alright...?"

As we crossed the iron fence and traversed the backyard, Miss Megumi and Miss Haruhime spoke to me with concern.

The girls beside me, including Miss Ming, kept a step's distance from her. I thought to myself that this was the trouble I had caused, and I made up my mind. With a trembling heart, I tightened my grip on the dragon girl's hand, whose leg had almost naturally healed—a clear sign of being a "monster."

"Hi, you guys are back!"

Then, as soon as we entered the living room of the mansion, the deity greeted us with his usual smile.

"But speaking of which, Bell, what happened to you? You came back through the back door alone? Mich and the others have already gone back. And that child is—"

The immortal tilted his head in confusion, then abruptly stopped speaking halfway through.

Welf and all the other family members pursed our lips, and as we tensed up, she opened her blue eyes wide.

The immortals only gazed at her beside me, her body concealed by a long robe, as if time had stopped.

"—Bell, what's that?"

The deity's expression suddenly sharpened; instead of asking "who" it was, he asked me what it was.

Although I was shocked, I still silently lifted the hood of her coat.

Her skin was fair with a bluish tinge, her eyes were amber, and then there was a red stone set on her forehead, like a garnet.

Upon seeing the alien girl reveal her monstrous appearance, the goddess Hestia gasped.

Seeing the fairy who was smaller than herself, the dragon girl became frightened and wrapped her slender arms around my body.

"...Tell me what happened."

Under the watchful eyes of his family, the deity exhaled deeply and spoke solemnly.

In the living room, I told the gods the whole story.

Lily and Welf sat around the round table, each in their own chair, and I sat beside her. The fairy listened to my explanation with a solemn expression, remaining silent throughout.

"...What do you intend to do, Goddess Hestia?"

Having said that the matter was almost settled, Lily consulted the deity for a judgment on the matter as a faction (familia).

The dragon girl clung to my right arm, refusing to let go. The immortal crossed his arms and fell into deep thought, finally slowly opening his closed eyelids.

"...Don't tell anyone about this. Let's observe for a while first."

The deity looked around at our faces and the alien girl's, and said this.

"To be frank, I don't really know how to deal with this situation. I never imagined something like this would happen..."

She became timid under their gaze; the deity simply stared intently at her.

A talking monster, a "monster" that defies its original appearance.

Upon hearing the deity confess that this was also an "unknown" matter to the omniscient god, Lily and Welf both displayed the same stiff expression.

"I understand that monsters are the inhabitants of the lower realm... your enemies... beings that must be fought. But she is so afraid, I simply cannot abandon her."

"So……!"

"Well, let's protect this girl for a while."

The goddess who shelters petitioners is merciful.

Seeing the gods' compassionate hearts, their willingness to extend a helping hand and bestow kindness upon any orphan, I felt truly relieved. Upon hearing the Supreme God's decision, some of Lily and the others sighed, while others smiled bitterly, each displaying different expressions, but none of them raised any objections.

The immortal stepped down from his chair and walked slowly to the dragon girl. He could not hide his complex emotions, but he smiled gently.

Do you have a name?

"……name?"

When the deity asked her a question, she leaned even closer to me, her face filled with disbelief.

"...Bell?"

"No, that's my name..."

Seeing her tilt her head slightly, her long, silvery-blue hair swaying, I broke out in a sweat.

"My name?...I don't know."

Hearing the stuttering language—the first time she'd heard it clearly—Lily and the others gasped in surprise again, her gaze falling on the floor.

It seems she really doesn't have a name.

"Vivel" is the name given to the monster by humans; she does not have her own name.

Seeing that she had no parents or friends, and was all alone in the vast maze, I could already guess...

"Bell, why don't you come and get it?"

"Huh? What!?"

"Oh, yes, Welf is right. Saying she was found is a bit much. Anyway, this girl was rescued by Bell, so you should name her."

W-How could this be...!?

Starting with Welf and the fairy's remarks, Lily, Miss Mikoto, and Miss Haruhime all adopted a "it's up to you" attitude and remained silent.

Seeing my flustered and bewildered state, Welf and the others were already teasing me, while the dragon girl looked completely stunned. The responsibility... it's so heavy! I actually have to give her a name that will stay with her for life!

How could things have turned out like this? My mind was in complete turmoil. I looked back at the amber eyes staring intently at me beside me, racking my brains.

Vivier, dragon, girl, gemstone, garnet, blue and silver, amber eyes...

I've listed all the obvious physical features—but I still can't think of anything!

I was sweating profusely, dizzy and racking my brains. After thinking for a long time, until everyone impatiently shouted "Hurry up!", I finally opened my trembling mouth.

"Wei... 'Wei Liuxinni'?"

Hearing this unusually grand name, which didn't sound like something I'd imagined, the immortals all tilted their heads. "Hmm?"

"Um, Lord Bell... could that name be that of the fairy from the Heroic Tale...?"

Oops... I've been caught.

Miss Haruhime, who, like me, enjoys reading storybooks, immediately recognized that the name was taken from the Tale of Heroes.

The story of *Melusine*, featuring a celestial being with wings of light, tells of a lux who falls in love with the hero who helps her. Disguised as a human, she hopes to marry him. She tells the hero not to peep at her while she bathes, but he breaks his promise and sees the lux's true form with her wings spread… Later, the two are separated for a time, but join forces to defeat a dragon wreaking havoc in the town.

My favorite childhood story of an unusual marriage (Me1usine), combined with the dragon girl (Vivel)...Vivel-Sine.

Isn't that too casual?

"For Lord Bell, well, Lily thinks it's a very good name, even if it's a bit pretentious."

"But it's very long, and it's also very pretentious."

"Hmm~, let's shorten it and call her Winnie! That sounds less pretentious!"

"Oh, that's a great idea, Goddess Hestia, it'll be less pretentious that way."

The explanations given by Lily, Welf, Fairy, and Miss Fate were completely incomprehensible, and the shooting incident left me feeling dejected.

Miss Ming suddenly came to her senses, and the flustered Miss Chunji also said, "This concubine, this concubine thinks that Wei Liuxinni is also a good name!" to comfort me. The gentleness of the two elders really touched my heart.

However, "Winnie"... seems like that name is indeed better, doesn't it?

"Winnie...? My name?"

"Uh, um, do you like it?"

She hugged my arm and asked me in a naive tone, and I asked her for confirmation.

Upon hearing this, the dragon girl smiled quietly.

"Winnie... My name is Winnie."

Upon seeing her—no, Winnie beamed with joy, captivating everyone's attention, even the gods.

Her beautiful face radiated a pure and innocent smile.

Transcending racial barriers and the divide between humans and "monsters," we were truly captivated by this alien girl.

"Bell, Bell."

Winnie seemed to express her joy as she released my arm and rubbed her cheek against my bare chest.

My arm moved on its own, supporting her body, and I forgot to speak.

Warm emotions surfaced and disappeared deep within my heart.

"……uh-huh!"

The deity who had been silently watching us coughed and spoke as if starting over:

"Alright, let's start again—nice to meet you, Winnie! My name is Hestia, and I'm Bell's fairy! From today onwards, you'll be living with us. Nice to meet you!"

The deity stood tall and proud before us, speaking loudly with boundless energy.

Seeing Hestia reach out with a beaming smile, Winnie glanced at her from my arms.

"...Bell's, a god?"

She murmured softly, and after a brief moment of eye contact with the fairy, she immediately buried her face back in my chest.

"Oh dear!" Goddess Hestia's hand drooped in disappointment as no one held it. It seemed that even a deity could not easily break down her defenses. Miss Chunji and I couldn't help but smile wryly.

"...Let's not talk about that now. How long are you going to keep hugging her, Lord Bell? Even if she's a monster, being hugged by a woman makes you this happy?"

“Eh!”