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

"Waaaaah..."

As for Bell, he was completely slumped over, leaning against the roadside wall as if he were about to sink into it, barely clinging to life. His body, burdened by the shadowy figure, looked as if his soul might leave his body at any moment.

"Hmm~..."

Tiona glanced at Bell, who was leaning against the wall and thrown down, and Ais, who was keeping her head down and not saying a word.

As if she had made up her mind, she left Ais's back and jogged lightly toward the boy who was waiting at the back of the group.

"Hey, little Argonaut, what's up with me?"

"Yes……"

"You really didn't go out partying in the red-light district?"

Tiona asked the boy a question while staring at the heartbroken back of his head, and the boy suddenly stood up and jumped up!

"I didn't seek pleasure or have any fun! How could I dare to do that! I really didn't do anything!!"

"Swear an oath to the Lord God?"

"I swear to the goddess Hestia!!"

Seeing Bell nod frantically with his eyes closed, Tiona said, "Mmm." with her arms crossed.

He even dared to swear in the name of the supreme god, so it really doesn't seem like he's lying.

"Then why would you go to a place like the red-light district? You've got the wrong person, haven't you?"

"Someone who just joined our faction went to the red-light district by themselves... I was worried, so I went after them with Lily and the others... But halfway through, I got separated from the others... Waaah..."

"And what does this musky scent smell like?"

"This, this is... I was kidnapped by Amazonian prostitutes..."

"Huh?" Tiona's eyes turned into two dots.

"You weren't forcibly dragged to a brothel... or something, were you?"

"……yes."

"Are you...are you alright? Were you eaten?"

It's not that Diona is inherently unconventional; Amazons are naturally greedy for the opposite sex, practically carnivorous. They can't help but lick their lips when they see a man stronger than themselves or someone they fancy. Her sister, Dione—the captain of the "target-only" guild—also launches fierce courtship attacks.

Tiona only started to seriously worry about the rabbit's chastity now, and as a result, the light in Bell's eyes disappeared.

"I'm fine, it's just..."

"Just...only?"

"...Girls are so scary! Girls are so scary! Amazonians are so scary! Amazonians are so scary! Frogs are so scary...!!"

Perhaps recalling the nightmarish escape scene, Bell hugged himself tightly and began to tremble uncontrollably.

Seeing his unusual appearance, Tiona couldn't help but take a step back and covered her face with one hand.

It seems that Tiona's clansmen have left a scar on the boy's heart.

At the same time, Tiona also realized that the boy was telling the truth.

"Yes, I understand. I believe what the little hero Argo said."

“…Huh?”

"I may be stupid, but I know that the little hero Argo is not lying."

After all, everyone saw how you looked. Tiona scratched her cheek and smiled at the dumbfounded Bell.

"Leave it to me, I'll help you clear up the misunderstanding with Ais and everyone else!"

"Miss Tiona~...!"

"Hehe~, wait for me a moment!"

Seeing that the boy was not just a figure of speech but genuinely moved to tears, Tiona felt a surge of pride and ran briskly towards everyone again.

Tiona was pleased to receive Bell's thanks, she admitted, and felt a pleasant feeling, beaming with joy.

Tiona really likes the girl (Ais). Although they've only had a brief interaction, she also quite likes the boy (Bell).

Tiona was unhappy about the awkward atmosphere between the two people she liked, and the reason she couldn't stand it and took action was precisely because of this.

"Ais! The little hero Argonauts says he didn't go out partying in the red-light district!"

“…Huh?”

"It seems like there's more to the story!"

Tiona launched her first attack on Ais.

Ais was hugged from behind again and blinked repeatedly.

The Amazonian girl explained it to her carefully.

"...Kidnapped by Amazons...and chased after?"

"Aren't there barbelas from the Ishtar Familia there? Argo is famous in the War Games, that must be why they've targeted him."

"..."

After hearing Tiona's explanation, Ais fell into deep thought.

Looking back, Bell was at the very end of the group, looking like a defendant awaiting sentencing.

"Tiona, I..."

"Okay, go ahead!"

Ais said "I'm sorry" and slowed down her pace.

The other members all walked ahead of Ais, but she pretended to be nonchalant and quickly moved to the very back.

"Miss Ais..."

"..."

Bell tensed up when he saw Ais come to his side.

Ais, who was not good with words, was also troubled, not knowing how to start the conversation or what to say.

Ais glanced left and right several times, hesitated for a long time, and finally made up her mind to speak:

"I heard it from Tiona... really?"

"Really, really!"

Bell stood still, his golden eyes fixed on Bell's deep red pupils.

Like Tiona, Ais also felt that Bell wasn't lying.

The feeling of unease disappeared, replaced by a sense of peace.

Ais stopped and gazed at Bell, feeling a sense of relief.

Immediately afterwards, I felt a pang of guilt.

"...Uh, that..."

"?"

"Sorry, oh?"

I misunderstood you. Ais's eyelashes fluttered, and her gaze lowered.

For some reason, she was hit hard, and for some reason, she couldn't listen to his explanation properly, which made Ais feel very embarrassed.

When Bell heard her apologize like that, her eyes widened, and she quickly waved her hand in denial.

"No, no!? I should say that being misunderstood is unavoidable, or rather, I'm overjoyed that you're willing to believe me! ... So, um... please don't take it to heart."

"……Thanks."

The boy was thinking of others even at a time like this, and his kindness made Ais feel guilty again, so she narrowed her eyes.

Seeing her faint smile, Bell couldn't help but blush.

"Have they done anything inappropriate to you?"

"Thank goodness, it's alright... I barely escaped a disaster."

"Is that so..."

"Uh, that...?"

Ais touched her head of white hair.

Belle's face was still flushed, and she blinked and twisted her body, but Ais continued to touch her as if she were coaxing a child.

It's like that feeling of a runaway rabbit (pet) coming back to you.

The younger version of herself (Ais) rubbed her cheek against the white fur ball, and a smile appeared on Ais's cheeks.

She smiled at Bell, who, though confused, was finally relieved.

"Mmm, mmm mmm..."

As for Lefia, seeing the two of them like this, she groaned with mixed feelings.

Meanwhile, Tiona was still explaining to the group members to clear up the misunderstanding, while Lefia felt guilty.

(I said such hurtful things, I should apologize... But it's understandable that there would be a misunderstanding after what I just said! No, it's all my fault, I didn't listen to their explanation... Oh dear!)

Lefia's various impressions of the boy prevented her from being honest with him, but she still made up her mind to take a step towards Bell and the others.

Seeing her go to apologize—a fellow elf who dared to admit her mistakes—Philwis smiled secretly.

She kept smiling, closed her eyes, and followed behind Lefia, preparing to apologize.

"Excuse me, excuse me!"

"Ah, Miss Rafia..."

"Uh, well, just now..."

Bell interrupted his conversation with Ais and turned around.

Lefia avoided eye contact with him and stammered, but decided to be frank and apologize.

Just then, something rolled out.

An item fell from Bell's pouch and landed on the stone floor.

"……?This is……"

It is a transparent container that looks somewhat like a chess piece, and it contains a red solution.

Lefia had never seen this potion before and thought it might be some kind of prop. Just as she was about to pick it up, Bell snatched it away at supersonic speed.

"This, this is, that... Ah, ahahahahaha!"

Lefia stood frozen in place, while Bell hid the medicine with both hands and began to give an unnatural, fake laugh.

He was probably trying to cover up the past, but the boy's lying skills were really too poor.

—Very suspicious.

In an instant, Lefia's eyebrows shot up.

"Wait a minute, what are you hiding?"

"N-No! This is...!? It's not mine, or rather, someone entrusted it to me for safekeeping, or maybe someone forced it on me! Anyway, there's a really frustrating reason...!!"

Bel was sweating profusely and rambling incoherently, which only fueled Rafia's suspicions.

Just as she was about to press for the truth, Phil Weiss whispered beside her:

"Aphrodisiacs..."

In an instant, time stood still.

Ais was one of them, as was Lefia, and even Tiona, who had been watching the whole thing with a smile, was one of them.

Silence descends on the dark night road, and a bead of sweat slides down the boy's pale cheek.

Following the musk incident, Philweis looked at the boy with an absolute zero gaze and dropped another bombshell.

"W-what~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~!?"