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

The three of them walked through the suddenly crowded back alley of the bustling district and saw a horse-drawn carriage.

That was the box-shaped carriage that Ryu and Hier had arranged to wait in the alley beforehand.

"Hurry and get into this carriage."

"Huh! But, but..."

"I have instructed the driver to take you to your mother (Miss Karen) and the others. You don't need to worry about anything else."

Ryu and Seele stood in front of the carriage driven by the orc coachman and told Anna that she was the only one who would ride in this carriage.

If Anna is returned to her parents without anyone noticing, and her dress is removed, no one will know she was ever bought by the casino owner. Ryu also threatened the adventurers who kidnapped Anna, forbidding them from making a fuss. In this way, she can live a normal life.

Looking at the open carriage door, the beautiful young woman seemed quite hesitant, her hands clasped over her chest.

Then, as if she had made up her mind, she took a step toward Ryu.

"Um! I completely understand that you deeply love your wife! And I know that what I'm about to say will only cause you trouble! But... even so! For you who stood up for me, I truly...!"

Ryu kept blinking.

Seele opened her eyes in surprise.

Anna gazed at Ryu with tender affection, like a "girl in love".

The next instant, Ryu felt her cheek twitch slightly.

The girl in front of me, with her gentle and tender eyes, seemed to have some misunderstanding about Ryu.

And it was a huge misunderstanding.

"I've truly fallen in love—"

"Please wait a moment."

"what?"

You've misunderstood something.

Liu understood that her voice at that moment was as if she was trying to suppress the absurd emotions in her heart, and then she took off her blindfold.

At the same time, she forcefully messed up her hair, which she had styled neatly for the costume change.

Having changed back to her usual hairstyle, Ryu spoke to the speechless Anna:

"I am a woman just like you."

Anna was instantly stunned.

As if time had stopped, she then let out a loud scream.

"Eh, eh ...

This pitiful cry echoed through the alley.

The knight who risked his life to save her was actually a beautiful woman disguised as a man, and was indeed of the same sex as her.

The romantic love story that made the young girl blush and her heart race was completely shattered in that instant.

Anna, looking utterly dejected—or rather, with teary eyes—stood unsteadily in the box-shaped carriage, a gait that made Liu worry.

With the neighing of the horses, the wheels began to turn, and the heartbroken girl rode away in the carriage.

"..."

"Heh, heh heh...!"

In the alleyway where a dry evening breeze was blowing, Liu pouted helplessly.

Standing to the side with her back to Ryu, Hier covered her mouth with both hands, her shoulders shaking uncontrollably.

Ryu glared at the girl who was trying to suppress her laughter—who was also the one who had suggested that she dress as a boy.

○

"Something's happened at the big casino! Those nobles are screaming and yelling in terror!"

"I heard that the vault there was vandalized and a large sum of money was stolen!"

On the south side of Ora, the archway leading to the casino area was packed with people.

Upon hearing the news, adventurers and citizens in the bustling area rushed to see what was happening. The embellished rumors sparked a lively discussion among the crowd. Ryu stood at the dimly lit alley entrance, gazing at the vibrant streetscape illuminated by red, blue, and yellow magic stone lights.

Seele wasn't there at the moment. She said, "I'm going to pick up my clothes that I left elsewhere," and then they went their separate ways. Since wearing a formal dress on her way home would attract too much attention, she had to go to the store where she had left her casual clothes first.

The shop is nearby, you can wait for me here for a bit—Seele left alone so that Ryu, who had been fighting all along, could rest a little.

"..."

Ryu hid in the shadows of the alley, secretly observing the movements of the casino. Looking around, he could see guild members entering the casino one after another. Presumably, they were there to arrest Ted and his men.

Now that things have come to this point, there's no need for me to intervene anymore; this incident will inevitably come to an end.

Just as Ryu was thinking this and preparing to breathe a sigh of relief—

(That's... Mr. Craney.)

She saw Bell and Mordo being restrained and driven out of the casino area by the Ganesha Familia and casino staff.

Modo and the others, who had fallen to the ground, immediately rushed forward to grab Bell. As for the boy who was being grabbed by the collar and shaken back and forth, he seemed to be desperately apologizing to the others. The surrounding crowd, who had gathered to watch the spectacle, observed them with curiosity.

(By the way, it also caused them a lot of trouble...)

The thought that these people had been dragged into this mess because of her made Ryu feel incredibly guilty. She watched as Modo and the others shed tears of heartbreak, and Bell kept bowing and apologizing.

In an instant, Bell, like a rabbit with extremely keen eyesight, turned and met Ryu's gaze.

Both of them looked quite taken aback. Bell glanced around briefly, and when no one was looking, he quickly walked into the alley where Ryu was.

"Miss Ryu! Thankfully you are safe and sound."

"Yes, thanks to you all. By the way, are you all alright?"

"We're all alright. By the way... Miss Ryu, after that..."

"Everything has been settled. Even the initial goals have been successfully achieved."

Bell, unaware of why Ryu and the others had infiltrated the casino, didn't press for details. He simply replied, "That's great," with a relieved smile on his face.

"Mr. Crannie, thank you so much for your help; it has been a great assistance. Also, I am truly sorry for getting you involved..."

"No, no, after all, I'm always so grateful for the care you all give me, Miss Ryu..."

"To be honest, I also caused trouble for Modo and the others."

"Mr. Modo and the others, um... ah, hahahaha."

The two looked at Modo and the others, who were still shedding tears.

Bell, who couldn't help but let out a dry laugh, seemed to suddenly notice something and asked Ryu timidly.

"Um, Ms. Ryu, what's wrong with you today? You seem... different from usual..."

Ryu was somewhat surprised by Bell's hesitant and stammering manner of speaking.

Speaking of Liu's expression at this moment, although it couldn't be described as full of sorrow, she was definitely thinking about something.

"Ryu, you look so handsome, it's no wonder you're popular with girls."

—This is what Seele, who is not here at the moment, just said to Ryu.

When Ryu finally stopped laughing and looked at her with a beaming smile, she couldn't help but sigh.

"...It doesn't matter. I've known from the beginning that I'm not as charming as you, Seele."

"That's not true."

Seele seemed to be reflecting on her overreaction and had a wry smile on her face, but when Ryu thought back to herself at that time, she probably had a sour face.

To put it bluntly, it's because Liu is bothered by Anna's mistaken belief that she is a man.

Ryu had no intention of loudly proclaiming herself as a young girl. This was evident in her inflexible, elven-like aloofness, and her habitually upright and graceful movements. Compared to Seele, who had captivated Belle in the grand casino and possessed an endearing charm, Ryu understood that she and Seele formed a stark contrast.

However, Ryu doesn't actually like being mistaken for a man.

Moreover, she never expected that she would hold such a grudge, to the point that the boy noticed something was wrong with her expression.

Liu remained silent for the time being, just standing there.

Then, through the suit jacket she was wearing, she placed her hand on her thin chest.

"Mr. Crannie..."

Finally, Liu unconsciously opened her lips.

"...Don't I look like a woman?"

The moment she blurted out those words, she immediately came to her senses.

Bell, who was spying on Ryu, blinked his eyes.

—What am I even saying?! Am I going crazy?!

Liu could feel a surge of heat instantly gather on both sides of her cheeks.

Feeling deeply ashamed of the words she had blurted out, she quickly corrected herself:

"Mr. Crannie, that last sentence—"

"Um, Miss Ryu, you..."

However, Bell answered first.

"So strong and powerful, and so handsome that even I, as a guy, am envious..."

Bell carefully chose the right words and stammered as he spoke to Ryu, who had stopped moving:

"And you are very gentle and considerate, and you always stand tall with dignity... Also, um... although Miss Seele is very cute, but... I would also like to see what you look like in a dress, Miss Ryu."

A pair of sky-blue eyes opened.

"...I think you are a beautiful woman who makes me feel this way."

By the end, Bell's voice was barely audible, and his ears were completely red.

Ryu felt a heat on her cheeks that was different from before.

The throbbing in my chest was mixed with a slight tremor that felt almost sweet.

The boy, who was awkwardly praising Ryu and behaving in a bashful manner, was unaware of Ryu's strange behavior. He kept looking around, his white hair swaying gently with his movements.

Seeing the boy's comical appearance, Ryu, having calmed down, narrowed her eyes slightly and said in a dumbfounded tone:

Do you often say similar things to women?

"Huh!? No, no, that's not true! Grandpa did tell me that if you want to cheer a woman up, you have to praise her until she smiles!! Ah~ well, but what I just said wasn't just polite talk! It was what I really felt—uh, waa ...

Bell tried desperately to explain, but ended up revealing embarrassing truths that dug his own grave, leaving him in a state of distress.

Upon seeing this, Liu quietly smiled to herself.

Those previous minor grudges have vanished without a trace. In their place, a very gentle emotion, known as happiness, surrounds my chest. It feels as if I'm in a sunny forest.

Liu closed her eyes, silently expressing her gratitude while temporarily surrendering herself to this emotion.

"Mr. Crannie."

"Ah, yes."

Ryu shifted her gaze toward the main street.

Just as Bell looked up, Ryu, whose gaze was still fixed on the bustling area, uttered a sentence.

"Recently, I've been doing my morning meditation in the bar's courtyard."

"...?"

"If you don't mind...would you like to join us?"

Ryu didn't look at Bell, but she could sense his shock.

After a brief pause, the boy answered with delight.

"Okay, please let me join too!"

Liu raised the corners of her mouth.

Her left hand, which moved involuntarily, gently rested on her chest.