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

Of course, it's impossible to see through someone's character when you meet them for the first time.

But Ryu's hands unconditionally accepted Seele's warmth. It was as if she could feel Seele's compassion—or perhaps it was what brought about this fateful encounter.

This situation is just like when I first met that friend (Alicie).

This fact forced Ryu, who was planning to leave the bar, to stop.

The second "special person" she met in her life deeply moved her, forcing her to care about him.

"Have you gotten used to working in the store yet?"

Ryu, who was glancing sideways at the other person, was startled by Seele's question.

Ryu was unusually flustered, but to hide his surprise, he continued to answer fluently:

"It's alright... but... I still make mistakes quite often. After all, I can't always get it right like you..."

"That's not true."

After hearing this, Seele shook her head with a wry smile.

"I used to make mistakes all the time... no, maybe even worse than you."

"...You?"

"Yes, when I was hired to work at this bar..."

Seeing Liu's bewildered expression, Xi'er stopped washing the dishes and began to talk eloquently.

"Although I felt that 'this should be about right,' I ended up breaking a lot of dishes, burning food frequently, and even buying the wrong ingredients... I always made Mia's mother angry."

"...It's unbelievable."

Liu was greatly surprised, but she was deeply attracted by Seele's personal experience.

According to Ryu's observation, Seele was more suited to working in a bar than anyone else.

"I wish it were all a dream, but it's all true. I'm still not good at cooking."

Seele's cheeks flushed red, as if she felt quite embarrassed from the bottom of her heart, and she even used the plate in her hand to cover the lower half of her face.

"When I get home, I always collapse onto the bed, rolling around and wailing, 'I hate it~ I hate it~'"

After hearing this, Liu couldn't help but chuckle.

Her lips parted slightly.

She thus learned of the unexpected side of the girl before her.

"—You finally smiled."

"?"

"Ryu, you haven't smiled since then. You look like you're troubled by something."

Seeing Seele's gentle, curved pale silver eyes, Ryu finally came to her senses.

She immediately covered her mouth with one hand and looked at the girl awkwardly.

Seele simply chuckled innocently.

(She's always smiling...)

Looking at Xi'er, who always greeted people with a smile, Liu's annoyance gradually dissipated, and then she recalled how this situation had often occurred.

Although it was nosy for Ryu, the girl always took good care of her. Not only did she help with the workload, but if you really want to get to the bottom of it, it was also because of Seele's help that Ryu got a job at this bar. This gave the homeless Ryu a place to shelter from the wind and rain.

Ever since Ryu collapsed alone in that alley, Seele has been selflessly helping him.

"I……"

"?"

"I really can't see through you."

Liu looked directly at Xi'er, who had turned her head away, and continued speaking.

"Why do you care about me so much... Why do you take such good care of me?"

She voiced the question that had been buried in her heart for a long time.

Seele, her smile fading, locked eyes with Ryu's.

The sounds of staff bustling about, cooking emanating from the kitchen, customers gossiping and chatting, and the noise from the bar were all constant.

After silently watching Ryu for a while, Seele smiled at him.

"Ryu, would you mind coming for a walk with me?"

Walk a short distance down the alley from the back door of "The Abundant Mistress".

After turning several corners, climbing countless steps, and passing through arches and small tunnels, a building comes into view.

It was a sparsely populated sanctuary, one of the few churches in the city's seventh district that was largely ignored.

Ryu was taken to the top floor of this place by Xier.

The moment you step through the door, you are immediately surrounded by dazzling sunlight, and the peaceful and tranquil street scene unfolds before your eyes.

"Yes, it's a beautiful day today!"

The azure sky seemed within reach.

Seele cheered as she looked up at the clear, cloudless sky.

"Is it really okay to leave the shop like this without permission? Doing something like this will just get me a scolding from that dwarf shopkeeper..."

"We work so hard all the time, it's okay to slack off a little."

When faced with Ryu's question, Seele smiled like a mischievous child.

It was only recently that Ryu realized that although Seele was quite capable, she could be quite lazy at times.

Like an elusive gust of wind.

"...So, why did you bring me here?"

"This is my favorite place, and I wanted to share it with you."

The top floor of this temple is one or two stories higher than the surrounding buildings, so it offers a great view.

Whether it's the central square in the distance or the bustling area that's still closed for the day, you can see everything at a glance.

No wonder this is Seele's favorite place.

(By the way, speaking of Alexandra...)

This confidant also enjoys standing at a high place.

They used to climb onto the roof and, surrounded by the beautiful blue sky, share their dreams for the future.

but.

This beautiful sky, as seen through Ryu's eyes at this moment—

(It has already lost its luster.)

It wasn't just the sky; everything lost its luster.

Unable to shake off the emptiness in her heart, this state of mind caused everything she saw to turn gray.

Liu involuntarily lowered her head, her light green hair swaying with her movements.

"The height cannot exceed this point, nor can it be lower. This place allows one to feel the vitality of the residents and to have a panoramic view of Orario... It is a unique location."

Whether Seele noticed Ryu's mood or not, she chatted eloquently while admiring the beautiful scenery before her.

"Just by standing here, you can feel the mood of this town right now."

"...The mood of the town?"

"Hmm, watching the pedestrians walk with their heads held high, the carriages moving about on the main road with great enthusiasm, and listening to the adventurers bickering and the children laughing."

With her back to Ryu, who had raised her head, Seele continued speaking.

"Until several years ago, Orario was always filled with sadness and lived in constant fear..."

"..."

This was during Orario's "Dark Age." The "evil forces," led by the dark faction, rose to power, bringing chaos and fear to the city.

Bloodshed erupts everywhere, buildings are repeatedly destroyed, and many civilians, in addition to adventurers, have also perished as a result.

Even Ryu, who was once at the forefront of the battle between good and evil, feels heavy-hearted when he thinks about how some residents still live in fear.

This made her feel ashamed of her previous acts of revenge and gave her an urge to apologize to these people.

"But things have been different lately."

"what?"

"The town began to smile, becoming filled with joy and happiness."

Seele turned to look at the dumbfounded Liu.

Then he began to speak:

"This is all thanks to Ryu and the others' hard work, right?"

"──"

Faced with Seele's smile, Ryu was completely speechless.

"The Ganesha Familia, the Loki Familia, the Freya Familia... and the Astrea Familia, along with countless other adventurers... have fought tirelessly to protect this town, persevering even when covered in wounds."

Many members of the clan stood up to resist the "evil forces."

Despite their differing opinions, they rose up to resist the apostles of the evil god and tried to dispel the darkness that shrouded Orario.

Ryu's Astrea Familia also raises the banner of justice and fights for the smiles of people.

At this point, the "evil forces" were on their last legs.

The one who delivered the fatal blow was undoubtedly Ryu.

"Thanks to Ryu and everyone else, this city has been able to return to peace. So, you who have put so much effort into this, you should also find your own happiness."

“──!”

"If Ryu, who has worked the hardest, cannot find happiness... I will be very sad."

"No...you're wrong!"

After hearing Seele's words, Ryu couldn't help but loudly retort.

"Because my comrades were brutally murdered, I am not fighting for peace! Those actions cannot be called justice!! I caused chaos everywhere out of personal grudges in order to avenge my comrades...!"

Ultimately, Ryu was placed on the blacklist, which even drew hatred and hostility from many people.

Ryu insisted that he would never let any suspect go, and that wherever he went, there would be reports of casualties. Xi'er, however, simply smiled in response.

"But the adventurers who frequent the bar all say... even the gods say that 'Orario will be reborn.'"

After hearing Seele say "Look," Ryu looked in the direction she was pointing and saw a street performance taking place at the corner of the intersection below. There was also a bard singing a song in a corner of the street, praising the brave adventurers who fought for Orario.

Back in the day, when "evil forces" were rampant and public order was in disarray, there would have been absolutely no chance of witnessing such a scene.

Liu was speechless on the spot.

Those were things that Ryu ignored when she was tormented by the fires of revenge.

It is also something she has never discovered, lamenting the loss of her close friends and companions and feeling that she has nothing left.

This is the legacy left behind by confidantes (Alicie) and others, representing the fruits of justice.

It was also accomplished by Ryu, at the cost of his friend's life.

"Then, shall I speak for the others?"

Shel smiled as she looked at Ryu, who was speechless.

"Thank you for fighting for us."

Upon hearing this sentence—

A single tear silently fell from Ryu's eyes.

"Everyone can smile now."