Full Princess Panic!

The sun is reaching its peak in the sky.

A lot has happened, but I safely completed the first half of the plan.

Syr made a lunch for us, and we're sitting on a small bench away from the flow of

people, resting in the shade of a tree as the leaves rustle in the breeze.

It's a light meal, probably out of consideration for the fact that we're going to end up

eating more snacks while walking around the festival. But even so, it's clear she had

gone all out. The meat and fried egg have a new, never-before-made seasoning, and I

use every bit of the iron determination Master poured into me to say, "It's delicious!"

with a beaming smile, which causes Syr to sulk a bit. I guess she can tell I forced myself

to say that.

I immediately apologize, but then she starts giggling.

"Why does my cooking always end up coming out so oddly?"

"So you knew…"

"Of course. Even though you always try to hide it when I ask."

"Erk."

"I really do rack my brain to come up with ideas, though."

When we finish, Syr picks up her now-almost-empty handbag and we start walking

together.

At this point, I've gotten over my reluctance at holding hands for the most part. It's

still really embarrassing to look her in the eye, but the warmth I can feel in my hand is

almost reassuring. I guess it's sort of like my heart is at ease?

Anyway, we keep going until we reach Central Park.

The largest open space in the city is filled with more people than I have ever seen in

one spot before.

"There are the altars… The Towers of Plenty."

These four structures that had been erected for the festival have swarms of visitors—

or rather worshippers—gathering around each one.

Demeter and the other goddesses are atop them.

"The goddesses of the harvest stand on the altars, right?"

"That's right. As the symbols of the festival, they receive offerings and are worshipped

by the people."

A huge mass keeps crowding around the stone towers.

Each of them is waiting their turn to place a flower at the base of the closest altar and

offer up their thanks to the goddess above.

Ah, so this is what genuine worship looks like.

Respectfully offering their thanks to the deities who embody the harvest season. This

is the original purpose of traditional harvest festivals of yore.

"The Goddess Festival lasts for three days, and there are so many people who come at

one point or another, so the goddesses sit up on those altars for them."

"Whoa, the whole time…?"

Apparently, they alternate and take turns, so it isn't like they are all present for the

entire duration of the festival, but for the first day at least, all four of them are up on

the altars.

I guess that just goes to show how many people gather to honor the goddesses.

Demeter is simply standing there smiling as she waves to the people, drawing cheers

from travelers and residents of the city alike, but some of the other goddesses are

already looking groggy. Just hanging limply over the handrail like laundry set out to

dry.

Still, the cheers coming from the worshippers haven't died down at all. It's amazing. If

anything, the crowds seem to be enjoying the familiar scene, like this happens every

year…

"Apparently, this year is a bit of an improvement."

"Eh? How so?"

"The truth is, there were five towers last year… but Ishtar returned to the heavens

before this year's festival."

"Ah."

"Ishtar was a free-spirited and beautiful goddess, and it was customary for her to

declare that she was bored and abandon the altar, which always caused a fuss… Also,

she held a grudge against a certain goddess, so there were all sorts of incidents

because of that…"

Ishtar was a goddess of bounty in addition to being a goddess of love.

All of a sudden, I feel a little awkward, since I had been deeply involved in the incident

that spelled the end of Ishtar Familia. I can't honestly pretend it had nothing to do with

me.

But I quickly realize which goddess she must have held a grudge against. The northern

tower where Freya is has just as many worshippers as Demeter's tower to the west.

Maybe even more.

"Lady Freyaaaaa!"

"Thank you for this year's bounty!"

"Please grant thy divine blessing, Goddess!"

"Lady Freyaaaa! It's me! Please marry meeee!"

Even on the far eastern edge of the park, we can still hear the shouts coming from

around her tower.

As a true goddess of beauty, her popularity is unbelievable. The tendency to never

appear in public combined with her reputation as the living incarnation of beauty

have drawn a great many who are willing to endure the press of the crowd simply to

lay eyes on her. I can even see some male gods making a fuss… Ah, there goes one. He's

getting dragged away by some people who look like members of the Guild plus his

familia.

…I wonder if it gets boring being up there…?

The silver-haired goddess is gazing out across the crowd without really looking at

anything in particular as she sits still on a stage the size of a small balcony. Her boaz

attendant stands at her side as she stays seated in a chair that resembles a throne.

She's casually resting her elbow on the armrest and propping her head up.

Even for a goddess, being stuck in Central Park all day like that is probably not all that

fun…

"—Ngh."

Without any warning at all, her silver eyes that had been listlessly scanning the crowd

suddenly focus on us.

This isn't a passing coincidence. She very precisely spotted us in this enormous crowd.

—"I love you."

I remembered the day Ishtar Familia was destroyed.

As the pillar of light pierced the heavens, the goddess who had sent Ishtar back had

smiled at me. And from a far-off place, she had whispered a confession.

That event engraved the silver-haired goddess's existence deep inside me. But her

expression now is totally different from back then.

Where there had once been what I might even dare to call yearning in her eyes, now

there's only indifference… or maybe even a cold lack of interest?

Her silver eyes are looking at me—at us—like she's seen something unpleasant.

"…Let's go, Bell."

Syr tugs my hand. I realize I had stopped moving.

Weaving our way through the crowd, I catch a glimpse of the tower one more time.

The goddess is still staring at us.

"Would you please not look at other women when you're with me? And if you say you

were entranced by a goddess's beauty, people with think you're being blasphemous,"

Syr says with a little pout once we leave Central Park.

"I—I wasn't entranced…!"

I frantically try to explain myself, but she just breaks into a playful smile.

"On today of all days, displeasing a goddesses of the harvest just might bring you some

terrible misfortune, you know?"

"I'm dying! I really might not make it…!"

Hestia had reached the pinnacle of exhaustion.

Her blue eyes were spinning from the unending series of labors.

Taking orders, running back and forth, carrying orders to tables, dealing with

customers, washing dishes, taking out the trash—all the intense work that had been

forced on her had long since surpassed her ability to cope.

"Bell was weirdly tired when he came home late last night, and then he left this

morning after dolling himself up, so I was planning to track him to see what's up, but

then all this happened… What even is a Goddess Festival?! I'm a goddess, aren't I?

Where's my sympathy?!"

She was washing dishes in the kitchen while Mikoto and Haruhime and Welf were all

busy working the front.

Crack!

"You stupid goddess!!! How many plates do ya gotta break before you're satisfied?!"

"Eeeeeeeeeeeeeek?! I'm sorry, boss!"

It was almost a reflex at this point for Hestia to immediately grovel whenever Mia

raised a furious shout.

"We wouldn't need deities if an apology could take care of everything!"

Hestia looked even more haggard as that thunderous shout promptly ended the

discussion.

Lilly grabbed the collar of Hestia's dress and whispered:

"Lady Hestia! Just leave this to us and run away!"

"Eh?! A-are you sure, supporter girl?"

"Your being here is just making more work for the rest of us! It'd be better if you

weren't here!"

"O-okay."

"In exchange, please follow after Mr. Bell! It pains Lilly to have to rely on you for this,

but it needs to be done!"

Hestia was overwhelmed by the force of Lilly's bloodshot eyes as she murmured her

thanks.

The goddess waited for Mia to look away and then escaped through the back door—

or rather, Mia noticed but came to the same conclusion that Lilly had and simply let

her go.

"I'm sorry, supporter girl! I'm sorry, everyone! I won't let your sacrifice be in vain!"

I'm coming, Beeeeeeeeeell!

Her black hair streamed behind her as she ran aimlessly through the streets, still

wearing the tavern's uniform.

"Ahhh." Hermes breathed in the festival atmosphere with a contented nod. "If it isn't

perfect weather for the Goddess Festival. All of the work that had been piling up is

mostly squared away to boot, so maybe I should go have some fun with some beauties!"

While many people were cheerfully milling around the streets, his eyes were quickly

drawn to the attractive women wearing colorful outfits for the event.

"Shall I slip a knife into your back before someone else does, Lord Hermes?"

Of course, the subzero gaze stabbing into him from behind was not so accommodating.

"I-I'm just joking, Asfi. Please, I'm begging you, don't take out your knife!" Hermes

apologized to his aqua-haired follower. "I've had you running around till just

yesterday, so today is a day off for you! I didn't forget!"

"Indeed. I've been taking care of a great many things in a great many places. It's been

so long since my last real break that I can't even really remember when it was."

"E-exactly! There were a lot of things that wouldn't have been possible without you!

That's Perseus for you! So please stretch your wings and relax today!"

Hermes frantically tried to patch things up as he kept rambling.

Asfi's reproachful gaze was unmoved. The deep bags under her eyes visible behind

her glasses spoke to the heavy burden she had endured on a daily basis.

"…Well, given the circumstances, perhaps I should give you the proper princess

treatment you deserve."

As easygoing as he was, Hermes did feel guilty for how much work he had dumped on

Asfi's lap because of her incredible versatility.

"Shall we enjoy an intimate little date and take in the sights of the harvest feast like a

loving couple?"

"Please stop, you're making me sick. In my current state, I might end up pummeling

you if I have to listen to much more of that."

"I-it was that bad…?"

"I'm sure you could already tell without needing me to elaborate. Especially lately

when it's been just one uproar after another."

Asfi sighed and then smiled ever so slightly for the first time that day.

"Being pampered would just be tiresome, but I wouldn't mind walking around the city

with you."

"Ho-ho! That's rather admirable. A simple request, if you ask me."

"Wandering wherever I please under the sun while joyous scenes pass around me…

that's enough to cleanse my body and mind."

"I feel like I got a glimpse into the true darkness of your heart there…"

"And whose fault do you think that is?"

They meandered along the winding city streets, enjoying themselves like companions

who had been together for a long time.

They tossed some coins to a bard and traveling performers who were putting on a

street show as Hermes naturally handed Asfi some apple wine and ice cream. This was

enough to improve her mood a bit, as angry as she had been earlier. And for the first

time in a while, a sincere, unadorned smile crossed Hermes's face.

"Hmm? Is that… Bell?"

As they continued their peaceful stroll, just like Asfi had requested, Hermes noticed a

certain someone.

He had not immediately recognized the boy who was leading around a young girl

because his clothes and appearance were so drastically different.

"What's this? Getting all dressed up and escorting a girl around town? It's almost like

he's on a date!"

"Lord Hermes… please don't get carried away and cause any problems." Asfi, who was

also watching inquisitively, halfheartedly tried to rein in her patron god after she

observed the telltale signs of his aroused curiosity. "If I remember correctly, the girl

with Bell Cranell is from The Benevolent Mistress…"

Asfi noticed an instant change the moment she said that. Lively and meddlesome as

always, Hermes had been about to head over to the couple when he suddenly stopped

in his tracks. More precisely, he stopped the moment he realized the identity of the

girl in the distance. His face twitched.

"Syr? Not Hestia or Aiz… Syr of all people?"

"What do you mean? Isn't that a bit rude to say?"

Asfi furrowed her brow at his decidedly strange turn of phrase, confused that Hermes

was taken aback for once.

The couple were wearing different clothes from usual. And more than anything, the

very air around them seemed special. The reason Hermes was shaken—or rather

trembling—was because he could tell it was a real date.

"Hey now… is this really okay?" Hermes murmured in shock as he looked back toward

Central Park.

His gaze went to the tower of plenty where the goddesses were.

"Ngh. Mm-hmm… nom."

Aiz was walking and eating.

Traces of the grief that accompanied Elegia were still visible on her face as she pulled

a Jyaga Maru Kun snack out of the bag she was holding.

She had had a lot of things on her mind and felt rather depressed, so she had decided

to get some food for a change of pace, knowing that she couldn't just stay like that

forever.

"Pumpkin flavor… It sounded almost heretical, but this is pretty good, too… nom."

The first-tier adventurer's plan to cheer herself up had largely worked, and she sighed

contentedly after enjoying the seasonal flavor sold only during the goddess festival.

That was the moment she ran into Bell and Syr.

"... Huh?"

Bell was obviously dressed up, and Syr's outfit was adorable. Aiz was slow to react,

the Jyaga Maru Kun snack still in her mouth.

"A-Aiz…!"

Meanwhile, Bell's face twitched awkwardly.

While he shifted between blushing and turning pale, Aiz's expression was unchanged.

Eh? Bell?

He's different from normal? He's all dressed up? He looks so good?

With the girl from the tavern? The two of them?

—Holding hands.

Words rose to the surface and then disappeared in her mind as her brain struggled to

process what she was seeing. They looked like a couple. Aiz froze up, unsure what was

going on as Bell frantically tried to say something. But before he could, Syr wrapped

her arm around his.

"Good afternoon, Sword Princess. What a surprise running into you here. We're

currently on a date!"

"?!"

She leaned against his upper body as she smiled, which caused Aiz's eyes to widen.

Bell's protest of "W-wait! Syr?!" did not reach Aiz's ears.

"We're about to go buy some gifts for the children! Right, darling?"

"Who's darling?! And children? You mean Lai and the others, right?!"

Children?! More than one?! The fruits of love?! They're already well beyond simple lovers?!

"?!?!?!"

Aiz's mind was a mess!

She didn't budge, as though she had been struck by lightning, her mouth still full as

Syr dragged Bell away. He cried out "Syyyyr?!" pathetically as they disappeared into

the crowd.

Aiz remained rooted in place, dumbfounded as she wrestled with an unidentifiable

emotion.

It was as if a beloved pet that she had been taking care of behind her parents' back had

been stolen away from her without warning. This hollow feeling inside her…

"You there! Wallenwhatsherface!"

"…! Goddess Hestia?"

Aiz had been standing there in shock for a little while when someone called out to her

from behind with a clamorous shout.

She turned around just in time to see Hestia in a familiar tavern uniform charging right

at her.

"You! Have you seen my Bell?"

"Uh…"

"My cute little Bell is a second-tier adventurer now, so he's gotten a bit famous! Plus,

he's adorable! So my plan is to track him by asking people on the street if they've seen

him!"

Hestia was excitedly rambling like she had just pulled an all-nighter—though in truth,

the insane workload at the tavern had made her strangely hyperactive—and giving

Aiz all sorts of unsolicited information.

The goddess looked haggard and was already breathing heavily, seeming as if she had

already done quite a lot of running around and asking for leads.

"Anyway! Have you seen my Bell being lovey-dovey with anyone?"

"…Yes, just now. With the girl from the tavern… arm in arm…"

"Whaaaaaaaaaat?! Not just holding hands, but full-on cuddling?! Why didn't you tear

them apart?!"

"What? Ah… I-I'm sorry…"

Aiz was overwhelmed by the force of Hestia's howl.

"That settles it. You're coming with me! The enemy's far stronger than I could have

imagined. There's no choice but to put aside our differences for now and establish a

common front!"

"O-okay." Aiz nodded without thinking.

Hestia shouted, "Let's do this!" and then reached a hand into the bag Aiz was carrying,

pulled out one of the Jyaga Maru Kun snacks, and bit into it.

Aiz let out a sad gasp as the goddess marshalled herself after a quick recovery and

thrust her fist into the sky.

"Let's go, Wallenwhatsyourface! We're gonna take Bell back from Syrwhosit!"

Then Hestia ran off. A short moment later, Aiz finally realized what was going on and

chased after her.

I don't really understand, but I should tag along. I get the feeling that's the right choice.

She wasn't quite sure what she was feeling even as she unexpectedly teamed up with

Hestia to chase after Bell and Syr.

"H-hold on, Syr!"

I plead pathetically again.

We turn off Main Street and slip onto one of a dozen smaller side paths as if evading

pursuit. Syr finally releases my arm after dragging me along the whole way here.

"What is it, Bell?"

"I want to know what that was about! Why did you do that?! And in front of Aiz of all

people…!"

"It's the truth, isn't it? We're on a date right now, aren't we?"

"You're not wrong, but come on!"

I'm pretty sure you phrased it that way to sow maximum confusion…!

I can't hold back the urge to complain as I try to get out a fully formed response.

Hearing that, though, Syr starts to look sad.

"I guess you'd rather be with the Sword Princess instead of with me, then?"

Wh-where did that come from…?

I don't really know what she meant by that and start panicking.

There's no way to answer—or rather, I don't have an answer at all—and I frantically

start babbling instead.

"A-anyway, Master didn't teach me what to do if I happened to run into Aiz…"

And then it dawns on me that I said that aloud.

Syr twitches at that.

"Master…? Teach…?"

Ahh…

O-oh no. I promised not to reveal that I met with him…!

I cover my mouth as Syr studies me carefully before breaking into a smile.

"Hey, Bell? The clothes you're wearing today, did you really pick them out yourself?"

"Wh-what?"

"Because I happen to know someone whose taste lines up just perfectly with that sort

of outfit."

Badump.

"His name is Hedin."

Badump, badump.

"By any chance, did he happen to teach you the basics of a date, or—?"

Her words hit the mark perfectly, totally skewering me.

As I break into a sweat, unable to deny or make any excuses, Syr sighs.

"So that's how it is. I thought something was odd. Like today was a side of you I had

never seen before. So it was Hedin's doing."

"U-um, you have it all wrong! Well, not really! But he wanted you to enjoy yourself as

much as possible…! And I learned a lot from him because that's what I wanted, too…!"

I hold out my hands, trying to explain myself.

Unable to keep up appearances any longer, I slip back into my normal way of talking.

Syr eyes me distrustfully and then turns away like she's upset. I apologize to Master

in my heart over and over as I try to convey how I really feel.

"I felt the same way! I wanted to give you back something, since you're always helping

me! I wanted you to have fun on this date. I wanted to make you smile!"

Maybe my feelings made it through to her?

When she glances back at me, it's with a smile on her face. Her gentle gaze makes it

seem like she hadn't really been upset at all.

"In that case, I have just one wish. If you can make it come true, then I'll forgive you."

"O-one wish…? What is it?" I respond nervously.

It wouldn't be weird for Master to sentence me to death at any moment now.

She turns back in my direction, and after looking me in the eyes, she comes incredibly

close.

"Eep?!"

She hugs me.

Even off Main Street, we're still in the middle of a lot of foot traffic given how many

people are walking around to see the festival.

I turn red to the tips of my ears as I distinctly feel her soft breasts press against my

body. They're even larger than I thought. Maybe she really was wearing something

special like Fina had said?

Apparently enjoying my panicked reaction, Syr stretches out and brings her lips closer

to my face. I tense as they reach my cheeks, just barely not touching me.

"Please take me away," she whispers.

"Wh-what now?" I instinctively lower my voice in response.

"I'm never really by myself in any real sense. Even right now, people from Freya

Familia are watching over me."

"That's… Well, I did sort of sense it…"

I had noticed them from around the start of the date. The number of eyes on us even

right now couldn't be called few. Even just counting the people I noticed, there might

be fifty people here. The observers—no, more likely the guardians—have been

watching from nearby without getting too close.

Also, I have the feeling it isn't just Freya Familia, either. The number of watchers

definitely increased partway through the date…

It's worth noting that the moment she hugged me, the hostility directed my way

absolutely peaked. There's still a cold sweat clinging to the back of my neck.

Seriously, who are you, Syr…?

"B-but, even if I wanted to, there's no way I can get us away from all of them by myself!

There's no chance! It's Freya Familia, after all!"

"That's why it's a wish. If you could be my knight in shining armor and spirit me away

like the princess in a story, that would make me so happy. I might even forgive you for

hiding something from me," she whispers softly in my ear.

I gulp loudly.

For an instant, Syr is a witch offering a shadowy bargain and I'm a knight forced to

obey.

She's still clinging to me as curious gazes continue to gather on us. The murmurs only

lasted a moment, and now teasing, playful cheers are starting to swell. More importantly,

the waves of bloodlust increasing with every passing moment are getting harder and

harder to endure…!

"I want to be truly free and be able to have fun doing all sorts of things to my heart's

content… And at the moment, I'd like to go on a real date with you, Bell."

For that brief moment, it feels like something ever so slightly changes in her voice. Her

face is so close to mine that I can't actually see it well, but I get the sense that last part

was the complete truth, something Syr had actually been hiding deep in her heart. It

wasn't so over the top as a plea, but there was a sort of romantic anticipation to it, an

it would be nice if it could ever come true sort of feeling. Her own little selfish wish.

That's what it felt like to me.

"Is that no good?"

Her request rings in my ears.

…If even this is a calculated ploy, then I know I'll never be a match for Syr—really, no

man would ever be able to contend with any woman.

At this point, I decide it's fine whether I'm being tricked or not and resign myself to

what's about to happen. I may have even smiled a little when I gave up.

I place my hands on her shoulders and push her back a little bit to look her in the eyes.

"Your wish is my command…"

She seems truly happy as she smiles at that.

"The target is currently en route to the northwest district via side paths. It is a crowded

and jumbled network of roads, so it will be difficult to maintain line of sight from

above. Change formation and report back to Hedin to be safe," a short man directed.

"Sir!"

The members of Freya Familia reacted immediately.

As they watched the white-haired boy escorting the girl with blue-gray hair, their

gazes were as intense as if they were staring down a sworn enemy.

Van was charged with leading one of the units guarding Syr. In his thirties, he had an

attractive, androgynous face, was short, had an odd air about him, and in general

appeared to be a somewhat sloppy sort of man.

He was a half prum, the child of a prum and a human who were jokingly known as

Shota Verse and Loli Justice among deities. At 150 celches tall, he was tall enough to

be envied by prums but short enough that his stature was often the butt of jokes made

by full-grown men of other races, which had made it difficult for him to find a place

where he belonged. Because of that, he had constantly been the target of derision. He

had heard that mixed-race children were discriminated against much more before the

era of gods, but as far as he was concerned, it was still plenty difficult to get by in the

current day.

The one who had dispelled the sullen inferiority complex and anger that consumed

him had been Freya—and Freya Familia. Because of that, he swore his fealty to the

goddess who had recognized him for himself and to the people who surrounded her.

And precisely because of that, he loathed Bell Cranell for stealing away Syr, the girl

who might be called the biggest latent bomb in the familia.

The nerve, holding hands with her…!

The lower-tier adventurers of Freya Familia, those under Level 2, were not aware of

this current mission. In fact, they were not even aware of Syr's existence. Even among

the second-tier adventurers, only those whose true strength had been recognized

were in the know. Ottar, the rest of the familia's core forces, and Freya herself were all

reluctant to share the information. That was just how closely guarded a secret Syr's

existence was for the familia.

Despicable, crafty rabbit… If you dare try to take her someplace suspicious, I'll bring the

wrath of the gods down on you. There'll be no waiting for an order from Hedin or the

others!

It would've been a challenge to find a person in Freya Familia who did not hate Bell

Cranell. There was no denying the unbelievable speed with which he had grown, but

logical understanding and emotional acceptance were two different things.

And perhaps it was only natural. They had been applying themselves diligently for so

long to earn their goddess's love, only for this boy to appear out of nowhere and

captivate the object of their desire. It would have taken a saint to rise above the

maddening jealousy, and Van doubted even a saint could manage it.

The captain is the weird one for sure.

Because of that mindset, there was little that could have been done about the roiling

bloodlust seething away inside the members of Freya Familia.

The fact that Bell Cranell could not only sense that growing hostility, but then deftly

lured them into a convoluted network of backstreets in order to discern their general

positions was a sign of how much he had grown.

"…? He went into a store by himself?"

Descending a stairwell that led belowground, Bell had entered a shop. If it had been a

business of a dubious nature, that would have been enough justification for them to

give him a taste of their wrath, but Syr had remained outside in front. There was no

chance of anything untoward happening, and they could not verify the nature of the

shop he had gone into, since they could not simply walk by and check the sign while

Syr stood directly out front.

The most they could do was grumble about how he had left Syr alone outside in a rundown part of town—though of course, if a hoodlum approached her, Van and his unit

would take care of it in no time.

Really, it almost seemed like he was waiting for the guards to make a move. His actions

were being scrutinized to an unbelievable degree. Van had plenty of experience as an

adventurer, and he was skilled enough to glean the intent of his target by watching the

subtlest of movements.

He's sensed our presence…? Is he really trying to give us the slip?

It was merely a suspicion, but there was enough reason to suspect a ruse. This mission

required Van to always prepare for the worst possible situation.

But if I try to probe around the shop while Lady Syr is standing out front like a lookout…

Should I ask Hedin or Allen for an order? Hegni and Alfrik's group are somewhere else,

too…

Van's unit was scattered around the dark alleys and corners as well as various secondand third-floor windows. Hedin and the others would be higher up in order to

maintain a commanding view of the whole area. First-tier adventurers had monstrous

vision, but deep in a claustrophobic backstreet like this with lots of obstructions in the

way, they would not be able to confirm any details on their own. That was why Van

had proactively sent out a report earlier, but…

While his thoughts were still racing, Bell came back out.

There's nothing particularly different about him. He's got a piece of luggage he didn't

have before, though…

He had emerged with a leather trunk, as if it was something he had prepared in

advance for the date and left there to be picked up. After he and Syr exchanged a few

words, she looked excited. Her anticipation for some sort of surprise was clear as day.

Suspicious. Far too suspicious. There was nothing specifically questionable about

anything he was seeing, but that merely made Van's alertness spike all the higher.

Finally, the two of them held hands and began to move again. They were headed

toward Northwest Main Street, the area also known as Adventurers Way.

Van told one of his subordinates to check the store Rabbit Foot had gone into while he

and the rest continued to tail the couple.

The two of them left the backstreets and turned onto Adventurers Way as expected

and then went into a two-story item shop. It was a famous shop among adventurers:

Retale. It was a small retail shop that sold a variety of goods made by various familias.

It handled a particularly wide range of things even aside from potions and other items

meant for adventurers. Van had even heard that they carried premium Soma Familia

wine as well as novelty accessories and miscellaneous goods. It would not be very odd

at all for a couple to go there in search of a fashionable luxury item.

Van signaled with his hand, giving orders to his six subordinates. Two of them would

enter and explore the store in the guise of customers while he and the rest would take

up positions outside.

His plainclothes subordinates went inside. Five minutes passed.

There was no movement.

"…?"

Nothing particularly abnormal occurred. But something that could only be called

instinct was bugging him. Just as Van's apprehension began to truly peak, the pair he

had sent into the shop dashed out, looking pale.

"Lady Syr and Rabbit Foot aren't there!"

"What?!"

"We searched the entire interior and couldn't find them! They aren't hiding

anywhere…!"

Van was stricken.

They were not inside. But there had been no sign of any suspicious figures leaving the

premises, either. Naturally, the five lookouts had been watching the main entrance as

well as the back door, but they had also been keeping an eye on every window, too.

And there was no opportunity for the two of them to put on disguises and leave

separately without getting spotted, either, since Van had been extra vigilant against

the possibility of that exact scheme.

He glanced over at his animal person subordinate who stood atop a nearby building

and only received a frantic shake of the head in reply; there was no trace of their

scents, either.

What?! How?! Was there a hidden passage in the shop?!

Van froze in shock. Just then, the familia member who had been checking the previous

shop came sprinting out of the alley.

"Sir! The store Rabbit Foot entered before was the Witch's Hideaway—a store for

mages!"

Van's eyes widened at the panicked report.

"A magic item?!"

"I-is this really okay…?!"

I can feel the tremors of a huge commotion rising in the distance. It definitely isn't the

normal hustle and bustle of the festival. I'm clutching a trunk in my left hand and Syr's

hand in my right as I turn pale from hearing what sounds like absolute pandemonium

breaking out.

We're currently running through the alleys so fast that the cloak covering us peels off,

making us visible again.

"Wow! You really do become invisible when wearing this!"

Syr somehow manages to catch the cloak as it threatens to blow away completely, and

a stir runs through the bystanders around us as we suddenly appear out of thin air.

There were two magic items at work here: a Reverse Veil and a scent remover.

The alley shop I ducked into is run by the mage Lenoa—one of Fels's acquaintances—

and also contains a hidden warehouse filled with magic items. When I begged her for

help, even though she looked exasperated, she let me put a few magic items into a

trunk to take with me.

"Fels said I should lend you a hand if you asked, but… to think the Sage's magic items

would be used to help some lovestruck fool elope."

She seemed really unhappy about it, though!

Using what we got from the shop, we managed to shake our tail after going into the

item shop. While pretending to look around the store, we used Fels's top-tier scent

remover that could even throw off an animal person's nose. Then it was just a matter

of waiting for a moment when no one was looking to go invisible using the Reverse

Veil.

That was how we walked right out the front door and escaped Freya Familia's

surveillance. The Sage's magic items that had been so useful during the Daedalus

Street battle have worked once again, securing our escape.

"Ahhh! You're amazing! Please whisk me away somewhere no one will ever find us,

Bell!"

"This really isn't the time to be messing around!"

Syr is getting just a little too excited as we run away hand in hand. It's almost like we're

actually eloping.

Assuming we really did break out of Freya Familia's perimeter, I'm still really uneasy.

They have definitely realized by now that we've escaped. And I can't even begin to

guess what they'll do to me now that they think I've kidnapped Syr.

Master might just tear me to shreds and dump what's left in the sea!

I'm starting to think I really shouldn't have done this, but what's done is done. And

besides…

"Let's go, Bell!"

Seeing Syr's happy smile as she runs along beside me, I can't do anything but smile

back.

"They got away, meow?!" Ahnya shouted.

She, Runoa, Chloe, and Lyu were all stunned after realizing that Bell and Syr had

disappeared at some point.

"They slipped away?"

Aiz was surprised.

She had only just caught up to them and gotten close enough to lay eyes on them.

Hestia stood beside her, panicking.

"They shook you idiots off?!" Allen roared.

He had suspected that the Sword Princess might be trying to intervene, so he had been

getting ready to head over to stare her down right as the shocking report came in.

"Good grief…" Hedin sighed.

His eyes alone had caught the pair fleeing down a back alley, but he pretended not to

notice as he gave the panicking familia members orders to set up a new perimeter in

the exact opposite direction of where the couple had run off.

"""Find him!!!"""

The Goddess Festival's tumult reached its highest peak ever on this day.

Syr and I are speeding through the northwest district. We avoid large streets, choosing

alleys and winding side streets where it's easier to escape notice. The uproar in the

distance—or rather the furious shouts—is just one sign of Freya Familia's rage.

Running away with the person they were guarding is the same as picking a fight with

them, and it isn't going to end well for me if they find us!

"Ah-ha-ha!"

This whole time, Syr has just been laughing and smiling, without any thought for how

I feel about all this!

Being by herself—breaking free—she seems happier now than at any other part of the

day. It's the first time I've ever seen her laughing out loud this way. As if just running

together like this is so much fun she can't help herself. Our fingers are interlaced, and

she's squeezing my hand tight.

The side street we're barreling down is long, narrow, and filled with stands. The other

people out walking around pause to watch in wonder or else jump clear and stare as

we run by.

With Syr in her dress and me in my gentleman's clothes leading her by the hand while

trailing a trunk behind us, it wouldn't be a stretch to guess we're a young noble lady

and her butler. It's like we're on the verge of missing the departure of a ship that'll take

us on a grand adventure. Honestly, it actually feels more like we're escapees on the run

from big, intimidating guards!

"This is like living a scene out of a storybook! I doubt I'd ever get bored when I'm with

you, Bell!"

"I'd rather not have this sort of thing happen every day!"

We finally start to slow down as we come to a neat little stone bridge spanning a

waterway. After stopping in the middle, I let go of Syr as we try to catch our breath.

Even though I'm a top-tier adventurer, my breathing is still a little ragged. Fear of the

enemy I just made and the imminent danger looming over me has sent my pulse skyhigh and messed up my breathing technique.

Wiping the sweat off my face, I rest my hands on my knees as I try to recover.

"I'm sorry… for making such… an unreasonable request. But… it really feels like I'm

floating on sunshine. It's so, so… fun."

Turning around, I see Syr holding a hand to her chest and notice how her cheeks are

flushed. She's panting hard, her chest going up and down with each breath. Her tone

has become more carefree, and it's almost like I'm face-to-face with the real,

unadulterated Syr.

—In a way, describing her as a young noble lady might be more accurate than I thought.

Catching a glimpse of this new side to her naturally brings a smile to my lips. The two

of us are just looking at each other as we stand on the deserted bridge, with nothing

but the blue sky above to watch us.

"Still though, to actually manage to escape from Allen and them… you've really become

an amazing adventurer."

Syr brushes out her ruffled hair, grinning as if it was something I had managed to do

on my own. I can only smile wryly.

It's Fels's magic items that are really amazing… and I have a feeling that the reason we

haven't already been overwhelmed by a slew of pursuers is because Master pulled

some strings for us. I could definitely see him sighing as he cleaned up after his foolish

disciple.

Still though… they have far more people. The odds definitely aren't in our favor. We can't

just wait for the storm to pass, but it would probably be better to stay put and hide out

for a bit to let things settle down some…

As imperfect as it is, that's what my instinct as an upper-tier adventurer is telling me.

While Orario is a massive city, if we just keep running all over the place, they'll

eventually catch us. I know from bitter personal experience just how terrifying human

wave tactics can be after facing Apollo Familia and Ishtar Familia.

Plus, I really want to give Syr a chance to rest…

"…? Hmm? Is this…?"

Looking around, I realize where we are—right around the center of the seventh district

in the northwest. The stone buildings around here are noticeably older-looking than

the other parts of the city. I'd been here beforehand while scouting places out for the

date. Nearby is a place that I had been thinking of visiting today.

"…Syr, there's something I wanted to show you. Would you mind if I took you there

now?"

"Not at all. Where is it?" she responds happily, a smile in her eyes.

"The cathedral."

The building is over one hundred meders tall when counting the bell towers. The giant

rose-tinted window in the front can't be missed. With a bell tower flanking it on either

side, the entire structure has an imposing presence. The walls are covered with

sculptures in high relief. It's hard to imagine how they carved such detailed work in

all sorts of places.

As a whole, this place is enormous and imposing. A building that inspires awe in those

who lay eyes on it—Hulrand's Cathedral, one of Orario's major landmarks visited by

countless travelers.

"Two please?"

"Rabbit Foot… ah, pardon me. Please go ahead."

I pay the Guild worker working at the gate.

I guess he reflexively reacted to seeing an upper-tier adventurer due to his job, but he

smiles and lets us through.

"You're a real celebrity now," Syr whispers playfully in my ear.

"Please don't make fun of me," I grumble in embarrassment as we approach the main

entrance.

A sculpture of the knight and spirit is carved in relief above the entrance, peering

down at us as we pass through the gateway and are greeted by an enormous space.

"Waaah… amazing…"

That's how I feel, too.

Between the central nave and the aisles on the sides, it's probably sixty meders across.

And it's probably double that or more deep. The ceiling is tall, giving the interior a

wide-open feeling, and I can't help but stare up at it.

There's a painting on the ceiling continuing the spirit-and-knight motif. Unlike before,

though, there is one other figure. A saint stands there, and the knight is beside her,

weeping as he cradles the spirit's lifeless body in his arms.

Set off from the aisle is an arcade, a uniform clerestory, tall pillars, and blue-silver

statues. Then rows and rows of pews.

A building worthy of being called a cathedral.

We naturally shift to softer voices as we follow the path through the cathedral.

"Normally, parts of it are closed to the public, but apparently, those areas are open

during the Goddess Festival… I'm sorry, I just really wanted to come here." I smile

meekly, scratching my head apologetically.

"Hee-hee. I don't mind. I rather like it, too," Syr replies, her eyes relaxing as she wears

a gentle smile.

We reach the stained glass windows that line the side wall. Towering pillars surround

us as we linger in the soft light filtering inside.

There's the Guild member in festive regalia, an adventurer who had volunteered to

work during the festival, and some gnomes on guard as well, but it's emptier inside

than I had expected. I guess everyone is out enjoying the festival, or else visiting some

of the other famous places around the city. The few other guests stopped here and

there around the enormous cathedral, examining every little thing with deep interest.

Not that I'm one to talk.

Walking clockwise from the left aisle, we finally reach the back of the cathedral to

stand beneath a majestic blue-and-purple stained glass window depicting the knight

and the saint. A crystal coffin is enshrined here, clad in a delicate blue metal

ornamentation that almost looks like armor. This is the altar where the cathedral's

relic is held—the inner shrine.

"This is…"

"Apparently, it contains the remains of the spirit. Some say she looks like she's simply

sleeping even to this day, still as beautiful as ever. According to legend, her body

scattered into countless crystals. And others claim she transformed into a weapon,

becoming a spirit sword."

"Is that the so-called spirit's miracle…?"

"The coffin has been completely sealed shut, so it can't be opened… but it's a fact that

undines have been protecting it for thousands of years."

I focus on the blue coffin illuminated beneath the stained glass. I can't really explain

why, but for some reason I almost want to cry. Part of it is probably that I had finally

gotten to visit the shrine that I had only ever read and heard about, and part of it is

probably the general solemn atmosphere of the cathedral. But the biggest reason is

that I know the story behind this building.

"Is this the place that you wanted to see?"

"Yes. I was thinking if I was going to take you somewhere… if I wanted to show you

something that was special to me, then this is probably the place."

Hulrand's Cathedral is an historical building associated with a certain heroic epic, a

story that actually occurred here in Orario. The structure itself is standing proof of the

events that transpired in the ancient past.

There are actually several other buildings like this in Orario that have been carefully

preserved. Babel is the most famous example. And among those buildings that have

survived, there are many temples and churches built before the age of gods here in the

city's northwest. In fact, Hestia Familia's old hideaway home wasn't that far from here,

either. I have a hunch that church is also the remains of a building that had been

constructed in the ancient era, too.

But at the same time, it's shocking to think something as large as this cathedral could

fade into the background when compared to the sheer scale of Orario. There are taller

buildings, of course, like Babel and several other examples, but it really drives home

just how large and sprawling the city is.

"There's an epic called Hulrand of Water and Light, a pretty well-known story that's in

Dungeon Oratoria…"

"Ah yes, I know that story, too. I read it for the children at the orphanage once when

they asked me to."

Actually, I had come by this cathedral dozens of times before. For people interested in

the epics, this is a must-see location up there with the monument to the heroes in the

Adventurers Graveyard.

And I had really wanted to see this shrine, which is open to the public specially for the

festival.

"It's a story of a knight and spirit joining forces and battling the monsters emerging

from beneath the earth, and they get married in the end, right?"

"It's portrayed that way in children's stories, but the actual story is a bit different."

"Eh?"

Syr turns to look at me, but another group had just entered the shrine room. Letting

them stand in front of the altar, the two of us sit down on the front-most pew.

"When Hulrand met the spirit, he swore his love to her, but there was a saint who had

adored him since long before that meeting and had continued to support him

throughout their adventures as well. His heart wavered between the two of them…

and in the end, he chose the saint."

"…Really?"

"Yes. The spirit fell into despair and cried so much that her tears formed a lake… and

driven mad by love, she tried to kill Hulrand."

The bit about her tears had to be an exaggeration, but Lolog Lake lies to the southwest

of Orario, and it's sometimes said that the waterways that still run through the city to

this day were born from that spirit's tears. I learned that after researching it together

with Haruhime, who was familiar with the same epic.

"What happened in the end?"

"In the version I read… it's written that, ultimately, the spirit protected the knight she

loved."

"Protected?"

"From the fangs of monsters who attacked him. She sacrificed herself to save

Hulrand's life."

"…"

"In the book, it's written that he held her body and mourned her more than anyone

else. And that he raised this cathedral here."

That scene of the spirit and knight and the saint is depicted on the ceiling above us.

Hulrand of Water and Light is a tragic story. It was written that, despite the glories and

feats he had accomplished, the knight who had devoted himself to exploring the

ancient Dungeon and protecting the fortress that preceded Orario was afflicted by

self-hatred for the rest of his life.

At the same time, though, the story spoke between the lines of love as a thing capable

of transforming both people and spirits. If Hulrand had not chosen the saint, if he had

been wedded to the spirit, maybe none of them would have had to suffer like that. Or

perhaps that would merely have resulted in a similarly tragic fate for the saint. There

is no way to know.

But I feel like this spirit's coffin, protected still to this day, was Hulrand's everything.

"Some of the heroes that I love made mistakes. There were some who were unable to

protect the people precious to them… but through the stories, it feels like they're

urging us not to end up like that ourselves. Like they're telling us to never give up.

That's… um… I don't really know what I was trying to say with this, but… ummm…"

"Hee-hee! It's okay, because I understand why you brought me here."

Syr still smiles for me, even though I had started running my mouth without being

able to finish the line of thought.

"This cathedral, and the stories of the heroes, they're your roots," Syr says slowly as

she looks at the altar.

"Um… Yeah. At least I like to think that's true."

I couldn't really stick the landing, but at least she seems to have enjoyed herself. I had

maybe secretly been hoping that she would like this place, too. If there's any place

where I can be a better guide than anyone else, it would probably be the ones connected

to the old heroes.

"Ah, but I do have a bit of a question, though."

"What is it?"

"Why is the cathedral named after the knight? Normally, you would name it after the

person enshrined here, right?" she asks, cocking her head.

Ah, that.

"The spirit who was with Hulrand never once revealed her name, apparently."

"Eh?"

"Even in the epics, she's only described as an undine, a water spirit… That's why the

cathedral has taken the name of the knight who built it."

Though it was possible that it had a different name long ago, and someone later

decided that Hulrand's name was more appropriate based on all the ornamentation.

"She didn't reveal her name…"

Syr freezes. Hearing that, she seems to sink into thought as she looks off into the

distance.

"Why… why did the spirit not reveal her name?"

"Eh?"

"If her true name… Did she think that if her secret were revealed, everything would be

ruined?"

Her gaze is fixed on the altar, as if asking the spirit resting there in the coffin. Dazzling,

heartrending light shines down through the stained glass, illuminating her face.

I forget to breathe. I don't have an answer for her. I can't say anything, entranced by

the sight of her staring at the shrine.

"Bell."

"Wh-what?"

"If I ever started behaving strangely, what would you do?"

"…Huh?"

"If, out of sadness or out of rage, I ever tried to hurt someone, like the spirit resting in

that coffin… what would you do?"

It's an odd question. The idea of her doing something like that is so hard to imagine

that it takes me a second to get my tongue to work, but I don't need any additional

thought to respond.

"…I would stop you so that you wouldn't hurt anyone."

She is still looking forward, not at me.

"And also in a way that wouldn't hurt you, either."

My soft words hang in the air. They're neither a lie nor misdirection. Lying in a place

where a spirit is enshrined would be unforgivable.

Hearing that, Syr's response is simple.

"That's all?"

"Huh?"

"You wouldn't scold me for doing it?"

"Eh? Huh?"

"You wouldn't squeeze me tightly in your embrace and whisper, 'You've been a bad

girl. I'm going to watch over you forever, so you never do anything bad again. I hope

you're ready for that' and then take me home with you?"

"Of course not!!"

What kind of guy do you think I am?!

My shocked shout echoes loudly in the solemn cathedral, drawing a flurry of

disapproving glares from the Guild employee, from the adventurer, and from the

gnomes, too. I stand up and bow my head apologetically.

Embarrassed, I sit back down as Syr giggles softly.

I—I was just answering her seriously…

"You really are kind."

I start to sulk a bit at her teasing when I feel something on my shoulder. Syr is leaning

over and resting her head on my shoulder. Our shoulders are touching. She places her

hand on top of mine resting in my lap.

For a moment, my mind blanks out.

"—Ahhh, I really do like you."

And when I hear that whisper, those words that might be just my misunderstanding,

it feels like my body temperature explodes upward. The center of my chest is burning.

I can't speak. How do you breathe again?

This time, it's my turn to just keep staring forward. I don't know what to do with the

warmth I can feel so clearly right next to me. Her hair spills over, tickling my neck. But

her eyes are closed, and she has the faintest smile on her lips. I can tell that much just

from intuition.

It almost feels like her serene pulse is overwriting my racing heartbeats.

It would be nice if I could just convince myself that being able to hear the sound of

someone's heart through mere skin contact isn't possible…

The light filtering into the cathedral is dazzlingly radiant, but I don't mind it at all. The

sunlight just feels warm on my skin as I sit there together with her.

She in turn looks at the shrine, then occasionally gazes at me. It all feels like a scene

from a different world. Just the two of us in the quiet, cool-yet-warm cathedral. It's as

if, for a tranquil moment in time, we can only sense each other and nothing else. A

moment where words are unnecessary—and then the sound of grand bells ringing

brings it to a sudden end.

"…! The bell towers…?"

How long have we been here? I realize that the light filling the cathedral has taken on

a red tint. The sun has long since started its journey down in the west.

Syr raises her head, as if waking from a dream. I quickly stand up to hide the

embarrassment welling up inside me all of a sudden.

"S-Syr! I have a reservation for dinner tonight! We have to be careful about Freya

Familia finding us, but i-it might best to head there early…!" All of Master's lessons are

forgotten as I start stumbling over my words. I've literally lost all composure, but I

can't help it. That intimate moment just now wasn't fair at all. There's no way I could

remain calm after that. Trying my best to not dwell on it, I immediately push my

unease into a corner, not even giving myself the time to collect myself.

After that moment's indecision, I hold out my hand. Syr looks up at me with clear eyes.

I stand there beneath the sunlight, feeling my face heating up as I wait. Finally, she

beams.

"Let's."

She places her soft hand in mine again.

Passing through the exit, I notice the sun is really starting to sink in the sky. The bustle

of the festival that had not registered at all inside the cathedral soon swallows us up

again.

The voices and music are still lively as ever, as if to declare that the festival isn't over

yet.

The cityscape lit by the western sun takes on a golden hue, bringing to mind the image

of a bountiful fields of wheat rustling in the wind.

"Mister! Miss! Could I interest you in something?"

"Hmm…?"

There is an animal person calling out to us a little ways from the exit, on the edge of

the plaza in front of the cathedral. It's a street vendor with goods lined up on a cloak

laid out on the ground.

"You just visited the cathedral, right? In that case, why not get a souvenir to remember

it by? I have paired accessories that would be perfect for a lovely couple!"

"Paired accessories?"

She took the bait!

Before I can stop her, Syr wraps her arm around mine and says, "Let's go look!" as she

drags me along.

When we reach the werewolf wearing all sorts of silver jewelry, he confidently winds

up to deliver his pitch.

"I'm the craftsman Gordon! I'm second to none when it comes to silver working, and

I've got a collection of goods here that are sure to be perfect for you!"

"Oooh."

"I recommend this set here! These pieces are two halves of a whole. If you put them

together like this, then bam, they seamlessly come together!"

"Mm-hmm, mm-hmm."

"It goes great as an ornament for your hair, and for the young man, it can be worn as a

necklace! And just for you, I can offer a special price!"

He had pointed to a pair of silver accessories with blue embellishments where each

half looked almost like an ocarina or a comma. By joining the two, they fit together

just right to create a circular pendant.

"It's also a charm to ward off evil!"

"Oh really?"

"Yep! I imbued them with prayers when I made them to protect their owners from

experiencing the same grief that the knight and spirit suffered!"

A craftsman's thoughts and prayers aren't enough to make a charm, but even as I have

that thought, Syr is already leaning in, deeply intrigued. Wait, her eyes are gleaming…

"Normally, it would be two thousand valis for the pair, but since you two make such a

wonderful couple, I guess I can part with them for only a thousand valis."

H-he cut off half the price without us even saying anything…

I'm at a loss for words when suddenly…

"—"

Syr is looking over at me.

My face twitches as I notice her gaze. I can feel her anticipation.

If I'm being honest, I don't really want to buy it. Not because I don't have the money,

or because it's a hassle… It's mostly because it keeps reminding me of what just

happened inside the cathedral, and that's making me feel a bit odd.

…But Master talked about this before…

"There's no reason to obsess over objects as long as you have the memories, but understand

that people also derive joy from having a physical reminder of a memory."

I manage to hold in my sigh as I quietly give in.

"Then I'd like to buy that pair, please."

"Gladly!"

I hand over the money, and he passes the pendant to Syr.

"Here you go, miss."

"Wooow…!"

It is remarkable how excited she seems holding it in her hands. This is like watching a

child get a new toy. Almost as if she didn't actually believe I would really buy it for her.

She carefully separates the two parts and flips them back and forth a few times,

examining both sides to check something.

"Can I have the spirit one? You should take the knight's side!"

"Ha-ha… That's fine with me."

After pressing her half to her chest for a moment, she slips it into her hair.

"How does it look? Does it suit me?"

"Yes… it suits you perfectly."

It isn't a lie. Both the merchant and I are enchanted by how lovely she looks with the

silver hair decoration. And the blue ornaments adorning it glisten brilliantly in the

evening sunlight. She shines just as much as she bashfully grins.

Touching the accessory, she breaks into a beaming smile.

"I'll treasure this, Bell!"

Night slowly starts to approach from the east as the falling sun sets the western sky

ablaze.

And, as if urged on by the night drawing near, lights start to blink on around the city—

both streetlights and magic-stone lamps inside hollowed-out pumpkins placed on

barrels and boxes.

We return to the southwest of the city, sticking to back alleys and side streets as much

as possible to avoid being spotted, but we just press on decisively when we reach

bigger streets that we need to cut across. Trying to sneak around out in the open

would just attract Freya Familia's attention. They should be on the lookout all around

the city at this point, so it's just a test of luck now.

Besides, I told Master where I made the reservation before the date, so he might help

us out a bit and misdirect them… at least, it would be nice if he did.

While I am vigilantly scanning our surroundings and doing my best to blend

inconspicuously into the crowds, Syr is behaving like normal without me having to say

anything.

She keeps asking me over and over "Does this suit me?" and "What do you think of

this?" I fight to keep up my smile while answering "It suits you well" and "It looks pretty

on you" every time.

"Eh-heh-heh…"

She also breaks into a renewed bashful smile every time.

S-so cute… Wait!

Maybe it's just because of how different it is from how she always behaves, but seeing

her so defenseless and excited brings out an odd feeling in me. I've long since lost the

composure of a gentleman leading a lady that Master had so painstakingly drilled into

me.

Syr would wrap her arm around mine and lean against me like a playful puppy

whenever she saw an opening, but after fending off her advances for some time, we

finally reach the front of the restaurant.

"It's… a boat?"

Her eyes open wide.

And she's exactly right. We are standing in front of a giant ship anchored on the water's

edge.

"Is this the place?"

"Yes. It's a restaurant called Spoon Aqua."

I made a reservation at a sailing restaurant.

The pure-white ship is so large that Syr has to look up at it as she stands there, still in

shock.

It is not quite on the level of a luxury cruise liner, but it's over fifty meders long. More

than large enough to hold all of Hearthstone Manor. A big, showy banner stretches

across the ship as it floats idly in the wide waterway. A well-appointed attendant

stands at the end of the bridge leading up to the ship next to a stylish sign that has

WELCOME ABOARD! written in Koine.

"This is a sailing restaurant, right? I've heard there are several of them in Orario, but…"

"Yes, normally they stay in the docks, but as a special occasion during the festival, they

take a loop around Orario's waterways."

"Then that means… it's a dinner cruise?"

I nod with a smile.

Normally, the Spoon Aqua stays moored during business hours, and guests simply get

to enjoy the novel experience of having dinner aboard the ship. Originally, the owners

had bought an old ship, then had it transported into the city in pieces, rebuilt, and

transformed into a chic restaurant.

From here in the southwest near the Trading Post to the south of the city where the

shopping district stood, every bit of land is already taken and there's no room for more

buildings, so the owners probably had an idea like "If we can't do it on land, then let's

open a restaurant on the water!" Obviously, they couldn't set out across the sea from

Orario itself, but they could at least sail a loop around the city's waterways.

I really struggled when it came to picking the restaurant…

This was probably the biggest risk I had taken when planning the date. I desperately

researched restaurants while Master cracked the whip before finally settling on this

one. The food is apparently delicious, and with the money I had earned during

Master's training, covering two people shouldn't be a problem.

But the biggest consideration was that I thought a normal restaurant wouldn't really

satisfy Syr, since she's always working at The Benevolent Mistress. Mia's cooking is

fantastic, too, so I had thought that maybe eating on board a ship would be a new and

interesting experience.

Either way, this was the choice I made, channeling all of my meager wisdom into a

small surprise attack.

Syr's expression shifts.

"That's wonderful. You put a lot of thought into choosing this place, didn't you? The

Bell who never thinks about anything other than the Dungeon actually thought long

and hard about how to make me happy!"

Sh-she saw right through me…

I can't do anything other than smile awkwardly when she puts it that way. But, well, at

least she seems to appreciate it… I guess I should just be grateful for that.

Syr is in a cheery mood as she grabs my hand, not wanting to wait. The two of us walk

across the wooden ramp that leads up to the boat. Once aboard, I give my name, and

we're promptly led to a table on the deck.

Waiting for us is a stylish white table and matching chairs with a vase of flowers as the

centerpiece. And there are several identical tables all around. As someone who's never

really been anywhere nicer than an adventurer's tavern, I feel really out of place. I am

starting to regret pushing my limits a bit as I desperately try to remember the various

things Master drilled into me during our training.

At last, the evening sun begrudgingly dips below the horizon and the sky turns dark.

That's when an announcement comes from inside the ship.

"The Spoon Aqua will now set sail. Please enjoy your time aboard."

And with that short notice, the ship slowly begins to move.

As we pull away from shore, I privately breathe a small sigh of relief. Even Freya

Familia probably won't be able to attack us once we're away from land. The Spoon

Aqua wouldn't keep its boarding ramp out while sailing, either. It'll just cruise down

the middle of the waterway that's as wide as any river. And it should be impossible to

make the jump from shore.

…It should be. Even for Freya Familia…

A-anyway, now that we're cruising along, we can enjoy dinner in peace.

…But still, though, I can already feel several different sets of eyes…

As the servers gracefully start bringing out wine and the first courses, I can feel my

neck starting to tingle.

It isn't bloodlust, though—well, I do detect a little bit of hostility, but it doesn't feel like

Freya Familia…

"Is something the matter?"

"Eh? Ah, no, nothing at all. A-ah-ha-ha…"

Syr is holding her glass as I laugh awkwardly. She pours me a glass of wine, too, as I

try to convince myself that I'm just imagining things.

"Bell! When did he grow up enough to know about such an elegant place…?!"

"It's my first time… having dinner on a ship…"

Hestia and Aiz were having dinner at the same exact restaurant as Bell and Syr aboard

the Spoon Aqua.

"No matter what escape you might plot, ace detective Hestia will see through it!"

"Goddess, that was amazing…"

While Hestia was devouring her food, Aiz was nodding along as she carefully took a

knife to the sole meunie re. They were glancing over at Bell as they ate.

After Bell had escaped surveillance using magic items, Hestia and Aiz had lost track of

him just like Freya Familia, but they had quickly worked together to follow him.

"Knowing Bell, he's sure to have left behind flyers or advertisements he collected during

his date planning!"

Just wildly searching all around a city as large as Orario would be the height of

foolishness. Hestia, who had closely studied his movement and thought patterns,

immediately knew the best move to make. She and Aiz dashed back to Hearthstone

Manor, broke into the boy's personal room, and searched high and low for clues until

they discovered a pamphlet for Spoon Aqua, just like Hestia had predicted. It had even

been neatly circled with a red pen.

Hestia had howled, "That's iiiiiiiiit!!!" and led the charge onto the ship. They had been

turned away due to the dress code and had to come back, but they had managed to get

on board before Bell and Syr after a breakneck dash.

"It's a good thing you were here, too, Wallenwhatsyourface. I wouldn't have been able

to get in here by myself."

"I just followed you. I didn't do anything… Ah, I'll pay the bill…"

"Eh?! Are you sure?!"

Hestia was wearing a marine-blue dress, and Aiz was wearing a pale-green dress. The

same one she had worn to a certain god's Banquet.

The cruise dinner service was very popular, so normally, Hestia would have been

turned away at the door for not having a reservation, but because Aiz was with her,

she had gotten a little accommodation from the restaurant. As with so many other

businesses, the mere fact of having served a first-tier adventurer was an endorsement

that was hard to match.

The two of them slipped on board before sunset and then simply lied in wait for Bell

and Syr. And now they could finally put eyes on their target.

"But still, we're on the inside and they're on the outer deck… Damn it, she's already

gotten to the final stage. Beeeeeell, where did you learn something like that?! Invite

me out next time!"

"Bell is… kind of handsome…?"

"Ah! Hey now! No getting any weird ideas, Wallenwhatsyourface!"

Even without Hestia's boisterous squawking, they were already drawing a lot of

attention. They were an odd pair to be sure, but Aiz was still the Sword Princess and

Hestia was the patron goddess of Hestia Familia. Whether they got along or not, there

were many guests who were curious to see such a beautiful pairing.

Naturally, the two had not noticed it themselves, as their focus was on Bell's table and

nothing else.

"Still, I can't really see her face from here…"

There were several guests between their tables, in addition to the glass window

separating the interior from the outer deck. Their tables were placed just awkwardly

enough that Hestia could not get a clear look at Bell's date.

Honestly, she wanted to barge in on them right then and there, but the food was

unbelievably delicious. The frugal goddess decided that there would still be ample

time to charge over once she had finished eating.

"…"

Meanwhile, Aiz was watching Bell, filled with an emotion she could not quite

understand—almost like she felt indescribably lonely.

"Meeeow! It looks so good! Can I take some, meow?"

"Waiters don't steal food. Hurry up and carry it to the table!"

Ahnya and the others were dealing with customers on the same Spoon Aqua where

Bell, Syr, Hestia, and Aiz were eating.

"Why are we here, working, after going through so much trouble to escape the tavern?"

"What else could we do? This was the only way to sneak into the place they were

having dinner! We can't let Peter and his friends' chivalry go to waste after they so

kindly yielded their jobs to us for the night, meow!"

"Looked to me like you were pretty menacing with your knife back there."

Runoa grumbled at Chloe's teary-eyed act as the four of them left the kitchen. They

were carrying dishes and wine with a practiced ease, dressed in tuxedos.

As for how they made their way on board, Runoa's response was quite succinct.

"If you've got complaints, send them to the kid! If he hadn't chosen a cruise dinner, we

wouldn't have had to force our way aboard like this, meow!" Chloe skillfully controlled

her voice so that only Runoa and the others could hear her.

The reason they had managed to get on board before Bell and Syr was simple: They

had seen Hestia screaming as she dashed across the city with Aiz in tow and had

simply followed along behind them.

They could guess easily enough that the only reason the sacrifice who was supposed

to be working at the tavern for them would be running off somewhere in such a panic

would be because she was searching for her cute little Bell.

"And besides, we've been trained by Mama Mia. We're specialists who can match even

first-class servers! I'm sure the management here would shed tears of joy to know

they had us working for them, meow!"

"How do you figure that…?" Lyu sighed.

She fully acknowledged that she was doing something illicit for the sake of personal

interest, but it was also true that if she were not there, then Chloe and the others

would most likely have gone wild already.

Holding in another sigh, she peered through the single pane of glass separating her

from Bell and Syr enjoying dinner out on the deck.

The deck was being served by different waiters, while they were charged with

covering the interior hall, so they wouldn't have an opportunity to go over there.

"Syr… Bell…"

Lyu was still troubled by murky emotions as she watched the two of them.

The food served aboard the Spoon Aqua is as delicious as advertised. I guess they get

ingredients from the Trading Post where all sorts of things from outside Orario flow

into the city, because several of the dishes featured unusual flavors: a bluish olive oil I

had never seen before, a reddish cheese with a distinct smell to it, a spicy pepper

grown in the Far East. Sour, salty, a little bit spicy—they were all new, enjoyable flavors.

I guess you could say they had taken gourmet dishes from around the world and

rearranged them to make Orario versions.

Syr seems to be enjoying the unfamiliar flavors, too. Maybe she'll even tell Mia about

some of the food later.

The main event of the cruise itself is far better than I had expected. Seeing Orario's

bustling nightlife from the waterways is a totally different experience compared to

seeing it up close on Main Street like usual. It's almost like visiting a foreign country.

Part of it is that things already look quite different due to the festival, but even so, the

city flooded with lights is a beautiful sight to behold from the water.

The water's surface shimmers brilliantly as the waves softly lap against the sides of

the boat. Syr is looking out, taking in the view.

"What is it? You look like you want to ask something."

Syr is carefully eating the pear-and-cake dessert with a knife and fork. And unlike the

stiff table manners that Hedin taught me, she looks utterly at ease and natural. Her

gestures are enchanting. It's also the sort of thing that does not really fit the image of

an ordinary neighborhood girl.

"…Umm… Who exactly are you…?"

I can't really shake my unease at asking something like that. But it's something I've

been wondering in a corner of my mind all throughout the date. Always being watched

and protected by Freya Familia… Who exactly is Syr?

Hedin had told me not to probe, but I can't see myself continuing to spend time with

her while turning a blind eye to that glaring question.

Syr says, "Ah," as she carefully sets her silverware down and looks at me.

"Can you promise me nothing will change between us if you hear my secret?"

"P-probably…"

"Probably isn't good enough." She smiles mischievously, her eyes narrowing like a

cat's.

We're totally going at her pace now. The initiative I had seized at the start of the date

is long gone.

Doing my best to finish my dessert, I force a smile.

"Whatever secret you might have… everything that has happened between us won't

change, and it won't change how we are going forward… at least that's what I think."

I can't say for sure whether that answer is worthy of full marks. But Syr breaks into a

smile as she looks at me. She starts to open her mouth.

Boom!

"Eh?!"

There is sudden jolt as the ship shudders. The impact itself isn't too jarring, more like

a small boat had run into the side of the ship. The waitstaff and other guests stir as I

quickly turn in the direction of the impact.

Across the deck on the opposite side of the ship, there is a—

"—A-an ice bridge?!"

A narrow part of the waterway has been frozen over, creating a bridge of ice in the air

connecting the ship to land. My jaw drops at the sight, but an explanation comes soon

enough.

"Take control of the ship!"

The group—or rather the adventurers—roar dangerously as they pour onto the ship!

"I-it can't be… Freya Familia…?!"

I almost faint. They had found us on the ship, and their mages had frozen the surface

of the water with ice magic, creating a makeshift bridge so they could reach the boat

directly!!

"Th-they would go that far?!"

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"

Panic spread across the ship in the blink of an eye. A swarm of people clad in black

helmets and combat gear, all properly equipped for battle, was pushing its way onto

the ship and spreading out. The adventurers, who advanced without a care for the

tables overturned in their wake, could only be seen as a black raid. And consumed

with the rage of having Syr stolen away from them, they pushed their way through all

the guests, checking everyone's faces as they went.

"Wh-what is that?! Wait, don't those guys kind of look like the adventurers who

attacked us before?!"

"Freya Familia…?"

Hestia and Aiz were both surprised as the panic spread around them.

"What's going on, meow?!"

"Hey, keep this sort of thing to Mama Mia's bar!"

Ahnya and Runoa and the others were shocked, too.

The dining cruise had transformed into a battlefield.

"Tch. I couldn't make it in time."

Watching alone from the coast, Hedin shook his head as he scrutinized the scene at a

distance.

Using his position as commander, he had been manipulating Freya Familia from

behind the scenes, just like Bell had hoped, by carefully maneuvering the dragnet away

from Bell and Syr's location while giving what seemed to be sound orders. And he had

done well. Though he had been unable to stop the assault on the ship, his adroit

maneuvering was still deserving of praise.

Because he had led Allen, Hegni, and the Gulliver brothers—the first-tier adventurers

who would have been the most violent, merciless, and impossible to negotiate with—

on a wild-goose chase far, far away from the city's southwest.

"Listen to you?" "Don't screw with us." "You're hiding something." They directed the

city's most intense bloodlust and vitriol toward him—more than enough to make an

average person faint on the spot—but he had coolly fended off their doubtful eyes and

shielded Bell from an instant death. Were it not for Hedin, Bell and Syr would have

been apprehended in no time at all.

But in exchange for that, a lower-level squad had slipped through the cracks, and he

had not arrived in time to stop the familia members who had spotted the couple from

acting on their own judgment.

"So it was Van's squad… Mindless fools, do you wish to tarnish Lady Freya's honor?"

The crowds near the shore were gradually noticing the uproar happening aboard the

ship. If it became known that Freya Familia was the cause of the commotion, Hedin

would not be able to look her in the eye. No matter the situation, the reputation of the

familia must never be brought into question.

The white elf alone bore the responsibility for the familia's public image, and seeing

Van's unthinking charge, his normally intellectual visage warped with rage.

"Find her! Steal her back from that rabbit as soon as possible!"

Meanwhile, unaware of Hedin's seething ire, the half-prum Van was running amok.

He had snapped. After having his mission disrupted, he had become obsessed with

making Bell Cranell pay. He had sworn his allegiance to the familia, so he refused to let

his failure stand. Even if things got messy, he would not stop until Syr had been stolen

back. He was that desperate at this point.

"Take Rabbit Foot down by whatever means necessary! As long as he's around, he

might still get the jump on us! Make sure to end him!"

And there was one person who twitched upon hearing his shouted orders: Aiz.

Her eyes flaring, she drew her trusty sword from where it was hidden beneath the

table and came out swinging.

"Guh?! Wha—?! Sword Princess?!"

"What did you mean by 'take Rabbit Foot down'?"

Van somehow managed to use his twin blades to defend himself as the identity of his

attacker dawned on him.

"I-it's got nothing to do with you! Don't get in our way! Are you seriously going to pick

a fight with Freya Familia?!"

He was obviously trying to threaten her, but her response was short and simple.

"None of that matters."

Her silver blade flashed, revealing a clear, rock-solid resolve.

"If you are going to bully him, I will stop you."

"O-outsiders should stay out of our business!"

Recoiling at the unexpected presence of a first-tier adventurer, Van roared as he and

his subordinates charged all at once. Battle broke out as the Sword Princess entered

the fray. Tables were splintered and sliced apart, while chairs were transformed into

a hail of wooden shards. The staff and guests burst out into screams of terror. A violent

melody of weapons clashing rang out in the night.

"H-hey! Wallenwhatsyourface! What's going on here?!"

Hestia took cover underneath her table, unable to move a step as her cries were

drowned out by the deafening sounds of battle.

"A-Aiz is fighting in the hall?! Wh-what's happening?!"

A panic hit Bell when he realized what was going on inside the ship. A cold sweat

instantly formed, and he began to wonder whether maybe he and Syr had gotten

caught up in a clash between the two most powerful familias.

"Bell Cranell's over there!"

"Get to the deck!"

"I should have guessed!!"

He yelled after getting confirmation the black raiders were coming for him.

The ship was currently in the middle of a part of the waterway that was the size of a

small lake. The ship where no one should have been able to reach them had turned

into an inescapable island. Even if he tried to cross the ice bridge Freya Familia had

made, he would just be overwhelmed by the torrent of enemies still pushing their way

across.

Realizing they were cornered, Bell turned pale and stood in front of Syr to protect her.

But at that point, Syr, who had been watching from the sidelines, sucked in her breath

before raising her voice.

"Lyu! Everyone! I'm sorry! But please help!"

"Meow?! Syr called us!"

"Maaan, she totally noticed us!"

Ahnya and Runoa emerged from cover, halting the charging adventurers. Chloe and

Lyu leaped into action, too, as Bell watched in open shock.

"No clue what's going on, but if they're attacking Syr, they're our enemies!"

"Agreed. We may have been following them, but certainly not in hopes of such a

mindless conflict!"

An assassin's dagger flashed, and twin shortswords sliced through the air. All of the

adventurers charging toward the deck were stopped in their tracks by the four girls

dressed as waiters.

"Lyu and everyone else, too… What is even happening here…?!"

Bell watched in abject horror as a multifront conflict sprang to life.

At a minimum, Freya Familia, Aiz, and the staff from The Benevolent Mistress were all

fighting in front of them.

"Shall we go, Bell?"

"S-Syr? Go where? We don't have anywhere to escape to…!"

And amid all that, Syr's pumps clicked adorably against the deck as she ran.

Bell frantically chased after her as the night breeze tousled her hair. He was screaming

in a corner of his mind about the ridiculousness of a normal-seeming girl having the

courage to run straight across a battlefield without any fear at all!!

No one noticed their quick escape. No one had the composure to pay them any

attention.

Soon after, they reached the edge of the deck, bow-side.

Syr did not wait for Bell to catch up as she hopped up and over the guard rails. Bell's

eyes bulged as she straddled the railing while holding her skirt down.

"S-Syr?! You can't be…?!"

She could and she was. Glancing over at him, she smiled sweetly.

"I'll leave the rest to you, Bell!"

Bell turned pale and started running as fast as he could, but she just leaned backward.

Her body tilted, slipping into the air.

"Ahhhh!"

She let out a cute and decidedly fake-sounding scream that was out of place in the

pandemonium breaking out all around them, and she could not stop smiling as she fell

down toward the water's surface below.

"No waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!!"

Bell leaped over the rail without hesitation, diving over the edge. He kicked against

the hull of the ship once, then twice, picking up speed as he stretched his hand out and

caught her.

Trying to cover her in midair, he pulled her head and waist close, holding her against

his chest.

Moments later, there was a splash.

A massive splash that escaped everyone's notice.