THE PRUMS PROPOSAL Part 2

—My eyes fly open.

A sharp jolt shoots through my chest.

Gulp. That sounded a lot louder than I thought it would.

Open to the idea of having multiple partners… So, in other words…

A man's dream, the one Gramps would always talk about, the pinnacle of manliness, a

man's romance…

"…A harem?"

Exactly what I fantasized about in my foolish, slightly younger days…

I can't help but tremble as I look at the prum hero facing me across the table. My lips

won't stay still as I try to speak to him.

"I-I hear that's nothing but trouble…"

I wait with bated breath for his next words. And then he says:

"I'm completely serious."

Completely serious…

Looking at his bright, unclouded eyes, I realize the depth of his determination and

resolve.

Finn possesses the courage to do whatever it takes to fulfill his mission without a

second thought. A sudden rush of respect and admiration, one man to another,

overwhelms me. I'd prostrate myself at his feet right now if there wasn't a table in the

way.

"…But of course, I wouldn't actually do that." Finn looks me in the eye and flashes a

quick grin. Adding that he wouldn't be able to help those who depend on him if he

tried to maintain multiple partners, he smiles wryly to himself and closes one eye.

"I hold the rank of general now. I can't afford to give my subordinates the wrong idea."

"Ah… G-good point…"

I force myself to laugh and nod.

I feel so stupid for randomly thinking of this guy as a god among men for a moment.

"…I left all that behind me when I chose this path. I've dedicated my life to serving my

people."

He sits up straight and falls silent for a moment, his face calm once again.

He sounds like a young teenager, but his voice is steady and clear. Each word resonates

in my ears.

"As I stated before, if she or Goddess Hestia rejects my offer, then that's where this

ends. On the other hand, should my offer be accepted, I will take it seriously and want

to devote myself to building a strong bond with her."

All I can do is listen to him. Finn's face brightens with a smile. "She will live happily,

that I can promise. Would you tell her all that I told you today, in my place?"

With that, he drinks the last of the tea in his cup. Getting to his feet, Finn withdraws a

piece of paper from inside his vest and places it on the table. "Unfortunately, I only

have time tomorrow." He says a few more words and leaves me sitting alone with the

piece of paper, a location written on it.

He pays the entire bill and waves at me one last time before leaving the cafe .

"…"

—If she has an answer for me, tell her to go there tomorrow.

—If she doesn't want to answer, that's perfectly fine. I'll be there all day either way.

I take another look at the piece of paper. Directions are written in Koine, in really nice

handwriting, along with a map to a meeting place. I look up at the ceiling after staring

at the sheet for a few moments. I haven't moved from my chair, still leaning all the way

back into it.

Honestly, I don't want to do this.

But I owe Finn, and Aiz, and really all of Loki Familia for everything they've done to

help me. How would they react if I don't follow through with this?

At the very least, I owe it to him to give Lilly the message. I feel like it's my duty.

…What if…

What if Lilly accepts his offer after hearing what he has to say…? What'll I do?

This labyrinth I'm stuck in doesn't have an exit. I stay in the chair, staring at the ceiling

for I don't know how long, trying to find an answer.

Lilly was still struggling even as everyone gathered to eat dinner together.

She acted like everything was normal, participating in conversation like usual. She

sealed away the heavy feelings in her heart to keep the mood light around the table,

even smiling and laughing along with everyone else.

Mikoto and Haruhime were in charge of preparing dinner tonight, and they received

many compliments before they were soon deep in their own conversation, enjoying

each other's company. Welf was busy chowing down and didn't try to engage Lilly in

conversation. Hestia, however, could tell something was wrong. Her deep-blue eyes

would occasionally glance in Lilly's direction, but the goddess said nothing and joined

Mikoto's conversation like she normally did.

Bell looked anxious, and she noticed him looking in her direction more than once, but

she pretended as if she hadn't.

Dinner ended soon after. Lilly didn't go to the living room, and instead started heading

back to her own.

"Um, Lilly… do you have a minute?"

"!"

She was just about to go up the stairs in the main hallway when she heard Bell's voice

behind her.

A small jolt ran through her body as she froze in place. All the uneasiness and emotions

that had been building since last night came to a head. She was extra conscious of the

young boy at the moment.

"Wh-what is it, Mr. Bell?" Lilly responded in a jumpy, forced voice. She turned to see

that Bell seemed embarrassed.

"There's, um, something I need to tell you…"

Since she wasn't sure of her own feelings, she probably should have refused him. But

he asked so nicely that she made an awkward nod and the two of them went to an

unused room on the second floor. Going inside, they turned on a magic-stone lamp.

Then—

"An offer of marriage for Lilly…?"

"Y-yeah…"

Lilly opened her chestnut-colored eyes as far as they would go. Bell had told her about

an offer of marriage from another prum. Earlier that evening, Finn Deimne had asked

Bell directly to arrange an in-person meeting with Lilly.

With a stunned stare, Lilly looked up from the sheet of paper Bell handed to her. The

boy trembled as he nodded to confirm.

Why would the Braver be interested in her? That was the first question to pop into her

head, but it didn't stay there for long.

There was something more important. Lilly clenched her lips together and looked at

her feet.

As expected, in Mr. Bell's eyes, Lilly is nothing more than…

The fact that Bell had delivered this proposal of marriage sent her into a tailspin. The

fact that Bell offered another man's proposal to Lilly, instead of his own, gave sharp

claws to the emotions coursing through her heart. She had already been dealing with

the Aiz incident from last night, and now this. Her gaze didn't move from the floor.

Bell took one look at the girl, hunched over and trying to hide her reaction, and knew

that his words had made her upset. Starting to panic, he quickly tried again.

"Y-you don't have to answer if you don't want to! Finn said he didn't want to force

anything, so I can go tell him you're not interested…!"

She understood Bell's position. Lilly knew the boy could never turn down a request.

Especially if said request came from Finn, the head of Loki Familia. Considering what

they had done for him, Bell would never reject them.

But…

She didn't want to hear it.

She didn't want to hear that news from Bell. The pain tearing through her at that very

moment was all because he delivered the message. That thought alone filled her mind.

Presenting another man's proposal showed Lilly exactly where she stood with him.

Bell thought of her as an ally, a member of the familia. If he loved her, it was as family,

not in a romantic way.

Her eyes quivered. The pain, the anguish, and the loss in her heart forced tears to well

up in her eyes. All the feelings crammed into her chest were about to burst. She had

not heard anything he had been saying.

Lilly didn't look up as she forced words through her trembling lips, somehow making

it past the storm of emotions swirling within her.

"Your thoughts, Mr. Bell…?"

She wanted to know his opinion about the offer and how he would respond depending

on her answer.

The night sky was barely visible through the slightly open curtains covering the

windows. The room's magic-stone lamp illuminated only one side of Bell's face. She

could see uncertainty in his shaking eyes.

"I… I, um…"

He started to open his lips, body swaying side to side, but no words came out.

Seeing him flustered was the last straw. Thundering anger roared to life within the

storm of emotions and it all rushed straight to Lilly's head. Teeth clenched, fists

shaking, she felt her chestnut-colored eyes flash menacingly as she looked up at him.

Her head started to rise—and then a heartbeat later, all the built-up anger exploded.

"Lilly hates that you can never make up your mind!"

Her shriek rang inside the room, every word raining down on the boy in front of her

like hammer strikes.

"That settles it! Lilly will meet the Braver!"

"You what?!"

"An offer of marriage from the Braver? Lilly will be the envy of not only other prums

but every woman in the city!! He has it all—power, money, fame! Yes, it's the wealthy

marriage Lilly has always dreamed of!"

"L-Lilly, don't you think you're sounding a little desperate…?"

"Lilly is not desperate!!"

They matched each other tit for tat, almost like a quarreling couple. More harsh words

tumbled out as they continued to go back and forth.

Lilly's face turned red as her ranting intensified, which made Bell only more defensive.

"Finn Deimne is so, so, sooooooooo much better than some indecisive, womanizing

blockhead who can't even understand emotional signals obvious to a child, like Mr.

Bell! He's a class act, the perfect gentleman!!"

Lilly's last verbal blow had the same effect as a knockout punch. "Ge-hah?!" Bell

staggered backward, bent over at the waist.

Being compared to Finn, not only as an adventurer but also as a person, shook Bell to

his core with feelings of inferiority.

Lilly turned sharply on her heel, but Bell wasn't able to make a sound.

"!!"

Flinging open the door, she ran out of the room.

"Lilly!"

Bell stepped forward and yelled at the top of his lungs, but it wasn't enough to reach

her. The girl was already out the back door.

Passing through the rear metal gate, she dashed into the city sparkling with streetlights.

Lilly let her emotions take over as she ran headlong into the city.

"—Riveria, I'll be away from home all day tomorrow as planned. Keep an eye on things

for me."

The home of Loki Familia, Twilight Manor.

Their residence was composed of a group of several high towers, one of which

contained the office of the general. Finn's room was decorated with a thick rug that

was as colorful as a garden, a marble fireplace, and a tall grandfather clock. Every item

in the chamber was high quality and fitting for someone of his rank. But the most

striking feature inside the spacious room was, without a doubt, the tapestry on the

wall—an image of a goddess wearing armor, with spear in hand.

Finn was sitting in a chair behind a black wooden desk that was covered in stacks of

paperwork. He filled them out while talking about tomorrow's plan with his secondin-command, Riveria.

"…This is unexpected."

"What is?"

"I am well aware of your personal mission, as you've told me on many occasions since

we met. It would be unreasonable for me to feel any different after all this time.

However, you don't seem to be showing much interest in romance. Your extremely

assertive approach… surprises me."

The elegant elf's long jade hair flowed down her back below a small ribbon that tied

it back to the nape of her neck. She stood quietly, analyzing Finn's face from beside

him.

Proposing marriage to someone of his own race was much more proactive than

anything he had ever done.

At the same time, ignoring the fact that it was part of his mission, the prum hero

appeared to be looking forward to it.

"…I've been far too busy to reach this stage, but now it feels like taking it into

consideration might not be such a bad idea. That and… there might come a day when

I lay down my life in service to this familia. Taking recent events into consideration, I

can't help but feel that day draws near."

"…"

"Of course, my will is just as strong as ever."

Finn's feathered pen kept moving throughout their conversation. He stopped writing

and looked up from the paperwork.

"I might be getting on in years," he said to Riveria with a strained smile.

Saying that his forwardness might be his own way of having insurance for the future,

the small prum adventurer added one more thing.

"But above all… I was lucky enough to meet someone special. Seeing one of my own

kind do what that girl did that day left quite an impression on my heart." Finn closed

his eyes as if remembering the moment he first saw her. Leaning back in the chair with

a smile on his face, he slowly looked out the window and up at the moon rising over

the city.

"Now, will she come?"

The darkness of night faded, replaced by light appearing in the east. Morning had

arrived.

Many adventurers were already on their way toward the Dungeon. Lilly trudged her

way through the crowd on South Main Street.

"What am I doing…?"

Head low, she whispered to herself while looking at the stone pavement beneath her

feet.

She went directly to the Gnome Trader after running out of her home last night. Of

course Bom, the owner, was surprised to see her, but he didn't turn her down when

she asked him to put her up for the night. She stayed there until morning… As for the

out-of-breath white-haired boy who came looking for her, she asked the owner to tell

him she wasn't there and to send him home.

It was all out of desperation. How shameful. Had she wanted Bell to feel anxious,

worried… or perhaps jealous?

How shallow, Lilly scolded herself as an air of gloom enveloped her. She had run away

to avoid hearing what she didn't want to hear, to turn a blind eye to what she didn't

want to see.

"…"

It shouldn't be a big deal, but she didn't know how to face Bell now. What could she

do? How could she apologize? Could she go home?

Her feet stopped in front of a certain building as she pondered these questions. It was

the place described on Finn Deimne's note; the place where he was waiting for her.

She had walked a long way from the main street, passing through several alleyways to

get here. Coming this far, she might as well see it through to the end. She had hit rock

bottom and was perfectly fine with letting the cards fall where they may. Why not? she

thought to herself as she stood on the front doorstep.

The building indicated on the note was surprisingly small. Located in the westsouthwest area of the city, it was on the outer edge, close to the city wall. Almost no

one frequented this area, so the cafe known as the Hidden Home of the Prums was

very difficult to find among the other tall buildings on this narrow street.

It also happened to be a bar, by the look of it.

"So this kind of place can be found in Orario, too…"

Lilly passed by a big sign that said PRUMS ONLY! written in big Koine letters, before

placing her hands on the wooden door and opening it with a soft creak.

Everything inside was built with prums in mind—in a word, small.

Not only were the ceilings lower, but the tables and chairs looked suitable for children

of other races. Quite a few patrons were already inside despite it being before noon.

The customers, the waiters on staff, and even the bartender behind the counter—

every single one was a prum.

All of them fit right in with the size of the cafe , and no one felt out of place. However,

if someone of a different race, like a human, saw what went on here, they would likely

be quite shocked. After all, no one expected to see what looked like a bunch of children

sitting at a bar, downing ale. Even Lilly, a prum herself, felt it strange to see prums

sitting in chairs and their feet touching the floor.

Despite its location, the prum-only bar did some brisk business—maybe it was

because many of the patrons felt a sense of pride coming here because of how

exclusive it was. Lilly was standing just inside the front door, taking it all in, when one

of the prum waiters came to greet her.

"Welcome. If you're by yourself, there's a spot at the counter—Wait." The rather

discontented-seeming employee froze on the spot once he got a good look at her face.

The hood of Lilly's robe shifted as she tilted her head in confusion. But then—

"Ah!"

"Lilliluka Erde?! Hestia Familia?!"

"Might you be… Mr. Luan?"

Lilly recognized the man who had shouted as he pointed at her.

With large, round eyes and brown hair, he looked like a child whom nobles would hire

to take care of odd jobs.

Luan Espel.

An adventurer and former member of Apollo Familia, Hestia Familia's opponent in the

War Game.

Lilly and her friends had emerged victorious from that encounter and, as a result,

exiled Apollo from Orario. Former members of Apollo Familia had been released and

been given the chance to join another familia of their choice… Luan, it seemed, had

taken a job as a waiter at this bar and cafe .

Luan's surprise quickly turned to anger. He glared at Lilly with seething hatred.

"I-it's all your familia's fault that I'm stuck here cleaning tables instead of down in the

Dungeon as an adventurer! So, what are you going to do about it?!"

"Wasn't it your side that hunted Mr. Bell and declared the War Game to start with?

There is no reason for Lilly to do anything… But yes, there were a few dirty tricks

involved."

By the sound of it, Luan had been rejected by every other familia after the War Game.

Prums were already subjected to discrimination, and he was just a low-class

adventurer who had never leveled up. He might have been a former member of the

middle-class Apollo Familia, but unlike third-tier members like Daphne and

Cassandra, no one came to him with an offer.

Even when he went to offer his services, all the talk turned to his apparent "betrayal"

during the battle at Shreme Castle. The obstacle was too much to overcome, and he

had been shown the door every time.

…His reputation as the "Trojan Horse" had spread throughout the city, when in fact it

had been Lilly, disguised as Luan using her Magic, Cinder Ella, who stabbed Apollo

Familia in the back. The real Luan never made it to the battlefield and spent the entire

time locked in a storage container somewhere in the city. Apparently, all the attention

had been on the battle taking place outside the castle, and there were no witnesses to

Lilly's big reveal, when she deactivated Cinder Ella. Therefore, the dramatic shift in the

War Game was blamed on Luan… He couldn't escape the stigma.

Although it was common practice to devise strategies before the War Game to reduce

an enemy's fighting strength before battle—Welf, Mikoto, and Lyu themselves had

been hindered by a mysterious robber while in transit to the battlefield—Lilly still felt

they had wronged Luan in their pursuit of victory.

"But Lilly has heard that Lord Miach offered you a place in his familia. Lilly also heard

his offer was rejected… Why didn't you accept?"

"E-wh… I-I was a member of Apollo Familia, you know? Why the hell would I join such

a weak familia that's drowning in debt?"

Lilly looked at him with her eyes narrowed in a pointed stare, clearly unswayed by the

short adventurer's excuses.

It wasn't as though she didn't understand the stress that came with a loan… but more

than that, she felt it was Luan's trivial pride that was stopping him. As proof, Daphne

and Cassandra had chosen to join that "weak familia that's drowning in debt" of their

own accord.

"Well then, how about joining Lilly's familia? Lilly will ask Lady Hestia herself," she

suggested with a hint of sympathy in her voice.

"Like hell I would! You guys have even more debt than Lord Miach's lot!" He shot down

the suggestion. He brought up the bombshell of her own familia's financial situation.

Lilly could see there was no point in trying to help anymore and gave up.

"…Someone is waiting for Lilly, so Lilly's going inside."

"Whatever."

She brought the fruitless argument to an end. Luan turned his back, seething with

anger.

A little put off by his rudeness, Lilly stepped past him and onto the dining floor.

She started looking for the one who invited her to this place—and found him

immediately.

He was sitting at a table at the back of the bar, next to an open window. Illuminated by

incoming sunlight, he was extremely easy to find due to all the excited whispers and

people looking in his direction.

"—Oh, you decided to come."

Finn Deimne had been reading a small book, one sized for prums. Noticing Lilly's

presence, he looked up from its pages as she approached.

Perhaps to hide his identity, or perhaps as a fashion statement, Finn was wearing

glasses.

They gave him an air of intelligence and suited his combination of childish visage and

mature aura, which was one of the main reasons he was so popular with female

adventurers all over the city. Lilly could see that firsthand now.

He gave her a friendly smile, stirring onlookers into a small frenzy. No one would have

guessed that Lilly was the person the famous top-tier adventurer, beloved by his

people and proud holder of the title "Braver," was waiting for.

Lilly could feel the surprise in their collective gaze gathering around her. Even Luan,

mouth open and glaring daggers at her, was frozen in disbelief. She felt like a fish out

of water, unsure what to do next.

Finn, on the other hand, didn't seem to care about their audience and kept talking as

if nothing was out of the ordinary.

"I honestly didn't think you would come here today. Perhaps a messenger, but never

you in person."

"…If you were so uncertain, then why make the offer in the first place?" The situation

with Bell still weighing on her heart, Lilly's response was heavily laced with irony.

Oh no! she thought as soon as the words were out of her mouth. She had just addressed

a first-tier adventurer, someone who was unquestionably her superior, with such a

rude tone. A thrill ran up her spine as she waited for his response, but he just quietly

chuckled to himself.

His golden hair gently swished in the soft sunlight coming in through the window.

"How about taking a seat?"

"…"

His calm demeanor was unchanged as Lilly stayed quiet and did as she was told. She

didn't take her eyes off his smile as she sat down in the chair on the opposite side of

the table from Finn.

"Since this is the first time the two of us have had a chance to speak like this, I think

self-introductions might be in order? I'm Finn Deimne. Thank you for coming today."

"…Lilliluka Erde."

Both ofthem knew each other's names, but Finn still gave her his name out of courtesy.

Lilly followed suit. Their meeting to discuss the possibility of marriage was officially

under way.

Finn set his glasses down next to a cup that was still mostly full. He ordered a drink

for Lilly, and Luan brought it to the table. He set a glass in front of her, his expression

a stew of complicated emotions. As soon as Luan stepped away, their conversation

began.

"Is it safe to assume that you are open to my proposal, since you came here yourself?"

Finn didn't try to make small talk or give any explanations. His voice was soft, and a

gentle smile never left his face as he spoke. All Lilly could do was look at her lap.

—It might be a good idea to accept his offer, said a little voice inside her head. Her

feelings for the boy would never lead to anything; that was painfully obvious now.

Therefore, she couldn't shake the feeling that going along with the proposal of the man

sitting in front of her was the best option. Finn was a prum like her, but the one

everyone knew as the "Braver."

Bell had said that she would "live happily." That was likely true. Sitting face-to-face

with him, she got a good sense of Finn's integrity as well as the strength of his

character. Considering his social position and resources, whoever became Finn

Deimne's partner would no doubt live in great comfort, without a worry in the world.

This kind of offer would never come her way again. It was a once-in-a-lifetime

opportunity, her only chance. Without Hestia's permission, Lilly couldn't leave the

familia, but if she chose to follow Finn, most likely she'd live an easy, privileged life for

the rest of her days.

There might even come a day when Finn would displace the young white-haired boy

in her heart.

"…Please answer one question." Lilly had posed many questions and answered them

inside her own head up until that point. Her words came out as little more than

whispers. She slowly lifted her head and her chestnut-colored eyes met his blue ones.

"Why was Lilly selected?"

That was the most important question.

To be blunt, she hadn't had the best upbringing. A life of crime—her past was stained

by her time as a thief.

Lilly thought that a person who had walked her path was unfit to be with someone

like Finn. So she wanted to know how he truly felt.

"Did Bell Cranell not tell you? It was your courage that made an impression on me."

"Courage? Countless other prums have courage. What's more, there are many far

stronger prums than Lilly."

"You may be right. But strength and courage don't always come together. You faced

incredible danger and still had the will to overcome it while knowing your own

weakness. I remember what you did on the eighteenth floor. You put your own life at

risk to help others, much like the great Phiana. You are a shining example to prums

everywhere."

Lilly blushed as Finn brought his innermost thoughts to light without any fanfare.

Caught off guard by his honest praise for a moment, she shook her head as soon as she

collected her thoughts.

"You give Lilly too much credit. Lilly is not some great angelic prum. As an adventurer,

Mr. Finn surely has heard rumors of a prum with 'sticky fingers'? One who steals items

and money from other adventurers?"

"That I have."

"Lilly is that prum. She lured adventurers into traps and stole everything valuable they

carried. Yes, anyone Lilly didn't like met the same fate. So Lilly is the worst, a

horrible—"

"The fact that rumors exist in the first place means the victims lived to tell their tale. I

have looked into these incidents myself, since one of my subordinates was involved.

Every single one of the victims is alive and well."

"…"

Even after Lilly confessed to her dark past, Finn was unfazed and calmly pointed out

that she hadn't killed anyone.

Lilly looked back down into her lap.

She wanted to refute his words. She had committed so many crimes over the years,

and there were a few times she'd seriously considered taking the lives of adventurers.

However, those adventurers had been so tenacious.

Despite losing everything, they clung to life with the persistence of cockroaches.

That was the reason she had stayed her hand—it wasn't worth it.

The best way to get revenge was to make them suffer as much as possible. Killing them

quickly would have been too merciful and a waste, so she chose not to go through with

taking their lives.

Lilly… had been naive.

"I've lived in Orario long enough to know that stealing possessions rather than taking

lives is very tame… I'm no god. I have no right to judge you, nor am I interested in

doing so."

His words were strong, piercing like a spear. But his expression was gentle. Finn

smiled and said:

"All I see is who you are now."

"…"

"And who you are now possesses an important quality that our people have lost."

Finn's blue eyes blinked. He looked at Lilly with admiration.

"Lilly… hasn't come home."

I whisper to myself while standing in the living room.

I looked all around the city for Lilly last night, but there was no sign of her, so I came

back to our home with my nonexistent tail between my legs.

The one shred of hope that I still had, that I repeated to myself over and over, was that

she'd be back by morning… And now the sun is up, but no Lilly.

"Did she really… go to meet Finn…?"

She said she would. And today's the day.

Welf and Mikoto are making breakfast in the kitchen… I think about it long and hard,

but I decide to go to the goddess for advice.

After climbing the stairs, I arrive at her third-floor room and knock on her door."Come

on in," comes her voice from the other side.

"Oh, it's you, Bell. I heard from Haruhime that our supporter is gone. You know

anything about it?"

I… I don't know what to say.

She's getting ready to go to work at her part-time job at a Jyaga Maru Kun street stand

when I step inside. She hits me with that question right off the bat. I avoid making eye

contact, looking around the room for a few moments before I divulge everything that

happened last night with what I'm sure is a pitiful look on my face.

I give her every detail, hoping for some tidbit of advice. She sighs.

A big one, too. I blink a few times.

"Bell. You—If you're trying to make her happy, you can't think so hard before you take

action."

"!"

My head snaps up to look at my goddess.

It's true. Considering all that happened to Lilly while she was with Soma Familia, I

don't want to say it's out of sympathy, but I want her to be happy.

And after Finn said that… Finn said that she would "be happy." And knowing who he

is, I'm sure he would make her happy. She'd be happier with him, a top-tier adventurer

much stronger than me.

Lilly said it herself. That the famous prum hero is much better than me, a class act, the

perfect gentleman.

…No matter what I say or do, nothing will change.

"Just to let you know, should the supporter… Lilliluka… ask to leave my familia, I won't

stop her."

"?!"

My goddess could see right into my mind—Is she actually reading my thoughts?!

A part of me deep down believed that, as our goddess, Lady Hestia would put an end

to this whole thing if it came to that. Suffice to say, that confidence is gone now.

"That'd be one less rival to worry about…"

My mind is going in too many directions at once to comprehend what she just said

under her breath. Then she raises her head.

"Bell. From the supporter's point of view, your inability to make a decision either way

just feels like meddling in her business. I'm pretty sure she'd say it herself: that she'll

decide how she wants to live, how she'll be happiest."

"Ah…"

"If I were in her shoes, and you were the one who came to me with that proposal, it

would be a real shock."

She looks at me kindly and says something that sounds like criticism, but it also

sounds like she's enjoying herself.

"Bell, our supporter will disappear if you don't do something. Is that what you want?"

"I… I…"

"You know, you should be more selfish."

She smiles at me with those pure blue eyes of hers. I stand still for a moment. My hands

curl into fists a heartbeat later.

"—Please excuse me. I don't need breakfast!"

I turn away from Lady Hestia and run out of the room. I see her soft smile after taking

one last look over my shoulder. Then I'm down the stairs and out of the manor in no

time flat.

"…Haaah… Gods always have to suffer."

Hestia let out a long sigh as she watched Bell race through the front gate from her

window, knowing full well she was helping her rival.

Despite what she had said, the smile hadn't disappeared from Hestia's lips.

"Hey! Hey, Aiz! Get a load'a this! Finn's gonna get hitched!"

Aiz turned her head to face the voice and received a hug from behind.

It was at Loki Familia's home, in a narrow hallway of the residence.

The Amazonian girl Tiona ran by many doors as she raced through the passageway

toward Aiz. She had both her arms around the human girl's shoulders in an instant

and was absolutely bubbling with energy.

"Finn is…?"

"Yep, yep! I heard him talking about it with Riveria in the hallway last night! Just

happened to be at the right place at the right time!"

Aiz's golden eyes were wide open in a rare expression of surprise. At the same time,

Tiona was vigorously nodding, barely able to contain her excitement.

"And get this! Finn was wearing glasses when he left this morning—saw it myself! He

was going to meet his bride for sure! Ohhhhh, I wonder what kind of lady he's gonna

bring home?"

Tiona verbalized every thought flying through her head, causing a ruckus in the

hallway.

Aiz did her best to move with the elated Amazon who currently had her in a bear hug.

"Hmm," she said quietly, raising her chin as she thought about it. It seemed strange to

her that that prum, her general, would be discussing marriage. She was just about to

mention that when—

"—Want to clarify what you're talking about?"

A voice as cold as ice.

""Ah.""

Aiz and Tiona froze in place. They knew who the female warrior standing behind them

was without looking.

"I only received the grandiose title 'Braver' because I pressured Loki into it."

It was a corner in the Hidden Home of the Prums.

Finn and Lilly's conversation continued with the whispers of onlookers still swirling

around them.

Finn explained how he had negotiated with Loki to push for his moniker to be "Braver"

at his naming ceremony during a Denatus session. It was his way of denying himself

an escape route from his mission. He was bound and determined to become the

rallying flag of the prum race.

"I'm willing to do anything for the revival of our people. That goes for the prums yet

to be born into this world as well. And to do that… I need an heir of my own."

Lilly sat, dumbfounded, and listened to Finn talk about the extent of his resolve and

why a fitting partner was necessary for him.

Orphaned at an early age, Lilly had struggled just to stay alive. She had no time for

faith in Phiana, nor did she know all that much about the goddess. However, she knew

that Phiana was important to prums, which was just about how much other races

knew about the prum goddess as well.

Despite that, Finn helped her understand the important role courage played in

providing a beacon of hope in place of Phiana. As well as how much he devoted himself

to it.

"…Mr. Finn, is there no woman who holds a special place in your heart?"

The question came out of Lilly's mouth before she knew it.

Everything she'd heard up to this point made her believe that Finn was sacrificing

himself for the good of his people. She couldn't help but ask. Her question caught Finn

by surprise, but he answered.

"…There is one obnoxious girl who is rather fond of me."

He paused for a moment then chuckled at himself.

"It's led to some embarrassing moments and quite a few headaches… but it feels like

something's missing when she's not around. Sometimes I wonder if there's something

wrong with me."

His lips awkwardly turned up into a forced smile, but Lilly could see the kindness in

it.

"—But I have no interest in just living a happy life. No, the moment a simply happy life

grows on me, everything I've done, every obstacle I've overcome so far will have been

for nothing."

A new wave of conviction passed over his face. Like a valiant knight renewing his vows,

Finn's blue eyes sparkled in the sunlight.

It was all for his people. As a fellow prum, Lilly was moved by his awe-inspiring

willingness to devote himself to that cause. She couldn't help it. She could never

possess such strong conviction, such dedication to a lofty goal as he had to his people.

Ah—.

Seeing the way Finn lived his life inspired something within her heart.

No, made her remember. Her feelings for the boy.

That's right…

The one who had rescued her wasn't her fellow prum Finn Deimne, nor was it one of

the gods.

It was Bell.

Everyone had always ignored the muddy prum at their feet. The first person to look

her way, to really see her, was that white-haired boy.

Yes, that's right. Lilly is…

As unlikely as it was, even if Hestia ever turned away from him, Lilly would never

abandon him. Even if the world labeled him a criminal, exiling him to some faraway

place, it would be Lilly right by his side. She would continue to support him.

The boy was barreling forward at a breakneck pace, but even still, Lilly would travel

that path with him for the rest of her life.

On that day he forgave, accepted, held, and laughed with her—she had made her

decision.

"…"

What's this? Lilly laughed to herself.

All in all, she and Finn were one and the same. It was almost like looking in the mirror.

She had something to devote her life to.

In that moment, a guaranteed happy life slipped through Lilly's fingers. The same

emotions that had caused her so much pain over the past two days would probably

strike again.

However, she had already decided: No matter what happened, she would never leave

that boy's side. It was not completely out of atonement—she simply wanted to. Lilly

would continue to support Bell.

She would devote her life to her family, much like the man in front of her was doing.

"It really… didn't matter…"

"?"

Lilly quietly whispered under her breath. Finn tilted his head.

In negative terms, Lilly was blind; to a more neutral perspective, she was loyal. But

looking at it in the best possible way, it was unconditional love.

She, a very plain-looking girl, was competing with a goddess, among others. A tiny part

of her felt that way. But whether Aiz Wallenstein was in the running or not, whether

Bell had someone special to him or not, none of that had mattered from the beginning.

"…Sorry, Mr. Finn."

Lilly sat up straight and looked Finn directly in the eye.

"Lilly declines your offer."

She smiled softly and bowed her head.

"Can I hear the reason?"

Finn returned her smile and asked why.

"Just like you have devoted your life to our people, Lilly, too… has devoted her life to

Bell. Lilly has made up her mind."

Lilly explained that the two of them were one and the same.

The scale of their commitments might be completely different, but their level of

determination was identical. Lilly responded with gratitude to the man who had

reminded her of something she nearly lost.

"I see," Finn said with a nod. "…Haaa… So it wasn't going to work out after all." Finn

closed his eyes and sighed, a weak smile on his lips.

"I had an inkling going in that there wasn't much hope. Even my thumb told me this

wouldn't work out… Call it my intuition."

"If that's so, why make the offer?"

Lilly was confused by his remarks. Finn, however, whose youthful expression matched

his appearance, gave her a genuine smile.

"Didn't I tell you? It was your courage that caught my eye."

"Ah…"

"From one prum to another, your courage took my breath away," he said. "How could

I not try to make a move?"

He placed his right hand over his chest, but he seemed truly happy.

It was his standard as Braver.

Just as he was trying to inspire his people, he was looking for a partner who could

inspire him.

"Well, looks like I'm back to square one."

Finn leaned back in his chair and cast his gaze thoughtfully toward the ceiling.

It wasn't Loki Familia's general sitting across from Lilly at the table but Finn as he truly

was as a person. Seeing that made Lilly smile.

"If Lilly meets anyone special, she'll introduce you right away."

"Please do. I don't think I'm cut out for this sort of thing. I've always been unlucky."

Finn grinned back at her.

Although she had turned down his proposal, the two were happy to at least find

someone who shared their strong feelings of devotion to a cause, and they exchanged

lighthearted smiles.

A calming air descended upon the table.

"Sir, sir! What are you doing?!"

""?""

That's when it happened.

The door was practically thrown off its hinges as every customer looked toward the

front in a mix of surprise and confusion.

Lilly and Finn were among them. And what should greet their eyes but an extremely

out-of-breath white-haired human boy.

"M-Mr. Bell?!"

Lilly reflexively jumped to her feet as the boy made a remarkably late entrance.

His eyes opened wide the moment her voice reached his ears. Breaking through the

bar staff trying to block his path, Bell rushed over to their table.

The boy had made his way all the way to the Hidden Home of the Prums either by his

vague memories of the map on Finn's note or by wandering around aimlessly until he

found it, and he went straight to Finn. Lilly watched in dumbfounded silence.

"Mr. Finn! Please, please don't take Lilly away!"

"Huh?" was all Lilly could say.

Finn stayed seated with a blank look on his face.

But only for a moment. Instantly piecing together what was happening, he glanced

over at Lilly and winked. A slightly evil smile appeared on his lips.

"How unfortunate—She's already accepted my offer, Bell Cranell."

Lilly was speechless. Shock was the only thing keeping her from jumping in and asking

what he meant by that.

Just wait, the prum said with his eyes, stopping Lilly in her tracks. Her chance to get

angry at him was gone.

At the same time, all the color had drained from Bell's face. But he didn't give up.

"I still—I still want to be with Lilly! I don't want to let her go!"

The strength behind Bell's scream caught Lilly by surprise, making her blush.

A glint appeared in Finn's eyes, as if he was enjoying himself. He started speaking

again, the wicked smile still on his lips. "The two of us have already decided to unite

as one. Are you really going to trample on that?"

"Yes!"

"Well, it sounds like you have a vested interest. So then, what is she to you?"

"She's part of my familia—my family!"

"Is that all? That's hardly enough."

"…She was my first ally and is a very, very important partner!"

Finn spurred Bell into yelling his true feelings for Lilly at the top of his lungs.

She listened to every word, her heart beating with every syllable. Heat built up inside

her, to the point that her chest was aching.

That's when she figured out his plan. He was trying to show her exactly how much

Lilly meant to the boy. It was unfair, almost dirty. Was there a way to stop this runaway

train?

This human who had forced his way onto the dining floor was now exchanging words

with Braver in the center of a crowd. Lilly was turning redder by the second, unable to

do much more than look left and right between the two.

"At long last, I found the bride I've been searching for. I won't give up on this marriage

that easily… Or will you try to take her by force? From me?"

Screech. Finn stood from the chair, looking up at Bell as he issued a challenge.

He was Level 6, a top-tier adventurer even stronger than Ishtar Familia's Phryne Jamil.

Bell cleared his throat but didn't back down.

It was his turn to be selfish, and he would see it through to the end no matter who

stood in his way. Bell squared his shoulders and faced Finn directly.

"You've got spirit, and this could be interesting… The winner of our duel will decide

her fate!"

Braver was getting caught up in the moment and having a bit too much fun. Forgetting

his age, Finn pointed at the ruby-red-eyed boy, like he was a cocky teenager itching for

a fight.

Luan had gone completely slack-jawed as he watched it all unfold. The rest of the prum

staff and patrons gathered around the table, excited to see what would happen next.

As for Lilly, she couldn't be blushing any harder.

Wh… What is going ooooooon?!

Bell and Finn were about to fight over her?

One of them might've been just joking around, but the other one was completely

serious. She could see it in the boy's eyes.

It was like a scene out of a fairy tale—two knights fighting for the right to marry a

young maiden, or perhaps the queen. That was her part in the story, and it made her

face burn with embarrassment.

I'm not fit for this role! I'm a servant of the castle, at the most! Or so she silently

screamed inside her head.

Looking vaguely similar to a boiling apple, Lilly watched Bell muster up every bit of

courage he possessed and Finn grin with the same twinkle in his eye.

Surrounded by the cheers of his kin, Finn declared:

"If by some chance you manage to land a hit, I will concede. However, should I win, she

will be my bride."

"Get him!" came the jeering voices of the prum onlookers. Bell slowly nodded and took

three steps back away from the corner of the dining floor before turning to face Finn

once again.

This has gone too far, Lilly thought to herself, the shame taking its toll. She had to stop

this, run in between them and—

" General?"

A cold chill swept through the bar.

"""?!"""

Lilly, Finn, Bell—all flipped around to face the terrifying, murderous aura emanating

from the front.

On the other side of the panic-stricken crowd was an Amazon shrouded in a black

miasma.

"T-Tione… How long have you been standing there?"

"General, what did you mean by that just now? Marriage… Your bride?"

Finn reeled backward. Tione hadn't been there long enough to hear the whole thing.

There was no light in the Amazon's dead, empty eyes. Her plump, heavily exposed

breasts swayed with each heavy step she took in his direction. The floor under her feet

groaned precariously.

Her very presence overwhelmed the bar's patrons. Unable to withstand the pressure

of a top-tier adventurer, many collapsed to the floor like flies, staring at the ceiling

with drool running down their chins.

"How did you know I was here…?"

"I followed your scent."

"What are you, some kind of animal person…?"

While it might have been in jest, she was the last person Finn wanted to hear say those

words. Sweat was pouring down his face. At the same time, this Amazon who was head

over heels for the general to a frightening extent swayed back and forth as she made

her way through the tables and closer to the corner of the bar.

As soon as Tione got within three meders of Finn, her voice exploded:

"GENERAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLL—!!"

"Get a hold of yourself, Tione!"

Finn darted away to get out of the charging Amazon's path. Pushing his small body to

its limits, he stayed as close to the floor as possible and dashed away like a scared

rabbit, hopping in leaps and bounds.

An ominous light came to life inside the Amazon's eyes. Going berserk, she spun

around and chased the Braver out of the bar and into the streets at breakneck speed.

Thump, thump, thump, thump, thump! The last of their footsteps echoing through the

bar, a strange stillness filled the air.

Lilly, Bell, and the still-conscious prums were stunned.

"…Um, Lilly."

"!"

At a time when no one knew what to say, Bell cautiously broke the silence.

The rest of the prums lost interest, returning to their seats and massaging their aching

heads. Lilly's shoulders jumped up to her ears as she spun around to face the boy.

Bell threw his body into a deep bow right in front of her.

"I'm sorry! Sorry I couldn't make a decision, sorry that I wasn't clear…"

"N-no! This is a misunderstanding! That was all Mr. Finn's idea…! He was teasing you!"

"He… he was?"

"Yes! Lilly didn't accept his offer!"

Lilly desperately tried to explain what happened. Relief swelled within Bell's heart

with each passing moment.

Hand over his chest, the tension started to disappear from Bell's shoulders. He still

had a guilty look on his face, but he maintained eye contact with Lilly and spoke as

clearly as he could.

"I'm sorry—for everything. But I just… I still want you to be here with me."

Bell bared his heart to her, his cheeks taking on a slightly scarlet hue.

Lilly was much the same way, wide-eyed and blushing. Her lips slowly spread into a

smile.

"…Lilly is sorry, too. Suddenly getting angry, running away from home…"

"N-no, that was all because of me…"

"No, Mr. Bell. Lilly is at fault. She said in anger so many things she doesn't believe about

you and put you in a bad situation."

The two stood there, exchanging apologies. They looked away at the same time,

spouting even more explanations. Then they made eye contact again, blushing in

embarrassment and feeling a little awkward.

"…Shall we go home?"

"Yes!"

Bell shrugged and smiled. Lilly enthusiastically smiled back as she answered.

Bell then went to apologize to the prum staff for all the trouble he caused, breaking

into their bar, and did the same to the patrons soon after. Luan looked up from one of

them who was still passed out on the floor and yelled, "Never show your face here

again!" with all his anger. With that, Lilly and Bell left the Hidden Home of the Prums.

A clear blue sky above their heads, the two of them passed by crowds of demi-humans

as they walked down the side streets.

"Um, also, how can I put this…?"

The two of them were almost home. They were in such a good mood that the events

of last night didn't feel real anymore, and Bell felt comfortable enough to say what was

on his mind.

Lilly looked up at him and saw him blush a little as he stumbled over his words.

"Lilly, you're like a little sister to me."

"Mhh…"

"I-I only ever had my grandfather. No brothers, no sisters… So I didn't want to lose

one."

The boy shyly exposed the very deepest part of his heart to her. The corner of Lilly's

mouth twitched. She knew that he thought of her as nothing more than a little sister,

but hearing it still stung. She had decided to never leave his side no matter what

happened, but this was something else entirely.

Cheeks trembling as anger started to take hold once again, Lilly suddenly thought of

something and flashed a grin.

"Mr. Bell, oh Mr. Bell. Please lean in close."

"?"

Making a face fitting for an innocent little sister, she came to a stop and Bell did the

same, albeit confused. The clueless white rabbit did as he was told and bent over at

the waist so that the prum could whisper into his ear.

Lilly put her lips right next to it.

" I am older than you, Bell."

She spoke in the most adult, seductive way she knew how.

"?!"

A jolt ran down his spine as Bell stood up with a start. As he held his ear that Lilly had

spoken into, the rest of his face hung limply. It wasn't long before he began to blush.

Lilly was looking back up at him, barely open eyes twinkling. Without warning, a grin

appeared. The innocent-little-sister smile was back.

"Now let's get home, Mr. Bell."

"…Ho-hold on a second, Lilly! Are… are you serious?!"

"Who knows?"

She walked ahead at a brisk pace. Bell desperately tried to keep up.

Lilly's robe swished as she took a peek over her shoulder and saw that the boy was

beet red and practically falling over his feet. It brought yet another smile to her face.

I see, I see.

So thinking of her as an older sister triggered a reaction like that.

It was worth remembering.

Lilly's cheeks turned a light shade of pink as she listened to the boy's rambling behind

her and smiled happily.

Holding her hands behind her back, she had a bit more spring in her step as her

footfalls echoed off the stone pavement.

The boy's pitiful voice echoed through the busy street.

The prum girl enjoyed the warmth of the sunlight, dimples forming in her cheeks as

she savored the moment.