Dungeon ni Deai o Motomeru no wa Machigatte Iru Darou ka-Vol 3 Chapter 1.1: THE KENKI APPROCHES

The sun was shining down from directly overhead.

Its light brightened the main street north of Babel Tower.

Very few adventurers came up this way; civilians filled the street as well as a certain open café. The seats were occupied by people laughing and enjoying the warmth of the midday sun.

Bell and Lilly sat across from each other at a table surrounded by the parasols of the many patrons enjoying their lunch outside.

“So, you’re done with Soma Familia?”

“Yes. Because Lilly has no doubt that they think she’s dead.”

A day had passed since Bell and Lilly made their party anew.

Bell wanted to know about Lilly’s current situation, and was listening to her explanation.

“Since Lilly is dead, there is no reason for her to continue being involved in Soma Familia. At the same time, Soma Familia won’t come looking for her. Why would they? Lilly’s gone, after all.”

Lilly continued, explaining that they shouldn’t cause a problem for Bell, either.

Bell’s brow darkened slightly as he took in Lilly’s face, her clear eyes and charming features now clearly visible thanks to the disappearance of her bangs, which vanished upon her transformation.

“Don’t worry about me…Anyway, are you sure you’re okay with being labeled as dead?”

“Thank you for your concern, Mr. Bell. But it’s better to cut them off. Lilly doesn’t have anyone to rely on over there anyway…And as you know, Mr. Bell, Lilly is satisfied with that.”

Lilly was speaking from her heart. Bell understood, and decided not to push any further on this topic.

He didn’t want to reopen any of the girl’s wounds, so he considered the matter resolved.

“I’ll take you at your word, Lilly. But I wonder if Soma Familia will find out? That you’re alive, I mean.”

“Lilly can’t guarantee that they won’t, but she’s spent the past two days erasing any trail that could lead to her. There isn’t any need to worry. Plus, Lilly has this.”

Lilly lightly placed her hands on her head with a small thud and rubbed her hair. Her usual chestnut-colored hair shifted to a dark brown as cat ears popped out of her head just behind her hands. Her eyes had become a golden brown.

“Cinder Ella.”

Thanks to this magic, Lilly always had an ace up her sleeve. No matter how anyone looked at the girl now, they would see an Animal People child. While the shape of Lilly’s face was mostly unchanged, she looked nothing like the prum she really was.

As long as this “ace” was a secret, the chances that anyone else would be able to realize this girl was Lilliluka Erde were one in a million. Bell himself had been shocked when he found out about Lilly’s magic.

“Umm, so then…”

“Yes, there’s no problem. Even if someone found out, they would never be able to make trouble for you, Mr. Bell.”

Bell grimaced and nodded, not worried about his own safety. Yet at the same time, he did feel relieved.

With things how they were, there was almost no way that Lilly would get caught up in another dangerous situation. And even if she were, Bell would be able to help.

Truth be told, Bell felt angry and sad after hearing what Lilly had to say—angry at those who would treat others as if they weren’t people, and sad that those who did would go unpunished.

However, thinking about it from Lilly’s position, she shouldn’t be involved with Soma Famiila at all. To do so now would be like calling a pack of wolves onto both Lilly and Bell.

As long as Lilly was safe, nothing else mattered. Bell forced his own misgivings out of his mind as he arrived at that conclusion.

They’d already buried the hatchet.

While it wasn’t completely gone, the distance between Bell and Lilly had almost disappeared. They were comfortable enough with each other now to reach out and shake hands.

It’s a blank slate from today, Bell thought as a smile emerged on his lips.

“……Mr. Bell.”

“Eh? What is it?”

“Is this really okay with you, Mr. Bell?”

“Huh?”

“Is it okay to forgive Lilly like this?”

At that moment, Lilly’s expression was the exact opposite of Bell’s, dark and dispirited.

She looked up at Bell with the eyes of a criminal begging for forgiveness.

“Lilly tricked Mr. Bell. She took advantage of Mr. Bell’s kindness and betrayed him.”

“……”

“And there’s no way to return what Lilly stole. If she’s forgiven like this, Lilly’ll…”

This was the reason the two couldn’t get much closer than a handshake.

Lilly felt horrible. Guilt hung over her head. She craved redemption.

She was tormented by the things she had done in her past. Bell had lost count of how many times she had apologized.

Lilly had lost everything, due to recent events. All of the money and items she carried with her, as well as her life savings of gnome jewels, had been stolen from her by a former “ally” in Soma Familia. The knowledge that she had absolutely nothing to give Bell to help make up for what she had taken from him was driving her mad.

No matter how many times Bell told her not to worry about it, rather than cheering up, she looked more and more depressed. It was like she wanted some kind of punishment, something more than just a slap on the wrist.

But I’m not asking for anything like that…Bell’s face contorted as if he’d just lost an argument. He looked back over the table at Lilly.

He wasn’t good at this kind of thing—not just deciding punishment, but even looking down on someone from a moral high ground made Bell uncomfortable.

Up until now, his situation had always been the opposite.

Bell racked his brain, trying to find some way to help alleviate Lilly’s feelings of guilt, when reinforcements arrived.

“He-ey! Bell!”

“Ah! Goddess!”

Bell stood up as the voice of a young girl called his name. Just as he expected, the goddess Hestia had arrived at the café.

Hestia wasn’t very tall. In fact, she wasn’t all that much different from Lilly in terms of height. The goddess wove through the vibrant crowd of customers and made her way to Bell and Lilly’s table.

“Sorry to keep you waiting. Have you been here long?”

“No, not at all. I’m the one who should apologize. You had to take time off from your job to come here…”

“Nothing to worry about. So then…this is the girl?”

“Ah, yes. She’s the one I told you about…”

“I-I’m Lilliluka Erde. N-nice to meet you.” Lilly jumped off the chair and made a quick bow.

The two of them had come to the café today at Hestia’s request.

Her intentions were clear. She wanted to see with her own eyes the supporter working with the only member of her Familia.

If Lilly didn’t receive Hestia’s permission, their newly reformed party could be disbanded before it even got started. Knowing that was a very real possibility, Lilly couldn’t hide her nervousness as she looked up to face the goddess.

Sensing the tension, a small “ah” escaped Bell’s lips as if he suddenly remembered something important.

“Oh no. I forgot to get a chair for you, Goddess…”

“……! What, it’s nothing to worry about! With this many people, I doubt there’s a spare chair anyway. Go ahead and have a seat, Bell. I’ll sit on your knee!”

“Ha-ha-ha, you sure like joking around like that, don’t you, Goddess? Just wait here for a minute. I’ll go find someone and get another chair ready.”

He left with a big smile on his face. It was the innocent smile of a child who knew nothing of plots and schemes.

Hestia turned and watched him leave, standing still for a moment before her twin black ponytails sunk like the tail of a sad puppy.

Lilly looked on in confusion at the dark cloud of sadness hovering over Hestia.

“…Wh-what luck. I wanted to find a way to get him to go away for a moment anyway. It’s no big deal.”

“Y-yes.”

Hestia plunked her rear end into Bell’s now vacant chair, her face pouty and a bit red.

Lilly followed suit and sat down.

“Well, let’s get right to it. Never know when he’ll be back. No need for introductions, right? I’m sure Bell told you who I am.”

“Y-yes.”

It would still be a few more minutes before Lilly realized in what direction Hestia was driving the conversation.

While Lilly was a young prum girl, her youthful look and innocence were nothing compared to Hestia’s. The goddess seemed to exist right on the border between “fetching girl” and “lovely young lady.”

But that uncertainty somehow only accentuated her beautiful, fine features.

She was part mischievous troublemaker, but also refined—both elements seemingly intertwined within her.

Sunlight that managed to find its way between the parasols struck Hestia’s jet-black ponytails, making them glitter around her.

“I’ll ask you up front. Supporter, are you still trying to run any scams?”

“—”

Lilly was taken aback by the too-direct question.

Hestia didn’t even blink as she stared across the table. Despite her looks, Hestia possessed a dignity befitting a goddess.

Lilly suddenly realized she was being tested. Hestia had seen right through her.

As proof, Hestia had not said Lilly’s name even once up to this point. However, after all that Lilly had done to Bell, it was only natural that the goddess saw her as an untrustworthy prum.

In response, Lilly spoke earnestly from her heart. “Absolutely not. Lilly was saved by Mr. Bell. Lilly doesn’t want to do anything that could hurt or betray him anymore.”

Their eyes met, both unblinking. Neither looked away. The background noises of the street and the café seemed distant.

No one can lie to a god. While she had heard the words before, it was not until that moment that Lilly realized how true they were. Hestia could see right through her.

The gods and goddesses had the power to detect any lie here in the earthly world of Gekai, if they felt like it.

“…Hmm, okay. I’ll believe those words.”

Hestia’s words put a merciful end to an extremely long minute for Lilly.

All of the air that had built up in Lilly’s lungs was suddenly released as the muscles in her shoulders relaxed.

“Supporter, Bell is a very special person to me. He’s my pride and joy, the center of my world. My first member, my first family. I can tell you honestly that I don’t want to lose him.”

Hestia paused for a moment, inhaling, and then continued.

“Bell has told me a lot about you, including your motivations for stealing.”

“……”

“I have no intention of giving you any cheap sympathy. In fact, that would be impossible. So, I have nothing to say on the subject…However.”

She let the word hang to let Lilly know that this was the important part.

As she opened her mouth to speak again, Hestia’s eyes blocked out everything except for the girl.

“If you should do something, anything, that puts that boy in a dangerous situation again…I will make you pay.”

—Lilly couldn’t move.

For a moment, she forgot how to breathe.

A very important fact had slipped her mind. While the girl in front of her didn’t look much different from anyone else around them, she was from a completely different world. She was a goddess.

It was so obvious that Hestia had the power—like all deities from Deusdia—to turn this entire city to ash in an instant, that Lilly had forgotten it.

Under a blue gaze so cold it sent icicles through her heart, Lilly drew power from her true feelings to make a response. It took all of her might to open her mouth to speak.

“…Lilly swears to you. She will never do anything to put Mr. Bell in danger, Lady Hestia in danger…or even Lilly herself, ever again.”

Other café patrons continued their casual conversations with no idea what was unfolding behind them.

The two of them sat there in silence for some time before Hestia closed her eyes, signaling the end of that conversation.

Blinking several times, Hestia mouthed, “Okay” to the girl. Seeing that broke the ice that had kept Lilly’s body rigid, and she went limp. She was about to fall face-first into the table but managed to catch herself at the last moment.

After delivering her warning, Hestia crossed her arms in front of her incredibly bulbous chest and eyed Lilly silently. She started sulking. Lilly noticed the heavy aura emanating from the goddess and did everything she could to make her body smaller.

“…Supporter. I’ll be honest with you.”

“Y-yes?”

“I hate you. I don’t want you anywhere near Bell.”

“!”

Lilly’s eyes shot open as Hestia continued.

“It should be obvious. I knew you were bad news from the moment I first heard about you—taking advantage of Bell’s kindness and doing whatever you please. Even now, you’re trying to gain favor by acting like you’ve already paid your dues. What’s your scheme, you deceiving vixen?!”

The cat ears on top of Lilly’s head from her “Cinder Ella” magic began to shake. The prum then broke out in a cold sweat, confused by Hestia’s choice of words.

“Besides, what’s with you? You’ve been making that downcast face ever since I sat down. I’m getting depressed just looking at you!”

It was like she was claiming Lilly’s very presence made the food taste bad.

The goddess kept going, pouting like a toddler.

“I’ll bet you were thinking about Bell, weren’t you?”

“!”

“How did I know, you ask? Because I saw a look on your face that I only see when I look in the mirror! Ahhh, I hate this! I don’t want you spending time with Bell!”

Terrible waves of dread began to run up Hestia’s back.

The other patrons had noticed something was going on, their eyes on the two girls but inching away. Lilly looked like she was going to cry.

“Being saved by Bell made you turn over a new leaf, huh? Did you stop to think that you’re just going to cause him more trouble because he’s too kind for his own good?”

“?!”

“He won’t do anything to you for revenge, so you’re feeling the crushing weight of guilt on your shoulders. But if I may say so, you’re just taking advantage of him. I really, really hate you.”

Hestia’s words were blades, cutting deeper and deeper.

Hestia’s eyes locked squarely on the prum. Lilly couldn’t make a sound.

“Fine, then. I’ll punish you in Bell’s place. But just so you know, you have no right to refuse. I’ll give a pure ‘Judgment’ right here and now.”

Air shot of out Hestia’s nose in a flow of anger.

A dazzled Lilly could do nothing more than nod. There might even have been a part of her that accepted the words of Bell’s goddess and wanted to go along with them.

Lilly waited for Hestia’s mouth to open again, every nerve in her body about to explode.

As for Hestia, she was grinding her teeth together, menacingly towering over Lilly…until words failed her. Hestia let out a deep sigh.

“Please, look after Bell.”

“…eh?”

“Tch.” Hestia almost spat the sound in Lilly’s direction. “Let me just say this: I’m not doing it for you. After hearing him talk about you, I’m worried about Bell. You could say my fears were confirmed…He’s easily tricked.”

“……”

“So I ask you. Make sure he doesn’t get fooled by some stranger. You must guard him.”

Lilly sat there in shock. She gathered her thoughts, trying to respond, but nothing came out of her mouth.

Hestia’s gaze didn’t allow it.

“You know, I’m not doing something cheeky like passing judgment on you, right? We deities don’t do that nowadays. The reason you feel guilty is because you won’t forgive yourself.”

Hestia intensified her glare, as if to say Don’t go to Bell looking for forgiveness.

“If you want to pay him back, help him until he’s satisfied. It’s obvious. You know that thing called sincerity? And finishing what you start? If you really have changed, then prove it with your actions.”

Hestia’s torrent of words finally came to an end.

Hestia may have been harsh, but Lilly could sense the goddess’s true colors.

The Goddess Hestia had given her a chance. She was merciful.

She was generous and noble at the same time.

Everything up to that point had been her personal feelings. But despite all that, she decided to allow Lilly to be Bell’s supporter.

She would extend mercy to anyone; she was a protector of those in need.

Thankful for her sudden warmth, Lilly silently looked up at Hestia before giving her a deep bow of her head.

The aura between the two girls had become as tranquil as a lagoon hidden deep within a forest.

“Sorry to keep you waiting—!”

“…I grant you my blessing to work with him. Please be sure to protect him. Just don’t do anything more than that.”

“Wha… ?”

Hestia’s sudden warning broke the tranquility. Lilly’s eyes opened in disbelief.

Before she could ask her what she meant by that, Bell set a chair down at their table. The moment he opened his mouth to apologize yet again, Hestia quickly reached out, snagged his arm, and pulled it into her.

“Ah—”

“Goddess… ?”

“Shall we reintroduce ourselves? Nice to meet you, Supporter. Looks like you’re going to be helping my Bell out a lot in the near future.”

Hestia put a little too much emphasis on “my.” Her aura had changed once again. Now she was like a tigress protecting her territory. Her cold stare from before had become a line of fire, as if to say hands off or I’ll tear you apart.

Lilly flinched away, her cheek twitching at Hestia’s maneuvering.

She was a goddess. Generous and righteous, Hestia was worthy of worship and praise.

But she was also a child.

Or rather—a rival.

She was pulling Bell’s arm up against her, purposefully creating a barrier in front of him. A spark of anger flashed in the back of Lilly’s mind.

They had come to a point of peace just a moment ago, but this was different.

Whoosh! Lilly reached out with both hands and grabbed ahold of Bell’s other arm.

Lilly faced down Hestia’s burning glare of death with her own defiant gaze.

“No no, the pleasure’s all Lilly’s. Bell has always been so terribly kind to Lilly, after all.”

“……!”