Chapter 536 - 536: The Operation

Inside the Dungeon, the expedition party had set up camp to rest.

Although the party's goal was to return to the surface as quickly as possible without compromising safety, the abilities of its members varied considerably. The first-class Adventurers could force themselves to fight day and night, but the other members of Loki Familia could not do the same.

So after their long journey, Finn ordered the party to make camp on the 28th Floor. Once everyone had recovered, they would push through Water City and the Tree Labyrinth in one stretch.

The phosphorescence on the walls was rather dim. Despite being one of the safe floors, the 28th Floor was completely different from the floor where Rivira Town was located, giving the place an oppressively gloomy atmosphere.

Relying on [Luck], Bell gathered all kinds of fruit from the Dungeon and used them to prepare a meal, replenishing the nutrients the expedition party desperately needed. After dinner, he leaned against a wall and waited for a certain girl to arrive.

Before long, Ais walked over to Bell.

"Bell..."

Like an obedient kitten, the blonde girl lowered her head slightly and brought her beautiful golden hair within Bell's reach.

"You've worked really hard, Ais-san. Make sure you get some rest."

Bell reached out with his right hand and gently stroked her golden hair.

Ever since the battle on the 59th Floor ended, the two of them had often shared this kind of interaction. To anyone watching, it might not seem particularly meaningful, but Ais said it was her way of encouraging herself.

She had originally wanted to hug him, but when the time actually came to touch the boy, Ais had blushed with unusual shyness. So instead, she lowered her head and let Bell stroke her hair in place of the embrace she was too embarrassed to give him.

"I'm fine... Bell is the one I'm worried about. The Deep Floors and the Lower Floors... were difficult, weren't they?"

As Bell stroked her hair, the tension in Ais's body gradually eased.

The expedition party had encountered one problem after another on their way back to the surface.

Influenced by Bell, not only the first-class Adventurers led by Bete, but even Anakitty and the others were brimming with fighting spirit.

After overcoming countless difficulties, they had finally reached the 28th Floor. Now, however, they were being troubled by an overwhelming infestation of [Poison Vermis].

These monsters moved in groups and had multiplied in enormous numbers. Their venom was particularly troublesome. Any Adventurer whose [Abnormal Resistance] was below G rank would be poisoned if the venom splashed onto them. At best, they would be left unable to move. At worst, their lives could be in danger.

Finn commanded the first-class Adventurers in the fighting, while the remaining Loki Familia members and blacksmiths were all placed under Bell's command.

After a perilous march focused primarily on evasion, the entire party made it through without suffering any casualties.

Even so, the situation was far from good. The expedition party was exhausted both physically and mentally, and their supplies were nearly depleted. The only reason they could even enjoy a hot meal was Bell's contribution.

Everyone quietly enjoyed this rare chance to rest while feeling grateful to the boy.

"I only took command when it was necessary. I haven't fought anywhere near as much as you have. Ais-san, hurry and get some rest. If Poison Vermis start pouring in from both sides of the passage, we'll still need you and the others to deal with them."

Bell spoke softly, almost as though he were coaxing a child into bed.

His words were rather modest.

Although Bell had stayed by Riveria's side throughout the journey, the Dungeon was constantly throwing unexpected situations at them, and Riveria herself, as the strongest Mage, still had to fight.

In fact, Bell had gained even more experience from supporting the battles on the return trip than he had on the way down.

Loki Familia had also promised beforehand that information and experience would be part of Bell's compensation for joining the expedition. Although the exact amount was impossible to calculate, with the help of Riveria and the others, the experience Bell had gained far exceeded what he would have earned during an ordinary Dungeon exploration.

"All right... Bell, you need to get some proper rest too..."

Ais reluctantly headed toward the tent.

With supplies such as potions already exhausted, sufficient rest had become extremely important. The first-class Adventurers were taking turns resting while dealing with the waves of Poison Vermis.

Ais entered the tent, savoring the memory of the boy stroking her hair as she peacefully lay down on the bed.

"Mm... I forgot to ask about Riveria again..."

"Did Bell and Riveria do something on the 59th Floor...?"

"Never mind... Bell said I should hurry and rest..."

"Bell..."

Murmuring his name softly, the blonde girl drifted into a brief but sweet dream.

After Ais left, another girl came to Bell's side.

"Cranel-san, you've worked hard. Have some water."

Ryuu held out her water bag, which was filled with natural spring water from the Dungeon.

Because of the difference between their races and the fact that Bell had frequently been giving orders, he had already finished the spring water he had collected earlier. His empty water bag had been tucked back into his pack.

"Ryuu-san, thank you. But are you really sure it's okay for me to drink from this?"

Bell readily accepted the water bag and looked at the Elf girl, whose cheeks were faintly red.

For an Elf with such an aversion to impurity, something like a water bag that directly touched the lips would normally never be handed to another person.

In the past, Ryuu would have immediately become flustered and withdrawn her offer.

This time, however, she stammered,

"I-it's fine. If it's Cranel-san, e-even if your lips touch the water bag, I really don't mind at all... So please, drink some water..."

"Mm, thanks."

Bell had originally intended to raise the water bag above his mouth and pour the water in without touching it.

But that might cause some of the spring water to spill, and he found the Elf girl's shy, hesitant behavior rather adorable. So Bell did as she asked and drank from the water bag without wasting a single drop.

Just what kind of change had Ryuu undergone to let her do something like this without hesitation?

Bell was rather curious.

Well, perhaps "without hesitation" wasn't entirely accurate...

Bell looked at the Elf girl, whose face had turned bright red as her eyes darted away from him, and handed the water bag back.

"Cranel-san, um... what exactly did you and Riveria-sama do on the 59th Floor?"

Ryuu lowered her head and quickly took back the water bag.

Before Bell even had time to answer, she hurriedly corrected herself.

"I'm sorry! I'm sure nothing happened, right? I shouldn't have asked... I won't bother you anymore. Please get some rest!"

Ryuu spun around and fled without looking back.

On the 59th Floor, Riveria had told the other girls that she needed to discuss something privately with the boy, then taken Bell into the shadows near the staircase.

It had lasted only a few seconds, but when the two of them emerged, Riveria's cheeks bore an exceedingly rare blush. Naturally, the other girls had been deeply curious ever since.

Ryuu fled in such a panic that she accidentally tripped and fell.

A brown-haired girl appeared in front of her.

"Ryuu-san, are you okay?"

"Elfy-san? I'm fine."

Ryuu hurriedly got back to her feet.

Elfy glanced at the water bag in her hand and frowned.

"That wasn't according to the operation at all! When you took the water bag back, you were supposed to sweep your hair aside, look straight into the White Rabbit Boy's eyes, then put your lips against the water bag and drink the rest. That's how you were supposed to do it!"

"U-um... I really can't do something like that?!"

Ryuu brushed the dust from her clothes and unconsciously tightened her grip on the water bag.

Just watching Bell's lips touch it had already made Ryuu's heart pound furiously. Her mind had gone completely blank, leaving her utterly incapable of following the plan.

"Eh? That won't do. Don't you want to solve your problems?"

Elfy gave her a helpless smile.

"B-but is doing something like that really all right?"

Ryuu couldn't help questioning her.

"Of course."

Elfy answered without the slightest hesitation.

Her expression was completely sincere, and Ryuu knew she was not lying.

There were three things troubling Ryuu.

First, after the harrowing battles against the Juggernaut and on the 59th Floor, Ryuu had realized that she did not want to be separated from the boy.

It was completely different from the affection she felt for a friend. It was pure romantic love, something Ryuu had always refused to acknowledge.

Ryuu had never experienced anything like it before. She had no idea how to handle those feelings, leaving her heart in complete turmoil.

Then, once Ryuu realized she had fallen in love with the boy, guilt toward Syr naturally began to rise within her.

The sense of wrongdoing, as though she were stealing something precious from her best friend, weighed on her heart and refused to disappear.

Finally, there was the matter of the boy's harem.

Bell was romantically involved with Syr, Riveria, and even Goddess Astraea. Although Bell himself did not favor one girl over another and would properly manage the relationships within his harem, everyone involved was in love with him. Conflict between the girls was therefore impossible to avoid entirely.

Ryuu had absolutely no idea whose side she was supposed to take.

Elfy's answer to all of these worries was remarkably simple.

"Mm... wouldn't everything be solved if Ryuu-san became the [official partner]?"

"Official partner...? You want me to become Cranel-san's lover? No, no, no! How could I possibly do something that crosses the line like that?!"

Although Ryuu was visibly shaken by the absurd answer, she immediately objected.

Elfy, however, went straight for the heart of the matter.

"The official partner gets to order the other girls around. Doesn't Ryuu-san want that?"

"Of course not! How could I possibly order Syr and the others around?!"

Ryuu answered with righteous indignation.

"Eh...? I-is that so?"

Elfy hesitated briefly before the corners of her mouth curled into a mischievous smile.

"Then does that mean Ryuu-san is willing to stand by and watch your best friend, your own Goddess, or Riveria-sama get ordered around by some other woman? Made to serve tea and water, massage her shoulders, and wait on her hand and foot?"

"Of course not!"

Ryuu immediately raised her voice in protest.

"Exactly. That's why Ryuu-san has to work hard for Riveria and the others. As long as you become the White Rabbit Boy's official partner, you obviously won't make them do anything humiliating."

Elfy neatly steered the conversation right back to her original point.

"Mm... I suppose that does make sense? Let me think about it..."

Ryuu somewhat reluctantly accepted her explanation.

After that, Elfy's advice became increasingly specific. The water bag operation from earlier was only one of her plans.

What Ryuu did not know was that, while she was good at detecting lies and sensing ill intent, the self-proclaimed talented woman standing before her, who claimed to have extensive experience in romance, had learned everything she knew from romance novels.

Just like when Elfy spread the rumor that Riveria was going to kiss the boy, she had even convinced herself that it was true. Naturally, Ryuu could sense no trace of deception from her.

Ryuu glanced at Elfy, who was already thinking about the next operation, but said nothing.

She put away her water bag and walked toward her tent with a red face.

Elfy watched the flustered Elf girl disappear and sighed softly.

"Looks like the [Gale ❤ White Rabbit Boy, Go All Out to Seduce Him and Claim the Position of Official Partner ❤ Grand Operation] still has a long way to go..."

The golden-haired Elf happened to pass by at that exact moment.

"Elfy-san, what grand operation?"

Looking at her roommate's expression, Lefiya immediately had a bad feeling.

"Hehe, that's a secret between girls. I'm definitely not telling you, Lefiya."

Elfy smiled mysteriously, then smoothly changed the subject.

"You're looking for the White Rabbit Boy, aren't you? He's on the right side of the camp."

Lefiya immediately changed direction.

She had only taken two steps when she seemed to remember something and quietly muttered,

"I-I'm not looking for him... I just happen to be going that way..."

"If you're too late, the White Rabbit Boy might already be inside his tent. Or some other girl might have taken him away."

Elfy gave Lefiya a meaningful look.

"Ugh... I already told you I'm not looking for him!"

That was what Lefiya said, but her pace immediately quickened. Within moments, she had disappeared around the corner.

Only after the golden-haired Elf was gone did Elfy finally look away.

"What would happen if Gale and Lefiya both started fighting over the White Rabbit Boy?"

"Knowing Lefiya's personality... could they end up doing this and that together in bed?!"

"Now I'm even more motivated!"

"All right, let's add one more person to the operation~"

At that moment, the talented girl's burning passion for gossip blazed brighter than ever.

***

...

...

If you'd like to support my work and unlock advanced chapters, you can follow me on p-@-treon.

[email protected]/PinkSnake (70 Chapters Ahead).

You can also follow as a free member to read a few advanced chapters.

***