Guild Headquarters.
Half-elf Eina studied the adventurer records in her hands, her brow furrowing unconsciously.
Her friend and colleague, the human girl Misha, pushed aside a stack of paperwork and slumped over her desk with a groan.
"Slacking off isn't good, you know," Misha said, half-jokingly.
"I'm organizing adventurer data. You're the one slacking off," Eina replied flatly.
"Ehh~ But I've got way too much work! Monsterphilia preparations, complaints about low-quality potions, and all kinds of nonsense! Can't the Guild show some sympathy to a young maiden in her prime? I'd love to trade places with you."
"Those are problems you can solve. I'm the one who should be worried."
Eina was in charge of guiding new adventurers. Though she knew every rule, process, and detail of the Dungeon by heart, newcomers were always full of unpredictable trouble.
After venting for a while, Misha noticed Eina's troubled look and smirked mischievously. "It's that white-haired boy again, isn't it?"
Eina froze for a moment, surprised at how easily her thoughts were read, then sighed. "I told him everything he needed to know. So why did he still insist on entering the Dungeon?"
She couldn't understand why the Guild had even approved Bell's reckless decision.
Of course, her concern came from worry for his safety.
Logically speaking, if the Guild truly wanted to protect his life, they should have forbidden him from going in altogether.
Letting someone without a Falna enter even the first floor was completely unheard of.
What on earth was the Guild trying to test by allowing something so cruel?
Still, even with the title of "weakest adventurer" spreading across the city, Bell's safe return was already a miracle in itself.
And now that the goddess Hestia had taken him into her Familia, his path forward would hopefully become a bit smoother...
Eina had told Bell over and over that adventurers shouldn't take reckless risks—that he needed to treasure his life.
"If I'm the only one lecturing him and he ends up getting laughed at because of it, I'll just look like the bad guy," Eina said with a weary smile.
"No, I'm on your side," Misha said softly in reassurance.
A boy who dreamed of becoming a hero, and a diligent half-elf who cared deeply for others—neither of them were in the wrong.
What was wrong was the current state of Orario itself.
Even if the Evilus had long since disappeared, Misha could still feel it—Orario wasn't nearly as pure or peaceful as it appeared.
Those adventurers selling counterfeit potions were proof enough of that.
"The world itself is what's wrong," Misha sighed.
"It's just too much work, that's all. No need to sound so tragic." Eina straightened up slightly. Since the boy had finally begun finding his path, she, as his advisor, had to fulfill her role properly.
But before that, she decided, she should apologize to him.
"I'd like to work with as much heart as you do," Misha said, "but whenever I see the messes adventurers cause, all I feel is irritation."
"Heart?" Eina frowned slightly.
"That's right. You're so dedicated... you must like that boy, huh?"
"Wha—what!?"
Misha's sudden words broke straight through Eina's composure.
She just didn't want to see him hurt—nothing more.
She could still remember when she had blamed herself in front of Bell. He hadn't cared about anyone's mockery—he'd simply smiled, said nothing, and turned to leave.
That image of his determined back resurfaced in her mind, and before she knew it, Eina's cheeks flushed red.
Taking a deep breath, she tried to calm her racing heart—then glared fiercely at her teasing colleague.
Misha smiled playfully. "Don't give me that scary look. I already said I'd support you."
So that's what she meant by "support"?
Eina raised her hand in a mock chopping pose, but before she could get close, Misha snatched up her documents and bolted from the room.
Laughter faded down the hall.
Eina leaned back in her chair with a sigh of relief. Ever since she'd met that mischievous human girl, she'd never quite known how to deal with her.
"Like..." Eina murmured softly.
She had seen countless adventurers. No matter how powerful they eventually became, every high-level adventurer had once been a beginner, taking one careful step at a time.
Some newcomers were arrogant, boasting endlessly about their accomplishments. Others obsessed over loopholes, always scheming for faster ways to level up.
And then there were geniuses who plunged into the Dungeon day after day, tempering body and spirit through reckless challenge.
Among that vast sea of adventurers, Bell Cranel stood out as something truly different.
A boy who dreamed of becoming a hero—and yet, every action he took was grounded, steadfast, and sincere.
"Caring about someone like that... is only natural, isn't it?"
"Caring about who?"
The sudden voice made Eina freeze. She turned to see Guildmaster Royman standing there.
"Guildmaster—! It's nothing. I've finished organizing the new adventurer files," she said quickly.
Royman nodded slightly. "There's something I need you to confirm."
"What is it?"
For some reason, Eina's instincts told her this matter was definitely connected to Bell.
"Yesterday, Loki Familia commissioned a healer to accompany Bell Cranel into the Dungeon. But according to the Guild's intelligence, the healer assigned to that request has gone missing—and Freya Familia appears to be involved in the incident."
Eina's eyes widened. "Then who went into the Dungeon with Bell?"
Royman glanced at the confused half-elf and replied calmly, "Heith Velvet, Level 4—the strongest healer of Freya Familia."
Eina's mind went blank for a moment. "The Golden Witch...?"
...
Twilight Manor, the headquarters of Loki Familia.
Loki lounged lazily, swirling a glass of wine in hand. Ignoring the sharp looks from her subordinates, she downed it in one gulp.
Beside her, the Pallum Finn remained composed, long accustomed to his goddess's indulgent habits. "We've confirmed the missing healer case—it was Freya Familia's doing."
"Oh? You think they realized that the commission came directly from me?"
Loki narrowed her eyes, a faint, sly smile curling her lips.
All she'd wanted was to see Hestia embarrassed, so she had personally approved the healer request—and had even gone out of her way to choose an adventurer guaranteed not to back out.
Who would've guessed Freya's group would interfere, secretly replacing the assigned healer?
If one looked at it broadly, it was practically a declaration of defiance.
Finn thought for a moment. "Though our factions are rivals, this kind of underhanded maneuver doesn't sound like something the goddess Freya herself would do."
"Who knows what that crazy woman's thinking," Loki said coldly. "But if one of her followers acted on their own, what reason would they have?"
All that trouble, just to get close to a rookie stuck on the first floor?
Finn frowned slightly. "Could Bell Cranel possess some value we've yet to recognize?"
Loki chuckled, refilling her glass. "Who can say? But since Freya Familia has made their move, we'll just wait and see what game she's playing."
"I agree," Finn said with a slight nod. "The expedition preparations still aren't finished anyway—especially the weapon reforging. That'll take time."
During their last expedition, Loki Familia had stalled on the 51st floor.
There, they'd encountered a new insect-type monster whose body fluids were so corrosive they dissolved even weapons forged from the strongest steel into sludge.
Forging anti-corrosion weaponry had since become their top priority.
Loki raised her cup again, taking another drink. "The expedition's postponed for now. Keep training, and let's watch what Freya does next."
Finn nodded and relayed the divine order to the rest of the Familia:
"Investigation targets: the rookie adventurer Bell Cranel and the Golden Witch, Heith Velvet."