The clamor drowned out everything around them. The little conversation in the corner passed completely unnoticed.
"Of course I'm serious. Hermes-sama, do you really think I'd joke about something like this?"
Syr's smile was bright, overflowing with sincerity.
"Is that so..."
Hermes murmured quietly, mind drifting somewhere unknown.
"Not everyone is as frivolous as you..." Asfi turned to Syr, bowing apologetically. "I'm sorry, Hermes-sama has caused you trouble..."
"No, it's fine. I'm happy to see you. Just... please don't play any tricks on Bell."
Syr gave a gentle smile and turned to leave.
Watching the tavern girl's cute silhouette disappear, Asfi let out a long sigh. "Please restrain yourself a little. They only just started dating. How can you say things like that to such an innocent girl?"
"My apologies, it just slipped out. But from your reactions... I suppose that's how it looks to all of you."
Hermes spoke with a hint of implication.
He glanced over at Loki drinking in the distance, thought for a moment, then smiled faintly. "Well, since Syr and Bell Cranel are mutually in love, I suppose there's no room for me to interfere..."
Asfi truly had no idea what this god was thinking. Among all the Gods, if one were ranking them by how unpredictable their divine whims were, Hermes would certainly be near the top. Asfi had suffered plenty because of that and had no desire to dig deeper.
Yet Hermes kept up his act of a wounded romantic.
"It's far too heartbreaking... Laurier, why don't I just have you steal Bell Cranel away?"
"..."
The blonde Elf stared at the endlessly drinking Hermes, unable to respond.
"That doesn't sound right?"
Lulune answered in Laurier's place. Back in Rivira, when Ais had fainted due to the jewel fetus incident, Lulune had been helped by Bell—so now she naturally stood on his side.
Asfi only frowned deeper, helpless at Hermes-sama's nonsense.
"Don't look at me like that. If Bell Cranel falls completely for Laurier's beauty, Syr will simply drift away from him."
Hermes revealed his real aim.
"...Are you a piece of trash?" Even while insulting him, Asfi still attached "you."
"Ehh—Laurier should understand me, right? You look like you have feelings for Bell."
Hermes threw the topic straight at her.
Laurier paused for a moment, then quietly said, "I don't have any feelings."
"Right, lie confirmed. How heartbreaking—Laurier is lying to me."
Hermes's voice grew even more frivolous, like a man drowning in drink.
"Alright, tavern rule. Lies get punished with a drink."
He poured Laurier a full glass of fruit wine and declared the sentence as if issuing a command.
Laurier glanced at the flustered Lulune and the facepalming Asfi. After a brief hesitation, she downed the wine in one go.
"Question two."
Asfi shot him a glare, the kind that said, "Are you seriously not done yet?"
Hermes ignored it and continued.
"Laurier, do you like Bell Cranel?"
"..."
"?!"
Lulune couldn't keep up. Asfi felt her Familia God was being downright cruel and moved to stop him—only to have someone hold her arm down.
"...."
Maybe it was the alcohol, but Laurier's thoughts grew hazy. She couldn't bring herself to say she didn't like him. She had been so happy when he returned safely. His level-up felt like her own joy. Separation left her lonely. Seeing him again in the tavern made her heart flutter uncontrollably.
"If I really had to say... I guess I like him..."
Laurier slowly uttered her answer amidst the haze of drunkenness.
"No lies this time. Question three: Do you want to become lovers with Bell Cranel?"
Hermes cut straight to the heart of the matter.
"What on earth are you talking about?!"
Asfi was deeply displeased with the Familia God's flippancy. These words were like a push forward for Laurier—discarding all excuses, cutting off all retreat, letting that hazy and illusory flower of love face the sunlight within her heart.
"I also think... Hermes-sama is going too far!"
Lulune spoke up in protest. The Familia God had never acted like this before. In matters of romance, Hermes Familia was always free, and as long as nothing interfered with their missions, Hermes would never intervene. But this time was different. Hermes clearly had thoughts about Laurier and Bell Cranel's relationship.
"So, what's your answer? Running away won't do. You don't want to see that child snatched away by someone else, do you?"
Ignoring their protests, Hermes narrowed his eyes at Laurier.
"....."
Just one drink and Laurier was already a little drunk.
No—perhaps it was the Familia God's words that had plucked the strings of her heart.
Lovers?
Me and Bell Cranel?
When he rescued her, she had been truly happy—like a knight out of a fairy tale.
Without a single impure thought, he shielded her again and again.
He carried her out of danger and fought to such a terrifying extent.
Of course she would feel something for someone like that...
And beyond that, Bell was so dazzling, so admirable.
Just like a hero...
Just seeing him from afar made her happy.
Just hearing his name warmed her heart.
But falling in love...
It was far too soon. And he already had someone by his side...
Laurier lowered her head. The fruit wine in her cup reflected her pure Elven golden hair.
Her reflection trembled and swayed, just like her feelings.
Why does it hurt this much...?
She had known about this for so long—why was she still this torn?
She didn't want him taken away.
She wanted him beside her.
Loneliness, helplessness, pain, joy, yearning—
Conflicting emotions rose inside her, and the bittersweet fruit wine felt like it had poured straight into her heart, leaving her breathless.
So this aching she'd felt for days… this was love.
"Hermes-sama, I... want to be his lover... but I don't understand why it hurts so much..."
Laurier slowly lifted her head, her beautiful face even more heartrending than before.
"Well said!" Hermes nodded. "Execute the operation plan immediately!"
"..."
Asfi hadn't expected Hermes would actually force Laurier to face her true feelings.
Yet the result was far too cruel for the blonde Elf.
If she had kept her feelings vague, she might have been far happier.
"The operation refers to...?"
Lulune furrowed her brow.
"Of course it's a confession! We'll call it Operation Love—failure is absolutely not an option!"
Hermes looked completely thrilled with himself.
"Specifically... how exactly are we doing this?"
If her colleague truly had the courage to confess, Lulune would fully support her.
"Hmm... Laurier, drink this cup first!"
Hermes spoke with exaggerated seriousness. "They say alcohol brings out true feelings. The boy will definitely be moved."
"Eh—?!"
Before Lulune's gasp even finished, Laurier had already downed the entire fruit wine.
"Good. Now activate your invisibility magic. Don't worry, I'll cover for you—no one's watching this way."
Hermes gave the next command.
"Eh?!"
Lulune's mouth hung open in shock.
Laurier's head felt hazy.
Her heart felt full—so full of affection it almost made her feel invincible.
"Pure white, fiery red, radiant light—purify all."
"Heliotrope Bloom."
As the final syllable fell, Laurier vanished where she stood.
"Alright! Now just go straight to Bell Cranel and throw yourself into his arms!"
Hermes said with a bright grin.
"EH—!!!"
Lulune glanced toward the table in the distance.
Over there, the boy was sitting with his companions—and a Goddess.
This is absolutely going to end in disaster!
"You're not really going, right? I think you should calm down, Laurier-san... Laurier-san?"
No response came from her calls.
...
Meanwhile, Bell was discussing dungeon-related matters.
"If we're going to tackle the Middle Floors together later, it'd be best if everyone gets Salamander Wool."
"Yeah, I agree," Welf said.
"And also—"
Bell suddenly felt something strange.
A pair of arms slipped around him from the front, and something soft pressed against his back.
Before he could make sense of it, a familiar voice murmured gently by his ear.
Laurier's cool, quiet tone brushed against him like a breeze.
"Bell Cranel... will you be my lover?"