A warm breeze brushed her cheeks, strands of hair grazing her ears. Riveria felt as though a young man were caressing her pointed ears. A peculiar tingling sensation shot through her body, leaving a faint warmth on her cheeks. Riveria immediately masked her unusual emotions with words.
"The way you brush your hair reminds me of my dear friend."
"Is that so... Riveria-san? Then she must like you very much." Bell responded with a smile.
".....?" Riveria had no time to ponder the meaning behind those words. At the spot where her hairpin used to rest, an overwhelmingly familiar sensation emerged.
"Bell Cranel, how did you know where I usually wear my hair clip?" Riveria asked softly.
"Because I saw it. I thought it was pretty, so I remembered." Bell smoothed her hair into place, then looked with satisfaction at the emerald locks adorned with vibrant flowers.
"..." It had been a long time since Riveria had been this speechless. She felt she understood why even the goddess Astraea had taken a liking to this boy. A warm breeze stirred her thoughts, concealing the slight flush on Riveria's cheeks.
Bell took a step back and added:
"Rest assured, the flowers and vines I chose are special varieties. They won't harm your hair at all. To witness this scene here is truly a lucky blessing."
Riveria turned, her lips curving into a gentle smile.
"Thank you. For both this journey and the hairpin—my gratitude knows no bounds. This has been a joyful time, one I shall cherish forever."
The next instant, three Elves charged straight at the youth. Without hesitation, Riveria swiftly raised her wand. She tripped Lefiya with her foot, then flicked her wand to knock Alicia to the ground. The most troublesome opponent, Ryuu, suddenly lost her momentum the moment she saw the boy turn to face her. As if tripped by something, she stumbled and fell flat onto the ground. The three Elf girls' offensive dissolved into nothingness. The private conversation between Riveria and the youth also drew to a close.
"Um... I was wrong. I'm sorry..."
"Cranel-san, I deeply apologize for misunderstanding you earlier."
After receiving Riveria's explanation, Lefiya and Ryuu realized this was a tacitly agreed-upon action between both parties and could only let it go.
"How dare you touch Riveria-sama's hair! I won't let you get away with this...AAAAAHHHH!!"
Under Riveria's stick-wielding discipline, Alicia's shouts turned into screams. After several rounds, she finally let go of her preconceptions.
So this untainted garment actually comes in handy when you're knocked to the ground... Alicia learned unexpected information, yet felt no joy whatsoever.
"Alicia-san usually acts like a gentle big sister, but when it comes to matters involving her kin, she becomes incredibly passionate..." Lefiya mused for a moment.Whether it was the Crozzo clan incident or her loyalty to the royal family, Alicia held extremely radical views.
Perhaps she was a pure elf, untouched by the ways of adventurers... Lefiya recalled another blonde elf traveling with them, Laurier. The purer a person, the more easily they're drawn to novelty. May this journey pass without incident... Lefiya whispered her prayer.
The group traversed a sea of flowers, passing through a deep, secluded path. Finally, they reached their destination: the Spirit Land. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, bathing the serene forest in gentle light. A colossal tree stood tall in the distance, radiating an aura of sacredness. Birdsong filled the air, and the scent of flowers made the atmosphere refreshingly pleasant.
"Wow, the scenery here is absolutely breathtaking!"
Lefiya completely forgot about everything that had happened earlier as she took in the stunning view before her.
"I heard that the presence of Spirits improves the soil quality and brings prosperity to the land."
Bell recalled what he had heard on their last journey and spoke up. Once, Sword Smithing City Solingen hadn't been as prosperous as it was now. It was only after the Spirits settled there, bringing with them clear rivers and fertile soil, that people were able to build a city and gradually develop it.
"It truly brings me joy to see that you both appreciate this scene."
Riveria smiled as she spoke. Only elves, who grew up in the forest and were deeply influenced by its ways, could truly understand the unique joy this place brought.
Both Ryuu and Alicia were already feeling that their journey here had been worthwhile. It was like how dwarves cherished their ale—a feeling deeply rooted in their race, even if others might sneer at it. As a human, Bell didn't belong to that category. Because of that, Riveria had prepared a special reward for him. Only time would tell if the "luck" he spoke of would actually work.
Several figures suddenly interrupted Riveria's thoughts.
"No entry here! Leave immediately."
"Wait... are you Riveria-sama?"
"Hey, isn't that kid human?!"
"Riveria-sama came in with a human?"
"You must be joking! How could someone like her do such a thing?"
The elves chattered among themselves, blocking the group's path.
"Enough noise. I'm not here as part of the royal family."
Riveria responded, her tone firm.
"Our apologies... It is truly an honor to stand before you, Riveria-sama."
One elf bowed respectfully.
"..."
Riveria frowned, falling silent. Most of the elves who lived here were of noble blood, and their rigid adherence to tradition was very much on display at that moment.
"Riveria-sama is upset, just as we thought..." Lefiya noticed the change and whispered softly.
The elves continued to circle around them.
"Ah, Riveria-sama, you really are as beautiful as your kin described, especially that flower in your hair—it suits your elegance perfectly."
This time, Lefiya was the one to frown. Riveria never cared about others' opinions. She would ignore, or even dislike, such shallow compliments. Yet, when someone praised the hairpin Bell Cranel had personally crafted, Riveria's frown seemed to soften, and she appeared... pleased?
Perhaps the gods had heard Lefiya's unspoken thoughts. The elves' conversation turned toward the young man beside them.
"So this is the Adventurer from that barbarian land..."
"Humans aren't welcome here. Get out!"
"Hey, I heard this was the Spirits' decision—they want to play with the Little Rookie."
"Huh? Spirits are hard for even us to approach. How could they possibly fancy a human?"
"That may be true, but it's probably Riveria-sama's doing, right?"
"Exactly. It must be Riveria-sama's mercy that allowed this uncouth human Adventurer to visit this place."
"..."
The Elves were engrossed in their discussions. None of them noticed. Dark, thunderous clouds were gathering over Riveria and the others.