The sky was clear, and a warm breeze drifted by.
In the center of a square on North Main Street stood a beautiful elf girl.
Mist sprayed up from the fountain.
Pedestrians flowed steadily along the avenue beside the square, but not a single gaze lingered on Lefiya.
The [Thousand Elf] of Loki Familia. Bell Cranel's lover. Those two titles alone were enough to keep away anyone thinking of striking up a conversation. Add to that the gloomy air Lefiya was giving off right now, and it was as if a barrier had formed around her, marked with a warning that said, Keep Out.
Only when a head of pure white hair entered her sight did Lefiya's expression soften a little.
"Good afternoon, Lefiya-san. Sorry to keep you waiting."
Bell noticed the strange mood surrounding the golden-yellow-haired elf.
"Good afternoon. It's not even the agreed time yet. I'm the one who came early, so it's fine."
Lefiya waved her hand, then hurriedly added, "I only came a little early because I happened to have free time. Don't misunderstand."
If the boy thought she had been looking forward to this meeting, he would be completely wrong.
"I see..."
Bell was slightly overwhelmed by Lefiya's sudden intensity. "Lefiya-san, you don't seem to be in a very good mood."
A trace of gloom and dejection hung over the golden-yellow-haired elf's lovely face.
"Ugh... Is it that obvious?"
Lefiya pursed her lips and answered softly, "Riveria-sama said some strange things. Now I just can't seem to get motivated..."
Their appointment today was meant to focus on Concurrent Chanting.
Before leaving, Lefiya had told Riveria her plans, only to receive this reply.
"Lefiya, you've practiced Concurrent Chanting so many times and still haven't made progress. Do you really expect to learn it overnight?"
"I-I'm not that arrogant. I just don't want to keep holding everyone back..."
Lefiya answered with her head lowered.
Ever since the Viola incident in Rivira Town, she had kept causing trouble for Bell. The pseudo-Concurrent Chanting she had performed while being carried on the boy's back had brought her not only embarrassment, but endless guilt.
During the mutated Viola incident, Bell had stepped forward to buy Lefiya time. On this Dungeon trip as well, because Lefiya could not move quickly while chanting Magic, she had held Ais back.
Lefiya did not want things to continue like this. Even if there was only the faintest hope, she wanted to seize it and push forward as firmly as the boy did.
"I see. Then go ahead and try."
Riveria looked at Lefiya meaningfully and added, "I've heard that girls in love have limitless potential. I'm rather curious to see how this turns out."
"Huh?! Riveria-sama?!"
Lefiya frowned.
Riveria clearly knew that her relationship with the boy was only an act, yet she still said something so embarrassing.
"Sorry, that was only a joke. Go and do your best. I hope you can give me a good reference."
Riveria answered gently.
"Mm..."
Lefiya's thoughts churned.
What exactly did Riveria-sama mean by a reference? Did she mean the key points of Concurrent Chanting, so she could teach others later?
Or did she mean a reference in romance... No, that was absolutely impossible! Riveria-sama had felt a little strange ever since returning from the Dungeon yesterday, but that had to be Lefiya's imagination.
That was right. It had to be!
And so, carrying those complicated feelings with her, Lefiya arrived at the appointed place.
"..."
From Lefiya's words and expression, Bell had more or less guessed what had happened.
He gave her a bright smile and reassured her, "Lefiya-san will definitely learn Concurrent Chanting."
"You don't even know anything, but you still say that..."
Lefiya complained under her breath.
"After all, a lot of techniques are learned in a flash of inspiration."
Bell looked into the golden-yellow-haired elf's blue eyes and explained gently, "Lefiya-san has been working so hard. Your stamina has improved much more than before, and your physical development hasn't fallen behind either. All of that has laid the foundation for Concurrent Chanting."
During the trip to the 24th Floor Pantry, Bell had already noticed that Lefiya was growing quickly. She had faced her weaknesses head-on and strengthened both her stamina and her body.
Lefiya already had a great talent for Magic. Now that her weaker areas were gradually improving, Concurrent Chanting was probably no longer as far away as it had once been.
"Thank you for the encouragement. I'll do my best..."
Lefiya gripped her wand, then suddenly changed the subject. "But when you mentioned development just now, where exactly were you looking? You eternally horny rabbit!"
Because of her training, Lefiya had added a lot of meat she did not particularly like to her daily meals. Perhaps thanks to that, her chest had continued to develop and had already surpassed the blond Swordsman she admired.
It had only been for an instant, but Lefiya had not missed the way the boy's gaze wandered.
"That was beyond my control. A flower in bloom is simply more captivating."
Bell answered her accusation with praise. "Besides, Lefiya-san, that outfit is beautiful. It's only natural that it would draw the eye."
Lefiya was not wearing her usual pink battle clothes. Instead, she wore a blue-and-white outfit adorned with white lace trim. Beneath her fluffy pink skirt were white over-knee socks tied with pale blue ribbons, outlining her slender, lovely calves.
Compared with her previous battle outfit, these clothes looked more like a lovely ensemble for a day out, highlighting Lefiya's dreamy beauty.
"T-this is just something I threw on! My old clothes got torn in the Dungeon, so I just grabbed whatever I found! I absolutely did not spend ages worrying over it and pick this on purpose!"
Lefiya emphasized her point.
The faint blush on her face gave the truth away completely.
Most of their previous meetings had happened by chance.
Now they had made a promise to meet alone at a specific place, and they were going somewhere together with no third person joining them. This was the first time since they had met.
Lefiya had clearly dressed up with care, yet there was no makeup on her beautiful cheeks. From head to toe, she radiated the charm of a young girl.
"Just like Lefiya-san, I've been looking forward to this meeting too."
Bell spoke with a smile.
"I haven't been looking forward to it that much!"
Lefiya quickly argued back. "It's only practice for Concurrent Chanting. I didn't think you'd be so excited..."
"Because Lefiya-san is beautiful."
Bell answered honestly.
"Ugh... Stop saying that, you idiot!"
Lefiya really was terrible at handling such direct compliments.
As the two of them were "arguing," an Amazoness girl happened to pass by.
Tiona waved and called out with a smile.
"Lefiya, Argonaut-kun, good afternoon! Are you two going on a date?"