The girl's words echoed beside his ears.
Feeling the "torment" of the black pantyhose, Bell frowned slightly.
Riveria's words and actions just now had clearly been meant to help him.
Words, once spoken, were like spilled water. They could bring consequences that could not be taken back. Confessions involving romance between a man and a woman were especially dangerous. One wrong move, and the relationship might collapse.
Riveria had probably sensed the situation and worried that the boy would get swept up in his emotions and make a reckless confession. That was why she had deliberately used this indirect method to warn him.
At the same time, in her own way, she was also pushing Lefiya's relationship with the boy to develop further.
Perhaps this was Riveria's [mother] side, worrying over the two of them.
But Bell saw it more clearly. If that were truly the case, Riveria should have been more concerned about Lefiya's state.
When it came to matters of love, she could have chosen a more delicate way to guide the golden haired elf's thoughts.
Yet in reality, Riveria had taken the boy's side.
To put it more bluntly, Riveria was acting as the [main wife], helping Bell handle his relationships with the other girls in a way that was both rational and playful.
The subject of the conversation was clearly Lefiya, yet Bell found his fondness for the Elf Princess deepening because of that contrast between wisdom and cuteness.
Could this have been part of Riveria's plan too?
A way to raise her place in his heart?
After all, Bell was pursuing a harem, so he naturally understood that words of confession could not be spoken lightly. Riveria's reminder had surely carried some of her own selfish motives.
Bell could not figure out the answer. At the very least, the passion in his heart had admitted defeat. This clash of love ended with the boy falling into Riveria's web.
As for Lefiya, she was only one part of it.
"Lefiya, I'm sorry. I said something strange."
Riveria gently withdrew her right foot and walked toward the door. "I'm going to eat first. Come over once you've rested."
She did not expose the boy's hiding place, nor did she deliberately stay behind and make things difficult for him.
As the door closed, Bell crawled out from under the bed.
What came into view was the golden haired elf, her ears bright red. Lefiya had both arms wrapped around her knees, her head buried between them.
Those words from earlier must have left her drowning in embarrassment.
"Lefiya-san, if you sit like that, I can see the color of your underwear."
Bell spoke softly.
"Ugh?! Permanently horny rabbit?!"
Lefiya quickly slumped back onto the bed and glared fiercely at the boy.
She frowned, then asked pitifully, "Did you... see it?"
"Mm... Back when we first met, at the inn in Rivira Town, I'd already seen it."
Bell brought up the past.
The best way to overcome embarrassment was to drown it in even more embarrassment, forcing Lefiya to face it head on.
"Uuu... Don't remember it that clearly!"
Lefiya grabbed the rabbit pillow, intending to use it as a weapon and throw it at the boy's face.
But when she looked at the white rabbit pattern, she froze for a second, then grumbled as she hugged it to her chest.
The boy had deliberately avoided the confession topic from earlier.
For Lefiya, that was exactly the outcome she wanted.
If they dug too deeply into it, it would deal a devastating blow to their relationship.
"Lefiya-san, I'm going back now. Before I leave, could you give me one strand of your hair?"
Bell made his request.
"Hair?"
Lefiya peeked out from behind the pillow.
"Yeah, because of my weapon..."
Bell answered softly.
They had fought many battles together, so the sacred script on the [Hestia Knife] and its special power had long since been exposed.
Out of trust, Bell told Lefiya the general circumstances behind the divine dagger.
"I, I understand... I'm only giving this to you so you can reforge the dagger. There's absolutely no other meaning behind it."
With flushed cheeks, Lefiya handed over a strand of her deep golden hair.
The instant Bell accepted the strand, an unexpected guest burst in.
"Eh?! I'm sorry! Even though this is my own room, I'm really sorry for interrupting your fun!"
A human girl with short brown hair pushed the door open, and a knowing smile immediately appeared on her face.
"Elfy-san?"
Lefiya had not expected her roommate to come back at this moment.
To take the strand of hair she offered, the boy was half kneeling on the bed. To an outsider, the two of them looked like a couple about to start doing something unspeakable.
"I'll head out first. Please, carry on! I won't be back tonight at all!!!"
Elfy's voice echoed through the hallway.
"Lefiya-san, your roommate isn't going to end up sleeping outside, is she?"
Bell felt worried for the energetic girl from earlier.
"Of course that was a joke. Seriously, what are you thinking, you permanently horny rabbit!"
Lefiya squeezed the pillow hard and quickly added, "Hurry up and run. If Riveria-sama and the others find out, this won't end well."
"Mm."
Bell kept the matter with Riveria to himself and headed for the door.
He had originally planned to escape through the window, but after thinking it over, if he was caught doing that, it would truly be impossible to explain.
"..."
Waiting for Bell in the hallway was Loki, reeking of alcohol.
When she saw the boy walking out of Lefiya's room, her cheek twitched.
"Aaaah! Damn it! Not only Ais, but even Lefiya isn't safe from you? You beast!"
Loki's scream pierced the heavens, as if countless tears of blood were pouring down her face.
She raised the wine bottle in her hand and drained it in one go.
"You lot, go teach that boy a lesson!"
Loki issued an order in the name of the Familia Goddess.
Unfortunately, while the members were drawn over by the noise, no one stepped forward.
"Ugh..."
Lefiya trembled as she hid behind Bell, ready to defend him at any moment. Bell, meanwhile, stood in the doorway, his path blocked by the groups on both sides.
As the situation remained deadlocked, Bete clicked his tongue and walked toward the outer side of the hallway.
"Bete, where are you going? Hurry up and do it!"
Whether she was doing it on purpose or simply drunk, Loki's words and actions were rather ridiculous.
"The wind's too strong. I'm going out for a walk."
Bete glanced at the boy and Lefiya behind him, stomped hard against the ground, and vanished into the night.
"Argonaut-kun? Did you come to play with me?"
"Idiot, he's obviously here for a secret meeting with Lefiya."
Tiona completely failed to read the mood and waved as she walked toward Bell.
Tione sighed softly, grabbed her sister's arm, and stressed how embarrassing and private a secret meeting was, so they absolutely should not go over and disturb them.
"..."
Ais stood at the back of the crowd, silently watching the two of them.
Lefiya was not sick...
She had deliberately lied to her because Bell had come...
Why would she do that?
Was Lefiya willing to lie just so she could be alone with Bell?
Seeing Lefiya's timid figure behind the boy, Ais felt her heart tighten.
She could not understand where that bitter feeling came from, so she could only stand there blankly and wait for the situation to change.
"Is that the Little Rookie? Did he sneak in?"
"Judging by Lefiya-san's expression, this should be a misunderstanding, right?"
"Loki's just drunk and making a scene. She definitely can't stand the relationship between Lefiya-san and Bell Cranel."
"That boy's character is still reliable. Don't draw your weapons."
Many people were gathered in the hallway, but none of them stepped forward to fight.
They chattered among themselves, and even the members who wanted to obey Loki's order were stopped when Alicia spoke up.
Loki tightened her grip on the wine bottle and began calling names. "Gareth?"
"I seem to have left my wineskin in the dining hall. I'll go back and get it."
Gareth turned and left without looking back.
"Riveria?"
"Sorry, Loki, this matter isn't up for discussion."
Riveria stood gracefully not far away, staff in hand. Her invisible pressure seemed to say that anyone who tried to lay a hand on the boy would have to take a direct blow from her staff.
"Finn?"
"Leave it to me."
Finn gave a bright smile.
He knew the Familia Goddess's nature very well. This was definitely not drunken nonsense, but a way to create an opportunity for a private conversation.
Ever since the pantry incident, Finn had wanted to speak with the boy alone.
He first dispersed the watching members, then slowly stepped forward.
"Bell Cranel, look at you, covered in dust. Our familia's bathhouse is quite large. Would you like to come in for a soak?"