Bell watched adventurers rolling out of the tavern with an amused expression. Did these people really not use their brains?
The money he had handed to Mama Mia was never meant to set up a date between himself and Ryuu, it was compensation for occupying her employee during work hours. The only reason Mama Mia had even agreed was because Ryuu herself didn't mind.
If only these adventurers put as much thought into their actions, they might have already reached greater heights than where they stood now.
Regardless... Bell ignored the crowd and turned his gaze to Ryuu, who was sitting across from him. Her eyes flickered with complex emotions whenever she looked at him.
Why, though?
He was still pondering her expression when the elf finally spoke, a hint of tenderness beneath her composed voice.
"Bell, thank you for saving my life." Her words were honest, devoid of flowery language or exaggeration.
"I should be the one thanking you, shouldn't I, Miss Ryuu?" Bell replied instantly, his gaze briefly darting to her twitching elf ears.
"No, I should be the one thanking you. Goddess Astraea told me how you saved me from dying." Ryuu shook her head, her eyes shining with gratitude.
"Actually... we're both from the Astraea Familia, so we shouldn't keep thanking each other. After all, there is no need for thanks between family." Bell rubbed the back of his head, feeling a little awkward under her appreciation.
Ryuu felt her eyes soften. In that moment, she even saw a shadow of Alise, the former Astraea Familia captain, within Bell.
Silence fell between them.
"Still... it must have been painful, right? Fighting against the King while keeping me and our Goddess safe." Ryuu asked after a moment, her focus snapping back to the present.
Bell went quiet at her words.
What was he supposed to say?
That he didn't really do anything? Instead... Loki Familia had dogged the King.
And he had merely destroyed the King's behind... ahem... destroyed the King from behind, afterwards.
Wouldn't Ryuu and everyone else look at him like a mental case if he admitted that?
"It must have been agonizing. Sorry for asking something insensitive." Ryuu spoke with self-reproach after seeing him stay silent, bringing her hand closer to his on the table with uncertainty.
Bell looked at her, keeping silent and watching her actions with curiosity.
However... just as she was about to bring her hand even closer for a reassuring touch, a plate was slammed down on their table, making her jerk her hand back.
Both of their gazes snapped sideways, where a certain Syr stood with an exaggerated pout, looking at them with envy spilling out of her eyes.
"Hmph. Ryuu, Bell... how can you both ignore me for so long? It's been five minutes since I've been standing beside you both." Syr whined, her hand waving frantically between Bell and Ryuu.
Ryuu felt ashamed and would have already run away if the one sitting opposite her was not her benefactor.
Freya! You really can't live without destroying my rizz, huh?
Bell felt that Freya was really crossing the line.
You can try to kill me; I won't blame you.
But trying to kill my rizz? That's worse than killing me!
Bell gazed at Syr with a deadpan expression, yet instead of catching his hint...
She... she lowered her head shyly.
He was at a loss for words.
Damn!
Freya was a master of self-deception, too!? He looked at me, therefore he loves me?
Bell looked away from Syr after a moment, his shock not diminishing in the slightest.
He brought his gaze down towards the food she had brought. He had only had a light breakfast earlier with his Goddesses, so it was better to have his fill right now.
First, he pushed some food towards Ryuu and Syr.
"I know you've both eaten before, but just eat a little, it'll feel lonely to eat alone." Bell spoke, gesturing for them to accompany him.
Bell threw another pouch of coins towards Mama Mia without another word, this one for Syr.
Mama Mia wordlessly caught it and shifted all the extra workload onto poor Chloe. A cat girl's cries of 'Nyaa~ Nyaa~' soon resounded across the tavern.
...
Mid-meal, Bell overheard adventurers nearby discussing Evilus being active again. Apparently, they had destroyed the Apollo manor previous night, causing quite a stir among the gods.
Bell looked at Ryuu and Syr across from him.
"So... Evilus caused a big scene yesterday?" His face was full of curiosity.
"Yes, apparently someone from Evilus attacked and razed Apollo manor to the ground right after their banquet. Just thinking about it makes me feel scared." Syr spoke with fear, while Ryuu's face frosted over at the mention of Evilus.
Freya... who are you trying to fool? Fear... you? It should probably be the other way around; Evilus should be scared of a nutcase like you instead.
"Oh! People from Evilus have really gotten bolder nowadays, always causing scenes across Orario. Honestly, every Familia in Orario should get together and hunt them down." Bell spoke without a hint of shame.
If the surrounding people knew it was not actually Evilus but this white-haired menace who had razed Apollo manor to the ground, they'd probably laugh in his face, considering it a joke.
Except Freya, of course.
That Goddess knew the cause and effect, since her gaze had been on him for almost all of that time.
"I heard Goddess Freya even proposed creating a hunting party consisting of adventurers from all Familias across Orario to hunt the lunatics of Evilus down after that incident." Syr continued, taking a sip of juice while glancing at Bell's face imperceptibly.
Bell brought his gaze to Syr's face, looking closely at her features after those words.
Freya... Why does your face seem less detestable than before?
Bell was happy to see his enemies tear each other apart while he continued to grind behind the scenes.
He'd even throw a party at home if Evilus took out the Freya Familia and the Freya Familia in turn took out Evilus.
Both of you can go and blow each other apart. Meanwhile, I'll coast through all the problems, sitting back and even eating popcorn while you all clash against the other.
So this is what having a simp feels like?
So satisfying, so satisfying.
...
..
.
Meanwhile...
Evilus base.
"Since when did we become so courageous? Destroying Apollo's manor?" An Evilus executive asked.
"Slander!! Pure Slander!!!" Another roared.
"Come out, who is slandering our reputation!?" Another howled like a madman.
...
..
.
***
[300 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter]
[8 chapters ahead on P@tr3on = [email protected]/Not_Aaryan]
...
[Authors Thought's]
I wish I had a simp like Freya, self-destructing on her own without Bell moving a finger.
One's IQ really drops when they fall in love. I've seen it countless times.
After all, just to make Bell see her in a better light, Freya is ready to go to war against Evilus.
If that is not a love-brain, I don't know what is.
As for Evilus? Our bro Bell can't breathe without slandering them even for a moment.
...
Are some of you wondering why he's treating Freya normally? Its because he can't very well tell Ryuu that beneath her friend Syr lies a mad and unhinged Goddess like Freya, right?
So... he has to treat Syr as a normal girl to not get on Ryuu's bad side.