"—A year…"
The timeframe was far too short. Riveria wanted desperately to ask, "Could it be extended?" but the words never left her lips. She already knew the answer.
Bell understood Riveria's worry, but he didn't see it as a problem.
"Everything requires a price. If she wants to meet her parents, she has to prove her strength. If she wants more, then naturally, she must pay the equivalent cost."
Bell lived by that philosophy—and practiced it.
"The 'Sword Princess' wants more, so she must show her worth. To me, her parents are her greatest value. Two Lv.8 roadblocks… without question, they're the key to stepping into a higher realm."
Riveria understood this perfectly. She knew Bell's desire to help Ais came precisely from this purpose.
But she also knew that even with Finn and Gareth assisting her, she couldn't face Aria and Albert together.
Even if Ais reached Lv.7, the four of them fighting as one still wouldn't be enough.
The wall formed by two Lv.8s was simply too solid. Even four Lv.7s charging headfirst would only get themselves killed.
Which meant Ais needed a teammate who could breach that wall. And without a doubt, Bell was that person.
And right now, Bell also needed Ais—for she held the necessary conditions for his continued advancement.
"But for Ais, a year is too short. She's not like you—she doesn't have the aptitude for rapid growth."
Even understanding all of this, Riveria still couldn't suppress the worry inside her.
She worried Ais wouldn't withstand the pressure.
She worried Ais wouldn't reach the required level within a year.
Bell understood her concerns completely… but what else could he say?
He lowered his head slightly, his gaze sharp and cold on Riveria.
"This is the same for anyone. Riveria… don't tell me you think I'm not paying my share of the price?"
"…"
Riveria clenched her teeth. She heard the chill in his voice—she understood that Bell was facing the same danger.
"To face two Lv.8 roadblocks at the same time… that couple. One is the strongest mercenary, and the other a Saint Spirit. Do you really think they're easy to deal with?"
"I can say this without exaggeration: right now—or even in the past—not a single person has ever had the courage to claim they could face that couple and come back alive. Not even 'Silence' or the 'Empress'."
The warmth in Bell's voice had vanished, replaced by cold, unforgiving reality.
"An adventurer's greatest enemy is 'naivety'."
'Naivety'—the kind that causes adventurers to misjudge both themselves and their enemies. A useless, dangerous thing.
"Riveria, you should already know whether the things I just said are true."
Riveria fell silent, unsure how to respond.
Bell's words were harsh, even chilling—but they were nothing more than reality thrown squarely in front of her. No matter how much she worried for Ais, she couldn't deny that Bell was risking just as much. This wasn't Ais's burden alone.
She also understood Bell's frustration. He felt she was ignoring the price he himself had to pay and was only worrying about Ais.
This ordeal demanded risk from both Ais and Bell—yet she, Riveria, stood on the sidelines without shouldering any of the burden. Of course she could speak lightly.
Taking a deep breath, Riveria stepped aside, making space near the doorway.
"Bell, you go in first. This isn't something I can decide for Ais."
Seeing Riveria yield, the coldness in Bell's expression finally eased.
"Alright. Some decisions have to be made by the two of us alone. After all, it's me and the Sword Princess who will be paying the price—and taking the risk."
Bell stepped into Riveria's room. As expected of a royal's private quarters, the atmosphere suited Riveria perfectly.
As one of the three pillars of the Loki Familia, her room was naturally large.
Just from a quick estimate, it had to be over a hundred square meters—three to five times the size of an ordinary member's quarters.
Her status and strength warranted this level of accommodation.
But Riveria wasn't someone who indulged in luxury. The room's scale wasn't about flaunting her royal heritage; it was simply necessary to hold her massive collection of books.
One entire wall had been remodeled into a full-height bookshelf, filled top to bottom with volumes.
…
A brief scan showed that every title related to Magic. An entire wall of books—one could easily imagine how hard this pillar of the Familia worked day after day.
Aside from that impressive sight, the rest of the room appeared rather modest.
A movable ladder stood against the bookshelf.
A U-shaped desk sat a short distance away, stacked with books—clearly her space for reading and work.
Near a floor-to-ceiling window was a round table surrounded by soft sofa-like seats. Tea cups and utensils rested in the center—apparently her place for resting and having tea.
And deeper inside, separated by a wall and a door, was presumably the bedroom.
Another thing worth noting was the faint fragrance in the room.
That wasn't strange at all. Elves were notorious germaphobes—not just mentally, but in their daily habits as well. Their standards for cleanliness applied to every aspect of life: clothing, food, living, travel.
In the dungeon, adventurers rarely had such luxury. But inside the Familia, with conditions permitting, it was only natural for them to maintain their fastidious lifestyle.
"Bell, wait out here for a moment."
Once Bell was settled, Riveria headed toward the inner room to wake the still-sleeping Ais.
"Alright. Take your time."