As Riveria approached, the cutting wind gradually lost its bite. She glanced at the three before her, clearly surprised. The boy was an unpolished gem, someone whose very presence drew the eye. What she hadn't expected was that besides Ryuu, even the Golden Witch from Freya Familia had become involved.
"Good to see you're all alright. Nice to meet you. I'm Riveria from Loki Familia."
The elven princess showed no hint of superiority. Staff in hand, her tone was gentle.
"The… Nine… Hell Princess…"
Heith was struck speechless. Now that Loki Familia had stepped in, her hope of casually sharing breakfast with the boy had burst like a bubble.
"Thank you for saving me. I heard that the last time I fainted, it was Riveria-san who brought me back."
Bell finally introduced himself to his rescuer. Two days earlier, he'd only heard the result of the mercenary battle and had never found a chance to thank this famous top-tier Adventurer.
Up close, he could truly feel Riveria's extraordinary presence. Silky emerald hair draped to her waist, eyes of the same hue carrying a quiet depth. Her slender, graceful figure embodied elven beauty. That smooth, fair skin had once pressed firmly against his back. Anyone else recalling it would probably have been too flustered to speak.
"I'll do my best to repay the commission reward."
Standing before someone so elegant, even a Goddess might seem a step dimmer. Yet Bell could sense her warmth and approachability, so he didn't behave overly formally.
Riveria seemed to notice this and gave a faint smile. "It was nothing more than lending a hand. Saving those in danger is simply what I should do."
The massive ice sculpture continued to radiate cold. Ryuu shot a quick glance at the boy, brows tightening.
"Cranel-san, I'll take my leave first. If you need help with anything that follows, come straight to the tavern and find me."
Before Bell could reply, Ryuu had already hurried off. Even the frigid wind couldn't hide the heat burning on her cheeks.
He definitely saw…
Ryuu repeated the thought again and again. Her short tunic, already soaked with sweat, had collapsed inward under the sudden blast of cold, clinging tightly to her skin. From Bell's angle, everything must have been visible.
Remembering the boy's gaze, her blush deepened. For an instant, she even wanted to smack him with her wooden sword and make him forget what he'd seen. Before the dangerous impulse could grow, she rushed away.
As the sun rose, the elven girl quickened her steps, fleeing in a panic with the same speed she used in battle.
...
Heith was more than happy to see the Elf girl leave. Staring at the completely frozen monsters, she asked:
"Should we dispose of these ice sculptures?"
"Step back, everyone. I'm about to cast my Magic."
Riveria raised her staff, preparing to deliver the fatal blow to the Violas. But before she could begin her incantation, a massive black sword swept through the air.
A crisp ring sounded as the deep-blue ice sculptures shattered into fragments.
"King..."
Riveria's eyes widened in surprise upon recognizing the arrival. The city's sole Level 7 had actually come here.
Ottar stood before the youth, radiating an imposing presence. The weakest and the strongest—this bizarre juxtaposition left both women present speechless.
"Ottar... why are you here?" Heith asked in surprise.
"The Goddess sensed the disturbance and specifically sent me as your escort. Looks like I won't be needed after all."
Ottar sheathed his pitch-black greatsword and glanced at Riveria. "The Nine Hell, huh? Freya-sama insisted that I deliver a message, regardless of who is present. 'Thank you for saving [my] child. The Freya Familia offers its sincere gratitude for this deed.'"
Riveria listened silently, noting the emphasized words. "King, answer me this: Is the Goddess Freya connected to these monsters?"
Facing this unwarranted accusation, Ottar suppressed the anger rising within him and replied calmly:
"The Goddess is unaware of this matter. However, she pledges that should you uncover the culprit, Freya's Familia will spare no expense in exacting vengeance."
Riveria glanced at the youth, then gazed into the deep, dark sewers. "Understood. I shall immediately request aid from my Familia Goddess to investigate the monsters' origin. Since you must escort the Golden Witch back, I'll trouble you to bring this boy along."
As an Archmage, Riveria could handle a surprise attack alone without much difficulty. But to protect the boy, the King was far better suited.
"Of course."
Ottar agreed without hesitation and gave Heith a meaningful look. She understood immediately, took the boy's hand, and headed toward the Freya Familia's base.
Ottar glanced at the Golden Witch's movement, matching his pace to the boy's as he walked slowly ahead of them, saying nothing more.
Bell missed his chance to speak. It wasn't that he wanted to refuse the escort; he simply didn't understand why he was being taken to the Freya Familia.
His silence came not only from the overwhelming presence of a top-tier Adventurer, but more importantly, from his ignorance of the relationship between the two familias.
Freya and Loki Familia were sworn enemies—an undisputed fact, known to everyone in Orario.
Bell feared that saying the wrong thing might ignite a fuse and trigger a fight.
At the same time, he had keenly picked up something from their exchange. Maybe relations between the two familias weren't as bad as he'd always assumed?
Keeping this thought to himself, Bell let Heith lead him forward in silence.
Once the boy's figure disappeared from sight, Riveria began chanting, sealing the entire road—along with the gaping hole—in solid ice.
After confirming no one was left behind, she woke the nearby residents, evacuating the crowd while sending others to request support from Loki Familia.
That abnormal Viola shared an unsettling similarity to the woman-shaped monsters they'd encountered during the previous expedition.
How had it appeared on the surface?
Was the attack on the boy mere coincidence, or was there a Tamer working behind the scenes?
If it was the latter, Riveria couldn't understand why a rookie Adventurer like him would be targeted.
Her thoughts spread in quiet worry. Riveria raised her brows slightly, glancing at the sky-blue ice.
If only this deep void could reveal the answers.
...
Bell followed the "King" without incident. The Freya Familia headquarters was lavish.
Stepping over ornate carpets, passing through exquisitely decorated halls and corridors, Bell arrived at a spacious, beautifully furnished room.
He had asked Heith whether they needed him for something important. She only smiled, told him to wait in the room, and then left with Ottar.
The empty yet luxurious chamber seemed to be a guest room, untouched by anyone else.
Time passed slowly.
As Bell sorted through the events in his mind, a knock came at the door.
When he opened it, he never would have imagined who he would see.
Standing before him—
Was her.
...