Bell couldn't make sense of what had happened. His memory had cut off amid roaring wind and strands of golden hair. When he came to again, the first thing he saw was a pair of striking golden eyes.
Delicate, well-defined features, smooth fair skin, and a dazzling cascade of long golden hair. There was no question—she was a human girl who combined both adorable charm and cool elegance.
"You're awake…"
Only when the girl spoke did Bell finally react. He was lying on her lap.
The soft warmth against the back of his head made it clear this was a lap pillow. This had to be a dream.
Bell decided that on the spot. A beautiful blonde girl he didn't even know, giving him a lap pillow?
"This dream is way too realistic," Bell said with a strained smile.
"…It's not a dream, you know?"
Seeing him wake up made Ais sit even more stiffly. As a swordsman focused on blade techniques and speed, she wore light sky-blue gear, and the thigh supporting his head was half covered by a knee-high black stocking and half bare, fair skin.
His hair tickled her slightly. She'd been trying so hard—calling it a dream felt way too rude…
A gentle breeze swept through the courtyard, making Ais's golden hair sway. Bell stared up blankly at the pouting girl.
The fresh scent, the comfortable warmth—time itself felt like it had fallen into this lap pillow. Bell had no intention of escaping. He'd also missed his chance to get up.
By all logic, the blonde girl should have been explaining the situation. But her flushed cheeks and wandering eyes only added an inexplicable clumsy charm.
"So… what exactly is going on?" Bell finally asked.
"..."
His deep red eyes looking straight at her made Ais's cheeks burn even hotter. She panicked a little.
Riveria had only told her "that's enough," never what she was supposed to do after the boy woke up. Right—she should call Riveria.
Then Ais realized that if she left, the lap pillow would disappear. What was she supposed to do…
In her mind, several younger versions of herself popped up, chattering all at once.
Just leave him here.
No, that's way too rude.
Introduce yourself first.
And apologize—you definitely need to apologize for what happened just now…
Ais blinked, then spoke slowly.
"I'm Ais Wallenstein from Loki Familia. I used magic earlier and made you pass out. I'm sorry… this is my way of making it up to you."
"..."
From her soft, halting voice, Bell managed to roughly understand what was going on.
"I see. My name is Bell Cranel. As you can see, I've fully recovered. No need to worry."
He didn't linger on the warmth of the lap he'd been resting on and stood up to take in his surroundings.
"Is this the base of the Loki Familia? Why bring me here?"
Bell hadn't expected that in less than half a day, he'd end up visiting the two strongest Familia in the city.
The weight on her lap disappeared, and Ais's frantic heart settled a little. But she had always been the type to rush ahead to defeat monsters, leaving strategy to the Captain and the others. She couldn't answer this question.
"I'm not entirely sure either. Please wait here; I'll go fetch Riveria."
Before her words had fully faded, she turned into a gust of wind and slipped away.
"...Quite a character."
Bell stood there with a faint, helpless smile.
The headquarters of Loki Familia was made up of towering buildings. Unlike the tense atmosphere of Freya Familia, this place felt like a free-spirited stage. Only the jester flag atop the central tower proclaimed the authority of the strong. Even from the complex network of aerial corridors, Bell could sense Loki Familia's peculiar sense of openness.
"Bell Cranel, sorry to keep you waiting."
Riveria appeared from the opposite side of the courtyard with Ais in tow. A soft smile rested on her dignified and elegant face, making her look for a moment like a child pleased with a successful prank.
"Riveria-san."
Bell greeted her politely.
He didn't expect that this simple address would make both women pause for a moment.
Ais found it curious.
Throughout all of Orario, anyone unfamiliar with Riveria would call her "-sama" or refer to her by her famous title, the Nine Hell. Those close to Loki Familia simply used her name. Excluding a certain Werewolf who called her "old hag," the boy's choice of address was certainly unusual.
Ais suddenly wondered if this boy might be surprisingly good at making girls happy.
She glanced at Riveria, unable to read her thoughts.
The elf princess had seen far too many people and situations. She understood Bell's greeting was nothing more than politeness. Nothing to take personally.
Yet when her gaze met Bell's, Riveria couldn't help minding it just a little.
She cleared her throat, as if covering her momentary unease. "I'll take you to the reception room first. We'll discuss specifics once the investigation team returns."
"Understood."
Bell followed Riveria down the corridor, studying the intricate towers. The thought crossed his mind that this would be a perfect place to play hide-and-seek with the Loki Familia.
Whether she shared that thought or not, Ais moved around like a curious child—hiding behind a tree one moment, then slipping behind a wall the next. Her gaze flicked repeatedly between Riveria and the boy.
"...What is Ais-san doing?" Bell asked softly.
"Ais couldn't go to the sewers to defeat monsters today. In her eyes, she probably feels like she was left out. When her mood became unsettled and she saw you arrive, she started observing you."
Riveria considered Ais's state of mind.
"...Observing me?"
Bell was genuinely shocked. This emerald-like elf could actually read the blonde girl's thoughts.
Riveria gave a small smile. "Don't take it too seriously. Ais has no ill will. She probably heard about your achievements and is curious how you became stronger. As for sneaking around like that, Loki definitely taught her."
"Riveria-san, you must be joking. What could the Sword Princess possibly learn from a rookie adventurer like me?"
Bell wasn't being modest. He had fainted just from Ais's high-speed Magic movement. If there really were a precise method for growing stronger, Bell would be the first to want it.
"That child has hit a bottleneck. Someone praised as a genius becomes even more sensitive when they can't move forward."
To Riveria, Ais simply lacked a spark for change. The boy's arrival might truly bring a good shift for the Sword Princess. The unknown always spreads and expands, bringing new life to everything around it.
From that worried yet gentle tone, Bell gradually understood what kind of person this green haired elf truly was. Both mentor and friend. Even without beauty that rivaled the gods, Riveria still held exceptional popularity within Loki Familia.
"I heard from the Guild that Ais-san reached Level 2 in just one year. What about you, Riveria-san?"
Bell didn't envy prodigies. Haste only leads to mistakes. No matter what others thought, he would progress at his own pace. But his casual question brought silence to the air.
Crisp footsteps echoed as they ascended the spiral staircase. Only when they reached the top did Riveria finally speak.
"Bell Cranel, digging into an adventurer's private matters is crossing the line."
"...My apologies. I didn't think it through."
Bell didn't dwell on her silence and quickly apologized.
"Are you as anxious as Ais?" Riveria asked quietly.
"Every adventurer wants to grow stronger, don't they?
Wealth, fame, status, love… Whatever they pursue, in this line of work, weakness is the greatest original sin."
Bell had only been with the Hestia Familia for a few days, yet so many things had already happened. If he wanted to become a hero and protect the smiles of the girls around him, he had to get stronger.
That said, no one would willingly train someone from another Familia. It took time and effort, and offered them nothing in return.
But after arriving at the Loki Familia, Bell suddenly had an idea. If he could make it happen, he was certain it would be the best chance for his growth. Yet it would be a difficult "battle." He had to convince the veteran Loki Familia.
Their conversation ended at the reception room door.
Bell sat beside the round table, quietly waiting for the "battle" to begin.