Sunlight slipped through the gaps in the curtains, spilling softly into the room.
Ais opened her eyes and stared blankly at the familiar ceiling.
There was no plan to do morning training with Bell today, and she had ended up oversleeping for once.
"Ais—are you awake? We're about to have breakfast."
Riveria's voice came from outside the door, gentle, like she was calling to a child who refused to get out of bed.
Ais answered quietly and sat up, beginning to straighten herself.
Had she overslept just because there was no morning training?
No.
Ais knew the real reason. She had messed things up and didn't want to face it.
The younger version of herself whispered excuses in her heart. It was just one bite of Bell's fried potato ball. That wasn't a big deal.
But the words Lefiya had said—"indirect kiss"—refused to leave her mind.
I messed up.
Feeling that unfamiliar, embarrassing sensation swelling in her chest, Ais slowly stepped out of her room.
"I've decided… I'll ask the others…"
She spoke out loud, as if trying to give herself courage.
...
In front of a massive building on Northwest Avenue.
The white walls were adorned with emblems of glowing orbs and medicinal herbs.
"Welcome, Ais-san. Are you here alone today?"
Airmid gave a polite bow, clearly surprised by the blonde girl's visit.
This was Ais's first time visiting the Dian Cecht Familia on her own. She wasn't good at bargaining or negotiations, and those matters had always been handled by Tione before.
"Um… I came to ask about Bell…"
Ais answered honestly.
The moment she said his name, Airmid's doll-like expression changed.
She hurried forward, her voice tightening with worry.
"Did something happen to Bell?!"
Ais immediately noticed the shift.
In the past, the Dea Saint's expression never wavered unless she was discussing patients. Now, Airmid had reacted because of Bell.
Ais realized at once that she had phrased things badly and made her worry.
"Bell is fine… I'm sorry… I actually wanted to ask you about something else…"
She apologized quickly.
The timid Ais inside her was already urging her to retreat, but she forced herself to stay.
Bell was important.
Repeating that to herself, Ais explained her troubles to Airmid.
The Dea Saint blinked in confusion.
"You want to thank Bell, but you don't know what to do?"
"Mm…"
Ais nodded.
Back in Rivira Town, Bell had saved her twice. One of those times, right in front of the red-haired woman, he had even held her and jumped off a cliff.
Faced with that kind of kindness, Ais truly didn't know how she was supposed to repay him. Even after asking Riveria, she still hadn't found an answer.
"But that was already a month ago, wasn't it? Bell might have even forgotten about it by now."
Airmid spoke as if testing Ais, subtly suggesting that she let the matter rest.
"I have to remember."
Ais answered without hesitation.
Even if the boy never asked for anything in return, she still wanted to repay him.
"Ais-san, what I'm about to say is only my personal opinion. Please take it as nothing more than a reference."
Airmid paused for a moment before continuing in a calm voice.
"Bell's path ahead is filled with danger. He will get hurt. He will suffer. When he reaches places that even our hands cannot reach, could you be there to help him?"
Ais had overwhelmed everyone through sheer physical ability alone. The extent of her strength had been made abundantly clear the day before.
If Bell ever found himself in a desperate situation, that would be her chance to repay him.
"I know… but I hope it never comes to that…"
Ais answered softly, thinking of the boy.
Repaying him in that way would mean Bell facing hardships he could not overcome on his own.
Ais didn't like that.
She didn't want to see that pure, white-haired boy swallowed by darkness.
With that, the conversation came to an end, and Ais headed toward another place.
...
On a certain street.
A rough-looking adventurer clutched his wallet tightly and ran at full speed.
Shouts of "Thief!" and "Stop him!" rang out from behind.
Just as he wore a smug grin, convinced he had shaken off his pursuers, an arrow suddenly flew straight toward him, striking his leg.
The man collapsed to the ground, and several girls appeared before him.
"Hand him over to the Ganesha Familia."
Artemis put away her bow, picked up the wallet that had fallen to the ground, and returned it to the elderly woman.
Once everything had settled, Ais slowly approached the goddess.
"You're the one from yesterday… Ais, right?"
Artemis greeted her softly.
"Mm. What are you doing here?"
Ais asked curiously.
"I'm accompanying the children while they help maintain public order."
Artemis answered honestly.
Although the twenty girls had joined the Hestia Familia, they still acted together with the Moon Goddess.
During exploration, gods were not allowed to enter the Dungeon. Taking experience, Excelia, and rewards into account, the girls did not accompany Bell.
Instead, they formed their own party and advanced steadily on their own.
This was also a requirement set by the Guild.
Artemis and Hestia lived together, and the two familias were deeply intertwined, which normally violated regulations. Given the special circumstances, the Guild had made an exception.
Of course, if the situation ever became critical, the girls could still offer their strength to Bell.
"Everyone is doing their best, so I have to work hard too. I'll clean up the corruption around Orion."
Artemis spoke with quiet resolve.
The areas she patrolled were all places Bell might potentially visit.
Just imagining the boy encountering people like that stirred an endless fighting spirit within Artemis.
Ais looked at the goddess's beautiful face framed by blue hair.
She felt that the goddess before her was different from other gods.
Ais didn't truly understand love yet. She only felt a faint sense of envy.
Without realizing it, she smiled slightly and asked,
"I want to repay Bell for saving my life… what should I do?"
Artemis froze for a moment.
The blonde girl's tone carried no honorifics at all.
For a god, that would normally be considered extremely rude, yet Artemis found it strangely comforting.
Perhaps it was Bell, the connection between them, that made the goddess feel as though they were speaking as friends.
During yesterday's Holy War, when Syr saw Ais resting her head on the boy's lap, she had rushed over angrily to separate them.
Artemis sensed the [unknown] and smiled warmly.
It wasn't just her. Syr, too, had felt jealousy over Ais's closeness with the boy.
That thread of love extending from the depths of their hearts was always filled with uncertainty and surprise.
Now that those threads were entwined, they were nurturing something even deeper and more unknown.
Whether as a goddess or as a girl in love, Artemis's joy was unmistakable.
"I don't think you need to trouble yourself over that. Orion definitely didn't save you because he wanted repayment."
Artemis replied.
"I don't understand…"
Ais still hadn't received a clear answer.
For her, trying to grasp the boy's feelings was simply too difficult.
"Is that so…"
Recalling the way Ais and Bell interacted, Artemis let out a soft laugh.
"I think the reason Orion risked his life to save you—"
"Is because he really likes you."