The spring breeze brushed against her cheeks.
Golden hair swayed gently as questions drifted through her mind.
"Does Bell… like me?"
Ais blinked, a sudden rush of warmth surging in her chest without warning. She suppressed the strange feeling and spoke softly.
"I like Bell too… so I want to repay him…"
"…"
Artemis fell silent for a moment.
The blonde girl before her was simply too pure. Unlike her former self, who once rejected love outright, Ais lacked even the most basic awareness of such emotions. Even if a boy poured his passion out to her, it would be swallowed whole by that cotton-soft innocence.
"It seems this is one question I can't help you answer either," Artemis said gently.
"What you want to do for Orion is something you'll have to discover on your own."
"Alright…"
Ais nodded in thanks and turned away, leaving with an easy, unhesitating stride.
Artemis watched her retreating figure and felt a quiet sense of relief that her own feelings had already begun to take root. Memories followed close behind. Embraces. Kisses.
"Orion…"
Her cheeks flushed as the name slipped from her lips.
"Artemis-sama, is something wrong?"
The maidens accompanying her, having finished handling the aftermath of the incident, looked at the goddess in confusion.
Artemis quickly turned away, hiding her face.
"N-no, it's nothing. Let's continue our patrol."
...
On a grassy stretch far from the streets, Ais waited quietly for someone to arrive.
"Asfi-sama said someone was waiting for me. Turns out it's you…"
Laurier appeared on the grass right on time, just as agreed.
Her attitude toward others depended entirely on their relationship with the boy. Since Ais had caused Bell trouble just yesterday, Laurier was in no mood to be pleasant.
"I'm in the middle of an investigation. If you've got something to say, make it quick."
Her tone carried a clear note of impatience.
"...An investigation?"
Ais asked without thinking.
"It's about Bell. Besides unfavorable information, we also need to keep a close eye on certain girls."
Laurier glanced at Ais with a pointed look.
"...Girls?"
Ais was completely lost, confusion written plainly across her face as she pressed on.
"Hmph…"
Laurier's irritation felt like it had slammed straight into a pillow. No reaction at all.
Just a few exchanges were enough for her to understand exactly what kind of person the girl in front of her was.
No wonder Bell spoiled her so much…
Among all the girls around him, Ais's relationship with Bell was probably the most unusual of all.
Facing such a natural airheaded girl, Laurier's dissatisfaction faded away completely.
"I'm planning to look into what other women think of Bell. Having a little crush is fine, but if we run into someone unstable, that could be dangerous for him."
She explained her plan plainly.
"Oh…"
Ais nodded, only half understanding.
What was an unstable person, anyway?
If Laurier was being this cautious, did that mean it was some kind of enemy she needed to defeat?
The more she thought about it, the more questions piled up.
Shaking off the extra thoughts, Ais got straight to the point.
"Bell saved me before. Do you know how I can repay him?"
Blonde hair. Older. Elf.
Ais looked at Laurier's beautiful features and once again recalled the boy's preferences.
If it was her, she would definitely know the answer.
Just as Ais expected, Laurier replied without the slightest hesitation.
"Ais-san is very strong, isn't you? If you want to repay Bell, why not join the Hestia Familia?"
"..."
Ais stood there blankly, offering no response.
"I was saved by Bell once too. If my abilities weren't unsuitable for the Dungeon, forcing me to operate secretly within other familias, I would have joined the Hestia Familia long ago."
Laurier added calmly.
Pure repayment. Selfless devotion without hesitation.
Everything she did was for her sun, Bell.
This was the love Laurier believed in.
"But… I can't do that…"
No matter how airheaded Ais was, she still understood the meaning of companions. She couldn't abandon Riveria and the others just to join the Hestia Familia.
"Is that so? Then there's nothing I can do."
Laurier smiled lightly and turned away.
She had no intention of forcing Ais to do anything. Her own kind of "blind" devotion wasn't something everyone could accept.
Still, that resolve would surely leave some mark on Ais. Even if it was only a tiny sprout, Laurier hoped Ais would come to understand love, if only to avoid causing Bell trouble.
"..."
Ais watched the golden-haired elf walking away beneath the sunlight and vaguely sensed something.
In that moment of choice, Bell seemed to hold a certain weight in her heart.
She didn't dwell on it and headed toward her final destination.
...
The Hostess of Fertility hadn't opened yet, but the smell of hot oil drifted from inside.
"You're here. Sorry, give me just a moment."
Syr, wearing an apron, rushed back and forth beside the stove.
Ais stared blankly at her. This no longer looked like cooking. It was closer to a fierce, scorched battlefield.
"All done! I made some improvements this time, so these fried potato balls should definitely taste good."
Syr lifted the plate and set the golden food in front of Ais.
"Too bad Bell isn't here. Would you try them for me?"
She looked at Ais with hopeful eyes.
"..."
Faced with the fried potato balls, Ais defeated her cravings for the first time ever.
She deliberately avoided the golden spheres and fixed her gaze on the tabletop instead.
"Eh? I put a lot of love into these this time. They really should taste great."
Syr pursed her lips, then continued.
"Never mind. I'll save them for Chloe and the others. So, what did you come to see me about?"
Only after the potato balls disappeared from her sight did Ais finally relax.
She spoke softly and told Syr about her worries.
"I see. Since you don't know how to repay Bell, you came to us, his lovers."
Syr nodded and replied casually.
"It's simple, isn't it? Ais-san is beautiful, and you have such smooth, long golden hair. If you just hug Bell and do this and that, that already counts as repayment."
"Do this… and that?"
Ais tilted her head and blinked.
"You're curious, aren't you? I'll tell you. It's—"
Syr leaned forward, ready to explain in detail.
A loud voice cut her off.
"Syr! What are you whispering about over there? Hurry up and clean the kitchen!"
Mia stood there with her arms crossed, her presence overwhelming.
"Got it."
Syr smiled lightly and turned back to Ais.
"Sorry. You'll have to figure the rest out on your own. Bell will definitely be happy."
"..."
Still full of doubts, Ais slowly walked out of the tavern.
In the end, no one had given her a clear answer.
The only thing she could rely on was what Syr hadn't finished saying.
Just what was it?
Maybe I should go back and ask Lefiya and the others…
Just as Ais was struggling with her thoughts, a figure dressed in black appeared before her.