Steam rose, and a fine white mist drifted through the cave chamber.
The flames drove away the chill in the air, and their damp clothes gradually dried.
Bell stared at the fire, but from the corner of his eye, he unconsciously glanced at the black tights laid out to dry.
"Bell Cranel, you are not allowed to look at my clothes."
After their conversation about age, Riveria seemed to have become much more direct.
"And you're not allowed to close your eyes and imagine it either."
There was a touch more forcefulness in her gentle voice.
"This cave is tiny. There's no way I can meet all those demands... And besides, why am I not allowed to look at Riveria-san, while you keep paying attention to what I'm doing? That's hardly fair."
Bell answered in righteous protest.
"As a Level 6 adventurer, even if I cannot see your face, I can still tell where your gaze is and what state you're in."
Riveria replied with complete seriousness.
"....."
Bell could already feel the somewhat probing look she was giving him.
He smiled lightly and said, "If that's the case, then even at only Level 3, I've already reached the threshold of Level 6."
"......Why do you say that?"
Riveria asked in confusion.
"Because even without looking, I know Riveria-san is definitely blushing right now."
Bell answered with certainty.
"Mm......"
Realizing her lie had been exposed, Riveria let out a soft little sound like a girl her age.
She quickly calmed herself and changed the subject. "The clothes are dry now, so get dressed and let's head back."
The shadows cast by the firelight began to shift and move.
Riveria did not say something like, "And don't peek while I'm getting dressed."
With silent mutual understanding, the two of them turned their backs to each other and got dressed in the cramped chamber.
"......."
Riveria went about it without a word.
The faint rustle of clothing came from behind her. Even though she had moved away from the fire, the heat on her face still had not faded.
It was an unbearably embarrassing stretch of time.
A memory she could neither share with anyone nor wanted to.
When Riveria finally put on her coat and returned to being [Nine Hell], only then did she belatedly realize that she actually felt reluctant to let that experience end.
It was not just the distance between their bodies. Her heart had also drawn one step closer to the boy's.
Whether as a pure elf or a noble princess, now that Riveria understood how the boy saw her, an irrepressible delight welled up inside her.
"Riveria-san, are you ready?"
"J-just wait a little longer."
Hearing Bell call out, Riveria's movements paused for a moment.
How strange.
Was she really this easy to affect?
"Usually, when a princess changes clothes, attendants help her, right? If you don't mind, I could offer my humble assistance."
"Bell Cranel......."
"I understand, Riveria-san. I'll wait patiently."
Riveria had only called the boy's name, yet he had already understood her complaint.
How strange.
Why did that wordless understanding make her so happy?
She had to sort out her thoughts and calm down.
"All right, let's go back."
Riveria set aside the doubts in her heart and turned around with composed dignity.
"Mm... wait a moment."
Bell looked at Riveria and slowly stepped closer. "This won't do. It's not very fitting for royalty."
He raised both hands and straightened the wrinkled collar around her slender neck.
"Thank you..."
Her emerald eyes stared blankly at the boy.
Riveria was completely certain that at this very moment, Bell had no intention whatsoever of taking advantage of her vulnerability.
The boy's movements were incredibly gentle, like those of an old friend. He never once touched Riveria's skin.
Nor did his gaze wander downward.
Beneath that bright smile, crimson-red eyes met emerald ones for a brief moment.
In that instant, Riveria understood that her fondness for the boy had swelled a little more.
Despite all the things she had experienced in life, she had never felt anything like this before.
Even if it was only a fragile sprout, it was enough for Riveria to realize that the boy held an exceptionally special place in her heart.
That affection spread through her body and soul, turning into a burning red that climbed to her cheeks.
"I wasn't wrong before, was I? Riveria-san really is blushing."
Bell smiled softly.
"Th-this is your fault for making me blush, Bell Cranel. You have so many adorable lovers, so I never thought you'd react like this too."
Riveria stubbornly went on the counterattack.
There was a similar flush on the boy's face as well.
"Of course I'd blush, being alone in a room with an elf princess as beautiful as a heavenly maiden."
Bell answered honestly. "If I didn't react at all, that would be insulting both the encounter and the breathtaking view."
He was merely used to seeing beautiful women. It did not mean he had grown resistant to beauty or that his senses had gone numb.
On this point alone, the boy would never give ground.
"Mm... I get it, so stop emphasizing it."
The shy side of the girl in her had yet to fade, and Riveria had no chance at all to steady herself again.
"I'll put out the campfire first."
Riveria hurriedly made an excuse and escaped from those passionate crimson eyes.
As she extinguished the fire, she calmed her flustered thoughts.
The firelight vanished, and darkness returned to the cave chamber.
"Riveria-san, look over there."
Bell blinked and looked toward one corner of the wall.
In the darkness, a faint silver light was shining.
"A crystal? No... it looks more like a rare mineral."
Riveria slowly approached, struck the wall with the base of her staff, and dug out the glowing object.
A chunk rolled free, gleaming with a beautiful metallic luster.
"This is [Adamantite], a very rare material from the Lower Floors. Because of the moisture, the outer layer of the mineral softened, which is why we were able to see its glow."
Riveria explained.
Countless coincidences had guided the two of them to this place.
If they had not happened to dry their clothes here and produced all this moisture, Riveria would never have noticed the mineral at all.
"Bell Cranel, this is for you."
Riveria picked up the rare metal and handed it to the boy.
She smiled lightly and added, "This is all the result of [Luck], and we already agreed on it beforehand, so don't refuse."
"Thank you. Riveria-san really is my goddess of luck."
Bell accepted the mineral politely and put it into his bag.
"There's no benefit in flattering me... though I would like to say that, I still have one more thing to give you."
Riveria held out her hand.
"This is...?"
Bell looked at her palm in confusion.
Lying there was some kind of shattered ore. It looked like an ordinary transparent gemstone and gave off no light at all.
"I picked this up just now from a crack between the rocks."
Riveria explained patiently.
"This ore is called [Lunatic Light]."