"Um... the way I looked at him just now didn't mean anything like that!"
Ryuu hurriedly tried to explain.
"Ryuu-san, she's just a child. Why are you getting so flustered?"
Bell teased with a soft laugh.
Even a lie would have been enough to brush it off.
Besides, the two of them were not lovers in the first place. Ryuu's current panic only made her look more suspicious.
"Cranel-san... please don't say anything..."
Ryuu shot the boy a resentful glare.
It was all because Bell had noticed her feelings when Adventurers were mentioned and deliberately turned to look at her, which had caused the Chienthrope girl to misunderstand.
"Big sister, you don't have to hide it. Big brother is building a harem anyway, right? I'll support you."
Fina spoke with a smile.
"Um... I already said it isn't what you think..."
Ryuu really was not good at dealing with children.
Especially a child who talked about romantic topics.
"Big sister is very pretty. I can guarantee it. The way big brother sneaks looks at you is absolutely lecherous, so it's totally fine."
Fina continued to "encourage" the insecure Ryuu.
"Cranel-san?"
Ryuu's expression immediately darkened.
"That is definitely a misunderstanding. I always look openly and honestly."
Bell answered with righteous conviction.
He could not let this little girl keep talking, or Ryuu would surely deliver a punishing fist.
After only a moment of thought, Bell saw through Fina's intentions.
"Fina, I know it's cruel to crush your hopes, but I still have to say it. This beautiful Elf beside me is about as good at cooking as Syr."
"Wh-what?!"
Fina was struck by a fierce blow called despair.
"I see... big brother has it hard too... hehe... hehe..."
Fina muttered as she turned away in dejection.
Her tiny back looked as though she were setting out on the road to purgatory, while ahead of her waited the terrifying witch currently dividing the food onto plates.
"Cranel-san, what did you mean by that just now?"
Ryuu asked as she watched Fina's lonely figure leave.
"Syr seems to come here often to bring food to the children. Fina is one of the victims."
Bell explained the reason to Ryuu in a voice no one else could hear.
An obsession with food had clearly taken root in Fina's heart.
If it were Ryuu, could she influence Syr and make delicious food instead?
Fina had encouraged Ryuu to take things further with the boy while clinging to that hope.
But reality had poured cold water over her.
"I understand what that little girl was trying to do. What I am asking is, what did you mean by saying my cooking is about as good as Syr's?"
Ryuu questioned him coldly.
How could she possibly make food that caused people to faint?!
Ryuu simply could not accept that evaluation.
"That was in the past. Ryuu-san has excellent knife skills, so with a little practice, you should be able to make very good food. But Syr, well..."
Bell could not bring himself to judge his own lover.
"Um... if you put it that way..."
Ryuu accepted the boy's explanation.
After all, she had tasted Bell's cooking during their travels together. From his point of view, everyone else's cooking was probably extremely ordinary.
Ryuu's brow relaxed, and she added, "I think Syr has gone too far. Cranel-san, don't say anything for now. Leave everything to me."
Chloe was Level 4, yet Syr's cooking had somehow pierced through her Abnormal Resistance and made her faint.
Without exaggeration, it was pure poison, something the boy absolutely could not be allowed to eat.
For that reason, Ryuu decided to stand in front of Bell and protect him.
"Uuuh..."
"Guh..."
As the food was handed out, bento boxes were placed in front of the children one after another.
The cheerful atmosphere from earlier vanished completely. After a long silence, cries of misery rose one after another.
"No, no, today's one is especially bad..."
"Hang in there. As long as you swallow it in one bite, it'll be over..."
"Sister Syr... hehe... Elf Sister... hehe..."
Amid the waves of wailing, the bento prepared by Syr gradually entered the children's mouths.
"..."
Bell had no time to pity them.
Because on that dining table, there was still one wicker basket whose contents had not been opened at all.
That was the boy's battle, and in the truest sense, his ordeal.
"Cranel-san, please tell me. Do you have the Development Ability [Abnormal Resistance]?"
Ryuu watched Syr approach step by step and asked with solemn resolve.
"No."
Bell answered honestly.
"I see..."
Ryuu sighed softly and stepped in front of the boy.
"Bell, the children's bento boxes have all been handed out. This last basket is for you."
Syr carried the wicker basket and closed in with a smile.
"Huh...?"
Seeing the resolute Elf girl, Syr could not help frowning. "Ryuu, did something happen?"
"It wouldn't be good to disturb the children while they're eating. Syr, let's talk somewhere else."
Ryuu showed no intention of backing down.
After briefly greeting Lady Maria, they headed to another room in the church.
Some children wanted to follow and eavesdrop, but the bento in front of them blocked their path.
"Cranel-san, please wait outside."
Ryuu pushed Bell out of the room and firmly shut the door.
"..."
Bell looked around and observed the church's layout.
Ryuu was definitely planning to persuade Syr to give up for his sake.
In that case, what could he, the person caught in the middle, do...
As Bell thought, the two girls began their confrontation.
"Ryuu, what is so urgent that it can't wait until after we eat?"
Syr placed the wicker basket on a small round table and blinked in confusion.
"No, Syr. You cannot let Cranel-san eat this bento."
Ryuu went straight to the point.
Even if it meant betraying her friend's feelings, she had to step in and stop this.
"Shouldn't Bell be the one to decide that?"
Syr softly pushed back.
This was a matter between lovers. Whether he ate it or not was Bell's choice.
Ryuu had no reason to interfere.
"No. Cranel-san would definitely force himself to eat the bento to spare your feelings. That is why I am standing here."
Ryuu's blue eyes rippled with resolve.
Without [Abnormal Resistance], this bento was far too dangerous.
If anything happened to the boy after he ate Syr's cooking, Ryuu would never forgive herself.
"By saying that, Ryuu, do you mean to oppose me?"
Syr narrowed her eyes and studied the Elf girl's beautiful face.
"Um..."
Ryuu pressed her lips together, then raised her head and stared straight into her friend's eyes.
"Yes. Even if Syr ends up hating me, I will not let Cranel-san eat this bento."
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