A faint phosphorescent glow shimmered through the wide passageway.
A group of several dozen made its way up through the Dungeon.
They split into multiple smaller teams, coordinating with one another as they dealt with the monsters along the route.
Lefiya and Bell, meanwhile, stayed in the safest position at the center.
"Ugh... why do I have to do this?"
Lefiya muttered under her breath.
After the girls discussed it among themselves, she ended up being the only candidate chosen to carry the boy back.
With Bell on her back, it took Lefiya quite a while before her pounding heart finally began to calm down.
"It's probably because... they all trust Lefiya-san."
Bell said it with a quiet laugh.
Laurier had kissed him right in front of everyone.
Compared to her, Lefiya was obviously far less dangerous.
The girls seemed completely certain that Lefiya would never do anything strange like Laurier had.
"That's not the problem at all..."
Lefiya pouted.
The fact that the two of them were lovers seemed to have become common knowledge by now.
Lefiya could not shake the feeling that the Captain had somehow set her up...
More importantly, the girls clearly did not know that their relationship was only an act, yet they still seemed utterly convinced that Lefiya would never do anything embarrassing.
That strange kind of trust only left Lefiya feeling a little defeated instead.
It's just a kiss or something...
That should be easy enough...
The moment Lefiya recalled their first kiss at the bottom of the cliff, her confidence vanished.
She really could not do something like that...
No.
Why is the premise me kissing Bell Cranel in the first place? What am I even thinking about?!
Lefiya shook her head and forcibly dragged her chaotic thoughts back to reality.
"Lefiya-san, if you don't want to do this, why not just refuse?"
Bell asked.
He had already made it clear that only his arm was injured, and that there was no need for anyone to carry him back.
"Um... it's true that you got badly hurt trying to save everyone... so it's not that I don't want to... it's just... um..."
Lefiya stumbled over her words, as though everything she wanted to say had been hidden away inside her burning red cheeks.
The boy's face was right there, close enough to throw her heart completely off balance.
Lefiya could not help recalling her conversation with Ais.
Before they set out, Ais had said this to her.
"Lefiya... are you feeling down? I can help carry Bell..."
"No. Absolutely not!"
Just imagining that scene made Lefiya feel strangely irritated.
Looking at the puzzled blonde girl, she hurriedly added, "I just lost the gem Bell Cranel gave me, so I've been feeling a little down..."
"Bell gave it to you?"
Ais blinked and asked in return.
"Yeah... a blue gemstone. I lost it in the 24th-floor Pantry... have you seen it, Ais-san?"
Lefiya gestured to show about how big the gem had been.
"..."
Ais froze for a moment, then quietly shifted her gaze away.
Like an innocent little girl, she said nothing at all, only shook her head and turned to leave.
"I'll look for it again next time I go to the 24th Floor..."
Lefiya lowered her head in disappointment, then pulled herself together and headed for the agreed meeting point.
...
Even before this, whether she was carrying Bell or being carried on his back, Lefiya had already gone through situations like this many times.
And yet she still could not calm herself down.
"Bell Cranel, what about you? Why didn't you refuse?"
Lefiya asked softly.
Normally, with pride and embarrassment to think about, would a boy really agree to something like this?
"The reason is simple. How could I possibly refuse being carried by a cute girl like Lefiya-san?"
Bell replied with a smile.
"Mm...?"
Once again, Lefiya silently began reciting magical theory in her head.
So this is what people call the whisper of a demon.
I absolutely cannot let myself be bewitched by it!
"You. You're way too close!"
The more Lefiya tried not to think about it, the more aware of it she became.
Bell's whole body was pressed against her back, and everywhere they touched carried a warmth that felt almost like an embrace.
All the magical knowledge in Lefiya's head was in complete chaos. If Riveria heard what she was thinking, she would definitely smack her with her staff without hesitation.
"My arm is injured, so it can't be helped."
Bell explained honestly.
If he did not lean against Lefiya like this, the two of them would easily stumble and fall.
"Mm..."
Lefiya pressed her lips together and could only give in to reality.
She desperately tried to think of something else and forced out a change of subject.
"The weather's pretty nice today..."
"Yeah. The walls, the ceiling, and even the usual dim scenery all look beautiful because Lefiya-san is here."
Bell played along.
"That's not what I meant!"
Lefiya puffed out her cheeks.
"This is the Dungeon. What weather could there possibly be...?"
In their field of view, monster corpses were scattered everywhere across the ground, and faint monster screams could be heard in the distance.
With Ais leading the vanguard in dealing with monsters, Lili and the rear guard were in charge of collecting Magic Stones and Drop Items.
Bell and Lefiya, positioned in the middle of the formation, were not being disturbed by anyone, but this was definitely not a peaceful or relaxing journey.
"Even the smell is awful..."
Lefiya said as she looked at the corpses ahead.
"Really? Since Lefiya-san smells so nice, I haven't noticed it at all."
Bell answered right away.
"Mm... if you keep saying weird things, I really will throw you down!"
The blush had only just faded from Lefiya's cheeks before they turned an even deeper, riper red.
"I'm telling the truth."
"That's exactly why you shouldn't say it!"
Faced with Bell's sincerity, even the tips of Lefiya's ears turned burning red.
"Lefiya-san's ears are like beautiful leaves. They turn red so easily."
Bell could feel waves of warmth coming from those slender pointed ears.
"And whose fault do you think that is?!"
Lefiya complained with a red face.
Why was it that whenever she was around Bell Cranel, she always ended up acting so strangely?
"Stop talking already, or I'm really going to get mad."
Lefiya threatened him.
"All right, then let's talk about something important."
Bell moved closer to Lefiya's ear and spoke softly.
"Eh?!!"
A jolt seemed to run through Lefiya's entire body, and she trembled without meaning to.
"Don't suddenly talk right next to my ear?!"
With tears gathering at the corners of her eyes, Lefiya could not help but protest to him.
It was her first time experiencing that numb, tingling sensation, and she had been completely unprepared for it.
"Sorry. Other people can't know about this."
Bell kept whispering by her ear.
"It's about Filvis."
"...?"
Lefiya frowned, instantly throwing aside all her earlier embarrassment and complaints.
When Bell saw that she had quieted down, he continued.
"Lefiya-san, once you get back, have Finn keep a close eye on the Dionysus Familia."