Sunlight spilled over the girls' beautiful faces, outlining their shy, joyful smiles.
"Bell-sama, you're too slow," Lili murmured.
"Sorry. I spent a little time talking with Welf."
Bell walked over to the girls waiting for him.
Unlike when they explored the Dungeon, Lili was not wearing her robe. Instead, she had changed into a casual blue-and-white long dress.
Cassandra and Daphne were dressed as usual.
Mikoto, however, was wearing a restrictive white kimono.
"Mikoto-san, that outfit looks beautiful on you. It's like you stepped out of a fairy tale from some faraway land."
Bell praised her sincerely.
"I-I only picked it at random... I did not know what would be appropriate, so..."
Mikoto stammered in reply.
"Bell, don't let her fool you. That was all a lie! She definitely spent ages getting ready!"
Hestia puffed out her cheeks and exposed her on the spot.
"Bell-sama, Bell-sama, look at Lili's outfit too. What do you think?"
"You really do look very mature."
"I told you contact was forbidden! Stay away from my Bell!"
Lili happily spun around at Bell-sama's praise, while Hestia fiercely planted herself between the two of them.
"Um..."
Cassandra looked at them with a trembling gaze.
"I... lied... Bell-dono..."
And so, amid Mikoto's quiet murmurs, the group set off on their first date.
They had not taken more than a few steps before they ran into a problem.
"It's nice to go out together, but has Hestia-sama decided where we're going?"
Lili asked.
When they had decided on the schedule yesterday, they had left everything up to the Goddess.
After all, Hestia had been looking forward to this date the most, and she rarely had a chance to go out with Bell. Though everyone often complained and argued with her, deep down, they still respected this kindhearted Goddess.
"Of course! Let's go outside Orario together! I checked the map, and there's a grassland that should have a wonderful view."
Hestia puffed out her chest and proudly announced their destination.
Reality immediately poured cold water on her plan.
"Goddess-sama, under normal circumstances, we can't leave Orario."
Bell reminded her gently.
Their previous trips outside had all been forced by circumstance, and even then, it had taken no small amount of effort.
"Indeed. It is easy to enter Orario, but very difficult to leave."
Mikoto agreed.
Adventurers were simply too powerful. If someone left the city and then became Orario's enemy, it would almost certainly turn into a war with countless casualties.
"Besides, Hestia-sama is a Goddess. You're the one keeping the Familia under control, so the Guild definitely won't let you leave so casually."
Lili added another point.
Even if Bell and the others found a way to sneak out, they could not bring Hestia with them like they had during the Artemis incident.
"Huh?!!!!"
Hestia's mouth hung open in shock.
Walking hand in hand with Bell across an untouched grassland, blue sky and white clouds overhead, with her grumbling Familia members trailing behind them.
That beautiful fantasy had been shattered before it could even take shape.
"Then let's go to the Temple Bath!"
Hestia quickly recovered and named a new destination.
Her words stirred up a wave among the girls.
"Huh?"
Cassandra could not keep up at all.
"Hestia-sama, by bathhouse, do you mean... are you planning to take a mixed bath with Bell-dono?!"
Mikoto questioned her, her face flushing red.
"W-we can talk about that once we get there!"
Hestia replied without much confidence.
"You definitely haven't thought this through, have you? And isn't the Temple Bath only for the gods? How could Lili and the others possibly get in?!"
Lili fired off one complaint after another.
"I'm a Goddess from Heaven, you know. I'm sure they'll turn a blind eye."
Hestia answered with her hands on her hips.
"Goddess-sama, the men's and women's baths at the Temple Bath are separate. Are you really planning to bathe with me?"
Bell did not think the Goddess had that kind of courage.
"Um..."
Hestia was left speechless.
It had only been a sudden idea that popped into her head. She had not thought through any of the details.
"I also believe it would be best to consider this carefully. Although Hestia-sama bathed with Bell-dono a few days ago, for me, that would be truly difficult to accept..."
Mikoto paused, then hurriedly added, "That does not mean I feel any aversion toward Bell-dono. It is only..."
Back in the Great Tree Sea, Bell had once accidentally caught sight of several of them while they were bathing.
That incident had not brought him any judgment or scolding from the girls.
As those memories flashed through her mind, Mikoto blushed and cut herself off.
"Don't say it like that! You're making it sound as if I'm inviting Bell to bathe with me!"
Hestia quickly retorted.
"Huh? Wasn't that what Hestia-sama meant?"
Cassandra asked in confusion.
"O-of course not! What do you take a Virgin Goddess for?!"
Hestia answered, nearly out of breath.
"In that case, Goddess-sama, why do you want to go to the Temple Bath?"
Bell asked.
What kind of thought process had led the Goddess to make such an absurd request?
Hestia pressed her lips together, her gaze lingering on Bell for a moment.
Then she looked up at the sky and explained, "Because it's somewhere Bell has never been. Somewhere without memories of other girls..."
"Hestia-sama..."
Lili understood why the Goddess had suggested leaving Orario.
After coming to Orario, Bell-sama had formed deep bonds with many girls. He had gone on dates with them and laughed together with them.
Just how many places had that boy visited with those girls? How many bittersweet memories had he left behind?
Neither Lili nor Hestia knew.
What the Goddess wanted was a date that would create a one-of-a-kind memory. That was exactly why she had casually suggested going to the Temple Bath.
"Goddess-sama."
Bell was about to offer some comforting words.
What mattered on a date was the person you were with, not whether the place itself was special.
But Lili cut him off.
"Hestia-sama! You must not lose heart. Memories can be replaced by new ones. Let us work together and make Bell-sama completely forget about everyone else!"
Lili clenched her fist, burning with determination.
"Replace... replace..."
Hestia repeated the word to herself, her expression gradually brightening.
"You're right! Your warrior spirit has inspired me! No matter how wonderful Bell's memories were before, I just have to dye them all in my colors!"
Hestia copied Lili and raised her fist.
Hearing that, Lili's fighting spirit flared up as well, and Cassandra and Daphne clenched their fists in support.
"......"
Bell looked at the women, now brimming with enthusiasm, and silently commented in his heart.
It was good that they had cheered up.
But...
Wasn't replacing his memories a little too heavy?
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