After putting down the female elf, Bell headed straight home.
'Haven't been back in half a month. Finally, I can get some proper rest.'
In just two weeks, he had completed his Status growth, mastered "Tsubame Gaeshi," and even slain a Level 6 Juggernaut. He was confident he'd obtained the key to moving forward, so everything else could be put on hold for now.
'And then, there's the long-awaited embrace of Hestia and Hephaestus. Tonight, I can finally get a good night's sleep.'
With that lighthearted thought, Bell stepped into the Tree House.
The moment he entered, he saw Freya sitting there, with another goddess by her side.
"..."
Good grief.
Bell instantly understood why Freya was in the living room—it was no doubt because of the eyes watching from the "Hostess of Fertility."
"You're back, Bell."
Seeing Bell looking a bit travel-worn, his eyes carrying both surprise and resignation, a faint smile flickered in Freya's gaze.
It was already late, and everyone else had gone to their rooms to rest.
Freya herself had been resting too, but upon glimpsing Bell through Syr's eyes, she knew this was the day he'd return.
She hadn't prepared anything special; she simply came to the living room in her nightwear to wait for him.
"Good evening, Freya."
This time, Bell didn't add the suffix that usually earned him an eye roll—and naturally, none came. Tonight, Freya looked a little different from usual, perhaps because of her attire. She wore a plain white nightgown, a simple one-piece without any bright colors. It was modest—so modest it didn't seem like something a Goddess of Beauty would wear, almost overly reserved.
Not only her chest, but even her shoulders, legs, and arms were fully covered.
Though the gown was conservative, perhaps because it fit her so perfectly, it didn't intentionally reveal anything, yet her flawless figure was still unmistakably outlined.
It wasn't overtly sensual, but it was quietly captivating.
That understated simplicity carried a silent allure that drew Bell's gaze without him realizing.
Freya, of course, noticed his stare, but she only smiled softly, letting him look as much as he pleased. Then she asked with a teasing hint in her tone:
"Is it beautiful?"
"Very beautiful."
To say the Goddess of Beauty wasn't beautiful—that would be the greatest lie in the world.
But Bell had seen another kind of beauty in Freya tonight—not the one displayed in her body or face, but a serene, pure beauty that radiated from her presence itself.
"I am beautiful, yet why aren't you drawn to me?"
"...Freya, if you put it like that, I really don't know how to answer."
"Pfft~"
Freya couldn't help but laugh. Wasn't this closeness already enough?
"Come, sit."
Bell didn't refuse. In a few steps, he sat down beside her.
Freya turned slightly toward him, watching as he sat upright, his posture stiff and proper. She leaned in a little, reaching out to remove the hood still perched on his head.
The face beneath was still so young, almost too innocent—a perfect disguise. Anyone unaware would have been fooled into thinking this boy was nothing more than a greenhorn newcomer.
"You really keep up this cautious act no matter where you go, don't you?"
This was definitely a chronic problem—and one deeply rooted at that.
"Caution and vigilance are essential. The Dungeon changes in an instant, so it's always better to be careful."
"Do Dungeon monsters even care what your face looks like? This is preparation for adventurers." Freya's expression all but spelled out, 'Do you really think I'm that easy to fool?'
Though she'd never entered the Dungeon herself, as a goddess she knew full well that the monsters down there couldn't care less whether an adventurer's face looked naïve or not.
No monster would ever judge a human's strength by their appearance—but adventurers certainly would.
Naivety and inexperience were written all over their faces and eyes.
Some greenhorn adventurers practically wore their innocence on their faces, making them perfect prey for seasoned veterans who knew exactly who to target.
So this youthful face of his was clearly meant to fool those experienced adventurers.
And yet, Bell called it "caution" and "prudence."
To Freya, though, it was obvious—this kid had done all this just to keep anyone from noticing the face hidden under his hood.
That way, others wouldn't take him for a skilled adventurer, but rather a harmless rookie, and they'd overlook him completely.
Of course, Freya noticed even more layers to his disguise.
"And on top of that, you've got a cognition-distortion barrier on your face too. Just how tightly are you planning to wrap yourself up?"
That innocent-looking face was actually his third layer of defense—the first being the hood, the second the cognition barrier.
Good grief. Covering his entire face in barriers just to avoid attention? Freya couldn't help but be impressed by Bell's dedication.
She reached out, pinched his cheeks, and kneaded them until his stiff expression softened.
"You can keep up the act outside, but do you really need to keep it up at home?"
Bell felt a little embarrassed. Honestly, it wasn't intentional—it was just habit.
"It's not my fault. After coming up from the Dungeon, I went to the 'Hostess of Fertility' to drop someone off, so I just stayed in my usual mode around people."
"Oh, so now you've got excuses too?"
Freya gave his cheek another firm pinch.
"Alright, put your cloak and coat away in your storage."
Bell obediently did as told. His cloak was dusty anyway; it wasn't something to wear inside the house.
"Come here. Lie down properly."
"...Huh?"
Freya patted her thigh gently, clearly signaling for him to rest his head there.
"Freya, actually, I—"
"Come here. Lie down."
"...Yes."
...
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