AT THE SAME TIME
ISABELLA
I forced myself to take a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart.
"Uh… actually, could you… maybe check around? See if there's anyone… interesting? Adventurers, recruits… anyone I might… bump into?" I stammered, trying to sound casual.
Eina raised an eyebrow, clearly curious.
"Interesting? In what way?"She asked.
I waved a hand vaguely, hoping I didn't look like a total weirdo.
"You know… for safety reasons. Just… keeping an eye out."I said.
The half-elf tapped a few keys on her console, sending a pulse of magic through the Guild network.
"I can send a message across the city, discreetly. Check adventurer activity… schedules… if anyone's trending or noteworthy."She said.
"Yes! That'd be perfect." I said quickly, hiding the small fang‑growl that had escaped my lips when I imagined Bell appearing in the data.
"Optional Objective Added: Gather intel on target Bell Cranel. Success depends on discretion and observation."System said.
Eina nodded.
"Alright. I'll keep an eye out. You're free to explore Orario, but please… be careful."She said.
"Totally reasonable!" I whispered to myself, trying not to bounce on the spot.
Freedom! Finally, I could roam the streets of Orario, see the city I'd only read about… maybe even spot Bell in the wild. The moment I stepped outside, sunlight stabbed my eyes, warm and real.
Merchants shouted about wares, spices, baked bread, colorful fabrics fluttered in the wind, and adventurers strode past with weapons bigger than me. The city pulsed with life and I was in it, a monster in human skin, blending in… mostly. I skipped along cobblestone streets, peeking into alleys and market stalls, when I collided, literally bumped into a small, bouncing figure.
"Oof!" I stumbled back, heart leaping into my throat.
And there she was, Hestia. Bright blue eyes, ribbon under her bust bouncing as she stepped back, black hair in twin tails practically sparkling in the sunlight.
"Oh! You!" She squealed, grasping my shoulders before I could react. "You're new around here, right? I can tell! You have that… aura! It's adorable!"
I froze, hands gripping my borrowed cloak. Adorable?! The goddess of my target just called me adorable?! Calm, Isabella. Calm. Do not fangirl out loud.
"I… uh… yes." I stammered, forcing my voice steady despite my claws itching beneath my sleeves. "I'm… Isabella Vale."
Hestia tilted her head, studying me like she'd just discovered the cutest treasure in Orario.
"Isabella Vale… what a lovely name! And your eyes! Red… like the sunset on the dungeon floor! Or… maybe not exactly, but still, so pretty!"She said.
I felt my cheeks heat, my system pinging frantic alerts.
"Glamour Veil stability is 65%. Emotional spike = fangirl meltdown. Suggested action: suppress internal screaming." System said.
"Yes! That's right! Totally… human… totally normal…" I muttered under my breath, waving my hands awkwardly. Hestia, of course, took this as encouragement.
"Bell! Oh Bell!" She squealed, spinning slightly on her heels. "You have to see this! She's new, and she's just… so cute!"
My internal panic skyrocketed. Bell, Bell! was somewhere in the city right now, and the goddess who practically lives to fuss over him was screaming about me. My claws twitched. My heart, or monster heart was doing somersaults.
"Uh… h-hello?" I squeaked, trying to sound calm and collected while feeling like I was going to melt into a puddle of fangirling goo.
Hestia clapped her hands together.
"Yes! That's her! Bell, you have to meet her! She's perfect!"She said.
"System Ping: Target proximity unknown. Emotional spike - maximum fangirl overload. Glamour Veil stability - critical."System said.
I swallowed hard and forced a tiny, polite smile.
"I… I'd like that." I whispered.
Hestia's grin practically split her face.
"Good! Come on, Isabella! I'll introduce you properly to Bell!"She said happily.
And with that, I was swept into the chaos of Orario, heart hammering, claws hidden, Glamour Veil trembling slightly, and the goddess of my target grinning like she'd just found a rare treasure.
"Optional objective update: first encounter with Hestia completed. Target proximity is pending.
Emotional spike catastrophic fangirl mode.
"Wait, w‑wait, I-!"I begun.
Too late. Hestia's small hand had a terrifyingly divine grip. The goddess of hearth and chaos practically skipped through the plaza with me in tow, dragging me past merchants and gawking adventurers. My cloak flared behind me like a distress flag.
"System alert: Velocity exceeds safe walking parameters. System query: Host under divine abduction?"System said.
"Not abduction!" I hissed under my breath. "Just… unwanted enthusiasm!"
After what felt like an eternity of being paraded around like a pet project, I caught a glimpse of white hair down the next street, Bell Cranel, laughing with Welf and Lili as they carried shopping bags. My breath hitched. Target acquired.
"System ping. Emotional spike critical. Glamour Veil stability 51%. Immediate risk: tail flick visible"System said.
"Oh gods, oh me-" Hestia gasped, spinning toward the group. "Bell! Look who I found!"
That was my cue to panic.
"Uh, I just remembered I left something at the Guild bye!" I blurted and bolted down the nearest side street before anyone could blink.
Hestia's confused shout echoed after me.
"Wait! Isabella!"She screamed.
"System warning Objective proximity severed. Affection progression halted. System comment. Host behavior contradictory to 'conquer' directive."System said.
"I know." I gasped, darting between market stalls. "I'm improvising! You wouldn't understand!"
"System query. Define 'improvising.'"System said.
"It's called having a plan, okay?!"I said.
The System hummed suspiciously.
"Processing… Result: 0% confidence host actually has a plan."System said.
I skidded into an empty alley, braced against the wall, and tried to breathe. My Glamour Veil flickered faintly red eyes glinting through human blue for half a second before stabilizing.
"Okay." I muttered. "Step one: don't get caught half‑transformed in public. Step two: don't faint in front of the literal goddess of my romantic target. Step three…"I said.
I straightened, brushing dust from my cloak, heart still hammering.
"Figure out how to meet Bell on my own terms."I finished.
"System note. Host appears to be shifting quest approach from direct pursuit to strategic observation. Optional objective added. Formulate controlled encounter scenario with target. Success condition: no divine witnesses."System said.
I grinned despite myself.
"Exactly. Controlled encounter. Not flailing, not fainting, not fangirling. Totally composed."I said.
A beat.
"System response. Historical data suggests host is incapable of 'composed'."System said.
I glared at the glowing interface.
"Watch me."I said.
The screen blinked once, uncertain, before fading into standby and so I took off again into the busy streets of Orario, one monster, one half‑baked plan, and a dangerously fragile disguise. Somewhere behind me, Hestia was probably pouting. Somewhere ahead, Bell Cranel was laughing in the sunlight. And me? I was going to make this quest mine.