In the dim glow of the crystal.
A figure stood by the bed, calling out, "Lefiya-san, wake up."
"Mmm…"
Lefiya rolled over in bed. After yesterday's relentless running, she was utterly exhausted.
"Don't bother me… Let me sleep a little longer…"
"Wake up, Lefiya-san. I have something to ask of you."
"I said let me sleep a little longer…"
?!
Lefiya suddenly realized the voice belonged to the boy.
She jolted awake, bleary-eyed, and looked beside her.
At the edge of the bed, the boy was leaning in close, staring down at her.
"You, you, you… How dare you barge in!"
Lefiya sprang upright, grabbing whatever was within reach and throwing it at him.
Pillows, blankets, a water jug—everything became a weapon in the golden-haired elf's hands.
"Lefiya-san, your clothes…"
The boy's reminder made her freeze.
Because she had rushed out for this trip, she hadn't packed sleepwear.
And now, without the blanket to cover her, her beautiful body—clad only in underwear—was fully exposed before the boy.
"You… you… you…"
Lefiya instantly folded her legs under herself on the bed, her face burning so hot her sleepiness evaporated completely.
Bell gently held out the blanket to her.
"..."
Blushing furiously, Lefiya snatched it back, then lifted her brows sharply. "Did you see?!"
Facing the golden-haired elf's mixture of shame and anger, Bell stepped forward without hesitation.
"Lefiya-san, I saw everything. Whether you want an apology or praise, I could talk all day if you like. But please, listen to me first."
With the boy drawing closer, Lefiya panicked instead.
She hugged the blanket tightly to her chest, tears welling at the corners of her eyes as she waited quietly for his explanation.
Their eyes met. Bell took a deep breath and spoke slowly.
"Lefiya-san, there have been deaths in Rivira Town."
…
The crystal suspended in the sky gave off a faint white glow. It looked like the moments before dawn, yet also like the last trace of daylight fading away. Rivira Town was still lively, but the atmosphere hanging over it was far heavier than it had been the night before.
"Ais-san and the others… they all went to inspect the scene?"
Lefiya had been obsessing over the boy's earlier misconduct, but the moment she stepped onto the street, the sharp chill in the air sobered her immediately.
"Yes. Because of our level, Finn-san left a guard behind with us, then headed straight to the incident site," Bell explained.
Following the boy's gaze, Lefiya spotted the werewolf Bete trailing behind them. Sensing their attention, he shot them a cold glare.
Lefiya let out an awkward smile, now fully understanding why the boy had woken her. In this chaotic little town, having Bete—who specialized in mobility—as their guard was perfectly reasonable. But the relationship between the werewolf and the boy was far from friendly. Bete would fulfill his duty as an escort, but nothing more.
Lefiya still remembered clearly: when they learned Bell Cranel had caught the attention of a healer from Freya Familia, the Captain had ordered an investigation into him. Back then, the party had just returned from a failed expedition and hadn't recovered their spirits. Bete had spent his days down in the Dungeon training. The moment he heard the news, he was the first to move.
After all, Bell was an adventurer their Captain had taken interest in—someone who might be able to break their current stagnation.
But the Bete who ran off wagging his tail came back swearing in fury. Wasting time investigating the weakest adventurer alive? Lefiya could understand his disappointment. That built-up frustration only made him more hostile toward the boy. Even after learning he had misjudged Bell, Bete—being a Werewolf—could never simply wag his tail like a little dog and reconcile.
Lefiya glanced at the boy beside her. If anything really happened here, she would have to shoulder her duty as his guard.
Surrounded by crystals and greenery, the three climbed a staircase carved from a massive tree trunk.
"...Are we really going with them?"
Lefiya had only just worked up her resolve, yet as the air grew more ominous, she couldn't help wavering.
"We should. Things have already escalated. Worst case, the culprit is hiding somewhere in town. If we don't investigate now, and the situation worsens… it'll be too late." Bell sounded firm.
Judging from the townspeople's reactions, this case was exceptionally grim for Rivira Town. If left alone, a new victim might appear at any moment.
"...Fine. Just don't overdo it."
A gust of cold wind tinged with blood swept over them, and Lefiya stepped closer to the boy.
Outside a cave entrance, numerous adventurers had gathered, whispering and arguing about the incident.
"This... With this many people, we won't be able to squeeze in, right?" Lefiya's brows knit tightly.
"Please make way. We're from Loki Familia."
Knowing Finn and the others were inside, Bell used the familia's name without hesitation.
The crowd muttered among themselves, but parted quickly to either side. Within moments, a clear path had opened for them.
"Somehow… you're kind of like the Captain…" Lefiya muttered.
"Really? Thanks for the compliment." Bell stepped toward the entrance.
"I wasn't complimenting you at all…"
Holding her wand tightly, Lefiya stayed close at his side.
"Wait here for a moment."
Before even lifting the curtain, Bell spoke with a grave expression.
"...Wait."
Lefiya reached out but failed to stop him. Watching his back disappear ahead, she could only stand frozen and silently pray.
She could have barged in after him, ignoring everything. But she chose to follow his words.
After all, the look on his face had been terrifyingly serious.
...
The stench of blood was overwhelming.
Bell had assumed that since it hadn't drawn the attention of others, this must have been a poisoning.
But now, it looked far more like a cruel slaughter where the victim never had a chance to resist.
Walking through the deep, dark passageway, he lifted a curtain and stepped into the crime scene.
The entire room had been dyed red.
Everyone present wore ghost-pale faces.
Under their conflicted gazes, a corpse—no longer recognizable as human—lay before them.
Muscular brown flesh, a neck twisted into mashed pulp, and where the head should have been, only a thousand fragmented pieces remained.
Hashana's image flashed through Bell's mind.
"Bell Cranel... I should have warned you to stay with Lefiya and not come here."
Finn's face was dark.
Riveria noticed Bell's arrival and immediately stepped back, positioning herself to block his view.
"...This is not a place you should step into."
Through the nauseating stench of blood, Bell raised his head and asked urgently, "Have you identified the deceased?"
".....Bell Cranel."
Riveria's expression was complicated. Her normally composed, noble features looked tired, as though she were silently pleading for the boy to leave at once.
"Talking won't stop him. Let him be part of this, Riveria."
Sensing the youth's unwavering resolve, Finn finally spoke:
"Bell Cranel, to be honest, I want to hear your thoughts on this case."
Before this horrifying, bizarre scene, the Braver—famed for his strategy—set aside his usual reserve, choosing to rely on the boy's extraordinary insight.
...
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