Alise lay on her bed, touching her forehead where Roland had kissed her, giggling to herself. A knock came at the door. "Alise, it's us."
She peeked through a crack to make sure Roland wasn't there before letting the three girls in.
"Oh? Even our perfect Captain has shy days," Lyra teased.
"Lyra, she's a girl too. It's natural to be shy after a sudden attack," Ryuu defended her. The other three immediately turned to Ryuu, dragging her into the room.
"Wait... did he 'attack' you too?" Lyra asked suspiciously.
"No! It's just... remember when Kaguya told me to wait for him at the gate?"
"Yeah? And then?"
Ryuu lowered her head, her face flushed as she whispered, "Just as I was hoping Roland would call me Ryuu, he suddenly called my name and grabbed my hand."
Lyra let out a sharp "Tch" of disappointment. "Is that it? Just that? I thought he'd copped a feel, kissed you, or maybe you'd already tasted the forbidden fruit."
Hearing Lyra's disdain, Ryuu shouted back anxiously, "What do you mean! Holding hands with Roland is embarrassing enough!"
"Only a pure, obsessed elf like you would find that embarrassing."
"Lyra, you're acting like you have so much experience, yet you're just like me—you've never even had a boyfriend! You haven't exactly succeeded in chasing that Braver, either!"
To gain the upper hand in their verbal spat, the "mean" elf had begun digging up old dirt.
"What was that?! You useless thing, you're good for nothing but fighting. Roland wouldn't give you a second look."
Kaguya watched the two of them bicker with a look of utter exhaustion. She ignored them, sat on Alise's bed, and asked directly, "Alise, do you like Roland?"
Hearing the question, Ryuu and Lyra stopped their fighting and looked curiously at Alise. Surrounded by her close friends, Alise had regained her usual composed air.
After a moment of silence, Alise replied with a warm smile, "I definitely like Roland, and I care about him. But... I don't think I've reached the point of being 'in love' with him yet."
To put it simply, they were more than friends, but not yet lovers—though she was likely further along than the others.
"Besides, Roland isn't in love with me either. That intimate gesture earlier was probably just to comfort me. It feels like Roland is worried about something... like a child holding onto his most precious possession, afraid to let go for even a second. That's the feeling I get," Alise shared her intuition. "Ryuu, you noticed too, right? Roland is different from other elves."
Ryuu nodded. "Roland's emotional expression is incredibly rich. Most elves wouldn't be nearly so lively." Even Ryuu had taken a long time to grow comfortable with the group's physical touch.
"And it's as if Roland can see the future; he always seems to be worrying about us. Haha, of course, that's just my intuition," Alise said, waving it off with a troubled look.
Indeed, he had been adventuring with terrifying intensity lately, only to say those things when he leveled up.
Lyra spoke up, her voice laced with worry. "Just how worried is that guy about us? He's just a newcomer who recently joined the Astraea Familia."
Jokes aside, he had truly given up his most optimal ability for their sake, choosing only what would ensure their safety. Lyra, who grew up as an orphan, felt as if her heart was being stolen away by Roland—to the point where even chasing Finn didn't seem as important anymore.
Hearing their concerns, Kaguya recalled the first time she took him adventuring. Though he had a smile on his face, his expression carried a trace of desolation.
Heh. It seems you're just like me—someone bound by fate. You came to Orario all alone, which is why you value us so much, Kaguya thought privately, her hand clenching slightly. Looking up at her three friends—their faces flushed and lost in thought—she realized that while they might not be "in love" yet, they were very close.
"Truly a sinful man," she whispered. "Even I'm starting to get hooked on you."
At noon, the sun beat down on the Guild's exterior. Most of those intending to adventure had entered the Dungeon early; those left in the hall were mostly idle adventurers passing the time.
The Guild, through its monopoly on magic stone trading and city management, had amassed wealth greater than many nations. As such, the lobby was not only luxurious but offered various free services and the latest Dungeon intelligence. Adventurers gathered there to swap stories, boast, and network. To them, adventuring wasn't just about killing; it was about social survival. If you only focused on the Dungeon, you'd end up a nameless corpse in its depths.
Suddenly, the bustling hall went silent for a moment. All eyes were drawn to one person.
She wore simple chest armor, athletic hot pants, and a short red cloak pinned at her waist. Her sharp, spirited gaze gave her an air of heroic elegance as she walked. Her red ponytail was famous in Orario. While the gods might outshine her in beauty, she still had countless suitors.
But to these adventurers, her identity was far more significant: Alise Lovell, Captain of the Astraea Familia, a second-class adventurer known as the "Scarlet Flower" with exceptional fire magic.
"What is she doing at the Guild?" "Is it the Evilus again?"
Alise walked casually to the counter. Some adventurers loitered nearby, trying to eavesdrop. If this were a secret matter, she would have gone to a private room. Instead, she submitted a level-up report in plain sight.
"No way, is it Gale?" "Impossible, Ryuu just ranked up last year!" "Maybe the Cunning Rat? She's the only Level 2 left." "Wait... could it be that rumored new member?" "Are you stupid? That newbie just joined less than a month ago. No way."
The crowd buzzed with speculation. Suddenly, Rose, the werewolf staff member, let out a cry of pure shock, drawing everyone's attention.
"Captain Alise," Rose asked, her face pale with seriousness, "is this report... authentic?"
"Ah, don't worry. I was shocked too, but it's real. The Guild is free to investigate," Alise replied—referring to everything except the falsified timeline.
"Understood. It's unbelievable, but I will process this immediately."
Alise finished her task and prepared to leave for patrol. A friendly adventurer approached her. "Alise, can you give us a hint? Who leveled up?"
"It's the new guy. You've heard the rumors, right?"
"I have, but this fast? It's unheard of."
"I know. If I hadn't watched him grow with my own eyes, I wouldn't believe it either." Alise waved as she headed for the door. "That's all I can say. Watch the official board. Bye!" Her radiant smile made it clear to everyone: she was incredibly proud of this newcomer.