Chapter 3 - First Date With Eina

Yesterday, Eina had demolished him verbally for ignoring her orders and ventured down into the seventh floor by himself, but he had proven to her he was never in any real danger when he showed her his back.

So that's why he stood beside a giant bronze statue in a half-circle-shaped concrete park at ten in the morning.

Waiting for Eina.

Many thoughts ran through his mind.

First, he was laughed at in the Hostess of Fertility by Loki familia last night.

A male werewolf called him pathetic, disgusting and trash.

It really hurt, because he wasn't used to anyone talking so badly about him.

What did he do to deserve such harsh words? He couldn't understand.

But the two amazon girls, Tiona and Tione, defended him alongside Riveria the elf with jade hair.

At least not everyone in Loki familia saw him that way. Ais hadn't said a word, but she clearly was not amused. Then the werewolf asked her loudly if she liked him. Would she accept him if he asked her out on a date?

Bell's eyes were latched onto her face at the time, just hoping that she might say yes.

A few seconds passed and nothing. Her entire face was twisted into a grimace and he didn't know what to think.

Did she really hate him?

No, that wasn't possible, not after all the help she had gone out of her way to give him.

But the werewolf spoke again.

"Of course you wouldn't! Why would a tiny kid who's so weak, feeble, and all-around nauseating have the right to even stand next to you? There's no way he'd measure up."

Then the line that drove a knife through his heart.

"A tiny kid could never land Ais Wallenstein!"

Bell remembered how his appetite suddenly disappeared; he couldn't stomach this verbal abuse anymore. It was too much when it felt like the truth and he ran out with tears streaming down his face.

He didn't need to wait for her answer. She had a look of pure anger and disgust, which even if her look was aimed at the werewolf in front of her, the answer was obvious to him. She wouldn't.

The werewolf's words repeated themselves as he ran all the way into the dungeon to prove them all wrong. Everyone who ridiculed him. Not only the werewolf, but every familia who had rejected him. He would make them regret rejecting him.

And then? Bell wouldn't laugh at them; he wasn't that kind of person, but he'd become strong enough that they would accept him. And hopefully Ais too.

Not as an adventurer who she could pity, but someone she would look up to and fall in love with.

That was wanted most and he would do whatever it took to prove himself to the world and her.

First, he had to buy some new armour with Eina. Another beautiful woman he admired and wanted to date, but did she see him in that way? Probably not. Yet.

But at least she was someone he could always speak with, every day and slowly gain the respect of.

As his grandfather once said.

"If you want a woman to like you, then she must respect you first, but this advice doesn't apply to romance alone. It applies to everyone in general. The more people respect you, the more they'll like you and the way you do that is to respect yourself. Don't chase after women like it's the only answer to your life. Chase after your goals and add women to compliment it. That's how you build a harem."

"Hey! Bell!"

Bell turned around and saw a stunning view that took his breath away.

"Good morning! Aren't you early? Was the idea of buying new armour that exciting?"

"…"

Eina hadn't realised, but her attire today was nothing short of show stopping. Every single man within line of sight was completely mesmerised by her appearance. They all stole a look at this stunning half-elf beauty before him, before turning to look at him with envy. Wicked envy.

"Well, I was excited, too. I know this is your shopping trip, but I'm eager to get started." But Bell couldn't hear her, instead he just stared at her.

Eina was wearing clothes that he'd never seen or expected her to wear before. This was completely different from her guild uniform of black and white that was normally perfectly pressed against her body, while highlighting her curves.

Today, she stood before him in a cute, lacy white blouse with an adorable little dark brown knot just tied above her cleavage. A short red skirt that stopped mid-thigh giving him a peek at her beautifully toned thighs. This was way too sexy for him, but she rounded it off perfectly with a set of pitch-black thigh highs and dark brown ankle boots.

In other words, her innocence and sex appeal was making him go crazy inside his own mind right now. He wouldn't think it when he first saw her in the girl, but this woman really did know how to dress well.

This was definitely a treat for his eyes, but he couldn't afford to spend the entire day looking at her like he was doing now. That would just be creepy, and he didn't want to come across like a creep.

His eyes needed to go back up to her face, instead of scanning her from head to toe. Luckily that was an easy thing to do, because there was one thing about her that stood out above all.

Eina wasn't wearing any glasses, which made her emerald, green eyes even more prominent than before and she was practically glowing with excitement. Of course, he also adored her look with glasses, but this was so much better.

"Do you think I'm strange for getting excited about buying possibly dangerous equipment?"

"…"

Bell tried to respond, but he looked just like a fish with its mouth permanently stuck open.

"Bell?" A mischievous grin appeared on her face. "What do you think? Seeing me out of uniform? Anything to say?" Oh boy, if he didn't answer now, then he knew she was going to do something crazy and incredibly embarrassing to him.

"You look… beautiful." Was all he managed to say, and a small blush appeared on Eina's face.

"Well thank you, but let's not get carried away. Otherwise Ais-san might hear you and think that you're cheating on her!"

"Heh?" Bell looked around frightened for any sign of the golden-haired beauty, but she was nowhere to be found.

Instead, all he heard was the laughter of a half-elf woman before him and shoulders shaking as she tried to unsuccessfully muffle her own laughs.

"Joking… I'm joking Bell. Now, let's move on." She said as another laugh escaped her. Hopefully, she wouldn't tease him about it again.

"Oh, and before I forget Bell! Here's the valis from the minotaur the other day. 35,000 valis."

"35,000 valis?! And you exchanged it for me?"

"Yes, but only because I had the trust of the guild to handle this matter personally since I'm your advisor and all. I was meant to give you this in the guild but seeing how it was so late and you needed this to help you buy some armour today, I thought I'd sneak it out and give it to you today."

Bell gratefully accepted the bag of valis she gave him.

"Wow, you really are the best Eina-san. I really couldn't wish for a better advisor, and I mean it! Not only are you really beautiful, but you're smart and caring too. That's what I really like about you."

Eina clapped both sides of her face as it went beet red and swayed adorably from side to side while looking between the floor and his face every now and again.

"Bell-kun… you lady killer you." She joked with a playful slap to his shoulder. "Be careful who you say that to, otherwise she might just fall in love with you."

'And I hope she does.' Bell thought, but didn't say, because that was just too bold for him. Not to mention embarrassing. No girl had ever shown interest in him after all and he was afraid of being rejected or making a fool of himself, so he kept quiet for now.

.

"it's been a while since I've been out shopping like this."

"Really? Why?"

"Well, I've been really busy at work ever since I started at the Guild."

"Oh, and how long ago was that?"

"Five years now."

"Wow, five years ago! I was still a kid then, when my grandfather saved me from a goblin."

"Really? Well, you still are a kid." Bell pouted and Eina laughed.

As they continued to walk down the street, they both praised inside their minds the bright, clear blue sunny sky and the cool breeze that kept them refreshed and excited for the trip ahead.

The main streets are always busy at this time of day. Making it difficult to get anywhere. Employees of stores both large and small stand outside trying to bring in new customers. Bell swore that he could even hear the ground shake when a dwarf yelled out his store's special deals.

A few of them called out to Eina, but she just waved them off with a friendly grin.

"Um, where are we going today? Because if we keep this up, we'll be right outside the dungeon…" Bell asked, a little nervous.

"Our destination is… the dungeon."

"Wha…"

"The tower above the dungeon. Babel, to be more specific."

"Isn't Babel just a public facility and a shower room for adventurers?"

"Bell, you really are clueless, aren't you?" She said and then ruffled the top of his head, messing up his snowflake hair. Bell was not entirely amused and pouted, before flicking his head away and making her laugh.

"But then again, you've only been an adventurer for a few weeks, so I guess that can't be helped. Right, then, you're going to get some useful information today."

Bell remembered her Spartan style of "summarising" useful information about the dungeon, and to be honest, that look in her eyes scared him right now.

He prayed that it wouldn't be as intense as before, then braced himself for the lecture.

Eina would then go on to explain all the different parts of Babel Tower. It had a cafeteria, hospital and even an exchange. Plus open space to shops and merchants, which is where they were headed today.

Specifically the shops owned by the Hephaistos Familia, which earned Eina a panicked shout from a very nervous Bell. She had to know something that he didn't and when he tried to ask, all he got in return was a mischievous grin and, "you'll see." Before she grabbed one of his hands and pulled him with her into the tower.

.

After bumping into his goddess Hestia outside one of the expensive shops, he and Eina took an elevator to one of the upper floors.

"This is us."

The difference between this floor and the one's earlier were as clear as night and day. Before, it was just shops and almost no one outside them, but this level was very different.

First, it was a lot noisier and there were a lot more people about, adventurers specifically.

Plus, everything looked a lot less fancy and more…rustic. It had its own unique charm and immediately Bell felt a lot more at home here.

"You thought that you couldn't afford to shop at Hephaistos Familia's shops right, Bell?"

"Yeah." He replied, still completely confused by the spectacle before him.

"Well that's not completely true. But, seeing is believing! Follow me."

Eina took him to the back end of a shop that looked like it sold mostly spears and then asked Bell to take a look at the price tags.

"Huh?" He might actually be able to afford this…

"Hee-hee, surprised you, didn't I?"

"W-well, yes, but why?" And Eina seemed to stand a little taller as she started to explain.

"What sets Hephaistos Familia apart from the other smiths is that they have even their most inexperienced members make items and sell them in their shops."

Eina went on to explain how this would give rookie smiths and adventurers the chance to gain experience and work with each other. Otherwise, neither one of them would get better and they both needed all the help they could get.

She then encouraged him to go find a piece of armour that he liked, while she went off in a different direction in the shop to do the same.

It didn't take long, but Bell quickly and accidentally found a box in the middle of a row.

Light armour which consisted of knee guards and a small breastplate. Followed by wrist and elbow guards and a plate that covered the lower back. This armour emphasised mobility over protection, and it seemed like it was made just for him with how it fit him perfectly. Scary, but he was in love with it.

Flipping it around, he found the maker's signature inside. "Welf Krozzo." It didn't have the Ἥφαιστος" name, but he'd remember it.

Already set on this light armour, he looked at the price tag and gasped. 9,900 vals!

It's over nine thousand! He screamed inside his mind.

Well, he had more than enough considering that he still had most of the money Finn gave him a few weeks ago. Plus from his dungeon crawling and what Eina gave him earlier today. But still!

Eina then caught up to him and was surprised by Bell's decision but seemed satisfied with his choice of armour. He was going to be wearing it after all.

Right after Bell paid and left the shop, Eina was nowhere to be found. Thinking that she might still be inside, he went back inside to check and caught her looking at something. Eina was acting strange as she waved him off and told him to go wait outside. So he did.

A few minutes later, she emerged from the shop with a new item in hand. Wrapped in a piece of cloth and as long as his forearm, he wondered what it was and who it could be for.

Maybe for another adventurer? The thought that she would buy something for another male adventurer made him jealous. Maybe she already had someone in her life, but he quickly shook that thought out of his head.

"Eina-san?"

"Yes?"

"What's that?" He pointed at the newly wrapped item in her hand.

"Surprise." She said with a mischievous smile and a few taps on her nose.

Surprise? For who? Bell's heart thumped inside his body loudly, but he dare not ask who that surprise was for. He only wished that he was the one that would be getting that surprise. Not the gift, but of her affection.

"Where to next then Eina-san?"

"Well, today is my day off so I'm going to go grocery shopping. Would you like to join me?" Her smile was beautiful, but there was also something else behind it. Eina had another reason for extending their time together but wouldn't tell him why.

"Er… okay. Why not?" He agreed.

"But first, why don't we grab a bite to eat. You haven't had breakfast yet, right?" Bell shook his head to say no.

"Well then, let's go have breakfast. Know any good places?" She was obviously teasing, but luckily he knew of one and decided to play her game.

"Yes, yes I do. Follow me." He said and then walked ahead of a surprised Eina, who then followed after him.

.

"Bell-kun, where are we going?" She asked, her voice sweet like honey as she continued to play along.

"Here." He sand with his feet pointed at the entrance a few feet in front of them.

A large wooden two storey building with giant glass windows on each floor. The entrance was a set of double doors on the far left with five steps leading up to it and beautiful carvings on each side. A huge fish that swam up on the right, while a tall flower bloomed on the left.

"The Hostess of Fertility. My, my… you are full of surprises, but I guess you would know about this place. Since they do serve adventurers, but mostly at night. Are you sure this is where you want to take a girl on her first date?" And Bell started to turn red, she obviously wasn't being serious, but he couldn't help but think about him and her.

"Oh Bell! Nice… to see you... Who's this?" A woman with light peachy smooth skin asked from the entrance of the Hostess of Fertility.

Her eyes were a blueish grey, the same colour as her hair which was fashioned into a small knot with a ponytail at the end. She wore a leaf-coloured knee-length shirt with a white blouse, frilly headband and apron over it.

This newcomer was a beautiful human girl, with the good girl next door type of look, and she looked as innocent as she was deviously crafty. Her name was Syr Flova. The girl who tricked him into spending an enormous amount of money the last time he came to this bar after accepting her "free" breakfast one sunny day.

"Well Bell? Aren't you going to introduce us?"

If he could, Bell would have died of embarrassment right now from the merciless teasing of two beautiful women on either side of him.

"Er… right. Eina-san, this is Syr. She's a waitress at the Hostess of Fertility and she helps me out every day."

"Oh, how?" The half elf asked and Bell saw a tease coming, but if he didn't answer her then he knew he'd be in greater trouble.

"She hands me lunch every day, before I go into the dungeon."

"Owwwww… playing house already are we?"

"Playing house?" Bell asked innocently.

"Oh you know, like a couple living together, before they get married."

"W-wuwuwuwuwuwuh!" He frantically looked between both girls as his head turned red instantly. Plus Syr's giggles didn't help either.

"I like Syr, I mean she's nice, but nothing like that! I barely know her!" Bell protested, but that couldn't stop both girls from grinning wider.

"Bell, you've only been in Orario for what…less than a month? And you've already found a potential wife."

"W-w-wife?" Now Bell had completely lost it as steam seemed to erupt from his ears, nose, and mouth. Syr blushed hard, while Eina tried to stifle her laugh behind her white lacy blouse.

Syr was definitely very beautiful. She had a pure innocence that just seemed to draw Bell in and She had a very soothing voice. It seemed to make all his troubles go away, like he was listening to his body relax on a cloud of fluffy pillows. And she was giving him delicious food to eat every day. She was, in a way, perfect.

But there was something off about her as well. Syr was incredibly sharp and smart too. It was as if her deviousness was even higher than her cuteness. In other words, Bell had to be careful around Syr, otherwise she might swindle him out of all his savings.

"No-no-no, we're not like that! Eina-san…" But she still struggled to control the giggling behind her hands.

"Syr, stop slacking off and get back in here!" A loud booming voice broke out from inside the Hostess of Fertility.

"Yes, Mama Mia! Now Bell, would you and…"

"Eina Tully, I'm his dungeon hunting advisor." She introduced, before bowing.

"Ah." She said, before throwing a quick, but scary smile at Bell. "Well come in Bell and Eina, I'll find a seat for you both."

"Thank you Syr." Eina smiled too and then Bell suddenly regretted bringing her to the Hostess of Fertility. Their teases would be the death of him.

.

A few of the other cute female waitresses noticed Bell and called out to him in a friendly manner, which he embarrassingly returned. His thoughts too occupied by how much more ammo he was giving Eina to tease him with later.

Inside the bar Bell couldn't see any other adventurer aside from him, they must be working in the dungeon then he thought. There were a few seats taken, but most of them seemed to be citizens.

That would probably explain why the bar was so quiet compared to the noisy and rambunctious atmosphere he witnessed when he was here last.

It was also much darker than at night, when it seemed to rely on candles, but now the bar was lit up by the sun's rays during the day.

"Here, take a seat and look through the menus. Then let me know when you're ready." Syr said after leading them to one of the smaller tables near the walls. They both offered their thanks after being seated and then Eina asked him a question that told him that she was up to no good.

"So Bell, how did you meet her?"

"There's… nothing between us." Bell stuttered, but his thoughts betrayed him. He did like Syr and maybe considered pursuing her romantically, but he was just too scared of her and something else. He couldn't quite figure it out, but one thing was clear. He liked Eina a hell of a lot more.

"She just saw me heading to the dungeon one day and noticed I had dropped behind a monster stone and gave it to me. Then she gave me her breakfast and tricked me into buying dinner here to make up for it."

"And she still gives you your lunch every day?" The answer was obvious, since he mentioned it not a minute ago.

"Yes." He blushed.

"Bell-kun… she seems to quite like you. Are you sure you're not going to ask her out?"

Bell made strange noise as if strangled and Eina laughed. Then switched topics to give him a chance to gather his courage.

"Well, before you do that, let's order something." Bell decided to try something different from last time and ordered something called lasagne, while Eina asked for lentil and chorizo stew.

"So, my question from before." She teased, again.

"Eina-san… we aren't… that."

"Okay, okay, I get it."

"And what about you Eina-san, do you have someone special in your life?" Bell asked, he couldn't hold back his curiosity any longer and it caught Eina by surprise.

"Bell, where did that come from?" It was now her turn to blush hard.

"Nothing… I just… wondered. Is there a reason you bought something back at the shop in Babel?" Bell hoped that Eina wouldn't make the connection and see that he was jealous.

"Oh, jealous are we now Bell-kun?" Apparently, it didn't work, and she saw right through him. "Here, open it." Eina brought up the cloth wrapped package in question.

Bell hesitated, but then unwrapped the mystery gift.

It's a narrow vambrace that easily fits over his wrist and extends up his arm to the elbow. He can tell that it's designed to be used like a shield and this armour is the same colour as Eina's eyes, emerald green. Then it finally clicked in his mind.

"I-is this…?"

"It's a present from me, so please use it, okay?"

"Whaa? N-no, I can't accept this! I have to give it back!"

"Whaaat?! Are you saying you can accept a girl's lunch every day, but you can't accept a gift from me?"

"Well…" She got him there. Now he had to accept it. "But this is a lot more expensive! Just how much did it cost you anyway?"

"Bell-kun, never ask a girl how much her gift costs. Plus, I want you to have this. Not for me, but for you."

"Wha-why?" And Eina let out a sigh that he'd never heard from her before, it sounded painful, and she was clearly trying to hide away most of it.

"The truth is adventurers never really know when they'll die. Even ones who are really strong just disappear as if by the whim of a god. I've known many who didn't come back."

"…"

"…I'd like you not to be one of them, Bell. O-ho, I guess this present is for me, after all." Eina chuckled, but never took her eyes off Bell.

His face instantly burned bright red.

When put like that, he couldn't refuse her gift anymore and released a quiet sigh of relief. She hadn't bought it for someone special, like a lover. Maybe she didn't have one. Maybe he had a chance.

Eventually, Bell looked up and noticed that Eina was a bit red but ignored it for the moment.

"I'm really grateful to you for this and I swear I'll never forget you, Eina-san."

His gratitude made Eina turn red as she squirmed ever so slightly under his intense promise.

"It's just… I want to give you strength. You've been working so hard, and I want to help you. So don't disappear and accept this, please?"

His nose was starting to run, and his eyes were beginning to swim, but he wiped them both with his sleeve, before nodding.

"Thank you Eina-san… I appreciate you… very much…"

"You're welcome."

Bell stared the emerald green vambrace for just a little longer, before he wrapped it back up and stuffed it into his backpack.

"But if you still feel guilty about accepting my gift, then come with me to the market after and help me shop for some groceries. What do you say?"

For her? He'd do anything.

.

Lunch was then served. Lasagne for Bell and a lentil in chorizo stew for Eina. Both were foreign dishes to them, but they both agreed that they were delicious. Mama Mia really did serve some of the best food in Orario.

Their meal didn't last long and Bell tried to pay for the bill, before Eina stopped him. He insisted that he give her a gift too, lunch. Eina relented but not before she shot him another teasing remark.

"Bell-kun, I'm meant to keep my private life separate from my work, but you're making it terribly difficult for me right now."

Every waitress in the bar seemed to be listening in, so he took the safest route and said nothing.

He simply paid the bill, thanked the waitresses and Mama Mia for the delicious food. Then left with Eina giggling close behind him.

Their next stop. The market.

.

The market was a loud and vibrant place. It was even more rowdy than the street shops that he and Eina had encountered before when they walked through the main street earlier.

He thought he had walked into another dungeon, but this one spawned people and food stands instead.

"So Bell, if I remember correctly… your form said that you used to work on a farm, yes?"

"Yes, I helped my grandpa to plant the seeds and flow the fields. We grew tomatoes, potatoes, and all sorts of other foodstuffs!"

"That's great, maybe then you could help me pick out the best produce?"

"Of course!"

If there was one thing he was confident about, it was knowing how to plant, grow and pick the best vegetables. That's how he had lived most of his life after all. On a peaceful little farm in the countryside. Thinking about it now made him a little homesick and he missed his grandpa, but at least he had his goddess Hestia and Eina who made it seem like he wasn't alone.

As they walked through the market, Eina asked him how he could tell which vegetables were the best to choose from and he dutifully explained.

Soon, both Eina and Bell's arms were full of perfectly picked out vegetables, fruits, and meats. Before they left the market, Bell took Eina to a particular food stand.

"Jyaga maru kun? You know, I've been here five years and never had one."

"Okay then, well I'm buying you one right now!" Then they both held a fried potato puff snack in each hand.

Bell bought the original, the one with azuki sweet cream filling, since he had never tried it before and was curious how it tasted.

"Hmmmm…"

Eina's satisfied moan summed it right up. Why had Hestia never brought this version back home with her? Bell would have to ask her later, but for now he bite into his snack again. Savouring every moment.

"We need to do this more often Bell, you seem to know all the best places to eat." And Bell took pride in that.

Once they finished with their snacks and agreed that they would have to do this again sometime, Eina told him to follow her.

.

They stopped just outside Eina's apartment in a classy-looking street.

It was located in the north district of Orario, a place with high-quality housing and community. Plus, this house they were standing in front of now was shared between all the receptionists at the Guild. That's what Eina told Bell.

"Bell, you can come up, but you have to be quick. Otherwise the other receptionists living here will get the wrong idea, okay?" Eina sounded a bit nervous, but she was also teasing him at the same time.

"Okay, Eina-san." And up they went.

When they entered her home, Bell noticed that it looked very homely, but a bit crowded. There was a narrow hallway with cream-coloured walls, and several doors, that led to an open kitchen. This was unlike any house he had ever seen before, granted he had only ever been in his own when he was living with his grandpa on the farm. There also wasn't much furniture, just a table and four chairs in what looked to be the kitchen area with a few flower pots for decoration. One on the windowsill and the other on the dining table.

What caught his eye though was that it was very clean and clear of rubble, unlike his current home under the abandoned church.

One day he'd be able to afford a place like this for he and Hestia. No longer would they have to live in some run-down ruin, and they would have a real roof over their heads. One that kept their heads dry when it started to rain.

"Ah, you're probably wondering why the house looks this way." He did, it was a bit odd for someone who used to live on a farm.

"Well, I live here with three other girls who work at the Guild. The kitchen and the bathroom are shared, but we each get our own room."

Bell was surprised again, it almost sounded like they were family living together. Granted, this home felt a bit cramped. He then helped Eina put the groceries in a device called a 'refrigerator'. One of the inventions brought down by the gods From Tenkai. It was a metal box with a magic stone that kept the food inside cold and fresh. Very handy.

"Thank you again Bell-kun, I really appreciate it. Now I know what to look for next time!" That made Bell happy, he was glad to have been able to give her something in return for her wonderful, but expensive gift.

"You're welcome Eina-san. Now I should get going." It was about one in the afternoon if he read the sun correctly.

"The dungeon, right?"

"Yes, but how did you know?"

"Bell, I'm your dungeon hunting advisor. Plus, I've been noticing how you've been just itching to go since you got your new armour."

"Really? I've been that obvious?"

"Well yes, but only because I know you so well."

"Hehe." Bell nervously scratched his right cheek with a finger, he'd been caught red handed.

"Just remember to stay safe and put on the vambrace I gave you, okay?" She winked.

"Okay." He blushed.

"And no adventures, got it?"

"Eina-san…"

"…Okay… but just be careful… and don't disappear on me too, please." Eina looked genuinely concerned, but a promise was a promise.

"I promise, I'll look after myself and return if the danger is too great."

"Good, then I'll see you tomorrow at the Guild."

"Okay… Eina-san, see you then! Goodbye!"

"Bye." And when Bell had left, Eina whispered. "And stay safe, Bell."

.

A.N.

Again apologies, but I had to lift a few lines directly from the light novel. I didn't know how else to write them, but I've kept it to an absolute minimum. About 95% of the text should be what I've written myself though,

Also, I found it weird that Bell and Eina would meet at 10 in the morning, then go shopping for armour and then go back to her apartment when the sky was turning red. Signalling late evening had arrived. That's at least 6pm. Meaning they had gone to buy one piece of armour for over 8 hours. Orario isn't that big.

Moving forward, I decided that Eina would make the most sense as the first lover for Bell. As such, I'd need to dug up as much info about her as possible. Here's a few things I learnt and already knew that will be important later on.

Facts about Eina. She lives in a single dormitory room in a share house built by the guild for receptionists in the northern district due to the high-quality housing and community.

Eina chose the guild as her workplace due to a simple factor: money.

With that in mind, she wouldn't change her accommodation for something nicer. Plus, she barely spends anytime there. Working often until late evening.

She'd then send as much money back home asap to support her family. She studied in a school district outside of Orario, based on the fact that Eina talks about how she read about Orario, not lived, or visited. Eina also has a younger sister who's so young that she wouldn't remember Eina's face. Eina joined the guild at 14 and for her sister to forget her face, the age gap would have to be huge.

Opinion: Eina's younger sister would have been barely 4 years old to not remember her older sister's face. So there will be a 10-year age gap between Eina and her little sister. Also, her mother is a high elf, while her father is a human. It would make sense if birth rates were few and far between due to differently lifespan lifestyles and Eina's mother being sick and bedridden most of the time etc.

I also imagine Eina to have learnt a little bit about how to cook at home and then done some of that herself, because she wants to save up money to send more home. As eating out all the time would be expensive since the guild doesn't seem to provide their staff with foodstuffs at work or elsewhere due to her friend Misha pulling her out to eat lunch in a different place during the bodyguard arc.

Fun story fact: Eina didn't have to walk all the way to the market area to buy food. She could have done that in the few shops near her apartment, but she just wanted to tease and spend more time with Bell. Show him around the city and explore it a little more herself too on her day off. That was her adventure for the day. An "innocent date" with Bell.

Also, did you spot the small dragon ball reference in there?

Plus, I found out that the magic stone from enhanced minotaur Bell defeats later was exchanged for 50,000 valis. Since that monster wasn't trained for very long, I figured that a normal minotaur's stone was 35,000 valis.

Updated on 17th October due to a reviewer's feedback. (I added Bete laughing at Bell to the start of the chapter.)

Chapter 3: 5395 words. (Including a few dots that act as transitions and dividers)