The Journey Begins in DanMachi

Nothing happened.

Hmm?

Ryu was surprised, as her body's reaction was completely different from what she had expected.

However, after sensing it carefully, Ryu realized that it wasn't that nothing had happened at all.

For instance, her heartbeat, which had been so rapid it felt like it might explode, was gradually calming down.

The complex thoughts of anxiety, pain, and frustration that had threatened to overwhelm her mind had also dissipated entirely, leaving only a sense of peace and comfort flowing through her, even making Ryu feel a hint of drowsiness.

It felt like lying on a straw mat under the eaves of a house in the middle of a summer afternoon, with the pleasant sound of wind chimes, and in the distance, the sounds of flowing water, cicadas, and birds.

I really just want to... take a nap right here.

No, no, no! In this place, at this time, with this person—how could I possibly fall asleep!!!

Noticing that trace of sleepiness, Ryu bit down hard on the tip of her tongue.

Although the pain made her eyes well up with moisture, she finally regained her clarity and re-established control over her body.

Then, she felt the sensation of touch against her waist and back once again.

However, this time, Ryu found her consciousness to be remarkably clear and calm.

"U-um, sir, could you please stop touching me? I am not injured."

As soon as the voice left her lips, Ryu was surprised by her own composure.

Stopping his movements, Noah hesitantly released the elf's waist and stepped back twice, allowing their eyes to meet once more.

Sky-blue eyes, similar in color to her own, were clear and moist, allowing Noah to see his own reflection within them.

But, when Noah realized he was being stared at by the elf, his heart suddenly skipped a beat.

He realized what he had just overlooked.

Most elves possess a strong aversion to having their skin touched by others.

Many bloody conflicts involving elves have arisen precisely because outsiders failed to respect this custom.

Just like the Alf iron fist Noah had received earlier...

That might have been the most memorable injury Noah had sustained since arriving in this world.

And now, compared to that, it seemed like things might be even worse?

Lowering his head, Noah looked at his own palms, then at the elf girl's waist.

When he looked up again, Noah's expression had become exceptionally stiff.

Silence wrapped around them, and just as Ryu was thinking about whether to speak again and had opened her mouth—

"Calm down!"

Stepping back, retreating, crouching, and covering his head, Noah performed a sudden four-part maneuver that left Ryu wide-eyed and completely bewildered.

Fortunately, her body had regained some strength, so Ryu did not fall over.

After steadying herself, she looked at the silver-haired swordsman crouching and covering his head in front of her, swallowing back the words that had been on the tip of her tongue.

"Sir, what are you doing?"

The expected elven critical strike did not come, and Noah slowly raised his head.

"Y-you're not going to hit me?"

The brave swordsman who could take on Goliath single-handedly was now peeking out from his crouch like a little boy who had done something wrong.

The intense contrast washed away all the strange thoughts in Ryu's heart, even making her want to laugh.

However, she pursed her lips, forcing herself to maintain a cold expression.

"Why would I hit you? Aren't you my savior?"

Confirming that the other party truly had no intention of attacking, Noah breathed a sigh of relief, shook his head, and stood up.

"That's good. I thought all elves hit people when they were touched. It hurts so much."

Actually, I was just about to hit you.

Feeling a sense of guilt at being called out, Ryu couldn't help but avert her gaze, her face heating up.

Clenching her weak, trembling hands and feeling the lingering sensation on her skin, Ryu struggled with her own thoughts.

I... I actually felt a bit comfortable. Am I really such a shameless elf?

After the fragrance that had soothed her mind faded, Ryu fell back into a state of intense self-criticism and disgust, her brain and cheeks burning hot once more, and her vision becoming hazy and soft.

No, this is bad. Without that fragrance, I can't calm down...

Just as Ryu was about to collapse due to her own useless nature—

...Hmm?

Suddenly, an intuition made Ryu notice something she shouldn't have paid attention to.

She calmed down once more and silently looked at Noah.

"Why are you so practiced at this?"

"Hm?"

"Could it be that you've touched many elves before?"

Noah saw the elf's originally clear, sky-blue pupils suddenly lose focus, as if turning into deep, bottomless black holes.

45 This elf seems to have been blasted into a daze; why don't we just...

"Why are you so practiced at this?"

Suddenly stared at by the blonde elf and asked this question, Noah didn't know how to answer for a moment.

He felt that anyone, after taking that punch from Riveria, would have it etched into their memory forever.

But he felt he couldn't explain that reason.

The elven royalty was respected by the vast majority of elves, a fact clearly visible within Loki Familia.

If they knew the truth, they would definitely view him as a suspect who had molested Riveria... though, looking at reality, that seemed to be exactly the case.

"This, that..."

While Noah struggled, other movements echoed through the long hall.

From the moment Noah saved the elf until the aftermath of the explosion dissipated, less than a few dozen seconds had actually passed.

"Noah!!"

"Ryu!!"

"Useless elf!"

Successive figures broke through the thick smoke and ash still lingering in the air, arriving before the two of them.

Seeing the green-haired elf and little Ais beside her, Noah instinctively raised his hand to greet them.

"Riveria! Over here! I'm fine!"

Seeing Noah, joy overflowed on Riveria's face.

But before she could take more than two or three steps, the smile on her beautiful face transformed into a cold, stern expression.

When Riveria arrived before him, Noah almost thought she was going to strike his head hard with Magna Aivis...

"Honestly!"

Fortunately, Riveria only looked him over and let out a soft sigh.

"Do you know what the Dungeon is like now?"

Casting an 'I'm fine' look toward Ais, Noah nodded honestly.

"I've realized it."

What a schemer!

That was all Noah wanted to say.

He could understand setting traps when you couldn't win a fight, but attacking passersby directly was going a bit too far, right?

Noah expressed his disdain for such behavior... because he wouldn't allow anything with a heart dirtier than his own to exist!

On the other side, after confirming Ryu was safe and sound, the members of Astraea Familia began to voice their reproaches one after another.

"Idiot Ryu! Were you trying to get yourself killed just now?"

"A useless elf is just a useless elf! Is your brain broken?"

"If you do this again! I, I won't talk to Ryu for three months—no, three days!"

Facing the storm-like scolding, concern, and blame, Ryu stood silently like a sturdy tree, not reacting fiercely as she usually did, but simply staring blankly ahead.

This quickly drew the attention of the Astraea Familia members, and the various voices gradually died down.

Kaguya, Alise, and Lyra were more sharp-witted; they instinctively followed Ryu's gaze and saw the silver-haired swordsman discussing and apologizing to Riveria.

"Is that person from Loki Familia?"

"There wasn't anyone like that in Loki Familia before, right? Hmm, and probably not in Orario either. Could he be a newcomer?"

"Noine, how can you be so sure?"

"Hehe, such a handsome guy—if I had seen him even once, I definitely wouldn't have forgotten!"

"You love-struck Noine! What kind of joke is that? That person just soloed a Goliath!"

"Maybe he just transferred from another Familia, why are you getting so worked up?"

Amidst the many discussions, only the three of Kaguya revealed strange expressions.

The Eastern beauty was the first to lean in beside Ryu, wearing the same mischievous grin the pink-haired Prum had shown earlier.

"Oh, useless elf, have you fallen in love at first sight because you were saved by a hero?"

Although Lyra and Alise were somewhat dissatisfied with Kaguya's actions—fearing that teasing the useless elf like this would likely trigger another dispute—they remained silent.

Especially since it involved a topic exceptionally stimulating for Ryu; they feared it wouldn't end without a loud, half-hour-long commotion.

However, upon realizing that the situation was beyond repair, both of them simultaneously revealed sparkling eyes, filled with excitement, thrill, and curiosity—in short, the look of gossip.

Since an argument was inevitable, why not recoup some losses by enjoying the show?

Yet, the subsequent turn of events left them disappointed.

Ryu grabbed the cloak at her chest, brushing it across her slightly reddened cheeks as if wiping them, and cast a glance at Kaguya with eyes that were moist but calm.

"What nonsense are you spouting? I was merely feeling a bit dizzy from the shockwave of the explosion."

Consequently, Kaguya and the others instantly turned into bean-eyed caricatures.

The girl from the Far East widened her eyes in unwillingness, scanning the blonde elf up and down, attempting to find a trace of abnormality or a flaw in her demeanor.

"You, are you serious? Not lying?"

Although she asked this, Kaguya actually believed her for the most part.

As the rival who bickered and argued with Ryu most often within the Familia, she considered herself the one who understood this useless elf the best.

If the topic of the opposite sex had truly been hit on the mark, given Ryu's useless nature, it would be impossible for her to be this calm.

Turning beet red and screaming, tripping after taking two steps, and then rolling around on the ground—that was the reaction that should have occurred.

Perhaps she would even feel dizzy and faint just from seeing the other person.

"You lunatic!"

Though slightly distorted by the cloak, the voice conveyed the elf's disdain with perfect clarity.