Riveria averted her gaze as she spoke, but her hand remained on Yoru's body, the healing magic still ongoing.
It was perhaps a bit excessive, but with her mana depleted, Riveria truly needed a way to restore it quickly.
If she were to wait for it to recover naturally, who knew how long it would take? Since there was a faster option available, why not take advantage of it?
Besides, it wasn't as if her actions were harming the boy in any way. A little selfishness, just this once, should be forgivable.
At the very least… she'd never been this physically close to a man before. So in a way, he was getting the better deal.
That thought flitted through Riveria's mind as her cheeks turned red. Normally seen as calm and elegant within the Loki Familia, she now looked adorably bashful. Thankfully, she had turned her face away, or Aiz and Bete would have witnessed a side of her they had never seen before.
"Riveria… do you know him?"
Aiz tilted her head curiously, sensing something strange about the situation.
"Ah… no. This is the first time we've met. Why would you think I know him?"
With her blush fading, Riveria tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and smiled wryly.
"Tch… what's so special about that guy? Just another pretty boy. First Aiz, now you too—you're both acting so close to him, it's annoying to even look at."
Though he had mostly calmed down, Bete was clearly still holding a grudge. He glared at Yoru, baring his fangs.
"You two are elite members of the Loki Familia—Level 5 adventurers. Isn't it embarrassing to associate with garbage like that?"
"You've said enough, Bete. Just because you're strong and from Loki Familia doesn't give you the right to insult others. Apologize to him!"
"…Hah? Apologize? You're joking, right, Riveria? What's wrong with calling garbage garbage?"
"That's it. Return to the squad. I'll be reporting everything that happened to Lady Loki—exactly as it happened."
"Tch… got it. What a damn buzzkill."
Realizing Riveria was truly angry, Bete didn't dare argue further. He grumbled under his breath, then turned and left swiftly.
"Sorry about that… Bete just has no filter. He didn't mean to target you specifically, it's just…"
Riveria hesitated, glancing at Aiz's puzzled face, unsure how to explain.
Everyone in their Familia already knew Bete had feelings for Aiz. And honestly, what man wouldn't be smitten with someone so beautiful and strong?
The problem was, Aiz was utterly clueless when it came to matters of romance. A bit of an airhead, she never seemed to notice any of Bete's attempts to get close.
"It's fine. I'm not angry. The strong have every right to look down on the weak. Right now, I am the weak one—and he's strong. It's only natural he'd act that way, especially since I've touched something—or rather, someone—he considers sacred."
Yoru wasn't dense. Aiz might not understand why Bete had gotten so emotional, but Yoru did.
"…I see."
Riveria was momentarily at a loss for words. She wanted to comfort him, but with her status, anything she said might come off as condescending.
"Don't you… feel angry or humiliated?"
"Why should I? If someone insults me or looks down on me, and I get angry because of it, doesn't that mean their words struck a nerve?"
"To lash out in anger just because the truth hurts—that's the behavior of the weak."
Yoru gave a wry smile, his lips curling into a faint, sarcastic grin.
"I don't believe I'm weak. But that doesn't change the fact that, in the eyes of those stronger than me, I am. He's a Level 5 adventurer—a recognized powerhouse. I'm only Level 1. Even you and Aiz, though you may not look down on me outright, I can still sense it… that faint sympathy, the gaze reserved for the weak."
Riveria couldn't refute his words.
They were Level 5 adventurers. There was a massive gap between them and Yoru. Under normal circumstances, they wouldn't even be having a conversation like this, let alone such intimate interaction.
Even though she had been protecting and healing Yoru from the moment they met, deep down… she had felt it too. That subtle thought—that getting so close to him was somehow letting him take advantage. That since he was restoring her mana, it wasn't a big deal to let him stick close.
And now, Riveria felt ashamed.
She lowered her head, unable to meet Yoru's eyes, and murmured:
"…I'm sorry."
"Why apologize? If we all had to feel guilty for every fleeting, unconscious thought, none of us would survive. We'd spend our lives in constant repentance."
Yoru chuckled as he spoke. Then, under Riveria's stunned gaze, he gently reached out and stroked her cheek.
"You're so beautiful… I wish you could be mine."
"Eh—eh?!"
His sudden, flirtatious gesture made Riveria squeak, nearly yelping aloud. Like a flustered schoolgirl, she leapt back several steps.
"I imagine there are many men who've been touched by your kindness and beauty, and wished the same. The difference is—they keep it inside. I just said it out loud."
As she stared at him with wide, embarrassed eyes, Yoru's cheeky grin disappeared. His expression returned to calm indifference.
"By the way, that was just a compliment. Nothing more."
He said it so seriously, but Riveria couldn't help the feeling that she'd just been teased. Even worse… she couldn't get angry about it.
Or rather—looking at this boy in front of her, for some reason, she simply couldn't bring herself to be angry at all.