Too Late For a Second Bite

Bel's eyes twitched.

"What do you mean it's closed?"

Elysia smiled like someone who had already won a game he didn't know he was playing.

"I mean exactly that. While you were sleeping, the guild called someone." She tapped her finger on her chin. "A mithril-ranked adventurer. One of the best in the kingdom."

Bel gritted his teeth. 

"What?"

"No one could melt your ice, pretty impressive by the way." She shrugged. "But the guild couldn't let it unchecked. So they called in someone who could. The only condition was to be stronger than you."

Bel's fists clenched. He tried to keep his expression neutral, but his throat tightened.

"And... She... Succeeded?" he asked. "Even the ice on the boss?"