Is it wrong to try to meet someone in a dungeon?

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"Uranus".

In the "Prayer Hall" at the guild headquarters, Fels' black clothes swayed slightly.

"What's the result?"

"I'll get straight to the conclusion. The man-made maze has become an 'other world'."

While the Ganesha Familia were monitoring the area from the surface via Daedalus Road, Fels was conducting an investigation from the 18th floor together with the Heretics.

The black-clad magician, returning to report the situation, said in a trembling voice:

"It's probably a phenomenon belonging to the category of fairy 'miracles'. It seems somewhat similar to the 24th-level food warehouse that Sword Maiden and the others saw, and the situation on the 30th level that Reed and the others dealt with, but its nature is completely different. No, perhaps it should be described as a higher level of existence than that."

"..."

"The green flesh that flooded the passage has an independent will and will try to kill all the intruders. It's the first time I've ever had to deal with the entire maze itself."

Fels reluctantly described the ugly green flesh as a "miracle" brought by fairies, while his words revealed a sense of dread.

"It's probably a 'parasitic' phenomenon caused by multiple 'celestial essence clones'... We can't be sure what kind of technique was used, but we can be certain that it's definitely related to the power of 'filthy celestial essence'."

The man-made maze has been reborn as a veritable "demon city".

Fels concluded that it had become a more vile and resilient fortress.

"If we were to use burning to dig a path forward... it would require a tremendous amount of labor and time. We definitely wouldn't reach the floor where the 'fairy spirit' is lurking within at least one or two days. It's safe to say that, given the current situation, infiltrating the man-made maze is impossible."

This is a fatal problem given the current situation where urban collapse is on the verge of imminent.

Fels clenched his hands, which were covered in black gloves, but loosened his fists as he spoke, as if he wanted to catch his breath.

In the flickering light of the four torches set up on the altar, Uranus spoke:

"The enemy probably planned this from the very beginning. If the Loki Familia doesn't go and conquer the artificial labyrinth, they'll leisurely wait for the moment to destroy the city. But if they do attack... just like this time, they'll use the remnants of the dark faction as sacrifices to annihilate them."

"You mean the remnants of the dark faction are actually conceding defeat?"

"You could say it's a tool with some use value."

Seeing Uranus narrow his azure eyes, Fels weakly shook the hood of his black coat.

"What a demonic act... You mean the Dark Faction is one, we are one, and even the Loki Familia have been manipulated by the mastermind behind it all?"

"I have to say it."

Fels shook his head again.

The enemy's cunning and the fact that the deity never revealed himself truly instilled fear in him.

"...The artificial labyrinth that has transformed into an 'otherworld' must continue to be investigated, but the problem is that we still don't know the identity of the 'Urban Destroyer <Enyo>'. Not to mention the true face of the enemy, we haven't even identified any suspects yet."

Uranus held a different view on these remarks.

"The suspects have all arrived."

The old god looked up at the dark ceiling and said:

"That is, all the gods of this place."

The city—no, the labyrinth transformed into a "demon city"—still sneers.

It chuckled and asked a question:

Who is the real culprit, Enyo?

The dark things whispered endlessly.

Only the heavens, far removed from the lower realms, know the answers to everything.

Illustration kuchie-005

Illustration kuchie-006

Side Story: Sword Oratoria 11 Afterword

The original author, a habitual procrastinator, presents the eleventh episode of the spin-off.

To the GA Bunko editorial department, Haimuraki Yotaka-sensei, and everyone involved, I am truly, truly sorry…!

This time, as before, there will be an unusually large number of spoilers in the epilogue, so please pay special attention.

The author struggled to write this episode partly because the long war was finally coming to an end, hence the theme of "opportunity".

I know this content might infuriate everyone involved (the people in the manga, games, and anime), but I still wrote it this way. I already have a predetermined "ending" in my mind, and although I don't know if it's the right answer, I've decided to stick to this route. And this time, no miracle like in the eighth spin-off didn't happen. Perhaps I'll regret not trying to salvage the situation in this episode later. I feel like I've become the most indecisive person in the story, so I'll leave this topic here.

Allow me to change to a brighter topic; this episode finally gets to the Saintess's battle scenes. The Saintess already appeared in the first episode of the side story (the fourth episode of the main story), but she's been delayed in joining the side story team to fight alongside them… In this bittersweet plot development, her parts are the most exciting for me. She's one of my favorite character designs by Haimura-sensei, and I've long hoped to find an opportunity for her to shine.

"Actually, Amid has this and that setting!" "Then she becomes this and that, and in the end, this kind of pairing might actually happen!" "Anyway, what I want to say is that she's super strong! Incredibly strong! So strong that she has no rivals—!!" When I submitted the first draft, I chatted with the editor about these things in a great mood, only to be met with the editor's Buddha-like benevolent expression: "Please write it as another side story, <Chronicle>." I don't want to irresponsibly say that I can definitely deliver the manuscript, I don't want to be that kind of adult—although I'm not sure if the editor will accept the author's suggestion, I think the Holy Maiden will continue to be active from time to time in the future, and I hope that all readers will continue to witness her story. In short, okay, I will write more manuscripts.

Let me change the subject. I've been fortunate enough to write these stories recently, and one thing has struck me deeply: "It's really hard to lay the groundwork."

The foreshadowing I planted at the time, believing it would be resolved, often led to my later lament, "Oh no!" There are many reasons for this; sometimes it's because the author's ideas were too naive, sometimes it's because there wasn't enough groundwork laid, but I feel the biggest reason is a lack of "experience."

Naturally, a new book is "unknown" for both the author and the readers. Whether or not one can reach the vision in their mind is often a series of adventures. And the number of times foreshadowing is "resolved" is very few. At least that's the case in my own works so far.

I've recently started to grasp the rhythm of battles, and I believe I'm gradually writing down my insights. However, I'm still exploring and figuring out how to "reclaim foreshadowing" and its purifying effects.

I wouldn't say I'm afraid of foreshadowing, but it does take courage to arrange it. I also think maybe I'm being too neurotic, maybe I don't really need to specifically rewind, but I still greedily want to add some color to the story, and I really want to smugly say, "I've already planned it all out!" and gloat along with the characters in the story.

Although I always worry about whether I've properly recovered the loot, I will continue to fight against the monster called Foreshadowing.

Now, allow me to move on to the thank-you remarks.

Editor-in-Chief Takahashi and Chief Editor Kitamura, I was also fortunate to receive your help this time. I apologize for always asking you to keep me in the editorial department working on my manuscript. To Haimuraki Yotaka, who created many illustrations for this book, please let me have another opportunity to use the beautiful character designs that I couldn't use this time...! And to everyone who supported the publication of this book, please allow me to express my deepest apologies. And finally, to all the readers who have graciously purchased my humble work, thank you for your continued support.

I plan to bring this long war to a close in the twelfth volume of the next book.

I should say, why did this massacre happen again right after episode 13 of the main series? Why did you push this kind of plan/plot? Please spare me... Such discouraging words should be rewarded in the next episode... Please believe in hope with me and run all the way to the finish line.

Please continue to accompany the author to the end.

Thank you for reading this article.

See you next time.

大森藤ノ

Side Story: Sword Oratoria 11 Illustration

Volume Fifteen Prologue: The Adventurers' Song of Rest

The Taiwanese version is from the Kingdom of Light

Image source: linpop

Input: kid

"Bell, you...!"

"Lord Bell, what's wrong with you looking like this...!"

Upon seeing that "scene," Welf and Lily were both devastated.

"Lord Bell! Oh no, how could this be...!"

"Lord Bell's left arm...it really is...!"

When Chunji and Ming saw his "appearance", they couldn't bear to look away.

The boy, Bell, who stood silently before his companions, spoke heavily:

"I don't know how it turned out like this..."

Bell's arm was immobilized.

To be precise, the left arm, which was covered in metal armor, was suspended using a triangular bandage.

It is indeed a genuine "plaster fixation".

Under a clear, cloudless blue sky, the boy's empty laughter echoed.

"I was just talking to Xiaolizi about how long it took to see a doctor for a follow-up appointment... I think Dea Saint was driven crazy by you, wasn't she?"

"Yes, she's furious... I never expected Miss Amid to throw such a tantrum..."

The location is on Northwest Street, also known as "Adventurer's Street".

As soon as Bell stepped out of the Deankaite Familia's clinic, a pure white stone building situated on a wide avenue, members of the Hestia Familia, the Mih Familia, and the Takemikazuchi Familia came forward to greet him.

"I heard you used to protect the affected area with a high-performance medical support tool..."

"That's how it was supposed to be, but... it seems I really shouldn't have moved around so carelessly..."

Seeing the indescribable expression on Sakura's face, Bell touched the back of his head with his free right hand.

Two weeks have passed since the faction alliance's "expedition"—the encounter with the enhanced species (Moss Titans), the tamer's (Garo Halma's) evil deeds, and then the desperate journey to the "Deep"—

Bell suffered a severe injury to his left arm while fighting the Destroyer (Zagnat). He underwent treatment and was fitted with a medical gadget. However, due to various reasons, he inevitably overexerted himself, and as a result, he was scolded by Amid during his follow-up visit that day.

Praised as a "beautiful girl like an exquisite doll" and a "talented woman who always maintains a calm and composed demeanor," the "Battlefield Saintess" can be quite fierce when she hurls insults, even bombarding Bell's white hair until it almost turns black.

"So she put this cast on you, just to keep you from moving around too much..."

Lily's sigh echoed emptily.

Incidentally, although it's called a plaster cast, the material used isn't caustic plaster or bandages, but rather a processed ultra-hard metal (Delgen steel). Although it's a lightweight, refined metal that's less likely to put strain on the body, you can still feel the healer's strong determination that "it absolutely must not be touched."

Amid's anger, which was on full display, was evident in the examination.

"She said if I misbehave again, she'll tie me to a bed in the clinic..."

Perhaps recalling the scene from just a few minutes earlier, Bell shuddered.

Amid's refusal to utter a single word and abandon him revealed her kindness and dignity as a healer, but to Belle at this moment, it was as terrifying as a dragon's fiery breath.

Beautiful women, especially those who are usually quiet, can be more terrifying than anyone else when they get angry—Bell learned another lesson.

"[The Deankat Familia] is indeed a quack... Bell, turn back before it's too late, let us do it. I'll use super special medicine and super expensive dietary therapy to cure you completely..."

"Uh, I think that medicine and food would be ridiculously expensive, so I'll pass on it..."

Nazha, seemingly still half asleep, came over and gently patted Bell's shoulder a few times.

The Mih Family and the Deankat Family are business rivals, and Naza and her group have always had a close relationship with the Hestia Family, but this time they entrusted the treatment of their customer (Bell) to Amid. No, it should be said that they entrusted it to her.

Just as she had received a "prosthetic arm" when she was reduced to one arm, she believed that the "Battle Maiden" could heal Bell's arm.

However, aside from the main god (Mih), Nazha herself would absolutely never admit that such a thing happened.

Such deliberate nitpicking is actually just a joke.

"What a pity... I was thinking that if you came to our clinic, Cassandra, who has always been lonely and wanted to talk to you, would finally have her wish fulfilled..."

“Huh!?”

Naza grinned mischievously and said this.

This caused Cassandra beside him to let out a strange scream.

Her face was as red as a fruit.

"Miss Cassandra seems lonely...? Does that mean you have something to discuss with me?"

"N-No, that's not it! I was just worried about whether I should go see you, but Mr. Bell is recovering from his injury, and I was afraid that if I went, I would only bother you! Uh, so, uh-………… Anyway, it's nothing! Right? Right? I'm right, Daphne!?"

"Don't throw it at me..."

Faced with a bewildered Bell, Cassandra immediately lost her composure.

She received a disapproving look from Daphne, who was standing right next to her, and at the same time, she became extremely furtive.

"Ah, but...didn't we agree to have a proper chat after the 'expedition' is over? Then I'll come to your shop next time."

"Ah, you still remember... Waaaaaah! Daphne!!!"

"I told you, why are you sticking to me like this?!"

Bell's smile made Cassandra blush, seemingly deeply moved, yet also overjoyed as if she had gone mad.

When Daphne saw her teenage best friend trying to get close to her and hide behind her, she finally couldn't help but yell.

Just as Bell was feeling confused and hadn't had time to grasp the situation, Welf suddenly asked him:

"By the way, Bell, what happened to the elf at the tavern? Didn't she come?"