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

But seeing others shed tears for losing their companions... perhaps I just want to stop their sadness or pain.

"Thank you... Bell Craney."

After defeating the monster, the male adventurer, with tears streaming down his face, said this.

I have no answer.

"It's already evening..."

Leaving the underground space that directly connects to the underground city, I arrived at the ground floor of the skyscraper facility and muttered to myself as I looked at the doors that are open 24/7.

The central plaza surrounding the giant tower was already shrouded in darkness.

Lily, Welf, Miss Mikoto, Miss Haruhime, and I joined the unfortunate group to bring the now-cold remains back to the surface from the labyrinth. We fought off attacking monsters along the way, protecting her from harm.

The opposing adventurer party belongs to the [Delyn Familia].

The male adventurer leader who asked me to take revenge was Mr. Edgar.

The deceased orc adventurer was Miss Celia.

After Mr. Edgar and the others placed Miss Celia's remains on the floor, they remained motionless for quite some time.

On the floor where almost no one passed by, only a few colleagues watched from a distance, seemingly accustomed to it. Several of their gazes contained mockery, pity, or a kind of indifferent magnanimity.

As I stood there, stunned, Lily and Welf nudged me from behind.

It means we can't help anymore.

Miss Haruhime, whose face was pale, and Miss Mikoto, who was supporting her, both nodded slightly.

Urged on by the four, I forced myself to lift my feet off the ground and walk out of the "Tower of Babel".

"...? What's going on with the central square...?"

As soon as I stepped out of the gate, I noticed that the central square looked different than usual.

The vast area in the heart of the city was decorated in various ways.

Pillars were erected everywhere, and people were offering flowers.

These decorations, adorned with white or blue flowers, surprisingly do not appear glamorous.

What bothered me most was that all the magic stone lamps, including the streetlights, went out and were replaced by the light of Xiaoduo's candle.

A quick glance out from the central square reveals that all the magic stone lamps in the city have been turned off.

"Yes, today is the 'Elegy Festival'."

"I lingered in the mid-level inn town (Rivera) for a while and then forgot all about it."

As I walked through the square, unable to hide my doubts, Welf and Lily beside me seemed to suddenly remember something and said something like that.

"A 'Lament'...?"

I also heard Welf mention it in "The Abundant Mistress".

As I repeated it, Lily turned to me.

"You don't know?... No, it's understandable that you don't know. Although Lord Bell has become a high-ranking adventurer, he has only been in Orario for less than a year."

Lily lowered her eyebrows and smiled.

Although it's a smiling face, it also looks somewhat lonely.

Welf, standing beside Lily, quietly explained:

"The so-called elegiac festival, well, simply put, is a festival to mourn the fallen 'heroes'."

"Mourning, 'hero'...?"

"Yes, Lord Bell. The purpose of this festival is to pay tribute to the Orario heroes who sacrificed their lives since 'ancient times' to defend against the monsters overflowing from the 'cave'..."

"In addition, it is also a thanksgiving ceremony to praise the great achievements of these heroic figures."

Miss Ming and Miss Chunji continued their conversation.

Soon, as if to confirm their claims, Orario residents—ordinary citizens—beyond adventurers gathered at the central square.

The countless crowds never made me feel overwhelmed.

Because everyone remained silent, exuding a shadowy stillness.

Seeing the boy and girl holding the bouquet, Miss Haruhime narrowed her eyes with a sorrowful expression.

Men, women, and children, many humans and demi-humans, were dressed in clean white clothes and held candlesticks in their hands.

"And you should also know... Orario has built monuments to the heroes in the forecourt of the guild headquarters and in places like the 'First Cemetery.' When the time comes, people will set off from the central plaza and walk around each of the memorial monuments."

"And then we'll come back here to sing a dirge. As I said at the beginning, it's to offer our condolences and gratitude."

They said this elegy—a lament for the heroes—would continue until sunrise.

Not only that, it is said that Orario will not use any magic stone lamps during this time, but will only light candles. In order to recreate the "ancient" nights when the heroes were alive, the entire city, including the bustling district, the red-light district, the industrial area, the tavern and the residences, will spend the night with faint firelight.

The festival appears to be organized by the "guild," and uniformed staff can often be seen in the plaza. Among them are Miss Eina and Miss Miss Misia.

The vast starry sky spread out overhead, and the city was filled with tiny lights.

The daily bustling scene seemed like an illusion, and the city exuded a solemn atmosphere.

Even the laughter of the gods, who usually love to joke around, could not be heard at all today.

It seems that everyone in Orario is expressing their awe towards the heroes.

"In addition, this is also a sacrificial ceremony to mourn the many heroic souls of modern adventurers who died in the dungeons."

Lily's quiet, murmured words made me hear a resounding echo deep within my chest.

Modern adventurers.

Heroes of "ancient times".

Orario holds an annual sacrificial ceremony to offer elegies to both.

In remembrance of the adventurers' deaths, and in gratitude to the heroes...

As I walked in the square, I unconsciously stopped and looked back.

I thought of Mr. Edgar and the others who should still be in the tower, surrounding Miss Celia's remains.

Will all these candles in the city be enough to send her off on her final journey?

Can this light of mourning fill their sense of loss?

Right now, this is all I care about.

*

Ais went outside.

Facing the nighttime view of the headquarters—perhaps because of an unusual dream—she found it impossible to stay calm in her room.

She avoided her usual adventurer attire, donned a pure white dress, and tied her long golden hair back.

As if drawn by the lights of the funeral procession, Ais walked alone on the street without telling anyone.

(There are so many people this year...)

The elegiac ceremony has begun.

Starting from the central square, people formed lines and moved along the avenues, heading towards monuments throughout the city. Some went to the guild headquarters forecourt, some to the first cemetery, and others to the city's outskirts; each going to pay tribute to the "ancient" heroes they cherished but never met, or to adventurers who had passed away.

During the Elegy Festival, many ordinary people offer flowers to adventurers they knew in life.

Family, lovers, former colleagues. The adventurers who perished in the dungeon had diverse interpersonal relationships. A human girl, holding a bouquet of flowers, had tears in her eyes, while an elven woman, her expression softening with grief, joined the group.

While the guild members stood by in various parts of the street to maintain order, Ais walked in the opposite direction of the crowd from a small corner, her eyes downcast.

Seeing the flickering candlelight, the faces of those she would never see again in this life lingered in her mind.

People who were once close to her, people who treated her kindly, people who were incredibly precious to her.

This also includes the faces of Loki's Familia companions.

During her arduous exploration of the dungeon, Ais lost both her predecessors and successors from her faction.

Scenes of deathbed moments and the lingering words of the dying echo in my ears. The grief of losing my companions one by one manifests as a deep wound in the corners of my heart.

If you're going to lose someone you cherish, then don't go to the dungeon.

Don't become a prisoner of the "unknown," and simply stop taking "risky" and fraught actions.

Those who know nothing would probably point to the adventurers and say that.

But there's a reason why Ais—no, first-level adventurers—can't stop fighting.

Of course, it was partly due to personal ambition or desire, but Ais and the others had a greater reason, namely the "mission" given to them by the whole world.

"Ah—! It's Fiora!"

Just as she was lost in thought, her profile illuminated by candlelight.

Ais brushed past the surging crowd, but then heard a surprised voice calling her name.

"Although she wasn't carrying a sword, it really is her!"

"She's even prettier than an elf—she looks like a goddess!"

"Fiora, what have you been up to lately!?"

The children, who were of appropriate age and full of energy, ran towards her from outside the line.

The innocent children's eyes lit up when they saw the renowned first-class adventurer, leaving Ais bewildered.

"No, you have to add 'Adult'! A Level 1 Adventurer is a very important person!"

At that moment, the half-elf girl who was in the circle said something to the other children.

After scolding her friends, she turned to Ais, holding the bouquet, and began to speak:

"Let me tell you, Lady Sword Maiden! My mother told me that there's a very powerful and terrifying 'dragon' on the other side of the world!"

A jolt.

Ais's hand twitched slightly.

The half-elf girl, looking at her silent self, continued somewhat fearfully:

"Mom said today's festival is to pray to the heroes to protect everyone from that 'dragon'! May the adventurers be able to defeat the 'dragon' that everyone is afraid of!"

"..."

The other children listened intently, their eyes darting around, and the little girl spoke clearly:

"Sword Princess, you must defeat the evil dragon!"

"……Um."

Ais nodded in response to the little girl's eager hope.

"I will definitely defeat it."

Then, she responded with a vain smile that concealed her determination.

Upon hearing Ais's answer, smiles bloomed on the children's faces.

They looked at each other happily, said "Keep it up!" and then returned to the group on the road.

After watching them wave goodbye and leave, Ais started walking again. She headed in a less crowded direction, escaping the crowd that was beginning to notice her.

She arrived at a deserted high platform.

As Ais ruminated on her conversation with the children, she gazed up at the starry night sky.

—On the other side of the world, there is an extremely powerful and terrifying "dragon".

That was the last remaining item in the "Three Great Adventurers' Requests".

The long-cherished wish of the entire lower realm—to vanquish the "Black Dragon".

To annihilate the ancient dragon that flew away from this land of Orario, a dragon so powerful that it was called "the End of the Living".

This is the mission that Ais and the others were given.

It is the duty of the "Family" who stand at the pinnacle of the city, and are expected of by all.

Ais and the others must continue fighting.