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

"The progress isn't as smooth as we'd hoped. I've heard that the 'green meat' seems to have a mind of its own and will launch a counterattack."

After listening to Riveria's report that followed Grace's, Finn fell into deep thought for the first time.

The goal of the "first wave of attack" is to conquer the artificial maze.

Throughout the "forced reconnaissance operation" targeting the remnants of the Dark Faction and other dungeon forces such as the freaks, the "Factional Alliance" held a clear advantage. Thanks to Finn's lightning tactics and the valiant efforts of adventurers, healers, and other factions, the remaining members of the Dark Faction were successfully driven out, and even the seedbeds that provided the energy for the "Splendid Monster" were dealt a devastating blow.

Just when they were about to achieve an overwhelming victory, the "factional alliance" was completely overturned by the enemy.

For Finn, the word "comeback" was simply not enough to describe the situation at the time; it would be more accurate to say that the chessboard was "cleaved in two" with a single stroke.

The opponent activated the "green flesh" that possessed consciousness.

Those disgusting chunks of flesh spread out from the passages throughout the man-made labyrinth, relentlessly devouring the adventurers.

The Dionysian family, which was implicated, is now defunct in name only.

Rafia also witnessed the tragic death of her best friend.

The man-made maze now filled with green meat is no longer a demon's lair, but has become a "demon city".

"Uranus... is trying to contact the magician, but the situation is too chaotic to grasp the full picture yet. According to their understanding, it seems to be similar to a 'miracle' caused by a celestial being..."

Finn glanced at the magical artifact "Eye Crystal" placed on his desk.

According to Grace, the chief god of the dark faction, Thanatos, did not regard the man-made labyrinth as a "fortress," but rather as an "altar." As for its form, it was "living sacrifice."

The Lord God's "repatriation".

This serves as the trigger for the "altar".

This is the plan of the enemy's leader and mastermind—the "Urban Destroyer".

"If all of this is within 'Eni's' expectations... it's truly chilling. Even the remnants of the dark faction, including us, have been used as expendable pawns. Such an enemy truly seems to be viewing things from a godlike perspective."

Riveria frankly expressed her feelings about what "Enior" had done.

One could vaguely sense her fear from those words.

"...What are your thoughts on this, Finn?"

Compared to Rivera, whose eyebrows were furrowed, Grace spoke up and asked a question.

Finn paused for a moment before finally speaking his mind.

"...I can't see the opponent's 'full picture'. Whether it's his expression when he set up the game with the god Thanatos...or the 'intentions' he showed across the board, I can't sense any of it."

"..."

"If he's completely concealing his true identity and all related information in order to activate the 'altar'... then, as Riveria said, the enemy is an unimaginable 'monster.' Moreover, this opponent doesn't even consider confronting us through normal means."

Finn will use the pieces on the chessboard to strategize and set up perfect moves.

However, compared to Finn's head-on confrontation, his opponent completely disregarded the rules of chess and directly drew his sword, ruining the game.

Not only was it a chess piece, but this sword was also intended to kill Finn, who was playing chess with it.

"Is this what a god is...?"

The opponent stands from a completely different perspective than Finn and other Netherworld inhabitants, holds vastly different values, and adopts a completely different "worldview" to fight.

Finn won the game and triumphed in this battle of wits, but his opponent simply considered the fight futile. This feeling was something he had never experienced before.

Finn smiled.

That smile was a mixture of humiliation, learning, and fighting spirit.

"...In short, for now, all we can do is adjust our mindset. What we absolutely must do now is devise a plan for a 'second wave of offensive' that will guarantee victory. Let's cast aside our fears and challenge 'Enior' once again."

Finn made this courageous vow to inspire Riveria, Grace, and himself.

The three nodded to each other and began to gather intelligence again in order to conquer the artificial maze that had been transformed into a "demon city".

But during the discussion, Finn and his team encountered an unavoidable "question".

"We already know that the enemy has used 'Filthy Fairy Essence' to cover the entire artificial labyrinth, but... what are their plans?"

The first person to raise this question was Riveria.

The elven royalty with emerald-green hair frowned deeply, looking utterly bewildered.

"The only certainty is that thanks to Thanatos's 'fickleness,' Enyo prevented us from killing. But under these circumstances, do they still intend to continue their 'defense'?"

The man-made maze filled with green flesh remains silent to this day.

Not to mention the "fairy clones," even monsters and monsters showed no signs of attacking.

As Grace said, activating the "altar" is definitely Enyo's trump card. It's meant to eliminate the Loki Familia, who would hinder the completion of the "destruction of the labyrinth city."

Although the plan ultimately failed to materialize, "Ernio" and his team did not take any further action.

This only added to the eerie atmosphere of the situation.

"You were initially worried that the 'Fairy Clone' would be summoned to the surface... but there doesn't seem to be any such indication. Could it be that the enemy is trying to play the coward?"

"..."

After hearing Grace's words, Finn twitched his ears and fell into deep thought.

Although this "green meat" cover has been added, the "factional alliance" will inevitably be able to attack the artificial maze again when the time is right. The period when the enemy remains silent gives the "factional alliance" an opportunity to take advantage.

Perhaps the opponent harbors such a plan, wanting to lure the "factional alliance" back into the man-made maze?

Or is there another "goal"?

However, this leads to—

The office, where none of the three spoke, was temporarily shrouded in silence.

"...If we're talking about our only remaining clue, this is probably it."

Finn took a piece of parchment from the drawer.

The paper depicted a monster resembling an "evil dragon," surrounded by several girls.

This is a drawing that Lefia created based on her own memories before her mental breakdown and gave to Finn and the others. This drawing is the mural she saw when she and Philwis encountered Thanatos in the corridor during their first attack on the artificial labyrinth.

According to Lefia, Thanatos did indeed say the following statement at that time.

"That mural, I heard, was also moved from some ruin by Enyo."

"Remember, the dragon in the middle was called 'Nidhogg,' right?"

"The premise is that what the god Thanatos said is truly credible."

Grace and Riveria looked down at the drawing spread out on the table.

According to legend, Nidhogg is a real monster that existed in ancient times.

Finn investigated the map after Lefia handed it over, but could only deduce that it was one of the "Ancient Calamities" released by the "Great Hole" before the appearance of the three adventurers' targets: "King of the Land," "King of the Sea," and "Black Dragon."

The reason why it is impossible to be certain is that no documents with detailed records of the relevant content can be found, so Finn can only infer from the historical context.

According to the only surviving documents that mention "Nidhogg," it seems to possess an overwhelming power capable of plunging the world into an abyss of despair, and so powerful that ancient humans were absolutely unable to contend with it.

However, no historical record mentions how Nidhogg was defeated. Finn only found very abstract descriptions such as "everything ended after the light faded" and "the evil dragon was purified by the songs of the worshippers."

Finn also tried to inquire about this matter with the Lord God.

"Ah~ I don't know much about that. At the time, the Heavenly Realm was in an uproar because of the news that 'the lower realm is extremely dangerous,' and I did a lot of absurd things in order to kill gods. As far as I remember, some god took it upon himself to 'intervene' and directly destroyed the source..."

But this is the answer I received.

The use of "divine power" is forbidden in the lower realm.

Even so, their insistence on "intervening" sounds like a battleground.

If a pillar of light were to fall from the sky, the lower realm should have formed another "big hole" different from the underground city—Finn had an idea after hearing this.

"Both this picture and the conversation with Thanatos were provided by Lefia. Unfortunately, the child is currently unable to communicate, and as for Philvis Sharia, who was traveling with her, she's already..."

Rivera lowered her eyes as she thought of the plight of her young compatriots, speaking in a low voice. Finn glanced at her before turning his gaze to the parchment.

The black evil dragon located in the middle.

The girls who surrounded him.

The group of girls, with their eyes closed and hands clasped together, resembled both "living sacrifices to the dragon" and "saints" offering prayers to appease it.

There are six people in total.

(Six...six?)

That's a really ominous number.

Finn narrowed his eyes, a distinct "worry" arising from the implications of the number.

The reason is that the Loki Familia possesses "clues" that connect this ancient mural to the current situation.

The question is, what will happen when we face a future similar to that of this mural?

Finn decided to put the matter aside for the time being and keep the still vague "answer" to himself.

With all information still unclear, he decided that he should at least continue to gather any clues related to the black dragon mural.

"...Has Loki not returned yet?"

As the discussion in the office came to a halt—

Rivera seemed to want to hear the Joker's advice, and also looked toward a certain spot as if seeking help.

Finn and the others also looked in that direction.

It was the seat of the supreme deity, which was completely empty.

*

"Are you serious, Loki?"

Hermes' first words after hearing her explanation were these.

This is the shrine located at the headquarters of the Hermes Familia.

While Finn and the others were organizing the intelligence, Loki, who had been brought into the room of the Supreme God, stared at Hermes, who had a serious expression on his face.

"Just as I said, and I'm being absolutely serious, I can't think of any other true identity for 'Enior'."

Just recently—

Loki shared her insights into the series of events and the true nature of the city's destroyers.

Hermes, his lips pressed tightly together, scrutinized Loki, unable to conceal the astonishment filling his orange-yellow eyes.

The usually dashing and handsome male god is now doing his best to verify what Loki said.

"...What led you to this conclusion? Even though I find it a bit ridiculous to say it myself, can you provide conclusive 'evidence'?"

Seeing Hermes still trying to be funny despite the situation, Loki looked behind him.

Standing behind her was none other than the male god Su Mo, who had been forced to come here.

Loki snatched the bottle from his hand and poured the wine into a glass.

Then he handed the glass of red wine, its contents swirling, to Hermes.

She warned Hermes with a sharp look that he must not drink it.

"Is this... no, is this it?"

"Yes, this is 'divine wine.' Soma and I found it in Dionysus's private storehouse."

Hermes brought the glass close to his face, beginning to examine the aroma within.

The next instant, he had already thrown the wine glass to the ground.

With the sound of the wine glass shattering, a pool of water resembling blood appeared on the ground, emitting an eerie fragrance.

Faced with the "divine wine" that was enough to bewitch his thoughts, Hermes made no attempt to hide his disgust, glaring fiercely at the shattered glass.

"I guarantee... any god who drinks it will get drunk."

Soma began to explain.

His calm tone carried an inexplicable mix of resentment and excitement.

This feeling stems from a sense of rivalry and intense curiosity that someone has actually brewed a "divine wine" that is even more exquisite than his.

"...Without concrete evidence, Loki's reasoning is full of flaws. But this bottle of divine wine...in that case, it certainly is..."