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

"Don't be angry, don't be angry, this is God's pleasure... So what did 'I' say to you?"

"Sigh... It's all just random phrases like 'loop,' 'reset,' 'not just me,' and 'next is Lulu.'"

After Falga finished speaking with a helpless tone, Hermes shut his mouth and fell into deep thought again.

The "previous Hermes" probably noticed that the memos he wrote would be erased by himself, so he decided to change to a different "method" than writing notes, which was to "ask his family to help pass on the message".

(Falgar and the others are likely under control like I am... but they remember my "telephone game" and don't question the status quo, indicating that doing so wouldn't violate the rules.)

First was Falgar, then Lulune, then Meli… “Hermes the previous one” was worried that the Familia’s thoughts would also be reset, so he didn’t entrust all the information to the same person, but broke it down into fragmented sentences. In order to make it impossible for people to understand the meaning just by listening to these sentences, he continued in a lighthearted tone as if “a god playing a game when he has nothing better to do.”

Putting all the sentences together gives us—

(The "loop" and "reset" of thoughts, and it's not just "me," but the "world" has been "distorted." A strong coercive force, "no one remembers." There's an "inability to recognize" "specific information," or perhaps a "misperception"...)

Hermes felt a chill.

How many times had Hemis died to accumulate this information, which he had left behind as insurance, and then entrusted to the "next Hemis"? He also wanted to applaud himself (the Hemis) and thank them for gradually uncovering the rules of this distorted world. Indeed, such moving and tearful effort and self-sacrifice made Hemis want to burst into laughter.

(Judging by the method I've come up with, the current situation isn't caused by my thoughts and actions being controlled—however, based on the information provided by "our previous selves (the Hermes)," there must be inviolable rules. Once these rules are violated, I immediately lose my memory and my perception becomes wrong again…!)

Hermes was, after all, a god.

Because he is a perfect and transcendent being who does not completely trust the objective (others) and the subjective (himself), he is able to successfully find the truth even under the influence of powerful "charm (magic)".

(The "sense of something being different" is probably still within a safe range, but the moment "doubt" arises, you're out of the game. When the accumulated "sense of something being different" is about to become the factor that destroys this world, no matter who it is... at least everyone in Orario will turn into an unconscious "doll." In other words, trying to find the "mastermind" behind this situation is definitely a big taboo.)

Gods are omniscient beings. Although they can foresee the current situation, they cannot think deeply about it.

We must not let the "sense of strangeness" escalate into "doubt".

Hermes then performed an "emotional suppression" on himself that was absolutely impossible for a lower-world human to do, achieving a "thought-cutting" technique that can only be described as divine, and warned himself to be wary of "the leap in prediction".

Hermes, filled with anxiety that he might be forcibly turned into a puppet at any moment, relayed some updated information to a member of the group named Sean. This only earned him an impatient glare, which Sean completely dismissed as a farce.

(This method, which even affects the gods, and requires the use of "divine power," can only be achieved by the extremely unlucky divine wine and the "goddess of beauty"—oh no!)

Thus, Hermes faced his 233rd cognitive correction (reset).

Another day passed, and Hermes was again caught in a "loop" of thoughts.

Having gone through the same process and procedure—thanks to the "previous Hermes," the Hermes sensed the "anomaly of the world" even faster than before. As for Falgar and the others, who were inexplicably forced to participate in the game of relaying messages, they were almost heartbroken by their own god's helplessness. It was truly humiliating.

Unable to withstand the pressure, Hermes left the base camp (headquarters) alone without any guards.

"Hey, hey, I'm Hermes...? A seemingly carefree genius who always makes a grand entrance when it matters... but now I'm down on my luck, like some kind of doomed man... just like Takemikazuchi or Asphie..."

Hermes sighed, casually uttering words that offended both the God of War and his own family.

Although Hermes had a sudden urge to vent his anger on Takemikazuchi, he ultimately dismissed the idea. After all, if he truly angered the God of War, it would be Hermes, the handsome young man, who would ultimately suffer the consequences.

It was dusk, just like yesterday. The streets, bathed in the setting sun, were peaceful and serene, filled with local residents and adventurers returning from the dungeon.

(...Let's tentatively call the current situation a "closed world." Based on the revised conditions of our thinking, we speculate that the mastermind behind creating this "closed world" hopes that this world can develop stably.)

Whether there will be a time limit or it will continue indefinitely remains to be seen.

However, this person did not intend to humiliate the lower realms and turn everyone into puppets. The fact that Hermes and the others still retained their free will is enough to prove this point.

(Orario still retains its image as the "City of Heroes"... The reason the mastermind is taking such a roundabout approach is probably because there is an undistortable entity, so the only option is to directly distort the world itself. The essence of this "closed world" is a paradise designed specifically for a boy (someone), and at the same time, a prison.)

When you figure out a way to break out of this "closed world", your mindset is reset.

No, we're completely surrounded by enemies.

Even if one can discern the outline of a "closed world," without uncovering its rules and key elements, the stalemate cannot be broken. This is Hermes' conclusion.

This was a game of thought with absolutely no answer. Defeat (a dead end) was already laid bare before Hermes. The moment he found himself in this predicament, he had no chance to turn the tide, no way to reverse the situation. All he had done was, in the end, a futile struggle.

(I really want a "guideline," and one that doesn't require me to overthink things; I just need to follow it obediently—a "guideline from the outside.")

Therefore, what Hermes can do now is to help others from outside the game who persist in their resistance despite the precarious situation.

Hermes is currently unable to act spontaneously.

If he has any intentions, there is a very high chance that he will break the rules.

That's why the word "external world" was mentioned.

He could only obey "others' policies" without questioning instructions from the outside world, and within the bounds of daily life, avoid making any unnatural moves.

Hermes knew that his idea was barely within the safe range, and he dejectedly took off his hat.

"My original self, please... since you're the mediator (Hermes), you should at least leave a note that can be used as a 'trump card'...?"

Actually, a "torn scroll" was hidden on the outer edge of this hat.

It's barely like "a piece of paper that looks like it's been torn off."

This object, like the "kind old man's urging," was a trigger that made Hermes feel "strange." Hermes quickly realized the meaning behind this seemingly ordinary piece of paper hidden in the mediator's (Hermes') hat, and began to reflect on his actions so far.

On the surface, it was just a meaningless note, but Hermes, who had been transformed into a "doll," still did not discard it.

In other words, the "original Hermes," realizing that all was lost, hurriedly wrote something on a piece of paper.

And entrusted it to others.

Although this conjecture was overly optimistic and arbitrary, Hermes had no choice but to believe it.

(Besides not going on a trip, another factor that's different from usual... is that Asphie isn't around. In other words, is Asphie the "key"...?)

Despite being an omniscient yet powerless god, Hermes was utterly disappointed in himself, having to rely on such subtle intelligence to carry out his actions, and observed his surroundings.

The main avenue was bustling with activity under the setting sun.

No suspicious figures were found. To be honest, Hermes couldn't tell who was suspicious either.

Although unwilling to believe that they are being watched, they absolutely cannot let anyone know that they "feel something is wrong with this closed world".

At the same time, he must prove to Asphie, who may hold the "key," that he now "feels something is wrong with the closed world," otherwise Asphie will never contact him.

It was a truly contradictory conclusion. Hermes, whose head was throbbing with pain, stopped in the middle of the street.

Was Asfi watching from the sidelines? Was she nearby? Even if the possibility was slim, we could only give it a try.

Hermes then squinted and looked up at the sky, which had been dyed red.

Then he said:

"Asphi...I love you."

Hermes continued in a not-so-loud voice:

"So... please come back soon."

I could feel the suspicious looks on everyone's faces, all focused on me as I stood in the middle of the street.

The beastmen with exceptional hearing suspected they were hallucinating and glanced sideways at Hermes.

"A move that I would never have done in the past, no matter what."

Hermes concluded that the only way to let Asphie know his current state without being noticed by others was through this. Even if he was seen as a somewhat pathetic narcissist by others, he no longer had the energy to care about such trivial matters.

Therefore, Hermes spoke out a small part of his innermost thoughts that he would never have said aloud, with the utmost sincerity and without any falsehood.

If you don't get a response, try confessing your love in another place.

He continued to praise his divine love for his family.

Now that things had come to this, Hermes had nothing left to fear.

Having decided to take the plunge, he headed towards another main road—

"--The potato ball stall on North Street."

"!!"

Just as I felt as if an "invisible person" brushed past me—this whisper suddenly reached my ear.

This is just a voice mixed in with the crowd, a fragment of information that even if someone hears it, they won't take it seriously.

Hermes stopped and turned around abruptly, his eyes wide open.

Even looking back, Asphie remained "transparent," making it impossible to see her. Hermes then slightly raised the corners of his mouth and headed towards his designated "destination."

—Thanks, Asphyxi.

—Also, this confession wasn't just something I said offhand, was it?

He murmured this to himself.

"It's absolutely... awful."

As Hermes took his first step, he seemed to hear this whisper.

"Please restore it to its original state immediately... This is a helpless deity."

Hermes pictured a blushing Asphie looking at him with teary eyes, which made him relax his expression slightly.

"Ah, Hermes! You've come at the perfect time! Could you please buy some potato balls?"

When Hermes arrived at his destination, he was greeted by a cheerful voice.

Wearing her work uniform, Hestia was as busy as ever, her ample breasts swaying with her movements.

"I've been absent from work for too long for various reasons, and now I'm in this mess! If I don't meet my performance targets, I'll be fired!"

"Haha, I don't know what happened to you, but good luck! It always takes time to reintegrate into society after losing your job. I'll buy one for us since we're from the same hometown. Which flavor would you recommend?"

"Then pick this one! The ultimate deluxe giant fries! Even though it costs a hundred times more than regular fries, just consider it helping me out by buying this! Please! Please buy it!!!"

"Okay, alright..."

When Hestia, her eyes bloodshot, handed him a plate of golden, crispy fried potato balls, Hermes reflexively accepted them.

Hermes was intimidated by Hestia's genuinely haggard appearance and wanted to keep his distance, while also paying a hundred times more fali than usual (a total of three thousand fali). After saying goodbye to Hestia, he ate five fist-sized potato balls as he walked, barely managing to finish them all—then he turned and slipped into a dark alley.

He leaned against the wall and peeled back the leftover wrapping paper—it was wrapped in several layers of paper because of the large portion. Inside the greasy wrapping paper—he finally found the "torn scroll".

Hermes smiled and looked down at the contents.

"Turn Orario into a [stove]".

After all, it's his own handwriting; he couldn't possibly be mistaken.

As the "original Hermes" was defeated, he left behind this "strategy" that could turn the tide of the battle.

"That's right, that's exactly my image."

Hermes regained his former shrewd and calculating clown demeanor and strode forward.

There are two slips of paper inside.

The first image should be a message given to me by the goddess (Hestia) from the "First Hermes" commission office.

The second image shows the location of the "materials" needed to build the "stove".

Hermes then ceased to think and no longer considered any issues. To avoid breaking the rules, he transformed into a labor god who would only obey commands.

"Watch me 'build a stove'."

This episode occurred three days after the "Omnipotent One" discovered the change in the battle in the field—and three days before the boy first struck a spirit.

*

There wasn't a single cloud in the night sky, and the moon cast its cold light over the earth.

The air became crisp, yet clearer than ever before.

That perfectly reflects my feelings.

I sat in the chair by the window, thinking to myself, "Where did this poet come from?"

The fog in my heart has completely dissipated, and I will never feel lost again.

I no longer question "me, the Hearth Goddess Familia (Hestia Familia)".

My body is filled with longing and anticipation, and even a sense of excitement.

"But... what should we do next...?"

I ate the rations from one of the small pouches in my room, which contained the dungeon exploration items (Dungeon Set), while my brow furrowed in deep thought.

About an hour ago, after finishing my afternoon battle, I declined to go to the "Special Hall" for dinner and went straight to my bedroom, which I had been using for more than two weeks. I lied and said that I was feeling unwell because I had worked too hard today. After hearing this, my master just said "useless" and let me off the hook... But did he really let me off the hook?

In short, in the past, after I finished my meal in the "Special Hall", I would have to go to the shrine of the goddess Freya.

In order to avoid this, I need to make time as much as possible to think of a solution.