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

Looking down from the highest point in Orario, the view was arguably the best in the city. The overflowing magic stone lamps resembled gold and silver jewels scattered from treasure chests, but Hestia squinted and removed her hair tie after recognizing the glow of the fireplaces lit in every household.

"Goddess Hestia, I have brought you here as instructed... but I still don't quite understand what you intend to do..."

Having believed the goddess's words and arrived at the top of the "Tower of Babel," Asphie asked a question with a look of fear on her face.

Will doing this really break the bonds binding Hermes and the others? What will become of Orario after this? Her voice carried an undisguised unease.

"Hmm... Regarding what I control, specifically 'flame'... It sounds unremarkable, doesn't it?"

"what?"

"Unlike Hephaestus's 'Forging Fire,' it's 'Furnace Fire'... In short, it's similar to A-Jian's martial arts, Soma's 'wine,' and Freya's 'beauty,' basically useless in the lower realm."

After hearing this baffling example, Asifi's face showed even more confusion.

The goddess subtly hinted that this was the reason why she hadn't been able to recruit any members for her [Familia] until the boy (Bell) joined, while letting down her long, black hair that reached her waist.

"But once the 'altar' is prepared, there's something I can do."

Just now.

As Hestia quietly raised her right hand to chest height, a slender crimson light suddenly rose throughout the city.

It transformed into dozens, even hundreds, of beams of light.

The source is the households that received "charcoal" from the Hermes Familia; more precisely, it's the flames emanating from the stoves in those places.

Asifi was dumbfounded.

Although the colors of the light were slightly different, they still looked very familiar.

That was the warm light emanating from his back when he updated his [ability stats]—the radiance of "divine grace".

"I have set up multiple 'furnaces' in the city as the core of the array. Those 'furnaces' are all stained with the goddess's (my) divine blood, which is the so-called 'medium'. The countless lights are equivalent to the goddess's kin. In this way, the 'temple' of the Furnace Goddess (Hestia) in the heavens can be recreated."

Asphie finally discovered it.

Hestia's voice gradually lost its usual kind and gentle tone.

Instead, it is more mechanical, devoid of any human emotion, and possesses a kind of "divinity".

Her petite figure exuded divine power, and Asphie subconsciously felt awe, involuntarily taking several steps back.

"This body is that of a virgin goddess, who will never yield to the power of allure, but will resolutely resist it. Lust is evil, chastity is justice. Thus begins the purification of the alluring curse that binds this land. This is the breaking of evil, this is the sacrificial flame of purification."

The virgin goddess spoke with a clear and melodious voice—

They wove words that resembled incantations or prayers.

There was no emotional fluctuation on her face.

Those eyes that looked down upon the city were no ordinary eyes; they were so otherworldly, solemn, and sacred.

As if responding, countless faint beams of light gradually emitted a crimson glow, transforming into divine power that was imprinted on Asphie's eyes.

"W-This is...!?"

The earth-shattering divine power transformed into a strong wind that swept over, and the ordinary child (human) hurriedly covered his face with his hands.

Following Hestia's instructions, Asphie secretly relayed the locations for distributing the "charcoal." After receiving amplification from the goddess's divine power, the "charcoal" delivered to the designated locations burst into flames.

If someone could look down at this scene from the perspective of birds soaring in the sky, they would be able to see it clearly.

Like campfires scattered throughout Orario, the stoves gradually brightened, forming a "divine array" resembling a magic circle.

The circular megacity surrounded by city walls thus transformed into a giant "furnace," constantly emitting flames.

"Don't accuse me of breaking the rules, you real cheater (cheater). After all, I'm just following the rules set by the gods and fulfilling a mission temporarily assigned to me."

That is, "tacit consent".

The gods, fearing that the celestial realm would be "invaded" and "dominated," established an unwritten rule that also applied to the mortal realm.

The "Virgin Goddess," who possesses the ability to resist the powerful allure, is a countermeasure and safety measure designed to counter the "Goddess of Beauty." When the celestial or mortal realms face crisis, the gods allow the "Virgin Goddess" to fully exercise her powers—not "divine power," but rather the "things" she governs.

"...Your biggest mistake was not staying in the Tower of Babel in order to be with Bell, Freya."

Hestia turned her gaze to the "Battlefield" located on the south side of the city and temporarily reverted to her usual way of speaking.

"Because the place you gave up is the 'center of the altar'."

The Tower of Babel is located in the center of Orario.

It is also the "Tower of God" closest to the heavens.

The flames intensified.

The earth began to tremble silently.

This scene was as if the entire city had been transformed into a "sacred torch".

When the children and gods in the streets, taverns, and squares all collapsed to the ground, the goddess spoke and proclaimed.

"Let me show you some of the little-known rituals of the Hearth Goddess (Hestia)."

This is a unique ritual and "secret weapon" of Hestia, known only to a few gods even after searching the entire heavens.

It is a miracle far inferior to "divine power," and it is the most ultimate secret technique.

The goddess quietly waved her right hand to the side in front of the stunned Asphie.

"The Pseudo-Manifestation: The Sacred Fire Temple of the Goddess of the Hearth (Dios aedes vesta)".

Unlike the powerful magic, the amazing "divine might" roared.

"────────────────────!!"

Witnessing this power firsthand, Asifi was so frightened that she leaned her body back sharply.

The light that wards off evil was born into the world.

It is also the "purifying fire".

Everyone who was "bewitched" seemed to hear the sound of a burning fire, but a warm current did indeed surge through their bodies.

The divine light spread outwards, enveloping the entire city in flames.

*

Flames rose from the altar.

The flames of blessing sing hymns of purification.

Like a wildfire, it spread throughout the city in the blink of an eye, yet no one was tattooed by the fire.

This is not a raging fire to annihilate the enemy, but a "guardian fire" to save all living beings.

This represents the primordial flame, long before it brought civilization and culture to humankind.

Like a flame slowly rising in a stove, or a gentle fire illuminating the darkness, it brings warmth and peace to those who are suffering, while also bestowing blessings.

This is the sound of fire that ends the nightmare.

It is the divine flame that burns away the imprisonment.

The flames gradually spread to streets, taverns, residences, and towers, engulfing the people and gods within them.

Whether it is the god of messengers, the god of forging, the god of healing, the god of war, or the god of clowns.

Even the dwarf supporters, the young blacksmith, the girl from the Far East, and the fox-man sorcerer.

This also includes the princess who is skilled in swordsmanship.

The great fire gently devoured the gods and their retinues who had closed their eyes and fallen.

(Illustration 012)

The fire from the furnace, resembling a "miracle of immortals," spread outwards incessantly, turning into crimson fragments that drifted into the sky—ultimately disappearing without a trace.

As if it were all an illusion, the city fell silent.

"...What was that light just now?"

Hegny muttered, speechless.

The Freya Familia members nearby were also momentarily thrown into disarray.

They gazed blankly at the sky beyond their headquarters, as if searching for traces left by the crimson flames illuminating the night.

(...The situation seems dire!)

In an instant, an indescribable sense of anxiety welled up in Hegny's heart.

Because of the surrounding high walls, the flames could not penetrate the "battlefield". Although countless sparks scattered in the air covered his body, he felt no abnormality. However, an inexplicable sense of urgency constantly threatened Hegny's cowardly heart.

The dark elf gripped the black sword in one hand, gazing at his comrades in front of him.

This fellow countryman, covered in wounds, knelt on one knee with his back to the towering wall separating the city from the headquarters.

"...Stop making futile resistance and surrender. Otherwise, I'll take off one of your arms."

"...!!"

The person surrounded by Hegni and the members of the Freya Familia was Ryu.

Although she fought valiantly through the house after escaping the basement, her adventure ended after encountering Hegni. Just like the battle at the Goddess Festival, she was outmatched by the powerful Lv.6 strength and was eventually surrounded in a corner of the field outside the mansion.

The semi-circular net that trapped her was watertight; not even an insect could get through.

Ryu, gripping the kodachi, pressed his fist against the ground, his brow furrowing in pain.

"Um... Bell..."

She glanced at the house on the hill that was likely where the boy was being held, banished the thought of giving up, bolstered her almost defeated resolve, steadied herself, and raised the small katana in her hand.

Hegny admired his noble compatriot who persisted in fighting to the death despite being in dire straits, but he quickly shook off his confusion.

"Since you've chosen to uphold honor, then fall before me!"

Hegni took a step forward silently and appeared in front of Ryu in the next second, while swinging down the black sword in his hand.

However──

Clang!

""!?"

With a piercing metallic clang and dazzling sparks, the dark elf's slash was deflected.

"Huh...!?"

Was that exclamation from the dumbfounded Hegni? Or from the stunned Ryu? Or from the Freya Familia members who couldn't believe their eyes?

Before everyone appeared a stunningly beautiful girl with blonde hair and golden eyes.

"...[Fiora]?"

With her back to Ryu who was whispering so softly, Ais swung her silver rapier with all her might.

When those golden eyes glared at them, all the other members of the group, except for Hegni, were at a loss for what to do.

"I...remember everything."

The girl, whose tone rarely fluctuated in the past, now spoke with a voice that truly contained anger.

"Bell is not a member of the Freya Familia."

Ais pointed the sword tip at Hegni, whose eyes were wide open, and gently placed her left hand on her chest.

"I also received... the 'flames' of the goddess Hestia."

The soft light, like that of a stove, illuminated the girl's heart.

Even though she had not formed a contract with Hestia, and she was not the main god she worshipped, she stated the truth firmly as one of the gods' favorites.

"The power of 'allure' has been completely burned away."

This declaration is like a trigger point.

The clamor of the crowd could be heard outside the wall.

"Huh... what's this...?"

"Why is [White Rabbit's Paws] a member of the [Freya Familia]...!?"

"Hey, what's going on with this message (memory)!?"

From the bustling city—no, from all directions—came voices of regained consciousness, eventually engulfing the entire Orario region like a raging torrent.