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

This was a deal that chose the lesser of two evils, and it was also a negotiation that caused him such great pain.

The two factions were supposed to cooperate to reach the dangerous area, but now they've agreed to let the Loki Familia attack alone.

The price is that they cannot interfere in this war game.

That's what Lloydman meant.

“…………”

At the same time, Lloydman redeemed himself, leaving Finn with a bitter pill to swallow.

The reason is that the information presented to them is so important that Finn and the others cannot ignore it.

At least Rivera won't remain silent.

Once she learns of this deal, even if it means arguing with her fellow members (Bert and others), she will prevent her clan from getting involved in this war game.

"Finn...you absolutely must defeat the 'Black Dragon'."

"..."

"There are no successors to you, and there will never be another 'heroic talent' like you."

"..."

"Completing the three adventurers' requests is indeed rigorous and demanding."

The elf, who was over 150 years old, spoke each word with deep meaning.

"When we go to fight the Black Dragon in the future, I believe you will be the commander... so stop considering yourself just an adventurer."

This reprimand contains a pleading tone.

A long silence remained between them.

"...I've said everything I needed to say! In short, don't participate in the war games, Finn! Got it!?"

Leuman eventually reverted to his usual style, rising from his seat after speaking.

After repeatedly reminding Finn several times, he hurriedly stepped out of the coffee shop.

"…………Phew~~"

Finn let out the pent-up frustration that had been building up in his chest.

Then he reached out and picked up the frozen dagger on the table, raised it high to the ceiling, and examined it carefully.

Then, leaning back in his chair, he tilted his head and asked:

"Was this also part of Freya's plan, Hedin?"

"Don't call my name casually, little people."

A cold voice came from behind.

Finn was sitting in a corner of the café, while the sound came from a seat further inside.

Seated behind a screen was a handsome elf whose appearance was completely different from Lloydman's.

The elf with long, flowing golden hair, who is holding a book in one hand and flipping through it, is named Hedin Thranduil.

He is a member of the Freya Familia and a Level 6, Rank 1 adventurer.

"I didn't expect you to be a regular customer at this store."

"You can tell from the name that this is a café with some connection to elves. You must have come here on the recommendation of the Thousand Elf."

This coffee shop is called "Vissen".

Although Finn had no idea, a boy had been abducted here by Hedin; and this was also the place where Finn had met with that boy to discuss the "Lilliputian marriage proposal".

Lloydman certainly didn't realize that Hedin was already in the shop before Finn and his group even arrived.

Knowing Hedin was already there, Finn continued to discuss things with Lloyd—a move intended to "restrain" him—making him a formidable character. But the elven shopkeeper behind the counter, looking completely unconcerned and continuing to sip his tea, was no less so.

"Goddess Freya intended to crush all forces in Orario from the very beginning before declaring war. Please don't insult the goddess with such base speculation."

Hedin kept his head down, looking at his book, while recounting the facts in detail.

Finn, on the other hand, was toying with the frozen short sword in his right hand as he asked the question.

"Does this mean the coalition, which includes other factions, intends to crush us as well?"

"To deal with you, all you need to do is devise a suitable battle plan—a plan to wipe out the ferocious beasts in one fell swoop."

The Freya Familia are "fierce warriors (Einheriar)" who fight only for the goddess—a group of powerful but leaderless "individuals".

What will happen if these people are willing to cooperate with each other for the sake of the goddess?

First, it will become very difficult to deal with.

If they also demonstrate a more seamless teamwork than Finn and the others, the Loki Familia will be no match for the Freya Familia.

"The first-level adventurers are handled by the officers (us), while the rest of the rabble are left to Haici and the others."

"The soothing gray-faced ones (Andhrímnir)...?"

"Although it makes me feel uncomfortable to describe my companion like this... as long as Otto is there, any prediction will be overturned."

"..."

That's right.

To put it extremely, no matter who the opponent is, if you can't defeat the strong one (Ota), you will definitely lose.

Engage in battle with the Freya Familia, who possess the title of "strongest in the city"—

In short, that's the gist of it.

"...Despite what Lloydman said, I will still stand on the side of the Hestia Familia."

"and then?"

"Leaving aside direct intervention, he did not prohibit us from 'providing assistance'."

"so?"

"I will impart wisdom to my courageous kin."

"Idiot, stop stubbornly arguing and spouting nonsense."

The two people kept their backs to each other the entire time, without even glancing at each other, communicating only through their voices.

"Just seeing you get tricked by the guild's pigs is enough to make me feel satisfied and happy."

"Yes, I was definitely tricked."

Hedin, who continued flipping through his book without changing his expression, made a sarcastic remark, to which Finn readily admitted it.

The reason is that Lloydman was more worried than anyone about the loss of urban combat power, so he brought out his treasured trump card to negotiate.

He would never hand over the information that Finn and the others desperately wanted, as long as any member of the Loki Familia participated in the War Games.

"There's absolutely no way we can provide combat support now..."

The current situation is that with the Loki Familia joining the battle, the odds of victory can barely reach 50%, causing the scales of victory to waver slightly.

The Freya Familia is that powerful now.

The Hestia Familia is about to face an extremely harsh and desperate battle.

Finn turned to look out the window.

The face of a girl from his own tribe appeared in his mind, and he narrowed his azure eyes.

"I wonder if she can stay calm and not start crying and screaming in fear?"

*

"Beru Dairen～～～～～～～!!"

As it turns out, it doesn't work.

The hero's wish was not fulfilled, and Lilyluka Erd completely turned into a little baby who could only cry.

"Lily... I really didn't take it to heart..."

"I'm so sorry, so sorry, so sorry! I...I...Wa ...

This is the headquarters of the Hestia Familia, known as "Kamakuri-kan".

Bell stood in the headquarters' living room.

To be precise, it means you can only stand still.

This was because Lily had buried her face in Bell's stomach, hugging him tightly, her eyes brimming with tears as she looked up at him, apologizing incessantly like a broken music box. Faced with Lily, who was practically sobbing in his arms, Bell simply couldn't move.

Furthermore, Lily wasn't the only one doing this.

"I'm so sorry, Belle...! I actually said those things to you...! I'm completely unworthy to be your advisor...!"

"How could Chunji repay kindness with such treachery to the hero who saved my life... How can I possibly make amends..."

The person hugging Bell from the right front is Eina.

The person who is hugging him from the left front is Chun Ji.

The elf held Bell's right hand tightly with both hands, while the fox girl, kneeling on both knees, gently held Bell's left hand.

The three people apologized from three different directions, all with the same sorrowful expression on their faces.

In addition, the atmosphere was extremely heavy.

They were so remorseful that Belle broke out in a cold sweat on the back of her head.

In fact, although Haruhime was also like that, Bell was shocked that Eina was also crying her eyes out.

After all, this older woman, who was like an older sister to him, was sobbing and crying like a child because of Bell—or rather, because of him. The sight was incredibly shocking to a fourteen-year-old boy, so much so that he couldn't even speak up to comfort her, and he even felt an indescribable sense of guilt.

"I am truly sorry, Lord Bell... I not only forgot about you, but I even pushed you away...! I failed to rescue you from your predicament; how can I call myself a member of the Familia...! Even kowtowing in apology would be an unforgivable sin!"

"I'm sorry, Belle, I...I..."

In addition to this—

Ming and Welf surrounded Bell and the three people beside him.

All the members of the Takemikazuchi Familia, including Naza, Daphne, Cassandra, Sakura, and Chigusa, as well as Aisha and Modo, were present. In addition to the gods attending the All-Gods' Conference, every one of Bell's companions who had been "bewitched" by the goddess Freya and kept Bell at arm's length was also there.

"Please, just punch me..." "That's just a way to relieve my guilt and feel better..." "Then, how should I atone for my sins...!?" "...Just commit seppuku." "Stop! Sakura! Mr. Bell! I'll do the seppuku in your place!" "You guys are going too far..." "I, I don't think I did anything wrong...! It's just... um... I'm worried you might be upset..." -- The reactions of the people were all different.

However, everyone looked gloomy and ashamed to face Bell. They were all talking at once, as if they were in mourning, and the living room had turned into an apology meeting.

"Ugh, it's a complete mess."

The fairy (Hestia) living in Bell's mind looked up at the sky and sighed, and began to spin endlessly like a windmill.

(…What should we do now?)

Bell murmured to himself.

To be honest, he was at a loss about the situation.

Besides, he wasn't so wronged that he needed everyone to apologize to appease him.

This made him feel extremely embarrassed.

Moreover, Lily and the others did nothing wrong in this incident. They were all victims who mistook Bell for an outsider because of "charm". But no matter how many times Bell comforted them with words like "I'm okay" and "No one is at fault"... no, every time he comforted them, their expressions became more gloomy.

So Bell looked up at the ceiling, closed his eyes, and frowned, caught in a dilemma.

If circumstances allowed, Bell would love to escape reality, but whenever he made up his mind, Lily, who was sobbing uncontrollably in her stomach, would pull him back to reality.

"But... but Lily swore she would never betray Lord Bell again...!"

When she first met Lily, she approached Belle out of greed and jealousy, wanting to make money from her.

However, Bell still insisted on saving her after being deceived and betrayed by Lily, and she thus became Bell's irreplaceable supporter.

Therefore, in Lily's eyes, hurting Bell was an unforgivable mistake, and she even believed that death could not make up for it.

Deeply mired in remorse, self-loathing, and repentance, her cries perfectly captured the feelings of everyone present.

Bell, who was initially at a loss, realized after witnessing the continuous flow of tears that she couldn't go on like this any longer.

He placed his hands on the girl's shoulders, then knelt down and looked directly into her weeping eyes.

"Lily, listen to me. Although you want me to punish you, well... I'm sorry I can't grant your wish."