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

After someone stepped back, the immortal let out a deep sigh.

"Oh... I'm so sorry, Belle. I watched helplessly as you were taken to such a horrific place and I couldn't save you... You suffered until the very end."

"That's not true at all. You did come to save me after all, didn't you, God?"

I learned from Hermes and Miss Asphie that the gods went to great lengths to break the "enchantment" that covered the entire city.

In contrast, I was completely overwhelmed and was helpless against that "closed world" until the very end. Therefore, the gods who successfully solved this problem were truly amazing, and I also believe that it must have taken so much time to prepare.

So I raised my head and spoke from the bottom of my heart to the goddess Hestia, whose face was filled with sorrow and whose shoulders were drooping.

"At that time, you gods descended from the sky to save me... I was so happy."

"...!"

I looked directly into the deity's eyes and clearly finished speaking, word by word. The deity's pupils trembled as if deeply moved.

"Bell~~~~~!" Then she hugged me again and pulled me into her arms.

I felt a wave of embarrassment as I buried my face in her soft cleavage, and this time I blushed with embarrassment.

A moment later, the deity finally released me, wiped his eyes with his hand, and then looked back at the renewal paper in his hand.

"But... the extent of her ability upgrades is truly astonishing~ Freya says she wants you, yet she bullies you like this! I'm sure she's a sadist!"

“Ahahaha…”

The deity pouted and complained in an aggressive tone about the person who wasn't even there.

Perhaps she was angry that she had to rely on others to update the favor of her family (my ability value), and at the same time, she was annoyed by her own powerlessness.

"While it's a bit inappropriate to say it's thanks to this... my [ability stats] have indeed increased significantly in one go."

"...Hmm, you were already very impressive to come back alive from the 'deep layer,' but now you've become a whole new level stronger."

The proficiency improvement has exceeded 1600.

The stats of several SSS-rank characters are also amazing.

Recalling the "battles" I experienced in the wilderness from morning till night, I couldn't help but be immersed in a variety of indescribable emotions.

After a while, I looked at the gods.

"So, gods—"

"Hmm, it's time to upgrade, Bell."

The immortal seemed to have made all the preparations, and said.

I was sitting on the bed when the deity tapped my back with his index finger.

It's a feeling that your soul, deep within your heart, is being struck.

My back seemed to transform into the surface of water, with ripples quietly spreading throughout my body.

I felt that kind of fantasy.

When the illusion fades—a power surges from within.

The sacred hieroglyph branded on his back began to burn as if on fire.

As I held my breath in shock at this unprecedented experience, the deity copied my enhanced [ability value] onto another sheet of paper.

Bell Craney

Lv.5

力量：I0　耐久：I0　灵巧：I0　敏捷：I0　魔力：I0

Luck: F Abnormal Resistance: G Escape: I→G Combo Attack: I

"magic"

【Flame Lightning】

·Quick attack magic.

"Skill"

【Hero's Wish (Argonauts)】

• Has the power to implement active actions.

【Ox Slayer】

• When fighting against bull-type monsters, all abilities receive a super high bonus.

Vanadis Tevere

• Virgin's protection (Hestia depal).

• Activated when affected by charm effects, grants extremely high bonuses to all abilities.

Physical and mental strength automatically recover.

"Bell... Congratulations on becoming Lv.5."

The deity, following this instruction, handed me the updated paper.

Since there was only one slot, no new "magic" was learned.

As for the "Skills" section, I obtained the "Charm Enhancement" skill, which wouldn't be surprising even if I learned it.

Although it can be incredibly effective under certain conditions, it should have nothing to do with this war game.

The "development capability" that emerges along with the sublimation is "continuous attack".

According to the information Miss Eina obtained from the guild, this ability allows attack power to increase with the number of consecutive attacks, making it a very valuable attack-type ability.

However, this information is all trivial.

The most important thing is the number on the paper.

Lv.5.

The number "5" means something, and it carries such profound significance that even I, a mere adventurer, can understand it.

Bell Craney became a "Level 1 Adventurer".

Even though I'm at the bottom of the list, I have indeed managed to squeeze into the ranks of the strongest combatants that the Labyrinth City is so proud of.

Until this moment... I have finally come within reach of the person I admire.

(But—)

Faced with this achievement that should have made me happy and cheering, my expression remained stiff.

The gods probably feel the same way.

Because after congratulating me, she kept her lips tightly shut and didn't say a word.

"……immortal."

"……What's wrong?"

"Do you think I have a way to stand up to my master and the rest of the Freya Familia's leadership?"

This issue takes into account the potential value (extra points) accumulated before the upgrade.

As a member of the family, I felt as if I were seeking the opinion of the Lord God with a glimmer of hope.

"...After all, I am not a god in charge of combat, so I cannot give a specific explanation like A-Jian."

"..."

"but……"

After a brief silence, the deity said:

"I think... you still can't compete with Freya's Familia."

I don't think the gods' views are cruel.

After all, I myself believe this is an indisputable fact.

The number "5" clearly represents an unattainable feat, yet it now seems so unreliable.

Because what's blocking our way—

However, Lv.6 and Lv.7 are also extraordinary "strongest".

*

"...What should we do?"

Lily, surrounded by a massive amount of data, let out a wail.

This is the headquarters library, where the floor and tables are completely covered with countless parchments.

These are all relevant information about the Freya Familia.

Welf spends all his time in the workshop forging the "Demon Sword," while Mikoto and Haruhime strive to improve their stats and hone their "skills," each going to train with Takemikazuchi and Aisha respectively. While everyone is diligently preparing for the War Game, Lily, as a faction strategist, is also gathering intelligence on the enemy. Thanks to Eina, a member of her guild, who provides the most complete information possible.

However──

"Too strong. So strong that it leaves us helpless..."

The more Lily flipped through the materials and the more deeply she analyzed them, the clearer the word "despair" became in her mind.

The disparity in combat strength between the enemy and ourselves was so vast that it was a matter of utter helplessness. This situation could no longer be described as a domestic dog fighting a lion; rather, it was a battle between ants and a dragon.

Lily should have understood the meaning of "the strongest in the city" long ago, but it was only now that she truly grasped it.

"My current familia consists of 157 members, and if non-combatants and 'believers' are included, the number exceeds 5,000... The strength of the first-tier adventurers is beyond question, and even the second-tier adventurers are full of talent, with the number of healers being the highest among all familias in Orario..."

Just looking at these numbers made Lily feel nauseous.

Honestly, just seeing the number of Lv.3 and Lv.4 level 2 adventurers makes one want to pack their bags and flee overnight. In short, if the Freya Familia were to collapse, its members would be large enough to form twenty "mid-tier factions," making the gap between them and faction alliances immediately apparent.

Besides the second-tier adventurers, there are also first-tier adventurers, led by the [Fierce One], who stand above them.

"To clear out the Monster Party in the 'Lower Levels' with just a single, super-short incantation spell... that's just too ridiculous..."

The leak of information about "magic" and "skills" is extremely devastating for the Familia.

Therefore, the guild agreed that the clan need not disclose this information, which is equivalent to their own lives. As for the information that Eina collected, it was all based on rumors provided by staff and adventurers, which can be interpreted as "general combat capabilities".

The problem is that this "general" content was enough to completely wear down Lily's fighting spirit.

Magic with wide-range scattering and heavy artillery-level attacks is enough to overturn the common people's concept of a "magic swordsman".

Victory can be achieved in the war game simply by the cooperation of four little people.

Easily claiming the title of the fastest in the city, a lightning-fast chariot that surpasses even the [Fierce Wolf].

There are also the orcs who distinguished themselves many times during the "Dark Ages" and fought on instinct.

If these people also have their own "secret weapons," Lily, as the commander, would really be terrified.

(We are desperately short-handed. Although we were well aware from the beginning of the difference in combat strength between the Hestia Familia and the Freya Familia, even so...!)

The most terrifying aspect is that, taking into account the combat strength of the Blacksmith God (Hephaestus) and his allies, there is currently no chance of victory.

This made Lily realize a truth.

In fact, the opponent was holding back when they staged that swift and decisive attack during the "Goddess Festival".

"Even if we need to formulate a battle plan... what are we supposed to do...?"

Lily pondered the vast difference in basic combat strength, and finally repeated the same muttered phrase she had just uttered.

Even asking Daphne, who was working with Mihe and the others to create elixirs and panaceas, for advice wouldn't change the situation. Perhaps Daphne was currently fretting over her fate, preparing to flee that very night. Thinking of this, Lily's face turned deathly pale.

To reverse this downward trend, perhaps only a "top commander (Marshall)" with a broader vision than Lily and the others can do it.

"Supporter, Miss!!"

As Lily stood on the border between escaping reality and despair—

Hestia tumbled and crawled into the library as if she had kicked the door open.

"Goddess Hestia...? What's wrong with you...?"

"You have a visitor! No, wait, I'm not sure if I should call it a visitor, but someone's come looking for you!"

Seeing Hestia, a goddess, completely flustered, Lily was initially confused, but after recognizing the person who followed Hestia into the library, she suddenly understood.

"Hi, long time no see... That doesn't quite sound quite right... How have you been, Lilyluka Erd?"