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

After reading the "Decision" written on it, Asifi gasped.

*

"Welf... are you alright?"

"Hmm...no, there's definitely a problem."

In the living room of the headquarters, Bell broke out in a cold sweat when he saw Welf take a long time to respond.

It was nighttime, after the last rays of the setting sun had completely disappeared in the west. The young blacksmith, who hadn't seen anyone for who knows how many days, was shrouded in a shadow of weariness, both in his expression and his physique.

"This is the first time I've forged so many 'demon swords'... I don't even have time to feel self-loathing for it."

Welf looked disheveled and his voice was hoarse from thirst.

As far as Bell knew, Welf, who had been holed up in the workshop for several days in a row, was definitely living a life of reversed days and nights. Seeing him drink the elixir in one gulp without even exploring the dungeon made Bell break out in a cold sweat with worry.

"To prepare for a war game that could break out at any moment, everyone is putting in their utmost effort to develop strategies. In fact, having nothing to do is what makes people worry and overthink... It's impossible not to find something to do..."

Lily, who was saying this, also had dark circles under her eyes.

Mikoto and Haruhime sat nestled together on the sofa, lost in thought as a result of mental exhaustion. They had undergone rigorous training to improve the stability and quality of their "magic." Their only hope of defeating the Freya Familia, whose members were significantly different in level, lay in their "magic," a true trump card or ultimate weapon.

It was rare that everyone happened to be resting at the same time, and everyone gathered in the living room at the base camp, but they couldn't have a proper chat. Everyone just wanted to relax their mind and body.

That being said, it's quite difficult to fall asleep immediately.

The beating heart seemed to want to assert itself, and the vibrations it generated spread throughout the body.

Transformed into a heart-pounding anxiety and tension—the "strongest" Familia completely shattered Bell and the others' optimistic mindset.

If I don't find something to do now, I simply can't calm down.

"...But you, are you alright? Bell, look at all the wounds you've sustained."

Facing Welf's gaze, Bell scratched his cheek and gave a wry smile in return.

Not only were the exposed skin covered in wounds, but even the areas under the clothes were covered in them.

This is a necessary "ritual," but also a "price."

With the help of his assistants, Bell is making "adjustments" to synchronize his "body" and "mind".

(Everyone has been working so hard, and so many people have offered their help... I really want to win... I have to win. Because I still want to stay in the Hestia Familia.)

Bell looked at Welf and the others, silently repeating this in his heart.

(—Most importantly, for that person—)

Looking out the window, a cold night sky, as if reflecting the mood of the Queen of Winter, came into view.

Just as Bell was silently clenching his fists, trying to solidify his will—

"It's decided! It's finally decided!"

The sound of the front door being pushed open came from outside the room.

Bell was the first to react.

Immediately afterward, Lily and Welf looked up abruptly, while Mikoto and Haruhime jumped up from the sofa in one go. Bell rushed out of the living room first, with Lily and the others following closely behind.

When the retinue arrived at the entrance, the chief god, who was exhausted just like everyone else, accidentally tripped and fell to the ground. He then mustered his last bit of strength to prop himself up from the ground.

"The rules for the war game have been finalized!"

"!!"

Everyone gasped, and then Bell asked a question on behalf of the group.

"God, what's the format of this competition?!"

The goddess, helped to her feet by Bell, offered a scroll in her hand as a substitute for an answer.

Lily quickly accepted the scroll and unrolled it, and Welf and the others craned their necks to read it.

Five pairs of eyes looked at the Koine script written in large, flowing strokes on the parchment, and then their gazes all focused on a single word within it.

Just as Bell and the others stared in astonishment, Hestia opened her mouth and said:

"The game is played like hide-and-seek."

*

"The rules for the war game have been finalized, Goddess Freya."

Allen's voice came from inside the shrine.

Freya, seated on the recliner, accepted the paper respectfully offered and quietly read its contents.

"The date is set for six days from now, at the 'Ruins of Osa City'... the place where the 'House of God' is located."

After glancing at it briefly, the goddess seemed to lose interest and took the paper to a one-legged round table, where she burned it directly with a candle flame.

"The guild has officially announced that the Loki Familia will not participate in the war."

"Is that so? Uranus should be able to stop Lloydman now... It seems he has chosen to wait and see."

Frankly, it doesn't matter whether Loki participates in the war or not.

After listening to Allen's report, Freya didn't say much, but her expression remained unchanged as she expressed these thoughts.

Hedin's words to Finn perfectly captured Freya's thoughts. She had already decided to hold the War Game, prepared to fight the Loki Familia. Her mind was made up. She even felt that since her family and the Loki family were often compared as "the two heroes of the city," this was a good opportunity to settle things once and for all.

It doesn't matter who participates in the war; as long as they are the enemy, they will all be crushed.

Even if it means fighting against the entire Orario, I will still face it honorably and win, obtaining what I desire.

This is Freya's style of doing things as queen.

"...Excuse me for asking you a question."

Therefore.

Those who understood the will of the supreme deity couldn't help but point out the "contradiction" within it.

Why did you keep Fiora away from that rabbit?

"..."

Freya herself was the one who ordered Otto to make contact and bind Ais with the chains of oath.

Despite his unwavering resolve to confront his strongest foe (Loki's Familia), he still intervened to prevent interference from a mere girl.

This is clearly a "contradiction".

Faced with this decision, which was contrary to the Queen's (Freya's) demeanor, Allen, kneeling on one knee, seemed to be using the question to make a accusation.

Freya paused for a moment, then replied:

"You're well aware of the effects of Bell's Aspiration (a rare skill), aren't you?"

"Yes."

"If the Sword Maiden were to personally train him, there's no guarantee that the child would be transformed and gain far more power than when you 'baptized' him on the battlefield (Fólkvangr)."

When building the "closed world", although Bell successfully resisted the "charm", Freya still shared Bell's information (skills) with her Familia.

Based on this premise, Freya stated the possibilities based on the facts.

"Based on that level of skill, do you really think we'd be at a disadvantage?"

As a result, Allen adopted a fierce and stern expression.

Its eyes were like those of a ferocious cat that dared to bare its teeth and claws at its owner.

"I am willing to take you anywhere, clear away all obstacles for you, and become your personal 'chariot.' I should have sworn this to you when I abandoned that 'useless' person."

—Do you look down on the strength of a valiant warrior, and the oath of yesteryear?

Allen, his sharp canines slightly exposed, asked the question with this implied meaning.

"...This is so that we can definitely get that child."

The goddess responded to her entourage with only brief words.

The bright moon hanging high outside the window was gradually obscured by drifting clouds.

Allen looked at the Supreme God, and his anger, which had dropped to freezing point, immediately vanished.

He didn't press further and immediately stood up.

"Please forgive my inappropriate remarks."

"..."

"Excuse me, I shall take my leave."

The cat people, like loyal guardians who would never set foot in the sacred realm of the goddess, turned and left the room.

Freya, alone in the shrine chamber, leaned her head back against the chair.

"In order to definitely get that child?"

What a ridiculous excuse.

Freya looked up at the high ceiling and couldn't help but laugh at herself.

"It's just... simple jealousy."

They wanted to keep the boy away from his dreams.

I don't want to see Ais staying with Bell.

Freya, based on this naive girl's fleeting thought, forbade [Sword Princess]'s interference.

In fact, when Freya stayed at the top of the Tower of Babel, she had witnessed countless sparring sessions between Bell and Ais on the massive city walls. The thought of such a secret rendezvous happening again made her feel like she had a fishbone stuck in her throat and her mind was in turmoil, as if a rusty, dull knife was constantly cutting open her wounds, causing her unbearable pain.

She used to be able to tolerate it, but now she can't.

Her desire to possess the boy was too strong, exceeding all limits and becoming uncontrollable. Her uncontrollable emotions repeatedly pushed the "character" cultivated by the "Goddess of Beauty" into a vortex of madness.

Even now, I have a vague feeling that something deep inside me is about to be overturned.

I feel like I'm really turning into a bland and boring "childish girl".

"...How shameful."

Freya muttered to herself in a volume no one could hear.

"Does Goddess Freya lack confidence in us?"

Ger, the fourth son of the four Jaliba brothers, drew the attention of the other three brothers with his words.

This is the "Special Hall (Sessrúmnir)" on the first floor of "Battlefield," and it is also the room furthest from the Goddess's Chamber located on the top floor.

The soldiers' dinner was over, and there were many empty seats in the vast space.

The hall, which had been reserved by first-level adventurers, carried clearly to every corner.

Why did the goddess command Otto to keep [Sword Maiden] away from Bell?

"Of course, it's to ensure victory. Is there any other reason?"

"To be honest, this is a bit discouraging, because I was confident I could win no matter who my opponent was."

Ger, Belling, and Du Hualin expressed their opinions in turn.

This scene was quite rare. The four brothers, who used to be able to understand each other without having to talk, were now having a conversation as if they were asking and answering themselves, which was enough to prove that they had doubts about the main god and were somewhat unconvinced.

As three identical voices discussed amongst themselves, trying to decipher Freya's thoughts—

"You are not allowed to question the goddess Freya; that would be an act of disloyalty."

The eldest son, Alfred, spoke up to refute.

Ger and the others were silenced by those words.

In fact, the conclusion is obvious: no matter what doubts the four brothers may have—even if the other members of the band have the same questions—there is only one outcome.

It simply means that the entire Freya Familia will fight to the death for the goddess, nothing more.

"I can somewhat understand how the goddess Freya feels."

A faint voice came from the side.

Besides the four brothers, the only other person present, the dark elf Hegni, sat on the table and hugged one of his legs.

"The thought of something I like being stolen makes me very unhappy."