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

The female dwarf snorted coldly.

"So what!"

After the dwarf uttered the boastful statement, "I have never worshipped any transcendent being (Deus·Dea) since birth," she couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Moreover, it was an unseemly, hearty laugh.

She lay down in the flower field again, laughing heartily like a child.

By a twist of fate, this female dwarf took "her first time".

The dwarf became "the first woman to beat her".

Even after some time had passed, she continued to smile.

"Hey, what's your name?"

"...Miya."

Ignoring the dwarf's objections, she decided to stay by his side.

The dwarfs were born in a coal mining town.

When she arrived there, she found that the environment was quite harsh and that almost no coal could be produced there anymore.

All the men had gone out to mine, leaving only emaciated women and children in the town. To ensure these people had food, the dwarf woman cooked alone in the tavern—ostensibly the tavern's kitchen.

The dwarf was simply out gathering food for the impoverished residents and happened to encounter her on his way back.

"Food is far more important than gods! I need enough food to feed everyone to live on, rather than gold and jewels!"

Dwarves understand the pain of hunger better than anyone else, and firmly believe that a good meal is far more valuable than rare jewels or beautiful goddesses.

This scene could never have occurred in a perfect heaven where hunger or poverty is a thing of the past.

At the same time, she finally understood that this was the true nature of the lower realm.

It is precisely because of imperfection that the "unknown" is born, which even the gods cannot predict, and gives birth to beings like the dwarves before us.

The synonym for "unknown" is "hero".

It was from this moment that she began to think that the partner she had been searching for might be a "hero".

"Are you my hero (partner)?"

"What nonsense are you spouting, you silly goddess?"

The dwarf ignored her expectant gaze and didn't take it seriously at all.

The dwarf was simply a cook whose expectations were too low to be met, and a comforter who spent her days covered in grime in order to fill people's stomachs.

The dwarf never worshipped her when she appeared before him.

As a country bumpkin, the dwarf had no idea of ​​the value of her that the gods, including the great god, so desperately wanted, nor did he care to understand. Perhaps their encounter was too absurd, or perhaps dwarves are inherently fearless, but it was probably both.

This led to the dwarves treating her very casually, and sometimes, because her buttocks, which could be described as the most precious treasure in the world, happened to be in front of the dwarves, the dwarves would slap her without any mercy.

No matter how powerful the kinship that warned the dwarf, the dwarf remained steadfast in her stance. Even when warriors far stronger than herself stood in her way, the dwarf faithfully upheld her pride as a comforter. Even when the inhabitants were all devoted to or revered her, the dwarf still stayed by her side, preparing food. Though the dwarf was not bestowed with "favor," she possessed a strong soul that would not yield to divine might.

This dwarf is truly an anomaly.

Thanks to meeting this dwarf, she found some solace in her heart.

"Miya, I took it upon myself to save the town where you live."

"..."

"The residents all have stable jobs, this town won't decline any further, so you don't need to keep cooking for everyone anymore?"

"..."

"Oh, by the way, there's a goddess here who's still hungry!"

"...That infuriatingly stupid goddess!"

She liked dwarves very much, so she half-forced them to join her clan.

The dwarf probably didn't want to feel indebted to the goddess who saved his homeland, so despite his complaints, he accepted the "favor." However, the dwarf offered several conditions in exchange: "to work under her until the debt is repaid," "to help anyone who is starving like the residents of his homeland," and "to realize his dream of opening a real tavern."

She nodded in agreement to the dwarf's compromise.

Then he said this.

"Hey, Mia, I'm looking for a partner."

"I've heard you mention this many times already. Anyway, I won't be your partner, and I won't help you."

"Hmm, I knew you'd answer like that, so I hope you'll form a contract with me."

"contract……?"

"Knowing your temper, if I do something you don't approve of, you'll definitely give me a beating, right?"

"..."

"In order to find a partner, I may become a virtuous saint, or I may become an incredibly ugly witch."

"..."

"So, Mia, whether I become a good woman or a bad woman, please don't get in my way, okay?"

"..."

"Please, Mia."

"Okay, I understand."

If there's anyone who might hinder her from fulfilling her wish, it's this dwarf in front of her.

She had this inexplicable premonition, so after accepting the dwarves' conditions, she proposed this contract.

Surprisingly, the dwarf agreed very quickly.

This left her somewhat confused.

But it soon became clear.

Because the dwarves had seen her cry her heart out like a pitiful girl—

Accompanied by the dwarf, she continued her journey in search of a mate.

As she explored the vast yet cramped lower realm, she cherished the dwarf greatly.

And he made up his mind that he would never use "charm" on dwarves.

The dwarf woman possessed noble virtues. Although she did not value honor as much as the elves and was rough and rude in her manners, she was more principled than anyone else. Therefore, she treasured the only dwarf who dared to defy her, even though the dwarf was much younger than her. In her heart, she regarded the dwarf as a respectable older sister.

She also understood that even a dwarf with such a strong will could be driven mad by her beauty if she so desired. Once the dwarf sought her "love," she would be unable to pull herself together.

The journey continued in this way.

However, she still couldn't find a partner. Despite countless disappointments, the clan that revered her continued to grow stronger.

One day, she was defeated by the "vicious goddess" and was imprisoned in the labyrinth city ever since.

Even though she settled in the center of the world, she was still unwilling to give up looking for a partner.

During this time, she took in a wild boar-man child.

Two kings were liberated from the elf island where black and white were constantly waging a ugly war and killing each other.

She sold herself in an industrial city to acquire four dwarf quadruplets.

I found two lonely kittens in the wasteland.

They rescued me (Heron) from the freezing slums.

More and more powerful warriors are swearing allegiance to her.

But she still hasn't found her partner.

Even the dwarves declared their intention to leave her before the city entered its dark period.

Disheartened by the prospect of finding a partner, and poisoned by a toxin called boredom, she began playing role-playing games from that day on.

As a result, she made friends.

They found a place to stay elsewhere.

The optimism, resignation, and the poison called boredom that stifled the goddess's spirit gradually subsided.

From then on, she immersed herself in the life of a "girl".

I wonder if she noticed?

Even though it's just a game, the "girl's" life can replace the sea of ​​golden tears she sheds and nourish her soul.

Her identity as a "girl" almost fulfilled her "wish".

But...sigh.

She still ended up in the same place.

In this fantasy (dream) world, she returns once again to this lonely, beautiful flower field.

Even now, they still lament, "I can't find it, I still can't find it."

I've been crying ever since that day.

Cry, cry.

Because you're not there.

The golden flowers blooming in the garden were covered with red teardrops.

May the light, which we have yet to see, guide us.

Laugh, laugh!

I believe I will meet you someday.

A moving poem came from somewhere.

Even though her hero had finally appeared before her, she still kept crying.

I (Helen) could only stay on the outside as a spectator.

Can anyone help me?

Please come and save her.

I (Helen) pray so earnestly.

But still, no one offered her any help.

Moreover, it was she who chose to give up.

I (Helen) also failed to stop her, and even became an accomplice.

It's all my (Helen's) fault for not noticing her tears so late.

I'm sorry, Anya.

I'm sorry, Chloe.

I'm sorry, Lunova.

I'm sorry, Ryu.

I'm so sorry... Mia.

She cried and apologized.

I apologized along with her.

But her tears still wouldn't stop.

Her body gradually melted as the golden liquid flowed down.

I quickly hugged her and said the words she would never mention.

Please stop me!

Someone, please save me!

Volume 18, Chapter 8: Factional Wars

"Anya".