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

"I-I understand! I understand! Please don't look at me with those abyssal eyes, like a demon king whose brain was damaged after his fiancé was stolen and who vowed revenge on the world!!"

Asphie was finally frightened by the little girl with her dark eyes approaching, and was forced to hand over all her magical items except for the flying boots, which were considered top secret. No! It was a promise.

"Lord Fels, give me all the Oculus you have. Absolutely. And the legendary Grimourne. Let Lady Haruhime draw the magic of resurrection with a few 'gu gu gu's."

"W-Where did this information come from? No, no, wait a minute, the grimoire I made isn't something that's easy to prepare. Rather than the production cost, it's the ink for the elixirs and the large quantities of sacred beast hides and other materials that are difficult to procure...! Because I gave [Sword Princess] to [Loki Familia] and [Hermes Familia] a long time ago, I don't have many spares on hand...!"

(Ah, this is probably the reward for getting me and Lulu Ni and the others involved on the 24th floor.)

"Furthermore, grimoires don't always guarantee magical manifestation! The presence or absence of magic gauges goes without saying, but the probability of a forced manifestation decreases drastically with each subsequent grimoire—"

"—Shut up, lalalalala!! Stop talking nonsense! Just take it out already!!"

Faced with Fels's desperate attempts to persuade her, Lily finally snapped.

"Speaking of which, it was precisely because Lord Uranus decided to wait and see that Lilies ended up in this situation!! Lord Fels, fulfilling his responsibility as the chief god, offered selfless sacrifice, favoring this side and giving them a 100-0 advantage in the War Game. Now that's what you call sincerity!"

"Whoaaaaaahh ...

"Calm down, Lilyluka Erd!?"

"Gwaa ...

"Do you think we risked our lives to save Xenos?! Take responsibility, take responsibility now!"

"I'm so sorry about that time!"

An angry roar echoed through the moonlit night, reaching the other members of the family who were preparing to go to bed, causing Bell and Haruhime to break out in a cold sweat.

Despite the exceptional condition of "accommodating a first-class adventurer for the night and providing instruction all day," Finn, sitting in his guest room, elegantly remarked, "There are no alternatives, I keep my word." He then sipped his brewed black tea, seemingly unconcerned. Another cup prepared for the students was steaming, awaiting the resumption of the unfinished lesson.

Having lost to Lily's relentless negotiations (with a fierce expression), Asphie and Fels later provided all the magical items. Thanks to the Brain's efforts, the Hestia Familia successfully secured many top-tier magical items during the War Game.

However, Lily didn't know that.

The large number of grimoires obtained from Fels were completely consumed by "a certain fox".

After exhausting all his energy, no magic appeared. The bone magician (Mage), unable to shed tears, stood alone, quietly gazing at the dim light.

"—This has happened before."

"I see."

Fels, weary from his black robes, gave his report at the underground altar, while Uranus, seated on his throne, responded with his usual indifferent, even somewhat hateful, demeanor.

This time, however, Fels clenched his fist, wondering if he should teach Uranus a lesson, but he shook his head and relaxed, then readjusted his posture.

Because there are things that need to be confirmed here.

"Uranus, aren't you going to do something?"

What Fels wanted to ask was about the upcoming "factional war" itself.

Fearing a decline in urban combat power, the faction alliance led by the Hestia Familia is now in trouble due to Lloyd's policies, including banning the Loki Familia from participating in battles. Considering Orario, Lloyd's actions are perfectly legitimate "political," but Fels personally feels "dissatisfied." Hasn't Freya done enough (bad things) already?

Now, the only one who can help Hestia and Bell is Uranus.

When it comes to the will of the city's creator god, even Lloyd has to obey. If it were the guild's main god giving the order, it would at least provide more favorable conditions for the [Hestia Familia].

But Uranus remained silent.

As usual, he simply sat silently on the throne of the underground altar.

"...Ever since the goddess (Hera) was defeated and bound to this land, Freya and Loki have been protecting Orario together. Even though they continue to cause problems to this day, this is the only thing that no one can deny."

"Is this 'mercy' shown to her in pursuit of war games at the cost of building status and reputation?"

"Or, the 'reward' that I (the creator of the city) must offer."

"...That's just polite talk, isn't it?"

Although it was said in a sarcastic tone, Fels, who, like Uranus, had been paying close attention to Orario, had to express his understanding of Freya's achievements.

From fifteen years before the fall of the gods (Zeus) and goddess (Hera), there is no doubt that the Freya Familia, like the Loki Familia, has always protected this city. It is thanks to the efforts of Freya and Otto that they were able to overcome the 'Dark Ages'.

At least seven years ago, the battle would not have been won without them.

Knowing what had happened, Fels left his groans inside his black clothes and continued speaking, unwilling to give up.

"If things continue like this, the Hestia Familia will be publicly executed."

"..."

"I don't think that even if the Braves get involved, it won't become a one-sided battle. The Freya Familia is just that powerful and brutal."

"..."

"This time it can no longer be called a 'trial,' Uranus."

Like Hermes, both Fels and Uranus placed their hopes on the unfinished hero (Bell Crane).

Even so, this "factional war" is a very heavy burden.

This applies to both the young man himself and the Hestia Familia.

Faced with the old man who had remained silent despite the implied meaning, Fels finally became impatient and continued speaking.

"Uranus, are you taking pity on Freya?"

"...To say it's impossible would be a lie."

With compassion and a sense of concern, Uranus spoke the following words.

"But most importantly, if the wrong approach is taken at this point, the goddess will not be able to break free from the 'shackles' and may make the same mistake again."

"...?"

That is a sentence that only those who understand the heart of God or the goddess of beauty (Freya) can comprehend.

However, in conclusion, Uranus did not change his divine will.

Fels, who was not a god, sighed with disappointment and rebellion.

Although a body without a throat cannot exhale, it is ultimately just "imitating".

"The only way to avoid making mistakes is for Bell Craney and his team to defeat Freya's faction?"

"At least, this is the right way."

Fels was surprised to hear the word "kingly way" from Uranus's mouth, but then he said sarcastically.

"Whether it's crooked methods or anything else, those resilient warriors (Enheria) will not fall unless every means are used."

The original sage (Fels) was half right.

Then it deviated by half.

The resilient warriors (Enheria) were indeed ruthless, ravaging the faction alliance from the very beginning of the 'war'.

However, the boys are also 'adventurers'.

Undeterred and persistent, he struggled until the very end, gathering the 'hope' that had fallen from the sky around him, achieving a successful comeback that astonished Fels, who stood before the 'Mirror of God'.

Some adventurers felt a sense of déjà vu regarding this kind of struggle.

He bluntly stated that this was a repeat of the "battle seven years ago".

The use of the magic name "Memory of the Stars (Asteria)" for the character 【疾风】's participation in the battle makes it even more memorable.

Whether it's the hero (Finn) and others, the old god (Uranus), or the former sage (Fels).

Even the 'strongest' of our time, and still fighting at this moment.

The battles continued fiercely.

A heroic sword charge.

A violent magic and pure power.

The destructive melody of mutual cancellation and shattering entwines the armor of the raging waves, sounding the horn of the final battle.

That was another "battlefield (Fólkvangr)".

"Oooooo ...

There, the roar that resounds more powerfully than anyone else's is the cry of the mighty (king).

A boar, its gaze fixed on the beast, relentlessly kicks away any 'weaklings' who dare challenge it. Its black greatsword and powerful fists become the battering ram, destroying everything in its path. Its massive steel body and bulging bones themselves become an impregnable fortress, crushing every breach. The ferocious boar is the source of this 'death struggle' more than anyone else.

The heavens are no more.

The twilight paints the sky crimson, whispering its end.

The largest war game in history, hailed as a "factional war," is also getting better and better.

The fierce battle that unfolds in the amphitheater further northwest of the "Orza City Ruins" has turned the battlefield, the labyrinth city (Orario), and even the gods into fanatical slaves.

This is reminiscent of a battle between 'heroes'.

Even in Orario, very few people are able to participate in this struggle.

In other words, those who can continuously fight within it are those who have transcended the 'boundary'.

Lv.5

Level 1 adventurer.

Hero candidate.

You can address me by any name.

Only those approved by the gods, the people, and the lower realm itself are permitted to engage in sword fights on this battlefield.

This is what it means to remain indomitable even after being baptized by the highest (Ota).

"snort!!"

Led by the [Gale], whose voice could tear silk, and accompanied by the heavily wounded Mia and the nearly exhausted Hedin, they coerced the rock-solid bodies of the enemy. Using their blood and fighting spirit as weapons, the Elf and the Dwarves prepared to dismantle the fortress that bore the name of "strongest."

"Aa ...

Among the battles of these chosen ones, there was a young fledgling.

A rabbit is yelling.

One of the boys, despite suffering two defeats, remained fearless and confronted the "strongest".

(Bell Craney)

A naive young boy.

In this final "battlefield (Fólkvangr)," I am less mature and weaker than anyone else.

That mind was also quite dull compared to Hedin's.

That attack was far inferior to Mia's, and utterly powerless.

Even their skills and experience couldn't match Ryu's pace.

But in those deep red (Rubellite) eyes and fierce roar, O saw "its former self".

(You and I are very similar—)

A farewell to the optimistic spirit of knowingly challenging the opponent despite the disparity in strength.

Despite the devastating blow of despair, they still rose up and climbed to the top.

Seekers and inheritors of the truth that "the winner is among the losers" unconsciously practice it.

The same was true of the former Olympia.

God (Zeus) and Goddess (Hera).

Throughout the millennia in the labyrinthine city, the "truly strongest" have reigned supreme.

Austria suffered repeated defeats against them.

The boy's defeat became hazy, and the man continued to be bathed in the humiliating 'mud'.

The history of the "fierce warrior (king)" is equivalent to a constantly accumulating trajectory of failures.

"Woohoohoohoohoohoohoo!?"

A one-on-one duel that happens in an instant.

Under the cover of the elves and the earth people (dwarves), the reckless and fearless boy launched an attack. Furthermore, Otto instilled fear in him once more.

With a roar, the boy's face was filled with fear and despair.