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

The shadows of the four people walking on the road, the shadows of the buildings, and the shadows of the city walls all grew longer and longer.

The tranquility of dusk gradually enveloped the streets.

▲

In the southern part of the city, in a bustling area overflowing with magic stone lights.

It was already past midnight, and although the entire sky was shrouded in deep black, the bustling area was brightly lit as if it were broad daylight. Many people of all races were going in and out of the shops, including not only adventurers in full gear, but also many celestial beings with handsome features.

A high-class bar is located in a corner of the bustling district where the atmosphere is still lively even late at night.

In a spacious private room resembling a room in a nobleman's home, Loki and Freya sat across a table from each other.

"Why did you call me out at this time? What's the matter this time?"

"You clearly know the answer, yet you still have the nerve to ask."

The two goddesses held glasses and drank together, both with smiles on their faces.

Freya smiled calmly with her eyes closed; Loki, on the other hand, wore a lewd grin with the corners of his mouth turned up.

"You were the one who caused the commotion at today's celebration, weren't you?"

"Oh dear, do you have any proof?"

"Don't use such clichéd lines. Judging from the situation, no one but you can do it."

Loki drank the expensive wine like water and continued.

"Charm, charm, charm, it's all charm. That's how you turned all those kids in Ganesha and the guild guys into useless trash, easily taking down the guards, right?"

The beauty of the goddess Freya can easily bewitch all living beings.

That kind of power, which reason cannot resist, can shake biological instincts. Sometimes it can deliberately induce a state of trance and absent-mindedness, and sometimes it can unilaterally make the other party a slave to beauty. The "beauty" of a goddess, which can even tempt gods who transcend existence, naturally means that no child in the mortal world can resist it.

The same applies to monsters.

"The monsters that ran outside didn't harm anyone. Or rather, they were so engrossed in searching for something that I think they were probably under some kind of deep-seated 'charm' that they couldn't see anything but a certain infatuated goddess."

Loki points out the monster's strange behavior of not attacking people and draws a conclusion.

"Such a big incident happened, yet not a single person was killed. Who else but you could pull off such a trick? Sigh, I don't know what you're trying to do... but the culprit in this case is you—no doubt about it."

"...Hehe, yes, it's roughly the same as what you said."

"Oh, you're quite honest."

Seeing Freya readily confess, Loki chuckled maliciously.

"I think I should go and complain to the guild—? The punishment must be really severe—?"

Despite Loki's undisguised threats, Freya maintained her smile.

She slightly opened her closed eyelids and uttered the next sentence.

"Eagle Feather Robe"

"Huh?"

"You haven't returned the feather robe I borrowed from you. If you're planning to sell me out to the guild, could you at least give it back to me first?"

Loki looked surprised.

"This, that's something I took back in the Heavenly Realm... Hmm! I borrowed it! It's been so long, the expiration date should be up by now! Who brings this up now?!"

"I can't control that. Oh, of course, as a goddess, you wouldn't go back on your word, would you?"

Freya smiled, but her eyes sharpened. Loki shrank back, his words becoming hesitant and stammering.

"No, but... that's my precious thing, how can I ask you to return it now..."

"As long as you don't tell anyone about what happened today... no, as long as you turn a blind eye to my actions from now on... I'll give you that feather robe, how about it?"

Loki froze, knowing all too well what Freya wanted to say, and his cheeks twitched.

"Oh dear, how awful!" she cursed, scratching her head.

"You wicked woman! You actually brought up such an old grudge from so long ago."

"You're no better than me, trying to blackmail me."

Freya laughed happily, her shoulders shaking. Loki wore a sour face, leaning back in his chair. The luxurious sofa comfortably supported her weight.

"Ugh, it's infuriating—really! My adorable kids are forced to fight these weird monsters. All this bad luck is happening to us. How can I swallow this without doing something to vent my anger?"

"...?"

She froze for a moment.

Seeing Freya display an innocent and charming expression that shouldn't be reserved for a goddess of beauty, Loki frowned.

"What kind of face is that? Trying to play dumb with me? Isn't there a tenth monster, that disgusting thing that looks like a snake and a flower at the same time?"

"...I only put nine of them outside?"

"...Don't lie to me."

"Really. I just wanted to slow you down with Ganesha's child so things wouldn't end too soon; I didn't intend to escalate the situation unnecessarily."

"Although I caused the commotion, it's a bit embarrassing to say that," Freya added at the end.

Both of them looked surprised.

At this point, they realized that what they were saying was completely nonsensical, like buttons on a shirt that were fastened incorrectly.

"...Then, what exactly is that monster?"

"Who knows? I don't even know what you're talking about."

The conversation was interrupted.

Loki and Freya looked at each other, and a strange silence fell between them.

■

The moon, partially obscured by clouds, cast a faint glow.

The silver sand stars embedded around it emitted a cold light.

Looking down from the tranquil night sky, there is an ancient ruin with a collapsed roof.

The old building was dilapidated, with cracks in the walls and exposed stone. In Orario, which was always brightly lit day and night, only this corner deep in the back alley remained unlit, shrouded in twilight.

In these ruins, a figure gazes up at the bright moon.

Like someone hidden in the darkness, standing in the depths of the night.

"Lord Dionysus."

Unexpectedly, a voice began to influence that person.

It was a woman, appearing silently and seemingly out of nowhere. Her delicate, elven ears, as pointed as leaves, complemented her snow-white skin, creating a clear silhouette.

As she walked out of the darkness of the ruins, the divine being she had been summoned slowly turned its head.

As the clouds parted, the pale moonlight shone into the room through the large hole in the roof, clearly illuminating the dignified appearance of the deity.

"Did they get it before the guild?"

"Yes, the item is here."

The god-like Dionysus lost his usual smile and accepted the item handed to him by the female member of the group.

He rolled the object a few times in his palm.

Then, he picked it up with his slender fingers, held it up to the night sky, and squinted his eyes.

"Things are getting increasingly complicated..."

The colorful magic stone at the center reflected the moonlight, emitting a rich glow.

Gaiden: Sword Oratorio Final Chapter - Under the Blue Sky

Looking up, there was a clear, bright sky.

The clear sky stretched endlessly, so high that its end could not be seen.

Scale-like white clouds floated in the sky, bathed in the warm sunshine. Ais went to the dungeon as usual today.

The streets and avenues were as bustling as usual.

The sounds of shop assistants, customers, and footsteps on the stone slabs.

Horse-drawn carriages turned their wheels, and the neighing of horses echoed all around. The avenue was filled with countless smiles and vitality.

Ais mingled in the crowd, constantly brushing past various demi-humans.

Every time she took a step forward, the eyes of the armed adventurers naturally focused on her. Whispers and whispers reached her ears.

Some say she is the strongest female adventurer.

Some say she is an immortal swordsman.

Some say she is omnipotent.

Exaggerated and untrue evaluations.

Fear begets more fear, and only reputation spreads uncontrollably.

When faced with others' unintentional comments, Ais told herself not to take them to heart. Unintentionally, a scene passed through her field of vision.

She was a little human girl with tears in her eyes.

She was excluded from the crowd and left alone by the roadside, with no one approaching her.

Ais stopped and, after pausing for a moment, walked over to the little girl.

"What’s wrong with you……?"

"...Waaaaah."

Ais asked her softly, and the little girl burst into tears as soon as she heard it.

Ais was startled and wanted to comfort her so she wouldn't cry, but she couldn't think of anything to say to her.

The little girl just sobbed sadly at her, while she herself stood there, completely bewildered.

Thinking about it, it's actually quite ridiculous.

The increasingly exaggerated rumors about her were making fun of her.

There was not a trace of the stern and heroic demeanor of the [Sword Maiden] in her. Upon seeing her in person, it turned out that Ais Wallenstein was flustered even by such a small matter.

Even with the strongest power, no matter how many monsters you defeat, you are not omnipotent.

There are actually more things that can't be done.

"...Wait for me, just a little while?"

Ais left that place temporarily, almost as if she were fleeing from the sound of wailing.

She guessed that the little girl must be lost, so she ran to find a guild employee patrolling nearby.

Not long after, Ai led the staff back to the original location.

But the little girl disappeared.

"...!"

The guild staff looked at Ais with confusion, forgetting about exploring the maze and searching everywhere for the little girl.

She looked around, scanning every corner of the avenue.

Shops, squares, back alley entrances.

She went to every place the little girl might go to check, and almost bumped into people's shoulders several times along the way.

Finally, when the clock hand of the clock tower standing in the square had completed half a circle.

She finally found it.

She saw the little girl smiling as she hugged someone who looked like her mother.

"Ah, big sister!"

Just as Ais was feeling relieved, the little girl noticed her first.

Seeing that the mournful face had vanished without a trace and replaced by a cheerful smile, Ais returned a small smile.