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

The "Feast of the Gods" is a party hosted independently by each of the gods.

I've heard that these banquets also serve to show off and flaunt the family's power (and the wealth of their clan) to afford such a feast, but basically they're just for the gods to have a good time. The gods have attended them before.

The faction that will be holding the "Feast of the Gods" in two days is the [Apollo Familia].

[Apollo Familia]...I've also done some research and know that their faction's strength and the level of their adventurers are very high. They even defeated the 17th floor boss (Goliath) with just their own small party. Their guild rank is D.

Compared to our tiny Hestia Familia, they are of a much higher level.

"What should we do?"

"We just had a conflict with them, so we really can't ignore it..."

Seeing the god looking so troubled, I immediately felt guilty.

I just had a falling out with the Apollo Familia at the tavern, and now they're going out of their way to treat her. If I refuse, it might just make things more complicated.

If we ignore this invitation, it would be tantamount to disrespecting the other party.

"Hmm..." I apologized to her when I saw her lips pursed into a "ㄟ" shape.

"I'm sorry, God..."

"Ah, it's alright, don't blame yourself unnecessarily. ...To be honest, I don't really like Apollo either."

"Oh, is that so?"

"Yes...some things happened in the Heavenly Realm."

Seeing the deity stammering and unwilling to explain, I was completely confused.

"Never mind that for now... This banquet is different from usual; the preparation is quite novel."

As he spoke, the deity looked at the invitation and smiled.

Having handed the invitation directly to the deity without even opening it, I looked at the deity's intrigued profile with puzzlement.

I put away the washed dishes and wondered what was written on the invitation.

"Anyway, it's almost certain that we have to attend. Mich and the others should have received it as well. It's a rare opportunity, so let's all attend together."

Everyone? I was completely confused again.

◆

Although it may seem abrupt, Orario is currently welcoming the arrival of spring.

With the arrival of this season, the heavy, low-hanging winter clouds vanish, flowers bloom in profusion, and the weather stabilizes. It's said that the number of travelers visiting the city increases accordingly. I, too, arrived in Orario two months ago during this seasonal transition. Perhaps those of us from the city have also joined in the recent bustling activity.

The chill has long since subsided, and the temperature is rising day by day.

As summer slowly approaches, I know that the reason for my elevated body temperature is not simply due to the changing seasons.

As I swayed with the clatter of the wheels, I aimlessly fiddled with my bangs with my sweaty hands.

I was restless, constantly gazing at the sunset-colored street scenes passing by outside the window, waiting for that moment to arrive.

The carriage stopped.

The horses neighed, the intricately carved carriage doors opened, and I was the first to step out.

Wearing an unfamiliar formal suit—a so-called tuxedo—and with my expensive leather shoes clattering, my feet touched the ground.

I turned around awkwardly and reached out to help the girl who was getting off the bus.

The person who stepped out of the carriage with a joyful smile was the goddess Hestia.

She was dressed in a formal gown just like me, and looked much more beautiful and radiant than usual.

"Thank you, Belle. You did a great job as a protector."

"No, I don't deserve that..."

The deity standing on the ground smiled at me, and I was so nervous that my whole body stiffened.

The seemingly high-class carriages that gradually gathered, the countless handsome men and beautiful women in formal attire, and the mansions of the wealthy—no, it should be said that the enormous venue facilities that could be mistaken for palaces—all around me were constantly shaking me.

It is said that the "Feast of the Gods" held by the Apollo Familia today is quite special, as it seems that one member of the Familia must be brought along, and the gods and their children will participate together.

Normally, members of the Familia are not allowed to attend the "Feast of the Gods," but this time the organizers insisted that everyone bring a member of their Familia. The gods, as usual, agreed because they found it amusing, and each selected their most favored members to participate, eager to show off their offspring. Among the flawlessly beautiful gods and goddesses, many adventurers and craftsmen dressed in their finest attire could be seen. I, brought along by the goddess Hestia, was one of them.

A farmer from the countryside, dressed in splendid clothes, was clearly trying to appear strong… but he probably looked even more out of place in this setting. Looking down at myself in my black tuxedo, I thought this deeply. The formal attire I had chosen for today only made me feel like I had come to the wrong place.

"It suits you perfectly, Belle. Don't be shy, it's okay."

The fairy spoke to me, who was restless and anxious, with a relaxed and cheerful tone. She seemed overjoyed to be wearing such a beautiful dress, and appeared to be in an excellent mood.

The goddess wore a marine blue gown, adorned with lace and ruffles. The gown was specially designed to emphasize the bust line, perhaps because the goddess possessed an impressively large bust. To be honest, I often didn't know where to look.

Like a princess of a certain country... that might not be the most accurate description, but at this time, the immortals certainly possessed both gentleness and beauty.

"I'm so sorry, Hestia, Bell. You've gone to so much trouble for everything, from the clothes to everything else."

Following us, Mihe God emerged from the carriage. He was holding the hand of Ms. Nazha, a member of the group. Of course, both of them were dressed in formal attire, just like us.

Mihe initially said that their impoverished [familia] wasn't suited for such extravagant activities and didn't really want to attend the banquet. However, the goddess Hestia said, "For Nazha's sake, you should have some fun sometimes," and Mihe was persuaded. I remember he finally agreed with a wry smile. We paid for the carriage rental from the merchant and Mihe's clothing expenses as a token of our gratitude.

Considering that the two of them always give us high potions and dual potions that cost tens of thousands of fabulous, this price is actually quite reasonable.

"Thank you for inviting us, Bell..."

"Miss Nazha."

After leaving Mihe, who was talking to the gods, Miss Chienthrope Nazha came to talk to me.

Ms. Nazha usually dresses very simply, but this time she looks both fresh and charming in a formal gown. The fabric is red, and the long sleeves are designed to cover her prosthetic right arm.

“…Does it look good?”

Miss Nazha picked up her skirt with both hands, and I nodded vigorously.

With her eyelids half-closed, she seemed quite happy, her tail wagging from side to side.

"Well, it's about time we went in."

"Okay. Well then, Bell, thank you for your help?"

“Okay, okay!”

Urged on by Mihe, I carefully took the outstretched hand of the goddess Hestia.

Looking back, a magnificent palace immediately filled my field of vision. Resembling noble deities, they walked towards the open main gate, accompanied by their retinue members dressed in splendid attire.

I couldn't help but swallow.

The world that was originally far away from me—or the "world of the night" with which I had no connection.

Although it was an event organized by the gods, when I visited Orario, did I ever imagine that I would have the chance to participate in such a social gathering?

It would be a lie to say I wasn't excited at all... but this time I was more nervous than excited.

The sight before me made time stand still, allowing me to slowly inhale. Then, with a determined look, I took a step forward. Following the example of the others, I accompanied Hestia and Miss Nazha, along with Mihe, into the towering building whose entire exterior could only be seen by looking up.

The main hall is just as magnificent and luxurious as the building's exterior.

Gold and silver lights shone brightly on the thick pillars and candlesticks, creating a dazzling and illuminating glow. The high ceilings created a sense of openness. Alabaster statues, perhaps modeled after gods and goddesses, rested firmly on the walls.

From the lobby, one walked up the grand staircase that was so luxurious that it would make one fall backwards, and arrived at the banquet hall on the second floor of the building where the dinner was held.

The atmosphere in the banquet hall was so opulent it needed no words to describe. Crystal chandeliers adorned the high ceiling, while numerous long tables were lined with delicacies only available to the upper class. Beyond the high windows was a balcony.

As dusk fell, the landscape outside was shrouded in twilight. The venue was located in an upscale residential area near North Street; perhaps because of this, the nighttime hustle and bustle of the pubs and crowds seemed distant. It was so quiet that one might wonder if this was truly Orario.

This is perhaps an atmosphere unique to social circles, and I couldn't help but sigh in admiration.

"Ah...that person, I've seen him before..."

"That adventurer has been somewhat famous and quite strong for a while... The faction gathered there doesn't have a good reputation, so be careful..."

Walking through the banquet hall, one could see many famous adventurers. There were beautiful elves who seemed reluctant to attend, dwarves who looked uncomfortable in their formal attire, dashing orcs, and Amazons. Besides the gods, there were also a large number of demi-humans in the hall.

As Ms. Nazha beside me told me various information, I couldn't help but look around.

"Oh, you've arrived."

"I didn't expect even Mich would come. What a surprise."

"Hephaestus, A-Jian!"

As we reached the corner, a goddess and a god called out to us—it was Hephaestus and Takemikazuchi. Hestia happily ran over, followed by Mihage. Ms. Nazha and I nodded in greeting, and then the two greeted us with smiles and "Hi," and "You both look great."

"Ah Jian came with his life on his hands. Thank you for last time."

"No, no! Uh, it's...!"

"Where are Hephaestus's children? I haven't seen them."

"That child was rather unconventional; he left me (the main god) to go for a walk nearby by himself."

The goddess Hestia thanked the human standing behind Takemikazuchi—Miss Destiny. She was also one of the benefactors who had gone to the "middle level" to rescue me a couple of days ago, and she was now so nervous that her whole body was stiff.

Her elegantly tied-up black hair and her formal dress trembled... Great, someone else is like me.

Perhaps like me, she had never worn formal attire before; her exposed shoulders hunched over shyly, and even her ears turned red.

Seeing her looking completely lost while Mihe and Hephaestus were talking, I couldn't help but feel a sense of closeness to her.

"Oh dear, you're all gathered together! Let me join in!"

"Ah, Hermes."

A loud voice came from our direction.

Turning around, we saw Hermes walking towards us with a cheerful grin. Seeing his eyes crinkled into crescent moons, Takemikazuchi exclaimed in disgust, "Good heavens!"

Beside her was Miss Asphie, who wore glasses. "God Hermes, please keep your voice down..." she advised while trying not to sigh.

"Why are you here? We weren't exactly on good terms before, were we?"

"Hey, Takemikazuchi, didn't we overcome difficulties together before? Don't just sideline me!"

After cheerfully finishing his speech, Hermes quickly slipped away from Takemikazuchi.

He came up to us with a friendly smile on his face.

"Hey, little Bear! You look really handsome in that outfit! And Nazha is beautiful too!"

"Thank you, thank you..." "You flatter me..."

"Oh my, little sister, are you nervous? You're so cute, it's such a shame!"

"Cute...!?"

Unlike Mihe or myself, Hermes, dressed more casually, praised everyone from the gods to Miss Nazha. Finally, as if he had seen something interesting, he approached Miss Fate, took her hand, and kissed her fingers. Bang! His kiss, which turned her face bright red, finally caused Miss Fate to erupt.

Bang! Thud! Takemikazuchi punched him on the head, while Miss Asphie kicked him with the tip of her shoe.

"There are more and more people here."

"After all, there are children in addition to the gods, so it will be more lively than a regular 'banquet'."

I was sweating as I watched Hermes fall to the ground in pain, while Hephaestus and Mihe said the same thing.

Indeed, people kept entering the venue... making me realize that this was truly a banquet. Even our spot was already bustling with noise.

However, I seem to be gradually getting used to the atmosphere at the scene.

"Thank you all for coming today!"

At that moment, a powerful voice echoed throughout the venue.

Everyone in the room looked in the same direction: at the other end of the banquet hall, a male god appeared.

His golden hair shone with a sunlight-like luster. Like concentrated sunlight, his blonde hair glowed brilliantly. The smile on his lips was dazzling, and even I, as a man, couldn't help but be captivated by his handsome appearance. He was also very tall.

On her head she wore a laurel wreath with green leaves.

There is a male and a female member on standby on the left and right, there must be no mistake.

That great man must be Apollo.

"This time I changed the way the banquet was done according to my own ideas. Do you all like it? Dressing up our beloved children and bringing them to our banquet like this adds a different kind of fun, doesn't it?"

Apollo, dressed in his finest attire to match the host of the banquet, spoke with a resounding voice. The other gods, eager for a good show, cheered enthusiastically and applauded repeatedly.

"I feel immense joy to see so many of my fellow countrymen and my beloved children—I even have a premonition that I will have a wonderful new encounter tonight."

Later, as I listened to the opening remarks, unintentionally...