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

Even the gods' twin ponytails were flying and swinging wildly, and they were strongly advocating the danger of the goddess Freya.

"Oh dear, what a pity."

As for the goddess Freya, she smiled, as if she found it quite amusing.

After enjoying Hestia's reaction for a while, she left without looking back.

"I think I've upset Hestia, so I'll take my leave now. Excuse me."

Leaving the frozen goddess Hestia behind, she turned her back to us. "Otta," she called to her attendant beside her, and began to move. The attendant—a boar man over two meters tall—glanced at me, startling me slightly, while I watched the goddess Freya's departing figure.

Her beautiful long silver hair was once again surrounded by the crowd as she slowly walked away.

"—You got hit on by that infatuated guy so quickly."

After a period of calm following the storm, while everyone remained silent...

This time, the sound came from another direction.

I turned around in surprise—and received the biggest shock of the day.

"Loki!?"

"Oh, little dwarf. You can wear a dress now. You look like you're trying to be a grown-up, it's hilarious—"

The goddess Hestia called out in one direction, where stood a goddess with crimson hair dressed in formal men's clothing.

beside her.

Standing there was a blonde, golden-eyed girl dressed in a beautiful gown.

"...!"

My eyes widened and my face turned red.

A young girl named Miss Ais, dressed in a light green outfit and looking somewhat shy, stood before me.

"When did you get here?! Don't just show up without a sound!"

"Stop babbling, you idiot! I walked into the venue all smug, only to have that stinky big-breasted girl steal all the limelight!"

It seems Miss Ais and her goddess Loki have just arrived. We didn't notice them entering the banquet hall because we were talking to the goddess Freya.

The goddess Loki, dressed in a sharp men's suit, and Miss Ais, dressed in a formal gown, looked like a young lady and her bodyguard, their roles reversed, making them a perfect match.

The body temperature cannot be lowered.

Miss Ais looked like a noble princess who had jumped out of a picture book into reality, and I couldn't take my eyes off her.

The pale green dress featured a low-cut, backless design, exposing even her slender shoulders. Adorned with exquisite embroidery and decorations, it was safe to assume that the dress was designed under the direction of a goddess (Loki), reflecting her considerable expense and passion. She wore long, smooth gloves on both arms.

Part of her long golden hair was tied up, while the rest fell down to the middle of her back.

Her delicate features were flushed, her neck was slender, her breasts formed a cleavage, and then a long skirt flared out from her slender waist.

Miss Ais, who is neither an adventurer nor a swordsman, is right there.

That allure was different from the timeless charm of the goddess Freya, which made me forget about time, and it made my heart flutter ever higher.

My heartbeats, which travel throughout my body, refused to obey my commands.

"what……"

"...!"

I met Miss Ais's gaze as she looked up, and neither of us could utter a word.

As her cheeks grew redder, she lowered her head slightly and swayed her body awkwardly.

She immediately hid behind Loki.

So cute...!

"……snort!"

"it hurts!"

Perhaps I had offended the goddess by staring blankly at Miss Ais, because she pinched me hard.

"Oh... so this boy is a member of the dwarf's clan (child)."

Loki stared at me, who was clutching my thigh in agony.

Stared at by her crimson eyes, I couldn't help but shut my mouth. Her unabashed scrutiny made for a somewhat awkward moment.

After a while,

"At first glance, it doesn't look that great. It's about the same as my Ais!"

I received a harsh comment.

Because I also know that I am not worthy of Fiora, the damage I cause is particularly large.

Just as I was about to lose my balance, the deity's cheek twitched.

She pointed at Loki with a fierce look in her eyes.

"You know you can't win an argument with me like you did last time, so this time you're showing off your clan members (kids), huh? Ugh, how annoying, so superficial, so ugly!"

"--What?"

Loki's face was contorted with bulging veins.

"To be honest, compared to that Miss Warren over there, my Belle is way cuter! She's as adorable and endearing as a rabbit!"

"Stop making me laugh, you idiot! My Ais is millions of times better than yours, both in terms of strength and coolness!"

The ugly members of the clan boasted that war had begun.

The two main gods were arguing so fiercely they almost came to blows. "Here we go again," Goddess Hephaestus said with annoyance, while God Mihe and the others could only feign laughter. Miss Nazha and the others, however, had their mouths half-open.

As for me, while I felt that the two of them had a really bad relationship and had nothing to say to each other, I also felt despair.

A relationship between men and women that cannot transcend the barriers of the "family"... The scene before us seems to accurately reflect this fact.

Noticing the noisy goddess Hestia and her companions, the surrounding deities gathered in a chaotic manner. "Here we go again," "Let's watch the show," "This is going to be interesting." Miss Ais and I began to feel embarrassed, each trying to appease our respective deities and separate the two of us.

"Huff—huff—," the two goddesses panted heavily, threatening each other. Fortunately, Hermes and his companions acted as peacemakers, and the matter finally came to a peaceful end.

"...Ugh! This little dwarf is ruining my mood!"

"That's what I wanted to say!!"

"Hmph! Let's go, Ais!"

"Let's leave too, Bell!"

Loki and Hestia walked in opposite directions, while Miss Ais and I were grabbed by the hands by the chief god and pulled away.

I exclaimed "Ah!" and turned around in a panic, only to find my eyes meeting hers as she turned her head as well.

The faint hope that I might have had—that she would call out to me, that I might have heard her voice—was utterly shattered as I watched her walk further and further away.

I, in my cowardice, lacked the courage to shake off the hand of the deity, nor the resolve to approach Loki. Though I felt a pang of longing as his figure receded into the distance, I realized that this was our true distance, the true place we both stood. Our encounters so far, and our meeting on the 18th floor—these experiences are what truly make them special.

Loki and her companions walked further and further away, and a crowd gradually gathered around them. A nagging urge to give up and a sense of inferiority made me look away, no longer wanting to see her still watching me.

I gave up on speaking to Miss Ais and followed the fairy to another part of the venue.

●

Before long, led by the goddess Hestia, I greeted and exchanged pleasantries with the various gods she knew. She introduced me to several seemingly kind goddesses and gods; although nervous, I tried my best to converse with each of them.

The banquet lasted for about two hours, and I got a brief respite.

I moved away from the crowd and stood by the wall to avoid blocking other people's view.

"call……"

After leaning against the wall, I couldn't help but exhale.

Perhaps without realizing it, I felt a little tired.

Under the bright light of the chandelier, I casually glanced around the venue.

Lavish delicacies were served one after another, and waiters offered guests deep-colored wines. Melodious music drifted in from somewhere, and people danced gracefully in the center of the banquet hall. In a corner of the room, Hestia and Loki, still not having learned their lesson, started bickering again.

(It still feels so strange...)

Watching the handsome men and beautiful women dancing gracefully in the distance, I couldn't help but murmur to myself.

A dazzling, radiant world. It's a completely different world from where I was until yesterday.

Perhaps it's because I'm alone, but I always feel out of place in this environment. It's like being thrown into an unfamiliar setting and feeling uneasy; maybe that's what makes me waver.

I think I had a similar feeling when I went into the dungeon.

If I have a similar opportunity in the future, will I be able to get used to the world I live in?

It's a bit hard to imagine.

"..."

I straightened up, moved away from the wall, and fled from the scene before me.

After walking for a while, I came to the open window and went outside.

The moment I stepped onto the balcony, the fresh night air embraced me.

The sky above was cloudless and starry. The vast darkness of night enveloped everything; the main street was invisible, only faint lights could be seen in its direction. A cool, pleasant evening breeze brushed against my skin.

I took a deep breath and it felt like all the accumulated waste in my body was being expelled.

My mind became clearer.

"...?"

Just as I was about to enjoy the cool breeze outside a little longer and walk towards the intricately carved handrail...

Looking down into the spacious garden with its green lawns and fountains, I spotted two figures.

(That is……)

This venue boasts a vast area, surrounded by gardens and numerous tall trees, reminiscent of a grove of trees, in a shady corner untouched by the banquet lights.

The handsome young man who beat me so badly at the "Flame Bee Pavilion"... Mr. Hyacintos was there, along with another human male I had never seen before.

They seem to be talking about something...?

"If things go smoothly, it'll be tomorrow morning... proceed as planned... the timing of the attack will be determined by us... understand, Chanis?"

"You don't need to tell me, I'll...pay you..."

I did this as a reflexive action driven by an inexplicable premonition.

I focused my mind and sharpened my hearing, which was enhanced by my [ability value].

The other person was far from the balcony, so I focused intently on them, listening carefully and interpreting their lip movements, trying to guess part of the conversation.

Chanis...?

Is that the name of the man in front of Mr. Hyacinthus?

I knew I was eavesdropping, but I couldn't help but hold onto the balcony railing and lean out.

However, at that moment, Mr. Hyacinthus suddenly looked up and turned towards me. Perhaps sensing my presence, my gaze met his blue eyes head-on, and I instantly stopped breathing.

"Little Bell?"

"!"

I heard someone call my name from behind, so I turned around and saw...

Standing by the window was Hermes. I gazed at the deity with his back to the banquet hall, then turned my gaze back to the garden.

Mr. Yacintos and his companions vanished in an instant.

What are you doing here?

"Ah, no...no."

Hermes approached me, and I stammered.

(illustration)

Since I was eavesdropping, I felt a little guilty. Although I was very concerned about what they were saying, I couldn't help but use "It's nothing" as an excuse.

"...Okay, fine. Here, take this and drink it."