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

The stirring sounds of sword dances intertwined and resonated.

A silver sword flashed with lightning speed, followed by a crimson slash that knocked it down head-on. Under the beautiful sunset's gaze, sabers and daggers clashed several times, white and golden hair fluttering in the wind.

The boy's shadow, stretching across the stone pavement, repeatedly challenged the girl, almost to the point of being naive. Each time, however, he was repelled and knocked away by the girl's shadow, suffering a crushing defeat.

Intense training is underway on the city walls.

"Now I can react without even looking..."

"R-Really...?"

Five days have passed since I started exercising.

At this moment, Ais lowered her sword, as if suggesting a short rest. Bell, panting heavily, looked down at his own body in front of her. His face, scorched by the setting sun, covered in sweat, and his scarred skin and clothes all spoke of the harshness of his training.

After preparing themselves atop the city wall, Bell and Ais began intensive combat training. From before sunrise until the stars and moon dimmed, the intensity and time they spent training were incomparable to their previous sessions, reaching an extremely demanding level. Since the start of their training, the two had shared meals and slept together, never leaving this place to venture into the city. Further away, at the base of a low, chest-high wall, lay a pot, leftover fuel (twigs), a water bottle, and blankets for three.

As he looked down at the body that was asking for a rest, without warning, a military knife flew in from a blind spot with a "whoosh!" Bell reacted with astonishing speed, knocking it down and then jumping back a step.

Seeing the boy, whose shoulders were heaving, make a swift move like a rabbit caught in a predicament, Ais nodded repeatedly with some satisfaction.

"I'm back--!"

A cheerful voice quickly rang out, and Belle and Ais turned to look at it together.

In the distance, Tiona, carrying a large backpack slung over her left shoulder, ran up the stairs leading into the city walls. She reached the two of them, yelled "Heave-ho!", and threw a bunch of items onto the stone floor.

"I bought lots of meat and fish! And bread and water too!"

"Thank you, Tiona..."

"Hmm! Ah, the weapons from Argonauts, are these okay? I bought about five of them."

"Thank you... No, I'm sorry."

As Ais expressed her gratitude, Bell, who was standing nearby, took the brand-new dagger from Tiona, feeling quite apologetic.

During those five days, Tiona was the first to run errands for the two of them, buying food and supplies. Bell and Ais were able to stay on the city walls largely thanks to her help.

Facing the innocently smiling Tiona, Bell felt a headache coming on as he thought about the ever-increasing debts (favors). Besides Ushiwakamaru, he had already broken countless weapons during training.

"And then, oh, I heard a lot of news. I heard the war game is going to start in four days."

"Four days..."

"Yes. I heard the battle isn't taking place in Orario, so considering the travel time... I guess I'll have to stay here for another two days?"

He learned about the developments from Tiona, who was gathering information while shopping.

After learning the details of the war game, Bell turned his face to the side and looked around at the beautiful street scene of Orario that stretched out beyond the low wall that reached his chest.

"Exactly one week... God."

Five days have passed since I started training, and two more days will make it a week. Bell is truly grateful to God for granting him the promised time.

Hestia must be somewhere in this street scene she's gazing at, Bell narrowed her deep red eyes.

"Oh, and the guild notice board says that the number of members in the [Hestia Familia] has increased."

“Eh!?”

"It seems that one person from each of the three factions—Soma, Takemikazuchi, and Hephaestus—has transferred to this faction."

After hearing Tiona's words, Bell, who was taken aback, gradually showed joy on his face, and was so moved that he almost burst into tears.

Hestia saved Lily, and Welf and the others rushed to help. He knew the details without needing to hear them. The only remaining worry in his heart vanished, replaced by a surge of intense emotion.

Bell clenched his fists. With renewed determination and strength, he gazed at Ais and Tiona's faces.

"Please let me continue training, I beg you both!"

Seeing the boy's focused gaze as he urged them to train, Ais and Tiona couldn't help but smile.

"Um……"

"Keep it up!"

Under the fiery sunset, the workout entered its final stage.

Three pairs of feet ran in a dazzling display.

On the city walls, which were by no means wide, Bell, Ais, and Tiona sped along, wielding their weapons. Two daggers, a silver-white saber, and a large pair of swords sliced ​​through the air, sparks flying, as they clashed fiercely.

"Hey ya—!"

In the defensive battle against Ais and Tiona, both first-class adventurers, who were attacking together, the double-headed greatswords constantly threatened Bell. He had learned to deflect the force of their attacks by striking from the side, but even so, the two greatswords connected by thick hilts in Tiona's hands still made him feel fear.

It was immediately obvious that this massive double-edged sword was custom-made. She was wielding this extra-thick, super-heavy weapon like a short sword, it was like a nightmare. The Amazonian warrior girl smiled and delivered a horizontal punch to Bell.

If he had tried to block it head-on, he would have been smashed to pieces. In desperation, Bell chose to dodge.

Despite the boy being forced to retreat significantly by the power and force of the twin blades, Tiona seemed to consider this a last resort and continued her pursuit.

"Hey!"

“Guuuu!?”

Tiona's uppercut struck Bale in the face.

His brown, bare feet sank into his cheeks, and then Bell was sent flying with the force of a burst dam. He bounced several times on the cobblestones before finally crashing into the low wall and coming to a stop with great difficulty.

"It's best not to use elixirs too often—it can become a habit, and you'll want to use them every time you get injured."

“I, I understand…”

Seeing Bell reach out to touch the leg bag, Tiona, who was carrying the large double blades on her shoulder and walking with Ais, offered a suggestion.

"Since you're an adventurer, you need to train until you can still fight and move around even when you're covered in wounds!"

Although his opponent had shown mercy, it was still a kicking attack from a first-level adventurer. Despite the considerable and potentially fatal injury shaking his entire body, Bell nodded earnestly. He remembered Tiona's teachings, which aimed to enable him to perform at near-perfect skill even when injured.

Seeing Bell grit his teeth and stand up, Tiona smiled broadly.

"It's about to start."

「!?」

Training resumed. Facing Ais's fierce attacks, Bell met the attack head-on with both hands wielding daggers.

Not forgetting to deal with Tiona's surprise attack from a blind spot, Bell constantly endured the sword dance of the city's strongest swordsman. He desperately resisted an astonishing number of slashes, but he was not content with just defense, and also mixed in some desperate counterattacks.

He forcefully kicked aside his timidity and bravely stepped forward.

"!"

Ais's posture was slightly off.

Perhaps intimidated by Bell's imposing presence, her upper and lower body movements became disjointed. Seeing the slender figure about to retreat, Bell, who had been staring in disbelief, rushed forward without hesitation.

A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—to turn the tables on that swordswoman (Ais).

Bell, attempting to attack her right abdomen, stepped into her arms and delivered a powerful blow with the back of his knife.

"Um."

“——”

However, like a spinning top, Ais's body spun around at an astonishing speed...

Taking advantage of Bell's forward-leaning posture after executing a left-handed backhand slash, she switched positions and moved directly behind Bell, who then took a controlled slash through his light armor.

"puff!?"

"You pounced as soon as you saw an opening..."

Ais spoke to Bell, who was lying on the stone floor.

It was a trap. Hearing her words, Belle understood. The carrot (bait) she had deliberately hung up had lured the rabbit (herself) in. A foolish delusion surfaced in her mind, and Belle slumped her neck in dejection.

Bell propped himself up on the stone floor, and Ais, standing before him, spoke to him as if offering guidance:

"Monsters and humans fight differently..."

"Yes, yes."

"Monsters will always attack with all their might... but humans will observe the situation and try to interpret your movements."

Unlike most monsters that often go all out, humans do try to anticipate the situation. It's not just about brute force; in battle, strategy is also crucial. This tendency becomes more pronounced the closer the two sides are to each other's strength.

"When you find a weakness, a person's movements can sometimes become monotonous. Just like what you did just now."

"...!"

"It's easiest to be careless when delivering a fatal blow...that's what others taught me."

When people discover an excellent opportunity, they become arrogant and careless, which may even cause them to expose their weaknesses.

This is especially true when delivering the decisive blow.

Bell opened his eyes wide and looked up at Ais's calm, interpretive expression.

"When you're pushed to the brink, the biggest turning point will surely appear. Don't forget that."

He kept Ais's words in mind.

Bell nodded and took her outstretched hand.

He had Ais pull him to his feet.

"Then let's continue!"

"Um……"

"yes!"

Everyone nodded in response to Tiona, and they clashed with their weapons once more.

Bell tirelessly trained day and night, repeatedly reviewing and reciting the instructions given to first-level adventurers.

□

To secure victory, to save their comrades.

Just as the characters caught in the vortex began to act, harbored their own determination, and had their thoughts intertwined...

The city (Oarori) is quietly and steadily warming up.

The date for the war game was fast approaching. The increasingly opportune moment prompted loud discussions and lively debates at banquets. Adventurers naturally ventured into the dungeons less often, merchants noticed a slight increase in demand for their goods, and ordinary citizens were unable to concentrate on their work. Even the children playing by the roadside sensed the atmosphere, waving their toy swords with innocent smiles, immersed in excitement.

Orario quietly and surely eagerly awaited the moment the heat would erupt.

As for those who are close to the men and women in the vortex, they each have different feelings and try to witness the upcoming battle until the very last moment.

Dusk filled the city, and the sky turned azure.

The white-walled giant tower standing in the heart of the city still overlooks the vast streets that are beginning to light up with magic stone lights.

"Goddess Freya, the items you commanded are ready... Goddess Freya?"

On the top floor of the skyscraper facility "Tower of Babel".

Freya did not respond to the voice of her attendant (Ota) calling her from behind.

Before his astonished expression, Freya, with her flowing hair, sat on a chair by the window, gazing intently at the scene before her.

"……hehe."

Those silver eyes were captivated by the intense cultivation that was still unfolding on the city wall.

A blonde, golden-eyed swordsman and a female warrior wielding large twin blades were simultaneously being fought by a white-haired boy. The sight of three shadows and three beams of "radiance" intertwined left Freya breathless and disoriented.

The boy was knocked away by the Amazon girl one moment and then slashed to the ground by the human girl the next, but she didn't think the boy looked miserable.

This is because the more a boy suffers setbacks, the more radiant his soul becomes. It's like metal being refined by a blacksmith to remove impurities, with pure white "brilliance" constantly being extracted.

The boy's brilliance would continue to captivate Freya, both now and in the future. She gazed, mesmerized, at the white rabbit, which grew ever more radiant with each passing moment.

"...Is it really a good idea to turn a blind eye to the actions of the Apollo faction?"

Otto once again questioned Freya, who was engrossed in the sights of the city walls.

She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear with her slender fingers and chuckled softly.

"I was thinking that if they dared to cause trouble, I would destroy them, but... never mind."

Her gaze remained fixed on the boy below, her silver eyes narrowing.

"If you don't stand by and watch the proxy war unfold, you can't be called a god."