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

Chunji reflexively straightened her back and looked up at the cell where she was imprisoned. Several men stopped in front of Zhang Jianshi.

The golden fur coat that he was so proud of when he lived in the mansion has now become a problem.

The rare fox fur was very eye-catching, and many men noticed Chun Ji, their eyes lingering on her.

See, it's happening again today.

A thin chienthrope stared at Haruhime in a daze.

Even if it's someone she doesn't like, she can't look away—others instill their "prostitute education" in her and don't even allow her to lower her head.

Looking at the man whose gaze she had stolen, Haruhime revealed a beautiful, doll-like smile.

The orcs began to reveal their lecherous faces and rushed into the brothel connected to Zhang Jianshi.

(I remember that boy; he was just startled by me...)

Recalling her encounter with the boy, Chunji followed the customer with her eyes, thinking: It seems I'll have to sell myself again today.

Then she continued to stare blankly like a doll, and soon the prostitutes in Zhangjianshi started making a fuss.

"Wow, what a handsome guy!?"

"Hey buddy, call me!"

They screamed repeatedly at the human with regular features standing in front of the lattice window by the roadside.

Looking over there, Chunji's eyes met those of the person who was looking for something in Zhang Jianshi.

The humans opened their eyes wide and grabbed the lattice window as if they were pouncing on it.

"Lady Haruhime! It is I—it is my fate!"

In an instant, Chun Ji stopped breathing.

Hearing the voice and seeing the honest look in his eyes, she recognized the person.

That should have been the fate of childhood playmates from distant hometowns—dressed as men.

Confined to the arcade and unable to watch the war games, Haruhime was completely unaware that her fellow countrywoman and confidante were in Orario, and was thus plunged into the abyss of chaos.

She froze on the spot, her delicate neck trembling, the collar clanging.

—Ah, why? How could this be?

Chunji felt not joy at the reunion, but despair.

Her childhood playmates, who once held her hand and laughed together, and the beautiful memories of the past, are now watching over her, who has become a prostitute.

How embarrassing!! How embarrassing!! How embarrassing!!

The remaining shame burned through Chunji's body, and she wanted to scream, "Don't look at me!" She felt an urge to cut open her filthy skin with a knife and tear it off.

(Why……)

Why now? Why this particular time?

If it had been any later, perhaps we would never have met again.

Exposed to fate's gaze and under the watchful eyes of the now-quiet prostitutes, Chun Ji opened her trembling lips.

"...You've mistaken me for someone else, I don't know you..."

Upon hearing her refusal, Ming's eyes widened, revealing a tearful expression.

As if time had been precisely calculated, a voice calling for Chun Ji came from deep within the brothel.

"Haruhime, a guest is calling you."

"Yes……"

Suppressing her inner turmoil, she stood up.

Seeing that Chunji was about to leave his sight, he clung to the lattice window and desperately called out to her.

"Wait! Please wait a moment, Lady Haruhime!?"

Chun-hee did not visit her fellow villager and confidante, and left Zhang Jian-shi.

"You can't embarrass yourself again today."

The brown Amazonian woman who came to call him asked no questions, only giving him a perfunctory reminder as they passed each other.

Chunji felt more gloomy than usual. She replied "Yes" and quietly went to the room where the man was waiting.

■

From that room, one can overlook the magnificent gallery.

Aisha looked out the window at the brothels of the Far East below. As soon as she saw the divine being enter through the open door, she left the window and walked to the center of the room.

This is the main hall on the 20th floor of the palace (headquarters) of the Ishtar Familia.

Several Amazons—faction leaders and top combatants—were gathered on a haphazardly arranged set of chairs and sofas, the pride and joy of the [Familia], a group of battle prostitutes. The Giantess was also present, occupying a specially made, enormous sofa that creaked softly.

Aisha also rudely sat down on an empty sofa, and then the divine object that had just entered the room—Ishtar—came to the group members.

"Is everyone here?"

Ishtar asked the young attendant (Tammuz) who had come in with her to pull out a chair for her, and she sat down and took a pipe.

Aisha and the others have gathered in this hall because they have been urgently summoned by the Lord God.

"What has happened that summoned us here so suddenly, goddess Ishtar?"

"I was really planning to catch a man today—"

Ignoring the Amazons' chatter, Ishtar spoke:

"Go and bring Bell Crane here, but don't let Freya and her gang find out."

Upon hearing the command personally given by the supreme deity, the hall fell silent for a moment.

The Amazons immediately began to shout, "In the end, they'll just be captured and eaten by the goddess Ishtar anyway!" Hearing the jealous and protesting voices of her followers, Ishtar smiled and dismissed them, saying, "Don't say that."

"What do you mean by saying we shouldn't let the Freya Familia find out?"

Hearing Aisha ask this while leaning back in her chair, Ishtar replied:

"For some reason, that goddess seems to be infatuated with Bell Craney, but she's not making a move, so I'm thinking of stealing her away."

The beauty that captivated all beings revealed an ominous smile.

"I wonder what kind of expression that woman will have when she finds out that the brat has become my prisoner."

Perhaps imagining the scene at that time, the goddess of beauty curled her luscious lips, immersed in ultimate pleasure.

"How tasteless—" The girls around her giggled as Ishtar looked around at the faces of her retinue.

"You're not allowed to eat it, understand? Especially—Friline."

"...Hehehehe, what a surprise, Goddess Ishtar! Did you think I'd steal your spotlight?"

Ishtar gave a stern warning to the female giant who had been silent until now, the commander who had the nickname "Man Killer".

The goddess seemed to see through Frini's scheming scheme and narrowed her eyes.

"You're not allowed to steal any food either. If you make a move, that brat will be crippled. I'll be the first one... After I'm done, I'll give it to you guys, and you can do whatever you want with it then."

Ishtar took a puff of smoke from her pipe and exhaled it into Ishtar's face.

Frini was sprayed with smoke in her face, and her brows furrowed. Although her displeasure was obvious, she could not disobey the command of the supreme god, so she reluctantly nodded.

The other Amazons stuck out their tongues in agreement, and Aisha was no exception.

"However, goddess Ishtar."

"How are you, Samira?"

"Why did we have to attack Bell Crane now? It would have been better to wait until the 'Killing Stone' ritual was over."

Samira, a gray-haired Amazon with a voice more forceful than any man's, suddenly offered her opinion.

"I got information about Bell Crane from someone, but... I don't really trust this guy. Freya will probably find out soon that I've got her weakness. I need to snatch him before she takes the brat for herself."

Ishtar shared her thoughts with the other members, then a bold glint appeared in her amethyst eyes.

"Once the 'Killing Stone' is ready, we'll be going to war with Freya and the others. I'm going to use that brat as a provocation tool, or something else... You all need to be extra careful."

Upon hearing the chief god say that Bell would be used as a tool in the future struggle, the female warriors (Amazons) showed no fear, revealing fierce grins, and Phryne's large lips split open like a frog's.

Of all these people, only Aisha remained silent, her expression unchanged.

"Hehehehe! So, what should we do with the most important thing—the rabbit? Where should we start?"

After hearing what Frini said, the Amazonians began to discuss the abduction plan.

"It can't be on the ground, that needs to be avoided, and we shouldn't let the matter get out."

Ishtar interrupted her family's conversation.

The Hestia Familia, which has become a hot topic in the war game, is now attracting worldwide attention. Information about their situation easily spreads throughout the city and reaches the ears of the guild and the enemy (Freya).

Ishtar said that Orario is now very sensitive to information about Bell and his group.

"Then... we'll have to stay in the dungeon."

Aisha listened and voiced the opinions of the entire group.

If you're going to do something illegal, do it in the dungeon—that's a common understanding among adventurers. Below the "mid-level" dungeons, only high-level adventurers are present, making them less likely to be seen.

What methods can be used to lure the rabbit?

"As long as we invoke the name of the goddess Ishtar, what's there to be afraid of? We'll use whatever we can to our advantage."

Replacing the arrogant and disrespectful captain (Friline), Aisha becomes the central figure among the members, answering everyone's questions.

Seeing this, Frini seemed to find it boring and snorted. Aisha glared back, as if to say, "What?"

"Eh, should we take Haruhime with us?"

While Frini and Aisha were having a minor argument, Samira asked a question, her short gray hair swaying.

This question was directed at Ishtar, and also to confirm with everyone. Ishtar, seemingly finding it interesting, asked:

"Whatever makes you happy, but... is this 'rising star' really that difficult to deal with?"

"They run much faster than all of us."

Although they fought and chased Phryne all night, they couldn't catch her after a long chase. The Amazons explained the situation to the gods, each offering their own explanation. Almost all of them who participated in the hunt were Level 3.

"Watching him fight against the second-level adventurer, I was thinking... he only just leveled up to Lv.3, how can his 'Agility' be so fast?"

The record for the world's fastest White Rabbit, which has been rewritten at Lv. 3, is no longer an exaggeration or a fabrication, but the real deal.

Samira was implying that she was venting this, and Aisha had the same thought in mind.

"You useless trash, use Chun Ji or whatever you want, just corner the rabbit, and then I'll take care of him."

Frini's mockery caused Samira and the other members of the troupe to look at her with disgust.

Hearing that only she, a Level 5, didn't take Bell's speed seriously and spoke with such arrogance, Aisha frowned and slowly looked towards the hall window.

You can't see him from this position, but Youkuo is just over there in sight.

"...Although Haruhime is clumsy, she has done a lot for the Familia. Let her go out for a walk and clear her head, it won't hurt, will it?"

Upon hearing this abrupt and inappropriate suggestion, the Amazons stopped what they were doing and looked at each other in bewilderment.

Immediately following was the sound of Florini's laughter.

"Stop talking nonsense. What if she runs away? Or are you just planning to let her escape, Aisha?"

"..."

"We can't let the other factions know about 'that,' can we?"

Hearing the murderous intent revealed in Frini's mockery, Aisha remained silent.

At this moment, no one spoke up for Aisha, and Samira shrugged.

"I really don't understand why Aisha cares so much about that dawdling guy. I just don't like Haruhime!"

Samira chuckled dismissively, and Ishtar, who hadn't spoken before, exhaled a puff of smoke into the air.

Smoke filled her vision, and under the gaze of those amethyst-like eyes, Aisha's hands trembled uncontrollably.

To avoid being noticed, Aisha clenched her teeth and suppressed her trembling, while Ishtar narrowed her eyes.