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

"Who are those people? Why did they suddenly attack us...?"

He then asked this question, as if trying to hide his emotions, appearing calm and composed at first glance.

Seeing Belle's reaction, Ais felt concerned but still answered his uneasy voice.

"Night raids are quite common."

"Does this happen often?"

"Hmm, it's quite unusual for them to make a move outside the dungeon..."

He was still in a position unrelated to the power struggle between factions, and he exclaimed in surprise, while Ais was also thinking.

Was it because I left my clan alone that I was attacked?

Looking back at the words and actions of the attackers who brought the "warning," it seems that Ais's actions unknowingly angered that faction. So, were Bell and the others just collateral damage?

Ais didn't think she had done anything to invite the attack, but she felt guilty for putting the boy and his friends in danger.

"Regarding the person who might have attacked you, do you have any suspects in mind, Miss Warren?"

"...There are too many to list, so I can't give any examples."

Ais hesitated to give a clear answer to Hestia's question, but she still revealed the actual situation of the Familia.

"Seriously, you (Loki) guys really know how to cause trouble." Hestia was dumbfounded, while Ais was recalling the warnings from the attackers earlier.

"You dare to hinder us—hinder our supreme deity (that great one)? I will take your life!"

Ais was suspicious of the cat-man youth's words, but she kept them to herself for the time being.

Under no circumstances should things be allowed to escalate into a factional "struggle," and the other side probably wouldn't want that either.

However, this incomprehension and doubt still cannot be eliminated.

"...?"

Although the fire had subsided, it was still burning like a bonfire in the middle of the street. Hestia said it would attract crowds, so it was best to leave as soon as possible.

To avoid any unnecessary trouble, Ais nodded obediently and walked towards a path while talking to her.

However, she found that Bell hadn't moved an inch, standing there blankly.

"What's wrong……?"

"Ah...no, it's nothing."

Ais called out to Bell's retreating figure, and he seemed startled, turning around. Bell said "It's okay" as he quickly ran over.

Ais looked at him and turned her gaze to the spot where the boy had been looking up.

In the heart of the city.

The towering white-walled tower, standing tall in the moonlight, looked down upon him and Bell and the others.

◆

"The [Fierce One (Ota)] has appeared in the middle level?"

Raul Nord, a male member of the Loki Familia, turned around and looked behind him.

The expedition took place two days ago, in the evening.

This is the guild headquarters, crowded with adventurers returning from the labyrinth. The armored demi-humans come and go in the spacious marble hallway to exchange their loot for money, report to the responsible advisor, or collect their rewards. Raul stands before a huge notice board displaying numerous commissions and official guild announcements, his eyes turning to the people who come to report.

"Is this true, Angie?"

"Yes, but I only heard it from the adventurers, so it lacks credibility... I heard that several teams saw it."

(illustration)

The person Raul called "Angie" was a cat-woman with long, black hair that reached her shoulders. She had a thin tail that was the same color as her hair, which swayed around her waist.

With the "Expedition" imminent, a group of adventurers from the Loki Familia arrived at the guild headquarters to gather intelligence.

For example, whether there are any unusual situations (lrregular) on the troop's planned route, whether there are any conflicts with the routes of other factions' floor attacks, and whether there is a floor owner... In order to carry out the "expedition" efficiently, it is an important task that cannot be neglected to collect intelligence in advance.

In the Loki Familia, this job is done by members below the rank of officer.

"Brother Raul—the floor master of the 18th floor (Goliath) seems to have really appeared. The other adventurers seem to be leaving them to be dealt with by the largest faction in the city (us) who are on the 'expedition' and are just being ignored."

"The Tower of Babel facilities notified us through the guild that they cannot prepare enough for everyone's orders of salamander wool and undine robes... What should we do?"

"Wait, wait a minute!? Please wait a moment!"

The male and female members gathered around Raul with the information they had gathered. He hurriedly stretched out his hands, frowning as he asked everyone to let him sort it out and start thinking.

Raul Nord. Race: Human. Age: 21.

His black hair was styled in a spiky, hedgehog-like cut, exposing his entire forehead. Of average build, neither fat nor thin, he looked completely human, with an average face. At this moment, he was flustered in front of his companions, appearing to be just an unremarkable male member of the group.

However, his ability level is Lv.4, making him a genuine Level 2 adventurer.

He was originally the third son in a family from the countryside. Eight years ago, according to him, he made the "biggest decision of his life" and left the hometown where he was born and raised. Like many others, he visited this labyrinthine city (Oario) with great expectations and a man's small ambitions—and when he came to his senses, he had already been pulled into the Loki Familia.

Raul, who had remained with the Loki Familia from beginning to end, was forced to follow Finn and the others through countless battlefields, enduring the hardships along the way. What he himself couldn't understand was why Finn and the other leaders placed such high trust in him, often entrusting him with such miscellaneous tasks or letting him command the junior members when exploring dungeons.

This young human, who often lacked confidence and compared himself to the great [Family] elders, tapped his forehead with his finger and prioritized the reports from the group members, responding to them in order.

"Uh—so, Angel, what do you think of it...?"

"He seems to be hunting monsters around the 17th floor these past few days. Right, Lina?"

The cat-person, who was last questioned, turned to his colleague beside him. The girl with braids and glasses (a human) said, "Yes, yes," and nodded in agreement to ask the adventurers from other factions for eyewitness information.

[The Mighty One] Ota... He is the leader of the [Freya Familia] and Orario's foremost warrior.

He is also a representative figure of the archenemy that rivals the Loki Familia.

Raul pondered the man who topped his faction's black klist.

The leader went alone, and even stayed in the "middle level" which was completely inconsistent with his strength...

"...What exactly are you doing?"

No one present could answer his offhand monologue.

Catwoman Angie shrugged, while the other members around her exchanged bewildered glances.

"Is there a problem?"

"Ah, Mr. Grace."

A group of people stood in front of a huge notice board, amidst a bustling crowd, when a dwarf approached.

The newcomer was Grace, one of the faction's leaders. Upon seeing this dwarven warrior who exuded the air of a veteran, the adventurers' fearful gazes naturally turned to him.

Raul told Grace, who had just split up, about Ota.

"Hmm, that man went to the 'middle level'... Oh well, never mind him."

"Are you alright?"

"Don't provoke him, just pretend you didn't see it. Even if that guy is acting on the orders of the supreme god, he doesn't like to play tricks. I don't think he'll do anything to us on this expedition."

Furthermore, the guild is also pushing forward with the expansion into deeper areas—causing trouble for factions in the "Expedition," and the other side will also have to bear the corresponding risks.

Grace stroked his beard and added this.

After hearing the explanation from this faction leader, Raul and his men also felt that it made sense.

Since Ais didn't mention it, the Loki Familia was unaware that a certain faction had carried out a raid the previous night, and therefore did not raise their alert level against the Freya Familia; the matter was thus left unresolved.

"Mr. Grace, over there..."

"Yes, the supplies have all been delivered to headquarters. As planned, the 'expedition' will commence in two days. Let's go and give the guild a formal report."

Grace said that everything was ready for the expedition, including equipment such as the "Demon Sword," and then led Raul and the others toward the window of the hall.

When high-ranking factions embark on an "expedition," they must report the expedition period and schedule to the guild, as they are a valuable fighting force that the city (Orario) is proud of.

In case of an emergency—when they haven't returned from the dungeon—the guild often forms an investigation team or a rescue team.

"By the way, have you guys had a good rest?"

"...Ha, hahahahahahaha."

Grace asked Raul, who was walking beside her, and the other members of the group who were following behind.

Spurred on by the faction leader (Ais)'s promotion, Raul and the other members, despite the imminent "expedition," continue to train whenever they have the chance. The cat-woman Angie looks in another direction, while the girl (human) Linne's gaze wanders.

Seeing Raul give a dry laugh on behalf of everyone, Grace sighed, just like a member of royalty.

"To be honest, Brother Bert has also made fun of the younger one..."

With tears in his eyes, Raul confessed that he had been mocked by the werewolf youth.

The werewolf's response was, "It's too slow to start practicing now, you idiot."

"Back then, on the 24th floor, Brother Bert fought alongside Miss Ais and the others against a terrifying enemy, right?"

"……Um."

Raul lowered his voice and whispered in Grace's ear, and Grace paused before nodding.

As one of the cadres, he had also heard about the incident that had occurred last time.

"Brother Bert is still the same as before after he came back."

Remembering Bert's still arrogant attitude at headquarters, Raul said in a low voice.

As for Grace... he didn't mention that the werewolf youth had been trained to be more rigorous than anyone else.

After the battle on the 24th floor, the werewolf youth was more unable to forgive himself than anyone else, displaying his extremely competitive and stubborn personality.

He remained calm and composed in front of Raul and his team, making it impossible for anyone to tell that he was training.

Grace accompanied him to train at a warehouse on the outskirts of the city every night.

"Sigh...they're all the same."

"?"

Raul looked at Grace with a puzzled expression, and then he sighed deeply.

As they talked, the group arrived at the waitress's window.

"We are the Loki Familia. As previously reported, we are embarking on an expedition in two days, and we need to submit our application."

"Okay, we received it."

A waitress named Missia Flott accepted the parchment from Grace.

She was petite, only 150cm tall, with pink hair. After accepting the application in a childlike voice befitting her doll-like face, she stood up from the chair and straightened her posture.

She clasped her hands together on her abdomen, smiled, and bowed deeply.

"Looking forward to your return, and wishing you continued success in your military endeavors."

As a guild employee, the girl also prayed for the triumphant return of the brave adventurers in her personal capacity.

The expedition application form was stamped with the guild's red seal.

◆

"As planned, the Loki Familia's 'expedition' is confirmed to proceed."

The torch flame burst open with a crackling sound.

In the dark underground space where the floor was covered with huge stone slabs, four torches illuminated an altar reminiscent of an ancient temple, and the voice of the guild master—the elf Loiman Madir—rang out from the altar.

His unusually obese body, unbecoming of a handsome elf, made him kneel on the ground, and the towering old god Uranus, who sat in the center of the altar and was over two meters tall, slowly nodded to him.

"You may leave now."

"yes!"

Hearing the solemn tone of the city's (Oario) creator god, Lloydman swayed his fleshy body. He quietly withdrew and walked from the hall up the stairs leading to the ground.

Uranus sat deeply within his enormous stone throne, remaining motionless even after Lloydman vanished, his azure eyes fixed on the distance ahead.

"—They really are going to make a move."

After Lloydman left, voices other than those of Uranus echoed from the altar.

In a corner of the stone hall, Fels, the man in black, emerged from the accumulated darkness.

The man was completely shrouded in a long, black robe and wore gloves with intricate patterns. He exposed his ghostly form, which was so tightly wrapped that his features, gender, and race were indistinguishable, to the torchlight.