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

"Shut up, you busybody!! I told you to shut up!!"

The sisters, their bond strong, smashed through the wall together, bickering loudly. Ignoring Tiona and the others, Bert fought his opponent alone. The werewolf displayed kicking skills no less impressive than Tiona's, while the roaring bull countered with a double-edged axe. He launched a fierce attack and defense, with Tiona and Tiona joining the fray while also exchanging insults.

The large double blades clashed violently with the double-edged axe, the metal boots kicked the opponent's attack upwards, and the furious fists pounded the giant body through the armor.

Neither side would back down, and the members of the Loki Familia witnessed the fierce battle between the adventurers and the "monster" from the sidelines.

"He... he's actually laughing..."

I saw the "monster's" fierce smile.

Seeing the bull tear its cheek, revealing huge white teeth, it was indeed laughing with joy.

It was simultaneously fighting three first-level adventurers, suffering repeated attacks, yet still trembling with dread over the astonishing "battle".

The dark, powerful bull roared loudly, as if venting its passionate blood.

(I always feel that this kind of thing...!)

Tiona swung her large twin blades while enduring the screams that made her skin tingle.

(I know that feeling...!!)

Tione, facing an opponent who didn't take his attacks seriously, smacked his lips and dodged the double-edged axe.

(This guy is just like...!!)

Bert had a strong illusion of fighting a small "floor master" and kicked out his metal boot.

Absurdly excessive combat skills.

And a vaguely familiar image from the past.

The young adventurers couldn't help but recall the existence of a certain man.

"..."

From the top floor of the Tower of Babel, Otto saw the battle in the labyrinthine street.

"Do you remember that Minotaur?"

The entire wall was covered with rectangular glass. Freya asked him a question as she watched her attendant standing by the window, which offered a panoramic view of the city from its highest point.

"That's...no, but...how could that be?"

When questioned by the chief god, Ota remained facing forward, his expression unchanged, and spoke in a flat and vague tone.

Freya stood beside the warrior, took a sip of the wine in her hand, and shifted her gaze away from the battlefield where the Loki Familia was fighting the monsters.

Even from afar, the goddess's silver eyes still pierced through the transparent light whose colors might flicker at any moment.

That was the dragon girl trying to escape the labyrinthine street while destroying obstacles along the way, and the boy chasing after her.

"Helen".

"exist."

Freya, with her back to the girl kneeling some distance away, spoke to her:

"Have you received any reports from Alfred and his men who were sent to the underground city?"

"They don't seem to have returned yet."

"I see... Is it still possible to catch up with that out-of-control dragon girl (Vivel)?"

"...It might be too late."

After listening to her family's honest opinion, Freya gave the instruction, "It's alright, go ahead."

As the girl bowed and left the room, she murmured softly:

"I never imagined... there were such monsters."

The mortal realm is truly mysterious and unpredictable. The silver-haired goddess smiled.

"—That's why I said those monsters were caught by my family's retinue (kids)."

Grace frowned upon hearing her idol's flippant confession that seemed to dissolve into the sky.

"They smuggled monsters to make money, and as you can see, the monsters got away."

"You think I'd believe that?"

"Why don't you go check out the underground of Daedalus Road now? There are a whole bunch of cages there used to hold monsters."

This god-like figure named Ikelos had just appeared alone on the rooftop platform where Grace and Fels were. Just as Grace was losing attention after the black bull appeared, Ikelos suddenly ran over and confessed, rattling off a long string of words.

"So, just let that little black guy go, okay?"

"..."

"That guy has absolutely nothing to do with my family (kids), he just got caught in the crossfire."

Ikeros casually pointed to the man in black who was still standing with his back to the two of them.

He didn't lie, but he didn't tell the truth either. Having been trained long enough by the chief god (Loki), Grace saw through Icarus's flippant smile and asked him the question that had been lingering in his mind since earlier:

"Why did you choose this place to confess this to me?"

"Because I lost... so I'll grant the winner's wish."

The words had barely left his mouth.

Taking advantage of a break in the question-and-answer session, the man in black leaped off the roof.

Seeing his opponent jump down, Grace sighed, having lost all will to chase.

"...I'll ask you about the details later. Come with me."

"Okay, please be gentle with the escort, okay?"

Ignoring Ikeros's smirking words, Grace grabbed him by the back of the neck.

Seeing the battle escalating in the distance ahead, Grace was unwilling to waste a single second and leaped into the air upon hearing her idol's shout.

"It seems like he's gone."

"—I'm sorry. Thank you for saving me, Hermes, the god."

—Fiers, hiding in the back alley, turned back to Hermes after confirming that Grace's figure had moved away from overhead.

Hermes, atop the tower, not only surveyed the battlefield but also witnessed Fels and Grace making contact. He then unilaterally made a deal with Icelos, insisting he come to their rescue. Hermes had seen the magician before and knew he was Uranus's right-hand man, which was why he surrendered the god to save him.

"It's nothing. In this situation, we need your strength no matter what, 'Sage'."

"...I am now called the Fool (Fels), the god Hermes."

Upon hearing the black-clad magician's ashamed words, the handsome god shrugged.

Hermes, who is usually very talkative, didn't waste any more words and got straight to the point.

"Then, Fels, as a way of repaying me for helping you, I hope you will grant my request... Little Bell is fighting alone now, and I would like to ask you to help him."

"But...then what will happen to the 'heretics'...?"

"Thanks to that black, fierce bull (Minotaur), we should be able to hold on. Besides, as far as I can see, the [Hero] wants to capture those monsters alive. I don't think we'll face the worst possible outcome."

Hermes negotiated eloquently.

Finally, he squinted slightly under his hat.

"You probably have some guilty secrets you're afraid to tell me, right? Uranus's right-hand man."

"..."

"I wouldn't call this atonement, but... could you please grant my request?"

Hermes leaned closer and whispered to the silent magician.

After a moment's thought, Fels slowly extended his hand.

He took a few black beads, smaller than eye crystals, from his black sleeve and placed them in Hermes' palm.

"Use these in case of an emergency. They'll work as long as they break."

"Understood. I am Hermes, and I will never break my promise. Lulune."

Hermes handed the black bead to the dog-woman hiding deep in the back alley.

Having confirmed this series of actions, Fels obeyed divine will and began to act.

"Bell and Daenerys (Vivel) went south. I think they probably crossed Daedalus Road and headed towards the red-light district that's under reconstruction."

"Understood."

Based on the information Hermes obtained from looking down from the tower, Fels headed southeast.

*

The fierce fighting continued.

The battle between the first-class adventurers and the Minotaur was extremely fierce. Several attacks and defenses repeated every second, leaving the other members of the party standing frozen in place. However, the adventurers had the advantage in numbers. Ignoring the enraged Tione, their combined efforts finally began to take effect, and the monster gradually found itself at a disadvantage.

Just as the tide of battle was about to turn in one direction.

One action by the "monster" brought about a decisive change in the battle.

"Waaaaaah!"

As he was attacked for what seemed like the umpteenth time, the black bull reached its right hand behind its back.

It used its thick, five fingers to grasp another large axe mounted on the armor.

—Double axe equipment?

Seeing that the Black Bull had changed its battle style at this stage, Tiona and the others felt a surge of tension.

"————"

The first to notice its danger was not anyone from the Loki Familia—but Welf.

"—Run!!"

“Eh!?”

"This is bad!!"

He forced his body, which had barely escaped the effects of the "bowl," to move, picked up the unconscious Lily, and took Hestia's hand. As he carried Haruhime and followed, Welf ran at full speed towards the Loki Familia's position behind them, where Riveria had raised her wand.

"!!"

The monster bulged the muscles in its shoulders and arms, then raised its blood-stained axe high and cleaved it down.

Tiona, facing the axe head-on, attempted to deflect the attack with her large double blades. The instant the blades touched the axe, an electrical discharge occurred.

“““!?””””

Tiona, who blocked the giant axe, was enveloped in a shower of intense light, while Tione and Bert on either side were also caught in the aftershocks.

To their astonishment, Tione and his companions saw a surge of electricity crackling and dancing on the axe blade.

In an instant, the blood on the axe was all electrocuted, revealing the beautiful golden decorations.

At this moment, Tiona, Tione, Bert, and the other adventurers also understood.

The blood-stained axe is actually—the "Demon Sword".

Finn's expression twisted in pain, and Ais stared in disbelief. Riveria raised her wand with astonishing speed for a mage. Welf, prioritizing his comrades (familia), gritted his teeth; the Loki Familia members left behind on the battlefield were frozen in place.

"Hoo-"

Struck by an unexpected electric shock, Tiona was forced to stop moving for a moment. Before her eyes, the dark giant shadow once again raised its right axe.

The upper section points straight to the sky. This is a "bombardment" stance, meant to blast Tiona and the others away.

Finn raised his voice, and Riveria immediately unleashed her "magic" upon hearing it.

"Rivia, activate the barrier!!"

Almost at the same time that Welf and the others rushed into the magic circle.

Riveria's "magic"—a giant dome-shaped barrier magic—is activated.

"—Roar!!"

Then, accompanied by a roar of tearing silk, the cannon fire was immediately detonated.

"--Damn it!?"