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

✉

What awaits Tione and her companions, who embark on their journey from the Kingdom of Tir-Sculla, is a magnificent natural landscape.

There are mountains and sea. There are forests and canyons. There are hills and gardens. These are all the outside worlds that I could not see at the stone arena, and that I was seeing for the first time.

She was moved. She trembled.

She realized for the first time how vast the world was.

This is the first time I've realized how beautiful the blue sky is.

Because the sky was cut into the shape of a battlefield, everything about it made her hate it.

At first, Tione was often confused about leaving the country of Tir-Sculla, but gradually her blurred eyes and desolate heart regained their color.

Like a withered wildflower that has absorbed water and received nourishment.

Standing side by side with her always carefree younger sister, she slightly, really just slightly, started to smile.

Whenever Tiona sees her like this, she smiles happily.

The goddess (Kali) not only granted Dione and Diona permission to travel abroad, but also bestowed favors upon them. She released them from their contract but did not seal their [powers]. The two can now re-form a contract, essentially "awaiting conversion" to another god. Thanks to this, they possess enhanced [powers], allowing them to continue their journey despite being just two young girls. The official explanation is "a farewell gift to my two lovely daughters," but in Dione's words, it's "talking such nonsense now? Die!"

Tione and her companions had experienced hell in the arena and could usually solve most problems. However, they knew nothing beyond fighting, which sometimes confused them. Money was a problem, but worse was their interpersonal skills; Tiona had been cheated by itinerant vendors several times and attacked by thieves countless times. They simply fought back each time. They were unmatched in self-sufficiency (survival skills); at that time, Tione and her companions were practically wild children—incidentally, despite the embarrassment, Tione still had her sister (Tiona) teach her the common language, becoming barely fluent.

Tiony and Tiona's first visit to their community was to a seaside fishing village similar to a port city (Melen). To earn a living, they tried taking on a job exterminating strange fish (monsters), but things didn't go smoothly. Frustrated, Tiony reluctantly joined the village's [Familia]. Their [Ability Values] became updatable, and both Tiony and Tiona reached Level 3 in this fishing village.

However, Tione never opened her heart to the frivolous and pleasure-seeking gods. The same applied to her guild members. According to the [Familia] rule that required a one-year interval between conversions, she demanded that they agree before joining that she and Tiona would only stay in the faction for a year, serving as bodyguards or laborers. In return, they would have to break their contract and be released afterward.

After that, no matter which country or city she visited, she always insisted on this condition. Gods and other members of the crew would always lament Tione and her companions' fighting prowess, but Tione would turn a deaf ear. She often clashed with her senior members due to her arrogant attitude, ending in unpleasant partings. The only person Tione allowed to stay by her side was Tiona.

She shows no respect for weaker opponents, and regardless of strength, she never gets close to anyone other than her sister. Perhaps it's from her experience in the Kingdom of Fighting (Tir Scylla), but she insists on refusing contact with anyone except her surviving sister. It's as if she's afraid of something. Every time she glimpses the diverse world around her, she makes new discoveries.

However, from beginning to end, Tiony and Tiona only had each other.

From the time of Tyr's Cura to now, nothing has changed. She only opens her heart to her sisters and siblings. No matter how vast the Netherworld they have traversed, Tione and her companions always live in a world of just the two of them.

Tiona, who loves being close to people, doesn't know what she thinks of Tione's way of handling things. But she always stays with Tione. Just like with Tione, she essentially knows that only her sister can be relied on.

Tiona will never let go of Tione's hand.

"Tione—, will you be leaving the Familia again soon?"

"Yes. You don't want to?"

"Hmm~, the gods and everyone else here are so kind to us, I'll be lonely..."

One day, Diona suddenly asked Dione this question, and then smiled as usual.

"However, I'm still happy as long as I have Tione."

Tione felt both relieved and strangely disoriented, a feeling that was perhaps not just psychological.

Tiona is like the sun.

She was dazzling and irritating. Every time she laughed like an idiot, it initially annoyed Tiony, but after a while, Tiony would relax her clenched fists.

It must be admitted that Tiona saved her.

They argued over trivial things, ate as if nothing was wrong, and stayed beside her smiling sister, occasionally smiling herself as well. That was enough. Having this silly little sister was enough. At the time, Tiony couldn't understand affection for others, but because of Tiona, she accepted a world just for the two of them.

A journey without a destination never ends.

They felt that being together was enough, yet contradictorily embarked on a journey to find a place to settle down. To avoid losing anything, they joined a "Family," honing their "capacity" and strength, turning their backs on those they were destined to meet. They anticipated something, yet did not seek encounters, walking on an endless journey through life.

Then, just five years ago...

Tiony and Tiona, without permission, boarded a ship and smuggled themselves into the "center of the world"—the labyrinth city.

✿

"So, just treat it as a way to pass the time and chat with your concubine."

"..."

Faced with the pouting, complaining child goddess, Lefia kept her mouth shut, giving her an expression that suggested she couldn't understand what the other was thinking.

Lefia, who was lured away by the goddess (Kari) disguised as a child, has just woken up.

They were now in a cavern-like hollow, about the size of a tavern on the outskirts of the city. The cave's surface was made of black rock, and of course, Lefia had no idea where she was.

(The air is very humid... a brackish lake, no, it's near the sea?)

Lefia secretly licked her lips, gathering information from her surroundings.

Although I don't know the current time, judging from my stiff body, more than five hours have passed. It's similar to my condition when I rested in the small cave in the dungeon. It's probably almost nightfall.

Besides himself, the only other people in the hollow were Kali, who sat cross-legged before him, and four Amazons guarding the area. Their level was probably equal to his own, or perhaps higher. His hands were loosely bound by chains.

(It's not "mithril" or any other refined metal; it just looks like an ordinary iron chain... If you wanted to, you could probably break it...)

She wasn't completely immobilized. Lefia judged that she could at least be freed, however—

"I advise you to give up on that idea. You know that if you make any rash moves, everyone here will subdue you."

"..."

"I also advise you not to get into any crooked ideas like chanting in a low voice."

Wearing a mask, Kali offered her advice with a knowing smile.

She continued, addressing the silent Rafia:

"These are all formidable warriors in the Land of Fighters (Tir Scylla). They can hear the footsteps of mice and are adept at breaking down chants. You wouldn't want your throat to be smashed and suffocated in blood before it's all over, would you?"

"...!?"

Her words sent a chill down Lefia's spine.

The Amazons, who fight daily in the arena, are adept at blocking their opponents' spellcasting. And they do so without hesitation, ruthlessly.

Kali nodded in agreement as she looked at Lefia, whose face was ashen.

"Don't be afraid. As long as you behave, I won't hurt you. I'll let you go after this is all over."

"Are you saying I'm used as 'bait' to lure Ais and the others... Miss Tiona and Miss Tione?"

"That's hard to say."

Having just qualified for Lv.4, things have turned out like this. Lefia was genuinely annoyed at her own cowardice in falling into enemy hands. While apologizing to her [Family] companions, she glared at Kali before her. The goddess remained evasive, offering no direct response.

"If you are willing to tell me about Tione and Tiona, perhaps I will tell you?"

"...I told you, I can't..."

"As I said, I don't want to pry into their weaknesses or anything. I just want to hear what they've been through since they left me."

After saying that, she patted Rafia's cheek with her small right hand.

Seeing the elven girl writhing and moaning, Kali smiled.

"Wanting to know what happened to the daughter who left the nest—that's how parents feel."

Seeing the loving look in the young goddess's eyes, Lefia was speechless for a moment, not knowing what to do.

After agonizing for a while, she couldn't bear the goddess's unwavering gaze any longer and had no choice but to speak.

"I can't really talk about anything very interesting..."

"It's alright, it's alright. I just want to hear about trivial matters."

Urged on by Kali, Lefia began to speak haltingly.

Lefia said that she envied the good relationship between Tiona and Ais, and that Tione was infatuated with Captain Finn and kept proposing to him... It was all sorts of random topics.

"Hahahaha! That Tione, she's a girl in love? No way, this is hilarious! Hahahahahahahahaha!"

"No, there's no need to laugh like that..."

She braced herself on the ground with both hands, not caring that her underwear would be exposed, and clapped her feet several times as if she were clapping.

Lefia was a girl in love from the moment she met Tione, so seeing tears welling up in the corners of her eyes beneath Kali's mask made her break out in a sweat.

The toddler goddess, who was laughing so hard she was doubled over while clutching her stomach, finally stopped convulsing and sat up.

"Oh, I see. So that rebellious daughter is in love... Oh, I see. She's really changed. I thought that girl would stay sharp-tongued forever, but it seems she's not the same as someone who never changes."

His words, though lingering, were tinged with emotion, almost mirroring the compassion Lefia had just felt from the goddess.

If we can persuade the goddess Kali and appeal to her emotions, perhaps we can convince her to stop the pointless fighting. Her love for her followers is certainly genuine.

Lefia thought this, and so she pleaded with Kali:

"Um, could you please stop them from fighting? I think Miss Tiona and Miss Tione definitely don't want to fight this battle. If only the goddess Kali would have mercy..."

Despite Rafia's earnest advice.

Kali, whose expression was originally gentle, revealed a cold smile beneath the demon mask.

"It's impossible."

She spoke firmly to the astonished Lefia.

"I descended to the mortal realm in pursuit of struggle and slaughter. Yes, the child is adorable, but I refuse to give up my unique form of entertainment. I refuse."

"...!"

Hearing these extremely selfish words, Lefia's body began to heat up.

She even forgot her current situation and shouted at the top of her lungs:

"Isn't it because you, our supreme god, have this kind of mentality that the people of the Fighting Kingdom (Tir Scylla) keep killing each other? Doesn't that kill a lot of people?"

"Alright, alright, don't misunderstand. The Kingdom of Dou (Tir Scylla) was that kind of country long before I visited. To wantonly distort a country's history or culture... that kind of behavior is the tyranny of the gods, a desecration of the mortal realm. Isn't that what makes children angry?"

Upon hearing Kali state the facts plainly, Lefia's booming voice lost its force.

"this……"

"I am merely bestowing 'favors' upon the children."

Lefia couldn't help but shift her gaze. The Amazons stood there without offering any objections. It was tantamount to a silent affirmation of their loyalty to their supreme god.

"Loki's son, do you know why I allowed Tiona and the others to leave the country?"

"...?"

Tir Sculla

"Because they were the first. They were the first to express to the concubine their desire to leave the Dou Kingdom."

"!"

"I will not refuse those who come, nor will I pursue those who leave... As long as they say they want to go out, I will of course let them go. Of course, for the kindness of raising them that I have specially bestowed upon them... they should be given some reward for letting go."

"And then?" Kali asked.

Of all the Amazons, only Tiona and her companions expressed a desire to leave the Kingdom of Tir Scylla. The rest of the Amazons remained in their homeland, continuing their daily struggles. If one's will is so weak that they accept from the outset that their wishes will not be fulfilled and resign themselves to fate, then there is no point in trying to save them.

It all depends on the children's will. Kali told her that the Kingdom of Dou (Tir Sculla) naturally became a sacred place for the female warriors (Amazons).

"Do you think I am a merciful goddess, son of Loki?"

“!…”

"What about the eternal light that saves children? Leave that to the goddess of the hearth. I'm no different from the other gods; I'm just a hedonist seeking the 'unknown' and excitement from the mortal realm."

Kali stood up with a cold smile on her face.

She handed Raphia over to the Amazons to keep an eye on, intending to leave.

"Please wait a moment!... What exactly is your purpose?"

Realizing it was impossible to persuade the goddess, Lefia reflexively called out to the departing figure and asked this question.

"Purpose? There are many purposes, but as for now..."

The young goddess, who had stopped in her tracks, turned around, her blood-red hair swaying.

"The outcome of the struggle. What kind of being is the 'strongest warrior' born at the end of the carnage...? I long to see it for myself."

Looking at Lefia's wide-eyed expression, Kali tore a smile from the corner of her mouth.

✿

The sky was tinged with the vast darkness of night.

Visiting the harbor city (Merron) at night, the ever-changing clouds obscured the starlight and the moon's outline. The moon, appearing and disappearing through the gaps in the clouds, radiated a golden halo.