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

If it were an ordinary adventurer... no, if it were a mortal from the lower realm, they would just laugh off such speculations.

A ferocious "monster" could not possibly possess these qualities.

However, Finn asked the question with extreme seriousness.

Like Ais, he sensed that the monsters were acting in concert. Even though none of them were the same species, they helped each other like humans, not through "killing," but through tactics based on some kind of "purpose."

To put it more clearly, they helped the "dragon girl" escape.

Having fought a battle in the maze-like streets and meticulously observed his opponent, he is about to reach that "core".

Is it possible for that kind of monster to 'communicate' with us humans?

The sound disappeared from the abandoned house.

With Loki watching in silence, Ikeros... grinned.

He raised the corners of his mouth like a crescent moon.

"have no idea."

"..."

"No matter how I talk to the monsters in the cages or wave at them, those guys won't answer me at all."

He didn't lie.

Although he wasn't lying, he was unwilling to tell the truth.

It sounds more like saying:

"Use your own eyes to confirm it."

Ikeros narrowed his deep blue eyes, the same color as his hair, and smiled broadly as if genuinely pleased, looking back at Finn.

Finn became expressionless and remained silent for a while.

"[Hestia Familia]...What is Bell Craney's relationship with those monsters?"

It seemed to leak from between his lips.

By the time Finn realized it, he had already asked the question.

"God knows?"

Then, just like it is now.

Ikelos simply gave him a naive answer to fool him.

"He probably became good friends with that dragon girl, right?"

*

"This 'demon sword,' you forged it, didn't you?"

Chun pursed her lips into a "ㄟ" shape.

This is the forge attached to the branch of the Hephaestus Familia on the Northwest Main Street.

Rivera, with her beautiful emerald hair, visited this place.

On the workbench sandwiched between the two of them, there was an item.

It is a bloodstained battle axe decorated with gold—a "magic sword" in the shape of an axe.

"...Where was this found?"

"You've heard about the incident that happened on Daedalus Road recently, haven't you? That's where the 'recycling' took place."

Faced with Tsubaki's slow, deliberate opening, Rivera gave a fluent reply.

At the same time, she closed one eye and watched the master smith try to suppress the wavering in his heart.

"It was Grace, who had a direct contract with you, who asserted that this was undoubtedly your work."

"Hmm, I see... What about the dwarf himself?"

"I'm currently dealing with an urgent 'project' and can't leave, so I'm coming instead."

One day after the "armed monster" appeared on the surface.

The city was shaken, and for days, voices of doubt and demands for action echoed within the guilds. The escaped monster had not yet been captured, and the turmoil in Orario continued.

"So, this 'demon sword' is your creation, right?"

"Hmm... I typed it myself. I couldn't possibly mistake my own child. Its name is 'Rairaimaru.' I chose this name because I thought that if I wanted to surpass the works of a certain arrogant demon swordsmith, I might as well start by imitating him. So I followed his incomprehensible 'naming taste' and chose this name. However, now I only regret it—"

"Tsubaki."

Riveria quietly interrupted Tsubaki, silencing her.

"This is a weapon used by the 'Armed Monster'... the Black Minotaur. Thanks to this, the crew members suffered considerable damage."

His tone seemed to carry a hint of reproach.

Chun felt that way, but she didn't know if it was just her imagination.

"Can you explain why the monster used this weapon?"

"...Are you doubting me, Rivera?"

"Why would I suspect you? I just want to ask you if you know why the monster has your 'Demon Sword,' that's all."

With a nervous expression, Tsubaki asked Riveria if she considered her a suspect and suspected her of colluding with the monster.

Rivera answered the question without changing her expression.

Indeed, staring intently into Tsubaki's emerald eyes, one did not appear to be accusing her of a crime.

I just want to get information, but I don't allow Tsubaki to lie.

The high elves, with their strong sense of self-respect and high moral standards, questioned him in this way, displaying the demeanor of royalty.

"...Sigh..."

Finally, Chun let out an exaggerated sigh.

"Based on the contract with the 'buyer,' this is strictly confidential, but there's nothing I can do now. I don't want to be suspected by you for the sake of secrecy at this time... Besides, that 'buyer' has already passed away."

"……?What's the meaning?"

"I sold this 'Demon Sword' to Hassanal Dorria of the Ganesha Familia."

"!"

Upon hearing the unexpected name, Rivera looked visibly surprised.

"You mean that Hassanal? The one who was brutally murdered in 'Riverra'..."

"Exactly. He came to me to discuss something, saying he had accepted a confidential 'adventurer's quest.' He said that no one could know about it, and he had to go down into the 'lower level' by himself."

"So he commissioned you to forge a powerful 'magic sword'?"

"Just as you said. Since there was no support from the defense, there was no other way but to prepare on our own. And because it was a classified mission, he also hoped that I would not reveal anything about this 'demon sword,' so I kept that promise until today."

Chun frowned and said, "When I heard about Hassan's fate, I was genuinely shocked..."

"That's all I know. Of course, I have absolutely no idea how this weapon ended up being used by those monsters."

Chun wasn't lying. After observing her expression, Rivera covered her mouth with one hand and fell into deep thought.

Hassanna Dorria, who was murdered, is presumably the one who obtained the "Precious Pearl Fetus" on the 30th floor.

If that's the case, this "demon sword" may have gone through "some process" and ended up in the hands of the "armed monsters" in the dungeon...?

(Just as Finn speculated, the "Armed Monsters" may not only have dealings with the governing body (guild), but also be connected to the Ganesha Familia?)

Hassana might have known something about those "armed monsters." Riveria kept this possibility to herself.

In any case, the main doubts have been eliminated.

Since it was a "magic sword" forged by Orario's master blacksmith, even first-class adventurers like Bert were bound to get hurt.

After thinking for a while, Rivera raised her head and turned her gaze back to Tsubaki.

"Is there anything else you haven't said?"

"Alright, stop interrogating me like this! I've told you everything I know! I haven't done anything wrong!"

Chun clenched her fists and put them on her hips, thrusting out her full breasts wrapped in strips of cloth.

That attitude was like saying: I have a clear conscience, so feel free to touch me... Correction, feel free to ask me anything. His right eye, which wasn't covered by a blindfold, was half-open, glaring at people.

Seeing her childlike appearance, Riveria sighed, thinking that she did indeed seem to have no remorse or unease left.

"I understand. Sorry for taking up your time. This 'Demon Sword'...would it be better to return it to you?"

"Indeed... since the user has passed away, I shall keep it safe."

Rivera handed the axe-shaped "magic sword" she had brought to Tsubaki, and then left the room.

In order to convey the information to Finn and the others who were still setting up their trap in the maze town, she quickly walked out of the shop.

"...It's a real headache, it scared me so much I broke out in a cold sweat."

Chun gazed out the window at the receding figure of the elven royal walking down the street, feeling utterly exhausted.

"At that time, the Supreme God seemed to know something about 'those monsters'... Let's ask him."

But then again, thankfully I haven't asked yet. Tsubaki put her hands around her neck and muttered to herself.

If I already knew the truth, my secret would have been seen through by those emerald eyes long ago.

"........."

Lefia was very unhappy.

Her mood was so bad that the other members of the group looked away and kept their distance from her.

"...Lefia, you are currently monitoring the Hestia Familia. Please do your job well."

"I've been keeping a close eye on them."

"No, that's not what I meant... I meant the atmosphere..."

The level 4 dog-man Koss made up his mind to talk to Lefia, but Lefia didn't even glance at him, staring intently at a certain mansion.

The location is in the sixth district of the southwest of the city, inside a building built in one corner.

In this neighborhood filled with grand mansions, the Loki Familia is monitoring the Hestia Familia's headquarters, "Heartfire House." This is because Finn has deduced that Bell and his companions were involved in the appearance of "Armed Monsters" on the surface.

"Report to me if the Hestia faction makes any move." Upon receiving this order from the Lilliputian leader, Koss and his surveillance team borrowed an unoccupied building to spy on the movements of the mansion diagonally opposite.

Lefia volunteered to join the team.

"Hey, Elfie... what's wrong with Lefia? She's been acting strange ever since that incident?"

"I have a lot to say about this, Brother Koss! No matter how much my roommate pressed her, Lefia wouldn't tell me anything! In other words, I know nothing!"

"If you don't know, just say you don't know..."

Lefia ignored the silly conversation between the mage Elfie and Kos and continued to monitor the mansion from behind the open blinds.

A shift in perspective revealed other adventurers lurking in the shadows of the street or within buildings. Besides the Loki Familia, others were also keeping an eye on the Hestia Familia. Like Finn, they probably suspected Bell Craney knew something.

However, this matter was irrelevant to Lefia.

Her eyes glared fiercely at the quiet mansion—no, at the boy who was presumably hiding inside.

"Hey, what's making you so angry, Lefia? You can tell me now~"

"...It's nothing, I'm not angry."

"It's obvious! And those eyes are so fierce—!"

When Elfie asked her that question, Lefia could only give a dismissive answer.

Even Rafia herself couldn't figure it out.

Why am I so angry?

She pondered the reasons, asked herself why... and found an extremely simple answer.

(Because... wouldn't that make me... wouldn't we, the Loki Familia, look like "bad guys"?)

The entire city now supports the Loki Familia, which defends the Labyrinth Street, and condemns the Rookie, who acts as if they are protecting a monster.

Throughout this, Rafia was like an outsider, constantly harboring questions.