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

"What are you doing, you black boar?"

"Do you want to be castrated, you black boar?"

"Don't force me to gouge out your eyes, you black pig."

"That damn black boar."

"Eeeeeeeee!? Wait, what is this!? Ah...!! Stop! Don't break my hand—Wa ...

First came the crisp sound of someone being hit by a sweeping kick, followed by the sound of the obese Boffman falling backward and hitting his head on the floor.

Then, a strange melody began to play, showing a person whose limbs were completely locked by a grappling technique, with a constant grinding sound of bones.

Boffman was pinned to the ground like a pig waiting to be slaughtered, and the one who did it was the four little people quadruplets.

"Oh, you guys are there?"

"We are thoroughly investigating whether there are any unscrupulous individuals such as assassins hiding inside the house."

The person who answered Freya was Alfred, the eldest of the four Jariba brothers.

After the main god announced the purchase of the "Oasis Mansion", the four of them followed Ota and the others to investigate. When they found someone giving the goddess a lewd look, they immediately took action against them.

Alfred would capture Boffman... and hand over the task of interrogating Boffman to his three brothers. He reached down and took off his yellow-brown helmet, looking down at Boffman with disdain in his blue eyes.

"A black boar like him, harboring such unrealistic ambitions, has no right to stay by the side of Goddess Freya. Please wait a moment while we teach him a lesson."

"We can't kill him, okay? Because we still need someone here to act as our eyes and ears and our guide."

"As commanded."

After Alfred finished bowing, he and his brothers forcibly took Boffman away, dragging him all the way.

"Goddess Freya!? Please save me!?!" Boffman cried out desperately for help. Faced with the sudden appearance of the four Jariba brothers, the former slaves were first stunned, then broke out in a cold sweat of terror. It wasn't hard to imagine what fate awaited the foolish merchant who had been taken away.

So they put all the various attempts to be clever out of their minds and decided to simply thank Freya.

"Oh, you're here."

As the line neared the end—

"The girl" has appeared.

She has brown skin and thick black hair.

She also has a pair of beautiful light purple eyes, and her name is Ari.

She is the slave girl Freya has her eye on—or perhaps the companion (Odr) Freya seeks on this journey.

"...Thank you for saving my life."

Alyssa, looking very nervous, spoke her gratitude just like the others.

She had originally intended to place her hands on her chest, but suddenly stopped midway and ultimately bowed in a more conventional manner.

Freya narrowed her eyes slightly upon seeing this.

"Ariel, how are you feeling?"

"Thanks to you, I'm much better now..."

After being freed from her slavery, Ari was naturally brought here, and she looks much better now. She must be getting enough water and nutrients.

On the other hand, her way of speaking was inexplicably unnatural.

It even seemed as if they were "fearing" something.

However, Freya found all of this very amusing, and her smile deepened.

"Then, come to my room tonight."

"!!"

Freya gently touched the girl's chin with her index finger, pulling her closer to her.

The two were so close that their lips would almost touch, and Ari received the command under the watchful eyes of a pair of silver eyes.

When Ari was stared at closely by the "Goddess of Beauty," she trembled at first—then she successfully resisted again.

She bit her lower lip, restraining her flushed cheeks, and forcibly avoided the other person's gaze to get rid of the "allure".

Ari was just an ordinary girl whose "vessel" was neither elevated nor blessed by "God's grace (Pharna)".

At this point, Freya could no longer restrain her curiosity and sadistic tendencies.

"Although I splurge a bit this time—my real target is 'you'."

"...!?"

"So don't even think about getting away."

Freya whispered in Ari's ear and then withdrew her hand. Ari staggered backward.

Moreover, his brows were deeply furrowed, and his expression was very solemn.

The expression on the faces of the mortals after being granted an audience with Freya was unprecedented. This only fueled the goddess's anticipation.

Freya rose from the sofa as the former slaves stared at the girl in astonishment.

"Remember to wash yourself before nightfall. You need to show your best self to prove you're qualified to enter my dorm room."

After speaking, Freya instructed Boffman's female attendants to take the girl to the bathroom.

Ari was taken aback for a moment, then quickly turned her head to observe her surroundings before her attendants could get close.

Upon seeing this, Freya offered "advice" as if she had suddenly remembered something.

"I just said I wouldn't let you get away... That wasn't a threat, it was a fact. This house is already under the control of my clan, and no matter how you try to escape, it will be in vain."

Freya uttered these words with a smile, and after seeing the girl's shocked expression, she turned and left in a cheerful mood.

The sun outside is about to set.

Night was just around the corner.

*

The desert is very cold after nightfall.

This contrasts sharply with the scorching daytime heat, which is common knowledge in the desert world.

However, this common sense does not apply to "Leod City".

The reason is that there are abundant water sources (oases) here.

Water is less likely to heat up or cool down than air.

Because water slowly absorbs sunlight during the day and releases the stored heat at night, areas with abundant water resources do not experience large temperature fluctuations. Furthermore, the abundance of green vegetation, primarily date palms, in the town effectively prevents heat from escaping through the ground. Therefore, at night, Leode City is more comfortable than other parts of the Western Caios Desert.

Freya, who was waiting for the girl to arrive, was only wearing a thin nightgown.

"They should be here soon, right?"

After confirming the time, the goddess continued to savor the high-end wines imported by the Fazl Chamber of Commerce.

This is the bedroom where all the servants have been dismissed.

This room is located on the top floor of the "Oasis Mansion," and the only indoor lighting is the faint light provided by the magic stone lamp.

The orange glow of the desk lamp blended with the night, creating a dreamlike atmosphere.

The goddess sat in an armchair, and after switching the position of her crossed legs, she spoke with concern to the person beside her.

"Boffman, are you alright?"

"Yes, yes... Please rest assured, Your Majesty... I am merely a pig, no different from trash, and will not do anything to offend you..."

Besides Freya, only Boffman was present.

Finally released by Alflick and his men, Boffman looked extremely haggard. He was covered in wounds, and one might even suspect he had lost weight; the phrase "on the verge of death" would be most apt. It seemed he had been thoroughly "taught a lesson" by Alflick and his gang.

The evidence is that even though Freya was wearing a sexy nightgown with a low neckline, Boffman couldn't look her in the eye. Before, he probably would have been drooling, but now fear completely outweighed lust.

...Boffman wasn't afraid of Freya's body, but rather the "punishment" of the Familia that frightened him. Seeing him become like a frightened little pig, the goddess's feelings were somewhat complicated.

"...Excuse me."

Shortly after, the door was pushed open.

Ari, who was led into the room by her attendants, had been transformed from her pitiful state during her time as a slave.

Her previously tousled hair was now neatly combed, and she wore a pure and elegant dress with a desert flair. Her body appeared to have been thoroughly washed and she had sprayed on plenty of perfume; the delicate fragrance of jasmine could be smelled from afar.

Her smooth, soft brown skin was comparable to the finest silk.

Even Boffman, who dared not look at Freya for a second, couldn't help but widen his eyes and exclaim in surprise.

Slaves with such outstanding appearances are quite rare.

"Welcome, Ari, you've become so beautiful, you're practically a different person."

"I dare not accept such praise..."

"Or did you deliberately dirty your body to avoid attracting attention?"

“…………”

"Hehe, don't make that face, I was just guessing."

After the attendants bowed and left the room one by one, Ari slowly walked towards Freya, who was sitting in a chair, but she still couldn't hide the tense expression on her face. It wasn't hard to see that she was wary of the "goddess of beauty" who was so obsessed with herself.

Freya carefully observed Ari's every move and placed the wine glass in her hand on the small round table.

"...Is there something you need from me?"

The girl asked the question as if she had finally managed to squeeze out a sound.

Before getting to the "topic," Freya decided to talk about something else first.

"Ariel, are you dissatisfied with the current situation? Or are you harboring resentment?"

"...?"

"How do you feel about the war between 'Shahrzad' and 'Varshah' that led to your enslavement?"

"!"

Ari's expression clearly changed.

Ari, who had been looking down, widened her pale purple eyes and raised her head.

"There's something that's been bothering me, could you please answer my question?"

Freya, on the other hand, narrowed her eyes.

Faced with the goddess's deepening smile, the girl's action was to simply refuse to answer and close her eyes.

"Little girl! This is the goddess Freya!! How dare you be so insolent—!!"

Just as Boffman was about to step forward to reprimand him, Freya raised a hand to stop him.

Freya didn't seem to care and went on to ask another question.

"In the fallen capital of 'Shahrzad,' the cries of anguish still seem to linger."

"..."

"Many members of the royal family were executed, and only a few survived."

"..."

"How do the people of Sharzad feel now?"

"...!"

Ari remained silent, and her petite body trembled occasionally as if she were trying to suppress the emotions that were about to erupt.

The goddess seemed to be asking questions to an unresponsive wall, while the girl remained silent throughout.

Faced with such a strange sight, only Boffman was at a loss, his gaze shifting back and forth between Freya and Ari, completely unable to grasp the situation.

"Boffman, tell me everything you know about Prince Sharzad who survived from the enemy country."

"Huh? Ah, yes, ma'am."

After Freya asked her question calmly, Boffman, despite being very confused, obediently answered truthfully.

"The prince's name is Yalam Rassa Sharzad. He is the only son of King Sharzad, who was executed when the capital fell. Legend has it that he was a man of unparalleled beauty. As for his age... I remember he was sixteen years old."