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

"Remember when you went on your 'expedition' alone and reached the 49th floor? But you came back covered in wounds. I won't allow the same thing to happen to you again, okay?"

To avoid rusting his skills, Ota regularly goes to "train". Although it has been a while since his last "training", he went on a solo expedition to the dungeon, venturing deep into it until he reached his limit.

The failure to resolve the issue of the floor master (Barol) of the 49th floor "Great Wilderness (Moit)" is a bitter memory for Ota. He does want to find an opportunity to avenge himself, but this time his goal is different.

"I want to go and defeat the Lone King of the 37th floor of the labyrinth (Monster rex)... 'Udeos'."

This reply seemed to be beyond Freya's expectations.

Although she wasn't surprised, she smiled with interest.

"I heard that the 'Sword Maiden' who single-handedly defeated 'Udeos' was equipped with a 'sword,' and I want to obtain that weapon."

This happened three months ago.

Ais Wallenstein's feat of single-handedly defeating Udeus, the Lord of the Deep Floor, is widely known. This topic became extremely popular in Orario, and Ais herself was promoted to Level 6 as a result.

Throughout Orario's long history, the "sword" equipped by "Udeos" has always been unconfirmed. According to official information released by the guild after obtaining information from Ais, the drop conditions for the monster treasure "Udeos Black Sword" seem to be a solo challenge or a challenge by a small group of people.

Ota expressed his desire to obtain this rare item that could be named "Super".

After all, O is the strongest adventurer at Lv.7, and there are very few weapons that can withstand the power he wields.

That's why he wanted to secure this item.

You're lying.

However, Freya did not accept Ota's explanation.

Those silver eyes saw right through O's "heart".

"You were inspired to fight after hearing about Fiora's legendary achievements, weren't you?"

"..."

"You're always like this, never satisfied even after reaching Lv.7."

Ota did not answer. Freya did not condemn it either.

The stunning goddess smiled and granted her family's request.

"Alright, go ahead."

She only made one condition.

"You'd better become stronger to win my heart, okay?"

*

After being adopted by Freya, Ota did not immediately join the goddess's kinship.

He was granted the "gift" only after several years, when he established his personal goals.

Before this, Ota had been cared for by Freya herself. The reason was probably that Freya was attracted by the radiance of his "soul". That being said, the baby named Ota never cried or laughed, but only followed behind the goddess with his little feet. He was not cute at all. Freya even shrugged and said, "This child is really uninspiring".

Later, it took Ota two years to reach Lv·2.

There was a gap between when he actually received "God's Grace (Pharna)" and joined the battle—before he entered this endless struggle—so the time it actually took him to "level up" was only one year. When he grew to the age of being called a boy, he gradually began to stand out in the "Family".

"Ugh ugh ...

It let out a roar that didn't sound like a boy, and together they received the baptism of the [Family].

An earth-shattering factional infighting.

Intense and fierce "mutual slaughter".

In this courtyard, "Fólkvangr," which is no different from the present day, Otto and the other Familia's followers engage in battle. He wields a longsword almost as tall as himself, slashing at members who are much older than him, much more muscular, and far stronger than him, only to be knocked away with a single blow, living a life where he is beaten to the point of vomiting blood every single day.

The "baptism" at that time was the most brutal.

At least that's how it is in Otto's memory.

--What are you fighting for?

No one had ever asked Ota that question before, nor had he ever asked himself it.

The reason is that it doesn't have the energy to think about this problem.

The reason is very simple: it's the only thing it can do.

His name, "favor," residence, emotions, and warmth all came from Freya, so she was everything to the boy. To put it extremely, from the day Otto was adopted, the goddess was his whole world.

The aloof and dull Ota was unable to please Freya, nor did he have any way to reciprocate her feelings.

So he wanted power.

He wants to become stronger.

The only way is to become stronger.

It can only pursue strength.

Most importantly, Freya wanted to see the radiance of the soul.

The origin of the "martial artist" is incredibly simple: to seek power and pursue strength with boundless willpower.

No matter how much time has passed, his origin remains the frosty moonlit night when he encountered the goddess.

And the "battlefield (Fólkvangr)" where you fight alongside the fierce warriors (Einheriar).

On the fields shrouded in twilight, many weapons, gleaming in the afterglow, were planted, creating a scene resembling a breathtaking ocean dyed golden.

"You didn't die today, did you?"

"...Miya."

When Otto was blinded in one eye and lay on his back covered in wounds, gazing at the approaching night from the east, a dwarf would always come to care for him.

Mia Grande.

He was a senior member of the [family] who was more than twenty years older than Ota.

At the time, she was as petite as a dwarf, possessing a lovely and beautiful—cough cough—in short, a face worthy of the name of the "Goddess of Beauty" clan. However, her personality was contrary to her appearance; she was both strong-willed and simple-minded, more like a "bold and forthright mother" than a "heroine."

According to Mia's explanation, Freya asked her to help take care of Ota to prevent him from losing his life.

"You're really causing trouble for others."

Despite her sharp tongue, Mia grabbed Ota by the collar and dragged him, who was lying on the ground, into the house.

Mia is considered a rather rare member of the [Family].

She did not respect Freya. Freya herself would treat her as an equal.

She used to run a bar in the city, and it seems that she was forced to accept the invitation to join the clan because of "favors". It is obvious that she agreed to become a member of the clan with great reluctance.

Given the above background, and the fact that Mia is the only member of the "Family" who is not fighting for Freya, she has made countless enemies.

But she silenced everyone with just one punch.

As soon as Mia entered the "Fólkvangr" battlefield, the members immediately attacked, but they were all beaten to a pulp. Looking around, there were countless small mountains piled up by their defeated opponents.

Mia is truly a bold and generous person, and her strength is extremely formidable.

Furthermore, Freya greatly admired Mia's demeanor. When Ota saw Freya burst into laughter after hearing about Mia's heroic deeds, he even wondered if he was seeing things.

"Eat up, you little brats!"

"...Another bowl, please."

Most importantly, Mia's cooking is incredibly delicious.

Even the members who fought from dawn till dusk would gather in the unprecedentedly large "Sessrúmnir" within the mansion, quietly enjoying the food and wine prepared by Mia. Perhaps it was thanks to her cooking that the members were able to conserve their energy and successfully pass the most severe "baptism" in the history of the Familia. Whenever Otto recalls this past, the following thought always comes to mind—it is perhaps quite unfortunate that the current members have never tasted Mia's cooking after a death battle.

Mia Grand was as powerful as could be, and as naturally as could be, she continued to climb to a height that Otto could not reach at the time.

By the time Ota came to his senses, Mia had already easily taken up the position of leader.

"How can I surpass you?"

The boy, whose voice had not yet changed, once asked this question.

This happened late one night when Ota lost consciousness and was unable to return to the house. Covered in wounds, he watched as Mia deliberately carried the pot to the moonlit field—Mia explained that one of the things she disliked most was people not eating her cooking—stirring the thick soup that was heating up with a spoon.

When faced with a question posed by a boy who lacked knowledge and experience and could hardly be considered a "martial artist," Mia, who was cooking, merely glanced at him.

"think."

"think……?"

"Although I have never thought about how to become stronger, I will always think about it, no matter when or what I am facing. Even if I am a dim-witted dwarf."

"..."

"No matter when or where, those who don't use their brains cannot survive. This is especially true in Orario, where 'monsters' roam the land today."

Mia's answer was equally simple.

This was by no means the answer Otto had envisioned.

However, this incredibly simple teaching was deeply imprinted in Otto's heart.

"In my personal experience, the time to ask questions is when you can't convince yourself no matter how you think about it. Otherwise, you won't learn anything at all."

Mia added the seasonings to the pot, scooped up a spoonful, and after confirming the taste, smiled as she poured the soup into a wooden bowl.

"One thing I can assure you is that if a person doesn't eat properly, they can't even grow, let alone become stronger."

Ota silently watched the wooden bowl being handed to him and accepted it without saying a word.

Warm your nose and eyes with the rising steam while slurping the fragrant soup into your mouth.

That day, Ota drank the entire pot of soup by himself.

After that, he became incredibly voracious, leaving even Freya speechless with astonishment, and eventually developed a physique befitting a hero.

"Miya, is it true that you're leaving the Familia?"

"I will leave someday, but not now. Although it makes one want to sigh from the bottom of one's heart, that goddess probably won't really let me go."

"...Don't go, I haven't defeated you yet."

At this time, Ota was going through puberty, and his height had surpassed that of Mia. He spoke in a deep voice that suppressed his emotions.

Ota learned from Freya that Mia would one day leave the Familia. He wasn't trying to persuade Mia to stay as a comrade, at least not in his own eyes. He simply needed Mia before he could achieve the power he desired, and he had to surpass her no matter what.

"What's the point of your obsession with me? You little brat, you need to broaden your horizons. Is physical growth all you've achieved?"

"..."

The relationship between Otto and Mia is actually quite incredible.

The two weren't exactly mother and son, nor were they comrades-in-arms; their relationship didn't develop beyond that of colleagues. In terms of affection, it was more like a child throwing a tantrum at an elder.

Mia turned to look at the silent Ota, first adding "And also," and then a smile appeared on her adorable face.

"Just as you are currently chasing after my back, many others will come to chase after you in the future."

*

Ota left its headquarters, which resembled a silver moon and was known as the "Silver Mansion," and entered the dungeon, easily breaking through to the "middle level."

The weapons they used were greatswords, thick but lightweight clothing, and backpacks filled with food and water.

That's his equipment.

Upon witnessing the renowned [King of Warriors] enter the dungeon, some people immediately made way in fear, while others watched from a distance, unable to hide their excitement. As a follower of the main god, he rarely ventured into the dungeon alone, carrying equipment intended for use there. The news that "I saw Otto!" caused a stir in the dungeon town of Rivera, located on the 18th floor.

Whether it's good or bad, the strongest presence in the city always makes adventurers uneasy, relentlessly sweeping away monsters. Monsters that don't understand the difference in strength between friend and foe and attack people based solely on instinct are all cut down by the steel sword, and the path it takes is always filled with flying ashes.

Neither humans nor monsters can stop his advance.

—That's how it should have been.

“…………”

Once Otto reached the "Water City" starting from the 25th floor, he glanced at the "Great Fall," the largest waterfall in the underground city, and then plunged down the three-story-high cliff.

As Ota prepared to walk towards the connecting passage to the 28th floor, it silently turned to face the "aura" coming from behind.

The boarman was currently on the shore of the 27th level of the Great Falls when a cat-man wielding a silver spear appeared before him.

"Allen..."

It wasn't just Allen.

The fully armed dwarf quadruplets and the dark elves also surrounded Otto on the vast lake shore.