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

"Damn it, my head hurts..."

"Ugh..."

The day after Riveria's visit.

Still lingering from the effects of their drunkenness, the underlings and Grace, having finished their work for the day, arrived at the only sauna in the settlement of Lonsa. It was a narrow stone chamber heated by lava, meticulously crafted by male artisans.

The dwarves huddled together, naked, sweat pouring from their muscular, hairy bodies. If a goddess from a paradise celebrating beautiful women and maidens were to see them, she would undoubtedly vomit; it was truly a filthy sight.

"We're getting ready to go out, Brother Grace, what are your plans?"

"...I'll stay a little longer."

Grace, with a towel wrapped around his waist and his eyes closed, spoke to his underling, Yugel. He sat alone in the sauna, arms crossed, lost in thought.

(That goddess seemed to have mentioned "the courtesy of the three maidens"... Not three visits, but three maidens...? Does it mean three girls will come looking for me...?)

He recalled what had happened yesterday and the day before.

If we include Loki, and Riveria as well, that makes two people. That means there will be another 'assassin' coming.

(That high fairy seemed to have a servant with her... I think, her name was Aina...)

So she was the third person, and just as Grace, who had this idea, kept shaking her head as she felt something was amiss—

"—Excuse me."

A cute blonde girl, no, a 'young girl', entered the sauna.

“Uoooh!?”

Even Grace was taken aback by this.

She had waist-length hair and a pitiful appearance. A thin layer of sweat had already formed on her tender skin. Wrapped in a towel that just covered her entire body, she gracefully walked past the astonished Grace and sat down on the bench opposite her.

"Young dwarf, could you please hear my request?"

"Oh, oh...? You, tell me..."

This is a sauna for men only. It's a place soaked in the sweat of dwarves, and... well, you know.

Do girls of other races have some strange culture? Just as Grace was lost in confusion and pondering this, the little girl in front of her smiled gently.

"Would you mind joining the Loki Familia?"

This pitiful little girl with a falsetto voice—no, this dwarf—deeply shocked Grace.

"You wouldn't...?"

"That's right. I am Finn Demner."

That's exactly right.

Grace's cheek twitched slightly.

"...Why are you dressed as a woman?"

"It's the instruction of the Supreme God. The 'Three Maidens' Ceremony' means that if you are attacked in waves by women with different personalities, you will fall into their trap."

"Aren't you a man? Forget falling for him, you're practically a wimp! And save your breath with that way of talking, I don't want to join that kind of brain-dead [Familia]!"

"Then I shall respectfully accept your offer."

Finn promptly restored his voice and then removed the long wig he was wearing.

She unwrapped the long bath towel she was wearing and folded it into a bath skirt around her waist.

This guy is definitely doing this on purpose, Grace was absolutely certain of it.

"Then let me reiterate. I hope you will join our [Family]."

Finn first straightened his posture, and then sincerely conveyed his intentions.

Seeing those deep blue eyes, as clear as lake water, I knew for a second that it was no joke or nonsense.

Grace sighed.

"Why are you so fixated on me? There are so many dwarfs, it's practically rotten."

"But exceptional talents like you are rare. Not to mention you are an unaffiliated dwarf who hasn't been registered as a [familia]."

(They say he's an outstanding talent...)

Upon hearing this word, Grace smiled with her eyes closed.

"It may sound like a pipe dream, but our goal is to become the strongest faction. Therefore—"

"I've already heard about that from your supreme deity. What I want to know isn't that, but your innermost thoughts."

In your own words.

After Grace gave him a look, Finn fell silent for a moment, then began to speak again.

"I have a long-cherished wish: a wish for racial revival."

"Race?"

"It refers to all the little people living in this world whose appearances and names are completely unknown!"

Grace's eyes widened suddenly.

"The Lilliputians of today need 'light.' They need the glory of the ancient goddess Fiana... no, they need hope that surpasses it. I will become a 'hero' for all my people to see."

The word "hero" reveals an awareness.

"To become the 'light' of the race requires immeasurable honor and achievements, not just personal bravery. For example, one must also have the magnanimity to lead a powerful retinue."

"...So, you chose the labyrinth city of Orario?"

"Yes. To ascend to the top and rule the world from that place known as the 'center of the world.' That's the fastest way."

"..."

"Therefore, talented people are indispensable. I need companions worthy of my command... subordinates stronger than myself."

That was a grander “ambition” than Grace had ever envisioned.

The young man before me spoke eloquently and casually, revealing all his scheming thoughts without a trace of shame. His determination was evident.

Grace did not laugh at the boy's absurd ambition, which should have been ridiculed by everyone. Instead, she felt that she was so insignificant compared to the little people who were so unrestrained in expressing their ambitions.

"...I cannot leave this village."

When noticed, Grace also began to share her inner thoughts.

"What did you feel upon arriving here?"

"The villagers are living resiliently. However, they are not wealthy."

"That's right. The surrounding mines have been almost completely depleted. The only way to support the villagers is for me and the young people to go far away to work, leaving us to be exploited by merchants."

Because of its remote location, there was no population movement driven by merchants. Even for the sake of many children like the two dwarf sisters who were close to Riveria, they had to work desperately.

"I was raised by this village. I was always causing trouble for everyone from a young age, and I became arrogant because of my brute strength. Then one day, I overestimated myself and clashed with a certain country, which led to the village's food aid being withdrawn."

"..."

"My father and his comrades risked their lives working in the coal mines to save the impoverished village... and they lost their lives in an accident. The village's current predicament is all my responsibility."

The heat surged, raging across Grace's bearded face.

Finn, who wanted to say something, listened to the last part of the conversation and then laughed weakly.

"We've already heard about your heroic deeds in the village. What are you pursuing?"

My childhood was spent running around in the mountains fighting monsters.

During his youth, he repeatedly won martial arts tournaments held by the country he had clashed with.

Grace smiled as she recalled these memories.

"Engage in a fierce battle"

It reveals a wish that is far too simple and pure compared to the ambition of a young man.

"My blood is boiling, yearning to plunge into that fiery passion... I want to see someone stronger than me. That's all."

With that remark, Grace shut her mouth.

A brief silence followed.

"Indeed, you should have come with us."

"Maybe. But it won't work."

Grace declared as if severing any lingering attachment.

He shook his head, looked at Finn, whose face was covered in sweat and who was wiping it away, and gently curved his lips into a smile, as if to dispel the incongruity between them.

"Besides, I would rather die than join a 'family' of impoverished people who can't even tolerate this level of sauna."

Upon hearing this, Finn's blue eyes slowly narrowed.

"...I see. So if I win this test of perseverance, I'll be qualified to let you join the group."

"That's no big deal," he said, deliberately putting on a relaxed expression.

Grace, on the other hand, revealed a brave smile.

Between the two inherently competitive individuals, sparks flew, signaling the start of a battle.

"Shouldn't we stop forcing ourselves to endure it?"

"You are."

You've almost shriveled up.

"Your body seems to have gotten thinner? Has all your muscle and fat turned into sweat?"

The two exchanged intense glances, their eyes locked in a fierce confrontation. Sweating profusely, Grace and Finn exchanged fearless smiles.

Then the momentum swelled again, and the sweltering heat, as if it were steaming people, enveloped the bloodshot-eyed little people and dwarves.

A few hours later.

The two, who had lost consciousness and collapsed, were brought back by a speechless Riveria and a laughing Loki, and the contest ended in a draw.

The next day, feeling slightly dizzy, Grace arrived at a coal mine with her tools.

"Damn it, those damned little people!" he muttered to himself as he led his underlings.

"...? Hey Yugel, what's wrong?"

"..."

Grace was puzzled to see that her usually careless and noisy younger brother was unusually quiet today.

Yuger, who was still a 15-year-old, had been silent for a moment, but suddenly he mustered all his strength.

"Alright, we must dig out a silver mine today! We absolutely will not rely on Brother Grace's help."

"Hello, hello?"

Watching him run into the depths of the coal mine with the magic stone lamp and pickaxe, Grace became increasingly confused.

"What exactly happened?" he thought, frowning as he turned on the magic stone lamp he always used.

"But won't there be any problems? Lately, the nearby tunnels seem to be collapsing quite often."

"What...? Really?"

"Yes. They said several miners from other companies haven't returned. It seems they brought us here because they're short-handed."

After listening to his underlings' gossip, Grace ordered with a serious expression, "...Go and bring that guy Yugel back."

Based on his years of experience, this wasn't a place where a collapse would occur, but Grace still decided to proceed cautiously. He swung his pickaxe as he surveyed the cavern shrouded in darkness.

(...Damn it, I can't concentrate. It's all those guys' fault...)

The pickaxe, which I could usually swing with undivided concentration, was now erratic. My usually still mind was now restless.

It's all Finn's fault. Because they recklessly talked about 'dreams' and 'ambitions,' their hearts, which should have been extinguished, started to rise again, wanting to reclaim something.

Grace smacked his lips as if trying to clear his mind, then roughly swung the tool in his hand down.

"Wa ...

at that time.