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

These mixed emotions, along with the reversed flow of blood, were coughed up from his mouth, and Welf's legs went weak, causing him to collapse to the ground.

"Mama-sama... Haruhime-sama... Ayesha-sama... Welf, sir..."

Lily, the only one who hadn't been killed yet, turned pale and trembled uncontrollably.

Instant kill, annihilation in an instant, brutality.

She didn't have time to step forward and help.

They can't even give verbal instructions.

Whether it was the annihilation of the Hermes Familia or the brutal killing of Welf and others, it all happened in the blink of an eye. The people who realized that there was a "struggle" rushed to escape from the scene, leaving Lily all alone and forced to be exposed to despair.

"You're the last one."

“──!?”

Hearing the voice from behind, Lily reacted abruptly.

She drew her weapon from her waist—the "Demon Sword," a short sword crafted for her by Welf—and immediately unleashed a backhand thrust with speed comparable to the fastest rabbit (Bell).

This is definitely the fastest reaction Lily has ever had in the fifteen years since she was born.

He also witnessed Bell's heroic struggle from a closer distance than anyone else, and his desperate strike was based on a reflex.

The Lilliputian warrior blocked it with one hand.

It's so easy that it makes people want to laugh.

"Your reaction was quick, and your judgment was absolutely correct. It seems you really have reached Lv.2 as the guild announced."

Unlike his inherently cruel and ruthless brothers, the eldest son (Alfred) grabs Lily's hand and calmly states his feelings, as if the attack on him had never happened.

(It's been blocked—no! It's not over yet—!!)

This is the "Demon Sword," a trump card for the weak.

Although the target was right in front of them, and launching an attack would also affect them, they had no time to worry about that.

After we're all blown up, we'll use the shockwave to escape.

"Although I am not that annoying 'Braver,' I am still very happy to have someone like you among my fellow countrymen. These words are from the bottom of my heart."

However, Lily was unable to put it into practice.

Because the tip of the "Demon Sword" drooped down with Lily's limp hand, not pointing in the direction she had imagined.

Accompanied by a scream that sounded like a glacier collapsing, Lily's slender arm, which was being held, was bent at an unnatural angle.

"Ugh────Aa ...

The little girl cried out, bloody tears welling in her chestnut eyes.

"It's just a pity—you're really unlucky."

This was the last thing Lily heard.

She was slammed to the ground by an extraordinary force, and her consciousness immediately plummeted into an endless abyss.

“──!!”

At that moment, Ais was running quickly across the rooftop.

After learning from passersby that the Freya Familia had attacked the Hestia Familia, she immediately set off.

"Ais! Wait a minute!!"

"Calm down!"

Tiona and Tione chased after her desperately, but they still couldn't dissuade Ais.

After being caught up in the commotion caused by the Freya Familia yesterday, Ais, like her crush (Hermes), had a bad feeling. Faced with this indescribable feeling, Ais, who was not good at analyzing or expressing herself, couldn't find anyone to confide in.

Since I don't know how to describe it, I can just think of it as me worrying about Bell.

The boy who refused to have any contact with her (Ais) in the rain last night looked like a lost little white rabbit, making her uneasy no matter what she said.

So Ais went out early in the morning to look for Bell's whereabouts.

Then I heard this "terrible news".

That's why she rushed to the scene of the incident without regard for anything else.

"stop."

「!?」

Just then, a black sword blocked Ais's path.

"You are... Dainsleif, the Black Sperm Sword!?"

"The clash of swords is destined to draw us together. We've only been apart for less than a day, and now we meet again, sword maiden."

The two swords clashed, producing a sharp roar.

Ais hurriedly drew her sword to repel the powerful attack from above, then her eyes widened in surprise.

The one who landed on the roof and blocked their way was the dark elf—Hegney Ragnaros.

They are the same opponents Ais fought yesterday to protect Bell, and now they are facing each other again by the cruel twist of fate.

"You hateful golden eyes, I advise you to stay out of my way."

"!...Why did you attack Bell and the others!?"

"Don't make me say it a second time, you are not allowed to interfere again. Gaining superfluous wisdom will only lead to your destruction."

Even when the renowned Fiora asked a stern question, the Dark Elf remained unfazed.

Whether he had activated magic or not, Hegni was flawless at this moment, even exuding an oppressive aura that anyone who approached him would become a victim of his sword.

"[Freya's Familia]! So the news that Argo and his friends were attacked is true!?"

"Wait, what on earth is going on...!?"

As Ais frowned deeply, Tiona and Tione caught up.

Although they didn't understand the situation, both of them had already assumed a fighting stance.

When Ais tried to use the combined strength of the two of them to force her way through—

"Stop it. I'm sure you don't want this to turn into a factional 'fight'."

"...! [Hildr Slave]...!"

Suddenly, three lightning bolts exploded at their feet.

Turning my head, I saw that the elf Hedin had been standing there at some point.

Although it was a three-on-two situation, all of them were Level 6, Level 1 adventurers. In addition, unlike Ais who carried a sword, the female warriors (Tiona) were unarmed and surrounded by the enemy from both sides, so their numerical advantage did not bring them any advantage.

The key point is that, according to Hedin's tone, if they insist on taking action, it will escalate into a "struggle" between the strongest factions (Loki and Freya).

In other words, those who appeared here held this kind of awareness.

Five pairs of eyes stared at each other, and the situation remained deadlocked.

"...Putting aside the 'struggle' for now, how do you plan to explain this situation? Causing such a disturbance during the Goddess Festival, don't think you can get away with just being punished by the guild!"

They deliberately chose to attack other factions in broad daylight during the Goddess Festival, which followed the Elegia Festival.

Such behavior is bound to be condemned by all factions and the public.

Tiony asked the question in a calm yet provocative tone.

"It doesn't matter."

“Eh…”

Hegny remained unfazed.

He glared fiercely at the astonished Ais and the others, and continued speaking.

"In order to fulfill the wishes of the Lord God, we who have sworn allegiance are willing to become his lackeys, and we are happy to accept the sins and punishments that follow. We are also willing to accept all slander and defamation."

Hegny declared his loyalty and demonstrated absolute devotion.

Hedin remained silent, closing his eyes expressionlessly.

The dark elf swordsman issued an ultimatum to the stunned Ais and her companions.

"The key point is that if the goddess intends to—this world will lose its so-called 'meaning'."

*

In terms of "conclusion"—

No one could stop this ruthless and "temporary" attack.

No matter how the Hearth Goddess's kin (Lily and others) resisted, or how much help the Sword Maiden (Ais) and the others provided, it was all in vain.

Indeed, if we describe this event in reverse chronological order—

The moment "he" appeared, everything was already set in stone.

"Huh?!"

A huge rock was blocking the way.

A "warrior" as large as a boulder blocked Bell's path.

He was so tall and strong that you had to look up to see him clearly; his physique was as robust as a monster.

The limbs, composed entirely of muscle, were so thick and powerful that no one could match them.

The aura emanating from him was both domineering and unprecedented, truly extraordinary.

This aggregate of "power," which appears to descend like a ghost or god, is living proof of an "absolute strongman."

The desire to pursue a higher realm is proof of his indomitable will.

The boy with the white rabbit suddenly started trembling all over.

The reason was that, without any explanation, he could tell at a glance that this ferocious beast was the fierce boar (king) capable of even slaying dragons.

The "strongest," with his reddish-brown hair and eyes, silently watches Bell.

"A fierce...person...?"

Standing next to Bell, who forgot to breathe just by looking into his eyes, Ryu, equally terrified, managed to utter the title "boars."

Unaffected by the other disturbance, located on one of the city's few main streets—

The warrior Ota, who suddenly appeared in front of Bell and the others, slowly spoke.

"Surrender."

He only had one requirement.

"Following the will of the goddess, you are the one she seeks, therefore your destiny is already set."

His tone left no room for refusal, yet it was the only compassion he could display.

The silence, transformed into invisible pressure, completely robbed people of any room for negotiation.

Those earth-red eyes revealed that this conflict was inevitable.

"If you don't accept it—I'll have no choice but to take you down."

The next second, Bell and Ryu were so frightened their hair stood on end—

The city's strongest adventurer takes his first steps.

"—Run! Bell!!"

With this almost furious shout—

The boy's shoulder was pushed hard.

Two small swords were drawn simultaneously.

The sprites, with no time to think, have already entered battle mode.

This was a decisive response.

But in the end, it was all in vain.

Before Ryukyu showed hostility, Otto, having already seen the negotiations break down, had taken action.