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

Even though she originally didn't intend to become a "girl" anymore—

Before Anya could understand the meaning of these whispers, the goddess reached for her hood.

Then──

"────Huh?"

When Anya saw the "girl" emerge from the removed hood, it was as if time had frozen.

The person in front of him shook his head, and his long, light gray hair fell to his shoulders.

After opening her eyes, she revealed eyes that matched her hair color and stared directly at Anya.

Then she revealed that smile that Anya knew very well.

"Is that how it is, Anya?"

The person before her had a voice that Anya could never mistake—

With a voice that is clearly that of a "girl (Seele)"—

Say this.

It also brought Anya "destruction" that was enough to break her.

"The person who's been with you in the tavern all this time is me."

"...Impossible, meow."

"I am Freya, and also Seele."

"...Impossible, meow!"

"Freya is Seele, and Seele is Freya."

"—Impossible, meow!!"

Anya screamed shrilly.

She pressed her cat ears down with both hands and even gripped her hair tightly, refusing to accept the sight before her.

This is outrageous! What kind of farce is this? The girl (Seele) is actually a goddess (Freya)? How could such a thing happen in the world?

However, the goddess (Freya) who should be standing before her—and the girl (Seele) who should be standing before her—does not allow Anya's heart to deny this fact.

"Are you alright?"

"You'll catch a cold if you keep doing this. Would you like to come to our house?"

"Our home shall be called the Abundant Mistress."

"—That's what I said when I first met you, right? I remember it all perfectly, don't you?"

The voice continued to stimulate Anya's brain, forcibly triggering that memory of the rain.

This gave Anya, who had once been abandoned, a chance to get back on her feet.

Precious memories of meeting the girl (Seele).

It has now been completely devoured by the silver divine will.

"Cheer up, Anya, you don't need to be afraid!"

"There are no scary people here."

"Let's work together? Because I'm completely bad at it too, let's learn together?"

One memory after another was awakened.

That period of time when she was initially unwilling to open her heart to anyone, throwing tantrums like a betrayed wildcat, was gradually softened by Seele's gentleness, and kept from wallowing in sorrow by Mia's orders. In the end, she regained her former cheerfulness in the bountiful tavern, allowing herself to be reborn in a brilliant time.

At this moment, without exception, they are defiled.

The memories of the past and the sounds of the present blend together perfectly.

The truth and the despair perfectly match.

The girl's smile proved that none of this was fake.

"Ah, ah, ah... ahhhhhh...!?"

Anya, who was holding her head in her hands, had tears streaming down her face.

Her lips trembled, her limbs shook uncontrollably, and she felt dizzy as she heard tinnitus.

What is fact? What is a lie? What is truth? What is falsehood? Who saved me (Anya)? And what manipulated me?

The torrent of emotions pushed Anya to the brink of collapse.

"Why...why...why are you doing this...?"

The floor at her feet was soaked with tears. Anya raised her convulsing face and asked in a choked voice.

"You know perfectly well, don't you?"

She answered.

"I just wanted to have some fun."

She smiled.

"It was purely a whim of God."

A goddess-like smile appeared on the girl's (Seele's) face.

"—Aa ...

Anya broke down.

All her memories crumbled and shattered, falling into the gray, murky current.

After the truth was revealed, her fate was "destruction".

"No! No, no, no, no! This isn't real!!"

Anya shook her head uncontrollably.

Her final choice was to deny reality.

Letting the longing and impulses in my heart run wild, I resolutely refuse to acknowledge the existence of what's before me.

"You're not Seele! You could never be Seele!!"

Anya didn't realize she had used disrespectful language towards the goddess she once respected and feared, but she had no time to worry about that now.

Because her longing for the maiden (light) had surpassed her fear of the goddess (darkness).

"Give Seele back! Give her back to me!!!"

Anya roared and charged forward.

She could no longer accurately judge the expression on the "girl's" face; all she wanted to do was reach out and grab her.

"idiot."

"babble!?"

The next second, this surge of anger was sent flying by Allen's silver spear.

As a first-class adventurer serving as a guard, he would never allow anyone to harm the main god. He mercilessly struck Anya, sending her flying to a corner of the plaza.

Anya crashed into the pile of wooden crates, kicking up a cloud of dust, her anger vanishing.

*

"Anya!!"

Liu witnessed his friend being knocked away and immediately stood up.

The elf who had been secretly following Anya as she was taken away, and who had been watching the whole thing from the sidelines without daring to make a move, rushed out when she saw her companion in danger.

"You've finally shown up."

The goddess, still retaining the appearance of a girl (Seele), whispered in the girl's (Seele's) voice as if she had foreseen this situation.

Just as Allen easily blocked Ryu's katana, the goddess glanced at her.

"It was indeed the right decision to use a large-scale 'charm' on the surrounding area so that you would discover us and follow us here."

"...!?"

The two hastily crossed katana were forced back by the spear shaft, and Ryu, who was immediately in a losing position, had a flicker of doubt in his eyes.

At the same time, she realized she had been tricked. The goddess faction (Freya's Familia) had indeed discovered long ago that Ryu and Asphie were not in the city. As for the "deal" with Anya that was only carried out today, it was "bait" to force Ryu to show herself.

In order to draw Ryu's attention to the bait, they deliberately used "charm" to drive away a large number of people, making their presence known in a very unnatural way.

This conversation with Anya was a "trap" that led Ryu to walk right into it.

"Allen, put the gun down."

"There's no need for that, just watch me take her down—"

I said let it go.

"────…………Yes, sir."

The supreme deity issued an order to the first-level adventurer in an irrefutable tone.

Ryu was finally free from Allen's pressure, but she was still covered in a cold sweat.

She also couldn't accept the reality that was right in front of her.

"Are you really Seele...!?"

"—You must have seen the conversation just now, Ryu? I am Seele. Although there is another girl who can become me, it has always been me who has been in contact with you."

In response to Ryu's question, the goddess's demeanor changed once again.

She seemed to have a split personality, no, as if out of respect for her relationship with the girls, she switched from the tone of a goddess (Freya) back to that of a girl (Seele).

His sky-blue eyes trembled slightly.

The emotional storm that struck Anya's heart was also raging deep within Ryu's heart.

The goddess (Freya) is a girl (Seele)? What kind of joke is this? I'd rather believe I'm seeing some kind of illusion. But no matter how much I pray, the scene before me won't disappear.

As Liu realized she had lost her composure, she forced her lips open:

"What you told Anya...is it all true?"

"..."

"Whether it was you saving me... or that time in the tavern! Was it all just a game to you!?"

Unable to contain her emotions, Ryu asked a question, and Seele's answer was—

"...Sigh~"

They even forgot to hide their "sighs".

"So what, Ryu?"

"Huh...!?"

"This is all a game, what you call 'role-playing.' I chose the role of a 'city girl,' and the location (stage) is a 'tavern.' Because being a goddess is really boring, I wanted to play with the kids (everyone). Does that really bother you so much?"

When Liu heard the girl (Xier) say the absolutely true "facts", he felt as if his heart was being torn apart.

"Everyone lies, right? It just so happens that my lie is about this."

Given this premise, Ryu is completely unable to refute this objective truth.

"Even though Anya has become like that, I don't want to hurt anyone. Is that true? So can you forgive 'me'? From now on, 'I'll no longer lie, nor will I hold back anymore. I will show my truest self. So please, Ryu—"

A hand reached out.

With this declaration, which sounded like a song, the girl (Seele) walked towards Ryu and reached out her hand.

The scene was exactly the same as it was back then, just like the day when Ryu completed his revenge and was about to be exhausted.

The girl (Seele) is about to hold Ryu's hand.

"────!!"

The next moment—

Liu slapped the girl's (Xier's) hand away.