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

"Little Nazha, are you still taking money?"

And it's so expensive~, the group leader Nazha gave a proposal that was neither considerate of her nor a business offer. Cassandra sobbed as she pulled out a chair and sat down.

Breakfast at the Mih Family was as usual.

On the table were golden-brown bread and a beautifully poached egg, baked by Daphne, who was in charge of breakfast that day, along with a simple vegetable soup. Naza, the leader, who was prone to low blood pressure and not good at waking up early, though not as energetic as Cassandra, still drank her coffee with half-closed eyes. She gently placed the special yogurt from the Hermes Familia in front of Cassandra.

"How delightful!" Cassandra thought naively, but seeing the mysterious green syrup poured from the test tube, she sadly wondered if it was some kind of experimental drug still in development. The Mih Familia, who managed the drugs, often cooperated with their leader's unilateral clinical trials like this. Daphne, who had initially found this very annoying, and Cassandra, who now felt her nose burning, had both grown accustomed to it.

Although the chief god (Mich) seemed to be absent from the meal, it was indeed breakfast as usual.

For some reason, Cassandra found it hard to feel that this scene was "as usual."

(It's all because of the 'dreams' I have every night...)

When did it start? I think it was right after the Goddess Festival ended.

As before, Cassandra began having those troubling and distressing "precognitive dreams."

There was only one strange point, different from before.

No matter how you interpret it, it's something Cassandra has no recollection of, or rather, something that has nothing to do with her.

In the desolate wilderness of sighs and despair, a lone rabbit cries out—

This is the beginning of a 15-verse 'prophetic' poem.

The blurry images accompanying the "Prophecy" include a pitiful rabbit weeping, a group of berserkers trying to devour it and tear it to pieces—this is how it was expected to unfold. However, they somewhat reluctantly acknowledge the resilient rabbit, allowing it to sit at the same table with them. There are also scenes of murderous intent yet warmth, thunder roaring followed by darkness engulfing it, weapons flashing past before it is crushed by chariots, leaving the poor rabbit battered and tattered—a cruel and impactful battlefield that haunts Cassandra's nightmares every time she sees it. There are also soot-covered witches who cast spells on the dying rabbit, reviving it from a giant cauldron. In short, it's a grand epic of the little rabbit gradually gaining acceptance and rising to prominence... On the surface, it seems so, but all of this takes place in the cradle (miniature garden) embraced by a giant goddess lying on the edge of the galaxy. In short, it's a "premonitory dream" of enormous scale.

Its meaning is unclear, incomprehensible, and uninterpretable.

At least Cassandra was confused.

Because she did not observe the crisis facing herself or those close to her.

Cassandra's precognitive dreams were all advance warnings of impending disasters or devastating fates that would cause her to faint. But this time, they were all...

(Neither I nor little Daphne were "involved"...?)

Cassandra believes so.

Twisted by the goddess's "allure," Cassandra Illion believes that she "is neither a partner nor knows a certain rabbit." She mistakenly thinks that she indeed has no impression of him and that they are indeed unrelated, which is why she understands it this way.

—Not to mention the laws of the lower realm, even 'precognitive dreams' transcend divine laws and are not affected by 'bewitching'.

It doesn't even qualify as 'incongruity,' let alone 'doubt.'

However, Cassandra herself could not escape the influence of 'allure'.

This led to a profound inner conflict in the girl—she could observe it in her precognitive dreams, yet she couldn't recognize it as a significant event—leading to this situation.

The result was chaos.

The girl is tormented and haunted by recurring dreams every night, making it difficult for her to sleep, which has led to her current state of confusion.

(In short, if we don't avoid this prophecy, we will also suffer tragic consequences...)

The dream alludes to the moment when the rabbit in the cradle (the miniature garden) closes its eyes in the embrace of the sorrowful, colossal goddess, this universe—including the labyrinthine city (Orario) where Cassandra and her companions reside—will come to an end.

However, how should I put it? It seems like not helping the battered and bruised Mr. Rabbit wouldn't be a problem either. Or rather, a tiny yet towering, contradictory giant—indeed a product of a whimsical dream—triggered the rumbling of the earth. As soon as Mr. Rabbit was bathed in the golden light cascading down from the Illusionary High Mountain, he regained his maximum energy, as if about to let out an indomitable howl. To use a stage analogy, it was the climax within the climax, the beginning of the counterattack, the only scene that made Cassandra, who had repeatedly watched "Premonition," hold her breath and want to cheer him on. Go, fluffy Mr. Rabbit, reclaiming the Undying Flame!

No more gossip.

On the other hand, is this really a disaster that concerns me personally?

Could it be someone else's nightmare?

One of the residents of the small garden (Cassandra) was puzzled and even had this doubt about "precognitive dreams" for the first time since she was born.

(But... I have a feeling this 'warning' was given was particularly urgent...)

Cassandra's "prophetic dreams" often outline the general future, describing situations that cannot be interfered with or avoided, before giving a "warning" to avoid them.

This time, a similar "warning" was given, but how should I put it, it was a bit long-winded.

Specifically,

"Haaahhhhh, now's the perfect opportunity to surpass the other girls (the heroine)! Who knows, I might even pull off a stunning comeback, racking up tons of goodwill and gaining the right to pet Mr. Rabbit to my heart's content! A direct confrontation with Sacred Flame, Longing, and all sorts of other things might be unavoidable, but now I can sneak off to a really delicious spot! A reverse version of Longing's One Thousand and One Nights story, how wonderful! ———————————————— (paraphrased)"

Something like that feeling.

Although there are many paraphrases, this is how Cassandra understands it.

Or, one might say, this is the wrong path that leads us from being a prophet of tragedy to a prophet of happiness.

"Ugh... what are these delicious memories? Reverse pillow talk? It's not a princess, but a prince reading stories to me until I fall asleep, even though I'm constantly plagued by nightmares? Why did it turn out like this!? I'm so curious about it!"

"Shut up, Cassandra! What are you babbling about all day?!"

"Anxious over the dream world I see this morning, I set sail into the sea of ​​delusion... You're still a young girl, Cassandra."

Recalling her dream, Cassandra's cheeks flushed, and the words slipped out without her realizing it. Her body writhed in shame. This bizarre behavior caused Daphne, who was eating breakfast, to frown, while Nazha offered a comforting look. Needless to say, the embarrassed Cassandra let out a scream, her face burning red.

"Waaah!" Cassandra sobbed again. After finishing breakfast and tidying up, she washed the dishes alone at the sink.

"I was hoping this dream had nothing to do with me... but it turns out it is?"

Really? She asked skeptically, rinsing the foam-covered plate with water. The foam came from medicine bearing the "Mih Family" mark.

Although there was no immediate danger to her life, Cassandra became a "person involved" upon receiving the "warning" that "it's such a pity you'll miss a great opportunity." Even as a "resident of the miniature garden (Cassandra)" without any sense of "discomfort" or "doubt," she had no choice but to make this judgment.

So Cassandra, it's about time you took your precognitive dreams seriously.

No matter how many days passed, the content of her dream remained unchanged. This situation made her stop her "escape from the dream" behavior, which she couldn't escape from reality, and she began to think.

"The subject of the prophecy is the 'White Rabbit'... When it comes to Orario, the 'rabbit' that comes to mind immediately... it is indeed Mr. Rabbit Foot from the Freya Familia."

Besides the rabbit-man adventurers, a young man who has been continuously building amazing achievements was immediately added to the waiting list.

She is a member of that terrifying Freya Familia, and the number one newcomer this year.

No, I'm afraid there won't be any more outstanding new talents than him in the future.

This is how it broke the mold and became the first-ever "world's fastest rabbit".

Constantly growing stronger, they've completed three [upgrades] in about six months—an unprecedented feat, exceeding all expectations. Not only Orario, but they're undoubtedly the center of attention in the outside world. They are truly a resilient warrior worthy of praise: "As expected of the strongest [Familia] in the city!"

Cassandra was also surprised when she heard about the "White Rabbit's Swift Foot." She thought to herself that the "Freya Familia" was indeed powerful. She couldn't remember, however, when she had thought that.

"My relationship with Mr. White Rabbit Swift Foot... is that of the one who defeated the Familia and the one who was defeated? Lord Apollo was very interested in Mr. White Rabbit Swift Foot, which angered Lady Freya. In her rage, she destroyed the Ishtar Familia along with our Familia..."

She spoke of the "familia pseudo-history" that had developed in this "miniature world," and made a hesitant "hmm" sound.

As expected, in Cassandra's memory, she and Bell Craney did not know each other. Nor had they been unusually close. Although they were once rival factions, the boy and Cassandra were merely members of the same group; they had neither directly fought nor had any special interactions or encounters. It was difficult to find a common ground.

"Actually, we were childhood sweethearts in our hometown, and we were engaged, promising to meet again at the clock tower..." she murmured to herself, referring to a romance novel she had recently read. However, she blushed and dramatically exposed herself by her own delusional assumptions.

"Oh, but we met recently. I was shocked and terrified..."

That was the day after the Goddess Festival ended.

When the [Family] were helping to clean up after the festival, Bell Craney appeared before them.

Cassandra was terrified and turned pale.

That was the day she first saw a "prophetic dream." Just as she doubted it was anything to do with her, perhaps just an ordinary dream rather than a "prophetic dream," the prophesied "rabbit" appeared before her eyes. She felt a chill run down her spine, goosebumps rising all over her body. Before even deeply interpreting the "prophecy," she was deeply shocked by the thought that the world would truly be destroyed. This also convinced her that this grand-scale "prophetic dream" was not unrelated to her.

"...Speaking of which, Mr. White Rabbit's Swift Foot's gaze at us back then...the way he looked at us seemed rather strange...?"

My mind went completely blank at the time, and I had no time to think, but I still felt that Bell Craney looked very strange.

The way they looked at Cassandra and the others seemed to be seeking support, or like the eyes of lost children searching for family or friends… that's the feeling I get now. Of course, neither Cassandra nor Daphne remembers being stared at like that. If there's anything off about it, it's probably this level of unease.

"Mr. [White Rabbit Swift Foot]...do you recognize us?"

Putting aside the extraordinary phenomenon of "precognitive dreams," Cassandra is a completely objective figure, existing outside the stage of the story. Unlike the followers of a certain hearth god, she is not manipulated by insane thoughts, nor does she feel out of place in this world. She possesses a perspective that is almost identical to that of an "ordinary person."

That's why they won't violate the rules of the "miniature garden" or be bound by the chains of "seduction," allowing them to engage in the most ordinary, and in a sense, the freest, thinking.

Once the gears mesh, it is most likely to spectacularly disrupt the order of the "miniature garden." The "tragedy prophet" was completely unaware that it was a beast of such possibility. With a soft "Ooh~ Hmm," it calmly and unhurriedly finished washing the dishes.

[Translator's note: This refers to the Possibility Beast from UC.]

Just then, Daphne's voice came from outside.

"Cassandra, we need to move the recovery potions today, so let's go."

"Hmm, um!"

She answered and trotted towards the entrance.

As soon as they stepped out of their base, "Tianqing Pharmacy," they saw Nazha and Daphne loading several items onto a wooden cart.

"Is this being delivered to Miss Lily and the others today...?"

"Yes... We should cherish our loyal customers..."

"You say that, but you'll probably have to haggle with Lilyluka again later anyway."

Cassandra confirmed, and Naza nodded in response. Daphne was now stunned by the outcome of the negotiations, which indicated that war was inevitable. The dog-man, with his eyelids half-closed, smiled, the corners of his mouth slightly upturned.

In addition to selling goods in their base, the Mih Family also delivers items to their long-time customers like this. Close associates such as Hestia and Takemikazuchi, as well as Hermes's faction which values ​​relationships with other factions, are among these long-time customers who receive this treatment.

Besides the goods they ordered, they also worked hard to promote new products and regularly explored dungeons to earn rewards from adventurers' commissions, which served as operating funds for their faction—and also to repay the loans of the [Deankecht Familia]—enough to keep Daphne and Cassandra busy. "It's not easy being a [Familia] that makes medicine," Cassandra thought, having converted to the new faction.

Although she suggested that she and Daphne go, Nazha politely declined and set off from the base by herself, pulling the cart. As soon as they passed through the alleyways and arrived at the bustling main street, several adventurers called out to them with "Oh!" and offered to buy recovery potions.

Everyone here has purchased items from the [Mih Familia].

Naza, having cunningly filled the truck bed with many goods, gave a good pitch for one particular item.

Her newly developed drug, "Double Recovery Potion," has received positive reviews among adventurers, and it seems to have already been selling well before Cassandra and her group converted. The industry giant, the [Deankecht Familia], has yet to develop its own version, while the [Mih Familia] holds the market share in the so-called "best-satisfied consumer needs" category.

But Nazha said,

"I don't know what the quality will be like, but the 'Saintess' over there should have been able to make it by now, probably... They didn't make it out of pity for us... Seriously, I'm furious."

That seems to be the case. They even openly displayed hostility towards a certain top-ranking therapist in the city.

Regardless, Naza single-mindedly used the funds earned from the double-restoration potion to develop new products, and it seems she almost managed to create the panacea she had always dreamed of. The creation of panaceas is often referred to as the "dividing line between high-ranking pharmacists and others," and the [Mih Familia] could be said to have gradually gained recognition in the adventurer's city in this sense. It's like the former heyday of the powerful factions before their decline.

"By the way, are Lily and the others at the museum today?"

"Hmm, today is a rest day for dungeon exploration... I checked carefully, perfect—"

Cassandra nervously played the role of a saleswoman, exchanging healing potions and money with the adventurers, while Daphne and Naza chatted as they made their way toward the shortcut to the southwest district.

The destination is the "Hestia Familia's" base, the "Heartfire Mansion".

This was the former stronghold of the Apollo Familia, where Cassandra and Daphne had once lived. After their crushing defeat at the hands of Freya and her companions, the god Apollo, who had been banished from the city, left behind the divine decree: "The guild shall be entrusted to Hestia, the goddess I once proposed to in the heavens." Freya and the guild accepted this. Cassandra couldn't quite recall when the former chief god (Apollo) had said these words, but because "that's just how it is," she didn't think much of it. She shouldn't think too much. The 'chains of allure' were rattling deep within her heart.

Sensing a business opportunity, Naza and the adventurers did business together while leisurely strolling along the road, heading towards the base of the [Hestia Familia].

At this time,

"Bell, haven't you had enough? The Hestia Familia are not your allies."

"Lasker is right. I understand you want to believe the memories implanted by the curse... but it will only hurt you. Lady Freya is worried too."

(ah……)

They discovered a group of people dressed in silver uniforms who embodied the fear of the city.

These are the resilient warriors of the Freya Familia. A handsome male and female human, a disgruntled half-human, and now, Bell Crane, who is also painfully dejected.

Before she could even fear the strong warrior, Cassandra was first startled by the white hair.

Just as in the prophetic poem, the "Prophecy Rabbit" appears incredibly cold and exhausted. Yet, it is completely unharmed and is being warmly touched on the shoulders by its companions.

(Yes, yes, it's Mr. White Rabbit Swift Foot and the others... What are they doing? I did hear them mention the Hestia Familia...)

He continues to resist the "false history" defined by the "miniature garden," desperately trying to affirm his own memories.

They tried to speak with the goddess's (Hestia's) kin, but the little girls were startled, looking at them with fear before running away. It was as if they were facing strangers, terrifying adventurers with whom they had no connection.

He was comforted by a strong warrior who advised him to give up and stop this self-harming behavior.

That's the whole story, but Cassandra and the others can't possibly know it now.

Rather, it's more accurate to say that Nazha and her group were just as terrified as some of the Hestia Familia, and in their panic, they hid the truck bed in a corner of an alley.

"【Flint】, 【Aleguld】, 【Hell Will】... plus 【White Rabbit Swift Foot】, a super ominous group with everyone at Lv4..."

[Translator's note: The original text for these two titles is 斧の祝杯 (Arujirudo) and 军锁 (Heruu), but the correspondence is not apparent from the original text, and due to my limited ability, I have not been able to find the exact source.]

"Why is the Freya Familia in a place like this?"

Seeing that they were no match for the second-tier adventurers, Naza and Daphne, fearing they might make a mistake and get entangled, hid themselves like small animals waiting for a pack of wolves to pass by.