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

Before long, her petite body floated into the air and began to move.

(Is he/she transparent?!)

As if confirming Hestia's wavering, a parchment scroll fell from the empty air and rolled onto the grass. She swung her legs wildly, but they just dangled aimlessly in mid-air, while her pouch opened, spilling out elixirs and other items.

"Ugh!" Hestia let out a muffled scream as she was led deeper into the forest.

◆

"A deity? A deity—?"

Bell looked around and called out.

Having finished preparing for his return journey, Bell was now searching for Hestia. He went to the tent where his [ability stats] had just been updated, but she wasn't there. Wondering where she had gone, he searched everywhere.

"That's strange..."

After walking around the campsite for half a day, Bell reached up and touched the back of his head. There were only a few tents left around, and almost nothing obstructed the view. Although there were many trees, few trunks were thick enough to cover Hestia's body.

It's unlikely that they just happened to miss each other.

"Did they go to the outer perimeter...?"

Despite feeling strange, he headed in the opposite direction from the southern cave leading to the 17th floor. Stepping out of the campsite, the trees became denser, and there were more obstructions to his view. Although there was no immediate danger, it was still a forest inhabited by monsters, and the goddess (Hestia) couldn't possibly go in alone without a word… He pondered this as he walked for a while.

“Eh…”

He quickly discovered "that".

Just a short distance from the campsite behind him lay an ordinary patch of grass. Several test tubes and a parchment scroll lay scattered there, as if someone had scattered them on the ground.

Bell stopped in his tracks, then rushed toward the scene before him.

"This is……!"

Bell picked up a test tube and discovered it was a dual-attribute elixir—given to Hestia by Naza. Bell, kneeling on the ground, held his breath. The various colorful containers scattered on the floor seemed to suggest that Hestia had encountered some unexpected event.

He looked up and glanced around several times. Unable to shake off the ominous feeling in his heart, Bell reached out and picked up the scroll that had fallen awkwardly to the ground.

"...[Rookie]. The goddess is in my hands. If you want her to return safely to my side, come alone to the place directly east of the central tree, to the crystal pillar..."

Bell read the contents of the scroll blankly, then opened his eyes wide and stood up.

He gripped the scroll with the map he had casually drawn on it and rushed out without looking back.

"what……"

Chigusa's figure appeared instantly in the corner of his field of vision, but Bell couldn't care less about that right now.

Who was it? And why? How could someone do such a thing?

A multitude of questions swirled in his mind. The one who did this wasn't a monster, but a human like Bell, and even dared to lay a hand on Hestia, a goddess. From the words and actions, he could vaguely discern that the other party wasn't just playing around, but had a strong intention, which almost made Bell dizzy.

Is Hestia alright?

The thought burned in Bell's chest, and he sweated profusely as he urged his body to move.

Bell ran. He ran out of the forest, across the prairie, and straight ahead toward the central tree in the distance. He quickened his pace, and the monsters around him saw him and pounced on him, but they couldn't catch him. His rabbit-like speed left the monsters trying to surround him far behind.

"—Aa ...

Several enormous shadows blocked his path.

Facing the medium-sized bipedal beetle monster "Crazy Beetle", he extended his right hand.

"[Flame Lightning]!"

Ignoring the screams and explosions that followed, Bell forcefully broke through the gaps between the monsters.

●

"Hey, this thing is really cool...it's the real deal."

Modo chuckled to himself with delight.

In his hand was a pitch-black helmet that resembled a hat.

He looked down at the magical artifact created by Asphie—the "Hades Helmet"—and trembled with excitement like an adventurer who had found a treasure.

"Hey, untie me right now! Do you think I'll let this go after you've done this?! Don't let my appearance fool you, I'm a god!"

Hearing the loud screams, Modo looked up.

This is a forest located in the eastern part of the 18th level. There are fewer crystals here, and it is surrounded by lush vegetation. Hestia is tied to a tree.

"I am so sorry, Your Majesty. Please forgive my rudeness."

"You have absolutely no remorse...!"

Besides Mordo, there were two other adventurers nearby. They were also in the tavern in Rivera Town, both from other factions. They were looking down at Hestia from the left and right, keeping an eye on her.

"You've been disappearing and reappearing like that just now, is that your magic?! What are you doing bringing me here?!"

"Ha, ha, ha! How am I supposed to answer all these questions, Your Majesty?"

Modo hid the "Hades Helmet" where Hestia couldn't see him, a cold smile on his face.

The magical artifact he borrowed from Hermes could make the wearer completely "invisible." This invisibility ability did not consume any mental or physical energy and could maintain the invisibility state semi-permanently, allowing Modo to easily kidnap Hestia from the campsite.

Knowing that Bell and the others are busy preparing for their return journey today, and having learned of the Loki Familia's scheduled itinerary, attacking their blind spot will be a piece of cake.

"We have no intention of causing trouble for your esteemed goddess, please rest assured. We are not so rude as to dare to attack a deity. Please behave yourself."

"Now that I know you won't dare to lay a hand on me, there's even less reason for me to stay put!"

"Hehehe! Your noble goddess, please don't make things difficult for us. Otherwise, I might have to cut a couple of slices in your flowing hair... or that dress, to force you to obey."

Seeing Mordo draw half of the longsword from his waist, Hestia was speechless. Her full breasts, covered only by a thin cloth, trembled slightly as if expressing her feelings.

Seeing the young goddess's timid appearance seemed to please Modo, who shrugged again. He handed Hestia over to the adventurer in charge of guarding her and then turned to leave.

"Hey, wait a minute! I haven't finished speaking! What is your purpose?!"

"...I just wanted to personally guide your family's clan."

Seeing Hestia's wide eyes, Modo grinned.

"I want to teach this lovely junior what the rules of adventurers are."

●

"Hey, have you found it yet!"

"No, we've searched everywhere but can't find Lord Bell and Goddess Hestia!"

Seeing Welf running towards her, Lily answered in a flustered tone.

Bell ran off alone in search of Hestia. After about 15 minutes, Lily and the others realized that they had suddenly disappeared, so they all set out to search the forest near the campsite.

Just as the two were catching their breath, life and cherry blossoms returned.

"This is bad. If we can't find anyone soon, we'll be abandoned by the Loki Familia."

"There's no time left..."

The two looked around at the chaotic scene and spoke.

Lily and her group were only scheduled to follow the Loki Familia; they hadn't been officially incorporated into the unit. Even if they asked them to wait, the Familia would likely ignore them and depart from the 18th floor as soon as the appointed time arrived. Every second counted in this situation.

With his brows furrowed, Welf said:

"There's definitely something wrong with Bell and Hestia only disappearing at this point."

"Then it can only be... that Lord Bell and the others have run into some trouble?"

Upon hearing Lily's direct point, the four people, who had formed a circle, all wore tense expressions.

"How about asking the god Hermes and Lady Asphi for assistance?"

"We don't know where they went. It would be a waste of time if we couldn't find them."

"Does anyone know where Lady Ryu... uh, where the masked adventurer went?"

"Only Bell would know."

"Really, none of them are around," Welf replied to Lily, pressing his temples as a voice called out to them.

"Gentlemen!"

Chigusa waved from under a large tree on the northeast side of the campsite's perimeter, and Lily and the others ran to her side. "What's wrong?" "What happened?" To answer these questions, she led everyone to the spot where the medicinal herbs were scattered all over the ground.

"This was given to Goddess Hestia by Lady Nazha...?"

"And, also, just now, Mr. Crannie rushed out of the forest..."

"...In that case, it seems more reasonable to conclude that the two of them were involved in the incident."

As Lily spoke, she began searching through the scattered medicinal herbs to see if there were any clues.

"I don't think it's likely a monster that did anything to the goddess Hestia. It's probably more like something was done by someone, right?"

"A kidnapping? And they haven't even let us or the Loki Familia find out yet?"

A conversation between Welf and fate came from above, and suddenly, Lily's hand stopped.

"This is……"

●

"I saw it...!"

Long blue crystals reaching towards the sky can be seen from deep within the gaps in the trees.

He tucked the scroll with the map into his pouch and quickened his pace. He leaped across the uneven ground and the protruding tree roots, running through the forest like a gust of wind.

The crystal pillar, a landmark directly east of the central tree designated by the other party, was drawing ever closer. The occasional glimmer of crystal light appearing in the depths of his vision made him squint. The next instant, the density of the forest suddenly thinned, bursting into a space with a large, sunlit area.

"He's here, Mordo!"

Upon recognizing Bell's figure, the adventurer, hiding in the shadows of the trees, shouted towards a pillar of crystal deep within.

Bell stood still, and out from behind the huge crystal was the male adventurer, Mordo, whom he had brushed past in Rivera Town a few days ago.

"You came fast, [rising star]!"

"Where are the gods?!"

The thought that he was the one who kidnapped the God of God made Bell flinch for a moment, but he immediately raised his voice and questioned him. Modo appeared leisurely, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"The little devil goddess was bait to lure you here. I didn't do anything to her! Hurting a god is a sin against the heavens, and who knows what terrible consequences might come from breaking such a taboo!"

Upon hearing that the other party had stated that he was the target, Bell's deep red eyes widened.

"Did you need something from me?"

"You should have guessed most of it by now, right? If you still don't understand after I've explained it so clearly, that would be hilarious, wouldn't it? The world's fastest White Rabbit?"

From the veiled way he addressed her, Bell sensed a chilling emotion and understood many things at the same time.

His reason for going so far as to use Hestia to summon Bell was...

"Did anyone come as I suggested?"

"……yes."

"Really? It doesn't matter. Even if extra people come along, they'll probably be driven away."

One after another.

From the surrounding tree trunks and deep within the bushes emerged a group of highly skilled adventurers carrying weapons. Their numbers were likely close to twenty.

Seeing that Modo's accomplices had surrounded him, Bell's eyes wavered, and his body tensed.

"Don't be so scared, I won't let those guys do anything—come with me!"

Mordo gestured with his chin toward the back, and Bell had no choice but to obey. The adventurers tapped their drawn swords against the shoulder guards of their armor, making a playful sound, urging him to hurry up and catch up. Surrounded by a chorus of snickers, Bell silently moved forward.

He had only one thought on his mind: was there any hope of rescuing Hestia? But he knew that was impossible given the current situation. He didn't even know where she was, and those people wouldn't let him rescue a hostage so easily. For now, he could only obey orders, Bell concluded in his mind.

He was no longer afraid of the monster, but his hands and feet were trembling without him noticing.

"here it is……"

The other party led him to a low mound.

The ground, with only slight bumps and relatively flat surfaces, rises a little higher than the surrounding area. The circular platform, with a diameter exceeding seven meters, resembles a stage for performing for an audience.

"Go up there," Mordo commanded, and Bell followed him onto the stage. The other adventurers spread out around them, forming a tight circle around Bell and Mordo.