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

Page 216

A smile, typical of a young girl, crept across her previously imposing expression.

I think this must be—not some "Fiora," but the real Miss Ais.

"...!"

Did I smile naturally?

Have you ever made a weird face because you were too happy?

Miss Ais's smile captivated me. We placed our hands on each other's waists and shoulders and danced the waltz.

Her long golden hair danced in the beautiful melody of string instruments.

With slightly improved dance steps, we swayed from side to side and spun around once.

The banquet hall was slightly dimly lit, with people dancing gracefully all around.

Under the reflected lights, I danced with her, spending a time that felt like a dream.

◆

After the dance, Miss Ais and I left the dance floor and returned to Hermes and the others.

I led her forward, only letting go at the very end. The lingering sensation from our touch seemed to make me feel strange. At that moment, Miss Ais let out a sigh of relief, as if her tension had finally snapped.

Mihage and Miss Nazha, Takemikazuchi and Miss Mikoto smiled at me. I was so embarrassed that I didn't dare to face them, but I still thanked them all.

"Um, thank you so much everyone for helping me. Hermes, too..."

"Whatever makes you happy."

Hermes broke into a smile. Just as I was about to say something, he quickly raised his palm towards me.

"Then, I'm going to die."

"Hermes～～～～～～～～～～～～～～"

The gods, radiating rage, appeared behind Hermes.

His body was grabbed by the two goddesses, and in the blink of an eye, he was dragged to a corner of the banquet hall, where he let out a scream that reached the heavens: "Ughh ...

Not long after, Hestia, the goddess who had executed Hermes, rushed over and knocked Miss Ais away with a "thud!"

"Bell, dance with me now!"

"Ais wants to dance with me too! You can't refuse!"

Hestia grabbed my hands, looking fierce and menacing. Her eyes were terrifying. As I backed away, Miss Ais was also captured by Loki.

The fairy quickly tidied herself up and gracefully extended her hand to me.

Of course I couldn't refuse, and just as I was about to respond with a wry smile—

"—Everyone, did you have a good time at the banquet?"

The host, Apollo, has made his appearance.

He and his entourage came to us and faced us directly.

Before he knew it, the music had stopped, and his voice sounded exceptionally loud.

"I'm happy when everyone is having a good time. That's what makes my banquet meaningful."

When we stopped moving, the other guests naturally gathered around, forming a circle with Apollo at the center.

After exchanging a few polite words, the god-like figure wearing the laurel wreath looked at the goddess Hestia.

"It's late... Hestia. My family members (children) were taken care of by you the other day."

"...Oh, it's us here."

Looking at the smiling Apollo, Hestia replied with an expression of disbelief.

To prevent things from escalating, the deity was trying to explain things to the other party. Just then…

The male god, who wouldn't let her finish speaking, interrupted:

"My child was seriously injured by your child. I demand compensation from you."

Then he made this request.

Both Hestia and I, who were listening nearby, froze. She immediately said angrily:

"You're making baseless accusations! My Bell was injured too, you have no right to unilaterally demand compensation from me!"

"But my beloved Luan returned that day in a terrible state... My heart was breaking!"

It was like watching a stage play. Apollo clutched his chest, then spread his arms wide and let out an exaggerated lament. His attendants, waiting on either side, were feigning tears. And that wasn't all; a figure was staggering toward us. "Ah, Ruan!" Apollo cried out as he ran toward the figure.

A small figure named Luan, a member of the Lilliputian tribe... cried out in agony as a mummy wrapped in bandages.

"It hurts, it hurts so much!"

"Bell, Bell, did you... really beat him up like this...?"

"I didn't! I didn't!"

The deity looked up at me, trembling, and I screamed, my face burning red.

Isn't that a bit of an over-the-top performance?

"Furthermore, I've heard that you were the ones who struck first. There are also many witnesses. Don't try to deny it."

With a flick of his finger, producing a crisp sound, several deities and their entourage emerged from the circle surrounding us.

Witnesses... were the guests at "Flame Bee Pavilion" back then? I have no recollection of it, but they all affirmed Apollo's words in unison, and wore wicked smiles.

Whether they are false witnesses or were actually present at the time... in any case, their appearance here now is too coincidental.

An ominous premonition began to grow in my chest.

"Wait a minute, Apollo. It was one of my kids who attacked your group first, wasn't it? Shouldn't we be blaming Hestia alone?"

"Ah, Hephaestus, what a beautiful friendship. However, you don't need to force yourself to protect her; there's no doubt that Hestia's child instigated your child."

"Or we could ask the witnesses," Apollo said, ignoring even Hephaestus's plea. The red-haired goddess narrowed her left eye, which was not covered by an eyepatch.

They say they did it, they say they didn't—it's a complete Rashomon situation. In this case, Apollo, who had prepared help beforehand, has a more compelling argument.

"Since one of my members has been injured, I cannot let this go easily. This also concerns the reputation of the [Family]... Hestia, are you absolutely unwilling to admit your guilt?"

"How annoying! I won't admit to this baseless accusation!"

The gods rejected their argument, and Apollo's face twisted in grotesque ugliness.

He deepened the lewd smile that shouldn't have been on his handsome face, and curled the corners of his mouth.

"There's no other way. Hestia—I must formally invite you to participate in the 'Wargame'!"

Not just the gods, but I opened my eyes wide as well.

—"War Game".

The rules are established between opposing factions (families), and the duels are fought between them. It is like a board game in which members of the families are treated as chess pieces, and a grand battle is waged by two opposing gods to achieve their own divine will.

In other words, it's a "proxy war" of the gods.

The victorious deity holds the power of life and death over the defeated deity, able to seize everything from the opposing faction and issue any order. Generally speaking, the custom is to seize all assets of the opposing faction, including its members.

I vividly recalled the knowledge Miss Eina had taught me, and I was speechless for a moment.

Is it just me and the gods' faction (familia) playing a war game against the Apollo Familia, which has at least mid-level strength?

There's no comparison at all.

"Apollo has made his move—!"

"It's blatant bullying." "I actually really want to watch it."

As for the people around, they immediately started chattering after hearing Apollo's declaration.

The amusement-loving gods immediately chuckled maliciously and joined in the fun, shouting, "This is going to be fun!"

The crowd surrounding them passionately supported Apollo's declaration. Hestia and I looked around and met the eyes of the silent Loki and the wide-eyed Miss Ais.

"If we win... I want one of your clan members, Bell Crane."

While Hestia was still in surprise, Apollo made a completely new request.

Huh!? My eyes almost popped out, while the deity next to me gritted his teeth.

"So this was your plan from the beginning...!"

Just as I was looking around in confusion, not understanding what the two gods were talking about, Apollo...

A repulsive, lewd smile, seemingly brewed solely from desire, appeared on his face.

"—No, Hestia~? How can you have such a cute child all to yourself~"

A chill ran down my spine.

I got goosebumps all over and my face turned deathly pale.

Apollo's burning gaze was fixed on me, so frightening that I dared not move.

I have never felt such a violent chill in my life. The gods said that the goddess Freya would "eat me," and now I truly understand the meaning of that statement.

"That pervert...!"

Hestia glared at Apollo as if he were her mortal enemy.

"How can you call me a pervert, Hestia? Didn't we propose to each other and whisper sweet nothings back in the Celestial Realm?"

"Don't talk nonsense! Belle! Don't misunderstand! It was that god with the blown-out head who kept bothering me, and I rejected him immediately! How could a virgin goddess like me possibly accept a marriage proposal from that weird god who accepts everyone?!"

"I...I understand...!"

The goddess Hestia, her face flushed red, desperately tried to explain, which startled me.

It seems the reason the gods disliked Apollo was simply because he had once proposed to them. "Huff—huff—," the god seemed exhausted, his shoulders heaving as he breathed heavily, wiping the sweat from under his chin.

However, now I roughly understand. Unfortunately, I understand.

From young girls like goddesses to... well, young men like me, it doesn't matter if they're male or female, as long as they're attracted to each other, they'll woo each other. Apollo was probably such a god.

Looking closely at the members of the Apollo Familia, or recalling them carefully, I realized that most of them were either exceptionally handsome men and beautiful women, or simply adorable. Even Miss Daphne and Miss Cassandra, who sent me the invitations, were like that; even Mr. Luan of the Lilliputian seemed like a pampered pageboy of a noble family.

A passionate love that transcends boundaries is like a dazzling sun.

—【Sadness and Love】.

The god who almost comically begs for love from people is Apollo.

"Including being harassed in the tavern, it was all Apollo's scheme...! It was all to steal Bell away from me!"

Hestia, realizing she'd fallen for a trap, glared fiercely at Apollo, who was gradually winning over the amusement-loving gods. A few, including Miss Nazha and Miss Mei, who were on our side, looked on in disarray at the excited crowd around them. Mihe and Takemikazuchi, their lips pressed tightly together, looked pained. Hephaestus sighed deeply, while Hermes, accompanied by Miss Asphie, wore a wry smile.

Trapped in a helpless and isolated situation, I couldn't utter a single word. After looking around, my eyes finally met those of Freya, the goddess who was silently sipping her cup.

"Alright, Hestia, what's your answer?"

"I have no obligation to accept it!"

When asked to answer, Apollo refused outright.

If the war game were to actually break out, the [Hestia Familia], with only one member, would have no chance of winning.

The goddess Hestia insisted on refusing.

"You don't regret it?"

"Yeah, right! Bell, let's get out of here!"

I roared back at Apollo's wicked grin, and Hestia grabbed my hand.

"How boring!" The other gods seemed disappointed. Goddess Hestia squeezed through them and left the banquet hall in a huff.

“——”

As I passed through the exit of the venue, I made eye contact with a handsome young man leaning against the door.

Mr. Yacintos's narrowed, cold smile is etched into my eyes.