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

As if looking down from heaven, she revealed a goddess-like smile.

The vast night sky is dotted with starlight.

The grand temple built against white pillars—the guild headquarters—was shrouded in unprecedented chaos. Employees carrying parchment and service ladies with boxes full of documents were bustling about, running around everywhere.

The war game is about to begin in four days, and their busyness is reaching its peak.

"I can't take it anymore—I'm going to die—"

"Missia, I told you it was heavy..."

As the staff scrambled to their feet, Missia, a human waitress, collapsed behind Eina and hugged her. Even Eina's voice betrayed a hint of weariness as she looked at her colleague and old friend, who was now weeping and exhausted.

"Eina, what are you doing right now...?"

"I'm appealing to everyone not to go near the battlefield... consider it a letter of advice."

The several sheets of parchment spread out on the desk were covered with Eina's flamboyant handwriting.

The detailed field for the war zone where unauthorized personnel are prohibited from entering reads: "Shurim Ruins, southeast of Orario".

"Shulim Castle... I remember there were thieves there, weren't there?"

"Yes. I've already sent the Ganesha Familia to subdue them. The nearby towns and villages have also made adventurer requests to the city before... so this is a good opportunity to catch them."

Eina looked down at the parchment and answered Missia's question.

Hearing her flat and listless tone, Missia stared at her profile for a moment, then suddenly jumped away from behind her. Missia stood beside her and leaned in to examine her handsome half-elf features.

"Eina... are you worried about Bell?"

"...Of course I'm worried. How could I not be worried..."

Her emerald eyes flickered, and her expression was gloomy.

With her head bowed, Eina gently touched the center of her chest. The adventurer she was in charge of, a boy like a younger brother, had been caught up in the [Familia] conflict and was about to be sent to a battlefield where death would be no surprise. Just imagining his innocent smile and profile made her heart clench, and she sadly thought that perhaps she would have to say goodbye to that smile forever.

If I could persuade him to run away, or become his ally, I don't know how much easier it would be for me.

"But I'm a guild employee... I can't take sides."

However, the situation had escalated to a point where it couldn't be controlled by a half-elf's actions alone. Faced with the immense, surging power, Eina felt utterly helpless.

She was well aware of her position. Feeling powerless and melancholy, she lowered her dejected voice.

"Hmm...but I think you could cheer him on in your mind?"

Seeing her best friend so downcast, Missia cheerfully said this to her.

Eina raised her face.

"come on……?"

"Yeah. Just say 'Go for it!' Like that. If Eina cheers him on, I'm sure Bell will be super motivated." Eina gazed at Missia, who had a childlike smile on her face, for a long time.

A short while later, she silently stood up from the chair and walked to the window inside.

A bright moon floated in the sky outside the window, radiating dazzling white light.

"……come on."

Looking up at the dazzling moon, Eina murmured softly.

"Ah, I can't wait..."

The god squinted as he faced the moonlight illuminating the dim room.

Seated on an extremely luxurious gold-carved chair, Apollo gently held a wine glass between his lips.

The faction headquarters, a secluded mansion, was shrouded in tranquility, far removed from the city's hustle and bustle. Only a few remained; the rest of the group had already departed for the ancient city ruins, which would serve as the battlefield. The Apollo Familia, tasked with defending the ancient city, had many preparations to attend to.

If it were merely to steal Bell, even though the accomplices (the Soma Familia) retreated at the time, they could have continued fighting and crushed the opposing faction (the Hestia Ridge Clan), achieving the same result. If they had done that, the boy would be mine right now.

However, Apollo insisted on using the form of a war game to achieve his goal.

The difference between a struggle and a war game lies in the presence or absence of tangible spoils. The former aims to annihilate the enemy and leaves behind a trail of trouble; in contrast, the latter rewards the victor according to the rules. In other words, it's a sacred duel (game). This prevents guilds and third-party forces seeking to profit from the conflict from interfering. If one possesses the authority to control the enemy's chief god, Bell can truly become his person—if the goddess doesn't approve of conversion and cannot function as a hostage, the god (Apollo) cannot make Bell a member of his kin—

Most importantly, the other gods wouldn't be satisfied if things ended too easily. In order to seize Bell, Apollo sought the help of many gods, so he had an obligation to satisfy these gods' thirst for "entertainment," which was the reward he had to pay.

Apollo himself shared the same thoughts as them.

The gods' "proxy war." This is the fun of the mortal realm, the best entertainment for the gods.

He hoped to be able to wholeheartedly enjoy the board game where the pieces, known as members of the clan, competed against each other without any interference from anyone.

This is Apollo's unvarnished, genuine intention—his unavoidable divine nature.

Hiding various desires, the male god wearing a laurel wreath silently raised his gaze.

"My beloved Bell Craney... the day I can cherish you with my own hands has finally come."

When did he fall in love with him at first sight? He remembered it was when news of the White Rabbit spread like wildfire, and Apollo was lost in reminiscence, his joy reaching its peak. Imagining the near future, he couldn't help but tremble with delight.

—Ah, Bell!

—No, Berdidi!

—I won't let you escape again!

Just imagining him crying sends a surge of emotion through me. This burning passion, a dull ache in my chest, is undeniable proof of my love for him. Apollo wants him madly. He wants everything about him—his slender frame, his rabbit-like white hair, and those red eyes that remain untainted by the world's filth.

Apollo's cheeks flushed with ecstasy.

"...When I fall in love with that boy, Hestia, you will interfere with my plans. After I take him away, I will make you leave the city... no, leave the mortal realm."

Apollo, returning to reality from his delusion, gazed up at the night sky through the open window.

His eyes, which gazed longingly at the silvery moon, held a fierce glint in their depths, and he curled the corners of his mouth into a smile.

"Please, my lovely members of the familia..."

The bright moon shone with a tranquil light, and suppressed laughter rang out continuously.

Soon after, a "click" sound was heard, and the long and short hands of the clock pointed directly upwards and overlapped.

The time is almost here.

●

A biting chill permeated the streets before dawn.

Shops with their iron gates tightly shut stood side by side, the main street deserted, all daytime vibrancy gone. The neighborhood, surrounded by towering city walls, was shrouded in deep shadows, the light quite dim.

As the city was still enveloped in the solemn atmosphere of the early morning, two figures ran along East Street, seemingly aiming at the gradually whitening eastern sky.

"Hurry, Bell! The caravan is about to depart!"

"yes!"

Bell and Hestia were running through the morning mist. They were talking as they hurried toward the city's east gate at the front of the main street.

"I've already spoken to the caravan. You'll ride in their carriage and get off at a small town called Agri near the ancient city! The guild should set up a temporary branch there. After that, just follow their instructions!"

"I see!"

Two days before the war game officially began.

Having finished his training with Ais and the others, and having Hestia update his [Ability Values], Bell was about to depart from the city. The journey would take a full day, and they had already arranged to travel by caravan to the "Ancient Ruins," the stage for the War Game.

Bell was dressed in light clothing, with a cape over his shoulders and carrying his baggage by the straps.

"Welf and the others have already gone ahead. You can meet them there! Also, this is the guild's pass; remember to show it to the caravan and the guards!"

For various reasons, entering Orario is easy, but leaving is difficult. Normally, it requires going through complicated guild procedures. After receiving a license with a confirmed signature acknowledging the holder as a participant in the War Game, Bell thanked Hestia with the words, "Thank you, God!"

Soon after, the two arrived at the city gate built into the city wall. The gate was surprisingly small, just as Bell had thought when he first came to Orario. Now Bell and Hestia stood in the square in front of the gate, amidst many carriages, wagons, and busy merchants bustling about.

"...I'll be here waiting for your triumphant return."

"...Yes, I'll be right back!"

Seeing Hestia smile at him, Bell smiled too.

As they parted, Bell froze on the spot after being hugged tightly by her, but he didn't dare to run away, nor could he. Surrounded by the bustling crowd, Bell shared her body heat for a moment. Just as he felt the soft touch of her slender arms wrapped around his fiery red neck, Hestia's face left. "Go," the young goddess said, her delicate cheeks flushed with a smile.

Bell smiled shyly at her, this time truly letting go of Hestia, and said goodbye. He wiped his flushed face with his arm and hurried toward the caravan that was about to depart. "Wait for me!" he rushed forward, showing the travel permit to the coachman and two guards who were talking.

They appeared to be entrusted with guarding the gate; one of the guards was a member of a certain [Family], and the other was a guild employee. They nodded after verifying the permit. The coachman led Bell to one of the carriages.

The carriage Bell was riding in was a box-type carriage, more spacious than he had imagined. It had a roof and windows. Besides Bell, there were several other passengers, some travelers and others bodyguards protecting the caravan, their attire varied, some dressed in formal clothes and others in light clothing.

"...Hey, are you a rising star from the Hestia Familia?"

"Ah, uh, yes."

"It really is you! You're going to participate in the war game, right? I support you!"

As Bell settled into a corner of the carriage, the orc next to him, shoulder to shoulder, seemed to notice who he was and struck up a conversation, then cheered. A cheerful young man who looked like a traveler wagged his tail and smiled at Bell. This sparked a gathering of other passengers.

Even though they were being a bit unreasonable, you have to keep it up! This is proof of our friendship, so eat up! Want some of this too?

Just as Bell was surprised, everyone started handing him candy (nougat) or fruit tarts. Surrounded by these kind people, Bell couldn't help but smile broadly as he said, "Th-thank you everyone..." He thought to himself, "Actually, I'm not very good with sweets..." but he decided to enjoy everyone's kindness nonetheless.

Soon, the wheels began to turn slowly.

Outside the carriage, other carriages drove out of the square in turn. Accompanied by the neighing of horses, Bell's carriage also began to move.

Then, just as the impact force came from the hard seat, unintentionally—

"—Mr. Bell!"

A voice calling his own name rang out.

He looked out the window in surprise and saw Seele running beside the carriage.

"Miss Seele!? This is dangerous!"

He quickly rolled up the car window and shouted for her to move away.

The tavern girl, wearing a cloak over her uniform, was out of breath as she desperately tried to catch up with the moving carriage, stretching her right hand straight out towards Bell.

"this……!"

"what?"

The metal gleamed in his outstretched hand, and Bell accepted it without hesitation.

It was a piece of jewelry (a protective accessory). A beautiful emerald was set in a teardrop-shaped piece of metal. Perhaps it was an adventurer's protective accessory imbued with some kind of power. Bell looked up, and Seele said as she ran:

"This was given to me by one of the adventurer regulars at our tavern...it's an amulet!"

Looking at Belle, whose eyes were wide open, she continued:

"Keep it up! Please come back to our store again!"

Seele drifted further and further away from the carriage, nearly tripping, and finally cried out:

"I...I'll make a bento box and wait for you to come!"

Seeing the tavern girl blush shyly, Bell broke into a smile.

He leaned out of the carriage window and waved to Seele, who was walking further and further away. She stopped, placed her right hand on her chest, and kept watching Bell until the carriage disappeared outside the city gates.

"..."

He sat back down and looked down at the jewelry in his hand that shimmered with a beautiful luster.

Bell wore it around her neck and tucked the pendant into her clothes at her chest.

—Defeat them!

—Defeat them and return here.

Thinking of the faces of those who remained in the city, Bell made a vow in his heart. He clutched the jewelry on his chest tightly with one hand, and a smile unconsciously crept onto his face.

In the swaying carriage, he turned his gaze to the window.

The first rays of sunrise pierced through the mountain ridges.

The blazing sunlight in the burning morning sky made Bell squint.

●

The ruins of the ancient city of Shulim.

This fortress, built majestically in the center of a plain devoid of forests and hills, is one of the defensive strongholds of "Ancient" architecture. To protect the cities and towns behind it from the monsters emerging from the underground caverns, or to block them, many such fortresses were built in the vicinity of the labyrinth city (Orario) before the completion of the colossal tower (Tower of Babel) and massive city walls. Although almost all of these fortresses are now ruins, only this ancient city of Shurim remains intact, as it was used as a strategic point by the once-powerful kingdom (Lachia) until a century ago. Despite its desolate atmosphere, the walls and other functional features remain intact. This war game has chosen this location as its battlefield.

Several towers, some showing signs of collapse, are attached to the city wall. The stone walls themselves are easily over ten meters high and impeccably thick. To breach this outer wall—at least a cannon blast (magic) would be necessary—even high-level adventurers cannot easily cross this line. Located on a plain easily attacked by other forces, this city has managed to maintain its original form to this day, largely thanks to these walls.