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

"Just do as I say, or you want me to slap your face again?"

The giantess spat out a strong stench from her enormous mouth at Aisha, and this time Aisha glared back at her.

When Aisha broke the "Killing Stone" in the past, she was thoroughly beaten by Phryne before being handed over to the chief god (Ishtar).

"Or... do you mean I should use the same methods on all those ugly bastards you always take care of?"

Only then did Aisha's expression twist with bitterness for the first time.

Upon closer inspection, one could see a group of combative prostitutes inside the room watching the two men argue in fear.

Aisha was more trusted than the captain, and many Amazons, especially young girls, admired her. Aisha treated them like younger sisters—just like Haruhime—and took good care of them.

"Have you forgotten, Aisha? If you dare to plot again, it won't just be you this time, the others will be affected too... Didn't the goddess Ishtar warn you?"

Ishtar is testing Aisha's loyalty, or perhaps treating her like a toy.

Aisha was not completely "bewitched" and did not become a puppet of the main god. She was just deeply afraid and forced to compare Haruhime and her younger sisters on a scale, which made her constantly suffer and struggle.

This was the punishment Ishtar gave her for breaking the "Sessho-seki" (Killing Stone).

Seeing that she remained silent, he said in a hoarse voice, "Answer me."

"...Okay."

Seeing the beautiful Amazonian follow instructions, Freni laughed loudly, "Hehehehehehe!?"

Then they picked up their weapons and prepared to go find Bell.

"The time has come. Move towards the altar and hand Haruhime over to Samira and the others who are preparing."

Before leaving the room, Frini gave instructions to the remaining fighting prostitutes.

The giantess left the room with Aisha and the girls (Amazons) who were particularly close to her.

"Oh, they've broken in."

On the top floor of the Goddess's Palace, in the Goddess's private room.

The goddess, sitting on an extremely luxurious sofa, also heard the news of Bell's attack.

"The report says he's been running around the palace... and hasn't been caught yet."

"They've been running around everywhere, haven't they? They can't just come back to the beasts' dens without a reason."

After listening to the report from the young follower Tamuz, Ishtar let wisps of smoke rise from the pipe she was holding.

The wind blew into the room, which was completely open on all four sides, and wisps of smoke swayed to the side.

"Did he forget something here...? Is there some prostitute he can't bear to leave?"

The goddess seemed to find it ridiculous and narrowed her eyes.

"I'll have him arrested immediately."

"No, no need, let's withdraw our troops."

Tamuz's eyes widened as he watched the deity stand up from the sofa while speaking.

Ignoring the astonishment of her human followers, Ishtar revealed a bewitching smile.

"I'm somewhat interested. I'll go there myself."

The goddess got up and started walking downstairs where the battle shouts had not stopped.

■

Bell is almost up to the thirtieth floor of the palace.

He was almost 100 meters above the ground when he desperately dodged the relentless attacks of the fighting prostitutes and rushed up the grand staircase.

The fierce battle had lasted less than ten minutes. Bell was certain that if it exceeded ten minutes, he would be captured immediately. Even so, a sense of determination and mission still drove him forward. His burning passion surged like a torrent, making his senses clear and sharp, even capable of handling attacks from second-level adventurers. Using rapid-fire magic (fire and lightning) as a shield, the white rabbit raced through the blast waves, not thinking about what would happen next, but entrusting everything to the present moment.

He engraved the faces of Haruhime and Mikoto in his heart, constantly escaping the capture of the large group led by Lv. 3.

Continuing his miraculous escape, he ran upwards with unstoppable momentum, gradually attracting reinforcements from female warriors (Amazons).

"Get out of here!!"

「!?」

Just as he rushed through the corridors surrounding the central, open space of the palace, a large silver ingot flew down from above.

That was a giant blade spinning at high speed—Bell used all his strength to dodge the great axe.

With a loud explosion, the battle axe smashed the handrails and floorboards in the corridor, and even the walls, breaking through about four rooms downstairs.

Seeing the attack smash the spot where he had been standing just a second ago to pieces, Bell felt a chill run down his spine.

At the same time, he was certain that this moment had finally arrived.

"Miss Frini...!"

In the distance, up in the corridor, stood a female giant over two meters tall.

The first-level adventurer, nicknamed "Man Killer," pouted his thick, frog-like lips.

Moreover, she was accompanied by Aisha, a heroine with long black hair, which made Bell squint one eye.

"You missed your mom so much, you came all the way back! I'm so touched!?"

Frini had the other members prepare two more large battle axes, looking down at Bell.

Then, he kicked the floor.

"——!"

"I'm coming right now—!!"

Seeing Florini jump down from the building, Bell turned and ran without thinking.

He fled as fast as he could from the corridor surrounding the atrium into a series of side-by-side passageways between several rooms. The giantess immediately leaped down, shattering the floor with a deafening crash that shook the surrounding area.

"Let the toad chase the rabbit! Everyone else, gather on the thirtieth floor!"

Following Aisha's stern command from upstairs, a powerful impact came from behind.

Bell was feverish with anxiety and only wanted to distance himself from Frini.

He tried to escape the immense oppression by going out the window—but the axe came flying at him again.

「!?」

"Where do you think you're going?!"

The great axe rapidly advanced from behind.

Terrified, Bell collapsed to the ground as if falling to the ground, and saw the spinning axe blade (cutting machine) that could destroy all obstacles blast open the window at the end of the passage like a bomb—creating a huge hole like a cannonball.

There was no time to shudder at the unbelievable scattering of rubble everywhere.

A huge shadow fell over Bell, who was pressed against the floor.

「!?」

In the blink of an eye, Frini closed in, raised the remaining great axe, and brought it down on her head.

Bell rolled to the side, narrowly dodging his opponent's vertical strike.

The floor was smashed into pieces, even reaching where Freni herself was standing, causing her to lose her balance. Having dodged the fatal attack, Bell leaped to her feet, extending her right arm straight out.

He had completely forgotten his hesitation and deliberation, and pulled the trigger of the "magic".

"【Flame Lightning】!!"

The flames and lightning roared.

Facing the oncoming lightning spear, Frini jumped aside to dodge.

"What!?"

Bell's eyes widened as much as they could possibly be.

She dodged the quick-attack spell (fire and lightning)!!

At this distance!?

Seeing her opponent easily dodge the "magic" launched at extremely close range, Bell was only stunned for a moment by her thrilling skill. When the fire and lightning shattered the passage wall, Freni had already launched a fierce attack.

"What a cunning spell!?"

Before Bell could calm down, he had to desperately dodge the axe attacks.

Frini dodged the lightning-fast, instantaneous, and uncast-free magic (fire and lightning), leaving Bell terrified. With reflexes and speed beyond her massive frame, she easily anticipated Bell's attack.

The difference in quality is too great.

As his skin was torn by the wind pressure of the great axe, Bell experienced the superb skill of a first-level adventurer.

"Okay, are you done playing?!"

She continued to destroy the wide corridors as she moved deeper into the palace.

The walls, ceiling, and floor were all deeply marked with claw marks from the slashing. Frini swung her weapon, sending the carpet and the magic lamp flying, continuing to treat Bell like a toy with her ferocious violence.

Forget about using Hero's Wish (Argonauts) – there's no time to charge it up. Against an opponent like this, there's no way you can afford to be distracted by charging up.

The moment one thinks of relying on "skills," one's hands, feet, or torso will immediately separate.

With no time to use his last hope—the power of resurrection—Bell, his eyes trembling, drew the "Ushiwakamaru Second Form."

He fought back with his dual swords, the "Ushiwakamaru Type 2" and the "Hestia's Blade"—or rather, he fought defensively.

“Wu!?”

Bell overcame his fear and attacked the enemy's weapon from the side, barely managing to deflect the attack.

The opponent immediately unleashed an unavoidable gust of wind with his great axe—Bell recalled the berserker (Tiona)'s large twin blades that he had fought on the city wall, and used his dagger to drive him back.

The blade slid across the axe, producing a sharp, metallic sound like tearing silk. [Ushiwakamaru Second Form] It screamed as it scattered sparks.

Immediately following, a powerful impact struck his entire body. Unable to withstand it, Bell was unable to completely repel the attack and was sent flying.

"Hehehehehehehe!? You've got some skills, huh!!"

Seeing the boy block her attack and fly through the passage, Freni cheered.

Bell's vision spun around two or three times, rolling violently across the floor before being herded into the connecting hall at the front of the passageway.

He was covered in sweat and had scrapes all over his body, so he quickly stood up.

Just then, a sight that came into view froze Bell in place.

"Miss Aisha...!?"

So many fighting prostitutes that they could almost overwhelm the four sides of the hall surrounded Bell, who had rolled in all the way.

The long-legged heroine who led them there, carrying a large, unsheathed broadsword, stared at Bell.

"...You've done very well."

Aisha spoke softly, her back to the grand staircase leading upstairs.

Soon after, Frini stepped onto the floor and into the hall.

The hall was filled with imposing columns and windows adorned with bowl-shaped ornaments. Bell was surrounded in the center, with no way to escape. Countless Amazonian gazes pierced his skin like needles, and they pounded their weapons against his shoulders.

Oh no. Just as Bell, his breathing erratic, was desperately trying to figure out how to escape.

"You may all step back."

A voice came from above, giving orders to the people of Amazon.

Everyone present turned around in surprise to see a stunningly beautiful brown goddess, holding a pipe in one hand, slowly descending the grand staircase from the other end. A sweet fragrance, like a poisonous flower, that seemed to lead to destruction wafted to Bell's injured nose, and he stood frozen, his deep red eyes fixed on the goddess's body.

The alluring "Goddess of Beauty," Ishtar, exhaled wisps of smoke as she gazed down at Bell with delight.

"W-What do you mean by this, Goddess Ishtar!? Suddenly showing up to steal the spotlight!?"

Phryne spoke angrily to the chief god who appeared behind her with his retinue.

Ishtar glanced at the Amazonian chieftain, whose face was flushed with anger.

"Didn't you hear me, Frini? I told you to step back."

His amethyst-like eyes stared at her emotionlessly, his tone conveying only the message, "Do not resist."

Frini's lips twitched, her mouth splitting open.