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

"The enemy is just randomly expanding the casualties without launching any major offensives... The generals, whose strength is equivalent to second-level adventurers, also seem to have no intention of fighting. They only launch slight attacks and then retreat far away. The troops are so scattered that it would be very difficult to pursue them."

Orario, a city teeming with powerful adventurers, loses to the kingdom only in terms of sheer numbers.

Of course, there are many factions and countless adventurers in the city, but ultimately none have the mobilization power to compete with a nation. Although we live in an era where "quality trumps quantity," the strategy of winning by sheer numbers still holds true.

Even now, if the goal is to annihilate various forces that blockade land routes and impact urban economies, it is inevitable to pursue them excessively.

"You mean the main force is hiding somewhere, and the guys fighting right now are just using feints?"

"It's undeniable that this possibility exists..."

Loki had been unmotivated from the start, barely listening to intelligence and reports. As Finn answered her in a low voice, a member of the group ran into the tent.

"Commander, I've checked."

"You've worked hard, Raul. So, how's it going in the port city?"

"I heard that everything is peaceful. No fleet has been seen along the shore of Lake Rolog, and there hasn't been a single suspicious ship in sight."

After listening to the team members' report, Finn removed all the pieces from the southwest of the city on the map, which is the direction of the brackish lake in the eastern region far away from their side.

"The possibility of invasion by sea has also disappeared..."

Loki sat up and, along with the male members of the group, peered at the map on the table. They saw the Kingdom's red pieces, which had been gradually retreating from the initial battle line, and the Orario's blue pieces, which had been forced to be led towards the enemy in pursuit.

"It seems the other side wants to prolong the war... to keep Orario's forces outside the city for as long as possible."

"...I see~, that's how it is."

Loki smirked as he heard Finn calmly point out the core issue.

The leader of the dwarfs smiled at the chief god.

"Let's go back first; the enemy's objective is in the city."

"Yay!" Loki was finally free and clapped his hands in celebration.

"Raul, withdraw the troops. Order all personnel to leave the regimental flag behind and not let Lachia know that we are retreating."

"W-Is this alright, Commander...? We've retreated without permission..."

"We have legitimate reasons for returning to the city, and the guild shouldn't complain, right?"

Ignoring the panic of his fellow group members, Finn began packing his bags by himself.

"Let the Freya Familia handle the rest."

"Hehehe, that infatuated goddess caused a scene with Ishtar last time and got a severe punishment from the management union. They're just dumping all the trouble on her!"

Loki smiled genuinely, deciding to leave everything to the "Goddess" faction, who were temporarily under the guild's command. Soon, the male members hurriedly ran out of their quarters, and less than an hour later, the Loki Familia truly began its retreat from the battlefield.

Which families/families remain in the city?

"Hmm~, the more famous one... is Fei Fei's place."

"The Hephaestus Familia, ah, perfect, let's ask them for help."

After confirming a few things with Loki, Finn parted ways with her and commanded the Familia to depart from the campsite.

Under the blue sky, the lower-level members, just like during the "expedition" in the dungeon, effortlessly dragged a large amount of items toward the towering white-walled tower to the west.

"Captain! Want a drink? Are you hungry?! I just hunted a wild boar!? Want to roast the whole thing?!"

"Ah—well, let's not, Tione. And don't light a fire, lest it make smoke."

"I see!"

With tanned skin and long black hair, her sexy combat outfit revealed her ample breasts and slender limbs. Finn gave a dry laugh at the passionate pursuit of the Amazonian female officer, Tione Schilty.

Tiona, the twin sister, gave her a "here we go again" look, openly displaying her intense love for Finn. This scene, commonplace within the Loki Familia, was neither surprising to Ais nor the other members, who had no intention of interfering.

Finn just smiled wryly and waited for the storm to pass until the other members called her away.

"Finn, what are your plans after you get back?"

"Is it enough to just stay on standby at headquarters?"

After Tione left, the elf Riveria and the dwarf Gris approached.

Regarding the lineup of leaders of the [Family], including himself, Finn spoke:

"I'll give the instructions first. Can I ask for a day off, Rivera, Grace?"

"Hmm?"

"What, that's rare. Do you have something to do?"

He looked up at Riveria and Grace's surprised expressions and smiled.

"I've been wanting to pay you a visit for a long time..."

The dwarf adventurer squinted his lake-like blue eyes and gazed at Orario, surrounded by massive city walls.

"I'll go take care of another 'mission' that's making no progress compared to my adventurer career."

*

"Grandpa, I'm here!"

Lily opened the malfunctioning back door and entered a detached house.

At this moment, the rising sun had just peeked over the eastern sky.

Lily visited the antique shop "Goblin General Store" with her backpack. In the messy living room inside the shop, the short goblin shopkeeper could be seen at a glance as he had just woken up and was sipping steaming hot water like a child.

He wet his large white beard and made a hissing sound as he drank water.

"Oh, Lily... good morning."

"Good morning, but please don't take your time drinking water. Go wash your face, Lily has to leave soon."

The goblin shopkeeper wasn't wearing his usual red hat, revealing his bald head. He said "okay, okay" with difficulty breathing as he got off the chair. While he was washing his face, Lily put down her backpack and helped prepare to open the shop.

Before Lily moved into the new headquarters after the war game ended, she stayed at this "Goblin General Store".

Two months ago, she had to lay low due to some disputes with her former faction, the Soma Familia. So she visited the shop where she sold the stolen goods from adventurers. Although she had never met the shop owner before, she still begged him to "let me live and work in the shop," relying purely on the shop owner's character.

Without using her transformation magic, the unadorned Lily met the shop owner for the first time, but he said, "I just happen to need a helper," and agreed to her request. From then on, Lily would help out at the shop in the morning before exploring the dungeon and after returning in the evening—also as a way of repaying his kindness—and even now that she has moved to a new place, she still goes to the shop to check on things and take care of the shop owner.

"I'm so sorry to always trouble you. The [Family] has grown so much, and I still have to make you come all this way."

"Instead of worrying about Lily, you should take better care of your own health, Grandpa Meng. If you overwork yourself like last time, Lily won't be able to take care of you."

"You really went through a lot of trouble back then. The old man lost face."

The shop owner's name is Mumm Cornwall.

Among the "Fairies" who are generally considered to have weak self-awareness, this shopkeeper possesses a remarkably clear personality. He uses his skillful hands and keen eyesight to integrate into life in the labyrinthine city of Orario. As for why he doesn't stay in nature but instead plunges headlong into secular society, Lily once heard him say, "Because this old man is considered low-level among the Fairies."

He appraised the items in the store, bought them low and sold them high to make a living.

"This is breakfast Lily made at headquarters, you must eat it. Also, the magic stone lamp in the warehouse was broken, Lily has replaced it with a new one. The gem inventory is also almost empty, you should replenish it."

"Oh, thank you..."

The goblin shopkeeper was rendered speechless by Lily's efficient and capable demeanor, and put on his trademark red hat. He covered his bald head, his round eyes fixed on the girl who was taller than him.

"Lily, are you going to the dungeon today too?"

"Yes, we absolutely must reach the 16th floor today! You know, Lily, our [Familia] is really on fire right now!"

Lily smiled happily, thinking of Belle's lively and reliable companions, and said cheerfully, "Lily can't hold them back either!"

After a while, everything was mostly ready. Lily checked the clock and prepared to head to the giant tower where she was to meet Bell and the others.

"Then Grandpa Mengmu, you can't skip breakfast, okay?"

"I know, I know, take care."

Lily put her hand on the door, turned around, smiled, and said, "Lily's gone!" before leaving the shop.

"...She can laugh like that now."

The shop owner murmured to himself as he watched Lily walk out of the door.

Although I am not a powerful "ancient fairy spirit" and am considered low-level among modern goblins, I am still one of the "fairy spirits" who are considered to be the closest to the gods.

I, Lily, thought the secret was hidden, but the goblins saw it all clearly.

The goblin shopkeeper, his eyes filled with reminiscence, swayed his beard and smiled joyfully.

*

The headquarters of the Hestia Familia, "Kamakuri-kan," is shrouded in moonlight.

After all the servants returned from the dungeon and had dinner together, they went one by one to the room where the main god Hestia was waiting to update their [ability values].

Today is the agreed-upon weekly [Ability Value] update day. Unless otherwise requested, the group members will all ask Hestia to check "God's Grace" on this day.

This was the first time Haruhime had received an experience point reward since joining the group. When it was Lily's turn, she nervously exposed her back.

"Okay, that's all."

Sitting in the chair, Lily, who was naked from the waist up, put on her clothes and took the update paper from Hestia.

She glanced at the individual's [ability stats] translated into Common Language.

Lilyluka Erd

LV.1

Strength: I 81 Durability: H 123→ 124 Dexterity: G232→236 Agility: F383→388 Magic: E 402→404

〖magic〗

【Stove Ash Woman】

Transformation magic.

• The transformed image changes according to the imagination during chanting. Fumble occurs when there is a lack of concreteness.

• It is recommended to imitate this approach.

• Chant: [Your scars are mine. My scars are still mine.]

• Unraveling the spell: [The Voice of Revelation at 12 PM]

〖Skill〗

[Ater·Assist, the Unsung Hero]

• Bonuses are applied when the equipment weight exceeds a certain threshold.

• Ability bonuses are proportional to weight.

"……well."

Lily sighed, her small lips parting slightly.

Looking at the increase in the ability parameter, she couldn't help but sigh.

(Lily knew, of course, that six months' worth of savings wouldn't be enough to upgrade her account...)

Due to some internal affairs of the Soma Familia faction, Lily did not update her [Ability Values] for a period of about half a year.

During the war game, she switched allegiance to the current Hestia Familia, finally managing to refresh her [Ability Values]. However, perhaps unsurprisingly, the refresh value wasn't much higher. Her ability parameters were at best below average for a beginner adventurer, and her subsequent progress was exactly as shown on the paper.

As is customary, even the most skilled adventurer takes more than three years to level up for the first time.

It's impossible for a weak ability to undergo a dramatic evolution in just six months.

"Miss Supporter, I understand your anxiety, but..."

"Lily understands. As a supporter, it's natural that her [ability stats] won't rise easily."

It should be said that, including the growth rate of his abilities and stats, he became a supporter precisely because he lacked the adventurer aptitude.

Hestia sucked on her finger, which had been pricked with needles in preparation for using divine blood, and Lily answered her somewhat stiffly. Lily turned her back to the chief god who was sitting in a chair, concerned about his duties, and left the room.

She walked down the first-floor corridor of the mansion and went directly to the living room.

Welf and the others stayed in the spacious reunion area, chatting while holding their refreshment papers.

Lily told Bell that it was his turn to join them after he left the living room... But then Lily saw her reflection in the window and stopped moving.

She had taken off her usual robes, revealing herself in a lightly dressed outfit. Around her exposed abdomen, specifically near her waist, one could see the dark, sacred script "hieroglyph".

Seeing the [ability values] peeking out from under her clothes, she frowned, looking puzzled.