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

It means: Please help me defeat "Krozo's Demon Sword".

The battle scenes from the war game were broadcast throughout the city of Orario via the "Divine Mirror," and Welf's work—which approached the legendary "Demon Sword"—and was indeed the real thing, became widely known among adventurers. Everyone could imagine the powerful "Demon Sword" capable of blasting thick city walls into rubble in an instant. With a little investigation, it wouldn't be difficult to discover that the Hestia Familia possessed a blacksmith, who was undoubtedly the one who prepared the weapons for the faction.

"You damned bastard..."

After the war game, there were indeed quite a few people like the ones in front of us... but today's is particularly outrageous.

It was probably because the news that the Hestia Familia—the magic swordsmith—had arrived in Rivera Town, a place frequented only by adventurers, spread that everyone in town came to visit.

Seeing the adventurers frantically commissioning him to make the "magic sword," Welf's face twisted in disgust.

"—Stop making so much noise, get out of here!! Go tell everyone I absolutely will not sell the 'Demon Sword,' nor will I give it to anyone!"

Welf yelled at the adventurers and chased them away.

No matter how much the adventurers pleaded and complained, he ignored them. Seeing his steely will and aggressive demeanor, the townspeople of Rivera shrank back, spitting and grumbling as they left.

This attitude also frightened Haruhime and Chigusa. "You bastard!" he cursed again.

"..."

"...What's with that look, big guy?"

"No...would you like some honey cloud pastries?"

"No way I'd want that!!"

Looking at the cherry blossoms with a pitying gaze that seemed to say, "You must be having a tough time," and a gentle attitude that was infuriating, he offered them fruit. Welf yelled back. Coupled with the fact that his attitude had startled the other girls, he felt embarrassed and stepped away from his group.

Only at this moment did he forget his usual elder brother demeanor and couldn't help but act alone.

"Welf!"

"...Bell."

Then, just as he was alone on a high platform in town with a particularly expansive view, Bell arrived.

Seeing Welf standing alone in a deserted place, the white-haired boy put his hand on his head.

"Sorry, Welf, it seems like all the Rivera people in town have been bothering you... They want me to introduce you to them, but I did refuse..."

"...No, this isn't your fault. I knew it would turn out this way sooner or later."

From the moment Welf decided to wield the "Demon Sword" for his companions, he was fully prepared for the situation he had just faced. Even so, he still couldn't help but get angry, which was his immaturity, as well as the stubbornness and pride unique to craftsmen.

"Don't apologize." Welf gave Bell a wry smile, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath.

"Seriously, all they talk about is the Demon Sword... Don't those guys have any self-respect? If they're adventurers, they should climb the ranks based on their skills and a sword."

"Hahaha..."

Seeing that Welf had returned to normal and was even able to mutter to himself, Bell smiled with his eyebrows lowered.

"Oh, speaking of swords reminds me, how are short swords to use?"

"Yes, it's great. It's very easy to use and was very useful in the battle just now."

When Welf inquired about the newly crafted dagger, Bell drew it from the sling. The weapon, held in his left hand, had a longer attack range than a dagger and was also very effective for distraction. Seeing the blade gleaming under the crystal light overhead, Welf nodded in satisfaction.

Then, just as the two were laughing together... a figure approached them with footsteps.

The two of them turned around together, and Welf's eyes widened.

"Haha, you're so popular, little brother Will."

He wore bright red trousers and a continental-style combat suit, and his weapon was a katana.

The blacksmith with his swaying black hair—a member of the Hephaestus Familia, the former leader of his faction, and Tsubaki, who had just joined the floor master's raid—walked over.

"What are you doing here...! Wait, what are you doing in the middle level!?"

"What's wrong, young man Will? We used to be colleagues, why are you being so cold? Didn't I used to treat you very well?"

"Stop talking nonsense and answer me!"

"Hmm, let's answer the second question first. I haven't been to the Labyrinth Dungeon in a long time, and I'd like to have a good fight. Now for the first question... I'm just teasing you."

Seeing Chun grinning wickedly, Welf thought through gritted teeth, "What a joke!"

Leader of the Hephaestus Familia, Tsubaki Kobrand.

Standing at a towering 170cm, she is often mistaken for a human. In reality, her parents are a Far Eastern female human and a continental male dwarf, making her a "half-dwarf." Her healthy brown skin, combined with her combat suit and the white cloth wrapped around her breasts that bulges out, should theoretically make her quite sexy. However, her inexplicably cheerful and carefree personality negates all her feminine charm.

With the strength of a Level 5, Level 1 adventurer, she has often taken care of... or rather, teased, Wilf ever since he joined the same faction.

She seemed very interested in the "Crozzo bloodline of the Demon Sword," which is still often talked about as a joke. She treated Welf like a child, poking him and putting her arm around his shoulder countless times. Welf also knew that his former colleagues often teased him as "the captain's toy."

Previously, when Welf and his companions embarked on their perilous journey to reach the 18th floor and were taken care of by the Loki Familia, she, who had accompanied them on their "expedition," kept pestering Welf with nonsense like, "Are you here to chase us?" To be honest, Welf was not good at dealing with her.

As for Tsubaki—in the labyrinth city of Orario, she is a highly respected and well-deserved top-ranking craftswoman.

Welf was competitive with her because she was known as the "master smith," and because he wasn't good at dealing with her type, he always avoided getting too close to her.

When Welf visibly frowned, Chun greeted Bell, whom she had met once before, exchanged a few words, and then turned back to him.

"Little brother Will, ever since you left, the Supreme Goddess has lost all her spirit. She seems very lonely, doesn't she?"

"...Don't lie to me."

Upon hearing this unexpected statement, Welf let out a suppressed, hesitant voice, "It's true." Tsubaki nodded calmly, a malicious smile playing on her lips.

Bell listened to their conversation with an incredulous expression.

"Huh, what does that mean?"

"So, in other words, they're mutually in love... I don't know for sure, but at least young man Will likes that supreme god, right?"

"Hey! Shut up! How should I know!?"

Seeing Chun's wicked grin, Welf's voice finally rose. His face flushed slightly, and he wavered as he told her not to instill any nonsense in the boy.

As for Bell himself, he seemed stunned when he first saw Welf with such an expression, and when he learned that Welf's feelings for the goddess were not just pure reverence, but also something else entirely.

Welf was extremely embarrassed by the boy's gaze. "Damn it!" he exclaimed, grabbing his burning cheek.

He gave Chun a reproachful look, telling her to tone it down. Chun just chuckled softly and swayed her shoulders, as if she found it amusing—suddenly, her whole demeanor changed.

"That's right—no matter what kind of blacksmith they are, they will all become fascinated by that supreme god."

She squinted her red right eye, which wasn't covered by an eye patch.

"Whether as a goddess, or as a woman... or her forging skills."

Welf and Bell were both taken aback. Chun continued, saying to him:

"Young man Will, why didn't you draw the 'Demon Sword' sooner during that battle? Why did you refuse to forge the 'Demon Sword'?"

"You...from the very beginning...!?"

"Are you still joking that you don't want to fight 'The Demon Sword'?"

According to Tsubaki, she had been watching him since the battle on the 17th floor. Welf was about to argue with her, but Tsubaki's tone had already turned cold, and she ignored him.

The teasing words turned into interrogation.

"Whether it's talent or 'bloodline,' child, we must invest everything we have, otherwise we cannot reach the highest level of weaponry. As for reaching the realm of that goddess/demon you're obsessed with, that's just wishful thinking."

When the blacksmith's cold, ruthless demeanor made Bell gasp, Welf felt a surge of anger rush to his head.

In order to forge the ultimate weapon that all blacksmiths yearn for—reaching the "divine realm" revealed by the goddess Hephaestus—Tsubaki tells Welf that even his cursed bloodline should be utilized, thus revealing his strong rebellious spirit.

"Don't dictate my limits!? I never intended to use the 'Demon Sword' to reach the highest realm! I hate the 'Demon Sword'!!"

"..."

"I will use my methods to reach that goddess's realm!"

Hearing Welf stubbornly reject the "Demon Sword" and insist on carrying out his own ideas, Tsubaki's right eye narrowed to the point of being almost invisible.

Then, her gaze shifted to Bell—and she was instantly right in front of him.

Welf's eyes couldn't keep up, and he stood there unable to move. She rapidly approached and stole Bell's breath.

Chun reached for the scabbard and hilt of the katana at her waist—faced with her needle-like killing intent, the boy's body moved reflexively, raising the short sword still held in his left hand.

In the blink of an eye, the katana that Chun drew from its sheath struck the short sword, breaking the blade in two.

"————"

As he watched his creation shatter with a dull thud, Welf froze.

It wasn't cut off, it was broken.

Tsubaki only used a simple scooping attack; the attack itself didn't involve any "skills." She lost only because of the strength of the colliding swords and the superiority of the weapons.

Bell was speechless as he watched the silver fragments of the short sword fall to the ground, while Welf stood frozen in place.

Having destroyed the weapons, Tsubaki ignored them, simply saying casually:

"What is this, a blunt knife?"

Azure labyrinthine sky, peaceful town of Rivera.

The craftsman standing at the pinnacle of blacksmithing seemed detached from all of this, uttering a chillingly cold tone.

"My approach? You idiot, you'll die before you even see the outline of the peak."

"...!?"

"Just because you've become a master blacksmith, you think you're something special?"

Her words, along with the stark reality before him, pierced Welf's heart.

Welf did not consider himself arrogant or complacent, but he could not deny that, unconsciously, he was indeed "intoxicated" by the sense of accomplishment and confidence he held in his heart as a master blacksmith.

The woman glared at Welf with her right eye, as if accusing him.

"There are plenty of people who can fight with weapons of this caliber."

Then, Tsubaki said to him, clearly indignant:

"Don't misjudge your own suitability, Welf Crozo."

That sounded almost like advice.

Soon she turned around, tossing her tied-up black hair.

Chun gradually walked away, leaving behind the immobilized Welf and the others.

"I will compensate for the damaged weapons in the future."

Without looking back, Chun left after uttering those words.

Welf was still unable to move, and could only look down at his broken short sword that had fallen to the ground.

"Welf..."

He couldn't even hear what the boy was saying at this moment.

All the setbacks he had experienced and overcome time and time again seemed insignificant to him, and he was greatly discouraged, falling into a deep abyss of despair.

*

The light from the ceiling crystal disappeared, and the 18th floor entered "night".

Bell and the others decided to stay overnight in "Rivera Town".

Having exhausted their weapons and supplies in the battle against Goliath, and for safety's sake—or rather, being completely worn out—they decided to avoid camping in monster-infested corners of the labyrinth or in the forest on the 18th floor. Their original objective, the "mini-expedition," was thus abandoned, and they began searching for an inn.

Everyone chimed in, saying that all their camping gear was wasted. In the end, Lily and her friends chose a hotel located in a cave from the pool of candidates.

In Rivera, a town known for its opportunistic exploitation of adventurers and exorbitant prices, this inn was a steal. The inn appeared perfectly fine, even boasting carpets made of tiger fangs and lion-tiger fur, candlestick-shaped magic stone lamps, and beds in every room – making it a truly upscale establishment in town.

The accommodation fees are so low because—

"...I heard that the gruesome remains of adventurers were once found here; it's a haunted inn..."

"W-Won't this cause any problems!?"

"Lily-Lady Lily, perhaps we should check into another inn...!?"

"No, no way. Other inns are too expensive. Who cares if it's a haunted house or whatever, cheap is the most important thing. Yes, that's right, so that murdered adventurers won't become vengeful ghosts or cursed guests...!"

—A tragic murder occurred at this hotel, causing guests to stop coming.

Despite the terrified Haruhime, Mikoto, Chigusa, and the others' unanimous objections, the little-man miser all rejected them. Lily, suppressing her unease, insisted on checking into the inn. The orc innkeeper, seeing a rare guest, was so happy he cried.

The shop owner even kindly offered them some food and drinks, and after being treated, Lily and the others went to bed. The men and women were separated, of course, and soon all the girls squeezed into one room, huddling together on the floor for courage.