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

The game of the gods—the game of war.

Just like the adventurers in the city and Rivera, the existence of the "Demon Sword" was exposed during the war, and even the kingdom knew about it. So the kingdom, led by the chief god Ares, took action to seize the "Demon Sword of Crozzo," which possessed great power in Welf.

"The primary objective of this ongoing war is none other than you."

The facts before him left Welf speechless, a chill running through his body.

Is the kingdom targeting Welf and attacking Orario in order to reclaim the former glory brought by the power of the "Demon Sword," a glory that was once considered too great to be mythical?

The kingdom's obsession and stubbornness with "Crozo's Demon Sword" left him standing there, frozen in place.

"Of course, our country had been preparing for war with Orario before. However, after receiving news from the war game, Ares and the King urgently changed their strategy."

"...!"

"Then, the Supreme God commanded me to come and persuade you... Come with me, Welf. If you can return home and forge the 'Demon Sword of Crozo,' the glory of Kingdom Lachia will be revived once more."

That supreme god loves war, so he probably wouldn't start a war just for his own sake.

However, the kingdom and the man before him had indeed mobilized tens of thousands of troops for the "Demon Sword," making such a fuss over nothing. This infuriated Welf, who cursed inwardly, "What an idiot!"

Now that Welf is a member of a core force in the city, escaping the watchful eyes of the guild, which is strictly guarded against the outflow of combat power, and luring Welf—by scaling that massive city wall—would indeed be extremely difficult. Even if they could make contact with Welf, there would be ridiculously powerful adventurers blocking their way.

Leading 30,000 soldiers into battle, drawing away a large number of forces from the city, and still fighting now, is probably just buying time to get Welf out of Orario.

The kingdom was willing to go to such lengths to reclaim the lost power of the "Demon Sword".

"What a joke!! Who wants to go with you?! I've already severed ties with my family and the Kingdom of Lachia! Why should I take your orders?!"

"Foolish son, I was acting out of compassion and wanted to resolve this peacefully, but you..."

Father and son glared at each other, their expressions tense and ready to fight.

Faced with the tense atmosphere and Wel's threatening words, Welf curled up the corners of his mouth and reached for the hilt of the large knife behind his back.

"Are you going to use force against me now, like taking it by force?"

Welf had already sensed that several people were lurking around.

He scanned the shadows and the depths of the dimly lit path, giving Will a provocative smile.

"I'll cause a huge scene, even in this remote corner, and I'll still attract a bunch of people. This is the labyrinth city of Orario; once you're discovered, you won't be able to escape."

Welf is a Level 2, undoubtedly a strong individual by city or kingdom standards, and not someone to be trifled with. While it did surprise Welf that the opponent was able to infiltrate the city undetected, the number of people capable of doing so must be limited, making it difficult to outnumber them.

With a surge of confidence, Welf intended to turn the tables and defeat his opponent. Just as he was about to draw his greatsword, Welf, without changing his expression, told him:

"If you refuse to come with me—we've already made arrangements. Our comrades who are invading the city will set it on fire with the 'Demon Sword.' Of course, it's 'Krozo's' Demon Sword."

"————"

The hand that was about to draw the knife suddenly stopped.

Welf's eyes widened in astonishment, and then he exclaimed:

"Stop lying!? The Kingdom of Lachia hasn't had 'Kroso's Magic Sword' for a long time!?"

"No, there's more. Fifty of them escaped destruction when they were cursed by the 'Fairy Spirit'."

"It's understandable that you, being at the end of the family, wouldn't know," he said.

For the first time, Will smiled.

In the past, the "Crozo's Demon Sword," which brought numerous victories and destruction with the kingdom's advances, turned the natural world around the battlefield—springs, mountains, and even the elven forests—into scorched earth. This angered the "Fairies," whose dwellings, like the elves', were also destroyed by fire, and the kingdom's "Demon Sword" was turned to dust by their power. The family blacksmiths who participated in its creation were also cursed, and to this day, only Welf remains capable of forging the "Demon Sword."

However, Will stated unequivocally that the "magic sword" was spared from the "elf" curse.

"Kingdom Lachia, fearing the loss of the 'Demon Sword' left by its ancestors, has never used it to this day..."

He maintained a smile throughout, reaching one hand to his jacket waist and pulling out "that."

"Look, this is the evidence."

“——!?”

What the father held in his hand was a sword-shaped "demon sword".

The sharp, crimson blade startled Welf, and the surge of blood within him told him that it was indeed "Krozo's Demon Sword".

"The remaining 'Demon Swords' will be carried by my comrades. As long as I give a signal or don't return, they will unleash the power of the 'Demon Swords' in various corners of Orario."

Using "Krozo's Demon Sword" throughout the city—that would mean a great catastrophe is about to befall us.

Just like the burned-down elven forest and the dwelling place of the "fairy spirits," the peaceful city will be engulfed in flames, its buildings reduced to piles of rubble, and the lives of countless ordinary people will be threatened.

Seeing that his biological son understood the situation and froze, Will narrowed his eyes.

"As long as you come to our side, everything will be fine."

Then, the man, who had been indifferent, revealed a sinister smile on his face.

As if releasing pent-up joy, he began to speak:

"Welf, with your arrival, Kingdom Lachia can rise again!? And we, 'Kroso,' can once again enjoy wealth and glory! Wealth, status, and fame will all be ours!!"

"...!?"

"Ares promised me that if I bring you and the 'Demon Sword' back to our country, our family will be restored!? The glory and honor of our clan will be revived!? 'Krozo's' long-cherished wish will be fulfilled! No, it will be fulfilled by me!!"

Will's face lit up, and he tossed his messy hair, letting his emotions drive him to talk nonstop.

His eyes, devoid of any domineering aura, held a madness within them, revealing a piercing gaze that defied convention.

Seeing the man's unwavering obsession with his family's legacy, Welf was truly awestruck at that moment.

Will, his face contorted with wrinkles, smiled and said:

"Tonight, prepare to escape Orario. Bring all the 'Demon Swords' you have and come to the warehouse in the southwestern suburbs of the city at midnight... You know what will happen if others find out about this, right?"

After giving instructions to his son, Will left.

The surrounding atmosphere receded somewhat, but still maintained a distance that was neither too close nor too far, as if it were tracking Welf.

Welf stood frozen in place, watching his father's figure disappear into the darkness, his clenched fists trembling uncontrollably.

*

After returning to headquarters, Welf told Bell and the others, and then settled down in the "workshop".

He lacked the confidence to feign calmness.

He didn't want to run into the goddess Hestia and have her discover his secret.

Welf sat alone in the backyard hut, the red light illuminating his face as he stared intently at the burning stove. He sat motionless on the pedestal.

Welf pondered repeatedly as the flames flickered and burned.

Before the firelight, as if affected by the reunion with his father, rusty memories returned to his mind.

Listen to the sound of the iron block, listen to the sound of the iron block, and put your heart into the hammer.

Before he knew it, Welf had picked up a hammer and started hammering iron.

He made a clanging sound, sending sparks flying. The murmur of the iron block overlapped with his own voice, and he felt his turbulent emotions gradually calm down.

The fire crackled and popped, and the night grew darker outside the tightly closed blinds.

Just as the moment of departure was about to arrive, he finished a sword.

It wasn't some "magic sword" or anything special; it was just a silver sword with a transparent luster, and he had never forged such a blade before.

Welf gazed intently at the weapon, which reflected his own face and gleamed like a mirror, before placing it on the anvil. He wrapped the other weapons in a white cloth and left the workshop.

Time flies faster than I imagined.

The sky above was full of stars, and when I looked up to the side, I saw that the lights in every window of the mansion were off.

Welf glanced at his headquarters for a moment, then walked outside through the back door.

As the appointed time approached, Welf walked silently down the road, heading towards the suburbs.

at this time.

"What... Bell!?"

Someone approached him from behind, and Welf was startled. He turned around and saw a white-haired boy standing there.

Bell walked up to him under the illumination of the magic stone lamp, seemingly finding it difficult to speak, and stammered in a low voice:

"I wanted to ask you what you were doing... because I was worried about you."

As they passed each other at the mansion, only Bell noticed that he looked strange.

Seeing the boy slip out of headquarters and catch up with him, Welf was speechless at first... then he smiled.

How many times has this happened? The boy, like a rabbit afraid of loneliness, has been hopping and skipping behind him since the 18th floor, which warms his heart.

He stretched out his right arm and ruffled his white hair.

Welf smiled broadly at the startled Bell.

Seeing Welf's expression, Bell smiled too.

Welf, who had intended to keep it to himself, told his boy companion everything that had happened that evening.

"King, the Kingdom of Lachia did such a thing!? No, that's not important, Welf, your father...!?"

"Yeah, that country seems to really love 'Croz's Magic Sword'."

He explained as he walked down the street, and Bell was terrified when he heard it.

Welf had detected the presence of his spies, but he anticipated they couldn't do anything about it. Perhaps they'd think that since it was just young Bell alone, it wouldn't be a problem, and would turn a blind eye to avoid causing trouble.

"...Welf, what do you plan to do?"

In his panic, Bell looked up at Welf beside him with a serious expression.

The boy was worried that he would agree to the other party's request to leave the city, but Welf smiled at him.

"I won't abandon you... I won't abandon you anywhere, don't worry."

"Leave it all to me," Welf told Bell.

Thanks to the boy, their tense mood seemed to ease a bit, and the two walked along the streets late at night, heading towards their destination.

The warehouse area in the southwestern suburbs of the city specified by the other party is located within the exchange.

Products from other countries and regions, transported by land or sea, are first brought into this southwestern region and then sold throughout Orari by trading companies and merchants. Citizens often come in person to buy exotic foreign goods.

Welf and Bell stepped into an area filled with warehouses of varying sizes. The scattered magic stone lights were insufficient to illuminate all the network of roads, making it not only dim but also full of dark corners and blind spots. A massive city wall stood nearby, overlooking the two of them.

Soon, one of the spies who had been hiding and watching the two appeared ahead, flicking his coat as if to signal Welf to follow. Bell grunted, and Welf walked alongside him, shoulder to shoulder, following the spy.

After walking for a while in a deserted area, the two were led to a long, rectangular warehouse.

"—I remember saying you had to come alone, Welf."

"He followed me here when I wasn't looking, what could I do?"

Moonlight streamed into the warehouse through the glass windows high in the wall, and Will Crozzo stood in the center.

Seeing him frown, Welf grabbed Bell's head with his right hand and shook it.

Seeing the boy, blushing and resisting, playfully fighting with his own son, Will said with a smile, "Fine."

"It's kind of him to make this special trip, but you should say goodbye to the boy here."

Will drew his "Demon Sword" from his waist, and as he moved, figures emerged one after another from the surrounding area.

The number of people was about fifty, much more than expected.

The sheer number of opponents made Bell waver, and Welf beside him stiffened his expression.

"How did you get into Orario? Was it a city checkpoint?"

"Even with a governing body like the guild, the Labyrinth City isn't entirely united. The trading companies are the same, as are the [Familia]; there are plenty of loopholes to exploit."

Upon hearing Wel's implication about the existence of an insider, Welff couldn't help but curse, "Are all the guild guards just slacking off...?"

Under the pale moonlight, the soldiers of Ares's kin, all dressed in robes and cloaks, disguised themselves as travelers to conceal their true identities. They drew daggers or short swords from their robes and slowly tightened the human wall surrounding Bell and Welf.

"Alright, you silly son, come with me!"

Just as Welf and Bell struck their poses, and Welf burst into loud laughter, the next moment...

The dimness of the warehouse was torn apart by countless magic stone lights.

「!?」