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

Hearing him say that there were indeed some suspicious things about the guild, Loki agreed, "Yeah, that's true." That was the only point Loki agreed with.

"So, what exactly do you want from me?"

"Haha, didn't I say I'd let you know if there was any progress? I didn't mean anything by it."

In contrast to Loki, who looked at him with suspicion, Dionysus wore a refreshed smile.

With Loki's crew and Philowes watching, the two gods, one trying to pass the buck and the other trying to escape, begin to scheme against each other.

"My kids are all out now, so it's impossible for them to investigate the 24th floor—"

"Did they go to investigate that underground sewer system?"

Loki nodded, thinking to himself, "What an intuitive fellow." She told Dionysus that the captain (Finn) had led the elite forces, excluding the mages, to the sewers.

She stuck out her tongue and said that everyone else was either handling the "expedition" paperwork or making preparations, and none of them were at home.

"Isn't the Sword Maiden here? If we could get her to go, she would be worth a hundred men."

"Ais, she—" Loki was halfway through his sentence when suddenly there was a "thump."

A small parchment scroll fell from above her head.

"Huh?" Loki looked up and saw an owl flying overhead.

A carrier pigeon… wait, whose familiar is it? Just as Loki was wondering, the owl flew away from headquarters.

"Is it a letter?"

"It seems so."

In short, Loki first picked up the scroll that the owl had thrown down.

As Dionysus gracefully sipped the offered tea, Loki glanced at the writing on the parchment—and soon after, he looked up at the sky as if sighing.

She slapped her forehead with her palm.

"Ais went to the 24th floor..."

Ugh! Dionysus spat out his tea.

The main god coughed incessantly, and Phil Weiss behind him was also greatly surprised.

"She accepted the adventurer's quest and went to the 24th floor... What a coincidence that she chose this time! And she told me not to worry? Of course I'm worried! That airhead Ais is such a ditz!"

Seeing that the letter also contained "sacred writing," and that it was 100% in the girl's (Ais's) handwriting, Loki was certain that the girl had been caught up in the commotion.

She ordered the members of the group who were waiting nearby, "Call Bert... and Rafia, as soon as possible."

"What do you plan to do?"

"I sent Bert and the others to chase after Ais. This commotion seems to be related to the attack on Rivera."

Loki, recognizing the connection between the information brought by Dionysus and past events, immediately decided to send men to pursue Ais.

Dionysus took the handkerchief from Philelves, wiped his mouth, and squinted his eyes.

"Is it alright if just the two of you go? Although I was the one who brought it up, I feel like there's a dangerous scent about the 24th floor."

"There's nothing we can do; everyone else has gone out. Right now, it seems like only Bert and Lefia can help Ais."

Dionysus, seemingly acting on divine intuition, asserted the dangers of doing so, and Loki, upon hearing this, reluctantly clasped his hands behind his head.

Upon hearing that she had limited manpower, Dionysus pondered for a moment... then turned to look at his retinue.

"Philwines, you go to the 24th floor with Loki and the other kids."

The elf girl was taken aback, and Loki's eyes widened as well.

Seeing the main god staring at her with a serious expression, Philweis said sternly:

"Dionysus, what are you saying?! Who will protect you?!"

"Listen to me, Phil Weiss. I dragged Loki into this because of my own selfishness, and I can't just leave the problem to her. I have to show some sincerity."

Dionysus continued, as if offering advice.

"Most importantly, I want to gain Loki's trust."

Then he spoke his true feelings without any reservations.

"Trust must be earned through actions...you understand, Phil Weiss."

"..."

Dionysus said that, in fact, Loki did not fully trust them.

"Who says that to their own face?" Loki looked like he couldn't stand him.

"But I..."

Seeing that Philweiss seemed hesitant to speak, Dionysus rose from his chair.

As if communicating their innermost thoughts, the glass eyes of the gods and the crimson eyes of their retinues silently exchanged a thousand unspoken words.

"Philwines, please."

"……I see."

Phil Weiss reluctantly nodded in agreement to the Lord God's fervent wish.

She turned to Loki and straightened her posture.

"Loki, if possible, please allow me to travel with your party."

"Hmm~ I really appreciate your kindness... but honestly, can she keep up?"

"Philwis is the only Lv.3 in my [Family]. At least she won't get in the way when we reach the 24th floor."

Loki tilted his head as Dionysus assured him of the strength of his retinue.

"Your [Family] has a Level 2 (Lv.3)? This is the first time I've heard of that!"

"I spent a lot of money to ask the Great Assembly of the Gods not to mention Philvis's information. That child is too conspicuous among adventurers."

"Though it was just a small act of parental love, I always tried to keep her out of the spotlight," Dionysus said. He admitted that he had concealed the names of his party members at the council of gods where the adventurers had risen to fame.

He added that official intelligence (the guild) clearly recorded her level as Lv.3, and Loki replied with "Oh, right," turning his gaze to her.

The black-haired elf girl closed her eyes, said nothing, and simply stood there.

"Okay, it doesn't matter. Anyway, we are indeed short-handed. I'll let Bert and the others know."

"thank you."

With Loki's permission, Philweis thanked her.

After that, chaotic noises echoed throughout the headquarters. The younger elf, having heard Loki's explanation, hurriedly packed his bags, while the werewolf youth, who had already completed his exploration preparations, cursed loudly. To reach their companion (Ais), they quickly prepared to depart.

Soon after, accompanied by Loki and the others, Bert, Rafia, and Philweis met in front of the headquarters' main entrance.

"It's you again..."

"Please, please give me your guidance."

This was the second time Bert had encountered Philweis, and he frowned in displeasure. Meanwhile, Lefia, equipped with a cylindrical backpack and a staff, finished her self-introduction.

Facing the two people who were about to form a temporary team together, Phil Weiss remained silent.

"If you dare to hold me back, I'll kick you away. Get lost before you kick the bucket."

"...Stop talking nonsense, werewolf."

"Waaaaah..."

The atmosphere between Bert and Philwiss was quite tense from the start, truthfully demonstrating the antagonistic relationship between the lone wolf and the proud elf. The discord that often plagues a hastily assembled team left Lefia with a stomachache.

The future is fraught with difficulties, and the dire situation ahead is not hard to imagine.

Caught between her faction's elders and her fellow elves, Lefia set off from headquarters with the two of them.

■

Ais, who started from the 10th floor, quickly reached the 18th floor.

The crystal clusters at the ceiling formed a blue sky, and Ais traversed the entire forest and grassland within the secure floor, heading towards the western lake. Following the instructions of the man in black, she made her way to "Riviera Town," perched on a small island of giant rocks.

Although ten days have passed since the incident, it's still surprising that many shops in the rogue town, which was attacked by swarms of carnivorous plants, have been repaired. The dungeon's terrain, including the cliff with its gaping hole and the shattered crystal pillars, has been restored to its original state. Ais can now see the bustling town scene with high-level adventurers coming and going.

Others were carrying tools and rebuilding shops or staircases. Ais searched for a specific tavern among them.

She walked along a quiet path in the town, following the route that had been briefly given to her.

Soon she came to the north of town, to a path near Cluster Street, which is formed by a long, enormous crystal canyon.

It was a cave with a large opening in the rough rock wall.

"There's a tavern here...!"

The crystal light from the rooftop couldn't penetrate this narrow, dead-end alley, making it quite dark. Ais murmured to herself, seeing the shop quietly nestled in this deserted place. She had stopped over in "Rivera Town" several times over the years, but she had no idea there was a tavern here.

The tavern designated by the men in black is called "Golden Cellar Pavilion".

A signpost was placed at the cave entrance, with a red arrow pointing diagonally downwards. Wooden stairs led into the cave, and Ais creaked as she walked down them.

As Ais descended the stairs, she stepped into a cave without doors or partitions, where a scene of a tavern filled with fellow travelers unfolded before her.

The most striking feature was the crystal pillar, glowing with a yellow light, growing in the center of the ravine. While white and blue crystals were everywhere on the 18th floor, this was the first time she had ever seen yellow crystal. It must be a rare variety that only grows here.

Ais, amazed, looked around. The tavern, exposed by the black rock, was neither too big nor too small, and contained several tables and chairs. Illuminated by magic stone lamps and yellow crystals mounted on the ceiling and walls, smiling adventurers gambled (played cards) at the tables, their stakes (chips) consisting of "magic stones" of varying sizes.

There were quite a few customers; all five tables were full, except for the bar counter in the corner, which was still empty. Ais thought the business might be doing well, and walked towards the empty bar counter seat.

Inside the long bar counter was a wine cabinet filled with bottles of various colors, and the dwarf owner who never smiled.

There was only one seat left, but it had already been taken by a beastman girl.

"Hmm? Wait, isn't that Fiora?! What a coincidence, running into you here!"

"...Lulu, Miss?"

Lulu, the dog-girl who noticed Ais, was first surprised, then smiled.

She was an adventurer from another faction (the Hermes Familia), and during the "Gem" incident, she temporarily worked alongside Ais and Lefia. At that time, like Ais this time, she was also employed by the Men in Black, taking on delivery work.

She had black hair, brown skin, and flexible limbs. She wasn't wearing armor, only a combat suit that emphasized agility, which, combined with her slender figure, reminded Ais of the word "thief."

Just as Ais was feeling the incredible connection, Lulune casually struck up a conversation with her.

"I'm so grateful for your help last time. I was lucky to have you there, otherwise I wouldn't have survived. I want to thank you again."

"No...are you alright?"

"Haha, as you can see, it's great."

Luluni smiled and said to Ais, "Let me buy you a drink." Ais politely declined her offer, but did as the man in black instructed, and sat down in the second seat from the corner of the bar—the seat right next to Luluni.

She looked suspicious for a moment, but quickly smiled again.

"You came to explore alone today? I didn't expect you to know about this shop. It seems that [Sword Maiden] is quite knowledgeable about the area."

Luluni chattered on and on, while Ais casually answered her questions while glancing at the inside of the bar.

The dwarf boss walked over with a stern face and asked her:

"What would you like to order?"

At this moment, Ais uttered the "password" that the man in black had told her.

"Matcha Cream Flavored Potato Balls."

It's too late to say.

The moment Ais uttered the "secret code"—Clang!!

The chair next to me made a loud noise and flipped over.

Ais was startled and looked to the side, only to see Luluni fall to the ground with a thud, staring blankly in disbelief.

"...You...you're the savior?"

—Could it be…? Just as Ais was thinking this, the others around her also made their movements.

The humans who were drinking, the beastmen who were gambling (playing cards), all the guests stood up from their tables and stared at Ais. Ais also became nervous and left her seat.

Seeing them abandon their relaxed drinking posture and look at her seriously, Ais finally understood.

In other words, including Luluni, all the customers in this tavern were the "helpers" the man in black was referring to.