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

After a while, Bert put on his battle suit and prepared to leave the room. Loki, sitting on the bed, spoke to the tall figure with his back turned:

"So please, Bert, you have to protect everyone—"

Faced with the perilous "Expedition," Loki pleads with Bert.

The werewolf youth stopped in front of the door, and turned around when he heard the chief god say this.

"...Ha! Those family members you picked and chose aren't idiots, are they?"

It was rare to see Loki with a stunned expression, and Bert smiled.

"He may be a nobody, but he's not a coward. He doesn't need me to protect him."

Hearing a child who can never be honest say this.

Loki grinned and returned the smile.

◆

She naturally regained consciousness.

On the morning of the "expedition".

Sunlight streaming through the gaps in the curtains made Ais slowly open her eyes.

She propped herself up on the bed in her room at headquarters, looked at her beloved sword (the Sword of Despair) leaning against the wall, then looked out the window, squinting her eyes.

The sky is clear and cloudless.

"Okay, I'm going to give it my all!"

"It's so noisy, shut up and get ready..."

In the double room assigned to them.

Tiona and her sister Tione, having gotten up, began packing their bags amidst much bickering.

They were preparing to set off on their long-awaited "expedition." The older sister, revealing her ample breasts and supple legs, put on her combat suit. The younger sister, already dressed beside her, opened the chest cabinet, threw its contents onto the floor, and stuffed the necessary items into her bag one by one.

As Tiony grumbled, the floor was quickly covered with Tiony's personal belongings.

Tiona swayed her wrap dress as she made her way to the large weapon leaning against the wall, her personal weapon.

"I have to catch up with Ais on this 'expedition'!"

She gripped the hilt of the large double-edged sword, the blades gleaming.

"Lefia, I'll go ahead now—?"

"Oh, okay, take care!"

After her female roommate left the room, Rafia quickly continued preparing.

She tied her long, thick golden hair up in front of the mirror and used the hair ornament she was holding in her mouth—which was also an adventurer's accessory—to tie a ponytail at the back of her head.

Lefia tied on the silver hair ornament, looked in the mirror, and nodded to indicate that everything was done.

"..."

Lefia stood up from her chair, picked up her wand, "Forest Tear," and finally looked down at her palm.

She clenched her fist, as if confirming the "magical" power that her compatriot—her friend—had given her.

Lefia looked up, slung the cylindrical backpack of her supporter equipment over her shoulder, and left the room.

"Ah, Brother Bert."

In the garden in front of the Twilight Pavilion, group members were moving large cargo boxes and other supplies.

All the grassroots members have been mobilized and are checking and organizing tents, spare protective gear, and more than thirty "magic swords" and other luggage in preparation for departure.

Everyone was tense and excited about today's "expedition," and people were talking everywhere. As Raul was giving instructions to the team members, he saw Bert walk out of the tower gate.

The arm guards and silver metal boots worn by the equipment gleamed in the sunlight.

Good morning.

"You're not allowed to hold me back, understand?"

After greeting the first werewolf youth among the first-level adventurers, Raul made this statement to Raul and everyone nearby.

He was widely feared by the grassroots members, and his tone of voice made many people shrink into a ball. "Ah, ahahaha..." Raul forced out a laugh while sweating.

At the same time, his unwavering attitude, even in the face of an "expedition," gave Raul a wonderful sense of security.

"Has Ais and the others not arrived yet?"

"Yes, yes. Miss Tiona and the others were rushing to eat breakfast in the restaurant... but Miss Ais seems to still be in her room."

"Huh? That guy isn't planning on eating?"

Even though everyone around him was huddled up in fear, Raul remained undeterred and continued his conversation with Bert. He stopped when the topic of Ais came up.

"Tsk, I just can't do anything with her." Bert cursed as he turned around and walked back the way he came.

The werewolf youth returned to the manor, probably heading to Ais's room. Raul watched him leave, thinking: He really knows how to take care of people in some inexplicable places—

"..."

The base camp consists of eight towers, including the central tower.

In the spire to the due north, Finn was in his room, kneeling on one knee with one hand pressed against his chest.

He closed his eyes quietly. In front of him, a painted textile (tapestry) hung on the wall, and on the shelf next to it, a statue of a goddess was placed.

The tapestry woven with gold and silver threads, and the plaster statue holding a spear, are both of the same deity.

It is the fictional goddess "Fiana" whom the Lilliputians devoutly worship.

"Finn, I'm going in... Oh, I think I'm bothering you."

"No, it's okay, it just ended."

Grace and Riveria entered the room and saw Finn kneeling before the goddess. They had intended to come later, but he opened his eyes and stood up.

He had just been praying to his god, but now he turned to his two allies.

"Everything is ready, including supplies, everything is prepared."

"Yes, thank you, Grace."

"Just to be on the safe side, I'd like to discuss with you one last thing, which is the grouping method for the second team up to the 18th floor."

Finn, Grace, and Riveria formed a circle and began to discuss.

The "Expedition" is about to begin, and the leadership lineup of the Loki Familia is being finalized.

"Rivia, how is everyone?"

"They've been focused on exercising these past few days, and I was initially worried about their health... but everything is fine, they've been taking good care of themselves both physically and mentally."

"After all, they are all hot-blooded young men, and their morale is very high."

After the discussion, Finn asked them, and both said the members were in top condition.

At this moment, a commotion could still be heard from the garden. Grace crossed her arms and squinted.

"Including Ais, the young people have all grown up... I really miss the days when it was just the two of you and me."

"It's too early to retire now, Grace."

Upon hearing the dwarf mention the early days of the Familia, Riveria closed her eyes and smiled.

Finn smiled, looked up at the two of them, and then his expression slowly changed.

"We've finally reached this point. The challenge left by the gods (Zeus) and the goddess (Hera) for those who haven't reached the next floor... If we can surpass this step, our fame will once again shake the world."

Driven by a desire for fame to revive the dwarf race, his blue eyes shone with an unshakeable light of will.

Seeing his appearance, Rivera spoke up:

"Isn't that enough? Now there's no dwarf who doesn't know you."

Upon hearing Riveria's words, Finn closed his eyes and shook his head.

"Among the dwarf races renowned in the city (Orario), besides myself, there are only the Four Flame Warriors of the goddess Freya... In this world, I have hardly heard of the names of any of my fellow countrymen."

Not just in Orario, but even looking at the whole world, you can only hear about a handful of people from the Dwarf race.

As Finn spoke, he looked down at his fist.

"The dwarves need light, they need a banner called 'courage'."

Just as in ancient times, the warriors of a race were modeled after the goddess "Fiana," who has long been the spiritual anchor of the Lilliputians—Finn went on to say.

At the same time, he also revealed his true feelings, saying that he would stop at nothing and be willing to sacrifice everything for this.

"I can't give up now. Whatever awaits me, I will keep going."

Seeing this little adventurer raise his head and express his resolve.

Grace stroked his beard and smiled.

"You're just like when we first met. You always have ambitions that don't suit your short stature, and you're so boastful."

"I consider myself much more tactful."

"You really dare to say that."

Finn shrugged deliberately, and Grace's mustache and lips curled up.

Rivera watched the two talking, and finally couldn't help but say nostalgically:

"...We used to always argue, but now we're standing together on the front lines conquering dungeons. It's unbelievable."

Rivera reminisces about the past.

A proud and opinionated princess (elf royalty); a burly man (dwarf) who inexplicably dislikes her and hurls insults at her; and then there's a boy (dwarf) who sighs all day long at the sight of the two's discord.

Finn, Riveria, and Grace each recalled their first meeting and every day since, and exchanged a smile.

"Let's have that, to perk us up."

Grace quickly extended an arm.

Seeing a large fist extended into the center of the circle, Finn and Riveria smiled wryly, but as if they had agreed beforehand, they imitated his gesture.

In the past, the three of them performed this ceremony on the day they swore their oath.

Seeing that their relationship was extremely bad, the God of God insisted that they put their hands together and tell each other their wishes.

"May there be a fierce battle."

"I wish to see the unknown world."

"May my people be revived."

The dwarves, elves, and dwarves spoke in turn, finally bumping their outstretched fists together.

They returned to their original positions, shared their will with each other, and soon regained the expressions befitting the leading figures of their respective factions.

"Ais and the others are waiting, let's go."

Hearing Finn say this, they nodded to each other and the three of them left the room.

"By the way, Finn, how's your other objective going?"

"Oh, you mean the heir... that thing about wanting to get married so as to have an heir?"

"Unfortunately, I haven't met any good matches. Grace, Riveria, if you know any nice little people (girls), please introduce them to me."

"Tione will kill me, but I refuse."

"Me too."

The three of them joked with each other as they walked forward.

The demi-human, carrying spears, axes, and staffs, headed to where the group members were waiting.

◆

The clear, cloudless sky cast sunlight onto the central square.

In the central open space where these eight major streets converge, a large number of adventurers formed a crowd early in the morning.

Clad in armor, boys and girls, along with burly men, set off to challenge the dungeon with their supporters. As people of various races made their way to the white-walled tower, Ais gazed up at the magnificent skyscraper.

Following instructions, the Loki Familia, having assembled in front of their base camp, proceeded through North Street to the central plaza. They carried several large cargo crates filled with equipment and supplies, waiting some distance from the north gate of the Tower of Babel.