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

When the entire unit assembled, Ais heard from Riveria that Bell and the others had remained on the 18th floor. Knowing they hadn't returned with the follow-up team, Ais was a little worried, but she still embarked on the journey home with her companions.

"It was a pleasant experience, Loki Familia. Let's share joys and sorrows again next time we have the chance."

"Thank you, Tsubaki."

They bid farewell to the Hephaestus Familia in the central square.

Chun squinted her right eye, which wasn't covered by an eyepatch, and shook hands with Finn, who was smiling. Influenced by the two leaders, the adventurers and blacksmiths also held hands and hugged each other's shoulders.

Soon after, the craftsmen carrying hammers and Ais and the others turned their backs to each other and went their separate ways.

Head towards the central square, North Street, and then the network of branching streets.

Seeing the adventurers return triumphantly, pulling large cargo crates, many ordinary citizens cheered and congratulated them from the roadside and upstairs. Embracing the cheers of adults and the admiring gazes of children, Lefia and the others walked along the road dyed red by the sunset, their hearts filled with pride and a touch of shyness.

Soon, a long mansion with several overlapping spires came into view.

"Finally back..."

In the northern part of the city, along a street away from the bustling main street.

It was a tall and large mansion, taller than all the buildings in the area.

Tiona murmured with deep emotion, while the others looked up at the headquarters, "Twilight House."

"We're back, please open the door."

The two guards, a man and a woman, saluted with beaming smiles and opened the door as Finn had instructed.

Inside the open main gate, the remaining members of the group crowded the narrow front yard to the point of being impassable.

"—You're back! Aa ...

Then, unexpectedly.

As if anticipating the moment the expedition team entered, a figure ran over.

With her crimson hair swaying, she didn't even glance at the male group, charging straight towards Ais and the other female group.

She took a running start and jumped up in one breath.

"Is everyone alright?! What a touching reunion!! Woohoo ...

Seeing their lustful master reach out his hands to pounce, Ais, Tiona, and Tione dodged as usual.

And Lefia, who was at the very back...

"Wait—please don't do this!!"

"Goohoo!?"

She grabbed the goddess's arm and smoothly slammed her to the ground.

Seeing such a magnificent counterattack, Ais and the other female members clapped their hands, exclaiming, "Oh—!"

"Kha...you...you've gotten stronger, Lefia, I didn't even recognize you..."

Loki, the chief god, rolled on the ground in agony, praising the gods with tears in his eyes.

The girl, panting and flushed, cried out, "Please don't do anything weird!?"

"Loki, no one was killed this time, and we gained something. There are many things I want to talk to you about... Would you like to hear them now?"

Finn approached Loki and smiled.

She, lying on the ground, grinned back.

"Hmm—well... well, first of all!"

She jumped up and hurriedly ran towards the mansion.

The main god returned to the group members who had come out to greet him, and then turned to face his returning family.

"Although a lot of problems have accumulated, let's just leave it at that..."

Finn, Riveria, Grace, Tiona, Tione, Bert, Lefia, Raul and other members, as well as Ais.

After looking at everyone's faces, Loki became all smiles.

"Welcome home."

Upon hearing this, the group members behind her raised their hands and shouted words of welcome.

Ais was greeted by her family, who all returned her smiles.

"I'm back."

The clown flag erected on the central tower shimmered with a maroon light as the gentle breeze blew.

The Loki Familia's long "expedition" has come to an end today.

Side Story: Sword Oratoria 5 Afterword

To avoid repeating the mistake of volume eight of the main story, I kept track of the page count while writing, which resulted in a serious lack of thickness—this is the fifth volume of the side story. Finally, I've overcome this hurdle.

In terms of time sequence, this episode is the fifth episode (and the fourth episode) of the main series, and the main characters of the spin-off have a great connection with the main characters of the main series, so I'll treat this episode as a short break.

I don't intend to say anything like, "Actually, there's a backstory to this story—", but besides the outline for the spin-off I already wanted to write, I reread the fifth volume of the main series several times, trying my best to avoid any inconsistencies. But if readers find any points to criticize... please forgive me with a gentle smile.

I've been paying attention since the previous episode; besides the main characters, I also wanted to give some screen time to the supporting characters. Unlike the main series, this spin-off focuses on a large family organization, so I thought I could delve deeper into interpersonal relationships. The active roles of the unsung heroes and supporting characters, or even mundane everyday scenes like cooking, particularly excite me. Of course, I'll also be careful not to let them overshadow the main characters.

Additionally, some supporting characters are imported from the spin-off manga version of Takashi Yagi's Gangan Joker (with the author's permission, of course!). Comparing the novel and the manga might offer a unique kind of enjoyment.

Now, allow me to move on to the thank-you speech.

First and foremost, thank you to Takashi Yagi, who has created a manga version even more exciting and thrilling than the original novel. I'm truly thrilled that you readily agreed to the reverse input request. Thank you also to Kotaki and Takahashi from the editorial department, and to Kaimura Kiyotaka for the beautiful illustrations—I'm so grateful for your support in this volume. And thank you to Awamura Akamitsu for allowing me some of my descriptions; please allow me to continue exploring those awful nicknames with you.

I am also deeply grateful to all the readers who have always graciously purchased my humble works.

I've recently started receiving fan letters from readers, which makes me really happy. Thank you all. In the afterword of volume seven of the main story, I mentioned that I had lost weight, and many readers expressed their concern. I'm currently eating a lot of white rice to gain weight. The author is very healthy, and I apologize for making everyone worry.

In the next installment, I hope to write a story featuring the Amazonian sisters. I will try my best to deliver the sequel to everyone as soon as possible, and I hope you will continue to support me. Goodbye.

大森藤ノ

Side Story: Sword Oratoria 5 Illustration

I was also included in the bonus content of the side story, Sword Oratoria 5.

"Hey, little hero Argonaut! About what we were talking about yesterday—!"

"Oh, yes, what is it, Miss Tiona?"

Tiona and Bell were talking—Ais stared intently at the two of them.

The incident occurred the morning after Hestia and the other rescue team members arrived at the 18th floor. At the campsite after breakfast, the boy had finished cleaning up the dishes and was idling when Tiona ran over to talk to him with a big smile.

Seeing that the boy and girl were so close they were almost touching shoulder to shoulder, Ais snapped out of her daze and found her eyes fixed on them.

How should I put it? The distance between them bothered her a lot.

It's that feeling, like when your own wild rabbit (pet) that's so close to you starts to be close to other people too...

Ais felt lonely, yet her feelings were complicated. She didn't know how to deal with these unclear emotions and became restless.

Seeing Bell and the others hit it off immediately, chatting and laughing happily, Ais made up her mind after a while.

She tried to find a way to get between the two men and ask them to let her join them, however—

"Have you heard the story of Elna from Arcadia who met the Masked Knight?! The one where they parted ways before even asking each other's names." "Huh! Is there such a story? Ah, speaking of Arcadia, I have heard the story of the Jewel King..."

(Completely...I don't understand...)

A chill ran through Ais.

As a child, Ais had heard many fairy tales from her mother and was somewhat confident, but she couldn't keep up with the conversation at all. She remembered that the chief god (Loki) once said, "There is a kind of person in this world called a hobbyist (otaku) or a die-hard expert (specialist)..." The conversation in front of her made her break out in a cold sweat.

Ais was completely left out, her whole body circling up and down several times, peeking out to take a look.

"And what about the story of the little hero Argonaut, the eternal Sleeping Beauty? That story... I..."

Upon hearing this fairy tale she had heard before, she reacted with lightning speed.

"I—I've heard that too!"

She suddenly leaned forward and loudly asserted her opinion.

As for Bell and Tiona, they were both taken aback when Ais suddenly ran over and interrupted.

Faced with the two's puzzled gazes, Ais, in a moment of excitement, shouted out...

Rarely, and beautifully, her entire face was flushed red.

"Uh, well... I, I mean... me too..."

She lowered her flushed face and said in an embarrassed voice that couldn't be quieter.

(So ​​cute.)

(So ​​cute.)

Tiona smiled softly at the sight of the girl, while Bell blushed and covered his mouth with his hand.

Volume 10 Interlude Obsession Notes

The Taiwanese version is from the Kingdom of Light

Image source: Otonashi

Scan image: Wind

Input: Gentle Breeze

Photo editing: bulbfrm

There was a man who was stubbornly persistent in his beliefs.

The man was intelligent, skillful, and a great craftsman.

He could create any craft or building. His skills even contributed to culture and civilization, earning the praise of all the gods. The white-walled tower was also completed by his own hands. That beautiful and majestic tower, which was closer to heaven than any other building, was considered worthy of the gods' divine craftsmanship and was later named the "Tower of Gods."

This man is truly a peerless genius. Throughout history and across the world, no one can rival him.

All inventions in the world were mere trifles to him.

There's nothing I can't do.

The man had no doubt that he was number one in the world.

However—that man was captivated at the ends of the earth.

A "big hole" with its mouth wide open in a corner of the mainland.

It expands out beneath your feet, into another world unlike any other on the surface.

It was filled with incredible phosphorescence, possessed never-before-seen flowers, plants, and minerals, and depicted an intricately complex labyrinthine terrain. Divided into several levels, the landscape changed endlessly with each new area entered. It was a demonic lair that spawned countless monsters, an underground labyrinth that almost led to the abyss.

The vast, enclosed world separated from the earth's surface was, in his eyes, a "work of art".

A supernatural creation built by an immense will unrelated to humanity. Once upon a time, men began to train their bodies to understand its mysteries, elevating their "capacity" and venturing into the deepest parts of the labyrinth.

The more he learned, the more he realized.

I came to understand the immeasurable complexity and strangeness of human wisdom. I came to understand that form.

Experience the mystery of the "underground city".

The man broke down.

He was devastated.

In other words, they were defeated by the "beauty" that seemed to encompass all things and be extremely chaotic.

The scream that burst from the man's throat was the cry of a "monster" who was no longer human falling to the ground.

From that time on, the man remained obstinate.

While fulfilling his assigned mission, he gradually deviated from the norm and began to stray from the right path. He created many works that were incomprehensible to ordinary people, and the former genius was unknowingly labeled a "prodigy" and began to be ridiculed. Finally, on a certain day, the man completely disappeared from history.

With the pinnacle of his skills and the irreplaceable power of his delusions, he was determined to create another "world" that transcended the underground labyrinth.

—Regardless of whether it is a world beyond human control.

—I will definitely overcome it.

—If that is a realm that even God cannot reach, then I will surpass God first.