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

On both sides, there were only ordinary, unremarkable, endless rock walls. Bell, holding the magical artifact that was now heating up like a heartbeat, conveyed his feelings from the past to the present to Fels.

The magician in black stared intently at the rock face before him.

"Step back, Bell Craney."

He flung off his black clothes and stretched out his right arm straight out.

The palm of the hand facing the wall—equipped with jet-black gloves—immediately gleamed from the intricate patterns etched on its surface.

Immediately afterwards, a colorless shockwave emanated from the bottom of Fels' palm.

"...!!"

"This is……"

The shockwave's explosion and the force of shattering the rock walls stunned Bell, but the shock of the scene unfolding before him overshadowed his initial astonishment.

A passage appeared deep within the damaged rock wall.

It was a horizontal cavern built of countless stones, which even large monsters could pass through.

"This is not the structure of an underground city... it's a man-made structure."

Fels stepped into the passage while letting out a shuddering murmur.

Bell, almost forgetting to breathe, stepped into the rock wall that was being repaired and slowly closing.

After walking for about five meters, they soon arrived at a huge metal gate.

Metal doors, flanked by demonic statues, stood imposingly blocking their path.

"Orichalco... can be used as a material for indestructible weapons (Durandal), the hardest refined metal (Master-level ingot) that is even harder than superhard metal (Durandal)."

They spared no expense in using various materials and combined human and all-demi-human technology to produce "the world's hardest ultra-rare metal." Bell, as a small-time adventurer, had heard of it.

"Destruction is absolutely impossible...but..."

Fels turned to look at Bell, and at his urging, Bell took a step forward.

He cautiously handed the magical artifact forward—and the crimson jewel set in the metal door reacted.

With a loud rumbling sound, the "door" lifted up and opened.

"I can't believe... there are such structures in the underground city?"

Inside the "door," the magical stone lights twinkled, and the dimly lit passage stretched into the distant depths.

Fels muttered to himself, while Bell made a gurgling sound and looked down at the ball in his hand.

A magical item used as a "key to open doors".

Did Ryu intentionally hand over her bag to me, or was it just a coincidence?

【Ikeros Familia】—The Dark Faction—It is said that this "evil force" spread throughout the labyrinth city on a scale far exceeding what it has been just five years ago—

【Asteria Familia】—An emblem engraved with the sword of justice and wings—Ryu said that she and her companions had worked together to maintain order and peace in Orario—

Bell recalled that the former elven adventurer had told him these things in this faction (familia) graveyard on the 18th floor.

This magical artifact might be something she seized from the "evil forces" when she sought revenge for the loss of her companions.

Bell, manipulated by thoughts that were beyond the bounds of conjecture, slowly raised his head.

A stone passageway that looks like it was made by a skilled stonemason.

Various meticulously designed shapes and patterns, including carvings.

Considering the dungeon's self-repairing structure and the fact that monsters won't spawn on safe floors, it is theoretically possible to create artificial structures inside the walls without anyone knowing.

But who exactly, from when, and by what method, made this thing?

As Bell secretly broke out in a cold sweat, Fels stepped through the "door" and approached a corner of the wall.

The silent stone wall is inscribed with only a symbol of a variant of the common language.

"...Daedalus".

Fels paused, then uttered a name.

Bel stood frozen in the cold air that was absent in the dungeon, staring at the darkness that seemed to lead to an abyss.

*

The sun, which illuminates the earth's surface, gradually shifts its position from high in the sky.

In the central square where the "Tower of Babel" rises from the ground, many people remain even after the expeditionary force has set off.

The members of the Ganesha Familia sealed off the area around the giant tower, but their comrades continued to approach them to talk, or a group of curious individuals awaited their triumphant return. As time passed, the town's initial surge of unease subsided considerably, and it has now entered a state of relative calm.

"Damn it! Are we just supposed to wait here...?"

"With such strict guard, it's impossible for them to sneak in... Adventurers and gods have been caught since just now."

"It's really awful to just wait like this... I always feel this way, Welf?"

"Lord Bell..."

Welf, Mikoto, Hestia, and Haruhime, who had moved to a corner of the central square, chatted while gazing at the white-walled tower in the distance. The Hestia Familia longed for Bell's return but were also worried about the fate of the "heretic," caught in a sense of helpless anxiety.

"As mentioned earlier... suppose the incident was caused by poachers hunting down the heretics' companions. Is there any way to find their 'dwelling place (secret base)'? If they smuggle monsters to sell to some perverts, there should be their hideout somewhere in the city."

"That's certainly true... but if even Lord Fels or the guild can't be found, how are we supposed to find them...?"

"Only Hermes is an expert at this kind of thing... But speaking of which, to actually price and sell monsters as commodities is truly an act of utter audacity. We gods are fearless."

Hestia joins Welf in his conversation with Fate, and only then does she whisper in a displeased tone.

At this moment, Lily, who was pondering the matter as a faction's strategist, was startled when she overheard Hestia and the others' conversation.

"The monster's commodity value..."

She held her head with one hand, as if she were re-examining her memories.

"Lure the monster out, capture it, and sell it..."

"...Riko?"

"W-What's wrong?"

Seeing Lily muttering to herself, Welf and Haruhime both called out to her.

Attracting the attention of her companions, the little girl suddenly looked up.

"let's go."

"Miss Supporter?"

"Perhaps we can find some clues."

Seeing Lily turn her back to the skyscraper facility (Tower of Babel) and quickly begin her operation, and hearing her words, Hestia and the others exchanged glances and hurriedly followed.

"Where are we going?"

In response to Welf's question, Lily went back to her point:

"Go find Lily's former chief god—Soma."

The headquarters and "sake cellar" of the Soma Kinkaku are located in the southeastern part of the city, between East Street and Southeast Street, which is the Third Ward.

Lily and the others went to the former first.

"How is Lilyluka Erd...?"

Lily and her companions, who were visiting the base camp, met with the god Soma in the shrine.

This deity, whose eyes are covered by long bangs, is mysterious and unpredictable. If he weren't a celestial being, he would easily be mistaken for a reclusive hermit. He was also the chief deity when Lily belonged to the Soma Familia.

"It's been a long time, God Soma. Thanks to you, Lily is in good health."

"Hey, what do you mean, Soma? Do I look like I'm bullying Miss Supporter?"

Lily, who hadn't seen her former god for about two months, bowed her head in greeting. Hestia appeared from the side, leaning forward. Seeing her puffed-out cheeks, the god apologized in a flat, monotone voice.

It is said that since the war game that overlapped with Lily's transfer period ended, the strange behavior of the [Soma Familia] has significantly decreased. This is because Soma changed its faction management method and no longer rewards its members with "divine wine".

Somo, who used to be indifferent to the inhabitants of the lower realm, has now become much gentler. Lily was deeply moved and happy about this.

After Lily succinctly explained her purpose, Soma nodded readily and said, "Understood..."

"My name is Chandrara..."

He had the group members call a taciturn dwarf into the room.

"Lord Chandra, it's been a long time. I heard you've become the captain, congratulations."

"Forget it, don't do that. I'm not cut out to be an organization leader... Besides, I won't get a single drop of the God's 'divine wine,' it's just never a good thing."

Chandra Ishtar, with his short hair and beard, spoke with a cold tone that betrayed his mental exhaustion. This man, who joined the Soma Familia purely for the sake of drinking the finest sake, had once helped Lily when she was in trouble, and now, taking advantage of the situation, he had become the faction leader.

He picked up the gourd tied to his waist, tilted his head back, and drank heartily before leading Somo, Lily, and the others to the "wine cellar."

The Soma Familia's wine cellar is located further towards the city walls than their main base, which is near the city center.

The "divine wine" that had captured the hearts of the lower realm's inhabitants was almost entirely abandoned. The "wine cellar" has now gradually become a facility for developing and researching fine wines, so that the chief god (Soma) can use it as pocket money to reward his retinue. But there is only one place that has never changed.

That is the "prison" for punishing those who break the law and discipline within the faction.

"Hey... bring me the food! Isn't it ready yet?! I'm starving, hurry up and bring it to me!"

From deep within the stone-paved passage, the man's gruff voice echoed back.

The dim, yellowish light of the magic stone lamps flickered, and the underground dungeon was icy cold. Hestia and the others were led here by Somo and Chandra, and among them, Lily's expression naturally became tense.

"Shut up, Chanis. Be quiet."

"Huh? Chandra, what are you doing here... Oh dear, isn't this the Supreme God, and... who are you all...?"

The guards led the group to a cell where a human man was inside.

The gaunt man's gaze shifted from Somo to Hestia and the others, and finally, when he saw Lily, the corners of his mouth curled up.

"Hahaha! ...I never expected you to come here."

Lily tried to hide her expression as the man stared intently at her.

The man's name was Chanis Lustra. This human, like Chandra, was a Level 2 high-level adventurer and had previously served as the leader of the Soma Familia.

The former appearance is now completely unrecognizable. The former air of wisdom is gone, and the glasses he wore are no more. His tattered clothes can only be described as shabby.

When Lily left the Soma Familia, Chanis's status was also stripped away.

Needless to say, his incitement of factions caused considerable damage to the city. Most fatally, he misused the "divine wine" of the chief god (Soma) for personal gain.

As punishment, Soma personally sealed his [ability value], causing him to continue living a life of imprisonment to this day.

Chanis cast a hostile glance at Welf, who had caused his embarrassing predicament, then approached the dark iron bars and said to Lily, who was standing in front of him:

"Are you here to mock my miserable end, Erd?"

"..."

"Their stance has completely reversed since then..."

The former battalion commander, a man with stubble, leaned closer to examine her face with a sinister smile.

Lily faces the gaze of Chanis, a gaze that is a mixture of self-torture and hatred.

"...Lily has something she wants to ask you."

"Ask me? You stole everything from me, what's the point of asking now?"

Ignoring what Chanis said, Lily asked in a low voice:

"Regarding the talking monster... do you have any clue where the 'business' you mentioned before was handled?"

These words caused Chanis to stop what he was doing for a moment.

But that was only for a moment; the cold smile on his face instantly turned into a wild laugh that concealed his pleasure.

"I get it... Hahahaha! You saw it, you saw that, Erd!? You saw those talking monsters!!"

The man's loud, mocking laughter echoed through the underground dungeon.

Chandra raised an eyebrow, while Somo remained silent; Lily, seeing Chanis's reaction, confirmed that her guess was correct.

That incident occurred on the eve of the War Game, when Chanis, who was colluding with the Apollo Familia, imprisoned Lily in this underground dungeon. The man before her now demands that the physically and mentally weakened Lily assist him.

He wants Lily to use her transformation magic (Cinderella) to lure the monster out and capture it.