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

—The tavern's clamor, the adventurers squandering the money they earned from exploring the labyrinth like flowing water, and myself clinging to their legs to claim a share of the rewards.

What flew towards him was a kick. What landed in front of him, lying on the ground in despair, wasn't a gold coin as payment, but a small piece of chicken.

It sounded like they were saying, "Let's eat while we're lying on the ground!" That kind of laughter echoed through the tavern, the adventurers' mockery, something Lily could never forget.

A vortex of humiliation and despair churned within me. Not a day went by without tears streaming down my face.

A dedicated supporter. An object of contempt.

It's just a baggage carrier. You can find any number of these consumables that can be replaced.

Lily savored the hand she was given by God and the cruelty of the world with disgust.

(Why is Lily like this?)

The magic of the "divine wine" gradually lost its effectiveness around that time.

Because nothing she did after sobering up felt satisfying, Lily was overwhelmed by an astonishing sense of emptiness. She felt a sense of terror towards the "divine wine" and the supreme god who could bewitch her to this extent.

However, she had already reached a point of no return, and among the lower-level adventurers, Lily was being targeted like a perfect cash cow.

In this utterly twisted "Family," there is no one who can help or protect you. To them, who fight amongst themselves, Lily is nothing more than a tool.

(There are no more people who can come to help.)

Lily could no longer recall the face of the person who had given her food, which was that day.

Washed away by the intense thirst for "divine wine" at the time, or rather crushed by the continuous, hellish suffering, what should have been a warm memory has been weathered away like sand.

Lily, who has lost even her memories, is now struggling in the mire just to survive.

(I want to die, but...)

I no longer want to endure the pain, the bitterness, and the loneliness.

Driven by the cries of my heart, I have considered giving up this life countless times.

However, Lily knew the searing pain of being torn apart by the monster's claws, and the heartbreaking bitterness of being kicked aside by the adventurers.

The thought of the pain that followed was terrifying, and Lily couldn't bring herself to commit suicide.

"—!"

Unable to endure being exploited every day any longer, Lily finally ran away one day.

Large tears streamed down their faces, from the adventurers and from the [Family].

They abandon the title of God's kin, pretend to be ordinary people without any affiliation, and only yearn for small happiness.

however.

Even Lily's small wish was not granted by the adventurers.

☆

When you realize that you cannot escape from the Soma Familia.

The moment I realized that adventurers would torment themselves forever was...

The moment I saw the flower shop of the elderly couple I was staying with being cruelly destroyed.

"Grandpa, Grandma!?"

The incident stemmed from an attack by adventurers belonging to the Soma Familia.

As if to completely destroy the place where Lily had finally found refuge, and as if to warn them that they were on our side, the people captivated by the magic of the "divine wine" robbed them of everything, especially money. Given the dire security situation, neither the guilds nor other factions could intervene, and they were not punished.

Just like the vandalized flower shop, the elderly human couple was also beaten. Faced with this tragedy that occurred while she, as a staff member of the accommodation, was away, Lily ran over and reached out her hand.

The elderly couple, who had accepted themselves and treated each other with the same tenderness one would show to a grandchild, shook off the little hand and rejected Lily.

“——————”

The eyes of the two people, who should have been gentle, were now filled with reproach and disgust.

The husband, bleeding from his lips and covered in bruises, knelt helplessly on the ground, his wife leaning against him, tears streaming down her face. The elderly couple, who had just welcomed Lily into the scene, even glared at her as if she were something dirty.

Faced with the look in their eyes when they turned around, Lily's little heart began to crack.

(Wait a moment)

The old man was about to open his lips quietly.

"Wait, please, please don't say it!" Lily cried out with all her might, but she couldn't utter a single word.

(—Please call Lily by her name)

Her name is Lily.

I hope to call Lily gently, just like I always have, and stroke her head.

I hope to smile like I did when I could say, "It's okay," even if I failed at work.

Treat Lily as an essential presence and help her.

Please don't abandon Lily.

If you abandon me too, then Lily will—

"—If only I hadn't met someone like you."

Something inside Lily seems to be broken.

The old man's words pierced my heart, as if something as important as blood had spilled out.

Lily, who had been kicked out of the house, wandered around the town like a living dead until she was noticed under the dark night sky, soaked by the rain.

"Ha ha ha ha"

In the middle of the alley where no one else was, Lily laughed, exposed to the rain. Raindrops streamed down her small face.

The children's clothes that the elderly couple had given them, which looked quite cute, absorbed the increasing rainwater and became heavy, like shackles.

(No one will call Lily's name anymore, no one will rely on Lily anymore, no one will consider Lily necessary, and no one will help Lily.)

I am all alone. No matter where I am, there will be no helping hand. This cruel world, after giving you sweet dreams, will surely pull you back to harsh reality.

Lily understood this.

He clearly understood that he could not find peace and freedom as long as the cursed mark of his clan etched on his back was not removed.

From that day on, Lily's eyes began to rage.

☆

After that, Lily continued her career as a supporter.

The Soma Familia, needless to say, are also used by other adventurers as convenient baggage carriers, playing the role of their obedient servants. Even when used and abused, they maintain a doll-like smile and an icy expressionless face. They will endure until they are freed from the curse of the faction. They hate bringing disaster to anyone other than themselves—or being forced to betray someone's kindness. They save money every day just to prepare funds commensurate with the Familia's withdrawal fee.

From this point on, Lily also began to dabble in pickpocketing and other forms of theft. Her heart had been worn down, and she no longer believed in sweet talk; she became ruthless and unscrupulous. Her skills as a thief improved day by day.

Of course, Lily, who was seen as a good cash cow, was still exploited many times, just like before.

"Tch, is this all you have?"

Kanu clicked his tongue as he watched the orc male, lying on the ground after a brutal beating, snatch the bag full of gold coins. This was a member of the [Soma Familia], who continued to exploit Lily.

As Kanu and his accomplices looked down at her, exhausted, an oval-faced human standing a step away, hands on his hips, twisted his smile.

"You don't even drink Lord Soma's 'divine wine,' you're really going all out, Artie! What's your wish?"

""

Despite being questioned by Sunny, the leader of the guild, Lily, with her face pressed against the ground, remained silent.

From that moment on, Lily never drank a drop of the "divine wine." Unlike the other members who regularly consumed it under Sunnis's control, Lily abhorred and loathed the divine wine that had bewitched her, and dreaded it.

Kanu, being a subordinate, said "Yes" and then kicked Lily on the head, who hadn't responded to the leader's words.

"Captain, we should just sell her to a brothel. Even a little person like her can fetch a lot of money if we take her to the pleasure quarters."

"What are you doing?"

"Oh, Mr. Chandler. Actually..."

As Kanu let out a despicable laugh at Sannis, someone passed by in the backyard of the headquarters where Lily and the others were.

In her hazy consciousness, Lily heard the gruff voice of a dwarf.

"Stop at the brothels and such immediately."

"What do you mean, Mr. Chandler? Are you trying to protect this brat?"

"Even if we sell women who have received favors from other factions, the spies in the pleasure quarters will probably notice. What if the [Ishtar Familia] gets their eyes on us?"

"Hmm"

Following the dwarf's voice, Kanu and his companions then made a trembling sound.

Lily remembered that the man called Chandler was a newly joined, up-and-coming Lv.2 dwarf. As she imagined the face of this simple, taciturn dwarf who was neither abusing nor harming her, she struggled to lift her head.

Only Sunnis remained steadfastly looking down at Lily, who was covered in wounds.

"Hmph, is that so?"

As if carefully considering Kanu and the others' words, Sannis narrowed his eyes.

Lily stared back at the seemingly intellectual man behind his glasses with her empty eyes.

Under her gaze, the man, the leader of the faction, curled the corners of his mouth.

"Just like Chandler said, there's no need to invite unnecessary suspicion. Let Artie continue to serve our faction as she does now. Besides, it seems more interesting for Fufu to do so."

As if he were deeply drawn to Lily's icy, chilling eyes, eyes that seemed to hate everything in the world, Sannis laughed.

Lily, who was silently listening to and watching the series of conversations, quietly clenched her fists.

The pain and anger that tormented his entire body ignited a black flame within him.

Not just today. All that has happened so far has fueled Lily's thirst for revenge.

Staring at the despicable adventurer who looked down at her and sneered, Lily knew clearly that resentment was welling up from the bottom of her heart.

☆

A long time has passed since then.

As Lily turned thirteen years old.

In the alley where the rain was pouring down relentlessly, the sound of intense anger echoed.

Amidst the sounds of hurried footsteps and angry shouts, a beautiful fairy girl appeared, panting heavily.

She splashed through the puddles, and as soon as she had completely escaped from her pursuers, she stopped and leaned against the wall.

The fairy girl with long, golden hair, soaked by the rain, took a deep breath and parted her lips slightly.

"—[The Announcement Echoing at Twelve O'Clock]"

The moment the chant began, her entire body was immediately enveloped in a gray light membrane.

The next instant, the one standing there was no longer a fairy girl, but Lily with chestnut hair sticking to her cheeks.

He let out a soft breath, his hands and feet trembling, as he opened the package he was carrying.

Inside are adventurer accessories such as bracelets and rings that gleam with gold and silver light, rare drop items, and even a dagger-shaped "magic sword".

Lily's eyes welled up with tears, and a twisted smile clung to her lips.

"I did it, I did it—you—serves you right!?"

Lily laughed.

It unleashed a grand laugh, the likes of which hadn't been heard for who knows how many years, filled with a dark joy.

Transformation magic: Cinderella.

Using the "magic" she discovered from her "ability values" six months prior, Lily deceived the adventurers.

She transforms into an adorable and harmless fairy supporter, approaches adventurers, and plunders their belongings in the dungeon.

The roars of the adventurers whose treasures, including the "Demon Sword," had been stolen could still be heard, and Lily couldn't help but laugh. With her transformation deactivated, the pursuer's hand could no longer reach her—she was no longer the "fairy girl who had committed the theft." Afterward, she could simply transform again and sell all the loot, making a fortune without leaving a trace.

Finally, she did it. Lily looked up at the rainy sky.

(From this day forward, I dedicate myself to the adventurers who have tormented me until now.)

If we were to use this transformation magic [Cinderella], there would surely be other ways to make money. There would be other avenues for earning a living.