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

Liu murmured softly, her face tilting to the side.

Ryu didn't have a good impression of the gods either. Because when she first came to Orario, the gods she encountered were all frivolous types—"A fairy maiden has descended!" "Damn it! If I were younger...!" They were so inexplicably excited—which shocked her greatly.

After that, Ryukyu politely declined their invitations.

Moreover, she even felt at the time that there was some truth to the fact that her fellow countrymen dared to mock not only other races, but even the gods. For Ryu, who was exhausted both physically and mentally, gods who pursued entertainment were nothing more than despicable beings.

"You'll catch a cold standing in that kind of place."

The goddess's voice was as soft as a feather, extremely gentle.

However, like the other gods, Ryu also felt some aversion to the goddess before him.

"...Even if I get wet, it's none of your business, you don't need to worry about me."

"Oh, of course it's related. I would feel sad if a pitiful girl like you got sick."

I still blame myself for letting you go back then.

The goddess continued, maintaining her gentle smile.

"I wish I could be your shelter from the rain, because you—look so lost."

get lost.

Upon hearing this, Ryu felt as if something had snapped.

—Whose fault do you think this is?!

It was chaotic, aimless, and childish.

However, Ryu was completely unable to control this impulse at the time.

"It's all God's fault!!"

This was the first time Liu had ever roared in his life.

The goddess slightly widened her eyes, while Liu continued to vent her emotions haphazardly.

"Why did you create the fairy race so casually! It's all your fault for creating such an unacceptable and self-righteous race!!"

It was the gods residing in the heavens who caused humans and demi-humans to be born in the lower realm.

In the distant past, a time too far removed from human existence, the gods, out of interest—and perhaps a touch of mischief—shaped the inhabitants of the mortal realm into various races. This is what people generally believe.

"It's all God's fault that I've become like this," Ryu said, her eyes welling up with tears.

"Why did you turn us into this kind of being?"

Weeping could be heard on the road where only they stood.

The goddess quietly endured the fairy girl's hysteria.

The rain grew heavier, as if it were criticizing Liu's statement.

This is just reaping what you sow.

These words only hurt Ryu, who was roaring in anger, and the raindrops kept stinging her cheeks.

too naive.

So funny.

That's incredibly stupid.

Ryu felt ashamed of what she had just done and fell into a vortex of self-loathing.

Her small body trembled incessantly as she tried to suppress her sobs.

"...It seems that what you need now is not the voice of the gods, but an equal friend."

Finally, the unknown goddess spoke as if she had seen through everything.

Startled, Liu looked up abruptly, only to be met with that unchanging, kind smile.

"Surprisingly, perhaps God really can't do anything. Even using 'power' is utterly powerless..."

"I'm sorry," the goddess said apologetically, narrowing her deep blue eyes.

"May you have a wonderful encounter that dispels the gloom and brings back your smile."

She walked up to Liu and handed her a hand-drawn map.

"If you have time, you can come and take a look; it might be helpful to you."

After saying that, the goddess left.

Ryu stood still, holding the map she had just seen, as well as bread and fruit wrapped in cloth.

"..."

No one had ever spoken to this naive girl with such pure kindness. Even if someone had, Ryu would have refused. So this was the first time Ryu had received such gentleness since visiting Orario.

As the rain subsided, the girl stood there, watching the direction where the goddess had left.

*

After a few days of city life, Liu felt that the city lacked vitality and brilliance.

Even though he had lived in the secret realm for a long time and his knowledge was limited, he knew that Orario was a vast city, but it was shrouded in some gloom.

Occasionally, one can see the sighs and gloomy expressions of the residents, or a mournful cry that sends chills down everyone's spine. In the event of a conflict, the ordinary people of Orario will immediately evacuate, or rather, find a corner to take refuge. Almost every day, guild members and groups that appear to be adventurers can be seen going to suppress the unrest.

The security here is definitely not good, a feeling that Liu often gets from the atmosphere of the streets as she wanders aimlessly through the city.

and so.

She thought calmly that she would encounter something like this sooner or later.

"You are, a fairy, right? I've done my research."

"And there's no god protecting you, so there's no need to worry about you having any backing... Just surrender."

In a secluded path, Ryu was surrounded by a group of evil-looking demi-humans.

Two days had passed since she met the goddess, and no matter how frugal she was, the remaining travel expenses would eventually run out. Even the simple tavern was no longer available. At this point, Ryu decided to go and explore according to the map, but she got lost.

To make matters worse, a group of men suddenly appeared in front of the girl, who still couldn't shake off her racial pride, and forced her here.

Judging from their conversation, they had already set their sights on Ryu, this beautiful fairy from the countryside, and had thoroughly investigated her beforehand.

"Looks like he's almost an adult. He should fetch a good price if sold to Happy Street."

—They are kidnappers, no, they should be called human traffickers.

This kind of thing is rampant in Orario.

Ryu, being a noble fairy, utterly despised this behavior. However, Ryu, already in dire straits herself, became enraged.

Wearing a mask, Ryu glared fiercely at the cat-man youth who was their leader.

Perhaps the opponent is an adventurer who has received "divine favor." While fairy warriors are more skilled in battle than ordinary people, they are a joke in front of them, especially given the disparity in numbers.

Facing the approaching adventurers, Ryu prepared to draw her short sword for self-defense in order to buy herself a chance to escape.

"—Stop right there! What are you planning to do in broad daylight!"

A figure appeared, looking dashing and heroic.

The surprised men turned around and saw a human girl in combat gear standing there.

She had a head of dazzling red hair, neatly tied back. This was the "ponytail" that the gods raved about. A rapier hung from the sword belt at her waist.

Those slanted green eyes revealed a strong will, looking down on the retreating men.

"Alize Robert...!"

"It's you again, Jura! You've done something bad again! I won't allow it!"

They seemed to know each other; the young hunter and the girl stared at each other and called out their names.

"You guys, do you know what people call you? They all call you 'Bastard A'! You came to Orario and didn't even go to the dungeons, instead you became thugs and hooligans. Don't you feel ashamed?"

"You, you filthy woman...!?"

"—Shall we have a fight?"

Then, the moment the young man unleashed his murderous aura, the girl narrowed her eyes, her gaze flashing with a fierce light, and drew her rapier with lightning speed.

Seeing the silver sword pointed at them, the men all swallowed hard. The cat-man youth, his face contorted in pain, spat and roared, "Retreat!"

Liu watched all this in stunned silence. The girl stayed where she was, putting away her weapons, while the villains left dejectedly.

"Honestly, they never learn their lesson... By the way, are you alright?"

The girl turned and walked over to Ryu, who then looked the girl over again.

She's a truly beautiful young woman. Even before we've spoken, I can feel her vibrant energy and straightforward personality. She looks to be about the same age as Ryu, but fairies tend to be more mature, so this human girl must be a year or two older than Ryu.

After observing for a while, the girl tilted her head, suddenly remembered something, smiled, puffed out her chest slightly, and patted her hand as she spoke.

"I haven't introduced myself yet! My name is Alize Robert! I'm about to become a Level 2 beautiful adventurer!"

After hearing her self-introduction, Liu's gaze instantly turned cold.

"It's true! Don't let my appearance fool you, I'm very popular and get a lot of attention from those energetic newlyweds!"

The girl hurriedly added, but Liu silently turned to leave.

Seeing Ryu turn and leave, the human girl, Alize, couldn't help but frown.

"Are you just going to leave without saying anything? Of course, I don't expect you to thank me, but ignoring me is really impolite, isn't it?"

"...If you're only helping me for your own satisfaction, then I don't need to repay you."

"I didn't ask you for help," Ryu replied, glancing at her.

Under normal circumstances, Ryu wouldn't have taken such a step, but she was already exhausted both physically and mentally from the immense pressure she was under from the outside world. Most importantly, she feared the judgmental stares that would follow her rejection of the other person's kindness.

Upon hearing Ryu's answer, the human girl froze on the spot, blinking repeatedly—then spoke without restraint.

"...You're really stubborn."

Hear this.

Liu suddenly experienced a brain congestion.

Because the other party's words had hit the nail on the head, Ryu was overwhelmed by humiliation and anger.

Ryu stared sharply into his blue eyes, peering at the other person through the hood.

"You're only saying that because I'm a fairy?"

"Clam?"

The other party was somewhat surprised and stunned for a moment, but Ryu, unable to suppress her anger, continued to shout.

"Do you think I wanted to become a fairy?!"

This is the second time Ryu has had an emotional outburst since visiting the city.

She had long since abandoned her usual reserved manners and began to express her emotions in a way befitting her age.

Cough, cough, some disordered breathing came from the alley, and the two girls looked at each other.

Upon hearing Liu's angry rebuke, Alizé's reaction was—Huh?

Alizé looked at Liu and said dismissively.

"What nonsense are you spouting? It's all so nonsensical!"

"Varied……!?"

"I absolutely do not think this is the fairy's fault!"

Then she shouted clearly in a voice louder than Liu's.

"These stubborn, obsessive, and inflexible traits are all self-inflicted, aren't they? What does race have to do with it!"

Liu was speechless; she couldn't refute the girl.

The girl pointed her index finger at Ryu's face and continued speaking.

"There are gentlemanly gentlemen among dwarves, and there are violent lawbreakers among elves!! These have nothing to do with race! Your excuse was utterly pathetic!!"

Liu felt as if she had been slapped in the face.

The girl's words kept echoing in his mind.