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

When asked that question by the two girls.

Loki grinned and smiled.

I mean everyone.

✿

Let's turn back time.

Melen… or rather, the port went dark. This was the work of the Ishtar Familia, who had launched a surprise attack on Ais and her companions. Just as they saw the carnivorous plants repelled, a fierce battle suddenly erupted in the very center of the port—a battle resembling a factional struggle, a clash that sent shivers of fear through the crowd—bringing the town's residents into utter chaos.

"Hey! What's wrong with the traffic lights? Why hasn't the guild taken any action?!"

"I don't know! They say the traffic lights are missing, the branch manager is nowhere to be seen, and things are in complete chaos over there...!"

The men argued incessantly on the low, useless town walls.

The guild branch failed to send the signal it was supposed to send. They stood on the watchtower, their eyes filled with despair as they gazed at the massive, silent city walls of Orario, their gates tightly shut.

"Damn it, in that case I'll just have to run there—"

The orc male, who was looking at the city wall through a telescope, suddenly stopped.

"what……"

"Hey, what's wrong? What's going on this time?!"

The human male snatched the telescope and looked in the same direction.

Exactly the same, his partner exclaimed, "Ah..." and froze.

Their gaze was fixed on the top of Orario's massive city walls.

Staring blankly at the scene before him, the orc male murmured:

"...The clown's badge..."

The banner proclaiming the strongest force fluttered in the wind.

"I told you we couldn't hand it over to those women..."

Southwest of the labyrinthine city of Orario, on the city wall.

The werewolf youth stood atop the massive city wall.

"Guys, don't let those women keep getting cocky—let's go."

'Ooo ...

Under Bert's sharp gaze and shouts, the male members roared in battle.

Seeing the men raise their weapons high above their heads and roar, the cat-woman Angie pressed her hands to her ears. Their gazes fell upon the darkened trading port of Melon, where sparks of light flashed continuously—proof of the fierce battle raging beneath the blades.

"Haha, Bert has become quite good at giving confidence speeches."

"But he seems inexplicably irritable... Hey, Raul, what's wrong?"

"Um, we just ran into that 'rising star' at the Flame Bee Pavilion (tavern)..."

Beside Finn, who couldn't help but smile, Grace and Raul were talking.

They were fully armed and wearing protective gear.

"Angie, is that the [Kali Familia] you mentioned?"

"Yes, yes! Tione and the others must be here too..."

Intimidated by the arrogance of the male members, Angie hurriedly answered Finn's question.

Angie had just arrived at Finn's side, who remained in the city. She was Loki's messenger, here to deliver three messages:

A brief account of the events and situation of the problems caused by the Kali Kinta.

The instructions were to gather all of Ais's and the others' equipment.

And the order to gather all members and storm Mehren.

"Is everyone here?"

"Yes, we've all arrived!"

After receiving Angie's message, Finn quickly invaded the top of the city wall and ordered the [Family] flag to be raised as a symbol for all members to assemble under the flag.

The trickster's banner displayed a comical grin, looking down upon the assembled adventurers.

"Why does it seem like other people have gathered here haphazardly? Is this okay?"

"The Ganesha Familia has no intention of taking any action, that's alright. You've already delivered the 'Magic Letter' to the guild, haven't you, Angie?"

"Yes, it was indeed delivered..."

Besides the Loki Familia members, the banner also attracted others. In the city, far below the city walls, gods and ordinary people gathered to watch the spectacle, pointing at the Loki Familia and discussing it amongst themselves.

Angie handed over the "magical letter" written by Loki—filled with information about the current state of the port city (Merlen) addressed to the main god (Uranus), hints at the dirty deeds of the guild branch, and a note with blackmailing words that used this as leverage—and seeing that the current situation was proceeding exactly as the main god had planned, she sighed wearily.

"Where are Ais and Rivera's weapons?"

"Everything is ready. Fortunately, Chun helped everyone with repairs during the expedition, so it was done quickly."

"I'll take Ais's sword."

"Eh! So, am I supposed to be in charge of carrying Miss Tione and Miss Tiona's weapons?"

Ais and the others had collected weapons from various places and handed them over to the group members one by one.

Ais's sword was delivered by Bert, Riveria's wand was given to Finn, and Tiona's heavyweight double (Ulga) was drawn by Raul. Finn turned around in front of the prepared crew.

"Alright, everyone listen up. We're going to pick up those two troublemaking sisters. It's nothing special... but there's no more challenging quest than this."

"That's terrifying!"

"I might get beaten up by Miss Tione!"

Hearing Finn shrug and say that, Raul and the others half-jokingly laughed, while others screamed.

However, what gradually appeared on their faces were the fierce, angry smiles of those whose companions had been hurt.

"This is Loki's order. To those who dare to ride roughshod over us—teach them a lesson."

Upon hearing this instruction, the group members frowned and glared.

Finn's smile vanished, and he shouted the order to declare war:

"All personnel mobilize!"

Without hesitation, Finn and the others started running and jumped off the massive city wall.

The troops, kicking and landing gracefully against the wall, were aimed at Mellen, who was sinking into darkness.

An overwhelmingly powerful reinforcement has set out from Orario.

Side Story: Sword Oratoria 6 - Chapter 6: The End of the Struggle

"Damn it, that stinky little sprite...!"

The moonlight streaming in through the window illuminated the dark interior.

In the deserted warehouse behind the guild, Rupert was bound hand and foot with ropes.

Needless to say, it was Rivera who did this to him. She had just left, leaving behind a single sentence:

"The guild's messenger will arrive soon. At that time, you should repent for your sins."

She also carefully placed the pile of transmitters and related documents that Rupert was so eager to hide—the payments Njord made to him, and even details of his personal smuggling activities—beside him.

Rupert was initially worried that headquarters would soon launch an investigation, but his actions backfired.

"Damn it! If only I could untie these ropes!!!"

The long-faced man's eyes were bloodshot, and his body swayed from side to side. However, the knots tied by the forest people's (elf royal family) secret quick binding technique were impossible for an amateur to break free of, no matter how much they struggled.

Lu Bo was struggling in pain, his face flushed red, when suddenly...

"Rupert Ryan—I never imagined you were actually involved in smuggling. It's pathetic and lamentable."

"...! Who...who are you?"

The voice, whose true nature was unknown, echoed throughout the pitch-black warehouse.

Lu Bo turned his head and looked left and right, but couldn't see a single person.

Only a chilling darkness surrounded him.

"You are ambitious, but also very capable. I spoke with Uranus, and even if we sent you to a branch, I believed you could achieve results and one day return to headquarters... I never expected you to fall into depravity instead."

"Who are you! Who exactly are you?"

The voice, which sounded neither male nor female and lacked authenticity, made Lu Bai tremble all over.

then.

"If you were acting in the name of protecting peace along the coast of Meren, you might be given a lighter sentence, but—"

He pushed aside the darkness, and a terrifying man in black appeared before him.

"A ghost!?"

The vivid rumors about the undead circulating in the guild headquarters perfectly matched what was happening before his eyes, and Rupert screamed almost frantically.

"—If you're doing this to line your own pockets, then there's no point in showing any mercy. I'll deal with you afterward, Rupert."

Immediately afterwards, a large number of green particles drifted out from the sleeves of the black-clad man.

The moment Lu Bo, his face ashen, inhaled the particles, his eyes rolled back and he fainted on the spot.

"This is a real headache. I never imagined I'd have to come to a place like this for a business trip..."

"Ghost" Fels looked at Rupert, who was lying on the ground asleep, and shrugged with a rather endearing gesture.

The black-clad mage, who is the right-hand man of Uranus, the guild's chief god, mutters to himself in the dark, enclosed depths of his hooded coat.

"The Loki Familia really knows how to order people around."

"But I have no right to judge others," Fels added, glancing up at the window above him—outside the warehouse, where the noise had suddenly intensified.

"Oh dear, I was the one who came out earlier... It seems they've already arrived."

The earth-shattering shouts transformed into a thunderous melody of attack.

✉

"W-What happened...?"

Behind Mellen, the trading port area.

Outside the main battlefield where Ais and her companions were fighting against Phryne and others, the Amazons on guard turned to look behind them.

Ordered to keep outsiders out of the battlefield, they keenly sensed that the noise from the town had stopped. Just moments ago they were filled with fear and chaos, but now they seemed to have become excited and frenzied... yes, in other words, "cheers".

As they cast surprised glances behind them under the vast darkness of night, an imposing military force surged into their field of vision.

"What!?"

"Loki Familia!?"

Charging straight towards them, brandishing the Jokers' banner, was a group of male adventurers. They were the Loki Familia, traveling in a straight line through the central region of Melen.

Faced with a barbaric attack, the Amazonian guards were unable to defend themselves and were scattered in an instant.

"Finn, you're here!"

"Sorry, Rivera, I'm late. How did it go?"

"Ais and the others were stopped ahead... while Tione and Tiona..."

The townspeople thought that Orario's messengers had arrived and cheered loudly for the group. During this time, Finn and Riveria jumped onto the roof of a building to meet up.

After quickly understanding the situation, Finn ran alongside her while issuing instructions:

"Grace, please take Raul and the others outside of town! To the west!"

"West? What's that over there!"

"Tiona and Loki seem to have gone there. What about Bert?"

"You're looking for that kid? He's already rushed to the harbor!"

"No, it's alright! Leave that to Bert!"