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

"...!"

"Even if they agree to help you, I think they just want to use you."

Then, Hermes told me firmly:

"On this issue, you and the Loki Familia led by the Hero will always be on parallel lines. I bet you are."

Hearing the deity's own pronouncement, I gasped in shock.

After Hermes finished speaking in a serious manner, he suddenly released me and put on his enigmatic, handsome smile again.

"I was also involved in the 'heretics' affair. It was Uranus who commissioned me."

"...! Uranus has entrusted you with this task?"

"That's right, I'm currently tracking down the whereabouts of 'Heretic'."

The statue of Hermes revealed the truth to me as if unveiling a mystery, and I was truly astonished.

"Even the 'Omnipotent One (Asphie)' and the others haven't been able to find out where the 'Heretics' went yet; they've only heard that a few people have witnessed them in the underground sewers. Perhaps it's true what they say about a fallen 'Sage'?"

Hearing that Hermes even knew about the fallen "sage" Fels, I had no reason to doubt him anymore. I considered this god to be one of those sharing intelligence.

"When exactly did you find out...?"

"It's been quite a while. I think I knew about the existence of the 'heretics' long before you guys, Bell. That's why we've been doing things secretly until now."

"Then... after the members of the [Family] learned that a monster could talk, what did they do...?"

"As expected, some people were at a loss. But now everyone just treats this as a commission, and handles it officially. Since we claim to be neutral, the client's request is the highest principle. Besides, this is just how I, the Supreme God, am."

Looking at the grinning Hermes, I couldn't help but imagine Miss Asphie, her eyes weary, sighing deeply. I couldn't help but force a stiff smile.

"We will act independently, but little Bell, you can treat us as your own people."

Hermes smiled and closed one of his eyes at me.

Upon hearing the words "one of our own," I couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Perhaps all I can say is that I've been driven to the brink of desperation...

"Hey—, Bell!"

Just then, the voice of the goddess Hestia reached us.

"So you were here! I waited and waited for ages, so I came looking for you. Are you alright?"

"Ah... I'm sorry, God, I'm alright."

"Thank goodness, I was so worried... I mean, what did Hermes do here?"

"Ha, ha, ha! Excuse me, Hestia, I just wanted to speak with Bell in private!"

The deity appeared before me, and I was relieved, but then I looked up at Hermes with suspicion.

Hermes first laughed it off, then turned his back to us.

"Alright, here's your bodyguard job back. -- Hestia, please protect little Bell."

After leaving these words, Hermes bid us farewell.

"...Bell, what did you and Hermes talk about just now?"

"That's how it is..."

After hearing my explanation, the immortal rested his chin on one hand.

"I only heard Uranus mention that Hermes and his group were taking on his commissions..."

"Oh, is that so?"

"Hmm, I think it means they're running around trying to help the 'heretics'..."

The deity paused here and looked in the direction where Hermes had left.

Her expression suggested she was puzzled, wondering why the handsome man left without saying more than a few words to her.

I, too, am gazing in the same direction as the immortals.

As we stood there, a drop of water fell from above and landed on our shoulder.

In an instant, the entire cloud cover over the city began to play the sound of rain.

Water droplets of various shapes began to fall in different places.

*

"Tsk! It's starting to rain again..."

Werewolf Bert sniffed and clicked his tongue at the pattering raindrops.

"Even after that commotion, if it hadn't rained, the orcs, with their keen sense of smell, might have already located the monster's hiding place..."

"The rain washed away all the smell of those bastards... Damn bastards."

"You werewolves are utterly useless when it comes to crucial moments."

"It's better than Amazonians having nothing to do but stand around doing nothing."

""how?""

At the Loki Familia's base in the labyrinth town, the members were unable to move due to the rain, while the faction leaders gathered together.

Seeing the Amazonian Thione and Bert glaring at each other with undisguised annoyance, the dwarf Grice sighed. Beside them, Thione's sister Tiona lay sprawled on the stone ground, letting the rain pelt her.

"What's wrong, Tiona? Are you exhausted?"

"I'm not exhausted—it's just that my hands hurt from hitting so many super hard metal walls. And after all that hard work digging it open, Finn wants us to bury it right away. He's really bossing us around!"

"The situation is special, please bear with it."

As Tiona vigorously shook her reddened hands and complained, she said that everyone had arrived and Finn had returned to his position.

"How's it going, Finn? Did you run into Bell Craney?"

"Yes, we did see them, but a surprise attack came along the way."

Finn answered Riveria, who was waiting for instructions, as he walked towards the rooftop—one of the several tents set up in the field.

"I couldn't get anything out of him... but he's hiding something, that's for sure. And sure enough, he knows about the 'artificial maze' too. It's just that the 'key' doesn't seem to be in his possession."

Although the question and answer session ended without a conclusion, Finn carefully observed Bell's expression and spoke in a confident tone.

Unlike the still immature leader of the Hestia Familia, the dwarf leader had already gleaned various intelligences from that brief conversation.

"There's no mistake, he's the central figure in this incident."

Finn said it with absolute certainty.

"..."

Upon hearing the leader's words, the blonde, golden-eyed swordswoman Ais remained silent.

"So……"

"Um."

With the attention of all the faction's leaders focused on him, Finn nodded in response to Riveria.

"As planned, please monitor Bell Craney's movements."

"'Heretical child' and 'artificial labyrinth,' right...?"

Outside the window, rain enveloped the entire street scene. Aisha, an Amazonian, glanced at the incessant rain before turning her gaze back into the room.

"You mean this commotion is the core of what happened four days ago?"

"Yes, that's right."

Asphi, a beautiful (human) woman with flowing, light blue hair, nodded in response to the elf Liu's words.

The location is a private room outside the main room of the tavern "The Abundant Mistress". This is the private room that Ryu was assigned, and there are only three people in the room, including her. Asfi brought Aisha to visit, saying that she had something to talk about. Ryu saw that there were no other customers in the tavern and she had some free time, so she told the female tavern owner (Mia) and brought the two of them to this room.

Asphi told the two about the ins and outs of the 18th floor incident that brought turmoil to the city.

"You mean your dark circles are really bad... Are you okay?"

"...I'm fine. I've just been treated like a servant by this capricious and willful god. Heh, I'm still a servant now. Yes, I'm fine, Aisha. You'll get used to it soon enough."

When Aisha pressed Asphie about the enormous dark circles under her eyes beneath her glasses, Asphie revealed a hollow smile that completely shattered her beauty. Seeing how exhausted Asphie looked, Aisha, sweating profusely, kept her distance.

Ryu watched the two talking from the side, and in order to continue the serious conversation, he asked her:

"Why are you telling us this information now?"

"It's because the chief god (Hermes) dumped this chore on me again... cough humph, anyway, I hope to calm this escalating situation down, but we don't have enough manpower. I hope you two can assist me."

"Why didn't you mention all of this when you were carrying out the mandatory task?"

"Let's talk about the former first... I think it's unnecessary to reveal the information about the 'heretic.' At the time, the clients couldn't completely control the enraged monsters, nor could they grasp the situation. Since conflict couldn't be avoided, it would be troublesome if they hesitated in making a judgment and lost their lives."

Ryu asked with a serious expression, while Aisha questioned them with obvious displeasure and dissatisfaction, to which Asphie responded calmly.

"The latter is because...after the incident, we also learned the actual situation."

The second entrance to the dungeon, a product of the obsession of the stubborn Daedalus family.

Upon hearing Asphie mention the "man-made maze," both Ryu and Aisha fell silent.

"...I remember they were called 'Heretics'? Whether they can talk or have brains, I'll be frank, I have absolutely no idea what kind of mentality it is to try to save those monsters."

Hearing that the monster could talk and was rational, Ryu and the others were quite shocked, but Aisha spoke her true thoughts without any pretense.

It reveals the underlying sense of aversion that humans hold towards "monsters".

"Those monsters aren't things to be pitied... especially that black bull (Minotaur)."

Then, she said with disgust and disdain.

Although she has recovered, her left arm was once shattered, and her ribs were broken. The heroine touched these two spots, her eyes narrowing sharply. Completely defeated by the dark monster, her eyes held no fear, only anger and humiliation.

"...Rescuing the 'heretics' is the client's request, and the information was also provided by them. Since you have joined the 'Familia' of the god Hermes, you should have no doubts and obey."

"I'm not very reasonable, and if I get upset, I might spit and make a scene. By the way, who is this client you're referring to?"

"I can only tell you that it's a portion of the guild members."

Despite her headache, Asifi closed one eye and told Aisha, who was resisting.

"Let me state upfront that Bell Craney is also trying to help your so-called monster."

"...Ah~! So that's how it turned out!"

Upon hearing Bell's name, Aisha seemed to suddenly understand, and she ruffled her long black hair wildly. Now Aisha understood everything about why he had been sent on the mandatory mission and his actions on "Daedalus Road."

The Amazon heroine always felt she owed the boy a favor, so she sighed and said, "Okay, I'll do as you say," and agreed.

"Li'ang, as for you, I have a condition for exchange."

"..."

Asifi walked over to Ryu, who was silently lost in thought.

"If you are willing to assist us, I will provide you with information about the remnants of the Evils."

"!"

"The scum of the 'evil forces' that are barely clinging to life seem to be lurking within the 'man-made labyrinth.' Once this matter is resolved, I will explore that labyrinth and gather the information you seek."

"...Is it possible?"

"Anyway, I think sooner or later God Hermes will instruct me to investigate, and I will definitely find the information."

After carefully considering Asifi's terms of negotiation, Ryu nodded quietly.

Seeing Perseus lift her silver-rimmed glasses with her fingers, Ryu chooses to believe her.

Asphie gazed at Ryu and Aisha's faces and said to them:

"I will give you two detailed instructions later. Please stand by for now."

"—That's right, I am Ganesha!!"

The male god, wearing an elephant mask, struck a mysterious and heroic pose while speaking with great seriousness.

"I know, Ganesha."

In a room at the Ganesha Familia's headquarters, "I am Ganesha".