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

Hermes was so troubled that he eventually painstakingly carved a chess piece of the long-haired goddess and placed it outside the chessboard.

"But..."

Under the watchful gaze of the old god, the male god slowly narrowed his orange-yellow pupils.

"In the end, he is still the most important one."

The hand of the god finally began to carve a chess piece.

"After all that, in the end, everything still depends on that boy."

In a corner of the underground waterways, where even the darkness of night cannot penetrate, a down-on-his-luck sage sways his long, black robe.

"If anyone causes an anomaly, it can only be him. Don't let your guard down; we can't lose him. That adventurer will, as before, completely bypass our predictions."

In the labyrinthine street shrouded in a brief silence, the little warrior squinted his blue eyes.

"Everyone's watching you! Come on, dance funnyly and comically, just as we expect. I'll be cheering you on."

At the ancient altar where torches scattered sparks, the gods placed the completed rabbit chess piece at the center of the chessboard.

—That's right, the key is...

In different places, at the same time.

Fools, heroes, and gods alike declared in unison:

"Bell Crane."

Volume 11, Chapter 3: The Night Before the War

Behind the wispy clouds, the hazy moon casts a mysterious glow.

The night after the rain was still overcast, as if the city was enveloped in darkness, like something out of an ocean. The streets, usually as glittering as an overturned jewel box, were less brightly lit by the magic stone lamps, and the lively chatter of the crowds was gone.

The silver-haired goddess gazed upon Orario from the towering white-walled tower.

"Goddess Freya, may I be so bold as to ask a question?"

"What is it, Ota?"

In the heart of the city, on the top floor of the skyscraper complex (the Tower of Babel), Freya stood before a seamless, enormous glass window, responding to the voice of her attendant (Otto) from behind.

"What is your opinion on the information provided by the god Hermes?"

"You mean those 'heretics'? Well, the information doesn't contradict what Alfred and the others who came back from the 18th floor said, so I think it's credible."

The story dates back two days, when Hermes visited and provided Freya with information about the incident. This included things like "heretics" and "artificial labyrinths," and also mentioned Bell's struggle to save the monsters.

Freya was surprised, but that was all.

The goddess of beauty's concern was solely for the boy; compared to him, she truly didn't care about the fate of the "heretic" or Uranus's plans. Now that she knew everything, she remained silent.

In this way, she always observed the situation from the highest point in Orario, to the point that it made other forces uneasy.

"Hermes seems to have ulterior motives for telling me everything..."

After inquiring about Freya's intentions.

Hermes stated his request to her face:

"Miss Freya, I'm very worried about little Bell's current situation. I'm planning to travel around trying to help him, and I wonder if you would be willing to lend a hand?"

Freya's response to these words was:

"Have you forgotten what you did to me when I went to war with the goddess of beauty (Ishtar)?"

Just that one sentence. Accompanied by a beautiful smile that would captivate anyone who saw it.

Hermes, his expression stiff, seemed to have no expectations either. He raised his hands in surrender, saying at the same time:

—Then, I hope you can just stand by and watch quietly.

(Can we just leave it to Hermes to handle?)

Freya pondered. Hermes and she shared the same interests regarding "Bell." It was precisely because their interests aligned that the heartthrob had inquired about her intentions, which surely wouldn't lead to anything Freya "disliked." Since that was the case, leaving it alone didn't seem to have much of an impact. But honestly, only she could amuse herself with that child, and she'd been neglecting him a bit lately, or perhaps she was simply jealous of that heartthrob… No, no, no.

Freya remained unfazed, twirling her hair with her fingers.

"How are things going with Bell Craney?"

"O'It asked again."

He tried to guess what the goddess was thinking and brought up the issue that mattered most to her at that moment.

"The citizens are hostile towards him, and he himself looks very embarrassed. If this continues..."

"That child will stand up."

Freya interrupted the boars' follower, her tone devoid of any doubt.

Just then, her gaze inadvertently drifted downwards, and on the street far below in her field of vision—a transparent glow reappeared, restoring its luster.

—See?

It's here. She thought.

"Have I been waiting for you for a long time?" she thought.

Freya smiled naturally, like a young girl tormented by unrequited love.

The moment to take action had arrived, and Yin Tong temporarily closed her eyelids.

A rational monster known as the "Heretics," a boy who fearlessly throws himself into battle despite injury, a soul still hiding somewhere with unfulfilled ambitions, and then there is that—

Freya rose from the fountain of contemplation, gazed at the city, and moved her luscious lips:

"Oh, can you do something for me?"

"Please give your instructions."

"I'm about to leave, but what I'm asking you to do now might just be a waste of time... I can't predict how things will develop next."

"Even so, your subordinate is willing to fulfill your divine will."

"Thank you." The goddess of beauty smiled back at her reflection in the glass and commanded:

"Also, convey what I'm about to say to Allen and the others."

*

After reaffirming our determination to rescue Winnie and the others, we quietly began our operation late that night.

"The entire city is watching you, don't forget that."

I heeded Fels' warning and followed the instructions in the letter, stealthily navigating the city as it sank into darkness.

Lily and I left the mansion and headed northwest. Numerous "watchdogs" immediately followed us. I tried to pretend I didn't notice their surveillance as I made my way to the northwest main street, "Adventurer's Street."

Shops along the main street had all lowered their metal gates. We rushed to the back alleys and entered some shops that were still open under these circumstances and were considered somewhat suspicious. We bought potions and other items, then pretended to be organizing our equipment and stopped in front of one shop.

From the depths of the deserted alley, and down the stairs leading underground, you'll see an old, mottled door with a sign that you can barely make out the words "The Witch's Retreat".

This is the destination that the letter indicates to us.

The shop is located underground and will not be monitored.

"...Oh my, I was just wondering what this unfamiliar face looked like! Hehehe! Isn't this the 'rising star' who's caused such a stir in the city? What brings an adventurer like you, neither a mage nor a magician, to my shop?"

I opened the creaking door and saw an old woman (a human) with a hooked nose sitting behind the counter. Facing this figure, dressed in a long robe and wearing a pointed hat—a figure perfectly suited to the image of a witch—I recalled the contents of the letter.

"There's a shopkeeper at our destination named Renova. Tell her the code I wrote here."

Following Fels's instructions, I began:

"—Do the cats of Artena dream of immortality?"

The code word worked immediately.

The seemingly sinister witch opened her eyes wide and stared at me and Lily, who were looking tense.

"...Did Lord Fels send you?"

Fels, my lord...?

We hadn't heard anything about Fells' relationship with the shop owner, and as we were wondering how to answer, she gently shook her head.

"No, I won't ask any further questions. The fact is that you came here with a message from that lord, that's all."

The old woman said, "Come here," and went deeper into the shop. Lily and I followed. On the shelf were bottles of snakes and scorpions, their crimson juices bubbling in a large pot. Chains and sickles hung from the ceiling. We passed these items and came to a huge bookcase.

As the wrinkled fingers hooked onto the spine of the white book, a "click" was heard. Part of the bookshelf first jutted outwards, then slid to the side—revealing the storage room hidden behind it.

"This...this is it..."

"Although it was written in the letter... these are all 'magical items'..."

Pairs of twin crystals, silver goblets made from unicorn horns, chests filled with various gems, music boxes adorned with leaves made from elf trees… all sorts of magical artifacts meticulously crafted by the “sage” that we had never seen before filled the space that stretched outwards. This hidden warehouse was more like a treasure vault… no, it was simply the secret room of a wizard in a fairy tale, leaving Lily and me completely dumbfounded.

The first thing Fels entrusted to us in his letter was to visit his hidden warehouse, which he had hired to guard in case of emergency, and to bring out his magical artifacts.

"Only the twisted gods can share time with that immortal being. That being cannot cherish those who will eventually perish. We have guarded this treasure for generations... and you are the first to visit this place, carrying the trust of that being."

The shopkeeper murmured slowly behind us. The old woman's words revealed respect and pity for these distinguished people, and she left us behind as we departed the warehouse.

"Take whatever you like... Please become the strength of that person."

She walked away without looking back, and Lily and I nodded in agreement to her departing figure.

There was no time to spare, so we rummaged through the warehouse, stuffing all sorts of magical items into our backpacks.

"Damn, is someone following us?"

"It's alright, Goddess Hestia. It seems almost everyone has gone after Lord Bell and the others."

After Bell and Lily went out, Hestia and Fate spent some time together before Hestia also slipped out of the mansion.

While the surveillance was focused on Bell and the others, they also carried out their operation according to Fels's instructions. After using stealth techniques that even professional "ninjas" would admire to shake off the few pursuers, Fate arrived at the dark street marked "Fourth Street"—a street Hestia had seen before.

"I remember being arrested around this area... The letter also said it was around here... Oh!"

While remaining highly vigilant and attentive to her surroundings, Hestia found what she was looking for.

It was a wall near the back alley. Following the instructions in the letter, she manipulated the patterned area on the wall. With a single movement, the wall silently opened up an entrance leading underground.

"Well then, I'll be right back."

"Very well, I will wait here."

"Heave-ho." Hestia slid her body into the opening, and the stone wall immediately closed. Hestia remembered this stone passage leading to the depths, and the icy cold air.

"I never thought I'd walk through here again..."

Having been nearly kidnapped and brought here by a magician, Hestia now carried her portable magic stone lamp and walked through the artificial passage in one go. At the end of the passage, following the prescribed steps, she listlessly recited "Open Sesame~", and the wall slid open, revealing a vast altar in front of her.

"...It's Hestia."

"Hi, Uranus, I've taken the shortcut to find you."

This is the "Prayer Hall" beneath the guild headquarters. Following Fels's instructions, Hestia secretly made contact with Uranus through the "Secret Passage".

"Hmm? Is anyone else here?"

"...It's Hermes."

Hestia initially looked at the chairs and chessboard in the room with suspicion, but wanting to finish her business as soon as possible, she walked up to Uranus.

"Fels asked me to contact you. Although you should be handling it, please expedite the evacuation of the residents of Daedalus Road. He said it will be done soon."

"knew……"

"Also, Fels wants you to provide the map of 'Daedalus Road' that he previously created... as well as all the current information about the 'Man-made Labyrinth'."

Upon hearing Hestia's request, Uranus closed his eyes.

He slowly opened his eyes and took out the ancient book from his body. It was the "Daedalus Manuscript" that Hermes had given him.

"..."

The old god looked down at the ancient book in his hand, then handed it to Hestia.

"Take this, it's the 'Daedalus Manuscript'."

"Hey... is this really going to work?"

"This concubine...this concubine doesn't know either...we can only trust Lord Fels and wait for their contact..."

Welf asked, barely able to hide his unease, and Haruhime answered, equally at a loss for words.