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

This girl once stood up to protect me, and that had nothing to do with the difference between humans and monsters; it was extremely precious.

"Reed and the others said that maybe it's not possible right now... but with people like Bell around, our dream might come true one day!"

Winnie's smile blossomed like a flower, and I responded with a smile in return.

"Will we be able to meet again?"

"Yes, we'll meet again."

"Can we... still live together?"

"...Yes, definitely!"

I nodded.

This isn't meant to be comforting; it's a decision I made myself.

"I promise you, although I don't know how long it will take... but one day, I will make a place where I can live with Winnie and the others."

My answer made Winnie blush and smile broadly.

She gazed tenderly at our Miss Haruhime and clapped her hands lightly.

"Let's make a pinky promise then."

"Pinky promise?"

Winnie and I tilted our heads together as Miss Haruhime taught us a Far Eastern incantation—a vow-taking ceremony.

Winnie and I hooked our little fingers together and said our promise.

"I'm... a little embarrassed..."

"No way!"

"hehe……"

Winnie smiled at me shyly and also pinky-pinked with Miss Chunji.

Miss Chunji gave her the eye crystal as a talisman, and the two embraced in the end.

Winnie held the pinky finger she had pinky-fisted with us to her chest with great care, and set off with her compatriots.

"Goodbye, Bell, Haruhime!...Goodbye!"

The alien girl and her fellow aliens gradually walked away.

I know that her amber eyes are actually hiding tears. I must be too.

I also bid farewell to everyone with Miss Haruhime, waving goodbye as the "heretics" disappeared into the darkness.

We didn't move until they disappeared from sight.

"The promise..."

Let me look at my little finger, which still retains body heat.

—I want to keep my promise, so that it's not just a lie made out of desperation.

Even children's fantasies, absurd daydreams, and unattainable ideals...

I want to laugh with everyone on Earth again.

Therefore, I will be more—

"..."

I looked down at my palms and clenched my fists tightly.

A moment later, I smiled at Miss Chunji, who was wiping away tears and smiling beside me.

From this day forward, I make a new vow to my fingers.

*

"You said Winnie and the others entered the 'artificial maze,' is that true, Fels!?"

"Reed cried out. His body seemed to tell a story of fierce battles with the Loki Familia, covered in wounds."

However, contrary to his injuries, his voice was full of surprise and joy.

"Yes, it seems Bell Craney and his team succeeded."

As soon as Fels spoke, a roar of cheers erupted from the stone-paved passage. At that moment, the "Heretics" group, including Fels, was advancing through the passage leading to the "Man-made Labyrinth."

Welf and his companions delayed the enemy's advance, and with the aid of the black mist, they had just managed to infiltrate the hidden staircase leading underground from the center of the labyrinthine street. They struggled against the Loki Familia's relentless attacks, with some even scattering and facing the imminent collapse of the group. Fortunately, Reed, Gross, and Rey fought valiantly, and the group barely managed to reach their destination. With their only worry—Winnie and their lost comrades—resolved, they had no further concerns.

The group quickened their pace and headed toward the entrance of the "artificial maze".

"It seems that Rhett and his group have successfully passed through the 'door.' The enemy's underground garrison's mobilization methods seem to be constantly changing; it's likely that the [Hero] has become aware of the existence of the 'Daedalus Handbook.'"

"It's been quite a dangerous journey for us to get here."

"However, there are no enemies on this road, so they probably didn't notice this blind spot."

"Gross is right. The Loki Familia didn't get hold of this underground passage. It seems this 'blueprint' really has become our secret weapon."

While Reed was talking to Goro, Fels was looking down at the "Daedalus Handbook"—the "Design Plan for the Man-Made Labyrinth"—that was being copied onto the designated paper, while choosing a route to take.

The super-hard metal "door" located to the west is not far away.

"Fels, then..."

"Well, I don't know if I can call it a victory, but anyway, our destination is in sight."

Fels nodded to the singer, Rei, and hurried through the dimly lit underground passage.

"Ahhh, for a moment I was worried about what would happen... thankfully everything's alright~"

Hestia sat with her legs outstretched, exhaling a deep breath to relax her entire body.

This is the desolate tower in the southwest of the labyrinth district, located on its outer edge. Now that the "heretic" has been safely delivered to the path leading to the "artificial labyrinth," it's no wonder Hestia is relaxing. The goddess had been continuously giving instructions to Bell and the others through her eye crystals; their work deserves an award.

With the night sky looming over the roofless command post, Hestia turned her gaze back to the "magic map" spread out on the floor.

"Bell and Haruhime are in the north, Miss Supporter is still wandering around in the east, and Welf and Mikoto are heading south... It seems like we should be retreating. Everyone seems to be safe."

The "Magic Map" no longer displays the names of the "Heretics." This is because the "Master Craftsman's Legacy" drawn by Fels does not record the underground passage leading to the "Man-made Labyrinth." The "Man-made Labyrinth Blueprints" also cannot be used as a "Magic Map" due to the limitations of the "Explorer's Powder," so Hestia has no way of knowing the whereabouts of the "Heretics."

Perhaps because Haruhime had left, Hestia was all alone, muttering to herself, "Maybe I should go find someone else, I'm so lonely." She then picked up the journal that was next to the map.

"However, Bell really surprised me. I didn't even know there was such a road... It wasn't even written on the 'blueprints'."

Bell had a flash of inspiration and used the underground passage to escort Winnie and the others, but the existence of this passage puzzled Hestia.

(There's a passage that ends in a dead end that looks a lot like this... Could it have been added later by the descendants of the master craftsman (Daedalus)?)

It's not impossible; it's highly likely.

"Hmm." Hestia nodded, then began to flip through "Daedalus's Notebook".

"But I never expected to find a notebook from a thousand years ago... This book really saved my life this time."

As if recounting long years, the notebook is tattered and worn. On the repeatedly turned pages are the design drawings of a labyrinth with several layers, and some parts of the text are blurred and unreadable. Pursuing the ultimate masterpiece called the labyrinth, the text is strange and cruel throughout, and because the cover is stained with old blood, the name "Obsession Notebook" is truly well-deserved.

Hestia reread this ancient book, which was unexpected by the Loki Familia... and accidentally, her hand slipped.

"ah."

The note slipped from Hestia's hand, bounced a few times on the ground, and, by sheer bad luck, landed in a puddle full of rainwater in the corner of the rooftop terrace.

"Ahhh!? A handwritten note from a thousand, ...

This ancient book is undoubtedly an extremely rare and precious copy, and therefore requires the utmost care to handle.

Hestia's face turned pale instantly. Anticipating the worst possible outcome, she hurriedly picked it up.

"Captain, I'm so sorry... we lost track of those monsters."

In the central area of ​​Daedalus Road, lies the headquarters of the Loki Familia.

Finn listened to the group members' reports while deep in thought from a vantage point offering a panoramic view of the maze-like street.

(Should I have sent Riveria when Grace was held back by the enemy? That black fog made it difficult to transmit intelligence... Never mind, thinking about it now is pointless.)

To be honest, Finn had hoped that sending Grace would take care of the monsters. However, the enemy withstood the attack, which meant that their strength—no, let's just say Finn underestimated the power of the Hestia Familia, who were supposed to be supporting the monsters. This was his failure, a result of his stinginess with his forces.

(I haven't found the black bull (Minotaur) either. Could someone have taken care of it...? No, I sense some kind of ulterior motive.)

His primary objective, which he was most concerned about, had not yet been captured. Various factors, including the "artificial maze," were intertwined, restricting Finn's movements; he looked around at the maze street where the clamor of the adventurers had not yet subsided.

(The biggest problem is that I can't predict the enemy's actions...)

If everything goes according to plan, Finn frankly admits that the enemy commander is quite a talent.

However, there is one thing he just can't understand.

"I remember the monsters were lost near 20th Street, right?"

"Yes, yes."

After confirming with the group members, he frowned.

(Twentieth Street... We've investigated that too, how could that be...?)

Finn's predictions were repeatedly wrong, and his battle plans were outmaneuvered.

No, this situation is—

"..."

Finn looked down at his right hand.

His thumb felt no pain at all.

"...Where exactly is the enemy's destination?"

*

The lower realm has been rendered so deformed.

Someone in the world has lamented.

Although the stories that unfold in this mortal realm are ultimately just children's dramas, behind them always lies the solemn figure of the gods.

As if manipulated by threads hanging from their heads, backstage they hear advice from others, the script is rewritten, and the children are all guided by unseen divine will.

We are all puppets dancing in the hands of the gods.

In this world, someone has given up.

*

"Fels, what's next?"

"Turn right at the next corner! There's a 'door' there!"

The "heretics" marched forward toward the red marker of hope marked on the map.

With clawed feet kicking and stomping on the stone slabs, the sound of flapping wings was incessant. The snake-like bodies slithered and crawled, their hooves pounding the ground as they ran. The monsters dragged their tails and ran without looking back.

The group finally rounded the last corner.

"Ahhh! It really got soaked in water!?"

Hestia picked up the journal and screamed.

"--Huh?"

But the next moment, her time stopped.

"Why...no, this is...how is this possible? Could it be...?"

She held the water-soaked cover, her incoherent voice scattering in fragments.

The goddess was stunned and lost her composure when the ancient book was opened to her eyes.

"What's going on...?"

Hestia trembled all over and shouted at the top of her lungs:

"What's going on, Uranus!?"

"..."

At the altar in the underground temple.

The old man's brows were deeply furrowed, and his eyelids were tightly closed.