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

As he ran away, Finn turned his back to him and smirked.

"—Raul?"

Finn was the first to notice the change in formation.

He discovered that the troops to the west were marching south.

Faced with unplanned movement, the phosphorescence of the traffic lights seemed to waver as if shaken.

"The western troops are moving south! Personnel on the ground report a large horde of monsters has appeared, and the troop movement is to surround them!"

"We haven't received any information! Besides, the commander hasn't given any instructions, how can they act on their own!"

"This...this is because...they said the commander personally went to see Mr. Raul and gave him instructions..."

"What!?"

Upon hearing the messenger's report, Anaquiti, coincidentally, also let out a strange cry, just like the young man (Raul), her gaze shifting back and forth between Finn and the street scene below.

When the camp suddenly erupted into chaos, only Finn felt that the situation seemed familiar.

(By the way, this is a war game between the Hestia Familia and the Apollo Familia.)

About two months ago, a faction war took place that made the "Rookie" famous throughout the city. During that war, a dwarf betrayed the "Apollo Familia" and brought victory to the "Hestia Familia".

If that wasn't betrayal, but rather a disguise... no, a technique like "transformation"—

"So that's what's going on..."

"Commander?"

Finn ignored the bewildered Anachidi and secretly thought of a member of his own kind.

(It's probably that girl.)

Ever since witnessing Bell's spectacular battle against the Minotaur, Finn had been keeping an eye on a fellow countryman. She was a girl who risked her life to save a boy, earning Finn's admiration for her "courage."

Finn deduced that this was the work of perhaps the most intelligent girl in the Hestia Familia. She used magical artifacts or "magic" to outwit both Finn and Raul.

A part of Finn was overconfident, thinking that only Bell Crane was worthy of attention; this was his oversight.

"Recall the troops. The hole created in the formation can be filled by Navi and the others in the north... No, that probably won't work, it's too slow."

Finn initially offered to fill the gap left by the troop movement, but then shook his head.

Then—clang, clang, clang!

As if confirming Finn's decision to give up, a loud alarm sounded from the west that a monster had been spotted.

"Commander!? A huge horde of monsters suddenly appeared from the west, taking advantage of Mr. Raul and the others' absence, and are advancing towards the central area of ​​'Daedalus Road'!"

"I know, calm down. I think Tione and the others have probably noticed too, but I'll still call them back. I want them to join the rest of the garrison in a pincer attack."

As a sense of unease quickly spread throughout the camp, Finn displayed resolute leadership, quelling the chaos within his own ranks. The members regained their composure and went about their assigned tasks.

"What is the enemy's route of advance? Where in the 'artificial maze' are they headed?"

"Uh... they're moving in a straight line! They appeared in the west and then moved straight east!"

"—Going straight ahead? Is the route also heading west towards the 'artificial maze'?"

However, Finn's expression changed for the first time upon hearing the report.

He watched the group members nodding in confusion, then turned his gaze back to the direction of the maze street.

(We initially thought that since they appeared in the west, they would definitely turn northwest or southwest... There is no "door" in the west of the "man-made maze," at least based on our four days of searching. ... Could it be that they know a route that we don't?)

Finn's mind worked quickly. He considered the worst-case scenario he could think of and searched for a certain memory.

(The god Icarus also mentioned the existence of the "Daedalus Manuscript," saying it contained blueprints for an "artificial labyrinth"... Could it be in the hands of the enemy?)

During the interrogation, the man did indeed say, "It's not in my hands; it might have fallen somewhere in the man-made maze." Loki was present at the time, so Finn believed him.

But if he managed to fool Finn and Loki... no, if the "notebook" was passed around to places even Icarus couldn't detect...

"This is bad."

Finn muttered to himself as he looked down at his right hand.

The thumb, which had given me a premonition, was still not throbbing.

(It seems I've been relying too much on my intuition without realizing it.)

Finn felt ashamed and remorseful, and quickly switched his thoughts.

The original plan included luring the armed monsters into the underground tunnels, but Finn has decided to change it. He abandons the option of using the monsters as "bait" to lure out the dark faction, prioritizing capturing them on the surface. Since there might be a third route unknown to him and his companions, Finn cannot allow the monster army to advance all the way to the central area.

Just as Finn was speeding up his thinking and deep in thought...

"Hey~, Finn~"

The slow, deliberate voice of the supreme deity came through.

"Where have you been, Loki?"

"Many places~"

Loki appeared in the chaotic headquarters.

Finn didn't even glance at the woman who had walked behind him, and asked directly.

"Hmm~, are you thinking about something, Finn?"

"Hmm, it seems I was a bit arrogant. Please don't talk to me for now; consider it a favor."

Loki stared intently at Finn's profile, who was still deep in thought.

Then, she slightly raised the corners of her mouth.

Loki placed his hands on Finn's shoulders and whispered in his ear:

"Finn—look carefully."

"──"

Upon hearing the murmur of the god, Finn had no choice but to interrupt his thoughts.

Is she referring to the boy (Bell)?

Or is it a monster?

Finn couldn't fathom Loki's intentions. Loki, in turn, deliberately made Finn ponder them.

Finn merely glanced to the side and saw the goddess reveal a slight smile.

"Don't rely on others, just use your own eyes."

"..."

"I'll leave the decision to you from now on. I won't offer any more advice."

Loki removed the hands from his shoulders and put on his usual cheeky grin.

She waved lightly and left in front of Finn.

"..."

There was a short gap in time.

Finn sighed amidst the constant commotion at headquarters.

He kept the words of the Lord God in a corner of his mind, but for now, dealing with the battle was his priority.

Finn immediately put his leader's mask back on and stared intently at Daedalus Road once more.

"Call Raul over here, and hurry up."

“Okay, okay!”

Elfie, the messenger who had been called by Finn, ran off into the distance.

Finn smoothly continued issuing instructions:

"Change formation. Move Grace and the others who are stationed in the southwest corner of the underground passage to serve as the reserve force to intercept the monsters."

"Commander, is this a good idea? Moving the underground troops will make it harder to contain the actions of the dark faction..."

"If the monsters know the route to the man-made labyrinth inside and out, then deploying troops underground is a bad strategy. It would be a huge loss if the 'bait' used to lure the 'big fish' escaped. Now that the dark faction's offensive is also becoming more intense, I need to mobilize Grace and the others to shake their resolve."

"I...I understand!"

Finn prioritized targeting the "armed monsters" who served as "bait," and Anachidi understood his intentions. While explaining this to her, Finn was also pondering something else.

(Although I was forced into a "passive" position, perhaps I went too far in yielding to their "attack." They attacked without flinching... Bell Craney too, "you guys" are really giving me a headache.)

Although Finn cursed inwardly, he wore a smile despite the situation.

Just like how he felt excited and thrilled when his "opponent," whose true face he couldn't see, was playing against him across the chessboard.

(She might not be happy to hear this, but my thinking is actually quite similar to hers. So, the next step is...)

Finn drew a conclusion to his thoughts and looked up.

"Angie! I'm entrusting a unit to you. Please set off."

Upon hearing that Finn was boldly making a series of deployment changes, the camp erupted in uproar.

"Of course, that would be great, but... who should assist the commander?"

"Let Raul take his place. Only you can handle this operation."

Anachitty responded to Finn's trust with a nod, her expression unchanged.

She memorized every single word of the task Finn quickly recited.

Finn looked around the maze of streets where traffic lights flashed wildly, relaying messages, and told her:

"Cast the net at the place I'm about to describe."

*

"Loki, where have you been?"

Loki left Finn's side to meet Dionysus.

They stayed by the window inside the spire that stood near the Loki Familia's main camp.

I went to the guild for a bit.

"What? Did you go to see Uranus?"

"Guess!"

Loki merely chuckled at Dionysus's reproachful gaze. The sight of her usually cunning god's displeased expression pleased her considerably, and she glanced around at her surroundings.

The light from the magic stone lamp appeared to be only the size of a bean, its signal flickering constantly as it repeatedly communicated. To the northwest, a fire could be seen, perhaps a bonfire lit by refugees gathered in the plaza of the maze-like street.

Philweis was not with Dionysus. Loki had two members of his crew acting as guards, keeping a safe distance from her.

"...What do you think of this situation?"

"How would I know? Unless you use a 'divine mirror' or clairvoyance, who would know what happened somewhere?"

"makes sense."

Loki stuck his tongue out at Dionysus, who was staring intently into the darkness.

However, she seemed to have sensed the change in the atmosphere of the maze street and snorted.

"However, both sides should have already gathered all their intelligence."

The sirens continued to sound from the west.

The sound, just as Loki had said, was the bell announcing the end of the preliminary battles, and also the signal cannon signaling the official start of the main battle.

Loki slightly opened his crimson eyes.

"Next, it will be a real war with guns and bullets."

*

She is a beast girl.

Like everyone else, he was one of those shallow adventurers who coveted the bounty offered by the management organization (guild) for the "Armed Monsters," hoping to make a fortune and reap the benefits.

While pretending to be so, she weaved through the crowd of burly men, all the while being yelled at by others to "get out of the way!" as she gathered intelligence.

"Oh, so tragic..."