“Can’t blame ya,” muttered Loki, acknowledging that something suspicious was happening with the Guild. “So, what is it ya came here to ask me to do?”
“Ha-ha-ha, I only came here to pass along information, just as I said I would. I have no ulterior motive.”
Dionysus answered Loki’s doubtful stare with another of his friendly smiles.
Loki’s followers and Filvis watched the two deities converse, one wanting to pass on a burden while the other tried to avoid it.
“My kids are busy, so investigatin’ the twenty-fourth floor ain’t possible right now.”
“Might they be looking around a certain sewer system?”
“Damn that intuition of his,” Loki grumbled to herself and nodded. She informed Dionysus that Finn had led a group of her strongest followers into the sewer, leaving the magic users behind.
“The others are out an’ about, gettin’ ready for the next expedition,” she said before sticking out her tongue.
“What about the Sword Princess? Having her would be more than worth a hundred warriors.”
“Aizuu? She’s—” Loki began, but then something plopped onto the table.
A rolled-up piece of paper had dropped from above.
“Whazzat?” Loki looked overhead in time to catch a glimpse of an owl in flight.
A messenger bird…or maybe some kinda magic? she speculated as the owl soared away.
“A letter?”
“Sure looks like it.”
Loki picked it up to have a read.
Dionysus took a sip of tea that had been prepared for him as Loki pored over the script flowing across the parchment. She stared blankly at the sky a moment later.
There was a loud slap as she brought the palm of her hand to her cheek.
“Aiz went to the twenty-fourth floor…”
“PFFF!” Tea sprayed from Dionysus’s lips.
The deity coughed a few times as Filvis watched from behind, also in shock.
“She accepted a quest on the twenty-fourth floor…The timin’s too perfect. ‘Don’t worry ’bout me’—’course I’m worried. Why ya gotta be an airhead, Aizuu?”
Loki knew the moment she saw Aiz’s signature in hieroglyphics that the girl had dived into the belly of the beast. She leaned to one of her followers standing directly behind her and said, “Bring Bete…and Lefiya out here right away.”
“What are you planning?”
“Sendin’ the two of ’em after Aiz. I’d be surprised if this had nothing to do with the attack on Rivira.”
Loki immediately connected the information she had from Finn to Dionysus’s new input and decided to dispatch a team to assist Aiz right away.
Filvis handed a handkerchief to Dionysus, which he used to wipe his mouth before frowning.
“You believe those two are enough? Of course it’s up to you, but the twenty-fourth floor seems exceptionally dangerous right now.”
“Can’t do a damn thing ’bout it. I ain’t got no one else. Bete and Lefiya are the only ones here I can send to help her.”
It might have just been his divine intuition, but Dionysus emphasized the need for caution. Of course, Loki wasn’t thrilled with the situation, either, frowning as she brought her hands together behind her head. He considered the goddess’s position, understanding she lacked enough manpower at her disposal…and turned to his follower.
“Filvis. Accompany Loki’s children to the twenty-fourth floor.”
The elf jumped back in surprise. Even Loki’s eyes opened wide.
Filvis struggled to keep her voice calm under her god’s serious gaze.
“Lord Dionysus, what is the meaning of this?! Who will protect you?!”
“Listen well, Filvis. I’m the one who got Loki involved, under my terms no less. Therefore, I cannot leave everything to her and simply watch from the sidelines.” Dionysus continued to his main point. “I want Loki’s trust above all else.” Finally, he laid out his true motivation. “Trust is earned through action…I’m sure you understand, Filvis.”
“……!”
Dionysus was reiterating the fact that Loki still didn’t completely trust him.
“This ain’t somethin’ folks usually say so openly, ya know?” said an exasperated Loki.
“But I…”
Filvis was about to start her counterargument when Dionysus stood up from his chair.
His glass-colored irises met her crimson ones, and the two of them came to a mutual understanding.
“Filvis. Please.”
“…As you wish.”
The elf reluctantly agreed. She turned to face Loki and straightened her posture. “Goddess Loki. With your permission, I shall join the party.”
“Hmm. Can’t say I don’t appreciate it…Think ya can keep up?”
“Filvis is my familia’s only Level Three adventurer. At the very least, she won’t hold your children back on the twenty-fourth floor.”
Dionysus provided his vote of confidence from his spot off to the side, and Loki tilted her head.
“She’s Level Three? News to me.”
“…I called in some favors, and used quite a bit of money, to keep her level-up a secret at the last Denatus. This girl has enough negative attention as it is,” Dionysus explained. “I’m just an overprotective parent. Everything I’ve done has been to keep her out of the spotlight.”
He revealed that he personally had ensured his follower’s name wouldn’t come up at the previous gathering of the gods.
He did, however, make sure that her correct Level was documented in the Guild’s records. “Hmm,” muttered Loki as her gaze shifted between the two of them.
The elf with long black hair averted her eyes, unable to say anything as she stood between the two deities.
“Ah well, that don’t matter. We’re hurtin’ for folks as is, so I’ll let Bete know.”
“Thank you, Goddess Loki.”
Filvis gave a small bow when Loki granted her permission.
That was when they heard a chorus of noises and echoes from inside the building. The werewolf warrior had already begun his preparations to pursue Aiz while the younger elvish magic user gathered supplies as fast as she could. The two of them made ready to find and help their comrade in record time.
Soon after, Loki and Dionysus saw off the newly formed party of Bete, Lefiya, and Filvis at the front gate.
“You again…”
“L-looking forward to working together!”
Bete, who had met Filvis once before, didn’t hide his misgivings about having to work with the elf. Lefiya held her tube backpack in place and clutched her staff as she introduced herself.
Filvis’s only response to her new party members was heavy silence.
“I’ll send your sorry ass flying with a good kick if you’re in our way. Get lost before you get yourself killed.”
“…Spare me the lecture, werewolf.”
“U-uuoohh…”
The tension between Bete and Filvis crackled from the very beginning. Werewolves often didn’t get along with the famously prideful elves. Lefiya could sense the storm brewing in their new party; it made her stomach churn.
She was concerned for what lay ahead.
Caught between loyalty to her familia and a bond to her kin, Lefiya joined the other two as they passed through the front gate.
After leaving the tenth floor, Aiz headed for the eighteenth.
Beneath a ceiling comprised of innumerable blue and white crystals that resembled the real sky aboveground, she passed the safe floor’s expansive forests and vast plains on her way to an island in the middle of a massive lake. Following the black-robed person’s instructions, Aiz entered the Rivira settlement, which was located on top of the island.
Even though the town had been utterly devastated by the plant-monster attack that took place ten days ago, many of the shops in the rogue town were already up and running again. The Dungeon’s natural healing power had even restored the damaged cliff face and cryst
als. Aiz looked around this town, completely populated by upper-class adventurers.
Many carried materials to rebuild the shops that still lay in pieces or to fix the many broken ladders and stairwells. She wasted no time searching for the bar that was the designated meeting place.
Walking along a narrow path away from the sounds of the main square, she followed the directions she’d received. She arrived at the northern edge of town via a backstreet formed from rows of giant mineral formations, near Cluster Street.
Gemlike fragments crunched underfoot as she made her way into the mouth of the cave.
“There’s a bar all the way back here…?”
The light from overhead couldn’t reach this isolated cul-de-sac. Aiz advanced cautiously down the path as she mumbled, unable to sense anyone else’s presence. She’d been to Rivira numerous times but never knew about any establishments in this location.
The stranger in the black robe had instructed her to visit a bar called The Golden Cellar.
A sign in front of the cave entrance pointed the way with a red arrow. A wooden staircase stood just inside. It lightly creaked as Aiz descended, and she discovered a door at the foot of the stairs. After slowly swinging it open, she noticed several adventurers were already inside and enjoying themselves.
The first thing she saw was a crystalline pillar in the middle of the cave that emanated golden light. White and blue crystals were a common sight on the eighteenth floor, but this was the first time she’d seen one like this. In fact, she was fairly certain this was the only one of its kind.
A feeling of wonder swelled in her chest as she took a closer look at her surroundings. The bar itself was decently large, each of its walls composed of exposed black rock. Several tables were set up, each with their own matching chairs. The adventurers played card games by the light of magic-stone lamps affixed to the ceiling and walls, which added to the yellow glow of the pillar. They used magic stones as playing chips.
All five tables were completely full, catching Aiz by surprise. The only open seats in the entire bar were by the counter. Someone might be watching…she thought as she walked through the tavern toward the open seat.
She caught sight of a long shelf filled with bottles in every color imaginable behind the counter as well as a grumpy-looking dwarf, who was the bartender.
Only one person sat at the bar—a female chienthrope.
“Oh? Well, if it isn’t the Sword Princess! Fancy meeting you in a place like this!”
“…Lulu…ne?”
The chienthrope girl Aiz had noticed—Lulune—was surprised at first but soon wore an open smile.
Lulune was the adventurer belonging to Hermes Familia who had accompanied Aiz and Lefiya for a short time because of the orb. She became involved when, just like with Aiz now, the mysterious black-robed character had hired her for a delivery.
She had dark hair, wheat-colored skin, and lithe limbs; minimal armor and light gear covered her thin, streamlined body. She fit the description of a thief through and through.
Aiz sensed a connection between the two of them, albeit difficult to describe, as the chienthrope casually struck up a conversation.
“Thanks for last time. I got out of there in one piece, thanks to you. Mind if I say thank you again?”
“You don’t have to…Have your injuries…healed?”
“Eh-heh-heh, healthy as a horse! Now let me buy you a drink!” she added with a big smile.
Aiz’s mind raced to find a polite way to decline as she walked to the seat described in her instructions, the second from the corner—next to Lulune. The girl watched her in confusion for a moment, but her smile came right back.
“Prowling by yourself today? I can’t believe the Sword Princess knows about this place! You’re really in the know, aren’t you?”
Aiz casually responded to the verbal deluge with the occasional nod and a short “Yes” or two as she examined the other side of the counter.
The dwarf bartender grumpily trudged over to her and questioned her.
“Whaddaya havin’?”
Now was the time to use the password the darkly dressed client had given her.
“Green tea–flavored Jyaga Maru Kun.”
The moment the password left Aiz’s lips, a loud crash rang out. The seat next to her had pitched over.
Head snapping to the side in surprise, Aiz saw an utterly dumbfounded Lulune on the floor gazing up at her in disbelief.
“…Y-you’re our reinforcements?”
—No way, Aiz thought as she noticed movement around her.
The human who had been happily downing his ale, the animal people who had been arguing over the last round of their card game—every single bar patron was on their feet and staring right at her. Aiz leaped away from the counter and took a defensive stance in the middle of the floor.
The vibrant atmosphere had evaporated. The patrons’ eyes were different, their gazes far more intense. Then Aiz figured it out.
All the customers in this bar, including Lulune, were the “allies” the robed figure had mentioned.
“Are you sure it’s her, Lulune?”
“A-Asfi…”
A woman stepped in front of the crowd around Aiz.
Her aqua-blue hair, one lock dyed white, shifted from side to side as she walked. Her eyes were pure blue, like her hair. Everything about her seemed perfectly in place, right down to her silver-frame glasses, giving her a very intellectual impression.
She wore a narrow white cloak and sandals decorated with golden wings. The portion of her belt visible beneath the cloak held a weapon; there were also several holsters hanging from it.
Their eyes met. Exchanging looks of surprise, Aiz became aware of the identity of the beautiful young woman.
Asfi Al Andromeda…
One of only five adventurers with the Advanced Ability Enigma in Orario, she was also the head of Hermes Familia.
Known by the title Perseus, she was an item maker with unparalleled skills.
Utilizing the rare ability Enigma, she had created various serums and unique items too numerous to describe. Herbs that could protect someone from the effects of curses and status magic. A harp that could attract specific monsters based on sound frequency. Even the feathered pen that didn’t require ink in Aiz’s waist pouch was her invention. Her reputation preceded her far and wide as one of Orario’s top-class adventurers—like Aiz, only in a different field.
“Looks like it…” conceded Lulune as she climbed to her feet beside Aiz and Asfi’s momentary staring contest.
“…Were all of you…asked to do a quest as well?”
Aiz posed her question as her gaze shifted from Asfi to Lulune, and then to the other adventurers.
Judging by their familiarity with one another, as well as their shared mood, Aiz was positive they belonged to the same familia. Asfi, Aiz’s senior by at least a few years, acknowledged with a yes and let out a long sigh.
“Thanks to this mutt who can’t say no to money, our entire familia has a mess to clean up.”
“A-Asfiiii…”
Lulune whimpered at the harsh assessment.
The human cast her blue gaze in Aiz’s direction, looking ashamed as she explained the situation.
“I believe you have experienced this yourself, Sword Princess…but a person in a black robe appeared to her a few days ago and simply said our ‘cooperation’ was required. She said she’d had enough right away, or so I’m told…”
The black-robed figure hadn’t been seen since the attack on Rivira until it recently paid Lulune a visit. Asfi explained how the enigmatic being bided its time for a chance to speak with the chienthrope alone. Considering how much danger she had been involved in the last time she accepted a quest from that person, the girl had staunchly rejected the offer at first…
Lulune tried to defend herself, though her mumblings were inaudible as Asfi continued.
“From what I’ve been told, ‘Black Robe’ threatened to expose her
true Level.”
“……”
“With that, we had no choice but to get involved…”
Aiz understood their predicament but was unsure how to respond.
She had already heard about Hermes Familia’s situation from Lulune, specifically that the god was reporting false information about his followers’ Levels. Should their true strengths be revealed, he would lose his ability to remain “in the middle of the pack,” his preferred place in the hierarchy.
Certainly, there would be many consequences if the truth came to light; the first would be a higher familia rank. The Guild levied a tax on each familia based on their rank, meaning the amount they had to pay would dramatically increase. Since they were most definitely committing fraud, there would also be a hefty penalty levied against them if the Guild ever caught wind of it.
The blackmail effectively left Lulune no choice. Unable to protect herself or her familia, it became a necessity to accept the quest.
“This idiot, this absolute imbecile, should have claimed ignorance until the very end. What thief worthy of the name can’t spin a good story?!”
“Waaah! Forgive meeee!”
Lulune tucked her tail between her legs as Asfi unleashed her anger and indignation. The other adventurers said nothing but all wore the same expression of loosely veiled irritation over being dragged into this.
“It’s hard enough being at the mercy of Lord Hermes’s every whim, but now this…?!”
A kind of fatigue unique to mortals constantly on edge due to their patron deity’s selfishness revealed itself on Asfi’s face as she rambled under her breath.
“Um…What…do we do from here?”
“…My apologies. You shouldn’t have had to see that.”
Aiz worked up the courage to try and get the leader’s attention. Asfi’s eyes popped open, and she readjusted her glasses. Her expression returning to normal, she focused on the task at hand.
“To confirm, the aim of this quest lies in the pantry on the twenty-fourth floor. Our jobs are to locate the cause of the monster outbreak and eliminate it. Is that correct?”
“Yes.”
“Then allow me to detail our manpower. Including myself, there are fifteen of us, all from Hermes Familia. More than half of us are Level Three.”
Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? On the Side: Sword Oratoria, Vol. 3 Page 6