Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

-It's wrong Restar The World in a Dungeon?

Wandering for the huge shadow, Subaru's consciousness deviated in the dark.

Losing your arms, legs, blood, meat, your own being, experienced a moment of Déjà vu.

Draw for a huge type of feeling, he felt that it had been erased.

"I love you."

I could hear the whispers of the same darkness.

‘Now it is a nostalgic voice’, Natsuki Subaru's consciousness thought sarcastically.

He was starting to get used to being told that he was loved. It was almost as if it were an elegant gentleman surrounded by his six love spirits.

Unfortunately, Subaru was not so reliable. And it was already full of love to give. It was really hard.

"But I do want to strive when it comes to that ..."

"I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you."

"I'm sorry, but I really can't answer that ... that phrase is a bit triggered right now. I just fucking the last person who told me that."

"I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you."

"... I guess none of us is in a state of listening. Then keep going and trag me. Let's do this."

There was no hope of leaving alive once he found himself in this empty place.

Natsuki Subaru would simply die cruelly in this darkness. Instead of lamenting, he accepted it, turning him into fuel for his anger and determination to fight.

"If I return now, the worst case could be waiting for me. Louis could return to his senses and come again for my ability."

"I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you."

"But I'm not going to lose. I won't. Next time, I'll keep my promise."

"I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you."

"I will fight as many times as I need for the day after tomorrow." I wouldn't let that love crush it.

Sorry, but if those words were going to hurt me, then I have suffered as much pain as I could a little. That love will no longer tie Natsuki Subaru.

But even Subaru's rejection could not affect those love whispers.

It was as if that blind love was trying to erase the entire world, consuming the existence of Natsuki Subaru, pushing it to darkness ...

"I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you."

"I am Volcanica. For the ancient oath, I ask your will."

The next moment, an incredible blue light hit in the shadow that consumes the world.

The color of the world changed in an instant when the furious light devoured the darkness ...

"I love you."

"Uuuh ~" A painful groan escaped from his lips. His body, tense and uncomfortable, refused to move fluently.

‘Rock…’ His right hand dragged slowly, feeling the rough texture of the rock. With an effort, his eyelids separated. The first thing I notice was an irregular roof made of stone that caused the absence of light in the environment.

‘Demons, am I in a cave? How were I supposed to get here? ’Supporting your hands against the floor slowly got up, your body took you to respond forcing it to stagger and maintain balance.

Finally managing to stand up, he began to creak his limbs. His arms rose in the air, while his hands were intertwined, the [crack] sound being the final act of this practice.

His arms collapsed and his body relaxed, taking a final look at his surroundings he released a drowned sigh.

"Ok, a cave. Classic. I have seen it so many times ..., somehow I wake up in a random place, I feel disoriented for a minute and then I realize that somehow I am far from where I was."

He stops, his eyes narrowed with the same tired and cynical look he used.

"Mmmh, good ..., what is I supposed to do?" Looking at its surroundings he could notice details that at first glance had not been able to appreciate.

‘The walls…, they are not like the ground, they are very similar to the structure of… the tower of the Pleiades’ passing its hand through the ashlar stone could not help remembering the place where it had been second before being consumer-.

Finally his head gave a short circuit, finally assimilating the situation correctly.

His eyes expanded in sudden anguish. 

The huge black shadow that had attacked the green room. He had survived being swallowed by ...

"Rem! Where is Rem ...?" Immediately scanned the surroundings in search of 

Finally, his status, his wounds and the condition of his clothes. The battle scars that had previously wrapped the entire Pleiades surveillance tower were still there.

Which means that the battle in the Towers of the Pleiades had really happened, and Subaru had not died, yet.

There was no tower trace or his friends anywhere. "Emilia-tan! Beako! Ram!"

"Uh, ahhh!" He shouted with the hope that even if he could not see them, they could still respond, but his voice simply resonated in the empty halls. The only response came from your own echo, product of the place.

"What the hell I am doing! I have to get out of here and look for them!" His still fatigued body was exposed to a new challenge: dragging the well boy until the exit of that place.

He ran around the place, did not take a long time to fall to the knee floor full of frustration.

The place was what one could perfectly call a labyrinth, every corner, every return was more unpredictable than the previous one. In his despair he ended up running with many dead ends.

His mind quickly looked for some solution to his situation. I would have followed in that same place for a longer time if a dry noise had not alerted it. 

His head turned quickly feeling the danger near his person.

Subaru's eyes could barely focus on the gloom's gloom.

In a corner a few meters from him, a small creature, no more than a seven or eight -year -old boy, began to emerge from the wall slowly. The boy seemed lost but his position was maintained as that of a beast.

His skin, a grayish and sickly green, is full of dirt and scabs. Puntiagudas ears look over the fatty hair bush in the head.

The creature looks with yellowish and jumps, without any hint of intelligence, only animal malice. His mouth is ajar, revealing a row of unequal and sharp teeth, such as the spikes of a fish.

He wears a piece of Andrajosa cloth that barely covers it and, in one of his thin hands, grabs a club made of a knuckle branch. The smell that emanates from him is nauseabundo, a mixture of rot and dirt.

A repulsive creature. A…

‘A Goblin?’ Subaru's body moved automatically, standing quickly. His whole body was alert.

The little monster when noticing the presence of the felling did not hesitate and in a matter of seconds he launched, quickly shortening the distance that separated them.

Before the sudden movement of the monster, Subaru's hand moved remotely to his belt, sliding quickly. In a rumble, deaf sound, the whip of Subaru bramó in a possible rage.

In a quick hand movement, the whip crashed into the Goblin arm, forcing him to release his club. Once unarmed, the Goblin managed to notice the danger that the human represented in front of him.

In an attempt to flee, he stumbled upon his own feet before being wrapped by the whip and print against one of the walls of the place.

The blood splashed, creating a grotesque scene.

‘Agg’ The nausebound smell intensified, the fresh blood slid down the walls and in ... his mouth.

"Blegh! Blegh!" He spit quickly, scraping his tongue with his bare hands full of earth.

The taste of the earth appeased the disgusting bitterness of the blood. He had not received any significant damage. But the disgusting sensation of the liquid in his mouth would never be erased from his memoirs.

‘What a bad luck ...’ Finally, calming down a little, he continued with his search, although now a little more concentrated, with a feeling of strangeness and a bad feeling.

‘A Goblin, I had never seen one before, but they really resemble how they describe them in the sleeves’. A feeling of concern was lit in his heart. ‘What exactly is this place?’

Again his attention was wrapped in the strangeness of the walls and his thoughts returned to the Goblin. ‘Goblins are common monsters in fantasy worlds. I never saw them in Lugunica, nor are they mentioned in the general culture books. ’

Given this, the feeling of strangeness grew inside. ‘This place, the way in which that Goblin came out of the wall, can only mean one thing ... I'm ... in a Dungeon!’

“I never thought that Lugunic could have a dungeon!, Well…, uhh…, it's not as if he had asked at some point.’ Feeling a little fool, Subaru continued to walk now with a renewed positivism.

His walk continued, every step resonated in a disturbing echo. Looking around, Subaru began to be more cautious with each of his movements.

His gaze looked for some clue that could guide him at the exit of the place. His eyes narrowed fighting against darkness, then he saw him. Irregular stairs rose in front of their eyes. Small fragments of light that extended along the wall, illuminating the road.

‘Something tells me that I shouldn't go down, but if I just stay here, I don't think I get something.’ Among doubts, it began to move slowly through the place.

"Ahhh!"

An echo resounded by the walls. The raven reacted quickly recognizing the sound. It was a human cry. Hurrying his steps, he reached a section of the dungeon where a peppered boy faced dog -like monsters.

They did not love themselves as a goblin, but they stood with an almost challenging position.

A creature with the humanoid body of low stature, but with a dog head. His snout is elongated, and sharp fangs stand out from his mouths.

His eyes, points of a bright yellow, look with a mixture of wild instinct and a spark of cunning that a goblin did not possess.

A dirty dark brown fur covers most of your body. In his right hand, he holds a small stick.

The monster moved with stealthy agility. At first glance, it could be determined that it was stronger, faster and smarter than a goblin.

Despite the movements of the beast, the Peliblanco boy moved with a speed and superior strength, effectively exterminating the group of monsters.

‘Although I have seen Reinhard, Julius and Emilia-tan many times, it is still impressive to see the number of people who could easily humiliate me.’ Release a resigned sigh, he finally approached the boy who after exterminating the dogs began to search inside the body of the monster.

The boy noticing his presence quickly turned to a concentrated expression. After noticing that his supposed adversary was another human, his face was filled with remarkable nervousness and his position faltered.

"H ... hello," the boy greeted the hairy.

Seeing the boy's nervousness, Subaru couldn't help but form a smile on his lips. "Hey! How's it going? I'm Natsuki Subaru. I'm thoroughly lost and have no idea where I am."

Making his presence known, the black-haired young man didn't hesitate to make one of his typical curious gestures. "What's your name?"

"Uhm ..., my name is Bell Cranel, a taste, Mr. Natsuki." A little surprised by the expressiveness of the man in front of him, the albino responded with a little already calm nerves.

"Call me Subaru. They always called my dad Lord Natsuki, so you make me feel a little old."

"S... Sure Mr. Nat ... Su ... Subaru" The boy's nerves returned quickly.

"I know it may sound a bit weird, but ... do you know where we are?" The raven asked a little uncomfortable about how silly the question seemed to Bell.

"Eh?" Bell looked at him surprised, not believing that the person really had asked that. Soon his eyes illuminated in a flash of innocence.

"We are in the dungeon, in the city of Orario, where any desire you want will come true if you lower the following." The admiration was dyed in Bell's eyes, as he enthusiastically explained how little he seemed to know about this place.

'Orario?..., this gives me a bad feeling.' Subaru swallowed hard. The feeling of worry intensified in his heart. Little by little, a reality he refused to accept began to take shape in his mind.

'No way, right?' He tried to convince himself that everything was fine. That he was still in Lugunica, but at this moment, he finally realized a detail he had ignored to cling to his little to no hope.

His contract with Beako was broken.

He didn't want to accept it, he didn't want to acknowledge it, he refused to accept that fact. There was no way he would accept that they had separated him from his precious Beako.

“Sir? Are you alright?” The child’s words pulled him out of his thoughts. A melancholic smile graced his lips.

“Yes, I’m fine, just a little disoriented.” He scratched the back of his neck, looking thoughtful. “The truth is, I just appeared here out of nowhere and I don’t know how to get out.”

“Really?! That’s really strange.”

The child moved excitedly as they began to walk aimlessly through the place.

“And you? What are you doing here?” Subaru asked, a bit uncomfortable, his mind still a jumble.

“W-well, I’m an adventurer, and the only member of my family, so I have to go down to the Dungeon to contribute to my family’s expenses."

“Just that?” Subaru dramatically shook his head. He wasn’t satisfied with the explanation. The way the White-haired boy described the Dungeon made it sound like a wonder of the world. That indicated to him that there was much more to it than met the eye.

“Uh… not really. I’m here because I want to fulfill my dreams.” The child seemed to hesitate a bit about the topic, nervousness creeping into every word.

The Black-haired boy’s curiosity began to gnaw at him, but he remained silent, waiting for Bell to continue his ramblings.

“A-and, I, I want to be a hero!” A spark of ethereal and brilliant determination shone in his eyes.

‘Bell really seems like an anime protagonist.’ Subaru’s mind flashed back to his arrival in Lugunica, his crazy ideas, and along with them, his first deaths. His body shivered at the memory.

“And…?”

“And?”

“Come on, you said you had many dreams, what’s the other one?” A friendly smile spread across the black-haired boy’s face.

“Uh… uhm, e… eh, w… well, I, I’m looking for…, my destined encounter…”

“Destined encounter?”

“Y-yes, I want to rescue g-girls in the dungeon.”

‘That reminds me so much of myself.’ He couldn’t help but recall his early days in the capital. ‘I’m acting like an old man.’

Furrowing his brow slightly, Subaru finally regained all his energy. For now, he would ignore all the problems swirling in his head.

The main thing was to get out of the dungeon. “Bell.”

“Yes, Mr Natsuki?” The child broke what seemed to be a train of thought.

“Could you please show me the way out of this place? I’m still completely lost.” Joking about his situation, Subaru gave Bell a playful wink. “And I told you to call me Subaru.”

“Of course, Master Subaru, allow me to accompany you to the exit.”

!...!?

Bell looked confused as Subaru stood completely still, his breathing becoming erratic and desperate.

“Mr Subaru?”

“Bell…, run…”

At the same time the black-haired man uttered those words, thunderous footsteps echoed throughout the 5th floor.

…

Bell Cranel

There is a seemingly infinite dungeon with diverse and numerous floors. Inside, there was a great variety of horrible monsters.

I, along with those adventurers seeking fame and fortune by risking their own lives, would register my name at the Guild, and then begin an adventure.

With a sword in my hand, I would quickly excel abruptly.

Then, in the end, I would have an encounter with a girl who was being attacked by monsters.

Endless screams. The savage roars of monsters. Only at the last moment, would the sound of a swift and sharp sword piercing the air suddenly emerge.

The monsters would be defeated. What would remain would be the beautiful girl sitting on the ground, while I stood gloriously.

Her cheeks would be slightly flushed, and in those beautiful eyes filled with tears, my appearance would be reflected.

A faint love would awaken in her heart.

Sometimes I would talk with the cute store staff at a restaurant about my adventures that day, forming a closer relationship.

Sometimes I would protect an Elf from savage adventurers.

Sometimes I would also help Amazon warriors when they were in trouble, forming a united party for adventure.

Sometimes I would get too close to one girl, and the other girls who noticed would be jealous.

Sometimes… Sometimes… Sometimes… Sometimes…

That was a completely normal way of thinking for a boy who grew up aspiring to a heroic adventure. Wanting to have a closer relationship with cute girls.

Wanting to interact with beautiful ladies of a different race.

Having those somewhat inappropriate, or perhaps immature thoughts. Isn’t that a normal personality for a young man?

Can’t I have an encounter in the dungeon? Correction, wish for a harem?

Is it really wrong!?

Conclusion:

I was completely wrong.

“Wuaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!”

“Huaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!”

I guess this is the result for an adventurer like me, who had those kinds of inappropriate and immature thoughts.

I am about to die.

To be more precise, I am currently being chased by a monster with a human body and a bull’s head, a “Minotaur”.

On my back is Mr Natsuki, is he an adventurer? Whom I just met.

In any case, the minotaur was far superior to either of us.

That monster was completely immune to my attacks, as I was only level 1. We were about to be devoured by it.

That’s right, I was about to die.

So this is my fate for being obsessed with such a superficial illusion, to become food for a monster. I am a fool.

I am so foolish for expecting a destined encounter.

The idea of becoming rich and having a harem of wives and concubines was, naturally, just a dream.

The moment I started preparing and looking for an encounter in the dungeon, where numerous people die every day, I was already finished.

Ah, I really want to go back! Go back in time and punch the me who had just come of age and went to sign the Guild registration document with sparks in my eyes.

No matter from what physical angle or destiny-wise, those things were already impossible.

-Quick, Bell!-

Master Natsuki has a rare ability. I don’t understand it much, but my body feels much lighter and the fatigue simply vanished.

“Huh?”

The Minotaur’s hoof.

Although it didn’t directly kick my back, where Mr Natsuki was (I’m sorry, Mr Natsuki), every step it took crushed the ground, so even the place where I was affected by its impacts.

I was unable to stand still and could only run with all my might.

“Fuuah!”

“Uwaaaaah!”

In fact, we have currently reached a dead end. Master Natsuki got off my back and just took out a whip from his waist.

I’m not very sure if we can do anything, but if Mr Natsuki is willing to fight, I will too!

Although I couldn’t help but think that the desire to meet cute girls would be completely destroyed.

It seems that from the beginning, I didn’t have the qualities to become a fairy tale hero.

Cowardice got the better of me, I could only watch as Master Natsuki stood in front of the beast, ready to face it.

I forced my body to stand. Fear ran through me, but I couldn’t let Master Natsuki die in front of me.

“Huh?”

“Eeeh?”

Vuo?

These were the muted sounds emitted by Master Natsuki, by me, and by the Minotaur.

The line that flowed not only passed through the body, it also ran through the thick chest, the hoof, then the upper wrist, the thighs, the lower body, the shoulders, and finally ran to the next, all at once.

In the end, I could only see a silver light.

The result was, the monster that I couldn’t eliminate, instantly turned into pieces of meat.

Gubuh!?

Pained screams echoed throughout the room before its death.

Following the carved lines, the Minotaur’s body also fell into parts.

Along with splashing blood, dark red liquid spilled out, collapsing completely the next moment.

A large amount of blood splashed onto my body and Master Natsuki’s body, as if we had taken a shower. I was completely frozen.

"Are you alright?"

What came after the bull-headed monster was a girl who could be mistaken for a goddess.

Her slender body was wrapped in light blue armor.

Her flexible limbs that extended out of her clothes were also dazzlingly beautiful.

Considering her soft, slender body, her chest was abnormally full based on my opinion. She had an emblem on her silver breastplate, and the same emblem was also on her copper gauntlets and accessories.

Blood ran down from the tip of her sword pointing at the ground.

Her blonde hair spread over her shoulders had a luster that would not lose to a large amount of gold treasures.

In addition to having a body that other women would envy, she had a very cute baby face that anyone would like.

The copper of her eyes looking at me was also golden.

A blonde swordswoman clad in blue gear with golden eyes.

Even I, who was nothing more than a level 1 and a novice adventurer, knew who the person in front of me was.

She was a top adventurer belonging to the <Familia Loki>.

Among humans, no, even among women of all races, she is considered one of the strongest as a Level 5.

<Sword Princess> Ais Walenstein.

"Excuse me… Are you alright?"

I am not alright.

I am not alright at all.

For my heart that was currently jumping constantly as if it would break, it could not be considered alright at all.

My cheeks were flushed, and my tear-filled eyes were reflecting the other party’s figure, a faint… no, a strong love was awakening.

My wild ideas became reality, the roles were reversed, and my thoughts had reached their peak.

At that moment, she had stolen my heart.

I saw Master Natsuki, who seemed just as surprised as I was.

Was I wrong in asking for a chance encounter in the Dungeon?

Re-conclusion:

I was definitely not wrong.

Chapter Text

“Are you alright?”

The words echoed in the dark-haired man’s mind like a deafening reverberation.

His body, which had already anticipated death, relaxed at the realization before his eyes.

The minotaur fell dead, blood splattered, the crimson liquid engulfed him completely. His mind relaxed, entering a trance-like state.

His death, the memory still vivid in Subaru’s mind. The crunching of his bones as the bull charged him.

<”Be careful, Subaru-sama”>

Even if he had managed to react, it certainly wouldn’t have helped; the bull-man’s powerful body would have torn him apart anyway.

He rewound time and looked for a solution, he only had 6 seconds of advantage, his first thought, to run.

He had to quickly activate Cor Leonis, which marked Bell as an ally, so after a brief explanation, they ran away.

In the midst of their escape, the creature revealed itself in the gloom. A Minotaur in every sense of the word, an imposing mass of muscle and fury.

Its skin was dark gray, almost black, and its entire body was marked with scars.

The monster was gigantic, easily twice Subaru’s height. Its bull head, with bloodshot eyes and two thick, twisted horns curving forward, was a sight of pure terror.

Spit dripped from its open mouth as it let out a roar of defiance.

The monster was completely unarmed, as its fury was its best weapon.

The Minotaur didn’t hesitate. It charged with astonishing speed for its size. The ground trembled under its heavy hooves. Its intention was clear: annihilation.

The dark-haired man thought Bell might be faster than that monster, a mistake; he was almost crushed about 5 times while they were running.

Subaru’s fear and desperate actions were due to the bad relationship he had with a monster similar to the minotaur they encountered in the Augria sand dunes.

Gabaou was one experience Subaru would never want to go through again. Never again…

There was no point dwelling on it; forgetting was best. Or at least trying to, because… He could never forget the feeling.

Instinctively, the dark-haired man’s right hand went to his left arm, his hand moving with tremors and erratic motions.

His skin prickled at his own touch, his nails gradually digging in, crushing and sinking into the flesh.

Chink.

A sound of metal falling echoed throughout the place.

He snapped back to reality with a dull thud, looking at where the minotaur should have been, he only saw a woman. One of the most beautiful women he had ever seen in his short life.

Her gaze was dull, almost menacing.

The girl’s eyes traveled around the place, first observing Bell, a spark of curiosity and recognition settled in her copper-colored eyes.

‘Do you know each other?’

He turned to look at Bell, the boy seemed lost in the maiden’s gaze; even though blood covered his face, a blush accentuated his entire face.

They stared at each other, lost, as if the other’s gaze consumed them.

‘Oh, no, no, no… Are we really living the cliché of love at first sight?’

He looked between the two people beside him and somehow discovered the irony in the situation.

‘Bell wanted to rescue damsels in the Dungeon and… He just got rescued by an adventurer. The world works in strange ways.’

The dark-haired man shook his head dramatically and playfully.

A sigh escaped his lips.

‘So we’re going to walk with the glitch trope, you’re really strange, new world… Or was Lugunica the strange one? Damn it’

Subaru couldn’t help but express his frustration in a complaint. His day, in a matter of seconds, had gone to hell. Nothing new for him, but it was overwhelming nonetheless.

Noticing the duo in front of him again, he couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable, so he decided to break the tension. He needed to get out of the dungeon, and at this rate, it seemed they would be there for many hours.

He put his hand on Bell’s shoulder in a friendly hug, looked at the girl, who finally noticed his presence.

Bell, for his part, upon returning to reality, tried to flee, but Subaru’s grip prevented him (Bell didn’t want to harm Subaru).

“We’re fine! Thank you so much for your altruism and selflessness!” making a playful gesture with his fingers, Subaru delivered the necessary reality check for the woman to come to her senses.

Blinking several times, the blonde woman looked at the duo with even greater curiosity.

The silence that followed was maddening; now the discomfort began to suffocate Subaru as he tried to force a smile as best he could.

“Aiz!” Suddenly a woman of imposing appearance spoke, an Amazon, no doubt, with that athletic build and a confidence that emanated from every one of her movements.

She had short, messy brown hair and eyes full of amusement.

She dressed as if armor were a nuisance: light, revealing clothes designed for speed and maneuverability, not protection. This suggested great confidence in her own abilities.

What drew the most attention was her weapon.

A huge, double-bladed, tribal-looking sword that she wielded with surprising ease. It seemed absurdly large, almost like a toy a child had taken from his grandfather’s chest, but the way she held it, with a mixture of brute force and almost childlike enthusiasm, revealed that she was perfectly capable of handling it.

It was certainly terrifying.

“Tiona…” In a whisper of recognition, the named Aiz relaxed her posture.

“Huh? Who are you guys? You look hilarious!” With a happy snort, the woman named Tiona looked at the two boys in front of Aiz.

Bell shuddered again in another attempt to flee. ‘Come on, friend! You can’t leave me alone in this…’ Subaru again prevented the white-haired boy’s escape, pulling him towards him.

“My name is Subaru Natsuki! And this here is Bell. And before you ask, no, this isn’t part of my outfit! Let’s just say I had a bad day at the office… or well, something like the worst day of my life…!” Playfully pointing to his clothes, Subaru joked about his current situation.

“Man! What an interesting guy! Are they your friends, Aiz?!”

“Mmh, no, I just met them.”

Separating from Bell, Subaru waved his hands dramatically, his voice rising as he described the event, as if reliving it.

“In fact, she saved us! You can’t imagine the size of that thing… It was a monster that looked like a bull on steroids! If she hadn’t shown up, we would have ended up… I don’t know, turned into tomato sauce!” Nodding repeatedly, Subaru presented his resolution as a milestone.

Tiona let out a delighted giggle at the boisterous young man.

“For that, Subaru Natsuki is eternally grateful for your noble act!”

“Nice to meet you, Subaru-kun! I’m Tiona Hiryute! And this here is Aiz Wallenstein, say hello, Aiz.”

At the mention of her name, the blonde woman raised her hand robotically in what could be considered a greeting.

“A pleasure, and again, thank you for saving us!” The dark-haired boy expressed with joy.

“You are mistaken.” Aiz shook her head, slightly disheartened by the boy’s anticlimactic enthusiasm.

At her words, Subaru froze on the spot.

“It was our mistake, a group of minotaurs escaped from the 15th floor and ended up coming up here.” Supporting the blonde, Tiona concluded.

“I’m just as grateful! For a moment I thought I was going to die. But, look…” He touches his arms and legs with his hands, checking his condition.

“All my bones are in place! It’s a miracle. For me, that’s a victory. Honestly, it’s a win-win!”

Letting out another laugh, Tiona directed one of her hands to her chin as she seemed to be thinking.

“Still, it’s our fault, let us reward you.” Tiona’s voice came out in a playful tone.

Subaru and Bell’s gazes met in clear discomfort.

‘She’s an Amazon, right? But I don’t think she’s like the Amazons from manga… Right?’ Subaru swallowed hard, his memories of his hikikomori days still lingering in his mind.

“What Family are you from?” Aiz, joining the conversation, asked calmly.

Subaru recalled hearing the term [Familia] from Bell and hadn’t paid it much mind at the time, but now that it was mentioned again, he couldn’t help but feel he was overlooking something.

“Family?” was the innocent question that escaped the black-haired boy’s lips.

Bad idea.

Bell, Tiona, and Aiz’s gazes began to pierce him, surprise overwhelming each of them.

‘Shit, I have to fix this,’ Subaru chuckled awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck. “I-I was just kidding! You don’t have to make those faces!” The black-haired boy broke out in a cold sweat; his attempt to get away scot-free was mediocre at best.

Tiona and Aiz exchanged glances with complex expressions; it was clear neither of them believed his tale.

Bell, meanwhile, still hadn’t spoken. The initial shock had passed, but his own nervousness prevented him from saying anything coherent.

He wanted to escape, to run away, to flee, but he no longer saw it as convenient. Mustering the little courage he had, he decided to speak.

“Uh, well… I belong to the Hestia Family.” The attention, previously on Subaru, shifted directly to the white-haired boy.

“Hestia Family?” Aiz tilted her head with genuine curiosity.

“W-well, my Family is just starting out, so for now, I’m the only member.”

Subaru perfectly heard Bell’s words, the name Hestia flitting through his mind.

‘Hestia? Isn’t that the name of a Greek goddess? Are… Are there gods in this world!? No, no way. It must be a simple coincidence.’

‘But on the other hand, it could also be something like a social status. Bell’s clothes look much more basic than Wallenstein-san’s clothes. Besides, the clear difference in strength is notable. She… annihilated the Minotaur in one blow.’

Despite his nervousness, Bell managed to maintain a conversation with Tiona. The Amazon’s interest in the two individuals before her was clear.

On the other hand, Wallenstein stared blankly at the black-haired boy, as if analyzing him.

Subaru, noticing this, made one last attempt to extricate himself from the situation.

“O-okay, we’re heading to the exit right now. Thanks again, it’s best if we… we leave, Bell.” Subaru began walking, pulling Bell along at a hurried pace.

“Wait…” Following the voice, a hand was placed on Subaru’s shoulder. The black-haired boy stopped dead, sweat trickling down his forehead. “Y-yes?”

“Although I like you, you’re just too suspicious,” Tiona said, shaking her head hesitantly. “We’ll have to escort you to the Ganesha Familia. We were heading back to the surface anyway.”

‘Damn it… wait, Ganesha?...

The air in the interrogation room was heavy and cold, as it usually is in official premises. Subaru, visibly nervous, had only waited until the door slid open with an almost imperceptible whisper.

A woman entered, who in simple terms could be described as beautiful.

She didn’t introduce herself with the arrogance or imposing uniform of other officers.

Her presence was one of absolute stillness. Her clothes were simple and practical, her eyes, an unusual light green, scanned the room and, above all, the black-haired boy.

The woman moved with quiet efficiency, taking a seat opposite the subject without a sound. There was no haste in her actions, but a controlled authority. This lack of aggression was, paradoxically, what made the atmosphere even more tense.

“My name is Shakti Varma,” she announced in a voice that was low, soft, and well-modulated. The tone was neither inquisitive nor accusatory; it sounded more like a necessary formality.

She didn’t offer her title or affiliation, confident that her aura would suffice, and it did.

As Subaru shifted uncomfortably, trying to decipher her approach, Shakti remained motionless. She didn’t need to pressure; her full attention was her primary interrogation tool.

She observed every nervous tic, every change in breathing.

‘This woman is terrifying’

She wasn’t seeking confrontation; she sought the truth with the cold determination of a scientist dismantling a complex device. Every question she asked, though simple, was perfectly targeted, without embellishment.

To any fool, it was clear that the woman was a master of the art of silent persuasion. She didn’t impose fear with force, but with serene intelligence.

In that room, she was the absolute calm at the center of the interrogatee’s emotional storm, a calm that made any lie feel like a betrayal of the silence she had established.

“Subaru Natsuki, correct?”

“Y-yes.” The black-haired boy was a bundle of nerves, his words tumbling over each other as he tried to speak.

‘How is this possible?! Is the requirement to live in this city to be extremely handsome?! Or are there simply no ugly people?!’

“To summarize your situation, you were found in the dungeon, you have no registration with the guild, nor do you seem to belong to any Familia, am I mistaken?”

Subaru shook his head.

“After concluding the verbal interrogation, the explanation you’ve provided is intriguing, to say the least.”

“You say you appeared mysteriously in the dungeon and don’t know what happened. You say the last thing you remember is being consumed by a purple mist while with your friends in a place called Lugunica, in the Pleiades Tower. Firstly, the place you mention has no record in any document; from any angle, your story seems like a rather unelaborated fabrication, but… there’s something that bothers me…”

The woman maintained a serious expression that soon turned into a frown; her head turned towards a specific spot in the room.

There, lodged in a way that defied logic, was a man. No, a figure. It was the largest being Subaru had ever seen, not counting Volcanica, Puck, the White Whale, well… you get the point.

Not only was he immensely tall, but vast; his shoulders were like solid stone, and his chest was bare.

He wore clothes that, even in the dim light, were ostentatious and gleaming: intense colors, gold embroidery, as if an opera costume had been compressed into that corner.

The most striking thing was his face. A mask covered the upper part of his face, and it was turned towards the black-haired boy; the mask didn’t prevent Subaru from being seen by bright eyes.

Another truly outlandish feature was his excessively wide smile, so exaggeratedly euphoric that it was maddening in that somber environment. The figure screamed “celebration” and “center of attention” in a place where there was only tedium and silence.

Suddenly, the figure raised an arm with a movement that shook a nearby stack of chairs. His voice, when it manifested, was thunder, completely disproportionate to the size of the room. It echoed off the stone walls.

“I AM GANESHA!”

It was the euphoric cry that came from the man’s mouth, his tone carrying a subtle confirmation.

Sighing in resignation, the woman looked back at Subaru.

“What bothers me most is that you’re telling the truth…”

With a dry sound, the folder in Shakti’s hands hit the table between her and the black-haired boy.

“So… now…?”

“Then now you have to present yourself before Ouranos. He has requested your presence.” The woman’s tone remained just as calm as it was menacing.

The self-proclaimed Ganesha, approaching the black-haired boy, placed a hand on his shoulder.

“Don’t worry, young man, Shakti! Let’s go! We have to give our guest a little tour!” With a sudden pull, Subaru was forced to stand. Seeing Ganesha walk, the black-haired boy had no choice but to follow.

Behind him, Shakti began to walk, letting out another sigh of resignation.

‘Ganesha and Ouranos, there really are gods…’ Subaru could feel the divine presence emanating from the man. Besides their names, a fact undeniable to Subaru, these characters were truly gods. Another spit in the face of everything he believed.

“Don’t worry, young Subaru, none of this is your fault, we know that, but your presence is truly dangerous on this existential plane.”

With a friendly little push on the back, Ganesha tried to calm the completely agitated boy.

“W-what… so you know…?”

“Yes, young Subaru, Ouranos and I are the only ones who know about your arrival.”

Surprise couldn’t leave Subaru; he felt the weight of his deaths again. So perhaps, just perhaps, the gods could be immune to the consequences of the taboo placed upon him.

But he was not immune; he could die, and dying hurt, it hurt a lot.

He remained silent, and a multitude of questions arose in his mind. Had the gods noticed the alteration of time caused by his death? How great was the power of the Witch of Envy to surpass the world’s limits? Could he return to Lugunica? Did this world somehow need him? What did he need to achieve to return? How did his presence in this world threaten him?

Shaking his head, he simply decided to focus on following the man.

They walked a few meters towards the exit. The moment the black-haired boy left that place, he was fascinated.

“Welcome to Orario, young Natsuki!!”

The sunlight forced him to squint. After the cold mist and stone corridors of the Tower he was in, the surface air was a sensory shock.

He stopped in the large central plaza, overwhelmed by the scale of the metropolis. Behind him, the tower loomed colossally, its shadow falling over the city.

Before him, the named city of Orario stretched as far as the eye could see. It wasn’t a simple city, but a vast expanse of stone and red tiles bordered by the Outer Walls, imposing guardians against the outside world.

The black-haired boy perceived a mixture of functional and fantastical architecture, with buildings piling up and scaling the gentle hills of the terrain.

The noise was a tide that enveloped him.

The clamor of the market, the ringing of the forge, the laughter and shouts of the vendors merged into an urban anthem.

The plaza at his feet was a melting pot of activity. Adventurers of all races

‘Humans, elves, dwarves, beastmen, and other races…’

Moved with palpable purpose. Their clothes were worn, but their equipment gleamed; the contrast between fatigue and the promise of fortune was evident on their faces. Some hurried towards a large building that seemed to be the main center of attention, while others exited laden with fresh provisions.

It was a city with a frenetic energy. Every step, every face, every transaction was somehow linked to the danger and glory of the Dungeon.

Subaru didn’t see a city, but a living organism, a machine driven by ambition.

“Th-th-this is incredible!” The black-haired boy couldn’t help but express his fascination; the panorama of Orario was, at best, similar to Lugunica, but still possessed a unique vibe that made it stand out.

Shakti stepped in front of Subaru and Ganesha. “Welcome to the true center of the world, Natsuki-kun. Look around you. We’ve just exited the Dungeon portal, and this is Orario’s plaza.”

They began to walk at a steady pace, the boy’s almost childlike excitement evident.

“It’s chaos. There are so many races… and that building is immense.” Subaru couldn’t express his strangeness mixed with euphoria.

“It is immense, and it is the reason for our existence. The building behind us is Babel, and everything you see, from the cobblestones to the imposing walls, exists to serve the darkness within. Now, let’s walk towards the Guild; I will explain the engine that drives this place: the Familias.” Shakti spoke again in a calm, professional, and neutral tone.

“Look at the groups walking past us. Those wearing high-quality equipment and moving with that air of confidence are Adventurers. They are not simple soldiers; they are hunters of the Dungeon.”

Regaining his confidence, Subaru raised a hand to stop the conversation, his expression one of intense analytical frustration.

“Wait a moment, stop right there! What’s the cheat code for that power-up? Because I’ve been here long enough to know it’s not normal to see ordinary people with those kinds of abilities. I need to know how the system works! I can’t face something if I don’t know where people get all that power from.”

“Power-up…?” Shakti seemed confused.

“HAHAHA, it seems our little friend knows the language of the gods!” Ganesha couldn’t contain his booming laughter.

“Don’t worry, Shakti, young Subaru was just asking how people get so strong.”

“Ah, of course… let’s talk about the ‘Falna,’ the blessing of a god. The gods of Heaven descend to the ‘Lower World’ and form groups called Familias. A God inscribes the Falna on the backs of their members, and it’s like a constantly evolving status sheet: it records their feats, strength, dexterity, and magic.”

Subaru clapped his fist into the palm of his other hand, his expression one of someone who had just solved a crucial part of a puzzle. His voice was quick and demanding.

“Aha! So you’re saying that an adventurer’s level and brute strength are directly tied to their God? As if that divine connection were the ‘server’ that grants them their stats?”

“When an adventurer defeats a monster, the experience returns with them to the surface. The god updates the Falna and their stats grow. Leveling up is a rare and sacred event, something that requires extraordinary achievement. That’s why seeing a Level 4 walking around here is like seeing a celebrity elsewhere. Their status and lives are defined by that blessing.” Feigning understanding, Shakti simply continued with her tacit explanation.

The walk extended several meters until they could glimpse a huge building.

“See that line in front of that large, plain building? That’s the Guild. It’s our most important institution. They don’t fight, but they manage everything.”

“Monsters from the Dungeon release Magic Stones when defeated. Those stones are the pillar of our economy. The Guild buys them at a fixed, standardized price, and that money funds the entire Familia. Rare items found, called Drops, are also sold there.” Continuing her explanation, Shakti described the adventurers’ activities.

Subaru gazed, completely captivated, at the large number of people bustling about.

‘This… it’s so strange and fascinating at the same time.’ Subaru couldn’t help but compare the city of Orario to Lugunica in his mind again.

“Look to your left. That’s a potion shop. Those are the merchants who prosper. They aren’t growing food or making common clothes. They’re selling elixirs, armor, and weapons that adventurers need. It’s a constant cycle. You should also know that Families don’t specialize solely in monster hunting, though that is often the case. They can specialize in agriculture, production, or distribution.”

Subaru’s initial astonishment simply seemed to increase with every new piece of information Shakti shared.

“Orario is the most dangerous place to live, but also the safest place. Why? Because if the Families fail and the Dungeon overflows, not only the city falls, but the world.”

Finally, they arrived at the Guild’s entrance.

“And here we are. This is the center of rules. If you want to know who’s leveling up, which floors are trending, or where to get a reliable map, it all starts at the Guild. It’s the bureaucracy that keeps chaos at bay, the law of this stone jungle.”

“This is… a fantasy trope in every sense!” A feeling of illusion awoke in the black-haired man’s chest, an illusion that had once been crushed by a crippling reality during his stay in Lugunica.

Finally, Subaru Natsuki ventured inside the Guild.

Bell Cranel

I was in the Guild talking with Eina-san, with Miss Aiz and Miss Tiona beside me.

After Miss Aiz saved me and Mr. Natsuki in the dungeon from that minotaur.

Though it pains me to admit it, I tried to escape… Now that I think about it, it would have been really rude to leave without thanking him and leaving Mr. Natsuki alone.

I wonder how he’s doing? When we left the dungeon, Shakti Varma, captain of the Ganesha Familia, was waiting for Mr. Natsuki. She didn’t even speak a word to us, she just dragged Mr. Natsuki and took him to an interrogation room inside Babel Tower.

I hope he’s not in trouble.

Now, I also feel indebted to Mr. Natsuki; he gave me the opportunity to talk with two of the most famous people in Orario. In these moments I’ve spent with Miss Aiz, I’ve come to a conclusion.

I’ve fallen in love…

And I couldn’t be happier. Life is quite ironic; I entered the dungeon to rescue ‘damsels in distress’ as my grandfather called it, but in the end, I was the one who ended up being rescued.

“Bell”

I heard Miss Aiz’s voice calling me, and my heart leaped. Hearing her voice call my name was a warm and unique feeling.

I finally raised my head.

“Yes, Miss Aiz?” At the mention of her name, I could see a slight frown on her face.

“Isn’t that your friend?” Pointing in a specific direction, Miss Aiz showed a tender expression.

I turned my head and there I saw him, Mr. Natsuki, flitting around the Guild, looking amazed at the stalls and the exchanges of magic stones.

“Bell!” Mr. Natsuki started walking towards me cheerfully. I never liked making fun of people, but I couldn’t help but laugh when Mr. Natsuki tripped over his own feet and got up in just a few seconds as if nothing had happened.

“P-Puff- please be careful, M-Mr. Natsuki.”

“No problem! I’m completely fine! I hope…” Finishing his sentence in a whisper I couldn’t hear, Mr. Natsuki struck a peculiar pose.

“Hahahahaha!” I turned towards the laughter and saw Miss Tiona laughing heartily, clutching her stomach.

“Hey! Don’t laugh, I could have died, you know!?”

“That would never kill you! I think… Besides, it’s your fault for not even knowing how to walk!”

“That hurt…”

While Mr. Natsuki and Miss Tiona argued, I couldn’t help but look at Miss Aiz. She was truly beautiful; I couldn’t believe my luck in spending time with her.

“Aiz”

“What?” My nerves got the better of me; I didn’t know what she meant.

“Call me Aiz.”

“I-I couldn’t, i-it would be disrespectful.”

“Don’t worry, it doesn’t bother me.”

“O-Okay, Aiz-san.”

Call me crazy, but I swear I saw a small smile on her lips. The seconds passed as Mr. Natsuki and Miss Tiona chased each other playfully, I assume. It was truly admirable to see how easily Natsuki-san could relate to others.

“You two, behave yourselves.” Eina-san approached them and didn’t hesitate for a second to reprimand them.

Eina-san and Mr. Subaru began to converse. I could see how he introduced himself with that strange pose.

“Bell-kun! I was thinking, and I had an idea.” Approaching me animatedly, I could see Tiona-san.

“What is it, Miss Tiona?”

“Hey! What did I tell you? Just call me Tiona; there’s no need for formalities.”

“O-Okay, Tiona-san.”

“Ah, yes, I told you I had an idea. Well then! Baru told me you lost your weapon fighting the minotaur, right?”

Ah, I had forgotten. When I threw my dagger at the minotaur, it shattered. It was a dagger from the Adventurer starter kit, it really put me in more trouble.

Baru? Does she mean Mr. Natsuki?

“Yes.”

I saw Tiona-san’s face fill with an almost childish expression.

“As compensation for getting covered in bull’s blood, I’d like to invite you to find a weapon for yourself!”

I was surprised; I didn’t expect something like this.

“I-I can’t accept something like that, Tiona-san. Aiz-san saved me, and that’s more than enough.” I declared, not wanting to take advantage of her kindness.

“There’s no problem! Besides, we owe you. Will you join us, Aiz!?” Tiona-san exclaimed cheerfully.

“Sure…” That was Aiz-san’s simple reply.

“You too, Baru, join us! We owe you too!”

“Sure, I’d love to-¡” Mr. Natsuki was suddenly cut off by Shakti Varma, who grabbed him by the neck and began to drag him away.

“Well… we’ll look for him later to invite him.” Letting out a snort of acceptance, Tiona-san finally seemed to remember something.

“Oh no! Aiz, we forgot we have to go back to our Familia.” Tiona-san hurried to pull Aiz-san.

“See you later, Bell-kun!”

“See you later, Bell.”

The two of them said goodbye to me as I could only wave my hand. This had been one of the best days of my life.

“Bell-kun, you have a lot of explaining to do.” I felt a shiver. Turning around, I saw Eina-san with fire in her eyes.

----------------

Running through the streets of Orario, I started to think a little more about my life.

I grew up in a rural village not too far from Orario, and I can be considered someone who knows nothing about the world.

After the death of my grandfather, who raised me, I completely lost my guardian. So I took the remaining money and left the village.

There’s no need to say it, but you should already know the reason I left—it was because I wished to have a fated encounter in the Dungeon.

<”If you’re a man, you can’t help but desire a harem!”>

When I was young, my grandfather frequently whispered that phrase into my ear while laughing; even now I can still remember it clearly.

Ever since I began to understand things, I had always liked the hero stories my grandfather told me. Repelling monsters, saving others, and also rescuing the trapped princess.

At that time, I truly had those ideas and wanted to become the coolest hero. But, at that moment, my grandfather told me this: In those hero stories, the greatest interest lay in having an encounter with pretty girls.

However, at that time, it was still too early. The young me often dreamt of becoming a hero and also began to develop a passion for having an encounter with the opposite sex.

My grandfather had also started to instill in me what exactly the [Romance of a Man] was.

As I grew older, I understood how great the existence of a hero was, and that my idea was just an illusion, so that dream slowly withered.

What replaced it was the passion for the success of his idea, and that passion gradually increased. After being repeatedly persuaded by my grandfather, the book that became one of my favorites was [The Sacred Labyrinth “Dungeon”].

A book that recorded the heroes’ exploits inside this labyrinthine city. It’s also possible he bought that book to cultivate my passion.

Placing myself in the adventures that gradually unfolded and following the heroes… if I go to Orario, if I get to be an Adventurer, if I enter the Dungeon.

Then at that moment, will I be able to become a hero, and will I be able to have my fated encounter? The moment I lost my only relative, I felt moved by his remaining thoughts and arrived at the place called the Dungeon.

In the beginning, I was truly being careless just like today and was close to dying. I started to think that my reason for coming here was really too stupid. Perhaps I was the only one who had such a playful reason for becoming an Adventurer.

Forget it. Whether it’s for wealth or reputation, all those people are pursuing something; I didn’t feel I was all that different in nature. However, [Surviving] is undoubtedly difficult. After almost dying today, I deeply understand that. Regardless of whether it was the Dungeon or other things, it cannot be considered simple.

My former goal has already changed; it now includes the matter of Aiz Wallenstein.

In the crowded streets, all kinds of races were present. I was working hard to walk through the cracks between people. Dwarves, Gnomes, Beast People, Hobbits… there were some normal citizens and also people wearing magnificent equipment.

For a person raised in a rural village, the streets were full of freshness and beauty. Even this simple crowd, I never tire of watching it.

Even all this noise was a wonderful feeling in my heart. Although my eyes were completely caught by the bodies of the pretty Elves, I still remembered my destination.

Going beyond the busy street, I entered a narrow alley and turned a couple of corners. Once the noise behind me completely disappeared, I walked to the end of the street.

I lifted my head to look at the building in front. In the depths of this small, unpopular street was a damaged church. It could also be seen that this two-story building used to pay respects to the Gods was almost completely destroyed.

By the look of it, there were broken stone remnants everywhere. It would be easy to feel that it had gone through many years and had disappeared from people’s memory—that kind of sadness.

Above the main entrance, a statue of a Goddess with a tattered body and half her face hidden was smiling at me.

“Good.” Although there was no need to confirm it, I still turned my head and checked if there was anyone around.

Then I immediately crossed the main entrance and entered the interior of the Church. In fact, the main entrance didn’t have a door. The inner part of the building had a degree of destruction comparable to the outside.

Dense weeds grew from the gap between the broken floors. Most of the roof had already collapsed; it was equivalent to having none.

Through the large hole in the ceiling, the warm sunlight shone. It shone on the altar that had managed to maintain its original appearance. It could basically be called a church in ruins, and using the movement I learned to pass through, I arrived in front of a small wooden room facing the altar and entered. There was a row of shelves without books in this dimly lit room. Behind the innermost platform was… a staircase that extended to the lower part.

After going down that unfathomable, decorous staircase, a door appeared in front of my eyes. The door was open, and a small light filtered from the small window in it.

“Kami-sama is back too! Ah, I’m back.”

I shouted as I entered the door. What was in front of my eyes gave off the feeling of a small room in a basement. Inside was the aura of someone living here, but for the people living here, it seemed as if it were only a part of it.

I discovered the person I called once I walked through the door. She was lying on the purple sofa on her back with a book in her hands. Once she heard my voice, she immediately stood up. Just judging by her appearance, she looks like a small girl… she should be considered between a child and an adolescent. She was even shorter than me, so from the perspective of others, saying that she was my younger sister who was almost the same age as me wouldn’t be a problem.

A smile appeared on the innocent girl’s face. With a totototo sound, she ran in front of me.

“Aha, you’re back already. Didn’t you come back earlier than usual today?”

“I almost died in the Dungeon…”

“Hey, hey, are you okay? If you die, I’ll be very worried. It would be very sad.”

After saying that, her small hands gently touched mine. As if to confirm that I wasn’t hurt. From her words, I could hear a hint of worry. I felt very happy about it, and my face began to blush.

“No problem. I won’t let you end up on the street.”

“Ah, you said that before. If one day you decide to ride on a large ship, you must have prepared your determination, right?”

“What kind of strange words are those…?” Both of us laughed during the conversation and entered the interior of the room.

The interior of the room was composed of a space shaped like a square and a rectangle. It looked like the shape of the letter P.

Near the door of the square section were two sofas. I sat down with her. The girl in front of me was, without a doubt, a beautiful girl. Her elegant black hair only covered her ears and was tied in a ponytail on both sides.

She used a silver bell to tie her hair. A round head and a round face made her appearance look quite immature.

But perhaps because of that, the contrast between her face and the top of her dress made her mature breasts more noticeable. Her round eyes revealed a blue light. That perfect body would always make anyone feel a dreamy atmosphere.

Although I can certainly guarantee that she will become an unparalleled beauty in the future, she cannot get rid of her current appearance. Kami-sama, as I called her, this person is a <God>. A being different in comparison with the humans, demi-humans, and monsters that appear in the Dungeon; she is an existence that is in a different dimension compared to us.

They are different from us in that our appearance changes as our age increases. She is completely beyond our knowledge, an existence that is greater than the hero I had imagined.

“In that case, basically you didn’t harvest anything today?”

“A little less than usual. Kami-sama, what about you?”

“Aha, look at this! Ta-da!”

“I-Is this!?”

“Since I made a lot of small contributions to the store’s income, I got a lot of potato croquettes! Tonight’s dinner is a feast of potato croquettes. Fufu, Bell-kun, you won’t sleep today. Right?”

“Kami-sama, you’re the best.” That great existence was also working in a human store. Of course, it was to earn money and make a living for tomorrow.

—A long time ago, [The Gods] descended to our world… according to their words, it was a place called the [Lower World].

Although there were many explanations about this out there, based on the words of the Goddess in front of me, it was because <”Heaven was too boring, so it couldn’t be helped”>.

We, who try to ascend to heaven, generally see it as paradise. However, the Gods were already tired of living an eternal life. So, to get rid of their boredom, they went to seek some fun with the culturally prosperous [Children]—that is, us who live in the Lower World.

<”To be in the same position and have the same capabilities as the children, to see things from their perspective.”> They are a perfect existence, so that’s why they are not perfect.

For them who were bored, this world was full of interesting things. As a result, the Lower World made the Gods very excited.

The satisfaction of unpredictable events, Food, Interests and Arts, and many other special interactions. They were able to smile while they were satisfied.

Although it felt like the Gods were playing a game, during the moment when they couldn’t predict the final outcome, they really enjoyed it a lot.

The Gods had not lived long in the Lower World. However, it seems that many Gods had decided to live here permanently.

The residents of the Lower World at the time, or our ancestors, did not refuse and had no discontent. Because they obtained the [Falna] from the Gods, they felt as if they had found a treasure.

Although the explanation was like that, isn’t it actually a relationship of using and being used? The current structure clearly demonstrates that relationship.

They mingle with the children and like us, they help each other daily and strive to survive. And saying goodbye to their boring, trapped lives, the Gods completely penetrated this world.

“Ah, now that I think about it… although everyone says that I am very cute as a mascot character, there is still no one who wants to enter my [Familia]. Everyone says: <”I’ve never heard the name Hestia.”> Those people are so calculating.”

“Yes, originally, no matter which Familia gives the [Falna], it’s all the same…”

The Goddess in front of me was called <Hestia>.

All Gods like her have children carrying their own title. To be exact, a [God’s Familia] is a faction of the God.

[Loki Familia] means [Goddess Loki’s Familia]; [Hestia Familia] is [Goddess Hestia’s Familia]. Of course, there are people who refer to it as a faction, so it’s called Loki Faction and Hestia Faction.

From what I feel, joining a Familia is equivalent to becoming a member of the God’s family.

Although the Gods decided to live with us in the Lower World, there was a rule that declared that the Gods could not use their almighty [Divine Power] in the Lower World.

But food and housing require money.

Of course, there are some Gods who enjoy working, but most Gods still just like to have fun.

Those Gods, to continue their carefree lifestyle, lend their power to the people of the Lower World. After joining a Familia, they will give the [Falna] to the people of the Lower World.

Then those people would have to fulfill the Gods’ requests and help them earn money.

In other words, if we reveal those words, the Gods are supported by their Familia members. However, we cannot completely ignore the benefits of the [Falna]. Just accepting it once, no matter what kind of person you are, everyone will be able to repel the lower-level monsters in the Dungeon.

According to Hestia-sama’s words, it is an <”Equivalent Exchange”>.

“Ah, making Bell-kun take the burden alone, I really feel very bad about it…”

“I’m fine… Kami-sama, you’ve also been working hard.”

If there are numerous Familias with many members, then, of course, there are also weak Familias like ours…

We continued talking. Kami-sama, despite representing a divine being, was truly approachable as a person. During our conversation, I couldn’t help but mention my encounter with Aiz-san, Tiona-san, and Mr. Natsuki.

I didn’t give many details, but it was enough to attract my Goddess’s attention.

Kami-sama got up from the sofa. Those breasts, which didn’t match her small body, shook slightly. I suddenly froze for a while, and allowed myself to smile.

“Oh, oh, to have an encounter with people like that must be a fortune. So, for our future, we must first update your [Status]!”

“Okay.” Following Kami-sama’s lead, I stood up and immediately turned around. Since I’m a shy person, the impact was too much for me.

To remember, it was also that other Gods sometimes joked and called Kami-sama <”Big-Breasted Loli”>.

What does Loli mean…?

“So, as usual, take off your clothes and lie down.”

“Understood.” As I headed to the bed inside the room, I took off the light armor that Adventurers use, then I took off the shirt I was wearing underneath.

Everything on my upper body was completely removed. Then I turned my head to look back.

The wall had a mirror. Reflected in it was my figure with white hair and pale skin. What was particularly surprising was the black text engraved on my back. That was what Hestia-sama had engraved on my body. That was the <Falna, a gift from God.>

“Good, good, lie down, lie down.” After hearing Kami-sama rushing me, I relaxed my whole body.

Once I lay down on my stomach, Kami-sama stood up and sat on my waist.

“Anyway, you just said you almost died, what happened?”

“It will take a while to explain…”

As I started to explain, Kami-sama kept touching my back. Once, twice, she approached the same places again and again, as if she were telling me to relax, and she gently caressed me.

Then a metallic sound. That was Kami-sama withdrawing a needle. I lifted my head a little, turned, and looked.

Kami-sama first used a needle to pierce the tip of one of her fingers, and then let the blood flow and slowly drip onto my back. The red blood that landed on my skin spread like a ripple and completely entered my back.

“You went to a lower floor to have an encounter… your fantasy about the Dungeon is truly incredible. Anyway, in such a dirty place, it’s impossible to have an encounter with the type of pure and innocent girl you imagine.”

“Innocent girl…! If there isn’t one, then there’s no hope for the others! I mean, I heard that Elves don’t even shake hands if they don’t approve of the other person!”

“Don’t yell now. Although there are races that are similar to Elves, there are also races like Amazons who would hand over their bodies to strong men to have strong children. Also, I think that those who have your unrealistic way of thinking will eventually come to a bad end.”

“…Yes.” After being informed of those heavy matters, I buried my head in the pillow. At the same time, on my back, Kami-sama used the spot where the blood had dripped as the center, and painted it with her fingers.

From the left side, she began to apply additional engravings. Now, what was engraved on my back was the <Status>—that was also a <God’s Grace>.

Kami-sama used the sacred text and engraved it on my back using her blood as a medium. It is a power that only the Gods have and can greatly improve the target’s ability.

Of course, there are also things like <Experience Points>. These are obtained through experiencing a variety of events; as their name indicates, they are based on your own experiences in life.

Of course, it is not visible, nor can it be created by the hands of a human from the Lower World. If I had to explain it, it is equivalent to the history of your own experiences.

The Gods would take the event hidden in the history, say [Defeating a Monster], extract it, and allow it to become fuel for growth.

The value of the completed events in quantity and quality are the [Experience Points]. For the Gods, they are visible and can be controlled.

Perhaps it is similar to ancient rituals, that is, after defeating enemies, you would be able to get praises and blessings.

Once the sacred text on the back has a sufficient amount of [Experience Points], a [Level Up] happens and the ability values increase. That power is basically what the Gods gave to the humans of the Lower World.

“There is also that Aiz Wallenstein. She’s beautiful, but a strong girl must have a lot of men in love with her. If it were her, there would be many men around me.”

“How can that be…?”

“Fuu. Okay, Bell-kun. Just give up on that momentary crush. Please pay more attention to your surroundings. There have to be beautiful and kind people who care about you around you.”

Kami-sama said that, but the only women around me are Eina-san and Kami-sama herself. Eina-san definitely wouldn’t accept me; as for Kami-sama, who is an eternal existence… forget it, even if you tear my mouth open, I won’t be willing to say it.

It is completely impossible for Kami-sama to be my partner.

And Eina-san had always said: all Gods are realistic and cold.

“Once she became a member of the Loki Familia, it became impossible for you to marry Wallen-whatever.”

She hit the nail right on the head.

In general, people who joined a Familia can freely choose to marry someone within their Familia. But let’s say you marry a person from another Familia and have a child.

To which Familia would the child belong? Although that is a special case and not everything, but if you maintain a too close relationship with another faction, it can easily cause abuse. In order to regulate the rules, the Gods’ management over their Familia is very strict.

Also, if the Gods themselves have a bad relationship, and they have a hostile relationship with another Familia, then they won’t allow their members to bring danger to their Familia. Although Eina-san had also advised me, if I, from the Hestia Familia, and Wallenstein-san, from the Loki Familia, wanted to date, there would be a great amount of difficulty involved.

“It’s fine, I’ll say it bluntly. Forget about that girl, and look for your encounter nearby.”

“Kami-sama, you’re so mean.” Ah, I won’t give up. Even though I haven’t done anything, maybe it’s that nothing has been done. So I haven’t been disappointed. My relationship with that person hasn’t developed yet.

“Besides, tell me more about this Subaru Natsuki. I’ve never heard of him, and the description you gave me is truly peculiar!”

Indeed, it was. Even though dark-haired people were moderately common to find, Mr. Subaru’s description was curious, to say the least.

At first glance, Mr. Subaru had a carefree air about him. The first thing that caught my attention was his hair, short and dark and messy, as if he had just gotten out of bed or just finished a fight.

But what truly defined his image was the attire. He wore a dark cloak, almost black, that covered his shoulders and fell along his body until it almost touched the floor. Under this cloak, I could distinguish a more informal outfit. He wore a jacket of an emerald green or forest green color over a light beige shirt.

Wrapped around his neck was a handkerchief, a vibrant orange color, peeking out from under the black cloak, creating a very striking contrast with the cloak’s darkness.

This splash of orange, almost like a scarf, was the brightest point of the ensemble.

His pants were dark, matching the cloak, and tucked inside high, caramel-colored leather boots. They seemed to have been used on long journeys, made more for comfort and durability than for show. A truly rare suit for someone who ventured into the Dungeon.

Kami-sama listened intently to the description I gave of Mr. Natsuki; I could tell that as I recounted more, Kami-sama’s brow began to furrow.

“That’s really strange…” I heard her murmur.

“Tell me more in detail, what exactly did he say?”

Kami-sama’s seriousness was terrifying, to say the least; I had never seen her so focused on something. Her plump face denoted genuine concern, as if she were trying to put together the pieces of a puzzle.

And then I remembered something I hadn’t given any importance to. But now that I thought about it, it was very strange.

<”The truth is, I appeared in this place out of nowhere and I don’t know how to leave”>

The moment I mentioned this, I could see Kami-sama’s face filling with terror, as if something really bad had happened.

“Kami-sama…?”

“Bell, tell me right now where that boy is.” Suddenly, my Goddess’s terrified countenance was engulfed in a strong spark of desperation.

“W-well, the last time I saw him he was being taken away by God Ganesha and Ms. Shakti Varma.” The moment I mentioned this, Kami-sama’s expression softened; a sigh of calm left her lips.

“Good! Then I won’t worry, Ganesha and Ouranos will probably sort everything out!” I didn’t quite understand what she meant. Had Mr. Natsuki done something really bad?

I decided not to think about it anymore. I renewed my determination again and put on my clothes.

At the same time, Kami-sama wrote the Status on the paper she had prepared. Because I basically don’t understand the sacred text, Kami-sama uses the language of the Lower World and writes it down to tell me the details easily.

Besides, it’s difficult to see words written on your own back.

“Now, look. Your new Status.” After giving her my thanks, I took the paper she handed me. My gaze immediately fell upon it.

| Bell Cranel Lv. I |

| Strength: I 77 -> I 82 |

| Endurance: I 13 |

| Dexterity: I 93 -> I 96 |

| Agility: H 148 -> H 172 |

| Magic: I 0 |

| <Magic> |

| [ ] |

| <Skills> |

| [ ] |

This was a summary of my Status that was engraved on my back. The general abilities have five categories—the categories are Strength, Endurance, Dexterity, Agility, and Magic—each category is represented by ten grades from highest to lowest: S, A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I.

The higher the grade, the more powerful your ability. The number next to I is the proficiency value. 0 – 99 is I, 100 – 199 is H.

It usually consists of linking the specified formula to the basic ability range. There is also an upper limit of 999. The more effort you put into a category, the faster the proficiency rate goes up. Working hard you can achieve the maximum value of 999, which is also the S rank ability, so it’s not a bad thing.

The Level is the most important thing. Even if it is only an increase of one level, your basic abilities will be much greater. It can also be said that it is a great physical and mental improvement.

The current Lv. 1 and Lv. 2 have an immense power gap. So that’s the reason why the chaotic Lv. 2 Minotaur caused me, a Lv. 1, so much trouble.

In conclusion, you become stronger when the Level goes up. Kami-sama calls it [Class Promotion].

…Huh? This time’s Dungeon exploration increased my Strength, Dexterity, and Agility… And Agility increased a lot! It went from H 148 to H 172, so I gained 24 points!? Could it be because I was running around everywhere to escape the Minotaur…?

The proficiency system is simple: if you don’t use a related ability, that basic ability won’t increase.

For example: Endurance. If I wanted to increase its proficiency, I would have to withstand the enemy’s attacks.

I always avoid my enemy’s attacks, so, basically, it almost never goes up. Although using a weapon or defensive equipment to block the attack will also count, no matter what, I’ll continue trying to avoid it. Because it hurts!

“Kami-sama. When do you think I’ll be able to use Magic?”

“About that, I’m not too sure. It seems to be based on the [Experience Points] related to cognition… anyway, Bell-kun, you don’t read books, do you?”

Yes… From the [Status] that Kami-sama engraved, all I worry about is whether I can use <Magic>.

Before the Gods descended to the Lower World, magic was a privilege of certain races. But there are also people who have never accepted a God’s gift but still found that they could use magic.

“Kami-sama, what about this Skill section? It feels like it has been erased…”

“…Ahhhh, I got carried away just now. It was blank as usual, don’t worry.”

“So that’s what happened…”

I basically had some expectations. The [Skills] values and [Status] are slightly different; they are special effects that are placed on the body under certain conditions.

If the [Status] represents the strengthening of the body, the [Skills] are the special reactions that happen within the body. Although it’s not like magic, where you can see how incredible it is, the discovery of a [Skill] is much rarer… no, there is almost none at all.

After confirming the updated [Status] again, I looked at the clock on the wall, and then turned my head to Kami-sama.

“Well, Kami-sama. Should we prepare for dinner? Even though it’s a feast of potato croquettes, we shouldn’t just eat that, right?”

“Yes, I’ll leave it to you, Bell-kun.

Natsuki Subaru

I cross my arms and rub my shoulders, trying to ward off the cold.

This ‘room.’ Please. This isn’t a chamber, it’s the Guild’s VIP crypt! The air is so cold and heavy that you feel like it’s judging you for breathing too loudly. And the silence is unnatural. Everything is designed to make you feel as if you’re about to sign your own death warrant. The guard who brought me in had a face carved in stone.

 Apparently, discretion here is as important as breathing.

And then there’s the guy.

He’s sitting there, on that pedestal that looks like an altar for sacrifices from an old video game. Zero ostentation, none of that ridiculous Ganesha bling-bling. And that’s what scares me the most, you know? The figure is tall, draped in a dark gray robe. His skin is pale, almost translucent, and his gray-white hair fell straight to his shoulders. He looked like a final boss that appears after you finish the game on Nightmare difficulty.

But what hit me was the deep antiquity in his face. It wasn’t old age; it was the annoyance or resignation of someone who has seen everything. And then his eyes. They were a glitch in the matrix. Silvery, as if reflecting a moonlight that doesn’t exist.

When those eyes landed on me, I didn’t feel judged. I felt seen. Everything. My present, my past… and I’m sure he saw my history of ‘Return by Death’ loops.

 It was as if he was reading my save file without amazement, just with a deep resignation. And that’s the punchline of my life. Even a divine entity looks at me and says: ‘This kid again. How annoying.’

Ah, and let’s not forget the other guy. The one who looks like he stepped out of an expensive travel magazine.

The man was an anomaly, that’s the first thing I thought. His hair is a sandy blonde, impeccable, and his face… Ugh, he’s unfairly handsome. It’s that cunning, jovial beauty, with a smile that looks like it’s about to tell you he just stole your wallet or that he has the dirtiest joke in the world. He gave me an easy, charming smile, and my brain screamed: ‘Sexual predator! Get away!’

His clothes were what threw me off. Fine, yes, but practical for a journey, with no armor or paraphernalia. It almost reminded me of my own clothes; a reminder that he’s also an outsider, or at least, a traveler.

And then that winged hat, the pétasos. That’s not an adornment; it’s an insignia that shouts: ‘I have speed! You can’t catch me!’

His eyes were the key. Blue, yes, but a cold, intelligent blue, always moving, analyzing the surroundings with the speed of a surveillance program. I felt that, while he gave me that easy smile, he was completely scanning me. He was processing data, seeing my weaknesses.

He doesn’t radiate the brutal physical strength of a Ganesha, nor the heavy authority of the gray-haired guy from before.

He possesses lightness, cunning, and total freedom. This guy has the teleport cheat code or the ability to disappear from the room if the conversation gets boring.

And then… the wink. He gave me a quick, discreet wink. It was a ‘Yeah, it’s me, and I know you’re looking at me, and I know what you’re thinking.’ I hate it! He’s so arrogant! What an irritating guy! I’m already on high alert.

“Subaru Natsuki, the time for your judgment has arrived.”

The gray-haired man spoke firmly.

Judgment! Did he say Judgment? Oh, hell! No, no, no! No way! I can’t be in trouble… can I? I mean, I’ve done a lot of things… but technically they don’t count because I did them in another world.

They can’t judge me for that! And Ganesha… A God as honest and loud as Ganesha wouldn’t do this to me! He wouldn’t lie to me! Right? Tell me it’s not true! Please, tell me it’s a joke!