The atmosphere of the Labyrinth City Orario was livelier at night than during the day.
In the Entertainment District, many male adventurers could be seen seeking prostitutes to relieve the tension of a day spent exploring the Dungeon, where their lives were constantly at risk. Occasionally, a god could be spotted mingling in the crowd, enjoying the nightlife.
Thus, the Entertainment District was the busiest area at night. In contrast, Babel Tower, bustling during the day, now stood silent like a haunted house. Only Guild members stood guard, the atmosphere eerie and tense.
Suddenly, a group of people approached Babel Tower. Nine in total, four stood out, wearing hooded cloaks that concealed their appearances.
"Hm?"
One of the cloaked figures stopped abruptly, looking up as if sensing something in the air.
"What's wrong, Charlie?" Asfi asked from beneath her hood.
"Nothing. Let's keep going."
Without explaining his odd behavior, Charlie caught up with the group. His senses had detected someone's gaze, and he suspected it was Freya. After all, Freya was alone at the top of Babel Tower.
"…"
The nine were none other than the team formed to rescue Bell: six members of Takemikazuchi Familia, Charlie, and Asfi. The two gods who insisted on joining, despite knowing they'd be a burden, were Hermes and Hestia.
Though Charlie hadn't been in Orario long, his rapid ascent to Level 5, announced by the Guild, had earned him fame in a short time. He'd become the center of attention for many.
On the other hand, Asfi was a Level 4 and one of Orario's most renowned magic item crafters, known as Perseus.
In short, both were easily recognizable to other adventurers. For the sake of keeping Bell's rescue Quest discreet, they had no choice but to hide their identities.
Normally, a Quest to rescue Bell wouldn't require secrecy. However, Hermes and Hestia insisted on coming along. It should be noted that gods were forbidden from entering the Dungeon.
But who was Hermes? A notorious troublemaker! He reasoned that as long as they weren't caught, it was fine. Meanwhile, Hestia was purely worried about Bell and wanted to see him in person.
Due to Hermes and Hestia's selfishness, Charlie and Asfi had to disguise themselves to avoid drawing attention.
What about the Takemikazuchi Familia members?
They were only Third-Class Adventurers—Level 2—so, despite being considered High-Class Adventurers, no one paid much attention to their activities.
"We're about to enter the Dungeon. Hermes-sama, Hestia-sama, please don't wander off."
Standing before the gaping hole in the ground—the Dungeon's entrance—Asfi warned the two gods. Her tone was flat, but her concern was evident.
If Hermes and Hestia died, the automatically activated Arcanum would revive them. However, the price gods paid for using Arcanum was being forced back to Heaven, unable to return to the lower world for ten thousand years.
"You worry too much, Asfi. With you and Charlie here, we'll be fine." Hermes responded casually, brushing off the warning.
"Bell, we're coming to save you."
Staring at the Dungeon's entrance, Hestia clenched her fists, her determination blazing.
"Let's go in." Charlie said lightly, taking the first steps down the dark staircase.
This time, he didn't bring Aishia or Est. He felt there was no need to involve the two spirit girls. This rescue Quest didn't require their strength, and too many people in the Dungeon would cause unnecessary commotion.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Floor 3.
"GYAAA—!!!"
Ahead of the team, a group of Goblins charged in a swarm.
"Forward! Don't give them a chance!" Ouka shouted, swinging his heavy war axe with brutal force, smashing a Goblin into the wall.
*SWOOSH!* *SWOOSH!* *SWOOSH!*
*PU-CHI!* *PU-CHI!* *PU-CHI!*
At his side, Mikoto wielded her katana with swift, elegant movements, slicing two Goblins in a single stroke.
*SWISH!* *SWISH!* *SWISH!*
*PU-CHI!* *PU-CHI!* *PU-CHI!*
From the rear, Chigusa, bow in hand, fired arrows with deadly precision, piercing Goblins attempting to flank them.
The other three Takemikazuchi Familia members—a shield-bearer, a swordsman, and a spearman—moved in tight formation, blocking attacks and striking back in sync.
"…"
While the battle raged, Charlie and Asfi merely observed, standing at the rear. More precisely, they were guarding Hermes and Hestia to prevent any unexpected situations.
It was common knowledge that the Dungeon despised gods. Their presence could trigger unpredictable and dangerous reactions from the Dungeon.
Better safe than sorry.
"Wow, so this is what it's like in the Dungeon." Hestia whispered, her blue eyes wide with awe as she watched the fight. "Dark, damp… and smelly."
Hermes smiled at her reaction.
"Even the Upper Floors feel different from the surface, don't they? The Dungeon is a living place, Hestia. The monsters inside are its products. The deeper we go, the stronger and stranger the monsters we'll encounter."
Hestia glanced at him, her eyes narrowing with suspicion.
"You seem awfully familiar with this, Hermes. This is our first time here, right?"
"Haha… That's just your imagination, Hestia."
Hermes, who had been enjoying showing off his knowledge, quickly looked away, avoiding Hestia's gaze. He whistled softly, pretending to inspect the cave walls.
"Hmmph, very suspicious." Hestia huffed but didn't press further. She was too preoccupied watching the fight, which was now nearly over.
(So this is Low-Class Adventurers, huh… Weak.)
Charlie observed the Takemikazuchi Familia's battle against the Goblins with unblinking eyes.
(No need for Spirit Arts—I could defeat them using just swordsmanship.)
Accustomed to seeing High-Class Adventurers like Ais in action, Charlie found the Takemikazuchi Familia's performance very disappointing.
With Mind's Eye and Six Eyes, Charlie saw every detail of their movements: Ouka's powerful but slow axe swings, Mikoto's elegant but less-than-lethal slashes, and their strategy, which relied too heavily on teamwork to compensate for individual weaknesses.
(No wonder they had to flee from Almiraj and Hellhounds. Taking this long to deal with mere Goblins—if it were me, I'd finish this in under thirty seconds, even back when I was Level 2.)
Of course, Charlie kept these thoughts to himself. Voicing them would be tantamount to insulting the group. However, the experience broadened his perspective. Adventurers relied too much on the stat boosts from Falna, neglecting to hone their techniques.
To him, their fighting style was crude, leaning more on physical strength than true skill.
"Don't daydream, Charlie. This is the Dungeon—monsters can appear at any moment. The Upper Floors may not be a big deal for us, but it's different for Hermes-sama and Hestia-sama. They're no stronger than ordinary people." Asfi's voice snapped Charlie out of his thoughts.
"Mm." Charlie nodded noncommittally.
He shifted his gaze from the now-finished battle.
Afterward, they pressed forward, descending floor by floor, deeper into the Dungeon's darkness.