Orario, the Labyrinth City.
The city was surrounded by massive, sturdy walls. Taller buildings lined its outer districts, while the structures gradually became shorter toward the center.
And at the very heart of the city stood an enormous structure known as the Tower of Babel.
Here, countless races lived together.
Under the Falna bestowed by numerous gods, they joined different Familias, met companions, and spent their lives adventuring, trading, entertaining themselves, competing, and fighting.
Thus, aside from being called the Labyrinth City—Orario possessed another special title.
The center of the world.
"So the most suspicious place is still Daedalus Street?"
Inside an upscale tavern, Loki set down her wine cup and looked toward the two gods sitting across from her.
Not long ago—Evilus, an organization believed to have been completely eradicated by Orario's adventurers several years earlier, had suddenly resurfaced.
During the annual Monster Feria, they secretly transported the Violas that Loki Familia had encountered during an expedition into Orario's streets.
The incident caused an enormous uproar.
While investigating the group whose mastermind had been dubbed the [Enyo/City Destroyer], Loki began suspecting that the Dungeon might possess a second entrance.
Then she heard that Violas had appeared in the sea beyond Orario.
So she took several Loki Familia members to investigate.
Now—
Having returned from Melen, the port town southwest of Orario, Loki was sharing what she had learned with two other gods.
"That should be the only place left."
"During the past week, Dionysus and I had the children in our Familias search practically everywhere in Orario that could be investigated."
Hermes leaned around the round table with Dionysus as they explained what their children had discovered.
"We searched that place too, but you know what Daedalus Street is like."
"Even in a city as vast as Orario, it's uniquely troublesome."
Daedalus Street.
A district built by a legendary craftsman and commonly described by Orario's residents as the street most similar to the Dungeon itself.
Its terrain was so convoluted that even people who had lived there for years could easily lose their way if they became careless.
Because of that—Hermes Familia's members eventually could not even tell which streets they had already investigated.
In the end, they had no choice but to return empty-handed.
"Daedalus Street is the only area whose full layout we still don't understand."
Hermes raised a finger.
"And most importantly, it's extremely close to eastern Orario, where the Monster Feria was held."
"So our next investigation target is Daedalus Street."
Loki nodded.
"I'll have Finn start looking into it tomorrow."
"Is that alright, Loki?"
"Hehe."
A meaningful smile appeared on Loki's face.
"Well, there are only a few more times left anyway."
"You two should hurry up and find another god willing to clean up your messes."
The strange implication in Loki's expression made Hermes and Dionysus frown simultaneously.
Loki herself could barely contain her anticipation.
She really wanted to see the other gods' faces when they discovered she had suddenly disappeared.
They would absolutely assume she had done what she used to do—Secretly hiding away somewhere to prepare another enormous stunt.
Just imagining their reactions brought out Loki's mischievous side.
Her eyebrows wiggled as she grinned wickedly.
"Uwaa... Loki, that smile is seriously disgusting."
"The expression you wore when you used to throw an arm around Zeus and wander through the Entertainment District together was way more disgusting than mine."
"Hahaha~ That's the romance only men can understand."
"You goddesses could never comprehend it~"
Hermes paused.
"Although, if it's you, Loki..."
His gaze slowly drifted downward—
Toward a certain remarkably flat part of Loki's body.
"Oi!"
"Where the hell are you looking?!"
Loki immediately exploded.
"If I hear the same nickname from you that that little shrimp uses, I'll have my Ais-tan demolish Hermes Familia before Finn even gets around to investigating Daedalus Street tomorrow!"
"Please spare me."
Hermes immediately raised his hands.
"My children already can't afford to rebuild our headquarters again."
Loki showed absolutely no mercy toward the blond god's teasing.
Behind Hermes, Lulune covered her face and looked away.
Fortunately—At least one god present still wanted to discuss serious matters.
Dionysus set down his glass of red wine and redirected the conversation.
"By the way, Loki."
"How did things in Melen end?"
"The incident caused quite a stir back here in Orario."
"That mess was Kali's doing."
Loki shrugged.
"You know what she's like."
"We still ended up fighting her Familia, but at least we confirmed that she has nothing to do with what's happening in the Dungeon."
"However..."
Loki glanced toward Gareth behind her.
He immediately understood and placed a sheet of parchment on the round table.
A portrait had been drawn across it using special ink.
"This was drawn according to Njord's description."
"It's the mysterious man who made a deal with him."
Loki tapped the portrait.
"Apparently, besides this guy, there's another person who secretly transported Violas into Ishtar Familia."
"Hey, hey! Over here~"
Hermes abruptly raised his hand.
"What now, Hermes?"
"Can you leave Ishtar's side to me?"
Hermes's usual frivolous attitude disappeared.
For once, he looked completely serious as he volunteered himself.
"I'm serious."
"This isn't something you can bluff your way through with a little sneaking around like before."
Loki narrowed her eyes.
"Ishtar Familia is one of the largest Familias in Orario."
"If you get caught, there won't even be ashes left."
"Don't say that."
Hermes smiled.
"Even I occasionally feel like taking things seriously."
At that point, Lulune, who had been standing behind Hermes, finally could not remain silent.
"Usually, whenever Hermes-sama gets caught doing something suspicious, he immediately surrenders."
"And then he leaves the entire mess for us to deal with."
"Well, basically that~"
Hermes cheerfully admitted it without shame.
"Besides, we're talking about Ishtar!"
"If she catches me, I can just throw myself straight into her arms."
"The children can handle everything afterward!"
Ishtar was the true ruler of Orario's Entertainment District—The district of nightlife more commonly known as the Pleasure Quarter.
Like Freya, she was a Goddess of Beauty.
The fact that Hermes had already planned how to escape after being discovered made it painfully obvious that gathering intelligence was not his only motivation.
Yet despite being exposed—Hermes showed no remorse whatsoever.
If anything, he looked even more enthusiastic.
His attitude left both Loki and Dionysus speechless.
Meanwhile—Lulune's fist slowly tightened.
'Hold it in.'
'I can't hit him...'
With Lulune's true Level 3 strength—If she punched Hermes-sama in the head at full force while his divine power was sealed, she would absolutely send him straight back to Heaven.
And if that happened—No god would remain to help conceal the Familia's falsified levels.
Once the Guild discovered that—Another enormous fine would follow.
That was right.
The reason Lulune restrained herself from punching Hermes was not because of some deep bond between them.
The poor girl had simply gone through far too many incidents already.
She genuinely had no money left to pay another massive fine for her Familia concealing their levels.
"Don't worry."
"This time really is different."
Hermes smiled.
"I'll handle things properly~"
Fortunately, he did not continue provoking the unfortunate Lulune.
Leaving those words behind—Hermes opened the tavern door and departed with Lulune following behind him.
…