After a while of intense fighting, the environment returned to silence.
Looking around at the Xenos lying on the ground, groaning in pain, Yami sighed helplessly.
"So, can we talk now?" he asked.
The scene shifted.
Deep within the uncharted strata of the dungeon, the area was now brightly lit. A large number of Xenos had gathered, though they looked disheveled and battered, they still stood their ground, vigilant as ever.
However, compared to their initial encounter, their wariness had noticeably lessened.
"What is your purpose in coming here, humans?" Lyd, the leader of the Xenos, asked. Though he had taken a severe beating and was in a state of distress, he stood firm, holding a long sword in his right hand and a scimitar in his left, guarding the Xenos behind him.
Despite the power of the adventurers before him, Lyd had no intention of retreating. His resolve impressed Yami.
"As I mentioned earlier, I was sent here by God Ouranos," Yami explained. "Both he and Fels want to ease the conflict between you and humanity. For certain reasons, I do not reject the existence of you Xenos. That's why I'm here to assess the situation and decide what steps to take next."
Yami paused before continuing with a hint of humor, "But I didn't expect you to be so difficult to approach. Drawing swords the first time we meet—is that your way of saying hello?"
Lyd was momentarily at a loss, unsure how to respond to Yami's teasing tone. Their initial approach had been cautious, yet it had ended in an overwhelming defeat. If not for the other party's lack of malice, they might all have perished.
But despite the unfamiliarity, Lyd and the Xenos had confirmed that Yami and his group were far stronger than they were. Coupled with the mention of Fels, they began to feel more at ease.
Though the Xenos' situation was precarious, they found some comfort in the fact that two gods were conspiring to protect them. It gave them hope for survival, at least for the time being.
"I'm truly sorry. Our identities are too sensitive, so we must be cautious," Lyd said, sheathing his weapons. "It was always the black-robed skeleton who visited before. We haven't seen you before, so it's only natural we were a bit wary. But I believe you were sent by Ouranos."
The other Xenos followed Lyd's lead, putting away their weapons as well, though Yami could still sense lingering hostility from some of them. It was understandable; Xenos, with their unique existence, had to remain hidden in the dark, unable to easily trust anyone.
In Orario today, many Familia members are aware of Xenos' existence, and because of their novelty, they fetch a high price on the market. Many Xenos have died at the hands of adventurers, while others have been captured alive, secretly transported to other countries, and sold for a hefty profit—essentially a form of human trafficking.
So, Yami wasn't surprised by their distrust. However, gaining the Xenos' trust was undoubtedly a good start.
"Then let's sit down and have a proper conversation," Yami suggested.
Lyd didn't refuse. After signaling to his companions, the Xenos sat down, surrounding Yami and his group but remaining silent.
At that moment, a siren bird descended from above.
"My deepest apologies, everyone. We were a bit rude earlier," the siren said. "Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Ray . I'm a Siren by race. It's a pleasure to meet you!"
Ray's voice was smooth and melodic, and her appearance was striking. With slightly blue-tipped hair, bird-like wings, and sharp claws, she was a beautiful blend of human and bird-like features. Her well-groomed feathers only added to her charm.
Yami, seeing such a being for the first time, couldn't help but be intrigued. In some ways, Ray resembled a beastman, much like the werewolf Bete from the Loki Familia, retaining some animalistic traits while still possessing human characteristics. Despite the similarities, Ray and her kind were rejected by humans, which puzzled Yami.
"Hello, Ms. Ray . My name is Yami, a member of the Hephaestus Familia. It's a pleasure to meet you," Yami greeted her warmly.
"Master Yami, you're too kind. Since you were sent by Lord Ouranos, we will trust you unconditionally. I apologize if we left a bad impression earlier. Please don't take it to heart," Ray said with a gentle, almost musical tone.
Her demeanor was so soothing that even Yami found himself enjoying the conversation, feeling a sense of ease he hadn't expected. Despite being Xenos, each of them was different in their own way. Talking to Ray was certainly more pleasant than conversing with the lizard-man, Lyd. It was a reminder that appearance can play a significant role in communication.
"It's really not a big deal. We're all equals here, so there's no offense taken," Yami replied with a smile. "In fact, I was quite impressed by your fighting prowess, and I admire your straightforwardness. So, please, don't be too nervous. Consider me a friend."
"But let's move past the small talk and get down to business."
Yami's sincere attitude made Ray feel more at ease, her expression becoming more formal and respectful.
Understanding the importance of the matter at hand, the Xenos grew tense as Yami began to reveal the purpose of his visit. As expected, when Yami explained that Ouranos had sent him to help the Xenos coexist with humans, there was little reaction from the group. They weren't particularly optimistic about the adventurers in front of them. Even if they were favored by Ouranos, the issue wasn't as simple as it appeared.
If resolving the adventurers' view of Xenos were easy, the Xenos would have long left the dungeon to live on the surface—whether under Ouranos or Ganesha's protection.
Despite all the planning, the results were not particularly evident.
Even for the existence of the Xenos, Orario had deliberately created a festival called the Monster Festival, but it didn't achieve the desired effect at all.
On that day, humans simply engaged in a carnival, delighting in the ritualistic sacrifice of monsters.
In the minds of most adventurers, it doesn't matter whether monsters possess intelligence or not; they will only raise their weapons and attack upon encountering them.
Thus, the Xenos were not optimistic about Yami's ability to resolve this deep-seated conflict.
Even Ray, a central figure among the Xenos, shared the same skepticism.
"With all due respect, Master Yami, even the gods Ouranos and Ganesha must tread carefully. I think it's better to take a long-term approach," Ray said cautiously, her words carefully measured.
Among the Xenos, it's rare to find someone with such clear and thoughtful reasoning.
Even if Yami couldn't help them immediately, there was no need to create discord over a few misplaced words at this time.
Gaining the approval of even a few was naturally the best outcome.
"It is indeed a very challenging task to change how Orario's adventurers view you," Yami admitted. "So, I didn't expect to resolve this contradiction overnight."
"But before that, ensuring your safety and allowing you to live openly under the sun is not impossible."
Yami's confident words immediately lifted the spirits of the Xenos, who had been feeling despondent.
Xenos, whose animalistic nature could never be entirely suppressed, began to edge forward, their eyes filled with deep longing.
Even the usually composed Ray and Lyd displayed similar expressions.
"Wait a minute, calm down, don't be so rash!" Ray exclaimed, snapping out of her daze and quickly stopping her companions from advancing further.
Having finally seen a glimmer of hope, she didn't want this opportunity to be ruined by her companions' impulsiveness.
Even if there was only a one-in-ten-thousand chance!
But to coexist peacefully with humans and live in the sunlight, they had to take that chance.
"I'm truly sorry, Master Yami, but can what you just said really come true?" Ray asked, her voice tinged with uncertainty.
"Of course, I would never lie about such matters," Yami responded with a gentle expression.
"Then, Master Yami, could you tell us more about the specifics?"
"Certainly, it's no secret."
"In fact, there are beings similar to you Xenos by my side," Yami revealed. "There's one named Shirahoshi, who belongs to the mermaid race. Unlike you, however, she does not have a magic stone fragment in her body."
"Of course, the reason I'm telling you this is to show that even though there are clear differences between humans and monsters, you should not feel inferior because of your situation."
"Since you possess reason, you are special."
"You are no longer mere monsters, but neither are you entirely human. It might be more accurate to call you 'Demi.'"
Yami's gentle words comforted the hearts of all the Xenos.
No one had ever spoken to them like this before.
Even though Fels had often provided them with much support, he had never said such things.
But now, Yami's simple, sincere words struck deep into the hearts of the Xenos, filling them with a newfound strength.
"Thank you, Master Yami."
"Don't be so formal; it's just the most obvious and straightforward truth."
Yami lightly shook his head, refusing Ray 's gratitude, his expression turning serious.
"If you want others to accept your existence, the most important thing is not to deny yourselves. Don't see yourselves as something different."
"Now, let's move on to the main topic!"
"But first, I need to clarify something."
"Do you wish to find a place on the surface to live peacefully with the humans of Orario, or with all humans?"
"Eh?!"
Ray was taken aback by Yami's question.
She didn't quite understand what he meant.
"It's simple. I want to know if you desire to live in the sunlight without being hated by humans, or if you only want to remain in Orario, under the protection of others."
"Or perhaps you seek the approval of the gods?"
Seeing Ray frozen in place, Yami elaborated on his question.
Though they didn't fully grasp Yami's intention, the Xenos present fell into deep thought.
After a while, Ray raised her head once more.
The determination in her eyes showed she had made up her mind.
"Master Yami, we've already discussed this among ourselves."
"Because of our identity as 'monsters,' adventurers have hunted us down, seeking various materials from our bodies."
"Some hateful adventurers have even captured our companions to sell."
"So, although we still yearn for the sunlight, we have grown disillusioned with humans."
"Whether it's Orario or a kingdom beyond, as long as we can find a place to live in peace—without the constant threat from both humans and monsters like in this underground city—we would be content."
"However, whether it's Orario or other kingdoms, their intentions toward us are malicious."
"Even if Master Yami could find us a piece of land, once our existence is discovered by humans, we would end up in the same situation again."
"So, it might be better for us to remain in the dungeon."
Ray 's words were sincere, reflecting the thoughts of all the Xenos.
Though the others didn't speak, their expressions made it clear they shared the same sentiment.
Now was not the best time to be exposed.
A reckless move could disrupt the long-term plans of Ouranos and Ganesha.
If everything fell apart, resolving the conflict between Xenos and humans would become even more difficult.
"I understand your concerns, and I can solve this problem."
"So now, there's only one question left: Are you willing to leave the dungeon, leave Orario, leave this world, and live in an unfamiliar one?"
As Yami spoke, a faint smile appeared on his face.
"What do you mean?"
Ray, already confused, found herself even more bewildered.
She could hardly believe what she was hearing.
"What do you mean by 'leaving this world'!?"
"Are you finally showing your true colors?! Humans really are untrustworthy, just like those adventurers who want to kill us!" a gargoyle shouted, stepping in front of Ray to shield her.
"Gros, what are you saying?! Apologize to Master Yami immediately!" Ray, startled by the gargoyle's accusation, scolded him, though her tone lacked harshness due to the gargoyle's nature.
But Gros refused to back down.
"Ray, stop being naive! This human has bad intentions."
"He wants to send us out of this world. Don't you understand what that means?"
As a prominent figure among the Xenos, Gros' words immediately stirred unrest among the group.