Orario was as lively as ever, but recently, there were some new products on the market.
"Hey, have you heard?" one adventurer said.
"The Hephaestus Familia has released a new kind of device, and it's already on sale!"
"Of course, I know! How could anyone miss something like this?"
"I heard it's a new product from Goddess Hephaestus herself—a small box powered by magic stone fragments."
"With this device, you can contact anyone within Orario's boundaries, as long as they have one too. Even if you're in the east and the other person is far to the west, you can still reach them."
"That's incredible! Is there some kind of special magic involved?"
"I'm not sure about the details, but it must be true."
"As expected from the goddess of forging! She can create something like this."
"How about we go try it out together?"
The chatter about this innovation filled every tavern, big and small, across Orario.
Despite the vast size of the labyrinth city, news spread remarkably fast. No matter where something new appeared, it was known to all adventurers by the next day.
In addition to the gods who wander the city, spreading interesting news, adventurers also share a similar habit. Their daily life-and-death dungeon expeditions leave them physically and mentally exhausted, so even the smallest bit of novelty excites them. Whether adventurer or god, everyone becomes ecstatic, eagerly scrambling to experience anything new and interesting. This latest invention was no exception.
The magic stone-powered mobile phone, developed by Goddess Hephaestus, offered a range of functions. With the help of the Adventurer's Guild, several magical base stations had been set up in and around Orario to support the device's signal. This level of cooperation ensured a smooth and successful launch, plunging the entire city into rare excitement.
Meanwhile, Hermes, acting on a commission from Ouranos, was busy weaving through Orario's streets and alleys. With his silver tongue, he demonstrated the phone's capabilities to passersby. As a 'Wanderer,' Hermes excelled at this kind of work.
Standing on the Avenue of Adventurers, Yami, at the Hephaestus Familia's weapon store branch, silently observed the bustling crowd. There was a palpable sense of 'happiness' in the air.
"As expected, once released, it drives everyone into a frenzy," Yami mused. "Now, it's time to take action."
Oral teachings alone wouldn't be enough to ease the tension between humans and Xenos. Moreover, Ouranos had not agreed to reveal the existence of the Xenos. Every day, adventurers enter the dungeon to survive, killing monsters and collecting magic stones to exchange for currency. To avoid being devoured by monsters, most adventurers adopt a 'kill-or-be-killed' mentality—something the gods encourage.
However, if the existence of the Xenos were made public, it could have serious consequences. Some kind-hearted adventurers might hesitate during combat, unable to act decisively, leading to a rise in adventurer casualties—a scenario Ouranos wanted to avoid. In his eyes, both humans and Xenos are equal, making this a troubling dilemma. Transporting the Xenos directly to the surface could provoke an overreaction from humans, sparking unnecessary conflicts. Therefore, subtle changes were crucial.
"The TVs have sold well, and the magic stone mobile phones are gaining popularity. Next, it's time to create some film and television content to load onto these devices. In my previous life, there were many stories about humans and monsters living in harmony. I can adapt them to fit Orario's current situation."
"But I'm not great at acting or directing," Yami admitted. "Maybe there are people in Orario's Familias with drama skills who could be hired to produce these films. I'll leave that to the Adventurer's Guild to handle."
Following his principle of delegating difficult tasks while reaping the benefits himself, Yami turned and walked back inside. There was no rush to break down the barriers between humans and Xenos. For now, all the Xenos had been sent to the Pirate World, where they wouldn't face any immediate danger. So, there was no need to worry.
For now, Yami decided to wait. Once all the adventurers and gods in Orario were completely reliant on these devices, it would be the perfect time to implement the next phase of his plan.
Just as Yami was about to step inside, he suddenly stopped. He sensed that the specially made Valis, who had been left with the siren girl Ray, was sending a message.
"Could she be in danger?" Yami wondered, his eyes flashing with concern. In an instant, he vanished, appearing in the dungeon beside Ray, whom he hadn't seen in a long time. There was another figure beside her.
"What happened, Ray?" Yami's sudden arrival startled the two girls.
The figure with long blue hair quickly hid behind Ray, only daring to peek out timidly.
"Master Yami, you're here! Sorry to disturb you at this time," Ray said, clearly relieved to see him.
"It's no trouble," Yami replied, waving off her apology with a casual smile. "I've had some free time lately, so don't worry about disturbing me. Now, what happened? And who is this