Four years ago.
In the late afternoon, as the sun began to dip from its peak, Orario remained as clear as ever. Merchants from within and outside the city walls worked tirelessly, targeting the adventurers flocking toward the Dungeon.
Shouts from shops of all sizes filled the city with a vibrant energy. It wasn't just the merchants; adventurers of all races roamed the streets. Dwarves wore heavy, fortress-like armor; elegant Elves draped themselves in majestic magical robes; and humans wore light clothing reinforced with solid metal plates.
The main street teemed with people during the lunch hour, particularly in the area lined with restaurants and food carts. Crowds pushed and shoved in a chaotic blend of activity.
In the middle of this bustle, one shop generated an exceptional commotion. Savory aromas and heat wafted from within, teasing the appetite of anyone nearby. This was the pub known as the Hostess of Fertility, and today, like any other day, it was packed.
─────·······
The noise inside the pub intensified. The customers varied—some had been drinking since noon, while others enjoyed a lavish feast. These scenes repeated daily.
Attractive waitresses of various races rushed to deliver orders, shouting with spontaneous frustration:
"Ah, we are so busy! Meow!" "I'd even take a cat's help... wait, I am the cat! Meow!" "Damn it... that girl Syr, I'll teach her a lesson when she gets back!"
In the kitchen, the massive owner, Mia Grand, moved with a lightness that defied her size, preparing dishes in rapid succession. Under the supervision of that terrifying Dwarf, the girls prepared food with staggering speed. Adventurers never stopped visiting this place, seeking the dishes prepared by Mia and her staff.
The clientele included men and women, young and old, from all races enjoying their meals without ethnic barriers. Even a few Gods appeared here and there, relishing the food just like the other patrons. Families sat with their children, and the smiles on everyone's faces confirmed the comfort and peace this place provided.
The sound of the wooden door creaking cut through the pub's din, and the customers' eyes instinctively turned toward the entrance. One of the pub's employees, a girl with pale gray hair, stood there with a boy.
"You won't get away this time! Give up and eat here!"
Syr—the gray-haired girl—spoke with a broad smile as she scanned the room, addressing the boy following her. Upon closer inspection, Syr held the boy's wrist tightly, clearly determined to prevent his escape.
"Ah..."
The boy sighed as if he had lost the will to resist. He entered the pub with his head bowed, dragged along by Syr, surrendering to his fate.
"The place seems extremely crowded."
The door creaked shut, cutting off the bright light reflecting from behind them and revealing the boy's appearance clearly. For some reason, every eye in the room fixed on him at that moment. A sudden silence fell over the pub; the roar turned into a complete hush.
The boy had done nothing to provoke this. His bag wasn't flashy, and his clothes were ordinary for an adventurer. Yet, everyone froze the moment they saw him. Syr, noticing the stunned atmosphere, tilted her head in confusion.
Most striking was his beautiful silver hair, which shimmered with a magical luster as if woven from moonlight. It looked so delicate and mysterious that one might fear it would break if touched. His eyes, like two red rubies, drew in anyone who looked at them, overflowing with a charm that captured hearts. With features that combined delicacy and handsomeness, he possessed a strange aura that transcended typical beauty.
His attire was traditional for adventurers, but the sword hanging at his waist carried a breath-taking, chilling majesty. The quality of the sword itself wasn't exceptionally high—likely the work of a beginner smith from the Hephaestus Familia. However, the blade within the scabbard suggested something extraordinary. Perhaps the reason lay in the unnaturally worn hilt; it was clear he had used it extensively for a long time, yet it was perfectly clean, indicating meticulous and constant care.
"Mr. Al's seat will be... here!"
Syr was the only one acting normally amidst the silence. She led the boy she called Al to one of the vacant tables and made him sit. The boy known as Al sat quietly as ordered, though his expression betrayed complete dissatisfaction.
The noise gradually returned to the pub, yet everyone continued to steal glances at him. The mere presence of Al Cranel was enough to automatically shift the atmosphere. He did nothing special, but his presence forced others to look his way.
The Gods were no exception. The Goddesses' eyes were glued to him as if they were under a spell, while the male Gods directed curious looks toward him. It wasn't "charisma" in the traditional sense, but rather a kind of alluring and mysterious magnetism.
The presence of a boy who attracted adventurers, commoners, and Gods alike without distinction was unnatural.
────── A sense of intense awe sent shivers through my body, and I almost forgot how to breathe.
This was the first impression Chloe Rollo had of this boy, Al Cranel.
●○●○●
The second entrance to the Dungeon—which the Evilus remnants presumably used to transport the "Man-Eating Flowers" from the depths to the surface—had appeared at the Monster Fair and in Merine.
Based on those two incidents, Loki was certain this entrance existed somewhere within Orario. Since the Hermes Familia and the Dionysus Familia had finished searching every district within the city walls except Daedalus Street, and since it wasn't in Merine outside the city, she concluded by process of elimination that the probability of it being in Daedalus Street was extremely high. Thus, she made it the target of this search.
The Daedalus Street area is the slum of Orario, a vast and highly complex residential zone crowded with illegal and unlicensed buildings, making its structure resemble a maze.
A thousand years ago, when the Gods began their descent upon the land of Orario, Daedalus appeared. He was a follower of the God Uranus (the founder of the Guild) and a genius architect dubbed the "Master Craftsman." He was the artisan who built the Tower of Babel, which still retains its brilliant white luster. After his death, haphazard expansion continued in his district, resulting in streets that resembled a labyrinth.
"This place is as amazing as always!"
Tiona exclaimed in admiration as she looked at the scene before her. Members of the Loki Familia, including the elite first-tier adventurers, had just set foot in Daedalus Street.
Once you step from the bustling main streets into the dark alleys that seem isolated from the outside world, the narrow and winding paths begin to unfold. In the main street, the noise of passersby never stopped, but upon entering these narrow passages, any trace of humanity suddenly vanished. The atmosphere shifted, and dark alleys continued to stretch out. The sight of lined stone houses evoked a sense of decay and ruin. Yet, details of simple daily life poked through here and there; residents could be seen living their lives in every corner.
"As I said at the headquarters, the second entrance to the Dungeon we are looking for must be here."
The group advanced through streets resembling ancient ruins, opening a map of questionable accuracy. Searching for something of uncertain existence is exhausting, but nothing would start unless they found it. Despite being a conclusion based on elimination, the probability of it being in Daedalus Street was very high, so they couldn't ignore it.
"Even if we decide to search, how will we do it? We have no clues to follow."
Tione muttered grumpily. The Daedalus Street area itself is described as a "Surface Labyrinth" due to its extreme complexity. In the larger streets, buildings serve as landmarks, but once you enter a side alley, all those markers disappear. The monotonous gray walls and the lined, illegal buildings cause a total loss of direction.
"We will rely on gathering information from the residents gradually and searching every inch thoroughly."
In fact, Daedalus Street might be the best place to hide suspicious activities. But this also meant that they wouldn't find anything through random searching. Tiona and her companions let out faint groans of frustration at Loki's words. However, they had no other choice. They had to start searching from the nearest possible point.
The residents of Daedalus Street, representing the lower class of Orario, included many dregs who failed to become adventurers. But thanks to the deterrent power of major familias like the Loki Familia, the security situation wasn't entirely bad. Still, one could not be complacent. Even if this wasn't the monster-infested Dungeon, it remained a fertile environment for villains to hide. There was no obvious ill intent from the residents watching them curiously from afar, but caution remained necessary.
"Alright, let's start moving! Divide into two groups and search every corner! If you find anything suspicious, report to me immediately!"
Since splitting into small groups might lead to members getting lost, they decided to divide into only two groups. If their expectations were correct and the headquarters of the Evilus remnants lay in Daedalus Street, the probability of a surprise attack during the search remained high. It was unlikely that "Creatures" would appear on the surface, but they had to be careful. They needed to avoid scattering their combat power; it was better to concentrate it even if it slightly reduced efficiency. Based on Loki's instructions, the familia members—led by the first-tier adventurers—began dividing tasks and searching throughout Daedalus Street.
●○●○●
How many hours had passed since they started the search? The sun that had been at its peak began to dip toward the horizon, preparing to set. While the crimson threads of sunlight illuminated the complex surface maze, Daedalus Street was so intertwined that one couldn't tell if they had returned by the same path they took or not.
In this atmosphere, Tiona used her natural intuition to find suspicious spots. Each time, others drew what they found on white sheets of paper to turn them into a map. They also repeatedly asked residents if they had seen any suspicious characters.
But──
"We haven't found a thing!"
Hours had passed, but the results were disappointing. Although they found suspicious places, they ultimately turned out to be ordinary houses, abandoned homes, or illegal buildings. Their efforts were in vain.
"Be quiet for a second..."
Tione replied irritably to Tiona's shouting. It seemed the sun had already set; the twilight sky began to turn into total darkness. They had exhausted their physical and mental energy fruitlessly, going in circles or getting stuck in dead ends. Except for the Hiryute sisters and Ais—the three Level 6 adventurers—the fatigue of the other members was much worse, with signs of exhaustion clear on everyone's faces.
"Ah, if Al were with us, this would be so much easier!"
"That boy is busy searching with the Captain and the others, so it can't be helped."
"But..."
Tiona muttered that Al, who possessed a strangely uncanny intuition, would surely have found the hidden second entrance easily even amidst the complexities of Daedalus Street. In this place with countless branches and turns, Al's extraordinarily accurate intuition would undoubtedly be a great help. He had previously sensed attacks from monsters or Evilus multiple times before they occurred. Tiona thought that if they borrowed his strength, they would find the entrance quickly, but as her sister said, Al was working with another group, so they couldn't rely on him now.
"Indeed, searching Daedalus Street is extremely taxing... it truly earns the title of Surface Labyrinth."
Lefiya sighed as she transferred data to the simple map. Daedalus Street, which resembled an optical illusion in its structure, seemed to grow more unknown areas as more parts were drawn. Originally, doubt had begun to seep into their souls about whether this entrance really existed. Anxiety grew that they might not find it no matter how much they searched. Yet, everyone continued to work in silence, driven only by their faith in the decisions of Loki and Finn.
Spending half a day in Daedalus Street, which resembled a complex spiral staircase, seemed to have numbed their sense of direction. The disorientation was so strong they felt truly lost. If they continued searching randomly like this, time would be wasted, affecting future search operations. It was a different kind of exhaustion than what they felt in Dungeon expeditions. Clearly, continuing now would not be productive.
"Alright... what shall we do? Should we return to the Central Plaza for now?"
Everyone exchanged looks at Ais's words. Indeed, continuing to search fruitlessly made no sense. Tiona looked at the support members staring at the maps with frowning faces, and at the Elf girls who had stopped drawing out of boredom; she scratched her cheek in confusion.
"No way! To live up to the Captain's expectations, we must find at least one clue!"
Amidst this frustration, Tione shouted while clenching her hand enthusiastically, wanting to prove her worth to the person she loved. But unlike her sister's enthusiasm, Tiona let out a long sigh. It seemed she wasn't the only one opposing the continuation this time; the rest of the members also shook their heads in refusal.
The mission was to find the second entrance to the Dungeon used by the Evilus remnants. The battle against those aiming to destroy the city was a race against time. If the entrance wasn't found quickly, the scale of damage would continue to increase. Since they had to eliminate them before the "Spirit Clone"—believed to be their trump card—finished growing, there was no time for delay.
Of course, Tione didn't care about these details as much as she cared about meeting the expectations of the one she loved. Although everyone understood her feelings, Tiona and the rest saw that it exceeded the limits of logic.
"But, we can't find it in a day or two when we don't even know where it is..."
Amidst the split opinions, the words Tiona muttered expressed everyone's feelings. As the group stood in confusion, they all sighed deeply again.
"Lefiya!"
"Lady Filvis!"
In that moment of hesitation, a familiar voice echoed, calling Lefiya. She turned with the rest, her eyes widening in surprise. An Elf girl jumped down from the roof of a building. With hair as black as a raven's wing and bright ruby eyes, the girl landed lightly on the ground and stepped toward Lefiya and her companions.
"Why are you here?"
"Based on Lord Dionysus's instructions. He told me to join the Loki Familia's search in Daedalus Street and offer assistance."
Lefiya smiled instinctively at the beauty in combat gear when she asked if she could accompany them.
"You've leveled up, haven't you? Congratulations!"
"No... compared to Cranel, I am..."
Tiona and the others directed curious looks at the girl talking cordially with Lefiya. As for Ais, she seemed to remember her, opening her eyes slightly in surprise. This was Filvis Shallia, a follower of the God of Wine, who had unexpectedly fought alongside them in the "Creature" incident at the food pantry on the 24th floor of the Dungeon.
She seemed to have arrived after hearing the Hiryute sisters' discussion, and although she didn't participate in the conversation between Lefiya and the others, she looked slightly uncomfortable moving under the admiring glances Tiona and the others gave her for her stunning beauty.
"Sorry, Tione... can Filvis join us?"
"Increasing the number of hands is always good, isn't it? That's fine."
"Yeah, yeah, I think that's great! It'll make the place livelier!"
When Tiona and Tione gave their approval, the others raised no objection.
"I'm Tiona! Nice to meet you!"
Tiona started by introducing herself first; Filvis looked confused for a moment before nodding her head slightly. Then it was Filvis's turn to introduce herself──.
"I am Filvis Shallia."
Filvis's introduction ended there. Her style was so brief it raised some eyebrows. Lefiya smiled bitterly at this behavior, which reflected the traditional nature of Elves characterized by reserve and difficulty in handling.
Suddenly, Filvis's gaze turned toward Ais, who stood there stunned.
"── Sword Princess."
"? Yes..."
Filvis's gaze didn't hold anger or hatred, but it hid dark emotions that made Ais shift her body warily. Ais wondered to herself; at least after the pantry battle, she hadn't felt such intensity from her. In fact, the atmosphere emanating from her was what raised questions. It seemed Tiona and the others felt the same, as signs of confusion appeared on them.
── (Did she just reach Level 4? Even so... she is miles ahead of Raul, Aki, and the others...)
Lefiya might not realize this because she is a back-row mage, but from the perspective of Ais, Tiona, and the rest of the Level 6s, Filvis's strength seemed disproportionate to her level. It wasn't that her strength was less than her level; rather, the impression was that her level hadn't caught up to her true strength yet.
Every movement and action was devoid of any excess, in an extremely polished style. Her stance clearly indicated she was an expert. This undoubtedly stemmed from an accumulation of real combat experience. Her skills, even as a pure warrior, certainly surpassed ordinary first-tier adventurers and perhaps approached the skills of Ais, Bete, and the others.
Her stats were estimated to be between the peak of Level 4 and the beginning of Level 5. Looking at the overall picture, she was equal to or slightly better than that masked Elf who accompanied the Hermes Familia in the 24th-floor pantry. Previously, they were stunned by her being Level 3 in the pantry, but now she could by no means be considered an adventurer who had just risen to her level.
Furthermore, something else emanated from her—a kind of contradiction or dissonance. Ais couldn't pinpoint what it was and tried hard to think about it but found no answer. However, this contradiction and distortion in strength was familiar to Ais──and Filvis's movements gave her the feeling that she had seen them before.
── (She resembles... Al).
And so, the journey into the depths of Daedalus Street continued with the new member, and with her, the mysteries surrounding this city and its inhabitants grew.
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