Dungeon ni Deai o Motomeru no wa Machigatte Iru Darou ka Gaiden – Sword Oratoria - Volume 3 - Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1 THE BLACK ROBE’S INVITATION 

“So that means the addiction period was relatively short?” 
“Yep. Loads o’ the children who tasted Soma became themselves again after they stopped drinkin’ it, ya know?” 
A conversation took place on the first floor of a manor as the sun started to slip under the western horizon. Evening had arrived. 
What dim light came in from beyond the windows illuminated a half-elf woman and the goddess Loki during an exchange in a spacious room. 
A guest had come to the home of Loki Familia, Twilight Manor. 
Their meeting took place in a reception parlor just off one of the narrow hallways. The many round tables, sofas, and armchairs inside were dyed orange by the warm light. An old music box and several other antiques lined the spacious room, often used by the familia members for chatting. 
There were four people present: Aiz, Loki, Riveria, and a half-elf woman. 
Their guest was apparently an acquaintance of Riveria’s, as well as a Guild employee. To Aiz, her glasses and full-black pantsuit gave her an air of intelligence and, most of all, graceful beauty. Most likely, the half-elf woman was a few years older than Aiz herself. At the moment, she was seated on a comfortable, plump sofa. 
The woman seemed to have something to discuss with Aiz’s goddess, Loki, while Riveria lent an ear as well. Three of the women were sitting around a table, conversing seriously. 
—However, even though Aiz was present, she made no attempt to participate. 
I couldn’t apologize, again… 
She was curled up in a ball atop an armchair and feeling rather downtrodden. 
Aiz hid her face halfway behind her knees, which were wrapped in the pure-white one-piece she was wearing. Everything about her body language and demeanor signaled that she was depressed. 
She kept replaying the night before in the back of her mind, unable to escape her gloomy state. 
After defeating Udaeus on the thirty-seventh floor, Aiz had stumbled upon an adventurer who had collapsed in the Dungeon—the white rabbit she had been hoping to meet again. She had saved the white-haired boy from a Minotaur that she’d failed to catch sooner, and then hurt the same boy soon after at a bar. 
Aiz had watched over his unconscious form while protecting him from monsters, all the while thinking she would be able to apologize once and for all. That was her best chance yet…but she had failed. 
When the boy had dashed away as quickly as a startled rabbit, the cruel reality struck Aiz hard. It was exactly the same as after the Minotaur incident, like a repeat of that nightmare. 
He…ran away from me! 
After I finally found him, he did everything he could to get away! 
The word sadness did not do justice to the anguish Aiz felt. She had hit rock bottom. She had returned to Loki Familia’s home with her head hung low. It wasn’t surprising that other members of the familia couldn’t approach Aiz after seeing her mood, but it was beyond even Tiona and Tione to call out to their friend. 
Only Riveria, the person who had accompanied her until she discovered the unconscious boy, could get her to open up. Even then, Aiz’s voice had been barely above a whisper. 
“…away again.” 
“What?” 
“He…ran away again…” 
“…Keh!” 
Riveria’s shoulders had clearly been shaking. Thump! Aiz had pushed her away, thrusting both hands forward. 
The high elf’s face had flushed redder by the moment, until she couldn’t contain the laughter any longer. Stunned, Lefiya and the other elves had watched the normally reserved and noble high elf laugh as though she couldn’t help herself. It was likely the first time they had seen such a thing. It was a first for Aiz as well. 
This is Riveria’s fault… 
Sniffle. Although Aiz didn’t show it, she was on the verge of tears. 
There was no doubt in her mind that the boy had fled because he had woken up with his head in her lap. It was the astonishment of waking up that way with a stranger that had sent the rabbit into a confused panic. 
That was it. It has to be. It’s all Riveria’s fault. Those words repeated over and over inside her heart as Aiz’s inner child threw her arms up and tearfully shouted. As she hugged her knees, Aiz regressed into that childlike state and pouted. 
…Am I…scary? 
Maybe, just maybe…Once that train of thought started, there was no stopping it. No matter how desperately she tried to avert her thoughts from that possibility, it always came back. 
It was almost frightening how the public famously called her the “War Princess.” Perhaps seeing her dismember a Minotaur right before his eyes had made the boy tremble with fear. She couldn’t help but feel it was also her fault the boy had been drenched in blood during the incident. 
Helplessly recalling the events, Aiz fell into a downward spiral. Deep in her heart, she painted the tragic mental picture of a charming, soft white rabbit fleeing from tiny child Aiz. 
—He’s…afraid of me!! 
Aiz squeezed her body so hard the others could hear her shrivel up. 
As the goddess Loki got to her feet, she called, “Hey, Aizuu. How long ya goin’ to beat yerself up?” 
Her conversation with the guest must have ended because the deity was making her way toward the armchair where Aiz pouted. “Must be serious,” muttered Loki as she smiled drily at the girl whose golden hair had somehow lost its luster. 
“’Kay, then, how ’bout updatin’ yer Status? Haven’t done it since ya been back, yeah?” 
“…Understood.” 
It seemed like Loki made the suggestion because she couldn’t leave the young girl in such a state, and Aiz sluggishly nodded. She climbed back up and resigned herself to go along with Loki’s idea, heart still heavy. 
“Heh-heh-heh, it’s been too long since I had a chance to enjoy touchin’ yer soft skin…!” 
“I’ll cut you if you do something weird.” 
“Y-ya serious?” 
It had become a reflex for Aiz to warn the goddess about her antics due to her taste in women—but her monotone made Loki shrink back in fright. With that, Aiz left the reception room. She turned and gave Riveria and the half-elf a short bow on her way out. 
They didn’t have to go far to reach an unoccupied room. Unused tables and chairs filled the space; even spare weapons and items left over from their last expedition had been stuffed in there. That didn’t leave much room for the two of them, but Loki managed to pull a seat out from this incredibly cramped makeshift storage unit. 
Aiz turned her back to the goddess and took a seat while undoing the buttons on the back of her dress. She exposed her bare back to the deity a moment later. 
“So, ain’t in the mood fer jokes today, eh, Aizuu? Really, what happened?” 
“…It’s nothing…I’m…fine.” 
Loki set to work, spreading her ichor over Aiz’s exposed white skin. 
Aiz glanced slightly off to the side and dodged the question. Riveria had already had quite the laugh at her expense, and she wasn’t in the mood to open up to anyone at the moment. 
The boy—Bell…She couldn’t get his face out of her head. All the skin from his neck to his ears had turned bright red so fast, it was almost as though he’d come down with an incurable disease. For his expression to change like that, the boy had to be incredibly wary of her…maybe. 
Loki’s fingers running up and down Aiz’s spine might as well have been on the other side of the world. Her gloomy thoughts dragged through her mind. 
“…?” 
Aiz felt the fingers stop in the middle of her back. Glancing over her shoulder to see what was wrong, she saw Loki was trembling. She was on the verge of asking what the problem was—when the goddess suddenly raised her head and shouted at the top of her lungs. 
“AIZUU’S LEVEL SIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIX!!” 
Her excitement getting the best of her, Loki let out a great yell. As the goddess’s cheers reached the other inhabitants, a confused noise began to rise from every corner of the mansion, as though a landmark had been reached. 
As her deity let out a whoop and danced like a child, Aiz turned to face her. 
She had been so caught up in thinking about the boy that she could only stare in puzzlement. 
 
Aiz Wallenstein 
LEVEL 5 
Strength: D 555 ? 564 Defense: D 547 ? 553 Dexterity: A 825 ? 827 Agility: A 822 ? 824 Magic: A 899 ? S 900 Hunter: G Immunity: G Knight: I ? H 
“Here ya are! Yer last Level Five Status!” 
Loki quickly scribbled down the updated details in Koine onto a sheet of paper and held it out to Aiz with a flick of her wrist. 
While all her Basic Abilities were well above average, her Magic stood out from the pack. When adventurers leveled up, their last Status update ordinarily showed Cs or Ds. If they were accomplished, it often settled at Bs. Virtually no one ever achieved the highest S rating, and it was indeed worth celebrating. 
Aiz blankly stared at the information on the piece of paper in her hands. 
“Would ya look at that! Ye’re gettin’ an Advanced Ability this time! Ain’t that great, Aizuu? You didn’t get a siiiingle one when you got to Level Five!” 
“…What ability is it?” 
“Regen! The one that only Riveria’s got! There’s nothin’ else to choose from, so I can just go ahead an’ give it to ya, can’t I?!” 
The excitement in Loki’s voice was palpable. Aiz gazed at her with the same aloof expression before finally nodding her head. 
As Aiz gave her goddess the go-ahead to raise her Status, ripples began to intermittently radiate from the center. The cinnabar-red characters—hieroglyphs—undulated in a steady rhythm and silently glowed with a strong light. 
The Status awaited Loki’s instructions, and she sent her fingers running across it in an instant. The goddess was almost bubbling over with joy at her follower’s level-up, but it hadn’t sunk in yet for Aiz. 
Aiz Wallenstein 
LEVEL 6 
Strength: I 0 Defense: I 0 Dexterity: I 0 Agility: I 0 Magic: I 0 Hunter: G Immunity: G Knight: H Regen: I 
Barely a few moments had passed after her level-up was completed when Aiz looked toward a full-length mirror propped up in the corner of the room. Rather than wait for Loki to translate it for her, Aiz went ahead and peered over her shoulder to read her Status in her reflection. She quickly deciphered the reversed hieroglyphs. 
Indeed, her Level had gone up by one, while the accumulated points had been added to her Basic Abilities and the counters reset again. Finally, she spotted the slot that held her new Skill. 
The Advanced Ability Regen allowed her Mind to constantly recover. Even without taking an extensive rest, her magic energy would regenerate little by little after expending it. Basically, magic potions were now unnecessary for her as long as she had time. It was so rare an ability that magic users, who burned through Mind during battle, would cry tears of joy upon acquiring it. Aiz didn’t know of anyone other than Riveria with the ability. 
Most likely, it became available because she had constantly used Airiel over the years. 
Her consistent efforts had borne fruit, including her Basic Abilities’ performance as well as all the excelia she had accumulated. 
“So ya took down Udaeus all by yer lonesome. Doin’ that would level up just ’bout anyone.” 
Loki must not have known about Aiz’s “great exploit.” If Riveria had not told her directly, then it made sense for Loki not to know. Aiz hadn’t been in the mood to talk since she returned. 
“You’re always so reckless,” said Loki as she happily poked Aiz’s cheeks. But soon after, she offered genuine praise. “Congratulations, Aiz.” 
After Aiz put her dress back on, she nodded as she responded with an “…Mhm.” Even a stranger could tell her heart wasn’t in it. 
“…It ain’t every day that ya level up, so why the long face?” 
Loki tilted her head as she pointed that out. Only then did Aiz notice. She had finally advanced to the next level, but it didn’t make her feel much of anything. 
Even though it had been her greatest wish to become stronger. Even though she had waited eagerly all this time. 
Now, her longing for it wavered. In this moment alone, Aiz had forgotten her obsession with strength. 
Why? she thought curiously. But all she could see in the back of her mind was that boy running away from her in a terrified panic. 
Her heart ached again. 
“…There’s somethin’ more important to ya now, ain’t there, Aiz?” 
Loki smiled fondly as she watched the girl’s dejected profile. Aiz looked up once at her smiling goddess and contemplated. 
…I might not be able to deny it. 
Ever since they had met, Aiz felt as though she had been thinking of that boy every free moment she had. Even now, just coming into contact with him had made her happy one moment and absolutely depressed the next. 
What’s happening? She placed a hand over her beating heart. The question was born not from confusion but an innocent desire to understand. 
“—Wha?!” 
Loki had been watching Aiz with a happy gleam in her eyes when suddenly her shoulders lurched. “It c-c-can’t be! You’re lovesick?! Aizuu, is it a man?!” 
“…?” 
Aiz tilted her head. She had no idea what Loki was saying or why her expression had changed suddenly. Since she couldn’t connect the dots, she arrived at the conclusion that this was one of her goddess’s “fits.” The womanizing deity often said things Aiz could not understand. Loki’s words flowed in one ear and out the other. 
So…what do I do now? 
Regardless, Aiz was still feeling very down. 
Would there come a day when she would be able to properly apologize to the boy? 
Aiz turned her back to the goddess, who continued to ramble one-sidedly. The white rabbit’s face just before he took off popped back into her mind, and she grew despondent once more. 
 
Word of Aiz reaching Level Six spread throughout Loki Familia with such speed that by the next morning, it was all anyone could talk about. 
The familia’s lower-ranking members were in awe of their captain’s achievement, and many of them talked about it until they were blue in the face. Aiz herself was more distant than usual, wearing a blank expression all morning. At breakfast, she responded with as few words as possible and finished before anyone else, wandering off soon after. However, the fact that she was no longer in the dining room did nothing to change the topic of conversation. The lower-ranking members, mostly female, practically talked one another’s ears off. Even the men couldn’t contain their excitement. The Sword Princess’s beauty and strength were fast becoming a greater source of pride for Loki Familia than ever before. 
On the other hand, those closest to Aiz felt more frustration than anything else. A certain werewolf angrily sank his teeth into a slab of meat and sent Raul flying when the young man came to speak with him. The younger Amazonian twin wailed in frustration, “She’s gone ahead without me!” and her older sister wearily told her to hush. Their elf junior stood next to them, her ultramarine eyes trembling as mixed emotions swirled inside her. 
The heads of the familia paid little attention to the morning’s unending commotion. Instead, they gathered at the general’s private quarters, which doubled as his office. 
“So then, Aiz is Level Six now, eh?” 
“With that as motivation, Tiona and Tione will catch up to her soon, no doubt…One can only hope they do not attempt something as reckless as Aiz did.” 
“Ha-ha, true. But everyone’s morale is through the roof now, and that’s a good thing.” 
The dwarf Gareth, the elf Riveria, and the prum Finn all voiced their respective thoughts. 
Loki Familia made their home in a collection of towering spires, with Finn’s office located in the northernmost one. The room was lined with bookshelves and a large fireplace in the corner. The prum sat behind his desk, while Riveria situated herself near the wall and Gareth sat on a round wooden stool. 
“Looks like y’all need to stay on yer toes. Wouldn’t want the senior adventurers to lose face, now would we?” 
And there was one more in the room. 
The goddess glanced around the room with her vermilion-red eyes with a playful grin on her lips. Ignoring common etiquette, Loki sat on top of Finn’s ebony desk, taking in the exasperated reactions of her followers. She wore the smile of the fool, matching the emblem of the trickster that adorned the wall directly behind her. 
“Now then, how ’bout gettin’ down to business and talkin’ ’bout those extra-colorful magic stones? They’re causin’ quite a ruckus recently, so gimme all the details,” Loki instructed, still positioned on the desk in a rather unladylike way. 
Just as she said, the purpose of the meeting was to discuss the incidents their familia had found themselves involved in over the past few weeks—specifically to share information about the carnivorous plant monsters. As the events continued to cast larger shadows over Orario, it was becoming more difficult to dismiss them as isolated incidents. 
Considering how members of her familia had been directly affected by the sudden appearance of these unusual monsters, Loki started to take them more seriously. 
“Magic stones with an intense color…That’d be the new species on floor fifty an’ the ones that popped outta the ground at the Monsterphilia—those man-eatin’ flowers, yeah?” 
“Putting that connection aside for a moment…What happened in the sewers, Loki? You went there with Bete, no?” 
Finn followed up Gareth’s comment with his question. 
Loki leaned back to look over her shoulder at the prum sitting behind her and answered. “Monsters showed up and everythin’, but there wasn’t even a scrap of a clue. Then this shady god pushed his pain-in-the-butt job on me…” 
She went on about the evidence they found in the old network of sewer tunnels, the massive reservoir where the monsters appeared, and then about the encounter with Dionysus, who was following up on his own investigation, as well as the information he had shared. 
This journey into the sewers with Bete had transpired ten days ago. 
She recounted that, in the end, she broke into the Guild to speak with Ouranos directly. 
“Is it wise to believe the Guild is innocent?” 
Someone was bringing these new monsters to the surface, including the ones that had turned up at the Monsterphilia. While she could not conceive how this was being done, Riveria questioned if Loki really thought the Guild was completely uninvolved. 
“Pretty sure they’re hidin’ somethin’, but I got a feelin’ they’re not directly connected to this mess…” 
She added that it was just a baseless hunch, her divine intuition. 
“If Loki thinks so, then it’s probably true.” The goddess’s three subordinates had been with her a long time. The confidence born of that relationship made itself evident as they acknowledged her assessment. 
“How was your little jaunt with the others, Finn?” 
Now it was Finn and Riveria’s turn to share their story—specifically, the murder that had taken place in the eighteenth-floor town of Rivira and the ensuing swarm of carnivorous flowers that had descended on the town. 
They had determined that the mastermind behind both incidents was a red-haired female tamer. Her strength was well in the league of top-class adventurers, evident from Hashana’s murder and Aiz’s defeat. She was also the one who had led the monsters into Rivira. 
She had been after an orb containing an eerie “fetus” that a mysterious client had hired Hashana to carry out of the Dungeon. 
Gareth stroked his beard. “Makin’ monsters mutate, ya say…Kinda hard to believe. That means one o’ them orbs made that woman-lookin’ monster on the fiftieth floor, too?” 
“Most likely, though only Aiz and Lefiya have seen the orb with their own eyes…” Riveria responded. 
“That lady tamer’s kinda botherin’ me. Holdin’ her own against Finn an’ Riveria at the same time an’ barely losin’…? This ain’t Freya’s Ottar we’re dealin’ with. Think ya could win if ya gave it your all, Finn?” asked Loki. 
“I have no intention of losing…is what I’d like to say, but honestly, she’s someone I’d rather avoid fighting one-on-one.” 
Several of the flower monsters hosting the parasite had mutated into behemoths nearly identical to the spore-producing, corrosive-liquid-spewing, woman-shaped abomination they had encountered on the fiftieth floor. The only information they possessed about the orb was that Hashana had acquired it on the thirtieth floor before being killed. 
Loki frowned as she listened to Finn describe the appearance of the attacker. The unknown woman could fight on par with Finn and Riveria, both Level Six. There was a high possibility that the tamer was also one of Orario’s elite Level Six adventurers. 
Loki mumbled under her breath, wondering about the completely unknown woman and to what familia she belonged. 
Riveria broke the heavy silence. “…I heard this from Aiz just the other day, but…” The high elf began by explaining that Aiz had told her this only after defeating Udaeus, then said, “Apparently, the tamer woman referred to that child as ‘Aria.’” 
Every face in the room became deadly serious. 
“Riveria, are you certain?” 
“I am. The first time was immediately after she saw Aiz’s Airiel. It happened repeatedly after that.” Riveria added that the woman had acted as if her search had come to an end. 
Loki and Finn closed their mouths, gulping in reaction to the news that “Airiel” had triggered the name “Aria.” 
—Was Aiz one of the enemy’s targets? 
Everyone in the room had the same thought. 
“…Can’t think of anyone other than us who knows ’bout Aiz’s past.” 
“Then how could it be that a stranger knows her mother’s name?” 
Gareth frowned as Riveria countered his assertion. Finn watched their exchange from the corner of his eye before facing Loki. 
“Loki, are any other deities familiar with Aiz’s situation?” 
“…Ouranos is probably the only one who’s noticed.” 
The three mortals looked sharply at their goddess after hearing that. The Guild was suddenly back on the list of suspects, and their expressions said as much. 
Beads of sweat rolled down Loki’s face under the pressure of their stares. “Wait, hold up,” she said with her hands raised. 
They decided to leave coming to a verdict on the Guild’s possible involvement for another time. 
“But still, she called Aiz ‘Aria’…Maybe she confused her for her mother?” Finn thought the mysterious tamer might not know all the details of Aiz’s past. “Any thoughts?” He glanced at his allies in turn to see if his guess held any merit. 
Riveria had a new question. “…On the other hand, even if the enemy knows who Aiz is, what are they trying to achieve?” 
No one had an answer. They had only bits and pieces of information, making it impossible to draw connections between anything. Since they also had Aiz’s circumstances to consider, they couldn’t afford to rush to conclusions. 
Silence descended upon the room. 
“The tamer didn’t seem to know who we were.” 
“What do ya mean by that?” 
At Gareth’s question, Finn turned his attention to Riveria. 
“Do you remember, Riveria? What she said when our fight came to a standstill.” 
“…Ah, I believe so.” 
Riveria searched her memories of the battle more than ten days ago. 
“First tier…Level Five—no, Six.” 
After holding off Riveria and Finn’s tandem attack, the tamer had said that. She was certain. 
Judging by that statement, the tamer woman had assessed from their clash that Finn and Riveria were Level Six—and by extension, she had no knowledge of their abilities or identities before exchanging blows. 
She had never heard of the two top-class adventurers who were known throughout the city. 
“Ahh, I gotcha now. My familia’s famous far an’ wide, over mountains and seas, around the world. Especially Finn.” 
“Yes. I’m not trying to brag, but we’re household names both inside and outside this city’s walls. You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who didn’t know us.” 
Loki and Finn nodded. 
Information about Orario, often referred to as the “center of the world,” quickly traveled all over the globe. The name of a famous adventurer in Orario, especially a Level Six—the highest position with the exception of the “apex”—would be known the world over. 
“Braver” Finn Deimne. “Nine Hell” Riveria Ljos Alf. The fact that anyone didn’t know their names was unbelievable, especially an adventurer. The explanation that she had no interest in what was going on in the world would have been painfully inadequate. 
“Able to bend hordes of monsters to her will and lacking even the most common sense about adventurers…It’s as if—” 
Finn voiced his train of thought to that point and suddenly stopped. 
“As if what?” 
“…Nothing. Please forget it.” 
Riveria pressed him to finish the thought, but Finn shook his head. He said it was nothing more than his imagination and seemed to discard the idea entirely. Sighing lightly to himself, Finn leaned back into his chair. 
“…Even with Loki’s trip underground, we can’t make out anythin’ ’bout this enemy.” 
“True.” 
The wooden stool creaked as Gareth shifted his weight while Finn nodded in acknowledgment. “Hmmm,” mumbled Loki, scratching her chin. 
The meeting paused. Some time passed before Finn spoke up. 
“…I’d like to hear what Aiz has to say.” 
He opened one of the drawers in his desk and took out a small handbell. 
A large, gaudy bow was tied around its red handle. Finn held the bell in his right hand and gave it a quick shake. Ding-ding-ding. The high-pitched metallic sound rang through the air. After a few moments… 
Thump, thump, thump, thump, thump! 
A crescendo of hurried footsteps approached until they halted in front of the office and the double doors loudly swung open. 
“—You called, General?” 
Tione stood in the doorframe, her face aglow. 
She had given the bell to Finn—rather aggressively—as a way to summon her. The prum wasted no time making his request. 
“Would you find Aiz for me? I’d like you to ask Lefiya and your sister for help to bring her here.” 
“Leave it to me!!” 
The four inside the office caught a glimpse of the joy on Tione’s face before she rushed off at a dead sprint. The doors were still wide open. Riveria quietly walked over and closed them. 
“Ain’t that convenient…” muttered Gareth as he eyed the bell with the power to call an Amazonian warrior to Finn’s side at any time. 
“It can be…” the prum quipped with a dry smile. 
“Looks like we got some time to kill before Aiz gets here. How ’bout updatin’ me on the next expedition?” 
Loki grunted as she hopped off the desk and onto the floor. 
The planned departure date for the expedition—Loki Familia’s next trip into the unexplored Deep Levels of the Dungeon—was already less than two weeks away. Eleven days, to be exact. 
No one objected to their goddess’s suggestion to discuss the arrangements. 
While confirming what equipment to take on the expedition, Finn posed a question to his goddess. “Loki, have terms been reached with Goddess Hephaistos?” 
“Ah, right, ya wanted to take smiths with ya this time. Yer all good to go. She wouldn’t agree to it unless her kids had first dibs on drop items in the Deep Levels, but she got on board in the end.” The goddess made a circle with her thumb and forefinger to signal there was no problem. 
On their previous excursion, they had encountered caterpillar monsters that spat acid, and a great deal of their weapons, armor, and spares ended up melting. Although they managed to defeat them in the end, their losses were so great that continuing the expedition was impossible and they were forced to return to the surface. 
Finn wanted to use that experience to avoid making the same mistake. His solution was to bring smiths capable of repairing their equipment into the Dungeon as part of the group, though he had needed Loki’s help to recruit them from another familia. 
Thus he had requested the assistance of Hephaistos Familia, the largest group of smiths and artisans. 
It went without saying that Hephaistos Familia’s High Smiths were masters of their craft, but they were also stronger in battle than most high-level adventurers. Should members of that familia agree to accompany them on the expedition, Finn was confident they could take care of themselves even if one or two unforeseen challenges occurred during their journey through the Deep Levels. 
“We can use the same weapons the entire time if we have smiths there to repair them…The need for spares all but disappears.” 
“Yes, and all that free space will be used to carry magic swords. Gareth, how is that coming along?” 
“Done. We’re all good to go. I made the rounds to different weapon shops in the city an’ got us thirty, all top o’ the line. Pickin’ ’em up today.” 
The magic swords were a safeguard against the corrosive attacks of the caterpillars, allowing the adventurers to avoid risking their regular equipment in a direct assault. These specialized weapons could produce the same effect as spells, allowing their users to engage enemies at a safe distance. 
There was no guarantee they would encounter the caterpillar monsters again this time around, but Finn prepared for the worst. The plan was to equip the lower-ranking members with magic swords and put them to work guarding the base camp. 
“Lastly…Durandal weapons must be prepared for our core fighters, apart from Riveria and Aiz.” 
The only weapon that could stay whole after coming in contact with the acid-spewing monsters during their previous expedition had been Aiz’s Desperate, which contained the Durandal trait. Finn wanted every high-level adventurer besides the magic user Riveria to have a Superior weapon that shared this trait. 
This was another tactic to counter the new breed of monsters. Finn believed it was impossible to press into uncharted territory if they were unable to slay those strange creatures in close combat. 
“Magic swords and Superiors fer everybody…Hee-hee, I knew the cost was gonna be up there, but valis are flyin’ right out the door.” 
Magic swords didn’t come cheap, and Superiors were some of the most expensive weapons an adventurer could buy. 
Even with Riveria and Aiz taken care of, that still left Finn, Gareth, Bete, Tiona, and Tione. Ordering those five weapons alone would burn through all the profits from the last expedition entirely. If they bought magic swords on top of that, the familia’s savings would be in jeopardy. 
“Sorry about this, Loki.” 
“I’m leavin’ everythin’ up to you, so do what ya feel…Plus, I’m a bit of a gambler, so high stakes are more fun.” 
One of the perks of being a Dungeon-crawling familia was the “high risk, high reward” nature of the job. The dangers that came with an expedition were part of the thrill for Loki. Finn oversaw all the familia’s activities concerning the Dungeon and felt guilty for putting their livelihoods at risk. But his goddess just grinned, laughing off his concern. 
“However…the looming presence of that tamer concerns me.” 
Riveria entered the conversation. 
Their mysterious enemy had shown interest in Aiz, which meant her involvement in the expedition could draw unwanted attention. 
All the high elf’s worries boiled down to a single fact—if their party was ambushed by the tamer and a swarm of hungry plant monsters during the journey, it would be impossible to protect everyone. 
“Hmm…The option of canceling this expedition is still on the table.” 
“Callin’ it off now after all this prep? Bete an’ Tiona would be groanin’ for weeks…” 
Immediately after Gareth, Finn added that Aiz had just leveled up as well. The dwarf sighed. 
“There’s one other thing. We might be able to learn more about the monsters with those colorful magic stones during this expedition.” 
“Mm-hmm…” 
“For now, let’s continue with the preparations as planned. Agreed?” 
While the origin of the man-eating plants was still a mystery, they knew the caterpillars resided around floor fifty. Even Riveria had to agree that launching an expedition right now would be worth it even if only to collect new information. 
Then, just as they’d reached that conclusion, there came a knock at the door. 
“General, it’s Tione. Is now a good time?” 
“Oh? Looks like they’re here.” 
A muffled voice came from the other side, and Finn granted his permission. 
The heavy office doors creaked open to reveal Tione, Tiona, and Lefiya. 

However, the all-important Aiz wasn’t among them. 
“Eh? Where’d Aizuu get to?” 
“Well, um…” 
Tiona broke off eye contact as she started to answer Loki’s question. 
The three girls had searched the manor top to bottom, but guilt still shadowed their expressions. 
It wasn’t until Lefiya spoke for the three of them that the truth came out. 
“From what we can tell, she went to the Dungeon…alone.” 
“““……””” 
The young elf sounded extremely apologetic after bringing the heavy silence to an end. Finn and the other leaders stayed quiet. 
After sharing a few glances, the four of them let out a long sigh. 
“But we just got home after spending all that time in the Dungeon…” 
“She seemed kinda down in the dumps since we got back. Maybe she went to cheer herself up?” 
Less than a day had passed since Aiz defeated Udaeus and returned from her long sojourn in the Dungeon. 
Riveria looked at the floor, clearly disappointed by the news. Gareth was tired of hearing the same thing over and over. Finn smiled wanly, knowing there was nothing they could do. 
“It might just be because of what we were talking about, but I’m a little worried.” 
“Ye’re worryin’ ’bout nothin’…She’s Level Six now.” 
“Even if we did pursue her, there’s no guarantee we’ll be able to find her in the vast Dungeon. This is Aiz we are talking about. She has no qualms about going to the middle levels on her own…I cannot believe that girl.” 
The tamer was still on everyone’s minds due to their earlier conversation. They were well aware they were especially on edge right now, but even so, the leaders were slightly worried about her. 
“Well, if y’all are gettin’ bent out of shape, Bete could track her down pretty easily. He was plannin’ on goin’ to the Dungeon an’ hates losin’ just as much as she does.” Loki offered her advice from her spot off to the side. 
Bete hadn’t been able to stand still ever since he heard about Aiz’s level-up. The leaders seriously considered Loki’s suggestion as a viable option. Being a werewolf, Bete had an extraordinary sense of smell. It might be difficult in the Dungeon, where the stench of all kinds of monsters pervaded, but it was possible he could follow Aiz’s faint scent. 
“Ah, one more thing, Finn. Can I ask ya to have a look through the sewer system without the Guild noticin’?” 
“By that do you mean the place you mentioned earlier?” 
“Yep. Couldn’t exactly check every nook an’ cranny last time.” Finn glanced up at the goddess as she continued. “It’s no fun to go lookin’ fer clues when they fall right in yer lap, right? Plus, I’d get in yer way if I joined in, so can I leave this to you?” 
“Hmm, I can do that. Shouldn’t take long, so I’ll head out now.” 
“Sorry. There’s a lotta ground to cover, so go ahead an’ take some folks with ya. But maybe leave the magic users behind.” 
She warned him of the very real possibility of encountering the carnivorous plants, which responded to magic energy. Finn nodded and thanked her for the tip. 
He hopped down from his chair and addressed the three girls who had been waiting quietly in the doorway the whole time. 
“Tiona, Tione. The investigation of the network of tunnels beneath the city starts now. I’m counting on the two of you.” 
“Of course! Leave it to me!” “No idea what’s going on, but sure!” 
He instructed the twins to gather up anyone who wasn’t busy and wasn’t a magic user. The girls raced off in an instant. 
“We should proceed with the expedition preparations.” 
“Aye. I’ll round up some rookies to help carry my order of magic swords.” 
People exited the office left and right. Soon, Loki and Lefiya were the only ones remaining. 
“Huh, what? Well, I, um…” 
“Ohh? Why don’tcha keep me company while everybody’s out, Lefiya?” A playful grin appeared on Loki’s lips. 
“Oouuhh…” groaned the elf, head drooping at being left behind. 
 
At a glance, the high, sturdy wall surrounding Orario resembled a cage. 
In fact, the wall had been in place since the Ancient Times, over a thousand years ago. It was built to stem the seething tide of monsters that constantly emerged from the Dungeon. Anyone standing in the middle of the thriving city with her back to the tall white tower in its center would see it encompassing the whole metropolis, creating a barrier that separated outside from in. Under the gaze of those imposing ramparts, first-time visitors often said it felt as if everyone was trapped inside an enormous prison. 
In truth, Orario prospered more than other countries and cities around the world despite the thick wall isolating it. With the sea close by, a massive lake to the southwest, and countless paved roads crossing the wide plains beyond the walls, there were many ways to export the Labyrinth City’s magic-stone products and to receive foreign imports. Orario possessed the ultimate resource—the Dungeon. People came from far and wide to reap its benefits. 
A way station located in the southwestern outskirts functioned as a foreign market. Goods from many countries entered the city every day. Boxes containing myriad ingredients, expensive decorations and jewelry, as well as weapons and armor reached shops all over Orario by horse-drawn carriages. Townspeople unloaded the goods one box at a time amid the constant activity on city streets. 
The large wall loomed in the background as the metropolis’s residents went about their daily lives. 
“…” 
Aiz made her way through the crowd by herself, shoulders slouching. 
Desperate hung at her waist, listlessly swinging from side to side with her heavy gait. Her footsteps were but one set of many that filled the main street. Aiz was on her way to the Dungeon. 
She had depleted her items during her prolonged stay last time, so she thought about visiting the many shops located within Babel Tower to replenish her supply before going back in. She didn’t feel any better than she did yesterday, but she knew in the back of her mind that moping around at home would do her no good. It took what little willpower she had at the time to convince herself to leave home and trudge toward her destination. 
She had leveled up. Now was the time to focus on reaching an even higher point…Her mind and body were ready, but for some reason her spirit wasn’t in it. 
She was already a good distance away from Twilight Manor, and her allies were only now realizing she was gone. The dignified face of the Sword Princess was nowhere to be seen. In its place was the lost, confused expression of a child who just happened to carry a saber and wear body armor. 
…Why? Why am I so depressed? 
Because it was the second time. The boy had run away from her twice. 
She had never cared about what other people thought of her before, nor what rumors said…but for some reason, thinking the white rabbit was afraid of her made Aiz immeasurably sad. It pained her. 
Her state of mind resembled that of a child who wanted to pet a cute little animal, only to have it run away. 
Did the white rabbit’s rubellite eyes see her as more monstrous than that Minotaur? The thought made her even gloomier. 
…The sun…is too bright, she quietly thought. 
An ultramarine sky spread out overhead, the warmth of the sun bathing her face as she walked in the crowds traversing the main street. 
She wasn’t the only one in armor. The sight of her fellow adventurers sporting bulky plates of metal and large blades was far from uncommon. Yet, without realizing it, Aiz had become the center of attention. She received envious and admiring stares alike from all directions, but she didn’t even glance up as she joined the wave of people commuting south. 
The street widened once it reached Central Park, the point where all eight main streets converged. Adventurers streamed into the circular park from every direction. 
Aiz was among those entering from North Main Street. She entered Central Park and cast her gaze up at the soaring white tower, Babel. 
Setting off for its base, she walked for several moments before… 
“Ah!” 
“……?” 
It was the woman she had met last night—the half-elf who had visited Aiz’s home was now purposefully marching toward her. 
 
Beneath Babel Tower… 
A ten-meder-wide hole breached the spacious chamber’s floor. This was the one and only entrance to the Dungeon. 
The room was shaped like a round tube with tall pillars lined up along its edges. The ceiling was a beautiful, deep sky-blue that was detailed enough to be mistaken for the real thing. 
This place served as the buffer between the city above and the labyrinth beneath. Adventurers passed through this chamber daily in order to enter the expansive Dungeon and begin their journeys. There were too many demi-humans crossing the threshold to count, many accompanied by supporters. 
A blond, golden-eyed female swordsman made her way down the spiral stairwell into the always-open hole under the tower. Weaving her way among the throngs of adventurers, Aiz disappeared into the massive opening. 
Amid all that, a sparkle. 
A tiny blue orb built into the ceiling, camouflaged in the color, twinkled as it followed her movements. 
“—Now’s my chance.” 
In a room shrouded by darkness, a figure wearing a hooded black robe—Fels—stared down at a crystal sphere atop a pedestal and whispered. 
The crystal glowed the same hue as the orb concealed in the ceiling of Babel Tower’s basement floor. An image of a spiral staircase descending into the yawning hole floated beneath its clear surface. A flash of blond hair appeared at the lower part of the stairs—Aiz. 
Fels watched her enter the Dungeon by herself for only a moment before making a move. 
“Ouranos, I’m going.” 
The jet-black robe fluttered as the figure vanished into the darkness. 
 
Aiz had agreed to a request. 
While it wasn’t a formal quest by any means and no reward was involved, she had a purpose in accepting it. 
The “client” was the half-elf she had met the previous night. 
The Guild employee she had met in Central Park—Eina Tulle—made the request without going through the official channels. Her request was simple: please save Bell Cranell. 
Apparently even as they spoke, he was in a precarious situation. Eina was the boy’s adviser and had decided to ignore the proprieties to ask someone she had only just met for help. 
Aiz had listened to her plea. She had her own reasons for wanting to save him, and there were some words that needed to be said. 
Eina had informed her the boy was already in the Dungeon, but she didn’t know where. It was up to Aiz to find him, and now she called on every leg muscle to cover as much ground as possible. 
“—Excuse me, but have you seen a boy with white hair?” 
“Holy shit!” 
“You! You’re th-the Sword Princess!” 
Not only did the animal person Aiz addressed come to a complete stop, but the entire party froze like statues when she suddenly appeared. 
She went into further detail, describing a boy with “white hair and rubellite eyes.” As soon as someone answered in the negative, Aiz took off in a flash. The adventurers were left behind, standing in awe of the elite adventurer, the flower at the top of the mountain, who had said something to them. 
Of course, the search for Bell Cranell would take place in the upper levels. 
Only elite adventurers were able to venture into the middle levels, so the ones prowling the levels closer to the surface were for the most part lower class. Luckily, there were many people in the upper levels, and the size of each floor was relatively small compared to the ones farther down. Collecting information was a cinch. 
Aiz approached every party she could find and immediately asked if they had seen the boy. She traversed the entire floor, gathering clues along the way. 
“A white-haired human…Now that you mention it, yeah, pretty sure I saw that guy.” 
“You did?” 
“Ah, yeah…Passed through earlier this morning, and I think he had a supporter with him…They were headed for the eighth floor.” 
Her Level Six speed allowed her to zip through every hallway of every floor in the blink of an eye, questioning dozens of adventurers along the way. 
Several of them had seen the boy at some point or another, and Aiz was hot on his trail. As the hunt for new information continued, she descended farther and farther into the Dungeon. 
Aiz reached the ninth floor before realizing how deep she was. 
The next person she spoke to provided her with the most pivotal piece of information yet: Her target had been seen descending stairs that led to the next floor. She immediately set her course. 
—The tenth floor? 
Aiz, who had been so focused on tracking him down, suddenly paused. 
It was the same strange feeling she had experienced after hearing the boy had taken down one of the monsters that escaped on the day of the Monsterphilia. 
The boy Aiz knew was a greenhorn. After he had been nearly killed by a Minotaur twenty days ago, she could tell from his movements and overall fighting ability that he was firmly among the lowest of the low, even for the newest adventurers. 
Despite all that, for some reason, he was able to journey deep into the twelve-floor range known as the upper levels—already on floor ten. According to Eina, the boy didn’t have any party members for protection and support. He would have gone solo. 
…Did he…improve? 
In that short amount of time? 
It had taken Aiz more than six months to set foot on the tenth floor back when she was a lower-class adventurer. But he pulled it off in twenty days? 
It was…unbelievable. 
Much too fast… 
Absurd no matter how she thought about it. 
After all, she’d never even heard of an adventurer like that. 
But even so, why go so deep in the first place? She shook her head, returning to the present. She scolded herself that now was not the time for stray thoughts. 
Descending to the next floor, Aiz did her best to push aside questions that couldn’t be answered as well as her renewed interest in the boy. 
At last, she arrived at the tenth floor. 
Crossing the open space with a few quick strides, the first thing she saw in the next zone was thick white fog, dense enough to obscure vision and one of the unique characteristics of the tenth floor. A phenomenon like this was called a Dungeon gimmick. This “veil” prevented lower-level adventurers from accurately locating monsters and was detrimental to situational awareness. In short, it caused a lot of problems, including making Aiz’s search for the boy much more difficult. She raced across the tall grasses that covered the Dungeon floor, shredding them in her wake. 
All the imps that barred her path or just happened to be in the way were eviscerated as she flew by, slowing her pace by only a fraction of a step. Noting every disturbance in the fog, she proceeded down the main route through the tenth floor by memory. 
And as she relied on her ears rather than her eyes—she heard it. 
“!” 
Ferocious monster roars, quickened footfalls of battle, and human screams sounded in the distance. 
The yells didn’t belong to a battle-hardened warrior or a reckless fighter. They were pitched higher, in the voice of someone much younger. 
Aiz changed course. She followed the echoes through a long tunnel toward their source, a cavernous room. 
Leafless, dead-looking trees protruded from the ground all around the wide room. She could see about as far as the middle of the chamber, which was enough to make several bulky shadows visible in the gloom. She could tell they were large-category monsters—orcs. 
The beasts were engaged in battle with a lone human figure. 
“—Firebolt!!” 
She heard another shout before a flaming missile parted the heavy mist. 
Aiz’s eyes widened as she took in the scene of a smoldering orc corpse and a white-haired adventurer thrusting his right arm forward. 
—That’s him! 
The burst of magic had created a momentary clearing in the murk. The boy was fighting on the other side. 
He used a shortsword to counterattack while dodging the swinging limbs of the monster swarm. Although he struggled to keep pace with all the orcs and imps surrounding him, his rabbit-like agility prevented him from being overwhelmed by their numbers. 
So it is true. He has grown. She was witnessing proof that the boy was more than able to hold his own on the tenth floor. 
Seeing him use magic, likely a very short-trigger spell, Aiz was sure the boy could break free of the ring of monsters on his own with enough time. 
She rushed toward him, genuinely surprised. 
Suddenly, the boy miscalculated and dodged an attack too late. An orc wielding a dead tree like a club pressed its advantage, forcing the boy to parry with the armor on his left arm. Thwak, thwak, thwak! The plate came up to meet the impromptu cudgel’s rough bark several times, taking the brunt of the impact but also knocking the boy off balance. 
Imps charged his exposed back, practically licking their lips—but Aiz didn’t let them. 
“Gweee—!” 
“!” 
A flash of silver light and three imps came apart. 
Her saber’s slash behind the boy lasted only an instant. Aiz sensed the boy’s surprise at something happening outside his field of vision, but reducing the monster battle line took priority. 
Obscured in the haze, a flurry of fierce slashes shook the air as monsters howled their death cries. 
No one on this battlefield could keep up with her. It seemed as though her afterimages delivered the final blows. Desperate cleaved imps one after another as her hair whipped about with her movements. The lumbering orcs had no time to react. By the time they noticed her, their bodies were already neatly segmented. 
After a short while, the enemy numbers were severely reduced. 
“S-sorry!!” 
“Wha—?” 
The boy beat a hasty retreat through the broken ring of monsters. 
Aiz was left behind, the panicked apology ringing in her ears. He hadn’t even glanced over his shoulder as he barreled toward the exit. She turned in the direction he had gone, but his form had already vanished in the mist. 
She froze, completely bewildered. However, there were still threats around that she needed to tackle. 
It was her responsibility to ensure nothing chased after him. A heartbeat later, piles of ash and monster corpses littered the ground. 
“He’s gone…” 
The words quietly slipped from Aiz’s lips. She hadn’t gotten a chance to say anything. 
A silence fell over the savanna-like area, the scuffle from just moments ago feeling like a distant dream. 
Their reunion had turned into a back-to-back battle that lasted but an instant. 
They never even saw each other’s faces because of the low visibility. Most likely, the boy had no clue it had been Aiz. She had come here to save him…but she had missed him yet again. 
“……” 
Then a new thought entered her mind. 
Perhaps she had done him a favor. 
The boy was in a rush. Although he had been cornered, he had passed up opportunities to attack in his desperation to escape. It was as if he was hurrying to someone’s aid. 
It was only a guess, but a part of her felt that was it. 
He was supposedly a solo adventurer, and yet many she’d talked to had described a supporter accompanying him. 
What should I do now…? 
According to Eina’s information, there was reason to believe the young boy was caught up in his supporter’s familia problems, but…it was probably all right. 
It would look suspicious if she started tracking him again. And…he could use magic. Lower-level troublemakers wouldn’t stand a chance against him now. Thinking back on what she had seen, Aiz was confident the boy stood among the strongest lower-level adventurers. There was no reason to worry. 
A few moments passed as she thought it over, when suddenly she saw a flash, a slight glimmer, from the corner of her eye. 
“…What’s this?” 
She crossed the tall grasses toward the source of the glimmer—and found a piece of armor. 
It was an emerald-green vambrace. The light had come from this arm covering. 
The damage to the once-smooth surface hinted at how much battle it had seen. In fact, it was in rough shape. 
Was this a rare piece of equipment dropped by an adventurer in the Dungeon? Aiz tilted her head as she regarded the vambrace, when suddenly she exclaimed, “Oh!” 
“Could it be…” 
…what the boy was wearing? 
It had probably come loose when that orc hit him with the club. The visibility had been extremely poor, but Aiz was positive she had seen a faint green glint on his arm at some point. 
Bending over, she carefully picked up the piece of armor and held it like a valuable treasure. Upon closer inspection, she noticed the securing straps had been violently ripped off. She was convinced—it belonged to the boy. 
She stood quietly for a moment, looking at the emerald-green vambrace in her grasp. 
“……?” 
Aiz looked up. 
The sound of parting grass caught her attention. 
A needle rabbit jumped out of the grass behind her. It had likely come up from a lower floor and gotten lost in the fog. The horned rabbit made eye contact with Aiz for a moment before bounding away in alarm. All the monster corpses littering the ground around her had tipped off the creature about their difference in strength. 
Was it just a monster…? 
Aiz wasn’t so sure. She felt a presence spying on her. 
Was it just her imagination? 
“……” 
No. 
She focused her gaze into the fog in front of her. 
Gripping the vambrace firmly in her right hand, she grasped her saber’s hilt and slid it from her sheath. 
There was something hidden out there. 
“…Noticed, did you? I underestimated your ability.” 
Ripples passed through the heavy mist. 
Moments later, a black shadow emerged. 
The mysterious figure was draped in cloth the color of night, and the space beneath its hood was so dark it erased any facial features. Black gloves decorated with intricate patterns completely encased its hands. Not a single strip of skin was exposed. 
The indescribable atmosphere surrounding the figure made Aiz question whether this mysterious person was human or not. Suspicious of the robed visitor, Aiz stood ready to attack but opened with a question. The voice that responded had a timbre somewhere between male and female; she wasn’t sure which. 
 

“Do you…have business with me?” 
“That I do. However, before stating my purpose, I would like you to lower that sword. I mean you no harm.” 
The unidentified black-robed figure came to a halt. 
Indeed, it appeared to be perfectly benign. Well within her reach, whoever it was, its life was in Aiz’s hands. She could carve anyone in half instantly at this range. 
“I only wish to talk.” The voice from beneath the hood claimed to have no ulterior motive. Aiz kept her gaze fixed on the shady person but pointed the tip of her blade to the ground. 
“…Who…are you?” 
“Me? I’m just a washed-up old mage…Perhaps you would understand if I told you I’m the one who contacted Lulune Louie?” 
Those words sent a chill down Aiz’s spine. 
Lulune Louie was the young chienthrope who had received the murdered Hashana’s “cargo” in Rivira. She said a mysterious client had hired her to take on a delivery. 
“They had on a thick black robe. I couldn’t tell if it was a man or woman.” Lulune’s description matched the individual before her to the letter. 
“Aiz Wallenstein…I would like to entrust a quest to you.” 
The robed silhouette got right to the point before Aiz could recover from her astonishment. 
“An abnormally large number of monsters have appeared on the twenty-fourth floor. An Irregular has appeared. I would like you to investigate or eliminate the cause.” 
The shadowy figure added that there would, of course, be a handsome reward. 
“The origin of the Irregular has been traced to the deepest part of the floor, most likely…a pantry.” 
Aiz said nothing, but her thoughts raced. 
An Irregular that she knew nothing about on floor twenty-four…why was she being asked to look into it? Judging from how she’d received this invitation, this mysterious character had sought an opportunity to speak with her specifically. 
She still hadn’t the slightest clue about the identity of her “client.” If Aiz believed this person’s claim about being a mage, that meant it was a member of a familia and receiving a Blessing from a deity. Why would it be so involved in looking for help from another familia? 
The blond knight studied her guest, searching for an indication of its true motive. 
“Another Irregular appeared on the thirtieth floor—the same place that Hashana was sent not too long ago. The similarities between the two events are uncanny.” 
“!” 
Aiz’s shoulders trembled, and her expression changed. 
The figure shifted its balance, as if to say, Need I go on? The robe’s hem swished as the strange voice reached the heart of the offer. 
“The woman who led the attack on Rivira…The possibility she is connected with the orb is rather high.” 
Aiz gulped. 
This was clearly bait to seize her interest. She knew but was still shaken. 
The orb—the strange crystal object whose contents had made her feel physically sick…And the red-haired woman who had called her Aria… 
Memories of those moments played across her mind. 
“The situation is grave, Sword Princess. Please lend your strength.” 
Aiz was troubled. 
The content of the black figure’s request stirred many thoughts within her…After a few heavy moments, she raised her thin chin. 
“Understood…” 
She agreed to take on the quest. 
Whatever this person’s scheme was, luring her into a trap wasn’t part of it. After considering all the details and possibilities, Aiz relied on her gut feeling and reached a decision. 
Above all else, she wanted to know more about the red-haired woman and the orb. 
“You have my gratitude,” said the black-hooded figure. “If at all possible, I would like you to set off immediately. Is that all right?” 
Aiz wasn’t sure how to respond. 
That would mean she would be proceeding all by herself…There was nothing to lose, so she decided to make a request of her own to this incredibly suspicious character. 
“Um, may I send a message? To my familia…” 
“Hmm? Oh…I see. No problem. You can leave it with me.” 
The hooded figure must have understood Aiz’s concern about making her companions worry and agreed, unlikely as it had seemed. 
While a little surprised, Aiz immediately thanked it and began writing a letter. She reached into her belt pouch to retrieve a small feathered pen—a slightly expensive magic item that could turn a small amount of blood into ink—and a piece of paper. Addressing her message to Loki, she wrote down a few details and signed her name using hieroglyphics to prove authenticity. The hooded figure held out its hand, and she set her dispatch directly into the glove. 
If there was one loose end bothering her, it was concern for the white rabbit. However, she chose to trust in what she had witnessed. The adventurer had grown so strong, he seemed a completely different person. 
“First, go to Rivira. Allies are already there.” 
“Understood.” 
Then he gave Aiz directions to a specific bar as well as a password. She nodded. 
After saying all that needed to be said, the hooded figure didn’t waste any time on small talk and promptly disappeared back into the fog. 
Aiz watched it go. Then she faced the other direction and set off, her boots thudding against the ground. 
Her first destination was the eighteenth floor. Once she met up with the “allies” the mysterious client had mentioned, they would all journey to the twenty-fourth floor. 
Thoughts of the redheaded tamer and the orb circling in her mind, Aiz sped off.