The sunlight was reaching its peaks as it's lingers just above Orario. There weren't many people who use the road in this time of day, so to see four teens carrying what assume to be boxes full of something is really eye catching. The four of them consist of one pure dwarf, a half-dwarf, a human and a cat person. They are Briar, Koth, Lug and lastly, Aol. Each and every one of them carried different sizes of boxes that had been adjusted with the size of their body. Briar carries the biggest while Aol carries the smallest.

"You know, for a group who have committed a shit tons of crimes, we sure have it easy walking in the midday." Aol said quietly as he feels the gaze of people coming from the houses that they pass by.

"If we didn't say anything, nobody would know," Lug commented without needing to hold back his voice. "and we did those 'crimes' because the guild, or specifically Ouranos asked us to. So don't need to feel afraid."

"And Zhul can handle Loki and Freya Familia. We are also in Hermes Familia and Ganesha have a good relation with the guild so we are fine." Koth said playfully.

"Yeah, which show ye how important connection really is, and talking about connection..." Briar turned his head sideway and glance at Koth. "When are you going to forge a connection with Hephaestus Familia, lad?"

"I am still working on it, at least I am in good term with Tsubaki. How about you and Goibniu Familia?"

"That old geezer is a pain in me butt lad, but I had to do it and Lug…."

"What is it?" When He heard his name being called, Lug snapped back. Just a moment ago, he was lost in his thought when everyone was busy talking.

"Give that box to me and do your stuff." Briar hold out his other hand. He is now carrying one box with one hand and offering to carries another one in his other. "You aren't payin' attention to yer path."

"…." Lug remained silent. He couldn't just give the job he was tasked for and go does something else. As he was opening his mouth to denied, Koth picked his box up with ease.

"Don't worry, we are taking this path for that particular reason anyway. So go." Koth put the box onto Briar's hand and walk away with the others, leaving the dumbstruck Lug with his hand still stretch out.

"…idiots" Lug muttered those word as he turned towards the stall that have caught his attention. A Jagamarukun stall that was attended by a certain goddess.

As he approached the stall, the goddess quickly recognizes his face and wave at him.

"LLUUGG!"

Why does she always have to scream my name? "Good afternoon goddess Hestia. As cheerful as ever I see."

"Hehehehehehe, of course. Listen listen!"

And here we go. Lug mentally mute her in his mind as she tells him about her only member, Bell Cranell. It would be nice of her, but she had done this a lot of times in the past that Lug developed an effective way to silent her. All he had to do is nod when the name Bell Cranell was thrown out of her mouth. He also quite possibly developed a sense of respect for Bell to be able to handle her on daily basis. She really loves her child huh? Well, it's normal considering he is her first child.

"And this morning he ran away from me-"

"He is a really nice boy from what I heard from you, but could you please pack me some Jagamarukun. I don't like making people wait."

"Okay! Just like the usual right?"

"Yeah please." Lug dig inside his pocket and brought a sack full of Valis. It was his money that he earned from working hard inside the Dungeon and filling request here and there. "I leave the money here."

"OKAY! Here you go!" Hestia took the sack and gave Lug a paper bag full of Jagamarukun. Lug took the paper bag and started to walk away. "Be careful on your way!" She waved at him as she watched his back getting smaller and smaller until she can't see him again. I hope those kids like his gifts.

Back at the place that Zhul was currently occupying. There are a lot of scribble sound coming from his pen as he writes continuously for hours, updating his plan. There are a lot of thing that he needed to considerate, but it wasn't a hassle for him as his mind quickly find a way to resolve some of the problems he might face. But there is something that even he needs to think of and that is how to defeat himself.

Well, well, well, look like I reach the final boss fight. He said to himself as he brought his status up to his face. He took a book with the code 'Idiotic Genius' and opened up an empty page. He pondered to himself over and over but nothing comes to his mind. He was frustrated to no end. It was something he needed to do and yet he can't. He already did everyone parts but when it came to his, his mind went completely blank.

….sigh…I need some fresh air. Zhul said to himself before somebody knocks on his door.

*Knock *Knock

"….." Zhul got up from his seat and ready to attack. There aren't many people who knew about this place, only his group and a couple of others who could be counted by one hand. Zhul approached the door, he pulled his dagger from his boots and brought them closer just in case.

"It's me."

Fels? Zhul opened the door and was met with a walking black robe. He can't see pass his robe but he is sure that he only sees bones if he opens them. "…I never called for you."

"No, but Ouranos called for you."

"For what matter? I am quite busy at the moment."

"It's something that you would find interesting, if I may say."

"…..okay." Zhul leave the door to turn of the magic stone lamp and went to other room. It was a room without door except for the door that goes to Zhul writing room. There are only two chairs facing each other. The room also doesn't have any windows making it pitch black without the magic stone torch that Zhul was holding in his hand. Zhul approached one of the walls and push it. The wall then magically turned into a door that lead into a tunnel. "After you." He lets Fels walked first. It could be seen as a polite act but his intention is completely different. He wants to have an upper hand if anything happens.

"You don't need to be wary of me."

"You aren't the one who decide that, it's me. Now go."

"….." Fels didn't said anything else and just went with what Zhul wanted and then Zhul followed afterward.

"Please state your intention." Zhul said to the god who sat inside the praying chamber. His voice doesn't have a tone of respect everyone would expected for someone who is speaking to the founder of Orario. "I am busy protecting Orario right now."

"Something had happened."

"There is a lot of thing happening inside the Dungeon at once, you have to be more specific."

"There was some big explosions of magic energy inside the Dungeon a couple of days ago. The last time, something like this happened was decades ago before the fall of Zeus and Hera."

"…I need the floor." Zhul's carefree tone was gone and replaced by a much more serious one. This could be the people who attacked him and his friend and by all means he doesn't want this lose this kind of information.

"…..I couldn't pinpoint it. It happened in multiple spots in the lower floor."

"It was so much that you couldn't pinpoint it? Or they knew someone was watching the Dungeon and crafted a plan to fool you?"

"….Fels."

"Yes." Fels walked out from the darkness and handed Zhul some papers. Before he disappeared into the darkness again.

It was a profile of an adventurer. Red haired, 25 years old, Loki Familia executive, Level 5, Her average status is A except for her agility which is S…..Pyrrha. "Why are you giving me this?"

"She emerged from the Dungeon decades ago at the same time the explosion happened."

Emerge? "That's answer why you didn't contact the Loki Familia or Ganesha Familia, but why us? Why didn't you contact Hermes instead?"

"…I couldn't give Ganesha this information because-"

"It will cause a war between his and Loki's Familia right? And you can't give this to Loki because you don't want to ruin her trust for you?"

"Yes, and Hermes is investigating-"

"…..something that the Loki Familia found on the lower floor, right?" This question gave Zhul the reactions that he wanted. Zhul could see one of Ouranos's eyebrows rises even if it was only for a couple of seconds. "I see, but what will you pay for this job?" Even if he doesn't want to acknowledge it, he cares for his group more than Orario to the point that he isn't willing to took this job if the pay isn't worth as losing a god or two.

"…..Fels."

"Here." Fels bring out a small chest that was made from metal. They opened it and showed ten bottles of elixir. "This is an advance payment. The rest will be given after the job have been done."

"Why are you paying this much? If by any chances, those explosions give birth to another Pyrrha, what do you want to do with them?"

"I want to save them before the Dungeon do anything."

"And what if it's a threat to Orario?"

"…..By any means, stop them."

"Any means?"

"Yes."

Zhul stared straight into Ouranos eyes as Ouranos does the same. What Ouranos is saying right now is as dangerous as setting a nuclear bomb that could detonate if a fly landed on it. That could be a live saving or something that Ouranos would regret later.

"….sigh…" Zhul picked up one elixir and gave it to Fels. "Tell me the real reason for Monsterphilia? Why are you showing normal people monsters? You want them to get used to monster, don't you?"

"…..yes, will you believe me if I said there are intelligent monsters out there?"

"Well why not?" Zhul answer shocked Ouranos and Fels. They never expected someone would actually want to live together with a monster especially adventurers who have been working day and night inside the Dungeon and see what horrible things the monsters are capable of. "Look, we are a weird group of individuals. This is not the weirdest things that we had seen honestly. If someone ask me do I believe that there is a monster that could think? I'll probably said yes. That Dungeon is bigger than everyone can comprehend."

"…it was never a mistake to make contact with you. Surely, all of you would change-"

"No, we will not. We can't and we shouldn't. That's a job for someone else."

"And who will that be?"

Zhul smiled before he said. "You'll meet him, just wait. Just like what Zeus said." Zhul took the chest and turn towards the exit. "Oh yeah, Fels. For 800 years, have you ever regretted making something?"

"….yes." Their voice doesn't have any kind of tones in it, but Zhul could heard a surprise coming from them. Especially the part where he knew Fels have lived for 800 years.

"Hhhmmmmm….I see." Zhul smirked at Fels answer and keep walking until he left the chamber. There was a small silence before Fels asked Ouranos.

"Ouranos, what will you want me to do?"

"Keep an ears and eyes for their movement. Don't intervene, only report to me if they made any kind of move."

"Yes."

*In the guild

"…..hmmm..?" Vers, who have been sleeping on her job, wake up. She fixes her hair and cracked her neck a couple of time before focusing on her table. How long have I been asleep? Vers looked left and right for any sign of her boss and was relieved when she doesn't see him. Hm? What's this? Vers saw the piece of paper under the pile of papers and read it.

The last attacked wasn't caused by grudge. Leave the case to me and go back to your normal life. Until further notice, I couldn't guarantee your safety.

Since the first time I have ever talked to you, I could never return back to my normal life. Vers put the paper down and took a deep breath. I should continue my investigation.

"Here you go." A hand puts a cup of coffee in front of her.

"Hm?" When Vers traced the hand back to its owner, she saw a half-elf wearing the guild outfit. "What is this for, Eina?"

"Your adventurer asked me to give you a cup of coffee. He really is a kind adventurer just like you said."

"…yeah, he really is." If only he is as open as he is kind. "By the way, how long have I been asleep?"

"Only for a couple of minutes, don't worry the boss didn't find out."

"Thank god for that." Vers then dropped her vision towards another stack of paper. It was the quests that Sutr took that she had confiscated from him. She grabbed it all and counts it one by one. There's a missing one. "Hey, Eina."

"Yes?"

"How many quests did he took?"

"Your adventurer? When he left the Guild, he was carrying four quests."

I knew it. Vers massaged the skin between her eyes. She forcefully closes her eyes and let out a long, tired sigh. "Thank you, Eina. If you see him again, can you ask him to meet me? He really is a troublesome adventurer."

"Mm, yeah."

"And by the way Eina."

"Yeah?"

"How is your relationship with your adventurer? Have you two dated yet?"

Eina's face was beet red when she heard the question. It was so much that the tip of her ears was glowing red. "W-what are you talking about!? T-There is n-no-no way that would happen!"

"Hehehehe, why don't you spend a day or two with him. I'm sure your mind will change."

"No, there is no way! He is like a little brother to me. I wouldn't even think of having an intimate relationship with him."

Sure right. Vers was not buying the intimate relationship part. From what she had seen, Eina was the most caring advisor she had ever met. "Maybe you are a bro-con?"

"NO WAY! And beside…" Eina voice was shrinking. She sounds somewhat sad and lonely. "There is already a special someone in his heart and there is no way I could compete with her."

"There is no way you couldn't compete with her? What are you talking about, you are one of the most beautiful flower I have ever seen in my life. Who is it anyway?"

"The sword princess."

"….." Vers was silent. Her face showed how shocked she was and it was still completely frozen in her face. "….I've got to say, kid got taste."

"…..yeah." Eina shows a dejected expression. She lowered her face and somehow made Vers feel bad for her.

Damn, she made me feel guilty for some reason. "But, she is way out of his league. You still got some chance when he fell from that mountain."

"…it's not nice to hope for that to happen and beside," Eina raised her face and show a bright expression but Vers could feel how forced it was. "I am his advisor. At least I could meet him everyday." She said it with a proud tone. "Seeing him return alive is enough for me. I am willing to be just an advisor to him if he could return alive every time he went down."

The most beautiful flower huh? Maybe she is more beautiful than I imagine. "Well if by any chance you changed your mind, call me okay."

"I am not going to!" With that said, Eina walked away from Vers's desk looking like a red tomato. Vers watched her co-worker leave with a faint smile on her lip. It was a smile of envy.

If only Sutr would open himself, maybe we could….no, there is no use hoping for the impossible to happen. Vers drinks her cup of coffee and return her attention towards the papers on her desk. She read them thoroughly and not missing any kinds of information. Inside her maiden heart, there is a little spot of light that still hoping for Sutr to finally open himself. Even if she pushed it away, it still lingers in her heart and won't go away no matter how hard she tried.

I hope…..

*Goibniu Familia base

The sky was cleared and the clock had just struck three o'clock when Briar stand in front of the metal door to the Goibnui Familia' smithery. He was accompanied by Pern who is carrying a brown bag. He had just delivered the books to the empty base and immediately leave with Pern who, by coincidence, done his job at the same time.

"You sure this is a right time to visit?" Pern asked. They heard wails of pain coming from inside the smithery. Each and every one of them was cursing a certain flat-chested Amazon from the Loki Familia.

"…nnngg…probably not. Let's go-" Before Briar could finish his sentence, the door swung open. Someone exited the door with tears streaming down from his eyes.

"I can't do it! I can't take this anymore!" The man ran as fast as he can. Nobody know where he was going but it's looks like it was better than the smithery.

"COMEBACK HERE!" A loud voice called out from inside the smithery after that voice, a man walked out from the smithery looking extra angry. Briar immediately recognize him as one of his connections. The man was wearing a thick pair of gloves and there is a black ring around his eyes. From his posture alone, someone could determine that he is an old dwarf. The old dwarf turned his attention from the street towards the two visitors. "What do you want?"

"Lon' time no see Ptah. What did she do this time?" Briar asked Ptah without saying the name of the one who make the Goibniu Smiths suffer.

"She broke it, again. Again for fuck sake! WHY DID WE AGREE TO HELP HER!? AAGGGHHHHHH!" Ptah voice was furious. At this point, a tear is all that was needed to complete the scene and someone could paint it and sold it for .000 Valis.

"How? How did she break that masterpiece?" Briar tone was one of amazement. To be able to destroy the masterpiece he was talking about, someone need to have the strength from the deepest point of the Dungeon.

"New species and acid she said. GO TO HELL WITH THAT!" Ptah was on four when he finally broke and screamed. He lifted his head and looked at Briar. "You! Help us and we'll gave ye a portion of the payment!"

"I am still a level 2. I still need some trainin'."

"DON'T CARE! We'll use you no matter what." Ptah raised from his position and grabbed both of Briar shoulders. He shook Briar body violently and said. "PLEASE LAD!"

While all the commotion happened outside, Pern slipped pass them and entered the smithery. He entered a certain room and meet with an old man. He is the patron god of this Familia, Goibniu.

"What do you want?" The god said to the visitor. He was at the middle of sharpening a certain sword when Pern enters the room.

"Can I buy some iron sand, like usual?"

"…..can I asked, why are you buying this much iron?"

"Training."

Not wanting to dig deeper into others business, Goibniu stop asking even if Pern's answer was unsatisfying. Goibniu put down the sword and bring out a sack full of iron sand. "Here."

Pern looked inside the sack and confirmed it was full of black, heavy sand. He used both of his hands to lifted it and put it inside his bag. After that, he brought out a wood box and handed it over to Goibniu. "Here is the payment."

The god took the box, he opened it and looked inside. His head goes up and down when he counted what inside, he then closed the box when he done counting and put it somewhere else. "Just the right amount."

After Goibniu confirmed the contents, Pern prepared himself to left. When he was about to open the door, the god asked him something. "Pern, how was my Familia daggers?"

Pern stopped on his track. It was surprising that Goibniu actually remembered and said his name. "Haven't had the time to examine the daggers, probably latter. How did you know I bought your Familia's daggers?"

"It's my Familia smithery, of course I would know." Goibniu said as he picked up the sword back. "And on your way out, send my greetings to that annoying dwarf."

"Why didn't you say it yourself? He is outside you know."

"I am busy." And with that, Goibniu returned to what he was doing before, sharpening the sword of a certain sword princess.

"What a pain in the ass." Pern muttered under his breath. He doesn't know if Goibniu know or not but he quickly exited the room in case he knows. Thank Hermes he doesn't. Pern said to in his heart when he is on the other side of the door. "Now, where is Briar?"

"Yo lad!" Briar's voice rang inside of Pern's head. Pern turned his head towards the source and saw Briar behind an anvil waving his hand. He was holding a hammer and was wearing a pair of thick gloves like what Ptah was wearing. "I'm gonna stay here for a sec. Go on without me."

What with the way he was saying it. It sounds like he was sacrificing himself. "Okay." Should I give him Goibniu's greeting?...Nah, he should do it on his own. Pern turned towards the exit and quickly ran. Hope Goibniu didn't find out, Hope Goibniu didn't find out, Hope Goibniu didn't find out, Hope Goibniu didn't find out, Hope Goibniu didn't find out, Hope Goibniu didn't find out, Hope Goibniu didn't find out. That sentence was repeated in his mind until he reached the exit and got outside.

He was met with an orange sky when he exited the building. How long have I been inside? He looked around and saw a group of girls. He immediately recognized them. Jormungand, Amazon, Thousand Elves and Sword Princess. Did I miss a meteor crashed or something? Why are they here? Pern scanned the surrounding to look for others path home instead of using the same one as those Loki Familia executives until a familiar voice called out to him.

"Well well well, who we have here?" Pern got goosebump when he heard those voice. "What are you doing here?" Pern turned his head and saw Pyrrha standing behind him wearing casual clothes.

"Flash, what are you doing outside of the Dungeon?"

"Call me by my name, and what made you think I am always inside the dungeon?"

"…Sutr said you were born inside the Dungeon and was raised by a pack of minotaurs."

"You really believe him?"

"Looking at you, why not?"

"….you know what? I invited Sutr for today and I think he will feel lonely without a friend so-"

"No, no, no, no, no, no, no." Pern stepped back with every 'no'. He was distancing himself from Pyrrha, but to no use. Pyrrha quickly moved behind Pern. She circled her right arm around Pern's neck and dragged him toward the other girls. "Release me please! You are choking me." Pern struggled as hard as he can but to no avail. How is she able to carry me with the iron sand in my bag? You Gorilla!

"Hey girls, have you done your business?" Pyrrha asked as she approached them.

"Ah, Pyrrha….. who is that?" Tiona cheerfully turned her head but was quickly changed to curiosity.

"This, he is my friend."

"No, you drag me to-Ow! Ow! Ow! That's hurt!" Pern answer honestly until Pyrrha pinched him on his waist. "What did you-Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Okay we are friend, geez."

"Ah Pern, long time no see." Lefiya recognized Pern and immediately greets him.

"Hm? Lefiya huh? Please visit Zhul once in a while. He is spiralling out of control."

"Well, the last letter from him said that everyone was going crazy." Lefiya asked.

"That only happen twice, so forget about it."

"What?" Everyone, except Lefiya and Pern, said out of reflexed, worried about the state of the one they are talking about.

"Did he brew something dangerous again?" Lefiya asked without worrying. "I told him to not to do that."

"You really thought he would listen?"

"Good point. Hehehehehehe of course he wouldn't." Lefiya let out a small laugh.

"Did you know him Lefiya?" Tione patted Lefiya shoulder and asked her. "It looked like you are the closest one by not forcing him, unlike Pyrrha."

"Hey!"

"So maybe you could introduce him to us? He seems like in some sort of trouble."

"Oh, he isn't. He and his group are on the edge of going insane at least once a week."

"This week there are two occasion, thank you very much."

"Is that really something you can be proud of?" Pyrrha asked the boy on her arm with a concerned face.

"Well, at least we survived even if it was barely, right?"

"Yes! What even happened though? I am curious now!" Tiona asked with so much energy, she could power the entire world alone.

"Did you play the do-or-dare again?" Lefiya asked, she was acting like a big sister who scolded her little brother. This made the others look at her with a surprised look. "Did you include captain too?" Tione's eyes quickly focus on Pern when she heard the word captain coming out from Lefiya mouth.

"….yes and we didn't include the braver so you don't need to worry…..I guess."

"Okay, what really happened?" Now lefiya voice was showing some concerns. She had known Zhul for a longer time than she had with Pern but Pern was not the person that usually shown any kinds of doubt. "Please tell me it wasn't something involving any piece of metal or anything that could reacted or exploded."

"Okay what really happened? Tell me." Pyrrha raised Pern little body and looked at him in the eyes.

"Okay, Lefiya."

"Yes?"

"You have known Zhul before he dropped out from school, right?"

"Yes, he is my senior and was said to be a prodigy among everyone, but he dropped out without even gave us any kind of warning or saying goodbye. Every teacher said that he is a gifted item maker and magic user."

"Good, you know about the potion he used to make plants bigger but turned them into a man-eating monster? Yeah, it was 10 times worse."

"What happened exactly?"

"Shit happened. We were doing a dare and he dropped the potion inside the sewer and next, the entire sewer was covered by five-legged-ice-breathing-nine-eyed-flaming spiders."

"….what?" Every one said in unison. Even the sword princess who was eagerly hearing Pern's story reacted the same way. They have been in the deepest floor of the Dungeon but they haven't seen a five-legged-ice-breathing-nine-eyed-flaming spider.

"Yeah, I guess that was weird for you, huh?"

"Did the captain knew about this?" Lefiya asked while still shocked by Pern's story.

"…..nnnnn yeesss."

"I am going to tell captain."

"No, he will visit us more frequently if you did. We will run out of snacks faster."

"DID YOU JUST INSULT MY CAPTAIN?!" Tione almost lunged herself forward if only it wasn't for Aiz and Tiona who held her down.

"No I didn't." Pern said as he hugged Pyrrha body like a little puppy. He was hugging for his life. "I never did though. I just said, he need to relax and not visit us immediately after your expedition."

"Hm, so that where he went late on the night." Pyrrha said as she protected Pern from Tione. "Well, could I meet every one in your group. All of you sounds interesting."

"Yeah no. Beside, the only thing the Braver did was playing chess."

"Well looking at you and Sutr, I could understand why he is interested in all of you." Pyrrha pulled Pern away from her body and said to everyone. "Okay, let's go. We would be late."

"Yeah, goodbye." Pern almost walked if only Pyrrha didn't act fast. Pyrrha grabbed Pern's bag and drag him with her. "Oh, come on."

"Don't worry, you'll blend in just fine and beside, we have to picked up your friends from the Dungeon."