"I am free because I have nothing to lose."
---
"Ahhh…" Asfi sighed in displeasure as she set her drink down, the glass making a dull clink against the wooden table. Her expression carried a noticeably tired edge—like that of an overworked Guild employee running on fumes.
Falgar, the vice-captain of the familia, exchanged a concerned glance with his fellow familia member, Keaks, who sat across the table from him, while Asfi sat in the middle, her posture tense.
They were seated in a bar called the Golden Cellar on the 18th floor of the dungeon—a cozy, dim-lit establishment, if Falgar was being honest. They were currently waiting for the "comrade" their informant had mentioned would be joining them before they could begin the quest.
As they tried to blend in as ordinary customers—the three of them talking quietly at the back while the rest of the familia busied themselves with gambling, drinking, or simply sitting around—Asfi began sharing the latest revelations regarding a certain group that Falgar admittedly didn't know much about.
Clearing his throat, Falgar leaned forward slightly. "Ahm… Captain, if I may… what exactly is concerning about this?" he asked, genuinely curious, his brows slightly furrowed.
Asfi turned her gaze toward her vice-captain. He was her second-in-command, her confidant, and one of the few people she could call a true friend… and yet, at times like these, she felt a migraine coming on.
She liked Falgar—she really did. He'd been there since the start. But sometimes, his inability to grasp the bigger picture didn't exactly help soothe her already pounding headaches.
"What don't you get, Falgar?" she asked with a tired look, hoping—praying—that he at least understood some part of the situation.
"Well…" Falgar rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "You said someone's out there directly challenging the people you've been investigating, right? Isn't that just another gang war? I mean, your group's bound to crush this upstart eventually." There was a kind of simple logic in his words—straightforward, grounded.
And Asfi couldn't exactly blame him for that logic.
The "group" in question was, of course, the Anansi Familia. According to her own intel, while the familia had been severely weakened during the Great Feud—which the Guild archives described as them getting caught in the "crossfire"—they had since rebuilt. Now, while short on members, they boasted a vast network of gangs throughout Orario and extended their reach as far as Port Melen. They held immense wealth and dangerous influence.
A mere person shouldn't be able to stand a chance against such giants of the criminal underworld.
Yet… they hadn't acted.
At least, not in the way she expected them to.
They had simply let it happen. And if Hermes-sama's past intel on the Anansi Familia was anything to go by, that meant their captain was absolutely pulling strings from behind the scenes.
But why let someone like this be? Wasn't the underworld supposed to be a brutal battlefield—where the opposition is devoured without hesitation?
"Falgar, this new player is unknown," she finally answered, her voice sharper than before. "Even Keaks' little Pallum friend had no clue who he is—he thought the elf was the owner, but I know better." She rubbed her head soothingly as she continued her explanation. "All we know is that he's got white hair. That's it. And we only know that because of Albert." She groaned in frustration, pressing a hand to her forehead, clearly annoyed by how little they had to go on.
"He must have something they want. That's why they aren't wiping him out. But what is it?" She had spent the entire night pondering it, wracking her brain for even the faintest clue—but her efforts had been for naught.
She didn't know. Her contacts didn't know. And this white-haired figure might as well have been a ghost.
Falgar and Keaks exchanged concerned looks. At this rate, Asfi was going to get gray hair…
Keaks winced at the thought of a gray-haired Asfi and decided to try lightening the mood. "C'mon, Asfi-chan, you're just overthinking it," he said with a practiced grin. "He's just some lucky rando out there. Bet he's scared shitless and hiding like a rat in the sewers! That's probably why we can't find a damn thing on him!" He chuckled heartily, and Falgar nodded in agreement, clearly preferring that explanation.
A vein visibly popped on Asfi's forehead.
"Lucky rando, huh?" she repeated, her voice chilling. Keaks flinched as her eyes locked onto him with the intensity of a Goliath.
"Tell me then, Keaks—would a lucky rando be able to whip up an entirely new drug type out of nowhere in such a short time?"
"I… Uhhh…" Keaks was sweating bullets now. He very much did not want to answer that question.
Without warning, Asfi reached into the bag beside her—Keaks' bag—and pulled out a small pillbox before he could react.
"You drug addict," she declared with a disgusted glare.
Falgar's eyes widened. "Keaks…" he said, horrified. He couldn't believe his comrade had turned to such loathsome products.
Keaks threw up his hands in defense. "W-wait! Hear me out!" He lunged forward and snatched the pillbox back from Asfi's grip. "These are just strength enhancers—I swear!"
Asfi rolled her eyes. "You think I don't know what that is?" she asked with a disappointed look that pierced through him. "Your little friend was more than happy to tell me how you're a regular customer. A few extra valis, and he spilled everything about it."
"Cain, you traitor!" Keaks cried out dramatically, clutching his chest like he'd been stabbed. The betrayal hit hard.
Falgar, still looking deeply disappointed, asked, "What is that, anyway?"
Asfi rubbed her head again, as if the gesture would soothe the nuisance. "A new headache. Blue Bliss," she said, a sigh escaping her lips. "It's still fresh on the black market, and I suspect it to be the product of this new mysterious figure. I did some tests on it—it's technically a strength enhancer."
Keaks lit up. "See? Told you!"
Asfi scoffed. "My experiments also say it's laced with euphoric and highly addictive properties." Her eyes narrowed at Keaks, her gaze silently promising him a painful lesson once this quest was over.
Keaks gulped.
"Not cool, man," Falgar said, shaking his head.
"B-but…" Keaks stammered, completely lost for words now.
Fortunately for him, he didn't have to explain himself—because at that moment, a new figure entered the bar. Their eyes swept across the interior with calm curiosity.
Asfi's head perked up, her sharp eyes instantly recognizing the newcomer.
"You can't be serious…" she muttered, stunned.
If this was their new comrade… then this quest was already in the bag.
And to think she had been uneasy about it.
The Sword Princess...
---
Lefiya sniffed.
A pathetic sight—the thousand-elf, a prodigy in magic and a famous member of the great Loki Familia—sniffing like a child who had fallen hard during a playground scuffle with friends.
As she dragged herself toward her Familia's base, ignoring the looks she was receiving from passersby, her thoughts remained grim—haunted by the revelation she'd witnessed today.
'Bell Cranel...' she thought bitterly, a fresh wave of shame crashing into her already defeated spirit.
Concurrent chanting—one of the hardest techniques a mage could master. A technique she struggled with greatly, even after her relentless training with Ais-san and Riveria-sama.
Riveria-sama had never been harsh with her for failing to master it. After all, it was the pinnacle of magical technique: the art of moving and casting at the same time. A risky maneuver, like holding two ticking bombs in your hands, as Riveria-sama once said.
Riveria-sama had assured Lefiya that she would learn it eventually. Lefiya had clung to those words, and she was happy to believe them.
She had been happy today. Joyful, even, because she got to train with Ais-san again. She had managed to cast her spell in a new timeframe—a significant improvement in the speed of her slow chanting!
It had been a happy day... until Bell Cranel came out of nowhere.
"H-he knows... c-concurrent chanting," she muttered with a heavy sniff, her voice cracking under the weight of disbelief.
A human had shattered her pride not once but twice now. First with his insanely powerful super short-chant magic, and now with the revelation that he could use concurrent chanting.
It was degrading. Deeply so. A level one—someone who wasn't even a mage—beating her at her own class. How could she even call herself a mage?
And to think she'd vowed she wouldn't be left behind by him... Her own foolish, internal declaration of rivalry—even if he didn't know about it. But still!
She clenched her fists in frustration. "This is… This is…" She tried to summon a word that could express her swirling emotions, but nothing came.
"This is!... Riveria-sama?" she gasped, her train of thought interrupted just before she could fall into a pit of irrational hatred—whether directed at herself or Bell Cranel.
Her eyes landed on her mentor, who had just exited the gates of the Twilight Manor, walking swiftly toward her.
Lefiya's mood brightened slightly. She would ask Riveria-sama to continue their magical studies! With her guidance, she would grow stronger!
As her mentor approached, Lefiya opened her mouth to say what she truly wanted, her heart brimming with desperate hope.
But Riveria beat her to it.
"Lefiya," she said quickly, her tone clipped and hurried, "I can't give you a lecture today. I have a very important meeting. I want you to re-read magic theory until I'm back, alright, dear?"
She didn't even pause to get confirmation before rushing past, entirely unaware of the crushed state of her student.
...
Lefiya stared into the distance, completely still—like a fallen victim of Medusa's curse, frozen in place like a motionless statue.
Before she could even process what had just happened, something landed on her head with a light plop, snapping her out of her eerie silence.
"Ow!" she yelped, looking up.
An owl flew in wide circles above her before dashing off in another direction.
"Don't just throw stuff at people!" she called out in protest, her voice full of indignation. Then her eyes dropped to the paper that had fallen from the sky.
"A message?" she whispered, her mind already drifting away from her disheartening exchange with Riveria.
She opened it, quickly scanning the contents.
"This is Ais-san's handwriting!" She recognized it instantly.
Her eyes moved faster and faster across the page, widening with each line.
"Oh, Ais-san… I better get this to Loki!"
Clutching the paper tightly, she dashed through the gates of the Twilight Manor in search of her goddess, her earlier sorrow already fading into the back of her mind.
Inside the manors backyard, the goddess was engaged in a very pleasant—and by pleasant, Loki meant absolutely irritating—chat with the infuriatingly gorgeous god—again, according to many.
Loki scoffed as Dionysus finished sharing his so-called revelations. "You expect me to believe the Guild is behind all this? Don't be ridiculous," she said with clear irritation, dismissively waving her hand like she was swatting a fly.
Dionysus, ever the patient schemer, merely smiled. He had expected that reaction.
He was explaining his "theory" about how the Guild—or more specifically, Ouranos himself—was the mastermind behind the recent incidents taking place in the Dungeon and on the surface.
Behind the two divine figures stood their respective current bodyguards: Filvis, stoic, and Bete, visibly annoyed.
"I'm not saying it's the entire Guild, Loki," Dionysus said in that calm tone of his. "But you have to admit, Ouranos has always been a bit of a control freak. And what's going on down on the 24th floor right now... well, doesn't it strike you as odd?"
He paused, letting that hang in the air before continuing. "Ever since the fall of Zeus and Hera… and the rise and collapse of the Evils in Orario, Ouranos's grip over the rising powers in this city—namely you and Freya—has been slipping by the day."
A silence stretched between the two, but it wasn't for long.
"I went to confront him... but the guild employees wouldn't even pass along my message. If he's truly innocent, why not grant me an audience?" he added calmly, making sure his words carried just enough truth to sow doubt.
Loki leaned back with a grunt. She couldn't deny it—Ouranos was a control freak, and the old god had always been chummy with Zeus. There was history there, and likely more layers than she cared to dig into right now.
Still, that didn't mean she bought into Dionysus's words. Ouranos was still the de facto ruler of Orario—the patron god of the Guild, the face of order and stability. If he was the mastermind behind these incidents... then he was either playing a very dangerous game or was far more foolish than Loki had ever given him credit for.
She doubted the latter. And she suspected Dionysus did too.
"Let's leave all that bullcrap for later," she said with a scoff, waving her hand again as if brushing dust off a table. "You were saying something earlier—about someone else who might also be behind these events?"
Her voice held a spark of interest now. Any suspect was still a suspect, after all.
Dionysus tapped a finger to his chin thoughtfully. "Well... they're just rumors. Whispers from the underworld." His expression shifted slightly. "Someone calling themselves 'Sensei' has been stirring up trouble lately."
"Sensei...?" Loki echoed. What the hell kind of name is that?
Caught up in her confusion, Loki failed to notice the subtle smirk tugging at Dionysus's lips—or the puzzled expression on Filvis's face just behind him.
'what is Dionysus-sama doing?' she thought to herself, confused.
Before the conversation could continue, a frantic, high-pitched voice suddenly cut in.
"Loki!!"
Loki blinked, turning toward the sound. "Huh? Lefiya, you're back!" she called out with a grin and a wave. "Where's Ais-tan?" she asked almost immediately, her eyes scanning the surroundings for the blonde swordswoman she adored.
Bete raised an eyebrow as Lefiya sprinted toward them in near panic. "Why the hell is she running like that?" he muttered irritably.
When Lefiya finally reached their table, she immediately spiraled into an incomprehensible mess of breathless words. "Loki! Ais-san! 24th floor!!" she gasped out between sharp inhales, barely staying upright.
"Shut up, elf! We can't understand you!" Bete snapped, clearly losing patience.
"Eek!" Lefiya flinched like she'd just been smacked with a broom.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa—Lefiya, calm down!" Loki raised both hands, trying to settle her down before the poor girl fainted from lack of oxygen. "Take a deep breath and then tell me what's going on."
Lefiya didn't even wait for her lungs to fully recover. Instead, she shoved the crumpled message directly into Loki's hands.
Loki blinked and took it. "Oh! Ais-tan's handwriting!" she said, instantly recognizing the scrawl. Her smile, however, began to slowly fade as her eyes traveled down the page.
When she reached the end, she let out a long, heavy sigh.
"What was it about?" Bete asked, tilting his head.
"Ais-tan…" Loki began slowly, her voice dipped in disappointment and slight concern, "...is heading to the 24th floor. Alone. She's going to deal with the monster outbreak because she accepted a quest."
"What?" Bete blinked, his eyes narrowing.
Meanwhile, Dionysus smiled faintly beneath the rim of his teacup—an expression that none of the Loki Familia noticed. It was a quiet, calculating smile. A victorious smile.
'Oh, how fortunate,' he mused, casting a sidelong glance at Filvis beside him.
How fortunate indeed.
Fate, it seemed, was smiling upon Dionysus today.
"We should go and help her!" Lefiya, having recovered slightly from her exhausted state, said in a concerned voice.
Loki nodded in agreement. "Yes, this is too sudden—even for Ais." She wore a thoughtful expression. "Bete, go fetch Riveria and go together," she instructed the werewolf with a dismissive wave, turning her attention back to the relaxed-looking Dionysus and his child.
Bete clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Why the hell would Ais do something so stupid?" He wasn't in the mood for this kind of bullcrap.
"Uhh..." Lefiya began hesitantly, glancing nervously at the annoyed Bete.
The werewolf sighed. "What is it, elf?" he demanded, his patience thinning by the second.
"Riveria-sama... is having an important meeting and is currently not home," she said, her voice tuning down with each word. She didn't want to recall Riveria's abrupt words when she had passed by her earlier.
Bete let out a chuckle. "Even better. I don't need that granny to slow me down."
"Lefiya," Loki called, having caught her words about Riveria's absence. "You go with Bete. I forgot about Riveria's meeting."
Good heavens, did it have to be today of all days for momma Riveria to go to her stupid court trial? It was just a shitty murder case! There were plenty of those in Orario.
Bete scoffed in annoyance. "I don't need—!" Before he could finish his protest, Loki cut in with a firm voice.
"Lefiya is accompanying you. End of story." Her tone was serious—a stark contrast from her usual cheery and childish behavior.
Bete grunted but didn't argue further, while Lefiya nodded meekly, not wanting to be the center of attention any more than she already was.
Dionysus, sensing the end of their discussion, seized the opportunity to present his "assistance."
"Loki," he called out with a disarming voice, "as we discussed earlier, I would like to prove that I am dedicated to our alliance."
Loki's sharp eyes never left Dionysus. "And how exactly?"
Dionysus smiled. "I would like to offer my child, Filvis, as a third member to accompany your children. She is a capable Level 3," he offered, his tone calm—measured, so as not to sound like he was pushing the idea.
Filvis, for the first time since the meeting between the two gods, opened her mouth in protest. "Dionysus-sama!" she called to her god. Her voice, despite its sharp protest, was remarkably smooth. "I cannot leave you alone without an escort!"
Dionysus chuckled at his child's concern. "Don't worry about me, Filvis. I'll be fine," he assured her. "Besides, we need to show that we aren't just sweet words—we need to prove our commitment." He added this last part while glancing back at Loki, who was now eyeing Filvis with an inspecting gaze.
Loki shrugged. "Sure. You can accompany them."
"It's decided, then!" Dionysus clapped his hands together, pleased at the arrangements.
"Uh-huh," Loki agreed, casting a meaningful glance at Bete in particular.
"Keep an eye on the elf." The unspoken message passed between them, and Bete understood it loud and clear.
---
"Oh!" Ais suddenly exclaimed, catching Perseus off guard.
"...Is something wrong?" Asfi asked, turning toward her with a furrowed brow. They had just finished introducing the Sword Princess to the members of the Hermes Familia and discussing the objectives and plans for the upcoming subjugation. The group was already preparing to leave the town.
"There is another one," Ais said curtly, offering no further explanation to the puzzled Asfi. Her eyes narrowed with sudden purpose. "I need to go and get him. Wait for us near the gates."
"Wait, Sword Princess—!" Asfi called out but her voice was lost to the wind as Ais darted off in a random direction without another word, leaving her standing alone with the rest of the Hermes Familia.
"What was that about?" asked Falgar, scratching his head in confusion.
"I have no idea," Asfi replied with a sigh, pinching the bridge of her nose.
---
"A-and he said to wait for him until he's back arranging the meeting," Liliruca finished, her voice cracking as she explained everything that had happened to Bell-sama, per his request. "What do I do, Bell-sama?!" she asked, frantic with worry for her safety, seeking guidance from the only person willing to offer it.
All For One carefully ran through everything the pallum—disguised as an Amazoness—had said so far. It sounded... odd to him.
Why are they arranging a meeting inside the dungeon, of all places? The location was just as risky as it was isolated—which meant this meeting wasn't something ordinary.
What could be the reason? He couldn't know without further revelations. Which meant little Lili needed to be a good girl and go with Zanis to meet these people.
"You should go along with Zanis' wishes for now," he advised, his tone smooth and comforting. "See what they want." He gently grasped her shaking hands in his, offering a sense of safety. "Be observant. Everything is your teacher if you observe enough," he said, smiling softly at her. "Make your own impression on them. Don't let Zanis lead the meeting."
For now, this would suffice. He needed more information to form a better understanding of what was happening.
Lili looked uncertain about all of it but slowly nodded anyway. "What if... what if they do something to me?" she whispered, fear creeping back into her voice.
All For One wanted to roll his eyes—such a terrified little mouse.
"Don't worry. I will help you."
"But how?!" Lili asked, panicked. How could Bell-sama help her if he wasn't going to be there? She would be alone and at their mercy…
Bell-sama opened his right palm wide. "Like this."
With those words, flames manifested in his hand, flickering with a chaotic edge.
Lili's eyes widened in surprise. "You have a new magic?" This wasn't like the Fireball spell she had seen him use before.
All For One smiled. "You could say that." He extinguished the flame quickly before anyone could see it. "I will lend you my power, Lili."
Lili blinked. Was that even possible?
"You want protection. A way to defend yourself. And I admit, I cannot be around you at all times... so I will at least lend you my flames to defend yourself with." He gently squeezed her hands—a show of overprotection.
"I don't understand, Bell-sama," she asked in confusion, not getting what his words meant.
"Do you want power?" he asked, his voice patient—but expectant. Waiting for her to give in.
Lili was still confused. She didn't really understand… but she trusted Bell-sama more than anyone in Orario.
"Y... Yes," she agreed, nodding slowly despite her dazed state.
All For One's expression brightened. "Excellent," he said in a pleased tone. "I'll need physical contact. Be patient." His hands were already grasping hers, and even before she had accepted, he had begun the subtle process of transferring a copy of the Hellhound magic into her.
This more delicate, slower method was tedious. It required far too long to avoid harming the recipient.
"How are your dealings inside the familia going." he asked casually.
He was curious about her progress—he hadn't had time to check on her lately.
Lili looked away, a tinge of red appearing on her cheeks. "W-well... I told you about Coco and the others, right?" she asked.
All For One nodded. She had apparently secured a few pawns of her own. How cute.
"Well... they managed to convince some people to rally behind us, but so far, it wasn't good. Everyone was just in it for the Soma drink after all, and Zanis is the only one who can get it..." she said, lowering her head in shame.
She must be so pathetic in Bell-sama's eyes. Can't even sway a drunkard to her side…
All For One chuckled lightly. "That is to be expected," he said, his tone gentle and nonjudgmental, careful not to crush her budding spirit. "Have you tried promising them the same thing? If all the sheep are following the shepherd... then become a shepherd yourself."
If the drink was the only thing binding people to Zanis, then she should weaponize that same bait.
Lili looked hesitant. "But why would they follow me if I only offer the same thing? Zanis has loyal members too… what if they report me to him?"
All For One let out another chuckle, this time deeper.
"You see, Lili... when it comes to something people desire, loyalty bends, morals break, and blood turns to water." He slowly released her hands, having completed the transfer. "People pray for wealth, kneel for power, and betray for money. In this case, they will betray for an extra sip of Soma."
He stood up, causing the pallum to look up at him, eyes gleaming with a mix of awe and uncertainty.
"All the pieces are in place. One remains unclaimed."
"A-and what is that piece, Bell-sama?" Lili asked, taken aback by his sudden, almost prophetic tone.
All For One smiled. "Your vice-captain," he said without delay. It wouldn't do for her to figure things out on her own—he needed her to act quickly, decisively, and take control of the familia already.
Lili's eyes widened. "You're right..." she muttered. How could she have forgotten about him?
All For One nodded, pleased. At least she got the idea right.
"I have given you guidance, and now even power. You only need to focus, and the flames will appear, my dear." He turned his back and began walking away. "Remember what I told you, and be careful," he reminded, leaving her alone with her thoughts.
Lili watched him go, then turned her gaze back down at her drink.
She opened her palms and focused hard.
And true to Bell-sama's words, small flickering flames came to life, hovering above her skin.
"Whoa..." she whispered in awe.
---
Ais, having spent some time now looking for Bell, came to a stop as her eyes caught a familiar head of white hair through the window of a small establishment.
"It's him," she murmured to herself. But just as she was about to step inside and fetch him, her gaze landed on a smaller frame seated across from him, engaged in a conversation.
"An Amazoness?" Ais tilted her head slightly, puzzled. Amazonesses weren't usually so short, were they? "Why is Bell with one?" she wondered, staying at the window to observe rather than barge in.
She caught glimpses of Bell's face through the glass—his expression warm and relaxed, a stark contrast to the indifferent look he wore earlier before they had split up.
A slight frown tugged at her lips. Why had he been so dismissive of her… yet here he was, so cheerful, so gentle with this short Amazoness?
Then, suddenly, Cranel grasped the Amazoness's hands in his own. The casual intimacy of the gesture stirred something in Ais—a silent protest at the difference in treatment.
She suddenly blinked, realization dawning.
"Wasn't Bell with an elf girl back at Monsterphilia?" she mumbled to herself, furrowing her brow. That had been a different girl entirely… and now an Amazoness? Holding hands?
"Is Bell..." Ais hesitated, drawing a conclusion in her mind, her cheeks tinged with the faintest pink, "...a delinquent?"
It sounded plausible. He did act like one of those "edgy" people. She didn't know exactly what that word meant, but Loki seemed to throw it around a lot when talking about stubborn or brooding types.
"It... doesn't concern me," she declared aloud, as if reaffirming her own detachment. She only needed to uncover the secret behind his growth rate. That was all. She didn't care if he was a playboy.
...Although, she couldn't deny that his dismissiveness of her still kind of hurt—especially when compared to what she was witnessing now.
Bell stood up from his seat, and after exchanging a few more words with the Amazoness, he made his way to the exit.
The same exit door Ais stood beside.
She didn't move, simply stood in place. She had already wasted enough time watching. They needed to regroup with the Hermes Familia as quickly as possible.
With the soft ring of the bar's bell, the white-haired adventurer stepped out, his eyes immediately landing on her.
"Ah, you must be ready now?" he asked, his tone casual, almost indifferent.
Ais nodded. "Yes. Let's head to the town gates—the rest are waiting for us." Her voice was flat, her words curt and to the point.
Bell gave a simple nod. "Lead the way," he said, gesturing forward.
Ais turned and began walking.
Yet, as they moved, her thoughts drifted back to the short Amazoness. Maybe… maybe she would ask him about it.
Just to confirm whether or not he really was a delinquent.
Yes, just to make sure.
---
"What's up with Tulle?" Rehmer, the section leader, asked the red-headed werewolf, Rose Fannet, as she handed him what could only be described as a mountain of paperwork.
Rehmer was knee-deep in managing the constant flow of updates coming from the higher-ups. It had been a particularly chaotic day, especially with the monster outbreak on the 24th floor.
Initially, Tulle had been doing fine—completing her duties without issue. But as the hours wore on, Rehmer noticed the shift. Unease wasn't unusual in their line of work, but in her case, it manifested differently. She was doing quite literally everything on her own—even assisting with other employees' work, just to keep herself busy.
It was her way of coping. Her already workaholic nature intensified during stressful times.
Rose shrugged in response to Rehmer's question. "Misha mentioned her 'boyfriend' hasn't returned from the dungeon. She's worried." She placed the stack of documents on his desk and left without another word, leaving Rehmer alone with the weight—both figurative and literal—of her delivery.
He began sifting through the mountain of papers, though his thoughts remained fixed on Tulle. At this rate, she was going to pass out from sheer overwork.
"...The Archives Section is on a tight schedule. We request that your section go through these documents by date for an ongoing investigation..." Rehmer read aloud from one of the requests, a frown growing on his face.
"Dammit, we're receptionists, not investigators!" he muttered in frustration. What were those lazy slimes thinking? They were already short-staffed with everything else going on!
"Section Leader!"
"Whoa!" A voice startled him out of his thoughts, making him flinch.
It was Tulle. A smile played on her face, but Rehmer could see it wasn't genuine. "Do you need help sorting those out?" she asked, gesturing to the massive pile of papers.
Rehmer hesitated. "You must be tired, Tulle. Take a break," he said, concern creeping into his voice.
Tulle shook her head. "Nonsense. I feel fantastic!" she insisted with forced cheer. Before he could respond, she had already lifted the mountain of paperwork with ease. "I'll sort these. You've got more important things to take care of."
"...Yes..." Rehmer said, his voice trailing off, concern clearly etched into his expression. "You can use one of the private booths—it'll take a while to finish."
Tulle nodded and headed toward the booths, still wearing that same smile.
"I told that fucking bastard…" Rehmer muttered with disdain, his voice low. If that damn adventurer had just listened to him, she wouldn't be like this.
"They're all the same... scum," he added under his breath, thoroughly fed up with adventurers.
---
The end
---
Hey...
Yeah, I know—I said this chapter would have action, but instead it's just more talking with some (probably) useless people again.
I lied.
But hey! At least I updated faster this time—only 10 days apart!
Also, sorry for the chaotic POV switches... I know it's a bit all over the place.
This arc has honestly been tough to write, so logically, I should make it easier on myself by cutting corners, right?
Nah. I made it worse by adding my own subplots. Why? Who knows. I suffer for my own choices.
Anyway, here's how things are gonna go:
The next chapter will finally be the action one. All For One is taking center stage—no POV shifts, just pure focus on him. I'm actually looking forward to writing Olivas, it should be fun and hard...and very bloody.
his strength is the equivalent of a high level 5 after all.
The chapter after that? We're diving into Lili and Riveria (You probably guessed why already), and maybe Dionysus and Filvis too.
Wait—Dionysus mentioning Sensei?
"What!? Are you stupid!?"
Yes. Yes, I am.
But I do have a reason for it, I promise. It's about time Sensei shows up on the radar of Orario's big players. I'll dig into that more from Dionysus' POV when we get there.
Also—I'm nearly done with Astraea Record! Just a volume and a half left. Been loving it so far.
Oh, by the way—do you think my writing style has changed? I feel like Astraea Record has rubbed off on me a bit. Let me know if you noticed a shift, and if you like it.
Anyway, my motivation is slightly back, so expect the next chapter in… idk, but I promise it won't take a year.
Thanks for sticking with me, even when all I do is make characters talk and delay the action.
Next chapter should be peak. (Hopefully.)