No one's POV

Lido: Fels, what next?

Fels: Right at the next corner! That's where the door is!

The Xenos advanced. They were heading for the red mark on the map that represented their one hope. Clawed feet struck the stone floor. Wings beat the air. A snake's belly slithered over the ground, hooves beat it, and tails scraped across it. The monsters ran with all their might. Finally, they rounded the last corner.

Fels: What the—

The Xenos rounded the corner and came face-to-face with a horrifying sight. An enormous stone wall, without a single crack or seam, filled their entire field of vision. A massive wall blocking their path forward. The door that was supposed to save them was nowhere to be seen.

Lido: A dead end...?

Lido said in astonishment.

Gros: Fels...what's going on? Did we make a wrong turn?

Gros asked.

Fels: This is impossible! I'm sure I read the map right...

Fels answered, looking down at the plan. The mage had followed the drawings the whole way, heading for the western door that Loki Familia was unaware of. But still, there stood the enormous wall.

Fels(mind): Is there a hidden door? No, the map didn't indicate anything like that... Unbelievable. It's like someone's been manipulating us the whole time...

Beneath quivering black robes, the cursed skeleton recalled vividly what it felt like to sweat. It was then that the mage heard the voice.

Hermes: Hey there, Xenos!

The cheerful voice came from directly behind them.

Xenos: !

Hermes: Pleasure to meet you. Please don't be afraid. My name is Hermes. I'm just an ordinary god.

The god had red-orange hair and was wearing a feathered traveling cap. His eyes, the same color as his hair, crinkled as he smiled kindly at the astonished Xenos.

Fels: God Hermes...?! What are you doing here?

Hermes: It's quite simple, downfallen Sage. I'm ambushing you.

Fels: A-ambushing...?!

The Sage sputtered in confusion. The Xenos shared his bewilderment. What was Hermes talking about? What did he mean by ambushing? What was his aim? Fels's mind refused to understand the situation they found themselves in. The Xenos, who were pinned in place, sensed something cold in the god who stood before them. The black-clad mage gripped the map as he asked a question.

Fels: God Hermes...Why is there no door here? Weren't you the one who obtained the plan of Knossos? This plan, Daedalus's Notebook—

Hermes grinned from ear to ear.

Hermes: You didn't really think Daedalus's Notebook existed, did you? Of course I didn't get the Notebook from Ikelos.

Hermes announced to the dumbstruck Fels and Xenos.

Hermes: Dix Perdix owned the original Notebook. But now he's dead. More likely than not, the real one is lying around somewhere in Knossos,

The heritage of Daedalus was passed on to his descendants. That was true of the Notebook as well as Knossos. Even a patron deity couldn't take it away from them, Hermes explained, still smiling. His smile served only to enflame Fels's confusion and anger.

Fels: Then what is that book?!

Hermes: A fake. One of my children forged the book that Hestia received. She did a darn good job of it, too, wouldn't you agree? I had her use all sorts of magic items to create the illusion of a thousand-year-old book.

A beautiful woman with aqua-blue hair and dark, tired circles under her eyes stepped out from behind Hermes. It was Perseus. She had responded to her patron deity's entreaty, and in the space of a few short, sleepless days forged a replica of the book that Daedalus had poured his crazed obsession into.

The only truth Hermes had spoken when he came before Ouranos was that he had thoroughly surveyed Knossos. His familia had searched the same places Loki Familia had. In other words, everything in the plans below the first underground level was nonsense—and the maps Hestia and Fels had used were interlaced with lies.

The spot where the Xenos stood now was one of those falsehoods.

Fels: So you drew doors that didn't exist and lured us down here...?!

Hermes: Put it that way if you like. Since Loki Familia was guarding all the other doors, I knew you'd be forced to take the bait and try your only other escape route.

A dead end with a nonexistent door. Fels and the Xenos had followed the Notebook headlong into the god's trap. In that light, it was only natural that Finn had read the situation incorrectly. Of course his instinct for danger hadn't set alarm bells ringing. The Xenos had gone right down the wrong path.

Hermes: As long as I knew whether you were heading east or west...all I had to do was trust in my plan and wait. Wait right here, I mean.

Hermes explained, rubbing the brim of his traveling cap.

Hermes: Don't blame Ouranos for this. I commandeered his help, so to speak, in return for everything he's asked of me in the past.

But why hadn't Hermes given the Notebook directly to Sora? The answer was simple. He didn't want to raise suspicion. By putting Ouranos in the middle, he'd softened the doubts of Hestia and Fels. Ouranos had served as his cover. They had trusted the book without reservations because it came from the strictly impartial old deity.

Hermes: Wait long enough and even Loki Familia will find you here, although they would never expect you to walk into a dead end of your own accord.

Xenos:...!

Hermes: But please don't worry. There's still a way out. If you can get that far, you'll most likely make it to the Dungeon.

Having cornered Fels and the Xenos, Hermes stood in front of them dangling despair and hope before their eyes.

The meaning of the situation was clear.

Their lives were in his hands.

The Xenos looked even more shocked than Fels as the god's smile pinned them in place. Fels's gloved fingers rustled as they rubbed together. Alongside the anger, an overwhelming impatience welled up inside the mage. This Sage who had lived for eight hundred long years was forced to realize what was happening. The god was toying with them.

Hestia(oculus):—Fels, something weird is going on! I dropped the Notebook in a puddle, but nothing happened...It's a fake! Ouranos—no, Hermes—he did something...!

Hestia's shouts echoed through the oculus and into the fear-laden air of the dead end. Hermes looked at the blue crystal, and Fels, obeying his unspoken command, crushed it. Hestia's voice was silenced.

Fels: What is your objective, God Hermes...?

Fels asked in a voice saturated with resentment.

Hermes: I want to make a deal—or rather, a request.

Hermes responded, narrowing his eyes. The Xenos could not refuse. As his follower stood behind him, Hermes looked over the monsters before him and slowly curled back his lips.

Hermes: Die for me, maverick monsters.

That was what the sinister god had said to Gros and the other Xenos.

Lido: What?!

Lido answered, uncomprehending.

Fels: God Hermes, what are you asking?!

Fels added after regaining the ability to speak. Hermes responded as if it was the most trifling matter in the world.

Hermes: Oh, not everyone needs to die. I'd say three or four of you should do.

His unwavering smile struck terror into the hearts of the Xenos. The deusdea were different from both humans and monsters, and the Xenos found them horrifying without exception.

Hermes: I am Hermes. I will hold up my end of the agreement I made with Ouranos—half of it, at least.

He narrowed his long, tapering yellow-orange eyes and curved his lips up.

Hermes: As for the other half, I'll consider that payback."

He looked the Xenos over.

Hermes: To save the lot of you, the Light of Hope has been put in a difficult situation. I just can't bring myself to tolerate that.

Xenos:...!

Hermes: Were you planning to go home just like that after all he's done for you? 'We're sorry, thank you, you really saved us.' Were you just going to slink back underground with a few shallow words of appreciation? Now, now, even we fickle deities wouldn't act so insincere.

His words were a means of negotiating, and they also resembled the skillful lines of a man gently deceiving his lover. But more than anything, they were a poison that widened the Xenos's wounds until they festered with pus. Sure enough, the Xenos turned pale and groaned with guilt.

Fels: God Hermes!!

Fels's fists were clenched in fury. The mage was not angry at Hermes's betrayal but outraged that the god's divine will was trampling on the hearts of the Xenos and the decision Sora had made of his own accord. But Hermes had no interest in such opinions.

Hermes: Let me guess, Fels—you want to tell me that Sora made that decision himself? You're wrong. You've become ensnared in your own situation and in the divine will of Ouranos. Sora had no other options.

He swept aside Fels's words before they were even spoken. To him, they were nonsense from a mere child of eight hundred years. He, on the other hand, could see the difference between Sora's subjective truth and the real nature of the situation.

Hermes: The world needs World's Hero, and I've bet everything on that Light of Hope. He can't be allowed to have dealings with monsters... Oh no, that would never do.

Fels stood frozen in astonishment at the god's divine will.

Hermes: I, Hermes, ask this of you, maverick monsters. Save the Light of Hope.

His whispered words were half entreaty, half deception.

Gros:...You're asking us to attack him?

Gros said, to the gasps of the other Xenos.

Hermes: You really catch on quick.

Gros: I'll go.

Lido: Gros?

Gros: I don't think the boy will fight against Lido or Rei or you others. Since I used to abhor humans, I'm best for this role.

Lido: But, Gros, that means you'll—

Gros: Any way you look at it, we don't have a choice.

Lido and Rei surrounded Gros, who had been their companion since the Xenos first joined together, but he shook his head. Hermes threw them a sidelong glance, silently affirming the gargoyle's words with his smile. The other Xenos clenched their fangs and hung their heads.

Hermes: Brave gargoyle, tell me your name.

Gros:...Gros.

Hermes: Thank you, Gros. Although you are a monster, I shall call you by your name.

He removed his hat respectfully. Then he handed Gros a purple jewel.

Gros: What is this...?

Hermes: Insurance. It's quite likely that Sora, that nice boy, won't raise his sword against you even if you attack him. A person he cares deeply about will activate this item. Please attack her first.

The item maker standing behind her patron deity gasped as if she detested him. Gros gazed at the jewel.

Gros: I understand...

He said, squeezing it in the stone skin of his hand.

Hermes: The girl I am speaking of is most likely in the northwest section of the Labyrinth District. I want you to bring chaos there first. There will be many of those humans you hate so much...but I would appreciate if you don't kill any of them.

Gros: You ask for much...

Gros spit out. Then he looked around at Lido and the others.

Gros: It's a promise. Save my brethren.

He said to Hermes.

Hermes: Now, now, I am Hermes after all. I keep my end of any bargain.

Gros: I don't want to hear it.

Gros said, turning his back to the god and spreading his wings. Joined by three other winged monsters who offered up their lives alongside him, Gros retraced his steps through the underground passage and took off into the sky above the Labyrinth District.

(Timeskip)

Rox: Cruz, the attacks from Knossos have stopped!

Cruz: Good—use this time to finish recovering!

A familia member's voice resounded in the large stone passage. The underground passage beneath Daedalus Street in the northwest. Loki Familia's squad was exalted by the fact that the violas had stopped pouring out.

Rox: This is thanks to Riveria, isn't it? This means...!

Cruz had been deployed to lead the squad and recognized this as evidence of the chaos in the enemy's hideout. Knossos was being devoured by the unexpected invasion of the elf squad, and they couldn't divide their soldiers or even their monsters to deal with Cruz's group. He suspected that on the other side of that one door, the northwest of the labyrinth had been deserted.

They'd been forced to fall back by an intense attack by the monsters, but now they had the passage to themselves again.

Cruz(mind): Is there any value in having the northwest passage under control? It might be better for us to move to the southeast...But we still don't know the location of the armed monsters. I can't mess up the captain's formation on a whim...

They'd sent a messenger to the main base to report in and ask Finn for instructions.

Hermes: How do you do? Ladies and gentlemen of Loki Familia.

Loki Familia: !

A single god appeared in the hidden passage.

Cruz: You...Lord Hermes?!

The figure donned a winged traveling hat and loose clothes for travel. Cruz was shocked as Hermes walked up. He didn't even have guards from his familia. His lack of vigilance was incomprehensible. It was unnatural for a god to be on a battlefield alone.

Even though they were on the same side after forming an alliance, that didn't exempt Hermes Familia from their shady behavior. Not to mention that there was a good chance they were on Hestia Familia's side in the struggle going on around the Labyrinth District, based on Finn's analysis earlier.

More than anything, it was ominous.

His orange eyes were hatching a plan.

Everyone was confused, but Cruz alone stayed on his guard.

In response to his attentive gaze, Hermes let a suave grin play on his lips.

Hermes: To tell you the truth, I just wrapped up a contract with Loki. I came to report on it—and look, it's the magic item you guys were searching for.

Cruz: !!

He pulled a silver sphere—the Daedalus Orb—from his breast pocket, transfixing Cruz and the others. It was the item that Hermes had received from a certain Goddess of Beauty. He made a show of it, as though he'd just fulfilled the commission from Loki during the skirmish with Rakia three weeks before.

It was a key to Knossos—and the thing they currently wanted more than anything else. While the other members of the familia stared, entranced by the jewel and unable to peel their eyes from the magic item and its ominous radiance, Cruz managed to wrench a response from his mouth.

Cruz:...Thank you very much, Lord Hermes. Could you please hand it over?

Cruz's face remained tense as he held out a hand.

Cruz(mind): Why did he go out of his way to come to us instead of Loki? Why is he on the front lines?

He received his answer in no time.

Hermes: Sure, no problem. But before that, I'd like to receive my reward.

Cruz: What?

Hermes: Could you please take your squad here and leave, my good man?

The god requested with a hint of sarcasm, smiling as his eyebrows arched.

Cruz: Wh—?...Do what?!

Hermes: In exchange for handing over the key, I would like all of you to disappear from here. What? That's all I want. Honest. That's a cheap price to pay, right?

Cruz: Why would you want that?!

Hermes: Because as the god who rules over negotiations and contracts, I believe it would be sufficiently valuable, my boy Cruz.

Cruz couldn't put his finger on it, but he had goose bumps when the god spoke his name. He couldn't understand—neither Hermes's demand nor the words he was speaking. None of it.

Cruz(mind): It's a trap. Or rather, he's planning something.

He could feel the other members behind him shrinking back as a drop of sweat ran down his cheek.

Cruz:...Our mission is to maintain control of this underground passage. That isn't something I can decide with my own discretion. If the captain gave directions to—

Hermes: That's no good.

The corners of Hermes's mouth rose as he challenged Cruz, not letting him finish.

Hermes: Here. Now. You decide.

Cruz gulped at the god's pronouncement. It contained an absolute will that wouldn't allow him to dodge the question.

It was an unnatural negotiation table. It was obvious that he couldn't take the offer. But they had to get their hands on the key, no matter what. Would it be better to capture him and take the key by force? It would be a simple feat to force a god to hand it over if their strength were equivalent to that of a normal person. But, but, but doing something disrespectful to an unarmed god—

Cruz's expression twisted over and over as he struggled with a choice that was far above his pay grade. Hermes sighed.

Hermes: If you say you can't take the deal, then I guess it can't be helped. There are lots of other people who want this key, after all, so maybe I'll give it to one of them...

Cruz: Please wait!

Cruz shouted as Hermes started to turn away. If he let him go now, they would never get that key. He was the kind of god who would really do that. At least, that was the feeling Cruz got from him. In his anguish, Cruz remembered Finn's words.

Cruz(mind): Our number one priority is to obtain a key. The destruction of the monsters and the Evilus is secondary.

Forced into making a choice, the chienthrope...followed the captain's instructions.

Cruz:...Understood. We'll withdraw from here.

Hermes: Thank you. Negotiations are complete. Please take this.

With a cordial smile, Hermes held out the key, which Cruz took without a word. As everyone else remained quiet, he quickly led the squad out of the underground passage.

The sound of boots hitting the ground reverberated for a while before silence fell once again. A voice called out from the empty space in front of Hermes.

Asfi: It appears they've pulled back. There is no one from Loki Familia in the surrounding area.

Announced an alluring woman with blue hair as she let down her invisibility. Asfi Al Andromeda reported in, holding a jet-black helmet in one hand. Hermes nodded in response.

Hermes: I see—then, bring them here.

A group of armed monsters appeared from the opposite direction of Cruz and the others.

Fels: Calling this sort of thing a secret path...

Hermes: It's all the same, right? The only difference is that this one was just now created.

The black robe of the mage standing at the front of the group swayed in apparent disdain, but Hermes responded nonchalantly. Hermes Familia was more precisely acting as a smuggler now. They had made a secret deal with the armed monsters Loki Familia was hunting, moving them through the underground tunnels to prevent others from finding them and delivering the group of monsters to that point.

The passage contained an entrance into Knossos.

Hermes: With this, you can bid farewell to the world aboveground. After you enter Knossos, I'll have to ask you to take care of yourselves. I'm afraid I can't afford to go that far. I pray you safely make it back to the Dungeon.

The entire group of armed monsters was silent, nonviolent. Their faces were clearly those of beasts but contained hints of gloominess.

The handful of Hermes Familia members, Lulune and the others, made a point of not meeting the armed monsters' eyes—to focus on fulfilling their mission or to avert their eyes from the uncomfortable feeling of standing next to monsters without trying to kill each other. By her patron god's side, Asfi furrowed her brow, a complicated emotion washing over her face.

Fels: Lord Hermes...let me confirm one last time. Is it okay to let them go?

Hermes: Yes. Gros's sacrifice is a proper recompense. That was the deal, after all.

Sacrifice. The monsters' faces strained when they heard that word. Their faces should have been hideous but looked akin to that of a person trying to endure pain. Advancing like a funeral procession, they moved in front of the door.

The orichalcum door opened without a hitch, thanks to the key in the hands of the mage in black. By chance, the inside was exactly as Cruz had imagined: entirely deserted.

There were no defenses on the Evilus' side. The only things were darkness and the cool air.

Fels: Lord Hermes...what is your aim...?

Hermes: I said, didn't I? The world wants a hero.

After the last monster had entered the labyrinth, the mage turned back, and Hermes coldly responded. In the next instant, the door closed with a violent crash. The monsters disappeared from Hermes Familia's eyes.

Hermes: All right—time for the return of a hero.

While Asfi and the others remained silent, the god turned to leave, lowering the brim of his hat as the corners of his mouth turned up.

(Timeskip)

Raul: Captain, I'm sorry...We've lost track of the monsters.

Aboveground, one of the familia member's voices melted into the still night air. They were in the central area of Daedalus Street, in Loki Familia's encampment. Listening to the report as he chewed his lip, Finn retreated quietly into thought.

Finn(mind): When Gareth got pinned down, should I have moved Riveria? This White Fog and that black fog made it harder to communicate... No use thinking about that now.

The clash in the west of the Labyrinth District had been the crux of the battle aboveground.

If they'd gotten control there, they probably would've caught the armed monsters. But they managed to escape their grasp as a result of Finn looking down on their strength—and the power of their supporters, Hestia Familia— and lack of dedicating forces to that front.

Finn(mind): Moving Riveria aboveground would have been a big risk...especially when we had no way of knowing when we'd manage to get our hands on a key.

If he'd moved Riveria aboveground, the Evilus would have gained control of the underground passage. Which meant they wouldn't have been able to pull off a quick one on their unprepared enemy. The two fronts had been at odds with each other.

If they had been greedy and managed to get everything, that would be one thing, but if they lost everything because of it...As a commander, Finn had to weigh the risk of that.

Finn(mind): The Red Juggernaut hasn't been found, either. Did someone kill it...? No, someone must intend to do something with it.

He was most concerned about the Irregular that hadn't been caught yet. The juggernaut hadn't roared out. The Labyrinth District was too quiet. It was ominous.

Finn(mind): Plus, I can't read the enemy's movements...

It was the armed monsters' route. They'd totally betrayed his expectations. The moves were irregular, as if they were being guided in the wrong direction.

Finn: The monsters were last seen in the area around Twentieth Street, right?

Raul: Y-yes, sir.

Finn furrowed his brow upon confirming with the familia member.

Finn(mind): Twentieth Street...We investigated it, but...Impossible. That's... Something was off. As if two gears were out of sync.

Finn's thumb wasn't aching at all.

Finn:...What the hell are they after?

Finn's whisper was erased in the wind. Raul was acting as his aide and seemed to misinterpret this as pained silence.

Raul: I'm sorry, Captain...It's my fault. If I hadn't gotten tricked, if I hadn't broken the formation...

Finn: Raul, I'm not blaming you. Besides, your mistakes are my mistakes. I'm responsible for taking Hestia Familia too lightly.

Finn wasn't going to allow Raul, who was busy hanging his head in disappointment at himself, to think that.

Finn: We were able to strike back at Knossos, but we let the armed monsters get away...

That murmur described the current state of affairs.

They'd lost the battle but won the war—he couldn't placate himself with that. Finn had greedily and insatiably intended to win it all. He intended to destroy the armed monsters after using them, calm the chaos in the city, get his hands on the key from the beasts, and beat Hestia Familia and that Hero who had rebelled.

And he hadn't been able to because he'd misread the situation and made light of Hestia Familia. He was the one who had split his forces between them and the remnants of the Evilus, and he couldn't use that as an excuse any longer.

It was his blunder.

Finn: It won't go according to plan, huh...? Good grief.

Finn sighed slightly, crumpling up the completed plan in his head and throwing it away. Switching gears. They hadn't achieved the outward goal of eliminating the armed monsters, but the main plan—the surprise attack on Knossos—had succeeded. He should just accept that as good enough for now. And besides, the fight wasn't over yet. There were more things left to do.

Finn: Send trackers to Twentieth Street. Have them search every nook and cranny, including any underground passages connecting to dead ends. I want to know how they got away.

Raul: Yes, sir!

Finn: Twenty-seventh Street. Where Rox and the others were hit. That's probably the location of the Red Juggernaut. Call Bete, Tiona, and Tione to the east... no, to the north to search for it. If they find the target, they are to shoot a signal into the air immediately.

Raul: Understood!

Finn: Raul, has Aki reported in yet?

Raul: Yes, they're currently fighting underground, pushing at the southeastern door while it's open, but...the Evilus are fighting back hard...

Finn: Got it. Tell them that depending on the enemy's resistance, they are to pull back. If a creature appears, they should retreat at once. Now that we have
a key in hand, it's pointless to get hung up on one door.

Raul: All right!

As Finn handed out orders left and right, the familia members responded. Because his plan had two different fronts, the squads were divided above- and belowground.

Aboveground, the team was a younger generation of first-tier adventurers, while the underground was important enough to be left to the most dependable forces, Gareth and Riveria. Partway through, he'd had to change the deployment, playing it by ear, but they'd managed to produce results, albeit minimally.

To Finn, the battle had already been decided. All that was left was to determine the route and escape path of the incomprehensible armed monsters and locate the whereabouts of the red juggernaut. With that, the skirmish aboveground could be wrapped up.

Finn: If Riveria is moving according to plan, they should be securing an escape route. A report should be coming from the Dungeon anytime now. We wait for that.

Raul: Understood!

Finn: Reassemble all forces aboveground. Surround the north and corner the red juggernaut—

Finn had already assumed there would be no more disturbances. At least until that moment. That was when his thumb suddenly started to ache.

Raul: Wh—...?

Elfie: H-hey! That's—!

Even before he heard the familia members' voices, Finn's blue eyes saw it—grotesque shadows rising into the air above 20th Street, not far from the encampment, just on the western edge of the central area.

The winged beasts bat their wings, roaring as if unveiling their true monstrous nature.

Gros: OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO—!

The thunderous roar of a gargoyle shook the night sky. The swarm of monsters flew to the north of Daedalus Street, howling as if to draw attention to themselves. It was at odds with their previous actions. Finn couldn't understand their intentions. The pallum was bewildered but quickly narrowed his eyes.

Raul: C-Captain?!

Finn: I know.

Finn didn't even glance at Raul, who'd rushed in, looking at the northwest outer edge where the monsters had touched down.

Finn: This is just like the Dungeon...

He let out a long sigh at the series of extraordinary events. Finn had judged from their previous movements that they wouldn't attack in the north where the residents were evacuating, trusting the instincts of Sora Yatagami, who hadn't been worried about the armed monsters. Because of that, he hadn't deployed any familia members to the outer edge of the district. The defenses were light.

The inconsistent movements of the monsters were so out of place that he felt the presence of a third party in them.

Finn(mind): Can I attribute their mysterious route to that third party? Someone trying to use this situation...This doesn't sit well with me.

Finn understood that it had come to this, that Loki Familia had to send out a squad, too. At that, his eyes dropped to his right hand. It was slight, but there was an ache in his thumb.

Finn(mind): My thumb is throbbing. Is there something there?...Or is something going to happen?

As he licked his thumb, Finn remembered the words of his patron goddess.

Finn: See through it with my own two eyes, eh...? Sheesh.

He grumbled, sighing once before he made his decision.

Raul: Huh? What is it, Captain?

Finn: Raul, I'm taking a squad and heading over there.

Raul: What?! You're going yourself?! Wh-who will give orders here?!

Riveria will be back eventually, he indicated as he left it in Raul's hands, intending to clear his name. In response, a pitiful wail rose up, which Finn ignored, moving out quickly. He gave the lower-tier members and even the first-tier adventurers a standby order as he headed to the northwest with a unit.

(Elsewhere)

Barca:...It's no good, Thanatos. We lost one of the varg plants.

In the base inside Knossos, the labyrinth master's room, Barca spoke flatly, standing before the pedestal to observe the inside of the maze.

Thanatos: Argh...Was it Nine Hell's team?

Barca: Yes. They found the plant on the twelfth floor, following the path of the swarm of monsters that was drawn to its magic...

Barca looked down at a screen of water that reflected the image of the high elf's side portrait as she moved. As the remnants rushed around, struggling to move heaven and earth, Thanatos looked up at the ceiling, taking in Barca's report.

Thanatos: Not just Braver...but Nine Hell is after us, too...I guess I really shouldn't have let Valletta die this easily.

Even though he was the God of Death, he still regretted allowing a single soul to return to heaven.

That said, the god couldn't wipe the smile from his face, even though he'd been duped. It was as if he was enjoying the mystery of the unknown, continuing to move pieces on the board, amusing himself with the lost battle with no thoughts of surrendering.

Barca: There's another...no, two more groups of invaders besides Loki Familia. Well, they aren't people...

On the surface of the water, an image of a monstrous shadow flashed across the screen instead of Riveria's group. Barca's visible eye, which was inscribed with a D, narrowed.

Thanatos: Ahhh, one of Ikelos's toys, huh...? Our hands are full enough with Loki Familia. To tell you the truth, I wish I could let them be, but both sides have keys. Can we bring them down?

Barca: We won't be able to get the small group...the one with the vouivre. They came in through the abandoned door connecting straight to the seventeenth floor. Did they break through the collapsed hidden passage...?

Barca postulated as Thanatos sketched out the battle situation in his head from his position atop the steps. The Evilus had lost one of their plants, leaving them with half their battle power—well, half might be overselling it, but it was a painful blow. It wouldn't be fun to get their asses handed to them and let Loki Familia go.

They'd ascertained that the current location of Riveria's group was on the tenth floor. Even if they pressed in force, the monsters weren't enough to stop them. The actual members of the Evils' Remnants were split between fighting Loki Familia on the first floor and tracking down Riveria's squad. The latter group was still moving through the ninth floor.

Thanatos: PoH and Revis?

Barca: Healing her wounds. Which seems like...it'll take a while.

Upon hearing the status of his last dependable bodyguard, Thanatos drummed his fingers against his temple.

They had enough firepower to crush Riveria's group—though it wasn't as if he could send out the demi-spirit. And if the situation repeated itself, PoH and Revis would get killed this time.

Thanatos(mind): But, like, based on Nine Hell's movements, I'm guessing they've found the connecting path to the twelfth floor...

Even if Thanatos got his forces together with the intention of wiping them out, Riveria could easily retreat from Knossos. It was possible. Very possible. The only reason they were still rampaging around the labyrinth was because they had a means of escape. Thanatos wanted time to ready his forces and to create a situation that wouldn't allow the enemy to run away even if they tried. A lure to keep the fairies in place.

Thanatos: ...Barca, where are the other invaders?

Barca: The tenth floor. Far away from our troops.

Thanatos pondered in silence for a moment.

Thanatos: Open all the doors to the routes that I'm about to specify.

Barca:...What?

Thanatos: Manipulate the doors around the loitering vargs to prevent them from getting in the way of the intruders.

He wouldn't stop them. Instead, he instructed that they be drawn deeper into the labyrinth. The enemy had a key to freely move inside the maze themselves. If he was unlucky, they might stumble across an important facility or a spirit room. Barca swung around, doubting his ears, as Thanatos's eyes narrowed
coldly.

Thanatos: Let them collide.

(Elsewhere)

Lido: Are we really doing the right thing, Fels?!

The black-robed mage Fels paused upon hearing that voice. They were inside Knossos. With their deal with Hermes, Fels made use of this escape path, breaking into the Evilus' hideout with their team. This area was connected to the Dungeon.

Lido: This is a good option if we're thinking about Sora-chi and his gang! But abandoning Gros and the others? It...feels wrong for us to return without them, right?!

Fels: You're wrong, Lido. I believe in him.

They had somehow managed to make it through Loki Familia's counterattack. They had been in the process of trudging toward the Dungeon when one voice rose in opposition. The mage clenched their jet-black gloves, robe trembling, despite being one who wouldn't lose their composure even before the old god Ouranos.

Fels: To think that foolish Hero would overcome a deity's divine will—

Fels ran, filled with trust for a certain swordsman. As the mage moved forward, the others pushed on to continue along the path, too. They rushed down the stairs. Fels was looking for a path back to the Dungeon. To let those behind them escape, the mage continued deeper and deeper underground, farther from the traces of the battle above.

With the key, Fels opened the orichalcum doors. One of their party used high-frequency echolocation to accurately pinpoint the best route in the winding maze that they could steadily and confidently proceed through without getting lost.

Fels: If you make it into Knossos, it's your victory, he said...but it won't be that simple in a hideout for the Evilus—now will it?

When a swarm of monsters appeared before them in the winding passage, the black gloves of the mage released a shock wave that blew away the swarms of vargs and detonated parts of the larger violas' bodies. This team's counterattack cleaned up the enemy in no time at all.

Fels(mind): But we've only encountered monsters—not the actual members of the Evils...Is something happening in here? Sora Yatagami said that reinforcement for our side was sent. But when and where...? I shouldn't have destroyed the Oculus.

Fels suspected something abnormal was occurring in Knossos, since the remnants of the Evilus weren't resisting with as much force as expected.

The mage guessed correctly. In an unknown location, Loki Familia had robbed the Evils of all their leeway to deal with intruders, especially when they were also dealing with Anakity's group in the hidden passage underneath the Labyrinth District near the open door. They were all out of forces to split off to deal with the newest intruders.

Fels: If it's like this...

'We can make it's, Fels was about to say. Bam. A deep sound echoed through the passage.

Fels:...?

Followed by: bam. Bam. A series of the same noise. Fels quickly realized it was the sound of doors opening—but they hadn't done anything to unlock them, and the mage couldn't fathom the reason behind this sudden change.

Fels(mind): Are the Evilus operating the doors...? Is it to lure in the monsters? No, but...this open route is...

Following the echolocation despite Fels's misgivings, they arrived at the stairway to the next floor.

Rei: Fels! I can faintly smell Mother—the Dungeon! It's connected down here!

Fels:...

Fels fell silent amid their excited shouts. There was a connecting path to the Dungeon on the floor below. If they got there, they could escape Knossos.

Fels(mind): But this timing...Is this a trap? Are the Evilus intentionally leading us to the next floor?

Lido: Hey, Fels? What are you doing? Those bizarrely colored monsters will come after us!

Fels:...No, it's nothing. Let's go!

Either way, Fels's group had no information about the structure of Knossos, which meant there was no real choice to make. If there was a path before them, they could run through it as fast as possible to avoid the enemy's traps, and that was it. They couldn't let this opportunity slip away.

Fels: Full speed ahead! We can get out soon!

Fels and the others accelerated down the stairs. Their decision was correct. The mage guessed they could crush any enemy in hiding with their battle strength. Fels was confident they could deal with any man-made Dungeon gimmicks using insight and magic items. All of it was correct.

But if there was a flaw in their calculations, it would be the fact that they'd crossed into the twelfth floor; that the enemy was leading them not to a trap but to another group; that they would encounter the vicious fairies rampaging through the labyrinth.

Fels: —

The first person to notice their presence was Fels.

Lido: This is...

Rei: The thing that emerges when adventurers...use magic...?

They stopped moving inside the jade crest spread across the ground. Only Fels guessed the true nature of the crest extending out from the door thrown open by the Evilus.

It was part of a magic circle, spreading across an extremely large range. This ability materialized with an enormous magic power polished through a combination of once-in-a-lifetime talent and extreme effort.

Someone on the same floor had cast a net of magic power. The magic circle crawled across the ground and arrived at them, moving past their feet.

Fels(mind): It can't be...searching—

The jade brilliance shone up from their feet, a magic response almost screaming that it had locked onto its target.

Fels(mind):—Have we been caught?!

In other words, they were already in range of the onslaught.

Fels: Get out of the circle!

Warned the mage with too much talent.

Riveria:—My name is Alf.

The mage heard an incantation that they shouldn't have been able to hear.

Riveria: Rea Laevateinn!

A multitude of giant pillars of flame surged out of the ground in front of them, out of the magic circle.

Xenos: Uuuu—oooooooooooooooooooo—?!

They screamed and leaped backward as bursts of infernal fire exploded before their eyes. Just as they were about to be burned by the blazing pillars rising from their feet, they managed to scramble out of the magic circle, avoiding being turned to ashes. With a tremendous wave of heat and sparks, the labyrinth was scorched in an instant.

Lido: Fels?!

Fels:...This is a special robe made to protect against magic and curses, but... that really nailed me good.

Fels admitted in tattered clothing, standing at the head of the group and last to escape. Smoke rose as the mage looked down at the charred black robe, letting out a groan that resembled a wry laugh behind the hood ensconced in darkness. Supported by one of the team members, Fels had managed to stand up. Thud.

Riveria: To think we'd run into you in a place like this.

The sound of boots rang out from the smoke in the passage, which parted to reveal long jade locks of hair. It was Riveria, holding her long staff and leading her group of elves.

Fels: Loki Familia...!

Fels groaned at the unlikely encounter. Riveria had been in Knossos on the twelfth floor, using Rea Laevateinn to distinguish between humans and monsters. In the words of her accomplice who started this whole ordeal Sora Yatagami, she had been using radar—expanding the magic circle to search the floor.

Riveria had been looking for enemy forces. But when she encountered a response that wasn't Revis, the remnants of the Evilus, or their accomplices, the vividly colored monsters, she'd decided to unleash a preemptive attack.

Fels couldn't have predicted an attack spell triggered through walls.

Riveria: Those armed monsters...managed to slip through Finn's attacks and made it all the way here, huh?

Riveria's eyes narrowed sharply at the scene before her. Those cowering behind Fels were a group of armed beasts, eleven of them in total.

With teamwork and divine plans, the monsters had gotten past the city's strongest faction and managed to make it into Knossos—against all odds. This reaffirmed to Riveria that the monsters were a threat. It didn't matter how they managed it—their existence posed a danger. Faced with a prearranged encounter, Riveria immediately moved to eliminate the force standing before her.

Fels:—Riveria Ljos Alf—no, Loki Familia, I would like to negotiate with you.

Fels was a step ahead of the high elf preparing to cut them down, opening their mouth and stealing the initiative before Riveria could move. The mage understood they were in the wicked hunting grounds of Knossos and wanted to avoid turning it into a battlefield. To make it out alive, Fels opted for a negotiating table.

Riveria:...You're the mage leading the monsters. You're Lord Ouranos's messenger, right?

Riveria asked as she gazed grimly at the mage.

Fels: That's correct. I'm here obeying the divine will of the creator god of Orario.

Fels readily confirmed upon deciding that it wouldn't serve any good to hide the truth.

The mage knew it would be better to persuade her, to draw out every card possible, to use anything with the potential to help them in their cause. But when the younger elves, plus Rakuta, heard about the divine will of the founding god, it shook them up.

Riveria mentally chided herself. Her subordinates' will to fight was dampening, and they'd lost much of their determination. The proud elves would hesitate to attack the mage now, much less the monsters. She discerned from this short exchange that the mage was extremely wise and extraordinarily dangerous.

Riveria: You let them rampage aboveground. And now that you're in a predicament, you're suggesting we negotiate? How convenient. Did you think we'd accept this nonsense?

Fels: When we were aboveground, everyone was directing their malicious intent toward monsters. Even if we'd tried to force contact with you, it wouldn't have been possible for us to engage in a levelheaded conversation. It has nothing to do with logic and everything to do with emotion.

Riveria:...

Fels: And in the one-in-a-million chance that a third party happened to observe our negotiation, Loki Familia would have had no choice but to exterminate the monsters. We would never have been able to propose negotiations under those conditions, but then this opportunity fell into our laps by chance...Do you understand where we're coming from?

Riveria(mind): I see. They have a point. And they are familiar with the war of words.

Riveria could recognize the mage's wisdom was coming from an age even greater than her own, as a high elf who boasted a life span longer even than normal elves. The mage before her eyes was wiser than she was. It would be impossible to try to win the argument.

Fels:...As someone who's argumentative, I'm sure my words are insufficient. I'd like you to hear it in their own voices.

Fels suggested, stepping aside to allow a single lizardman to move forward. Riveria couldn't tell the expressions on the ugly faces of monsters apart from one another. But she could see the strain in its orpiment eyes that harbored the light of reason.

Lido:...We just wanted to help Wiene...to help our vouivre comrade. That's all.

The monster said. The faces of Alicia and the others paled.

Alicia: Did it just speak?!

Sonia: A monster...?!

Cynthia: How...repulsive...!

The elves moaned. Each reacted in her own way, but they were all as one would expect: recoiling in disgust, or swaying, or gazing in agitation with eyes filled with fury. The elves had a reputation for being fastidious for a reason, but the reality of a monster speaking was shocking. They were all extraordinarily bewildered. All save Riveria, who'd already heard Finn's speculations.

Rei: We came out aboveground because we wanted to get back our comrade. Not because we wanted to attack people and not because we wanted to kill them!

They were taken aback, unable to respond immediately to its sincere and earnest pleas. Without giving them any time to recover, the black robes quivered again in encouragement, and a single beautiful siren walked out— displaying golden feathers, golden wings, and beauty in no way inferior to an elf. It closely resembled a person.

Rei: Above all...we want to talk with you. We don't want to trade blows but words...

She spoke awkwardly. The elves' uncertainty increased at her words. Even without looking back, Riveria could tell that the elves were disturbed.

Riveria(mind): The mage is good at this. And crafty.

Riveria acknowledged their skill from an objective perspective. Fels was sending out the monsters that most resembled people at the perfect time. The elves' confusion had already reached a fever pitch.

Alicia: What are the monsters...?!

Sonia: But, Alicia, if they're telling the truth...

Morel: If we can't respond to discussion...that would make us more barbaric than they are.

Cynthia: Thinking back on the times when we fought them aboveground, it seemed like self-defense on their part...

Alicia: Gh...!

Wavering. The elves' determination was wavering. This was what Finn had been afraid of. If they acknowledged that they could reach a mutual understanding with the monsters, the adventurers would begin to doubt their blades. They would no longer be able to strike down monsters.

Fels: Self-aware monsters...We call them Xenos.

Fels explained, looking at the confusion growing in the elves, Alicia, and Rakuta.

Fels: They're our only hope.

Alicia: 'Hope'...?

Fels: Yes—my patron god, Ouranos, wishes for people and monsters to live together peacefully.

Without missing a beat, Fels dropped another bomb. A shock ran through Alicia and the other elves unlike any other.

Alcia: Wh—?!

Rakuta: Are you crazy?!

Fels: Our history has been fruitless. Always hating each other. Always killing each other...We want to bring an end to all that. The Xenos are our last hope.

Riveria(mind): Don't listen. Ignore it.

Riveria could have given that order as the girls shouted back at the mage, their faces changing color. But she couldn't go against her own feelings. If she didn't know the desires of the mage and monsters or their aim, if she didn't know everything, she couldn't come to an answer. If she just cut them down without question, that itself might make her a barbarian. After all, she was a trueborn elf.

Fels: The existence of Xenos has the potential to be a bridge connecting monsters and humans. Instead of brandishing fangs and claws, they want to use thought and words to get to know us people, to live together with us... That's what they have been looking for.

Elves:—?!

Fels: They raised a prayer in the Dungeon, and the almighty Ouranos acknowledged it. The Xenos are an Irregular that even the Dungeon couldn't have foreseen. A new possibility that the mortal realm gave birth to after all this time.

Alicia and the others gaped as Fels spoke of the monsters, including the lizardman. The power of Ouranos's name was extraordinary. After all, his achievements had him praised as the ultimate god, even in Orario. It was enough for the elves to start to think about hypotheticals and the underlying truth. Their outlook was shaking. Their grasp on common knowledge was collapsing.

Standing in the space between shock and hatred, the elven girls were pushed to the verge of mental shutdown. Above all, their greatest source of confusion was that they didn't feel fierce hatred when faced with these monsters as they did when standing off against the normal ones. Fels's case was all the more persuasive because these monsters didn't evoke those feelings.

If they'd felt hatred, they wouldn't be struggling, choosing to cut them down. Riveria herself would've been the same.

Fels: It doesn't have to be immediate. But to bridge the gap between the world above and below, to put an end to this chain of loss...we would like you to understand them.

The mage held out one hand.

Please overlook them just this once, he was pleading. The eyes of the monsters behind the mage were boring into them. Their wish. Their yearning.

Xenos: We want to get to know you.

The lizardman, the siren, the lamia, the unicorn, the troll, and many other monsters gazed at them without a roar. It was an impossible scene between people and monsters. It was heretical. The monsters before their eyes. That was Ouranos's secret: the Xenos, different from people and from monsters.

Riveria:...

Riveria closed her eyes as scenes flashed across the backs of her eyelids: setting off from her home forest, encountering the goddess and prum in the worst way possible, joined by the dwarf she found absolutely incompatible, journeying together until today.

The image of her obstinate, audacious, tactless pallum friend. And a glimpse into his worries and resolve as he sat on the bed and clenched his fist the other day—

Riveria:...

Finally, Riveria opened her eyes.

Fels: Loki Familia, if you could somehow take this—

Interrupting the mage's words, she rejected him.

Riveria: Are ya stupid?

Everyone froze as Riveria spat out a refusal.

Riveria:—is probably what our patron goddess would say.

Riveria shocked the other elves, glaring back at Fels in their quivering black robe, ignoring the resignation written on the Xenos's faces as if they had lost count of how often they'd encountered something similar.

Riveria: Can you prove it? Is there anything substantiating your claims? Do you have any plans? Any explanation that could convince people who've lost their families to monsters? Any way of showing their sincerity?

As Fels spoke of ideals, Riveria parried back with reality. Arching her brow, slightly raising her chin, Riveria narrowed her eyes coldheartedly.

Riveria: Right now, I don't want to hear your ideals or delusions; it's a purely realistic discussion. Don't appeal to our emotions with underhanded tears. Use logic.

Fels:...

Riveria didn't let up on her rebuttal tinged with denunciation, silencing the mage.

Riveria: Unless and until you can do that, I can't accept your argument.

Alicia:...Cap...tain?

Alicia murmured in shock at the sight of Riveria elaborating cogently. She couldn't believe her eyes. The beloved and revered queen of her race was overlapping with the figure of a certain pallum. Based on her speech and that unwavering determination, Riveria bore a strong resemblance to Braver. No, it was exactly like him. A mirror image.

Riveria: Mage, let's test your resolve. Forget all this hypothetical talk about 'someday' and show me a resolve convincing enough to move me at this time, right now...Do you actually have that in those black robes of yours?

Riveria was Finn Deimne without a doubt. Out of respect for his determination, she channeled him, speaking on behalf of her friend who wasn't there. She knocked away the monsters' hands, word for word in the way of the revered Braver.

Riveria: If there isn't, then...

Riveria ruthlessly declared:

Riveria: your story is a pipe dream more meaningless than the fantasies of a child longing to be a hero.

She put an end to their negotiations, slicing them down and spitting out her words almost venomously to prevent the morale of her team members from deteriorating further. At the unwavering pronouncement of the high elf, Alicia and the others swallowed hard and then cast aside their doubt.

Fels:...Riveria Ljos Alf. Or rather, Finn Deimne.

Both stood at the head of their respective groups. Fels looked closely, crestfallen, at Riveria, their black robes shaking.

Fels: You're both wise. And you have the necessary elements of a hero...And a faith that doesn't balk even when confronted with sacrifices that must be made.

Upon seeing the character of a hero in the high elf standing in the Xenos's way, Fels responded in frustration.

Fels: I can't help thinking...what would have happened if you'd been our ally.

Riveroa: A meaningless hypothetical. Even if we were to talk with you, our position would not change.

Fels: I suppose so. Then...to survive, we've no choice but to resist.

Fels reluctantly assumed a ready stance, jet-black glove shining. The faces of the Xenos behind Fels showed anguish, as if detesting the idea of people fighting against one another. Loki Familia and the Xenos were about to clash.

Evilus: Get them—!

Loki Familia and Xenos: !!

The followers of the God of Death rushed in at top speed.

Alicia: The remnants of the Evilus!

Rakuta: Now of all times?!

Alicia and Rakuta screamed as a large force of the remnants rushed them from the open doors and the ones that'd been closed. Riveria's brow furrowed deeply.

Riveria: It would take time to gather this many of them...I'm guessing they were stalling from the start, huh?!

Before Riveria could regret it more, Fels groaned.

Fels: This must be why they led us together...! To push both our forces to fight!

This had been Thanatos's aim all along, the two leaders realized.

With a firm grasp on the battle that had unfolded on Daedalus Street, the God of Death predicted that if Loki Familia and the Xenos encountered each other, a fight would inevitably break out. At the very least, they would both stop, which gave Thanatos time to pin Loki Familia down in Knossos and make them unable to retreat. With that in mind, he'd gathered his own forces on the twelfth floor.

He was looking to profit from their conflict by turning it into a three-way battle. That was the situation Thanatos had wanted.

Sonia: I can't tell how many enemies there are!

Cynthia: W-we're being surrounded! There are monsters in the passages to the right, left, and behind us!

Riveria:...Gh!

Riveria tightened her grip on her staff as the elves cried out.

She was confronted with the fact that she hadn't been able to maintain her composure when faced with the extreme Irregular, the Xenos. Her guard had slipped in Knossos once and only once, and that had brought her to this predicament. The vision of a smiling God of Death, someone she'd never met, passed through the back of her mind.

As she shelved the regret filling her breast, Riveria howled.

Riveria: Break through one part of their formation! Ensure our path out!

Fels: Lido, Rei! Intercept them! Loki Familia and the Evilus, too!

Fels shouted again as the monsters reluctantly readied their weapons. The Evils' forces surged into the passage with Loki Familia and the Xenos.

Evilus: Kill! Kill theeeeeeeeem! Kill Loki Familia and the monsters, too! For Lord Thanatos and for our wish! Kill all of them!

Xenos: OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

They let out a fiendish battle cry as their enthusiasm went off the rails all of a sudden. As the adventurers, monsters, and Thanatos's followers mixed together, they commenced the three-sided struggle.