Chapter 76 - HERETICS Part 2

Seeing her face for the first time, they were shocked at just how warm and friendly

she seemed. Neither Bell nor Welf could string words together to respond.

Just like Wiene's, her beauty was breathtaking. Her long, dull golden hair was light

blue at the tips. Not unlike the half-human/half-bird harpy's, both of her elongated

forearms formed beautiful golden wings. Similarly colored feathers covered most of

her lower body, the exception being the birdlike talons on her feet.

As she wore a battle cloth that Amazons would have approved of over her pronounced

bust, her un-feathered stomach was completely exposed.

The siren standing in front of them was a far cry from the ferocious beasts they had

heard of that froze adventurers in their tracks with earsplitting screams.

"Yeah, it's just as you said, Rei! These guys are different!"

The lizardman addressed the golden-feathered siren, Rei, as it giddily approached the

group, its thick tail swaying back and forth.

The two monsters walked right up to Bell as the other party members watched in

various states of shock. Lilly was perfectly still, slack-jawed. Mikoto was confused

beyond words, and Haruhime tried to figure out what to do.

"Sorry about that. You were too fast for me to hold back."

"Umm… huh? I… um..."

It took Bell several moments to understand that the lizardman was talking about the

battle that had just ended.

And for good reason. The monster that nearly killed him moments ago was suddenly

more interested in having a conversation than cutting him to shreds.

"First off, let me apologize. We've been testing you from the start."

"Test… ing…?"

"Yeah. We had to know if adventurers had truly taken in one of our comrades or not.

Would they abandon her at the first sign of danger? Use her as a decoy to make their

escape…?"

Those words surprised not only Bell but the entire party. Wiene was no different.

"We'll explain the details later, but… I'm sorry for scaring you like that and inflicting

so much pain."

"...!"

"Thank you for protecting our comrade all this time."

The lizardman no longer felt like an enemy. In fact, it apparently had never intended

to kill them in the first place.

Its lowered reptilian head and sincere voice all but confirmed it.

Next, the lizardman shifted its gaze to Wiene and opened its mouth to speak. However,

the startled girl dashed for the safety of Haruhime's shadow.

The lizardman chuckled to itself, not reproaching her in the slightest. Giving up on the

endeavor for now, it turned back to Bell.

Urhh…

Bell was in serious agony, with open cuts all over his body and a throbbing pain in his

chest where the creature's foot had connected that showed no signs of dulling. But the

ache couldn't be farther from his mind.

Sharp claws and fangs; skin covered in scales. These were not familiar traits for a

person. And yet the lizardman was interacting with Bell, a human, without making

him fear for his life as any other monster would.

A lizard warrior equipped with adventurers' gear.

A talking monster.

The same as Wiene.

"I'm Lido; as you can see, I'm a lizardman. Nice to meet you, Bell Cranell."

"H-h-how do you know my…?"

"Ahh, I heard it from Fels."

—Well, they were the same to a point. Wiene had a mostly humanoid form, making

her appearance easier to accept.

That was the main difference between the lizardman looking down at him from just

above eye level and the vouivre girl. He bore a perfect resemblance to others of his

species. If a wolf walked up to a lamb and tried to start a conversation, the peaceful

grazer would probably have the same reaction.

Bell's mind was moving too fast to pay any attention to the word that sounded like a

name. On the verge of passing out, he managed to come back into the moment.

"Hey, mind if I call you 'Bellucchi'?" Lido asked.

"Uh, um, sure… G-go ahead."

The lizardman narrowed its reptilian eyes, focused on Bell.

Smiling… perhaps? It wasn't the hungry stare that hunters wore in front of their prey.

Many thoughts ran through Bell's mind as he looked into the lizard's squinting eyes,

but it was difficult to make sense of any of them.

"Bellucchi."

"Y-yes?"

"Let's shake hands."

Huh?

Bell came back into the moment as its right hand appeared in front of him.

It was covered in red scales and protected by a metallic glove, its fingers ending in

sharp claws.

Pupils shrinking to nothing but red dots, Bell stared at the hand hovering in front of

him.

He knew what following through on the gesture would mean, and it made him feel

faint.

"M-Master Bell…" "Sir Bell…" "Bell…" "Mr. Bell!"

His allies couldn't bear the tension and called out to him, but they didn't move from

where they stood.

Haruhime was pale as a ghost, Mikoto dizzy and on the verge of becoming physically

ill, Welf unable to hide his anxiety, and Lilly struggling with her growing alarm.

All of them knew that what they were seeing defied logic. They called out to their

leader, voices like hands desperately reaching out to stop a fall.

"..."

Sweat poured from Bell's skin. It wouldn't stop flowing.

A handshake. A sign of friendship. A bridge between man and monster.

Unprecedented. "Unknown.

Bell couldn't help but feel that he was making a mistake somehow. It seemed like the

instinct to refuse that right hand and turn away was overwhelmingly correct. His

completely nonfunctioning mind thought so.

He wanted nothing more than to run away from a decision that would turn all common

sense on its head.

However, the lizardman was patient.

He waited for Bell to either make a move or reject the offer.

He was afraid.

Bell was terrified.

Of those fangs, those claws, all those scales. Of the reptilian gaze, of the creature's

terrifying visage.

Every fiber of his being wanted to put as much space as possible between himself and

the lizardman looking down at him.

Logic screamed in his ears that it would be easier to listen to reason and flee.

But.

Bell glanced over his shoulder.

"Ah… eh, uh..."

He saw the vouivre girl's bewildered eyes.

He thought back to when they first met, remembering how he felt during that fateful

encounter.

"…"

Finally…

Bell smiled.

A bit clumsily.

—If this is a mistake, I'd rather make it for the right reason.

"A-hem." He cleared his throat.

And worked up his courage.

"...…P-pleased to meet you."

Bell stiffly stretched his lips and took hold of the extended hand.

Haruhime and Mikoto watched with bated breath. Welf flashed a grin and let his

shoulders relax. Lilly looked up at the ceiling and let out a long sigh.

Bell shook hands with a monster.

"—Pleasure's all mine!"

The lizardman—no, Lido—bared more of his fangs in a broad grin and gave Bell's

hand a firm shake.

One heartbeat later—"WOOOOOOO!!"

The adventurers nearly leaped out of their skins as a burst of sound roared through

the room.

The monsters that had been just as anxiously watching Lido and Bell as the

adventurers—they were celebrating.

The red-cap goblin applauded. Harpies on the ground skipped excitedly. The formoire

pumped its fists into the air, albeit slowly. al-miraj hopped around in circles. The

cheers continued.

Friendship between man and monster—this day would go down in history, and all

were elated to be a part of it.

"Hey, over there, hit the lights!"

Lido's booming voice cut through the celebration to issue orders.

Hellhounds and other agile monsters brought the magic-stone lamps out from hiding

places in the rock landscape and flipped them on using claws or fangs.

"Monsters… using magic-stone lamps…"

Mikoto was dumbfounded at the sight of monsters operating the man-made devices.

Harpies had already taken to the air and started pulling back pieces of thick cloth to

reveal the quartz crystals hidden underneath.

Every detail of the limestone cavern-like room came to light in a matter of moments.

"—A g-green dragon?!"

"One of those was in here the whole time…?"

Far away from the entrance where the party stood, a dragon more than ten meders

long lay at the base of a quartz pillar. Its body covered in scars, the wizened beast

observed the adventurers with quiet eyes that seemed to contain the wisdom of

countless years. Lilly and Welf recoiled at the presence that had been watching them

from the shadows.

"Please, let me greet the surface dwellers!" "Uuuu…" "Me too!"

Some who could speak, others who could not, as well as those who had difficulty with

pronouncing words—every sort of monster gathered in front of Bell.

"I have heard stories about you. It is an honor to make your acquaintance, Signor Bell."

"S-Signor?"

"To be able to shake your hand, I am very happy!"

"Th-thanks."

"I'm Laura. Good to meet you."

"N-nice to meet you, too…"

"..."

"Eep!"

The red-cap goblin who called him "Signor" was the first in line as monsters

approached Bell one at a time to shake his hand. His face had gone entirely stiff, and

at times he would quietly shriek—such as when a silent large-category monster, a

formiore, held out its massive hand toward him.

"I apologize for the late introduction. I am Rei, a siren."

"I'm… B-Bell Cranell."

"Yes, I am aware… Bell, thank you for saving my comrade."

The siren from before came to exchange greetings with the young boy as well. She

offered her wing, the tip extended out like a finger. Bell clasped it.

Feeling the soft feathers in his hand and noticing Rei's ravishing smile, he blushed

bright red.

"They're all happy, too. They're glad to meet a person who doesn't reject us."

The lizardman warrior, smiling from ear to ear, watched the monsters approach Bell

one after another, sometimes shaking his hand again and again.

Bell looked around after hearing Lido's comment.

The gentlemanly red-cap goblin, the harpies bursting with emotion, the lamia that

spoke in halting sentences, the silent war shadow… It didn't matter if they could speak

or not, or even if they were humanoid or monsterlike, Bell could see consciousness in

every one of the monsters who came to shake his hand. Some had tiny palms, others

were large and covered in fur, but every one of them was warm.

As an indescribable feeling swelled within Bell, the monsters chanced glances over in

the direction of Lilly and the other adventurers.

However, Welf and the others uncomfortably avoided the incoming gazes.

"…Uuuu."

As for Wiene…

She watched the cluster of monsters surrounding Bell like a child whose treasure was

about to be stolen from her.

"Kuuu…"

"A-al-miraj…"

She watched as a new, smaller monster briskly stepped up to Bell. It wore a loose blue

battle jacket and had a broken pocket watch hanging around its neck like a pendant.

The white rabbit looked up at the boy with cute round red eyes. Bell bent over, the

same awkward smile on his face as he held out his hand.

"Kuuu!" The al-miraj wiggled its long ears and leaped at him.

"H-hey, wait, that tickles…! Wh-why are you licking me?"

"Aruru… She cannot speak, but it seems she's taken a liking to you."

"When you say 'she'—it's a girl?!"

The al-miraj had already jumped onto his chest and was happily licking his cheek

when Rei offered an explanation. Bell almost screamed hysterically. Lilly and the other

adventurers weren't sure what to say as they watched the indescribable scene of two

"rabbits" frolicking together—and that was when the dragon girl finally exploded.

Rushing out from her hiding spot behind Haruhime, she ran straight for Bell.

"N-no! You can't have Bell, no!!"

"Kuu?!" The al-miraj yelped as the vouivre girl physically pulled her away and latched

on to Bell's arm.

The monster came bouncing back, hopping adorably to protest. But Wiene let out an

"Uuuu!" and wouldn't retreat even one step, which was when she noticed—

—that she was surrounded by monsters, and they were all looking at her.

The creatures that were as fantastical in appearance as she, the ones she'd been too

afraid to face, were now right in front of her.

The siren Rei stepped forward, and Wiene tightened her grip on Bell as she

approached.

"Would you please share your name with me?"

"…Wiene."

"Wiene… It's a very good name."

Rei smiled at the quiet voice.

Wiene blushed, squirming as though she were being tickled after the compliment on

the name Bell and the others had given her.

A few moments passed before a winged hand was extended to her.

The vouivre girl hesitated, fearfully reached out with her own hand several times, then

quietly settling into a grip.

The golden-winged siren smiled with her blue eyes.

"A pleasure to meet you, our new comrade. No one here will hurt you. We welcome

you."

Just as the boy and his familia had done, she had been accepted as a "comrade."

Wiene's amber eyes opened wide.

Touched by the kindness and acceptance, she quietly wept.

After the soft wingtip reached out and dried her tears, the smallest of smiles bloomed

on the girl's face.

The surrounding monsters howled to the ceiling, as though giving their blessings.

"…Um, please tell me."

Around the time the echoes started to die down…

Still not fully grasping the situation around him, Bell spoke while still hugging Wiene.

"All of you, and Wiene—what are you?"

It was what they'd been trying to find out ever since the day they met the fantastical

girl. Bell and the party wanted to know the answer to that question more than

anything else.

Every monster turned to face the adventurers.

As the representative of the group, the golden-winged siren answered.

"We are Xenos."

"—Xenos?"

Hestia whispered under the light of the crackling torches.

Ouranos, still seated on his throne, nodded in response.

"That's how we refer to them… Monsters endowed with intelligence."

In the Chamber of Prayers beneath Guild Headquarters, the elderly deity, who knew

everything about the situation, informed Hestia as to Wiene's true identity.

Xenos… A word that gods and goddesses used to describe heretics.

They were anomalies expunged from the established system.

"You're saying that Wiene is also one of these Xenos, or whatever you call it?"

"Indeed. All of them share one thing in common: an intellect that far exceeds what is

normal for monsters… They possess the capability to understand—but more

important, they all have hearts that are in no way inferior to our children in terms of

will and emotions."

"...!"

"Abnormal monsters that aren't dominated by the urge to murder and destroy…"

Hestia almost forgot to breathe as she listened to Ouranos bring these facts to light.

His voice continued to resound in the Chamber of Prayers, adding that the humanshaped monsters looked almost no different from the people who inhabited the

mortal realm.

"As for when the Xenos first appeared, it is not known. However, those of us who have

observed them with our own eyes and come in contact with them have ever since

offered them support under the pretext of 'protection.'"

"Support…? The Guild is supporting monsters?!"

What the hell are you thinking?! Hestia was about to embark on a rant when something

occurred to her.

She and her followers had done exactly the same thing for the vouivre girl. They had

harbored and continued protecting her.

It was just as Ouranos said. That pure, innocent girl had a heart of her own, no different

from Bell or any of her other children.

The elderly god did not budge as he watched Hestia's mouth snap shut. Then he

continued.

"This mission's purpose was to return a Xenos who had reached the surface back to

her allies in the Dungeon. That Xenos is none other than the vouivre girl you and your

children have been protecting, Hestia."

"…I won't bother asking how long you've known. Just tell me where Bell and my

children are going right now…"

"They should be headed to where the Xenos reside—their Hidden Village."

The mission had been to take Wiene home.

The unrest spreading throughout the city after the other night's commotion must have

been the impetus for creating the mission.

Hestia let that idea sink in. At the same time, a new question arose. The goddess

couldn't stay silent.

"Ouranos, why did you bother asking us to carry it out at all? Couldn't you have

kidnapped Wiene and brought her back by force? Why let us learn about these 'Xenos'

at all?"

"There are several reasons, including that Bell Cranell and your children have already

become aware of monsters that could communicate using language. However, the

most important one is…"

Ouranos paused for a moment before he told Hestia.

"I decided it was possible your familia, no matter how minuscule the chance… could

become our hope."

"Hope?"

"Yes," said Ouranos with a nod.

"To bridge the gap between people and monsters and lead to the path of coexistence."

"This is a dream, right…?"

"Would you like Lilly to pinch your cheek to check…?"

Welf and Lilly spoke as though they were in a trance.

Bell heard their mutters, unable to hide the cold sweat running down his own cheeks.

"Food! Drinks! Bring out everything we have! Today, we need to celebrate our new

comrade and the first people we've ever had as guests!"

The monsters erupted with excitement as soon as they heard the lizardman Lido's

booming voice—the room shook from all the noise.

A wide array of food, including fruits, nuts, and herbs found in the Dungeon, was

circulating. Barrels of alcohol carved with marks that read RIVIRA were rolled out.

People and monster alike satin a large circle encompassing several bright magic-stone

lamps.

The whole scene was reminiscent of the night spent with Loki Familia around a

campfire. It was truly a banquet.

"Bellucchi, eat all you like; don't be shy! Try this!"

"Wh-what is it…?"

"You humans call it 'mruit.' Supposed to be a real delicacy on the surface!"

Lido, seated on Bell's right, held out what looked to be a red fruit in the palm of his

hand. Very slowly, Bell picked it up and took a cautious bite. It felt like he was biting

through a thick slab of soft meat, but his taste buds disagreed as a mellow, fruity flavor

washed over his tongue. The texture was unlike any beef, pork, or chicken and he could

describe it only as the finest steak of some sort, eliciting his surprised reaction. "It's

so good…"

Honey-cloud fruits and more were placed in front of Lilly, Welf, and the other

adventurers as well. Smaller monsters like the red-cap goblin and al-miraj were in

charge of distributing giant mushrooms grilled by hellhound flames atop wide leaves

in lieu of plates.

"Um, sorry for hitting you so hard back there…"

"Don't even sweat it. Everything'll grow back soon enough. And I didn't exactly hold

back, either."

Bell gingerly brought up Lido's left cheek—specifically the painful-looking wound his

fist had made. He apologized guiltily, but the lizardman warrior merely brushed off

worn-out scales with his arm.

"Nothing to lose sleep over," said Lido, his sulfurous yellow eyes forming crescents.

Most likely, he was smiling.

Bell was getting to the point that he could recognize their facial expressions, even if

they didn't look like people. It had been a real struggle at first, but the young boy felt

as though he was getting the hang of it.

Lido's low voice and ferocious appearance made him seem much more intimidating

than many of his comrades, but he was surprisingly personable. It was thanks to his

constant laughter that Bell was able to stay somewhat calm despite their company.

He felt proud of himself for adapting so quickly—then again, he might've also just

become numb.

Those thoughts made him want to laugh in spite of himself.

"Now that I think about it, you guys drink liquor…?"

"Yeah. At first I thought, What the hell is this? but then I got a taste for it, and now it's

become a habit! People really make the most interesting things!"

Lido was drinking from what was most likely a bottle that had been discarded

somewhere in the Dungeon. His breath smelled of alcohol as he slapped Bell on the

back several times. Around them, a stunningly beautiful lamia was as red in the face

as the lizardman, and several other monsters were not far behind, either.

"Never been less drunk in my life…"

At the same time, Welf and the other adventurers weren't as social.

A troll passed by, giving out wooden tankards filled with the cheap brew. Welf had

hoped liquid courage would save him, but to no avail. Lilly sat next to him, sinking

further into silence.

Mikoto and Haruhime sat on their heels, incredibly tense, as a group of harpies

gathered around them with eyes gleaming in curiosity. They seemed most interested

in Haruhime's scent, sniffing the air around her as the renart seemed on the verge of

passing out.

"And then Bell came back to save me."

"Did he? That makes me jealous. Bell is certainly stra—Ahem, very kind."

"Yep!"

Wiene sat on Bell's left. Receiving warm welcomes from all the monsters, despite her

bewilderment, she would every so often flash an unworried smile. At the moment, she

was speaking with the siren Rei, recounting the events up to the current day.

While it was a little bit embarrassing for Bell to hear his name mentioned a few times,

the entire party was overwhelmed by the monsters' hospitality.

"So then this alcohol and equipment… Is all of it from adventurers…?"

Their hosts continued rolling out more food and drinks. Bell watched in awe, glancing

at the armor covering Lido's body before cautiously asking.

The Guild had posted notices on the bulletin board about monsters seizing

adventurers' equipment. Bell was pretty sure he was looking at the culprits right now.

"Weeell, yes and no. The alcohol was a gift, but these blades once belonged to an

adventurer who suddenly attacked me."

Lido let his gaze fall on the scimitar and longsword lying by his feet as he set his bottle

down on the floor.

"But he dropped them and ran away as soon as I started fighting back… Thought I

might as well try them out. Adventurers take monster claws and fangs home after

slaying them, right?"

"Th-that… Yes, it's true."

"People seem to want them back even after they're dead, so we try to return what we

can… But adventurers get angry at us for carrying their weapons. It's hard to know

what to do."

Lido spoke with a nostalgic air, as if remembering a specific incident in the Dungeon.

Bell couldn't respond.

"I gotta tell you, liquor is amazing, but crafted weapons are really something else! They

cut better than those flowers over there and are a whole lot harder. There's no way we

could make those!"

Words excitedly pouring out of his mouth, Lido spoke with tremendous respect for

people and their creations.

Many other monsters wore some type of battle cloth, Lido included, even if they didn't

have armor. A few of them wore normal clothing, like the scarf that the red-cap goblin

had wrapped around his neck.

Perhaps they were trying to imitate people… copying what they saw.

Bell felt that each of them had grown fond of the handiwork of surface dwellers for

one reason or another.

"—Lido, stop this nonsense at once."

The speaker hurling venomous words toward them weaved through the banquet's

commotion.

"They're people. They aren't worthy of trust!"

"Are you still on about that, Gros? You saw how Bellucchi and his friends protected

Wiene with everything they had. We only had to go through all that because you

insisted on testing them. Ain't that right?"

Standing apart from the monsters who had joined Lido in welcoming the party, there

were others who had separated themselves from the group.

A gargoyle, an arachne, and a griffin, among others, were seated atop a nearby cliff. All

of them were glaring at Bell. Its body composed of ash-colored rock, the gargoyle

called Gros implored Lido to see reason. Instead, the lizardman turned back to Bell

and waved off Gros's words. "Don't mind him," he said reassuringly.

"Sorry, they… All of us have been through a lot. The news that people would be coming

here had everyone on edge."

"Th-that's, um… It's okay."

"From what we've seen of you on your way here and in battle, we know that all of you

are different from normal adventurers. That includes them."

"Wait a second, on our way here…? You were the ones watching us in the Dungeon…?"

"Oh, you noticed? That's right, our comrades kept an eye on you until your arrival."

Lido went on to say that, in addition to testing them, Xenos members had trailed the

adventurers to make sure that they could rescue Wiene in a worst-case scenario.

That explained why Bell felt they were being watched in the Dungeon.

"Were you guys only watching us in the Dungeon? Was anyone on the surface…?"

"Nope, Lett and his team started observing you upstairs, on the nineteenth floor."

Lido scratched his scaly chin, clearly stating that he didn't know of anyone going any

higher than that.

Bell's mind began turning again once he realized that those first watchers were

someone else.

"…Hey, was that true, what you said a second ago? Are you in league with the Guild?"

Slam!

A wooden jug was set on the floor with more force than necessary.

Welf had been following their conversation and couldn't hold back any longer.

Surprised that Welf had spoken up on his own, Lido blinked a few times before

flashing his fangs in a grin.

"Yeah, all true. They've pulled a lot of strings to keep us hidden, as well as provide us

with food and equipment… They've done more than enough for us."

"…Lilly cannot take you at your word that the Guild would dirty its hands to keep this

secret. The risk of discovery is too great, and the benefit… What benefit could there

be?"

"We are not simply parasites that rely on the Guild's charity. We accept their requests

to investigate situations or strange incidents while suppressing uprisings in the

shadows… Our relationship is 'give and take,' as they say on the surface."

Lilly made her skepticism known while Rei stepped in to support Lido's explanation.

The Guild asked the Xenos to respond to Irregulars before adventurers were alerted

to the danger or when the situation was too difficult for adventurers to handle by

themselves.

"We got similar goals, that's all." Lido casually dismissed the notion.

"But I'd say that we're more connected with a god named Ouranos than with the Guild

itself. Most Guild employees have no idea we're down here."

"L-Lord Ouranos…"

Orario's founding deity. Several of the adventurers gasped at the name.

The Guild claimed to lack any form of military power, yet here sat their—no, Ouranos's

private army. Suddenly, Lilly and the others realized where Lido and the rest of the

Xenos stood in the hierarchy.

"So then, it's just as you said. This mission…"

"That it is, Bellucchi. Lord Ouranos contacted us, and we agreed to test the people who

lent a helping hand to one of our comrades."

The mission hadn't been issued by the upper levels of Guild management but from

Ouranos himself, its true head.

They'd been dancing in the palm of his hand—being appraised. Bell and his party

knew the whole truth now.

"However, hearing about you got our hopes up a bit."

Just as Bell was about to ask for clarification—

A booming voice came from the other side of their makeshift magic-stone campfire.

"REI! SING!"

"OOOOOOOOOOO!!"

A couple of drunken monsters started demanding a song, and more howled in

approval.

The siren, still seated close to Bell, sighed and looked up at Lido. He nodded, eyes

twinkling with expectation.

Rei grinned and stood.

"I suppose I must. I shall sing and add some color to this banquet."

Taking a few steps forward, whoosh! One flap of her wings and Rei landed on top of

the tallest magic-stone lamp with the grace of a feather.

She turned on her heel to face Wiene, Bell, and the others, wearing a delicate smile.

"A new comrade and guests from the surface are here. Let's make this one special."

With that, Rei closed her eyes and drew a breath.

Silence hung in the air for a fleeting moment before a beautiful voice replaced it.

"Wow…!"

"This song…"

Hearing the high-pitched notes, Wiene suddenly smiled with joy, while Bell and the

others reacted with surprise.

It was the gentle soprano that had guided them through this Frontier.

The siren brought one of her golden wings to her chest, singing happily and enjoying

her solo with a smile on her face. There were no instruments or lyrics. The pure

melody alone was enough to ensnare the hearts of her listeners.

A single siren, weaving a song with her eyes closed, ringed by people and monsters

sitting side by side.

The scene, illuminated by quartz and magic-stone lamps, was so elegant and beautiful

that it seemed to come from another world.

This hardly seemed to be the same dark labyrinth filled with monsters deep

underground—but then again, perhaps it was one of those moments when the

Dungeon would allow its audience a glimpse at sacred mysteries and illusions.

The song reverberated deep into the maze.

Bell and the others had never heard a song so captivating, so beautiful, and the passage

of time left their minds.

"Let's dance, surface dwellers! May I have this one?"

"Eh? Wha… wai—Please don't, I'm not a dancerrrrrr!"

"M-Mikotooo!"

A young harpy girl dragged Mikoto out, leaving a wailing Haruhime to chase after

them. In the ring's center, two shadows danced together. A curious and energetic

monster girl twirled hand in hand with Mikoto, or perhaps it was more accurate to say

she swung her partner about. A human hand and a winged hand were clasped tightly

together.

The singing siren chuckled to herself for a moment before changing the tune.

Her beautiful ballad became an upbeat, toe-tapping rhythm similar to a waltz.

Completely drunken Xenos rushed to join Mikoto. They called out to one another,

pairing off. The red-cap goblin and a lamia joined hands, hellhounds ran stride for

stride with al-miraj, and the formoires joined the trolls, using their gigantic fists to

pound the floor like drums. Other monsters came up to Wiene and whispered in her

ear to join. "Okay!" she replied cheerfully, heading toward Haruhime. Meanwhile, the

gargoyle and his group watched the tumult from their distant seats, unamused.

The song, cheers, and laughter wouldn't stop.

Wiene pulled along a flustered Haruhime all the way to where Mikoto and her partner

were, before starting their own dance.

The long shadows of people and monsters stretched across the floor, mingling

together.

"…Things never get this crazy."

Lido's eyes were filled with delight as he muttered. And his lips were definitely turned

up in a smile.

Bell, Lilly, and Welf were convinced they were dreaming and still at a loss for words.

But before they realized it, all of them were laughing.

The siren's soothing song and the echoes of joyful howls serenaded them.

"Lido, what did you mean earlier when you said we got your hopes up a bit…?"

"Hmm? Ahh…"

Bell watched Wiene and the girls for a time before turning back to Lido.

The reptilian warrior didn't look away from his dancing comrades as he responded.

"You gave us hope—that maybe things can change…"

"People and monsters coexisting…?!"

Hestia wasn't sure how many jolts of surprise shot through her body after what

Ouranos had just said.

The elderly deity's face was as stoic as ever. He did not turn away from her stunned

expression.

"Do you understand what you're saying, Ouranos…?!"

"Of course."

People and monsters living together in peace was impossible.

Hestia had already reached that conclusion, and yet Ouranos responded with a deep

nod. He knew what that meant.

Those born in the Dungeon were the greatest enemy of surface-dwelling races. People

killed monsters and monsters killed people. With such overwhelming fear and

ingrained hatred on both sides, they would like nothing more than to avoid each other.

They could not be together.

The various races residing in the mortal world were fated to kill and be killed by

monsters.

That was their destiny ever since monsters first emerged from the "Great Hole" back

during the Ancient Times.

They were doomed to fight for all eternity.

Then Ouranos arrived with the divine will to turn that undeniable truth on its head…

Hestia frowned, unable to overlook such a desire from the Guild's master, of all people.

"However, the Xenos do not attack people instinctually but instead wish to engage

with them in dialogue."

"!!"

"Rather than with fangs or claws, they wish to use words and logic to make their voices

heard. They want to walk on the surface. They want to know our children… to learn

more about people."

Wiene's face appeared in the back of Hestia's mind.

"Self-aware Xenos are constantly under threat even from normal monsters. They live

in alienation and exile. They have no place to belong on the surface or in the Dungeon."

"…"

"With no one to hear them, their easiest choice as monsters was to resign themselves

to oblivion. However, they possess determination as well as the means to express their

thoughts and wishes. Just like our children," he said. "Then I discovered them."

Ouranos lowered his eyes ever so slightly.

"As the one who offers prayers to the Dungeon… No longer could I withstand their

lamenting as they perished."

Someone sure is diligent—Hestia tried to force herself to poke fun at Ouranos but she

couldn't manage to get the words out.

Because she had met Wiene.

Could she really bring herself to abandon the vouivre girl now?

Could she become a treacherous and deceitful goddess for her familia's sake?

Hestia's thoughts swirled, trapping her in a whirlpool of choices and decisions. After

a few minutes of heavy silence, she lifted her face and started asking Ouranos another

question.

"Are you serious about bringing harmony to the children and monsters?"

"The will of the divine has been set. However, it is an impossible demand. The truth is

that it is beyond my control."

Ouranos had no qualms about confessing everything in response to Hestia's question.

"If our goal is harmony between our children and monsters, then we must question

the reason of their existence in detail."

—Prove that monsters themselves were important.

From birth, they were constantly stigmatized because of their physical features that

diverged from what was considered normal.

Threatening physiques, claws and fangs that were symbols of bloodshed, deathheralding flames, and voices tinged with savagery.

In order to break free of their reputation as icons of slaughter and violence—as well

as for the sake of establishing peace—there was no choice but to demonstrate their

role in this world to the children of the mortal realm. In order to realize their dream

of basking in the surface's sunlight, it was imperative to overcome people's hatred and

fear by proving their significance.

One option was the cruel subjugation method known as taming. Although it would

allow them to be recognized by the masses, it required living with a collar of thorns.

What's more, that path would never lead to true peace.

"…So basically, in your quest to prove the meaning of their existence, you thought

there's a possibility Bell and my other children could become a bridge between the

two sides?"

"That is correct."

Hestia let her head hang limply atthe revelation. The elderly deity was so unbelievably

open about these secret plans it was almost refreshing.

She understood Ouranos's reasoning. After getting to know Wiene, she also wanted to

help the Xenos find happiness.

However, this path put Bell and their familia in a very precarious position.

Ouranos mentioned alienation and exile. If the fact that Hestia Familia had assisted

these "monsters" became public knowledge, not only would their standing in Orario

be at risk but their place in the entire world. Just like the Xenos.

Perhaps it was impossible, but Hestia preferred to not have their fate hanging in the

balance.

Even if that means running away, the goddess thought to herself.

"Is what you just said the Guild's opinion on the matter as well?"

"Currently, it is mine alone."

That made sense.

Declaring peace with monsters would shake the world to its core.

Even Ouranos, the one heralded as the founding deity of Orario, could not help but

lose political power as cracks formed in his base.

"The highest levels of Guild management, including Royman and his closest advisers,

have been kept in the dark on this matter."

His employees had been ordered only to deliver the mission to Hestia Familia. Most

likely, Royman believed that Bell's rapid growth had caught Ouranos's attention and

the deity intended to test the boy's strength with the mission.

Ouranos explained this to Hestia.

"So the only ones who know are…"

"Among deities other than myself, Hermes, because he accepts my requests… and

Ganesha."

"G-Ganesha?!"

Hestia was completely taken aback at the unexpected name.

"You must be kidding," she said, wide-eyed.

But then, her shoulders jolted.

"Don't tell me the Monsterphilia is…?"

"Correct. It was conceived five years ago in order to soften people's hatred for

monsters, no matter how slight, and has continued ever since."

The Monsterphilia: an event that turned taming monsters into a spectacle.

The festival had been proposed and organized by the Guild. It hadn't been the

brainchild of deities who craved entertainment. It was still relatively new, and Hestia

had heard that the Guild didn't offer much explanation about it during Denatus.

Now she was able to connect the dots.

Ouranos had been the driving force behind the event. Putting on a show despite the

dangers of bringing monsters out of the Dungeon was all his idea.

He wanted to soften the public's opinion of monsters by showing the majestic tamers

interacting with them, making the beasts less alien, providing a foundation for future

change.

It was all to lay the first stepping-stones that would lead to a day when the Xenos could

revel in the sun's rays.

It wasn't just "Monster Festival" but "Monsterphilia."

But that merely served as the first stage, and its impact was rather limited.

"I informed Ganesha in order to gain his support."

While the Guild oversaw the event, it was Ganesha Familia that provided tamers for

the show.

Ouranos would never have gained Ganesha's confidence by being manipulative. So the

elderly deity had no choice but to reveal his divine will.

Never thought it'd be Ganesha…

Out of everything she had heard, that had been the most surprising. Hestia wiped the

sweat off her neck with visions of the friendly god wearing an odd elephant mask

popping up in her head.

She promised herself right then and there to take some time to get to know him better.

"Is that everyone working with you?"

"No," Ouranos responded plainly to Hestia's question.

The god looked down at his feet as if he were gazing deep into the Dungeon far

beneath.

"Fels is also with us."

"Well… this certainly exceeded my expectations."

A serious voice devoid of any shock or mockery reached the banquet, still as lively as

ever with singing and dancing.

Bell and everyone else who heard the remarkably monotone voice turned toward the

entrance of the room to see where it came from.

"Fels, you made it!"

What they saw seemed like a living shadow, wearing a long black robe and black gloves

adorned with intricate patterns. Bell and the adventurers were quick to react to this

mysterious individual, instantly ready for a fight, but Lido opened his arms and gave

the newcomer a friendly wave.

Fels. A name that both Lido and Rei had mentioned quite a few times.

The adventurers still watched the hooded figure for a bit as he approached. However,

Fels seemed more interested in watching Wiene and the other dancers.

"You're here earlier than I thought you'd be."

"I came as fast as I could. But please, Lido, I could do with a quick explanation. To tell

the truth, I'm quite startled."

Fels asked the lizardman warrior climbing to his feet to recount what had happened.

The adventurers followed suit, standing as Lido brought the stranger up to speed."Ohho?" A light chuckle emerged from the hood. "You all may be more important than we

thought."

Fels looked down toward Bell and the others, offering words that were difficult to

discern as praise or ridicule.

The black-robed figure stood just a little shorter than Welf. Examining each member

of the trio in turn, the shadow come to life continued speaking.

"First, allow me to introduce myself. I am Fels. I act as a liaison between Ouranos and

the Xenos—a messenger, if you will. I also take on odd jobs as necessary."

"O-odd jobs?"

"Yes, that's right… Perhaps you would understand if I were to say that I was the one

keeping tabs on you and the vouivre girl?"

"!"

Bell, Lilly, and Welf were stunned.

Something resembling a laugh spilled from the darkness of Fels's hood as a gloved

hand rose into the air.

"Bell Cranell, Lilliluka Erde, Welf Crozzo… as well as Mikoto Yamato and Haruhime

Sanjouno. I've been observing your activities over the past week."

Those were the only words they needed to hear to put the pieces together.

The person in front of them was the Guild's "eyes" who had taken the liberty of

thoroughly investigating them without their knowledge.

"Are you… Are you a monster, like them?"

Lilly knew that something was odd about this person; something felt off. Fending off

her confusion, she pressed for answers.

"Nah, Fels is a person," Lido replied, and Fels's black hood fluttered up and down again.

"Formerly a person may be a better choice of words."

Huh? Bell nearly whispered under his breath.

"I'll show you."

Two black gloves took hold of the hood and pulled it back.

"—"

For Bell, Lilly, and Welf, time came to a screeching halt.

The eyes that were supposed to be there didn't exist—just two pitch-black cavities,

empty eye sockets.

The skin they expected to see was also missing. Perfectly aligned teeth protruded from

the exposed jawbone.

The face simply didn't exist.

A white skull of death stared back at the adventurers.

"A… a skeleton?!"

"Hold up, hold up, hold up…!"

"A spartoi?!"

Three voices shrieked.

There was no doubt that it was a skeleton's head—no eyes, no nose, no ears, no hair,

just bones. The horrifying personification of death itself was proof enough that this

being was no living person.

Bell was reminded of the skeleton monsters from the deep levels called the spartoi.

But Fels slowly shook his skull side to side to refute the boy's terrified scream.

"Sorry, but I am not a monster. As I said, I am formerly a person."

"F-formerly a person…?"

"What… what the hell happened…?!"

Lilly could only echo Fels's words as Bell struggled to speak, mouth opening and

closing again and again. Meanwhile, Welf clenched his teeth together in a desperate

attempt to remain calm but couldn't hide the fear scrawled across his face. Fear was a

natural reaction to a voice originating from a skull with no skin or throat to speak of.

While the three of them stood dumbfounded, it was Lido who spoke up with an

answer:

"Fels is the Sage. An awesome Magus."

Those words.

It was as though Bell and his companions had been doused by water, all of them going

silent.

That is, until a moment later, when Lilly let out a cry.

"The Sage?! As in THE Sage?! The one who created the Philosopher's Stone in the

Kingdom of Magic—the only one to ever successfully create the elixir of eternal life?

That Sage?!"

"Y-yeah… Probably that Sage, I guess…?"

The lizardman was unfamiliar with what was considered common sense on the

surface, so the prum's red-faced outburst caught him by surprise. Overwhelmed by

this demi-human girl only half his size, Lido took a step back as a stunned Bell

remembered the story Eina had once told him about the Sage.

Just as Lilly said, that legendary person created the Philosopher's Stone, a magic item

that granted the user eternal life.

Mastering the Advanced Ability Enigma, the Sage became the most powerful Magus in

history.

He brought his creation, the Philosopher's Stone, before his god only to watch the deity

smash the stone on the floor…

If that story were true, then the being standing before him was worthy of being named

among the heroes in fairy tales and legends. Bell's eyes opened as wide as they would

go.

"Another correction, if I may. I am what became of the one once called the Sage."

The Magus shocked the adventurers further, explaining with a shade of selfdeprecation.

"As my story will be handed down to future generations… and as it is told even today,

I came to loathe the deity who destroyed my precious stone. I became more driven

than ever before in my pursuit to acquire more knowledge, to unlock the secrets of

immortality… and became what you see now."

The skeleton recounted the traumatic experience with that god while running black

gloves up and down the robe that hid the rest of his body.

"My methods took their toll, causing my skin and flesh to rot off my bones. Now I have

become something more revolting than a monster. I've forgotten the sensation of

hunger and thirst… I am no more than a living ghost."

Fels finished by saying that all his experimentation produced was a "curse."

Learning the other side of the story, one that had been lost in history, the adventurers

gulped as the Sage's fate came to light.

At the same time, they were in awe at how cruel the deusdea could be, completely

ruining the lives of their followers.

"I now go by the name Fels the Fool."

"Fels." A fitting name for someone who had once been known as "Sage," only to have

been reduced to a farce.

Incapable of expressing even the slightest emotion, the skeletal Magus who could no

longer even smile now went by that name.

"…Mind explaining how the Sage ended up in a place like this?"

"It's a long story, to say the least. Suffice it to say that Ouranos took me in despite my

wretched state after I wound up in Orario."

Welf certainly looked uncomfortable, but he posed his question without fear. Fels

responded openly, making the peculiarly indistinct voice friendlier in tone.

"Now I'm privy to a front-row seat in the 'center of the world,' the driving force behind

the changing times."

Pulling the hood back up, Fels spoke as though satisfied with the state of things.

As Bell stood frozen in place, he had thought nothing could surpass the shock of

encountering Lido and the other Xenos. Now his eyes were spinning from a second

knockout blow.

"The Sage, huh… Well, of course I've heard of him. So that kid from earlier has become

your right-hand man, Ouranos?"

"I do not deny it. Outside of my agreement with the Xenos, Fels is the one piece I can

move at will… My private soldier."

Ouranos nodded at Hestia's inquiry.

Several familias, including Ganesha Familia, worked closely with the Guild to create a

public face. Meanwhile, Fels, a Magus—a being who had a firm handle on the

intricacies of Magic—worked in the shadows, conducting dirty jobs and taking on

secret missions.

"I take it Fels played a major role in keeping the Xenos a secret up until today?"

"Indeed. We have already worked together for centuries."

Fels also filled the role of Ouranos's personal bodyguard. Many Guild employees had

witnessed his movements through Guild Headquarters, with rumors of an elusive

"ghost" circulating among their ranks through the generations, each with a common

thread.

"Monsters with the capacity to think and feel… I first encountered Lido and his kind

fifteen, maybe sixteen years ago."

Fels continued to speak even as the siren sang among the happily dancing monsters

in the background.

At that time, members of the familia close to Ouranos captured them. The deity

managed to keep their presence a secret from the rest of Orario by issuing a strict gag

order. That familia fell into ruin and no longer existed.

Fels obeyed Ouranos's divine will and had served as a messenger ever since,

eventually becoming the Xenos's first contact with the world aboveground.

"After talking with Lido and his companions, we decided to dub their group of heretics

'Xenos.' They now live as a community under the same name."

"A community?"

"Yeah. Others like us are born throughout the Dungeon. We make contact with our

comrades to form our own organization."

Bell asked for clarification from Fels, but it was Lido who provided the answer.

"We gather in Hidden Villages like this one and travel between different floors in the

hopes of finding comrades nearby."

As soon as Lido explained that most of their activities took place in the lower levels,

Lilly jumped back into the conversation to ask about something that had been stewing

in her head for some time.

"…This has been bothering Lilly for a while, but… do monsters not spawn in this

room?"

"Oh? You noticed, Lillicchi?"

"L-Lillicchi…?"

As the prum struggled with how to feel about being addressed in such a strange

manner, Lido glanced out over the chamber dotted with dark-green quartz jutting

from the walls and ceiling.

"This place… You might call it a safe point. There are plenty more just like it."

"Eh?!"

"Of course, adventurers haven't found them. That's why we call these places Hidden

Villages."

Lido ignored the astonishment on Bell's, Welf's, and Lilly's faces and carried on with

his explanation.

The Xenos frequented undiscovered Frontiers in the middle levels all the way down

to the deep levels—places adventurers didn't know existed—using them as base

camps in their search of monsters who shared their unique gifts.

They were a community of monsters, a traveling brigade.

"There are about forty Xenos at the moment… The numbers go up and down, but Lido,

Rei, and Gros were members from the start."

"It has been a long time, yes?"

Fels glanced at the siren and gargoyle while the lizardman flashed a toothy grin.

"…That would make you the leader, wouldn't it?"

Welf finally asked what he and Lilly had suspected for a while now.

"Yeah. Gryuu used to hold that title, but his dragon body can't move like it used to. So

I'm leading everyone in his stead now."

"Then the strongest member is…"

"Of course! You're looking at him!!"

Lido proudly puffed out his armored chest.

Bell thought that might be the case after fighting the lizardman one-on-one. Lido was

most likely holding back at the time, but it still summoned flashbacks of Ishtar

Familia's first-tier adventurer, Phryne, during the battle. Therefore, the boy had

suspected that the lizardman's potential strength could very well exceed hers.

"…Well, that's what I'd like to say."

—However, Lido let his reptilian head droop, shoulders slumping right away.

"One of our newest comrades took the title from me in no time flat…"

"O-ohhh…"

Welf wasn't sure what to do with the clearly depressed lizardman. Bell, however, was

stunned.

The question had to be asked.

"Um, so, what's this new member like?"

"He isn't here now. He's a strange one, I tell you. Went off to the deep levels on his own

for training."

"Th-the deep levels… Do… do you think that's okay?"

"Knowing him, I think worrying would be a waste of time."

Lido drily chuckled to himself as if he was exhausted just thinking about it.

"…Mr. Fels."

"What is it, Lilliluka Erde?"

After some time had passed…

Tired of singing and dancing, the revelers were starting to seat themselves on the floor.

Mikoto, Haruhime, and Wiene were among them.

Lilly had been lost in thought when, finally, she looked up at Fels.

"When the siren Rei… Miss Rei spoke with us, she described the Xenos's relationship

with the Guild as 'give and take.'"

"Yes, this is true."

"Lord Ouranos provides support, and in return the Xenos scour the Dungeon for new

members… Is that really everything?"

Her chestnut-tinted gaze bore into the darkness beneath the Magus's hood, but his

only answer was silence.

"Lilly can't help but feel that this relationship is too one-sided. There's something

oddly urgent about these heretics' chosen words and actions…"

A group that used several unknown Hidden Villages and had members capable of

traveling alone in the deep levels possessed considerable power. The brigade of

monsters called Xenos should be able to take care of itself with or without assistance

from Fels and Ouranos.

Lilly acknowledged that the Guild, in charge of the city and Dungeon management,

would want to keep an eye on them to prevent mass panic from spreading through

Orario. However, from what she could tell, the deal was incredibly unfair.

Above all, the Xenos members seemed to yearn for something more.

Lilly spelled it all out.

"If this is simply charity, then Lilly will drop the suggestion now… However."

Averting her eyes and hesitating for a moment, she made her point.

"Are they in this relationship because they want something only Lord Ouranos and Mr.

Fels can provide?"

She'd kept these misgivings to herself ever since arriving at the Hidden Village, voicing

them only now.

Bell and Welf stayed silent, ears perked and waiting.

A look of quiet contemplation grew on Lido's face.

As their conversation reached a standstill, only Wiene's laughter and playful monster

howls could be heard.

"—To walk on the surface."

Just then…

A voice cut through the still air, clear as day.

"Miss Rei…"

"That is our desire."

Rei stepped lightly as she approached the group, winglike arms folded as if she were

hugging her own body.

Bell, Lilly, and Welf gazed at the siren's resolute blue eyes in amazement as her words

sank in.

"…I have dreams."

Lido's soft voice brought them back into the moment.

"Dreams about a ball of red light sinking behind a massive pile of rocks… A sky that

can't be found here, burning red, so red and beautiful it makes me tear up. Getting

redder and redder as time goes by…"

"Wouldn't that be… a sunset?"

The lizardman warrior looked up at the dark shadows that hid the Dungeon ceiling

from view, but his gaze seemed to reach farther, going beyond.

Bell could easily visualize what he was describing.

"You may be right," Lido answered with a nod.

"But is that just a dream…? You've been outside on the surface, haven't you?"

"Not even once. Which means that maybe sometime in a past life I broke out of this

dark hell and spent some time above."

Lido's suggestion made Bell and the others freeze.

"In… a past life…?"

"You couldn't mean…"

Lilly and Welf whispered in astonishment. Then Bell's voice shook as he asked:

"Reincarnation…?"

Lido and Rei didn't respond, staring off into the distance.

"You know, Bellucchi, that Wiene's a real talker."

"Huh…? Oh, y-yeah, she is."

The seemingly abrupt change in topic caught Bell off guard, but he recovered in time

to nod his head affirmatively.

Lido watched the laughing young vouivre girl play with Haruhime and Mikoto as well

as chat with harpies and al-miraj.

"Some of us can use language, but some can't speak a word. There are those who know

how to express themselves while others have no clue. Don't you find that strange?"

Lido amusedly mentioned that was where the individual differences ended, though.

"Here's what's crazy. The really good ones can speak right from the start. Almost like

they're recalling something they already know."

"!"

"Maybe they'd watched people for a long time in the past… Jealous of them, yearning

after them."

—"Lots of people, just like Bell… Protect someone from me."

—"I see those people, and I feel cold."

—"But those people were beautiful."

The vouivre girl's words, whispered under the covers of a very cramped bed only a

few days ago, came to the forefront of Bell's memory.

A surge of disbelief accompanied them.

Wiene and those like her really did—

"—A powerful longing."

Fels's voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Each of the Xenos has their own unique thoughts and feelings. However, they all have

one thing in common: an intense yearning for people or the surface world."

The Xenos remembered in their dreams their jealousy of the people who resided

beneath the sun and the sky and their desire to do the same.

They had seen beautiful things among the violent hostility and murderous intent.

Humans desperate to save one another's lives. A dwarf courageously standing tall

despite the numerous injuries covering him head to toe. An elf on the edge of death

and still carrying herself with pride to the end. Or perhaps ones who showed mercy,

sparing a monster's life. Even something as simple as a beautiful blue sky and the

setting sun.

The Xenos remembered their "past lives" in their various "dreams."

And each possessed an intense desire that gave them a strong reason to keep living.

"I want to live in that world with a beautiful sunset one more time."

"I want to spread my wings in a world filled with light, but in exchange, these arms

can never hold… I want to be held by someone I love."

To be with people in the sunlight. That was their wish. What these men and women

desired.

They were looking for a way to make it happen, with help from Fels and Ouranos.

All to accomplish a goal that would have been so simple if only the Xenos were human.

They were also fully aware how difficult it was, how long a road they would have to

take. Both Xenos stopped speaking, letting their words hang in the air.

Lido and Rei smiled wanly as Bell and the stunned adventurers came to the same

realization.

"We know what we are. Our place is in the shadows—halfway between man and

monster, neither side accepting us… Even so, we want to keep dreaming."

They wanted to follow those dreams and the permission to do so.

Lido cast his gaze at the labyrinth ceiling once again as he spoke.

"Maybe Mother wanted beings stuck in the middle like us to have a place to go when

she made Hidden Villages like this… The thought crosses my mind every now and

then."

"M-Mother…?"

"Mother—you know: Mom. The one who gave us life."

"In other words, the Dungeon."

Rei's words astonished the adventurers again.

"We still do not know how Mother feels about us… Why those who should be our

brothers and sisters attempt to take our lives. Even so, we are allowed to exist. It is

our quandary."

Lido and Rei seemed to be asking the Dungeon despite knowing there would be no

answer.

On top of everything, they still wanted to pursue their dreams.

"So that's why… we couldn't be happier to meet you, Bellucchi, and everybody else."

After looking off into the Dungeon with Rei, Lido returned his gaze to the adventurers.

At about the same time, Wiene and the others stood up and rejoined the rest of the

group.

Bell heard someone happily call his name and glanced over his shoulder to

acknowledge it before turning his attention back to the Xenos.

"We're not asking for help or favors. It's enough to know that there are people who

accept who we are… That alone means the world to us."

Lilly and Welf stood motionless with Bell at their side.

The Magus watched from underneath the shadowy black robe. The siren smiled.

Lastly, the lizardman shyly scratched his nose.

"I'm glad I met all of you."

"—Ouranos, last question."

In the stone chamber illuminated by crackling torches…

Hestia's voice echoed.

"What's happening in the Dungeon?"

"…"

"These 'Xenos'…Do you know why Wiene and others like her were born in the first

place?"

Rogue monsters, subspecies, Irregulars. If these were all it took to explain the

situation, then that was that.

However, she was convinced there was something more to the Xenos due to the simple

fact that not even the deities could explain their existence. Hestia had to know why.

After a long silence descended upon the chamber, Ouranos slowly opened his lips.

"What do you think happens to monsters after death, Hestia?"

"...?"

Hestia frowned at having her question answered with another question.

The elderly god didn't wait for her response and carried on.

"The souls of our children return to the heavens, are judged and sorted by our kind,

and then many are reborn into the world… So what about the souls of monsters? No,

it would be better to phrase it as… If these monsters who are not our children have

souls, where do you think they would go?"

Shudder.

Hestia felt her heart tremble.

"Could it be…?"

"This is only my speculation, but I also have confidence it is correct."

Ouranos was gaining momentum.

"After death, monsters return to the mother from whence they came, the Dungeon…

They're given new form somewhere deep inside the labyrinth and then are born

again."

A cycle of death and rebirth—monster "souls" were in constant circulation inside the

Dungeon.

The motionless, elderly god declared it while his deep-blue eyes narrowed.

"Monsters have… souls…?"

"Yes. They have shown change during their centuries of death and rebirth."

Specifically, they became self-aware and capable of learning.

The "change" started to manifest itself in individual monsters after so much time had

passed that the Ancient Times felt like a distant dream. Strong feelings of attachment

and desire accumulated in each soul as it completed countless revolutions in the cycle.

Hestia's dumbstruck voice tumbled out.

"I can't believe something like that… What could possibly be the cause?"

"The driving force is either the monsters' strong yearning and desire… or—the

Dungeon's will."

Ouranos's words vanished into the shadows enveloping the chamber.

The banquet at the Xenos Hidden Village was coming to an end.

Bell and the others were making preparations to return home. Lido and the rest of the

Xenos were planning to move to another Hidden Village soon after.

Haruhime and Mikoto wore awkward smiles as they shook hands with their dance

partners and said their good-byes to monsters who had become something close to

friends.

The magic-stone lamps were extinguished one by one until only the glow of quartz

illuminated the area.

"..."

Enveloped in their green radiance, Bell watched his allies exchange words with the

Xenos around the dim cavern.

He hadn't had time to think about it before, but the monsters with human

characteristics were all genuinely attractive individuals. Some spoke with ease while

others couldn't say anything at all. It was just as Lido said. Every one of them was

different. Even their body types were incredibly varied. They each had their own

personality, their own way of living.

He had learned that they had aspirations. He had heard they had hope.

And he had also discovered that before they gained these feelings, they were

bloodthirsty beasts incapable of even shedding a tear.

That was just as true for the openhearted Lido as it was for the beautiful Rei.

—Can I point a blade at monsters the way I used to ever again?

The thoughts he'd been keeping locked away started resurfacing in the corners of his

mind.

As Bell stared into the palm of his hand, he could almost hear the whirlpool of anguish

inside him.

"…Bellucchi!"

Lido spotted the boy lost in thought. He waved one hand high above his head and

approached him.

Bell looked up to see the lizardman warrior slowly wagging his thick tail back and

forth as he pulled something out from beneath his breastplate.

"You know what this is?"

"That's a magic stone… isn't it?"

Lido nodded as he pinched the purple stone between his claws.

Suddenly, he brought it to his open mouth and plopped it inside like candy.

"!"

"Do you know what happens when we Xenos… we monsters eat magic stones?"

Crunch! Crunch! Bell wasn't sure how to react as he watched Lido purposely chew

louder than necessary.

At the sight of a lizardman gulping down a magic stone, one of the facts that Eina had

drilled into him rose from his memory.

"Enhanced species…"

It was like how adventurers became stronger by receiving excelia and updating their

Status, but for monsters.

They gained a power boost by consuming another monster's "core"—a principle of

the monsters' world where only the strongest survived. The ones who gorged

themselves on magic stones and became too powerful were identified by the Guild and

subsequently marked for extermination via missions.

Bell couldn't respond as he watched the phenomenon firsthand.

"We kill any monsters that aren't our comrades. Then we pluck out their magic stones

and eat them."

"!!"

"I'm sure you already knew that other monsters attack us on sight. We aren't about to

lie down and let them kill us without a fight. We kill to survive and eat to see

tomorrow."

They had meticulously honed swordsmanship and the potential to match top-class

adventurers… Bell reflected on their earlier battle, the strength and power the

lizardman possessed, and knew at once that Lido was telling the truth.

The Xenos were forced to commit cannibalism every day to stay alive in the Dungeon.

Purely because their lives depended on it.

Blood drained from Bell's face as Lido made his point.

"So please don't waver. Don't hold back for our sake. Those things are scary as hell,

and they'll kill you if you hesitate for even a moment. You'll die, Bellucchi."

"Lido…"

"And even if they can speak, if they attack you, kill them for me."

This den of monsters is already littered with corpses and ash.

While he didn't say it directly, the lizardman warrior truly wanted Bell to prioritize his

life above anything else.

"Don't you ever die. I want to see you again."

The Xenos themselves had killed countless other Dungeon-dwellers and would

continue to do so.

So don't you hold back, either. So we can meet once more.

Bell's eyes trembled at Lido's argument.

"Bellucchi."

"...?"

"Let's shake hands."

Reptilian eyes smiling, Lido stuck out his right hand.

Bell paused for a moment, looking between the lizardman's face and his hand… but

then he managed a grin.

Hearing the same words as when they first spoke, the boy smiled at the row of fangs

right at eye level.

He took the hand offered to him.

Bell felt Lido squeeze back, scaly skin rough on his own.

"…So, why did you arrange for us to meet them, exactly?"

The prum was busy tying an item pouch to her waist when she caught a glimpse of

Bell and Lido's handshake. Then she turned to the Magus standing beside her, looking

up at the concealing hood as she spoke.

Fels didn't meet her stare, but a response emanated from deep within the dark

confines of the robe.

"We wanted you to know them. That's all… at least for now."

At the deep, cryptic answer, her chestnut-colored eyes narrowed.

Her glare said it all: We'd rather not have more trouble to deal with, so please excuse us

and leave us out of it.

The black-hooded figure shrugged good-naturedly.

"I don't think I need to remind you, but please keep what you saw today to yourself."

"Would anyone believe Lilly if she told them?"

Clenched fists trembling in frustration, Lilly stomped away toward the center of the

room where Welf and the others were waiting.

Bell and Lido weren't far behind. The people and monsters gathered at the quartz

pillar before going their separate ways.

"Bell, let's go home."

Wiene immediately broke away from her conversation with other Xenos as soon as

she saw him coming.

Turning around with a smile on her face, she reached out to take his hand.

Bell weakly smiled in return and was about to let her.

However, Lido got in the way.

"Your place is here, Wiene."

"Huh?"

He grabbed hold of her bluish-white arm and dragged her back toward the Xenos

group.

Shocked, Wiene yelped and started struggling.

"Lido! No! Let me go!"

"No. You're staying here in the Dungeon."

"I don't wanna! I want to be with Bell!"

Her thin arms stood no chance of breaking Lido's grip. Tears of desperation began

forming in her amber eyes.

Bell watched, unable to speak as the lizardman knelt down to the girl's height.

"If you're with them, Bellucchi, Lillicchi, everyone will wind up crying."

"!"

"Bad things happened to you on the surface, yes? Only this time, that might happen to

Bellucchi."

All those angry, jeering voices. Cold, hard stones striking her skin and the weapons

maliciously pointed her way.

Wiene's slim shoulders trembled as memories of that night came to mind.

"…We cannot live on the surface yet. But no one will be cruel to you here. You can live

here with us."

The siren's voice reached them. The young girl's dragon wing, the feature that clearly

identified her as a monster, quivered.

A flurry of emotions flooded the vouivre girl's mind as she looked at each of the other

monsters in turn.

"Lady Wiene…"

Bell didn't move.

He heard Haruhime behind him as she did her best not to cry. The moment of

separation came much more abruptly than he'd expected, and surprise was written all

over his face.

No—it was just an act.

The moment he met Lido and the other Xenos and learned there were others like

Wiene who considered her a friend, he had done his best to ignore the possibility.

Immersing himself in the new discoveries and revelations had allowed him to run

away from reality.

The reality that Wiene had a place here.

That saying good-bye would be the obvious conclusion.

"There is a group of hunters that indiscriminately try to capture the Xenos."

"!"

"After all, they're monsters who can communicate with language. The ones with

humanoid features possess enticing beauty. If they're rare enough, anything becomes

exciting for these hunters. After capturing Xenos, they apparently smuggle them out

of the city and sell them to gourmets."

Lilly and the other adventurers were as genuinely shocked as Bell at Fels's

explanation.

The black-robed Magus spat out the words with disgust.

"They put out tidbits of information, calling the Xenos 'monsters wearing armor' and

the like, but they never leave a trail to follow. They must have a base of operations, a

place to hold their captives, but…"

Fels cast his gaze toward Bell from beneath the concealing hood.

Staying with Wiene will only result in disaster. Bell got the hint.

Ikelos's ominous smile appeared in the back of his mind, sealing off his last hope of

escape from the reality. He turned to face the young girl.

"Beeeell…"

As the lizardman and siren gently held her shoulders, tears rolling down her face,

Wiene cried Bell's name as though hanging on to him.

A realization hit Bell as Lilly, Welf, Mikoto, and Haruhime watched with worried eyes.

—I won't let her be alone. I won't let her die.

He could keep the promises he made to himself without being there to protect her

personally.

"Bell! I…!"

A large group of intelligent monsters stood directly behind her.

Behind him was the family he'd gone through so much with up until now.

Bell was surrounded by those precious to him, before and behind.

For this girl's happiness…

And his familia's, everyone's, his goddess's—

"…See you, Bellucchi. We'll head out first."

Lido said his good-byes before turning his back on the adventurers.

Bell couldn't stop him, couldn't even take a step forward.

The monsters began to disappear into a corner of the cavern shrouded in darkness,

Wiene with them. She looked around one last time.

He could see her amber eyes glistening with tears. Bell clenched his hands and

shouted even as his expression was on the verge of breaking.

"This isn't good-bye! We'll see each other again!"

He left her with that reassuring promise, unsure if he could keep it.

Wiene sobbed, mouth opening and closing as if trying to tell him something, but she

couldn't turn her feelings into words.

It wasn't long before every Xenos faded into the darkness.

"..."

With his allies silently watching over him from behind…

Bell only stared at the spot where he last saw the vouivre girl.

Morning fog filled the air.

The puddles dotting the stone pavement suggested rain must have fallen the previous

night. Wide-leaved trees appeared to be shedding tears as water droplets fell from

their branches every so often. Another one splashed on the stone surface and

vanished.

The sun wasn't out yet. Only the smallest traces of light were starting to appear on the

horizon.

Silence hung over the sleeping city.

It was early morning at the base of Babel Tower.

Bell's party returned from their mission a little more than a full day after their

departure.

Fels, who accompanied them to the surface, had already disappeared. The party of five

stepped out from beneath the white tower's entrance.

Hestia waited for her followers outside the gate alone before sunrise.

Noticing that they numbered one fewer than when she saw them off, the goddess's

shoulders sank in sadness as she said, "Welcome back," with a weak smile.

"Goddess…"

"…What is it, Bell?"

The group was completely alone in Central Park. Bell opened his mouth to speak.

"What… is the Dungeon?" he asked, turning to face Hestia.

Welf and his other friends quietly watched as she averted her eyes.

"The Dungeon is… the Dungeon…"

She gave him the same response deities had given the children of the world from the

beginning.

The goddess wouldn't say more than what had already been said.

Bell stood like a statue as her words faded away.

The boy stared at the ground as if the world itself weighed on his shoulders.

Dawn broke on the other side of the city wall, ushering in a blue sky