After packing everything we needed, we went to the entrance that went to the 19th floor. I did make a couple of changes in the plan, like our battle formation and mission that were assigned to our party by Gareth. Most of the mission was gathering important material dropped by the monster.
Sera was indeed back to her old self, but there was some noticeable change in her that she became more clinging toward me, and thanks to that, Alicia started to glare at her with a cold gaze. I can't blame her for being so protective because of my standing, but I can't help but feel sorry for Sera.
"Oberon, are you sure your healing magic could cure the poison?"
There is indeed a monster that could inflict poison on adventurers called 'Dark Fungus.' As it was called, it was a monster that appeared like a walking fungus.
"My healing should be able to handle that possible problem, but of course, just in case I had some antidote, so no have to be worried, Alicia."
"If you said so, but when you told me we could head home on the surface in a matter of two days for a normal person, it was an impossible feat."
"That... I am just calculated using past experience and the knowledge I have; however, it was the best scenario of nothing bad happening."
After half a minute of walking, we arrived at the entrance that headed directly down to the 19th floor. Everyone is stopped, and their gaze is laid on the leader of the party, none other than Oberon. Then I took a step forward and laid my gaze back to each one of my party members who were eager to start their next adventure.
"I am glad everyone looks eager to start, but remember it only takes one mistake to cost our life or our team. So, I am asking you not to let your guard down even with Orstrid's ability of detection. I promise to bring you all back safely to you, goddess. I will do just that, but I need everyone to follow and lend me your strength."
((Roger!))
"Good, now let's head out."
----
When we arrived at the 19th floor, I was served with the breathtaking scenery of a beautiful forest that was completely foreign to my eyes. A lush forest that as far as eyes could see a small river fell out of the ceiling, and the foreign-looking tree that he had never seen existed on the surface.
'It almost feels like my home.'
"I know it was an amazing spectacle, but keep your guard; if you are not, we would likely get lost and ambushed."
"... *Ehem*Alicia was right. Keep your eyes and ears sharp. Sera, Rethusa, as planned, you will be by Alicia's side while I will be in the middle, ready to support everyone. Orstrid keeps close to Argi and Atalanta. There is an enemy who could shoot a projectile, so keep on high alert."
"Of course, you can rely on us."
Rethusa with a fiery aura surrounds her. Orstrid continued with a slight bow to her master and took her position close to Argi and Atalanta.
"Good, I will rely on your experience."
On this floor, the monsters had a humanoid like Bugbear, a monster covered in fur that had great strength and agility thanks to his hand and legs having the same length. Lizardman, just as it said, is a lizard with a humanoid body who can use a weapon for me; none of them could make me feel worried. The same is true with poison-type monsters.
The air is wet, and the forest is surrounded with thin smoke reminding me we are now in the early morning it is almost like the floor itself had the same climate on the surface, but the ground itself consumed by the root and green algae make the ground slippery.
("Orstrid did you find anything?")
("There are plenty of monsters around us master, but they do not yet smell our present.")
("Understand keep your radar sharp.")
"Oberon, were we able to find those materials?"
"I think not on this floor, Sera. According to Gareth-san, it is around the 20th floor below."
In this climate, it is not a surprise that there are plenty of plants that are important for the material to make a healing potion, and with most of Familia too weak to accept the quest gathering material it feels to our hand as the most powerful Familia.
'I should bring some souvenir for Flora.'
"Time to time again, I felt like the monsters we face became stronger; I could feel it."
"You are not wrong, Sera. The further we dive down, the more powerful and dangerous they will become."
"... If I ask you how far the floor you can reach, what answer will you give?"
"That is..."
I thought for a second before giving Sera a clear answer and it seemed everyone was interested to know my answer, however…
"I can say for certain I could explore most of the lower floor that to the knowledge the guild has. Knowing how powerful the monster on the upper and middle floor It make me hesitate to make any fool assumption."
"Fufufu, I think Artemis-sama is right; you are looking down on yourself too much. I was relieved, to be honest. I knew with such a way of thinking of yours you would not do something dangerous, but it was a bit funny you throw all of that away when you see someone you care about was in danger."
"*Chuckle* I can't say you are wrong about that."
After walking further from the entrance, Sera went back to her forward position, knowing we were now entering the monster territory; however, Orstrid still saw the monster had not yet laid its nose on us.
While we are walking, I start to notice that Alicia seems close to both Rethusa and Sera; according to her, they meet the day she arrives in Orario as their escort. While Sera and Alicia had their conversation, Rethusa then slowed her step and walked on my side.
"Hey, Oberon, did something happen that night?"
"Who are we talking about?"
"Don't play dump! I am talking about Sera, of course. She just became more cheerful, not like yesterday. When you are not with us, she looks so depressed because of that out of nowhere she starts asking Orstrid to help her with a sparring match."
I then laid my gaze toward Sera, but she did the same; our eyes met, and I could see that she started blushing and averted her gaze.
"To be honest, I don't know what happens exactly. What I did was only explain to her about my conversation with goddess Artemis."
When I mention her goddess's name, Rethusa starts to look more serious.
"Hmm, is that so? I am too curious about what kind of conversation takes more than an hour between you two. You are possibly the first man ever to be able to spend time together with the goddess Artemis 'Alone'."
Oberon wants to ask Rethusa about Artemis's past and her history, especially her romantic story, but Oberon is aware it is not wise to start to reveal his conversation with goddess Artemis knowing he is not able to predict Rethusa's reaction.
"Mostly she scolded me most of the time. She was kind to listen and understand my struggle that I am trying to hide… To be honest I was surprised how sharp her eyes and senses were."
Without realizing I started smiling and recalled my memory with the goddess and seems Rethusa noticed something changed about me after that night.
"Haa, I lost my interest."
As dive deeper into the forest Orstrid starts to detect the monster distance between us starts to get closer contacting them unavoidable.
"Be alert everyone, we are now entering the monster territory; it could be Bugbear or Lizardman."
Alicia warned it seemed coincidentally had the same time when Orstrid detected a monster heading our way. Compared to the time we went with goddess Artemis; it seems the monsters are crazier and tried to kill us than before.
("Oberon-sama, there is a monster hiding in those trees. There are four of them, and it was big.")
"Alicia."
Then I pointed toward the direction Orstrid gave; she nodded, knowing that the cue of a monster was heading our way. Everyone starts to take their position, waiting for the coming of the monster. Atalanta ears twitch and point toward the stopping noise and falling tree.
"They are big and more than one."
((Thud!!))
Seeing an open space, they will most likely pass I start to put my palm to the ground.
"I will start laying the trap. Be ready."
((Roger!))
((Growl!))
As our eyes met with each other, we could see a group of monsters with humanoid bodies that were covered with brown fur and sharp claws plus teeth, and it had the head of a bear.
'A battle bear. They are much bigger than I thought—far more than a Minotaur.'
Seeing where Oberon's step and the monsters are not ground instead a tree root a 'Quagmire' will not work to stop their advance.
"Step back three of you. I will stunt them when I do start your attack."
I tried to concentrate my flow into my right palm and recall the sensation.
{Lightening}
A powerful lightning zaps all the monsters they start roaring in pain and I can smell burning meat in the air.
"Void Step."
Sera and Rethusa, as the main close combat darted forward with terrifying speed, cut her distance from the monsters while Alicia started enchanting her magic from the word she chanted; it was her main offensive magic she would use called 'Hail Dust,' the same magic she used to kill the Evilus.
"The spirit of wind gathered and answered my call, Hail Dust!"
A blue light that gathered on the top of her head moved with the same speed as a bullet as they were touching the monster; they were all frozen in place paralyzing the remaining monster that still stood. Atalanta and Argi, who already pulled her bowstring as strong as they possibly stretched, could be mustered.
((Clunk!))
(Stab!)
(Stab!)
Both landed on the monster's forehead, piercing through the ice and making one spot where both Sera and Rethusa, who had already jumped, stabbed their weapon through the exposed forehead of the monster, killing two instantly and leaving two remaining frozen bears.
Just as we finished defeating all the other two remaining angry bear tried to ambush us from our back. Orstrid who already warmed her master started to create two earth projectiles that flew with the speed of sound and pierce each of their head ending the fight instantly.
"*phew* it was so easy it's kind of terrifying."
"I agree with you, Rethusa, but don't let your guard down, as Oberon said."
We started gathering the dropped material, but all the monsters only dropped a magic crystal however it still a had high value in the market.
"Your plan worked perfectly, Oberon."
Alicia prises Oberon.
"It all thanks to everyone who keeps their calm."
"I would love to learn that magic of yours if possible."
"Sure, when you have time. You can attend my class with Riveria-san and Cynthia, but I warn you to have to be ready to feel the pain of being struck by it for able to master it."
"Considering how useful it was it was a small price to pay, however, do you think you know… can master one of your magic?"
"It was not an impossible magic to learn, Alicia. Time and patience are all you need to have to learn my magic."
"I- I see, thank you."
Cannot hide her embarrassment Alicia went toward Sera and Rethusa.
"That amazing shoot, Oberon-sama."
Argi, with excitement, exclaims how fast my earth bullet was compared to her arrow. I replied with a smile and patted her head gently.
"Thank you, Argi. I could say the same with both of you."
Argi, as a level one adventurer, had proven to me her worth in this team. Even though I know her arrow flew slower compared to Atalanta's, she made up those weaknesses with great accuracy.
"I hope you obtain amazing skills when you level up. Is there something in your mind about the skill you want, Argi?"
"I want to be fast and strong as Oberon-sama!"
Argi now and before is completely different it seems Artemis's decision was correct to bring her with us.
"Good to know. Argi when we are back on the surface trust me when I say you are much stronger than before I could feel it. Make sure goddess Artemis is proud of you, okay?"
"Um!"
Everyone sees how Oberon interacts with Argi, who instantly changes the heavy atmosphere completely with his laughter and Argi.
"Alicia, is Oberon always that good at dealing with children?"
"I think he was know-how dealing with one. In my Familia, there is a child named Ais who lost both her parents; she was such a handful that even under Riveria-sama's hand it was hard to control her behavior, but when Oberon came somehow, she started to become less of a troublemaker."
"Artemis-sama did tell me that to be able to get close to someone's heart, you must understand their pain. I think that the main reason Ais and Argi both lost their parents."
"But Rethusa Oberon's parent is still alive, and as far as I knew, he did not experience such a thing."
Sera tried to shrug off Rethusa's remark because Oberon never mentioned losing anyone, as far as she knew.
"If that is the case, I don't know how he looks so compassionate compared to others who pretend they care... He was too perfect of a man; no wonder Artemis-sama put her trust in him."
Everyone seems to agree with Rethusa's remark about Oberon as a man and person, but Orstrid understands her master well. Sera notices the changing expression of the white elves, who look sad.
"Orstrid, is something wrong?"
"Nothing Sera. let's continue I finished gathering the material."
"S-sure."
----
"*sigh*… Haaa!"
(Slash!)
((Growl!))
((Poof!))
Sera, with a slash of the throat, ends our fight with a group of Lizardman. The monster of the 19th floor was not an easy fight that was to their strength with some slight coordination, but Oberon knew all of that was just their instinct at work. I could see the fight already taking a turn for them. Everyone's stamina and movement start to get slower.
"We should be close to the entrance of the 20th floor."
"*phew* I finally could take a breath. Those Lizardman are almost moving like a human."
"They had no actual intelligence, Sera. Like a pack of wolves, they hunt and follow their instincts. I think Rethusa and others are well understood about that."
When I laid my eyes on Rethusa, she looked so concerned and started surveying her surroundings with a sharp gaze.
"Hey Oberon, can you feel it? Someone is watching us."
"I understand…"
("Orstrid, use my mana and expand your detection.")
("As your command, Master.")
After minutes of silence, Orstrid was not able to detect something gazing toward us, but after a minute they escaped Orstrid's radar.
'This one is not an amateur spy. I was surprised Rethusa was the first one to detect that. Is that one of her passive skills?'
"Orstrid will expand her radar, and at the same time, Atalanta, I need your help with your senses' capability."
Atalanta replied with a firm nod.
"So, we will wait for them to approach us?"
Rethusa with the displeased voice in her tone.
"It is the best choice. We don't know if I was an enemy or just some random adventurer spying on us."
Knowing how effective Orstrid's skill was, who saved them many times, everyone agreed with Oberon's decision.
"We should keep our phase if you all want to be back home in two days."
'Orstrid does not sense any blood lust whatsoever. Does it mean they only observe us? I at least knew they were not stupid, knowing they didn't want to get closer.'
As we arrived at the front of the entrance that headed down on the 20th floor, I took a chance to take a couple of samples of crystal for the sage of pressing on Flora's research to create or at least mimic the artificial sunlight.
"How deep this dungeon was. We are already more than kilometers deep underground!"
'I don't know if Sera felt excited or afraid because of how far we are from the surface currently.'
"Are you scared, Sera?"
Rethusa with a teasing smile.
"Of course not! I just wonder how deep this dungeon was."
At the same time, she said that Sera started to steal a glance toward the gold-haired high elf, where his red just stared into an abyss, knowing his mind was occupied on something like he always does whenever we are at a safe route.
"How deep the dungeon was is still unknown because no one has reached the bottom yet, at least as far as we know."
Alicia replied.
"How about Zeus Familia?" I did hear that they reached the bottom."
Rethusa and others are already heard. Zeus and Hera Familia were known to be legendary adventurers who were considered the most powerful Familia because they managed to take down two monsters that were considered disaster-level.
"We only had information until the 61st floor; after that floor, we don't know what monsters are lurking."
"Is that true that One Eyed-Black Dragon is in this dungeon?"
Instead of answering the question instantly, Alicia was silent. I know she was hesitant to answer Sera's questions, knowing her story of how she lost everything to that monster.
"Sera, it was not a hundred percent possible that monster was waiting for us on the bottom. I learned this not long ago when I asked one guild staff named Rose if it confirmed the Zeus and Hera Familia were indeed being wiped out by OEBD. They made that assumption and spread it because it was the only possible answer."
"I see…. Thank you, Oberon. I know you have been working hard to unearth any information about that monster."
Sera gazed warmly. The atmosphere turns into an awkward Alicia seeing the interaction seems displeased with our interaction.
"*ahem! * Please pay attention to the road. You don't want to stumble, trust me."
"I-I am sorry."
It took us half an hour to arrive at the next floor, and sometimes we did meet a group of adventurers just back to the surface, and most of them looked exhausted. When we arrived at the 20th floor, Orstrid started picking up many monsters roaming on the floor just a couple of hundred meters away from us. While I paid attention to the monster that was not so far away from us, Alicia's attention was on the group of adventurers.
"Oberon."
"What's wrong, Alicia? ... They are."
One of those groups of women that he met not long ago when he raided Ishtar Familia Manor, and they seemed to still remember who I was and started approaching us. Argi's face starts to change into a bright red seeing how small of clothes they are had, and seeing that Atalanta starts to stand in front of Argi with anger written all over her face seeing a woman wearing such indecent clothes.
"Oberon, are they one Ishtar Familia?"
Sera recalled her vivid memory.
"Yes, I think they are Sera. Tried not to start a fight, especially you, Rethusa, died down that death stare of yours."
Seeing her error, Rethusa tried to erase her murdered gaze; it may have had to do with them being the ones who held Rethusa and Argi as prisoners. Among the group, one of the possible leaders is named 'Frida,' who I just met that night.
"Greeting Oberon, or now should I call the Radiant Oberon?"
From her body language alone, Oberon knows she tried to seduce him, knowing that Alicia and others started to intimidate the Ishtar Familia, not doing anything stupid, but the most worried was Sera, for whom I could feel a faint of murder intent, the same with Orstrid.
"Just Oberon was enough. Did you need anything?"
The purple-haired woman shot her seductive gaze toward Oberon, who looked displeased with her attitude.
"I just want to say thank you for keeping the end of the bargain, and Ishtar-sama sends her regard to you."
Ishtar Familia's involvement is kept secret because the influence of their Familia is still felt in Orario, plus we do not discover any direct evidence of them as one of the main culprits of the kidnapping.
"Sure, just remember that there is no next time."
"Fufu, I know. Then I hope we could see each other again with much better circumstances."
Her remark seems to pull some anger from one of our groups, especially Sera. I stood close to her while grabbing her arm to stop her from doing something she would regret later.
"I never understood why they let them slide after what they did."
I just tapped Rethusa's shoulder to at least try to subside her anger.
"I know your anger, Rethusa, but we can't make any drastic move when we don't have direct evidence of their involvement, and they had a big influence in Orario that we cannot ignore."
"If you say so."
After a troublesome encounter, we went to explore the 20th-floor forest. On this floor, there is one of the most sought-after materials for potions that could be found right in the middle of the 20th floor.
Just as we arrived at the tallest tree, we gathered the herb, and Atalanta started to pick up a strong smell with her sharp nose that could not be caught by others. As she followed the source, it came from inside the tree, and she started to smash the tree with her elbow.
"Ugh, what is that smell?"
It was an unpleasant smell; it smelled like rotten eggs.
"Master, they come. The monster that surrounds us."
'Is the smell catching their attention... Don't tell it's a trap.'
Everyone is being warned by Orstrid about the incoming monster and prepares themselves, but Alicia feels a familiar feeling; she has a sudden drop in temperature. When she gazed toward Oberon, his palm already touched the ground, and it started turning white as ice solid then.
{Ice Fortress}
When I called the magic spell with my thought, the ice started spreading below ground until it reached the range Oberon wanted, then spewed a tall ice wall surrounding the tree, only leaving one entrance. It truly is a fortress that was just created from ice.
'With this, they had no chance to spy on us.'
This may be a trap for us or for the other adventurer who is unlucky enough to fall into their trap, but the possibility of them being able to see our way of fighting to find any weakness is something Oberon wants to avoid.
"You always never stop to amaze me, Oberon."
With Alicia's eyes still widening open, seeing a wall of ice surrounding them.
"A monster heading this way may have to with that strong smell that is possibly a trap."
"But why did you put that ice fortress? Does it make us more in danger?"
Alicia, seeing Oberon start to smirk, started to understand what in her mind was, and she was not the one realizing it.
"So, you want us to defend that gate?"
"Can you, do it?"
Rethusa stabbed the back of her spear to the ground, creating a small crack on the ground.
"It's too easy for us. I hope you don't interview this time; we don't want it to become too easy."
"Sure…"
("Orstrid, this time you will be at the front line; let me take your place. I want you to cut their number.")
Without replying, Orstrid took out the large bags she carried, deactivated the gravity restraint, and replied to her master with a firm stand.
"I will show you my progress, Master."
I just replied to her with a wry smile and started feeling worried about her trusted servant.
"Just don't overdo it."
"As you command, Master."
Alicia and the others, rarely seeing Orstrid fight, can't help but hold their gaze toward the silver-haired elf who walked toward the gate with a long sword in her hand with no hesitation and stood tall even with the big number of Lizardman.
Orstrid started to prepare her sword stance from what Oberon saw; it was one of the Water God's techniques that she probably learned herself from Oberon's past life memory. With a firm grip, Orstrid put her sword handle at the same height as her head and the tip of the blade in the direction of her left shoulder.
"Is it just my imagination? I see Orstrid's body coated with something."
"I am not seeing anything, Sera."
'Ho~ so she started to be able to see Touki. She must have been trained hard in this past month.'
"Oberon-sama, is it okay to let Orstrid-san alone?"
"No need for that, Argi. Just see."
((THUD! THUD!))
((SHAAA!!))
'One, two… fourteen lizards.'
I could hear a hard smack sound when I laid my eyes toward the source; it was a group of angry boars trying to destroy the ice wall.
'And an angry boar. This should make it clear that the smell indeed was pulling their attention.'
This situation reminds me of the time Oberon stopped a horde of monsters that were trying to attack Wishe Forest, and on the same day, he summoned Orstrid as his first servant. Orstrid could feel her master's gaze on her, expecting her to do her best. Sera, Rethusa, and Alicia felt the pressure to not intervene.
{Fafnir Claw}
Fafnir Claw is one of the magic skills that Orstrid obtains when she reaches level two. It's magic to imbue the user's weapon with a flame that increases the range and imbues the attack with powerful fire magic. Oberon was the first person who received those attacks firsthand, but for Oberon, it was worth the pain because, at the same time, she discovered how to use 'Soul of Svalinn's' ability to transfer damage toward its user.
'A skill was born from the person's deepest desire. I think that was true after all.'
Everyone could hear Orstrid chant two words. What followed was Orstrid's sword being imbued with a blue-like flame; it was like it expanded her sword range. Their distance with Orstrid is just a couple of thirty meters away, just as they almost reach 5 meters in distance.
((SLASH!))
A powerful swing to the right is like she is cutting through the space in a second. Without her blade touching them, the Lizardman's body has a blue scar that resembles an animal claw on their chest, and like a chain reaction, they all start to have the same blue scar.
"Burn."
Just like cancer that spreads the scar crip up all over their body, and they all start engulfed into a blue flame burning into black ashes, only the remains of the item they dropped. Everyone who stood watching was speechless seeing a large group of monsters being wiped by a single swing.
"No time to stand there. Another wave is coming!"
Oberon shouted to wake everyone up, and seeing a wild boar a meter tall, he tried to encircle the fortress, heading toward the main entry.
"If you are that strong, being support is not something that fits for you, Orstrid."
Sera is on Orstrid's close side with her two daggers in her hand.
"I am Oberon 's-sama servant; my purpose is to support him and the people that he wants to support. Master wishes to support you all, so I will do the same."
"You think we could be as strong as your master Orstrid?"
"… I don't know Sera; however, master's wish is to help you all to become stronger. Master wants to protect the people he carries about; however, Master is not stupid to think he could always be there for them."
Orstrid knows the thing that her master feared in this world was losing someone he loved for her master; his very purpose was to protect his family and the people close to him. Without it, he will become the very person he hates.
While Orstrid and others are concentrating on the main gate, I try to look at my surroundings, and the same with Orstrid, knowing that we possibly are under a trap; there is no doubt about that.
("Master, I caught on something, but it's weird.")
("Where?")
("North-east twenty meters from here.")
{Eresh}
'I need to get closer.'
"Oberon?"
"Atalanta, I caught on something; please help others."
"S-sure."
("Orstrid, take care, everyone.")
("As your command master. Please be careful.")
{Gravity}
When I jumped through the ice fortress of the shadowing figure, it seemed that I tried to chase him and tried to escape, jumping among trees with such high velocity it was like a rabbit escaping their predator. However, my flight speed soon caught up on him, just like a hawk ready at any moment to catch its prey, but the aura I was tracking just vanished into thin air.
'How did…'
As I inspected the spot, I lost the person, possibly the spies. I was stopped in a small gaping hole that was not possible for humans to go through from its size. I tried to look for any lead, like track and anything resale of the footstep, but there was nothing left, and it seemed it was not his imagined thing that this person was using a tree as a footstep.
'Is he the same as Rethusa felt spying on us? No, Orstrid did mention there is something weird about the spies... I should become more vigilant.'
~(Third POV)~
(Tap, Tap…)
Somewhere in Orario, a shadowy figure walks on a long, dark hall only lightened by a simple torch. As the shadowing figure arrives at the front of a wall with a touch, the surrounding wall starts to glow with blue light showing unknown writing, and the ground starts to shake.
(THUD!)
It looks like the cloaked figure arrives at a throne room with long stairs up to a throne where there is a person on an old man with white hair, a sign of old age, and wearing a white cloak; however, the one sitting on the throne was not a mortal; instead, it was a god.
"How is it?"
"I can't get close to him. It must be due to his magic that my acquaintance almost gets captured; even worse could happen, but I know for certain this high elf named Oberon was worth our attention."
"I see…"
The old god Oranos recently put his interest in a high elf that just arrived weeks ago and already caused a stern in Orario.
"This child must have had some kind of magic to be able to detect anyone who is spying on him because there is no other visible explanation."
From the information, thanks to Oberon, there is already a bunch of Evilus members hiding who are being captured by him. Because of that, he saved many adventures, directly and indirectly.
"If that is the case, we can't do anything other than rely on other sources. I believe he suspected anyone who tried to spy on him was Evilus… Fels orders your acquaintance not to get close to him."
Just as the light of the torch started to light up the throne room, the figure named Fels, who wore a dark cloak and had an unnaturally thin body, bowed toward the god named Ouranos.
"I understand, but I had your permission to observe him further."
Ouranos who knows who Fels is known as Oberon already put Fels in a state of curiosity, a nature of a true mage. Ouranos only replied with a short nod toward Fels, who even while wearing a mask could feel the eager mind.
"You had my gratitude. I bid farewell. I will inform you of anything important that I can find about him."
Recently Orario is back to a much more peaceful state in a matter of weeks. It is hard for the god to give all the credit to one person, but his existence is still shrouded in mystery, and most of the rumors are still hard to believe. What trouble the god was Oberon goddess Loki; he knew she was already scheming on something, and she must have known Ouranos was already interested in him.
"Loki… such troublesome goddess you choose Oberon."