Orario moved as it always had.
Merchants shouted across crowded streets. Adventurers returned from the Dungeon carrying monster stones and torn equipment. Laughter spilled from taverns while steel rang from blacksmith shops.
Life continued.
Yet beneath the city's ordinary rhythm, something had changed.
The air felt heavier.
No one could explain it.
No one could name it.
But they felt it.
Like standing beneath storm clouds before the first drop of rain.
—
Inside the Hestia Familia's ruined church, Bell tightened the straps around his armor.
The previous days had been...strange.
Capitano's arrival alone had overturned everything Bell considered normal.
Training had become harsher.
Dungeon runs had become more dangerous.
And for reasons Bell still didn't understand, people had started staring at him more often.
Or rather—
They stared at Capitano.
Bell merely happened to be nearby.
Bell glanced toward the courtyard.
Capitano stood beneath the morning sky, unmoving as always.
Bell sometimes wondered if he had ever actually seen him relax.
Or sleep.
Or even breathe.
The black-armored warrior simply existed like a mountain standing against time itself.
Hestia emerged from inside the church carrying papers in her hands.
Her expression looked irritated.
Very irritated.
"...Bell."
Bell immediately straightened.
"Y-Yes, Goddess?"
She waved the papers angrily.
"The Guild sent another request!"
Bell blinked.
"...Another one?"
"Another investigation request!"
She puffed her cheeks.
"They want information about Capitano again! Questions about his abilities, where he came from, whether he's using some unknown Falna—"
She suddenly crossed her arms.
"Hmph!"
"He's our family now!"
Bell scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"W-well...they're probably worried..."
"...Still!"
Bell smiled nervously.
Nearby, Lili sighed while checking supplies.
"Lili thinks the Guild asking questions isn't the problem."
Bell looked toward her.
"...Eh?"
Lili frowned.
"Lili thinks it's everyone else."
Bell tilted his head.
"...Everyone else?"
She pointed down toward the city.
Bell followed her finger.
Even from the church hill, they could see groups of adventurers moving below.
Several of them were looking upward.
Toward them.
Toward Capitano.
Bell stiffened.
"...Ah."
He understood immediately.
Rumors.
Again.
—
Far across Orario, inside the headquarters of Loki Familia—
"Tch."
Ais Wallenstein stared out a window while several reports sat piled nearby.
Across the room, Loki was sprawled across a couch dramatically waving papers around.
"This is weird! Weird weird weird!"
The goddess flailed her arms.
"'Frozen monsters!' 'Unknown abilities!' 'Walking disaster!'"
She sat up suddenly.
"Ais!"
The blonde swordswoman slowly looked over.
"...Yes?"
Loki pointed dramatically.
"Go investigate him."
Silence.
Ais blinked.
"...Investigate?"
"Yup."
"...Why?"
"Because I said so."
"..."
Loki grinned.
"And because yer interested."
"...I'm not."
"You absolutely are."
"..."
Ais looked away.
Loki's grin widened.
"...Ais."
"..."
"...Aiiiiis."
"..."
"...You're making that face again."
Ais frowned slightly.
"...What face?"
"The curious face."
"...I don't have one."
"You do."
"..."
Loki laughed loudly while Ais quietly looked back out the window.
Far in the distance, she could barely see the hill where Hestia Familia's church stood.
Her golden eyes narrowed slightly.
Because truthfully—
She was curious.
Very curious.
—
Meanwhile, inside the church courtyard—
Capitano stood silently.
Unmoving.
Watching the city below.
Then—
He felt it again.
That pulse.
Deep beneath stone.
Slow.
Heavy.
Alive.
The Dungeon.
The air around him grew colder.
His hand slowly tightened.
Because this time—
The feeling had changed.
Before, it had merely observed.
Now—
It felt angry.
And somewhere far below Orario—
In the deep darkness beneath countless floors—
A monster opened eyes that had never opened before.
Eyes glowing with faint blue light.
Cold light.
Not red.
Not purple.
Blue.
Like frozen stars.
And for the first time—
It spoke.
One word.
A whisper barely heard within the darkness.
"...Captain."