The Messenger of the Gods; this was his title in the Celestial Realm. True to his name, he moved through every corner of existence to deliver information—mixing it with lies whenever necessary—to gods, goddesses, the Goddess of Beauty, the God of War, the Goddess of the Hearth, the Great God, and the Ancient God alike.
His nature remained unchanged even after descending to the Lower World; he still insisted on seeing everything with his own eyes.
He witnessed the lives of mortals, the schemes of the gods, the tyranny of monsters, and the cycles of rage, mourning, and joy. He watched, and watched, and watched—observing without pause. Throughout the divine age that spanned a thousand years, he focused entirely on the shifting tides of history. Thus, this god understood better than anyone that the world overflowed with sorrow and tragedy: a young girl losing her parents to a beast, or a wolf seeking power only to lose the very reason he sought it. Such occurrences were merely ordinary entries in the world's daily log.
The first step to clearing these accumulated tragedies was the execution of the "Three Great Quests." This meant slaying the "Land King" Behemoth, the "Sea King" Leviathan, and finally, the "One-Eyed Black Dragon."
These three great calamities, which emerged from the Great Chasm in ancient times, represented the primal covenant that the adventurers of Orario were destined to fulfill. Yet, for a thousand years, they remained untouched—a "Black End" maintained by sheer, overwhelming force.
Finally, those who decided to end them arose; the fruit of a millennium and the symbol of the Age of Gods: the Zeus Familia and the Hera Familia.
This group, recognized by the gods as the strongest, boasted "The Great Hero" and "The Empress," who reached heights never before trodden by mortals (Level 8 and Level 9). They were led by lethal captains, and under their banner marched an army featuring numerous Level 7 heroes.
They were the undisputed elite, the champion legion capable of fulfilling the Lower World's collective wish. No god doubted their victory; indeed, they performed miracles. The silent ring of Alfia's bell shattered the Sea King Leviathan, and the hunger of Zard the "Glutton" devoured the Land King Behemoth.
The inhabitants of the Lower World rejoiced; their thousand years had not been in vain. Everyone believed their heroes could save the world—!!
Even the gods were convinced of the Lower World's potential. If these legends—the very essence of power—existed, then the "Salvation of the World" would truly be realized. Only one enemy remained: the embodiment of despair, the Great Black Dragon. The King of Monsters that had suddenly appeared and ravaged everything.
Just a little longer, and humanity would be saved once more! These people would surely do it; they would undoubtedly seize victory. Everyone believed this.
───── But.
But, despite everything, the Black Dragon was not defeated. The King of Monsters that emerged from the deep chasm was not slain. The reason was simple: they tasted the bitterness of defeat.
Contrary to the gods' expectations and humanity's hopes, the strongest group fell before a single dragon.
Those heroes, who boasted of being the strongest in history, were supposed to be invincible. Why did they fail? The answer was plain and obvious, yet it presented the greatest problem.
The Dragon was simply too strong.
It was terrifyingly powerful, an utter anomaly. "The Great Hero" who held the title of the strongest, along with the greatest army in history, were completely crushed and annihilated. Even the surviving captain suffered fatal wounds, losing most of his strength.
Everyone had believed that those who overcame countless trials and achieved legendary feats would inevitably succeed. .... For that reason, the tragedy was entirely unforeseen.
What happened that day? Few know the truth. However, one thing is understood clearly.
The world changed completely from that day forward.
Following that defeat, the Loki Familia and Freya Familia seized the opportunity to overthrow the God and Goddess who had lost their power. The survivors were exiled from the city, and the heroes of that generation vanished.
Thus, the world transformed. It was no longer the safe era it once was, and hope for reclaiming past glory faded. The "Dark Ages" began; evil, injustice, and grand corruption covered the land. Accumulated tragedies did nothing but add pages to the book of sorrows, and new powers began to impose their control.
The world drowned in utter chaos because of those forces, and it remained so until the evil was shattered by new heroes, led by the followers of justice.
What we experience now is a temporary peace, a castle of sand that could collapse at any moment.
In the "Sacred Labyrinth Epic," inspired by ancient hero stories, that dragon is described as the "Black End" and a living disaster. This description is perfectly accurate. In the not-so-distant future, the Dragon will bring that Black End to the world.
Everyone is now preoccupied with themselves, lacking the luxury of saving others. In fact, the mere thought of it might be considered arrogance. The world is full of tragedy. Everyone living in this universe is stained with blood and tears, living side-by-side with misery. In such a world, who would do anything for others?
Nevertheless, that god realizes that in the midst of this profound darkness, everyone yearns for a light that shines clearly.
Therefore, Hermes, the God of Messages, asserts firmly:
──────── The world needs a Hero.
For this reason, the God of Messages takes action. No matter what sacrifices must be paid.
To end the era of despair and mourning, and to prevent the end of the world, Hermes will continue to work in the shadows.
●○●○●
"Hey, Al. I have a request I'd like you to fulfill at any cost. Can you give me a bit of your time?"
── Dammit, how disgusting.
Why do I have to meet this damn Hermes on my only day off? I loathe this kind of god who delights in stirring up trouble because they never feel remorse. Go and enjoy your time with Ishtar and leave me alone.
What? A request? I refuse. I ran into Ryu by chance and was accompanying her while shopping; once we're done, I planned to go home and sleep.
You are truly annoying. Whether there's a monster surge or whatever, don't ask me personally—submit the request to the Familia. The 24th Floor? I don't care what happens in a shallow place like that.
.... Wait? The 24th Floor.....? Ah, ..... It's started. It's crawling out slowly...!!
●○●○●
Damp air saturated with mold, and the foul, nauseating stench of monsters. When you listen closely, you can hear sounds—the roar of explosions as if something is wreaking havoc, sounds like screaming, and someone's sobbing.
The floor is covered in a carpet of green flesh, pulsing and moving disgustingly, reeking of decay. In the center stands a strangely shaped entity──. A scene from another world that triggers physical revulsion, filled with the scent of death and rot, a fleshy mass moving as if it possessed a will of its own.
Amidst this bizarre landscape, which differed entirely from the Dungeon known to adventurers, stood a woman.
She had a slender build, bright red hair cut short, and wore revealing, provocative red combat gear. Her features were exceptionally beautiful and symmetrical; she was an enchanting woman with a beauty that would tempt any man to turn his head.
This woman with slanted yellow-green eyes is the red-haired "Enforcer," Revis, who days ago killed the adventurer Hashana Dorlia of the Ganesha Familia in the city of Rivera, and fought Ais and Al for the "Jewel Fetus."
She was currently biting into a strangely colored fruit, seemingly grown in the Dungeon, while watching the scene before her.
Her name was Revis.
Revis furrowed her brows in an expression of annoyance.
Within her line of sight were monsters that should never be seen on this floor. These were beasts that naturally resided on the 59th floor and beyond; their appearance in the middle floors was an absolute impossibility.
But this was logical, for the monsters before her had been newly cultivated.
"──── Hey! Monsters are overflowing in the Dungeon and the adventurers are in a panic! Is the situation really under control?!"
A thin man, seemingly a follower of the Evilus (Dark Faction), shouted sharply, his body covered in a black cloak as if he hadn't noticed her irritation. Revis looked on with a face full of boredom.
Those belonging to the Evilus were in a state of turmoil because of the monster flood occurring before their eyes.
"Are we just going to leave it like this? If this continues, what happened on the 30th or 18th floor might repeat itself! Do you hear me, Revis?!"
A tall man, his face covered by a mask of white bone—likely a trophy from a monster—shouted. His voice lacked any calm, sounding as if he were rushed. But Revis looked at them and sighed in frustration.
"I don't care how many adventurers notice."
The two men from the Evilus knit their brows. Seeing their reaction, Revis spoke in a cold tone.
"Tch, I rushed the creation of the 'Duplicates' too much, and now I can't control everything!! At this rate, she won't──"
The man's words were cut off. Revis had risen and lunged toward him, thrusting her hand like a sword into the man's chest—the "White-Haired Ghoul," Olivass Act.
Olivass wore a look of shock as if he hadn't comprehended what happened. After a few seconds, blood began to flow from his mouth, and despair etched itself onto his face. Seeing this, the other man from the Evilus widened his eyes in horror.
"In any case, I no longer have any use for you."
Revis pushed her arm deeper. With that movement, murky black blood surged from Olivass's chest. He tried to resist feebly, gripping Revis's arm with what remained of his strength, but the flow of blood did not stop.
"R.. Revis, what are you doing?"
"I needed more power. No matter how many monsters I eat, they don't give me flesh and blood of any real value."
Olivass's expression changed dramatically upon hearing Revis's words; he realized exactly what she was implying.
"In any case, you can't defeat the 'Sword Saint,' so there's no point in keeping you alive any longer."
"Impossible! Stop!! I am like you, a human chosen by 'Her'...."
"Chosen....? Do you see her as a goddess in your eyes? There is no way that thing possesses any grace or nobility."
Revis's eyes were cold to the extreme. Olivass's body trembled under her gaze, which looked as though it were observing filth. His trembling wasn't just from pain, but because "that thing" she referred to was the one who granted Olivass his second life.
"A.. Are you planning to kill your only comrade? Without me, 'Her' protection will be──!!"
"I have protected her alone, and I always will."
Olivass had delved into the delusion that he was a chosen entity when he was granted the power of the "Creatures." But now, too late, he realized she was an entity far beyond his comprehension, and that his selection was nothing more than a passing whim.
Olivass shuddered in terror and tried to stop Revis's hand, but his attempt was futile. Soon, his hands lost their strength and fell away from her arm.
"──── At the very least, be useful by becoming my flesh and blood."
Revis said this, then pulled her hand back forcefully, shoving Olivass away. A massive amount of blood erupted, and Olivass collapsed like a doll with its strings cut. He then turned into white ash, exactly like a monster whose magic stone had been removed.
The other man from the Evilus recoiled involuntarily at the sight.
"── H-heee!"
Terror seized the man in the black cloak as he saw Olivass—supposedly an ally—killed by Revis with utter coldness and without the slightest hesitation. Revis showed no interest in the man; instead, she placed the [Jewel] she had extracted into her mouth like a piece of candy and swallowed it.
Her Adam's apple moved with the sound of the swallow, and a faint smile appeared on her face. The man in the cloak retreated further; she was undoubtedly the image of a true monster.
Revis clenched and unclenched her hand as if testing her new strength. Her features carried a mixture of joy and wonder.
"It's still not enough. But I will kill you one day, 'Sword Saint'."
●○●○●
The Labyrinth City, Orario. A city that has woven a long history of conflict with monsters since "Ancient Times" for a thousand years. It is surrounded by a massive, sturdy white wall in the shape of a circle, designed as an impenetrable dam to prevent monsters from escaping to the outer world should the prayers of the founding god Ouranos, which bind the Dungeon, ever fail.
For all inhabitants of this city, monsters represent a threat, yet they are simultaneously a resource that grants blessings and wealth. This is why "Adventurers" exist; they develop their strength daily and dive into the depths of the earth in search of riches and fame. Those resources brought from underground—which can never be obtained on the surface—support the city's economy.
Perhaps for this reason, the city includes a diverse range of races among non-adventurers as well; alongside humans, there are Elves, Dwarves, Amazons, Beast-people, Pallums, and many others. It can be said that Orario, where the world's products flow thanks to merchants of various races seeking magic stone products, is more prosperous than any other nation.
Amidst the vitality filling the main street, a blonde girl walked, drawing everyone's gaze. Her name is Ais Wallenstein. She walked with her long hair reaching her waist, heading toward her objective.
Ais possesses beauty that surpasses even that of the goddesses, but her beauty isn't the only reason she draws attention. She is an adventurer who recently reached Level 6—the highest rank for adventurers in Orario, excluding the "Pinnacle." Her strength ranks among the top ten adventurers in the city, and there is no one in Orario who does not know her name.
She belongs to a Familia called the Loki Familia, a massive organization that prides itself on having the strongest military force in the world, with all its members being of high levels. Yet, Ais's strength remains exceptional among them, to the point that her name is always mentioned as a candidate for the title of "Strongest in Orario."
Ais was heading to the Dungeon to fulfill a request she had received.
In truth, it was a personal request that hadn't gone through the Guild. The requester was Eina Tulle, the Half-Elf and Guild employee, who is an old friend of Riveria. The request, which came through Riveria, was summarized as: "I want you to save a boy named Bell Cranel."
Ais agreed to the request, not only because she is Riveria's friend and doesn't want to see a promising adventurer vanish, but because the boy's family name—Cranel—deeply piqued her interest. She had learned that the boy is the younger brother of Al, the person Ais had previously saved from a Minotaur.
That time, the boy had fled as if he were afraid of her. Perhaps she could talk to him this time. Most importantly, since his brother Al is currently away, Ais felt she should intervene to save the boy in his place, so she entered the Dungeon entrance filled with determination.
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