Rustle!
"Have you deciphered it, Supporter-kun?"
"Yes."
Scratch, scratch!
"As expected, it was a letter from Fels-sama."
Scratch, scratch!
"It was an incredibly complex cipher, likely because they were wary of it being discovered by other adventurers."
Fels's owl, which had arrived in the dead of night, delivered a code to Lilly. She had gathered all her comrades to decipher it and reach a collective decision.
Slide—
"Tomorrow night, we head to the door leading into [Knossos], hidden within Daedalus Street."
"And they are requesting our assistance... I see."
Taking the deciphered text from Lilly, Welf read the contents and grasped the plan formulated by Fels and the Xenos. He immediately handed it over to their patron deity, Hestia.
Rustle!
"Various magic items for the operation have also been prepared... though it says."
"It feels like the temptation of a reaper leading us toward ruin."
""""...""""
Silence filled the room following Lilly's remark.
Though termed 'assistance' and 'cooperation,' this was an exceptionally perilous mission for the current Hestia Familia.
"Perhaps we should ask Akumo-dono for help after all...."
"That is not an option, Mikoto-kun."
"But....!"
"Akumo-kun has his own position to maintain. He cannot move easily, and more importantly, it could cause him unnecessary trouble."
The public perception of the Hestia Familia following the recent incident was far from positive. In such a situation, requesting overt cooperation from Akumo, a high-ranking executive of the Loki Familia, would be tantamount to forcing him to share their burden of infamy.
This was especially true given that a failure could escalate beyond a simple mission into an inter-Familia conflict.
"I understand. Let us decide right here!"
"The path we shall walk from this moment forward."
Thump!
"Shall we save the Xenos and live as existences within Orario's shadows?"
Slide—!
"Or shall we abandon them and slowly return to the daily lives we once knew?"
"It is one of the two."
The two choices presented to them forced them to stare directly at reality.
"...I've made my choice."
""""!!""""
"I'm going to save Viene and Lyd-san.... I'm going to save the Xenos! I've decided that this is what I must do!"
Bell had made up his mind.
He chose the ideal of saving a girl—and saving everyone who had risked their lives to protect her.
Knock, knock!
That resolve soon succeeded in moving the hearts of others.
Creak—!
"Is everyone doing well?"
"Father!?"
"""Akumo(dono/sama)!?"""
Click, clack!
"You're startling the children, Akumo."
"M-Mother!?"
The ones who entered through the opening door were Akumo and Alfia. They were wearing satisfied smiles, having heard Bell's vow from outside.
While everyone else was stunned by their appearance, Welf alone offered Akumo a welcoming grin.
"You've come, Akumo-san."
"Yeah. Are you all ready?"
Slide—
"Of course!"
At Akumo's words, Welf drew a blue sword from his coat.
"That is.....?"
"A magic sword. I have three more like it in the workshop."
"!!"
Slide—
"Do you see now, Bell?"
Approaching Bell, Akumo placed a hand on his shoulder with his usual smile. Welf sheathed the magic sword and began to speak alongside Akumo.
"There aren't just two choices."
"Everyone here performs their roles perfectly and returns those guys to the Dungeon."
"In the process, your reputation is restored, and there are no casualties."
"No blame, no contempt, and no guilt."
The two smiled at Bell as if this were a foregone conclusion, but for some reason, not just Bell, but Hestia, Lilly, Mikoto, and even Haruhime were wearing expressions of utter shock.
"Hm? You said you'd all decided, so why the surprise?"
".....I never heard anything about Akumo-kun cooperating!?"
"Eh."
"Welf-kun!? What is the meaning of this!!!?"
As Hestia directed a shocked gaze toward Welf, he stiffly averted his eyes.
"I was so busy making magic swords in the workshop for five days straight that I....."
"Grrrrr....!!!!"
"S-Still, isn't it for the best!!?"
"It's not simply 'for the best' for Akumo-kun to help us!!"
"That's....!"
Click!
"I will explain that."
Just as Welf tried to elaborate further, Alfia stepped beside Akumo to clarify the nature of his cooperation.
"Akumo is not 'helping' you."
"What does that....?"
"No matter how optimistic the outlook, an armed conflict will occur."
".....!!"
"You simply need to ensure you don't lose sight of your goal while fighting."
Realizing the implication of Alfia's words, Hestia's eyes widened as she looked at Akumo.
"I will not be fighting as the [Pioneer] of the Loki Familia, but purely as the adventurer known as Akumo."
'That's why I purposely left my weapons and armor behind.'
"....."
"Hestia-sama?"
"Why go so far.....?"
Hestia knew he had been active as an adventurer for a significant amount of time.
Unlike Bell, he must have faced countless situations like this. He must have forged deep bonds that couldn't be easily explained.
Slide—
"I'm simply fighting because I want to fight."
"I see....."
'What a child you are...!'
Step, step—
His face bore the smile of a pure warrior, much like the one he had worn over a decade ago—one that set aside complex destinies and grand causes for a moment.
Seeing that, even Hestia was able to smile, her anxieties seemingly lightened.
"And it looks like the other kids are already prepared too?"
"What do you mean, Father?"
"Ask Hestia-sama."
At Akumo's prompting, Bell looked toward Hestia and his comrades. Their faces, though showing surprise, were also filled with smiles directed at Bell, as if they had made their decisions long ago.
"Deity-sama...."
"Bell-kun, everyone intended to do so from the start."
Slide—
"There is no reason to hesitate. This one shall follow Bell-dono!"
"My life was already saved by you once. Why should I fear ruin now?"
Mikoto stood up as if it were the most natural thing in the world, and Haruhime gave Bell a warm, encouraging smile.
"Lilly hates the idea of abandoning Bell-sama, and she hates the idea of Bell-sama abandoning anyone else."
Grin!
"Besides, I'm quite used to being an existence that lives in the shadows!"
"So Bell, don't leave us behind anymore."
Lilly and Welf also smiled confidently at Bell, conveying their firm resolve.
"Thank you... everyone!"
Tears threatened to well up in Bell's eyes at the sight, but he pushed the emotion aside. He solidified his resolve to save Viene and the Xenos, joining hands with everyone.
"It's decided, then. We shall save the Xenos with our combined strength!"
".....Yes!"
Slide—!
"Let's save Viene and the others!"
Thus, several days of preparation began.
"I received a response from Bell Cranel a short while ago."
"He has agreed to cooperate fully."
Fels spoke to the Xenos hidden beneath Daedalus Street about the plan to be executed tonight.
Slide—!
"Is the adventurer named Akumo there as well?"
".....He is, but."
Naturally, the Akumo from the Dungeon who was with the Xenos raised his hand to ask if the surface Akumo was participating. Fels, unaware of his true identity, simply confirmed it.
""""!!""""
Grin!
"Good. That's perfect."
Lyd, Ray, Gros, and Banye, who had heard briefly that the surface Akumo held a fairly high position among adventurers, were shocked by the fact that he was cooperating.
"A-Akumo-san....!"
"Shh....."
".....!!"
"It's okay, it's okay. If anyone saw, they'd think I was doing this all alone."
Their surprise didn't seem to be merely about him helping them, but Fels failed to read into it.
"Tonight, we will leave this place, force our way through Daedalus Street, and escape to the Dungeon through [Knossos]."
"The [Loki Familia] likely has everything figured out, but as long as Ouranos cannot move publicly, there is no other way."
At Fels's words, Ray expressed concern and asked about the stability of the operation.
Flutter!
"Is it enough just to reach the door?"
"What about the adventurers tracking us....."
Slide—
"Currently, only I and that person over there possess the key. Reaching the door first is our primary objective."
Akumo held up the Eye of Knossos in his hand. Ray understood that despite the danger, this was the only plan available to them.
"What about Phia, Let, and the others who were separated?"
"We have no choice but to send a signal when we commence the operation. We must be prepared for the possibility of being discovered by adventurers."
"Are Bell and Akumo coming too?"
".....No, they will be acting as decoys."
"""""!!!"""""
The Xenos were thrown into a stir by Fels's words, beginning to voice their dissatisfaction at the idea of using the heroes who were risking their lives to help them.
Flutter!
"Fels, are you trying to use Bell-san and Akumo-san again?"
"You piece of trash!"
"You half-baked bastard!"
"Aren't you ashamed before Akumo?"
"Fels, I hate you!"
Fels tried to make a hurried excuse, but eventually, slightly provoked by their words, he raised his voice without realizing it.
"Wait a moment! Listen to what I have to say!"
Snap!
"And being half-baked has nothing to do with this!!"
'Besides, to mention Akumo....!!!'
""""...""""
Despite Fels's urgent shout, the Xenos looked at him with dissatisfaction, clearly unconvinced.
"After the series of commotions, Bell Cranel has become far too much of a hot topic."
"..."
"He is perfectly suited to draw the attention of the adventurers."
"But to rely on Bell-chi and Akumo-san again and cause them trouble...."
"Please understand. They are the only ones we can rely on right now."
"I understand it with my head, but...."
Lyd felt his heart heavy with gratitude and guilt, unable to lift his head properly. However, Viene took his hand and spoke as if to comfort him.
"Lyd, Haruhime taught me. On the surface, there's a story about a Spirit's repayment of a favor."
"Repayment of a favor?"
"Yes, they say they go to give various things to the people who saved them to say thank you!"
Squeeze!
"So someday, let's save Bell and the others a lot too!"
"You..... you've changed. It's hard to put into words, but...."
'Much more than before.....'
The image of her weeping at the cave when parting from Bell and Akumo was nowhere to be seen. Seeing Viene comforting them now, Lyd felt that she had grown significantly.
"Really?"
"..."
Grin!
"Alright! Then once this is over, let's repay Bell-chi and the others plenty!"
"Yeah!"
Fels, whose worries were slightly eased by their display, took a blue orb from his robe to officially begin the operation.
"Then let us begin the consultation with Bell Cranel and his group."
Hummmm—!
"Can you hear me, Bell Cranel?"
"Fels-san, I can hear you!"
Hearing Bell's voice for the first time in a while, the Xenos were delighted and began to speak to him one by one.
"It's Bell! Bell, Bell!"
"Viene!"
"It's been a while, Bell-san."
"Bell-chi, it's me! Lyd!"
"Be quiet!! We'll be discovered!!"
Gros shouted to quiet them as the tension broke and things instantly became noisy, but the joy of hearing from Bell wouldn't be silenced by a few words.
"Ahaha.... everyone's so energetic~"
"Hmph, I don't know if they lack a sense of tension or what...."
"Don't be like that, Banye."
Watching them, Akumo and Banye offered a smile and an exasperated look respectively as they prepared for the upcoming operation.
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