True Magician

Chapter 123

Dungeon.

That same day, at night, as I walked floor by floor, I made my way to the Xenos Village. It was on the fourteenth floor, and since the monsters posed no danger to me, since a couple of magic shots were enough, I was digesting what I'd heard from Bell and Hestia, whom we'd placed with us for the day. Ouranos had hinted in passing that I should bring Bell with me. And, of course, it was unclear to me why or why not.

From talking to Hestia's child, it was learned that he had come to Orario because he had been inspired by tales of heroes from a non-native grandfather. To be more specific, to gather a harem. Of course, he didn't explicitly say that, but a couple moments were enough to get that detail.

I hadn't made the connection between our Familia, Bell, Ouranos, and the Xenos Village, but Morgan had. As a fairy who saw the human essence, and as a woman who could weave intrigue, use people, and manipulate them as she wished, she came to understand the situation rather quickly.

According to her, assuming that humanoid female monsters with the appropriate traits would be among the Xenos, the boy might well try to help them and then even lead them out of the Dungeon because it was the "right" and "honorable" thing to do. Bell wouldn't even try to think about the consequences, but would just do it, i.e., go one step further than we do.

So Ouranos sees Hestia's baby as a backup plan if things don't work out with us. He realizes we're not going to dance to his tune, but Bell? Unknowingly and with childlike enthusiasm. And yet neither Morgan nor I can come to understand his motives. Chaos and destruction are too trivial. There's something else, but we don't know what it is yet. Now...

I stopped abruptly in the middle of the tenth floor, which was the same stone walls, floor, and ceiling, but with more height and light like morning mist, and then grinned.

- "What an interesting exercise you have in following the first level from his home itself. May I assume that you are perverts or just plain burglars?" I said into the void behind me.

The answer to my words was a silence that didn't last more than a minute. Three men emerged from the mist: an elf with golden hair and coral eyes, armed with a staff, the end of which was a blade; another elf, apparently dark, with silver hair and green eyes, armed with a sword; a man armed with a spear, with cat ears and a tail, black hair, and a mask covering his eyes.

- "What can I do for you?" I asked the silent pursuers, sensing cold fury and vengefulness from them.

- "We are of the Familia of the Goddess Freya," said the elf.

Well, I can say I expected something like that. It would be strange if they left an attack on their goddess unanswered. Though, I don't see a captain among them, which is pretty famous in Orario. None of them carry two large swords or have the height of two meters, pumped up bodies, or animal traits of a hog. I have a hunch where he is, though, and I have to say, he's worth feeling sorry for. Just a little bit.

- "Expectedly," I shrugged, "I take it. You want to 'collect your debts'?"

- "You're oddly calm for a first-level comprehender," the half-human said, "Or have you already accepted your fate?"

- "No. You're just too weak to make me uncomfortable."

- "Then we'll check it out." The half-man said mockingly and rushed toward me, pointing his spear at my stomach. And, of course, his attack was blocked by a magic circle, forcing him to break the distance. Seeing this, the three, including the attacker, frowned.

- "I told you so. Weak."

- "So that's what your confidence was all about," the elf muttered, and as soon as he finished his sentence, his gaze met the gazes of his companions for a moment, and then I felt them all grow serious.