A massive monster outbreak?
Yes. The monsters seem to have blocked the way past Level 24, puzzling the Adventurers there.
They say they've never seen anything like it.
Hmm.
What of the Guild?
Nothing irregular to report as of yet.
I see.
If you search for the things you lack with downcast eyes
You'll never discover incredible places like this
Let's get rid of these vague standards
And the courage will spread through you
A world without lies reflects in your eyes
Throw away the useless bravado and
Let's laugh and cry together
We played the strings at our own speed
And embellished how we wished
When you're around miracles can happen RE-ILLUSION
We shined and lit each other up
On the other side our dreams melded together
We created a synergy and
With our strong and genuine bond we crossed the world
A quest, for me?
Yes.
I would like you to investigate a strange monster outbreak on Level 24.
Why me?
It is very likely that there is a connection between this occurrence,
the red-haired woman who attacked Rivira...
...and the crystal orb she sought after.
The danger is serious.
Sword Princess, please lend us your strength.
Very well then.
But before that, could you deliver a message for me?
Huh.
So Level 24's swarmin' with nasty monsters, eh?
Well? Whaddya want from us this time?
You mistake the purpose of my visit.
I merely came to inform a comrade of the situation we now face.
Tch! What "comrade"? I never asked you for squat.
Don't you think it's strange?
The outbreak affects the Adventurers greatly, yet the Guild hasn't lifted a finger.
It's as if they're hiding something.
Well...
It does seem fishy, but I can't afford to stick my nose too far into this business.
I understand.
But I also wonder if it's safe to ignore at this point.
Loki!
We just got a letter from Miss Ais.
Hm?
She said she received an urgent quest and is heading to Level 24.
What?!
You weren't kiddin'!
Ugh!
"Please don't worry about me," she says!
As if, ya big dummy!
Lefiya,
go get Bete for me.
I-I'll be right back!
Are you going to chase after the Sword Princess?
Yep. A quest suddenly pops up at a time like this?
Can't help but assume somethin's up.
Loki.
Would you take my Filvis along with your children?
Huh?
Lord Dionysus!
Filvis...
I need to earn Loki's trust,
and trust is earned when actions meet words.
Do you understand?
I'm sitting right here...
But I...
Go, Filvis.
Everything will be just fine.
There you have it, Loki.
Uh, I never said she could go...
Loki, I brought Bete!
What's the big deal of a sudden?
I need both o' ya to head to Level 24, pronto.
Sounds like Ais mighta got herself into some big trouble.
And take her with ya.
This gloomy chick?
Um... Thank you for coming along with us today.
It seems the Adventurers are starting to stir up a commotion.
Are you sure neglecting them is wise?
It's no skin off my back.
And what will you do if someone tries to go after her,
as they did on Level 30?
Crush them, of course.
First, go and meet up with your new companions in Rivira.
The tavern should be around here somewhere...
I'll have a Potato Popper, matcha cream flavor.
I've been waiting for you, Mr. Companion...
I, too, am your-
What?!
S-Sword Princess?!
Is that you, Lulune?
I don't believe it!
They told me they'd send another fighter for backup, but I never thought...
A high-profile companion, indeed.
The Sword Princess...
Having Ais Wallenstein as an ally gives me some confidence.
Are you all...?
They're members of my Familia.
This'll be our Party for the quest.
Forgive me.
My name is Asfi Al Andromeda, leader of the Hermes Familia.
Perseus...
I shoulda guessed you'd recognize our Asfi.
She IS a celebrity, after all.
Thank you for watching over Lulune the other day.
Of course.
Now that you're here,
allow me to explain the details
of the quest we've been assigned.
Fels. Why did you send the Sword Princess on the quest?
As I've told you before,
we do not want to make the Loki Familia our enemies.
She is well-suited to settle the situation at hand.
This will have serious consequences.
What?
This already concerns them as well.
They will not stand by idly.
The quest was assigned to us by a figure clad in all black.
We've been asked to investigate the origin of a strange monster outbreak on Level 24.
Our only lead is that a similar incident has occurred on Level 30.
Level 30...
The same floor that Hashana Dorlia, the victim of the recent murder,
picked up that crystal orb.
I fear this incident may somehow be related to the one you and Lulune were involved in.
It still astounds me that she even accepted another strange quest after what happened before.
C'mon, I said I was sorry...
This was Lulune's doing?
Yes.
We had no intention of accepting the quest originally, but...
Yeah! That black-robed jerk tried to blackmail us, you know!
Threatening to expose all of our Familia's secrets!
Lulune!
Hold your tongue.
That mouth of yours is what gets us into these messes!
I swear, I'm sorry!
We've gathered all of the necessary equipment.
According to my information, the monster swarm is somewhere in the vicinity of the Pantry.
We'll check there first.
The Pantry is where the monsters store their food, right?
That doesn't seem like a place where monsters would be swarming...
That's why we're going to investigate.
Shall we be off, then?
Is everyone ready?
Um, I'm sorry.
There's just one thing I need to take care of.
You want me to hold onto this?
This piece o' crap?
It's... important to me.
Really... Well then, in that case I'll have to take real good care of it, huh?
But ya know,
that kinda care comes with a special price. I've gotta run my business, after all, right?
Th-there a problem with that?
That should cover the cost.
What?!
If you don't want it, I'm sure I could find someone else...
Well, I guess this'll have to do!
I still owe ya for leavin' this sucker with me, so I'll give ya a real deal just this once!
Thank you.
Well then, let's decide our marching order.
Um, it's okay to walk a little bit closer to us...
What should we do?
Ignore her.
But...
Um, we're almost to Level 18.
Why don't we all take a short break?
Sweep them away!
Sacred staff of thunder.
Dio Thyrsos!
Miss Filvis! Thank you for taking care of that!
Filvis is the lone survivor of the Nightmare on Level 27.
The one six years ago?
Yes.
Even after that, the terrible accidents continued...
She's put a wall up around herself.
But, perhaps your children might be able to...
...might be able to liberate her from her past.
Hmph! What WON'T you use my children for?
It's time I get going.
Can I help you? Hermes...
Well met, Dionysus.
Just now, that was Concurrent Chanting, wasn't it?
If I could do something like that, I'm sure I could help out my team,
but I'm not quite there yet...
I'm still in training, but I could really use some tips if you have any!
I'd be so grateful if you could share a few... with me...
Um, I-I want to learn more about you, Miss Filvis!
Since we've joined up as a Party and all!
Let me make one thing clear.
We are not a Party.
What?
We're just heading to the same destination. Get that straight in your head.
Do you have a moment?
There's something I'd like to ask you about.
You, the dog who abandoned Zeus for Uranus?
You've got me all wrong. I'm purely neutral here.
It just so happens I have something to ask you as well...
What is Uranus hiding?
He isn't hiding anything. And if he were, I'D want to hear about it as well.
Is that so. Well then, please excuse me.
Hold on, hold on.
My children are making their way to Level 24 right now as well. On a certain quest.
I'd like to get a better grasp on the situation brewing here in Orario myself.
We both came down here from Heaven, didn't we? What's wrong with a casual chat between gods?
We could get some drinks...
Who knows what I might let slip once I've had a few glasses.
I do know a place with an impeccable wine selection. I'll introduce you...
Strange, isn't it?
We aren't even in the same Familia, yet I'm working with you for the second time now.
Mhmm. By the way...
Yeah?
Why were you all wearing robes back in town?
Oh. Well, there are SOME things you just don't share openly, right?
If word got out about our true Ability Levels or what Dungeon Levels we've reached-
Lulune!
Goodness, do you have a brain at all in that thick skull of yours?
I-it just slipped...
Sword Princess, pretend you didn't hear anything just now, okay?
Give me the map. We'll be reaching Level 24 soon.
Yes, Boss!
First, we need to locate the origin of the monster outbreak.
We'll have to scour the entire area, but we can start with the closest Pantry first.
Anything could happen at this point.
Be on your guard, everyone.
This is the right Level... isn't it?
I'm sure we'll find them swarming around the Pantries...
We've no choice but to check inside.
Lulune, guide us there.
The closest Pantry is... over there.
Wait.
I think it's this way.
There does seem to be another Pantry over there, but...
Very well. Let's head where the Sword Princess leads us.
Can you sense the monsters or something?
Yes... If we continue in this direction, we should find them.
Wait, Sword Princess!
Quiet.
Hm?
Are those all monsters...?
I see why they made such a fuss about it.
Everyone, prepare for battle.
Wait.
Let me take care of it.
Wha-? Sword Princess!
We could probably just leave them all to her...
Wanna go home?
Now, now, we couldn't just leave her...
Could she be...?
Why would Miss Filvis say such a thing...?
Hey, dimwits!
We're goin' to Rivira.
Maybe we can find a lead that'll point us to wherever Ais is on Level Twenty fo-
Tch! Hey, where do ya think you're goi-!
Don't touch me!
P-please stop, Bete!
You, you see... it's not customary for Elves to be in direct contact with other races!
I'm sure she meant no offense by it...
Sword Princess!
Atta girl! I can't believe you took down that whole swarm single-handedly!
I had heard you were Lv.5. Did you Rank-Up recently?
I thought so.
After a Rank-Up, you can lose your bearings for a time.
She must have used this fight to adjust accordingly.
You mean that was just practice?!
The Sword Princess is really somethin' else, huh?
We've witnessed something great indeed.
Looks like we made it.
Yep! The Pantry's right through there.
What the heck is that?
The monsters must have faced the same problem we face now.
Their way to the Pantry is blocked.
I see... There wasn't a sudden outbreak of monsters here...
They just got backed up because they couldn't get to their food.
Let's keep moving.
Whatever is going on beyond this mass is where our investigation begins.
Meryl.
I-I'm on it!
I told you they would come, Revis. Because you decided to neglect the monsters.
More trouble. Just what we needed.
Aria!
What? Aria, you say?
I'll go.
You just make sure you separate Aria from the group.
Tch! Not a single damn clue!
Um...
Let's check that fatty's place next.
C-coming!
A path...
Ugh, gross!
Keep moving.
I feel like we're in the belly of some beast...
Cut it out. You're giving me the chills.
Magic stones? What are those doing here?
My guess is that a few of those monsters managed to stray inside.
And something found them here.
L-let's just hurry up the path.
It's coming!
Everyone, attack!
Battle formations!
Roger!
Sword Princess!
They're trying to divide us!
Sword Princess! No!
Focus on the fight at hand!
But-!
She's called the Sword Princess for a reason! She can handle it!
Damn it!
I didn't think you'd come right to me.
Oh, the Sword Princess sure did come through here. Gave me this to hold on to.
Miss Ais left this?
I don't care what she gave you. Do you know where she was headed or not?
Hmm, I might know somethin' about it...
That is, for the right price!
Spit it out, ya bastard.
S-seems she went to the Pantry!
Level 24, the Pantry...
I heard that she and her companions bought up all the trap items in town.
She had other people with her?
Couldn't tell ya who.
They were all wearin' hooded cloaks to cover up their faces, see.
Damn Sword Princess, wolf bastard... screw the whole damn Loki Familia!
Oy, Elf girl!
I'll pay you good money to go punch his stupid face in!
Not for a million valis.
Looky here...
Did something happen with Miss Filvis?
You kiddin' me?
Wait, you didn't team up with the Banshee, didja?
"Banshee"?
Take my advice, stay away from her.
That Adventurer over there's cursed.
What?
No on who's teamed up with her... has ever come back home alive.
Good morning, open up the window and
You can go anywhere
A wish you whipser to yourself each day
To keep moving forward as far as you can
You compare yourself to others, let out a sigh
I know, I know
Kindness, warmth
One day the two of you
Will surely know what it is to love
The you of tomorrow will turn the you of today
Into memories and
Move forwards past them
The rain will stop, you'll lift your chin up and
You'll be able to say "Thank you" with an honest smile
Hello, hello, hello
Sing your love for someone
"The Corruption and the Maiden"