After clearing out the nearby Killer Ants, Elise finally had the time to check on the injured adventurers.
"Out of the five of you, three only have minor scrapes?" The concern on Elise's face instantly transformed into a bright smile when she realized this. "That's wonderful!"
"It's truly a relief that you're all right!"
What an astonishing beauty it was.
The Saintess' smile left the five adventurers utterly at a loss. Even their hands and feet felt clumsy as they repeatedly bowed in thanks.
It was as if they had been charmed.
Although Elise's charm could not yet compare to the enchantment of this world's Goddess of Beauty, it was undoubtedly the highest tier beneath that level.
After all, a Goddess of Beauty's charm bordered on the conceptual.
Elise herself had not reached that realm.
That she could secure such a position as a mere human was already remarkable.
As for her eyes?
Ever since receiving an answer from Astraea, Elise could no longer regard them as a charm skill. Naturally, they were excluded from that category.
If one day Elise were to receive the blessing of a Goddess of Beauty, her allure would surely rise to an entirely new level.
But that was merely wishful thinking. Why would a Goddess of Beauty so easily grant Elise her blessing?
Ishtar was out of the question. Elise had no desire to become public property in the Pleasure Quarter. As for Freya...
Just recalling Freya's infatuated, breathy expression from the stories made Elise shudder.
I have nothing against you personally, but the way you drool when you fall into a lovestruck trance is honestly terrifying!
Better stay as far away as possible!
Having Astraea's blessing was more than enough.
Still, she really was fortunate to have encountered a "normal" goddess like Astraea from the very beginning.
Was Astraea truly normal?
In this world, the gods were all, to some extent, abnormal by human standards.
Yet among so many eccentric deities, Astraea stood out as remarkably reasonable. In fact, if there were ever a ranking for "Most Desired Lap Pillow and Head Pats," she would undoubtedly claim first place!
That alone demonstrated just how radiant her maternal aura was.
During her time with Astraea, Elise could genuinely feel that the goddess cared for others.
Could someone so kind truly have an abnormal side?
Of course, perhaps Elise simply had not discovered it yet.
As for what would happen if she did, that was a problem for the future.
For now...
"This is simply what I ought to do. Seeing fellow adventurers in danger, how could I possibly stand by and do nothing?"
Before coming to their rescue, Elise had already used her skill to judge them. Since they had been deemed good by Scales of Judgment, they were unlikely to be heinous criminals.
At the very least, saving them would not tarnish her reputation.
"Well then, I have other matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave!"
Having said that, Elise prepared to slip away. But in the very next instant, a strange sensation welled up in her heart.
Was it... an illusion?
No. Someone was definitely there.
Elise had never relied on her eyes to perceive the world. As a result, she often detected subtle gazes others could not.
Like just now...
She lifted her head and looked toward the direction from which that peculiar feeling had come.
It seemed someone was watching her.
And not just anyone—a rather troublesome presence.
...
At the top of Babel.
A gray-haired goddess, dressed in attire that would never pass inspection, was watching the scene before her with keen interest.
"How intriguing..."
She gently swirled the wine in her glass, the crimson liquid rippling with the motion.
"To think that among the children of humanity, there would be one so gifted in charm?"
Though not on par with a Goddess of Beauty's enchantment, it was more than enough to captivate ordinary mortals in the lower world.
"This child's affinity with me must be quite high, wouldn't you say?"
"Otarl, do you know that child?"
The goddess turned her head, looking at the muscular boar-man standing beside her.
Level 6.
The fierce warrior, Otarl.
Although the position of captain within Freya Familia was currently held by the small giant Mia Grand, when it came to selecting a personal bodyguard for Freya, Otarl was the most suitable choice.
"Lady Freya, she is the Saintess whose name has been spreading beyond the city recently. She and her patron deity arrived in Orario yesterday."
Otarl retrieved a book from the shelf and handed it to Freya.
"This is...?"
"A story written about her by those outside the city. While there may be exaggerations, the matter of her single-handedly eliminating the monsters within an ancient ruin should be true."
Otarl was somewhat aware of Freya's interests, so he had made a few preparations in advance.
In truth, he had only purchased a book and inquired about some rumors. He had not expected Freya to genuinely take interest in the Saintess.
"She defeated the monsters in an ancient ruin alone?"
Freya pondered briefly before asking, "And who is her patron deity?"
"Goddess Astraea."
Otarl's answer remained concise, but Freya showed visible surprise upon hearing it.
"Astraea, you say?"
Freya was well aware that certain gods possessed the ability to see through souls. She herself was one such deity. Astraea was as well.
A child chosen by Astraea would hardly be ordinary.
Curiosity stirring within her, Freya continued watching. Elise and the girl named Est seemed bound by some kind of power.
When Est transformed into a sword, that connection became even more apparent.
Freya then witnessed the entire process of Elise carving her way from the first floor all the way down to the twelfth!
"This is beyond what an ordinary adventurer could achieve. To possess such power at merely Level 1?"
"Otarl, if it had been you on your first descent into the Dungeon, doing the same..." Freya glanced sideways at him.
"..."
The boar-man fell silent for a moment before kneeling on one knee.
"Your subordinate would have died."
"I see."
It seemed Elise's talent surpassed even Freya's expectations.
If an ordinary adventurer entered the Dungeon for the first time, they might not even reach the third floor. Yet Elise had cut her way to the twelfth as though slicing vegetables, emerging completely unscathed.
Clearly, she had held back. She had not yet used her full strength.
Soon after, Freya observed Elise rescuing the adventurers—and then, just before leaving, the eerie moment when Elise suddenly raised her head and looked straight toward Freya through the "screen."
For an instant, Freya felt a thrill run through her.
"To think there would be such an unexpected variable in the lower world?"