Ais sat blankly on the stone steps, holding a fruit from the Dungeon in one hand and a wooden cup in the other, lost in thought.
The strangely shaped Xenos around her extended their cups, either held in their hands or on their tongues, to clink against hers, which remained motionless. Looking at the lively scene around her, Ais felt that it was no different from the adventurers holding a feast in Orario.
"Have you always lived like this in the Dungeon?"
Riveria looked at Ais, who seemed incredulous, then asked Lyd.
"Yes, after all, we were born in this Dungeon. Although we long for the surface, we've never seen it once."
Lyd leaned his arm against the wall and said, "But I think I once had a similar dream."
"A dream?"
"Mm."
Lyd's lizard-like face showed a look of recollection: "I dreamed of a fiery red light sinking behind a giant rock, and the sky, which doesn't exist here, was completely dyed red, like crying."
"That sounds like dusk. Have you been to the surface?"
Lyd shook his head: "I don't recall ever going there. Perhaps it was a scene I witnessed when I was alive before, but that scene has always remained in my memory."
Riveria fell silent. She had heard Takatsuki's theory of reincarnation in the Dungeon, but at the time, she was only half-believing. Now, however, the situation left her no choice but to believe.
Riveria looked at Nana, the young Xenos girl brought by the Hestia Familia, who was happily sharing her experiences with her kin.
The other girls, including Ais, were pulled by the enthusiastic Xenos to dance around the bonfire, while a Xenos named Ray sang beautiful songs by the fire.
With the Xenos clinking cups and exchanging toasts, what difference was there between them and the Gods on the surface?
Only Takatsuki, Riveria, and Lyd, representatives of the three factions, sat in a corner, conversing.
Just as Riveria was pondering, a voice, indistinguishable as male or female, came from behind them.
"It seems the situation is developing better than I expected."
Hearing the familiar voice, Lyd shouted loudly to the back, "Fels, you're here."
A figure in a black robe walked over from behind and sat down in the middle of the three.
"This is Fels, the one who connects us."
Confirming Lyd's words, Fels, his head hidden in the black robe, nodded and said.
"This should be our first meeting, I suppose. I am Fels, the one responsible for communication between Ouranos and the Xenos."
Fels extended a hand, a spherical bead clutched in his black, skeletal fingers.
"For the past seven days, I have been monitoring your interactions with the Dragon Girl, as well as the Loki Familia's reaction after learning about this."
Takatsuki had already known there would be no change, and Riveria raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
"Fels's eyes are everywhere. We can communicate with him using this."
Lyd also took out a round bead.
"And the supplies for our life in the Dungeon are also provided by Fels and Ouranos. Fels is amazing; he was once known as a Sage."
"Sage… Is he the Sage who once refined the Philosopher's Stone and gained eternal life?"
Fels showed no emotional fluctuation at Riveria's words, merely replying indifferently: "The Sage is long gone. Only the Fool Fels exists in the world now."
Although he didn't elaborate, everyone could hear the sorrow in his tone.
"How is it? Magus of the Loki Familia, what are your thoughts after seeing it with your own eyes?"
Riveria was not surprised by Fels's words. Since he said he had monitored them, it was normal for him to know what she had said to others within her Familia.
"Since they were born in the Dungeon and have their own way of survival, why interfere? As long as they avoid humans, there should be no problem for them to continue living like this."
Riveria still didn't understand, but Fels also offered an explanation.
"We still don't know how Xenos are born, but there's no doubt that they all possess strong aspirations. Although the emotions hidden within their hearts vary, their strong desire to interact with humans or to reach the surface is common. Perhaps this is what makes them different from other monsters."
As if to confirm Fels's words, Lyd closed his eyes in recollection.
"I want to see that sunset again."
Ray, meanwhile, said, "I want to soar in a world illuminated by light. My wings cannot embrace anyone, so I hope to be embraced by a loved one."
"I know we live in the shadows, pleasing neither side. Both humans and monsters reject us. Sometimes we wonder if this place was prepared for us by our mother."
"We are attacked by our own kind, constantly facing mortal danger, but at the same time, our labyrinth mother allows us to exist."
Lyd looked at the adventurers around them, who had fallen silent because of their words.
"So, I'm really happy to see you, little Takatsuki."
Lyd scratched his cheek somewhat awkwardly: "Of course, I'm not saying I need your help, but seeing people who acknowledge our existence… It's truly wonderful to have met you."
Although it was a lizard face, anyone could see that the Xenos in front of them was showing a heartfelt smile.
...
The departing group could not stay away for too long. After a lively chat and a feast, the end finally arrived.
The other Xenos also embarked on their respective paths.
"Thank you so much for today. It was a pleasure meeting you."
Ray and Lyd, the two leaders, brought up the rear and made their final farewells.
Lyd took out a magic stone: "You know what this is, right?"
"Magic Stone."
Lyd nodded and swallowed the magic stone whole.
"As you've seen, monsters constantly attack us in the Dungeon, and we kill those monsters to survive. Then we devour their magic stones like this to gain the power of enhanced species. So, please do not go easy on monsters just because of our existence. If you hesitate, you might be the one to die."
Lyd's words were cruel but true, and no one refuted them.
"That."
Ais, who had not spoken to Lyd until now, suddenly took a step forward.
"If your comrades die, will you cry?"
Ais's words silenced everyone.
After a few seconds, Lyd finally gave an affirmative sound.
"Ah, of course. But I won't just cry; I'll also avenge them. Just thinking about that possibility makes the anger in my heart impossible to quell."