That day felt unusually long and deeply unsettling—for the Guild personnel stationed at the entrance to Babel Tower.
From early morning onward, waves of rookie adventurers fled from the Dungeon in near panic.
Their faces were pale with the terror of survival. Many bore visible injuries—arms and cheeks blistered red from burns, others covered in strange frost, lips turning purple from the cold.
Even more alarming were the weapons in their hands.
Blades that should have gleamed sharp and deadly now looked as if they had been bathed in a furnace—scorched, warped, and riddled with pits. Many were effectively ruined.
"Monsters… new monsters!"
"Red Slimes that spit fire—my sword practically melted when it hit one!"
"There were blue Slimes that launched ice bullets! How are things like that on the first floor?!"
Panic spread across the plaza like a contagion.
News of newly emerged monster species in the Dungeon spread with astonishing speed, carried by the retreating rookies—and reached the Guild almost immediately.
Within moments, the entire Pantheon, the Guild's headquarters—was shaken.
Over the years, the Dungeon had undergone fluctuations. But those had always been manageable.
Spontaneously spawning entirely new species?
That was unheard of.
If there had been only one or two specimens, it might have been classified as a special anomaly. But reports indicated overwhelming numbers—these new monsters were appearing throughout the entire Upper Floors.
"Report this immediately!"
"Seal off access to the Upper Floors—temporarily prohibit Lv.1 adventurers from entering!"
"All advisors, contact your assigned adventurers and gather information at once!"
The Guild headquarters descended into unprecedented tension and activity.
At last, the emergency report was escalated layer by layer—until it reached the deepest chamber of the Guild, placed before the god who had never left since the Age of the Gods:
Ouranos, the Guild's divine overseer.
---
At the Prayer Altar, deep Beneath the Guild...
There were no ornate decorations here. Only ancient stone walls and ever-burning candles.
The air carried a sacred stillness, completely isolated from the chaos above.
Upon the throne at the center of the altar, a hooded elder slowly opened eyes that seemed to have witnessed countless ages.
"Ouranos… The Dungeon has changed. Was this… within your expectations?"
A neutral voice echoed through the chamber.
Clad in black robes and likewise hooded, the sage Fels appeared silently beside the throne.
"Unexpected."
Ouranos' voice was aged and calm, without visible disturbance.
"But this is not unwelcome. The 'Promised Time' draws near. Any 'change' is not necessarily a bad thing for us."
A trace of uncertainty flickered in his eyes—but stronger still was anticipation.
With Orario's current military strength, it could not withstand what was coming.
If the Dungeon evolved, challenges would intensify.
And greater challenges would foster faster growth.
Perhaps…
The hero capable of performing miracles, the one long awaited by the gods—would emerge amidst this uproar.
"Fels."
Ouranos gave his directive.
"Inform them not to panic. My prayer remains stable. Order the Guild to investigate the newly emerged monsters immediately. Compile intelligence. And comfort the frightened children."
"Yes."
Fels bowed respectfully and melted back into the shadows.
...
When the Guild leadership received the divine "oracle" from Ouranos, a collective sigh of relief swept through them.
They placed unwavering faith in the god whose prayers had never once ceased.
Royman Mardeel, the Guild's chief administrator, wiped cold sweat from his plump cheeks with a handkerchief.
With such an unprecedented shift in the Dungeon, the pressure on him—as the highest-ranking official overseeing daily operations had been immense. For a moment, he'd felt his heart might leap out of his throat.
But if the god had spoken, then all that remained was execution.
As a neutral organization, the Guild possessed no private army.
Investigating the Dungeon typically meant commissioning powerful, reputable familias.
Very soon, a mission request stamped with "URGENT" and "HIGH PRIORITY" was delivered to the Loki Familia in the Eighth District.
---
Eighth District – Pleasure Quarter.
The Loki Familia's headquarters, Twilight Manor, was a grand complex composed of multiple towers.
At its center stood the largest, thickest main tower, surrounded by seven slender spires—together forming something akin to a fantastical castle rising above the city.
A home—and a fortress.
In the main tower's lounge, the red-haired goddess Loki was sprawled unceremoniously across a sofa, clutching an empty wine bottle and humming an off-key Kansai tune.
She had fiery red hair, a rather modest figure, and a faint drunken flush across her pretty face.
"Hah? New monsters in the Dungeon?"
At the Guild representative's explanation, the intoxicated Loki abruptly sat upright. Her narrow eyes snapped into clarity.
"Oho? Now that sounds fun. We'll take it!"
Upon learning it was an official investigation request regarding unknown new monsters, Loki agreed instantly, eyes glittering with mischief and excitement.
Gods thrived on novelty and entertainment.
A never-before-seen shift in the Dungeon?
How could Loki resist?
Sitting nearby, polishing his spear, the Familia's captain—Finn Deimne, the Pallum, offered no objection.
He simply licked his thumb absently.
A faint, nearly imperceptible sting pricked his fingertip.
His sharp blue eyes darkened with thought.
His intuition told him—
This wasn't coincidence.
The Dungeon was becoming more dangerous.
"Oi, Finn," Loki waved the request in front of him, "who should we send for this one?"
Before Finn could respond—
Bang!
The lounge doors burst open.
Several of the Familia's core executives stormed in at once:
Tiona Hiryute, Tione Hiryute, Ais Wallenstein, Lefiya Viridis—and even the usually solitary Bete Loga.
"Sorry, Captain. I couldn't stop them," Tione said, blushing slightly toward Finn—though her eyes sparkled intensely at him.
"Captain, Captain! I heard there's a Guild commission! Is it about the new monsters? Let me go! Let me go!" Tiona shouted excitedly, completely ignoring her sister's thinly veiled infatuation display.
The air in Twilight Manor filled with anticipation.
The first move in this Dungeon uproar was about to be made.
==================
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