"Long time no see, Ouranos."
"How has Orario been lately?"
Deep within the Guild, a man clad in darkness arrived and greeted the old god seated upon the altar.
Ouranos, who had been resting with his eyes closed, slowly opened them and looked at the figure emerging from the shadows.
"So it's you, Erebus."
"Orario is currently in a state of prosperity. Naturally, things are quite good."
Recalling the changes Orario had undergone in recent years, Ouranos felt genuinely gratified.
In the era of Zeus and Hera, with those two top-tier Familias and countless powerful adventurers, Evilus didn't even dare to show its face.
But after their failure to defeat the Black Dragon, everything changed, and Orario fell into unparalleled darkness.
Theft and murder—things that were once unlikely to occur—became common within the city.
Most importantly, the true culprit behind it all, Evilus, emerged openly.
With Zeus and Hera gone, no one remained capable of suppressing those lurking threats.
From that point on, Orario entered a dark age. The citizens lived in constant danger, as if walking on the edge of life and death at every moment.
This terrifying state lasted for over three years before a turning point finally appeared.
For some unknown reason, the Freya Familia—who had previously shown no interest in Evilus—began to intervene in the city's governance.
The involvement of these powerful individuals greatly reduced the burden on the Loki Familia, forcing those unspeakable deeds back into the shadows.
Of course, this was only temporary. Even the Freya Familia at the time lacked the strength to completely eradicate Evilus.
But at the very least, they lit a beacon in the endless darkness, bringing hope to countless people.
It wasn't until that person appeared that Orario truly escaped the darkness and stepped toward a bright future.
That person was Elise!
"Is that so?" Erebus smiled. "That's truly wonderful to hear."
"That doesn't sound like you, Erebus."
Faced with Erebus' smile, Ouranos narrowed his eyes.
Back in Heaven, Erebus had been a god of the underworld, completely unrelated to anything bright or cheerful.
Yet now, he wore a smile like a kind older brother next door. It made Ouranos deeply suspicious.
Was he merely pretending, planning to destroy the lower world and plunge it into eternal darkness...
Or had his time in the lower world truly changed him, giving rise to new thoughts?
Many gods underwent drastic changes after descending, becoming entirely different from their former selves.
That was why Ouranos couldn't reach a conclusion. Even though he had cooperated with Erebus several times, he still couldn't trust him.
He simply could not gamble Orario's future.
"There's no helping it." Erebus shrugged helplessly. "I've been in the lower world for quite some time now. Even without forming a Familia, I've seen the beauty of its people."
"People change. I think that saying applies to gods as well."
"..."
Looking at the gentle Erebus, Ouranos slowly closed his eyes, recalling a certain figure.
"Back then, we all believed that Zeus and Hera's Familias could complete the Three Great Quests. With their extraordinary strength, they defeated Behemoth and Leviathan..."
"But we never expected that such powerful forces would ultimately fall before the Black Dragon."
At this point, Ouranos slowly opened his eyes. The calmness that usually filled them was gone, replaced by something no one had ever seen before—sharpness.
Ouranos, god of the sky, king of the gods.
Even though he now appeared aged beyond recognition, he was still the king of the gods—the founder of Orario.
"I will never agree to this, Erebus."
"Thousands of years have passed. We have all been waiting for the moment of prophecy. Zeus and Hera once seemed capable of achieving it, but they fell just before that time arrived."
"After enduring until now, a new hope has finally emerged—one that is even stronger than Zeus and the others were!"
"Do you understand, Erebus? We can no longer afford to gamble!"
What emanated from Ouranos' words was sternness, coldness, and near hysteria.
No one knew what this ancient god had experienced since the founding of Orario, but from his tone, it was clear—his resolve was absolute.
"This really is troublesome..."
Erebus scratched his head helplessly. Ouranos had always maintained the same stance.
As long as nothing happened to Orario, one could do whatever they pleased.
Even the Guild he established functioned only as a neutral organization, never interfering in the affairs of various Familias.
But now, Ouranos had begun to involve himself in this matter, abandoning his neutrality.
Did something happen that I don't know about?
Or is all of this... your doing?
As the image of that golden figure surfaced in his mind, Erebus let out a bitter smile.
Aside from her, he couldn't think of anyone capable of making a king of gods act this way.
"I think you've misunderstood something, Ouranos. This is merely a simple trial for her."
"I have no intention of mixing in too many personal motives. At its core, it's just a way to help her improve her status."
"And the ones conducting the trial aren't me, but former members of Zeus and Hera's Familias. They, too, long for that beautiful future—how could they possibly destroy it with their own hands?"
Hearing this, Ouranos' eyes flickered.
After the battle with the Black Dragon, those two powerful Familias had left Orario. Even Ouranos didn't know where they had gone.
But since Erebus mentioned them, it meant he had found them.
Members of Zeus and Hera's Familias.
"Who?"
Since Erebus had said this much, Ouranos' stance naturally began to shift.
Erebus might not be trustworthy, but the members of Zeus and Hera's Familias were individuals he had watched grow up.
How could he not understand them?
The former twin pillars had countless powerful figures. A Level 9 Empress, a Level 8 Champion, and beneath them numerous Level 7s and Level 6s. Ouranos needed to know exactly who had come in order to make his next judgment.
"It's Silence and Gluttony."
"..."
Upon receiving the exact answer, Ouranos fell into a strange silence. That silence began to unsettle even Erebus.
"Gluttony isn't a problem. He's always been steady. But Silence..."
Ouranos didn't finish, but Erebus understood perfectly.
Alfia had reached Level 7 at the age of seventeen, a height most could never attain in a lifetime. Her pride was immense.
When Erebus had gone to see her, he had been shocked. She had already transformed into a queen who ruled above all, acting solely according to her own will.
Erebus still remembered how unpleasant her expression had been when she agreed to this matter.
If she were to fight Elise, she likely wouldn't hold back at all.
"That's true..."
Erebus sighed. If they really clashed, it would undoubtedly cause massive destruction, with equally severe consequences.
"Let me ask one thing. Since you've already met them, where are Silence and Gluttony now?"
"They've already arrived in Orario. They've settled somewhere familiar to them and won't appear before the public for the time being."
"That's good." Ouranos paused briefly before continuing, "As for the trial you mentioned, I still do not agree. The current Orario cannot afford any accidents."
Sigh!
So he still won't agree?
Erebus let out a quiet sigh. If that was the case, he would have no choice but to proceed in secret.
If discovered, he would be sent back to Heaven.
But for the children of the lower world... he had to make a choice.
Just as he was about to leave the altar, the old god's voice came from behind him.
"Go find Astraea."
As Erebus was about to depart, the old god's voice suddenly echoed again.
"Thanks, Ouranos!"
...
"This is Orario..."
"I didn't expect that in just three years, it would change this much."
A figure cloaked in a black hood walked along the streets, occasionally glancing around at the surroundings. It was Alfia, who had already arrived in Orario.
Although Erebus had told the two of them to remain on standby and stay out of public view, there was no way she would listen.
So she slipped out on her own, leaving Zald behind at their lodging.
As she looked at the city around her, memories from a few years ago gradually resurfaced.
Back then, they had no choice but to withdraw and leave Orario, the Labyrinth City. Now, returning so suddenly, she found that the city had completely transformed.
It felt like the passage of ages.
"But this is also a good opportunity to visit that place..."
Alfia, who was usually strict in front of Bell, now revealed a clearly sorrowful expression.
"I've come back here, Meteria..."
"But you..."
The dead would never return. However, her sister Meteria had left behind the thing she cherished most... or rather, her child.
"Don't worry. No matter what, I'll protect Bell and help him grow into a man who can stand tall."
"I won't let him turn out like his father..."
At the mention of Bell's father, disgust appeared on Alfia's face. If not for that man, would her sister have suffered as she did?
So everything was his fault.
If she ever met him, she wouldn't mind giving him a piece of her mind.
"Anyway, let's head this way first."
Because the streets had changed so much, it took Alfia some time to figure out the route.
"This should be it—the most prosperous street in Orario. I didn't expect it to become like this."
The shops on both sides were completely different. Not only that, but she didn't recognize a single person among the shopkeepers.
"That's fine too..."
The era of Zeus and Hera had already passed. There was no need to bring it up again. And according to Erebus, someone capable of bearing the future had already appeared here.
Cough, cough... I hope I can live to see that day.
Just as she was about to speak, Alfia suddenly pulled out a white handkerchief she had prepared in advance and pressed it tightly over her mouth, preventing what was inside from spilling out.
Cough, cough!
When she lowered the handkerchief, what came into view was a vivid red stain.
Alfia stared at the blood-soaked cloth in silence for a long time.
"So I really can't hold on much longer..."
Since the battle with the Black Dragon, her illness had worsened steadily. Even Bell had seen her coughing up blood. It was deeply worrying how much longer she could last.
In truth, it wasn't just her...
"Zald is probably the same. We can only fight one last battle, can't we?"
Alfia suffered from an incurable congenital illness, while Zald had been slowly corroded by the poisonous flesh of Behemoth that he had consumed.
Even after all this time, neither of them had found a solution. That was why they had retreated to a remote village, living as farmers.
If their conditions could be cured, Silence and Gluttony would likely return to the forefront of adventurers.
"I'll take this bouquet."
Passing by a flower shop, Alfia selected a few blossoms she liked. After paying the valis, she noticed something interesting.
This was clearly the most prosperous shopping street in Orario, yet right at its center stood an unusually quiet shop.
Unlike the others, which were bustling with crowds, this one had not a single customer.
Was it because the goods were terrible?
No. This was the central street. If a shop sold poor goods, it would have been driven out long ago.
That left only one possibility—the items inside were high-end, beyond what ordinary adventurers could afford.
But that had nothing to do with Alfia. Having stopped exploring the Dungeon, she had no need to purchase equipment anymore.
However...
Just as she turned to leave, she stopped.
Not because she suddenly felt like buying something, but because she noticed two figures...
A blonde woman holding the hand of a small child—also blonde, appearing to be only six or seven years old...
For a moment, Alfia couldn't help but widen her eyes and observe the scene closely.
With the blessing of the gods, some adventurers in their twenties or thirties could still appear very young.
The woman with the child was like that. Though youthful in appearance, the aura of a mother she carried was undeniable—even to Alfia.
Without question, she was a mother.
Looking at the little girl, smiling so brightly, a thought surfaced in Alfia's mind...
If Meteria had given birth to a daughter instead, would she have looked like this?