A Vouivre, female humanoid dragon monster in the dungeon.
Not only does she possess the inherent trait of [Powerful] as a dragon species, but upon being slain, there is also a certain chance she will drop rare materials.
These materials can be used to craft magical tools, weapons, and equipment, while also containing an immense amount of magical power, with a remarkable affinity for mana.
Setting aside their value as crafting material, the sheer purity alone, and just the red stone before any processing, makes them priceless luxury items. Among the nobility of nations outside Orario, they could be sold for a price that would leave people utterly dumbfounded.
As the saying goes, rarity makes things precious.
With all these factors combined, there's no need to even mention how priceless a rare Xenos would be.
Meanwhile, a certain smuggling group that had lost its fortune was scouring the dungeon in search of their treasure, yet little did they know it had already been naively brought back by an adventurer.
If Fron had seen this, perhaps he would have understood what was about to unfold.
But clearly, the clues had not been left behind by chance. Hidden in the shadows, a dark hand was orchestrating everything.
They controlled the flow of information, ensuring that Loki Familia had absolutely no way of learning the truth.
Perhaps these manipulators also knew that, in the eyes of the public, the existence of Xenos itself was something irrational, something that broke common sense.
Monsters are monsters. For thousands upon thousands of years, they had been humanity and demi-humans' mortal enemies, the very culprits who had nearly driven them to extinction.
Could a handful of Xenos possibly reconcile that bloodstained history? Clearly not.
This was more than just the bottom line for adventurers, it was their creed, their lifelong conviction, and also the will of the people.
To go against the tide was to be crushed beneath its wheels.
The history between both sides was written in blood and tears.
Even if, for the sake of some special person or goal, they temporarily walked the same path, in the end, reconciliation was never truly an option.
At most, it would only ever be a fleeting compromise born of mutual interest.
Because of Bell's actions, Hestia Familia had fallen into a dire predicament after bringing the Vouivre back.
Meanwhile, deep within the Guild headquarters, in a hidden prayer room, the dim torchlight illuminated two pairs of eyes.
Through a crystal eye installed in Tower of Babel, they watched the events unfold. If matters strayed from their intended course, they would not hesitate to carry out their predetermined countermeasures.
In the Great Tree Labyrinth of floors 21–24, the atmosphere had been far livelier than usual recently.
Unnoticed by most, a certain Familia that had lost their fortune was spreading out within the labyrinth, constantly inquiring, constantly searching for their target of interest.
...
Loki Familia Base – [Twilight Manor].
The series of incidents had left the leaders and executives physically and mentally exhausted.
Fortunately, after their first exploration of the Man-Made Dungeon – Knossos, there had been a significant breakthrough in intelligence and leads.
Considering both the dangers of that place and their lack of information, Finn had decided to temporarily slow their pace. Proceeding steadily, step by step, was the best course of action.
On this particular day, Fron was in his magical workshop, tinkering away, carefully maintaining his equipment and weapons. Around him, the Amazoness sisters, along with Ais, Lefiya, and Tiona, had gathered, chatting idly.
"Have you heard? Lately, quite a few adventurers have been reporting strange monsters appearing in the middle and lower floors."
"Yeah, I heard that too. I went to the Guild a few days ago to hand in a quest, and they were saying those monsters don't just defeat adventurers, they confiscate their equipment, and even equip them! I heard one unlucky guy ran into a monster in the lower floors wielding a two-handed greatsword, it had potential strength close to Level 5!"
The girls whispered among themselves, careful not to disturb Fron's work.
"…" But who were they kidding? The lowest-ranked among them, Lefiya, was still Level 3.
Whispering behind Fron's back was no different from speaking directly into his ear.
His lips twitched, his face stiff.
But when he caught the mention of monsters wielding adventurers' weapons, his eyes narrowed, a flash of realization crossing them.
"I heard the Guild even put up a notice about it," one added, "warning adventurers to be extra cautious if they encounter such monsters. They've already been officially classified as an Unusual Phenomenon."
Setting down his tools, Fron turned and joined their chatter with a smile.
"Monsters that can use weapons, huh? That's pretty interesting. The greatest difference between us humans and monsters is reason, our ability to wield weapons. In terms of raw physical potential, we're not superior to them at all."
"So, if monsters learn to actively use weapons, their growth in strength could easily surpass imagination. The Guild was wise to categorize this under Unusual Phenomena."
Having been an adventurer for an year, and as a member of Loki Familia constantly fighting in the dungeon, Fron's combat and exploration experience were first-rate within all of Orario. And with his exceptional skills, his opinion carried weight.
"Yeah, it'd definitely be dangerous. If we ran into them, we absolutely couldn't-"
"Just kill them." Ais' sudden interjection was cold and sharp, her bloodlust palpable.
Everyone exchanged glances, helpless expressions on their faces.
If anyone in the Familia was the most reckless, it was Ais. Since childhood she had been fearless.
Not even ten years old, and she had dared to venture alone down to the 12th floor of the dungeon. Can you believe it?
If she hadn't been such a prodigy, if it had been any other adventurer, they would have died long ago.
Knock knock knock,
At that moment, the wooden door of the workshop was rapped upon, before Raul pushed it open, his face urgent.
"Something's wrong! Something happened!"
"?" Everyone's expressions hardened, instantly alert.
"What happened?"
"Uh, I don't know the details, but it's a message from the Captain. Apparently a member just returned from the dungeon, and then-"
Hearing this, Fron's mind quickly pieced together the information he already had with the current situation, and he immediately arrived at a conclusion.
He thought to himself: Could it be,
Ding ding ding, ding ding ding, ding ding ding,
Before he could say another word, the emergency alarm bells of Orario resounded across the entire city!
"This is!?"