I love time travel the most!

—【Ganesha Familia】Extermination Team.

One piece of news caused a stir among the expeditionary forces.

"Taming the target of subjugation?!"

"What's going on? Isn't this an emergency?"

"Well, the Lord God only gave me the guild's secret letter to instruct us on how to act; he knows nothing else."

"What do you mean by that? Explain yourself!"

Upon hearing the guild's incomprehensible and unreasonable instructions, they argued incessantly, centered around the adventurer who delivered the message.

It goes without saying that taming a monster requires subduing it, which is much more time-consuming and laborious than simply defeating it, let alone dealing with a ferocious monster that has invaded a safe zone.

At this moment, the regimental commander, Shakti, spoke up: "Everyone, calm down!"

"Captain?"

"We must tame the monsters and capture them alive."

"...Is this really okay?!"

“He is our God, and we must believe in him and follow him.”

The leader rekindled the faith and loyalty of the followers to the Lord God, and the other members also became serious again.

"We're about to set off, get ready!"

"Oh!"xN

At the commander's order, everyone shouted battle cries.

"Wow, that's amazing...!"

Upon hearing the shouts that shook the central square, Bell couldn't help but blurt it out, then quickly covered his mouth with his hand.

At this moment, Bell was wearing a long robe that concealed his entire body and carrying a pretentious backpack, just like Lily, pretending to be a supporter.

He has already infiltrated the punitive expedition.

"Hey you!"

"Ok?"

"The chief god Ganesha said you would be helpful in explaining the reasons, so we had no choice but to let you come along. However, you'd better behave yourself, rookie. Although you tell them you are a temporary supporter, please try not to attract attention. It would be troublesome if the captain caught you."

"I...I understand, I'm sorry."

Upon hearing the instructions from a member of the Ganesha Familia who had secretly approached, Bel apologized with trepidation, his pale face showing a hint of worry and tension.

I wonder how the "heretics" are doing?

Was Winnie injured?

And what about Kobayashi? Does he know about this? And where is he now?

Perhaps because he was too dependent on the other person, Bell really wanted to confide in Kobayashi.

"It seems that God Ganesha handled it well."

"Fels?"

A murmur arose in the space that should have been empty, reaching Bell's ears.

It was Fels who was speaking, but he was nowhere to be seen.

Like the helmet that Bell had seen on Asphie before, she was also wearing a magical device that allowed her to become invisible.

Then, Fels instructed: "The expedition team has accepted your presence. Let's proceed to the 18th floor."

“I understand.” Bell nodded, then couldn’t help asking, “Um, does Kobayashi… know about this? Where is he now?”

"...I don't know, but they're probably already in the safe zone."

"Eh?"

"You don't need to worry about him, just follow the expedition team."

"I-I know."

Bell nodded.

A divinely ordained extermination team, a ghost magician, uninvited intruders, and a man and a boy who become the center of the vortex, each with their own thoughts, enter through the gate.

Watched by onlookers, they rushed out in one breath and into the underground city.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

the other side.

With the help of Ryuu's [Imaginary Number Switch], Kobayashi arrived at the safe zone early.

But by this time, the town of Rivera had been completely destroyed.

Hotels and shops were completely destroyed, and fires were caused by items made from magic stones.

The town lost its former hustle and bustle, and billowing black smoke and dust rose from it.

Starting from the north gate, the crystal and rock walls surrounding the town bear huge, broken marks, telling of the immense power of the force that launched the massive attack.

Blue and white crystal fragments growing on the ground were scattered everywhere, along with broken sword blades and splattered blood, demonstrating the fierce battle between the town's residents and adventurers.

The house, which was even more sturdy than before (the giant flower attack), is now a ruin, with dust billowing everywhere.

In the middle of the town streets, which have lost their original form.

There was a gargoyle with huge gray stone wings spread out, and a male adventurer who had his legs broken and collapsed to the ground.

The monster lowered its enormous head and shouted at him, "Where have you taken your fellow humans? Tell me now, humans!"

"Ha, ha... I don't understand what you're saying... cough cough!"

The man uttered those words with difficulty.

He was one of the few adventurers who couldn't escape the monster attack, but his true identity was that of a member of the Ikeros Familia. It was they who tracked Bell and his companions to find the Heretics' lair and hunted them down.

However, when he tried to do something filthy, he was met with strong resistance from the "heretics," which resulted in injuries to him and two other companions, forcing them to come to the 18th floor for treatment.

"Don't play dumb! You smell of spider venom!"

"...?!"

"The will left behind by our compatriots calls you filthy beasts!"

The human man's face twitched upon hearing Guros's roar.

The "heretics," whose brethren were brutally murdered, search for targets by the scent of venom left behind by the spider-man, which is like a continuous thread. This pungent stench can only be detected by monsters with a keen sense of smell.

Destroying towns is part of the process of finding members of the Ikelos Familia, and also a symbol of the Heretics' burning rage.

They had originally captured three people, but the furious creatures used their sharp teeth and claws to tear the other two to pieces.

"Answer my question! Where are my compatriots?!"

Guros roared hoarsely, the man's expression filled with fear and despair, startled by the enormous volume, but he quickly revealed a mocking look.

"Even if I told you, you guys would still go... Aa ...

His mocking words were a desperate bluff, but they were instantly turned into a scream that reached the heavens by the cold and merciless claws that were raised and swung down by Guros.

"...If you keep torturing him like this, he'll probably never be able to speak again."

Suddenly, a voice broke in.

It sounded like persuasion, yet also like scorn for its crude interrogation methods.

Turned.

A man and a woman appeared behind them.

Leaving the man aside, the girl following behind him was dressed in gorgeous and elegant clothes, which didn't match the town that had been reduced to ruins at all.

"Xiao Lin..."

Guros stared at him.

It was already showing restraint by not attacking directly. If someone dared to tell it to stop, it would probably lose its temper and attack the man in front of it.

The other "heretics," including Rey, felt the same way. They held a high degree of goodwill towards Kobayashi—the human who hadn't resisted them and had even taken the initiative to shake their hands. Furthermore, since Gross hadn't expressed his opinion, he simply watched silently.

The tormented man's face lit up with joy.

Between injured humans and injuring monsters, everyone knows which side to save, right?

however--

"I advise you not to ask me for help, because I won't save you."

"Gah—?!"

Xiaolin's words left the man speechless.

Then he saw Kobayashi ignore Guross, walk quickly up to him, and ask, "Alright, alright, where is your hideout?"

At the same time, a strange pattern appeared on Kobayashi's forehead.

"Hmm, in the eastern forest, inside the door, Daedalus? Requires a specific key? Hmm, that's a pretty good hiding place."

"H-How could this be...!"

The man stared at Xiaolin in disbelief.

Even though he hadn't said anything yet, his inner thoughts had been completely exposed.

Why? !

Clearly, Kobayashi had no intention of explaining to him.

Turning around, the man screamed in despair, "Why...why! Help me! Help me! You're human, aren't you?! How can you ignore me?!"

"Because you did something wrong."

Xiaolin's eyes were incredibly cold.

Under the man's utterly bewildered gaze, Kobayashi said, "I'm tolerant. I can accept both demi-humans and 'heretics,' but only if both parties agree. You, or rather, all of you, are just unprovoked perpetrators and tyrannical abusers. You're venting your desires on others, so you don't deserve to be saved."

"Varied……?!!!"