Isekai Adventure in the Dimensional Cube

This day, the weather is exceptionally good.

The sky is as clear as a wash, bright and cloudless, allowing the warm sunlight to fall on the earth, causing the surface of the towering alabaster giant tower to be bathed in a layer of brilliance.

In the center of the city, amidst the central square connected by eight avenues, as always, numerous adventurers form a crowd, continuously entering the Babel Tower, descending into the underground city.

The only difference from usual is that today, a section in front of Babel Tower is occupied by people.

It is the expedition team of the Loki Clan.

Urban top-tier adventurers, pushing crates of goods, carrying large backpacks, and fully armed, gather here, causing surrounding adventurers to stop and look in this direction.

"Yo! We are here!"

At some point, accompanied by such a hearty voice, a forging master wearing an eye patch on his left eye approaches.

It's none other than the leader of the Hephaestos Clan—Chun Kobrand.

This forging master, who often dressed inappropriately for forging in the past, is not only equipped with weapons today but also dressed in gear for labyrinth exploration.

Her attire includes the bright red hakama unique to the Far East, continent-style combat clothes, plus guards for hands and shoulders. Her lower and upper body are armed differently from different places.

The weapon she carries is a katana sheathed in a pitch-black scabbard, with a large weapon box on her back.

Behind Chun, approximately twenty advanced forgers of the Hephaestos Clan made their entrance, joining their leader to meet the Loki Clan.

"Are we not late?"

Because Finn is doing final confirmations and checks, Chun did not waste his time after greeting him and soon approached Reiger with a wide grin.

"...Ms. Chun."

Ais was right beside Reiger and greeted Chun as she approached.

"Long time no see, Sword Princess."

Chun also greeted Ais.

"Don't worry, you're right on time. It's not time to depart yet," Reiger responded first to Chun, then curiously glanced at the equipment box on her back and asked, "What weapons are stored in there?"

"Well, once we reach the deeper layers, you'll find out. It's not time to reveal them yet," Chun said mysteriously and immediately leaned closer to Reiger, adding, "I've heard from the main goddess you entrusted her with crafting a weapon containing Divine Craftsmanship, right?"

Saying this, Chun's eyes gleamed.

"A weapon containing Divine Craftsmanship?"

Ais was slightly taken aback and then looked at Reiger with eager eyes.

Even the team members nearby, who were lucky enough to hear the conversation, turned their heads as if electrified, including several advanced forgers of the Hephaestos Clan, who, like Chun, looked at Reiger with glowing eyes, extremely intense.

"You already know?" Reiger was somewhat overwhelmed by Chun's enthusiasm, pushing her face away from a close distance while saying helplessly, "Didn't the Hephaestos goddess say it's supposed to be secret? How can she just say it out loud?"

"What's there to keep secret? Isn't it right to let people know?" Chun said somewhat dissatisfied, yet excited, "I won't pursue the fact that just after acquiring the highest masterpiece from Sir, you turned around and asked the main goddess for crafting a new weapon. But you have to show me that weapon!"

"The main goddess already handed the weapon to you, right?"

"Quick, show it!"

Indeed, Reiger's commission to the forging god Hephaestos has been completed. The promised weapon has been crafted and handed to Reiger.

Reiger just collected the order yesterday to ensure there's no delay in today's expedition.

However...

"I think it's better if you don't see it."

Reiger said this.

"Why?" Chun immediately asked discontentedly, "What's wrong with letting the master see it? I want to experience the pinnacle of Divine Craftsmanship!"

For a forging master pursuing the supreme domain, attempting to create a weapon akin to mythological divine artifacts, a weapon containing Divine Craftsmanship is nothing short of their dreamlike fantasy.

Just getting a glimpse at such a creation crafted with technology reaching the Divine Realm would be a rare opportunity for any forger.

Chun didn't aspire to glimpse the technique in the masterpiece crafted by the main goddess, which is far beyond her current reach.

She merely wished to cast her eyes over it, inspiring some creativity; that would be the best reward.

Not only Chun thought this way, but Ais also became interested in it.

Crafted personally by the forging god and containing Divine Craftsmanship, the work must surely be a weapon far surpassing top-grade armament, right?

The blonde-haired, golden-eyed swordswoman had almost no genuine interest in life besides getting stronger, save for two preferred things.

One is a street treat known as fried potato balls.

Another is a weapon that can accompany a swordsman.

Therefore, hearing Chun say Reiger owns a weapon personally crafted by the forging god, she couldn't help but want to take a look.

Yet, Reiger still refused.

"It's not that I don't want to show you, but this thing can't just be revealed." Reiger shrugged, saying, "Yesterday, when I went to take the weapon from the goddess Hephaestos, she hesitated, saying she didn't know whether she should hand such a weapon to me, to a child of the Lower World."

Hearing this, everyone was momentarily stunned.

"Why?"

Chun asked perplexedly.

"The reason is simple."

Reiger looked at Chun and said calmly.

"That weapon is too dangerous."

"If used improperly, it could bring disaster not only to the user themselves but also lead to terrible consequences."

"So, not to mention showing it to you all, even I don't dare to casually take it out."

"For this expedition and all future battles, unless absolutely necessary, I won't easily use it."

"This is also my promise to Goddess Hephaestos, to never misuse that weapon."

Upon hearing this, everyone held their breath.

"...To warrant this level of caution from the main god?" Chun also fell silent for a long time, then said with a hint of regret: "It seems indeed a dangerous weapon has been born. All right, I won't dwell on that weapon anymore."

Beside her, Ais lowered her eyelids.

She really wanted to see it.

"Even the God of Forging, Goddess Hephaestos, calls it a dangerous weapon..."

This kind of weapon must be very powerful, right?

The blonde girl with golden eyes thought so, her mind even drifting off.

Until—

"All personnel, attention!"

Finn's voice suddenly resounded, capturing the attention of everyone present.

Reiger and Ais quickly snapped back to reality, turning their gazes toward the direction of the voice.

There, Finn stood at the forefront of the assembled expedition force, with Revilia and Grace standing on either side, facing away from the entrance of the Babel Tower, addressing everyone present.

"The personnel are all assembled, the expedition is about to officially begin!"

"This time, not only are our elite members of the Loki Clan participating, but we also have the renowned Forging Master faction, the Hephaestos Clan, assisting, as we stride toward the ultimate goal of this journey!"

"Our goal has always been just one, to reach the untouched floor—the 59th floor!"

The Clan Leader declared with a voice far greater than his small stature.

That powerful and resolute voice, uncompromising, ignited a flame in everyone's eyes.

A flame of conviction.

A flame of battle spirit.

"You are brave warriors on par with ancient heroes, you are first-class adventurers gathered under the great Loki, and you are our proud companions!"

"You will join us in challenging the unknown buried under this land, fighting for humanity, and for the world!"

"I believe that we will ultimately return victorious, overturning the failures of the last expedition, and like the male god (Zeus) and the goddess (Hera) who once fought valiantly on this land, we will achieve the strongest!"

Finn glanced around at all the members, then looked at the surroundings.

Numerous adventurers were watching this side.

Many civilians were watching this side.

Countless deities were watching this side.

Emotions such as anticipation, curiosity, envy, jealousy, admiration, reverence, hatred... appeared in their eyes, making the Loki Clan the focal point of everyone present in every sense.

Witnessing this scene, Finn took a deep breath, as if addressing everyone present, every adventurer, or the entire world, and gave the command.

"Set off!"

The next second...

""""""Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh———!!!"""""

An astonishing battle cry erupted from everyone's mouths, soaring to the skies.

Theona, Theone, and even Bert roared, igniting the battle spirit, boosting confidence, prompting Rephia, Raul, Angel, and others beside them to shout in tandem.

Ais did not shout, but she gripped the love sword at her waist tightly, with the flames also burning in her golden eyes.

Reiger, however, smiled faintly, watching it all, before suddenly lifting his head, looking toward the top of the Babel Tower.

There, a gaze seemed to descend, meeting his eyes.

Across an immense distance, Reiger seemed to see the owner of that gaze, his own gaze exceptionally calm.

"...Have you noticed me?"

Meanwhile, at the topmost floor of the Babel Tower, in front of a massive floor-to-ceiling window, the Beauty God held a wine glass of red wine, looking down at the master of "the hole" that seemed capable of devouring everything, with a stunning smile appearing on her nation-toppling alluring face.

"Entering the underground city at this time, I wonder if I'll run into that child?"

"With Ota there, it should be fine."

"If that's the case, let me watch."

"Watch you, who have never known what the brilliance of a soul is, when you meet the bravest warrior, what you can truly achieve."

The Beauty God smiled, filled with anticipation.

In that look, she seemed both like a lofty goddess and a cruel witch.