(So that's how it is. All these problems were orchestrated behind the scenes by Hermes? Aphrodite and Astraea's warnings were true after all—Hermes is the mastermind.)
As Charlie ran alongside Mikoto and the others toward Bell's location, he activated his Senrigan. In an instant, he grasped the cause and effect behind Hestia's kidnapping.
The entire sequence unfolded before him as clearly as an open book. His Senrigan revealed the hidden chain of events.
It turned out that while he and Ais had been immersed in their passionate night by the lake, Hermes had already set today's conspiracy into motion.
Activating his ability to see the past, Charlie witnessed the previous night at a bar in Rivira. Concealing most of his appearance to hide his divine identity, Hermes was seen provoking a drunken adventurer named Mord Latro.
Mord harbored deep resentment toward Bell Cranel, envious of his rapid growth and sudden fame.
Today, Mord and his equally frustrated allies decided to take revenge. Using a magic item created by Asfi—given to him by Hermes—a helmet that rendered its wearer invisible, Mord successfully captured Hestia and left a note in the camp tent.
Upon reading the note, Bell immediately rushed to the location where Hestia was being held.
Then, Charlie witnessed Bell being ambushed by Mord and his gang. Mord challenged Bell to a one-on-one duel with the following terms: if Mord won, he would take all of Bell's treasure; if Bell won, Hestia would be freed.
But what followed was not a duel—it was a brutal beating. While Mord, invisible thanks to the helmet, mercilessly pummeled Bell, his allies held Bell down, preventing him from fighting back or dodging.
(A duel? A veteran Level 2 adventurer fighting a rookie using a magic item? That's not a duel—that's cowardice. It's nothing more than the strong oppressing the weak through cheating.)
Charlie couldn't suppress his disgust. Though he knew there were far more bad people than good among adventurers, seeing it firsthand was different from merely hearing about it.
As someone who rarely interacted with other adventurers, this incident broadened his previously isolated perspective.
(The gods really will do anything to alleviate their boredom, huh… To them, the adventurers' earnest struggles and lives are nothing more than entertainment.)
With a deeper understanding of the gods' true nature, Charlie shifted his Senrigan's gaze.
He focused on a specific direction—where Hermes, accompanied by Asfi at his side, was watching Bell's fight from afar, his expression that of an audience member enjoying a dramatic show.
(That Pallum… Her transformation ability is interesting. Similar to Naruto's Henge no Jutsu.)
His gaze shifted again. This time, he saw Lili—cleverly disguised as Almiraj—successfully rescuing Hestia and now rushing toward their location.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Hidden beneath the dense canopy of trees at the forest's edge, Hermes casually shrugged under the sharp, reproachful stare of his loyal follower.
"You said you wanted to see Bell Cranel's strength with your own eyes… Did you come all the way to the Dungeon just to watch something like this?" Asfi scolded, pointing toward Bell being beaten mercilessly below.
"Actually, I was hoping to see him fight a Floor Boss. Unfortunately, that plan didn't work out."
A shadow of disappointment passed through Hermes' eyes as he watched Bell convulse and tremble under Mord's invisible assault.
"This is even more cruel." Asfi retorted, her voice growing sadder and more disgusted.
"You stepped aside to give them your crafted helmet, told all those adventurers about Bell's weaknesses… I'm starting to think you have a personal grudge against him."
"Oh?" Hermes smirked, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. "I'd call it tough love."
"There's no way you can call this love." Asfi countered firmly, her face twisted in disapproval.
"Now listen. Sooner or later, adventurers will show their fangs to Bell. You yourself said it—he's disliked, right? Bell is naive, and at his current level, he'll eventually face something far more cruel and vulgar. I want him to understand this dark side of humanity now, before it destroys him in a much more brutal way."
Hermes paused, his eyes shifting toward Charlie in the distance.
"Although Charlie is in a similar situation—many envy and dislike him—his strength is too terrifying. Low-Class adventurers wouldn't dare approach him, let alone cause trouble. Meanwhile, High-Class adventurers are more cautious and strategic; they wouldn't provoke him without a clear reason. In short, both youths are disliked, but they receive vastly different treatment due to the difference in their power."
"..."
Asfi fell silent. On one hand, she understood Hermes' logic, though the methods used were unacceptable from any human standpoint.
Hermes hadn't just informed Mord how to isolate Bell—he had also provided the magic item enabling this cruel act, all while avoiding provoking the wrath of the Loki Familia by having Hestia kidnapped from their campsite. He even instructed Mord to "entertain" him with a "show."
This went far beyond a simple test.
(Hm?)
As a Level 4 with extraordinary perception, Asfi suddenly sensed a gaze directed at them.
(Could Charlie Avalon have detected our presence?)
From afar, right in the middle of the chaos and commotion, Charlie turned his head—not toward the beaten Bell, nor toward the invisible Mord, but directly toward their hiding place.
His eyes, despite being dozens of meters away, felt as if they were staring straight at Hermes and Asfi's location.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
"We found them!"
Welf, leading the group, signaled with his hand, alerting Ouka, Mikoto, and the others as a large group of adventurers came into view, surrounding the kneeling, battered figure of Bell.
"Hestia-sama isn't here!"
"Hurry, save Bell!"
Mikoto and Ouka exchanged a glance, then swiftly equipped themselves with bows and short arrows from Chigusa's backpack.
"Just so you know." Welf said honestly, "I'm practically useless in direct combat against high-level adventurers. All I can do is seal their magic."
"Understood." Ouka replied with a brief nod, acknowledging each person's role.
Without wasting time, Ouka and Mikoto unleashed their arrows.
*SWISH!* *SWISH!* *SWISH!*
Arrows flew rapidly, forming a relentless barrage toward the group of adventurers.
"The people with Little Rookie! How did they find us?!" One adventurer shouted in shock.
Though the arrows came from behind, the High-Class adventurers quickly drew their weapons and easily deflected them, demonstrating their skill.
Yet, the constant arrow storm from Ouka and Mikoto—firing up to four arrows per second—forced them to move. Several adventurers who had been passively watching Mord's "show" now turned and rushed toward the source of the attack.
"This was part of the plan anyway! Take them out!" Yelled an adventurer in heavy armor.
"Who do they think they are, intimidating the Takemikazuchi Familia?!" Another mocked.
The fastest High-Class adventurers nimbly maneuvered through the arrow rain, shouting threats as they closed in.
*SWISH!* *SWISH!* *SWISH!*
Meanwhile, in the midst of the chaos, Charlie suddenly began walking forward casually. His steps were calm and unhurried, as if strolling through a park rather than a battlefield filled with flying arrows.
"Charlie-dono?!" Mikoto cried out, eyes wide with shock and worry.
She was startled to see him suddenly appear in the line of fire. As a result, several arrows meant for the enemies veered off and struck Charlie instead.
Yet, their fears proved unfounded.
The arrows raining down on Charlie—whether from Mikoto and Ouka or deflected by enemies—produced only faint metallic clinks upon contact with his skin, then bounced off without leaving a single mark.
His Armor of Fafnir, granting immunity to all weapons and magic below Rank B, was a passive ability.
Clearly, arrows fired by Level 2 adventurers lacked the penetration power to even qualify as Rank B.
Charlie continued walking, ignoring the arrows scattering around him like summer rain, his steps steady as he advanced toward the center of the commotion where Bell lay.