Author: Yume Neiji

The adventurer Nils was walking through Flocia, bathed in the glow of the setting sun. Truth be told, he shouldn’t have been outside. He had been summoned to the Odis Temple, where someone new—someone he had formed a party with for the very first time—was waiting for him.

He knew that much. And yet, his feet carried him onward, away from the temple, of their own accord.

He found himself at the harbor.

The lake was dyed crimson by the blazing sunset. It looked as though the entire world were wrapped in fire, stirring something deep within his memories.

“…Ugh…”

Nils clutched his head.

The blond hair he grabbed was damp with sweat. Ever since the boy, Rion, had blown the awakening horn, Gjallarhorn, something had felt wrong.

He took a deep breath and faced the lake once more.

A massive bridge wide enough for several carriages to pass up on stretched across the water, connecting the city of Flocia to Dungeon Island. Had Nils been a bird, it would have looked like a single line drawn across the surface of the lake.

For a bridge of such scale to rise up from beneath the water, the city must have fallen into utter chaos. What stood out even more was the tower rising from the middle of the bridge. Its white outer walls had turned red in the light of the setting sun.

A breeze swept across the surface of the lake.

The dull ache in his head slowly began to return.

“…I—”

As if fleeing from the twilight itself, Nils turned his back on the lake.

He pushed his way forward, bumping into people as he went. Perhaps because of his tall frame, several passersby recognized him as the adventurer Nils and called out to him with worried voices. But the nausea and the sense of wrongness only continued to grow. It was as though something were stirring deep inside his chest—something unknown, something he did not recognize, beginning to awaken.

The images of the two gods he had seen inside Flocia dungeon crossed his mind: Freyr, the god of fertility, and his sister, Freyja. Investigations had revealed that both had been mere “replicas”, constructs of woven magic.

A mutter slipped from his lips.

“G-gods…?”

How long had he been walking?

Nils found himself in an abandoned warehouse district, devoid of people. The instincts granted by his Swordmaster skill caught the presence behind him.

“Who’s there?”

When Nils turned around, he saw a slender man standing behind him.

“…Have you forgotten me? I am Rata—Ratatoskr the Bone-Scavenger.”

Nils frowned.

“…Rata?”

“How lonely that is to hear. Though, considering you sealed your memories yourself, it’s only natural.”

A vague fragment of knowledge surfaced in Nils’s mind.

Seiðr magic. Magic that worked upon the human mind.

“You cast Seiðr upon yourself with your own hand, sealing away your true memories. With no memory remaining, your disguise would have been perfect. Not even the presence of a god could leak out.”

Pain split his head, as though it were about to burst.

“That body is entirely human now. After Ymir-sama devoured your skills, it became nothing more than an empty shell. You are merely residing within it.”

The man calling himself Rata curled his lips into a grin and held out a metal fragment no larger than a thumb.

“A magic key that opens a hidden area of Flocia. I’ve returned this one to you. It’s especially potent in magical power.”

The object he presented did indeed resemble the dungeon’s magic keys Nils had seen before. It was slightly larger, and at its center, a gemstone was set, gleaming faintly in the dying light.

“The dream is over.”

Nils shook his head in resistance, but Rata forced the metal fragment into his hand.

“It’s about time you used your insurance. The dungeon’s master key—the master key of the dungeon—belongs in the hands of its lord. In other words, yours.”

The pain in Nils’s head intensified.

“Remember the thing most precious to you. The gift from your younger sister, the goddess Freyja—the necklace Brísingamen!”

Nils drew a scorched necklace from within his clothing. Several metal fragments were bound together by a slender chain, now blackened and ruined. He himself remembered it as something left behind by a sister who had been abducted.

But now, he understood that memory was wrong.

It had not simply been left behind—it had been entrusted to him.

The dulled necklace flared into radiant gold. The metal fragment he had received slid into place at the center, resting at his collarbone. Grime and rust peeled away. In his hands, the necklace shone with a beautiful golden brilliance.

—Onii-sama….

He thought he heard the voice call to him.

Surely it was only an illusion…

—After all, it had been a thousand years since he had last heard it.

“…I am—”

Nils the adventurer, searching for his missing sister. But that too, was a temporary truth—a fabricated memory. In order to travel the world and draw near to the awakened gods, he had deliberately shaped his own mind that way.

Seiðr magic had made it possible.

The necklace Nils wore was a safeguard against losing his true self. It had once been a divine artifact belonging to his sister and because of that, the core of his heart—the feelings he held for her—had never faded.

Before beginning his long wanderings, Nils had removed many of the metal fragments from the necklace. Each fragment became a magic key capable of manipulating the doors of Flocia dungeon.

That was only natural. They were, after all, parts of a divine relic belonging to the master of the dungeon—the god of fertility.

—Onii-sama….

Recalling the voice that echoed in his mind, Nils clenched the necklace tightly.

Leaning back against the wall, Rata spoke.

“Have you awakened?”

“…Yes.”

Nils tightened his grip on the necklace his sister had entrusted to him.

With steady steps, he walked through the warehouse district and made his way back to the harbor once more. The white tower rose upward, stretching toward the heavens.

“My resolve was set long ago. My sister—Freyja—I will not let anyone take her.”

(Even if it is only a fragment of her power.)

He added the thought silently in his heart, then turned to face Rata.

The monster, disguised as a slender merchant, clapped his hands together in obvious delight.

“Splendid! The reconnaissance is complete, and the preparations to draw attention to the dungeon are already in motion. Ymir-sama will arrive before long. With you at our side—this is most reassuring.”

Rata’s shoulders shook as he raised a hand to cover his mouth.

He was barely containing his laughter.

After a moment, Rata straightened himself.

“…Well then. It seems only proper to address you this way now—Lord Freyr, God of Fertility.”

Nils looke up. As though searing it into his eyes, he stared at the tower dyed red by the setting sun.

“I won’t hesitate again.”

Nils—no, Freyr, the God of Fertility—turned on his heel alongside Rata and vanished into the deepening shadows of Flocia.

◆◆◆

I stood on the top floor of the temple, gazing out over Flocia at night. The window was open and being five stories up, the wind reached me easily. Through gaps in the thick clouds, a bright moon cast its light across the lake. The tall tower was dyed silver, stretching upward as though it might pierce the clouds themselves.

Had I been looking at it with a clear, unburdened heart, it might have felt like a dreamlike sight. One I would surely have told Lu and my mother about after returning to the royal capital.

But right now, all that escaped me was a sigh.

“Nils-san…. I couldn’t find him…”

I leaned out the window again and again, searching for any sign of him. Yet even when I used the Blessing of the God of Hunting, there was no trace of him to be found.

Earlier, everyone except Nils-san had gathered in the chamber of the Frost Orb. Pauline-san and Lu were there too—we needed to share what had happened in the dungeon and talk things through.

I had asked around then as well, but no one knew where Nils-san had gone.

“Did he go off on his own to look for his sister?”

That thought only made me worry more.

The gold coin trembled, and Solana’s voice reached me.

『You’re worried.』

“Yeah.”

Nils-san felt like an older brother to me. His swordsmanship reminded me a little of my father’s. Having someone like that become part of our party had made me genuinely happy.

And yet—

『You should rest for now. There’s no way to know whether this tower was unexpected for our enemies as well. But at this point, anything could happen…』

I nodded and whispered softly.

“Status”

Status:

Rion (14 years old, Male) Level: 27 Skill『Alarm』: ➥ 【Wake Up】⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅Wakes up a sleeping person refreshed. ➥ 【Unseal】 ⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅Cancel any type of sleep. Skill『Sun’s Divine Protection』 ➥ 【White Flame】⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅Recovery. The blessing of the sun also exorcises curses. ➥ 【Golden Flame】⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅Improves physical ability. Further effect for a limited time. ➥ 【Sword of the Daughter of the Sun】…… Imbues the Daughter of the Sun in a weapon. ➥ 【Light of the Sun Awakening】…… Imbues the Daughter of the Sun in a weapon. Skill 『God of Thunder’s Divine Protection』 ➥ 【Hammer of the God of Thunder】⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅Shoots a powerful lightning attack. ➥ 【Will of the War God】⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅When facing an enemy stronger than oneself, it increases the power one’s blow. ➥ 【Mjolnir】 ⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅Borrows the legendary war hammer from the God of Thunder. Skill 『Divine Protection of the God of Hunting 』 ➥ 【Wild Heart】⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅Detection. With magical power consumption, effects can be further increased. ➥ 【■■■■】 Skill 『Divine Protection of the God of Medicine』 ➥ 【Valkyria’s Spoon】…… Recovery. Consumes magical power to expand the range. ➥ 【Sigris’ Spear】⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅a ranged support. The magical effect is channeled into the spear, delivering it to the target. Skill 『God of Mischief’s Divine Protection』 ➥ 【Duplicity】…… It can be used in combination with the two divine protection. ➥ 【Friend of Spirits】…… Draws upon the power of spirits. ➥ 【■■■■】

When I returned from the dungeon, there were once again portions of my status I couldn’t read. It was probably power that the gods intended to grant me but I still couldn’t use yet. A new power on the verge of awakening.

If it awakened in tomorrow’s battle, I would become stronger again.

I spoke to Solana.

“.…It’s fine. I’ll find Freyja-sama. No matter what.”

I gazed up at the silver tower, its surface gleaming softly in the light.

A strong wind swept through, carrying moisture with it. It’s a wind that felt like a storm about to break.

“Tomorrow will be rough.”

I nodded in response to Solana’s words and stepped away from the window.

The next morning, we would once again investigate the tower.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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As Rion began searching for Nils, the gods were moving as well.

Five of them floated in the blue sky.

“After the world was sealed, Freyja… she must have been caught up in some event. That much I believe to be certain.”

As the first god to awaken, Solana seemed to take it upon herself to speak first. After that, she fell silent, passing the weight of words to the next speaker.

It was the young man clad in hunting attire who picked up the conversation.

“But you see…”

The God of Hunting, Uru, crossed his arms and stroked his chin thoughtfully. The brown braids of his hair fluttered lightly in the breeze.

“What sort of event was it? Even if you know there’s prey, if you don’t know what kind, it’s as though you know nothing at all.”

When it came to matters of battle, Uru’s gaze sharpened, becoming almost predatory.

He continued,

“From my perspective, Odin must have had a hand in it. That’s what the broken messages hinted at. If that’s true—”

Uru’s eyes swept across the gathered gods, measuring each of them.

“So, what do we do? Do we go rescue Freyja as things stand?”

Deciding the next move was inevitable. Quick as the wind, Uru drove the discussion forward, his instincts honed for instant judgment—as any hunter’s would be.

“The strategy’s unclear. It’s… unnervingly strange. And, just so you know, I’m against it. As a scout, I don’t want anyone rushing blindly into the fog.”

The next to raise her voice was a woman clad in azure armor. Sigris, the God of Medicine, let her eyes—matching the hue of her armor—sweep over those gathered.

“I wish for Freyja to be saved. Her power is too valuable to lose… especially her mastery of Seiðr magic. Among the sibling gods of fertility, she is unparalleled.”

Seiðr was a magic that acted upon the mind. It was the key to unlocking the full potential of the awakening horn, Gjallarhorn. Its power was bound and restrained precisely by Seiðr. One of the reasons Rion and the others came to Flocia was the existence of this magic.

“And…”

Sigris hesitated, then continued, her voice softening.

“Freyja and we, the Valkyrie warrior maidens, have fought together before. Our powers can strengthen one another. I admit… this is partly a personal wish, that a comrade might be saved.”

She let her armored hand rest over her chest, the metal ringing faintly.

A brief silence fell over the room, heavy yet respectful. It was Solana, as facilitator, who finally broke it.

“Anyone else…?”

A cough rumbled through the air, making the atmosphere itself shiver. The Thunder God, Thor, finally spoke.

Towering over two meters, his massive frame was easily twice the size of the other gods.

“…I’m in favor of rescuing Freyja too. You all felt the magic atop the Tower of the Lake, didn’t you?”

His voice rolled across the hall like distant thunder.

“I sense Freyja’s presence there. Nine times out of ten, she’s still in that tower. But—”

He paused, eyes narrowing.

“That magic… it’s far too strong for a single god to wield. There’s something suspicious about it, some kind of strategy at play.”

With a resounding thud, Thor struck his broad shoulder with his golden hammer, Mjolnir.

“But putting it another way, we can’t just leave her there. Imagine a power like that falling into the hands of monsters… or Ymir, the primordial titan. How much stronger would that make our enemies?”

A tension ran through the gathered gods.

Atop the suddenly appearing tower, all of them could feel a force of magic so immense it seemed impossible for a single deity to hold. It rivaled the combined strength of all five gods present—or perhaps even that of Odin himself.

Yet the presence they felt, unmistakably, was Freyja’s alone.

Solana took up the thought.

“If that’s the case… the power of Seiðr itself could fall into enemy hands.”

The thought of a power that could manipulate the mind—memories, will—falling into the hands of monsters was terrifying. No one could imagine what horrors they might force humans to commit.

It was entirely possible that the enemy had already acquired something close to that power, though the gods remained unaware.

Thor scratched his cheek with fingers like thick logs.

“As for her brother Freyr… we still got no lead. Whatever we found on the fourth level, it seemed just like a replica—much like Freyja herself…”

He paused, then turned his gaze toward the Sun Goddess, who nodded silently.

“So? Solana, what do you think?”

His wide, probing eyes urged her.

“Hm…”

The youngest of the five gods drew in a steady breath. Her golden eyes betrayed no hesitation. The pause was merely to let all eyes settle on her.

“I think we should go and save Freyja. And the reason is—”

Even as she spoke, Solana’s posture remained proud, unflinching.

“Rion, and the others… they would want to save Freyja too. They are the ones living in this world. If that is their wish, then I believe we should help them. We should help mortals.”

Uru and Sigris blinked in surprise. Thor squinted, then let out a booming laugh.

“For the sake of mortals, huh? I see… that’s very like you.”

Solana crossed her arms, raising the index finger of her right hand.

“Our will is important of course. However, the world does not belong to the gods alone. In the end, it is Rion and the others whose intentions we must respect. And mortals would never allow such a concentration of magic to remain unchecked—it sits right in front of the city, after all.”

A quiet, almost mischievous chuckle escaped and echoed in the room.

She pressed back a lock of golden hair and cast a questioning glance to her right.

“…What is it, Loki?”

“Oh? Nothing. I just think you’re right. We can’t ignore human opinions. It’s pointless for the gods to be talking among ourselves, isn’t it?”

The dark-robed god stretched both arms out from his sleeves and shrugged.

“But, Solana… watching you is fascinating. Just by interacting closely with a human boy, it seems even the gods start to change.”

Solana lowered her gaze, contemplative.

“…Indeed. The gods have not always trusted humans—or even dwarves, for that matter.”

Loki grinned broadly and waved his hand as if dismissing it all.

“I’m not teasing you, mind you… But gods do change, too. Solana, even you—thanks to a certain dwarf—seem to be… changing a little lately.”

Solana tilted her head, puzzled.

“What are you talking about?”

“Oh? You’re not aware? Don’t you feel… a little flustered around Rion?”

“Eh… that’s…”

Her golden eyes flickered uncertainly. The other gods suddenly began to flail in panic.

“L-Loki!?”

“Um, uh! I think that kind of thing should be handled slowly!”

“Y-Yeah! That’s right! I agree!”

Loki, in contrast, narrowed his eyes into a mischievous half-lidded gaze.

“…Why is it you all are the ones panicking the most?”

Solana’s eyes darted about, still clearly confused. She didn’t fully understand what he was implying.

“F-flustered…? Hah!”

She placed both hands over her chest, over her dress.

“Th-this… this part?”

“…I never imagined you’d be so innocent you can’t even handle a little teasing.”

Loki groaned and covered his eyes, then snapped his fingers with his free left hand.

“Doesn’t anyone notice? Even gods change. Just as Solana has grown and changed… gods can change too.”

His gaze lifted to the sky above. If this had been the real sky, Odin would surely have been there, watching.

Solana drew herself together and lowered her chin.

“The awakening goddess of fertility… isn’t necessarily on our side?”

“Exactly. If there’s a history we don’t know, that’s a possibility.”

Loki replied.

He continued, voice calm but firm.

“Still, I agree with Solana. That tower cannot be ignored. Even cautiously, we have to go.”

As if struck by a sudden thought, he added,

“If Odin has crafted a strategy, then we are already part of it. We know there’s a plan—but we may have no choice but to act according to it. Perhaps that’s the situation we’re already bound to.”

A wind began to stir in the sky above the gathered gods. Though it was a fabricated, semi-artificial sky, it was not completely sealed off from the world outside. If the weather changed, they would feel it.

Thor crossed his massive arms, feeling the air.

“…The wind’s picking up out there. Looks like a storm is brewing.”

And with that, the discussion ended.

Like Rion and the others, the gods had no choice but to move forward.

Solana, the Sun’s Daughter; Thor, the Thunder God; Loki, the God of Mischief; Uru, the God of Hunting and Sigris, the God of Medicine—each of them are already “unsealed” and rests within the gold coin that Rion carried.

The sky they hovered in wasn’t the real one.

It had been recreated from their combined magic.

When the gods held serious discussions, it was inconvenient not to be able to see one another. That was why a sky for conversation was projected inside the gold coin. The blue sky, surrounded by clouds, was essentially a council chamber for the gods.

“Freyja…”

The first to speak was Solana, her golden hair shimmering in the sunlight.

To grasp the situation, the Sun Goddess began by confirming the basics.

First: the labyrinth in Flocia had indeed contained the power of the Goddess of Fertility.

Second: the “unsealing” had triggered some mechanism, and a tower had risen from the lake.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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A tower had suddenly appeared in the lake.

From above, it looked like an arrow driven straight into the water.

Originally, the lake had the trading city of Flocia on its northern shore, with Dungeon Island, which housed a dungeon, in its centre. The tower now rose in perfect alignment with both the city and the island. A bridge, equally as white as the tower, connected the commercial city of Flocia to the dungeon island in a single straight line.

From the skies above this transformed lake, an old man gazed downward.

This was the realm of the gods—known as the “Heavenly Realm.”

The old man peered at the world below, squinting one eye as he stroked his beard.

From the top of the tower, a rainbow arched upward. The bridge of the rainbow stretched toward the heavens, though it vanished halfway through.

Odin recalled how, long ago, the rainbow bridge—Bifrost—had connected the mortal realm and the heavens, and slowly shook his head.

It was still too early to linger in memories.

He raised a hand toward the tower, narrowing one eye.

“…So this is where the main source of magic was concealed.”

A smile formed beneath his beard.

“Quite well done. Yes… awaken it properly.”

Nodding with satisfaction, Odin furrowed his brow.

“…Strange. Why does that presence accompany Rion and Solana?”

Everything was proceeding without a hitch. Yet Odin felt unease at the unexpected aura.

A ripple disturbed the carefully calculated flow, as precise as the passage of the seasons.

He raised his right hand. Two ravens swooped down, landing on his shoulders.

“…Go.”

At his command, the two black birds took flight.

The descending birds quickly became mere black specks in the distance.

Below, Rion and the others were just emerging onto the surface.

◆◆◆

A pure-white tower had suddenly appeared in the lake.

An equally white bridge had emerged, connecting Flocia to the dungeon island, forming the very base of the tower.

While rescuing those trapped in the dungeon, we also had to investigate the tower. But… the results were completely unknown.

We followed the bridge and approached the tower—but there was no entrance anywhere. According to Loki, it seemed to be sealed with magic, similar to the mechanisms within the dungeon itself.

——The metal pieces we carry won’t unlock it.

——Most likely, there exists a master key somewhere. Probably  some kind of a central key for the entire dungeon that can be used to access to this tower.

That was our analysis—but we couldn’t focus on investigation alone.

The tower, now visible from the city, was causing panic among the people. The raised bridge had lifted several ships, throwing the harbor into chaos.

Even more troubling was that the dungeon and the city were now connected by the bridge. Previously, the lake had served as a natural moat—but now the monsters of the dungeon could potentially cross into the city.

Safi and I, along with the raven warriors, had our hands full.

We returned to Flocia to recruit adventurers to protect the city. Then we went back into the dungeon to ferry the rescued people onto ships. We scanned every hidden area to ensure no one had been left behind. It wasn’t until dusk that things finally settled.

Having entered the dungeon at dawn, it meant we had been running all day. Exhausted, I returned to the Odis Temple and made my way first to the basement, where Safi was waiting.

“…I see now.”

The dwarf blacksmith held my short sword up to the magical stone lamp on the workbench. The blade gleamed sharply. Safi nodded with satisfaction and gently tapped the hilt with her hammer.

The short sword had been put through heavy use, so it seemed she was re-engraving the magical runes.

Without turning her back, Safi spoke.

“We achieved victories and results… but new problems arose.”

I nodded as I waited in the chair.

Watching the short sword take shape, Safi asked,

“The city’s gotten pretty chaotic. What’s your plan from here?”

“Well…”

After the tower investigation had settled for the moment, Safi had returned to the forge in the temple’s basement. So it made sense that she’d be curious about what was happening outside.

I answered,

“We’re suspending the dungeon investigation for today. Once the sun rises tomorrow, we’ll resume looking into the tower.”

I pressed a finger to my chin, thinking.

The suddenly appeared tower clearly held secrets. Even after returning from the dungeon, the gods had been unusually quiet.

I wanted to ask them for answers but there was this sense that I shouldn’t approach lightly.

“Rion, thank you for today.”

Before I realized it, Safi had finished her work. The little blacksmith held out the dagger in her small hands and said it.

Sitting down while she stood, our eyes met at roughly the same height.

I think I blinked in surprise.

“…Just now?”

“Ah! For helping me!”

Safi pouted.

“When my pack was broken and the monsters attacked!”

“Ah… yeah.”

“I really am a liability in the dungeon, huh…”

“It’s fine. Honestly, I’m glad you were there, Safi.”

There were probably things that would’ve gone wrong without her—like the lift mechanism, or the dungeon’s layout.

The dwarf blacksmith’s cheeks flushed, and she crossed her arms, leaning away slightly.

“W-well… maybe.”

The gold coin trembled.

…What was that?

Normally, the gods’ voices would speak right after such movement—but this time, nothing followed.

Safi pointed her thumb toward the workbench.

“Alright. I’m going to examine the magical keys here.”

On the tray before her lay several metal pieces. Each was about the size of a thumb, yet they were the proper “keys” that had unlocked the dungeon’s hidden doors.

There might even be hints here for entering the tower.

“I’m one of Alvis’ Ten Blacksmiths! From mousetraps to locks, if it’s metal, I can handle it!”

I couldn’t help but chuckle—after all, in the royal temple, she had created all sorts of things. The dwarves made not only weapons and armor, but also mechanisms to protect the temple—even mousetraps.

…Though, admittedly, the mousetraps were so elaborate that they moved in impressively dramatic ways.

Ahem. Safi cleared her throat.

“…Let’s go back a bit. That magical key… it’s quite worn, but I think it was originally a single divine artifact.”

“A god’s tool, you mean?”

“Yeah. Probably some kind of ornament. A bracelet, a chain, or something that had been broken apart and repurposed as keys.”

I tried to imagine what kind of divine artifact it had been.

A bracelet perhaps? A belt?

I stood from my chair and sheathed my short sword at my side.

“Thanks for the sword. After this, it seems we have business in the ‘Frost Orb’ chamber.”

I parted ways with Safi and left the underground forge.

In the temple, the warrior corps bustled back and forth.

I searched for that person—Nils-san.

He, too, had been summoned to the ‘Frost Orb’ chamber. There, I would see Pauline and Lu as well.

But first, I wanted to speak with him. I wondered what he was feeling. After all, the person we had rescued in the dungeon wasn’t his sister.

I recalled his weaknesses and scratched the back of my head.

“…I hope he isn’t lost somewhere again.”

However, Nils-san was not easy to find.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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Sealed within the ice was a goddess of breathtaking beauty. If one were to compare her to a human, she would likely be a few years older than me—perhaps seventeen, or eighteen at most.

Hair like threads of woven gold rippled softly within the transparent ice. Her lowered face seemed tinged with quiet sorrow, and her unwavering blue eyes resembled those of an exquisitely crafted doll.

She was clad in a pale green dress. A golden ribbon gathered her hair of the same shimmering hue. Her left hand rested lightly against her throat, while her right arm extended gently forward, as if to grasp something, or perhaps to hold it out.

I had never before known what it meant to be struck silent by beauty. A single, magnificent flower, imprisoned in ancient ice—that was the image that came to mind.

“So this is… Freyja-sama”

At last, that was all I managed to say.

From the gold coin, the voices of the gods Thor and Uru rang out.

『Freyja…』

『She hasn’t changed at all. Not one bit—just as she was long ago.』

It sounded as though they were reminiscing about the past.

『It certainly is Freyja. As beautiful as ever, more beautiful than the early winter dawns or the budding spring trees. But…』

Though I couldn’t see him, I felt Loki’s gaze sharpen.

『Something’s missing. The absence of monsters nearby is strange too…』

As I listened to the gods’ voices, my hand brushed against the awakening horn, Gjallarhorn, at my side. Its engraved patterns shimmered like an aurora, as if it were urging me, “Blow me”.

I turned to look back at my companions.

Felix-san, Mia-san, Safi, and even the raven warriors behind us—all of them were utterly captivated by the goddess before them.

“…A goddess?”

The one who murmured it softly was Nils-san. His dull blond hair fluttered in the cold wind.

Remembering the god Freyr we had seen on the fourth floor, I answered him.

“They seem to be sibling gods. An older brother—and a younger sister.”

Nils-san still looked stunned. He only gave a faint nod, drawing his chin back slightly.

This time, Solana’s voice rang out.

『Rion. You’re going to do it, right?』

“—Yeah.”

If the Goddess of Fertility were to awaken, the rescue operation in this dungeon would become far easier. More than that, it would give me yet more power to protect Lu.

I knew we had to save the people who had been captured. I understood that. But for me—the power to save my sister was the strongest implication.

Felix-san planted his staff firmly on the ground.

“At this point, delaying the release of the seal would only be more dangerous. Please, Rion.”

I turned to face the ice.

Looking up at the goddess sealed within the icicle, I brought the awakening horn—Gjallarhorn—to my lips and blow into it.

Skill, please awaken the goddess!

——Wake up!

The sound of the horn rang out.

Light spilled forth from the awakening horn, Gjallarhorn, and in an instant, it raced through the entire space. The air, the ice, the walls—all of it began to tremble. The tremor grew into vibration, then into a deep, resonant roar.

The ice shattered one piece after another, dissolving into glittering motes of light that melted into the air. Cracks spread across the ice that bound Freyja-sama.

From the gold coin, Solana murmured—

『It’s breaking.』

Shards of radiant ice danced through the air.

Bathed in a rain of golden mana, the goddess slowly rose, then drifted down toward us.

She truly is beautiful. Her petal-soft lips slowly parted.

—Odin…

A voice echoed inside my head, and I reached up to touch my ear.

She was surely speaking right in front of me, yet the sound felt wrong. It wasn’t traveling through the air at all—it was resonating directly inside my mind.

—Odin…

What followed was badly distorted, so muddled that I couldn’t make out a single word.

Freyja-sama’s body was wrapped in a faint glow. Worse still, it was slowly beginning to fade, and without thinking I rushed toward her.

“G-Goddess!”

One after another, the gods leapt forth from the gold coins. With the horn having been blown, they had all regained their strength.

Solana, her white garments fluttering, caught Freyja and held her steady.

“…F-Freyja!”

The Sun Goddess was wreathed in gentle light. White flame enveloped Freyja-sama’s body.

Solana drew her brows together.

“This is…!”

The giant Thor, Sigris in blue armor, Uru clad in hunting garb—and Loki in a black robe. All of them hovered in the air, gazing down at Freyja.

It felt as though they were holding their breath.

“This vessel…. it’s a replica.”

At Loki’s words, I lifted my face.

“W-what do you mean? A replica?”

“A mass of magic shaped in the likeness of a god. Think of it as a message left behind—one that possesses power.”

I barely understood enough to grasp one thing.

It wasn’t the real her.

In other words—was it an illusion?

Indeed, the fading Freyja-sama didn’t look to be in pain. She had no expression of suffering, no will behind her eyes—like a beautifully made doll.

Loki bit down on his lip.

“Even so… I can’t read the message itself. This replica was woven with extraordinarily strong magic. It must have carried something of great importance, yet…”

A deep crease formed between Loki’s brows. I had never seen a god wear such a sorrowful expression.

“…Was the seal here made so powerful simply to weaken this vessel? If that’s the case, then the one who set such a contrivance must be—!”

Loki looked up, staring up above us.

Questions began to well up inside me one after another. Perhaps it was because my emotions had been thrown into chaos. The vague unease that had sunk deep in my chest surged up all at once.

Did something happen after all the gods were sealed away?

Did Freyja-sama really awaken before? Somewhere in the untold gaps of the kingdom’s history?

Did she knew that Lu possessed the Power of Creation?

…And who was it that hid such events?

“…Ah.”

In my mind, the image of the one-eyed old ancient artifacts dealer surfaced—overlapping with the figure of the Chief God, Odin.

I couldn’t say anything more.

The vibration that had just begun to subside suddenly intensified again. It was strong enough to be called a rumble from the depths of the earth. The remaining masses of ice shattered one after another, and water began to pour in from the places that had been sealed shut by ice.

Felix-san shouted.

“Flood!?”

“You’ve got to be kidding…”

Mia-san groaned. This was the thirteenth floor—deep beneath the lake. I had nothing but a bad feeling about this.

The great hall where we had just fought the boss was now being inundated from all sides, torrents of water rushing in with terrifying force. And on top of that—we could hear the cries of monsters.

“Kikii!”

“Gii!”

From the area where the boss had been, monsters surged in with the current—water wyrmlings, sahagins, and even the kelpies.

Mia-san swung her right hand, chains clanking as she did.

“This is bad. If we turn back now, we might still be able to—”

Everyone turned behind us at once.

At that very moment, the entrance to the unexplored area collapsed. Chunks of ice and rock crashed down, completely sealing the exit.

Mia-san slapped a hand to her forehead.

“We’re trapped…?”

The water level rose at an unbelievable speed. It had only reached our feet moments ago, yet now it was already up to our waists.

Safi screamed and clambered onto one of the soldiers.

“P-please, do something already! I’m about to drown here!”

W-well, you’re the only one whose head is about to go under…

The Thunder God, Thor, ran a hand through his blazing red hair.

“…Dwarf. What lies above this ceiling is still part of the dungeon, right?”

“Y-yes, but—!”

The Thunder God flashed a confident grin.

“Then up is our only option! Grab on!”

Thor whipped his red hair about as he let out a thunderous roar, hurling his hammer, Mjölnir, straight upward.

The falling masses of ice were shattered to pieces. Catching Mjölnir as it returned to his hand, Thor laughed.

“Here we go.”

The five gods wrapped us in light.

In contrast, the goddess we had awakened—Freyja-sama, that vessel of hers—grew dim, then began to fade away.

—Odin…

The repeated words broke off once again, unfinished.

My chest tightened. The weakened goddess somehow reminded me of Lu.

“…I’m sorry. I couldn’t find you. But if you’re nearby, I promise I’ll search for you—and wake you up. Because I… I’m the one who awakens the gods.”

I didn’t know whether words like these meant anything at all.

But for just an instant, the vessel seemed to smile.

Then it faded, and vanished.

“Nils-san!”

Nils-san looked utterly stunned—caught between the collapsing cavern and the disappearance of the goddess.

“…Rion, this… again, I—I—”

“Hold on!”

I gripped Nils-san’s hand tightly.

Solana shouted.

“Hold fast! We’re flying!”

Bathed in her gentle, protective light, we soared higher and higher.

With the gods’ power, we smashed through the cracked ceiling. A surge of water came rushing at us. I cried out, and the water spirit Undine gleamed within my right arm gauntlet. The spirit wrapped us in bubbles, shielding us from the torrent.

Someone was shouting, but the roar of the flood drowned them out.

We shot out into the open. The ceiling we had just burst through seemed to lie directly beneath a waterfall.

“…Amazing.”

The words slipped out of me.

The space ahead was vast—the same one we had descended to on the lift—but the view was like another world. It looked as though a flood had swept everything into a new dimension.

The chamber was shaped like an overturned cup, but waterfalls cascaded along its walls, as if the incoming water had built new boundaries of its own.

Following the flow, my gaze dropped downward.

The water level had risen dramatically. The thirteenth floor—maybe even the twelfth—was now completely submerged. Amid this overwhelming sight of water, a deep, rolling rumble continued.

“I feel an extraordinarily strong magic… similar to Freyja, but far stronger than Surtr—terrifyingly strong.”

The goddess closed her eyes tightly and shook her head.

She pointed toward the edge where the wall met the ceiling.

“That’s outside the dungeon.”

Does that mean the magic lies there?

Felix-san touched his coronet.

“This is way beyond expectations… my head hurts. For now, get us to a safe place!”

Looking down, the flooded lowest level came into view. The thirteenth floor was surely under water, at least.

“…I wonder… what about the other adventurers?”

Felix-san crossed his arms, his expression troubled.

“…The warrior corps should only be down around the tenth floor. Only we, accompanied by the gods, can scout the lowest levels.”

We slowly ascended through the vast chamber.

Me, Mia-san, Felix-san, Nils-san, Safi, and the raven warriors—five gods protecting us—but no one could say what might happen next.

Gradually, the influx of water began to ease.

Beneath us, multiple whirlpools were forming. The water that had rushed in… was it being drained?

“I-I see…”

Safi murmured.

“This space—it temporarily stores water to power something. I knew it was a vertical chamber, but it’s basically a water-pressure mechanism…”

Solana added her insight.

“A strong magic is moving… upward… toward the sky?”

What was actually happening?

My thoughts were a tangled mess, impossible to fully sort out.

A vertical shaft appeared above us—the same lift path we had descended earlier.

Clanking in her blue armor, Sigris pointed upward.

“Alright, everyone! We’re going in!”

Guided by the gods, we plunged into the narrow vertical shaft.

The walls rushed past us at incredible speed. We shot out into the hidden area on the fourth floor where the lift had departed, landing on solid ground.

As the gods returned to the gold coin, adventurers began to gather around.

“Felix-sama… what is this—!”

“The rescue on the fifth floor has been completed. We are now engaged in retrieving those trapped on the sixth floor—”

Felix-san stopped the rapid reports with a tap of his staff.

“Hurry! Gather the survivors and get them outside!”

After waiting for the sixth-floor rescue to finish, we led the survivors out.

And then—we saw something extraordinary.

The calm lake of Flocia. On its tranquil surface rose a tower, pure white, standing tall. So high that its upper reaches vanished into a haze. From its pinnacle, a seven-colored rainbow stretched into the sky.

The gold coin trembled, and Solana’s voice came through.

『Strong magical power comes from the peak.』

Our breaths caught, our hearts racing at the hint of a revealed secret.

Hidden away in Flocia —was the Tower of the Gods.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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