Chapter 158

Chapter 159: Simply Knowing What Needs to Be Known (Third Update, Please Subscribe!)

In an instant.

A massive azure firelight erupted.

The colossal jaws formed by Starflame eroded the crystal blocks piled at the cavern entrance, along with the green moss-covered body.

The explosion caused by magic shattered the crystal wall, blasting open the originally blocked cavern entrance and piercing through the passage. A strong wind swept through the Dungeon.

It seemed that the power had been somewhat neutralized by the numerous crystal blocks; otherwise, the moss giant should have been utterly annihilated in the magical bombardment. In the end, a single Magic Stone was left behind from its grievously wounded state.

Otherwise, with such severe injuries, it would have been obliterated by Ize’s enhanced magic.

“The Magic Stone is here, so it seems it really did die…”

A small star chart, entirely azure with some faint starlight, appeared in his palm as Ize used telekinesis to draw the Magic Stone dropped by the moss giant toward him from afar.

Moss giants are recorded to have the ability to split, and this was the first time Ize encountered such a monster, let alone an enhanced one.

Just in case, he had planned to check the map for any oversights.

But seeing the Magic Stone here, everything was fine.

No monster can survive after dropping its Magic Stone; this is an ironclad rule of the Dungeon.

“How about that? Mary, just like I said, I took care of it, right?”

Ize returned to the two onlookers, juggling the Magic Stone in his hand, and gave the mermaid girl a gentle smile.

Suddenly, Mary emerged from the water, her cheeks flushed red, beaming with joy as she crashed her entire body into Ize’s stomach with a loud splash, her fish tail flapping against the water surface.

“—Yeah! Ize is the best! I love you the most!”

She clung to Ize like a little sister attached to her older brother, rubbing against him nonstop, her delight evident, leaving Ize no choice but to respond with a dry laugh.

“Alright, alright, the most favorite…”

In just half a day, Ize managed to upgrade the mermaid girl’s affection from “like” to “love.”

Truly something to celebrate～

“……”

The old sage Fels silently observed from the side.

To be honest, he was now somewhat suspicious.

Could it be that Ize Alward has a bit of a “monster fetish”?

The relationship between him and Mary seemed unusually close… despite meeting less than a day ago.

And it didn’t seem like an act either.

It was indeed suspicious……

However, judging by appearances, Ize Alward didn’t seem like someone who would reject the “heretics.” In fact, one could say he was quite close to them.

So does this “mandatory mission” prepared for Ize still have room to play out?

A black metallic gauntlet reached into the dark robe as Fels touched the paper document in his chest pocket, uncertain.

…

After defeating the moss giant, Mary could finally return to “Secret.” Ize also prepared to return to the surface.

After all, he had spent quite some time in the Dungeon today. He might even miss the Familial Group’s dinner if he returned late.

Saying goodbye to the reluctant little girl and watching her return to the underwater world, Ize also exited the area of “Water Riddle City” and entered the “Great Tree Maze.”

Fels was also accompanying him.

It seemed both had the same idea, choosing paths where there were no signs of other people.

“By the way, why did the famous sage come to me? Acting alone? Or was it Uranus’ instruction?”

Walking through the rarely visited passages of the Great Tree Maze, Ize suddenly asked.

“……Ize Alward, you certainly know a lot.”

After a moment of silence, Fels replied with a complex tone.

Upon hearing this, Ize shrugged.

“Not really, I only know what I need to know. It’s not actually that much.”

Ignoring Ize’s comment, Fels continued:

“After witnessing that situation, you should understand clearly why I sought you out.”

“I can only guess roughly.”

Inside Ize’s mind, a miniature version of himself shrugged helplessly, feigning innocence.

He wasn’t God, knowing everything with eyes closed or open. Meeting Mary today was completely unexpected.

Although he knew that his interaction with Mary would eventually be discovered by Fels and Uranus, he didn’t expect Fels to arrive so quickly.

It felt like they were well-prepared.

Putting aside Fels’ reaction speed for now, speaking of reasons……

“It’s related to Mary and others, the ‘heretics’ born from the Dungeon but possessing reason and autonomous consciousness.”

Hmph, Fels sneered inwardly twice.

You liar, you still claim you don’t know?

How did this person manage to uncover these secrets kept hidden within months of arriving in Orario!?

Doubts continued to rise in Fels’ heart.

Adjusting his emotions and suppressing his doubts, the black hooded robe swayed slightly.

“The ‘Heretic Children (Jenos),’ that’s what we call them… referring to those beings like Mary.”

Jenos, this word among the gods, represents “heresy,” referring to those outsiders excluded from the orthodox.

“They possess high intelligence and rationality, more importantly, they have souls. That is the sum of will and emotion, comparable to us mortals (referring to all races except gods).”

“Not driven by impulses of destruction and slaughter, they are a group of ‘heretics’ who deviate from the norm.”

“We are unsure when the phenomenon of ‘Heretic Children’ began, but ever since we observed their existence and made contact, we have been aiding them under the name of ‘protection.'”

Privately.

Fels added this point at the end.

Completely unrelated to the Guild, it was purely his and the old god Uranus’ private operation and protection.

“And you, Ize Alward.”

At this moment, Fels suddenly directed the darkness beneath his black hood at Ize.

“Belonging to the largest Familial Group in Orario, being a follower of Goddess Loki, and possessing the unique perception magic miracle, ever since you almost came into contact with the Heretic Children once, I’ve been observing your activities in the Dungeon.”

“Have you been spying on me?”

The word popped out instinctively, causing Ize’s lips to stiffen with a forced smile.

“……Surveillance.”

“You hesitated just now, didn’t you? Does changing the wording make it not spying anymore? You didn’t even get my permission!”

Ize felt numb all over.

Not to mention anything else, with eye crystals, a type of camera from another world that leaves no trace and is incredibly small, it was effortless for Fels to track his movements in the Dungeon without him noticing.

And he had unknowingly been watched for so long by these two old men.

Ssssss!!!!!

Just thinking about it made his skin crawl.