The Guild's origins trace back nearly a thousand years.

In those days, known as the Ancient Era, the lower world was a fierce battlefield. Civilized people fought relentlessly against waves of monsters that endlessly emerged from a massive hole in the ground—the Dungeon.

They needed a seal, something to prevent the monsters from escaping the hole. An alliance of various races was formed with the primary goal of containing this terrifying threat.

Unfortunately, all their efforts repeatedly failed. The more progress they made on the seal, the more monsters would appear, completely destroying it just days before completion. Countless lives were lost with every attempt. Even heroes fell one by one.

Finally, when the allied races managed to build a tower over the hole and thought their mission was a success, the tower collapsed before their eyes, like all previous efforts. Everyone was on the brink of despair—when a beam of white light descended from the sky.

The gods had arrived.

They appeared across the lower world, a realm teeming with monsters. When the bewildered people asked why they came, most divine beings casually replied, "For entertainment." But one among them was different.

He enthusiastically joined the lower world's people in their efforts to complete the seal over the hole.

Indeed, he was the first god to grant Falna—the divine blessing that allowed mortals to enhance their strength—to the inhabitants of the lower world.

With the cooperation of other gods and goddesses, he was the existence that enabled the completion of the central tower, which became the seal of Orario and the heart of the city, saving the world from the ravenous monsters emerging from the hole.

He came to be revered as the founding god of Orario. The remnants of the alliance were reorganized under his leadership into a single, vast organization. Thus, the Guild was born.

Even in modern times, he is worshipped by many—that is Ouranos.

(So this is God Ouranos?) Charlie thought, gazing at the majestic figure on the stone throne.

(Just from his aura alone, I can tell he's extraordinary compared to the gods and goddesses I've seen…)

Charlie couldn't help but feel deep admiration for Ouranos.

So far, he had interacted with top-tier goddesses like Hera, Aphrodite, Astrea, Freya, and Demeter. On the male side, he'd only had brief encounters with Hermes and Goibniu.

Alright, Charlie admitted his interactions leaned more toward goddesses.

Even so, Ouranos left a profound impression on him.

"You are truly remarkable, child of Hera." Ouranos's voice echoed through the chamber, filling every corner. "In a short time, your strength surged from Level 2 to Level 5. Now I understand why Hera made an exception, allowing you to join her Familia, which famously accepts only women."

Unlike other gods who needed to see an adventurer's status to determine their true level, Ouranos could accurately gauge Charlie's level with a single glance.

After witnessing Charlie defeat the Juggernaut on Floor 37, Ouranos had used the Guild's resources to investigate him.

To his shock, Ouranos learned that Charlie had arrived in Orario not long ago as a mere Level 2, yet in a short time, his strength had skyrocketed to that of a First-Class Adventurer.

"Your praise is too much, God Ouranos. I'm just average." Charlie replied, not fond of being praised.

"Don't be overly humble; that's just another form of arrogance, young one."

"Your talent and potential are equal to—no, even surpass—some heroes of the Ancient Era. Only the greatest heroes could contract spirits. In this regard, you fully qualify as a hero of this era."

Ouranos chastised Charlie for his excessive humility, then glanced at Aishia and Est standing quietly by his side.

"I'll keep that in mind." Charlie nodded lightly.

"Do you know why I haven't formed a Familia like other gods?" Ouranos asked abruptly.

Charlie shook his head. "No, I don't."

His identity as a reincarnator was utterly useless in this world. Having only watched the first season of Danmachi, his knowledge of this world was barely better than that of a country bumpkin stepping into Orario for the first time, seeking a god to become an adventurer.

"The reason I didn't form a Familia after laying Orario's foundation and instead confined myself to this temple is that I continuously send prayers to the Dungeon."

"Prayers?"

Unsure why Ouranos was telling him this, Charlie listened intently.

"Though our Arcanum is sealed while living in the lower world, some gods' unique passive abilities remain. For example, the charm of Beauty Goddesses remains unaffected. War Gods like Takemikazuchi can defeat even Level 4 adventurers using only martial arts."

"For me, my prayers are immensely powerful, strong enough that my divine aura prevents the Dungeon from spawning unpredictable monsters simultaneously. This invisible force restrains the monsters underground, within the Dungeon. This way, the tragedies of the Ancient Era will not repeat."

Unlike other gods who actively built large, powerful Familias, Ouranos preferred to work through a few trusted individuals and agents, guiding them from behind the scenes.

Rather than building a single mighty Familia, he seemed more concerned with the development and guidance of humanity as a whole, working through various smaller groups and individuals rather than one large, visible entity.

That was Charlie's conclusion based on Ouranos's explanation.

(Compared to most gods and goddesses who descended to the lower world just to alleviate boredom after living hundreds of millions of years in Heaven, Ouranos is truly different. He's responsible and deeply dedicated.)

Charlie felt profound respect for Ouranos.

"In short, I can see everything happening in the Dungeon in real-time."

"Charlie Avalon, the reason I summoned you here concerns the monster you faced on Floor 37, the Juggernaut."

Ouranos concluded his prologue and raised the main topic.

"Juggernaut?" Charlie frowned. "This is the first time I've heard that monster's name."

He had memorized the names of all monsters from Floor 1 to Floor 71 in the Hera Familia's encyclopedia, but he had no recollection of that name.

"That's understandable. The monster's name has been kept secret and never publicized since its appearance seven years ago."

Ouranos revealed a hidden truth known only to a select few to Charlie.

This was a closely guarded secret of the Guild.