Danma: Danganronpa, but Monster Hunter!

Tiona, still in mid-air, turned around and stuck her tongue out at the werewolf youth: "I'm not telling you, bastard, bastard—"

With a drawn-out, mocking tone, the werewolf, enraged, also grabbed the worm and chased after the Amazonian girl. Seeing this, Tiona cried out in alarm and, like Don Quixote who had cleverly rescued a princess from a monster's lair, rode her donkey, shouting and yelling as she tried to escape the monster's pursuit and claws.

"So energetic!"

Finn, who looks only twelve years old but is actually a man in his forties, tapped his shoulder with his spear and curled his lips in a happy smile.

"But I didn't expect that not only Tiona, but even Bert could use the Wirebug skillfully," Riveria exclaimed.

"Of course, after all, he didn't sleep at all last night. He was practicing his Wirebug skills the whole time, and he even developed a special move using the Wirebug." Finn closed one eye, harboring a slightly wicked thought, and revealed the werewolf's little secret.

"……How did you know?"

"Haha, I accidentally saw it while working overtime, so don't blame me~~"

“…I think it’s better not to let Bert know about this…” Riveria was silent for a moment, then sighed.

If that guy found out about this, he'd definitely be furious and make a scene, since that's the kind of person he is. But...

"Are you working overtime too? Or are you, like Bert, staying up all night researching how to use the Wirebug?"

Rivera's scrutinizing gaze fell upon the clan leader, but unfortunately, she couldn't detect even a trace of staying up all night on Finn.

However, this is inevitable. After all, even if a high-level adventurer who has raised their capacity to an extremely high level doesn't experience any mental impact after several days and nights without sleep, they won't show any flaws in just one night.

"Well, what's the answer, anyway?" Finn chuckled, ignoring Riveria's question.

The elven royalty were furious, but there was nothing they could do about Finn's silence. All they could do was poke Finn's back with their wand to express their dissatisfaction.

The vanguard marched very fast.

Even with Tiona, Ais, and Bert doing nothing but playing a chase game, the remaining high-level combatants were still efficiently clearing away all the monsters in their path. They also took the opportunity to destroy the maze's walls and floor at regular intervals, leaving marks indicating their direction of travel.

This is a countermeasure taken against the fact that dungeons can breed monsters.

Monsters in dungeons spawn from the walls of the maze, but if the maze is damaged, it will prioritize repairing itself, thus temporarily ceasing the monster-spawning process.

"The 'Xiangchong' is really useful."

During a lull in the battle, the black-haired cat-man lowered his weapon slightly and looked at Raul, who was diligently integrating the Wirebug into his fighting style.

"Ah."

Raul nodded seriously, meticulously equipping himself with his ornate one-handed sword and small round shield.

Like the others, he also practiced using the Wirebug all night long.

However, his talent wasn't as outstanding as the others. Although he trained all night, he ultimately failed to achieve the level of mastery that others possessed.

Only when you consciously think of the Wirebug will you use it to move at a slightly slower pace.

This is not okay.

Raul told himself this in a low voice.

Of all those who hunted cattle with Blaze, he spent the longest time with him. Therefore, having witnessed Blaze's control over the Swift Insects firsthand, he had high expectations for himself.

Let's train some more.

Raul stroked the special box on his forearm and continued fighting.

Chapter Thirty-Seven, Flame Dumpling: I've Made It!

Time flies by.

In the blink of an eye, the two teams of Loki's Familia had already traversed more than a dozen levels of the dungeon, and merged on the eighteenth floor, the first safe floor in the dungeon where monsters would not spawn on their own.

From this point onward, the dungeon becomes much more spacious, and the enemies gradually become more dangerous.

With no restrictions on their march, and in order to ensure everyone's survival, from this point onward, the Loki Familia will change their original strategy of splitting into two groups, one in front and one behind, and regroup into one team to head towards the final encampment of the main force.

That is, the deepest known safest floor, the front line of the dungeon raid, the gray forest slumbering deep beneath the earth—the fiftieth floor.

However, it is too early to say anything now, because the merging teams are currently taking a final rest before making their way to the fiftieth floor.

After resting, they will continue their journey without stopping, and arrive at their destination in one go.

The brief period of busy activity began as members of the logistics unit retrieved cooking equipment from their massive luggage, using readily available materials and ingredients brought from the ground to get to work.

The aroma of the rich broth simmering in the large pot gradually filled the air. Seizing the opportunity, the cooks added the chopped dried meat to the pot and cooked it together, bringing out an even more wonderful flavor.

Ais's gaze was involuntarily drawn to the large cauldron from which white steam rose, but after gently rubbing her lower abdomen, she resisted the temptation of the food with unwavering willpower.

She firmly believes that consuming excessive food will affect combat performance, so when in the dungeon, she usually only eats the dry rations she carries with her.

However, just as she was about to sneak off to one of her usual spots and nibble on her dry rations like a squirrel,

Obstacles have arisen.

Looking at the beautiful elf holding the fragrant wooden bowl in front of her, Ais thought to herself.

"Come and have something to eat, Ais."

His gentle tone was persuasive, seemingly trying to drag Ais's reason into an abyss, causing her to sink into its beauty.

Ais watched Rivera warily, silently.

He took half a step back.

He took half a step back!

A dark line visibly appeared on Riveria's pretty face.

I just wanted you to have something to eat, do you have to treat me like I'm some kind of monster? If there are other people behind you, are you going to step behind them?

"Hahaha, Riveria, you've known about Ais's behavior for a while now, haven't you given up yet?"

Just then, a burst of laughter came from behind the two people facing off. Grace, wearing heavy armor, appeared laughing, breaking the awkward atmosphere between Riveria and Ais.

“Grace, how come even you…” The elven beauty turned helplessly to look at the burly dwarf approaching from behind, her reproachful gaze fixed on her old colleague of many years who hadn’t spoken up for her.

"After all, even if I join in the persuasion, Ais won't change her mind. You should have known that already."

"Grace!"

"Haha, don't worry, I'm not here to sabotage you. Someone asked me to give this to Ais if she doesn't eat properly on the expedition."

The dwarf laughed loudly and took out an item wrapped in a green leaf from his pouch.

"This is……"

"Dumplings from Flamefire Village?"

Rivera and Ais's gazes simultaneously fell on the green leaf bundle in Grace's hand.

"Yes, the simple red bean filling dumplings, the defensive chestnut dumplings that can increase defense, and the Flame Dumpling Set that enhances the effects of healing potions are things that Blaze gave me specifically."

Grace nodded, his expression solemn, as if he were holding not a ball of fire, but a weapon to slay monsters.

"Goo-"

Upon hearing the sound, Ais landed, and her stomach made a pigeon-like sound.

Okay, the dumpling Grace is holding can indeed kill monsters, but it's the hungry monster inside Ais's belly that she's killing (I'm sure of it).

They've taken the bait.

Seeing Ais blushing with an expression like a doll, and lowering her head as if in shame, Riveria and Grace exchanged a glance, both unable to suppress a smile.

Red bean dumplings are Ais's favorite flavor, and she certainly wouldn't refuse the effects that defense dumplings and medicine dumplings can provide.

This is truly a direct attack on Ais's Noble Phantasm.

It's amazing that Lieyan came up with this idea.

"Eat up, eat up first, then we'll talk."

Without a word, Grace shoved the green leaf package into Ais's hand, then waved and turned to leave, but Rivera stopped him and whispered:

"Are there any more of these dumplings?"

“Uh, that’s all.” Grace was slightly taken aback. “This is the only one available, and Flame specifically asked me to bring it…”

"Have you thought about what will happen to Ais after she eats this meal?" Rivera rubbed her temples, looking a bit of a headache. "Those dumplings were just one serving, weren't they?"

"Seems to be?"

"So why didn't you buy more?" Rivera gritted her teeth, watching Ais happily devour the dumplings.

The thought that Ais would have to eat the same dry rations she had brought with her after she reached the deeper levels made her a little angry.

"I'm out of money." Grace spread his hands. "The branch's funds were all withdrawn before this expedition. The majority was used to forge equipment for us, and the rest was used to buy recovery potions and antidotes."

This dumpling costs 200 z, and a recovery potion costs 66 z. One dumpling can buy three recovery potions. What should I choose?

Livilia: "..."

She was speechless at this reason. It wouldn't be so bad if it were personal assets, but as for the assets of her clan, she really couldn't bring herself to ask for a reduction in recovery medicine. And as for satisfying her appetite… although even if she did such a thing, no one would care.

But this is a matter of principle.

As the leader of the clan, she must set an example.

However, if it's personal property... then there's no problem.

"Looks like I'll have to make a trip to Blaze's place when I have some free time..." Riveria sighed, making up her mind.

By the way, speaking of flames,

He had previously asked her to pass on a message to Ais, and Rivera broke out in a cold sweat, realizing she had almost forgotten about it. Thinking this, she quickly replied:

"By the way, Ais, speaking of Flame, he asked me to pass on a message to you."

"What did you say?" Ais looked up, her cheeks puffed out like a squirrel full of food.

He said, "If the rabbit runs away, don't hesitate, chase after it."

Chapter Thirty-Eight: The Overlord Arrives!

"A rabbit? Do you mean a unicorn rabbit?"

Ais stopped chewing and tilted her head in confusion.

The Unicorn Rabbit is a small monster found in the middle levels. As its name suggests, it has a single horn on its head, white fur, and red eyes. It is about the height of a Finn and wields a small stone axe as a weapon.