Is it wrong to try to meet someone in a dungeon?

"You...you outsider, stop trying to stick your neck out!"

Despite their fear of the first-class adventurer before them, the enraged Pain and his crew attacked simultaneously.

With the arrival of the Sword Maiden, a battle erupted on the ship that resembled a full-blown fight between two groups. Tables were cleaved into pieces, broken chairs flew like cannonballs, and crew and guests screamed incessantly, creating a chaotic scene. The air was filled not with the sounds of musical instruments, but with the clanging of clashing swords.

"Uh, hey—Miss Warren—!? What's going on—!?"

Unable to move an inch, Hestia hid under the dining table, her screams drowned out by the sounds of fighting around her.

"W-It's Miss Ais fighting in the hall!? What...what exactly happened!?"

Bell, who was checking the situation inside the cabin on the deck, was equally baffled.

He was terrified, thinking he had been caught in a power struggle between two major factions—

"Bell Craney is there!"

"Everyone, get to the deck right now!!"

"They really came to arrest me!!"

But when he saw the attackers in black rushing towards him, he couldn't help but scream.

The ship is currently sailing in the middle of a river that is so vast it resembles a small lake. This ship, which should be free of any intruders, has become an isolated island with nowhere to escape. Even if they tried to escape via the ice bridge built by the Freya Familia, they would only be trampled into mincemeat by the relentless waves of enemy reinforcements.

With the words "certain death" flashing through his mind, Bell quickly shielded Seele behind him and cried out in alarm, his face pale.

However, Seele, who had been silently observing until now, suddenly took a deep breath.

"Ryu~! Everyone~! I'm sorry, please help me~!"

She shouted at the top of her lungs.

"Meow~!? Seele is calling the cats meow!"

"Really, they'd been exposed all along!"

Anya and Lunova, who had been called out, quickly appeared and stepped forward to stop the adventurers.

While Bell was surprised, Kroi and Ryu also accepted the challenge.

"Although the cat has absolutely no idea what's going on, whatever's happening is that whoever wants to attack Seele is the enemy, meow!"

"That's right, we're here to follow Seele and the others, not to cause any trouble!"

The dagger flashed, and the two small swords swept past the enemy with lightning speed.

The attackers who originally wanted to rush onto the deck were all stopped by Ryu and the others who were dressed in waiter uniforms.

"Even Miss Ryu and the others are here... What on earth is going on...!?"

Ignoring the horrified Bell, the three-way standoff brought the battle to a stalemate.

At least the Freya Familia, the Sword Princess, and the staff of "The Abundant Mistress" are all too busy dealing with the enemy at hand.

"Mr. Bell, let's go."

"Miss Xi'er? Where are you going?! There's nowhere to escape from here...!"

Seele ran forward in her cute flat shoes.

Belle desperately chased after her pale gray hair, which was fluttering in the night wind, while inwardly complaining, "How can an ordinary, weak woman cross this battlefield without any fear?!"

No one at the scene noticed the girl and boy's actions. They were completely oblivious.

The two arrived at the very front of the deck.

That is, the bow of the ship.

"Hey."

Without waiting for Bell to catch up from behind, Seele actually jumped over the fence meant to prevent anyone from falling.

Belle stared in astonishment as Seele deftly stepped over the fence, her skirt swaying under her weight.

"Miss Xi'er!! Could it be that you—!?"

It was the very thing he was thinking about.

Seele turned around and smiled.

"I'll leave the rest to you, Mr. Bell♪"

She ignored Bell, who rushed forward anxiously, and simply leaned backward.

The girl's body slowly tilted.

He fell backwards into the air, where there was no foothold.

"Ahhhhh!"

A girl, letting out an untimely, adorable scream and sporting a bright smile, plummeted rapidly towards the distant water below.

"No, no way!?!"

Without hesitation, Bell jumped over the fence.

He took two steps towards the outer wall of the ship, accelerated his dive, and reached out his hand to the girl.

To shield Seele with his body, Bell grabbed her head and body in mid-air, pulling her tightly into his arms.

Shortly afterward, the sound of something falling into the water could be heard.

Without anyone noticing, a violent splash was created.

Monologue IV, Volume XVI

The sound of water.

The feel of water.

This is an underwater world where you can see the hazy moon swaying with the waves.

Amidst countless bubbles that kept appearing and disappearing, he held me tightly, leaving almost no space between us.

A slender yet strong arm wrapped around my waist.

Her small but gentle hand protected the back of my head.

I exhaled softly, turning my maddening longing into bubbles, letting them float slowly to the surface.

Although my whole body was covered in the icy river water, my heart was warmer than anything else.

I felt a stirring in my chest.

I couldn't help but want to show a look of ecstasy.

I could no longer suppress the raging, agonizing emotions within me.

When I came to my senses, I realized that I had wrapped my arms around his body.

He seemed to want to reassure me, so he hugged me even tighter.

We were alone in the underwater world.

Even as they continue to sink, they will never let go of each other's bodies.

what.

I feel like I'm about to melt.

My own consciousness is melting away.

The scene before me seemed like a dream made of bubbles, and everything would eventually disappear without a trace, causing me to drift away with the current.

Finally—

Only the warmth I felt in his arms remained in my heart.

This feeling governs my heart and brings me happiness.

Volume 16, Chapter 5: Proof of " "

The water surface continued to ripple.

The intermittent impacts, like waves crashing on the shore, came from the distant, swaying ship and then dissipated. But no fighting could be heard; the volume was even fainter than the tides.

—I burst out of the water in one breath.

“Puha!”

I took a deep breath and reached my hand toward the shore.

The clothes clung tightly to my body like molten lead, making it hard to breathe. At the same time, I pulled Miss Seele, whom I was holding with my other arm, out of the water in one go.

“Ahem! Ahem!”

"Miss Seele, are you alright...!?"

Only our upper bodies were above water, as we lay on the stone-paved bank.

Seeing that Miss Seele was still coughing, I patted her back before climbing ashore first.

I lay exhausted on the ground, but sadly enough, for someone like me who spends all my time exploring dungeons, this kind of encounter is just commonplace. Besides, I had just been to the "Water City" on my last "expedition." I frowned slightly because of the discomfort of my wet shoes and quickly reached out to pull Miss Seele ashore.

I helped Miss Seele, who had collapsed to her knees as if her legs had given way, and turned to look behind me.

The ship floating in the distance is the "Key to the Water Boat".

As if to suggest that the battle taking place above was not yet over, the massive ship, brightly lit by the magic stone lamps, continued to rock back and forth. Even from a distance, the sound of shattering glass could be heard, accompanied by the screams of someone being thrown into the air.

Although I don't know why Miss Ais and Miss Ryu were there... I'll have to find a chance to apologize to them later.

A complex feeling of guilt and gratitude welled up inside me, and I was also relieved that no enemies were chasing after me.

We are currently on the other side of the ice bridge built by the Freya Familia.

In terms of orientation, it faces away from the west gate of the city.

The deserted shore was silent and still, not even illuminated by streetlights.

Judging from this situation, it seems that no one has noticed that we have escaped from the ship.

We jumped off the deck and into the water, swimming all the way... Looking back now, I really admire myself for being able to carry Miss Seele to the shore.

"...!"

"Miss Seele...?"

It was only at this moment that I realized Miss Seele in my arms was trembling uncontrollably.

Is she crying?

Just as I was about to speak to comfort the silent, head-down Miss Seele—

"—Hahahahahahaha!"

She burst into laughter as if she could no longer contain herself.

I was stunned by what I saw.

Miss Seele, laughing so hard she was shaking, couldn't stop laughing for a long time.

She covered her mouth with one hand and held her stomach with the other, letting out an innocent laugh that I had never heard before.

"This is the first time!"

"what?"

"This is the first time I've experienced something like this!"

Miss Seele brought her face close to mine, looked at me, and gave me a bright smile.

Her cheeks flushed crimson with excitement, and her pale gray eyes sparkled like stars.

Faced with Miss Seele's reaction, I almost helplessly lowered my head.

That's only natural, isn't it...?

Ordinary people would never do something as absurd as jumping off a boat to escape pursuers.

Even if she did it out of trust in me, it was still too reckless.

Feeling utterly exhausted, I wanted to offer some kind words of advice to Miss Seele... but seeing her laughing heartily like a child, I couldn't help but smile wryly.

"...Can you stand up?"

"Um."