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

"Ooh o ...

Everyone raised their pickaxes, shovels, and clubs, roared, and launched an attack on the giant serpent monster.

All the miners rushed past the speechless Grace and ganged up on "Lemton".

"you……"

Grace almost forgot that she was on the battlefield and stood there stunned.

He originally thought he had to protect others.

He originally thought he had no choice but to find a way to resolve the current situation.

It turned out that he had completely misunderstood.

These people, like him, were "dwarves".

"You bunch of bastards...!"

Grace wore an awkward expression that was neither quite a cry nor quite a laugh.

I don't want to watch them die no matter what.

The problem is, I'm already covered in wounds, so what can I do next?

How can I kill that monster?

How can we leave alive with this group of people?

Grace, who roared at the top of her lungs, launched a surprise attack, but the giant snake monster remained cold-blooded and ruthless.

It seemed to want to destroy the flames of hope that the dwarves had lit, and used its tail to slap Yugur and the others away.

"Ughhh!?"

"—!! Yugur!"

The agitated serpent locked its compound eyes on Yugur, who was rolling on the ground.

Grace spurred herself forward to rescue him, but it was too late.

The instant Grace screamed as "Lemton" opened its blood-red maw to bite its target—

"──────!?"

Suddenly, an emerald-colored light appeared beneath my feet.

Grace immediately understood what this "magical" thing was.

This glowing, intricate pattern is a magic circle.

A magic circle extending from the other side of the collapsed rocks enveloped the astonished Yugur and the others, and "Lemton" also stopped moving warily due to the blinding light.

The next second, the glowing patterns seemed to have pinpointed the location of Grace and the others, and spread out in one fell swoop as if they had found their target.

The darkness was dispelled, and the space was filled with vortexes of magic.

The "magic circle" also extended to the feet of the terrified serpent.

--Advanced Sword of Victory

When the elven song, which should not have been heard, rang out from inside the stone coffin, two enormous pillars of fire instantly erupted beneath the monster's feet.

"──────────────────Hiss!?"

The monster was burned by the Crimson Lotus Flame and surrounded by a large number of sparks. Grace and the others who witnessed this scene were shocked and stared wide-eyed.

Then came the sound of rocks cracking from the side.

Worried that something else might happen, Grace quickly turned around and saw a large number of people pouring in from the other side of the collapsed pile of stones.

"Grace! You little rascals! Are you all alright!?"

"The old men in the village (Lonsa)...and..."

The group that charged in first, armed with pickaxes or shovels, were elderly dwarves who had retired from the front lines.

Following closely behind is—

"Luckily, I made it in time."

"...The dwarfs and the others."

The dwarfs wielding long spears and the elven royalty holding beautiful magic wands.

Even the maid Aina and the chief god of the Familia were among them. Finn smiled back at Grace's stunned gaze.

"If you want to thank someone, thank Riveria. It's thanks to her 'magic' that we were able to find your location in time."

Finn glanced to the side and saw Riveria looking more disheveled than ever before, panting heavily.

She cast a second-tier attack spell, [Advanced Sword of Victory].

With its astonishing range, the wide-area annihilation magic can identify all objects within the magic circle's coverage area, regardless of whether the user possesses "magic (basic ability)". Therefore, Riveria continuously cast "magic" to "detect" the whereabouts of the deceased Grace and others.

"Originally, it would have been impossible to detect such a vast mine, at least for Riveria and us in our current state, it would have been too much of a challenge, but this time we are fortunate to have 'his' help."

Finn awkwardly made a face, as if he was losing face, and then Loki, with a beaming smile, took a step forward and showed the thing she was holding up with both hands.

"If you want to find treasure underground, you really do need 'goblins'!"

"Hoo-hoo! Hoo-hoo—!?"

Looking at the "fairy spirit" who was being held in someone's hand while posing as if she were a king, and whose figure was even smaller than that of the dwarfs, Grace felt both surprised and enlightened.

Among the various "spirits" of different attributes, such as fire spirits (salamander) and water spirits (undine), the "earth spirit" is the "spirit of earth".

Those who love gems and rare metals live in underground caves or mines. This is why Grace hesitated to use "explosives." The goblins' habitat is equivalent to a "natural treasure trove," meaning no one knows the "structure of the treasure trove" better than them.

Presumably, Loki and his group caught the "goblin" who had escaped from the mine, and learned about the situation and location of the incident from him. Then, the group rushed to the area where Grace and the others lost contact, and used Riveria's "magic" to conduct a thorough "search".

Thanks to the efforts of Yugur and the others in clearing the tunnel, Finn and his men were able to clear the way and get here.

"Hoo-hoo... Hmph, look at you, you pathetic little dwarf."

"Elf...you..."

Riveria was covered in sweat when she came to Grace.

Perhaps due to overuse of her mental energy, her slender legs seemed poised to give way and cause her to collapse to her knees at any moment.

Even when she was exhausted, she still couldn't resist making sarcastic remarks.

"Don't... misunderstand! I'm not here to... save you...!"

"..."

"This is all to... repay... the dwarves who broadened my horizons...!"

Rivera gasped for breath, glaring at Grace with a flushed face.

Don't you even consider who looks more pathetic?

Are you really a member of the Elf royal family?

Seeing Riveria, who had gone to such lengths to make herself look like a dwarf and covered in dirt, Grace couldn't find the words to complain.

"Lady Rivera! Please stop being so stubborn...!"

"How could I embarrass myself in front of the dwarves! Aina, go and heal the dwarves' wounds first!"

Riveria ignored Aina's well-intentioned advice and stepped forward as if to protect Grace.

Then she and Finn, who was holding a spear, looked at the giant snake that was still being burned by flames, struggling and roaring angrily.

"Rivia, you're the one who volunteered to obey me completely, so please stay with me until the end! Please cover for me from the sidelines!"

"I know!"

Facing this formidable foe whose potential is no less than that of War Killer (Eren) and Tree Dragon, Finn cannot afford to be careless or underestimate him.

According to the intelligence provided by the goblins, the enemy has the advantage of terrain; as long as it keeps burrowing underground, it can turn the tide of battle. Given the terrain, this battle requires calm judgment, so high-level magic cannot be used (Hel Vanges). Therefore, Finn instructed Riveria to chant a spell, and he would take the lead to lure "Lymton" away from the dwarves.

The cave was filled with the sounds of spears striking hard objects and chanting incantations.

"...What's wrong with you guys...?"

Finn and Riveria braved this dangerous place for the sake of the dwarves, even standing up against a powerful enemy. Their silhouettes were seen by Grace.

The little people who are always obsequious and full of petty cleverness.

The elves are always looking down on people, which is unbearable.

These racial stereotypes are completely inapplicable to these two individuals.

It's utterly baffling and incomprehensible.

What are they really like?

However, Grace's feelings were quite the opposite of these questions; she only felt an intense heat rising in her chest.

He was now so excited that he couldn't contain himself.

"Those are my Finn and Riveria, who have hearts as warm as any dwarf."

Loki entrusted the goblins to Aina's care and unknowingly found himself beside Grace.

"If this continues, you'll be the only one left out, won't you? You're very unwilling, aren't you? But with all your injuries, you're simply not capable of participating in the fight, are you?"

Loki first tried to persuade her in an annoying tone, like a ruthless businessman, which even made Aina's cheeks twitch, and then he exaggeratedly spread his arms wide.

"However! As long as you accept the 'blessing,' you can gain an endless source of power to fight to your heart's content! How about it? Joining now will allow you to enjoy a benefit without paying any price—"

In short, she stubbornly tried to use the same tactics she used to recruit Riveria to force Grace to accept "favors".

"—No need."

"What?"

Loki was stunned.

"I said I don't need it!"

The goddess was so startled by Grace's loud voice that she leaned her upper body backward.

"Don't miss this opportunity!! Get out of my way!"

"Huh? Wait—no, no way!?"

Loki cried out in despair at the result that was completely unexpected, but Grace ignored her and ran away.

Without realizing it, a smile appeared on his face.

Grace ignored the blood spurting from his body, clenched his fists, and stared at the scene before him.

Watching Finn bravely step forward to confront the giant snake still tattooed with flames, he swung his gun and launched a thrusting attack.

I watched as Riveria, despite her trembling hands from exhaustion, still held up her wand and sang a beautiful song.

This scene ignited a raging fire within Grace.

(It's so hot!)

His body was burning hot, his chest felt like it was on fire, and his eager anticipation made him tremble all over.

This was the first time he had ever met a foreigner who was so strong in both body and mind.

This was the first time he had met people who so wanted to fight alongside him.

The longing that had been sealed deep in my heart has been awakened once again.

"—A fierce battle."

The blood flowing beneath the skin felt as if it were on fire.

"Ughh ...

Grace, his face covered in blood, raised the corners of his mouth and leaped toward the battlefield he longed for.

He ran past the horrified Riveria, past the dumbfounded Finn, and rammed his shoulder into the burning serpent.

"Roar!?"

The enormous body was sent flying on the spot, shaking the entire cave.

Everyone present, including the goddess and the elves, was stunned by the sight before them. Ignoring the wailing and protesting flesh, Grace roared at the top of her lungs:

"Count me in! I can't lose to that bratty little devil and that jerk!"