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

The sword spun in the air, flying into the distance. A burning, restless energy consumed Ais's body.

Ais, a swordswoman, has lost her sword (weapon). The Sword of Despair has been knocked from her hand, and Ais's combat abilities have clearly declined.

Rives, of course, wouldn't let this opportunity slip by and launched an offensive in one fell swoop.

"You can't escape."

"~~~~~~~~~~~~~~!?"

Ais tried to get rid of Revis to retrieve the sword, but the carnivorous plant circled around to block her way.

If it is blocked for even a moment, the Crimson Greatsword will slice away the airflow protecting Ais.

Forced into an unfamiliar fighting style, Ais quickly found herself at a disadvantage.

Like her other companions who screamed in pain, Ais was cornered.

The monster's attacks intensified.

Lefia and the others barely managed to gather in the center of the Great Hollow, and the adventurers could only desperately defend themselves.

The only fortunate thing is that the man-eating plants that were born were not yet fully developed. Each monster also varied in size and was less powerful than a typical mature individual.

That being said, the situation remains hopeless. They are completely surrounded, with no exit in sight; it's like a nightmare.

After the monster let out a fierce roar, another adventurer collapsed to the ground.

"Ah, ahh...!?"

Caught in the midst of this chaotic battle, Lefia and the other mages were completely unable to exert their power.

Singing amidst a swarm of carnivorous plants was tantamount to suicide, and there was no one to form a human wall to protect them. Lefia was too busy protecting herself to even think about singing, and she couldn't help but curse her own weakness.

Everyone is fighting with all their might.

The tiger-man, covered in blood, roared, the elven warriors swung their swords wildly through their teeth, and the dwarves, now without weapons, beat the monsters with their broken fists. Asphie and Lulu were also busy disrupting and killing the enemy, and Bert never stopped, slaughtering several monsters.

The sight of the adventurers shouting at each other... no, screaming in agony as they joined forces to attack was tormenting Lefia's heart.

Why me...

Why can't we fight alongside those brave people?

Why can't I join them in taking up swords to defeat monsters and stand up as a shield to protect my companions?

All they do is run away, ask for help, and stand still.

Chanting magic actually hindered them.

Powerless.

For the first time, she felt the magic wand she was holding was so heavy.

(I also want to be like Lady Riveria, like Miss Philvis...!)

The image of a beautiful and supreme royal figure flashed through my mind, then replaced by the image of the elven girl currently engaged in battle.

Like the girls who yearn for her dream, Lefia also hopes to catch up with the strongest mage, but her figure remains unreachable, and she can't catch up with the beautiful magic swordswoman.

I wish I could fight like Phil Weiss.

I wish I could wield a sword and cast spells at the same time to defeat monsters.

Lefia's gaze followed Philweis, who had just defeated another monster, and Bert's words came back to her mind.

—You'll only ever be a burden for the rest of your life.

Lefia no longer felt annoyed by his contemptuous words; she was simply overwhelmed by a sense of powerlessness.

"Ais...!"

While Rafia was agonizing over her troubles, Bert looked at Ais.

Seeing the blonde, golden-eyed girl enduring the double attack from Revis and the monster all by herself, his face contorted in pain.

After smashing one weakened young carnivorous plant after another, Bert's gaze suddenly swept across the battlefield—and then he spotted the elven girl.

"Hello!"

“Eh…?”

Without thinking twice, Bert rushed straight to Lefia, who was standing there dumbfounded.

"I need to get to Ais's side. You figure out how to handle things here!!"

Rafia's shoulders shook as Bert grabbed her by the front and yelled at her.

"But, but, I—"

"You're a nobody!! But, I admit your 'magic' is ridiculously strong!"

Before Rafia could finish speaking, Bert roared at her again:

"Stop spouting those tired old clichés about wanting to catch up with your goals! Show us your skills and make us cry!"

Lefia opened her azure eyes wide, only to be met with Bert's amber eyes staring intently at her.

"Let's see if we can surpass that stinky old woman!!"

—I want you to surpass Riveria Leos Alver.

Bert said this with absolute certainty.

No one had ever given him such an absurd and ridiculous goal. Not even Ais, Tiona, or Tione had ever said it to him.

This was more than just an inspiration; Rafia sensed the wolf's (Bert's) insatiable desire for power.

Are you satisfied with this?

He also asked Rafia another question.

Bert's glare and voice, always filled with rage at the weak, made Lefia feel hot all over.

The fiery emotions surging through his heart, trembling within him, were they the burning passion of a young man, or the humiliation that wanted to make the young man before him admit defeat?

Rafia unconsciously clenched her fists, and Bert shoved her hard.

He didn't say anything more, didn't even smile, and turned and ran away.

Lefia watched for a long while as the strong figure of Ais, who was heading towards her dream, stood beside her.

She imprinted that silhouette deeply in her mind, then raised her eyebrows.

Surrounded by the shouts of adventurers and monsters, the elven girl etched a resolve into her heart.

"—Please protect me!!"

Lefia roared in her booming voice that echoed throughout the battlefield.

She gripped the only wand (weapon) she could use, held it forward, and made sure those around her could see that she was about to cast a spell.

Make it clear to the adventurers that you are determined to launch an attack.

"You want us to protect you? How can we protect you?! What good will magic with insufficient firepower do...!"

"Believe me!!"

She answered Luluni's wavering voice decisively in a high-pitched tone.

Only now has she banished her weakness and lack of courage from her heart.

"I am a mage! Protect me, and I will save you!!"

Bert's burning passion, his fervent emotions, and his yearning for the summit all transformed into the power of his voice and gaze, so that he could get a little closer to the strongest mage (Rislia) trusted by everyone.

Seeing the mage's resolute figure, Asphie and Philweis both took action.

"Everyone gather around the Thousand Spirit!! Leave everything to her!"

"...!"

Philweis and the others entrusted their lives to the elven mage, pushed aside the monsters, and began to assemble.

Lefia refined all her mental energy into magic, then shouted:

"Square formation!! Just five minutes... no, three minutes is enough!"

She gave a similar instruction to Riveria, and the adventurers nodded and huddled together in a circular formation.

When all the man-eating flower monsters turned to her, Lefia, standing in the center of the circle, frowned and began chanting a spell.

The life-or-death three-minute battle to defend the city has begun.

"Make a wish in the name of the fairy!"

A deep golden magic circle unfolded, and magical light continued to expand.

Faced with the carnivorous plant that was lured by the bait and came to kill it, Lefia focused on chanting.

"O ancestors of the forest, your noble kin, answer my call and come to the grasslands!"

Sing, sing, sing!

Don't spend too much time on chanting; make the weaving smooth. If it were Riveria, it would be over in a minute.

All I can do now is sing.

To save their comrades, they sang a song of hope—a song of victory.

"【The bonds of friendship, the promise of a joyous feast. Let us dance in the circle】."

The magic used is summoning magic (Summon Burst).

It summons the most powerful mage, Riveria Rios Alfre's all-around annihilation magic.

She will use a super-powerful attack spell to wipe out the monsters.

"Come, Fairy Ring!"

The attacks of the ferocious monsters were blocked one by one by the adventurers who formed a formation.

The tiger-men and dwarves, raising their great shields, vowed to stop the monster from passing, letting blood spurt from their bulging shoulders as they blocked the enemy's charge.

Even the elves and orcs who had raised their twin swords transformed into human shields for defense. The countless tentacles attacking from above were immediately repelled by Asphie, Lulu, and the others.

Enemies attacking from all directions were met with resistance from Phil Weiss and others.

"I beg you—lend me your strength."

Trusting her companion, Lefia closed her eyes, blocking out all extraneous information, and rapidly wove incantations—uttering the name of the magic.

"【The Ring of Elves】".

The golden magic circle turned emerald green.

Lefia entered the next phase, chanting the summoned attack magic. Asphie and the others barely managed to protect her from behind, but suddenly they saw a scene that turned their faces pale.

"Large-sized?! And there are so many of them, this is bad!"

Perhaps attracted by the individuals wandering in the green wall maze, a group of giant carnivorous plants that appeared from the entrance of the Great Hollow rushed towards them.

As the group charged forward, scattering the small carnivorous plants, Lulu screamed in agony.

"Viridis—"

Lefia's spell was still a long way from completion. Philweis turned to look at her fellow girl, watching her sing with her eyes closed—she herself made up her mind, her almond-shaped eyes wide open.

"Get out of the way!"

"Hey, what are you doing?!"

Pushing aside Lulu and the others who were holding up their shields, Philweis leaped out and stood in front of the monster.

She supported Rafia's melodious chanting on her back, and opened her lips:

"[The Holy Grail (the goblet), transforms into a shield!]!"

A very short lyric poem.

To the astonishment of Asphie, Lulu, and the others, she activated the second type of magic she possessed.

Facing the surging monsters like a turbid torrent, Philweis stretched out her left hand.

"The Holy Grail of Gods, the Salvation Grail!!"

The circular barrier emitted a white glow.

The massive, holy shield clashed fiercely with the monster army, halting all attacks in one fell swoop.