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

We are currently on the 7th floor of the dungeon.

Surrounded by a pale green ceiling and walls, the group moved forward smoothly without any sense of being on an "expedition."

"Oh, if they're from the Hephaestus Familia, they definitely won't hold us back. I'm relieved."

"Look, here we go again—Bert just loves to put on airs."

Bert, who was dangling his animal ears beside Ais, smiled when he heard that his companions were all skilled blacksmiths.

Tiona stared at his arrogant smile with half-open eyes.

"Hey Bert, why do you always talk like that? Do you enjoy looking down on other adventurers? I hate it when you do that."

"Don't get me wrong. I'm not so shameless as to look down on nobodys or bask in a sense of superiority—I'm just stating the facts."

Just like he blurted out to Loki last night, Bert's disdain for minor characters had its reasons, and he scoffed at Tiona's words. Seeing Bert's attitude, Tiona, who was hugging Ais from behind, lashed out like a monkey, "Ugh—!?"

Bert's actions drew criticism, and others argued vehemently against him.

This scene has played out countless times.

"I just can't stand weaklings. They're clearly powerless, yet they're always smiling. It makes me want to vomit."

"To me, this is just the arrogance of the strong."

"That's right, Bert himself was weak before."

"I'm just saying that people need to know their own worth."

While Riveria and Tiona refuted Bert's consistent claims, Ais listened from the sidelines, pondering on her own.

"Weight..." she murmured to herself, lost in thought.

It was neither pity, nor insult, nor surprise, but simply a question.

At that time, the boy was forced to realize his own limitations. What were his thoughts and feelings? How could he be so determined to improve himself?

She recalled the pair of deep red eyes she had seen in the tavern, eyes brimming with tears, and pondered alone.

How did he overcome the setbacks that Bert despised, insulted, and rejected? No, perhaps it was precisely because he was ridiculed that the boy was able to strive for success.

Did he take his anger and frustration at being unable to forgive himself as motivation to wholeheartedly, sincerely, and recklessly strive for higher goals?

(Could it be—)

The goal the boy spoke of—could it be Bert?

Ais was suddenly struck by a heavy blow and, unable to withstand the weight of Tiona on her back, almost stumbled. "?" Tiona behind her looked on incredulously. Ais braced herself on her knees and steadied herself.

I'll ask next time... but then I feel terrified and don't dare to ask. Ais was troubled by her own imagination, her eyes drooping slightly.

She recalled the week she had spent with the boy.

(What is he doing right now...?)

Is it still running at full speed?

Should we keep our teachings in our hearts and continue the fight?

Ais recalled the boy's profile, which had become more refined—and suddenly looked up.

"...Four people, I guess."

"What, you said everyone would be here?"

Tiona, who was clinging to Ais, said that Bert, who was next to her, also reacted.

The entire team turned their gaze in that direction, and saw four adventurers running towards them in a panic from the right path of the crossroads they were about to reach.

They kept looking back, as if they were fleeing from something.

"They look so panicked. Should we call them?"

"Forget it, in principle, you're not allowed to interfere with other teams in the dungeon."

"Hey, what's wrong with you guys—"

"...You big idiot."

Ignoring Tione's attempts to stop her, Tiona shouted to the adventurers.

They were startled, as if they had only just noticed Ais and the others, and hurriedly stopped in front of them.

"W-Who are you? Huh...No way! It's...it's the Great Severance (Amazon)!"

"Tiona Schilluth!"

"No, it's the Loki Familia! Wait, are they on an expedition?!"

The adventurers recognized them and immediately became timid and hesitant.

"Why is it always me..." When Diona grumbled, staring at the adventurers who called her by her nickname in fear, Bert asked them what they were doing.

The adventurers were momentarily furious at his question, which was laced with mockery and insult... but then, as if remembering something, they trembled all over.

"...We've encountered it, the Minotaur."

"……what?"

"I mean, the Minotaur! That bull-like monster is wandering around here in the upper levels!"

The adventurers first suppressed their voices, then let out a painful roar, causing Bert to stop moving for a moment.

The other onlookers, who were watching the events unfold with astonishment, also changed their expressions upon hearing about the unusual situation of a monster from the "middle level" appearing in the "upper level."

As for Ais, upon hearing the name "Minotaur," her right hand reflexively twitched.

For some reason, the boy's face reappeared in her mind.

"...Excuse me. Could you please tell us in detail what you saw?"

"Uh, okay..."

Finn, representing the troops, stepped forward, and the man who looked like an adventurer captain began to speak.

"We were exploring the dungeon as usual until just now, deep within the single path leading to the chamber... we discovered the Minotaur."

Then, his face turned ashen, and he said:

"Then, we saw a white-haired brat being attacked, but we were hit by the monster's howl and escaped here...!"

—Thump.

Ais's heart skipped a beat.

She was overwhelmed by the illusion that she was sweating profusely all over.

She even forgot to breathe, desperately trying to understand what she was hearing.

A white-haired boy... a human?

The information the adventurers revealed made her heart pound painfully.

Ais ignored Finn and the others' conversation and moved closer to the adventurers.

"Where did you see that Minotaur?"

Her voice made everyone stop what they were doing.

Tiona and her companions, the adventurers before them, and the expeditionary force that had halted their advance were no exception.

Ais's chilling gaze froze everyone's time.

"On which floor was the adventurer attacked?"

"The 9th floor... if they haven't moved yet..."

She rushed out.

Upon hearing this, Ais ran off like the wind along the path the adventurers had taken.

"Ais!"

"What are you doing?!"

Tiona and Bert's voices were left far behind.

Ais abandoned her troops, even forgetting that she was on an "expedition," and followed the lead of her rapidly beating heart.

She was driven by wavering, confusion, and a sense of crisis.

(That child—was attacked!?)

Ais had no time to verify the truth of the matter; she just kept kicking the ground.

The monsters Ais encountered were all sliced ​​in two as she passed by, without slowing down her pace at all. Ais dashed off the regular route and instantly reached the 9th floor mentioned in the intelligence report.

The moment the underground city's walls changed, an unnatural silence filled the air.

The floor was completely silent.

It was as if the monsters were all afraid of the heretical creatures and had fallen silent, holding their breath.

Just as Ais was astonished—as if her fears had come true—the distant howl of a bull could be heard.

(Oops!?)

Hearing the monster's roar mixed with faint human screams, Ais felt her whole body burning up.

No mistake, boy... Bell is being attacked.

A level 1 novice adventurer attacked by the Minotaur wouldn't last long. Even with Ais's training, there was still a hopeless gap in ability.

Not a single second can be wasted.

Ais didn't know the boy's exact location and could only rely on his voice as a clue. As she ran through the maze, a tiny human covered in blood appeared from the front passage.

「!?」

"Adventurer, sir... please, save me!?"

The girl, with a cut on her forehead and severe bleeding, pleaded and collapsed in front of Ais.

Her chestnut eyes were blurry and her vision was unfocused. She braced herself on the ground, panting, and cried out:

"Save him, save Lord Bell...!!"

"!!"

Hearing this heart-wrenching cry, Ais braced herself.

"Where is it located!?"

"The proper route, E-16, the cave…!"

The girl recited the area numbers from the map data released by the guild, her trembling hand pointing behind her.

The passageway was covered with specks of blood, as if marking her path to seek help despite her injuries.

"!!"

Ais picked up the girl and rushed out.

She ran through the phosphorescent passage and past several cave chambers.

The girl wept in her arms, her mind hazy as she repeatedly murmured, "Save him, please." Ais held her tighter and followed the trail of blood down the path.

Then, just as she rushed into the last chamber before reaching her target area—

"stop."

A voice stopped her.

“——”

It was nothing, just a sentence, but Ais, who had run into the cave, stopped in her tracks.

In the spacious rectangular space, a place devoid of monsters and fellow travelers, he stood alone.

Clad in protective gear, with a massive body resembling a giant rock, and a height exceeding two meters.

Strong limbs built with muscles like steel.

The animal ears growing out of the short, reddish-brown hair proved that this person was an orc, a boarman known for his bravery.

His eyes, which were the same reddish-brown as his hair, stared intently at Ais's face as she appeared.

"...[fierce, one]."