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

Page 494

Half an hour passed.

The voices of the group members suddenly came from the corridor facing the reception room, causing Loki to abruptly prop himself up from the sofa.

She followed the group members who were anxious to summon the Lord God and hurried towards the main gate of the mansion.

"But Bert... just Bert alone?" Loki was puzzled when he saw that the werewolf youth had indeed returned alone and was staying in the spacious entrance hall.

As if to illustrate the labyrinthine expedition they had experienced, the battle jacket was tattered and torn.

"Oh—! Bert—!? You're back—!!"

"It's so noisy, I have things to do."

In short, Loki was overjoyed at the return of his child and jumped up and down to pounce on him—but Bert dodged him in an instant.

He seemed to think even conversation was a waste of time, grabbing the group members who came to greet him and giving instructions: "Gather all the group members who are currently staying at the mansion, quickly."

The male and female members answered "Okay, okay!" without understanding the situation, and followed Bert's aggressive instructions. At this moment, Loki asked the question that had been bothering him since earlier.

"Hey, Bert, where are Finn and the others?"

"Still in the dungeon."

Bert gave orders one after another, telling the group members to bring their backpacks and meat, while preparing to set off again, and answered Loki.

He said the expedition team's main force was brought to a standstill on the 18th floor.

Many people are suffering from the deadly poison of the venomous maggots.

Bert must acquire the antidote needed by the number of people on the surface and bring it to the underground city.

Loki listened to the brief explanation and nodded to indicate that he understood.

"I'll go to [Deankaite Familia]. Anyway, buying everything won't be enough, so let Rox and the others go to other item shops."

"Okay! It'll probably take two or three days this time."

After all, the special antidote is made from the bodily fluids (dropped items) of the venomous maggots that inhabit the "lower levels" and are not numerous. It is quite rare, and one must travel all over the city to collect enough. Moreover, even if one uses a large number of people, if the shops have no stock, one can only ask the [Deankaite Familia] to re-constitute the antidote.

While one could directly ask the [Battle Saintess], who can use high-level healing magic, for help... that would incur a debt of gratitude far exceeding the value of an antidote. Amid herself would certainly be willing to secretly help for Ais and the others, but the problem lies with the most important figure, the Supreme God (Deankait). He will undoubtedly seize the opportunity to exploit the situation, just like he did with the previous adventurer's request—especially since Deankait already uses Amid's high-level magic as a treatment method in his clinic to make exorbitant profits—

Having understood Bert's intention in giving instructions to the group members, Loki made a circle with his finger.

"Let's not talk about that now, Bert. Don't you need to rest? You must be exhausted after coming back from the dungeon. How about I give you a shoulder massage?"

"No need, and stop right now."

Seeing Loki's hands fidgeting restlessly as he reached behind his back, Bert refused with a look of rejection.

He took the backpack from the returning lower-ranking members, put it on his back, bit off the bone-in flesh, and suddenly seemed to remember something, touching the inside of his combat gear.

Then he took out a parchment scroll, turned around and said, "Hey, Loki."

"What is this?"

"This is from Finn."

"You'll see for yourself later." Bert said, then headed towards the main gate.

Loki read the carefully written text in red ink in an instant, and a smile appeared on his lips.

Finn's handwritten letter to the Supreme God reveals the information that came to light on the 59th floor—her true identity as the "Filthy Fairy," and the enemy forces' plan to destroy the city.

"Well done, Bo Chi."

The werewolf set off from headquarters, and Loki smiled at his retreating figure.

Side Story: Sword Oratoria 5 Chapter 2 Rabbit Rookie

The 18th floor is "Maze Paradise".

After the "night" period, shrouded in the deep darkness, the crystal light of "morning" spills across the entire secure floor. The wetlands to the north, the vast forest stretching from east to south, and the inn town built of lakes and islands to the west—everywhere is equally embraced by the underground sunlight.

Within these floors, at the southern end of the forest, lies the Loki Familia campsite…

The group members gathered together, and the noise was deafening.

"W-What happened, Mr. Raul?"

"Ah, Lefia."

Lefia hurried to the crowd that had formed in the center of the camp. Her long, thick blonde hair was not tied up, which proved that she had just woken up.

She was fast asleep in her tent, only now rushing out after noticing the commotion outside. Incidentally, the Amazon sisters, who are as sensitive as wild beasts to murderous intent and hostility, were probably still fast asleep because they didn't sense any malice.

Lefia rushed over upon hearing the commotion, and Raul, who was in the crowd, and Angie, the cat-woman beside him, both turned around.

"A group of adventurers (a party) of unknown origin came down from the 17th floor. I heard that Miss Ais found them lying on the ground and rescued them..."

"It seems he was attacked by the floor master (Oria)... He's covered in injuries and is currently unconscious."

Raul answered, and Angie added.

Hearing the commotion, the group members gathered around a spot on the grass where a small team of three was lying down and being cared for. Riveria, along with healer Line and others, were assessing their injuries and treating them.

The adventurers, dressed in fire-element protective shirts, kimonos, and robes, were all covered in wounds. Besides Riveria and the others, Ais was also among them.

His usually emotionless expression was now tinged with worry as he sat on the ground watching over the adventurers.

"Among those three, there seems to be a member of the Hephaestus Familia."

Angie and a surprised Lefia looked at Ais and the others, saying this as she turned her gaze to a corner of the crowd.

In the direction she glanced, there were a few blacksmiths who had escaped the poison, and Chun, whose chest was wrapped in a white cloth.

"Little brother Will..."

With his right eye, which wasn't covered by a blindfold, wide open, the half-dwarf blacksmith stared at the red-haired youth.

There's an unwritten rule in the dungeon that you generally don't interfere in other teams' affairs, but since that team has members of the allied [Hephaestus Familia], it's really not right to stand idly by.

Moreover, the situation was special. Although the Loki Familia had returned from their expedition and they didn't have much spare strength, they weren't so heartless or narrow-minded as to abandon their wounded comrades.

Riveria quickly gave instructions, bandaging the wounded, removing their weapons and armor, immobilizing their broken legs, and then using healing magic that radiated a warm glow.

"Also, it seems like Miss Ais knows someone in the team."

"Miss Ais's...?"

Raul's words, spoken as if he had just remembered, triggered a sensitive reaction in Lefia.

She couldn't help but observe the wounded who had moved into the campsite.

Among the wounded lying down were a little girl, the human blacksmith whom Tsubaki and the others cared about, and finally, a human boy whose face was covered by Ais…

(……Uh-huh?)

The sight that came into view gave Lefia a bad feeling, and the next moment, she was startled.

Lefia left her spot, went around to the other side, and stared intently with her azure eyes—quietly watching the boy whose hand Ais had placed on his forehead.

Slender hands and feet, a delicate figure, a youthful appearance... and then white hair as white as fresh snow.

Lefia's eyes widened suddenly.

"Ah ...

She pointed at the boy and shouted.

Hearing Lefia's shout, not only Raul, Angie and the other members, but even Riveria and Ais were taken aback.

Rewinding to before the "Expedition," that person was the same girl she admired who was also her teacher, and Lefia took it upon herself to regard her as a rival and enemy.

Rafia encounters her nemesis, the boy Bell Craney, once again.

"Quiet down, Lefia!!"

"sorry!?"

Riveria immediately snapped at her.

✉

The tent was filled with the quiet sounds of sleeping breathing.

As if recounting the hardships they had endured, their eyelids remained tightly closed. Lying on simple beds made of coats, the boys, young men, and girls, covered with blankets, drifted off to sleep.

Ais watched the faces of the other faction's squads—Bell and the others—from inside the tent, sitting on the ground as a caretaker.

Half a day has passed since they were moved into the Loki Familia's camp. The tent they're currently in was one that Leader Finn thoughtfully provided for their own use. The tontatta leader relayed a message to Ais: "Once they wake up, if possible, send them to the main camp." Someone had just come to visit her while she was sick—Tsubaki and the Hephaestus Familia had also visited a young man who seemed to be from her faction—

Thanks to Rivera and the healers, the wounds could be said to have healed completely. The most seriously injured was the young man's foot, and even the broken bones had been restored, all thanks to proper diagnosis and powerful healing magic. As for minor injuries such as abrasions, they were treated with the remaining ointment and bandages.

Ais knelt down, looking down at the white cloth wrapped around the head of the sleeping boy beside her.

(You've already arrived in a place like this...?)

Through a curtain, voices and laughter could be heard from outside the tent. Ais stretched out her fingers and ran them through Bell's bangs as if combing them.

Having lost almost all their tools and weapons, they were truly covered in wounds. They must have forced their way through the middle area like a desperate gamble to get here.

The last breakup happened just two weeks ago.

The boy at the time was indeed a Level 1 novice adventurer, and he did mention that he had reached the 10th floor while training on the city wall.

However, in such a short period of time, he had already walked through all eight floors.

From the "upper level" to the "middle level", they entered the 18th level in one go.

I can't believe how fast the floor updates are; it makes me doubt my ears.

Ais was astonished to see the boy and his companions right there, a fact that also made her certain.

(You've leveled up to Lv.2...)

Through that deadly "adventure" with the Minotaur, the boy elevated his "capacity."

Like Ais who defeated the floor master (Udeos).

Otherwise, he would not have been able to reach the 18th floor of this intermediate area.

Bell and the others probably didn't intend to reach the safe floor. They likely encountered an accident while exploring the shallower areas of the "middle level," becoming trapped and unable to return to the surface—unable to escape the maze.

Perhaps it's a massive landslide blocking the main route, or being chased by a monster and accidentally falling into a pit. This can sometimes happen in the "Granite Labyrinth," also known as the first line of death.

In that desperate situation, they... did not sit and wait for an endless rescue, nor did they resign themselves to fate; instead, they moved forward in order to survive.

"You really want to save them, don't you...?"

She recalled the boy's tragic expression as he cried out for help for his companions until the very end, even as he lost consciousness.

It was their courage, decisiveness, and wisdom in the face of death, as well as their genuine affection for their companions, that led Bell and his team to this safe floor.

"……but."

"Don't force yourself," she said.

Ais never expected what she was doing, reaching out towards Bell's face.

Blood gushed from his torn forehead, his face covered in blood. Despite the many wounds, he lay asleep, his body shrouded in deep fatigue.

She lowered her golden eyes and touched her bandaged forehead.

At this time.

"..."

"!"

Just as her consciousness was stirred by Ais's fingers stroking her forehead, her eyelids trembled.

Ais quickly withdrew her hand.

He seemed to be struggling with a swampy weariness, groaning softly as he struggled to breathe.

Ais stared intently at his profile, and after a moment, her rabbit-like deep red eyes opened.