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

This was Lefia's eagerness and determination to "finish her work quickly and go find Miss Ais and the others...!" However, it not only had no effect but also backfired. Lefia's wasted enthusiasm only made the sickly group members feel worse.

Lefia's loss of control continued until Riveria rebuked her, saying, "How can you make the patient suffer instead!"

"Waaah, I keep getting yelled at lately..."

Lefia burst into tears and used the river water she had drawn to wash her handkerchief.

She filled a helmet she borrowed from a male member of the group with water, soaked the hand towels until they were cold, wrung them out, and placed them on the forehead of her companion who was lying on his back.

Lefia seriously reflected on her failure... but still thought, "It's all that boy's fault!" and couldn't help but twitch her eyes with tears.

(I...I know I shouldn't blame him, but...!)

But she just cares a lot.

She cares about the white-haired boy that Ais wants to take care of.

Even the most oblivious person would understand that Ais is very interested in Bell.

Whether the reason was simply a sense of closeness or an astonishing "rapid growth," Lefia couldn't understand. Only one thing was certain: the "Sword Maiden," who had relentlessly pursued power, had developed an interest in him like a girl chasing a rabbit, and was gradually changing.

For Lefia, who had always admired Ais, this was truly upsetting.

It was so intense that she couldn't help but pay attention to the boy whenever he appeared nearby, displaying a competitive spirit.

It was like the period when I took it upon myself to treat him as a nemesis (a formidable rival) and trained him diligently.

(I didn't mean to compete over this, but... no, since they're from another faction, they should at least be more polite or humble...!)

As a result, Rafia herself realized that her thinking was going in circles, and she became increasingly dissatisfied with the boy, pouting as she took action.

In short, I need to work first. In order to get to Ais and the others who are currently doing something with Bell and the goddess, I need to complete the duties assigned to me.

Rafia worked diligently, caring for the wounded, wiping the naked bodies of the female members who were covered in sweat, and sometimes going back and forth between the stream and the campsite to fetch water.

"Lefia, your shift has ended. We'll take care of the rest."

"Okay!"

Time flies when you're focused. The elf Alicia came to call for everyone, and Lefia handed over the duties to the other members.

After Alicia and the others came in, Lefia left the tent, feeling overjoyed at the thought that she could now go find Ais and the others without worry.

She immediately headed towards the western lakeside floor where the town (Rivera) was located—

"Lefia, we have a visitor."

"what?"

But as she was walking through the campsite, someone called out to her.

It was Kos Basel, the chienthrope who had attacked the 59th floor with Raul and the others. Usually taciturn, he pointed south towards the campsite to Lefia.

"It's an elven woman; she seems to have come looking for you."

Koss explained that he stopped her in front of the campsite because she belonged to another faction. Lefia paused for a moment, thanked him, and walked over there first.

A fellow (elf) visitor... who could it be?

Lefia tilted her head and jogged along. Just as Kos had said, standing outside the camp was a black-haired elf dressed in pure white combat armor.

Lefia's eyes met those crimson eyes, and she opened her own azure eyes wide.

"Miss Philweis!"

She ran to the girl of her tribe with a beaming smile.

Philweis Charlia.

She is a second-tier adventurer belonging to the Dionysus Familia, and also the faction leader. Lefia and she first met during the incident at the food warehouse on the 24th floor, and have maintained contact ever since.

"You're really alright... It's been so long."

Like Lefia, Philweis's cherry lips also blossomed into a smile; Lefia's intact appearance seemed to put her mind at ease.

Lefia stopped and faced the woman, who was slightly taller than her.

"What brings you here?"

"The townspeople (Rivera) have returned to the surface to buy goods and are talking about your rumors, saying that the Loki Familia has returned from their 'expedition'."

Philvis said, "I heard you're camping in the forest now," explaining her reason for coming to the 18th floor. It seems news of the Loki Familia's return is gradually spreading throughout Orario.

"I missed you, so I asked Dionysus for leave."

After saying that, Philweis stared intently at Lefia's face.

"You've lost a little... weight."

"Huh!? Was I really that fat!?"

That's not what I meant.

I hadn't eaten sweets for a long time before my expedition! Lefia was greatly shocked, and Philweis gave her a wry smile.

Due to limited resources and dietary restrictions, prolonged stays in the harsh environment of the underground labyrinth (dungeon) would truly take a toll on both body and mind. At this moment, Lefia had eliminated everything unnecessary, and could be described as a sharpened adventurer's sword or a sacred wooden staff standing upright deep in the elven forest.

"You are more dashing than before... no, that's not right, you're like a completely different person."

Philweiss hinted that Lefia had grown significantly after the "expedition," and narrowed her eyes in surprise.

"Lefia... I'm so glad you're back alive. It's so good to see you again."

Her gentle gaze made Lefia blush.

Phil Weiss—her words startled her, and she turned her head away.

She coughed a few times in a mock manner before finally saying perfunctorily, "Anyway, I'm relieved to see you're safe and sound." But her excessively pale skin clearly accentuated the rosy blush on her cheeks.

Lefia was all smiles.

Rafia was delighted by Philweis's sentiments and felt a warmth in her heart to be able to talk to her again like this.

The two elven girls smiled at each other, overjoyed at their reunion after half a month apart.

"Uh—, while we were in the dungeon, did anything happen on the surface? Like, remnants of the dark faction or something..."

"No... there's no obvious movement. The Hermes' interference is a bigger problem than them, and I think you'll find out soon enough..."

Phil Weiss hesitated, making no attempt to hide her distressed expression.

As Lefia looked at her with some surprise, the girl from her tribe asked in return:

"...How was the 'Expedition'?"

"No one was killed, although it was indeed very difficult... but I also learned some things because of it."

Lefia said that the expedition was worthwhile and had yielded fruitful results. She straightened her posture, met Philweis's eyes, and told her with mixed feelings:

"—Thank you, Miss Philvis. The 'magic' you gave me protected Miss Ais and everyone else."

The final battle takes place on the 59th floor.

In the midst of that, Lefia's Summon Burst—the barrier magic [God's Holy Grail of Salvation] entrusted to her by Philwis—blocked the bombardment of the "Filthy Fairy".

The pure white, holy light saved Lefia and her team from their desperate crisis.

Thanks to your (Philwiss's) "magic," Ais and the others were saved, and I am able to stand here now. Rafia conveyed her gratitude with tears in her eyes.

Upon seeing this, Philweis stopped what she was doing, her eyes wide open.

"...I see. So my 'magic' saved you...?"

A moment later, she looked down at her right hand.

Those crimson eyes swayed, as if stirred by a myriad of emotions.

Lefia was startled. Philweis's expression seemed to convey grief and self-blame for failing to save her companion—the [Familia] senior who had been lost in the "Nightmare of the 27th Floor."

Even with "magic," her companions' lives still slipped through her fingers.

And this time, that "magic" successfully protected the people Lefia cherished.

If Lefia's prediction is correct, what would Philweis's state of mind be at this moment?

Lefia simply couldn't fathom her inner thoughts.

Seeing that Philweis remained silent, Lefia could not call out to her and could only watch from the side.

"—Lefia."

at this time.

Someone called to Lefia from behind.

"Lady Riveria? What brings you here?"

"I just heard from Koss and the others that an elf came looking for you."

The one who appeared, swaying her long emerald hair, was Riveria.

She came from a distance from the campsite and stood before the stunned Rafia and Philweis.

"I was wondering if... this girl is the fellow countrywoman you said bestowed 'magic' upon you?"

"Yes, yes! It's her. Miss Philvis Sharia of the Dionysus Familia."

Lefia reported to Riveria about Philweis, who had given her the "barrier magic".

Hearing her affirmation, Riveria nodded, glancing sideways at the black-haired elf.

In contrast, Philweis was greatly shocked by the appearance of her clan's princess.

"Thanks to you, we were able to get through this critical situation. Philwis Sharia, my fellow elf, allow me to thank you as well."

thank you.

Rivera, whose beauty surpassed that of all elves, smiled and quietly expressed her gratitude.

Phil Weiss stood frozen in place, her whole body stiff.

"Riveria, my lord..."

The elven girl murmured in a hoarse voice—neither trembling with emotion nor saying "I dare not" out of self-deprecation.

Instead, he immediately retreated, putting distance between himself and Riveria.

"It's an honor to meet you..."

After he finished speaking, I noticed her gaze was lowered—

"...Excuse me."

Then she turned and left.

"Miss Phil, Phil Weiss?"

Rafia called out to her urgently, but Phil Weiss didn't respond. She turned her back to the two of them and left.

Riveria looked surprised as she watched the girl from her own country walk away.

Philweis's appearance was clearly not right, which made Lefia panic. In her haste, she met Riveria's eyes.

"Don't worry about me, go find her."

“Okay, okay!”

"I'm sorry!" Rafia called out and ran out.

She followed Phil Weiss.

The silent figure hurried away from the campsite, wanting to leave the forest. Her long, glossy black hair, reminiscent of a witch, seemed restless, eager to get far away.

"Please wait a moment, Miss Philweis! What's wrong?"

Lefia, running among the trees, quickly caught up with Philwis.

Lefia called after her from behind, but she refused to stop. After a moment, she received a stiff response:

"...Lady Riveria is royalty."

"So what? Don't worry about it."

Riveria Rios Alph's fame and origins are intertwined with the title of "the strongest mage in the city," making her renowned not only in Orario but throughout the world. No elf is unaware of her, and both male and female elves with a strong sense of kinship regard her as an object of reverence and respect.

Philweis clearly respected Riveria just like her other compatriots, which puzzled Lefia.

"Lady Riveria is approachable and never puts on airs with us commoners. On the contrary, she doesn't like people being too respectful to her—"