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

"Don't panic in a time like this! Listen carefully, please follow my instructions!"

"I...I understand!"

As a second-tier adventurer, Lefia displayed the demeanor of a senior, but without being obnoxious. She held her wand in one hand, extending her index finger, and Bell nodded repeatedly.

That's right, after all, Lefia is a member of the Loki Familia.

I can't let people from other factions see me as a failure.

Lefia kicked herself, always lacking confidence in front of Ais and the others, and put on the airs of a member of the largest faction in the city.

She concealed her nervousness and resolutely led Bell away from the scene.

(Calm down, assess the situation, and remain vigilant about your surroundings at all times...)

Lefia took the magic stone lamp and led the way into the dark forest, having already instructed Bell to watch out for what was behind them.

In the past, she always relied on Ais and the others to protect and help her.

She had to do this little thing herself... She kept this sense of mission in her heart.

Although it was just a facade, at this moment, Lefia perfectly demonstrated the attitude expected of a Level 2 adventurer. Compared to her previous self, who would only cower behind Ais and the others, she had indeed grown.

This was a responsibility she had never experienced before, at least not yet, within the Loki Familia, a group of great predecessors. She had to take on the responsibility of guiding the adventurers, who were anxiously looking around and whose rank was lower than hers.

She broke perfectly sized blue crystals, scattering the shards behind her, and carved an X mark on the tree trunk each time she made a large detour. She also made sure to cut deep enough to prevent the crystals from healing too quickly.

Sometimes, Lefia would sense the monster's presence early enough to turn off the lights and hide in the bushes with Bell. To avoid unnecessary battles, the two would hide and wait for the monster to leave on several occasions.

"Um... Miss Veridis?"

"...Lefia."

"what?"

"Just call me Lefia. I don't want anyone other than my fellow elves to use my village's (Vishen's) name for me. So, is there something you need?"

Hearing a timid voice behind her, Lefia faced forward and answered coldly.

To her, who hadn't stopped moving, Bell asked with a determined look:

"Are the members of the Loki Familia really capable of everything?"

"……?What's the meaning?"

"Uh, Miss Lefia is a mage, right? But she's very proactive, and the way she does things is so adventurous, I think it's amazing."

"W-what...!?"

Upon hearing Bell say admiringly, "Truly worthy of being the largest faction in the city (Loki Familia)," Lefia's cheeks flushed reflexively.

"I won't get anything out of flattery! And besides, don't talk unless it's absolutely necessary!"

“S-Sorry!”

When the elf girl turned around and started cursing, Bell curled up into a ball.

Lefia, in a sense, was caught off guard, and exclaimed with furrowed brows, "Really!"

She turned her back to the apologetic-looking boy and walked quickly forward.

"...Miss Rafia."

"What's wrong now?"

When the other person spoke again, Lefia replied with a slightly barbed tone.

The boy quietly asked her:

"Does one really need to be good at everything to become the strength of Mr. Finn and the others... and Miss Ais?"

About this question.

Lefia stopped in her tracks.

After a pause, she walked forward again and said slowly and softly:

"There's no way around it. Even if I become good at everything, I still can't catch up with them at all."

After he finished speaking, silence fell between them.

They continued forward in silence, with only the faint sounds coming from the grass.

Only at this moment did their hearts connect. Unconsciously, Lefia and Bell yearned for the same peak.

Later, they moved forward for a while.

Before them stood a huge tree that would make their necks ache if they looked up at it.

Lefia stopped and, after confirming that there was no sign of anything around her, briefly examined the trees.

The trunk was thicker than any other tree in the forest, and the top of the tree was high and far away.

(This tree should be able to...)

Lefia was not wandering aimlessly in the forest.

She was looking for these huge trees to climb up and confirm her current location.

If you can find the giant tree growing in the center of the floor that also serves as a passageway to the next floor, you can easily calculate the approximate location of the forest.

"I'll climb up and see what's going on around us. You stay here."

"Okay, I understand."

Okay. Rafia nodded, about to climb the tree... before she did, she glanced at Bell one last time.

She clutched her battle attire—the skirt of a mage's outfit—and glared at him, her face flushed.

"Absolutely! You're not allowed to look up!?"

"Huh? What...?"

"If you see this, I will absolutely never forgive you!!"

"Okay, okay!?"

Upon being yelled at by the girl with such force, Bell immediately agreed without hesitation.

Before the blush on Lefia's face had faded, she jumped up with a "thump!"

She left the boy to guard the tree while she climbed to the top of the tree alone.

Lefia stepped on the branches, jumping from one place to another.

Bell, who was thrown down with the magic lamp, looked up cautiously after a while, but Lefia was no longer in sight.

"That's really impressive..."

He was genuinely amazed to see that the second-level adventurer could climb the tree without using his hands, simply by jumping repeatedly.

Lefia, completely unaware of Bell's reaction, leaped onto a thick branch near the top.

The tree easily broke through the green dome formed by the forest foliage, and just as Lefia had imagined, it offered an unobstructed view of the building from its top.

Looking to her left, she could clearly see the central tree she was looking for, with a huge, single crystal pillar radiating a blue glow standing in front of it. It seemed that she was currently on the east side of the floor, near the eastern edge.

She carefully surveyed the surrounding scenery to memorize the terrain.

--at this time.

"Huh—?"

A scene flashed by as she looked down at the forest below.

Lefia quickly hid in the shade of the branches and leaves.

After hiding, she used her enhanced vision, enhanced by her [ability value], to focus her azure eyes and clearly spotted suspicious men in robes through the gaps in the trees.

A large robe covering the upper body, along with a headscarf and headband that even covered the mouth. The dark-colored clothing blended seamlessly with the darkness, concealing the face and identity.

Although the colors of their clothes are different, their attire is the same as that of the robed group—the remnants of the dark faction—who fought in the battle at the 24th-floor grain depot.

Could it be...? Lefia gasped.

There are two people on the other side, moving towards a location not far from here.

Lefia noted the direction the two men were heading and immediately jumped down from the tree branch.

She broke through several leaves and landed gracefully in front of the waiting boy with a thud.

Bell was astonished to see Lefia suddenly jump down.

"Turn off the lights!"

She immediately gave instructions to the stunned Bell.

"Huh! Huh?"

"hurry up!"

"Okay, okay!?"

Bell hurriedly turned off the magic stone lamp.

The only source of light quickly disappeared, and the surrounding area was completely shrouded in darkness. At least this way, there was no need to worry about being detected by the other party.

Lefia left the bewildered Bell aside and started thinking.

(No mistake, they're remnants of the dark faction... What are they doing on this floor?)

Just like before, when they parasitized the giant flower in the food storehouse, turning it into something unrecognizable—a plant—do they have some other conspiracy on this 18th floor?

How to do?

Should we return to the campsite immediately and report to Finn and the others?

But that might cause us to lose them. It was almost a miracle that we spotted them in this vast forest just now.

If we follow them, we might be able to find some clues about the series of events that have occurred since the Monster Festival...?

(what to do……)

Rafia faces a choice.

A puzzled Belle stared at her, who remained serious and silent.

The elven girl, her eyebrows furrowed in worry, made a decision as time ticked by.

(I have no choice but to go...)

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

If the enemy has any tricks up their sleeve, it is even more important to see through their intentions before the situation becomes urgent.

Besides, all we need to do is scout. If we can find out the intentions or destination of the remnants of the dark faction, it's practically a victory for Lefia. This mission shouldn't be too difficult.

Bring back valuable intelligence for Finn and his men.

With this thought in mind, Lefia took it upon herself to decide to follow the men in robes.

(The problem is...)

Rafia then looked up.

Before me stood a still bewildered Bell.

We can't leave him alone.

Even if you tell him the location of the campsite as seen from the trees, and that he's on the right track, this vast forest is still quite dangerous for an adventurer who has just reached Lv.2. Not to mention that although he's equipped with a black dagger for protection and wearing a shirt-style fire spirit cloth, he's not wearing any armor.

Leaving him here and telling him to wait for me to come back isn't a good idea either.

Lefia stared intently at the boy, and faced with his panic, she made a helpless judgment.

"Excuse me... please come with me."

Lefia, carrying Bell, immediately began to move.

Relying on the aerial view from the trees, Lefia hurried towards the remnants. She tried to make her footsteps as quiet as possible, suppressing her rapid heartbeat and breathing, as she ran through the trees. Bell had only heard a brief verbal explanation and didn't quite understand the situation, but he still desperately kept up.

The towering tree trunks and bushes obstructed her view, but Lefia searched desperately and finally spotted her target in the distance.

She immediately stopped and gestured for Bell to stop, then hid behind a tree.

(Gotcha…!)

Lefia held her breath and gripped the wand she was holding tightly.