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

The estimated distance is 50 meters, and two people were confirmed from the tree.

While carefully observing whether there were any accomplices around besides the two men in front of her, Lefia chased after the remnants of the dark faction.

Berry, caught up in the surveillance, asked her stiffly:

"Who...who are those people?"

"...Simply put, they are an organization that is hostile to us."

"With...with the Loki Familia?"

The two hid in the dense, low bushes, talking in hushed tones.

Upon hearing that the robed men in front of him were from a rival faction of the city's largest group, Bell visibly panicked. "Don't ask so many questions!" Lefia subtly scolded him in a low voice. "I'm sorry!" Bell also apologized in a low voice.

While speaking these words to the flustered boy, Lefia cautiously followed him.

The men didn't light any lamps, and proceeded while keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings. The two avoided their vigilance, maintaining a safe distance, until they finally reached a corner of the deep forest.

There are steep rock walls nearby.

The massive rock walls are visible through the gaps in the trees, indicating that the floor has reached its end. The current location is near the eastern edge of a safe floor.

The road has opened up, and the trees and bushes that were previously usable have disappeared, leaving only a single path. The branches and leaves of the forest canopy have also thinned, making it unlikely that one can hide on them now.

On the open grass, there are only blue crystal pillars, the smallest of which are over two meters tall, standing everywhere, just like the ruins of "ancient times"—like a megalithic circle, or perhaps it can be called a crystal jungle.

Lefia gazed ahead and saw the men passing through the crystal forest and continuing towards the rock wall.

(We cannot turn back here...)

The enemy's destination is getting closer, Lefia is certain of it.

Feeling the stinging tension on her skin, she gave Bell a look, indicating that she wanted to continue the pursuit. Although he became flustered, he nodded in agreement.

The two ran out of the shadows in the bushes and into the Crystal Forest.

They remained silent, hiding behind the crystal pillar, repeating this action several times.

Lefia and the others chased after the retreating figures of the men ahead.

Then, as if guided, they moved between the crystal pillars.

Crack.

Without warning, the ground cracked open.

On a circular lawn without crystal pillars.

The moment you step inside, a vertical cavern appears in the ground.

It was like a trap.

"ah--!?"

A sensation of levitation washed over her, her footing vanished, and Lefia's breathing ceased.

A chilling aura emanated from behind him.

The two then fell downwards.

"—Ughh ...

Lefia's scream overlapped with Bell's as they fell to the bottom of the cave.

Grass, mud, and leaves fell with them. As Lefia plummeted downwards, she looked up and saw the lid, which had been wide open, snap shut again with a loud thud.

As the forest scenery and the underground night sky were completely obscured, the two reached the end of the cave in the next instant.

"—Huh!?"

Lefia and Bell managed to land successfully on their feet, and then there was a loud "splash!!" as liquid water splashed up.

The bottom of the cave was submerged in a slightly purplish liquid.

The pool of water, up to knee-high, immediately began to steam, accompanied by a hissing sound.

"It's so hot...!?"

Rafia's and Bell's voices overlapped once again.

It felt like I was soaking in hot oil, and my feet were burned through my combat suit.

No, it was melted.

Looking down at the liquid that was bubbling and emitting white smoke, the two men's faces turned ashen.

"This is……!?"

"Dissolving solution!?"

Bell's exclamation and Lefia's screams echoed through the cave.

While they wouldn't be completely melted away in an instant, the feeling of their skin slowly dissolving intensified their fear. The magic stone lamp that had fallen from Bell's hand floated on the liquid surface, glowing as some of its parts began to melt.

Lefia and the others twitched, their eyes quickly scanning their surroundings.

This is a long and large vertical cave.

It is over 10 meters deep and about 7 meters in diameter.

The entire cave was constructed of disgusting, pale red fleshy walls, with no protrusions or indentations for climbing. Its shape was reminiscent of the interior of a creature or the stomach of a hideous monster. Even disregarding its biological appearance, the cylindrical structure was simply a pit.

The flesh walls emitted a faint glow—a pale red phosphorescence that illuminated the crimson world.

The warm air and strange smell filling the entire cave made the two of them sweat profusely.

"Ugh... bones, bones!?"

Hearing Bell scream as he looked around in panic, Lefia also turned to look in that direction, and the sight that came into view made her cover her mouth.

Countless skeletons lay in the dissolved liquid that filled the bottom of the cave.

It goes without saying that this is the end for those who are dissolved by this liquid.

They had long since lost their flesh and internal organs, leaving only bones. Breastplates and other protective gear lay scattered nearby. Upon closer inspection, various weapons, including swords and staffs, stood or sank beneath the dissolving liquid.

"The remains of adventurers...!? Where is this place...!!"

Countless skeletons, the remains of several people—were they all adventurers?

Some of the bones and skull bear marks of being beaten and damaged by something, and there are also claws and fangs that seem to belong to a monster (dropped items).

Is this an unconfirmed dungeon gimmick? On a safe floor? Even the monsters are affected?

The stench of melting flesh made Lefia dizzy, and in her confusion... Bell beside her said in a trembling voice:

"Lefia, Miss... upstairs."

"what?"

Guided by his pale face, Lefia looked up...

A gigantic shadow slowly peeled its body away from the tightly adhering flesh walls, supporting its upper body...

“——”

Right at the base of the tightly closed lid.

The monster, with a human-shaped upper body, looked down at the dumbfounded Lefia and her companions from an upside-down position.

In this world of crimson flesh, that was the only yellowish-green. Adorning the chest and abdomen were intense, dazzling, and colorful patches.

Its arms transformed into two long, thick tentacles—tentacles—hanging down and swaying incessantly. Its long, slender lower body, below the waist, merged completely with the fleshy walls, now writhing like a snake.

Its head has huge eyeballs and hollow crown-like organs, with a single eye directly connected to its neck, surrounded by a crown-like mane of a lion.

It is a particularly bizarre and disgusting existence compared to the wide variety of monsters (monsters), right there.

"A new, new species...?"

The boy's trembling voice stemmed directly from his apprehension and fear of the unknown monster.

"A colorful monster...!!"

Beside him, Rafia understood everything.

The true nature of this trap is a "colorful monster" that comes from the same source as those man-eating plants.

The retinue born from the "Filthy Immortal Spirit" is a monster in the entire vertical cave.

It was most likely set up by remnants of the dark faction.

To protect the place ahead that lies a great secret—a strategic location—that lies beyond the crystal jungle.

To prevent information leaks, eliminate all witnesses from the underground gatekeepers (trap monsters).

Just like Lefia and her companions at this moment, any adventurer who discovers remnants of the dark faction, follows out of curiosity, or wanders into this place by mistake will be secretly dealt with by it, which can be called the "Guardian of the Forest".

The countless skeletons that sank to the bottom of the cave—the unsuspecting adventurers—were all preyed upon by this monster.

“——”

Staring intently at the enormous, restless eye, it caught sight of Lefia and Bell standing frozen in place.

The next instant, the underground gatekeeper raised his tentacle and swung it down at them.

""!?"

Lefia and Bell kicked the ground at the same time.

The enormous whip, along with the dissolving liquid, unleashed its power in the center of the cave.

With a tremendous impact, the dissolved liquid at the bottom of the sediment scattered everywhere.

"Miss Rafia!?"

"Don't worry about me, worry about yourself!"

Lefia shielded her eyes with her arms from the splashing dissolving liquid and yelled back at Bell.

Thick golden hair, white hair, and combat suits were sprayed with droplets, causing white smoke to rise. Lefia and the others barely dodged the attack, but the second whip was already coming.

「!?」

The tremors struck again, this time shattering the adventurers' skeletons into pieces, which flew into the air.

Lefia narrowly avoided the attack aimed at her, but the wind pressure and impact she experienced made her feel terrified.

Its immense power is likely comparable to that of a large-scale monster in the deepest regions. If Lefia and Bell choose to defend and block the attack, they will surely be pulverized. Moreover, the two tentacles seem to be able to extend and retract freely; as long as they remain inside this enemy's body, they will have no chance of escaping its range.

Meanwhile, the monster attacked from directly above the two of them, making it extremely difficult to deal with.

(The existence of such a monster means...!)

Lefia's eyes were sharp as she stared intently at the underground gatekeeper, whose upper body alone was twice her size.

The presence of such a peculiar monster indicates that there is something in the direction the remnants of the dark faction are heading that must be protected and concealed by guards.

She had to go back and tell Finn and the others no matter what.

(I have to find a way to escape alive—no! I have to defeat that monster!)

Given the special circumstances, it's best not to fantasize about escaping unscathed without defeating the monster above, especially since she simply couldn't think of such a way.

The quickest way is to smash the closed entrance and exit together with the enemy's main body, which is unpleasant to look at.

Lefia gripped the wand in her right hand, the Forest Tear.

"————————————!!"

The underground gatekeepers attacked without mercy.

Its single eye on its head twitches incessantly, capturing every movement of its prey, while it waves its two tentacles.

As always, it was ferocious and ruthless, intent on condemning adventurers to death.

"Ugh! Waaah!?"

Faced with the monster's attack for the first time, Bell desperately fled, completely losing his composure.

The enemy was a new type of monster that even the governing body (guild) had not confirmed. The opponent, whom he had no knowledge of, threw Bell into a panic, making it impossible for him to deal with it properly. He hopped around like a rabbit, barely managing to escape from the enemy's whip.

Despite his rapid growth, Bell Craney is by no means a seasoned adventurer.

On the contrary, the downside of rapid growth—the lack of battlefield experience—exposed his vulnerability.

So, seeing the boy covered in large beads of sweat, Lefia...