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

An overweight blunt weapon was deflected off its trajectory by a gun, ending in a swing that missed its mark.

The attack launched by the powerful arm of the beastman, who was at least three times larger than himself, was completely neutralized by Dix.

"Skill" and "tactics." Genuine technical skill demonstrates the strength cultivated by ruthless hunters.

As they crossed paths, the beastman's black eyes reflected the man's cruel smile.

Dix took advantage of the situation to move past the beastmen's side and seize the position behind their opponents.

"I've caught large-scale (big fish) before, and I've learned my lesson the hard way."

Fur had swung his hammer and spear to their fullest extent, leaving his back completely unguarded.

Facing that stiff back, Dix calmly thrust out his gun.

"I don't want someone like you."

Thump! A heavy sound rang out.

The heavy breastplate and thick chest were pierced by the tip of the crimson (rubellite) spear.

Blood gushed from Fur's mouth as he was stabbed from back to chest.

"Fol!?"

Ranie, fighting alone in the distance, screamed.

Winnie could only stand there motionless.

"Goo, oh..."

The large hammer and spear slipped from his hands.

Looking down at the ominous spear tip protruding from his chest, the beastman gripped the spear shaft with trembling fingers.

Seeing the monster try to pull out its spear, Dix gave a cruel smile.

"Die."

He swung the gun upwards with all his might, cleaving the massive body that had been pierced through.

The beastman's body above the chest was torn apart, and he fell to the ground on his knees.

“——”

Just before he collapsed, Fuller turned his profile slightly, his dull eyes meeting Winnie's.

As blood splattered, his right arm did indeed move towards Winnie—the large hand that had once wiped away her tears lost its color in Winnie's vision.

"...Fol?"

The hoarse calls went unanswered.

Winnie couldn't make out the sounds of battle between the spider-man and the hunters; her vision was only gradually blurring.

"Aud, Cliff, Fei...?"

The battle shadow, cut in two, became a miserable corpse; the eagle, pierced by countless spears, was stabbed to death; and the half-human, half-bird girl, lying helplessly on the ground, was left in a state of unknown fate.

The singing bird lying on the ground had already breathed its last.

The girl, calling out the names of her compatriots in her field of vision, felt her heart shatter.

"No, no...no!"

Water droplets spilled from amber eyes and slid down her pale, bluish cheeks.

With a scream bursting from her throat, Winnie's emotions crumbled.

"don't want!?"

She cried out and ran to the collapsed beastman.

Winnie knelt before him, not caring about getting her hands stained with blood, and tightly embraced his right hand, but that large hand would never again wipe away Winnie's tears.

The girl didn't know how to stop the tears that were welling up in her eyes, and her face was scrunched up from crying.

"No, no, no...!!"

She wept uncontrollably, her tears soaking the remains of the beastmen.

I don't want this.

If this is a dream, please let me wake up quickly.

Winnie pleaded repeatedly in despair, but the silent labyrinth did not respond to her pleas, only forcing her to confront the cruel reality with her gradually cooling corpse.

Just as she was shedding her inexhaustible tears and was about to collapse onto the beastman lying on the ground.

A dark shadow covered Winnie's body.

"Don't worry, monster."

“——”

Dix looked down at the dragon girl who was crying uncontrollably and laughed.

Just as that sorrowful expression brought him more comfort than anything else, a sneer escaped his throat.

"I won't neglect you."

Winnie's eyes widened, brimming with tears.

The man stared at the beautiful red stone on her forehead beneath the slipped hoodie, narrowing his eyes as he raised the red spear he held in one hand and swung it. His vision was painted crimson. A shockwave swept over him.

Winnie's consciousness soon ceased.

*

"Ugh, ooh...!?"

With his arms and several of the spider's legs broken, Ranie, who had resisted to the very last moment, finally exhausted all his strength.

The battle seemed to have never happened; the cave gradually fell silent. Only the bark walls and floor bore signs of damage, and lush vegetation lay scattered, indicating the intensity of the fighting. Apart from the hunters, no shadows moved about. Lane was forcibly dragged along, brought before Dix along with the half-human, half-bird girl.

"We've gone to so much trouble!"

“Huh!?”

"Damn, that hurts..."

She was kicked to the ground by the big man called Grant.

The human hunter pressed his hand to the wound on his arm sustained in the fight with Lanie, his face contorted in pain. The other members, besides him, also treated the wound with "magic" or potions.

(…!)

With his helmet gone, revealing his white hair and fair complexion, Lanie remained prone, peering around.

Not far away, Winnie lay motionless. Her bangs obscured her eyes, revealing only several bruises from the beating; her expression was impossible to discern. To subdue her, her opponent must have brutally beaten her, leaving her unable to resist. Her robes were torn in various places, and several of the sturdy dragon scales were cracked.

"Much tougher to deal with than those guys before... really."

"That beastman tribe member is one of the more skilled ones among the monsters."

Fol is dead. Od and Cliff were also killed. All three have long since turned to dust.

The half-human, half-bird creature, Fly, lying next to Winnie, was still alive. Although her eyelids were closed weakly, she, like Winnie, was simply unconscious.

Only the humanoid monster was spared.

Raniere immediately understood what this meant.

The guild's Fool (Fels) said that those hunters were engaged in "heretic" smuggling. They captured Winnie and the others only to satisfy their own desires, intending to sell them to people of unknown origin and with unusual sexual fetishes.

As Ranie listened to the conversation between the female warrior (an Amazon) and the orc, she gritted her teeth, consumed by anger and a sense of powerlessness.

"Hey, you guys. Stop messing around and carry these dragon girls (Vivel) and the like away. There might be some guys scouting around again, so be careful."

Dix slung the red gun over his shoulder and gave instructions.

The hunters obeyed his commands with trepidation. Some drove away the monsters that appeared in the cave, while others were responsible for carrying away the remaining "heretics."

(…!)

Seeing Winnie being lifted up in front of him, Raniere mustered his last bit of strength and pointed at her with his finger.

Extremely fine silk threads extend from the fingertips. These spider silk threads were originally used to capture prey.

The spider carefully avoided being discovered, allowing its silk threads to stick to the girl's body.

Unexpectedly... *splat*.

"...!?"

"What tricks are you up to secretly?"

The twisted, crimson spear tip severed Raniere's silken threads.

Dix spotted the spider silk, so fine it was almost invisible to the naked eye, and looked down at the breathless spider.

"Spider silk...you think you can use it as a road sign (Ariadne)? Dream on."

Seeing the mocking smile on the goggles' face, Raniere's eyebrows furrowed and her whole body trembled.

This man is very shrewd, cunning, and treacherous.

This man was inherently cruel, inspiring fear in his companions, yet he always remained calm, observing his surroundings and never forgetting to act cautiously and take precautions. Lanie realized that the reason why Fels and the others on the surface, along with the "Heretics," had not yet uncovered the true nature and hideout (secret base) of the hunters was because of this man.

Facing the spider-man glaring at him with murderous intent, Dix slung the red gun over his shoulder and crouched down.

"Ah... this guy is no good, we can't be careless. If we let him in, he might start a fire one day."

He grabbed Ranie's hair, lifted her up, and smirked in front of her.

Seeing the beautiful spider's face contorted with pain and rage, reflected on her goggles, Dix's smile deepened. "I'll take care of her here."

"...!!"

He coldly declared.

Dix released Lane's hair and stood up, and the other adventurers around him turned back to him.

As he watched these humans draw their swords and approach, sweat streamed down Lane's face.

"I... I mean, Dicks, is that alright?"

"what?"

At that moment, the three men spoke to Dix.

Although the human and orc men laughed humbly, they still made their request.

"Since we're going to kill him anyway... can we enjoy ourselves a little before that?"

"..."

"We know that procrastination will lead to mistakes, but... look, it's such a waste."

At first, Raniere didn't understand what the men were saying.

However, as soon as I understood the meaning of the words, a nauseating feeling of physical rejection welled up from the bottom of my abdomen.

"...Do as you please."

Dix glanced at the men and the stiff, motionless spider-men, and a smirk played on his lips.

Seeing him raise his chin, the men's ugly faces twisted in disgust.

"Hey, hehe...behave yourself, okay?"

Heavy breathing, a lewd smile.

The clingy gaze, as if licking every inch of skin, described everything.

These men have a "monster fetish".

This abnormal fetish involves viewing monsters... especially humanoid aliens like the half-human, half-snake (Lamia) as sexual objects.

This term is considered the most derogatory term among humans and is taboo.

They intend to defile Ranie.

Not content with taking away Ranie's companions, they even trampled on her dignity.

The men were visibly excited, and around them, Dix and the others grinned maliciously, waiting to see what would happen.

The broken arm began to spasm from the elbow down, and Raniere clenched his fist tightly.