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

"Kill those guys!! And kill everyone who gets in our way! Kill them all!!"

"So, so... isn't this just like the people who kidnapped Winnie and the others...!"

Reed gritted his teeth and, with an almost tearful expression, forced out a sound from his throat.

The lizardmen were also consumed by rage that rivaled that of the Guros, but they still urged everyone to make a calm judgment—all for the sake of their "destiny."

"Are you really going to let all our efforts up to this point go to waste?! The dreams of our fallen comrades, the light on the earth...!"

Step onto the surface and coexist and prosper with the human race.

Reed couldn't let go of the strong aspirations hidden in his heart, and the reason for his current existence. He wanted to persuade everyone to think twice and not cross the line that led them astray.

"There are also humans like Little Bell and his friends!!"

"Have you forgotten?" he said.

Reed called out the name of the boy he had shaken hands with.

"Not all adventurers...and not all humans are villains!"

However, Reed's heartfelt cries...

It did not reach the hearts of our compatriots.

Guros immediately retorted:

"How many times do you need to say these words? How many times will you be betrayed before you're satisfied!"

"!!"

"Where have all those humans who once pitied us gone?!"

Besides Bell, many adventurers have taken pity on the "heretics" or made contact with them. Each time, it gives Reed and his companions hope.

However, they all ended up siding with the humans.

Abandon and discard the "heretics".

"That kid's the same, he's just refusing to face reality!! He'll abandon us one day! Humans and 'monsters' can never coexist!!"

"...!"

"Wake up, Reed!"

The gargoyle, "Heretic," became increasingly agitated as he spoke, telling Reed to stop clinging to his absurd and nonsensical daydreams.

Goros pushed aside Reed, who was standing there speechless and unable to retort, and began his "action" driven by anger.

"We must win back our compatriots!! We will not let Raniere's last wish be in vain!"

Guros spread his gray stone wings and flew out of the cave.

As if drawn by the gargoyle's booming roar, the other "heretics" followed suit.

More than thirty monsters began their march toward the same "target".

"No, Reed... they won't give up."

Rey, standing beside Reed, spoke to him, frustrated at not being able to stop her companion.

She hugged her body tightly with her winged arms, desperately trying to suppress her trembling shoulders.

"hateful……"

Reed glanced at the singing bird fighting against its rage, his face contorting in disgust.

This lizard-man gazes up at the surface of the earth, which is impossible to see.

"I'm sorry, Fels... Bell Jr."

The faint sound of an apology faded into the darkness.

The dice have been rolled. We can only move forward.

Even if there is no turning back—we must at least bring our compatriots back.

Reed was prepared. At the same time, he accepted the surging emotions deep within his chest. In just an instant, the long-suppressed feelings took over his entire body.

The lizardman, whose demeanor had suddenly changed, pulled out a long sword and a scimitar stuck in the ground.

"Rei, Rett, come with me, let's catch up with Guros and the others."

"……yes."

"I see……"

"Aruru, go pick up 'that guy'."

Beside the singing bird and the red hat, the unicorn rabbit looked up at Reed, who had lost all expression, with its big red eyes.

"He should have already returned to the agreed meeting place in Miri. Tell him what happened and bring him here."

The silent rabbit monster shook its long ears and nodded.

She let out a short, high-pitched cry and jumped onto the back of the black dog (hellhound) waiting nearby. The unicorn rabbit straddled the monster's exposed back, swung its loose blue battle jacket, and left the cave.

"Let's go."

In order to follow the "action" of Guros and the others, Reed and his group also ran out.

The lizard's thick, long tail swayed like a snake, constantly increasing its speed.

His profile, with its bright yellow eyes and bloodshot veins, already resembled that of a "monster."

*

"Falgar, they've shown up. — It's Ikelos's gang."

A group of people, disguised and concealing the badges on their winged travel hats and boot-shaped sandals, chased after the trio of men.

They followed each other through the bustling passageway of adventurers; the usual crystal light shone upon the 18th floor of "Riviera Town".

The brilliance of crystal clusters, resembling blooming chrysanthemums, illuminated the entire ceiling of the building, indicating that it was currently "daytime." In the inn town built on the lakeside island, high-level adventurers came and went. Many used this surface relay station as a base for conquering the floors, conveniently heading to item shops, inns, or taverns to engage in heated haggling battles with the town's unscrupulous merchants.

Shouts and laughter echoed incessantly as members of opposing factions bumped into each other on the road, staring at each other blankly before erupting into a brawl. This was a common sight in this supposedly peaceful, rogue town.

"Perth!"

"Huh? What's wrong?"

The inn town, surrounded by crystals and exposed rocks, soon began to stir with unusual unease.

"The monster is making noise...something's not right."

Fully armed adventurers gathered at the edge of the cliff, where the view was expansive.

In this vast safety point that contains nature, everyone is staring intently in the same direction.

Their gaze was directed towards the central area of ​​the floor—the huge central tree connecting the area below.

"That is……"

*

Stepping out of the underground city, the same blue sky still stretched overhead.

The sun was about to rise high in the sky; it was clearly close to noon.

This is a street off the main road. Various shops line up in a row, among which the flower shop run by seemingly free demi-human girls is doing particularly well. The colorful flowers displayed in front of the shop bring smiles to the children's faces, and when I came to my senses, I realized that I had been following the children's faces with my eyes.

Despite being enveloped in the peaceful hustle and bustle of the city, I was suddenly overwhelmed by the feeling of having wandered into an unfamiliar alley.

I shook off this illusion and stopped where I was crossing the road.

"...Um, excuse me for taking up your time."

"Won't……"

This is an open space surrounded by houses on all four sides. I am here facing Miss Ais.

I ran into Miss Ais on the spiral staircase of the Tower of Babel, and I couldn't help but call out to her as she was heading to the dungeon.

I don't know why I did that. I think I just met someone I've always admired and strived to emulate, and I felt compelled to ask them questions.

Seeing that I was struggling to organize my emotions and kept stammering, Miss Ais, for some reason, suggested we change locations. We left the "Tower of Babel" and walked to a quiet street corner, where we met face to face like this.

"..."

"..."

My eyes met Miss Ais's.

They hadn't gazed at each other like this in a long time.

Her beauty, comparable to that of elves and goddesses, still made one forget the passage of time. Her expressionless face revealed nothing of her thoughts, but I felt that her clear golden eyes were about to steal my soul.

How wonderful it would be if I could forget all my troubles and gaze at this golden light in a daze... I couldn't help but have this thought.

"……What's wrong?"

Miss Ais asked slowly.

I felt that those words contained multiple meanings. It felt as if those golden eyes could see right through me, as if they were asking me what had happened and why I was confused.

I knew I was having trouble breathing. My heart was pounding.

As my mouth grew increasingly dry... I finally spoke.

"Miss Ais..."

"..."

"If monsters had a reason to live... if they had feelings like us, what would you do?"

I said it out loud.

If you encountered a "monster" who could laugh like a human, have worries like a human, and shed tears like a human—would you still be able to wield your sword?

I actually asked the swordsman I admire such a question.

"..."

Miss Ais kept her small lips closed.

Even when my questions seemed absurd, she didn't give a casual answer or harbor any doubts. Instead, she listened attentively and sought answers for me.

time flies.

A warm summer breeze blew between the two of them.

Soon, Miss Ais, whose gaze had never left me, spoke:

"If the monster wants to hurt me... no."

She first shook her head—then told me:

"If a monster makes anyone cry—I will kill the monster."

「!?」

Upon hearing those words, my shoulders jerked, and I stopped breathing.

Miss Ais asserted clearly and without any hesitation.

She said that even if the "monsters" had the same mind as humans, she would not hesitate to destroy them.

The swordsman's blunt answer, more cruel than anything else, froze me.

The image of Miss Ais ruthlessly killing Winnie and the others... that illusion flashed through my mind.

Faced with her unwavering expression, I stood frozen in fear.

Those golden eyes turned and asked me:

—Don't you know how?

"...!!"

Yes. The monster also stole my beloved.

The monster killed the irreplaceable person, it killed my grandfather.

I should have cried back then too.

Even so, the reason I haven't been driven by dark emotions of revenge is because I didn't get to see my grandfather's death and his remains, and because loneliness makes me grieve, I don't have the energy to be angry.

I stand between reality and ideals, between man and monster (monster), not knowing what to do.