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

"You bastard!?"

Enraged, Ilta and the members of the Ganesha Familia raised their weapons and charged at the enemy.

The dark figure that appeared before the adventurers—the croaking one—was revealed.

*

"Rett, Fei'er, are you sure you can get out of here!?"

Deep within the underground labyrinth.

In the dizzyingly long, man-made labyrinth (Knossos), built by countless hands, a violent feast still unfolds in the halls.

"Are we supposed to go rescue Lord Bell!? But given the situation...!"

"No, I want you to go to the entrance behind us!"

"!"

"I need you to go back to the 18th floor and persuade Rey and the others to bring them here. The situation is urgent; the Ganesha Familia is also acceptable!"

"At this point, they've resorted to any means necessary," Fels roared, disregarding all consequences.

Even if it causes trouble by letting adventurers know about the existence of the "heretics," it's still better than losing to the [Ikeros Familia] here.

Having understood Fels's meaning, both "heretics" nodded.

"Do you remember how to get to the 18th floor from here?"

"Remember!"

"This is the 'key'. You can use this to open the 'door'."

Fels quickly handed the spherical magic item to the two. Red Hat threw the large axe, which didn't suit his short stature, to the ground and looked at the half-human, half-bird slumped on the ground.

"Fei'er!"

"I can fly... I can fly!"

The half-human, half-bird creature with its legs still embedded in its lower body struggled to support its injured body and spread its wings.

With her last bit of strength, she flew into the air, and the woman in the red hat immediately jumped up and grabbed one of her feet. The two "heretics" flew over the heads of the irrational monsters and disappeared into the depths of the stone steps.

"Magician, what have you done?!"

"!"

Without even watching the two leave, a gruff voice yelled at Fels.

They are hunters from the Ikelos Familia. A total of eight men and women escaped Dix's curse of bewitching violence (Phabertor Daedalus) and charged in with weapons.

"I have a question for you. Why do you obey that man's orders? As far as I can see, he is nothing but a tyrannical and despotic ruler."

In a direct confrontation, one is outnumbered and outmatched. If the enemy attacks all at once, one cannot hold out for long.

Fels made a quick decision and deliberately jumped into the midst of the "heretics" who were still fighting.

"Need I say more? Because it's fun!! As long as you follow Dix, you can have money, alcohol, or women—even monsters are at our mercy!"

"...Looks like I asked in vain."

The answer he received silenced Fels, and he launched a counterattack.

The monsters attacked indiscriminately whenever anyone approached; Fels used them as obstacles to hinder the enemy's movement. The hunters barely managed to squeeze past the raging monsters or leap down from the top of the black cage, but Fels would unleash colorless shockwaves on them before they even got close.

“Huh!?”

"Damn it... What's going on here?! That's a magical item too?!"

"It's nothing, it's just replacing bullets with 'magic' and converting it into shockwaves."

"It's like the offensive 'bowl' that a few monsters can use," Fels explained.

The chaotic battlefield became the black-clad magician's strongest ally. Although Fels himself was attacked by the monsters and suffered some injuries, it couldn't outweigh the advantage brought by the "magic" that could seal the enemy.

On such a battlefield, completing a chant is no easy feat. Even those who have mastered "parallel chanting" rarely manage to finish a spell in such a place. If one dares to stop and leisurely chant outside the battlefield, they will be sniped by Fels without chanting (instantly).

The attack-use magical item is called "Magic Eater".

This is a long-range weapon that the Fool (Fels) designed specifically for himself.

"It's a pity that its extremely poor energy consumption is a major drawback... I really envy Bell Crane's speed magic."

Fels used the chaos of the "heretics" to defeat another villain.

"You're giving me this junk...!"

Seeing the black clothes and various magical artifacts on his opponent's body that rivaled or even surpassed the effectiveness of the "Omnipotent One," an orc cursed as he finally snuggled into Fels's arms.

"Once I get close, let's see what you'll do—!!"

He raised his longsword high and swung it down.

Fels grabbed it with his glove.

「!?」

"To make the rotten magical items you're talking about, you need several abilities."

Fels easily caught the sword that was raised high and slashed with all his might.

Ignoring his opponent's astonishment, the black-clad magician calmly stated the truth:

"I am LV4."

Although it has been impossible to renew "Grace" since the skin and flesh rotted and fell off.

With resentment toward the former supreme god in his heart, Fels pressed his other empty glove against his opponent's abdomen.

"wait--"

Immediately afterwards, there was an explosion.

The shockwave from the bombardment of his abdomen sent the man flying backward like a cannonball.

"Also, don't let my appearance fool you. I used to call myself a 'sage' and was confident in my 'magic' and mental abilities."

The black-clad magician made his patterned gloves glow and explained it to his opponent.

He had taken down four men. If he could break through here, he could go and help Bell—that was what he was thinking.

Fels narrowly escaped a blow from behind.

"What a coincidence, we're also LV4."

"...!"

A bald, black-tattooed human giant (Gran) slashed through part of his black clothes with his greatsword. Not only that, but female warriors (Amazons), orcs, and dwarves also took advantage of a lull in the fighting to weaken Fels.

They were the main force of the Ikelos Familia who killed Ranie and the others.

Fels knew he was in trouble, and at the same time, he waved his hands wildly, firing shockwaves.

A sharp, piercing sound of shockwaves shattering echoed from the distance of the battlefield.

Listening to the intense chorus, Bell repeatedly slashed at the man in front of him.

"Are you really LV.3, kid? Isn't 'Agility (foot speed)' a bit of an exaggeration?"

"...!"

The man in goggles spun his blood-red spear, which was over two meters long, and easily deflected the slashing attack.

Despite saying that, Bell's attacks never even grazed Dix's body. All his fierce attacks from the beginning until now had been neutralized.

The shouts of "heretics" behind him made Bell increasingly agitated; the goggles-wearing man suddenly swept his spear horizontally, forcing Bell to retreat.

The distance between the two widened temporarily.

"That magician was right. My 'curse' will reduce your [ability stats] all at once."

"...!"

"I feel completely weak all over right now."

tjenauy

Just as Bell was beginning to doubt whether his opponent had truly suffered the penalty, Dix seemed to see through his suspicions and made no secret of the cost of the Bewitching Curse.

The opponent originally possessed the strength of a first-class adventurer.

Suppose his LV. drops by one rank—that would still be LV. 4.

Bell felt his expression tense, but he already knew there was a difference in ability between them, so he wasn't afraid now. He gripped the hilt of his dagger tightly and immediately charged at the enemy again.

"I was just looking forward to playing around with you, but I didn't expect you to be so good. The rumors about you being a newbie (rookie) aren't just for show."

But I'm starting to get tired of it.

The man in goggles spoke calmly, smiling.

"So, shall I go up?"

The tip of the spear he was playing with suddenly became filled with murderous intent and attacked Bell.

「!?」

With a stunning swing of the spear, the "Ushiwakamaru Second Form" was deflected from his left hand. As the crimson dagger danced in the air, the twisted, blood-red spear tip rapidly and continuously approached.

“Ugh!!”

Bell dodged at the last second.

A few strands of white hair were cut off. Bell twisted his upper body, and with a spin, slashed at Dix with the Hestia Blade he was holding in his backhand.

"You're quite active, aren't you?"

“Wu!?”

However, as Dix brushed past him, she turned her gun around and struck Bell in the face with the butt of the gun.

His attack missed its mark, and his face burned with pain. Bell's world seemed to tremble for a moment, but he steadied himself, maintaining his posture, and turned to look at Dix, who had run behind him.

"...!?"

Turning around, the blood-red spear tip was right in front of him.

As the man's sinister grin came into view, Bell, relying on his "strength" (ability parameter), forcefully swung the Hestia Blade from the side.

"Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!"

Red Spear, which had initially dodged, suddenly reversed course and relentlessly pursued Bell. Accompanied by Dix's laughter, the offensive began, just as he had declared.

The spear undulated and twisted like a snake, baring its fangs, relentlessly attacking Bell, who was only able to withstand the onslaught with the "Blade of Hestia" and his agility. Bell couldn't see through it—he couldn't accurately predict the enemy's attacks. The relentless barrage of spears interspersed with brutal kicks struck his body, further clouding Bell's judgment.

Faced with the man's inaccurate and violent gun skills, Bell was gradually driven into a corner.

"Let's eat this!!"

Just as Bell's posture finally became unstable, his opponent delivered a fatal blow.

As the spear thrust toward him, Bell's eyes lit up sharply.

—They've taken the bait!

Bell reached his free left hand to his waist, drawing his sword and unleashing a crimson gleam.

He fiercely repelled Dix's spear.

"!!"

Behind the smoky tinted glasses, the man's eyes were wide open.

It consists of the backup weapon "Ushiwakamaru" and the "Attack Trigger" skill learned from "Sword Princess".

In the days leading up to the war game, Bell had undergone rigorous training with her and the Amazonian girl on the city walls; now he reflects the training content in his attacks, deliberately revealing weaknesses in difficult situations.

"The most fatal blow comes from negligence."

Reflecting on the teachings of the girl he admired, Bell turned around with a speed faster than his eyes could perceive. He used the first Red Blade to deflect the spear at the last moment, and while his opponent's upper body swayed in mid-air, he squeezed his body into her arms.

This is the weak point of the polearm, and also the attack range of his own (dagger). Bell is about to unleash the full potential of his weapon.

unexpectedly.

"————"

Dix's previously stunned expression transformed into an audacious laugh.