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

“Wow!?”

Someone patted my shoulders from behind, making me scream.

All the adventurers around were startled.

My heart was already pounding, and this made me jump up in fright. I quickly turned around to look.

"Huh! Miss Nazha!?"

"Oh ho..."

With half-closed eyelids that looked sleepy, animal ears drooping from her head, and an asymmetrical top that concealed her "Silver Prosthetic Arm (Agateram)," Miss Naza, the leader of the Mih Familia, spoke in her still monotone voice, raising her hands.

"You... how did you get here?"

"Hmm... I guess I'm here to help you guys, Bell."

What the familiar dog-woman said surprised me once again.

"Didn't you guys run into some trouble? Don't be so formal. Belle and I are family, you could have just asked me for help..."

"No, but...! Miss Nazha, don't you know... what I did?"

"I don't know the inside story... Anyway, he was just chasing after a girl again, and ended up getting caught up in trouble, right?"

"No, no...!"

...Uh, it seems...that's true?

I was indeed chasing after Winnie, that much is true...

Miss Nazha nodded repeatedly and patted my shoulder a few times, which made me break out in a sweat.

"Besides, it was Mihe God who instructed me to do this..."

"what?"

Miss Nazha told me about it.

She said that God Mih told her not to ask too many questions, and just to help me who caused the problem.

"Someone should have informed Takemikazuchi by now. I heard that Hermes told them that you, Bell, have arrived at Daedalus Road... Bell, I'll say it again, you're being too polite."

Mih and his companions chose not to help the "heretics," but to help us who wanted to help the "heretics." They chose to believe in us who extended a helping hand to the "heretics."

The answers given by Mih and Takemikazuchi, and the kindness of Ms. Nazha who still believed in me even at this moment, almost brought me to tears.

"...Bell is such a crybaby."

“S-Sorry!”

I quickly wiped my eyes to stop the tears from falling, but the older sister patted my head.

The other adventurers stared at us with surprise, and I blushed deeply.

"So, is there anything I can do? But Daphne and Cassandra have disappeared somewhere, it's just me..."

"Uh... well then..."

I stole a glance, watching Miss Ais's gaze, and reached for the bag hidden under my cloak. I quietly handed something to Miss Nazha, then whispered something to her.

"Okay, I got it... Belle, you have to buy lots of elixirs from us next time, okay?"

"Hahaha... Okay!"

Miss Nazha grinned, and I smiled back.

As she waved goodbye, it was as if she gave me energy and courage.

(Girl... Dog-man.)

Ais saw Belle and Naza making contact from the roof of the house.

(…Bell let her touch him.)

Seeing Nazha pat the shy boy's head, Ais's right hand also moved on its own, stroking the air as if praising a child. Like a little girl whose rabbit (pet) had been taken away.

Ais quickly snapped back to reality and shook her head gently but rapidly.

(He gave the other person something? I can't keep an eye on two people... Maybe I should tell Raul and the others.)

She pondered for a moment as she watched Bell and Nazha say goodbye.

Ais chose to continue monitoring.

(Getting Miss Nazha's help could have a big impact... Should I tell Lily about it?)

After parting ways with Miss Nazha, I arrived at the south end of Maze Street. If I continue south from here, I'll soon reach Fengyue Street.

Miss Ais, of course, continued to follow. I kept an eye on her out of the corner of my eye, intending to bring my mouth to the eye crystal on the handguard to contact the deity.

"Bell Crane!"

However, just moments before, a shrew's booming voice rang in my ears.

"Whoa!? Miss Aisha!?"

"Why are you screaming like that? It sounds like you've encountered a monster. Are you mistaking me for that giantess (toad)?"

"I'm sorry!? Huh, even Miss Ryu is—ugh!?"

"Hello, Mr. Crannie. But please don't call my name loudly."

Miss Aisha, dressed as a dancer, and Miss Ryu, whose face was covered by a hoodie and a veil, appeared before me. Miss Ryu covered my mouth with her finger, and I reluctantly nodded in agreement, nearly rolling my eyes in fright.

"How did you all end up here?"

"Andromeda has told us everything, so we're here to help you all."

"I didn't say it before, but I'm now a member of the Hermes Familia, and I have no choice in the matter."

I asked the exact same question I asked Miss Nazha, and Miss Liu answered calmly, while Miss Aisha shrugged in response. I don't quite understand the situation yet... but it seems like it's another instruction from the god Hermes?

Since the content shouldn't be publicized, we held a small, secret meeting. Leaving aside Miss Ryu, whose face was veiled, the fact that my face was close to that of the beautiful and sexy Miss Aisha caused the male adventurers around us to click their tongues in surprise. A... a chill ran down my spine...

"Andromeda has commissioned us..."

"I can handle that matter myself. If there's anything you need me to do, tell me now."

Faced with a powerful second-tier adventurer, I said nervously, "Well..."

"...This task is really difficult."

"You really dare to say that."

"I'm sorry! Just buying a little bit of time is enough... Isn't that asking too much?"

To be honest, even I think this request is excessive. But I also know that being polite won't help now.

I was truly desperate if I didn't ask them for help.

"No, I'm willing. I'll do everything I can to fulfill your request."

"Miss Ryu... I'm sorry, thank you."

Looking into the sky-blue eyes peeking out from under the hoodie, I apologized again and expressed my heartfelt gratitude.

Just as I was immersed in the atmosphere of reflection, my neck was suddenly wrapped with Miss Aisha's arm.

“Ugh!?”

"You really get into trouble so easily. No, I think you're the one who got yourself into it, aren't you?"

She wrapped one arm around my neck and pulled me into her arms.

Her soft, brown skin pressed against me, and the sweet scent of musk wafted through the air. As her full, rounded breasts, distorted by pressure, made me blush, Miss Aisha leaned close to my ear and whispered sweetly:

"I hope you can pay me a decent reward once this is over."

"Alas!"

Just as her alluring smile, licking her moist, red lips, made me turn pale—

"I think I told you not to touch him (…)."

Miss Ryu drew her wooden sword with alarming speed!

The knife was pointed at Miss Aisha, but she seemed to have anticipated it, dodging it slightly, her ample bosom still pressing against me. Miss Ryu's eyes, hidden beneath her hood, burned with intense anger.

She wasn't acting! She was genuinely angry!!

"Let go of Mr. Craney, or I'll beat you up first."

"Give it a try! I haven't been able to eat it for several times already, but I can't stand it anymore."

Why has the atmosphere become so tense?! Didn't you say you were willing to help me?!

I struggled desperately to break free of the brown restraints, but I couldn't escape the strength of the Lv.4's arms. Caught between the elf's rage and the Amazonian heroine's limbs, I couldn't escape. In the midst of this, the adventurers' gazes towards me began to hold resentment and curses… Eeeeeee…!

--Wait, I'm being monitored right now...

Suddenly snapping out of my daze, I looked up and saw...

(Wa ...

Miss Ais is watching us so intently!?

(Again, a girl...? An Amazonian and... who?)

Ais witnessed the masked man interacting with the Amazons and the boy.

Ah, my lips are stuffed with fingers.

(He let someone carry him.)

Seeing Bell being embraced by the Amazon, Ais fell silent. Her legs, which had been standing on the edge of the roof, buckled down, wanting to get a closer look at the boy.

She hugged her knees, her eyes fixed on the screen.

Ais's gaze, which she called surveillance, rained down on the boy.

(Oh no, oh no, oh no...! I really want to rush over and explain right now...!!)

After the tense atmosphere between Miss Ryu and Miss Aisha finally subsided, my sweat poured down like a waterfall.

The adventurers' murderous intent could escalate into a riot at any moment, but Miss Ais's constant gaze down at me made me even more uneasy!

Although her expression didn't change, that's for sure!

But I always felt like I was being blamed, and I was very uneasy!

"Is this also a design to make me weaker, Mr. Finn?!" I cried out in my heart, filled with an absolutely unfounded fear, as I faced the great first-class adventurer.

(In any case, it's probably better to go to a sparsely populated area first...!?)

Just as I was thinking this...

"Found you! Bell!!"

The final assassin has appeared.

"E-Miss Eina~!?"

"Finally caught you! I've been looking for you for ages!"

Miss Eina, dressed in a crisp guild uniform, walked straight toward me. A chain reaction of "Here we go again!" began to erupt all around, and my cold sweat was about to reach its peak.

"W-How did you get here!?"

"I heard you've come to Daedalus Road! I asked other adventurers, and they kindly told me you were here!"

After I asked the same question I'd asked hundreds of times since then, Miss Eina replied vehemently. Indeed, I've been drawing attention, so other adventurers will likely find out where I am soon enough.

Does that mean Miss Eina seems angry?

I thought it would be really awkward if we ran into each other!

Despite my chaotic state of mind, Miss Eina brought her face very close.

"Because I waited for you for ages and you didn't come, I came to find you myself!"

"I'm sorry!? How should I put it, um! I feel so embarrassed, I'm too ashamed to face Miss Eina, so...!?"

"Yeah, Bell, you're exactly that kind of guy! Even though you've become so strong it surprised me, you're still so weak and spineless! But what's wrong with just showing your face or giving me your contact information!"

"I'm so sorry...!"

I had never seen her so aggressive before, and it was overwhelming.