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

Upon seeing their formidable rival appear, the Minotaur was overjoyed once again.

"Aa ...

"Oooooo ...

The boy (Ray) saw it.

That scene was imprinted in his eyes.

A single adventurer, his head bleeding and his face covered in blood, roared.

Among the adventurers who turned pale with fright, only Bell was different.

When no one else dared to step forward to fight, only Bale had the ability.

He was the only one facing the storm of death head-on.

“Ah—”

That profile had no expression whatsoever that the boy Ray knew.

A pathetic expression, a bitter smile, a fearful expression, a crying expression. All of Bell's expressions in those betrayed yet joyful and beautiful memories are completely different from her current demeanor.

(That is—)

That was the majestic roar of a man.

That's the face of someone who challenges "adventure".

(That is—an "adventurer".)

The boy's eyes widened, his hands and feet trembled, and his chest felt hot.

Ray didn't understand what this emotion, which almost brought tears to his eyes, was.

Ray only knew one thing.

That is, Bell Craney was neither a traitor nor a coward—but an "adventurer".

"..., ...!"

Ray's lips parted several times as if he were about to speak.

There's something he's always wanted to say.

Ray had always wanted to apologize to him when he was down and out, and to tell him something.

But his throat was stiff, as if bound by silk threads, unable to take that step or utter that first sound.

Fina and Xiaolu, who were also shedding tears beside him, were in the same boat.

Move! Move now! Please—just as Ray's vision was about to be blurred by tears.

"Go! Go ...

A loud, gruff roar erupted.

"!"

"Kill it! Kill it! Kill it!!"

It's the thug Modo.

Modo stayed in a safe zone instead of fighting, but he and his companions still clenched their fists, their faces flushed. He spat out large drops of saliva as he shouted encouragement to the boys who were still fighting to the death.

Lai suddenly snapped back to reality and turned to look at him, the thread binding his throat disappearing as if it had snapped.

The little boy clenched his fists tightly, closed his eyes, and shouted at the top of his lungs:

"Go for it, big brother!!"

*

"This is……"

Hestia stared blankly around the large square, watching as the scene gradually changed.

"Big Brother Bell—!"

"come on……!"

"Beat that monster to a pulp!!"

Fina and Xiaolu cheered them on, while Modo yelled incessantly. As the Ganesha Familia did their best to help the residents take refuge, the support from the children and Modo became the catalyst, and one by one, the fleeing residents stopped in their tracks.

Everyone stared at the scene and gasped.

An adventurer faces a colossal monster and a terrifying double-edged axe, wielding two rather unreliable daggers as he slashes at his enemies. He narrowly dodges a flash of steel that cleaves the earth, followed by a rapid barrage of blades.

What did that figure look like to people?

The residents were ashen-faced, the guild staff were speechless, and the adventurers clenched their fists.

There is a battle ahead.

That was a fierce battle where humans and monsters fought to the death.

"Bell...!"

When Eina couldn't stop her and whispered something, everyone noticed.

There was no scheming or desire in that battle.

It is willpower, only willpower, only the desire to win.

The adventurers and residents all understood that the boy was now gambling with his own life.

No one accuses Bell of being an "enemy of humanity" anymore.

No matter how much malicious accusation or mockery is tinged with disappointment, it all loses its meaning in the face of that struggle.

That was a true "fight to the death".

The "adventure" of daring to stand up against terrifying monsters has become clear evidence that outweighs a million excuses.

That profile, roaring at the pitch-black monster, was completely devoid of any pretense.

"Go!"

Soon, a human spoke in a low voice.

"come on!"

"Don't let it win!"

The orc adventurer and the elven girl shouted out.

They were shouting in the center of the square, supporting the boy who was fighting against the terrifying and ferocious monster.

In short, a series of shouts culminated in a massive, surging roar.

"───────────────────────────────!!"

The fierce battle, a mix of shouts and roars, left the residents with livid faces, still hoarse from yelling. Guild members turned their lost words into words of support, and the adventurers raised their clenched fists.

Everyone cheered excitedly for the boy.

Everyone seemed to see the demeanor of a "hero" in that heroic figure.

(—Adventure.)

Bell listened to the shouts while dodging the double-edged axe, knowing that his body was accelerating.

I know that my heart is gradually returning to its origin.

(—Let's go on an adventure.)

The sounds of people are so distant, everything has disappeared from sight, leaving only the enemy before my eyes.

Gradually, the confusion disappeared from Bell's face.

"Heretical child," aspirations (Ais), the future (the future). The boy was originally troubled by these things, but only in this moment did he forget everything and bury himself in the struggle before him. He would dedicate his whole heart and soul to the enemy before him, the smiling rival.

Bell felt "hungry" just like the man before him.

Bell instinctively realized that his hunger for victory was inextricably linked to everything around him.

To rescue the "heretics," to catch up with the person they admire, and to obtain the future they prayed for with the girl (Winnie)—all that is needed is "power."

(—Another adventure!!)

The red blade finally succumbed to the powerful attack of the double-edged axe; [Ushiwakamaru] shattered and scattered, and the crowd screamed in agony.

"Excuse me, thank you, I'll be going now." Bell immediately used his free hand to launch a high-speed barrage of fiery lightning at the staggering Minotaur, his body wreathed in crimson sparks.

Bell roared loudly.

"Aa ...

The boy's shouts and the excited cries of the people echoed through the maze-like streets.

And within this...

"Why are you doing this?!"

"Don't move! [Major Cut]!"

"If you dare to make any rash moves, we will not be polite."

Before Tiona, who was wielding large double blades, the four little quadruplets each raised their weapons.

The battle raged in the main square right in front of them, but someone came out to block their way.

"Get out of my way!!"

A cat-person blocked the way for the furious Tione.

Level 1 adventurer Allen Fromo brandished his spear, knocking away all the double attacks from the recurve blade.

"What do you mean by this!?"

"Can't you see for yourself?"

The black Minotaur, her prey, was within reach, yet she was being thwarted. The female warrior was furious, but Allen merely cast a cold glance at her. He stopped looking at Tione and instead glanced at the boy behind him who was fighting the monster head-on.

"That kid is gambling with his manly dignity, don't you understand?"

After saying that, he spat at the foot of his feet.

"You're the ones who shouldn't be causing trouble."

-- Let's change locations, away from the south end of the square where Tiona and the others are, and go to the east end of the square.

“Tsk…”

Bert the werewolf smacked his lips loudly and stood on the edge of the roof.

His face, along with the lightning bolt-shaped tattoo, twisted as he gazed at the white-haired boy fighting.

"..."

Besides him, Ais was also there.

Seeing Ais and Bert silently watching the fight, the elf and the dark elf youth, wielding the white and black swords respectively, both dismounted. The two of them, like Ais and Bert, also looked down at the battle.

"...You've got it, Ota."

As for Finn...

He sighed as he faced the boar warrior standing before him.

"..."

It did not answer him.

The entire Loki Familia leadership was blocked by the first-tier adventurers of the Freya Familia. Not only that, the Loki Familia members were also suppressed by Otto and his subordinates. The black bull (Minotaur) appeared, but no other adventurers entered the main plaza; this was all their doing.

"Everything is as the master wished."

Ota's voice blended into the night air. He turned around and threw the greatsword he carried with him.

The large silver block spun, tearing through the night wind, and pierced into the center of the large square, right in front of Bell and Asterios.

The moment the eyes of the man and the monster widened, the boy grabbed the hilt and drew the greatsword as he sprinted forward.

The bull saw the scene of the final battle, just like in its "dream," and its whole body trembled with joy once again.

"call!!"