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

Those who make a wish to see their beloved again, even if it means waiting until the "next life," have probably made a pact with death. This is the truth behind the Death Battle Group. For the [Sanatos Familia], death is the gateway to reuniting with their loved ones, making them unafraid even to self-destruct.

The reason why the remnants of the Dark Faction could still mobilize so much power after its destruction was the same: the world was filled with the grief of "death," so much so that Thanatos had no shortage of people to persuade.

The retinue members were transformed into puppets of the god of death (Sanato).

"You, a god, actually took away a person's life, took away our lives!? Besides, even if we can be reincarnated, don't humans forget everything from their 'past life'...!"

"Of course, I told them the rules of the 'afterlife' beforehand, and also mentioned that they would lose their memories. But when the children heard my suggestion, they all said it didn't matter. They said that even if they forgot everything, they didn't care as long as they could see their loved ones again."

Lefia condemned Thanatos for taking advantage of people's grief, but the god replied that everything was the result of his subjects' choices and that he had not forced them to do anything.

"Some children even say things like, 'Even if I'm reincarnated, I'll be the only one who won't forget him.' They're so convinced of how deep their love is... Haha, if the goddess of love heard that, she'd probably scoff."

As if he could see right through the children, Sanatoz was indeed laughing at that moment, as if he found it laughable.

It's almost like mocking their level of ignorance.

"However, something extraordinary might happen that even we gods who govern death and birth have never seen before... that is, a miracle. So I won't deny what those children said."

"How could they do this? It's so irresponsible!"

"I'm looking forward to it too, Sister Lefia. I'm looking forward to the 'possibilities' of the children in the lower realm. I'm cheering them on, hoping their wishes will come true."

Faced with a furious Lefia, Sanatos revealed his true feelings without any pretense.

"Because I... also really like those poignant and beautiful stories that bring tears to people's eyes."

His tone of voice, his gaze, and his sinister smile all made people angry and annoyed.

Lefia, with her pure and immaculate elven bloodline, was filled with righteous indignation, as if her own kind had been insulted.

In her emotional turmoil, she tried to grab the god before her, but...

"Thanatos, the god!"

Before Lefia and her group could act, enemy reinforcements appeared.

「!?」

"Are you alright? Are you hurt?"

"Ah, I'm fine, I'm fine... I'm sorry, little sister Lefia, I've been talking for a bit too long."

As the robed [Sanatos Familia] invaded the hall in force, Lefia bit her lip. The enemy outnumbered them too much; a direct confrontation offered no chance of victory.

Just when she didn't know how to get through this difficult time—

(Lefia, close your eyes.)

(Miss Phil Weiss?)

Behind her, Philweis murmured in a volume only Lefia could hear.

Immediately afterwards, she pointed her short cane toward the ground.

"【The Holy Staff of Exorcism (Lightning), sweeping away my enemies】—【The Staff of the Supreme God, Dionysus】!"

The ultra-short chant instantly gave rise to golden lightning, which exploded on the ground.

「!?」

"Wow, it's so dazzling!"

Struck by a dazzling illusion, the robed men and Sanatos reflexively covered their eyes with their arms.

"Now!"

"yes!"

Taking advantage of the opening, Rafia and the others tried to escape from the hall.

"Damn it! Don't let them get away!? Chase them!"

"Ah, they've got a knack for it."

Senatos glanced at his retinue chasing after Lefia and the others and couldn't help but smile.

Those who remained to serve as guards advised him:

"Saint Thanatos! Please do not wander around alone without guards! Loki's Familia is in this labyrinth now. If anything happens to you, we will...!"

"Ah, sorry. I just wanted to check something... So, how's the situation now?"

"...Thanks to Lord Baka's strategy, most of the Loki Familia's members are still trapped on the 8th floor. I believe their complete annihilation is only a matter of time. Even the dying Hero, Wolf, and Swordswoman are all under Lady Valetta's command..."

"So that means everything went smoothly."

The fickle god responded with a smile to this cadre who knew his true nature.

His smile deepened as he inquired about the current situation.

"Is victory assured?"

Sanatos looked up at the labyrinth that still protected them, like an impregnable fortress.

Soon after, Sanatoz decided to leave the scene.

"—Things are getting quite interesting."

Just then, a voice came from behind him.

Sanatos turned his head and said in a low voice:

"Who are you……"

★

"Raul, suppress the three on the right!"

“Okay, okay!”

Annaquite's one-handed sword severed the water strider-like monster's leg, while Raul's short gun swept across and knocked another creature away.

Raul and his companions encounter hordes of new monsters while fleeing their pursuers and are fighting back fiercely.

Stopping to confront them head-on would only lead to endless fighting, so the group ran and slashed, kicking the monsters and squeezing their bodies into the cleared path.

The girl group (humans) carry the dying Finn on their backs. The group regroups to protect her and continues their endless escape.

"No, there's no road ahead!?"

"here we go again……!"

Upon hearing the scouts' screams of agony, Angie's expression twisted in pain.

She deflected the attacking monster with a small shield on her left arm, then instantly shattered it with a backhand strike of her one-handed sword. With the last one dealt with, the monster's attack temporarily ceased.

Finn, are you there?!

"...!? Use the right-hand aisle!"

However, the loud voice of the pursuers (Valeta) came from behind.

Raul ordered the squad to run down the remaining road.

Everyone could only scatter and run, their panting breaths a testament to their physical and mental exhaustion, while Raul still hadn't found a way to break free from the current situation.

"Raul, we've indeed been cornered. The enemy wants to drive us deep into the labyrinth."

"...! So, the reason they didn't act immediately is because..."

"They're probably planning to slowly torture us to death..."

Raul's face turned ashen when he heard Angie, who was running alongside him, point out the situation.

Seeing his reaction, the cat-man level two adventurer narrowed one eye and, on his behalf, instructed the team to resupply, even though he couldn't speak. They cautiously confirmed there were no signs of monsters or pursuers nearby, then halted their advance and shared the few remaining potions and a small amount of drinking water.

"Commander, I'm putting you down now..."

They laid Finn on the ground, his wounds frozen with "magic".

This was a desperate emergency measure taken to stop the bleeding from a wound that was "cursed" and unable to heal. It was an instruction given by Angie.

"……,……!ah……"

Finn tried to say something, but no sound came out.

The captain's unprecedentedly weak appearance—a symbol of being at the end of his rope—further dampened the squad's morale.

"If this continues... the commander and we will all..."

Whose muttering was that? A whispered remark between the team members cast a shadow over their faces.

The team suffered repeated injuries from encounters with monsters, and a strong sense of unease accumulated over time.

Not even knowing where they are now, in a prison called the labyrinth, the physical burden goes without saying, but the mental burden is about to reach its peak.

"No, calm down. We need to hold our heads high, otherwise...we'll..."

Even Angie's desperate attempts to encourage the team lacked her usual commanding presence.

Seeing her like this, an incurable sense of despair began to gnaw at Raul's body. Even the capable colleague who had been desperately leading the team in place of his useless self was nearing her limit. It was as if, if he didn't immediately embrace that slender body, she would succumb to despair.

—There's no hope left.

--it's over.

I am one, Angie is one, and the other members of the group are one too.

He and his companions would be annihilated while being loudly mocked by their pursuers.

"……you……"

At this time.

Raul, who could bow down and submit at any moment, heard a faint, almost inaudible fragment of sound.

"...Raul!"

That was a dwarf race member whose injuries were more severe than anyone else's...

Finn, with the last of his strength, delivered a spiritual address (call to action).

“——!!”

In an instant, Raul's eyes widened.

In the darkness known as the Dead Land, Finn's "courage (light)" ignited a surge of passion within him, allowing him to reclaim his power in his fists.

(You are not allowed to think about giving up, you are not allowed to shirk your responsibilities!!)

He clenched his fist and punched away the person who had almost succumbed to despair.

(I haven't done anything yet... I haven't done anything at all!!)

Finn entrusted the team members to Raul, and Angie has been supporting Raul all along.

Raul's biggest fear right now is...

It was a betrayal of Finn's trust in him, as Finn looked up at him with his blurry eyes.

I almost abandoned my responsibility, leading the team to total annihilation.

(Prepare yourself, Raul Nord...!)

This is the group maze exploration (team operation), and this is the leader's responsibility. It is precisely because of adversity that the true value of the leader is tested.

What was the purpose of all those days when I followed my great predecessors around like a shadow?

What was the purpose of all that earnest instruction they gave me, imparting all sorts of knowledge to me?

—Just for this moment. To believe it, to deceive oneself like this.

(Whether you're putting on a brave face or not, just yell, yell, yell... just yell!!)

Raul gritted his teeth and broke free from his inner shackles.

"—Everyone, cheer up!?"

A loud, shrill voice in a strange tone.

Hearing this ridiculous tone that was completely out of place, Angie's tail jumped in fright, and the other members were stunned on the spot.

"At times like these, we need to stay calm! Zai Zai, observe the situation carefully...!"

He kept stuttering as he spoke, his shoulders were as tense as stone, and even his fists were shaking uncontrollably.

Raul's tense and distressed appearance made even Angie and the other members of the group look at him from afar, and then they sighed deeply.