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

He was filled with fear. So much fear that he lost all desire to kill and any hatred he felt.

water.

In the water!

Once it's in the water, that guy can't catch up!

He turned his back to the boy.

I cast aside all anger, pride, and humiliation, wanting to escape into the flowing waters of the labyrinth that resembles a mother's womb.

"Ice Eagle!"

Unexpectedly...

The pure white snowstorm shooting down from above froze the entire stretch of water in the field of vision.

「!?」

As the water turned into an icy river where he could no longer swim, he was stunned and speechless, and looked up.

"Don't even think about escaping."

A red-haired youth, holding a long, azure sword in his right hand, sat alone on a large crystal pillar, one hand on his hip, looking down at him.

"You're going to get killed by that guy right here, you hear me?"

Enraged by that audacious smile, he roared, ready to wreak havoc in a fit of murderous intent.

However, even this thought was not allowed by the footsteps approaching from behind.

He couldn't breathe and looked back.

A white-haired boy was slowly walking towards him.

The anger vanished, replaced by fear returning to his heart. The boy's gaze, gleaming with a menacing light, steadily pushed him into a corner, step by step.

He's coming! He's coming! He's coming!

The destruction that was about to annihilate him was coming.

The humans who were about to kill him arrived.

A white "rabbit" with deep red eyes has arrived.

"Let's settle this once and for all."

Holding a blade that blazed with flames, the boy made his declaration.

The initial steps then became a sprint, and the sprint became a brisk walk.

With its lightning-fast acceleration, it's closing in at supersonic speed.

"Woo-woooo ...

The deadly blade is imminent.

The white hair fluttering in the wind left a trail, and sparks from the dagger danced in the air.

He let out a terrified roar and swung his powerful arm, capable of shattering everything.

however……

The boy moved with incredible speed, and the blade flashed.

"──────"

The clock struck sixty seconds.

The divine script carved on the blade shimmered with light, unleashing a roaring flame.

"Argo Vesta"

As crimson and pure white glitter colored the world, he thought a moment before:

—Next time, if there is a chance to be reincarnated.

—I will never go near the white "rabbit" again.

With this thought as his final thought, his consciousness shattered into pieces.

*

"The Sacred Flame Heroes Slay the Fallen".

Fire and flashes, then the impact.

This is everything contained within a single strike.

"────────────────────────────!?"

The monster's dying screams vanished into the depths of the exploding inferno, while the crimson blade, edged with pure white light, gleamed brilliantly.

The slash, imbued with flames, unleashed tremendous power.

Lily and the others witnessed this scene from above, their vision filled with a pure white and crimson radiance. Heat waves and shockwaves surged towards this location some distance away, forcing everyone to shield their faces with their arms. The fiery lightning strike, which descended in an instant, created a veritable flare, burning the space it passed through to ashes.

The flickering world regained its color, and Lily and the others slowly raised their heads.

After the boy swung the dagger to its hilt... only his two legs, now missing their upper bodies, remained standing, silent. Soon after, those charred legs also turned to ashes, exploding and scattering in all directions.

Bell, who had been holding his right hand at its lowest point, now quietly released the lingering tension from his fight and looked down at the dagger.

The divine blade, which had grown alongside him, left no nicks or nicks, turning the lingering flames and light into a wisp of smoke that rose into the sky.

"Be... Bell..."

『Ughh ...

Lily and Chunji were deeply moved and were about to call out to him when they were drowned out by the loud cheers of the elves and dwarves. Welf, Ming, Aisha, and others joined in the shouting, while Daphne and Cassandra desperately covered their ears.

"Chigusa!"

"Ah... cherry... flower."

At the same time, the "parasitic tree" also disappeared from the adventurers.

The "vines" that bound half of her body met the same end as her main body, turning into gray mist. Seeing that Chigusa, though showing some weakness, still had a smile on her face as she gradually recovered, Sakura smiled and embraced her.

The elves and dwarves wept with joy when they saw the monster's shackles disappear from their bodies.

"Lord Bell!"

"Bell!"

Lily, Welf, and the others jumped down through the hole in the maze wall and staggered toward Bell, who squinted at them.

Just as he was about to tell Lily and the others that he was alright and was about to raise one hand, there was a slap.

In the opposite direction of the frozen glacier, Bell heard the sound of splashing water behind him.

"what……"

Bell turned around, stared in astonishment for a moment, and then gave a small smile.

A beautiful mermaid girl emerges from the water, her shoulders and head visible in the distance.

It turns out that Marie was in the nearby waters before Bell came to rescue the team.

"Thank you, Belle... I love you the most!"

The "heretic" girl, who had sent the boy to her companions, blushed and smiled.

Like a precocious little sister, she put her finger to her lips and tossed it at Belle—"See you next time."

She moved her cherry-like lips and waved her hand.

Seeing the view that was only visible from his position, Bell gave a wry smile and waved gently in response.

Before long, the girl and the others crashed their bodies into the boy's stomach with a loud thud.

As if taking their turn, the fish's tail fins slapped against the water's surface.

As the lively sounds of the adventurers turned into the gentle bubbling of bubbles coming from the direction of the land, the mermaid girl smiled and returned to the underwater world.

Volume Twelve Final Chapter: News of the Gale

After extinguishing the "enhanced species," we escaped from the "lower level" together with Mr. Lewis and Mr. Dorumur's group.

We had consumed a lot of supplies and suffered heavy losses. We didn't take a detour and followed the shortest path through the "Great Tree Maze" back to the safe floor of "Riviera Town". Perhaps it's not uncommon for adventurers to be permanently disabled due to some reason. Seeing Mr. Lewis and his companions with their missing arms, the townspeople were not surprised. We asked the townspeople to let them stay at the inn so that the injured could receive treatment.

"Are you alright...?"

A whole day has passed since the defeat of the "enhanced species".

While everyone was still staying in Rivera, I heard that Mr. Lewis and the others were out of danger and I was worried about them, so I went with Lily and the others to visit them at the hotel.

"Oh, I'm sorry to have worried you. There's no danger to my life."

Mr. Lewis propped himself up on the bed, looking somewhat tired and not fully recovered, but still offering us a clear smile. The room, built inside the cave, was large enough to accommodate several adventurers. Besides him, the elves of the Modi Familia and the dwarves of the Manni Familia, including Mr. Dorumur, were also resting on other beds or sheets spread on the floor. As if symbolizing the animosity between the elves and dwarves, a dividing line was drawn in the center of the room.

"Oh my, I really have to thank you all. Your kindness and gentleness touched my heart. Um, how should I put it... Wahahahahahaha!?"

"It's so good that everyone was rescued."

"Are all the dwarf lords well?"

Seeing Mr. Dorumur blushing and laughing in front of Miss Cassandra and Miss Haruhime, I turned my gaze back to Mr. Luvis, who had changed into his spare combat suit beforehand.

The right arm of the short-sleeved garment is missing below the cuff.

"I'm sorry... I couldn't heal your arm."

Mr. Lewis's arm never fully recovered.

The retrieved arm had already begun to rot, and even if it were reattached, the area below the shoulder would likely still become necrotic. Neither healing tools nor "magic" could reverse time.

Although I felt it was arrogant to say that, I still couldn't help but apologize.

"No, I'm very lucky."

Mr. Lewis listened, gently placed his hand on his lost right arm, and shook his head.

"what?"

"Because I didn't die, I was saved by only losing an arm."

"...Mr. Lewis"

"Don't mind it, it was our inadequacy that caused this failure."

Following Mr. Luvis's gaze, I saw my bandaged elven companions smiling at me.

Just as he lost his right arm, the female elf also lost a leg.

"This is what adventurers are like. This is... the dungeon."

Seeing that I didn't know what to say, Mr. Lewis furrowed his brows and told me:

"This is the price we pay for pursuing the 'unknown,' a reality we must accept."

...Mr. Lewis is right, the reality for adventurers is right before their eyes.

It's not a fairytale-like story, but a stark reality where arms, eyes... or even lives can be easily lost.

but……

At the same time, as long as they have a life left, they will continue to struggle; this is also the nature of adventurers.

Seeing Mr. Lewis smile softly made me feel a little better.

"Once we get back to the surface, I'll go to the [Deankaite Familia]. I'll have them equip me with a good prosthetic arm. ...Yeah, I'll also tell the Supreme God that we'll be living in debt now, and scare him into screaming."

Perhaps imagining the scene of saying it aloud, Mr. Lewis couldn't help but chuckle. His laughter was completely uninhibited, showing utter delight.

The beautiful, elfin youth looked up at me.

"[White Rabbit's Paw]... Bell Craney. Thank you for saving us. I swear in the name of Luvis Lillix that I will repay your great kindness one day.... Ally of the elves, thank you."

Then, he placed his hands on his chest and bowed deeply to me.

The other elf teammates also smiled and imitated him.

"...Hmph! Elves are just too rigid! It wouldn't hurt to explain it in a simpler way."

Mr. Dorumur, who had been silently observing, came before us along with the other dwarves.

"Thank you to the rest of the Hestia Familia. If you ever run into trouble again, we'll be there to help you."