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

He stood with his back to the "monster" writhing in agony, facing off against the Loki Familia, who were about to annihilate it.

It's like harboring a monster, trying to protect it.

Moreover, he was covered in sweat, breathing heavily, and his face was pale.

He raised his black dagger and stood in front of Ais and the others.

(What are you doing……?)

Ais didn't understand what this scene meant.

She felt that the boy who used to be so close to her had now drifted far away from her, to the point of no return.

Only one thing is certain.

It was at this moment that Ais and the boy became completely "opposed".

(Bell Craney)

As for Finn...

His tone was calm, but his mind was racing.

"Humans protect monsters."

The scene unfolding before them, the inappropriate relationships that shouldn't exist, and the true intentions of the young man who was blocking them.

Even with his sharp mind, Finn's thinking repeatedly faltered. Faced with an answer that was neither predictable nor deducible, Finn stared intently into those deep red eyes.

if……

If it really is...

Assuming Bell Craney is genuinely trying to protect that "monster"...

Finn could not accept his pleas under the current circumstances. Such negotiation was pointless.

If only Bell and Finn were present, and the "monster" possessed some value, then negotiation might be possible. However, now that it has been witnessed by many ordinary people, for the "hero" who aims to secure the hopes of the dwarves, there is no other choice but to "eliminate it." There is no reason to let the monster live.

In other words, if Bell Craney were to save "Vivel".

His decision was the impeccable "correct answer".

It is also a "foolish act" that leads to one's own destruction and is beyond redemption.

—You are so stupid.

The murmur of the god (someone) faded away with the wind.

Before the eyes of the people, adventurers, monsters, and gods.

The boy, all alone, throws himself into destruction.

*

"This dragon girl is my prey...!"

The only "excuse" the boy could offer to the people was this one sentence.

"Therefore, you are not allowed to make a move...!!"

He adopted the demeanor of a greedy adventurer and intimidated the Loki Familia.

The dragon girl pulled out the spear that pierced her palm and escaped her restraints with a scream; the white-haired boy went after it alone.

"Uh...so what does that mean?"

Tiona tilted her head as she watched Bell run away from them.

"Among adventurers, stealing someone else's prey (monster) is against the rules..."

Ais could only manage to utter those words.

Give the only explanation for the boy's (Bell's) behavior.

The way she spoke made it sound as if Ais was also comforting herself.

"Ah—right, dragon girls are a rare breed."

"What a joke... those are the rules of the dungeon. Don't drag things from there into the real world!"

Tiona looked as if she had just realized something, but Bert closed his eyes, ran his fingers through his gray hair with his right hand, and said dismissively.

Bert's reaction was perfectly normal. Bringing up adventurer rules in such an emergency is simply a lack of common sense. Resentment quickly spread among the members of the Loki Familia and its inhabitants.

Ais couldn't stop this. It was impossible to stop it.

Even Ais herself couldn't suppress her inner confusion.

"Commander..."

"There's no need to listen to a child's whims. Go after that dragon girl."

Upon hearing Tiony's curt request, Finn maintained his commander's expression and immediately responded.

After nodding to their unwavering leader, the group members originally planned to follow...

"--Roar! Ro ...

However, just as the monster's roar was trying to stop their pursuit, it nearly deafened the adventurers.

On the wide passage where the dragon girl and the boy disappeared into the distance, a group of monsters appeared one after another.

"Armed Monster!"

"It seems this matter is indeed inextricably linked to the devastation and turmoil in the town (Rivera)..."

The number is more than twenty.

Most of them carry weapons or armor.

There were lizardmen with bloodshot eyes revealing their monstrous appearances, gargoyles leading hordes of winged monsters who constantly roared, red-capped goblins with short stature but wielding large axes, and white rabbits (unicorn rabbits) riding black hounds (hellhounds)—a diverse array of races. Tiona's eyes were wide open, while Tione's were sharply narrowed.

Finally, a little slower, a singing bird (Sylvana) with golden wings took flight.

"Archers! Fire!"

"I'm going now—!"

As a horde of monsters appeared, the residents of Daedalus Road screamed in terror once more. The second army members, the Lv.4 dog-man Kos and the human girl Navi, sprang into action to protect them. Arrows were fired at the flying monsters, and the girl led the charge, followed by the rest of the party.

Rivera looked at the team members who responded without hesitation and then made a "confirmation" to Finn that was not necessary in such an emergency.

"Finn, what do we do?"

"...capture them alive if possible."

Finn pondered for a moment before responding to her "confirmation."

"Captured alive?"

"Yes, there's something that's bothering me."

Bert was about to rush to the front lines, but upon hearing this, he turned away as if his spirit had been dampened.

Finn's gaze remained fixed on the front, focusing on the wounds on the "armed monsters." Many of them were injured, as if they had already fought a "battle" before arriving here.

Finn, with shallow but inevitable consideration, regarded the "armed monster" that was said to have appeared on the 18th floor as the "same being" as the monsters that appeared before him.

They came to the surface from the 18th level, in other words, they came through a "man-made maze".

It is unclear whether the liberation was achieved by humans or whether the monsters themselves opened the "door" and surged onto the surface.

In any case, they must have used the "key to the man-made labyrinth (the Orb of Daedalus)". Finn deduced the situation based on this judgment.

"First, the vanguard, led by Tione, will launch an attack. Avoid using 'magic' as much as possible to prevent damage to the city."

"learn!"

"Understood!"

“This is so troublesome…”

"The rearguard mages are guiding people to safety while protecting them, prioritizing the safety of the citizens above all else. Go!"

"yes!"

Finn issued a series of instructions, requiring the team members to obtain the "key" itself or related information, while also protecting the general public.

Led by mages such as Elfie, who is prohibited from using artillery and support fire, the group members rushed to the side of the residents, with Tione, Tiona, and Bert jumping into the battlefield.

"Ax, you take a detour to chase after the Dragon Girl, but don't get spotted by the monster. We'll operate in four-man cells. Lefia, you join us too."

"Huh? Oh, okay!"

Hearing the series of instructions, Lefia obeyed with surprise. She moved to the back, avoiding the monster's gaze, and entered the alley.

As the group members began their actions, Ais, who had been unable to move, shook her head slightly, trying to change her mood, but...

"Ais, you stay."

"...?"

"Rivia is preparing a barrier. Although I said that, the residents probably won't go to take refuge right away."

"...Being too famous can be a problem. I understand, just in case."

"Thank you for your help, Grace. I'm sorry, but I'll tell you the location now. Could you please go and keep watch over it?"

"Hmm? It's alright... but don't we need to deal with those armed monsters?"

"Well, I think Bert and the others are enough."

Finn also gave instructions to Riveria and Grace.

Ais was left behind, and the two of them stayed in the rear with a clear view of the entire battlefield, feeling extremely anxious.

To be precise, she finds it difficult to stay still right now.

"...Finn."

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Ais, you're staying for your safety."

Ais couldn't help but glare at Finn with a defiant look, to which he responded with an ambiguous, bitter smile, it was unclear whether he truly understood Ais's feelings. Then, he immediately tightened his expression and glanced around.

"...Is there a problem?"

"A little bit, um..."

Finn narrowed his blue eyes and licked the pad of his thumb.

Before long, the adventurers clashed with the "armed monsters," thus beginning the battle.

The monster's roar was deafening, and the weapons of both sides clashed.

Across the wide roads, adventurers join forces to fight off monsters that boast powerful latent abilities.

As Finn predicted, the Loki Familia maintained the upper hand throughout the battle.

however……

"...Looks like they're not ordinary lizardmen."

Tione distanced himself from the monster that had broken free of its restraints, and murmured these words.

The "lizardman" was already covered in wounds from Tione's flurry of punches and kicks. Although his body, wielding a long sword and a scimitar, was unsteady on its feet, its bright yellow eyes never lost their fighting spirit.

"Gurgle ooh ooh ooh ooh!!"

It let out a roar as if it were fighting for its last breath, and greeted Tione with a brutal but sharp sword strike.

It contains clear "skills and tactics".

The wild swordsmanship, reminiscent of a "unique style," was fiery and intense, yet also exquisite. Tione, a female warrior (Amazon), understood that it was a technique honed through countless battles. At the same time, she thought to herself that she had never encountered a "monster" who had mastered such "swordsmanship." Furthermore, it was impossible for such a being to exist.

The monster's "skillful techniques," which should have been used to attack others on impulse, greatly stirred Tione's fighting spirit, making her lick her lips. However, in order to carry out the orders of her beloved leader, she calmly beat the enemy in front of her.

"Ha! It's clearly a monster, but it looks quite human."

As for Bert.

The bird lying at his feet was a singing bird that he had killed in an instant.

Part of the ugly, bright red blood-stained makeup has peeled off, revealing a beautiful face that rivals that of an elf.

Faced with such a singing bird, Bert showed no mercy, lifting his shoe and stomping down on its belly.

"……ah!?"