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

"However, monsters deserve to die."

Bert's smile, revealed by the tattoo on his cheek, was tinged with contempt and anger.

Bert would never accept any "monster" swaggering around on the surface of the earth.

They are absolutely forbidden from flying in the sky or swimming in the sea.

He never mentioned it or looked back on the past, but it is an undeniable fact that Bert's family—his beloved people—all died tragically at the hands of the monster.

As if speaking on behalf of humanity, Bert's stomp revealed his contempt.

Whether it's female or has a human-like face, as long as it's a "monster," there's no need to show mercy.

He slammed the cruel reality in front of the trespassing songbird, letting it know: you are beings that deserve to be "excluded".

"Roar!!"

"One after another, it's so noisy."

A gargoyle pounced on Bert, who was trampling the singing bird under his feet.

However, he easily brushed it off with a kick.

"Ugh!?"

"You've come to the wrong place."

Bert shattered the stone claws and kicked his metal boots into his enemies. The werewolf routed his foes, yet his face remained contorted in pain.

Bert correctly understood what the emotions eroding his heart were.

This is called irritability.

Because the monsters' shouts sounded like the roars of the "Guardians".

The "monsters" roared like Bert's brave and loyal plains beastmen (family) from the past, which annoyed and angered him.

"Lie down!!"

"Gah!?"

Bert refused to acknowledge his feelings and viciously kicked the gargoyle.

"Hey!"

"Gurgle!?"

As Bert impatiently showed off his skills, Tiona swatted away a goblin behind him.

Tir Sculla's physical skills rendered the Red Softcap Monster powerless to fight.

"I don't want to end up like Bert~, but it's hard to control the power of the Great Double Blade (Ulga) --"

She reluctantly completed her duties, traversing the battlefield where the crew members fiercely battled the monsters.

In a battle where the goal is to capture the enemy alive, there is probably no weapon more unsuitable than the Great Double Blades.

Moreover, Tiona muttered to herself that these monsters made her lose her spirits.

(I just feel like I can't keep going... How should I put it, this bunch of monsters...)

Tiona flicked the forehead of the lunging unicorn rabbit (al-mi'raj) away, taking away the monster's fighting power while her mouth curled into a "ㄟ" shape.

These monsters are different from the "demons" that usually fight in dungeons.

She couldn't describe it, but she always felt she didn't really like it and found it hard to make a move.

If Tiony heard this reason, she might punch him, but Tiony is just stupid; she has neither a basis nor an explanation.

Just as Tiona was fretting over her simple thoughts—the ground shook.

"Whoa!? What's that!?"

Heaps of metal blocks crashed through the stone slabs covering the ground and emerged from underground.

This thing, reminiscent of a large-scale "Flaming Demon Rock," looked like a metallic monster. No one had ever seen such a monster before. The other members of the party fighting nearby were taken aback and stopped attacking.

Tiona quickly discovered that the enemy's body, like the Great Twin Blades, was made of an ultra-hard metal (Durable Steel). As if to prove her right, the enemy's body beautifully deflected Tiona and Bert's attacks.

With clumsy movements, it mechanically sent the members of the vanguard human wall flying along with their shields.

"—Yes, yes, this is exactly what I've been waiting for!!"

Upon seeing that thing, Tiona's eyes lit up as she brandished her large twin blades.

My enthusiasm instantly surged.

This was because that large metal object, unlike other "monsters," didn't give her the feeling of having a bone stuck in her throat.

In that case, she should be able to swing her knife and slash without hesitation.

The straightforward Tiona, wanting to postpone considering her confusion, cleaved the metal block called "golem" in two with a single stroke.

Interested, bored, and anxious—we'll talk about it later.

While each member of the Loki Familia harbored their own different thoughts, they gradually stripped the "Armed Monster" of its combat power.

Among them, Ais is...

"...What...what happened...?"

As she gazed at the scene before her, she murmured something that no one could hear.

Ais was positioned high above the battlefield, so she clearly saw "that point." Compared to Tiona and the others who were on the battlefield, she saw it much more clearly and precisely.

The monster is protecting the monster.

They helped each other while fighting.

They're just like adventurers.

What happened? That's impossible.

Some highly intelligent monsters will cooperate to kill humans, but they would never "protect" their own kind. To kill humans, they will not hesitate to sacrifice the lives of their own kind. That's how "monsters" are; that's how demons are. But...

Ais desperately concealed her intense confusion and wavering through her expressionless face.

Has anyone else noticed this?

Where is Tiona? Where is Tione? Where is Bert? Where are the other members?

What was Finn thinking?

Ais glanced to the side, but the dwarf leader wore the face of a commander, making it impossible to see through his heart.

My heart was filled with turmoil.

My mind is in complete turmoil.

The image of the boy protecting the dragon girl that she clearly saw at that time remains vivid in her mind.

Looking down at the battlefield, Ais's palms were sweating without her realizing it.

"Roar!!"

and so……

When she heard that earth-shattering roar.

When she witnessed the "black body" that brought absolute fear and shock.

Ais was indeed "reassured".

Even the earth-shattering roar could completely rob the residents of their consciousness.

Even though the vicious double-edged axe (labrys) caused destruction everywhere.

Even his strong, thick arms, as thick as logs, sent many of his companions flying.

A small part of my heart, which was dominated by shock, was indeed "at ease".

Because that's what the "monster" Ais knew should look like.

"Waaaaaah!"

The jet-black bull (Minotaur).

Tiona, Tione, and Bert managed to achieve a draw even with their combined attack. The other members were forced into a restrained state by a "howl," making it difficult for them to even intervene in the battle.

Lv.6 could only barely gain an advantage by outnumbering the enemy. This monstrous creature, defying all logic, pulled out another giant axe hanging from its back.

“““!?””””

The large blade cleaved the ground, creating a burst of electrical discharge.

The blood clinging to the axe exploded, exposing the axe blade, which gleamed with golden light. In other words, this was "Lightning's" "Demon Sword."

The first-level adventurer was momentarily frozen as the lightning whip net descended upon him.

The dark, powerful bull raised its massive axe high toward the sky, ruthlessly shifting into a firing stance.

"Rivia, activate the barrier!!"

Finn roared urgently.

"【The Path to Sylheim】!"

Then, a beautiful, clear voice, shouting the name of the magic spell, resounded all around.

Just as the dome-shaped magical barrier took shape, protecting the unconscious residents, the "artillery barrage" was launched.

"--Roarooooo ...

The thunder and floodwaters lashed out in all directions like a raging torrent.

At the last second, Bert kicked out his silver boots (Frosvelt) to absorb the magic and reduce its power, but the thunderous explosion still did not stop.

The lightning easily swept Bert, Tiona, and Tione away from the front, while the rest of the group members were swallowed up by the lightning strike.

The raging lightning ravaged the stone pavement and countless houses. Except for the area protected by Rivera's barrier, nothing could escape its destructive fate. This was the greatest "disaster" since the battle against the monsters began.

When the thunderous roar subsided and the dust settled, the members of the Loki Familia lay tragically on the ruined streets.

Except for Bert and his men, the entire army was wiped out.

"No need to capture him alive—"

Apart from the east side of the street where the "armed monsters" lay sprawled on the ground, the entire street from the center to the west side, where the black bull stood, had been reduced to rubble.

Finn narrowed his eyes at the sight—as for Ais, she ran out silently.

Alone, quietly, without making a sound.

Overjoyed.

Overjoyed.

She kicked the roof, leaped high into the air, and landed behind the "monster".

"—Let's do it, Ais."

Thump!

She made a light thud with her boots as she drew her beloved sword (the Sword of Despair) from behind the "monster" who had frozen in place for a moment.

"understood."

Ais didn't notice.

She didn't realize that her voice had become calm and peaceful.

Unbeknownst to him, his gaze had become calm as the fierce bull suddenly turned around, ready to strike with its axe.

"【Awaken (Tempest)】."

The song, though woven, was imbued with an undeniable "killing intent."

"【Wind Spirit Swiftness】".

The wind is howling.

At the moment the amazing airflow burst forth, Ais chased the wind and lightning, making the sword fly at lightning speed.

Immediately afterwards, the "monster's" right arm flew into the air.

"──────────"

Companions, the Hestia Familia, armed monsters, and the black bull.