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

"I will not yield!"

Even under the watchful eyes of a wolf, it refused to turn away. Clearly a fox, yet daring to defy a wild wolf.

Bert could easily leap over the fox-girl's head to chase after the fleeing being.

But for some reason, Bert couldn't ignore the girl blocking his way.

So Bert decided to resort to violence and use brute force to drive her away.

He was instantly close to the girl with her arms outstretched.

While feeling a sense of déjà vu, Bert listlessly raised his left hand, intending to punch someone.

“──!!”

however……

Upon seeing the unwavering emerald eyes peeking out from beneath her blonde bangs, Bert's hand stopped abruptly.

"..."

Bert opened his eyes wide.

He stared silently at Chunji's eyes, which she did not look away from even though she was about to be beaten.

That was a resolute gaze. It erased the lingering image Bert had seen in the port city; it was an expression of unwavering determination.

Despite their fear and apprehension, they would never run away.

There was nothing to reveal of its true nature; the fox simply bared its fangs as much as it could.

That was the pitiful appearance of a female beast.

That was a show of bravado, a refusal to be a "small fry".

That is the shameful, embarrassing, and laughable, yet noble and respectable "will of the weak".

The two stopped what they were doing and stared at each other in silence.

The faint sounds of battle that drifted from afar reached the ears of the two orcs.

Bert broke the pause in time.

"--He's just a nobody."

He curled his lips into a fierce smile.

"You clearly have absolutely no ability—are you prepared to die?"

「!?」

Faced with the overwhelming murderous aura, the girl finally couldn't help but tremble uncomfortably, but she still refused to give way.

However, facing the fox-man who resolutely stared back at him, Bert roared at him as if he were cheering:

"Don't get too cocky!!"

Bert lowered his fist and instead stomped his left silver boot (Frosvelt) on the ground.

The deafening crash and impact beneath her feet easily sent the girl flying. Her back slammed against the wall at the entrance of the alley, her body contorted into a U-shape as she groaned in pain.

Seeing the girl like this, Bert couldn't hide his smile.

It was neither a sadistic laugh nor a sadistic laugh.

It's a welcome mockery for newcomers to "this side".

"Stop moaning and whining like a whore! All you do is put on an act!!"

"!!"

Hearing this loud insult, the fox-woman girl, who had been struggling in pain, suddenly raised her head.

She glared at Bert, who scorned her, with all her might, and as if offering a sacrifice, stretched her trembling hands to her chest and sang:

"【-Grow bigger】."

Bert smiled menacingly and squinted as he listened to her sing.

Would they rather scream like this to protect the "monster"?

Then let me see your "enlightenment"!

Witness your "will" to stand tall even when facing the strong!

At that moment, the words "key" or remnants of the dark faction all disappeared from Bert's mind.

The ferocious werewolf was only interested in witnessing the will of the weak and acknowledging that this fox-man was worthy of being his "enemy".

The subsequent battles need no further explanation.

The ferocious wolf showed no mercy, utterly defeating the "resistance to its own existence."

Moreover, she repeatedly forced the fox-woman to confront her sense of powerlessness and humiliation, so that she, with tears streaming down her face, would bark at herself again.

Bert smiled as he watched the night resound with the newborn “roar of the weak” as he chased after the fleeing being.

Side Story: Sword Oratoria 10 Chapter 5: Brave Soul!

There's movement on Daedalus Road.

The previously dormant "armed monsters" roared and launched a bold attack. The Loki Familia fought back. An unprecedented conflict erupted, centered in the western part of the Labyrinth Street.

The other adventurers, unaware of the situation, were unable to grasp the circumstances.

They can only ever be third parties, constantly amplifying the noise and chaos, and increasingly failing to keep up with the situation.

"Lefia isn't here...?"

Phil Weiss wandered alone through the maze-like streets.

Upon hearing the sounds of battle emanating from the west, some stood frozen in place, while others rushed towards the scene like moths to a flame. Only she calmly observed her surroundings. Instead of heading to the western battlefield, she carefully examined the formation of the Loki Familia.

Having formed alliances between factions and accurately grasped the current situation of Daedalus Road, she knew that understanding the Loki Familia's formation would provide a clearer picture. The situation was changing every second, and their movements were the best clues for pursuing the "Armed Monster."

Based on this, Phil Weiss's current priority is whether her kind-hearted but reckless compatriot is safe and sound.

She felt that unless she was sure that Lefia wouldn't fall into a dangerous situation again, she would worry so much that she wouldn't be able to do her job properly, so she silently jumped over the rooftops one by one.

(...? The Loki Familia looks like...)

From the air, Philvis observed the Loki Familia members in a state of panic amidst the chaotic crowd of adventurers.

They huddled together to discuss something, then their expressions changed drastically, and they left the scene one by one.

After watching silently for a while, Phil Weiss pushed off the edge of the roof with both feet.

"Hey, what happened?"

"Whoa!? Oh, what is it? It's the White Priestess (Maenads)..."

A person landed in front of them, startling the male members of the Loki Familia. However, upon realizing that the person was from the Allied faction, they disarmed themselves.

"An 'armed monster' has been spotted in the east. The commotion in the west is a decoy!"

"!"

"It's said that the entire force guarding that area was wiped out... along with the other adventurers. It must be related to that 'black bull'! It would be terrible if it burrowed underground now!"

He said this was probably the work of a "lost armed monster," and that the security network in the east had also become weak at the same time.

Upon hearing the group member's flustered explanation, Phil Weiss fell silent after a moment of astonishment.

Indeed, if the "armed monsters" possess the "key," failing to rush there would mean missing a golden opportunity.

"Could you please come and help us too!"

"……knew."

Seeing how nervous the group members were, Phil Weiss decided to put Lefia's matter aside for the time being and nodded.

“…………”

then……

Besides her, other people also heard the conversation.

These people, focused intently on eavesdropping, were just like Philweis, constantly observing the Loki Familia's movements. They remained undetected and unsuspecting, right there in close proximity.

They left the scene without a word and disappeared into the back alley.

Immediately afterwards...

"Countless monsters" appeared before Philvis and the others who had begun their race.

"What!?"

"These guys... are they six-legged monsters that appeared in the man-made maze!?"

Those are small species that don't have "magic stones" but possess crimson crystals. They are the "crystal striders" that are raised in large numbers within the artificial maze.

The group members who had once stepped into the artificial maze recalled their nightmares, and Phil Weiss also widened her crimson eyes.

Shh!

They come from under cast iron manhole covers in alleyways, from cracks in walls, or from underground staircases.

As if it had been planned in advance, swarms of "crystal striders" emerged like insects. Faced with countless monsters, Philvis and the others had no choice but to fight back.

The same scene was repeated repeatedly in the central area of ​​the maze street.

"Commander!? A large number of water strider monsters have appeared!?"

"An enemy trap, is it?"

At the Loki Familia headquarters.

Raul, who had been summoned, screamed upon seeing the converging signal lights, while Finn, standing nearby, narrowed his eyes.

News of the monster's appearance almost exclusively came from the vicinity of the Loki Familia's forces. Other adventurers, focused on the main western battlefield, largely failed to notice this localized activity.

It's obvious that this action is solely aimed at the Loki Familia.

"The enemy is about to move! Seize the area to the east where the monster sighting report came from! Don't let them get there first!"

Finn's urgent shouts echoed through the sky.

*

The figure had already traveled some distance in the underground passage.

It has a short body and thin hands and feet, and seems to be wearing the combat clothes of the little people, just like an adventurer.

It is different from the usual "goblin" and is a small "subspecies".

Just four days ago, Tiona dealt with the Red Soft Hat.

It swayed the bright red hat on its head, quickly and cautiously peering around as it made its way through the stone underground passage.

He held a refined metal ingot of silver in his hand.

"—I've found you."

"!!"

As the monster rounded the corner, several figures blocked its path.

It is a five-person group consisting of humans and orcs.

It is not the Loki Familia.

They are apostles of Death (Sanato).

These people discovered the unusual phenomenon of the "Armed Monsters" earlier than the Loki Familia and were ordered to deal with them along with the "Keys".

They were not wearing robes of the dark faction.

They are dressed as adventurers, equipped with swords or armor.

"Kagaa ...

"Gurgle!?"

The fanatics, fearless in the face of death, rushed toward the red-hatted figure.

The monster was unable to resist; even when it defended, it was still knocked away, losing the "key" it was holding. The refined silver metal fell to the floor, and the leader of the apostles quickly picked it up.

"Success! God Thanatos!! Little Agarz has retrieved the 'key'!"