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

Prioritizing the fate of the city.

Finn spoke firmly to the silent Fels.

"Please don't misunderstand. What I'm negotiating is purely limited to this one joint fight. I have no intention of building ties with you afterwards, nor do I intend to help you with your unknown 'purposes'. The next time you appear before us, depending on the circumstances, I may really need to annihilate you."

He showed a ruthless side, he added.

Finn sensed that the "heretics" were looking at him differently, but he only looked at Fels.

"...I'll only ask one question. [Hero], what changed you?"

Upon hearing Fells' question...

His expression softened and relaxed.

"It's nothing, I've just rediscovered my childlike wonder. Really, that's all... I've decided to stop believing there's only one answer."

Seeing the "hero's" fleeting smile, Fels decided not to probe his true intentions any further.

Fels turned his head and gave a look from his black clothes; as if answering on behalf of the "heretics," the lizardman nodded slightly.

"I understand, [Hero], we are willing to form a contract with you. After all, we had no other choice."

Finn simply nodded in response and stepped aside. The Loki Familia laid down their weapons, and Fels and the "Heretics" walked past them. The troll picked up the healed Songbird, hesitated for a moment, and then slowly bowed to them in thanks.

As Alicia stood up, her eyes swaying, the singing bird opened its eyes slightly and smiled at her.

And so, the monsters disappeared into the depths of the misty labyrinth.

"...I will formally report this matter to the [Family] at a later time. Until then, you must not speak of what happened today. Of course, you must never let anyone outside the faction know about it."

Finn gave instructions from the silent cave.

After treating the wounded, Finn informed the group that they were preparing to return to the surface, and the members stiffly began to work. Some looked uneasy, some seemed speechless, and some were lost in thought. Although their expressions varied, it was unlikely that anyone could fully accept Finn's decision, just as Finn himself had always feared.

However, seeing the "monster" stand up to protect Alicia, many people, led by Lefia, did indeed have a change in their hearts.

"...Is that really a good idea, Finn?"

"If you ask whether it's good or bad, it's actually bad, but there's nothing we can do now. We can't erase the memories that Alicia and the others saw 'sane monsters with reason,' but it would be a pity to annihilate them. If we could use the power of that 'Black Bull,' it would definitely be more beneficial than harmful."

Grace left the group members and came over to ask, but Finn shrugged and told him he had already thought it through and to rest assured. His thinking seemed a little too flexible.

"The problem is that the team members might have reservations about killing monsters... and how to gradually eliminate that reservation. Alicia, in particular, will probably need special attention. Riveria, I'll ask you to stay with her for the time being."

"That's fine, but..."

"That's not what I'm asking you... Like you've said before, if Uranus and the others find something wrong with you, they might actually put a 'collar' on you, you know? Aren't you worried about that?"

The difference in their perspectives on the same issue left Riveria with an indescribable expression, while Grace, standing nearby, brought up the key point.

Among Loki's retinue, unaware of his prior arrangements, Finn said, "Oh, you mean that?" At first glance, he seemed to be taking it lightly.

"Let's wait and see. As I said before, if I lose the reputation I've built up over the years, I can start over."

Are you serious?

"Yes. I want to become a hero who surpasses 'divine will'... I now feel that perhaps this is the quickest way to realize my ambition."

Grace was initially startled and widened her eyes, but after hearing Finn's unwavering answer, she looked at him with a fatherly gaze for a moment before returning his smile.

After Finn answered Grace, his eyes then turned to Riveria.

"I'm sorry, Rivera, I've caused you trouble too."

"Don't worry about it, it's good to cause me a little trouble now and then."

The elven royal spoke while making a sarcastic remark about him, but refused to accept an apology, leaving Finn with only a wry smile.

At this moment, Rivera became serious again and asked:

"Finn, I have a question for you. Is your change in mindset... caused by Bell Craney?"

Finn was surprised that she would ask such a question.

"How did you know?"

"You said it yourself, that if anyone were to cause trouble, it would definitely be that boy."

"...Right, I did say that."

If anyone were to cause an unusual situation, it would only be "him".

Finn said this in front of his bandmates before the battle began.

Just as he had said, the adventurer had defied Finn's plan.

It even made Finn make up his mind.

"It's a headache. The person who has captured your heart is not one of us who have been with you for years, but an adventurer... It's making me a little jealous of that boy."

"Hahaha, what can we do when this kid always does whatever he wants? There's nothing we can do about him."

These words sounded like both reproach and complaint. Yet, despite saying them, Rivera smiled, making Finn feel somewhat embarrassed and awkward. Grace's mocking laughter only intensified this feeling.

If I had to use a metaphor, it's like the childlike side of someone who's watching a heroic tale with shining eyes, or the shyness of having it seen by a friend for the first time.

However, the elven royalty and the dwarves seemed to welcome this change in the dwarves. They were pleased to see the gloom disappear from his profile.

Finn closed his eyes, coughed dryly, and then completely switched his consciousness.

"It may take quite a while to gain the understanding of the group members."

"...That's right. Even if we can't get everyone's understanding, we should at least ask them to be more understanding."

"Hmm, otherwise we'll lose our composure when navigating the artificial maze."

The three of them looked at the group members in the distance and discussed these matters together.

Finn abandoned his confusion and made a reasonable choice, but just like Finn himself had always reacted, the band members were still unable to open their hearts emotionally.

The gap between humans and monsters is so deep that it will remain a persistent problem in the future.

"With Bert and others leading the way, the backlash will likely be significant, but..."

Finn paused here, looking up at the sky.

"The current problem... is how to convince Ais."

Upon hearing this, both Riveria and Grace fell silent.

Finn began to think about the most pressing issue, and quietly, he sighed deeply.

*

To put it simply in conclusion...

Finn and the others were worrying for nothing.

Because before he personally confronted the heretical monsters, the girl's "dark side" had long since lost its home.

Side Story: Sword Oratoria 10 - The Final Chapter: The Girl's End

The powerful slashes beat down on the boy's body.

Although it's described as a bladeless strike using only the spine of the sword, it's still a genuine [Sword Maiden] slash, each strike guaranteed to kill and possessing terrifying power. A mere Lv.3 adventurer could not possibly withstand such a storm of sword strikes.

However, he remained steadfast.

The boy repeatedly gagged, his consciousness nearly leaving his eyes, but he always managed to stand up.

He refused to leave through that "door" no matter what.

Not only that, they also launched a bold attack.

"...!?"

Ais's eyes flickered.

Her chest trembled as she saw Bell Craney stand up against her.

At first, she was very reluctant to play this match.

She was heartbroken to find the boy who was protecting the dragon girl.

The thought of her facing the boy with swords was too painful and agonizing for her; she didn't want to do it at all. She wanted to abandon the boy and chase after the dragon girl, but the boy wouldn't allow her to.

The boy used everything Ais had taught him on the city wall against her.

So Ais no longer held back and ruthlessly beat the boy to a pulp.

Her lowered gaze shattered the boy's powerless will.

(That's how it should have been—)

However, the situation has changed now.

Ais maintained the upper hand from beginning to end.

But what suffered repeated defeats was—

(Is it me?)

The boy used a secret passage to help the dragon girl escape.

Ais can deal with the "monster" by opening the hidden door behind the boy and forcing the boy in front of her to move aside.

But, but, but...

No matter how dirty the armor became from the blood, no matter how battered it became, the boy refused to stop.

He brandished the black dagger he was gripping tightly.

The boy repeatedly struck the Sword of Despair that Ais wielded, creating sparks as his deep red eyes pierced through Ais's golden pupils.

With a powerful strike, he shook Ais's sword.

(Why... am I the one at a disadvantage!?)

He's gotten stronger. Just as Ais once praised, the boy has truly become stronger.

However, this is not the "power" that Ais trained.

Rather, it is the "protective power" that is given for someone.

"!!"

why!

why!

Why go to such lengths?!

I didn't do anything wrong!

"Monsters" should be killed!

But, but!

Why do you look at me like I did something wrong?

(Why!?)

With a shout from within, a fierce sword slash of the robe struck the boy's shoulder.

With a "crack," the boy spat out a spurt of pale red saliva, his body immediately slumped into exhaustion, and his deep red eyes nearly rolled back.

But he still didn't give up.

The boy steadied himself and roared with all his might:

"Miss Ais... Miss Ais!!"

He called Ais's name repeatedly, hurling his shouts at her.

He tried to convey his hidden feelings to Ais.

(don't want!!)

No, you can't.

Once Ais suffers a blow from the boy, allowing his heart to touch her body—she loses.

Ais refused to listen to "a will without power".

So the moment he proved that he had "the power of will," Ais had no choice but to listen to him.

She had to listen to what the boy had been refusing to listen to.