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

What's worse is the current situation.

It was as if they were determined to kill them; the utterly unreasonable and enormous facts were thrown right in front of them.

This can indeed make people submit. Both will and mind.

At this moment, the labyrinth seemed to still be whispering, "I will never let you go."

Centered on Cassandra, who stood frozen in place, her spirits broken, the team's fighting will had been reduced to a flickering candle in the wind.

(Insufficient combat strength, insufficient firepower, insufficient morale—lacking a "pillar".)

The situation regarding the impending battle with the floor owner is so dire that it's almost unbelievable how exhausted and outnumbered they are.

Even Aisha found it difficult to continue and wished she could just give up and leave.

Faced with a variety of "abnormal situations" that she had never even witnessed in the "deepest" realm, she said dismissively, "Today is truly unlucky."

—At least, if Bell Craney were here.

Unintentionally, the murmur almost slipped out.

Aisha was instantly furious, her face turning red with anger.

(Stop joking, Aisha Belleka! When did you become a weak woman who has to depend on a man?!)

She used all her strength to swear at the thought that had only crossed her mind for a fleeting moment, and felt ashamed of it.

Natural-born female warriors (Amazons) are not allowed to say such discouraging things.

Alone, she shouted that she would never give in, urging herself to pull herself together.

(But, those few...)

Aisha has "experience" in fighting against the same kind of enemy. She has "experienced" countless tragic injustices and overcome those difficulties. These experiences can become her strongest weapon when she stands up to despair.

But Lily and the others are different.

Neither their strength nor the life-or-death situations they had crossed could compare to Aisha's, and they were no match for this despair.

A few days ago, as they were about to step into the "lower levels" known as the "new world," Aisha said to the boy:

"If you fail, the squad will crumble. That's the nature of this squad."

Aisha misunderstood.

"Factional Alliance"... [Hestia Familia] is very powerful.

So strong that even without the boy, they can overcome adversity.

But now...

In this moment when facing a true death trap, the strength of one's "capacity" is put to the test.

In their hearts, the importance of this "pillar" became clear.

(To them... Bell Craney was like a "hero".)

At least, the two have very similar meanings.

His timid and honest nature, yet his courage in facing despair with all his might, is a beacon of light for those who know him.

His tears tugged at the hearts of Lily and the others.

His valiant roar could inspire the hearts of people like him.

His silhouette alone was enough to inspire Chunji and the others to take a step forward.

However, that boy is not here now.

What would happen to an army without its "heroes"?

In fairy tales, they are ravaged by monsters and sacrifice their lives for the story.

—If Bell were here.

—If Bell were here.

It was immediately obvious that these words were about to burst from Lily and the others' throats.

Bell Crane's presence is so immense that Aisha simply cannot replace him.

They need a "pillar".

It can replace the "pillar" of a teenager.

The sound that could make them take a step forward.

In the current situation, no one can replace him as a "pillar".

but.

They have a "fire".

Then—thump!

"!!"

The loud clang of steel piercing the crystal floor made Lily and the others turn their heads sharply.

At the very back of the group, a red-haired man in a kimono-style casual outfit plunged the large swords in his hands into the ground.

He attracted the attention of all his companions who turned around.

Even the two-headed dragon stopped what it was doing and stared at him intently.

The young man, with his head bowed, let out a long breath.

He was covered in sweat, but spoke casually to the little people beside him:

"Little Riko, is this your first time?"

“Eh…?”

"The first time I've 'adventured' without Bell."

This sentence……

This caused Lily's chestnut-colored eyes to widen to their limit.

"You can't fight without a strong companion, you can't stand up without a 'hero'—that's not right, is it? Adventurers shouldn't be like that."

The weapons in the hands of Ming and Sakura were trembling.

"It's time to show Bell what we're made of! Let him know that we can take down the floor master just by ourselves!"

Haruhime and Chigusa gasped.

"Without you, we can't do anything... If he thinks that way, how can we face him! Am I wrong?!"

They have no "pillar" now.

However, they have a "blacksmith" who fights alongside them and always watches over them.

There is a furnace called "Fire" that constantly plays the sound of a hammer, entrusting the "weapons" needed for battle to adventurers.

Welf, strong, bold, and fearless, raised the corners of his mouth to show everyone.

"...Of course! Lily, we're not a burden!"

Lily yelled and retorted.

"Lily will stand by that man's side and continue to accompany him on his 'adventures'!"

She placed one hand on her small chest and shouted out a tremendous determination.

"I... I don't want to be abandoned by that lord either, I don't want to become a prostitute waiting for that lord to rescue me!"

Chunji also excitedly shook her fox tail.

"...We'll go, it's our fate. We cannot dishonor the name of the God of War (Takemikazuchi)!"

"yes!"

"Chigusa, I don't want to lose to anyone, and of course, I don't want to lose to Bell Craney!"

"Um!"

Cherry blossoms, life, and a thousand blades of grass all cried out.

"Aren't you guys a little too naive?"

Daphne was left standing alone, her tone suggesting she was genuinely dumbfounded, even with an expression that suggested she might cry at any moment, as she commented on Lily and the others.

But she immediately smiled.

"I understand, I understand... After all, we are adventurers. If we are forced to the point of life and death, then we have no choice but to fight."

The rising morale, in Daphne's eyes, was a "sign" of good fortune, as she tried to make objective judgments.

It became a "tailwind" that could accept challenges.

"Daphne..."

Right in front of the stunned Cassandra, Daphne joined the fight.

She drew her short sword, which resembled a conductor's baton, and solidified her resolve.

"...Well done, [Ignis]."

Upon witnessing this scene, Aisha was initially astonished, then offered the most sincere praise to the eldest brother of the Hestia Familia.

It is the blacksmith's job to "ignite" the weapon.

Therefore, it is the "adventurer's" duty to use this weapon to slay monsters.

The expressions on everyone's faces ignited their fighting spirit.

Using the flames bestowed by the blacksmith as a starting point, the adventurers, burning with passion, turned their gazes forward and stared intently at the monster.

They gazed at the two-headed dragon, which stood ready for battle.

"Roar!!"

"Let's go!!"

Welf let out a roar no less powerful than a dragon's, ordering everyone to follow him.

it has started.

The "adventure" of resisting "despair" begins.

○

"【Ninefold】!"

The one who declared war was neither the floor owner nor the adventurers.

He was a "sorcerer".

"【Love's Snow. Love's Crimson (Red). Love's White Light (Light)】."

Chun-hime's action, which she took before everyone else, was to chant.

Haruhime had witnessed this scene many times before, when she was fighting against the floor master.

That's right, it's a battle scene from when they belonged to the [Ishtar Familia].

When adventurers mobilize all their strength to stand up against the monster boss, what I, as a "sorcerer," must do is to cast "magic" as quickly as possible.

The continuous casting of "spells" (combo).

The squad's capabilities are enhanced through "level boost".

Lily or Aisha will give instructions on who to apply "Level Up" to.

Therefore, Chun-hee prioritizes chanting.

She wove incantations that rivaled lengthy chants, summoning a golden fox tail with all her might.

"Ice Eagle!!"

Next to take action was Welf.

Welf raised his deep blue sword high above his head and slashed down from the upper part of the blade.

He unleashed the "Demon Sword" ice cannon towards the water's surface.

「!?」