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

Experienced adventurers who were adept at exploring dungeons all shared the same premonition.

"What should we do...? Should we send reinforcements? Or should we go back to the surface and report to the 'Guild'?"

"...Both must be done. Without understanding the situation on the ground, there's nothing we can do. Besides, this 'abnormal situation' is not something that the hotel town (Rivera) can handle alone."

In contrast to the restless Dorumur, Lewis analyzed the situation step by step with his clever and quick-witted expression.

Currently, many residents of the inn town are away hunting [Swift Wind]. At present, the only adventurers with a high enough Lv. and higher status than others are members of the [Manny Familia] like Dorumur and the [Modi Familia] like Luvis.

Perth's underlings, whose heads were tied in the face of this unprecedented situation, also waited quietly, relying on their judgment.

"Most importantly, I cannot abandon the Hestia Familia! Shario, Eric, take up your weapons!"

"Wait, Lewis! What can you do with such serious injuries! We'll go over to Bell Craney and the others, you guys stay here!"

"How can we, as elves, stand idly by and watch our benefactor's life be in danger! Or are you saying that we're just getting in the way? That only slow-moving dwarves will drag everyone down!"

"Hey! I only meant well, why do you elves always misinterpret other people's good intentions! You're just so stubborn!"

Look at the time! The elves like Luvis and the dwarves like Dorumur are still arguing. Bystanders are trying to break it up, but...

"—What did you say happened to the Hestia Familia? Tell us about it."

The resolute tone, like a sword, immediately stopped them in their tracks.

"The One-Eyed Master!?"

"What's the leader of the Hephaestus Familia doing here!?"

"What, can't blacksmiths come to the maze? That's not important. Alright, tell me quickly."

Everyone turned around and saw that the newcomer was a brown-skinned half-dwarf wearing an eye patch.

Chun seemed to have just arrived in "Rivera Town," a smile on her face. Not only that, but there were three women who appeared to be adventurers behind her.

Two cat-people and one human.

Although Luvis and the others were curious, they were urged by the Lv.5 blacksmith master, who was equivalent to a first-level adventurer, to explain the situation.

"Floor owner? An explosion occurred on the 25th floor? And those monsters look strange too?"

"It's no use giving us that look; we don't know what's going on either!"

Seeing the suspicious look on Tsubaki's face after hearing the story, and as Luvis was shouting gruffly—

"How's [Swift Wind], meow?"

A cat-person inconsiderately interrupted.

"Who...who are you?"

"Oh, she's with me. This cat is very curious, so you can answer her."

Taken aback, Luvis and Dorumur re-examined their so-called teammates, who were called Tsubaki.

They wore light protective gear, hooded robes, and gauntlets, each with their own unique armaments.

It's not surprising, given that we're in a dungeon, but... they don't really seem like adventurers. Especially the black-furred cat-person and the human; at least they hadn't seen either of them at the exploration outpost "Rivera Town" in the middle level.

For adventurers to say something like that would probably make them a laughingstock, but there's a feeling that these two are "not ordinary people"—

(And this cat-person who came to interrupt... I feel like I've seen him somewhere before...?)

She was wearing a red and white battle cloth and carrying a golden eagle spear.

This cat-person, the only one wearing authentic adventurer gear, seemed vaguely familiar to Luvis.

However, her insistence on telling Meow Meow forced Lewis to stop thinking.

"[Swift Wind] hasn't been captured yet. It looks like she's likely on the 27th floor. The elite of the subjugation team seems to have already gone to hunt her down, but... frankly, now is not the time to worry about that."

"So, the so-called 'abnormal situation' in the dungeon?"

"That's what makes monster lairs so annoying. Ugh, I just want to go back and sunbathe, meow~"

After listening to Luvis's explanation, the human and the other cat-person spoke as if it were none of their business.

Just as Luvis and the others were seriously wondering who these people were, Chun nodded and said:

"Alright, we'll leave the 25th floor to us. Let's go take a look."

"What!? What do you want to do?!"

"It's nothing. We're faster on foot, so we're better suited for this task. Besides, time is precious right now, so it's our turn. And... I still have some old colleagues in the [Hestia Familia] whom I used to cherish!"

"Wait, wait a minute!? Hey—!?"

When Luvis and Dorumur shouted to stop them, Chun and the others had already run far out of sight and were almost just black dots.

The group disappeared in the blink of an eye, leaving "Riviera Town".

The adventurers stared blankly as the four figures disappeared into the distance.

"Oh no, we didn't disguise ourselves like Ryu did. I wonder if they've noticed we're tavern staff?"

"At times like that, all you have to do is make yourself invisible, meow. As long as your eyes and voice aren't remembered, there's always a way to hide it, meow."

"I don't know anything about assassination, not you."

The group traversed an 18-story lake and marshland and ran across a vast grassland.

Among the four moving together, the cat-woman Chloe, wearing a hooded robe, spoke to Lunova, a human equipped with gauntlets.

Although their tone was relaxed and leisurely, their speed was faster than that of ordinary people.

The monsters that were wandering on the vast grasslands were unaware of their approach, and even if they were, they couldn't close the distance at all. The group sped across the central area of ​​the 18th floor.

"What, you're the bar's staff? Businesses these days are getting more and more terrifying!"

"The cats aren't much better, but you shouldn't just team up with random guys, meow..."

Chun maintained her pace while laughing like a child.

Chloe, who was running alongside her, stared blankly at her profile.

"Haven't you heard of 'The Fertile Mistress'? I think it's quite famous."

"I think it's a shop run by Mia? I'm always holed up in my 'workshop' and don't really care about the world. I had no idea there were women like you there! Don't be offended, hahaha!"

"This guy is really hard to get along with, meow..."

They were actually "reinforcements" sent by Hestia and others.

They accepted the commission and hastily formed a team to rescue [Gale] and further assist the [Hestia Familia]. This team consisted of four people: Anya, Chloe, and Lunova, tavern staff members, and Tsubaki.

If a discerning person were to see this team of members, who are comparable to a first-class adventurer's party, they would surely be astonished.

"So, what do you guys think about what happened just now, meow?"

"Not really, it's quite different from what I heard. Wasn't our job to help [Swiftwind] escape if she was wrongly arrested?"

When Chloe asked this seriously, Tsubaki replied in this way.

Kroi arrived at the dungeon to rescue her colleague (Ryu) who was in danger, while Tsubaki arrived to help Welf and the others who were about to take a dangerous path. The two arrived without much introduction.

However, things took an unexpected turn.

Chun smelled an unpleasant "odor" and frowned.

"That doesn't matter, meow! Monsters or adventurers may try to stop us, but we just need to beat them all up and rescue Ryu! And while we're at it, let's rescue the white-haired guy and the others too!"

Anya, who was running ahead of the squad, shouted loudly.

Seeing the out-of-control, charging cat with its combat suit flapping in the wind, waving its golden spear around in one hand, her two colleagues looked away.

"I really envy that silly guy who can be so carefree~"

"Every time she rushes around without thinking, the cats end up having to wipe her butt, meow."

"Hahahaha! I actually agree with this girl's view! It's better to think about things simply!"

"【The One-Eyed Master】is such a reasonable person, meow-!"

The voices of Lunova, Chloe, Tsubaki, and Anya rang out in turn.

Despite exchanging jokes, they moved so fast that they surprised the adventurers passing by. Anya and the others rushed into the central tree leading to the next level.

○

Fighting the floor master is like fighting against one's own "endurance".

The enemy possesses an enormous body that is impervious to the slightest attack, and an inexhaustible vitality. Even with the combined firepower of a mage, it's impossible to defeat such an opponent in a short time. Unless the adventurers' level is significantly higher, any tactical deployment will likely turn into a protracted battle.

Originally, a "factional alliance" like Lily's, with fewer than ten people, was destined to be at a disadvantage.

But they tried to overcome adversity.

They fought desperately, determined to tip the scales of victory in their favor.

"Ice Eagle!"

The falcon cries loudly in the cold waves.

With a greatsword in his left hand and a "magic sword" in his right, Welf fired a cannon shot. The powerful azure ice floes, which had once amazed a certain first-level adventurer (dwarf), turned the gradually shrinking lake where they stood back into an ice field.

Not only that, its ice wings also flapped and flew towards the floor master on the artillery line.

"Haa ...

Of course, the "Amphispina" countered this by spewing out "red mist".

The bombardment was so powerful that the "armor" on its body was insufficient to withstand it; it had to spray forward to form a "shield" in order to survive. The right dragon head was forced to spew out a large amount of "red mist," and roared at the young blacksmith with an undisguised look of irritation.

Part of its white body was frostbitten.

"Lord Welf! Using the ice-attribute 'Magic Sword' against 'Amphispina,' a water dragon, has limited effectiveness! Please minimize your attacks!"

"I know! ...Anyway, this guy has reached his limit."

Welf looked down and glanced at his right hand.

With a crack, the demonic sword "Ice Eagle" developed cracks.

Seeing this, Lily realized that the situation was urgent and quickened her pace of attack.

"Lady Haruhime, please provide support! Lady Cassandra, please reply to Lady Aisha and the others first, and then reply to Lady Megumi and the others in order!"

"[Its power, its vessels, countless treasures, and countless desires—]"

"[Save my pitiful friends in place of my unheard words—]"

Right behind Lily, the two "chantings" intertwined.

Haruhime and Cassandra, serving as the rearguard, continuously chanted incantations, providing ongoing support to the front lines. With no mages in the squad capable of acting as artillery, their contributions undoubtedly shaped the course of the battle.

In particular, Haruhime, who provides the team with a super boost, has a remarkable and active performance.

The "Level Up" has entered its third round. The girl, who would normally be a burden in battle, is now showing her true talents. Although her magic potions are being depleted at an alarming rate, Lily senses that if she continues to maintain the current level, she has a chance to win.

(If it does the same thing as that "Black Goliath"... Lily will really cry and get angry.)

She couldn't help but compare the current situation with the "abnormal situations" she had dealt with in the past.

The nightmare of the "Lone King of the Labyrinth," possessing the ability to regenerate itself, is enough to break a person's heart. Lily, now in the position of a commander desperately issuing orders to earn damage points, deeply understands this and realizes how desperate the battle on the 18th floor was.

However, the water dragon in front of her didn't have that secret technique. It shouldn't. There'd be no way it could. Lily continued giving instructions while silently cursing.

(Amphispina has no secret techniques, so its most terrifying weapon is still the Burning Azure Flame. If you fall into that sea of ​​fire, the entire situation will be reversed.)

—Besides Lily, Aisha was also thinking.

The Twin-Headed Dragon's most terrifying bombardment transforms into an unquenchable hellfire, inflicting fatal wounds. Even a slight spread to the hands can be horrific.

Although she had ordered Welf and the others to be on high alert and completely evade the Burning Flame, now if even one person were to break away from the battle line, the entire army would be routed.

(Just to be on the safe side, I also brought a few packets of Asfy fire extinguishing agent...)

There are several ways to extinguish that burning flame.

The most representative method is the fire-extinguishing and healing potion concocted by Amid Theasanare, the "Dea Saint" of the Deancat Familia, Orario's best healer. This is a highly sought-after item when venturing into the "Lower Layers," as it extinguishes fires while healing burned skin. It provides a foundation for advanced adventurers to conquer "Amphispina," and can be considered a great achievement of that healer.

But there's something that people don't know: the "Perseus" also developed the same magical item.

That was the product of Asphie, a member of the Hermes Familia who lied to the authorities about being Lv. and reaching the floor, and was terrified when she first saw "Amphispina".

This secret magical item, used only by members of the faction, has no restorative effect, but its fire-extinguishing effectiveness is guaranteed. Unlike the former fire-extinguishing and restorative agent, it has a wider range of uses and is effective against fire attacks other than those caused by the Burning Azure Flame.

"Take this!!"