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

His teeth were chattering. His pupils began to dart around, and tears welled up in his eyes.

very scary.

I'm still so scared.

It was uncomfortable, painful, and unbearable.

However, none of these compare to...

Scared.

I was so scared that I couldn't stand up anymore.

“Mmm…!”

I could clearly feel the rumbling of the earth slowly approaching, and the hairs on my body stood on end. The Minotaur was slowly drawing near.

This is so agonizing. Fear gradually seeped into my body from my toes.

I'm going crazy. I'm about to lose my mind. If I could really go crazy, maybe it would be the end of everything.

I could only gaze up at the dazzling underground city ceiling. Several phosphorescent lights burned my eyes, and my tear ducts were silently on the verge of bursting.

—I'm already... done for.

Bound by fear, he exhaled a damp breath.

"...?"

The rumbling stopped.

The death announcement, which was being slowly and deliberately made, was abruptly interrupted.

Instead, a gentle breeze arose.

I was surprised. The silence surrounding my visit raised a pure question: What had happened?

I contorted my face and twisted my body.

He moved his still trembling body and managed to lift his neck.

So I saw,

“——”

That person is right there.

"..."

Bright golden hair. Azure armor. Silver saber.

Just like a scene I had witnessed somewhere before, the female swordsman stood there with her back to me.

My time has stopped flowing.

"Ooh, oh ooh...!"

The Minotaur was intimidated.

Under her silent gaze, the Minotaur retreated little by little.

The sound of wind kept rising.

The air currents danced around a young girl, their stillness resonating throughout the cave.

A sense of oppression, like a sharp blade, swept over the surroundings.

— [Fiora] Ais Wallenstein.

"Found her! Ais—!"

"Tsk, don't go running around for such trivial matters!"

Although footsteps and voices continued to drift into my ears, my eyes and consciousness remained fixed on that figure. Right before my eyes.

Miss Ais stood in front of me, confronting the Minotaur.

My mind is a complete mess. My thoughts can't keep up with the situation.

What happened? What will happen next?

I didn't realize I was sitting up as if drawn to something, staring blankly up at her back.

"...Are you alright?"

--How are you?

Just like that first encounter.

She turned her head slightly, her slender profile swaying, and said the same thing to me.

My heart skipped a beat.

"...You did your best."

—Did you do your best?

It's different from back then.

She added a word of comfort.

A gurgling sound came from his heart.

"I'll save you right away."

—Save me?

My heartbeat started to get out of control.

The scenery in the field of vision regained its color.

A vibrant, fiery color illuminated the scene.

help me?

Am I about to be rescued?

Once again?

Let this person...?

same?

Repeating the same mistakes?

Who?

—That's me.

"!"

It felt like a fire was burning in my mind.

Until all the emotions from before were swept away.

Like a fool, his single-minded arrogance surpassed his fear.

A pathetic, competitive spirit, an emotion that never ceases, shattered his shameful character.

stand up.

Stand up.

Stand up!

How long do you want to lie here!

How many times do you need someone to save you before you're satisfied?

I don't want the same thing to happen again.

I will never again accept being a weak version of myself who can only rely on her help!

"——!"

Get out of there, you huddled up in fear.

Instead of being afraid, you should quickly prepare yourself.

I can't afford to lose face in front of the person I admire.

I can't let the person I most want to convey my feelings to see me looking so bad again.

I cannot tolerate that kind of thing, I cannot tolerate it, I cannot tolerate it!

If you don't show off now, when will you?

If we don't strive for success now, when will we ever get the chance?

If we don't stand up now, when will we ever get a chance?

If I don't reach out and stretch towards the higher places now, when will I ever get there?!

I kicked the ground hard.

I stood up and regrouped.

"!"

"……cannot."

I grabbed her hand.

Taking her delicate hand, which seemed so fragile it might break at the slightest touch, I pushed her behind me.

I move forward according to my own will.

"I can't let Ais Wallenstein save me again!"

I roared from the bottom of my heart and raised my dagger.

The Minotaur stared wide-eyed at me as I reappeared, then gave a clear, sinister laugh.

It was as if responding to my will, pointing the blade of a greatsword at me.

"Let's settle this once and for all...!"

Go on an adventure.

For this uncompromising relationship.

Today, I will embark on my first adventure.

●

The boy ran out.

Under Ais's dumbfounded gaze, the little adventurer charged toward the giant monster that awaited the challenge.

"Hey, stealing someone else's prey in the dungeon is against the rules. You got dumped, Ais."

"..."

Bert said leisurely behind Ais, who had been left behind.

He chuckled, indicating that as an adventurer, the kid's attitude was correct.

Besides Bert and Tiona, Tione also came to the cave, while Riveria and Finn were a step behind and also entered the room.

Under their watchful eyes, the battle of Bel against the Minotaur began.

Seeing Bell skillfully dodge the opponent's first attack, Bert first said "Oh," then "Hmm?" and then noticed something.

"That white-haired guy...could it be Tomato Boy from back then? Hahaha! What? That brat really has a connection with the Minotaur!"

"You mean the one Ais saved at the last second?"

"Yes, no doubt about it! I think he's obsessed with the Minotaur! He misses that brat so much that he came all the way up from the middle level!"

"Don't joke around, Bert."

Bert shrugged at Tiony's advice.

He sneered maliciously, glancing at Ais and Belle in turn.

"Now I get it! Of course he doesn't want to be saved by Ais—. This situation is exactly the same as last time he was saved, how can he let the same person see him embarrass himself again—"

"Hey, is this really okay? That guy's only LV.1, right? He'll definitely get slaughtered by the Minotaur!"