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

Page 94

"This is Tomato Boy's own decision, we don't need to interfere. Right, Tione?"

"Please don't ask me, okay?"

Seeing that Bert still had a smile on his face and maintained his frivolous attitude, Thione looked disgusted.

The three formed a small circle, with only Tiona strongly expressing her disapproval.

"We can't just leave that Minotaur behind, it's just a matter of time! I'm going!"

"Never mind him. That kid's really showing some manly spirit now, huh? He's suffered so much, he must know his own limitations. If he gets saved again this time, I'd rather die."

"Who cares about your aesthetics, Bert!"

Tiona and the others forgot about the current situation and started making a ruckus, but just then, a barely audible voice came from behind them.

The small figure dragged its body, its steps faltering.

"...Please, adventurers! Save Lord Bell..."

"The little sister of the little people (Palum)..."

"W-What are you doing! Let go!"

Lily, having deactivated her transformation, collapsed to the ground and grabbed Bert's clothes.

Bert was visibly shaken as the trembling little hands gripped his knees tightly.

"I will repay your great kindness. I'm willing to do anything, to be at your beck and call, so... please save Lord Bell...!"

"Hey, you..."

Seeing the diminutive Plum (Palum) pleading desperately despite his dazed state, Bert's beast ears drooped, revealing a troubled expression only at this moment.

Rivera walked behind Lily, bent down, and gently covered her eyes with her right hand. Her left hand reached towards her abdomen, and then she pulled Lily into her arms like an embrace.

"You can't force yourself yet. The wound may have healed, but the blood that's been lost won't come back."

After Rivera's lips murmured an incantation, the hand covering her eyes emitted an emerald light. Just as she had said, Lily's wounds had completely healed, leaving only traces of bleeding.

It was no accident that Ais and the others were able to reach this cave. It was all thanks to Torily.

She simply couldn't bear to abandon Bell and run away. Dragging her injured body, she ran desperately. Perhaps it was her persistence that led her to find Ais, who had just reached the 9th floor.

The plea of the supporters, who were calling for help for their companions, led them to this place.

"Please, please, please..."

"...Tsk."

The plea, uttered softly as if in a dream, made Bert purse his lips into a "ㄟ" shape, and he clicked his tongue bitterly.

He casually ruffled his gray hair, then turned and walked towards Ais and Bell.

"Are you going over there?"

"Don't get me wrong, I'm not going to save Xiao Ka. But I don't want to become a bully who preys on the weak."

Bert gave Riveria a curt reply and walked on.

He faced Bell and the others, and shouted loudly to Ais, whose back was to him:

"Get out of the way, Ais! I'll take over!"

"..."

"Hey, what are you standing there for...?"

Bert wanted to walk in front of Ais, but as soon as he stood next to her, he stopped in his tracks.

The girl, who always seemed devoid of emotion, had a blank expression on her face—only her golden eyes were wide open in astonishment.

She stared intently at the scene with the most serious gaze.

"……what?"

Bert looked over as well.

Then, it froze.

The Minotaur wielding a greatsword, and the boy whose dagger gleamed with a cold light.

Neither side would back down, and a fierce battle ensued.

"...Huh?"

The sounds of fierce swordplay rang out.

A powerful, deafening roar, capable of shattering anything, met with a clear, swift tone, capable of cleaving anything in two. The overly stirring melody entered Bert's eardrums and finally resounded throughout the entire underground city.

Silver and blue-violet light clashed back and forth. The silver brilliance had barely been unleashed when it was replaced by blue-violet flashes that drew arcs.

The Minotaur and Bell each made fierce expressions and began a fierce battle of offense and defense.

"Huh... that's weird?"

"...Who did you say is LV.1?"

The fighting situation caught the attention of Tiona and the others.

In terms of the situation, the Minotaur, by making good use of its capacity to launch a continuous attack, did indeed have the advantage, but it was not the one-side game that they firmly believed in.

The only option now is a life-or-death struggle, where everyone is on equal footing and risking their lives.

A particularly sharp sound rang out.

Tiona and the others abruptly turned their gaze away from Bell, who had deflected the greatsword with a dagger, and looked directly at Bert. They wanted to know what had happened.

Bert didn't know how to answer.

"If my memory serves me correctly..."

A calm and steady voice drifted over.

Bert was startled, his shoulders trembled, and he looked behind him, forgetting his own expression.

Their leader, Finn Dimna, approached slowly with short strides.

He stopped beside Bert, carrying the long spear he was skilled at using, and asked quietly;

"A month ago, didn't Bert see that boy as a complete novice?"

"..."

In the distance, the flames of the explosion bloomed like flowers.

The blast wave passed between their legs, and a crimson heat illuminated their faces.

Looking up intently into his blue eyes made Bert's eyes tremble, and he couldn't help but shrink back.

He was definitely a newbie back then. No doubt about it.

The child being chased around by the Minotaur was a novice adventurer who lacked both basic tactics and determination.

He was a pathetic adventurer who made people laugh.

But he...

(What exactly happened...?)

Dramatic changes have occurred.

At this moment, the one who was on par with the Minotaur was not the foolish and cowardly adventurer that Bert disliked.

Instead, they are merely glimpses of their true abilities, undeniably rookies who are new adventurers.

One month. Only one month.

In just thirty days, even the most talented adventurers cannot achieve remarkable growth. Most adventurers' growth is as slow as a tortoise's pace.

An impossible leap after escaping the bottom.

Bert remained standing in the same spot.

In a short period of time, which could hardly be described as years, Bell was so completely different that he was simply bewildered.

What welled up inside me was a sense of incomprehension about the situation, and a feeling of dread.

"..."

Beside Bert, Ais kept her eyes fixed on Bell and the others.

In his golden eyes, which shimmered with a transparent light, there was a hint of surprise, swaying with a clear interest.

"Woo-woo ...

"Aa ...

The shouts were like a torrent.

Monsters and humans clash head-on, continuing their battle of strength and speed.

The Amazon sisters were naturally drawn to Ais and the others, and Riveria, who was carrying Lily, also joined them.

Everyone remained silent, watching the battle between the man and the beast from the closest positions.

"..."

The elite adventurers of the Loki Familia watched this deadly battle unfold.

From the perspective of these recognized first-class adventurers, it was a truly awful battle.

They are not comparable to them; it is a struggle of lower social class.

But at the same time, there was something else that held their attention. At least during that battle, there was something that kept them in their tracks.

Some were astonished, some made insightful judgments, and some remained calm observers.

Countless sparks scattered.

A loud wind blew.

The thin light seemed to block out the surrounding space, enveloping the scene.

That was like a page from a fairy tale.

A raging, monstrous bull and a diminutive boy, each burning their own life force, clashed fiercely.

Tiona slowly narrowed her eyes.

"Argonauts..."

That's a fairy tale.

The story of an ordinary young man who dreams of becoming a hero, who ventures into a maze to rescue a princess who has been kidnapped by a powerful monster.

Sometimes I am deceived.

Sometimes they were taken advantage of by the king.

The story of a comical man manipulated by many with ulterior motives.

Seek help from your friends' wisdom.

Receive a weapon as a gift from the elf.

They actually rescued the princess just like that, ironically, the hero's name.

"I used to really like that fairy tale..."

Tiona crossed her arms and watched the boy fight the giant as if admiring a treasure.

A quiet, nostalgic smile appeared on her face, adorning her still-childlike features.

It was like casting a ripple on the water, and the murmur reached the ears of everyone present.

A sound erupted as the white figure collided with the bronze one.

With many onlookers watching, the fairytale-like battle escalated.