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

"Leave me here...you go."

"!"

Right now, I'm just a burden.

They will only become shackles that slow down your progress.

She murmured, implying that this was what she was telling me.

I furrowed my brow.

“No, no!”

"Mr. Crannie..."

"I absolutely... I would never abandon you!"

I was like a spoiled child, refusing to listen. Miss Liu lowered her eyes sadly.

From the very beginning, there was no option to leave her to die.

If I were to abandon her here, I would no longer be Bell Craney.

I will never be able to help anyone again!

Succumbing to the roaring passion within my heart, I cried out:

"How could I possibly survive wandering alone in the 'deep layers'?"

“!…”

"The battle just now was the same; if it weren't for Miss Ryu, I would have been in danger long ago!"

I was so angry I lost my temper. Even though the monster could hear me, I kept talking.

But at the same time, instinct seemed to have unconsciously grasped this as well. It understood that in order to survive, it was necessary to "convince" her.

I understand that I need Ms. Ryu.

I didn't hesitate to expend my precious energy, and without a second thought, I continued in a gruff voice:

"I need Ms. Ryu's knowledge of the 'deep' aspects! I need Ms. Ryu's experience!"

Only after I shouted it did I realize that I hadn't said anything wrong.

I have indeed attended Miss Eina's lectures and learned "deep" "knowledge." But there is often a gap between "knowledge" and "experience." In the current situation, this gap is so vast that it can determine life and death. The battle with the "Skeleton Sheep" proved this point.

Any adventurer knows how terrifying the first floor can be.

Now, facing this raging, ferocious sea of ​​the "deep," I don't even have a compass in my hand.

For salvation, a lighthouse to guide the way, or a "captain" to direct the direction, is indispensable.

"...!"

Miss Liu's eyes widened as well. She then closed her lips and remained silent.

I'm afraid she's also using Libra as a comparison.

I weighed the benefits of giving up this shackle on myself against the necessity of serving as a strategist to guide me.

After a period of silence, Miss Liu spent a long time agonizing over this before slowly saying to me:

"...I'm here to scan for the monster's scent. Mr. Craney, please focus on advancing..."

"Miss Ryu...!"

"You're right...it seems I still have my uses..."

The sky-blue eyes, which had been filled with despair, regained their luster, and the shadow of death that had been clinging to the weakened body disappeared.

"I was indeed too hasty. It seems I wasn't calm enough." A self-deprecating smile appeared on her cherry-like lips.

Miss Ryu has changed her mind. Just that alone makes me want to cheer with joy.

"Mr. Crannie... please go into the chamber... it only leads out in one direction, and the smaller the better..."

"A cave...?"

"We'll stay there and 'hold our ground' for now... As long as we break down the wall... the monsters won't be born... We'll take a makeshift emergency rest there..."

"...!"

The battle-hardened second-tier adventurer gave me clear instructions.

That was truly a wake-up call. Indeed, as long as they "held their ground and did not come out" in the cave, although they could only survive for a short time, they could temporarily escape the near-death march where the entire army could be wiped out at any moment.

The policy has been established, and the shipping routes have been broadened.

I had no doubts about Miss Ryu and began to move forward in the narrow passage.

(...However, the situation itself did not improve at all...!)

It's the same as before; we'll be wiped out if attacked by hordes of monsters. Just the fact that monsters are spawning on the walls right now is enough to kill us. Our strength is completely depleted; one moment of weakness and we could be on our knees.

Even if you reach the cave, then what? Even if you can rest until you're well, what's next?

How can one return to the surface from the "deep" layers? Is there any way to survive?

I turned away from the gloomy whispers that were trying to erode my heart, covered my ears, and desperately tried to escape.

I only pay attention to Miss Ryu's words and do as she says. Otherwise, I won't be able to move anymore.

Letting the faint phosphorescence illuminate my profile, I supported myself against the silent, murky white wall as I moved forward.

Miss Liu seemed to be hurt even by the vibrations that came through my shoulder, her eyebrows twitching.

We wandered through the dungeon, our breaths mingling together.

"...?"

I don't know how much time has passed, or maybe not much time at all.

Unconsciously, I squinted.

Looking at the direction of travel, on the left...

A narrow passage, dimly lit and dimly lit.

At first, I thought the monster was blocking the phosphorescence on the wall, so I became more vigilant.

However, when I realized that light and darkness visited each other in turn over a certain period of time, my eyes widened.

Is this... flashing?

"Could it be... the light from the 'Magic Stone Lamp'?"

Such variations in light intensity are impossible in an underground city.

The lights flickered on and off. They were the familiar lights from the earth.

The whisper that came out became a conviction.

There's no mistake, this light source isn't natural phosphorescence... it's a man-made object!

"Miss Ryu, it's the 'Magic Stone Lamp'! There are people there, adventurers!"

"...This lighting...it really is..."

Hearing me raise my voice several octaves, Miss Liu murmured a silent reply, agreeing with my opinion.

No monster can operate the magic lamp! There's someone ahead!

Overjoyed, I squeezed my way into the side lane on the left.

Forgetting even the excruciating pain that had tormented her entire body, she began to move her feet with joy.

There are countless real-life examples of adventurers on the verge of annihilation being rescued by their fellow adventurers. The rare tale of outlaws who, despite usually strained relationships, fight side-by-side to overcome adversity in times of crisis is a testament to their resilience. And now, we too have experienced such a bond.

What great luck! What great luck!

I can't believe I met someone in the same field in a place like this!

A party that stays in the "Deep Layers" must be comprised of high-ranking adventurers. Could it be the Loki Familia? Or perhaps the Freya Familia? Whatever it is, it doesn't matter!

Now we're saved! Now we're free!

Me too, and so is Miss Ryu!

"Is anyone there?! Is anyone there?! Please help us!!"

I mustered my strength to shout, calling out towards the passageway that was still flickering with light.

I rounded the corner of the single-lane road, and only a short distance remained. The flashing lights grew brighter and brighter. It was right there. I saw the entrance to the cave; that was the end!

My tense facial muscles slowly relaxed, and I felt a sense of ease. Miss Ryu was probably hiding her joy; she didn't say a word. I spotted a figure deep within the flickering lights and stretched out my hand with all my might.

"Please, please help us—"

A smile appeared on my face as I stepped inside.

Then, my smile cracked instantly.

You could hear someone gasping for breath.

After a long while, I realized that it was Miss Liu's voice.

My time has come to a standstill.

"────"

There are indeed people there.

Several people were gathered around the overturned magic stone lamp that was flickering in the center of the cave.

His profession must be an adventurer. The weapons and armor he was wearing confirmed that.

But their race is unknown. Neither their appearance nor their age. Because they have no skin or muscle whatsoever.

Her fingers were white and slender, like those of an artificial sculpture.

They forgot about the original beautiful golden (blond) color of their fur.

A faint, distinctive stench of decay wafts through the air.

Those were the remains of adventurers, turned into bones.

A body leaning against the wall stares at us with its pure black eye sockets. Another body, dressed in a flared combat suit, lies on the ground, its golden hair spreading out. The remaining body has its hands placed in front of its chest, its form lost. A short sword is stuck in the dried, blood-stained clothing, as if it had plunged a knife into its chest to commit suicide.

Indeed, there are people there.

To be precise, it is an object that was once a living person.

The tragic fate of adventurers who succumb to the "deep" is right before their eyes.

"……………………Huh?"

I staggered toward the center of the cave, as if lured there.

The flickering magic stone lamp is about to malfunction, as if it has been left unused for a very long time. The three silent corpses also speak of the passage of time.

No adventurer can save us, of course. How could they? They won't respond when we call them, and they won't move when we beg for help. What can I ask of these remains? To dance hand in hand? It's so ridiculous it makes me want to cry.

Ms. Ryu remained silent, her expression unchanged.

It was as if they had already considered "this possibility" and remained silent the whole time.

Unwittingly, my eyes met those of the corpse leaning against the wall.

Welcome!

There's a strange feeling, as if I can hear the welcoming sounds.

The illusion said: This is the end you have been waiting for.

"……………………ah……"

Coincidentally, this is exactly the cave we were looking for, with only one entrance.

A dead end at the end of a road that leads nowhere.

A wave of dizziness washed over me, and I felt like the whole world was collapsing.

I knelt down on both knees, and even Miss Liu was knocked to the ground by me.

"How could this be...?"

Fatally, a voice of mental defeat rang out.