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

"It's very important to recover your strength in time."

So that's how it is... My qualifications as an adventurer are being tested at this moment.

To be honest, I was skeptical before, but I never expected... she's amazing! It turns out what she said was true. Truly worthy of Miss Ais.

My longing intensified, but somehow I had the illusion that Miss Ais was guiltily looking away. What was I even thinking?

"Fortunately, your 'magic' just now damaged the cave. In that case, the monster won't be born within five minutes."

Miss Liu ignored my reaction and looked around.

As they drove away the "skeleton sheep," a series of [fire lightning] attacks damaged the area near the cave entrance. The walls, blasted with large holes, crumbled into rocks that scattered across the ground, forming a temporary barrier despite their low height.

There is only one entrance and exit to the cave. If the priority for repairing the damaged dungeon is to prevent the spawning of monsters, then guarding the entrance and exit is sufficient.

"Whether you can recover your physical and mental strength within these 'five minutes' will determine your... no, our life or death."

This was originally a desperate journey with no hope in sight.

Even if it's just a drop in the ocean, we have no other way to survive except by accumulating small amounts.

It was only five minutes, but at least I could rest for five minutes.

Whether you interpret this as hell or heaven, I think it depends on the individual.

As for me now? To be honest, I don't know. But compared to before, I'm neither desperate nor lamenting.

I have the extra energy to think about this kind of thing, all thanks to Miss Ryu.

Every word she spoke was strong and powerful. Her resolute voice, still clear and firm despite her predicament, gave me courage and a glimmer of hope.

"..."

"..."

Ms. Liu and I knelt down at the same knees, looked at each other at the same eye level, and nodded.

Just trust her.

I mustered my last bit of strength to move, avoiding the remains of my companions, and came to the wall of the cave.

With a thud, I fell heavily to the ground, leaning against the cold wall, not caring about my posture.

"You go to sleep first, I'll rest later."

"……I see."

I accepted Ms. Ryu's kindness and tried closing my eyes.

This is where my colleagues' bodies are laid to rest. To be honest, I doubt I could sleep here.

However, just before I closed my eyelids, my eyes met those of calm, sky-blue eyes that were watching me intently.

"Get some rest..."

A faint smile appeared on her small, delicate lips.

That alone makes me feel so at ease that I can surrender to sleep.

I slowly lost consciousness.

○

(Five minutes... that's probably not enough time.)

The moment the boy closed his eyes, Ryu immediately removed the mask she had put on (smile).

In an instant, countless beads of sweat appeared on his skin.

The number "five minutes".

To be fair, this is the minimum amount of time Bell can rest.

According to Ryu's assessment, "five minutes" is a tight timeframe.

Bell's quick-attack magic (fire and lightning) did indeed damage the entrance to the cave. However, the range was insufficient, at least not enough to be considered safe. Normally, it should have destroyed all four walls, but Ryu, with her broken leg and limited mobility, couldn't do that. To be honest, she simply didn't have the stamina.

Could they hold their ground in the "deep" chambers and survive for "five minutes" without being attacked? That would be very difficult.

As Ryu stared intently at the labyrinth (dungeon) that was beginning to be repaired, she sealed her fear deep within her heart.

(I shouldn't let him worry about anything... He's protected me for so long, not letting him rest will drive him crazy...)

Why did Ryu lie to Bell?

That's because she had no other choice.

Bell, his mental energy completely depleted, was unable to move and his physical strength was also exhausted. Faced with the "cruel fate" that swarmed in without giving him a moment's respite, he almost lost himself. In order to continue his mission, he absolutely needed to rest, even if it was only for a short time. How could Ryu bear to tell him, "Destroy the cave first before you sleep"?

This was her only choice.

We had no choice but to take a desperate gamble and rest at this location.

(This might be the first hurdle...)

Even if they could get through this hurdle, who knew how many more challenges lay ahead? Liu, unable to comprehend it, wanted to laugh at her own thoughts, but failed. She didn't even have the energy to mock herself.

Within those five minutes, Ryu must fight alone.

With her scarred body, she protected the boy and fought against the dark labyrinth.

(The only weapon is the "Twin Leaves"... It can be thrown twice, meaning it can chase away two monsters... After that, you'll have to fight tooth and nail to stop them...)

She plunged the pair of small katanas she had tucked into her waistband into the ground beside her.

In this way, the moment an intruder (monster) appears in the distance of that dark, gloomy entrance, she can throw a flying knife at any time.

With his right leg broken and unable to move, Ryu prayed that he wouldn't have to use those two weapons.

—A roar came from somewhere.

Ryu's shoulders trembled.

Even though it was meaningless, I still held my breath.

She stared into the darkness, repeatedly chanting in her heart: Don't come, don't appear.

With every movement of his body, his fractured right leg groaned, and his lips emitted painful gasps.

(...Just not being able to talk to Mr. Craney...is making me so uneasy...)

Even Ryu, who has long been feared as "Gale," is corrupted by being in the "deep" dark space.

That's the annoying thing about this floor area. It's far less well-lit than the "middle floors" and so on, and it's pervasively dark. And darkness always has an endless unsettling quality, destroying one's personality and making one emotionally unstable. This is especially true in desperate situations—like this one. Even the sense of time is numbed by it.

Three hundred seconds that felt incredibly long.

How much time has passed now?

How much longer can we hold on?

She consulted the biological clock she had developed during the "expedition." The answer she received made her bite her lip. So long, far too long—not even half the time had passed.

Liu knew that her eye sockets were sunken.

To avoid disturbing the boy's rest, she controlled her increasingly erratic breathing. Even this alone made her quite uncomfortable.

Slowly, the eerie silence that lingered in the cave awakened ominous thoughts.

Will cracks suddenly appear in the wall behind you?

Could a monster be born and bite through Ryu's head?

Or perhaps deep within the passage, where a horde of monsters might suddenly appear and attack?

Ryu pinched her upper arm with her fingernails to fight off these wild thoughts.

"..."

She temporarily stopped looking into the darkness, as if escaping reality, and secretly glanced at the person beside her.

The boy was still asleep, his neck drooping downwards, obscuring his eyes. He looked as if he had died, but he was alive, alive and well.

He obediently followed Ryu's instructions and went into a short sleep.

(Although he almost lost himself... that's to be expected, given the circumstances.)

She didn't think Bell, who had briefly lost his mind, was useless. Rather, it was remarkable that he could maintain his composure under such extreme conditions. His first arrival in the "Deep" began in despair, with neither the means to break through nor any hope. Moreover, his physical and mental strength were completely depleted. No one could remain unmoved in such a situation.

It wouldn't be surprising if an ordinary adventurer couldn't bear the pain and tried to commit suicide.

Ryu glanced at the remains with a short sword stuck in their chest.

"...Really, you've become stronger..."

A soft murmur escaped from her lips.

She felt an urge to stroke his white hair, stained with blood and dust, to comb it and comfort him. But she couldn't. She didn't have the energy for such things.

Instead, Ryu gave him an unvarnished compliment, even one filled with deep emotion.

At the same time, her conscience was also troubled.

After the rest period, Ryu must order the boy to bear the "cruel fate".

He must be required to commit "barbaric acts" and "take risks".

To save him.

"You're the only one I'll save..."

This murmur could only be heard by the adventurers who had turned into bones.

Bell misunderstood.

Ryu did not reject death.

Instead, it is "self-sacrifice".

She was willing to risk her own life to save Belle alone.

This determination sustains Ryu today.

(At least as long as he can escape the "deep layer"... Although he's still trapped in a terrible predicament, he might be able to overcome the difficulties with his strength... so he still has to head to the passage leading to the 36th floor...)

Think carefully about how the boy can survive this underground city.

The grading standards for "Deep Layer" and "Lower Layer" are different. Although the worst-case scenario of running out of items remains unchanged, at least Bell's chances of survival will increase significantly.

If only we could escape this hellhole—

(I beg you, Alexandra, and everyone else. I don't care what happens to me; to atone for my sins, I'm willing to follow you. So please, save him...)

Ryu lowered her head and made a wish to her now-deceased companions.

She only revealed her vulnerable side, which she herself possessed despite her noble and strong nature, to the phantoms in her memories.

Just as she closed her eyes tightly, like a frail and helpless young girl...

A shout came from the entrance to the cave.

"!!"

She looked up abruptly and saw three skeletal masks floating in the dim light.

A new batch of "skeleton sheep" has appeared. The hermit who gorges on death has reappeared.

Reality reminded her of despair, and she knew that relying on the "dead" who were no longer alive would be of no use.

Ryu bit her lip as she pulled the small katana stuck in the ground.

(All three at the same time)

No, I can't handle it; they'll break into the cave.

Ryu let out a bitter sigh, but even so, he still aimed at the charging dead sheep (skeleton sheep) and threw two small dachis.

One was beautifully struck, and a split second later, it pierced through the other. Both figures collapsed to the ground, exhausted.

But that's where it ends.

The remaining one charged forward, trying to break into the cave—a white blade had sprouted from its forehead.

"!!"

Someone threw a gleaming white dagger; the person who threw it was right next to Ryu.

Bell opened his eyes and threw the "White Illusion".