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

Clang! The sound of the skeleton collapsing to the ground, losing its strength, rang out.

Bell endured Liu's surprised gaze as he slowly lowered his hand from the position of extending his right arm to throw.

"...Miss Ryu."

The soft, murmuring voice made the slender ears twitch.

Five minutes have passed.

Hearing his brief explanation, Liu took a beat to understand what he meant.

Indeed, the clock inside Ryu's body also told her that time had passed.

It seems that even while Bell was in a deep sleep, his body was unconsciously calculating time while remaining vigilant. Although maintaining a state of alertness while asleep is indeed one of the techniques of adventurers, it was unexpected that Bell would also know this trick.

It's also possible that "his mentor" trained him beforehand.

"...I'm sorry, I didn't do my job properly, I wasn't focused enough."

"No, it's alright."

After Liu sincerely apologized, Bell gave an awkward smile. Although he still looked tired, it was a world of difference from five minutes ago. His voice was also steady.

Perhaps my mind has become clearer. Although the physical and mental strength that can be restored in such a short time is very limited, it is still of great significance.

"It's Miss Ryu's turn to sleep this time."

"...I'm sorry, but I'll gladly accept your offer."

She made it through those "five minutes." This fact relieved Ryu of the immense pressure.

Then, an invisible fatigue suddenly surged through my body. My eyelids felt as heavy as lead.

Ryuya couldn't hold on any longer.

"Mr. Craney...please break down the wall first to prevent the monster from being born."

"I see."

After giving Bell instructions, Ryu leaned her weight against the wall behind her.

A deep sleep enveloped her like a cradle. Ryu did not resist.

Consciousness gradually turned white.

--Liang, Liang.

A close friend's voice came through.

I can hear the voices of my companions (family members).

Liu was tempted and fell asleep.

○

"—Rion! Are you even listening to me?!"

Upon hearing the voice, Liu Meng snapped back to reality.

Looking up, she saw a beautiful girl with soft red hair and green eyes, raising her willow-leaf eyebrows in front of her.

"I, the commander, am speaking and you're just spacing out? You've got some nerve these days!"

Seeing the red-haired girl speak with a cheerful voice, pointing her index finger at herself...

Ryu stared intently at her, then slowly spoke:

"I'm sorry, Alexandra, I was distracted."

Ryu responded with words of apology.

He admitted his mistake and said it with deep remorse.

They had no doubts about the girl appearing before them, as if it were perfectly natural.

The girl named Alexandra smiled brightly and said, "I'm glad you understand!"

-- Ah, this is a dream.

Ryu immediately understood.

The fact that her body wouldn't obey her commands was the best evidence. Her lips also spoke on their own, as if reliving a past memory.

The dream reflected the past five years ago.

It reflects the final destination of Liu Zhen's love.

It reflects the irreplaceable time when the [Family] that Ryūshin loved once existed.

"When did the noble elf become such a sleepyhead? And to fall asleep standing up... Such skill is something I could never learn."

"...Kaguya, I wasn't dozing off. Also, don't talk to me like that, it makes me angry for some reason."

"Stop bullying her, Kaguya. Even the strongest adventurer can't do anything when that comes~. Women, you know—"

"Lyra! That's too vulgar! Besides, I...I...I'm not that kind of person!"

Humans with black hair, and little people with pink hair.

Facing his two colleagues, Liu revealed a pained expression and spoke in a gruff voice.

I'm afraid... if the boy (Bell) and others who only know Ryu now saw her expression, they would be very surprised.

The flawed expression I displayed when I was young.

He only showed his companions the unreasonable and impetuous young elf.

Everything that Ryū lost is there now.

"Oh dear, so Leon, you're on your period! I'm so sorry, I didn't even notice! But we can't say such discouraging things in the dungeon, so you'll have to bear with it for now!"

"Please don't take it seriously, okay, Alexie!"

Alexie blinked, popped a star out of her eye, flashed a bright smile, and gave a thumbs-up, causing Ryu to finally let out a scream. Seeing the elf's ears turn red, the other female members of the group around them also burst out laughing.

【Astraea Familia】.

The Astrea faction, wielding the sword and wings of justice.

This is during Orario's Dark Ages, a time when "evil forces" run rampant. They, along with the Loki Familia or the Ganesha Familia, are fighting for the peace of the city.

The group, composed entirely of women, consists of eleven members.

But they are revered as "female heroes" or "heroines," and are all strong-willed individuals. They are also a select few elite groups that ordinary male adventurers would run away from.

"Alright, everyone, let's get our spirits up! Today, let's talk about what 'justice' truly means! The war against the Evils is gaining momentum, so why not take this opportunity to return to our roots and rediscover our original purpose!"

The most dazzling among them was Alexandra Rofer.

She is the leader of the faction and also the girl confidante who invited Ryu to join this "familia".

Her bright red hair, as radiant as the sun, was tied into a ponytail at the back of her head, symbolizing Alexie's cheerful personality. To put it nicely, her words and actions were frank and straightforward; to put it bluntly, she was honest but impolite and lacked consideration. Upon their first meeting, she rashly approached Ryu, even arrogantly saying, "Your name is Ryu? That's hard to pronounce! From today onwards, I'll call you Leon!" Thanks to this, within the [Family], everyone except the chief deity (Asteria) calls her Leon.

However, Ryu greatly respects this kind of Alyssa.

Because girls are always optimistic and enterprising, possess a gentle heart that treats everyone equally, and are more genuine and straightforward than anyone else.

Alexandra was truly Ryu's first "friend" and confidante.

"What are you talking about when you say you want to talk about 'justice'?"

"It's easiest to simply label selfless acts of kindness as justice, but..."

"A good deed without a purpose is no different from self-gratification, is it?"

"If there is a purpose, it becomes ulterior motive, which is far from being true justice."

"In the end, 'justice' is nothing more than a useful tool. It's a weapon to obtain a legitimate name, or a colorless flag to justify verbal and physical violence."

"Wait, I demand you correct yourself. The sword and wings of justice we swore an oath to are not that kind of thing."

"Here it comes—Leon's stubborn remark—"

At Alyssa's urging, all the group members expressed their opinions in a room at the headquarters.

The discussion became so heated that it reached a fever pitch, even creating an atmosphere that seemed ready to erupt at any moment.

Looking around at the scene, the girl, who was the leader of the group, nodded generously and said:

"--Well, let's drop this topic! Even asking the gods won't give us a perfect answer, and no matter how much we worry, we won't figure it out! Hmm, it's useless, useless!"

Alexandra acted carelessly and irresponsibly.

Seeing that the leader had stopped the topic she had brought up abruptly, the angry gazes of the [Familia] members, including Ryu, were all focused on her.

"After all, anyone can talk about justice, and anyone can falsely claim to be justice. So let's not search for the 'right answer' among the myriad forms of justice, but rather deal with those villains who wield 'fake goods'!"

"!"

"Once the 'evil forces' that are called falsehood disappear, harmony and order will be born, along with the smiles of countless others! Therefore, this must be the justice of our [Astraea Familia]!"

Moreover, this girl always manages to say things that make people suddenly realize the truth without even trying.

"Justice is not a responsibility to bear, because that will one day crush a person. Nor is justice a concept to be loudly proclaimed, otherwise it's no different from malice forcing others to accept it!"

"Alicie..."

"Justice is a belief hidden in one's heart!"

The group members opened their eyes wide, relaxed their shoulders, and curled their lips in a mixture of amusement and exasperation.

Just like the goddess Astraea, Alexandra Rofer was also the person most loved and trusted by the band members.

"Today everyone has once again bowed down to my correct theory! Hmph! As expected of me!"

And, her characteristic is that she always says an extra word.

The girl placed one hand on her chest, closed her eyes, and looked smug, which inevitably earned her a few eye rolls.

Ah, I miss it so much.

The dreamlike scene unfolding before her eyes made Ryu think this way.

Everything that Ryu desires is here.

She longed to go back to that time if her wish could come true.

"Let's get down to business. The 'Guild' sent word that the Dark Faction is making moves in the 'Lower Levels'."

Then, the moment she heard those words, Ryu's consciousness froze.

"The Dark Faction... the Rudra Familia?"

"Yes. A year ago, the Nightmare on the 27th floor severely damaged the guild's [Familia], but it dealt an even heavier blow to the Dark Faction. The only ones left in the Dark Faction who are still able to operate are probably those people."

"Although our methods back then were quite risky, we have to thank the Loki Familia for leading the counterattack—truly, they are worthy of being our race's hero, aren't they?"

The conversation between Alisha and the others shook Ryu's resolve.

This was the day before.

It happened on the eve of the appearance of that [calamity].

At the time, Ryu had no idea what awaited them.

But now Ryu knows everything.

"We, the [Asteria Familia], will go to investigate the 'Lower Levels'. We'll find whatever we can, and it would be even better if we could stop the enemy's plans. If we could capture the [Rudra Familia], that would be even better."

No, no.

This information was deliberately leaked by Jala and his Rudrakara clan; it was a guild employee who was secretly colluding with the faction who deliberately leaked the information.

The Astrea Familia will then venture into the dungeon to encounter the Calamity.

"Why does this feel like another trap? Just like the nightmare on the 27th floor—"

"Even so, we have to go. We must go to prevent such a tragedy from happening again."

Hearing the Lilliputian members say this, Alexie shook her head.

Her honest eyes were the noble and incorruptible gaze that Ryu had always respected, and also the predetermined fate that had brought Ryu despair.

—No, Alexie!

No matter how much Ryu shouted, her voice couldn't carry.

She desperately screamed within her own body, where her limbs wouldn't obey her commands, but the dream continued according to her memories, leading Alexandra and the others down a path of despair.