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

"What's wrong?"

"……nothing."

"...Please speak plainly."

"No, but..."

"I want you to say it."

"Um, that—"

"Speak quickly."

"...I just think you have such a slender and supple figure, um...you really are a girl."

"..."

"I feel like I can understand... the feeling of a man wanting to protect a woman now."

"...You're so cunning."

Liu murmured softly.

She shifted her body slightly, as if seeking warmth, and leaned her back even closer into his embrace.

Bell hugged her tighter in response to her request.

A trembling breath leaked from his lips.

For some reason, she found the feeling sweet.

(...How despicable.)

For this very moment, Ryu temporarily stopped thinking about the face of the girl with light gray hair.

Hidden deep within her heart, her spirit self condemned her shallow behavior.

Please forgive me.

Just for this moment, please indulge me for this moment.

Ryu didn't know what she was asking for permission for, nor did she understand who she was apologizing to; she was simply facing her feelings honestly.

My heart is whispering, longing to look back.

My heart is racing, longing to exchange glances with the beautiful crimson figure so close to me.

I want to gaze at him from a distance where we can touch with the slightest movement.

However, Ryu was very scared.

She always felt that their relationship would undergo a decisive change as a result, and she was terrified of it.

She felt that by then there would be no turning back.

So she held back.

She grasped her fair and delicate upper arm, pleading for help from her own incorruptible spirit self.

Let another version of yourself dissuade you—not an elf, a tavern clerk, or [Swift Wind], but the original Ryu.

This made her feel both sad and heartbroken, but also at peace.

"Miss Ryu..."

"Yes……"

"After you get back, is there anything you'd like to do...?"

"...I want to eat Mia's mom's hot and fresh dishes."

"Ah, me too... Well then, let's go together."

"But before that, I'm afraid I'll get a real scolding from Seele and the others..."

“Ahahaha…”

"...And what about you?"

"I want to go home with Welf and the others, and tell the gods, 'We're back...'"

"Yes, you should. You must cherish your [Family]..."

"Yes, I will cherish them forever, just like you, Miss Ryu..."

"……Thank you."

The two leaned against each other, whispering softly.

It sounded a bit like sweet nothings whispered between lovers.

At the same time, there is also an indelible "illusion".

The two people, their lips slightly curved, possessed a serene vulnerability on their faces. Their soft voices seemed as if they might vanish at any moment, much like the flickering flame of a candle about to burn out.

The two quietly closed their eyes and fell into a deep sleep, like travelers setting off for the horizon.

They embraced each other, inseparable, with only each other.

Only the clear stream flowing beside them seemed to bring them a brief moment of peace, radiating a pale blue glow.

○

After resting for a few hours, a few more hours passed.

After a period of deep sleep, Bell and Ryu recovered significantly in both body and mind.

Putting aside his physical injuries, his mental strength had recovered considerably.

In particular, the persistent pain and fatigue in my brain disappeared. Just that alone made a world of difference compared to my state before the rest.

After waking up, the two immediately took action.

"I'm sorry, Bell... I even made you use your precious mental energy to start a fire..."

"No, I rested for a long time... and that level of firepower is fine."

The sound of flowing water mingled with the crackling of sparks. The firelight illuminated Ryu and Bell's faces.

After regaining some strength, Ryu gathered the materials, and Bell used fire lightning to start a fire. Because they lacked proper fuel or tools, starting a fire on their own in this damp place was extremely difficult.

The materials used were "dropped items". Ryu retraced his steps along a single path, collecting many monster hides from the rubble and corpses scattered directly below the arena—especially the oily "barbarian warrior's hair".

Like the "secret underground passage" that Bell invaded in the labyrinthine town, and the heretic (savage warrior) that the children in the orphanage encountered, its body hair is easily ignited.

"Bell, how's your stamina?"

"It's much better now, but... my hands start shaking like this if I'm not careful..."

After the fire was lit, Bell and Ryu stopped embracing each other.

The two then sat down side by side in front of the fire.

Ryu stared intently at the boy's trembling hand, which he held up to his chest.

This clear stream is a safe zone.

Ryu was so certain of it.

As if the clear, azure light of this stream had exorcised demons and driven away the monsters, no more beasts attacked. This might be the only "paradise" on the 37th floor. As long as you stay here, you don't have to fight tooth and nail; you can rest to your heart's content.

(Here, "holding your ground and not venturing out" is also an option... but we're missing a crucial element: supplies that can serve as "military rations.")

Water was plentiful, but there was absolutely no food.

Even if a second-tier adventurer possesses extraordinary physical abilities, they cannot sustain themselves without the necessary nutrients for energy. No matter how long they rest here, they will not receive the most fundamental recovery.

Continuing like this is nothing short of slow suicide, as evidenced by Bell's trembling hands.

Even if a rescue team were dispatched, it would be faster for Ryu and the others to die. She was certain of it.

To be honest, the chances of finding Ryu and the others in the 37th floor, which is comparable in size to a labyrinthine city, are practically zero. Adventurers who disappear in the "deep layers" are synonymous with the dead. At least, that's the understanding of the governing body (guild).

(The dungeon won't let those who chose "stagnation" go back alive...)

I never want to experience "cruelty" again.

Once you accept this inner desire, you've lost to the dungeon.

Ryu's mind flashed back to the fate of his fellow acquaintances, who had turned to dust. If they became addicted to this peaceful "paradise," Ryu and his friends would also meet the same end.

They must move forward.

We must move forward; we must "take risks."

That's how adventurers should be.

Ryu made a decision.

"Bell... let's set off after resting a little longer."

"……I see."

Bell nodded, responding to Ryu's lowered voice.

She used her restored spiritual power to cast a healing spell (Noah's Healing) to heal Bell's physical wounds. The only exceptions were the lost blood and her left arm, which could no longer regenerate after being treated with impromptu therapy.

At the same time, Ryu completely healed his right leg.

With sufficient mental strength, Ryu's "magic" could even heal fractures. However, she discovered that although she used a dagger sheath instead of a brace for fixation, the set bones still shifted when she tried to move. This was a drawback of treatment by an unqualified healer.

Although it might affect her movement, at least Ryu can walk on her own now, which will definitely reduce the burden on Bell, who has been supporting her all this time. The dislocated bone can be cared for by a therapist once she's back on the ground to help it heal.

After the treatment was mostly completed, Ryu and the others rested again to restore their mental strength before picking up their clothes. Thanks to the campfire, their combat suits were almost completely dry.

The two of them turned their backs to each other and started getting dressed.

By this time, Ryu was no longer panicked, but the rustling of clothes still made her uneasy.

The two put on their gear and put out the fire.

Just before setting off, Ryu found herself reluctant to leave.

(...It was just a temporary confusion. I was probably just too tired.)

The boy's warm embrace gave Ryu a strange feeling of connection with him, a sense of peace he had never experienced before.

However, Ryu wouldn't allow herself to become immersed in it. After all, she was a spirit of noble character.

Liu ignored the emotions that were about to sprout in her heart and dismissed her lingering feelings as an illusion.

"let's go."

"OK."

She and Bell took their first steps side by side.

With their backs to the place that had given them a brief rest, Ryu and Bell began to move forward.

The two walked continuously along a single path where the clear stream flowed.

It seems there are indeed no monsters, and Bell and Ryu have been safe throughout their journey.

"Is this considered 'unexplored territory'...?"

"In terms of not having a map, that's true. However, this place... I feel like something's different about it."

Bell talked to Ryu while glancing around.

Although the ground and walls beneath my feet were still made of the same whitish-white rock, the clear stream flowing through the center gave the entire passage a bluish hue. The river made the passage feel cool and refreshing.

At the junction of the wall and the ground, flowers and plants resembling small lilies bloom.

The small white flowers swayed gracefully in the gentle breeze of the flowing water.

This new species of flower, which wasn't even listed in the management organization's (guild's) maze guide, was practically the only plant to bloom in the "White Palace." Ryu called Bell to stop, picked a flower, and tried putting it in her mouth.

"It's sweet." After saying that, Ryu let Bell eat the flower. There was indeed a subtle nectar flavor melting on the tip of his tongue. Even if he stuffed his mouth full of this, it wouldn't restore much of his strength, but even if it only had a comforting effect, it was better than nothing. Moreover, for Bell, the long-lost sweetness was simply a heavenly delicacy that made his cheeks ache.

Looking up, the ceiling here is lower than any area on the 37th floor.

The uneven surface, resembling a cave, is clearly visible.

Like underground water veins.

Or it could be a valley where the sky is obscured.

Bell held this impression of the walkway he was currently walking on.