—"What does it take to be a leader of a Familia?"
I once asked that question to Finn, the leader of the Loki Familia — the most powerful faction in the city.
It was after the Pallum engagement incident. We crossed paths in the street and struck up a brief conversation.
At the time, I was a newcomer leader who constantly questioned whether I was up to the task. I wondered if maybe Lili or Welf would be a better fit, and whether I was truly qualified to lead.
Finn, a veteran respected by all, answered without a moment's hesitation:
—"The ability to organize and resolve interpersonal disputes."
I remember breaking into a cold sweat, thinking he'd say something about having a brilliant mind or powerful leadership.
According to Finn, when you live in a community, it's only natural for negativity to arise between companions. Small misunderstandings can undermine the unity of the whole group. Clear conflict and suspicion can be more dangerous than monsters.
—"Detecting and addressing friction at an early stage is something we can leave to the gods while we're on the surface, but in the Dungeon it's different. That's why I observe my members' movements closely, with Riveria and Raul's help."
Finn viewed the gods as the true leaders of a Familia, but added:
—"In particular, be careful when it comes to romantic entanglements."
That made me think even more about my relationship with Ryuu.
She said everything would stay the same, but… I still felt I hadn't lived up to it.
—"Well, I'm not in a great position to talk… I also have someone who pursues me with an overwhelming devotion… But in your case..."
Finn then said to me:
—"Lead by always staying at the forefront. A leader like that can exist as well."
To me back then, and even now, his words were like a beacon of light piercing through the darkness.
—"Fuhh!"
With that, the leader of the Hestia Familia took a powerful step forward — a step so strong it made the ground crack — and hurled himself into the horde of monsters.
Paving a path through the deafening roars and the creatures' ferocious claw and fang attacks, I turned the combination of the "Hestia Knife" and "Hakugen" into a flurry of seven precise slashed strikes. The thick scales and hatchet-like tails of the two monstrous Spino Axes could not withstand it and were rent asunder, prompting anguished cries from the creatures.
—"We follow Lord Bell!"
—"Watch out! Those dinosaurs possess tremendous power!"
Enveloped in the glow of the "Boost" level-up, Mikoto and Welf rushed forward after me. To ease their burden, I adjusted my movements and fought these new enemies — dinosaur-like monsters — with broad, strategic maneuvers.
Current location: 29th Floor.
This region is known as the "Deep Jungle Canyon."
After making it past the "Water Labyrinth City"—a labyrinthine expanse that extends all the way to the 27th Floor—we found ourselves in a vast tropical jungle within the Dungeon. Here, colossal trees rose as far as the eye could see, growing so dense that they formed an impenetrable wall. Nevertheless, the main path was defined by a V-shaped formation between the forests on either side, which is how this area came to be called a "Canyon" within the "Jungle."
From the 29th to the 32nd Floor, the Dungeon is constructed in a series of three or four descending tiers. The view from the upper entrance down toward the lower connection is majestic and dramatic—a unique spectacle that may be one of the reasons this region earned its name.
However, this new territory of the lower floors, teeming with powerful dinosaur-like monsters, is where we, the Hestia Familia, chose to venture.
—"ORROOOAAARRRR!"
—"Urgh…!"
—"Don't face them directly! Even with a level boost, you'll get tossed aside if you're not careful!"
Mikoto tried to deflect the attack of an Almarosaurus—a creature with three heads—using her katana. But the force of the blow was so immense that her feet briefly left the ground. "Unlike the majestic and powerful Almirasaurus, the nimble Shadow Raptors relied on dart-and-slash attacks. Even Welf, who had argued at length with Lili about whether or not to use his Magic Sword, pressed his lips together in resolve and drew it without a moment's hesitation."
"The infernal flame of the 'First Radiance, Bright Moon' consumed the left side of the group along with their attackers."
—"When I came through here last time, I thought the same thing! It's obvious a party of level 2 or lower has no chance against this!"
As Welf cried out in desperation while striking at his next opponent, I couldn't help but agree with him.
During our previous expedition, when Ryuu and I required help, the rest of the Hestia Familia crossed this "Deep Jungle Canyon" to reach the 37th Floor. On that occasion, they were under the protection of the Xenos, including Rido and his group. Although they were accompanied, they surely witnessed the devastating power of these dinosaurs, which explains why their nervousness was different from mine even before we arrived here.
The Threat of Dinosaurs
According to the publicly available information from the Guild, just as the 13th Floor is a "First Death Line"—impossable for level 1 adventuring parties to pass—this 29th Floor region is said to be impassable without a team of level 3 or higher.
The main reason for this is the appearance of dinosaur-like monsters in the area.
—"GRAAAAAHHH!"
—"ROOOARRR!"
Their roars, with their irregular, thunderous power, tremble through our eardrums. The overwhelming presence and pressure they exude are similar to dragons, and their footsteps reverberate like thunder, announcing their advance.
With the exception of the floor bosses, none of the monsters we'd fought up until now could remotely compare in size and weight to these creatures, whose very muscle structure amplified the destructive power of their attacks.
Covered in hard scales, their bodies were practically impervious to light attacks. The only advantage we had was that, like all other enemies, they were vulnerable to magic.
However, without the strengthening effects of Boost, not even Welf and the rest could avoid being crushed. According to rumors, even veteran parties —like those led by Luvis or Dormul— have been stranded here for a long time, unable to advance further.
A Deadly Challenge
The statistics collected by the Guild were clear: in this area, the highest rate was not for retreats or partial wipeouts, but for complete party annihilations.
It wasn't just the labyrinth's geographic obstacles or its hidden traps that raised the difficulty; it was the overwhelming power of these dinosaurs — a force that couldn't be overcome by clever strategies or shortcuts.
This was the "Dinosaur species"— a creature a whole order of magnitude more dangerous than the monsters from the 27th Floor and above.
"Haa!!"
"Agh—!?"
That's precisely why I pressed forward without pause.
"Mikoto, I need backup! The enemies at two o'clock—!"
"—Holding their advance! Got it!"
"Welf!"
"No need to say a word! Anything that drops in from above, I'll burn it to ashes!"
As I struck down six enemies, the exchange was brief and terse.
Faster, deeper, and more powerful than ever, the frontline pushed forward in perfect synchronization. Feeling an exhilarating rush from the unity between comrades, I transformed into the "Killer Rabbit's Shadow"—leaving a trail of light in my wake.
A direct charge.
A movement so low it seemed to hug the ground.
Seizing the moment when the Shadow Raptors briefly lost sight of me, I cut through their torsos, and as I darted past, I decapitated the Armarosaurus that tried to respond immediately.
Not losing momentum, I drew a fiercely tight arc and in a single instant shredded the group of enemies Mikoto had kept in check with her kunai.
Explosions of grey dust blossomed in a chain reaction. Without a moment's pause, the searing flow from Welf's Magic Sword shot through the air above me.
The Gale Pteras, which had been stalking me from above, were incinerated without a trace—without even dropping any items.
"Not just Bell-sama, but Welf-sama and Mikoto-sama as well…! All three of them are incredible! Bell-sama is at the center, but together they're tearing through these dinosaur monsters!"
"It's as if they're sharing a single 'vision'! Following Bell-sama's lead, Mikoto-sama and the rest have raised their coordination on the frontline! The training from their 'school period' is really paying off!"
This time, it was Ryuu's suggestion to forgo a rear guard —she herself was focusing exclusively on her role as a protective wall— and from their rear position, Haruhime and Lili kept cheering them on.
"Bell-sama has gotten much better at giving orders and choosing battle formations! His ability to think strategically has gone up, just like the gods say: 'Yes, now you're smart!'"
"L-Lili-sama, that expression is…!"
For a moment, I felt I heard something a little sad, but I chose not to hear it.
"Though it seems Captain Lili isn't busy with much… it leaves me feeling a bit empty."
"That's not true. Just as you predicted… more are already on their way."
Suddenly, something shifted at the group's seven o'clock — directly behind their rear guard.
As soon as Ryuu stepped forward to protect Lili and the rest, a Venoceratops came charging through the jungle wall.
"The enemies are strong and numerous! This floor is a literal hell!"
"Welf, Mikoto, regroup with Lili and the others! I'll handle the frontline!"
"I appreciate it, Bell-dono!"
Though I was certain Ryuu would make no mistakes, I decided to reinforce the rear's defenses so Welf and the rest could regroup safely.
As I kept a close watch on the new groups of Shadow Raptors quietly emerging from the forest, I fought back against the dinosaurs' relentless assault. In a corner of my mind, I still had space to reflect on how we'd gotten this far.
—The deadline for the "Compulsory Mission" was approaching.
It all started with Lili's exasperated complaint, a deep dissatisfaction that seemed to boil over.
The inevitable fate of Familias who explore the Dungeon.
Once a faction reaches a certain rank, it must embark on an "expedition" to contribute to the labyrinth's development. Naturally, the Hestia Familia —having formed an alliance with Aisha and the rest— was now expected to challenge a new depth of the Dungeon.
— It's finally here… but at the same time, I feel it came much too quickly. Now that we've gotten a taste of the School District, these conflicting emotions are all the more pronounced.
In fact, it's already been nearly three months since the last Compulsory Mission. Despite all the upheaval from events like the War of Alliances, the Guild shows no sign of letting the Hestia Familia remain inactive any longer.
Theoretically, our previous expedition was considered a failure. However, simply having reached the 25th Floor meant we'd crossed at least one benchmark for success — updating our highest floor… but…
— "[Your rank has been raised to Class B, which means the minimum requirement is Floor 29. No complaints will be accepted.]"
— "L-Lili… that's a pretty loose interpretation, isn't it…?"
— "[You have two first-tier adventurers, and you've got that Level Boost trick. It should be a piece of cake. So get to it!]"—Lili continued in a deadpan voice.
— "It's a loose interpretation… right?! Right?!"
As I read the orders from the Guild, Lili tried hard not to crumple the paper in frustration. I was forced to step in and calm her down in the middle of the scene at the manor.
— "It seems Ouranos' will is behind this too... He mentioned giving us a break, but as soon as it ends, here we are again. I wouldn't be surprised if he actually intends for Bell to take part in world defense missions or some kind of High-Difficulty Infernal Grand Adventure…"
Even the goddess herself, murmuring softly to herself, seemed on the verge of collapse.
In short, according to Lili, the mission the guild imposed on us was arbitrary and absurd. Without forming a Family Alliance like last time, we had to push forward to Floor 29.
── But although Lili was frustrated, I don't think this challenge is unreasonable.
— "Miss Ryuu, clear the front line and then use your magic on the enemies in the back...!"
— "[Radiant Star, light of the celestial dust, destroy my enemies! — Luminous Wind!]"
— "That fast?! A concurrent chant?! Thank you!"
First of all, Ryuu is incredibly strong.
As a Level 6 adventurer, she had already crossed this Forest Canyon countless times during her time with the Astrea Familia. She's our pillar in both offense and defense, and with Lili's tactical support, she neutralizes almost any threat. With Ryuu on our side, it's only natural for the guild to think: "Push forward and finish quickly!"
I'm not trying to brag, but having first-class adventurers really makes a huge difference.
On any floor except the deepest levels, you feel like "somehow, we'll manage." Of course, the dungeon always tries to kill us no matter how high our level is, and mistakes can always happen, so we must never let our guard down... but you can't help it: brute strength can clear the way.
If efficiency isn't the priority, on this floor a first-class adventurer can handle either offense or defense alone. If it were just me, it would still be worrisome, but with Ryuu, it's different.
I'm at the front, she's in the rear, and with that, the safety of the entire party is secured. It's a formation other adventurers would envy: a sandwich with first-class adventurers on both ends.
— "Miss Haruhime, we need another Level Boost!"
— "There's still time left on the last boost, but better safe than sorry!"
— "Don't worry! We've still got one more in reserve!"
Besides, Welf and the others had already been on this floor before, which was a definite advantage. Although they had been protected by Tsubaki and Rido at the time, they had all experienced the threats of this level firsthand. Not only did they have the knowledge, but also the experience, which eased doubts and allowed them to prepare better.
Welf wields his powerful magic sword, Haruhime provides the Level Boost, and Mikoto uses her precise tracking skills. Even though Aisha and the others weren't here, the Hestia Familia was ready to face floor 29.
Haruhime unleashed a fresh boost with her golden power, renewing the time limit for Mikoto and Welf, who advanced confidently toward the battle.
— "Miss Nina, start the chant! And recover as soon as it's done!"
— "Y-yes!"
This time, Nina had also come along with us.
— "Please… please let me go as well!"
When we were discussing at our base whether Nina should stay with the goddess for her safety, she insisted on participating in the mission herself.
Eina tried her hardest to stop her, and Lili also voiced her disapproval. She argued that taking a newcomer with poor coordination into the lower floors was far too dangerous and could affect their tactics.
However, Ryuu unexpectedly intervened:
— "Even if she were to become a statue in the middle of battle, having a healer in the party greatly improves overall safety."
Ryuu calmly explained the utility of having a healer. Her vast experience as a former adventurer of the Astraea Familia had taught her the value of a support role. She also stressed the importance of identifying Nina's capabilities and limits as soon as possible.
— "On the 29th floor, her presence won't undermine our ability to protect everyone. Furthermore… having a healer will cut back considerably on recovery-item expenses, Liliruca."
Convinced by that last argument, Lili finally relented.
Given that the expedition guaranteed massive expenses, Lili, as strategist, made a quick decision — much to Eina's disappointment.
I promised Eina that I'd protect Nina at all costs… but deep down, I trusted her.
At the same level as Lili, in the group called "the worst squad in history"—Squad 3—Nina had constantly been dragged into Extreme situations, altruistically filling whatever roles were required.
From a rear position, she was an outstanding student who could accurately determine "what she could do." Her healing power always turned out to be an invaluable support for us and was never, under any circumstance, a burden.
[Oscillating Sacred Ring, White Breath. Flowers Sing upon the Pure Hill]… preparations complete!
"To Lord Welf and Mikoto-sama! Be careful not to heal the monsters' wounds by accident!"
"Huh? From this distance? Could you move back a bit so I can heal you from a safer spot...?"
"There's no time for that! You're the one who said healing magic has flexible range! If it were Cassandra-sama, she'd be able to do it! Work quickly and without mistakes!"
"Who's Cassandra-san?"
"Anticipate their trajectory at the frontline. Don't aim directly at them; just place your healing where they're going to move."
"E-eh, e-eh… A-alright! ── Ma,[Magia Cris]!"
… But Lili's demands were extremely high.
And even Ryuu-san, naturally, maintained a merciless, Spartan discipline. Was the education for new members in the Astraea Familia, renowned for their strong sense of justice, really this strict?
Caught between the harsh orders and the shouts from nearby, Nina responded as best she could. Somehow, she managed to calculate the future points where Welf and Mikoto would pass, and pure white magic particles — much like flower petals — enveloped their bodies. And, as always, nobody praised her; the battle simply pressed forward without pause.
"I'm entering an amazing[Familia]…!"
(Poor Nina...)
Clad in her school combat uniform and hugging her staff tight while trembling slightly, Nina looked so fragile that I couldn't help but gaze at her with compassion. I wanted to praise my comrade for adequately contributing to the frontline, but honestly, I was also too busy myself to do it.
While I was cutting through the pack of "Rock-Headed Dragons" with a mesh of slashed attacks, something appeared.
"GUOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!"
The dense jungle broke apart as if it had exploded. Fragments of trees, large as boulders, flew through the air. The tall grass trembled violently, shaken by a huge crimson body.
Opening its massive jaws, the most fearsome "predator" of this area let out a deafening roar.
"A "Bloodsaurus"!"
"So that's the dangerous dinosaur monster Lili was talking about!"
"Its size is nothing at all like the ones we encountered in the "Theoro Jungle"...!"
Mikoto-san, Welf, and Lili each reacted in their own way to the overwhelming sight.
A giant class monster—the "Bloodsaurus."
A predator capable of swallowing people whole with its enormous jaws and piercing fangs. Its body is covered in blood-red scales and is incredibly tough. It stands over 10 meters tall, comparable in size to a Floor Boss. According to Lili, the terrestrial Bloodsaurus we fought during adventurer Naaza's quest in Seoro Forest was about 5 meters, which means this monster is easily twice that size. And not only is it huge, it's also unbelievably agile, making it even more difficult to face.
It's a higher class creature within the Jungle Canyon, extremely dangerous, and it holds the highest threat rating in the guild's evaluation. To put it simply: it's like the Minotaur of the middle floors. Dolmul and his party said its danger level even exceeded the normal criteria: "It's off the scale."
As these monsters start to appear in large numbers from Floor 30 onwards, they aren't even considered rare species. They're one of the greatest unfairnesses of this region.
And now there were 3 of them at once.
— "GooOoOoOoOooo!!"
—"Gwaaah!?"
The appearance of the dominant creatures made both adventurers and monsters pause momentarily. The nearby Shadow Raptors were the first to be devoured. Even the Spinoaxes — large monsters in their own right — barely put up a resistance before being swallowed by the enormous jaws.
The brutal scene perfectly illustrated the cruel law of the strong ruling this region. At my side, Nina turned pale at the sounds of tearing and chomping, while the bloodshot gazes of the flesh-stained Bloodsauruses now fell upon us.
— "The crimson predator, the Bloodsaurus, has a tendency to become a 'strengthened species' by devouring its own kind. Be careful."
Ryuu's warning was clear, and her objective was immediately apparent: in the center of the 3 monsters was a particularly large one — the leader. Among "strengthened species" this was the boss.
(The normal appearance floor for a Bloodsaurus is 30. If it's come up to 29, it means it's starving, desperately searching for food...)
I quickly went over the information I'd learned from Eina-san in my mind, turning the pages of my memory at high speed. I didn't want Welf and the rest to fight just yet. So there was only one thing I had to do as their leader.
I pressed hard against the ground and sprang forward.
It was a big, dramatic move — a perfect way to draw the carnivores' attention.
As I accelerated, I exchanged a brief look with Lili; her hazel eyes met my scarlet ones. There was no need for more. I trusted her.
—"Liliruca!"
—"Got it! Haruhime-sama, prepare backup attack. It doesn't matter how much we shoot — Bell-sama will avoid it all!"
—"Y-yes!"
From the rear, Ryuu called out, Lili nodded, and Haruhime raised her magic fan. Everything we'd learned on our expeditions and during our student days in the School District remained true — with a simple side-eye, I could tell how everyone was moving.
At the precise moment the attack fell, I darted to the side and disappeared from the monsters' view.
—"GwaaAAaaaaaaahhhh!?"
Explosions and blasts of wind struck the Bloodsauruses. Lili hurled her flame-covered magic sword, while the cutting gust from Suiran, the magic war-fan, followed immediately.
Two of the monsters cried out in pain, but the leader remained unfazed. His subordinates acted as a wall, blocking the damage. A second, direct attack was necessary.
Anticipating my movements, the chief Bloodsaurus swiftly swung its massive tail, creating a destructive tornado. The blast shattered the ground and hurled debris — and even chunks of its own subordinates — in all directions. The jungle trees flew through the air like arrows.
—"Rapi-kun!"
—"I'm fine!"
Leaping high to avoid the attack, I unfurled the Goliath scarf from my neck. From above, the shadow of the Bloodsaurus looked up, but it was already too late.
I extended my left hand downward.
—"Firebolt!"
—"GyaaaaaaaAAAAAH!!"
Three blasts in a row.
Though Firebolt is a fast, low-powered magic, when cast by a first-tier adventurer, it's enough to destroy a giant.
Flames and sparks pierced through the monster's crimson scales and burned its body, causing it to roar in agony. Inside its chest, a purple glow was exposed — the monster's magic stone.
I didn't want to drain my magic power just yet, so I left the rest to gravity. As I fell, I hurled my scarf downward like a black whip. The Goliath-reinforced fabric cleanly shattered the monster's core.
The Bloodsaurus exploded into a rain of grey ashes, and I landed safely, readjusting my scarf back around my neck.
—"… Incredible…"
I heard a whispered voice filled with awe. Perhaps it was the girl who wished to see new landscapes as an adventurer.
After two more battles, we stopped to rest. Lili opened her bag and began organizing the drop items as carefully as if she were handling fossils.
—"How many monster drops do we need to complete the quest, Lili-dono?"
—"We already have enough Bloodsaurus fangs, technically… But it's likely the Guild will say something like, 'Oh, then floors up to 30 aren't a problem! Next expedition should be at least to the 31st!' So we need at least ten Almirasaur protuberances or Spinoaxe hatchet-like drops…"
During the break, Mikoto was sitting in front of Lili, eating rations while Lili carefully laid out the drops from her bag. She was organizing them with such diligence — almost as if each were a valuable fossil. Probably she was thinking about their worth and profits. I finished my surveillance round and turned back just in time for Welf to pass me a canteen.
—"Going back up to the 28th floor just to rest is a pain."
—"Maybe… but we have no choice. resting here in the Canyon of the Jungle is asking for dinosaurs to attack immediately. There's a nearby safe point, we should make use of it."
I answered Welf, who looked around and sighed.
—"Yeah… you're right."
Numerous majestic blue crystal pillars rose up before them.
At their feet stretched a beautiful field of colorful flowers, a dramatic contrast to the imposing structure. Pale wisteria flowers, known as Wisteria, hung from the high ceiling above, emitting a mysterious glow that washed over their surroundings. The entire floor, tinted by this light, seemed to glow in shades of blue, violet, and white — creating a mystical space that seemed to draw in the soul.
Clear, icy springs were scattered across the area, reflecting an ethereal light and causing the water's surface to ripple softly.
"The underground labyrinth garden." That was the name of the second safety point, located after "The labyrinth paradise" on the 18th floor.
—"I heard you passed through here on your way back up from the depths, but… I don't remember it at all." —said one of their companions, looking around in awe.
—"You and that guy nearly died when you fell down to the 37th floor. It's no wonder." —replied another in a serious tone.
It was a safety point in the lower area. Given its location on the 28th floor, it seemed to be frequently visited by adventurer groups like theirs, who were conquering the "Jungle Canyon."
The 28th floor was unusual among dungeon structures that tend to grow larger as you descend. Narrower and smaller than the "Labyrinth Paradise," it was still spacious enough, with an open field of vision that made it feel like a flower garden on the ground, offering a great view. The crystal pillars and the light from the hanging flowers created a fantastic atmosphere.
—"This place might seem more like a mystery than a flower garden, like an elf fairy forest," commented another adventurer, watching attentively.
—"I've heard that the amount of food you can gather here is less compared to the 'Labyrinth Paradise,' but if you smash the blue pillar, sometimes you can get 'Sugar Crystals,' a rare fruit," explained another, with a curious tone.
—"The spring water is also drinkable, and actually has a slight citrus flavor, like lemon."
The image of the place remained that of a paradise, as long as monsters didn't appear. While staying alert to threats from the floors above and below, the entire group's nerves would relax in this spot.
Every time they rested, they headed to this "Underground Labyrinth." After recovering, they continued their advance through the "Jungle Canyon."
It would be a bit complicated, but we had planned to go back and forth between floors 28 and 29.
"Are you ready to set up camp? There'll only be one or two more attacks today, right?" asked one of the companions.
"Monsters from other floors might come and destroy it… If we leave Morbul's strong-scented pouch there, it'd be a good plan in case another group of adventurers shows up…" replied another, looking around worriedly.
"Isn't it more convenient to stay hidden in the dark after the 'Faction War'? Things like this make me think that 'Rivira City' was convenient for a reason… Though I don't want to admit it, it's true," said another, looking down with a faint bitter smile.
While filling his water bottle from the spring, he gave Welf a bitter smile, who seemed annoyed by the conversation.
The "Underground Labyrinth" didn't have a labyrinthine postal town like Rivilla Town.
"Aren't you going to do business on floor 28?" someone asked curiously.
"The hierarchy is too deep. The clients are limited, so it's not worth it," replied Mr. Bors, with a distant look.
That seemed to be the reality. Compared to floor 18, where adventurers come and go quickly, the number of groups able to traverse the "Water Labyrinth" and reach floor 28 was quite limited. For that, a medium or higher skill level among the Familia of Orario's labyrinth city was necessary. It was rare for merchants like Mr. Bors to venture that far.
The most terrifying part, however, was that if anything unusual happened, floor 28 could be the end. Even if one managed to escape to floor 18, it might be too late.
Despite everything, there were rumors that some Familia conducted business on floor 28, selling items at exorbitant prices. It was even said that certain groups went there for "expeditions" for major factions, making great profits simply by exploring the place.
"First-class adventurers are tough in places like this…" one of the members thought, staring at the horizon.
The plan was to camp on floor 28, as the depth of the floor made a single-day excursion impossible. They intended to camp inside the dungeon for two nights, treating it like a normal "expedition."
As Welf had mentioned, they would probably face one or two more attacks today before setting up camp.
"However, thanks to you first-class adventurers, it seems we might conquer floor 29 easily. That's good for Familias, but… I'm afraid they might get the wrong idea. I don't think we can do it without difficulties," one of the members commented, with a thoughtful expression.
"It's good to have that awareness. You can't do anything on your own... It's probably best to always think that way in the dungeon," Welf replied, nodding.
Just then, Ryu-san, who had gone to the back of the trail, returned with both arms full of red fruits.
"Meat fruits, Miluts!" she said enthusiastically.
The luxurious ingredients they had enjoyed on floor 20 of the "Hidden Village of the Heretic Zenos."
"I didn't know they could also be gathered here in the 'Underground Labyrinth'," one member commented, surprised.
"Kunji-kun, don't worry. They're not very common, but please stay alert. There's something dangerous in the 'Jungle Canyon,'" Ryu-san warned.
"What is it?" someone asked, looking up with curiosity.
"Well, it doesn't happen very often, but it could happen that a giant snake, Lambton, emerges from the depths while you're fighting a pack of dinosaurs," Ryu-san answered seriously, looking at the group.
"Oh!" some exclaimed, surprised by the information.
While gratefully receiving the fruits from Miluts, one of the adventurers let out an exclamation.
"Toto!?" he said, recalling a situation from the "Depths."
Despite being a first-class adventurer, he couldn't help but shout. Welf laughed heartily, and Ryu-san also smiled, observing the reaction.
"You don't seem to have the dignity of a first-class adventurer..." Welf joked.
As they laughed, the topic shifted to the threats lurking in the "Jungle Canyon."
"This place has quite a structure, or rather, threats. If you climb the giant trunk and jump to the treetop, you can bypass the labyrinth and go directly to the next level. But... flying creatures always attack us from above," Ryu-san commented.
"But the sky is the hunting ground of the 'Gale Ptera' and other winged species. Even the most experienced adventurers have lower combat performance on the unstable treetops compared to the ground, and in the air they can't move freely. If they fell into a party of winged monsters born from the high ceiling, they'd be finished. Even if not, the 'Gale Ptera' are always aiming at us from above. Without a master who can take them down with magical bombardment or someone like Asfi who can fly freely with magical artifacts, it would be impossible for the whole group to move through the treetops."
"Though I think first-class adventurers like Ais and the others might be able to jump from treetop to treetop..." another murmured thoughtfully.
"There's also an underground cave as an alternate route, though it's a long detour. But it avoids the jungle and the troublesome dinosaur monsters," Ryu-san added cautiously, glancing around.
"It's said that deadly poisonous monsters also appear here. (Really, by the time you get this far, the dungeon levels diversify a lot more compared to the upper floors... If I'm already thinking this way, I can only imagine how difficult it must be for Nina to organize her thoughts...)"
One member of the group averted their gaze from Welf and the others and sat down in the flower field. It was the half-elf girl who had been silently observing.
"Eh..." she murmured, looking toward the horizon as she accepted portable food and a water bottle from Haruhime.
Although she had been suddenly taken to several places in the "lower layer," she was far from enjoying the mysteries of the dungeon. Even if she aspired to be an adventurer, her enthusiasm was beginning to wane.
"She also received a kind of 'baptism' from the Hestia Familia... specifically, from Lili and Ryuu, and Ryuu again. She's an aspiring member of our faction. I want her to join, and even if she doesn't, I want to take good care of her as a friend who shared the same place of learning. Unlike the 'Third Squad,' this is the first time she's meeting the other members, so she might feel uneasy."
I thought about this as I walked toward her.
"Excuse me for a moment. In the last battle, there was something strange, something we shouldn't ignore..."
Mikoto raised her hand to get everyone's attention.
It seemed she decided it was worth sharing this information, and all eyes turned toward her.
"There was a moment when the effects of Haruhime's level boost remained even after twenty minutes..."
When Haruhime reached Level 2, the duration of her [Uchide no Kozuchi] extended from fifteen to twenty minutes. Apparently, Mikoto, who was in the habit of measuring seconds during combat due to the level boost, noticed it had lasted about five minutes longer.
Even Welf, scratching his chin beside me, commented with a hint of doubt:
"Now that you mention it… yeah, this time it felt a bit longer..."
There's no doubt it was a situation hard to ignore (in a good way).
While Commander Lili looked surprised and Haruhime tilted her head in confusion, we were about to discuss it when…
"Um… this… might be my fault..."
"Huh?" — we all responded in unison.
It was Nina who timidly raised her hand. She stood up, hugging her long staff with one arm, her ears drooping slightly as she explained:
"My magic, Magia Chris, has the ability to extend the effects of magic, enhancement items, tools, and so on..."
"What!?" — cried the Hestia Familia in unison, especially Lili.
Nina trembled at their reaction, while Mikoto, Lili, and Haruhime literally seemed to light up.
"Enhancement extension!? That means Haruhime's magic can… then…! L-Lili!"
"Yes! It's a combination with the Level Boost that's simply far too powerful! Extremely useful, way too useful! For a small but talented Hestia Familia, it's like finding a dragon we need to secure at all costs! But! That woman is a 'thief' trying to steal Bell-sama! But… but…! Argh, whatever! Immediate recruitment, there's no other choice!"
"If Nina were to join, then Haruhime could reduce the drain on her mental energy and help us even more…!
The three girls started talking rapidly and excitedly, completely absorbed in their plans. But… I get it.
Nina isn't just a healer — she's a remarkable support.
Even Ryuu looked surprised. Meanwhile, Nina stood there, stunned, quickly surrounded by Mikoto, Lili, and Haruhime.
"Nina, please join the Hestia Familia!"
"Your trial period is over — it's decided! We're not sending you back to the 'Academy'!"
"Please, please, we need your power, oh heavenly fairy!"
"E-eh?! Wait, what's going on?!"
Surrounded and completely overwhelmed, Nina was enveloped in a tight group hug by Mikoto, Lili, and Haruhime, as if they were about to toss her up in celebration.
From a short distance away, Welf looked on with a lopsided smile.
"It seems she'll adjust faster than we thought. Nothing to worry about, right, leader?"
"Ahaha… it certainly seems that way."
"She's more sociable than me. I'm sure everything will go well." Ryuu added confidently.
I smiled at Welf's casual comment, while Ryuu nodded firmly. On the other side, Nina, surrounded and happily needed, couldn't hide a smile that mirrored her happiness.