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

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but……

"Why don't you join me and risk your life?"

"...Yes, Lady Haruhime!"

Chunji forgot her usual way of speaking and smiled at her as if she had returned to her childhood.

For her, life was a unique friend, as well as a "hero" who had saved her.

Gradually, Ming realized that Chun Ji viewed her in this way, and he felt both embarrassed and overjoyed.

The kind-hearted girl, trapped in the cage of the pleasure quarters, remains true to her kind nature.

This makes me very happy.

Then, another month passed.

Chun Ji has changed again.

How should I put it? First of all, "maternal power" has increased. Even the loving young goddess (Hestia) once cried out, "Ugh! It's so bright!" and covered her face with her arms.

She's getting better and better at her job as a maid. Although she still fails and gets down sometimes, she's starting to look up and move on more often.

Sometimes she would look up at the sky with a forlorn gaze, a smile replacing her tears.

All of this happened after he met Winnie.

After parting ways with the "heretics" and the dragon girl, she began to devote herself wholeheartedly to everything she did.

The most obvious change was in the preparations for exploring the dungeon. In short, she began to devise meticulous plans with Lily, who was also a supporter. She learned to manage "magic stones," decipher maps, and distinguish and memorize various items such as elixirs and antidotes. Fate once saw her visiting Lily's room, picking up bottles containing blue or red solutions, and comparing them repeatedly.

"Listen carefully, Lady Haruhime. The primary duty of a supporter is to 'organize the battlefield for adventurers.' That means creating an environment conducive to combat. A supporter's responsibility is not just to collect 'magic stones' and 'dropped items.'"

"yes!"

"Although it's relatively rare, some adventurers do refer to their supporters as 'final defenders.' Handing over equipment to adventurers, distributing items... you must pay attention to these things in every aspect to reduce the burden on adventurers during their explorations."

Lily may have gradually come to appreciate Haruhime's efforts, and she carefully imparted her knowledge and perspectives to Haruhime.

Before the Hestia Familia's first "expedition," she had to set aside time to learn how to be a commander, so she unceremoniously delegated all the tasks she could to Haruhime. This proved her trust in Haruhime.

After the "expedition" ended, she still took Haruhime with her everywhere as if she were a little sister, perhaps thinking that if something happened to her, Haruhime could take over her duties.

Chunji's constant presence, always following behind the petite Lily, resembled the harmonious relationship between a squirrel and a fox, sometimes making Ming smile.

Besides, she also knew that Haruhime had undergone "sorcery" training with Aisha for the "expedition." Several times, the library, with its curtains drawn, was illuminated by golden light, sometimes accompanied by explosions resembling magical misfires (ignis fatuus). Each time, the sound was so loud that Hestia jumped in fright, sensing just how rigorous the process of mastering and using the "new magic" was. She had seen Haruhime's clothes burnt, coughing and sighing as she walked out of the library with Aisha countless times, a sight that terrified her.

"You want to learn martial arts?"

"Yes."

While diligently undergoing "magic" training, Haruhime also apprenticed to learn movement techniques.

When Takemikazuchi came to the "Kitchen Fire Hall" multiple times to train Mikoto, Chigusa, and Sakura, she chose the time when it wouldn't interfere with them and secretly sought their guidance.

They even went so far as to squeeze out a little time during the short period before the "expedition".

"Sister Aisha said she had no expectations of me... but I thought about it for a long time and worried about it for a long time... I felt that even so, I shouldn't give up just because I thought it was 'absolutely impossible'."

"..."

"I... also want to become stronger."

Under the moonlight, Mikoto overheard Haruhime speaking one-on-one with Takemikazuchi in the corridor facing the central courtyard.

"...Okay, I'll teach you then."

The God of Martial Arts smiled and readily responded to the girl's statement that she "wanted to become stronger."

Starting the next day, Chun-hime, exhausted from training in "sorcery" and having depleted her mental energy, began to participate in martial arts training while the others rested.

"First of all, you and fate are fundamentally different, and you must understand that."

"Yes, Takemikazuchi."

"Sharpening your skills at the last minute won't help... so I'll only train you on how to protect yourself."

"Protect yourself?"

"That's right. I heard that you have a sturdy 'armor', Haruhime. You must learn how to use it effectively, and train yourself to the point where you can reflexively respond to enemy attacks, not just react."

What Takemikazuchi taught her thoroughly in a short period of time was, to put it bluntly, "tactics".

"Martial arts isn't just about flashy and stylish 'techniques.' You need to hone your 'resourcefulness.' Quick thinking and resourcefulness can help you avoid fatal injuries and save your life."

"I see!"

In fact, this teaching did save her.

Beyond Aisha's intention to let her focus on practicing "magic," her actions saved her own life and thus averted the team's crisis. Not at any other time, but during the battle against the "floor master."

They put in the effort automatically and spontaneously.

Take action based on your own thinking.

Moreover, he never forgets to humbly seek advice.

These are all very simple yet extremely important things. Just as Bear Grylls underwent a complete transformation, doing these things alone can be a step, or even ten steps, in elevating one's own level. The value of this is far beyond what one can gain by remaining stagnant, blindly following others' advice, or content with simply learning what others tell you to learn.

Chun Ji is now at the same level.

Once innocent and naive, unaware of the ways of the world, only the kind-hearted benefactor has changed.

The princess who once lived a secluded life behind a curtain has now lifted the beaded curtain and become a "traveler" traversing an unfamiliar world on her own two feet.

"Lady Haruhime...what has caused this change in you?"

Fate sensed that she had experienced something, and once asked her about it unintentionally.

The girl's profile, gazing at the courtyard under the clear, cloudless sky, seemed to be a memory.

"I have made an appointment with her."

As Chunji said this, she raised her little finger.

"We promised to meet again... to live together again. So, to keep that promise... I am working hard."

Chunji lovingly embraced the little finger that had been "pinky" with someone.

The girl's smiling face was beautiful and captivating.

She was just like when I first met her, but much stronger than before.

Fate smiled as if it had seen something dazzling.

Things will gradually change.

Whether she was once a fragile young girl or a prostitute filled with despair.

After one encounter after another.

I no longer need to protect her.

I can't help but feel this way about fate.

and so.

I hope that in the future, when she rescues others, I can be her support.

In the dead of night, when all is quiet.

That night, Bell woke up with a start.

“──!!”

He noticed a slight pressure from the wall, flung the blanket aside, and even tried to pull out a dagger that wasn't actually on his waist.

The pale light of the night streamed into the room through the window. No one wanted to harm me.

Upon discovering that there was only peaceful silence before him, he trembled as he exhaled the breath he had been holding.

I was sweating profusely all over.

Bell slumped down, lowered her arms, sat on the edge of the bed, and covered her mouth with her hand.

He couldn't sleep soundly.

Although it was much better than the "deep" death mission where he was only allowed to take a five-minute nap, Bell's body still experienced a clear stress load. As a Lv.4 high-level adventurer, reducing his sleep time would not affect his daily life, and no one noticed his condition. However, after waking up, the feeling of being trapped in a terrifying dream always lingered in his mind for a long time.

In reality, it might have been a nightmare.

The sounds of the "Destroyers" slaughtering, the screams of adventurers, and the cries of the terrifying monsters on the 37th floor.

Those sounds echoed from the depths of his sleep, tormenting Bell.

He suspected that he would be dragged into the deep (underground) "darkness" he saw in his dream, and would never be able to wake up again.

The boy did indeed harbor such a fear.

"...It's okay, it's okay..."

This is only temporary.

If you just endure it for a while, you will soon adapt to the "atmosphere of the ground" and be relieved.

Bell was certain of this, so he didn't consult anyone or ask for help from anyone.

He understood that time was the only cure, so he didn't want to cause trouble for everyone.

He had so desperately wanted to become stronger before, but now he envied his childhood self who could cry to his grandfather about his nightmares—just as Bell was thinking this, he sighed heavily…

"...?"

A series of hesitant knocks came from the door.

Bell was somewhat surprised and was about to get up from the bed when the door opened first, and a pair of emerald green eyes peering into the room entered.

The beautiful golden fur contrasted beautifully with the deep blue glow of the night.

"Miss Haruhime...?"

"Yes, it is I."

The fox-girl walked quietly to his side, stopped in front of him, and smiled to reassure him.

Before Bell could speak, Haruhime raised the item she was holding to her chest.

"Lord Bell, would you like to hear a story?... A story of gentle heroes."

It was an old, worn-out copy of a heroic tale.

Bell blinked several times.

"Not reading a book... but listening to a story?"

"Yes. For some reason, I suddenly feel a strong urge to read storybooks to others."

After saying that, she helped Bell up and gently helped him lie back down on the bed.

Like a selfless courtesan, or an older sister.