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

Whether it's Rey's actions or the way she's sitting in the chair, it all shows that she truly is a "monster and anomaly".

Although the phrase "monster" sounded truly bizarre, Tione couldn't think of any other adjectives.

"...There's nothing we can do in this situation. Besides, the guild headquarters is also preoccupied with its own problems. The main issue is that there are too many people coming and going there, including adventurers. It's wise for you to hide here."

Tiony sighed at the thought that had crossed her mind, then rallied her spirits and began to speak with him as if he were a human being.

Her quick change of mindset—in fact, without the slightest hesitation—truly befits a bold and courageous female warrior.

"Speaking of which, how long are you planning to agonize over this, Alicia?"

"Ti, Tione..."

"Look at you, you just raised your head, and then you immediately stare blankly at the floor again."

In the "Twilight Pavilion," which consists of multiple spires, there is another person besides Tione and Rei in this room located at the top of the northwest tower.

It was the elf Alicia.

"The food you specially brought is almost cold."

As Tiony said, there was a plate of food on the table.

Within the [Family], Alicia, as an elder, usually takes a lecturing stance towards Ais, Lefia, and the others, but at this moment, her position is reversed with Tione's. If the other members of the group were to witness this scene, they would surely be astonished.

In other words, Alicia felt this confused when she was with Rey.

"It was you, Alicia, who suggested coming here in the first place, so I came with you. I'm sure you have something you want to say to her, right?"

In fact, Alicia was one of the people who was saved thanks to Rei.

The incident stemmed from the battle of attack and defense in the maze street during their encounter with the "heretics".

On that day in the man-made maze, it was Rei who protected Alicia from the monstrous Revis's murderous blade.

"I……"

Alicia seemed to have not yet sorted out what she wanted to say, or perhaps she was hesitant and didn't know what to say.

So he couldn't bring himself to look at Lei Yi's face for a long time.

On the other hand, Rei, despite forcing a stiff smile, clearly wanted to talk to Alicia.

Alicia hesitated for a long time before meeting the eyes of the person in front of her.

He was unable to speak to the person in front of him for a long time.

However, she has been figuring out how to approach him.

As long as she is not ostracized or driven away, being allowed to stay by someone's side like this is a kind of redemption and "progress" for Rey, who is considered an "outsider".

"In that case, I'll speak first."

As if to emphasize that the Amazons were different from the stubborn elves, Tione swaggered toward Rei. Even when she saw the songbird stunned by her directness, she still put her hands on the bird's shoulders.

They made no attempt to conceal the fact that the other party was a monster.

"Thank you. Thanks to you, my beloved was saved. I hope you can accept my thanks."

Then express your gratitude.

Tiony looked directly into Rei's eyes, who was staring in disbelief.

The reason why the Loki Familia risked everything to hide Rey, who was a monster, was because she saved their leader, Finn.

If it weren't for Rei's help, the Loki Familia would have lost its hero and been unable to recover. Faced with such a savior, neither the rescued individuals nor the gods could repay kindness with enmity.

Tiony bowed deeply and added, "Thank you so much."

Lei, who had been looking surprised, finally smiled.

It seemed deeply moved by the fact that humans were thanking it.

"--But if you fall for the leader, I'll beat you to a pulp."

"Huh?"

"If you flirt with the leader, I'll beat you up just as badly."

The next instant, Tione's eyes were filled with a darkness more endless than the abyss.

That was a gaze more terrifying than that of an adventurer who slaughters monsters, a gaze possessed only by the Berserker of Love.

After witnessing Tione's unwavering attitude even in the face of heretical monsters, even the stubborn Alicia finally let go of her pride and could even feel her tense body relax.

On the other hand, Lei Yi was so frightened by that icy gaze that she completely panicked.

"You're clearly a monster, yet you have a handsome face and a magnificent chest. If you were to use your past favors to seduce the captain..."

"Please, please don't say that, I wouldn't do such a thing! Actually, I already have someone I like...! It's Pei Pei Pei Er Shang, who is kind-hearted, courageous, and has an adorable smile...!"

Confused and warned, Lei Yi blurted out that she already had someone she liked—and then blurted out "Pei Pei Pei Pei Er Shang," which at first glance sounded like a person's name.

Tiony stopped what she was doing and stared wide-eyed at the singing bird.

"Oh, so you have a male you've got your eye on?"

"Well, it's not really like you've taken a liking to me..."

After hesitating for a while, Lei said in a voice barely audible:

"...Because I only have one pair of wings, I can't hug anyone, but if someone could hug me instead... I would be very happy. It's just that someone made me think that way..."

The singing bird, with its ethereal and otherworldly beauty, blushed at this moment.

She looked exactly like a human, like a girl in love.

"I see... So even 'monsters' can fall in love."

After Tiony stepped back, he murmured to himself with deep emotion.

(Illustration 010)

"To be honest, I don't have any particular opinion about you 'heretics'. If you come in the way, I'll beat you all down. If you're willing to help, I'll gratefully lend you my power. In my eyes, you're no different from other adventurers."

"..."

"However... I've become interested in talking to you."

Although it wasn't exactly for that reason, a cheerful smile appeared on Tiony's face.

She looks exactly like her younger sister.

It cannot be called mutual understanding.

But this is indeed a "resonance" between humans and monsters.

To explain further, this is not some noble or great idea; it's simply "love gossip" among young girls.

"Therefore... we need to destroy that maze that's no different from shit and find a way to sort out the troubles in the city."

Tiony put on a serious expression and looked out the window again.

Our gaze is fixed on the southeastern part of the city, specifically on Daedalus Road, where the man-made labyrinth that has been transformed into a "demon city" is located.

Looking at that serious profile of an adventurer, Rei also composed herself.

"..."

Alicia, who had been glanced at by Tione, now faced Tione's gaze head-on.

Her hands, clasped together on her thighs, were clenched into fists.

In fact, Alicia had a lot to say.

But he only said the following to Lei Yi.

"...Would you be willing to lend us a hand?"

The singing bird then smiled sweetly.

"Of course."

It's as if I've already figured out the answer a long time ago.

"Because the monsters dream of soaring through this sky and being recognized by the light of the earth—but I long for the day when we can coexist hand in hand with humans to come as soon as possible."

*

Many roars overlapped together.

The roars of various "monsters," unlike human languages, intertwined and overlapped, relentlessly destroying the "walls" blocking their way.

"Ooh ooh! Ooh ooh ooh!"

"Gaa ...

They are digging a "hole".

To be precise, it involves using methods such as chopping, hammering, piercing, and tearing to destroy and remove the "green meat" blocking the way.

On-site, you can see all sorts of monsters, including giant creatures wielding enormous clubs, unicorns swinging their horns like raging bulls, and large, deadly wasps attacking each other while holding a lance in each hand.

What they have in common is that they are all wearing human-made weapons.

They are the armed monsters known as "Heretics".

"Whoa──────!? Lizardman, the 'bloated stuff' is back again──!?"

The screams of a half-human, half-snake—his fragmented human language—echoed through the passage filled with bizarre chunks of flesh.

The fleshy mass on the wall swelled up like a boil, seemingly trying to swallow the "heretic" whole.

A lizardman nimbly flipped over.

But instead of using his longsword and scimitar, he opened his gaping maw.

"Get out of the way!"

He fired intensely hot flames at the fleeing half-human, half-snake creatures.

The passageway of meat was immediately enveloped in a vibrant crimson.

The swollen chunks of meat writhed rapidly as if screaming in agony, and after being burned by the fire, they were eventually roasted into charcoal and showed no signs of life.

"Phew... I didn't expect the maze to start attacking us kids. This man-made maze has really become a formidable place."

The "heretics" around him, who couldn't speak human language yet, screamed "Help!" The lizardman swung his scimitar while muttering the same words to himself.

He is Reed the Lizard Man and the leader of the "Heretics".

His strength was comparable to that of a level 5 adventurer. His body, covered in crimson scales, was clad in a set of adventurer gear, the most striking feature of which was his scarred breastplate.

Unlike ordinary lizardmen, these powerful creatures surveyed their surroundings once more.

The chunks of flesh that filled the labyrinth would cause even monsters to feel a physiological aversion to them.

There was no light source here; if Reed and his companions hadn't brought magic stone lamps, it would have been pitch black.

The road ahead was clogged with large chunks of meat.

Faced with the completely transformed man-made maze, Reed narrowed his yellow eyes.

"He just went to the 'deep layer' to rescue Little Bell and the others, and as soon as he returned to the artificial maze, he immediately helped 'dig tunnels'... Fels really knows how to command monsters."

Even for Reed, this was the first time he had ever faced an entire labyrinth like this.

A portion of the green flesh transformed into tentacles—thick "arms" resembling the roots of a sacred tree—and quickly ensnared one of the heretics, nearly becoming its victim. Although Reed averted the crisis with a single strike, these "green flesh" began to prey on both humans and monsters upon their discovery.

The current strategy is to first set fire to the area, and then pursue them further after forcing them back.

Repeat the above steps continuously.

Even though they knew that fire was the weakness of these chunks of flesh, the "heretics," who were far more powerful than ordinary high-level adventurers, still had to expend a lot of effort to make their way in this area.

"Reed, are you alright?"

"Oh, Winnie, I'm fine, kid. It's dangerous here, you go to the back first."

Dragon Girl Winnie stood behind Reed and spoke with concern.

Reed patted the girl's breastplate-covered chest in an attempt to comfort her, but the girl remained standing still.

"...Is Lei Yi alright?"

The name the girl uttered was that of the songbird whose whereabouts were currently unknown.

She seemed to still be deeply worried about her compatriot, her large, watery amber eyes glistening with tears.