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

The dwarf who had gone to call Yogel back from the depths hurriedly fled back.

Something enormous was stirring in the darkness behind him.

"Varied--!?"

Then, the cave where Grace and the others were located collapsed.

"I understand his situation. There are ways to resolve the current situation; things will fall into place with persistent effort."

In the underground settlement of Lenza, Finn spoke to Loki and the others.

He experienced the effects of the "Third Sister's Ceremony" on one hand, but on the other hand, his face was gloomy.

"However, I think it might be quite time-consuming and laborious..."

"So it's still that dwarf's psychological problem, is that what you're trying to say?"

"That's right. No matter how much work we do, in the end it all depends on whether he can break through his own limitations."

Just as Loki nodded and fell into thought, the settlement suddenly stirred.

"What's wrong……?"

"The dwarves returning from outside seem to be shouting something..."

"Hey—, sir—! What happened—!?"

Riveria and Aina were puzzled when Loki called out to the dwarf who was running over in a panic.

"N-No, Goddess!? They say the coal mine Grace and her team are working on has collapsed...!"

““!!””

Upon hearing the news, Finn and the others exchanged glances.

Then they quickly obtained their information and ran away from there.

"That was truly tragic..."

The coal mine was about half a day's journey from the underground settlement of Lunsa. The vast mining area stretched out in what appeared at first glance to be a canyon. When Finn and his companions arrived, they were met with billowing dust and a completely collapsed cave entrance. The merchants cried out in anguish, and the miners, led by dwarves, stood frozen in place. Many lay on the ground, badly wounded, perhaps having fought their way out.

"Smoke and dust are also coming from other entrances... Have all the lines collapsed? This is serious."

"More than that...does that mean they're trapped inside!?"

Just as Riveria was feeling bewildered beside Loki, who had just slightly opened his eyes, someone tugged at the hem of her clothes from below.

"Will Grace and the others...die?" "...Will they—?"

"...!"

The two dwarf sisters, who had already become familiar with Riveria and the others, had tears welling up in their eyes.

The other villagers who arrived knelt down, overcome with despair. Seeing this, Riveria clenched her fists.

"...Loki, was the information about those [ability stats] accurate?"

"Although it did align with our expectations, it should be correct. We've already tested it a bit. Want to use it?"

Meanwhile, Finn, having calmly assessed the situation, used his brain and nodded to Loki, saying "Yeah."

While everyone else was immersed in grief, he walked alone straight toward the high goblins.

"Rivia, it's your turn to appear."

"Eh?"

The Lilliputian boy announced to the astonished Riveria,

"You are the one who will rescue the dwarves."

"Gurgle...!?"

"Brother Grace!?"

The flickering, nearly broken magic stone light illuminated Grace's blood-soaked figure.

The other dwarves, severely injured and unable to move, trembled as they stared at the figure before them.

"Ooooooooooooooooooooo!!"

The monster had a long, undulating body and a dark blue hide. Its amber compound eyes, emerging from the darkness, gleamed and flickered, and its mouth had nine pits around its corners. Its mouth, sprouting sharp fangs, was large enough to swallow dwarves like Grace whole.

That's the 'Giant Serpent Monster'.

"Is this monster the cause of the collapse...!?"

Faced with this monster he had never seen before and whose name he did not know, Grace's blood-stained face twisted in agony.

This giant serpentine monster burrows underground. Each movement leaves a large hole, riddling the coal mine with holes, eventually causing it to lose its balance and resulting in a massive collapse like this one. The frequent collapses in the vicinity are undoubtedly also the work of this monster.

"Aa ...

"Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh!?"

It was just a slight glancing blow. That was all, and Grace's body was sent flying, blood spurting out.

Grace was already covered in wounds. A day had passed since the collapse, during which time he had been exposed to the monsters' attacks.

The fact that the dwarves haven't been swallowed by the monsters yet is entirely thanks to Grace's efforts.

"But I'm almost at my limit...! My eyes are starting to blur...!"

Grace dropped the broken pickaxe from his trembling hands and glared at the giant snake before him.

Even if they managed to escape the monsters, the prospect of returning them was bleak. In such a massive collapse, finding Grace and the others from the outside would be extremely difficult. Furthermore, some of their underlings were already showing signs of dehydration.

(Is this the place where I'll be buried...?)

Caught between his own longing and lingering feelings, he gritted his teeth—and it was then that he did.

"--This is!"

Emerald-colored light emerged from beneath my feet.

Grace realized what the thing she was seeing for the first time was. The complex pattern—it was a magic circle.

It gradually expanded from in front of the collapsed rocks, encircling the startled Yuger inside. Then, in the blink of an eye, it expanded rapidly, as if it were a fish in water.

Emerald light swept away the darkness and filled the cave. The magic circle gradually expanded to the side of the trembling serpent.

The next instant, a terrifying pillar of fire erupted from directly beneath the monster.

'——————————————————Ahhhhh!?'

The monster surrounded by crimson flames took Grace and his companions by surprise.

At the same time, the sound of rocks being smashed echoed continuously. Turning around, many figures swarmed towards them from the other side of the broken rocks.

"Grace, you brats! Are you all right!?"

"It seems we made it in time."

From there appeared dwarves carrying tools, and a dwarf.

Noticing Grace's stunned gaze, Finn turned around and smiled at her.

"If you want to thank someone, thank Riveria. It was her 'magic' that led you to your location."

Panting and a step too late, Riveria appeared, carrying a long staff.

Second-tier attack magic: [Advanced Sword of Victory].

This wide-area annihilation magic, renowned for its astonishing range, can identify any target within the magic circle's range, regardless of whether they possess 'magic' or not. Riveria sacrificed a significant amount of mental energy to continuously unleash 'magic,' thereby 'discovering' the location of the fallen Grace and her companions.

"you……"

"Hmph...you look so pathetic."

Sweating profusely, Riveria approached Grace, whose eyes were wide open, and hummed a nasal sound.

"It's an eyesore. So, you guys can rest in the back. We'll handle the rest."

Then, with an expression that was anything but honest, he walked past Grace and stared intently ahead. There stood the still-burning, roaring serpent.

"It's time to act, Riveria! I'm counting on you for backup!"

"I know!"

Just as the dwarves of the settlement of Lunsa were trembling with fear at the sight of the colossal monster, Finn and Riveria ran to protect them.

Riveria, in particular, pushed her over-exerted body to its limits in order to save Grace and the others.

(Ah ah)

Seeing Finn's figure as he bravely thrust his gun at the raging, burning snake.

Seeing Riveria's figure as she used her trembling arms to support her long staff, weaving beautiful songs and unleashing blizzards.

(It's so hot)

Grace became excited.

My body feels so hot. My chest is burning. My whole body is trembling uncontrollably.

This is the first time I have ever met someone of such a powerful and mentally strong race.

For the first time, I encountered people who so desperately wanted to fight alongside me.

Grace's longing, sealed deep within her heart, and the desire she yearned for, are awakened once more.

"— Engage in a fierce battle."

A raging fire ignited within the hot blood flowing beneath the skin.

"Go! Brother Grace!"

As if propelled by the younger brother's voice, he started running.

"Ugh, oh ...

He forced a smile onto his blood-stained face as he ran toward the battlefield he had longed for. Passing by the stunned Riveria, leaping over the head of the startled Finn, he unleashed a barrage of punches at the raging serpent.

"Oooooo ...

The giant snake's long body was blasted away, and the entire coal mine shook.

"How can we lose to those annoying fairies and arrogant little people! Count me in!"

"...Honestly, you barbaric dwarf!"

"Hahaha! Alright, let's fight! Just the three of us!"

The dwarves were excited, the elves complained, and the little people laughed.

Faced with the roaring monster, the three demi-humans rushed away in unison.

The monster that caused the mine collapse was defeated thanks to the efforts of Finn, Riveria, and Grace. The weakened miners were also rescued, and everyone survived. The villagers of the settlement of Lenza praised Finn and his companions as their saviors, and even held a feast that lasted for three days and three nights. Beside a sorrowful Grace, Loki was drinking incessantly with a small, bearded girl. Aina, though flustered, was enjoying herself, Riveria blushed with panic, and Finn smiled broadly.

Then, the time came to the morning of the day after the banquet ended.

"Sisters, are you leaving?" "Huh—?"

"I'm sorry, I still have dreams I want to achieve."

In front of the cave connected to the surface, the entire village of Lunsa turned out to bid farewell to Finn and his companions. Riveria stroked the hair of the reluctant dwarf sisters, offering them a gentle smile.

"...Whether it's fairies or dwarves, they've all impressed me greatly. They've been a real help, thank you."

"Grace, you..."

"I...I won't leave."

In front of Finn and the others, Grace made this announcement in a tone even more ambiguous than when they first met.

Seeing his appearance, his younger brother Yuger stepped forward as if he had made up his mind.

"Brother Grace, why don't you go with these guys? Let's embark on the journey!"

The words were pushed towards her along with a backpack full of travel luggage, causing Grace to widen her eyes.

"I heard it! I heard what my brother said in the sauna! He was actually thinking about that kind of thing the whole time. I'm not very bright, so I didn't even notice!"

"Yuge...you"

"Even if our elder brother isn't here anymore, we'll still find a way to handle things from now on. So, elder brother, go and realize your dreams! Do something even greater than what those fairies and dwarves over there did, and become our pride!"

Inspired by that Yuger, the villagers of the settlement of Lunza also began to shout.