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

The phosphorescence emanating from the ceiling wasn't particularly bright; it felt more like dusk.

The makeshift campsite was situated on a vast rocky platform ten meters high. Ais gazed at the view from above.

"..."

The current location is the 50th floor of the underground city.

In the labyrinthine city of Orario, where many adventurers—the Familias—live, this place can still be considered the front line of conquest.

Ais stood alone, gazing intently at a landscape many had yet to witness—a vast gray forest slumbering deep beneath the earth.

■

The portable "magic stone lamps" flickered with a few lights as the Loki Familia members began their meal.

Floor 50 is a safe point in the dungeon where monsters won't spawn, reducing the risk of unexpected incidents or attacks. There are several safe points in the dungeon; for example, the Loki Familia chose this place as their campsite, and adventurers also use it as a large-scale rest area.

"Thank you all for your hard work in the battle in the Great Wilderness. Thanks to your all-out help, we were able to reach the 50th floor. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all. Thank you."

"It takes quite a bit of effort to cross the 49th floor each time—and there are an unusually large number of Fullmores appearing today."

"It's good that the original poster (Baror) didn't show up."

"Haha. Anyway, let's have a toast. Even though there's no alcohol. So—"

"cheers!"

Finn responded to the Amazon sisters' words with a smile, and led everyone in a toast, which they all echoed. After all, they were in the dungeon, and although everyone remained vigilant, they relaxed a little.

In the center of the newly set up campsite sat a large pot, around which the group members sat down. The pot contained a soup made from herbs and nuts gathered from the floors along the way, as well as meat-flavored fruits—fruits that, as their name suggests, had a meaty taste and texture. Although the nuts and meat-flavored fruits produced in the labyrinth were food for monsters, they were harmless to humans and demi-humans, so they ate them.

For many reasons, meals in the dungeon were often just what one had with their own rations, so this meal was a real delicacy. Finn had also made arrangements to maintain morale, allowing the raiding party members to enjoy this rare treat in the dungeon.

"Um, Miss Ais, are you really not going to eat anything?"

"Hmm, it's alright..."

"You're so stubborn! I bet your stomach's actually rumbling right now—come on, come on—?"

"..."

Ais was chewing on her cube-shaped rations when Lefia asked her a question. Just then, Tiona came over with a container that only contained soup.

The intensely enticing aroma drew Ais's attention, but she turned her face away with an iron will. She firmly believed that consuming too much food would negatively impact her physical condition in battle, and vowed to resist the smiling brown imp to the very end.

Later, because Tiona was being too clingy, Tione tapped her on the head.

"Let's confirm the plans for the future."

After the cleanup was finished, Finn spoke up where the pot had been.

Apart from the guards, the others formed a small circle, their eyes fixed on Finn.

"The purpose of the 'Expedition' remains unchanged: to explore uncharted floors. However, this time, adventurer quests must be completed before heading to the 59th floor."

Adventurer's commission refers to any task requested from an adventurer.

Adventurers who accept a request complete the commission and receive payment from the commissioner as a reward.

The clients who place orders include [Families], merchants, and even the management organizations (guilds) that operate the dungeon cities, which can be said to be all-encompassing.

"An adventurer's request... I remember it was made by the [Deankait Familia], right?"

"Yes. The task is to collect a specified amount of spring water at the 'Cadmus Spring' on the 51st floor."

Tiony asked a question to confirm, and Finn nodded in response. Tiona, who was standing next to her sister, immediately began to grumble in annoyance.

"'Cadmus's Fountain'... Ugh—! What a hassle. Why did I even take on that kind of request?"

"Because the compensation was reasonable, and there were also personal relationships to consider between factions, it was impossible to refuse easily."

"Honestly, those guys actually dumped such a troublesome task on us..."

After Riveria finished answering, Bert then swore at her.

Once everyone had finished complaining, Finn continued, telling them about the adventurer's commission.

"I'm sending two small, elite squads to the 51st floor. Both squads should avoid wasting weapons and items, and return to this outpost (camp) quickly after obtaining the water source. Any questions?"

"Yes, yes, yes—! Why do we need to split into two teams?"

"Because the client's requested amount of spring water is another issue. The 'Cadmus Spring' can only collect a limited amount of water. To reach the specified quantity, we must visit two springs."

"Food and other supplies are also limited. After completing the adventurer's request, we still need to go to the 59th floor, so we can't spend too much time. That's why we have to split into two groups to improve efficiency."

After Finn explained, Grace added further details.

The "expedition" to the depths of the dungeon is also a race against time. Just getting to the 50th floor takes at least five days, and if you also take the time to return to the surface into account, it's best to save resources as much as possible.

"Furthermore, the location of 'Cadmus Fountain' doesn't allow for too many people to go there. Although spreading out our forces would have a significant impact, it's better to have fewer people, as it will make our movements easier. ...Any other questions? If not, I'll start selecting team members."

After Finn confirmed it, no one objected, and the group began to form teams.

At this moment, just like before, Tiona immediately raised her hand.

"Me—! I'm coming—! Ais, come along too!"

"Um."

"The goal was to send us, the first-tier adventurers, otherwise who would go... The guild leader said it would be a select few, did you understand?"

"So, Tione is definitely coming with us too!"

"Hey, wait a minute, I need to talk to the leader...!"

Tiona's words quickly decided that the three of them would form a team.

"Rivia, stay at the camp. In order to deal with the situation after the adventurer's request, I hope you can rest well and recover your mental strength, while also taking charge of the defense of the outpost (this place)."

"...There was no other way."

Finn ordered Riveria, the highest-ranking mage in the [Familia], to remain where she was and await further orders.

Rivera had greatly depleted her mental energy, the source of her magic, in the battle just now, so she nodded frankly.

Then she looked up and gazed at a young girl.

"Lefia, you go to Ais's team in my place."

"Okay, okay...wait, what!"

"Is that alright, Finn?"

"Hmm—well, anyway, Lefia will eventually become Riveria's successor, so alright."

"Commander! Lady Rivera! I... I'm not qualified...!"

"Okay, Rafia, come over here too!"

"Ahhh—!" Lefia was caught by Tiona, losing her chance to refute.

"In that case, let's form another team with the remaining Level 1 members. Finn, Bert, me... and..."

"Hey, Raul. Come over here and be our supporter."

"Is it small?"

"Or what?"

The teams, each with four members, were quickly formed. The team composition is as follows:

Group 1: Ais, Tiona, Tione, Lefia.

Group 2: Finn, Bert, Grace, Raul.

"...Hey, is the first group (of these people) okay like this?"

"Um……"

The roster is too worrying. Hearing Bert's undisguised concern, Finn also fell into deep thought.

The unparalleled berserker – Amazonian Tiona needs no introduction, and Ais, because of her fighting style, has also been given the unofficial nickname "Battle Princess," making her an absolute battle maniac.

Tione feigned composure, but was far more ruthless than the other two. Lefia, whose rank was below theirs, was utterly incapable of stopping them.

After a period of silence, Finn raised his head.

"Tione, it's all up to you now. Don't let me down."

"Leave it to me!!"

The Amazonian girl, who was quite fascinated by the young-looking leader, was overjoyed and readily agreed upon hearing this.

The younger sister glared coldly at her older sister's flushed cheeks and triumphant expression, and muttered, "So easy to fool."

After finally deciding on the two groups, they managed to catch up on sleep for a few hours.

After handing over the outpost (camp) to Riveria, who was in charge of managing the other team members, the two squads set off for the 51st floor.

Side Story: Sword Oratoria Chapter 2 - Labyrinth of Chaos

"Here I go—!"

With a shout, Tiona took off running.

She held a pair of heavy double-edged swords in her hands, so heavy that it made one doubt their own eyes.

She sprinted while effortlessly swinging her specially made weapons with both hands, and slashed at the monster with wide-eyed eyes.

"The fifth one!"

With a swift chop of the broadsword.

With a single, brute-force strike, he cleaved the monster's body in two and sent it flying.

Without even glancing at the remaining corpses, the female warrior (Amazonian girl) seemed to be driven by instinct to pounce on her next prey.

"Ais, go cover that idiot! Don't charge too far with her!"

"understood."

Tiona followed up with a series of slashes, driving back the monsters that tried to surround her.

Despite her long, golden hair flying wildly, Ais's silver rapier flashed past.

We are currently on the 51st floor.

Ais and her party came to this floor on the orders of adventurers and are now battling monsters.

The 51st layer is structured like a maze, which is quite rare in the "deep layers".

The flat walls, floors, and ceilings appear as if they were designed and constructed, while the square underground passages form several corners and crossroads, which can easily disorient those who enter. The walls, made of neither stone nor mud, present a deep graphite color.

Illuminated by the glowing phosphorescence above their heads, Ais and the others confronted a group of monsters with rough, shiny black skin in a wide, straight passage.

"Black Rhino".

This is a rhinoceros-type monster that walks on two forward-leaning gait. Although it is less than two meters tall, its muscular physique certainly qualifies it as a large-sized creature. Its head has two horns, one long and one short, which vary from individual to individual.

Its armor-like skin is both hard and thick, far exceeding the hardness of "Furmore" which it fought on the 49th floor.

however,

"——!"

"Hey ya—!"

It was chopped off.

The double-headed blade, wielded freely, easily chopped the black rhinoceros herd into pieces.

Two greatswords joined together by a heavy hilt.

This murder weapon, even among countless other weapons, could still be classified as extraordinarily large, and its power was exceptionally outstanding. The extremely wide and thick blade ignored the monster's tough hide, tearing its body into eight pieces.

The girl displayed an unusual strength beyond her slender frame, spinning in circles as if she were dancing gracefully.

Tiona skillfully maneuvered her signature weapon—the Great Twin Blades, Urga.

"--drink!"

As Tiona wielded her twin blades (Ulga), Ais was also beside her, using her slashes to repel the monster.

Her only equipment was a military knife. Tiona's massive weapon was taller than her. In comparison, the silver rapier seemed much less impressive, but combined with Ais's swordsmanship and her greatest advantage—speed—it rendered her enemies helpless. With an aura that rivaled Tiona's, she continued to slaughter the black rhinoceros herd.

In the heat of battle, no matter how many blows are made or how much blood is spilled, the silver blade never dulls.

"Durandal property".