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

"R-Really!?"

"Haha...it's all thanks to my good character!"

This is the passageway leading to the deepest large chamber on the 17th level.

The road was wide enough that even giants could pass through, which is why it wasn't blocked by a landslide. Although signs of collapse were visible everywhere, once you got here, you only needed to keep moving forward.

Nano cheered, and a relieved smile appeared on Mililia's face.

Cole regained his energy, became alert for the monster's attack, and increased his speed.

Seeing hope, everyone beamed with smiles and moved forward with all their might.

The three continued forward—but with the constant "impacts" and "roars," their smiles gradually faded, yet they had no choice but to move forward.

Finally—

The word "despair" was forcibly shoved in their faces.

"────────────"

The three arrived at the deepest cavern on the 17th floor.

This place is also known as the "Wall of Sighs".

The massive wall, which should have been seamless, has now collapsed from the inside, with the fallen rocks piling up like mountains. The owner of this place can be seen going mad in the distance.

"Ooo ...

The 17th floor is called "Monster rex".

This was the first time that Nano and the others had witnessed the dungeon's floor master, Goliath, in person.

Of all the monsters the three have encountered so far, the giant possesses unparalleled strength and is now swinging its massive, tree-like hands toward its prey.

"Ughh ...

"Damn! That's way too strong!?"

"How are we supposed to break through this?!"

The high-level adventurer team let out a scream.

They were probably also affected by the landslide and had no way to return to the surface.

So Binano and the others made a quicker decision and arrived here earlier—only to encounter a high wall called the Floor Master.

Goliath seemed to be guarding the only path leading to the 18th floor deep within the Great Cavern, preventing anyone from passing. Besides the floor master, there were countless minions (monsters), making it even more difficult to fight one's way out.

"...I remember the floor master (Goliath) should still have a full two days left in their production interval, right?"

"Did the adventurer who reported it miscalculate the time... or is the dungeon just particularly heartless this time?"

Recalling the announcements and information she and Lefia had indeed reviewed at the Guild Headquarters before setting off for the middle level, Mililia's beautiful elven face furrowed in annoyance. As for Cole, all he could manage was a lame joke that even he couldn't laugh at.

The collapsed "Waist Wall" has been largely restored.

This means that a considerable amount of time has passed since Goliath was created, implying that no matter how much earlier Nano and the others arrived, their fate would remain unchanged.

Goliath could destroy everything with a single punch.

With just one step, the entire cavern shook.

Faced with this giant monster whose very existence was like a natural disaster, the "Seventh Squad" stood frozen in place.

"Hey! You students (kids), stop standing there watching! Come help! Help me!!"

One of the adventurers spotted the three. Upon closer inspection, it became clear that he was the burly man who had previously offered "Monster Offering," and he pleaded for help from the "Seventh Squad" standing at the entrance to the great cavern.

Nano and the others shuddered.

His expression as he shouted desperately, and his voice as if he had no energy left.

That was a "dangerous situation" that even adventurers with far more experience than students could not overcome.

To the students, watching these burly men, who were clearly taller, stronger, and more powerful than themselves, shouting for help was a horrifying sight.

The dungeon once again embodies the word "despair"...

No, it's about putting the ultimate "option" in front of Nano and the others.

"...Xiaomi, Ke'er..."

While everyone was unable to move—

Nano was the first to speak.

"Let's...go and help those people."

Miria and Cole turned around abruptly.

Even though the girl was the palest of the three, she still said it.

"We can't just stand by and watch them die...!"

"Wait a minute! Are you really saying this because you understand the situation?!"

"Of course I understand! And even if I don't want to face reality, I know how exhausted we are right now, and how powerful that floor master (monster) is!"

When faced with Mililia's furious questioning, Nano yelled back.

Her proud combat uniform was tattered, her weapons were battered, and her face was covered in blood.

Despite her disheveled appearance, the girl still shouted at the top of her lungs.

Even so, we are still students of the "school district"!

The elven girl and the orc boy couldn't help but widen their eyes.

"We've traveled the world! We've saved countless lives! We've worked so hard to help those who are suffering alongside Luke! Does coming to the dungeon mean we have to stand by and watch people die!?"

"...!"

"I don't want that!"

The honor and responsibility of being a student in the "school district," and the old oath of the "Seventh Squad"—

Nano shouted at the top of her lungs.

"...Do you all remember what Senior Lefia taught you?"

She suddenly switched to a gentle tone.

"No matter how afraid you are, no matter how much you resist, you will eventually have to face the day when you have to take risks."

"...You mean...right now?"

"I don't know! But I believe that if it were Senior Lefia, no matter how disheveled or exhausted she was, she would definitely go to save those people!"

Nano smiled.

Her limbs trembled incessantly, like those of a newborn fawn.

Even so, her face still radiated a bright smile.

"I want to become an adventurer worthy of my senior!"

Cole smiled.

All he could do was smile.

Deeply moved, he completely agreed with this statement.

"...Let's go, Mi Li."

"...Oh dear! Nano is an idiot! Cole is an idiot!!"

After venting her frustrations, the elven girl charged off ahead.

Nano and Cole followed closely behind, and the three of them stepped into the battlefield where the giants were letting out earth-shattering roars.

They all knew perfectly well that their only option was to fight to the death. Even if they turned and fled, there was no future until they reached the 18th floor. Moreover, the students of the "school district," who were dedicated to learning truth and upholding justice, could not use the adventurers as bait and simply flee to a safe floor for their own survival.

Since that's the case, everyone can only do as Nano said and throw themselves into the "adventure" at this moment.

"【O lightning, celestial title! To betray the bloodline of the earth, please share your voice and bestow the blessing of thunder upon my galloping body】—【Azure Divine Beast (Zarqa yale)】!!

Nano was the first to attack at the start.

She rushed into the center of the large cavern, bringing the monsters within range, and set up a magic circle above her head, unleashing a rain of lightning upon the enemy.

The bewildered adventurers scattered in panic. As multiple lightning bolts pierced through the minions (monsters), the massive floor master (Goliath), whose grayish-brown body was partially charred, glared angrily at the mage girl.

"How scary...! Even though I'm terrified, just keep looking this way!"

Nano was terrified by the oppressive aura emanating from the "Lone King of the Labyrinth," but she continued chanting, ostentatiously radiating her "magic power." Even someone as powerful as Goliath seemed unable to ignore the Lv.3 mage's ultimate attack (magic); it grabbed a huge rock that had fallen to its feet and hurled it in one go.

Startled, Nano immediately stopped chanting and fled. At that moment, Mililia and the adventurers also took action.

"You'd better get out of here while our silly mage is acting as bait!"

"You guys...! The students in this 'school district' are such a well-behaved bunch!"

Miria grabbed the last arrow and fired at the minions (monsters) that Nano had wiped out with "magic." The adventurers, now under cover, were happy but didn't forget to banter.

While Goliath's attention was diverted, the adventurers slipped away without needing anyone to remind them. They helped their wounded companions, managed to shake off the minions (monsters), passed right by the giant's feet, and escaped into the connecting passage at the deepest part of the cave.

"Ooh o ...

Goliath was enraged when he saw this.

It even made it temporarily unable to properly deal with Nano in front of it and the adventurers at its feet. Its appearance of being attacked by "magic" and constantly stomping on the adventurers was almost comical, like it was stomping its feet in a cheating manner. However, the "Lone King of the Labyrinth" shattered the ground with each step it took, generating potentially deadly flying sand and stones.

Mililia, who nearly fell several times due to the vibrations of the floor while trying to dodge flying stones, bit her lower lip and continued to fire accurate shots even when she was out of balance.

"You guys are really something! Come join our [Familia] after this is all over!"

"Keep your jokes to yourself!"

The fierce-looking adventurer captain snatched his companion's quiver and quickly tossed it to Mililia.

The other adventurers had already retreated, leaving only him and his students responsible for covering the rear.

"Let's go!"

"Hmm! Cole!"

"You go first! I'll follow later!"

Cole, who was guarding the defender (Nano), cut down a stray monster and shouted this.

At Mililia's prompting, the two took off running, while the terrifying floor master continued to close in.

"──────────────────!!"

Goliath roared as if he had vowed not to let the three go.

Summoned by the floor master, countless monsters surged forth from behind Nano and the others, as well as from the entrance to the great cavern. It was a very primitive and troublesome act of "summoning companions." Seeing the endless horde of monsters approaching, Nano and the others paled in fright and quickened their pace.

Although the monsters are approaching from behind at high speed, it shouldn't be a problem. Nano and the others, who started earlier, will reach the connecting passage first. Therefore, they must seize the opportunity and cooperate with each other, and not miss this once-in-a-lifetime chance.

Nano, Mililia, and Cole reached a consensus in an instant through their eyes.

The elven hunter circled the giant, unleashing intimidating shots, while the mage, staff in hand, gathered power to prepare for "that moment."

The werewolf scout, having pinpointed Goliath's attack range, reached for his pouch.

"Three, two, one—Go!!"

He pressed the protrusion (button) on the ball (prop) in his hand, injected "magic power" into it, and then threw it.

The ball, thrown, traced a large arc in a parabola, blooming into a dazzling "flower of light" before the giant's eyes.

"~ ...

This is the "Light Flower," a magical artifact meticulously crafted by the Alchemy Department, a source of great pride for the school district.

The flashbang detonated overhead instantly blinded Goliath.

As the giant struggled in agony, Nano and the others, following Cole's command, pushed off the ground and raced at full speed toward the connecting passage.

"Haha! You three are absolutely amazing!"

Faced with the students running towards them, displaying a level of teamwork that even adventurers couldn't match, the man in charge cheered.

The Seventh Squad is excellent.

Just as the "school district" had described them as "instantly becoming combat power," they not only demonstrated superb skills that even advanced adventurers had to acknowledge, but also successfully overcame the breathtaking crisis before them with determination and courage.