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

Like "I want to use that attack now" --

"Back then, simply changing seats slightly would have lightened Chris's load."

And also—"How would I handle it if I were playing as a striker now?" and so on.

While I pondered various questions, I also observed the different situations of the team members.

If I had stayed with the Hestia Familia, I probably wouldn't have experienced this feeling, nor would I have had the opportunity to retreat to the backline as a defender. The teamwork of the Hestia Familia is just that good.

It was precisely because they were "students" in the process of growing up that I was able to gain so many new experiences.

"Don't be ridiculous! Your battle plan, devised by a complete rookie (last place), is utterly unreliable!! If you were to self-destruct at a time like this, no one could withstand it!"

However, Iglin, wielding a sledgehammer, resolutely refused in a heated manner.

...There's nothing I can do about it, and it's all my own fault. As the last guard (supporter), I haven't contributed anything to the team to this day, and even when I propose a "battle plan," I can't gain anyone's trust.

This was clearly my oversight.

If Lily were here, she would definitely scold me for "not thinking things through enough" and let out a sigh.

When I started to worry about what to do—

"I...don't object."

This is what Leiqi, who has remained silent until now, said.

"Tell me your plan..."

"What...what nonsense are you talking about?!"

"Because... the instructions he gave while fleeing were very precise... far more effective than the dwarf's roar (nonsense)..."

While everyone was stunned and Iglin launched into a tirade, Rachel, behind her black mask, calmly offered her opinion. Unlike Iglin, who panicked at being contradicted, Chris first looked back and forth between Rachel and me, then, for some reason, put her hands on her hips, puffed out her chest, and said:

"I agree! Because Rabbi's ears and tail are all furry! So he must have come up with some great plan!"

Despite the fact that my words were completely irrelevant, and that the ears and tail were just props, Chris surprisingly chose to believe me without warning. As I was deeply astonished, Nina, who was looking at me, stared straight at me—then smiled slowly, as if recalling "Lavi Flamich's" performance up to this point.

"I'd also like to hear your battle plan, Rabbi."

At the scene, besides myself, it was three votes to one. Faced with this voting result, Eglin was speechless.

After making a series of "Ugh ugh ugh ugh!" sounds, he pointed at me with his index finger as if he had finally given up.

"If you dare to come up with a useless plan, I won't follow your instructions!"

It's really difficult to team up with others.

I've always been grateful for Lily and Welf's support, and only now do I finally understand this.

Since my teammates are willing to believe in me and place their trust in me, I must respond.

With my bangs covering my eyes, I suppressed the urge to laugh, made a vow in my heart, and then nodded in agreement.

"Rabbi, what are you planning to do?"

"Well, it's not actually that complicated..."

As everyone reflexively formed a circle, I had already gathered my thoughts when Nina asked me that question.

Although I've only done it with Lily a few times...

"Would you like to try 'Hunting'?"

"You must know how to make effective use of the terrain."

This is the first basic tactic I learned from Miss Eina's lectures.

My team and I revisited this foundation.

"Hey, is it really okay to do this...!?"

The cave was filled with smoke, and I swallowed back the words "probably" when I heard Eglin's whisper.

Should I go help on the other side too? But we need to prepare beforehand here, and since the "Lv.1 supporter" can't handle the heavy responsibility, we can only trust Nina and the others for now.

After holding our breath and waiting for a moment, our prayers seemed to be answered... Several rumbling sounds were gradually approaching the cave.

"Roar! Ro ...

The "baby dragon" rushed in with such ferocity that it seemed to be about to smash through the entrance.

As for those who rushed into the cave before the dragon, they were the half-elves and dwarves!

"Guys, we caught one!"

"As expected of me! Even as bait, I handle it with ease!"

Nina and Chris, who literally acted as "bait," were running towards us while shouting.

I asked Nina to assist me, and mainly asked Chris to act as a scout.

While it's impressive that a dwarf can fight on the front lines, this time I hope he can utilize his exceptional eyesight, unique to dwarves, to find the dragon within this unique "fog" layer. Because of something that happened between me and Lily in the past—she tried to steal my "Goddess's Blade"—I understand that dwarves' eyesight is also excellent within this "fog layer," allowing them to see their surroundings clearly.

As for ensuring a safe escape route, that was left to Nina, the squad leader, who was also very tactful. I asked the two of them to find the baby dragon from before and lure it here.

Of course, other monsters, mainly "orcs" and "little devils," followed closely behind the young dragon. Facing these opponents who had defeated us before, our teammates remained unchanged in their condition.

If we were to engage in a direct confrontation, we would still suffer a defeat.

"[Dark Landmine]!"

"Gahh ...

The cave was filled with Leiqi's "landmine magic".

While Chris and his friends were out "luring the enemy," I asked Rachel to plant as many magic explosives as possible here.

The "orc" and the "little devil" triggered a black flash and a series of explosions simply by stepping on the magic circle hidden beneath the ground. Although the "young dragon" did not fall, its left foreleg, which had been hit by a landmine, was maimed. Nina and Chris, as agreed, retreated to the left and right, moving to the safe area of ​​the cave.

This is nothing.

It simply takes some time to transform ordinary cave dwellings into "useful spaces that people can live in".

"Whoosh!"

"Roar!?"

When Eglin brutally slaughtered the fish that had escaped the landmines, the young dragon roared as if trying to call for its "comrades," but it was all in vain.

Because we destroyed the walls of the cave in advance, the maze will prioritize repairing the damaged parts and will not generate new monsters for the time being. In other words, there will be no monster feast, which is why we are staying in this cave.

While Reggie was in charge of setting up the mines, Iglin and I teamed up to destroy the walls of the maze, so this cave has now become a minefield and our "hunting ground".

Lure the enemy, set a trap, and hunt down the target.

It was truly an extremely simple hunting operation.

While this is not possible when teammates are working independently, there are countless tactics that can be employed as long as everyone is willing to cooperate.

(All of this... comes from "experience".)

I'm simply applying the "experience" I've accumulated up to this day—up to before becoming a first-class adventurer.

Although I cannot teach combat techniques like Miss Ais and the others, I can at least provide some "enlightenment" to this extent!

"Let's all attack it together!"

The enemy has only one dragon left.

In this dreamlike space where the mist was replaced by a sky full of black starlight, the "Third Squad" launched attacks from all directions, and the trapped "Young Dragon" was forced to retreat.

Moreover—

"Oraa ...

Thanks to Nina and the others for luring the enemy (assistance), Iglin took advantage of the opportunity to use the dead tree as a platform to leap high and then swung his hammer down on the dragon's back in one go.

"Gurgle────!?"

This was a fatal blow that pierced through the dragon's scales and spine, its power reaching the "magic stone" inside the enemy's body.

With its neck raised and body arched, the "young dragon" let out a final scream before turning into a large amount of ashes that scattered outwards.

Please...!!

After confirming that the monster had been defeated, Nina and the others held their breath and waited.

We watched with a sense of prayer as the baby dragon was reduced to dust at the epicenter of the explosion... when suddenly a loud "thud" was heard.

The sharp "young dragon fangs" fell to the ground with that sound.

"I've got it! It's a baby dragon's 'drop item'! Yay!!"

"Awesome! Aa ...

Chris raised his hands and cheered.

Then, Iglin shouted happily. Rachel took off her mask and smiled, revealing her cherry-like lips.

Finally, Nina ran towards me, who was standing there dumbfounded.

"You're amazing, Lavi! The operation was a complete success!"

"Um, yes... Ah, Nina, I'm sorry to put you in such a dangerous job."

"No way! That's completely untrue!"

It seemed to be the first time I had ever seen Nina so excited; she reached out and grabbed my hands, shaking them up and down repeatedly.

As I gave an embarrassed, shy smile, Eglin and his classmates, who were holding "Young Dragon Tooth," also ran over.

"Super newbie (last place)! No, rabbi! You're pretty good!"

"Ah, well, it's just that everyone is really amazing, I didn't do anything at all..."

"You don't need to be modest! I bet you're a dungeon crawler geek! Every suggestion you make is brilliant! That's why you enrolled at such a delicate time, right!? That must be it!"

"Ah, hahaha..."

Looking at Eglin, who was laughing loudly and patting my back repeatedly, I could only offer a wry smile.

After all, I am an active adventurer, so this guess can be considered correct... right?

"Rabi, you're such a lucky rabbit! From today onwards, I'll accept you as my guardian beast!"

"Thank you for your kind words?"

"Yay!"

"Hmm, yeah~~?"

Chris and Rachel both shared their joy with me in somewhat peculiar ways.

Faced with the unusually harmonious atmosphere of the "Third Squad," I thanked everyone again.

"Eglin, Rachel, Chris, thank you for believing in me—"

"Iglin is fine."

"what?"

"Just call me Iglin! There's no need to use honorifics anymore!"

"You can call me by my first name too! From today onwards, you're a follower, but a close friend!"

"I also entrust my name... to you."

Looking at the smiling faces of my classmates and others, I realized, when I came to my senses, that I was laughing along with them.

It's really strange, but I feel like I've gotten closer to them all at once.

The longer you endure hardship with your companions, the stronger the joy you will feel when you share the moment of success.

This is the essence of dungeons and the magic of teamwork.

Unexpectedly rediscovering my original passion, I was so happy that my heart felt like it was about to explode.

"...Nina."

"……Um!"

As I smiled at Nina, I softly called out her name one last time.

This move should have conveyed my thoughts.

Nina nodded, stepped forward, and began to speak earnestly: