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

He swallowed the words "Here we go again" back down his throat.

Completely lost. This is the most important thing to avoid when navigating through the dungeon.

Generally, adventurers must start with the staircases and connecting routes between floors to gradually determine their current location and path. However, Bell and his companions fell into one of countless vertical caves without any starting point or signposts. In addition, the dungeon contained rare metals (adiazon) and other special minerals that were magnetic, making it impossible to use tools such as compasses.

They couldn't determine their current location on the map or find the correct route.

Several times they encountered dead ends, causing Bell and Welf, whom he was supporting, to squint their eyes.

"Calm down first."

As Bell stood bewildered before the rock wall blocking his path, Lily took a deep breath and said this to the two of them. Bell and the others turned to look at her and saw that although she was sweating, she was trying to calm herself down.

Following Lily's advice, the group neither hid nor concealed themselves, and began to discuss their plan in a corner of the dungeon.

"Let's check the team's equipment first. First, the healing items: Lily has four elixirs and two antidotes. What about you, Lord Bell?"

"I have nothing left."

"I still have a few vials of elixir in my leg pouch."

Bell took the water bottle from Lily's backpack to replenish his fluids. Considering his role in the team and the future situation, he only took a small sip of water before handing it to Welf.

"Next, the weapons. Lily lost her crossbow during the collapse. Lord Welf's greatsword is fine..."

"Bell lost his greatsword, but he also lost his short sword and small shield, right?"

"Uh, um."

During the conversation, Bell was nervous about his current situation.

The place where Bell and the others were huddled together was a dead end in the maze. If the enemy launched a full-scale attack from the depths of the passage, they could easily cut off their escape route. Even ignoring that, they were surrounded by walls, and who knew when the monster would emerge. He desperately suppressed his terror, but Lily and Welf probably felt the same way.

While talking to his companions to mask his fear, Bell secretly checked the Hestia's Blade and Ushiwakamaru that were worn at his waist.

"But both daggers are fine."

"The 'fire spirit cloth' is still usable."

"Understood... Regarding the strategy for the future. Given the limited weaponry and resources, everyone must avoid engaging the monsters as much as possible in order to survive. If the situation allows, the best option is to run away."

Bell knelt on one knee, while Welf, whose legs couldn't bend, sat on the ground. Bell supported Welf's sweating back and nodded to indicate that he had no objection.

Lily, who was sitting in front of them, took this opportunity to speak:

"Lord Bell, Lord Welf, please calm down and listen to Lily. Although this is just Lily's personal opinion... we are currently on the 15th floor."

"...!"

Faced with the speechless Bell and Welf, she continued:

"Thinking back to the time we fell through the vertical cave, we probably fell two floors. Judging from the characteristics of this floor, the width of the passage, the lighting, and the complexity of the maze, this doesn't seem like the 13th or 14th floor. Instead, it's more like the 15th floor."

Bell recalled the seemingly endless fall. Lily's words were well-founded and convincing, making it easy to accept the reality.

Meanwhile, the hope of returning to the surface became increasingly slim. Even on the 14th floor, it was difficult to break through the current situation; crossing the 15th, 14th, and 13th floors to reach the safe zone on the "upper level" was impossible for the team in their current condition. The monsters were so powerful, the labyrinth so vast, and Bell and the others were already exhausted.

The phrase "no way out" flashed through their minds, causing Bell and Welf to freeze on the spot.

At this moment, Lily paused for a moment before continuing:

"Now comes the important part. The chances of returning to the upper floors are slim, that much is certain. However, there is a way: deliberately abandon the option of going to the upper floors and instead go to the lower floors... take refuge on the 18th floor."

At first, Bell and the others didn't understand what Lily was talking about.

Lily continued explaining.

"The 18th floor is one of the few safe points in the dungeon where monsters will not spawn. Adventurers aiming to enter the 'lower levels' will definitely use it as a base, so once you can reach it, you can be sure you are safe."

In the monster-infested dungeons, the safe floors are considered safe zones and are trusted by adventurers, often serving as rest areas.

Starting from the first floor, the 18th floor is the first safe floor. As Lily said, it's quite possible that there are high-level adventurers stronger than Bell and his group residing there. If they can get Bell and his group to allow them to travel with them across the middle floor when they return to the surface, they can survive.

"Lily, Lily! Wait a minute. It's already questionable whether we can get back alive from this floor, let alone going deeper..."

"We can use the vertical caves. The middle level is full of trap caves. If we find one and jump down, we can get to the next floor in one go. We can't even know where we are now. Instead of randomly searching for the only staircase to the upper floor, Lily thinks this is more efficient."

After hearing Lily's correct analysis, Bell was unable to refute it and made a sound.

Despite the pain from his injured foot, Welf slightly opened his eyes and asked a question.

"What should we do, floor owner? Isn't there a huge thing on the 17th floor?"

A being of a different level from ordinary monsters, the "Monster Rex".

When Lily heard Welf mention the floor master, the biggest obstacle in navigating the maze, she immediately provided an answer.

"The day Lord Bell defeated the Minotaur... about two weeks ago, the Loki Familia launched an expedition. They came with a large force. To prevent unnecessary casualties, they probably won't leave the floor master alone and will definitely take care of him."

"Why are you so sure?"

"Lily heard that the floor master of the 17th floor, 'Goliath,' will occupy the hall leading to the 18th floor. If it's a powerful adventurer like the Loki Familia, it's safer to just defeat it than leave the floor master alone."

Lily explained that when heading to the 18th floor, neglecting to use their combat power and leaving the "Lone King of the Labyrinth" unattended actually posed a greater danger to the Loki Familia, who were leading a large force.

"Goliath's birth interval is about two weeks... Conversely, she should barely have been born yet."

While there's still time, we can get through the unclaimed 17th floor.

That's what Lily meant.

"Are you serious...?"

It's not going up, it's going down.

To survive, they ventured into even more dangerous areas.

Upon hearing the astonishing series of proposals, Welf looked bewildered and began to wonder if Lily had gone mad.

Perhaps it could also be said that it expressed awe and praise for the fact that "the girl was still able to make bold and accurate judgments under such circumstances".

Where does such a small body find such courage and boldness? Bell opened his eyes wide, thinking the same thing.

"...It's just an option. Lord Bell, you're right, it's safer to just go upstairs; and wandering around might allow us to run into other teams and ask them for help."

However, all of these depend on luck.

Unlike the upper levels, which are teeming with novice adventurers, the middle levels are the domain of advanced adventurers, with a sharp decrease in the number of fellow adventurers. Furthermore, following the principle of dungeons having a cone-shaped structure, the labyrinths in the middle levels are much larger than those in the upper levels. Whether it's fumbling around like headless flies to find the stairs to the upper floors or encountering other teams, the element of "luck" is heavily emphasized. This is why Lily suggested going to the 18th floor.

After expressing her views, she looked intently at Belle, concluding her statement.

"The captain of this squad is Lord Bell. Let Lord Bell make the judgment."

Bell nearly stopped breathing.

Lily's words made Bell feel that this was the hottest time of day in his body.

His sweat glands were fully open, and streams of sweat slid down his cheeks.

Looking back at Welf, though he was frowning in pain, he still smiled at Bell.

"Okay, you decide. Whatever your choice, I won't blame you."

Those were words spoken with trust and bond.

At the same time, it was also a declaration that deprived Bell of any way out.

My heart started pounding even harder.

The squad leader. Indeed, of the three, only Bell is capable of fulfilling this responsibility.

Lily, the supporter, and Welf, the blacksmith, both lent a helping hand to the adventurer (Bell). This team doesn't belong to anyone else; it's Bell's team.

Bell had no choice but to step up.

(…!)

The increased heartbeat felt like it was squeezing my heart.

The decision that would determine the fate of his squad weighed heavily on him. His choice might take the lives of his comrades, or it might kill them.

The fear was enough to make him stand still. He wished he could just cry and run away, then apologize and abandon this heavy responsibility.

However, behind this impulse, he also understood that this was the responsibility of being the squad leader.

The weight of this judgment differs from that of solo adventures. Each companion entrusts their life to themselves; this is the essence of group dungeon exploration (team-based operations).

Not only his own life, but Bell's life was also entrusted to Lily and the others. How could Bell let down the two people who had helped and protected him?

To run away from the companions who chose you, believed in you, and pulled you forward is to desecrate them. If there is ever a time to repay Lily and Welf for their trust in you, it is now.

He gritted his teeth, clenched his fists, and swallowed his trembling breath deep into his lungs.

He made up his mind. He did it. Now it's time to make a decision.

To turn back or to move forward?

Should we let "luck" determine our fate, or should we work together to overcome all obstacles?

Should we proceed (take the risk)?

He closed his eyes—then opened them.

Under the watchful eyes of Lily and Welf, Bell raised an eyebrow and said this.

"Let's move forward."

□

The hands of the clock signaled that evening was approaching.

Hestia is at the Azure Pharmacy, the headquarters of the Mih Familia.

This wooden building also serves as a shop selling elixirs and other items. Since adventurers also frequent this place, it's perfectly suited as a meeting place after an adventurer's request is made. The group is currently holding a meeting to discuss their strategy for searching for Bell and the others.

Besides Hestia, Mihe, and Gulnazar, the red-haired, red-eyed goddess Hephaestus was also present.

In addition, there is the male god Takemikazuchi, who combs his hair into buns on both sides, and his bandmates, Mikoto, and others.

"I'm sorry, Hestia. The reason your child hasn't returned may lie with us."

"..."

Hearing Takemikazuchi's apology, Hestia crossed her arms and closed her eyes, ordering them to bow their heads in repentance behind Takemikazuchi's back.

On the 13th floor, the Takemikazuchi Familia offered Bell and his companions a "monster gift".

When Hestia came to Takemikazuchi's headquarters for help, she told them about this incident—the physical characteristics of Bell and the others, and the squad's composition—and their faces turned ashen. They then recounted the entire story to the God of War.

Although they had no choice at the time, Takemiya still apologized to Hestia for giving the monster to someone else for his child. Thinking that one reason Bell and the others hadn't returned might be due to them, Hestia remained silent for the time being. With Mihe and the others watching, she opened her blue eyes and looked around at the children's faces.

"If Bell and the others don't come back, I will resent you to death, but I will not hate you. I promise you."

Upon hearing these words, Ming and the others widened their eyes.

Faced with the goddess's compassionate tolerance and resolute gaze, their hearts were moved for the first time by a god other than the main god.

After forgiving the children, Hestia pleaded with them:

"Could you please lend me a hand now?"

"—I will obey Your Majesty's command."

The six members of the Takemikazuchi Familia knelt down and bowed their heads in unison to pay their respects.

Seeing that the members, led by their leader Sakura, wanted to repay the goddess's kindness by swearing allegiance, Takemikazuchi and Miho narrowed their eyes.

Among them, Hephaestus smiled at the divine friend who had beautifully cleansed the children's sins.

"Then let's continue. Time is precious."

Hearing Mihe step forward and say something, Hestia nodded and said "Mmm".

"You mentioned forming a search team earlier. Hestia's child is still alive, that's true, right?"

"Yes, I'm quite sure. Hephaestus, how's Welf?"

"Wait a minute, I have many children under my contract, it's hard to keep track of them... Hmm, they should still be alive. The number of 'favors' I bestowed doesn't seem to have decreased."

After Takemikazuchi confirmed, Hestia and Hephaestus responded in turn. Hephaestus closed her left eye, which was not covered by the blindfold, and gently tapped her forehead with her finger. Although she had sealed her "Arcanum," she still managed to calculate the number of her Familia members in a short time.

Mich asked her:

"Can Hephaestus's children help?"

"To be honest, I lent my team members to Loki's 'expedition'... They're going to the deeper areas, so the capable kids went with them. If we keep the kids we can mobilize right now in the middle areas, it might be a bit unreliable."

"I'm sorry." Hearing Hephaestus apologize, Hestia shook her head, telling her not to worry about it.