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

Staring at the ferocious enemy from other floors, whose strength was no less than that of the Minotaur, Welf admiringly said to Miss Fate:

"Skills related to data collection and testing, how convenient."

"No, it can only sense monsters I've encountered before... and its effectiveness is also affected by my physical and mental condition, so please don't have too high expectations."

When they become companions (familiars), they share their "magic" and "skills" with each other.

On their way to the 18th floor as part of a rescue team, Miss Destiny had already fought the fanged lion-tiger. Facing the monster she had successfully scouted, she raised her katana, and the weapon clanged.

"It's faster than the Minotaur! Be careful!"

"yes!"

Miss Ming rushed out, and we followed behind, beginning our battle against the roaring fanged lions and tigers, as well as a large group of monsters from all around.

■

Just then, sounds like the fierce battle between adventurers and monsters came from the depths of the passage.

A group of women, dressed in hooded robes and waiting in a cave, were talking, each holding a weapon in one hand.

"How is the situation?"

"Everything's going well; they've been lured in by the million-dollar reward. We've already had the Erbil Trading Company designate the location of the grain depot..."

Those people will definitely pass through here.

Aisha, a tall Amazonian wearing a hooded coat, asked.

Samira, a gray-haired woman whose face was also covered, curled the corners of her mouth.

"But speaking of which, I didn't expect that even trading companies could be mobilized to submit adventurer requests. This is the first time I've ever heard of this."

"The people of Erbil, in every respect, are also favored by us... by the chief goddess (Ishtar), and cannot refuse our requests."

Aisha hinted at the secret pact between the two parties and, swaying her knee-length hooded robe, walked to the center of the group.

A large cargo crate used for moving supplies sat there securely, protected by those around it. Aisha reached out and opened the lid of the massive steel crate, large enough to hold several people.

"Haruhime, get ready."

A young girl sat on the lower level of the cargo container.

She wore a long, Far Eastern-style battle cloth kimono for ease of movement, and a feather-like protective garment on her head. Her beautiful long golden hair was tied up, completely obscuring her fox ears and tail.

The fox-girl, now fully disguised, turned her emerald green eyes toward Aisha.

"...Should we attack the adventurers?"

Her eyes flickered with a questioning look, and Aisha answered without changing her expression:

"right."

"Who is the other party?"

"You don't need to know."

She refused to answer the girl's question, grabbed her arm to make her stand up, and brought her mouth close to her ear.

"Just do it the usual way, okay?"

"……yes."

Aisha spoke somewhat coldly to the girl who had her head bowed, and then quietly left her side.

"Aisha, they're coming!"

"...Let's go, proceed as planned."

Upon hearing the scouts' report and Aisha's call, the shrewish women each armed themselves.

■

"--This is……"

Just as we were fighting hordes of monsters and venturing deeper into the dungeon...

I heard something strange and looked up.

"The roar of a monster, and... footsteps."

"Hey, are they coming again?"

After Miss Fate murmured, Welf said in a tone that sounded like he'd had enough.

The sounds of what appeared to be the roars of a large group of monsters, along with the footsteps of many people running towards them, were unmistakable. This was the prelude to a "monster feast," and the entire team tensed up.

Before long, adventurers and monsters wearing hooded robes appeared in front of them.

"From the front lines... Did it come from the grain depot?"

Seeing the horde of humans and monsters swarming towards them from their direction, Lily asked a question as she slung her backpack back over her shoulder. She frowned at her companion, who was wearing face-covering gear, and began preparing to flee.

We're on a one-way street right now, there's no need to stand here and watch them hand us danger.

Let's turn back to the fork in the road!

Hearing my obvious instruction, everyone acted quickly.

We had the team turn around and run back the way they came.

We looked back to confirm how close the distance was, and then fled into the wide crossroads—the next instant.

Groups of other adventurers and monsters surged in from both the left and right, forming a pincer movement around us.

"Two directions!?"

Lily's screams echoed all around.

Two groups of "monsters" collided unexpectedly. The shocking turn of events left everyone speechless.

Soon, the adventurers were engulfed by the monster's massive waves, and a conflict ensued.

"Ooh, ooh ...

"G-Ladies and gentlemen!?"

Starting with us at the center of the conflict, a massive melee ensued.

As the black dog and unicorn rabbit, chasing too fast and unable to stop, roared and began to fight each other, the figures of Welf and Miss Fate, who had been shouting, almost disappeared from my sight for a moment.

Seeing the astonishing number of monsters, I quickly protected my supporter, Lily. I swung my sword to fight off the onrushing monsters, desperately trying to stay in place and not get separated from the others.

However, as if to deliver a fatal blow, the group of "monsters" that were initially there met up at the crossroads.

"The third group...!?"

The remaining group of soldiers crashed into the side of the melee zone.

The impact surged, and the monster's screams overlapped. I used my dagger to cut the leaping unicorn rabbit in two, sweating profusely in the process. I told Lily to drop the backpack the monster was biting and carried her to my side.

As we were completely enclosed by monsters—a monster cage—three groups of adventurers who had bravely "delivered the monsters" brushed past us and immediately turned around to attack us.

"What are these people like?!"

The scimitar slashed at Welf, who was wielding a broadsword, while the club struck at Miss Mikoto, who was wielding a Japanese sword.

A group of people in brightly colored hooded robes flew over the fighting monsters and launched an attack on us. I used the daggers I was equipped with in both hands to protect Lily while barely managing to fend off the multiple figures rushing towards me.

Monsters were mixed in with the scene, creating the worst kind of three-way brawl, plunging us into a fierce melee.

The series of tactics and coordinated actions that began with the monster's arrival were so brilliant that I felt a chill run down my spine, and I thought to myself: Could it be that our target was us from the very beginning—just as this thought flashed through my mind.

"Let's have a go at it."

"Varied--"

With a sound, a dark shadow covered my body.

Looking up, I saw a black hooded robe fluttering in the air, which came into my view.

Her clothes fluttered like bats, and beneath the hood—squinty eyes met mine.

Seizing the opening I made when I froze, my opponent kicked out a long brown leg from the air.

「!?」

I instinctively defended myself with my hand guards, but a high kick sent me flying.

"Lord Bell!?"

I traced a parabola, soaring over the heads of monsters, and Lily's screams faded into the distance in an instant.

The incredibly powerful attack sent me flying from the monster's cage.

(They got separated from Lily and the others!?)

My companion's figure was left in the monster's cage. I rolled to the ground, and the black hooded robe continued its pursuit, kicking me into the depths of the horizontal cave in the passage.

Lily and the others completely disappeared from my sight.

"Gurgle, ugh...!?"

I endured the pain, regrouped, and chased after my pursuer all the way to the cave... I took off my black hooded robe.

"Miss Aisha...!?"

"We meet again so soon."

She wore a blue-purple dancer-style outfit, had long black hair and beautiful legs, and held a large weapon in one hand.

In a one-on-one encounter in a passageway where no one could see her, the Amazon heroine revealed her true identity.

"What on earth is this...!?"

As the roars of monsters and the clash of swords between humans still echoed from the depths of the passage, Miss Aisha pointed the tip of a large weapon at me in response.

It was a huge broadsword, somewhat similar to Welf's greatsword.

If I had to point out a difference, it would be that the handle is longer and the single-sided blade is curved.

Miss Aisha pointed the large broadsword in her left hand at me, her eyes icy as she spoke:

"Hate the capricious goddess if you must, or else—"

Before I could calm down, I noticed something.

Her brown skin, revealed after removing her hooded robe, was enveloped in countless particles of light.

The body is faintly glowing...?

"—I should just curse myself for letting the goddess take a liking to me."

In an instant, Miss Aisha vanished.

「!?」

The ground shattered, and the opponent's acceleration broke free of my consciousness.

In an instant, Miss Aisha was forced to face me, intending to cut me in two with her broadsword.

Faced with the approaching large silver ingot, I didn't even have time to feel a chill; I could only immediately use the Goddess's Blade to deflect the attack.

Before the sparks from the blades had even dissipated, a kick came flying in, a spear-like leg striking my chest.

The dented breastplate drowned out the scream and kicked me backward.

(Too fast—!?)

I was terrified. Miss Aisha showed no mercy and pounced on me.

I slammed my arms and legs into the ground, using the recoil to stand up, and fought back with two daggers.

I forcefully shook off my chaotic thoughts and launched a series of attacks. The shrew also charged at me and launched a high-speed attack, and the two clashed head-on.

The flashes of light from the blue-purple dagger and the crimson short sword were all deflected by a single blow from the broadsword. Then, a flurry of long legs swept through, slicing through my armor and scraping my skin.

—Even faster than me!?

impossible.

I was faster during the battle on Fengyue Street three days ago, that's for sure.

Only speed—only agility—surpasses her!

How could this happen in such a short period of time?!

"My abilities (stats) haven't increased."