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

The two overlapping blades blocked the longsword, and the immense power and weight caused the two men's weapons to slump and come to a stop.

Just as the blade was about to touch Haruhime and Lily, it came to a complete stop in front of Winnie.

Seeing the longsword vibrating with a squeaking sound, and the humans standing up to block his attack, the lizardman widened his bright yellow eyes.

“——————”

Immediately afterwards, a "ring, ring" sound was heard.

The lizardman's hearing received the sound of the bell.

Turning my head, I saw the adventurer's figure rushing towards me like a blood-stained white rabbit, followed by a white light fist that shot straight at me.

Five seconds of charging.

Bell's eyes widened in fury as he unleashed the furious crossbow bolt, channeling all his power into it.

"Aa ...

Right on target.

"Oh!?"

The clenched fist unleashed power on the lizardman's cheekbone.

The fist shattered several scales and sent the monster flying with the force of a burst dam.

The longsword and scimitar fell to the ground with a loud thud.

(It worked...!)

He used the [Hero's Wish (Skill)] while moving at high speed.

The girl's (Winnie's) crisis ignited her emotions and will, forcing Bell to achieve the parallel power-building technique that he could only use while stopping or jogging until now.

The lizardmen, floating and tumbling through the air, finally came to a stop after crashing heavily into a massive, dark stalagmite in the distance.

The other monsters that had escaped the "Demon Sword's" bombardment stopped moving and even forgot to roar, falling into complete silence.

As for Bell and the others, who were covered in bruises and panting heavily, they still showed an unyielding will, protecting Winnie with their backs.

"Guye——"

The lizardman braced himself on the ground with his clawed hands, and leaned against the stalagmite.

Then it sat down on the ground, its throat began to vibrate—then it raised its head and made a sound:

"Giggle g ...

When the lizardman suddenly turned to face the sky and cried out, Bell and the others, along with Winnie, were all stunned.

The intense killing intent and ferocious atmosphere that had been building up vanished, and the monster, now clutching its stomach and yelling wildly, looked rather comical.

Upon closer inspection, it became clear that the other monsters had also lost their will to fight.

"Gagaga ...

Soon, the monster's incessant howling began—

"—Haha ...

It turned into laughter with a human accent.

“Eh…”

"this……"

The monster's laughter left Haruhime and Lily speechless. Welf, Mikoto, and Bell were equally dumbfounded.

They couldn't keep up with the situation and could only stare blankly.

The group glanced incredulously at the stunned Winnie before turning their gaze back to the lizardman.

"Interesting! Kid, I've never seen an adventurer like this before!!"

The lizardman, completely oblivious to the astonishment in Bell's and the others' eyes, began to speak fluently.

The monster slapped its knee and stood up, looking rather pleased.

"They actually risked their lives to protect a monster! Ah, this is the first time I've ever felt this way!"

"—So I didn't say that, Reed. They're different."

Just then, a snapping sound was heard.

As golden feathers fell from above, a winged monster named "Siren" gracefully descended.

"This, this voice is...."

"Hey, could it be...?"

Bell and Welf reacted to the familiar, clear voice, and the golden-winged singing bird (Syllen) gave them a sweet smile.

"We meet again, you two."

Hearing what the other person said and seeing their narrow, blue eyes, Bell and Welf confirmed one thing.

She was the one who brushed past me on the 19th floor, the one whose true face was concealed by a robe—no, the monster.

Upon first seeing her true face, and more importantly, her friendly demeanor, the two were speechless.

Like Winnie, she was stunningly beautiful. Her long, dark golden hair had a hint of blue at the ends. Her forelimbs, which were like arms, were like beautiful golden wings, giving her a half-human, half-bird appearance. Her lower body, covered in feathers of the same color, had long legs with bird claws at the tips.

Her prominent breasts were covered by the combat uniform favored by female warriors, revealing her bare skin, including her navel, which was not covered by feathers.

The hideous monster that emitted terrifying sonic waves to bind adventurers' movements was far inferior to the singing bird before them.

"Yes, you're right, Rey! These adventurers are different!"

The lizardmen called the golden-winged singing bird Leiyi, and slowly approached, waving its long tail.

Lily stood frozen in place, dumbfounded and panicked, while Chunji didn't know what to do; the monster ignored them and walked straight towards Bell.

"Sorry, you were too fast, I couldn't be gentle."

"Ah...wait, this..."

It took Bell a moment to realize that it was referring to the battle that had just taken place.

After all, the monster that was fighting to the death just moments ago is now standing right in front of him, not attacking him, and even cheerfully talking to him.

"Let me apologize first. I've been testing you guys the whole time."

"test……?"

"Yes, kid, I want to see if there really is a group of adventurers hiding their 'compatriots.' Let's see if you'll abandon her and leave her behind if you encounter danger..."

Hearing this, not only Belle, but Lily and the others were also taken aback. Winnie showed the same expression.

"We'll talk about the details later... Kid, I'm so sorry I startled you and got you hurt."

"...!"

"Thank you for protecting our compatriots to this day."

What the other party meant was that it no longer harbored hostility. No, it meant that it had no intention of killing Bell and the others from the very beginning.

Seeing the lizard's head bowing in apology and hearing the harmless tone, that was the only thing Bell understood.

The lizardman then tried to speak to Winnie, raising his head, but she was startled and quickly hid behind Chunji.

It smiled wryly and scratched its cheek with its paw, giving up on approaching Winnie and turning to Belle instead.

(Woo…)

At that moment, Bell forgot the waves of pain emanating from his knife wound and the kick to his torso.

With sharp teeth and claws, and covered in scales, the lizardman approached Bell, a human, without showing the typical aversion one would expect from a monster.

A lizard warrior wearing adventurer's armor.

A talking monster.

Just like Winnie.

"Kid, my name is Reed, and as you can see, I'm a lizardman. Nice to meet you, Bell Crane."

"You...you know my name...?"

"Yes, Fels told me, kid."

—Although they are the same, the other party is not a humanoid monster, so it is harder to accept.

The lizardman looking down at him, unlike the dragon girl, exuded the dignified presence befitting a "monster." If a carnivore were to suddenly speak to him, no herbivore would dare not be terrified.

Bell didn't even bother to wonder about the names mentioned in the conversation, trying hard to keep his mind from going blank.

"Hey, can I call you 'Little Bell' from now on?"

"Oh, okay...please, please."

Bell's cheeks twitched, and she nodded repeatedly like a puppet.

Looking at Bell like this, the lizardman narrowed his bright yellow eyes.

It should be... a laugh, not licking the prey that's about to be devoured.

Seeing the lizard's face with its eyes narrowed into crescents, Bell tried to think of it that way, but it was really difficult.

"Little Bell".

"Uh, yes."

"shake hands."

Eh?

Bell looked stunned as the other person raised their hand.

Its extremely rough right hand was covered in crimson scales and steel gauntlets, with sharp nails growing from the tips of its fingers. Bell stared in disbelief as the monster reached out its hand to him.

The meaning behind this action made Bell feel like he was about to faint.

"Bell-Lord Bell..." "Lord Bell..." "Bell..." "Lord Bell!"

Even his immobilized companions couldn't help but call out Bell's name in the face of this scene.

Haruhime's face turned pale, while Megumi's face alternated between pale and red. Welf groaned, and Lily looked on with worry. Faced with this scene that defied common sense and should not have happened, they called out the boy's name in a dependent manner.

“…………”

Bell was sweating profusely.

A handshake, proof of friendship, an unprecedented bond between a human and a "monster," an "unknown."

At this moment, he was probably about to make a terrible mistake. Turning away from his right hand and following his emotions would definitely be the right choice. Bell thought this through his tangled mind.

Faced with options that challenged existing common sense, he felt an urge to escape reality.

However, the lizardmen were waiting for him.

Waiting for Bell to take action, or to express refusal.

very scary.

To be honest, he was terrified.

Those sharp teeth, claws, numerous scales, bright yellow eyes, and an ugly appearance.

He desperately wanted to escape the lizardmen who were right in front of him, looking down at him.

If you really want to do things rationally, you'll find it much easier.

but.

Bell then looked behind him.

"Ah... Waaah, waaaah..."

A terrified dragon girl came into view.

Bell recalled his encounter with her and the feelings he had at the time.

"..."

At last.

Bell smiled.