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

"Should Lily pinch your cheeks...?"

Welf and Lily whispered to each other, lost in thought.

Hearing their whispers, Bell couldn't hide the sweat trickling down his cheeks.

"Bring on the food and wine! Let's celebrate welcoming our new compatriots and our first human guests today!"

Reed the lizardman gave the first shout, and the monsters became even more excited—roaring and shaking the cavern.

The monsters treated Bell and his companions to fruits, tree fruits, herbs, and a worn-out wine barrel engraved with the word "Town (Rivera)" from the dungeon. The makeshift magic stone lamp shone brightly, and the humans and monsters formed a large circle around it.

The scene before them resembled the campfire they had once surrounded with the Loki Familia, presenting a "banquet" atmosphere.

"Little Bell, don't be shy, eat as much as you want! Here!"

“What, what is this…?”

"Humans call this meat-flavored fruit; it's said to be a high-grade ingredient on the surface!"

Reed, sitting to Bell's right, handed him a palm-sized red fruit. Bell cautiously took a bite, and the tender flesh and rich, juicy flavor spread in his mouth. Unlike beef, pork, or chicken, it tasted like a high-quality thick slice of steak, prompting Bell to exclaim in surprise, "So delicious…!"

Cloud fruits and other foods were also served to Lily and Welf. The small monsters, such as the red-hatted one and the unicorn rabbit, served the meal. Sometimes, there were also dishes such as giant grilled mushrooms roasted with the flames of black dogs (hellhounds), which were served on large green leaves instead of plates.

"Oh, right, I'm really sorry about earlier, I hit you so hard..."

"So what? It'll grow back soon. Besides, aren't we even now?"

Seeing the gleeful look on Reed's left cheek—a mark from his own punch that looked painful just to look at—Bell apologized in a flustered manner. The lizardman warrior, upon hearing this, vigorously rubbed his tattered scales with his arm.

"Don't take it to heart." His bright yellow eyes narrowed into crescent shapes; he must have been smiling.

By this time, even though the other party wasn't human, Bell could gradually discern their expressions. At first, he was quite confused, but now he seemed to be getting used to it.

Although Reed's deep voice and stature were even more intimidating than his ugly colleagues, his mannerisms were surprisingly approachable. It was only thanks to his hearty laughter that Bell wasn't frightened by the atmosphere around him.

I have to say I adapted really quickly—no, maybe I'm already numb to it.

Bell couldn't help but think this as he tried to force a laugh.

"So you guys can drink alcohol...?"

"Yeah, at first I was thinking, 'What is this?!', but I got hooked after a while! Humans really know how to make interesting things!"

Reed, holding what appeared to be a lost item from the dungeon, tilted his head back and drank heavily, then slapped Bell's back forcefully, his breath reeking of alcohol. Around them were other monsters, half-human, half-snake creatures with beautiful, red faces, who weren't much more sober than him.

"This is the first time I've ever drunk a drink that's so hard to get drunk on..."

As for Welf and others, it was the exact opposite.

Cheap, low-quality liquor was poured into a wooden barrel beer mug, and a large (giant) figure came over to offer a toast. Trying to get through the situation with alcohol was completely futile; Lily, sitting motionless next to Welf, remained silent throughout.

Ming and Chun Ji were surrounded by the curious gazes of the half-human, half-bird creatures, their kneeling postures tense and stiff. Chun Ji was even nearly fainted from the smell they emanated.

"And then, Bell saved me, you know?"

"Is that so? I'm so envious. Mr. Bell is really... cough, very gentle."

"Um!"

Sitting to Bell's left, Winnie was being entertained by the monsters. Although she seemed a little overwhelmed, she occasionally broke into a carefree smile. She was currently telling the singer, Bird Rei, about everything that had happened so far.

The occasional mention of Bell's name during the conversation made him a little embarrassed. Bell and his companions were being entertained by monsters, and they were thoroughly shocked throughout. "But, this wine and equipment, really were stolen from adventurers...?" J

As the monsters' stored food and wine continued to arrive, Bell glanced at the armor De was wearing and the weapons leaning against the side, and asked tremblingly.

The guild has released information about the monsters that steal adventurers' equipment; those criminals are probably them.

"Ah, yes. The barrels and stuff were borrowed, but this sword was the weapon an adventurer used when he attacked me without knowing anything."

Reed put the bottle on the ground and looked at the longsword and scimitar lying there.

"But I only retaliated in kind, and that guy dropped his weapon and ran away... so I figured I'd just use that kid. Don't adventurers bring back claws or teeth after killing monsters?"

"Uh, well... yes."

"After a person dies, the body still seems to be very important to the human race, so when we see a body, we want to return it to the human race... But adventurers will get angry if they see us moving a body, so it's not easy."

Reed seemed to recall the scene that had taken place in the dungeon, and said this, leaving Bell speechless.

"But it's not just the wine, the weapons are amazing too. They're much sharper and harder than the natural weapons (flowers) that grow by the roadside. We really don't know how to make them."

Reed spoke with great enthusiasm, his words even revealing a respect for human culture.

Besides Reed, many monsters wore protective gear or combat suits. Some even wore ordinary clothing, such as red hats and scarves around their necks.

While it cannot be said to be imitation... or following the example of the human race.

But Bell felt that there was some significance to their fondness for human products.

"—Reed, stop doing this pointless thing."

Just then, amidst the clamor of the banquet, a vicious curse was thrown over.

"These people are ultimately just humans; they're not worth trusting."

"How can you still say things like that, Gross? You saw it too, didn't you? Little Bell and the others have been protecting Winnie the Pooh. Besides, we only started this fight because you guys were so defiant!"

While Reed and the others welcomed them, some monsters didn't give Bell and his group a friendly look.

For example, there were gargoyles, spider-men, and unicorns sitting motionless on distant rocks, their sharp eyes fixed on Bell. Reed dismissed the gargoyle's claim, waving at Bell and saying, "Never mind it."

"Sorry about them... kid, we've had some things happen between us too. We heard that humans might come here, and everyone's become a bit neurotic."

"Uh, um... no, it won't happen."

"Your compatriots have already explained things to you, Little Bell, and they should already know that you are different from the adventurers of the past."

"You're not talking about... someone watching us from the dungeon..., are you?

"Oh! You noticed. That's right, little Bell, your compatriots have been watching you all the way here."

The stalking wasn't just a test for Bell and the others; it was also a way to immediately rescue their compatriot (Winnie) should anything happen to her.

Reed offered this explanation for the gazes Bell felt in the maze.

"Excuse me, are you only observing us from the underground city? Or are you observing us from the surface...?"

"No, Rhett and his team started monitoring from the 19th floor."

Reed stroked his large chin with one hand and said firmly that it wasn't them.

The gaze I'd been sensing since the surface seemed to be from them after all. Bell was utterly perplexed.

"...Hey, let's not talk about that now. Was what you just said true? You're in cahoots with the guild?"

Just then, a "thump!" was heard.

The beer glass, which he had gulped down with his head tilted back, was slammed onto the ground as if it had been smashed.

Welf, who had been listening to Bell and the others' conversation, spoke up as if he had made up his mind.

Seeing that Welf had spoken to him, Reed blinked a few times, then grinned, revealing his teeth.

"Yes, absolutely. The guild has gone to great lengths to keep our true identities from being exposed, and they even occasionally give us weapons and food... They've been helping us for a long time."

"...I can't believe the guild would do something like this. If they're exposed, there's only risk...it's completely pointless, isn't it?"

"We don't receive help for nothing. We accept commissions to secretly investigate and suppress incidents or problems that occur... which is what is called a 'reciprocal' relationship on the surface."

Lily groaned as she listened to Reed's explanation, but the singer, Birdie, interrupted her.

She said they would respond swiftly to the guild's instructions, acting faster than the adventurers, or resolving dungeon anomalies that the adventurers couldn't handle.

"So you're what they call 'comrades'," Reed said nonchalantly.

"Besides, it's less of a guild and more of a connection to a god named Uranus. Those guild members don't seem to know we exist, kid?"

"Uranus, God..."

When he mentioned the name of the creator god of Orario, Lily and the others gasped.

Guild Uranus

The governing body that should have declared it had abandoned the use of force... no, it's that the Supreme God actually possesses a private army. Lily and the others now understood Reed and his group's "heretic" stance.

"So, just as you said, this mandatory mission is..."

"That's right, little Bell. When Uranus and the others brought it up, we agreed, just to see for ourselves the true nature of the humans who were hiding their own kind."

This mandatory task did not come from the guild's upper echelons, but was issued directly by the guild.

It could be said that everything was under Uranus's control! — He had been tested. Only then did Bell and the others realize the whole story.

"However—after hearing about what happened to you guys, little Bell, I'm actually a little looking forward to it myself."

Upon hearing Reed's words, Bell exclaimed, "Huh?" before he could even reply.

Suddenly, someone started shouting and jeering in one corner of the circle surrounding the campfire-like magic stone light.

"Ray, sing a song!"

“Ooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!”

Some of the monsters were so excited that they were clamoring for her to sing.

The singing bird, who was standing next to Bell and the others, sighed, looked at Reed, and seemed to find it interesting, gesturing with its chin.

Lei smiled and stood up.

"There's no other way, so I'll sing, hoping it will add some color to this banquet."

She had only taken a few steps forward when she suddenly leaped and landed as lightly as a feather on the pile of magic stone lamps.

Rei turned around, looked at the stunned Winnie and Belle, and smiled.

"With both new comrades and human guests here, I need to put in a little more effort."

After saying that, Lei took a light breath and closed her eyes.

First, she felt the surroundings quiet down in an instant, and then she wove together a beautiful song.

"Whoa...!"

"This song..."

The clear and melodious singing voice immediately brought a smile to Winnie's face, while Bell and the others looked astonished.

This was the very soprano tune that had guided Bell and the others to this "unexplored territory."

The golden-winged songbird pressed its winged hands to its chest, singing joyfully and happily with a smile. There were no instruments or lyrics; the melody, purely composed of its voice, instantly captivated the listener.

In the center of the circle formed by humans and monsters, a singing bird closes its eyes and sings loudly.

Bathed in the glow of the magic stone lamp and the quartz halo, the figure was so elegant and beautiful that it seemed otherworldly.

That was a sight that shouldn't exist in the monsters' lair—no, perhaps it was precisely this mysterious and dreamlike moment that allowed people to glimpse the dungeon by chance.

The song echoed through the labyrinth.

The beautiful, melodious voice, unlike anything they had ever heard before, captivated Bell and the others, making them lose track of time.

"Let's dance, everyone on Earth! Please dance with me!"

"Sniff, wait...this—please, please wait a minute, I can't take it anymore!?!"

"My life—!?"

Her life was forcibly taken out of the circle by the half-human, half-bird girl, leaving Chun Ji's screams chasing after her.

A pair of figures leaped out and arrived at the center of the circle. One of them, Ming, was being led by the hand by a curious monster girl; it was less of a dance and more of a dizzying experience. Her hand was tightly clasped with the winged hand.

The singing bird chuckled and drastically changed the tune.

The elegant melody has been transformed into a cheerful and lively tune, somewhat different from the waltz.

The drunken "heretics" rushed to gather around them. The woman in the red hat and the half-human, half-snake held hands.

A unicorn rabbit riding a black hound (hellhound) ran around, while beastmen and large-scale monsters lightly pounded the ground with their massive fists. Winnie, whose ears were being chewed by some of the monsters, laughed and said, "Hmm!" before running off to Haruhime's side. The gargoyles and others, waiting in the distance, watched this scene with little interest.

Singing, shouting, and laughter rang out continuously.

A flustered Chun-hee was pulled out by Winnie and made to dance in circles around Ming.

The shadows of humans and aliens stretched out on the ground, overlapping each other.

"...People don't usually make a fuss like this."

Reed squinted and spoke softly, a clear smile playing on his lips.