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

Fels has known the "heretic" for nearly fifteen years.

Over the course of these long years, the two sides talked about everything and built a relationship of trust.

Now, the gargoyles, consumed by rage, have forgotten the passage of time.

"I won't be fooled by your sweet words again!"

"Guross, I...!"

"It's all too late!!"

As if he had given up completely, or as if he wanted to get rid of his attachment, Guros turned his back to Fels.

He flew deep into the forest, shaking the throat of the gray stone as he went.

"-----------------------roar!!"

That was a distant bark directed at the "heretics".

He called to his brethren fighting in the forest in a voice that humans could not understand.

It means: I am looking for my fellow countrymen, come with me.

—Rei, you're stopping the humans!

--I see.

As he left the battlefield, his eyes met those of the Golden-winged Singer-Bird, which was also flying in the trees.

Like the other "heretics," Rey, whose face was smeared with blood, led a group of her brethren into action; Guros glanced at them as they headed toward their destination on the east side of the forest.

"Mr. Reed...!"

There was a corner quite a distance away from the battlefield, where the trees stretched out like columns.

In the open space surrounded by tall trees and blue crystals, Bell and Reed were locked in a stalemate.

"Why...why did you come here, little Bell...!"

The battle cries are far away.

Nothing separated the two. This was the place Reed had arranged for their conversation.

However, he really didn't want to reunite in this way.

The lizardman, wielding a scimitar and a longsword in both hands, squinted one bright yellow eye as if enduring pain.

"I heard that the town (Rivera)... the adventurers' town was destroyed by armed monsters, so...! Really, Mr. Reed, did you do it!?"

"...Yes, kid, we raided the town."

The answer she received made Belle's expression resemble that of a girl who laments all day long.

"Why!?"

"Because our compatriots died a violent death... It was the adventurers in town who did it. No, it was the poachers."

Her deep red eyes widened.

As if to deliver an even greater blow to Bell, who had stopped moving, Reed uttered the following words:

"Vinnie and the others have also been kidnapped by those people's accomplices...!"

Bell froze the moment he heard those words.

The poachers who kidnapped Winnie and the others—could they be the [Ikeros Familia]?

The smiling face of the male god Ikelos returned to Bell's mind.

The unease that had been lingering in my heart finally materialized, causing me to break out in a sweat.

"Sorry, little Bell... kid, we really are what humans call 'monsters'."

“Eh…?”

"I've tried to persuade them, kid! I've convinced them! But it's no use!"

Regarding Winnie being kidnapped. Regarding failing to stop his compatriots.

Reed apologized for his incompetence, but his voice quickly turned into one of fierce indignation.

"Not just them, but me too!! I can't suppress my anger either...!"

Bell gasped when he saw the lizardman's pupils split open, revealing bloodshot eyes.

"I, this kid, wish I could kill those bastards who slaughtered their own people...!!"

He could pounce on himself, who was also human, just like his enemy, at any moment.

The sight of Reed before him was terrifying, revealing parts of his "monster" nature, which made Bell think this way.

Bell struggled to suppress his feet, which were about to reflexively retreat.

But, in the end...

The same applies to humans.

If any of their companions were to suffer any mishap, the human race would also be consumed by the flames of anger.

The emotions Reed and his friends now feel are no longer exclusive to the "monster".

Although Bell couldn't explain it aloud, that's what he really thought.

"Our compatriots are to the east of this forest."

"...! That's it!"

"We got it from one of the poachers we caught in town. He said there's a 'door' here. Kid, we have to go rescue Winnie and the others now."

Bell was surprised, but he also understood. He realized the purpose behind the "heretic's" seemingly incoherent actions.

There are many things he needs to think about.

But let's put that aside for now and go rescue Winnie and the others who are trapped—

"—Mr. Reed, me too..."

The moment Bell opened his mouth, the next instant...

"Don't come here!!"

Reed raised his longsword and slashed at the ground.

The swirling dust and sand made Bell quickly cover his face with his arms.

"...!?"

After regaining his vision, Bell swallowed his astonishment.

Before Bell, between him and Reed, a deep, horizontal, straight crack was carved into the ground.

This is the boundary separating Bell and Reed.

"Little Bell, you're not allowed to come here. Go back."

"Mr. Reed...!?"

"Kid, we're finished. Things have blown up so badly, there's no way we can achieve any of our dreams now."

The lizardman gripped two swords tightly and said that hope had been lost.

"However, kid, we will definitely get our compatriots back...!!"

However, the dangerous fighting spirit hidden in his eyes never dimmed in the slightest.

"Kid, we'll definitely get Winnie and the others back... so Belle, don't come."

"...!"

"If anyone sees you with us, it will ruin your life, little Bell. It's all our fault that things turned out this way. I don't want you to be dragged into this."

Please don't come any closer.

Reed thus rejected Bell.

It's like keeping him away from the path of destruction.

Just like not letting the hatred for humans in your heart erupt.

It's like being afraid of being betrayed.

Faced with those bright yellow eyes twisted to the extreme in pain, Bell was unable to move.

No, it's that they don't want to move at all.

He simply couldn't agree to the "monster's" plea.

"...What are you dawdling for, Belle! It'll be terrible if anyone sees us talking like this! Hurry up and go back to Lily and the others!!"

Reed's loud shouts shook Bell's body, who was biting her lip.

His legs trembled, his gaze locked, and his eyes were fixed on something.

The lizardman's sword blade reflected a crystalline light, which then turned into a dark glow that burned into Bell's pupils.

The distant howls of the gargoyles, having left the battlefield, echoed in all directions, passing between the two.

"Isn't Little Bell human?! Stop bothering us monsters!!"

"Mr. Reed..."

"Hurry up!"

"Mr. Reed!..."

"Let's go!!"

Even so, I—

Bell took a step toward the drawn line, but Reed stopped him from continuing.

"Roar!!"

The inhuman screams of the "monster" made Bell's body vibrate and push him backward.

Seeing the lizardman's roar of refusal, the boy's face contorted as if cracking.

"—Mr. Craney!"

"!"

Immediately afterwards, with a sharp sound, the wooden knife flashed and pierced between the two.

As Reed quickly retreated to dodge the attack coming at him, a masked adventurer wearing a hooded robe landed in front of Bell.

Seeing the elf protecting the boy, the lizardman suddenly turned around and fled from Bell and the others.

The figure, trailing a thick tail, disappeared, leaving Bell behind.

"Are you alright, Mr. Crannie?"

"...Ryu, Miss? What's wrong...?"

"We'll discuss the details later. It's too dangerous to be isolated on the battlefield. Let's go back to the Ganesha Familia first."

Ryuichi, who had rushed to the rescue after hearing the lizardman's roar, spun around.

Looking at her back, clad in a cloak, Belle's feet seemed to be sewn to the ground, and he lowered his head, unable to move.

"Mr. Craney?"

Seeing that Bell hadn't followed, Ryu turned around.

"I'm sorry, Ms. Ryu..."

Then, Bell looked up.

"I'm going to chase that monster... that lizardman."

"!"

Seeing Ryu suddenly startled beneath his mask, he cried out his innermost thoughts...

"I must go after that lizardman...!"

He saw that Belle's eyes were about to cry, but she was staring straight at him.

Ryumoto was about to speak, but then fell silent.