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

Ais had heard from Finn that Bert's reason for converting was a falling out with his fellow members. She heard that the former faction (the Veda Familia) had left the Labyrinth City. Ais had known Bert longer than Tiona and the others, but in reality, she knew nothing about him.

(...My feelings for Bert are...)

Ais usually wondered whether Bert's behavior was "a bit too much".

She didn't doubt Bert's strength; moreover, to put it bluntly, Ais even felt that his attitude towards "power" was somewhat similar to her own. That competitive spirit was different from that of the innocent and carefree Tiona, who loved fighting.

After thinking it over and over, Ais finally decided to ask:

"Why, Bert... do you look down on others like that?"

"Gah~?"

Bert, who was drinking glass after glass of wine, raised his face, which was already slightly flushed.

He looked at Ais, who had spoken up first, with a curious expression, then twisted his smile into a grimace:

"A nobody is a nobody. What's wrong with looking down on those weaker and more pathetic people than yourself?"

When Bert spoke of his consistent views, Ais remained silent.

No, that would be like the usual Rivera and Tiona, which are parallel lines no matter how you look at it.

Ais had this feeling, so she tried changing the wording of the question:

"Bert...why do you want to become stronger?"

"..."

Ais asked this question because she felt that Bert was similar to herself.

Her explanation was: since he was similar to herself, as long as she knew Bert's obsession with power, or even his motivation for gaining great power, she could get to the root of his problem.

After a few seconds of silence, Bert smirked and chuckled.

"Ha! That's really strange, you're actually interested in other people."

"..."

"You never used to talk about your own affairs and only knew how to slaughter monsters all day long. It's hard to imagine that you would come to this."

“——”

Ais frowned, and just as she was about to speak without thinking, Bert preemptively said to her:

"Then let me ask you, if I asked you the same question, would you answer it?"

"!"

Ais was speechless and could only lower her golden eyes in response.

Bert didn't scold Ais for not being able to answer; he simply continued dismissively:

"Don't disappoint me, Ais. You don't need to know about other people's business. Who cares what other guys are doing?"

Bert finished his bright red mead and threw the glass onto the floor.

"Ais, you're strong, that's enough."

"..."

"All we need to do is always be tough, that's all."

Bert, reeking of alcohol, stared intently into Ais's eyes and spoke to her as if offering advice.

"That's right, no one cares what the strong do, and they can take whatever they want."

However, his serious expression suddenly changed into a frivolous smile.

"For example—I can drink with as many of these small fry around me as I want, and nobody dares to say a word!"

A booming voice, loud enough to drown out any noise or commotion, burst forth from Bert's mouth.

Ignoring Ais's astonishment, the gray-haired werewolf rested his arm on the back of the chair, looking down at the crowd with disdain.

"You complacent, smug, smug bastards! That stupid face of yours disgusts me to no end! Stop thinking you're so great about killing monsters weaker than yourselves all year round! Earning a pittance and drinking pittance liquor, I don't know what you're so happy about!"

As Bert's laughter rang out, the conversation in the tavern gradually faded, instantly enveloped by a tense atmosphere. Hostile gazes were fixed on Bert.

"Bert!"

"Don't stop me, Ais! Did I say anything wrong? Your only skill is going to gang up on people; you're all talk and no action, and you don't even have the slightest courage to stand up and fight back!"

Many people glared at Bert, but he returned the gaze with a belligerent laugh, and the adventurers immediately cowered in the face of that stare.

Those people looked away or lowered their eyes, which confirmed his insults.

"See, that's the kind of person they are... If they don't even dare to scream, they shouldn't be adventurers! A bunch of hopeless cowards!!"

The adventurers in their armor flushed red, their fists trembling with rage, but they couldn't utter a word in response. They were deeply humiliated, yet none dared to contradict Bert. They all feared the true "monster" title of First-Class Adventurer.

Even Ais, who was usually devoid of emotion, couldn't help but show her disgust, and was about to stop Bert when...

"—This is really annoying."

A group of people confronted him head-on.

It was a group of Amazons occupying a corner of the store. Among them, a shrew stood up, her long, flowing black hair swaying.

"Aisha Belleka..."

"It's [Antianeira]."

The gradually increasing noise from the patrons revealed her background.

Bert and Ais immediately recognized the shrew—Aisha—and her companions as former "barbela" of the Ishtar Familia. Most of them were LV3, a group of skilled adventurers.

It seems that after the main god (Ishtar) was sent back and they each went to different factions (families), they were probably drinking and having fun together with some of the old faction members, only to be discouraged by Bert.

"Don't lump us in with those cowards. We're not so cowardly as to stay silent after hearing your awful screams. ...Whether you're Level One or whatever, don't think you're so great."

The final, deep bass line carried a murderous intent.

Aisha made no attempt to hide her anger at Bert's rude remarks. The Amazons who rose up behind her were the same; their sizzling clothes revealing their brown skin, their fierce expressions conveying an air of "we're ready to fight."

"Ha! -- A bunch of nobodies."

Bert stared at the female warriors who were standing up one after another, his mouth twisting fiercely.

It even looked like a joyful smile.

"Stop showing off, you bunch of prostitutes (shrewish women)! Want me to kick you to death?!"

He kicked the chair away and stood up.

"Bert! Wait a minute—!"

"That suits me perfectly; you're the one who should be getting a good beating!"

Ais stood up, her voice fading into the roars of the Amazons.

The patrons immediately started cheering and shouting, and Bert and the "fighting prostitutes" immediately began a full-blown brawl.

They smashed the plates, chairs, tables, and blood everywhere.

The shopkeeper (a dwarf) seemed to be used to it all, silently wiping plates behind the bar; roars and screams rose and fell in front of him.

They left the stunned Ais aside and started a chaotic brawl.

Fragments of the moon, hidden among the clouds, glowed faintly.

The once vibrant and exciting night has long since regained its tranquility.

Before the pale-faced adventurers, several bodies lay sprawled on the floor, piled one on top of the other.

"Ha! All you do is talk big."

"Gurgle...!"

Bert dealt with more than ten fighting prostitutes without sustaining a single scratch, then grabbed the last one—Aisha—by the neck.

His outstretched right hand tightened around the neck of the heroine who had resisted to the very end.

"【The Ferocious Wolf】...!"

Even though the outcome is now decided, Aisha has not lost her fighting spirit.

Faced with the female hero who still didn't retract her fangs despite being beaten so badly, Bert smirked.

Just as he was about to deliver the final blow to his opponent—

"Please stop."

"..."

Ais drew her sword, the Sword of Despair, and aimed it at Bert's neck.

Bert's smile vanished as he looked closer, and he saw that the Sword Maiden's eyes held a chilling, icy light.

The fight is over, and now that all the Amazons are down, no one should dare to provoke Bert anymore. Ais's implication is: you no longer need to use violence under the pretext of self-defense.

Bert suddenly lost his strength, snorted, and released Aisha.

Aisha collapsed to the ground, coughing violently.

"Why...why would you do this, hurting others?"

Whether with fists or words.

Bert did not answer Ais's question about the lack of explanation.

As the Amazons rushed to their leader (Aisha) despite their injuries, the young girl, while gazing intently back at Bert, clearly told him:

"I... hate Bert's personality."

"...Ha! Is that so?"

Upon hearing the girl's assertion, the werewolf youth chuckled through his nose.

"I've lost all interest," Bert said, walking away from Ais. He tossed the small bag full of money to the shopkeeper behind the counter, turned his toes toward the door, and ignored the stares of the Amazons sitting on the floor.

As Bert stepped out of the shop, the gazes cast upon him by the entire tavern were the same as those directed at the Loki Familia that morning—one of disgust.

Bert glanced sideways at the stares of the crowd, made the dry wooden door creak, and left the tavern.

"..."

Ais, her eyebrows drooping sadly, stood silently.

This time, she stopped chasing.

★

The bustling downtown area was teeming with people and bustling with activity.

As if escaping the dazzling, glittering glow of magic lamps in a grand casino or theater, Bert calmly made his way through the back alley. The pale, eerie light of the moonlight began to illuminate the surroundings, replacing the artificial lights.

Then, the instant he turned into a deserted corner—Bert immediately crouched down and curled up into a ball.

This is commonly known as the "frog squat".

"I messed up..."

The annoying laughter from before had vanished, and Bert immediately hung his head in dejection, muttering to himself as he crouched down on the stone floor, looking down at the ground.

(This happens every time I drink too much... I become more talkative, and my usual loose tongue (bad habit) gets even worse...)

Bert was now completely sober and had sobered up. It should be said that Ais's serious "How annoying!" gave Bert a [Wind Spirit Swiftness] buff while he was drunk.

Bert wasn't regretting his words and actions; it wasn't the first time. However, even though other people's gazes were insignificant, the girl's (Ais's) words were enough to bother him. He didn't understand why, but they were definitely enough to bother him. Recently, Bert had already caused trouble once with the "Tomato Adventurer"... correct, the "brat" at the "Fertile Mistress's" place, and this commotion was probably even more irreparable.

Even Bert couldn't help but feel a vortex of self-loathing, thinking that he, who kept making the same mistakes, was the truly incorrigible adventurer. Only in this one incident could he be said to have brought it upon himself; the wolf tail that had grown from his rump drooped listlessly, as if lifeless.

If someone who knew [The Wolf] saw Bert so disheartened, they would surely doubt their own eyes; "Damn it..." he sighed deeply.

Just when Bert was so dejected that he almost sank into the cobblestones.

"Found you—! Bert Roca!"

A cheerful, almost infuriating voice lashed out at Bert's back.

"...Huh?"

Bert simply turned his face away, and behind him appeared an Amazonian, a young girl.

Her slender, brown body was far from mature. Her breasts—though slightly larger than the foolish woman's (Tiona's)—were barely beginning to develop. Her clothing consisted of a short vest paired with a waistband that nearly exposed her skin; while covering more area than other Amazons, it was still quite revealing, with her navel completely uncovered. Only her long, tied-up black hair added a touch of maturity. The girl Bert pointed at by name blushed, her gold earrings dangling as she approached like a lively little puppy.

"I've finally seen you! I've wanted to see you for so long!"