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

*

After we set off, we first went to the area where Mr. Lewis had parted ways with the team.

The one-armed elven archer, supported by Miss Daphne, gazed dazedly at the map Lily had spread out, but despite his exhaustion, he still pointed out the directions. Miss Chigusa was carried on Miss Cassandra's back.

"sorry……"

"N-No, it's alright! I may be a healer, but I'm also Level 2. This is nothing...!"

Hearing Chigusa's soft murmur on her back, Miss Cassandra shook her head resolutely.

We didn't let the wounded leave this floor first, thus diverting our fighting strength.

Splitting the squad in two in the "lower levels" was not a wise move. We should use our maximum strength to quickly eliminate the "enhanced species." I made this decision based on the advice of Lily, Miss Daphne, and Miss Aisha.

"However, the fact that there has never been any sighting of that moss giant is quite concerning to me."

"It must be trying to hide when it's acting... If it determines it can't kill its opponent, it will hide. It can do that little thing; that monster is very cunning."

Mr. Lewis, whose breathing was disordered, answered Miss Aisha's question.

"Beware... that monster is different."

He told everyone this, issuing a repeated and serious warning.

at this time……

"……!This is……"

As I led the team forward, I discovered something at the crossroads not far ahead.

It was a thick, red line drawn on the floor starting from the road on the right... it looked almost like the tracks left by someone dragging a heavy object.

"Could this red pattern be...?"

"...It's blood, isn't it?"

Miss Ming hesitated and dared not speak, so Mr. Sakura continued.

We pressed our lips together, and without realizing it, our pace quickened. Having fought the monster several times, we seemed to be guided, relentlessly advancing along this trail of blood.

Soon, we arrived at a "cave".

The water here flows like a spiderweb, blending seamlessly with the shore. Clusters of white crystals, resembling giant blocks of ice, grow everywhere on the land. This place is likely not far from the "Giant Waterfall," where the roar of the great waterfall echoing through the labyrinth sounds even louder.

In this context, our attention is drawn to the vast center of the "cave".

“That’s…!”

At the center stands an exceptionally large crystal pillar, its base...

Two elven adventurers lay there, lying on their backs. One was male, the other female. They had been implanted with "parasitic trees," and their legs were mangled beyond recognition, as if they had been struck with a blunt object.

"Ugh...!?"

It was only natural for Miss Haruhime to cover her mouth with her hand; her blood-red lower body, now completely devoid of its original form, could only be described as pitiful. Judging from her appearance, it was impossible for her to stand up and move.

And right next to them on the crystal pedestal...

"..."

"It's that 'enhanced species'...!?"

As Welf said, the moss giant was sitting there.

It slightly tucked its chin in, maintaining its usual silence.

He showed no concern for the two humans lying dead in front of him, as if he were waiting for something.

"Charlio, Lana...!"

"...Isn't this your companion?"

"Yes. But one person is missing...! Eric...!"

Upon being asked this by Miss Aisha, Mr. Lewis's weak, pale face flushed with anger, and his eyebrows twisted in regret. A thin veil of water veiled the elf's eyes.

Hearing what he said made my heart pound with disgust.

Just like with the dragon girl (Vinnie), it's hopeless again... Having such thoughts might be a form of arrogance. However, I cannot stop the indescribable, raging passion.

Just as I clenched my fist... as if drawn by the bloodstains drawn on the ground, at that very moment, monsters appeared in various places in the complex and intertwined watercourses of the cave.

Led by the metallic blue crab, they began to move towards the central riverbank where the "enhanced species" and the two elves were staying.

"Ah, ahh...!"

The female (elf) adventurer, barely breathing, let out a hoarse scream, her eyes filled with tears, and she twisted her body repeatedly without any meaning.

"Hey...is that 'bait'?"

"Using immobilized adventurers as bait to lure us over!?"

Welf and Mr. Sakura's speculation must be correct. This situation cannot be denied at all.

That "enhanced species" is taking the adventurers hostage, trying to drag us into this cave.

Unbelievable. The monster actually set a "trap".

—That monster is different.

Mr. Lewis's warning flashed through his mind.

We were in front of the passageway, hiding behind the crystal pillars to observe the situation. Welf and the others couldn't help but show a chilling expression.

"...Hey, little one, could that 'enhanced species' actually be a 'heretic' after all this time? I've never heard of monsters using such cunning tricks."

"Lily, Lily doesn't know! Not to mention you 'heretics,' even Lord Fels hasn't given us this kind of information...!"

Miss Aisha also lowered her voice and spoke to the panicked Lily.

The Amazonian woman frowned, her anger evident in her expression.

"Are you planning to lure us in and then spread those 'seeds' while we're forced to deal with monsters...? [Shadowless], do you even know how many monsters there are?"

"No, no. There are too many monsters in this cave...! And many more are hiding in the water...!"

Miss Mikoto's face contorted with anxiety as she used the [Yata no Kuroku (Skill)] to search for the enemy.

Did that "enhanced species" know everything beforehand, which is why it chose this location as a "trap"...?

The "enhanced species" may not yet be aware of our presence and have not made any move.

"Miss Aisha...!"

"I know. The fastest way would be to bombard it with 'magic' from here, but that would affect the elves."

Seeing the monsters closing in on the two elf adventurers every second, I couldn't help but lean forward. Miss Aisha, perhaps quite displeased with the monsters' intentions, nodded in disgust.

We cannot choose to abandon Mr. Lewis's companion.

Even if it's a "trap" set by an "enhanced species," it's still the same.

"Bell Crane and I will deal with the 'Enhanced Species.' [Shadow], you guys handle the other monsters. After you get the two elves away from that big guy, carry them out first."

"I understand."

"Haruhime, move to an open area without maze walls. This passageway won't do; if a monster suddenly appears, it will be a disaster."

“Okay, okay!”

Miss Mei and Miss Haruhime nodded in response to Miss Aisha's swift instructions.

The two elves, Miss Aisha and Miss Fate, Mr. Sakura and Welf, and I went to their rescue.

Those who remained were Lily, Miss Haruhime, Miss Cassandra, the injured Miss Chigusa, and Mr. Lewis. Just to be on the safe side, we left Miss Daphne as their bodyguard.

"—Everyone, let's go!"

There was no time to lose. To rescue our comrades, we rushed out in one breath and launched a lightning-fast attack.

Starting from the southeastern entrance of the cave, we headed towards the central area, while Lily and the others, following Ms. Fate's instructions after she had used her "skill" to check for enemies, proceeded to the southern end of the cave. The monsters were all gathered around the "enhanced species," and there were no enemies on the southern shore.

Led by Miss Aisha, we jumped across the water while constantly accelerating.

Although the monsters noticed us and tried to attack, we either shook them off or bounced away, refusing to linger. We were almost at the central area.

however……

(...Still not moving?)

At that moment, I frowned.

Like other monsters, the "Enhanced" was unlikely to have missed our rapid approach. Yet it remained seated firmly on its pedestal, motionless.

What's going on? Is it preparing for some kind of attack? Or does it have some other purpose?

Any monster encountered even once cannot escape the perception range of Miss Mikoto's [Yata no Kuroku (Skill)]. Since Miss Mikoto hasn't said anything, it must be the "enhanced species" we just fought. I glanced at my side; Miss Mikoto herself was also staring at the motionless "enhanced species," as if looking at something incomprehensible.

Welf, Mr. Sakura, and Miss Aisha all couldn't hide their surprise.

I sensed something eerie, but I had no choice but to move forward. Then…

"……Can't……"

Amidst the surrounding sound of flowing water, fragments of words uttered by the man (elf) who had been thrown to the ground were heard.

The elven adventurer seemed to be speaking desperately, his lips moving in spasms.

"...This guy, no...no, come here...!"

The moment the sentence was clearly received by hearing.

It's gone.

Near the eyes of the "enhanced species" that sat firmly on its pedestal, some of the moss had peeled off.

"────"

What was revealed from the peeling moss was human skin.

They are the eyes of a weak and lifeless human.

Like the two adventurers who had fallen to the ground, he was an elf.

It belongs to Mr. Lewis, another companion.

In that instant when I felt a chill run down my spine and my heart was gripped tightly, I clearly heard Miss Ming's breathing stop.

--I've heard of it.

Miss Destiny's skill [Yata no Kuroku] can search for monsters, but it cannot identify individual monsters. The feeling during activation is almost like unfolding a black sheet of paper in your mind, with red dots appearing on it, and the red dots indicating monsters are all uniform in size and color.

Her [Yata no Kuroku (skill)] did indeed react correctly.

However, it was the outer shell that reacted.

It is a large amount of moss (clones) used to create a mimicry effect by attaching "enhanced species" to the adventurer's body.

The monster, with part of its body cut off, fooled us.

I've never heard of the "Moss Giant" using moss in this way.

「!?」

A moment later, Miss Ming turned her face south as if she had been electrocuted.

As if sensing something—as if noticing the presence of an enemy—unlike the other monsters that were drawn to the central area by the scent of blood, this one approached Lily and the others at breakneck speed, and its expression suddenly changed.

"Run! Lady Lily, run!"

My gaze quickly turned in that direction, and I witnessed that scene.

Lily and the others were startled by the sudden shout. Right behind them, a green figure slowly emerged from the water.

The thing was dripping with water, holding a crystal hammer spear in its right hand, and staring emotionlessly at Lily and the others as they walked away.

“──!!”

Afterwards.

Before they could even see the scene, before they could even hear Miss Ming's desperate, hoarse cries, they were left speechless.

My feet had already applied the emergency brakes.

As I dug into the crystal floor, I decisively changed direction, shaking off the vicious momentum and distancing myself from Miss Aisha and the others who were astonished.

I turned south and used all my strength to speed up.