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

She said she had seduced a monster weaker than herself, and then leaped into the spring.

Marie traced gentle arcs in the water, flying out from the center of the spring, letting water drip from her hair and skin, and smiling at me.

"..."

Behind her stretched an endless expanse of water leading from the spring to the outside, and parallel land passageways.

There's no need to ask anything anymore.

I nodded in response and started running, rushing out of the cave with her as she flipped over.

"Let's go, Bell!"

To reach my companions, I raced through the crystal maze with the mermaids who swam across the water.

Volume 12, Chapter 6: The Sacred Flame of Heroes

The shouts burst forth, and the sound of marching footsteps echoed incessantly.

The monsters parasitized by the "parasitic tree" roared and charged toward their prey.

The terrifying scene that greeted their eyes terrified the adventurers.

"The monster actually knows how to offer 'monster gifts'...!?"

"Are you kidding me! This isn't a joke!"

Witnessing a phenomenon caused by human intervention... no, by the monster itself, both Lily and Welf felt anxious.

The monster triggered a "monster giveaway." This is something that has never been heard of before.

The "enhanced species" didn't use itself as bait; instead, it used its monstrous strength and "seed" to chase the monsters from behind, driving them onto the main route. Moreover, it deliberately attacked from multiple directions in a sequential sequence to block the adventurers' escape route.

"Hooh..."

Aisha gritted her teeth and stared ahead as the "enhanced species" disappeared from her sight.

It traversed the passage and moved to another side cave. As if preparing for a new assassin, the hideous giant, having learned "wisdom," leaped into the depths of the labyrinth.

"Run! Run away!!"

Second-tier adventurers act decisively.

She looked at the squad behind her, her composure gone, and ordered them to just run away.

"That 'enhanced species' plans to swarm this area with a bunch of monsters! Forget about blowing them up with the 'Demon Sword'!"

Aisha correctly guessed the monster's plan, leaving Welf and the others greatly shocked.

No matter how formidable the "Crozo's Demon Sword" is, its effect is limited to a single direction. Trying to drive away monsters swarming from multiple directions will only waste time. Once outnumbered and captured by the monster army, it's all over. The chaotic melee between friend and foe will create a scene of utter chaos, leaving only the mangled corpses of adventurers.

More importantly, the "Demon Sword" has a limit to its use.

If, after the sword shatters, the enemy then summons a whole horde of monsters—

"Damn it!"

Welf cursed in disdain and obeyed the instructions.

He sheathed the "demon sword" he had drawn and sprinted alongside Sakura at full speed. Led by the two, the team rushed into a passage that branched off from the main route.

'Roar! Ro ...

The monster's roars relentlessly pursued them. Chun Ji, who had preserved her "Level Ascension" skill to this day, had no time to use it. As the nightmare closed in, the dwarves, desperately running in the center-back position, were sweating profusely. Besides the suffering caused by the "Parasitic Tree," the elves they carried on their backs also caused a different kind of anxiety that made their bodies feverish.

"Huff! Huff—!? Damn it~! My legs are practically tied in knots~!?"

"You slowpoke, you dwarf... hurry up and run!"

"What did you say?! You made me carry your load, and you still dare to talk so arrogantly?!"

"I really don't know if this relationship is good or bad..."

The "vines" binding him were draining his strength, and Dorumur groaned in agony as Ruvis whispered disdainful words in his ear. Seeing Dorumur recover his speed through sheer anger, Lily, dangling her backpack beside him, looked away. This time, it wasn't a carrot dangling in front of a horse's nose, but rather an elf nagging in a dwarf's ear. Aside from Ruvis and Dorumur, the other elves and dwarves were experiencing similar predicaments.

As the wounded spurred themselves on, unwilling to slow the squad's escape, Welf and the others stepped forward to fight back.

"Get out of the way, big guy!"

"!"

"Gugaa ...

Welf swung the "Demon Sword" at the scattered "Metal Blue Crabs" blocking his path. In addition to the longsword type, the short sword type "Demon Sword" he also held fired a lightning whip, scorching the monster's flesh.

The enemy that Welf missed was sent flying into the water by Sakura's axe. The two did not force themselves to defeat the enemy, prioritizing ensuring the route remained clear.

In response to the worst "monster offering", Aisha was demoted to fourth place.

Inevitably, the avant-garde role can only be played by Welf and Sakura.

"...! Damn it!?"

The "Demon Sword" shattered and scattered in Welf's hands.

Welf, his face filled with bitterness and regret, threw away the shards of the sword and drew the greatsword from his back. To preserve the "Demon Sword," he made a decisive move, engaging in a direct, no-nonsense close-quarters battle with the monster blocking his path.

"Let's go, blacksmith!"

"Damn it! I'm ready to play however long it takes!!"

The young master blacksmith, together with Sakura, who had raised her great battle axe, launched an attack on the enemy ahead.

*

"Bell, over here!"

Marie's voice guided me.

This is the 25th level of the maze. I ran with my arms swinging, while Marie swam, flapping her tail fin.

Along the passageway where land and water routes met, we ran side by side. I repeatedly changed direction, following the directions she pointed out, making choices at the forks in the road.

"Bell's friends are far, far away! And many of my own kind are there too!"

After using her song to deduce the adventurers' location, Marie urged me to hurry on. That "enhanced species" seemed to be over there too. Sweat streamed down my forehead, and I kicked the crystal floor even harder.

"—Guaaaaaaaahhhhhh!"

"A giant water snake!? It's here again!?"

A massive monster burst through the water and made a grand entrance, letting out a roar.

The water snake, its long, pale green body twisting wide across the entire waterway, raised its head, not targeting me, but rather the Marie below its field of vision.

"Marie!?"

As I shouted, I stretched out my right arm straight out, and in an instant...

"!"

Ma Li sank into the water and disappeared from sight.

“Guh!?”

The fangs missed their target, much to the astonishment of the giant water serpent; I, too, was taken aback as I was about to unleash my magic (fire and lightning).

My eyesight barely caught that moment. With swift but fluid and graceful movements, as if dancing, she passed through the long body of the giant water snake that occupied the entire waterway.

That's too fast!

Among aquatic monsters, mermaids are sometimes likened to "birds flying in the water".

They can swim freely across the underwater terrain, possessing exceptional speed and turning ability. Once they escape into the water, no one can kill them. This is why they are a rare species, driving adventurers to search for them with bloodshot eyes.

I originally thought she was a bit eccentric, no wonder she didn't become food for other monsters of her kind.

She's probably faster than most mermaids, this "outlier".

"Bell! Over here, over here!"

"Uh, um!"

Marie appeared as if she had teleported, emerging from the water behind the monster.

She was faster swimming in the water than I was running on land. I was amazed and continued forward, leaving the roar of the giant water snake behind. The mermaid pointed out the direction several times ahead of me, and her figure really gave me the illusion that I was being guided by a fairy from a fairy tale.

(That being said, it's ultimately impossible to completely avoid a fight...!)

The monsters I encountered on the shore relentlessly attacked me, who was traveling alone. There were giant crystal turtles covered in protruding crystals, hideous demonic mosquitoes that sucked the blood of adventurers, and even light quartz that emitted rays of light. I tried to end the battles as quickly as possible, but I couldn't defeat all the enemies. The 25th floor was already vast enough, and reaching Lily and the others would take a long time; continuously chanting the "Enchanting" song was inefficient. Marie hurriedly led the way, and I followed, having to change course several times.

Then, after changing directions countless times...

"what……"

"Water flow...!?"

The waterway parallel to the land route was interrupted.

Unlike the land route, which continued forward, the waterway seemed to end like a lagoon. Perhaps due to the numerous bends in the path, Marie couldn't come along. I also couldn't get her to guide me.

"Bell, I'm so sorry... I can't walk anymore..."

She hung her head dejectedly, her shoulders slumped, and I stood beside her, racking my brains, hoping to come up with a solution.

Then, just a few seconds later, the adventurer in my mind, driven by emotion, shouted out a method that was both "simple" and "primitive." I felt immense resistance, my face stiffened, but I couldn't care less; I adopted the suggestion.

"Mari, I'm sorry!"

"Huh? -- Oops!?"

I dashed into the lagoon and picked up the mermaid's body floating on the surface.

I performed what is commonly known as a "princess carry," then got back ashore and started sprinting.

"This way I can go with Marie! So I'm sorry!"

I apologized as if making excuses, while constantly speeding up.

Since there were no bodies of water to swim in, I carried her while we ran. It sounds simple, but it's also an incredibly stupid method... I was actually carrying a girl whose lower body was that of a fish while we ran.

The fish's tail fin seemed startled and swayed lightly.

Marie, who was unusually tense and motionless, first stared intently at my face so close to hers, then blushed and gently rested her head against my chest.

Running on land while holding a mermaid... this might really be the first time in human history.

Will this also count towards the experience points for "great achievements"? I chuckled dryly as I tried to escape reality.

"Wow……!"

In stark contrast to me, Marlene's eyes began to light up.

The landscape unfolded before her swaying vision. Scenes of crystal caves she had never seen before rushed past, changing so rapidly she could hardly take it all in. This was probably like a land adventure for her; her face flushed with excitement, overjoyed like never before.

"Bell! That's awesome! I love you the most!!"

"Ah, waa ...

The "unknown" experience of moving forward on land thrilled Marie, and she hugged my neck.

The elasticity of her breasts pressing against my body through the seashell bra made me scream. The "Metal Blue Crab" blocked my way, and I leaped over them like a chaotic rabbit.

(I mean, if other adventurers saw me like this, I'd be doomed...!)

"Bell Crane is trying to bring a mermaid home." If this information gets out, he might actually be labeled a "monster fetishist."

I was sweating profusely, driven by a sense of crisis, and rushed to my destination without regard for anything else.

"...I'm starting to get used to this way of holding you..."

"?"

Hearing my sudden thought and whisper, Marie tilted her head against my chest.

I used to be a fairy, and not long ago, I was Miss Haruhime. I even once took advantage of the chaos to carry Lily in my arms… Rather than feeling deeply moved, it's more like a sense of desolation. I feel like I've traveled to a very faraway place…

I had a strange premonition that I would be persecuted even if Lily and the others saw me like this. At the same time, I switched my consciousness and sped up in time with Marie's cheers.

*

"Ho!"

The metallic blue crab raised its massive claws high and swung them down.

Welf narrowly deflected the attack with his greatsword, his stance slightly unsteady, but he still managed to pull the blade back to strike the enemy. The attack bounced off the sparking steel shell, once, twice, and only on the third strike did it finally penetrate a gap and slice through the enemy's body.

"Damn it...!"