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

Having defeated the monster, Welf wiped the sweat from his chin and neck.

This is really tough. Aisha said that Lv.2 abilities (stats) also apply to the monsters in this floor area. That's definitely true; as long as Welf uses his "real skills," he can definitely defeat them.

However, it will be a tough battle. Defeating just one monster will take a lot of effort and time. In a dungeon where monsters constantly attack, this can be fatal. You will be defeated by the dungeon's greatest weapon—human wave tactics—and be crushed.

He deeply understood the significance of the floor arrival standards set by the management organization (guild).

Unable to fully fulfill his role as the vanguard, the monsters ahead of the squad were increasing in number. The team was still on the run, and Welf's face was contorted.

"Drink up!!"

"Chirp!?"

"!"

However, a team can also make up for the shortcomings of its members.

The "Metal Blue Crab" that lunged at Welf was cleaved in two by a powerful slash from a man.

"What's wrong? Are you out of strength, blacksmith?"

"...Bastard, how many times do you have to show off?"

Sakura now wielded the giant axe that had slaughtered the monster with one hand, and Welf's smile at him seemed to indicate that he disliked him.

"However, considering your skill with weapons, I'll let you off this time!"

"Really? Yes... yeah, you've done me a huge favor."

Welf drank his elixir and charged forward, with Sakura joining him as they fought their way to the monsters.

"snort!"

He engaged the metal blue crab in hand-to-hand combat, using a skill far beyond his physical size—Far Eastern martial arts—to gain a side position. Then, with a swing of his silver axe, he easily severed the enemy's steel shell and shattered its soft muscles.

Battle Axe (by Huang Gang)

As a farewell gift and a project, the forging goddess (Hephaestus) presented Welf with "White Diamond," a high-grade mineral from the labyrinth. This weapon material can only be obtained in the "Lower Levels" and below. Welf used it to craft Sakura's custom weapon, and the remaining material was used to make his great shield. Heavy weapons can unleash unique power, sharpness, and defensive capabilities.

Incidentally, although the cost of the materials is practically zero, Welf, being a blacksmith, will still charge a fee, setting the price at 700,000 falies. This price is already a significant discount.

Cherry blossoms transformed the power of the cost (loan) into a breakthrough force, unleashing their fury.

"Ughh ...

He flashed past with his powerful, veiny arms, brandishing the "Huang Gang" held in both hands.

Compared to the still immature abilities of second-tier adventurers, the second-tier weaponry, which even the God of Forging vouched for, compensated for its shortcomings, shattering the monsters. With a sweeping axe, the upper and lower halves of the monsters were separated, and the overwhelming power even pulverized the "magic stones" into dust.

The monster wall blocking their path gradually thinned, clearing a bloody path ahead for the team.

"You've done such a great job being avant-garde, you've helped everyone a lot...!"

"Lady Lily, now's the time!"

Looking at the majestic silhouette of the cherry blossoms, Daphne smiled, her face covered in sweat, and urged the squad to move forward.

Daphne could now focus solely on flanking attacks, wielding her baton-like short sword. She was now responsible for holding off Lily or Dorumur and the others, while her orders were to handle support duties at the front.

Without Chigusa, someone was ordered to fill the void. She used her "skill" to instantly detect the enemy's presence and threw a ranged weapon—a throwing device—before the monster could get close.

Those were kunai, the "Red Night," with red dots on their blades, ninja tools commissioned by Welf. They were made from the "middle-layer" mineral, "blood onyx." While their range was shorter than that of a bow and arrow, they were far easier to use; she held four of these kunai between her fingers and hurled them, blinding the monsters. Taking advantage of the monsters' retreat, Sakura and Welf would cut them down. Sometimes, she herself would wield a katana and rush to the front lines, bravely filling the gaps left by the two.

(My brain is about to burn out...!)

Aside from Aisha, who serves as the rearguard to draw away and cut down hordes of monsters, the biggest burden on the team now is their lives.

From supporting the center-back position to replacing the vanguard, it also requires scouting the enemy. Physical stamina is a given, and continuous use of [Yata no Kuroku] rapidly depletes mental energy. While both can be restored with items or "magic," the psychological burden is considerable. This is the unique burden of an all-rounder adventurer capable of using multiple weapons and performing in any position.

(Now that Lord Bell is absent, I must go through fire and water...!)

He spurred himself on while sweating profusely, using both throwing tools and a Japanese sword.

However, at that moment, Welf and Cherry Blossom, who were staying at the forefront, started to stir.

"What is that!?"

A gigantic figure, as large as a cherry blossom, suddenly appeared from the front.

It was not detected by the "skill" detection network of fate—that is, it was the first monster encountered.

"Crystal sea urchins!? Run!"

Aisha, possessing knowledge of the lower levels, shouted loudly from the very back of the squad.

Its spherical body was covered with sharp, long needles, and its spiny skin was a pale blue. It spun rapidly as it hurtled toward this place. If caught in that fierce onslaught that shattered the crystal floor and sent fragments flying, it was easy to imagine that one's entire body would be torn to pieces in an instant.

The creature's bluish-purple eyes caught sight of the hideous upper and lower jaws—circular chewing organs with countless sharp teeth, dripping with large, stringy drops of mucus—on the rapidly spinning surface of the monster's sphere.

"Hey, big guy!? What are you doing? Run!"

"Chigusa and the others can't escape! If that one gets to the back, someone will suffer!"

Upon seeing Sakura raise her great shield, Welf's expression changed drastically as he roared.

He was right. The dwarves, weakened by the "parasitic tree," were incapable of making any decent evasive maneuvers. The elves they carried were no different. However, even if they could block the massive barrage of long needles head-on, Sakura's abilities (stats) would inevitably cause her and the "white diamond" shield to be knocked down and turned into mincemeat.

Sakura, drenched in sweat, tried to fight back, while her master watched this scene from behind, thinking:

(Ah, isn't this a scene that evokes nostalgia?)

Her eyes narrowed as she reminisced.

More than three months had passed. At that time, she was protecting Chigusa, who was injured in the "middle layer," and confronted the "Armored Rat" head-on while covering the rear.

It ended with both himself and the monster suffering heavy losses, and he even ended up "offering the monster" to Bell and the others—how humiliating! If only he had had more power back then—he still regrets what he did.

So, facing this perilous situation, fate smiled.

Then, as if guided, she stepped forward.

"life!?"

She ran past the startled cherry blossoms and leaped forward.

He retracted the Japanese sword "Tora-teki" from his hand to his waist, and instead drew his new weapon, along with its sheath, from behind.

This new sword, crafted by a top-tier blacksmith exclusive to this faction, is inscribed with the name "Spring Haze."

The blade's edge pattern is shaped like flames. The blade is extremely long, far exceeding the length of the "Tiger Iron" and "Earth Remnant" worn at the waist.

Encountering a leaping monster from the opposite side, the Spiny Water Bullet (Crystal Sea Urchin) sliced ​​all the land monsters into pieces while advancing at breakneck speed. Amidst the thick fog of flying flesh and blood, the girl continued her rapid pace, her consciousness gradually becoming sharper and more acute.

The shouts of Sakura and the others echoed from behind, sounding so distant. Even the spinning sound of the approaching (monster) from the front was the same.

Mikoto has accumulated experience and learned "skills" from Takemikazuchi. She also has the excellent weapon given to her by Welf. If all this doesn't work, if she can't overcome this scene, so similar to the past, then everything Mikoto has experienced so far will become a lie.

(I, too, aspire to be like Lord Bell.)

Thinking of this, my body felt like it was on fire.

The scabbard is placed at the waist, and the right hand rests lightly on the hilt. The stance is sideways and forward, in the form of iaido (a type of swordsmanship).

During the ten days, among the "techniques" he learned from Takemikazuchi, this move was ranked alongside the Crescent Moon Throw (Takemikazuchi) as a secret technique.

Under the orders of her martial arts master, she was given a name, which is the highest level of "Iaijutsu" she can currently achieve.

"────!!"

As the distance between them continued to shrink, the monster roared as it smashed the crystal.

At the very moment of engaging the enemy, he drew his sword.

At the right moment, with the right breath, let the blade slide out of the sheath.

—Although Takemikazuchi's expression wasn't very good, it wasn't that she wanted to boast, but she thought she had given this "technique" a very good name. Because the name was taken from the title bestowed upon her by the gods.

Its name is...

"Exquisite Beauty".

The slash, accompanied by a sharp sound, flashed and cleaved the massive body of the "Crystal Sea Urchin" in two.

"Ugh, ugh ...

"R-Really...!"

"Chop it down!"

Witnessing the girl cleave the monster in two as they passed each other, turning it into a cloud of dust, Welf, Sakura, and even Lily forgot everything and cheered loudly at the retreating figure. The sword "Spring Sweep," about to deliver the final blow, swiftly sheathed itself, its right hand clenching into a fist.

"Everyone, let's move forward!"

Before his emotions could calm down, he turned around and called out.

The team, filled with admiration for the second-tier adventurers like Luvis and Dorumur, advanced through the newly cleared passage.

"You little life, you're amazing!"

"Thank you for the compliment, Lady Haruhime."

Ming returned to the center-back position, where Chun Ji was waiting for her.

Chunji ran as fast as she could to keep up with the team's pace, and Ming, walking alongside her, took the new medicine Naza offered—"High Dual Potion"—from her. Ming drank it all in one gulp, and his physical and mental strength were instantly restored.

While performing her duties as a supporter, Haruhime cast an excited glance at Mikoto, causing her cheeks to flush slightly, but Mikoto immediately switched her focus. She activated [Yata no Kuroku], repeatedly searching for the enemy as the squad's scout.

"Three on the right, six in the waterway, and there's another one hidden behind the crystal!"

"Lord Welf, please turn left! The 'Demon Sword' will be fired in four seconds ahead!"

Once the monster was detected, the team would continuously notify everyone of the enemy's location, and this information was received by Lily, who was stationed at the center of the squad.

Daphne entrusted all command to Lily, allowing her to make her own judgments and decisions. She also drew upon her experience as a supporter, long bullied by adventurers, to observe her companions' actions, coordinated movements, signs of fatigue, and to immediately fill any gaps in their defenses. In this situation, she couldn't simply command from a superior position, so she also used her crossbow or "magic sword" for cover, while simultaneously directing the squad as if it were her own limbs.

With her unparalleled ability to locate enemies, Ming, along with Lily who assesses situations, has saved the team's lives several times. Now that the team has lost Bell, their core member, their role truly lies in controlling the tide of battle.

Not only that...

"Lady Cassandra, please reply!"

“Okay, okay!”

There's also Lily, who oversees the battle, making judgments and casting "healing magic" at the precise moment.

"[The light of heaven, which I once rejected, the compassionate arm that has saved my shallow flesh. Rescuing my pitiful friends in place of my unheard words.]"

Cassandra entrusted Chigusa to Haruhime's care and raised her crystal staff to begin chanting.

"O sunshine, may you vanquish destruction!"

The rapid, fluid incantation she played proved that she had used healing spells to save her companions countless times. She could even distinguish between those with minor and serious injuries and adjust the amount of "magic" she consumed accordingly.

Cassandra finished the incantation in one breath and activated the "magic".

"【The Light of Thor】".

A magical light, resembling the radiance of the sun, shines down from a radius of five meters centered on Cassandra.

This is a ranged healing spell that can target multiple injured individuals. Within its calculated effective range, all adventurers except Aisha are included, bathed in its healing light. Its potency is vastly different from ordinary elixirs.

As the wounds healed, everyone's movements returned to normal, swift and efficient. Her power offered a glimpse into her exceptional abilities as a healer.

get well.

"good!"

"We're saved!"

"Hasn't everything been too tight, Riko?"

"In such an emergency, how could you possibly use it so readily?"

"Why are you arguing after I replied...!"

Cherry blossoms cheered, Welf and Lily bickered, and Cassandra was about to cry.

Regardless, the adventurers regrouped and, with renewed vigor, repelled the monsters blocking their path, thus speeding up their journey.

"I didn't expect them to be so... capable. I originally said that without Bell Craney, this team wouldn't be able to function properly. It seems I was quite blind."

Aisha narrowed her eyes at everyone's hard work and dedication.

The team was still in dire straits, but the sight of the third-level adventurers working together to gradually weather the attacks from the "lower levels" filled her with admiration. At the same time, her perception changed:

These guys are pretty good.

"Turn right at the next exit!"