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

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This conversation also took place.

Of course, that's what I planned from the beginning! I'd already laid out the plot, and now I could finally write about the deep friendship between the prophet and her best friend!! ...Just kidding. The reason I decided to find an opportunity to develop the tragic prophet's storyline is, in other words, thanks to this "encounter." Including what I mentioned at the beginning of the afterword, the *DanMachi* series is a work that wouldn't have been possible without the help of various people. I'm very grateful to all the writers who have always been kind and approachable in providing me with advice.

Then came the second half of the battle.

Just like a certain classic adventure manga, I also really like a certain firefighter manga.

When I was little, my father, who was a firefighter, bought this manga for me. I excitedly shouted, "This is so good!" and kept asking for "Daigo!" or "Amakasu!" or "Chief Gomi!" and "Captain Kanda!?"

The initial idea for this episode was for the protagonist and the fairy, who had become separated from their companions, to be deliberately swallowed by the giant snake (Lemton) who had recaptured them, in order to try to escape from the depths. In terms of various meanings, the plot outline was quite amazing; however, as the story of the first half of the battle with the companions was being written, it was decided to change direction and "write 'Band of Fire Vanguard Big ○'".

I've decided not to write a story where the protagonist is eccentric and leaves others bewildered, but rather a story where the protagonist strives desperately to help those they cherish and is helped in return. I feel this is what a dungeon crawler... or rather, an adventure story should be about. Although this caused the protagonist to almost push their limits three times, leaving them barely recognizable as human. Giving them a bunch of trials right after they've just become stronger is really unfair to this protagonist.

The reason I thought of writing about "Crossfire: The Great ○" is, or rather, another reason, is because a good friend who loved this comic and often talked about it with me passed away from heart failure. When I wrote this afterword in 2018, both my friend and I were not yet thirty years old. In other words, that's the gist of it.

Thinking about how we haven't seen each other for over five years, so perhaps we can't be called friends, or why this happened after finishing the thirteenth episode, and then realizing that "things happened so suddenly that my mind went blank"—that's what it means; after thinking about all this, I ended up crying my eyes out. Besides friends, many relatives have also passed away this year, making me seriously wonder if it's the curse of the thirteenth episode—or maybe I really didn't want to write the elf's past in the fourteenth episode—my overthinking turned me into a useless person. But I'm fine now, so please don't worry. The scenes between the elf heroine and her confidante are completely free of the author's own inner thoughts or personal feelings, so please rest assured. The only thing I want to clarify is that only in this fourteenth episode did I challenge the theme we used to love the most. Perhaps this is still a bit of blurring the lines between public and private matters, and I apologize for that.

In the end, what I really wanted to say was, please take good care of yourselves.

We've strayed from the topic, so let's finally talk about the elf heroine.

Since this chapter focuses on her, I risked everything on a romantic comedy, but I almost failed miserably. The author has never actually played a bishoujo game before, and after trying various routes, they were completely defeated. The elf heroine refused to laugh, refused to cry, and refused to act coy at all. She showed absolutely no sign of going to the famous legendary tree.

Where is the flag?! What are the options?! Can I raise the affection level any further?! I've reached this point, tried almost thirty different routes, and failed repeatedly. After all that effort, I finally reached this happy ending.

To be honest, I was writing with the intention of reaching the true ending for the elf heroine, but I held back. It seems there are still some girls waiting for the protagonist to rescue them; I'm truly sorry, elf heroine. If I can get permission from GA Bunko, I hope to try writing about it someday. I should say, if writing about the elf heroine is this difficult, what about the other characters waiting to appear? I can only try to escape reality and avoid facing this crisis.

I apologize for getting so long; please allow me to now move on to the acknowledgments.

To Editor-in-Chief Matsumoto and Editor-in-Chief Kitamura, I apologize for causing you so much trouble again. Thank you so much for your support. To Yasuda Suzuhito, who created the beautiful illustrations for this book, I apologize for the excessive increase in page count… My sincere thanks also go to everyone involved.

Finally, thank you to all the readers for reading this far. I've gone through many emotionally unstable periods, but reading all the fan letters you've sent has helped me regain a lot of energy. Thank you so much!

The next episode is scheduled to be a slice-of-life episode. I will try my best to get the new episode to everyone as soon as possible, so please wait patiently.

thank you all.

Goodbye.

大森藤ノ

Volume 14 Illustrations

Volume 14 Bonus: Words of the Wind

"Miss Ais, what kind of place is the 'Deep Layer'?"

I think I was in a very relaxed mood at the time.

But it's something I really want to know.

The more they trained, the clearer the gap between them became, which made them anxious, staring blankly at the heights they could only look up to. But what they feared most was doing nothing.

Even though knowing this wouldn't shorten the distance between her and her aspirations, I still asked her that question.

"The deeper levels?...A terrifying place, isn't it?"

It was surrounded by blue sky. Above it lay a massive city wall encircling the labyrinthine city.

Miss Ais glanced at me, my clothes worn and tattered from training, and replied in this way.

"After going there, I realized for the first time that monsters... and dungeons are terrifying."

"Terrible, isn't it?"

"That's right."

Looking back now, Miss Ais found it a little difficult to talk about back then.

But I still wanted to give a proper answer, searching for the right words.

With clear, earnest eyes.

Even if I say it like this, you probably still won't understand... but once you go there, you'll understand.

"..."

"If... a very, very long time from now, when you are able to go there, at that time—"

correct.

The wind started blowing then.

I remember that person's beautiful hair was spread out as if it were flying in the air.

That is the sequel to the Memory of the Wind, which I can't recall for some reason.

"—Never give up hope."

When I heard the word "hope," I tilted my head.

"Hope, is that it?"

"That's right. Things after we get back to Earth, or even just wanting to eat fries. Anything is fine, as long as we hold onto 'hope'."

Miss Ais explained to me, who was puzzled by this abstract representation.

"Because the monsters there, and the darkness there, can easily drive adventurers to the brink of despair."

"..."

"When truly driven to the brink of despair, what keeps adventurers alive is neither 'magic' nor 'skill'... but 'hope.' It is the will to never give up."

"An indomitable will..."

"...That's what Finn and the others told me."

As she uttered the last sentence, she slightly averted her gaze and whispered it out quietly.

Seeing Miss Ais's cheeks flush slightly with embarrassment, I gave a wry smile.

"I...have felt that way too. The feeling of wanting to defeat the enemy isn't enough...the feeling of wanting to see everyone, that kind of feeling, becomes a power that transcends the 'deep'."

As if lost in memories of the past, Miss Ais looked up at the sky.

It was as if they were showing respect to the vast sky, or perhaps expressing gratitude, that they squinted their eyes.

Miss Ais told me that in order to cross the "deep layer," it is necessary to have this tiny "hope."

She said that in the endless, spreading darkness, only one's own heart can shine.

Or a reliable companion who walks with you.

"If I team up with Bell in the 'Deep Layer'... I feel like I can get 'hope' from Bell."

"Huh!?"

"Bell would come to encourage me... and then seeing you so flustered and worrying... I would think, 'Ah, I have to try harder too.'"

I jumped for joy in an instant, and then lowered my head in an instant.

Seeing me like this, Miss Ais hugged her legs, tilted her head, and smiled slightly.

It wasn't a prank; it was just a gentle gaze directed at me.

Honestly, I was really unwilling, but even so, I felt a warm feeling in my chest despite my disappointment.

I know I'm really naive, but seeing that smile made me very happy.

I want to see your smile again, and things like that.

Could this be my current "hope," Miss Ais?

"..."

open one's eyes.

After waking from the memory of the wind enveloped by a beautiful blue sky, I found myself in a vast, bewildering darkness.

"Mr. Crannie, are you alright?"

"Yes, Miss Ryu... Where's the monster?"

"There doesn't seem to be any around."

It could hardly be called a hall; soft whispers echoed from the recesses in the walls.

With our shoulders touching, Ms. Ryu, leaning against the wall, said this, and I immediately resumed thinking.

This is the third break taken on the 37th floor.

Just five minutes of sleep felt like a drop of sweet dew, nourishing my painfully panting body. Although my body still felt heavy, the fog in my head had cleared.

It's alright, it can still fight.

In this way, we can still move forward in the dark.

(Miss Ais—thank you very much.)

I had a dream. I haven't been able to remember what that person said afterward.

For me now, the most important takeaway from this experience is its irreplaceable 'radiance'.

By the way, don't give up hope.

Don't give up hope.

We must return to God's side.

Together with everyone.

We must return to the "abundant mistress" to whom Miss Hill and the others await.

Together with Miss Ryu.

Including Miss Ais's smile, I have many "hopes".

Collect them all and turn them into light to illuminate this darkness.

"Let's go, Mr. Crannie. I'll keep watch. Please conserve your energy until the battle begins."

I reached out my hand to Ms. Ryu, who was trying to stand up, and walked out.

I supported her with my shoulder, our bodies pressed tightly together, our breaths mingling as we parted from the endless darkness. At that moment, I superimposed Miss Ryu's voice with Miss Ais's words.

This person's words all pointed to 'hope'.

This person's unwavering sense of justice gave me courage.

What Miss Ais taught me.

What Ms. Ryu showed.

These two must be the same.

(Let's go back together with Miss Ryu...)

Only this 'hope' will not be abandoned.

No matter what, this is the only thing I will never let go of. Only I will never let go.

I engrave this vow on my chest and will advance into the "deep layer" together with Miss Ryu.

Volume 14 Bonus: Deep-Seated Survival Story

The Taiwanese version is from the Kingdom of Light

Input: kid