"Why are so many Minotaurs appearing all at once?"
Eiji looked at the more than twenty bull-headed creatures before him and couldn't help but grumble inwardly.
Damn, you guys really picked the worst time to spawn. Showing up when a group of Level 5 adventurers are passing by is like an old man eating arsenic—literally asking to die (or "looking for death while holding a lantern in the toilet," as the idiom goes).
"Monster Banquet, a rare probability event. The dungeon sometimes spawns a large number of monsters at once."
Lefiya explained lightly, unconcerned.
Ah, I see.
It's like when you win the lottery, there's always a small chance of hitting the jackpot twice.
Except the dungeon just had a massive overpopulation event.
"Take them out!"
"Got it!"
Finn didn't even bother giving specific orders, letting everyone act freely.
Tiona walked forward with a bright smile, then delivered a high kick that shattered the head of the first Minotaur without even turning around.
The "demon kings" began their assault.
The Minotaurs' faces vividly displayed sheer terror before they immediately turned and fled.
"Aren't you supposed to be monsters? Why are you running?"
Tiona pouted in dissatisfaction.
The group of over twenty Minotaurs scattered like animals chased by a shepherd's whip, completely lacking the intimidating presence that would make even Level 2 adventurers tremble.
"After them!"
Finn's expression suddenly tensed.
"That path leads to the upper floors. We can't let them harm other adventurers!"
"Oh right! Don't run!"
Tiona immediately realized the urgency and chased after them without hesitation.
"Tch, we're already here, and now this mess!"
Bete shot another glare at Eiji, as if saying they'd settle things later, before joining the pursuit.
Soon, Finn, Ais, Tione, and the others all followed.
"I'll go too."
Eiji stepped forward. "My intuition is pretty good for tracking."
"Fine."
Lefiya initially wanted to say it wasn't necessary, but his reasoning made sense.
She needed to stay behind since the party included healers like Line, who were carrying valuable loot. A senior member had to remain for security.
Having witnessed Eiji fearlessly taking on Level 4 monsters, Lefiya wasn't worried about his safety either.
***
Ais silently hunted down the Minotaurs.
"Have you seen any Minotaurs?"
Rushing through the middle floors, she asked everyone she encountered, having already slain seven.
"Two more went upstairs!"
Ais nodded and sprinted upward like a gust of wind.
On the ninth floor, she finally killed another one and continued her pursuit.
Middle-floor monsters reaching such high levels was practically an anomaly.
She prayed no one got hurt by the Minotaurs.
If someone were injured—or worse—because of them, she'd never forgive herself.
Seventh floor.
This was the domain of rookies who'd only been adventurers for a few months. The terrain was much flatter, and the labyrinth's scale had shrunk significantly, with corridors no wider than a central plaza.
"Waaahhh—!"
A rookie's terrified scream echoed from a passage ahead.
Ais's eyes sharpened, and she immediately changed direction.
Soon, in a dead-end corridor, she spotted the last Minotaur—and in the depths of the passage, the trembling figure of a young adventurer.
Slice!
Without hesitation, Ais charged forward, wielding Desperate like a hot knife through butter, carving countless gashes into the Minotaur in an instant.
"Grooowl…!"
The Minotaur let out a guttural groan before its pigment rapidly drained away, its body crumbling into black smoke.
"...Are you okay?"
Ais sheathed her sword and approached.
In the corner of the dead end was a boy who looked about fourteen or fifteen.
Around Eiji's age, but much shorter.
Ais noted inwardly.
The boy was covered in blood, seemingly petrified, staring blankly without speaking. It was unclear if he was injured.
"—Eeek!!"
As Ais approached kindly, the boy suddenly let out a shrill scream, scrambled past her, and vanished in a flash.
"...."
Ais stood frozen, unsure how to react.
"Hah… Haah… Ais… slow down…!"
A while later, another boy arrived, gasping for breath, sweat pouring down his forehead.
Darn it!
He'd relied on his intuition to track the monsters but forgot that Level 5 adventurers were ten times faster. Even at full speed, he could only watch their distant figures vanish ahead.
Ais turned, silent.
Her eyelids drooped slightly.
"What's wrong? Feeling down?"
Eiji instantly noticed her gloom.
So easy to read.
"...I saved an adventurer from a Minotaur just now, but he screamed and ran away."
Ais looked up at Eiji with confused eyes.
"Am I scary?"
Huh?
Saved someone from a Minotaur, only for them to scream and flee?
Why does that sound familiar… Oh well, who cares about plotlines? Not my problem!
"Who said that? I'll beat them up!"
Eiji indignantly reached out and ruffled Ais's golden hair.
"Our Ais is adorable! Anyone who says otherwise is lying, and I won't stand for it!"
"...Mm."
Ais lowered her head.
Her cheeks felt inexplicably warm, her heartbeat speeding up uncontrollably.
Having Eiji pat her head felt entirely different from Lefiya's touches. She didn't understand why… but she didn't dislike it.
Stare—!
Stare—!
The black-haired Amazoness and white-haired wolf-man had somehow appeared not far behind them, both shooting piercing glares.
"Damn it!"
They cursed in unison.
Tiona looked aggrieved, as if the man she fancied was being stolen by her best friend. Bete, however, seemed on the verge of murderous rage.
***
Guild Headquarters.
"Miss Eina, tell me about the Sword Princess, Ais!"
A bloodstained young adventurer excitedly approached the guild counter, eyes sparkling as he addressed his advisor.
"Bell, what happened to you?"
The popular half-elf advisor, Eina, quickly began tending to him.
"Ais the Sword Princess? She's a first-class Level 5 adventurer, very well-known in Orario. As for her relationship status, I'm not sure… But recently, her familia has a very talked-about rookie."
Eina pulled out a report on Ais and the newcomer, looking sympathetic.
"The legendary 'strongest rookie'—you must've heard of him. He reached Level 2 in just twenty days, a fact confirmed by the goddess Loki herself. There's almost no room for doubt. Plus, they say his beauty puts even the gods to shame. If you're hoping for something with Ais, it'll be tough!"
***
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