"Bell, you understand, don't you?"
"..."
"Viene is a Xenos. She is a person, yes, but it is far too early for the world to accept her."
"But still...!"
"No 'buts.' Face reality."
Akumo's response to Bell was cold and clinical.
He understood Bell's ideals better than anyone, but now was the time for pragmatic observation, not youthful sentiment.
Sss—
"I'm sorry.... because of Viene...."
".....Viene."
Pat— Pat—
"I am the one who is sorry."
'To possess such power and yet be unable to save a single girl....'
As Akumo stroked Viene's head, he bit his lip in bitter frustration.
"Big brother...."
"I know. Viene is a person."
"..."
"But I don't know what to do anymore either...!"
'Not everyone is as generous as you, Bell.'
Looking into the eyes of Bell and Viene, Akumo felt the weight of his ancient memories clashing with the present. To him, Viene was simply a girl—another race in a vast existence. But the world did not see her that way.
As long as the blood of a monster ran through her, she was a natural target for the mountain of hatred and tragedy humanity had built over eras.
Thud!
"Both of you, cool your heads. Do not view the situation with such narrow negativity."
"Mother...." "Alfia...."
"You are not alone here. Everyone is with you. Share the burden."
Sss—
Alfia placed her hands on the shoulders of the two brooding youths. To prevent them from being crushed by the weight they tried to carry alone, she redirected their gaze toward their companions.
"You two really are hopeless children."
"My head is still spinning, but there's no way I'm leaving Akumo-san and Bell to deal with this alone!"
"Akumo-dono, Bell-dono! I, too, believe Viene-dono is a person!"
"I also agree with protecting Viene-sama."
"Lili will help too.... so please, stop making such gloomy faces.... both of you."
When they turned, they saw the faces of those who believed in them.
Hestia, Welf, Mikoto, Haruhime, and Lili. To them, Viene was no longer a monster. Because their heroes wanted to save her, they would follow without hesitation.
".....Thank you, everyone."
"Thank you all so much....!"
Seeing their resolve, smiles finally returned to Akumo and Bell's faces, allowing them to organize their thoughts.
"Right. Spouting nothing but negativity won't change a thing!"
Sss—
'So you're watching this too, Fels.'
"A mission from the Guild will arrive shortly."
"The objective will likely be an exploration of the 20th floor—with Viene."
""""!!""""
Akumo, who had been glancing out the window, confirmed the presence of the owl before turning back to speak with calm authority. Everyone except Alfia was stunned, but he continued his explanation with clinical precision.
"The 20th floor!? And with Viene....!"
"I've gathered intel suggesting there is a colony of Xenos on the 20th floor."
"....Then that woman from before!"
"Exactly, Welf. The existence of that woman we met in the Great Tree Ocean is proof enough that a group exists."
Akumo stood and walked to the window, staring up at the sky. Bell approached Viene and spoke softly, as if asking for her permission.
"This is ultimately our choice, but if you don't want to go—"
"No, I'll go..."
"Viene...!"
Sss—
"If I'm with everyone.... I'm not afraid."
".....Yeah!"
For the sake of her heroes and for her own peace, Viene made her own decision. In that moment, the resolve to protect her bloomed in the hearts of everyone present.
"..."
Whoosh—!!!
"Xenos....."
"Did you know about these entities?"
Inside Knossos, Akumo and Ein stood in the same chamber.
Akumo was idly spinning the broken axe of the Minotaur he had fought previously, catching it with effortless grace. It was as if that life-and-death struggle had been nothing more than a warm-up exercise for him.
"That fellow was reasonably entertaining."
"....He was merely a monster."
"And yet, he was a warrior."
"..."
"Monster? Who gives a damn? Is that distinction really so important?"
Boom—!
As if displeased by something, Akumo hurled the axe into the wall, where it embedded itself deeply. He began to walk away.
"Is it Dix Perdix?"
"Yes. It seems he's planning to make a move this time...."
"You aren't planning to intervene, are you?"
".....And if I am?"
Rumble—!!!!!!!
The moment he spoke, Ein unleashed her power, her eyes filled with murderous intent. Akumo, however, didn't even spare her a glance, continuing his indifferent stride.
"I have nothing to say to someone whose power and mind are both half-baked."
"....!!"
"I just don't like the way things are playing out."
"What is your reason!"
"Because I can."
Step, step—
"I have the power to make the situation flow exactly how I want it to."
'Is there any reason not to?'
With those words, Akumo descended deeper into Knossos.
".....Ugh!!"
'Is it really so important....?'
CRASH—!!!!!!!!!
"Of course it is...!!"
Ein could only chew on his words, swallowing her rage and confusion in the darkness.
—Shiyaaaaaa!!!!!!!
"Get back, Viene!"
Slash—!!!
"They're swarming again!!"
BOOM—!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"Bell! Watch out!"
Late at night, Bell and Viene's party were pushing through the 20th floor.
However, the sheer number of monsters was incomparable to the middle floors. For some reason, the monsters were obsessively targeting only Viene. Bell, Welf, Lili, and Mikoto were forced to use Haruhime's Level Boost and Welf's magic swords just to maintain their advance.
"Fels said it should be around here....."
—Kieeeek!!!!!
"I'm a bit busy right now!"
Akumo, who had come to the 20th floor based on Fels's information, had left the combat to the others while he searched for the Xenos' hideout.
Monsters lunged at him as well, but—
BOOM—!!!!!!!!!
Shred—!!!!!!!!!
They were instantly shredded and pulverized by Lævateinn.
—♪
"!!"
'I definitely heard something from that direction....!'
Dash—!!
A crystal embedded in the corner of the floor, vibrating slightly from the shockwaves of Akumo's attacks, caught his eye. He immediately moved toward it and examined the stone.
Thud—!
"It won't open with ordinary force. It requires at least the strength of a Level 3 to move...."
Grind—!!
'As I thought...!'
"Everyone!! It's over here!!"
'Just as Fels said, there was a hidden cave....'
As he applied pressure, the crystal slid aside to reveal an entrance. Akumo shouted to Bell's group, but a thought crossed his mind.
".....They hid it well enough, but."
'Is this really going to be okay?'
"Oh!"
"Perfect timing! I was just about to run out of magic swords!"
Setting aside his concerns for a moment, Akumo watched the exhausted party catch up. He led them into the cave.
—♪~♫
"Singing.... I hear it...!"
"Yeah, there's definitely a Xenos inside."
"Big brother, from here on....."
"Do as you wish. It's a situation where both caution and trust are equally valid."
'Even I haven't ventured beyond this point.... Let's see what awaits....'
They focused on the faint but clear sound of a woman's song, advancing slowly with Akumo in the lead. However, as they walked, Akumo felt a sharp, stinging gaze pricking at his skin.
Glare—!
'This sensation....'
Step, step—
"...."
Stop!
"Akumo-sama? Bell-sama, why so suddenly...."
As the singing grew clearer, the sensation on their skin intensified. Realizing the song had stopped, Bell and Akumo acted simultaneously.
"Bell!"
"Yeah!"
Clang—!!!
"Akumo-dono! Bell-dono too!? When I detected with my skill, there were no monsters...."
"It's the Xenos."
"!!"
"Forget skill detection.... how could we not notice when they're monitoring us with this much hostility!"
Akumo and Bell drew their weapons and shouted toward the shadows. In response, figures began to emerge from the darkness.
—Kwooooo!!!!!!!
"A Lizardman!"
A Lizardman roared and lunged at Bell with a sword.
"Guh!?"
'F-Fast...!!'
—Kruuuu!!!!!
Crunch—!
'He targeted the flashlight first!?'
The Lizardman was clearly skilled with a blade. More surprisingly, instead of following up on the off-balance Bell, he crushed the dropped flashlight to cut off their vision.
—Grrrrr!!!!!
—Kieeeek!!!!!
"Dammit, how many of them are there!!"
"Viene-dono, Haruhime-sama, stay behind me!"
The group panicked. Lili quickly threw glowing moss to regain visibility.
Whoosh—!
""""!!!!""""
"What is this!?"
"Armed monsters.....!"
—Kwooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Clang—!!!!!
'They're targeting Viene first!?'
A swarm of armed monsters had appeared, and they were launching a concentrated assault on Viene. To make matters worse, the Lizardman possessed power equivalent to a Level 5—a worst-case scenario where he could likely wipe out Bell's entire party alone.
Creak—!!!!
"I don't know why you're attacking us, but...."
Flash!
"I hope you're prepared!"
That is, if Akumo hadn't been there.
Whoosh—!!!
"!?"
'These guys.... they're avoiding me?'
"Why...."
For some reason, the monsters bypassed Akumo entirely, focusing solely on Bell's group. As Akumo hesitated, trying to grasp the situation—
BOOM—!!!
"Cough!?"
—Kuaaaa!!!!!!!!!!
"V-Viene!!!!"
The Lizardman blew Bell away and raised his sword to strike Viene. Everyone scrambled to protect her. Seeing the terrified Viene and Haruhime trying to shield her with her own body, Akumo's body moved on instinct.
CRACK—!!!!!!!!!!
"That's enough!!!!!!!!!"
""""!!""""
"You guys.... you're Xenos, aren't you!!?"
"Then why the hell are you attacking Viene!!!"
Appearing before Haruhime in an instant, Akumo buried a fist into the Lizardman, slamming him into the wall. He roared at them in fury.
"Gugugu.....!?"
"What is it you want?"
'A Lizardman equivalent to Level 5. If they harbor hostility toward humans, they are a massive threat.'
"..."
Sss—
Akumo reached for his weapon, preparing for the possibility that the Xenos were unilaterally hostile to humanity.
'If I have to, I'll end this ri—'
"Big brother!!!! Why'd you hit me all of a sudden!!??"
"...Huh?"
"I was just testing the kids you brought with you!!!"
"...What?"
The Lizardman, instead of counterattacking, began to complain with a voice full of familiarity and bewildered shock, as if he already knew Akumo.
"You.... you know me...?"
"....? What are you talking about, Akumo-bro?"
Despite Akumo's bewildered question, the Lizardman spoke his name with perfect accuracy and a voice devoid of falsehood.
========================
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