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Udaeus has a regeneration cycle of three months.
And three months ago, it was none other than Loki Familia who defeated Udaeus during their expedition, so Finn knew exactly when Udaeus would respawn.
But, items were seriously not enough.
Ryoji glanced at Rakta's backpack. There were only a few potions left inside, not enough to last even a full day.
"Not only that, the weapons we're using are also approaching the danger zone." Finn raised the golden spear in his hand, which already had visible nicks and chips, and looked at Ryoji with a serious expression.
"It's too risky like this. I don't want to lose anyone due to a reckless decision. Do you understand?"
Aside from Ais's Durandal Sword and Ryoji's Vrring Blade, everyone else's weapons had sustained various degrees of damage and needed maintenance. To face a Floor Boss in this condition, it was simply too dangerous.
"Alright, I understand." Ryoji was somewhat unwilling, but he still nodded, showing that he understood Finn's decision.
When facing Udaeus, the safest method would be to bring Gareth along and have the Level 6 dwarf warrior act as vanguard to draw Udaeus's aggro, while the rest went all-out offensively.
Finn was the cautious type, he didn't want to risk any casualties.
"Finn, I want to stay behind." At that moment, Ais suddenly spoke, drawing everyone's attention and surprising them all simultaneously.
"What do you mean?" Finn's expression gradually turned serious, his deep blue eyes fixed sharply on Ais.
"You want to stay behind alone?"
"...Yes. It's okay if you don't share the food with me. I won't cause trouble for anyone. Please."
"Ais, just by saying that, you're already causing trouble for us." Finn felt a headache coming on.
"Leaving you alone in a place like this, honestly, it's impossible for us not to worry."
It was far too dangerous.
Monsters of Level 4 were a common sight in the deep floors, and the threats in the Dungeon came from all directions. No matter how strong an adventurer was, it was impossible to be prepared for everything. There would always be creatures they were powerless against. The caterpillar monster on the 50th floor had already proven that.
Even though Ais was Level 5, staying alone was still too dangerous.
"Why don't you learn a little from Ryoji? His enthusiasm for leveling up is no less than yours, but he's better at seeing the bigger picture."
...Oof.
Suddenly, he was being compared like someone else's model child. Ryoji, hearing that, swallowed back the words that had already reached his throat.
He had actually wanted to suggest that he and Ais stay behind together, he was confident in his survival abilities, and if paired with Ais, it wouldn't be too hard to make it back alive.
But once Finn said that, he couldn't say it anymore.
'Finn definitely did that on purpose.' Ryoji thought bitterly.
"In that case, I'll stay behind as well." Suddenly, Riveria spoke unexpectedly, surprising everyone even more.
"Hmm…"
Even Riveria had spoken, Finn fell into deep thought.
"Would that really be okay?" Ryoji looked surprised and couldn't help raising his hand.
"If that's the case, then I'll also, "
"What?! If Ryoji and Ais are staying behind, I'm staying too!" Tiona was startled.
She absolutely could not allow Ryoji and Ais to have alone time together, even if Riveria was with them, it was no good. Who knows what kind of sparks might fly between those two?
"You guys... aren't you just putting the Captain in a tough spot?" Tione immediately flared up, arms crossed, scolding the group angrily.
"No, if Riveria stays behind, then it's fine." Finn suddenly changed his stance, his tone full of trust in Riveria.
"But there aren't enough supplies for three people. Only two can stay. So it'll be Ais and Riveria."
Two people was still reasonable. But with three, there wouldn't be enough food, water, or medical items for the return trip.
"I remember… the safety floors usually have food, right?" Ryoji rubbed his chin, recalling the information about the Dungeon he'd memorized during the expedition.
"If push comes to shove, we can head back to the 28th Floor. There should be plenty of food and water there. Riveria could also recover her magic. So… can't the three of us just squeeze by?"
'Squeeze by? What are you, squeezing into a city bus?'
"Eh? That works? Then I'll stay too!" Tiona, making a second appearance, energetically bounced up and down.
"...Didn't I just say you had a good sense of the bigger picture?"
"Well… even if I don't, it's not a big deal, right~?"
Finn covered his forehead, wincing with a headache. This party is too hard to lead…
Every time one troublemaker stood up, the other would immediately jump out. Couldn't they just behave for once?
Sigh. It had been a long time since he'd felt a headache this bad.
"Alright, fine. Three people then."
"I-I-I! Four people!"
"No. If we do that, our return trip will become dangerous. Don't forget, Rakta is still here."
"Eeeeh--?! Seriously?!" Tiona widened her eyes, looking absolutely wronged.
Rakta, meanwhile, carefully watched everyone, trying his best to shrink into himself, choosing to play ostrich and not get involved. Their weapons were near breaking point. All the items would be left behind. They also had to protect a Supporter.
Under these conditions, if only Finn and Tione went back, the difficulty of the return trip would skyrocket. At the very least, they'd need to bring Tiona too for safety.
"Woah! You guys better not do anything weird while you're down there!!" Before leaving, Tiona hugged Ryoji, sobbing uncontrollably, a snotty mess.
Her words… were full of implications.
But Ryoji was sure she probably meant both of them.
"Riveria, what do you think?"
Finn and Riveria stood in a corner, speaking in hushed voices.
"Ais has explosives buried deep in her heart. Rather than letting her light the fuse where we can't see it, I'd rather have her explode right in front of me. That way, I can at least keep things under control."
"So that's how it is… I figured as much." Finn nodded with a half-smile.
Riveria was always calm and composed. He knew she wouldn't make such a reckless decision without reason.
"I'll leave their safety to you. Remember, don't let them fight the Floor Boss. If the boss has already spawned deep inside, return immediately."
Ryoji at least had some self-awareness.
He also had a knack for escaping, with his special magic, he could even get away from Level 5 or 6 adventurers. His strength couldn't be judged by level alone.
But what Ais might do was unpredictable. That girl was too strong-willed, the kind that could break herself.
"Don't worry. I understand." Riveria calmly promised.
Finn and the others left behind all their potions, and as much food and water as possible. Then, carrying a huge load of loot, they started heading back to the upper floors.
Within the domain of the 37th Floor, only Ryoji, Ais, and Riveria remained.
"So, where do you two plan on leveling up?" Riveria turned, one eye closed, looking at the pair.
"The Floor Boss's room." Ais, without hesitation.
Riveria: "..."
'I knew it.'
(End of Chapter)