"Lido! Didn't I tell ye not to pick fights for naught!"
"Sorry, sorry~ I saw the lad brought some of his own kind and even one of our kin, so I figured I'd test 'em out a bit~"
"Against Akumo-san, who even overwhelmed that person?"
Flutter—!
Akumo and Bell's party struggled to process the scene unfolding before them. The Lizardman who had been attacking them moments ago was now speaking human tongue with casual nonchalance. Then, a Harpy woman flew in, calling him 'Lido,' and the rest of the Xenos ceased their hostility with uncanny precision.
"Hey, you..."
"The three of us meet again."
"Wait! How do you know Akumo-san?"
"Wouldn't Akumo-san know that best himself?"
Sway, sway—
"...Me?"
The Harpy woman simply offered a knowing smile at Akumo's reaction, her wings fluttering gently.
"Ray, I reckon it's probably that, eh?"
"Yes. There's no need for us to speak of it in depth."
—'Whether it's the me on the surface or the me in the Dungeon, I won't do anything to harm you all.'
"What on earth does that mean..."
They recalled the image of the Akumo who had first approached them and the words he had spoken, using them to gloss over their lingering doubts. They understood that since they knew so little of the surface, Akumo must have his own complicated circumstances.
"Anyway, sorry about that!"
"Pardon...?"
"I just wanted to see what kind of heart an adventurer who hides one of our kin truly possesses!"
"A test..."
"My apologies!"
"Uh... well..."
"Thank ye truly for protectin' our kin!"
Before Bell or Akumo's party could voice their confusion, Lido's earnest apology caught them off guard. Soon, following the lead of Lido and Ray, they decided to head toward the hidden dwelling of the Xenos.
Step, step—
"Hya~ By the way, Akumo-bro, yer fists are as stingin' as ever~"
"You can tell just by watching him fight, can't you?"
'Lido and Ray, was it... Did they watch me fighting in the Deep Floors?'
"Even Gros acknowledged Akumo-bro, didn't he?"
"As a warrior, at least."
As Akumo followed them through the cave, it bothered him that they treated him like someone they had observed many times before.
Even more unsettling was the fact that they seemed to know his habits and mannerisms too well for this to be a simple case of meeting an impostor. His mind grew increasingly tangled.
'It's strangely familiar... as if I've known them too...'
"I can't make heads or tails of this..."
**
"Light it up, everyone."
Shuuuu—
""""!!""""
"There are so many..."
As the magic stone lamps illuminated the cavern, dozens of Xenos were revealed.
The party was stunned. The sheer number of Xenos existing within the Dungeon was a shock they hadn't prepared for.
Step, step—
"Ye heard it earlier, but the name's Lido!"
"My name is Ray."
Slide—
"As ye can see, I'm a Lizardman, and Ray here's a Harpy."
"It is a pleasure to meet you."
Watching their reactions with gentle smiles, Lido and Ray approached Bell and Akumo respectively, speaking with friendly tones as they formally introduced their names and races.
"Mind if I call ye Bell-chi?"
"U-Uh... sure...!"
"Bell-chi~♪"
"I shall continue to call you Akumo-san."
"Well... I don't mind."
"Fufu."
Lido and Ray smiled at their responses and extended their hands.
Thud—
"A handshake."
"May I?"
Flutter—!
Twitch—!
""...""
Akumo watched them extend their hands with such familiarity that his previous doubts and vigilance began to fade. Bell, on the other hand, broke into a cold sweat, staring nervously at Lido's sharp teeth and talons.
"Bell-sama, Akumo-sama."
Shake, shake—
The rest of the party felt the same. Excluding Wiene, everyone remained wary of this excessive friendliness. Lili shook her head, preparing herself for any sudden turn of events.
"..."
'Bell... Akumo...'
Clench—!
Unlike the others, Wiene was gripped by a different fear. She worried that if Bell and Akumo rejected these monsters, they might eventually reject her as well. That subconscious dread bled into her expression.
"..."
'Wiene...'
Grasp—!
"It's just a handshake. No reason to refuse."
"Fufu, as expected."
"Akumo-san was always the refreshin' sort!"
"!!"
While Bell was still hesitating, Akumo lightly took Ray's wing-hand. Startled by the gesture, Bell finally reached out and grasped Lido's hand.
Welf smiled, having expected nothing less. Lili held her head at their usual recklessness, while Mikoto and Haruhime watched with wide eyes.
Grasp—!
"I-It's a pleasure!"
"Aye! Good to meet ye!"
Grin—!
""""Wooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!""""
Fortunately, contrary to Lili and Wiene's fears, that handshake served as a signal. The Xenos gathered there erupted in cheers of joy, welcoming Akumo, Bell, and their companions into their fold.
**
Thud—!
"It is an honor to meet you! Please, let me introduce myself!"
"Me too!"
"Grrrr!!!"
Slide—!
As if the tension had finally snapped, the Xenos swarmed Bell to shake hands and offer greetings. They reacted as if they were meeting a world-renowned celebrity.
"Bell seems quite famous here?"
"Famous? Well, he did approach us with such kindness."
Slide—
"It's been a while! Akumo-san!"
"U-Uh... yeah... right, been a while...?"
"Fufu, you were welcomed just like that when we first met, you know?"
Several Xenos approached Akumo as well, greeting him with warmth and familiarity. Akumo felt a nagging doubt seeing how many of them knew him, but Ray simply smiled and kept the conversation light.
"Kyuuuuuu!!!!!!!"
Pounce—!
"Wugh!?"
"""Ohhh!!!"""
An Al-miraj Xenos suddenly lunged at Bell, burying her face into his chest in a tight hug. Bell, Akumo, and the entire party were momentarily flustered.
"She cannot speak, but it seems she's taken a liking to you! Adventurer from the surface!"
"S-She? A female!?"
"Ahaha!! You two look alike, Bell!"
"H-Hyung! Don't just laugh, help me!!!!"
The sight finally allowed the party's tension to melt away, and even Akumo found a smile tugging at his lips.
"By the way, what is your name?"
Slide—
"Ah... W-Wiene..."
"Wiene... what a truly lovely name."
"....!!"
Ray smiled as she approached Wiene to ask her name. Though shy, Wiene answered, and when Ray complimented the name, Wiene beamed with joy, knowing the name Bell had given her was being praised.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, new kin."
"Kin...?"
"Yes. Here, there are none who will persecute you."
Flutter—!
"We welcome you."
Ray extended her hand with a warm smile. Behind her, the Xenos who had been talking with Bell also offered her bright, welcoming looks.
"Mm!!"
"Fufu."
"This is a relief..."
"It sure is, Hyung!"
Wiene smiled back, overjoyed by the warm gazes directed her way. Bell, Welf, Lili, Mikoto, and Haruhime were so relieved to have found a sanctuary for Wiene that they forgot their own anxiety.
As they began to converse and exchange stories in earnest...
"Ray."
"Yes, what is it?"
"I've been wondering this for a while now..."
"...Why we already know who you are?"
Akumo felt relieved by Wiene's laughter, but he couldn't shake the suspicion swirling in his mind.
"Yeah. Can you tell me?"
"...Please, come this way for a moment."
Step, step—
Ray naturally slipped away from the crowd and led him deep into the cave, toward a certain passage.
"This place is...?"
"It is a passage leading to the 21st floor, but it did not occur naturally."
"Then, don't tell me!"
"Yes. Someone intentionally destroyed the path to create it."
'To destroy the Dungeon to this extent... they would have to be at least stronger than Lido...'
Akumo was surprised to hear there was someone among the Xenos stronger than he had anticipated. His mind raced with possibilities, but Ray let out a soft laugh at his expression.
"Fufufu! How cute..."
"...Huh?"
"You are the one who did this."
"!?"
"I shall tell you the story of the 'you' that we know. Akumo-san."
**
Two weeks before Wiene was discovered.
"Just what is that person..."
BOOM—!!!!!!!!!
"He's overwhelmin' the newcomer who beat both me and Gros!?"
CRASH—!!!!!!!!
Lido and Ray, considered among the strongest of the Xenos, had descended the floors to meet Asterius, who had gone out for warrior training. What they witnessed was nothing short of shocking.
"More!!!!!!!!!"
THWACK—!!!!!!!
"KWOOOO!!!!!!!!!!"
CRACK—!!!!!!!
The white-haired man standing before Asterius was fighting him bare-handed on equal terms—no, he was dominating. Asterius was being pushed back unilaterally.
Twitch—!
"Who's there?"
"Kwoo?"
""!!""
'He read our presence even in the middle of a fight...!'
BOOM—!!!!!!!!!
"Whoa!?"
"Ugh!!"
In that instant, Asterius and Akumo, having noticed their gaze, appeared before them simultaneously.
They stood still, staring at them as if demanding to know why they were watching or if they intended to interfere.
"Wait, are you Xenos?"
""!!""
"How do ye know our identity...!"
"Are you someone sent by Fels!?"
Amidst the tension, Akumo realized they were Xenos the moment they spoke fluently. He looked at them with curiosity and immediately dropped his guard, offering a greeting first.
"Ooh...!! It's my first time seeing you in person!"
Slide—!
"Nice to meet you. My name is Akumo."
"...Lido."
"I am Ray..."
"Then I guess this big guy behind me is a Xenos too?"
"Kwo!"
Asterius let out a short grunt in response to Akumo's words. Lido and Ray informed him that his name was Asterius, all while looking at Akumo with bewilderment, as he showed absolutely no intent to attack.
"What's wrong?"
"No... are ye not scared of us?"
"...Scared? Of you?"
"...Yeah. We're monsters, after all."
Lido and Ray asked cautiously, sensing none of the vigilance, murderous intent, or fear that people usually directed at them. Instead, Akumo just laughed.
Chuck—!
"Ahahaha!!!!!!"
"You guys are interesting... Ahahaha!!"
Akumo roared with laughter, realizing they were asking in earnest.
"Do I have a reason to attack you?"
"Because... we're monsters...?"
"But you speak, and you didn't attack first."
"Uh..."
"So, should I see you as monsters? Or as people?"
""....!!""
"Take it easy~ I was just fighting because I found an interesting opponent."
THUD—!!!
"Kuuu!!"
That was the first meeting between the Akumo of the Dungeon and the Xenos.
That day, Lido and Ray, who had found him clashing with Asterius, saw potential in him. No, they felt a certain conviction.
'This bro...'
'He is different from ordinary adventurers.'
"Hey... Akumo-bro!"
"Yeah?"
"Could ye... give me a handshake?"
Grasp—!
"!!"
"Why wouldn't I?"
Akumo, who had further solidified their faith, was successfully guided to the Xenos' nest, marking an unprecedented event: interaction between a human and the heretics.
CLANG—!!!!
"Hey, you shouldn't hold your sword like that!"
CLINK—!!!
"Ugh!? Akumo-bro, you're just too strong!"
"Stop whining! Even Gros over there is doing it without a word of complaint."
Sometimes he fought with them, helping them build their strength.
Grasp—!
"Kyuu!"
"What's this, an Al-miraj?"
"It seems she's taken quite a liking to you, Akumo-san."
"Heh..."
"Kyuu! Kyuu!!"
He interacted with them, meeting various Xenos, and they grew close as they listened to Akumo's stories of the surface.
Slide—
"The sunlight on the surface must be truly beautiful, right?"
"Yeah. It has a flavor quite different from the Dungeon."
"..."
"Ray?"
How many days had passed? Akumo and the Xenos were now quite familiar with one another.
As he spent time talking with them as usual, Ray approached him and tentatively asked the question she had been wanting to ask since they first met.
"Could we... ever go out to the surface one day?"
"..."
Flutter—
"I am sorry, I spoke of something pointless—"
"Wouldn't it be possible?"
"!!"
"What's wrong with you guys?"
"We're... monsters...!"
"And?"
"What do you mean 'and'!? For beings like us to go to the surface..."
Slide—!
"Akumo-san...?"
"Ray."
She knew better than anyone the gazes they would receive. Ray believed they were monsters who didn't belong on the beautiful surface, and so she questioned him in her agony.
In response, Akumo placed his hand on her head. When she looked up, she saw his eyes, filled with absolute conviction.
"The surface you're thinking of might not be that beautiful."
"Some people attack and hate one another."
Akumo answered her calmly. He spoke of the competition between Familias on the surface, and the crimes committed by those with power.
"And yet, it's beautiful because of that."
"Do you know why?"
"Because the people on the surface know pain, and they agonize over how their actions are perceived."
"That's why violence, kindness—everything that happens on the surface is beautiful."
He then spoke his thoughts to the 'person' before him, just as he always did.
"You guys are the same, aren't you?"
"There are kind people like you, and there are people like Asterius or Gros who just want to get stronger."
"That's all there is to it. Nothing more, nothing less. Fate, destiny—all that stuff doesn't matter."
Slide—!
"The most important thing is..."
Akumo stood up. A bitter expression crossed his face as he recalled a certain Elf who had fallen into despair, but because he remembered her, he spoke to Ray with even more certainty.
"Don't be ashamed of yourself."
"Just struggle toward what you want."
"In that process, race, strength, good or evil—they're all just traits."
"And I cherish all of them."