Chapter 737

The one who hindered Lord Dionysus from smoothly obtaining the Divine Wine, Fels' gaze lingered on Broly for a moment.

Broly sensed the female elf's gaze, and instead met her eyes, looking back at her curiously, only to see a pair of red pupils.

"Hello."

Broly had a relatively favorable impression of red eyes, so he politely greeted the other party.

"..."

Fels, on the other hand, rudely averted her gaze, not giving Broly a single word of response.

"Hey, you're really cold and aloof."

Tiona was somewhat dissatisfied with the female elf's attitude of ignoring people.

"We are merely going to the Dungeon together to carry out an investigation quest; besides that, I have no need to involve myself with you any further."

"Hmph, as long as you, this rear-guard mage, don't drag us down, that's fine. Let's go."

The werewolf Bert also didn't give the female elf a good look, taking the lead and walking toward the Dungeon's entrance.

Such a meeting and contact was hardly pleasant; Fels was like a tiny wood splinter stuck in a fingertip — a foreign object that plunged the entire investigation team's atmosphere into a subtle silence.

Lefiya looked at the others, then at the female elf of the same race trailing behind, somewhat separated from the team; when they were about to delve into the Middle Floors Labyrinth, she couldn't help but turn back and remind the female elf: "Miss Fels, could you not stay so far away? We're about to descend to the Middle Floors; you're a casting rear-guard; if you're not inside the team like this, should you encounter suddenly appearing monsters, you could be in danger."

In the real world, a high Level doesn't mean one can completely ignore low-level monster attacks; if a high-Level rear-guard mage Adventurer encounters a melee monster with strong burst power and adept at sneak attacks, and is suddenly closed in on, the situation would still be very dangerous.

And after entering the Middle Floors, there are quite a few such ambush-type monsters; Fels' current behavior of not integrating into the team but instead lagging behind at a distance, in Lefiya's view, was a somewhat dangerous action.

"Lefiya, don't bother with that ice-block elf's life or death up ahead; just take care of yourself."

The werewolf Bert's words came from the front.

"But..."

Lefiya hesitated, looking at Fels behind; the White Shrine Maiden said not a word, maintaining a distance from the team, as if completely ignoring the elf girl's somewhat concerned words and actions.

"It's fine, I will pay attention to potentially ambushing monsters."

Ais, however, said a sentence to the elf girl.

"Hmm~"

Hearing this, Lefiya twitched her ears, and a relieved expression appeared on her face, as if because of the Sword Princess girl's one sentence, she felt somewhat at ease regarding the safety of the same-race clan member who had somewhat separated from the team behind her.

The team's marching speed was very fast, but just as they passed a Tunnel Area in the Layer 16 Labyrinth, a *crack* sound suddenly rang out from the walls beside them.

"Miss Fels!"

This situation of encountering monsters suddenly spawned by the Dungeon in one's surroundings is the hardest type of trap encounter battle to guard against in the Dungeon; Miss Ais was by her side, so Lefiya wasn't worried about her own safety, but worried about the safety of the same-race elf behind her.

Broly casually swung a fist and blew up a freshly spawned monster's head, then looked back; although the female elf's attitude was somewhat cold, if she encountered danger, he would still lend a hand to help her — of course, not for her sake, but for the sake of the elf girl who worried for her clan member.

However, facing the Hellhounds suddenly spawned around her by the Dungeon, the White Shrine Maiden merely drew the short sword at her waist, and with a beautiful slash cut open the body of the Hellhound closest to her, then quickly switched to the staff weapon on the other side.

"Sweep away enemies, thunder that breaks evil..."

While retreating to pull distance from the monsters, she conducted a rapid short incantation chant.

"Supreme. Wine God's Staff!"

Fluctuations of Magic Power spread from the short staff; shining lightning shot out in the next instant, annihilating the few pursuing Hellhounds in the blink of an eye.

Suddenly encountering monsters, slashing the monster closest to herself and posing the greatest threat to her, using footwork to kite the pursuing monsters to buy herself time to chant the incantation, simultaneously accomplishing the task of gathering the monsters in one direction, finally unleashing magic to exterminate all monsters.

The female elf's on-the-spot reaction speed was very fast, her combat consciousness also completely online; after the suddenly appearing Hellhounds were eliminated, the black ashes from the monsters' elimination and dissipation couldn't even touch the hem of her pure white skirt.

"Exquisite swordsmanship, and such proficient parallel chanting..."

Lefiya's eyes widened; her gaze at the White Shrine Maiden went somewhat blank, only because the other party's performance just now was exactly like the ideal version of herself in this elf girl's heart.

"Miss Fels, what you did just now was parallel chanting, right? It really is amazing..."

The monster spawn encounter was merely a minor episode; after restarting their journey deeper into the Dungeon, Lefiya actively fell back to Fels' side.

The elf girl used flattering words to carefully strike up a conversation with this White Shrine Maiden; however, the White Shrine Maiden still had a completely uninterested appearance.

"I am currently training this; I wonder if Miss Fels has any tips? If you could give me some pointers, I would be endlessly grateful..."

Speaking up to here, Lefiya's voice gradually weakened; the feeling of a hot face pressed against a cold butt was obviously not very pleasant.

"That... I want to get to know Miss Fels better; it's a rare chance to form a team, after all."

Actually, Lefiya could also do parallel chanting; ever since encountering Broly and training until now, she still had some training results, just not yet able to proficiently apply it in actual combat.

And the reason she was awkwardly chatting with Fels now was mainly still to ease the stiff atmosphere in the team, at least not let this clan member's relationship with everyone be so rigid.

"Before entering the Dungeon, I should have already said it; we are not a team, merely sharing the same destination; I hope you don't forget."

Fels stopped her steps, turned back to look at the elf girl following behind her, and reiterated it once more.

Getting along with people she wanted to scheme against and kill would only make her feel uncomfortable.

Conversely, if she used a cold attitude from the start to draw a line with others and declare they were not teammates.

Then, when the opportunity came later to kill this group, she wouldn't have to feel so uncomfortable.

After all, they were not companions of the same team.

"Lefiya, let's go, don't fall behind by yourself."

Broly, seeing the elf girl stunned by the female elf's words, reminded her.

And he had slowed his own pace in sync since Lefiya slowed her steps just now.

Now, he was just following behind the elf girl.

"Uh, thank you, Mr. Broly..."

Only now did Lefiya notice the Saiyan boy lagging a step behind her; sharp-minded, she quickly realized he was protecting her safety; her somewhat disappointed face flushed slightly, and she thanked the Saiyan boy beside her.

The party of six soon reached Rivira Town on the 18th Floor Labyrinth, and the destruction caused in this town by the Man-eating Flower Monster attack last time was now completely gone.

Broly and the others went to the inn at the rendezvous point Fels gave, and right inside met the Omnipotent and the others who had rendezvoused with them.

"Eh, Lulune, why are you here?"

Broly asked the dog-person girl in surprise.

"Ah, that's the line I wanted to say. Mr. Broly, why are you all here?"

Lulune likewise opened her mouth wide, pointing a finger as she asked.

"Fierce Wolf, Sword Princess, and Great Severing — so the reinforcements are you lot from the Loki Familia. That's truly a reassuring set of reinforcements."

Upon seeing the team coming to provide support, Aphias let out a sigh and said a line.

However, upon seeing the White Shrine Maiden following behind them, her complexion changed at once.

"So, I don't count as reinforcements?"

Lefiya was just about to retort like that when she noticed the Hermes Familia members in the room — most of them looking at Filvis with some terror, some even stepping back a pace.

"Uh, what's with that reaction from you all?"

"Banshee, how come you came down together with a Banshee?"

A Hermes Familia member asked in a raised volume, as if this were something terrible.

"Banshee?"

Lefiya tilted her head, somewhat confused, but she soon reacted.

"You're talking about Miss Filvis, right?"

"Mm."

The one who spoke nodded.

"I'll wait for you all outside."

Faced with the group's reaction of fear toward herself, Filvis merely left behind that one sentence, then turned around and left the inn directly.

"Ah, what exactly is going on? Why are you all afraid of Miss Filvis? Isn't she the White Shrine Maiden?"

Lefiya couldn't make sense of the situation, and couldn't help but ask the Hermes Familia member before her.

"Thousand Elf, if you're an adventurer, you should've heard of it too, right?"

"Mm, but I've only heard people say it — heard that adventurers fell into a Dark Faction trap, and many died."

"That's right. The Dark Faction people shouted high-sounding words about pursuing chaos and launching a revolution, but in reality they were just a bunch of lunatics who acted on whim and did as they pleased.

After the Great Feud, those people were continuously suppressed by the Guild joining hands with other Familias, and six years ago, when the Guild drove their executive White-Haired Ghost into a desperate situation, he set a trap on the 27th Floor of the Labyrinth, lured adventurers there, and triggered a large-scale monster sacrifice, wanting to drag everyone down with him.

It was a massive melee that even the Layer Lord got dragged into, friend or foe indistinguishable. Although the Dark Faction's White-Haired Ghost's viable forces were exterminated at that time, the adventurers' sacrifices were also extremely heavy, and the White Shrine Maiden Filvis is the sole survivor of that tragic battle."

"Ah, but why are you all afraid of her?"

"Because after that, that White Shrine Maiden lady went back into the Dungeon, and any team she participated in would always inexplicably get wiped out — every time only she alone survived and returned. It's said that upon encountering danger, she would choose to abandon her companions and flee directly.

So after that, she came to be called the 'Adventurer Cursed by the 27th Floor Nightmare' or the 'Banshee Who Summons Death'."

Lefiya hadn't expected that clansman of hers to have such a story; kind-hearted by nature, she subconsciously retorted: "But whether it was being caught up in the 【Nightmare of the 27th Floor】 or the Team's Extermination, those should all be accidental mishaps, right? So why are You All Afraid of them?"

"Maybe so, but adventurers live days of licking blood off a blade; of course none are willing to walk together with a guy suspected of being cursed by ill fortune, and that's also the reason my Familia companions are terrified of her."

Asfi explained. The people coming to support were Loki Familia members — that point satisfied her — but adding a suspected-cursed Elf gave her some misgivings, feeling like they'd run into terrible luck.

The Hermes Familia members grew anxious; originally they only needed to guide the way and assist with an investigation quest, but now one by one they started beating a retreat.

"Hmph, a curse or whatever — it's just hearsay rumors some people repeat, yet it's scared you lot into this state."

Werewolf Bert was somewhat dissatisfied with the Hermes Familia members' reaction.

"Ah, that's not a rumor, it's true."

The Hermes Familia member immediately retorted.

"Fierce Wolf, if it were just a rumor, my companions wouldn't have this reaction."

Asfi stepped forward to defend her companions.

In her capacity as an information broker, proving the White Shrine Maiden Banshee's battle record is well-founded.

"Then, Omnipotent, are you preparing to give up the investigation quest?"

Werewolf Bert asked.

"No, just the others won't go along, but I personally will still guide you."

Asfi said. She's a Level 4 adventurer with plenty of life-saving tools; even if the Banshee's reputation is bad, it hasn't reached the point she'd fear it. Moreover, this time the Loki Familia members coming along — aside from the Thousand Elf — are all experts.

And Hestia Familia's Broly, as someone her own Main God specially instructed to pay extra attention to, Asfi also understands his strength — that is also undeniably strong, at least not much weaker than Sword Princess and Fierce Wolf.

"It's already afternoon; going to the 24th Floor might mean arriving at night, and the Dungeon at night is more dangerous. Let's stay a night in Rivira on this side first, and wait until tomorrow to act together."

Having decided on the members acting together, Asfi proposed this — she didn't want to go night-wandering in the nighttime Dungeon.

As for this proposal, Ais had no objection, Lefiya had no objection, so naturally Broly wouldn't have an objection either.

"How about it, are we splitting up to act?"

While Broly and the others were handling lodging procedures at the inn, Filvis, waiting outside, asked the Elf girl walking over with an expression that was somewhat sarcastic — but more like self-mockery.

Her identity recognized, this group's assembled guys still showing her terrified expressions — then she should've reached the point of being driven away.

Only, the Banshee's reputation would still continue to resound, because she herself, having left the team, would turn into a true party-wipe monster, going to execute the Main God-sama's instruction to deliver the death notice to other adventurers.

"Ah, Miss Filvis, we won't be splitting up to act."

Hearing that, Lefiya hurriedly said.

"Mm, those people didn't tell you my identity?"

Filvis frowned and asked.

"They did."

Lefiya answered in a small voice.

"Since they told you, you still dare act together with me?"

"But those things — aren't they accidents?"

"That's not an accident, it's the curse I bear on my body — any bastards who team up with me will encounter ill fortune."

(Chapter End)