Walking alongside Lefiya was a strange, black-haired elf.
She introduced herself as Filvis and said nothing more after that.
Hoping to get to know her better, Lefiya spoke up softly.
"Filvis-san, you seemed really shaken when you heard Dionysus-sama's orders. Are you… afraid of the Dungeon?"
"..."
"Ah, sorry, that came out wrong. I'm not making fun of you! Honestly, I'm the same. I'm absolutely terrified of monsters."
"..."
"Th-the air feels pretty nice today, doesn't it?"
"..."
No matter what Lefiya said, Filvis remained silent.
The only thing answering her gentle voice was the dying wails of monsters.
Lefiya wasn't good at dealing with cold, distant types like this. During their usual expeditions, it was always the cheerful Tiona who kept the party's mood lively.
She could understand how Filvis felt. Being paired up with strangers and suddenly called into the Dungeon would make anyone unhappy.
But not saying a single word felt a bit too much, didn't it?
"Mm..."
Lefiya puffed out her cheeks and decided to give up on making conversation.
But Filvis' actions soon made her rethink that decision.
Amid the stiff atmosphere, the two continued pushing deeper into the Dungeon.
As a pure mage, Lefiya avoided stopping to chant spells so as not to slow their pace. Instead, she fought monsters using staff techniques taught to her by Riveria.
Even so, it was exhausting for her.
Whenever Lefiya was cornered by monsters, Filvis would raise her short sword and step in to help.
That icy attitude was probably just on the surface. Deep down, Filvis had to be kind and considerate.
With that thought in mind, Lefiya thanked her.
"Filvis-san! Thank you so much for earlier. Let's talk a bit, okay? I'd really like to know you better..."
Filvis still kept her lips tightly shut.
"The monsters ahead will only get stronger. If we want to finish this mission, we need to understand each other."
Lefiya tried reasoning from every angle.
"And besides, we're both elves. Helping each other out is only natural..."
Emotionally or logically, there was no reason for Filvis to stay silent anymore.
She let out a soft sigh and finally replied.
"What do you want to know?"
Lefiya's eyes immediately lit up.
If Filvis had stayed quiet any longer, she might have actually started crying.
"Filvis-san, you're carrying both a short sword and a wand. Does that mean you're a magic swordsman?!"
That was what Lefiya was most curious about.
"Yes. But I'm still far from skilled. When it really matters, you shouldn't rely on me."
After a brief pause, Filvis corrected herself.
"No, rather, please don't include my combat ability in your calculations."
Lefiya frowned.
Filvis was clearly strong, so why talk about herself in such a self-deprecating way?
"Filvis-san, I really admire magic swordsmen. Your fighting just now was amazing. Please don't put yourself down like that..."
Lefiya had always been deeply fixated on magic swordsmen.
She had admired the role for a long time.
After going through so many incidents alongside that boy, Lefiya came to realize how often she held everyone back, and that fixation only grew stronger.
"I want to become a magic swordsman too, but I can't even manage basic parallel chanting..."
She spoke honestly, laying bare her feelings.
"My opinion won't change. Magic swordsmen aren't anything special."
Filvis replied quietly.
"H-how can that be?!"
Just as Lefiya was about to argue, Filvis cut her off.
"Where we're going next, we might run into monsters we can't defeat. No matter how strong someone is, there will always be obstacles they can't overcome."
Filvis said coldly.
"..."
Lefiya had no words to answer her.
Even the Zeus and Hera Familia, who once stood at the very pinnacle, met an irreversible defeat.
It was an extremely bleak thought, yet for adventurers, it was an unmistakable reality.
Disaster could strike at any moment, falling upon anyone without warning.
"B-but… the chances of something like that happening are really low, right? There are adventurers who live happily all the way to the end."
Lefiya wracked her brain, desperately trying to comfort the dejected Filvis.
"Four times."
Filvis spoke the number with pain, as if forcing it up from deep in her throat.
"....?"
Under Lefiya's confused gaze, Filvis continued.
"I've gone through it four times. Each time, I was led by "a certain entity" into facing monsters I couldn't possibly defeat. Because of that, everyone who teamed up with me died."
"?!"
Lefiya's heart felt as though it stopped for an instant.
She stood there frozen, unable to form a single word.
Filvis gave a bitter smile.
"It seems you don't know what others call me. [Banshee]. That's my nickname."
Whether they were members of her own Familia or from other familias, anyone who formed a party with Filvis to explore the Dungeon met the same fate.
None of them survived.
And so, adventurers gave her that private name.
[Banshee].
"Ever since the [Nightmare of the 27th Layer], I've been cursed. If you know about that incident, then you should understand what I mean."
Perhaps because of circumstances she couldn't speak of, Filvis didn't go into any details.
But Lefiya already understood.
Filvis was one of the survivors of that nightmare.
How overwhelming must the despair have been when her companions were slaughtered before her eyes?
As a proud and noble elf, what kind of resolve did Filvis need to accept the fact that she alone survived?
Just imagining it made Lefiya feel like she couldn't breathe.
And Filvis had endured that kind of tragedy four times.
Lefiya couldn't help but think that if it were her, faced with such despair and guilt, she might have already given in to thoughts of ending her own life.
Yet Filvis' face still carried a calm, gentle smile.
"Lefiya Viridis, stop prying into my affairs. And don't go to the 24th floor."
"I'll take responsibility for dealing with the Sword Princess. Let's part ways here."
Filvis turned to leave, but Lefiya grabbed her wrist.
"No! If the 24th floor really holds an unbeatable calamity, then I absolutely can't let you go alone!"
Lefiya protested stubbornly.
"I'll be fine by myself. You don't need to worry about someone as tainted as me."
Filvis tried to shake her off.
But Lefiya held on tightly, refusing to let go.
"Tainted? That's not true at all! I know it. Filvis-san is kind and gentle!"
"..."
Filvis was left speechless for a moment.
"You've been helping me this whole time, and you're even trying to shoulder everything on your own. That's obviously noble and pure!"
Lefiya poured out her feelings without holding back.
"Noble... I see. Please let go now. You're hurting me."
Filvis realized she couldn't break free from the girl and head to the 24th floor alone.
"Ah—s-sorry! I didn't mean to..."
Lefiya hurriedly released her hand.
Seeing Lefiya's face turn red all the way to her ears, a faint smile appeared on Filvis' lips.
It was a soft smile, like a flower in bloom, free of the bitterness and sorrow she had shown before.
"You really are an interesting elf. To be honest, I don't want to be the reason you die."
Filvis spoke frankly.
"I-I'll be really careful! And with Ais-san there, no matter what monster it is, it won't stand a chance against her..."
Thinking of the blonde girl, Lefiya felt her courage surge.
Filvis turned away, hiding the worry in her eyes.
No matter how much she struggled, she had never escaped the manipulation of the one pulling the strings.
This tragedy was clearly going to unfold on the 24th floor.
Was the Sword Princess being guided there by someone, or had she wandered in by accident?
And why was she, who hadn't teamed up with anyone in so long, suddenly assigned to accompany the Thousand Elf?
What kind of conspiracy was hidden behind this Dungeon expedition?
As Filvis sank into thought, a white-haired boy came into their field of view.
"Uh... to actually run into him in the Dungeon..."
Lefiya unconsciously tightened her grip on her staff.
Yesterday's "Concurrent Chanting," and Ais' indirect kiss. She still hadn't had a proper talk with Bell Cranel about any of it.
Was this just bad timing, or was it [Luck] at work?
Lefiya swallowed the resentment rising in her chest.
They were already on the seventeenth floor.
She decided it would be better not to disturb him in a Dungeon filled with danger.
"Let's go around him, Filvis-san..."
Lefiya looked away, her brow furrowing without her noticing.
"Huh...?!"
For some reason, the usually aloof Filvis started walking straight toward the boy.