The three of them explored downwards and quickly reached the tenth floor.
The tenth floor was significantly different from the previous nine floors. Not only had the monsters' strength increased, but from the tenth floor onwards, there would also be various malicious elements from the Dungeon: mechanisms, traps, and even monster feasts.
There's not much to elaborate on regarding the Dungeon Strategy.
With Bell as the vanguard, Welf providing cover, and Liliruca collecting spoils in the rear, occasionally providing support with the small crossbow on her arm.
The three quickly completed their morning Dungeon exploration. They sat down beside a large rock and took out the food they had prepared.
"We had good luck today; quite a few materials dropped."
While eating lunch, the few of them tallied their day's gains. After the tally, Liliruca packed them into the large bag on her back.
"Hmm, Bell, why does your sandwich feel different from the one a while ago?"
Generally, adventurers in the Dungeon just bring some water and dry rations to get by, but Bell brought a very generous amount of food every day, which made Welf, who lived alone, very envious, and Bell was always generous in sharing his food.
"The other members of the Familia aren't entering the Dungeon during this time, so no bentos were prepared. This one was given to me by Miss Syr."
Normally, if everyone was going down to the Dungeon, Mei and Fu Hua would prepare breakfast and lunch to carry, but today Fu Hua had already gone for treatment, and the others had gone to the Loki Familia, so no bentos were prepared.
Bell, who had originally prepared to eat some ordinary dry rations, ran into Syr when he passed by the Hostess of Fertility on the way.
She handed him the prepared bento. Although Bell didn't know why Bronya in the Familia didn't seem to like Syr, he thought the gray-haired girl was a good person.
"Oh! Bell, you have good luck."
Welf also knew Syr; after all, he often went to the Hostess of Fertility to eat.
Or rather, no one in Orario shouldn't know that shop.
"Ah haha, not really, I'm just friends with Miss Syr."
Bell scratched the back of his head awkwardly and chuckled twice.
"What's wrong with Liliruca today? She seems to have no energy."
"Yeah, Liliruca-chan isn't throwing a tantrum?"
The two noticed Liliruca, who had been quietly eating beside them, suddenly spoke.
"Nothing, Bell, Welf, Liliruca's adopted grandfather is just sick. For Grandpa, Liliruca needs to earn more money."
Hearing Liliruca's words, Bell and Welf fell silent.
They hastily finished their lunch, and Bell said: "In that case, let's work a bit harder today."
Holding his short sword, Bell rushed towards a nearby beastman that was wandering around and hadn't noticed them yet.
After some hunting, Bell and Welf wiped the fine sweat from their foreheads.
"Phew, that was really tiring."
After taking a sip from his water bottle, Welf seemed to notice something.
"Bell, do you see something over there?"
In the shadows of the corner, something was constantly wriggling.
"Is it a monster?"
Bell drew his short sword, preparing to approach.
"Wait, Bell."
Liliruca suddenly spoke: "Bell's sword is still too long; it won't be easy to wield in that spot. Bell, use this sword."
Liliruca took out a weapon about the length of a dagger from her backpack and handed it to Bell. Bell glanced at the corner where the sound was coming from; it was a cave where one had to bend down to walk, so it indeed wouldn't be easy to wield a long weapon.
Nodding, Bell plunged the executioner's blade from his back into the ground, then tucked his short sword into his waist and took the dagger Liliruca handed him.
"Welf, please cover Bell at the cave entrance. I'll provide cover for you with my crossbow from behind. If it's a troublesome monster, Welf can also pull Bell out."
Hearing Liliruca's words, Welf nodded: "Indeed, if you encounter danger, Bell, just call out, and I'll pull you out. That cave is a bit too small; I don't think I'd be able to move my limbs freely inside."
After the few of them decided on their plan, they walked towards the corner where the sound was coming from.
At the cave entrance, Bell looked back at Welf behind him and Liliruca in the distance, nodded, and then walked into the cave.
Holding the dagger in a reverse grip, Bell used the faint light to see what was making the constant noise.
"This is!"
Inside a cloth bag, an injured monster was struggling. And he recognized this monster; it was a Killer Ant, a type of monster that, while not strong individually, was very troublesome.
Killer Ants have a characteristic: if they are severely injured and there are adventurers nearby, they will emit a signal to call their companions.
Most monster feasts are triggered by many monsters suddenly appearing simultaneously in the Dungeon, but Killer Ant monster feasts appear in this way.
Therefore, no matter what adventurer, they all hate Killer Ants and try to kill them in one blow.
Fortunately, the individual strength of this monster is not very strong, otherwise it would be the nightmare of countless adventurers.
Bell immediately realized what this severely injured Killer Ant would bring. He immediately raised his dagger and rushed forward, killing the Killer Ant in one blow.
But he quickly despaired.
Deeper in the cave, there were four or five more Killer Ants tied in bags, constantly struggling. Clearly, this was a trap!
"Run… run!"
Bell immediately shouted outwards, then quickly bent down, wanting to leave the cave.
Welf heard Bell's voice and immediately bent down, pulling Bell, who was already close to the cave entrance, out of the cave: "What happened!?"
"Quick! Run! There are many dying Killer Ants inside."
"What!"
Welf instantly realized something was wrong, immediately turned around, and just as he was about to say something, he saw a spherical object roll to their feet.
Hiss!!!
The surroundings were already filled with many spherical objects, thrown by who knows whom, rapidly releasing gas.
And along with these gases, the sound of monsters approaching also came from all around.
"Liliruca! Liliruca!"
At the same time, Welf also noticed that Liliruca, who had been behind a few people, was gone.
From within the smoke, a crossbow bolt suddenly flew out, hooking onto the short sword at Bell's waist, and with a pull, the short sword that had been hanging at his waist was instantly yanked away.
At the other end, the flying short sword was caught by a large hand, and standing beside him was Liliruca, who had just been with Bell and the others.
"Liliruca! What are you doing!"
Bell looked at Liliruca, who was putting the crossbow back, and at the few adventurers who were grinning at him, holding his sword, feeling a chill run down his spine.
"I'm sorry, Bell, Welf, if you have to blame someone, blame yourselves for trusting others so easily."
After putting away her crossbow, Liliruca said in Bell's direction.
"Alright! Little one, hand over all the materials you've collected. If you do that, we'll let you and that old man go."
"Understood, Adventurer."
Liliruca handed over the spoils she had collected all morning to the adventurers in front of her.
"Oh! Quite a lot, actually. In that case, you guys enjoy yourselves slowly!"
Watching the adventurers and Liliruca disappear into the distance, Bell tried to break through several times but was forced back by the monsters.
"Liliruca!!!"