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Chapter 49: Awakening
Bell had finally regained consciousness.
"Tsuna...? Why are you here...?"
"We're on our way back from the expedition. A lot of things happened, so we're camping out on the 18th Floor for a bit."
"M-Miss Ais!?"
Bell bolted upright, his face burning bright red as he realized his crush was standing right beside Tsuna.
"The 18th Floor... Wait, where are Lili and Welf!?"
Hearing the floor number instantly snapped Bell back to reality, and he frantically looked around for his friends.
"They're fine. They're sleeping right next to you," Tsuna pointed softly.
Bell turned his head and saw Lili and Welf breathing steadily in the adjacent cots. The tension completely drained from his body, and he slumped back against the pillow in sheer relief.
"So, that Welf guy is the new addition to your party?" Tsuna asked.
"Eh? How do you know Welf, Tsuna?"
"Someone from his Familia was part of our expedition team. I heard about him from her."
"Ah, I see..."
Bell had been surprised that Tsuna knew Welf's name despite never introducing them, but the explanation made sense.
"Still, you really gave us a scare. I never expected we'd reunite like this."
"Did you and Miss Ais save us?" Bell asked.
"Yeah. We found you collapsed near the entrance to the 18th Floor," Ais explained. "Your injuries were critical, so we brought you back to our camp."
"Thank you so much... You saved me again."
"Don't worry about it. Helping each other is what adventurers do. More importantly, congratulations on your Rank Up, Bell."
"Huh!? You Ranked Up!?" Tsuna gasped.
"Well, you need to be at least Level 2 to survive the journey down to the 18th Floor. Am I wrong?" Ais asked smoothly.
"N-No, you're right. Like Miss Ais said, I Ranked Up," Bell confirmed, nodding shyly.
"Is it because you defeated that Minotaur?"
"Yeah. I think so."
"That's amazing! Congratulations, Bell!" Tsuna beamed.
"Thank you," Bell smiled back.
"So, what exactly happened down there?" Tsuna asked, his tone turning serious.
With his nerves settled, Bell recounted the harrowing ordeal. They had been navigating the middle floors when another Familia, fleeing from a horde of monsters, intentionally redirected the swarm onto them. The massive ambush pushed them to the brink, but they somehow managed to survive. However, the ensuing battle caused a floor collapse, injuring Welf. Blindly fleeing from another monster pack, they stumbled into a pitfall trap and plummeted to the 15th Floor. Stranded, injured, and stripped of their items, Lili suggested they make a desperate push for the 18th Floor—a Safety Point where monsters didn't spawn. Bell and Welf agreed, fighting tooth and nail until they finally breached the safety zone.
"A Monster Pass Parade..." Ais murmured, her expression darkening.
"Pass Parade?" Tsuna repeated the unfamiliar term.
"It's the act of intentionally dumping a horde of trailing monsters onto another party," Ais explained. "It's a grim survival tactic adventurers use to escape death. Because the dungeon is so ruthless, there's an unspoken rule that you have to be somewhat understanding of it if there's no malicious intent. But... countless adventurers have died from being Pass Paraded. You need to be very careful."
Because Tsuna had traveled with a massive, highly coordinated expedition force, a Pass Parade was never a threat. Ais was giving him this warning for his own future safety.
"Anyway, I'm just glad you're all safe," Tsuna said.
"What about you, Tsuna?" Bell asked, eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Did you make it to the 59th Floor?"
"Barely. It was just as terrifying as Ais said."
"W-Was it really that bad?"
"Yeah. When we reached the 52nd Floor—"
"Tsuna. Stop," Ais interrupted, raising a hand.
Tsuna blinked, cutting his story short.
"The Guild strictly regulates information about the lower and deep floors," Ais explained gently. "Especially everything past Floor 50."
"Really? I didn't know."
"Yes. You're not allowed to know the details of the deep floors until you reach the necessary level and acquire the proper qualifications. Besides, hearing about what happens down there might break a new adventurer's spirit."
"A-Ah, that makes sense..."
Tsuna recalled the horrifying spectacle of the Dragon's Pot on Floor 52. The Valgang Dragons stationed on Floor 58 had unleashed a concentrated artillery barrage of fire from six floors down, turning the entire cavern into a blazing inferno. It was a sight that had nearly broken Tsuna, despite the countless death battles he had survived in his own world. Telling a fresh rookie like Bell about that would be incredibly cruel.
"Ah, I was supposed to tell Finn when you woke up," Ais suddenly remembered. "Come with me, Bell."
"Y-Yes, ma'am!"
"I'll stay here and watch over Lili and Welf," Tsuna offered.
"Thanks, Tsuna."
Bell followed Ais out of the tent, leaving Tsuna alone to tend to his sleeping friends.
.....
Time passed in a blur, and soon, night fell over the Under Resort.
The entire ceiling of the 18th Floor was composed of massive crystal formations that emitted light. As the surface world transitioned into evening, the crystals naturally dimmed, mimicking the cycle of day and night despite being deep underground.
"Nnnn..."
"Where... are we...?"
Lili and Welf finally stirred, their groggy voices echoing in the quiet tent. Hearing them wake up, Bell rushed back inside and scrambled to their bedsides.
"Are you okay? Do you know who I am!?"
"Please, Master Bell. As if Lili could ever forget your face."
"Ah. If I'm hearing the Lil-pipsqueak's usual sass, then I must be alive. Hey, Bell."
Both of them responded with their usual banter, proving they were mentally intact. Bell quickly explained their current situation and how they had been rescued by the Loki Familia.
"Bell, how are they doing?"
"Lord Tsunayoshi!?"
Tsuna walked back into the tent, prompting a shocked gasp from Lili. She knew Tsuna was supposed to be on an expedition, so seeing him here was the last thing she expected.
"Oh, you guys are awake. Thank goodness," Tsuna smiled.
"Hey, Lil-pipsqueak," Welf squinted at Tsuna. "You know this kid?"
"He's a member of the Hestia Familia, just like Master Bell," Lili explained to the bewildered blacksmith. "He's the third member of our party."
"Hah!? What do you mean!?"
"Due to certain circumstances, he temporarily left the party to join the Loki Familia's expedition."
"It's great to see you again, Lili. And your name is Welf, right?" Tsuna asked.
"W-Why do you know my name!?" Welf bristled.
"I heard about you from Tsubaki."
"You know that woman!?"
"Yeah. Oh, I'm Sawada Tsunayoshi. Just call me Tsuna."
Realizing he hadn't properly introduced himself, Tsuna quickly offered a friendly wave.
"Right, I should probably go tell Tsubaki you're awake," Tsuna said, turning toward the flap.
"W-Wait!! You don't need to tell her!!" Welf shouted in a panic.
"Huh? Why not?"
"I can't stand dealing with her!! I'd rather pretend to be asleep than have to look her in the eye!!"
"Did you call for me, Wel-kichi?"
Despite Welf's desperate protests, Tsubaki pushed past the tent flap with impeccable, horrifying timing.
"This is the worst..." Welf groaned, burying his face in his hands.
"What do you mean, the worst? And here I came all the way out here just to tease—I mean, check up on you."
"You're not even trying to hide it!! That's exactly why I said this is the worst!!"
I fully understand why he doesn't want to see her now... Tsuna thought, instantly reminded of Reborn's tyrannical teasing. He couldn't help but feel a deep sense of sympathy for Welf.
"Hey, Tsuna," Welf pointed an accusing finger at Tsubaki. "Has this menace done anything weird to you?"
"U-Um, no, not really..."
"You don't have to hold back on my account. Spit it out."
"Wel-kichi," Tsubaki narrowed her single eye, "even I might actually get mad at that one."
Tsubaki sighed exasperatedly. Despite her standing right in front of him, Welf showed absolutely no fear or respect, mouthing off to the Captain of his Familia without a second thought.
"Besides," Tsubaki grinned, slinging an arm over Tsuna's shoulder, "Tsuna-kichi and I are comrades-in-arms who've crossed the line of death together. Why would I do something weird to my brother-in-arms?"
"Comrades-in-arms?" Welf raised an eyebrow.
"Aye. Tsuna-kichi went all the way down to the 59th Floor with me."
"Huh...?"
Welf had known that Tsubaki was joining the Loki Familia's deep-floor expedition. But he hadn't possessed the slightest inkling that Tsuna—a kid who looked like he belonged in a classroom—had gone with them. The blacksmith's brain short-circuited.
"HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!?"
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