"It's unusual for you to ask for my time so suddenly."
"Ahaha... actually, there's something I wanted to talk about..."
"Talk?"
THOOM—!!!!
"...Let's clear these monsters first, then we'll talk."
"..."
A day had passed since their encounter with the Xenos, but Bell was still lost in thought, his mind clearly anchored to Viene. Even as they descended into the Dungeon together, he remained distracted. Mid-conversation, a pack of Werewolves lunged from the shadows, their predatory instincts honed for the kill.
Slash—!
Sever—!
"Even with me here, descending past the 10th floor alone while distracted is a death wish."
"..."
"Bell?"
"Y-Yes...!"
Unlike Akumo, who dismantled the monsters with surgical decapitations and effortless movements, Bell was merely dodging. He hesitated, his blade heavy with doubt.
—GRRRRRAAAAAA!
Slash—!
"!!"
Whish—!
—RWAAAAAAA!
The Werewolves' fangs and claws snapped at the air where Bell had been a moment before. While these middle-floor monsters lacked the speed to land a clean hit on him, Bell was equally unable to commit to a counterattack.
"Is it possible..."
'Has he been like this ever since we met the Xenos... no, ever since he met Viene?'
Akumo watched the boy closely. He realized Bell was overlaying the image of the Xenos onto these mindless beasts. He didn't intervene further, choosing instead to wait until Bell could find the resolve to finish the execution himself.
Sever—!
"Haah... haah..."
'I can kill them...'
"..."
Grip—!
'But I can't keep doing it like this...'
Bell finally put the last monster down, but he was breathing heavily, exhausted more by the mental strain than the physical exertion. His mind was a chaotic storm—the village that worshipped the Black Dragon, Viene's existence, the Xenos, and the heavy truths Akumo had shared with him. The weight of it all was paralyzing.
Thud—!
"Bell, what exactly are you doing right now?"
"...Brother."
"Is it the Xenos? Is that why you're hesitating?"
"Yes..."
"..."
"I... I just don't know anymore!"
'Even if monsters kill people... does that give us the right to kill them—'
Seeing the boy's crumbling resolve, Akumo picked up a Magic Stone from the floor and pressed it into Bell's hand.
"You're viewing the Xenos as people, aren't you?"
"I keep thinking about Lido and the others, and I just can't..."
"Precisely because you view them as people, you must not hesitate."
Akumo spoke with the pragmatic authority of a veteran, attempting to strip away the unnecessary burden Bell had placed upon himself.
"A monster is a monster. The Xenos are the Xenos. That is all."
"I don't believe they harbor some grand, world-shaking ambition."
"They were simply born that way. There is no need to overthink their existence."
Grip—!
"Especially if it reaches the point where it begins to erode your own soul."
In Akumo's eyes, there was no fundamental difference between a human and a Xenos. Both were beings with desires and hopes. Because he could see them as equals, he could also distinguish them from the mindless hunger of the Dungeon's common spawn. They were simply beings who wished to exist. That was all.
"Save the people you want to save. Pursue the adventure you desire."
"Brother..."
Ending their hunt early, Akumo and Bell ascended back to the surface.
"Adventurers slay monsters to earn a living, or to reach the heights of those they admire."
"That's true..."
"Is that evil? Is it wrong?"
'Then why do monsters exist? What about the heroes in the fairy tales?'
Akumo wanted Bell to understand that there was no objective answer. It was natural for Bell's empathy for Viene to spill over toward other monsters, but Akumo also wanted to show him that such logic was flawed. Just as Bell questioned the adventurers who killed monsters, Akumo had spent lifetimes questioning the monsters that slaughtered adventurers.
Step, step—
"Hm?"
"Aiz...?"
"Akumo, Bell. Hello."
By chance, they encountered Aiz Wallenstein at the Dungeon entrance. Driven by a desperate need to resolve his inner turmoil, Bell called out to her.
"U-Um... I'm sorry to bother you when you're busy."
"It's fine. Don't worry about it."
"..."
'Back in that village, Aiz was...'
Recalling the events in the village that served the Black Dragon, Bell hesitated, but finally forced the question out.
"Aiz, if a monster had a reason for living..."
"...!"
"If they had emotions no different from ours, what would you do?"
"...If a monster causes harm, or if a monster makes someone cry..."
Step—
"I will kill it."
"...."
Her words only served to further complicate Bell's heart. He knew monsters were the enemies of humanity. But he didn't yet understand the sheer depth of the tragedies they had caused or the ocean of tears shed in their wake. No matter his potential as a hero, he was still just a boy.
"Go home for now, Bell."
"But I..."
"This isn't a problem that yields an answer overnight."
'You shouldn't try to force a conclusion so quickly, kid.'
At Akumo's urging, Bell decided to return to Hearthstone Manor where Hestia and his comrades were waiting.
"Alright, Brother."
"Good. Don't overthink it—"
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
"""!!"""
—EMERGENCY ALERT! EMERGENCY ALERT!
The frantic ringing of bells pierced the air, instantly snapping their nerves to attention. The announcement that followed left both Bell and Akumo wide-eyed with shock.
—All Familias in Orario are to report for Guild instructions immediately!
—As of this moment, the Guild issues a Mandatory Mission!
—The 18th Floor, Rivira, has been attacked and annihilated by armed monsters.
—All adventurers are to mobilize immediately for the subjugation of the monsters that attacked Rivira...
"Annihilated...!?"
'Why would the Xenos do that...!'
"S-Subjugation..."
'Lido and the others are in danger...!'
Eina's voice echoed throughout Orario, trembling with urgency. Both Akumo and Bell immediately thought of the Xenos. Before Aiz could even question their reactions, Eina's voice crackled again, sounding flustered.
—Ah... yes? Is that so... Understood...!
—The Guild is updating the orders.
—All citizens and adventurers are strictly forbidden from entering the Dungeon!
—All Familias are to remain on standby at their respective headquarters.
The sudden shift in orders told Akumo everything he needed to know.
'Ouranos changed the mission. It means there's still a chance to salvage this!'
"Bell!"
"Yes!"
Dash—!!!
Exchanging a quick look, the two began to sprint toward the Guild. They needed an explanation and intended to join any potential subjugation force to somehow prevent the Xenos from being slaughtered.
Hum—!
"!!"
'Fels...? Contacting me now of all times...!'
The communication orb in Akumo's possession vibrated, and Fels' voice cut through his thoughts, stopping him in his tracks.
—Do not move, Akumo.
'Fels! This is an emergency! If the Xenos are exposed...'
—That is precisely why you must not move.
—You are not like Bell. You are not just an adventurer; you are a pillar of the Loki Familia and a hero of Orario.
"..."
—If you intervene and it is revealed that you are protecting monsters, the fallout will be catastrophic.
Fels laid out the worst-case scenario, fearing the massive repercussions. Akumo's feet felt like lead. The faces of the adventurers who looked up to him flashed through his mind. Ultimately, he had no choice but to turn back, taking Aiz with him to return to the Loki Familia.
"...Let's head back to Twilight Manor for now, Aiz."
"Okay."
'Akumo... he looks so troubled.'
Aiz was taken aback by the rare sight of his hesitation, but she followed him toward their headquarters.
Step, step—
"Akumo!"
"Naaza? Why are you..."
"The Guild placed a massive order for potions. I just finished the delivery."
"...I see."
"But what on earth is happening...?"
Naaza's eyes were trembling, clearly shaken by the news of the attack on Rivira. The reports of armed monsters—special cases far beyond the norm—had her instinctively shivering.
"...It'll be fine. Nothing will happen, so get back to your home quickly."
"Are you heading back to your headquarters, Akumo?"
"Yeah. I'm going to discuss the situation with Aiz and the executives."
"I see...!"
Akumo spoke with a calm resolve to steady her nerves. Seeing him ready to act, Naaza's trembling subsided slightly.
'I'm sorry, Naaza.'
"Aiz, let's find Finn."
"Yes."
Dash—!!
As he turned away, a fleeting shadow of guilt and bitterness crossed his face. To a normal observer, it would have been invisible, but to Naaza, who remained behind, it was a look she knew all too well.
"..."
'Why... why are you making that face...?'
"Akumo..."
It was the exact same expression he had worn when he treated her after her own tragedy—the face he made whenever he offered her an apology for a world he couldn't fix.