"I—! I—!"

  When Ais realized she was resting on Judas' p, she jolted upright in a hurry, a faint blush spreading across her cheeks.

  "Ais?"

  Judas called out from behind her, but she immediately covered her face with both hands.

  'Why did I feel embarrassed just now...?'

  A quiet chuckle reached her ears.

  Turning her head, she saw Riveria trying... and failing... to hide her amusement, one hand raised to cover her mouth.

  Even Judas gnced her way in mild surprise.

  Seeing Riveria, who was usually so composed and dignified, openly chuckling was a rare sight.

  That only made Ais puff out her cheeks in a small pout before she reached out and pyfully smacked Riveria on the back with both hands.

  "Alright... alright."

  Riveria said, clearing her throat.

  "Let's head back to the surface. We've lingered here for far too long."

  Judas nodded and hoisted Udaeus' giant bck sword onto his shoulder.

  A unique drop item... one that only appeared for those who met its hidden condition.

  'Maybe I can ask Tsubaki to make something out of this.'

  He thought.

  Their ascent back to the surface took several days, but it passed without incident.

  Though monsters inevitably stood in their way, their strength made short work of them.

  After passing the 18th floor, Judas began to notice Ais' gaze lingering on him.

  Ever since the incident... when she had rested her head on his p at Riveria's request... she hadn't spoken a single word to him.

  When he finally turned to meet her eyes, Ais visibly flinched and quickly looked away.

  Watching the exchange, Riveria could only offer a wry smile.

  'These two... what is with this awkward atmosphere?'

  Fortunately, a newly spawned group of monsters interrupted the tension.

  Hellhounds, minotaurs, and dungeon worms emerged ahead of them, baring their fangs as they let out menacing growls.

  As they charged forward, Judas stepped ahead of the group and casually swung Udaeus' massive bck sword.

  Even without reinforcement or strengthening magic enhancing him, Judas' raw physical power alone already rivaled that of a high-grade Level 4... bordering on pseudo Level 5 if he exerted himself.

  The instant the massive sword connected with the monsters, they were reduced to ash in a single swing.

  Some didn't even need to be struck directly... mere air pressure from the bde was enough to cleave them apart, their bodies splitting as their magic stones shattered.

  After collecting the drop items and stowing them in his bag, Ais suddenly gathered her courage and spoke up.

  "Um... Judas..."

  She fidgeted as she spoke, her expression tense, as if struggling to force the words out.

  Judas halted and turned slightly, giving her his attention.

  "I... I... um..."

  Her eyes flicked left and right, searching for resolve.

  "When I rank up... can we spar again?"

  Her voice was hesitant, almost fragile.

  "Sure. Why not?"

  Judas nodded casually, not thinking much of it.

  After all, this wasn't the first time she had asked him to spar.

  'She must be curious about how much stronger she'll get after leveling up.'

  He thought, resuming his stride.

  But for Ais, that wasn't the only reason.

  Testing her new strength was part of it... but there was something else, something she couldn't quite put into words.

  'That thing he did to me...'

  For reasons she didn't understand, she wanted to do the same to him.

  'Riveria called it a p pillow, right?'

  Ever since that day... since Judas had let her rest her head on his p... the thought had stubbornly lingered in her mind.

  She didn't know why, but an instinctive urge kept nudging her forward, as if fate itself was whispering to her, gently pulling at invisible strings.

  The sparring match was just an excuse.

  An excuse to give him a p pillow of her own.

  Just thinking about it made her cheeks warm.

  'Maybe I can knock him out...'

  'But Judas is strong... it won't be easy.'

  Still, she hoped that her next level-up would bring her closer... strong enough to face him head-on.

  As they reached the upper floors, they encountered someone they hadn't expected.

  A white-haired woman cd in a dark dress stood ahead of them.

  Judas' eyes narrowed when he noticed the unconscious figure slung over her shoulder.

  'Belle...?'

  "Alfia... Silence... why are you here?"

  Riveria muttered under her breath, a bead of sweat trailing down the side of her face.

  "Hm?"

  Alfia turned her head, feigning curiosity.

  "Why am I here?"

  She replied with a cold voice.

  "Do you think you own the dungeon or something?"

  "I go wherever I please, old hag."

  A vein pulsed visibly on Riveria's forehead.

  "Oh? It seems someone managed to solo-clear Udeaus."

  She added casually, her gaze drifting to the massive bck sword resting on Judas' shoulder.

  Knowing Alfia's disposition, Judas wasn't surprised she was aware of Udeaus' hidden condition.

  'I wouldn't even be shocked if she told me she'd solo-cleared it herself.'

  After all, someone once hailed as the Monster of Talent during Orario's golden era was anything but ordinary.

  "What happened to Belle?"

  Judas asked, gncing at the unconscious girl whose mouth had begun to drool slightly.

  "Is she alright?"

  "What happened, you ask?"

  Alfia replied, her eyes opening just a fraction.

  "This is entirely your fault. You leveled up too quickly, and she felt overwhelming pressure trying to catch up to you."

  She paused.

  "Speaking of which..."

  Her figure vanished.

  Before anyone could react, Alfia had already seized Judas' wrist.

  "!?"

  'Fast!'

  Riveria reacted instantly, raising her staff and fixing Alfia with a guarded stare.

  Yet when she noticed Judas' composed expression... and Ais standing calmly beside him without a hint of arm...

  '...Did I overreact?'

  The thought crossed her mind, though she didn't lower her guard.

  As if answering her unspoken question, Alfia released his wrist and hummed in satisfaction.

  "I was worried you might've rushed your rank-up and ended up with low status parameters, chasing after something as feeble as records and glory."

  She said ftly.

  "If that had been the case, I would've beaten you to a pulp."

  "I see. Should I thank you for your mercy, then?"

  Judas replied evenly, meeting her gaze.

  "Hmph."

  Alfia scoffed, turning away before disappearing from sight just as abruptly as she had arrived.

  Judas, Ais, and Riveria exchanged gnces.

  "I will never understand that woman's way of thinking."

  Riveria muttered as she continued walking.

  Not long after, they reached the surface... bringing their so-called 'mini' adventure to an end.

  ---

  +15 chapters at .com/drdedot