New Ally

--- Ren's POV ---

"...Hey, Ren. I've been meaning to ask you for a while now, but the timing never seemed right. Why did you choose such an... unconventional weapon?" Finn's question hung in the air as I suppressed a smirk.

He just didn't understand the concept of affinity and the true calling of a weapon. Did he honestly believe he picked a spear because it was supposedly superior to swords or other typical choices?

Inwardly, I shook my head. Finn's curiosity was genuine, but it only confirmed that he still had a long way to go.

"Well, this weapon perfectly complements my fighting style. You might see me as a close-range combatant, yet I am not. When I am serious, I employ the whip. You saw a glimpse of it earlier."

It wasn't anger that coursed through me; it was a sense of amusement. I had simply resonated with this particular weapon.

A whip, often associated with torture and deemed incapable of inflicting serious harm, symbolized my past self.

I had allowed others to define me however they pleased my entire life in the past.

So what if I worked in an office? Was I expected to settle down and marry simply because I was financially stable? And just because I was in my thirties, did it mean I couldn't enjoy my solitude on a couch or something?

But the Ren of the past had never questioned these notions. For him, conforming to societal norms was everything, and as a result, I felt empty—devoid of purpose.

I was nothing more than a living being obediently following the instructions imposed upon me.

Then, I discovered Ais. My reality shattered, but I refused to let it shape me any further. Allowing it to do so would only cause me more pain, knowing that she never truly existed at all.

"I see..."

My words seemed to elicit a slight unease in those around me, but as I glanced at Ais, her eyes brimming with determination, I couldn't help but yearn to hold her face in my hands.

I eagerly awaited the end of this situation so we could return to revel in our shared company.

But now was not the time to lose myself in such thoughts. We dispatched the monsters that came our way with ease, but aside from Wiene, we encountered no other Xenos.

Someone had already questioned how I knew about them, and with a single glance at Ais, I conveyed to her how, to which she simply nodded.

Although I had revealed my past to her and explained that she and the others were characters from a story I had read, I refrained from divulging the details of the novel.

Firstly, I harbored no trust in its contents, and secondly, I didn't want to sow doubt in her mind or burden her with incessant what-ifs tied to that piece of garbage.

I explained to her that it was better for only me to possess that knowledge, as an outsider to the novel could better discern what was false and what was real.

Thus, after confirming the existence of "talking" monsters, I engaged in a brief conversation with Finn, providing additional information regarding the matter as we ascended to the 37th floor.

While I dispatched the monsters effortlessly, we didn't immediately rush to the 38th floor, as our path was intercepted by a figure.

...Fels.

Observing a skeletal figure clad in black robes, roughly my age, evoked a flicker of pity within me. However, that sentiment swiftly dissipated.

Ouranos must have been aware of our entry into the Dungeon from the very beginning.

Ais raised her sword once again, poised to strike the enemy, but this time, I paid it no mind. After all, even if this skeleton were to be killed, what difference would it make?

"Please, allow me a moment," Fels interjected, his "voice" calm yet tinged with caution. "I am no enemy. I serve as a subordinate to Ouranos-sama, and my purpose here is to offer aid in your mission and relay recent developments. I lack the strength to resolve this situation single-handedly, thus I implore all of you to lend your assistance in eradicating this threat."

Fels possessed the ability to communicate with Ouranos in real time, granting him access to up-to-date information effortlessly.

Since we were aligned in purpose, incorporating Fels into our party and forming an even more unconventional alliance wasn't overly challenging.

A flicker of curiosity danced within me. If the novel's portrayal held even a modicum of accuracy, the Ikelos Familia should presently be utilizing Knossos to torment the Xenos. However, my multiple attempts at infiltration yielded no signs of such activities.

Could Dix have forsaken his objective?

Impossible. He had sworn an oath to persistently construct Knossos until his dying breath.

Unless someone had eliminated him long before my arrival, but the prospect of an individual silently exterminating the entire Ikelos Familia seemed implausible.

Moreover, if there had been a confrontation that resulted in such a significant loss of life, the commotion would have undoubtedly alerted others to the existence of Knossos...

This discrepancy suggested that unbeknownst to me, significant changes had already taken place, diverging from what I had known.

Slowly but surely, I would unravel the truth. Some fragments were still missing, but I possessed a vague understanding, an inkling of the bigger picture...

---

Author's Note:

Let's add the first decent fight scene to the novel!