—Run, run, run!

That sound just now. That landing noise—did the others hear it?

We haven’t found the stairs leading to the upper levels yet. But it might be better to head back to the base for now.

“Oujin, do you still remember the way back to the base?”

“Yeah. But—”

Oujin glanced back.

I turned my eyes to Miku. She brought her clenched hand to her mouth and muttered anxiously.

“...I think we’re okay. I don’t think it’s following us…”

“Creepy. There’s no way to deal with it if we don’t know its objective.”

While I ran, Void grabbed me under one arm and lifted me like a sack of potatoes.

“Ugh! Hey, Void! Put me down!”

“Pipe down, kid. —Oi, you guys! We’re picking up the pace!”

“Okay, sure thing~!”

“Understood.”

Immediately, our running speed increased significantly.

Apparently, they had slowed down to match my pace. Given that our pursuer earlier had been a sluggish slime, there hadn’t been much need to run at full speed until now anyway.

Still, no matter how hard I pushed myself, my ten-year-old body couldn’t keep up with teens in their mid-teens. The difference in leg length and muscle strength was just too great. It couldn’t be helped.

And yet, and yet—

“Grrr…!”

The indignity…!

“Ahaha, angry-face El-tan is so cute! You’re making my heart flutter.”

“Shut it!”

“Aww. Can’t be helped, right? You’re still in your growing phase~.”

Once upon a time, I was the mighty Sword Saint.

I could outrun anyone, even catch up to slow horses. My strength was easily double that of Void’s. I wielded a sword with greater finesse than Oujin and possessed unparalleled skill. As for Miku’s sense of detection… well, that was impossible to replicate. Cat girls are scary in their own way.

“Grrr…”

“Don’t worry, El-tan! I love you just the way you are!”

Someone faster, stronger, and more perceptive than me was trying to offer comfort. It wasn’t helping. It hurt my pride.

“Shut up and keep running, Orunkaim. And don’t forget your sense detection.”

“Shut up! I’m already doing it, okay? But it’s not perfect! It’s more of a vague intuition!”

Vague intuition? It’s not grounded in logic or honed technique? Not even backed by refined senses?

Grrr, how envious…!

“Alright, alright. Don’t yell in the dungeon; the echo hurts my ears.”

“Whose fault is that, huh!?”

Oujin and I sighed in unison.

These two really don’t get along.

Eventually, after a few wrong turns, we managed to find our way back to the base thanks to Oujin.

We left Miku, who could sense presences, near the entrance to keep watch, while Oujin, Void, and I joined up with the waiting group.

It seemed like the waiting group had already chosen a leader. This leader, along with the heads of Groups One through Five, gathered to meet us.

A student who appeared to have been pushed into the role of leader stepped forward to greet us.

“Once again, I’m Seneca Margis. I already know everyone in Group Three, so no need for introductions. More importantly, have you found the stairs to the upper levels?”

Her short, tied-back hair had a silvery hue, perhaps due to a lack of pigment. Like Miku, she looked somewhat young, but her words and demeanor suggested a pragmatic and rational personality. It was a relief—things were moving quickly. We didn’t have time for unnecessary small talk, not when that monster could appear at any moment.

Oujin explained the situation to Seneca. She nodded as she listened, her left hand on her hip and her right hand brushing her bangs aside.

The air was tense, and before we knew it, most of the students—except for the heavily injured Ilga and the healer Fix—had gathered around us.

When Oujin finished, Seneca nodded again.

“I see. So you dealt with the slime, but there’s a chance that monster has shown up.”

“Yeah. We didn’t see it directly, but there’s little doubt.”

Void leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, eyes closed. Miku remained by the entrance, vigilantly watching the darkness.

I stood beside Oujin, but it felt like I was being sidelined.

Well, that couldn’t be helped. Even though I skipped grades, I was still a ten-year-old. Being underestimated was expected. And honestly, I was slow, not strong, and my detection ability was average at best.

Sometimes, moments like these make me feel utterly pathetic. It’s enough to make me want to cry.

The indignity…!

Still, I trusted Oujin to handle the discussions. I had faith in this party—enough that even from the perspective of the Sword Saint, they were a solid team.

Void for strength, Oujin for skill, Miku for detection. It wasn’t a bad party at all.

At first, I had been worried about how things would work out, given their lack of cooperation. But among students, this was likely the best we could hope for.

In fact, I felt they might even surpass a typical squad of knights.

“Phew…”

Even so—

I didn’t think we could win against that monster. Even with my experience and skills added to the mix, it felt hopeless. I just wanted to avoid an encounter and make it through to the end somehow… but—

That faint hope of mine was shattered by Miku’s next words. She had been staring intently into the darkness, her body tense, when she suddenly leaned forward, her eyes widening.

“...It’s here…”

I let out a sigh and hung my head.

Ah, things never go as planned.