—Around the time Ike and the others were divided into three pairs and began pressing forward resolutely—

Sheena glanced at her companion, Lycia, and felt a pang of foreboding about the challenges ahead.

It wasn’t that she had any complaints about Lycia.

Although she hadn’t witnessed her healing magic firsthand, Ike’s trust in her was absolute. Lycia’s abilities were likely beyond question.

So, what was bothering her?

The issue was simple: this pair wasn’t ideal for dungeon exploration.

Lycia, a cleric, had no offensive capabilities.

Sheena, an assassin, excelled in one-on-one combat but struggled against groups.

Together, they might handle a handful of monsters, but if faced with a horde, they would quickly be overwhelmed.

In a dungeon where hordes of monsters were commonplace, this was a glaring weakness.

There were other concerns as well.

Sheena cast a sidelong glance at Lycia.

Since their predicament began, Lycia had been silent and expressionless.

She radiated an aura that made it hard to ask what she was thinking.

“Oh, looks like we’ve got company,” Sheena muttered.

It seemed they didn’t have the luxury of dwelling on the situation any longer.

Before them appeared a group of over ten monsters.

While all were C-rank or lower, it was clear they were in for a tough fight.

Sheena stepped in front of Lycia.

“I’ll handle this. If anything happens to me, use your healing magic.”

Speaking up was unavoidable in this situation, so she issued her instructions.

But no reply came from behind her.

Sheena turned to check on Lycia—only to freeze in shock.

Why?

Why was Lycia smiling in this situation?

It wasn’t a smile of joy but one that exuded an unexplainable sense of dread.

“Hehehe… First, they tear me away from my beloved master, and now they dare to send this rabble to interfere… How much mockery must I endure?”

Lycia muttered under her breath before stepping forward, putting herself ahead of Sheena.

“W-Wait, Lycia! It’s dangerous!”

Sheena tried to stop her, but it was too late.

What happened next rendered her speechless.

In Lycia’s hands appeared a sinister, pitch-black flame.

“These pitiful fools must be obliterated by my hand.

—Shatter and perish: Inferno of Envy!”

“What the—!?”

The black flames surged forward with terrifying speed.

Before Sheena could even comprehend what was happening, the flames consumed the monsters, incinerating them one after another without resistance.

Sheena couldn’t process what she was witnessing.

Why did a cleric like Lycia possess offensive magic?

Why was her spell more powerful than those cast by experienced mages?

And why was the scene unfolding before her so overwhelmingly ominous?

Amidst all her confusion, Sheena realized one undeniable truth.

—This woman is dangerous.

“Oh my, it seems they’ve been thoroughly obliterated.

How refreshing… just a little.”

Lycia turned to Sheena, her smile sweet and unsettling.

“My, Sheena, what’s the matter? Why the peculiar expression?”

“It’s nothing… Just that, if you could fight, it would’ve been nice to know earlier.”

“Oh, goodness. This was hardly worth mentioning.

A frail creature like me couldn’t possibly consider this fighting. I ought to complain about the strain it’s put on my delicate self.”

“Frail…?”

Sheena realized their definitions of "common sense" were wildly different.

(Not that she wanted to dwell on the topic any further.)

The unease Sheena had felt when first paired with Lycia seemed to vanish entirely.

After that, the two of them progressed smoothly through the dungeon.