Danmachi: There’s Absolutely Nothing Wrong With Seeking a Harem

The roar of explosions echoed beside the Great Fall, leaving the crystal walls of the 27th Floor riddled with scars.

Bell frowned as he looked toward the curling smoke.

The enemy was detonating the Kaenseki on a delay. That allowed them to avoid the brunt of the blast and keep themselves safe. Judging from that, they were clearly not the same kind of desperate fanatics as the ones from before.

Although this gave Riveria and the others time to deal with the Kaenseki scattered throughout the area and stop the birth of the Calamity, it also proved even further that the enemy knew the details of the Calamity perfectly well. Most likely, they were one of the culprits behind the annihilation of Astraea Familia.

Bloodstains spread across the ground, and shrill screams rang out from nearby every so often.

Bell and Bete put interrogation out of their minds, ignored the fallen Evilus remnants, and charged straight ahead.

"S-save me! It's Gale! Guh?!"

A beastman lay in a pool of blood. The moment he saw someone approaching, he hurriedly cried for help.

But before he could make out the newcomer's face, a pair of silver boots mercilessly stepped on him.

"Tch."

Bete was already irritated and did not care at all whether the Evilus remnants lived or died.

And the one responsible for putting him in that mood was not these villains pretending to be righteous people, but the boy behind him.

Though "behind him" was not quite accurate. More precisely, it was "on his back."

The state the two of them were in could hardly be called riding on his back. It was strange enough to be unsettling.

As usual, Bete kept his body low to reduce wind resistance while sprinting through the Dungeon at high speed.

Bell was on the werewolf's back, but he was not lying against it. He kept his body straight, half-seated as he looked ahead.

The wind howled, and the tremendous force swept over Bell. He had to rely on his own [Strength] just to barely keep himself steady and avoid being thrown off Bete's back.

To explain how the two of them ended up like this, one had to go back to before they set out.

...

"Hah? Why the hell do I have to chase someone together with that rabbit brat?"

In the forest on the 18th Floor, Bete made his displeasure clear the moment he arrived.

"Bete, I know there's some friction between you and Bell Cranel, but judging by speed, you're the only one who can catch up to Gale as quickly as possible."

Finn explained calmly.

He looked at the reluctant werewolf, then added, "We still don't know what [Calamity] Evilus is trying to summon. If we save [Gale], we may be able to get some information from her. Bete, this is not the time to be stubborn. This doesn't only concern the expedition. Everyone's lives are at stake."

"Tch."

Bete said nothing more. With a displeased look, he ran toward the entrance to the Great Tree Labyrinth.

In less than a moment, he caught up to the boy who had left first.

"Bete-san."

Bell swung his short blade, deflecting the stinger fired by a [Gun Libellula], and quickly pressed forward.

"Cut the crap. Hey, can you keep up?"

Bete had no intention of greeting him properly.

The boy's request to Loki Familia had been for Riveria and the others to stop the Kaenseki from exploding, while the fastest person went with him to chase after Gale.

There was one fatal problem with that.

Bete had not only a racial advantage but also extremely high [Agility]. He was indeed fast, but that speed belonged to Bete alone. He could not share it with the boy.

"Of course I can't. That's why I need you to give me a ride."

Bell answered frankly.

If he used [Argo's Ship] and [Argonaut Wish], he could reach a high burst of speed for a short time.

But they did not know which floor Ryuu had reached, and a fierce battle might still be waiting ahead. Acting recklessly like that would only exhaust his Mind and turn him into a burden.

"Hah?! Like I care."

Bete instantly rejected the boy's suggestion.

He glanced at the boy sprinting at full speed and continued, "I'll go find her. You can take your sweet time crawling along behind me."

"Wait. Do you know [Gale]? Even if you've met her before, after all this time, can you guarantee you won't make a mistake?"

Bell calmly pointed out the risk.

Ryuu acted while hiding her face to begin with, and the Evilus remnants had only just tried to use others to kill with a borrowed knife, making Rivira Town's Adventurers deal with Gale for them. If there was a female elf among them who disguised herself as Gale to muddy the waters, it was hardly impossible.

"…"

Bete very much wanted to say they would know after he beat her up.

But he remembered Finn's warning. Gale's life or death might very well be connected to the Calamity.

Astraea Familia had possessed many Level 4 members, yet they had been wiped out in a short time. If the Calamity truly appeared, it would be an enormous threat to many people on this expedition.

The fangs in front of them were not frightening. The unknown Calamity, however, could very well bypass Finn and the others and strike at the [weak].

As Bete was left speechless, Bell could not help recalling Riveria's words.

"Bell Cranel, this expedition will be a very long journey. At some point, you may have to act together with Bete. Would you like me to tell you about his past?"

Riveria's words had been calm and even, heard by the boy alone.

"Riveria-san, to be honest, I hate the way Bete-san talks, but that's all."

Bell answered softly.

He had once heard from Line about what Bete had done. That werewolf had saved Line seven times, yet every time, he had done it while hurling abuse at her.

Bete did not ask for anything in return. He did not even need a word of thanks. While saving Line, he insulted her, telling an unprepared [weakling] like her to get off the battlefield as soon as possible.

Bell found it hard to say whether something like that was right or wrong. Everyone's fate was unknown. Bete's approach might cause a hopeful Adventurer to lose confidence and leave the profession behind.

But from another point of view, those [weak] people who lacked the strength to endure the storm might turn back in time because of Bete's words and escape death.

It was just like Eina's kindness. Right and wrong were difficult to separate.

Most of the rookie Adventurers Eina had taught had met their deaths.

Was it because she had not been serious enough?

Of course not. Eina's thick, meticulous notes were more than enough to prove her effort and kindness.

Then did that mean encouraging those rookie Adventurers with kindness was completely wrong?

Did it mean driving away the weak with insults and keeping them away from death was right?

There were no answers to those questions.

Kindness and harshness, admiration and humiliation, they were two sides of the same coin. In this unbearably cruel world, no one could truly judge them as right or wrong.

Bete's twisted personality must have grown from countless scars.

Bell looked at that beautiful jade-colored hair and spoke softly.

"Riveria-san, I don't need to know Bete-san's past."

"He and I are on the same sea. To him, scars are a compass. To me, they are reefs. That's all."

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