Since arriving on the 15th floor, the Takemikazuchi Familia had never faced more than five Minotaurs at once.

Even so, those encounters had exhausted them, leaving them in their current battered state.

Their toughest battle was against five Minotaurs, when they still had several companions to help restrain the monsters.

That fight cost them their first companion.

Five Minotaurs had pushed them to their limits.

Now, facing seven or eight was far beyond their current capabilities.

Even three would be a struggle.

For Ouka and Chigusa, staring at the seven or eight Minotaurs ahead, despair gripped their hearts.

But as that despair surged, a flash of cold light streaked before their eyes.

The next moment, the Minotaurs crumbled to ash.

The three survivors froze.

Then, seeing the figure behind the light, hope sparked in Ouka and his team. Chigusa collapsed in relief.

The figure was Orsted. They were saved.

After dispatching the Minotaurs, Orsted approached them.

A strange feeling had guided him since entering the 15th floor, and he'd noticed his magic reserves depleting despite casting no spells.

Curious, he followed the sensation, which led him to Ouka's group.

He intended to jest about their sorry state but stopped upon seeing only four survivors.

Instead, he pulled two recovery potions and two high potions from his Hestia Ring and handed them over.

"Thank you, thank you," Ouka stammered, snapping out of his shock.

"Recover first. I'm here, you'll be fine," Orsted said with a slight nod.

Ouka passed the potions to Chigusa and the adventurer carrying her, then sat on the ground and drank his own.

The supporter drank a recovery potion, while the two high potions went to the unconscious adventurer and the severely injured Chigusa, whose arm was broken.

"Thank you, Mr. Orsted!" Chigusa said, her injuries healing instantly after the high potion.

Though not at her peak, her arm was fully restored.

High potions were remarkable.

As long as a limb wasn't completely gone, they could heal it. Even a severed but intact limb could be reattached and restored.

"You're welcome," Orsted replied softly, shaking his head.

Chigusa nodded, glancing at the unconscious adventurer, now breathing steadily.

Then she looked at Ouka and the other companion, her eyes brimming with unconcealed sorrow.

Ouka sat silently, staring at the ground-bound adventurer, while the other companion remained mute.

Their grief left them speechless.

"Mr. Orsted, why are you here?" Chigusa asked, turning to him.

"Just returned from an expedition when your god came to me, asking me to enter the dungeon and bring you back," Orsted explained.

"Thank you, Mr. Orsted," Chigusa said, her face darkening as she thought of their lost companions.

"Let's go. Take her, and I'll get you out," Orsted said, nodding without further comment.

The others nodded silently, lifting the unconscious adventurer and following Orsted.

"Mr. Orsted, could you take us somewhere first?" Chigusa asked as they trailed behind.

"You want to retrieve your companions' bodies? Lead the way," Orsted said, understanding her request after a moment's thought.

He didn't refuse. It was a small matter.

"Thank you, Mr. Orsted. This way," Chigusa said, her face lighting up as she moved ahead to guide him.

They ascended from the 16th to the 15th floor, arriving at a spot under Chigusa's direction.

But upon reaching it, she froze, staring in disbelief.

Ouka was equally stunned.

"How could this place be found?" Chigusa shouted, gazing at an empty cave.

Their companions had died on the 15th floor, but they couldn't carry the bodies.

They had hidden them here, planning to retrieve them later. Now, the cave was nearly empty, save for scattered, broken limbs.

Monsters had devoured their companions, leaving nothing intact to take back.

Chigusa, who had hidden the bodies herself, felt overwhelming grief.

Her vision darkened, her head spun, and she collapsed backward.

"Chigusa!" Ouka shouted, alarmed.

"Collect those remains. At least bring them back," Orsted said, catching Chigusa to prevent her fall, then addressing Ouka.

Orsted had heard of bodies being lost but had never witnessed it.

This was his first encounter with the dungeon's cruelty.

Ouka paused, handed the unconscious adventurer to the other companion, and removed his coat to gather the fragmented remains in silence.

Once done, they set off again.

Ouka carried the unconscious adventurer, the other companion held a bundle of remains, and Orsted carried Chigusa on his back.

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