"No, if Bete's hiding his secret, how'd you all find out?"

Line's doubt grew as companions piled on about Bete being gay, but she quickly spotted a flaw, trying to refute them.

"See Roy over there?" Alicia pointed to Roy, surrounded by Tiona, Ais, and Lefiya.

"What about him?" Line asked, confused.

She knew Roy, his arena fame and expedition role made him a hot topic in the Loki Familia.

"He's super popular, right?" Alicia said.

"What's that got to do with my question?" Line replied, exasperated.

"It's important," Alicia said with exaggerated seriousness.

"Doesn't Bete always say he hates the weak?"

Line's heart sank, yeah she couldn't deny it.

"Exactly," Anakitty chimed in.

"Roy's strength is insane, and his magic outshines Riveria."

Seeing Line's skepticism, she added, "Don't believe us? Riveria even admitted it, and we saw Roy's magic, it was crazy strong."

"Plus, his swordsmanship's top-tier. Even Captain Finn might not match him overall."

"And Roy's really handsome," another girl gushed, eyes infatuated.

"A guy like that? Girls, even guys, might fall for him," Alicia dropped the bombshell.

"Bete confessed to Roy on the 50th floor."

"Confessed?"

Line's gaze dulled, her mouth trembling.

"Don't worry, Roy's straight, rejected Bete and even scolded him," Alicia said, relieved.

"No way! I thought Bete hates Roy!" Line protested.

"It's an act," Anakitty said bluntly.

"Bete's faking it to get Roy's attention. I read it in a book."

"We were all fooled by his act. If he hadn't slipped up with that confession, we wouldn't know he's gay," another added.

Line's face paled further.

The girls gossip opened a floodgate, spiraling out of control.

"Bete's gay?"

"Is he… lacking down there?"

"Bete can't perform?"

"Bete's a girl!"

The Loki Familia's rumors grew wilder.

"Bete's a girl," Riveria giggled, having seen Roy's stunt.

Roy marveled at her petty streak, rivaling his own.

The gossip started sneaky but turned blatant, reaching Bete's ears.

Yet he couldn't pinpoint a target for his anger, the whole Familia was mocking him.

He wanted to confront Roy but was stopped by Finn's strict orders.

Bete could only let out an angry howl.

After resting on the 28th floor, they resumed the surface journey, split into two groups for easier movement and monster response.

"How much growth this time?" Tiona said boredly in the 17th floor's dark cave.

"Lost so much valis though if my stats rise a bit, it'll soften the blow."

"Don't expect much from the 50th floor," Riveria shook her head.

"So Lefiya might gain a lot?" Tiona eyed Lefiya.

"You went to the 59th floor."

Nearly 60th, Lefiya corrected silently, then said, "What growth comes from that?"

"Yeah, status growth's too slow," Tiona turned to Roy.

"You were Level 3 before? Should gain a lot, right?"

"Pretty much," Roy nodded.

Monsters past the 45th floor gave hefty Excelia, boosting his status fast.

Tiona opened her mouth, but a sound cut her off.

CRACK!

A rock wall shattered.

"Roar!" Monsters burst out, roaring fiercely.

Over two meters tall, curved horns, gray muscles, red eyes radiating brutality. These were Minotaurs, the strongest single monsters on the 18th floors.

"So many at once," Tiona said, eyeing dozens.

"A monster party on the way back."

"Let's deal with them," Ais drew Desperate.

Surprisingly, the Minotaurs didn't attack.

Sensing danger, their faces showed vivid panic, and they fled without hesitation.

"Why run?" Tiona gaped.

The Minotaurs scattered in all directions.

"Chase!" Ais used Aeriel, swiftly downing a lagging Minotaur.

"The upper floor's passage is ahead, we can't let them reach it."

"Got it," Tiona snapped to, pursuing.

"Finn's team is ahead. Hope they move slow and stop these," Riveria sighed, weary.

So close to the surface, yet another problem.

---

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