Red saw that everyone had gathered, so he spoke up.
“Let’s rest for a bit. We aren’t far from our destination. I’m not sure if that blonde man reached the hidden area of the twenty-fifth floor before us, but recovering our strength is the most important thing right now.”
“I’ll go prepare some food for everyone. Since we came in a hurry, I didn’t prepare rations for this many people. However, I know there are some edible fungi nearby. Wait here for me.”
After saying that, Red stood up and left.
The two Mason siblings, the three from Dawnblade, and the dog and the idiot who remained unaware of the truth stayed behind to rest.
After only half a minute, Satania couldn’t stand the dull atmosphere.
She jumped up suddenly.
“Red, I’ll help you!”
After shouting, she chased after Red in the direction he had gone.
Consequently, only the two Mason siblings and Liz’s trio remained by the campfire.
After a moment of silence, Mason finally spoke.
He sighed slowly, unable to hide the deep disappointment in his eyes.
“Liz… you were too reckless.”
If it were anyone else scolding her, Liz might have talked back, but facing Mason, she just hung her head, unable to say a single word.
Mason remained indifferent to her silence and continued.
“Your strength is something we’ve all seen. There is no doubt that you are a genius knight rarely seen in a hundred years in the Capital, and you deserve all the praise.”
His tone shifted, becoming grave.
“But after today’s battle, you must have felt it deep in your bones — some paths and obstacles cannot be crossed with just courage and individual brilliance alone.”
“Ever since Red left…”
Mason’s gaze swept over the unconscious Jessica, the pale Bethany, and finally fixed on Liz.
“Dawnblade is less a Hero Party that shares life and death, and more — it became your personal solo stage.”
“The reason a Hero Party is called a party is that every member’s contribution is indispensable. Yet, you seem to have always believed your own power was enough to crush everything, thinking that team coordination and support were merely icing on the cake.”
“But you’ve seen the actual result…”
“If Red and I hadn’t happened to pass by, you and your two teammates would have all died here.”
Mason’s voice was calm and lacked excessive reproach, but it weighed so heavily that Liz couldn’t lift her head.
Bethany, beside her, wanted to say something, but after seeing Liz’s state, she silently closed her mouth.
As for Jessica, she was currently asleep due to mana depletion, completely unaware of what was happening.
“Monica’s evaluation of you was correct. Without a doubt, as a warrior charging into battle and seizing flags, you are sharp and impeccable — truly excellent. But as a leader — unfortunately, Liz, your score is a zero.”
Liz’s body trembled violently.
She lowered her head even further, almost touching her knees.
Her already pale face lost all color.
Faced with Mason’s merciless evaluation, she felt like her throat was blocked, as if she were choking.
“Whether as your cousin or as your… master, I am pained and I blame myself. I taught you how to use a sword, but I neglected more important things.”
“So, I hope Dawnblade disbands here. A Hero Party without a core is no different from seeking death in this dangerous Dungeon.”
Liz felt like she couldn’t breathe, and her voice became choked with emotion.
Seeing her hugging her knees with red eyes, Mason continued.
“I will explain this clearly to our aunt when I return. I’ll have you join our Judgment Holy Night team to learn and train properly.”
“However, the final choice is yours. What you do depends on you. This is all I have to say. I hope you’ll reflect on it.”
Mason stood up and walked in the direction Red had gone.
Soon, his figure disappeared into the darkness.
As for Liz, she continued to hug her knees, burying her head deep.
Tears flowed uncontrollably, falling to the ground.
“Don’t cry… don’t cry…”
Monica gently stroked Liz’s head, like an adult comforting an immature child.
***
On the other side, Red and Satania were picking mushrooms.
There were many types of mushrooms in the Dungeon, but few were edible.
Fortunately, Red could identify which were safe and which were not.
There weren’t many varieties nearby, and most were edible.
After he explained it a few times, even someone as foolish as Satania understood how to distinguish them.
“I never expected such fragrant mushrooms… to actually be poisonous,” she muttered, her curious gaze falling on Red.
“Why do you know so much?”
Faced with Satania’s praise, Red didn’t get arrogant, only responding plainly.
“I just read a lot of books.”
The two continued to pick mushrooms while chatting.
Red was a very talkative person, so working with him made Satania feel much more relaxed than staying with the others.
“Red! Red!”
The green-haired girl looked at her full basket and puffed out her chest with pride.
“Praise the great Satania! I picked them way faster than you!”
As she said this, Cerberus, who was holding a mushroom in its mouth and about to put it in her basket, gave her a look of silent contempt.
Looking at the energetic idiot, Red couldn’t help but chuckle.
Just as he was about to say something, Mason stepped out of the darkness.
The dashing Prince no longer had the oppressive aura he displayed when facing Liz.
Instead, he wore an approachable and relaxing smile.
“Mind if I join the fun?”
Mason pushed up his glasses and said with a smile, “It’s a good time for a quick chat, Red.”
“Is it about Liz?”
“…Is your intuition always this sharp?”
“It’s not intuition. It’s just something you can figure out by thinking about it,” Red said calmly.
Given the atmosphere when he left, the fact that Mason was seeking him out now could only be about Liz.
“Perhaps you don’t know, Red, but actually… I am a Prince of the Sunmoon Empire.”
Red feigned a look of great surprise.
“I truly never would have expected that!”
“Red…”
Mason’s lip twitched.
“I’m telling you, your reaction makes you look a bit like a married couple with Letia.”