Danmachi: Is It Wrong to Be the Main Character in Orario?

"The Black Dragon's power is far beyond what we ever imagined."

Finn admitted to himself that he'd been narrow-minded. In the past, he had believed Ottar to be the greatest threat—but now, he realized that kind of thinking was a sign of how limited his perspective had been.

After seeing how poorly they had responded to just the roar of the Black Dragon, it was hard to imagine how they could possibly fare in a real confrontation.

They might not even survive the first breath.

"We really were a bit too arrogant back then."

"No wonder Bell-kun said that Level 1 to Level 3 are considered lower-tier Adventurers, Level 4 to Level 6 are middle-tier, and only those above Level 7 count as high-tier Adventurers."

"Maybe that truly was the case during the era of the Zeus Familia and Hera Familia."

"Us being at Level 6... might just be the result of growing up under the protection those two Familia left behind."

"Finn..."

Riveria looked at Finn's disheartened expression and wanted to say something, but the words wouldn't come.

It was simply because Finn had hit the mark.

They had always been living in the shadow of what the Zeus and Hera Familia once built. Even now, reaching Level 6 might just be considered the scraps of that legacy.

"Then you're wrong, Captain Finn."

A sudden voice echoed inside the tent.

But neither Finn nor Riveria looked surprised anymore.

They were far too used to it.

"Bell-kun, you've been watching the whole time."

"Yeah. That roar from the Black Dragon really caught us off guard. I didn't expect it to cause such a commotion."

"Yeah... No one expected the Black Dragon to stir things up like this, especially now."

Bell glanced at Finn's downcast expression and understood well—this was no small matter. The impact of the Black Dragon had been so severe, even the "Braver" of the Pallum race had taken a serious hit.

Finn, however, had no mental space to care about Bell's insight. All he could feel was the crushing weight on his shoulders.

Bell simply shook his head.

"Unexpected things always happen."

"The Dungeon isn't a place where you can expect everything to go as planned. Whatever happens down here... shouldn't it always be within our expectations?"

Finn nodded weakly, but the unease remained. He still felt lost—unsure of where to go from here.

"Bell-kun, are you still aiming for the Black Dragon?"

"Hmm? Finn, what about you? Haven't you been working all this time to restore the Pallum race? Are you planning to give up just because of a single dragon's roar?"

"...No, I have no intention of giving up."

His downward spiral halted slightly. As Finn thought of his people's situation, the pressure on his shoulders grew heavier—but his resolve also became firmer.

"No matter what, the Pallum need to carve out a future. Even if I'm not the one to make it happen, I'll still open the path forward for them."

Whether or not he was the one to restore the Pallum didn't matter to him anymore.

There were simply too many problems in front of him now. If they failed in this attempt against the Spirit, he would have to entrust his dream to those who came after him.

But would there really be someone to take up the mantle?

'Yes! There has to be!'

The thought lifted Finn's spirits. He still had faith in the future of the Pallum—so now was not the time to lose heart.

Taking a deep breath, Finn pulled himself together with renewed determination.

Looking at Bell, who had helped bring him back from the brink, he stood up.

"You're amazing, Bell-kun."

"Oh my, getting praised by the 'Braver'? I'm honored."

Bell's tone made Finn chuckle.

The title "Braver" was just something he'd forced upon himself.

"I gave myself no way out. From the start, I had Loki give me this title—so I could become the 'Hero' of the Pallum."

"I carry the banner no one else can lift, and I shoulder the burdens no one else dares to bear."

At that moment, Finn spoke from the heart.

"I've never truly been a 'brave warrior'. That's why… I feel so tired."

Bell was genuinely surprised to hear him say that.

Finn had always seemed like someone who never faltered—never the kind to speak such vulnerable words.

He hadn't expected Finn to show his heart like this.

"Feeling tired is normal."

"Finn, you should talk to your friends more. If you keep everything bottled up, you'll end up just like the Sword Princess."

Finn smiled faintly, his expression a bit more at ease.

"Maybe you're right."

"It's just… a little late now. I want to bring everyone back alive, but I can feel just how formidable the Spirit really is."

Until now, the Braver had always relied on his intellect to lead his team through danger.

But now, he realized that intellect alone wasn't enough. Especially against a power that completely overwhelmed logic—he could feel the limits of what he could do.

Bell didn't offer any more explanation. Some things didn't need to be said. But he could still give a nudge in the right direction.

"The Spirit really is a huge threat. Taking one down is practically suicide."

"In some ways, it's even harder than defeating a Level 7 Floor Boss. But doesn't Loki Familia still have a trump card?"

"...Haruhime?"

Finn naturally knew how crucial Haruhime's power was. The new magic she had awakened, along with the one she already possessed, were their biggest keys to victory.

"But she's not suited for combat. Her magic takes time to prepare, and its duration is limited. Once she casts it, her safety becomes a serious concern."

It was exactly because of those safety risks that Finn hesitated to bring Haruhime to the front lines.

Haruhime's greatest strength was her high-level spell "Uchide no Kozuchi."

That magic might truly be decisive—but it would also place her in grave danger.

"Hmm... I guess I can help a little."

Though Bell sounded a bit reluctant, he knew this was one of those moments where a hand had to be extended.

"Later, I'll make some adjustments to Sanjouno Haruhime's 'Substitute Straw Doll'. I'll modify it so she can redirect fatal damage and teleport herself away just before impact."

"Say, to the Safe Zone on the 50th floor."

...

(100 Chapters Ahead)

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