Rin touched her own face.
Her hannya mask had already been taken off, so it shouldn't be enough to scare someone away, right?
"Probably because she was terrified just now."
Kikakujuo Mary said thoughtfully.
"In that situation, it's normal to be shaken."
"Don't forget, we have a big Black Bear with us."
"Roar?"
The Black Bear Fierce Person, who had been called out, blinked innocently.
"..."
"Well~"
"You can't really put it that way."
"After all, in this Dungeon."
"Sometimes, meeting your own kind."
"Can be even more terrifying than meeting monsters."
Tsubaki said.
"?"
"What do you mean?"
Kirukiru Amou raised an eyebrow, seemingly interested in this statement.
"Literally."
Tsubaki shrugged.
"Just as I've often told you these past two days."
"Do you want to know that child's race?"
"That height, and that build."
"Dwarf."
"In the Dungeon, they aren't exactly a powerful race."
As Tsubaki spoke, she signaled everyone to continue their journey.
The group began to move again.
However.
The topic became a bit heavier.
"Because Dwarves are born with weak constitutions, their strength and endurance are inferior to humans, and they certainly can't compare to natural-born warriors like Beastmen or Dwarves."
"If they don't possess special talents."
"In Orario, where strength is everything."
"Most Dwarves can only serve as Supporters."
"Which is..."
"Laborers specifically responsible for carrying luggage and picking up magic stones."
"And."
"The cheapest kind."
"Especially in a lawless place like the Dungeon."
"Because Dwarves are individually weak, they can only act as Supporters."
"Being bullied by other Adventurers in the Dungeon, having their pay docked, or even being abandoned by their companions..."
"...is commonplace."
"So that child just now."
"Either she got separated from the main group."
"Or she was used for dirty work."
Tsubaki didn't finish her sentence.
But everyone present.
Even the most simple-minded Inaba Tsukiyo.
Understood the meaning behind 'dirty work.'
—Abandoned.
—Or, used as bait.
To allow the main party to escape from a monster's encirclement.
Leaving behind a useless burden, or even intentionally wounding her so her screams would attract the monsters' attention.
...
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