“What…What about you?” I asked hesitantly.

[D-Dungeon. I ran away to the dungeon. Most of the explorers in the battlefield died, and only Shuna and I managed to escape to the dungeon. I’m scared; I can’t go back. E-Even though I’m the crown princess. Even though I have to be on the battlefield…!]

“…And the Demon Lord?”

[He got heavily injured from fighting the Hero before squeezing out the last of his strength and turning everyone into stone. Shina was there. I ran away…while watching everything happen.]

“So Shina isn’t the only one that got captured.”

[Yeah…S-Shin…I, I’m scared. I can’t go back to my world…]

Even over the dungeon’s messaging system, I could hear her trembling voice perfectly. I bit my lips, not knowing what to do. After a bit of pondering, I thought that I needed to see her.

“Where are you?”

[In my house at the Residential Area…]

“Let’s meet first.”

[…Okay.]

I wouldn’t be able to focus on breaking through the dungeon in this situation anyways. I immediately headed to the Residential Area and accepted her invitation to go to her house.

“…!”

The moment I arrived, Ludia bumped into my chest. No, she had run into my embrace. Thankfully, I wasn’t wearing my armor.

“Ludia…”

“Hic…...