That was Leon's theory. Though there was no concrete evidence to support it, he believed it to be true. And more importantly, it was a belief that made it easier for the adventurers of Orario to accept the Xenos.
After all, if these monsters had once been human, once been adventurers, then they weren't truly the enemy. Even if the change in perception was small, it mattered. That sliver of empathy might be all it takes to open the door to conversation.
Leon's instincts were right. Despite having just been saved by the Xenos in battle, the adventurers of Rivira still looked at them with caution and distrust. Their expressions were tight, their bodies tense.
But now…
Now, after Leon's explanation, a subtle shift occurred. The adventurers' eyes softened. Still guarded, yes but no longer hostile.
Leon, however, had no time to observe their reactions.
"Lyd, stay on the 18th floor for now." Leon ordered, turning to the armored lizardman. "Help the adventurers rebuild Rivira."
"There are more demi spirit deeper in the Dungeon. I'll deal with them. Once I'm done, you're free to go."
"Oh—right! Got it, Leon!" Lyd responded without hesitation, nodding vigorously.
Though rough around the edges, Lyd was sharp. He understood what Leon was trying to do, this was an opportunity to bridge the gap between Xenos and adventurers. A chance to foster coexistence. Leon was creating that chance for them.
"W-Wait! Did you just say there are more of those things below the eighteenth floor?!" A panicked voice cried out.
Leon turned to see Bors, his face pale with fear. The other adventurers looked no different, eyes wide, breathing shallow.
They had barely survived the last battle. The mere thought of facing another demi spirit filled them with dread.
"Relax." Leon said casually. "That's why I'm here, to clean them up."
His calm demeanor carried an invisible weight. Just a few words, but it was enough to reassure the adventurers. They believed him.
"…Bors, let the Xenos stay for now." Leon added, casting a glance toward the ruins of Rivira. "Have them help you rebuild."
Bors blinked, momentarily stunned. Then he nodded quickly. "O-Of course. No problem."
Compared to the monsters they had just faced, the Xenos looked tame, even civilized. Besides, they'd fought bravely at their side.
Bors wasn't about to question Leon's judgment. And truthfully, most of the other adventurers felt the same way. Some among them opened their mouths to protest, but others who had more sense quickly stopped them.
Leon wasn't oblivious. He knew there were mixed feelings among the adventurers. But he didn't care.
He had given Lyd and the Xenos the opportunity. What happened next was up to them.
With one final glance at the gathering, Leon vanished in a flash of light, soaring toward the 19th floor entrance.
Just as he disappeared, Asterius moved. The hulking black Minotaur took a step forward and then broke into a run, following Leon's trail without hesitation.
"H-Hey! He's leaving too?!" Bors blurted, suddenly panicking.
Asterius had been their strongest fighter. Without him, they'd never have survived the earlier battle.
"Haha… that guy's always been a lone wolf. Once he sets his mind on something, none of us can stop him." Lyd said, scratching his head sheepishly.
Bors's eye twitched. He had thought maybe, just maybe, he could feel a little safer with the big guy around. But now Asterius was gone too. Still… maybe it wasn't so bad.
It looked like that Minotaur was going to help Leon deal with whatever monstrousities were coming next. If that meant those creatures never reached the 18th floor again, then Bors could live with it.
"Lyd, right?" Bors turned back to the armored Xenos. "Since Leon left things to you, I'll leave the rebuilding of Rivira in your hands."
"No problem. We'll start immediately." Lyd replied with a firm nod.
"Gros, let's move." He called out, rallying the other Xenos who had been silently watching from the sidelines.
They understood without needing to be told. This was their chance, the one Leon had bought for them. To prove they weren't enemies, show they could coexist.
One by one, the Xenos stepped forward and began clearing debris from the ruined town, their monstrous features illuminated by the warm glow of the sun filtering through the cavern's ceiling.
The adventurers stood silently, watching the unbelievable scene unfold before them.
Monsters… rebuilding a town. It was something none of them could have ever imagined.
"…Alright! What are we standing around for? Let's get to work!" Bors finally shouted, snapping everyone back to reality.
With a loud battle cry, he grabbed a shovel and began clearing rubble himself.
The adventurers glanced at each other once more. And then, slowly but surely, they followed.
"Hey, your name's Lyd, right?"
Amid the ruins of Rivira, Bors hoisted a chunk of broken wall over his shoulder and turned to the lizardman beside him, curiosity flickering in his eyes.
"Yeah, that's me. The name's Lyd."
"Leon called you that earlier, didn't he?" Bors muttered, wiping some sweat from his brow. "Guess I'll call you Lyd then."
Seeing Bors speak to him in such a casual, conversational tone, Lyd's amber eyes lit up. His tail gave a subtle flick of excitement, this was the first time a surface adventurer had willingly spoken to him without suspicion or fear.
Leon didn't count. Leon was… different.
"In that case, I'll call you Bors-san." Lyd said earnestly.
"'San?" Bors raised a brow, caught off guard. "Cut it with the formality. Just Bors is fine."
Lyd chuckled sheepishly. "Sorry, force of habit."
Bors waved it off, then narrowed his eyes. "Say… what Leon said earlier. About you Xenos being reincarnations of adventurers… Was that true?"
The question hung in the air, sharp and loaded. Bors wasn't beating around the bush.
Lyd blinked. Then, after a moment of silence, he nodded. "I don't know for sure. But I've had these dreams… dreams of the sun, and buildings I've never seen before on the surface."
Even as he spoke, his voice held a strange uncertainty, tinged with a quiet hope.
To be honest, Leon's theory had shaken him too.
Could it really be true? Could they have once been adventurers?
If not… then what were those dreams?
Why did they feel so real?
Bors fell silent, staring at Lyd with a puzzled expression. "You sure you're not just making that up?"
Lyd tilted his head. "I don't even know you well. Why would I lie?"
"…That's a good point." Bors nodded. "Wait, hang on. That's kinda weird logic. Doesn't that mean you'd lie to people you do know?"
"Fels once said lying is something you do to friends." Lyd replied without hesitation. "Strangers don't need lies."
"…That's called a white lie." Bors muttered, feeling vaguely embarrassed.
Was this lizardman… a little too honest?
"Really?" Lyd asked, genuinely surprised.
"Yeah." Bors exhaled. "Say, can you describe those buildings you dreamed about?"
"Mm… the images are fuzzy." Lyd said, his brow furrowed in thought. "I can't describe them clearly, but there's one building I remember very well. I always see it when I'm running through the streets in my dreams."
Seeing Bors' eager nod, Lyd gave in and started talking about the strange building from his dreams.
As he spoke, Bors's expression began to change. His pupils shrank slightly. What Lyd was describing, those small architectural details, those obscure corners of the city, were all real.
Not famous landmarks, not well-known places any tourist might know. No. These were buildings tucked away in remote streets, places so unremarkable that only locals or long-time residents would recognize them.
And Bors… Bors did recognize them. He'd lived near one of those buildings for a short while during his early days in Orario. There was no way a monster, no matter how clever, could know those details.
Unless…
Unless they had seen it with their own eyes in a past life. Unless what Leon had said was true.
And it wasn't just Bors and Lyd.