"As you can see, I was originally a Siren."
Ray gave a slight bow, her mannerisms clearly setting her apart from the mindless monsters.
"Thank you for showing mercy to our kind."
Finn raised his hand, stopping her mid-sentence.
"Hold on. We weren't the ones who protected that child—it was Bell-kun. We only learned about the child afterward."
Ray paused, turning her gaze to the stranger wrapped tightly from head to toe.
She already knew his name by now.
Bell Cranel.
Fels had informed them earlier that a child from a surface Familia had pieced together the relationship between the Xenos and the Guild, as well as the power structure behind the New Variants deeper in the Dungeon.
The Xenos hadn't discovered information about the Spirits through their own deductions—it was Fels who told them. Otherwise, they might've paid a much steeper price to uncover what forces were really behind the New Variants.
Ray turned slightly and bowed to Bell.
"Thank you very much for your help, Mr. Bell."
Bell didn't shy away from the gratitude. Sometimes, facing it head-on was the right thing to do—especially with the Xenos.
The Xenos weren't complicated. Unlike Adventurers, they didn't have layered intentions. When they said thank you, they meant it. Accepting it plainly was the best response.
"No need to thank me. I was just lucky to be there."
Bell didn't bother with excessive humility, simply stating the facts.
He had only saved her because he'd heard the Vouivre's pained scream and got curious—wondering who could be wandering the 20th floor during the Loki Familia's expedition.
That curiosity led him to the Vouivre, and he ended up saving her from the monsters chasing her.
"You can explain it yourselves."
Bell waved his hand, signaling that he had no intention of dragging things out. It was necessary for the Xenos to connect with the Loki Familia, so he gave them the go-ahead.
Ray didn't hesitate. They couldn't stay on the 28th floor for too long anyway, so it was better to get everything across quickly.
She shifted her attention to the members of the Loki Familia...
"Members of the Loki Familia, I see pity in your eyes. Do you think we're pitiful?"
Finn's gaze grew complicated. Only through direct contact could one truly realize that these beings, cloaked in monstrous forms, actually possessed human hearts. And that made his emotions even more conflicted.
"Your unique existence easily stirs strong emotions in otherwise rational people."
"But it's also your uniqueness that keeps humanity on the surface bound by fear. Right now, I do feel pity for you—but I also grieve your fate."
Through that eye contact, Finn saw no despair in their eyes—only determination and hope.
That, too, was proof that these monsters had human hearts.
There wasn't much Finn could say to these humans in monster skins. At most, he could only sigh, 'Fate can be cruel.'
"Yes, our fate..."
A flicker of sadness passed through Ray's eyes. Born as monsters yet endowed with human hearts—perhaps that was the very reason the Dungeon's monsters rejected them.
Unaccepted on the surface. Unaccepted in the Dungeon.
No matter where they went, they were "Xenos"—heretics. Rejected by both sides.
"We don't have much to say about fate. We who live in the Dungeon are simply trying to find a way to survive."
"The Guild and Fels have always supported us Xenos, and we've done what we can to help the Guild in return."
"But lately, we've been facing serious problems."
Finn immediately focused—this was exactly the reason they needed to talk.
Ray continued, her face solemn.
"The deeper floors have been repeatedly devastated by monsters created by the Spirits. These New Variants attack any creature with a magic stone without hesitation. They aren't just monsters—they seem like beings created solely to harvest magic stones."
Finn was already aware of this. The actions of those creatures clearly showed they were searching for energy sources to cultivate their so-called "fetuses."
He summarized what he knew and added,
"You're right. Those New Variants aren't like traditional monsters."
"They likely weren't born of the Dungeon itself, but from a Corrupted Spirit rooted deep within it."
"The reason they relentlessly seek magic stones is simple—the Spirit needs vast energy to nurture the fetuses she produces, or what we might call her 'avatars'."
"The Spirit faction has long been in league with Evilus. All of this—everything they've done—is to bring ruin to the surface."
Ray nodded slightly. This matched what she already knew.
The alliance between the Spirit faction and Evilus posed a major threat. The Xenos were already struggling to survive in the Dungeon, and now they had to contend with these two powerful forces—it was becoming overwhelming.
Which was why Ray hoped for help. Tentatively, she said,
"Actually, things haven't been going well for us lately."
"We've already relied heavily on the Guild and Fels, but the trouble we're in now… it's beyond what they can handle alone."
Finn understood exactly what she meant. At this point, he no longer felt any hesitation about helping these unique beings.
Maybe it wasn't something they should be doing. If things went public, the entire Loki Familia could be dragged into it.
But right now, that concern didn't matter anymore.
In fact, if they didn't act, the Guild might end up coming after them anyway.
"Is this about Evilus?"
"...Yes. We've been tracking Evilus members for a while now. We want to tear that bastard apart. So many of our people have died because of him."
As Ray said this, a hint of rage twisted her expression.
Their numbers were already small to begin with. But because that bastard kept hunting them, they were steadily losing members.
"Every time we try to make a move, he slips away. It's forced us to change our base every few weeks, keeping all of us Xenos on edge."
"And we don't believe for a second that he's just been avoiding us. Sooner or later, he's going to strike."
"If we don't deal with him now, we'll never have a moment's peace."