Reborn After A Death March

"Thank you for ridding our labyrinth of so many plunderers,"

A few days after I handed the plunderers over to the guild, I was being thanked by the viceroy of the Labyrinth City Celivera on a large stage. I could do without all the fanfare. Still, I couldn't argue with the viceroy, his wife and the guildmaster when they all said that capturing so many plunderers and plenty of famous ones to boot was a big deal.

I was presented with the Celivera City People Medal of Honour. I had to stand on a stage being praised while the plunderers were paraded in front of me giving me looks they could kill. At the very least, I managed to avoid having to watch them being stoned, but I could still hear the bloodthirsty crowd as I rode the carriage away. It was hard to tell who the plunderers were and the innocents at that moment.

At least a warm sight greeted me as I arrived home.

"I'm gonna get yooou?"

"Waaah!"

"Ah-ha-ha-ha!"

"You're so fast, Miss Tama."

In the adjacent open field, I discovered the younger group gleefully engaged in play alongside the children residing at the orphanage. From the looks of things, Pochi and Tama were playing tag with the boys. Arisa and Mia stood among a circle of girls on the opposite end of the field. Their deft hands worked diligently, intertwining blades of grass to create an intricate tapestry of vibrant hues.

"Aw, you got me. Ooone, twooo, threeee..."

Tama deliberately slowed her pace yet still managed to catch up to one of the fleeing children. A gentle tap on his shoulder was all it took. The boy, caught off guard, immediately began counting, his eyes darting around the nearby area. Tama and Pochi waved as they saw me. Their grins outshone even their usual brilliance. They must be having fun.

"Lulu, have you started dinner already?"

"I'm sorry-I haven't yet."

A shadow crossed Lulu's usually bright face, a hint of apprehension clouding her lovely features as I entered the house. She quickly turned around and headed for the kitchen when she heard Satou's question.

"No need to apologise. I was thinking that I could make hamburg steaks for everyone today."

"It has been a while. I'm sure Tama and Pochi will be thrilled."

Lulu gave a relieved, gentle smile when Satou explained why he asked her about dinner. It looks like I have something to look forward to for dinner.

But for now I head to my room to change out of this uncomfortable dress. I swear even the plate armour knights wear is easier to change out of and more comfortable than those dresses. There is so much string tying this thing up that it was a merical I managed to undo it all. It feels so good to change into something else.

<0>

"Mmmm!"

"Yummy!"

"So good?"

"Mr Hamburg is still the yummiest and bestest ever, sir."

"Yeah, the bestest."

"Mmph. The yummiest!"

The children devoured the hamburg steaks with gusto. A simple meal for a large group, we offered them sautéed mushrooms in butter and crispy potato fries alongside.

"This is delicious."

"No wonder Pochi and Tama were so proud of it."

After handing out the kids' meals, the maids sat down to their hamburg steaks.

"Call them Mistress Pochi and Mistress Tama, remember," Miss Miteruna scolded as she returned from the house.

She had taken plates of food to the samurai pair in charge of the house's security.

"Your hamburg steaks continue to astound, master."

Liza's eyes were closed, her chewing deliberate, a contented swish of her tail betraying the enjoyment she was finding in the moment.

"Ahhh... I still can't measure up to master's level."

"Lulu, your ambition is admirable, I praise."

"Mm. Hang in there."

A hint of bitterness tinged Lulu's pleased expression as Nana and Mia urged her on. Mia, with a mountain of sautéed mushrooms, flanked her half-serving hamburg steak. However, the other half of Mia's steak wasn't shared with the beastfolk girls but sat on Arisa's plate.

"Heeey, don't look at me like that," Arisa, catching my eye, quickly protested. "Playing with those kids burns a lot of calories, you know!"

"Yeah, yeah. It's fine."

I know how hard dieting can be. Thankfully, those painful memories never came to the surface of my mind as we had an unexpected visitor.

"Oh-ho, quite a rustic outdoor feast thou hast out here, no?"

Princess Meetia of the Nolork Kingdom, her short, drill-shaped pigtails bouncing with each step, walked beside her stoic bodyguard, Lady Knight Ravna.

"It's a pleasure to see you again, Princess Meetia."

"I am glad to see thee in good health, Sir Satou. You two as well, Hero Kura, Lady Sara,"

The princess surveyed our outdoor feast with a solemn nod. She was barely older than Arisa, and the attempt at a serious expression on her youthful face was endearing. It was hard to resist the urge to point out how charming her efforts were, but I knew better than to risk hurting her feelings.

"Is there some urgent business afoot?"

Though not yet dipped below the horizon, the sun had begun its descent, casting long shadows that made a princess's solitary stroll seem rather late in the day.

"Hmm, I heard from Lady Reythel that thou were in some trouble, no?" The viceroy's wife, Reythel, offered me guidance on assisting the children. "I came to see if I might be of some help, but..."

Princess Meetia, observing the tranquil dinner scene, concluded that the issue had been resolved.

"I appreciate that very much," Instead of dwelling on the wasted trip, I expressed gratitude for her concern. "Would you like to join us if you don't mind having the same meal as the children? You'd be more than welcome."

"Hmm, art thou certain? I do not wish to take someone else's meal, no?"

She demonstrates a remarkable degree of consideration for others. If Satou hadn't approached her, she probably would have turned down the meal.

"Yes, it's quite all right. I made plenty of extra in case anyone wanted seconds. Lady Ravna, I do hope you'll join us as well."

"Then I shall take thee up on thy offer."

"Thank you very much."

I arranged a table and chairs for them to ensure a proper welcome, complete with fine china and silverware. Surely, a princess deserved a more dignified dining experience than the disposable plates we used at the soup kitchen.

"Oh-ho, this meat is remarkably soft, no?!"

Princess Meetia's eyes widened with surprise as she tasted the hamburg steak. At the same time, Lady Ravna, her face a picture of quiet devotion, devoured her meal. The plate before her was empty in the blink of an eye.

"Please help yourself to seconds."

"M-much appreciated."

Sara offered Ravna a second plate, which the knight gratefully accepted. The hamburg steaks, though child-sized, were quickly devoured. Seeing the children eagerly fighting for seconds, Ravna politely declined any further offerings with a smile and a shake of her head.

The frenzied scramble for food that Tama and Pochi had initiated quickly stopped as a sea of overfed children emerged, their bellies rounded and satisfied.

"That was truly delicious, no? Even I, a royal, hath scarcely eaten any meal quite as remarkable." Judging by Princess Meetia's tone, her praise was clearly genuine.

"Wow, even the princess liked it!"

"Well, yeah. It was so yummy!"

"Hee-hee, we really got something special."

The children's eyes widened in surprise and delight when they heard the food had impressed even a royal palate.

"I wonder if we'll ever get to eat like that again?"

"Probably not, right?"

The children's inquisitive stares prompted me to answer.

"We can't do it all the time, but we'll try for a few times a year, at least."

The orphanage director nodded, indicating that it wouldn't be a problem.

"Yaaay!"

"Hooray!"

"I wonder when we'll get to eat it next?"

"Not for a while, I'm sure."

"But how long's a while?"

"Just a while!"

The children's chatter was as sweet as always, but I hesitated to commit to a specific date. I feared the disappointment in their eyes if I couldn't keep my word. I wanted to be a person who kept their promises, not one who made empty ones just to appease them.

<0>

"Whoa, are we out of place or what?"

The lingering scent of hamburgers still clung to us as my group and I entered the bustling Explorers' Guild for the rookie class. Arisa's quiet observation confirmed our hunch: we were hopelessly out of place. Surrounded by a gaggle of middle schoolers in hand-me-down clothes and makeshift gear, we felt like mismatched puzzle pieces. The class, a diverse mix of human and beastfolk, including a few tigerfolk and snake-headed individuals, looked at us with a mix of curiosity and amusement.

"E-excuse me! A-are you the teachers?"

A young girl, her face a mixture of nervousness and determination, emerged from the guild's training grounds. Clad in chain mail, her hand gripped a steel mace, a buckler strapped to her arm. She was looking toward Nana and Liza, but I answered in their place.

"No, we're students just like you."

"O-oh, I'm sorry. I'm Gina, daughter of Sir Darrel, the…"

"Hey, mister! What are you doing here?"

"Good to see you again, mister. Are you a teacher now, too?"

Miss Gina's introduction was cut short by the arrival of the Lovely Wings, two explorers we had previously saved from a monstrous attack within the labyrinth. Their timely appearance signalled that they would be our instructors for the day.

"Hey, everybody here?"

A bearlike, bearded man with a wooden sword strolled over.

"Sir Dozon? Are there extra teachers today?"

"No, I think it's no one but you two and me."

The three teachers appeared to be acquainted. Mr Dozon, the explorer, was treated with deference by the Lovely Wings, who addressed him as 'sir.' Still, his status within the group seemed more that of a peer than a superior.

"Are you here as a student of the rookie explorers' class, Sir Noble?"

"Yes, that's right."

"Whaaat? But you're an expert already, mister!"

"Sure this isn't some kind of mistake?"

Seeing their reaction, Satou quickly produced the letter from the guild, a smile playing on his lips. Other than this initial misunderstanding, the class went pretty smoothly.

"...So anyway, if ya start by huntin' them potato and bean monsters, you'll never go hungry, kids." The rookies listened intently to Dozon's lecture. "For some reason, though, just huntin' potatoes and beans all the time won't make ya stronger." He emphasised that even the most inexperienced explorers would find gaining experience by battling those monsters nearly impossible. "So form groups of three or more, and if you see any maze rats or maze moths while you're huntin' the beans and potatoes, make sure you go after those guys first."

While their monster cores held some value, these creatures were primarily useful for gaining experience. Tama and Pochi, beside me, enthusiastically agreed, their heads bobbing in unison. They seem to have forgotten that it doesn't work for them at their current level.

"What about the entangling canola that shows up in those areas?"

"Ahhh, labyrinth manju stands will sometimes buy those off ya, but usually, there's not much use for 'em. And they're tougher than the potatoes and beans, so I'd avoid fightin' 'em if ya can." Dozon responded to the rookie's question dismissively.

"Canola? Couldn't you get oil from it, then?" Arisa asked.

"Hunh? If ya need oil, all ya gotta do is hunt goblins and bring 'em to a butcher, yeah?"

Dozon stared at Arisa, incredulous. 'You're serious?' he scoffed. Making vegetable oil from scratch? With all the processing and solvents involved, it's way easier to just get it from oil slimes. But I'll admit, I'd love to try some real vegetable oil someday.

"Anyway..." Dozon went back to his main point. "When ya hunt them rats and moths, ya might see goblins or maze ants, but don't touch 'em until ya got the proper equipment. Maze ants are particularly tough. Without the right weapons, even your teachers here might have trouble with them."

Dozon gestured to the Lovely Wings, who chuckled dryly.

"Yeah, right! We could beat a goblin up no problem!" one particularly bold student shouted at Dozon.

"A stray one, maybe. But there are strong ones that travel in groups near where the beans and potatoes live. If ya ever get into it with those, throw a smoke bomb or a flash bomb and run for it." Bopping the mouthy child on the head, Dozon turned to warn the others. "Anyone who doesn't have any flash bombs, raise your hands."

Dozon's question was met with only our raised hands. After a brief lecture on the importance of preparedness, he presented us with a smoke bomb and a flash bomb.

"You can buy these at the West Guild shop," he announced. With that information in hand, I planned to stock up on these crucial tools before our next foray into the labyrinth.

"Listen up, you lot! For us explorers, our bodies are our tools. If ya get hurt, it's all over!"

Tama and Pochi tilted their heads inquisitively at this.

"What about potiooons?"

"Ya won't make any profit if ya use somethin' so expensive," Dozon responded.

"Really, sir?"

"Tama. Pochi."

Liza's lips zipped shut in a silent command, her eyes meeting Tama and Pochi's. The two immediately followed suit, snapping their mouths closed in a flurry of movement.

"The only folks who can afford to use potions on the regular are noble parties or garnet-badge explorers."

Potions were that expensive? I blinked, surprised. The conversation had already moved on to overnight camping, leaving my question hanging in the air.

"It might be a little early for you lot to try this, but if you're gonna stay in overnight, make sure ya bring food for twice as long as you're plannin' to stay. And hire bag carriers, too. Water's real heavy."

"Mister, you've stayed in the labyrinth before, right? How long?"

"Yes, about seven days."

"Seven days?! With those little girls?! That's crazy."

Mr. Dozon looked shocked. Our makeshift base, though comfortable enough for us, resembled a vacation home. I imagine sleeping on the cold, damp ground night after night would be quite a hardship for most people.

"Don't follow their example, kids. Most people stay only three or four days. Some lookouts hole up in the mantis or beetle areas for nearly half a month, but they've got troops to bring 'em supplies, so that's different. If ya try to do the same thing, you'll end up dead."

The thought of spending half a month in the labyrinth, deprived of even a simple shower, sent shivers down my spine. My scalp tingled just imagining it. The lecture ended, and the shuddering sensation lingered as we transitioned to practical training. Dozon and the Lovely Wings team divided up, guiding the rookies through the fundamentals of combat.

"Hey, Sir Dozon, can you use 'Spellblade'?"

"Yeah, right! If I could do things like that, I wouldn't be wastin' my time as an explorer."

Dozon's dismissive scoff at the newbie's question drew a silent exchange between Pochi and Tama. Their earlier agreement to keep their mouths shut seemed to hold as they wisely refrained from uttering any rash words.

"The only folks who're still explorers even though they can use 'Spellblade' are weirdos like Jelil and Zarigon."

"So Zakorin can use 'Spellblade,' too? That's surprising...," Arisa murmured rudely.

The rarity of the 'Spellblade' skill likely stemmed from the scarcity of weapons capable of effectively channelling magic. My companions' acquisition of the skill hinted at this, suggesting that suitable weapons were not readily available. However, if practice weapons like wooden Magic Swords gained popularity, the number of 'Spellblades' could potentially surge as more individuals would have access to the necessary tools to train and hone their skills.

<0>

"You sure? This is a lotta people, even for a noble."

"Yes, it's fine."

After the lesson concluded, we extended an invitation to the teachers and rookie students to join us at a nearby bar, with Satou shouldering the cost. Rather than a typical post-work drinking party, this gathering was our way of expressing gratitude to Mr. Dozon and the other teachers, as well as the rookie students, for the valuable knowledge and practical insights we had gained from them. We hoped that through food and drink, we could convey our appreciation for their time and expertise.

"Whoa, we've never eaten at a place like this before!"

"Hey, quit starin' like that. They'll think we're a buncha country bumpkins!"

"Well, we are country bumpkins! What's the big deal?"

Several of the newcomers appeared to be nervous; however, it was far from a refined establishment. A solitary silver coin was sufficient to purchase all the food and drink one could desire.

"Once we're full-fledged explorers, d'you think we'll be able to eat at places like this all the time, too?"

"Sorry, but even we only come here a few times a year."

"Wait, really?"

"Ah-ha-ha, well, maintenance and repairs on all that armour and equipment really add up."

I overheard a conversation between the experienced group, Lovely Wings, and a novice explorer. It appears that even seasoned explorers struggle with adequate cash flow.

"Mr. Dozon, what would you like?"

"Let's start with a round of ale and whatever meat ya can bring out fastest."

Dozon placed a decidedly manly order with the waitress.

"Just fruit water for these girls, please. And how about a heaping helping of whatever dishes you recommend?"

"Let's order everything on the menu!"

As the majority of our companions were still underage, we opted to get fruit water for them. Liza was of legal drinking age, but we decided not to let her have any alcohol because it usually made her drowsy. In the end, only Satou, I, and Pearl were drinking alcoholic beverages. Sara had expressed interest in drinking at first. Still, she changed her mind after turning red at the mere thought, recalling her prior drinking experience.

"A-are you quite sure?"

"Yes, if that's all right."

Upon Arisa's request, the waitress appeared visibly surprised. However, Satou quickly intervened by giving her a few gold coins and instructing her to inform him if the amount fell short.

"Well, damn, aren't you doin' well? Your girls got some pretty fine armour, and I hear you're even givin' out food to the needy, right? Most nobles don't have enough cash for all that, do they?"

"Yes, well, I happened to make some rather profitable trade deals on the sugar route," Satou answered with an arbitrary excuse.

"You can make that much just from trading?"

"Master simply happens to have some remarkable connections," Arisa replied to the rookie. "He wouldn't have been able to profit so much if he hadn't been friends with the king of Lalagi."

"Friends with a king?!"

"Whoa! You're amazin', mister!"

The newbie explorers looked at Satou in awe.

"Fancy meeting thee here, Sir Satou."

"Good evening, Princess Meetia."

Princess Meetia of the Nolork Kingdom emerged from a passing carriage.

"C-cute!"

"Mr Noble seems to know an awful lot of cute girls."

"Maybe she's from a good family?"

"I wonder if I could get her to marry me when I'm a garnet-badge explorer?"

"Don't be ridiculous! Her Highness is a princess from another kingdom."

I overheard a hushed discussion between Arisa and some of the new recruits. However, my thoughts were focused elsewhere as I noticed a noble in green making his way into the west guild headquarters. Was he perhaps there to question the plunderers who had been apprehended? As I observed him, a woman came into view, escorted by two creatures resembling panthers.

"Oh, don't worry. That's just a tamer and her pet monsters."

"I've never seen an explorer with pet monsters before."

"Ya haven't? A lot of explorers use pet monsters or golems, y'know. Necromancers and summoners, on the other hand, even veterans like me hardly ever see those," Dozon explained after noticing my gaze. "See? There's Lun, a puppet user. Joggo and the golem army will probably be back from the labyrinth soon, too, so ya might get to see that."

Lun's puppet resembled a marionette crafted from bricks, possessing rigid movements that belied its true strength. Dozon assured me, however, that it was quite powerful.

"Here, I brought some ale, boiled beans, and meat skewers. The stew will be out soon. You can snack on the meat until then."

"Great, thanks."

We satiated our thirst with the ale and fruit water provided by the waitress while the novices eagerly devoured the meat skewers. The young beastfolk girls promptly joined in, partaking in the feeding festivities.

"Mmmm!"

"S'been ages since I had meat."

"In our village, we only ate meat during harvest festivals an' such."

The youthful adventurers eagerly devoured their food while engaging in enthusiastic conversation about their meal. Before long, the meat skewers had vanished from the table. We, meanwhile, were nibbling on some dehydrated snacks and sipping on ale. During this time, I observed several explorers warmly greeting Mr. Dozon as they passed by. His affable and helpful demeanour suggested that he was well-acquainted with many people.

"Sumina! Hey, if it ain't Sumina!"

On this occasion, it was Dozon who hailed a passing explorer. She was the elder sister whom I had saved from the maze.

"Sir Dozon! Good to see you again."

"S'been so long, I thought ya might be dead!" Dozon and Sumina exchanged warm greetings. "Looks like ya got some pretty nice equipment there, though. What, ya workin' for some noble now?"

"Yeah, right! Like they'd ever hire me." Sumina laughed. "But I'm working for someone even better than that."

"Yeah? Who?"

"It's a secret. Maybe I'll tell you once he gets famous, though. I got this armour and sword from him, too."

Sumina patted the hilt of her silver sword, still sheathed, and shot Dozon a mischievous grin. She slowly drew the blade partway from its scabbard, giving him a tantalising glimpse of the shining metal within.

"I'll be damned! Is that?"

"Yep, it's the real thing, like in the legends!" Sumina winked charmingly at the startled Mr. Dozon.

"Sumina...make sure you do right by a Magic Sword like that, yeah?"

"Of course!"

She responded with a cheerful nod, revealing that she had recently visited a knowledgeable friend to learn the proper methods of silver sword care.

"Sister Sumina!"

"Oops, gotta go. Let's grab a drink sometime soon, Sir Dozon."

With that, she ran off toward the friend who had called her name.

"Sure is rowdy in here. These your rookies, Sir Dozon?"

When Sumina left, a different explorer walked over to Dozon.

"Hey, Jejeh. Yeah, they're some kids from my rookie explorers' class."

"Oh really?... Wait, what?! It's you!" The man seemed to recognise Satou.

"He's from that bloodied party we helped the first time we went into the Celivera labyrinth," Liza reminded him.

"You really saved us that time! Let me pay you back with some drinks tonight."

"Since when can the eternally broke Red Ice party pay for anything?"

"This man saved my comrade's life, you know."

"Would you like to join us? You can share your exploring expertise with the newbies."

Mr Jejeh offered to pay the expenses, but we couldn't let him spend a small fortune on a few weak potions. To prevent this, I suggested that he regale us with amusing anecdotes and scary tales, which he did to the delight of the young explorers. Following Mr Jejeh's lead, other seasoned explorers who were acquainted with Mr Dozon gradually arrived.

"My, it's lively in here."

"Have you finished your work for today, Guildmaster?"

"Who cares? Thanks to you, I've had so much work that I haven't been able to get good and drunk lately."

"I've been telling you to stop getting so drunk all the time anyway."

"Oh, quiet, Sebelkeya."

In attendance were the guildmaster and Miss Sebelkeya. Contrary to the guildmaster's initial request for an ale, Miss Sebelkeya interjected, ordering water and several dishes for dinner instead. The inexperienced explorers did not recognise the newcomers. Still, the more seasoned explorers, such as Jejeh and the Lovely Wings, took notice upon the arrival of two prominent figures from the guild.

"Oh-ho-ho? Our lovely Hero is drinking with the guildmaster all buddy-buddy-like!"

As I heard laughter from the doorway, I turned to find the army captain of the labyrinth, accompanied by the foxfolk officer who frequently assisted him and the incognito General Erthal.

"Captain, do you think we've been betrayed?"

"Well, I'm sure a drink will cure whatever ales us."

"Oh, Captain, your awful jokes are killing me..."

Upon hearing the foxfolk officer's grievance, the captain lightly tapped him on the head, demonstrating the strong bond between them.

"Would you like to join us as well? The food here is really quite good."

"If a gourmet like you recommends it, Sir Pendragon, I'm sure we can't go wrong."

General Erthal positioned himself in the open seat behind me as I occupied a chair. The instant recognition of his profound dignity and authority caused the other explorers at the table to quickly abandon their seats and scatter to alternative locations.

"We've got the whole place reserved today, so order whatever you'd like."

"Does that mean you're footing the bill, Sir Knight?"

"Yes, it does," Satou nodded at the excited-looking foxfolk man.

"Yahoo!" he shouted, resulting in another punch from his superior officer. They continued their familiar comedic exchange while I requested the waitress bring food and drinks to General Erthal's table.

"Right away, miss. Here's the food you ordered before."

Our table was laden with multiple plates of meat and a large cauldron of stew. A variety of small bowls and ladles were placed adjacent to the cauldron, allowing guests to serve themselves.

"A foreign princess, the guildmaster, and the army general?"

"Who in the world is these guys?"

"Garnet-badge explorers are really something else."

"You morons! No ordinary garnet-badge explorer has all those impressive connections."

As Liza and Lulu politely distributed the food, I overheard the conversations of the explorers at the other tables. Our encounter with Princess Meetia was happenstance, but the other two were simply our drinking companions.

"Here you are, master."

"Thanks." Satou accepted the mead Lulu handed him.

"To Sir Pendragon and the future of the rookie explorers!"

"""Cheers!"""

Once again, General Erthal proposed a toast, and we all raised our glasses in response. The evening was marked by constant toasts and drinking among the adults. Meanwhile, the younger children took advantage of the situation by eating heartily and satisfying their endless appetites.

"It's delicious."

"Munchy-crunchyyy?"

"This meat is nice and chewy, sir."

It appeared that the beastfolk were having an absolute blast, which was likely due to the wide variety of meat dishes available at this establishment. It would be good to come back and eat here occasionally.

"The seafood dish is delicious, too."

"Mushroom stew."

"Thanks, you two."

Sara and Mia generously shared their plates with me, and I was eager to sample a few morsels. The seafood was incredibly tender, releasing a burst of savoury flavour that delighted my taste buds. I initially hesitated towards the fungi that resembled toadstools floating in the stew. Still, they turned out to be surprisingly delicious. The sensation of the spice was intoxicating, unlike any chilli pepper I had ever tasted. Both the seafood and mushrooms were best paired with wine or mead.

There was no greater joy in my mind than savouring delicious food and drinks while engaging in conversation with a mix of old and new friends. As I gazed up at the full moon, I lifted my glass of mead in a toast to peace, which I believed to be the ideal way to live. But before I could fully relax and unwind…

"Mew?"

"What is it, Tama?"

Upon noticing Pochi's uncertain tone, I swivelled my gaze to find Tama glancing around nervously, her ears pinned back and spine taut. I recognised this behaviour all too well, and a sense of foreboding washed over me as I glanced outside.

"Oh-ho? What's going on outside the guild there?"

"The clerks are running outside. 'Sthere a fire or what?"

I heard the foxfolk officer and Mr Dozon commenting nearby.

"Liza!"

Satou suddenly stood up. Liza swiftly swallowed the meat skewer she was holding and seized the Magic Spear resting against the wall behind her.

"Mew!"

"Ish an emergenshee, shir."

Perceiving the looming threat from Liza's stance, Tama and Pochi promptly devoured the remaining meat on their plates, sprang up, and seized their helmets from the ground. They would have given off a cool vibe if their cheeks weren't stuffed like chipmunks.

"What's going on?"

"Damn, I'm sensin' somethin' powerful over there..."

"Huh? What is it?"

"Waaaah!"

"Wh-what is thaaat?!"

As the onlookers screamed, a pink liquid burst out of the guild entrance. The seasoned explorers quickly comprehended the situation, while the less experienced ones were bewildered. Alarmingly, a few of the novices continued to mindlessly consume their food.

"Hero Kura, it is a giant slime, I report." Nana's expression remained impassive as she adjusted the strap on her helmet.

A bubble of pink liquid burst into the plaza, surging forward in waves before stopping in a large, circular mass. Cautious due to its immense appearance, I was surprised to discover it was merely a level 40 slime. It possessed abilities such as 'Life Regeneration,' 'Absorb,' 'Amplify,' and, most notably, 'Miasma Production.' This last skill seemed to be its most significant characteristic. Once I defeated it, activating my spirit light would likely enable me to purify the resulting miasma. A more urgent issue was likely determining who had released the enormous pink slime to cause chaos in the guild. However, the individuals responsible soon revealed themselves.

"Master, look! Something came out!"

"Black shadooows?"

"They're like people in strange armour, sir."

Behind the giant slime, the source of the shadows that the beastfolk girls were indicating emerged. These were demons, specifically two intermediates and around ten lesser ones. With malevolent laughter, they cast their menacing gazes upon the humans in retreat. There was another lesser demon patrolling near the west guild building. Still, no humans were in danger there, so he could wait until later.

"A-are those demons?" Arisa gasped.

"How can there be that many demons if a demon lord hasn't been revived?" Dozon shook his head disbelievingly.

"Kinkuri, can you see?"

"Juuust a minute..."

The captain, who was standing next to Dozon, requested that the foxfolk officer examine the situation with his longscope.

"...Geh, they really are demons. And I can't even see the information for two of them. The big ones in the middle… I think they're intermediate."

At that, the rookie explorers turned pale and started fleeing along with the staff of the bar.

"Looks like this'll be my last battle," General Erthal stepped forward with his mithril sword in hand." "Guildmaster, I'll buy you some time for a chant. As soon as it's finished, burn up those demons and the giant slime, and me along with them."

With a steely gaze and unwavering confidence, General Erthal cut an impressive figure reminiscent of a legendary hero. Surrounded by formidable allies such as a level-41 general, a level-37 captain, a level-52 guildmaster with magical abilities, and the skilled level-43 Miss Sebelkeya, I initially assumed we were well-equipped to handle any challenges that came our way.

"Goodness, talk about putting an old lady to work." The guildmaster grumbled as she drank a potion that instantly cured her inebriation. "I've no intention of burning you with them, though. Just delay them somehow and get out of there."

"I'll give you the signal," Sebelkeya added.

"Come with me, Bahman."

"Of course, sir." The captain followed behind the general.

"I'd really rather not..." The foxfolk man covered his head preemptively, but the usual punishing fist didn't come.

"Kinkuri, go down to the labyrinth army barracks and get back up."

"All right. Don't die, you two..." The foxfolk officer saluted and ran off at considerable speed.

"…Iron Protection Koutetsu Shugo," Sebelkeya finished a chant.

Observe as General Erthal's attire is enveloped by a curious visual effect akin to armour, thereby gaining the defensive capabilities of a full set. Concurrently, I invoked the spell 'Enchant: Physical Protection' upon him. Sebelkeya appeared perplexed for a moment, but she seemed to comprehend the situation after gazing at me.

"Huh! So this is the support magic of a former Hero's follower... See ya later, Guildmaster. I'm gonna back up His Excellency, the general." Patting his arms, Mr. Dozon hefted a giant hammer and ran after General Erthal.

"Lady Ravna, could you take Princess Meetia to safety and inform His Excellency the viceroy of this situation?"

"Understood!"

"W-wait, Ravna-"

The stern-looking knight lifted the small princess with one arm and hurriedly exited the tavern. Given that the two Lovely Wings were still present, I requested that they initiate the evacuation of the locals.

The highest level of our adversaries was between 30 and 40. While the intermediate demons had higher levels, only one lesser demon within the building possessed any especially formidable abilities or spells.

"Focus on the intermediate demons protecting the people trying to flee," I said, casting protection magic over everyone.

Satou was talking to the guildmaster about something, so his girls waited for him while I took Pearl, Sara, Nana and Mia to the battle. No sooner had we stepped outside than I looked up to see multiple fireballs plummeting towards us. They landed a short distance away, igniting the earth as if it were napalm from a film and producing thick black smoke as they continued to blaze.

Despite the obscuring smoke, I could make out the scene of explorers engaged in combat against lesser demons and their minions throughout the plaza. The area was teeming with courageous fighters, including several battle-hardened junkies who grinned ferociously as they continued to fight, despite being covered in blood. Unfortunately, a few explorers had succumbed to their mortal wounds, but Sara promptly attended to them.

"Woooo! I can still fight!"

"Let's bring these demons dooown!"

"Thanks, lady. I'll buy you a drink sometime!"

A few of the less bright individuals quickly returned to the conflict, disregarding their own weaknesses. I paid them no mind, instead scanning the vicinity. General Erthal and the advanced guard were already engaged in combat with the leading demon of intermediate rank. Upon closer inspection, the demon was significantly large. General Erthal was a man of considerable height, yet this beast dwarfed him, being multiple times his size.

"Hero Kura, incoming, I warn,"

Nana pointed at a lizard-like lesser demon lurking behind the giant slime, his elongated throat glowing red. That was probably where the napalm-like fire was coming from, then. Another intermediate demon, a female with eight silver legs, stood guard beside him, preventing the explorers from approaching close enough to engage in battle. Simultaneously, the lesser demon unleashed another fireball from its mouth while I watched.

But I wouldn't let that happen. I fired a large rock, thanks to my 'Toss Stone' spell blocking the mouth of the demon. The collision elicited a distinctive response: The lesser demon's throat burst, and a liquid akin to napalm spewed forth, igniting the surrounding demons.

"Master, here comes another." At Pearl's warning, I turned to see a lesser demon charging toward us.

"DERIDERIDELYEEEEN."

The demonic creature, with the lower body of a spider and the upper torso of a humanoid praying mantis, emits a piercing, uncanny sound. Her four arms, resembling both swords and scythes, were a fusion of the mantis' forelimbs.

"Orb-weaver spiders are not sexy, I criticise!"

Nana unleashed a strange shout, imbued with her 'Taunt' skill, causing the demon to redirect her charge towards her. Thanks to the enhanced power of 'Flexible Shield' and 'Body Strengthening,' Nana could deflect the attack, stopping the demon dead in its track.

"…Blood Blaster Ketsueki Bakusan."

Next, Mia's Water Magic spell altered the demon's blood, turning it into blades that expanded inside the demon, causing countless bloody wounds as they burst out.

"Take this!"

Pearl quickly charged forward as the demon reeled back, cutting off its head with her spellblade-infused sword. But her blade couldn't cut all the way through it, leaving the demon's head hanging by the thick skin of the back of its head.

"DERIDERIDELYEEEEN."

"Nana! Push it back!" I called out, readying my spell.

"Order received. A knockback with a shield bash, I declare."

Wielding her shield, Nana struck a blow to the spider-like demon, causing it to stumble backwards before swiftly distancing herself from it. I hit the demon with multiple 'Laser' spells as soon as I had a clear. But despite losing all but one arm and its body looking like Swiss Cheese, this demon is still standing.

"Nana!"

"Understood,"

Nana nodded as Pearl called out, charging forward and hitting the demon with another bash of her shield, causing it to stagger backwards. Pearl was waiting for it and swiftly finished cutting off its head. But something wasn't right. I sensed something approaching Pearl from behind as the demon turned to black smoke.

"Pearl! Look out!"

I teleported to her side and pulled her out of the way as the ground where she was standing looked like something had cut into it. With a swift swing of my sword, I hit something, knocking whatever it was into a nearby building. A demon materialised, looking shocked, but I quickly finished it off.

"Um… master… could you let me go now…"

Pearl's voice caught me off guard, and I only now realised how close we were. I had my arm around her waist and pulled her close without realising it.

"Oh, yes, of course… sorry,"

"It's fine,"

"Mrrr…"

Pearl quickly stepped away as I spotted Mia glaring at me.

"Damn, how'd she do that?"

"She felled a demon so quickly!"

As murmurs of amazement rose behind me, I resisted the urge to revel in the praise; our focus needed to remain on the task at hand. Accompanied by my comrades, we advanced toward General Erthal, triumphing over lesser demons that dared to impede our path.

"Who in the world are they?"

"They're all women and a kid, but they're just as strong as Jelil or Zarigon!"

"You don't know? They're the guildmaster's favourite party."

"I thought she won her over with booze and snacks, but she's actually really strong!"

In awe, the explorers echoed their astonishment while observing our battle. Every one of them bore injuries, even those who held higher levels than the demons. It appears that demons pose a greater challenge than typical monsters.

"Everyone, please gather around me,"

At least I don't have to worry about any of the explorers dying. Sara is moving around using an area-effect healing spell keeping everyone alive.

"I...owe ya one."

"Watch out! Behind you!"

One of the explorers who Sara had just healed called out. A big, bearlike lesser demon was charging at Sara, but I didn't need to worry about her. With a swift throw, Sara sent the bear demon flying through the air. She had learned that move alongside Lulu in their self-defence courses in the elf village. The bear demon appeared to be taken aback by being tossed by petite Sara; he struck the ground, looking as if he had forgotten to launch a counterattack.

"Damn..."

"That's one hell of a strong priestess."

"Maybe she's no ordinary priestess, y'think?"

It seemed that the bizarre and dreamlike environment had caused the explorers to become disoriented. The demon, taking the form of a bear, unleashed a deafening roar, expressing its fury.

"Nana, Mia, help Sara deal with that one,"

Without a word, they both quickly moved to Sara's side.

"We better step it up, too."

"Let's show 'em what us veteran explorers are made of!"

"""Yeah!"""

The explorers eagerly joined the fight, yet I couldn't help but wish they would exhibit a greater concern for their own safety as they engaged in combat.

"Pearl, we're going to reinforce the frontline,"

"Yes, master,"

The frontline looks like it is rough state. Several people have already been forced to retreat due to injury, while a few even lay dead on the ground. Even from here, I can hear the sound of battle and see the exhaustion on General Erthal's face.

"That all you got, old man?!"

"Your Excellency!"

From the front lines of the battle, I heard a loud clang and the raspy shout of the captain. I cut the arm off the demon in front of me, allowing Pearl to finish it. It appears that General Erthal encountered difficulties during our battle against the demon despite Sebelkeya and I using our defensive magic. Given that the demon is an intermediate one, it seems that our defensive efforts may not have been sufficient to fully protect General Erthal.

"I won't let you!"

"Outta the way, small fry!"

The captain, a blur of motion, thrust his shield forward, desperately trying to shield the general from the demonic attack. But the creature, a grotesque mockery of life with its chitinous exoskeleton, lashed out with a brutal kick, sending the captain flying. Dozon, already ejected from the fray, lay amidst the carnage. A shimmering figure, a priestess of ethereal beauty, bent over him, her hands glowing with healing light.

"There you are!"

The demon's gaze was unwavering as he addressed me. His speech, surprisingly, was devoid of the usual demonic distortions and flowed smoothly, a stark contrast to the guttural pronouncements I'd expected. But why does he sound like he knows me?

"Do I know you?"

"Have you forgotten my face already?"

The exoskeleton helmet split open with a grinding hiss, revealing a face that was almost, but not quite, human. The skin was a deep, almost black red, a stark contrast to the metallic shell that had encased it. Though alien, the face held a disturbing familiarity, as if he'd seen it before.

"...Ludaman? Is that you?" A cruel smirk twisted Ludaman's lips as he nodded, his eyes gleaming with the cold triumph of a king who had tasted victory. "So when did you quit being a human and become a demon?"

"Just a few minutes ago." Ludaman turned his right arm into an axe.

"Who gave you the horn?"

"I'll tell ya if ya beat me." Ludaman sneered nastily. "I'll be killin' ya nice and slow for all the trouble ya caused me." He licked his lips. "I'll crush yer arms and legs so ya can't move, then ravage those women in front of ya, one by..."

I don't give him a chance to finish before I slam my fist into his face, feeling a satisfying crunch as I break Ludaman's nose. Suddenly, Mia's Blood Blaster spell hits, making the wounds worse.

"GUUUUUH!"

I guess demons still feel pain.

"I'll kill ya! I'll kill ya…!"

I deliver another punch, knocking Ludaman to the ground in front of General Erthal and the captain, who appears to have recovered. Nana's 'Magic Arrow' and Sara's 'Sacerade Javeling' Spells hit him. Pearl delivers a deep wound with her spellblade-infused sword and with the general and the captain. I turned to look for Dozon, but he and the priestess were nowhere to be seen.

"Can you guys handle the demons while we take out the slime?" Satou contacted me with the 'Telephone' spell.

"Don't worry, we have things under control here,"

"Eyes on me, bitch!"

The glowing black axe swung down toward me, but I caught it in my hands and slammed the hilt into Ludaman's face, causing him to stagger back. Pearl and Nana then slash at the back of his knees while Sara and Mia attack his upper body with magic. Not to be outdone, the general cut a nasty-looking wound into Ludaman's side while the captain stabbed him deeply in the gut.

"GRAAAH!"

Ludaman brushed off those attacks with a defiant roar and tried to kick me, but I simply stepped to the side. The short demon tail that had grown on Ludaman's backside split into two, trying to pierce me, but I cut off his tail with a single swing of my sword.

"I will kill you if it is the last thing I ever do!" Ludaman swung his axe at me, ignoring the general as he slashed at his back and Pearl while she cut off one of his arms. Ludaman's axe glows a bloody red as a dark shadow conceals the black blade. "Die!"

But I simply smack it away with the back of one hand and stab Ludaman in the chest with Gjallarhorn with the other.

"Piece the Heavens,"

Uttering Gjallarhorn's trigger phrase, my holy sword grows in size, almost cutting Ludaman in half but he managed to jump away just in time.

"Move away from the demon!" I heard Miss Sebelkeya shout from behind me.

"…Inferno Kaen Jigoku!!"

As her voice rang out, the guildmaster unleashed a swirling mass of crimson flames. Ludaman managed to escape the worse of it, but he still got badly burnt by the attack.

"I'll make you regret turning to the path of evil!" General Erthal's sword cut deep into Ludaman's leg.

The demon dropped to his knee, and Sebelkeya's Spears Field spell tore into him, countless silver spear tips bursting from the ground.

"GROOOOORRR!" Ludaman was knocked backwards as he howled. Several Magic Bullets followed close behind.

"So they're finally here?"

The labyrinth army's towering golems lumbered across the plaza, their metallic strides shaking the ground. The barrage of magic bullets that had just ripped through the air originated from the mages perched atop these monstrous constructs. And from the east, the direction of the viceroy's castle...

"Guillotine Blade!"

A flash of crimson light erupted as Lady Ravna, the gallant knight, struck Ludaman from behind. Close behind her, another figure emerged, a guardian knight sworn to the viceroy.

"Shiga Sword Style-Secret Technique Cherry Blossom Flash!"

The viceroy's guardian knight leapt in from the other side, sweeping downward with a special move laced with "Spellblade." Pinkish-red shards of light flew from the blade, scattering like cherry blossom petals. It was quite a pretty move; I'd have to learn how to do it sometime. Behind them, I saw some soldiers readying a Magic Cannon on a cart.

"YOU DAMN PIP-SQUEAKS! I'LL-!!"

Ludaman roared, his face a target for the fiery onslaught. Guildmaster and Arisa unleashed a barrage of fireballs, their sizes varying wildly. Mia and Sara, tending to the wounded, were temporarily sidelined, unable to contribute to the magical assault. Ludaman staggered and dropped to the ground, and I took the opening to cut off his arms and legs, leaving him open for…

"Your Excellency, now!"

"Go to hell, Ludaman!"

"UAAAARGH!"

General Erthal's "Spellblade"-infused mithril blade swung down and sliced off Ludaman's head- or so it seemed. The explorers and soldiers filled the plaza with cheers. I heard the head hit the ground and saw Ludaman's body start to go up in black smoke. Turning my back on the severed head, I started walking toward my friends.

"Indeed, indeed, transport, indeed."

A green lesser demon, its speech a bizarre jumble of sounds, crawled out from beneath the remnants of the colossal pink slime. Satou had clearly dealt with the creature with ease. This demon, a grotesque mutation with a single, enormous eye perched atop a body of limbs and wings, resembled a monstrous, vibrant variation of the first lesser demon I'd encountered in Seiryuu City.

The eyeball demon surveyed its surroundings, its single eye taking in the absence of its companions. It then dropped the bundle it had been carrying, revealing the demonic potion pills I'd seized from the plunderers. Ludaman, I suspected, had sent this demon to retrieve them.

"Indeed, indeed, how embarrassing, indeed." The eyeball demon picked up Ludaman's head and began tossing it from hand to hand. It was in poor taste to toy with a dead body, even that of a criminal, so I shot a laser at the demon. "Indeed, indeed, revival, ind…"

An ominous magic circle appeared below the eyeball demon, and I fired my laser, hitting the demon straight through the centre of the giant eyeball. The magic circle disappeared, and the eyeball demon sank, twitching into the pink puddle. But in the next moment… a geyser of pink liquid bursts up from the ground, forming a humanoid shape some fifty feet tall. It was a level-50 intermediate demon. And his name was... Ludaman. Ludaman didn't have any revival-related skills, so I assumed the pink slime had come back to life, absorbed Ludaman, and revived him as well.

"This wretch just won't go down..."

General Erthal glared up at the demon as the labyrinth army started to attack, but both physical and magical shots were simply absorbed into the demon without causing any damage.

"KUURRRRRAAAAA!!!"

Ludaman, a tempest of shifting flesh and bone, roared as he crumpled and reformed, a chaotic dance of agony. His molten gaze, burning with unbridled hatred, fixed on me.

"Guildmaster! I'll lure Ludaman close to the labyrinth gates! Give me a signal when your spell is ready, please!"

I shouted to the guildmaster and dashed towards the open space before the labyrinth gates, consciously avoiding 'Flashrunning' and 'Warp' so Ludaman wouldn't be left behind. The earth trembled with each stride of the colossal Ludaman, a thunderous roar accompanying his every step. Cobblestones shattered under our feet, pulverised by the sheer weight of his passage.

"Everyone, stand by-No, get to a safe distance and give me some cover fire!" I gave an order through the 'Tactical Talk' spell.

"DDDDIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEE!!!!!"

The labyrinth gates loomed before me, casting a shadow that felt heavy with menace. It was like stepping into a monstrous film, the revived Ludaman lumbering towards me. His movements were slow, deceptively so, for he towered over me, a titan ten times my size. He closed the distance instantly, his colossal fist descending with a force that shook the earth. The ground beneath his fist exploded, a geyser of pink liquid erupting into the air. Where it touched the stone, white smoke hissed, a gruesome testament to the acid that coursed through his veins.

"Protect Hero Kura!"

At the captain's order, the labyrinth's army of golems lumbered forward, their metallic forms filling the space before the gates. But facing the towering Ludaman, the six golems appeared as insignificant as toddlers, their imposing stature dwarfed by the colossal beast.

"We're ready over here! Come back!"

I continued running, the plaza echoing with General Erthal's booming voice. The guildmaster's chant must have finally ended. Suddenly, the golems, their metallic hands gripping Ludaman's legs, helped me escape. He seemed to loathe me, even in this monstrous form and attempted to pursue me, pulling the golems with him. But a giant hand emerged from the shattered cobblestones, quickly transforming into the upper half of a colossal golem. The golem's hand clamped around Ludaman's waist, halting him in his tracks.

"Hurry, Hero Kura! That golem won't last long!"

Miss Sebelkeya's voice echoed through the area, urging me forward as my companions' cheers spurred me on. I burst from the bowl-shaped entrance, escaping just as the guildmaster's staff erupted in a fiery blaze, a torrent of crimson flames sweeping across the ground.

"UOOOOOOHHHWN." Ludaman's final form unleashed a howl and began to crumble in the flames.

"Good work. Looks like we're finally done here, huh?"

The towering inferno, a pyre against the velvet night, drew our gazes upward. Arisa, her hand outstretched, offered me a damp towel. Brushing the soot from my face, I followed her gaze. All that remained of the creature was a shimmering pillar of water, its human form consumed by the flames.

"That's not good."

"...Huh?"

But Satou doesn't look like he is ready to celebrate just yet. He then told us that the demon wasn't dead yet. The guildmaster and Miss Sebelkeya were both out of commission. Their magic reserves were depleted, and they were in a state of exhaustion from overusing magic recovery potions. It was as if a game had imposed a cooldown period on them after exceeding their potion limit. Arisa gestured upward, her eyes fixed on the swirling mass that was once Ludaman. It was coalescing, reforming into a colossal, humanoid shape that dwarfed its previous form.

"Attack from a distance with magic," I tell everyone before I leap into the air. "Don't let anyone anywhere near the plaza."

I never thought I would have to do this again. I created stone walls around Ludama and renforce them with magical shields that even he can't break.

"KUURRRRRAAAAA!!!"

I step onto the lip of my new cup as Ludaman glares up at me, desperately trying to reach me with his acidic arms. I take a deep breath and hold out my hand as I activate the forge spell. Hot molten lava pours from the palm of my hand, causing my skin to turn red and unbearable pain to shoot from my hand. It's a small price to pay to take him out.

Slowly but surely, my earth cup fills up, and Ludaman howls in pain as his new body melts. It's not a pretty sight, but it has to be down. Still, even now, Ludaman doesn't stop trying to grab me. Even as his body dissolves and he cries out in pain, he never gives up on trying to kill me. I didn't realise his hatred ran so deep.

I watch as his head sinks and his arms go limp. I only stop my spell when the lava reaches the top but I don't declare my victory just yet. I wait several minutes until I suck the lava into my storage and dismantle my walls. My body is still healing when I land back on the ground, and the arm I used to cast the spell is covered in angry red blisters. But Ludaman is dead, and these wounds will heal within a few minutes.

"Is it over?" The guildmaster approached, held up by Jejeh of the Red Ice party.

"Yes,"

"Hmph. I suppose we owe you one, then."

"This area will be difficult to fix up."

"I'm beyond tired. Let Ushana and Sebelkeya take care of it."

Between the acid and the debey from my wall, the labyrinth gate area was in a state of utter destruction. The guild plaza's cobblestone paving was in shambles, too.

"I'm beyond tired. Let Ushana and Sebelkeya take care of it. Good work, all of you. Go home and get some rest. Let the others take care of things here."

The guildmaster disappeared back into the guild building, signalling the end of our day. A good night's sleep sounded like a perfect way to prepare for whatever tomorrow might bring.