Chapter 78: 79

　After escaping from the Great Labyrinth, we return to the usual room at the Clan headquarters. 

　On the way back, the three of them kept their mouths shut, no one uttered a word.

　After checking that they’d sat in their chairs, I called out to them. 

“……Today was unfortunate. But don’t get it wrong. Today’s result was not because you guys weren’t good enough, not at all. It was just bad luck, that’s it. Once again–“

“Wrong!!

　I’m about to say that they could try once again when Carol interupts loudly.

“I, ran off on my own again. Even though Master told me to cooperate with the two of them……! And what happened was that, I quickly became unable to fight…… and I caused a lot of trouble for the two of them…….. If I was able to cooperate with them, we might have been able to escape…… It’s my fault we lost today…….”

“It’s not Carol’s fault! At the start, I was scared of that big man and got intimidated. I should have gone with Carol to face that big man! If I had done that, Carol wouldn’t have been so easily beaten! Even though there was the option for me to support her with magic, until Carol was hit, I was incapable of acting…….. If I had been braver…… this loss was my fault……!”

“The two of you didn’t do anything wrong! It was my fault! As the Rearguard, I should have been the one to attack first, I couldn’t do anything, and even after Carol got hit, I still couldn’t move……. And also, I should have been the one with the best view of the battle, but I didn’t even notice that the big guy was awake again, and I became like a hostage……. I couldn’t do anything today!” 

“No way! You got to beat the big guy, I started fighting without knowing what was going on, so Sophie’s attention was distracted by me!”

“If you say that, then I should have been able to handle the whip man by myself! Then Carol wouldn’t have had the need to force herself!”

“No! I was pathetic, that’s why Log had to step forward! If I’d been strong enough, we should have been able to keep our distance to fight them!”

“I’m the one–“

“I–“

“I–“

　All three of them are insisting that it’s their own fault.

“–Calm down a little.”

　I say, and they stop arguing.

“I don’t think what you’re saying is all wrong.”

　Hearing what I say, the three of them become despondent and turn their heads down.

“I’m sure everyone here isn’t satisfied with what you’ve done today, and I’m sure you’ve all painfully realised that you’re not good enough. Including me, yeah.”

“No way! Master saved us–“

“In the end, yes. However, if the battle had continued like that, there was a chance we might have all died. In that respect, we might have been lucky. Today, we’ve all tasted defeat. But we’re all alive. If we stay alive, there’s always a next time. Each of us definitely has regrets — so, let’s use this defeat to become stronger, mentally and physically. So that we won’t have to regret it again.”

“””Yes.”””

　The three of them raise their heads and say firmly.

　With fire in their eyes.

　　◇

　I want to stay with them, but I have to act quickly, so I tell them I’d be back in a while, and then make my way to the President’s office. 

　It’s good timing that the President, who is often out of the office due to his busy schedule, is in the headquarters.

　Normally, I should report to Selma first, but since she’s away on a business trip right now, I’ll head directly to the President’s office.

　After knocking on the door of the office, I announce my name and hear “come in” from inside, so I walk into the room.

“Apologies for bothering you, President.”

“No, that is no problem. There is also something I have been wanting to tell you, so this is all convenient. Let us leave what I have to say for later and first hear what you have to say, Orn.”

“Understood. –A few minutes ago, the 10th Squad from the Exploration Management Department came into contact with members of ‘Amunzers’ while they were challenging the 30th floor of the Great Labyrinth.”

“What!? Are the children unharmed!?”

　The President stands up forcefully while slamming his desk and interjects with a question.

“I was able to intervene at the very last minute, so they have no external injuries. However, as for their emotional states, I can’t say until I see how they progress from here.”

“…….I see. For now, that is good to hear. I promise you that we will do everything we can to take care of their mental health. Thank you for protecting those children.”

　The President returns to his seat and expresses his gratitude to me. 

　……However, right now I don’t deserve such praise.

“No. I have more to report. There were four of them. I killed three of them and tried to restrain the other one, but she was so skilled that I could barely fight her off.”

“An individual strong even to someone skilled like you, Orn? It is a shame that she escaped, but it is sufficient for you all to make it back alive. However, I have never heard of them showing up on the 30th floor and attacking beginners. After all, they should be persistently targeting advanced explorers. Have they altered their policy?”

“I think their objective this time is me. They said that they attacked the 10th Squad in order to lure me out.”

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“I see……. I have heard that they go around killing skilled explorers to prevent them from clearing the Great Labyrinths. Certainly for someone like Orn who can single-handedly defeat a deep layer Floor Boss, it would not be strange for you to become a target of theirs.”

　I was naive.

　I knew that “Amunzers” had been active in the Southern Great Labyrinth, and I had made sure that the members of the 2nd Unit were aware.

　It’s not that I’m boasting, but right now, it is a fact that I’m the most famous explorer in the city. 

　So why is it that I didn’t think of myself as a target? Did it never occur to me that the people around me might be harmed?

　Have things been going so well since I was kicked out of the Hero Party that I’ve become complacent?

　Didn’t I tell them? “Don’t forget we were all beginners”.

　There are so many unreasonable things in this world.

　I’m supposed to protect the people I care about by overcoming all of them, right?

　Then think about things more!

　Don’t be so over optimistic!

“……Do not be too hard on yourself. No one is perfect. Do not try to carry everything by yourself. We may not be enough, but we can still help. Numbers are strength. There are many members in this Clan. I believe that if we all work together, we can overcome any hardship. –Phew, maybe that sounds a bit naive.”

“–No, it wasn’t…… Thank you.”

“Well then, we need to decide our plans from here on. Since Selma is currently gone, the decision-making for explorers is up to you. Let us hear your thoughts first.”

“Alright. After I drove her back, she said she would have the other members leave, but I don’t trust her. I think we should ban labyrinth exploration for a while. Thanksgiving will begin next month as well, so I think we can let all the explorers focus on that.”

“A prohibition on labyrinth exploration until after Thanksgiving, huh…..? Well, I think that is reasonable. First of all, I will share the information with the Exploration Management Department and make sure they implement this for all explorers.”

“Understood. That’s all I have to report. President, you have something you needed me for ?”

“My business is about Thanksgiving. There is something I want you to do for Thanksgiving.”

“If it’s something I can do.”

“Are you aware that one of the main events of Thanksgiving is a martial arts competition?”

　The martial arts competition is, as the name implies, a contest in which participants fight using purely martial arts to determine who’s the best of the year.

　Well, it’s not exactly ‘pure’ martial arts, since you’re allowed to use your Talent.

　Anyone can participate, and it is a very exciting event, but in fact there are very few advanced explorers who do.

　Pure martial arts means, obviously, that you have to fight with your own physical abilities.

　In other words, including support magic, you cannot use magic. 

　It’s only natural for advanced explorers to use support magic to enhance their own physical abilities.

　This means that they have to participate with a weaker version of themselves than they are used to. 

　Furthermore, since the opponent is also human, there’s nothing to gain for explorers who typically fight against demonic beasts. 

　To bring up the topic here, don’t tell me–

“Yes, I know the gist of it.”

“Although the event has become more and more popular every year, Marquis Forgas seems to be dissatisfied with the lack of participation by advanced explorers. Therefore, he has proposed that we create a section for advanced explorers only. I think you already know what I am trying to say, but Orn, you have also been asked to participate in the martial arts competition. Well, it is practically an order. I think he is trying to restore his reputation by having a Hero defeat you in front of the masses.”

　Was this why that old man Eddington had asked me that the other day?

“And I’m being asked to lose to Oliver?”

“No, the opposite. We want you to win. This is our chance. If we can win here, we can completely kill the momentum of the Hero Party. And it will become a tailwind for us. It is also His Excellency Lazareth’s, we want you to be victorious. Can you achieve that?”

“…………It’s pretty hard to say.”

　I tell the President my honest thoughts.

“……You can beat Oliver the Sword Saint, can’t you?”

　The President asks me with a puzzled look.

“I can beat Oliver. However, from what you just said, I think she’ll be joining too. From the S Rank party, the Sword Princess of ‘Lacquered Evening Mist’ — Fuuka Shinonome.”

“……su! I see, there is that girl.”

“So it’ll be difficult to win. However, since I’ll be participating, I’m going to put my whole heart and soul into snatching victory. No matter who my opponent is — I won’t lose again.”

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