CHAPTER 1

The Recovered and the Returned

Part I: Nickname

Our long-running conflict with the Alliance that started when we first arrived in District Seven had finally been put to rest. With everyone’s help, we successfully overcame the formidable obstacles in our path, from disbanding the Beyond Liberty alliance that had been monopolizing the best hunting grounds to defeating the Merciless Guillotine responsible for great tragedies.

The Guild had arrested Gray, the man who had been secretly plotting to take over the Alliance. He’d also faced retribution, albeit in a rather unconventional way, for trying to force the members of Four Seasons to join the Alliance. He was going to undergo grueling reeducation at the training facility after his arrest. It was an intense punishment, but it still felt a little lenient considering everything he’d done; perhaps I should have gone tougher on him as the leader of my party for leering at my party members.

“Atobe, he’s going to be okay, right? We did make it in time, didn’t we…?”

“Yes, definitely. I’m sure Roland will be fine… Let’s have some faith.”

We hurried to the Healer clinic as soon as we left the Beach of the Setting Sun. I was confident he would regain consciousness as long as we had the soul prison stone that held Roland’s soul captive.

I asked to see Roland at the front desk and was surprised by how easily the Receptionist let us through. The Doctor at the clinic had examined Roland and had also diagnosed he was in a lethal coma due to the loss of his soul. It seemed Daniella had explained to them ahead of time that she’d asked us to help retrieve it.

We climbed up the stairs and rushed to Roland’s treatment room. The Nurse looked incredulous as she led the way. “Normally, when a patient’s soul has been stolen, no one is able to defeat the monster that stole it in time, and the individual’s soul is lost forever. And when that happens, they’re even more likely to turn into a demi-human than if they had been defeated inside the labyrinth…”

“I see. So that’s why he’s in this room…” A particularly strong door secured the room allotted to Roland, possibly due to the risk that he could turn into a demi-human.

“I apologize for the wait, Mr. Atobe. Ms. Daniella has told us all about what happened. It seems you accepted a truly challenging request… Please allow me to first express how thankful we are that you have made it through safely.”

The Doctor looked maybe a few years older than me. It felt a little strange to be thanked by someone I’d just met—but I didn’t have time to dwell on that. We couldn’t all enter the treatment room at once, so only Igarashi, Theresia, Suzuna, Misaki, and I went in.

“I must say, we never dreamed you would retrieve his soul the same day it was stolen… On behalf of the number one clinic in District Seven, we salute your heroism.” At that, the Doctor and the Nurse both bowed their heads in unison. I appreciated the sentiment, but we weren’t out of the woods yet. All of this would be pointless if we couldn’t resuscitate Roland.

“Doctor, how is Roland’s condition…?”

“It remains unchanged; he is still in a lethal coma. I have only ever seen three patients recover from soul loss in my ten years here. I only wish I had more experience to offer.”

“No, it’s a great comfort to know you’ve seen three successful recoveries. Now, what should I do with this stone?”

The Doctor’s eyes opened wide as I pulled out the soul prison stone. He reached out to touch it but pulled back halfway. “It’s as I feared… The binding that monster placed upon his soul remains intact. It must be purified with a Holy attribute. We will make arrangements for someone to come at once.”

“A Holy attribute… Just a moment, Doctor. Suzuna, do you think you can purify this using your Handwash skill?”

Suzuna stepped closer and picked up the soul prison stone. Black, turbid markings clouded its surface as if trapping Roland’s soul within.

“It looks like the impurities are still tightly bound around his soul,” said Suzuna. “I think I might be able to purify it if I had some water…”

“We would greatly appreciate your help if you have such specialized purifying capabilities through your profession. I’m ashamed to admit that even though I am a Doctor, I don’t possess any skills that can heal the soul.”

“I understand. I will do my best to purify it. Do you have clean water I may use?” Suzuna asked the Nurse, who poured some into a glass vial for her. Suzuna activated Handwash, setting the entire vial aglow with a faint light.

♦Current Status♦

Suzuna scooped water into her hands and let it drip onto the soul prison stone I held. As she did, the murky pattern on the stone started to dissipate. Then it transformed into what must have been its true form and began to emit a translucent light from within.

I moved closer to where Roland had been laid to rest in the room. His chest showed no upward or downward movements whatsoever, and it looked like he wasn’t even breathing—but he was still alive.

“…Roland. Daniella and your soon-to-be-born child are waiting for you,” I said to him.

My friends watched on wordlessly. I brought the stone nearer to him, and his body began to shine with that same pale light, almost as if it were breathing. Then—

♦Current Status♦

—the soul stone left my hand and shone ever brighter. What had been a tangible stone only a moment ago transformed into an ethereal light, which then melted into Roland’s body.

“…Thomas… Take over from here… Tell Daniella I’m sorry…” Roland spoke to his party as if still gazing up at the Merciless Guillotine, prepared to die.

I guess time must have stopped for him there—but he’s got a new start now.

Eventually Roland’s eyes fluttered open, and he turned toward me.

“Did I…? Didn’t that Named Monster get me…?”

“…Thank goodness. I’m so glad you’ve come to.”

Roland just stared at me, unable to immediately grasp the situation. His eyes widened slightly once he realized my party members were with me, and he began to try to say something.

“Mr. Roland, we are immensely relieved to see you’ve regained consciousness. We have Mr. Atobe and his party to thank for retrieving your stolen soul,” the Doctor explained.

Roland closed his eyes and took a breath. His face trembled, but he looked relieved. “Atobe…why did you save me…?”

“Daniella asked us to defeat a monster, so we did. That’s all there is to it.”

“That’s all it takes to motivate him to act. We simply followed his lead.”

“Don’t get the wrong idea, though! We didn’t go out just to save you, y’know! …Juuust kidding.”

Igarashi and Misaki stepped up in turn to speak, though I had a feeling that Misaki’s tone was a little too light for the situation. Roland lifted the corners of his mouth a little and smiled, then closed his eyes and took a long breath.

“You got me fair and square, rookie. But I guess that doesn’t mean much for you all. Who could’ve known you’d make it to the top of District Seven in just a few days…cough, cough…” The medical staff rushed to Roland’s side as he started to cough. It looked like even a short conversation was too much for him so soon after regaining consciousness.

“Mr. Roland, it truly is a wonderful thing to see you’ve recovered from the Fatal Coma,” said the Doctor. “However, you will require rehabilitation. We pledge to support you along the way, so let’s work hard together to get you back on your feet.”

This was going to be Roland’s second setback: The first was when he fell ill, and now the recovery of his soul would keep him from advancing to District Six. Daniella had told us about how, back when his illness first struck and his companions abandoned him, Roland suffered so deeply he was plagued with nightmares. I couldn’t even begin to imagine how difficult it must have been to recover from such a harrowing experience.

But a light still shone in Roland’s eyes. His expression didn’t betray the slightest hint of resignation. “…This all has taught me a lesson. I can’t bring the Alliance down with me, so I know I’ll have to start from scratch all over again. But it looks like I’m worse at giving up than even I knew.”

“Roland, starting from scratch… Don’t you think you’re exaggerating a bit?”

Daniella stepped into the room as I finished speaking. Her eyes flew open, and she stopped dead in her tracks the instant she realized Roland was awake.

“…Daniella.”

“…Roland…!” she cried as she flung her arms around him. The sight moved all of my companions to tears. I couldn’t help but look up at the ceiling to keep my emotions from getting the better of me.

“……”

“…Wh-what’s up, Theresia? Are you worried about me?”

Theresia didn’t nod but held on to my sleeve. Maybe she was worried because I looked up so quickly.

“Thank goodness… If you… If you’d actually died, I don’t know what I’d—I’d…!”

“…I was sure I was a goner, too. But it turns out that man in the suit is no death god. In fact, he’s more like the exact opposite.”

A death god in a suit—that was definitely a foreign movie. Do other people think the same thing when they see me? Roland was joking, though. Maybe I shouldn’t read too much into it.

Theresia still looked worried about me. I leaned in close to her and said in a low voice only she could hear, “It’s just, I’m a little old to be crying in public, you know?”

“……”

As I wondered if she’d understood what I meant, Theresia’s mouth, visible under her mask, seemed to gasp, and she took a step back.

Hmm…T-Theresia…?

Her face beneath her mask turned red. Maybe it’d been careless of me to speak so close to her ear… No, even if that were the case, this felt like a bit of an overly sensitive reaction.

“Haaah… Well, I guess that takes care of that. Suzu, you got a handkerchief?”

“Oh…s-sorry, Misaki.” Misaki went to borrow Suzuna’s handkerchief, only to find Suzuna already dabbing her own eyes with it.

“Atobe, let’s give these two some space,” Igarashi said after turning her back to me so I wouldn’t see her wipe the tears from her eyes, then she led Suzuna and Misaki out of the room. The Vorns looked a bit embarrassed to realize they’d made everyone cry.

“Mr. Atobe, thank you so much for everything. I promise I will arrange your reward for all your hard work through the Guild,” said Daniella.

“No, that’s really quite all right…”

“Sometimes the Guild provides a reward if you take on another party’s request and manage to fulfill it. I couldn’t tell you how much saving me might be worth, but you could get something out of it. I’ll bet it’d be easier on your pride to take a reward from the Guild than from your former rival…right?”

Roland cared so much about reaching number one in District Seven and aspiring to move up to higher districts. I’d be trampling all over his pride if I said I didn’t need a reward for saving him. In that case, maybe we should claim some kind of compensation. I was a little curious as to what the reward might be. Would we maybe get it after we reported back to Louisa with our expedition results?

“Okay, we’ll be sure to accept any reward offered to us. Thank you. Please do take care, both of you. Roland, I think you have a long road ahead of you, but…”

“Yeah, I’ll be all right. I can’t stay this useless for long, for my wife…and our new family’s sake.”

Roland and Daniella beamed at each other. Looking at the smiling couple, I could tell we didn’t have anything to worry about.

“Mr. Atobe, please do feel free to visit us again should you ever find yourself in need of medical attention,” said the Doctor. “I’m afraid we did not prove terribly helpful today, but we would be happy to assist you in the future with any other medical needs that may arise.”

“Thank you very much. At some point I’d like to arrange physical exams for my party and myself.”

I bid the staff farewell, then joined my friends and departed the treatment room. At that moment, I saw a familiar group waiting in the lobby: the Beyond Liberty members.

“…I heard what happened. I don’t know how we can thank you for saving our leader,” said an emotional, teary-eyed man. He and Roland must go pretty far back. I could tell his gratitude was genuine.

“You got here so quickly. You must have been on standby to gather at a moment’s notice,” I replied.

“Yes… We all… When we heard what happened to Roland, we couldn’t just go about our day like normal. I was worried some parties would take the chance to leave the Alliance, but nobody’s jumped ship yet, aside from Gray, who the Guild Saviors took into custody. I also spoke with the three members of Triceratops and heard what happened. They won’t be returning to the Alliance, but we’ve agreed to work together going forward.”

“I’m glad to hear it. I’m sure it’ll be a great comfort to Roland to know everyone has decided to stay in the Alliance.”

Members of the party we’d never even spoken to started bowing to us.

Ever since we first learned of the Alliance and how they took over hunting grounds, we wound up having to compete against them. But now, Gray, the man who had turned us against each other, was out of the picture. Maybe one day we could hash things out between us, but we had to keep going. The Alliance most likely had their own matters to attend to as well.

“I hope we can meet again someday. And the rest of the Alliance—I wish you all the best,” I said and turned to leave the clinic. Just before I stepped outside, I heard several voices from behind me.

“Thanks! I gotta tell you, Suit Man, you’re badass!”

“Thank you for saving our leader! We love you!”

“Mr. Atobe! I swear I’m gonna be a Seeker just like you one day!”

A whole host of Alliance members, from the guy looking a bit rough around the edges to the young ladies, were cheering me on. I was a bit embarrassed, but it nonetheless was nice to hear.

“…I’ve got a feeling you’re going to keep blowing up, Atobe.”

“At this rate, you might even get a nickname. I just hope it’s better than mine.”

“N-nickname, huh…? Seems like they already call me ‘Suit Man.’”

Igarashi and Elitia looked happy. I felt incredibly blessed we could still cherish these little moments of joy with one another even after coming out of a vicious battle where we looked death right in the eye.

Not long after leaving the clinic, we spotted Seraphina. She was wearing some type of military attire, possibly her Guild Savior uniform, instead of her usual armor.

“Seraphina, great work out there. That really was an intense battle. Are you all right?”

“Thank you for your concern. Truth be told, I am a bit exhausted, but it’s nothing to complain about. This is what I train for every day. Mr. Atobe, is Mr. Roland…?”

“Yes, he’s regained consciousness, thanks to your help. I think he’ll be perfectly fine.”

“That’s a great relief to hear. I shudder to imagine what might have happened if you and your party hadn’t been there… It appears we Guild Saviors need to redouble our training efforts.” Even Guild Saviors had proven no match for that monster. Higher-ranking officers probably would have been able to handle it, but I could imagine they’d be stationed in upper districts.

And yet, my party had defeated that very monster. I wondered what the Guild headquarters and Guild Saviors would think about that. Was it safe to assume it had something to do with what Third-Class Dragon Captain Kozelka had mentioned?

“Now…I shall escort you to Third-Class Dragon Captain Kozelka. Mr. Atobe, as your party’s representative, would you please follow me?”

“Of course. Okay, everyone, I’ll come back as soon as I’m done. Until then, you’re free to do whatever.”

“We’ll head back home and rest up a bit. It might be a little later than usual, but we’ll wait for you to have lunch. Does that sound okay, ladies?” Igarashi led the group off to the apartment, looking for all the world like a teacher with her students. It warmed my heart.

“……”

And of course, Theresia pitter-pattered over to my side. Igarashi and the others forced a smile, resigned to the fact that this was just how things were.

“I’m sorry. Ever since I met Theresia, she’s stuck by me like a bodyguard…”

“Heh-heh… I see. Well, that shouldn’t pose an issue.” Seraphina laughed. That in itself shouldn’t have been so surprising, but I was used to seeing her as a stern military officer, so it did catch me a little off guard.

“…So she’s your bodyguard…,” Seraphina murmured. “It appears Ms. Theresia has found her place.”

“Huh…?”

“Never mind. Mr. Atobe, you came straight from the labyrinth and haven’t had a chance to sit. Are you tired? If so, I would gladly carry you.”

“N-no, thank you; I’m not that tired. Please don’t worry about me.”

“I see… Adeline tells me I give comfortable, reliable rides, but if that’s what you prefer.”

Maybe she just sees me like the large, heavy packs she has to carry long distances for her military training? I know I’m a rearguard, but standing in for a backpack might be going one step too far. I’ll pass.

Part II: Honorary Title

Upon our arrival at the Upper Guild’s Green Hall, I was escorted to the back of the first floor as usual. This time, however, we didn’t stop at the room with the nine stars painted on its door. The door to this particular room had some kind of gem embedded in it instead of a doorknob. Seraphina took a ring out of her pouch and held it up to the gem. A thin strip of light shot out from the ring and hit the gem, which began to sparkle. At that, the whole door shifted inward with a loud clunk and slid over to the side to open.

We saw something similar on Ariadne’s floor, too. Looks like it’s not the only place in the Labyrinth Country to use these mechanical devices. I wonder if they’re related somehow…?

“Each Guild office in every district reserves a special floor for Guild Saviors. We’ll find Third-Class Dragon Captain Kozelka there… Now, please watch your step and come this way.”

The door led to a spiral staircase that descended underground. The only light came from the stairs themselves, which emitted a pale luminescence. It wasn’t too dangerous, as long as you watched your step.

We’d been climbing down for a while when I got the feeling we’d teleported—Theresia must have felt it, too, and grabbed hold of my sleeve. “It’s okay; don’t worry,” I reassured her.

“……”

“These mechanisms mystified me back when I first joined the Guild Saviors, too,” said Seraphina.

We never would’ve known the Guild offices had these kinds of floors if we hadn’t gotten involved with the Guild Saviors. Thinking about it that way, we really had gone through some pretty remarkable experiences, especially for novices.

Eventually, another door came into view at the end of the staircase. Seraphina used her ring once again to open it. I couldn’t tell if we were in the Guild basement or if we’d been transported somewhere entirely different. One thing was for sure, though—this place was nothing like the building aboveground.

The walls looked completely seamless, and the floor seemed to be made from a material similar to what we saw in Ariadne’s Sanctuary, just as I’d suspected. It looked like reinforced linoleum, like something you’d see on an alien spaceship in a sci-fi movie. Uniformly spaced lamps emitting a pale blue light hung along the walls to our right and left. Another Guild Savior came walking our way from down the hall and saluted Seraphina as he passed.

At the end of the hall stood the man we’d seen with Kozelka in the Beach of the Setting Sun. He looked over at us and casually waved. He had a frank way about him, much like the impression I’d gathered from the way he spoke when we first met.

“Way to go out there. Captain Kozelka’s inside, but could you give her a sec?”

“Yes, sir. Will you be joining us, Dragon Sergeant Khosrow?”

“Nah, I’m just manning the door. I’ll find some other way to kill time after I show you in. Also, you’re my superior, you know. No need to be so stiff with me, Lieutenant Seraphina.”

“This is simply how I normally speak. Furthermore, you have been with the Guild Saviors much longer than I, Dragon Sergeant Khosrow.”

Dragon sergeant sounded like it must be another rank in the Guild Saviors. Maybe something similar to a sergeant in the military?

Khosrow smiled wryly, a bit constricted by Seraphina’s sincerity. Then he looked over at me, and his expression changed to one of genuine intrigue.

“Hey there, kid. I hear they call you Suit Man, eh? Looks like you’ve some pretty killer equipment, too. Gotta say, though, that gun is a bit much with the suit… I’m surprised you could even get your hands on one in District Seven.”

At first glance, Khosrow’s mostly white hair made him look quite a bit older, but he probably had just a few years on me. He may have even been younger than Ribault.

“It’s nice to meet you again. I’m Arihito Atobe.”

“The name’s Josh Khosrow. I’m a dragon sergeant, as I’m sure you heard, in Third-Class Dragon Captain Kozelka’s service. Just think of me as an old fart, slow to get ahead or climb up in the world.”

“…Are you still saying such things, Sergeant Khosrow?” asked Seraphina.

“Hey now, don’t you go spilling any beans to Atobe here. At my age, I’m better off going for the deep, mysterious look.” He seemed pretty carefree, but judging by the way Seraphina spoke with him, I felt there was a lot more to him than he was letting on. It was also possible something had kept him from rising in the ranks, like Roland. But I wasn’t about to pry into something so personal with a man I’d just met.

“That piece of crap Gray’s awaiting judgment now. The most severe charge against him is letting that monster loose on you. He’s suspected of a bunch of other crimes, too, but he’s got this mean, sneaky little skill that won’t even show up on most Seekers’ licenses. ’Course, we do have Saviors who could cancel that out, but we can’t just have them babysit this guy forever. In the end, he’ll probably get hit with a temporary seal on that skill, on top of some remedial education courses. We’ve got a real hard-ass leading those. Give the little scoundrel half a year, and you’ll see—they’ll make an honest man of him.”

“I see… Well, as long as he doesn’t abuse that skill again.”

“You know, you’ve got to stay cynical around these guys with skills that could really do some damage. Just look at the mess this guy left in his wake, and for what? Stop using the damn thing, for cryin’ out loud. Considering all the women he’s left in tears, I wish they’d throw him in jail and lock him up for a least a few good years.”

He’d also put the Four Seasons ladies in danger—just one more reason I was glad we’d come to District Seven in record time.

“Oh… Looks like she’s ready for you. See you around.”

“Yes, thank you, Mr. Khosrow.”

Khosrow stepped away from the door and walked off. He called out to another Guild member down the hall and floated the idea of grabbing drinks, probably trying to make the most of his time in District Seven.

Seraphina knocked and then opened the door. Captain Kozelka, dressed in a uniform like Seraphina’s but of a different color, stood up from her seat and came to greet us.

“Lieutenant Edelbert, reporting with Mr. Arihito Atobe, ma’am.”

“Good work. Sorry to keep you waiting.”

“Thank you for your concern, ma’am, but we took the opportunity to speak with Sergeant Khosrow, who informed us of developments with Gray.”

I had a feeling I could guess why Captain Kozelka had kept us waiting, but I wasn’t about to say it out loud.

“……”

Theresia tugged on my sleeve as if to keep me in line, even though I hadn’t been thinking anything inappropriate. Captain Kozelka looked like she’d just taken a bath and gotten redressed. A faint soapy fragrance wafted my way as if to prove my suspicions. Though again, it would be rather untoward of me to point out any of this.

“…Please, come this way.”

She wavered for a moment, perhaps over whether to explain that she’d been bathing, although I didn’t think she had any obligation to disclose that to us. She’d certainly caught me a bit off guard, however, and I couldn’t really shake that feeling.

We arrived at some chairs reserved for guests. Theresia stood behind me to my right, and Seraphina sat down next to me, across from where Captain Kozelka sat. When we’d met in the Beach of the Setting Sun, I was blown away by how unbelievably gorgeous the captain was. She was a real stunner, which made it almost impossible for an average guy like me to get a read on her emotions. Just looking at her made me nervous, but she had this tranquil air about her that put me at ease soon enough.

She had traded her black armor for a military uniform, though even that couldn’t hide that certain gentleness she exuded… But I couldn’t keep staring at her forever, dumb as a doorknob. I forced myself to switch gears.

“First, allow me to reintroduce myself. My name is Kozelka, a third-class dragon captain in the Guild Saviors. And you are Mr. Arihito Atobe and Ms. Theresia, I presume?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“……”

“Is Ms. Theresia…? No, I’ll leave that issue aside for the moment. I’d like to discuss the matters at hand in due order.”

I wonder if she has something to say about Theresia being a demi-human? I’m curious to know, but I’ll hold off asking for now.

“Before we go any further, I’d like to make one thing clear. Please dispense with any titles and simply call me by my name.”

“A-all right…then I’ll call you Kozelka, if I may.”

Kozelka looked straight at me, without a hint of a smile, though I didn’t feel any sort of reproach in her gaze. She seemed the type to be more comfortable with formal titles, but I decided to follow her lead.

“…Does dragon captain sound unfamiliar to you?”

I got the feeling her tone was a little more formal than when we’d first met. Maybe this was just how she naturally spoke.

“Yes, I can’t say I’ve heard anything like it before.”

“The dragon in the title comes from the name of the party responsible for founding the Guild Saviors. Dragons are incredibly powerful monsters of an entirely different caliber than all others. As Guild Saviors, we strive to attain the strength to oppose such mighty foes—that is our foundational principle.”

It sounded like not even Third-Class Dragon Captain Kozelka had actually faced a dragon in battle. All the Named Monsters we’d fought so far had been nightmarishly strong enough. I couldn’t even imagine how much more powerful a dragon must be to qualify as a different caliber.

“That may sound rather alarming, but rest assured, there are very few true dragons in existence. We have only ever recorded sightings of a smaller subspecies in the labyrinths around here.”

“No…I was just trying to picture what I would do if I ran into one and had no choice but to fight it. I suppose having an escape plan prepared might be the better part of valor.”

“Fleeing would cost you contribution points. So long as you’re aware of that, however, escape can certainly be a valid battle plan. I must admit, I find it difficult to relate to those who believe a party’s strength is defined by how long it can stand its ground in the face of danger…” Kozelka then looked at me as if she’d realized something. I could only wait for her to continue to find out what that reaction meant.

“Nevertheless, I believe none of what I said applies to you and your party, Mr. Atobe. I have examined your records and seen for myself the astonishing speed at which you have climbed through the ranks, defeating every single Named Monster you’ve encountered along the way. The Guild’s highest-ranking members have been particularly impressed with your performance.”

Impressed with our performance—that must mean some group of people had been watching and evaluating everything we did. It’d be nice to just accept the compliment, but nothing was ever that simple. Great responsibility is never far behind high expectations.

“What exactly do you mean by that…?”

“First, consider this possibility: Mr. Atobe, would you be interested in joining the Guild Saviors in the future? That includes your party members as well, of course,” Kozelka said, staring straight at me. It was clear she was genuinely trying to enlist us.

I could tell the first time I saw the Guild Saviors that these were strong Seekers with years of experience who had chosen the path of protecting others. I was still just a novice, so the thought of joining them myself had never even crossed my mind.

Still, I knew how I must respond. I wholly empathized with the Guild Saviors’ mission, but I had other things I needed to do. Seraphina looked over at me and smiled slightly as if she already knew what I was going to say.

“I’m deeply honored to hear the Guild has such high expectations for us. Given the generous invitation, I fear this may be quite rude, but…I must politely decline your offer.”

“…Understood. It is a pity, but I can appreciate how joining the Guild Saviors so soon after beginning your seeking career may only limit your potential. Every party has the right to independently decide their own goals without belonging to any organization. You are of course free to decline the invitation as you see fit.”

“Thank you very much for saying that. My party and I have our hearts set on two important tasks, and I’d like to focus on those before anything else.”

I had never discussed this with Seraphina, who turned her gaze toward me. I looked over at her in the same moment, and our eyes met.

“F-forgive me… I should not have let my personal curiosity interrupt your conversation…”

“Lieutenant Seraphina, I see in these records you have fought alongside Mr. Atobe and his party on multiple occasions. Shall I take this to mean there are still many matters concerning his party of which you are unaware?”

“Yes, ma’am… I am afraid so. Though I have had a few opportunities to join Mr. Atobe and his party in battle, I have not yet spent much time with them at all.”

“And yet, in that brief time, you succeeded in defeating a Named Monster together… Parties usually need to work together over an extended period of time in order to polish their teamwork. However, your party, Mr. Atobe, has managed to bring out its members’ true strengths quite rapidly.”

Does this mean Kozelka hasn’t found out about my skills…? I guess maybe you can’t investigate a Seeker’s individual skills without good cause. In that case, as long as I don’t do anything to increase my karma and get arrested, I can continue keeping mine close to my chest… I’d better be careful.

“Mr. Atobe, does one of the tasks you mentioned relate to your party member Elitia Centrale?”

So the Guild had taken note of Elitia joining my party after leaving District Five after all. Maybe this was a good time to ask for help in saving Elitia’s friend? Elitia wouldn’t have gone all the way to District Eight to look for help if there was something they could’ve done, but I wanted to ask anyway.

“Elitia and I happened to meet in District Eight, and we’ve been in the same party ever since. We’re now on a mission to save her friend, who was left behind in a labyrinth in District Five…”

“…I regret to inform you it may be very difficult to save Ms. Elitia’s friend the way things currently stand. Due to some extenuating circumstances, even we Guild Saviors have abandoned all interventions past the second floor of that labyrinth. We do continually monitor it to ensure a stampede does not occur, but this is a special case in that there are particularly high risks associated with engaging the Named Monster there.”

The Guild Saviors fulfilled their duties as long as they could prevent a stampede. It was not their responsibility to take undue risks and attempt to rescue those who had been captured.

Elitia had looked long and hard for someone to help save her friend. And yet she’d found no one in District Six, or District Seven, and had to go all the way down to District Eight. I was sure one day we’d make it up to District Five. But I couldn’t shake the feeling our chances of saving her friend would slowly slip away if we kept making our way district by district.

“…Kozelka, is there any way you could allow us to enter District Five, if only temporarily?”

“As a rule of thumb, Seekers should generally be level ten or higher before they advance to District Five. Your party has proven yourselves to be the most powerful in District Seven, but you are likely not yet strong enough to fight in District Five.”

“Yes… I know it will be dangerous. But when I think of how terrified Elitia’s friend must be, held prisoner by a monster somewhere in that labyrinth, I can’t help but hope to reach her as soon as possible.”

Kozelka said nothing and gently closed her eyes. After some consideration, she pulled out her license and began to do some kind of operation on it.

“I cannot arrange for you to visit District Five immediately… However, I do have one possible avenue to propose.”

“…Really…?!”

“Affirmative. In the event you declined to join our ranks, the Guild’s commanding officers instructed me to appoint you and your party with the honorary title of Advanced Seekers.”

“Advanced… Is that in reference to what we’ve done so far?”

Kozelka nodded in response and motioned for me to check my license. Then—

♦Current Status♦

“Is this…a request to accept the title?”

“Whether you decide to accept is a matter you should first discuss with your party members. Should you choose to receive it, the Guild might occasionally request your cooperation with its missions. You would be free to take on or decline each request, though the Guild would compensate you for every mission you do assist with. You would also earn additional Prestige Points. I’ll have one of our staff explain the finer details to you another time.”

Even if we do accept the title, it’s not like we have to agree to every request for help, so we wouldn’t be putting ourselves at risk. Knowing us, I doubt we’d decline many requests, but I’ll bet they don’t come all that often anyway.

“In other words, does this mean we would be able to collaborate with the Guild Saviors without having to officially join your ranks?”

“Affirmative. We have only a limited number of personnel at our disposal, so no matter what, we Guild Saviors will always need to rely on Seekers for support. Your contribution in quelling the stampede in District Eight was invaluable. This title would provide us a more clearly defined vehicle through which to compensate you for similar assistance going forward.”

That makes sense. I’ll see when I can discuss this with the group—but I still haven’t asked Kozelka about the “avenue” she proposed.

“So going back to how this title would help us get to District Five…”

“Anyone with the Advanced Seeker title can be called into service in districts up to two levels above or below where they currently reside. While such cases are exceptionally rare, there is a small possibility that your party could be called upon to assist with a mission in District Five before you leave District Seven.”

Kozelka explained such a request would allow us to temporarily reside in an upper district for the duration of the corresponding mission. Our time would be limited, but it sounded like we’d have the chance to enter labyrinths within District Five should we be called to a mission there. That must be one way the Guild Saviors rewarded Advanced Seekers for agreeing to help with dangerous missions; it was risky, but you’d get to explore labyrinths in higher districts.

We’ll have no way of knowing when we’d even be asked to go to District Five, but we might get lucky. If we could focus on leveling up as much as possible before then…it sounds like it’d be a risk well worth taking.

This proposal could even help us with our other goal: the cathedral in District Four. We’d heard the people there knew how to turn Theresia back into a human, and this Advanced Seeker title could potentially get us there more quickly.

I turned to look back at Theresia, standing in wait behind me. She returned my gaze, but her lips showed no signs of emotion.

“…Mr. Atobe, what is it you plan to do with this young demi-human?” asked Kozelka, her voice noticeably colder. I shuddered slightly as I turned to face her again. She continued: “I must inform you that attempting to change a demi-human back into a human would be a grave mistake. After all, demi-humans are resurrected beings who have already lost their lives once.”

She knows something. She knows how to change them back to normal—and how difficult it is.

“…I…”

Kozelka fixed her stare on me as if determined not to miss a single flicker of movement as she waited for my answer.

Part III: The Mark of a Demi-Human

There had to be a way to return Theresia back to her human form. If it were easy, Rikerton’s demi-human wife wouldn’t need to be out seeking for as long as she was. But I couldn’t give up before learning what must be done, no matter how difficult the task might be.

I turned to look at Theresia, who looked right back at me. The sight of her face, covered by that mask that never displayed any emotion, strengthened my resolve.

“…This might not be the answer you’re hoping for, Kozelka, but…I want to know what Theresia’s voice sounds like.”

Kozelka’s face stayed still as a stone. Her all but imperceptible changes in facial expression gave me a sense of déjà vu. But I couldn’t focus on that. I needed to tell her what I was thinking. I needed to tell her I wanted to make Theresia human again—that my determination to do so would never waver.

“I learned Theresia couldn’t speak the first time she joined my party as a mercenary. Back then, I thought that’s just how demi-humans are. But she is human. People say demi-humans don’t have hearts, but we know they do.”

“……”

Theresia came over to my side, no longer on standby. She seemed to be trying to protect me. Kozelka lowered her gaze. I had no idea what she was thinking and no chance of trying to read her.

“…The cathedral used to shoulder the responsibility of ruling over the Labyrinth Country together with the royal family, which has now essentially become obsolete,” Kozelka explained. “While the Bishop’s power has also waned, it remains on par with that of the Guild.”

“Oh… I didn’t realize. I’m afraid I don’t know much about the political affairs here. Though I do think the least I could do is learn a bit about the country where I live.”

Those research centers they said were available to us in odd-numbered districts could probably come in handy in times like these. But it was hard to make time to visit one when you were seeking nonstop.

“I imagine the vast majority of Seekers in this area have never heard of these matters. Many do not even know the cathedral exists… Sometimes, when a Seeker suffers an injury so severe even the Doctors at the clinic cannot treat it, the cathedral dispatches one of their own Healers to help. Some people may learn of the cathedral’s existence this way.”

“…Would it be possible for one of those Healers to turn a demi-human back into a human?”

“We do not yet fully understand why monsters regenerate in the labyrinth after a period of time. However, some say when a human loses their life in the labyrinth, they activate a similar phenomenon. The labyrinth regenerates their body as a demi-human… In other words, the theory goes, ‘curing’ them.”

Monsters couldn’t speak, and demi-humans were reborn via that same principle. Nevertheless, they were still different. Otherwise, demi-humans would display hostility toward Seekers. But Theresia, Takuma, and all the demi-humans I’d seen in town hired as mercenaries listened to and followed orders.

“In addition…even if a demi-human were to undergo the Separation Ritual at the cathedral, they would be forever marked as having once been demi-human—just as I once was.”

“……!”

It took me a second to understand what Kozelka was saying. In that brief pause, she stood up from her seat.

“Wh-what are you…?”

“…I’d like to show you proof that I used to be a demi-human.”

I had to stop her—or so I thought, but it was too late to intervene in what she herself had decided to do.

Kozelka turned around and slipped off her uniform to expose her naked back. That was where I saw a drawing, almost like a tattoo, of a monster resembling a wolf. Her white skin shone so brightly it appeared to gleam, even in the relatively dim room.

“You…you changed from a demi-human back into a human…”

“…At a cost of a great many sacrifices. Mr. Atobe, do you truly believe Ms. Theresia wishes you and your party to brave the dangers this plan will entail?”

“Well…” I couldn’t speak for everyone without talking to them about it first, no matter how sure I was that they would agree with me.

“Let’s say you make it to the cathedral and learn how to return Ms. Theresia to her human form. If the only possible method involved insurmountable danger, could you choose not to pursue it? At present, you and Ms. Theresia are able to seek together as a party. Is that not…?”

“…I know that you’re trying to warn us because you know something we don’t, Kozelka. And I believe you when you say that any demi-human who becomes human will have a mark like the one on your back… But if that means Theresia will be able to speak again just like you can, that’ll be more than enough for me. In fact, your story has given me hope.”

“…To be just like me is no victory. I still…,” she started as she once again donned her uniform. She turned to face me with that same unchanging expression. “I still haven’t finished what I must do now that I’m human once again. Yet here I am, telling you of things that a Guild Savior should not mention, when all I intended in having you come was to congratulate you for your remarkable achievements…and to encourage you to continue doing such exemplary work.”

“I…don’t know what you still have left to do. All I know is if one of my party members has a goal they must reach, I’ll try to find a way to help them achieve it. Elitia’s goals, Theresia’s goals, they’re all equally important to me. And if we garner any acclaim for our achievements as Seekers along the way, it’s a wholly unexpected honor.”

At first, I took her warning to mean the Guild Saviors did not look favorably on our plans. But as our conversation continued, I realized that wasn’t exactly the case.

Simply getting to the cathedral was not going to change Theresia back into a human. Trials more severe than anything I could fathom lay in store for us. Kozelka had said she’d paid “a great many sacrifices” for her own transformation, and I refused to believe she’d lie about something like that just to change my mind.

“May I take that to mean that for you, gaining prestige as a Seeker…is merely a necessary part of the process in attaining your party’s goals?”

“Y-yes. Although, if I think back to when I first arrived in the Labyrinth Country, I wonder if seeking in and of itself shouldn’t come first.”

“…I think I now understand a little of why that one person regards you so highly. Your perspective is entirely unique. What kind of life must you have led before reincarnating to gain such strength of mind? I cannot even venture a guess.”

“Just your run-of-the-mill office worker life. The one thing I can say is I always tried to complete any work I got assigned to do. Now, I’m simply trying to follow my heart.”

I had no idea who this “one person” Kozelka mentioned was, but I got the feeling she wouldn’t tell me just yet. And I had some doubts as to whether office worker even meant anything to her. An almost imperceptibly small smile crept along her lips. I wondered, eyes transfixed, if it ever widened enough to light up her entire face.

“How curious, that the man whose deeds have people calling him a rising star in the Labyrinth Country would call himself run-of-the-mill.”

“A rising star… I’ve heard that used a few times, but I always took it as a joke. I never expected the Guild Saviors’ top brass would say that, too…”

“Only certain members have expressed this view. But they did not wish me to reveal their identity to you at this juncture.”

A few people we’d met had called us rising stars. As for any who might be related to the Guild Saviors, the woman who welcomed us to the Labyrinth Country, Yukari, jumped to mind.

“…I’ve said too much. I’d prefer you make no mention of the Monster’s Mark on my back to anyone.”

“Yes, of course… I’m sure it took a lot to share that with me.”

She wouldn’t show that mark to just anyone. That much went without saying—at least to me it did.

“Shall I take that to mean your impression of me as cold and unfeeling has changed?”

“…S-sorry, I suppose I could’ve worded that better…but I didn’t know what else to say…”

Kozelka’s cheeks blushed slightly. I’d thought these things didn’t affect her, but it looked like that was another mistaken assumption. “It’s nothing worth such thanks. Ms. Theresia may also see one appear on her back, should you succeed in returning her to her human form.”

I knew it—Kozelka isn’t trying to say our plan is crazy. I realize it won’t be easy. But I’m gonna make Theresia human again, no matter what.

“I will make some inquiries regarding Ms. Elitia’s friend as well. Should you accept the Advanced Seeker title, I will essentially serve as your supervising officer. I’ll be in touch with you soon, but feel free to share information via Lieutenant Seraphina as well.”

“…I suppose lieutenant and second-class dragon captain aren’t exactly the same, right? The latter sounds more like a special class.”

“Typical Guild Savior troops can only rise up to a captain’s rank. I cannot comment on the meaning behind the dragon class ranking, but suffice it to say it entails a special kind of duty. If Lieutenant Seraphina were ever to achieve dragon class ranking, she would be a third-class dragon captain, like myself.”

“I see… Then Seraphina is quite advanced in ranking, for such a young woman.”

“Her excellent leadership qualities propelled her up the Guild Savior hierarchy quickly. To be quite frank, it surprised me greatly to hear she of all people had chosen to serve with you.”

Seraphina’s shield and the defensive powers she contributed as a level-11 Seeker were not strengths we would normally have been able to access in District Seven. I felt once again we should really count ourselves lucky to work with her.

“That was all I intended to tell you. Did you have any other questions?”

“Thank you for sharing so much with me. I’m even more motivated now.”

“I expect great things from you, even after you ascend to District Six. Of course, if you still have matters to attend to here, you are free to remain in District Seven.”

“I’d like to discuss that with my party members before making any decisions. Thank you for your time today.”

Kozelka didn’t respond right away. She cast a glance at Theresia, then asked, “…Why have you not asked me about how to change her back into a human?”

“Because even if I did, it wouldn’t change the fact that we need to go to the cathedral.”

“…Understood. I apologize for criticizing you and your party’s motivations. In principle, I would say it is an honorable goal.”

This wasn’t going to be easy. Even if we did make it to the cathedral, we’d have a ton of hard work waiting for us. But Kozelka didn’t deny going there would be our first step, and that was all the encouragement I needed to keep moving forward.

“Thank you again for taking the time to speak with me. Theresia, let’s get going.” I got up from my seat and left the room. I bowed slightly before the door closed and caught a glimpse of Kozelka bowing in our direction as well.

I requested a meeting with Louisa directly after that and waited for her in the room we’d used before on the first floor at the back of Green Hall.

“Theresia, we just met a demi-human who became human again. It wasn’t a rumor.”

“……”

Kozelka’s story gave us hope, but it also served as a harsh warning. She had made sacrifices to regain her human body, and the significance of that weighed heavily in my mind. It didn’t inspire much optimism, that’s for sure.

“We will get you back your body, and we won’t let any one of us get hurt. And we will save Elitia’s friend, I promise. I’m not going to let anyone tell us differently.”

Theresia walked closer to me, slowly reached out her hand, and touched my arm. I patted her head to reassure her. She said nothing but looked silently up at me.

“…I’m sorry. It sounds like I’m trying to convince myself, saying all this to you…”

Theresia pulled back her hand briefly, then stretched it up to toward my head, but even on her tiptoes, she couldn’t reach. I stooped down a bit, and she patted me back.

“……”

There was no way demi-humans didn’t have hearts. I didn’t have to look for proof of that in my skill that increased our Trust Levels; I could see it in the way Shiori read her little brother’s mind, too.

Just then, we heard a knock at the door, and Theresia lowered her hand. Louisa stepped in and smiled at the sight of us.

“Mr. Atobe… I have heard all about your latest success. They say you did a wonderful job saving Mr. Roland.”

“Yes, we went up against a formidable monster, but we all worked together and made it through. We also had some others join in and help, so in the end, we made quite a large group.”

“Oh my… Is that true? I would have rushed to join you as well, if only I had the strength to fight. Though it may be a bit impertinent of me as a Guild employee to say so…”

“I’m grateful just to hear it. Besides, monsters above level six can be very powerful.”

Louisa’s a Receptionist, so I can’t imagine she has many skills that would be useful in battle. If she can level up, then I’d be curious to know what her job’s capable of…but I’d better stop myself there, before I get lost in thought, as I tend to do when it comes to skills.

“So you all work together to fight such fearsome monsters… If I continue advancing through the districts with you, I’d love to find a way to contribute as well.”

“We still haven’t gotten to the bottom of why Madoka can’t acquire any new skills, so perhaps you could join us when we go to help her level up? …We’ll be sure to keep you safe as well.”

“The Guild has a designated ‘training labyrinth,’ which you might be able to use. The Guild Saviors and garrison go there to maintain their levels, and as an employee, I can access it as well, though others would need to obtain a special title to enter.”

Speaking of titles, I needed to tell her about the one Kozelka just proposed. Would that be enough to let us use the training labyrinth?

“Louisa, I just had a discussion in the basement of the Guild with Third-Class Dragon Captain Kozelka… She told me the party had been granted this honorary title.” I pulled up the screen with the title’s information on my license and placed it on the table to show Louisa. She peered at it through her trusty monocle and blinked in surprise.

“Advanced Seekers… I—I do apologize, but I have only ever seen this title in our manual, so I am unfamiliar with the particulars. Regardless, this title is an honorary recognition the Guild Saviors award to exceptional parties. I believe it should grant you authorization to use the training labyrinth.”

“Oh, that’s great news. It may be a while yet before we go check it out, but I’d love it if you could join us when we start to train our noncombatant members. Would you mind?”

“…W-well, if it’s not too much trouble for the rest of your party… But would that really be all right? Here I thought I might spend the rest of my days without ever stepping foot in a labyrinth again… Oh! That reminds me. With this Advanced Seeker title, you would also be granted access to our Guild’s health resort. It comes with many privileges, so please keep it secret from other Seekers, all right?” she said, pressing her index finger up to her lips, her happiness clearly visible through the incredibly charming gesture.

“Now then,” she added, “let’s take a look at these contribution points, shall we?”

“Yes, please.”

♦Expedition Results♦

All those Named Monsters popping up one after the other really were worth a lot of contribution points.

“Congratulations, Mr. Atobe! Not only did you reach first place in District Seven rankings, you also defeated a grand total of four Named Monsters in the district. What an incredible accomplishment.”

With the Alliance temporarily disbanded, we’d at last managed to move up to the top rank. We didn’t necessarily need to reach first place in order to advance to District Six, but after clearing achievements like “Defeat Three Named Monsters in District Seven” and “Leader Accumulates 20,000 Points,” most would wind up in first anyway.

Only Merciless Guillotine had a bounty on its head because the damage it caused was so extensive that Seekers had been forbidden from entering that labyrinth. We received six hundred gold as a reward, which I decided to have sent to the bank.

“As of today, you have accumulated just under seventeen thousand contribution points since entering District Seven,” said Louisa. “I’ll now add the special contribution points to this total.”

“Special contribution points… Does that mean we earn a different kind of points for saving Roland?”

“Yes. You accepted and completed Beyond Liberty’s request for assistance. The Guild awards separate points for contributions you earn on behalf of other people and converts them into contribution points, though their value depends on the terms of each individual request. These points were included in your results after you helped quell the stampede in District Eight, for example. I do apologize for the wait—it appears the calculation is taking a bit longer than usual.”

Taking care of a stampede was worth one thousand points, but I remembered that the calculation differed for whatever work we did outside a labyrinth.

“Monsters must never be allowed to appear in town outside of a stampede, so the Guild awards all the Seekers who come of their own volition to help the same number of contribution points. If I take into account all your activity of the past few days, it comes out to…”

♦Party Triumph Evaluation♦

“Party Triumph” sounded a bit over the top, but I just couldn’t get over the figures lined up on the screen.

“We already received three hundred points for retrieving Roland’s soul prison stone, but the special contribution points for completing that request are more than ten times that amount…?”

“Correct. When Beyond Liberty failed to defeat the Named Monster, they acquired a two-thousand-contribution-point penalty. It is a heavy burden to bear, but a Named Monster must be vanquished or it will cause a stampede to occur. In principle, this duty usually falls to whichever Seekers discover the Named Monster. However, since your party defeated it as part of the request you accepted from Ms. Daniella, you are also entitled to a two-thousand-point Reliever’s Reward. You received an additional one thousand five hundred special points for saving Mr. Roland, bringing the grand total to what you see here.”

Roland had said he didn’t know how much saving his life would be worth, but I bet neither of us could have imagined how strongly the Guild would commend Seekers helping one another out, or how highly they valued an individual Seeker’s life. I had started to harbor dark suspicions about whether people were reincarnated here in the Labyrinth Country to replace those who lost their lives while seeking, but this response blew all that doubt away.

“Even the Guild does not have the power to rescue all Seekers in distress, though that is our goal. That’s why we so deeply respect the work your party has accomplished.”

“Th-thank you very much, Louisa. With these additional special contribution points, would I be correct in assuming we have met all the criteria to advance to District Six…?”

“That’s right. These contribution points do not expire, provided you don’t cause any serious problems. They should be worth the same value in the higher districts as well. You’ll enter each new district with five thousand base points. So if, for example, thirty thousand points were required to advance to the next district, you would only need to earn twenty-five thousand.”

In other words, parties with more Triumphs had that much more of an edge over others in terms of advancing. Seeking was apparently not the only way to gain contribution points. Maybe helping out with whatever came our way could end up being a kind of shortcut for moving up.

“You have far more than the twenty thousand required contribution points, Mr. Atobe. Congratulations; you can advance to District Six whenever you’d like,” Louisa said with a smile.

I knew it had only been a few days, but they’d been so jam-packed, I got this feeling like we’d finally made it. A delayed sense of accomplishment rose up within me, and I smiled back at Louisa. Still, after witnessing Merciless Mourner’s strength for myself, I knew the party had to focus on getting stronger before going anywhere, or we were bound to trip up at some point.

“I promised everyone I’d schedule us all a day off. Part of me would like to move up immediately, but I’d also like to take time to consider any areas we need to improve and do all we can to prepare before we go.”

“Of course… In fact, I had heard you would be taking a break, so I submitted a request to use one of my paid vacation days. I have a lighter load of general tasks since I’m assigned to you personally, so the Guild granted my request.”

“That’s great… I hope you can take this chance to really let your hair down as well.”

“…As long as you’ll be taking it easy, Mr. Atobe, then I’m sure everyone…m-myself included…will be able to relax…”

People were still worrying about me working too much, even in my reincarnated life. Louisa was shyly blushing, but she was thinking about my health. I wanted to thank her, and yet…

“It seems I’ve picked up a bad habit of running errands on my days off…even though I know I should really be better about work-life balance.”

“Mr. Atobe, you truly are dedicated to your seeking career, aren’t you…? Oh! What would you think about going to the health resort I mentioned earlier?”

I hadn’t seen that one coming, but it would be nice to get some R and R once we went over all the materials we picked up and such. The others might prefer that, too. I looked over at Theresia, her lovable spiked mask tilted slightly to one side as if to say, What in the world is a health resort?

Part IV: Harmonious Respite / Fruits of Labor

I remembered I had one more question for Louisa before ending our meeting.

“Louisa, I wanted to ask you about this White Box. Would you be able to refer us to a specialist who can open this one, like you did with the Black Box?”

“…I—I do apologize. This White Box did appear on your results page, but it was my first time ever actually seeing such a listing…”

Louisa placed both hands on her brightly blushing cheeks as I showed her the box. She hadn’t gotten around to the box itself since we’d spent most of our time discussing the point totals, but I didn’t think she needed to be so embarrassed about it.

“Unfortunately, we don’t have any support staff who have anything above Falma’s Sleight of Hand 4. Chest Crackers with Sleight of Hand 1 can open a Wooden Box, while Sleight of Hand 2 will open a Red Box and Sleight of Hand 3 a Black Box. Falma has a comfortable advantage over the basic requirement, so she can open almost any Black Box successfully. However, a White Box may pose risks even for someone at her level if it proves more complicated to open than a Black Box… The Guild does not recommend Seekers take any undue risks when it comes to opening such boxes.”

“So essentially, it’s impossible to open… Is that what you’re saying?”

That made me even more curious about what was inside, but such was human nature. Although from what I’d heard, failing to open a Black Box could cause great damage, making it potentially even more dangerous with a White Box.

We shouldn’t take such unnecessary risks. We’ve made it through so many battles with fierce monsters; I don’t even want to think about us all meeting our end because of a hidden trap in some box. We could possibly use Misaki’s Fortune Roll before Falma attempts to open it. That would put a heavy burden on Falma, though, so I’ll keep it in mind only as a last resort.

“In that case, all we can do now is ask someone who may know more about it…correct?”

“Yes… Precisely…,” replied Louisa, racking her brain with her hands still on her cheeks. I felt bad for putting her on the spot, but I could really use any clues she might have.

“You know, Ms. Ceres might be familiar with these boxes,” she then added. “She opened her blacksmith shop in District Eight, but she originally resided in a higher district.”

“Huh… All right, I’ll ask Ceres. Thank you, Louisa.”

“On the contrary, I’m sorry I couldn’t be of more help… I’ll make sure to reduce my general workload going forward and put more time into studying matters that may be of any use to you.” But she was a great enough help as it was, meeting me at a moment’s notice. I stood up and shook her hand, then she saw us off to the entrance, and Theresia and I left the Green Hall.

Upon returning to the suite, I learned Melissa had thought of some recipes for lunch and picked up the ingredients on her way back. A spread of freshly made dishes greeted me in the dining room where Ceres and Steiner, who had also dropped by, were chatting pleasantly with Igarashi as they all waited for the meal. They’d said they would join us again to eat when we parted ways after leaving the labyrinth. Igarashi got up to greet me as soon as she saw me walk in.

“Welcome back, Atobe. We were prepared to wait a bit longer, but your timing’s perfect.”

“Arihito, you sure you didn’t wanna eat out? Anyway, I managed to score some really tasty-looking sake. Check out this suuuper fancy Dwarf Killer sake!”

Misaki came in her apron and showed me a glass bottle full of what looked like sake. A weathered label bearing the likeness of a little man with a dwarf’s build was wrapped around the bottle.

“That name sounds dangerous…but I’ll take it, thank you. It’s still pretty early in the day, though, so I’ll hold off for now. I’m not that big of a drinker, you know.”

“How dare you! Just kidding. I figured you’d say that but picked it up anyway. Looks like we’ve got another secret nighttime weapon, huh, Suzu?”

“…I—I don’t think we should use alcohol like that…”

“You could probably turn that sake into water, Suzuna…but I guess that’s not really what your skill is for, is it?” With Handwash, Suzuna could purify any water she scooped up with her hands. I wondered if it would work on alcohol as well. There was only one way to find out.

“…Having you drink the sake from my hands could be a little… Oh, um, but if that’s what you would like, Arihito, then of course…”

“Don’t worry your head about that… Arihito, keep that kind of joke to a minimum, would you? Suzuna is a very earnest girl,” Elitia chided.

“S-sorry. I’ll be a bit more careful.”

“Hmph, I personally think you’d do well to lighten up a bit more, Arihito. But I must say, that young lady sure serves up a scrumptious-looking feast,” said Ceres.

It sounded like Melissa, with her Cooking 1 skill, had been the driving force behind the meal. She came out of the kitchen carrying a large frying pan and transferred the stewed, Mediterranean-style seafood dish it contained onto a big platter in the middle of the table.

“This looks almost Italian… Are these kinds of recipes popular in the Labyrinth Country?” I asked.

“…Some reincarnates know how to make lots of different dishes. Some are chefs, too. They can do fighting and supporting roles fifty-fifty, so it’s a popular job… That’s what my dad says,” Melissa replied. Maybe Dissectors had access to cooking-related skills because they fell under the same big umbrella as chefs.

Madoka came walking my way, holding a pot with what looked like Cion’s food, and started heading for the front door as I was thinking that over. They did sell food specifically made for guard dogs, but Falma had given us some recipes tailored to Cion, so we followed those and fed her homemade meatballs and things made with a mix of meat and vegetables.

“Madoka, do you mind if I give her some?” I asked. “Cion’s worked so hard, and I want to thank her.”

“Of course, if that’s what you’d like, Arihito. I’m sure Cion would love that,” replied Madoka, beaming up at me as she handed over the pot.

I went out to the yard, figuring Cion would be waiting in her doghouse, but I found her sitting patiently right outside the door. She was panting frantically with her tongue hanging from her mouth. Did that mean she was hot? Silver hounds were apparently better suited for colder climates and had the long, fluffy fur to match. They were wild animals by nature, used to living outdoors, and so could shed their undercoats to some degree on their own, but it looked like she could use a little grooming.

Cion gobbled up the meatballs, which had been left to cool, as soon as I put them in her bowl. We had just been through a pretty fierce battle, so she must’ve used up a lot of energy.

“…Cion, are you hot? Maybe we should give you a trim.”

“…Bow!” she replied after first licking her snout to ensure she didn’t send any food flying. She was wagging her tail—was that her way of saying she wanted me to cut her fur? Melissa had mentioned she could give Cion a trim if she acquired the Groom skill. She did seem to really like Cion, so maybe it’d be better to let her choose whether to take it or not. It was probably about time to sit down with her and go over her new skills now that she’d leveled up.

After Cion finished eating, I got the idea to check her mouth for cavities. I’d taken care of a large dog once before and knew dental health was very important for them. We hadn’t done much to take care of her teeth, but they looked healthy.

“All right, looking good. I’ll give your teeth a good brush one of these days.”

“…Aroo.”

Cion didn’t know exactly what I was planning to do, but she’d guessed she was in for something, and her ears drooped. I started petting her to cheer her up, and eventually they pricked back up again.

“…You’re even more of a dog lover than me, aren’t you, Atobe?”

“…N-no, it’s just, we used to…sort of have one at the orphanage. I wouldn’t say I have a favorite animal, but I guess I do know a bit more about dogs…”

Igarashi walked over from the front door—where she had been watching me for who knows how long—crouched down in front of Cion, and started to pat her head. Cion had also grown quite fond of Igarashi and wagged her tail furiously.

“Remember how I told you back when we’d first come to this country that I used to have a dog? I know we’re just renting this place from the Guild, but it’s like I got another chance to do that now without even realizing it. I feel so lucky…”

“Yes, I remember,” I said, standing up. “Was that when we moved into the Lady Ollerus Mansion?” Igarashi smiled up at me and tucked a little hair behind her ear in a gesture that made her seem all the more refined.

“But our little Cion will have to go back to Falma one day, won’t she? I can’t help but feel sad when I think of that…though I know it’s pretty selfish to even mention it.”

“I’m afraid we’ll have to… But her mother is also there, you know. And someday, if she finds a good partner… Well, I guess she is a big girl, but age-wise she’s still a puppy, isn’t she?”

“Bow!”

I couldn’t speak dog, so I had no idea what that meant. Maybe she was happy she was getting pets, or maybe her belly was full. She looked so cheerful, maybe she even wanted to go for a walk.

“How lovely it would be if we could take care of her pups one day, too… But it’s probably far too early to be thinking about settling down now.”

“When that day comes, I’d certainly love to have them join our family.”

“Yes, our family… W-wait, since when have you been such a smooth talker?”

“Huh? …O-oh, no, I mean, I did say family but not because everyone’s been calling us a couple or anything…”

“Because you wouldn’t want me as your partner…?”

“…N-no, not at all. I wasn’t trying to say anything about wanting or not wanting you…”

Even I knew telling her she was too good for me would be a mistake. Then again, if I told her I didn’t mind others seeing us as partners, that might open its own can of worms… I stood there desperately searching for the best way to respond, and Igarashi laughed.

“…Igarashi, that’s not fair; you know I’m no good at that sort of thing.” She was still my weak spot. Not to say that was entirely a bad thing, but I still crumbled under her pressure.

“Hee-hee… Sorry. I saw the chance to make you squirm and couldn’t help myself.”

“Well, I guess I should’ve seen that coming, but…it’s still bad for my heart.”

“I guess we all tend to go pretty hard on you, not just me. Suzu’s not like that, though. I imagine you feel pretty at ease with her, right?”

“You could say we’re on a similar wavelength, or at least that’s how I feel. But I’m pretty comfortable with everyone in the party.”

“That’s true… Although I’m pretty sure I give you the hardest time.”

That’s definitely not… Well, I guess relatively speaking, she does make me the most nervous.

“This kind of self-deprecating talk is only going to put you on the spot. Maybe we should head in…”

Just as we were about to go back inside, Cion turned to face Igarashi.

“…What the—?”

Igarashi was crouched down next to Cion in a knee-length skirt she’d changed into after returning to the apartment. For a second, I couldn’t tell what was happening—but then realized that Cion had burrowed her head deep into Igarashi’s skirt.

“C-Cion…! S-stop, this is so embarrassing…!”

I suppose it made sense for a dog to try to get any kind of affection they could from a person they’d come to care for, but I couldn’t understand this at all. Maybe silver hounds liked sticking their noses into dark places?

“Wait, I shouldn’t just be standing here… C-Cion! Don’t dig around in there!”

“A-Atobe, go over there! And don’t you dare look back here!”

“O-okay…!”

Igarashi scolded me, nearly in tears, and I turned to go through the door—only to find Misaki, Melissa, and Madoka peering out at us through the cracks.

“Wooow… What a scene! Doesn’t Kyouka look sooo cute when she’s flustered?”

“…You should eat before the food gets cold.”

“Cion looks like she’s having a great time… She really loves you, Kyouka. I’m so jealous.”

Igarashi looked at the girls as if to say, Stop staring and help me! It seemed like she’d need to be a bit more careful the next time she crouched down in front of Cion in a skirt. I walked into the house, trying to act like nothing had happened, only to have Suzuna and Elitia ask me why my face was so red.

We helped clean up the dishes after lunch and moved into teatime. Ceres held up her saucer and tilted her cup to her lips ever so gracefully. Steiner had dined in another room, and I thought maybe they’d removed their helmet and armor to eat, but it looked like they wouldn’t be showing us what hid beneath anytime soon. Now they had returned in their usual gear and stood waiting behind Ceres.

“Arihito, knowing you, I’ll bet you want to take care of business before settling down for a day off. Do you have any work for me?”

“Before we get to that, I’d like to ask you something, Ceres… Have you ever seen this kind of White Box before?” I said, placing it on top of the table. Ceres donned a glove Steiner handed her, pulled out a magnifying glass that was clearly some kind of magical tool, and set to examining the box.

“…I have heard of boxes such as these, yes. They say only exceptionally rare Named Monsters carry them, and they only ever fall into the hands of the first person to defeat those monsters. Hmm… This is…”

“Can you make anything out?”

“Hmph. As a jade, I pride myself on knowing more about the secret phenomena and legends of this country than you. These markings on the surface may look like a simple pattern, but they are in fact letters of what is called the Logos Runes. You must meet the conditions written on here before you can open the box.”

“Logos Runes… Are you able to read it because you’re a Runemaker?”

Ceres nodded. She placed her saucer and cup on the table, then readjusted the brim of her tricorn hat slightly.

“This one should be relatively easy to open… At least, that’s my rather optimistic expectation. It says you must carry it with you and fight a strong opponent… That is, if I am interpreting it correctly. Someone else may read it and take it to mean something entirely different.”

“No, we’ll trust your interpretation… Thank you very much. So for the time being, all we need to do is take it with us whenever we seek?”

“I would say so…though I’m afraid reading the Logos Runes is slightly beyond my expertise. It’s moments like these that make me want to level up, but unfortunately, it’s not that easy. I have to work hard at it every day.”

“Master, you looked terribly pleased when you went after Mr. Atobe and his party in the labyrinth. Might you possibly be interested in returning to your seeking activities?”

Ceres pushed her hat down firmly on her head.

“…It’s not that simple. I just couldn’t sit back and watch, that’s all. My place is at home, taking care of the shop.”

“Well, you two really helped us out. Is that flame-throwing magic a Runemaker skill? It looked incredibly powerful.”

“Oh… Y-yes, yes it is… I’m surprised you noticed that. Though in the end, I’d say Takuma and Luca contributed more to the battle after you used your powers to strengthen their skills.”

“Your skills were also slightly improved thanks to Mr. Atobe’s skills, Master.”

The only skill I could think of that could’ve strengthened magic attacks would be the Wolf Pack activated by Complete Mutual Support. Is that what they meant? I bet if I acquired Magic Support 1, I’d be able to see a clear increase in total strength whenever I activated it.

“…I-it’s all your fault. You made me feel this way…”

“What? …C-Ceres, did I do something wrong…?”

Her face half-hidden, Ceres peeked up at me from beneath the brim of her hat with one hand on her chest as if to keep it from beating too quickly.

“You made me want to go seeking again, with you… I’ve tried waiting for this feeling to pass, but I simply cannot sit still. How do you intend to make that up to me?”

“U-ummm… About that. I’ve actually been planning to take out Madoka and Louisa so they can train to an appropriate level since they might have a difficult time joining us in battles. What would you two think about joining us when we do…?”

“…R-really? I can no longer use all the magic I had at my peak, and I’ve lost the ability to increase attack power, but…w-would it still be okay if I went? Just to be clear, I’m a level four. And Steiner acts tough, but they’re actually only level three.”

“Th-that’s not my fault. We went on so many challenging seeking expeditions together just to maintain this level… Are you saying those precious memories were for nothing?” They were arguing. I guess it was true what they say: The closer you are, the more you fight.

“…Ahem. My apologies, what an unsightly display.”

“Ha-ha… No, don’t worry about it. But I feel a bit anxious now, hearing you came to help us out at your levels. The vanguard Takuma seemed to be pretty high level, so it was good he came, too.”

“Hmph… I suppose you can’t help but care about battle formations, member compositions, and the like, even for other parties. You’re a true leader, right down to the core, Arihito.”

We were still on a break, but Misaki looked over from the other room to see what the three of us were talking about, then waved at me. She was probably making fun of how self-conscious I was acting.

“Well then, we’ll take you up on your offer, leader. If we have the chance, we’ll go with you to the labyrinth.”

“I’m looking forward to it, Mr. Atobe.”

With that settled, I called Madoka over and asked her about the materials we’d gotten the Carriers to take back for us.

“The materials from the big crab wouldn’t all fit in the storage container we had, so I rented a new storehouse and had them put everything in there… I hope that was okay?”

“Yeah, it’s better to have a separate container reserved for all the materials we get from larger monsters. If it’s in a storehouse, then that crab was…?”

“Yes, I asked Mr. Rikerton to take a look, and it seems it has some edible parts. Its shell and legs are too big, so they’re normally used as building materials, but apparently we can use at least some of it for armaments.”

It felt odd to think that ghostly, translucent crab was edible. At the same time, I was also genuinely curious about how it might taste, which I guess went to show how used to this country I’d gotten.

“How about that Merciless Mourner? It looked like an empty husk on the inside…”

“U-ummm… Mr. Rikerton mentioned something about Samurai Chainmail. He said the shell that wrapped around its body is kind of like the armor samurai used to wear and that it can be fitted as armor the way it is as long as the measurements are right. It’s in the storage container, but he recommended we have it appraised before we use it. We also found a rune among the dropped loot.”

Madoka was really helping us out by handling all this inventory business. It must have taken a lot of courage to even look at that gigantic crab, not to mention that empty husk from the Merciless Mourner. I needed to tell her to make sure she didn’t push herself too far.

“We couldn’t get any materials from the defeated sand crabs, but they did leave eight pieces of dropped loot instead. The praying mantis had turned to stone before the Carriers could bring it back, so they only managed to remove its scythes and wings, as well as two magic stones. You can see everything on this page if you’ll take a look… Oh, um, Arihito, is my report okay so far…?”

“It’s so perfect, I’m speechless. Really great work, Madoka.”

“Th-thank you! …This is all I can really do, so… Also, I heard back from one of the stores that works with Bargain, and I think they’ll knock down their prices if we submit our request by the end of the day.”

I couldn’t get over how capable this young girl was proving herself to be. I was actually a little concerned she’d work herself too hard. For once, it was my turn to be the worrier.

“All right, could you show me later what they have in stock? You’re doing such a great job, Madoka. Make sure you take breaks and relax, okay? And just let me know if there’s anything you’d like to get for yourself. You’ve earned it.”

“N-no, I couldn’t… I haven’t really done all that much…”

“Madoka, didn’t you have your eye on that cart for magic tools? That sure is useful, you know,” Ceres piped in.

“That would complement your skills, too,” I agreed. “What do you say we get one?”

“…A-are you really sure…?”

“Of course. I’ll have to see how much it costs, but I’m hoping it’s not too far out of our budget…”

“U-ummm… It’s about one thousand two hundred gold… Th-that’s really expensive, isn’t it…?”

I’d put Madoka in charge of handling all our finances, but I felt like I could trust her with everything after seeing her take such great care with expenses. She hadn’t said anything back when I bought the Owl Scope for a thousand gold. I thought it’d probably be better to carefully consider each purchase from here on out and spend money only when necessary.

I told Madoka we could afford the cost of the cart, and we agreed to go buy one in the next few days. We figured it’d be best to see something that expensive in person before making any decisions.

Rikerton hadn’t finished dissecting the huge crab yet, so I decided to take a look at what materials we knew we could use and the items we’d gotten so far.

♦Dissection Center Report – Mr. Arihito Atobe♦

♦Newest Acquisitions♦

It looked like we’d acquired some usable materials on top of the yet-to-be appraised armaments from Merciless Mourner. Those must’ve come from the full-body armor husk it left, no question about it. A few other dropped items needed appraising as well. I decided I’d ask Madoka to use her Appraise 1 where she could, then see if I could handle the rest with a Mid-grade Appraisal Scroll.

“Hmm… We should probably take a look at these materials in the workshop before you decide how you want them processed after all,” said Ceres.

“Ceres, you and Steiner have a right to your share of the materials we’ve acquired from the monster you helped us defeat,” I told her.

“We’ll take your business in the processing bit, so you can keep our share. I’m sure Luca, Takuma, and Shiori would feel the same. Shiori had mentioned she wanted to go out for drinks with you lot before you move up to District Six. That should be thanks enough for her,” Ceres replied, most likely counting herself among the participants of that outing and looking very pleased.

I was pretty sure Shiori would bring Takuma along, and I wanted to invite Luca, too. It looked like dinner would be lively again tonight. With that thought in mind, I called out to the others so we could make our way to the workshop.