..........

Two days after the matter of the appearance of the mutated Hydra, I was lying face down with a pale face in the reception area of the Maze City Adventurer's Guild.
It was clearly a suspicious attitude, and I could tell that the adventurers were looking at me suspiciously.
Still, I couldn't pretend to be the same as usual.

The reason why I was in such a state, was the presence of the Hydra, which had been mutated by me hiding it from the people around me.

Hiding the existence of the Hydra was a felony.
The receptionist is certain to be fired, or worse, put in jail for a few days.

...... But now that the Hydra I hid has mutated, the punishment I will be given will be much heavier than the one I hid the Hydra's existence from.
I will certainly be enslaved or worse, and the punishment I will receive will be more than that.

...... Why would I try to hide the existence of the Hydra?

My body shuddered at the thought, and my words, which I let slip, were filled with regret that I couldn't hide.
I couldn't stop shaking from my body just imagining what would happen to me in the future.

Right now, they're still looking into the anomaly that Hydra mutated in a short period of time, or they don't realize that I'm the one who hid Hydra from them.
......, but it's probably only a matter of time before they find out that I was hiding Hydra.

That pessimistic prediction of the future makes the blood rush from my face.
I'm tempted to run away from this place, but there's no way I'm going to be able to escape if I run away now, as my guilt will only get heavier.
Because I understand this, I can only work as a receptionist so that I don't get as suspicious as possible.
The situation on all sides was driving my mind into a corner.

...... I didn't do anything wrong.

...... And as I reached my limit, I turned away from reality.

...... I had nothing to do with Hydra's mutation. I was just unlucky. Why should I be accused of a crime?

I whisper words in a small voice, muttering in my defense over and over again, trying to convince myself that I am.
...... distracted from the reality that because I hid Hydra's existence in order to protect myself, a situation that could destroy the labyrinth city if I'm unlucky.

'Yes, why should I become a slave? It's all the fault of the mutated Hydra, right? I'm a victim.

Eventually, the guilt completely disappears from me and the realization that I am a victim takes over my chest.
I believe that I am just a victim of Hydra's abnormal mutation and that I am not to blame for anything.

...... but such an escape from reality was not going to change reality.

The scene of the Adventurer's Guild is the same as it has always been, and I am reminded that no matter how much I try to ignore reality, there is no point in doing so.
The situation, which had no future as it was, hadn't changed at all when I thought I was a victim.

''Huh!''

I was reminded of the reality that there was nothing I could do about it, and yet I couldn't just admit to being a slave.
I bit my lip in frustration at the ever-approaching time and looked around as if looking for something to cling to.

'Yes, well, I'm just going to go pick some flowers,'

Yeah, okay. I'll see what I can do about tomorrow's request.

─ It was at that moment that I happened to find Raoust and his fellow martial artists happily discussing with each other.

The moment I saw them, I couldn't help but contort my face.
The healer Roust, that healer who should have been despised as flawed until now, was now an adventurer who had become famous not only in the labyrinth city, but also in the royal capital.
It is said that he was recognized for defeating a mutated hydra with only two people in his party with little or no damage, and is rumored to be the next top-notch adventurer.

...... It was the exact opposite of the situation I was in, frightened by the possibility of being dropped into slavery.

Only a short time ago, my position and Roust's was very different.
I was the exclusive receptionist of a prestigious party called the Sword of Lightning, while Lausto was the object of scorn by the people of the Maze City.

''...... why!''

But now the situation was incredibly elevated in Raust's position.

In that situation, I couldn't hide my envy and hatred for Laust.
It's even more so when you realize that if Lausto had stayed with the lightning sword, he wouldn't have been able to push himself so far.

...... Aside from the fact that I didn't stop the sword of lightning, I'm growing resentment towards Lausto.

'At least if Raust can take credit for being in the Sword of Lightning, ......

If Raust was there when I was at the Sword of Lightning, then the credit would belong to the Sword of Lightning, and it would also belong to me, who was the resident guild employee.
Thinking that, I almost let out a sigh.

''Huh! This will do!

It was then that a method popped into my head that would allow me to take the credit for Roust's work for myself.
The moment I came up with that method, my mouth relaxed.
This way, I might just avoid being a slave.

'I'm sorry. I'll take it off for a minute.'

'Oh, oh! Ha, yes!

The next time I thought about it, I had told the receptionist next to me that, and I had walked out to Lausto's side.
Fortunately, there was no pesky martial artist at Laust's side right now.
With this, there is no one to stand in the way of what I am about to do.
With that thought in mind, I open my mouth to Laust, who is eagerly looking for a request with a big smile on his face.

'May I have a moment?'

......... Huh?

The next moment, Raust let out a goofy voice when he realized he had been approached by me, but I paid no attention to that and continued to speak.

'Will you come with me?'