For a moment I couldn't understand what the sign said.
The ban on adventurers entering the labyrinth is the biggest penalty for adventurers in this labyrinth city.
But if I remember correctly, I never remembered committing a crime that could be punished with such a penalty.
In the first place, it's not as if I have any memory of committing any unjustified violence against adventurers.

''Haha, that's a good sign.

...... The words that came from behind me were words that didn't even try to hide their mockery of me being upset.

Perhaps it was because I was upset, but I was irritated by the owner of the voice.

'......... Huh?'

But the moment I turned around and realized the identity of the voice's owner, the irritation in me fizzled out.

'It's been a while since yesterday, defective healer.

The one who called out to me from the reception desk of the Adventurer's Guild was the leader of the Great Sword of the God of War that I had beaten back yesterday.
Despite the fact that he was completely defeated yesterday, he didn't show any feelings of fear towards me.

That was obviously suspicious, and that's why I was aware of a possibility when I saw his attitude.

Under normal circumstances, it would never be possible to be punished for such a reason.
However, I couldn't think of any other reason why I should be punished, so I mentioned the possibility even though I thought it was impossible.

'......... No way you accused me of being unfairly violated by me,'

While asking that, I didn't believe as if I was going to be punished for that reason.

I don't know about other adventurer's guilds, but as far as the guilds in this labyrinth city were concerned, there was no way they would overly interfere in an adventurer's private struggle.
That was exactly the reason why he hadn't reported to the guild that he was attacked by the Great Sword of the God of War.
It would be a different story if an adventurer died, but otherwise, the Adventurer's Guild wouldn't get involved.

Besides, if the Adventurer's Guild intervened in a private fight, the one who would be punished was the War God's Great Sword who had set it up first.
There was no way he would be punished to the point of being ordered to be banned from the labyrinth for that one incident.

Oh, you finally figured it out? Yeah, that's us.

But the leader's words, which he announced with an ugly mix of mockery and superiority, defied my imagination.

'Where's ............?'

I couldn't hide the same in those words.
For a moment, the idea that the words were a lie to mock me flashed through my head and I looked around, hoping someone would deny the man in front of me.

'Huh!'

It was then that I noticed the ...... guild staff giving me a mocking look.

The guild employees were looking at us mockingly, as if the flirtatious attitude they had a few days ago and that was a lie.
On the other hand, the Great Sword of the God of War is giving a flirtatious glance at us.

''...... So that's what you mean.''

I realized that the guild staff had cut me off.

The guild staff knows that Narsena and I have no intention of becoming exclusive adventurers.
That's why the guild officials apparently cut us off early on.

In the form of cheating in order to curry favor with the other resident adventurers, the Great Sword of the War God.

In other words, the penalty lent to me, the banning of me from the labyrinth, was clearly an unfair punishment.
Probably, the Great Sword of the War God asked the guild to retaliate against me, and the guild officials who wanted the exclusive adventurer's once-in-a-lifetime experience agreed to it.

'...... rotten.'

I understood that, and I couldn't restrain my anger at the earliest.
Abominably, I let out the words.

''Ha!''

Hee.

At my words, which do not even try to hide my anger, not only the leader of the Great Sword of the War God with some ability, but also the guild staff let out an upset.
In particular, the leader of the Great Sword of the War God, who fought me once, has an unconcealable fear on his face, and his reaction gives me hope that if I negotiate with him in a threatening manner, I might be able to lift the penalties.

'This is the Guild's decision. Any extra resistance will only make the situation even worse.

..........

However, my thoughts were denied by those words that came from the back of the guild.
It's a good idea to be able to have a good time with them.
I'm not just angry with him, but I'm even looking at him with a murderous intent.
But unlike the other guild members, Hanzam did not show any reaction even though he received that gaze.
I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work.

''The punishment this time is clearly wrong. The first person to mess with you is your opponent. If you doubt that, you can write a pledge.

Hmm?

At my words, Hanzam's expression changes for a moment.
For a moment, I feel a faint hope in my heart.
I'm wondering if he might be interested in hearing what I have to say.

Oh, I'm sorry. I'm sorry," he said, "but I'm afraid you couldn't understand it in your lousy way of thinking. What you said earlier, that's what I call extra resistance.

What about ............?

That's why for a moment I couldn't respond to the words Hanzam told me the next moment.

Every other beat, I recognize the words of Hanzam, and I have the illusion that my eyes are red with anger.
My teeth, clenched tightly, make a girly sound.

But I didn't slam my fury into Hansam.

'...... If you have any complaints, go to King's Landing,'

Hanzam is not able to hide his nervousness in front of me as he reveals his fury.
Still, he doesn't take his eyes off of me, and I'm made to understand that his stubbornness will only make things worse if I resist.

I can only glare at Hanzam for the last time, remembering the anger I can't sort out.
As I head out of the guild, I turn my thoughts to the future.
Not being able to use the labyrinth as a hunting ground is a big deal, not only for me and Narsena, but for the people of the city as well.
The adventurers who are still newly admitted to the city can't get the lower level materials.
In other words, without me and Narsena, the city wouldn't be able to get the materials from the lower levels.
No, we have to let Narsena know about this before that in the first place.

So, while turning my thoughts to what's ahead, I proceed with my feet.
But after leaving the guild, I stopped in an unpopular alleyway that I walked down for a while.

...... I've been desperately trying to keep my mind from getting depressed by turning my thoughts around, but I was at the end of my rope.

In my head, the necklace I was making to tell Narsena how I felt brought me back to the days of hiding from Narsena and watching the house.

"...why, now?

The words I couldn't bear to spill, and there was no one to hear them: ......



◇ ◇ ◇.



When I came home and told him about the labyrinth with an apology, Narcena was not angry with me.
On the contrary, they even apologized for not realizing what was happening.

And it was the same for the townspeople.

None of the people in town complained, despite our sudden announcement that we couldn't bring any more material into the town.
We were thankful for all that had happened, but it was wrong of us to complain.

However, the frustration on the faces of the townspeople could not be hidden.

''......!''

On the way back to the inn from the city, I bite my lip involuntarily in frustration.
I can picture the faces of the town's people who, a few days ago, were happy to see new adventurers enter the city.
......, but no matter how much I regret this situation, I can't do anything about it at the earliest.

If you're ...... Mr. Zeke,

It was then that I saw an entity in my head that might be able to help me out of this situation.
I would have to rely on Zeke, who has been a great help to me in the past, again, but now is not the time to hesitate.

I had made up my mind to do so, and a strong light was floating in my eyes.