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

When I told him that I wanted to become a top-notch adventurer, Zeke's reaction to me was a stunned look of surprise.
He had a stunned expression on his face, as if he couldn't hide his surprise.
Zeke's eyes, which blinked repeatedly, told me that he couldn't believe my words.

That reaction is the best proof that Zeke doesn't believe my words about wanting to become a top-notch adventurer.
While understanding this, I didn't feel irritated.

Because I recognized that Zeke's reaction was natural.

Probably, if I were in the opposite position and told I wanted to become a top-notch adventurer in this situation, I would have reacted the same way as Zeke.
I was trained by my mentor and Mr. Ronald for only a few months.
That short period of experience alone was enough to give me an insight into the inhuman abilities of my masters.
Zeke, who was in the company of these outsiders for a period of time that is incomparable to mine, would know the masters' abilities incomparably better than I do.
Knowing this, I can't possibly blame him.

However, Mr. Zeke was mistaken.

...... Mr. Zeke, I'm not trying to be like my masters.

At the words I said to correct that misunderstanding, Zeke's face changed to a questioning one.
What in the world are you talking about?

'What are you talking about? The very best adventurer is Lia and her mentor. .........!

But the reaction was only for a moment.
Mr. Zeke, who had been piling on the words to ask me, choked up as if he remembered something in the middle of it.
I nodded and opened my mouth, deciding that Zeke-san had realized his misunderstanding by his face.

''It's true that only the masters are top-notch adventurers, but being as good as the masters is not a condition for becoming a top-notch adventurer, right?

Zeke's mistake, that was the point where he had equated the masters with the superb adventurers.
It's true that the title of a top-notch adventurer doesn't exist except for the masters, and it's an unofficial title of the guild.
Because of that, the title of a top-notch adventurer was now an alias for the masters.
That's why there are many people who equate top-notch adventurers with their masters and think that being as good as their masters is a requirement for being a top-notch adventurer.

''There is only one clearly defined condition to become a top-notch adventurer, or rather, to be recognized by the masters as a top-notch adventurer.

But I knew it was a mistake.
After all, I had heard the conditions directly from my masters.
Recalling the memory of that time, I opened my mouth.

''We must defeat the mutated, super-difficult demonic beasts with one party.''

In the next moment, my words and Zeke's words overlapped with each other.
Yes, that's exactly what I heard directly from my mentor, the minimum requirements for being a top-notch adventurer.

...... Ah, I think I did hear something like that from my mentor once, as a condition for being recognized as a top-notch adventurer.

Mr. Zeke tells me that as he closes his eyes as if he is searching for a distant memory.
Apparently, unlike his master, Ronald-san didn't make it clear to Zeke-san.
If that's the case, it's no wonder he doesn't usually remember it.

''Indeed, Roust was defeating a super-difficult demonic beast, right?

A little while later, Zeke-san looked up and let those words slip out as he looked at me.
Yes, it's a result of a combination of good fortune, but Narsena and I have surpassed what my masters called the minimum line for a top-notch adventurer.

''Well, I know that doesn't mean we'll be able to become top-notch adventurers any time soon.

Of course, even if we met the requirements, we wouldn't be recognized as top-notch adventurers right away.
Even if we are recognized by our masters, the public perception of a top-notch adventurer is still at their level.

''As long as you build up a track record of defeating super-difficult monsters from now on, it won't be difficult for you to be recognized as a top-tier adventurer. With this labyrinth city, we can gain enough achievements to become the fastest top-tier adventurer.

That's why I'm eager to remain in this labyrinth city, which is said to have the largest labyrinth.
All in order to be accepted by Narsena's parents.
In the end, I hoped that Narsena would be accepted by her parents for having made a messenger with me.

Thinking that far: ......

Mr. Zeke's eyes widen, as if surprised by the enthusiasm in my words.
No small amount of admiration can be seen in his gaze towards me.
I couldn't help but smile at Zeke's gaze, and opened my mouth.

'It's no big deal. ...... This is all just me imposing my own thoughts on you.

I understood that my attempt to ameliorate my disagreement with Narsena's family was only an act of personal feeling.
In any case, I am not trying to improve the discord with my parents at the behest of Narsena.
Besides, if my plan is to succeed, I will have to continue to be an adventurer.
An adventurer whose life is always in danger.

Normally, adventurers who have amassed some funds set up shop or return to the countryside and leave the dangerous profession of adventurer.
That's the ideal for most adventurers, and yet I still had no intention of quitting the dangerous profession of an adventurer.
It's not that I never thought of quitting the adventurer's job.
The current savings of Narcena and I, even if we divided it between the two of us, would equally exceed the amount of money an adventurer could earn in his or her lifetime.
Probably, we would be able to play and live forever.

Knowing this, I decided to spend my time as an adventurer with Narsena.
The way to stop being a dangerous adventurer, and knowing that, I put my personal feelings ahead of that path.
That's not something to be admired.

I knew that, and yet I couldn't stop myself.

I guess it's an illusion because I'm an orphan. Even so, I still long for my parents to be there for me.

I tell myself that, remembering the image of a father and son I saw when I was in the orphanage.
The director of the orphanage was not a good person.
I'm sure he had some illusions about the existence of parents and children as a reaction to that, and I'm able to recognize that about myself now.
Still, I couldn't shake the special image I had of parents.

I don't want Narcena to be the only one to make regrets with that special entity. I'm definitely not going to let myself be the reason for that.

So maybe I'm not the one to step in, for my own personal reasons.
Still, I've decided to be an adventurer because I strongly want Narcena to be happy for saving me.

...... It's a boring, idealistic imposition.

This was never a story that I was proud of.
It's just something that exposes my pathetic inability to control myself.
That's my perception.

...... If you're that prepared to go that far, my words were just wild.

But Mr. Zeke recognized my story differently.
Zeke-san smiled ferociously and opened his mouth.

''Indeed, under normal circumstances, I wouldn't be able to restrain the head of this labyrinth city's branch with my power alone. But if I go with the intention of abandoning my status as a direct adventurer, it's a different story.

......... Huh?

I can't help but let out a fawning sound at Zeke's words.
After a beat, I understand the meaning of his words and try to tell him in a hurry that there is no need to go that far.
Before I can do so, Zeke raises his hand, interrupting my words.

'Not that you need to worry about it, Raust. Just like you, I was only able to do what I wanted to do for personal reasons. I don't really like the position of being a direct adventurer in the first place.

Naturally, Zeke laughs, saying it's easier to be one adventurer.
That face, as far as I can see, is not an act, and I can't say anything else.
Zeke's face is gentle as he speaks to me.

It's a good thing that you're able to have a good time, because there's very little chance of me being let down as your personal adventurer. Well, there's no point in worrying about it.

Zeke's words were a bit playful, perhaps to put me at ease.
And I felt Zeke's concern and gratitude.

"Thank you so much, Zeke, for this: ......

And I was about to say thank you for that thought.



"──── Huh?!

What?



Suddenly a roaring sound and a shaking of the ground prevented me from speaking.




◇◆◇



At that moment when the ground shook, Zeke and I were on the verge of war.
It was not a deliberate action, but a reflex.

At that moment when the ground shook, I felt such hostility that I reflexively went into a state of attack.
My back is sweating in disgust and I feel awful.

'...... d*mn, what the hell happened?'

Mr. Zeke's face was also twitching as he spat that out, and I understood that Mr. Zeke felt that hostility, too.

For the next little while, Zeke and I stared at the doors and windows with an openly vigilant stare to see what might come, but nothing ever came into the house.
Deciding that there was no point in staying here forever, Zeke and I quickly donned the simple equipment we had in the house and opened the door while on guard.

...... Nothing, is it happening?

But the scene outside the door was the same as usual, so much so that it could only be considered a joke.
It is true that the people of the city are discussing the earlier tremors in an uncanny manner, but that's all.
Since I felt that much hostility, there must be something in the air, but there was no threatening presence in sight of me and Zeke.

I'm going to be the first to let my guard down for now, but I also look around with a sense of exasperation.

"......... No way, right?


"Cocógas, ningen no machika.


And it was then that I noticed a group of it.

It is something that has a similar shape to humans, but has a fundamentally different atmosphere from humans.
I've seen it all over the place, and there's no way I can make a mistake in judging it.

And yet, I couldn't admit to the sight of it standing in front of me, speaking a single word.
The reason is that such a thing should never happen.

''Why, there's a demonic beast outside the labyrinth!

The next thing I knew, I was screaming out loud, which sounded like a scream.
A voice that sounded as if I couldn't hide my upset.


'Zenin Korose. Minagorosida.


That to my voice, it - the hobgoblins at the front of the line smiled derisively and told me so.
As if reacting to that voice, the hobgoblins who were behind it start to move.


......... And on this day, the labyrinth city was to turn into a bloody battlefield.