......!

　In response to Mist and Hanzam appearing behind me, I reflexively moved my hand near the dagger.
　The fact that I didn't notice Mist's presence until he called out to me from behind naturally strengthens my grip on him.
　The only door into this room is within my front-facing view, but I didn't know when the misters entered the room.
　Yes, it was as if the misters had moved in a moment.
　Everyone in the room was grim, as if to show that I wasn't the only one.
　Only Ronald-san had the same calm expression as usual, but Master stared at Mist with eyes that didn't even try to hide his grumpiness.
　Even with such a master's eyes on him, the leeway did not disappear from Mist.

''Isn't that somewhat harsh to treat someone who has worked so hard to deal with the labyrinth runaway?

Shut up. I think that's a natural reaction to someone making an appearance in such bad taste.

　Saying that, the master looks at Mist's feet and twists his face in an abominable manner.
　It was then that I noticed that there was something like a magic circle carved into it.
　The story I just heard about the installation-type magic of the elves comes to mind.
　Is this the installation-type magic?
　Such a thought crossed my mind, but I quickly dismissed the idea.
　There was a sense of déjà vu in that magic circle.
　No, there was no such thing as deja vu.
　I'm not going to be able to tell what it is, but there's no way I could mistake it for anything else.
　I'm not going to be the only one who can do that.

You're a smart guy. How many magicians, or rather transition groups, do you have spread out in your guild?

　...... Yes, the one carved at the feet of Mist and Hanzam was a transition camp used to enter the labyrinth from the labyrinth city.
　It is said that the labyrinth's transposition camp was made with lost technology long ago.
　When I saw Mist treating that same thing as if it were a useful tool, I understood anew.
　How extraordinary is this elf?

''Lie, lost technology with such ease ......!

　I hear Lila's stunned voice.
　Feeling the astonishment in her voice, I realize.
　This transferee team would have communicated the threat of the Mist to Lyra-san more eloquently than we had ever explained it to them.

　And the same is true for me, which has increased the threat of the Mist.
　When I saw the existence of the transposition force, I was reminded of that fact again.
　If they use the transition camp to attack us from an isolated location, we won't be able to stay safe either.
　From now on, it's probably best to avoid being alone.

　It was at that moment that a sudden sound echoed, as if someone was coming running.
　For a moment, I was impatient with the presence of Mist and the others, but it wasn't a problem.
　Because the moment I noticed those footsteps, the magic circle at Mist's feet shone strongly and Mist and Hanzam's figures disappeared.
　It was the next moment when the footsteps came closer and closer to the room, and the door was opened vigorously.

　The door was opened and the one who appeared was Marnell.
　With irritation on her face, Marnell

A survivor of an escaped adventurer has just arrived in the maze city!　When the super-difficult monster beasts are almost here: ......

　Marnell's words were choppy because he had lost his composure in his haste.
　However, those words alone were enough to indicate that the situation was far worse.

''A super-difficult demonic beast!''

　With a frustrated look on his face, which he rarely shows, the master tells Marnell.

''Lead me to that adventurer. As soon as you can.''

Yes!

　With a look on the top-notch adventurer's face that he can't afford, Marnell starts to run and we follow him and leave the room.
　While following Marnell's back, Master asked Ronald-san with a strong face.

''...... Have you ever had a super-difficult demonic beast appear on the first day of the Maze Runaway?''

Not that I know of.

　The words of the master and Mr. Ronaldo were unassuming.
　But there was an unconcealed impatience in his voice. ......


◇◆◇


　The thing that the exhausted adventurers talked about was what happened after they left the labyrinth city.

　Apparently, about two hours after leaving the labyrinth city, the adventurers had fallen into a battle with a magical beast.
　Although they fought a good battle at first, the formation was easily broken when the top-notch adventurers were defeated by the ogre.
　On top of that, Fenrir, a super-difficult demonic beast, seemed to have appeared to chase him down.
　Seeing this, the leader, the Great Sword of the God of War, ran away, and the adventurers fled to the next town to chase after it.
　It seems that the adventurers managed to escape towards the labyrinth city thanks to the demonic beasts chasing after them and heading to the next town.

　After hearing the story, we put the escaped adventurers in jail and gathered in our room once again.
　However, it wasn't just Mist who left and didn't return, and Sieg and the others weren't in the room either.
　The adventurers who had escaped had made a lot of noise in front of the labyrinth city, and the other adventurers had found out about the super-difficult demonic beast.
　Because of that, Zeke and the other adventurers who were making a lot of noise were now being quieted down by the adventurers.

　This was the negative effect of the guild staff running away.
　I'm not going to be able to get the adventurers to come together, and that's why I'm asking Sieg and others to do it.
　Narsena and I are unable to appease the adventurers, and if this continues, Sieg and his team will be left in charge of the adventurers.
　Considering that Zeke and his team are an indispensable force, we want to avoid wearing them out like this if at all possible.
　I'll have to think of a countermeasure.
　I had been lost in thought, and it was Ronaldo's words that brought me back to my senses.

'Hey, Roust,' he said. Would you be able to stop Fenrir by yourself?

...... Huh?

　I'm blindsided by the words.
　I'm sure everyone thinks it's reckless if they hear it, stranding a mutated super-difficult monster alone.
　...... I couldn't believe that Ronald-san had said those words.
　It's a good thing that you're able to get the most out of this article.

'Don't be silly, Ronaldo,' he said, 'you're wasting a valuable asset. You're going to reduce your precious strength for nothing?

"We will all perish here if we waste our precious forces for nothing.

"Is fighting a super-difficult hexenbiest or some other reckless order a meaningful use of force?

'No, that's certainly not true. But if you can't do that, the labyrinth city can only last a few days. Lalma understands that, doesn't she?

...... Shit.

　It was then that I finally understood how serious the situation was as my mentor and Ronaldo and the others exchanged words with grim expressions on their faces.
　Whether or not I can stall a super-difficult hexenbiest isn't even predictable to my masters who have never seen me fight, it's more like a bet.
　Even so, the current situation is so dire that I have no choice but to bet on that possibility.
　That's when I realized that.
　...... No, I may have actually understood it.
　I just couldn't accept it.

......!

　I look at my unconsciously clenched hands and suddenly a strong anxiety begins to assert its presence in my chest.
　That anxiety finally made me realize that I had been unknowingly feeling a strong fear.
　The current situation was so bad that I could accept myself that it was inevitable.

　And in order to avoid it, I would have to stall the super-difficult demonic beast that I had mutated into.
　As I understood that, I was about to open my mouth, and as if to interrupt it, it was then that the shifting team appeared on the floor a little ahead of me, on the floor.
　When I saw it and realized the return of the Mist, all that came to my mind was the thought of where I'd been all this time.
　I wondered if it was the same for Master, and the moment Mist appeared, he didn't hide his frustration as he spat out, "Where the hell have you been?

'Where the hell have you been all this time?　Do you have any idea what you're going through right now?

Yeah. A mutant Fenrir must have shown up.

　Master was fuming at Mist, who answered that question in a moment's time.
　It was the same for me.
　It's hard to believe that Mist's demeanor was so unconcerned that he knew the worst of this situation.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make the most of it.

'Well, you can follow me anyway. Even a mutated Fenrir can handle it.

　As if in response to Mist's words, the transition team at Mist's feet spreads to our feet and begins to shine.

''Huh?　What in the world?!

　Mist opens his mouth with his eyes closed to his master, who suddenly reveals his astonishment.

'I told you in the beginning, didn't I?　They've been working to deal with the labyrinthine runaway.

　Even after all this time, the master, who realized that Mist knows something that is enough to keep him from losing room in this situation, is silent despite his attitude that does not hide his grumpiness.
　Nodding with satisfaction to such a master, Mist activates the transition formation.

''Well then, let's go. ─ ─ To activate the walls of the labyrinth city.