Are we the key to surviving the runaway labyrinth?

　I recite Mr. Ronald's words in a daze.
　I knew from Ronald's mood that his words were not a joke.
　Still, I can't take it in, and I'm blindsided by his words.

'I'm undeniably serious. ...... Well, but do you need a little explanation?

　To me, Mr. Ronald did not show his anger, but smiled as usual.

'Does Roust know how to stop a labyrinthine runaway?'

'What?　Oh, you'll have to endure until the magic of the labyrinth runs out, or you'll have to defeat the master of the labyrinth in the labyrinth runaway.

　Ronald-san nodded at my response, which I managed to utter as quickly as I could, despite being surprised by the sudden question.

'Yes, that's right. Well, the way we are doing it now is the former. So, do you know why we are not doing the former method this time?

...... Because the Lord of the Labyrinth is so powerful, right?

　I replied, after struggling a bit with Mr. Ronald's question.

'Yeah. That's right. As for this time, we decided that challenging the Lord of the Labyrinth is a bad idea and chose to endure it. The truth is, we can't defeat the Lord of this labyrinth, so we just had to choose to endure it.

　I was shocked by Ronald's light-hearted, but absolutely no less shocked when he told us that we couldn't beat the master of the labyrinth.
　I knew that we couldn't win when Mr. Ronald and my master didn't choose that option.
　But Mr. Ronald's words remind me once again that we can't win.
　Even for a top-notch adventurer, this labyrinth runaway is a big threat.

''Well, if I could beat the master of this many labyrinths, it would be only a brave man.

　......, but even that idea was a naive perception, which I was soon reminded of.

'Yup, brave.'

　In my mind as I stunnedly repeated Ronald's words, information about the brave man comes to mind.

　A brave person, it was a being sent by the creator god to defeat the evil dragon that resurrects once every two hundred years.

　According to him, he is the only being who can kill the worst evil dragons.
　A being that was said to have transcended skill.

　I couldn't hide my upset because I knew that it was right, and that it was a being worthy of being called the strongest.

　...... I don't want to believe that we are dealing with an opponent that can only be defeated by such a being.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make the most of your time with us.

It's just a matter of time before you get to the point where you'll be able to get your hands on it.

So you're saying he's just as much of a threat as the evil dragon?

''No, it can't be. We're far smaller than the evil dragon. ...... Well, the only thing is that we don't stand a chance.

　Ronald-san, who assured me that he was as light as ever, but without any hesitation, finally made me aware of this.

　Why was Master in such a hurry when he first came to the Labyrinth City?
　And why did he say that he couldn't survive without Mist's cooperation?

　As I stood there stunned, Ronald-san continued his words.

I'm not sure what to do about it," he said, "but to be honest, I didn't think there was anything we could do about this runaway in the labyrinth. It's not possible for me and Larma to survive the labyrinth runaway," he said.

　The words of Mr. Ronaldo remind me of what I once said, that I don't know if we will survive, even for ourselves.
　And at the same time I understand.

　...... The master's words at that time were only meant to concern us, and Ronaldo's words were probably more true.

　But even though I understood that, it didn't upset me because, contrary to my words, Ronaldo's words were only for our attention.
　I knew that his voice had a lot of power in it, despite his words.

But this fight has changed my prospects a lot. It's not easy to endure for 30 days, but I think now that it's not impossible.

　I noticed that the same atmosphere had returned in Mr. Ronald's eyes as when I asked him who I was, as he piled on the words.
　With that atmosphere, Ronald-san tells me.

''If there are you and Narsena, who have the annihilation power to quickly put away super-difficult monster beasts.

...... eradication power.

　I repeated the words Ronald told me, dumbfounded.
　It was then that I finally began to realize why he had told me that Narcena and I were the key to surviving the labyrinth runaway.

　Why did he tell me and Narsena were the key to surviving the labyrinthine runaway?

''When the labyrinth runaway begins, a large number of magical beasts will be created from the labyrinth approximately every five days. If that happens, even more super-difficult demonic beasts will come flooding in than this time.

　Ronald-san's words made my face twitch as I imagined five days from now.
　Considering that two super-difficult demon beasts appeared today, the first day, it's not surprising that more than four super-difficult demon beasts will surely appear in the labyrinth or next cycle.

''In that case, what we need for the next cycle isn't just a person who can take on multiple Super Difficult Demon Beasts like me and Mist,''

　I gave a small nod at those words.
　It's not that Ronald-san and the Mist are useless.
　It's definitely a threat to their ability to say that they can't be defeated even if they are facing multiple super-difficult monster beasts.

　...... It's just that Ronaldo-san and Mist are too incompatible with the fighting style of the objective of defending the city walls.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find out what's going on in the world," he said.
　So even if Ronald and Mist survived, it would be no good if the city walls were gone.
　In other words, what they need is not the endurance or the ability to keep fighting.

　I understand everything Ronald-san is trying to say, and I open my mouth.

''So we're the key, right? ...... If we are fast enough to defeat one super-difficult monster beast, we are the top class.

　It's true that Narsena and I are not capable of standing up to multiple super-difficult monster beasts.
　Narsena and I do not have that much ability.

　The only thing I understand is that they have the most power to annihilate a single monster beast in the labyrinth city.

　And that annihilation ability is what is needed more than anything else in the current situation.
　The ability to annihilate the super-difficult monsters that will keep appearing one after another and defeat them as quickly as possible.

　After realizing our role, Ronald-san quietly asks me a question.

Rausto, you and Narcena will have an important role to play. I'm sure the battle will be very different depending on how quickly you can reduce the number of enemies. ...... Could you take on that role?

　Mr. Ronaldo's words had a weight to them that I had never seen before.
　When he threw those words at me, I remembered what happened earlier ...... when Mr. Ronaldo asked me if I was human.

　When I remember now, I think he was just asking me a question.
　But when I saw him ask me that question, I thought he was just trying to get at me.

　I think his attitude was the flip side of his concern that he was leaving me with a heavy responsibility.

I understand.

　I nodded to Mr. Ronald when I understood that - I nodded to Mr. Ronald.

'Thank you for ......, Roust. I'm sorry. I'm sorry to leave you with such a heavy responsibility.

　With a hint of apology, Ronald-san tells me that.

"Don't worry about it. I'm sure we can do it.

　I told Ronaldo that, just as I had told Fenrir when he was stranded.

　I told him as I did when I was hobbling Fenrir, with a confidence that we could do it, which we didn't have at the time.

''If it takes two people, I think we can eradicate the super-difficult demonic beasts without any problems. ...... With Narsena, I'm sure.

　For a moment, I'm a little choked up that I still haven't found Narsena, but I say so.
　What I remember is the fight with Fenrir.
　It took a lot of time because we had to fight him one by one, but I was confident that if we fought together from the beginning, we could defeat him without any problems.

　Ronaldo-san smiled softly at me and told me, " Yes, that's right.

...... That's right. You guys would have been needlessly worried.

　Ronald's words are words that seem to have come out of my mouth unconsciously.
　I felt that he was relying on us, so I gave a small smile.

　But it's only for a short time that I'm able to smile.
　Because Ronald's words were happy words, my face clouds over as I become aware that the person who should have come with me to this place is not here.

...... By the way, Narsena is different, isn't she?

　It was then that Ronaldo-san muttered that.
　I reflexively asked Ronald-san, "Do you know where Narsena is?

"Do you know where Narsena is, Mr. Ronald?

'Oh, could it be that Raust was in that place looking for Narsena?

Yes. I couldn't find it, so I thought I'd ask Marnell and the others.

'Then I don't think it's worth asking the people in the square.

...... Huh?

'I've been in that place for quite a long time and I didn't see anyone that looked like Narsena. So if you ask any of the other people over there, they wouldn't know. They'd probably think you were with Raust.

　Ronald's words made my face pale as I lost all the clues I could think of.
　I quickly think of something else to do, but I don't come up with it so easily.
　Seeing me suddenly turn blue, Ronald-san apologetically opened his mouth.

Yeah, it's okay. I have an idea.

Where are you?

　I asked him with a biting smile, and he laughed a little dismissively, but Ronaldo explained frankly.

'It's the inn's place. We've got adventurers working on it to get them all together, and it looks like we've got some adventurers there to help us out.

　As I heard Ronald's words, I quickly envisioned the location of the inn in my mind.

''Thank you!''

　It was a place where I once thought Narsena might be.
　I was about to head to the place, thinking that I should have gone there without hesitation at the time if this was the case.

　...... It was then that I suddenly remembered something.

　I'm going to ask Mr. Ronaldo, recalling the fact that he hadn't seen his mentor in all the times he'd been around the square.

'Mr. Ronald, your mentor is where you've always been, isn't he?'

Hmm?　Yeah, I think we're right where Raoust envisioned us.

　Ronald's words convinced me that my master was right where I thought he would be.
　That my master, who is contrary to appearances, would be resting comfortably in that place.

　Hence, I was left with a cloudy look on my face.

　The place where my master was supposed to be, which was quite far from the inn I was about to go to.
　If I was looking for Narsena or something, I didn't know if I would be able to go to Master's today.
　But there is something I want to find out today.

　That's when Ronaldo-san approached me suspiciously.

'What's the matter, Roust?'

　For a moment, I try to tell Ronaldo, who asks me if I've been acting too strangely or if I'm serious, that there's nothing wrong.
　It's not that I have to fulfill my purpose, but that's when I realized that it's not something I have to do.

'Ah!　Excuse me, I need to talk to you about a few things about Master, is that okay?

'...... regarding Laruma?　Can you tell me what you're talking about?

Yes, sir.

　And so I began to speak, the advice I was given by Mist before I crossed the city walls and fought the demonic beasts.

　In other words, if you want to save your master's life, don't talk your eyes out of him.

...... I don't know what it means, but that's what the Mist told me.

　As Ronald listens to me in silence, I continue.

　Originally, I was going to go and check with my mentor myself, but I was afraid it might be tomorrow.
　If possible, Ronald-san would like you to keep an eye on his mentor.

'...... Well, thank you. Roust.

　It was only after I had told him everything that Mr. Ronaldo spoke up.
　I felt that Ronaldo-san's attitude was somewhat strange, but it was only for a moment.

　But it was only for a moment.

All right, let me deal with Larma. Go to Narsena for Lausto and you'll be fine.

　Once again I find nothing out of the ordinary from Mr. Ronald, who told me so, and I realize that I was wrong.

　...... No, now I should have found Narcena more than anything else.
　Once again, I think of that, and I bow to Mr. Ronald and turn to leave.

'Can I have one last thing?'

　That's when Ronaldo-san spoke to me in a different, more serious voice.
　I tried to turn around and go back, wondering what the hell was wrong with me, but Mr. Ronaldo stopped me.

No, don't go back. I just want to say a few things.

　Ronald-san continued to speak, as if he didn't pay attention to me, who couldn't hide his suspicious face, wondering what the hell was wrong with him.

''In my experience, in a labyrinth runaway of this magnitude, the number of magical beasts usually doesn't increase too much from the second cycle. In other words, after five days, we'll be able to decide whether or not we can survive the labyrinth runaway.

　I gulped at those words.
　Even until now, I knew that my actions would affect whether or not I could protect the labyrinth city.

　But five days from now, our actions, more than anyone else's, will determine everything.

　Recognizing this, my expression unconsciously hardens.
　In contrast to me, Ronaldo was smiling with a natural smile.

But I thought, "But I'd be okay with you. No, I don't think it's a problem for you guys. You are without doubt the best party I've ever seen. You should be very proud of yourselves.

　I smiled at those words.
　I just couldn't help but want to share Narcena and Ronald's words.

　As if he could see through my inner thoughts, Ronald-san laughed.

That's all there is to it. I apologize for taking up so much of your time. I hope you'll share it with Narsena.

'Yes. Thank you!

　After thanking him that much, the next moment I started running towards the inn where Narsena would be.