Inside the labyrinth city, a place where the innkeepers gathered.
　There, a different kind of heat was swirling around than in the square.

''That, please!''

Okay!

　The boys and girls go from place to place at the behest of the town's innkeeper, who gives them instructions.
　They work desperately to keep more than a few hundred adventurers as close as possible.
　I mutter to myself in disbelief as I watch them work in an even larger group than I had imagined.

'...... I didn't think this was going to happen.'

　What caught my attention at the time was not the large number of people, but the young boys and girls who were working.
　It's true that they are different from the usual, and they are wearing the same clothes as the people of the city, perhaps so that they can get dirty.
　But if I'm not mistaken, the people working there were the youngest of the adventurers, fresh out of the orphanage.
　Probably because they were deemed too unreliable to be counted as a fighting force, they are laboring in this way.

''Can someone come over?''

I'm coming.

　But I didn't sense any kind of frustration from them working.
　On the contrary, they seem more fulfilled than when I saw them as adventurers, and I give a small smile.
　It's hard to put into words.
　I'm sure that the stagnation of the labyrinth city, which has been somewhat strange until now, has slowly but surely begun to circulate.

　...... Since you were born a labyrinth orphan, the only way to live is as an adventurer.

　That is exactly what gave birth to the despised object of incompetence like us, and caused the other labyrinth orphans to live their lives in retreat from others.
　That nightmarish stipulation is fading away little by little.

　Understanding that, I looked at them as they worked, looking for Narcena for a little while.
　What exactly am I protecting, I wondered.

'Mr. Roust: ......!

　That's when I suddenly heard a voice calling out to me from behind.

　I didn't expect someone to stop me, so I turned around, a little shaken up, and saw the person I hadn't expected to see.
　I'm not sure what to expect, but the person who was there was someone I never imagined would be there.

"...... Aamir?

'Huh, good. I was able to find it: ......!

　While I was stunned by the suddenness of the situation, Aamir looked somewhat relieved.
　I couldn't hide my doubts about such an Aamir.

...... What's going on?　What's that outfit?

　Yes, the current Aamir wasn't wearing his usual robes.
　If it was just that, I might not have been that surprised, but I couldn't hide my surprise at the clothes that Aamir was wearing.

　After all, Aamir was dressed like any other adventurer, a city girl.

　With her long hair tied back, her head tied up in a large handkerchief-like cloth, and a slightly dirty apron, Aarmia was wearing a slightly dirty apron.
　It implied that Aamir had been preparing for the inn until now, but no, I couldn't hide my surprise because it was showing.

　From what I've seen so far, all the adventurers working here are people who haven't been able to fight this time.
　That's why I couldn't help but ask Aamir, who was working without a break despite the fact that he was definitely doing a great job.

'Just so you know, resting is part of the job. I don't think you should push yourself, though.

'I was only helped by Laila in this fight and ....... Besides, I'm the only one taking a break while Mr. Ronald and Ms. Lila are still working.

　...... At those words, my chest tingles as I'm dressed to push the adventurer to Lila-san.
　For a moment, in between involuntarily stalling, Aamir piles on the words.

'No, that's not the point!

It's not good: ......

There are people working who need to take more time off than I do, and that's okay!

'What?　Who on earth is ......

Anyway, it's all good now!

　That's when I noticed the impatience on Aamir's face as he was trying to open his ...... mouth in disgust as he was so forcefully arguing with me, and that's when I noticed the impatience on Aamir's face.

'...... I was wondering too if I should really do this,'

　Aamir tells me, with hesitation in his eyes for a moment, but immediately looking straight at me.

''I have a favor to ask of you, Raust-san. Please arrive!

......

　The moment I said that, I was surprised to see Aamir start to run, but I still managed to run with him.
　Although I was taken aback for a moment and fell behind, I was able to quickly catch up with Aamir, who was unable to strengthen his body.
　Without turning around to look back at me at all, Aamir is running faster and faster.
　I can't help but mutter to myself as I followed its back.

...... Where the hell are we going?

　Aamir was going down an intricate street that even I, a long-time resident of the labyrinth city, had never been down.
　Aamir continued onward and forward, passing behind various shops and then stopping behind one.
　He had never seen a shop in the city from a place like this, and he only knew the extent to which this was an inn.
　I second-guess myself, wondering if I'm allowed to come to a place like this, but in the meantime, Aamir quickly walks into the shop.

...... Is there any way to do it?

　After a little bit of trouble, I decide to follow Aamir.
　I feel bad about entering the shop without permission, but if I don't go in, I don't know what Aamir's request is even about.
　If I'm accused, I'll apologize.
　I opened the door with the intention of doing so.

"It's too late to rinse out the trash, Aamir.

　That's when I heard the human voice I was looking for - the human voice I was looking for.

　At that moment, I forgot what was troubling me until now and headed to the back of the store.
　Inside the not-so-large shop, I soon found Aamir and the owner of the voice.
　At the same time, the owner of the voice slowly turned around.

'Could it be that you're lost ...... eh?'

　The next moment, the owner of the voice, Narsena, whose eyes met mine with Aamir in between, froze.
　And, oddly enough, I was frozen in exactly the same way as Narsena.

　...... I was admiring Narsena's outfit, although it was too much of a reason to admire it.

　Narsena's outfit was that of a different city girl at all times.
　Of course, it's almost the same outfit as Aamir's, albeit different from the usual.

　But it was refreshing to see Narsena dressed as if differently as usual.

　Her short sapphire blue hair is covered by a cloth and she is wearing an apron.
　Although the apron is not a pretty one, Narsena's charm is not inhibited, and I freeze when I see it.
　If no one had said a word as it is, I might have gazed at it for a long time.
　But I was soon brought back to my senses.

"......!

　As soon as she noticed me, Narsena reversed her position.

　I was stunned, not knowing what I was going to do, and then Narsena ran after me in the narrow store.
　And then it goes out the other entrance, probably the front door, which is different from the back door we came in.

　I stand there stunned by the movement of Narsena, who can only be thought to have escaped.

''Follow me!''

　But Aamir's shout brought me back to my senses.
　Narsena is no longer in the shop.
　But I haven't lost sight of her yet, and I should be able to catch up with her.
　The next moment I judged that, I was running out of the store, following Narsena's back.



　◇◆◇



　Contrary to my expectations, I was not able to catch up with Narcena, who was running away, perhaps because she was also strengthening her body.
　It's a good thing that you're able to chase after them so as not to lose sight of them.

　But even under such circumstances, I was not in a hurry.
　I've been living in the labyrinth city for a while now, so I knew.

　It's not just a matter of time before you get to the end.

...... Ah.

　It was only after a short run that Narsena realized that the alleyway she was running in was a dead end.
　Staring at the wall in front of her in a daze, Narsena looked around for a moment, as if looking for a way out, but then stopped as if she had given up on running.

　However, knowing that Narsena would be able to escape over the wall at worst, I do not let down my guard and look at Narsena.
　Narsena smiled at me with a helpless smile.

I'm sorry I ran away unintentionally. I wanted to think about it alone for a bit ....... But I won't run away anymore.''

　After saying that, Narsena sits down with her back against the wall.
　Once she sits down, she has to stand once, and she can't escape easily.
　So finally I relax my guard.

　It's not as if I don't know what to do from now on - but that's when I realized that I had no idea what to do.

　A ray of sweat drips down from my cheeks.
　Although Aamir told me to go after him on the spur of the moment, I had no idea what to say or how to say it.

　...... I realize now that I hadn't even heard what exactly Aamir's request was in the first place.

　Inwardly impatient with my various blunders, I opened my mouth as I sat beside Narsena for now.

''No, I mean. I'm sorry for chasing you, too.

'That's not true. Maybe Aamir was too busy watching me and went to call your brother.

No, he doesn't tell me why I'm here.

...... I see.

　When I say this, Narsena falls silent once and for all.
　I'm very impatient, but on the surface, I hide it as I continue to talk.

I've been talking to Ronaldo-san before I came here, and he was very complimentary of us. He said that this will be the key to our survival in the maze.

...... Mr. Ronald?

'Yeah. Besides, Marnell and the others seem to be having enough fun and trying to get to know the people of the city and the adventurers.

...... Is that right?

　At my words, Narsena smiles a small smile.

　However, seeing that Narsena's attitude, I was getting impatient inside.
　On the surface, she's trying to mend her ways, but it's clear that Narsena's attitude has been distracted by something else.

　At the sight of it, I make up my mind.
　If we continue to talk like this, it will never get better.
　I need to apologize properly.

　I've decided that I need to apologize to Narsena.

"I'm sorry for causing you so much worry.

...... Huh?

　Narsena's reaction to my apology was confusion.
　I felt a little abnormal about that, but I continued to say that I had to apologize sincerely for now anyway.

'I'm sorry for being reckless in many ways during the fight with Fenrir. But at that time, the Heal didn't work well, it's not like I was trying to be reckless.

I mean, wait a minute!

　Narsena interrupted my words with a somewhat impatient voice.
　When I looked up to see what the hell was wrong with that, Narsena had an even more confused look on her face than I did.

...... Well, what's going on?　Suddenly.

'Yeah, I thought that's why you were mad at me?'

　When I ask her that, Narcena tells me with a troubled look on her face.

''That surprised me a little bit, and I was worried about you, but it's not as much as you want me to apologize for that.

So why do you avoid me at ......

　...... The moment I said those words, Narsena's atmosphere, which had become a little better, returned to normal.
　At the change, I was involuntarily lost for words, and Narsena opened her mouth with a smile that looked like she was about to cry.

' ...... I'm sorry for making you misunderstand. It's not that I was running away because I was angry with your brother. I just wanted to be alone.

　He told her so, and Narsena smiled at him.
　...... Somewhere in the middle of the day, she looks self-conscious.

''Really, it's not a big deal. I'll do my best to get it right tomorrow. ...... so can I ask you to leave me alone for today?

　I couldn't say anything to Narsena as she laughed at me.
　Just like her words, Narsena will behave as if it didn't happen again tomorrow.
　Knowing Narsena as an adventurer, I can be sure of that.

　...... but I couldn't leave the place.

　As an adventurer, I couldn't leave the one girl ...... that I love in this situation, even if I believed in her as an adventurer.
　Even if it's not because she wants to be alone, but as an excuse to leave me.

　I'm not going to be able to say that I'm not going to be able to get it right.

...... Um, brother?

Well, you can think of me as a wall.

　...... I wonder what I'm doing myself, I guess.
　But I pile on the words with shame.

'So don't worry about it, you can go somewhere else, and if you want to rest, you can lean on me. ...... And I don't think it's wrong to complain about someone on the wall.

　Inwardly, I tell Narcena that, trembling with nervousness and impatience.
　If they really go away or complain about me here, I'm honestly confident that it will drag on for a few weeks.

　...... Still, I couldn't just leave Narsena here with a face like this.

'Huh. What's that,

　Seeing me like that, Narsena laughed, small, but still laughing out loud.
　Then, she turned over and muttered a little.

''It's ......, I didn't want to.

　It was a somewhat distressed word.
　Then, with his head down, Narsena asks.

''Brother, can I ask you one question?''

　I open my mouth, freaked out on the inside by those words, but I try to keep my composure.

'...... I don't think you need to ask the wall that question,'

'Yes, sir. Well then, tell me one thing.

　As I listen to those words, I make up my mind inwardly.
　I'm not sure what kind of complaint they make here, but I won't break my heart and try to improve the bad part.

　But such a thought was to disappear when I saw Narcena's face as she raised her head ...... not even trying to hide her anxiety.

　Narsena tells me, blinking at me, in a trembling voice.

'...... Am I being helpful to your brother?'

　It was as if it was a question I hadn't even imagined.