The trip home was more comfortable than the trip here.

　We did not have to carry heavy baggage or fight.



　There were not so many demons, so there was not so much trouble, but the fifth level was a little difficult.

　There were many ant monsters called "orange ant".



　Orange Ants are very tough.

　They have strong defenses and a strong sense of camaraderie, so if you don't defeat them quickly, they will gather more and more friends.



　It is best to kill a few of them quickly and run away.

　However, I had never seen so many of them before.

　Is something wrong?



　After the fourth floor, the level of the monsters drops dramatically, so it is easy to proceed.



　I tried to ride Lucky to the adventurer's guild, but the gatekeeper stopped me and I had no choice but to walk slowly.



　The people in town were quite surprised to see Lucky, but thanks to the fact that he was wearing a collar and was obedient to my words, he didn't cause a commotion.



"Lucky, wait here for a minute. I'm going to report to the Adventurers Guild and tell them I've been fired."



----Okay. You can go into the box yard if you want.

"No, it's okay. I need to get used to the people in town. I'm off then."



　It's so cute to see Lucky sitting in front of the Adventurer's Guild waiting for me.

　As I was about to enter the guild, some adventurers started to make a fuss, misunderstanding my presence.



"Defend the Adventurers' Guild!　A big dog is coming to attack the guild!"

　Paranoia is a good thing.

　Lucky was not amused by the murder.



--Rock, can I make sure these guys know the difference?

"You know what I'm talking about, don't you?"

--Yes, of course.

　Lucky smiles and the adventurers take a step back.

　Lucky lies down on the ground.



　The attack would not have hurt Lucky anyway.

　I explained to the adventurers that they were quite surprised.



　Now I'll go check on my childhood friend who left me behind. I can't wait to see the look on her face.

　When I entered the guild, I was greeted by the receptionist, Rikka, who looked the same as usual.

　She's a cute little beastman with round bunny ears and a smile on her face.



　There is a rumor among adventurers that she has a secret fan club.

　It is said that the number of requests for work decreases quickly when Ricca is the receptionist, so the rumors may not be a joke.



"Mr. Locke, didn't you go to the dungeon of fire today with your party?"



"Oh, Isaac and the others haven't come back yet?　I got stabbed in the chest by Kid on the 10th level of the dungeon and left him behind."



"I just went with Mr. Rock to the dungeon. And what did you just say?　Kidd stabbed you?　I guess the rumors are true after all.



　That's funny. Even if Isaac and the others didn't evade the demons, they should still have some strength left since they didn't fight the boss. It's not like they're going to be slower than me.

　And the rumor?



What's the rumor?

"That Mr. Kidd abandoned his friends in the dungeon. There was a time a long time ago, when Mr. Kidd was just starting out, when he challenged the dungeon of fire in a party of four, and he and one other adventurer were the only ones who came back. There was a rumor that Mr. Kidd escaped by using his friends as a decoy. At that time, Mr. Kidd's ability was inferior to that of the B-class party.



"Isaac and the others were in danger."

　No wonder he didn't hesitate to attack me.

　My friends are in danger. But ...... I'm the one who's abandoned them, so why should I go help them?



"By the way, why did Mr. Kidd target Mr. Locke, who's the best of the best?"

　What is Mr. Ricca talking about?

　I'm the best?

　That's absurd. I was always despised in that party.



"That's because ...... I'm the most useless, isn't it?"



　Ricca-san suddenly shouts loudly while banging on the desk!

　The guild instantly quieted down and drew attention.



"Yes?　What are you talking about?　S-class party Graella became S-class because of Mr. Rock. What do you mean, he's the most useless?　How can you make such a mistake?　Do those people think anyone can do what Mr. Rock is doing?"



"Well, you're right. ....... I got fired. I was fired before Kid stabbed me in the back."

　Anyone could have done what I was doing. They think there's a million people who could've replaced me.

　I thought I was making a contribution, but they never understood that.






"Huh. I see. That was a stupid thing to do. Mr. Locke, no one supported S-class party Graella more than you. I guess Graella's downgrading to class B is a done deal."



"S-class revoked!　That can't be true. Their individual achievements alone are enough."



"The fact that they are not back here now is proof enough. Mr. Locke, who was stabbed in the chest and left on the tenth level, is back here, and the four of them still haven't shown up at the Adventurers' Guild. What more do you need?"



"No, there is a reason for this ......"



"Hey!　What's going on?　What's going on? What's Fenrir doing in front of the guild?　Are we finally going to war?



　One of the adventurers shouted to the guild in a loud voice.

　Unlike our members, he seems to know Fenrir.

　I guess people who learn things do things the right way.



"Don't worry. It's safe now that you're my follower."

　The adventurer's mouth is agape in disbelief.



"Fenrir ......?　The legend?　Oh!　So you're finally a Saint Beastmaster. Congratulations!"



　Surprisingly, Mr. Ricca accepted me right away, but everyone in the guild looked at me with white eyes. I could even hear the sound of a cup being dropped in the bar.



"Then you need to register as a follower. So what do you want to do?　Do you want to go home today?

　The gap between the normal Ricca-san and the atmosphere in the guild is too wide.

　When she asks me if I'm leaving, I worry about my childhood friends.

　No matter how much they complain, friends are friends.



"They won't get away with breaking the Adventurers' Code if they come back. But to cut off Mr. Locke...they really didn't know what they were doing. If this is the case, we should have done something about it sooner. Are you going to help?　I'm sure they'll just say terrible things to you if you go to help them.



"That's right."



"That's right. Besides, the dungeon of fire and brimstone is a dungeon for an S-class party. It's dangerous to dive twice in one day no matter how good you are.



　That's right. The dungeon of fire is not a dungeon you can let your guard down.

　But .......



"I was thinking of turning in their stuff too, so I'll go look for them."

"I see. If you insist, I'll say nothing more. I'll be ready to handle it smoothly when Mr. Locke comes back.



　Ricca-san sent me off with a big smile on her face, but I didn't realize at the time that her eyes weren't smiling at all.



　When I came out of the guild, there were children playing on the sleeping Lucky.

　I know that those hairs are quite comfortable.

　But I'm too scared to be afraid of them.

　Lucky lifts his head and yawns loudly.



--"So you're going to save them? ----

"You know what I mean?"

--"Sort of.



　He's trying to sound cool, but it doesn't quite cut it with the kid hanging around his neck,

"Will you stay with me?"

--"I'll tell you something, a man who betrays you once will do it again and again, even if he pretends to be sorry.

"I know. I know. That's why this is the last time I'm going to help you.

--If you're that determined, I won't say anything.



　I'm going with Lucky to the dungeon of fire and brimstone.

　I chuckle a little as the kids tell Lucky we'll play with him again.

　Lucky responds with a big wag of his tail.

　Now, we must not let our guard down.

　We are now heading back to the dungeon where the S-class party is trapped.