After receiving the horses and equipment for transportation once again from the nobles, the Infinite Circle was going to head to Centria the next day. Before that, Tsutomu told the clan members how he felt honestly about his strange behavior during the last dungeon survey.

　As a clan leader, he was trying to deal with all the dangers of the members by himself. After telling him that, Tsutomu looked straight at Korina.


'Korina, I didn't see you as a healer. I'm sorry.
No, no I'm fine.


　To Tsutomu, who lowers his head, Corina shrinks and gasps as if she is afraid. While everyone is in despair after the last stampede destroyed the barriers of the Babenberg family and everyone is in despair, Korina has seen only Tsutomu moving and giving instructions. Therefore, he was going to follow Tsutomu's decision without saying anything about it, so he was only troubled by his apology.

　But in contrast to Korina, Amira showed her frustration and poked Tsutomu's lowered head repeatedly with a slap.


The more you protect me, the more I'm not a fan, you idiot!
Hey, ouch!
'I admit I'm a good healer, but you can't beat me on pure power, can you?　Aren't you being overly cautious?
I'm sorry.


　Tsutomu, who had been moderately harsh with the two dragon people of Amira and Leleia, apologized down as if he had given up.


''Well, I knew it would be something like that.
"Shh, Master~!


　Amy shook her head in dismay at Tsutomu and then looked like she had no choice. Hannah's eyes glazed over as she looked touched by Tsutomu for having such feelings for her.

　After sharing his feelings about his Stampede with the clan members in such a tone, Tsutomu felt a little more comfortable. All of the clan members agreed with him that he was going to make all the decisions and carry them out on his own.


''Let's get this done quickly and get everyone back to the labyrinth city!
Oops!


　He was relieved to see the clan members, led by Amy, pledging to return to the labyrinth city. But even so, Tsutomu noticed himself looking at the clan members with eyes that somehow drew a line in the sand, and he hated himself for it.

　And from the next day, he immediately straddled his horse and set out for the southern city of Centria, the infinite circle. The other knights of the royal capital, part of the musicians, and the Red Devil's group were also heading to Centria together.

　With Garum beside him, who was making light small talk with Weiss while riding his horse, Tsutomu alternated between the reins he was holding and the scenery. Tsutomu had learned horsemanship before the last stampede, but it had been a long time since he had ridden, so he concentrated on not falling off. However, thanks to the provided horses that were properly trained, he didn't have that much trouble.

　He was also interested in the fact that Cecilia, the Red Demon Healer, was talking to Corina, and that Alma and Leleia were talking to each other. But the combination that Tsutomu was most interested in was Chrystia and Diniel, the clan leader of the Labyrinth Conqueror Squad.

　They were running side by side together, but they didn't talk about anything in particular and were silent. It had been going on for about five minutes, so Tsutomu was curious and called out to them.


''You two have known each other since the beginning?''


　When Tsutomu called out to her, Chrystia's slightly strained face relaxed.


''Well no. I just heard from the elders in a letter from the elders that the one who was loved by the bow was out. I saw him once on the divine table and it was wonderful.
'Heh, was Diniel famous among the elves?'
'Originally, the race of elves had few who threw themselves into battle. And most of them follow the path built by the elders and learn the art of potion generation. It's a rare breed of elves who don't stay in their villages and go out in search of battle.


　Diniel's eyebrows arched as if a little miffed at Christia's words.


'I just got kicked out of the house by my parents.
The old man has told me you are a slow learner. But the Elven home has changed a lot in a short time.
Still, you're disliked by most of your elders. I've heard the story of Chrystia abandoning the forest so many times.
I see.


　At the mention of the name, Chrystia's eyebrows lowered slightly as she released her unusually blank expression.

　Hundreds of years ago, the elven homeland was more closed off and segregated, looking down on humans than it was now. And born to a very rare dark elf, a race that was very good at fighting, Chrystia had been the head of the elven village's guard at the time. Originally loved by the archers, Cristia had quickly overtaken her elders and was recognized as an excellent village brave.

　However, at one point a wave of stampede passed through the elven village, and when one of the humans wandered into the forest, Chrystia decided to go outside. However, in those days, the village rarely allowed him to go out of the forest, and that was even less so when it came to Cristia, a dark elf with excellent fighting skills.

　Still, Chrystia forced herself to travel to the outside world for the sake of a human who had died and returned to the forest. However, Chrystia was permanently exiled from the elven village because of this, and was abhorred as a dark elf who had abandoned the forest.

　The reason for this is that Christia had a sense of guilt for Diniel as well, so she was silent from a while ago. But the actual person in question, Diniel, does not have any special feelings towards her, or does he have the same face as usual with no energy.


'But your current elders approve of you. And from my point of view, that decision is correct. In fact, since Chrystia set up the Maze Conqueror Squad, the damage caused by the Stampede has decreased. As a result, the elven village became more peaceful as well.
''It is true that I abandoned the forest. I would have done a disservice to the elven village afterwards. The elder was right to be the chief of the elves at that time.
'I don't know what happened that long ago. I'm just giving my opinion based on what's going on now and the results.
..........


　At Diniel's sardonic words, Chrystia quickly covered her mouth with her hand and turned her head to the side as soon as she could. Cristia's eyes are always as cold as frozen ice, but from Tsutomu's point of view, she seemed to be hiding a smile at that moment.


'From what I've heard, though, I think I've done a good deed too, Christia-san.
''....I see. If you say so, I'd love for both of you to join the Labyrinth Control Squad.
I can't. It's too much trouble.
I'm sorry. I don't want to die.
'Well I knew Diniel would say that. You are free to live your life. But Tsutomu. You are the one who should come to the Maze Conquerors. That bare instinct of not wanting to die is wonderful.


　During the last dungeon survey, Chrystia had seen Tsutomu from time to time, but he seemed to be the only one who always felt the fear of death. That feeling was truly rare among searchers who had experienced death many times in the Divine Dungeon.

　Explorers who had experienced the divine Dungeon tended to fight without regard for their own lives. But in the dungeons outside, that awareness was unpalatable. Especially if you commanded many people, but after experiencing death so many times in God's dungeon, anyone would get used to losing their lives. That's why explorers exploring God's dungeons are powerful in terms of stats and skills due to their high level, but they are difficult opponents to trust on your back for any reason.

　However, Tsutomu, who had only experienced death once, was more sensitive to the threat and therefore deserved to have their backs. If the person to whom they entrusted their back is dead, the threat to Tsutomu will increase. Therefore, Tsutomu will use the people he entrusted with his back to make the most of them and stop them from doing so with minimal damage. Fear of death, which is a weakness in God's dungeon, becomes a strength in the outer dungeon.


''At this point, let's be blunt. What the hell do you want?　I don't know that at all. Tell me. What would it take for you to join the Maze Control Squad?


　Even though the organization called the Labyrinth Conqueror Corps was down in size from before, it was still big enough to have informants going to each city to find out about Stampede's movements. And there were several such people in the labyrinth cities as well, and they had studied Tsutomu in depth. But he had no interest in money or honor, and he didn't even flirt with women. Some suspected him of being a man-typical, but that was not the case.

　When Tsutomu looked straight at Cristia and awkwardly closed his mouth to a single letter, Diniel looked up lightly as if he were thinking.


'Tsutomu has always been somewhat stinky. Maybe like an elf, his greed is rare.''
It's all of a sudden.
'But there's one thing I'm serious about. Perhaps if we keep that in check, Tsutomu will join the Maze Control Squad.
Diniel, what is it?


　When Christia quickly asked him back, Diniel replied with a sympathetic look in his eyes.


'God's Dungeon.'
...what?
'Only when talking about God's dungeons does Tsutomu look his age. Maybe things about God's dungeon are more important than his three greatest desires.


　Tsutomu seemed to enjoy talking about things related to God's Dungeon, even from Diniel's point of view. He had heard about it from Amy a few times, so Diniel replied.


''This Stampede, Tsutomu is only here because of the consequence it will have on the conquest of the God's Dungeon. Tsutomu doesn't have the same honorable beliefs as you do. He's just a god's dungeon brain.
Diniel?
..........


　Hearing those words, Chrystia covered her mouth with her hand again, and she ran her horse past those two. Seeing Chrystia moving away, Diniel turned to Tsutomu.


'Tsutomu made her angry. I don't know.
'No, no, no, it's obviously Diniel. What the hell, I can't, it's too much trouble.
'Tutum can't speak for others either. Well, it's a good thing he's not greedy.


　With that said, Diniel also lightly kicked the horse's belly with his heel and left with increased speed. I'm sure you'll be able to find a great deal more to say about it.