No one spoke. The silence stretched so long it felt like an eternity.
(I really stepped in it... I let my emotions get the better of me and just started venting. Now how am I supposed to fix this awkward tension?)
"Orun, I understand your feelings, but could we proceed with our discussion?"
Just as I was wondering how to break the ice, the Guildmaster spoke up.
"Y-yes, of course. My apologies. I’m embarrassed I lost my cool like that."
I could feel my face burning. It had been a long time since I’d let my emotions boil over like that. While I felt a certain sense of relief, the shame was currently winning out.
"I believe this is the first time I've seen you get so worked up. You’re usually so stoic and level-headed that even Eleonora was starting to worry you’d become a robot. It’s good to know you’re still human."
"Hey! Guildmaster!"
Eleonora, having her private concerns suddenly exposed, snapped at him with a flustered expression.
Was this the Guildmaster’s way of softening the mood? While the members of the Hero Party remained draped in gloom, the atmosphere on the Guild's side of the table seemed to relax a bit.
"Now, back to the matter at hand. Orun, first, just to be sure—did you defeat that Black Dragon alone? Selma, of the Silver Rabbit of the Night Sky, claimed you took it down by yourself."
The Guildmaster fixed me with a steady gaze.
Honestly, I wanted to report that it had been a joint effort with the Silver Rabbit, but if Selma had already spilled the beans, there was no point in lying. Judging by the stares I’d received when I entered the building, the news had likely already made the rounds among the other Explorers as well.
"...Yes. I defeated it alone."
"D-defeating a Floor Boss from the Deep Floors single-handedly... it’s unheard of! Did you use some kind of special magic!?"
Once I confirmed the kill, one of the Guild Executives sitting nearby leaned forward, voice trembling with excitement.
"I can't disclose my methods. I'm only here to discuss the Black Dragon’s combat capabilities, its weaknesses, and things of that nature."
There was a tacit understanding among Explorers not to pry into another's fighting style or Original Magic. While rare, such information could be used against a person during a conflict between parties. Furthermore, Original Magic was something a person put their heart and soul into developing. There were very few eccentrics willing to just give that information away.
Explorers did have a duty to report information gained within the Labyrinth to the Guild, and that data was eventually made public. However, that obligation didn't extend to one's personal combat style or specific spells. Of course, people could often piece together a general idea of how someone fought based on the details of the report.
I had briefly considered lying and saying the dragon wasn't a solo kill, but that fell outside the scope of my reporting duties anyway. My responsibility was to report the characteristics of Magic Beasts encountered or the locations of rare materials like ore; I didn't have to explain exactly who struck the final blow or how.
"Naturally, I understand," the Guildmaster said, acknowledging that I wouldn't be answering the Executive's question.
I proceeded to report the new attack patterns I’d observed during the fight, along with comparisons and commonalities with our previous encounter.
"As usual, your report is concise and perfectly summarized," the Guildmaster muttered with a complex, unreadable expression.
"Was something missing?"
"No, your report is flawless. It’s just that when other Explorers report, we can usually get a sense of how the party functioned as a whole. Despite their fame, we have very little personal information on the Hero Party. You remain as skilled as ever at withholding the essentials."
"Information is often more powerful than brute force. I’m sorry, but I can't compromise on that. If the report is sufficient, I’ll leave it at that."
"You’re a shrewd one. ...Ah, one last thing. You don't have to go into detail, but I’d like to hear about your plans for the future. You’re a powerhouse capable of soloing a Black Dragon, yet you’ve left the Hero Party and are currently a free agent. Countless parties and clans will be desperate to recruit you. The Guild needs to keep track of your movements to prevent any potential chaos or infighting over your services."
Future plans, huh? To be honest, I hadn't given it any thought.
When I was with the Hero Party, I was so busy I barely had time to breathe. Now that I finally had time and the freedom to do whatever I wanted, I found myself at a loss. I guess I was what people call a workaholic.
"...I haven't decided yet. I have no trouble supporting myself for the time being. For now, I think I'll just continue being an Explorer at my own pace. I expect I'll eventually return to the Great Labyrinth of the South to finish the job, though."
"I see. By the way, Orun, are you aware that the Great Labyrinth of the West has been conquered?"
The Guildmaster’s sudden shift in topic caught me off guard.
I was currently in the city of Tsutrail in the Nohitant Kingdom, located in the southwest of the continent. Bordering Nohitant to the northwest was the Saubel Empire, which occupied the western region. There used to be a Great Labyrinth there.
The city was called Sebahl. It housed the Great Labyrinth of the West, one of the four Great Labyrinths on the continent. Now that I thought about it, Philly Carpenter—the Hero Party’s newest recruit—was an Explorer from Sebahl.
About three months ago, a party led by an Explorer hailed as a "Hero" in that country reportedly reached the lowest floor of the West Labyrinth. They had brought a massive Magic Stone—a Dungeon Core roughly ten meters in diameter—back to the surface. Since then, Magic Beasts had stopped appearing in the West Labyrinth, allowing people to harvest materials in total safety.
As a result, high-level materials were flooding the market, and the economy was booming. To date, the Great Labyrinth of the West was the only one ever to be conquered.
"Yes, of course I know. What of it?"
"Explorers who were based in Sebahl have begun migrating to the three cities where the remaining Labyrinths are located, including this one. Many parties were disbanded during the transition, so recruitment is currently at an all-time high. I'm sure you can handle yourself, Orun, but if you find yourself facing any major trouble, please report it to us immediately."
I see. If materials could be safely gathered from the West Labyrinth now, you didn't need to be an elite Explorer to do it. Even if Magic Beasts eventually returned, there was no income to be made there in the meantime, so moving to a new base made perfect sense. I didn't quite understand why they’d have to disband their parties over it, though.
"...Understood. I'll keep that in mind."
With that, the meeting concluded.
Since the ownership rights to the Black Dragon belonged to me as the one who defeated it, I decided to keep almost all the undamaged scales and sell the rest of the carcass to the Guild. I didn't know the exact appraisal yet, but it would likely be enough to ensure I wouldn't have to worry about money for a very long time. Not that I was exactly hurting for cash to begin with.
Still, while the meeting cleared up the details of the incident, nothing had truly been resolved. We still didn't know why the Black Dragon was active outside of its Boss Area, and the Guild had no leads. It was a phenomenon that even the Guild—the hub for all Labyrinth intel—couldn't explain.
There was too little information to draw any conclusions. Even if I wanted to investigate it myself, I didn't even have a place to start. In the end, it just meant I had to stay vigilant. Not that I ever let my guard down in the Labyrinth anyway.
Having learned what I needed to know, I stood up to leave. The members of the Hero Party remained in their seats, heads bowed, motionless. None of the Guild staff stood up either. They were likely about to discuss the official penalties for the party's reckless use of the Forced Evacuation.
I decided it was time for me to go.