Two days had passed since our exploration of the 91st Floor.
Today was the day the Silver Rabbit of the Night Sky would finally begin its conquest of the 92nd.
As was my habit, I arrived at the strategy room around seven in the morning, only to find someone had beaten me there.
"Morning, Orun. Do you always get here this early?"
Wil greeted me the moment I stepped inside. His tone was stiffer than usual, and his face was tight with tension. The frivolous, playboy persona he usually wore had completely vanished.
"Morning. Did you manage to get any sleep?"
"Ah... sort of. I kept drifting in and out of a shallow sleep. It’s not like I’m sleep-deprived, though, so it shouldn't be a problem."
I couldn't blame him. All four of them carried a far heavier emotional burden regarding today’s exploration than usual. Simple words of encouragement wouldn't be enough.
"...Wil, come with me for a bit."
◇
I led Wil to the indoor training ground.
I hadn't officially requested permission to use the facility, but a glance at the schedule on the wall confirmed it was free until ten. We would make use of the space until then.
"What are we doing in a place like this?" Wil asked.
I manifested a wooden twin-bladed sword from my storage magic tool and tossed it to him.
"Whoa!"
Once I was sure he’d caught it, I manifested a wooden longsword for myself.
"Rather than just idling away the time in there, why don't we have a mock battle to warm up?"
"............Heh. Why not?"
Wil gave a wry smile and took his stance. For the next hour, the rhythmic crack of wood striking wood echoed through the training hall.
When we finally stopped, we were both gasping for air.
"Haa... haa... haa... That was... pretty intense... for a warm-up," Wil managed to say.
"That’s because... you were... going at it for real."
"Hahaha... I was... still only at... forty percent, you know."
"For forty percent... you sure look... winded."
"...Phew. Thanks, Orun. I feel a lot better now."
Wil’s breathing eventually steadied, and he looked at me with genuine gratitude.
"...I just used you for my own warm-up. No need to thank me."
"Haha, is that right? Fine, we’ll leave it at that. Let’s grab a shower and head back. The others should be arriving soon."
The stiffness had finally left Wil’s expression. I wished I could have thought of a more elegant way to help him relax. Some "Jack of all Trades" I was. I couldn't even manage a few comforting words without resorting to a fight.
After washing off the sweat in the attached shower room, we made our way back to the strategy room. Naturally, I had changed into a different set of clothes for the mock battle. I wasn't about to go into a high-stakes Labyrinth crawl wearing sweaty gear.
◇
When we returned, the other three were already waiting.
"Good morning, you two. It’s one thing for Wil, but it’s rare to see you cutting it so close, Orun-kun," Selma noted.
"We were busy deepening our male bonding," I replied.
The atmosphere in the room was heavy. Even Lucre, usually the life of the party, seemed uncharacteristically subdued. I wanted to help them relax as I had with Wil, but no clever ideas came to mind.
"All right. Today, we finally head to the 92nd Floor," Selma announced, her voice steady. "Our objective is the subjugation of the Black Dragon and arrival at the 93rd Floor. Today, we finally set foot on that new ground!"
"""OH!!!!"""
Selma seemed more composed than the others, though I could still see a trace of nerves in her eyes. I hoped that once the exploration truly began, everyone would fall back into their usual rhythms.
◇
We left the strategy room and began the walk toward the Great Labyrinth.
The Silver Rabbit of the Night Sky headquarters sat on a vast plot of land. In addition to the main building—which housed the living quarters and the Exploration Department—there were several auxiliary buildings. It was a decent walk from the main hall to the front gates.
When we reached the gate, we were greeted by a massive crowd of clan members.
"First Unit, do your best!"
"Kill that dragon today!"
"You guys can make it to the 93rd! We believe in you!"
The cheers from the clan members filled the air. Back when I was in the Hero Party, we often received cheers from the public before a delve. Those cheers had given me strength, but this felt different—more personal. It was overwhelming.
If I, a newcomer, felt this way, I could only imagine what it meant to the other four.
"Master! Go kill that Black Dragon again!"
"Maa-ster! I’m cheering for you! Good luck!"
"Orun-san! Please, come back safe!"
The members of the Tenth Unit rushed toward us, their voices rising above the rest. I couldn't help but reach out and pat the three of them on the head.
"Thanks. I’ll head to the 93rd Floor first."
"Heheh, we’re going to catch up to you in no time, so just you wait!"
"Yeah, I'll be waiting. I know you guys can do it."
"Ehehe... I love it when Master pats my head. You have to come back so you can do it tomorrow and the day after, okay? I don't want you disappearing like Alba-san did."
"Of course. I’m coming back. Just be a good girl and wait for me, alright?"
"Um... p-please... do your best."
"Thank you. I’ll give it everything I’ve got."
◇
"Rain-onee-chan, good luck!"
"Rain-san is the strongest Mage there is! You won't lose!"
"Keep everyone safe!"
"Geez... nobody told me it would be like this..."
Tears were streaming down Rain’s face. In the short time I had known her, I had seen many sides of her personality, but never this. She had always insisted on being the "big sister" for the rest of us, likely forcing herself to maintain that image of strength. This was perhaps the first time I was seeing the real Rain.
"Hey! Wilkes! Wipe that pathetic look off your face!" one of the senior members shouted. "You’re the best Defender in this clan! If the Defender looks scared, the rest of the team will be terrified!"
"He’s right! That frivolous smirk of yours is what suits you best! Don't let us see you looking like a stranger!"
"Lucre’s with them! There’s no way they won't come back without a scratch!"
"You've got this, Lucre! You're strong! You've worked harder than anyone! You're not losing this time!"
"Hahaha... man, this really hits you, doesn't it?" Wil muttered, his voice trembling slightly.
"Yeah," Lucre agreed. "This isn't just our fight anymore."
"Leader, give 'em hell!"
"The Continent's Greatest Enchanter shouldn't be stuck on the 92nd Floor forever! Hurry up and surpass the Hero Party already! Become number one in name and reality! Today is just the first step!"
"You guys..."
As the cheers reached a crescendo, the Grandmaster stepped forward to stand before the First Unit.
"In the past year, the Silver Rabbit of the Night Sky has undergone massive changes," he began. "The executive board, including myself, was completely overhauled, and we lost the momentum we once had. Some even claimed our clan was finished. However, I believe this past year had meaning. I want you to show the world that the Silver Rabbit can still soar! But more than anything, I want you to give your all for your own sakes. Every member of this clan, myself included, is praying for your safe return."
Selma closed her eyes and tilted her head toward the sky as she listened to the Grandmaster’s words. After a moment, she snapped her eyes open and looked him straight in the face.
"We will reach the 93rd Floor. I promise you. Everyone, move out!"
With the cheers of our comrades at our backs, we stepped through the gate.
Looking at my teammates, I realized the tension had finally vanished from their faces. Having people who believe in you—it really is a powerful thing.