"All right, let’s give it our all in the labyrinth investigation today! Hey Wil, are you planning to shuffle the squads?"
The mage, Hank, tossed the question my way just as we finished breakfast and stepped outside.
"I’m not changing them for a while. I’ve told you a dozen times that swapping members too frequently is inefficient."
There were seven of us operating together at the moment.
While Lucre and I worked well as a pair, labyrinth investigations undeniably progressed smoother when split into groups of three and four. Because of that, we divided the seven of us into two units, rotating the roster every few weeks or so.
Our most recent swap had been last week. Even though I’d made it clear we were sticking with the current arrangement, Hank had been pestering me almost every day about whether I was going to change the squads—ever since Lucre and I ended up in different groups.
"No, no, this is a matter of motivation for our illustrious leader, Master Wil. Surely, we should—"
"I’m actually going to punch you...!"
"Ooh, scary."
Engaging in this kind of lighthearted banter on the way to the labyrinth had become our daily routine lately.
But that routine was shattered in the very next heartbeat.
As we walked through the city, a massive explosion suddenly thundered through the air.
"What was that!?"
I whipped my head toward the sound. In the distance, a building was collapsing, and a thick pillar of smoke was churning into the sky. The blast had come from the direction of the Territorial Army station.
Even if it were a catastrophic accident involving fire, a scale like this was no laughing matter. No, wait—this was no time for escapism!
"Lucre!"
An explosion of that magnitude was almost certainly fueled by mana, whether it was magic or a spell. If so, Lucre could pinpoint the caster using her [Mana Tracking] ability.
"I’m already looking! ———!"
Immediately after responding to my call, Lucre let out a strangled, wordless scream.
I spun around instantly, catching her in my sight—and there stood a man I didn’t recognize.
(Who is he!? I didn't notice him at all, and he’s right there!)
The man had blond hair like shimmering silk and piercing blue eyes. Though he was lightly armored, his attire screamed high nobility. More importantly, the tip of his sword was pressed firmly against Lucre’s throat.
"—Don't move."
The man spoke the moment the rest of us registered his presence.
"You’re explorers from the Silver Rabbit of the Night Sky, aren't you? If you don't resist, I have no intention of harming you. But if you do, I’ll take this woman’s head first."
"............"
With Lucre held hostage, I couldn't make a reckless move. I signaled our lack of intent to resist through my actions, and the man nodded.
"First, let’s move to a different location."
◇
Unable to mount a counterattack, we followed the man's lead to a relatively deserted, open area in a quiet district.
"...This should do."
Muttering to himself, the man lowered the blade he’d been holding to Lucre’s neck and stowed it in a storage magic tool.
Just what the hell was this guy thinking? As I questioned his behavior, he turned back to face us.
"I’ll need you all to stay here quietly until the matter is finished."
"By 'until the matter is finished,' do you mean until the battle taking place outside is over?" I asked.
Ever since the Territorial Army station blew up, the sounds of combat had been drifting in from outside the city. Most likely, this man’s comrades were currently engaged with the local soldiers.
"Precisely. We have no intention of laying hands on civilians. That applies to you explorers as well."
Judging by his gear, I couldn't imagine him being a common bandit. No, I needed to stop lying to myself.
The man before me was ten to one a person from the Empire. More than that, there was a high probability he was of the imperial bloodline. That hair, those eyes, and the clothes he wore—all of it matched the characteristics of the imperial family I’d heard about.
If the enemy was the Empire and they were currently fighting the Territorial Army, this was nothing short of an invasion.
We were explorers. Even if we weren't specialized in interpersonal combat, we were far more accustomed to violence than the average citizen. In this situation, I only knew of one member of the imperial family who would approach us alone, knowing full well we were explorers from the Silver Rabbit of the Night Sky.
"...Understood. I promise we won't interfere in this matter."
"H-Hey, Wil—"
"So! I want you to guarantee the safety of my comrades right here. Crown Prince."
Rex, the ace of the A-Rank Party, tried to protest, but I spoke right over him.
"I had no intention of hiding it, but I’m surprised you saw through my identity so quickly. As for your safety, I promise to guarantee it as long as you do not get in our way."
He admitted his status remarkably easily. But that settled it.
This man was the "Hero" of the Empire who had conquered the Great Labyrinth of the West: Felix Roots Kreuzer.
If I could, I wanted to rush out and help the soldiers fighting beyond the walls. I’d probably become friends with a few of them during my months living here.
Even so, if I had to place those soldiers on one side of a scale and my comrades from the Silver Rabbit of the Night Sky on the other, the scale would drop instantly for the latter.
If the man before me were an ordinary imperial soldier, the seven of us might have been able to neutralize him. But the opponent was the "Hero." His true strength was a mystery, and there was a very real possibility we wouldn't win even with our combined strength.
In that case, I chose not to act. Even if I were branded a coward, and even if it was a decision that gnawed at my pride.
"I appreciate it. —Everyone, listen up. It’s exactly as I said. None of you are to lay a hand on him. This is an order from the man the clan entrusted with your command. I will not permit you to ignore it."
The members of the A-Rank Party wore expressions of varying degrees of frustration, but they seemed willing to follow my lead for now. From then on, we stood there, forced to listen to the distant sounds of battle and the screams of the dying, with no end in sight.
◇
I couldn't say how much time had passed. It felt like an eternity, yet simultaneously like only a few minutes. I’d lost all sense of time.
The man’s claim—that they had no intention of harming civilians—seemed to be holding true. Since the fighting started, I hadn't heard the sudden cutoff of a civilian’s scream. They were terrified, but they weren't being slaughtered.
The soldiers, however, were a different story. Their death throes reached us clearly.
"Wil, open your left hand..."
I was standing there, silently enduring it all while simmering with rage at my own helplessness, when Lucre suddenly spoke. She reached out and wrapped both of her hands around my left.
Hearing her voice, I unclenched my fist. My palm was bleeding; my nails had dug so deep into the skin that they’d pierced right through.
"I’m going to use recovery magic. Is that okay?"
Lucre looked toward the Hero, who was standing a short distance away, her hostility laid bare.
"I don't mind. However, if you use anything other than recovery magic, you understand what will happen, don't you?"
He didn't seem to care about Lucre’s attitude in the slightest and gave permission readily. Lucre muttered a quick "I know," and immediately cast [Heal] on my hand.
"Sorry about that."
"No, don't worry about it. I support your choice, Wil. You aren't the only 'bad guy' here."
Lucre gave me an encouraging smile.
(Making Lucre worry about me... I’m pathetic right now.)
Just as my heart was beginning to steady thanks to her, an explosion erupted right where the Hero was standing.
I panicked, thinking one of the A-rankers had finally snapped and attacked, but a quick glance showed they were all just as confused as I was. It wasn't them. Then who—?
"Everyone from the Silver Rabbit of the Night Sky! Are you okay!?"
A voice called out from above. I looked up to see several men in Territorial Army uniforms standing on the roof of a nearby building. They were wielding combat magic tools—likely the source of that blast.
"We’re fine! Never mind us, get out of—!?"
I tried to tell the soldiers to retreat, but the building they were standing on suddenly let out a sickening groan. In the blink of an eye, the structure collapsed.
The soldiers didn't even have time to react. They were swallowed by the falling debris and disappeared into a thick cloud of dust.
"—Dammit!"
Seeing that, the mage, Hank, started to move toward the wreckage.
"Hank, don't!"
"Why!? I might still be able to save them if I go now!"
Naturally, Hank snapped back at me.
"I know that! Even so, I’m telling you don't!"
Haha... I really am saying the most despicable thing possible. I was implicitly telling him to leave them to die.
Still, if we tried to rescue those soldiers, there was a high probability the Hero would view it as a hostile act. I didn't know exactly what had caused the building to collapse, but it was almost certainly his doing.
Despite taking a powerful explosion at point-blank range, the uninjured Hero was looking toward the pile of rubble with total indifference. There was no guarantee we would survive a fight with an opponent who could level a building in a heartbeat. We just had to endure.
—However, the A-rankers had reached their limit.
Ignoring my orders, the A-Rank Party’s front-line attacker, Rex, and their defender, Kiaran, seized the moment the Hero’s attention was diverted. They launched a pincer attack.
Rex lunged from behind with a fist while Kiaran charged from the front with his shield.
But both of their attacks froze in place just inches from the Hero, as if they’d struck an invisible wall. Surprise washed over both of their faces.
The Hero let out a heavy sigh. "I didn't want to pull your fangs, but I suppose it can't be helped," he muttered, clenching his right fist.
"[Strength Up]."
After buffing himself, the Hero punched Kiaran’s shield. His arm moved so fast it was a blur, the impact shattering the shield instantly and sending Kiaran flying.
Kiaran slammed into the wall of a nearby house, but his momentum was so violent that he smashed right through it. He tore through several more walls before finally coming to a stop. As the house began to crumble into a pile of rubble between us, Kiaran vanished from our sight.
"Lucre! Quickly, Kiaran—"
I tried to shout for Lucre to heal him, but the Hero was faster. He spun and delivered a roundhouse kick to Rex’s abdomen while the attacker was still frozen in shock.
Rex was sent hurtling backward just like Kiaran. He missed the nearby buildings but crashed into the massive outer wall of the city ten meters away. He didn't break through the sturdy stone, but cracks spider-webbed across the surface, and a deep indentation formed where he struck. Rex slumped against the wall, motionless.
"How dare you!"
Enraged by the sight of their comrades being taken down in seconds, the mage, Hank, and the enchanter, Michela, unleashed their magic. [Thunder Spear] and [Fire Spear] streaks of lightning and flame roared toward the Hero.
But as the projectiles drew near, they suddenly swerved—as if deliberately avoiding him—and sailed harmlessly past.
"What!?"
"How is that possible!?"
The Hero thrust his open right hand toward us. I didn't know what was coming, but years of intuition as an explorer screamed that something was very wrong. On instinct, I summoned my twin-bladed sword and held it out in front of me.
A second later, a sensation like a powerful gust of wind—an invisible pressure—slammed into me. I dug my heels in and held my ground. After a moment, the pressure dissipated.
"It was... offset? What was that? His ability?"
The Hero’s eyes widened slightly as he muttered to himself.
Now that we’d made a move, a fight was inevitable. Looking at the two he’d just decimated, every instinct told me this guy was in an entirely different league from any explorer I’d ever met. Even so, the frustration of being forced to stay quiet and the fury over my injured comrades were finally boiling over.
(I’m going to let out all that pent-up anger right now!)
Just as I prepared to close the distance, a black object streaked down from the sky toward the Hero at terrifying speed. It didn't reach him, though; it stopped abruptly in mid-air.
"Orun!?"
The flying object was Orun. He was repelled backward, skidding across the ground until he stopped beside me.
"...Repelled?" he muttered.
"Orun... why are you here?" I asked, momentarily forgetting the battle in my shock.
"Well, I guess I just got caught up in the flow of things," Orun answered with a self-deprecating smile.
He seemed to have his usual casual air about him, but his right eye had turned pitch black. He was in serious combat mode. I’d seen it a few times during labyrinth investigations; when Orun’s eye changed, he became incomparably stronger than his normal self.
"—Are you the 'Hero'?" Orun’s tone turned razor-sharp as he questioned the man.
"...I'm not fond of the title, but the world seems to call me that. And you—are you an explorer from the Silver Rabbit of the Night Sky?"
Orun whispered a quiet "I see," then ignored the Hero’s question to speak to me.
"Wil, there’s no time to explain, so I’ll be brief. Under instructions from the Eddington House, I’m taking on the 'Hero.' I’ve prepared countermeasures, so don't worry. I want you and your team to treat Rex and Kiaran, then go assist the Territorial Army. But don't be reckless. If it’s too much, you have permission to withdraw."
The Eddington House already knows? Even though Roils is so far away?
I understood that Orun was here on orders, but I couldn't stand the idea of leaving him to face the Hero alone.
"I’ll leave the army to the A-rankers. I’m fighting here too," I said, readjusting my grip on my twin-bladed sword.
"Me too! I won't forgive him for what he did!" Lucre added, stepping up beside us. She must have already finished her initial treatment of the other two. As expected of our party’s healer—she was fast.
"Thank you, both of you."
"Of course. Together, we can—"
"—But, I'm sorry."
Orun apologized before I could finish my sentence. I turned to ask what for, but he was already gone.
My eyes snapped back to the Hero. Orun was already there, swinging his sword. But just like the others, his blade stopped short, frozen inches from the Hero’s skin.
(He's going to end up just like the others!)
But then—
"—[Space Leap]!"
In a flash, Orun and the Hero both vanished.
"That idiot! Don't go running off on your own!" I yelled at the empty air.
"Wil, it looks like Orun jumped a massive distance. I think he’s near the border. What do we do? Should we follow him?" Lucre asked, having used [Mana Tracking] to find his destination.
(The border? That’s a huge distance, even if we are the closest city. Can [Space Leap] really go that far?)
I was reeling from Orun’s sudden arrival and even more sudden departure. I hesitated for a fraction of a second before making a call.
"...As much as I want to go after him, we need to clean up the mess here first. Orun wouldn't have rushed in without a plan—he said he had countermeasures. We’ll finish off the rest of the imperial forces here, then we go find him."
"Yeah, got it!"
I turned to the remaining three A-rankers and barked out orders.
"The fact that you ignored my command is on hold for now. Hank, Michela, you’re with us. Harriet, stay here and look after Rex and Kiaran. Once they’re fit to fight, join us at the front."
The three of them looked awkward and guilty, but they nodded. With that settled, we began moving toward the northern part of the city, where the Territorial Army was still locked in combat with the Empire.