"Amunzaas" was an organization the public recognized as one of the world's most notorious criminal syndicates, responsible for the deaths of countless Explorers. Their core tenet was that "The Great Labyrinth must not be conquered," and they used lethal force against promising Explorers to disrupt any progress toward reaching the bottom.
"I’ve actually engaged with Amunzaas before," I said.
"…What?"
Warren’s eyes sharpened instantly.
"The Guild seems to have kept it under wraps, but haven't you heard? There were reports that Amunzaas was active in the Great Labyrinth of the South about six months ago."
"Ah, I’ve heard the name. But since the death rate for senior Explorers only rose slightly above average, it was dismissed as being within the margin of error. I assumed it was just a rumor, but..."
"It’s a fact. They appeared in the Great Labyrinth of the South. Shortly after the Silver Rabbit of the Night Sky conquered the 92nd Floor, they targeted my life. I was lucky enough to survive, but if things had gone differently, I might have died then and there."
The one who had come for me was the woman in the robe—Shion Nasturtium.
In truth, I believe she spared me. I still don't know why she let me go, but had the fight continued, I almost certainly would have lost. I was at a complete disadvantage. I felt confident that I had grown since then, but I still wasn't sure if I could win a head-on clash with her now. Her magic and her Ability were just that much of a threat.
Between being spared and eventually fighting alongside her, I felt a strange sense of fate where she was concerned. However, as long as she was a member of Amunzaas, she was an enemy to any Explorer. That was a reality I couldn't afford to forget.
"I see. That makes sense," Warren said, nodding as things clicked into place. "During our mock battle, I noticed you were unusually well-versed in interpersonal combat for an Explorer. You’ve been preparing for another encounter with Amunzaas, haven't you?"
My preparations were actually more focused on the Cyclamen Cult, but I certainly hadn't ignored the possibility of facing Amunzaas again. There was no need to correct him on the specifics.
"Exactly. I have no intention of quitting as an Explorer, so I wanted to gain experience in fighting people, preparing for the worst-case scenario. Today’s mock battle was an incredibly valuable experience for me. Thank you again for the opportunity."
"Well, if it helped you out, I suppose I don't feel too bad about it. ...But to think you’ve already repelled Amunzaas. I guess my concern was misplaced."
"Misplaced?"
"Like I said earlier, I came to warn you that Amunzaas might target the Silver Rabbit of the Night Sky. But if you’ve already dealt with them and are already training for the next strike, then my meddling was unnecessary."
"Not at all. You came all this way despite your busy schedule. I feel nothing but gratitude; I’d never consider it meddling."
I meant every word. Today's experience was a vital stepping stone for my growth.
"…Say, just out of curiosity, how did you repel them? Don't take this the wrong way, but if Amunzaas attacked, I was certain Selma-chan would be killed. That’s why I didn't invite her to this talk."
Selma-san... would be killed?
Did Warren assume the entire First Unit had fought them?
"I’m sorry, I think there’s a misunderstanding. I was the only one who fought Amunzaas. The rest of the First Unit wasn't involved. I was their only target during that incident six months ago."
"What? So Selma-chan didn't fight them?"
"No. I apologize for the poor explanation."
"No, no, I just jumped to the wrong conclusion. ...I see. So, following Golden Dawn, the Rabbits haven't been targeted as a group yet. And yet, they went after Orun Doura specifically as an individual. What does that mean?"
Warren looked down, muttering to himself as he fell into deep thought.
As he retreated into his own world, I ruminated on his words. I felt like I finally understood why he had called only me here. His reason for wanting to keep Selma-san out of the loop was exactly what he’d said: If the First Unit were to engage Amunzaas, Selma-san would likely lose her life.
The reason was painfully clear. It was because she was an Enchanter.
An Enchanter’s primary role is to support allies with buffs. Having someone in the party to manage the duration of those enhancements allows the other members to focus entirely on their roles, which drastically increases efficiency. As long as the coordination is solid, the party’s total combat power is significantly higher than a team without one.
In fact, the introduction of Enchanters is the primary reason the average reached floor for Explorers has skyrocketed compared to the old days. I fully agreed that an Enchanter was essential for any serious party.
However, there was a glaring flaw.
An Enchanter’s individual combat power is almost always inferior to their teammates. Even Selma-san, the Continent's Greatest Enchanter who can use any magic, falls a step behind other S-Rank Explorers in a vacuum.
In battles against Magic Beasts, this flaw is usually mitigated by Hate Control. Since the Enchanter rarely takes the frontline, an Explorer party can enjoy all the benefits with almost none of the risks. It’s a role that shines specifically within the unique environment of the Labyrinth.
But on the surface—in interpersonal combat—the rules change.
If the enemy is a human with intellect and reason, Hate Control is meaningless. They will inevitably target the Enchanter first. They are the core of the party's strength, yet also the easiest piece to remove from the board.
It was a cruel irony. You work yourself to the bone to master anti-beast combat to reach the top of the Great Labyrinth, only to find that at the summit, you are forced into interpersonal warfare.
Of course, we weren't fools. We knew the risks. Though we weren't professionals like the military, both the First and Second Units had undergone training for interpersonal combat. I’d heard that Albert had pushed strongly for it. Now, I finally understood why.
"Ah, sorry. I was off in my own head for a second."
"No, it's fine. Warren-sama, do you have personal experience fighting Amunzaas?"
"……Yeah. You’ve probably guessed it by now, haven't you? The real reason why the Golden Echo—the party I led—disbanded so suddenly."
The cheerful aura he usually projected vanished. He looked down, a sorrowful smile playing on his lips as he spoke in a low murmur.
The fact that he had fought Amunzaas, a group known for killing Explorers, and the fact that the legendary Hero Party had vanished overnight... it wasn't hard to connect the dots. In fact, I didn't know the current whereabouts of any Golden Echo members besides Warren and Albert.
The implication was clear.
"…………"
"—Well! This is getting too gloomy. Let's change the subject!"
I struggled to find the right words to say, but Warren beat me to it. He sensed my hesitation and forced his usual friendly smile back onto his face.
"I’ve seen that you’re taking interpersonal combat seriously. So, as a soldier—a professional in that field—allow me to give you some advice."
Back in his element, Warren wore a bold, confident grin.
"Thank you. I’m all ears."
I hadn't expected him to offer this much. It was a golden opportunity.
"First off, I was genuinely surprised by how well you balance swordsmanship and magic at such a high level. I’ve seen plenty of people who are better than you at one or the other, but I’ve never seen someone who can do both this well. Combined with the fact that you’ve mastered the essence of the Six Basic Types of Support Magic, your strength is world-class. Within this kingdom, you’re easily in the top five."
"……I’m honored."
Hearing such high praise from a man like Warren, who had spent a lifetime on the battlefield, was a genuine ego boost.
"But," he continued, "I also think that very balance is your biggest flaw."
"A flaw? How?"
"It’s simple. You’ve trained so hard to be able to handle any situation that you now have too many options in a fight. Even in our mock battle, there were several moments where you seemed to hesitate for a split second before deciding on your next move. Against a high-level opponent, that instant is fatal. If that had been a real fight to the death, I could have cut you down in that one moment of indecision."
His words hit home with the force of a physical blow. He was right. During the mock battle, when Warren had closed the distance, I found myself mentally debating whether to intercept him with my sword or magic—and then which spell to use. It was a fragment of a second, so short I hadn't even been conscious of it, but it was a clear opening.
"I’m not telling you to change your style. Like I said, you’re incredibly strong by any normal standard. But from my perspective, you’re still a Jack of all Trades. I believe you’d achieve even greater heights if you picked one as your primary and used the other strictly as a supplement."
"……Thank you for the advice. I’ll take it to heart."
We spoke of a few other things after that, but as the night grew late, we decided to wrap things up.
"Warren-sama, thank you for everything today. It’s been an incredibly meaningful day."
"The pleasure was mine. I had a good time. Good luck with the Great Labyrinth conquest."
"Yes. I’ll keep training so that I can report a successful conquest to you one day."
"Hahaha! Talk about big goals. Well, I suppose I can't afford to die until I hear that report, then. —Until next time, Orun."
"Yes. Goodbye, Warren-sama."
We parted ways outside the shop, and I began my walk home. This morning, I never could have imagined a day like this. Meeting an armored explorer, a mock battle with a former Hero... it had been a strange, whirlwind of a day.
Alright, time to get my head back in the game.
The day after tomorrow, the First Unit would challenge the 93rd Floor. To make sure I welcomed the New Year with a clean slate, I had to ensure this conquest was a total success.