◇ ◇ ◇
The sun had already set by the time I finished my goodbyes to the Silver Rabbit of the Night Sky and stepped outside.
A full moon hung alone in the sky, radiating a solitary glow.
Thanks to technological advancements in magic tools, streetlights had been installed throughout the city to push back the dark. Because of them, the nights were no longer pitch black.
And yet, the moonlight felt warmer than the artificial lamps.
"Haha... Why am I letting myself get so sentimental?"
I knew it would come to this. Even so, I had chosen this path.
Still, emotions proved to be a troublesome thing. My mind kept drifting back to the happy days I’d spent with everyone at the Silver Rabbit of the Night Sky.
I was fighting so that everyone could continue to enjoy those ordinary days. Even if I could no longer be a part of them myself.
"—Now then, let’s begin."
Having reaffirmed my purpose, I began to walk, using my cold reason to trample down the lingering sentimentality.
◇
To me, today was a momentous day—the day I resigned from the Silver Rabbit of the Night Sky. However, to the vast majority of people, it was nothing more than any other Tuesday.
There were no grand festivals, and no major incidents had been reported.
Tsutrail was widely known as a city of explorers. That was likely why the city's nights were always bustling with groups returning from their latest labyrinth investigations. It was the same everyday scene I had witnessed so often I was bored of it.
I now stood in a place that existed in stark contrast to that mundane routine. I headed toward the front entrance of the detention center, monitoring the building where Oliver was being held and the surrounding area.
Two soldiers were stationed at the gate.
"Hm? Who’s there? It’s dangerous to be wandering around here at this hour," one of the guards warned as he spotted me.
"You’re right... The night is full of dangers, after all," I replied.
I approached them while giving a noncommittal response to the soldier’s remark.
"Hm? You... are you Orun Doura of the Silver Rabbit of the Night Sky?"
It seemed one of the guards recognized my face, as he realized who I was.
"Yeah, that’s right."
"What business does a hero of the Kingdom have here?"
"I’m just here to free my precious comrade, Oliver. If you get in my way, I’ll cut you down without mercy."
I tightened my grip on Schwarzhase as I issued the warning. I closed the distance at a speed the soldiers could track and took a wide, theatrical swing with my sword.
"Wh-what?!"
Though startled, the guard managed to catch my blade with his own.
"Freeing Oliver?! You can't be serious! After the rampage he went on last year, we nearly had a catastrophe on our hands! What are you thinking, trying to let such a dangerous man loose?!"
The soldier denounced me with perfectly sound logic.
"I just want to help my best friend."
Based on his response, he likely didn't know that Oliver had been working under Marquis Forgas. Well, Oliver had been operating in secret, so—to put it bluntly—there was no way a rank-and-file guard would be in the loop.
While I locked blades with the soldier, the other guard held a magic tool above his head. Once the device activated, a streak of light shot into the sky and burst. It was a signal flare, likely meant to alert the rest of the garrison.
"Stop this right now! I don't care if you're a hero of the Kingdom—if you lay another hand on us, you'll be charged!" the soldier who fired the flare warned.
He was a kind man, worrying about someone like me even while I was committing a crime.
But if words alone could stop me, I wouldn't have started this in the first place.
"You’ll hold me accountable? Just try it—if trash like you can even hope to judge me!"
I rampaged flamboyantly, taking meticulous care not to actually harm the two men. As time passed, more soldiers arrived, first in pairs, then in groups.
"What’s going on here?!"
Eventually, even soldiers from the Central Army stationed in Tsutrail came rushing to the scene.
(...It’s about time.)
Once I was surrounded by a sufficient number of soldiers, I began to act. I spoke with a voice full of feigned desperation, making them believe I had finally snapped.
"One after another, swarming like flies... Gods, you're a nuisance! I'll just blow you all to kingdom come along with the whole block!"
I manifested a massive, glowing magic circle in the air above.
"Wh-what is that magic circle?!" one of the soldiers screamed, looking up.
The magic circle stood out beautifully against the night sky, I noted idly. Simultaneously, I used [Bird's-eye Vision] to confirm the exact positions of everyone within the intended range.
"Stop! Don't do anything stupid, Orun Doura! Aren't you a hero of this country?!"
A man who appeared to be a commander of the Central Army roared, his face twisted with rage. I couldn't argue with him. After all, I was about to launch an attack that looked like it would incinerate everyone in the vicinity.
Even so, the only damage I was prepared to tolerate was material. I couldn't allow a single human casualty.
Constructing the spell formula with absolute precision to ensure no one was injured, I triggered the magic.
"Hero this, hero that—I don't give a damn! [Explode]!!"
A massive explosion tore through the area, centered on the detention center. I simultaneously cast multiple supportive spells to protect those within the blast radius in a way that wouldn't look unnatural. Then, I dove straight into the thick cloud of dust kicked up by the blast as it swallowed the building.
◇
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Oliver."
I called out to him the moment I reached his side.
"I heard the plan beforehand, but you certainly went all out. Are the other inmates trying to escape going to be okay?"
"Yeah. I gave Marquis Forgas the full rundown in advance, including the state the detention center would be in after the blast. He’s already made arrangements to clean everything up."
"Any casualties?"
"I didn't hurt a soul. Everyone is unharmed."
"I see... There's no turning back now, then."
"...No. But I was prepared for that. Now, let's meet up with Anneri and the others and get out of here."
"Understood."
◇
"You really went through with it..."
"There are actual fires breaking out. Are you sure about this?"
Derrick and Anneri spoke up as they looked down at the city once we reached the top of the outer wall. Oliver had asked me to bring the two of them along as well during our meeting. The reason they weren't particularly shaken by the chaos was that Oliver had warned them this was coming.
"The damage is exactly as I told Marquis Forgas it would be. I've been checking with [Bird's-eye Vision]; there are no injuries, and the other inmates who tried to use the confusion to escape have all been apprehended."
"I see. It's not really my place to say, considering I'm the one actually escaping, but I'm glad to hear that," Anneri murmured, looking visibly relieved.
Immediately after last year's Martial Arts Tournament, she had attempted to fire magic into a crowd of civilians—an act only stopped by Titania. Despite having done that, she was now genuinely relieved that no one was hurt. It confirmed my suspicion: that incident had been an act driven by Philly Carpenter's [Perception Alteration], contrary to Anneri's true will. Furthermore, it didn't look like she was suffering from any lingering aftereffects. That was a relief.
"—Hey, Orun."
"...What is it, Derrick?"
While I was analyzing Anneri’s behavior, Derrick spoke up.
"...Ah—well—... you know..."
Even though he was the one who called out to me, he was now fidgeting, unable to meet my eyes. I tilted my head at this behavior—which was highly unusual for the impulsive Derrick—and waited. Finally, he seemed to make up his mind and looked me straight in the face.
Then, he slowly bowed his head.
"—When we kicked you out of the party... and everything I said after that... I was a total piece of work. I'm sorry!"
While I was still reeling from Derrick's unexpected apology—
"—I also made fun of you for being a Jack of all Trades. I was a jerk, and I hurt you. I'm so sorry!"
Anneri followed suit, bowing her head deeply. I was so stunned by this double-whammy of apologies that I could only stand there, breathless.
"............I never expected to hear those words from you two."
I was so surprised my thoughts came out exactly as they were. The two of them looked away awkwardly when they heard me. Seeing them like that, my expression softened.
"But I can tell you both mean it. ...So, I forgive you."
Perhaps they had expected me to demand compensation or hurl insults back at them, because when I accepted the apology so easily, they both looked dumbfounded.
"Are you... really sure about that?"
"Yeah, it’s fine. I've received your apologies, and besides, the fact that you’re standing here means you're going to help me, right? To me, that's more than enough."
I spoke my honest thoughts without any pretense.
"Man... I really can't compete with you," Derrick sighed.
"You're right. Orun, you've grown even more impressive over the last year," Anneri added.
The tension seemed to bleed out of them, and they let out long, weary sighs of relief.
"It's not just you guys who've changed. I'll be counting on you again, both of you."
"Yeah!"
"Count on me, Orun!"
The expressions of Anneri and Derrick, now my comrades once again, were bright and clear.
"To think the four members of the Golden Dawn would be back together like this. It’s quite the reunion," Oliver murmured with a satisfied nod.
As he spoke, I heard footsteps approaching from the shadows.
"In that case, aren't you forgetting someone?"
We all whirled toward the voice. Standing there was the final member of the Golden Dawn, the one who definitely shouldn't have been there—Luna.
"Luna? Why are you here...?"
"Isn't it obvious? I'm coming with you, Orun-san," she replied nonchalantly.
I had intended for her to stay safely within the Silver Rabbit of the Night Sky.
"What do you mean, 'obvious'? What about the clan?"
"Coming from the man who just quit his own clan?"
"...I can't really argue with that. But Luna, there's no reason for you to come to this side—"
"—That's for me to decide!" she cut me off sharply.
"You were the one who showed me the way when I was lost in the dark, Orun-san. While I do feel bad for everyone in the Twilight Moonbow, I decided a long time ago that I would follow you. If you're going to fight the Cult as a member of Amunzaas, then I'm fighting, too!"
Luna poured out her heart, a fierce, unwavering will dwelling in her eyes.
"Luna can be quite the stubborn one, can't she?" Anneri noted.
"Tell me about it," Derrick agreed.
"Orun, Luna has gone this far. Shouldn't you respect her wishes?" Oliver added, lending his support.
I looked at her for a long moment. "You'd better not regret this, you know?"
"I don't care. If I stayed behind, I know I would regret that much more."
"............ Fine. Let's go together, Luna."
"Yes! I look forward to it!"
When I finally gave her my permission, Luna flashed a radiant smile.
◇
For a brief moment, we stood together, looking out at Tsutrail—a city I likely wouldn't return to for a long time—before turning our backs on it.
"—Let's move."
When I gave the order—
Oliver narrowed his eyes happily and said, "Yeah!"
Luna, with a serious expression, said, "Yes!"
Anneri, with a fearless smile, said, "Right!"
And Derrick, with a defiant look, said, "You bet!"
Each of them responded in their own way. It was a scene that perfectly mirrored the moments before the Golden Dawn had first challenged the Great Labyrinth so long ago.
Author's Note: The members of the Dawn have finally reunited. Since this story began with the protagonist being kicked out of his party, seeing these members finally facing the same direction again is quite sentimental for me. While these five won't necessarily be acting together at all times, I'd love to write a battle scene where they all coordinate their skills someday. The next chapter is expected to be a shorter episode from a different perspective. I hope you enjoy the next one as well! Also, feel free to leave your thoughts if you feel like it!