Chapter 7

Today, this is the second update.

I was in a headache.

Aria, who had supported the party as a holy maiden, did not return no matter how long we waited.

While a failure like Ishua was one thing, the absence of a holy maiden was a major issue in terms of combat power.

(However... if we give up on the A-rank dungeon now, the morale will drop too much.)

The hero bears the expectations of the people.

We couldn't stay in the same place forever.

The atmosphere in the hero's party was tense.

Upon learning that Ishua was not there, the sage—Lidyl—decided to go back to sleep, looking uninterested.

And now, I am being questioned by the girl magic swordsman—Mitha.

"Hey, are you listening?"

"What is it, always complaining."

"I won't die in vain. It's impossible to tackle an A-rank dungeon without Ishua."

"You're not the one to make that judgment. I, the leader, am."

Mitha, while maintaining her magic sword, said to me,

"Mitha, I agree. Without Aria, healing is also a concern..."

"Fix that, you're the sage!"

Negative opinions kept coming back, and my frustration grew.

If it were Ishua speaking, I would have nodded without a second thought.

"If you must go, at least stock up on magic potions."

"Use such wasted money!!"

"Without Ishua, magic potions are a lifeline. We should buy as many as we can, even if it means using all our money."

"Shut up! If I say it's unnecessary, it's unnecessary! The leader's word is absolute. Do you want to lose your position in the hero's party!"

Blood rushed to my head.

"Aran, what's wrong? You weren't this foolish."

"Umuu, Hero-sama, you're being really tyrannical..."

"Shut up!! No excuses. Prepare in five minutes."

I vented my anger at the members for the reality that wasn't going well.

Unexpected troubles had tripped us up, but we couldn't stay here.

I am a hero of the continent, a man whose name is known throughout the world.

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"Truly, this is an A-rank dungeon. The experience points are incomparable!"

I swung my holy sword and cheered.

The monsters that appeared were obliterated without a trace by the holy sword.

Nothing had changed, yet the efficiency of experience points was far superior to before.

I couldn't stop laughing.

"Aran, I'm reaching my limit. If we go any further, I won't have enough magic power to return."

Someone poured cold water on my high spirits.

Mitha, for some reason, had put away her magic sword and was fighting with a dagger.

"Umuu, I'm out of gas too. We can't last without Ishua."

Lidyl, holding her staff, appealed to me.

To fear running out of magic power, something that had never happened before, was truly pitiful for a hero's party.

"You guys are slacking off! Do you want to lose your qualifications as a hero's party?"

After threatening them, they reluctantly picked up their weapons.

Their eyes betrayed their unhidden dissatisfaction.

(Damn it)

I thought that by expelling the troublemaker, a rosy future would come.

Why is the atmosphere so funeral-like?

"There's no need to be anxious. Look at the overwhelming radiance of this holy sword!"

"Sure, sure, you're the hero. But that's only possible with magic power."

(I've leveled up again in this dungeon, and my magic power limit has increased.)

(There's no way I would run out of magic power.)

The sage's magic was taking down enemies in one hit.

The magic swordsman was using her magic sword to cut through enemies effortlessly.

Nothing had changed. The dungeon was being cleared smoothly.

(Not even getting injured. With this, a holy maiden is no longer necessary!)

While thinking such arrogant thoughts and pushing forward—

One hour into exploring the dungeon.

Finally, something unusual happened.