Chapter 26

The first half is from Mozeraru's perspective, and the second half is from Ralma's perspective!

"Ugh!"

Lauzt's kick to my abdomen caught me, Mozeraru, completely off guard, and pain shot through my stomach.

In that instant, I couldn't breathe, and the pain brought a hellish agony that I will never forget.

"I won't let you escape."

Lauzt laughed at me, his eyes revealing unhidden anger.

...And seeing that smile on Lauzt's face, I was overwhelmed with intense fear.

The memory that flashed through my mind was of when I had overestimated my abilities and challenged the lower floors, nearly dying.

But the fear I felt from Lauzt was incomparable to that time.

It was only then that I realized the truth.

I had always thought that Lauzt's ability to reach the lower floors was just luck.

But that was a mistake.

Indeed, the healer Lauzt had flaws, but he was far from incompetent.

In fact, he was a monster with the skills of a top-tier adventurer, and it was only now that I realized this.

"Why, why the hell is this happening!"

...But as I realized this, the emotion that welled up in my chest was anger.

"Damn it! Why are you, a nobody, so strong! I'm the one with far more talent!"

It was the cry of my soul, having been stuck in the middle floors for years, unable to become a top-tier adventurer.

At first, I had only bullied Lauzt to vent my frustration.

...But after Lauzt began to reach the lower floors, things changed.

I, who had been told I lacked talent, couldn't help but feel envious of Lauzt's ability to reach the lower floors.

The party closest to the middle floors, a term we had spread among the adventurers under our umbrella as a compliment, is now used as a positive term.

...But originally, it was an insult, a result of my constant failures to reach the middle floors, which I had always felt inferior about.

"Why can you go to the lower floors and I can't!"

That's why I felt anger towards Lauzt.

...Along with unhidden jealousy.

However, my words only fueled more anger.

"That's my line!"

"Ugh!"

In the next moment, I was punched by a woman from Lauzt's party.

"Why do you only see the results of my brother! Why don't you see his efforts! Why don't you acknowledge his suffering and his desperate struggle!"

Tears welled up in her eyes as she shouted, and I was speechless.

I didn't understand what she was saying, but I could tell she was emotional.

"You, I will never forgive you!"

And with that, she raised her arm, ready to use a skill.

"Ah!"

...At that moment, I remembered being hit by her skill earlier and let out a scream, covering my head and crouching.

I had taken such a defensive stance because my spirit was already broken.

I had come with my companions to humiliate Lauzt, but what awaited me was a situation I had never imagined.

In that state, I had no mental fortitude to withstand her attack.

"...Wow, what a pathetic sight."

...But the people around me didn't understand.

A voice from an adventurer suddenly rang out, and it sparked a wave of mocking conversations.

I raised my head in a daze and finally noticed that people had gathered, drawn by the commotion.

"What!"

The woman also seemed to realize this and paused her attack on me.

...But I couldn't be happy about it.

"Aaaaaah!"

Because everyone who had gathered was mocking me.

Among those who were laughing at me were adventurers under the Disaster Wolf, and I let out a dazed cry.

At that moment, I keenly felt that everything I had built up was crumbling.

"Wow... I'm disappointed."

"What a pathetic adventurer..."

"You're not even trying!"

Everything was crumbling like sand.

"Uaaaaaaaah!"

The moment I understood this, I raised my fist and impulsively ran towards the woman.

I had nothing left.

Even if I managed to escape, it would be the end for me.

And because of this, I felt anger towards the woman...

"Annoying."

"Ugh!"

...But my attack was unsuccessful.

A shock ran through my body as Lauzt's cold voice rang out, and my consciousness faded.

And that day, the Disaster Wolf, a powerful adventurer party in the labyrinth city, was destroyed in a single day...

◇◆◇

"This means the Disaster Wolf can't come back."

This was just as the Disaster Wolf's leader, Narseena, was about to attack and was knocked out by Lauzt again.

I, Ralma, was in a room deep in the guild, sipping tea and eating sweets, and I muttered this.

I was far from where Lauzt and his party were, and there were many obstacles in between.

But as a top-tier mage with abundant mana, I could explore any place, and it didn't matter to me.

I had been watching everything from the moment Narseena was confronted by the Disaster Wolf.

"Narseena, I'm fine. Don't cry so much, it's okay."

"Ugh, but, but!"

...And I couldn't help but frown as I saw Lauzt and Narseena getting intimate.

"...Annoying."

Young lovers, nothing is more corrosive to a single person's heart.

"...What a pair."

But I found myself smiling at their interaction.

It was a reaction born from knowing their story, and I chuckled at the realization.

Lauzt and Narseena have always lived thinking of each other, and that's why they cherish each other so much.

Especially Lauzt, who thought he might never see Narseena again, cherishes her even more.

That's why he was so emotional, and I was quite surprised by how worried he was when Narseena was possibly kidnapped.

After all, I had never seen Lauzt react like that.

I had always thought that Lauzt's lack of emotional display was a way to endure the harsh reality.

But now, I can clearly see the difference.

Lauzt has been able to endure and suppress his emotions in any situation because of his memories of Narseena.

Those memories in his heart have allowed him to endure even the most difficult times.

—That's why he becomes enraged when someone tries to hurt Narseena.

"...Truly, the dragon's scales."

Recalling Lauzt's enraged state, which was unimaginable from his usual calm demeanor, I couldn't help but mutter this.

Honestly, I had always been impressed by Lauzt but never felt threatened.

I thought he might be difficult to defeat, but I never thought he could defeat me.

...But after seeing Lauzt's rage when Narseena was in danger, I had to change my mind.

"...I don't feel sorry for the Disaster Wolf, who touched Lauzt's scales."

Recalling that moment, I couldn't help but say this.

Honestly, I only felt disgust towards the Disaster Wolf.

But I was so wary of Lauzt now that I couldn't help but feel some sympathy.

And the adventurer guild has likely lost some trust in Lauzt due to their handling of this situation.

Lauzt will probably not act in a way that benefits the adventurer guild in the future.

"Well, I need to finish my job."

But I decided to stop thinking about Lauzt.

Honestly, I can't help but be concerned about him, but I have other things to do.

In fact, I came to the labyrinth city not just to check on Narseena for the Anarestria family.

"This guild is clearly up to something."

My other job was to investigate the suspicious activities in the labyrinth city.

Currently, the guild is inviting adventurers with questionable behavior despite their skills, while trying to drive out well-regarded adventurers from the city.

This alone is suspicious, but the guild is doing more.

They are demanding exorbitant prices for materials sold to the city, while selling them cheaply outside.

It's as if they are trying to drive out the ordinary citizens of the labyrinth city.

This is clearly suspicious, and it's evident that the guild is up to something.

But I have no idea what they are planning.

That's why I was sent to investigate.

"The guild's leniency towards adventurer crimes will allow me to investigate the guild thoroughly."

And I had a clue to expose their plans.

With the attention on Lauzt, I could investigate without interference, and I smiled.

"Ronaldo's disciple is here... I'll leave the vigilance to him and report back."

I decided to leave the labyrinth city before the guild realized I had a card up my sleeve.

And the next day, I left the labyrinth city without any repercussions...

From the next chapter, the perspective will be from the Lightning Sword!