Chapter 40

"FUuuuuuuuuuuuu!"

Hydra screamed and writhed on the ground.

At this scene, Margruss and Sabelia could only stand there in shock.

Even the Hydra, which was supposed to be on the verge of death, instilled fear in Margruss and the others.

...However, the fact that two people had defeated such a monstrous creature, even when it was on the verge of death, was something they could not ignore.

"R-Raust..."

Seeing this, Margruss's voice was hoarse...

◇◆◇

Margruss and Sabelia did not come to this place willingly.

If they had known that the creature here was a mutated Hydra, they would have tried to escape from the Labyrinth City at all costs.

Margruss and the others were forcibly brought to this place by the guild staff, along with other adventurers who happened to be at the Adventurer's Guild, under the pretext of an emergency, and they had no idea what was happening.

Therefore, the fact that the Hydra was already defeated when they arrived should have been the luckiest thing for Margruss and the others.

...However, now, Margruss and Sabelia had no time to appreciate this luck.

Their attention was no longer on the Hydra.

Margruss and Sabelia, indeed, all the adventurers present, were focused on the healer who had defeated the Hydra, Raust.

This healer was someone they had previously mocked as defective.

...But, the people present understood that this perception was wrong.

The adventurers, including Margruss, understood how terrifying a mutated Hydra could be.

The instinctive fear they felt towards the Hydra vividly taught them what kind of creature it was.

However, Raust and his companion had defeated such a monster with just the two of them.

This was an achievement that even the top adventurers, whose names were known throughout the capital, could not match.

The mutation of a super-difficult monster was a significant event.

It was a disaster worse than a natural calamity, with unpredictable damage.

This was the perception of a mutated super-difficult monster.

And Raust and his companion, who defeated it, would be hailed as heroes.

"......!"

...Understanding this, Margruss finally realized what kind of existence he had discarded.

Even before, Margruss and the others had thought Raust was a useful person.

But Raust's value was far more than that.

Now, Margruss and the others finally understood this.

How much ability Raust possessed.

And the fame of the Lightning Sword, it was all because of Raust.

They had mistaken Raust's achievements as their own and had become arrogant.

Margruss and Sabelia would come to realize this.

"I...I..."

And in the next moment, the words that slipped from Margruss's mouth were filled with unhidden regret.

Raust's future, after defeating the mutated Hydra, was bright.

He might rise to become a top-tier adventurer and be hailed as a hero.

In other words, Raust's glory was assured.

...But, what about them?

Thinking about this, Margruss clenched his lips.

Currently, the Lightning Sword was a laughingstock among Labyrinth adventurers.

Once a top-tier party, they had lost their status and fallen from grace after losing to the Hydra.

This was the current perception of the Lightning Sword.

...And compared to Raust's glorious future, their situation was pitiful.

"Why...?"

Margruss muttered, questioning why they had fallen while the person they had once deemed useless had risen.

Even though he knew the reason.

This situation was nothing but the karma for expelling the person who had supported their party, yet Margruss could not accept the reality.

...Especially because he thought that if they hadn't expelled Raust, they might have been hailed as heroes too.

"..."

But, reality wouldn't change with such delusions.

Margruss realized this when he saw Raust, who was leaving the scene without even glancing at them.

Margruss couldn't judge if Raust truly felt this way.

But, Raust's complete disregard for them made it seem like they were just stones by the roadside.

"..."

...And Margruss had no rebuttal to this.

The inability to rebut was the same as acceptance.

When he realized this, the loss of their mistake was thrust before his eyes, and Margruss felt an urge to collapse on the spot.

...At that moment.

"Leader, Sabelia, I finally found you..."

"Eh, Armia?"

Surprised by the sudden voice, Margruss and Sabelia turned around to see Armia, who had been missing until now.

I managed to recover and post! I apologize for the delay.

The chapter will end with two interludes and an epilogue!