Chapter 42

"Armia, where did you go...!"

Leading the confused leaders, I headed to the armory where beginners go.

The moment they understood where I had brought them, the leaders' faces were filled with unmistakable humiliation.

"What the hell! Why are we in a place like this..."

The next moment, the leader shouted at me, revealing his emotions.

Serubia also had a similar expression on her face.

Handling a beginner's armory was the greatest humiliation for the leaders.

"We are no longer a top-tier party, you know."

"What!"

"!"

...But the next moment, the leaders fell silent at my words.

It was a reality that someone had to point out.

However, even though I understood this, I felt guilty seeing the expressions on the leaders' faces.

"...No, we can't even say we are better than ordinary adventurers. We can't afford to be picky about armories based on pride now."

But ignoring that guilt, I continued to speak.

We had lost almost all of our assets and might not even be able to afford what a beginner adventurer could.

This situation wouldn't change even if we tried to escape from reality.

...If we stopped here just for pride, we wouldn't be able to change.

"But we're not finished yet."

The next moment, I thrust my arm toward the leaders.

"...Huh?"

"Why..."

In response to my sudden action, the leaders momentarily looked puzzled.

But the moment they saw what I was holding in my hand, their expressions changed to shock.

What I held in my hand was enough currency to buy beginner's armor.

Normally, there was no way I could have such currency.

After all, we hadn't lost all our assets, but I didn't have enough money to buy armor.

Moreover, no one would lend us money in our current state.

That's why the leaders couldn't hide their shock.

"Actually, I got this money from Laila and her group. When they invited me to join their party."

"......What?"

I told the leaders this.

Despair spread across the leader's and Serubia's faces at my words.

They must have thought I was saying I wanted to leave the party with this money.

But I smiled and shook my head at the leaders.

"But I declined."

I didn't join Laila's party.

It wasn't because Laila's party was weak or anything like that.

In fact, Laila's party was one of the best, not just in the labyrinth city but in the capital as well.

Besides, I respected and felt close to Laila.

But the ones I initially admired were the leaders.

The first time I joined Lightning Sword and explored the labyrinth, the scene is still etched in my mind.

I was captivated by the way the leader and Serubia fought.

Looking back, it was probably just because I was weak.

The leaders certainly didn't have exceptional strength.

─── Still, I had no intention of abandoning my comrades, the leaders.

"I intend to continue exploring the labyrinth with the leaders."

I smiled at the leaders as I said this.

Borrowing money from someone who had invited me to join their party was not something to be praised.

I understood that it was a very pitiful thing to do.

Still, for the leaders, I swallowed my pride and asked Laila for help.

"But with this, we can start over."

The leaders' gazes focused on the currency in my hand at my words.

"Perhaps we have done something we shouldn't have. But we can still make amends and start over."

I paused and smiled.

"I don't think we can earn a lot of money immediately with the equipment we can buy with this money. But let's try to pay back Mr. Laust little by little. For all the unjust things we've taken from him."

"!"

At my words, the leaders bowed their heads and their shoulders trembled.

It was as if they were regretting everything they had done.

"Let's also pay back Laila when we have more savings. As a thank you for lending us money in this situation."

As I continued, I imagined the future.

We might not be able to earn as much as we wanted with the equipment we could buy with this money.

Still, if we apologized to those we had troubled, thanked those who helped us, and worked hard, we might become a top-tier party again.

And if that happened, maybe I could start to think of myself a little better.

Thinking this, I smiled.

"......What?"

...But the next moment, I was speechless at the expressions on the leaders' faces as they looked up.

The leaders' faces were filled with unhidden anger.

I froze for a moment.

"What the hell! We are the victims here!"

"!"

...That was a fatal mistake.

The next moment, I collapsed to the ground from a blow to the head.

Blood trickled down my face, and I could feel my consciousness fading.

"We are still top-tier adventurers!"

...And with the leader's hysterical scream, my consciousness faded.

Lately, I often get comments that Armia's redemption is not allowed, but I'm not particularly aware of any special redemption, so please bear with it.

The development of this story is based on the idea of cause and effect, that changing one's actions can change the future, and that's all.