Chapter 70

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**From the perspective of Marner, one of the adventurers who performed dogeza to Raust:**

"Respond to the demands of the people of the Labyrinth City by bringing in materials from the middle layers for free."

This was the memory of when Raust told us, as we were performing dogeza. It remains vivid in my mind to this day. Because, considering what we had done to Raust, the condition was far too lenient.

...And it was then that I felt a sense of guilt for the first time regarding what I had done to Raust.

Until then, even when I apologized to Raust, I had only felt fear, not guilt. The weak should be oppressed, and everyone lives for themselves. This was the common sense I had lived by since being born as a Labyrinth Orphan and living in the Labyrinth City.

By this logic, I should have had no right to complain if Raust had killed me. After all, in the Labyrinth City, the strong do as they please, and we had taken advantage of this to oppress Raust. Now, in the opposite position, I should have had no right to complain if Raust retaliated. Yet, Raust acted as if he didn't care at all.

It was then that I realized Raust was a special being, different from us.

Even while living in the Labyrinth City as an orphan, or in even worse conditions, Raust was a different kind of adventurer. Feeling a sense of wonder at his existence, I made a decision in my heart at that moment.

I had to make amends for what I had done to this person.

Honestly, I don't like the people of the city. Weak humans who can't fight. Doing something for someone lower than myself was not something I wanted to do. But for Raust, I had to forget these feelings and comply. With this resolve, I decided to bring the materials to the city.

But at that time, I didn't know.

That while trying to make amends to Raust, I would receive a favor that I could never repay. And that the days spent in the city would become something irreplaceable to me...

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"Hey, old man, can you... please?"

Early in the morning, in an empty lot near the city, it was Lewis, the leader of the group of boys who wanted to learn swordsmanship from me, who called out to me as I was practicing with my sword. Lewis, who usually acted cocky, was hesitant and nervous, and I couldn't help but want to laugh.

He was probably wondering if learning swordsmanship from me would be a bother. But by the time I had agreed, I had already said that it wouldn't be a bother.

"Who's an old man! Call me Marner, you brat!"

But I hid my true feelings and deliberately said this in a rough manner, maintaining my usual demeanor.

"Hey! Shut up! You're an old man, aren't you!"

Reacting to my words, Lewis was momentarily surprised, then became indignant and shouted. By then, he had returned to his usual self, and I couldn't help but chuckle. Yes, that's the spirit. You kids don't need to worry so much.

We are already more than saved by you, Lewis and the others.

"Cheeky brat. Fine, we'll start with some basic sword swings today."

Hiding my thoughts deep inside, I pretended to be indignant at Lewis's words and began the training. I wondered what the other members of my party, who were teaching swordsmanship to other children individually, were talking about with the kids.

The days in the city of the Labyrinth were peaceful.

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After finishing the training with Lewis and the others and having breakfast at their house, I gathered with the other adventurers who sell materials in the city at a café. The café's female staff, who had become regulars, placed a glass of fruit juice in front of us.

"Here you go. Thanks as always."

I thanked her and took the glass, taking a sip of the fruit juice.

"...It's good."

The refreshing flavor spread in my mouth, and I couldn't help but say so.

Of course, fruit juice is not cheap. Especially in the Labyrinth City, where it can only be imported, it is highly valued. Yet, the people of this café gave us the juice without any hesitation, and I felt my heart warm.

"This is a good city."

Goth, a member of my party, sitting next to me, whispered this to me at that moment. I nodded silently in agreement with his words.

We had only been in this city for a few days, but in that short time, our values had changed significantly.

At first, we had no good feelings towards the people of the city. To be honest, we looked down on them. We only gave them materials out of a sense of duty to Raust. Sensing this, the people of the city initially did not show us any good feelings either.

This changed two days after we started bringing materials to the city, when I returned with a minor injury from a mistake.

This was not unusual. Without a healer in our party, we often couldn't heal our wounds immediately. That's why we always carried recovery potions, and we often ignored minor injuries.

"Use this!"

But the reaction of the people of the city was different. Mary, who ran the inn, ignored my refusal and gave me a recovery potion, then bowed in front of me, confused.

She had done something bad to the person Raust had introduced. Thank you for bringing the materials even though you were injured.

From then on, the people of the city changed their attitude towards us. They began to pay us properly and express their gratitude, even though we were giving them materials for free as a favor to Raust.

...At first, we couldn't hide our confusion at this change.

The sudden change in the people's attitude was one reason for our confusion, but more than that, it was the first time we had experienced such kindness. We had only known a life of taking and fighting.

However, the people's kindness was not unpleasant.

We couldn't change our rough attitude, simply because we didn't know any other way. But the people of the city did not mind.

---And as we spent time in the city, the people of the city became irreplaceable to us.

Before we knew it, we had become accustomed to the people of the city, and we began to want to work hard for them.

We trained our bodies to bring as many materials from the Labyrinth as possible. We also started teaching swordsmanship to children who were not adventurers, with each adventurer taking on individual students.

All these actions stemmed from that feeling.

All of these were new experiences for us, and they became irreplaceable.

"Raust has given us a favor we can never repay."

Thinking of the benefactor who brought us to this place, I whispered these words softly. The mockery I once felt towards the people of the city was long gone. No, among the adventurers Raust brought to this city, there was no one who still felt mockery towards the people of the city.

Hearing my words, the other adventurers nodded, and I couldn't help but smile.

"Hey, you guys!"

But that smile vanished when an adventurer burst into the room, late for the meeting. It was Salamus, the mage in my party. The meeting time had long passed, and I was about to scold Salamus for being late, but I was speechless when I saw his serious expression. Salamus, not noticing my reaction, spoke.

"Raust has been banned from entering and exiting the Labyrinth!"

The next moment, the faces of everyone in the café turned pale at Salamus's words.

I apologize for the delay in updating. I didn't expect to fall ill during such a busy period. Please take care of your health, everyone...