Chapter 59

We are currently on the 76th floor of the Great Labyrinth.

This area is a snowy mountain, and it is extremely cold.

The 76th floor is still just covered in snow, but as we go deeper, blizzards start to blow, and even without fighting monsters, it becomes a place where you can lose your life if you don't take precautions.

The reason we are here is to collect magic stones.

Due to our recent failure, we have been instructed by the guild to replenish the large amount of magic stones used for our forced return.

The 91st floor would be the best place to collect a large amount of magic stones, but entry to the deeper levels has been prohibited until the delivery of the previous batch of magic stones is completed.

Therefore, we have no choice but to come to the 76th floor, where a relatively large number of monsters appear.

"Ooohaaa!!"

Derrick charges into a large group of white bear monsters that have appeared.

"Idiot! You're too far from the rear guard! We can't coordinate!"

I chase after Derrick and warn him.

This guy has been quite reckless since our recent failure.

He rushes to attack the monsters as soon as they appear, venting his frustration on them.

"Shut up! I can handle these guys on my own! I won't lose to some low-level monsters in the lower floors!! Ooohaaa!!"

Using the enhanced physical abilities from Philie's support magic, he forcefully defeats the Snow Bears.

"Oliver, get out of the way!"

I turn around to the voice of Anneli from behind, and a [Fire Spear] is coming at me.

I dodge it just in time, but I could have been seriously injured.

"That was dangerous!"

"But Philie told me to shoot!"

"Didn't I tell you to be careful of your line of fire?"

"Huh? Did I? Sorry, Philie."

Apologize to me too!

Philie, after understanding the effect times of our buffs as Orun mentioned, no longer lets them expire.

However, according to Philie, the real effect times were not revealed.

They were replaced with dummy information in front of the guild officials.

What a troublesome way to handle things.

Philie's command has improved, and I think he is an excellent enchanter.

However, I am concerned that Anneli seems to follow Philie's every word, almost to the point of being infatuated.

Anneli is a straightforward person, both good and bad.

He is not the type to listen to others.

Well, Philie's instructions are accurate and trustworthy.

—Wait? Trustworthy? Can I trust him? What's this feeling of unease? Oh well, it's fine.

Our coordination is terrible.

Derrick charges in alone, and Anneli often misses.

Luna, on the other hand, does not join our battles and silently eliminates the monsters we miss.

We can't conquer the 94th floor in this state.

We might need a fundamental reform.

◇

After returning from the Great Labyrinth and submitting the magic stones to the Explorer's Guild, we head back to the mansion.

There, in front of the mansion, stands a grand carriage with a familiar family crest and an elderly man in a tailcoat.

"Master Oliver, I have been waiting for you. The master has summoned you. I apologize for the inconvenience, but please prepare immediately."

He is the butler who serves the Marquis Foggus, our party's major investor.

Is he calling us because of this morning's article?

I thought I had reported to the Marquis Foggus properly after the incident.

Why didn't he suppress the article?

He should have been able to do so easily.

"Is the Marquis only calling Oliver?"

"Yes, that is correct."

The butler confirms Derrick's question.

Just me?

I don't understand the reason.

"In that case, I'm going to get some food. Oliver, take care of that old man!"

Derrick says this and heads into the mansion alone.

Derrick has been over the top lately.

He has always been confident and condescending towards others.

But it has become more pronounced recently.

He wasn't this bad before.

When did it start? Around the time we decided to kick out Orun?

"Then, I have some business at my family home, so I will take my leave."

Luna follows, not entering the mansion, and walks in the direction of her family home.

"Well... What should we do? Philie."

"We should go with Oliver, shouldn't we?"

"Eh, he'll just say creepy things. But if Philie wants to go, I'll go too."

Philie is willing to come with me.

But I think what Anneli said is true, and I don't want to take the newly joined Philie to such a place.

"Philie, thank you. But I'll go alone. You two should go get some dinner."

"But—"

"It's okay. This is part of my duty as the party leader."

With that, I get into the carriage alone.

◇

After a few minutes in the carriage, we arrive at the Marquis Foggus's mansion.

It's as big as ever.

Following the butler, I am led to the room where the Marquis Foggus is.

"Good of you to come. The hero who made a big mistake."

As soon as I enter the room, the Marquis Foggus greets me with a sarcastic remark.

Clive Foggus.

The head of a major noble family that owns this region, including Tsutairu.

He looks like a kind old man, but he is quite devious.

However, as Orun said, this is necessary to survive in the noble society, so it is normal for nobles.

"What is the matter today?"

"Matter? There is only one matter."

He throws this morning's newspaper at me.

"Such a disgraceful result. Is this the result of my support for you? Your actions are already known to the public. What are you going to do about it?"

The Marquis Foggus glares at me angrily.

(You could have suppressed the article. I reported it honestly before it was published. You couldn't have been unaware.)

While thinking this, I keep my eyes on the Marquis Foggus.

He seems angry, but there is a hint of something else in his expression.

If this is about stopping the funding, it would be the most important issue for me.

I receive funding from other nobles, but the Marquis Foggus's influence is significant.

If he withdraws his support, other nobles might follow suit.

This would be a matter of life and death.

"I will definitely turn things around."

"Hmph, good. Now, the public's attention is on Orun Doura, who was expelled from the party, and by extension, on the Silver Hare of the Night Sky. If you and Orun were to fight with only sword skills, who do you think would win? You are called a Sword Saint, after all."

What a ridiculous question.

I don't know how Orun defeated the black dragon, but I have never lost to him.

Especially in a sword-only fight, there is no way I would lose.

"Yes, I can win 100%."

"The public thinks Orun is stronger than you. So, beat him! Show the world your true strength. I will set it up for you. For now, endure and work for the guild. Hahaha!"

...If that's what is needed, I won't hesitate.

I need to remain the strongest.

If Orun is an obstacle, I will crush him.

"...Understood."

"Hmph, good. I wanted to see your resolve today. It seems there is no problem. You may leave now."

"......Thank you for your time."

◇ ◇ ◇

"Was this the right approach?"

After Oliver leaves, the room falls silent, and the Marquis Foggus mutters.

"Yes, there is no problem."

The space suddenly wavers, and a woman appears.

"Really, if I had applied pressure, such an article wouldn't have been published. As expected, they let it run wild. This could damage my reputation as well."

"Hehehe, humans only truly grow when they are pushed to their limits. To bring out his true potential, we need to push him even further."

"What a twisted woman. You are playing with my pawns."

"Oh, by agreeing with that person, you are already one of us. Hmph, I don't want to be grouped with you. I just want to be the last one standing. Therefore, it is natural to follow the one who rules the world."

"Yes, I don't understand your mindset, but as long as I don't go against that person's will, I won't lose. Well, I will take my leave now."

"Ah, continue to work for my continued success."

With those words, the woman's presence disappears from the room.

◇

Suddenly, the woman who was just talking to the Marquis Foggus appears in an empty alley.

"Phew... Activating [Spatial Leap] is exhausting. Support magic is so troublesome. Are enchanters masochists? I can't understand the mindset of those who take their jobs seriously. —But, hehehe, ruling the world, huh... Do they really understand what that person is trying to achieve? Well, it's rare to find someone so easy to manipulate and powerful. I will continue to use them."

"Ah! There you are!"

As the woman walks through the alley, she encounters an acquaintance.

"Oh, Anneli. What are you doing here?"

"I'm not doing anything. I came to look for you. So, what are you doing here, Philie?"

"Hehehe, just taking a walk."

Thank you for reading to the end.

This is a rare perspective from the hero's point of view.

And Philie is a suspicious character.

Well, saying he hasn't been to the deeper levels and then being able to go to the 92nd floor was already suspicious.

We are past the halfway point of the second chapter.

In this chapter, the hero party and Orun do not interact, but in the third chapter, they will have a significant interaction.

The next chapter will be from Luna's perspective, followed by a return to Orun's perspective.

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