Chapter 109 - Third Floor — Endless Forest (1)

Now, it's really over.

There was a small commotion at the Union, but everything worked out somehow.

Being such an unprecedented case, there was debate about how to handle it, but since there were no rule violations, naturally it proceeded according to principles.

After finishing work, I returned with a light heart to the Telema School building as always.

And there, I was greeted by a love(?) drama between my two housemates.

"Don't gooooo...!"

"Hecate, let go."

"No! I absolutely can't let go! If Mea leaves too, who will I live wiiiith..."

"Hecate lives here. I'm going to the guild house."

"Nooo... sob. Weren't we supposed to live together forever?"

Wow... she's really crying.

Feels like it's been ages since I've seen an adult cry.

Hecate pitifully pleaded while clinging to Mea's small body, which was a head shorter than herself.

Rather than a cicada clinging to an old tree, it looked more like an old tree attached to a cicada.

"Ah, Roman."

"Don't go... hic? Eek! Don't, don't look! Don't look at me with those eyes...!"

My, what a scary statement.

Though she hadn't completely forgotten her shame, Hecate pressed even closer to Mea trying to at least hide her face.

Despite such embarrassment, her arms refusing to release Mea's waist blatantly showed Hecate's desperation.

"Why are you doing this here?"

Do it on the second floor at least.

Luckily, it was just me who came in—what if it had been a visitor with business at the school?

School honor tarnished, Hecate's dignity shattered... 

It felt like I was hearing the last leaf falling from the already terminal Telema School.

"It's fine. I locked the door."

"It was open though?"

"It's open to school members. That kind of lock."

"...Then this?"

"Ah, it's fine. Roman doesn't need to worry about it."

Even if you say don't worry, this situation makes it impossible not to.

"Ah, aah! Right! Roman, please! Free Mea! Don't take Mea away..."

"What are you really talking about now."

My head throbbed.

Even more so because these weren't just teasing or jokes, but words coming from genuine feelings.

"First, both of you calm down. From what I hear, this seems to be about Mea living in the guild house, but I'm not taking her. So please get it together."

"Oh, really?"

"...You're not taking me?"

Just as Hecate seemed to calm down, now Mea started trembling, her pupils shaking wildly.

"We talked about this before. Since there aren't many completely unaffiliated people anyway, let's just rent a few rooms temporarily for now."

"But, Roman's going, right?"

"Well, I'm the Guild Master now."

Actually, only our team would be residing in the temporary guild house.

However, there was Bong-sik who was semi-forcibly registered with Telema School, and Elowen who had Elf affiliation but no school, but still.

Bong-sik wouldn't have time to stay at the guild house since he had been assigned as a contact for the Hand Shadow side.

Elowen tried hard to get in but was cut off by Leaf.

But Mea still looked shocked, as if she'd naturally assumed she'd be included.

"I'll keep my belongings at the guild house too, but I won't stay there exclusively. There's no training facilities. If nothing special comes up, I'll stay here as usual."

Originally I'd be down in the Abyss more often anyway, so I wonder if this really mattered.

At my explanation, Mea spoke with a reluctantly understanding look, "...Okay."

"So Mea will keep living here?"

"Yes."

"Yay!"

Only then did Hecate release her vice-like grip on Mea and joyfully throw her hands up.

Though I wasn’t sure since she never revealed her age, but, wasn't she around thirty?

There was an unbalanced feeling that made it difficult to find the current sight of Hecate “cute” who seemed to belong in that late 20s to early 30s category, jumping around happily.

Anyway, once the disturbance finally settled, the conversation began flowing to more constructive topics.

"So will you act as a guild unit now?"

"Hmm, probably not. Since we need to take one more person according to Conquerors' contract conditions. We’ll probably continue the same as before."

Currently, our guild Revengers' members were roughly divided into 4 categories:

Team Hoodies: The core three of Revengers consisting of Leaf, Rei, and I.

Alexandria School Trio: Classmate team of Alexandra, Amaia, and Juan.

Team Chosen: Team including Mea and Priscilla.

No Team: Everyone else.

Bong-sik was included just for smooth control, and Robert and Neil were theorists so that was fine.

But for the remaining number 4s Teresia and Elrowen, we planned to make another new team, building a 1 guild 4 team system.

If we add Philon and find one vanguard, the balance would work.

"Who will I take?"

"Mea?"

"Yes. Since we became a guild, wouldn't it be better for guild members to go together?"

Mea's team, Chosen, had a member not belonging to our guild.

Jake, who was my Explorer license exam proctor.

Like Luke, he was a Union-affiliated Explorer so we didn't invite him to the guild.

We didn't need that many people, and we weren’t that close anyway.

I figured if Mea or Priscilla thought he was okay they'd invite him, but they didn't seem interested either.

Mea taking those two...

Not bad.

Teresia was an old acquaintance, and Priscilla was from the same school.

In Elowen's case, though her skin color was slightly different, wasn't she still an Elf?

"Will you do that?"

"Yes!"

Mea nodded vigorously, showing strong enthusiasm at my request.

"Hmm, mm. Then when are you going down to the Abyss?"

Hecate asked while munching on the bread she'd brought late, probably having missed meals while clinging to Mea.

"Soon."

Preparations are complete.

Guild creation was finished, and the coat I ordered from Svanbjorn while handling guild matters was done.

Honestly, we could go down right now without any problems.

Though we've done a lot... a rest period is still a rest period.

Time to head down soon.

"Then, you're going?"

Though Hecate's question had no destination, both she and I could understand.

"Yes."

This Abyss trip would be different from before.

Until now, our explorations had no particular destination.

By destination, I meant a place selected by my will, confirmed from the exploration planning stage.

Going to Cordelia's secret workshop during training, going to Land's End Windmill for the license exam, going to the floating island with Rei and Leaf where Bong-sik's gang was, going to Sentinel's territory for Second Floor experience—none were purely my will.

They were the results of external influences.

But not this time.

I have a clear destination and objective.

I’ll following Cordelia's records.

Time to verify the answer Hecate and Costin's research reached.

"Third Floor, right?"

"Yes."

"Roman, want me to come along?"

Though Mea asked with an expectant voice, I shook my head.

"I've entrusted Teresia and Elowen to you. I can't make you shoulder more."

"...I'm fine though."

While Mea would certainly be a reliable combat power...

"Actually, would you like to come?"

"Really?"

Mea brightened up after looking gloomy.

At her sudden emotional change, Hecate dropped the bread she was holding.

"Ah, three seconds... f-five."

I didn't see that.

I don't know what it was, but I didn't see it.

While trying my best to exclude Hecate from my field of vision, I thought more about why I changed my mind.

Svetlana will come too. Having Mea would make it easier to divert attention.

We could split into two teams, one preventing outside intrusion and one searching inside.

Combat specialist Svetlana, and us three who were mages but lacked utility, the greatest advantage of mages.

Mea would be an excellent talent for complementing those weaknesses.

If there's one worry...

Only three Chromatic Fiend Coats.

Given what Mea had shown so far, she'd definitely be disappointed.

§

And she was.

"I'm sorry."

"...It's okay."

Rei and Leaf examined themselves happily like children in new clothes, wearing the coats from Svanbjorn's workshop.

Undisguised envy filled Mea's eyes as she watched them.

Though I owned the leather, Mea was there too at the time.

If it was just me, maybe.

But seeing coats made even for those two who weren't there, it was understandable if Mea felt hurt beyond just understanding.

"We'll make one for the whole guild next time."

"Okay."

"Until then, use this as a substitute."

Saying that, I handed Mea a bracelet.

A bracelet hastily requested from Svanbjorn, braided from Chromatic Fiend leather scraps.

Unlike the coat, it was hard to expect special utility, but it had symbolic meaning at least.

"...Thanks."

Fortunately, Mea accepted it preciously with a satisfied face and immediately put it on her wrist.

Then smiled while slowly caressing the bracelet.

"Shall we go now?"

"Yes."

"Rei! Leaf! Stop looking and let's go!"

"Oh! Okay!"

"Yes! Let's depart!"

Rei, still patting her coat until the end, and Leaf, adjusting her hood one last time before gripping her staff, finally set off.

Arriving at the gate with them, we met our final companion for this expedition.

"11:58. Confirmed joining 2 minutes before assembly time."

"...Were you timing?"

"Time management is fundamental to not just exploration but all actions. I've completed all procedures. But who is that person?"

Svetlana maintained her unchanging stiff, businesslike tone.

Would have been quite scary if we were late.

"Ah, Mea. She's from my school, and will be joining as a temporary team member for this expedition."

After briefly introducing them to each other and waiting a bit, our turn came.

The gate we faced again was still massive, but no longer overwhelming.

In familiarity, nostalgia, and anticipation.

We stepped forward.

Again, into the Abyss.