Chapter 66 - Return (1)

This situation had grown beyond our hands.

This wasn’t something we could handle by ourselves.

Luke insisted we return to the city with this reasoning.

Though we'd rejected his advice to return once before, our team's reaction was quite different this time.

"Do we really have to go back...?" Rei spoke in a gloomy voice dripping with reluctance.

However, for Rei, who usually gave clear yes or no answers, to speak like this meant she already knew returning was right deep down.

Leaf went one step further.

She straight-up cast her vote for returning.

"I think we should go back."

"Hmm…?"

"And when we get back... I have something to tell you."

Hard to argue when she puts it like that.

Her attitude has been different since talking with Elowen.

Leaf had most likely came to the decision that she couldn’t keep hiding things anymore.

The catalyst was obviously Elowen.

Must be some Elf-only shared knowledge.

Rei started to object with "Just tell us here," but understood after seeing Luke and Elowen standing on either side.

Since the three of us were terrible at barrier magic, even talking at a distance would be awkward, especially in a world with long-distance eavesdropping magic like Far Sight.

Though Luke and Elowen probably wouldn't, one never knew about these things.

"Alright. Let's go back."

Our original purpose for descending to the Second Floor was just basic reconnaissance anyway.

Without any grand goals like finding ruins, just killing a Sentinel was enough to say we've had a taste of the Second Floor.

Besides, Luke would definitely go up even if we didn't.

If so, better to go up together while he could guide us.

"What about Elowen..."

Swoosh—

Elowen immediately stuck to Leaf's back.

Leaf, startled, quickly fled to my side. Elowen drooped her sharp eyes like an abandoned puppy.

“I guess even need to ask."

Three came down, five going up.

This will be convenient.

At least the night watch shifts would be shorter.

§

On the way back to the city.

When Luke's turn came to cook, Leaf finally faced that before her eyes.

"...Do we not have supplies left?"

"Supplies must be conserved maximally. The Second Floor is a place where you might become isolated at any moment. Supplies are your lifeline. Remember that."

Luke started explaining his list of 100 essential Explorer mindsets.

The pot before him bubbled with a rather appetizing stew smell.

The bubbling sound must have seemed like judgment bells to Leaf.

Because what was boiling inside was none other than fresh-caught Maze Mouse meat from that day.

"Ah... I'll pass on breakfast today. My stomach's not feeling well..."

"You still need to eat. Even though Explorers generally have high thresholds, energy replenishment is absolutely essential. Or is it? Perhaps vomiting or diarrhea...?"

"Aaaah—!"

Oh dear.

Luke's fundamental Explorer-ism is too much for Leaf's maiden heart.

"Leaf, y—actually, Leaf. I'll share my food. I have plenty of dried fruit..."

"That's not enough. Didn't you pack meat?"

"...Local procurement..."

"Ah, Elves tend to be like that, but how unfortunate. As fellow training center graduates, you're too careless. Proper supplies should..."

While Luke continued his lecture, Rei and I quietly accepted the ladle he'd put down.

"Let's eat first."

"Yeah."

Rei and I became royal food tasters and took a slurp of the stew.

"This is good?"

Though Rei's review wasn't very trustworthy since she'd eat anything, it really was quite decent.

"Yeah. But the meat taste is too strong. Might be rough for Elves."

Though not all Elves were vegan, they preferred vegetarian over meat-based meals. For example, Elowen packed dried fruit rather than jerky,

"If there's leftovers, we'll eat more,” Rei said indifferently.

But there weren't any leftovers.

Who called Elves vegetarians?

They sure eat meat well.

§

After ascending to the First Floor, the difference was clearly noticeable.

The thinner mana concentration, clean clear air, warmly shining light, everything.

The world was such a bright place.

After being in darkness for so long, our eyes even stung when we came out to the First Floor.

Did Philon and Nathaniel just cast healing magic on their eyes since they're divine magic users?

Anyway, getting from the First Floor to the city was simpler than going from the Second to First Floor.

Firstly, with five people now, nobody picked any fights with us. They probably wanted to avoid messing with Luke who looked far from normal.

Secondly, Luke's pathfinding was different. 

Footwork, or should I say lightness techniques here?

Anyway, showing us what a skilled Explorer was like without holding back, we smoothly returned to the city.

If Mea gave the impression of knowing but being too lazy to bother, Luke was actively declaring "I'm getting out fast!" and "I'm taking the shortest route at maximum speed!"

"We really got back quickly," Rei muttered, looking at the city scenery after so long.

"Yeah... everything just ended suddenly."

After Leaf agreed with Rei, Luke, still seeming rushed, spoke up, "Sorry, but I need to go ahead. I have a duty to report this situation as soon as possible."

"Ah, yes. Thanks for your help."

"You as well. Looking forward to meeting again in the Abyss someday."

With brief farewells, Luke quickly disappeared.

Reporting about the shortcuts appearing in Sentinel territories to the Union was indeed urgent.

"Aren't you going?"

Rei's almost eviction-like question was directed at Elowen.

Elowen ignored it as if she hadn't heard.

Rei's brow furrowing was the natural progression.

"Hey, answer."

"...I'll contact you again later."

"I'll be waiting."

Only after Leaf stepped in did Elowen quietly withdraw.

"Wow~ Looks like she’s completely submissive to you. What's this, Leaf? Are you some kind of princess?"

"...I'll tell you later."

"...Oh, okay."

Rei immediately shrank at Leaf's cold words.

I cleared my throat to change the atmosphere and said, "Let's head back for now. I'm heading to the Telema School. You go to the inn first. I'll visit tomorrow."

"Okay."

"Alright."

After escorting the two to the inn, I headed alone to Telema School.

Since their inn was on the way, it didn't take much time.

And when I arrived at Telema School...

"What's this?"

It had changed.

"Here! Waiting number 15!"

"Why hasn't my assignment been made yet?"

"Can't this go any faster?"

Like some pub, the school's first floor was packed with people, bustling like a marketplace.

Hecate's eyes seemed to be spinning in circles dealing with them all.

"Ah, Roman, you're back?"

Mea's calm voice finally brought me back to the reality that this was indeed the Telema School.

Then, seeing Mea made me lose my sense of reality again.

"Uh... Mea? But, that outfit..."

"This?"

Mea lightly grabbed the hem of her skirt and twirled once in place.

The round-spreading skirt and apron swaying above it.

Yes.

Mea was wearing a maid outfit.

"How is it? Suits me?"

"Huh? It does but..."

What in the world is going on?

Did they change business types?

§

Skyler Martin tensed his body while internally fretting about how the woman before him would react.

If he didn't, he felt he might start trembling immediately.

After the training center raid incident, Skyler took responsibility by stepping down from his director position.

And his new workplace was the Explorer Union.

Though Skyler transferred as a career professional, being half-parachuted in meant he couldn't avoid this task.

Namely, delivering the Grand Duke and Union's orders to a Pioneer.

While Skyler internally cursed those who dumped this job on him under the tension, the woman's lips finally parted, "So, you want me to go down?"

"...You're our only option."

Among the Pioneers remaining in the city.

The words Skyler wanted to add didn't need to be spoken.

Pioneer.

That rank, established in honor of the first expedition team, was the city's highest honor for those standing at the frontier of mystery and...

A shackle, really.

Res Limen's political structure was complex.

Though it might seem the Grand Duke held absolute power, that wasn’t the case.

One-person army.

This place, Res Limen, was where monsters who could face armies alone grew up breathing in the Abyss' mana.

Thus, the city dispersed its power structure.

So even the strong who could arbitrarily destroy laws would accept and respect them.

The city's laws became overseen by the Grand Duke's Council of fifty members, while the Grand Duke with twelve advisors only handled city administration.

Law enforcement was included in administration, putting both administrative and judicial power in the Grand Duke's hands.

However, even that was imperfect, as there were those who could check the Grand Duke's administrative and judicial actions.

The Council of Ten.

Heads of massive organizations controlling the city and walking disasters with absolute power in of and themselves.

Beings who could influence the entire city through power and influence alone despite holding no official position.

The Council of Ten had the authority to involve itself in the exercise of power as both advisor and supervisor to the Grand Duke.

But great power always came with great responsibility.

In exchange for sharing power with them, the Grand Duke gained limited command authority over them.

"This is why I said I wouldn't take it."

"You could give up your Pioneer position..."

"Ha! Can't do that, if only because of taxes."

Tax exemption.

A representative privilege given to Pioneers who entered the Council of Ten.

"No choice, huh?"

Clicking her tongue openly, she leaned back into the sofa.

Spreading both arms across the sofa's back, she raised her head.

The monotonous grid pattern on the ceiling.

Recent life had been just like that.

Maybe she'd been away from the Abyss too long, trying to raise one late-received disciple.

Well then, perhaps it was time to go down again.

"I can assemble the personnel myself, right?"

When her face, hidden as she tilted her head back, turned forward again, Skyler froze meeting her changed eyes.

It wasn’t a matter of hostility, but the helplessness a weak person felt before an absolute.

Even Skyler, who had made his name as an Expert Explorer, was utterly insignificant before her.

Pioneers were such beings.

Though she'd been away from the front lines for quite a while, her essence hadn't changed.

"...Of course."

She smiled at Skyler's strained response.

Her fiercely contained smile seemed to anticipate coming chaos.

Pioneers.

Challengers of the abyss who endlessly expanded the horizons of recognition.

A giant occupying that position rose after a long time.

"Then let's move right away."

Frontier Guild Master and the city's only Pioneer.

Viola Pelletier.

This was her declaration of return.