Adventurer's Guild Café: I Was Wrongfully Exiled by the Saint, So I Will Enjoy My Second Life with My Fluffy Friends - V 2.1 Chapter 3.1

“Waa…!”

Standing at the edge of the labyrinth, I let out a sigh at the sight of the rich land spreading out below.

“Look, Lulu. We’re about to go into that place.”

“Ruu!”

Today is the day of departure. With a backpack stuffed with supplies on my back, I was waiting for the adventurers who would be going with me to gather. In the meantime, I was looking down from the upper part of the first layer — a wide area used for things like agriculture. The city of Finaldatt has a unique doughnut-like shape, with a massive hole in its center. And that giant hole is the labyrinth. I stood on the edge of the hole, peering down into the labyrinth that continued deep into the ground.

If you’re wondering what the labyrinth is like, first imagine a large hourglass. The first to third layers of the labyrinth are the upper part of the hourglass. The land is divided into three layers by a series of cliffs, narrowing as it goes downward. After passing through the neck of the hourglass, you reach the fourth layer and below.

From there, the space gradually expands, and the layers spread endlessly downward underground.

It’s like an endless, eternally continuing maze.

Inside the dungeon is another dimension, and the layers are said to be unbelievably deep, beyond common sense.

In fact, even after hundreds of years, no one has ever reached the deepest part of the labyrinth.

To continue exploring the labyrinth aiming for that yet-unseen depth — that is the dream of adventurers.

“Kuu-chan, are you really okay?”

As I looked down, Ruri, who was behind me, said worriedly.

“If you’re scared, even now you can still tell Simon and have him stop it, you know.”

Ruri had been like this ever since I told her I was going into the dungeon. It’s easy to understand why she worries like this, considering her past.

“Ruri, you worry too much. Simon is going too, right?”

Dan said that and placed his hand on her shoulder.

Ruri, who had been flustered, finally seemed to calm down because of that.

“…That’s true. Simon and a proper recovery specialist will be there too.”

Since Simon became the guild master, he added one rule when forming parties.

That rule was that any party aiming to go beyond the fiftieth layer of the labyrinth must include at least one healer, unless they were specially recognized S-rank individuals.

By including someone who could treat injuries, the survival rate of the party would increase.

When Ruri had been an adventurer, this rule didn’t exist.

It’s a very simple rule, but thanks to it, the death rate of adventurers apparently dropped significantly.

“Ruri, I’ll be back soon. We can teleport straight to the ninety-eighth layer, and it’s such a large group too.”

I turned around and pointed at Simon and the others.

This time’s party — or rather, escort squad — was made up of eleven members ranked A or higher. I would proceed through the dungeon protected by them from monsters.

“If there’s anything I can do to help, I want to do it too.”

“Kuu-chan…”

“This time, I’ll repay everyone for their kindness.”

Everyone at the Adventurer’s Guild welcomed me warmly, even though they didn’t know me. They taught me important things from the beginning when I had neither confidence nor pride. That’s why I want to be useful to everyone. I decided to change on that hill where Lulu evolved. Instead of looking down and staring at the ground, I would raise my head and search for the stars. That’s why, even if I’m scared, I’ll try to challenge myself.

“I want to become strong too.”

When I raised my head and said that, Ruri tightly gripped my hand.

“Make sure you come back without getting hurt. Until then, I’ll be worried, and I probably won’t even be able to make coffee…”

“Okay.”

“And soon, there will be the summer festival, right? So make sure you come back safe, and let’s all watch the fireworks together.”

“Fireworks? What are fireworks?”

Ruri, with her eyes full of emotion, looked at my confused face and smiled a little.

“In the night sky, all sorts of colorful flowers bloom. They’re really beautiful.”

“Eh!? S-sounds amazing! Is that magic?”

“…Hehe, it’s a secret. You’ll find out when you get back.”

“Ehhh, I’m so curious…”

I had never heard of flowers blooming in the night sky.

What could fireworks be? I really want to see them.

“Promise. We’ll watch the fireworks together with everyone from the guild. Okay?”

“Yes! I’m really looking forward to it!”

Ruri smiled brightly and patted my head.

Simon called for the gathering. It seemed like the members had gathered.

A strong wind blew, sweeping my hair.

I had Lulu and the others go into my backpack, and I waved at Ruri and Dan.

“I’m off!”

“Be careful. Make sure you don’t get hurt!”

“When you come back, I’ll make a delicious pie for you. Pipi and the others can forget about their diet and eat it.”

Dan said that and smiled.

I nodded and ran over to Simon.