I made steady progress through the labyrinth, descending the gentle spiral ramp until I reached the seventh floor.
At the entrance to each layer stood a large crystal. I pressed my guild card against it.
Every labyrinth had these crystals at layer entrances—they functioned as teleportation devices, instantly whisking you back to the main entrance crystal.
In the old days, it was one-way only: descend a layer, and you had to climb back up from the first floor if you wanted out.
But decades ago, the guild invented guild cards, and everything changed.
Now, any crystal your card had registered let you jump straight from the entrance to that layer—or back out—in a flash.
Exploration speed skyrocketed. No more camping overnight inside the dungeon; day trips became the norm.
The crystals also repelled monsters. Nothing hostile came within twenty meters, turning the area into a safe rest spot or emergency shelter.
For explorers, they were an absolute godsend.
The sun would be setting soon outside, so I decided to call it a day here.
I raised my guild card to the crystal to teleport out—when a group of explorers burst into the safe zone from deeper in, faces pale and panicked.
They looked like they'd been running for their lives. Their gear screamed mid-tier at best, nothing impressive.
"Damn it! Why did it have to turn out like this?!"
One of them roared, venting frustration with nowhere else to aim it.
They'd clearly screwed up somewhere. Still, as long as you're alive, you can try again. Failure today becomes experience tomorrow—wait, who do I think I am, preaching like that?
While I mentally kicked myself, I overheard the one who'd yelled talking to the best-equipped guy—the apparent leader.
"Hate me all you want. But I'll stand by my decision with my head held high."
"Even so… abandoning a girl who hasn't even come of age…!"
"Swallow it! That many monsters showing up was completely outside our expectations! I've only just met that girl today—compared to you guys I've fought beside for so long, she doesn't even come close!"
From the sound of it, an unexpected swarm had overwhelmed them, and they'd used one member as bait to escape.
The leader's logic made sense from a cold, pragmatic angle: prioritize your long-term comrades over a stranger.
To any outsider looking in, though, what they'd done was nothing short of despicable.
…Normally, I'd stay out of another party's mess.
Bad luck for the abandoned girl—end of story.
But after getting kicked from my own party just yesterday, I couldn't brush this off as "someone else's problem."
Being discarded by the people you trusted hurts. Deeply.
Even when you try to move on, their faces flash in your mind at random moments, reminding you that you were thrown away.
And in this case, the girl had been left in a spot crawling with monsters—too many for the whole party to handle.
Alone, her chances were near zero.
She'd become an explorer knowing death was a possibility.
But being betrayed and left to die by her own party? No one prepares for that.
Against the monsters in this labyrinth, even dozens wouldn't be an issue for me.
If I could make it in time—I wanted to help.
"Even so—"
"That's enough. I can't listen to this anymore."
The guy still snarling at the leader finally pushed me over the edge. I cut in.
"…Who the hell are you?"
He blinked in surprise at the voice from nowhere, then his face twisted with anger.
"I heard the whole thing. You're acting like a spoiled brat throwing a tantrum. You don't like the leader's call? Then why are you here safe instead of back there saving her? You ran to safety and now you're just whining. People like you piss me off the most."
"You… you think you can just spout off like that—?!"
He lunged to grab me.
I caught his wrist before he could, placed my other hand—thumb down—against the side of his neck, and pivoted behind him.
A quick kick to his heel while shoving his neck back dropped him flat on his back in one clean motion.
I looked down at him sprawled on the ground.
"Then shut up and stay down there."
The air went dead silent.
Ignoring it, I turned to the leader.
"Where did you leave the girl?"
"…Huh?"
"The spot where you abandoned her. Spit it out."
"S-straight ahead to the dead end, then right, second alley on the left."
I got the directions and immediately cast Agility Up on myself.
"Hey—wait, you're actually going after her?!"
"Why else would I ask?"
Answering over my shoulder, I took off toward the location he'd described.
On the way, an orc that had probably chased the fleeing party appeared.
Time was short—I couldn't afford a detour.
I fired off mid-tier Rock Bind, encasing the orc in stone and locking it in place.
Without slowing, I slipped right past it.
Following the leader's route, I soon spotted a pack of orcs ahead.
Thirteen of them.
A nightmare for a low-rank party, but for me, routine.
"No… stay away… please, don't come closer…! I don't want to die… big sis…"
All the orcs faced the same wall. At the end of their stares stood a girl with long scarlet hair in twin tails.
Tears filled her peach-colored eyes, but she held a magic barrier steady and desperately countered with spells.
She was whimpering, yet her gaze hadn't broken. She hadn't given up.
(Still fighting in a spot like this… that takes real strength.)
I genuinely admired her resolve.
"…Aero Shock."
I timed it to her casting rhythm.
Right in the gap between her spells, I unleashed the basic wind magic Aero Shock.
The air between her and the orcs exploded outward in a shockwave.
Her barrier protected her completely.
The orcs, though, staggered back three steps from the force—opening up space.
"…Eh?"
The girl's eyes widened in shock as the monsters suddenly retreated.
I kicked off the ground lightly, vaulted over the pack, and landed in front of her.
At the same instant, I triggered Flash to blind them all.
"Focus on your barrier. I'll handle the orcs."
"Y-yes…!"
I gave her the quick instruction, then layered Strength Up and Technical Up on myself, plus Sharpness Up on my sword, and began the cleanup.
Orcs are already low-intelligence beasts.
Blind them, and they're just walking meat.
I targeted vital points one after another.
The buffed blade cut so cleanly I almost thought I was missing—until I saw the sprays of blood erupting from the wounds.
Dodging the splatter, I swung a dozen or so times.
When I finished, only magic stones littered the ground.
I turned back to the girl.
She stood frozen, barrier down, staring in stunned silence at my sudden appearance.
No visible wounds. Just to be safe, I cast Heal on her, then tried to smile reassuringly.
…Hope it didn't look creepy.
"I'm… alive…? It was so scary…"
The tension snapped. She collapsed to her knees and burst into big, heaving sobs.
She looked about fourteen.
What do you even do when a younger girl starts crying…?
She tried to muffle the sounds, but the tears kept coming.
She'd been staring down certain death.
Breaking down now was only natural.
(Yeah… that had to be terrifying.)
Abandoned by her party in that hell.
Imagining her position squeezed my chest. Before I realized it, my hand was gently stroking her head.