My name is Hart Tendou. Twenty-five years old.
I was born and raised in a small country far to the east of Tsutorail called "Kyokutou." Through various twists and turns, I ended up in this city and became an explorer.
After becoming an explorer, more twists and turns happened, and before I knew it, I was the leader of the clan "Copper Twilight".
"Copper Twilight" is built on the concept of quality over quantity: four explorers and seven non-explorers, for a total of eleven members.
Hey, don't look down on us just because we're small!
We're an S-rank party, you know!
That said, our labyrinth exploration mostly stays in the lower layers—we've barely touched the deep layers.
We're aiming to be lower-layer specialists!
Who in their right mind would willingly go to dangerous places like the deep layers?
Now, you're probably wondering why I'm suddenly monologuing about myself.
Let me tell you the reason!
It's because—I might die soon!
I wanted to burn the brilliant footprints of my life into my mind before I kick the bucket!
But looking back on my life like this... I haven't exactly lived a great one...
Wait, who are you calling a slacker?!
"Leader! Stop messing around in a situation like this!"
While I was monologuing in my head to someone who isn't even here, my party member Huey snapped at me.
Why?
"Huh? I've been dead serious this whole time, haven't I?"
"Even with a serious face, if you suddenly start rambling weird stuff, it counts as messing around!"
"Oh, wait—did I say that out loud? Ugh, embarrassing."
"So stop fooling around and do something about this situation already!"
"Nah, impossible. Way beyond what someone like me can handle."
Surrounding the four of us are over forty dragons of all kinds—fire dragons, earth dragons, flying dragons—you name it.
Even one or two would give high-rank adventurers trouble, and there are forty. Normal people would die, right?
"Anyway, stop taking your anger out on me. The real culprit's right there in front of us."
My gaze lands on a girl with glossy black hair, wearing a modified traditional kimono from our homeland for easier movement.
Her name is Fuka Shinonome. Seventeen years old.
The ace of this party. And the one who caused this whole mess.
We get dragged around by her on a pretty regular basis.
Since we're about to die here, this'll be the last time she drags us into trouble... Huh? I don't feel any regret at all.
"Because even when I talk to Fuka-san, she ignores me...!"
Don't make that pathetic voice.
"Relax. Fuka isn't ignoring you. She's just quiet and doesn't talk to you."
"Isn't that basically the same as ignoring!?"
"...Yeah, fair."
"Don't just accept it!"
"Wait, how are you guys doing comedy in a situation like this!"
Even Katina—Kati for short—who was trembling behind us earlier, snaps.
This is getting chaotic!
"We're not doing comedy!"
"Then why are you yelling so loud!? In a situation like this, normal people are too scared to even speak!"
"...Kati-san's yelling pretty loud too, though?"
"...Oh, you're right."
Alright, time to get serious.
"Hey, Fuka. Got a plan for what comes next?"
I ignore Huey and Kati's bickering and speak to Fuka.
"...?"
Fuka tilts her head cutely.
"I mean, do you have any strategy to take these guys down?"
"Just cut them. We need dragon scales, right?"
...Yeah, I knew it.
I knew she'd dragged a massive number of dragons here without much thought.
No—it's fine for Fuka! Attacks don't hit her anyway.
But we're just normal people...
Please understand the struggles of us mortals, genius.
A nearby fire dragon roars.
"Shut up! I'm thinking about what to do with you guys right now! Be quiet, damn it!"
I impulsively slam my fist into the fire dragon's face.
"Ah, crap..."
"Hey! Don't start fighting on your own without preparation!"
The fragile balance collapses from me punching the fire dragon.
"...Magic incoming from two o'clock and nine o'clock. Handle it."
Fuka steps in front of Huey and Kati protectively.
Then she gives them instructions like a prophecy.
All at once, the dragons charge us.
"Like always, I'm fighting alone... So lonely~!"
Grumbling, I slip into a dragon's guard and punch its belly full force.
The punched dragon spews blood from its entire body and turns into black mist.
This is a technique passed down in my clan.
My attacks blend that technique—delivering impact internally to destroy from the inside.
A huge number of dragons swarm the three behind me too.
Claws, tails, fangs—vicious parts assault them.
—But none get within a certain range.
Because Fuka's sword, held in her right hand, cuts them all down.
In front of Fuka, no attack becomes an attack.
To someone who doesn't know better, it might look like the dragons are offering their bodies to be cut.
Well, her movements are so fast that almost no one can follow them with their eyes.
A fire dragon shoots a fireball, but the two—having predicted it—easily intercept with magic.
I take the front while Fuka guards the rear pair. This is our ironclad formation when surrounded!
◇
"Fuka, help meeee!"
A dozen minutes after the fight started, I'm calling out to Fuka for help.
No, seriously impossible! I'm actually gonna die!
Fighting this many dragons is insane!?
"I'm busy protecting the two."
Fuka mutters with an expression I can't read.
"Liar! No one's even near you anymore! You're acting like the fight's already over!"
Fuka has already cut down over thirty dragons that were approaching the three and is now collecting magic stones and dropped materials.
Meanwhile, I've only taken down six...
"If something flies in, it's dangerous."
"You can sense that stuff beforehand, right!? And the other two handle interception anyway!"
"..."
"Stop ignoring me!"
"Leader, you're surrounded by dragons yet still have energy to spare."
"No energy to spare! That's why I'm asking for help!"
Even after begging so much, I end up fighting the remaining dragons alone... Why won't you help!?
I slip past an earth dragon's attack and punch it down.
"Alright! Two left!"
(Finally seeing the end. Two more—gonna smash 'em with everything!)
—Right as I psych myself up, the necks of both remaining dragons drop with a thud.
...Huh?
Near them stands Fuka—who'd somehow moved there—flicking blood off her blade.
"Subjugation complete."
"Don't jump in now! Read the room!!!"