Chapter 85

“…Kanami.”

I had just finished my guard duty and joined the group taking a nap. Just as I was about to close my eyes, I heard a voice. Before I knew it, an exhausted-looking Snow had sat down beside me.

“Is something wrong?”

“…I’m tired. So tired. Really, truly tired.”

“That’s what work is. Good job out there.”

Offering her some comfort, I pulled a drink from my “Inventory” and handed it to her.

“…Next time, come to the front with me. Please.”

While taking the drink, Snow made her plea in a weak tone.

“Me? But won’t Siddark object?”

“…It doesn’t matter. I want to be with Kanami.”

“Aren’t you just trying to push your work onto me so you can slack off? This isn’t just a job for our own guild. You shouldn’t change your post for a reason like that.”

“…I-it’s not like I just want to slack off.”

“Even if that’s true, it’s still acting on a whim. Can’t you endure it for just one day?”

“…I’m sorry. But I still want you there. I want to be by Kanami’s side.”

Snow stubbornly insisted on my company. Sensing something was off, I asked her in a low voice.

“Do you dislike Siddark that much?”

“…It’s not quite ‘dislike.’ It’s just very troublesome.”

“If it’s troublesome, just treat him like you usually do. You’re forcing yourself to act stiff, and that’s why it’s a strain. I’m sure he’d understand.”

“…I can’t act strange. Even if he doesn’t get angry, my family will. If that happens, it’ll be even more troublesome.”

It seemed family circumstances were involved. Since they were engaged, neglecting him might bring shame upon her house.

“Even if I’m there, that trouble won’t change, will it?”

“…The trouble won’t change, but I’ll feel settled. I can feel at ease.”

“Well, I suppose having me there would make the combat side of things more secure.”

“…Anyway, please.”

Snow continued to plead with a look of desperation. Faced with such earnestness, I could do nothing but nod.

“Alright. If you’re going that far, I’ll do it.”

“…Thank goodness.”

Seeing me nod, Snow closed her eyes. She immediately began to breathe softly in sleep, leaning against me. Thinking it would be bad to be seen like this, I pulled a blanket from my “Inventory” and used it as a pillow for her. Then, I sat in a crouched position a short distance away to take my own break.

Snow is quite worn down. Ideally, I wanted her to overcome this on her own, but it seems things aren’t going that smoothly. Instead of growing, she’s come back on the verge of breaking. I’ve simply learned that while she seems tough, she’s actually quite fragile at her core.

Now that I know that, I can’t ignore it. Having decided to help Snow today, I went back to taking my nap.

A few hours later, having finished the work on the 10th floor, the group began heading toward the 20th. I was relieved that the “Connection” remained undiscovered until the end. Perhaps it’s even harder to find than I thought.

As we headed for the 11th floor, some changes were made to the formation. Of course, Siddark, the de facto leader, made the decisions. His eye for talent is reliable, and his tactical sense is sharp. No one dared to complain—except for Snow.

“…El, can you place Kanami at the front too?”

“The Guild Master of ‘Epic Seeker’ at the front? According to my information, he is a mage specializing in detection and ice magic. In that case, the center or the rear of the formation is more suitable.”

It was a perfectly accurate judgment that left no room for argument. I truly shine in the center or rear where I can follow up for everyone. He clearly grasped information about me despite me only being active in the guild for a few days. Siddark’s high information-gathering and analysis capabilities were evident from that single sentence.

“No, that’s not all Kanami can do. He can use a sword too.”

“Of course, I know that. However, I’ve heard his specialty is magic.”

“That is incorrect information. Without a doubt, Kanami’s swordsmanship is top-tier. Furthermore, he shows his true strength when paired with me.”

“…Fine. If you say so, I can place him at the front for now. However, I will change it immediately depending on the results and the situation.”

“Thank you.”

After Snow’s persuasion, Siddark permitted my participation. However, it seemed less like he was convinced and more like he was simply showing off his broad-mindedness. As he passed me by, Siddark threw some harsh words my way.

“If you cause even the slightest trouble for the others, I’ll have you step back immediately.”

“Understood. I’ll give it my all.”

I replied with a non-committal response.

“Hmph… If you are a Guild Master in your own right, don’t use Snow; speak for yourself to get what you want.”

However, Siddark’s impression of me only seemed to worsen. It appeared he thought I was using Snow to voice my own opinions. Knowing there was no point in making excuses, I remained silent. As I watched Siddark head to the front of the line, Snow showed a dissatisfied face beside me.

“…Kanami, you’re such a wimp.”

“E-eh… Where was I a wimp just now?”

“…Everywhere.”

“There’s no profit in picking a fight with a sincere person like Siddark. What are you trying to do by egging me on, Snow?”

“…That is sincere?”

I was pulled by the hand by Snow as we moved to the front. And so, the second half began.

Combat with monsters came quickly. Unlike the rear, the front sees many more battles. Because we are moving in a long line, we are easily discovered by enemies, and we face several times more attacks than a normal exploration. The marching speed is also slow, making it clear how difficult large-scale exploration is.

However, Siddark was handling that high-difficulty task perfectly. He truly possessed the caliber of a leader. It was his personality and ability, but above all, his social standing helped. Yet, he also looked cornered by that very position, which I found slightly precarious.

I swung my sword as instructed by Siddark. I didn’t miss the way his expression changed when I took down an attacking monster with a single strike. It would be a help if this made him re-evaluate me, but…

And, as expected, Snow started slacking off in my shadow. She continued to fight behind me to stay out of Siddark’s sight. She hadn’t changed at all. My plan to have Snow and Siddark interact to reform her had completely failed.

As we progressed through the floors, the number of monsters trying to cross the “Main Path” increased. Sometimes, whole groups of monsters would attack. Fearing the worst-case scenario, I moved further ahead than anyone else. I don’t mean to be arrogant, but in terms of pure combat ability, I was the strongest. The more I fought, the more the overall risk decreased.

After I had taken down nearly ten monsters, Siddark called out to me.

“It was Kanami Aikawa, right? You haven’t tried to use magic for a while; are you a swordsman?”

“No, I’m a mage. Though I’m good with a sword too…”

“I see you weren’t just entrusted with a Guild Master position by that Palinchron for nothing. I looked down on you as a country bumpkin, but it seems you have the skill to back it up.”

“No, I still have a long way to go.”

“…I dislike that kind of humility. It only sounds sarcastic. If you are also one who leads, shouldn’t you have more dignity?”

“…I’m sorry. That’s just my personality.”

“Why are you apologizing there? It seems you and I really don’t get along…”

He seemed to evaluate my skill highly, but he didn’t care for my personality. Since I don’t dislike people like Siddark who possess a strength I lack, it was a bit of a shame. However, saying that out loud would likely have the opposite effect. I followed behind Siddark without saying anything, observing his every move.

This was to learn how to behave as a Guild Master. I wasn’t going to copy him, but it’s not a bad thing to see and learn from the methods of a different leader. While observing Siddark’s way of giving orders, I also intercepted attacking enemies. Furthermore, I kept an eye on Snow and Teiri through “Dimension.” For me now, that kind of multitasking was not difficult.

As we moved through the floors and reached the 16th, the members began to show signs of fatigue. The marching speed was visibly slower, and the expressions on many faces were growing dark. Siddark’s encouragement rang out.

“—Everyone, just a little further!! I believe that people of your skill can see this through!!”

He tried to fire them up, but sometimes words alone aren’t enough. Morale doesn’t just rise on command. Siddark wore an expression of anxiety as he resumed the march while keeping an eye on everyone.

To support him, I constantly stayed close by. Noticing this, Siddark spoke to me with a look of confusion.

“Are you not tired…?”

“I’m fine. If anything happens, feel free to use me.”

“…Don’t look down on me. No matter what happens, I will not rely on you. It’s the opposite. I will protect everyone.”

“I see…”

It seemed my concern had the opposite effect. Slowly, I began to understand Siddark. He was dominated by an abnormal sense of responsibility. Likely, it was a dominance determined by his birth. Having spent his adolescence bound by that dominance, he had constructed a biased set of values. It wasn’t something entirely unfamiliar to me.

Siddark continued to walk at the lead, dominated by his sense of responsibility. While watching over him from behind, I found a swarm of monsters within range of “Dimension.” I hurried to report that information to Siddark.

“Siddark, if we continue like this, we’ll run into a swarm of monsters. We should change direction once and move away from the ‘Main Path’.”

“What? …Now that you mention it, you can use detection magic. Is that true?”

“Yes, it’s true. A massive swarm of insect monsters is headed this way.”

“No, we won’t change direction. We’re already taking more time than planned. I can’t allow any more loss of time.”

“But if we collide like this, the damage will be immense. You should prioritize safety over time…”

“You said the monster type was insect. In that case, it’s fine. I can wipe them out with my magic…!!”

Perhaps I shouldn’t have mentioned the monster type. Because the opponent was insects, he thought he could handle them with magic. And Siddark appeared to be a mage capable of that.

I had a bad feeling. Looking at him, I was—almost—reminded of someone, but I couldn’t quite remember. I feel like I know some very foolish ‘people’…

“I’m against it. It’s dangerous, and even if it succeeds, the burden on you will be too great.”

“That’s why I’m telling you not to look down on me. A swarm on the 16th floor is nothing.”

“…”

He showed no sign of listening. As long as the full authority was in Siddark’s hands, it seemed we had no choice but to accept the encounter with the swarm.

To prepare for the coming moment, Siddark channeled the mana within him. I grasped the movement of the swarm with “Dimension” and told him the exact timing of the encounter. That was all I could do.

And then, the moment arrived.

“—A-A swarm! A monster swarm has appeared!!”

One of the swordsmen at the front cried out in panic at the sight of the approaching mass. That cry sent a wave of unease through all the members. Those with experience in Labyrinth exploration know the terror of a swarm. When you have no strength to spare, it is something that must be avoided at all costs.

However, for Siddark and me, it was within expectations. Leaving the panicked members alone, he calmly constructed his magic.

“Siddark, please fire after drawing them in as much as possible.”

“I know that without you telling me! ‘Repel all things,’ ‘Burn all things,’ ‘Govern all things’!”

It was a precise, yet powerful construction of mana. Just before the swarm reached the line, Siddark’s magic was complete.

“[Flame Blast]!!”

A torrent of flames was released from Siddark. Its force was tremendous, swallowing the entire swarm of monsters from the 16th floor. Above all, the magical compatibility with the enemy monsters was perfect. The insect-type monsters, weak to fire, had their bodies scorched by the clinging flames and died.

Though a few monsters escaped being burned, I, who grasped them with “Dimension,” handled them with my sword. Thus, we succeeded in annihilating the swarm of monsters in just a few seconds.

“O-oh…! As expected of Lord Siddark!”

“The leader truly is reliable after all…”

“The swarm in an instant… we’re saved…!”

The members let out cries of joy that the threat had vanished in an instant.

“Tch…”

As the cheers ring out, Lord Siddark’s expression is pained.

He has likely wrung out every last drop of his MP with that previous spell. Beads of sweat pour down his face as he breathes in ragged, violent gasps. Even so, he refuses to rest. He immediately forces his breathing to steady, irons out his contorted features, and shouts:

“Everyone! It’s alright! No matter what enemy comes, I will strike them down! Let us press on toward the 20th floor, slowly but surely!!”

Siddark doesn’t miss the opportunity to inspire the group. After seeing the members’ faces brighten, he turns back toward the front, his face returning to a mask of agony. Being right beside him, I can clearly sense his suffering.

“Are you alright?”

“This much is… nothing. Your concern is unneeded. More importantly, your detection magic earlier was magnificent. Without your grasp of the enemy’s situation and your timing, things wouldn’t have gone so well. You have my thanks.”

“No, more importantly, Siddark, your complexion is—”

“I told you it’s not an issue…!”

Even the voice cutting me off is weak. There is no doubt that he exhausted his entire being with that last spell. However, his pride refuses to allow my assistance. I can do nothing but watch over him as he walks at the lead, following silently behind.

As we walk, my heart is far from calm. Siddark likely won’t accept help from anyone just to protect the authority of his house. I find the Siddark family—who forces him into such a state—distasteful. The same goes for the Walker family, who clouds Snow’s expression.

I find myself feeling a spark of resentment toward the very existence of nobility. Naturally, my impression of the Four Great Noble Houses begins to turn quite sour.

There are four floors left until our goal, the 20th floor. Feeling a deep sense of unease about what lies ahead, I continue through the Labyrinth—

My anxiety hit the mark perfectly.

The stretch between the 16th and 17th floors was quiet, with few enemy attacks and no real issues. Fatigue was certainly accumulating, but by annihilating the swarm, the overall morale remained high. It wasn’t an exaggeration to say things were going smoothly.

However, halfway through the 18th floor, I detected another swarm directly in our path. I gritted my teeth at the sheer bad luck of this group.

“T-this is bad. There’s another swarm.”

“Guh, what…?”

At my report, Siddark checked the situation with a look of pure loathing.

“Siddark, let’s avoid them this time.”

“No, we won’t take a detour. If we fall behind schedule, it will affect my reputation—the reputation of the House of Siddark…!!”

“But we have no way to deal with them.”

“I’ll annihilate them again… We are not changing course…!”

“That’s reckless. You’ve already pushed past your limit. the members are tired, but not nearly as much as you.”

“Don’t look down on me! I said it’s fine! I am the one leading this; I will see this job through perfectly!!”

I knew that no matter what I said, Siddark would fight that swarm. His pride simply wouldn’t allow him to retreat. I considered knocking him out to force him to rest. But attacking the leader—who was not only a fellow Guild Master but a member of the Four Great Noble Houses—would undoubtedly cause a massive diplomatic incident.

With no other choice, I cooperated to raise our chances of success even slightly.

“…It’s a pack of red-furred beasts. We’ll encounter them in a few minutes.”

“Beasts of the 18th floor… those things…! In that case, if I use water magic…”

Siddark began constructing a spell. However, “Dimension” told me that the magic he was building was shaky. Though he was wringing out mana past his limits, the fact that he wasn’t in top condition was creating flaws in the formula. He wouldn’t be able to fire a precise, powerful spell like before.

In the first place, massive spells intended to wipe out swarms were beyond his current capacity. At this rate, a tragic accident was inevitable.

Realizing this, I moved to the rear where Snow was.

“—Snow, tell Siddark to stop. He’s planning to fight another swarm. It’s truly dangerous this time.”

“…Another swarm? …But, either way, I don’t want to.”

Snow simply shook her head.

“Why? At this rate, the mission might end in failure. More than that, Siddark is in danger.”

“…I don’t care about that. Whatever happens to Elmirado Siddark is none of my business.”

She gave her answer with flat indifference. To Snow, both the job and Siddark were irrelevant. Seeing her state her lack of emotion so clearly, I gave up on urging her further.

Leaving Snow behind, I quietly took my place behind Siddark at the front. He had already begun his incantation.

“—‘Swallow the sustenance,’ ‘Ravage the sustenance,’ ‘Transform into sustenance’—”

Time passed while I stood there, unable to do anything. The incantation neared its end, and the swarm of monsters became visible. The swordsmen at the front saw the writhing mass of beasts and relayed it to the group.

“They’re here!! Dammit, another swarm! It’s a pack of those red dogs this time!!”

The news spread instantly, and all eyes turned to the leader, Siddark. Responding to their gaze, he roared:

“Everyone, don’t worry!! I shall wash them all away! Tidal Wave!!”

As the spell’s name was shouted, the surrounding mana pulsed. Compressed mana was converted into water, drawing in moisture from the air. The water became a swirling torrent mid-air, expanding in volume until it transformed into a tsunami. A wall of floodwater, large enough to swallow the corridor, crashed toward the approaching monster swarm.

Tidal Wave.

It was a terrifying spell. However, even so, I could tell through Dimension that it wasn’t enough. Clicking my tongue, I used Focus on Siddark.

His status was abysmal. Using wide-range magic beyond his limits, staying on high alert as a leader for nearly twenty hours, and pushing a forced march to save time—everything had ground him down.

He likely couldn’t move anymore. This Tidal Wave was a spell into which he poured his entire being. Simply put: the swarm wouldn’t be annihilated, and the leader was now incapacitated.

“Excuse me! Siddark!”

While the rest of the group watched the tsunami, I moved alone. I caught the reeling Siddark in both arms and pulled him back. He offered a weak, powerless resistance, but I carried him regardless.

My target was Snow. She looked surprised to see me appear carrying Siddark, but regardless of her feelings, I tossed him toward her. Snow hurriedly dropped her weapons to catch him.

“Next—!”

I immediately returned to the front of the line to confirm the outcome of the Tidal Wave. It seemed as though the torrent had washed everything away and smashed the red beasts against the walls, but it’s not enough. The volume of water, the momentum—the attack power simply wasn’t there.

The group, which had been cheering at the sight of the great magic, gradually turned pale. One by one, the monsters that had been knocked down by the direct hit of the Tidal Wave stood back up, their faces twisted in fury. Nearly a hundred monsters remained perfectly functional. And they were baring their fangs at the group of humans who dared attack them.

I used Focus to analyze the situation.

First, I learned the details of the monsters. Then, I checked the status of every single person in our group. I grasped who was at what level, what their class was, and what they specialized in—every last detail.

This included their positions. I calculated where everyone was, who was nearby, and how to create the maximum synergy. I built a tactic to ensure not a single person was lost.

My thought speed had surpassed human limits. Grudging even 0.01 seconds, I continued to think, and finally, I made a vow.

I won’t let anyone die…! Not anyone else—!!

At the same moment I made my vow, the pale-faced members cried out.

“I-it’s no use! We didn’t kill them all!”

“The magic didn’t have enough power! They’re all still standing!”

“Why didn’t we avoid the swarm?! Dammit, at this rate…!”

“We have no choice but to fight! Get ready! Form up!”

Despite their screams and complaints, everyone readied their weapons. I was grateful they hadn’t descended into total panic. The Flame Wolves lunged forward all at once. Simultaneously, I finished constructing my strategy.

Building my magic, I drew my sword at the front.

“—Magic: Di Winter!”

I expanded the range of Di Winter. The targets were not just myself and the enemies. I expanded it toward my allies. Targeting everyone, I diffused the chill.

Then, I shouted:

“I will take the lead! Everyone stay calm and intercept the enemies as they come!!”

I project my voice clearly to reach everyone. At the same time, I used Di Winter to cool their heads. I needed them to be calm, or the next phase of the plan won’t work.

Seeing me shout at the front, most of the Flame Wolves targeted me. Against the several wolves lunging at me, I swung my sword. However, I didn’t aim for instant kills. Theoretically, it’s impossible for me alone to kill nearly a hundred monsters in an instant.

Therefore, my goal was to wound them. Without finishing my swings or stabbing too deep, I cut them as if stroking them. I didn’t kill them, but I could attack far more enemies than if I did.

That was the goal. If these were guild elites with any confidence in their skills, they could finish off a wounded Flame Wolf. If they killed the enemies with their own hands, their morale would rise. Right now, I had to prioritize the efficiency of the whole over my own.

I slashed through the Flame Wolves one after another. However, many ignored me and flowed toward the rear. Finally, the group and the swarm collided, and we descended into a chaotic melee. The explorers readied their weapons and intercepted the wolves. Fortunately, my initial shout worked, and most of them had kept their cool.

While dealing with the Flame Wolves clinging to me, I devoted most of my consciousness to Di Winter. The next target was the water created by Siddark’s Tidal Wave. Puddles had formed all over the corridor. This was an advanced version of the trap I set for the Line Skitter on the 14th floor. That time I used Di Snow, but this time I was using Di Winter.

The effect was no longer just Di Winter. In that case, the name of this new magic was—

“—Magic: Di Winter: Frost.”

The moment I muttered the name, the chill in the air intensified rapidly. I grasped the entirety of the battle between dozens of explorers and a hundred monsters, identifying where the explorers were being overwhelmed.

A Flame Wolf’s fangs were closing in on a man’s back. The man was focused on the enemy in front of him and was completely unaware. At this rate, he would die from the strike from behind. I would absolutely not allow that.

Di Winter: Frost froze the puddle at the Flame Wolf’s feet, stopping it in its tracks. The wolf’s legs were frozen, and it let out a small yelp. Noticing the sound behind him, the man turned and stabbed his sword into the stalled wolf.

—That’s one. Next.

Next was a mage concentrating on an incantation. They were building magic against a lunging Flame Wolf, but at this rate, they won’t make it. I focused my mana and activated Di Winter: Frost on the attacking wolf. Thanks to the Tidal Wave, there was plenty of water clinging to its body. It was hard to freeze something from nothing, but it was easy if there was a water source.

The Flame Wolf’s wet body began to freeze with a crackling sound. I couldn’t freeze it completely, but its movements slowed significantly. As a result, the wolf’s attack missed, and the mage’s interception magic succeeded.

—That’s two. Next.

I used Dimension Magic to find the next point where the situation was dire. I fired my magic only at the most critical moments.

Three, four, five… I saved my allies who were at a disadvantage. Of course, this was multitasking while I handled the Flame Wolves at the front line. After about ten seconds of this, I finally finished off all the wolves on the front line myself.

During these dozens of seconds, I had managed to prevent any casualties. However, without letting my guard down, I moved from the front line to the middle of the formation. While moving, I grasped the overall situation and shouted orders.

I had learned everyone’s names in the time it took to get to the 10th floor. Thanks to my Level Up, not only my reasoning but also my memory had improved.

“Anaes, follow the person to your front-right immediately! Also, we’re short on front-liners in the rear; anyone who’s free, move to the back! Thor, once you finish that Flame Wolf, help Aldin behind you! Snow, leave Siddark to me and move to the front of the formation!!”

Since Siddark could not move, someone had to give orders in his place. I mimicked his commanding tone and shouted instead. Snow made a dissatisfied face, but after a moment of hesitation, she handed Siddark back to me with a single parting word.

“…Only because I have to.”

I nodded and supported Siddark’s weight. Just as I saw Snow move toward the front with some degree of seriousness, a scream rose from a distance.

“I-it’s no use! This side won’t hold!! We’re—”

Naturally, I had already grasped that.

“—Di Winter: Frost!”

From a distance, I saved the ally who was about to be overwhelmed using my freezing magic. The allies nearby watched in surprise, finally understanding the situation.

“I see…! It’s thanks to you that the enemies have been freezing!”

“You’re freezing them at the perfect moments! You’re Kanami from ‘Epic Seeker,’ right?!”

“The guy who was next to Siddark! Good magic!”

The people who realized the freezing magic occurring everywhere was my power began to follow my instructions.

“As you can see, I will save you with freezing magic if things get dangerous! I can see the whole field with detection magic, so for now, follow my orders!!”

It was an abrupt and forceful request. I knew that myself. However, the response was more welcoming than I had expected.

“You’re a Guild Master too, aren’t you?! Then I don’t mind following your lead!”

“Given the situation, it can’t be helped! Just give us orders, quick!”

“Our leader is down! We’re counting on you!”

They were veteran explorers. They likely understood instinctively that this was the most correct decision in the current situation. They began to demand orders from me.

“Then, I will immediately change the formation to the most optimal one! Thor, move to the rear as you are and protect the engineers in the center! Anaes, intercept right where you are; at your level, you can handle it alone! You three, stay in a group, move to the front-left, and prepare for an ambush! And—”

Based on the statuses I obtained through Focus, I moved everyone to their optimal positions. I didn’t care about guild boundaries when pairing people up. This was no time to be picky about such things.

I gave orders while assisting everyone with Di Winter: Frost. Some people looked dissatisfied midway through, but I managed to convince them by showing them my freezing magic in action.

Against a swarm, I would not let a single person die. I continued to provide the optimal solution for that goal. In the middle of it, Siddark, supported by me, groaned.

“—Ah… w-wait… this job is mine… I should… give orders…”

Even though he was on the verge of losing consciousness, Siddark refused to abandon his responsibility.

“Siddark, you’ve fulfilled your responsibility. Rest for now. …You aren’t in a state to give orders.”

I answered him gently.

“Guh… dammit… blast it all…”

Siddark heard my calm reply and cursed in frustration. Beside him, I had no choice but to keep raising my voice to direct the group. During that time, Siddark did not interject again.

After a little over ten minutes, the swarm of over a hundred Flame Wolves was annihilated. Amidst the pillars of ice standing throughout the corridor, everything transformed into magic stones with a flash of light.

Then, cheers filled the hallway.

“ALRIGHT—!! We got them all! Nice work, ice mage from ‘Epic Seeker’!”

“Saved our skins! I thought we were done for a second!”

“…It’s thanks to the Guild Master of ‘Epic Seeker.’ Those were precise orders.”

Relieved to be alive, the explorers praised me one after another. I ignored them and re-evaluated the whole area with Dimension. To me, praise was not what mattered. Well, it was important as a Guild Master, but it was not my goal.

I checked everyone’s HP and counted to see if the number of people was the same as when we entered the Labyrinth. After confirming that not a single person had died, I let out a long breath.

“Thank goodness, no one died…”

However, as a trade-off, more than half of my MP had been consumed. With a sense of lethargy, I let the strength leave my body. A few minutes later, after everyone finished confirming the situation and realized no one was dead, the group’s joy grew even larger.