After leaving the A rank party, I aim for the deep part of the labyrinth with my former students
“Here, I’m called ‘Mama.’”
Though she wore a gentle smile, the aura leaking from her was anything but — it was outright hostile.
Nene picked up on it instantly, and it wasn’t just because of her keen senses.
This woman… somehow reminded her a little of Mamal.
“I’m terribly sorry, but you’ll have to leave. If you go any further, you’ll only be in the way.”
“Are you stupid or something? We’re here to get in the way!”
Jamie barked back, clearly irritated.
“In that case… it can’t be helped. Then you shall become the sacrifice for our ‘festival’ here and now.”
With icy killing intent laced in her voice, Mama slowly raised her hand.
At that signal, the robed followers of the Seventh Order stepped out one by one from the shadows, weapons in hand.
Ah — so this was their final line of defense, too.
That meant… their destination must be close.
“I’ll give you this one warning: if you throw down your weapons and surrender, we can avoid a fight.”
“How arrogant of you, ‘Hero’ Yuke Feldio. People like you… are the ones I hate the most.”
Spitting out her words in disgust, Mama swung her hand down.
That was the signal — the followers all lunged at once.
And compared to the ones they’d fought before, back in Edright’s old capital Jo-Koco, they were far faster.
“These children carry the byproducts of the ‘Children of Ankelias.’ Here, so close to the promised land, they’re far stronger than you think.”
“Such unnatural, inhuman deeds…!”
The onrushing followers kept pushing them back, bit by bit.
Adventurers fought monsters often enough — but human enemies, working in coordinated formation like this, were much rarer.
And against opponents this well-trained — almost like a military unit — it was even worse.
Each one was as tough as a high-ranking adventurer on their own, and they attacked with precision, exploiting every weakness and gap.
“So this is the great ‘Hero’ and his party? Perhaps… we were a little too cautious.”
Mama stood back, watching with a confident, almost mocking expression, not even bothering to move herself.
Frankly, that underestimation was a blessing for now.
But she was clearly no amateur — otherwise, Yuke thought, he wouldn’t have felt that resemblance to Mamal.
“They’re tough…!”
“This is getting really annoying…”
Even so, Nene and Jamie muttered while taking one down with a flawless combo.
After all, teamwork wasn’t just the enemy’s weapon.
But at this rate, they were likely to get overwhelmed.
Their numbers alone were already a threat — and skilled enemies multiplied the danger.
So Yuke knew he had to push himself beyond his limits, even just a little.
…We’re not the only ones who’ve adapted to the aura of this otherworld.
“Rain, I’m going to do something reckless.”
“Just a little reckless, right?”
“I know.”
He stretched out his left arm and focused his will.
Chanting while channeling his power would create too much output — so he just focused his mind.
A faint stinging in his cheek and the heat from his left arm… it stirred the inhuman parts of himself.
“—〈Shadow Bind〉”
From beneath his feet, a torrent of shadow surged up, engulfing and crushing the charging followers.
It was a dark, sinister magic Lady Persephone had forced into him.
A normal human would pay a steep price in life force for casting it…
But in his current state, he could use it.
The fact that it had become so natural to him left him with mixed feelings.
“Gh…!”
“Yuke!”
The strain on his body made him dizzy, and he staggered — but Rain was there to catch him.
“I’m fine. So… how many more? Want me to do it again?”
“You’re pushing too hard. Next… is my turn.”
Smiling faintly, Rain gave her crimson staff a gentle twirl.
With each lazy, swirling motion — as if stirring the sky — the air around them tightened with a palpable, crackling magic.
“…Stop her. Now!”
Sensing something, Mama barked frantic orders to her followers.
But Yuke’s party was not about to let that happen.
“We’re not letting you through.”
“Take your eyes off me for even a second and I’ll shoot.”
“〈Paralyze〉, 〈Slow〉, 〈Blindness〉, 〈Hold〉, 〈Gravity〉! Quick casting isn’t just Yuke’s specialty, you know!”
Nene’s ninjutsu, Silk’s rapid fire, and Jamie’s chantless quick-casts pinned down the advancing followers and bought them time.
“Activating — check.”
Yuke, too, joined in with the 【Sanctuary Scroll】, activating it to protect Rain as she continued her incantation like a song.
“Here I go!”
Rain slammed her staff down onto the floor.
The activated mana began to glow, and she appeared wreathed in light as she cast her spell.
“You bear guilt — 〈Judgment〉!”
In an instant, dozens of magic circles unfolded all around them… and pillars of light rained down from the heavens.
It looked just like the divine judgment spoken of in myth.
No — it might truly be that.
After all, Rain was not only an outstanding mage, but also an exceptional priestess.
“I’ve given you… the ending you deserve. My god… will never forgive you.”
“～～～～”
Amid the charred corpses of the followers, one figure remained alive — Mama, glaring with murderous eyes, letting out an incoherent growl.
…Why was she still standing?
She’d taken the same heavenly light as all the others — and yet…
“Enough. That’s enough. I’ll kill you. Every last one of you.”
Muttering, Mama began to swell, her body growing, fur sprouting all over her.
“No way — a beast-possessed… a lycanthrope?!”
“I am the Seventh Order’s greatest masterpiece. And now… I’ll tear you to pieces.”
Now fully transformed into a reddish-brown werewolf, Mama bared her fangs and roared.
I’d already thought the Seventh Order was dangerous — but clearly, they far exceeded my expectations.
I never imagined they’d even stoop to dabbling in cursed beings.
“Now… accept your death. Become the sacrifice… for the festival.”
A powerful shockwave erupted from Mama, shaking the darkness and sending my comrades flying.
Even as I threw myself in front of Rain to shield her, the force of the blast still drove me to one knee.
“Gh…!”
“Dying with dignity is a virtue, Yuke Feldio. Goodbye.”
I gathered Rain into my arms and braced myself.
If it was just me taking the blow, I could endure it somehow — or so I told myself.
…But the impact never came.
Instead, I sensed Mama leap back with a scream — and at the edge of my vision, I saw a flash of swaying red hair.
“I’m back, Yuke. I… came back!”
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