Published: September 9, 2025
※2014/1/18 Typo corrected.
This is Satou. Unexpected reunions with old friends are always a joy. Even if I can’t remember their names.
◇
“Well, that’s quite a large demon core. It looks just like the demon core of a floor master—”
Arisa, with half her face wrapped in bandages, proudly thrust the huge demon core forward with a smug expression.
The guild staff member who took it looked increasingly stunned. Since she had the item appraisal skill, she must have known what the core was.
Her movements were rusty, like an old robot, as she turned to face us.
“Um, this isn’t...”
“It is! We defeated the floor master on the upper level!”
Arisa answered, but the staff kept her eyes locked on me, staring intently as if hoping I would deny it.
Did she really not want to believe it?
“Yes, it’s the floor master’s demon core.”
When I stated it firmly, the staff member fainted. To avoid dropping the core, I caught it along with her.
I didn’t recognize her face. Perhaps she was a new employee?
An older staff member behind her arranged for someone to contact the guild and to take care of the fainted employee.
We headed toward the labyrinth city under his guidance.
It seems that the defeated party traditionally carries the floor master’s demon core, so I carried it myself.
◇
When we passed through the West Gate, a buzz of chatter spread.
We had caused a stir when leaving the labyrinth gate, but this was even bigger.
We had modified our old labyrinth gear to look damaged, using special makeup and bandages to fake wounds from a fierce battle.
In reality, none of us had any real injuries, but being unscathed would reduce the credibility of having defeated a floor master, so we put on the act.
“Hey! The ‘Unscathed Pendragon’ guys have injuries!?”
“Really! Even the Shield Princess’s shield is torn!”
Shield Princess—was that Nana?
But “Unscathed” was an exaggeration. We always got treated before returning to the surface; none of our party members, including the three in the backline, had ever avoided injury.
“Could it be they challenged a floor master?”
“No way, not even the Pendragon group.”
“Yeah, ‘Deep Layer Rondo’ just went out with the Red Iron group all fanfare and got half-destroyed trying to get the summoning demon core—never mind the floor master.”
So that had happened while we were busy flying around various places.
Listening to the surrounding chatter casually, we headed for the Explorer’s Guild.
“Those two in the bean armor Liza’s carrying from Black Spear—they’re not dead, right?”
“No, they’re fine since she’s carrying them well. Look, they’re waving.”
Pochi and Tama, playing dead, waved cheerfully.
That kind of ruined the injured makeup effect. Oh well.
“Hahaha! Feast your eyes on this!”
Arisa, perched on my shoulders, proudly held the beach ball-sized floor master’s demon core aloft, drawing attention.
Explorers and townsfolk whispered excitedly all around.
Arisa had wrapped a blood-stained bandage across her face like an eye patch to fake a serious injury, complete with a blonde wig under her hood.
“This, this is—!”
Arisa paused mid-sentence.
The surrounding crowd, waiting eagerly for more, all held their breath.
“This is the demon core of the upper floor master, the ‘Crimson Thunder Squid (Thunder Squid)’!”
When Arisa declared it, an explosive uproar broke out.
She really loves the spotlight.
◇
“Honestly, I never thought you’d actually take down a floor master.”
“Yes, though it was a joint effort with these folks.”
We reported the details of the defeat in the guild master’s office.
Only the leaders of the participating parties were present.
The others had been moved to mansions for treatment.
“So, seven groups with 72 members challenged it, with 15 survivors. Heavy casualties, but the fastest record.”
“It was a firepower-focused lineup.”
I was a little surprised it was the fastest, but my poker face skill had done its part.
I just went along with the conversation.