Published: January 22, 2026
"...Ugh... Where is this...?"
When I came to, an unfamiliar ceiling came into view.
I knew I was lying on a bed.
But why...?
“Good morning, Mr. Oliver. Do you feel any discomfort in your body?”
Luna’s voice came from beside me.
I sat up and checked my condition, but I felt no discomfort at all.
By then, I had understood why I was sleeping here.
“I don’t feel any discomfort... So, I lost... to Orun.”
It was the first time in my life that I lost to Orun.
Until now, I had never lost to him, and I never doubted I would lose in the future.
But now that I had lost, the feeling inside me was close to a resigned acceptance: “It can’t be helped that I lost…”
I couldn’t explain why I felt this way.
But somehow, it also felt somewhat refreshing.
“...How long have I been asleep?”
“About two hours. The award ceremony has already finished. Marquis Forgus has instructed that you return to the mansion immediately after waking. I’m sorry to trouble you right after waking, but let’s move right away.”
A summons from Marquis Forgus.
No doubt it was a scolding because I couldn’t win.
I really didn’t want to go, but I couldn’t just ignore it.
“Understood. Let’s go back immediately.”
◇
As we walked along a less crowded path from the arena back to our mansion, I was thinking about what to do next.
The hero party has been in a terrible state lately.
The signs had been there before, but it now seemed to have reached a point beyond repair.
The biggest reason was probably Philly joining.
Not only Aneli, but even Derrick had recently been affirming everything Philly did.
Because of that, she was effectively deciding the party’s direction.
However, I didn’t think that was a bad thing, and there was no problem with her becoming the party leader.
There was also a sense of relief that I could trust her.
So, what’s the problem? It was the clash with Luna.
Luna also seemed to have undergone some change in feelings and has recently started actively voicing her opinions on party matters.
It wasn’t the kind of outright denial she had after Orun was expelled, but genuine statements made thinking about the party’s welfare.
And whenever Luna’s and Philly’s opinions clashed, Aneli and Derrick always sided with Philly, so Philly’s opinion was adopted by majority vote.
Personally, I thought Luna’s opinions deserved respect, but those three wouldn’t allow it.
Each time opinions clashed, the party’s atmosphere grew tenser.
And for the past few days, Luna had visibly lost her energy.
I didn’t know the cause, but I wanted to do something to support her.
(This party might be at its end…)
I had been thinking that for a while.
I felt it might be better to dissolve the party.
I myself no longer wanted to continue as an explorer with the current members, and above all, with my defeat this time, the people would come to view the Dawnlight as inferior to the silver rabbits of the night sky.
I have to be the best to protect what’s important.
Otherwise, I’ll lose what I cherish.
…Wait? What is it that I cherish?
My comrades?
No, since I am even thinking of disbanding the party, I don’t feel afraid of losing them.
Then family?
My parents died ten years ago when the village was attacked by bandits and wiped out.
I don’t have a lover or anyone I want to build a family with.
So family isn’t what’s important to me now.
Then, fame?
No. I’m not continuing as an explorer for such a thing.
What is it that I want to protect by becoming stronger?
“Mr. Oliver? Are you all right?”
Luna’s voice brought me back to reality.
Apparently, I had stopped walking.
“…No, it’s nothing. Let’s get back quickly.”
The more I thought about it, the deeper I fell into a trap.
I had prioritized conquering the Great Labyrinth myself over my promise to explore it together with my best friend whom I had abandoned.
But looking back, I realized I had nothing I truly wanted to protect.
The purpose of becoming strong to protect what I care about had somehow turned into simply becoming strong as the goal itself.