Published: January 22, 2026
It has been a little over two weeks since I went berserk and was confined here.
Luckily, I managed to recall my memories, so I’ve been keeping myself busy organizing those memories and training my mana convergence. Surprisingly, I haven’t had a moment of boredom.
“So, right when we were about to tackle the 93rd layer, I got ordered on a long-term business trip. I’m heading to the Reglyph Territory now.”
“…………”
“They say Reglyph Territory is famous for its wine. Since it’s close to the sea, the taste is different from regular wine. If I get the chance, I’ll send some over. You can drink wine, right?”
“…Hey.”
“Hm? What’s up?”
“Don’t ‘what’s up’ me! Why the hell are you here?!”
I couldn’t help but raise my voice at Orun, who was facing me through the glass.
But Orun, calm and serene like when we were still in the hero party together, replied,
“Why? Because I thought you’d be lonely alone. I was planning to come a bit later, but like I said, I’m leaving Tsutolairu soon.”
“That’s not it... Why are you acting normal around me? I almost killed you!”
Right. Orun doesn’t know what happened back then.
From Orun’s perspective, I suddenly went berserk and he almost got killed trying to stop me.
Normally, he’d avoid me, right? So why come here voluntarily?
I had thought he’d visit me eventually, but not now.
“Hmm... yeah, but that’s because of the cognitive alteration, right? If so, Oliver, you’re a victim too.”
...How does Orun know about the cognitive alteration?
I’ve heard Philly has been missing since that day.
No one else besides me should know about the cognitive alteration...
Did Orun figure it out by himself?
No, that’s hard to believe. Even Orun wouldn’t come to that conclusion without any source of information.
It’s natural to think someone who knows Philly’s true identity and the cognitive alteration exists, but who could that be?
“...Also, about that time, I feel like it was a dream, so honestly, I can’t fully grasp it. But the scenes in that dream—no, never mind.”
The Orun in front of me now reminds me of the old Orun, carrying a lot of burdens alone.
His visiting was unexpected, but since he came, it’s a perfect opportunity to say what I had been meaning to tell him next time we met.
Though it’s probably just self-satisfaction on my part...
“...Orun.”
“Yeah?”
“I’m sorry.”
“Why all of a sudden? And like I said earlier, I understand it wasn’t your will, Oliver. In the end, we’re both unharmed, so you don’t need to worry.”
“That’s true, but this apology is for kicking you out of the hero party. I deeply regret that choice... I know apologizing won’t erase it. But please, let me say it—I'm really sorry.”
After I honestly expressed how I felt, Orun looked at me with an unreadable expression.
“...Hey Oliver, was your decision to kick me out of the party one you agonized over?”
“Yeah, I couldn’t decide immediately. I remembered our promise to clear the Great Labyrinth together and hesitated a lot. But in the end, I prioritized clearing the Great Labyrinth myself.”
I feel Philly’s will had a hand in that decision, but that doesn’t matter to Orun.
It’s like being betrayed by someone you’ve always worked with.
Orun’s emotional wounds are probably beyond what I can understand.
I know words alone can’t fix it.
Still, I had to say it.
“A while ago, someone I respect told me this: ‘You’ll always regret decisions made after hesitating.’ You probably regret kicking me out, but I think you would have regretted it just as much if you had kept me in.”
‘You’ll always regret decisions made after hesitating,’ huh.
That’s probably true.
Our situation—Orun and I tackling the Great Labyrinth—was probably a favorable turn for that guy (…).
If we had kept clearing the Great Southern Labyrinth as before, we would have definitely regretted it.
From an objective view, kicking Orun out of the party seems like the right choice.