Published: January 22, 2026
How out of touch with reality are these people...?
I've reached my limit.
Once the penalty is over, I plan to leave this kind of party immediately.
So, I’m going to say exactly what I want to say.
Since the forced recall is already over, that’s fine, right?
“You still don’t get it, so I’ll be clear. We are currently the weakest among the s-rank parties. There’s no way a party like this can defeat the black dragon.”
“Huh!? The weakest in the s-rank!? We are the hero party! There’s no way we’d lose to other parties!”
Mr. Derrick keeps pushing back.
“I told you that we could be the hero party only because Mr. Orun was here! Especially you and Ms. Aneli, without Mr. Orun’s support, you only have the strength equivalent to a-rank! Know your place!”
“Y-you! You’re the one who should know your place! You’re talking like you’re stronger than me!”
Mr. Derrick’s face turned bright red as he flew into a rage.
Honestly, he really gets heated quickly... I might have said too much just now, though.
Ah, but I’m not lying. If I wanted to, I could instantly defeat someone like Mr. Derrick.
They oppose Mr. Orun’s rejoining, but I don’t want to die.
That’s why I absolutely won’t back down on Orun’s rejoining. If we challenge the black dragon like this, we’ll all just die.
“I said so already. Even if it comes to a one-on-one fight between you and me, I will win.”
“Such confidence. It’ll be too late when you cry and apologize later!”
Mr. Derrick drew his sword.
...How foolish.
My goodwill towards Mr. Derrick has plummeted so much, it feels like it could break through even the Great Labyrinth.
“Sigh... Pixie, please.”
“—What!? I can't move...”
My supernatural ability stopped Mr. Derrick’s movements.
I then constructed an advanced mage’s technique, infused just a little mana, and summoned a magic circle in front of him, saying:
“...The match is over. Do you think you can take advanced mage magic at such close range and get away with it?”
“Guh, is this also your supernatural ability? I never heard you could use it like this.”
“I still don’t fully understand the extent of my own supernatural ability. Mr. Orun seems to understand it though—”
“Enough.”
Mr. Oliver, who had been silent until now, finally spoke.
Too late.
“First, find Orun. Then we decide what to do next. No objections.”
The atmosphere within the party remained terrible, but it seemed everyone would obey Mr. Oliver’s words.
◇
So, we began heading toward the plaza near the entrance to the Great Labyrinth.
As the plaza came into view, I caught my breath.
At the center of the plaza was a gigantic black figure, surrounded by many people.
There was no mistaking what that black thing was.
“Why is the black dragon here!? Damn!”
Mr. Oliver immediately drew his sword and was about to charge.
“Wait!”
I quickly stopped him.
“Why stop?! If we don’t suppress it here, the city will suffer massive damage!”
Mr. Oliver was not calm.
This wasn’t like him at all. Normally, he wouldn’t act like this.
“Something’s off! And for the black dragon to have appeared, there are too many people gathered around it. Let’s keep our guard up and approach the black dragon like this.”
We arrived at the plaza.
Thanks to the people surrounding the black dragon noticing us and making way, we were able to get close without trouble.
“Wh-what—”
I was speechless at the scene that came into view after passing through the crowd.
The black dragon before us had scales shattered in places, was bleeding all over, and its neck was severed.
Moreover, next to the black dragon stood Mr. Orun, leaning on a huge, black, sinister-looking greatsword I had never seen before.
If Mr. Orun was here, does that mean the silver rabbits of the night sky defeated the black dragon!?
“...Mr. Orun.”
I spoke unconsciously, and Mr. Orun responded.
He turned around, looking at me with unfocused eyes.
He had no obvious external wounds, but his whole body was dirty.
Given his unfocused eyes and the forced wiping of a nosebleed, he must have cast a huge number of magic spells.