Chapter 2: The Hero’s Retreat and the Saintess’s Rumor ② (Formation of the Joint Party)
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Ryuguin had a penchant for naming things.
By doing so, he felt as if he had risen above the object he named. This tendency had been evident since his childhood. His parents often found themselves exasperated as their son would whimsically assign names to everything before he even learned their proper titles.
Of course, even when he reached the age of entering high school, this peculiar trait remained intact. True to his nature, he would often bestow nicknames upon acquaintances he deemed useful.
Now, in this other world, his crude inclination was once again on display. Ryuguin complained that the name “Newly Constructed Ultimate Labyrinth” was far too long, and he called upon all guilds in the country to refer to it as “Nexbee Dungeon” or simply “Nexbee,” a combination of “newbie” and “ex.”
Given that this was an edict from the esteemed Hero Ryuguin, no one dared to voice their thoughts of “Wait! This is way too lame!” and it was quickly accepted.
Each time someone referred to it as “Nexbee Dungeon” in front of him, Ryuguin wore an ecstatic expression, as if he had just indulged in some kind of euphoric powder.
This time was no different. The “Joint Exploration Party of the Labyrinth of Time” was officially designated by Hero Ryuguin as the “Arcana Saviors.”
This designation sent waves of euphoria coursing through Ryuguin’s mind.
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Now, the party selected as the “Arcana Saviors” by Ryuguin consisted of two S-rank parties.
Both were top-tier parties belonging to major clans. The first party was the recently popular “Wandering Zephyranthes,” composed entirely of young maidens, making it an S-class party.
The second party was led by the renowned explorer Eliza, once considered one of the world’s foremost seekers, and was called “Caduceus”—also an all-female party.
Both parties were composed solely of women. As such, it was clear that what mattered most to Ryuguin was not their skills or abilities, but rather their beauty.
Of course, both of these parties were indeed S-rank. However, due to the prestigious S-rank title, the difference in strength between the lower and upper tiers of S-rank was immeasurable—a fact Ryuguin was completely oblivious to—or rather, chose to ignore.
Balen, the Guild Master of Lemone’s Guild, was regarded as one of the most capable individuals among the guild masters of the large explorer guilds scattered throughout the Arcana Kingdom.
There were countless stories of explorers who had once been under his guidance rising to become top-ranked adventurers.
Because of this, he possessed detailed information about the abilities and personalities of numerous individuals, from promising newcomers to seasoned veterans. He was also adept at utilizing this information effectively. However, due to his competence, he would find himself at a disadvantage when dealing with Ryuguin.
When Ryuguin proposed the joint exploration to Balen, his mind was so consumed with fantasies of success that he was incapable of listening to others. Sitting across from Balen on the sofa, who was patiently offering advice on labyrinth strategies and party selection, Ryuguin saw him as nothing more than an annoying distraction, prattling on with useless opinions.
“Thank you for your various opinions. So, are you a hero?” Ryuguin asked, his voice edged with irritation.
“Huh…?” Balen took a moment to grasp the true meaning behind the hero’s words.
“If you have the ability to lecture me so pompously, then you should handle everything yourself. The Nexbee conquest, the gathering of the party—do it all on your own!”
“Hero-sama, that was not my intention—”
Balen lowered his head, visibly frustrated by the hero’s demeanor.
“If I, the hero, am not needed, then you should try to do it with your own strength! You uncivilized monkeys!”
The “Wandering Zephyranthes” had recently risen to S-rank, seen as a star of potential, including their latent abilities. Meanwhile, “Caduceus,” aside from their leader Eliza, was composed of members still considered to be in their growth phase, barely scraping by as an S-rank party.
Had Ryuguin earnestly considered Balen’s advice during this exchange, he could have avoided the tragedy that would soon befall them.
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