Chapter 5: The Hero’s Retreat and the Saintess’s Rumor ⑤ (The Balance Has Crumbled)
Two shocks struck her.
One in her abdomen and one in her chest.
In the fading haze of consciousness, she wondered. He had promised to protect her no matter what.
Indeed, they had reached the innermost depths of the labyrinth, teeming with vicious monsters, without a single scratch.
He had said he would take all the attacks, yet there he was, grinning despite being covered in wounds.
He was smiling—smiling even as the world around him began to fade into darkness.
At that moment, her consciousness completely blacked out.
In less than a minute, three of the main fighters had vanished.
Half of the accompanying party was already incapacitated. The two tanks, who had been clinging to a faint hope, were now in critical condition, their lives hanging by a thread. Additionally, one of the key members of the Hero Party lay motionless.
It was simple math. The enemy had doubled, while their numbers had decreased by three. The fragile balance that had barely held was now completely shattered.
Just moments ago, even as fear threatened to make them scream, everyone had suppressed their terror, fighting desperately for their survival.
But it was only a matter of time before the emotions that had been stifled would burst forth.
The tragedy continued.
Gyariri.
One of the healers was deeply slashed across the torso, collapsing without a hint of resistance.
For Eliza, danger was always close at hand. She had survived death’s door countless times, enough to count on both hands.
“Stay calm, everyone!! We still have the Hero Party with us!!”
As the conscious girl gasped, she raised her voice before anyone else could scream.
What was essential for survival was to maintain composure and to fight with every ounce of tenacity until the very end.
Eliza, driven solely by the need to save her fallen daughter, managed to suppress her fear, like water held precariously at the surface tension of an overflowing cup.
Yet, she herself could no longer fully believe that the Hero Party she had named would truly be reliable.
Hero Ryuguin noticed the warm dampness of his pants. Pathetically, it was only thanks to Eliza’s encouragement that he had finally regained his senses. Alongside that, he felt a surge of anxiety as he realized he was about to cross a line he had planned to avoid.
“Mika! Use Healing Magic on everyone! We can’t afford to lose anyone!!”
“Understood,” she nodded, and finally, Mika cast her healing magic on all members of the joint party, including those on the brink of death.
Even though Healing Magic had been cast by the Saintess, consciousness didn’t return immediately. Even if it did, there was no way anyone who had suffered such grievous injuries could return to the front lines right away—except for some hero-level seeker, perhaps.
“Mika! Once the healing is done, set up a barrier for me!!”
Hero Ryuguin shouted, his voice trembling.
“Yes, Hero-sama! No one shall lay a finger on you!”
Saintess Mika protected herself and the Hero behind a sturdy barrier, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
“Eris! I know you can do it! If you can’t, wake up Ange and take her with you to finish them off!”
Hero Ryuguin shouted a plan that could hardly be called a strategy.
Is this really the Hero? Is this the party that has conquered seven of the Newly Constructed Ultimate Labyrinths?
The commands given from a safe distance to a lone ally on the front lines felt like foolish ramblings, a reckless strategy.
Eliza couldn’t comprehend it. To the Hero Party, they were merely outsiders. If they were to abandon their accompanying party, she could understand that, albeit reluctantly.
She herself would not hesitate to choose her daughter over anyone else if faced with such a dire situation.
But—
But this was—
Eris’s efforts were nothing short of heroic. She pulled out a spear lodged in a comrade, deflected projectiles, and parried the swift strikes of a serpent blade. Yet—she knew there was no path left but retreat.
Eris was overwhelmed just trying to protect everyone. She couldn’t afford to miss even a single attack from the spear or the serpent blade. If she did, it would mean death for someone.
So, with resolve, Eris unleashed the Holy Sword she had sheathed at her waist.
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