Elitia?
Suzuna?
Suzuna, stay back!
Slash Ripper!
SLASH RIPPER
Igarashi-san! Theresia!
We'll draw the bees' attention to us!
Arihito-san!
Defense Support!
Thunderbolt!
THUNDERBOLT
To help Suzuna level up more efficiently,
you broke up your party so you could draw enemies to you
and let Suzuna deal the finishing blow.
Yes.
But those bees attack rearguards like Suzuna, too.
Wouldn't it be safer to look for other monsters to fight?
We don't have time for that.
I need to get Suzuna as strong as I am quickly and get back there.
"Back there"?
Do you mean—and I'm sorry if I'm wrong—
back to the White Night Brigade?
No. I won't go back to those people.
Where, then?
We need to get back...
to Misaki.
THE WORLD'S STRONGEST REARGUARD
THE LITTLE TYRANT GIRL
Misaki?
She's Suzuna's best friend.
Apparently, Misaki-chan chose "Gambler" for her job
because she figured she had good luck.
Then she picked up a treasure chest that some monster dropped...
but it turned out to be trapped.
A trap that teleported her?
And where did it send her?
I think it was a Floor Warp trap,
so she'll be somewhere on this floor.
We need to find her, and soon.
Atobe-kun, let's help them look for her.
When I think about how scared she'd be if she ran into some monster alone...
I just can't stand here and do nothing.
All right.
Elitia, were there any other parties on this floor?
If so, I'd like to ask them for help.
I haven't seen any.
Although... right after we got here, I felt like someone was watching us.
So there's someone watching people who enter the second floor?
But what for?
Looks like it'll be tough to get help from any other parties.
But if we split up and someone runs into a horde of monsters,
that could be worse.
Elitia, Suzuna, would you join our party? Just for right now?
I'm a Rearguard, but I can only support people who are in my party.
Defense Support!
With your help, we might be able to get Suzuna to a higher level safely.
I did get that impression.
Okay. Suzuna, join Arihito's party.
Huh? What about you?
I'll tag along solo.
My level's higher, so if I'm in the party,
you'll all get less experience.
Can I ask you one thing?
Back at the guild,
I heard you say there was a part of being vanguard that wasn't the best.
Is there something we should know?
If I tell you to run, leave me behind and run.
That's all I ask.
All right.
I gave Suzuna a Return Scroll. Use that.
Show me what you can do, Mr. Arihito.
I will. Thanks.
I won't join the party, but I'll still follow your orders,
and you can have anything I happen to find.
And if you're short on money to live on, come to me.
I'm good for now. I'm not a gigolo or anything.
Gigolo? What's that?
U-Um, Arihito-san...
Let me formally introduce myself. I'm Shiromiya Suzuna.
My job is Shrine Maiden.
I look forward to working with you.
I'm Atobe Arihito.
This is Igarashi Kyouka-san,
and that's Theresia. She's a Lizardman.
Glad to meet you. Always nice to have one more partymate.
It's nice to meet you, too.
I-It's great to meet you!
If Elitia just travels with us as a guest,
she won't be assigned a rank.
Even if her abilities come with some sort of risk,
I wish I could support her, too...
H-Help me! Someone please help me!
That's Misaki-chan's voice!
What... is that?
That's...
JUGGERNAUT
a Juggernaut!
This thing shouldn't be here!
Someone must have sent it here after us so we'd kill it for them!
But who?
Those guys?
Wait, doesn't that mean they're watching us right now?!
That doesn't matter.
If we want to save Misaki, we have to take it out.
You guys stay there!
Elitia!
Let's see those entrails fly, you stupid orcs!
SONIC RAID
BLADE RONDE
Wow...
Elitia-san!
Atobe-kun, let's help her!
Stay away!
Leave me and run!
She's...
WHEN HIT BY ANOTHER'S BLOOD INHERENT SKILL "BERSERK" ACTIVATED
"Berserk"... She's a berserker?!
Is she not able to control her power?
That's why she kept her distance and wouldn't join our party?
I swear I'll save you!
I'm not... I'm not a murderer!
I'm no murderer!
Was she trying to handle all those Named monsters and orcs by herself?!
BRUTAL VOICE
Elitia!
Let me go!
Arihito... Run!
Run?
Sure, I could do that if I used the Return Scroll Suzuna has.
And I should. I can't beat that monster.
But...
You think I can run away just because you told me to?!
BLAZE SHOT
Igarashi-san, Theresia, Suzuna.
If we run out of options, leave me and run.
You know we can't do that!
I'm with you to the end, too!
Please, just do as I say!
When we're back home safe, I'll do whatever you want!
We won't run unless there's no other option.
So please let us stay here!
Suzuna... Theresia...
All right. Be ready to use the Return Scroll at any time.
Just promise me that.
If any of us takes a direct hit from a Juggernaut, we're dead.
But...
Elitia's able to evade the Juggernaut's attacks.
That means we can create an opportunity to attack it!
Elitia! Join my party! It can be temporary!
You can't save Misaki this way! Please!
Elitia-san, please do as Arihito-san says!
You don't want to die in a place like this, do you?!
ELITIA HAS JOINED YOUR PARTY.
She... joined the party?
Elitia! Use an attack that deals a lot of hits!
I'll support you!
Even if physical attacks don't work,
if I add ten points to each of her attacks, we have...
a chance!
Sonic Raid!
SONIC RAID
Blossom Blade!
BLOSSOM BLADE
Nice to meet you! I'm Misaki!
THE WORLD'S STRONGEST REARGUARD
Hi. I'm Kyouka, the most senior member of Atobe-kun's party.
She did it!
Theresia! Igarashi-san! Cover Elitia!
I think there are still more enemies nearby!
Shoulda just pretended you didn't see anything!
Guys! I'll support!
Right!
Thunderbolt!
THUNDERBOLT
Damn it, you guys are useless!
That's some impressive aim.
That felt... kind of strange. I've never felt that before.
Just assume that when you're in front of me, your attacks will be boosted.
More importantly...
Elitia, are you okay?
Thanks.
I know it's pathetic, but I just don't have any strength left.
It's fine. Don't push yourself.
RECOVERY SUPPORT LV. 1
This should get you back to full strength.
Okay.
Misaki's okay.
That girl's got the devil's luck.
I wasn't confident I could help her, so... I'm glad.
Huh? Am I...
Misaki-chan! You're safe now.
Wait, did you save me, Suzu-chan?
Not just me... We all...
Thank you!
I-I was so scared...
Misaki-chan...
Thank goodness.
I'm sorry for... all that stuff about me.
None of it makes sense, does it?
Give me just a little more time. I'll explain it all later.
Okay, got it.
What? Does something hurt?
It's nothing.
Is that one of those "treasure chests"?
Named monsters almost never drop black ones.
They're treasures every Seeker dreams of finding.
But don't open it carelessly.
Have the guild direct you to a Chest Cracker who can undo the trap on it.
Okay, I'll do that.
Excuse me!
Thank you so much for saving me!
S-Sure.
I didn't understand anything about labyrinths and Seekers...
but I'm gonna switch gears and do my best, so...
please buy me dinner!
Wha?
Actually, I'm kinda hungry, too.
Atobe-kun, let's get dinner after we report to the guild.
Please...
Yeah, good idea.
All right!
Yay! Yay! Food! Food!
Okay, Theresia, I'll see you to the mercenary office.
Theresia?
Atobe-kun, I think Theresia-san would like to eat with us.
What? Really?
I was thinking earlier...
This lizard hat thing is super cute!
Ooh, it feels so smooth and cool!
A J—
Jugger...
Yes, we ran into it on the second floor.
We killed it and let the carriers handle the rest.
They said they'll come report to the guild later...
L-Louisa-san?
Louisa!
P-Pardon me...
U-Um, so... If you'll just come with me, then...
There are some Named monsters that appear commonly and some that are rare.
The Juggernaut is a rarity among Named Fanged Orcs.
I checked the records,
and a group of parties with 24 Seekers between them once took on a Juggernaut,
but sadly, they were defeated.
The only survivors were those in the party led by Bergen.
I get it.
So Bergen's party took Misaki
to draw Elitia out and get her to kill the Juggernaut,
all while planning to take the spoils for themselves.
Most likely.
Either way, you can let the guild handle the rest.
In this country, judging people like Bergen is one of the guild's duties.
Louisa-san, I'm sorry for only asking this now...
but does Labyrinth Country have a king?
No, the family that founded the country has been banished from District 1.
The ones who hold the power in Labyrinth Country now are the heads of the cathedral
and the guides here at the guild.
So are we Seeking because the country wills it?
And that's why we had no choice but to become Seekers?
Yes.
All the labyrinths in Labyrinth Country exist somewhere else in the world.
Only the entrances used to teleport to them
are within the walls of Labyrinth Country.
Even I am not yet worthy of knowing why that's the case.
I see...
Anyway, I'll take a look at your activity log from the labyrinth.
Ten points for entering the second floor of Field of Dawn.
Arihito reached level 3. That's 20 points.
Kyouka reached level 2. That's 10 points.
Suzuna reached level 2. That's 10 points.
You defeated 15 Cotton Balls for 75 points.
You defeated eight Poison Spear Bees for 64 points.
You defeated 23 Fanged Orcs for 230 points.
You defeated the bounty "Juggernaut" for 800 points.
Theresia's Trust Level went up. That's 50 points.
Kyouka's Trust Level went up. That's 50 points.
Suzuna's Trust Level went up. That's 10 points.
Elitia's Trust Level went up. That's 50 points.
You saved another party. That's 30 points.
You rescued Misaki. That's 100 points.
You fought off three criminals. That's 90 points.
You brought back one black treasure chest. That's 50 points.
A-And there's more...
Your Seeker Contribution Points total 1,649.
You're ranked second in all of District 8!
A three-digit Contribution score is amazing enough,
but you made it to four digits in just two days!
That's incredible, Mr. Atobe!
Th-Thank you...
'Scuse me!
Ah, I thought I'd find you here!
Are you gonna be much longer? I wanna go eat!
Yeah, I know.
Oh, Louisa-san, would you like to join us for dinner?
To thank you for all you've taught me.
Oh! Are you sure?
Atobe-kun, you're our leader, so you're in the center today.
O-Okay...
Let's see...
Louisa-san, since you're from the guild, you can sit beside him.
Oh, no, you should sit beside him.
The members of your party are the stars here, after all.
No, no, I insist.
Oh, no, Ms. Igarashi. I insist.
Reminds me of when I worked at the office...
Should Suzuna-chan or Theresia-san sit beside him, then?
Hey, let me be one of the candidates, too!
I'm really grateful to you, Arihito-san!
I'll refill your drinks for you!
Not you.
Atobe-kun told me he's not into gyaru-type girls.
Are you sure you're not just jealous of a much younger girl?
I'm really good at pouring drinks, you know!
Wait, how old are you again, Arihito-oniichan?
O-Onii-chan?
Are quiet girls your type?
Like Suzu-chan?
Um, Misaki-chan...
Topics like that are off-limits.
Aw, what's wrong with it?
Oh! So you prefer older girls, then?
Thank you for waiting.
Looks like it's all here.
Leader, why don't you lead us in a toast?
Oh, sure. Then...
Actually, first, I need to tell you something.
After dinner, I plan to go see Leila-san
and have Theresia officially added to our party.
I want to return Theresia to her human body.