I kept stroking the girl's head until her sobs finally quieted. When I looked down, her teary eyes were gazing up at me.
"Oh—sorry. I didn't mean to just keep petting you like that."
I pulled my hand away quickly. A small, lonely "Ah…" escaped her lips.
"Th-thank you… so much for saving me…!"
She bowed deeply, her voice trembling with gratitude.
"You're welcome."
"I really thought I was done for… I'd half given up already. So when you showed up… I was… really, really happy…!"
Her cheeks flushed as she managed a smile. Even with the traces of childishness in her features, the expression was undeniably cute.
(…Wait. Monsters approaching. Feels like… a goblin pack? She just got attacked; better avoid more fighting for now.)
I sensed the incoming presences and immediately decided our next move.
"I only stumbled across you by chance, but I'm glad I could help. Come on—let's head out together."
"Y-yes!"
I offered my hand as she stood. "Th-thank you," she said, taking it shyly.
I pulled her up gently, then gave her a quick once-over. The Heal I'd cast earlier seemed to have done its job; she looked steady enough to walk.
With her following close behind, we made our way back to the seventh-floor entrance.
The other party was gone.
(Heartless to the end. Though if they'd stuck around, it probably would've just turned messy. Maybe it's better they bailed.)
We pressed our guild cards to the crystal and teleported straight to the labyrinth's main entrance.
◇
Back on the surface, mission accomplished. I'd seen her to safety; escort duty was over.
The sun hadn't fully set yet.
She should be fine from here on her own.
"Now that we're out, you can—"
"U-um!"
My suggestion to part ways got cut off by her sudden, loud voice.
"S-sorry for yelling like that…"
"No, it's fine. Something wrong?"
"Um… thank you again, from the bottom of my heart, for saving me!"
She bowed deeply once more.
(—Hold on. I didn't notice earlier, but that outfit… and the emblem peeking out on her cloak…)
She wore a blue-based dress with black knee-high socks, topped with a black cloak that clearly marked her as a mage. On the cloak was an emblem evoking the moon.
"Ah! Right—I never introduced myself! I'm Sophia Crodel."
Red hair, that name—Crodel…
"My bad for not saying sooner. I'm Orun Dura."
"Orun… what a wonderful name…"
Sophia murmured it softly—probably to herself, but I heard it crystal clear.
It's a pretty ordinary name, honestly. Still, getting complimented never feels bad.
"A-anyway, Orun! I feel awful because I can't think of a proper way to thank you, but…"
"I didn't save you expecting anything in return. You already said thank you—that's more than enough."
"No, I can't just leave it like that! At least let me treat you to dinner! It's… not homemade or anything, though…"
…Dinner sounded fine. If I were in her shoes, I'd feel restless until I repaid the favor somehow.
I couldn't let a younger girl pay for me, though—I'd find a way to cover it.
"Alright, I'll take you up on that. When were you thinking? My schedule's wide open for a while."
"Th-then… is tonight too sudden? Starting tomorrow I might be busy for a bit, so…"
"…Sure. Let's go now, then. Got a place in mind? If not, I can recommend somewhere good."
"I-I already have one! It's not fancy or expensive, but… the food is really delicious!"
"Price doesn't matter. If it's tasty, I'm looking forward to it."
◇
We walked together from the labyrinth entrance into town.
"Here we are!"
(…Figures. Rabbit lineage after all.)
The place she led me to was a popular diner run by the major clan "Silver Rabbit of the Night Sky".
Clans are organizations that support explorers. They process materials brought back from labyrinths, sell them, and use the profits to equip their members for deeper runs—creating a self-sustaining cycle.
Some clans branch out into businesses like restaurants, general stores, and more.
They employ not just explorers but blacksmiths, magic tool craftsmen, merchants—the works.
Plenty of clans exist across the country, but "Silver Rabbit of the Night Sky" stands head and shoulders above the rest.
The biggest reason? They house one of only three S-rank parties in the entire nation.
But that's not all. Their membership is several times larger than average, and they've turned every venture they touch into success.
I'd heard there was some internal turmoil last year—major restructuring. Yet public opinion hadn't shifted, which spoke to how capable their leadership must be.
The emblem on Sophia's cloak was definitely theirs.
So she was part of the clan. Which begged the question: why was she running with a random pickup party instead of her own clanmates?
…No point dwelling on it without answers.
We stepped inside together.
The interior was stylish and modern, filled mostly with younger customers.
Despite the crowd, it wasn't rowdy—actually felt pretty comfortable.
"Huh…? Big sis? Why are you here?"
Sophia scanned the room, spotted someone familiar, and called out. —Big sis?
I followed her gaze—and sure enough, there sat a woman I recognized, eating alone.
"Hm? Sophia? I had a meeting nearby today and figured this was a good spot for dinner. …Wait, already got yourself a boyfriend? Isn't that moving a little fast…?"
The woman turned, clearly ready to tease Sophia about being with a guy.
But the moment her eyes landed on me, the air around her sharpened.
"It's not like that! He saved me today, so I just wanted to thank him… Oh—let me introduce you. This is… Um, big sis?"
Sophia frantically denied the boyfriend jab, then tried to introduce me—only to falter when she noticed the sudden tension.
"Long time no see, Orun Dura."
"Yeah… it has been a while, Selma Crodel."
I knew this woman well.
In a way, she was one of the indirect reasons I got kicked out of the hero party.