How far removed from reality are these people...?
I've reached my limit.
Once the penalty period ends anyway, I plan to leave this party immediately.
So, I'm going to say everything I want to say.
Since the forced deportation is already complete, that's fine, right?
"Since you still don't seem to get it, I'll say it clearly. Right now, among S-rank parties, we are the weakest. There's no way a party like ours can defeat the Black Dragon."
"Hah!? The weakest S-rank!? We're the hero party! No way we're losing to any other party!"
Derek-san still comes at me aggressively.
"Didn't I already say we were only able to stay the hero party because Orun-san was with us!? Especially you and Aneli-san—without Orun-san's support, you're only A-rank level at best! Know your place!"
"!!! Know my place!? You're the one who needs to know yours! Acting like you're stronger than me!"
Derek-san's face turns bright red as he rages.
Honestly, he heats up so easily... Though maybe I went too far just now.
No, I'm not lying. If I really wanted to, I could insta-kill someone like Derek-san.
Derek-san and the others are against Orun-san's rejoining, but I don't want to die.
That's why I absolutely won't budge on bringing Orun-san back. Challenging the Black Dragon like this will just get us all killed.
"That's what I said. Even if you and I fought one-on-one, I'd win."
"Big talk. It'll be too late for tears and apologies later!"
Derek-san draws his sword.
...To think he'd go this far.
My favorability toward Derek-san has plummeted to depths even the Great Labyrinth couldn't reach.
"Sigh... 'Pixie,' please."
"—!? I can't move...!"
With my ability, Derek-san's body freezes.
I construct an advanced magic spell formula, pour in just a tiny bit of mana, manifest a magic circle right in front of his eyes, and speak.
"...The match is over. Do you really think you can take an advanced magic at this range and walk away unscathed?"
"Guh... Is this your ability too? I never heard you could use it like this."
"I still don't fully understand the extent of my own ability myself. Orun-san seems to understand it, though—"
"Enough."
Oliver-san, who had stayed silent until now, finally speaks.
Too late.
"First, we find Orun. Then we decide what comes next. No objections."
The party's atmosphere remains utterly toxic, but everyone seems to obey Oliver-san's words.
◇
With that, we began heading toward the plaza near the Great Labyrinth entrance.
As the plaza came into view, I swallowed hard.
At the center stood a massive black thing, surrounded by a crowd of people.
There was no mistaking what that black thing was.
"Why is the Black Dragon here!? Damn it!"
Oliver-san instantly drew his sword and prepared to charge.
"Wait!"
I hurriedly stopped Oliver-san.
"Why stop me!? If we don't hold it here, the town will suffer massive damage!"
Oliver-san wasn't calm at all.
Normally, he would never act like this.
"Something's off! And if the Black Dragon really appeared, there are way too many people gathered around. Stay alert—we'll approach carefully without dropping our guard."
We reached the plaza.
The people encircling the Black Dragon noticed us and parted, letting us through smoothly to where it was.
"Wha—"
The sight that met my eyes as we passed through the crowd left me speechless.
The Black Dragon before us had shattered scales in places, was bleeding from its entire body, and its neck had been completely severed.
Moreover, leaning against an unfamiliar, pitch-black, ominous greatsword right beside it... stood Orun-san.
If Orun-san is here, does that mean "Silver Rabbit of the Night Sky" subjugated the Black Dragon!?
"...Orun...san."
The words slipped out unconsciously, and Orun-san reacted.
He turned toward us, his unfocused eyes meeting ours.
Orun-san had no obvious external wounds, but his whole body was filthy.
From his dazed gaze and the traces of roughly wiped nosebleeds, he'd clearly cast an enormous number of magics.
I'd never seen Orun-san this exhausted before.
"...Ah, Luna. Perfect timing."
Orun-san spoke in a small voice, released his hand from the greatsword—and it crumbled apart in pieces.
He staggered toward me.
Normally I'd rush over to support him, but in my current state of confusion, that thought didn't even occur to me.
When he reached me, Orun-san placed his right hand on my right shoulder.
"Cleanup... is yours."
"......Huh?"
With just those words, Orun-san walked right past me and headed off somewhere.
None of us party members could process the situation.
I want to ask Orun-san what happened, but he left me with the aftermath.
Besides, we're partially responsible for causing this mess.
We can't leave this place.
"Um... so the Black Dragon... has already been defeated...?"
Oliver-san's voice trembled as he spoke.
"...It seems... so."
Needless to say, as we handled the aftermath and learned that Orun-san had defeated the Black Dragon alone, every single one of us was left utterly shocked...