Around noon today, news finally spread among the adventurers that Aign and his group had conquered the labyrinth.
Various speculations were circulating about them, as they had accomplished something absolutely impossible with only the strength required of adventurers.
They would likely be bothered and praised for a while, but Aign and his group didn't care about any of that and were simply basking in their joy.
They had obtained a treasure found in the deepest part of the labyrinth: a thousand gold coins. It would be strange not to be happy.
Incidentally, the thousand gold coins they found weren't in a treasure chest, but were simply scattered on the floor of a small room, which apparently greatly lowered Aign and his group's spirits.
By the way, they had already visited Lizel last night and given him five hundred gold coins as promised.
Lizel was inwardly surprised, though he felt it was rude to think so, that they had given him half of the reward without trying to cheat him.
However, from Aign and his group's perspective, they didn't think they could get away with cheating Lizel and Gil, so it was only natural.
Last night, they expressed their gratitude to Lizel in an exaggerated manner and then happily went off to celebrate their conquest.
"They each got 125 gold coins. Is that a lot?"
"If you want to get good equipment, more than half of that will easily disappear. If you want to aim for a higher rank, it'll obviously not be enough."
And now, tonight, Lizel and Gil are visiting the bar they first went to when they met.
Gil sat down at the counter and ordered a drink, while Lizel, after hesitating, was served the same fruit juice as before.
Looking curiously at the row of liquor bottles visible across the counter, Lizel took a sip of the fruit juice.
It was less sweet than before, which suited Lizel's taste.
"It's delicious."
"..."
Liesel smiled, and the master glanced at him briefly, nodding silently.
He wasn't a man of many words to begin with. He wasn't particularly friendly, but his skills were undeniable, so he never lacked customers.
Lizel quietly set down his glass and took a cloth bag from his pouch behind his back.
He placed the jet-black cloth bag, embroidered with gold thread, on the counter, and the sound of coins clinking together could be heard.
Gil didn't look at the bag, which was placed between him and Lizel, but leaned on his elbow and looked at Lizel.
The gentle expression that usually graced Lizel's face, often accompanied by a smile, was now devoid of any mirth.
his eyes, which naturally exuded purity and conveyed a sense of compassion regardless of his mood, were fixed on Gil without wavering.
Seeing this face, Gil now understood why younger people would be so drawn to him; it made perfect sense.
"Thank you for this past month."
Yes, today marked exactly one month since Lizel and Gil had met.
In other words, the contract that Lizel had initially proposed was ending today.
"You couldn't manage to spend all my money, could you?"
"You earned a ridiculous amount right at the last minute..."
Gil frowned and clicked his tongue at Lizel, who was laughing teasingly.
It wasn't that he was genuinely upset, since he hadn't known how much money Lizel had to begin with; it was just a playful challenge.
It was a protest against Lizel's easygoing attitude and teasing.
The bag he was looking down at undoubtedly contained gold coins.
It was clear at a glance that it was far more than enough for a month's worth of services.
Lizel, who had spent the past month studying, couldn't possibly be unaware of the going rate, so it couldn't be a mistake.
Without picking up the bag on the counter, Gil took a sip from his glass.
"That's quite a lot."
"It's a token of my gratitude. And a reservation."
"A reservation?"
Gil couldn't hide his puzzled expression at the way Lizel spoke, as if he were about to leave now that his business was done.
Gil was aware that Lizel wanted to keep him close.
Gil himself probably thought that he would be with Lizel as long as he was in this world.
"If something happens again, will you lend me a hand?"
Immediately afterward, a crack appeared in the glass Gil was holding.
The next day, shocking news spread among the adventurers.
The adventurers gathered at the guild were restlessly discussing the daily big news.
Gil, "Single-Stroke," had finally formed a party. Never before had a single adventurer forming a party caused such a stir.
Those who knew Gil dismissed it as unbelievable, those who knew both Gil and Lizel accepted it with some doubt, and those who were close to the two tilted their heads, wondering, "Didn't they already form a party?"
Studd, the only exception among those close to the two, faced the center of the rumor with undisguised displeasure.
Gil, receiving his expressionless gaze that clearly showed his displeasure, scoffed and looked down at him confidently.
"Don't sulk just because someone you're attached to has been taken away, kid."
"Who's attached to whom?"
"Are you unconscious of it...?"
Studd looked away from Gil, who seemed somehow relieved, as he completed the request procedures.
Before meeting Lizel, Gil was truly worthy of the name "Single-Stroke," a man like a bare blade.
Their conversations were purely business-like, and he had never once initiated a conversation with Studd. His expression remained unchanged, still showing irritation, and he rarely interacted with others; the only times he was seen walking with someone were usually when a woman invited him out at night.
He didn't dislike Studd because he didn't engage in idle chatter. Of course, he didn't like him either.
But look at him now.
The man who was making such a bewildered expression in front of Lizel made one wonder if he was the same person as before.
He hadn't become lax, nor had he become soft. It was easy to imagine that if you picked a fight with him, you would be exposed to a sharp, murderous intent like a honed blade.
Perhaps it would be better to say that his demeanor had become more relaxed. Strangely, he even seemed to have elevated his status as an adventurer.
If asked whether he liked him or disliked him, the answer would be that he didn't like him.
"...Just because you're not his bodyguard anymore doesn't mean you should put him in danger."
"Who are you talking to?"
He had many thoughts, but ultimately, that was all Studd cared about.
It didn't matter whether Gil changed or not. As long as Lizel was safe, that was all that mattered.
Since he was unaware that he was so attached to him, it was understandable that Gil was bewildered.
While Lizel, the person involved, was feeling conflicted about their newfound equal partnership, the procedures seemed to have been completed.
As Lizel reached out to receive his returned guild card, Studd grabbed his sleeve.
"Then what are these bruises on his wrist, you big talker?"
When he moved Lizel's sleeve slightly, a purple bruise was visible, encircling his wrist.
The mark, as if from being gripped tightly, faintly colored Lizel's fair skin, which was unusually pale for an adventurer.
When his hand was released, Lizel laughed amusedly, adjusted his sleeve, and said: "Gil begged me not to leave him,"
"No way."
Despite his denial, the fact that he was clicking his tongue with a displeased expression suggested that Gil was indeed the one who had given him the bruise.
Judging by the way he averted his gaze from Studd's sullen stare, he probably felt guilty about it himself.
While wondering what had happened, Studd decided to trust that Gil wouldn't hurt Lizel again and stopped questioning him.
He generally disliked meddling in other people's affairs.
In fact, only the two of them and the bar owner knew about what happened last night.
The taciturn bar owner would never spread the story to anyone.
Gil himself didn't want to remember it, and wished he could forget it as soon as possible. The truth would likely never be revealed.
After confirming that Lizel had carefully put away his guild card, Studd handed him an envelope.
"It was mixed in with the letters addressed to the Guild Master this morning. I looked inside, and it seems to be addressed to you."
"I have no idea... is it for me?"
The envelope, which had no address or anything else written on it, was quite thick and looked expensive.
Lizel took it, turned it over, and saw "Mr. Bear" written in bold letters in the lower right corner.
Without even thinking, he knew it was from Viscount Ray.
"What did the Guild Master say?"
"Well, I brought it myself, so I don't know, but there shouldn't be any problem."
Apparently, while sorting the letters as usual, he found a letter that seemed to be from the Viscount, and judging from the way the sender was written, he guessed it was for Lizel, checked the contents, and brought it himself.
"Is that okay?" he wondered, glancing at the guild employee sitting next to him. The employee nodded.
He hadn't acted so personally before, but the efficiency-oriented Studd often took such actions.
"You refused any power intervention when you joined the guild, so is this really okay?"
"It's just that we can't accept you as a registered member. If a noble becomes a client, the guild would be more than happy."
Refusing all power intervention would only create enemies.
So, the guild's policy seems to be to turn them into allies.
However, unless the guild tells him not to get involved, he has no right to refuse letters from nobles.
"I don't mind," he thought, as Lizel took the letter out of the opened envelope.
"Is it okay to read it here?"
Taking issue with Studd's words, Lizel glanced around.
He gave a wry smile as the gazes that had gathered on him, likely due to the rumors, scattered all at once.
It wasn't that he hadn't noticed, but having lived a life exposed to scrutiny as a noble, Lizel was indifferent to the gazes directed at him.
Even in situations like this, where being noticed by those around him would be troublesome, he often let things slide out of habit, leading to frequent mistakes.
He could be careful if he really didn't want to be noticed, though.
"Well, they won't know the contents or who sent it."
"They won't know, but..."
Even without this, the fact that he had formed a party was already attracting attention, and receiving such a conspicuously important-looking envelope from a guild employee would undoubtedly lead to speculation.
It was unnatural for Lizel, a fledgling adventurer, to receive such a letter.
Even now, his background is being freely speculated upon, but it's likely to increase even more after this.
Lizel, however, was completely unconcerned, tucking a stray strand of hair behind his ear and elegantly reading the letter.
"You're so laid-back."
"Hmm?"
With a vague smile at Gil's exasperated voice, Lizel finished reading the letter.
"He's a nobleman, but he's quite proactive."
"Huh?"
Gil was handed a letter and lowered his gaze to the document.
Bold, energetic handwriting, befitting his cheerful personality, flowed across the page.
He deciphered the polite, albeit somewhat roundabout, sentences typical of a nobleman, frowning as he did so. The content was simple.
He wanted to show off his collection. He also had a favor to ask. Therefore, he wanted them to come. That was all.
"Are you going?"
"What should we do? I think he'd forgive us if we declined."
"You don't want to go?"
"It's just that it's an option. Since it's a party, I wanted to hear your opinion too."
"You're the leader, aren't you?"
Yes, Lizel was the representative of their party.
Normally, the person with the highest guild rank serves as the leader, which is considered common sense among adventurers.
So Lizel thought Gil would be the leader, but Gil himself refused.
According to Gil, "You want me to lead you? That's a joke." Since he said it with such a matter-of-fact expression, Lizel didn't force the issue.
Thus, an E-rank party leader was born.
"If Gil doesn't want to go, we'll decline. Because you seemed to dislike interacting with those kinds of people."
"It's fine if it's necessary."
Lizel stared intently at Gil.
Gil's...
If the words had been a lie, Lizel would have easily refused this request, but that doesn't seem to be the case.
"(It's not that he dislikes nobles in general, but rather that there's a specific noble he dislikes, I guess.)"
Lizel is certain that Gil has (or had) some connection to the nobility.
It's probably a knight, or a noble related to one. It's just a guess, but I doesn't think I'm wrong.
Gil seems reluctant to talk about it, so he won't press him for answers, but he intends to ask him without hesitation if it becomes necessary in the future.
"Well then, since we've been invited, shall we go?"
"Yes."
"Studd, do you know the location?"
When he asked Studd about the location of the Viscount's mansion, he was told it was in the central district.
As Lizel thought on his first day in this world, in this country, and in many others, important institutions are often concentrated in the center of the country.
The area where the nobles live is close to the castle, and the central district is surrounded by a river, making it easily distinguishable.
There are large bridges crossing the river in all four directions, and military police act as gatekeepers on these bridges, watching the people passing by to prevent suspicious individuals from entering.
Of course, it's not that only nobles can enter.
Many people work in the central district, and there's a lot of traffic from merchants.
Even though it's the central district, the outer areas are bustling with people, so Lizel and Gil should be able to enter without any trouble.
"It's a bit far, but you can rent a carriage at the large bridge in the central district."
"Can even ordinary adventurers rent them?"
"Well, if you try to use it without any reason, you'll be viewed with great suspicion, but with the Viscount's letter, it should be fine. You, in particular, shouldn't have to worry about that."
Normally, the carriages at the large bridge are large, luxurious carriages used by wealthy people who have houses in the even more central part of the central district. It was common practice to switch to a smaller carriage when leaving the city center, and large carriages were rarely seen in this area.
If an adventurer tried to rent such a carriage to head to the city center, they would almost certainly be stopped.
It would be easy if they had proof of a request from a noble, but such adventurers are usually S or A-rank adventurers, and an E-rank adventurer, even with a letter from a viscount, would definitely be viewed with suspicion.
However, Studd thought differently.
He believed that Lizel wouldn't need to show his guild card or the letter from the viscount; he would be able to rent a carriage quite naturally.
The gatekeepers would simply assume that a noble who had been away had returned.
"We'll send a message ahead from the guild. A visit today is perfectly fine."
"Well, since we're not in a hurry, let's have a leisurely lunch first."
And after lunch...
In the carriage, which glided silently along the smoothly paved road, Lizel gazed at the scenery outside.
The spacious interior was large enough that even with Gil sitting opposite him and stretching out his long legs, there was still plenty of room.
"I never thought it would actually be a matter of just showing my face. My outfit looks like an adventurer's, doesn't it?"
"It's not exactly a typical adventurer's outfit, is it? The materials are superior to those of a noble's clothes."
"But yours are too, Gil."
Both Lizel and Gil were wearing custom-made clothes, so their attire was indeed different from that of typical adventurers.
Lizel himself thought he looked like a mage, but if the designer had consciously aimed for a noble-like appearance for Lizel, then this was understandable.
Gil thought that the reason for his appearance was mostly due to his inherent nature rather than the clothes themselves, but he refrained from saying anything, not wanting to upset Lizel, who was worried about not looking like an adventurer.
There was no point in pointing out something that the person couldn't change.
"Maybe I should try acting a little more rough around the edges."
"Don't even think about it."
As Gil stopped Lizel, who was calmly about to go off on a tangent, the carriage stopped with a small jolt.
After a while, the coachman opened the carriage door and placed a small set of steps below it.
Seeing Lizel calmly waiting, sitting there so elegantly, reminded Gil once again that Lizel was indeed a noble.
Gil got out first, followed by lizel, who handed the coachman a silver coin.
After watching the carriage depart, Lizel slowly looked around.
"Sir Lizel and Sir Gil, I presume?"
A single elderly man stood upright in the middle of the open gate.
Judging by his attire, he was likely a butler; the old man, who had given a polite bow, was smiling as he looked at the two of them.
"I serve as the head butler of this mansion. Please, this way."
They followed him through the entrance.
The spacious hall that greeted them was adorned with paintings of all sizes on the walls, presenting a breathtaking sight.
Lizel looked at each painting, inwardly tilting his head in confusion.
The subjects of the paintings weren't exactly scenes one would expect to be chosen for artistic representation.
Scenes of adventurers slaying monsters, or the reverse, views of the inside of a labyrinth, or simply paintings of the labyrinth's gate.
"Gil, this is..."
"You're already looking at them, are you? These are some of my proudest labyrinth treasures!"
Ray appeared with an entrance that sounded like it should have had a "bang" sound effect. In reality, there wasn't any such loud noise.
His manner of walking, with his hands slightly outstretched, was like something out of a theatrical performance.
"Thank you for coming, welcome!"
"Thank you for inviting us today,"
"Stop that, I've decided that we should be close friends! Both of you, please treat me as a friend, just like you normally would."
Ray, who was approaching quickly, stopped Lizel, who was about to give his formal greeting.
It was strange to call an adventurer a friend, Lizel thought, looking at Ray who had stopped in front of him.
He probably had a small personal space to begin with; his stance was very close.
Lizel took a step back, trying to distance himself from the shining blonde hair and smiling face. Ray closed the gap.
When someone of higher status tells you to relax your attitude, it can have two meanings.
Are they truly sincere, or are they observing how much distance the other person will close?
If someone suddenly becomes informal, it's proof that they've been looking down on you all along.
Lizel considered whether Ray had spoken with that intention, but it didn't seem to be the case.
Lizel glanced at the silent Gil, then returned his gaze to Ray.
"Then, as you wish."
"Stiff!"
"Then, I'll do as you say."
"Come on, you too!"
"...Shut up."
Seeing that he was demanding that they close the distance themselves, rather than testing them, it seemed he truly had no other intentions.
Lizel gave a wry smile at the other person, who nodded with satisfaction.
"Then, I'll show you around."
"Ah, before that..."
Lizel called out to Ray, who was about to turn around, and rummaged through his pouch.
He grabbed the item he was looking for and offered it to Ray. He had considered looking for the head butler to hand it over, but the butler had disappeared without a trace. Lizel handed over a package wrapped in white and orange striped paper, tied with a luxurious ribbon. Just like before, a fancy envelope was attached to the ribbon.
Recognizing the gift at a glance, Ray's eyes lit up as he accepted the package.
"It's a souvenir."
"~~~!!! Wonderful! You're the best!"
Ray's excitement soared as he carefully opened the package to reveal the souvenir.
His already radiant aura intensified as he spread his arms wide and lunged towards Lizel.
Just as it seemed he was about to be embraced, Lizel managed to avoid the crushing hug thanks to Gil pulling his arm.
Ray, unfazed by his missed attempt, looked at the gift again.
It was a teddy bear with eyes made of sparkling yellow gems. It was the contents of Lizel's second treasure chest, a momentous occasion.
He had intended to give it to Ray if he ever had the chance to meet him, and this occasion was perfect, so he had wrapped it and brought it along.
Incidentally, when he opened the treasure chest, Gil, uncharacteristically, put a hand on his shoulder to comfort him.
"Calm down, old man, act your age..."
"Well, it's nice to see him so happy, isn't it?"
"Wonderful! I'm the happiest I've ever been! Oh, what a miracle I've witnessed!"
Just as they wondered when he would calm down, the head butler appeared from somewhere and calmed Ray down.
The head butler, dealing with Ray with practiced ease, was clearly accustomed to such situations.
The teddy bear was handed to the head butler and would probably be displayed alongside the previous one.
Afterward, they were guided to the reception room by the head butler.
While not as grand as the entrance hall, it was also adorned with paintings, and various items from the labyrinth were displayed like in a showcase. The painting was indeed a scene from some labyrinth. The person depicted in it was a remarkably realistic-looking adventurer.
"Is the subject of the painting perhaps a real person?"
"That's right!"
Paintings, while not common, can be found in any labyrinth.
They are large and bulky, and not particularly valuable, so they aren't very desirable for adventurers.
Lizel and Gil have bags with spatial magic, but they are expensive, so few adventurers own them.
Adventurers without a means of carrying them would likely leave them behind in the labyrinth.
The only time a painting's value increases is when the depicted scene is valuable.
The content of the painting actually depicts a scene that truly occurred in that labyrinth in the past.
So, most of the time it's just an unremarkable corridor in the labyrinth, but if it depicts a labyrinth boss or a mystical landscape, the price increases significantly.
And the most valuable paintings are those that feature famous adventurers.
Paintings depicting S-rank parties or other famous parties fetch incredibly high prices.
"Then, wouldn't a painting of Gil be quite expensive?"
"Who knows? Besides, I don't even want to see myself in a painting."
"Hmm, there's one! You want to see it, right?"
"Stop it."
Lizel nodded enthusiastically, trying to appease Gil, who was frowning with genuine displeasure.
With a mischievous grin, Ray snapped his fingers.
Immediately, a servant arrived carrying a framed painting covered with a cloth, and then quickly removed the cloth.
Ignoring Gil, who was turning his face away with a completely displeased expression, Ray and Lizel looked at the painting without hesitation. Within a frame about a meter wide, a painting depicted Gil, his cold gaze piercing through something.
The object was too massive to identify, but its size suggested it was likely a boss from some labyrinth.
"No, no, the combination of 'Single-Stroke' and the boss fetched an incredible price. The painting seems to have come from the deepest levels, and the labyrinth seems to understand its true value."
"By the way, how much did it cost?"
"It was about eighty gold coins. I was lucky to get it through connections, but it might have gone for two hundred at auction."
"You're incredibly popular, Gil!"
He playfully shook his shoulder, but his hand was annoyingly grabbed and tossed aside.
"So, strong adventurers are popular, aren't they?"
"Strength is a factor, but it's also because of his striking appearance in the painting. The auctioneers predicted that young ladies would compete for it, driving the price up to two hundred coins."
"Appearance, huh?"
Lizel stared at the painting, then at Gil's face.
He had always thought Gil had a refined face, but indeed, without the usual furrowed brow, he was incredibly beautiful.
The Gil depicted in the painting was exactly that expressionless face.
HIs almond-shaped eyes, straight nose, and thin lips were perfectly positioned, and his languid gaze exuded a masculine charm.
Lizel had only ever thought of him as having a rough demeanor, but many women would likely find that slightly dangerous aura irresistible.
Perhaps because Lizel was staring so intently, Gil, who had been avoiding his gaze, glanced at him.
He still had a furrowed brow and an unhappy expression, but eventually, he sighed as if giving up.
He raised one hand.
Then, as if to cover Lizel's eyes, he firmly grabbed his head.
"Your gaze is annoying."
"I'm sorry."
"Hey, clean that up already."
Gil glared at Ray, who was smiling mischievously in front of him, and then at the painting.
Ray laughed out loud, and after he had the painting put away, the hand that had been holding Lizel finally let go.
Adjusting his slightly disheveled hair, Lizel glanced at the place where the painting had been.
"Will my paintings be displayed someday? I won't dislike it as much as Gil, but it's still embarrassing."
"If that happens, I'll get them no matter how much they cost, rest assured!"
There was no way Lizel could feel reassured by Ray, who would undoubtedly display them if he got his hands on them.
Rather, seeing Ray openly declare his desire to acquire them, Lizel wondered if he should refrain from venturing into the labyrinth.
For now, he could only pray that the labyrinth wouldn't take notice of him.
"By the way, what was it you wanted to ask?"
"Ah, that's right."
To Lizel's question, which seemed intended to change the subject, Ray handed him a letter.
It seemed to be formally written, sealed with wax, and Lizel accepted it.
It wasn't very thick, and he couldn't guess the contents at all. He looked at Ray questioningly.
"You'll be visiting Marcade too, won't you? Use this if you need to!"
Ray said with a sly smile.
From what Lizel had heard after his previous encounter with Ray, the innkeeper had described him as a "handsome middle-aged man."
Indeed, it was the kind of smile that made it easy to imagine he had been quite popular in his youth.
Lizel glanced at the letter and repeated Ray's words in his mind.
"Use it if you need to," he thought. "...I don't think an adventurer like me will ever get such an opportunity,"
"I don't think so,"
Lizel nodded, seemingly agreeing with that sentiment. Gil looked at Ray suspiciously.
That was understandable; there was no reason for him to be so kind to them after only meeting twice.
Gil was confident that he had seen through Ray's true intentions. That's why he hadn't completely let his guard down.
Even though Ray noticed Gil's wariness, he didn't drop his friendly demeanor, which was truly befitting of a nobleman.
Ray smiled contentedly at Lizel, who had put the letter away without returning it, and stood up.
"Now, let's get to the main topic of today. Please enjoy my collection to your heart's content!"
Apparently, this was the main point for him. He walked ahead, leading the two of them with great enthusiasm.
After that, Lizel and Gil were indeed shown the collection to their heart's content.
Of course, that was to Ray's heart's content, not theirs.