"Nice to meet you. I'm Philly Carpenter. I never imagined I'd get invited to join the hero party. It's truly an honor."
Two days had passed since we expelled Orun.
Today, she would officially join as his replacement.
With this, that sense of omnipotence would stay with us.
Philly had been active in the western great labyrinth until three months ago.
But another explorer cleared it—monsters stopped appearing.
So she came here, to the city with the southern great labyrinth, said to be far more difficult.
The continent has four great labyrinths, each with different difficulty.
All supposedly reach one hundred floors, but west and east lack deep layers.
South and north—with deep layers—are considered the real challenges.
"Even if you didn't clear the western one, you're the only enchanter to reach its hundredth floor, right? Having someone like you join us is the real honor."
"Exactly! Now we can push even deeper into the southern labyrinth!"
"I'll do everything I can to contribute as quickly as possible!"
Since it was our first meeting, Derrick (shield), Aneiri (mage), Philly, and I gathered in the mansion's living room.
Luna was supposed to be away on family business—she hadn't returned since the labyrinth run two days ago.
—or so I thought. The living room door opened, and Luna walked in.
"I'm back… A guest? It's unusual for you all to handle visitors."
Orun had always dealt with guests before.
Her reaction made sense—she didn't know he was gone.
Though technically, Philly wasn't a guest—she was a new member.
"Well, never mind that. Sorry to interrupt with a guest here, but there's something urgent I need to confirm. May I have a moment?"
"Sure. Go ahead."
"Um… but…"
She hesitated—probably didn't want to discuss it in front of an outsider.
But Philly was a party member now. It was fine.
Timing-wise, I needed to tell Luna about Orun soon anyway.
"No problem."
"…If you're sure. Then… I heard this morning that Orun-san went into the great labyrinth with members of "Silver Rabbit of the Night Sky". Why is he doing that? I wasn't informed."
Orun—with "Silver Rabbit"?
Switched sides already?
"Even after I told him to know his place… why's he rushing to the rabbits…!"
While I drifted in thought, Aneiri muttered beside me—clearly furious.
"Haha! Exactly. Does he still think he's S-rank material or something?!"
Derrick joined in with a mocking tone.
I wished they hadn't said it here.
Luna still didn't know.
I'd told her beforehand I wanted Orun gone—she opposed it.
We forced it while she was away. Her anger was inevitable.
That's why I planned to break the news carefully—timing it right.
But now…
Luna's face twisted in suspicion, just as expected.
Better to say it before things got worse.
"Luna, you probably don't know, but that jack-of-all-trades—Orun—left the party two days ago."
I'd meant to explain myself, but Aneiri beat me to it.
"Huh? Orun-san left? So we finally got discarded?"
Luna's voice trembled, confusion plain on her face.
Derrick exploded at her wording.
"Hey! Why phrase it like we got dumped!? It's the opposite! We—kicked—that useless jack-of-all-trades—out!!"
Luna turned to me, expression blank.
"Is that true?"
Her voice was ice-cold—enough to freeze my spine.
"Y-yeah. It's true. And she's our new enchanter."
Screw it—I threw caution out and introduced Philly.
"N-nice to meet you! I'm Philly. Looking forward to working together!"
"…I was against this. Why did it happen while I was gone?"
Luna ignored Philly completely and pressed me.
"Hey! New teammate's greeting you—don't ignore her!"
Derrick snapped at her attitude.
Luna spared him a single glance before fixing her eyes back on me.
"Don't ignore her!"
Derrick stood, ready to grab her—too far gone.
I instinctively pushed his shoulder down.
"Calm down, Derrick! That's not okay!"
He clicked his tongue but sat back.
"Luna, you know it too—Orun's strength wouldn't cut it anymore."
I spoke gently, trying to reason.
"…I don't understand. This party's core was Orun-san. We only got this far because of him. And his ability was never lacking. Without Orun-san—we can't go any further!"
Luna was overestimating him.
…Love is blind, maybe. Couldn't be helped.
But seriously—what did she even see in him?
"Shut up already! Through your rose-colored glasses he might look great, but the world doesn't rate him! It's done—scream all you want, it won't change! Swallow it!"
Aneiri finally blew up.
She'd always resented Orun personally—this outcome suited her perfectly.
Luna denying it? Of course she'd snap.
And yeah—Orun had been too meddlesome. I thought so too.
"…Maybe it is too late to say anything now…"
Luna muttered lifelessly, then headed for the door.
Footsteps climbed the stairs—she went to her room.
"What the hell was that attitude!? So rude!"
"Totally! That Orun-obsessed crap makes me sick!"
They really say whatever's on their mind…
Need to learn some tact.
"U-um… will I be able to get along with Luna-san…?"
Philly looked worried after hearing us—she probably thought Luna was difficult.
"Don't worry. She was just upset right now. She's a good person. You'll get along fine."
"I see… That's a relief."
The chaos from Orun leaving would settle soon.
Luna would return to normal with time.
Once she did—this party would have zero uncertainties left.
I'm the hero.
I have a duty—to conquer the great labyrinth as fast as possible.
To make my name echo across the continent!