After Leaving the A-Rank Party, I Aim for the Deep Part of the Labyrinth With My Former Students

“We did it…!”

Marina, drenched in blood, collapsed onto the ground.

I exhaled deeply, watching as the Zarnag’s headless body toppled to the earth. Behind me, Silk and Rain also let out relieved sighs, their tension melting away.

“Hunt complete. Thank you for watching! …‘End Stream.’”

That was a dangerously close battle.
It was the kind of fight that should never be attempted by novices.

This stream might boost Marina and the others’ reputation, but for me, it stood as evidence of my failure.

It was sheer luck that no one was seriously hurt. Marina could’ve been killed in the Zarnag’s first attack.

“Well done, everyone. But all three of you are getting a lecture later.”
“Eh, that’s so mean!”

Marina turned to me, still sitting on the ground.

Her face and hair were a sticky mess from the Zarnag’s blood, but she didn’t appear to have any injuries. Relieved as I was to see her in good health, I couldn’t help but wonder how to get through to this reckless girl during the inevitable lecture.

“I understand. But I’m giving you a lecture too, Yuke!”
“Why me?”
“Because you were ready to die, weren’t you?”

Rain’s quiet accusation stopped me cold.

“I also have a few things to say about your instructions,” Silk added.

Uh-oh. Three against one.
This wasn’t looking good.

It was true that they didn’t fully grasp how dangerous the situation had been, nor could they completely justify my actions. While we’d won in the end, it had been a gamble, and they deserved to understand that.

I shuddered to think what would’ve happened if the Prismatic Missile had been resisted.@@novelbin@@

“…Compromise. Let’s have a group review session together.”
“That sounds fair,” Silk said with a smile, and Marina and Rain both nodded in agreement.

Feeling a bit relieved, I stored the Zarnag’s body and severed head in my Magic Bag. Despite the damage from the lightning spell, the remains were in decent condition. Selling them to the guild would fetch a good price.

“Ugh, this is so gross…”
“Well, you were right in the splash zone…”

Marina wrinkled her nose as the blood on her began to dry and harden.

Adventurers often face such messy situations, but it’s a harsh expectation to tell a young girl not to mind it.

Moreover, Zarnag blood wasn’t exactly harmless. It was best to wash it off as soon as possible.

“You can rinse off in the river, but there’s a small spring ahead. Let’s take a break there.”

With the beast taken care of, we had some leeway. Spending a little time to rest wouldn’t hurt.
The spring was one of our planned camping spots anyway.

We might as well camp there for the night. With the Zarnag gone, the remaining danger was comparable to a D-rank quest.

“That sounds good. Communing with the forest spirits took a toll on me.”
“Me too. I’m completely out of mana…”

I cast Mana Refresh on the three of them, easing their fatigue.

Rain’s lightning spell, Thunderbolt, was a fifth-tier spell—a high-level magic that would have overwhelmed an inexperienced caster. While Rain had wielded it masterfully, the strain must have been immense.

Seeing how drained she was, it was clear we needed to rest for the day.

“This way. Take it slow.”

Matching my pace to theirs, we headed toward the spring.

The spot was one I often used to gather potion materials. It was relatively safe for camping, and I’d already planned to stay there even if we hadn’t encountered the Zarnag.

After a short walk, the scenery opened up. The sound of a gentle stream welcomed us to our campsite.

“Wow, it’s so beautiful…!”

Marina’s eyes sparkled with wonder as she looked around.

Her reaction stirred a sense of nostalgia. I’d been just as amazed when I first discovered this place.

A flat rock in the center of the spring resembled a small island, surrounded by crystal-clear water. The deepest part of the spring only reached my shoulders, and the water was pure enough to drink.

“The sun will set soon, so we’ll camp here tonight.”
“That sounds like a good idea. The beast is dealt with, and all that’s left is the Yormun Falls.”
“Exactly. Traveling through the forest at night while tired would be far more dangerous.”

Even with the Zarnag defeated, the forest still held other threats—wild animals and lower-tier monsters.

Pushing forward in our current state would only invite trouble.

“I’ll handle setting up camp. Marina, go wash off that blood.”
“Okay!”

Marina darted off toward the spring, leaving me to pull a tarp and sleeping bags out of the Magic Bag.

I opted for a tarp instead of a tent. Tents might be more comfortable, but they slow you down in emergencies and block the heat from campfires.

“Yay!”

The loud splash behind me confirmed that Marina had jumped straight into the spring.

Shaking my head at her antics, I continued setting up our camp with quiet efficiency.