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

"Congratulations!"
"Congratulations!"
"Everyone, congratulations on your promotion to C-rank."
"That includes you, Sensei! Being A-rank is amazing!"

In a private room at a tavern a bit removed from the Adventurer’s Guild, we celebrated each other’s achievements over drinks in broad daylight.

The Guild’s tavern would have sufficed, but we’d been drawing a bit too much attention lately. Choosing a quieter place where we could relax seemed like the better option.

The prices here were higher than the Guild’s tavern, but the drinks and food were a cut above as well.

“Well, it was a tough mission, but we pulled it off safely. And here’s the reward to prove it,” I said, placing a slightly larger leather pouch than usual in the center of the table.

The request had been processed as a B-rank mission behind the scenes, with the reward significantly increased. On top of that, the Zarnag corpse had been sold for a hefty sum.

I suspected the Guild had added a bit extra as an apology.

“Silk, can you verify the contents? This puts us one step closer to purchasing a base, doesn’t it?”
“Of course. Allow me,” Silk replied.

Her dark fingers untied the pouch and began stacking coins on the table, one by one.

I already knew the amount, but for rookies, counting out the reward was probably an exciting ritual.

Marina and Rain watched intently as the gold coins were carefully lined up on the table.

It was moments like these that reminded me how fresh and unseasoned they still were.

“There’s… so much!” Marina exclaimed.

After finishing her count, Silk seemed to notice something else in the pouch.

She pulled out a small note with a Randall Platinum Coin attached to it.

“This… this is addressed to you, Sensei,” Silk said, handing it over.

“Huh?”

I hadn’t seen anything like this when I checked at the counter.

Opening the folded note, I found a brief message: ‘My apologies.’@@novelbin@@

Benwood, always the same.

He didn’t need to do things like this; my trust in him wasn’t going anywhere.

…Well, if someone wants to give me extra, I won’t complain.

“It’s a special bonus,” I said, placing the Randall Platinum Coin next to the neatly stacked piles of gold.

One of these coins was worth the equivalent of twenty gold coins, enough for an average family to live for two months.

The Guild Master must be making a pretty penny if he could toss something like this our way.

As Silk finished counting, she muttered under her breath.

“…I think this should cover it.”
“Did we save up enough money?” Marina leaned over the table, her eyes shining.

“Careful, you’ll knock something over,” I chided gently.

“Yes. I can’t say for sure yet, but this reward has brought us to our target amount,” Silk said with a faint smile.

“That’s great! Congratulations!” I said.

Silk lowered her eyes, her expression somewhat conflicted.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“It’s just… it feels like we could only achieve this because of your help, Sensei. From this mission to the Steel Crab you helped us sell, these aren’t things we could have done on our own.”

I sighed. So that’s what was bothering her.

“Silk, I’m your party leader now. You don’t have to hold back like that. I’m here to give it my all for you, and the results—good or bad—belong to all of us. This reward isn’t just mine; it’s something we earned together.”

Silk lifted her face, her serene smile reflecting the elegance typical of an elf. She seemed to have let go of her doubts.

Seeing her relax, Marina and Rain began to smile as well.

“Hey, Yuke?” Rain said suddenly.

“Hm?”

Rain leaned closer, pouring fruit wine into my mug. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, perhaps from the alcohol.

“What’s your dream, Yuke?” she asked.

“Why the sudden question?”

“Well, we’re close to reaching the goal we set. I thought it’d be nice to know your next goal,” Rain said, lightly clinking her mug against mine with a mischievous smile.

So that’s her plan—using my story as drinking entertainment? She has a surprisingly sly side.

…Well, why not.

“My dream is to challenge the deepest part of the labyrinth known as the Colorless Abyss,” I said.

Rain choked on her drink, coughing violently.

She’d wanted to use my story as amusement, and now she couldn’t even handle hearing it.

“Are you okay?” I asked, handing her a napkin.

“That’s… one of the Abyss Gates, isn’t it?”

“Yes, it is,” I confirmed.

The Abyss Gates are ancient portals leading to otherworldly realms.

These ultra-dangerous dungeons are notorious for triggering large-scale stampedes every time they activate.

One such dungeon is the Colorless Abyss.

“Yuke… do you want to go through the Abyss Gate?” Rain asked, her eyes wide with curiosity.

“No, I just want to see it—the edge of the world,” I replied.

It wasn’t exactly a grand purpose, just a romantic notion.

To stand at the precipice of this endless world and see it with my own eyes—that simple, almost childish dream is what keeps me adventuring.

“That’s… so like you, Yuke,” Rain said with a soft laugh.

“I’m glad you think so,” I replied with a smile.

“You know, Yuke,” Marina chimed in, her eyes sparkling. “When we get there, let’s live-stream it!”

“Don’t be ridiculous. It’s not that simple,” I retorted.

Just entering the labyrinth would require Adventurer’s Guild approval.

At minimum, we’d need to be recognized as an A-rank party to get permission.

“I agree,” Rain said. “No… let’s make that our next goal.”

“I think Yuke’s dream is wonderful,” Silk added. “I’ve been so focused on money and survival that I forgot what it feels like to dream.”

All three of them looked at me with determination.

“We’ll work even harder,” Marina declared. “Let’s make Yuke’s dream come true!”

“Yes. This time, it’s our turn,” Rain said firmly.

“Let’s do our best, Sensei!” Silk added, her voice brimming with resolve.

Their enthusiasm—whether fueled by alcohol or youthful optimism—was overwhelming.

But I was grateful. For so long, I hadn’t had anyone to share my dreams with.

“All right. Someday, the four of us will stand before the Abyss Gate together.”