I was accidentally injured by God and I just want to be an ordinary person

Ella waved her hand as if she didn't care. As a human, Grace was quite easy to communicate with in this regard. She wasn't the rigid type who never changed.

However, perhaps because Linglan already knew that Grace was a member of the Holy King Council, he didn't pay much attention to Grace along the way. Of course, it might also be because guards were not allowed to communicate casually. Ella couldn't help but sigh. After all, this was their first day as guards, so it was understandable that they would be restrained. As they spent more time together, the restrained atmosphere would slowly become relaxed.

"Um...Excuse me, are you the one who rescued us?"

Just as Ella and her group were about to take a step forward, a young man's voice suddenly rang out from the surroundings.

"Um?"

Ella raised her head and saw an adventurer standing in front of her. He was wearing tattered leather armor and his sword was full of chips. Perhaps because the previous battle was too intense, the young man's face was covered in blood and his whole body exuded a foul smell.

The leading man's eyes lit up when he noticed that Ella responded to him.

"I, I'm the captain of the adventure group 'Cyan Scale Smash'. Thank you very much for your support. We will definitely pay you back when we return to the surface!"

"We too!"

"No need for compensation, I'm just helping out out of interest."

Ella nodded politely, and the adventurers looked embarrassed.

"How could this be so embarrassing? Judging from your appearance, you must be a noble, right? Even if I'm just a temporary worker in your mansion, I wouldn't feel at ease if I didn't do something in return."

A muscular man with bulging muscles said this with a wry smile, and the other adventurers around him also echoed the wry smile.

"Well, in that case, could you tell me why you came here? Those monsters are quite powerful, and you don't look like you're deliberately trying to pick a fight with them."

The original young man answered.

"Well—honestly, we were originally hunting kerosene goblins in the 10th Floor, Block 1, but we didn't expect the goblins there to form a village, with even a leader-level goblin appearing. We were trying to avoid them, and by the time we realized what was happening, we'd already arrived here, and then we encountered these damn bugs. Damn, we lost two companions along the way, and now we won't even be able to find their bodies if we go back."

The young adventurer angrily punched the wall while saying this, while the other adventurers beside him silently patted him on the shoulder. Such things were not uncommon in the maze, and it was more like a daily occurrence.

Touching the heavy part, Ella lowered her head.

"I'm sorry for asking something I shouldn't have asked."

"This is not your fault, my Lord. I was just being unreasonable."

With a long sigh, the young noble leaned his sword against the wall and bowed deeply.

"If it weren't for your help, we would have become food for the bugs. Thank you so much."

"Well, as long as we're saved, it's fine. Do you have any other questions? I might be able to help you."

"This... I'm sorry, but could you please tell us which floor this is?"

For some reason, there was a hint of hope in the young adventurer's eyes, and the adventurer next to him, whose body was covered with scars of battle, also showed the same expression.

Before Ella could get there, Angeline popped her head out from behind Ella.

"It's '21st Floor - Third Block'?"

"The 21st floor?!"

The adventurer's scream echoed throughout the square. Then, the adventurers who had collapsed on the ground became noisy. Then, starting with the young adventurer in the lead, everyone's face was covered with a layer of gloom, just like a suspect who learned that he was sentenced to death.

"I understand... Your Excellency, thank you..."

After saying this, the adventurers turned around with pale faces and prepared to return to their teams.

Sensing something strange, Ella tilted her head and called out to them.

"What's wrong? You look terrible."

"Your Excellency... We have never been to such a deep place before."

A short adventurer walking at the end of the group said sadly.

"So, I mean, they can't get out of the maze, right? Indeed, if you're not familiar with the way in a maze, you'll quickly get lost. They could use the battle traces to go back the way they came, but that would definitely lead to encountering goblins... They should have just asked me directly."

Perhaps because she didn't want to cause trouble for herself, Ella began to guess what the adventurers meant. These adventurers were really very sensible people.

Ella handed the Pestle of Heaven's Punishment from her right hand to her left and addressed the adventurers.

"Why don't you just go up with us?"

Although the sound was not particularly loud, it made the adventurers stop in their tracks and look back in disbelief.

"But, but if you want to take so many of us away, even you... you might end up in danger."

In fact, it was not as Ella thought. The adventurers did not ask Ella for help because it would cause trouble for her. Instead, they felt that even if they asked, they would not get the expected response. Without sufficient combat power, taking a group of adventurers around in the maze would only attract a large number of monsters. Even the orichalcum-level adventurers would only agree to take away two or three lucky people at most. In short, they would not be able to play any role other than being a drag.

Completely unconcerned about the dangers the adventurers mentioned, Ella patted her chest triumphantly.

"Don't worry, as long as we're here, everything will be fine."

I feel like I've finally fulfilled my responsibilities as a Demon King - protecting my people is a king's duty, huh.

Ella nodded inwardly in agreement.

The adventurers who had escaped death again opened their eyes wide, their faces looking so excited that they were almost crying.

"Really? Are you really willing to help us?"

"Of course, leave it to me."

"Thank you very much, thank you so much!"

For a moment, all the adventurers, led by the ragged young adventurer, knelt on their knees and kowtowed to Ella. Some even murmured prayers for Ella with trembling lips.

[It's like treating a god. Is it really that exciting?]

In my opinion, helping others without affecting myself is a natural thing. It is really hard to accept to kowtow like this.

"Hmm, everyone, get up, get up, now---no, let's clean up first and have lunch here."

Although he initially wanted to ask the adventurers to pack up and leave, seeing the adventurers leaning against the wall with exhausted faces, it was unrealistic to ask them to move immediately. Moreover, if they were to march in this state in a maze where they could be attacked by monsters at any time, he might not even have time to run over and help.

So it’s more appropriate to take a rest here.

With this in mind, Ella began to have Lotte and the two guards prepare lunch.

However, the adventurers had complicated expressions—a mixture of confusion, uneasiness, and panic as they watched Ella's actions.

"Um... Your Excellency, would you like to have lunch here?"

"Well, you're all tired, right? It would be best to rest for a while before moving on. Angelica, is it okay to have lunch here?"

"Yes, yes. Although I really want to try the taste of the needle-stuck demon pig, I can't do that now."

After putting the golden giant sickle engraved with pink patterns into the storage item, Angeline found a clean place nearby and sat down.

"By the way, it's okay to cook here, right? We've already decided to let Lotte handle part of it."

Ella nodded at the suggestion, which was fine.

"Well, let's do that."

"Um, noble sir, isn't it dangerous to have lunch here? And judging from your appearance, are you planning to light a fire in the labyrinth?"

The leading adventurer looked as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.

Chapter 37: Banquet in the Labyrinth (Part 2)

"Eh? Are you worried about a sneak attack from monsters? With Linglan and Grace here, it'll be fine. And we can just sprinkle some monster-repelling powder and you'll be fine."

As Ella said this, she took out a small bucket of white powder from the storage. This was something left over from a previous trip. Just sprinkle it around to repel monsters and it is a must-have for a good night's sleep. Of course, that being said, in reality, with people taking turns to keep watch, the powder is more for the purpose of repelling mosquitoes.

Handing the bucket to the adventurer, Ella waved her hand generously.

"Take these."

"Is this exorcism powder?!"

"Uh, yeah, what's wrong?"

As if to confirm, the young adventurer carefully brought it to his nose and sniffed it, then spoke with surprise.

"It's really exorcism powder! This is the first time I've seen such a large amount of exorcism powder from an adventurer. Claude, I remember a small bag of exorcism powder costing one silver coin, right? Judging by the white color, it must be of the highest quality. How much does a bucket of this cost?"

"Uh... just use it, don't worry about it."

"Thank you, thank you for the reward, noble sir."

Not knowing what to say, the male adventurer took a long time to answer. Then, as if treating a piece of exquisite glass, he took off his clothes and covered the bucket with them to prevent the exorcism powder from spilling, and then walked carefully towards his companions in the distance.

Looking at the young adventurer's appearance, Ella couldn't help but ask the other adventurers who hadn't walked far away. According to those adventurers, the exorcism powder would only be sprinkled on everyone when they were really exhausted and their magic power and physical strength were exhausted.

[I was really wasteful before... But is it really okay to apply something with this smell on my body?]

Recalling the pungent sulfur-like smell of the exorcism powder, Ella couldn't help but frown. Although applying it on the body was more economical, it would cause trouble for Lotte, who was responsible for washing clothes, so it would be better not to imitate it.

Not long after, a stove was set up in the corner of the square where Ella was - it was just a simple stove made of the rubble scattered around, and the fuel was dry firewood stored in Ella's warehouse.

On the other side, the adventurers took out the dry food they carried with them from their pockets. Most of them were easy-to-carry foods such as bread and steamed buns. Perhaps affected by the blood of the insect monsters they had been contaminated with before, those adventurers looked like they were mustering up their courage before taking a bite. Judging from their twisted facial features when chewing, the taste must have been indescribable.

Without paying attention to the adventurers on the other side, Tifarian, who was sitting next to Loti, casually stuck her rapier into the ground. She looked like she wanted to help but was worried about causing trouble for Loti, and she kept extending and retracting her hand.

Seeing this, Ruthie sighed as she was about to put the pot on the simple stove.

"If you want to help, please help me put the pot up."

"I, I understand."

The originally tense expression suddenly relaxed, like a pet being praised by its owner. Tifarian briskly took the frying pan from Loti's hand and placed it on the stove.

After doing this, Tifarian rubbed her hands excitedly.

"This is my first time eating Lotte's cooking. I feel like it should be eaten in a more formal setting."

"Tifarian looks just like a demon now."

Mitis held her forehead helplessly.

"Why not? Lotte is the cutest person in the world."

"B-Kawaii... sis, if you keep saying that I won't prepare your share."

Perhaps out of shyness, Lotte turned her head to the side as if in a tantrum, causing her lavender twin tails tied with green ribbons to swing.

"Hahaha, I was just kidding—Uh, no, I won't say it anymore. I absolutely won't say it anymore."

A resolute look appeared on her face, and Tifarian looked righteous.

"Haha—I don't know whether I should envy Lotte-senpai or pity Lotte-senpai."

"Ella, ice."

"Yes, yes. Do you want something a little sweeter or as usual?"

The ice that Eve was referring to was the shaved ice that Ella had made some time ago. As for the usual flavor, it was the type that Eve liked with a lot of spicy seasoning.

"Just like Ella."

"Then why don't we eat it after we go out? Otherwise, if we eat monster meat right after eating it, I always feel like I'll get an upset stomach—no, maybe ghosts won't?"

After all, the fact that ghosts can eat is incredible in itself.

Angelique blinked as she stared at Lotte spreading the animal fat on the hot pan.

"Lotte, are you going to fry it?"

"Hmm, the meat of the Needle Demon Pig seems to be very chewy. It will take a long time to stew it."

“I see… Oh, right, the meat hasn’t been disintegrated yet, so leave this to me!”

Standing up vigorously, Angeline took out a giant sickle from the storage. It was difficult to slice the meat of the needle-pricked demon pig with ordinary kitchen utensils, so it was more reliable to use a giant sickle.

"Little Ella, quickly put that thing over here~"

Angelica walked to the open space in the distance and kept waving to urge Ella. Although it was okay to carry out the dismantling work nearby, Ella had never been able to accept such a bloody process, so everyone had formed the habit of dismantling in a place where Ella could not see.

Walking to the corner where Angelina was, Ella gave instructions.

"Be careful not to cut too much, okay?"

"Yeah, I see."

Seeing Angeline nod, Ella found the body of the needle-piercing demon pig in the warehouse and put it on the ground.

Although the needle-pricked demon pig was dead, its size, which was equivalent to a medium-sized truck, was still intimidating. Moreover, due to the time-stopping effect unique to the warehouse, the needle-pricked demon pig even retained the heat before death.

Ella and Angeline's actions obviously attracted the attention of the adventurers.