An ordinary profession creates the world's strongest

"Y-yes, that's right! I didn't intend to attack Nagumo! Is that even necessary!"

“I’m sorry, Shia! But I don’t know what happened. I should have been slashing at the enemy…”

Kouki and the others frantically argued. It seemed as if their bodies had moved on their own, almost unconsciously, changing their target.

"Yue, I'm so sorry! But I usually use Disintegration Blast on you quite often, so let's put that aside for now."

"...Don't put it aside, you idiot Kaori!"

Indeed, Yue and Kaori's fights often escalate from women's wrestling to Decomposition Bombardment vs. Thunder Dragon. Yue will regenerate normally even if she is hit by Decomposition Bombardment, and Kaori is also very strong. Even if she is swallowed by Thunder Dragon, she will only be covered with soot.

Ignoring Yue's throbbing veins, Kaori reported with a serious expression:

"Hajime-kun, we must have been tricked. I thought I heard a whisper just before the attack."

Hearing her say this, Tio used her fire breath to contain her while immediately stating her conjecture:

"This is troublesome, Master. I'm afraid that's an interference with the unconscious realm. That whispering is an engraving effect."

"Hmm, Tennokawa and the others are attacking different targets, so that's how it is. In that case, we need to cancel it—"

"Because it's not just magical, it's probably going to be difficult."

In other words, that whisper was a hint, meant to take effect at this very moment. Perhaps the long maze was also designed to cause mental fatigue, allowing the engraving effect to take effect more smoothly.

After that, whenever Kouki and the others felt the urge to attack, they would unconsciously attack the opponent they were instilled with the whisper. The reason Hajime, Yue, Shia, and Tio weren't affected was probably because they were able to consciously guide their opponents away from the scene.

If this were merely the effects of magical suggestion, then regeneration magic would suffice. However, things weren't quite that simple. Because non-magical methods were also used to influence the underlying psychology, Kouki and the others' actions were largely their own doing. Therefore, unless all memories of hearing the whispers were completely erased, they wouldn't be immediately restored.

Before we knew it, the snow and smoke finally fell to the ground.

Kouki and the others were effectively blocked from attack, the numerous heat rays being as annoying as flies. Even under Hajime's gunfire and Tio's flames, the Frost Golems continued to block them with their rapidly regenerating tower shield, gradually closing in.

All of this made Hajime feel──

“This is so troublesome…”

So──

"Just blow them all up."

Hajime pulled Alcorn out of the void, and nine lines of fire appeared in the air, each carrying murderous intent towards a different Frost Golem. A massive explosion ensued, wiping out not only the Frost Golems but also the snow smoke and ice fragments.

This was a merciless close-range bombardment, and Ling's newly deployed "Holy Death" was immediately shaken, and Ling also let out a mournful "Ah~!"

After the flames from the explosion dissipated, Hajime nodded and said "OK," then carried Alcorn on his shoulder. However, the next moment, Hajime's cheeks couldn't help but twitch.

With a boom and the sound of an earthquake, the ice had descended. The snow smoke swirled, instantly increasing in density. Ice fragments, shattered from the ground, instantly resurrected in their original positions.

Whether it is snow smoke or ice fragments, I am afraid that they cannot be broken by destruction and strong winds.

"Ah, Hajime-san! One is missing."

"...I see. It seems they'll always revive unless we defeat them one by one."

As Shia pointed out, the number of Frost Golems has been reduced to eight.

Considering that the number of people at the beginning was the same as that of Hajime and the others, the significance of this is clear.

"Then it's my turn this time!"

He unleashed [Tenso Flash] once again, but contrary to Kouki's high morale, the attack was still aimed at Hajime.

Hajime leaned back slightly, dodging the incoming slash. Kouki's face turned even paler.

Seeing this, Ryuutarou and Shizuku also became afraid. Even the cheerful and generous Ryuutarou seemed to be afraid of hitting his companions.

Ling desperately tried to maintain the barrier, and she shouted in a tone filled with anger and anxiety.

“What are we going to do in the end?!”

The silver-grey veil obscured their vision in an instant, and Hajime, who was a little further away, disappeared behind the veil. Even Yue and the others who were right beside them became blurred as the snow smoke penetrated the barrier.

So Hajime made a decision, and at the moment when his companions' breath was about to disappear in the silver-gray world, Hajime shouted loudly.

"Don't hesitate! Ignore us and destroy it with all your might!"

Whether it is consciousness induction or snow smoke, these are trials prepared by the Great Maze.

Even if the snow and smoke obscured their view ahead, preventing them from seeing each other, the chances of their attacks being directed towards their own group were still very high. No, it should be said that if that weren't the case, the trial wouldn't even exist. So, nine times out of ten, even without being able to see, the attacks would still be directed towards their allies.

Because of this, Hajime told them to attack without hesitation. Since their targets were Hajime, Yue, and Shia, the friendly fire from Kouki and the others would be nothing to them.

"But if you're led to someone other than us... well, that's on your own."

Unable to sense Yue and the others' presence anymore, Hajime shrugged and said as his vision was filled with a gray light.

If they had decided to challenge the Great Labyrinth on their own, would it be reasonable for them to need someone else to take care of everything for them? They should have figured out a situation of this magnitude on their own. Hajime had already given them enough help on the way here.

At this moment, several heat rays split the thin veil of snow and smoke and approached through the wind.

As expected, the heat rays didn't seem to attenuate in the snow and smoke. As it stood, they couldn't see the heat rays until they were right in front of them, making it even more difficult to deal with them.

However, Hajime simply took a step back, tilted his neck, and dodged all the attacks by simply shifting his body.

He had been dodging the beams ever since he emerged from the barrier. For Hajime, who was in the "Instant Light" state, a slight obstruction to his vision wasn't enough to prevent him from dodging. Furthermore, the lasers, which emitted extremely high heat, could be easily detected with "Heat Source Sense," making it a non-issue.

"Okay, what happens next?"

If Frost Golem was the standard for passing the trial, then Hajime had already achieved it.

Hajime wondered if he would have to keep playing with the heat rays while everyone decided the winner. He looked around with a disgusted expression.

Then, the snow smoke in front of Hajime began to swirl.

Is a new enemy about to appear? Hajime switched from Alcorn to a dual-wielding style, using Donal and Hulak. However, it turned out that his worries were unnecessary. The vortex spiraled like a horizontal tornado, forming a straight tunnel.

Inside the tunnel, heat rays cannot fly in, and a solemn and artistic door can be seen at the exit of the tunnel.

Hajime shrugged and stepped into the tunnel. At the same time, he looked back and said:

“…I already told you to be so polite.”

Seeing that the light slash and shockwave didn't fly towards him at all, Hajime smiled bitterly.

"Never mind, that's their choice..."

Hajime turned his gaze and walked leisurely forward on the road.

On the other hand, as for Yue and the others... they were completely isolated.

The moment the snow and smoke obscured even those around them, the ground heaved up like a blazing fire. Everyone was either flung back or dodged, until they lost track of each other.

"Shizuku-chan, Suzu-chan! Ryuutarou-kun! Kouki-kun!"

The vision was dyed silver-gray. Kaori was worried about the safety of her childhood friends and shouted their names loudly.

Although I didn't sense any presence, I could faintly hear Shizuku's voice coming from directly above me, saying, "I'm fine! Just focus on your enemy!" Then, the voices of Ling, Ryuutarou, Kouki, Shia, and Yue came one after another.

Knowing Shizuku and the others were safe, Kaori finally felt relieved. However, her peace of mind was short-lived. She felt a chill coming over her, and she immediately spread her silver wings to cover herself. Then, heat rays shot in from all directions like spears, but were completely blocked by the silver wings' barrier.

in the mean time.

"Snow Smoke..."

The snow smoke formed a small dome, swirling and dispersing slightly. From the mist emerged a Frost Golem, seemingly Kaori's match.

If it were the current Kaori, it wouldn't be a threatening opponent, but...

"I can hear you."

Just as I was about to attack, I heard a whisper in my head. My outstretched hand, unconsciously, pointed in different directions.

Although it was unlikely that all attacks would be induced, she felt a little uneasy when she thought about the decomposition ability constantly attacking Yue. It wasn't that it would be dangerous, but it would be bad for Kaori's mental state.

Perhaps it was because he saw the gap created by Kaori's hesitation that Frost Gorem took action at that moment.

It actually threw its most important shield, the tower shield, away. Kaori panicked and cried out, "Whoa!" and quickly dodged. Then, Frost Golem suddenly approached and attacked with his axe spear.

Kaori instantly determined that the long-range attack was dangerous, so she summoned a greatsword and took the axe-lance blow head-on.

As expected of a monster from the Great Labyrinth, it slashed vertically with astonishing strength. Kaori took the attack, but the ground beneath her feet was pressed against it, shattering radially.

That being said, that's all it is. It can't possibly surpass the strength of the 'Apostle of God'.

"Just as I wished!"

Kaori summoned the Second Greatsword, shrouded in silver light and imbued with the power of decomposition. Then, with a horizontal swing, Kaori attempted to sever the Frost Golem's body...

"oops!?"

But Kaori spun her sword and body, launching a silver arc in the other direction. Kaori herself had never used this move before; it was a strike similar to the "Tian Xiang Shan - Apostle Version."

I only heard Yue's voice in the distance saying, "...Kaori! You're welcome! I won't be polite either!" Yue's being polite must be referring to the revenge that will come later.

Kaori's mouth twitched. As she cried out, "I'm sorry~," she felt a murderous intent rising above her. She immediately turned back, raised her greatsword to block, and then engaged the axe and spear.

She imbued the Greatsword One with the ability to disintegrate, and swung it all the way through, this time undeterred, severing the axe and spear with one blow. Then, she immediately turned and struck the Greatsword Two sideways, again undeterred.

However, Kaori only managed to cut through the tower shield after it had been regenerated at an extremely high speed.

The Frost Golem, displaying agility that belies its enormous size, leaped backwards to create distance.

"The trouble is, I never know when I'll be lured away..."

Kaori was troubled. Then, the sound of thunder could be heard not far away. It seemed that Yue had used "Thunder Dragon" to devour the enemy.

"Is Yue finished with it? Then it won't hinder her...ah."

Kaori thought that even if some attacks flew over, since the battle on Yue's side was over, it wouldn't hinder her. But then she suddenly had an idea.

If it was a disintegration bombardment, a single strike could determine the outcome, but there was a risk of being misled.

In that case, I should just use the opposite method to lure him in, right? Since the other party is Yue, it shouldn't matter!

Kaori immediately prepared to launch a disintegration attack, and just as she was about to point her greatsword at the enemy, she was drawn in another direction. That meant Yue was in that direction.

Kaori maintained her arm, moved quickly, measured the angle... and then shouted loudly to the moon.

"Moon~! Forty-five degrees! Please!"

Kaori didn't hold back and used a super powerful disintegration bombardment!

The atmosphere roared, and a silver flash shot out, opening a hole in the veil of snow and smoke, turning the enemy into dust.

And then—the artillery fire came back from the other side of the snow smoke.

That's right, it was coming towards the Frost Golem that Kaori was facing.

“──!?”

The mute Frost Golem seemed to draw a breath for a moment. But it was only a moment. The strongest artillery attack, which could reduce everything to dust, hit the Frost Golem directly, leaving no room for resistance and dooming the enemy.

Amidst the sounds of battle coming from everywhere, Kaori cautiously observed the spot where the Frost Golem had just been.

The snow smoke swirled, gradually forming a tunnel. No new Frost Golems descended, indicating that the Great Labyrinth had recognized her as having passed the test.

“Huh~ That’s great—”

Just as she was about to say that was great, Kaori was startled and shut her mouth.

Perhaps it was considered a cooperative solution, and Kaori's tunnel seemed to lead to the door through a cooperative partner.

That's right, on the way, he passed by the place where Yue was glaring at Kaori fiercely.

In front of the moon, the gravity magic "Calamity" was unfolding, changing the trajectory of the decomposition artillery fire.

Yue understood Kaori's intentions simply from her instructions, and Kaori was confident that Yue would cooperate. This was truly perfect coordination, a skill that could only be achieved through deep trust.

Although it is a technique based on trust,...

Yue eliminated the "Misfortune Sky" and bent her finger, calling Kaori over. No, from the way she gave off, it felt like she was saying, "Hey, hurry up and die."

"Yes, yes, I'll be there right now..."

Kaori didn't know why she used honorifics. She prepared herself to endure Yue's ruthless punishment and walked into the tunnel.

“Ahh, oh my goodness, it’s happening again!”

Shizuku couldn't help but complain anxiously. However, she didn't even have time to realize her own feelings, and could only desperately dodge the axe and spear that swung at her with a heavy sound of breaking wind.

Because she had swung the slash in the opposite direction, she was immediately attacked, so Shizuku completely dodged it. With a swish, the ferocious blade passed right before her eyes, severing several strands of her bangs and causing her to break out in a cold sweat.

Shizuku fell backwards, rolled backwards, and immediately stood up, exhaling the breath she had been holding. As if anticipating her breathing, heat rays shot out from all directions.

“Hmm!”

Normally, this attack would have been unavoidable, but Shizuku relied on a split second of judgment, desperately dodging it with a backward roll. The scythe of death swept across her back and face at close range, and the intense heat she felt instantly gave her the illusion of a shrinking heart.