An ordinary profession creates the world's strongest

After he stood up, he called together the Haolia people and said:

"As you just heard, we must first conquer the other Great Labyrinths. I will protect you until the promise you made to lead me to the Great Tree is fulfilled. Even without Feyalbergen's protection, you should be able to survive in this sea of ​​trees, so we bid farewell."

He then glanced at Shia, his eyes conveying a message that said, "If you still want to say goodbye, do it now." Shia understood his meaning perfectly. While he would return one day, conquering the three Great Labyrinths would undoubtedly take considerable time, and he wouldn't be able to see his family during that time.

Shia nodded and took a step forward, preparing to say goodbye to Cam and the others:

"Father—"

"Boss! I have something to say!"

“…Eh, Father? It should be my turn now…”

Ignoring Shia's call, Cam took a step forward, standing still. Even though Shia called out to him, "Father? Hello, Father?", he turned his ignoring skill to the max, like a British Royal Guard accustomed to being harassed by tourists, staring straight ahead without moving his head.

"Oh~ What's wrong?"

In short, Hajime ignored Shia, who was calling out, "Father? Um, Father?" and responded to Kamu. Kamu, as if he hadn't noticed Shia, firmly conveyed the decision made by the entire Hauriya clan.

"Boss, please let us serve you!"

“Eh! Father, do you guys also want to travel with Hajime-san!?”

Cam's words shocked Xia. Ten days ago, when she had discussed this matter with her family, they had clearly expressed their willingness to send her off. How could it suddenly turn out like this?! She couldn't help but scream in shock.

"We are both members of the Hauliya tribe and not of the Hauliya tribe. We are the boss's subordinates! Please allow us to accompany you! This is the decision of our entire tribe!"

“Wait a minute, Father! I haven’t heard of this! Anyway, if Hajime-san agrees to this, then all my hard work these past few days will be meaningless…”

"Honestly, Shia is really enviable!"

"I'm being honest! I'm telling you the truth! What on earth has happened to you guys in the past ten days?"

Kam shouted the idea of ​​a clan resolution, completely ignoring Shia's complaints. "What's going on?" Hajime thought as he gave a clear answer:

"veto."

"Why!?"

Shi's answer was too straightforward, causing Kam to rush forward and ask more questions. The other members of the Hauriya tribe also approached Shi step by step.

"Of course, because you'll just be in the way."

"but!"

"Don't get carried away. If you want to travel with me, you still have a hundred and eighty days to go!"

"Such a realistic number of days!?"

Despite Hajime's ruthless refusal, Cam and the others were determined to follow him.

Finally, they even started saying, "Even if you don't agree, we'll follow on our own!" It seemed that under Sergeant Harman's training, they had inadvertently developed a strange sense of trust or awe for Hajime. Given this situation, if they really followed them to a town, it would cause a huge commotion. Hajime had no choice but to propose a condition:

"However, how about this? You guys continue to train here. The next time I come to the Sea of ​​Trees, if I think you have good abilities, I'll consider recruiting you as my subordinates."

"...You didn't lie to us?"

"No, no."

"If you lie to us, we'll run to the center of the human town and keep shouting the boss's name like we're worshipping the leader of a new religion, okay?"

“You, you guys are so mean…”

"Of course, because we are quite proud to be the boss's subordinates."

Seeing his subordinates (?) become so aggressive, Hajime's cheeks began to twitch, and Yue patted his arm in an attempt to comfort him. As expected, from every perspective, Hajime had gone too far in the past ten days.

Faced with this situation that could be described as retribution in this life, Hajime couldn't help but sigh to the sky - it seemed that the next time he returned to the sea of ​​trees, it would be very troublesome.

"Wow, no one's paying any attention to me... Today's the day I'm supposed to leave..."

Xia squatted beside her and drew circles, but no one paid any attention...

At the edge of the forest, with Cam and the others watching, Hajime, Yue, and Shia once again boarded the magic-powered two-wheeled vehicle, the Hutifu, and set off across the plains. The order of their positions remained Yue, Hajime, and Shia, with Shia sitting even closer than they had at the bottom of the Rasen Canyon. Hajime forced himself to ignore it, lest he experience any physiological reaction and Yue, who was in front of him, would immediately notice.

Shia enjoyed the speed of the car and the sound of the wind making her rabbit ears flutter. She narrowed her eyes comfortably and asked over Hajime's shoulder:

"Mr. Hajime, I just realized I forgot to ask you. Where is your destination? Is it really the Gulun volcano?"

"Huh? Didn't I tell you?"

"No~"

“…I know where it is.”

Yue was so smug that Shia protested loudly:

"I, I'm also your ally, so please tell me about this! Communication is important!"

"Sorry, our next destination is the Letseng Grand Canyon."

"The Letseng Grand Canyon?"

After hearing the destination from Hajime, Shia's face was immediately filled with questions. Of the seven labyrinths, the only confirmed destinations besides the Hartrina Sea of ​​Trees were the Great Volcano in the Grun Desert and the Orcus Labyrinth. Since Orcus had already been conquered, she naturally assumed the Great Volcano would be the next destination. Perhaps sensing her doubts, Hajime took the initiative to state his intentions:

"Anyway, there are rumors that there are seven great labyrinths in Laisen. Since we're heading to the Great Volcano in the western continent, we can get there by taking the Laisen that runs east-west. Maybe we'll find a labyrinth along the way, right?"

"So, we're going to cross the entire Raisen Canyon next..."

Shia's face twitched involuntarily. Everyone knew that the [Lesen Grand Canyon] was a hellish execution ground, and it was also the place where their clan was nearly wiped out recently. Yet, Hajime and Yue were actually walking through it as if it were a normal road, which made her feel a little uneasy.

Hajime was very close to Shia, so he could easily sense her hesitation and couldn't help but look dumbfounded.

"Hey, can you please be more aware of your own strength? To you right now, the monsters at the bottom of the valley are no different from those around here. The reason Lassen is so terrifying is because it decomposes the magic power released by people, right? If you strengthen your body, you can act normally without being affected. It's more like your own personal stage!"

"...I am ashamed of you."

"Wow~ I'm so embarrassed!"

When Lian Yue glanced at her with a dumbfounded look, Xia's eyes began to wander around, and she even tried to change the subject because she was too embarrassed.

"Since we're going to the Raisen Canyon, are we going to sleep outdoors tonight? Or should we head to a nearby village or town?"

"If possible, I'd like to purchase ingredients and seasonings. I also need to exchange the materials for money for future use, so it would be best if I could find a town. According to the map I saw earlier, there should be a town in this direction."

Hajime decided it was time for some proper cooking. Since both Hajime and Yue lacked the knowledge and skills to cook, they'd been forced to eat bland food in the Abyss. During their time in the Sea of ​​Trees, they'd been focused on training, relying solely on dry food. So, it was time for some restaurant-quality food.

He would need money to shop and stay in the town, and the materials he had would rot if left alone, so it would be better to exchange them for money first. He also had some things he wanted to complete in a quiet place before entering the [Raison Grand Canyon].

"Ha~ I see... That's great."

For some reason, Shia felt relieved by what he said. He couldn't help but ask in surprise, "What's wrong?"

"No~ I thought Hajime-san was content to just munch on the monsters of the Raisen Canyon... and Yue-san was content to just suck Hajime-san's blood... So I was wondering how I could convince you to take me with me to prepare the ingredients I needed~ Luckily, it was just my own worrying. It turns out Hajime-san also wants to eat proper food."

“Of course… Who would happily eat a monster? What on earth do you think of me…”

"Perhaps it's a new type of monster called 'Predator'?"

"Okay, I'll tie you to the back of the car and drag you before we even get to town."

"Wait, stop! Where did you get that collar?! Please stop! Don't force me to wear it! Miss Yue, don't just stand there and watch. Save me!"

“…You deserve it.”

From a certain perspective, the three of them were bickering in perfect harmony as they continued to gallop across the vast grassland.

After several hours of driving, the town finally appeared as the sun began to set. Hajime, feeling the same sense of "I'm home" he'd felt upon escaping the abyss and gazing up at the sky, smiled broadly. Yue, in his arms, seemed excited too; she must have shared Hajime's feelings. He and Yue, who tilted her head slightly, met eyes and smiled at each other.

“Um~ I’m sorry to interrupt the good mood between you two, but can you help me take off the collar? Why can’t I take it off myself? Um, are you listening? Mr. Hajime? Ms. Yue? Wait, please don’t ignore me~ I’m going to cry, okay? I’m so depressed that I’m about to cry!”

However, Hajime and Yue continued to smile, no one could intrude upon their world of two. Even if sobbing could be heard from behind them, their world would not be shaken in the slightest.

After a while, the town gradually became clearer, and Hajime and Yue finally returned to reality from their own world.

Turning their gaze forward, they saw a small town surrounded by a moat and fence. A wooden gate faced the street, and a small hut stood beside it, likely a guardhouse. While small, the town was still large enough to warrant a guard, and Hajime's expression softened. He realized that the town should be well-stocked with supplies.

"...Since you're in such a good mood, isn't it time to help me remove the collar?"

An unhappy Shia begged Hajime, who was smiling at the town. She wore a black necklace with a discreet, small crystal. Hajime had forced it on her as punishment for her slip of the tongue, and it was incredibly well-made. Shia couldn't remove it for some reason, so she begged Hajime, but he simply ignored her.

When they were within striking distance of the town's gatekeeper, Hajime and the others returned to the treasure vault, and the group headed on foot. After all, showing up on a jet-black motorcycle would likely cause quite a stir.

Despite Shia's constant complaints along the way, Hajime and Yue ignored them and finally reached the city gate. As expected, the small room next to the gate seemed to be a guardhouse, and an armed man emerged. He was dressed only in leather armor, with a longsword strapped to his waist, looking more like an adventurer than a soldier. This adventurer-like man called out to Hajime and the others:

"Stop, hand over the status board, and tell me why you're here?"

This should be a standard question, but his voice didn't sound very enthusiastic. Hajime answered the guard's question while taking out the status board and said:

"I mainly came here to replenish my supplies while I'm traveling."

The guard replied with a disinterested tone, then checked Hajime's status board. He blinked, then moved the board further away, perhaps rubbing his eyes. Seeing the guard's expression, Hajime broke out in a cold sweat, thinking to himself, "Oh no! I forgot to hide."

The status board had the function of hiding status values ​​and skill bars. After all, for adventurers and mercenaries, revealing information about combat capabilities could be fatal. Hajime quickly lied to get away with it:

"I was attacked by a monster not long ago, and the status board seems to have been broken since then."

"Bad, bad? No, but..."

The guard was deeply confused. It was understandable, considering Hajime's status board didn't display his level, yet the status and skill bars were incredibly high. He'd often heard of status boards being lost, but never of them being broken (meaning the displayed values ​​were bugged). Normally, he'd just laughed it off, but this one, displaying such unrealistic values, left him at a loss.

Hajime shrugged as if deeply troubled and continued:

"If it's not broken, these numbers are showing up incredibly strange, right? Doesn't that make me a monster? Gatekeeper, do I look like someone who can destroy a town with a single finger?"

He spread his hands out in a playful gesture, earning a wry smile from the guard. If the numbers on the status board were correct, the man before him was a true monster, easily surpassing even the Demon King and the Hero. Even though he had never heard of a status board being broken, it seemed like the only reasonable assumption at this point.

If the guard knew the person before him was truly a monster, he would have fainted. Yue and Shia were stunned to see Hajime lying without blushing or breathing heavily.

"Haha, no, you don't look like one. I've never heard of a status board displaying errors, but there's always a first time for everything... So, these two..."

The guard turned his gaze towards Yue and Shia, intending to demand their status boards. Since they had been standing behind Hajime, the guard hadn't been able to properly identify their appearances. When he saw their faces clearly... his entire body stiffened.

At the same time, his face instantly flushed a fiery red, and he glanced at Yue and Shia with unfocused eyes. Yue was, of course, a beautiful girl so exquisite she could be mistaken for a porcelain doll, and Shia, even when silent, exuded a mysterious aura. In other words, the guard couldn't help but stare blankly.

Hajime deliberately cleared his throat, and the guard finally came to his senses and hurriedly turned his gaze back to Hajime.

"Didn't I just say that a monster was attacking us? That's why this girl lost her status board, and this bunnyman... you should understand, right?"

He convinced the guard with a few simple words, and the guard nodded, "I see," before returning the status board to Hajime.

"But this one you bought is so beautiful! White-haired rabbit-people are quite rare, aren't they? Are you actually rich?"

The guard who questioned Hajime peeked at Yue and Shia, his expression a mixture of envy and jealousy. Hajime shrugged and said nothing.

"Never mind, you guys can go ahead."

"Ah, thanks. Oh, by the way! Where can I exchange materials for cash?"

"Huh? Well, if you keep going straight along the central road, you'll find the Adventurer's Guild. If you want to bring the materials directly to the shop, you can ask for directions at the guild, and they'll give you a simple map of the town."

"Oh~ That's so kind, thank you!"

After getting information from the guard, Hajime and the others walked through the wooden gate and into the town.

He'd checked the gate and learned that the town was likely called "Brook," and the streets were bustling with activity. While not as bustling as the town of "Horyard" he'd seen near Orcus, it was still packed with vendors, filled with shouts and heated bargaining.

The bustling crowd lifted Hajime's spirits, and Ren Yue smiled happily. Only Shia had been trembling since a while ago, glancing at Hajime with tearful eyes. She didn't even utter a single angry cry, simply looking at Hajime with tears in her eyes. Despite his joy, Hajime couldn't help but notice her and sigh. He mentally complained, "Don't spoil the fun!" as he turned his gaze towards her.

"What's wrong? You've already arrived in town, but you're making this gorilla-like monster expression, like you're struggling to hold on to a massive slab of rock that's fallen on your head."

"Who are you calling a gorilla?! Anyway, what kind of attack method is that?! You should be able to kill with one strike, right? This kind of attack method makes you feel pitiful just thinking about it, doesn't it?"

"...and after tickling its armpits, it started to cry."

"This is such an unexpected pursuit, isn't it? Too cruel! Anyway, it's not like that!"

Shia was busy fuming and complaining, waving her hands and accusing him with her whole body, "I'm dissatisfied!" Incidentally, the story of the gorilla-type monster took place on the compression and refining test bench. They definitely didn't enjoy sadism, even though Yue really went to poke him... Incidentally, this monster possessed a unique magic called "Heroic Arms."

“This, this collar! This is what’s going to make me be mistaken for a slave, isn’t it… Hajime-san, you put it on me knowing the consequences? Ugh, this is too much~ Aren’t we partners~”

Shia's anger seemed to be fueled by the collar. She had assumed they were traveling companions, but she was shocked to see Hajime deliberately reducing her to a slave. Of course, the collar Hajime had put on her wasn't designed for slavery, so it didn't restrict Shia's abilities. Shia was well aware of this, but even so, she was deeply shocked.

Hajime scratched his head and looked at the resentful Shia.

"Look, if you're not a slave demihuman, and you're a Bunnyman, the kind people love to show off, how can you just walk down the street like nothing happened? Besides, white-haired Bunnymen are incredibly rare, and your looks and figure are both exceptional. I'm sure if you don't disclose that you're someone's slave, you'll be spotted within ten minutes of entering the city, and then the people trying to capture you will keep coming. It's such a hassle... What are you trying to do?"

Shia was originally glaring at Hajime with the aura of “Tell me your excuse!”, but as she listened, her face turned red with embarrassment and she started to act coy. Yue, on the other hand, looked at Shia coldly.

“H-Hello, Mr. Hajime, why are you suddenly saying this in front of everyone? You actually said that my looks, figure, and personality are all top-notch, and that I’m the cutest and most attractive girl in the world. Hate it, I’m so shy, huh!?”

Seeing Shia's complacent chatter, Yue struck her cheek with a golden right fist, causing her to groan without even a hint of cuteness and fall to the ground. Since she wasn't strengthening herself, her cheeks had taken on a different kind of rosiness, and she rubbed them as she climbed to her feet.

"...Don't get too carried away."

"...I'm sorry, Sister Yuejiao."

Yue's cold voice frightened Shia, and Hajime looked at her with an unbearable look and continued: