An ordinary profession creates the world's strongest

“…The door is open.”

"How quick, as expected of Yue. Shia, back off!"

"yes!"

Hajime glanced back, confirming that the seal had been broken, just as Yue had predicted. The door had opened, revealing what appeared to be a bare room. Hajime told Shia to retreat, and he himself retreated toward the inner room. If only the sealed door were closed, the Golem Knight's attack should be stopped. Yue jumped through the doorway first, followed by Shia. They grabbed the double doors from both sides, ready to close them at any moment.

Hajime threw a few grenades as a parting gift and leaped into the inner room. The Golem Knights rushed forward to prevent them from escaping, but were scattered by the powerful impact of the grenade explosions. The knights lost their balance and stumbled a few steps. Yue and Shia took advantage of this opportunity to close the door.

The interior of the room was the same as confirmed by the farsightedness: a square room with nothing in it. They had originally thought that although it certainly wouldn't lead to Meredith Lessen's room, perhaps there might be some clues? Therefore, they seemed a little disappointed.

"Is this what it is? Sealing it up with all the utmost seriousness, but in reality, there's nothing there, and it's just a joke in the end?"

“…Possibly.”

"Ugh~ Damn you, Meredith, just how far can you go to play tricks on me!"

Just as the three of them were feeling lost in the most likely outcome, suddenly, the voice they were almost tired of hearing rang through the room.

clang dong!

“““!?””””

At the same time as the mechanism activated, the entire room shook with a thud. Then, the horizontal force of gravity struck Hajime and the others.

"! What? Is this room itself moving?"

“…I think so!?”

“Hmm!?”

As Hajime spoke his hypothesis, gravity struck from directly above. The sudden change caused Yue to bite her tongue, trembling with tears covering her mouth. Shia, in turn, fell to the ground like a fallen frog.

After that, the room seemed to change direction and move several times. After about forty seconds, the room completely ignored the law of inertia and suddenly stopped.

Hajime had driven nails into the ground midway to stabilize his body, thus withstanding the impact of the sudden stop. However, Shia couldn't hold on, and after rolling several times, she slammed the back of her head hard against the wall of the room. With each change of direction, she rolled one way, then another, screaming as she continued to roll. Her face was pale, and she seemed to be very dizzy. The severe pain in the back of her head and the dizziness caused her to collapse completely. Incidentally, Yue had been holding Hajime's body from the beginning, so it was okay.

"Is it finally stopped? Yue, are you okay?"

“…Yeah, it’s okay.”

Hajime removed the nails and stood up. He looked around, but nothing had changed. Considering the movement just now, if he opened the door he had come in through, he should be able to see somewhere else.

"Hajime-san, aren't you going to say something about your concern for me?"

Shia, with a pale face and smacking her lips, looked at Hajime with a resentful look. She seemed very dissatisfied with Hajime's only concern for Yue.

"No, because if I care about you now, I think you'll get too excited and vomit... You don't want a new nickname like 'Vomiting Bunny', do you?"

"Of course! Even so, I still hope you care about me. That's what a girl should be like...!"

"See? Okay, take a break."

“Wuwu. Mmm…”

Hajime and Yue left Shia lying on the ground, looking as if she was about to vomit, and began to check their surroundings. As expected, there was nothing there, so they looked towards the door.

"So, what will happen?"

"...The one who controls the golems?"

"That's possible. Meredith is probably dead... so who made those Golem Knights move?"

“…It doesn’t matter what happens. I’ll protect Hajime… and Shia as well.”

“I heard it~ Mmm…”

Yue's usual straightforward words made Hajime smile. He gently stroked Yue's soft hair with his hands, and Yue leaned towards him coquettishly, closing her eyes comfortably.

“…I’ve been wanting to say this for a while now, could you please not suddenly enter a world of your own? How should I put it, it feels so alienating, and makes me feel so lonely, disgusting…!”

Not wanting to be ostracized by her companions, Xia endured the urge to vomit and crawled towards them on the ground.

"...I've been wanting to say this for a while now. Could you please stop doing those scary things? It sends chills down my spine, and it feels like it's going to show up in my nightmares."

"W-What are you saying? You're describing my girlish heart that wants to be as close to you as possible like that... Ugh! I also want to be patted on the head like Yue-san, please hold me tight and pat my head! Ugh, Ugh!"

"Don't say that with that face that looks like it's about to puke... and then make further demands as if nothing happened."

"...It's too early for Shia to get a pat on the head."

Shia, with all her willpower, crawled to Hajime's side, looking up at him with expectant eyes and a pale face. Hajime, however, looked away, toward the door. A voice called out, "What's going on?! Ugh..." from behind him, but he ignored it.

Is that Meredith's secret base? Or the golem controller? Or some other trap? ... "Whatever it is," Hajime thought, and with a fearless smile, he opened the door. There was...

"...Isn't this room familiar to me?"

"...I totally agree, especially with that stone tablet."

After opening the door, there was another room in front. There was a stone slab built in the center of the room, and there was a passage on the left. They had indeed seen it, because this room was-

"This seems to be... the very first room, right?"

Shia said what she hadn't wanted to say, even if she was thinking it. However, just as Shia had said, this was the room they had first entered, the one with the annoying stone tablet inscribed on it, not a room that looked very similar. The proof was—the words that appeared on the floor of the original room a few seconds after the door opened.

"Hey, how are you feeling now?"

"Nama worked so hard to get to where he started. How did you feel when you found out about this?"

"Hey, hey, what's up? What's up? Hey, hey~"

“““…”””

Their faces fell, expressionless. The word "Noh mask" perfectly described their expressions. The three of them stared at the words without moving or saying a word. Then, other words began to appear -

"Oh, I forgot to mention this. This maze changes every time a period of time passes."

"This is because Little Miledi wants to be considerate of everyone and hopes that everyone can enjoy the maze adventure with a fresh mind at any time."

"Are you happy? Are you very happy? You're welcome! I just did it because I like it!"

"By the way, since it keeps changing, marking it is useless."

"You guys aren't going to mark it, are you? Is that hard? What a pity! Hahahaha——"

"Ha ha ha ha……"

“Hehehe…”

“Puhee, phuhee…”

The three of them let out three kinds of devastating laughter, echoing through the room. Then, as expected, they shouted, their voices seemingly echoing throughout the entire labyrinth: "Miledi—!!" That roar, thick with rage, echoed throughout the labyrinth. They then passed through the initial passage. As Miledi had said, the placement and structure of the stairs and corridors were drastically different from what they had seen before. And this time, as expected, they roared in anger.

Afterwards, Hajime and the others finally pulled themselves together and set out to explore the maze again. However, as expected, their progress wasn't smooth sailing, especially Shia, who fell into all the basic traps (metal basins, birdlime, having a strange, smelly white liquid sprayed all over her face, etc.).

And naturally, Xia turned into a dancing rabbit.

Volume 2, Chapter 4: Meredith Lessen

In a corner of the Kingdom of Heilig, there's a cafeteria and salon dedicated to students from other worlds summoned to this world. Each student is accompanied by a dedicated attendant. Whenever a student wanders into the salon, the attendant will sense what they need and come to their side. Whether it's a drink or food, simply ask the attendant, and they'll prepare it instantly with simple gestures.

As for the rooms, each student was given a dedicated room. However, perhaps because being alone in a room in another world was too lonely, it would make people feel extremely isolated, so with some exceptions, most students spent their time chatting and hanging out in this salon.

Of course, they weren't summoned to this world to spend their days doing nothing. They were summoned to serve as humanity's representative fighting force and to win the war against the demons, humanity's enemies.

So why do most of them spend their days chatting and wasting time in salons? ... Frankly speaking, their hearts are broken.

Months ago, the students witnessed death before their own eyes. Deep beneath the Great Labyrinth of Orcus, where sunlight never reaches, they endured the merciless and ferocious killing intent of a demon. Each one, cornered, witnessed a vision of their own demise. And then, one student actually was pulled into the abyss of death and vanished.

——A fantasy world of swords and magic.

This imagination, filled with dreams and hopes, that made their hearts leap with joy, was easily shattered by the irresistible cruelty of reality and the irrationality beyond imagination. Go to the battlefield, and you will die. This natural fact, as they paid an exorbitant price, was deeply engraved in their hearts.

They practiced magic with elation, felt both joy and sorrow at the talent they had displayed at their vocation, and reveled in the pleasure of slaughtering monsters—those feelings were gone. No matter who they were, dead was dead. Those who truly understood this not only didn't want to fight, but couldn't even leave the capital.

Of course, the high-ranking officials of the Kingdom and the Holy Church had urged the students to fight. They hadn't resorted to forceful tactics, but had consistently tried to persuade them with words. Even so, the students, already driven to despair, were driven even deeper by these persuasive words. If they didn't obey, would they be expelled? Would their lives be left without protection, in a world that didn't take people seriously?

At that time, the only adult of the summoning team, Teacher Aiko Hatayama, who had separated from the students due to her rare and special mission and went on an expedition to solve the food problem in various places, returned.

Upon returning home, Aiko was deeply troubled by the news that some of the young men hadn't returned. However, Aiko could see at a glance that the students were cornered. Seeing them like this, she immediately pulled herself together. Using her resolute attitude, unyielding will, and the rarity of her abilities as leverage, she negotiated and successfully prevented the higher-ups from persuading and forcing the students to return to the battlefield.

Finally, the students didn't need to go to the battlefield. They were protected by their beloved son and had a guaranteed life in the palace, so they could gather together in the salon to chat.

"Hey, did you hear? Tian Zhihe and the others finally reached the 70th floor."

"Is this true? Didn't they just conquer the unexplored 66th floor not long ago?"

"As expected of a team of heroes, they are in no way comparable to us mortals."

The man who shrugged and said this nonchalantly was one of the male students, Atsushi Tamai. However, an indescribable complex expression emerged in his face. Perhaps he envied the strongest person? Even after enduring life-threatening dangers, he continued to challenge the uncharted realms. He seemed to be extremely envious of Kouki and others who could do such things. At the same time, he felt useless. And deliberately looking away from this fact made him feel even more embarrassed. Even so, whenever he recalled the events of that day, the horror deep in his heart would inevitably emerge, looming in his chest.

It's not just Junshi, most of the students who remain in this salon are like this.

They wanted to return to Japan, to go home. To do so, they had to win the war against the demons and rely on the power of Esid, the Creator God worshipped by the Holy Church that summoned them to the world of Todas. Even knowing this, they couldn't muster up any courage. The darkness of fear wiped away the pure white of their will.

"That's right. As expected, if it weren't for special people like Kaori and Shizuku, it wouldn't be possible."

"That's right. Shizuku is really handsome! I almost fell in love with her~"

"Ahaha, what are you talking about~ Suzu is enough for a yuri character!"

"Eh? Is Suzu really Lily!?"

"No, that guy is an old man at heart!"

Like Atsushi's boys, the girls were all cheerful and cheerful on the surface, engaging in superficial conversation, but their expressions concealed a mixture of envy and shame. Atsushi's boys joined them, continuing their meaningless, dull, and empty conversations, as if they were afraid of the topic ending.

The attendants waiting in the salon watched them. Some had frank glances, others were emotionless, each with a different expression. Some coldly wondered, "How could they waste their time in such a place, when they had been chosen by the gods and their companions were fighting?" Some sensed the fear lingering in the students' hearts and felt pity for their inability to return home. Some felt sorry for them, for being forced to this point, despite being mere students. And some, having long since seen through it all, held no feelings or concern for them.

The glances their followers gave them reflected the feelings that the nobles and those affiliated with the Holy Church felt towards the students who remained here. Of course, the proportions varied depending on the organization they belonged to.

Then, the students who stayed behind also felt the emotions directed at them to some extent, which forced them to focus more on escaping reality and engaging in boring conversations to lick each other's wounds.

At this moment, a small murmur fell.

"...Shizuku-sama, she's no different from an ordinary girl..."

It wasn't something he meant to say to anyone; it was simply a casual soliloquy. It was just unfortunate timing; the words, spoken just after everyone else's conversation paused, reached the ears of everyone in the salon.

The students were startled and turned their attention to the person who was whispering—Nia, Shizuku's usual attendant. Nia immediately lowered her head and apologized for her careless and unnecessary words, but...

"...What? Are you dissatisfied?"

Atsushi frowned and spoke to Nia in a growling voice. However, despite his menacing aura, his gaze flickered downward. This reaction honestly revealed that his reaction to Nia was partly a vent of anger.

"No, I don't have any complaints. I'm truly sorry."

Nia bowed deeply to the students again. However, Junshi seemed to be very angry about Nia's respectful attitude and became more and more excited as he spoke.

"Who told you to apologize? Do you think I'm an idiot? You said there's no difference with Yaegashi-kun... You mean, even though there's no difference, we're the only ones who refuse to fight, and you think we're useless, right? Explain clearly!"

"Hey, hey, Atsushi...don't get angry over such a small thing..."

"Taking it out on the maid won't help."

In order to calm Junshi, who was yelling like a tantrum child, his friends Noboru Aikawa and Akito Nimura said this.

"Shut up! I just... just... damn it..."

"Atsushi..."

"Tamei-san..."

An indescribable wave of melancholy washed over Atsushi, leaving him restless. Aikawa and Akito, standing nearby, were speechless, their gazes averted. The female students who had been about to speak to Atsushi fell silent. Everyone understood—Atsushi's inexpressible feeling, a heavy, sticky feeling, like being entangled in a spider's nest.

Nia took a step towards Junshi, who lowered his head to hide his expression, and spoke:

"Atsushi-sama, I deeply apologize for saying something that offended you. However, I absolutely wasn't mocking anyone, including Atsushi-sama. Please understand this..."

"Ms. Nia... no, um, I... I'm sorry."

Nia bowed her head deeply once more, her apology radiating genuine sincerity. Atsushi, seemingly calming down a bit, awkwardly looked away and apologized to Nia. There was nothing more mortifying than losing your temper at a woman who hadn't actually done anything wrong and then forcing her to bow her head and apologize.

Nia smiled softly at Junshi. This time, she spoke to convey the true meaning of her words:

"If you are offended by my unintentional words just now, I apologize. However, as Shizuku-sama's attendant... no, as her friend, I believe that Shizuku-sama is also a girl who sometimes needs protection, relies on others, and acts like a spoiled child."

"...But Shizuku-chan is incredibly strong. She's always reliable... Honestly, I can't imagine Shizuku-chan being weak."

"yes……"

The girl who stayed in the royal capital—Miyazaki Nana—said with a wry smile, and her friend Sugawara Taeko agreed.

"Indeed, even when I was by Shizuku-sama's side, caring for her, she never showed any weakness. But no one in this world is perfect. Shizuku-sama was only a teenage schoolgirl until recently. So, while nothing's wrong yet... I'm worried that when she finally returns to this palace, she might be so overwhelmed by everyone's insistence that 'if it were Shizuku-sama, it's only natural' that she won't even have time to relax."

"Ms. Nia..."

Her words, which showed more consideration for Shizuku than she had expected, made Nana, Atsushi, and the others waver slightly and tremble.