As Christophe stepped into the entrance of the Labyrinth of Arcadia, a cool breeze brushed against his skin.

Christophe had heard it was underground, so he was expecting complete darkness, but it wasn't pitch black inside.

Magic stones are embedded in the walls of the passageway at various points, and the faint light they emit dimly illuminates the surroundings.

Once he reaches the bottom of the stairs, the noise outside fades away as if it were a lie.

Instead, all he can hear are the steady footsteps of his party members and the roars of monsters echoing from somewhere far away.

For Christophe, stepping into the labyrinth was a first-time experience. The tension was unlike anything he had felt in previous battles with monsters.

Perhaps sensing Christophe's demeanor, Rufrey, who was cautiously walking beside him, spoke to him in a low voice.

"Christophe-san, is this perhaps your first time in a real labyrinth?"

"Oh, that's right. Pathetically, it's my first time entering a dungeon."

"I see. But, but, please rest assured about our party. Basically, as long as Sylvia-sama and Lillie-sama are here, there's no problem."

As he listened to Rufrey's explanation, Christophe stared at the backs of Sylvia and Lillie, who were walking ahead. The two of them occasionally exchanged short words while paying close attention to their surroundings.

"...Lillie, do you sense Anastasia?"

"Yes, Sylvia-sama. It's highly likely she's currently around the 14th basement level. She still seems to be heading upwards, so if we continue on like this, we'll probably be able to make contact around the 10th basement level..."

"So... then we will settle this on the 10th floor."

Sylvia's determined voice reached Christophe's ears as well.

That's when it happened. The wall of the corridor ahead was torn open from the inside with a roar, and several wolf-like monsters with sharp claws and fangs appeared in a cloud of dust.

As Christophe cautiously reached for his sword, just in case, the person next to him, Rufrey, quietly spoke.

"...It's a Wolf. The monster that appears on the first basement level."

"A Wolf? I have fought outside before, too, but is it different in a labyrinth?"

"No, it hasn't changed that much! I think even a novice adventurer could defeat it, but... it seems to be more ferocious than usual. And the smell is stronger than usual."

"Rufrey is amazing, you can tell how strong an enemy is just by their smell!"

"Ehehe, because I'm a beastman!"

Pleased to be praised by Christophe, Rufrey perked up their ears and wagged their tail happily. When Christophe turned his gaze forward, Sylvia and the others were already in battle formation.

No one in the party seems surprised by the appearance of the monster.

There's no sign of anyone giving instructions. Instead, the battle begins with a seamless coordination only possible for those who fully understand their respective roles.

"At this level, detailed instructions aren't necessary. Everyone knows their role and their teammates' movements. Just watch, Christophe-san."

"Since we're here, I will take it as a reference for the future."

Christophe observes the battle alongside Rufrey.

The tank in "Wings of Flash" stands before the wolves with a roar. Reacting to the tank's voice, the wolves that appeared leap forward, but all their attacks are blocked and deflected.

In that opening, Sylvia's sword flashed like lightning, severing the head of one monster. The other members also contributed, with the mages providing accurate supporting fire and the swordsmen steadily reducing their numbers.

The knights of the Rosenritter were also calmly on guard around them, centered on Potpourri, solidifying the flanks of the party.

The basic combat strategy seems to be for "Wings of Flash" to engage, while "Rosenritter" focuses on guarding the surroundings.

The battle was over in an instant, and no monster corpses remained. They vanished as if absorbed into the dungeon floor, leaving only magic stones behind.

They were not collecting materials. Since they didn't bring a porter this time, they won't be accumulating unnecessary luggage.

"...As expected, there are a lot of monsters. The activation of mana is quite noticeable."

"Yes, it's always like this around this time of year, but it seems particularly bad this year."

As Sylvia spoke, Lillie nodded in agreement. Listening to their conversation, Christophe turned to Rufrey and asked,

"Does this labyrinth change quite a bit depending on the season?"

"That is right. The monsters that appear change depending on the time of year, and the internal environment also changes. It changes quite a bit, to the point where there are clans and adventurers who advance their activities during times when it's easier to conquer."

"...So that's why it's said to be the most difficult in the country."

"Yes, yes."

Christophe stared intently at Sylvia. He was once again filled with admiration for her reliable back, which, as the clan leader, she always presented.

(...So this is an S-rank adventurer. And this is how they fight in a clan?)

After a brief battle, the party once again ventured deeper into the labyrinth, cautiously but with sure footing.

Chapter 34