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Tl: Sam

…

“Are you alright? Can you move?”
“You’re…”

When the exhausted explorer shifted his gaze, the explorer Yui Hoshino stood before him.
Behind her, nearly twenty explorers followed along. Not only from the Iron Stag Guild, but also members from Obsidian Bear and the Gold Leo Guild.

Regardless of guild boundaries, those who had been separated seemed to have banded together and moved as one group.

“Can you drink some water?”
“A-Are you sure…?”
“Yes! We’re all in this together, so we have to help each other out.”
“Thank you… You saved me.”

Receiving the plastic bottle from Hoshino, the male explorer gulped down the water inside.
The place they were in was the dungeon’s lower level. While not quite as extreme as where Tanaka was, it was still an intensely high-heat zone, with exposed lava in several places.
Water was a precious commodity and their lifeline.

(Honestly, it’s not like I have much to spare, but if anyone gets dehydrated, they won’t be able to move. We need to head up quickly and resupply on water…)

Hoshino wiped away dripping sweat and thought things over.
If everyone’s supplies were intact, there would have been plenty to go around, but some explorers had lost their luggage when they were teleported. Several of Hoshino’s items had been ruined as well, so she didn’t have much margin to share with others.

Even so, she couldn’t bring herself to abandon anyone.

Having finished the water, the man bowed his head to Hoshino in gratitude.

“Thank you so much… I feel alive again. I’m not in perfect shape, but I can at least walk. Do you mind if I come along?”
“Yes! Of course! Let’s escape together!”

Encouraging the explorer, Hoshino moved forward.
Among the explorers present today, some had no prior experience exploring the lower level. While several grew anxious after being suddenly teleported down here in such a state, the fact that they could keep pressing forward was largely thanks to Hoshino’s natural brightness.

However, even in such a situation, trouble arose.

“In the first place, it’s your fault for letting greed get the better of you!”
“What did you say!? You guys would’ve opened that chest if you found it, too!”
“Don’t lump us in with greedy bastards like you!”

As they advanced through the dungeon, a dispute suddenly broke out between explorers.
Looking over, explorers from the Gold Leo Guild and the Iron Stag Guild were arguing back and forth.
The subject of the argument was about Iron Stag opening the treasure chest and triggering the teleportation trap.
Both sides understood how pointless it was to argue right now, but they couldn’t help venting their grievances over how carelessness had brought about this dire situation.

“In fact, the Iron Stag bunch has always been reckless. Just the other day, you stirred up monsters with your forceful exploration and caused trouble for everyone!”
“Doing that back then was the best choice! We dealt with the stirred-up monsters ourselves, so there wasn’t any problem!”

The quarrel grew heated between the two.
The dispute ran in parallel circles, showing no sign of resolution.

Then, Hoshino briskly strode over toward them.
Seeing her approach in silence, the two explorers stopped their arguing.

“H-Hoshino-san. What’s wrong…?”
“Sorry, but this doesn’t concern you. Aren’t you annoyed by Iron Stag too, Hoshino-san? Leave us alone.”

Hearing their words, Hoshino stayed quiet for a moment, then suddenly swung down her clenched fists, punching both explorers and planting them face-first into the ground.

“Bubeh!?”
“Gah!?”

Stuck side-by-side into the earth, the two groaned in pain.
Somehow pulling their heads out of the dirt, they pressed Hoshino, demanding, “What was that for!?”

“Both parties are to blame in a fight! You both know this isn’t the time to be fighting, right?”
“Well, sure, but… in the first place, this happened because these guys were greedy…”

When the Gold Leo explorer complained, Hoshino showed him her clenched fist again. Having intimately learned how much that fist hurt, he swallowed his words with a hurried, “N-No, never mind.”

“I understand why you feel anxious. I also understand wanting to complain. But can’t that wait until after we safely escape!?”
“Hoshino-san, you…”

Hoshino pleaded with a serious expression.
Before anyone realized it, every explorer present was listening intently to her words.

“I won’t tell you to become best friends. But… just for now, let’s cooperate! Once we escape, you can fight as much as you want. If you really can’t hold back, then I’ll take on all your anger myself!”

Hoshino spread her arms wide, leaving herself wide open as if inviting them to hit her.
Seeing her selfless, desperate stance, the Gold Leo explorer reached toward Hoshino… and gently placed a hand on her shoulder.

“I give up. You’re completely right. It was childish of me, my bad.”

He apologized to Hoshino, then bowed his head to the Iron Stag explorer he had clashed with and apologized.
There was no longer any trace of anger on his face, only regret.

“Sorry for causing trouble, Hoshino-san. Your words and your fists really hit home. I’ll make up for the trouble I caused by pulling my weight. Believe it or not, I’ve been an explorer for quite a while, so work me to the bone, Leader.”
“Thank you… Wait, Leader? M-Me!?”
“You’re the only one who can unite all of us across different guilds. Isn’t that right, everyone?”

When he called out to the other explorers, everyone around nodded in agreement.

“Hoshino-san! You’re the only one who can lead us!”
“Please be our leader! We’re begging you!”

Multiple voices rose up, wishing for Hoshino to take the lead.
Not much time had passed since they set out to escape together, but Hoshino had already won their hearts.

(Wh-What should I do? I’m not cut out to be a leader, though…)

Hoshino had a bright and cheerful personality, but standing above others was something she was rather uncomfortable with.
However, having overcome life-or-death situations since meeting Tanaka, she had grown as a person.

(Still, if becoming their leader will bring everyone together… then it’s worth doing. Tanaka-san would definitely do the same thing.)

Hoshino steeled her resolve and decided to become their leader.
She had already been serving in a leadership role along the way, but officially taking on the title added a whole new weight to her shoulders.

“Understood! I’m still inexperienced, but I will serve as everyone’s leader until we escape! Let’s join forces and get out of here together!”

At Hoshino’s words, the other explorers raised their fists with a resounding “Yeah!” in response.
Though both supplies and stamina were precarious, the birth of a new leader undeniably breathed strength into them.

(Please wait for me, Tanaka-san. I’m going to do my best!)

Swearing that in her heart to the person she admired, Hoshino resumed advancing toward escaping the dungeon.

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