The World's Strongest Rearguard (世界最強の後衛 ～迷宮国の新人探索者～)

Louisa-san?

Um... What do you think?

I-I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have reacted like that.

What you've accomplished is just so incredible

that my mind went blank for a moment.

Was it that amazing?

I've come to expect that from your Seeking results,

but what caught my attention this time

SEEKING RESULTS

was your discovery of and entry into unexplored territory.

"Unexplored territory" refers to places

from which no guild member has ever returned alive.

But all of you made it back safely.

That means your party's Contribution Points put you above all other parties.

You're currently ranked first in all of District 8.

F-First?!

THE WORLD'S STRONGEST REARGUARD

THE HOPE OF DEMI-HUMANS

We're ranked first, huh?

I'd rather not let other Seekers find out about this so it doesn't start fights...

Oh, sorry. We need to join up with Igarashi-san and the others, huh?

Hey, now! You're the one who ran into me!

Those look like Falma-san's kids... and her Silver Hound?

Are they mixed up in some kind of trouble?

Well, come on! Say something!

So? How are you brats gonna make up for this?

Is something wrong?

I know these kids.

That's perfect, then.

This stinking mutt of theirs crashed into me on purpose

and got these valuable leather boots all dirty.

You can compensate me in their place.

That'll be ten gold coins.

Pay up and I'll let 'em go.

He was trying to extort them? He's beyond help.

C-Cion didn't run into him!

He tried to bump into Eyck! She was just protecting him!

Shut your mouth, brat!

Quit nitpicking and pay up!

Eyck, Plum, would you mind letting me borrow Cion's strength for a bit?

Huh?

S-Sure.

CURRENT STATUS CION HAS BECOME A MEMBER OF ARIHITO'S PARTY

There.

Cion's in our party now.

What the hell's taking so long?!

Cion didn't do anything wrong.

If you apologize to these kids, I'll overlook this.

You think you're some kinda hero?

Guess you're not gonna get it until you feel some pain!

Defense Support!

Go, Cion!

Attack Support!

TAIL COUNTER

Eyck! Plum!

Are you all right?

M-Mommy!

They're unharmed.

You saved them, didn't you, Mr. Atobe?

Thank you so much!

It was Cion who protected them.

I was only drawn into it by her bravery.

Still... I had no idea Cion had a skill like that.

Hm? What is it?

Cion wants you to pet her.

Oh, okay.

Want to try petting her too, Theresia?

She isn't afraid of demi-humans or anything.

You don't need to worry.

Excuse me, Falma-san.

Is there a place where I can get a guard dog like Cion?

Have you taken a liking to her?

I have.

Mr. Atobe, if you'd like, why don't you take Cion along on your next Seeking?

Huh?

I've been wanting to give her some Seeking experience.

And she seems quite fond of you.

I'd really appreciate it.

If Cion joins us, we can have her use Covering

to make our party's defense even more ironclad.

Okay, then.

Would you come along with me on a Seeking?

Cion says she'll do it!

Looks like she loves that lady, too!

Jeez! We waited forever for you, Onii-chan!

I know, sorry. I ran into Falma-san and her kids.

Hi there, Arihito.

You've got quite a large family now, huh?

I did gain some new companions.

Seeking is going well for us, too.

Glad to hear that.

The Carrier brought your monsters in earlier.

A Gaze Hound and a Plane Eater.

Can I dissect them?

Yeah, I was hoping to ask you to.

By the way, Rikerton-san, is dissecting all you can do here?

I'd like to get them appraised, too.

I'm sorry, but we can't appraise here.

Don't any of your members have Appraise skills?

It'd be handy to have someone in your party who could.

I see... Appraise skills, huh?

It's so fresh.

Still, taking out a Gaze Hound and a Plane Eater in the same run?

It's a miracle you're alive.

It's tragic, but many promising Seekers perish in labyrinths,

or get turned into demi-humans. It's a daily occurrence here.

But I've heard there's a way to return demi-humans to their original forms.

I think of it as a kind of hope the labyrinths leave behind for Seekers.

I feel the same.

When I added her to my party, I made up my mind that I'd restore her.

You're going to bring Theresia back?

Yes.

I said that as if it had nothing to do with me...

but my wife—Melissa's mother—is a demi-human.

Your wife is a demi-human?

She lost her life in a labyrinth,

and some Seekers found her as a demi-human.

But...

she was already pregnant with Melissa at the time.

Wow, really?

After giving birth, she joined a friend's party

and continues to Seek with them.

Acquiring the means to undo a demi-human transformation

requires going up the ranks.

So you decided to raise Melissa

and parted ways with your wife?

Arihito, what are your feelings on youth?

Huh?

Melissa takes little interest in things that children enjoy.

The only thing she ever showed interest in was dissecting monsters.

Because of that, she's helped me at the shop all these years

and has no experience interacting with kids her own age.

Should she really continue to spend her irreplaceable youth

looking forward to seeing rare and valuable materials we almost never get?

Are you saying you want Melissa to experience

this priceless time known as "youth"?

Yes. I want her to see more of the outside world.

Even if she might think her old man's just meddling...

I don't think that.

Oh, sorry. Did I distract you?

The Plane Eater was carrying a camouflage stone.

If you add it to your gear, you can use Active Stealth,

a skill that lets you blend into your surroundings.

You hit the jackpot.

That's impressive. Okay, someone on the front line should—

What are you talking about? You should use it.

Huh?

I don't want to see you get hurt like that again.

Active Stealth consumes a lot of magic.

You can't use it recklessly. Be careful.

I see.

On the other hand, as long as I don't use up too much magic, I can be invisible.

If I combine it with Rear Stance,

it'll be possible to attack enemies before they even notice me.

All right. We'll add it to my gear.

By the way, Melissa, do you have any interest in going out and Seeking with us?

I do.

Yeah?

Then I'd like you to join us.

We'll come pick you up the next time we go Seeking.

Be ready, okay?

Okay. I'll be waiting.

I'm Melissa. I can dissect and dismantle monsters.

Glad to have you!

THE WORLD'S STRONGEST REARGUARD

I'm a Chest Cracker!

Welcome to Lady Ollerus Mansion.

I, Millais, will show you to your rooms.

Your rooms for today are on the second floor.

You guys can go on up.

I'll take care of checking in.

When that's done, we can get dinner.

I'll check you in over here.

Oh, okay.

Are you the leader of the party that just moved in?

Yes, I'm Arihito Atobe.

We'll be staying at this lodge for a while, so we'll see each other around.

You're Atobe, huh?

Our party was ranked the highest in District 8,

but we just dropped to number two.

So I was wondering what the new face would be like.

O-Oh...

Well, we're at number one for now because we got

more Contribution Points than we thought...