After Leaving the A-Rank Party, I Aim for the Deep Part of the Labyrinth With My Former Students

An hour after Marina’s sudden proposal, I found myself undergoing an interview for joining a new party.
The interviewers? My former students.
The lively Magic Swordsman Marina.

The calm and composed Dark Elf Ranger/Spirit User Silk.
And the slightly enigmatic Cleric/Mage Rain.
All three were just as I remembered from their Adventurer Preparatory Training days.

“So, Ferdio-sensei, am I correct in assuming you’re interested in joining our party?”
“Well, I suppose that’s what this means.”
Silk’s expression was difficult to read, and I couldn’t help but chuckle.

Truthfully, I’d initially declined, but Marina’s persistence wore me down.
When I added the condition that the other two needed to agree, it led to this situation.
“With Ferdio-sensei, our party will be amazing!”

“I think it’s a good idea,” Rain said with a small nod.
“I don’t have any objections either, but… Ferdio-sensei, are you sure? We’re just a rookie D-rank party with low credibility scores. As a B-rank adventurer, wouldn’t this be a waste of your time?”
“That won’t be an issue. In fact, it might suit me better.”

The Thunder Pike party I’d been a part of had three A-rank adventurers and was among the top dungeon-raiding groups.
The quests and dungeons we tackled were high-level, and naturally, my workload as the support role increased proportionally.
Potions, magic scrolls, and artifacts were consumed at a rapid pace, all at my expense.

Yesterday’s quest alone had left me in the red.
In contrast, lower-rank quests and dungeons would reduce such expenses.
With fewer consumables used, the balance between costs and rewards should naturally improve.
For someone like me, who tends to burn through resources, lower-rank quests might actually be a better fit.

“Well, then, it’s decided!”
“Got it. And since I’m officially a member now, drop the ‘sensei.’ Just call me Yuke.”
The three of them nodded in unison.

“Nice to meet you, Yuke!”
“We’ll be counting on you, Yuke-san.”
“Thank you, Yuke.”

This fresh and eager atmosphere... It had been a long time since I felt anything like it.
Ever since becoming an adventurer, I’d been stuck with Thunder Pike.
“So, what’s the plan for today?”

“Do you already have something scheduled?”
“We’ve taken a quest to collect magical iron ore from the Painthal Abandoned Mine Labyrinth. There’s still some time, but the client seems to be in a hurry.”
The Painthal Abandoned Mine Labyrinth was a small, low-rank dungeon.

It was an abandoned coal mine turned dungeon, not particularly dangerous.
The dungeon only went as deep as ten floors, making it a perfect fit for their abilities—and for my first job with them.
“In that case, let’s make this my debut. As a supporter, I’d like to see how you three coordinate as well.”

“Really? You’ll come with us?”
“Of course. I’ll pull my weight.”
I had all my adventuring gear with me, so there was no issue.

“Alright, let’s go, Fe—uh, I mean, Yuke!”
“Right. There should be a shared carriage heading to Tenet Village soon. Let’s catch that.”
The three of them stared at me in surprise.

“What?”
“…You know the carriage schedule?”
“Of course I do.”

A supporter’s duties cover a wide range of tasks.
Knowing transportation options and schedules is essential for planning arrival times.
“As expected! Let’s go, team!”

On the Way to the Dungeon
After an hour on the carriage and a short walk, we arrived at the entrance of the Painthal Abandoned Mine Labyrinth.
Located near the adventurer city of Finis, this lesser dungeon was still active and served as a training ground for novice adventurers.

“So, we’re aiming for the sixth floor for the magical iron ore?”
“Not quite. We’ll try to collect it on the fourth or fifth floor. We haven’t been able to defeat the fifth-floor boss yet…” Silk said hesitantly.
“Understood. We’ll start with the fourth floor, then.”

Magical iron ore was a type of mana-infused iron found in mining dungeons.
It was essential for crafting alloys and was highly prized by artisans for its mana-conductive properties.
However, it could only be mined in dungeons, making it a rare and sought-after resource.

The sixth floor of this dungeon had abundant deposits of magical iron ore, but reaching it was challenging due to the floor boss guarding the way.
For a rookie trio like Marina’s party, attempting to defeat it would indeed be risky.
“Alright, let’s go!”

“Yeah!”
Marina took the lead, holding a collapsible ten-foot pole.
Good, she remembered what I’d taught her.

Without a thief or scout in the party, having the most durable member, Marina, probe the ground for traps as she moved was the safest approach.
That is, if I weren’t here.
“Marina, let me take the lead. I’ll handle it.”

“Huh? But Yuke, you’re a Red Mage, right?”
“Exactly—a jack-of-all-trades.”
I pulled a lantern from my bag and lit it.

The deep blue flame flickered gently, illuminating the dim tunnel.
“Whoa, what’s that? It’s beautiful!”
“This is a Lantern of Insight. It’ll reveal any traps ahead.”

This magical artifact used special alchemical oil to burn. With it, even I could detect traps like a seasoned thief.
Since I made the oil myself, the cost was manageable.
“I can handle some combat too. Marina, take the rear and stay alert for ambushes.”

“Got it!”
Her earnestness was almost worrying.
“Alright, let’s move. We’ll take the shortest route to the third floor and start searching on the fourth.”

Matching my pace to theirs, we proceeded slowly into the Painthal Abandoned Mine Labyrinth.
This place hadn’t changed much.
It was also the first dungeon Thunder Pike ever tackled.

“...Heads up. Prepare for combat. There’s something in the small room twenty yards ahead.”
At my warning, the three of them readied their weapons.