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

“It’s Borguls…!”

The humanoid monsters, covered in fur and resembling apes, were about as tall as my waist. Three of them were loitering in a small room ahead.
They’d already noticed the light from our lantern and were preparing for battle.
“I’ll take the first shot!”

Silk’s arrow flew through the tunnel with a sharp whistle, embedding itself deep in the chest of one of the Borguls.
Her aim was as impeccable as ever.
“Gyahh! Gyahh!”

The Borguls shrieked and charged toward us.
But Marina was already sprinting to meet them.
Wielding a slightly shortened bastard sword, she used its reach, power, and maneuverability to great effect, tailored to her smaller frame.

Now, it was my turn to act.
I cast three different Physical Enhancement spells on Marina, then immediately turned my attention to the two remaining Borguls, casting Snare Trap to trip them up.
This simple spell made the ground slippery, creating a momentary opening—a fatal one, as it turned out.

One of the Borguls fell, only to be cut down instantly by Marina.
“Nicely done.”
“No, it was your spell, Yuke! It made things so much easier!”

“Well, that’s good to hear. You’ve gotten strong—really strong. I’m impressed.”
Borguls were low-level monsters found in many places.
Still, Marina’s timing, positioning, and movement ensured that no harm came to the rear guard.

Her performance was solid enough to hold her own even in a B-rank party.
“Hehe, thanks! But I only trained the way you taught me!”
“Drop the ‘teacher’ bit already. Now, let’s collect the mana stones and move on.”
I quickly and efficiently extracted the mana stones from the Borguls’ chests with a knife.

Monsters’ mana stones were valuable as they powered magical artifacts or served as crafting materials. Many places, including the Adventurer’s Guild, would buy them, making them a key source of income for adventurers.
“You’re so fast,” Rain remarked quietly, watching me work.
“Well, I’ve had a lot of practice.”

“We’re not that good at it yet.”
“Really? Well, I’ll handle it for now, but let’s practice together when we have time.”
“Okay.”

After collecting the Borguls’ mana stones, I resumed my position at the front and cautiously led the group deeper into the tunnel.
Since the mine had transformed into a dungeon, traps and monsters could appear anywhere.
Fortunately, we reached the staircase to the second floor without any issues. Maybe it was our good karma.

“What’s your usual routine for dungeon attacks? Do you rest at every staircase?”
“Yes. We also report any damage or losses during the break.”
I see. They’ve stuck to the basics I taught them.

I leaned against the wall and took a breather.
“No damage to weapons or armor. Stamina is good!”
“Arrows retrieved. No losses.”

“I’m fine too. No issues.”
“Same here. Almost no losses, and my mana reserves are still strong.”
Routine checks for damage or losses are vital in dungeon attacks.

Parties that neglect this practice are far more likely to face emergencies.
Thunder Pike, for example, rarely did this unless I specifically asked.
“Well, let’s move on.”

I held up the Lantern of Insight and began descending the stairs.
As with most dungeons, the deeper you go, the stronger the monsters become.
The Painthal Abandoned Mine Labyrinth was no exception.

And as soon as we descended to the second floor…
“Dead Miners!”
Dozens of undead miners wielding pickaxes and shovels surrounded us the moment we stepped off the stairs.

Dead Miners are an undead type of monster, tough and unyielding because they feel no pain.
“Rain!”
At Silk’s call, Rain had already begun chanting a prayer.

She struck her staff against the ground several times, her voice steady and resonant as she recited her incantation.
“Marina, Yuke-san, cover her!”
Silk unsheathed her rapier as she shouted.

“Got it!”
“Leave it to me. Physical Enchant, Protection, Lesser Blessing!”
I cast an area-wide enhancement spell, ensuring the team could withstand most attacks without suffering severe injuries.

Next, I pulled a flask of holy water from my belt and sprinkled it around Rain’s position.
For low-level undead, this was enough to halt their advance.
“Hyaah!”

Marina swung her sword with raw strength, sending one of the approaching Dead Miners flying.
Even though her power was boosted by Physical Enchant, her fighting style was impressive.
Now, it was my turn.

Drawing my shortsword, I stepped into the fray, slashing and striking the nearest undead.
Made of mithril, the weapon inflicted significant damage on the undead, who reeled from each blow.
Finally, Rain’s prayer reached its crescendo.

A resonant chime echoed from her staff as a gentle light spread outward, obliterating the Dead Miners in its path.
By the time the light faded, not a single undead remained standing.
“Great job, Rain!”

“I could do it because you bought me time.”
Rain’s reserved nature made her powerful Turn Undead spell all the more remarkable.
As a Cleric, her abilities were at least B-rank.

I flicked my fingers, casting Mana Refresh on her to restore her magical energy, then took the lead again.
Encounters like this could be minimized with a proper scout, but we didn’t have one…
“Um, Yuke? Did you just do something?”

“Yeah, I used Mana Refresh. That Turn Undead spell must’ve drained you quite a bit, right?”
At my response, Rain looked at me with wide, astonished eyes.