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

"Wow, what a haul," I said, unable to suppress a grin as the carriage swayed on our way back to Finis.

The treasure chest that appeared after defeating the floor boss was filled to the brim with magical iron ore, ingots, and various other minerals.
Treasure chests, often called the Dungeon’s Blessing, are one of the many mysterious phenomena of labyrinths. They seem to appear out of nowhere and contain anything from gold, silver, and jewels to junk. Occasionally, they even hold valuable magical artifacts.
The excitement of discovering one is part of the romance of dungeon exploration.

While this chest didn’t yield a rare artifact that treasure hunters might seek, it was a boon for Clover, who had been hesitant to descend to the sixth floor. Now, with some preparation, the four of us could tackle the next challenge together without reservations or worries.
"So, seniors, how did your rookie perform?" I asked with a grin.
"How can I put it… you’re on a whole other level," Silk admitted.
"You were incredible! I was shocked," Marina added.
"Your cooking… tasty," Rain said.

Rain’s evaluation was a little off-topic, but I’ll take it as overall positive.
"As long as I was useful. But isn’t it tough having someone like me suddenly join your party?"
I’ll admit, I’d gotten a bit carried away showing off my seniority. I reflected on how my overconfidence might have overshadowed their efforts.

Beginners need to grow at their own pace, through trial and error. Having someone like me, from a completely different rank and experience level, could disrupt that process. If they weren’t happy with my presence, it might be best for their growth if I stepped aside.
"Not at all! I had so much fun!" Marina exclaimed.
"You’re overthinking this, Yuke. If anything, I feel bad about relying on you too much," Silk added.
"I want to stay with Yuke. You know a lot, and it’s interesting," Rain said.
"Is that so…?"

Rain tugged at my sleeve.
"Yuke, you were about to leave, weren’t you? No way!"
"Huh? Really? Why would you think that?" Marina asked.
"Did we offend you somehow?" Silk added, her tone worried.
Their intense gazes made me flinch.

"No, as long as you’re okay with it."
My concern was that, as an older former instructor and someone of a higher rank, I might unintentionally stifle their pride and sense of adventure. Sensing my thoughts, Silk clapped her hands together and made a startling suggestion.
"Then how about we make Yuke the party leader?"

"Huh?"
"Up until now, I’ve been acting as the de facto leader, but we never had an official one. We didn’t even have a party name until today."
"Still, why me?"
Silk took my hand and smiled beautifully, her dark elf features radiant.
"Because, after all, Yuke is our teacher. I was surprised when Marina suddenly brought you in, but it must have been the guidance of the spirits."

That spirit sounds like one of recklessness and arrogance. Asking someone who’s only been in the party for a day to be the leader feels like quite the reckless decision.
"I agree! Yuke would be perfect!" Marina said.
"Yeah. Lots of experience," Rain added.
"Wait, wait, wait…"
"Clover was a name that came to us because of you, Yuke. It feels like the party was truly formed today," Marina explained.

Silk and Rain nodded in agreement.
There was no escape.
"Are you really okay with this?"
"Of course! With you as leader, I feel confident!" Marina replied.

You shouldn’t trust men so easily, Marina. Still, being the leader might allow me to protect them better and guide them away from unnecessary dangers.
"…Alright, but if I’m not up to the task, let me know right away."
At my reluctant acceptance, the three girls clapped their hands in celebration.

Two hours after returning to Finis, we submitted the Party Name Registration to the guild and reported our quest completion.
The reward wasn’t particularly remarkable, but the Steel Crab we brought back was in excellent condition, fetching a high price. I was satisfied with the result.
"Cheers to a job well done!" Marina exclaimed, downing a mug of ale. Her drinking style was impressive.

"Good work, everyone. I’m glad the quest went smoothly."
"It’s all thanks to you, Yuke," Silk said.
"Your rapid-fire magic was incredible," Rain added.
Rain timidly slid a plate of fried shrimp toward me.
"Hmm?"
"It’s delicious. Try it," she said softly.

I nearly teared up. In the past, my food would often get snatched away, but no one had ever shared theirs with me.
"Thanks."
"Isn’t it tasty?"
"Yeah, it’s great."
As I thanked Rain with a smile, I placed a small pouch on the table, containing the quest reward and proceeds from selling the Steel Crab and other materials.

"Silk, how have you been handling the party’s shares?"
"I’ve been managing them collectively," she replied.
"Wait, really?"
That surprised me. Most adventurers prefer managing their own earnings.

"We’re on an allowance system! But maybe we should change it now that you’re here, Yuke?" Marina suggested.
"That’s true. Since you’re now our leader, it’s up to you. If you prefer managing everything collectively, I can withdraw the full amount from my account," Silk added.
"Wait, this is unexpected… What made you decide to do it this way?" I asked.
Silk nodded.

"I was saving up to eventually buy a base for us. Living in inns forever isn’t very relaxing."
"Ah, that makes sense."
So they’ve been intentionally budgeting for a long-term goal.
"Then let’s stick with collective management for now. We can deposit it into a party fund at the guild."
"Understood. Now that we’re officially registered, that makes sense. But are you sure you’re okay with this?"
"Just because I’ve joined doesn’t mean everything needs to change."

We hadn’t even used many resources for this quest. If I crafted consumables during downtime and sold any surplus, we could avoid financial trouble in the future.
"Alright, then, here’s to our continued success!" I said, raising my mug.
As I toasted, a loud voice echoed from the tavern entrance.

"I’m done with this! I’m leaving!"
The familiar words rang through the tavern, stirring up a commotion.