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

"Quite the commotion over there," Marina remarked.
"Yeah," I replied, glancing toward the source of the noise.
There was no way I could admit that the troublemakers were my former party.
What on earth were they doing now? Without me there to handle the disputes, you’d think they’d try to act with a little more restraint.

Oh well, not my problem anymore.
Letting Thunder Pike continue their racket, I turned back to the three women in front of me.
"So, what’s the plan for tomorrow? Should we take a rest day?"
"Yes. We always schedule two days off after completing a quest. But of course, we’ll leave the decision to you, Sensei," Silk answered.
"Silk, you’re calling me Sensei again."
"Oh…"

Silk quickly covered her mouth, her face turning red.
"Take your time getting used to it. Alright, tomorrow and the day after will be rest days."
"What about you, Yuke? What will you do?" Rain asked.
"I’ll probably stroll through the market, check out supplies, and restock things like scrolls and potions."
I also planned to use the Blessed Ash I’d picked up to make some holy water. It’s a handy item to have in various situations.

"Yuke, you’re an alchemist, right? I’m a little jealous," Rain said, smiling softly. She seemed a little tipsy.
Being an alchemist isn’t exactly the most adventurer-friendly job. Most of its skills are centered around producing magical artifacts and potions.
It’s a high-investment, late-blooming profession. Between the costs of gaining knowledge and acquiring equipment, it’s a profession many parties avoid. Alchemists often end up working in shops or guilds rather than joining adventurer teams.

That said, some magical tools and scrolls can only be used by alchemists, so a few, like me, pursue adventuring despite the hurdles.
"Shall we decide on the next job in three days? If you’re okay with it, I can look around for potential quests during the second day."
"No way! You need to rest properly. You were the one who told us to take breaks," Silk said, wagging her finger at me.
Maybe Silk should be the leader instead.

"Alright, alright. Three days from now, we’ll meet here in the morning. If you need me in the meantime, leave a message at the Dancing Duck Inn on West Street. That’s where I’m staying."
"If I go there, will I see you?" Marina asked.
"Depends. Why, what’s up?"
"Nothing in particular. I thought I’d invite you to hang out if I’m bored."
"Marina, even if you know me, you should be more cautious around men. What if I were a bad guy?"
"A bad guy wouldn’t warn me like that," she said, completely unfazed.
"…"

I was momentarily speechless. She had a point, but something still felt off.
"Well, maybe we’ll hang out. Besides, we’ll have plenty of adventures together going forward."
"True!" Marina nodded cheerfully.
As I sighed at her carefree nature, Rain tugged at my sleeve.
"Hey, look… Isn’t that you, Yuke?"

I glanced up to see the large tavern screen displaying a Today’s Featured Stream segment.
On the screen was a Red Mage dressed in my adventuring gear—me.
"Whoa! It really is you, Yuke!" Marina exclaimed, half-standing from her chair to get a better look.

On the screen, my earlier fight with the Steel Crab played out, showing me taking down the massive creature without so much as touching it.
The view count displayed at the bottom of the screen was… over 5,000.
"Huh?"

I blinked in disbelief. It had only been about half a day since the stream. That number was way too high.
"Wow, that’s amazing. A Red Mage, right? Taking down the Steel Crab, a known beginner killer in the Painthal Abandoned Mine, without even touching it—few renowned adventurers could pull that off. What do you think, Gato?"
"I’m shocked. To see a so-called ‘underwhelming class’ like Red Mage perform so well—it’s refreshing. I’ve never heard of this party Clover, though."
"Same here. I keep tabs on all the top-ranked parties, and this is a first. Maybe they’re about to shake things up!"
"Let’s keep an eye on them! That was today’s Featured Stream!"
The screen switched to another broadcast as the guild announcers wrapped up their commentary.

Staring blankly, I took another swig of ale.
"The view count was over 6,000 by the end… As expected of Sensei," Silk said.
"I’m surprised too. Maybe beginners struggling with that dungeon were watching," I replied.
"But it’s not exactly helpful advice. You’re too amazing, Yuke," Rain added.
She had a point. Anyone trying to mimic my performance would need to train extensively. Still, the realization that Red Mage debuff spells worked on the Steel Crab might inspire rookie Red Mages to shine.

"Let’s have another drink," Rain said, pouring ale into my mug.
"A toast to you, Yuke!" Marina cheered.
"Today’s been full of reasons to celebrate! All thanks to you, Yuke!"
"Thanks, hearing that makes me happy," I replied, smiling as Marina beamed at me.

It had been a long time since I’d felt this content. As I clinked mugs with Marina, I found myself reflecting.
(Actually, it’s all thanks to Marina.)
If she hadn’t shown up at the guild counter that day, none of this would’ve happened. The more I thought about it, the more grateful I felt.

Red Mages aren’t a popular class. Their skills often lack flashiness, leading to widespread misunderstanding and low demand. Despite that, Marina had invited me to join her party simply because we were acquaintances. And Silk and Rain had accepted me without hesitation.
"Thank you, all of you," I said softly.
The three of them turned to me in surprise.

"What’s wrong, Yuke? We should be the ones thanking you!"
"Did something happen? Are you okay?" Rain asked, concerned.
"If there’s anything bothering you, let us know," Silk added.
Their worried faces made me chuckle.
"It’s nothing. I’ll explain someday," I said.

When the time comes, when they face a wall or doubt themselves, I’ll tell them everything. And I’ll grow stronger to help us overcome those challenges together.
With that thought, I downed my mug in one gulp.