Abyss, 1st layer.
The Garden.

As we left the main base, which was finally becoming somewhat familiar, complaints pierced my ears from both sides.

"Honestly, 'Hooded Ones' is a bit much..."
Leif, what are you saying? There’s no more intuitive and recognizable name than this.

"I told you, 'Black Pride' makes more sense. Black hair, lion beastfolk. It’s way more straightforward."
Ray, wouldn’t that leave Leif out? What, are you going to dye her hair black and give her lion ears too?

With that logic, I overpowered their arguments and enforced the name "Hooded Ones."

"If we really hate it later, we can always change it. Team names are easy to change anyway."

Unlike factions, clans, or guilds, which are essentially businesses once founded, teams come and go all the time.
Teams are created and disbanded frequently, and unless your team has a valuable brand name, the team name is just something the Alliance uses for categorization.
The Alliance might not like it if we change it too often, but that’s a problem for later.

"For now, we’re going with 'Hooded Ones.' All three of us are wearing hoods anyway, so no one’s left out. It’s perfect."

For the record, I didn’t get Ray’s hood after all.

It wasn’t just a size issue; apparently, Ray had gained some fame too.
In Les Rimen, where multiple races coexist, beastfolk were already rare. Among the beastfolk, lion beastfolk like Ray were even rarer. And the fact that she had been associated with the Frontier Guild, even during just a training session, attracted attention.
If it weren’t for Arthur, the top prospect soaking up all the spotlight, Ray would’ve been even more in the limelight.

Because of this, I had to quickly buy a hood from a nearby shop to cover myself.

You might think I was being overly cautious about fame, but I don’t have an appearance that blends in easily. In fact, I tend to stand out among humans.
With my unusual hair color, skin tone, and distinctive facial features, it’s hard not to be noticed. Among humans, I’m quite easy to recognize.

"If we need to discuss the team name again later, fine. For now, let’s keep moving."

We had already chosen our first destination before descending into the Abyss.

"I’m excited to see the Signpost Tree!"
Leif spoke with enthusiasm.

Indeed, our first destination was the Signpost Tree, a place where previous explorers shared their geographic discoveries.

The Signpost Tree was definitely closer than the Windmill at the Edge.
If we kept up our pace using physical reinforcement, we should arrive in about four days.

The monsters on the first layer were too weak to be any real obstacle for our team.

Unless we encountered another mutated bugbear, goblins and even their evolved form, bugbears, were nothing more than snacks.
The Magnetic Beetles, which emitted electromagnetic fields to pull in metal weapons, were tough opponents for warriors but just big bugs for us.
The only real threat had been the flying monsters that swooped down with rapid speed, but even they were quickly turned into target practice, thanks to me and Leif's ranged attacks.

There were only two encounters with flying monsters, given their low numbers.

"We’re almost there. By tomorrow, we should reach it."

The fact that we had already encountered three other teams today confirmed that the Signpost Tree was near.
My first encounter with fellow explorers had been unpleasant, so I was on edge, but the teams we met today were surprisingly friendly.

Maybe they recognized Ray or me when we removed our hoods due to the heat.
Each of the three teams we passed gave us words of encouragement, like hikers passing each other on a trail: "Heading to the Signpost Tree? You’re almost there!"

Despite the Abyss being a lawless zone, it was nice to see that some people's true nature could still be kind.

"Let’s camp here for tonight."

We were all already experienced at setting up camp.
Without needing to assign roles, we quickly got to work—lighting a fire, spreading out blankets, and setting up an alarm spell for safety.

After dinner, we gathered around the campfire, deciding the watch order. During our pre-sleep chatter, Leif suddenly asked:

"Roman, why did you come to the Abyss?"

"Hmm?"

"Ray told me she’s here to gain the strength to defeat the uncle and his allies who betrayed her family. But I don’t think I’ve ever heard why you’re here."

Ray chimed in.

"That’s true. I never asked. You know all about me, and—wait, Leif, you haven’t shared your story either! I’m the only one who has!"

"Eh? Really? I thought I mentioned it..."

"You tried to tell me during the training exam, but then the attack happened."

"Oh, right..."

Leif smiled awkwardly, her innocence making even Ray's frustration fade.

"Well, as you can see, I’m a half-elf," Leif said, gently touching her pointed ears.

"I grew up in an elven village, but I had to be careful. My mother, who brought me there, left me and never returned."

So, she was essentially an orphan.

"The elves don’t discriminate against half-elves outright. Officially, any acts of discrimination are forbidden, but... there’s always a certain disdain, you know? It’s in their looks, the way they treat you."

That much, I’d heard before.

Half-elves often left their villages because they couldn’t endure the unspoken scorn and contempt.

"The real issue was that I was only half-capable as a mage."

"Hmm?"

"Huh?"

"Oh, not in that way! I meant magically. I could only use old-style spirit magic."

That explained it.

"Being a half-elf and only knowing outdated magic meant I was never treated well in the village."

"...So, you’re here to search for your mother?"

Ray’s tone softened, sensing the delicate nature of Leif’s family situation.
Though Ray’s family had been slaughtered by her uncle, at least she had once known love from her parents. Leif, on the other hand, had never had that opportunity.

In a way, Leif’s circumstances were more tragic.

"That’s not really it... it’s more that I’m not sure."

"Have you thought about asking a demon warlock for help? They specialize in finding people, right?"

Ray’s expression soured a bit at the mention of demon warlocks, likely recalling her own experiences.

"I tried, actually. But they didn’t know. Either the warlock wasn’t skilled enough, or the demon wasn’t. They told me there are only two possibilities when they don’t know."

She paused. The unspoken implications hung in the air.
The person is either dead or...
"...Or they’re deep in the Abyss."

"Exactly."

The deeper you go into the Abyss, the more isolated it becomes, cutting off all external interference—even the sight of demons can’t penetrate the deepest darkness.

"Well, that’s all for my story."

It was clear, even to someone like me, who lacked the sharp instincts of a beastfolk, that Leif was holding something back. Her tone and body language gave it away.

But everyone has things they want to keep hidden. I was no different.

"Now it’s your turn, Roman."

I stared into the fire, letting its flickering light help me gather my thoughts.
There’s nothing like staring into flames to organize your mind.

What should I say?
How much should I reveal?

My thoughts grew more tangled, offering no answers.
So, I just spoke from the heart, saying whatever came naturally.

"I had a home."

I chuckled at my own words.
Who doesn’t have a home? Even someone abandoned at birth would still consider the first place they remember their home.

But I... don’t have a home. At least, not in this world.

"I wanted to go back."

Once, I hadn’t understood those words.
The importance of home, its true value. Now, I do.

In this world, I’m a complete outsider, barely holding on by the threads of fate.

"So, I summoned a demon. I didn’t care what the cost was. I was ready to give up my lifespan, even my soul, after death. I was prepared for anything."

But it wasn’t enough. I wasn’t enough.

"I wasn’t worth enough to pay the price for returning home. That’s why I came to the Abyss—to increase my worth, to borrow the demon’s power and find my way back."

I paused, lifting my gaze from the fire.

Staring into the flames too long had made my eyes sting.
But rubbing them would only make it worse, so I tilted my head back, letting the tears soothe the burning sensation.

"That’s it."

The tears blurred my vision, helping ease the stinging in my eyes. Finally, I felt a bit more at peace.

"Let’s get some sleep. I’m on the first watch, right? Go ahead and rest, I’ll wake you up later."

With no fireflies around, the campfire was the only source of light.
As the fire’s glow spread, a group of figures approached, pushing back the darkness.

They weren’t trying to hide their presence at all, making their footsteps clear as they neared. One of them even spoke up, as if worried we might not notice.

"Just three of them. And all novices. This’ll be easy."

"Heh, and they’re using a sleeping scent. They’re practically inviting us to come in and feast."

Their laughter was unpleasant, the kind that sent shivers down your spine.

I quickly sized them up. Five in total—two regulars and three novices.
A standard team composition for a first-layer expedition.

The two who spoke were the regulars.

It was clear now how close we were to the Signpost Tree. Even scum like these were starting to appear.

I openly looked them up and down before speaking.

"You’ve been on an expedition."

They burst into mocking laughter.

"Did you hear that? 'You’ve been on an expedition.'"

"Yeah, we just came back. What, are you hoping we’re tired? Sorry to disappoint, but it was a bust. Those bugbears have been making a mess of things lately."

Ignoring their jeers, I continued.

"About a month, right? At least three weeks, give or take."

My words made their demeanor change instantly.
They had been casually dismissive, but now there was a hint of caution.

‘So, I was right.’

If they’d been at Les Rimen or even the main base recently, they would have recognized me or my team.
And if they had known who we were, they wouldn’t be standing here making idle threats. They’d have ambushed us immediately, trying to leave no trace.

The failed expedition, their ignorance of who we were, and their greed had created this situation.

"Up until now, I was in a good mood. For the first time in a while, I felt... nostalgic. The quiet surroundings reminded me of old memories."

One of the regulars, the one with the mouth, reached for his weapon—a morningstar.
Quite the brutish weapon.

"So, what, are you going to say you're in such a good mood that you’ll let us go?"

"You really ought to know when to quit."

The second regular joined in, wielding a classic sword and shield combo. The three novices behind them were probably mages.

It didn’t matter either way.

"No."

I stood up.

They’d had the chance to attack me while I was sitting, but they’d wasted it. They were underestimating us.

Even if they had attacked with full effort, though, the outcome would have been the same.

"You should at least understand why you’re about to die. That way, it won’t feel so unfair."

The moment they let their bloodlust disrupt my thoughts, they sealed their fate.