The immortal hero who thinks of the heroines as his daughters vs. heroines who want to make the hero understand them - Chap 6

In an underground space surrounded by stone walls, relying on scant light sources, there were people struggling. They were in a state close to desperation, yet they refused to give up on life.

“Stop it!”

A party of five men and women had ventured into the labyrinth, but now they were reduced to three. Moreover, the man wielding a sword had suffered a deep wound to his stomach, and a bloodied woman was shielding his back. Facing them was a bloodthirsty black wolf, which never took its eyes off the dying humans as it growled like an earthquake.

“No, I’m the only one who can do something about this situation.”

Responding coldly to the woman’s wail, an uninjured girl began to walk, holding only a short sword. She had started the adventure with countless weapons, but due to using them to draw attention or losing them to monster attacks, only one remained.

“Growl, growl, growl…”

“Ha, I guess I really wasn’t cut out to be an adventurer…”

The girl sighed, twirling her short sword. Her eyes harbored a sense of resignation, in stark contrast to the man and woman she was trying to protect.

“You’re not injured like we are! You should be the one to survive!”

“…I hate the idea of abandoning someone.”

Even after hearing her comrade’s voice, she never looked back. If she looked behind her, she would surely become frightened. If she caught up to the reality of fighting a monster by sacrificing her life, she would freeze up.

“Here I go!”

“GRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!”

The black wolf, like a shadow created by the scant light sources, attacked ferociously as if all its previous assaults were merely a preamble. The girl deflected its blows with her short sword, buying time for the two to escape.

“But I guess this is impossible!”

She narrowly avoided the sharp fangs by slipping her short sword in between, but it cost her the weapon, destroying it. With that, any chance of victory was gone.

With a last-resort kick against the wolf, she flew back to her comrades.

“…I’m sorry, I couldn’t protect you.”

“It’s okay, it’s okay! It was reckless from the start. That we would become adventurers…”

“Ha… guh, ha… Sorry… If I hadn’t invited you…”

The man with a large wound in his abdomen spoke, sweat streaming down his face.

“Don’t talk! Complain after we’ve survived!”

The girl who was trying to press down on the wound to stop the bleeding grimaced in pain. Watching this scene, the wolf seemed to lift the corners of its mouth in a sadistic smile.

Now, I’ll tear out your throats…

“TEEEEEEEEEEEIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!!!!!!”

“GUGYAA!?”

At that moment, a girl with red hair emerged from the darkness, swinging her sword. She slashed the wolf in two with a single stroke, a feat that had troubled the others so far. As she gently exhaled, she turned back to the adventurers.

“…Are you all right? I mean, there’s no way you’re fine, is there?”

Without reacting to their stunned faces, the girl―or rather, Linda, who had now reached an age where she could be called a mature woman―took a bottle filled with liquid from a bag tied to her waist.

“Here, a potion. It won’t fully heal you, but it will serve as first aid.”

“…Eh, ah, thank you.”

“It’s fine. Adventurers help each other out, right?”

As the potion that Linda had handed over was sprinkled on the man, his wound immediately began to close. Seeing its effect, the adventurers’ eyes widened, and their faces turned pale.

“This, this potion must be insanely expensive…”

“Um, it’s fine.”

“That doesn’t… no matter how long it takes, we will definitely repay you!”

Watching the trembling adventurers embrace each other, she gave a wry smile.

“In that case… when you become famous adventurers, please return the favor.”

Linda helped the adventurers to their feet and began to walk leisurely.

“Could you please not leave me behind? If you go at full speed, Linda, I won’t be able to catch up.”

Chiding her like that, a man wearing a robe emerged from the darkness. His face was entirely hidden, as he wore the robe deeply over his head. His appearance was very much like that of a wizard from stories, and the adventurers, who recognized the pairing of the red-haired female swordsman and the wizard, gulped.

“C-Could it be Linda-sama!?”

Until now, they were in a place that was almost entirely dark, so they couldn’t see her face properly. But when they got this close, they could clearly see her.

Helped by the party known as the “Adventurers of the Beginning,”  famed to be the strongest?

“But Rex, you’re slow. Even though you can move faster than me if you really try, why don’t you always do it?”

“…That’s because it’s an external force. If I don’t train my innate strength like this, I’ll suffer someday.”

“Hmm, I see.”

While the one in the robe had a face unknown to all, Linda was famous enough that any adventurer would know her if they were active. About ten years ago, she created the Adventurers’ Guild to conquer the labyrinth, and she still serves as the guild master and an active adventurer. No one takes her lightly simply because she’s a woman. Once they’ve seen her faster, sharper, and more beautiful swordplay than anyone else’s…

“Thump… collapse…”

The adventurers lost consciousness from the overwhelming tension.

◇

“I never thought we would be this successful.”

Having found injured adventurers in the labyrinth and helped them return, Rex muttered as he looked at the bustling guild.

“I must say, I’m a genius, aren’t I!”

“Can’t you ever learn to be modest, Princess?”

He sighed, holding down Linda’s head as she snorted with pride.

Already ten years had passed since the incident when slimes escaped from the labyrinth. Now, at the entrance, a grand wall – or rather a building – stood, and it wouldn’t be destroyed unless a dragon-class monster came out. Linda, having decided to create the Adventurers’ Guild, spread the word through occasional visiting merchants. There was a hole in this village, called the labyrinth, from which monsters sprang, and within it lay infinite treasures. Explore the labyrinth, elevate your martial prowess, rise up – come to the village to become an adventurer.

Surprisingly, many fearless people visited, more than Linda and her companions had anticipated. At first, there were issues with rowdy adventurers causing trouble or their character being called into question, but thanks to Rex’s efforts, these problems were somewhat remedied. The once-small village rapidly developed into a town of significant size.

“But the town of Linex… Why such a name?”

Once it had developed to that extent, not having a name was highly inconvenient. Thus, Linda, acting as the provisional village chief – now more of a temporary representative – used her authority to name it.

But at that time, she had determined the town’s name without consulting Rex at all. Around five days before and after the name was decided, Linda hadn’t even come out of her room, staying holed up all the while, so she must have put a lot of thought into it.

“I’ve told you over and over, there’s no particular meaning to it!”

“Judging by your reaction, it doesn’t seem that way…”

“What are you talking about?!”

Linda yelled, her cheeks turning as red as her hair, at Rex, who tilted his head suspiciously. It was an unimaginable sight for the most famous adventurer, but since they were both in the guild master’s room, there were no witnesses.

I can’t possibly say it! “Lin” from “Linda” and “Ex” from “Rex” make “Linex” of “Linex Town”!

Even as she had grown older, become more powerful as an adventurer, and earned respect from many people, she seemed to still be weak when it came to matters of love. Rex looked at her with a puzzled expression, tilting his head at her behavior.