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”Your Status Cards have been created. Please check them over.”

”All right, thank you.”

In the end, Tsutomu had given Riki’s group a total of five hundred thousand Gold, and so they decided to follow his advice, using the money to create their own Status Cards – as of now, they had five, managed by their key members. With these, they could now attend the basic training sessions for Explorers that the Guild held once a month. They also gained access to the Guild’s training grounds, banking services, and other facilities.

For the orphans, who had previously been nothing more than outcasts collecting Magic Stones on their own, this was a significant step forward. They could not read or write, so they had to rely on verbal instructions, but even so, just by following the Guild staff’s advice and forming proper parties, their earnings had already increased within a few days.

”…We should use this money to make more Status Cards, right?”

”Yeah.” Misa nodded. ”That’s what Tsutomu advised us to do.”

The earnings they made were immediately reinvested in Status Cards, and more and more orphans transitioned from being mere scavengers to legitimate Explorers. Their overall living conditions improved, to the point where they could even afford to stay at the Guild-operated inn.

Though they were grateful to Tsutomu, a lingering fear overshadowed their gratitude. The moment rumors had spread that someone had crossed him, most stores stopped doing business with them entirely. Worse still, word of the Losers’ Den incident – when he had scattered gold coins in front of the orphans, only to have his subordinate shoot arrows at anyone who reached for them – had spread just as fast. Even if it was not meant as an assertion of dominance, it certainly looked like one. And Diniel’s unnerving presence only made things more terrifying.

”Good morning!”

”Good morning, Mister Tsutomu!”

”H-hi!”

”……”

As a result, the orphans started greeting Tsutomu the moment they saw him, their posture as if bowing to a crime boss. Garm, witnessing the spectacle, gave him a suspicious look.

”…What exactly did you do?”

”Ah… well, you see…”

Realizing there was no point in hiding it, Tsutomu explained how he had tried to uncover the origins of some troubling rumors, assuming the orphans were responsible and taking action accordingly. Garm looked mildly exasperated, while Xeno, after a moment of surprise, burst into laughter.

”Hahaha! So even you care about things like that, Tsutomu!”

”I don’t mind being bad mouthed, but baseless rumors piss me off. And, well… going to an informant to ask about my own reputation felt pathetic, so I figured I’d investigate on my own.”

”I see. In that case, I might have some insight.”

”Oh?”

Xeno, whose wife was a Dungeon Maniac and who himself sought fame as an entertainer, had a keen eye for the crowd’s sentiments. He explained that the root of Tsutomu’s unpopularity stemmed from an article written by a Dungeon Maniac detailing the best Healers. While Lorena and Stephanie were hailed as the top two, Tsutomu was also mentioned as a strong contender, even though he was not keeping up in terms of Dungeon layer progress.

The article itself was not the issue. The problem arose when certain readers, likely contrarians upset that only female Healers were being praised, started using Tsutomu as an argument against Lorena and Stephanie’s supporters. Many simply enjoyed contradicting popular opinions to feel superior. Over time, this behavior led to a general annoyance with ‘Tsutomu’s fans,’ which eventually morphed into annoyance with Tsutomu himself.

”…Huh.” Tsutomu’s expression darkened. He had not realized that people spouting shallow, half-baked opinions just to sound clever were the reason for his tarnished reputation. ”I’ll stop by the informant at lunch to confirm this. Oh, don’t worry — we’re still heading to the eighty-seventh layer today. It’s just… there’s something else I’d like to do. Mind giving me some advice?”

”Of course, of course! I’ve dealt with things like this before! Leave it to me!”

Xeno struck a dramatic pose, which Tsutomu ignored as he discussed his plan. After their usual party contract was set, they entered the Dungeon. Later, during their lunch break, Tsutomu confirmed Xeno’s explanation with the informant, his expression grim, before heading back into the Dungeon.

By evening, they had successfully cleared a new layer, reaching the eighty-eighth layer. As they prepared to return, Tsutomu stepped in front of the God Eye, an action so out of character that even Diniel, who had not been briefed, looked visibly irritated… if only because she wanted to leave early.

”Excuse me. I just have something to say to everyone watching. Give me three minutes,” Tsutomu started, holding up three fingers. ”Stephanie and Lorena, now considered the town’s top two Healers, were once my students. Because of that, I’ve heard rumors claiming that, as their former teacher, I must be a better Healer than they are. But personally, I believe they have surpassed me.” ŕἈＮỌ𐌱ÈŜ

With that, Tsutomu cast [, shaping the light into a small rabbit before holding it up to the God Eye.

”Lorena, well-known as the Mobile Healer, operates on an entirely different level than I do. Just as we now have evasion-based Tanks, she’s pioneered a style that makes direct comparisons impossible. And frankly, I never taught her that style, nor could I replicate it. Among her many strengths, her ability to manage aggro stands out the most – it’s an innate talent.”

He sent the green rabbit-shaped [ wisp scampering into the distance before pulling a baton-like staff from his magic bag — the same kind Stephanie used.

”Stephanie is by far the most skilled Healer out there. Support, healing, skill management, aggro control – she excels in every aspect. Without a doubt, she’s the best. It’s clear she trains relentlessly, leaving no room for error. A true model of what a Healer should be. There was even talk among the Dungeon Maniacs that she has surpassed her mentor, and I’d say that assessment is spot on. Given the progress she has achieved in the Dungeon, there’s no denying that she stands at the top.”

Tsutomu delivered this praise with a bright, almost proud expression, as if celebrating the success of a student who had outgrown their teacher. However, when Xeno, standing just behind the God’s Eye, nudged him to speak about his third student, his face darkened slightly.

”Eunice… Well, yes, of course. The Dumpling [ was a creative breakthrough, I’ll give her that. As for the rest… she could stand to work a little harder.”

That was all Tsutomu said before clearing his throat to shift the speech back to the main topic.

”Yes, they were once my students, but not anymore. They’ve become full-fledged Healers, standing at the forefront of Dungeon exploration. In fact, judging by the layers they’ve reached, they’ve even surpassed me. So, I’d appreciate it if you assessed them – and me – accordingly. That’s all I have to say. Sorry for dropping this out of nowhere.”

With that, Tsutomu stepped away from the God’s Eye, entered the Black Gate, and returned to the Guild.

▽▽

”He actually said all that?”

”So he really admitted it, huh?”

Tsutomu’s remarks, broadcasted through Monitor #2, spread like wildfire among the crowd. Some journalists, eager to include the statement in the next morning’s edition, rushed back to their offices. The spectators, too, seemed surprised that Tsutomu had spoken so openly, and their opinions of him shifted accordingly.

Lorena, who had watched the event unfold live, was grinning ear to ear. Misil shot her a look, unimpressed.

”Lorena, pipe down. Your face is looking pretty ridiculous right now.”

”Huh? R-really? I mean, I can’t help it – natural talent, you know. Hehehe…”

Needless to say, no matter how much Misil pointed it out, her giddy expression would remain unchanged well into the next day.

▽▽

As for Stephanie, her party had suffered yet another wipe on the ninetieth layer. After murmuring goodnight to her collection of Tsutomu’s newspaper clippings, she drifted into unconsciousness. Then, the following morning, she was rudely snapped wide awake when a Clan member handed her a newspaper over breakfast.

”……”

The moment her eyes landed on the article, she froze. Then, unable to help herself, she devoured every word again, her fingers gripping the page tightly.

Lately, Tsutomu has been a constant source of irritation for her. He had praised Eunice for creating the Dumpling [. He seemed to have taken an interest in Korinna, a mere Channeler. And now, he was even helping orphans – children who could not even afford to forge Status Cards. It was as if he was telling her she was worth less than an orphan.

[Hmmm…!?]

Then her gaze fell upon the accompanying photograph – Tsutomu, holding the very same type of baton she used. And beneath it, text brimming with unrestrained praise for her abilities. Her heart lurched. The rush of emotion was so intense it left her breathless. She sat there, staring at the paper, unable to move.

Later, on the way to the Guild, her unusually radiant mood was impossible to miss. Her normally stoic, ice-cold demeanor had melted into something almost cheerful, leaving her main party members slightly unnerved. Even the Guild receptionists, accustomed to her usual unreadable expression, were taken aback by the shift.

However, once they reached the ninetieth layer, her momentary joy faded. The battlefield demanded her focus. The Corrupted Shell was relentless, and with the knowledge that Tsutomu was watching from the Monitor, she refused to let herself show anything less than perfection.

[…But have I truly surpassed him?]

Even as she cast her spells, she continued to mull over his words – dividing her attention just enough to not neglect her Healer duties. She had memorized the article down to the last word, repeating it in her mind hundreds of times. Only now, with a clearer head, did she find herself questioning it.

By layer progress alone, she had undeniably outpaced him. The evaluations from the Dungeon Maniacs and other Explorers, along with the techniques she had mastered – including Eunice’s Dumpling style, all supported his claim.

And yet, watching Tsutomu work as a Healer, she could not bring herself to think he was inferior. His precision, his foresight – everything about his approach was meticulous and masterful.

Of course, the past had a way of being romanticized. Perhaps the high regard people still held for him was due in part to his contributions to the dungeoneering scene. But what gnawed at her most was the fact that Tsutomu himself had declared that his students had surpassed him.

Hearing such praise from him, even secondhand, filled her with pride. But now, as she thought about it rationally, a pang of something else settled in her chest. A vague, unsettling emptiness.

[Does this mean… my pursuit is over? Have I only been chasing an illusion?]

She had admired him for so long. Looked up to him, strove to reach him. But was he even ahead of her anymore? Or had she simply been clinging to a fantasy, making him out to be larger than life when in reality, he was never the person she had envisioned?

[Oh, Mister Tsutomu…]

Lost in thought, she continued weaving support skills into her party’s formation, barely registering the battle unfolding before her.

▽▽

Meanwhile, elsewhere, Eunice – who had just read the morning newspaper – slammed it down with an indignant huff.

”Why is my praise so short!?”