An ordinary profession creates the world's strongest

“…What on earth were you guys doing out there? From what I can see, Shia is still an overly exposed, sorry bunny…”

"Hey, Hajime-san, what are you talking about? Look carefully, this skirt is actually shorts, so you're not afraid of your underwear being seen, are you?"

As Shia spoke, she shyly lifted the hem of her skirt. Indeed, she was wearing white shorts underneath, the material looking quite sturdy. Her swimsuit-like top was actually a protective garment known as bikini armor, effectively protecting her core. Even so, her lovely belly, her charming thighs, and other areas that should be covered were exposed. When Hajime looked at Yue with a questioning look, she added:

"...Well, because Shia thinks other clothes are too tight, she says it makes her movements slower."

It seemed Shia's choice of clothing was more focused on her diminished physical abilities than on the protection afforded by vaguely meaningful clothing. She opted for an outfit that was nearly identical to her overly revealing bunny-man costume, but with a touch of style and improved protection. She topped it off with Yue's handmade coat. As long as she was happy, Hajime didn't bother to address the matter.

"Never mind, as long as we achieved our goal, thank you for all the hard work with the shopping. But there seems to be quite a commotion on the streets. What happened?"

He ostentatiously ignored Shia, who was blushing and showing off her new clothes, and changed the subject. It seemed he had noticed the commotion outside. Shia, feeling somewhat disappointed after her overly eager new clothes display was ignored, replied, ignoring her.

“…Yeah, it’s okay.”

"Ah~ Yeah, that's what I'm saying. It's okay."

Yue and Shia decided to pretend that the clothing store manager was a monster and that a man had been summoned by the Lord had never happened. Although Hajime looked at their expressions with some suspicion, he finally shrugged and said:

"Have you bought everything you need?"

“…Yes, I’ve bought it.”

"Yeah, we bought a lot of food, so it's no problem. Speaking of which, the treasure vault is really convenient~"

Hajime gave them the "Treasure House" so they could make purchases. Seeing Shia looking at the ring with envy, Hajime could only smile wryly. He couldn't make a "Treasure House" with his current skills, but it was certainly very convenient. So, once he had developed enough skills, he planned to make one each for Yue and Shia.

"Okay, Shia, this one's for you."

As Hajime spoke, he handed Shia a cylindrical mechanical object with a diameter of 40 cm and a length of 50 cm. There was a handle-like object on the side of the silver cylinder.

Seeing Hajime take out something, Shia instinctively took it, but she stumbled a few steps due to the heavy weight, and quickly strengthened her body to increase her power output.

"What is this? It's so heavy..."

"Here's a new warhammer for you. The heavier the better."

"Eh? You mean... this?"

No wonder Xia was confused, because the cylindrical part did not look like a hammer at all, the handle was too short, and the overall shape was very unbalanced.

"Ah~ This state is both standby and bombardment mode. Anyway, you should pour your magic power into it first."

"Uh, is that so? Ugh!?"

She followed the instructions and poured magic power into the hammer-shaped object. Then, she heard the mechanical sounds of "click, click!" and the handle began to extend, becoming the perfect length for swinging.

This warhammer artifact, the "Druken" (the name Hajime chose), is Shia's specialized weapon, equipped with several mechanisms. Normally, the "Druken"'s handle shrinks, allowing it to be used in a bombardment mode, where it can be grasped by the handle. This allows for both gunfire and bombardment, combined with shotgun ammunition. By infusing magic power into specific locations, the "Druken" transforms into a warhammer mode perfectly suited for Shia's wielding. Besides the bombardment mode, it also incorporates several other mechanisms.

The first thing Hajime wanted to complete here was this weapon. So, while Yue and Shia were out shopping in the morning, he remade a weapon specifically for Shia.

"I can only do this with my current abilities. I plan to improve it as my strength increases. I don't know what will happen in the future. Although you've been training for a month, it was only ten days, so your strength is still worrying. Therefore, I made this weapon to help you maximize your abilities. You must practice well, okay? Since we are already partners, if you die easily, I will kill you, okay?"

"Mr. Hajime... Hehe, you've become incoherent. Don't worry, I'll continue to grow stronger and follow you to the ends of the earth!"

Shia happily hugged Druken to her chest. She was so overjoyed that Yue, slightly annoyed, shrugged helplessly, while Hajime gave a wry smile. Although he'd offered it to her, seeing a beautiful girl so overjoyed at receiving the warhammer was truly surreal.

Hajime and Yue checked out with an extremely excited Shia, ignoring the hotel girl who blushed at the sight of them.

As he stepped out of the inn, the sun was high in the sky, casting a brilliant, warm light. Hajime raised his hand to shield himself from the sun and took a deep breath. Turning back, he saw Yue and Shia staring at him with smiles.

Hajime nodded to the two and started walking forward, Yue and Shia immediately followed.

They started their journey again.

Volume 2, Chapter 3, The Great Labyrinth of Lesin

While Hajime and his companions were magically transforming the gentle and docile rabbits in the Hartrina Forest into a powerful killer group, a group of brave warriors led by Amanogawa Kouki were taking a break in the inn city of Holyard on the outskirts of the Orcus Great Labyrinth.

The group diligently conquered the Great Labyrinth of Orcus for combat training and had finally reached the 70th floor. The monsters' strength and numbers had increased significantly. Therefore, they decided to prepare thoroughly and rest before heading out to challenge them.

Captain Meld and his companions from the Kingdom Knights were unable to join the battle with Kouki and his companions. Therefore, Kouki and his companions would have to advance on their own. This break was also to allow them to calm down and prepare themselves mentally. Their greatest achievement was the discovery of a magic circle on the 70th floor that led to the 30th floor. Captain Meld strongly suggested that this was opportune timing.

Thus, without the reliable help of Captain Meld this time, Guanghui and the others stayed in the hotel city for about two or three days to recuperate in order to challenge the new level.

At this time, on the outskirts of [Holyard], a burst of exhausted and rapid breathing was heard.

“Hoo, hoo…! O Holy Mark of Light, which possesses the power of restraint, seal the calamity from the void—‘Light Binding Blade’!”

She panted heavily, propping herself up on her knees, nearly collapsing, and wielding a pure white staff. This person was a member of the Heroic Team, possessing the vocation of "Healer," responsible for healing within the team—Shirasaki Kaori.

Originally, the natural talent she displayed should have been a healing magic. However, what flew out from her staff were sword-like crosses of light—the light-attribute binding magic "Light Binding Blades."

Like a scattershot, the Cross of Light launched at several fiercely growling wolf-like monsters, the Delos, in front of Kaori's sight. However, the Delos dodged the Cross of Light with the swiftness of wild beasts and advanced towards Kaori.

"——『Brilliant Binding Chain』!"

She immediately activated a new binding spell. Normally, chanting just the name of a spell would have little effect, but the chanting of "Light Binding Blade" actually included the chanting of "Brilliant Chain." This was Kaori's original composite chant, and the effect far exceeded expectations.

Suddenly, countless chains of light shot out from Delos's feet, instantly entangling them. Even the monster's momentum couldn't move the chains, keeping them firmly bound.

The two Delos, having barely escaped the light rope, closed in on Kaori, attempting to flank her. However, Kaori, in her rearguard role and responsible for recovery, remained unfazed.

“Descend!”

The moment she cried out, crosses of light rained down from the sky like a torrential downpour, piercing through the Delos that had just leaped. However, since the crosses of light pierced through the enemy, pinning them to the ground or a wall, they had no lethal power. Thus, like the Delos caught in the chains of the Brilliant Binding Chain, they remained unharmed, merely pinned to the ground.

After confirming that the magic she cast was effective against the monsters in the maze, Kaori murmured a small but sharp chant—

"Light of Judgment, transcend the constraints and seal them. Grant the power of holiness and destroy evil!"

Immediately afterwards, the Delos, who should have been restrained unharmed, began to cry out in pain. The chains of the Brilliant Binding Chains tightly bound the Delos, while the cross of the Light Binding Blade pressed them to the ground.

Even if these spells lack direct lethality, they do have indirect offensive power. However, since these aren't their original methods of use, it's difficult to use them with imagination and create magic circles.

Kaori had come to this place for a reason. Even with her limited combat skills, she could handle the suburban monsters, which were far weaker than the labyrinth monsters, on her own. They were perfect for practicing the difficult technique of converting binding magic into offensive magic.

However, the training, interspersed with combat, had already lasted for several hours. Kaori, having been alone in this task, was experiencing considerable fatigue, both physically and mentally, and her magic power had been greatly depleted. In fact, her vision was gradually blurring, and her consciousness was becoming hazy.

Kaori is reaching her limit.

Even so, the resolute light in Kaori's eyes never dimmed. From that day on, the day she knew the person most important to her was gone, the day she resolved to confirm the answer with her own eyes, a heart burning brightly, yet frozen like permafrost, drove Kaori to action.

She couldn't rest. Her racing heart wouldn't let her stop.

and so--

"The overlapping protective lights will awaken as long as the will remains - 'Tian Jue'!!"

Even if a new monster flies towards her, she won't turn and flee. Even if she knows it's reckless and foolish, as long as her heart whispers, "This level is nothing," "I haven't kept my promise yet," her feet, dragged down by her innate stubbornness, will move forward.

The monster, Baharu, appeared in the sky, its wings as black as a crow's. Baharu were by no means powerful monsters, but adventurers particularly disliked them. The reason was—at that moment, the black feathers swarmed towards Kaori.

Baharu never approaches the ground, but instead scatters feathers hardened into blades from the sky. It is a monster with a disgusting fighting style.

Kaori used several shining shields compressed to the size of her palms to defend against the pouring feather blades.

(I need to imagine more clearly. I need to imagine faster and more efficiently. I can't create a barrier as strong as Suzu's... but even so, I will catch up with her with my hard work and skills!!)

Although this wasn't her specialty, Kaori displayed a menacing expression as she expertly deployed dozens of shields. Even that wasn't enough, so she manipulated each of the dozens of shields individually, adjusting each one to a subtle angle, not to absorb the attack but to deflect it.

If Taniguchi Suzu, a member of the brave team with the vocation of "Barrier Master," had witnessed this scene, she would surely have been stunned by this defensive magic technique, which even she herself would have required true skill to perform. Although Kaori possessed an aptitude for light magic, the fact that a healer could use magic on par with a barrier master was, even in the context of this world's history, a truly incredible feat.

“Hoo, hoo, woo…”

But Kaori's face was devoid of a smile. She had successfully withstood Baharu's attack, but the combination of excessive use of magic power and days of training had left her nearly unconscious. She bit her lip, enduring it, using her sacred staff and her willpower to maintain her standing position, supporting her body, which was on the verge of collapse from sheer exhaustion.

Baharu's attack is to shoot feathers, and if overused, they will take time to grow back. Kaori took advantage of this opportunity and shot the "Light Binding Blade" into the air, trying to stop Baharu's movement. The end will be like those Delos who were bound and oppressed while she opened "Tenjutsu" and fell into a state of near death. And then, at the moment she was about to chant—

"what……"

She suddenly lost her strength, and her body slowly collapsed. At the same time, the magic lost control, and the Delos's restraints were released. Although almost all of the Delos had fainted, one or two still stood up, coughing, and glared at Kaori with eyes stained red with hatred.

A fierce alarm sounded in her hazy mind, but her exhausted body did not obey Kaori's commands at all.

The Delos raced out, saliva flying, roaring loudly, rapidly closing in to devour Kaori. She knelt on one knee, leaning on her staff and panting heavily. Kaori tried to cast her binding spell again, but... it was too late.

Just as the beast's teeth were about to bite through Kaori's soft skin, at that moment—

"Kaori!"

A familiar voice called Kaori's name. At the same time, Delos, who was approaching her, was cut into pieces and died.

"Wu, Shizuku-chan?"

"That's right, it's your good friend, Shizuku-chan, the angry Shizuku-chan who, right now, wants to pinch Kaori's cheeks until they're swollen and red!"

“Um, um… ahahaha… I’m sorry.”

The person staring at Kaori, who knelt limply on the ground, was her good friend, Yaegashi Shizuku, glaring fiercely from a distance. Kaori gave him a perfunctory smile and immediately apologized. She knew that if she were asked, "Why are you angry?" her face would undoubtedly turn red. She also remained silent because she sensed Shizuku's anger.

"Really? I'm not telling you not to push yourself, but didn't we agree that if you push yourself, I'll be with you!? Even if it's a monster in the suburbs, it can die instantly if you're not careful!? Aren't you looking for Nagumo-san? If Kaori dies, there's no point, right?! You idiot! You charging idiot! You stubborn idiot!"

"Wow, I'm sorry, Shizuku-chan..."

"No~ I won't forgive you so easily! I wasn't paying attention to you for a moment, and you rushed forward alone. You have no right to criticize Ryuutarou, you impulsive girl! I know you put in a lot of effort, Kaori, but in the end you're still a defender, and you can only show your true abilities when you have a vanguard. In that case, I'll train with you. Not only will it go more smoothly, but more importantly, we can also control the safety range! All you have to do is call me, why can't you do it! Are you listening, Kaori!?"

"I, I'm listening... I'm sorry..."

"No~ I don't believe your apology, Kaori! Sit up straight! I want you to listen to me carefully today!"

Shizuku was sitting in front of Kaori, with her index finger raised and eyebrows raised, and began to preach incessantly.

Kaori thought to herself, "Shizuku-chan, my mind is already hazy, I barely understand what you're saying..." But she knew how worried Shizuku was about her and how much she supported her, so she had no choice but to accept Shizuku's motherly words.

Incidentally, during Shizuku's lecture, the Delos regained consciousness, and Baharu's feathers revived. But Shizuku noticed this beforehand, saying, "So, you just left them there," and then, in five seconds, cleaned them up and continued her lecture. And then, just as Kaori finally rolled her eyes, unbecoming of a pretty girl, and was about to lose consciousness—

"Wow, Xiao Xiangxiang's face is already showing that it can't be seen by others!"

"Shizuku, Shizuku... I don't mind preaching, but it's better to wait until Kaori-chan's magic power recovers..."

Taniguchi Suzu and Nakamura Eri walked over. Actually, they had been searching for the missing Kaori with Shizuku, but Shizuku activated the Kaori radar and then ran off alone, leaving them completely behind.

The two voices finally interrupted Shizuku's rapid-fire lecture. Seeing Kaori rolling her eyes and shaking her head, she uttered a "hmm," pulled the small bottle of mana recovery potion from her pouch, and pressed it against Kaori's half-open mouth.

Kaori, with stars in her eyes, made a "hmm" sound. Shizuku said to her, "Come on, swallow it," and forced her to drink it. Shizuku supported Kaori's body, holding the small bottle to feed her the medicine, and used her fingers to wipe the few drops of magic recovery potion that flowed from the corner of her mouth. Looking from the side, that figure...

"Shizuku-chan, you're just like your mother—"

"Lin, if you still value your life, you'd better stop talking, okay?"

Ling almost said something that shouldn't be said to a high school girl in the mood for love, but Eri quickly stopped her.

Just as Kaori finally returned to her beautiful form, she heard someone shouting "Hey~" from afar. It looked like Kouki and the others had arrived too.

"Kaori seems to be okay, that's great..."

"Oh, it's really unlike you to do something so reckless. We came back to the surface to rest, but it's no problem for us to train with you, so don't be polite to us."

Kouki sat down beside Kaori, smiling and placing his hand on her shoulder. Meanwhile, Ryuutarou snorted and complained about Kaori's coldness. They both seemed very worried about her.

"I'm sorry for worrying you. I thought I could handle the monsters on the outskirts of the city alone... but I misjudged the timing of my retreat. I'm truly sorry."

One person's reckless actions had only caused trouble. Frustrated, Kaori bowed her head solemnly. Shizuku's motherly mode seemed to have finally come to an end, and with Kaori safe and sound, the atmosphere at the scene was peaceful.

Guanghui suggested returning to the city for the time being, and the other members agreed. However, just as Kaori was about to stand, her steps faltered. Even though her magic power had recovered somewhat and her consciousness was clear, she couldn't seem to ignore the fatigue of her body.

In an instant, Guanghui stretched out his hand to support Kaori, but...

"Kaori, are you okay?"

"Wow, Shizuku-chan...thank you. But I might be a little slow."

Shizuku smoothly moved to Kaori's side, supporting her naturally, so that Kouki's hands could only hang in the air. Kouki's lips drooped slightly in sadness, but not being discouraged by such things was why he was a hero. So he was about to say that he would hold Kaori, who had slowed down. Of course, if he was going to hold her, he would hold her like a princess. But...

"Really? I can't do anything about you. Remember this lesson, and don't rush forward alone next time, okay?"

"Shizuku-chan, this is so embarrassing~"

"Haha, just take this as punishment and accept it honestly."

A swordsman challenging the lower levels of the Great Labyrinth couldn't possibly be unable to support a girl. So, Shizuku lifted Kaori into a princess hug. Shizuku chuckled at the shyly blushing Kaori as she strode gracefully. Her dignified demeanor, the rough sword hanging from her waist, and the figure holding the delicate girl, made Shizuku look like a brave hero from a fairy tale...

"Damn it, Shizuku-chan...you're such a handsome guy."

"Ahahaha... I feel like I saw lilies."

Suzu said this with a slightly rosy blush on her cheeks, while Eri beside her gave a wry smile.

Behind them, Guanghui stood frozen in place, his hands outstretched. He didn't lose his smile, a testament to his handsome character. The hero's friend gently patted his shoulder and said,

"Even in another world, Kaori's knight is still Shizuku... Live on bravely, Kouki."

"Ryuutarou, I don't mind. Yeah, I don't mind. Really."

"...Is that so? Anyway, let's go get something delicious first."

"……good."