High School Soldier
Returnees

The day after the fight faced the minotaur king and the monsters occupying the tenth floor of this Labyrinth, and Hevaz's magical energy had been enough to move dozens of people at once. Supposedly, Nio and Hassan were still carrying out reconnaissance and infiltration missions in Tanoe City, but they were both forced to face useless battles here. The two of them were indeed trained to be ready for a sudden battle, and when Nio thought of Hassan here he assumed his vice-captain had abandoned the responsibility Nio had given him.

Although they were ready to follow the orders that sent them everywhere, they decided they did not want to be sent to a region with a huge population of monsters like the one in the Labyrinth. However, the orders of superiors cannot be denied as long as they do not violate humanitarian values.

“Nobody told you to come here. Maybe you'll get a punishment later.”

Hassan does have many reasons for the statement Nio said, as mentioned above. The absence of a captain or vice-captain in the team will surely leave the members confused, and it is likely that they will commit acts that break the rules.

The 12th Team had been given the task of searching for information in the city that was near the capital of the Luan Empire. But since Nio disappeared suddenly and Hassan being forced to help find Nio on Hevaz might make the team members unable to carry out the mission as expected.

But, still Nio sensed something from Hassan's actions that had helped Nio and the girls face a wave of monster attacks. Nio's heart felt guilty when saying the sentence ‘punishment’ to Hassan who had given help despite not having experience facing monsters as much as Nio. On the other hand, Hassan also put on a guilty face for leaving the team without giving clear direction.

“Sorry, it should be. But, you gave your best and saved me and the Explorers girls. Thanks.”

With a resigned smile Hassan said, “Yeah, I have indeed prepared myself to get punished for my actions.”

After all, Hassan was a few years older than Nio, and Nio could not bear to say that to someone he should respect. However, as Hassan's superior officer, Nio is assigned to work in his position and remains required to be firm even though he has much older and experienced subordinates.

Hassan comments that Nio got for his words enough to make Nio feel something, he did not even thank you properly. Nio felt Hassan said something in his heart about his achievements to this day, but even Nio himself talked about ‘punishment’ for his negligence leaving the team.

On the other hand, Hassan feels Nio has been sincerely grateful, and he has accepted that he was sanctioned after leaving the team without an order. Because that's not what's worth doing when Hassan himself knows the Guild is in danger.

“Alright, by the way are you guys really going to come with us, to the Guild?” ask Nio to clarify his question on the revelation of Nefe, Kardas, Sayf, and Sabole regarding the desire of the four of them to leave the Duiwel Empire.

Considering the capacity of the refugee and volunteer camps, indeed the vast place has thousands of beds. The majority of building materials were supplied by the Arevelk and Yekirnovo Kingdoms, including wood and others. In addition, troops can easily expand the shelter for refugees, considering they also bring civilian staff and heavy equipment to support the rebuilding of fortresses and refugee camps.

Moreover, if the four Explorers girls were really going to come back with the three of them, it would mean that they had been declared as defecting from the home country. Losing four citizens is not a big loss, as long as it is not a territory or someone that is truly valuable to the country. On the other hand, the Guild had a small advantage by defecting four citizens of the Duiwel Empire, or at least Nio thought that way. Nio was not an officer who had the authority to accept defectors and refugees.

“Lettan, please ask them if their life while being an Explorer is far from what they expected?”

The four Explorers girls have yet to answer questions from Nio, but Hassan has asked Nio to give additional questions. The man realises that the four of them are still confused about making a decision, but Hassan is curious about their lives as a treasure seeker in the Labyrinth.

They had obtained a lot of valuable items during the exploration with Nio, with the addition of minotaur king horns that were very difficult to destroy despite being hit by an explosion from a grenade. That was all that was left of the minotaur king after almost half of his body was destroyed by the grenade explosion as Nio did not want a fight that was too long.

“We want to get out of the Duiwel Empire not because we are still in poverty despite having become Explorers. We know, the Guild has enough power to defeat the country in an instant after seeing the weapons and fighting abilities of Hevaz and Nio.”

The answer Kardas gave still left Nio and Hassan clueless, not even covering up the reason they wanted to leave their country and wanted to side with the Guild.

“We are orphans, and forced to be Explorers since childhood. After the Empire declares joining the Alliance and fighting your country, the entire populace is taxed much higher than before. Therefore, the money we make from browsing is not enough to buy daily necessities.”

Just like the country in the Andzrev Continent, the Duiwel Empire also has a system of division of the community depending on their position in the life of the state. The highest level was the Emperor family, then the lowest level was the commoners. Slaves are not included in the life of the community because they have eliminated their self-esteem as humans, and can be treated like livestock.

The entire family living in the Duiwel Empire had to give twenty percent of their income for one month as taxes, under the original guise of being a war fund. Neither the nobility nor the poor families were subjected to the same amount without leniency, and those who refused would be made forced laborers to make weapons for the warring forces. The best option to be spared the huge tax was to become soldiers, as their lives would be spent fighting against enemies coming from ‘the other world’ and taking control of their Holy Land.

In other words, the Duiwel Empire was a country that upheld military power, and believed that honor could be achieved after winning a war. Unfortunately, the conditions for someone who wanted to become a soldier for the Duiwel Empire were very strict, as they were facing opponents who had enormous strength and continued to win all battles during their time in this world. One such condition was that the Imperial army only wanted male soldiers.

That's why Kardas, Sabole, Nefe, and Sayf were uneasy with their lives while the war was still going on. The valuables they get from exploring the tenth floor may be able to make them tax-free in the next few months, but they are still required to pay taxes after the specified time. The four Explorers always lived together after deciding to form their own Explorers Group.

“Well, that's a pretty heart touching story. But sorry, I still can't take you guys for granted.”

“Nio, didn't you see what they did in the fight yesterday? At least give them a reason that makes them happy or something.”

“Sakuya, why are you angry? I can accept them because I am not the one who decides to accept defectors like them or not. To be honest, I think the four of them might get some information about Duiwel's involvement in this war.”

Sakuya fell silent after hearing Nio's reply, but she felt something back in her heart after seeing the suddenly changed expressions of Nefe, Sabole, Kardas, and Sayf.

Although they did not understand what Nio was saying, it was certain that they knew the meaning of the man's words. The gloomy face mixed with a sad expression was clearly visible on each of the faces of the four Explorers girls.

“We plan to be soldiers for the Guild, so our lives will be useful rather than continue to live in a country that is fighting war,” Kardas said with a calm face, although both eyes show suffering that according to Nio is not a trick – but who knows? The four of them, including Sakuya were people who came from and sided with the Alliance, although Nio's heart could feel the sincere help of the five of them.

“Kardas, you should be aware of the real risks of being a soldier in wartime like now. Don't say as if you're going to waste your life on the battlefield. You can't count on anything other than your trustworthy friends, weapons, and luck when you're already in a fight that puts you in the middle of a fine line between death and life.”

Nio did not understand why he said that when he knew that the feelings of the four Explorers could not be changed, and their decision was made.

However, the one who decided to take them or not remained Hevaz, because he was the one who would move them back from this Labyrinth. Hevaz's red lips formed a smile as he realized this and closed his eyes for a moment to think about what he should do to the four Traveling girls who were truly persistent with their desires. Meanwhile, Nio is just the one who will be transferred along with Hassan and himself.

Hevaz was not entirely happy when he heard Nio was trying to refuse to accept the four Explorers girls in the smoothest way possible. He felt that Nio was trying to say things that were indirectly expected to make the four girls hesitate to leave the Duiwel Empire. But Hevaz also hated the reason for those who planned to join the Guild's military.

“What can you give? The pay for my transfer magic is very expensive, you know. Moreover, you are four people in number, you should know that displacement magic requires quite large magical energy.”

Nio did not understand Hevaz's thoughts at all, but the girl's words managed to make the four Traveling girls seem hesitant to answer. Meanwhile, Sakuya was the one who did not want to get involved in the matter any further, and chose to keep quiet so that Hevaz decided to take the four of them or not.

Sayf and Kardas are combat-class Explorers whose abilities they showed during yesterday's fight, even though they face medium-sized and small monsters. Nefe and Sabole are pretty great magicians, or at least that's Nio and Hassan's judgment according to the view of ‘otherworldly people’. The new freezing magic Nio had first seen, and he had never witnessed it in a battle before. Nio judged the magic could be quite deadly if used using the appropriate tactics.

The four of them often scoured the floor above the fourth floor just to judge themselves whether their fighting abilities improved or were the same. That was before they lost one friend during this first fight on the tenth floor. Losing one friend who almost daily explored together the second to fifth floors made the four of them quite hit, but did not want to be too late in grief because it was useless.

“We have nothing to pay you, Envoy. All the valuables we get may not be enough to pay for the services of friends Nio and Nio alone if we sell everything.”

Hassan feels himself being talked about by Nefe then asks Nio, “Let, what is he talking about? I feel like he's talking about both of us.”

Kardas and Sayf's fighting abilities are one level above those of the Alliance's regular warriors, and Nio himself believes he can fight long enough and fiercely with both of them with his current abilities. Meanwhile, Nio had thought of several strategies using the specialist magic that Nefe and Sabole had mastered, one of which was freezing magic. Unfortunately, he still felt he did not have the power to take them.

“They are confused to pay our help,” Nio responded to Hassan's question.

“Why did they get to that extent? Though yesterday's fight counting adds to my experience,” complained Hassan.

Actually, yesterday's fight was what impressed Hassan the most. Utilizing himself to successfully force Hevaz to be included in Nio's search, Hassan was finally able to get a bit of a feel for what Nio was facing during the Alliance's major assault on the Expeditionary Force. Although not as fierce as the Alliance's first battle against the Expeditionary Force, the fight against hundreds of monsters managed to make Hassan agitated, and to this day his head still hurts. However, he could not imagine how Nio was in the condition when the Alliance's three-time-daily major assault on the – Expeditionary Force certainly did not let the entire army sleep.

“Lieutenant, can you feel if the Alliance moves a lot of its troops?”

Before moving and being on the tenth floor of this Labyrinth, Hassan had previously seen a large number of troops setting up camp near Tanoe City. However, he guessed that the troops would not move until the next few days, so Hassan felt he still had time to bring Nio back.

“Eh? So there really is a movement from the enemy forces?!” nio said in a panic, but instead Hassan looked much more panicked.

The reason was obvious, as Hassan left the team when he himself saw the enemy start to move. The uneasiness in his heart and the feeling of fear if Nio went berserk here made Hassan's face look pale. The headache that Hassan had previously felt made him more tormented.

What kept Hassan in this place was thanks to his persistence in forcing the much stronger Hevaz – out of him. If he had to say it, Hassan would admit that what he did was reckless and irresponsible. Meanwhile, Nio ended up in this place because the enemy accidentally moved him to this place.

“Yes, from the recognition of the Hero of Sadness, the Alliance mobilized its forces to retake the Black Fortress,” Hevaz replied.

“Hevaz, don't tell me that you forced Indah to give you the real answer,” Nio said with a threatening face and tone.

Hassan and Hevaz then both gave small smiles with cold sweat running down their cheeks. The next moment, Nio's mood changed again, then looked back at the faces of the four Traveling girls one by one.

Nio looked at the four of them with his only eyes towards the eyes of the four of them, as if saying he did not have time to continue talking about things about their desire to get out of Duiwel to become a Guild warrior. She could not find anything to say in response, she felt her previous words made the feelings of the four girls in front of her sad.

“I suggest to bring them. Maybe they can provide some information,” Hevaz suggested Nio.

“True!” suddenly Nefe said in a loud enough tone.

“We have some information about this empire. If you want to take us, then the Guild will get important information,” continued the girl with an excited face as if an opportunity had she and her friends got.

Nio actually frowned and massaged his forehead to look for the right answer. He did not expect that after a long fight yesterday that made him dizzy, now Nio was required to think again because there was still a sense of doubt in his heart.

“For what do you do that?” tanyakanya.

Sabole took a few steps forward, and stood in front of Nio who was taller than her. He was only as high as Nio's chest, and had to raise his head to say with a confident face, “For the sake of gaining freedom from this war-more belligerent country.”

Nio could see from the gazes of the four Explorers girls that they really had a great desire to get out of this empire. He doesn't have the ability to take the four of them, plus himself and Hassan. However, Hevaz had that power, and the decision was in the hands of Hevaz. The girl started stringing up the words of the spell to cast her displacement magic or teleportation.

That way, the decision has been made - Nefe, Kardas, Sayf, and Sabole will be taken and their desire to get out of the Duiwel Empire has been realized. The countless smiles displayed the four of them, and made Nio unable to bear to destroy their happiness.

However, Sakuya who was standing behind them suddenly turned white and a magic circle with geometric patterns decorating her appeared under her feet. It was similar to what happened to Nio, when he was suddenly moved to this place called the tenth floor.

“Are you also moving, Hero of Empathy?” ask Hevaz.

“Eh, so he's not being moved with us?” asked Nio with her innocent face.

“Of course not, because I have my own magician who will move us from this place to the origin,” Hevaz said.

“We? So she's also here?” asked Nio back to make sure of something.

“You mean Rio? Yeah, of course you are. Then, a person from Indonesia named Baron is also in this Labyrinth.”

“Baron?!”

Nio's shocked face was really nothing like being contrived after knowing the fact from the hero himself if one of the people Nio disliked the most was one of the heroes fighting against the Guild. He was really confused and surprised after knowing that all the heroes from Indonesia were people he knew.

Sakuya walked closer towards Nio as her preparations for the transfer were almost complete. The Japanese girl only needed to connect most of her magical energy to the magician who would move her from this place to the destination point, so Hevaz can give himself time to say something to Nio.

“We'll be enemies again?” ask Sakuya.

“If we meet on the battlefield, the answer is ‘iya’.”

In his heart, Nio said that Sakuya would quickly switch places so that she could do the same. However, he again felt astonished by Hevaz who was able to speak to him familiarly.

Sakuya then took one of her swords that she had lent to Nio in yesterday's fight. He pointed his sword forward as a code if he gave it to Nio. Sakuya's heart felt that she had to give something to Nio to keep herself connected and the man did not forget that the two of them had worked together for a while.

If under normal circumstances, Sakuya would receive a lot of attacks and insults because it should be like that when dealing with enemies, and there was no way soldiers who should be hostile to each other would cooperate instead. However, Nio and Hassan showed absolutely no hatred towards him and fought together until the end.

The sword complete with its sheath Nio received, then he asked, “Did you give this?”

“Yes, you can have it.”

It was a straight sword that was no match for a samurai girl like Sakuya – who was better suited fighting using an ordinary long katana. Such a straight sword was suitable for people who needed agile movements, like Nio who preferred a quick fight rather than shooting with the possibility of missing out quite a large amount.

The white light shone even brighter and covered Sakuya's entire body to send the girl to a predetermined point. Sakuya disappeared from Nio's presence, and for a moment Nio saw the girl smiling towards him while saying something but he didn't hear anything and felt that the girl was just opening her mouth. Or so Nio felt, but he really believed that Sakuya was trying to say something even though she knew she would not be able to hear.

Nio retracted slightly to look at the blade of the sword, and he saw the blade decorated with a pattern like a heart rate chart. Nio had to admit that the sword Sakuya had given him looked even better and of high quality than the standard sword he had before that was easily broken.

“Can we leave now, Mr Nio?”

Unknowingly, the magic circle with the same pattern as the one that had him transferred to this place was already under his feet.

The magic-circle shines brightly in white, then fills the bodies of Nio, Hevaz, Hassan, Sabole, Kardas, Nefe, and Sayf to the point Hevaz, Tanoe City, had envisioned. A moment later the white light disappeared with the entire person being moved to a predetermined point.

**

(the current illustration of Nio's sword, the source of the image pinterest)