After being rescued from the crowd by Chris, I reunited with the three members of Chris's party.
"Rain~!"
The pink-haired Mage Bae Merong ran eagerly toward me. As I took her hands, I tilted my head in confusion.
"I just came out, but you all were already here?"
"Hmm? Hehe, it's only a difference of a few minutes, but yes."
The only drop item was a Holy Stone, so there wasn't really any reason to linger after clearing.
"Rain, you said you don't usually keep your system message window and local chat window open, right?"
"That's right."
"Would you check your chat window? We have something to brag about this time."
Chris and Bae Merong grinned together. Puzzled by their reaction, I tilted my head and opened the system and local chat windows.
['Chris Raid Party' has successfully achieved the First Clear of Elite Dungeon, 'Celestial Basin'!]
-Wow
-Gasp
-First Clear notification!!!
-As expected, Elite Dungeons get cleared on the first day
-How did they clear it? How did they defeat the Red and Blue Lamias?
-But it's not the Noname party?
-First Clears were monopolized by Noname for a while lololol
-It's Chris's raid team.
-Chris Raid Party, share your strategy!
-What, did Deathly Death finally get kicked out? Making room for the white-haired one?
-No no, Deathly Death went in with them
-I saw the white-haired one enter alone
-Wow, so this time Chris's party got First Clear before the white-haired girl?
-Chris! Chris!
-4 people beating 1 person should be expected, but why does it feel so impressive lolololol
"Oh."
When fighting demons and demonic creatures, I sometimes forget that this world is a game. I simply use the system given to me as a weapon to defeat the enemies before me.
First Clear isn't a title I've been obsessed with. I've just been the first to clear all dungeons so far because I was doing what I needed to do.
But this time was different.
The Celestial Basin corrupted by demonic energy.
The party of heroes who first defeated the 'Fusion of Nightmares'—the manifestation of all negative thoughts gathered there—and completed the purification of the Celestial Basin was Chris Raid Party.
I looked up at Chris with sparkling eyes.
"Unnie, that's amazing."
"It's a defense-type dungeon structure with four people. Until now, we've always cleared even 12-person raid dungeons slower than you alone."
I shook my head.
"I'm an unusual case. In a way, your party has rightfully earned the First Clear."
This is true.
In gaming terms, I'm an irregular user, a bug-like player.
Clearing before someone like me is definitely an impressive feat.
"So, is this enough to qualify us as worthy companions of the hero?"
Chris looked at me with a hint of sadness in her eyes.
"Ah."
I could read Chris's thoughts.
She understands, to some extent, the sense of mission I carry.
The hero of the past also had companions.
Without the Saintess, she would have fallen wounded long ago. Without the Knight, she wouldn't have advanced his swordsmanship. Without the elf, she would have lacked spiritual support, and without the dwarf, she would have had to withstand all the attacks from the demons alone.
The hero, vulnerable in both body and mind, was protected by companions and grew through them.
Now, I walk the path of the hero alone.
I know. Now that I have people who care for me, there's no need to insist on solo play.
But.
I gazed at the endless gorge beyond the Celestial Basin with distant eyes.
"At the end of this gorge, there's someone I need to meet alone."
"..."
Chris fell silent.
○
Several days passed after the First Clear of the 'Celestial Basin.'
During that time, Chris ran dungeons with Rain and diligently rode dungeon buses.
Since the main farming item from Celestial Basin, the 'Holy Stone,' was tradeable, the bus business wasn't particularly lucrative, but there were still quite a few passengers who used dungeon carries to receive daily quest and first clear rewards.
Chris instructed Bae Merong and Cherni in front of the Celestial Basin.
"Please take good care of Rain today, you two. I'll log in soon."
"You took a longer vacation than usual, and you said you'd be doing something other than running dungeons, right?"
"Yes. I want to dig deeper into the lore of the Astria continent. You know, hidden quests and such? I'd like to find those too."
"Heh, I heard there aren't many special rewards for those. I didn't know Senior Chris was more than just a dungeon grinder."
"Shut up. Everyone needs a refresh sometimes."
Flash!
Chris's body was enveloped in light as she used a capital return scroll, and soon disappeared from the entrance of the Celestial Basin.
Chris has a very advantageous position when it comes to exploring the lore. As a benefit for being part of the 'Tree of the Abyss' first attack team, she had already made acquaintance with the Emperor of the Alpharion Empire.
Building rapport with such a large empire is very difficult. The authority to access information in the Imperial Palace is not easily granted to ordinary users.
In the luxurious VIP reception room inside the Imperial Palace, which she hadn't visited since the Imperial Ball, Chris requested a private audience with the Emperor and was greeted by his hearty laughter.
"Hahaha! Master of the Red-White Guild, Chris. It's good to see your face after so long."
"Hehe, has Your Imperial Majesty been well?"
"Oh, I'm always the same. I heard you accomplished great things in the Celestial Basin purification operation at Erins Gorge. Truly impressive."
After briefly chatting with the Emperor over tea, Chris soon brought up her main point.
"This might sound strange, but I enjoy researching history. Do records from a thousand years ago exist in this Imperial Palace?"
"Oh? Were you a historian in the world you came from?"
"Ah, not really. It's just pure curiosity, I guess."
Chris avoided the Emperor's gaze and feigned nonchalance.
The Emperor's eyes curved into a smile.
"I understand. Adventurers from the stars, surely this world must seem fascinating to you. ...Hmm, but for someone so close to the Great Mother to be curious about this world's history. Isn't she herself the living history of the continent?"
"There are various circumstances. It's a bit difficult to ask her directly...."
The Emperor laughed again and began explaining about the treasure trove of knowledge held in the Alpharion Empire's Imperial Palace.
"The largest place is the Imperial Library. Many records of the war between humans and demons from a thousand years ago remain. However, there are almost no records about the hero's party from that time. That's probably what you're most curious about, isn't it?"
Chris showed a slightly surprised expression.
As expected of the emperor of a great empire.
With his quick insight, he had somewhat guessed what Chris wanted to know.
That's right.
Chris was trying to follow the footsteps of the hero.
Rain's mental struggles, sense of mission, and heartache—all were connected to Rain's past on this continent.
Of course, given how deeply Rain trusted and relied on Chris, she would tell Chris anything if asked. But seeing how Rain clutched her heart and was torn with sadness whenever confronted with the past, Chris simply couldn't bring herself to ask directly. It might reopen Rain's wounds from losing her companions.
Rain's companions.
Chris wanted to know about them.
She had already met Elaine.
In the northern snow fields.
There was likely something connected to Rain's past at the end of this Erins Gorge too.
Rain was trying to face that alone.
She would inevitably experience great pain, just like at the Tree of the Abyss.
Before that happens.
"I need to know."
Rain doesn't prevent others from understanding her past. Rather, she seems to secretly hope for understanding. But she doesn't bring it up herself. Probably because thinking about it stabs her heart with pain each time.
If that's the case, Chris will find out herself.
And then, face it together with Rain.
Step, step.
Chris walked alone down the wide Imperial Palace corridor.
The corridor where portraits of past Alpharion Empire emperors hung—a place she had once visited with Rain.
-If you want to know, go there. You may not learn everything, but you might find records written by someone who was with the Great Mother in the past. You who danced with the Great Mother, who is precious to her.
The Emperor had said that with a pleased smile.
Whatever misunderstanding the Emperor had, he seemed to remember that Rain and Chris had danced together at the Imperial banquet.
Thanks to that, Chris was granted access to places only the imperial family could enter.
Luxurious corridor. Wide passage. Excellent portraits crafted by Imperial artists.
At the end, the portraits of the Founding Emperor and Rain stood side by side.
This was the second time Chris had seen Rain's portrait.
"He said there's something behind this."
Remembering the Emperor's instruction to keep what she discovers to herself, Chris fumbled with the narrow space behind the large portrait of the Founding Emperor.
There it is. Something that feels like a handle.
As the Emperor had instructed: left three times, right twice.
Rumble, rumble.
With a small echo, the portrait of the Founding Emperor opened like a door.
The Imperial Palace's secret passage revealed itself before Chris's eyes.