The First Opponent

Those who had managed to break through the labyrinth were clearly thrilled. After a brief rest and assembling, they all set off toward the Demon King's Castle.

"Thank you so much, Iron Warrior."

Walking beside Duanmu Huai was a Dwarf warrior, as well as the president of the Adventurers Association in the dungeon. He had issued the request to break through the labyrinth. The Dwarf warrior had originally prepared himself mentally for a wait of several hundred years, but he had never expected that the day would actually come when the labyrinth could be breached.

"Come to think of it, is this really all right? Didn't you say the Snow Melting Period won't arrive for another two months? Isn't it too hasty to set out now?"

"You don't understand, Iron Warrior."

Hearing Duanmu Huai's question, the Dwarf warrior sighed with emotion.

"In fact, the Demon King figured out our patterns long ago. It's true that we're relatively more mobile during the Snow Melting Period. But for that very reason, the Demon King always recalls the Demon King Army scattered across the various regions before the Snow Melting Period arrives."

"Is that kid really that afraid of death?"

Duanmu Huai had to admit that he was quite surprised to hear this.

"After all, the Demon Race can fly. The long distances that are far for us mean nothing to them. So every time the Snow Melting Period arrives, when the adventurers finally reach the Demon King's Castle after tremendous hardship, what awaits them there is the fully prepared Demon King Army. To be honest, under those circumstances, winning is definitely no easy task."

That was only natural.

"But this time is different."

As he spoke, the Dwarf warrior tightened his grip on his battle-axe.

"This time, the Snow Melting Period hasn't