The sun sank westward above the tower. By that afternoon, everyone was ready to set out, and they gathered near the Teleportation Point at the top of the tower.
Unless something unexpected happened, Gelman planned to make two trips, sending the five people present to the wilderness where the Undead Disease was located.
Menchi would be the one left behind at the tower during the first trip.
For Menchi, this was a choice that weighed heavily on her.
Once Gelman and the others left, if they ran into some unusual situation and Gelman didn't return for her, she would be in an extremely difficult position.
She would be left alone in the tower, with no idea when help might arrive—or whether it would ever come at all.
Even if Menchi wanted to save herself and leave the Dark Continent, it would be difficult for her to manage with her abilities. There was a good chance she wouldn't even make it out of the "Labyrinth."
Still, although she knew this was possible, Menchi didn't say much. She knew that if something unusual really did happen, the four people before her were the most likely to survive and come back for her.
Replacing any one of them with Menchi, or having one or two of them stay behind with her, would have been irresponsible.
She was a Gourmet Hunter, accustomed to roaming mountains, rainforests, and river valleys. She had faced no shortage of life-threatening situations, and she had the resolve to accept the risk.
If she had decided to come to the Dark Continent, she couldn't back out now.
Menchi had no objections, and the teleportation began.
Purple patterns gathered at the center of the Teleportation Point. The "Labyrinth's Teleport Lantern" appeared, revealing four Messenger Imps with twisted, swollen faces like lepers.