“I should at least bring some flowers,” thought Ziel, stopping by a florist. However, a minor scene ensued: "No payment needed," "No, I insist," "I can’t possibly accept money from someone like you, it would bring misfortune," "It won’t," "Let me pay," "Please don’t pay," and, "If you’re staying in this town, you might as well throw your wallet away." Slightly worn out by the exchange, Ziel finally arrived at the hospital.

Carrying a small bouquet, Ziel mentioned it was for a visit. The receptionist, affiliated with the church, nodded. “Ah, in that case, the fourth floor—” Mid-sentence, they seemed to recall something, stood up, and offered, “I’ll guide you.” Ziel momentarily wondered if their reputation for being directionally challenged had spread even here.

In front of the hospital room stood a sturdy man, evidently an adventurer. Upon noticing Ziel, he bowed deeply. Realizing the flow of events, Ziel thanked the guide and followed the man into the room. The moment Ziel entered, they preemptively said:

“No more apologies.”

Inside, almost all the main members of the guild were present. The only one missing was the archer who had taken down the Apocryphal Beast before Ziel’s party could arrive.

Ziel noticed the slight hesitation in some of their movements, confirming their prediction wasn’t wrong.

“It’s fine, really… I’ve already received individual apologies from each of you. There’s no need to go through it all again. As I said before.”

Without waiting for their response, Ziel approached the bed, sat on a round stool offered, and looked down at the figure lying there—Godach.

“...I apologize, for receiving you in such a state...”

“Don’t worry about it. Lililia told me—something about severe fractures and torn muscles from merging with the Apocryphal Armament. Don’t bother sitting up, stay as you are.”

“I’m sorry,” Godach said again. “They warned me rapid healing could leave lasting effects… I had hoped to recover before your departure.”

The honorific “Lord Ziel” made Ziel’s expression twitch slightly. Despite his calm demeanor, it was evident that Godach had the strength to lead a hot-blooded group of adventurers without being underestimated—a testament to his ability.

This man had been an A-rank adventurer who later ascended to S-rank, albeit under exceptional circumstances. Strong in both body and spirit. But Ziel couldn’t shake the memory of their initial impression of Godach—rough, arrogant. Reflecting on how the Apocryphal Armament’s curse had corroded his mind, Ziel felt a chill.

“I hear you’re leaving town today,” Godach began.

“Yeah. I wanted to see you one last time.”

“...You said earlier that apologies aren’t necessary, but I have yet to fully convey my feelings. May I have a moment of your time?”

“...Alright.”

“As you’ve guessed,” Godach began sincerely, “I fell victim to the Apocryphal Armament I picked up in the labyrinth. Its curse swallowed my mind, and I ended up aiding in the revival of the Ruin King. The destruction of the cathedral… was forced upon me like a predestined fate.”

“And inviting me to your party?” Ziel asked, knowing part of the answer but asking nonetheless.

“By touching the Apocryphal Armament, I understood the mechanism for reviving the Ruin King, as well as the necessity of resealing it. Foolishly, I thought I could reverse the situation by conquering the labyrinth and resealing it. That’s why I summoned you—the most skilled unaffiliated swordsman I knew.”

It wasn’t Ziel’s master but Ziel himself because of simple logistical constraints. Ziel nodded and asked:

“What about consulting the church?”

Godach shook his head weakly.

“I couldn’t. Any attempt to act directly would only tighten the Apocryphal Armament’s grip. I tried to resist many times but… I was weak,” he admitted through gritted teeth.

“You were strong,” Ziel countered.

“Even against the Apocryphal Beast on the third floor, you fought evenly alone. And in the end, you destroyed the Apocryphal Armament. But because of that—”

“—it drew the Armament’s attention and increased its wariness of me,” Ziel finished.

“Precisely. Having seen your strength through me, the Armament equated your threat level to that of the church. Perhaps your proximity to the sealed Ruin King in the labyrinth triggered an overwhelming curse—”

“—Demonic Sword Release,” Ziel muttered, completing Godach’s sentence.

“I can never thank or apologize to you enough,” Godach said earnestly. “For dragging you into this, for betraying you, and most of all, for bringing the Saint and Archmage to reseal the Ruin King, destroying the Armament, and saving this city, this nation, this world… No words of mine could ever suffice.”

“If you demand recompense,” he added, “then take my life—”

“I won’t,” Ziel interrupted firmly. Scratching his head as if troubled, Ziel added:

“I thought it might be inappropriate to visit an injured man, but I’m glad I came.”

Then, with conviction:

“Let me make this clear—I hold no grudge.”

Godach’s eyes widened, but Ziel continued:

“Sure, when I was fighting that thing, and you unleashed that attack, I felt a bit resentful. And being left in the underground labyrinth for six months with barely any equipment, I did consider breaking every bone in your body twice over when I escaped—but you’ve already sustained injuries of that magnitude.”

With a slight smirk, Ziel added:

“Besides, with everything that happened and the resolution you all provided, who’d blame a mind-controlled man for such actions? I’m not a saint or a great person, but I’m not petty enough to hold that against you.”

Godach and his party members looked conflicted, but Ziel pressed on:

“You all visited me repeatedly, apologizing for stabbing me in the back and abandoning me. But I don’t care about that. You didn’t drag me into this or trap me—I was relied upon. I solved the problem, as expected, and received gratitude from you and the townsfolk. That’s enough for me.”

Ziel stood and said:

“Each of you did what you could. Your strengths and weaknesses brought us here. And I’m proud to have been chosen as the sword to carve the path forward.”

Finally, Ziel bowed deeply, holding the position for ten seconds before rising with a sheepish smile.

“Thank you for leading me here and giving me the chance to protect this world.”

Afterward, Ziel handed the bouquet to Godach, saying, “Get well soon. And if I find I truly enjoy delving into labyrinths, I’ll join you again. Just go easy on me next time, seniors.”

With that, Ziel left the room. As they wandered the hospital, looking lost, they chuckled inwardly at their own youthful worry:

“Did I manage to convey my feelings properly?”