4th floor, 3rd floor, 2nd floor...
The large troop ascended through the maze floors swiftly and efficiently, like a hot knife through butter.
Many adventurers who weren’t privy to insider information simply stared in confusion at this seemingly extraordinary group of adventurers.
"Which adventure group is that?"
"I recognize it, that Red Dragon banner seems to be the Red Dragon Team, I heard they’re currently the main force advancing through the maze."
"Then why are they suddenly leaving the maze?"
"Who knows?"
"There are a lot of people following them, with all sorts of banners. Could they also be adventure groups?"
The adventurers, unaware of Gauss and the others’ actions, were abuzz with speculation.
They could only surmise that something was about to happen, but with their information network, they were far from gathering the summoning notice currently circulating among the high ranks of the adventure groups.
Perhaps it would take several days before they could catch wind of any news.
This was the reality for low-level adventurers.
They were like sheep in a pen, seemingly numerous, yet oblivious to most events, only able to follow the shepherd’s guidance.
Back at the 1st floor area of the maze, the traces of human activity became visibly more frequent.
This was the topmost layer of the maze, and where the most adventurers were active. The first-floor hall had even been transformed into a relatively bustling small town, with commercial activity like hawking visible everywhere.
The circle around the hall’s space was clean of any demons.
Gauss and the others didn’t linger much and quickly made their way up the stairs.
Finally, when the long-missed warm sunlight shone upon them, Gauss and the others had finally left the underground maze.
Gauss couldn’t help but let out a long breath, feeling as if it had been ages.
Although the surface world had a lower concentration of magic power than underground, it allowed people to relax and adapt more easily, making them feel several pounds lighter, much like returning home after a business trip.
"Ah! We’re finally back."
"The sunlight’s so dazzling."
"When I get back to the city, I’m going to sleep like a log for a whole day."
"..."
The other members’ reactions were even more pronounced compared to Gauss, but collectively, they all displayed a sense of physical and mental relaxation.
After all, this was truly the human realm.
"Then, we’ll head off first, Captain Gauss."
"Alright, see you at the meeting."
Other high-level teams from adventure groups also bade farewell to Gauss.
The meeting, of course, wouldn’t be held today, but left a few days’ time for the adventure groups, many of whom were locals of Barry and had their own families in the city.
Now that they were back on this land, they were already eager to return home.
Gauss chose to head for the nearest city gate.
As they progressed, the group attracted quite a bit of attention.
Unlike when they arrived, the Red Dragon Team had now accumulated a fair reputation in the adventurer circles of the forest city.
Many people had read about their maze conquest in the newspapers, and had heard of Gauss’s powerful capabilities as captain.
Arriving at the city gate, unlike his first time with Aaliyah when they reached Barry, now, looking at the towering city walls, Gauss no longer felt the initial surge of excitement upon arriving in the fantastical great city.
Only Eden, always full of excitement, kept murmuring in his ear, Barry, Barry...
Even before it accidentally entered the maze, as a slime that roamed freely in the wild, it rarely entered human settlements.
"Let’s enter the city," Gauss said calmly.