CH 267

“Hey, what are you doing, commoner! Hurry up and come over here!”

“Haahh…”

In a forest near a certain country village, I was, naturally, the one carrying a large load. Because, well, I was the porter here.

“…Hey, I know I said it myself, but are you really okay?”

“I, I’m fine… don’t worry…”

However, my body, unfortunately, was not suited for carrying loads. I’m a mercenary… or rather, in this place, they call it being an adventurer. While I possessed enough physical strength and endurance to be a typical adventurer, I was more of a technician-type swordsman. Unlike the bald monk who boasted of unnecessary muscles walking next to me, I don’t have the power to comfortably walk around carrying goods for four people.

“Hah. Wouldn’t it be more efficient to have Gonzo carry all of this?”

“Well, that might be the case, but I must serve as everyone’s shield when the time comes. As such, it would be problematic for me to carry the supplies, right? Isn’t that what you all had mentioned?”

“Well, that’s true…”

As I awkwardly walked, Alexis and Gonzo had such an exchange. Certainly, given Gonzo’s muscles, this amount of luggage would likely be no problem.

However, it’s undoubtedly a bad idea for the one serving as a shield to carry the luggage. If you let the person who’s most exposed to enemy attacks carry things, who knows when a monster attack might render it all useless.

“Moreover, isn’t it strange to have someone serving both as a healer and a shield? Aren’t they usually separate roles? Why put the priest, who is the worst to lose, in the most dangerous position?”

“I agree with that, but I’ve never seen anyone else who can use healing magic better than Gonzo, or anyone who has a more resilient body. Rouge, do you know anyone?”

“That is… no, I don’t.”

Alexis, who shrugged his shoulders and spoke, was answered by Rouge after some thought. Gonzo then responded to the two of them with a smile.

“HAHA, it’s not a problem! If I, who is most susceptible to injuries, can heal myself, wouldn’t that make me an invincible shield? Faith and muscles! With these two things that won’t break or betray me, I can overcome any difficulty!”

“Gonzo-san is really amazing…”

“Well, that’s true! Now, if you train with me, boy, you’ll become strong in no time!”

“I, I’ll do my best…”

Under normal circumstances, I would like to politely decline, but under the current situation, the offer to train me was genuinely appreciated. After all, I have a reason to accompany the Hero’s party. To ensure I’m not left behind here, I first want to develop enough strength to serve as a porter.

“But well, if I could be greedy, it would have been even more solid if we had someone who could use supportive magic.”

“We can’t help it. It would have been nice if we had found an elf who could use decent spirit magic, but we didn’t find one. Well, as a result, Rouge joined.”

“What! You’re not intending to treat me as a substitute, are you?!”

Rouge sharply retorted to Alexis’s words, but Alexis didn’t seem to mind.

“I acknowledge your abilities, but this is a separate matter, right? At least, I didn’t think that a self-proclaimed genius mage wouldn’t be able to generate drinking water.”

“Ugh!? I…I can’t help it! I specialize in fire magic, and water just isn’t my forte!” 

“Haa….”

“Hmph!” 

With a sigh from Alexis, Rouge turned away with a pouting face. Watching the two, Gonzo wore a wry smile. This seemed to be the state of the Hero’s Party.

“These troublesome folks. It would be nice if they had a bit more cooperation… Hey kid, can you do something about this?”

“Eh? That’s a bit much…”

I could only return a troubled look to Gonzo’s troubled face. Such a situation requires someone who never loses their smile, who shows curiosity in everything, and who gets along with everyone quickly. If only there was such an elf… huh?

(Why an elf?)

Elves, if anything, are an exclusive race. Because of their long lifespan of 300 years, they often look down on other races without malice… Well, it’s not so much looking down, but more like treating them as children… and they are not necessarily cooperative.

But now, the image that suddenly came to mind was that of a very friendly elf. But, I should never have met such an elf… Hm?

“Oh, seems like we have guests.”

As I pondered this, Gonzo’s words quickly drew my attention back. As soon as I placed my load on the ground and became aware of my surroundings, I could sense the presence of demonic beasts moving towards us from beyond the trees.

“They’re coming… three, no, four?”

“Oh? You didn’t miss the beast hiding in the back, seems like you at least have the minimum required strength.”

At my muttered words, Alexis released a voice that sounded somewhat impressed. To be honest, I myself was a little puzzled by how sharp my senses have become, but I won’t honestly voice it out. If I’m going to latch onto the Hero’s Party, it’s best being overestimated, even if it means risking my life.

“Scissor Mantis! I’m going in front!”

With Gonzo’s proclamation, a beast appeared with a slender body about two meters long and arms ending in large scythes. The Scissor Mantis, making a loud rustling sound as it leaped at us, swung its proud scythe towards its prey. But…

“Mmmn!”

Even the sharp scythe, capable of cutting through thin metal armor, couldn’t sever Gonzo’s muscle-filled arm. By exerting strength in the arm where the scythe bit in, Gonzo instead restricted the Scissor Mantis’s movement.

“Humph, you’re just a big bug after all! Haa!”

Unable to withdraw its scythe and floundering, the Scissor Mantis had its head lopped off by Alexis’s sword in a single strike. Then, Gonzo kicked away the headless Scissor Mantis, caught the additional two scythes with its body, and constricted them with his muscles.

“Hahaha! You can’t break through my muscles with just this!”

“I’ll take the left!”

“Alright.”

The Scissor Mantis was frightening because of those scythes, but if they can’t move, they’re not much of a threat. I thrust my sword into the soft belly of the restrained Scissor Mantis and ripped it open. Then, its organs spilled out… Ew!?

“Eww!?”

“Don’t let your guard down!”

Something long and slender emerged from the spilled guts, causing me to involuntarily jump back. It was immediately squashed by Gonzo, but Alexis voiced his disbelief at my embarrassing reaction.

“Really, what are you doing? It’s common knowledge that mantises harbor worms in their bellies, so it’s standard to aim for the head when killing them, isn’t it?”

“I… I’m sorry…”

“Hey, both of you, don’t let your guard down! The last one is still there!”

“No, that one should be fine, right?”

At Gonzo’s warning, I tightened my focus once again. But Alexis, although not letting his guard down, didn’t seem like he was willing to fight anymore. And before us, the last Scissor Mantis…!?

“No way, a Scythe Mantis!? Yuusha-sama, that is–“

“It’s fine. Just watch.”

Against the green Scissor Mantis, the brown Scythe Mantis was a purely superior individual. Being about twice as large and with nearly double the scythe’s power, it’s a formidable enemy that would make me immediately run away if I were alone…

“Blazing flames, rushing winds, gathering heat, release an explosion! Strike, [Flare Blitz]!”

Once Rouge finished her chant, countless small fireballs appeared before her. They were shot at high speed towards the Scythe Mantis, in an instant, its whole body was riddled with holes. But it wasn’t over yet.

“[Explosive Blast]!”

BOBOBOBON!

The moment Rouge snapped her fingers, a muffled explosion came from inside the Scythe Mantis. The explosion from within its body mashed up its organs, and a foul-smelling, red and white mixed juice squirted out from the opened holes.

“Hehe, that’s about it!”

In front of the Scythe Mantis’s corpse, which couldn’t even twitch, Rouge made a triumphant face. Indeed, even though we bought some time, she defeated a beast that I could only run away from so easily…

“Hahaha, indeed, it’s the Hero’s Party. They’re not half-baked.”

“Hehe, what are you saying, kid. Aren’t you a part of us now?”

“…… Yes, I’ll do my best.”

I quietly replied to Gonzo, who placed his hand on my shoulder. Yes, that’s right. In order for me to return home, I have to stick with these guys for at least half a year.

Power is necessary. Not necessarily to the extent of matching those heroes, but at least enough power that I won’t be abandoned. Since I don’t know when they might turn their backs on me, I need to become stronger as soon as possible.

(I will definitely accomplish it… and return to the world where I was born.)

I tightly grip my hand, resolving myself. It was the first step for me to truly become a member of the “Hero Party.”