Volume 4 - CH 19

The day after Cyclo met Karim.

As promised, Cyclo had shown up at the guild to discuss the matter of forming a party with Karim.

“–Oh! Cyclo! I’ve been waiting for you!’

As expected, Karim was waiting for him at the guild.

“…… Yesterday, it was too noisy because of the onlookers. Today I want to talk calmly.”

“Then let’s rent a room or somewhere in the guild and talk in private.”

“No! No! I won’t allow the two of you to be alone!”

Karim’s inviting remark was interrupted by Mist, who refused on behalf of Cyclo.

“If we’re going to talk, it’s going to be the three of us. Mist is a confirmed member of my party. It’s her right to be there. “

“I see. Then that’s fine. Then, let’s go rent a room somewhere.”

Thus, we decided to rent a room in the guild for the meeting.

When they told the receptionist what they wanted, they were told that there was a room that was not in use at the moment, so they decided to rent it.

They entered the room and each of the three of them took a seat.

When they are finally ready to discuss the matter, Cyclo opens his mouth.

“–I’ll tell you something first. I don’t trust strangers. So, if I’m going to form a party with you, I’ll only do it if there’s a reasonable profit for us. If you can’t offer me that, I’m going to pretend this never happened without question.”

“Yes, that’s fine. I’ve been thinking about it, too.”

Undaunted by Cyclo’s rejection of her words, Karim smiles fearlessly and says.

“Well then, let’s just get on with it.–There are three things Cyclo will benefit from me joining the party.”

Karim speaks while holding up three fingers.

“First, my experience as an adventurer. Cyclo and Mist have very little experience as adventurers. Am I right?”

Karim asked, and Cyclo nodded.

“I guess so. Mist is a complete amateur, and I’ve only accompanied others as a baggage carrier.”

“I thought it would be something like that.”

Karim smiles, as if she is happy that her guess was correct.

“So, for those amateurs, I can teach them how to have a safe night in hostile territory, how to secure food, and how to cover their tracks – all the “skills” an adventurer should have. “

Karim was right, Cyclo had none of these skills.

If they were to follow Karim’s suggestion, there was no doubt that they would benefit.

“But that’s not the only reason I’m not going to approve of you.”

“That’s right. So, the second thing.”

Undeterred by Cyclo’s harsh decision, Karim explained the next advantage.

“In the first place, Cyclo’s party is just the two of you. In such a situation, it would be troublesome to level Mist, wouldn’t it? Cyclo has to be there to protect Mist at all times. That’s not a very well-balanced party, is it?”

“Well, that’s for sure.”

Karim’s point was a fair one.

Cyclo’s “Clock User” skills make him more effective in the rearguard position than in the vanguard.

And Mist’s “Wicked Believer” would also be appropriate in the rearguard position.

It was true that their balance as a party was not good.

“If I were to join the party, everything would be fine. I would be in the vanguard, and Cyclo would be in the rearguard with Mist to protect her. That way, we can have a safe and well-balanced battle, right?”

“I agree. I’m also better at fighting in the rearguard position.”

“…… Ehh?”

Misto let out a surprised voice.

“Wasn’t Master a swordsman?”

Because he was holding a sword in the duel, Mist had assumed that Cyclo was a swordsman.　

“No, I’m not, though? When you fight alone, you can’t safely attack from behind. I had no choice but to carry a sword.”

“I thought it was something like that. Even during the duel, you were moving like a complete amateur. Your physical abilities were off the charts, so I guess that Reithardt was dumbfounded too.”

Karim also understood Cyclo’s skill level, so he agreed without any particular surprise.

“So that’s why we’ll be stable if you join the party?”

“That’s right. I have the Swordsman-type Job Skill, after all. I can’t act as a shield, but I should be able to stop the enemy in its tracks. “

“…… I’m not going to need a shield, because I can use my skills to assist.”

Cyclo thinks about it as he explains it back to Karim.

In fact, if Karim has the Swordsman-type Job skill to fight in the vanguard as she declared, it is not impossible for her to do the vanguard role by herself if Cyclo uses “Clock Generation” to assist in defense.　

With that in mind, it wasn’t hard to say that Karim, who was at least known to be a strong person, would join the party as an optimal force enhancement.

“It is true that if you join the party, it would be the best way to strengthen the force. –So, what’s the third advantage?”

At this point, Cyclo thought that having Karim in the party would not be a bad idea.

But he lacked a deciding factor.

It depended on the third advantage.

“The third advantage is not so much for the party, but it’s more like for Mist.”

“Huh?”

Cyclo is impressed that she was able to hit that point.

For Cyclo, Mist is the only trustworthy friend he can rely on without fear of betrayal.

Therefore, there is a part of him that values Mist more than himself.

Cyclo is aware of this, and that is why he is so impressed with Karim’s point of view in targeting his weak spot, who is Mist.

However, if the proposal was a bad one, the impression would be reversed at once.

“The receptionist shouted out oud that Mist’s Job skill is “Wicked Believer”, didn’t she? Rumors of such heretical job skills circulate quickly. –Thanks to the state religion of this country, the “skill selection religion”, the people are very strict against heresy.”

Karim’s words made Cyclo frown.

“…… what does that have to do with anything?”

“I mean, Mist is exposed to all sorts of nastiness out there. Cyclo probably intends to protect Mist, but she’s a girl, you know? She can’t be with you everywhere all the time, can she?”

“Well, that’s true.”

When he is pointed out, Cyclo is reminded of the time when he took a bath with Mist to wash her body.

(Certainly, I can’t accompany her to the bath as I did that time.)

Thinking this, Cyclo agrees with Karim’s statement.

“So, I’m going to be moving with Mist as her escort. I’m still an S-rank adventurer, you know? That’s the best protection you could ask for, isn’t it?”

“…… Indeed.”

But only if, as Karim says, she can be trusted to protect her without a doubt.

“But – I wouldn’t don’t know if you’re really a trustworthy escort, do I?”

Cyclo glares at Karim.

Karim’s somewhat light tone changes and a serious expression appears on her face.

“Please. I want to protect her, too. It’s not right to be discriminated against just because of your Job Skill, after all. –Please.”

Karim bows deeply.

“…… Master.”

Seeing this, Mist opened her mouth.

“Um, I …… Uhm. I think it’s okay to trust Ms. Karim.”

“Mist?”

“I am a Wicked Believer. That’s why, I’d like to trust someone who is so kind to me.”

Cyclo’s eyes widen at those words.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. Besides – the fact that you taught me these feelings, and the fact that I came to be able to think like this. It’s all thanks to Master. –I want to cherish what the Master gave me.”

Cyclo was embarrassed when he was quoted as saying this about himself.

“I, I see …… If Mist says that much…”

Cyclo tightens his loose expression and turns to Karim.　

“Karim. I don’t trust you. But, Mist said she’ll trust you. So, for the time being, I’ll accept you as a party member.”

“Really!?”

“Yes. But if you ever betray us, I will never forgive you no matter what.”

“I understand. I have no intention of betraying Cyclo, after all. That’s fine.”

Karim then held out her right hand.

Realizing that this was a request for a handshake, Cyclo also held out his right hand and squeezed it back.

“I’m counting on you, Karim.”

“Yeah, you can count on me! –Oh, I forgot about one more advantage.”

Karim, as if remembering, puts her mouth to Cyclo’s ear and whispers.

“– Cyclo can sire as much of my body as you like, you know. Whenever you can’t stand it, you can hold me.”

“–Wha-! You!!”

Suddenly, Cyclo was taken aback by her slut-like way of talking.

“Ahaha! You’re so naive, Cyclo!”

“…… You. So you’re making fun of me!”

“Eh, Ms. Karim!? What did you say to Master!?”

“A secret, a secret between us.”

Thus, despite the awkward ending, Cyclo, Mist, and Karim were able to successfully form a party.