Volume 2 - Prologue

The next morning, I woke up to find Serina crying next to me. That's annoying.

"Uuhhh, *hic hic*, I'm, having sex with this guy, It's the worst……"

"Hmph, If you don't like it so much, you can leave the party and go solo or join another party. I'm not forcing you to do anything."

I've already given her a shot for almost killing me, so let's call it even.

"I know, but this party, it's easy to do, and it's ...... Ugh, uwaahhh!"

"So what? Are you crying because you're addicted to sex?"

"I-I'm not. I thought I wanted to do that kind of thing with a lover I've decided to marry. Like on Christmas Eve night."

"Aah, well, why don't you do that?"

"I mean, you already took my virginity."

"It doesn't matter if you're not a virgin. I'm only going to hold a virgin girl though, but some other guys might not care about that."

"Maybe...... that's true, but..."

"Now get up."

"Ah."

Serina, who was scared and hurriedly hid her own breasts, looked afraid that I would attack her again.

"Don't worry, it's already daytime so it's adventure time."

"Ahh ...... Geez, if you've made me your woman, you could be nicer to me."

"Hey, don't get me wrong, Serina. The only promise I made to you was that we would form a party. I don't remember becoming your boyfriend, and you don't want to marry me, do you?"

"O-of course not! Who would want to marry you?"

"Then, I have no reason to be nice to you."

"Murghhh."

As I was having breakfast with Meena on the first floor of the inn, Serina came in looking embarrassed.

"Good morning, Serina-san. Today's soup is very delicious."

Meena said gently, but she must have witnessed her crying yesterday. She's a good girl.

"Yes. I'll eat it then.... Oh, really, it's delicious."

She seems to be in a better mood now, she's such a easy.

"Well, then, Meena and I will go to the dojo."

"Yeah. I have some research to do, so I think I'll be at the castle in the morning."

"I see."

I went to the dojo, but Ione was not there. She was still looking for the bandits, but I guess she considered them irreconcilable enemies.

"I'm going to stop by the blacksmith's, Fritz, and you can take care of the rest."

"Yes, sir."

"While I'm gone, if anyone from the Church of the Holy Spirit comes to visit, just send them away."

"Yes, I know what I'm doing. No one is going to buy a stone that doesn't offer any benefit."

Fritz laughed and said that, but, I see, if you sell free stones to the religious people as holy stones, you will make a lot of money.

"Mmm, I'll be off then."

Welbard also left on an errand, but there was no problem since Fritz, the master instructor, was there and all I did was swing.

I guess I could cheap out on the course fee and just swing by myself, but I don't feel like working out unless I come here.

"Okay, then everyone, let's take a break."

"Whew, I'm tired. Come on, Fritz, let's stop swinging and play fight today. Just me and Alec."

Billy said. You think you can beat me, kid?

"No, we'll do it again when Sensei is here."

Fritz, who was also the teacher-in-charge, refused to take the matter seriously.

"Tsk."

We all sat on the porch and drank the tea that Meena had prepared for us.

"Hmm?"

Fritz was looking at me.

"Alec, I need to talk to you about something later. ......"

"Okay."

After the morning training was over, Fritz and I went to the back of the dojo.

"So, what do you want to talk about?"

"It's about Ione..."

"Ahh, that's right. She's still looking for the bandit, right?"

"I know that, but I want you to tell Ione about it? The one Ione chasing is have bounty on their head, I don't know what kind of skills they have, and I have a bad feeling about them."

"You'll have to convince her yourself. I'd tell her, but I don't think she'd listen to me."

"No, I'll even hunt with her, apparently she likes you."

It seems to be true, so I shrug my shoulders. I'm not sure if the [Charm] skill is working.

"Then, I'm counting on you. And I'm not going to let you beat me, so you'd better."

What kind of game is this? He must really like Ione. If we were to have a serious sword fight, I would have no chance, but apparently Fritz is planning to compete by improving his manhood. Well, do what you want.

I'm not going to mess with Ione either, because I'm afraid of her father.

While I was having lunch with Meena at the noon tavern, someone came running in.

"It's terrible news! Orson the Gale has been killed by the Blood Shadow!"

"What, really!?"

"Orson is a famous swordsman, right?"

Come to think of it, when I was shown the list at the Swordsman's Guild, there was a master with that name. I think he was B rank.

"I can't believe it. The knight order seems to be in trouble, and I can't even walk around town at ease."

"Don't worry, it's the women they're after. If you don't do anything about it, you won't get caught."

Well, that's a good point. I'll stay out of it.

"Oh, I'm scared, darling."

"Don't worry, honey, I'll protect you. I'll protect you with my life."

There's a couple of ugly homos making out at the next table, and it's annoying. Somebody get a clue. They told us the bandits are only after women!

"Master ......"

Meena was getting a little anxious too.

"Don't worry. You remember the smell of those bandits, don't you?"

"Yes, I do, but it's Ione-san I'm worried about."

"Well, as Fritz said, when I see her today, I'll tell her to back off."

"Yes."

In the afternoon I'm going to go hunting as usual. After finishing my meal, I was going to check my skill points here for a bit and then leave the restaurant.

"Gehh……"

Before I knew it, I had learned a new skill.

『Scat○　Lv１』New!

S-stop it! What a hobby!

Of all things, this is skill that I don't want to have!

I won't use it even if I die!

I couldn't help but obscure it in my brain.

"Master?　Is there a problem?"

"No, it's nothing. ......"

Damn, I feel sick. I'm sure it's the skills of the homosexual couple that was just flirting next to me, but the skills I got from them are also physiologically unacceptable.

Uueee, I feel nauseous. I can't do this after dinner.

I'll tell you what, even if other party is Meena, I'm definitely not going to do it. I don't have that kind of sexuality.

Can't you just get rid of these mine skills?

『Would you like to reset your skills?』

I won't do that. If all of them were resetted, my points would be cut in half.

"Fuu~."

I headed to the adventurer's guild with Meena in tow, who was looking at me worriedly.

"Alec-san!

"Oh, Ione. What's going on?

I asked Ione, who came running up to me. I hope it's not a problem.

"We already know the location where bandit group the Blood Shadow are."

"Huh?"

"I'd like to round them all up, so could you help me out, Alec-san?"

"No, we're new at this, so――"

"Let's do it."

Serina said from behind. She always appear when the timing is not good, this girl is.

"Hey, don't say anything you want. I'm the leader of this party, remember?"

"But can we leave those people who are also killing in the streets alone? I think they're the reason why I misunderstood and slashed at you."

"No, that was your fault. Stop shifting the blame. I'm expelling you from the party by the authority of the leader."

"Ugh, I get it. ......"

"Alec-san, I just need a lookout. Can you please do that for me?"

Ione is still asking me to do it. Even though it was a request from a beautiful woman, our lives were in danger. It's not that easy to accept that.

"Then why don't you ask another adventurer or soldier to do it for you? It doesn't have to be me, a beginners."

"No, we can't do that. It seems that some of the soldiers and adventurers are connected to the bandits."

Ione said in a hushed voice.

"I see."

If that's the case, then it makes sense that they are repeatedly committing crimes in the city without being caught by soldiers or bounty hunters.

"Well then――"

"No, I understand what you're saying, but I heard the other guy kill an B-ranked swordsman too. Besides, Ione, Fritz was worried about you."

"I have an idea about their skill. The opponent is always targeting women, so if I become the decoy, They'll be caught off guard."

"Become a decoys are dangerous. Are you sure you want to do this?

"Yes. I can't let criminals do whatever they want in our city. My friend is also a victim of this. She can no longer smile brightly, and I'm afraid that others will also. ......"

Ione says with a serious face, it seems useless to stop her.

"All right, then, I'll help you."

"T-thank you so much!"

"That's what I'm talking about!"

"However, the one who's going to help you is Serina only."

"What? Alec, aren't you going to show me what a man you are?"

Serina said.

"No, I don't. At least you're better with a sword than I am. This is not a game. You only have one life, and if you die, that's over."

"Uuhnn, I understand. Okay, Ione, I'll help you."

"Thank you, Serina."

"Then, be careful, okay? Meena, let's go."

"Excuse me, Master, can't I help Ione too? I have a good nose and I think I can be of some help."

Indeed, Meena's sense of smell will come in handy.

"That's all well and good, but no rough stuff. Your life belongs to me."

"Yes!"

If Meena is going to join them, I'd like to know where the bandits are. We worked out the details of our plan in a room at the inn, not at the Adventurer's Guild, so as not to be overheard by someone.

"I'll go get Fritz then."

"Yes, please."

The more skilled one of us is, the better. Fritz might complain, but if it's a woman he's in love with, he'll help.