Chapter 104
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「You are—」
Saint Mika, one of the three girls, lets out an involuntary gasp as she sees us—or rather, me in this case.
I can instantly feel the atmosphere around them become tense. Additionally, I notice Ash, who’s standing next to me, clearly entering a combat-ready stance.
「Ah, it’s been a while… hasn’t it?」
I raise my hand, seemingly oblivious to the mood.
No, that’s not right… To be honest, it’s not that I’m ignoring the atmosphere. In a situation where I can neither run nor ignore, this is the only thing I can do.
Though I’m trying to appear calm, my heart is pounding like a rapid drumbeat inside my chest, so much that I feel like I might cough it up.
「…It has been a while, indeed. Since you disappeared from our party, right?」
I’m a bit taken aback by how naturally Mika returns the greeting. But this can’t be the end of it.
I really hope they go easy on me.
After all, they’re specially equipped to deal with me—
「Oh, that’s right, isn’t it? Holy Knight—no, should I address you this way instead?」
Saint Mika smiles sweetly.
「Runaway Holy Knight Yamada, sir.」
Ouch.
「It’s really strange, isn’t it? The Holy Knight who should be the protective core of the Hero’s party, abandoning his crucial role in conquering the ‘Newly Constructed Most Challenging Dungeon’ and hiding in such a remote place… It’s truly shameful.」
Declares Angelica, the mage, as she adjusts her hat as if it’s uncomfortable.
Her gaze is stern, even aggressive.
A few moments after Angelica’s words—Ash, realizing that the term ‘Holy Knight’ wasn’t directed at her, turns to me with a ‘don’t tell me’ expression.
「Sorry, Ash. I’ll definitely explain everything once this is over…」
Perhaps because I looked anxious, Ash smiles gently at me, trying to reassure me.
「Low, no matter what happens, I believe in you. So please don’t make such a face.」
Her words are endlessly kind.
Meanwhile, Sensei doesn’t interject at all. However, her eyes are stern, as if trying to discern something.
「I see. Are those two your new party members? You really are an irresponsible person, aren’t you? Abandoning everything to enjoy yourself in such a remote place— Oh my, you are…」
Saint Mika turns her gaze towards Ash, as if noticing something.
「Ah, you’re—Holy Knight Ashley Noble, aren’t you?」
「Holy Knight Ashley? The one who stood in our way when we went to get Eris’s sword? Oh, now that you mention it, I guess that’s right.」
Angelica says, clapping her hands.
Is it because Mika pointed it out that she just realized, or is she sarcastically implying that Ash wasn’t even worth remembering?
「Ashley Noble. I’ll give you some advice. You’d do well to stop associating with that man.」
「What on earth are you…?」
As Ash mutters in genuine confusion at the Saint’s advice, Angelica declares with a hint of disdain:
「He’s a man without any sense of responsibility. He was the same when he was in our party. All he did was indulge in debauchery and hold us back from behind.」
Saying that much, Angelica adds, as if it’s absolutely impossible,
「I’ll ask just in case. You didn’t come here to conquer the ‘Sealed Dungeon’, did you?」
「That’s exactly our intention.」
Angelica shrugs her shoulders mockingly at my response.
「I’m sure you’ll end up crying and running away with your tail between your legs again this time.」
The one who couldn’t hold back their anger was—
「Low isn’t that kind of person!!」
It was Ash.
I restrained her with my hand as she tried to lunge at Angelica.
「Runaway Holy Knight, sir. Your lazy and cowardly nature hasn’t changed at all, I see. Hiding behind a woman, really…」
This is… strange.
I’ve never hidden even once.
My battles were always on the front lines.
The enemies were always stronger, and it was always a fight to the death.
Until now, I’ve always acted as both the shield to protect them and the spear to pierce the enemy—or at least, that’s what I thought. And yet—
「But well, I suppose you’ve found suitable companions.
A runaway Holy Knight and a defeated one who foolishly stood in our way when we were sent by the Hero, only to end up on her knees—yes, since you’re both Holy Knights, shall we call her the ‘Defeated Holy Knight’?—It’s fitting that two such people have joined hands so intimately. We should offer our sincere congratulations. Congratulations.」
「Congrats.」
Saint Mika declares exaggeratedly, placing her hand on her cheek. Following suit, Angelica further taunts us.
「Hey, I want to ask you something.」
They look at me with expressions that seem to say, 「What’s this all of a sudden?」
「How can you say such things?」
I voice the question that naturally wells up inside me.
「What do you mean, ‘how’?」
Angelica seems to shudder at my question.
「My companions, the Hero, and I have long been risking our lives in battle for the sake of this world. What were you doing during that time? Weren’t you just sleeping comfortably, indulging in idleness?」
「That’s not—」
I swallow the words I was about to shout out.
I realize it’s pointless to try to exchange words with them.
They are… strange.
「We thought you might be living in peace and comfort wherever you ran off to, but to think you’d be enjoying yourself in such a remote place, with a woman by your side… We never imagined.」
After they became exclusive to Ryūgūin, they often spoke ill of me, agreeing with him. However, they never talked about my achievements as if they were Ryūgūin’s.
If you think about it a little, it’s clear. To claim all of someone else’s achievements and then act as if it’s natural… such a thing is not sane.
As Purume said, something was off. It seemed that some kind of force must be at work.
「We’re not really blaming you, you know. A Holy Knight who fled so shamefully can do whatever he likes. Just don’t get in our way like you did back then, and you can do as you please.」
They were people who could care for others.
「You can say whatever bad things you want about me. But I won’t forgive what you said about my companion. Apologize to Ash.」
—It’s okay. I’m by your side.
Mika said she would be by my side.
—If I were the healer, I would never leave Ichiro to fight alone covered in wounds like this!
Angelica cried, worrying about my injuries as if they were her own.
—I don’t want to leave you alone.
Eris always sympathized with my sadness.
I can’t bear to continue conversing with the three of them any longer.
I feel an unprecedented anger at them speaking ill of others. At the same time, I’m forced to understand that the former them—the ones who used to be by my side—are no longer here.
As my chest becomes a tangle of anger and sadness, and uncontrollable emotions, I feel tears welling up in my eyes.
「They’re coming.」
Announces Sensei, who had been silent until now.
Immediately after, a crackling sound like something bursting echoes through the dungeon.
The source of the sound is my magic bag.
As soon as I notice this, something flies out of the magic bag with tremendous force.
Its identity is—
「A talisman…?」
What floats in mid-air is a talisman that Sena had me carry, one of her own making.
The talisman suddenly emits a dazzling light.
When the light subsides, before our eyes is—
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