The axe powerfully cut through the armor boar. Fresh blood dripped down and soaked the floor. But the battle still continues. Only one out of the three was killed. The remaining two boars were furious and stimulated because their companion was killed.
“Hey, Hey, come on! I’ll cut you two together!”
“Dhal-san, don’t provoke it anymore. Roy, is your magic ready?”
“I can fire at anytime.”
Dhal draws the attention of the two boars while Mina attacks from mid-range. The goal is that when the enemy is in a state of stimulation, Roy would take that opportunity to fire his magic.
The boar, which had hard shell on its back, flew out like a cannonball towards Dhal, unaware of their goal. Seeing that, Roy uses his magic right away.
“Rock Wall!”
The thick rock wall that emerged from the floor shattered the boar’s nose. Even an armor boar that is confident in its lunge attack will not be safe from crashing into a rock. As it staggered with a concussion, Dhal swung his axe wide.
“Dosseii! One more to go! Erna!”
Just as he had just finished stabbing the last one, Dwarf old man approached me. It’s the usual task from here. After the three of them dismantled the magical beast, I put the material in my backpack.
Of course, it’s not as simple as cramming it inside. I sort the materials of the magical beast into the linen bag that I brought in advance. This way, blood and odor are suppressed, and they can quickly see where everything is. It’s my job to make the selections. I have to think about what to throw away and what to keep, and always make sure that I have a room in my backpack. I also have to manage and keep track of the food and water in their backpacks.
I threw another piece of material on the floor and then I shoved the boar’s shell and skin into my backpack. Dhal, who was watching me work, nodded several times as if he’s approving my actions. On the other hand, Roy and Mina looked at each other so I tilted my head in confusion.
◇◇◇
“You’re fired.”
Dhal said as he placed the mug of ale on the table. Since we had been diving into the dungeon as usual until a few hours ago, his remarks were such a shock to me. I could say that it was a bolt out of the blue.
I banged on the table and asks him why.
“What do you mean by that!? I did my job as a luggage porter as usual! Other than that, I’m also doing support. I don’t get why I’m getting fired!”
“Hey-, calm down will you? I didn’t say this is because you made a mistake you know.”
“Why is it then? If you say something half-hearted, I’ll tear off your beard!”
“Uh-, t-that….…”
However, Dhal scratches his head repeatedly and stutters as if it is difficult to say. In the end, Roy, who couldn’t watch it, cut the story out.
“We are thinking of moving our base to the Royal Capital.”
“This is the first time I’ve heard of that. Then, I’m going to the Royal Capital as—”
“No!”
Dhal interrupted and refused me quickly.
“You should stay as an adventurer in Mana.”
“What the hell is going on? It’s crazy that I have to break away from Earth Fang like this you know! If you feel like I’m just a hindrance, just say it!”
“You’re mistaken. Can you just listen to me for a moment?”
Dhal’s serious expression cools my anger a little. He’s usually a goofy dwarf, but at times like this, he doesn’t lie or joke.
“We’re not going to remove you in the group because we’re not happy with you. In fact, it was because we don’t want you to die so decided on firing you.”
“W-What do you mean?”
“From now on, Earth Fang will be subjected to a more dangerous job. When that happens, we will not be confident that we will be able to fight while protecting you. Truth be told, even we have a high probability of dying. You don’t have the strength to fight in a place like that so we can’t take you with us.”
“I-, I’m not complaining but, I’m such a burden huh…… Hahaha, what the heck……”
I was frustrated. I can’t believe I’m going to be separated from the three people I’ve worked so hard to become friends with. This is all because I don’t have the ability. After all, a luggage porter is a luggage carrier no matter where he goes. I was on the verge of tears, but I held on to my robe with both hands.
Dhal takes a sip of his ale before continuing.
“I’ve given you a way to survive on your own, isn’t it time to put that into good use? If you’re always chasing our asses, you can’t really call yourself a full-fledged adventurer you know.”
“A full-fledged adventurer….”
It might be so. I’m still half-serving. Indeed, I can’t really call myself an adventurer if I can’t live without the three of them. In that case, let’s do as Dwarf Old man said and become a full-fledged person. I can work fine on my own and live in Mana. And one day, I’m going to make a spectacular debut as a mage and directly hit this stubborn dwarf in front of me with a Flame Burst.
Yup, it’s a great idea. It’s okay, Erna, you can do it.
“You’ll regret leaving me later.”
“Heh~, you should not talk too much, little girl.”
Dhal grinned and took a sip of his drink. Afterwards, we exchanged toasts celebrating our path ahead. Farewell is sad, but maybe this is also the destiny of adventurers. This is also why I wanted to at least send them off with a smile.
◇◇◇
A year has passed since I parted ways with Earth Fang.
I made a big mistake.
Recently, I became known as a professional luggage porter, so I may have let my guard down a bit. It was a stroke of luck that I took on a job at a certain party. However, they were wiped out on the nineteenth level of the dangerous Mohed Great Dungeon. I managed to escape, but I know that it was almost impossible for me to escape from this level.
Hahahaha. That’s the end of it huh…..
This is where my life ends.
I could only pray that the orcs will eat me while I’m asleep.
“Fuaah?”
Suddenly, I woke up from my sleep. Luckily, I don’t feel that I was attacked by a magical beast. I remained sitting in a dimly lit and cold aisle.
……Wait a minute. Something’s wrong….
Strangely enough, I felt the presence of someone near me. I’m supposed to be the only one left here. Given that, it could only be a magical beast. I timidly looked to the side and saw a young man standing there.
It’s human! I was able to meet people in a place like this!
I jumped at the man in joy.
“Thank you! It’s really nice to meet you!”
I thought so from the bottom of my heart. After all, it’s almost a miracle to meet people on the nineteenth floor of this vast dungeon. There was a ray of hope shining through my despair-stricken heart.
However, the young man with a chiselled feature had a lovestruck look on his face as he pats my back. I felt that I was in danger so I quickly retreated.
Darn it. It was dangerous to be alone with a young man in a place like this. I might have made him feel that way because I’m so beautiful and fair. He may use the pretext of escaping here to force a physical relationship. His crotch is a proof of that. I was a little alarmed because of that too.
Sigh. It’s a sin to be too beautiful.
“β§＊Ψ。ΘξΦ”
“Ah? I can’t understand what you’re saying….”
The young man bowed his head apologetically. Apparently he is not a bad person. The fact that we couldn’t communicate was a bigger problem than that though. For the time being, I smiled at him and showed off my open-mindedness.
If I let him go here, my life is as good as gone. Besides, I will not drive him away just because I couldn’t understand his language.
At that moment, he held out one of the two backpacks he was carrying to me.
“Huh!? This is mine! Did you actually pass by here!?”
Luke must have thrown it away to escape from the orcs. However, the young man in front of me had a calm expression. Maybe he’s a frighteningly strong adventurer. I decided to ask him with a gesture what he did with the orcs.
He makes a loud “gao gao” sound and makes a bear-like gesture. Next, the gesture of eating something. Finally, he pointed to his backpack.
The meaning is, how did he get the backpack without being eaten by the orcs?
Then, he swings his sword and then makes a gesture as if he is going to fall. Finally, he pointed to his backpack.
“You defeated the orcs!? W-who are you really!?”
I got so excited that I raised my voice. You can’t blame me, he’s about the same age as me after all. To have combat power comparable to that of a mid-level party, he’s truly a talent. I could say he is a genius.
As I am thinking of that, the guy in front of me gave a courtesy nod and tries to walk away for some reason.
“W-Wait a minute! Don’t leave me here please!?”
What the hell is wrong with this person? Isn’t he going to help me!?
Desperately grabbing his arm to hold him back, the young man tilted his head in confusion.
Understood. This guy is a natural airhead. No mistake about it. He doesn’t understand the situation I’m in at all.
Anyways, I gestured to him to take me to the ground with him. After a short while, he nodded as if he had finally figured something out. He seemed to be willing to accept my request. In this way, I decided to go to the ground with a mysterious young man named Shinichi Tanaka.
However, at that time, I never imagined that this encounter would change my life drastically.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
Previous ⚜ Table of Contents ⚜ Next
Yume Neiji's Works 