Chapter 3
I was the only one who thought of them as my friends――.
I thought they treated me so shabbily because I wasn't good enough.
If I could stand shoulder to shoulder with them, they'd recognize me again, like they used to.
After all, we'd been childhood friends.
――Believing that, I kept doing my best until today.
I kept giving it everything I had, trembling at the thought that someday they'd kick me out.
But...
They looked at me as if I were garbage, their eyes filled with utter contempt.
They hurled abuse at me as if I weren't even human.
Is that any way to treat someone you'd fought alongside?!
"I understand. I'll leave the party. Thanks for everything up till now."
No matter what, my relationship with these guys was beyond repair.
I didn't want anything to do with them either.
I decided to accept being kicked out without wasting my breath on pointless arguments.
But――.
"Hey, hey, aren't you getting a little full of yourself?"
"You were deadweight, so why are you putting on airs?"
"You can't even thank us properly? Are you useless and stupid, then? There's no point in you being alive."
"…………"
"Come on, say it properly. 'Thank you for letting me stay in the party all this time. I'm sorry for being a useless incompetent and causing you so much trouble!'"
"Of course, you'll be prostrating yourself."
"Make sure your face is pressed against the floor when you say it. The only thing that'll kiss you is a dirty floor. Pfft, hehehe."
I was prepared to get kicked out.
I knew my abilities were inferior to theirs.
When Misa left me for Guy, I knew that day wasn't far off.
But wasn't this going too far?
Even if they were kicking me out, there was a certain level of decency owed to someone who'd contributed to the party for five years!
They'd gotten this strong thanks to my Magic Repository, no doubt about it!!!
After leeching off my Magic Repository all this time, they were just going to toss me aside now that I was useless to them!!!
"…………"
"Hey! Don't just sit there in silence!"
"Can't you understand a word we're saying?"
"Why are you trembling? You're disgusting!"
"Ahahahahaha!"
These guys had never intended to listen to a word I said.
There was no point in talking back.
But there was no way I could apologize like they demanded!
My blood was about to boil with rage.
Pointing at me, the three of them laughed scornfully.
I was a clown.
A pathetic, wretched clown.
Even a fish laid out on a cutting board would be treated with more respect.
I was treated worse than that――.
Guy, fed up with my silence, stood up and walked toward me.
――Thud.
A heavy blow to my stomach.
Guy's fist was buried in it.
"Ugh..."
"Know your place!"
Guy grabbed my head, slammed it against the floor again and again, then held me down.
Unable to resist Guy's strength, I could only take it.
"Ahaha, it suits you~"
"Oh my, you two are so lovey-dovey. Looks like Floor-chan likes you, too. Why don't you just get together?"
"Ahahahahaha!"
"…………"
"This is your last chance. Say the words of gratitude and apology exactly as I told you. Get even a little bit wrong, and I'll beat you black and blue."
Ghh...
If I fought back here, he'd just beat me up and make me say it anyway...
"...Thank you for letting me stay in the party all this time... I'm sorry for being a useless incompetent and causing you so much trouble."
As I forced the words out, enduring the humiliation, Guy looked satisfied and smirked.
"Get the hell out of here!"
"Bye-bye!"
"Don't ever let me see your face again."
Tears threatened to spill from sheer frustration.
But if I let them see me cry, it'd only make those bastards happier.
I desperately held back my tears and got to my feet despite the pain.
I didn't want to look at their faces for even another second.
With their loud laughter at my back, I ran out of the inn――.