Chapter 47
“I’ll be straight with you. How about joining our party?”
Roger-san said, looking me straight in the eye.
His unexpected offer left me speechless.
“What’s wrong?”
“I was just surprised you asked so suddenly...”
“Really? I asked you before, too. You turned me down flat back then.”
Roger-san had invited me to join his party once before.
It was around the time the Sky-Cleaving Sword was about to rise from D-rank to C-rank.
Meanwhile, Roger-san and the others in Meteor Shower had only just made it to A-rank.
They were so far above me, like people living beyond the clouds.
We’d gotten along well in our personal lives, going out for drinks and such, but I never thought he’d invite me to join his party just because of that. I’d assumed he wasn’t serious and was only saying it in passing.
I thought it was either a social nicety or something he’d said while drunk.
So I remember replying, “Ask me again once I’m good enough to stand alongside you all.”
――Two years had passed since then.
Even though I’d parted ways with my former party and chosen to start over, I was still just at the beginning of that journey.
I still didn’t think I was anywhere near their level.
“I’m still――”
“You’re still saying that? Like I told you before, I know full well there’s a gap between us. But you can close that gap in no time. You’ve got talent, and we can help you develop it.”
“...”
“You can definitely become a top adventurer.”
“I appreciate you thinking so highly of me, but...”
Honestly, I was incredibly happy.
After being cast aside as “no longer useful,” someone was finally recognizing my worth.
And that someone was Roger-san, who outranked Guy and the others.
I knew Roger-san and the others well.
They’d never use me up and throw me away like Guy and the others had.
If he’d made this offer right after I was kicked out, I would’ve jumped at it without a second thought.
But a lot had happened since then.
I’d met MP.
I’d learned just how extraordinary the Infinite Magic Vault was.
I’d met Rinka and been drawn to her potential.
“Or is it because of that girl you’ve been hanging around with lately...”
“You mean Rinka-chan.”
“Yeah, that Rinka girl. Is she on your mind? If so, no problem. We’ll look after her, too. I did a little digging, and she’s got potential as well. I can’t believe the bigger parties have all overlooked her until now.”
He was offering to look after Rinka along with me.
I’d already made up my mind, but my resolve wavered.
It’d be fun to go adventuring with Roger-san and the others.
And we could chase the dream of conquering the eighth floor together.
It was an incredible offer.
I’d probably never get another chance like this.
But――.
“I’m sorry. I have my own party, and a path I want to follow.”
I looked Roger-san straight in the eye.
He met my gaze with an equally intense stare.
For a while, silence hung between us――.
Then Roger-san broke into a smile.
“I see. Then we’re rivals starting today. Good luck.”
“Yes!”
When I turned him down, Roger-san didn’t press me any further.
Instead――.
“So, why did you end up going solo? Tell me everything.”
“I want to know, too~”
The two of them leaned in, peering at me with interest.
“All right. I’ll tell you――”
I decided to tell them everything that had happened since I was kicked out.
I’d wanted to open up to someone, too.
About this feeling that had been festering inside me.
I wanted to share it with people I could trust.
“Hmm, I see.”
“Oh, my.”
When I finished, they were smiling, but their eyes weren’t.
“There’s one thing I’d like to ask you, Roger-san...”
I told him what I wanted to ask――.
“Sure, leave it to me. I’m looking forward to it, too.”
“Hehe. I’m looking forward to it as well~”
Roger-san readily agreed to my request.
I’d originally thought of asking a Guild employee, but Roger-san was much better suited to the job.
“Well, let’s call it a night.”
Roger-san stood up and headed for the restroom.
“Hey...”
Once we were alone, a sweet, alcohol-tinged whisper brushed my ear.
A sweetness so intense, it felt as if my soul might melt.
Namiria-san leaned in close and murmured words of temptation.
“Want to have another drink, just the two of us?”
“Huh?!”
“You’ve gotten so handsome since I last saw you.”
Namiria-san’s fingers slowly traced down my upper arm.
“You used to have the scent of an innocent boy, and you were cute in your own way. But now you’ve got a man’s face. I could just devour you.”
“No, um...”
“Or are you completely taken with Rinka-chan now?”
“No, it’s not like that...”
“She’s so cute, isn’t she? I just want to protect her. Is that the sort of girl you like?”
It was only my third day since meeting Rinka.
I liked her, but it wasn’t quite love yet.
Namiria-san was an attractive woman, but... I had no idea how serious she was.
“Don’t overthink it. It can just be a fling with me.”
Namiria-san murmured with a bewitching expression.
Her eyes grew moist, and her lips glistened.
I felt like I might get pulled right into her gaze.
Namiria-san’s face slowly drew closer to mine.
I instinctively leaned back, but she moved in even closer.
Our faces were almost touching――.
“Ow!”
Roger-san had returned from the restroom and bopped Namiria-san on the head.
“Don’t mess with Rento.”
“I’m not messing with him~”
“Come on, let’s go.”
Roger-san grabbed her by the arm, and Namiria-san was pulled along.
“See you later, Rento-chan~”
She waved as they disappeared.
“Phew, that was close...”
My heart was still pounding like crazy.
Neither of them had changed at all.
For some reason, that made me incredibly happy――.