Chapter 22 - The Party’s Bond (1/2)
—Narsena—
Looking closely, I noticed there were some other men looking at me.
Those men were in the same party, all of the other besides the one that grabbed my shoulder were behind him.
「I don’t have anything to say to the like of you.」
Considering those men appearance, I decided it would safe either way, so I started walking.
「Hey, wait!」
One of the men raised his voice towards my back.
As if I didn’t hear that commanding voice, I kept moving.
「It’s just for a little bit, we have something you must hear.」
…However, even when they were ignored, they kept shadowing me.
Seeing their persistent advance, I was involuntarily frowning.
After all, no matter what, being seen by those vile gazes while being followed closely like this was mentally straining, no wonder my face would be distorted from the displeasure.
It would be no surprise that I was about to kick the man who came too close to me reflexively.
「Look, we’re just want to invite you to join our party.」
However, I desperately kept my calm and walk away.
Just a little more, if I can reach the back alley, I’m confident I can get away from these guys.
The men who followed me look to have various occupations, two warriors, a magician, and a healer to be precise, none of them look to have a speed enhancing skill.
On the other hand, I have a skill that can accelerate my movement, if I can reach a place with complicated paths like the back alley, I’m confident I can get away from them in no time.
The same if I run right after passing this alley, or so I judged…
「Just little up damn it! We’re doing this for your sake! I’m saying if you leave that defect healer’s party, we will put you in our party, Wolf of Calamity!」
「———!」
…… But when I heard those words, I stopped.
Wolf of Calamity, that name brought back the memory of Onii-san’s lamentation he told me several years ago.
That was the party that used to use violence while oppressing Onii-san, also the party that set up those newbie adventurers to kill Onii-san, a party where Morzeral belonged.
And now, I just noticed the characteristics of Morzeral Onii-san told me was the same as the warrior who seemed to be the leader of this Wolf of Calamity party.
These men were undoubtedly the men who oppressed Onii-san.
The moment I realized that, I was attacked by a fury that seemed to turn my sight red.
「Are you just realize now? Yes, we’re Wolf of Calamity, the party that was said to be the closest to the lower-layer…」
Seemingly misunderstanding my appearance, Morzeral said that with a proud smile on his face.
「So what if you can go to the lower-layer? Even Onii-san, the person you make a fool of can go to the lower-layer, what is to say you’re not defective yourself?」
「………Hahh?」
Without waiting until Morzeral finished talking, I said so.
The men stiffened from my words, but I didn’t care, I left myself to my anger.
「Or what? Are you so incompetent you can’t do what my defective Onii-san can do? In fact, what did your self-introduction said again?」
「Wha-!」
After I said so, the men’s faces turned red in anger.
Morzeral, however, didn’t turn his anger on me.
「…That guy is just lucky. He was invited to a first-class party by chance, and now that he was kicked out from that party, he still able to make money from the lower-layer thanks to talented person like you.」
With a trembling voice, Morzeral said so while desperately suppressing his emotion.
Inside, he was getting agitated and his words were getting heated.
「That’s why, it’s unfortunate that you’re on his side. You will never play an active role with him being your fetter. But no need to worry. From today onward, you who have ability equal to our party is…」
「It seems that all of you are under the impression that strength is what makes you first-class. So? Is that all?」
However, I wasn’t influenced by Morzeral’s invitation.
Conversely, I scoffed at his words.
「Even if you think you’re a first-class party, you still can’t go to the lower-layer, right? Oh my, pardon me for being rude, but it doesn’t look like you have the character to become one anyway. Such is the fate of such small-minded people who can only look down on another. Can’t even admit that the person you make a fool of is now already a first-class adventurer.」
「Kh!」
Morzeral kept his mouth shut from my words.
At first glance, he looked to be calm compared to his previous response, but the anger in his eyes was a different matter, it was much more intense than before.
Apparently, being pointed to the truth hit them much more than I could imagine.
「…Don’t let her escape you guys!」
And then, enraged, Morzeral clenched his fist and leaped toward me…
◆ ◆ ◇
「…Hahh~ It’s not good for adventurers to fight in the middle of the city.」
Seeing Morzeral who came at me, I let out a sigh.
Although it was just for show, that was actually written in the guild regulation.
But, Morzeral likely didn’t hear me.
That was how much his anger consume him.
Even the hateful glare he sent me was full of his killing intent.
However, seeing him like that didn’t overwhelm me at all.
「Didn’t what all of you did to Onii-san worse than this!」
Because I was more furious than him.
And then, I sent that feeling to Morzeral who was charging into me with my fist.
I sent my fist to his abdomen while slipping through his.
「Ugh!」
At that moment, one of my skills was activated.
The impact of my fist was sent through his armor, skin, and muscle straight to his internal organ.
That was a characteristic skill of the martial artist.
Originally, martial artists didn’t have physical strengthening skills and needed magic tools to support their physical ability.
But even considering the costs involved, martial artists were still useful.
The reason was this skill that could sometimes put down a monster that was far robust than human in a single blow.
Besides, my skill was special, it had the effect of raising the power of my fist too.
「Agahh!」
And so, Morzeral who took my fist was writhing on the ground.
I didn’t attack him with all my might because it was a bother if I accidentally killed him.
But, seeing his current state, I judged he wouldn’t get up for a while.
「…Only to this extent, huh?」
Knowing he was weaker than I thought, I muttered that.
Certainly, Morzeral was said to be the closest to the lower-layer, he had a physical strengthening skill and quite agile too.
However, he was too reliant on his skill that his basic movement was like an amateur.
If his party members were all like this, I could even handle four or five people simultaneously.
With how I took down their leader in one blow like this, I assumed the Wolf of Calamity would run away somewhere.
「Wha-!」
……However, when I raised my face, I was at lost for words from the action the Wolf of Calamity took.
「Spirit of tree-!」