"Look, it's your turn."
Noel placed a leather bag on the table with seventy gold coins - seven million fill.
He said the rest of the money that sold Lloyd and Tania had been transferred to his account the next morning. For that handover, Valter stared at the leather bag, called by Noel to an end-of-place liquor store that would also be used by the public.
Indeed, the gold could be recovered. But I'm not happy at all. Whatever the reason, this is the money I got from selling my people.
Or so it doesn't mean I have the guts to poke. Valter shuts up and bags the leather bag, rocking the famous Teito whiskey.
I feel like I can't do it without a drink. Yet I don't feel like I can get drunk no matter how much I drink. In fact, I kept drinking at home before Noel called me in, but my consciousness remains much clearer.
I don't even know what this whiskey tastes like now, which Valter loves to drink. Still, I couldn't get away from the liquor as much as I could.
"... what are you going to do now?
When Valter asks, Noel answers pale.
"First, fill the hole those two fell out of. Then we train so that the new party meshes, and if there is no particular problem, we will act as before."
"You think you can fill a missing hole?
"Well, it won't be easy. Good people already have their own people. Pull it out, but no one likes it for a half-destructed party. So we'll just have to keep recruiting patiently. Until the hole is filled, you can't dive into the abyss (Abyss), and you can only outdo it with work you can both do -"
"That's not what you're asking!
Valter screamed, kicking the chair and getting up.
"There's no way Lloyd and Tania are replacing us! The four of us are out of the sky! Any good guy can't act on behalf of anyone! Hey, Noel! Isn't that right!? Hey!?
"No, you're not."
Noel affirmed without changing his expression.
"True, Lloyd and Tania were brilliant, but not so much as irreplaceable. Even with his talent, he still has a C-rank. There's so much to sweep and throw away in this capital."
"So that's what I'm saying -"
"No, that's what I mean. Explorers are not children's games. Judging by emotions and sentiments is the pinnacle of stupidity."
"... Gu"
Valter couldn't say it back. I have a sense that I haven't made a calm decision. But am I really wrong?
"Hmm, ridiculous"
Noel squeaks his nose and grins terribly.
"You know, in the end, you just hurt to see Tania's nature. Approximate centimeters. That's what she was like."
"... hey"
"Oh, are you mad? I didn't know you still liked being told so much shit, Loyal Dog. You're superb here. Then you buy him Tania. That way, you'll always be the only Tanya. Congratulations."
"Noel, I'm so sorry!!
Valter grabs Noel's chest and shakes his fist up.
But I couldn't shake it out until the end.
"Why... Why, you..."
Even though Valter is going to beat me up, Noel has the same objective look as usual. It's as if you're about to go ahead and get beat up.
No, I guess it is, actually. A swirling, no-go emotion inside Valter's chest. That's what Noel's trying to take.
- If it clears your mind, I'll beat you up about a shot.
Valter couldn't help but look into Noel's unspeakable sincerity.
"Why... why..."
Valter lets go of his hand and sits in the chair powerless.
How can Noel behave like this when she's both younger and still old enough to have her back stretched off? What's the difference between me and this guy?
What a short man I am compared to Noel. That was sad, and I almost leaked a whimper if I didn't have booze.
"... there's no way I can find a new companion. Where in the hell is a fool who wants to work with people who enslave his people?"
Noel shook his head as Valter blurred obstinately.
"Surely, cowards won't like it. But if you're a really good guy, you'll understand that there were circumstances here, too. Instead, they will appreciate that they did not dishonor the scandals within the party and sanctioned them properly"
"But most guys, they're against us.... we're all cowards."
"There's no point in worrying about an elephant. What you really should fear is that you can't make more allies than you can make enemies. And in order to make allies, you need to clarify your policy (stance). - Heels, an up-and-coming villain. Well, that's not bad. You'll see that it's not like an elephant everywhere."
Noel ran out in a tone full of certainty.
I think it makes sense. Whatever you say, the essence of Seeker is Desolation. Nobody follows a weak guy. As Noel says, it's probably just as good as being feared to be a villain "heel" from around.
"... strong, you are"
Think of it, it has been since we met. Calm at all times and never misjudge. I was no longer even willing to be jealous and could only admire it.
"Not like me... I'm... weak..."
In words, it was accepted naturally. I feel the pride I've defended by sticking, melting like ice. I feel calm. Maybe that's why. To Valter, I felt I understood what I should do.
"Are you quitting Explorer?
Noel continues his words when he is poked at the star and wonders how to tell it.
"Indeed, you lack the strength of your mentality. But there were many battles I couldn't survive without you. Whatever you say, I know how strong you are. Best than anyone."
"... Noel"
"Valter, again, from the beginning. It's not uncommon to replace a party member. Let's start over with you and me again. I need you."
Honestly, I was happy.
I used to disagree with Noel, and I've bumped into words I don't even have in my heart. But Valter also knew better than anyone that Noel was a great Seeker.
Typically, support positions (buffers) are weak. The effect of the support (buffs) is powerful, but because the support (buffers) themselves have little combat capability.
That would limit the party's movement because someone always needs to protect their support position. Then, it is better to include other functions (jobs) instead of support positions (buffers), so that you can move flexibly and increase your chances of winning.
That's the general appraisal of support positions (buffers).
It is commonly heard in the tavern that new seekers (seekers) who lack knowledge of other jobs have gradually become burdened with their presence as a result of putting supportive positions (buffers) into the party.
But Noel wasn't.
Noel, the Speaker, still lacks combat skills. Yet I never thought Noel was useless. You can always protect yourself, even if you are less capable of combat, and you are rather good at attacking enemies so much that you can safely entrust your back.
I think one of the reasons I was educated in brilliance by my grandfather, who was a hero. But more than that, it's because Noel himself continues to work tirelessly.
Just because you are a support position (buffer), doesn't mean that you can easily imitate Noel's way of looking for ways to contribute to a broad battle, even if you understand it.
Noel also provides rigorous training every day, with most Explorers (Seekers) raising their roots. Valter never misses training either, but he's not sure he can continue to do the same thing every day while doing his Explorer business as Noel.
While it is not an exaggeration to say the weakest, the most important reason was Noel's indomitable willingness to be seen by many explorers (Explorers), including Valter.
There's no way I'm not happy what such a wonderful Explorer (Seeker) needs. Valter wept, but conveyed his own determination.
"Sorry, I quit Explorer... I'm really sorry..."
†
†
I paid off the boarding house and also lowered all the bank money. I also finished taking down my gear and items. The gold left on hand, combined with what Noel recovered for me, was nine million and eleven million fils.
What a half-way amount, but I deserve it now. If you think of it as an accomplishment you've worked hard for a year, it's more than enough money.
I haven't decided what I'll do when I get home, but I can do a lot of things with nine million and eleven thousand Phils. It's not a bad idea to start a merchant escort business using the experience of Explorers (Explorers), and it's a good idea to change direction a lot and become a liquor store owner.
I couldn't be a Seeker, but the possibilities are endless. It never becomes a throwaway bowl. Let's decide to enjoy the rest of our lives.
I know I should think so. Yet the untrained to the imperial capital did not disappear.
What will happen to Lloyd and Tania? Can I do a decent job if I could only fight according to someone?
All I can think about is that I don't get an answer, and I run around my head. Depressed, it was when I was waiting for the departure of the station carriage to my hometown at the stop.
"Yo."
Speaking up and looking back, there was Noel.
"What, did you even come to drop me off?
"Oh, I'm going to"
"Heh. That's bad"
It was surprising. I can't believe this guy would do that.
"Goodbye, take it."
Handed to me by Noel is a whiskey from the famous Teito he loves to drink.
"Give me this?
"You rarely drink in your hometown, do you?
"Ah, oh. Sort of..."
"Then I'll go home because I'm done. Masters, Valter."
Noel leaves without ever looking back, as the word goes. After dropping him off, Valter corrected the whiskey in his hand.
"Damn, you don't know if you're emotional or light."
Wondering, I didn't feel bad. Until just now the dark feelings disappear and I kind of feel like laughing.
"... did you know? You were the one who really liked Tania."
But next to Noel, Tania couldn't stand. Noel is looking for a strong and talented work companion, not a romantic partner.
I knew I would be turned down even if I told him my favor. And while I was talking to Lloyd about that problem, they were in love.
If it was Valter, not Lloyd, who was consulted, would Tania have chosen Valter? I don't know that. But even then, it would only have been a substitute for Noel in the end.
"You're right, Noel. I can't believe you're replacing us. You're sweeping and throwing it away. The only difference is you. You were the only one who was special."
If you look only at talent, Lloyd and Tania, and Valter are up there.
But even if there was no such thing as this one, it would definitely be Noel, if he could pinpoint the apex of the Seeker.
"You were a waste of our command tower."
Valter opens the lid of the whiskey and takes a sip.
"Come on, Noel. You will definitely be the strongest Seeker. You are... my best friend."
The same whisky delicacy wet Valter's cheek.
†
†
"It's all starting over."
Valter also fell out, and the Blue Beyond was no longer dissolved. Its visibility can be exploited, but its value has almost disappeared.
But there's no rush. In the first place, I was the one who created Blue Beyond. I got the three of them together and formed a party. So you just have to do the same thing again.
Of course, we need to take advantage of this reflection. Again, you can't leave the leader to others. At first you wouldn't mind leaving it to Lloyd, it was a failure to think. If I were a leader, I would never have this boring problem, and I wouldn't let it happen.
It would be pointless to talk about it, but the regret of corrupting the talented people because of it is enormous. It was sweet, I didn't have enough experience, because where I made that excuse, what I lost won't go back forever.
We have to do it right next time. If you make the same mistake twice, you can't even see it.
"Well..."
I stopped when I walked into an alley with few people.
"How about it's time to come out?
Four men reveal themselves, as the word invites them. The face I saw - it's a bearded man's party. The guys who've been tailing me, they pulled out their weapons at the same time they came out.
"I received my reward, and what can I still do for you?
When I asked the question, the man with the beard had a humble grin.
"You seem to have been limited to Valter, too. You're all alone."
In short, now you can get revenge for being cocked, did you? That's stupid. It's too stupid to have a laugh. I think I'm going to throw up reflexes on these morons.
"I want to hear one thing"
"Am I?"
"Why didn't you bring more people together? You know someone else besides the party, right?
"Oh, my God, it would be enough if there were four of us. It doesn't matter if you know the gang (Yakuza). I'll smash that pretty face into a gutter and float it to the dob."
Four would be enough. On the contrary, do you understand that you cannot win alone?
By having a nice pride that you can only fight as a group, cursing me for being the weakest. That's so cool, I'd kill myself.
Plus, unfortunately, it's a miscalculation.
"Your strength means you have to collect ten times more to win."
"You're such a talker, you missed it. I'll make you regret that extra time."
The man with the beard is good at distorting his mouth, but you're the ones who are so worried.
You probably think I rely on Wolf Roar (Stanhaul). As a countermeasure, your fellow wizards should be using their skills to prevent anomalies (debuffs). I know from that attitude that I'm chronic that I can win as long as I can prevent a wolf roar (Stanhaul).
You fools. Either you regret it, I'll teach that body.
"Fuck, don't be strong. You guys know you can't beat me, right? So let's do a handful. I'll deal with him with my eyes closed."
"What the heck!?
"Look, what's up? Come and get me, you little fish."
Close your eyes and invite them as declared, and the bearded man's party yells at you with a different accent.
"You're kidding me! I'll kill you!
As soon as the men rode the provocation and blunted their judgment, I took a flash bullet out of my coat and threw it in front of me.
"Become!? Bye!!
An intense flash of light burns eyes other than mine that were closing my eyes. I opened my eyes and slapped my full right straight punch on everyone's chest.
"Gu!?...... uhh"
It's only one blow, but that blow makes everyone faint. Because he suffered a heart shock and lost consciousness when he was hit in the chest.
"Don't take your life because it's all over the city. I'll leave you. Instead -"
I pulled out the knife and cut off the right ear of everyone who was losing their mind.
"With that ear, shall I have it advertised? Give me your hand and I'll see what happens."
Step away from the party of the bearded man who became a man and head to the exit of the alley.
Along the way, I discovered something unusual.
"Snake Shell"
Anyway, outside the city, it's something you don't see that way all over the city. I guess either pet or edible, or one of them escapes and even lives in the sewage.
"… do you need to peel in order to evolve"
Snakes have to take off old scales to get stronger scales. The same goes for Blue Beyond. The old scale is gone. What you're about to get is a new, strong scale.
"Blue Beyond is born. Today, on this day."