"d*mn it! A little bit of talent and a little bit of top talent: .........! Sabelia, you could sell this guy to a slaver and make enough money to get a set of equipment.

'We're just good for our faces and skills, and I'm sure we'll get a pretty good price. If it's an underworld organization, there's still a place that will hire us as top-notch adventurers: .......

Such a conversation that Margurus and the others have as they look mockingly at Aamir, who has lost consciousness and collapsed to the ground.

......... really, a helpless person.

...... When I heard that, I couldn't help but let those words slip out.

...... Lila.

Zeke, who is next to us, calls out to us with concern in his voice, filled with unconcealed anger.
As if to admonish us that we are currently lurking in an alleyway beside Margurus and the others, and that if we get too emotional, Margurus and the others might find us.
But even as I understood the current situation, my anger still did not subside in me.


ー I know it's a shameless request. But please. The leaders are still my friends.


The words of Aamir when he bowed his head like that come back to me.
When I bowed my head, Aamir really had feelings of shame towards me and still pleaded with me for Margurus and the others.

...... But even after seeing that Aamir, I still felt threatened by Margulus and his friends, and I demanded interest on the debt.

Not the interest on the sword of lightning, but on the condition that one person pay Aamir.

ー Thank you!

But even on my terms, Aamir laughed.
I didn't know how long it would take for the lightning sword to pay off the debt, and therefore how much the interest would grow.
Even with this understanding, Aamir took the money from me without hesitation.

I'm sure you'll be able to save the sword of lightning by sacrificing one of your own.


......... But the Margurus betrayed Aamir's feelings.


...... I'm sorry Zeke. I can't take it anymore.

The scene in front of me spoke eloquently of this, and I could no longer contain my anger.
It was even more so because I had such hopes that perhaps the lightning sword would be rehabilitated by Aamir's appearance.

''Huh!''

With those last words, I left the alleyway behind me, leaving an upset Zeke behind and walking towards the Margles.

'Lila, what's up?'

Actually, Aamir fell down. ......

Margurus and Sabelia let out a moment of agitation at my sudden appearance.
The next moment, they cover the wound on Aamir's head and speak to me with a nonchalant look on their faces.

But that performance of Margurus and the others would not work for me.
I had seen all of this from the beginning, and I had seen what Margulus and the others were doing.

'Only you guys!

Ugh!

The next moment, I start to run, and with a word of anger, I swing my wand down to the head of the surberian.
My attack is one that has no physical enhancements.
However, as if it was a poorly targeted blow, Surberia falls into a coma with the blow.

''Nah!''

And it is only then that Margulus finally understands that what they were trying to do has been noticed by me.
The next thing I know, I'm abandoning Thervelia and Margurus is trying to run away.

'It's too late,'

Yikes!

...... but before I could even take a step, Zeke hit me and I easily lost consciousness.
Apparently, Zeke was looking for an opening in case I was in danger.
Realizing this, I thanked Zeke and turned my attention to the unconscious Margurus and Sarveria.
The two of them were obsessed with the title of top-notch adventurer, cutting off their friends, and to top it all off, they were about to join a dark organization.

'If only I had worked hard with ...... Aamir, I would have been a top-notch adventurer again.

However, if I studied with Aamir, the possibility of becoming a first-rate student was not lost on me.
With a single glance that could not be described as either pity or disgust at Margurus and the others who had thrown away that possibility, I cut them off from my head for the last time and walked to Aamir's side.



◇◆◇



''These guys would be better off turning them in as kidnappers in King's Landing instead of turning them in to the guild in the labyrinth city.

Zeke, who told me this, gave Margurus and the others a look that didn't even try to hide his disgust as I recovered Aamir.

If we turn them in to the guild in King's Landing, these guys will be forced to work as mine slaves for the rest of their lives. With their physical enhancements, these guys must be very welcome.

Mine slaves, a status that is the end of the line for people who have committed crimes, are notoriously badly treated.
Margurus and others would literally suffer worse than death and would be dead within a few years.
Even with their strengthening skills, the life of a mine slave is so harsh that they will die within a few years.

However, I never felt any sympathy for the Margulls," he said.
If Aamir had been sold as a ...... slave, he might have been even more miserable than the mine slaves.
Thinking that, I glared at Margurus and the others with renewed anger.

'...... Hey, Lyra, can I have a word?'

'Yeah, yeah. Good.

But in the middle of it all, I was suddenly approached by a reformed-looking Zeke, which caused me to let out a shudder.
I was a little surprised by Zeke's suddenly changed mood.

'...... Are you really going to let this girl into the party?'

...... But at his next words I understood Zeke's concern and got a serious look on my face.
I had told Zeke that I wanted Aamir in the party, and in doing so, I had told him who he was.
Yes, and what Aamir had done to the healer.
And knowing that, I understand that Zeke is anxious because he knows that.

'It's okay,'

But I laughed as I understood Zeke's concern.
As if to tell him that there was no problem at all.

'Sure, this kid has made mistakes, and he's never been smart enough.

Truly, Aamir was a fool.
Aamir had made a huge mistake by not questioning the words of a person who was enthralled with him.
Not only that, but Aamir's actions would not be the smartest thing to do if he tried to trust the Sword of Lightning even on this occasion.

'But Aamir is changing now. Besides, Aamir's feelings for his friends are worthy of inclusion in the party.

But even with that in mind, I had decided that Aamir was the right person to include in this party.
Besides, I would be able to trust Aamir, who was desperately trying to lead Margulus and the others.
The fact that it was ......... made it even more difficult to forgive Margulus and the others.

'But ......'

But even as I told him that much, the worrying color didn't disappear from Zeke's face.
I questioned why Zeke would be so antagonistic.

'...... She's probably got a big heartbreaker on her hands,'

......... I see.

...... That question was iced over by the words that Zeke uttered.
What Zeke was really worried about was not Aamir's character.
He was worried that Aamir was hurting badly and that I might be affected by it.
I almost chuckled when I realized that.
Really, Zeke is a terribly clumsy person.
But I smile at his clumsiness.

'It's because he's heartbroken that we need to support him. Because at least Aamir isn't a stranger to me anymore.

While I was trying to convince Zeke to do so, I had another thought on my mind.
If I had been alone, I might have been anxious.
But now that Zeke was with me, I wasn't anxious at all.

'Huh. ...... It's about Lila, so I guess I can't blame her.

Zeke let out a sigh as he looked into my confident eyes.
But Zeke, who turned away from that last word, didn't tell me what he was going to say to object to in regards to letting Aamir into the party.

'...... clumsy.'

Seeing this, I realized that Zeke was also worried about Aamir, and I let those words out with a smile.

'...... It's because of you like that that I am.'

But as I was muttering that at the time, I didn't realize that Zeke, who had his back to me, was moving his mouth as much as I was: .........