Weiss, the clan leader of the Red Demon Clan, is not a good communicator. He can read the behavior of monsters as much as he wants, but he can't read people's minds. The fact that he can't understand them is very frightening. That's why he's not very good at talking to people.

　Social skills are not present in Weiss, as one would expect from a leader who founded a clan. He is quiet even in the Clan House, and that is no different outside the house. The crowd perceives him as a cool guy, but he's just not good at talking.


''.........''


　But the time was approaching when such a Vice had to change. The entirety of the battle against the Mounted Golem was annihilated after fighting the Mounted Golem for a number of times already. The five members of the Red Devil Gang were clothed in flaxen cloth and spat out through the guild's black gates. That's still good. This was something I had experienced many times in the Fire Dragon. The problem is the atmosphere of the PT.

　During the fire dragon battle, it wasn't a bad atmosphere to be wiped out. The four of them naturally exchanged opinions, Weiss nodded and discussions were taking place, and there was a lot of trial and error going on.

　But right now, not a single word was exchanged. Just a one-way tongue-twister from Alma. The other three were silent, and Weiss didn't speak either. They are annihilated one-sidedly, unable to imagine that they can be defeated, and their frustration is building up. The air is a mixture of awkwardness and acrimony.


''Well let's cut this out for today.


　When Weiss said that, the three PT members started lining up at the guild's reception desk to get their equipment in order. Alma looked at Weiss as if she didn't like his decision.

　Previously, Alma was a black mage attacker and was good at fighting using a variety of skills. She had a cheerful personality and was like a lubricant that made people around her aware of her, and she was one of the most skilled attackers in the army.

　He was very solid in dungeon exploration and combat, but in his private life in the clan house, he was quite out of it. Combined with such gaps, Alma had a good relationship with the clan members. It was at that time that the black cane from the gold treasure chest appeared, causing a buzz.

　The Red Demon Clan won the black staff at the auction and it was given to Alma. At first, Alma was horrified by its immense power and even tried to let others have it, saying it was too much for her. But the clan members around him also admired Alma, and Weiss also recognized Alma's abilities. After crying tears of joy at everyone's trust in her, Alma made an effort to master the black cane.

　The sensory adjustment of the black staff's mental power consumption reduction, and the magic skills had to be readjusted along with the increase in power. Because black mages are concerned about misfiring at their allies, they are useless without adjusting their skills, which are automatically increased in scale by black cane compensation. But Alma was excellent, so he quickly finished the adjustment and took on the fire dragon.

　And when we successfully defeated the fire dragon, the Red Demon team had a great time. After all, they were the first ones to break through the sixty levels. Their excitement was immeasurable. Alma also put her black staff aside and shared her joy with the clan members.

　However, after Solit Co. feted him in an article for defeating the fire dragon with Meteor, Alma gradually changed. Instead of the many skills she used to stand around and use, the meteo that had become synonymous with her became her main focus. He also began to lose more and more respect for Weiss and began to treat his clan members poorly.

　A black staff with a power comparable to a unique skill. However, that staff is a tool that can be used by any mage type job. Her change due to the sudden possession of such power was inevitable.


''You're so high and mighty, even though you can't play much of a role.


　The respectful eyes that were previously directed at Weiss are no longer a shadow of the eye. It's a very good idea to be able to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

　It is true that Weiss has not been able to play an active role in the recent past. The volcanic hierarchy followed by the fire dragon, which is difficult for the fire system to pass through. Because of its incompatibility with the Phoenix Soul, Weiss is not as effective as before.

　However, Weiss is known as one of the best multiweapon users in the labyrinth city, and there is no one more adept at using a variety of weapons than him. In the volcanic hierarchy, there are many monsters that are difficult to slash, so he has switched to hammers and other strike weapons. Furthermore, the phoenix soul can be used to automatically heal, so it is safe to say that he has done an adequate job.


''........Isn't Alma the one with all the meteo?''


　Weiss, who hadn't said anything to Alma for a month, finally spoke. The PT members in line stared at him in surprise. This is because they had never expected Weiss to contradict Alma.


''What?　Are you saying it's my fault?
''........Meteor obviously wouldn't have worked on the Mounted Golem. Did Alma forget all the skills other than Meteor and Meteor Stream?　That's the only skill I've heard lately.
What!　Weiss hasn't done anything either!　It's useless in a fire-dragon war!　The volcanic hierarchy is a complete mess!　You have a unique skill set, but you're showing off your body like that, and I don't want to hear it from you!
Well I'm certainly not active in the volcano.
'Right?　And yet, I don't know what you think of me!　You're the one who always keeps quiet and doesn't know what he's thinking!　You think you can talk to me like that after all this time!　It's just weird!　You rootless bastard!
..........


　Weiss, who was pointed at, became silent, unable to speak. In the volcano hierarchy, Alma is certainly more active. Weiss is unable to surpass the firepower of Meteor Stream with its black staff correction.


''What are you making a fuss about?''


　The two of them were approached by Garum, who was wearing an indigo uniform. Garum, who was acquainted with Weiss because the other party was the Red Devil's group, had received the request and had been sent out to this place. When Garum stared at Alma, perhaps having heard the earlier argument, she shook her shoulders a bit.


'Nothing, nothing.'
'You can argue with me all you want, but that's what we do at Clan House.
I'm sorry.


　When a dejected Weiss apologized, perhaps because the word "rootless" had taken effect, Garum snorted with a huff.


''As usual, he's a man of few strikes.


　Weiss grabbed Garum's chest as soon as he said that. Those words had been said years ago. The people around him gasped at Weiss' irritation, which was rare.


''........Shut up.''
Hmm. The gutted side is a little better. There's nothing to see here. Go home.


　Garum dismissed the murderous Weiss without seeming to care about him and clapped his hands to disperse the onlookers around him. Weiss, who had been looking up at Garum with stagnant eyes, grimly removed his hand from him and turned away.


''You're still a pissed off guy.


　Weiss left that and left the guild with his flaxen clothes on.


　--Oooh--


You don't need to worry about it.


　As Weiss was sitting on the couch back at the Clan House, a woman named Cecilia, who was a Red Devil's Army Healer, spoke to him. Weiss shook her black hair from side to side that was in her eyes.


''I don't mind.''
We all know what a gloomy person you are, right?
..........


　Weiss was taken aback by Cecilia's unexpectedly venomous tongue. She is a woman with a personality that is unmistakably saintly and gentle, and she has always performed the disposable role of a resurrection healer without complaint. And she's the one who's been with him the longest since Weiss started diving into the God's dungeon.

　However, the current Cecilia had gentle eyes, but she had a somewhat angry vibe that I hadn't seen before. Weiss couldn't read Cecilia's mind, which has been in the PT for nearly five or six years now. Her gaze wandered through the air and fear took over Weiss.


'Alma's been terrible lately, but I think we can all relate to just what she said earlier. People don't know what Weiss is thinking. Because he doesn't talk.
..........
Oh, shut up.


　Cecilia smiled at Weiss with a somewhat blown-out face. The first thing you need to do is to get your hands dirty. She was so scared that she wanted to run away from the place immediately.


''I know that Weiss is concerned about us. I'm the longest-serving member of the group. I know some things without you talking.
..........
But you know. There are things that I know, but I want you to say them out loud. I still think I'm on the verge of being expelled. I don't know if Weiss would do such a thing, even though I know he wouldn't do it. That's why I'm prepared to talk to you in case I'm expelled.


　The clan members certainly knew that Weiss was not a bad person, but they also had the feeling that they might be thought of as evil if they were the only ones to have an opinion. Cecilia was here because she was aware of everyone's feelings and decided to take the lead as the healer who had been with them the longest.

　Lately, the three types of roles have become more widespread and the healer's standing has changed. Healers who only run and hide and revive in the midst of battle have become obsolete. So Cecilia was good even in case she was expelled from the Red Demon Squad. That way, she would be able to escape her current role.

　A white mage who only hid and revived would not be honored, and would be treated like a parasite by the spectators. Cecilia has endured such humiliation for the sake of her clan members. The other clan members have been doing their part, and they have talked to Cecilia behind her back and listened to her complaints.

　But Weiss hadn't done that. Of course Cecilia knows that Weiss would have been grateful to her even if she hadn't said so in words. But the thought of what might be, made her wince. Not speaking to her would be unnecessary. Isn't it because they are so weak that they don't speak to each other out of dismay? Such doubts about Weiss were felt by all the clan members.

　The other clan members couldn't speak up in front of the silent Weiss when Alma started to go out of control. Maybe Weiss approved of Alma's growing strength and he wasn't. If such doubts swirled around, he couldn't speak, and that was one reason why Alma was getting attached.

　With a single word of exertion from Weiss, Cecilia would be able to play that role as much as she wanted. If she knew how Weiss felt about the runaway Alma, the clan members might have been able to stop her before she went out of control.

　Cecilia looked directly at Weiss with serious eyes.


'I want to hear how you feel. I do, and so do the others. I asked you earlier about Alma, how do you feel about me?　Are you here?　Don't you want it?
I'm...


　Cecilia asks with a face that looks like she's about to cry, and Weiss lets her gaze wander to seek an answer. He doesn't know how Cecilia will react when he tries to put it into words. A number of words come and go. For a few moments, she is stuck for words, and only her breathing is heard loudly.

　Then, after the silence, Weiss said as if to squeeze out.


'I'm ... scared.'
'Scared...?　What?　Maybe by Alma--
I'm scared of people.


　Cecilia's expression hardened at that confession. What does it mean to be afraid of people?


'Afraid of people?'
Oh...
"...wait a minute. I don't think you're kidding, but the reason you haven't spoken before is because you were afraid to talk to people?
Oh...
..........


　Cecilia didn't expect such an answer either, or she let loose. Difficult, scary, mysterious. But I can also see kindness. That's my impression of Weiss. Even Cecilia's mind was confused, since she had never dreamed that she had a phobia of people.


''No, how should I put it........what is it? Eh?　I was still ready to be expelled for this?
I'm sorry.


　Cecilia was slightly confused by the apologetic Weiss. But I wanted to say this much.


''But it's definitely not possible to continue like this. We are all suffering. That's what needs to change. Weiss, Alma, and of course we have to change.
Well yes.


　Cecilia looked down at Weiss's affirmation, reassured for once.