118: They say you can gain something by letting go.

Van’s escorts were Raidock and Solar. Jitarou was with them, and we were taking a break for a meal with the Cassper sisters.

Before us, mountains of delicious food piled high.

“S…so much of a festival…”

Eva, the eldest of the Cassper sisters, muttered under her breath.

The whole of Golden Dawn, now as bustling as the capital itself, was abuzz. Anyone seeing it for the first time would be stunned.

“Even though it’s a festival, the food’s cheap and tasty. And the concert we saw earlier? It was utterly fresh.”

“Concert? That’s Jitarou’s problem. Didn’t you dislike stage shows?”

“No, actually, it was amazing. At first I was confused, but by the middle, I felt like dancing along with it.”

“What a shame. I’d’ve enjoyed watching you dance.”

“……”

I got silence in return from Eva.

Was that a sexual harassment comment!?

I panicked and apologized.

“Nah, I mean… sorry.”

“Huh…”

Another sigh, delivered like a follow-up strike.

“You don’t have to look that shocked…”

It hurts when a joke lands like that!

“Ah, no. I was just thinking about something else.”

“Something else?”

“Yes. I mean… we sisters… we were full of ourselves.”

Eva spoke slowly, like she was confessing in a church.

“Back in the lizardfolk village, I understood the gap between us and Lord Raidock. But now… now I truly feel how huge that gap is.”

She fell silent for a moment, then whispered the same words again.

“We were full of ourselves.”

Eva stared into the distance, eyes unfocused.

I don’t think that’s right. Comparing yourself to Raidock? That’s just wrong. He’s too damn special.

I mean, he’s literally the exact kind of adventurer I always wanted to be.

Then Eva let out a small laugh.

“Huh. That’s true. Lord Raidock is special.”

“…Man, suddenly I just wanna scream out his weakness.”

“Do you really think he has one?”

“…Yeah. He’s not good with women.”

“That’s not a weakness. That’s a charm.”

I stood up and screamed.

“Get lost, pretty-boy fantasy boy!—”

My soul’s cry must’ve reached the stars. Probably. Definitely.

Gah.

◆

Past midnight, when the festival’s heat had faded, my team—Vaan’s weight crew—and Kyle’s group finally caught up.

“Ugh! I swore I’d never sing in such a humiliating outfit again!”

Kyle’s group’s Leifan slammed his face onto the table, still clutching his drink.

No idea why.

“Huh? Why? You sang great. Danced well. Outfit was cute, too?”

“Cute!?!”

Leifan’s face turned bright red.

Chugging it all down like that’s bad for you.

Leifan was shaking all over, drunk as he was, so I turned back to Persia.

Had something I wanted to say.

“Ah, Persia. I overdid it again. You never liked that kind of fancy getup, did you?”

“No! I didn’t *love* it, but I wasn’t *that* bothered either!”

Persia stiffened up straight as a rod.

Seriously. You clearly hated it.

Back then, Jitarou and I had brainstormed—figured if Persia wore something less flouncy, like men’s clothes instead of Leifan’s frilly outfit, it might not be so bad.

"Wait a minute!? You're treating me and Persia completely differently!?"

"Because, Leifan. I couldn’t push Persia too hard..."

Kyle usually turns into a mess when he gets involved, but he’s still a knight.

Being put on display isn’t exactly a pleasant feeling.

"I was put on display too!?"

Leifan fits that frilly outfit so perfectly, it doesn’t even feel weird.

"It’s not okay!?"

As Kyle and I do our stand-up act, Persia mutters something.

"Personally, I’d say Leifan’s frilly style…."

I caught the first part, but her voice dropped lower and lower, fading out before I could make it out.

"Huh? What was that?"

"N-no! I just said Leifan was cute!"

"Yeah. Leifan’s cute."

"Wha—!?"

Leifan freezes up again, and laughter ripples through the crowd.

Kyle was at the center, and time drifted by lazily.

Just as Maina started paddling on my lap, a familiar face approached our little circle.

"Excuse me... may I speak with you for a moment?"

It was Bep, the priest, Bardak the mage, and Morda the warrior—members of Raidock’s party, who’d been off doing their own thing for the past few days.

They wore calm expressions, but their eyes held resolve.

I knew what they were about the instant I looked into their eyes. I’d already seen it.

The three of them stepped in front of Raidock and Solar.

"Raidock. We’re leaving the party."

"Bep?"

Raidock flinched, but I knew. No hesitation in Bep’s voice.

"Wait a second. What’s the problem? I may be a clumsy leader, but I’ve tried to be fair. If there’s something missing—"

"You’ve got nothing missing. Don’t worry about it."

Bep cut off Raidock’s trembling voice with a firm statement.

"Then—"

"It’s not you who’s lacking. It’s us who aren’t enough."

"I’ve been—!"

Raidock tried to stand up in a rush, but Moda pressed down on his shoulder. Seeing that, Bardack spoke quietly next.

"Raidock. You’ve gotten stronger. Really stronger. Solar, you too. Of course, me and Moda have pushed ourselves to catch up to you two. But…"

Bardack gently looked at his left hand.

No mark was there.

"Limit’s reached. You’d only be a burden now if we went further."

Bardack stopped Raidock before he could shout.

"Please. Don’t let me say any more."

"...!"

Raidock clenched his molars hard.

You want me to feel the same regret again… the same one I felt when I lost Craft!?

His face was on the verge of tears. His face was twisted in frustration.

He… he actually cared that much about me leaving…?

I’m about to start bawling myself.

Soral, standing beside Raidock, just glanced away now and then, but stayed silent the whole time.

She must’ve known. How far apart Bardack and Moda were in strength.

But then… what about the priest with the sigil, Bep?

I was about to say it out loud, but Bep noticed and held up his palm toward me.

“We’ll form a new party of three. A warrior and a mage—recovery support is mandatory, don’t you think?”

“Wait! If that logic holds, then us swordsmen and rangers alone—!”

“There’s someone I’d like to recommend for your party.”

"...What? You're recommending us?"

Raidock's flustered expression was so painful to watch, it made me want to look away.

Soral was grimacing too, like he was in pain.

"Evie."

"Wha!?!"

Evie, who'd been silently watching the scene unfold, snapped to attention when called by name, and let out a dumb little squeak.

Yeah. I get it.

"I'd like to recommend the three of you—Casper sisters—to join Raidock and Soral's party. What do you think? Would you consider it, if you're open to it?"

"Me... joining Raidock-sama's party?"

"Yes. No need to decide right now. In a few days, we'll all be setting out together for the marquis's city, Gandar. Plenty of time, isn't there?"

"S-so... that..."

Yeah. Typical of Bep. Might be Bardack's idea, but the three of them really do balance out—warrior, mage, cleric. Perfect fit.

Raidock, with the three Caspar sisters added, made for a perfect front line, second line, mage, and cleric—another well-balanced team.

Not that anyone was leaving. Just showing each other the best path.

"O... me..."

Raidock started to say something, clenched his teeth, and swallowed the words.

"What’s with that face? We’re not leaving Golden Dune. If anything, we’re staying put."

"...Huh?"

"We’ll be in the same town. You can see me anytime, right?...Unless you’re busy with work."

Bep grinned. Moda nodded silently. Bardack let his mouth twitch in a hollow smile.

"Yeah... uh. Right. Not like we’re saying goodbye forever or anything, right?"

"Sometimes, we might even work together."

"Yeah. Yeah. That’s right."

Raidock nodded, tears in his eyes.

So this is what it takes to say goodbye. If I don’t nod now, I’m the one betraying these three.

"...We’re still in the same party until morning, right?"

"...Yes."

"Then let’s drink. Let’s get so drunk we forget everything!"

"Haha. I’ll play along today."

"Drunk on magic? That’s asking for trouble....It’s the last time, though."

"Uh-huh."

Morda silently set his mug down on the table.

Raidock poured the damn expensive liquor without a second thought into everyone’s cups.

"Alright! To us! To what comes next!"

"TO US! TO WHAT COMES NEXT!!!"

At the moment the five of them clinked their mugs together, loud and clear, I left the spot.

Of course, the others did too.

I walked back to the manor with Kyle and Maina side by side.

"Kinda... made me jealous, somehow."

"Yeah. I know."

I wasn’t the only one who felt a little lonely… and kind of jealous of how deep that bond was.

I felt relieved by Kyle’s words.

③ You buy it for me? (^-^)