254: Good relations, but you gotta pick your moments and places.

My name's Bardack. I'm a mage.

Huh? You don't know who that is?

Ah, fair enough. But you've heard of Raidock, right?

Yeah, the greatest adventurer of Golden Dune—Raidock.

We've been in the same party since before we even got here to Golden Dune.

Back then, it was Raidock the swordsman, Solar the sharp-tongued female archer, and Bep the serious priest—old friends since forever. Then me and the quiet warrior Moda joined up.

Back then, I called myself a mage, but I didn’t have a crest. Still, after relentless training, I managed to pull off magic at a level good enough to be called an adventurer.

Compared to actual mage-crest holders, I couldn’t cast as many spells—efficiency was the problem—but I’d say the quality of my magic wasn’t behind.

After that, we took down a dragon together, just like that. Had a bunch of adventurers with us—Craft, Leifan, Persia, all fighting side by side.

I remember another one, too. The death struggle with that massive eight-headed hydra.

That fight really drove home how weak I was. I was dragging down Raidock and Solar. Not just me—Moda felt the same, I think.

And another one, too. The priest Bep seemed to think the same. We don’t have crests, so we know it. But Bep—he has a crest. How could he be weak? If anything, he’s probably among the top-tier even in Golden Dune.

Besides, healers and support mages are rare among adventurers. We should be proud.

I asked him that, and Bep just smiled quietly in reply.

"Yeah, I can barely keep up with Raidock and Solar. But…"

Bep paused there, a faint, wistful smile crossing his face.

"They’re still growing. They’ll become strong enough to leave their mark on the kingdom. I’ll keep pushing, but I won’t catch up to their growth. If I think about my friends… I have to step back from Raidock and Solar’s party now."

"But…"

"One more thing—Casper’s three sisters are growing too. Wouldn’t they be able to walk beside Raidock’s crew?"

I felt that too.

Their strength was real. With Goldendune potions and gear, they’d be right up there with Raidock’s lot in no time.

This time, Bep turned his full smile toward me and Moda.

“If Bairoroad and Moda are leaving, we’ll need a cleric in the party, right?”

“What? You mean that’s supposed to come with us?”

“Yes. A friend’s actions aren’t just about Raidock and his lot. Everyone who’s a friend has to be happy too.”

“Bep…”

And so we split into two parties, each taking our own path.

What’s the big deal? We live in the same town. We’ll see each other anytime. Not a permanent goodbye.

After that, thanks to Kyle’s favor, we were given high-end seal affinity and seal rewriting—free of charge—and I ended up getting my own seal.

From now on, we’re set on making our mark as a three-person party.

So, enough with the long intro. Our party’s teaming up again with Raidock and Solar for a temporary setup. The Casper sisters are off doing their own thing—kinda nostalgic, having the old crew back together.

Mission’s escort duty for the Maugaria Kingdom’s envoy. Safe delivery to the capital of the Dubatten Empire.

Sure, the kingdom’s knight corps is along for the ride, but they’re glued to the envoy. That leaves us free to clear out monsters on the road.

At first, it was fun. Now I’m feeling sick to my stomach.

You’d get it if you saw Solar.

She’s clinging to Raidock’s arm as he leads the way, eyes blazing with heat as she looks up at him.

“Mmm. Haven’t had a trip like this since that annoying mage was gone.”

“Not the best move, badmouthing party members like that.”

Raidock says that, but his expression doesn’t look entirely unbothered either.

“Admitting his abilities, sure. No mage like Eva, and he’s someone I can count on. But clinging to Raidock? That’s one thing I won’t tolerate.”

“Don’t say that. He’s just never met a decent man before. He’s mistaken.”

“Not a decent man? I’d say you’re the only one. But I’ll agree—he’s mistaken.”

“By now, he’s probably realizing what he feels for someone better than me.”

Soral pokes Raidock’s arm, a little sullen.

“That dumb alchemist’s bad enough, but Eva’s not far behind? She goes off half-cocked, and I’m pretty sure she’ll end up back with you anyway.”

“Ugh… don’t say stuff like that. I’ve got you. That’s enough.”

“Huh. That’s sweet. But a woman who can’t be honest with herself? That’s trouble.”

"Evah's a good woman. She'll find someone who suits her, no doubt."

"Suitable or not, Raidock and that one are about as well-matched as two stones in a river."

"Say something?"

"Nothing. Anyway, monsters. Looks like a pack of orcs."

"Guess this area's got higher-tier beasts, huh."

"But they're not your kind of enemy, are they?"

"True. Still, don't let your guard down. I'm going in first! Moda— if I miss one, stop me! Solar, cover me! Bardack and Bep, stay alert and hold position!"

"「「「Aye!!」」」"

We move as told. Naturally, Raidock takes down the entire orc horde alone. The so-called 'Sword Saint'— no surprise.

When Raidock returns, having only collected the magic stones, Solar immediately jumps in.

"Looked amazing!"

"Obviously."

Cloying air seeps over here. Seriously, cut it out. I mean it—cut it out from the bottom of my soul.

They think they’re hiding, but the way they’re doing it—tch tch tch—it’s obvious. You can feel it in the air!

Even they can’t be that dense—no, wait, they really aren’t getting it. Is love really this stupid? At least they’re still keeping an eye out for monsters. That’s something.

Anyway, this isn’t jealousy. I’m popular. Back in town, I could count my girls on one hand.

So it’s not jealousy. But damn, it’s pissing me off.

Solar’s crest is the goddess of bows—top-tier bow magic—but Ranger abilities didn’t vanish. If anything, they’re stronger now. So even in that weak state, he wouldn’t miss a single enemy.

...I know that. I know it, but it just looks like he's slacking off. Seriously, can't you do something about that?

Traveling by land between the Kingdom and the Empire is the kind of difficulty you'd expect from an adventurer's A-rank exam!

This isn't some mission you're supposed to pull off while flirting!

As I'm fuming, a Kingdom elite soldier guarding the diplomat's carriage taps my shoulder.

"Hey, you been asking this like ten times since we left. You think they're weird, right?"

The soldier points at Solal, all soft and cozy, leaning against Raidock’s arm, while Raidock’s chopping through a group of cyclopes without even looking ahead.

"Don’t lump those two together. I’m just a regular top-tier adventurer. Those guys? They’re monsters. Not even human."

"You’re pretty damn powerful yourself, I’d say. I’d recruit you for the army if I could."

I appreciate the praise, but I’m not exactly the type to enjoy carefree adventures.

Too bad.

What if we just tried asking those two outsiders, on a whim?

The elite soldier snorts through his nose, a sharp laugh.

All that power’s just a burden. Too strong to be useful in the army.

"Can't handle it myself, huh?"

There’s a crack unit of magic users in the kingdom. You’d be captain material in no time.

Ah, I see.

I couldn’t tell if they’d said I was just another run-of-the-mill mage or if they’d said I had real skill, even in the royal mage corps. Either way, I decided to believe they’d praised me as excellent.

"Besides, those two are here—we can't fight."

"Easy enough, right?"

Said to be trained by Your Majesty...

"Tell Raidock to send over an appropriate number over here."

"Please."

Never thought the day would come when I’d be asked not to kill enemies during a guard mission, in all my adventurer life.

And yet—

The two of them, all over each other, slashing through the approaching horde of monsters without even letting them get close.

Damn it, seriously!

Everything’s going smoothly toward the Empire, but we’re checking in with the Kingdom through Craft at regular intervals.

Magic device using orichalcum for communication. First time I tried it, I was stunned by the power.

Synchronizing sight and sound between two people instantly? No delay? That’s cheating. A monstrously evil artifact that feels like the world’s flipped upside down—yet that idiot alchemist gave one away to a friend.

Head hurts just thinking about it. But now that one of my party members actually has it? All I can do is thank my lucky stars for the convenience.

The adventure to wake up Lord Kyle, who’s been sleeping, seems to be going smoothly.

But what the hell is this—found a mage village? Found an alchemist village? No clue what that even means. That guy’s out here adventuring more than actual adventurers.

Our journey’s going smoothly, too.

No kidding—imperial forces and a horde of monsters marching down the road? It’s practically paved now. No risk of getting lost.

Still, there’s a damn lot of monsters, and the strong ones are thick. The kingdom’s soldiers alone wouldn’t have handled it.

Probably a bunch of monsters that broke off from the imperial army during their advance.

King’s got good sense, sending Raidock and us to guard his back.

So things were going smoothly, all peaceful-like—then, one day, a message comes from Craft.

Not a regular check-in.