S-Rank Adventurer Betrayed by His Fiancée in the Hero’s Party Sets Off on a Journey to Heal His Broken Heart ~The Strongest Betrayed Adventurer Ends Up Forming a Harem Party~ - Chapter 09: A Heart Still Unsettled

Chapter 09: A Heart Still Unsettled

“……”

“…Hmm?”

“Is that so…”

This is terrifying.

I was shaking, surrounded by an icy atmosphere and the piercing tension radiating from them. 

We had been so cheerful during the meal, but the moment I started talking about Millia and the Hero, the mood instantly changed.

It felt like the air in a freezing tundra. The cold seemed to bite at my skin, making every movement feel like it could be fatal. 

It was the kind of atmosphere where you’d expect a magical beast from the snowy mountains to appear at any moment. 

The second I mentioned witnessing the scene of their infidelity, it felt like the room had been flash-frozen to sub-zero temperatures.

Look around—other customers had fallen completely silent, oppressed by the killing intent from these A-rank adventurers.

“Abel.”

“Y-Yes?”

And how was I, an S-rank adventurer, handling it? 

I was shaking in my boots, right at the center of this.

“So… is it true? Did Millia really… kiss the Hero?”

“Yeah… it’s true.”

“I see…”

Elmie murmured weakly and looked down.

She was probably feeling bad about the breakup of a couple she knew well.

It might sound strange, but I felt grateful that she cared enough to be upset about it.

“Um…”

“El… mie?”

Just as I was thinking that, her short blonde hair suddenly stood on end.

“That damn Bitch!!! I’m going to the capital, and I’m going to cut her down!!!”

“E-Elmie!?”

Elmie’s thunderous shout hit my ears like a storm.

The single long strand of hair at the back of her head swayed violently, charged with magic from her intense emotions.

A vein bulged on her temple as she slammed her fist onto the table.

Crack—crack… the sound of the table splitting echoed, but Elmie didn’t care, her anger spilling out.

“Does Millia not understand how much Abel supported her? How he devoted himself to her, no matter what!? How many times he nearly died just to help her!?”

—I didn’t expect her to be this furious.

“Big sister can’t forgive this either… If she doesn’t know how much Abel cared, then we’ll just have to teach her slowly… before giving her a proper punishment.”

“That’s right, sis. And if she did know… well, killing her wouldn’t even be enough, would it?”

“Frey!? Maria!?”

Following Elmie’s lead, the twin sisters were now smiling with terrifying expressions. 

I, on the other hand, was stunned by their unexpected reactions.

Why are they so angry!?

Sure, I’d expect them to be mad if cheating was the reason behind their friends’ breakup, but this…

“Why are you so calm, Abel!? You’ve been engaged to Millia since childhood… and right before her journey, you even made the ‘Oath of Soulbinding!’”

“That’s… true, but…”

I was at a loss for words after Elmie mentioned that.

“Exactly. Cheating is bad enough in any engagement, but to break such a special vow…!”

“That vow means you’ll only ever be with the person you make it with for the rest of your life. It’s unforgivable.”

As Frey said, Millia and I made a special promise before she set out on her journey.

It was the Oath of Soulbinding that Maria mentioned—the vow that we would only ever be with each other. 

It’s a sacred promise to stay true to one another for life, pledging before the gods to remain in a monogamous relationship.

The oath’s meaning is that even death wouldn’t separate the two bound by it.

“And yet… is it really true?”

“Yeah… not just a kiss, I’m pretty sure they’ve gone even further than that…”

“No way…”

“Millia… how could she…”

Elmie’s eyes widened in shock, while Frey and Maria were equally stunned. 

Since the Oath of Soulbinding is a sacred vow handled by the church, especially by the Souther Sky Faith, the most powerful religious group in Sildiel, the twins, being devout believers, clearly understood its significance. 

Their faces paled as they trembled, unable to believe it.

“I can’t forgive Millia! I don’t care if it’s the Hero’s party—I’ll take them on!”

“Wait, hold on. I don’t want you… to kill Millia or anything like that.”

“Why not!? Don’t tell me… do you still have feelings for Millia? Even after she cheated on you…?”

Elmie’s face, red with anger, suddenly twisted into a sad expression, and she clenched her teeth.

“Abel?”

“Abel…?”

“No, it’s not that…”

I’m not sure what kind of expression I had when I answered her. 

But no, I don’t want Millia dead or hurt. 

I slowly tried to put into words the thoughts I still hadn’t fully sorted out myself.

“I spent all this time thinking only about Millia… Now that it’s gone, I don’t know what to do anymore.”

The Millia I knew was a cheerful girl who loved magic and adventure. She was someone who threw herself headfirst into the adventurer’s life. 

I just don’t know how to deal with the Millia she’s become, the one who’s probably changed so much.

“Abel…”

For these past three years, my whole life revolved around Millia. 

Even before that, it was the same.

I loved her, so I convinced my parents to agree to our engagement.

When she enrolled in the magic academy, I moved to the capital to become an adventurer. 

When we parted ways on our journey, we made the Oath of Soulbinding, and I became strong enough to reach S-rank.

Because of her—because of Millia—I’m here today.

When everything that defined you disappears, who wouldn’t feel lost?

The path I had been walking suddenly vanished, and there’s no way I can just step forward right away. 

I’ve lost something precious… and I’m still lost without it.

“Thinking about it and seeking revenge on Millia didn’t feel right… But I also couldn’t just act like nothing happened and hold her hand again.”

“Abel…”

“I’m sorry. Even after everything you’ve done to help me, I’ve ended up in such a pathetic state.”

Three years ago, when I was still weak… 

They took me into their party, even though my job was just a Swordsman, and they trained me hard.

Thanks to that, I was able to go on the journey, become stronger, and help Millia.

The person I am today is because of these three.

After Millia, they’re the people I owe the most to in my life.

“—Abel!”

Suddenly, Elmie, who had been watching me bow my head, called out.

“Hey! If it’s okay with you—how about traveling with us for a while?”

“…What?”

Out of nowhere, she made that suggestion.

“I just can’t leave Abel like this… So, yeah! This is an order from your mentor!”

“Elmie…”

Her kindness made me feel a little better. 

But there was a bit of a problem with that idea.

“Yeah, but I don’t know what the Hero’s party is going to do…”

If possible, I didn’t want to face the Hero’s party right now. 

I wasn’t sure how I’d react if I saw Millia again, and it would definitely cause trouble.

That’s why I hesitated, my expression darkening…

“Abel…?”

“…”

Elmie looked up at me with a face like a puppy that had been abandoned. My heart wavered.

Wait, isn’t I the one who’s been abandoned here…? 

And it was an order from my mentor, someone I owe a lot to. I wanted to grant her request if I could.

“…Well, maybe just for a little while, yeah.”

“Yes!!”

Elmie’s face lit up with a beaming smile.

“Great! Starting tomorrow, let’s form a party again!”

“If Frey and Maria are okay with it.”

“Ufufu, sounds like it’ll be fun!”

“Of course! Abel, you’re always welcome with us!”

The twin sisters happily agreed as well.

Back in the day, when Millia wasn’t around, we often teamed up.

We even met for the first time during a job. 

The nostalgic feeling made me think back to those times, but—I shook my head and stood up.

“Alright, I think I’m going to call it a night. I’m pretty much at my limit.”

“Huh? Then… should I, uh, walk you to your room?”

“Haha, come on, I’m not a woman. If anything, I should be walking you back.”

“N-No, it’s just, you might try to run away!”

“I won’t.”

“Ufufu, goodnight~.”

“See you tomorrow, Abel!”

“Make sure to come back here in the morning! If you don’t, I’ll come wake you up!”

I couldn’t help but wonder why things got a bit strange toward the end. Puzzled, I headed toward my room, lost in thought.

“Oh, Abel, your room is at the far end of the second floor!”

“Oh, right. Thanks.”

I’d almost forgotten. Since I had no money, they ended up covering my room and meal costs.

I was kind of dragged along, but still… I felt a bit guilty about it.

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Next time, be aware of mature content.

For details, I’ve added more information in the author’s notes.