Chapter 34: Extra: The Party Falls Apart 2

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“Wait-?! Garo!? Seriously, calm down! Do you even realize what you’re doing!?”

“Shut up, just be quiet for a bit.”

He paid no heed to Elena’s struggling and grabbed the edge of the sheet, forcing it into her mouth.

“Can’t have you using magic on me. Gotta seal that mouth, yeah?”

“—Nn…!? Nn~!”

She desperately tried to cry out, but it came out only as muffled groans.

Damn it!

In that moment, she should have chanted a spell immediately rather than trying to persuade him. She never dreamed a comrade would do something like this. No. She wished it was just a joke or a momentary lapse—

This is bad. Really bad.

If she could speak, even a simple chant would let her blast this man away and char him to a crisp with ease, but with her mouth gagged, she was no different from an ordinary human. She had no hope of resisting a warrior’s brute strength.

“Hehehehe, I always thought you had a nice body. You mocked me as useless over and over. Guess you’ll pay for that mental anguish with your body.”

The sound of ripping fabric echoed at the same time her chest suddenly felt exposed. Her two ample, ripe fruits bared themselves. The chill air prickling her skin. She poured all her strength into her arms, thrashing wildly, but against those log-thick arms pinning her down, she couldn’t budge an inch. She kicked her legs frantically, but with him straddling her stomach, she couldn’t even shift her position.

“Don’t wanna mar that pretty face, right? If you don’t want to get hurt, just endure it for a bit. This’ll square us for the insults. Hey, we’re comrades. This much should be fine, yeah?”

The man licked his lips and slowly buried his face in Elena’s chest. A foul, raspy tongue slithered across her skin, sending shivers of revulsion, chills, and an unparalleled disgust coursing through her entire body.

“Ooh, what’s this? The tips are getting hard. Are you feeling it? Who would’ve thought you like it rough? Turns out even a mage’s head’s full of dirty thoughts.”

“—~~~~!!”

No way in hell!!!

She screamed desperately in her mind. All she felt was loathing and terror.

Don’t touch me! Don’t lick me! Gross gross gross gross! Die, die, die, die!!

In her heart, insults she’d never even conceived before bubbled up one after another. She prided herself on her command of language, yet only these paltry words came to mind. It was frustratingly inadequate. But they were the only ones that precisely captured her current emotions.

If only she could kill him with a mere glare infused with magic. Surely, with such power, she’d smash his face into a pulpy mess. But of course, Elena’s wishes held no sway. The man’s tongue continued to defile her pure body.

This isn’t happening… Am I really about to get raped by this guy…?

Perhaps her mind had snapped from the disgust, or maybe her body had begun to resign itself, she suddenly felt eerily calm. No, her body might have started to give up. She couldn’t muster any strength in her arms anymore. Fran was out shopping, and she had no idea where Julius was. No one was here to save Elena.

If only she could free her hands, she could at least numb him for a moment with a simple spell, but with both mouth and hands bound, there was nothing she could do. Was she truly doomed to be defiled like this? Without ever even having experienced love before?

Oblivious to Elena’s inner turmoil, the man’s hand began groping under her long skirt.

Hey, stop it. I said it’s gross. Someone help me… Hey! Fran, Julius… Lloyd! Anyone, please save me!

When she wished for it strongly in her heart, that was when it happened. With a bang, the door swung open. She couldn’t see the face against the backlight. But from the silhouette alone, she knew who it was.

“Get away from Elena, you perverted bastard!!”

Fran charged straight toward them with her warhammer raised and swung with her full strength.

“Oofff!”

Caught off guard, Garo had no chance to dodge in his position and took the warhammer’s full blow to the side of his face. With a dull thud, his huge body shook, and the hand gripping Elena loosened.

“…You’re going to pay for this. You filthy bastard.”

Elena immediately tore herself free and raised both palms toward the man’s face.

“W-Wait, Ele—”

“Source of all creation, pervading power… 〈Lightning Shock〉!”

The electric blast shot from Elena’s palms and struck Garo.

“Gyaaaaaaaaah!”

After a pathetic scream, Garo convulsed violently on the spot and lost consciousness. He nearly collapsed forward onto her, so Elena hastily pushed him aside and pulled herself out from under his arm. Then she kicked his torso as hard as she could, knocking him off the bed. His huge frame rolled onto the floor, and a harsh, burnt smell stung her nose.

Of course, she hadn’t killed him.

〈Lightning Shock〉 was a spell known for immediate effect, but not enough power to kill a warrior like Garo. Still, she had poured all her magic into it, so his whole body was scorched, and it would be a while before he regained consciousness.

“Hah… Hah…”

Breathing unevenly, Elena hugged her trembling body with her arms. Her torn clothing at the chest was already barely covering anything.

“Elena!”

Fran rushed to her and gently draped the coat she had been wearing over Elena’s shoulders.

“Hey, are you okay!? I made it in time, right!?”

Her voice was trembling. Her tearful face was right in front of her. By “made it in time,” she clearly meant before anything irreversible happened. Elena looked at Fran’s face and let out a faint, strained smile.

“Barely. But… How did you know? I really thought it was over…”

“I have the 〈Peril Vision〉 skill. I can tell when someone in the party is hurt or in danger. I’m just… I’m really glad I made it in time…”

While saying that, Fran hugged Elena tightly, almost in tears. Her small body was shaking with relief. Seeing her like this made Elena think—if anyone had to be targeted, she was glad it had been herself. She didn’t want Fran to ever know such fear.

“Thank you… Really…”

Elena whispered in a voice that barely came out and gently stroked Fran’s back. She had been saved by her companion’s skill and by Fran’s kindness. But that quiet moment didn’t last long.

“Hey, what happened!?”

Julius’s voice rang from the doorway. Behind him, the innkeeper and other guests, drawn by the commotion, were lining up like onlookers.

“What in the world… Eh!?”

Julius froze at the sight inside. Garo was lying unconscious on the floor of the girls’ room. Elena with her clothes torn, wearing Fran’s coat. Fran clinging to Elena with a tearful face. Even someone as dense as Julius could piece together the situation from that alone. His face rapidly drained of color.

“It’s not ‘what happened,’ you know. Why didn’t you come help your companion in danger, oh brave Hero-sama?”

Elena glared at him with eyes full of anger. Her voice trembled—whether from rage, fear, or humiliation. Surely, all of them.

“S-Sorry. I was gathering information at the tavern downstairs. Um… Are you alright?”

Julius took a small step back. This wasn’t the Elena he knew. He must have felt the icy, murderous chill radiating from her.

“Yes. Miraculously, thanks to Fran.”

Elena spat out her response at his excuse.

Information gathering, my foot. He had just been fooling around with women.

Then she turned her gaze to the onlookers beyond the door. Seeing Elena’s furious, humiliated expression and shaking shoulders, they quickly dispersed. The message in her eyes had been clear.

Stay here any longer, and you won’t walk away unscathed.

“In the first place, it was because you, Hero-sama, expelled Lloyd that your idiot perverted buddy got added to the party. You get that, right?”

“C-Calm down, Elena. I mean, that’s true, but he was chosen by royal decree—”

“How am I supposed to calm down!? I was almost attacked by the guy chosen by that royal decree!”

Elena kicked Garo lying at her feet without mercy. Her anger couldn’t be stopped anymore. No matter how much she tried to contain it, the fury gushing from deep inside her chest was beyond her control. In truth, she wanted nothing more than to tear the disgusting bastard to pieces.

“The only one who had a problem with Lloyd was you, Julius! Neither Fran nor I had anything to complain about. We were even grateful to him! But you kicked him out and shoved this muscle-headed idiot ruled by his lower brain into the party! Are you satisfied pretending you’re so much more capable than Lloyd? Jealousy or whatever, I don’t care! We are the ones suffering for it! I don’t give a damn about your insecurities!”

With her shout, Elena grabbed the vase nearby and hurled it at Julius’s feet. The dry crash of shattering ceramic echoed in the silent room.

“Oh boy… She said it…”

Fran glanced between Elena and Julius with a bitter smile. She didn’t try to stop her, likely because she knew Elena’s anger was justified. But there was one person who didn’t understand that—this so-called Hero.

“Elena… There are things you can say and things you cannot. Who is jealous of who, exactly?”

Julius’s sharp glare stabbed into her. She had said the forbidden words, and there was no turning back. And Elena had no intention of backing down.

“You, Hero-sama—were jealous of Lloyd, your ‘caretaker.’”

Elena shot the glare right back, speaking clearly. From the corner of her eye, she saw Fran make an “uh-oh…” face.

“Y-You insolent—!! You dare say that!? Do you know who I am!? I’m from the House of Maftnes!! I won’t tolerate this insult!!”

“So what? I don’t care. I’m done with this stupid hero act. I’m quitting this crappy party!!”

It was fueled by anger, but it was also the truth. Julius’s face flushed red with rage at Elena’s declaration.

“Hey! That would be rebellion against the royal decree!”

“Rebellion? Ha. Your companion was nearly assaulted and wants to quit, and that’s what you bring up? That’s exactly why I’m done putting up with you!”

“What was that!? Take it back! If you won’t obey me, you’re expelled!”

“Fine by me! I’ve been wanting you to say it! Go on, just like you told Lloyd! Give me that smug face and say ‘I hereby expel you!’”

“Oh, I’ll say it! Elena Luibel, you’re expelled!!”

After their shouting match, Elena and Julius glared at each other in silence. No matter what anyone said, she had no intention of staying in this party. Not even a royal decree would make her. Sure, being branded in violation of the royal order was severe. She wouldn’t be able to return to the magic academy and might even be hunted as a traitor. But even then, she refused to fight alongside someone like him anymore.

In the silence, Fran suddenly spoke in a small voice.

“Then, I’ll leave with Elena too, okay?”

“What!?”

Julius’s eyes bulged. This was a devastating blow for him. If both Elena and Fran left, the hero party would no longer function.

“Because you’re not going to protect Elena in this situation, right? I don’t want to fight for a Hero like that.”

Quiet, but firm rejection. Then Fran delivered the fatal line.

“Also… Julius, do you really think we can resonate now? Like this, when everything’s broken? Do you think we still have the trust needed for Resonance Skill?”

“Th-That’s—”

“You said it to Lloyd, didn’t you? ‘Someone who can’t trigger the Resonance Skill is just a freeloader dead weight.’ Then Elena and I are dead weight now. We don’t have the right to accompany Hero-sama’s grand adventure anymore, do we?”

Julius flushed red and opened and closed his mouth, unable to answer. 

“Do whatever you want!”

Finally he shouted and stormed out of the room.

“…Fran. Are you sure? You didn’t have to take the same risk.”

“It’s fine. I was planning to leave when you did anyway. More importantly, let’s get out of here? You need new clothes.”

Fran gave her a gentle smile. The kindness nearly made Elena cry. Even so, Fran would now be considered a traitor who defied royal orders, just like Elena. She wouldn’t be able to return to the church. There had been gentler ways to leave the party, but Fran chose Elena without hesitation.

I have to take responsibility.

Elena returned Fran’s smile while making that decision deep in her heart. Fran had been expelled together with her. So no matter what, Elena would prioritize protecting her.

No matter what happens, I will protect Fran.

Not long afterward, the two of them left the inn. And so, the once-proud Hero Party, chosen by the king, quietly crumbled apart. But beyond the rubble, a new road stretched on. For this was where Elena and Fran’s journey began.

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