The Expelled, Oblivious Strongest Boy Saves an S-Rank Beautiful Female Adventurer and Unknowingly Forms a Harem - 21

Chapter 21: Liam, Lydia Is Important

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“…You won’t forgive me, you said?”

Upon hearing my words, Zayn-san asked. It was clear to see he was getting angry just from the tone of his voice alone. 

“You! Do you even know who you’re talking to?!”

“I’m talking to Zayn-san.”

“….You…!! I’m the leader of the party that you just kicked out the other day ago! How dare you act so cocky to me?! I guess I need to teach you a lesson and this time, I need to drill it into your body, not just with words alone.”

Zayn-san said as he tried to close the distance between us—only to wince in pain each time he got closer. Then, one of Zayn-san’s party members, a woman named Bella-san, called out to him.

“Zayn! If you keep getting closer to him, you’ll—”

“Shut up! Just thinking about how cocky this guy is acting is enough to make my skin crawl! I need to smack this guy and teach him a lesson!!”

Ignoring Bella-san’s words, Zayn-san kept coming at me. Then, as if he was trying to drown out the pain he was feeling, Zayn-san shouted as he charged at me. His fist was infused with magic power as he swung it at me. 

“TAKE THIS!!”

I easily caught Zayn-san’s punch with one hand. 

“Wha-?!”

“For someone so eager to hit me, your movements are way to slow and the strength of your fist is weak too… I know this is Zayn-san’s way of showing your kindness to me, but I still can’t see you as a kind person after what you ridiculed the person that wished to be with me.”

“-?! UGH-?!”

I released an even greater surge of magic power from my entire body and Zayn-san, along with the rest of his party members, were thrown backward by the magical tempest. Of course, this included Bella-san, the one who had tried to warn Zayn-san. 

“Za-Zayn! Are you okay?”

“O-Oi, oi, maybe we should back off for today?”

His party members tried to shout for him, but Zayn-san was still glaring at me. He struggled to his feet and stammered out. 

“Do-Don’t be ridiculous! If I back down now, it means I’ve lost to him! At this rate… I know! You two! Use enhancement magic on me! I’m going to defeat him for real this time!”

“Enhancement magic? But can we really use enhancement magic in the middle of the city like this?”

“Ha! We came here fully prepared to do something worse in this kingdom anyway! One or two cities getting destroyed doesn’t matter considering what is going to happen to this kingdom later on.”

“I-I guess you’re right.”

“Bella, what about you? Are you on board?”

“Okay! Just hurry up and knock that idiot out already!”

The two of them used enhancement magic on Zayn-san, seemingly ready to fight me alongside Zayn-san. Then, Zayn-san also used enhancement magic on himself. This was the reason why Zayn-san’s party was truly formidable. Normally, someone like me shouldn’t be able to take on S-rank monsters on my own. The only reason I was able to do that was thanks to enhancement magic from Zayn-san’s party. In other words… Right now, Zayn-san was as powerful as an S-rank adventurer.

“This time, I will knock that dumb look off your face for real! EAT THIS!!”

While shouting loudly, Zayn-san quickly closed the distance between us. Realizing I was now facing someone as strong as an S-rank adventurer, I decided to take the fight seriously. Of course, I wasn’t confident I could fight on equal ground against someone with the prowess of S-rank adventurer, but I still decided to unleash my full strength and see what I should do next. Just when I was about to launch my attack, I caught a glimpse of a shadow from the direction of the inn I had run off from. Within the next moment, someone with beautiful blond hair and clad in light armor stepped in front of me. The beautiful adventurer easily blocked Zayn-san’s punch with her sword and then, she turned around to talk to me. 

“Liam-san, you didn’t return even after I waited and then, I heard the sound of you shouting. I immediately rushed over here… As for you, I don’t know who you are, but I’ll be sure to make you regret ever raising your fist against Liam-san.”

“Wha—!? Who the hell are you!?”

“I don’t see any necessity to introduce myself to someone who dared to raise their fist against Liam-san, but since we’re going to cross swords, I shall uphold the knight’s conduct and give you my name. I am Lydia Astoria, a proud knight of the Astoria family and an S-rank adventurer.”

“S-rank adventurer…Lydia Astoria, you said?!”

Upon hearing Lydia-san’s name, Zayn-san stopped dead on his track and distanced himself from Lydia-san. On the other hand, I stepped closer to her and exclaimed happily. 

“Lydia-san! You came!”

“Yes, Liam-san. I’m well aware someone like me is unnecessary, especially against an opponent of his level, but… When I saw Liam-san about to be attacked by him…. I couldn’t stop myself. My body moved on its own. My apologies, Liam-san.”

“The-There’s no need for you to apologize, Lydia-san! In fact, I’m really happy Lydia-san came to help me!”

“Liam-san….”

Lydia-san murmured my name with a somewhat delighted expression on her face and then, Zayn-san shouted my name. He looked flabbergasted. 

“O-O-Oi!! Liam! Don’t tell me… The comrade you were talking about is Lydia Astoria?!”

Zayn-san asked me that, so I turned my attention to him and answered truthfully. 

“Yes. Lydia-san is the person Zayn-san has insulted. She’s the person who expressed her desire to accompany me in my training journey. She’s someone very important to me, that’s why… Like I said earlier, I will never forgive you for speaking badly about her.”

I repeated what I had said earlier and Lydia-san immediately readied her stance. She looked really cold and menacing as she stared down at Zayn-san. 

“Not only did you dare to attack Liam-san, but you also insulted me, someone who bears the name of Astoria… What a foolish guy. Prepare yourself. You deserve whatever is coming your way.”

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