The Female Hero Party That Exiled Me, All of Them Are Mentally Broken - Chapter 8

Morning.

The warm smell of baking bread drifted through the inn room as I got ready to head to the Adventurers’ Guild.

But just as I reached for the front door, Yuria clung to my back like a koala.

“Al, you can stay home forever. I’ll take care of you all the time.”

Her sweet scent tickled my nose.

Next to her, Naitsu-san decked out in silver armor, and the pure white-robed Serara-san nodded seriously.

“Don’t worry about money. Big sister and Serara will clear dungeons every day to earn it.”

“The great god Alphonse-sama should rest all day in a comfy bed.”

The two of them proudly announced their plans to support me, the “I’ll spoil you” team.

But I didn’t want to be a burden to anyone anymore. I wanted to work with my own strength and help the kind people of this peaceful town.

“I really appreciate it, but I’ll work too. You two don’t need to do that.”

I waved my hands. That’s when it happened.

Serara-san’s eyes suddenly went cold as the light vanished from them.

“You mean we’re not useful to you?”

“Huh?”

“If we can’t serve the great god, then our lives are meaningless. I’ll die right here.”

Without breaking her serious face, Serara-san pressed a sharp dagger against her thin neck. She moved her hand to pull the blade without hesitation, and my heart jumped into my throat.

“Wait, wait, wait. Stop. Please don’t.”

“Do not stop me. Aaah, my god.”

I tried to hold her back, but somehow she shook me off with unbelievable strength.

This… this can’t be stopped with force. What should I do… I-I’ve got it.

“Then help me with my adventurer work. That’s okay, right?”

I offered a compromise. Serara-san’s face immediately brightened, and she threw the dagger away.

“Understood.”

“Good, that works.”

“I’ll follow you, Al.”

And so, I ended up forming a party with the hero team once again.

◇

I headed to the guild while dragging the three super-heavy girls behind me.

When I pushed open the heavy wooden doors of the Adventurers’ Guild, a sharp mix of parchment and dust hit my nose.

At the counter, the friendly receptionist, Cecily, spotted me and hurried over while flapping her arms.

“Ah, Alphonse-san. Good morning. I’m so happy to see you today.”

Her flax-colored hair bounced as she smiled with her cheeks lightly pink. Her sweet voice was full of affection as it echoed through the guild.

Then, from behind me, Yuria let out a rumbling wave of jealousy so heavy it felt like an earthquake.

“What is with this girl…?”

Huh?

“Hey, you. Can you even do housework properly?”

Naitsu-san suddenly slammed her hands down on the counter and glared at Cecily with sharp eyes.

“Eek.”

“I’ll carefully interview anyone who wants to be my cute little brother’s partner. First, tell me your measurements.”

“E-e-eeh?!”

As Cecily took a step back and tears filled her eyes, Serara-san silently raised her staff high. At the tip of the holy magic so deadly it could wipe out even a demon king began to swirl violently.

She clearly intended to assassinate Cecily.

“Stop it. Are you trying to blow up the guild?!”

I grabbed Serara-san’s staff and pulled Naitsu-san’s armor to pry her off. I also held onto Yuria’s waist as tightly as I could while breathing hard and tried to calm the chaos.

“First, please help me register our party so we can work together.”

I wiped the cold sweat from my face. Cecily was trembling as she handed me the registration form.

“What should the party name be?”

“Like Like Al-kun Love Chu (^з^)-☆, please.”

Yuria immediately shouted the ridiculous name with a huge grin. Other adventurers burst out laughing, and my face turned bright red, like a boiled octopus.

“Stop it. I won’t be able to go outside in this embarrassment.”

I covered my face with my hands and shook all over, and refused as hard as I could.

In the end, we registered under a safer temporary name and accepted a simple quest to collect herbs.

“Alright. We’ll finish this in no time. Al-kun, you sit here and rest.”

The two girls spun on their heels and rushed out of the guild. I nearly tripped over myself as I shouted after them.

“I’m coming too. Didn’t we just do this at home?!”

My desperate shout echoed uselessly through the quiet morning guild.

◇

From behind, Yuria, Naitsu, and Serara watched Alphonse leave the guild with their eyes wild and bloodshot.

At the other end of their gaze stood Cecily, the receptionist, sending Alphonse a loving look from behind the counter.

That girl was clearly smitten with him.

They might normally have wanted to eliminate her immediately, but they clenched their teeth and held back.

Could people like them, the former members of the hero party who had driven him to despair, really have the right to interfere with his happy love life?

If that receptionist was truly a perfect goddess, someone who could make Alphonse the happiest in the universe, then as ex-heroes, they should quietly step back and live forever as nothing more than doormats.

But.

What if she had even the slightest flaw? What if she were a worthless and imperfect person who could hurt the one they loved?

Then, as unholy pests disturbing the peace of their god, they would erase her from the world without leaving a single piece behind.

After all, their sinful hands existed to protect the one they loved.

Sharing this twisted logic silently in their minds, the three heroes smiled faintly, their smiles cold and murky.

They watched the receptionist’s every move as if judging the value of her life.

And so, they continued to silently observe her with eyes as cold and dark as a pool of blood.