Chapter 41: Sophia Joins the Party

“Hmm?”

“What….”

My one word caused the stage to buzz.

Everyone’s eyes were tense.

Normally, it was usual for everyone to barely acknowledge each other and keep a distant attitude, so suddenly greeting them seemed awkward.

“Oh! Sir Sid! I wondered who you were, and it’s really you! I’m glad to meet you again! And have you leveled up as well? Congratulations!”

But not all heroes were like that.

There was one who was already acquainted with me—Kumgui.

I approached Kumgui, grabbed his hand, and smiled.

Thanks to Kumgui, the atmosphere changed.

“Welcome, Lee Yeon. It’s good to see you again.”

“Huh? You know him?”

“The one who stirred things up yesterday…”

“This is Gobori. And Rose, Dulv—our existing party members.”

I interrupted Gobori and introduced the three.

Gobori, Rose, and Dulv all looked a bit awkward.

Still, Kumgui laughed heartily.

“Hahaha! This is the first party like this! But the atmosphere isn’t bad! Please take care of me!”

“Ah… Yes! Please take care of us!”

“Nice to meet you! I’m Rose!”

“Heh heh. So Sid is an old acquaintance? What an interesting connection! I look forward to working with you!”

At Kumgui’s greeting, the three replied.

“Ahem.”

“Hmm…”

Yet the atmosphere remained awkward.

Well then, I should stir things up a bit more.

I greeted the Apprentice Mage who was standing in the corner.

“Hello?”

“I-I can’t fight! Please don’t notice me and just leave me alone!”

“Do you recognize me?”

“Huh?”

“I think we met yesterday in the early Starter Support Pack. Do you remember?”

I reached out my hand toward the Apprentice.

The Apprentice stared at me for a while.

Then, as if recalling me, her eyes widened with excitement.

“You’re the one who went into the dungeon for me yesterday?”

“Pfft. Somehow it happened that way.”

“P-pleased to meet you! I said I wanted to meet again, but I never thought it would really happen! This is amazing! Hello!”

The Apprentice blushed and greeted me warmly.

She seemed relieved and happy to see someone she knew in the tense situation.

“Once again, let me introduce myself. I’m Sid from Hilea. Our party has this kind of atmosphere where we introduce ourselves. Regardless of origin or rank, I hope we can get along comfortably. If you feel uncomfortable, you’re free to refuse. Please take care of me.”

I greeted everyone once more.

“Um… isn’t name introductions usually for Named 5-stars? That’s normally how it goes.”

The Apprentice hesitated, mumbling.

“Hmph. There’s nothing we can’t do, right?”

“Well, that’s true! I’m Sophia of Kuwaland! Nice to meet you!”

She bowed quickly as she introduced herself.

The Apprentice Mage I had met again was Sophia—an embarrassed and timid hero.

“Ahem! This gentleman is right! What does it matter if you’re 2-star or 3-star? If we get along comfortably, we’re all comrades! I’m Gobori of Kobalas! Please take care of me!”

Gobori then raised his voice.

“I’m Rose! Treat me as your big sister!”

Rose confidently introduced herself.

“I’m Dulv of Fobrand. I don’t have any special skills, but I handle blacksmithing. Please take care of me.”

Dulv nodded lightly and greeted us.

At this point, everyone looked around nervously and flinched.

[★★ Sky Pirate Crew Marauder]

“Yahaha! It’s been a while since I found such an interesting party! I’m Frank from Ballywater! Let’s get along!”

The first to speak up was a burly Marauder.

[★★ Rookie Spearman Mercenary]

“I’m Zeke, who ran a small mercenary corps. It’s a strange atmosphere, but it feels good. Please take care of me.”

The Spearman introduced himself.

His calm voice emitted a quiet charisma that left an impression.

[★★ Gnawing Tooth Fairy]

“I’m Finley! I love to bite! Let’s be friends! Hi!”

The fairy waved as she greeted us.

She had pale skin and shark-like teeth, and her voice had a cute lisp between her teeth.

[★★ Honeyfist Ogre]

“Uh… I’m Brahms from Rednor. In our world, I was a king leading my own race, but I fell into Valhalla after fighting against the alien space goats. I look forward to working with you.”

The next hero was an Ogre with red skin.

“Oh. More gentle than expected.”

“Honeyfist? More like honey voice!”

Gobori and Rose admired.

Despite his fierce appearance, the Ogre had a sweet voice.

“Hmph. This isn’t some pretend game.”

But not all heroes were so friendly.

[★★ Orc Shieldbearer]

The one who snorted was an Orc.

The Orc was already drinking beer.

As all eyes turned to him, the Orc grumbled and muttered.

“What are you all staring at? Looks like this is full of 2-stars anyway. A 2-star orphanage if I ever saw one.”

The Orc snorted and scoffed.

You…

[Personal Training]

[★★ Orc Shieldbearer] Lv. 1

[★★★ Ash-Hearted Assassin] Lv. 1

[★★★★ Elf Archer of the Shadow Forest] Lv. 1

Whoosh!

To the personal training grounds.

Without hesitation, I locked the Orc up.

I wasn’t about to let the atmosphere I had worked so hard to build turn sour so quickly.

“Huh?”

“Why?”

Everyone was startled by the sudden situation.

“Heh heh. This is the power of our party. Everyone will get used to it!”

“Hmph. That’s right! Our user is special!”

Gobori and Rose puffed up proudly.

Though they didn’t understand yet.

The heroes continued introducing themselves.

[★★ Courageous Bard]

“Ahem! My name is Austos Bejei! In our world, I was a genius musician who tamed dragons with music! But what a tragedy! While taming a dragon and flying, I touched the sun and burned to ashes. That’s the tragic tale of Austos. Tiiiding!”

The Bard plucked his instrument and sang.

“Did he really die touching the sun?”

“Hey! That’s another hero’s story! That’s plagiarism!”

“Pfft. He’s just a show-off.”

The Marauder and Spearman burst out laughing.

It was clearly a joke.

[★★ Abandoned Heal Shuttle]

“I’m Noah. I was a prophet who foretold doom but lacked the power to prevent it. Please treat me kindly. Thank you!”

Of course, not all heroes were cheerful.

Noah, the Heal Shuttle, was a prophet who failed to prevent the apocalypse.

[★★ White Paladin Order Recruit]

“I’m Tia, born with the fate of a hero. I believed I was a true hero, but in Valhalla, there are hundreds like me. That’s all. A hero in name only.”

The Paladin, Tia, was said to be a hero by fate.

From her voice, she seemed female.

Her short hair and rough manner made me think she was a boy, but she was actually a young girl.

[★★★ Sage of the Gray Forest]

“Hmm. Since everyone’s introducing themselves, I guess I must too. I’m Ian of Trarkun. Please take care of me.”

With the Sage’s introduction, everyone’s greetings came to an end.

“Let’s all get along! Nice to meet you!”

I passed around beer to lighten the mood.

Around the large beer table, the heroes shared their stories.

[Lv. 43: Golden Palm Oasis]

‘We had rested for a while; time to go on another expedition?’

I didn’t bother asking who wanted to go.

They all wanted to go anyway, so as the user, I chose.

Thud!

The dungeon started on barren sand where statues and underground dungeons had disappeared.

I took a step, feeling the sand beneath my feet.

“Crack…! So many interesting heroes have joined! That Austos Bejei, for instance? He’s kindly offering to teach piano in his spare time! Such a kind guy, right?”

“Sigh. Suddenly it’s noisy, and my head hurts. What kind of heroes did you summon? Strange user.”

Gobori and Rose talked.

‘Did Gobori like playing piano?’

I chuckled and asked him, “So would you rather stay out of the dungeon and just play piano? You even got a 3-star.”

“N-no! I take that back! I like dungeons, user!”

Gobori waved his hands frantically, startled.

He really wanted to go to the dungeon.

“Gikik…”

***

After walking a bit, we encountered large Scorpion monsters.

Monsters like these…

Maybe aiming for the gaps between their armor plates would work?

I dashed swiftly and sliced at the joints.

[Lv. 43: Great Scorpion defeated.]

[Lv. 43: Great Scorpion defeated.]

Screech, crack! Bam!

“Taste this!”

“Gikik!”

Three Scorpions collapsed to the ground.

They weren’t particularly formidable opponents.

Their armor-like exoskeleton was sturdy, but not enough to give us trouble.

“Hey! Over there! Look!”

Just then, Gobori pointed at a hill.

“Eek! Save me! Save me!”

On the hill was a man being attacked by Lizardmen.

Like the elephant riders we’d seen before, a group of Lizardmen were riding huge Scorpions.

[Wandering Merchant is in danger! Rescue before it’s too late!]

Text appeared on the screen.

This was the first NPC we’d met since arriving in the desert.

We kicked up sand and charged straight forward.

“Taste this!”

The giant Scorpion threatened with its claws, but,

“Hup!”

Snap! Bang!

I quickly targeted and sliced off the claw.

The giant claw fell to the ground.

“Gobori!”

“Yes! Ultimate skill: Gobori Bomb Rapid Fire!”

[★★★ Sane Explosomaniac: Rapid Fire Skill!]

Kaboom! Boom!

“Shyak!”

“Shak!”

At the same time, Gobori’s bombs struck the riders atop the Scorpion.

I quickly climbed the Scorpion and sliced one rider’s neck, Swish!

[Lv. 43 Lizardman Rider defeated.]

[Lv. 43 Lizardman Rider defeated.]

Crack!

I finished the other by stabbing his neck.

Then, seeing the Scorpion’s nape,

I plunged the Uruk Slayer down into the empty nape.

Crack! Thud!

[Lv. 43 Big Scorpion Mount defeated.]

“Phew.”

The fiercely resisting Scorpion finally collapsed.

Its bodily fluids soaked into the sand grains.

“Oh! Thank you! I thought I’d be helpless against monsters in the middle of the desert! Thank you so much!”

Approaching the merchant, he spoke.

I didn’t even need to respond.

I read the dialogue on the screen.

“Huh? Why am I alone in the middle of the desert? Haha! There’s an oasis nearby! If you’re crossing the desert, follow me! I’ll lead the way!”

The merchant answered his own question.

“Oh, our Dolsoe is so relaxed now? Not even paying attention anymore!”

“Hmm? To what?”

“Yesterday, you answered every NPC’s line one by one. Now you don’t. You’ve gotten a lot more laid back.”

Rose smiled at me.

True, I was pretty inexperienced yesterday.

Scratching my head, I followed behind the merchant.

“This is it! Thank you so much for saving me! Truly, thank you!”

Soon, we arrived at an oasis in the middle of the desert.

It was a bustling oasis where many merchants gathered to form a guild, but after greeting me, the merchant returned to the caravan.

‘Could the dungeon be over?’

But it wasn’t.

Just as I waited to see what would come next, “Hm? That item? Let me see that sword for a moment!”

An old man approached from somewhere.

Then, he tried to take the golden sword from my waist.

“This sword is the Twilight Guide, said to lead you to a place of great gold! Truly an amazing item! Sell it to me! 20,000 gold! No, 30,000 gold! I’ll pay double the gold price!”

The old man spoke.

[Sell me this sword! 20,000 gold! No, 30,000 gold! I’ll pay double the gold price!]

The same phrase appeared in the screen text.

‘But.’

I took the sword back from the old man’s hand.

“Hm? What are you doing?”

“Hey? What are you doing?”

Rose and Gobori’s eyes widened.

“No. I’m not selling this sword. It’s worth more than that.”

I shook my head and smiled lightly.

Not selling the sword.

That was my choice.