Chapter 1

EP.1 I’m Leaving the Hero Party.

There was a party formed to defeat the Demon King, a party that carried the hopes of the entire nation.

Kail, a human born in an abandoned city, the hero.

Remia, an elf of the World Tree, the archer.

Sara, a priestess blessed by the gods, the holy maiden.

And.

I, Laniel, the next master of the Ashen Tower.

Our party of four was quite famous. We made a name for ourselves across the continent, repelled the Demon King’s army several times, and even achieved the feat of beheading one of the Four Heavenly Kings.

Of course, I don’t think all of that was due to me.

But at least a quarter of it... no, to be honest, I think half of it was my contribution. I poured everything I had into this party.

My future.

The power I would gain.

And even my lifespan.

That’s why.

“You don’t fit with us.”

“...What?”

“Laniel, I think the direction you pursue is fundamentally different from ours.”

I couldn’t understand what the great Kail was saying to me. What was he talking about?

‘What the hell is this guy babbling about?’

I tilted my head. I repeated the sentence Kail had said several times. The more I repeated it, the more my head tilted.

“What the hell are you talking about? Kail, are you crazy?”

“Look, I don’t even like your crude way of speaking. Right, Kail?”

I glared at Sara, who was chiming in with Kail. She flinched and trembled, but then hid behind Kail, muttering.

“Besides, you know, don’t you? Every time you step in, things end up horribly.”

“It’s a relief if they just end up horribly. It’s disgusting. They end up terribly. And after that, we have to clean up the mess... Honestly, I find it revolting. You cause the trouble, but why do we have to clean it up together?”

This time, Remia, who was clinging to Kail’s left arm, grumbled.

Those two had been surrounding Kail for a long time. Normally, I would have ignored them, but I couldn’t ignore what they were saying. I frowned.

“What, clean up the mess?”

I couldn’t help but laugh. What the hell are you cleaning up, you bastards? I cleaned up all the mess you caused.

“Hey, who stopped the village from being destroyed when you guys messed with the dragon’s lair? Who covered for you when you almost died attacking the Demon King’s castle? Who bought us time when we beheaded one of the Four Heavenly Kings?”

“...That was.”

Sara and Remia fell silent.

I couldn’t remain silent. I still had a lot to say. I turned my head sharply to look at Kail. Kail was looking at me with the same eyes as always. That’s why I got even angrier.

“Hey, Kail. Who stood guard for you while you and those bitches were fooling around every night?”

“...Crude bastard.”

“Crude? You’re the one who talks about defeating the Demon King and then spends every night with two women, you bastard. I can’t even speak, I’m so pissed off.”

I smacked my forehead.

“Talking about defeating the Demon King. Talking about achieving a feat recognized by the whole world. You said you’d walk even the dirtiest, most terrible path to achieve it. The one who took me out of the Ashen Tower was you, Kail.”

My voice trembled.

“Talking about defeating the Demon King. I gave up everything for that one goal. How can you do this to me, knowing that?”

The next master of the Ashen Tower, the kingdom’s greatest tower.

The golden future promised to me, a position that would make any mage drool.

I gave up such a position and followed Kail. I followed him, believing only in the words he whispered to me. But now, what? Different directions? What the hell is this? My blood boiled.

“But, how can you do this to me?”

“...It’s that aspect of you that I don’t like, Laniel.”

“What?”

“You always talk about achievements, results, and efficiency. Defeating the Demon King is for peace. It’s to prove justice. But you see it as just an achievement, nothing more, nothing less.”

Kail said.

“That aspect of you feels repulsive to me. It feels dishonorable.”

Dishonorable, he said.

I couldn’t help but laugh.

Look at how this guy talks.

“Do you even have the right to say that?”

I ran my hand through my hair nervously.

“Can a coward who abandons his comrades in front of the Demon King and runs away talk about honor?”

“...”

“What?! Laniel, what are you...!”

“There are things to say and things not to say, crude human.”

“You’re the one saying things you shouldn’t. Who carried you when you fainted when that coward ran away? Who used half of their lifespan to bind the Demon King’s feet?”

Sara and Remia were ready to kill me on the spot. Seeing their reactions, I couldn’t help but laugh. It was ridiculous. The whole situation felt absurd to me.

Why did I save these bastards?

Why did I use my lifespan to save these bastards?

“Now, that’s not the point...!”

“Sara, don’t bother. There’s no need to talk to such a crude human. Anyway, from the beginning...”

It was noisy.

I covered my ears and closed my eyes. Everything felt futile. The people I once considered comrades now looked like barking beasts to me.

“Only interested in achievements...”

Years of patience. The end result is this. I opened my eyes, feeling that it was truly over.

“Achievements, yeah. I’m a materialistic bastard who only cares about achievements. But, Kail, Sara, Remia, you’re not righteous bastards either.”

I pointed behind them.

There were luxurious and extravagant items spread out, items that a party of heroes supposedly dedicated to defeating the Demon King shouldn’t have.

“The things you took from the village without paying. The things you borrowed from merchants who pray for the Demon King’s death and the opening of the continent.”

Pointing at them.

“Are you going to return them?”

I said.

“To begin with, do you even plan to defeat the Demon King?”

A sneer spread across my face.

“You don’t plan to defeat the Demon King, do you?”

They didn’t answer.

Silence meant affirmation.

“At first, maybe. But not now. You’re just here for the steady funding and to show off. What? Honor? I’m the one who only cares about achievements, right?”

“Let’s be honest, guys.”

“You just can’t stand that I still talk about defeating the Demon King.”

I was tired.

When we first set out on our adventure, I believed in the potential they showed. I trusted them. That’s why, no matter how much they showed me their worst, I endured. I thought it was worth it.

Years of trust.

Years of waiting.

And finally, today.

After years of trust, they gave me their answer. In the worst form and the worst way. Trust was trampled, and the result of years of waiting was the label of a materialist.

“...Ha.”

I was fed up.

When the answer to years of trust was betrayal, the emotion I felt was contempt.

“Bastards.”

I pushed Kail’s shoulder and walked towards the pile of luggage. Among the mountain of luxuries, there was only one item that belonged to me. The old wooden staff my master gave me when I left the tower. I picked it up and stood.

At that moment.

“...”

I met Kail’s eyes, who was silently watching me. Looking at Kail, I slowly spoke.

“Hey, Kail.”

I had lost all affection for Sara and Remia a long time ago. But Kail was different. I thought this guy was different.

“At least, at least.”

I thought I hadn’t given up on this guy yet.

“You, at least, shouldn’t do this to me.”

I poked Kail’s shoulder.

“Live well without me, you bastard.”