Chapter 18

That night.

I was walking through the town, intending to escort Eli to the inn.

"I'm so sorry for causing you trouble..."

The thugs who came to me were Eli's former party members.

They had heard that Eli had regained his abilities and had come to forcibly bring him back.

I drove them away.

As they left, they left a parting threat: "Remember this... I'll make you regret it!"

"...I'm really no good. Even though the guild master trained me and I became strong enough to defeat a dragon..."

Eli shed tears, drop by drop.

"...Even after blossoming my magical talent, my heart remains weak. I'm so sorry for being a coward..."

I examined him and said to Eli,

"You're a disappointment. I'm done with you. I don't know you anymore."

I left Eli behind and deliberately headed for a deserted alley.

"Wait, guild master... don't leave me behind..."

I confirmed that they were following me and entered the alley.

At that moment... Bang! I was hit on the head with a club.

"Guild master!? You...?"

The thugs who had come to the guild the other day were looking down at me as I fell.

"Hey, Eli. Long time no see, huh?"

The leader stepped on my face.

"What are you... doing...?"

"We came to take you back. And... we thought we'd pay a visit to the guild master who looked down on us..."

Thud...! The leader kicked my stomach.

"You really got cocky back there! Take this!"

I was kicked repeatedly by the leader.

"Stop it! Why are you doing this?"

"Ah? There's no reason. We're just pissed off..."

"...Such a reason..."

Eli gritted his teeth.

The leader signaled to his companions.

The thugs switched places, and the leader approached Eli.

"Hey, Eli. Sorry for kicking you out. Let's go on adventures together from now on, okay?"

"N-no... I don't want to..."

"Huh? I can't hear you...!"

At his signal, the thugs kicked me repeatedly.

"Stop it! Stop it..."

"Then, say you'll join our party, and we'll help you. What do you say?"

Eli looked down with a dark face, trembling with fear.

"Eli."

I looked up at him and said,

"Don't worry about me. Make your own decision. It's your life. But... don't regret it."

Eli looked into my eyes... and nodded.

His eyes showed determination.

"Huh? What's with this guy trying to act cool? Hey, Eli, hurry up. Or I'll kill this weak guild master!"

"...Why?"

"Huh? What did you say?"

"I said, let him go!"

Eli quickly pulled out his staff and cast a wind spell without incantation.

A gust of wind blew, sending the thugs flying.

"What!? What are you doing, Eli!"

Eli pointed his staff at the leader.

"I won't... return to your party!"

"Damn! Don't get cocky, punk...!"

The leader drew a knife from his waist and brandished it in front of Eli.

"This thing is coated with poison. Scared, aren't you?"

"I am scared! But... I'm more scared of not being able to protect someone because I lack the courage!"

Eli didn't back down, even with the knife in front of him.

"Damn...! Damn it!"

"【Wind Barrage】!"

Boom...! Wind bullets shot out from the tip of the staff.

"Ugh, aaaaaah!"

The leader was hit by the barrage and sent flying.

"I won't lose to fear anymore...! I won't be at your mercy!"

"Grr...! Hey, you guys, what are you standing around for? Kill the guild master too!"

The thugs drew their weapons and tried to attack.

"Hahaha! You're fools for neglecting the important guild master to focus on me!"

"Fools, indeed."

Thud...! The thugs collapsed one by one.

"What!? What's going on!?"

I stood up, looking at the fallen thugs.

"You...! After all that beating, you're almost undamaged... What's going on!?"

"It's simple. To me, your pathetic attacks looked like they were in slow motion."

The Eye of Time reads the future.

I could see where they were aiming.

So, at the moment of impact, I slightly adjusted my position backward.

This way, I reduced the damage.

"You... You were pretending to be weak...!"

The leader, wobbling, stood up and glared at me.

"Of course. Did you really think I would fall behind to the likes of you? You're a bunch of fools."

I knew they were approaching to take revenge on me.

They were easy to kill, but I held back to let my subordinate grow.

"Damn! You're getting cocky...!"

The leader, using his last strength, charged at me.

But I activated my unique time acceleration, dodged his attack, and countered with a blow to his stomach.

"What... What kind of movement... You're a monster..."

"You were a splendid stepping stone. Thank you for your hard work."

Thud! The leader lost consciousness.

"Guild master!"

Eli approached me, crying.

He hugged me and whispered,

"You were pretending to be weak for my sake... Why did you go through all that trouble?"

I patted Eli's head.

"You said your heart was weak, but that's not true. You have a strong heart that matches your strength. I wanted you to realize that."

"For my sake... You went to such lengths to teach me..."

Sniff... Eli shed tears.

He leaned his head against my chest and whispered softly,

"Thank you... Guild master."

"There's no need to thank me. It was part of your training."

Eli pouted.

"...But, even to help me grow, it was cruel to trick me. I was really worried, you know?"

"Didn't you know? I'm a corrupt guild master who doesn't care about the means as long as I achieve my goal."

Eli's eyes widened in surprise, but then he broke into a radiant smile.

★

Later.

In my room.

"Hey, guild master! Long time no see!"

The spear user of the hero's party, Ulgar, came to see me.

"Really, using me like that. So, where's the new recruit you mentioned?"

Just then, Eli arrived.

"Guild master, what's the matter?"

Seeing Eli, Ulgar froze.

"Eli, I'm expelling you from the guild."

"Huh...? What do you mean?"

"You've become unnecessary to this guild. From today, you'll be a member of the hero's party."

That night, Eli gained courage and became even stronger.

Strong enough to be part of the hero's party.

"Someone like me... Is it really suitable for the hero's party?"

"What? Are you saying my eyes are bad?"

"N-no, that's not it at all!"

"Then trust me. This time, help those in need as a companion of the hero."

Eli seemed to have made up his mind, nodded, and bowed before me.

"Thank you, guild master! I'll never forget this kindness!"

I said to Ulgar, who had been frozen in place.

"Hey, what are you standing around for? Take him to the hero."

"A-ah... Eli, right?"

Ulgar took Eli's hand and said,

"Will you go out with me?"

Confused, Eli replied as Ulgar said passionately,

"I fell in love with you at first sight! Come, let's save the world together! And after that, let's get married and live happily in the countryside!"

...It seems this idiot mistook Eli for a girl.

"I'm sorry, Ulgar. I can't do that."

"What!? Why!?"

Before I could say he's a guy, Eli laughed and said,

"I already have someone in my heart! After everything is over, I plan to confess and get married!"

"Wh-what...?"

Ulgar's shoulders slumped.

"Then, guild master. Take care! I'll come back after everything is over!"

Eli left the room with Ulgar.

"But Eli, you even have a lover. You're quite something."

Frederica sighed.

"...You're amazing, yet so oblivious to people's feelings."

【To the Readers】

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