Chapter 23

"Get out, Luna. You’re no longer needed in the hero’s party."

The girl was called Luna. She had been serving as the healer in a hero’s party from a different country, not the one where Act lived.

After finishing a dungeon exploration and returning to town for an overnight stay, the next day,

At breakfast, she was suddenly told to leave by the party leader, the hero Vulcan.

"What... Why! I’ve been working really hard..."

"It’s simple. You’re not useful to the party anymore. We have Mary, our [Holy Maiden], for healing."

Next to the hero Vulcan sat a voluptuous, alluring beauty.

"Before Mary joined, it might have been different, but now that we have a Holy Maiden, who is a higher-tier healer, you’re no longer needed."

"That’s... so cruel. We’ve been adventuring together until today..."

Luna and Vulcan were childhood friends from the same village.

They had both become adventurers and worked hard together until today.

"Out of consideration for our childhood friendship, I kept you around until now, but actually, Mary and I... started dating yesterday."

Vulcan pulled Mary close and kissed her passionately in broad daylight.

"So, you’re in the way now. Sorry about that."

Luna didn’t see Vulcan as a romantic interest, so she wasn’t the least bit shocked that he had been taken by a man.

"But... are you sure you’ll be okay? It’ll be bad without me."

"Huh? What do you mean all of a sudden?"

"Sure, Mary is better at healing, but you don’t seem to realize that you’re too weak. That’s why I’ve been supporting you with buff spells."

However, Vulcan laughed at the truth Luna revealed.

"What are you talking about? We’re weak? Don’t joke around."

"That’s right. Vulcan is extremely strong. This little girl is probably lying."

"It’s not a lie..."

Luna had learned buff spells in addition to healing.

"Why would a healer learn buff spells? You’re supposed to specialize in healing, right?"

"That’s because you’re too weak, so I had to learn buff spells from scratch!"

"Ugh, how embarrassing! Just say it! You like me, right? That’s why you’re desperate not to leave, right!?"

Luna was taken aback by his completely off-the-mark statement.

"Sorry, but I don’t find a scrawny, short girl like you the least bit attractive! You’re always nagging me to do this and that. Mary, on the other hand, is beautiful, gentle, and perfect in every way!"

It felt like she was being told to leave because she lacked any charm as a woman.

He prioritized a slightly more attractive woman over the bond he had with his childhood friend, who had been with him for years.

... It was a huge shock.

"... Fine! I’ll leave!"

Tears streaming down her face, Luna ran out of the inn, dashing through the town.

She had learned buff spells from scratch to support the weak hero, her childhood friend. But suddenly, it all seemed futile.

... She thought that in the end, looks were everything, and effort was never appreciated.

Until she met him.

"Luna, would you like to work for me?"

He was the guild master of a guild called [Heaven-Given Ore].

"Learning buff spells from scratch to this level is something no one else could do. Your effort is worthy of praise."

Act, the guild master, looked straight into her eyes and said,

"I want you. I want you to fully utilize your skills in my guild."

"... But, I’m short, scrawny, and not very attractive, you know?"

"Don’t be silly. A person’s value isn’t determined by their appearance. What matters is whether they’re useful, in other words, their inner qualities. You have tremendous potential... What’s wrong, why are you crying?"

She bowed deeply.

"Thank you... Guild Master. I’ll work hard here!"

And so, Luna became a member of [Heaven-Given Ore].

Later, she would steadily rise to prominence.

... On the other hand, the hero Vulcan, who had relied on Luna’s buff spells, began to decline.

[To the Readers]

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