Chapter 25

Luna joined the guild "Heaven's Raw Stone."

While Luna and Rosaria were performing admirably together... the hero Vulcan had fallen from grace.

After his audience with the king, Vulcan returned to his companions at the inn, his expression weary. He told them about what the king had said.

"What do you mean! Dismiss the hero!?"

The holy maiden Mary shrieked.

"...Calm down, Mary. It's not that we're dismissed yet. It's just what will happen if things continue like this."

Since losing to the earth rock dragon, Vulcan and his party had continued to fail the kingdom's requests.

The king had scolded them for their failures and informed them that if the situation continued, he would have to ask them to step down as heroes.

"I don't like it! I've been boasting to everyone back home about being part of the hero's party! I can't tell them I've been dismissed now, it would be too embarrassing!"

"...Just shut up."

Mary's selfish remarks irritated Vulcan.

"What do you mean, 'shut up'!? It's your fault for being so useless! You're the hero, and yet you keep getting beaten miserably over and over again!"

"Wh-What!? Don't joke around! You're the one who's so bad at healing! You drag us down in battle!"

"I'm a healer, so of course I can't participate in the fighting!"

"If it were Luna, she would have handled enemy attacks, created openings, and supported us!"

"Wh-What!? Are you saying that girl is better than me! After you abandoned her!"

"You were the one who said to kick her out!"

The party members sighed at their ugly argument.

"Vulcan, we don't have time to argue."

"If we keep this up, we'll be dismissed from the hero's party. We need to come up with a plan."

Vulcan glared at the party members and spat, "I know."

"There's only one thing to do. ...We need to bring Luna back."

"Wh-What!? Are you saying that girl is better than me!?"

Mary's voice grew harsh at the thought of being inferior to someone she had looked down upon.

"We need her support in our party. Besides, if we have two healers, it will reduce Mary's burden."

And so, Vulcan set off to find Luna.

★

Luna was celebrating at the "Heaven's Raw Stone" guild hall.

"Let's raise a toast to the defeat of the fire dragon!"

"Cheers!"

The guild members gathered and enjoyed a meal together.

"Thank you so much, Luna."

Rosaria sat next to Luna and poured her a drink.

"Really, really! Thanks to Luna's precise support, we were able to defeat it!"

The fairy Mizari patted Luna's head affectionately.

"No, it wasn't just me. It was everyone... and especially the guild master."

Luna looked up to the second floor and murmured.

"The guild master picked me up, saw my potential, and practiced with me... That's how I was able to reach this level."

No one had ever been so sincere and guided her in so many ways before.

"Act... is the best guild master."

"I agree. There's no one better than him."

"Today, he's even paying for the entire banquet! He's generous and capable, he's the best!"

The guild members nodded and smiled in agreement.

"Is the guild master not coming?"

"He's busy with work. But he should be here soon."

Just then, as they were enjoying themselves,

"Luna! I've been looking for you!"

The hero Vulcan burst in alone and approached her.

"Come on, let's go."

Vulcan grabbed her arm roughly and tried to pull her up.

"Ouch. Stop..."

"Cease your misconduct."

Rosaria stood up and glared at Vulcan.

"She's an important companion. What right do you have to take her away?"

"I'm the hero appointed by the king to defeat the demon king. I need her for the quest."

"Without her consent? How is that different from kidnapping?"

"I'm the hero! A man who fights for the kingdom! Obstructing me is the same as declaring war on the kingdom!"

He looked around triumphantly.

"If you obstruct me, you'll cause trouble for this guild and the guild master."

Vulcan's words made everyone back down, as they didn't want to cause trouble for their beloved guild master.

"Come on, Luna."

"No! I'm not going back!"

"If you resist, not only you but everyone around you will suffer. Now, listen to me, Luna..."

Luna thought of her kind companions and the guild master who had taken her in. Just as she was about to give up for their sake,

"It's not over yet. It's too early to give up."

The guild master, Act, descended from the second floor.

"Act! Guild master!"

Act pushed through the guild members and approached Vulcan.

"Let go of her."

"Huh...! You, a mere guild master, have no right to speak to a hero like that, you fool!"

"Are you a hero? Or just a thug?"

Vulcan's forehead veins bulged.

"...Capital punishment. Not only did you defy the hero, but you also insulted him. That's a serious offense!"

Vulcan pushed Luna away and lunged at Act.

"Guild master!"

Rosaria tried to intervene, but Act ordered her not to.

"That smug face of yours is pissing me off! Die!"

However, Act dodged the hero's attack by twisting his body.

"What!?"

"What's wrong? Was that an attack?"

"Damn it! You!"

The hero launched a series of attacks, but Act dodged them all.

Vulcan tripped and fell when Act swept his legs.

"To be able to withstand a hero's attack... as expected of the guild master!"

Act looked down at the fallen hero and said,

"Is this what a hero is? Heroes have really fallen in level."

"Shut up, you!"

Vulcan tried to use a powerful skill, but Act calmly approached, twisted his arm, and restrained him.

"Ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch!"

"Skills are meaningless if they can't be activated. You're full of openings."

Act took the sword from Vulcan. When Vulcan tried to escape, Act placed the sword at his throat.

"Ah...! What, what... Just a guild master, how can you be this strong!"

"You're wrong. You're just simply weak."

Vulcan could have attacked, but he was weaponless and outnumbered.

"I, I don't know anything about this! I'm the hero! Attacking the hero is defying the kingdom!"

"Really? Whose hero are you?"

When Vulcan mentioned the kingdom, Act calmly took out a communication magic tool.

"Yes, it's me. Your hero is causing trouble... Yes, I understand."

Act threw the communication magic tool to Vulcan.

"The king wants to speak to you."

"To me...?"

Vulcan took the magic tool and communicated with the king.

"You idiot!"

The king's angry voice echoed.

"You! What do you think you're doing by attacking Act Age!? Are you trying to destroy the kingdom!?"

"It's a bit much... He's just a guild master."

"You don't know who Act Age is...! Fool! That's enough! I've had it! I'm dismissing you!"

"What! No, no! Wait! King! Hey! Hey!"

But the communication cut off.

"What's wrong? Why do you look so scared?"

Vulcan looked at the man in front of him, unable to believe that he was someone the king would fear.

"Is this the right place to be slacking off?"

Vulcan realized the gravity of the situation. If he continued like this, he would be dismissed as a hero.

The king's dismissal must be a mistake.

"Damn it! I'll remember this!"

Vulcan glared at Luna.

"I'll back off today, but I'll definitely come back for you!"

But Act hugged Luna and said,

"I won't let you take Luna. You have other things to do, don't you? Improve yourself without relying on others, you inexperienced one."

Feeling mocked and his face red with anger, Vulcan left.

"Guild master... thank you."

Luna cried in Act's arms.

"Don't misunderstand. Protecting guild members is part of my job. There's nothing to be grateful for."

"Truly the best guild master! The best boss who protects his subordinates!"

The guild members looked at Act with admiration for protecting their companion from the hero.