Chapter 4

"Phew. It's wonderful not having to worry about the party members' remaining magic power."

The magic power of the members of the hero party was, considering the amount of magic they consumed, despairingly low.

They preferred to use flashy high-power magic, which indeed made the efficiency of monster extermination high.

They performed very brilliantly—however, as a mana porter, it could also be said that it was a rather harsh environment.

(If a member runs out of magic and can't use magic, it would be a disgrace as a mana porter.)

To keep the members' magic power nearly full at all times.

It was necessary to pay meticulous attention.

"Wait! Ishua-senpai!"

(Hmm... Is it just my imagination...?)

The voice that came was that of Aria, the former party member and holy maiden.

She shouldn't be here—

"Senpai!! Don't ignore me!"

The voice came from a very close distance.

Before I could guard myself, she suddenly clung to me from behind.

"W-What, Aria...!?"

"Senpai, I've been asking you to call me by my first name for a long time, you know?"

"Why are you here!?"

"I used an unfamiliar exploration magic. I happened to have a part of Senpai's body... a strand of hair."

(Eh? Isn't that a kind of curse magic?)

(Why do you have my hair...?)

What are you doing, Holy Maiden?

...Well, it's fine.

I don't think worrying about it will make anyone happy.

"Can you please move a little away?"

"No way! When I heard that Senpai had left, I thought you had finally abandoned me—how much I regretted it."

(Hmm, abandoned...?)

Her tearful voice expressed great relief at finally catching up.

It seems there's some misunderstanding.

"I was exiled. I heard it from the hero. It was a unanimous decision."

"Eh? Who exiled who...?"

"Well, the hero exiled me..."

"Whaaat? That spoiled hero, exiling Senpai...!?"

A dark aura flowed from behind.

It's a bit scary.

"The hero party, if you think about it, was barely maintained thanks to Senpai. And yet, to exile you! What is that idiot hero thinking!?"

"I tried to persuade him, but the hero wouldn't listen at all..."

"Besides, there's no way we would agree to Senpai's exile! Think about it logically!"

Aria is a junior from the Royal Adventurer Training Institution.

We've formed a party a few times during practice.

I felt a bit relieved that she understood the work of a mana porter.

"I've decided. I'm going to follow Senpai!"

"Eh!? So suddenly. Wasn't the hero party your dream?"

She said that joining the hero party was her dream.

Her admiration for the first great holy maiden who gave hope to a world suffering from the demon king.

Aria, through extraordinary effort, successfully obtained the job of "Holy Maiden" and was chosen for the hero party.

"That's true, but..."

"I'm the only one who was exiled. I don't want to involve you."

"Senpai, don't say such cold things. I owe everything to Senpai!"

"Aria, that's an exaggeration. It's all due to your own efforts."

At my words, Aria narrowed her eyes happily.

"Hehe, I'm looking forward to our journey together, Senpai!"

Aria moved in front of me.

She spun around and beamed with a radiant smile.

"Please take care of me from now on, Senpai!"

"Likewise. Take care, Aria."

Seeing such a smile, there was only one response I could give.

—And so, Aria and I decided to travel together.