Chapter 41

"Sure enough, you were here."

With those words, I, Armia, smiled.

Since losing the shared house, the leaders had been spending more time at the guild's tavern, so I had thought they might be here.

And my prediction had come true, which made me smile.

"......Yeah."

......However, the moment I noticed the dark expressions on the leaders' and Serberia's faces, my smile froze.

Indeed, since being expelled from the top-tier party, the leaders had always carried a gloomy atmosphere.

But the leaders' demeanor was clearly different from before.

"It's about Roust, isn't it?"

"!"

......In response to the leaders' and Serberia's troubled expressions, I whispered the name that was likely the cause.

At that moment, unmistakable agitation spread across the leaders' and Serberia's faces, confirming my guess.

The leaders were probably starting to harbor regret over Roust's departure, even now.

It was a regret that the people who had expelled Roust unilaterally should not have.

......But even so, it might be understandable for the leaders to harbor such regret.

After all, Roust's achievements were of an extraordinary scale.

The adventurers in the room looked at the brother leaving with a mixture of awe and respect, despite having mocked him just a few hours ago.

"......If only we had let him join the party back then."

"Damn it!"

......Among them, there were those who remembered asking Roust to join the party and now felt regret.

Given that, it was understandable for the leaders, who had once let Roust join the party, to think that things would have been different if he were still part of it.

......Even though they knew it was their own doing, the leaders couldn't shake off this thought.

"But Roust won't be coming back to the Lightning Sword."

......But even now, thinking about what might have been was meaningless.

Roust had reliable party members.

No matter where he was invited, Roust wouldn't join any party.

"Stop clinging to Roust."

So, I told the leaders.

It was time to give up.

At that moment, the leaders' and Serberia's faces clearly distorted.

The leaders probably didn't seriously think Roust would come back to the Lightning Sword, even now.

They just couldn't give up, even knowing it was impossible.

So, with my words, the leaders gave up on Roust.

......But that didn't mean the complexity in their hearts disappeared.

"......You're pretty calm, Armia. Are you acting all high and mighty because you didn't try to get close to Roust like we did?"

The next moment, the leader, as if trying to vent his frustration, threw those words at me.

I realized that the target had shifted to me.

"That's impossible."

However, I didn't feel angry at the leader's words.

The smile I directed at the leader was tinged with unmistakable regret.

"!"

The leader seemed taken aback by this unexpected reaction, holding his breath.

Seeing his reaction, I realized the leader had a major misunderstanding.

Indeed, compared to the leaders and Serberia, my attitude towards Roust might have been better.

......But that was nothing to be proud of.

◇◆◇

I joined the Lightning Sword a year ago, when it was already a top-tier party.

At the time, I was a 14-year-old novice mage, and I was elated to be invited to a top-tier party.

I had realized I was better than others, but I never expected to be invited to a top-tier party.

......So, I began to idolize the leaders and Serberia, who were at the center of the party.

The reason I started to bully Roust was also because of this.

I didn't mock Roust from the beginning.

The leaders I admired had said that bullying Roust was important for his training, so I bullied him as they said, without ever questioning my actions.

......But the day after we expelled Roust from the party, when we faced Laila and the pre-mutation Hydra, I realized my foolishness.

At that moment, I finally understood my foolishness and how much Roust had contributed.

......No, to be precise, I realized that I had never even tried to see Roust's contributions, despite knowing about them.

The moment I realized this, I felt a deep sense of revulsion towards my own actions.

As a rear guard, I sometimes felt that Roust was an excellent adventurer.

But, blindly believing the leaders' words, I convinced myself that it was just my imagination.

─── During the battle with the Hydra, I finally realized that Roust was truly excellent.

After realizing my actions, I felt deep regret.

The leaders' and Serberia's treatment of Roust.

The malice in their actions was never forgivable.

......But, my own delusions were even more despicable than their actions.

And through my actions, I had hurt Roust.

That was something I could never take back.

That's why, on the day Laila listened to my story, I decided I wouldn't make the same mistake again.

I couldn't change the past of hurting Roust.

So, I decided to start over.

With that resolve in my heart, I opened my mouth to the leaders and Serberia.

"Please follow me."