Chapter 43

"Damn it! Just because you have a little talent, you look down on everyone...! Servalia, if we sell this guy to the slave traders, we should be able to earn enough to get a full set of equipment, right?"

"His face and skills are good, so I think he'll fetch a pretty high price. If we join an underground organization, there might still be a place that will hire us as top adventurers..."

As Armia lost consciousness and fell to the ground, Margulus and the others exchanged such conversations, their eyes filled with mockery.

"...Really, what a hopeless person."

...Hearing that, I couldn't help but mutter those words.

"...Laila."

With a voice tinged with barely concealed anger, Sieg, who was beside me, called out to me with concern. We were currently hiding in an alley near Margulus and the others, and he was trying to warn me not to let my emotions get the better of me, as it might lead to us being discovered by Margulus and the others. But even though I understood the situation, the anger inside me wouldn't subside.

--- I know it's a shameless request. But please, the leaders are still my comrades.

The words that came to my mind were those of Armia, when he had bowed his head to me. When he bowed, Armia was genuinely ashamed of himself, yet he still pleaded with me for Margulus and the others.

...But even after seeing Armia, I still felt a sense of danger from Margulus and the others, and I demanded interest on the loan.

Not interest on the Lightning Sword, but a condition that Armia would pay it himself.

--- Thank you!

But even after hearing my conditions, Armia smiled. Not knowing how long it would take to pay off the Lightning Sword, and thus how much the interest would accumulate, Armia still accepted the currency from me without hesitation.

As if to say that if he could save the Lightning Sword by sacrificing himself.

...But Armia's feelings were betrayed by Margulus and the others.

"...Sorry, Sieg. I can't hold back anymore."

The scene before me spoke volumes, and I could no longer contain my anger. I had hoped that perhaps the Lightning Sword could be redeemed through Armia, which made it even more unbearable.

"!"

With those words, I left the alley, leaving Sieg, who was shaken, and started walking towards Margulus and the others.

"What's wrong, Laila?"

"Actually, Armia fell..."

Margulus and Servalia were momentarily taken aback by my sudden appearance. But in the next instant, they hid Armia's head wound and spoke to me as if nothing was wrong.

But their act wouldn't work on me. I had seen everything Margulus and the others had done from the beginning.

"You guys...!"

"Ugh!"

In the next moment, I ran forward, and with a cry of anger, I brought my staff down on Servalia's head. My attack wasn't enhanced by any physical strengthening, but perhaps because I hit a bad spot, Servalia collapsed unconscious.

"What!"

It was only then that Margulus realized we had seen through their plans. In the next instant, he tried to flee, abandoning Servalia.

"It's too late."

"Ugh!"

But before he could take a step, Sieg punched him, and he lost consciousness. It seemed Sieg had been watching for an opportunity to act in case I was in danger. Realizing this, I felt grateful to Sieg as I looked at the unconscious Margulus and Servalia. They had clung to their status as top adventurers, abandoned their comrades, and were even trying to join an underground organization.

"...If Armia and I had worked together, we could have become top adventurers again."

But if Armia and I had trained together, there was a possibility we could have become top adventurers. Looking at Margulus and the others, who had thrown away that possibility, I felt a mix of pity and disgust. With that, I cut off my thoughts and walked over to Armia.

◇◆◇

"These guys should be turned over to the capital as kidnappers, not to the guild in the labyrinth city."

Sieg, who was watching over Margulus and the others with undisguised contempt while I healed Armia, said this.

"If we turn them over to the guild in the capital, they'll spend the rest of their lives as mine slaves. With their physical strengthening, they'll be welcomed with open arms."

Mine slaves are the fate of those who commit crimes, and their treatment is notoriously harsh. Margulus and the others would suffer worse than death and likely die within a few years, even with their physical strengthening skills. But I felt no sympathy for Margulus and the others. If Armia had been sold as a slave, she might have suffered even more than a mine slave. Thinking of this, I felt my anger rise again as I glared at Margulus and the others.

"...Hey, Laila, can I talk to you for a moment?"

"Uh, sure. What is it?"

But in the middle of this, Sieg suddenly called out to me in a serious tone, and I was taken aback. I was surprised by his sudden change in demeanor.

"...Do you really intend to let this girl join our party?"

...But his next words made me understand Sieg's concern, and I became serious. I had told Sieg that I wanted to let Armia join our party and had explained her character, including what she had done to the healer. Understanding this, I realized why Sieg was worried.

"It's fine."

But even understanding Sieg's concern, I smiled, assuring him there was no problem.

"True, she made a mistake and isn't exactly smart."

Really, Armia was foolish. She trusted the words of someone she admired and made a big mistake. Not only that, but even in this situation, her trust in the Lightning Sword wasn't wise.

"But Armia is changing. And her concern for her comrades is worth letting her join the party."

But even considering this, I believed Armia was the right person to join our party. She had tried her best to guide Margulus and the others, and I could trust her. ...That's why I couldn't forgive Margulus and the others even more.

"But..."

But even after I said this, the worried look on Sieg's face didn't disappear. I wondered why he was so opposed.

"...She probably has a deep wound in her heart."

"...I see."

...My doubt was resolved by Sieg's words. Sieg wasn't worried about Armia's character. He was worried that Armia's deep emotional wounds might affect me. Realizing this, I almost laughed. Sieg was really an awkward person. But I smiled at his awkwardness.

"We need to support her because she has a deep wound in her heart. At least Armia is no longer a stranger to me."

While trying to persuade Sieg, I had another thought in my heart. If I were alone, I might have been worried. But with Sieg by my side, I felt no anxiety at all.

"Hah... Knowing you, Laila, there's nothing I can do."

Seeing my confident eyes, Sieg sighed. But after that, he didn't say anything against letting Armia join the party.

"...Such an awkward person."

Seeing this, I realized Sieg was also worried about Armia and smiled, muttering those words.

"...That's why, I..."

But at that moment, I didn't notice that Sieg, who had turned his back to me, was also moving his lips...

The next interlude will be about the receptionist Amelst.

...It won't be as long as the story of the Lightning Sword.