Chapter 45

"Ah..."

I was at a loss for words and looked at Maron.

She shook her head. It seems this proposal was Gloria's decision alone.

"Are you serious?"

"Of course. I intended to leave the party and talk to Tim about this even without this matter."

Gloria looked at me with serious eyes. It didn't seem like she was joking just because she was drunk.

"It's true, Gloria had been talking about leaving the party on the way."

Maron's additional information made sense to me. After a certain day, Walter and Red became harsher towards me, and Gloria started talking to me again. It was probably after Gloria had proposed to leave to Walter.

Thinking about it, their actions made sense. It wasn't just to win the competition; they were angry at me for causing Gloria to leave.

"Why do you want to form a party with me?"

I asked, as those who wanted to form a party with me had been calling out to me for my strength. I wanted to know why they sought me out.

"I've wanted to team up with Tim since the training period. You're hardworking, honest... and I've always wanted to adventure with someone as kind as you, who cares for everyone around you."

Gloria's words seemed genuine. She was the only one who talked to me even when everyone else was mocking me.

It wasn't just Walter and Red; other peers and senior adventurers had warned me, "He's worthless, stop associating with him," but she ignored them and kept talking to me.

Having someone who saw me as more than just a nobody was a huge support, and I can't deny that it helped me push through.

"Thank you, I'm glad to hear that from you, Gloria."

"It's me who should be grateful... I'm happy to adventure with Tim."

She looked at me with a dreamy expression, almost like a lovesick girl. Her cheeks, slightly flushed from the alcohol, added to her allure, and my heart skipped a beat for a moment.

"Maron, what about you?"

I understood Gloria's true feelings and turned to look at Maron.

"Gloria dragged me into this, but to be honest, I do want to team up. However, it feels too presumptuous to suddenly approach you now, after ignoring you for so long."

She said this and glanced sharply around. I couldn't help but smile. I didn't dislike her straightforwardness.

Maron's words were not just for herself but also for the others around us.

With everyone's attention, I looked at Gloria.

"I understand that Gloria wants to form a party with me."

Under her gaze, I nodded.

"S-so..."

Her eyes were filled with expectation.

"But I won't form a party with you."

"Huh?"

The next moment, she seemed to be in a daze, not understanding what I said.

"As Maron said, it's troubling when people approach me just because I've shown my strength. For me, becoming an adventurer was a dream. From the beginning, I wanted to overcome hardships together, build trust, and take on big missions to rise up. That's the dream I've always had."

It's a dream that every aspiring adventurer has seen at least once.

"Then, why don't you do that with me... with us!"

Gloria pressed on. I shook my head.

"If you really wanted to form a party with me, you would have done so when I didn't have any skills."

"That... that's..."

Gloria lost her momentum and bowed her head at my logical argument.

"With Gloria's support and healing magic, I could have developed my skills much earlier."

Perhaps I should have been more tactful, but with other adventurers present, I had to be strict. They needed to hear this too.

"How would you know! Skill manifestation is up to the gods. Just because we teamed up doesn't mean I would have developed my skills any faster—"

"I have a certainty."

The status screen visible only to me revealed the previously opaque conditions for skill manifestation.

The concept of 'levels,' the existence of 'classes' and 'proficiency,' and points like 'skill points' and 'status points' that can enhance one's abilities.

Through manipulating my status, I've gradually come to understand these aspects.

"I won't team up with someone who didn't lend a hand when I was struggling. There's also the example of Walter and the others. I can't rule out the possibility of being used and betrayed."

If we form a party, I'll have to show my abilities to some extent.

The existence of the 'item box' and the 'increased item drop rate'—these things will be noticed if we enter the dungeon together.

I don't know how those who have looked down on me in the past will react when they find out.

Looking around, everyone averted their eyes awkwardly. Naturally, they had called me names like "quit being an adventurer," "just a goblin hunter," and "a nuisance." Whether they've forgotten or are deliberately ignoring it, I remember.

Maron shook her head. It seemed she, along with everyone else, had given up on forming a party with me.

"Even so, I..."

Gloria's fists trembled, and tears welled up in her eyes as she raised her voice. Seeing her like this made me feel uncomfortable.

"From the day you formed a party with Walter and I was left alone, it was decided that it would come to this. We can't redo the past."

"!"

When I said this, she covered her mouth and broke down in tears.