"Ariake, you useless fool! We're expelling you from the hero's party!" Vivia's voice thundered with disdain. The words struck like a blade, sharp and final. Ariake, weary from a recent battle, slumped against a tree.
"You're casting me out?" Ariake asked, his voice steady despite the sting of betrayal. He gazed at his former comrades, their faces hardened with resolve. "So, you fledglings think you're ready to soar without me?"
Let me introduce myself: I am Ariake Mimaha, eighteen years old, an adventurer in the Grandheim Kingdom—or rather, I was coerced into becoming one. Fate, not choice, thrust me into this life of peril and glory. An enigmatic force, cloaked in divine pretense, manipulated me into joining this so-called heroic band.
"If that's your wish, I'll depart gladly," I declared with a calm, unshaken tone. Vivia scoffed, his ego bristling at my composure. "Who do you think you are, daring to speak so boldly?" he barked, laughing as if my exit was a jest.
Vivia Harunoa, chosen by the Holy Sword Langris, was hailed as humanity's greatest hope against the Demon King. His Paladin skill made him the epitome of a hero, radiant and unyielding. Yet, his arrogance cast a shadow over his valor.
"Hey, Ariake!" Vivia snapped, his anger flaring as I remained unfazed. "Listen when I'm speaking!" Another party member, Delia, chimed in, "It's disrespectful to ignore him!" Their voices merged into a chorus of contempt.
Delia, a fierce female brawler, wielded magic to enhance her strength, her Blessed Fist an unstoppable force. She sneered, "We only kept you to carry our bags, porter." Her words cut, reducing my role to that of a mere servant.
Then there was Elga, the Shield of the Kingdom, renowned for his boundless stamina and magic resistance. His Giant's Fist could shatter any defense. He stood silently, his presence a towering reminder of my supposed inadequacy.
"Why bother with him? He's worthless!" Pulala, the mage, spat with venom. Her magical prowess, said to rival a legion of Demon Kings, made her humanity's trump card. Her Arch Wizard skill was a testament to her unparalleled power.
Vivia sneered again, "Even if you begged, we wouldn't take you back!" His words faltered as I began packing my belongings, ignoring his tirade. "Hey! I'm talking to you!" he shouted, his face reddening with frustration.
"Finally, the moment I've awaited," Alicia declared, her voice icy yet regal. The Great Saintess, a legend who mastered the Revive skill in a world where recovery magic had nearly vanished, stood as a beacon of hope. Her beauty and fame were known across the kingdom.
"Even the Great Saintess despises you," Vivia added, smirking. Ariake's thoughts drifted to Alicia's past—her shy glances, her quiet admiration. How had her heart turned so cold, so drastically?
I joined this party for her, partly, but a greater force compelled me. An old man, claiming to be a god, had guilted me into it, saying, "If you don't join, they'll all perish." His words, manipulative and cruel, bound me to this doomed fellowship.
They mocked my skills as worthless, and I couldn't argue. I opened my mouth to explain, but Alicia cut me off. "You contribute nothing," she said, her words echoing like a death knell in my mind.
Vivia laughed, "She wants you gone, so leave!" I placed a hand on his shoulder, my voice cool. "Vivia, your athlete's foot remedy? The bottle broke, so I put it in a blue vial—don't mistake it for a healing potion." His face flushed with embarrassment.
"It's not true!" Vivia stammered, turning to his companions for support. But as he spun back, rage in his eyes, I was already gone, vanished like a shadow. "Where did he go?" he roared, bewildered.
Now, I stand atop a cliff overlooking a forest path leading to Alty, a quaint town of kind souls. Freed from my burdens, I envision a peaceful life there. The journey may take a month, but solitude suits me.
I think of my former companions—can they manage without me? Basic skills like map-reading should keep them afloat. There's no point worrying now; I'm ready to embrace this solitary adventure.