The A-Class Adventurer Party, Twilight Lightblade

Twilight Lightblade.

A first-rate party that had reached A-class at the young age of around thirty. For the past ten years, their rapid advance had surprised adventurers almost every year.

They were undoubtedly an existence at the center of adventurers, and it was rumored that they would eventually reach the top.

Their overwhelming radiance was the admiration of young adventurers.

Of course, that included me.

In my student days, I often spoke passionately with my school friends about Lightblade’s exploits.

That Lightblade appeared before me.

It was a desperate situation, but—

A hot feeling of admiration ran through my chest.

One of Lightblade opened his mouth.

“If this is a mutually agreed duel, I won’t stop it—but it doesn’t seem like that kind of atmosphere?”

He was a man with a fearless face, short-cut brown hair, and noticeable stubble.

The sword at his waist was the A-class equipment “Flying Dragon Bastard Sword.”

On his left arm was the A-class equipment “Evil-Eye Scale Large Shield.”

What he wore on his body was the A-class equipment “Rock Giant Plate Mail.”

He was probably Twilight Lightblade’s leader—Filardo the swordsman.

“As soon as we arrived in town, the Adventurers’ Guild asked us for a favor… They said there was a young man and woman interfering with Brennen Tiger hunts, and they wanted us to go take a look.”

Filardo drew his sword.

“Would that be you?”

“That’s right. Maybe it is.”

The woman was no longer looking at me at all. A weakling who could not even wound her—she had no attention to spare for such a thing.

All of her awareness was directed only at the highest fighting force that had appeared.

“Back down, woman. As long as we’re here, we won’t allow such selfish behavior!”

“Ufufufu! Everyone lining up nicely and hunting prey equally? Haaah, adventurers really are such peaceful people!”

“…From the way you talk, you really are someone from the Company, aren’t you?”

“Imagine whatever you like.”

The woman did not engage with Filardo’s words and briskly headed toward the dungeon exit.

“Even I’m at a disadvantage in a three-on-one. This time, I’ll let you save face.”

As she passed by, the woman spoke to Filardo.

“But you know—I’m sorry, but I won’t give up Largorin. If you intend to interfere, come prepared to throw your lives away.”

The woman disappeared toward the dungeon exit.

“Haaah…”

I unconsciously breathed out. The strength left my body. The tension that had bound my whole body rapidly unraveled.

After all, it had felt as if a blade were being thrust at my heart….

“Ios! Ios! Are you okay!?”

Misha approached me. In her hand, she was holding her torn conical hat.

“Well, somehow…”

The flank I had been kicked in hurt like crazy, but… for the time being, I was alive.

“That was quite the disaster for you.”

That voice fell down.

When I turned my gaze toward the voice, Filardo was standing in front of me.

Twilight Lightblade’s Filardo was!

Ha, haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

In an instant, my blood grew hot.

I was also one of the adventurers who admired Twilight Lightblade, and as a warrior, I held respect for Filardo, who had the same profession.

That person!

Was now!

Right in front of me!

“Are you all right?”

On top of that, he was speaking to me!

And what was more—

“Here, grab on.”

He held out his hand to help me up!

Huh, is it okay for me to hold this hand?

Is it okay for me to touch a hero?

Ha, haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

I reached out my hand while my heart pounded. Perhaps my face had gone a little red.

Filardo’s hand, which I held for the first time, felt exactly like a warrior’s, hard and strong.

“Up you go.”

Filardo put strength into it and pulled my body up.

I stood up.

“Th-thank you very much!”

“I’m glad you seem safe—by the way, could you let go of my hand?”

“Aaaah, I’m sorry!”

I hurriedly let go of his hand.

Filardo stared at us.

“…A warrior in Blue Firebird chain mail, a female mage with a conical hat, and a cat.”

After thinking for a little, Filardo continued like this.

“Could you all have been in Piptat?”

“Huh, we were, but… why?”

“Before coming here, we stopped by the Adventurers’ Guild in Piptat. I was told that adventurers who looked like you defeated an area boss and a mysterious powerful enemy.”

No way—

Our battles had reached the ears of a top party!

I was simply moved.

Filardo continued like this.

“…I’m glad I was able to help an excellent adventurer like you.”

“Excellent? No, not at all!”

I was happy. There was probably some flattery in it, but I was happy that Filardo had said that to me.

We returned to town alongside Twilight Lightblade.

Being able to stand beside the adventurers I had always admired—

It was like a dream, and I became so elated that I could even forgive the misfortune of being attacked by that nasty woman.

When Grail visited the Adventurers’ Guild together with his companion Oson, the atmosphere was strangely heated.

While finding it odd, the two of them sat at a suitable table.

The instant they did, voices of “Ohh” leaked out.

(…What?)

Curious, Grail caught a passing staff member.

“Hey, did something happen?”

“…Twilight Lightblade arrived a little while ago.”

“Lightblade did!?”

They were a top-class party said to eventually be able to reach S-class as well.

Grail had also heard the rumor that they were coming to subjugate the named monster, the Ice Guard Largorin, but—

(Finally!)

Grail smiled broadly.

A glamorous party like Lightblade was within his sphere of activity—that fact amused Grail’s heart.

He had no particular basis for it, but he felt as if even his own status had gone up one level.

There, the staff member relaxed his expression slightly and said this to Grail.

“You’re a little lucky.”

“Why?”

“Lightblade was sitting in that seat.”

The guild staff member went away somewhere.

Grail finally understood. Why the people around him had reacted when he sat here.

Next to him, Oson was scratching his head.

“…That’s too much honor… For the likes of us to sit here—”

But Grail did not think that.

(…Hmph, so that was the reason. The people around us must have felt, ‘I want to sit there because I admire them, but it’s too much honor.’ That’s why they reacted when I sat down!)

Kukukuku… Grail stifled his laughter.

Of course, Grail did not think anything that admirable. I am Grail, the man who has it all! From his perspective, this was the natural outcome, that was all!

He had only sat in the same seat, but Grail felt a little connection. The top party Twilight Lightblade became an existence close to him.

Oh, Twilight Lightblade? Well, they’re not people I don’t know, I guess?

He even felt that much.

(Hahahahahaha! Iiiiiiiiiioooooooooos! I sat in the seat where Twilight Lightblade had been! They’re a top party you’ll never have any connection with in your entire life! Can you meet them!? Can you talk to them!? Can you shake their hands!? I might be able to! But you can’t!)

Largorin extermination—if he handled it well, he might become acquainted with Lightblade.

Strong connections were an asset to adventurers.

Grail broke into a broad grin.