Parting And Malice

Stalls lined the main street in long rows, and the plaza was also packed with many vendors.

“Wow, there are so many.”

“This is the liveliest place around here. Oh, look, there’s a shop selling accessories over there.”

“You’re right.”

When the three of us approached the shop, a young female clerk greeted us with a friendly smile.

“Welcome. What kind of accessories are you looking for?”

“We’re looking for something that can be attached to a bag. We’d like matching ones for the three of us.”

“Let’s see… if it’s something we have three of in stock, this design is the only one available at the moment.”

She handed over the accessory with a slightly apologetic look. It had a single large decoration shaped like a leaf.

“Hmm, I’d prefer something a little cuter.”

“I think so too.”

“Um… you two? I’d rather avoid anything too cute.”

My comment was brushed aside easily. Well, that’s fine. It’s not like anyone will really care about my accessory anyway.

“Shall we try another shop?”

“Yeah. Then how about going to a shop in the plaza next? I have one I recommend.”

“Oh? Then let’s go there.”

The next shop was set up quietly on the plaza with cloth spread across the ground. The shopkeeper was a man with long hair and a gloomy atmosphere. However, the accessories displayed there gave the complete opposite impression—they were beautiful, delicate, and cute.

I remember Jeanne and Rora used to have Adolf buy things like this for them…

“Rebecca, don’t you think this one is very pretty?”

“Let me see… oh, you’re right! There are different stone colors too.”

The two of them were holding a silver accessory with several tiny flowers connected together. Only the center flower had a small piece of colored glass embedded in it.

“Then I guess it works for me too. If it’s blue, it won’t look overly cute.”

“That might suit you, Luca. I think I’ll pick… yellow.”

“I’d like pink.”

After each of us chose a color, we looked at each other, and since no one objected, we decided to buy those accessories.

Each one cost a single silver coin, about the price of a somewhat expensive dinner.

“I’m glad we found something nice.”

“Yes, it was really fun. …Rebecca, Luca, thank you for today.”

“Wait, you’re leaving already!?”

“I have plans this evening, so I need to head back soon.”

Ann said that while holding the accessory carefully against her chest, smiling sadly.

“I see… if you have plans, it can’t be helped. If you ever have a free day, please come to the guild. Let’s hang out again.”

“Thank you so much. If there’s another day when I’m free, I’ll visit the guild.”

“I’ll be looking forward to it.”

“Ann—the accessory… I’ll treasure it.”

For some reason, I felt like we might never meet again, so I said that. Ann responded with a happy smile.

After watching Ann disappear into the crowd, Rebecca and I somehow couldn’t feel as cheerful anymore. While absentmindedly fiddling with our accessories, we walked toward the inn and Rebecca’s house.

“Luca, do you think we’ll see her again?”

“Hard to say… she seemed like she had some kind of circumstances.”

“You thought so too? She seemed really refined. Maybe she’s the daughter of some big trading company.”

“I thought the same. She said it was her first time in real combat even though she can already use magic at that age.”

If she really was a young lady, maybe she didn’t have the freedom to go outside much. I used to envy people born into wealthy families, but thinking about it now, it probably wasn’t all good for them either.

“Even if it’s not like today, I hope we can run into her again somehow, maybe while we’re taking quests or something.”

“Yeah.”

After that, we talked about the quests we would take starting tomorrow, and we returned to our respective homes early for the day.

—Adolf’s Perspective—

That bastard Luca… because of him, I ended up humiliating myself. I’ll never forgive him. Never.

Getting stronger the moment he was expelled from the party and saying the curse was lifted? He must have planned all of this just to make fools of us…!

“Adolf, what are we going to do now? I’m sick of going to the guild and getting laughed at every day.”

“In the guild, people are saying that Luca abandoned us. Do something about it.”

Jeanne and Rora complained to me without even trying to hide their irritation.

“I’m thinking about it, so shut up.”

“What’s with that attitude? You could at least listen to what we have to say. You’re always like this, Adolf. When you expelled Luca, you decided everything by yourself too.”

“…Expelling Luca was a mistake.”

Their words irritated me, and I stood up roughly from my chair. They were always trying to shift responsibility onto me… even though they couldn’t decide anything themselves!

“If you’ve got a problem with me, then get out!”

“Why do you get so emotional so quickly!? Is our relationship really something that can end that easily!?”

“Yeah! Weaklings like you two—I’m only forming a party with you for now!”

When I shouted back at Jeanne in anger, Jeanne and Rora glared at me. Without saying another word, they left the room… and I was left alone.

—This all happened because of him.

I clenched my back teeth and slammed my fist into the table, pouring all my anger toward Luca into that punch.

No matter what, I’ll drag him down to the same level as me.