Duel With The Hero Party

What appeared before me was――the Hero Party.

A blue-haired handsome man――the Hero Sylvan.

A brown-haired big man――Heavy Knight Garen.

An orange-haired beautiful girl――Mage Lilium.

A dark-skinned taciturn girl――Assassin, Ruru.

“Is your objective this drop item?”

“What the hell, you sure know. Hand it over quickly. Don’t go stealing our prey!”

I stared intently at Windine’s drop item that had appeared together with the Dungeon Core.

It looked like a small vial containing liquid, but could it really be an item the Hero Party would want so badly――

“(I see, it is indeed a powerful item.)”

Well――for me who obtained Windine’s Shadow it was a meaningless trinket.

I can just have Windine use healing magic.

That said――I have absolutely no intention of handing it over to those scumbags.

On closer look, a bandage was hung on Heavy Knight Garen’s right arm.

It seemed they needed this potion to heal Garen’s wound.

“How much would you sell it for?”

The Hero Sylvan asked.

Sylvan is royalty; even if I demanded an exorbitant sum, he’d probably pay.

“Sorry, but no matter how much you pile on I won’t sell this potion. You’re the same, aren’t you?”

“Quit your whining and hand it over! Don’t get cocky, Shikai Tribesman!”

“That’s right ❤ Even a stupid member of the Shikai Tribe can understand that it’s better to solve things with money than to take the painful route, right~ ❤”

“I’m not short on money… hmm, if you confess in the middle of the Adventurer’s Guild that you once abandoned slaves of the Shikai Tribe, then I might let you have it.”

“I have no recollection. I don’t understand what you’re saying, but I see you have no intention of negotiating――in that case, we have our own plan.”

Sylvan drew his sword.

Then Garen also drew a longsword with his left arm.

It wasn’t the greatsword he used before.

With that arm, holding a greatsword would be impossible.

“Wait, are we going with force? This guy cleared an A-rank dungeon solo, you know?”

“Are you scared, Lilium? This Boss probably only uses healing magic, a spirit-type monster, right? Nothing to worry about.”

No, that was far from the truth.

It summoned a ton of minions, and its offensive magic was highly powered.

I couldn’t imagine Windine being defeated by the current Hero Party with their tank’s arm injured.

“Ruru, draw your blade too.”

“……”

Silently, the Assassin Ruru also drew her weapon.

“Sid, what will you do? There are no onlookers; this seems like a perfect opportunity to carry out revenge, does it not?”

“(That’s true… Ekarraat is right.)”

I also put my hand on the hilt of my longsword.

With the atmosphere ready to explode――the antechamber door opened.

“What’s this――a rather dangerous atmosphere, isn’t it?”

Another group of adventurers entered the room.

The one who stood there was――

“………The strongest in humanity.”

“Almugard Eldorado…!?”

Armored head to toe in ebony full mail, his bulk exceeded two meters when including the armor.

The greatsword on his back was so large that calling it a sheet of steel would be more accurate than a weapon for a person to wield.

The only existing S-Rank Adventurer――Almugard Eldorado.

“Hmm… I thought I was first to arrive, but apparently third. In that case I should have left my armor behind, perhaps.”

The Hero Party broke into a cold sweat at the arrival of the witness.

“If it’s already been cleared then there’s no reason to linger――or so I’d say, but this is not something I can ignore. Could it be the Hero Party intends to steal credit from other adventurers?”

“Mr. Almugard, you must be misunderstanding. This is a legitimate duel following this country’s traditions.”

What a lie.

They came to take it by force, didn’t they.

Their skin is far too thick…!

“Is that true? Sid Ranorus.”

The strongest man in humanity asked.

“Yeah, it’s true.”

Since it’s a good opportunity, I’ll play along.

Whether it’s a real fight to the death or a duel, I don’t intend to lose.

With eyes that see through to the truth, I checked everyone’s stats.

And these are my current stats.

By now the Hero Party was no match for me.

There was a difference in ability between them and me such that I could kill them instantly if I wanted.

But――the strongest in humanity.

I didn’t feel like I could beat this guy.

If I launched an all-out war including Ekarraat and Vanargand I might win, but I had no reason to kill Almugard.

On the contrary, Almugard was a good man who intervened to mediate when Garen was hassling me at the Adventurer’s Guild.

I’m not a good man, but I’m not a villain who kills good people for no reason.

I may be a bad person, though……

Moreover, losing the strongest in humanity would be a tremendous blow to the adventuring world.

Many people had been saved by Almugard, and he would likely save many more.

Therefore――I would not carry out revenge here and now.

“As these people say, this is certainly a duel.”

“Is that so. Then if you win, what will you demand from the Hero Party?”

“Well――as I said earlier, I’ll have them apologize for once discarding members of the Shikai Tribe at the Adventurer’s Guild.”

“I told you we didn’t do that!”

“No――that’s fine. We’re the ones who will win anyway. We’ll accept that condition.”

“Then, if I may, I’ll act as the witness. Any objections from either side?”

“Of course. You are the most trustworthy person among adventurers.”

“We have no objection either.”

“Understood. Then both sides――ready――begin!”

At Almugard’s holler, the flames of battle were unleashed.

I wouldn’t kill them here.

But――be prepared to taste a humiliating defeat.