2 – Somewhere Strange Hero Party (2)
“Ugh….”
The moment I opened my eyes at the tavern was when dawn was about to break.
In the end, I couldn’t escape in the middle of yesterday, and I ended up being captured by Ser-Aria and was mercilessly beaten until I was completely exhausted.
Leticia and Frey left half way through, and their seats were empty. They are probably all in their lodgings. The only ones left here were the elf who loves alcohol and a warrior who’s used to drinking strong liquor.
Both of them were completely drunk, lying face down on the table, snoring. We only have a few hours left before we need to go to the dungeon…
“But they’re so damn wasted. These idiots…”
“hehehe, Allen…”
“!!”
…Geez, you startled me. I thought you woke up after hearing me. Turns out it was just some sleep talking.
I can’t help but think that going into the dungeon with these guys could mean certain death. Honestly, who would think it’s safe for someone who’s drunk until morning to fight?
But… even though I don’t want to admit it, their abilities were outstanding. It’s just like having a party of high-tier characters that I handpicked.
＜Character Information＞
◈Name: Erinn
◈Occupation: Warrior
◈Status
[Strength: 300] [Agility: 297]
[Stamina: 242] [Intelligence: 40]
[Mana: 869] [Divine power: 285]
◈Features
[Swordsmanship Lv.7] [Self-healing Lv.4] [Insight Lv.7] [6th sense Lv.8] [Aegis of the Sky Lv.10] [Aegis of the Earth Lv.10] [Aegis of the Sea Lv.10] [Mana resistance Lv.6] [Disease resistance Lv.6] [Immunity Lv.10]
Even a quick glance at the status screen reveals a slew of incomprehensible numbers and numerous abilities. This is the status of a true warrior, as if to say. Compared to my pitiful status, it was even more unbelievable.
Despite having quite a bit of muscle from all the digging I’ve done since my hometown, my strength is only at 70…Yet this little girl has a strength of 300.
…But why do the Chinese names, which seem like they’re from a martial arts novel, come out in English? It bothers me every time I see it.
If you ask whether only heroes are like this, that’s not it either.
Just look at the elven alcoholic here…
＜Character Information＞
◈Name: Ser-Aria
◈Occupation: Archer
◈Stats
[Strength: 192] [Agility: 418]
[Stamina: 202] [Intelligence: 29]
[Magic Power: 490] [Divinity: 0]
◈Possessed Abilities
[White-Haired Bull’s-Eye Lv.8] [Quick Draw Lv.7] [Eagle Eye Lv.5] [Sixth Sense Lv.6] [Divine Protection Lv.7] [Gale Lv.5] [Forest Protection Lv.10] [Disease Resistance Lv.6]
This place was also enormous.
When it came to agility, an archer with an alcohol addiction was much more skilled than a swordsman.
He was already famous as a divine archer in the world, and it was even said that it was a fact recognized by the elf tribe itself instead of just a self-proclaimed nickname.
With this much ability, he could easily handle even small dungeons despite being heavily drunk. And since his stamina stat was high too, he would recover quickly from hangovers.
However, all of that only applied to these geniuses, and my story was different.
“Ugh, head…”
With a body that was slightly healthier than an average person’s, I couldn’t escape the hangover. Thanks to enduring the hangover, I had to resolve the supply that I couldn’t finish last night.
It was difficult to get food and water inside the dungeon, and there were many things to prepare such as spare clothes, medicine, and sleeping bags, just in case. Once you entered the dungeon, all items like sleeping bags would be contaminated, so I had to buy new ones every time.
I was planning to prepare those yesterday…but I couldn’t do it because these irritating guys took me out for drinks. I had to go and buy everything.
I was about to open the bar door when the bar owner called out to me.
“Hyung-nim! Are you just going to leave?”
“Yes?”
“You should have a drink before you go.”
“Oh…is that so.”
I saw Erin lying on the table. I pointed at her and said, “She’ll take care of the bill.” “What?” Perhaps she doesn’t look like she has money? She looks young, so that might be why. But that was a very big mistake. Erin was not just a useless little orphan, but an officially recognized hero in the country. “Don’t worry, she has a lot of money. Do you know how much support comes in every month just from the title of a hero? She could buy this store and still have money left.” “But how can you take money from a hero?” “Excuse me, but didn’t you just ask for money a moment ago?”
However, the tavern owner spoke with an attitude as if it was a given, as if I had said something foolish or silly.
“Sir, you are the one who protects our lives. The person over there is also a fellow comrade of the hero. Thanks to them, we receive a lot of help. How can we possibly charge you for alcohol and food?”
“Ah… What a kind mindset.”
But then…
“Well, why do you ask for money then?”
“Well, we should charge you for what you’ve eaten.”
“Pardon?”
What is this nonsense again?
“Well… I’m also a comrade of those guys.”
“Well, but isn’t your brother just a porter? Not someone who fights.”
…That’s true.
“…Wasn’t it said that you don’t charge the heroes and their comrades?”
“They fight to protect us with their lives, so they don’t get paid. Your brother is just a good-for-nothing, always mooching off others. Honestly, conscientiously, your brother should be the one paying.”
Discriminating against fellow comrades like this while claiming to have a conscience… I want to say something sarcastic but in my heart.
From Noble mtl dot com
However, it wouldn’t be good to fight with this gentleman. If I were to act rashly and cause harm to the party, I have no idea how these damn lunatics would dispose of me.
“…How much is it? What I’ve eaten.”
“It’s 20 silver and 25 copper.”
“Huh? Isn’t that more than what I’d pay for drinks?”
“Your brother drank quite expensive liquor with the heroes. Don’t worry, he wasn’t taken advantage of. Do you think I’m crazy enough to make fools out of the heroes at the party?”
The owner of the tavern showed me the sign that was stuck to the alcohol barrel while saying that. Based on the knowledge I gained through possession, it was true that the drinks we had were expensive. We used to gulp it all night long…
“…But I don’t think I drank that much.”
Mostly, it was this guy named Mesukaki and this alcoholic whale who had been drinking. But those guys who could prove it were fast asleep.
…I felt slightly unfair, but what can you do?
I took out a money pouch from my back pocket and handed him exactly 20 silver and 25 copper.
“Thank you, mister.”
“…It’s fine.”
Thanks my ass…
It was the moment when I finished calculating the money and was about to go do my job.
“……Hey!!!”
Suddenly, someone screamed from behind. The voice was sharp and piercing, one of the highest notes ever…
“…Yes?”
It was a guy who had the position to instantly belittle the relaxed bar owner who called me hyung and spoke comfortably.
“You! What did you say?”
It was the hero Erin.
It’s unclear why he suddenly got up, as if he hadn’t fully sobered up yet, judging by his unfocused eyes. It didn’t seem like he caused that much of a commotion. However, the warrior Mestaki suddenly approached the owner and began poking his chest with his index finger.
“Why did you… bother us? Did we do something to you?”
“Huh? Oh, no. We didn’t do anything, sir…”
“Bothering us like this!! I just saw that… Not my comrade or anything like that… That’s what I thought!!”
His words were tangled in his confused tongue-twisting state, not properly pronounced. Yet, he suddenly started venting his anger at the pub owner, even though the owner was much bigger than him, he completely overwhelmed him with his momentum.
“Because I’m a hero… because we’re comrades… that’s why I won’t take any money… so you shouldn’t take it either!!”
“Oh, um, well…”
Erin said that and rummaged through her pockets. Then she took out a large gold coin from some pocket.
“Take it!”
“…what? Oh, no…”
“I said take it! Are you short on money? Even with this, you could buy a whole store and still have some left over…”
“T-That’s why I can’t accept it! It’s too much money…!”
One gold coin is worth about 200 silver coins.
Even if we drink expensive alcohol for that amount, we would only spend 20 silver coins. With one gold coin, you could eat and drink enough for ten consecutive days.”
“Ah, take it! And don’t do anything boring like this next time, got it?”
“No, well….”
The tavern owner looked at me with a perplexed expression and then glanced at the coins Erin held out. He closed his eyes briefly and bowed his head.
“…I’m sorry, sir.”
“…It’s alright. Even so, you probably couldn’t receive many customers yesterday because of us. Please take that.”
Well, he’s rich anyway.
The tavern owner accepted the coins Erin handed over and bowed his head humbly. Then, Erin snorted disdainfully and briskly walked out of the tavern.
“What should we do about him…?”
I almost burst into laughter at the suddenly polite tone of the owner. I suppressed my laughter and replied.
“Just leave him alone.”
He’ll come on his own.
“Yes…”
“Take care.”
I walked out of the alley and headed to the tavern. I have to start working diligently from now on to finish the supply.
“You worthless fool♡”
…Just a moment ago, they covered for me as a colleague, which moved me a little, but now I can hear a tone that shatters that feeling. As soon as I stepped out of the tavern, this mental illness started again.
“If you just speak up properly… Why are you being taken advantage of like a sucker~? You’re such an idiot♡”
“…What can I do? If I confront that aristocrat, the party will only suffer losses, not gains.”
If the owner and I were to argue here, it would cause more problems for our warrior party. The only thing to feel good about is that there might be some improvement in his mood… but that doesn’t mean everything will be resolved.
Erin, who listened to my thoughts, didn’t say anything for a moment.
Did she get impressed with what I just said? Or maybe she could ask me to improve my way of speaking?
“hehehe, you sure have great thoughts~? Do you think you can do something with such a poor topic? How arrogant~♡”
…that’s right. I shouldn’t have any false hope and just continue doing what I was supposed to do.
“I’ll go visit some shops.”
“You haven’t done it yet? You’re so useless on top of being pathetic~♡”
“…I was going to do it last night, but you dragged me to drink.”
“The man making excuses is delicious~♡”
Damn it… If you said you weren’t drinking, what else would you have said? The annoying Masugaki warrior was giggling, knowing or not knowing how I felt.
Why are the characters I’ve put together like this in the end…
“Well, I’ll go back to the lodging first.”
“…Yeah. Are you following?”
“Huh? Why would I?”
Then why did you ask, you jerk.
“…Well, if you want me to, I could go with you~? It might be a little dangerous for such a pathetic village♡”
“No, I don’t expect that much.”
Taking her with me was useless other than making it a little safer. Given her personality, there was no way she would help carry the luggage for me…
Thwack!
“Ouch!”
Suddenly, she kicked my knee.
Curious about what the hell this Makisaki was up to, I looked at her. She stared back at me with a chubby expression and then swiftly turned around, heading back to our lodging.
“…??”
I pondered on what the heck was going on, but no matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t find an answer.
“…I guess we just have to accept that a crazy woman did something crazy.”
“Ugh, damn it.”
I need to go fill up the supplies quickly.
When I came back to the inn with my hands full of items, my colleagues were gathered in the lobby. As I approached them, they looked at me one by one and nodded in recognition.
“Alan, you’re back so soon?”
“Wow, you bought a lot. Didn’t you buy anything yesterday?”
I nodded my head in response to Frey and Letitia’s question. Although I had been thinking about buying it, I felt like if I mentioned it, Erin would say something. Those two had a habit of making bizarre remarks at times…
However, upon a quick scan, I didn’t spot the alcoholic addict. I raised my head and asked.
“What, Aria hasn’t arrived yet?”
“She hasn’t. She must be sleeping at the tavern.”
“Well, it’s about time to wake her up. Will Allen bring her along? We need to discuss how we will fight in the dungeon.”
I nodded my head at Letitia’s request. One fortunate thing about this party, despite the eccentricities, was that at least Letitia and Frey could hold a normal conversation.
Although occasionally, they also made nonsensical comments, which was problematic…
“Alright then, I’ll just tidy up and be on my way.”
“Yes, please do.”
I climbed up the stairs to the second floor, and swung open the door to my room. I set down all the items I had bought on the floor.
“Let’s see…”
I opened the completely empty leather bag. Starting with the items that seemed least useful, I carefully placed them one by one. I put the things that I would definitely need immediately in the dungeon at last, so that it would be easier to take them out.
I packed the food separately in a bag with insulating magic engraved on it. It’s really convenient to have magic in this world.
“Allen!”
I was in the midst of organizing when I heard a voice calling me from below. Judging by the voice, it was Leticia. Seems like she’s urging me to finish up. I sighed lightly, opened the door and went downstairs.
“You called me?”
“Oh, there’s no need for you to go to the tavern. Aria is here.”
“This noble lady is here, Allen!”
It was good news. There’s no need to bother going to the tavern to bring her anymore. Céraria laughed happily and waved her hand.
“…Do you want more to drink?”
“hahahahaha! Of course, that’s what I’m asking, Allen.”
With a bottle of alcohol in her hand again. Judging by the shape of the bottle, it seemed to be a small rum.
“You know, without this, sis can’t live!”
What a crazy woman…
“But still, you shouldn’t drink before fighting. You know that, right?”
“Of course! I already know, Leticia.”
I found out that the guy who claims to know everything still hasn’t let go of the bottle…
Since it seemed like our conversation was over, I was about to return to my room to finish packing. However, while Letitia and Sir Aria were engaged in a lively discussion, the old man who had been quiet all this time suddenly appeared in front of me.
“……!”
“……Allen.”
I don’t even know when he arrived. My heart nearly dropped.
“Why…?”
“…Did you bring what I asked for the other day?”
“Well, of course. I already prepared it.”
A couple of days ago, the old man had asked me to bring some snacks. I had even put them in the provisions bag in advance. The old man nodded slightly, seemingly satisfied with my answer.
“…Thank you.”
Although it was a slightly dry tone, just receiving a word of gratitude made me feel thankful.
It’s nice to have someone who is quiet like this amidst the hectic party members…
“Why?”
“Huh?”
“Did…did I do something wrong again? I-I’m sorry, sob…”
“What? Oh, no. I didn’t say anything…”
Why did they suddenly act like this?!
That was my first thought, then I belatedly remembered my own shameful action. While contemplating about the doughnuts, I was staring at her too intently.
“I, I’m sorry… I’ll turn it off quickly…”
“No! I didn’t mean it that way!”
“Sigh…”
Ah, without realizing it, I shouted. How will that level-maxed guy with depression who blames himself for everything take my raised voice…
“Huuaaah… I’m sorry… I’m sorry for bothering you…”
…It was too obvious.
“Thief? Why are you crying?”
“Gasp, Allen made the thief cry.”
“Allen, what did you say again?”
I haven’t done anything at all…
“hahahahaha, Allen seems to have made another slip of the tongue.”
“Be careful, Allen.”
“…Sorry.”
I don’t know why I have to apologize, but anyway, I’m sorry. So can you please stop crying?
Seeing Frey taking a step back, I let out a sigh. Then, Ser-Aria and Letitia looked at me and spoke.
“Try to understand why thieves behave like that, Allen. You know, right? Thieves have trauma from men and their self-esteem is very low.”
“Be a bit more careful when you speak.”
“…Yeah.”
…I wonder if there’s no way to escape from this party of lunatics. If I stay here, I feel like I’ll develop a mental illness from the stress. I need to find a way to get out somehow.
While those thoughts filled my mind, Ser-Aria spoke.
“I know it’s not your fault, Allen.”
“…What?”
“The situation is what it is, there’s nothing we can do about it.”
“Just finish what you were doing. Let’s go downstairs and continue the conversation. It should be over in about 30 minutes.”
Ser-Aria and Letitia finished their conversation and went back down to the lobby.
…This was the reason. The reason I couldn’t immediately escape from the party.
Sometimes, I feel like these guys see me as a real comrade, so I couldn’t easily leave from here.
And realistically speaking, even if I were to abandon them, with my current abilities, I don’t think I could do anything.
Right now, with my current abilities, where would I go and what would I do?
But still, it would be nice if I could leave this party of mental patients at any time. As it is now, it feels like I’ll eventually leap over their heads. Seriously.
To become independent with this cursed status and attributes, obtaining the hidden pieces in “Dungeon In Evil” was my first priority, no matter what.
“Dungeon In Evil” was a nurturing RPG game, and the performance of the implemented items in the game varied greatly. It’s natural for an RPG game to have both good and bad items.
If you eat a good item, the game becomes easier, but if you eat an item with poor performance, it becomes a bit difficult. That level is usually the norm, but in “Dungeon In Evil,” there were items that showed exceptional performance, to the point where you could call them cheat-level.
Of course, they were generally undisclosed hidden items…but I was a user who had played “Dungeon In Evil” quite a lot.
As I liked adventure RPGs, I naturally played various difficulties multiple times, and I had a rough idea of how to obtain the hidden items and their locations.
If I can get those hidden pieces, wouldn’t I be able to gain some power even though I’m just a passing traveler A? Even though I may not be able to reach the level of a warrior.
I could hear the voices of my party members from below. It seemed like the meeting had started.
“Let’s organize first.”
Going to the dungeon right away is a priority, so it would be better to finish organizing our luggage first.