18. collapse (3)
The first party of warriors scattered.
Among them, Aria was in charge of clearing the northern dungeon.
Arya, like Beatrice, was put into an A-grade dungeon.
The party that participated in the raid with her were two A-class warrior parties.
It was a party that was divided into upper and lower ranks among the A-class, but such a distinction was meaningless in front of Aria, a member of the 1st hero’s party.
“Aria-sama!”
Four of the lower-ranking parties rushed towards Aria.
Arya, who had been absent-minded, shrank in surprise.
“Yes Yes… ?”
“Where are you uncomfortable?”
“No… .”
As they looked at each other, they thought they had something to say.
“It’s an honor to be with you in today’s dungeon raid!”
“All of us have been longtime fans of the 1st Hero Party!”
“Ah, that, that’s right… . thanks.”
Arya laughed awkwardly.
“Please take care of the dungeon raid today!”
“It’s my first time in an A-class dungeon, but I’ll try not to get in the way!”
“yes… .”
After greeting, the four lower-ranking parties went back and had a chattering chat.
I’m nervous because it’s my first time in an A-class dungeon, I’m nervous, but with Aria-sama, it’ll be possible to clear it, etc… .
It was a very friendly atmosphere.
Subsequently, the top A-class party also came to visit Aria secretly and said hello.
“It is truly an honor to meet the 1st warrior party.”
It was definitely relaxed and calm like a top tier.
“I never thought there would be a day when we would meet again. It’s been a while.”
One of them seemed to be dating Arya.
As Arya laughed awkwardly, he asked embarrassedly.
“… Don’t you remember?”
“ah… . Yes, sorry… .”
A colleague from the side reprimanded him.
“It’s the 1st hero’s party, how many people must have saved?”
“Yeah, how can I remember all of them? Especially something like you.”
“Noisy. … That, you saved me from a labyrinthine dungeon in the past.”
A dungeon in the form of a labyrinth where the terrain changed arbitrarily.
Hearing that, Arya was able to recall it as well.
It was none other than the dungeon where Penny was rescued.
“Ahh… . Do you remember?”
“Yes. I don’t think I was able to formally say thank you back then. Thank you very much.”
“Oh, no, I don’t… .”
When Arya waved her hand, those who accepted it as humility showed moved smiles.
Arya couldn’t explain anything in the end.
The two A-class parties each talked with serious expressions.
In particular, this dungeon, where less information was disclosed, was an important topic.
‘… If Ian had been there.’
Whether it’s the manager’s guild or the nearby city’s standing army.
Ian didn’t care if either side had the information or not.
He had most of the dungeon information, and he gave very detailed information.
Even if there were things I didn’t know at times, it was a problem that could be solved if Kati stepped in and explored.
Ian sharply grasped the structure and composition of the dungeon with only a few bits of information from Kati.
‘scared… .’
Therefore, without Ian, Arya had no idea what was in this dungeon.
The pressure that I might get hurt like last time choked my breath.
At least in the last dungeon, only the same 1st party members were together.
But this place is different.
There are two A-class parties that are complete strangers.
If you get hurt here, those 8 people will be aware of your injuries and deterioration.
That means revealing to the whole world that his functional value has clearly declined.
‘I hate that… .’
They even long for themselves, and among them there are people who have been helped by them.
They are in danger of letting them know that they are not their old self.
Admiration and envy may turn into contempt.
‘It’s terrible… .’
It was impossible to escape.
‘please… . Whatever is in it… .’
Ian desperately needed advice, but he wasn’t there.
In the end, without knowing any information, I entered the dungeon.
*
Arya and the two A-class parties met at the same time in the boss room.
“As expected, Arya-sama! You can do it alone!”
Someone shouted that, and Arya just smiled.
It wasn’t very upbeat.
I was caught in a trap several times, distracted, and allowed to attack.
It just doesn’t show on the outside.
Even the pace was slow.
According to the existing skills, it would be enough time to get to the last hole before they even arrive, as well as defeat the boss alone.
However, Arya arrived at the same time as those two parties.
It was fortunate that it was a structure where each had to go their separate ways.
The final battle began like that, but Arya couldn’t play an active role.
It was because there were hundreds of gargoyles waiting in the joint.
With the head of a lion and the body of a bat, they flew in unison and attacked the intruder.
Arya was in a hurry to defend herself, fearing that she would get hurt in the presence of others.
-thud! Kugoong!
The gargoyles that hit Arya’s protection mercilessly bounced off, so that alone was an attack.
She focused only on protection and looked at other parties.
It was because they were afraid that they would find out their current powerlessness.
However, the two parties were also busy blocking the gargoyle’s attack.
‘Whew… .’
Right after I was relieved that it was fortunate.
“Kuk!”
The gargoyle’s claws scratched someone.
He who fell was the hero who had been helped by Arya earlier.
“Be careful!”
Another comrade called him, but he was already out of line.
The moment the gargoyles fell on him, Arya and his eyes met.
‘ah… .’
A person who has been helped by himself and has come to admire him sees himself.
As if asking for help, with desperate eyes.
‘I… .’
In the past, he could have helped that person while maintaining his protection.
However, it was impossible in the present, when the skills were low and the mind was distracted.
‘Why me… .’
to weigh
Whether it is good for your reputation, to protect yourself here or to help that person.
Arya had no choice but to throw herself.
-Koo-gu-gu-gung!
A group of gargoyles rushing at him were hit by the shield and bounced off.
“Go, thank you… .”
However, a gargoyle that penetrated the gap scratched Arya’s back.
“Ah-!”
Arya let out a scorching light with a tearing scream.
All the gargoyles in the straight line turned to ashes and scattered.
Aside from being surprised by the tremendous firepower, Arya shuddered.
“No, no… ! I, I am weak… ! Oh, no… . hurt… . I feel sick, what should I do… .”
There were only minor scratches on the clothes, but they seemed to be fine.
But Arya could never do that.
“Chi, heal… . You need to heal right away. But what if I can’t see it? How to check if it’s healed… .”
The rescued man rushed over.
Arya hugged her head and tried not to look at him.
“Don’t look! Don’t look at me, don’t look at me… .”
“I’m really sorry… .”
“I, I… . It’s because of you, I, I, I’m not worth less… .”
After the muttered aria, the man shouted loudly.
“Aria-sama is hurt! Everyone help me!”
At that cry, everyone gathered around Arya.
Aria seemed to go crazy in the approaching crowd.
“Don’t say that, if you say that… . I know everything… . no… .”
everyone finds out
That Aria from the 1st Hero Party was only injured in an A-class dungeon.
Regardless of their actual reaction, Arya thought she would be despised.
‘What should I do, what should I do… ? Should I kill them all? And what about the people outside? Kill them all too? But, then, even my social values… .’
“Aria-sama! We are here to help!”
The four lower ranks also came and protected Aria.
“Thanks to Aria-sama, I was able to afford it at once! You are so amazing!”
one of them exclaimed.
In fact, there was a group of gargoyles that were aiming for the lower-ranking heroes in the path of Arya’s scorching rays.
Unintentionally, she saved them too.
‘not really… . I, something like that… .’
I am grateful and admired, but I am not happy at all.
They don’t even realize that their worth is outstanding.
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Just incredibly anxious
As misunderstandings accumulate, fear grows.
How will they change when they realize their true worth?
‘I’m that kind of person now… .’
“Thank you for saving me. Arya-sama!”
While protecting Aria, they constantly encouraged her.
In that situation, Arya felt a strange familiarity.
“… … .”
The self who helps those in need and receives gratitude.
Ian, who helped himself when he needed help and was kicked out.
These warriors who are helped and deservedly thanked.
After receiving help, he took it for granted.
Somehow similar yet completely different elements were mixed in my head.
Arya’s blank gaze slowly rises.
A gargoyle glides with its wings folded in a blind spot that a lower ranked hero couldn’t see.
It was an angle that only Arya could see.
If that hero is attacked as it is, the functional value of that hero will also decline.
“… … .”
It wasn’t until after she suffered that, for the first time, that Arya was able to ’empathize’.
The target included not only that hero, but also Ian.
‘I need Ian…’ .’
Aside from possessiveness, Arya wanted to have Ian by her side.
no it had to be
‘There must be Ian…’ .’
Only with him can one’s own value be perfected.
Arya spread the protection widely to protect people, and quickly cleared the dungeon.
*
Needing Ian meant putting everything back in the past.
His ability can only be restored with Ian.
Then, where should I start and what should I put back?
‘First, the four of us must get together again. We don’t fight each other like now, at least like before… . But how can I do that… ? Oh, no way, that… .’
The words I threw at Ian as lies.
The incident that Sylvia heard about without even knowing it.
Perhaps, if it wasn’t for him, at least Sylvia wouldn’t have been like that.
‘If Sylvia finds out without me revealing it… .’
It reminded me of what Ian had said several times.
If you have something to say, don’t hide it, say it right away.
‘But it really makes sense to reveal that… .’
To soothe my anxiety, I was obsessively repeating healing miracles on the area where I had first been hurt.
“aria… ?”
Sylvia came.
“Ah, poetry, poetry, Sylvia… ? Hey, why is this… .”
“What’s wrong… ? Did something happen?”
“Oh, no, there is… there was… .”
Sylvia approached as if she was worried.
Arya was terrified to see that face.
“why… .”
“Sorry!”
In the end, Arya decided to speak at least to avoid the horror.
“yes… ?”
“That fact… .”
Arya, who was on her knees, vomited.
“I don’t love Ian… .”
“What are you talking about all of a sudden… .”
“The words Sylvia heard then… . It was all lies… .”
“… … .”
*
For a moment, Sylvia felt the world was distant.
In the distant and blurred senses, only someone’s voice resounded clearly.
‘I love you.’
It wasn’t clear whether that voice was his own, Aria’s, or Ian’s.
Then I found out.
It was Ian and himself.
Aria’s voice overheard could not be clear.
If there were distinct voices, the only ones he heard were his own and Ian’s.
“What, that, that, what, now what… .”
“It was all a lie… .”
“why… ? Why do you lie like that… .”
Arya thought about the reason, but there was no answer that would satisfy Sylvia.
“just… yo. this.”
It is a fact as it is.
That possessiveness was really, just that.
Because I just wanted to have it.
“… just?”
The military police who came with Sylvia hesitantly withdrew.
It was because the chill that Sylvia exhaled was unusual.
“It’s just… ?”
“… … .”
“No, no way… . Are you just saying you love me? It’s a lie, is this? yes?”
“… … .”
“That’s a lie… . Say it’s a lie!”
Arya couldn’t open her mouth.
He couldn’t think of anything to answer, and he knew that no matter what he said, he couldn’t calm Sylvia.
In that steadfast silence, Sylvia recognized that it was the truth.
“aaagh-!”
Sylvia let out a scream close to screaming, and dozens of thin ice spears fell from the sky.
Arya developed an egg-shaped protection that reflexively wrapped around her body.
The Ice Spear, which faced the anti-elasticity, did not win and slid to the floor.
At the same time, a huge ice flower unfolded from the ground and rose up into the sky, trapping Arya.
Seeing the rather beautiful sight, the military police were busy retreating.
“just… . just say… .”
Pillars of ice sprang up like a whirlpool beneath Sylvia’s muttering feet.
The ice floor brought Sylvia in front of Arya.
Arya’s protection was strong even in this magical baptism.
“just… . I just said… .”
“… I’m sorry.”
“Sorry?! Is this a problem to be sorry for?! because of you! Even if you didn’t just say that! I’m Ian! I, I, I… . I… .”
Sylvia’s voice, blaming Arya, faded.
The day Sylvia heard Arya’s lie and complained.
-That’s because nothing happened. How far have you heard
Ian said so.
– I heard everything.
Sylvia lied to keep Ian tied up.
It was because I didn’t trust Ian.
“I… .”
If I had believed Ian.
If it had been, at least not as much as we would have been.
“I… . I, I… . me… .”
Sylvia sat down like a broken doll.
Tears slowly flowed from her eyes as she knelt down.
“I, I… . soggy… .”
Arya had no right to blame.
He had no right to hate anyone.
If he had trusted Ian, all of that would never have happened.
-… yes i love you
At least, if only Ian had honestly said that he loved me too.
If only he hadn’t taken advantage of his feelings.
This wouldn’t have happened… .
“Black… . Kkeuk… . oh, oh… .”
It feels like there is a block of ice in my chest.
If you touch the ice for too long, it feels hot beyond cold, and it feels like your skin is tearing.
Sylvia’s heart was like that now.
“Ughhhh… . Ian… .”
Arya couldn’t say anything as Sylvia sat down and sobbed.
I wanted to go back, but that was impossible.
already crossed the threshold.
“Ahhhh… . Black, ugh… . Ian, I’m sorry… . Oh I… .”
Hail fell from the clear sky.
Sylvia was struck by hailstones in the middle of it and pondered over her sins.
*
“Is this here?”
The Wolf Gang arrived at a large campsite.
The military police accompanied him followed behind him.
This is where Penny, the manager of the 1st Hero Party, stays.
“I don’t know if I handled the other side well.”
Beatrice and Aria were entrusted to Kylie and Sylvia respectively.
If the other two refused, he did not have the power to persuade him, and it was because the two unexpectedly willingly offered to help.
“Just in case you don’t know, let’s get rid of this guy named Penny and go.”
“Yes!”
To capture Penny, the military police entered the encampment’s fence.